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Results of the analysis conducted by the Water Resources Management Authority – WARMA on the groundwater data from its ground water monitoring stations for the period 2019 and 2020 indicated that groundwater levels are at their lowest in the last ten years in some provinces.

This has been attributed to reduced rainfall leading to less recharge and increased social economical activities that are dependent on ground water hence it is highly unlikely that there will be full recovery of ground water levels for the period 2019/2020 season as the situation may be worsened by the effects of climate change.

According to a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by WARMA Public Relation Officer Joseph Kapila on January 30, 2020, The Authority has therefore advised the general public and institutions in the following regions; Southern, Central, Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces to consider drilling boreholes at a path ranging from 70 meters to 120 meters depending on the geology of a given area.

Kapila said this measure is meant to ensure that resources spent on drilling boreholes are not wasted as a result of boreholes drying up due to receding ground water levels adding that the public should further employ water conservation practices at all times to ensure sustainable utilization of the available resources.

Kafue River has less water levels than Zambezi River 

“With regard to surface water, the Authority wishes to highlight the water level status for this current season (2019/2020) compared to last season (2018/2019 season) and forecast for the next thirty days for some key stations on the Kafue and Zambezi Rivers,”

“The analysis of data from gauging stations located on the Kafue River showed that the water levels for the season 2019/2020 are comparatively lower than those recorded during the same period last season (2018/2019) and also below the long term average water level. However, for the next thirty days a steady increase in the water level is forecast with discharge expected to rise from the current flows of just below 200m3/sec to approximately 1,300 m3/sec.,” He added.

Meanwhile, for the Zambezi River, the water levels are higher than those for the (2018/2019) during this period, with recorded discharges above 550m3/sec. The Authority has since assumed that based on the brief analysis thus far conducted of the two rivers and if the situation prevails, the water levels reaching the major dams are likely to be comparatively lower than or similar to those for last season (2018/2019) in the Kafue River, and slightly higher to those for last season (2018/2019) in the Zambezi River.

February has however recorded a recovery in rainfall patterns which is expected to result in new forecast numbers after the monitoring and analysis.

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Results of the analysis conducted by the

Tech

A technical survey of safety aspects conducted on the Alick Nkhata Flyover Bridge by the Engineering Institute of Zambia – EIZ has proven that the bridge is not a death trap despite it having some safety concerns which have to be addressed.

The Alick Nkhata flyover bridge which was constructed as a cost of US$2 million is a project set up by the Public Service Pensions Fund Board – PSPFB with the objective of facilitating safe crossing of the pedestrians traffic that will be generated by the shopping complex which is currently being built around the area.

There have been concerns from residents and motorists around the city terming the bridge a “Death Trap”, sentiment was was re-affirmed and amplified by Permanent Secretary in the ministry of local government, Ed Chomba.

But EIZ President Eng. Eugene Haazele says the structure integrity of the bridge is not in question and that the bridge is not a death trap as it is still a contraction site which is only meant to enhance pedestrian safety.

Addressing the media in Lusaka on February 10, 2020, attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Eng. Haazele said during the easement of the flyover bridge it was noted that the site is highly constrained and there are space limitations hence the project owners are advised to put in place mitigating measures against lack of space and improve pedestrian safety and enhance aesthetics.

Eng. Haazele added that there is also limitation of visibility for a motorist driving over the bridge impacted by the high slope as the slope of the ramps for the bridge is 10.5% and the slope is steep hence limits visibility of a potential hazard on top of the bridge for the approaching vehicle. He said this problem can be mitigated by limiting the approach speed to 40Km/hour saying it should be the speed limit over the structure and there should be strictly no overtaking.

The Engineering think tank has also noted high potential of congestion at the two roundabouts due to their configurations saying certain elements that impact on efficiency need to be addressed such as radii as well accommodation of pedestrians and cyclists.

“There is need to channelize pedestrian movements to improve safety and avoid potential congestion and this should be by way of dedicating foot ways around the structure area leading into and away from the shopping complex,” he added.

Eng. Haazele further said there is need for adequate lighting around the bridge as the area must be well lit to enhance safety adding that visible signs of any distress on the bridge structure are also recommended. EIZ has since pledged to discuss the mitigation measures above with the local authority with a view to getting them implemented.

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A technical survey of safety aspects conducted

Agribusiness

The Cashew nut revival project which will cover about 60,000 ha will be producing an estimated 46,400 tonnes of raw cashew nuts which will generate about K420 million (about USD 30 million) per annum at its full operational point, which is from 10th year onward, with the first crop expected five years from planting date.

The project may be viewed as a step forward from a poverty reduction point of view, but not so attractive from a wealth creation point of view. According to the details in the African Development Bank – AfDB project financing brief, at full maturity (that is, from the 6th year after planting), each household with a new 1ha-plantation (crop budget) will be making a humble income of about K6,000 (USD 429) per year before labour and input costs. This translates to K500 per month for each household.

It is this prospect of an income average K500 per month or K6,000 per annum from 1 hactare of cashew nut which may have discouraged the urban based folks from trekking to the western province to take positions and aggressively take part in the cultivation of cashew  nut trees to be ready for harvest in five years time.

However, Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu challenged the people of western province to drive the cashew nut industry and leverage the US$55.4 million funds invested into the region to revamp production. The Zambian head of state stated that promoting Cashew production is one of the effective measures for supporting alternative livelihoods and climate change adaptation.

He said cashew nut is tolerant to adverse weather conditions and is a high value cash crop, which can become a money-spinner for western province. The president said Western province of Zambia comprises about 168,000 agricultural households out of which about 81% are maize growers and expressed confidence that cashew nut production will transform the lives of many farmers in the region.

President Lungu said the global projection indicates that by the year 2025, raw cashew production global market will be valued at US$10 billion. He added that world cashew industry produces over 3.5 million metric tonnes of raw cashew nut; and more than half of this quantity is produced by African countries such as Ivory Coast, Benin, Tanzania, Nigeria and Mozambique.

He has since urged the provincial administration, working with the ministry of agriculture, and the traditional leadership including, the people of western province to take the cashew project seriously because the country needs to make a return on the US$55.4 million loan from the African Development bank invested in the cashew nut industry in the western province.

President Lungu said government has invested US$55.4 million in western province, specifically to promote cashew nut production through the cashew nut infrastructure development project and envisages that this will make Zambia become a major player in the global cashew industry.

The head of state was speaking during the launch of the cashew nut planting exercise at Simulumbe Research Station in Mongu and pledged his government’s commitment to supporting and improving the cashew nut production.

He however expressed disappointment that cashew nut production in Zambia is currently far from being impressive and noted with displeasure that the country is currently producing only about 850 metric tonnes per annum, and only has about 1.7 million cashew trees. President Lungu has since directed the Ministry of agriculture to ensure that innovative extension services delivery is made accessible to farmers in western province and countrywide.

Neighboring country  to the north east – Tanzania’s total cashew nut sales on the international market dropped 63% to US$196.5 million in 2019, compared with US$529.6 million in the 2017  confirmed by Minister for Finance Phillip Mpango during his 2019/2020 budget presentation. He stated that exports fell to 120,200 tonnes from 329,400 tonnes in 2017 despite the price per tonne on the international market having increased by 1.7% from $1,607.7 to $1,634.2 in the one-year.

Zambia’s south-eastern neighbor Mozambique, reforms introduced since 2000 are reviving the crop, which in 2019 was expected to produce about 140,000 tons, with a market or export value of US$230 million. In the 1970s, Mozambique was on a par with behemoths such as India, reaching record crops of 200,000 tons production per year.

From the above comparative numbers, it would need households or cashew farmers to increase the hectarage so that incomes can be maximized. The current 1 hactare per household should be treated as a starting point with the relevant cashew growers to plan to at least grow their hectarage to at least 10 hactares to move from subsistence farming to farming as a business and for Zambia to grow this export line to at least half a billion dollars.

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The Cashew nut revival project which will

Companies

The Zambia Institute of Charted Accounts – ZICA, one of the prestigious professional bodies in Zambia has announced the release of the December 2019 ZICA examinations results in its four programmes which include Charted Accountant Zambia Program, Diploma in Accountancy, Diploma in Taxation and Diploma in Public Sector Financial Management.

The CA Zambia level recorded a decrease in the overall pass rate for knowledge and Advisory levels as well as all levels of the Diploma in Accountancy programme. ZICA Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Bonna Kashinga revealed that the a higher pass rate was recorded in the Diploma in Public Sector Financial Management programme at 83% while the lowest pass rate was recorded in the Advisory level of CA Zambia at 26%.

The 2019 examinations written from December 9th, to December 13th, recorded a total entry of 8,496 compared to 7,962 entries in June 2019, representing an increase of 6.7%. Speaking to the media in Lusaka on January 24, 2020, Kashinga explained that out of 8,496 entries for December 2019 examinations, 1,274 entries were absent from the examinations representing an absenteeism rate of 15% compared to 14% in June 2019.

He added that of those present in the examinations 5,056 entries were male candidate representing 70% of the entries while 2,166 entries were female candidates representing 30% of the entries compared to percentages recorded in June 2019 were male candidates recorded 70.5% while female candidate recorded 29.5%.

The institute recorded an increase in the overall performance of the candidate that sat for the December 2019 examinations in the Diploma in Public Sector Financial Management and all levels of the Diploma in Taxation programme compared to the June 2019 examinations.

He added that the institute observed lack of appropriate qualified lectures in selected provinces which led to a number of ZICA students studying under self-study mode with statistics showing that students on full time study perform better compared to those on self-study and part time study programme.

The institute has since announced its plans to digitalize study materials starting this year stating that the digital journey is aimed at accelerating the way business will be conducted focusing at interacting more with students through digital channels.

In addition, the ZICA CEO disclosed that the institute has a plan to upgrade from Diploma programmes to Degree programmes but that not for the year 2020. ZICA has also opened registration for the March 2020 examinations and its due date for payment of the relevant examination fees is 7th February 2020.

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The Zambia Institute of Charted Accounts –

Tech

The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority – ZICTA has for the fourth time permitted Unitel, which was to launch the country’s fourth mobile phone operator UZI Zambia to postpone the launch of its mobile network to March 2020 due to lack of resources by its parent company Unitel International Holdings BV.

The launch of UZI Zambia has for the fourth time been pushed to March 2020 and this was confirmed by Permanently Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications Misheck Lungu through an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT on January 22, 2020.

He explained that the delay in the launch of the mobile network is attributed to lack of resources from its parent Company Unitel as it requested ZICTA to consider extending its license for 6 months due to challenges in externalizing funds.

Lungu disclosed that the ZICTA had granted UZI an extension of up to end of May 2020, which is the expiry date of its initial license period hence hoping that the company begins to operate before the stipulated date.

“UZI faced some challenges with finances from its parent company hence they asked us if we can extend their license to the closure date, so they can find a way of sourcing the required funds. Aside that they have started talks with companies they would sign contracts with and are planning to rent out towers for them to start their business,” he added.

Lungu further stated that once operational, UZI is expected to buy some services from ZESCO and Liquid Telecom and will co-locate some facilities. “They are making progress in sourcing resources, hence we are hopeful that they get on the ground before March 2020”. Efforts by ZBT to reach UZI’s local representatives in Zambia proved futile before press time.

UZI Zambia whose shareholder is Unitel International Holdings BV registered in the Netherlands secured a very competitive mobile phone network license in March 2018 and was first scheduled to launch in December 2018.

Questions have arisen on the viability  and feasibility of the future launch of UZI with calls to cancel the license and re-issue it to another company company growing, following international media reports that one of the major shareholder in Unitel, Africa’s richest woman, Isabel Dos Santos is facing graft allegations from her home country government of Angola which are projected to drag.

The parent company, Unitel in which Africa’s richest woman, Isabel Dos Santos, the daughter of Angola’s former president owns 25 percent pledged to invest more than US$350 million through a local unit to be called UZI Zambia Mobile Network.

A review done by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT indicates that, In January 2019 UZI issued a statement confirming it would launch operations in February 2019 and said at the time that the delay was the result of making sure equipment was properly installed and thoroughly tested.

Then minister of Communication and Transport, Brian Mushimba, now minister of higher Education, confirmed to the media in March 2019 that the launch of the fourth mobile network operator had been pushed forward to November 2019.

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The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority

Companies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Zambia Airports Corporation Limited - ZACL

Markets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Pensions and Insurance Authority – PIA

Tech

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Zambia’s energy prospects have rebounded with the

Agribusiness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Poultry Association of Zambia – PAZ

Lifestyle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Zambia is slowly awakening to the fact

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