President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned a multi-million kwacha state of the art rice and maize milling plant in Mongu district, Western Province.
Mr Hichilema says it is his biggest desire to see more Zambian entrepreneurs being supported to set up companies as it is the only way the economy can be transformed.
He has also directed the minister of agriculture Mtolo Phiri to ensure that local businesses have easy access to local markets as a way of promoting local products.
Mr Hichilema said he will personally ensure that products such as rice that was being produced by Country Millers find their way into the chain stores such as ShopRite.
“Am directing the minister of agriculture to ensure that the rice that is being produced by country millers is sold in Shoprite. If it means legislation I will do it to make local businesses have easy markets”, Mr Hichilema said.
In terms of boosting trades, Mr. Hichilema stated that he was in talks with his counterpart from Angola Joao Lourenco to open up markets in Angola through the Sikongo- border and Jimbe via the Mwinilunga district in the North-western province.
Mr Hichilema announced that President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be in the country soon to sign up a number of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) which include enhancing trade between the two countries.
And Country Millers proprietor, Mukumbuta Mukumbuta said the milling plant has a production capacity of 50 tons daily.
Mr. Mukumbuta thanked Musika Development Initiatives Zambia Limited for providing technical support towards the setting-up of the maize and rice milling plant which said would create more jobs and markets for local rice farmers.
And Musika Board Chairman, Chance Kabaghe said the organisation contributed about K1.9 million towards the procurement of the machinery for the plant.
Mr Kabaghe was targeting to link about 1, 600 small scale rice farmers in eight districts in the province who would be able to supply raw rice to the company.
He noted that agriculture remained a key strategic measure for economic transformation for the country.
“ We have been singing the same song that let us be invest in agriculture as it is the only way for economic transformation for Zambia”, Mr. Kabaghe stated.
Mr Kabaghe expressed hope that more Zambians would emulate Country Millers in ensuring that similar initiatives were implemented in parts of the country.
“We have rice farmers in Samfya, Isoka and other parts of the country where such initiatives can be set up to promote easy access to markets and income generation”, he added.
Earlier, President Hakainde Hichilema arrived in Mongu to grace this year’s Kuomboka traditional Ceremony of the Lozi people scheduled for today Saturday, 9 April 2022.
The Zambia Airforce plane carrying President Hichilema and his entourage touched down at Mongu Airport at 17 :24 hrs.
Accompanying the Head of State includes Minister of Finance, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Tourism and Arts, Rodney Sikumba and other senior government officials.
Provincial Minister, Akapelwa Mbangweta, District Commissioners, senior government and party officials received the Republican President and his entourage.
The 2022 Kuomboka traditional ceremony becomes the second traditional ceremony President Hichilema has officiated on after he officiated at the N’cwala traditional ceremony of Ngoni speaking people.
It is the new dawn government’s desire to utilise major traditional ceremonies as tools to unite the nation irrespective of ethnic and political inclinations.
And speaking after his arrival, President Hichilema urged the people of Western Province to ensure that they market the traditional ceremony by embracing all who are coming for the event.
“Marketing of the ceremony as a tourist attraction will help bring about economic benefits to people in the area, “ he said
There’s more commissioning to be done.
This is low-tech industrialisation based on processing local agro produce which should never be beyond any decently-governed country with lots of arable land. Jobs hv been created locally and a market for rice farmers dotted around Western province has also emerged.
Another PF initiative perhaps? President said he will ensure that Country Millers’ produce is sold in shoprite even if it means making legislation for it.
Is the President a shareholder in this company? This is why it is important to declare his business interests by way of declaring assets. But no, we can’t know now.
Chiza
Whether he is or not a share holder am comforted if local products find there way in the local chain stores as this will directly result in job creation for the locals than exporting jobs to China or South Africa when we are the people with the greatest need for these jobs.
Kopala, it is important for us to know this. Otherwise it’s a conflict of interest and he using his executive powers to further personal interests.
Even the hesitancy on the part of the president as regards mining in Lower Zambezi is questionable, seeing as he allegedly has a stake in one of the subcontractors there.
It is important to know what he is doing and for whom, country or self?
A whole president commissioning a chigayo. Meanwhile gbm has hundreds of them dotted around country. Our president ecl commissioned big infrastructure while hh commissions chigayo
This is a private sector company. If it was an IDC enterprise, acknowledgement of PF government effort would hv been a fair way of looking at this development.
Tuletasha
It should not just forthe grains but also poultry and fisheries etc This changes the Agricultural supply and demand for the region like the one in monze creating opportunities and employment including exports of products to Namibia and Botswana Angola also it’s plus commission for the people and these and more. Will change the Economies of the local people’s in areas that is what is needed development delivery
In terms of content and real-time news I think lusakatimes is good very nearer also I see
Napthali ichisungu
Mbuzi Meeeeeeeeeeeeeee, we know ECL chief presider of thieves has a maize milling plant in Chilanga. Who is benefiting from it, not certainly me.
Thank you PF.
LUNGU COMISSIONED BIG INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT BY LOANS
WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO DISMANTLE
PF THOUGHT THEY COULD JUST SHED TEARS AND IT WOULD BE WRITTEN OFF
NO WAY
THE QUICKER WE PUT THE LAST NAIL IN THEIR COFFIN THE BETTER
Chance Kabaghe! Zambia IS really run by a clique!
I think this is a great initiative that will create jobs and support the local farmers. ‘Mongu Rice’ is by far the highest quality of rice that should be sold in supermarkets countrywide. I agree we should have deliberate policies to support local produce like rice to be sold in chain stores countrywide as opposed to importing processed rice from China and India. Well done the private sector for investing in this processing plant.
Great initiative and welldone Musika for your role in empowering local communities.
This is ECL initiative… PF did stuff.. These guys are just commissioning. ECL was very visionary. The Govt shouldn’t be scared of loans
Just a reminder for those that cant count. This is the Third National milling plant that HH has launched: Frist one – Monze, Second-Northern or CB, third-Western. Very strategic as three corners now have where to sell or process there maize/raice and gain feed for cattle or fish from,its a two way project. Next i can guarantee will be Eastern is there isnt one there already. Remember all this in 7 months and the impart of these national milling-i cant tell you-jst wait untill there mealie meal start to dot across the nation then you guys will tell me,ooops also not forgetting UNZA that was laucnhed last month which is also a research institute in Maize & other Grain value addition. No one in Zambia can beat HH when it comes to Agriculture not even those white farmers. Wait and see how…
PF cadres can claim that these are PF projects, well, these are not PF projects becos the PF already got their cuts from the deals and took off,leaving us behind with a Debt mountain that even China is now refusing to come to the table for. It would ve been a PF project if nothing everything was paid for,but nothing was never paid in full & all these lenders are now back for their monies. Besides if PF was still in power – wud these projects be launched in 7 months?and imagine wud ve been managers of these milling plants? I leave that for you to answer but to help you ,remember who was the beneficiaries of the Fuel Tankers and the Higer buses?
They say muilti million plant but dont say how much and I dont see why HH7 is directing his minister to make sure the products are sold in Shoprite…it doesnt work like that he should know better!!
SHOPRITE DONT EXPLOIT
AND PAY IN 30 DAYS
Bloggers please not that .. 1.TARINO ORANGE, 2. JAY JAY…… 3. Jigga Kayama Simangulungwa…. The 3 pseudo names are the same person
23. I am afraid I dont know who the third blogger on list is and everyone knows about the second alias..you must new on this forum!!
Nice one UPND, we’re seeing the good works you’re doing n we know better things are coming under your watch…..noti Kaloba lyonse lyonse tying our children n their children to Kaloba debt…No.
President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned a multi-million kwacha state of the art rice and maize milling plant in Mongu district, Western Province.
The Vice President is in Western Province for her two-day official visit to inspect Government Projects and Commission two multi-million processing companies, namely Country Millers and Aqua Plant in Mongu district.
Mrs. Wina said it will be encouraging to have the first commercial rain-fed and irrigated rice, maize, wheat and sugar farms in the province in the near future.
She said this in Mongu District of Western Province yesterday when she officially commissioned the Country Millers and Country Aqua plants that were constructed at a total cost of K15 million.
?????
This is people’s website we cannot write the whole mind and page but I am amazed on the content and accuracy of reporting and relevance also remindful of what we have learnt and learn but it’s like you can go on reading and recapping I know
PF was the govt for the people.I was removed by whites by decampagining PF bcoz they don’t like countries to prosper and don’t support countries who don’t their agenda.This man will be just commissioning projects.
It doesn’t hurt to mention your predecessor if the projects you are finally commissioning started before you came into power. People aren’t f0ol$, they know who started or laid the groundwork for these projects. All in whole, this is good for our Zambian farmers and let UPND carry on from where PF left off. That’s how development works. Good day Zambia!
Thanks PF. You’re still visible, viable and developing Zambia with the Chineese loads 8months after you’re gone.
What a hard working government the 2.8m people rigged for embarracing rogues in the current cabinet.
Walking your talk 8months of your out of sight but you’re in peoples’ and Zambian development’s minds.
23. Tarino has multiple personalities and aliases here. Nichofunta icho! He is also spaka. He spends all day alleging there are trolls coming after him.he hallucinate. He is on that cocaine abroad
Who is drunk Lumpen accusing Tarino Orange (aka Jay Jay) to be me? New indeed!
I’m the one and only Jigga Kayama Simangulungwa, formerly Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans Honeybee).
Yes as it turns out Tarino Orange is the one who asked me to shorten my alias, and through the mutual respect I have for the man, I listened. Stop cut it please!
This is awesome news Mr. HH you commissioned a multi-million kwacha state of the art rice and maize milling plant in Mongu district, Western Province. Absolutely, a developmental programme. We would like to hear how many entrepreneurs it has empowered and employment it has created, who are beneficiaries as well as the share-holders and how sustainable is this programme. Factual feedback would be appreciated. We need to see real change for the people and the country as a whole. Its about time that the people of Zambia get tangible feedback. We need transparency in reporting these programmes.
It’s good BMW is revealing the works done by ECL. He is doing a Sonta Epo Wa Doba as opposed to Sonta Epo Wabomba.