National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has pledged to increase investment in Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) to create jobs and boost fertiliser production if elected into government.
Speaking during a campaign rally in Kafue, Mundubile said an NRPUP administration would strengthen the State-owned fertiliser manufacturer while continuing to attract private sector investment into the industry.
He said increased funding for NCZ would create employment opportunities for young people in Kafue and help ensure an adequate supply of fertiliser for farmers across the country.
“We will pump money into Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia so that it employs our children here in Kafue. When we have private investors, we also have Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia,” Mundubile said.
He added that his government would work to eliminate fertiliser shortages that have forced some farmers to share farming inputs.
“We no longer want farmers sharing fertilisers in medas. We are promising that every farmer will be getting eight bags of fertiliser, and we want it to be coming from Kafue while providing employment to you, the people of Kafue,” he told the gathering.
Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia Limited, a State-owned enterprise under the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), was established in September 1967 and commissioned on May 27, 1970.
The company manufactures ammonium nitrate for the mining industry and produces fertiliser for the agricultural sector. Over the years, its production capacity has been expanded to support the country’s agricultural productivity.
Mundubile said increased investment in the company would strengthen local fertiliser production, reduce dependence on imports and generate more employment opportunities.
