Acting President Mutale Nalumango has called on the private sector to be innovative to help mitigate the effects of climate change that the country is currently facing.
Mrs Nalumango says it is important that both government and the private sector work together to provide solutions to the current climate shocks as they cannot be mitigated by government alone.
She notes that government remains committed to ensuring that there is a conducive operating environment to support Zambian local manufacturers as they play a major role in the growth of the country’s economy.
ZANIS reports that Mrs Nalumango was speaking shortly after she toured SARO Agro Industrial Limited in Lusaka today.
Mrs Nalumango noted that the tour of the SARO Company demonstrates its capacity to significantly contribute to Zambia’s economic growth through the use of local solutions by Zambian owned companies.
“This is evidenced through the manufacture of customer tailored center pivots, solar energy and solar hummer mills which are all climate smart and user-friendly equipment,” she explained.
Mrs Nalumango commended SARO limited for their innovations that are solar driven hence helping in mitigating the effects of climate change that have affected water production, energy sector, and food stability in the country.
“I am aware that while all sectors of the economy have been affected, the agricultural and energy sectors have been adversely affected. Due to the multifaceted nature of the impact of the drought on the economy, it is impossible for the government alone to respond to the new challenges,” she added.
She further applauded SARO for providing products and services which were once previously only imported into the country which proved to be very expensive for an ordinary Zambian.
Ms Nalumango called on the company to continue with their innovations and remain consistent by making their products affordable for the benefit of the Zambians.
The Acting President also called upon other industry players to emulate SARO industries in mitigating and responding to the impacts of the drought in a multisectoral manner as it has adversely affected almost all sectors of the economy.
And speaking during the same tour, SARO Agro Industrial Limited Managing Director, Ashok Oza thanked the government for identifying SARO as a partner in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Mr Oza called on the government to support Zambian companies in order for them to grow and contribute to job creation and help in the execution of government’s programmes.
SARO Agro Industrial Limited has over 400 employees with ten branches throughout Zambia and produces solar pumps, solar power backup solutions, tractors, farm and irrigation machinery, food processing machines and farm trailers and fuel tanks.
