Zambia Sugar invests K10m in community projects

ZAMBIA Sugar together with other stakeholders will spend up to K10 million as part of its corporate social responsibility in Mazabuka. Zambia Sugar Managing Director Rebecca Katowa said the funds would be invested in upgrading Lubombo Road which is a key economic road in the district.

Ms Katowa said the project has so far created over 150 jobs mostly for the local youths.

She said this on Tuesday in Mazabuka when she led a team of cooperating partners to inspect construction works on the road.

The project is supported by Barclays Bank Zambia, Lafarge, National Council for Construction (NCC), People’s Action Forum and various government institutions.

“Zambia Sugar, Nanga Farms and other commercial sugar cane farms are located with Chief Naluama’s chiefdom.

The chiefdom has over the years supplied the labour force to Zambia Sugar, Nanga Farms and all the Commercial farms around Mazabuka.

“In return, Zambia Sugar and other stakeholders have provided social and economic amenities to the surrounding communities,” she said.

Ms Katowa said Zambia Sugar spends colossal sums of money every year to repair roads especially during the rainy season.

“Business opportunities in the farming areas have over the years been growing with a number of people in the chiefdom participating in the out-grower schemes. In this particular area, Zambia Sugar has supported the development of the Maggobbo and Manyonyo outgrower schemes.

“While we have supported this growth in the agricultural sector, infrastructure such as roads in the farming areas has remained a challenge.” She said.

She said poor road infrastructure in farming areas constrains access to market and other important areas.

Ms Katowa said the labour-based approaches adopted on the project would provide cheaper alternatives for construction and maintenance of public roads, while at the same time promote skills and enterprise development and job creation for the Lubombo community.