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Companies

The first independent power producer in Zambia Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company Limited – LHPC has bemoaned the effects of the drought which has hugely impacted their productivity which has now dropped to below 10 megawatts.

Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company Limited (LHPC) operates two hydropower plants, Lunsemfwa and Mulungushi, in Central District in Zambia with a total installed capacity of 58 MW.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, LHPC Chief Executive Officer – CEO, Alpha Mwale said the Company is unable to produce at full capacity due to the negative effects of the drought which has reduced the water levels.

Mwale said although the Company is generating at the moment the water levels are very low with only few weeks remaining of generation.

“Although we are generating at the moment but i think we only have few weeks remaining because of the water levels are very low unless we receive some inflows.”

The situation of the drought is the same and I think all hydro power plants are experiencing the same situation.

Asked if the power plants are likely to be shutdown following the low water levels that have been recorded, Mwale said, “not shutting down completely, because we have two power plants so mulungushi we are shutting down one of the main valves to the dam so this shut down was going to happen with or without the drought because we are replacing the valve which is almost 100 years.” so there is a shutdown but its being driven by the project.

as of today we should be doing slightly less than 10 megawatts and when both plants combined production capacity is 56 MW.

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The first independent power producer in Zambia

Companies

CFAO Mobility Zambia has successfully delivered 3 garbage collection trucks to Nemchem international.

Speaking during the hand over ceremony of the Sinotruck HOWO to Nemchem international and attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, CFAO Chief Operating officer, equipment division, Andre Venter, said the business relationship between the two companies was established many years ago and it has grown from strength to strength.

Venter said Nemchem had the need to acquire garbage collection trucks and approached CFAO to consider supply of the HOWO range of trucks for their needs.

Three trucks have been acquired which are being delivered are 2 garbage compactors, 20,000-litre capacity, 6×4 configuration, 380 horsepower Euro 2 models. To be used to household waste.

One skip loader / swing arm garbage truck, 12, 000 litter capacity (10 000 kg loading weight), 4×2 configuration, 300 horsepower, Euro 2 model. To be used for general waste.

He added that in addition, Nemchem also recently acquired a 16 ton 4×2 cargo van body truck from CFAO to be used for their internal distribution requirements.

Meanwhile, Cfao mobility Zambia Chief Executive officer, Dino Bianchi said Nemchem international is one of Cfao mobility Zambia’s most valuable business partners.

“We thank Nemchem for their support and CFAO will do everything possible to ensure great experience with these trucks.”

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CFAO Mobility Zambia has successfully delivered 3

Agribusiness

The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has charged that winter maize farming in Zambia is unattainable due to the prevailing weather conditions.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times -ZBT, ZNFU Manager Communication, Media and Public Relations Service’s, Elias Banda said that winter maize is unattainable in Zambia because it takes a lot of time to grow and requires a lot of water.

Banda said that unlike advocating for the production of winter maize, the government should consider giving irrigation support to farmers to grow and harvest early maize so that after the harvest of early maize farmers can also grow normal rain fed maize so that the Country can have two harvests in a year.

He noted that it is the two harvests in a year that will increase the Country’s food production.

He further noted that the government should provide support for winter irrigation farming to wheat farmers who are able to grow in winter.

He further revealed that ZNFU currently has no program for winter maize farming.

“As ZNFU we don’t have a program for winter maize and secondly, we hear that the government is giving farming inputs to farmers for winter maize. So our view is that winter maize farming is unattainable in this Country because of the weather. Winter maize farming uses a lot of water and the maize takes a long time to grow. This is official and this is what we told the President at state house when the farmers met with the President,” he said.

“Our thinking is that we should do early maize farming which starts from September, October and November and produce the maize in these three months and after producing, October, November and December we plant the normal maize. Government should give irrigation schemes and support to farmers so that they grow and harvest early maize so that after the rain comes, they grow normall maize so that we have two harvests in a year. If we do that all our problems will be sorted out.So our proposal is that let the irrigation and the energy be given to wheat farmers who are able to grow in winter,” said Banda.

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The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has

Mining

Zambia’s second largest gold mine, Mwinilunga’s Kasenseli gold mine whose operations were halted following the change of government after the 2021 general elections, is scheduled to reopen before end of June 2024, according to the Ministry of Mines and Minerals development.

This follows Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa remarks that during the cabinet meeting, President Hakainde Hichilema directed that Kasenseli gold mine be operational.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, Dr. Hapenga Kabeta said the Zambia gold Company which is under the ZCCM IH has been directed to rectify everything before end of June 2024.

“I can not give you the dates for the actuall commencement of operations but there are certain conditions that need to be met. Over the period that it has been closed there are certain things that were supposed to be addressed in the form of remediations that were advised to Zambia gold Company by the mine safety department.”

“So that remediation according to the program, the Ministry has directed that by end of June, we need to have the mine opened so whatever they want to do between now and then, we want the process to be complete by that period.”

“That is the directive that it has to be done and that is the position that we have as the Ministry and it is our desire, but may be Zamgold Company may have a different perspective looking at the steps that need to be put into consideration before the commencement of operation.”

Asked if all issues that led to the closure of the mine have been addressed before the commencement of operations, Kabeta said,

“Because the consent I think if you recall that it was on 1st May, 2024. when the President received the consent and he was commending the Chiefs so with that correction of the consent from the Chiefs, the Company has been putting in place various things.”

He noted that the mines safety department in 2021 established that they were some things that were not done properly and those are the things that Zambia gold Company is going to rectify before they resume operations.

Kasenseli Gold Mine operations were suspended following a ministerial directive by the Minister of Mines Paul Kabuswe. Kabuswe when suspending operations at Zambia’s second largest gold mine (second to FQM’s Kansanshi Mine) sighted concerns relating to mining license conditions as well as safety regulations among other concerns.

The Zambia Gold Company, a subsidiary of ZCCM IH started its official gold mining operations at Kasenseli in June 2020,was opened with great anticipation and hope for the Zambian economy as the huge gold reserves held were believed to be large enough for the set up of a huge gold reserve that could provide a viable alternative to holding of US dollar reserves.

However, the delay in reopening the gold for almost 3 years has been depriving the country of the opportunity to aggressively build up its gold reserves and the Bank of Zambia was left to rely on gold supplies from the privately held Kansanshi Copper and gold Mine.

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Zambia’s second largest gold mine, Mwinilunga’s Kasenseli

Lifestyle

Bus and Taxi Association of Zambia has called for the expansion of the operation areas for Buses in Lusaka adding that the number of buses has increased while the operating area remains the same.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times -ZBT- Peter Phiri the Deputy National Secretary General for the Bus and Tax Association of Zambia said this is the case that has been there for a long period of time but no change has been seen, the association is limited on what they can do to solve the problem.

“Zambia has gone through a number of changes but no improvement of Lima Tower, the associations have been pushing for the local government to come on board and all they are saying is that they are working on the matter, but the association has seen no change.” Said Phiri.

“On our end, it causes labor because the motion of the general public is that our drivers are of the bad behavior of parking busses on the freedom way and dropping people on the way, these are the results of Lima tower becoming too small to accommodate all the busses, adding to that these complaints have called for more meetings

Phiri said as for the association it’s a subtraction because the drives begin to park controversial while it’s not there fault

Phiri urged the government to look into the issue stations more especially Lima Tower which he claims it has a lot of issues.

“The issues of Lima Tower started as far as MMD and now we are in UPND and we are still talking of the same issue, the government clears land directed to the local stations, even if there is limited land but that’s why we call on the council and something can be done.” Said Phiri.

Phiri said, “We had a meeting with RTSA, The Council, the Zambia Police and the Association talking about the same problem of no space but now it takes an hour to enter into town and as a result they drop people on the road.”

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Bus and Taxi Association of Zambia has

Mining

The Zambian copper mining industry experienced a surge in production, with output increasing by approximately 15% in the first quarter of 2024.

A comprehensive report on copper production reveals that 165,984 metric tons of copper were produced during this period, marking a rise from the 144,452 metric tons generated in the first quarter of 2023.

According to a consolidated copper production report obtained by the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Q1 copper production was up by 21,531 metric tons in 2024, reaching 165,984 from 144,452 metric tons produced in the first quarter of 2023.

The Ministry of Mines has attributed this increase to the production growth from existing companies, as Mopani and Kansanshi have not yet begun serious production.

According to a consolidated copper production report obtained by the Zambian Business Times –ZBT, Q1 copper was up by 21,531 metric tons in 2024 up to 165, 984 from 144, 452 metric tons produced in the 1st Quarter of 2023.

However, annual Copper production is however projected to drop if no alternative measures are put in place to mitigate the impact of load shedding.

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The Zambian copper mining industry experienced a

Agribusiness

The Poultry Association of Zambia has charged that load shedding is having a huge negative impact on the poultry industry in terms of production and business operations.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times -ZBT on the impact load shedding has had on the poultry industry, Association Executive Manager Dominic Chanda warned that some players in the industry especially small scale farmers are scaling down on production or completely shutting down their businesses due to the high cost of doing business.

Chanda emphasized on the importance of electricity on production and business operations adding that electricity is like blood to the human body.

He added that some small-scale farmers using electricity for incubation and lighting purposes will have to discontinue the aforementioned services due to the high cost of alternative sources of energy.

He further reiterated that the cost of production amid loadshedding will go up at all levels in the poultry supply chain.

“Electricity is like blood to the human being so any disruption in the supply intends to have a negative effect in that some will have to scale down production because they cannot have power for a quiet number of hours. For others definitely, it’s the issue of shutting down completely. For those that are using power for example, small-scale farmers that are using power for incubation purposes the impact is that they cannot continue with their incubation services if they can’t find any alternative sources of energy,” he said.

“For those that are producing chickens definitely, power is used for two purposes which are heating and lighting. Lighting can be supplemented for example with natural light during the day time and at night most farmers tend to implement what is known as the sleeping procedure for chickens. But for heating itself, the only thing that farmers can do is resort to the use of alternative sources of which is either charcoal, the briquettes or the coal but these are very expensive sources of energy and because they are very expensive definitely the cost of production tends to go high depending on which level in the supply chain.”

“You can be the hatchery, the processor, feed miller, farmer, you can be any amongst the supply chain, and electricity tends to have an effect on your planning and also on your supply because there are some of the ventures that might not be able to take up your products because they have no capacity to keep especially if we look at the consumer perspective,” said Chanda.

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The Poultry Association of Zambia has charged

Lifestyle

The National Arts Council (NAC) has called on artists to be proactive in managing their finances and invest in wealth management initiatives. Speaking exclusively to the Zambian Business Times, the National Arts Director Maanka Chipindi highlighted the short-lived nature of an artist’s career and the importance of proper investments.

Chipindi noted that artists often make significant amounts of money in a short period but struggle to sustain their financial stability after their careers come to an end. He urged artists to avoid future financial hardship and adopt wealth management initiatives to secure their financial future.

“The career of an artist is very short. You will find out that in five years, they are gone. So as National Arts Council, we want to encourage artists to go into wealth management by managing the money they make by investing it so they don’t come back to ask for money,” Chipindi said.

FNB and NAC are currently running an arts competition, which is part of the partnership to promote financial literacy among artists. The competition aims to encourage artists to learn about financial management and invest in their future.

“We are hoping that banks will help us to help our artists to do the right thing,” Chipindi added.

Chipindi said it is essential for artists to take charge of their finances and invest in their future to avoid financial struggles after their careers come to an end.

He said the NAC’s partnership with FNB is an excellent initiative that will help artists manage their finances and secure their financial future.

“A few days ago, we launched a partnership with FNB where we are running an arts competition and part of that partnership is around helping artists to manage the money that they make because they make a lot of money but in a short time they are gone.”

“And we are assured that the Bank will help us to help our artists to do the right thing,” said Chipindi.

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The National Arts Council (NAC) has called

Companies

In an effort to ensure the continued safety and efficiency of air travel, Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) has announced that Mfuwe International Airport (MIA) will soon undergo a period of rehabilitation, commencing on 13th June 2024, causing a temporal closure of the facility.

During the rehabilitation period, which is expected to last for 90 days, all domestic air traffic will be diverted to Chipata Airport.

According to a statement issued by ZACL Board Chairperson – Zevyanji Sinkala and availed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, rehabilitation is essential to maintain and enhance the airport’s infrastructure, ensuring it meets the highest standards of operational excellence.

“Mfuwe International Airport infrastructure has recorded marked deterioration, especially the Runway, Taxiway, and Apron Pavements which are critical to aircraft operations. This has necessitated the rehabilitation works which will encompass essential maintenance and upgrades aimed at enhancing the airport’s facilities and overall operational capacity. The scope of work will comprise the rehabilitation of the Runway, Taxiway, and Apron Pavements, the upgrade of the Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) System to replace the current one which is obsolete, and the re-construction of the Inner Perimeter Fence, and Extension of the Terminal Building.”

Sinkala said the aforementioned works have also been necessitated to comply with the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements (ZCARs) as espoused by the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA).

“The Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Transport and Logistics has aided in the provision of funds to rehabilitate critical airport facilities that will enhance the safety and security profile of Mfuwe International Airport.”

Chipata Airport is currently undergoing rehabilitation to meet the acceptable levels of safety and security needed for aircraft operations. This temporary relocation has been necessitated by the desire to minimise the impact of the disruption to passenger travel schedules that will be occasioned by the temporary closure of Mfuwe International Airport.

He said the decision to temporarily close Mfuwe International Airport has been made with the utmost consideration for the safety and comfort of all passengers and stakeholders. “In this vein, be rest assured that all stakeholders will be engaged to fully understand and appreciate this undertaking which is aimed at improving the safety and security profile of the airport, and its marketability.”

“Zambia Airports Corporation Limited remains committed to providing safe, efficient, and reliable airport and air navigation services, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this undertaking will cause. We look forward to welcoming our valued customers, passengers, airlines and Tenants back to an improved and upgraded Mfuwe International Airport upon the completion of the rehabilitation works.” He remarked.

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In an effort to ensure the continued

Agribusiness

The veterinary Association of Zambia (VAZ) has revealed the Country is targeting to increase cattle production by about 2.7 million by 2026.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times -ZBT, VAZ president Dr Malcolm Chiyoba said that from the last census that was carried out, the Country’s cattle population is currently sitting at around 4.8 about 5 million herds of cattle.

Chiyoba also revealed that of the current 4.8 million herds of cattle, The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock working together with the Veterinary Association of Zambia intends to increase the cattle population to about 6.5 million by 2026.

Chiyoba affirmed that “by 2026 we should get to that figure,”

Asked whether the Association has also set targets for other livestock Chiyoba like Goats, Sheep and Pigs, Chiyoba confirmed that no targets have been set so far for the aforementioned livestock.

“From the last census that was done, we are sitting around 4.8 million herds of cattle and the target of the 6.5 million is in the next two years (2026). By 2026 we should get to that figure.For sheep, goat targets, those targets have not been set and I should also clarify that the target was announced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and as you know we work closely with that Ministry to help them deliver their functions and us also working closely with the Ministry, we are running with the same. So for sheep, goats , we haven’t set a target,” he said.

“You know when you do these things you focus on one and then you go and look at other aspects of livestock. So that definitely also should be in the loop, so when you have a moment you could and call the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock for clarification on that,” said Chiyoba.

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The veterinary Association of Zambia (VAZ) has