Maravi

Mwanachingwala threatens to burn Zambia Sugar fields

Mwanachingwala threatens to burn Zambia Sugar fields
By Staff Reporters
Tue 25 May 2010, 04:00 CAT

CHIEF Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka says he will ask his subjects to set fire to sugarcane fields if Zambia Sugar Company management does not rescind its decision to conduct business with the Mazabuka District Business Association.

And Mazabuka Contractors and Suppliers interim chairperson Brave Mweetwa on Sunday briefly confiscated a recorder belonging to Mazabuka Community Radio station reporter, Joe Kandwe as he recorded the speech by the chief.

Addressing a meeting of contractors and suppliers opposed to the Zambia Sugar Company’s decision to conduct business with the Mazabuka District Business Association, at Mazabuka Golf Club, chief Mwanachingwala warned that he would order his subjects to burn the cane as a way of forcing the company to revert to the old system of awarding contracts to individuals.

‘’I will order my subjects to burn the cane fields if the company does not change its controversial one vendor number policy for the local entrepreneurs. I know my image is dented but I will not stop speaking for the business persons who have rebelled against the association,’’ declared chief Mwanachingwala.

The chief, who was supposed to co-chair the meeting with district commissioner Tyson Hamaamba, bragged of having support from government and also threatened to sort out company corporate affairs manager, Lovemore Sievu until he was removed from his position.

Hamaamba failed to show up despite contractors waiting for him.

Chief Mwanachingwala denounced Sievu, who was not part of the meeting and charged that he would continue lobbying government until Sievu was fired because of his alleged favouratism in the awarding of contracts to foreign companies.

Chief Mwanachingwala said three weeks ago, he under took a trip to South Africa to probe whether the new measures of conducting business had the blessings of Illovo but the investigations proved that it was done by Zambia Sugar Company management.

He also encouraged the contractors and suppliers of goods and services to petition the company and demand the rejection of the company’s decision to conduct business with the Mazabuka District Business Association.

Chief Mwanachingwala also instructed the traders to demand 70 per cent business with the company and that contracts be awarded to individual local traders.

He also telephoned Zambia Sugar Company human resource director, Doreen Kabunda and a marketing director to find out why management was failing to deal with Sievu although the discussion was not shared to the meeting.

Chief Mwanachingwala also warned the reporters from Mazabuka Community Radio station against writing negative stories about the meeting because proceedings were not meant for the consumption of the community.

He openly declared his hatred for the radio station and said he would be comfortable issuing press statements to Chikuni Radio Station to air his grievances about Zambia Sugar Company.

Zambia Sugar Company has maintained that it would only conduct business with Mazabuka District Business Association because the old system was rotten as it was prone to corruption and nepotism particularly that it has been infiltrated by some company officials working in league with the traders to loot the company of its resources.

Dubious cartels have been established at Zambia Sugar where some company employees award contracts to traders after which they are paid huge kick backs for facilitating the contracts.

Company corporate affairs manager, Lovemore Sievu said management would only comment upon studying the chief’s speech but he however maintained the decision by management to conduct business with the association was final and not reversible.

Labels: CHIEF MWANACHINGWALA, MAZABUKA DISTRICT, ZAMBIA SUGAR COMPANY

posted by MrK @ 4:16 AM