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Companies

The Zambia Airports Corporation Limited – ZACL has recorded a reduction of 19,140 passers at its four international airports in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period last year.

The corporation recorded a total number of 394,821 general passengers this year, down from 413,961 in the first quarter of 2018 at all four international airports namely Kenneth Kaunda – KKIA, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe – SMKIA, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula – HMNIA and Mfuwe.

In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Zambia Airport Communications and Brand Manager Mweembe Sikaulu said general managers include both arriving and departing passengers, transit passengers, domestic and international passenger.

The records indicate that there were 66,353 domestic passengers that passed through
the airports in quarter one of 2019 in comparison to 66,729 in the first quarter of 2018 resulting in a decrease of -0.6 per cent adding that Similarly international passengers decreased by 18,764 resulting in a decline of -5.4 per cent increment compared to 2018.

Sikaulu said the notable factors that were attributed for the decline include cancellation of scheduled flights during this quarter by Kenya Airways, South African Airways and Ethiopian Airways each owing to various factors.

In addition, she said the continued suspension of flights by Fastjet Airlines to Dar-es-Salaam and Proflight to Harare also contributed to decline in passengers.

“The general Passenger Movement Performance by Airports indicate that Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport grew by 3.8% compared to the same period last year. The other airports namely Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe International Airports declined by -6.1%, -4.1% and -11.6% respectively compared to the same period last year,” she said.

Meanwhile, on the Aircraft Movement during the first quarter of 2019, Sikaulu told ZBT that a total of 11,319 aircraft movements were recorded at the four international airports in Lusaka, Livingstone, Ndola and Mfuwe compared 10,833 aircraft movements recorded in the same period last year indicating a growth of 4.5%.

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The Zambia Airports Corporation Limited - ZACL

Agribusiness

Musika Zambia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Zambia – UNZA School of Agricultural Sciences aimed at supporting the development and implementation of the entrepreneurial skills training enhanced programme, an initiative by the school of Agricultural Sciences.

Speaking during the signing ceremony held UNZA main campus in Lusaka on May 15th, 2019, Musika Managing Director Reuben Banda said the partnership with the school will demonstrate Musika’s role of stimulating the development of a supportive market environment that provides sustainable opportunities for small holder farmers and entrepreneurs imaging from this programme.

He added that Musika’s financial and technical support to the school of Agricultural sciences is meant to strengthen staff capacities to deliver entrepreneurial training, support the costs associated with conducting a skill need assessment for student and develop an entrepreneurship course module appropriate for implementing the programme.

“As a Zambian owned non-profitable company, our development approach focuses on changing market systems that sow the greatest existing opportunity for pro-poor growth,” he said.

Speaking at the same event UNZA Vice Chancellor Professor Luke Tembo has commended Musika and the School of Agricultural Science for working together in supporting entrepreneurial skills among students and that the school will give maximum support for the benefit of students and the farming community.

He said the entrepreneurial skills training enhanced programme has the potential to catalyze a substantive shift in curriculum development of education institutions resulting in an increased number of students optioning to become entrepreneurs in agribusinesses adding that the activity to be focused on, will be the enhancement of entrepreneurial skills training in the School of Agricultural Sciences.

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Musika Zambia has signed a Memorandum of

Tech

The Road Transport and Safety Agency – RTSA has embarked on a devolution programme of piloting issuance of motor vehicles licensing to selected local authorities across the country.

The scope of the devolution programmes cover motor vehicles and trailer licensing which shall be delegated to selected local authorities especially in areas without RTSA offices.

Confirming the development to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, RTSA Head of Public Relation Fredrick Mubanga said the agency has since selected 16 local authorizes across the country earmarked for the devolution programme of piloting issuance of motor vehicle licensing (Road Tax).

The selected areas for devolution are Mkushi, Serenje and Mumbwa in Central Province, Lundazi, Petauke in Eastern Province, Mbala in Northern Province, Mwense and Kawambwa in Luapula Province, Kabompo, Zambezi and Mwinilunga in North western Province, Kaoma and Senanga in Western Province and Kafue in Lusaka Province.

He added that the agency shall also assign vehicle examiners to undertake physical inspection and examination of motor vehicles for roadworthiness.

“ The trajectory of the devolution programme is in line with the long-term plan that expresses the aspirations of the Zambian people to live in a strong and dynamic middle-income industrial nation that provides opportunities for improving the well being of all to be achieved by harnessing opportunities for economic growth,” he said.

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The Road Transport and Safety Agency –

Markets

Prominent Lusaka based economist Professor Oliver Saasa is concerned with the speed at which Zambia is contracting debt saying it is likely to harm the country’s economy.

Last week, Minister of Finance Margret Mwanakatwe announced during the update on economic development that the country’s external debt stock for the first quarter of 2019 marginally increased to US$ 10.178 billion from US$ 10.05 billion at end of 2018 while the domestic debt stock at end of March 2019 was K58.21 billion down from K58.26 billion recorded at end of 2018.

Prof Saasa told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an interview that the slight increase in external debt is an indication that the economy is slowly being chocked and that if the situation is not taken care of, the economy will completely flop.

He said the country’s external debt commitments are very high and likely to affect the cost of production and investment in many sectors hence result in the increase in the cost of living for many Zambians.

“We need to understand that when there is crisis in an economy, the cost of living goes up due to insufficient funds , people that are supposed to receive payments or salaries are delayed and the cost of doing business on the market goes up because of the changes in prices of goods and services and inflation is the worst enemy to any economic growth prospects,” he said.

He added that the country’s reserves at the central bank are dwindling and can not last the country for more than two months import cover adding that, Zambia would not survive if a crisis emanated in the economy hence the need to quickly attend to this matter without looking forward to contracting more debt.

Meanwhile, the finance minister also announced that the country’s reserves position at end of February 2019 was US$ 1. 43 billion, down from US$ 1.56 million at end of December 2018.

Prof Saasa has however urged government to reduce on expenditure and cut down on contracting new debt under the current situation and has noted the need to cut down expenditure at some departments at the various ministries that are a financial threat or not adding value at this point in time.

He has further emphasized on need of growing the economy and facilitating private sector growth if the country is to develop.

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Prominent Lusaka based economist Professor Oliver Saasa

Markets

The Bank of China Zambia Limited says it is renewing its commitment to the Zambia Development Agency – ZDA to help promote Zambia as the ideal investment destination as bilateral trade between the two countries continues to increase.

Bank of China Managing Director Qi Wang says his bank chose Zambia as the first growth destination in Africa because of the stable political environment, great weather and the great hospitality of the Zambian people.

Wang notes that the bank has an international network in over 60 countries in the world, including China, where Zambian businesses can access funds for investment. He noted that the improved infrastructure development in transport and communication is creating an attractive environment for foreign direct investments – FDI.

The Managing Director reiterated that the bank of China has renewed its commitment to help promote Zambia as the ideal investment destination through programmes such as Forum on China-Africa Cooperation – FOCAC as the trade volumes between the two countries continues to increase.

Wang was speaking when his team paid a courtesy call on the Zambia Development Agency, in response to the call to work with the ZDA Chinese Desk for Joint Venture partnerships and trade.

“As both countries are agricultural nations, the Bank of China is committed to providing technological transfer in agriculture and manufacturing to reduce poverty in Zambia. We need to encourage Zambians to be more aggressive in promoting strategic products such as honey and services such as tourism to China during events such as the upcoming China International Import Expo” said Bank of China MD.

Meanwhile the Zambia Development Agency Acting Director General Matongo Matamwandi thanked the bank of China for paying a courtesy call on the Agency and for their support and commitment to Investment promotion in the country.

Matamwandi explained that he sees the Bank as an extended team of the Investment promotions of the ZDA. “We need the support of the bank in our follow-ups to actualise pledged investments through targeted pitches as a new strategic approach for the Agency,” explained the Acting Director General.

He revealed that ZDA is looking for Green Investments and Pioneer Industries such as investment into Nuclear Energy which can be exported into the region and earn Zambia the much needed Forex. The acting Director General pledged intercultural training for new Chinese Investors to help bridge the cultural differences and to also help Zambians learn international business cultural etiquette.

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The Bank of China Zambia Limited says

Companies

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