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Police have confirmed that a total of 11 police stations whose reconstruction cost is estimated to be about K5.5 million (about K500,000 per police station) has been wasted and will eventually be borne by the very community members, a major economic setback for the country.

This follows the recent incidents of chemical attacks on Zambian citizens by what has now been described as organized criminal activities, which resulted in the public excising mob justice, which resulted in some police stations on the copperbelt, Lusaka and other provinces, to be burnt down, an act that has also been suspected to have been pre-meditated and planned.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, on March, 10th 2020, Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo, said though it is difficult to give an exact estimate the total cost of rebuilding the damaged posts because the police posts destroyed are in different sizes, she however bemoaned the fact that most of the police stations that were gutted are community based and built, meaning that they were built by the contributions from members of the community themselves.

Looking at the recent commissioned police post named after the first lady Esther Lungu Police Post in Kitwe, which was reported to have been constructed at an average cost of about K500,000 (five hundred thousand kwacha). This gives an estimated total cost of reconstructing the 11 gutted police posts countrywide at K5.5 million.

“So, community members need to be made aware that they are burning what is theirs, because most of the community police posts are built by the community members contributions and donations. As police we have the project and maintenance unit, which looks into the construction and rehabilitation of the police posts, but because these police posts are community based, it will ideally the community themselves to rebuild them through the local community leadership. So us as Police will work with the community leaders to rebuild them, once they are done with the re-construction, then we go to inspect and redeploy our officers”, said Katongo.

She cited the incident at Mwembeshi, where the residents damaged the police post, which is upto now, not yet rebuilt, saying it will take the residents and their local leaders to rebuild it because it was a community based police post. Katongo said the government can only move in through the constituency Development Funds (CDF).

‘‘Us, when such a thing happens we just remove our officers from there, then allow members of the public to put resources together and rebuild, not the police or government to rebuild. Maybe government can come in when it comes to CDF money, but for us as police once you damage the police post, we just pull out and wait for you as community to rebuild.

The Police Spokesperson further said, that it’s upto the community to build a police post to the standards required by the police, failure to which, the police does not take their officers to the station. She called on the community to guard their properties jealously because it’s their resources used in the construction of the police posts which are then a shared responsibility.

The mostly affected provinces for burnt down police posts include the Copperbelt, Lusaka and North Western. A check by ZBT on the recently gutted police post in Lusaka’s Kanyama township show that the community have started rebuilding the police post. This Police post was damaged by the mob after the confusion that resulted from chemical and gass attacks.

As of now, investigations are still ongoing, arrests have been made with calls for finding the masterminds growing. But with delays in announcing progress made, members of the public are now concerned that the truth behind these chemical attacks will never be known and risks to die a natural death.

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Police have confirmed that a total of

Tech

Technology has been seen to continue improving the lives of people in many spheres because with enhanced communication, there is an increase in productivity as information is accessed almost instantly thus breaking time and location barriers. The young people have been seen to be at helm of ICT Innovation.

To this reason, Airtel Zambia Managing Director, Apoorva Mehrotra said Airtel is committed to empowering the youth of today and helping contribute to national development. He said employment, skills development and entrepreneurship will continue to be key to Airtel’s growth agenda.

Mehrotra was speaking during the Official opening of the 2020 ICT Business Forum organized by the Zambia Information Technology Authority (ZICTA), on March 4th 2020 attended by Zambian Business Times-ZBT in Lusaka.

“It is our great privilege for Airtel to be part of this conference which has the theme, Fast Tracking Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Zambia. Our sponsorship of this young innovators forum is testimony of Airtel’s commitment in partnering with ZICTA in addressing the gaps in the ICT sector,’’ said the Airtel Managing Director – MD.

Mehrotra applauded government for beginning to undertake policy, legal and institutional reforms to facilitate universal access to ICT and promote the use of ICT in business (e-commerce); networking of services and applications across the public sector.

Meanwhile, Director of Communications in the ministry of Transport and Communications, Yese Bwalya was at hand to officiate the event and said that the ministry will collaborate with ZICTA and various cooperating partners in launching the child online protection strategy to protect the youth from inappropriate and offensive content, making the cyberspace safer.

He expressed concern over the rise in cybercrimes such as internet fraud, cyber bullying, identify theft, spreading of false information and hacking being perpetuated by some unscrupulous people through use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

‘‘It is government’s desire to see people (Professional and ordinary), guarding against these vices and exhibit a high level of discipline, ethical conduct and proper use of the knowledge they possess in using ICT platforms,’’ said Bwalya.

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Technology has been seen to continue improving

Markets

Government has through the Ministry of National Development Planning signed a Memorandum of Understanding – MoU with Zambia National Commercial Bank – ZANACO and National Pensions Scheme Authority – NAPSA for technical assistance component of the Zambia renewable energy financing framework project in Lusaka.

The energy project which is amounting to US$154 million was co-financed by the African Development Bank with an addition of US$51.5 million while NAPSA and other investors provided US$12.5 million and US$37.5 million respectively.

Speaking at signing ceremony of the project on March 04th 2020, Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme explained that the energy project is aimed at catalyzing private sector investment in renewable energy whose participation is cardinal towards the country’s full realization of climate resilient development pathway.

He said Zambia has in the past experienced adverse impact of climate change, notable are the prolonged droughts in some parts of the country which have impacted the hydro power production, food and water security hence government has implemented interventions including procurement of financing support to cushion the effects of climate change.

“You may wish to recall that at the 19th the Green Climate Fund – GCF Board meeting held in Songdo, South Korea the board approved a total of US$291.3 million inclusive of co-funding for two projects in agriculture and renewable energy for Zambia aimed at promoting both adaptation and mitigation programmes,” He said.

And NAPSA Director General Yollard Kachinda added that the authority is currently investing in the local economy and will continue to have activities to invest the funds in sectors such as the energy sector to grow the country’s economy.

At the same event, ZANACO Acting Chief Executive Officer Lishala Situmbeko said the Bank believes that there is a lot of potential for renewable energy to spur economic development, wind, solar, biomass and hydro provided there is actual investment to actualize it.
“We are happy to partner with Government, NAPSA and the AfDB to help catalyze private sector investment in the renewable energy subsector, “He added.

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Government has through the Ministry of National

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President Edgar Lungu has called on Zambians and all government institutions to prioritize buying local products to promote the implementation of the “Buy Zambian Campaign” and grow the country’s local industry and ensure funds are retained in local hands.

The Zambian president has noted that in order to promote ownership and sustainability of this initiative, government will continue to support the private sector to enhance the market share for Zambian products on the domestic standards and ensure that products are clearly labeled with the “proudly Zambian” logo adding that some large companies have led this initiative such as Trade Kings, Carlifonian Beverage, Zambeef and others.

Speaking during the State of the National address at Parliament on March 6, 2020, monitored by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, President Lungu said the proudly Zambia logo helps people to easily identify local products in Zambian shops or chain stores.

“When we support that local farmer who grows oranges or vegetables in Chibombo, she will plough back the profits into growing more vegetables and oranges. This inevitably encourages her to employ more people and create more local job opportunities. The more of such farmers we have, the more we are likely to attract other players in the value chain, ultimately, our economy will grow.,” He added.

He has since urged companies in Zambia to take advantage of this initiative and register to be flag carriers of the buy Zambian campaign and has further called on the Zambian people and foreign owned companies to support government and Zambian businesses by buying local products whose quality is comparable to imported products as it will contribute to the economic development of the country.

Meanwhile, the President has also called on local and foreign contractors in the country to be more devoted and ensure the delivery of quality works on time and within cost. He has noted with concern some local contractors who have been awarded contracts but not delivering to the expectations of their clients.

President Lungu has equally urged foreign contractors to deliver value for money as it is one of the areas that the country’s development partners could help in upholding and applying our national value of patriotism. Foreign investors are also expected to adhere to this as part of their good corporate citizenship.

Zambia currently relies heavily on imported goods, which at most times is at the expense of locally produced goods. There has been a culture we’re locally produced goods have been viewed as inferior, leading to the country losing forex even for products that are locally available and competitive to the imported ones.

The country’s currency, the Kwacha has been perpetually depreciating due to pressure for more imports. Copper and copper related products remain the largest export product for Zambia, but the proceeds are not wholesomely repatriated back leading to observed medium to long term perpetual depreciation of the local unit.

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President Edgar Lungu has called on Zambians

Tech

Despite the country receiving normal to above normal rains in the current rainy season, load shedding seems to have continued affecting domestic households and consumers in almost all the parts of the country.

This has raised concern from the members of the public who have questioned the power utility company to state the cause of the continued load shedding when the country is now reporting floods in some parts of the country. Some areas are currently being load shedded for between 10 and 12 hours raising questions as to weather this load shedding is resulting from low water levels.

However, ZESCO Limited has explained that the power utility is within the communicated hours of load shedding, adding that if people experience load shedding beyond stipulated hours then it calls for concern because it could be that they are experiencing a shutdown or a technical fault.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, on February 6, 2020, ZESCO Public Relations – PR Manager Hazel Zulu, said that the official hours of load shedding currently is between 10 and 12 hours countrywide.

She explained that this is because the country experienced below normal rainfalls in the 2018/19 season, causing the main power generating source, which is the Kariba dam to almost deplete because of the drastic reduction of the water levels.

“We need to appreciate that we have a power deficit and as such we are currently siting at about 810 Megawatts of power deficit, so if there is a deficit, it means that we can only generate so much power. You know that our water levels are still low especially at the Kariba dam so we cannot generate at optimal capacity because of the deficit”.

She further told ZBT that “As you know, despite the rains we are experiencing, it will take quite some time before Kariba can fill up to the reasonable capacity, Zulu said that there has been some improvements in power generation at the Kafue gorge power plant but that the country largely depends on the Kariba dam generation plant which has not returned to full generation capacity currently”.

“This means that all our customers must share the power that we have right now, equally across the country. Therefore, we cannot currently manage avoid some level of load shedding, we have to load shed so that we can give power to everyone. We have the schedules in the Newspapers, it is there on our Website and on our Facebook page”, Zulu said.

The ZESCO PR Manager further said that the engineers will do a technical review at the end of the rain season, access the situation and will advise whether to reduce the hours of load shedding or not, based on sound and technical findings.

Some sections of society have questioned ZESCO on why load shedding has persisted when the country has been awash with good rains. There has been general expectations that the good rains would immediately result into resumption of 24/7 power supply across all customer segments.

But updates from the Zambezi River Authority, a Zambia and Zimbabwe shares agency responsible for monitoring the share Zambezi River flows and usage of water at the Kariba dam has indicated that the water levels remain low, but expectations are that there may be an improvement as upstream Zambezi River flow rate has increased, which feeds into the Kariba dam.

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Despite the country receiving normal to above

Tech

Falling water levels in Kariba have necessitated Maamba Collieries Ltd (MCL) to relocate its pumps to a new location in the Kariba Lake to provide water essential for the boilers of its 300-Megawatt power plant.

MCL runs two power-generating units, with a capacity of 150 MW each of which consumes about 9,000 cubic meters of water a day when running at full capacity. Low rainfall during the last rain season caused water levels at the primary location of the pump station in Lake Kariba to drop dramatically from the usual 9-meter depths to zero levels leading to the water at the pumps running dry.

Mindful of the power crisis in the country and the need to generate essential power, MCL redeployed its pumps to a new location to keep the thermal plant of the nation’s largest independent Power Producer – IPP operation at the full capacity and avoid further load shedding.

However, the water at the temporary pump station set up about 400m from the original suction point, also dried up last year, despite dredging efforts to sustain water depths.

Speaking to the media, Maamba Development Trust Manager Jethro Sikalundu said: ‘‘We have been experiencing very low rainfall in this part of the country this year and that has impacted us heavily to the point where we have lost the depth completely at our original pump site. When water levels started reducing following last year’s drought, we had to move quickly and establish an alternative temporary pumping station -400 meters from the original site. We installed four pumps each with a capacity to pump 500 cubic meters of water an hour to the power plant 28km away,’’ he said.

Sikalundu further explained that despite dredging, the temporary pumping site also ran dry, forcing yet another relocation of the pumps further up the lake in deeper waters. With the urgency of the situation, the MCL swung into action and within three weeks created infrastructure including temporary power lines and sub-stations, creating a road to transfer the heavy pumps and laying high capacity pipelines to install the two- 132Kw pumps at an alternative pumping point further up the lake to keep the plant operating at full capacity.

Meanwhile, Mining manager Scott Phiri, who led the team in the execution of the work, said: ‘‘Installing the pumps at a deeper location was not easy in crocodile-and hippo infested infrastructure waters, as these had to keep at bay as men worked in knee-deep waters. We often had to seek the assistance of wildlife wardens to ensure safety,’’ he said.

Some stakeholders have attributed the low water levels at Kariba dam, the country’s largest hydro power generation reservoir to large water diversion from both large scale Agro activities and industrial use, which Maamba has also been sighted as the main contributor to diminishing water levels.

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Falling water levels in Kariba have necessitated

Tech

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission – CCPC has with the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency – ZCSA and Ministry of Health instituted a countrywide exercise aimed at removing pilchard products from the Zambian market.

This follows a warning from the COMESA Competition Commission – CCC to CCPC Pursuit to Article 30 (1) (b) of the COMESA Competition Regulations to warn the general public against consuming canned pilchards in tomato and chili source products from South Africa that are alleged to be unfit for human consumption.

The concern comes after the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications – NRCS in South Africa ordered a national recall of all 400 grams pilchards products which were found to have been compromised during the source filling process and could thereby affect consumers.

Some of the affected brands which the investigation identified include, Deep Catch, Mamas, Ok Housebran, Prime Ocean, Spar, Sunny, Cape point, Checkers, House brand, U brand, and West point all manufactured by West point processors in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Commission has to this effect in conjunction with other stakeholders commenced an exercise which will ensure such products that may have penetrated on the Zambian market are removed from the shelves.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by the CCC Communications Officer Ranford Mutabi, the commission has directed all wholesalers, supermarkets, distributors, retailers, importers and traders to remove and surrender to the nearest Public Health Office of every council all affected pilchard products which have can tops bearing markings starting from with ZST29 an ZSC29 respectively.

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The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission –

Lifestyle

As the commemoration of the international women’s day approaches on March 8th, 2020, it is worth celebrating the role women have continued to play in developing the nation and the world at large. The University of Zambia – UNZA as one of the highest institution of learning in Zambia has again recognized a outstanding woman.

The UNZA Council has appointed Dr. Tamara Kambikambi as Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) replacing Prof. Enala Tembo Mwase whose term of office came to an end on 28th February 2020, after serving the institution for seven years in her capacity as DVC and (VC) for a one year period between June 2015 and June 2016.

Dr. Kambikambi holds a PhD in Agronomy from UNZA (2015). She also holds a Masters and a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science both obtained from the University of Zambia. Dr. Kambikambi started her career in academia in 1996, at the University of Zambia, rising through the ranks to Senior Lecturer level.

In an exclusive interview with Zambian business times- ZBT, on February 3rd 2020 at the University of Zambia, Dr Kambikambi expressed gratitude to the University for giving her a rare appointment for the women folk. She pledged to work hard and smart to effectively contribute to the highest learning institution in Zambia and called for collaboration with both men and women.

“In this world, we were made male and female, that means we need to work together. But I think what we need to do as women, is to stop second guessing ourselves and always being in doubt, we need to be assertive, but to be assertive, it means you need to be prepared”.

I went to a rural secondary school, Chinsali girls secondary, and I stand here today as a deputy vice Chancellor of UNZA, if I could come from Chinsali to come and be here, I don’t see why any of the girls from Kambopo, Chadiza etc cannot do that, but also the boy child, lets not leave them out in developing this nation.

She left UNZA and went to serve as DVC at Cavendish University from 2018 to February 1st 2020. Prior to joining the University of Zambia, Dr. Kambikambi worked in the private sector. Dr. Kambikambi has served in various public service roles including Board Chairperson of the Zambia National Women’s Lobby and as Chairperson of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

Dr. Kambikambi has also served before as the Trustee of the University of Zambia Lecturer’s and Research’s Union (UNZALARU).

Meanwhile, University of Zambia Caretaker Committee of Council Chairperson, Ms Namucana Musiwa has congratulated Dr. Kambikambi on her well-deserved appointment as DVC. Musiwa said that Dr. Kambikambi joins the University of Zambia at a critical stage when UNZA is undergoing transformation and is confident that she will effectively contribute to this transformation and add value.

She added that “with her vast experience spanning over thirty (30) years, gained in both the private and public sector, Dr. Kambikambi joins the University at an opportune time to enhance the efforts that the senior management team is making”.

And University of Zambia Vice Chancellor – VC, Prof. Luke Mumba has also congratulated and welcomed Dr. Kambikambi to the University Zambia as DVC. ‘‘We warmly welcome Dr. Kambikambi to the team.

We all look forward to working with her. Owing to her vast experience in running higher education institutions, we are very confident Dr. Kambikambi is a valuable addition to the University’s management team,’’ said the VC. Both the Council Chairperson and the Vice Chancellor have also thanked Prof. Enala Tembo Mwase for her many years of service to the University at management level.

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As the commemoration of the international women’s

Tech

Airtel Mobile Commerce Zambia Limited has partnered with NATSAVE Bank to launch its Wallet to Bank and Bank to Wallet services in Zambia thus broadening access to financial services.

The partnership is aimed at providing appropriate and quality financing that is both accessible and affordable to low-income and other vulnerable households as envisioned in the 7th National Development Plan and the Vision 2030 Strategy.

Airtel Money Director James Chona said because financial inclusion was a multidimensional model which encompassed all initiatives including the use and access of Mobile Money services, the partnership with NATSAVE would help in onboarding groups that are traditionally excluded from the formal financial sector.

“We are excited about another strategic partnership that we have just launched with NATSAVE bank. We have always said business is easier when the corporate world creates synergies to make the life of a customer better. And today we see once again the integration of technology interlinking with the financial sector to bring to not only bridge the digital divide but bring to customers digital financial services.” Chona said.

And NATSAVE Head – Retail Banking Mebelo Mebelo said that strategic partnerships are taking centre stage on the financial and developmental agenda of NATSAVE, as well as for Public and Private market players. He is said for NATSAVE, this was yet another positive step taken in the mission to provide innovative, convenient and affordable financially inclusive services to customers.

“As NATSAVE, we have been looking for ways to empower our customers and we believe the Airtel/NATSAVE Bank to Wallet and Wallet to Bank facility will enhance the reach and delivery of financial services to customers who are the most important asset in our equation. This will also allow customers on Airtel and NATSAVE to access funds and transact with convenience.”

The agreement will enable customers to instantly send money directly from their Airtel Money wallet to their NATSAVE Bank account and vice versa.

According to a statement made available to the Zambian Business Time – ZBT by Airtel head of Corporate Communication Yuyo Kambikambi the partnership is meant to supplement Government’s efforts as prescribed in the 2017 to 2022 National Financial Inclusion Strategy to improve physical access to high-quality financial delivery channels which include bank branches, agents, ATMs, and mobile phones as the percentage of adults using an electronic payment instrument is expected to grow from 37% to 55% by 2022.

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Airtel Mobile Commerce Zambia Limited has partnered

Markets

Czech Ambassador to Zambia Radek Rubes says Zambia’s current economic reform evolution resonates with that of the Czech Republic, which underwent similar trajectory about two decades ago.

Ambassador Rubes says Zambia’s geographical location gives it a commanding advantage in the regional transportation and logistics chain.

Speaking during a courtesy visit on Finance Minister Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu at the latter’s office in Lusaka on February 21, 2020, Rubes extended the invitation to his country for a benchmarking and best practice exchange programme in management and control of public finances, debt management, taxation and customs management, fiscal management, and administration of public private partnership programmes.

“My country wants to deepen development cooperation with your beautiful country, through programmes such as the benchmarking and best practice initiative,” said Mr. Rubes.

And Dr. N’gandu thanked the Czech government for extending the invitation to Zambia “as there will be performance improvement benefits from the best practice and performance benchmarking initiative.”

According to information made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by Ministry of Finance Spokesperson Chileshe Kandeta, the Minister took the opportunity to explain how Zambia’s developmental trajectory is targeted at optimising efficiency gains in air, road and power supply.

“The completion of priority air, road and power projects will further open the country to regional trade,” He said

He cited the new terminal building at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, the new multi million dollar airport being constructed in Ndola, the Kafue Lower Power Project, and the Kazungula Bridge as some of the projects that will propel Zambia to a higher level of development and logistical connectivity.

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Czech Ambassador to Zambia Radek Rubes says