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Sport

Zambia will from 10 to 12 October 2019 host the 12th United Nations – UN All Africa Games 2019 aimed at promoting good health and well-being in line with Sustainable Development Goal – SDG number 3.

The games, which will be organised and hosted by the United Nations in Zambia, will see about 1,200 participants from over 14 countries compete for honors at the annual United Nations sporting event to be held in Lusaka.

This is the first time that Zambia is hosting this prestigious event, with last year’s games having been successfully held in Mphumalanga, South Africa, under the auspices of the United Nations in South Africa.

UN Zambia Resident Coordinator, Dr George Okech in a media statement availed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT stated that the United Nations is open to partnership, sponsorship and co-branding with Government, private sector and sports associations, for Zambia to successfully host these annual continental games.

He said twelve disciplines including athletics, basketball, chess, football, netball, swimming, golf, tennis, volleyball and parasports present life changing opportunities for the private sector in the areas of brand marketing, sales, and Corporate Social Investment.

“As UN Zambia, we are honoured to host the games. This is a huge undertaking that needs sponsors to join hands with us. We invite the private sector to come on board and partner with us to ensure success of these games,” said George Okech.

Dr. Okech also noted the support so far received from the Zambian Government in the lead up to the UN games and has since expressed gratitude to the Government through line ministries such as Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Health, Youth, Sport and Child Development for the support and guidance provided to ensure that a truly memorable and professional sporting event is held.

A local organising committee comprising UN staff and representatives from the Government and private sector has since been constituted to prepare all components of the games required for the country to successfully host the games.

The hosting of sports and business meetings has notable economic benefits for Zambia as the visiting teams will boost air and road transport,  hotel and accommodation facilities and forex spend into the market. Zambia’s ministry of tourism has been urged to rather focus on hosting events kind of tourism attractions as an alternative to ministry and the Zambia Tourism Agency concentrating on investing in travel to endless international expos whose value addition is at most times questionable.

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Zambia will from 10 to 12 October

Lifestyle

Orca Deco Zambia has announced that it will be opening a new store on the Copperbelt, Zambia’s Mining and Industrial hub, to be centrally located at the city of Kitwe on August 29 2019 at Edgar Chagwa Lungu – ECL Mall.

Announcing the development, Orca Deco Marketing Manager Emma de Ricquebourg told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that in a bid to compliment the lifestyle of the Zambian Community, the store has decided to open a new branch in Kitwe to enable its Copperbelt based customers and the other nearer region have access to Orca Deco products.

She expressed confidence that the opening of the new store will grow is customer base as it has been receiving overwhelming response on the quality, durable and affordable products that the store currently offers.

Emma added that having created a good rapport with its Customers in Lusaka, they are optimist that the new store on the Copperbelt will receive support from many people adding that it had received positive response after the announcement of opening the Copperbelt branch.

With the fast growing customer base in Zambia, Orca Deco has a team of over 150 employees for its Lusaka store, and has pledged its commitment to continue playing a key role in the development of homes and businesses in Zambia.

Emma added that in commitment to contribute to the national development, the store has provided an opportunity for job creation stating that its new store will attract about 40 new employees, hence promoting local participation.

“As Orca Deco, we have received a great response from many people on our products and that is what prompted us open another store on the Copperbelt because we would have people travel from there just to come to Lusaka to buy our products hence the move of taking our products to our customers and we appreciate their support,” she said.

She further stated that investing in Zambia has boosted its business through support from people, business partners and the competition on the market, which she said has been fair and helpful to the growth of the company.

Emma has also announced plans by the store to extend its business to other provinces in the country by 2022 to enable Zambians across the country have access to its durable goods.

Orca Deco began operations in Zambia 2013 as one of the leading furnisher and home accessory stores in Africa. Originated in Senegal, the store has presence in 18 countries furnishing over one million homes and offices across the continent. Orca Deco prides itself on offering products at competitive prices for its customers.

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Orca Deco Zambia has announced that it

Agribusiness

The Millers Association of Zambia – MAZ has distanced itself from the increase of mealie meal prices on the market stating that the situation is as a result of the high maize prices obtaining on the market and not the millers.

The Association President Andrew Chintala has noted that the high prices of maize has not only lead to the increase in mealie meal but all buy-products of maize hence starving the market.

Chintala has told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an interview that aside consumers struggling to purchase the commodity, the association has equally struggled to purchase maize as the economic at play has affected its responsibility of offloading affordable mealie meal to its consumers.

He has since called for correct measures and policies by government towards the escalating prices of mealie meal and production of maize if the crop is to transform the agriculture sector and contribute significantly to the economy of the country.

“Every time mealie meal goes up, the blame is put on millers when actually we are not responsible for hiking the prices but the increase of the input maize prices, at the same time the consumer wants to buy mealie meal at a cheaper price. This however requires urgent action and we hope that government will provide us with information and solutions that will assist the problem in the sector,”

Chintala has further bemoaned policy inconsistency stating that despite conducive policies that government has put in place, it has still failed to implement them. He has reiterated the association’s call to address policy issues and has appealed for more investments in the agriculture sector adding that the release of funds to the industry is important in growing the economy.

The association is concerned with the rate at which government is recruiting extension officers who are key in assisting and increasing production at small-scale level. Small scale farmers were last year reported to have contributed 90% to total national maize production.

Apparently, maize is Zambia’s staple food and the current situation has affected many Zambians especially those on the outskirts of the city. The high prices of maize has somehow made farmers comfortable because of profit while on the other end, pushing millers to increase the price of mealie meal at the same time consumers expecting to purchase the commodity at a cheaper price.

The equation however requires critical analysis and solutions by key stakeholders in the industry because despite government’s efforts to stabilize the economy, challenges still seem to rise. People complained when the prices hit K67 last year and now prices have doubled and now are over K130 per 25 kg bag for breakfast.

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The Millers Association of Zambia - MAZ

Sport

The Football Association of Zambia – FAZ and Yatu Media have signed a five year K61 million (about US$5million) deal that will see matches involving under-17 and 20 matches streamed live.

Speaking during the launch of the partnership on August 13, 2019 at Football house in Lusaka, FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala said the deal is a direct response to the cries of the fans to watch as many games as possible involving national teams live.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Time – ZBT, Kashala said fans were always querying FAZ about the broadcast of matches each time any of the national teams was in action.

“This development is particularly great as it directly responds to one of the constant cries of the Zambian football fans. Each time we have an international game, we are always flooded with queries about whether fans can access live broadcasts of matches involving various national teams or not,” Kashala said.

He added that the house is mindful of the many limitations regarding broadcast rights for various competitions under Cosafa, CAF and FIFA, and is determined to open as much space as possible for the followers of the game.

Kashala further thanked Yatu Media for taking the challenge to support football. “The initiative we are launching today with Yatu Media testifies how open we are to bringing as many partners on board as possible. While we are starting with the Under-17 and Under-20 games, we remain open to expanding this initiative to other teams and activities,” he said.

And Yatu Media Chief Executive Officer Charles Nkandu said the deal which will run from 2020 to 2025 would see high tech equipment used to broadcast the matches live online. Nkandu said Yatu Media would partner with Skyrink Studios of South Africa in meeting the Zambian market’s needs.

He also said the initiative would also create employment opportunities for Zambians. Nkandu further added that users would find the application user friendly and easy to download. The Yatu application will provide various options of paying for access making it easier for fans to watch their preferred matches.

Nkandu further said Zambia had six million smart phone users who will provide a huge platform for the streaming of matches. Yatu Media is targeting to beam 20 matches every year.

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The Football Association of Zambia - FAZ

Agribusiness

Government has commenced the process of addressing the issue of escalating mealie meal prices which has currently been an issue of great concern on the Zambian market. Agriculture minister Michael Katambo has since pledged to the public that the process will not take more than three weeks. Mealie meal is Zambia’s staple food and considered the most toxic political issue.

Some outlets in Lusaka spot-checked by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT have shown that a 25 Kilograms breakfast bag is now going at a range from K130, K135 and K140 while reports from Southern Province indicate that a bag of 25Kg is going at K144.

Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo says government has noted the extreme increase in mealie meal prices on the market which has made it unaffordable for most Zambians.

Speaking during the Maize industry stakeholder meeting at Lusaka’s Mulungushi Conference Center on 15 August 2019, Katambo said maize is an important crop in Zambia as it affects the lives of many Zambians and has the ability transform the agriculture sector and contribute to the economy of this country if correct measure and policies are in put place.

He said government has decided to transform the agriculture sector including the maize industry with regard to increasing maize production and making maize an export crop which will also lead to mealie meal prices finding an equilibrium price on the market.

And to increase production, the Agro minister stated that “we have to address the issue of climate change and be consistent in our policies and take advantage of the huge export markets in our neighboring countries and as government , we are working hard to tackle the issues that have affected maize production,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Maize Industry Stakeholder discussion was meant to resolve and agree on implementing measures that can be put in place to ensure mealie meal prices are affordable to all but the way forward is not known as the plenary session was held in a closed door meeting, in secret.

And efforts by ZBT to find out the agreed resolutions to this matter, Agriculture Minister stated in a statement that there are a number of reasons causing the rise in mealie meal prices and that government will soon announce to the public on the way forward.

He said technocrats in the ministry are interrogating the proposed measures in collaboration with private sector stakeholders and that measures will be announced as soon as the process is completed.
The minister has since assured the public that the process will not take more than three weeks and has advised Zambians and all players in the industry to stay calm and wait for the final way forward pertaining to the escalating mealie meal prices.

Government and the various stakeholders in the industry have concluded with an action plan that has detailed measure that will boost and transform the maize industry. If we are to double maize production, tough decisions have to be made now.

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Government has commenced the process of addressing

Companies

The Business Regulatory Review Agency – BRRA has announced its move to have an operational upgraded e-Registry and the notice & Comment system by end of 2019, aimed at improving access to information on business regulatory frameworks in country and promoting transparency in administration of government to business services.

One of the key business reforms in the country has been the deployment of an e-Registry, which is a centralised database and online platform holding information on licenses, certificates, permits, authorizations and regulations. While the Notice and Comment system is designed to allow citizens provide Government with feedback on proposed laws and regulations.

In a statement made available to the Zambian business times – BRRA, Executive Director Sharon Sichilongo has disclosed that the Agency has continued to update information on the e-Registry with details on regulatory frameworks from 11 public bodies having been vetted and uploaded onto the e-Registry adding that the Vetting of regulatory frameworks was done in conjunction with Ministry of Justice.

She explained that BRRA has collaborated with the World Bank Group – WBG  country team to upgrade the e-Registry and incorporate a Notice-and-Comments system stating that the e-Registry will be upgraded by implementing the latest version of the WBG owned business licensing e-Registry while the Notice-and-Comments system will be designed to enable citizens and businesses provide Government with feedback on laws and regulations to be implemented.

“The mandate of BRRA is to review existing as well as proposed policies and laws affecting business activity in order to ensure that they serve a legitimate purpose and to develop and implement initiatives aimed at improving Government-to-Business service delivery as well as increase access to business registration services. Both the e-Registry and Notice and Comment will contribute to the attainment of BRRA’s strategic objectives of improving the quality of business regulations and improving delivery of business regulatory services” she said.

Sichilongo further said the Agency was scaling up its capacity-building programme in Regulatory Impact Assessment and would soon be holding sensitisation and capacity building workshops for chief executive officers from over 36 regulatory agencies.

The Regulatory Impact Assessment – RIA is a detailed systematic appraisal of the potential impacts of a proposed policy or regulation in order to assess whether the regulation is likely to achieve the desired objective and the costs of regulation are justified.

The Zambian government has experienced embarrassing regulatory roll backs due to the different ministerial regulatory bodies and line ministries passing regulation that has not undergone public debate, has not had a business regulatory impact assessment done before implementation.

 

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The Business Regulatory Review Agency - BRRA

Companies

The Zambia Development Agency – ZDA has called on investors in the country to take advantage of  the high returns investment opportunities on the Zambian market to re-invest their capital and profits to effectively contribute to the country’s development.

Speaking during the first ever investment symposium in Lusaka on August 15, 2019, organized by ZDA, the Agency’s Board Chairperson Mary N’cube observed that investors who are not re-investing are instead repatriating their profits leaving the local economy devoid of the much needed capital and forex, hence has urged entrepreneurs to take keen interest in re-investment opportunities within the economy.

“Investment by enterprises both local and foreign has the capacity to enhance national development if it is well directed and structured. Reinvestment by local enterprises or those that are already invested in Zambia is an aspect of development that we must equally embrace and encourage if Zambia is to enhance its competitiveness and further develop,” She said.

And Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Kayula Siame emphasized on the need for the country to create a positive environment for businesses to thrive and ensure Zambia remains competitive by increasing productivity.

Siame further urged the investors to make use of the national industrial policy as it spells out guidelines for utilization of local primary sources and citizen participation. The Investment Symposium was held under the theme ‘Business Climate for Re-Investment’. The symposium was aimed at providing the private sector with an opportunity to identify re-investment opportunities for diversification and value addition.

Zambia has limited to no exchange controls which has led to capital flight and at times instability in the foreign exchange market due to its free market policies which allows unregulated expatriation of capital and forex.

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The Zambia Development Agency - ZDA has

Tech

The Road Transport and Safety Agency – RTSA  has put in place modalities to print and clear the backlog of over 150,000 driving license cards by the end of September 2019.

The Agency has since assured the general public and all driving license applicants holding temporal driving licenses, that the RTSA has enough stock to clear the backlog and guarantees stability and continuity in the production of cards on “print on demand” basis.

RTSA head of public relations Fredrick Mubanga told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that all driving license applicants are advised to visit any RTSA station and have their Driving Licence card printed upon presenting the original copy of the Temporal Driving Licence or a police report in the absence of the original print out of the Temporal Driving Licence.

Further, all RTSA stations will remain open on Saturdays from 08:00 hours to 13:00 hours, until the backlog of unprinted driving license cards is cleared.

“From the foregoing, the General Public and all Driving Licence applicants holding Temporal Driving Licences, should not panic thinking that the Agency may run out of materials for printing driving license cards” He said

RTSA has further re-assured the public that modalities have been put in place to ensure that all driving license cards are produced on “print on demand” basis and the public will constantly be updated on the progress being made in clearing the backlog.

The RTSA system for printing had collapsed living members of the agency with no option but to print only temporary drivers licenses. This system has been unstable which had led to queues and backlogs building up.

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The Road Transport and Safety Agency -

Markets

The African Development Bank – AfDB has offered Zambia a sustainable lending limit of USD 750 million for both sovereign and non-sovereign borrowers for 2019.

AfDB Country Manager Mary Monyau says the facility is a critical factor in demonstrating the effectiveness of development finance and boosting private sector growth and competitiveness.

Speaking when she paid a courtesy call on Minister of Finance Dr Bwalya Ng’andu on August 7, 2019, Monyau further said on regional integration, a facility of USD 59 million is available for the re-development of Mpulungu Harbour, a Great Lakes Region Port in Zambia’s Northern Province.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by Ministry of Finance Spokesperson Chileshe Kandeta, Monyau also confirmed that a grant of USD 30 million from the Netherlands is also at arm’s length for the project.

And Finance Minister Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu has urged the Zambian private sector to take advantage of the USD 750 million financing facility offered by the African Development Bank to achieve stability, sustain their growth, and become competitive in the domestic and international market place.

“There is need to strengthen business acceleration capacity for small and medium enterprise to enable people in the private sector access the USD 750 million sustainable lending facility and such an approach will have a great impact in augmenting the government’s efforts aimed at harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit among Zambians, including women and the youth,” he said.

Dr. Ng’andu has since assured the African Development Bank that the government would soon finalize its internal processes so that small and medium scale enterprises – SMEs soon begin to access the money.

The Minister has also urged the African Development Bank to continue their close collaboration with relevant public and private sector organisations in order to accelerate the performance in the private sector as envisaged in the 2017-2021 country strategy paper.

He has further requested the support of the African Development Bank and other development partners in assisting Zambia in returning to fiscal health and achieving sustained fiscal consolidation.

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The African Development Bank – AfDB has

Lifestyle

The National Arts Council – NAC has set aside about K300,000 in the bid to re-launched the Ngoma Awards to take place on 7th December, 2019 with 35 awards to be presented in seven categories.

The Ngoma Awards named after the Zambian drum went under the radar since 2012 (6 year) after its launch in 1999 attributing its silence to lack of funds by stakeholders.

Speaking during the relaunch of the Ngoma Awards at Lusaka’s Best Western Hotel on August 13, 2019, NAC Chairperson Patrick Samwimbila explained that the relaunch of the Awards comes after its absence due to lack of sponsorship and investments hence its relaunch is a strategy to bring more stakeholders on board to avoid challenges faced in the past.

He said art is an economic sector which needs critical investments and support from government and other stakeholders hence the need to grow the sector if the country is to develop. Samwimbila added that the council’s determination to rebrand the awards is aimed at raising the bar of excellence and prestige in the industry and has since called on all artists in the country to support and elevate the status of the Ngoma awards to build arts in the country.

“Arts is an important activity to the nation because it brings about creativity and innovation as well as boost the economy hence the council was not comfortable with the absence of the Ngoma Awards and its return is an existing experience for us and the sector”, he said.

Unveiling the rebranded Ngoma awards, acting Minister of Tourism and Arts Joyce Nonde-Simukoko stated that Ngoma awards have been the pride for creative industry for many years and its absence created a huge vacuum.

She said the ministry is delighted at the return of the prestigious awards, which will increase visibility for artists in the country. The minister said government puts arts on top of its developmental agenda and has since pledged its commitment to contribute to the realization of the economic diversification and job creation and further provide an enabling environment for arts and artists to thrive in Zambia.

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The National Arts Council – NAC has