The much talked about revival of Mwinilunga Fruit Processing Company by the industrial Developments Corporation – IDC which was planned for commissioning by the end of 2020 has been derailed and is yet to be commissioned.
Sources from Mwinilunga told ZBT that the Mwinilunga’s Kalene fruit processing plant completion had been delayed and the commissioning is still outstanding as the plant construction has not been completed due to lack of equipment which is not yet in the country.
And a check with the project management company confirmed that the factory is not yet completed. Project Manager Charles Chifunda said the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the progress of setting up the plant because productivity has been very low in the industry that is manufacturing the equipment in India.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Chifunda said local productivity has also been affected by Covid-19 as the work has been very slow including in India where the equipment is coming from.
He said he is hopeful that the plant that was set for commissioning last year in October will be commissioned in June this year.
“The equipment is coming from India and as you know India has been hit badly with Covid-19 and the productivity is very low because there was a lockdown, so the manufacturing of the equipment could not be completed”, he said.
Chifunda also noted that works on the Katete fruit processing plant have also slowed down as the equipment, which is coming from the same manufacturers in India is yet to be received.
Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB), National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) jointly invested in the revamping of the Mwinilunga fruit processing plant in 2020.
The fruit processing plant will not be restricted to processing pineapples, which is the major crop from Mwinilunga, but will also be processing other fruits such as oranges, mangoes and several other fruits that are grown in Zambia. The plant will have seven production lines including mineral water processing.
