Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to assess the economic impact of the solar milling plants to the local people in Katete District, Zambia. The specific objectives were to assess the performance of the solar milling plans, the effect of solar milling plants on mealie meal prices on the local market, the effect of solar milling plants on job creation in the district, and to find out challenges that co-operators are facing in managing the solar milling plants in the district for economic development, suggesting measures to be put in place to see to it that the program was sustainable. The research employed a qualitative research design, and extensive literature reviews were conducted in order to have a broader understanding of the research. The data was collected using the structured questionnaires and interview guide. The main findings of the research were that the hypothesis was rejected because there were no immediate economic benefits of the solar milling plants to the local people of Katete District. Following the results of the research, the solar milling plants were underperforming and underutilized in the district. Solar milling plants had no effect on the price of mealie meals in the district. Solar milling plants had a 40% effect on job creation in the district, and the study concluded that there were no immediate economic benefits brought about by solar milling plants in the district at the time of the study.

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