By Mubanga Mubanga
Kafue member of parliament Mirriam Chonya has disclosed that Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) will increase fertilizer production capacity from the current 70,000 tonnes to 432,000 tonnes per annum, after the installation of a new equipment.
NCZ has purchased the new equipment at a cost of US $6.8 million.
Speaking at NCZ offices in Kafue on Sunday, following the arrival of new blending and granulating machines, Chonya said the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema as chairman of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) was bearing fruit.
She said President Hichilema’s leadership at lDC, under which NCZ falls, had made it possible for the company to rise from the ashes, and to grow six times more than it was before.
“There was some politicking when the President himself was going to be Chairman of IDC isn’t it? And he is still chairman. So, this is the leadership that he wanted to provide,” Chonya said.
And NCZ chief executive officer Chanda Mongo said the procurement of the new machines was a long process, with some frustrations in-between.
“There have been many stages. Back and forth, sometimes when you think we achieved and we are now about to procure, you find that other process pulls us back,” he said. “And yes, there have also been stages of frustration. At one point we were almost grounding to a halt because we were being asked to start all over again.”
NCZ vice-board chairperson Trevor Hambayi said the procurement of the new equipment amounted to US$6.8 million from the investment funds generated internally using NCZ resources.
The arrival of the equipment was witnessed by various individuals who included government officials, NCZ board members, management, staff and residents of Kafue.
