By Henry Lumpa Jr, ZANIS
MUCHINGA Province Minister Henry Sikazwe has engaged ZAMBEEF to open its outlets in other parts of the province to increase economic activities in the area through job creation.
Speaking during an investment engagement virtual meeting today, the Minister proposed to ZAMBEEF to increase its presence in Muchinga ahead of the Muchinga Investment Forum and Tourism Expo slated for October 2023.
Mr Sikazwe states that the Provincial administration appreciates the contribution of ZAMBEEF in the creation of employment to the local people especially through ZAMPALM in Kanchibiya District.
However, the Minister notes that the extension of ZAMBEEF services to other parts of the province will help the province boost investment opportunities for other companies in the province during and after the Expo
He mentioned that the province has already started to engage other potential investors to consider investing in unexploited sectors of the province such as agriculture, energy, tourism and value addition.
And ZAMBEEF Executive Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, Ezekiel Sekele has informed the Minister that the entity is in the process of establishing various investment outlets in the province, especially in the agriculture and livestock sectors.
Mr Sekele adds that ZAMBEEF is therefore conducting market surveys to ensure that their businesses are able to thrive while contributing towards employment creation even after hosting the investment forum and expo.
He also mentioned that Chinsali district in Muchinga Province will have one of the biggest ZAMBEEF retail micro stores in the country which will be completed before the end of this year.
He has disclosed that ZAMBEEF will invest over US$ 100 million in the next five years in the agriculture sector, saying Muchinga Province will benefit from a chunk of the funds through the support of small-scale farmers.
ZAMBEEF is Zambia’s biggest vertically integrated agro-producer and processing company, with its footprint within the country and further in Ghana and Nigeria.