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In a move that is being hailed as a major boost to Zambia’s environmental efforts, COMACO has donated two vehicles worth $102,000 to the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, a move which is expected to enhance the ministry’s operations, particularly in the areas of forest protection and conservation.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Minister of Green Economy and Environment Mike Mposha expressed gratitude to COMACO, stating that the vehicles (2 Toyota Hilux) will go a long way in ensuring that the forest is protected and that the ministry’s operations are enhanced.
Mposha recognized COMACO as a valuable partner in the effort to sustainably manage and conserve our natural resources. He also praised COMACO’s commitment to supporting colleagues in need and boosting worker morale and mobility.
He emphasized the importance of responsible vehicle use, encouraging officers to take good care of the gifts to inspire more partnerships.
“As a Ministry, one of the significant challenges we’ve faced has been the lack of proper working tools, particularly vehicles. The support we’ve received will greatly enhance our capability to protect our forests and improve mobility for our officers.” He remarked.
Mposha who is also member of Parliament for Munali constituency added that it would be disappointing to see the generous contributions received being misused. “If we want to encourage more partnerships like the one with COMACO, we need to demonstrate responsibility in managing what has been given to us.”
“Thank you very much, COMACO, for this incredible gesture. It exemplifies what a strong partnership looks like, stepping in to support colleagues who are struggling. This assistance will not only boost the morale of our workforce but also improve our overall operations as a Ministry, particularly within the forestry department and beyond.” He added. “Please we convey our heartfelt thanks to the management team. We truly value this partnership and appreciate your support.”
Speaking at the same event the Director of Forestry at the Ministry of Green Economy & Environment, Sitwala Wamunyima noted that the donation is a symbol of COMACO’s commitment to supporting forestry management in Zambia.
“The receiving of these vehicles by the Minister signifies yet another milestone which will require us to put in more efforts in ensuring that illegal activities that are taking place such as illegal charcoal production, illegal timber production and encroachment in our forest reserves are brought to a halt so it’s a very good gesture by COMACO.”
Meanwhile, COMACO’s Chief Operations Officer, Richard Mumba, emphasized the importance of complementing government efforts to ensure that communities comply with environmental regulations.
He stressed that the organization’s role is to work collectively with the government to address the needs of small-scale farmers and promote sustainable forestry practices.
“As Zambia faces ongoing environmental challenges, our mission is to complement government efforts in ensuring communities adhere to essential environmental standards. By doing so, we aim to showcase a greener environment, which is crucial for addressing the climate issues we currently encounter.”
Mumba said COMACO is committed to working together with the government to address the needs of small-scale farmers, emphasizing the importance of protecting local resources, especially forestry.
He said the two vehicles that have been handed over are valued at over $102, 000 adding that this donation strengthens COMACO’s collaboration with the government. “
COMACO has been working with small-scale farmers in collaboration with the Government to promote sustainable agriculture practices and reduce deforestation and this donation is just the latest example of COMACO’s commitment to environmental conservation in Zambia.
In a move that is being hailed
The Mines Safety Department (MSD) has acknowledged its inability to adequately inspect mining activities across the country, highlighting a significant gap in operational capacity.
This is a major grave concern, as it compromises the department’s ability to ensure that mining activities are being conducted safely and in accordance with regulations.
The MSD is responsible for ensuring that mining activities in Zambia are conducted in a safe and responsible manner. However, the department’s inability to conduct regular inspections means that many mining operations are going unmonitored, potentially putting miners’ lives at risk.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), MSD Director Fred Banda noted that originally established to focus primarily on operations within the Copperbelt and parts of North-Western Province, the department is now faced with the challenge of monitoring an expanding mining landscape that spans nearly the entire nation.
He said the MSD’s current constraints are attributed to insufficient financial resources, particularly in areas such as transportation, which are critical for conducting thorough inspections.
Banda however said the Department is actively engaging with the Ministry of Finance to secure increased funding, aiming to bolster its ability to carry out inspections nationwide.
“In light of these challenges, plans are underway to transition the MSD to the Minerals Regulatory Commission. A bill has been proposed in Parliament that, if passed, would facilitate this move, enabling the MSD to extend its presence to at least six provinces to start with.”
He said this restructuring is expected to transform regional mining bureaus into effective regional offices for the Minerals Regulatory Commission, greatly enhancing accessibility and oversight.
“The expansion of our regional footprint will allow us to cover a larger portion of the country, ensuring that mining activities are conducted safely and responsibly,” he said.
He said the department anticipates that additional funding will empower inspectors to deploy to mining sites more efficiently.
The MSD Director emphasized that the department is doing its best with the limited resources available, but acknowledged that more needs to be done to address the safety concerns in the mining industry.”
We are working closely with stakeholders, including mining companies and government agencies, to find solutions to these challenges,” the MSD Director said.
“However, we urgently need more resources to enable us to conduct regular inspections and ensure that mining activities are being conducted safely and responsibly.”
The revelation has sparked concerns among mining industry stakeholders, who are calling for urgent action to address the safety concerns and prevent mining accidents which are becoming rampant.
As the mining industry continues to grow and expand in Zambia, the need for effective regulation and oversight has never been more critical.
The government has been called upon to provide funding to the MSD to enable the department to conduct regular inspections and ensure that mining activities country wide are being conducted safely and responsibly.
The Mines Safety Department (MSD) has acknowledged
The Zambia Association for Musicians – ZAM has emphasized the urgent need for government to focus on the issue of monetization within the music industry.
Speaking exclusively to the Zambian Business Times ZBT, ZAM President Davison Munsanda highlighted the importance of monetizing digital platforms for Zambian artists, enabling them to generate revenue through music streams and online sales.
Emphasizing the need for Zambia to be on par with international standards in terms of monetization, Musanda stressed the potential for significant financial gains for artists and the industry as a whole.
Meanwhile, ZAM has expressed gratification with the government’s attention to their concerns regarding foreign artist fees and promoter license fees.
Furthermore, the President underscored the significance of fair and equitable treatment for Zambian artists, particularly in relation to foreign artists performing in the country. He called for a review of the fees associated with international artists’ performances and urged the government to ensure that such fees benefit the local music industry.
In addition to addressing financial concerns, the President emphasized the need for government investment in the arts, including support for music promotion, cultural exchange, and event organization.
He urged the government to implement policies and provide financial support to promoters, creating a conducive environment for the growth and sustainability of the music industry.
Musanda emphasized the importance of educating the public about the value of live music shows and the need to adjust ticket prices to reflect the quality and value of the performances.
He called for a comprehensive approach that aligns fee revisions with broader support structures to enhance infrastructure and promote the development of the arts sector.
“The biggest side from our sector they should focus on is monetization, we want to monetize all digital platforms we want our Artists to be able to generate revenue via streams ,we want Zambia to be on the same Grid like any other country in terms of monetization online, because then, with that we would be making a lot of money and generating a lot of money via sales of music and then as we do events , you see artists do not need to do events every day they need to do properly managed events in given spaces that means we’ll have events of value.” He explained
Musanda further explained to ZBT that Zambians need to know the value of shows they go to, needs to be elevated.
“If they were paying K50 for a show they need to understand why an artist now deserves to be watched by fellow Zambians by paying 300 to K2000 as this is the level that artists have reached but we are not moving at the same time.” He said
Munsanda further stated that they hope that the revising of the fees should speak to many other support structures that will be able to bring out implementation in terms of infrastructure and structures in the places of art.
The Zambia Association for Musicians – ZAM
On March 29, 2016, the government signed a US$45 million loan agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance the Cashew Infrastructure Development Project (CIDP).
The project became effective on August 4, 2016, and was set to be undertaken over five years, concluding on June 30, 2022.
However, on June 1, 2022, the period was extended to June 30, 2023, to ensure the completion of infrastructure projects, which ended on December 31, 2023.
According to the 2023 auditor’s report, the total project cost was US$55.42 million, with USD 45 million financed by the AfDB loan (81.2%), the government counterpart funding of US$8.31 million (15.0%), and community or beneficiary contributions of US$2.11 million.
The report also indicated that at the beginning of CIDP, a target of improved household income of US$710 per household per year was set. However, during the period under review, income levels were 34% below the target.
The report further revealed that the failure to achieve income levels was attributed to the non-export of cashew nuts, as the target outcomes could only be reached when the crop attained peak production age.
During the period under review, CIDP set a target to increase the average cashew tree crop yield from 200 kg/ha in 2017 to 800 kg/ha in 2023.
However, as of December 31, 2023, yield levels were at 440 kg/ha, which was 45% below the target.
It was further indicated that the failure to increase productivity was due to the inadequate implementation of the rehabilitation and rejuvenation of old plants.
“The CIDP had a target of generating foreign exchange earnings of US$8 million per year. However, there were no foreign exchange earnings during the review period. The failure to earn foreign exchange was attributed to the non-export of cashew nuts.”
On March 29, 2016, the government signed
The Zambia China Mulungushi Textiles has disclosed that as of November 6, the facility has only received 13 containers out of an expected 400.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mulungushi Textiles General Manager Brigadier General Emmanuel Siment said the 13 new machines are now being installed.
Siment further stated he was unsure of the exact number of containers required for the processing factory, but all 13 containers received so far will go to this section.
“Those thirteen containers that we offloaded are now being assembled. We expect the next consignment by mid-month,” he said.
Siment added that it might take a year to receive all 400 containers. “We are working section by section. Once a section is ready, we’ll start operating. Right now, we are focusing on the processing section,” he disclosed.
“We were instructed to complete the processing section before Christmas, aiming for a possible official opening afterward,” he stated.
Siment further disclosed to ZBT that they were supposed to put up 100 megawatts of solar power plants but have since increased it to 200 megawatts.
“We have started clearing the space for the solar panels and are finishing the wall fence to safeguard the installation,” he added.
The Zambia China Mulungushi Textiles has disclosed
The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZiCA) has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability by planting 100 fruit trees at Kabwanga Secondary School in Mumbwa District. The initiative is part of the Institute’s celebrations for International Accounting Day and its broader financial literacy program.
ZiCA Vice President, Joseph Matimba who led the tree planting exercise emphasized the dual benefits of fruit trees.
“Fruit trees provide a green and healthy environment while also serving as an economic resource by producing food and income for communities,” Matimba said according to a statement issued to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT.
He noted the rampant deforestation in the Kabwanga area and called for urgent community action to address climate change through sustainable practices.
“Climate change is real and planting trees, especially fruit-bearing ones can make a significant difference in fostering greener, more sustainable communities,” he added. Matimba further challenged every household to join the fight against deforestation by planting and caring for trees.
The initiative supports the government’s efforts to combat climate change and is in line with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment’s mission for sustainable development. Among the fruit trees planted were guava, lemon, and citrus varieties, selected for their environmental and economic value.
Meanwhile, Mumbwa District Administration Officer, Dr. Simasiku Nawa, praised ZiCA’s tree planting initiative, highlighting its role in mitigating climate change while providing practical benefits. “Now in today’s climate change you get paid by planting trees and keeping trees and making money,” Dr. Nawa said. He urged Kabwanga pupils and the surrounding community to care for the trees, which will yield long-term benefits.
Headman Mukwempa of the Kabwanga area expressed gratitude to ZiCA, commending the initiative as a step toward sustainable development. He encouraged other organizations to replicate such efforts to make Zambia greener and healthier.
ZiCA’s commitment to sustainability reflects its broader mission to contribute positively to Zambia’s development beyond the financial sector.
The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZiCA)
Born and raised in Lusaka, Patrick Mutale’s journey into the world of media and film is a testament to passion and determination. From a young age, Patrick was deeply passionate about film and knew exactly what he wanted to pursue. He began building his career in the industry early, driven by a clear vision and commitment to his craft.
Patrick began his education at Twalange Primary School in Lusaka, followed by Muchinga Basic School and Saint Kizito School in Chipata and later completed his secondary education at Anoya Zulu Boys Secondary School in Chipata in 2015.
After completing school, Patrick dove headfirst into media projects, driven by his deep-seated interest in film and television. It was through a friend, an alumna of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), that he discovered the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy. Upon learning about MTF, Patrick recognized it as a golden opportunity for individuals like himself to refine their skills and gain industry exposure.
“I was excited when I heard about MTF and immediately knew it was something I wanted to pursue,” Patrick recalls. Though he discovered the program late in the year, he applied in 2022 with confidence, certain his passion and qualifications would earn him a spot.
“When I was picked, I was overjoyed,” Patrick says. “I even turned down some jobs to focus on filmmaking because I knew I would be at MTF the following year.”
Patrick’s preparation and confidence paid off, and his time at MTF proved transformative. With a certificate in ethno-linguistics from the University of the Nations in Eswatini (Swaziland), he already had a solid foundation. However, MTF allowed him to dive deeper into cinematography, post-production, and technical skills like camera work—areas he found most captivating.
“I enjoyed cinematography, post-production, and technical work at MTF,” he stressed in an interview.
In 2023, Patrick graduated and joined Wathinta Imbokodo Post Productions, the team behind editing Mpali, one of Zambia’s most beloved TV series. His role involves creating motion graphics and contributing to TV production, a testament to the skills he honed during his MTF experience.
“I’m able to contribute to the Mpali production because of the training I got from MTF. I owe it to MTF,” says Patrick.
Passionate about visual effects, Patrick dreams of becoming Zambia’s leading visual effects (VFX) artist. “I want to build a company specializing in VFX because there’s a gap in Zambia’s media industry,” he explains.
His ambition is to pioneer this niche, offering world-class VFX services and elevating the country’s media production landscape.
To aspiring filmmakers and MTF applicants, Patrick offers this advice: “Be specific about what you want to achieve when applying to MTF. Passion and focus are key to standing out.”
Patrick’s journey exemplifies how dedication, opportunity, and a clear vision can transform talent into impact, positioning him as a rising star in Zambia’s creative industry.
Born and raised in Lusaka, Patrick Mutale’s
Despite external pressures, MultiChoice’s strategy leverages a solid financial foundation, targeted investments, and disciplined cost management to drive future growth and deliver the best video entertainment to customers.
• Unprecedented foreign exchange pressures and economic challenges in key African markets impacted earnings and dampens subscriber growth
• On track to right-size cost base and grow new revenue streams to drive future growth as streaming gains traction at the expense of traditional pay-tv
• Cost-cutting measures delivered R1.3bn in permanent savings, on track to reach increased full-year target of R2.5 billion
• Showmax customer base grew 50% YoY as a leading streaming service in sub-Saharan Africa
• Strong revenue growth in new products: DStv Steam +71%, DStv Internet +85%, DStv Insurance +31%, KingMakers +53%
• Strong liquidity of R10 billion provides solid financial base to support growth
• Negative equity position on track to be resolved in November 2024.
MultiChoice Group (MCG or The Group) continued to deliver exceptional video entertainment and execute on core strategic initiatives during the first six months ended 30 September 2024 (1H FY25).
However, unprecedented foreign exchange volatility severely impacted the Group’s interim financial results, while ongoing macroeconomic challenges weighed on customer growth and moderated overall performance.
Facing the most challenging operating conditions in almost 40 years and to generate desired returns, the Group has been proactive in its focus to “right-size” the business for the current economic realities and industry changes.
Although operating across Africa typically subjects the group to currency moves, abnormal currency weakness over the past 18 months have reduced the group’s profits by close to R7 billion.
Combined with the impact of a weak macro environment on consumers’ disposable income and therefore on subscriber growth, it required the Group to fundamentally adjust its cost base – which is exactly what has been done. The normal cost savings program was accelerated, resulting in permanent savings of R1.3bn in over the past six months and an increased target of ZAR2.5bn for the full year.
“We are making good progress in addressing the technical insolvency that resulted from non-cash accounting entries at the end of the last financial year. We expect to return to a positive net equity position by the end of November this year, supported by a number of developments and initiatives. The Group’s liquidity position remains strong, with over ZAR10bn in total available funds,” says Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO.
The Group is also adjusting to global Pay-Tv challenges as streaming services, the rise of social media and changing consumer preference impact the traditional broadcast business. Showmax, which reported 50% growth YoY in its paying customer base, strategically positions the business to actively participate in the streaming revolution as it gains momentum across Africa. To create sufficient capacity and drive growth, the group stepped-up its investment in this business by an incremental ZAR1.6 billion during the interim period.
“We have successfully been implementing our strategy over the past few years, achieving key milestones such as our investment in KingMakers, returning the Rest of Africa business to profitability in FY23 and FY24, concluding the Showmax partnership with Comcast and investing in Moment. While we’ve made huge inroads to reduce our cost base, there’s still more work to be done”.
“However, our focus extends beyond cost efficiency—we are equally committed to grow the business. We remain committed to driving new revenue streams and see significant medium to long-term opportunities in video entertainment, particularly in streaming, and in our adjacent new businesses,” says Mawela
The Group reported strong momentum in its new products and services, which all delivered robust YoY revenue growth, i.e. DStv Stream +71%, DStv Internet +85% and DStv Insurance + 31%. KingMakers reported a healthy 27% increase in its online monthly active users in Nigeria and grew its revenue in Naira by 53%, while newly-launched SuperSportBet is showing good early traction in South Africa.
Financial Results Overview
Subscriber base: The pressure on the linear pay-TV subscriber base was lower than the previous six-months, reflecting a 5% decline (0.8m) compared to 6% reported (1.0m) in 2H FY24. This reflects an improving sequential trend. On a YoY basis, the linear subscriber base declined by 11% or 1.8m subscribers to 14.9m active subscribers, impacted by the challenging macroeconomic conditions that negatively impacted discretionary consumer spend.
Group revenues: Revenues increased by 4% YoY to ZAR25.4bn on an organic basis, due to disciplined inflationary pricing and revenue growth of new products. On a reported basis, revenues declined by 10%, impacted by foreign exchange pressures on the Rest of Africa business and a stronger Rand against the US Dollar.
Group trading profit: The Group’s ongoing cost optimisation drive delivered ZAR1.3bn in savings, and together with other improvements in the business, it resulted in a 33% increase in trading profit before incorporating the Showmax costs. A ZAR1.6bn step-up in the investment behind Showmax to create capacity for growth, trimmed the organic trading profit to ZAR5.0, a decline of only 1% YoY. Foreign exchange losses in the Rest of Africa business amounting to ZAR2.3bn reduced reported trading profit to ZAR2.7bn.
Adjusted core headline earnings, the board’s measure of the underlying performance of the business, amounted to ZAR7m, impacted by foreign exchange losses and the investment in Showmax.
Cash flow and liquidity: The Group free cash flow remained positive at ZAR0.6bn, with ZAR5.7bn retained in cash and cash equivalents. Despite the increase in net interest costs and a higher average debt balance, the Group remains well-positioned to navigate current challenges with access to ZAR4.4bn in undrawn facilities.
Operational update
General entertainment and sport
Delivering content that customers love remains the Group’s core focus— whether it is the best of local or international general entertainment or the most exciting sport events.
In the past six months, the Group produced 2,763 hours of local content, bringing its local content library to 86,215 hours.
SuperSport reinforced its reputation as a global leader in sport broadcasting with extensive coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, EURO 2024, and the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup. Over the past six months, SuperSport has broadcast 10,240 live events and provided a total of 21,540 hours of live coverage, a 22% increase YoY.
SuperSport Schools doubled its user base and crossed a milestone of one million registered users on its app, delivering over 35,000 hours of content over the past six months.
Business segments
As a mature business, MultiChoice South Africa is focused on subscriber retention and reconnections, identifying remaining growth opportunities, as well as optimising processes and systems to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
In the Rest of Africa business, the Group is implementing several initiatives to support improved financials, including price adjustments to counter the impact of inflation, renegotiating content deals where feasible, restructuring select packages to enhance ARPU, optimizing the DTT network, and intensifying anti-piracy initiatives.
In FY25, Showmax is focussed on enhancing its content line-up, bedding down distribution partnerships, expanding payment channel integrations and refining its go-to-market strategy.
Irdeto delivered encouraging revenue growth, after securing a major customer in Asian and expanding managed services with a key customer in Australasia.
KingMakers continued to gain strong momentum in Nigeria, where BetKing Nigeria has secured the second position in the online betting market. SuperSportBet, the South African business launched late last year, is showing early signs of success and reported a remarkable tenfold increase in net gaming revenue over the past nine months.
Moment, now live in 40 African countries, has shown rapid growth since its launch last year, with total payment volumes (TPV) growing to USD242m. It is already processing almost 30% of the Group’s payments.
Looking Ahead
The Group continues to invest in its long-term future, focusing on the following strategic priorities:
• Improving profitability and cash generation in the South African business.
• Streamlining the cost base in the Rest of Africa to return this business to profitability.
• Investing in Showmax to establish it as the leading streaming platform on the continent.
• Supporting KingMakers, Moment and DStv Insurance to drive scale.
By executing well on these objectives, the Group will be well positioned to deliver future growth and create value as Africa’s leading video entertainment platform and most-loved storyteller.
Despite external pressures, MultiChoice’s strategy leverages a
The recent Auditor General’s report has unveiled shocking lapses in the mineral export process, raising concerns about the authenticity of mineral content and the potential loss of significant revenue for the country.
According to the report of the Auditor General on the accounts of the republic for the financial year ended 31st December 2023, crucial X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) machines meant to verify mineral content in consignments, were either missing or non-functional at key border posts.
This is contrary to the existing procedures where minerals are required to undergo inspection using an XRF machine at the port of exit to ensure that their mineral content matches the accompanying documentation.
However, it was discovered that the Victoria Falls border post lacked an XRF machine, while the machine at the Chirundu border post was reported to be non-functional.
This oversight meant that mineral exports were not properly inspected to confirm their conformity with valuation certificates issued by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, raising serious doubts about the accuracy of the exported mineral content.
Furthermore, a review of transit documents from March and April 2024 exposed a staggering inconsistency in the transit declarations as a total of 194 transit declarations, with guaranteed amounts totaling K53,980,245, had entered the country through various ports with the intention to exit through different ports, but had not actually exited the country.
The reports indicate that alarmingly, there was no evidence that the relevant authority had redeemed the bonds associated with these unaccounted transits as of August 31, 2024.
The implications of these findings are deeply concerning, as they point to potential irregularities and significant revenue losses in the mineral export process.
The lack of oversight and enforcement in ensuring the proper inspection of mineral consignments, combined with the failure to track and account for transit declarations, raises serious questions about the integrity of the country’s mineral export operations.
The revelation of these lapses also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and heightened oversight in the mineral export sector.
Without swift and decisive action to address these glaring deficiencies, the country risks further erosion of its mineral resource management and potential loss of vital revenue.
The recent Auditor General’s report has unveiled
