Lusaka City Council (LCC) has halted operations at Ziyang Manufacturing Company Limited, located at 94 Chipwenupwenu Road, Makeni, for gross violations of public health standards.
The suspension is in accordance with the Public Health Act Cap 295 of the Laws of Zambia, the Solid Waste Management Act No. 20 of 2018 and other applicable legislation.
Council Public Relations Manager Chola Mwamba said the enforcement action follows a joint inspection conducted by LCC’s Public Health Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Health through Chawama General Hospital.
Ms. Mwamba explained that a spot inspection at the company’s premises revealed that workers were reportedly locked inside the facility from opening to close of business.
She said this forced the workers to use buckets placed within the factory premises as toilets, with management claiming the measure was necessary due to alleged time wastage by over 80 employees when using designated toilets.
According to Ms. Mwamba, the company further alleged that some workers were involved in theft of factory products such as duvets, bedsheets and fleece materials.
“Additional, violations observed during the inspection include discharge of effluent from an improvised room used as both a bathroom and kitchen, absence of waste bins within the factory, failure to provide personal protective clothing for workers, non-compliance with the Ministry of Health’s directive to suspend operations, dated 27th October 2025,” Ms. Mwamba added.
Meanwhile, the Council has suspended operations at another factory operated by the same company, following similar violations.
“Defects recorded at that location include inadequate ventilation in the production area, failure to provide personal protective clothing for employees, discharge of effluent (urine) into the open environment and accumulation of waste within the factory premises,” she added.
She expressed concern over the conduct of the businesses and warned all traders, as well as business owners that any entity found in violation of public health laws will face the full force of the law.
