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Tech

The Zambia Informatiom Communication Technology Authority – ZICTA has re-opened the tender to issue an international mobile network license after the failure by Unitel’s UZI to fulfill the licensing and set up requirements.

For so many years, Airtel, MTN and Zamtel have been the only mobile telecommunication companies in Zambia. Unitels Uzi was issued with a license to make the 4th mobile network operator but the group face both financial and geopolitical challenges that saw the company lose the Zambian license.

UZI failure was eminent as the company kept on pushing forward the date to launch its mobile network and the last timeline given to them to launch was end of May 2020, which they ultimately failed to fulfill. ZICTA was left with no option but to cancel the license and re-start the tender process.

In a tender document issued by the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) under the Office of the Director General and shared with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZICTA has announced the re-opening of the tender for people or companies who are interested in opening the much anticipated 4 mobile network.

ZICTA stated that in ‘Pursuant to the Licensing Guidelines of 2017, the Authority intends to issue a network license under the international market segment and a service license under the national market segment with associated resources. The Authority now invites proposals that will lead to the issuance of a network license in the international market segment and a service license in the national market segment with associated resources in accordance with the Licensing Guidelines of 2017’.

The ICT regulator also re-iterated its intention to empower local companies and citizens and stated that ‘as part of the government policy to empower indigenous citizens, citizen influenced, citizen empowered and citizen owned companies as defined by the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission Act, Citizens are encouraged to participate’.

ZICTA further stated that the request for proposal – RFP document may be obtained from the it’s Head Office in Lusaka at a non- refundable fee of K1 million (about US$50,000). The Lucrative Zambian Telecoms industry is this time around expected to attract credible entrants that are capable of offering competition to existing players.

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The Zambia Informatiom Communication Technology Authority -

Agribusiness

Minister of Fisheries and Livestock – Professor Nkandu Luo has with immediate effect announced the termination of her ministry’s partnership with the Zambia Co-operative Federation – ZCF for not delivering their end of the agreement in the MOU.

The MOU was premised on the plan to build Aqua Park Fisheries Centers but nothing has been done. This development (or indeed the lack of development in this case), has angered Fisheries Minister, Professor Nkandu Luo.

The Livestock and Fisheries Minister stated that there was supposed to be an aqua park for fish which includes, fish ponds, fish processing plants, fish feed making machines and necessary implements for expanding fish production.

“I just want to express my utmost disappointment with the Zambia Co-operative Federation (ZCF), who came to our Ministry to partner with us. Its been over 1 year now, since we signed a Memorandum of Understanding – MOU and this is my third time being to this site just to find that there is nothing that is happening on the ground.

“But what is so disturbing, is the junk that has been put on this plot. The last time I had a meeting with the chairperson/president of the ZCF, he told me that he had containers at sea which where going to bring the equipment that’s going to be used for the partnership and this is the equipment that you see here”, an irate Prof Luo questioned.

Furthermore, Prof Luo says the ministry cannot accept such kind of arrangement and has with immediate effect cancelled their partnership with ZCF.

Definitely the ministry cannot accept to be in such kind of arrangement and I’m calling upon ZCF to just know that this partnership is over. Because this one of the things we were saying, our Zambian entities are forever complaining that we are not giving them opportunities but when opportunities are given to them, this is what they do?

The minister stressed that a Zambian Government, the first priority should be to give opportunities to the Zambian people who are expected to do things for the betterment of the Zambians, but this is not right, this is doing something for selfish gains.

“This is a clear demonstration of a group seeking a partnership with us as a Ministry, and since we think that there is so much we can do in Livestock and Fisheries for the betterment of our people, we thought they came in good faith just right here there has been no activity, the people that are here are busy buying maize from the farmers here that was not part of the agreement”, she said.

Meanwhile the Fisheries Minister says there was nowhere in the agreement between the Ministry and ZCF that talked about building of a warehouse that was being used to buy the maize from the farmers and that the activities that must be conducted are those that will increase productivity of fish in Eastern province .

“There was nowhere in the agreement that they will use this land to be buying maize. Why would you have land of this magnitude not to grow the maize, but to build a warehouse to be buying maize from the farmers? Why should Zambian people labor for an organization?

They are saying they are a co-operative federation that is interested in agriculture, so if they are interested in agriculture the activities that should be here, are those that will enable you to  start working on issues of fish farming, so that we can increase the productivity of fish here in the Eastern province”, she said.

Prof Luo is currently on a trip to the Eastern Province to check on her Ministry that includes Livestock and Fisheries. Livestock and Fisheries remain a high potential area for commercialization in Zambia due to the country enjoying good geographical position with vast number of regional market access.

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Minister of Fisheries and Livestock - Professor Nkandu Luo

Companies

Atlas Mara Bank together with Nkwashi Estates and Lafarge Zambia have officially launched the dream house promotion.

However, in his speech at the launch, Atlas Mara Bank Managing Director James Koni said that ‘as the result of this partnership, we will be giving away 3 bed roomed houses at Nkwashi housing Estate worth K1,100,000 each and collectively K3,300,000.

Moreover, in the build up to the grand prizes, where one house will be given out every 3 months, customers will also stand a chance to win monthly prizes over the campaign period amounting to over 100 building starter packs which including bags of Mphamvu and supaset cement, wheelbarrows, dump roof membranes and other building accessories.

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Atlas Mara Bank together with Nkwashi Estates

Agribusiness

One of Zambia’s leading Agro processing companies, Freshpikt, a member of the Vamara group of companies located in Lusaka’s industrial area is making great strides through its various Agribusiness processed products.

Vamara country Business Head for Zambia Nawaz Niyas disclosed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that all the beans and groundnuts used for their canned beans and peanut butter are 100% locally sourced.

Niyaz told ZBT that they have seen a significant growth in the output of both beans and groundnuts in Zambia and that the country had great potential to not only grow enough for local consumption, but export the excess as processed products to regional markets at better values.

“We are getting all the groundnuts we are using to make peanut butter locally, all the beans that we are using to make the baked beans in Zambia is also sourced locally. Specifically the beans that we are using here is called Lusaka beans which is the white one”, stated Freshpikt Sales and Marketing Manager Maria Banda.

The market has grown since 2013 till now; so we have also started to do exports as the Vamara group has a presence in 11 African countries. So, this further offers Zambian Agro products access to these other markets through our group companies.

Groundnuts still have a challenge of aflatoxins which usually result from storage methods that lead to fungal attacks, but most farmers have been educated on how best to handle the harvest. Once the methods of harvest and storage are improved across the board, Zambia is on its way to become a major exporter of groundnuts.

When asked on the annual tomato season that sees most tomatoes go to waste and end up rotting when it could be processed into tomatoes paste and stored, Freshpikt stated that one of the major hindrance of sourcing all the tomatoes locally remains the levels of quantity and quality.

There is need to standardize the variety of tomatoes grown so that the processing side is also able to get the desired output. There are so many varieties of tomatoes grown such that it’s difficult to get the right pulp quality and taste. So, there is more organization in terms of varieties and seeds used to make local tomatoes attractive for onward processing.

“As for tomatoes, the market is not giving us the quality and quantity that is needed for industrial processing, so to cover up that gap, we are forced to source some tomato and paste form outside. Otherwise for the groundnuts and beans, we’ve have good quality and good supply from the local market”, she said.

And Vamara Country Business Head for Zambia Nawaz Niyas stated that the company is working on developing the supply side for tomatoes.” We are in close contact with the tomato farmers to help them better understand how to produce good quality and varieties of the tomato that Freshpikt can use to make various tomato products.

“In fact, we are building on that as well; the supply chain. We have spoken to a number of tomato farmers and the challenge with the small holder tomato farmers is that they need to be in the know how. Our technical team is meeting with them and we are showing them the right way of producing industrial standard harvest”.

So, we want to be are able to buy fresh tomatoes locally and only import when its off season goes especially the cold season, when local production of tomato goes down”, he said. Furthermore, Niyas stressed that these methods of growing the right tomatoes are being taught to the small holder farmers as the commercial farmers already know about these farming methods.

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One of Zambia’s leading Agro processing companies,

Lifestyle

Emirates, the Dubai based airline has disclosed in a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that they have introduced an exciting new deal that will enable international students from Zambia to see more of their family and more of the world during the year.

The offer comes a week after Emirates announced it will re-start passenger services to Moscow this month, connecting Zambian students to the popular Russian University destinations once again.

With the exiting new discounts by Emirates, distance will definitely be no barrier for the Zambian students. Whether it is to travel between home and school abroad, or to see more of the world with friends during school breaks throughout the year.

Student travelers can enjoy special discounts off the Economy and Business class fares, additional baggage on top of Emirates’ generous standard allowance, and a free date change of their booking up until 7 days before travel.

What’s even more intriguing about this deal, is that as long as the student is part in one off the trip sectors, families and companies can enjoy this unique offer.

Millions of students have chosen to further their education in institutions outside of their home country, and data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics shows that the figure is on a rising trend as young people become more  savvy about their travel and education options. Many international students also travel during the school year with their friends or to gain new experiences.

In line with Emirates’ proposition as a global connector of people and places, the airline is launching this offer to encourage students to see more of the world and help them visit their families more often, with flexibility to amend their booking in case travel plans change.

Zambia through the loans and scholarships board offers students in Zambia a chance to study in China, Cuba and North Africa apart from Russia. There has also been a growing trend by Zambian families to sponsor their children or wards to study abroad which is also another growing sector.

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Emirates, the Dubai based airline has disclosed

Markets

The Bank of Zambia (BOZ) which is Zambia’s central bank responsible for regulation of the financial sector in Zambia has given its blessing and support for the eventual developments of locally owned and controlled financial institutions.

In a statement emailed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, BOZ in response to public concerns on whether they would clamp down on the fast developing local initiative of community savings groups (village banking) stated that they are supportive of the initiative and stated stated that its pyramid schemes that they will not condone.

Community savings groups or village banks which is seen by many as the renaissance or start up phase for future locally owned community banks and community lending institutions which would be able to provide locally tailored financial services to meet the needs of the local communities.

Unlike most functional economies in frontier African countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria as well as developed economies where the top 10 banks in the market are locally owned, the Zambian Banking Industry is so skewed such that there is practically just about 3 out of the top 10 banks which are locally owned and controlled.

This scenario has made the banking industry unresponsive to the needs of the local Zambian economy such that most local businesses and individuals have resorted to joining community savings groups to meet their savings and financing requirements.

BOZ in what has been described as a landmark decision stated that its support to village Banking/Savings groups as they play an important role in providing community based financial services.

The central bank further stated that Zambia’s population now stands at 18 million. As the economy continues to grow, so is the need for economic diversification in the financial sector.

Village banking/Savings groups are small lending schemes organized outside the formal financial sector. As the term “village” implies membership is usually among people who are familiar with each other and share certain commonalities through their family, friends and community.

Furthermore BOZ said that village banking membership is by self-selection and the number of members in a group is limited. Members formulate rules and procedures to the guide the governance of the group. The group itself is self-managed and does not involve the placement of saving/deposits by an individual, agent or company outside the group membership.

Meanwhile, BOZ re-iterated that they regulates and supervises entities that are covered by the Banking and Financial Services Act,2017 and these do not include Village banking/savings groups. This now withstanding, BOZ recognizes the relevant role the Village banking groups play in communities, including  transitioning their members into formal financial services and in driving the financial inclusion agenda’.

The Administrators of these village banks should now take this opportunity seriously to build locally owned and controlled banks that would meet local financing and savings return needs.

Most African countries, Zambia included have been held back in developing their local financial systems largely because of their over dependence on the remnants a colonial financial system which was built in the interest of a few, neglecting the needs of the majority.

The majority of the adult working population in Zambia ply their trade in what is considered as the ‘informal sector’. Zambia like most emerging countries has a disproportionately higher number of its adult citizens engaged in economic activities which remain largely unserviced with little public policy support.

BOZ has been commended for thinking outside the box and adopting more practical way of finding local solutions to local problems. For more information kindly contact ZBT via email: info@zambianbusinesstimes.com

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The Bank of Zambia (BOZ) which is

Agribusiness

Apples and Peach commercial production has mostly been thought of as not suitable for Zambian soils or geographical location. A notion had been created which has hindered most emerging farmers from engaging in growing these ‘exotic’ fruits for fear of losing their capital.

But the Zambian Business Times – ZBT can disclose that Zambia currently has a locally based and thriving Apple and Peach Farmer. Lionel Martin is one of the successful farmer in apple and peaches production. Martin started apple and peach farming in 2014, which at the time was just a trial, looking at the historical and climatic conditions in Zambia.

Speaking to ZBT in an exclusive interview, Lionel Martin stated that he first imported about 1,000 peach trees from South Africa costing about K300 per tree in 2014. In 2015, he imported about 100 apple trees costing also about K300 per tree.

He told ZBT that Apple and Peach production started then and has been going on well. Martin Lionel continued to import trees every year, except for this year due to the covid 19 pandemic, which has made importing of trees logistically challenging.

When asked about the total cost of production per hectare, Martin stated that one hectare of land can support about 1,283 trees with the spacing of 4×2 meters. The purchasing of trees will cost about K200,000. Martin stated that has 3 and a quarter hectare of land that he is using to plant both peaches and apples.

But Apple and Peach trees are also affected by drought. “Due to the drought that the country faced in 2015 and 2016, these 2 years production did not go well, some of my trees Andre plants dried up”. Martin had a challenge with water during the drought because the farm is not located near large water sources and 27 plants where destroyed by the termites. However, the situation was controlled.

Apple trees take 2-3 years to reach fruit maturity. In the third year of harvesting, the farm produced about 1 tonne of apples. Martin sells the apples as well the peaches to the local market and supply to fruit and vegetables stores.

Martin told ZBT that Zambia has all the resources and conditions needed to attain good yields in Apple and Peach production. There is of course some field maintenance that needs to be applied to apple production, but I can tell you it is possible to grow apples in Zambia with the existing climatic conditions and with the right variety.

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Apples and Peach commercial production has mostly

Lifestyle

The recent turn over of some SPAR outlets to Pick n Pay and Choppies has cast some doubts in the retail sector on what the future holds for the chain store brand in Zambia.

There is however some good news, some of the Spar outlets will not close down or turn over their locations to competitors. There is a fight back that is at play which may just see the Spar Brand reclaiming its rightful possition.

Davies Chintala who is the co-owner and part of the team that has taken over of Crossroads SPAR has disclosed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that their main goal is to return it to its former glory.

“We formed our own company, what we did is we approached SPAR Zambia, and we said give us an opportunity to run one of the stores. We obviously negotiated the sale of the business to us. And I must say that SPAR Zambia has been helpful in the sense that they gave us an opportunity to negotiate and take over the running of the business as our own”, he said.

When asked where he wants to see SPAR in the future, Chintala said, that he would like to see more local entrepreneurs join the umbrella of SPAR family and boost the SPAR brand in Zambia.

“I think where I would like to see SPARs in Zambia in the near future, is to have a lot more entrepreneurs and independent retailers joining the SPAR family either from their own existing businesses or more local entrepreneurs to open more SPARs in Zambia. Remember at one stage, the main concentration of SPARs in Zambia was Lusaka, then came SPAR Choma, Livingstone and Chipata.

“So there is a bit of representation, but not enough. For me where I would like to see ourselves in 5/10 years is where we can say there are more SPARs in the country that are owner managed and not corporate stores”, he said.

He also stressed that SPAR is a very powerful brand that can help Zambians to be empowered and custodians of their own businesses, as SPAR operates as a franchise which gives you the leverage to operate and own your own store.

“SPAR is a powerful brand. Yes there may be some historical issues around it, but we need to move on from that and be an example to people, that as Zambians we can manage and be identified with SPAR as well in the sense that it can also have home grown entrepreneurs setting up and running their own businesses whilst supporting our own local based suppliers and producers of locally made products.  That’s an avenue that people need look at”, he said.

Meanwhile, Chintala disclosed that Crossroads SPAR is the last remaining SPAR store in Lusaka but says that they will work tirelessly to make Crossroads SPAR a success and grow the SPAR brand with other entrepreneurs in the country, making it a force to be recon with within the Zambian market.

“We are the last one standing and we are not going to fail. Yes we have had challenges, but slowly but surely, we are building our own relationships with suppliers that were initially reluctant to deal with us due to historical issues. And it’s up to us to provide good services and customer care to our community because it is a community and family store”, he said.

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The recent turn over of some SPAR

Agribusiness

Zambia spent about US$432,000 in one year importing Bananas according to the trade statistics made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT.

Bananas, which are a good source of nutrients that help in low blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing cancer, can easily be grown in Zambia with the excess being exported to the near regional and neighboring countries.

An agriculture expert whose name has been withheld on request revealed to ZBT in an exclusive interview that, the production of citrus fruits in general is not included in the national Agro forecast because of the nature of their production as they do not have a specific period of harvesting.

The agriculture expert stated that notable banana production in Zambia is done in valley areas. Banana grows well in valley areas which are warmer because they are susceptible to the cold areas. The major areas where banana productions is done are Chirundu, Siavonga, Turnpike and Chilanga. There are also some commercial farmers dotted in different parts of Zambia who produce commercially.

Banana consumption is high in Zambia, for instance, the country imported about US$432,000 worth of bananas in 2018/2019 season. This is according to annual international trade statics. Zambia imports most of the bananas through the chain stores and large distributors.

Despite the fact that Bananas can be produced successfully in some parts of Zambia that meet international standards and quality, the production volumes of bananas remains unsatisfactory. Chain stores have to revert to imports to cover the gap.

The Agro expert told ZBT that “there is importation of bananas because there is no consistence in the local production, and the farmers who have banana plantation are located in different areas of the country and harvest at different times, but more can be done especially if Citrus fruits can also be included on the crop forecasts so that government takes a keen interest”.

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Zambia spent about US$432,000 in one year

Companies

Emirates has disclosed in a statement that hey have resumed operations to Lusaka.  Emirates EK 713 touched down for the first time since March, as the airline resumed operations to Lusaka.

The aircraft was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute upon arrival at the airport. Emirates will operate two flights a week to and from Lusaka, on Fridays and Sundays, bringing its global network to over 80 cities.

Emirates Country Manager for Zambia, Mohammad Bin Hafiz says they are delighted to start operations in Lusaka as this will help Zambians experience Dubai once again.

“We are pleased to recommence our service to/from Lusaka and Dubai this first week of September, and welcome our passengers onboard. The relaunch of services to Lusaka will enable our customers in Zambia to experience Dubai again, and will provide them the opportunity to connect on wards to Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas through our Dubai hub”, he said.

Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. Ensuring the safety of travelers, visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.

Customers can now travel with confidence, as Emirates has committed to cover COVID-19 related medical expenses, free of cost, should they be diagnosed with COVID-19 during their travel while they are away from home. This cover is immediately effective for customers flying on Emirates until 31 October 2020 (first flight to be completed on or before 31 October 2020), and is valid for 31 days from the moment they fly the first sector of their journey. This means Emirates customers can continue to benefit from the added assurance of this cover, even if they travel on wards to another city after arriving at their Emirates destination.

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Emirates has disclosed in a statement that