Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation Plc (ZAFFICO), the Agro Forestry company at the centre of the lucrative Mukula export has announced that its managing director Kangwa Bwalya has resigned from his position as Managing Director and stepped down from the board of directors of the corporation.
And the Board of Directors of Corporation has since appointed its Director of Special Projects, Brian Mutale to act as Managing Director for administrative convenience in the interim.
According to information made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Bwalya resigned with effect from 13th September, 2021. The note seen by ZBT stated that “the ZAFFICO Plc Board of Directors thanks Bwalya for his contribution to the company and wishes him well in his future endeavors,” Company secretary Chanza Sikazwe said.
Sikazwe said ZAFFICO Plc has since commenced a process of identifying Bwalya’s successor and shareholders will be advised of the appointment of a substantive Managing Director in due course. The company did not state the reasons behind Bwalya’s exit.
“As an Interim measure, the Board of Directors has since appointed the Corporation’s Director of Special Projects, Mutale to act as Managing Director for administrative convenience,” he said.
Sikazwe said Mutale holds a Master’s Degree in Development Finance from Stellenbosch University (Cape Town); a B.Sc. (Hons) Economics from University of Zimbabwe and B. Sc. in Forestry from Copperbelt University (Kitwe).
He is a member of the Institute of Directors of Zambia (IoDZ) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Development Finance (CIDEF). He is also a Certified Balanced Score Card Professional (Strategic Planning) from Washington University College of Professional Studies. Mutale has over 18 years of experience in both the public and private sectors.
Prior to joining ZAFFICO, he worked for the National Council for Construction (NCC) as head of Business Development. “Other companies he has worked for include the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission; Ministry of Agriculture and Wood Processing Industries of Ndola,” he said.
ZAFFICO had been given the mandate to handle high public interest Mukula exports, a responsibility that has put the Agro forestry company at the centre of a lucrative and high value export business. It is however not confirmed if this resignation is related to Mukula export deals.
