ZNS Commander Urges Zesco to Ensure Uninterrupted Power Supply to Critical Milling Plants in Western Province
The Zambia National Service (ZNS) Commander, Lieutenant General Maliti Solochi, has appealed to Zesco Limited to prioritize uninterrupted power supply to two key milling plants in Western Province.
This move aims to mitigate the production challenges faced by Country Millers and APG due to frequent power outages, which have led to an erratic supply of mealie meal in Mongu and its surrounding areas.
Lt. Gen. Solochi’s appeal followed his visit to the affected milling plants, where he witnessed firsthand the severe impact of load shedding on mealie meal production.
“Excluding these critical milling plants from load shedding schedules will ensure a steady supply of mealie meal to the people of Mongu and beyond,” he emphasized. “We therefore make an earnest appeal to Zesco to consider our request and support our efforts to enhance food security in the region.”
The two milling plants, along with the Sioma Milling Plant, have a combined production capacity of 310 tonnes per day. However, due to load shedding, their output has been drastically reduced to just 25 percent of their potential, causing panic buying and anxiety among local residents.
The initiative to prioritize power supply to these plants is expected to boost their production to full capacity, thereby stabilizing the mealie meal supply chain in the Western region.
In response, Zesco’s Area Manager, Mr. Teddy Chiyasa, pledged to seriously consider the ZNS Commander’s appeal and work towards finding a solution to the power supply challenges, beginning with Country Millers.
The ZNS Commander commended Zesco for their commitment to providing reliable power to the milling plants, a move he believes will significantly enhance food security in the region.
In a related development, Country Millers’ representative, Mukumbuta Mukumbuta, announced plans to open a new plant in Kaoma in partnership with ZNS. This expansion aims to better serve the population in Kaoma and the surrounding regions, further supporting local economies and bolstering food security.
Lt. Gen. Solochi praised Country Millers for their nationalistic approach to business and expressed a strong commitment to deepening the partnership for the benefit of the people of Western Province.
The collaboration between ZNS and local milling companies highlights ongoing efforts to address food security challenges in Zambia, ensuring a steady supply of essential commodities and supporting the nation’s economic stability.
