Zambeef opens $12m wheat flour mill

President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned a $12 million Zambeef wheat flour milling plant in Mpongwe District on the Copperbelt Province.

The newly commissioned plant is expected to produce 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat flour annually.

The President, who was also in Mpongwe to witness the launch of the winter maize harvest at Chambatata Farm, said he was pleased that “Zambeef and other farmers responded positively to our call for early and winter maize planting, especially in light of the devastating drought the country has faced”.

He urged other farmers and entrepreneurs across the country to follow Zambeef’s example in value chain addition, creating jobs and other opportunities for Zambians.

In addition to wheat farming, Zambeef will now produce wheat flour for both local consumption and export.

“The government remains committed to transforming the agricultural sector by adopting climate-resilient practices such as irrigation and mechanisation,” the President added.

In a statement released after the launch, Zambeef said, “This is for the farmers who work the land, the families who rely on local produce, and the communities who will thrive because of this.”

The company listed three major benefits of the mill’s opening: Zambian wheat, more jobs, and quality food for families.