Beverage company sponsors Chamber of Commerce forum
Zambian Breweries has praised the new government for its dialogue and willingness to engage with business in order to grow the economy and improve livelihoods.
Speaking during a landmark government and private sector consultative forum facilitated by the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI), and was sponsored by the company, Corporate Affairs Director Ezekiel Sekele said: “Zambian Breweries is delighted to partner with ZACCI. Our purpose at Zambian Breweries is to grow livelihoods. We believe this can only be done through partnership – public-private partnership. We all have one common constituency to serve and that is to positively change the lives of our people in society.”
The event was attended by Finance Minister Hon. Felix Mutati, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Hon. Margaret Mwanakatwe and Minister of National Development Planning Hon. Lucky Mulusa, along with leading business people.
Mr Sekele told the ministers that Zambian Breweries had seen a 15 percent increase in revenue since the reduction of excise tax on clear beer from 60 percent to 40 percent at the beginning of the year, resulting in additional VAT being paid to the government and further investment in the business.
“At Zambian Breweries we want to continue being in business for the foreseeable future and hence sustainability is key. We urge government to continue to create a stable tax environment,” he added as he outlined the group’s commitment to supporting Zambian agriculture through the purchase of maize, sorghum, cassava and barley and , particularly, growing livelihoods of small scale farmers,” said Mr Sekele in his closing remarks.
He also mentioned the company’s work on water sustainability and its Manja Pamodzi clean-up campaign on packaging waste.
During the meeting Mr Mutati reiterated the government’s desire to work together with the private sector and engage with them on the national Budget and challenges faced by business.
Meanwhile Mrs Mwanakatwe pledged that the government would meet with the private sector on a regular basis in order to foster dialogue and address challenges in order to be a “listening government” that was “determined to get the economy on an even keel”.
It seems mutati is very excited with his new role,ever smiling.Dont just smile we need economic transformation or else heads will roll.
MMD at further plundering the economy, anyway this looks like a good team. however, let us wait and see the fruits thy labour.
Why start with the beer industry … any particular reason?
Zambia Breweries are about the only company in Zambia together with Dangote that reflects their product price according to the economic trends.