Government spent billions to revamp NCZ

-Parliament heard today that government spent K25 billion (KR25 million) to rehabilitate the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ).

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Bob Sichinga said an additional K250 billion (KR250 million) making a total of KR275 million was channeled towards rehabilitating the Ammonia plant.

Mr Sichinga who is nominated Member of Parliament said in parliament today that government wants the plant to be producing ammonium and urea fertilizers to cushion the demand of fertilizers by the farmers.

The Minister was responding to a question raised by MMD Mwandi MP Michael Kaingu who wanted to find out how much funds was used to rehabilitate the NCZ.

This was shortly after Mr Sichinga issued a parliamentary statement in the house today.

And Home Affairs Deputy Minister Alfreda Kasembe told parliament that government lost over KR2 million from pirated music and counterfeit products that were confiscated as of 30th September, 2010.

Ms Kasembe who is also PF Lukashya MP said the Intellectual Property Unit (IPU) in the Zambia Police service confiscated the counterfeit products through conducted searches in some parts of the country.

The Deputy Minister was responding to a question raised by Patriotic Front Lupososhi MP Lazarous Bwalya who wanted to know the total value of pirated music and counterfeit products the IPU confiscated as of 30th September, 2010 was.