By PHELILE MWANDILA –

GOVERNMENT has expressed concern over the practice of unhygienic re-packaging of the sugar and other products into small packets by markerteers.

Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Siazongo Siakalenge said the people’s health was Government’s priority.

Mr Siakalenge said this in a speech read on his behalf by acting Permanent Secretary Muteyo Kaluba during the launch of the 500 grammes household sugar packs at Nakambala Sugar Estate in Mazabuka on Thursday.

“The health of the people is always a priority for the Government; as a result, Government is concerned with the practice of unhygienic re-packaging of sugar and other products into small packets.

“It is my hope that the introduction of the smaller packs will help curb this practice,” he said.

Mr Siakalenge also added that Government recognised Zambia Sugar’s input to the country’s economy and the creation of wealth in the He said Government was aware of the company’s contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through it fiscal contributions, employment creation as well as synergies with customers and suppliers.

Mr Siakalenge said the company’s investments and activities in the local community through smallholder schemes such as the Kaleya smallholders, Magoobbo and recently Manyonyo, met Government’s expectations on the kind of impact large scale investors should have in the places where they operated.

Government, he said, would ensure it continued to support companies that took such initiatives, for it was the only way the country could grow its exports and generate wealth.

He said it was Government’s desire to support and facilitate the growth of the country’s manufacturing industries and sustain economic growth by first growing the country’s local manufacturing base.

Zambia Sugar managing director Aubrey Chibumba said the 500g household pack had been packaged in a hygienic manner and it would be purchased at cheaper prices by customers countrywide.

Dr Chibumba said the 500g household sugar pack was also convenient for customers who would prefer smaller sugar packs to the bigger ones.

He said the company, however, had been facing challenges in its production and packaging of its sugar, and called on Government to fully support it.