A FEW weeks ago, I was hosted on a live Hot FM radio station Break Fast Show dubbed the “The Hot Seat.” The show is a one and half hours of answering red hot questions from well informed presenters and callers.In dealing with one question regarding the impact of the energy sector on our quest for a Green Economy, I alluded to the charcoal trade supply chain and its worth. Many people do not know how much the charcoal industry is worth in Zambia.According to a 2017 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report titled “Greening Zambia’s charcoal business for improved livelihood and forest management through strong producer groups,” the charcoal industry is worth K5 billion or approximately 2.0 percent of the country’s GDP.This industry employs approximately 41, 000 people directly while a further 45, 500 are employed in charcoal-related activities.The charcoal industry has been in existence since time immemorial and shall continue to live on […]
ZAMBIA’S K5BN CHARCOAL INDUSTRY
