President Hakainde Hichilema has pointed at Zambia Sugar as a key partner in the country’s aspirations of expanding its economy for the betterment of every citizen.
The President was speaking in Lusaka yesterday, during the Mid-Year Private Sector Day in Lusaka where Zambia Sugar was anchor sponsor.
The event-theme was tagged “Driving Jobs and Shared Prosperity: Private Sector Steering Development and Growth.”
He commended Zambia Sugar for investing resources aligned with the country’s vision of growing the country’s economy.
He urged Zambia Sugar to contribute more than half of the one million metric tonnes of sugar by 2030, that the President added to his 10 10 5 33 11 development plan to become 10 10 5 3 3 1 1 1 plan.
Mr Hichilema further noted the need for deeper relations between government and the private sector, as doing so facilitates growth and jobs creation, hence expansion of the economy.
Speaking earlier, Zambia Sugar Managing Director, Oswald Magwenzi, said the company will continue playing its role as a partner to government and the citizens.
He highlighted that the company has heavily invested in food and energy production, industrialization, as well as commercial agriculture, hence helping grow Zambia’s economy.
Zambia Sugar is working towards increasing its sugarcane production area by an additional 5, 000 hectares in the medium term by expanding its out-grower programme.
Meanwhile, the company’s half-year production report points to a rise in total sugar production to 131,141 tonnes from 114,839 tonnes in the same period last year.
The company’s Factory efficiency also improved from 86% to 88%, supported by a K400 million investment in a Falling Film Evaporator and an K380 Million in turbo alternator with is adding 14 MW to its existing 40 MW power plant at Nakambala Estates due for commissioning in Q3 2026.