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Tech

Education expert Rozious Siatwambo has attributed the poor percentage score in mathematics among all subjects to the overreliance on technology by the learners rather than developing one’s own problem-solving skills.

According to official statistics, there’s no denying that math scores are a cause for concern as they have been declining over the past few years, with some experts predicting that this trend is likely to continue.

The 2023 School Certificate (Grade 12) examination results highlights revealed that mathematics recorded the lowest mean percentage score among all subjects down to about 26% from about 28% recorded in 2022 which is a worrying trend, as Mathematics is one of the core subjects and critical for many fields of study.

According to the 2023 School Certificate (Grade 12) Examination Results Highlights seen by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, mean percentage scores ranged from 26.62 percent in Mathematics to 70 percent in Food and Nutrition, almost similar to the range of 27.51 percent in Mathematics to 70 percent in Food and Nutrition in 2022.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ZBT, Dr Siatwambo who is also the owner of the Great North Road Academy, said the overreliance on technology by most students is hindering the development of their problem-solving skills, leading to dull math performance.

Asked what can be done to reverse this trend? Dr Siatwambo suggested that schools need to place a greater emphasis on teaching problem-solving skills and critical thinking while calling for a reevaluation of how technology is used in the classroom.

Dr Siatwambo noted that technology has become so universal in modern life that it’s easy for students to rely on it even when solving simple maths problems instead of developing their own problem-solving skills. He argued that students need to be taught how to think critically and solve problems without relying on technology such as a calculator, and that this is especially important when it comes to math.

“The major factor that has made the continued decrease in the performance of mathematics is the coming of technology technological advancement where people are now moving away from reliance on the brain and now relying on technology.”

“If you check around you find that even simple mathematics people want to get to the calculator and calculate so there has been so much reliance on technology and this has lobbed even learners of creativity where they can no longer solve even big problems.”

Dr Siatwambo added that the other factor has to do with the usual factor where maths is considered to be a difficult subject over a longer period which has worsened now by the introduction of technological advancement because even simple things someone would want to revert to a calculator.

When asked about the argument around maths being taught in the English language when statistics also show that most learners do not understand the English language hence the drop in maths performance, Siatwambo said, “every subject is very important because even mathematics itself if one does not understand English then they can interpret the mathematical concepts so for its very critical and subjects like literature they help us be analytical enhance even the issue of analyzing the issue and even coming up with a situation which is critical in this age and era we one need to be a critical thinker and also analytical for them to survive and to manage the number of aspects on the number of the economy.”

“For me English is quite critical because if one cannot interpret, read, and understand English it goes even to mathematics, and also a drop in English performance is attributed to the same technological advancement, if you look at society now people barely read people don’t read they have stopped reading now they just read one line even on social media you can post something then the people will only read the first one or two lines then they conclude.”

“So we are now in an era where people are too lazy to read they can’t read but they would rather just pick a concept and make a conclusion out of it and then they move on and it also tells a story of the society that we are living in I think our society is now too busy people are now too busy their minds are now too busy to grasp information, busy with the happening around social media as most people are now glued to social media and because they are busy they want to know what is happening everywhere.”  

“We need to go by times, the time that we are living in now as an educationist from our end It is good that this question is coming to me as the director of Great North Road Academy so we are alive to times we are living in now and one of the things we have done especially to our learners now because the foundation stage is quite critical if you are heading to secondary.”

“So what we have done is we have introduced subjects within the subjects of the ministry we have introduced programs that are aimed at sparking curiosity, objectivity, and analytical in terms of thinking and there are so many programs that we have introduced including an abacus where we make learners calculate mathematics faster than a computer.”

“So there is a daily program where learners add and calculate without a calculator so we are seeing that the more we do this it enhances analytical thinking, critical thinking, confidence, and creativity apart from that also we need to change our style of teaching so that it can be in tandem with the world that children are living in like I have given on our part we have introduced now exploring the future the subject that is being taught where everyone is learning about all these robotics and so it’s interesting.”

“So it will require that we change our curriculum I know there is a new curriculum that has been worked on but unfortunately, if you look at it it will take almost 4 to 5 years they are just working on it, and it will pilot for the next 5 years of which the world could have moved to the other stage by then.”

However, Dr Siatwambo also highlighted the need to change the style of teaching to be in tandem with the world that children are living in. “The education system needs to change its curriculum to keep up with the rapid advancement of technology and the changing needs of the world. While there is a new curriculum in the works, it will take almost four to five years to pilot when the world could have moved to the other stage by then.”

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Education expert Rozious Siatwambo has attributed the

Mining

Zambia is facing a significant loss as copper production drops to 690,000 tons in 2023 from over 800,000 tons in 2021 resulting in a loss of approximately $1 billion ($905, 501, 318) for the country at a time when copper prices are selling at about $8927 per ton.

This is a significant blow to Zambia’s economy, as the mining sector accounts for around 70% of the country’s export earnings. The drop in copper production have had a ripple effect on the nation leading to further economic challenges for the country.

The annual Copper production continued dropping and now stands at 690 thousand MT from 763, thousand in 2022, and over 800,000 in 2021 in 2023 representing about 64,721, and 101,434 declines in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

According to official annual copper production figures obtained by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT from the Mines and Minerals Development Ministry, it has been revealed that the annual copper production has dropped to 690 thousand metric tons (MT) from 763, thousand MT in 2022 to 698, 566 MT in 2023.

This is a drop of about 101, 434 MT compared to the over 800,000 MT copper production which was produced in 2021.

This marks a significant decline in copper production, which has been the backbone of the country’s economy.

The drop in copper production is expected to have far-reaching impacts on the economy, particularly as the country relies heavily on copper exports.

the decrease in copper production is a cause for concern for our country’s economy which rely heavily on copper exports. The drop in production is likely to lead to inflationary pressures, budget deficits, and a decrease in employment opportunities.

The decrease has been largely attributed to delays in recapitalizing Mopani Copper Mines – MCM and Konkola Copper Mines – KCM. These mines have been struggling due to a lack of investments, which has resulted in a decline in copper production. With now new pledged investment in the two mines it is hoped that the production will get back to normal as this has not only affected the mining sector but has also had a significant impact on the overall economy of Zambia.

The impact on the economy can already be seen as the country’s budget deficit has widened, and inflation is expected to rise further. This is already causing concern for the government, as they struggle to balance the budget and maintain economic stability.

The continued decline in copper production in Zambia is a cause for concern, and its impact on the economy is already being felt.

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Zambia is facing a significant loss as

Lifestyle

Following the Zambia police service revelations that they have taken interest in socialite Florence Solochi’s sextual assault case which is being handled in Kabwe of Central Province, Central province police has revealed that most of the people implicated in Solochi’s case are Kabwe based.

Recently the Zambia Police public relations officer Rae Hamoonga revealed that police had taken interest in a matter that was circulated on social media involving allegations of sexual assault by socialite Florence Solochi.

Hammonga also revealed that on April 2, 2024 Florence Solochi was summoned in Kabwe for an interview relating to the revelations she made during in a Facebook live video.

However this raised a lot of questions among members of the public on why Solochi was summoned in Kabwe when she lives in Lusaka.

But in response to Zambian Business Times -ZBT, central province commissioner Charity Munganga justified that one of the reasons the inquiry on the allegations made by Florence is being handled by officers in Kabwe is because most of the people she mentioned in the same case are based in Kabwe.

Munganga said that the other reason is because Florence Solochi is from Kabwe including both of her parents.

She said that the other reason the inquiry is being done in Kabwe is because a formal report of the case was never made in either r Lusaka or Ndola.

She noted that the other reason the inquiry is being done in Kabwe is because inquiry’s are easier to handle in a place where the victim and most witnesses are domiciled.

She further revealed that currently, solochi is under the care and custody of her parents in Kabwe.

“The inquiry about the allegations made by Florence is being handled by officers in Kabwe because of the following reasons: Florence Solochi is from Kabwe as both her parents are in Kabwe. Currently, she is under the care and custody of her parents here in Kabwe,” she said. “Most of the people who are mentioned in the same case are Kabwe based. A formal report of the same was never made in neither Lusaka nor Ndola as it were. Any inquiry often is easier to handle in a place where the victim and most witnesses are domiciled,” said Munganga.

It can therefore be noted that one of the major suspects implicated in this case is ZNS commander Maliti Solochi domiciled in Lusaka.

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Following the Zambia police service revelations that

Mining

Zambia’s mining industry is also feeling the brunt of the country’s national disaster, as load shedding takes its toll on operations.

The Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has confirmed that the mining sector has not been spared from the power rationing, which has been implemented across the nation in response to the drought.

A source from the Ministry of Mines who asked for their names to be withheld due to the sensitivity around this issue, said that everyone is being affected by the load shedding including mining houses, but could not confirm how many hours will be given to the mining firms. The sources also said that the sector has been given a load-shedding schedule, which is affecting every aspect of society.

The mining industry is a key contributor to Zambia’s economy, and its operations are crucial to the country’s growth. However, the current power rationing is putting a strain on the sector and the country as a whole, and the consequences will be felt throughout the country.

While efforts to get a comment from ZESCO, the state-owned electricity company, on the rationing timetable for the mining houses were still underway by press time, it is clear that the sector and the country is in a difficult position.

The Country is already grappling with a range of challenges and the power rationing has added to these challenges which is likely to have a negative impact on production levels, as well as the country’s overall economic performance.

Zambia’s greatest fear that 2023/2024 would be hit by a devastating drought was finally confirmed by President Hakainde Hichilema – HH when he declared a state of national disaster and that Zambia would be asking well-wishers for humanitarian help.

Latter, ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mapani announced that the company will commence 8-hour daily load shedding effective Monday, March 11, 2024.

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Zambia's mining industry is also feeling the

Agribusiness

President Hakainde Hichilema has officially declared the Nigerian-owned International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as a research hub in Zambia which has gained full diplomatic status as an international organization working in Zambia.

This is coming on the eve of the launch of the Institute’s Southern Africa Research and Administrative Hub (SARAH) and food system research and delivery facilities in the country.

Speaking during the official launch of the facility in Lusaka attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in Chongwe, President Hichilema said Agricultural research is key to the development of the agricultural sector and urged other research institutions to work in collaboration with the new institution for the betterment of the country.

President Hichilema said the government will support the Agricultural research institution and will encourage it to work with the existing research institution in collaboration, which will be more beneficial to the farmers. This is after the President and other key stakeholders conducted an exhibition tour of innovations from IITA Zambia.  

IITA-SARAH, will now be able to host food system research and delivery facilities in Lusaka, will produce state-of-the-art technologies geared towards addressing critical issues like food insecurity, plant health, and seed systems in Zambia. This development is expected to strengthen partnership with the government and increase IITA-CGIAR’s contribution to the research and agricultural transformation efforts in the country.

Speaking at the same event, Former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo who is the IITA Ambassador for Africa who said the event was historic as the hub will ensure food and nutrition security not only for Zambia but also the rest of Southern Africa.

And IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr. Simeon Ehui said this marks a significant step forward in strengthening agricultural research and development efforts in Zambia and across the Southern Africa region and establishing sustainable food systems.

The launch event brought together key stakeholders from the government, research, development and agricultural sector, and donor community to commemorate this significant milestone. High-level officials from IITA, CGIAR and the Zambian government highlighted the shared vision and objectives of the partnership and the research and delivery facility.

“The establishment of SARAH in Zambia 38 years ago and the launch of the food system research and delivery facilities underline the commitment of both IITA and the Zambia government to enhance agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods of millions in Zambia and the Southern Africa region.”

“The partnership will leverage IITA and CGIAR’s expertise in research delivery and agriculture innovation scaling to support the Zambian Government’s efforts in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing crop productivity, and mitigating the impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers.”

“We are excited to launch the IITA regional hub in Zambia, which will serve as a melting pot for innovative research, capacity building, and knowledge sharing in research and agriculture. This partnership with the Zambian Government reflects a mutual commitment to drive food systems’ transformation and improve the lives of millions of smallholder farmers in Zambia.” Remarked Dr. Simeon Ehui.

IITA-Zambia Country Director and IITA Regional Director for Southern Africa David Chikoye expressed excitement at hosting the event, which he said took lots of planning and engagement. “IITA will continue to support the Zambia government to achieve the agricultural transformation agenda, enhance food security, and promote sustainable development across the country and the region.”

In addition to being open to IITA scientists and partners from CGIAR and the National Agricultural Research Institute, including ZARI, the facilities are now accessible to professors, scientists, and students from national and international universities.

Picture by a ZBT staffer

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President Hakainde Hichilema has officially declared the

Agribusiness

The Fruits and Vegetables Association of Zambia has challenged the government to lift the ban on potato importation in a bid to cut down the high cost of the commodity.

Association President Bernard Sikunyongana said Zambia is experiencing a potato shortage, and this has led to a public outcry as the prices of potatoes skyrocket across the country.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Sikunyongana acknowledged the high cost of local potatoes and attributed it to the shortage of the commodity on the local market. According to Sikunyongana, a 10kg bag of potatoes in some supermarkets is selling at about K200, while the same bag in some far-flung areas is selling at over K200.

Sikunyongana projected that the cost of potatoes might go up to over K250 if the ban on importation is not lifted. He further warned that the cost of potatoes might even go higher because of the low potato yields expected from small-scale farmers who grew rain-fed potatoes that got damaged due to the lack of rainfall the country experienced in the 2023 farming season.

Sikunyongana has since reiterated the need for the government to lift the ban on the importation of potatoes to see potato prices trading lower to around K130.

“History has its own records because every year in March, we allow the importation of potatoes for three months until when the production for our local potatoes increases. But as it is, the prices of potatoes have gone up because there are not enough potatoes to cover everyone in the country, and this is why we’ve asked the Ministry of Agriculture to open the borders so that we import. Because once we import, the prices will start trading lower around K130 to K150, but right now, a 10kg bag of potatoes is selling above K200 because we do not have enough in the country,” he said.

Sikunyongana warned that the high cost of potatoes is likely to continue if governmnet do not allow the importation of potatoes now, and the prices will go above K250, causing the food basket to go upwards since potatoes are in the food basket.

He further added that few people would afford to buy potatoes because a bag of potatoes would cost more than a bag of mealie meal.

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The Fruits and Vegetables Association of Zambia

Lifestyle

Veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has commended the government on the improved corruption perception index, which he says is the most improved and seen after so many years.

Zambia has made slight progress in addressing corruption, according to the latest 2023 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International. The country scored 37 out of 100 from the 33 scored in 2022, indicating that it has improved its corruption record. However, countries that score below 50 out of 100 are considered to have serious corruption problems.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times, Mwaanga charged that the most perceived areas of corruption in Zambia are the issuance of government contracts for the procurement of public goods and services, such as road contracts, construction contracts, and contracts involving the purchase of goods from outside the country such as fuel.

“We have corruption on the roads from the officers who stop people who don’t have tax but that is the smaller side of corruption. The top five areas or services of perceived corruption in Zambia are especially government contracts such as road contracts, construction contracts, and purchase of goods from outside the Country such as fuel, these are the key areas where corruption seems to have shown its ugly head in the past,” he said.

“It’s good to see that the corruption perception index has gone down for Zambia and it’s the lowest we’ve heard for many years I hope that President HH and his colleagues will continue this fight against corruption to correct the mistakes of the past and ensure that public resources are well spent on projects which benefit members of the community.”

“I do hope that they will tighten the screws to ensure that whatever little corruption that may have been left there is eliminated because we need those resources to benefit the people of Zambia, not the leaders, not their families, and not their friends,” said Mwaanga.

Mwaanga hopes that Hakainde Hichilema’s led administration will continue with the fight against corruption to correct the mistakes of the past and ensure that public resources are well spent on projects that benefit members of the public.

He emphasized the need for Zambia to learn from countries with the least perceived corruption and for the government to ensure that perpetrators of corruption are brought to book regardless of their social statuses.

“What we can learn from countries with the least perceived corruption is to ensure that corruption is eliminated. Corruption is evil and it must be put to an end because it does impact economic growth and the lives of ordinary people,” he said.

“Apart from learning from Countries with the least perceived corruption, we also need to learn from what has happened in other Countries of the World to put a tight screw to ensure that those with an appetite for corruption are brought to book and that those who have misused public resources regardless of who they must be brought to book and must be made to account for what they have done,” said Mwaanga.

Mwaanga believes that corruption is evil and must be put to an end because it does impact economic growth and the lives of ordinary people.

He also stated that Zambia needs to learn from what has happened in other countries of the world to put a tight screw to ensure that those with an appetite for corruption are brought to book and that those who have misused public resources, regardless of who they are, must be made to account for what they have done.

He however hoped that the Zambian government would take concrete steps to address corruption, especially in the issuance of government contracts, to ensure that public resources are well spent and that ordinary citizens benefit from government projects.

 

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Veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has commended the

Companies

Economist Yusuf Dodia has warned that the recently announced 8-hour load shedding is hurting the growth of domestic product – GDP as the national productivity has dropped by about 50 percent.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Dodia highlighted that load shedding is preventing the country from being productive, and if this is done during the day, the national productivity will drop by about 50% adding that this impacts everything related to trade, commerce, and manufacturing as the entire economy is affected.

He noted that apart from the economic impact, there are also concerns about security due to the increased crime rates adding that with no lighting in homes, offices, or factories, thieves are likely to break in and steal from commercial premises.

“There are also concerns about security that if you don’t have lighting at your home or your office or your factory, you are likely to have thieves breaking in and getting your things from your commercial premises so the increased crime is likely to be seen quite clearly.”

“The other thing is, of course, the workers are being paid even though there’s no electricity they are earning a salary so on the one hand companies continue to pay its operating costs but on the other hand, the productivity is reduced.”

Dodia said the load-shedding exercise, which has been implemented due to low water levels in the country, is a wake-up call for Zambia in terms of building additional power stations for the future. The country needs to reflect on its policy in terms of access to energy, and it might be something they might want to rewrite their policy, similar to how they have developed the policy on education where education in Zambia has been made free to ensure that they have good human development for people.

He said the country needs to invest in new power stations to avoid such crises in the future. “The Batoka gauge power station, earmarked a long time ago, is a 2400-megawatt power station that would have been built between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Both countries would benefit from the huge amount of electricity which can be generated by this power station.”

“So definitely we are going to experience a downturn in the economy and we hope that the load-shedding will end as soon as later but also I think it’s a good wake-up call for us because this is not the first time this is happening and we are always reminded that the more hydroelectric stations we build, the better it is for this economy because we have seven of the major Rivers region 3 or 4 so we have enough water to develop more hydroelectric stations, even though we may have poor rainfall but we would still be able to generate enough power to continue supplying and adequately for our own and excess electricity we can sell to the region.”

He said It’s high time that the country takes stock of their activities and finds solutions that can mitigate against load-shedding exercise, which is affecting the economy very negatively. Otherwise, it will lead to inflation, prices of goods and services will go up, and there will be some areas of shortages of products.

“So I think the sooner we start investing in new power stations the good it is for the economy in the long run. so clearly it affects the economy very negatively and it’s very important that companies begin to look for alternatives to these activities in order to continue earning some revenue to be able to pay their workers and feed their families. Quite clearly this is a challenge that every company in Zambia will face and every company needs to take stock of their activities how they are doing it and try to find solutions that can mitigate against load-shedding exercise which has to be implemented due to low water levels in the country.”

“This is very much a wakeup call for Zambia in terms of building additional power stations for the future, I think it’s a wake-up call for Zambia in terms of seeing what the impacts of energy are on developing and growing our economy and for us to start reflecting on our policy in terms of access to energy it might be something we might want to rewrite our policy in the way we have developed the policy on education where education in Zambia has been made free to ensure that we have a good human development go for people the way that education impacts the lives of people in terms of being able to earn a living is the same way that energy impacts on economy in terms of productivity.” He said.  

Dodia expressed concern that the country continues to look at energy as a commercial product that can be sold for profits rather than looking at it as a catalyst for development which should be made available to the economy for the purposes of economic development and Growth for the entire nation.

“So I think we have a lot of decisions to make in as far as how we treat energy going into the future.”

He said, Zambia needs to generate a strong and effective energy policy that will help the country overcome these challenges and ensure sustainable economic growth in the long run. The sooner the country starts investing in new power stations, the better it will be for the economy.

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Economist Yusuf Dodia has warned that the

Tech

Despite other provinces like Northern, Northwestern, and Eastern recording improved grade 12 certificate pass rates in the 2023 exams, Luapula province has broken the record with the most decreased certificate pass rate with 7 percentage points.

While Northern province recorded the highest increase with 4.28 percentage points, Luapula province recorded the most decrease grade 12 certificate pass rate with about 7 percentage points.

This decline in Luapula’s certificate pass rate is concerning, as education is a crucial element in the development of any province or country. A lack of quality education can lead to a host of problems, such as high levels of poverty, unemployment, and reduced economic growth.

Other Provinces that recorded improved certificate pass rates were Northwestern and Eastern compared to the 2022 examinations. These provinces have recorded high pass rates consistently over the years, indicating that they have implemented effective policies and programs to improve their education system’s quality.

According to the analysis of the 2023 school certificate pass rate by province indicated that Eastern (79.23%), Copperbelt (74.41%), and Southern (75.33%) provinces were ranked first, second, and third, respectively. These three provinces took the same positions as in the 2022 examinations.

The lowest pass rate was recorded in the Western province at 45.68 percent, followed by Northwestern province at 47.03 percent. The low pass rates in Western and Northwestern provinces are also concerning, as it suggests that these provinces may be facing significant challenges in providing quality education to their students. These provinces must look into the underlying issues that may be impacting their education systems and take steps to address them.

The 2023 school certificate pass rate by province highlights the need for a more significant focus on improving the quality of education in all provinces in Zambia. While some provinces have performed well, others have seen a decline, indicating that there are underlying issues that need to be addressed. By prioritizing education and implementing effective policies and programs, Zambia can ensure that all its citizens have access to quality education, which is essential for the country’s development.

efforts to however get a comment from the Provincial Education Officer – PEO were still underway by press times.

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Despite other provinces like Northern, Northwestern, and