Mulungushi Textiles works ongoing – minister
Written by Millennium on April 22, 2020
KETRA KALUNGA writes
WORKS at the Zambia-China Mulungushi textiles are on-going despite the impact of the coronavirus on international logistics, says Central province minister Sydney Mushanga.
Mr Mushanga said so far a lot of progress has been made at the manufacturing plant which has been put under the care of the ministry of Defense.
Speaking in an interview last week, Mr Mushanga said works were progressing well even with the COVID-19 global pandemic which has affected the world system.
“With the COVID-19, everything is being affected but works at Mulungushi Textiles are in progress, so far a lot has been done,” said Mr. Mushanga.
The provincial minister said it was the government’s desire that the Mulungushi textiles be re-opened and offer employment to about 2 000 people in the province and the country at large.
And Mr. Mushanga emphasized recently that the re-opening of the Zambia-China Mulungushi textiles was not political as may be perceived by some sections of society.
The Bwacha constituency Member of Parliament (MP) said despite some negative assertions, Government’s main aim was towards the re-opening of Mulungushi Textiles to create jobs for the people.
He further maintained that as the PF-led government, they would ensure that the factory is re-opened even if it meant doing so a day before the 2021 general elections so that people could have the much-desired jobs in line with the past manifesto.
Mr. Mushanga said about US$2 million has been pumped into the renovations of the quarters for experts that would come from China to install the new machinery and the office block among others.
Once operational, the factory was expected to annually produce about one million pieces of garments and 1, 197 tons of cottonseed that would be used to produce cooking oil.
He said the project was expected to develop among other infrastructure the spinning mill, ginnery, power, and water network system, effluent management workshop, storm water drainage and sewerage treatment and backup power facilities.