Cooperators urged to emulate Lungu’s passion

Sat, 25 Feb 2017 11:27:39 +0000

THE Zambia Cooperative Federation president Michael Chinganya has challenged the cooperative movement in North Western Province to emulate President Edgar Lungu’s passion to revamp  cooperatives into vibrant societies again.

Mr Chinganya said revamping the cooperative movement will benefit members and the nation through economic development.

He was speaking during his three-day tour of the province.

He said the aim of the visit was to learn and understand the primary objectives of the cooperatives from the district up to provincial level.

He said it was high time for the cooperative movement to emulate the Head of State’s passion for cooperative movement by becoming vibrant societies again through diversification into other business activities than concentrating on agriculture only.

He disclosed that North Western Province was the third province to be visited after Eastern and Western provinces, describing it as beneficial to the institution in terms of planning.

And ZCF director general James Chirwa assured the co-operators in the province on the delivery of the solar hammer mills.

He disclosed that the province will receive 128 solar milling plants, adding that Solwezi district will receive 22 plants out of the total 128 of which one has already been installed in Kalumbila district.

He urged primary cooperatives to merge and create larger cooperatives in order to become viable entities. He also said the activities of the cooperative movements were not only limited to agriculture business but even other sectors, stating that taking cooperatives as a serious business was beneficial. Meanwhile, provincial senior cooperatives officer Katasha Sinyangwe has implored the co-operators to understand the concept of working together.

And co-operators in the province have thanked ZCF for sensitising them on the benefits of merging and have promised to do so.

Chavuma district cooperative chairperson Benson Mahafu applauded ZCF support, saying the district cooperative union was ready to meet with the primary cooperatives and sensitise them over the importance of merging into larger cooperatives.