Zambian Breweries has praised the new government for its dialogue and willingness to engage with business in order to grow the economy and improve livelihoods.
Speaking during a landmark government and private sector consultative forum facilitated by the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI), and was sponsored by the company, Corporate Affairs Director Ezekiel Sekele said: “Zambian Breweries is delighted to partner with ZACCI. Our purpose at Zambian Breweries is to grow livelihoods. We believe this can only be done through partnership – public-private partnership. We all have one common constituency to serve and that is to positively change the lives of our people in society.”
The event was attended by Finance Minister Felix Mutati, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe and Minister of National Development Planning Lucky Mulusa, along with leading business people.
Sekele told the ministers that Zambian Breweries had seen a 15 percent increase in revenue since the reduction of excise tax on clear beer from 60 percent to 40 percent at the beginning of the year, resulting in additional VAT being paid to the government and further investment in the business.
“At Zambian Breweries we want to continue being in business for the foreseeable future and hence sustainability is key. We urge government to continue to create a stable tax environment,” he added as he outlined the group’s commitment to supporting Zambian agriculture through the purchase of maize, sorghum, cassava and barley and , particularly, growing livelihoods of small scale farmers,” said Sekele in his closing remarks.
He also mentioned the company’s work on water sustainability and its Manja Pamodzi clean-up campaign on packaging waste.
During the meeting Mutati reiterated the government’s desire to work together with the private sector and engage with them on the national Budget and challenges faced by business.
Meanwhile Mwanakatwe pledged that the government would meet with the private sector on a regular basis in order to foster dialogue and address challenges in order to be a “listening government” that was “determined to get the economy on an even keel”.
WHERE IS MUTATI.THE MMD PRESIDENT OR FINANCE MINISTER? I’M CONFUSED. DON’T WE HAVE FRESH BLOOD THAT CAN SERVE AS MINISTERS THAN REPEATING THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAD FAILED EARLIER TO RULE THIS COUNTRY. HIS TIME , WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO NOW? PERFORM SOME MIRACLES? MMD MINISTERS( D SILIYA, MUTATI, LUBINDA e.t.c.
Reduce the price of beer
while zambia brewaries is try to create employment some agents doing opposite. nchelenge agent is exploiting retailers. plse mr. sekele investigate this agent who is selling eagle at k95 as wholesale
Growing de livelihoods of drunkards as lungu is de biggest of all.
Cooperate executives with true business acumen do not relay on Government Ministers to grow their businesses. Those that wish to be in good books with an illegal Government are not taking industry anywhere. Wait and see.