By JOHN SAKALA
Manyinga Town Council has approved a US $ 32.2 million Macadamia nuts plantation project in the District.
The proposed investment project was approved during Special Meeting of the Council held at the Civic Centre.
Council Secretary Kate Leo Mukonde said the project would be done under the Public Private Partnership(PPP) agreement with Global Human Benefit Zambia (GHBZ) after clearance from Ministry of Local Government ,Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Justice.
Ms Mukonde said the Council has already engaged the traditional leadership and 5000 hectares of land has been secured in Senior Chief Sikufele Chiefdom.
Ms Mukonde said the proposed investment was a partnership among the three parties namely the Local Authority, Senior Chief Sikufele and GHBZ.
The Council Secretary stated that the Council will have a 10 percent shareholding while the traditional leadership will have five percent shareholding in the Macadamia nuts plantation.
“Manyinga Town Council, his Royal Highness Senior Chief Sikufele and GHBZ will execute the project under the Public Private Partnership and this will be done within the legal framework governing the investments in the Country.
“Global Human Benefit Zambia will sign community contracts for social Corporate Responsibility, pay management fees and conduct an out grower scheme programme for the farmers in the District,” she said.
And speaking earlier, Council Chairperson Davinox Chikuta said the macadamia nut project will boost the economic status of the District as it will create jobs for the youths.
Mr Chikuta said the investor has taken on board the social impact on the local people occupying the land where the project will be located.
This is according to a media statement by Manyinga Town Council Public Relations Officer Kangwa Muma.
Manyinga is in North Western Province of Zambia, was declared a district in 2012 by former President Michael Chilufya Sata. The district has one gazzeted chief namely, Senior Chief Mwene Sikufele Akatoka Thompson, who is found in the Manyinga Central.
Manyinga district has one constituency with 12 wards. It is located in the North Western province of Zambia approximately 331 km from the provincial capital Solwezi, 540 km from the Copperbelt province and 950 km from the national capital, Lusaka.
The district covers a total area of about 21,851 square kilometers, 90 percent of which is land covered by woodlands and streams.
