Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba says the visit to the District by South African President, Jacob Zuma and his Zambian counterpart, Rupiah Banda is of significant economic importance to the district.
Mr Hamaamba told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, President Zuma is expected to visit Mazabuka on Wednesday next week where he is expected to commission the K 840 billion Zambia Sugar Company expansion project.
He said the visit by the duo is important to the district because it will expose the economic potential the district has to the outside world.
Mr Hamaamba said Mazabuka district has become a strategic economic base for the country because of the massive revenue contribution to the country’s gross domestic product.
He further said the commissioning of the project will help address problems of job opportunities for the local people.
Mr Hamaamba said the community will benefit greatly apart from the job opportunities because the company’ budget under its social corporate responsibility will increase.
He said Zambia Sugar Company PLC has been involved in the rehabilitation of schools, health facilities and the Keep Zambia clean programme through opening up of blocked drainages in Cholera prone townships such Ndeke and Zambia compound.
Zambia Sugar Company Corporate Affairs Manager, Lovemore Sievu who also confirmed the arrival of the two heads of state to the district said the visit is important to the company.
Mr Sievu said the commissioning of the project by South African President symbolises the strong economic bonds existing between Zambia and South Africa.
He said the expansion is based on a 50 percent increase in cane crushing capacity of the factory due to expanded sugar cane growing and the construction of new canals to deliver irrigation water to news areas of sugarcane development.
Mr. Sievu said the growth in the production comes from a combination of Zambia Sugar’s own estate operations, commercial out growers and small growers scheme adding that both new and existing totalling some 10,500 hectares.
He observed that as a result of the expansion, sugar production base is expected to 440,000 tonnes of sugar per annum, and increase of approximately 200,000 tonnes compared to the pre expansion period.
The second phase of the expansion was completed in April,2009.
Mr Sievu said Molasses production is expected to increase to 95,000 tonnes by the end of the project and that feasibility studies to investigate the production of alcohol for the national fuel pool will be undertaken.
He also revealed that if an ethanol plant proves viable, the company will be able to supply approximately 10 percent of the country’s fuel requirement.
Late republican President, Levy Mwanawasa officially launched the project on 18 September,2007 in Mazabuka.
ZANIS
Thats great news about the expansion…but lets have more of these “big” agricultural setups all over the country…zambia is blessed with vast tracts of arable land.lets have more plantations in mpika,lundazi,mwinilunga,chongwe,mporokoso…..all over.in short lets fakako nzelu ku agriculture SERIOUSLY.
The price of sugar should also be reduced to affordable price by all zambians, we dont import this comodity so it should be cheaper.
I have no problem with Zuma visiting Zambia but I have a problem with the continous galavanting of RB
This RB guy does he ever stay in the office?
If Banda was a good student of history, he will know that he is not Zulu and will stop this cozy cozy habit of his with Zuma. The present day Ngonis of Zambia are descended from Zwangendaba. Now, Zwangendaba’s Jere people were part of the Nguni under Zwide of the Ndwandwe. They together with Zwide were defeated by Shaka “Mshini Wami” Zulu at the battle of Mhlatuze in 1818 giving rise to three splinter groups namely Soshangane, Nxaba and Zwangendaba. In 1831, Zwangendaba was yet again defeated, this time by Soshangane and forced to move northeastwards into Mashonaland where in his only recorded win he defeated Changamire Dombo’s Rozwi empire forcing Sekuru Dombo to commit suicide. However, Nxaba defeated Zwangendaba and forced him to move north, reaching and crossing the Zambezi…
Sebuloni, is this you in my film here ?
http://www.twala.co.uk/pole-dancer
River on November 19th,1835 a day when there was an eclipse of the sun. Upon his death in 1848 at Mapupo in Tanganyika, succession disputes erupted and the Jeres split once again with one group led by his son Mpenzeni moving south west into Bembaland where they were defeated by Chitimukulu’s gallant Katangese warriors. They moved southwards and later south-west into Petauke before they settled in Mtenguleni before they moved to Luangeni village east of Chipata. So as you can see, Banda’s Jere Ngoni were cowards who fled from one defeat after another and have nothing in common with Zuma’s Zulus who have for all history been gallant warriors. But Banda’s Kakwendo munjila could be inherited from Zwangendaba’s constant moves from one defeat after another.
Bashi Mutale, I agree with you 100%. Places like Kawambwa are good areas for tea growing..why can’t the govt support this project instead getting fake stories “we will get this project going when we get in power” Mongu cashew nut…do these chaps know how much cashnew nuts cost abroad? Mansa butteries…KPG(Kapili Glass Factory) pineapples in Mwinilunga just to mention but..on the other hand, let we the people utlise this areas..I mean how can one be on the river banks and gets thirst? there are probably two things it’s either he is dull or needs someone to tell him that he is sitting on water and all he needs is just to grab a cup and drink them water..
#5 and #6,spot on my brother,tell these cowards frm RB farm in the east that they dont measure up to the mighty zulu worriors.very good piece of history my bro.
#5 & 6 Sebuloni Kamutanda – You are judging RB unfairly! Its not that RB wants a cozy-cozy relationship with Zuma, No! Its that Zambia Sugar’s majority Share holders-illovo Sugar originate from SA or have their Head office for Africa in SA. I dont like RB also, with his complacent attitude. If you are in Zed, and being to Mazabuka during the project implementation stage, you will will have known that the majority if not all contractors are from SA. The operations of Zambia Sugar are closely linked with illovo sugar SA. Infact except for historical conotations the name would have being changed to illovo Sugar Zambia!
Zuma, knowing how busy he is will not even come & grace such a small insignificant project in a god forskaen, lord knows where Mazabuka.
# 7 China walasa sure we have mansa batteries still standing idol in mansa and magnisuim still ido in Bahata area, kawabwa tea, pineapples in mwinilunga and many other places in zambia blessed with all these natural resources.whats really wrong for failing to take advantage of what we have? state machinery has failed to improve zambian economy despite many resources.
#5 and #6.., I see you recall your history very well. But before you attack us Bandas as cowards, I’d like to implore you to go a delve further into history.
Being the good student of history that you seem to be, you may want to recall where the bantu-speaking tribes of Zambia came from. You would agree with me that these masses of people had earlier FLED from the central/northern-western parts of Africa. And do you recall why they were fleeing? Succession disputes, etc… And does than now mean were are all cowards?
All this is happening because of our listening Government. MMD is a very good party. I tell you!
#5 and 6 very good piece of hisotry indeed. However, i think it is not important for the topic at hand. The DC is talking the positive things the visit by the two heads of state may bring to Mazabuka not whether the two are related or not. As properly observed by one blogger RSA has a stake in Zambia sugar no wonder Zuma is coming. The only sad part is (if it is true) that contractors came from RSA which means most of the money mentioned goes back to RSA!
To the question asked by #12, Yes all tribes in Zambia came from somewhere running away from wars with other peoples. And most of them from Congo. It is only the Tongas and may be Tumbukas that I do not know of coming from elsewhere. Infact strictly speaking Bandas are not Ngonis but Chewas. They only mixed with the Ngonis when the Ngonis broke up the Might Chewa Kingdom of Kalonga Gawa Undi. The true is there are no true Ngonis in Zambia at the moment thats why no one claiming to be Ngoni can even speak the Ngoni language they speak either Chewa or Nsenga. Remember when they were running away from Shaka they did not carry Ngoni women so they inherited women from other peoples they conqured on the way!
#5, #6 Zebuloni Kamutanda, It is our common failing as Zambians that we tend to dislike a person and condemn even the good work he might do. 1. there is nothing wrong with Zuma coming to Zambia. It will give exposure to Zambia. 2. There is nothing wrong with Rupiah being a Banda. In fact he is not a Ngoni. He is a Chewa and the mother was a Bisa. 3. There is nothing wrong with being a Ngoni. The Nsengas surrendered to the Ngonis in 1835 without a fight but not all Nsengas are cowards. 4. There is nothing wrong with being an Eastener. 5. And when you examine the fundamentals, they tell you that there is nothing wrong with Rupiah Banda’s performance as President. Of course he closed down Fred Mmembe’s company, Zambian Airways and that has always been the problem.
No. 13 u are right. A benda e baleta amakasa ya nkalamo. RB has brought the lion’s foot-prints to Mazabuaka and Zambia. Bravol!
#17. You are right. RB is full of good surprises. That is the reason why I will vote for him in 2011. The man has a very powerful vision. This is what we call DEVELOPMENT. Thanks to MMD Government
#15…, you are absolutely right. But the arguments raised by #5 and #6 have no material value to the topic at hand. This habit of opposing just for the sake of opposing detracts from constructive reasoning and critical ability! Even when you dislike someone, at least one needs to have the decency to give credit where it is due. I seriously don’t see wats wrong with Zambia associating itself with RSA. In fact Zambia can learn a lot from RSA.
#11 – I don’t understand the use of the words ‘idol’ and ‘ido’ in your contribution.
Lobe Assistance MMD Chief Boot Licker. Us will not be in MMD 2011. Uka voter weka pali Bwezani
The reason why Zuma is coming to officiate is simple: ILLOVO!
#20…..i think #11 had the term “Idle” in mind….he is propably Sata’s cousin..LOL
# 23 AP, Thank you!
I can smell inferiority complex from very far away and Banda’s one is a skank number 1. True, Banda now speaks Ndebele because he was born and brought up in Mzilikazi’s empire in Zimbabwe and as we all know, Ndebele is todate still pure Zulu. Because of this, Banda really thinks he is Zulu and you should see the way he behaves in the presence of Zulus. For every occassion, be it a strip tease in Swaziland which is also a Zulu nation, “chakondwela mzathu Bwezani to bare it all, pali na bana” all in the name of “kaca”. Present day Ngonis in Zambia are not Zulu’s, they are Chewas and the sooner Banda realises this the better. No wonder, he even named his son Dingitswayo just to feel Zulu, atase!
Ubututu, in Zambia now the code words are wooing, boosting, what is Zuma’s visit going to boost? Who owns Zambia Sugar now? is it purely Zambian or South African? Please give us a report of what this visit will boost in the net few marks after this visit. Elyo iwe Banda, i think this mistake of putting some of these people in positions they don’t understand is a big problem, we should not let this happen to our country again. Look at what is happening, we are even calling Srilankans as investors. I ca’t wait for these fontinis to go!!
next few months