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The Zambia Airports Corporation Limited – ZACL plans to embark on a number of non-aeronautical revenue generating projects at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport – KKIA which will culminate into an Aerotropolis – Airport City as part of its strategy. These developments are aimed at boosting the corporations revenue generation power.

ZACL has developed a land utilisation plan through the services of a Dutch based Airports development expert consultancy firm, Netherlands Airport Consultants – NACO who recently submitted a finalised plan for 550 acres of land at the airport in Lusaka. An Aerotropolis is a city sub-region whose infrastructure, land use and economy are centered on an airport.

NACO – Netherlands Airport Consultants is part of Royal HaskoningDHV, a world-leading airport consultancy and engineering firm with over 65 years’ experience working in the aviation and air transport industry, they have worked and guided over 600 airports from major landmark designs to smaller regional airports around the world.

ZACL Communications and Brand Manager Mweembe Sikaulu told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive response that the Airport land already has developments underway including a shopping mall, an office park and two hotels, and that ZACL expects the Land Utilisation Plan to compliment and present the corporation with numerous business opportunities that can be explored once completed.

She said the Cargo Terminal will further provide an opportunity for the revival of agriculture and horticulture exports among other industries. This is also another avenue for revenue generation and contribution to national development.

“Consequently, NACO’s work has been varied to cover all the available land within the airport’s precinct. As the Corporation strives to be an aviation leader in the region, the Aerotropolis concept has an airport as the center of the city activity, with all ancillary city functions revolving around the airport itself,” she said.

Mweembe added that with airports becoming ‘cities’, the importance of generating non-aeronautical revenue streams will continue to have a major impact and improve finances. She was responding to a ZBT enquiry on how ZACL will in future be able to generate revenues to pay back the loans that government has invested in the current Airport Infrastructure being built.

ZACL is expected to shoulder the repayment financing for over US$1 billion investments that has been pumped into the upgrade of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport of about US$360 million, another US$397 million is being invested into the construction of the greenfield Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport for the Copperbelt region and the completed Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone which is said to have gobbled over US$50 million.

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The Zambia Airports Corporation Limited - ZACL

Markets

The Pensions and Insurance Authority – PIA has disclosed that the authority anticipates to raise about K1.3 million (about US$93,000) from the disposal of Focus Life Assurance assets and a further K332,000 (about US$24,000) from the disposal of A-Plus Life Assurance assets.

The Authority had in 2017 placed Focus Life Assurance and A-Plus Life Assurance Limited under liquidation for failure to raise the minimum capital in line with statutory regulations of raising minimum capital for insurance companies.

PIA Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Mapani on February 3, 2019 told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that the two liquidations affected in excess of 1,800 policyholders under Focus Life Assurance and 780 policy holders under A-Plus Life Assurance respectively.

He added that the total value of policyholder liabilities is estimated at K7.51 million in respect of Focus Life Assurance and K1.92 million for A-Plus Life Assurance. Mapani said the authority intends to commence partial payment of claims by 31st Match 2019 and part of the shortfall may subsequently be offset from the insurance Fidelity Fund adding that payment modalities will be communicated in due course.

“We therefore appeal to claimants to wait for further guidance from the Authority. And I wish to announce that, in an effort to protect policyholders by ensuring that they qualify to access the Fidelity Fund,” he said.

Mapani further disclosed that another Insurance Company known as Windsor General Insurance Limited was placed under compulsory liquidation on 2nd January 2020 on account of failure to meet solvency requirements as provided under the insurance act.

He said the company was not licensed in 2019 and subsequently failed to recapitalize hence the authority is currently taking stock of the company’s assets and liabilities and policyholders and creditors will be invited to lodge their complaints and claims in due course.

Mapani is however hopeful that the measures being put in place by the authority will continue facilitating the growth of the insurance industry and that it will look forward to collaborating with the stakeholders in the industry in unlocking the potential of the pensions and insurance sector.

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The Pensions and Insurance Authority – PIA

Tech

Zambia’s energy prospects have rebounded with the Zambezi River Authority – ZRA announcing that the Zambezi river flow has through out this week of February continued to rise quite steadily, rising above last year’s flows during the same time by 25%.

However, this has still been termed below the long-term average of 29%. The Authority says the flows in the Zambezi River at Chavuma shot up by 73 m3/s between the 5th and 6th of February indicating intense run-off on the Zambezi headwaters.

Addressing the media in Lusaka on February 7, 2020, attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZRA Chief Executive Officer. Eng. Munyaradzi Munodawara said the flow is still soaring above the long-term average by 41% and last year’s flows by 189%.

Eng. Munyaradzi said the flow at Victoria falls is also expected to show considerable rise towards the end of February 2020 as the flow forecast indicates possible slight improvement in flows this year compared to last year.

Meanwhile, he added that lake Kariba has a capacity of about 180.6 billion cubic meters when full at 488.5m but that of this capacity only 65 billion cubic meter is currently available for power generation due to design considerations.

“The average annual inflows into lake Kariba are in the order of 40 billion meters, meaning under average conditions, and assuming a generation level in the order of 550MW requiring approximately 22 billion cubic meter, it would take up to three years of average inflows to fill the lake to maximum retention level,” he said.

He added that the Authority has allocated 22 billion cubic meters for power generation at Kariba for the period January – December 2020 based on the seasonal rainfall forecast produced by the Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum which indicated that the region and Kariba catchment will have a high likelihood of receiving normal-to-below-normal rainfall in the period January – March 2020.

Eng. Munyradzi said the lake has so far in January 2020 received a total of 3.15 billion cubic meter as total inflows, compared to 1.97 billion cubic meters received over the same period last year adding that the Zambezi river is currently flowing at around 663m3/s against a long term normal of 931,3/s.

The lake level dropped by 1cm between the 5th and 6th of February 2020 due to a slight rise in turbine outflows over the past 2-3 days to around 800 m3/s and that this explains why we are at 5.4 billion cubic meters or 8.36% usable storage in Lake Kariba as of today February 7, 2019.

Zambia with its geographical advantage has invested heavily in hydro electricity generation which renders the economy vulnerable to climate change effects of draught. However, the heavy rains being experienced in most parts of the country with floods in the Eastern region has brightened the energy prospects for 2020/2021 and this would now give enough room for development of alternative energy sources such as thermal, solar and wind to diversify the power generation mix.

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Zambia’s energy prospects have rebounded with the

Agribusiness

The Poultry Association of Zambia – PAZ has disclosed that the industry has in the previous years recorded continuous growth with the current contribution of the poultry industry reaching about 50% of the total livestock and agriculture sector in the country.

The industry has employs over 83,000 through direct jobs in the country and it contributes between 4.8% to 5% to the national Gross Domestic Products – GDP.

PAZ Executive Manager Dominic Chanda told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that the growth of soya beans in the country also imitates or is directly proportional to the growth recorded in the poultry industry as it consumes about 70% of total soya beans grown in the country.

He added that the poultry industry is also consuming between 20% to 25% of the current maize output which is about 2 million metric tonnes adding that 30% to 35% of total eggs and 10% to 16% of total chickens produced in Zambia are exported to the Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC hence contributing to foreign exchange inflows into the country.

“The industry is hence the anchor of the livestock and agricultural sector because its two importance crops like maize and soya beans being grown in the sector are the major inputs of the poultry industry,” he said.

Chanda further disclosed that the industry had in 2018 produced about 80.4 million broilers and 41.6 million trays of eggs out of which 30% were exported into DRC and brought in a considerable forex revenue in the sector and that it will soon announce production for the just ended year 2019.

Chanda further stated that the industry has challenges which it is facing which includes fluctuation of the exchange rate for imported facilities and chemicals, loss and increase in price of power and the increase in the price of maize and soya beans.

He explained that it has been difficult to carry out operations without electricity and this affected production adding that the instability in the exchange rate has as well affected the industry. Aside from the sector facing some challenges, it has anticipated a huge crop on the market for the year 2020 and is expecting that the price of maize and soya beans will reduce, and that Bank of Zambia and Ministry of Finance will stabilize the exchange rate.

Chanda has also encouraged diversification in the country particularly in the agriculture sector saying it is an important aspect which has potential to being development in the country. Diversification enables the sector and individual farmers to guard against concentration risk.

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The Poultry Association of Zambia – PAZ

Lifestyle

Zambia is slowly awakening to the fact that, the film industry if developed in the country can be a great source of revenue to the nation and a relief to the local residents in terms of job creation as is the case in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, India and other countries who have embraced the industry.

During a press briefing on January 15 2020, attended by Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Information minister Dora Siliya called on the filmmakers in the country to begin discussions with government at the beginning of the year on how the film industry can be improved, saying the ministry of finance begin their budget process around April and the industry can lobby for inclusion in the budget.

‘‘It important that we begin to work together now and especially through the Permanent Secretary – PS so that we can lobby the ministry of finance to see what kind of tax incentives, policy benefits and relief that can be given to the film industry. Government can’t provide all the jobs and the existing private sector can’t provide all the jobs, for young people to have an opportunity to get or create their own jobs, we need new industries to open up and one of them is the film industry,’’ she said.

Siliya said the film industry could improve the economy in Zambia as seen in Bollywood India, Nollywood in Nigeria and South Africa creating both local and export revenue for their economies. She added that the film industry creates not only jobs for the front liners, such as the actors and actresses, but it has such spill over backward linkages in terms of fashion & tailoring, food catering, transport, advertisers, publicists and so on who can also benefit and boost their businesses through film industry.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, the National Media Arts Council (NAMA) chairperson Loti Tondolo Siame said the move by government is welcome because the filmmakers have been ready for a long time now.

‘‘We have been ready a long time looking at the number of productions that come out per year so it is just the matter of putting things in order now that government has come on board to see how we can move forward. As an association, our role is to promote film industry and its time that we have a film school so that the film makers can have a skill on how to produce a high quality film.’’ Said Siame.

Asked on how much NAMA could lobby to be allocated to the film industry, Siame said the stakeholders need to sit down together and draft the budget in order to come up with an accurate amount needed. The NAMA chairperson called on all filmmakers in Zambia to come together and unite for one noble cause.

The information minister has since pledged government full support towards the improving of the film industry in Zambia. ‘‘We want to hold the hands of those people in this sector, we want to push for you, work with you and go to the ministry of finance and put up a case.

We know equipment is expensive, we know that to put movies on Netflix there are very specific standards and so we can’t remain behind but we have to convince other people within government and outside to see that there is reward in this sector, it’s difficult but there is reward,’’ said Siliya.

It is interesting to note that, in Nigeria, it is the creative sector that contributed to changing the complexion of their revised GDP and they went ahead and even beat South Africa in terms of the size of the economy because the creative industry which was included and if Zambia can emulate this, the industry can become a major employer and economic driver.

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Zambia is slowly awakening to the fact

Tech

Government has vowed to revive and revamp the Country’s railway and aviation sectors that have been facing challenges in the past, and that the country will benefit greatly from the current huge investments, minister of Transport and Communication  Mutotwe Kafwaya has said.

He stated that government has been investing heavily in reviving the railway and aviation sectors, which have not performed to expectations in recent years. The Minister said developing the two sectors will go a long way in the country’s efforts to achieve sustainable development. Kafwaya was speaking to the media on January 27 2020 in Lusaka.

‘‘We want to ensure that the railway sector, the aviation industry and the telecommunication sectors are well developed,’’ he said. The Transport Minister added that government has set targets to ensure the development of railway and aviation sectors in line with the country’s national development Plan.

Zambia’s aviation industry has been struggling since the demise of the country’s sole national carrier, the Zambia Airways, in 1994 and the lower investment levels in airport infrastructure. Government has been engaged in various efforts to revive the sector and entered into a strategic partnership with the Ethiopian Airlines in 2018 to re-launch the southern African nation’s national carrier.

The government has also invested heavily in the development of Livingstone’s Harry Mwaanga Nkubula International Airport which is now completed. The other massive investment in airport infrastructure projects are the US$360 million Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport upgrade and the US$397 million Copperbelt’s Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport which are both currently under construction.

The Minister further said efforts to revamp the railway sector have involved improving the railway infrastructure to raise efficiency and win back business taken by the road sector. This has been achieved by an SI which have seen the sector get bulk cargo back on the railway lines in Zambia.

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Government has vowed to revive and revamp

Markets

The year on year inflation rate as measured by all items Consumer Price Index – CPI for January 2020 has increased to 12.5 percent, up from 11.7 percent recorded in December 2019, with Southern Province recording the highest rate of annual inflation at 15.5 percent followed by Lusaka at 13.3 percent.

The increase in inflation rate means that on average, prices of goods and services increased by 12.5 percent between January 2019 and January 2020. The Zambia Statistics Agency – Zamstats has disclosed that the increase in the annual rate of inflation was mainly attributed to price increase in both Food and Non-food items.

Addressing the media in Lusaka on January 30, 2020, attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, the Agency’s Interim Statistician General Mulenga Musepa explained that the year on year food inflation rate for January 2020 was recorded at 15.4 percent compared to 15.2 percent recorded in December 2019 attributing the development to price movement of food items such as Bukabuka, Dried bream, Dried Kapenta Mpulungu, Cooking oil and Fruits such as Oranges, Pineapples and Pawpaw.

Mulenga added that the year on year non-food inflation rate for January 2020 was recorded at 9.4 percent compared to 7.8 percent recorded in December 2019, indicating an increase of 1.6 percentage point.

This increase was mainly attributed to items such as electricity, diesel, and petrol. Meanwhile, at provincial level, Southern Province recorded the highest rate of annual inflation at 15.5 percent followed by Lusaka at 13.3 percent. The southern parts of the country has continued to receive relatively less rainfall compared to other provinces in Zambia, which are now benefiting from seasonal and early maturing crop harvest.

A disaggregation of the annual inflation rate by provinces shows that the annual inflation rate for January 2020 increased for Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Northern and North Western provinces. Western province recorded the lowest annual rate of inflation at 9.5 percent.

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The year on year inflation rate as

Tech

A science advocate and founder of Dziwa Science and Technology Trust – DSaT, Veronica Mwaba, has observed the need to have innovation hubs constructed in all the provinces and districts of the country to inspire the youth to study Mathematics and Science in schools and find innovative solutions to the peculiar challenges we face.

She said this will spar interest in both the intelligent and underprivileged to have an opportunity to explore their ideas and make positive contributions. Mwaba said the effective communications require a coordinated approach which is sustainable to bring all key actors to share thoughts and fears through meaningful discourse that could take the country to the next level.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT on January 27, 2020, Mwaba said Science and Technology are key drivers for Zambia to reduce poverty by 2030. ‘‘Zambia like any other countries in the world is facing a myriad of challenges, for example, the effects of climate change.

Therefore, Zambia should rise up to the challenge and have dedicated platforms for scientists and key stakeholders to explain complex issues in a simple vocabulary to be understood by a layperson. Citizens have a right to information and their involvement provides timely feedback to the experts to mobilize support for science,’’ she said.

Mwaba who has a background in media studies said that she has learnt that an information gap exist in communicating science within the region. She said the media space is overwhelmed with politics, sport, fashion and entertainment adding that there is need to bridge the information gap, strike a balance and get all key actors including policy makers to develop interest in science and information technology.

‘‘The 21st century has its own challenges ranging from climate change, disease and pests devastating the crops. Today, it is clear that the impact of climate change is being felt. The landscape is changing, Technological advancement is rapid and so it is quite evident that with the rising populations and unpredictable weather patterns, food security is threatened.

Science is a problem solver across all sectors, for example, agriculture, health, environment, education, engineering and ICTs,’’ said Mwaba. The science advocate further said her nonprofit making organization, Dziwa Science and Technology- DSaT is embarking on a campaign on 5th February 2020 to enhance the communication outreach to mobilize support for Science.

‘‘DSaT will lead various stakeholders, women and youths to walk for Evidenced-Based Science. Walking for science is key to getting heard by all interest groups,’’ she said.

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A science advocate and founder of Dziwa

Tech

Airtel Networks Zambia Plc and Tecno Mobile Limited have announced their partnership to enable new Airtel Smartphone users get double data.

The two companies have expressed excitement about the offer which is open to new customers who have just joined the Airtel Network and are using a Smartphone and existing customers who were initially using a feature phone but have upgraded to a smartphone.

Commenting on the partnership, Airtel’s Marketing Director, Hussam Baday, said his company had always been the leader in innovation and value-addition, therefore the double data offer was another opportunity to show the company’s vision to bring everything internet to everyone, everywhere.

“We are thrilled to bring this offer to new smartphone users who will just need to purchase any normal data bundle worth K10 or more if they so wish and will immediately redeem the extra data. Terms and Conditions will apply as for any offer which will be communicated to the customers upon redeeming of the extra data,” Baday said.

He added that the Airtel will continue to provide affordable and customer centric products and services in its bid to make it possible for the nation as a whole to connect with the world, and in so doing facilitating real-time and full economic, social and political integration in the sub-region, continent and beyond.

And TECNO Mobile Limited said that “will further expand its partnership with Airtel to provide customers with more sophisticated and powerful smartphones and High-speed 4G network top-class services”.Corporate Affairs Manager, Steve Mufasa said they were delighted to embark on this journey with Airtel.

“We are excited about this partnership because with the newly launched Country-wide Airtel 4G, the network is equipped with cutting edge, revolutionary fast all Access systems which gives all users a good experience and more so on smartphones,” Mufasa said.

This is contained in a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times –ZBT by Airtel Networks Zambi Corporate Communications Manager Yuyo Kambikambi.

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Airtel Networks Zambia Plc and Tecno Mobile

Mining

The Center for Trade Policy and Development – CTPD has lamented that the recent ‘instability’ in the mining sector are likely to reduce the country’s export earnings and further impact negatively on the already weakened economic sentiment.

CTPD Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo has explained that Zambia gets a significant portion of its foreign exchange from the export of minerals which accounts for over 70 export of total export values, and in situations where the sector is facing challenges, exports are likely to reduce.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT on January 23, 2020, Mwaipopo said there is need to engage and negotiate with key players in the mining sector while enabling them contribute fairly to taxes in the country and create win-win opportunities for both the investor and the country at large.

He added that the recent discoveries of gold mining in places like Lufunsa, Petauke, Mwinilunga and oil being confirmed in Gwembe is a reminder of how rich the country is, hence the need to prudently utilize the resources and create wealth for the country.

“Zambia has been blessed with resources like copper, coal, gold and emeralds. We should however ensure that the discovery of such resources do not add to the poverty of this country like the trend that has been seen in the recent past where despite having much resources in the country, we still have a significant portion of our citizens living in poverty and are not having access to opportunities that will help improve their lives,” He said.

Mwaipopo has further noted the need by government to craft strategies that will ensure resources are being used or exploited to the benefit of the citizens adding that with the number of legislations like the mines and minerals Act, if implemented should help advance the interest of Zambians.

He has observed the recent growing challenges between government and mining players in the mining industry concerning proposals that government undertook to prove its benefits hence hoping that government gets back to a discussion table with players within the sector to address any outstanding issues that mining companies may be grieving about.

“We have also seen that there was a big challenge in the performance of prices of commodities such as copper on the international market which was partially attributed to the trade war that was going on between countries like China and the US. And now that it is changing within the global environment, we are hoping to see an improvement on the market.” he added.

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The Center for Trade Policy and Development