The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has shut down Coco Manufacturing Food for operating without a decision letter.
ZEMA Manager for Corporate Affairs, Ruth Kanyangawa Kamwi has told Diamond News that the company had been operating illegally and was earlier fined K100,000 for operating without a decision letter, which it paid.
She added that the company was later fined an additional K80,000 for operating without a licence, bringing the total amount paid to K180,000.
Mrs. Kamwi says despite being ordered to cease operations, the company failed to comply, leading to the arrest of the manager, Tang Xiao, and the seizure of several products, including 2,000 cases of Coco carbonated drinks, 1,000 cases of Coco water, 1,000 cases of biscuits, and 500 cases of Coco cup juice.
ZEMA has also seized four production line machines and locked the factory premises.
By Edna Mwiimbi
