ZEMA shuts 2 firms for irregularities

THE Zambia Environmental Management Agency has ordered two manufacturing firms stop manufacturing plastic carriers bags with immediate effect.

Oriental Manufacturing Limited and HY investments Limited have been ordered to shut down operations for producing carrier bags and flat bags that are below 30 microns, contrary to the requirements .

ZEMA acting corporate affairs manager Friday Phiri said that the agency has ordered a stop to any activity related to the manufacture of plastic carriers and flat bags at both companies.

And ZEMA manager operations in Southern Region David Kapindula said that the two firms were making plastics contrary to the requirements of the Environmental Management regulations Statutory instrument number 65 of 2018.

He said that inspectors visited the two companies and discovered that they were producing plastics against the regulations.

He said that the affected companies will be required to write to ZEMA failure to which they will be taken to court.

The operations manager said that when inspectors visited the company, they found plastics which did not meet the standards and the owner was supposed to keep them for further investigation.

Meanwhile Oriental Steel Manufacturing limited managing director Li Jinggang said that after being warned two weeks ago, the companies started following the regulations of making the required 30 microns.

Mr Jinggang however denied allegations that he deliberately destroyed the plastics which were manufactured below the required measurements.

Meanwhile officers from ZEMA had a tough time to enter the premises of HY investments.

Company owners failed to comply with officers and accused ZEMA of interfering with their business. to