Zambian breweries donate to cholera fight

Zambian Breweries has donated over K2.5 million of a wide range of items in support of Government’s efforts to contain the outbreak of cholera.
A total of K1 million was spent on cleaning materials, clinical equipment, office furniture and assorted nutritional and carbonated soft drinks. The balance of K1.5 million will go towards the construction of water boreholes in two townships of Lusaka.
Part of the support to the Government taskforce on cholera included a water bowser, which has been released by the company to help in the provision of good quality water during the short and medium term. The company has also allocated funds to construct water boreholes in the most affected areas that include Matero and Kanyama.
National Breweries Plc., the Chibuku manufacturing company, partnered with Zambian Breweries and contributed K250,000 to the fight against cholera.
This action by Zambian Breweries is in line with the company’s shared dream to energise everyone to work in the same direction and bring people together for a better world.
The donated items were sourced from a range of local suppliers, or provided directly by Zambian Breweries and n this case included 5,000 cases of Maheunutritional drink and over 6,000 cases of carbonated soft drinks.
The goods were delivered to the Ministry of Health today (January 15, 2018) and were presented to the Government Taskforce team on cholera by Zambian Breweries corporate affairs director Ezekiel Sekele.
The handover was attended by Minister of Health Hon. Chitalu Chilufya , Minister of Local Government and Housing Hon. Vincent Mwale, Minister of Transport and Communications Hon. Brian Mushimba and Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Hon. Sylvia Chalikosa
“Our dream of bringing people together for a better world motivates us to work towards creating a cleaner world, a healthier world and a growing world. Our donation is a demonstration of our continued commitment in supporting the local communities in which we live and operate,” said Mr Sekele.
Speaking on behalf of the company, Mr Sekele expressed condolences to the families of those who have since died following the outbreak of the disease.
“Our thoughts and prayers are to the families of our brothers, sisters and children who have died following the outbreak of the epidemic. We join the rest of the nation in mourning and to ask for God’s strength and protection. At the same time we endeavour to do all that we can to assist towards efforts meant to create cleaner and healthier environments.”
During the handover Mr Sekele also spoke about the Manja Pamodzi project initiated by Zambian Breweries Plc.
“To this end, we have worked with a number of stakeholders such as the Millennium Challenge Account – MCA – in starting a recycling industry in Lusaka which has close to 500 small micro businesses operating. Not only has this resulted in cleaner environments in those areas where the project has been set but it has also empowered the local communities in earning incomes and looking after their families.” said Mr Sekele.
Manja Pamodzi was launched in August 2015 and is a post-consumer waste clean-up project aimed at creating a clean environment and empowering communities.
It is co-funded by Zambian Breweries and the Millennium Challenge Account Zambia and is supported by Lusaka City Council and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA). To date, Zambian Breweries together with MCA have spent over K 15 million in setting up the project in Lusaka.
Manja Pamodzi has been launched in 10 districts: Ngombe, Matero, Chawama, George/Lilanda, Kamwala, Mtendere, Kalikiliki, Kalale Chunga and Chibolya and works with more than 500 collectors to gather packaging waste that it’s the recycled.