Connect with:
Thursday / June 12.
logo
mobile-logo
HomeStandard Blog Whole Post (Page 190)
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

Agribusiness

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA)has challenged Millers to adhere to the tripartite agreement and ensure that there is a steady supply of mealie meal on the market pegged at the recommended prices.

FRA has confirmed that they have released a total of fifty seven thousand nine hundred and eight-seven metric tonnes (57, 987 MTs) of white maize under the Tripartite Agreement maize program signed with the Millers association of Zambia (MAZ) and the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ).

FRA Public Relations Coordinator John Chipandwe has told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT through a statement on March 17, 2020 that the 57,987 MTs released was out of a total of seventy-one thousand, six hundred and eight nine point nine one metric tonnes (71, 689.91 MTs) of white maize that the Agency is required to contribute to the Tripartite Agreement.

Chipandwe explained that the released quantity was as at Friday 13th March 2020 and implies that the Agency still has a balance of thirteen thousand, seven hundred and three metric tonnes (13,703 MTs) of maize yet to be released to Millers covered under the Tripartite Agreement.

‘‘The Agency further wishes to state that, the total maize allocation under the Tripartite Agreement was two hundred and ninety-three thousand, six hundred and forty-three point five metric tonnes (293, 643.05 MTs). Out of which two hundred and twenty-one thousand, nine hundred and fifty-three point fourteen (221, 953.14 MTs), was an allocation to be contributed by the GTAZ with their own maize,’’ he said.

And Chipandwe said the maize allocations have not yet been depleted and that the mealie meal shortage was artificial, contrary to speculations that the maize allocation under the tripartite agreement had run out. He said the Agency, GTAZ and MAZ still has enough Maize.

Members of the public have raised concern with FRA and the parties to the tripartite agreement and called for an inquiry to ensure that the erring parties are taken to task and appropriate legal action taken.

1 Comment
0 likes

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA)has challenged Millers

Agribusiness

The Food Reserve Agency – FRA has confirmed that the country has enough Maize. A check by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT with the Food Reserve Agency – FRA Public Relations Coordinator John Chipandwe who exclusively revealed that the country has enough maize stocks and that the FRA has continued to offload enough Maize to Millers.

In November last year, government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), entered into an agreement, with the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) and the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) in an effort to fight the escalating price of the staple food in the country.

This agreement which is referred to as the tripartite agreement, with government spokesperson and information minister Dora Siliya explaining that the Agreement involved the FRA releasing about 196,000 metric tones of maize to cushion the high mealie meal prices.

Siliya at the time said that the agreement should result in wholesale price of roller meal at K125.00 and breakfast meal at K136.00 by the 38 milling companies engaged by the government. She said government is concerned with the high food prices in the country hence the reduction in the staple food.

However, this has not been the case with the situation on the ground, as the price of the staple food has now skyrocketed to between K185 to K210 per 25 kg bag in some parts of the country.

The question is, what is causing this hike in the price of the commodity, because some authorities have ruled that there is enough grain in the country but that the millers are not offloading on the market hence causing a shortage. It is also alleged that retailers are now taking advantage of the situation and are pricing the commodity at their own preferred amount.

In an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Grain Traders Association of Zambia- GTAZ Executive Director Chambuleni Simwinga explained that it has been difficult to deal with retailers who price the mealie meal according to their own interest.

“It is very difficult dealing with human beings. The issue of managing the price at consumer level is not possible unless there is a tag on the bag that’s when we can be able to contain the situation, because millers are suppling the Chain Stores who are adhering to the right price, but still retailers are buying in bulk and reselling at higher price,’’ he said.

Simwinga said the intentions of the Agreement have not yet been met because of some short comings such as the price hike in electricity tariffs, the introduction of new labour laws on the workers’ wages and the general behavior of people involved in the selling of the commodity.

He has since called on the government to quickly mitigate the crises’which has seen a 25 kg bag of mealie meal price soar in some parts of the country. effort to get a comment from Millers Association of Zambia proved futile as the phone went unanswered.

Over the weekend, Lusaka province minister Bowman Lusambo took a tour in Shoprite stores around the city of Lusaka to check on the situation and found some youths buying mealie meal in bulk.

When asked, the youths stated that they were buying for home consumption but the Shoprite Stores manager in Matero, Patricia Lungu revealed the youths were buying in bulk to resale to the Rwandese businesses who are later selling the staple food at a higher price.

Calls for the review of the tripartite agreement operations have increased as the offloaded maize at a lower price point is now not reaching the intended consumers.

1 Comment
0 likes

The Food Reserve Agency - FRA has

Agribusiness

Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) has weighed in and supported the proposal to have millers who are buying maize from FRA at subsidized price to print a price tag on the bag of a mealie meal, to prevent creation of a black market and cushion the escalating price of mealie meal.

In an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, GTAZ Executive Director Chambuleni Simwinga said putting of price tag on the bag is the way to go, to avoid self-prescribed price by the different retailers who are taking advantage of the situation.

“The Tripartite agreement between FRA, GTAZ and the Millers was well coordinated and was done in good faith to reduce the escalating price of the commodity, but it is very difficult when you are dealing with human beings. It is not easy to control the retailers on the right price they are supposed to sell the 25 kg bag, so measure for monitoring need to be put in place’’ said Simwinga.

He said that when the tripartite agreement was made, we also need to take into consideration what the millers are going through, that at that time, there was no hikes in electricity tariffs which is now in place, this hike has now affected the cost of production by the Millers.

Moreover, the newly implemented employment code act and other new labour laws, these have further caused an increase in the cost of production which was also not the case when the tripartite agreement was signed. This has also contributed to the increase in the pricing of the commodity.

Simwinga explained that the factory pricing of a 25 kg bag of mealie meal was agreed at about K130 but that the retail pricing is being exaggerated by some retailers and those that are buying at the recommended prices and later reselling at their own prices, saying the price tag will help reduce the high price of the staple food on the market.

The price of a 25 bag of mealie meal has continued to increase in most parts of the country with some retail outlets a 25kg bag of breakfast mealie meal from K220 to about K185 respectively. The escalating price of mealie meal has so far let to the suspension of stock feed exports to stem maize outflows as an immediate measure.

0 Comments
0 likes

Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) has

Companies

The Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection – JCTR’s Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket – BNNB which measures the cost of living for a family of 5 stood at K7, 015.90 for the month of February 2020, recording a 5.33 percent decline from K7, 410.96 in January 2020.

The basket between January and February 2020 reduced by K395.06, however, when compared to same month February 2019, the basket stood at K5, 331.12, which is an increase year on year of about 32%.

JCTR stated that the drop in the February 2020 food basket was mainly attributed to a reduction in the prices of food items such as fresh fruit snd vegetables which reduced from K669.77 in January to K391.00 in February for a monthly requirement of 40kg.

Other fruits also reduced from K439.93 to K369.04, kapenta reduced from K299.07 to K202.73, onion moved from K150.88 to K58.19 and tomatoes prices reduced from K118.58 to K60.92.

JCTR communications officer Enock Ngoma has told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT on March 6, 2020 that the price reduction in the noted food items is attributed to the favourable rainfalls that the country has experienced in the past months which led to an increase in the production of fruits and vegetables making them readily available and affordable.

“The reduction in the price of kapenta can be attributed to the lift of the fish ban on Lake Kariba and Lake Tanganyika”. In February 2019, kapenta again recorded a K45.33 price decline.

In the February 2020 food basket, a few items, however, recorded price increases. The price of soya pieces increased to K128.85 in February from K83.50 in January 2020. The price of eggs also moved up from K83.11 to K95.14 for the same time period,” he added.

JCTR therefore notes with concern that the reduction in the cost of living may not be sustained as this may be because food items such as vegetables contributing to this reduction are greatly affected by seasonality and the amount of rainfall that the country records.

The center has since reiterated the need for Government to increase resource allocation and commitment to a more sustainable climate resilient agriculture sector adding that this will significantly contribute to more consistent supply of some foods and help keep prices low.

2 Comments
0 likes

The Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection -

Tech

Government has warned social media and Internet ‘abusers’ that it has put in place measures and installed equipment that enables the information communication technology – ICT regulator – ZICTA and law enforcement agencies like the Police to track down suspects.

However, when the Zambian Business Times – ZBT reached out to ZICTA to confirm the installation of new equipment to track down social media abuse suspects as well as set up of a joint cyber crime detection team, the ICT regulator referred all queries on this matter to the Zambia Police, who could also not confirm by press time.

In his State of the Nation – SONA address, President Edgar Lungu stated that as of 30th September 2019, Zambia had an estimated 9.1 million active internet users, representing an internet penetration rate of 52.2 percent. This is above the African continental average of 35.9 percent.

The Republican president noted that the digital era has rapidly changed the way business, politics, education, careers and much more are conducted hence has positively and in some way negatively impacted morality and ethics in many people.

He said others can easily access useful information that is helpful to their businesses, careers or education while some people use this technology to violate human rights and to commit crime.

The Zambian president warned against social media abuse saying culprits of these indiscretions will be tracked down and brought to book with the coordination of the information technology regulator [ZICTA] and the police.

“Formulation of stringent laws and enforcement could deter some of our people in the habit of circulating inappropropriate materials. Yet again, social media abuse is in fact getting worse by the day. Have we not seen pictures of accident victims being splashed on social media? Have we not seen pictures of human beings being stoned and burnt, lately on social media? The abuse of social media is real and the battle is far from being won, however all is being done to ensure law and order in the country” he added.

President Lungu further disclosed that a training of more Zambian police officers in cyber-crime prevention, detection and forensic investigation has been undertaken. In 2019, sensitization programmes on the appropriate use of social media were conducted in 70 secondary schools, covering 15 districts in western and copperbelt provinces.

The head of state is encouraged that these programs targeted at pupils, teachers and other members of staff and district education boards have progressed well. He said that a survey by the information technology regulator – ZICTA indicated that schools are responding positively to these interventions.

So far, a media statement has been availed to ZBT to confirm that a combined team of Zambia Police and ZICTA have managed to track down some suspects behind some fake Facebook profiles that had been created and used to spread hate speech and insult the head of state. The tracking down was also extended to what’s app group administrators were phonographic materials had been circulated with some arrests also been reported and confirmed by Police spokesperson, Esther Katongo.

0 Comments
0 likes

Government has warned social media and Internet