GOVT, ZAM REVIVE ‘PROUDLY ZAMBIAN CAMPAIGN’ AS ZAMBIA GEARS FOR 60 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

Lusaka, Saturday (June 22, 2024)

The Government has pledged to market Zambian-made products beyond the borders as the Country Gears for 60 Years of Independence Celebrations.

Companies using the Proudly Zambian logo illegally have further been warned of legal action.

The Proudly Zambian Campaign (PZC), a Government initiative aimed at promoting quality local production, has spurred the uptake of Zambian-made products and services. 

Initiated by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, the Campaign seeks to encourage the production and consumption of high-quality local goods and services, which is pivotal for the growth of the country as it supports job creation, economic development and the industrialisation of the country. 

Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) President Ashu Sagar said the campaign continues to gain momentum as Zambia approaches its 60th independence anniversary.

“The PZC is implemented by the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM), which Association has been given the purview rights to issue the Proudly Zambian logo, on behalf of the Ministry, to companies who have gone through a vetting process and passed the requirements needed to be a Proudly Zambian company,” he said. 

Mr Sagar explained that to qualify for the Proudly Zambian logo, companies must formalize their businesses, comply with regulations, commit to employee welfare and safety and ensure a minimum of 35% local content in their products and services. 

He said the Campaign recently enlisted 10 new companies, and has increased its portfolio to include the aviation and banking sectors. 

Mr Sagar said this takes it to a total number of registered Proudly Zambian companies 115 companies and 442 products. 

“Notable companies in the campaign include, United Gypsum Investments, Acacia Food and Beverages, Afil Engineering, Afripak Zambia, Amai Bliss Foods & Edible Oils, Amizio Power Engineers, Ararat Lodge, Ascensio Investments, Authentic Crafts, Bake It Zambia, Baobab Import and Export, Bellview Mining Equipment and Services, Best Life Insurance, Big Tree Brands, Brockman Engineering, Capital Fisheries, Caremate Enterprise, Carribea Beverages, Chemking Industries, Chilanga Cement Plc, Coca  Cola  Beverages Zambia, Community Markets for Conservation, Copperbelt Shoes, DCM Enterprises, Dumax Pharmavet, Empire Brands, EQWPE Clothing Factory, Estal Pride, Family Juice, Farmfeed, Fens Investment, First Capital Bank, Geonsi Engineering, Goodfellow Finance, Gourock Zambia, Granny’s Bakery, Green Giraffe Zambia Ltd, Greenbush Farms, Handloom and Textiles Technology Association, HD Steel, HNM Group, Ibc-Fusion Foods, Jas Garments, Java Foods, Jewel of Africa Ltd, Kansai Plascon, Kawambwa Tea, Korm’s Enterprises, Kozo Hotel and Resorts, Lactalis Zambia, Lampstands, Lituwa, Lyeni Investments, Makubu Steel Works, Manal Investments, Metal Fabricators of Zambia (ZAMEFA), Monginis Bakers, Moringa Initiatives, Mount Meru, Mungambwa’s Spiced Honey, Mupapa Wood, Musa Biscuits, Nampak, National Breweries Plc, Nature’s Essence Aromatics, Nector Prime Accounting, Neelkanth Foods (Freshpikt), NEI Investments, Neon and General Signs, Orgachem Fertilizers, Pharmanova Zambia, Picko Fresh, Poly Professionals, Premier Safety Zambia Ltd, Premuni Investments, Proflight, Punzisa Zambia, Queen of Chitenge, Renard Mwinga Business Centre, Roland Imperial Tobacco Company, Sakiza Spinning, Saro Agro Industrial, Scaw, Scott and Bennet, Share Africa, Shree Balanjee, Sky Milling, Spark of Life Food Supplies, Strongpak, Succulent Brands, Sunfoods Trading, Sunshine Millers, Supa Oil Zambia, Swiza Laboratories, Tati Beauty Studio, Tiemann Beer, Trade Kings, Travium Supplies, Two Six Zero Brands, U Rest Foam, Umoyo Natural Health, Umulyo Foods Services, Unified Chemicals, Uniflex Wires and Cables, Unity Garments, Unity Packages, Wilmar Industries, Woodpecker Investments, Yalelo, Yatu Foods, Zafraan Industries Zambia (Africab), Zambia Bata Shoe Company, Zambia Perfect Textiles & Brands, Zambian Breweries and Zamleather,” he said. 

Mr Sagar said the companies have demonstrated their commitment to upholding high-quality standards and compliance and have been vetted and approved to use the official Proudly Zambian logo. 

“The Campaign therefore urges Zambians to take a keen interest in looking out for the logo whenever they are buying products or using a service. Consumers are further encouraged to report any companies that are using the logo without due authorisation, by checking the updated list of companies on the Campaign website https://www.mcti.gov.zm/pzc/ ,” he said. 

The ZAM President said the Campaign further cautions companies that are using the Proudly Zambian logo without authorisation from the Campaign Secretariat to desist from doing so as this compromises the Campaign effort and is illegal.

He, therefore, warned that legal action will be taken against companies that are found wanting.

“Sixty years post-independence, Zambia has experienced numerous changes, from periods of low economic activity to steady growth in various sectors, which is a testament to the resilience of Zambians. The Zambian population in this time has also transitioned from a time when patriotism was at its high, characterised by support for Zambian-made products, to an unfortunate time when there existed a negative perception of Zambian-made goods and services. However, in the recent past, the narrative has continued to positively change in what can be termed as a new wave of national pride. The Proudly Zambian Campaign therefore calls on all institutions and individuals to align their efforts with this government initiative to resound a unified message. Every citizen and institution must become an ambassador of Proudly Zambian products and services,” he said. 

This is contained in a statement issued by Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) President Ashu Sagar.