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The University of Zambia – UNZA lecturer and researcher, Dr. Simbarashe Chitanga has been award a US$2.4 million grant to conduct research on ticks and tick – borne Rickettsial pathogens.

According to information availed to  the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, by UNZA spokesperson Brenda Bukowa, the grant that is jointly funded by the National Institute of Health – NIH in the United States of America – USA and the National Science Foundation – NSF through the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases Program, will see Dr. Chitanga collaborate with researchers from five (5) other Universities from USA and South Africa to study the tick distribution as well as prevalence of Rickettsial pathogens.

Dr. Chitanga who is a Lecturer and Researcher in the School of Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Zambia’s Ridgeway Campus, says his research focuses on understanding factors that influence the tick distribution and the epidemiology of Rickettsia infection in ticks which are crucial to the control and mitigation of these bacteria that are passed through the bite of an infected tick. The bacteria which infects both humans and animals, causes clinical signs that resemble those of malaria – fever and body weakness.

And, according to Dr Chitanga, in a previous study conducted in eastern, northern and western parts of Zambia, about 16% of the people tested in the sample had evidence of previously being infected by Rickettsia. Despite the findings from the study however, human cases of fever are never tested for Rickettsia in Zambia’s health centers. As such, findings from his study are crucial to influencing policy on diagnostic steps for cases of this fever.

Meanwhile,UNZA Vice Chancellor, Prof. Luke Evuta Mumba has congratulated Dr. Chitanga for winning the $2.4m grant and embarking on research that has potential to save lives in Zambia and the Sub-Saharan region.

Prof. Mumba says, “UNZA Management is optimistic that through this multi-disciplinary study, humanity will have answers to how influences of environmental, physiological, and microbial factors on determination of human risk of tick-borne rickettsial infection can be established”

He adds that “tick-borne Rickettsial needs urgent control measures because it is a disease that is often mistaken for malaria but does not respond to malarial treatment. Your research is commendable. UNZA is proud to call you one of its own scholars” Prof. Mumba says.

Dr. Chitanga’s research will span over a period of five years involving collection of ticks from animals and vegetation every month for a period of 60 months in search of the tick-borne Rickettsial pathogen. The research will also involve testing humans for presence of the pathogens in human blood.

Dr. Simbarashe Chitanga holds a PhD in Veterinary Medicine from Ghent University in Belgium and also completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of KwaZulu- Natal in Durban, South Africa. His research interests include Parasitic zoonoses, Vector & Rodents borne zoonoses and Vector Ecology.

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The University of Zambia - UNZA lecturer

Tech

Huawei Technologies Zambia Ltd has for the second time introduced the Information Communications Technology – ICT competition to Zambian Universities, an initiative aimed at sensitizing the digital skill and encourage ICT studies among youths.

The initiative is a global event which provides a platform to students to showcase their abilities, compete, communicate and drive the growth of a robust ICT talent ecosystem for innovation-driven growth and inclusive development.

Speaking at the lunch of the second 2019/2020 Huawel ICT competition in Lusaka on October 4th 2019, Huawel Country Manager Antony Yu revealed that the event has this year’s attract over 2,000 students from universities across the country to participate in the contest with subjects including Network, Cloud computing, artificial intellengince and big data.

Yu added that winners of the contests in Zambia will be privileged to participate in the regional finals in South Africa and global finals at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China. “This event sees 10 Zambian students from 7 universities across the country departing on a trip to China for hands-on experience. Huawei Zambia has so far signed up 12 universities across Zambia in establishing ICT academies, where students can access to industrially-recognized certification courses,” he Said.

And the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Jie said ICT is one of the key areas of economic and trade cooperation between China and Zambia hence Huawei’s outstanding contributions to the development of Zambia’s ICT industry and the economy at large.

Jie added that the competition will strongly promote the cultivation of Zambia’s ICT industry and provide a steady source of manpower for the comprehensive development of Zambia’s economy and society.

At the same event, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications Misheck Lungu said government recognizes the critical role ICT’s play in the development process hence its massive investments in the ICT sector through the construction of mobile communications towers across the country and the contraction of an ICT Talent Training Center among others.

Meanwhile, the World Bank’s latest report points out that Southern Africa’s demand for digital skills in 2030 is as high. And according to the Zambia Information Communications Technology Authority – ZICTA, there is general shortage of ICT skills in both public and private sector in Zambia.

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Huawei Technologies Zambia Ltd has for the

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The Bank of Zambia – BOZ has welcomed Barclays Bank’s transition to Absa with emphasis that its rebranding should be a reflection of the bank’s renewed strategy for growth, transformation and commitment to deliver unique and quality services to its customers.

BOZ Governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya has stressed that it is the Central Banks’s hope that part of Barclays renewed strategy will involve exploring ways in which the bank can assist in addressing some challenges facing the country such as Load shedding and Food production as they have potential to further positively impact the country’s economic growth and wealth creation efforts.

Speaking at the lunch of the new Absa branch in Lusaka at Kabulonga Centro Mall, attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Dr Kalyalya added that the renewed strategy should be underpinned by innovation, robust technology and customer delivery models that seek to meet customer needs at a fair cost.

He said BOZ expects Absa Bank Zambia to continue and enhance its support to the SME sector in Zambia, as it is key for sustainable economic growth and development of the country adding that SMEs have potential to create many productive jobs and contribute significantly to the economy, if well supported.

“The launch of the first Absa branch here in Lusaka is an outcome of detailed and rigorous consultations and complex planning processes which began in 2016. We are therefore delighted that the bank has finally achieved this milestone among many others and it is therefore, our expectation that Absa Group Limited will build on the foundation and heritage established over the last century by Barclays Bank Group,” he said.

The Central Bank has since appreciated the Absa group for its initiative and that it will remain vigilant to ensure that Bank of Zambia is effectively monitoring any emerging risks as a result of the rebranding exercise.

At the same event, Absa Zambia Managing Director Mizinga Melu said the adoption of the Absa name will enable the bank leverage its rich heritage and drive relevant initiatives that can further unlock Zambia’s potential and support its accelerated growth.

She added that the bank has over the few months invested heavily in technology and that it is yet to rebrand all the 37 branches and 202 ATM’s across the country.

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The Bank of Zambia – BOZ has

Markets

Zambia’s trade deficit has decreased by 42.5% (about 43%) from K786.2 million in July 2019 to K451.9 million in August 2019 meaning that the country imported more that it exported in nominal terms.The Central Statistical Office – CSO has stated although an an increase was observed in both imports and exports, the increase in exports outweighed that of imports.

However, a review of Cross boarder traders import and export activities are still largely unreported by the CSO but remains the most viable and applicable to local Zambian businesses. This import and export activities need to be streamlined with specific policies and support given if exports are to have a real impact on local markets.

Presenting the CSO monthly bulleting in Lusaka on September 26,2019, CSO Intermin Statitian General Mulenga Musepa desclosed that exports incraesed by 16.3 percent from K6,795.4 million in July 2019 to K7,903.6 million in August 2019 adding that the increase was mainly attributed to the 10.1 percent and 36.2 percent increase in exports earnings of intermediate goods and consumer goods categories.

Meanwhile, imports increased by 10.2 percent from K7,581.6 million in July 2019 to K 8,355.5 million in August 2019 and the outturn was mainly attributed to the increase in imports of intermediate goods and consumer goods by 22.9 percent and 12.4 percent, hence the net effect of the dynamics in trade was descreased in the trade deficit.

Musepa further desclosed that Asia was the largest market for Zambai’s total exports, accounting for 36.7 percent in August 2019, while in the same group China was the dominant market with 67.8 percent adding that other notable markets were Singapore, Hong Kong, India and United Arab Emirates.

In addition, he said Switzerland, home of Mopani Copper Mines parent company Glencore, was the second largest market for Zambia’s total exports in August 2019 accounting for 31.7 percent.

“Asia was also the main source of Zambai’s imports, accounting for 39.8 percent in August 2019. Within this regional grouping, China was the min source of Zambai’s import accounting for 35.8 percent. Other notable markets were United Arab Emirates, India, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
And SADC exclusive grouping was the second main source of Zambai’s imports accounting for 36.8 percent in August 2019.

CSO has been challenged to start gathering statistics on import and export for local businesses as most of the statistics reported are important but mostly cover large foreign owned multinationals, most of which externalization their proceeds.

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Zambia's trade deficit has decreased by 42.5%

Markets

The Zambia Congress of Trade Union – ZCTU has stated that the 2020 National Budget presented by the Minister of Finance Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu on 27 September 2019 has not prioritized some critical areas of the economy and that it is not aligned with the prevailing economic conditions.

The Union’s Secretary General Cosmas Mukuka said the 2020 budget did not address the opportunity to prioritize rail transport by enforcing statutory instrument number 7 (Railways Transportation of Heavy Goods, Regulations Act of 2018) that provides guideline for transportation of heavy cargo.

Addressing the media in Lusaka on 2 October 2019, Mukuka said in order to enhance economic growth and job creation, government should revitalize the rail system, as it will help to create jobs and provide relief for road infrastructure hence the need of dedicating resources towards the railway sub-sector.

The Union has further stressed that government’s proposal to reduce spending on education from 15.3 % in 2019 to 12.4% in 2020 and health from 9.3% to 8.8% in 2020 is a serious drawback as the decision could have adverse effects on literate levels in the in the years to come.

Mukuka said the decision also goes against the international instruments that the country is already signatory to such as the SADC protocol in education and training, which states that 20% of the national budget should be allocated to education and training.

The secretary general has in this vain proposed that government should reduce allocation on Defense Forces and Public Order Act to finance higher priority programmes in education and health stating that Zambia is not at war hence investment in education and health will have much higher economic returns.

Meanwhile, the union is saddened that the Income Tax Thresholds has remained unchanged stating that considering that there was a minimal increment of 4% during the bargaining for public service workers for 2020 fiscal year, many employees in the private sector got marginal increments to their salaries.

Mukuka has since explained that 2020 budget needs to adjust the non-taxable thresholds for the current K3,300 to K5,000 in the with the current basic needs basket as per studies done by the Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection – JCTR.

“The adjustment will free some income currently being taxed under the lowest tax band and add to disposable income for workers and avoid imposition of tax on workers who cannot meet basic need,” he said.

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The Zambia Congress of Trade Union –

Tech

The Royal Air Charter has launched a new Aircraft, an Embraer Jet – ERJ 145 worth over $4 million. The ERJ145 is so far the biggest plane owned by the company with a 50 seater capacity and it is set to cover Zambia’s major towns and cities that include Lusaka, Solwezi, Kulumbila and Ndola.

Speaking during the launch at Zambia’s largest international airport – Kenneth Kaunda International  Airport – KKIA on October 5, 2019 attended by the Zambain Business Times – ZBT, Royal Air Charters Business Development Consultant Dr. Joseph Mulenga disclosed that the company has so far employed 11 full time Zambian pilots, 6 dedicated full time cabin crew members and 31 Zambian citizens employed as maintenance and supporting staff. He added that among the employees includes individuals who were recently trained to fly the ERJ 145.

Dr. Mulenga further said the company is focused on building local capabilities and expanding the aviation sector, adding that it is committed to engaging all key stakeholders in the industry with the goal of increasing competition and thereby service quality in the aviation market.

And Zambia Airport Corporations – ZACL Vice Board Chairperson Prisca Chikwashi commended Royal Air Charters for the step taken stating that it speaks to the growth of not only the aviation sector but the tourism industry as well.

She said the growth in the fleet through acquisition of the new aircraft speaks to Zambia’s  intention of attaining the status of becoming an aviation hub for the Southern Africa. At the same event, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, Amos Malupenga said the launch of the new Aircraft will grow the number of tourist arrivals in the country and help alleviate the challenges of infrastructure and air transportation faced in the aviation sector.

Malupenga added that the improvement in the aviation sub-transport sector will help the country achieve tourism-related targets. “With the launch of the new Royal Air Charter aircraft, I trust that the tourism sector will benefit and have an opportunity to provide domestic and foreign tourists with quality transportation options that will reach different parts of the country,” he said.

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The Royal Air Charter has launched a

Companies

The Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research – ZIPAR, a think tank organisation has stressed the need for government to show commitment in funding the 2020 National Budget item, which is meant to unlock the private sector growth among other sectors.

ZIPAR has stated that despite budgeting K1.3 billion in 2018 to liquidate arrears, only 33% was funded adding that the same situation applied in 2019 where only 18% was allocated for funds towards arrears hence the need to show commitment towards the 2020 allocation of about K2.3 billion.

Speaking during the post budget analysis co-hosted by ZIPAR and Ministry of National Development and Planning in Lusaka on October 3, 2019, ZIPAR researcher Shebo Nalishebo said arrears have a detrimental effect on the local economy as they hit businesses badly which can lead to delayed wage payments and postponed investments hence holding back on economic growth.

ZIPAR has also projected debt servicing costs to increases by 43% in 2020 stating that unrestrained borrowing has put Zambia’s public debt on an unsustainable path of 76% of Gross Domestic Product – GDP.

Nalishebo has explained that despite government borrowing to finance infrastructure development, the very infrastructures expected to bring economic growth and social transmission are killing growth hence the need to deal with issues around cost escalations in infrastructure projects by leveraging on the use of PPP’s if the country is to stimulate growth again.

“we would also like to note that the budget’s measures to the mining sector have been introduced against the backdrop of a long-held view that mining companies do not contribute their fair share of taxes to the economy as well as, in the Minister’s words “to raise revenue for the government and discourage transfer pricing”, while these measures are intend to increase government revenue , they are too burdensome on the mining companies to achieve the objectives of encouraging value addition as indicated by the Finance Minister”, he said.

And delivering a speech on behalf of Ministry of National Development and Planning, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Chola Chabala said the 2020 national budget is aligned with the pillars of the Seventh National Development Plan – 7NDP which demonstrates government’s commitment towards realizing the objectives of the 7NDP and the visions 2030.

Chabala added that economic diversification and job creation have been priotized and anchored on the agriculture, tourism, mining, energy and manufacturing sector in line with the 7NDP.

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The Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and

Companies

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development – CTPD has stated that despite the 2020 National Budget having improving allocation towards some sectors, it is full of contradictions as many policy pronouncements are not being supported with spending and tax changes.

The center has expressed concern that the budget has not carried enough matching measures to support the proposed theme: “Focusing sNational Priorities towards Stimulating the Domestic Economy”.

CTPD Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo has told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an interview that government has only improved its assessment of the current economic challenges and pronouncement of measures to be taken but has not translated them into meaningful policy changes and commitments.

Mwaipopo said the general increase in the budget does not reflect a commitment to austerity measures as the K106.0 billion (about US$8.2 billion) is way above the planned expenditure for 2020 in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

Meanwhile, he has commended the move to start dismantling domestic arrears of about K20.2 but that there is not target by which government will reduce the domestic arrears as the allocation of K2.3 billion for the year 2020 is less than the increase in domestic arrears of K4.6 billion within the last six months.

“Clearly, there is no real commitment to the dismantling of arrears since the pace of accumulation is greater than the proposed rate of dismantling. CTPD is particularly disheartened that the allocation of K1.2 billion to the sinking fund is insignificant compared to what the country needs to raise annually towards the US$750 million Eurobond principal payment due in 2022,” he said.

The Center has also welcomed the move to maintain VAT and has advised government against the implementation of sales tax, especially to the wholesale and retail sector. Mwaipopo added that this progressive tax change, which has been mingled with proposals to increase non-tax revenue through increased user fees and fines charged by government departments, will negatively affect consumer’s disposable income and would not result in stimulating the domestic economy.

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The Centre for Trade Policy and Development

Markets

Zanaco Chief Commercial Officer – CCO Lishala Situmbeko has advised government to show commitment towards its decision to slow down on debt accumulation on both external and domestic debt stating that the proposed administrative measures are extremely critical and we’re flaunted, should have consequences.

Finance Minister Dr Bwalya Ng’andu had on 27 September 2019, during the 2020 budget presentation stated that he will address the challenges of domestic areas and increase the allocation of funds to reduce the stock of domestic areas, use of debt swaps to liquidate part of the outstanding areas and enhance commitment control systems to curb further accumulation.

Situmbeko told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that the measure put across are important and need full support from various ministry’s and government officials if the plan is to be fully implemented.

He said there is need to slow down on debt accumulation especially external debt, which has to be paid by the foreign exchange earned from mining and other exporting entities hence making it difficult when the mining sector is under performing.

Situmbeko further said despite government paying particular attention to servicing external debt which is not a bad idea, domestic debt is another burden that requires special attention as it directly affects ordinary Zambians who in turn struggle to run their business and fail to contribute to the growth of the economy.

“The measures that the minister has put in place are very important and we urge him to work closely with other government wings to ensure they are implemented in full because those measures require commitment and if anyone commits on behalf of government without treasury authority, there must be consequences,” he said.

He further noted the need for fiscal discipline if both domestic and foreign debt is to come down.
Meanwhile, he has welcomed government’s decision to maintain Value Added Tax – VAT and do away with Sales tax and has expressed hope that the introduced administrative measures to strengthen enforcement and efficiency will be effective.

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Zanaco Chief Commercial Officer - CCO Lishala

Markets

Barclays Bank Zambia PLC has announced its preparations to rebrand to Absa Bank Zambia by starting to open a new branch branded as Absa at Kubulonga on 7th October 2019.

Barclays Bank Managing Director Mizinga Melu has stated that despite the changes that the bank is undertaking, it will continue to operate and trade as Barclays Bank Zambia until its name officially changes by Mid 2020.

Speaking during a breakfast meeting in Lusaka on October 2, 2019 attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mizinga said the Bank is already in talks with customers across the country who she said have been supportive and that through this transition, customers will not be required to change their bank accounts or change any information as all records will remain the same before and after the transition.

She added that Absa is in Zambia to stay and has assured its employees that no job losses will be recorded when the bank transitions to Absa.

“In 2018, our parent company Absa group announced a decision to rebrand all our operations across the continent to Absa. While Barclays Plc continues to have a notable stake in Absa group at 14.9% stake, it is no longer our majority shareholder and the group has undergone an extensive managed separation process to detach its operations in Africa from those of Barclays Plc,” she said.

At the same event, Barclays Retail Managing Director Harton Maliki disclosed that the bank has so far rolled out 25 new branded ATM’s which are now operating as Absa and that they have better capabilities with focus to have latest technology.

He said over 70 million Kwacha has been spent for upgrading ATM cards in the last two years and it includes digital channels from the United Kingdom to South Africa.

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Barclays Bank Zambia PLC has announced its