Zim drinks firm to set up plant in Kitwe

Zim drinks firm to set up plant in Kitwe
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:58:06 PM

A Zimbabwean firm has planned to set up a beverage manufacturing plant in Kitwe at a total cost of US $150 million. Footprint Holdings director Godfrey Lubinga said in an interview that his firm would further create 1,000 jobs in Kitwe following the establishment of the plant in the area.

“We also intend to open branches in all the nine provinces of Zambia and create 1,000 jobs in each of the provinces. On the Copperbelt, the plant will be opened in Kitwe. We expect to spend a total of US $150 million for the Kitwe plant, this money would go mainly for machinery,” he said.

Lubinga said everything had been put in place for the opening of the Kitwe plant, with an expected production of around 10,000 litres of soft drinks of different flavours.

He disclosed that in Eastern Province, the plant would be set up in Chipata and would target the Malawian market.

“With the global financial crisis, we thought it is important to help finding a solution in fighting the credit crunch by way of starting up such ventures. The most important thing is to assist the present government to create employment in these economic difficulties,” he said.

Lubinga said apart from trying to create jobs, his firm was determined to ensure that youths, especially those just graduating from schools, were equipped with skills that would help them survive the credit crunch.

“We want to train the youths to go into manufacturing firms than just giving them jobs,” he said.

And Lubinga warned that Zambia’s economy was slowly sliding into the Zimbabwe situation.

“The problem Zambia is going through is a dawn of a new era called ‘understanding’ the boundary between knowledge and ignorance, which Jesus so often referred to as ‘you shall know the truth that will set you free’ and that those with eyes shall see. Unquestionably the moral problems the nation confronts are of great significance. Any people without a solid moral footing are soon emasculated, confused and lack appropriate purpose and direction. A responsible moral code is essential to the Zambian society well-being. Yet there is something that may in fact underlie moral ideals, something that provides an even stronger, permanent foundation for society and for human progress,” said Lubinga.