Hichilema breaks ground on US$1.6 billion urea plant expansion in Chilanga and warns officials who delay projects

President Hakainde Hichilema broke ground on Tuesday 20 October for the second phase of United Capital Fertilizer's US$1.6 billion urea plant expansion in Chilanga, and used the ceremony to warn public officers that delays to projects will not be tolerated in his second term. Phase 2 sits on a 2,000-hectare industrial site and will add production of urea, ammonia and ammonium nitrate. Officials said it will raise local fertiliser output, cut reliance on imports and bring down input costs for farmers. The company is targeting 10,000 direct jobs, with further work for transporters, dealers and traders. United Capital Fertilizer has pledged to invest up to US$5 billion by 2030, and Mr Hichilema said he expects the target to be reached before then. The President tied the project to food security and to the government's production targets of 10 million tonnes of maize, 3 million tonnes of soya beans and 1 million tonnes each of wheat and sugar. "None of this is achievable without a reliable supply of affordable fertiliser, made in Zambia," he said. He praised the company's wastewater recycling system and noted that coal from Maamba is now used to make explosives, which he called value addition. Chinese Ambassador Han Jing told the ceremony that the industrial park represents more than US$3 billion in total investment and employs more than 10,000 people, and that Phase 2 will support local small businesses and reduce imports. He recalled that Mr Hichilema attended the launch of Phase 1 trial production earlier and said President Xi Jinping sent congratulations. Mr Hichilema said his job is to serve Zambia's roughly 21 million people and not to win the approval of a few officials. "I don't need popularity of 5,000 people. I need to satisfy 21 million Zambians," he said. "This president in this second term will be ruthless about these issues." He said investors should not be made to wait months or years for procurement and administrative processes, and urged citizens: "W