Congratulations to our Zambia Sugar Plc team who were placed second in the Zambia Water Stewardship Awards last week.
The competition, the only one of its kind in the country, was hosted by the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) and Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI). It is focused on promoting sound water resource management practices by companies.
Holding the trophy at centre are Mwaala Sipilanyambe, Zambia Sugar’s Safety Health Environmental & Risk (SHER) Manager and Ackson Banda, Marketing Route to Consumer Manager. On the extreme left is the Zambian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Chabuka Kawesha, with Mushuma Mulenga, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry on the far right. ABInbev (Zambian Breweries) were the overall winners.
The awards aim to promote, incentivise and recognise good corporate water stewardship amongst water-using companies in Zambia as well as to promote the sustainable use of water resources in line with international best-practice.
Company entries were evaluated against four criteria, each with their own hurdle-rates:
- The clear demonstration of a company’s official commitment to water stewardship;
- The company’s compliance with water-related legal and regulatory requirements and its respect of water rights;
- The company’s positive participation in catchment governance, and
- Its provision of water and sanitation services (WASH) to workers on site.
Relying on the Kafue River for irrigation and provision of water for its operations, Zambia Sugar set out to demonstrate that all water drawn from the river is used sustainably and in line with its Integrated Sugar Cane Processing Model. This ensures the efficient use of water and the promotion of waste-water recycling.
Zambia Sugar works with various partners such as the WWF in order to enhance its own water stewardship activities. These partnerships ensure that its sustainable resources and water management activities are aligned with international best practice. Particularly its active participation, one of three private sector member companies, in the Kafue Flats Joint Action Group (KFJAG).
In addition to substantial and long-standing investments in water supply and sanitation for the business’ own irrigation and factory requirements, Zambia Sugar also supplies raw water to the town of Mazabuka. The regular upgrading of its water treatment plants provides potable (drinking) water to 16 000 residents within the Nakambala Estate.
Winning an award of this magnitude is a major endorsement of Zambia Sugar’s sustainable water-usage initiatives – well done to the team!