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Agribusiness

The demand for goat meat in Zambia is on the increase as prospects for exports and price per kilogram is even much higher than beef in most retail outlets and butcheries. The demand within the region also continues to peak with for instance, the neighboring DRC market remaining unsatisfied.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock disclosed that there has been an increase in the country’s goat population and Zambia currently has an estimated population of about seven million goats.

Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Permanent Secretary Dr. Benson Mwenya said there is an increase in the number of people who have ventured into goat breeding and ranching because of government’s plans to support the sector through exports goats to Saudi-Arabia as soon as talks are completed with the Saudi Arabian government.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Dr. Mwenya said the demand for goat meat on the local market has continued to grow and has also extended to the export market via Kasumbalesa to DRC and Angola.

Dr. Mwenya added that most goat farmers are facing the challenge of infrastructure as they do not have the suitable facility required for goat rearing. He also said that it is important for goat farmers to choose specific breeds which will be able to breed in specific settings as goat rearing is also dependent on the right environment.

Dr. Mwenya said some of the breeding centres that government has include Mukulaikwa breeding centre in Shibuyunji, Kanchindu breeding centre in Sinazongwe, Mutaba Breeding centre in Ndola, Luchembe breeding centre in Mpika and Lukwipa breeding centre in Rufunsa. People are welcome to visit these centre and get practical advise on how they can become viable goat farmers.

On the recurrent question of exports of 1 million goats, Dr. Mwenya told ZBT that Government is still in talks with the Saudi Arabian government concerning the export of one million goats to Saudi Arabia every year. The Govt intends to close this deal as soon as the situation gets back to normal following the covid 19 pandemic disruptions.

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The demand for goat meat in Zambia

Lifestyle

Women for Change has cited deep rooted cultural practices as one of the main reasons behind the low girls scores in exams when compared to boys. This follows the most recent grade nine examination results that showed that despite more girls sitting for exams, more boys passed the exams than girls.

Minister Of General Education Denis Wanchinga disclosed that for the 2020 grade 9 External Examination results released on the 30 October 2020, an analysis of the performance by sex showed that more boys (27%) than girls (25%) obtained certificates. The analysis further showed that more girls than boys failed the exams despite the fact that more girls than boys attempted the exams.

And Women for Change Executive Director Lumba Siyanga said girls in a typical Zambian household spend most of their time performing chores while boys in the very same households are given more free time which they use to attend to school work.

She stated that most Zambian cultures and households across the ten provinces of Zambia do not expected boys to perform house chores while the girls from a tender age are roped into the daily routines and chores.

Speaking in an an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Siyanga said the only time that girls can do school work is when they are at school while boys have enough time to spend on their books because traditionally they are not expected to perform any house chores which girls spend most of their time doing when they are at home.

She said that her organization is working with communities, traditional leaders and parents in rural areas, educating and sensitizing them in order to change their perception on the importance of education for a girl child and how much attention girls should put into school. There is need for a balancing act to afford girls an equal opportunity with their boys counterparts.

She added that the organisation is working with schools to ensure that girls are given attention in terms of extra tuitions and extra curriculum activities in order to build on their confidence and expose them to other skills that enhance their learning.

Siyanga added that community action groups have been formed to help track and ensure that girls remain in school. “At enrollment level, more girls enroll into school as compared to boys but girls start dropping out of school due to poverty and cultural practices. There was a case in Pemba where girls that were supposed to be writing their grade seven and grade nine exams were kept in an initiation ritual for three months and were not allowed to go to school, she said.”

She also noted that it becomes an issue of ‘child labour’ if a child is not being accorded time for school activities and spends all their time doing house chore activities. For Zambia to develop, their is need for both girls and boys, women and men to become economically productive and be afforded an opportunity to reach their full potential.

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Women for Change has cited deep rooted

Companies

Power utility giant – ZESCO has granted both domestic and commercial customers a COVID-19 Relief Package to cushion the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on selected low households and small business. 

The three-fold relief package cancels all accumulated fixed tariff charges for over 71,000 customers; temporarily suspends recovery of accumulated outstanding debt for prepaid customers, and issued Covid-19 relief of 100 units for purchase of electricity economically disadvantaged customers (numbering about 460,000 circa 460k) whose monthly consumption of electricity does not exceed 200 units as recorded during the period of the pandemic.

In a statement made available to Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZESCO Managing Director, Victor Mundede said that the corporation has noted the adverse economic and social impact of Covid-19 pandemic on customers that also resulted in decline in revenue for ZESCO.

He told ZBT that the corporation has decided to provide some relief to mitigate the negative impact of the Coronavirus on small business that ultimately reduced the quality of daily livelihood for its customers. He said that these measures will run up to April 2021 subjected to review.

Mundende stressed the need for ZESCO to support the multi-sectoral approach led by Government to ensure the sustainability of social and economic welfare of the people under the current environment resulting from Covid-19 Pandemic.

He added that although ZESCO Limited had themselves been negatively impacted by both the Covid 19 pandemic as well as the depreciation of the kwacha against the US Dollar, which had both reduced revenues as well as increased costs related to servicing of foreign currency denominated financial obligations, ZESCO had found it prudent to temporarily mitigate the plight of low income customers who had been severely impacted by the reduced economic activities.

He has urged all the affected customers to take advantage of this gesture and purchase electricity units under the new dispensation, and where applicable, to make a fresh start. He added that ZESCO remains on realizing its mission of making it easy for people to better their lives by enhancing service delivery.

Zesco had announced the crossings of 1 million customers and this relief package is close to 50% of their customer base. The covid 19 relief measures by Zesco needs to be embraced across various utility companies such as water companies to provide a lifeline during the pandemic.

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Power utility giant - ZESCO has granted

Agribusiness

A forage seed farmer has revealed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that he has managed to get revenue of K100,000 from an initial investment of about K20,000, which is 5 times (5X) return on investment in one farming season.

Elijah Mbewe is one of the qualified local seed growers among the initial 55 emerging farmers who were trained by Palanana Diary to be seed growers. Mbewe is growing cowpeas, pigeon peas, Red sunnhemp, Rhodes grass and velvet beans.

Speaking to ZBT in an exclusive interview, Mbewe stated that he started forage or pasture seed growing in the 2018/2019 farming season when he planted forage seed on his 12 hectares of land. The planting season for these crops is around mid November in Zambia.

When asked by ZBT to disclose the cost of production and the average returns earned?! he disclosed that the cost of production was roughly about K20,000 of which he managed to make total sales revenue of about K100,000.

Mbewe stated that he was able to produce 25 bags of pigeon peas of 50kg, total of 1,250kgs, cowpeas 20 bags by 50kg with a total of 1,000kgs, velvet beans produced 18 bags by 50kgs which totals to 900kgs and sunnhemp produce of 10 bags by 50kg which totaled 500kgs.

He stated that forage seed production is important because the productiveness of livestock would improved such that there is increased milk production for dairy farmers and the quality of beef is improved.

The forage farming has benefited Mbewe in such a way that there has been an increase in the household income, the soil fertility of the fields has also improved tremendously due to the fact that those crops are legumes.

Mbewe intends to plant on more than 20 hectares of land in the 2020/2021 farming season because of the benefits he has found.

Forage seed farming is a very lucrative business as there is demand for forage seeds in Zambia and beyond the region. It is high time that farmers start embracing the production of folder crops to be able to feed animals.

Especially in rural areas, where they depend on natural grazing. This has led to depletion of natural pasture, as the grazing is not controlled and as well as due to climate change. When farmers grow pasture for animals, dairy animals for instance record milk production increases when they feed on residue cowpeas.

However, on the beef side, the farmers shall be able to sale quality beef in fewer years instead of waiting for 4-6 years to make the sale. When animals are fed on hard pastures, they tend to produce a lot of gas in the stomach to digest the unpalatable feed resulting in a lot of gas emission into the environment. This is also one of the major contributing factor to climate change.

Mbewe received a cheque from the Ministry of livestock and fisheries for his hard and exemplary work in the production of forage seed farming across the country. He is ranked 2nd best in the production of forage seeds among the local farmers cohort.

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A forage seed farmer has revealed to

Sport

For the first time ever in the clubs existence, Forest Rangers Football Club has qualified for Continental football. This is a clear indication of hard and smart work truly paying off. Forest rangers managed to clinch continental football by coming out second in the league with Nkana depriving them of the prestigious national title.

In a statement made available to Zambian Business Times – ZBT by Forest Rangers media and public relations officer Christina Zulu, Forest Rangers are elated as a football club as this has never happened before in the clubs history.

“Of course, it’s a big thing for the club because it’s never happened in the past 45 years in which Forest Rangers has actually been in existence. It’s something big for the team and we are planning to get more continental slots because we are hoping this will inspire not just us, but the fans, players, technical team and the sponsors as well” stated Zulu.

Furthermore she disclosed that the inspiration behind #Chino Chaka Ni Continental is a song done by someone for the club. The man kept on foretelling that this will be our season and it finally happened. This is why the club turned it into a brand.  Zulu also gave a sneak peek on how the club is marketing their brand through selling of club mechanize like jerseys.

“We’ve so far sold about 500 jerseys or so. It’s not as good as we wanted it to be because of a number of factors, but the sales are still going on. And for anything else besides T-shirts, we are looking forward to do phone covers as well”, she said.

The clubs training stadium is Dola Hill which is currently undergoing reconstruction and renovation, but at the moment, the club is using Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. The number of fans attending the game depends on the type of game being played, but this feat will surely lead to the club attracting more fans and supporters.

“On the number of fans that actually come to the stadium, it varies depending on the game that is being played. Derbies usually do attract the most and hopefully now with CAF, we are going to get more fans watching the games”, she said.

For now, we are trying to ensure our fans feel part of the club, so we use our social media platform. We are also planning to do outreach events in the community where we have the largest fan base and also do sales promotions with reduced prices for the jerseys to ensure most fans can acquire them.

Forest Rangers are working at fully commercializing their team and taking advantage of the appearance in continental football to win the support of their loyal fans. Football main revenue streams include Sponsorhips, gate takings, TV and advertising rights as well as player sales.

Forest Rangers main sponsor is Zaffico and with continental football, the team has an opportunity to attract additional sponsors for spots on jerseys and stadium branding. The key remains for the club to maintain and grow its active fan base which is key to attracting good players as well as more sponsors and advertising.

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For the first time ever in the

Tech

My Airtel app, an app launched by Zambia’s leading telco, Airtel’s has received overwhelming response, with over 500,000 (500k) downloads.

Speaking in an exclusive zoom interview with Zambian Business Times- ZBT, Airtel Zambia Marketing Director Hussam Baday says Airtel’s innovation of introducing an app that houses all the essential services that the telecommunication company offers has received very good response from the market.

Baday told ZBT that “part of Airtels strategy is digitization of the customer behavior and that’s why we created this Airtel App. That’s why this Airtel app is kind of one stop shop where you have Airtel money and you have all the offerings and services in one app. That I think you can’t find it anywhere. You can do Airtel Money transactions and do activities like buying minutes and data, I think that’s the first time it’s been done in Zambia”.

Furthermore, he stated that the app is doing exceptionally well in the market as it has had an impressive number of downloads in the first few months of its introduction or customer launch.

“We have seen so many downloads on this Airtel App. I can tell you that there has been more than 500,000 downloads on this app in only 3 to 4 months. This is more than half a million downloads”. Baday says the main reason the app has been downloaded by more than half a million Zambians is because of the exceptional customer experience.

The app has all the key Airtel services on one platform. So if you go and navigate the app itself, you can be able to subscribe to all the different types of bundles, ikali, Soche, airtime, and you can do all the Airtel money transactions.

He stated that the other benefit is that it is very easy to navigate. You don’t have to remember the number that you want to send to; just have the contact, the contact will be integrated into the app. You just go and select the contact that you are sending to and send.

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My Airtel app, an app launched by

Tech

First National Bank – FNB Zambia has launched Tap to Pay-enabled Contactless Debit Cards onto the Zambian market in line with its digitization journey.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, the new payment solution will make all purchases made via a Tap to Pay-enabled Point-of-Sale (POS) simpler and safer for its customers.

FNB Zambia Chief Executive Officer – CEO, Bydon Longwe stated that they are ecstatic to announce this development as it will help empower customers with a safer way to make card payments.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce the rollout of FNB Contactless debit cards which we believe will contribute to an improved payments experience for all FNB cardholders. With our over 3,100 POS machines (approximately 15% of the national total), these Tap to Pay-enabled Contactless cards will empower customers with a more convenient and safer way to make card payments at checkout”, he said.

Furthermore he said the cards allow for customers to buy good and service without the card ever leaving their pocket.

“Contactless cards allow users to simply tap against any enabled Point of Sale – POS machine to buy goods and services, without the card ever leaving their hand. The result of this is added convenience, safety and security which is particularly important during this COVID-19 period. This innovative technology will also help to protect our customers against card-related fraud such as skimming, as they no longer have to insert their card into the point of sale device”, he said.

According to data from the Bank of Zambia, an average of 2.7 million card transactions were made per month at POS machines in the period January – June 2020. FNB aims to minimize the reliance on cash with the launch of its Tap to Pay-enabled Contactless cards, by ensuring that customers have access to safe and cost-effective payment options that accommodate their day to day needs.

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First National Bank - FNB Zambia has

Companies

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has spearheaded the launch of an enhanced Livestock insurance product or risk transfer solution for local farmers in Zambia that will protect them from losing their capital (livestock) in times of drought or floods.

The product was launched in the first week of October by Fisheries and Livestock Minister Professor Nkandu Luo. The launch event was held at Chikankanta district of Southern Province, which is one of the region’s most affected by low rainfall in the last two farming seasons.

Index-Based Livestock Insurance – IBLI is a comprehensive insurance offering that covers Livestock farmers when their land for grazing is not sufficient, often due to drought or delayed rain. It pays out when there is loss of animals due to adverse weather conditions.

IBLI covers farmers against delayed rainfall, drought, fire and widespread destruction of grasslands by pests and diseases. However, it does not cover against death of the livestock through slaughter, violence and theft.

Prof Luo stated that “what has been launched is another innovation to further support fisheries and livestock as an important sector in the economic development of our country and wealth creation for our people. If we want our people to be healthy and wealthy, there is need for Zambians to put more effort on fisheries and livestock”.

She further stated that “the ministry of fisheries and livestock is one of the ministries that contributes to the growth of the GDP of this country. This ministry also contributes to the health of the people of Zambia, because if people have good nutrition, then they are healthy. Healthy people or a healthy population contributes to an overall increase in production”.

The ministry of fisheries and livestock is a multiplying department such that one animal can multiply to many animals. We have to learn from our neighbors such as Botswana, where the livestock sector is second to [diamond mining] and yet it is desert compared to Zambia. We are challenged to drive this sector to greater heights so that our people can celebrate wealth. ‘I call upon Zambians from north to south and from west to east to take livestock farming serious’. Prof Luo stated.

Many times, farmers do not like insuring their Livestock (assets), but if you don’t insure your animals, when the animals get affected with the diseases and they die, all animals will be lost compared to the amount of premiums you need to pay to insure your animals.

Professor Luo stated that the launch was set for Chikankanta district due to huge number of animals, the hard work of royal highness and the people of the district at large. “In addition, I want to thank IFAD, WFP, AfDB who have given us support both financial and technical, to launch IBLI”.

The insurance companies and partners involved will measure how the vegetation in your area has been affected by adverse conditions, the measurement of the vegetation state is compared against the expected and agreed mark and if below, the Livestock Farmer would qualify for compensation. The insurance will cover the cost of fodder or feed required to keep your livestock alive for the duration of the insurance cover, which normally lasts a season.

The insurance is provided initially by Mayfair insurance, ZSIC general insurance corporation and Madison general insurance company. These insurance companies have been involved in the development and refining of this insurance product.

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The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has

Tech

As traditional banks continue to shut down their expensive branch network, the more nimble telecoms and mobile money players like Airtel are even expanding and opening up more branches or shops as they like to call them.

Airtel Zambia has told the Zambian Business Times- ZBT that they opened 11 new shops in order to bring products and services closer to the people for a greater experience.

‘Airtel Networks Zambia Plc has opened an additional 11 new shops bringing the total number of stores to 28 across all the ten provinces of Zambia’. The new shops that have been opened are based in Mufulira, Chirundu, Mazabuka, Kalulushi, Lundazi, Kaoma, Sesheke, Choma, Kafue, Mpika and Mkushi’.

Airtel Managing Director Apoorva Mehrotra stated that he is confident that the 11 newly opened shops will help ensure more products and services are accessed including Airtel Money Services which are helping push government’s digital financial services agenda.

“We are excited about this new phase that we have embarked on and this is testament of our continued commitment to ensuring easy access to all our products and services particularly in the rural areas. This ambitious store opening program complements Airtel’s 4G 100% network expansion across the country,” he said.

The 11 new shops were all opened simultaneously yesterday by the regional business managers in low-key ribbon-cutting ceremonies, given the current COVID-19 restrictions.

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As traditional banks continue to shut down

Markets

Household commodity prices are expected to continue going up if nothing is done urgently due to the elevated levels of the Kwacha depreciation which has now crossed the K20 per 1 US dollar mark.

The Kwacha slide has a telling effect on the Zambian economy and overall prices of goods and services due to imported inflation. And with the added pressure of servicing the Euro bond whose bond holders are reported to be reluctant to suspend debt servicing despite the Covid 19 pandemic effect, it looks like the downward trend for the economy may continue.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Association of Microfinance Institutions of Zambia (AMIZ) Executive Director Webster Mate, stated that the situation looks pretty grim and that inflation may continue to rise as the demand for the dollar is exceeding the supply.

“When you look at what is happening on the financial markets, the demand for dollars is more than the supply, of course once in a while the central bank will whenever they are able to land some dollars, they are able to push that into the market to try and stabilize things. But given our situation right now, especially the debt burden, the outlook is looking very grim and the report from the bondholders is not helping the situation. So pressure is likely to mount on the kwacha, interest rates and prices of goods and services”, he told ZBT.

Furthermore, he said the views that where raised from commentators in the field of economics and finance say that the budget has some loop holes and that the budget falls short.

If you look at the JCTR food basket. Inflation affects what the common people depend on. Those commodities that are highly traded in the economy are things that are needed to keep our majority of homes going. Inflation does not spare them.

“Remember, two weeks ago, there was word that the price of fuel will go up, some service stations experienced queues to buy fuel before the price goes up. The point is, I don’t see how government will escape that”, he said.

Mate told ZBT that there is need to be less talk about politics and more discussions and talks about how the country can resolve these economic challenges. It’s as if there are no economic challenges, yet the majority are filling it.

A random survey has shown that commodity prices have continued to go up as most of the industrial inputs are imported into Zambia. These imported components are what is fueling the general increase in prices as even Agro produce dealers need at some point to buy imported products which need to be funded from their local businesses.

The biggest failure in the current economic management system in Zambia is that of failure to strategically manage the currency. The Kwacha has this year alone seen its value cut by over 42%. This drop in value is unacceptable and is only tolerated in emerging markets and country due to financial information gaps.

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Household commodity prices are expected to continue