PRESS RELEASE
19 February 2015
Lafarge Zambia Launches a new CSR Iniative the Lafarge Foundation
Lafarge Zambia has successfully launched the Lafarge Foundation, which will be a new channel for all Corporate
Social Responsibility programmes both in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The foundation will have a panel comprising of Lafarge members as well as external members. This will make the
foundation an independent and transparent entity. Moreover, it will offer employees an opportunity to contribute
their time ane money which Lafarge would then match.
The launch was held at Twangale Park on Febuary 19th 2015, and was attended by the First Lady of the Republic
of Zambia, Mrs. Esther Lungu, The Deputy Minister of Justice and Chilanga member of Parliament, Hon Keith
Mukata, Chilanga District Commissioner, Mrs Edith Muwana, United States government Lead, Dr. Claudia
Morrissey Conlon and the deputy of the Apostolic Nunciature, Rev. Fr Marco Formica.
Speaking at the event the Lafarge Zambia Chief Executive Mr Emmanuel Rigaux said, Lafarge Zambia has made
availaible K2m to help the Foundation start its programme.
“To help prepare the foundation for its work ahead, I am happy to state that Lafarge has made available a budget
of K2M over a period of 3 years. The foundation will have its own account and will be managed by an independent
panel. Although some members will be Lafarge staff, many of them will be external to the company.” He said
Meanwhile the First Lady of the Republic of Zambia Mrs. Esther Lungu who launched the Foundation commended
Lafarge for such an initiative and thanked the Company for the rich history of helping the community in Zambia.
“Lafarge Zambia is proving to be a partner in Zambia’s development and by forming the foundation we are
launching today, Lafarge as a company achieves a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives.”
She said
On the other hand the Chilanga Area Member of Parliament and Deputy Justice Minister Hon Keith Mukata
thanked Lafarge for the long standing community work that the company has been involved in. He commended the
company on this new initiative and called on the foundation to begin with some projects in his constituency.
At the same event the First Lady of Zambia Mrs Esther Lungu and Lafarge Zambia CEO presented a 14 seater bus
to the Mother of Mercy Hospice of Chilanga. Mr Rigaux hoped the bus would go a long way in alleviating some of
the tranporation problems that the Hospice currently faces.The Hospice Sister in Charge, Sr. Jeremia thanked
Lafarge for the donation and said the bus would be put to good use. She further thanked the company for donating
building material for the construction of the clinic and laboratory at the hospice. The first Lady donated K5,000 to be
used for the lubricants for the bus and several bags of mealie meal.
Saving Mothers Giving Life project under the US Government will become the first project that the Lafarge
Foundation will have under its wing. The foundation will provide 3000 bags of cement aimed at building mother
shelters in 10 districts across Zambia.
The US government represative, Dr Claudia Morrissey Conlon thanked Lafarge Zambia for partnering with US
government under Saving Mothers and giving life. Dr Conlon further stated that the donation of 3,000 bags of
cement to Saving Mothers, Giving Life, will contribute to refurbishing 10 MWHs. MWHs, are structures located near
health facilities where women who live great distances from care can stay in the late stages of their pregnancy.
This assures rapid access to life-saving care should a complication arise.”
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Notes to the Editor:
About Lafarge
A world leader in building materials, Lafarge employs 64,000 people in 62 countries, and posted sales of €15.2 billion in 2013.
As a top-ranking player in its Cement, Aggregates and Concrete businesses, it contributes to the construction of cities around
the world, through its innovative solutions providing them with more housing and making them more compact, more durable,
more beautiful, and better connected. With the world’s leading building materials research facility, Lafarge places innovation at
the heart of its priorities in order to contribute to more sustainable construction and to better serve architectural creativity.
More information is available on Lafarge's website: www.lafarge.com
About Lafarge Zambia
Lafarge Zambia is the main supplier of building materials and constructions solution provider in Zambia. Established in 1949 as
Chilanga Cement, it was acquired in May 2001 by the Lafarge Group. With over 1000 employees and contractors Lafarge
Zambia has a production capacity of 1, 300,000 tonnes cement per annum, which enables the Company to cater for the evergrowing demands of the Zambian and regional markets. Its product range includes Mphamvu, which is a flagship brand and has
established strong presence in both domestic and regional markets, Powerplus, used in heavy construction projects, SupaSet,
for block makers and concrete product manufacturers, Roadcem, for soil stabilization in road construction as well as Wallcrete
for wall plastering. Innovation and customer satisfaction are at the core of the company’s performance.www.lafarge.co.zm
Contact the Communications and Sustainable Depart:
+260211 367 400, +260211 367 600
Eugene.chungu@lafarge.com
Gift.danga@lafarge.com
Sarah.banda@lafarge.com
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