World Bank Group Vice President for Agriculture, Environment, Water and Social Development Guangzhe Chen visited two Zambia Agribusiness and Trade Project (ZATP) beneficiaries in the Copperbelt Province during his high level mission visit to Zambia and on the Copperbelt.

During the mission on the Copperbelt, Vice President Guangzhe Chen visited Gramus Express Farm Limited’s Meat Processing and Butchery Outlet in Ndola Central Business area and D & C Farm Enterprises’ Ufu Withu Milling (UWM) plant in Ndola’s Industrial Yard on 25^th February, 2026.

The two beneficiaries accessed Matching Grants support from the ZATP under the first phase of the Project supported by the World Bank Group at a total cost of US$40 Million implemented from 2017 to 2024 covering five provinces ( Southern, Central, Lusaka, Eastern and Copperbelt).

Following the successful implementation of the pilot phase, the Project has been scaled up in the second phase (ZATP II)  covering all the ten provinces of Zambia at a cost of US$170 Million with support from the World Bank Group.

Vice President Guangzhe Chen was accompanied by World Bank Zambia Country Manager Achim Fock, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Resident Representative Senait Ayele and other Senior World Bank Officials during engagements on the Copperbelt Province.

During the visit to Gramus Express Butchery and Meat Outlet, Managing Director Joseph Mubanga Musonda narrated how they started the agribusiness started as a small farm rearing pigs and village chickens together with his wife Grace Mutale Musonda in 2013.

Mr. Musonda disclosed that 2019 marked a turning point for the agribusiness firm when they accessed a Matching Grant worth US40,000.00 from ZATP at 70% while the company contributed US$ 17,000.00 (30%) for purchasing meat processing equipment, a cold room and a refrigerated truck.

“The impact of this support saw remarkable business growth by over 100% per product line (Beef, Sausages, Chicken, Pork and Fish). Jobs created to this date are 49 (20 women and 49 men) and our  exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Kasumbalesa Border  increased”, he said.

Later, the entourage proceeded to visit D & C Farm Enterprises Limited’s Ufu Withu Milling (UWM) Plant at Ndola Industrial Yard which received a Matching Grant of US$67,000.00 from ZATP.

 D & C Farm Enterprises Limited Chief Executive Davison Banda disclosed that the funding was used to purchase a 30 tonnes per 24 hours Maize Milling Plant worth US$123,000 from China which has finally been successfully installed and functional at Ndola Industrial Yard.

Mr. Banda looks forward for further financial support from ZATP II to consolidate and scale up business operations following the successful installation of the  milling plant adding that his company hopes to exploit the domestic and export market potential for mealie meal in the Copperbelt province and DRC.

At the end of the visits, World Bank Vice President Guangzhe Chen was happy to learn of the success stories of business growth by the two ZATP beneficiaries supported by ZATP Project in the first phase despite highlighted challenges including electricity.

On the challenge of electricity, Vice President Guangzhe Chen was optimistic that Zambia would reduce the power deficit and increase access to energy from the current 50% with a combination of more hydropower generation and renewable energies such as solar.

He urged both Gramus Express Farm Limited and D & C Farming Enterprises Limited to access further support from ZATP II’s Line of Credit to continue growing their agribusinesses.

Giving a vote of thanks at the end of the tour, ZATP II Project Manager Golden Makayi thanked Vice President Guangzhe Chen and his entourage for sparing time to visit two enterprises supported by ZATP with support from the World Bank Group.

Engineer Makayi said the impact of the support on the two enterprises in terms of job creation and increased productivity demonstrates commitment by the Project to ensure Project  objectives  were achieved sustainably.

The World Bank Vice President visited Zambia to launch the Knowledge Impact Programme, strengthening water and sanitation projects, and addressing agricultural growth and economic reforms.

 The visit follows earlier high-level engagements in 2025, including a visit by the World Bank Managing Director for Operations in November 2025 and the Vice President for East & Southern Africa in March 2025.