CEMENT SHORTAGE HITS KITWE

Kitwe has been hit by a shortage of cement, resulting in an increase in the price of the commodity.
Dangote which is the main supplier of cement to the Copperbelt Market has reduced production at its plant in Ndola to facilitate annual maintenance.
A Check by ZNBC News in Kitwe found that cement dealers have stocked their sheds with Zambezi Portland Cement and have hiked the price of the commodity by 6- Kwacha.
A 50-kilogram bag of Cement is now selling 73-kwacha, from the previous 67-kwacha.
And some cement dealers said the current reduction in production of cement by Dangote has suffocated their business as the commodity is hard to come by.
But Dangote Cement Public Relations Manager Mubiana Nalwendo said the reduced production of cement by the company is due to routine maintenance works that are being carried out at their main plant in Ndola.
Mr. Nalwendo said maintenance works on the plant are carried out annually and that production will retain to normal once the maintenance works are completed at the plant.