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Mining

Emeralds and Semi-Precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia-ESMAZ has disclosed that the mining sector is expected to attract low investment this year due to the high cost of fuel.

Association President Victor Kalesha said the increase in fuel prices would reduce the number of investors willing to invest in the mining sector because mining is a high cost venture and an increase in fuel prices will result in the high cost of production.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Kalesha said artisanal small-scale miners and other small-scale miners were hoping that the mining sector would receive a number of investors this year due to the change of government as they assumed that investors would want to work with the new government but that is not the case.

Kalesha also noted that the production levels of big mining companies like Grizzly Mining and Kagem Mining will be affected as the cost of fuel is too high for production adding that large-scale mines like Grizzly Mining and Kagem Mining spend not less than US$3 million dollars per month on operation costs.

He added that mining depends on the use of fuel equipment and there is no other alternative that mining firms can adopt to maintain high production levels in the midst of high fuel prices.

Kalesha explained that the fuel price increase might also result in the reduction of labour as most companies might feel they are incurring too many costs and might want to cut on the labour in order to cut out some costs.

“The increase in fuel prices might also affect the salary increment of mine workers as there will be too many costs going into the operations while having less production. It will also affect social responsibilities because it will be very difficult for companies that are in operation and production to settle for certain social responsibility ventures”, he said.

He hopes that the war in Ukraine and Russia would be resolved soon so that things can go back to normal and mining firms can operate on normal levels.

 

 

 

 

 

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Emeralds and Semi-Precious Stones Mining Association of

Lifestyle

The Pharmaceutical Association of Zambia President Kennedy Saini has dispelled as a myth the narrative that contraceptives  are causing prolonged menstruation and excessive weight gain in most women. This follows some members of the public blaming the wide use of contraceptives to be behind excessive weight gain in women.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Saini stated that contraceptives behave just like normal natural hormones that a woman produces and they change the function of the hormonal balance in the body and side effects are different from person to person.

The Pharmaceutical Association President told ZBT that the narrative that contraceptives cause prolonged menstruation and weight gain is not entirely true because people react differently. If side effects are observed in patients, is not a shock because these effects are individualized.

He added that side effects have been reported for mostly those on injectable contraceptives. They are the ones that may go through prolonged periods or menses and even at that, it is not everyone. So it’s not true to generalize and say contraceptive are causing women to gain weight or have prolonged menses.

Saini further alluded to the fact that they are new formulations that are being made to suppress some side effects of some of the contraceptives, but not a reduction in the effectiveness. He added that there are a lot of such being formulated or coming on board in order to make these drugs safe and user friendly for every woman out there.

The association president added that women should normalize visiting health centers without fail to obtain their drugs or injection at any time, there is no time limit or days on when to get these injections and drugs.

He said that women should avoid taking contraceptives based on their own knowledge because there is a triage that is followed to make sure that what is administered to a patient is a type that will work effectively for them, this will prevent certain drugs to interact in one that has conditions like hypertension for example. Were proper treatment is not followed or is over looked, someone may conceive even on contraceptives.

The Pharmaceutical expert added that the myths that contraception for non-mothers causes infertility is not true, he said that what happens is secondary infertility that is reversible. He alluded that it only causes delays in” taking in”.

Kennedy added that secondary infertility is individualized from person to person depending on the lifestyle, in some it can take up to a year to conceive and some immediately they miss a pill/dosage or two, they “take in”.

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The Pharmaceutical Association of Zambia President Kennedy

Lifestyle

Even as nurses and other health workers scramble for the about 11,000 local jobs in government, the opportunities to work in the diaspora remains a viable option for the about 110,000 applicants that will most definitely be left out.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia – NMCZ has disclosed that the process for a Zambian nurse’s to work in the diaspora is a straight forward one and that most nurses or midwives may not be aware of this available option.

NMCZ  Legal counsel and spokesperson Bvulani Etambuyu-Mulele told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that most of the health institutions where the Zambian nurses apply to in the diaspora write directly to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia- NMCZ for verification of candidates.

Mulele added that once the Nursing council receives applications of a particular nurse they respond and if they qualify they proceed with the rest of the necessary requirements. She said that the medical health center in there respective country report to their nursing council or equivalent body to get validation to work and it’s these regulatory bodies that write direct to NMCZ.

She disclosed that NMCZ writes back only after they are sent these applications to confirm that the individual is in good standing with NMCZ, if their practicing license is valid, if they have pending disciplinary cases and any cases of professional misconduct and they respond after checking the professional standing of that particular candidate.

In an interview with ZBT, the spokesperson for NMCZ who also doubles as the legal counsel said that they receive applications on daily basis from all over the world and they try to respond to them on time because the candidates have deadlines. The council could however not reveal the statistics as of how many nurses relocate yearly and to which respective countries.

Working in the diaspora is an option that most unemployed youths may not be looking at, but remains a viable option for even better earning and international exposure.

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Even as nurses and other health workers

Lifestyle

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts has disclosed that plans of holding youth indabas in each of the ten provinces or regions of Zambia are in motion. Zambia’s population is youthful and the need to leverage the demographic dividend is a big possibility.

Ministry of Youth Permanent Secretary Chileshe Kangwa told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that his Ministry is in the planning phase and is likely to make an announcement of the dates for the various regions by the end of April, 2022.

He said that the recently held youth national indaba was held to give a platform to the youths to express themselves and air their views.  It was an opportunity for they ministry to explain to the young people what programmes government had for them in various ministries, such as the newly created Ministry of small medium enterprise, in the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Information, Ministry of Science and Technology among other ministries. He added that it was also an opportunity for the youths to know what is available for them.

Chileshe said that among the resolutions that were made are to have youth involvement at the every level of national development, youth led enterprises, youth recognition in terms of appointment at every level and have a proper review of  the legal frame work in relation to youths involvement.

The Youth PS further disclosed that the recently held Lusaka Youth Indaba was just a road map of more of such programmes to come forth, he added that the ministry does not want to have youth programs that are dictated to the youths, he said that the idea is to have the views and opinions coming from the youths to inform the making of future programs.

He further added that it was important for the Youths ministry to highlight to the youths as of what various ministries have in store for them like in the ministry of Science and Technology, there is a fund called innovative fund but a lot of people do not know that they can access funding for their innovative and creative ideas, thus it was imperative for the ministry to highlight to the youths on such issues.

On the recently held national youth Indaba in Lusaka, the permanent secretary confirmed that all the 156 (hundred and fifty-six) Zambian constituencies were represented. He disclosed that the ministry has cooperating partners, the United Nations Development Programme – UNDP and various other United nations agencies, and the private sector that have invested in the same programme because they believe in the potential of young people.

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The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts

Companies

The Zambian Government should thrive to find ways to develop the economy even in the middle of global crises as no one can project when we will have a period were there is no overarching global crises. Even before the Covid 19 pandemic has been completely eliminated, the Russia – Ukraine conflict has taken Centre stage.

Government should instead look at how they can leverage about $25 million of Copper exports daily and how part of that revenue can come back to into local banks and the Zambian economy to help deal with the development needs of the country during times of crises.

A renowned economist has charged that every crisis comes with opportunities, and that crisis will never stop coming, thus what a government ought to do is continue looking at the nature of the crisis and putting in place mechanisms that can mitigate against that crisis and take advantage of some opportunities or silver linings which may arise as a result of the crisis.

Yusuf Dodia has advised that the economy of a nation or Zambia in particular cannot wait for its progress to be determined by external forces by waiting for a crisis to come to an end. There has to be some actions that are within our control.

“I believe that it is the responsibility of government to come up with mechanisms to address these global challenges and their local impact, because as a country there is need to be masters of our own country’s destiny, hence there is need to make decisions that take into account the changing economic situations and adjust programs accordingly”, Dodia stated.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Dodia said that the country cannot sit and wait, that things will get better when something else is resolved by others, that might not be in the best interest of the nation.

He further added that as a nation, the elephant in the room is that Zambia is exporting about $25 million (twenty five million dollars) of copper on a daily basis (8,500,000 tons @ $11k per ton/365 days) and very little of that copper earning is coming back into the economy.

Dodia challenged the government to put in place mechanisms to ensure that some of these copper export earnings come back into the nation’s banks and economy, it would take care of a lot of challenges that country has at the moment.

He said that the copper mining industry which is responsible for about $9 billion dollars’ worth of exports every year (850,000 tons annual production @$11k per ton) is contributing very little to the growth of the  Zambian economy apart from creating a few job opportunities, giving a few contracts to miners and mining contractors and paying mineral royalty taxes which they pay.

Dodia stated that “beyond that, they are not doing much compared to the volume of  and value of copper which leaves the country to the small contributions that is being made to the economy, it simply shows that there is very little to be appreciated”.

He said that the country is afraid to challenge the Copper mining industry in the way the country should benefit from the industry, hence the low earnings or funds remitted back into the economy from these exports.

The economist told ZBT that sometimes a lot of it is misguidance goes on, for instance if guidance is obtained from the IMF, the world bank and other supporting developing partners. It’s important to understand that their interests are different with our interests. They may not want the country to prosper, they may want it to remain in difficulties and in poverty.

Have you ever seen these institutions support the country or promote efforts by the country to get more retention of Copper export earnings?, he asked.

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The Zambian Government should thrive to find

Lifestyle

An energy expert has cautioned ZESCO that the signing of a power supply agreement with NAMPOWER of Namibia should not result in domestic and commercial consumers being starved off power or load shedded in preference for export revenue.

Bornface Zulu, an energy expert said that if local supply is not prioritized, the power utility may end up committing to supplying the export market at the expense of supplying the domestic and commercial clients.

“This will continue negatively affecting the nation and down grading the country’s economy to further more calamities, thus the need for ZESCO to consider such actualities before engaging itself into giving power to neighboring countries like Nambia”, Zulu told ZBT.

He added that ZESCO has to come up with a strategic plan that will work for both the Zambian and Namibian sides so that both economies are not negatively affected at all cost. The country risks experiencing a shortfall in the long run and ZESCO should not come up with an excuse of load shedding due to insufficient water or power to supply to Zambian consumers and businesses.

These concerns of possible load shedding have come up following the agreement that ZESCO has signed with NAMPOWER of Namibia for the supply of an additional 80 megawatts to the Namibian power utility. This additional 80MW on the existing 100MW should only be satisfied on excess power and not at the expense of local consumers.

ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mapani said that the power giant will take advantage of being part of the Southern African Power Pool – SAPP , which creates great opportunities for ZESCO to play a major role in trading with the regional power blocks.

Risk of load shedding have returned after the revelation that China Exim Bank has suspended funding of the $2billion 750MW Kafue Gorge Lower Power project which was projected to make Zambia a net exporter of electricity. ZESCO has since indicated that they intend to finish off the plant from internal resources or funds.

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An energy expert has cautioned ZESCO that

Mining

A source at the Ministry of Mines has disclosed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that the elevated levels of Uranium which was extracted from ore at Lumwana mine could begin to be processed once the international price of the commodity improves.

Commenting in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT on the way forward on Uranium production at Lumwana Mine, the source said the mine has elevated levels of uranium which is now sitting on the special constructed tailing storage facility and has potential to begin to be processed once the international prices improve.

The source told ZBT that Uranium had once been mined at Lumwana and had been stockpiled, the ore containing both copper and Uranium belonging to Lumwana mine had been processed but the actual Uranium has not yet been recovered adding that the facility where it is stored is monitored and secured.

The source revealed that “at the time when Lumwana mine started constructions of the mine, the idea was that they will also build a separate processing facility or plant to recover the Uranium over and above the Copper, so at the time, it was intended that they could produce the Uranium cake,” the source said.

The source also attributed the putting on ice or delay in the ramping up of Uranium recovering at Lumwana to the Fukushima nuclear power plant incident that happened in Japan on March 11, 2011. The source explained that due that tragic incident, the price of Uranium dropped and as a result, Lumwana mine could not proceed to set up the Uranium processing plant but instead decided to recover only the contained copper.

“When the Uranium price improve, Lumwana mine should be able to make plans and start the procession of recovering the uranium.” The source told ZBT. The source however could not disclose the grade and quantity of uranium which Lumwana is sitting on adding that only the company in charge (Lumwana mine) can give a proper answer on that.

A further check by ZBT has revealed that indeed Reuters report in 2008 also stated that Lumwana mine at the time had projected to start producing about 1 million tons of high grade Uranium annually. A $6 million Uranium feasibility study at the Lumwana mine has been concluded and results showed the existence of high grade uranium, Reuters reported. The report further confirmed that Stockpiling of uranium ores has already started at the mine.

While the quantity and grade of Uranium stored at the unknown facility remains unconfirmed, a check by ZBT revealed that the current price of the nuclear metal stands at about US $130, 000 per ton. With a projected production level of 1 million tons per annum, Uranium mining could be a game changer for Zambia  in terms of the quantum of revenue and forex earnings.

Lumwana Mine has however officially told ZBT that the mine is currently not producing any Uranium. But some ex-employees and members of the public have accused the mine of engaging in the extraction of the nuclear metal and simply not declaring it. More to follow on Uranium mining in Zambia.

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A source at the Ministry of Mines

Mining

The Zambia Chamber of Mines has disclosed that the 20% increase in the fuel pump prices has the capacity to negatively affect the operating costs for mining firms around the country.

Chamber of Mines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sokwani Chilembo said just like any other industry, the mining firms would be affected in terms of transportation and logistics cost, which are both key components and cost drivers of the industry.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Chilembo however said it was too early to judge if the upward adjustment in the fuel pump prices will have a negative impact on the production in the mining sector.

He explained that there are too many factors in play now and the Chamber of Mines is trying to do everything possible to see how best the situation can be managed.

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) increased the price of petrol from K21.96 to K26.50 per litre while the price of diesel has gone up by K4.68, from K21.54 to K26.22 effective 1st April 2022 stating that the increase was necessitated by escalating global oil price.

The Chamber of Mines CEO confirmed that operating costs for the mining firms are expected to go up following this increment. Copper mining in Zambia accounts for over 70% of total export value and remains a key economic driver and barometer for the health of the local economy.

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The Zambia Chamber of Mines has disclosed

Markets

The domino effect of increasing fuel prices is having a telling effect on the economy as the cost of almost all items, consumer and capital goods have gone up due to reliance on transport and logistics whose main cost driver is the price of fuel. Calls for an urgent solution from government to cushion its citizens are getting lauder.

The Car Dealers Association of Zambia has disclosed that the high fuel prices which are obtaining following two major increments in the last six to eight months have pushed the prices of used motor vehicles up because an increase in fuel price results in high landing costs for the vehicles.

Association Spokesperson Kelvin Kameta said fuel price increase impacts the business the same way a high exchange rate affects the car business, therefore they need to make price adjustments which are passed on to the buyers in order to realise a profit from the business

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Kameta said lower fuel prices and a stable exchange rate help to keep the used car business stable adding that vehicles with bigger engine capacities have become even more difficult to sell when fuel prices are increased.

Kameta noted that when fuel prices go up and the price of landing a vehicle increases, consumers have to bare the cost because car dealers need to continue making a return or profit. There is shipping and landing costs from the port to the selling points, all these costs are affected by fuel prices.

He told ZBT that it is currently difficult to sell vehicles which run on petrol as most people are being discouraged by the high price of petrol adding that lately a lot of people are buying 1.5 litre engine cars such as the Toyota Allion with a few buying the Alphard and Hilux.

“We bring the vehicles from overseas, so what happens is that as fuel prices go up,the cost of landing a vehicle also goes up. If for example I am supposed to spend a K2,000 on fuel, then I will end up spending a K3,000 due to increased fuel prices, so I also have to recover that money and in the end, it is the end user or buyer who is affected”, he said.

“We used to sell a vehicle within a month but these days some cars which were brought into the country in December and January are still on the market. Some dealers have capital for one or two units, so when you have capital for one unit and it stays for three months it’s a loss because you will incurr other unforeseen expenses”,he said.

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The domino effect of increasing fuel prices

Agribusiness

One of Zambia’s leading diary farms – Apollo Agricultural Holdings Ltd says it has plans of increasing the number of dairy animals in 2022 in order to increase milk production adding that Apollo has a successful breeding programme, with over 90% pregnancies in heifers, 80% in lactating animals, and mortalities of less than 1% in heifer calves.

Company Director Johannes Steyn said that these are all very positive indicators for Apollo’s herd growth, which is projected to be 15% per annum, noting that the company’s strategy to reduce the cost of production of every litre of high-quality milk is supported by its pasture-based model.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Steyn said Apollo has adopted a pasture-based dairying model, which is in harmony with maximizing the benefits of the environmental and developmental characteristics of Chingola

Steyn explained that being in a reliable rainfall area, having availability of titled land, access to undulating land that permits (even invites) the building of conservation dams to save rainwater to be used for irrigation during the dry season.

He added that importantly, having access to strong existing infrastructure originally provided by the mines, dairy farming can make a contribution to sustaining some of the extensive assets that may otherwise go to waste as copper resources in Chingola dwindle.

“Our AI breeding policy prioritises use of imported semen from bulls with a proven track-record of producing offspring with enhanced fertility, longevity, and butterfat characteristics.  Another consideration which is important for us is the hybrid vigour of cross-bred dairy animals”, he said.

“Apollo is currently formulating applications for approval of long-term development programmes with the object of continuing to grow its pasture-based dairying operations.  Hopefully, others will see the advantages of pasture-based dairying on the Copperbelt and emulate what we are doing”.

“If Copperbelt dairy farming can collectively develop to the stage where a milk processing business can be justified and established locally, they will be able to serve the Copperbelt, and ultimately the DR Congo, whose market presents a golden opportunity for surplus production”, he said.

Steyn noted that Apollo’s budget is to produce in excess of 24,000 litres of milk daily at peak this year adding that Apollo’s maximum production is achieved in the dry season when irrigating and this peak production coincides with the slump of dairy farmers production who do not irrigate and are feed challenged by lack of suitable grazing. In this way a contribution is made to balancing the supply of milk into the market.

He however said the dairy industry as a whole would benefit from a reduction in the costly burden imposed on it by bureaucracy noting that eliminating, streamlining, simplifying and expediting approval of essential inputs would enhance the growth and reduce the cost of production in the industry.

Steyn added that further levelling of the playing field by increasing protection of the local dairy industry from unfair competition by international competitors, who are not burdened by the same restrictions, would be beneficial. He said some of the challenges the sector is facing include the escalating cost and availability of essential inputs.

“We greatly fear that the net overall impact of the ongoing covid pandemic and recent geopolitical upheavals will force an escalation in the price and availability of energy and agricultural products / inputs which in turn will impact on inflation throughout our economy.  All cost aspects in the production of essential commodities (milk, medicaments, and fertiliser included) will be adversely affected.  Farmers will be economically challenged to produce food and milk at affordable prices and in the quantities normally attained”, he said.

Steyn said the indications are that the dairy sector is emerging from an environment that has been conducive to growth and sustainability but the recent geopolitical changes are causing significant challenges on various fronts that if not managed will lead to a reversal of the gains made.

He said government has the enormous task of balancing various interests as they strive to improve the conditions for Zambians as a whole noting that interests of some parties will inevitably conflict with those in the dairy industry.

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One of Zambia’s leading diary farms -