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Agribusiness

Musika has signed a Memorandum of Understanding – MOU with Kemiko ltd, a small to Medium size Enterprise – SME that operates a starch and cassava flour processing plant, to help increase its processing capacity and provide a secure and ready market to about 1,000 smallholder cassava growers in Northern and Luapula province.

Kemiko has anticipated to buy over 360 tonnes of cassava from farmers in both Northern and Luapula provinces and the buying exercise is scheduled to commence by end of May 2020.

The partnership is part of ongoing efforts by Musika to promote the commercialization of cassava and its by-products by facilitating a guaranteed market for the crop, which in turn is expected to stimulate increased production and increase incomes at farmer level.

Musika Head of Corporate Affairs Pamela Hamasaka has disclosed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that Musika will finance the procurement of a cassava dryers which will enable Kemiko Limited to purchase fresh cassava tubers in addition to the dried cassava chips already being supplied by farmers, thereby providing a consistent market for both fresh and dried cassava all year round.

Pamela added that Musika has also provided logistical support through a motorbike to enable Kemiko Limited to establish a cassava outgrower improvement program meant to train and provide extension support to farmers.

“Though Cassava can be harvested all year round, trade is highly seasonal because farmers and processors are in most cases primarily dependent on sun drying. This has resulted in a situation where farmers have little or no market for fresh cassava especially during the wet months, leaving them with no option but to leave it in the ground until the next opportunity to sell or when it can be consumed at household level,” She explained.

As a result of Musika’s intervention, Kemiko anticipates an increase in their processing capacity per month by almost 80% as the amount of dry cassava chips delivered by smallholder farmers is expected to increase from the current 40 metric tons per month to 200 metric tons of fresh cassava tubers per month.

In a separate exclusive interview Kemiko ltd Marketing Manager Kanneth Kalezu said the partnership with Musika is aimed at providing farmers with technical and financial support and increasing their knowledge on the requirements of the market in terms of preferred cassava varieties.

When asked how much the company has invested into the buying of cassava, Kalezu could not disclosed its cost on confidential grounds. Meanwhile, he explained that once the cassava is bought, it is processed into cassava meal and cassava sunflower then later sold on a retail market.

He said some of its top buyers include the mining sector, breweries, supermarkets, pharmaceuticals, bakeries for meal and flours and the retail sectors.

Kalezu has also hoped that cassava production for the year 2020 will increase compared to previous years as the company recently built its warehouse to provide farmers with best ways of drying cassava.

Cassava has been grown traditionally in Zambia and has multiple industrial uses. It’s commercial exploitation has been limited but this is destined to change as the demand for cassava flour for industrial uses is projected to continue increasing due to its high starch content.

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Musika has signed a Memorandum of Understanding

Tech

Zambia’s electricity utility company ZESCO has announced that the Corporation has resolved to revert back to the daily load shedding schedule of up to 12 hours on a rotational basis for all Copperbelt based domestics customers.

ZESCO stated that this has been necessitated by the continued limitation of power generation capacity as a result of low water levels in the company’s national water reservoirs, especially Kariba dam as water levels at the dam are still low, resulting in reduced power generation.

On 13 February 2020, ZESCO adjusted load shedding periods on the Copperbelt province by providing power during night-time and load shedding the area during daytime, following security concerns after some chemical and gas attacks on citizens which have since died down.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by ZESCO Public Relations Manger Hazel Zulu on March 24, 2020, the corporation has now decided to revert its Copperbelt customers to a rotational and daily load shedding so they could fit in the countrywide schedule.

Meanwhile, in a separate exclusive interview Hazel Zulu, she revealed to ZBT that the decision by the power utility company only applies to residential areas or domestic consumers while mining houses are excluded.

“This implies that countrywide load shedding of up to 12 hours daily remains critical to protect the power system from collapse and ensure that the available electricity is shared equitably, and generation is sustained into the next rainy season”. She added.

ZESCO has continued to urge its customers to consistently use power prudently by employing energy efficient initiatives such as using alternative sources of lighting like energy saving bulbs and solar, completely switching off appliances when not in use, gas for cooking and using solar geysers for heating.

Low water levels at Kariba dam have persisted despite the country experiencing normal to above normal rainfall, leaving citizens to wonder why the Kariba dam is not filling up. Zambia has even experienced floods in some parts of the country with some rivers even busting their banks, and the Victoria falls which is upstream the Kariba now fully pouring.

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Zambia’s electricity utility company ZESCO has announced

Tech

The Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) statistics made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT show that three provinces, namely Copperbelt (20%), Lusaka (19%) and Southern (12%) provinces make up about 51% of all the registered teachers in Zambia.

TCZ a statutory body that is mandated to regulate the practice of teaching as well as accredit the teaching colleges in country, has called on all teachers across the country and every one wishing to join the profession to take the registrations and licensing seriously.

TCZ Spokesperson Ngoza Malonga told ZBT in an exclusive interview, on March 23 2020, that the council was established according to the teaching profession Act no. 5 of 2013, to regulate teachers and accredit colleges as a way of improving the teaching profession in the country.

She said teacher registration serves as a basis for ascertaining the relevance of a practitioner’s qualifications, skills and competences to the teaching profession. Malonga said that the council has been in existence for four (4) years and so far, it has managed to register 151,393 teachers out of whom 149,823 have been issued with Teacher Registration Certificates.

She disclosed to ZBT, that Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces make up over 39%, while southern province had 12% of the total registered teachers, making the three provinces to account for about 51%, with the rest of the provinces making up the remaining 49%.

On the gender side, Malonga told ZBT that females teachers make up 58% (87,874) of the registered teachers whereas, male teachers make up 42% (63,519), showing that the profession has more women than men.

“The importance of verifying teachers qualifications is simply to know who is who and who is trained to teach what, because you can find that someone is trained as secondary teacher but they are teaching early childhood, so that is a disorder we are trying to cure. If you train as primary school teacher stick to your lane or advance your qualifications so that you are equip to teach in specific grade, subject or age group.

Teacher registration is once off while teacher licensing is periodically done every three years, the rationale behind is to verify whether one qualifies and is fit to teach in any Zambian school as well as ensure continues professional development through periodic licensing”, she said. Teachers have been offered payment periods, so paying of registration and licensing fees is manageable.

She said from the time the council came in place in 2016, it has managed to detect about 733 persons masquerading as teachers at various levels. The situation of unregistered and unlicensed teachers if left unchecked, dilutes and compromises the learning process and quality of education which is key for national development.

‘‘By regulation, we mean we as TCZ are going to provide governance over this noble profession called teaching, and for it to be called a profession, it means it has to be guided by certain rules and ethics of membership. So we have a special code of ethics for teaching profession, apart from the code of ethics for the civil service commission. This document was created in consultation with the public service commission who are the employers of teachers in the public service,’’ said Malonga.

She further told ZBT that education is one of the most important sectors that need to be professionalized and taken care of if the country is to develop, saying this can only be achieved by having well qualified and trained teachers to offer the teaching service to learners across the country.

“Now if there are unqualified teachers, what are they going to be teaching our learners? in Zambia, we sometimes talk about the inability to even produce simple products like toothpicks, but maybe the best question is ask ourselves is weather we have the right people in the right places, professionalizing the teaching profession is key to improving the quality of education in the nation”.

“TCZ is young and the teaching practice in Zambia is older, meaning we have come into existence after the teachers have already been teaching in the past 54 years plus, so we have gone back to register and license all practicing teachers, So even someone with over 30 years of teaching experience, they are all required to come through and register. So the council looks at who is qualified and who is eligible to teach,’’ she added.

Malonga further said once the council is done with the distribution of the licenses, it will start taking punitive measures on teachers not yet registered and will surrender the ones found wanting to the employers who for the government workers is the teaching service commission for sanctions as per the appropriate regulations.

She confirmed that TCZ has inspectors that go round to ensure compliance. This compliance checks are not only for government schools, but cuts across private and international schools. For those with foreign or international qualifications, TCZ works in corroboration with the Zambia Qualifications Authority to ensure that only recognized qualifications are accepted and eligible to register with the TCZ.

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The Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) statistics

Tech

AFCONS infrastructure Ltd has disclosed that works at the US$11 million new Local Government Head office building are over 80% done and set to be fully completed in December this year.

Ministry of Local government building at 80% completion

The Indian company was last year awarded a contract by the Zambian government to construct a new local government building whose works began in June 2019.

Local government minister Charles Banda who inspected the works at the site on March 20th 2020, was pleased at how fast Afcons had demonstrated its works on the site saying it is encouraging to know how helpful the company wants to be to the Zambian people.

The six story building was initially set for completion in September 2021 but due to Afcons commitment towards the project, the completion date has moved to December 2020 meaning the company is 9 months ahead of schedule.

“The last time I visited this place, the building was on the second floor but today it stands tall because of Afcons amazing works, I however commend the company for speeding up its works as seen that only wiring and a few things are remaining,” He said.

And in a separate exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Afcons project manager Subrata Brandyopahyay expressed optimism with how works are being done stating that despite facing a few challenges, the company has still managed to pull through and deliver to the Zambian people.

He disclosed that most materials being used are manufactured within Zambia with only a few that are being imported from India such as big machinery.

“We are very happy to take up this kind of project, and it’s a very good opportunity for us because our exposure on the Zambia market is important to the market worldwide and we are getting full corporation from both government and other stakeholders,” He added.

Subrata further disclosed that about one hundred and ten (110) local people are currently employed on the site with only 5 Indians managing the engineering department.

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AFCONS infrastructure Ltd has disclosed that works

Markets

Lusaka based financial analyst Maambo Hamaundu has explained that the repossession of Madison Assets Management Company by the Securities Exchange Commissions – SEC is a sign of how local Zambian companies are struggling to Survive and comply with the regulatory rules due the current economic hardships and is a signal for proactive cost cutting by market players.

The Securities Exchange Commissions – SEC had on March 2nd 2020 temporarily taken possession of the affairs of Madison assets management company for breaching the securities act.

Hamaundu told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that it is the nature of businesses listed on the stock exchange to comply with the rules and regulations provided by the commission, failure to which, the commission take action to protect the public interest.

He said the commission’s decision indicates that there is a problem in the way business is being managed by Madison hence the need to ensure confidence is returned on the stock exchange market.

Meanwhile, Hamaundu added that many private owned companies are struggling to survive under the current economic hardships hence has urged the commission to deal with the matter consciously and in a balanced way so that investors don’t loss out completely.

“The country is currently going through economic challenges and most businesses are being affected, hence it is time for companies to figure out on how to fit in within what is obtaining on the market by adopting a strategies of controlling their costs,” He said.

He re-iterated that the current economic challenges should be an eye opener to private owned companies and look at how to utilize the available resources within the company by cutting down on unnecessary costs in order to survive.

“You need to think around how a company can survive in these hardships, look at the resources available and begin to evaluate depending on what you have within the company. The decision to cut costs is always hard to make but it has to be done to ensure the company does not collapse completely and cause loss of jobs” He added.

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Lusaka based financial analyst Maambo Hamaundu has

Markets

As the effects of the global COVID 19 pandemic kicks in, with foreign and international travel and trade almost coming to a halt, economies around the world have now been forced to look to domestic and local investments to keep their economies afloat and the wheels of trade moving.

This pandemic has paralyzed international trade, sports businesses with all major sporting events being put off. When the Zambian Business Times – ZBT spoke to the Livingstone Tourism Association – LTA Chairman George Sikumba, he confirmed that the effects on tourism in so deep such that the industry is now digging deep to find ways to keep their operations running due to high incidents of cancellations.

The Zambian economy has heavily relied on foreign direct trade as the major source of investment into the economy, and hen fact that COVID 19 may take another three to six months at best to clear out, there is need to now focus on domestic trade and domestic investments.

And the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has to this effect announced that it has doubled its efforts in promoting domestic direct investment (DDI) and re-investment in the wake of COVID 19 which was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 31 January 2020.

ZDA told ZBT that most of Zambia’s FDI sources and export destinations for its copper and now other non traditional [non-copper] exports are affected by the Covid-19. Therefore, Zambia’s Trade and Investment figures have significantly declined in the last two weeks. These include Zambia’s top trading partners such as DR Congo, China, South Africa and the EU market.

A number of investor missions that were scheduled to come for fact-finding missions and explore the opportunities have been postponed or completely cancelled. Others were earmarked to come and actualize their investment pledges but because of the deadly Covid-19 all these activities have been put on hold.

In addition other trade and investment related meetings in Asia, Europe, Southern Africa and other regions have been postponed indefinitely. However, it is the hope of the Agency that COVID – 19 should be contained as quickly as possible so that trade and investment can get back to normal where investors and traders are able to move freely.

ZDA Public Relations Manager Faith Musonda told ZBT on March 22, 2020, that the Agency has continued to strategically focus on promoting DDI, re-investment and the growth of SMEs’ to minimize the economic impact of Covid19.

Musonda stated that considering the current global health pandemic, the Agency will intensify engagement with existing investors for business diversification and re-investment as they already have an appreciation of the Zambian business environment, policy framework and available incentives.

In 2019, of the total projected investments worth USD 12.6 billion, USD 3.3 billion was re-investment, representing 26 percent of the total investment recorded. This reaffirms the great potential within the country working with the already established investors to create wealth and employment.

Some notable re-investments last year included Trade Kings, Intercontinental and Protea hotels, National milling, Californian beverages and University of Lusaka among others. The Agency therefore encourages investors, exporters and MSMEs’ to continue engaging ZDA.

Analysts say a special and strategic focus on domestic investments and trade is what will keep economies afloat in the wake of COVID 19. The sanitizing of local trading facilities markets should not be taken lightly together with strict land and airport boarder controls to prevent the virus from ravaging the remaining engine for local trade.

Local entrepreneurs, local traders and local investors are the remaining engine for the economy that should now be safeguarded to ensure that life in Zambia does not get constrained that may result into economic ruin.

Zambia already has economic challenges from the persistent Kwacha depreciation, power rationing and youth under employment as the major ones. There is a saying that all great challenges have great opportunities hidden in them. This COVID 19 had a silver lining and all efforts should be made to find and leverage the opportunities hidden behind this pandemic.

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As the effects of the global COVID

Mining

The global outbreak of coronavirus 2019 – COVID 19 is threatening Zambia’s mining industry, which is the backbone of the Zambian economy. This is due to its impact on global supply chains, thereby dampening the demand of copper, Zambia’s major export.

Minister of Mines and Minerals Richard Musukwa has confirmed that the outbreak of COVID-19 in some countries across the world has negatively impacted commodity prices of all minerals on the market and affected Zambia’s copper mining Industry at large.

Speaking at a joint media briefing with the Ministry of Information and the Zambia Chamber of Mines – ZCM, the minister said in order to ensure the country’s mining industry survives, government in collaboration with key stakeholders in the mining sector will come up with interventions to ensure operations in the mines are sustained and peoples jobs are secured.

Musukwa disclosed that most inputs used in the mines, such as smelters, plants and spares parts are sourced from outside the country and the current situation of COVID-19 has made it difficult for materials to arrive on time hence affecting production.

He has since expressed optimism that going forward, the situation will stabilize with the measures to be put in place adding that the mining industry is too big to fail even in the current circumstances as it is a backbone of the country’s economy.

He added that the ministry has also spread awareness to employees in mines and has engaged the Chamber of Mines to take lead in combating the spread of COVID-19, alluding to the fact that mines have a robust health and safety departments across all operations hence the need to intensify surveillance to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We will also ensure there is public awareness in communities where mining takes place because we believe the infection rate can develop from the community and spread to the mines,” He said.

And the Zambia Chamber of Mines – ZCM president Talent Ngandwe expressed the chambers’ commitment in collaborating with government to provide measures that will control the spread of the virus and stabilize mining operations.

“We are all aware that international copper prices have been adversely affected and it is difficult for the mines to operate profitably when the commodity prices drop, hence, we will put in place measures that will avoid the further collapse of the industry and the economy as a whole,” He added.

According to spot cash prices on the London Metal Exchange, copper prices have dropped to about US$4,850 as at 20 March 2020, down from February spot prices of about US$5,750 per tone.

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The global outbreak of coronavirus 2019 -

Tech

TopStar Zambia has announced that it has for this Easter period reduced its decoder prices countrywide for both DTT and DTH which started on the 15th of March 2020. The reduction is by 25 to 35%.

“Tabweza” which has been translated to mean “ A reduction ” is here with an amazing price cut on both DTT as well as Combo decoders. All new decoder owners get to watch for free for one full Month

New customers across the country can now buy a combo decoder at an all-time 25% price discount of K299 from the old price K399 under “Tabweza”. This DTH full kit comes with Satellite Dish, HD enabled Decoder, Activated Smart Card, 20m cable and an LNB at only K299 + One month of free viewing.

The Digital Terrestrial package of the Decoder + Antenna also comes with 35% discount which is now priced at K129 from the old price K399. This is pre-loaded with One Month Free Subscription for subscribers to enjoy a unique TV experience.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Time – ZBT by Topstar Public Relations Officer Kunda Chisunga on March 20, 2020, TopStar is pleased to carry the newly introduced channels ESPN, ESPN2 and Nina Channels and the Public Signal Distributor is also contented to re-introduce Fox, Fox Life, National Geo-Wild and National Geographic channels.

And new customers are encouraged to bring their NRC and phone numbers for registration purposes. “Our Dealer network has been briefed fully on the new offer. These include, Pep Stores, Pick N Pay, Choppies, E-Plus, Radian Stores, Budget Stores plus many more dealers across the country.

Our Customer Care is available on a daily basis and can be reached by dialing 2000 on Airtel, MTN and Zamtel” Topstar.

TopStar is the home of a host Zambian local TV channels and it continues to bring the reality of Digital TV to thousands of TV viewers at an affordable price and with shows for all TV lovers: local drams, sports, current affairs, romance, drama, music and children’s shows

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TopStar Zambia has announced that it has

Lifestyle

It’s said that every problem has a hidden benefit or profit point, that every challenge has a silver lining, and this is what is now being witnessed in Zambian Business environment. It is a typical attempt which is normal in a free market economy by the business community to take advantage of the coronavirus – COVID 19 to profit from the upsurge and spike in demand for hygienic sanitizers.

Following the health guidelines both from the world health organization – WHO and the Zambian ministry of health, that all public places should provide hygienic sanitizer, in an effort to fight the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, this has driven up the demand to levels never seen before and most retailers have hiked the prices to cash in on the increased excessive demand for especially the hand sanitizers. But the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has issued a warning that all businesses engaged in this practice will be identified and punished.

Like every spike in demand and the ensuing rise in prices that follows as if obeying the age old basic economic theory of the relationship between demand and supply, some retailers have taken advantage of the situation and are pricing the hand sanitizer products excessively, as Zambia is a free market economy with no price controls.

This has a negative consequence that needs to be balanced, and if this excessive pricing goes uncontrolled, the price of hand sanitizers and other needed hygienic products such as medicated soaps and hand washers are not balanced with the need for them to be available to most citizens, it will end up defeating the purpose of the health guidelines. It may become unaffordable to most households and small businesses who are in the majority.

And when the Zambian Business Times – ZBT contacted Competition and Consumer Protection Commission – CCPC, the commission stated that this trend of excessive price hikes for hygienic sanitizers should be stopped, warning all Business players to adhere to the laid down regulation and laws.

CCPC told ZBT that the commission has since warned business outlets against the act. They said from the preliminary investigations conducted by the commission, it has been noted that some deceitful traders across the country are taking advantage of the current situation to overcharge on sanitary products such as masks, gloves and hand sanitizers to the detriment of consumers and undermine the fight against COVID 19.

In an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, on March 20 2020, CCPC public Relations Officer Rainford Mutabi, said the Commission is appealing to all business outlets to desist from charging unreasonably high prices as this is against the law and affects public health.

‘‘In view of the foregoing pandemic, the commission through its inspectors across the country will ensure that all individuals and companies exacerbating such conduct are identified and punished. Although hand sanitizers are one of the convenient products of maintaining hygiene during this pandemic, consumers advised to use other hygienic products such as anti-bacterial soap, which are readily available in most retail outlets around the country,’’ said Mutabi.

Meanwhile, Mutabi revealed in a statement issued on the same day, that consumers are advised to report any of the enterprises or traders engaged in such conduct of excessive pricing of hygienic sanitizers, masks etc to the commission to take necessary action using the commission’s toll-free phone line 5678 on all mobile networks or by email; zcomp@ccpc.org.zm.

“Consumers are further urged to ensure that they obtain receipts for all such transactions and the receipts should be kept safely and submitted to the commission as evidence for investigation purpose”

Finance Minister Bwalya N’gandu demonstrating that all should wash their hands to prevent spread of COVID 19

“CCPC is a Statutory body whose existence has been constituted under the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010 following the repeal and replacement of the Competition and Fair Trading Act, 1994,’’ he revealed. Mutabi said that the objective of the Act places responsibility on the Commission to safeguard and protect the consumers against unfair trade practices that includes affair pricing.

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It’s said that every problem has a

Companies

Minister of Local Government Charles Banda has announced that the commissioning date for the Makeni flyover bridge which is being constructed at a cost of US$13 million has been set for 14 April 2020.

Makeni flyover bridge is among the four fly over bridges being constructed in the greater city of Lusaka under the Lusaka decongestion project by an Indian Company, AFCONS infrastructure Ltd.

Government had in April 2019 contracted India’s Afcons ltd to construct filter-road and bridges in Lusaka to ease traffic congestions in the city. The traffic congestion in Lusaka had built up and led to city residents and commercial activities being hampered as more time was being spent in traffic than doing the actual work.

Some psychologists had even attributed the levels of stress and generally higher levels of frustrations that are expressed on various fora by some Lusaka residents as being attributed some extent, to burn out experienced when motorists and residents transit to and from home to work or business places.

Speaking when the local government minister toured the works at the Makeni flyover bridge on March 20, 2020, attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, AFCONS project manager Subrata Brandyopahyay disclosed that the bridge is 95% complete and assured that it will be fully completed in the first week of April to leave room for the commissioning date, set for 14th April, 2020.

Subrata has since expressed optimism that the company will soon complete the remaining bridges in the city as works are going on smoothly with no challenges experienced and that no accidents have been recorded in terms of injuries or death among employees.

The Minister has in this vein commended the contractor for speeding up the works ahead of schedule and for the quality works demonstrated, saying it will go a long way in decongesting traffic in Lusaka and will add a lot to the beauty and quality of life to the city as far as modernization is concerned.

Banda further announced that the remaining bridges which are, Arcades flyover bridge, is planned to be commissioned in June this year 2020, while the Munali flyover bridge will be commissioned in September, also this year 2020 respectively.

“I would like to commend AFCONS for speeding up the works, this project was supposed to go as far as September next year but the contractor has put in a lot of efforts to ensure that they are ahead of schedule, which is almost a year ahead and this will give government a lot of time to plan for phase two because this is only phase one of the project,” He added.

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Minister of Local Government Charles Banda has