Kawambwa Tea Industries Limited (KTIL) is Zambia's major tea producer, located in the Kawambwa District of the Luapula Province. Situated in the hills about 1,000 kilometers north of Lusaka, the plantation processes and packages tea for commercial sale. The company is currently state-owned and managed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
History
Government pilot project: The tea plantation began in 1969 as a government initiative.
State-owned company: It was commercialized as a state-owned company in 1975, with a processing factory commissioned the following year.
Privatization: The company was privatized in 1996, but after a period of struggle, the government reacquired its assets in 2015.
ZAFFICO management: Following the government's repossession, the plantation was operated under the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) until 2019.
IDC control: Since 2019, it has been incorporated under the IDC, which was mandated to revive, modernize, and expand its operations.
Current operations
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC): The IDC has invested in the company to improve its facilities and expand its operations, aiming to create local employment and boost the economy.
Support for small-scale farmers: Kawambwa Tea works with local micro and small enterprises, providing a guaranteed market for their tea leaves. This collaboration helps secure consistent income for farmers and ensures a steady supply of raw materials for the processing plant.
Expansion potential: With tea plants able to be harvested for decades, the initiative offers long-term, stable income for local farmers.
Kawambwa Tea Plantation
