KEZI Industry has expressed interest to set up a Sugar Plantation in Ngabwe district at a cost of US $400m.
In a statement issued to Money FM News by Central Province administration investment promotion officer Sylvester Mwale, the company has expressed interest to set up a sugar plantation on 15,000 hectares of land in chief Mukuwe’s area.
Mr Mwale says the company had initially planned to set up the plantation in Chief Nkole’s area in Kapiri Mposhi but could not go ahead after the Water Resource Management Agency (WARMA) opted against offering it water rights due to insufficient water.
He says the project will require one million cubic metres of water per year.
He says a team of officers from the Central Province administration in Kabwe and the investors recently undertook a trip to check on the availability of the land in Ngabwe.
And Kabwe Council chairperson Tshili Thabiso Mizinga said the land that has been identified is occupied by a few people as well as fishermen.
She however, noted that the 20,000 hectares that was being requested could not be found in Chief Mukuwe alone.
She revealed that the local authority would facilitate the acquisition of up 10,000 hectares as well as an industrial plot within the designated area for industries where Kezi Industries could set up its processing plant.
She was however concerned that a number companies that expressed interest to invest in Ngabwe have gone back without actualizing their business after visiting the area. She hoped that Kezi would go ahead and invest.
Kezi Chief Executive officer Kennedy Simpemba said the company was ready to get any amount of land that could be available in Chief Mukuwe’s area and seek addition parcel across the Kafue River in Chief Ngabwe’s area.
He noted that the identified piece of land was appropriate for the sugar plantation and hoped the local authority would expedite the process of offering it to the company.
Central Province has continued to receive investment inquiries and pledges in various sectors of the economy following the successful hosting of the regional Investment Forum and Expo last year.
Both foreign and local companies have shown interest to set up various businesses in some districts while others have already established their roots in the provinc