LUSAKA — Zambia Breweries has officially opened a K180 million expansion at its Lusaka South plant, doubling malt processing capacity and introducing a new packaging line for export markets in the COMESA region.
Managing director Michelle Kilpin said the investment would support local barley and maize farmers through contracted outgrower schemes in Mkushi and Chisamba. The facility incorporates water recycling technology that reduces consumption by 30 percent compared with the legacy plant.
Commerce Minister Chipoka Mulenga praised the project as evidence of Zambia’s improving investment climate. The Zambia Development Agency facilitated tax incentives under the Multi-Facility Economic Zone framework, which has attracted food processing, logistics and light manufacturing firms since 2019.
Union representatives welcomed job creation but pressed for formalisation of contract workers on the packaging line. Economists noted that beverage manufacturing contributes to VAT collections and downstream distribution employment across provincial depots.
The company plans to export an initial 12 million litres annually to Malawi and Zimbabwe, leveraging preferential trade rules. Analysts said stable power supply would be essential to meeting production targets amid ZESCO load-shedding.
