Connect with:
Sunday / April 27.
logo
mobile-logo
HomeStandard Blog Whole Post (Page 187)
Agribusiness

Grain Traders Association of Zambia – GTAZ, a signatory to the tripartite agreement that involves the Food Reserve Agency – FRA and Miller Association of Zambia – MAZ has revealed that all millers party to the tripartite agreement will and should have a price tag of between K130 and K140 on the bag of mealie meal as retail price for a 25 kg.

GTAZ confirmed that an emergency meeting had been held following the reports of the skyrocketing price of the staple food, mealie meal in which some traders took advantage of the situation to repeat buy from the commodity and resell it at hiked prices.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, GTAZ Executive Director Chambuleni Simwinga stated that the price should now be about K140 per 25 kg of breakfast Millie meal which had been re-affirmed after the meeting and that the benefiting millers will now be tagging a price tag on the bags to prevent the bulk buying and reselling practices which had been taken advantage of to create an artificial shortage of lower priced mealie meal.

When asked by ZBT to name the top five millers which members of the public can watch out for to secure the supply and pricing as per tripartite agreement, Simwinga named the top five millers who are party to the agreement who buy the largest quantity of subsidized maize as; Antelope Milling, FVG Milling, National Milling, Simba Milling and African Milling companies among others.

Simwinga said all the 38 millers who are party to the tripartite agreement should now put a price tag on the bags of mealie meal to avoid the retailers exploiting the program by pricing in their own interest. He said that this practice is workable and needs the supply chain to have specific onward agreements with retailers to ensure that agreed margins and final retail prices are maintain.

He confirmed that this agreement was arrived at, after the meeting held recently with the stakeholders. ‘‘How the tripartite agreement is working is that millers are getting maize from maize traders and then they show proof of purchase to FRA, then FRA is providing 37% of that quantity bought as subsidy, which should cushion the and average down the cost of maize that miller buy,’’ said Simwinga.

He further told ZBT that the price tag on the bags of mealie meal coupled with a monitoring system is only way the tripartite agreement will benefit the consumers who are the intended targets for the agreement. He called on all the millers to adhere to the directive and make sure that all the bags of mealie meal offloaded by all the 38 millers in Chain Stores and other distribution points across the country are priced appropriately with the price tag printed right from the factory.

A quick check in some Chain Stores by ZBT in Lusaka found some millers such as African Milling brand adhering to the contracted price as per tripartite agreement and consumers are purchasing the commodity at about K135 per 25kg bag of breakfast mealie meal and K125 for roller mealie meal respectively

0 Comments
0 likes

Grain Traders Association of Zambia - GTAZ,

Markets

The Lusaka City Council – LCC in conjunction with the Consumer Unity and Trust Society – CUTS have launched the “Lusaka Food Policy Council” an initiative which will provide a set of guidelines governing the food system in Lusaka.

To achieve this objective, CUTS and LCC have recognized the importance of engaging different stakeholders from the public and private sector who will take part in the Lusaka food distribution system.

Speaking at the launch of the food policy council in Lusaka in March 2020, LCC Town Clear Alex Mwansa had welcomed the initiative and emphasized its importance saying such a platform is necessary in order to identify solutions to address the complex issues facing Lusaka food system.

He noted that some of the food issues facing Lusaka require addressing the problems in the informal sector and local markets as they play a significant role in the supply and retailing of food in Lusaka.

At the same event, CUTS Center Coordinator Chenai Mukumba noted that the initiative fell in line with CUTS primary mandate of promoting the welfare of consumers adding that food system in the city of Lusaka is complex and is being impacted by both rapid urbanization pressures and globalizing food systems.

She highlighted that many households in the city are low income earners and are found in informal settlements therefore the governance of food system including coordination and management of open air residential and wholesale markets would have a significant impact on households.

Makumba further added that going forward the initiative will be piloted in other provinces across the country saying currently they will be working in Lusaka which seems complex when it comes to facing problems with food security.

Speaking on the sidelines of the workshop, a Marketer from Soweto market in Lusaka Memory Zulu told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that there is need to focus on informal markets pointing out that the majority of consumers across high, middle and low income households in Lusaka purchase their foods from local markets as they provide easy access to affordable foods.

“We welcome this initiative from the council and CUTS, this was supposed to be done 50 years ago, however it is not too late and it is really going to help us in the food market, security will be provided, cleanness in markets will be provided and consumers will be able to purchase goods not only at a cheaper price but food which is safe for consumptions,” She added.

0 Comments
0 likes

The Lusaka City Council – LCC in

Tech

The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority – ZICTA has warned members of the public to desist from circulating fake and unverified information regarding the CORONA Virus outbreak using various ICT platforms.

It has been observed that some members of the public are promoting fake posts on COVID-19 which is contravening the safety rules provided as mitigative measures and has potential to put people at high risk of contracting the virus if inaccurate information is disseminated.

ZICTA has since urged individuals including bloggers, various WhatsApp and Facebook group administrators, editors and reporters from mainstream and social media platforms to get reliable, official and verified information from the relevant authorities before sharing it to avoid circulation, broadcasting and publication of fake and alarming information.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by ZICTA Corporate Communications Manager Ngabo Nankonde on March 19, 2020, the authority has reminded the public that the circulation and publication of falsehoods with the intent to cause fear and alarm to the public, is an offence and is prosecutable under the penal code.

ZICTA has since pledged its commitment to support the law enforcement agencies such as Zambia Police Service to ensure that those who break the law by circulating falsehoods and misleading information on CPVID-19 on any ICT platform are brought to book as the authority is mandated by law to oversee safe and responsible use of ICT.

Ngabo said combating this pandemic requires the responsible involvement of every Zambian hence the need for people to come on board and play an active role and use social media wisely.

“We also wish to encourage members of the public to consider using digital platforms for transactions to avoid close contact whenever they can. Consumers are further encouraged that as they sanitize their hands, they may also remember to sanitize their mobile phone, handsets as well and computer keyboards as an added pre-caution,” She added.

Meanwhile, government has announced that it will be giving timeline statements and hold press briefings regularly to update the nation on any development with regards to COVID-19.

0 Comments
0 likes

The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority

Markets

Prominent Zambian Economist Professor Oliver Saasa has called for concerted efforts to fight the corona virus disease – COVID 19 and not politicized its effect on the economy as the entire world is battling with it and that many economies have been affected due to restrictions in the movements of people and goods.

Prof. Saasa told Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview on March 18th 2020, that the Covid-19 pandemic has gone beyond expectations of any factor that contribute to the slowing of the economy. He said Zambia is greatly affected economically because of its notable foreign trade with China, which is the epicenter of the disease right now.

‘‘China imports close to 30% of our copper, China is the major source of our merchandise in terms of imports, we rely greatly on trade with them. China is also a major investor in the mining sector in Zambia as well as a leading investor in the infrastructure development with huge capital investments. China had a big intimacy with Zambia in terms of trade relations and the Virus was reported from right there in Wuhan, China’’ he said.

Prof. Saasa explained that the country is not generating enough foreign exchange due to less confidence in the market by those that come and invest, foreign investors or portfolio investors that come to buy treasury bills and government bonds. He said currently there is a starvation of foreign exchange on market relatively to the demand for the green bag.

‘‘At the moment there are less dollars on the market for a number of things. The first reason is that the mining sector is not performing too well, the mining sector account for close to 80% of foreign exchange receipt from exports of copper. At the moment, the price of copper is on average about US$ 5,500 per metric tonne with further reductions expected from COVID 19 threats, which is relatively much lower, we expected it to move up to around US$ 6,000 per metric tonne. So it means our foregn exchange earnings from copper is dwindling significantly,’’ Prof. Saasa added.

He has encouraged the government to dialogue with the mining sector, which it seems is currently at loggerheads with. ‘‘There are major differences between the government policy on mining and the investors mainly because of the 2019 fiscal regime, where taxes were increased quite significantly which discouraged investors that are already in the country and also those which were to come to do business,’’ he said.

During vice president question time last Friday, Vice President Madam Inonge Wina told parliament that the Kwacha had continued to depreciate due to Covid-19. The Veep was responding to a question from Manyinga legislator Robert Lihefu who wanted to know if government has failed to manage the economy and currency, leading to what he termed as ‘the free failing’ of the local currency.

The response by the Veep received many attacks from the civil society organisations including the opposition political parties who argued to say that kwacha began depreciating way back before the issue of the Covid-19 intensified. Prof. Saasa however has backed her statement saying the effect of COVID 19 should be not be politicized.

0 Comments
0 likes

Prominent Zambian Economist Professor Oliver Saasa has

Lifestyle

The Livingstone Tourism Association – LTA has written and proposed to the labour commissioner seeking modalities on the possibility of sending non-essential employees in the tourism industry on unpaid or forced leave as the industry is battling with the impact of Covid-19.

LTA Chairman George Sikumba, told Zambian Business Times-ZBT in an exclusive interview on March 17, 2020 that the sector has been badly hit by the economic effects of Covid-19 as very few and sometimes no tourist at all are making their way to visit tourism facilities.

‘‘We have simply proposed to the labour commissioner to put most of the non-essential staff to go on forced leave. So you will more likely be seeing most of our staff going on forced leave going forward. It’s a disaster to the industry, how we will survive in the next couple of months if this pandemic persists is a big challenge,’’ said Mr Sikumba.

He added that the tourism sector as a business is badly affected by the Covid-19 especially on the accommodation side of business, saying the hotel and lodging business in terms of occupancy has drastically dropped on Covid-19.

‘‘Occupants for the Hotels has gone to as low as 10 to 20 percent, and these are big hotels, so if you are talking 10 to 20 %, there is a big problem. The people coming for big meetings are affected and the local operators who normally do transfers are not picking as many clients as visit to Livingstone have dropped, so it’s a disaster, we just need to find ways of how we can keep up the business without laying off workers.’’ he added.

He has advised employers in the tourism sector to save enough money and make plans to sustain the business during this dry season. Sikumba expressed disappointment that, unlike 2019, 2020 was a year the industry was earmarked to expand in most sectors and sell massively to the international and local tourists. He said the pandemic seem to have ravaged the these expectations.

The LTA Chairman said normally about 250,000 business travelers were coming in the country, but since the outbreak, the number has sharply dropped. He said unfortunately, countries regarded as tourists source such as United Kingdom, China, Italy, United States of America and India are the ones greatly affected with the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘‘We have a big challenge to run the tourism business in Livingstone as at now, because the vaccine and cure has not yet been found, so we are just waiting and following up any developments for the situation to normalize. Sikumba has since confirmed that the industry is taking all precautions as prescribed by the ministry of health,” he said.

1 Comment
0 likes

The Livingstone Tourism Association - LTA has

Companies

Fly Emirates has temporarily suspendered operations to Lusaka and Harare starting from March 20, 2020 to May, 20 2020 and has requested customers who booked with emirates to process refunds for their tickets through their local office.

This announcement comes after Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya confirmed at a press briefing on March 18, 2020 that a Zambian couple who traveled to France and landed back into the country using Fly Emirates tested positive to COVID-19 and have since been quarantined.

The Airline has since suspended its operations in Lusaka to monitor the situation closely as it looks forward to resuming normal operations when feasible. Other destinations suspended include Cairo, Tunis, Algiers, Khartoum as counter measures to contain the virus.

Fly Emirates Public Relations Consultant Gillian Langmead told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in exclusive interview that in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, Emirates is taking extra steps to go above and beyond industry and regulatory requirements to ensure its customers health and comfort is provided.

“With the current threats from the spread of COVID-19 around the world, we wish to announce to our customers that we will be suspending operations for the next two months to allow us monitor the situation for the safety of our people. We apologise for the inconvenience caused,” She said.

Meanwhile, as at March 19, 2020, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya disclosed at a media briefing that travelers who were on the plane which disembarked in Lusaka, Zambia with the affected persons on March 15, 2002 were 82 and are currently being followed up actively to ascertain risk of exposure while Eight close contacts to the affected are in self-quarantine and being tested for COVID-19.

The Minister further confirmed that about 29,992 travelers have been screened, with 2,258 being persons from high risk areas adding that among those from the high risk areas, 460 have been cleared under 14 days’ quarantine and watch while investigative alerts continue.

As an additional key to measures that government has put in place to prevent the COVID-19 from circulating across the country, Chitalu also announced a suspension of trading activities in all markets this weekend to allow for a thorough cleanup.

However, all citizens have been advised to exercise high levels of hygiene and comply with the preventive measures provided which are aimed at safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the Zambian public.

1 Comment
0 likes

Fly Emirates has temporarily suspendered operations to

Tech

Zamtel, has responded to some complaints by its customers over the increased pricing for some of their products and services saying this is due to the changes in the economic fundamentals in the country.

Zamtel customers have taken to social media to voice out their displeasure over the increases in pricing for some packages saying the price hike was unjustified and that the timing is wrong.

However, in a statement availed to Zambian Business Time – ZBT, on March 17, 2020, Zamtel Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta explained that the adjustments to the pricings of its products and services have been made in order to continue providing quality services to its customers. He said that the adjustments that affects some of the data and voice services have been effected after consultations with stakeholders.

Mupeta further explained that some additional benefits on selected offers have been introduced. ‘‘You will recall that a number of fundamentals have changed in the market and as such in order for us to continue providing quality service to our customers, it has become necessary to align our pricing,’’ he said.

‘‘Am sure most of our customers have noticed a huge improvement in the customer experience for both our data and voice services. This is due to the massive investment that the company has made on its network. We will continue investing on the network in order to provide quality service to our customers,’’ added Mupeta.

The Zamtel CEO said the telco currently has the largest network coverage in the country. He emphasized and assured their clients that even with the adjustments to its prices, Zamtel remains the most affordable and most reliable network in Zambia.

Zamtel has in the recent years invested over $280 million to erect more than 1000 towers across the country as well as modernize its network. The investment has resulted in an increase in the number of 4G, 3G and 2G sites across the country.

Zamtel as part of the state investment arm – the Industrial Development Corporation has come under pressure to make their operations profitable. The telco is a competitor to the local unit of MTN of South Africa and the local unit of Bharti Airtel of India.

Both Airtel and MTN Zambian units are massive revenue generators and are profitable entities. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Bwalya N’gandu had challenged IDC to ensure that all companies in its portfolio become profitable and financially viable, as opposed to looking to the treasury for funding, even when the respective companies are operating in a profitable industry.

0 Comments
0 likes

Zamtel, has responded to some complaints by

Companies

ZESCO Limited has advised its customers and the general public to use online platforms for business transactions with the power utility in a bid to complement government efforts of mitigating the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This announced comes after Zambia recorded its first two cases of the Coronavirus as reported today, 18 March 2020, by the Ministry of Health during press briefing.
The unidentified individuals are said to be a family of four (4) that traveled to France on a 10 days’ vacation of which both parents tested positive while the two children have tested negative.

ZESCO has since advised customers to minimize walking into customer service centers dotted around the country, but instead utilize online platforms through service providers such as banks, mobile money and Third Party Venders (TPVs) for purchasing electricity units and reporting faults.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by ZESCO Public Relations Manager Hezel Zulu Zesco Limited further urges its customers and the general public to consistently adhere to preventive measures such as regular washing of hands with soap and water, avoiding handshakes and hugs, keeping distances of at least one meter from each other, drinking a lot of fluids, frequent rubbing of hands with alcohol based hand sanitizers to mention, but a few.

“During this period, we are all encouraged to support the multisectoral approach led by the Ministry of Health to limit the spread of the virus and this calls for concerted efforts from all Zambians hence, the need to intensify measures to avoid the further spread of the virus,” She said.

COVID-19 was first reported on 31st December 2019 in Wuhan City of Hubei Province in China. On 30th January 2020 the outbreak was declared a Global Public Health Emergency by the World Health Organization – WHO.

Following wide and continued spread of the virus around the world, the outbreak has in the last few days been upgraded to pandemic status. However, the WHO still implores countries to step up efforts for containing spread of the virus by implementing strong measures to support early disease detection.

0 Comments
0 likes

ZESCO Limited has advised its customers and

Lifestyle

Zambia’s three major land border entries, Kasumbalesa, Chirundu and Nakonde have commenced intensive surveillance and screening to persons entering the country in a bid to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview on March 18, 2020, that the Ministry has placed health officers at all land and Airport entries across the country to monitor travelers and ensure those with symptoms of COVID-19 are invested and quarantined.

Meanwhile, Zambia has recorded its first two cases of the Coronavirus from a couple that landed from a 10 days’ vacation in France on Sunday March 15, 2020. This was confirmed by Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya during a media briefing on March 18, 2020.

Chitalu further told ZBT that the Ministry working with the Zambia National Public Health Institute – ZNPHI to ensure that health activities are adhered to by the public and at all high volume entry points in the country by taking preventive measures such as regular washing of hands with soap and water, avoiding handshakes and hugs, keeping distances of at least one meter from each other, drinking a lot of fluids, frequent rubbing of hands with alcohol based hand sanitizers to mention but a few.

He further disclosed that the K57 million that was set aside through a contingency fund approved by President Edgar Lungu on March 3, 2020 will be employed for multisectoral activities which includes the stocking of protective equipment by health personals, Testers to be used at entry points and capacity building.

“President Lungu had on March 3, 2020 called for an urgent cabinet meeting to approve the creation of a contingency fund by government treasury to respond to the Coronavirus outbreak in order to timely protect the public from the social, economic and cultural effects that the disease may cause.

0 Comments
0 likes

Zambia’s three major land border entries, Kasumbalesa,

Lifestyle

The move by the state through the ministry of health, to announce the closure of all the schools and universities in the country, in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly Corona virus, has been received with mixed feelings by the public.

Some members of the public have wondered why the state has gone to the extent of closing all learning institutions in the country when the virus has not yet been reported locally.

One civilian who preferred to remain unanimous told Zambian Business Times – ZBT, that the school curriculum will be distorted for the learners, and that performance will be affected as some schools are coming from another closure during the chemical gassing incident recently.

“Why should you declare a closure on all school before the country reports even one case, I think the most important thing is to keep safe by taking the precaution measures steadily and not closing completely. What should be closed for now are the entry points because we can only have a case from travelers outside who are coming in”, he said.

However, National Action for Quality Education in Zambia – NAQEZ, has welcomed the decision by government saying while it appears devastating to the Zambian academic calendar, the decision was inevitable considering the agonizing social and economic consequences a country recording the virus.

In a statement to Zambian Business Times-ZBT, on March 17, 2020, NAQUEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa said enabling Corona virus in Zambia would be catastrophic with the fact that both the healthy system and the economy are too overstretched and may not be able to cope with a disease as Covid-19.

“Clearly, closure of learning institutions will have negative and far reaching academic effects in the country. However, we are of a carefully considered position that the decision by government is aimed at protecting Children and the nation from Corona virus. Life is too precious to be exposed to a virus such as this fast spreading disaster”, said Chansa.

Chansa further said Zambia being a land-linked country; is now at high transmission risk. He said as schools and Universities close on Friday, 20th March 2020, all pupils and students should know that social distancing is the most effective method of preventing the transmission of the Covid-19.

On March 17, 2020, minister of health Dr Chitalu Chilufya updated the nation on Corona virus and announced a closure of all schools and Universities in the country to prevent the outbreak of the virus.

0 Comments
0 likes

The move by the state through the