WEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WORRIED WITH HALTED GROUNDNUTS EXPORT PLANS

WESTERN Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry ( WCCI) has expressed concern over its halted initiative of starting to export groundnuts from Western Province into neighbouring Angola.

Western Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry regional Coordinator Fred Mulozi has disclosed in an interview with ZANIS in Mongu that the halted prospective development has been brought about by non-well-meaning individuals seeking employment, who have invaded and illegally occupied his office.

Mr Mulozi says in 2021, WCCI was given a research by the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) to identify farmers that should work hard and start quarterly supplies of about 30 to 60 tonnes of groundnuts to Angola after coming up with the crop export initiative. Mr Mulozi says upon realising that the province was currently not having capacity to meet the demand of their Angolan counterpart, WCCI contacted the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) that later engaged the chamber of commerce and farmers in Eastern Province who agreed to enter into a joint venture.

He says, due to the confusion that occurred at his office, the groundnut export initiative has come to a halt, but was however quick to mention that WCCI can still try to find out if the Angolans are still interested and then make a follow-up with farmers in Eastern Province.

The Western Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry Regional Coordinator further appealed to the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry to advise the private sector that does not understand cooperate governance to stop interfering with operations of WCCI secretariat and management.