Maravi

Use empowerment funds to improve livelihoods, CEEC challenges Zambians

Use empowerment funds to improve livelihoods, CEEC challenges Zambians
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Thu 01 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT

CEEC director general Mable Mungomba has challenged Zambians to use empowerment funds as a catalyst to improve their livelihoods through embarking on economically viable projects.

And Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya has advised people in his province to take advantage of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and realise that not only the mines can provide ‘three meals a day’ on the table.

During a stakeholder consultative meeting with Fisenge Dairy Farmers’ Cooperatives to see how CEEC could finance some of the projects being undertaken, Mungomba said the Commission was considering a three way business model that would result in increased productivity of dairy herd as well as increasing production of horticulture crops and fodder.

She said the CEEC funded three way-business model would aim at increasing Fisenge dairy farmers’ productivity to include full utilisation of their farm areas by involving crop production as well as growing animal foodstuff throughout the year.

Mungomba said people should start looking at empowerment in a broader way.
“The model we want to implement in Fisenge is workable and it will change the lives of many people since already these farmers are doing it and CEEC should just be used as a catalyst to improve on what they are doing through implementing economically viable projects,” said Mungomba.

“We have realised that there is need to have animals that can be able to produce on average of 20 litres of milk per day and we shall go flat out to search for these required breeds and also farmers don’t get higher yields because their farms are not mechanised hence we shall partner with Saro Agro to supply irrigation equipment and Amiran Limited to help provide extension services when implementing the three way business model for Fisenge Dairy.”

And commissioning the Mukuba Breweries plant in Kitwe, Commerce Deputy Minister Lwipa Puma said CEEC was not a social fund.

“It is given out with a view that people pay back. It is a revolving fund and government would like to see CEEC to be self-reliant through those loans that will be paid back,” said Dr Puma.

And Lombanya said there was need as a country to move away from metal-based economy.

“… Let us think of things to do and not just queue at the mine’s offices. People should take advantage of the CEEC funds and implement workable projects,” said Lombanya.

Mukuba Breweries got K480 million from the CEEC as part of its working capital after facing problems in starting production following the acquisition of plant machinery.

Labels: CEEC, MABLE MUNG'OMBA, VILLIE LOMBANYA

posted by MrK @ 2:53 PM