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Trade kings Zambia limited has donated items worth K10, 000 to mothers at the maternity wing of the University Teaching Hospital UTH as a way of celebrating this year’s mother’s day and the importance that mothers play in society.

Speaking when she presented the gifts to mothers, trade kings corporate and public relations officer Bridget Kambobe said the importance that women play in supporting trade kings cannot be over emphasized. She said Trade Kings is a business that has been inspired by women and has grown to be a success story because women have been the largest consumer of the projects.

“We are not saying men are not key players in our industry but that mothers play a key role in cleaning, washing and keeping of the environment clean. It is for this reason that trades kings is donating gifts to mothers at the hospital who gave birth from midnight to now as a way of appreciating the role that women have played in growing our business.

We see a direct coloration between health and wealth and until we have health mothers who bear healthy children, we can we claim to have a healthy future for the country,” she said.

And UTH public relations officer Natalia Mashikolo said she is grateful for the donation that trade kings had made as most mothers at the hospital are vulnerable and such donations go a long way.

“UTH delivers over 80 babies every day and some of these mothers are very vulnerable and donations such as these ones go a long way. Trade kings has been an all-weather friend because it keep helping and supporting the Hospital in improving the lives of women,” she said.

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Trade kings Zambia limited has donated items

Agribusiness

Cotton Association of Zambia Executive Director Joseph Nkole has called on government to consider investing largely in cotton production as the sector has the potential to generate approximately $80 to $90 million dollars annually as exports or export dollar savings.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Nkole stated that the K1.7 billion that government spends on maize production every year should be spent alongside other cash crops like cotton which has the potential to increase the country’s foreign exchange.

“Cotton is very profitable crop that has the potential to earn a lot of foreign exchange for the country. We need government to invest largely in cotton growing and production. We are grateful to the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and the ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry who have come on board and helped the association with some funding,” he said.

Nkole also said that Cotton just like any other crop is affected by adverse weather patterns like prolonged dry spells, but that the cotton plant has stronger roots that enables it survive harsh weather condition and produce better crop.

The executive director has also announced that the Cotton associated will announce the minimum price set for cotton selling by the farmers for this year.

And Cotton Association of Zambia Outreach and Membership Services head Jared Kachari said Zambia has about 350 000 cotton farmers growing in the country who needs supports to keep the growing of cotton running.

He said his outreach runs groups called the ‘study cycle groups’ which is an extension approach where farmers set is groups of around 10 to 15 and study material provided by the association in order to enable them learn more on how to grow cotton and produce useful materials through the crops grown.

“We have managed to procure ginning equipment with the help of CEEC financing that is being used by farmers to process their cotton further and produce other beautiful things like rags, scuffs and others. So there is need for farmers to join the cotton association so that they can keep abreast and learn from what the association is impacting in other farmers,” he said.

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Cotton Association of Zambia Executive Director Joseph

Tech

Ministry of National Development Planning Permanent Secretary – PS Chola Chabala has disclosed that government has received K282 million (about US$24 million) from its counterparts towards the implementation of the 7th National Development Plan – 7NDP and that the country has secured financing in excess of what was projected in the plan.

Chola told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that the money was contributed by counterparts from private sectors and that K150 million was raised from the Green Climate Fund – GCF.

He also mentioned that for the climate change investment, the ministry has engaged corporate partners in financing the climate change projects adding that a pilot project on climate resilience is underway in Sothern, Western and Central provinces.

He added that in order to fully scale up the climate change projects in uncovered provinces, another US$100 million is expected from the Green Climate Fund – GCF.

In addition, he said, government has also submitted a proposal to the World Bank for US$ 100 million which he said will scale up what is contained in the 7NDP plan and he is positive that the proposal will be approved within this year.

Meanwhile, the PS also indicated that the financing of the 7NDP should not be centered to government only as it is not in the position of fully financing the plan but through corporate partners and private investors.

“The plan is huge and will not be 100 percent financed by government, there are several options that the ministry has put in place such as the involvement and collaboration with corporate partners and other existing funds as such government has also put in place a supportive environment to make sure that funds towards the implementation of the 7NDP is realized

He has however noted there is need by government to enhance partnership with various players in the private sector in ensuring that various milestones contained in the 7NDP are met.

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Ministry of National Development Planning Permanent Secretary

Markets

Cross Boarder Traders Associations President Jacob Makobwe says the depreciation of the currency and steep exchange rates that is now becoming frequent has negatively impacted small scale cross traders, especially importers who trade with other countries in the region.

Makobwe says small scales traders have been finding it difficult to conduct trade with other countries because the kwacha keeps depreciating making it difficult for cross border traders to purchase commodities in other countries. He says the volatility of the currency has caused transportation costs to go high making it difficult for cross border traders to afford these expenses.

“The country’s economy has experienced a lot of changes such as the depreciation of the kwacha that has negatively affected trade for cross border traders. We have also witnessed harsh environmental impacts such as cyclones that hit neighboring countries. These disasters have greatly affected trade for small scale trades that or finding it difficult to locate where to purchase their commodities who used the effected routes.

Makobwe has also disclosed that his association is working on launching a sensitization campaign that will aim to inform its members crossing the borders on the simplification of trade through bilateral agreements that Zambia has signed with other countries and the impact of continental free trade area on cross border trade.

He says it is important for people to understand the requirements of different borders that they are crossing so they cannot be exploited and venture in bad vices such as corruption when crossing the borders.

He however says poor infrastructure at the borders has greatly affects trade in the country. He says some border areas stop operations at specific hours which become life treating for people who arrive at the borders late as they are not allowed to cross into the country but rather spend their night at a place without proper accommodation and sanitation.

He stated that there is need for government to consider investing in infrastructures at border posts so as to make trading easy for small scale traders.

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Cross Boarder Traders Associations President Jacob Makobwe

Sport

Zambia’s 18-year-old Anita Yama has won the under-23 cycling women’s race at African Continental MTB Cross-Country Championships in Windhoek, Namibia.

The championship was for the selection of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Anita is said to have completed the 120 kilometer four-lap course in just over 1:50:00.

“I was chosen to go and represent Zambia and despite it being my first time taking part in the African championship race, I managed to dig deep and eventually emerging victorious despite it being quiet challenging,” she said.

Despite only racing for three years, she is the reigning under-18 champion and has so far won 10 medals .Anita has participated in the Kansanshi MTB, road races and school series.

“I hope to add to my medals as I will be taking part in the One-Zambia cycling race later in May, which is the biggest race in Zambia as we will have riders from all over Africa coming to take part. My advice to my fellow girls out there is that cycling is not just for men but about being confident in what you do and having faith in yourself as this is a very easy sport to take up, all that is requires is hard-work, determination and self-belief,” she added.

The sporting was introduced to Solwezi town in North-Western Province in 2014 with support from First Quantum Minerals (FQM) as a way of empowering local youths like Anita and providing them with an opportunity to escape illicit activities and poverty.

And FQM’s Kansanshi Foundation Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator and team patron Victor Nsana said he is proud of Anita for bringing honours to the country despite it being her first time competing at that level and beating some of the best riders on the continent.

He added that since its introduction, the sport has gained a lot of popularity among the youth in and around Solwezi who now make up the majority of the FQM-backed national cycling team.

Nsana further underscored the ability of sports to empower local youth in communities around the province and the role it plays in promoting healthy lifestyles, while bringing with it social and economic benefits.

“The sponsorship offers youth the opportunity to take part in cycling while simultaneously receiving quality secondary or tertiary education. However, in order for the cyclists to continue being part of our cycling team, they should be disciplined and doing well in school,” he said.

After making a name for themselves at the 2017 African Continental Open Championships with first place in the women’s category and sixth in the men’s, the FQM-sponsored cycling team now has its sights set on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Zambia’s 18-year-old Anita Yama has won the

Markets

Newly appointed Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba has announced that a standing business Forum between Zambia and Ethiopia will be formed. In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by press secretary Inutu Mwanza, Mwamba stated that he was impressed that the Ethiopian economy was booming and driven by local people and local investors.

Mwamba said Ethiopia with a population of 105 million was the fastest growing economy in Africa in the last five years and it was imperative that private sector links between Zambia and Ethiopia were formalized.

He said he would collaborate with Chambers of Commerce in Zambia and Ethiopia to appoint a board that should drive the private sector trade and business between the two countries. He has since called for a meeting with chambers of commerce to action the formation of the Business Forum.

Mwamba further said government had shifted priority from political diplomacy to economic, business and tourism diplomacy to help fast track the economic development of the country. “We will also market tourism products to the Ethiopian tourists to sample the heritage and tourism sites in Zambia,” he said.

Mwamba who is also accredited to the African Union as Permanent Representative, said Zambia’s role at the African Union would be to champion calls that promote regional trade and integration of local Afro-economies.

He said it was unacceptable that Africa currently trades with the rest of the world up-to 88% and only trades with itself to a paltry 12%. He added that by this action Africa was inadvertantly exporting jobs, opportunities and raw materials thereby stifling prospects of implementing industrialization program and losing benefits of upwards linkages.

African countries have despite attaining political independence continued with trade and economic ties with former colonial powers who account for the largest trade volumes. You will find neighboring countries in Africa not trading through shared land borders but importing the very products available from former colonial powers who are thousands of miles away.

Non tarriff barriers as well as corrupt bureaucrats who have connived with agents of colonial interests to frustrate the provision  of  legal frameworks for the local small and medium size exporters and importers between neighboring countries is still the order of the day.

The local importing and  exporting small businesses are labeled as smugglers and treated with disdain when all that is needed is a regulatory framework to formalize small scale importing and exporting businesses who can in time grow to become large companies.

In Zambia, the belief is more skilled to attracting foreign direct investments at the expense of supporting and developing local small and medium size businesses to grow, an attitude that needs a complete mindset shift for the country to develop.

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Newly appointed Zambia's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel

Politics

Zambia’s main opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has taken a more advisory approach to his rival, President Edgar Lungu by urging him to revert back to the Zambia plus economic program that was launched by former Finance Minister, Felix Mutati.

Concerns have been raised on the government fiscal management under the new Finance Minister, Magerate Mwanakatwe and her ability to address concerns by the market on actions the government is taking to stem liquidity and debt concerns.

Hichilema stated that “as a concerned party, the UPND would like to advise the PF Government to consider the following as practical solutions for stopping the fiscal haemorrhage and addressing the economic malaise. Hichilema stated that Lungu should consider the following:

Go back to the Zambia Plus programme and implement it in earnest. At the same time, review the implementation of the plan with the view of developing a new medium-term fiscal framework, which represents a more ambitious fiscal consolidation effort.

Hichilema advised that President Lungu and his PF Government that they should find the political will to genuinely listen to others and learn from them, particularly the intelligentsia, both within the Government and outside it. The arrogant, know-it-all attitude of the decision-makers in the PF Government is hurting the Zambian economy. Technically inept ministers in ministries like Housing and Infrastructure should not be the ones negotiating for loans from China. The PF should find the political will to stop this dysfunction.

Re-commit to the austerity measures that the Minister of Finance announced in June 2018. The PF Government should now go beyond policy pronouncement to actual execution by giving us how each of the measures will be implemented, how much savings will be realised from each of the measures and how the implementation will be monitored. This should include shutting down some of the Government departments with non-essential operations to save money for the core Government operations.

Seriously engage with the private sector to leverage their resources for economic growth. This will require important economic dialogue with the private sector. We propose an Economic Indaba with two main points of discussion, one to concentrate on fiscal policy and the other to deal with monetary policy. We propose two taskforces to be co-chaired by the Government and private sector, accordingly who will then be updating the nation on a regular basis.

Engage with the IMF and China with more seriousness and honesty, based on a firm and inclusive national consultation through the above-proposed indabas. Engaging the IMF should not be only about securing a financial bailout package but also to signal Government’s commitment to good governance, transparency and fiscal prudence as the basis on which economic actors can begin to respond to the Government policy intentions.

Re-engage Cooperating Partners, especially those that have traditionally supported social sectors – Education, Health, poverty alleviation (Social Cash transfer), Water and Sanitation, etc. – for help with resources and technical assistance to implement effective social programmes and a robust safety net, to lessen the impact of the stabilisation measures on the most vulnerable.

Rationalise infrastructure expenditure by being more rigorous and consistent with independent project appraisals, feasibility studies, environmental impact assessment and so on. These should  always be done prior to the approval of any public-funded infrastructure project, without exception.

Hichilema further stated that government should halt any further borrowing and engage creditors for possible re-profiling of the current debt.   

President Lungu and main opposition leader Hichilema have had a torrid relationship after going through bruising elections which President Lungu has won narrowly in the last two elections, about with an increasing but still low margins.

Their reported off the radar meeting away from third parties has however seemed to have opened some communications line though their support base seem to have retained their deeply held mistrust and rivalry. It remains to be seen how the 2021 elections will pan out.

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Zambia’s main opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema

Companies

The National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) has disclosed that it has collected more than K50 million extra toll fees in the first quarter of 2019. The Agency says it has collected over K266 million (about US$19 million) in toll fees against a target of K261 million in the first quarter.

NRFA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Wallace Mumba says NRFA has distributed over 6,800 toll cards and collected about K21.7 million through electronic toll fees collections.

Dr. Mumba was speaking when NRFA and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries signed an agreement in an effort to reduce the disease burden on the livestock sector that has cost the government in excess of K30 million.

The National Road Fund Agency had in February this year been accused of losing K1 billion the claim it refuted and explained that the K1 million was purported to be missing represented the 11,348 vehicle transactions which were found to be misallocated as frequent user discounts.

The agency claimed it had earlier announced that it would be offering discounts to vehicles that frequent passes through the toll gates. The Agency has projected that it would be collecting more than K670 million in tolls every year.

The NRFA was established and is responsible for mobilisation, administration and management of all financial resources in the road sector with the key function of administering and managing the National Road Fund, a pool of funds collected from mostly fuel levy and has now been bolstered by introduction of road tolls.

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The National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) has

Sport

The Football Association of Zambia – FAZ has expressed concern over the conduct of some football clubs using unlicensed players by forging their Identity Cards and fielding them in the games.

FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala says players in three named football clubs had this week forged and fielded unlicensed players into the games in an effort to win which should not have been the case.

“I wish to advise that we had an unfortunate incident where unlicensed players were being fielded for league games. We have confiscated 10 forged cards from some clubs namely Real Nakonde FC and TAZARA Rangers and will continue to investigate. This type of conduct is highly disappointing and will not go unpunished. FAZ is on the ground and days are numbered for those teams in the habit of cheating,” he said.

Kashala stated that various offences have been committed both against the football rules and criminal acts such as peeling off the face of the player, fielding an ineligible player, fielding unregistered players and falsification of information.

The association has since called on clubs to closely examine Players Cards to ensure the correct image and watermarks are on the player cards. The association general secretary has also said that FAZ has received numerous complaints regarding poor officiating.

“We have also noticed with regret that complaints regarding poor officiating are not brought to the association but instead shared through social media. As FAZ we continuously evaluate the performance of referees, he said.

He added that the Referees Committee will be meet ping this weekend to deal with all the cases regarding poor officiating that have been formally presented.

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The Football Association of Zambia - FAZ

Agribusiness

The Government of Zambia has re-launched its partnership with Brazil aimed at resuming the bilateral cooperation in the field of biofuels development which had slowed down in progress since its launch in 2010.

Zambia and Brazil signed a bilateral instrument of cooperation in 2010 aiming at the developing biofuels in the country of which limited progress was seen. Brazil is one of the best examples in the world in the development and use of biofuels as a substitute to fossil fuel.

Speaking at a policy dialogue consultative forum held in Lusaka on 7th May 2019, Minister of Energy Matthew Nkuwa told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that the failure to progress in investment of biofuel is due to some challenges the country was facing in migrating to blending of petroleum products and the necessary infrastructure needs to be developed for a successful roll out of the biofuels programme.

He said the partnership earmarks the renewable energy industry in the area of delivering the establishment of biofuel blending facilities by 2021, thereby calling for the need to grow the industry.

Nkuwa said biofuels have low emissions compared to fossil fuels hence it contributes to efforts of emissions reduction which helps in mitigating climate change adding that the importation of fossil fuels contributes to the depletion of much needed foreign exchange in the country.

In addition, he said the operation on the biofuel blending programme will lead to a reduction in foreign exchange depletion due to fuel imports as the biofuels will be produced locally.

“I wish to inform you that currently, Indeni Refinery and Tazama Pipeline Limited have no capacity to enable blending, therefore it is necessary for government to invest in additional facilities to enable national blending of biofuels with fossil fuels.

And Brazil Ambassador to Zambia Colbert Soares said the agreement around biofuels is an interesting sector of developing the rural sector in Zambia as it will contribute to the increase of jobs and to the training of labor force, add value to agricultural production chains, reduce the country’s large oil imports and improve logistics and infrastructure in Zambia.

He mentioned that Brazil is in a better position to partner with Zambia in the matter as it has about 45% of its energy and 18% of the fuel consumption originating from renewable biofuels.

Speaking at the same event, Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme also stated that energy has become a necessary resource for the operation and growth of pivotal sectors such as mining, transport and agriculture hence the need to grow and diversify the energy sector to enhance its contribution to the economy.

He said government has set an ambitious outcome of improving local energy production and that the target set in the plan requires government to increase proportion of renewable energy mix to 5%.

Zambia’s currency the Kwacha struggles with perpetual depreciation due to the country’s huge  import bill of which fuel is one of the biggest. Efforts to utilize available arable land to grow plants that can be used for biofuel generation have stalled mainly due to loss in long term focus and changes of policies by successive governments.

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The Government of Zambia has re-launched its