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
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Don’t be used by foreigners in accessing CEEC funds - Solwezi DC
By Kabanda Chulu in Solwezi
Sat 20 Feb. 2010, 03:00 CAT
SOLWEZI District commissioner Frobisher Fulayi has warned Zambians not be used as ‘fronts’ by foreigners in accessing funds from the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC).
And CEEC director general Mable Mung’omba has advised people accessing the empowerment fund to stay focused since business success does not happen overnight.
During commissioning and monitoring of various projects funded by the CEEC on Thursday, Fulayi said the funds were aimed at reducing poverty levels in the country as well as giving people an opportunity to enhance their livelihoods.
“We challenge people to take advantage of these funds and explore the immense potential which this province has in terms of natural resources and the growth in mining activities is giving an opportunity for other sectors to grow such as supplying goods and also skills training like schools,” Fulayi said.
“CEEC will continue developing various products so that the funds go in the right direction of empowering citizens but we are warning people not to be used as fronts by foreigners to access these funds. We are not against joint ventures but people should be careful to avoid being pushed out after accessing the funds and companies become successful.”
And Mung’omba said sticking to a business plan was important in any business environment.
“Some people are struggling to pay back the loans because they are busy diverting money obtained from CEEC to invest in something they wrongly think that will make quick returns for them to pay back,” Mung’omba said.
“But put money on a project you intend to do and stay focused because business success does not happen overnight and we are advising people to stick to their business plans. For example, others when they hear that it is lucrative to trade in goats in the DR Congo they want to go there.
If they hear that rice business is booming in Angola, they want to get there but businesses should not be run like this since things do not happen this way.”
She commended the proprietors of Hanshel Girls High School which got K617 million and Sunrise Milling which got K243 million, for showing commitment and determination to implement their projects.
“They have showed clear demonstration and commitment and their repayments are on track and we will not have reasons to say no when they ask for more funds to expand since they have shown commitment and we only gave them working capital because they already had established structures,” said Mung’omba.
Out of the K10 billion budgetary allocations to the North Western Province, the CEEC has disbursed about K5 billion to finance 19 projects, which Mung’omba and her team are now monitoring and commissioning.
Labels: CEEC, MABLE MUNG'OMBA
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Mung’omba clarifies issuessurrounding CEEC funds
By Kabanda Chulu in Mwinilunga
Thu 18 Feb. 2010, 09:10 CAT
CITIZEN Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) Director General Mable Mungomba has said there is need to change the wrong perception that the Commission only funds projects that have collateral such as physical assets.
Addressing Mwinilunga residents on Tuesday on the possibility of funding local people to revive the pineapple cannery and factory, Mungomba said CEEC funds were development focused aimed at capacity building to result in ownership and empowerment.
The once vibrant pineapple cannery has been vandalised with no existing structures in place. Mungomba explained that disbursing citizen’s empowerment funds were like a learning curve and not every beneficiary would succeed at the first instance.
“There has been a communication breakdown because when we ask about collateral, we are not asking for a house since we are not like a bank and this perception about empowerment funds should be corrected especially that some people get scared when they hear about loans and certain conditions,” Mungomba said.
“The collateral we want is your bankable business proposal because if we go ahead to fund a plan which is not bankable then we are creating space for that person to fail since CEEC is not just about funding but we need to create skills development and capacity building hence empowerment. For example, if you want a tractor, CEEC can buy it without asking for anything but how you intend to use that equipment and it becomes yours after loan repayment.”
Labels: CEEC, MABLE MUNG'OMBA
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