By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
TIMBER processors on the Copperbelt Province have bemoaned the high prices of raw timber which has affected sales.
Recently, the price of timber per cubic metre increased from about K42,000 to K52,000, leaving the processors and dealers with no choice but to increase the price for processed wood.
Kitwe-based wood processing company, Bonds Investment Limited operations manager Emmanuel Ng’ona said the increase in the price of raw timber had made business difficult.
Mr Ng’ona said if the price of timber did not reduce, most companies dealing in the commodity would be left with no choice but to reduce their workforce.
“Business has been slow because most customers are struggling to cope with the new wood costs compared to the same month last year.
“This is because recently, Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFICO) which adjusted the price for timber upwards,” Mr Ng’ona said.
According to the Zambia National Association for Sawmillers (ZNAS),  the industry has more than 527 small-scale enterprises in the country employing a minimum of 10 workers per sawmill.
The industry contributes about 14,000 direct and indirect jobs especially in log harvesting, loading, processing and transportation.
Meanwhile, the timber processors have welcomed plans by the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) to introduce industrial yards across the country.
Mr N’gona said timber processors had been grappling with access to finance, therefore the move would provide an empowerment platform for the members.
Last week, CEEC announced that it had mobilised over K200 million from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) to fund industrial yards in the 10 provinces of the country.
The four targeted industries would  be metal fabrication, wood work, automotive works, and agro processing.