Zambian Breweries – through its parent company AB InBev – and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have joined forces in a landmark partnership to enhance the productivity and resilience of the Kafue lower sub-catchment.
The partnership between the world’s largest brewing company and the largest conservation organisation, now in its third phase, underscores a shared commitment to environmental sustainability, water stewardship, and community well-being.
Recognising the significance of water resources for ecological health and community livelihoods, the two will undertake a comprehensive initiative aimed at revitalising the Magoye River, a tributary of the Kafue River, and implementing measures to safeguard the entire Kafue River basin.
The long-time shared vision between WWF and AB InBev aims to enhance both the quantity and quality of water through collective action by the year 2025. The identified interventions include research, farmer managed natural regeneration, forestry, assisted natural regeneration, and soil and water conservation.
Speaking when handing over water testing kits to Citizen Scientists – a local research institution, Mazabuka District Commissioner Oliver Mulomba called on local communities to support the regeneration and protection of the Kafue basin for the benefit and well-being of everyone in the district.
Mr Mulomba commended WWF and Zambian Breweries for working together to provide water testing equipment that would help Citizen Scientists to carry out their work on the Kafue River, from Itezhi Tezhi all the way to Kasaka, more efficiently.
The initiative places strong emphasis on community engagement, with Zambian Breweries and WWF to work closely with residents in the Magoye and Kafue River basin areas to raise awareness, build capacity, and empower communities to actively participate in the conservation and sustainable use of water resources.
“Zambian Breweries is committed to collaborative efforts with community stakeholders to promote water conservation and improve water access. We believe that by working together, we can achieve more significant and lasting impact. Whether it’s supporting local water security projects such as the Kafue Water Basin, conducting educational programmes, or fostering community-led initiatives, we aim to be a positive force for change,” said Zambian Breweries Director Legal and Corporate Affairs Tawanda Hojane.
Recognising the connection between agriculture and water quality, the partnership will support and promote sustainable farming practices that reduce runoff and minimise the use of agrochemicals in the Kafue River catchment area.
WWF Zambia Country Director Nachilala Nkombo highlighted on the prime objectives of the undertaking, “this project speaks to actual implementation of measures to restore key ecosystems such as the Magoye River catchment and we are hopeful that this then will in turn speak to Zambia’s leadership to drive global initiatives such as the freshwater challenge that is aiming at restoring 350,000 kilometers of rivers and 350 million hectares of freshwater ecosystems such as wetlands globally.”
Rigorous monitoring and research activities will be conducted to assess the impact of the restoration efforts and inform adaptive management strategies. The partners will collaborate with local research institutions such as the Citizen Scientist to gather data on water quality, biodiversity, and community well-being.
The collaboration between Zambian Breweries and WWF marks a significant step forward in corporate-NGO partnerships for environmental conservation and serves as an example for sustainable business practices.
