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Lifestyle

Engineering Institute of Zambia – EIZ has established that the client who was contracted to construct the Iolanda Water facility in Kafue under the bulk water supply project has not been able to be provided the necessary funding for the project resulting in the project stalling.

Recently President Edgar Lungu expressed dissatisfaction at works by engineers who planned for the construction of the Iolanda Water Facility as the project did not include the component of electricity in the contract.

The clarification from EIZ perhaps shows that the president may have been deliberately misled or miss-informed to shield some incompetent government officers who were part of the entourage from taking responsibility.

EIZ president Eugene Haazele has also shared the republican president’s concerns that such an important and expensive facility has been completed without power supply which is key to commissioning it for people to immediately start benefiting from improved water supply.

He said EIZ has established through discussions with the implementation agents that the Design and Build Contract placed the responsibility of power supply on the client, the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environment Protection.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT on June 9, 2020, Haazele has since implored the ministry to play its role and ensure that the project is completed and starts serving the people of Zambia.

President Lungu complained to EIZ about the unprofessional conduct by some engineers in Zambia saying it is such conduct that has made government to be redoing a number of works on various projects at a great cost across the country.

Meanwhile, the Kafue water project is expected to expand the water supply in Lusaka. The contractor started execution of the civil works at the Iolanda intake on Kafue River in October 2016 at a cost US$150 million.

Upon review of the presidential tour of the facility, the minister of water development was present, and should have taken responsibility but seem to have opted to mislead the head of state by blaming the engineers.

Lack of accountability by some senior government officials and the tendency to deflect blame needs to be routed out as it now results in embarrassing the head of state. This new attempt to blame it on professionals has backfired and Dr. Wanchinga and his team at the ministry of water development should take full responsibility for the Iolanda water project mess.

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Engineering Institute of Zambia – EIZ has

Lifestyle

The Zambia Association of Musicians – ZAM has requested for a goodwill grant that will help the association and their members lessen the economic impact that COVID 19 health restriction has put on their work.

The health restrictions imposed due to the COVID 19 pandemic has affected many areas of the economy, and players in entertainment industry are one of the most adversely hit. Musicians to be specific have now gone for over four months without being able to perform and get in their much needed incomes.

In the Zambian set up, most musicians generate the bulk of their revenues through live performances, through stage shows at restaurants, night clubs and other places that require some form of social gathering. But with the ban on mass gathering and closure of bars and nightclubs, many musicians (especially upcoming musicians) have found it hard to make ends meet.

The Zambia Association of Musicians – ZAM has encouraged their members to try the digital platforms like social media, YouTube as an alternative channel to generate incomes during this pandemic period.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, president of the Zambia Association of Musicians Tivo Shikapwasha stated that musicians must utilize digital platforms like social media to advertise and generate some income.

“We need to explore the digital platform and it is more imperative now more than ever. He further said that more and more people are using mobile phones and our pages are getting more and more visitors, so this is an opportunity for our musicians to interface with corporate entities through for instance advertising to create some sort of revenue stream for ourselves”, he said.

Shikapwasha confirmed that it is not currently mandatory for all musicians to join the association but the benefits of joining are numerous’. He said that an association is more important in times like this, as it makes it easier for a profession and its members to lobby for its interests and development.

“It’s an association not a regulatory body. So it’s not mandatory for an artiste to join but having said that, it is in the best interest for the artist to join. Some stakeholders or promoters would rather deal with an association that deals with the artist’s interests than work with an individual”,

Joining the association will help the artist travel to many place in and out of the country, so that the association also helps to develop skills necessary for the Musicians as well as help the members come to agreement on matters of common interest. However, Shikapwasha stressed that joining the association is not a route to get rich but it’s the best place to be if you wish to have access to many and much bigger opportunities as an artist and industry.

He reassured the musicians that the association will always be supportive and they understand that these are trying times. We will always support the musicians and our members from start to finish.

“We know that these are difficult times and it is easy for one to lose focus on the plans we had for the year in terms of input and output, in regards to production. Its very easy for us to get side tracked as we think of how we think of how we will feed our family. It is understandable but it’s important to know that the plans we made for this season may be affected but we must never lose focus”, he said.

The Zambian government has only given a meaningful stimulus package to mostly big corporate entities through the K10 billion covid 19 facility that is being administered through the bank of Zambia – BOZ.

Calls for coming up with a package for small and medium size enterprises – SMEs and some of the most affected sectors like the case of Musicians, bar and restaurant owners, lodge and private school businesses, media houses and others that have been adversely hit have been made but technocrats seem to be ignoring this perhaps most important need at this time.

Stimulus should not only be thought off as handing over cash grants or loans, but even specific industry and sector incentives that could lessen the impact of covid 19. As the lagged effects of the pandemic now start kicking in, government will come under severe pressure if no proactive actions are taken.

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The Zambia Association of Musicians - ZAM

Tech

The 100 megawatts (MW) solar power project that was earmarked for development in the western province has stalled. The solar power project was to be implemented via a joint venture between Toyota Tusho of Japan and Elsewedy Electric of Egypt with funding from Japan.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Elsewedy Country Manager Mohammad Hassan stated that Elsewedy’s joint project with Toyota Tusho is to generate a total of 100 megawatts in western province, that is 50 megawatts in Sesheke, and 50 megawatts in Mongu. He however stated that because of the covid 19 pandemic, the project has stalled.

When ZBT reached out to Toyota Tusho to independently give their side of the story on the stalled solar power project, the Japanese based conglomerate declined to comment, neither could their local representative, who stated that he is not authorized to comment on this solar deal.

“Elsewedy and Toyota Tusho have worked on many projects together in Countries like Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq and Lebanon. We engaged local contractors to do a soil investigation in Sesheke and Mongu where the solar panels will be placed. The project is financed by the bank of Japan with very low interest from the government,” Hammad told ZBT.

He also disclosed that the duration of the project has been affected and will be rescheduled because of the pandemic, it might go longer than initially planned. “As we agreed with the government last year in August 2019, commencement of the project was December 2019 to April 2021. But because of the corona virus, it might go further than that”, he said.

Elsewedy Electric in partnership with the Japanese conglomerate, Toyota Tusho Corporation, sign a memorandum of understanding with the Zambian Ministry of Energy to build two solar photovoltaic projects of with total capacity of 100 megawatts with battery storage system.

The signing ceremony took place in Yokohama – Japan along the “TICAD7” (The Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development). The project was agreed to be financed by JBIC – Japan Bank of International Cooperation.

The signing Ceremony has been witnessed by President Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s foreign affairs minister Joseph Malanji, Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoshihiro Seki and Ahmed Elsewedy CEO Elsewedy Electric group.

On the other hand, Elsewedy electric Zambia country manager stated that his company is currently implementing a solar power project that is envisaged to provide electricity in rural areas. Electricity provision has been a far cry for most people living outside the major cities of Zambia.

He told ZBT that they are working in corroboration with ZESCO and that they enquired from the power utility which areas to place the containers. “Elsewedy has already invested over US$500 million to carry out various projects in Zambia”, he said.

“We agreed with the government to make 30 “Sun Square’s” in the country. One in Luangwa, the other in Kachula and a third one in Kachumini and we are now going to Chipata, in the Eastern province.

The sun square container is one third (1/3) equipment which contains among others solar converters and cables etc and the other two thirds (2/3) of the container is empty and used for provision of various services. The Sun Square is placed in the middle of the village and the people will be able to rent space in the container”, he said.

Hassan said that once this container is activated, the rural areas will now be able to do business. Some can own Barber shops, some can open restaurants. Others rent space to place a TV so people can watch. These containers will provide services that each particular area needs like One container, which was even converted into a clinic.

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The 100 megawatts (MW) solar power project

Tech

The National Biosafety Authority – NBA has urged producers and processors of genetically modified (GM) food products to adhere to biosafety and food safety standards to protect people from foodborne illnesses.

The Authority is encouraging all those handling GMO food products to ensure safety for humans, animals and the environment in celebration of the second World Food Safety Day (WFSD) on 7th June 2020.

According to a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times- ZBT on June 5, 2020, NBA Communications Officer Sandra Lombe says NBA through internationally recognized biosafety standards, codes of practice and other national guidelines and laws, supports national food safety in order to contribute to consumers’ good health and environmental protection.

NBA oversees the aspect of regulating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or products of GMOs such as food, feed, application and processes from the laboratory or farm to the consumer. This also includes the import, export and transit of GMO products. The Authority works with various partners and stakeholders to enhance this perspective.

“As the Authority we work with various stakeholders dealing in food safety, including the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture. This is because we have one common goal to ensure safety of humans, animals and the environment. Biosafety measures and standards must be adhered to through the whole food chain up to the consumer. Through risk assessment, NBA will always ensure that the GMO foods placed on the market are safe for human consumption.” Sandra said

She added that it’s imperative to note that COVID-19 is a highly infectious virus that demands good laboratory practices with appropriate biosafety standards, therefore, Laboratories conducting tests for COVID-19 using molecular techniques must adhere to biosafety standards and good laboratory practices as enshrined in the biosafety guidelines/standards for the National Biosafety Authority.

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The National Biosafety Authority - NBA has

Markets

Association of Microfinance Institutions in Zambia – AMIZ has disclosed that only one micro finance institution has so far been approved by the Bank of Zambia – BOZ to access the K10 billion covid 19 stimulus package.

AMOZ confirmed that micro finance institutions have not been left out from the effects of the global pandemic as supply chains have been disrupted hence affecting businesses who’s sourcing has been difficult.

He said, given that some businesses completely closed amidst Covid – 19 people have been finding it difficult to trade and has created a situation where some businesses cannot service their loans with their respective banks due to low cash flows.

AMIZ Executive Director Webby Mate has told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that it is for this reason that the association has commended the introduction of the K10 billion Medium-term facility by the Central Bank – BOZ which will raise some capital for businesses that have badly been hit by the pandemic.

He has since confirmed that one of its members has had their application for the K10 billion funds approved and that four others have made their submissions hence awaiting response. AMIZ did not however name the micro finance institution.

Mate said this development will see many local businesses improve adding that the association will also continue to play its role of ensuring financial institutions have access to the K10 billion funds while help others have their loans approved.

“Applying for money is a process which may take a bit long, however we are ready for the outcome be it positive or negative because that way will know what to do on our end to help financial institutions access financial assistance,” He said

He has confirmed that the association is satisfied with collateral terms applied in the K10 billion facility as it covers for both banks and non-banks financial institutions.

Mate has since called on micro, small and medium businesses to take keen interests in this facility adding that those that need assistance with applications of the funds can reach out to the association for help.

Local businesses have expressed concern that the K10 billion covid 19 stimulus package may end up being utilized by large corporates and multinationals at her expenses of local SMEs. The argument is that there is currently limited to no SME financing which has rendered Business growth by locals a daunting task.

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Association of Microfinance Institutions in Zambia -

Agribusiness

Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo has disclosed that this year’s target for beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme – FISP has been maintained at one million.

Zambia’s maize production is dominated by local emerging farmers who account for more than 90% of the total annual production. The country recorded a Maize bumper harvest of about 3.4 million tons which was about 69% growth in production from the previous season.

The Agro Minister stated that the ministry has this time earnestly started activating the programme by picking on direct input suppliers and registering of agro-dealers through the E-Voucher System and the Direct Input Supply.

Katambo told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that the ministry has maintained the one million target for small scale farmers which was set last year adding that the date of accessing these inputs will be communicated soon.

He said the ministry is already ahead of schedule as about 80% of fertilizer is available within the country hence the Food Reserve Agency – FRA will soon will move on the market to ensure farmers start selling their commodities.

Katambo further said that the K400 still stands for contributions from farmers who want to access the inputs for this year’s season and that the ministry has already contracted suppliers who are currently delivering inputs in designated areas across the country.

“The suppliers that the ministry has contracted are already delivering these inputs and we are also working to see at what stage these inputs will be distributed to help in achieving meaningful development in rural areas,” He said

The minister has since encouraged farmers to sell their produce to the Food Reserve Agency – FRA where they are guaranteed of good prices and not to traders commonly called ‘briefcase businessmen’ who are offering lower than FRA prices.

The Agro minister further urged farmers to only sell what is surplus to them and safeguard household food security. There is no need to sell everything and even fail to secure one’s household food security. Moreover, FRA has offered to buy upto 1 million tons of maize for this farming season which should encourage farmers to sell at better prices.

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Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo has disclosed that

Agribusiness

There is no better love story in Zambia than the maize and farmer relationship. Even though climatic and weather conditions can enable farmers to grow other high income crops like soya beans, tobacco, wheat, cotton etc, most local farmers still prefer to grow maize.

Export Trading Group – ETG has urged emerging farmers to consider diversifying into other agro crops to earn more income as well as cut down on mono cropping and over dependence of maize.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ETG Sales Manager Siankoni Zulu stated that farmers need to look at other crops like soya beans instead of being over-reliant on maize.

“At the moment the yield potential of maize is standing at 1.5 to 2 metric tons per hectare compared to soya beans which has a yield potential of about 3 to 4 metric tons per hectare. Definitely if someone invests into Soya beans for instance, they will earn more income than if they invested in Maize for the same piece or size of land. Of cause we are not saying people should stop growing maize, but we are saying diversification is needed”, he said.

Zulu emphasized that although maize is important for our livelyhood as nshima is our staple food, emerging farmers need to look at other crops that yield better returns and more profit.

Let’s compare two crops like maize and soya beans. The tons per hectacre that our farmers are getting from maize is quite low when compared to what these other crops are yielding at the end of a farming season.

Furthermore, he stated that even when you look at the Food Reserve Agency buying prices, a 50kg bag of soya beans has been pegged at K150 compared to a 50 kg bag of maize which has been pegged is at K110.

If you further consider the utilization and cost of fertilizer, one will find that soya beans will on an overall basis deliver much bigger margins than the normal Maize crop production.

He further stressed that there is need to change our mindset in order to see alternative crops like soya beans as crops that can also deliver higher returns and profit. He pointed out that the main cause may be the lack of readily available information and real life examples to the farmers because they won’t easily divert to growing other crops easily.

“A farmer who has been mono cropping won’t accept such advice easily, if there is no emphasizing and demonstrating on how alternative crops can deliver better returns for them to see the difference, it’s difficult for them to invest in alternative crops. And if someone is to investing, definitely they need to see practical examples and results”, he said

Zambia is divided into three Agro-ecological zones and some regions receive more rainfall than others. People need to be aware of these economic zones so that they know which crop to grow. This also applied to crop varieties which may differ from region to region.

We appreciate what the Ministry of Agriculture is doing. But there is much more that is needed to be done. That is why we try as much as possible to help by giving small scale farmers and the people at large fre information. At the moment, ETG has 42 offices across the country and partnerships to help with information sharing.

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There is no better love story in

Lifestyle

The reopening of gym businesses in Zambia has been welcomed though the pace at which clients are trooping back has and will initially be slow before it can get back to were it used to be.

Makungo Muyembe, Chief Executive Officer – CEO of defined Style Health and Fitness centre (Sweat factory) during an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT disclosed that his fitness center hasn’t yet officially resumed business as they are still putting safety measures in place.

Since the corona virus pandemic many businesses have  greatly been affected as many countries were completely on lock down and peoples movements were limited and restricted leaving very less activities to take place.

Gymnasiums are among many businesses lines that were completely shut down by health authorities in Zambia and this negatively affected employers and employees’ daily livelihood. Efforts to provide fitness lessons online have been made but monetizing the digital route is a challenge.

However, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu during the third national address announced the reopening of Gymnasiums and other businesses. Some of the businesses have already started operating meanwhile others are still putting safety measures in place before they officially resume business.

Muyembe told ZBT that there’s no other currently viable ways to make money off fitness other than re-opening of the facilities, the only other way would have been through online fitness but normally those are done for free and it’s a challenge to effectively and efficiently get in the income.

Defined Style Health and Fitness is set to resume business in the second week of June, to allow them time to get certification and follow all the guidelines put in place by the Ministry of Health before officially reopening.

Muyembe added that “it’s a bit tricky because even if we reopen, people are still scared, so the attendance is anticipated to be very low and the rent at the location of my business is very expensive.”

Corona virus has and continues to affect many businesses and livelihoods as it will take some time for businesses to get back to where they were before and the income they generated, Sad enough for some businesses, this could be the death of their businesses.

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The reopening of gym businesses in Zambia

Agribusiness

Cassava cropping has taken a new turn in Zambia following the industrial use of the crop in the copper manufacturing process as well as the industrial use in ethanol manufacturing that has further added to the traditional demand as a food crop

Zambia National Farmers Union – ZNFU Vice President Joseph Mungandi told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that one good example of where cassava has taken root as a commercial crop is Kaoma in western province.

Mungandi said Kaoma district now has about 1,800 hectors of cassava fields and each hectare is producing approximately 340 bags of cassava. Farmers in Kaoma are growing a lot of cassava and farmers in the district are very interested in the new usage of cassava.

“In the recent past Cassava farmers were sub-contracted with Premiercon Starch Company limited of Kalumbila to supply starch, the said company supplied the starch to the Mines for use in the purification of copper at Kalumbila and Lumwana Mines. They also supplied alcohol brewers and the largest quantity that was supplied of 42,000 metric tonnes was supplied to the said company,” Mungandi said.

He further told ZBT that the union has been running an out-grower’s scheme on cassava in Kaoma district. Four years ago, cassava cuttings distribution was made bringing on board about 350 beneficiaries and each farmer was given half an hectare which equates to 50 x 100 meters and the agreement was that after two years the beneficiaries would give back the cuttings and another 350 farmers would benefit from the scheme and since then there has been an increase in the number of cassava farmers to-date.

He concluded by saying the new expanded discovery of the uses of cassava in Zambia to make alcohol based hand sanitizer has been warmly welcomed by cassava farmers in Kaoma district as it will further increase the market value of the crop.

“It is a very good that the industrial use of cassava has been discovered in Zambia and because the Covid-19 pandemic, Cassava production now can save the country some foreign exchange as hand sanitizers which were previously imported can now be locally produced,” Mungandi added.

Cassava in Zambia is said to be the second most economically important harvest crop as a food crop after the staple national crop, Maize. The crop is widely grown in Luapula, Northern, North-Western and Western provinces although it is also grown in other parts of the country.

In the past cassava was produced in Zambia only by small-scale farmers but in recent years, cassava farming industry and cultivation of the crop has been growing in the sense that there is quite a good number of cassava farmers producing large quantities of the crop in the country.

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Cassava cropping has taken a new turn

Companies

Toyota Zambia, the official distributor and dealer for brand new Toyota vehicles has disclosed that the company will be introducing new financing schemes that include trade-in and leasing effective this month – June 2020.

Toyota Zambia Chief Operations Officer – COO Nenad Predrevac told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that this scheme will promote new financing methods such as trade in and leasing for customers and that it will be done in conjunction with a bank to be unveiled soon.

“In order to make lives for our customers better and provide financing options, we are creating a financing scheme to promote trade in and leasing and currently we have engaged 3 banks out of which, one will be identified to collaborate with us,” He told ZBT.

When asked on the impact of coronavirus on the company, the COO disclosed that Toyota Zambia has lost over 40% of its expected sales since the outbreak Covid – 19 as a result of the inevitable health restriction and slow down in business.

He stated that car sales business has been slowing down since the second the quarter of 2019. Toyota Zambia has lost about 65% in sales volume from the second quarter on the market and this has seen a decrease in its overall sales numbers.

He disclosed that the current challenges facing the Zambian economy have led to a drop in performance for the automotive industry. The further stated that tight liquidity conditions on the market has made it hard for its customers to be able to pay on time.

The automotive industry has also been affected by the high interest rates currently prevailing, making car financing expensive for customers. “The cost of money is high for our customers”, stated Predrevac.

Pedrevac however said that despite the current hardships and decrease in sales, the group company has continued to manufacture vehicles and is hopeful that economic activities in the country will soon revamp to see other sectors resume to grow.

He further said the company is currently working on reducing its cost with the aim of keeping all its employees even after the global pandemic.

He said Toyota has on the other hand been adhering to Covid-19 health guidelines from health authorities for both its employees and customers and has since pledged to continue complimenting government’s efforts towards the fight against this corona virus.

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Toyota Zambia, the official distributor and dealer