Alternate load-shedding, Zesco told

SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes LACK of constant electricity supply has now become a challenge to us as we have now turned to fuel for generators which is expensive, Zambeef Products PLC has complained. The cold chain distribution company complained that it was now incurring added costs on electricity and appealed to Zesco to alternative the load-shedding schedule. Zambeef Kitwe Administration Manager, David Mwenda, said in an interview that the challenge was growing because most of the day Kitwe did not have power due to Zesco load-shedding. “Gensets are the most expensive because fuel is expensive. Our overheads are now sky rocketing because of high fuel charges,” he said. Mr Mwenda said that the company’s profits were eaten in the bulk purchases of fuel. He was however quick to mention that the company was not doing away with electricity but that it had no choice. He said that being the cold chain distributor, the company needed to have power throughout as cold rooms had to keep running or their products would go to waste. “We appeal to ZESCO to address and look at the matter at all ends unlike looking at the residential side of it. “Business entities especially those that deal with fresh products need to be spared or at least be given favourable hours of load-shedding hours” Mr Mwenda advised. The Sun