Zamfresh Limited: Chinese aquaculture investment creating jobs and boosting Zambia’s fish industry
Zamfresh Limited: Chinese aquaculture investment creating jobs and boosting Zambia’s fish industry
March 10, 2026 – Lusaka
Zamfresh Limited, a Chinese-owned aquaculture and agriculture company operating mainly in Zambia, has created about 500 direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect employment opportunities for Zambians.
The investment aligns with the Zambian government’s drive to expand employment opportunities for citizens while attracting foreign direct investment into key productive sectors.
Over the years, Zambia has increasingly become an attractive investment destination, and companies such as Zamfresh Limited are contributing to the country’s economic growth through job creation and expansion of the aquaculture industry.
Zamfresh operates primarily in the aquaculture and fish-processing sector, with integrated activities across the entire fish value chain.
The company runs cage fish farming operations on Lake Kariba, with large-scale fish cages located near Siavonga District in Southern Province.
The Chinese-owned investment has grown to become one of the leading companies in Zambia’s fish farming industry, producing mainly tilapia and bream for both the domestic and regional markets.
“Zamfresh operations involve fish hatcheries, cage culture in the lake, feed management, and harvesting operations,” a senior source at the company said.
The company is regarded as one of the major commercial fish farming operators on Lake Kariba.
It also operates a fish-processing facility where harvested fish are cleaned, processed, and packaged for distribution to supermarkets, wholesalers, and export markets.
Zamfresh’s aquaculture supply chain is supported by a range of integrated operations, including fishing vessels and cages on the lake, cold storage and logistics systems, aquaculture monitoring and management teams, as well as warehouse and distribution networks.
“These activities make Zamfresh a vertically integrated fish production business, from breeding to retail distribution,” the source explained.
Although exact investment figures were not available by press time, commercial cage fish farms on Lake Kariba typically involve multi-million-dollar investments due to the cost of cages, feed systems, hatcheries, boats, and processing facilities.
Zamfresh has developed one of the largest fish cage farming operations in the Siavonga area, indicating a significant investment in Zambia’s growing aquaculture sector.
However, the company has recently come under public scrutiny following a viral video showing a female worker allegedly being manhandled by allegedly her employees on suspicions of theft.
The matter is currently under police investigation.
The incident has drawn public attention to labour practices in some foreign-owned companies operating in Zambia.
Zamfresh management has since indicated that it is cooperating with both labour authorities and law enforcement agencies as investigations continue, while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining responsible labour practices and ensuring mutual benefits for workers and the company.
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