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Agribusiness

Zambia’s leading potato producer has attributed the increase in the potato cost on the market to high cost of fuel prices and the fluctuation of the Zambian Kwacha which has continued depreciating.

Meanwhile, Buya Bamba has revealed that it is still exporting frozen chips to countries like Uganda, Kenya, Botswana Malawi, South Africa and Namibia stating that there is no enough demand for frozen chips in Zambia.

Potato prices have increased on the Zambian market by about 20 percent from K110 last Month to now about K130.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Buya Bamba Managing Director Antony Baker said the increase in the cost of potatoes to the high cost of fuel prices and the fluctuation of the Zambian Kwacha which has continued depreciating.

Baker said that when the kwacha weakens, potato prices are also expected to increase adding that if the company does not increase the prices amid the weak currency, the company might incur losses.

He noted that if the kwacha was stronger, potatoes on the local market would have been more affordable than it is now.

“The problem is that most of Zambia’s inputs are all dollar based, starting with fertilizer chemicals and even the fuel prices are being changed every month and when the kwacha devalues everything is going up because everything is linked to the dollar. So we are also exposed to the same thing. The problem is that when the kwacha weakens, then obviously the prices need to be adjusted because if we don’t adjust our prices upwards it becomes non – profitable,” he said.

“I’m hoping that the kwacha strengthens because there is nothing we can do. So I don’t know what we can do because everything we are putting in the ground such as the fertilizer are all dollar based including the fuel price. Every month they are changing the fuel prices. So it’s the same problem. We need diesel to plant and transport potatoes. So when prices are going up we also need to adjust our prices unfortunately. If the kwacha was stronger, maybe the potato prices wouldn’t go up and I think it’s the same thing for most things at the moment. The problem is that we are all exposed to our inputs being dollar based and that’s our biggest problem. Maybe if there was some fertilizer company that can start producing fertilizer locally then we can buy our fertilizer in Kwacha,” said Baker.

Asked if the company has an out grower scheme to support local agribusinesses to expand potato production, Baker retorted that the company has no out grower schemes but only avail their seeds to farmers and link them to the potato market when potatoes are ready.

“My response to that is that we have plenty of potatoes on the market to supply our customers. We need to support local farmers and we need to create our own agriculture supply base so that we are self-sufficient otherwise we will keep importing products. We don’t do out grower schemes because we don’t have financial backing to do the out grower schemes. We only make seed available and link farmers to the market when the potatoes are ready. So for the frozen chips as far as I know, we are exporting to Uganda, Kenya, Botswana Malawi, South Africa Namibia and its ShopRite mainly that are buying from those regions because there is not enough demand in Zambia,” said Baker.

Baker added that there is need for the government to formulate long term policies for investors which will allow them to support agricultural development and growth in Zambia for a longer period of time.

“We want consistent policies, we want long term policies that we can work with and not short term policies so that when we invest, we invest in long term. These are the aspects that will support and help the agriculture industry in Zambia not just for potatoes but other agricultural products, Zambia has a lot of potential, we have water, land and agricultural opportunities but unfortunately we need support from the government to allow the industry to grow and not have Zambia as a dumping ground for imports because if you allow imports all the time to flood your market then, you won’t grow anything because you will be too scared that when you grow your product you will find that there is no market,” said Baker.

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Zambia’s leading potato producer has attributed the

Mining

Musukwa Gold Mining company has urged the government to get assistance from foreign countries that have proper machinery and equipment to assist in the removal of trapped Seseli miners.

Recently miners at Seseli Mine in Chingola were trapped of which so far, only 11 bodies with one survivor have been retrieved bringing the total number of retrieved miners to 12. The rescue mission which includes military personnel and others from large-scale mining companies have continued to search for the miners whose number still remains unclear.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Musukwa Gold Mining Director Ephraim Musukwa lamented that the government has taken time to retrieve the miners due to lack of proper equipment.

Musukwa suggested that the best way to remove the remaining trapped miners is to pump out water from the mine, open it and use escavators to remove the collapsed materials.

He observed that what is currently being done by rescuers is that they are going underground manually to search for the miners which might slow the process.

He added that surviving underground depends on the metres at which miners are trapped, the number of people trapped and the size of the tunnel adding that if someone is alone, it is possible for them to survive as opposed to when there are many due to insufficient oxygen.

“The Government can talk to countries like South Africa who are established in gold mining and have a mine and equipment which can go as far as 500 meters underground to assist in the removal of miners. The government has taken time to retrieve the trapped miners because as a country we don’t have equipment. We are different from other countries in that for us we don’t have proper machinery. To remove the trapped miners they have to pump out water and use an escavator to open it but it’s like the commando’s are going down manually to go and get those guys. When underground mining collapses, the best way is to open the mine by removing the collapsed things which might be expensive but KCM and Mopani mine can do that but it will take time because maybe the miners are 100 meters and for the escavator to reach that far, it will take weeks or months,” he said.

“According to the experience that I have Surviving underground depends on the metres and the number of people who are trapped and the size of the tunnel because if someone is alone on 60 or 80 metres he or she can stay for days but if they are many they can’t survive on 60 metres because they are sharing
the same oxygen for a long time. I think that the miner who survived the Seseli mining accident was situated where the water wasn’t much because when you go underground you can make ways where you sleep so maybe he was sleeping on top where the water was not much that’s how I think he managed to survive,” said Musukwa.

Musukwa therefore emphasized on the importance of small scale miners having mining experiences to prevent mining accidents.

“Most miners do not have experience to do underground mining especially the guys in Chingola as compared to miners in gold mining. As miners in gold mining we have a little bit of experience because of Tanzanians who taught us how to shutter the pits using timber so that nothing can collapse on us,” said Musukwa.

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Musukwa Gold Mining company has urged the

Companies

Zambia’s Chilanga Cement company, which is one of the leading cement manufacturers in Zambia, has attributed the cement production decrease in the country to the high cost of production, lack of liquidity in the market, and the shrinking local and export markets among other factors.

Zambia’s annual cement production has dropped in the third quarter of the Year 2023 a significant setback for the country’s economy, as the construction industry is a major contributor to the growth of any economy.

According to the Industrial Minerals production report obtained by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, cement production has dropped by about 2 percent to about 1,800,000 metric tons compared to over 3, 300,000 metric tons produced within the same period in 2022.

This decrease has been largely attributed to the high cost of doing Business in the country which has several implications for the country’s economy.

The major contributors to this development are Chilanga Cement (Formerly known as Lafarge cement) with a contribution of over 190, 000 metric tons drop, Mphande Limestone (Simoma) with over 125, 000 metric tons drop, and Dangote Cement with about 178, 000 metric tons drop.

Responding to an inquiry by the Zambian Business Times –ZBT, the Company’s Corporate Affairs Manager Gift Danga, said this decrease in cement production in the country could be due to several factors, among them low liquidity, and the shrinking local and export market.

Danga however said from the company perspective the Company will continue optimizing its operations, to ensure there it is cost-effective, and deliver the products at a competitive price.

Asked What are some of the measures the Company has adopted to have sustainable operations for the benefit of customers, Danga said, the company focuses on operations optimization and efficiency, as well as cost management.  

The decrease in Cement production is a clear indication of the challenges facing the Zambian economy. This has potential to hurt the construction industry, which is a key driver of the Zambian economy which is a worrying sign for the Zambian economy, which has been struggling with a low liquidity situation for some time.

The government has since been implored to implement policies that will stimulate economic growth and increase liquidity in the market to support companies and boost the overall health of the country’s economy.

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Zambia's Chilanga Cement company, which is one

Lifestyle

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has graduated over 300 women and youth from its waste management program aimed at combating plastic waste in Zambia.

The program, which was launched in 2018, has been instrumental in training and equipping women and youth with skills and knowledge in waste management.

The participants were taken through a three-day course from 11 October, starting with theory that covered various topics, including waste management, recycling, and entrepreneurship, followed by a site visit to a landfill, and finishing with a visit to recyclers.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony attended by the Zambian Business Times ZBT, CCBA Southern Region Managing Director, Basil Gadzios said that the program was part of the company’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices and protecting the environment.

The graduates also received support from CCBA in the form of start-up kits to enable them to start their own waste management businesses. This initiative is aimed at empowering graduates to create employment opportunities for themselves and others in their communities.

CCBA Southern Region Managing Director, Basil Gadzios, “The interconnected global challenges of packaging waste and climate change have made this a focus for our business and communities.”

“The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners are taking a hard look at the packaging we use and how we can drive change.” He added

“Our sustainable packaging strategy aims to create systemic change through a circular economy for our packaging – from how bottles and cans are designed and manufactured, to how they’re recycled and reused.

“We have a responsibility to help solve the global plastic waste crisis, and we’re leveraging our scale and reach across markets to achieve our sustainability goals and reduce waste pollution,” Gadzios said.

“CCBZ, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, has committed to invest in our planet and our packaging, to help put an end to the plastic waste crisis, working in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company which launched a sustainable packaging initiative called World Without Waste in 2018.”

As a group, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa has committed to collecting a bottle or can for every one it sells by 2030, making all its packaging 100% recyclable by 2025, having 50% recycled content in its packaging by 2030 and making 25% of its packaging reusable by 2030.

“We have the scale and reach to make a real difference, and we’re using our leadership position to drive change and help put our planet on a more sustainable path,” said Gadzios.

“We want our business and the communities we serve to benefit from greater shared opportunity. This is about more than the bottom line because opportunity is not measured by money alone. Opportunity means a better future for people across the African continent.

“We are working in our communities to educate people on why and how to recycle through training like this one, on-package messaging, and more to create a healthier environment for all.

“Tackling the global plastic waste crisis requires cross-sector collaboration and alignment on common principles and targets,” said Gadzios.

“We work with a range of stakeholders at a national and local level. This includes partnering with government and community organizations to strengthen recycling infrastructure and boost collection rates, collaborating with customers, peers, and industry associations to support a circular economy; and teaming up with suppliers, startups, and R&D partners to fuel sustainable packaging innovation.

“By following our values and working for a better-shared future, we create inclusive growth that benefits communities, women and youth, our customers, our employees, and our shareholders.” Remarked Gadzios.

speaking at the same event Local government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Mambo Hamaundu who was the guest of honor commended the Coca-Cola company for the initiative adding that the initiative will promote a clean and healthy environment.

Hamaundu expressed concern about the illegal dumping of plastic waste and Challenged members of the general public to stop the habit of illegal and indiscriminate dumping of waste which he said can damage the environment. 

He urged graduates to be ambassadors of ensuring that there is no indiscriminate dumping of waste and challenged other corporate bodies to emulate what Coca-Cola is doing by collecting waste plastic bottles and advised members of the general public to separate plastic materials from other waste products to make work easy for waste aggregators and recyclers.

The program has not only had a positive impact on the environment but has also brought economic benefits to the participants and the country at large. The graduates have been able to create jobs, generate income, and contribute to the country’s economy through the recycling of plastic waste.

According to a report, Zambia generates over 1.3 million tons of waste annually, with only 10% of the waste being collected and disposed of properly.

This has led to the pollution of the environment and a negative impact on public health. The waste management program by CCBA is, therefore, a step in the right direction in addressing the waste management challenges in Zambia, and it is expected to have a significant impact in the long term.

The graduation of over 300 women and youth from CCBA’s waste management program is a significant milestone in the fight against plastic waste in Zambia. The program has not only equipped the participants with skills and knowledge but has also contributed to the country’s economy through job creation and income generation. We hope that other companies will follow in CCBA’s footsteps and invest in sustainable practices to protect the environment for future generations.

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Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has graduated over

Uncategorized


The Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) has made a significant contribution to environmental conservation by donating over 5,000 trees to the National Assembly of Zambia.


The trees are intended to contribute to the country’s reforestation efforts and promote environmental conservation. The donation is part of ZAFFICO’s continued efforts to promote afforestation in the country which has come at a time when Zambia is grappling with the negative effects of deforestation, such as soil erosion and climate change.


The trees donated are Pine trees seedlings which are well-suited to the Zambian climate as they are a renewable resource, meaning that it can be harvested and replanted without depleting the environment. Pine tree is also biodegradable and can be easily recycled or repurposed.


At a time when a full grown pine tree cost about K1, 500, the Corporation has donated over K750, 000 to the national assembly of Zambia.


Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lusaka attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZAFFICO Chairperson Alvert Ng’andu said ZAFFICO is concerned with the devastating effects of climate change on various sectors of the country’s economy both at global and national level.
He noted that Zambia has not been spared from the effects and has in the past few years experienced flash floods and droughts in some parts of the country. He added that there are already indications of a possible dry spell in some parts of the country this rainy season.


He said the Corporation is aware of the National Assembly of Zambia’s commitment to tree planting initiatives such as “Promoting a green parliament campaign” and assured the National Assembly of the Corporation’s highest commitment to the partnership.


He also commended the speaker of the National Assembly for participating at the just ended United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change -UNFCCC- Conference of parties -COP- 28. Ngandu congratulated the speaker of the assembly Ms. Nelly Muti for being the first speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia to participate at a COP since its inception accompanied by parliamentarians from the parliamentary caucus.


He said it is for this reason that addressing climate change calls for concerted efforts across all levels of governance.


Ngandu further disclosed that the corporation plans to increase its hectares of forest plantations to 100, 000 hectares. He said to achieve this in line with its strategic focus and business diversification drive, ZAFFICO is investing in forest expansion and value addition activities.


He said the corporation’s forest expansion strategy demonstrates the corporation’s commitment towards contributing to climate change mitigation.


“As a corporation involved in the establishment and management of forest plantations, we are committed to joining forces with the national assembly in addressing the effects of climate change” said Nga’ndu.


Nga’ndu has therefore encouraged individuals and communities to grow trees as an alternative source of livelihood and a mitigating contribution to climate change.
“Once again the National Assembly of Zambia is the first recipient of seedlings this year through this donation of 5, 000 pine seedlings valued at 50, 000” said Nga’ndu.


Meanwhile, the National Assembly of Zambia has expressed its gratitude to ZAFFICO for the timely donation, which they believe will go a long way in preserving the country’s natural resources.
Speaking when he received the donation on behalf of the speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia Nelly Mutti, second Deputy Speaker Moses Moyo noted that trees are essential to the health of the planet which are critical to human health and wellbeing now and in the future. He said relating to the human anatomy, forests are the lands of the planet drawing bin carbon dioxide and breathing out oxygen.


He however noted that the environment has not effectively been taken care of. “A number of human activities such as Charcoal burning, mining and agriculture have been destructive to the environment as a result we have seen the negative impact of these activities through the effects of climate change” said Moyo. He noted that about a decade ago rains would be already pouring by December which is not the case now. “We are in the middle of December, but the southern part of the country is arguably yet to receive meaningful rainfall adding that this will affect agriculture production.


He said it is therefore imperative that measures are taken to correct the situation and that planting trees is one of the most effective ways of doing so. “To this end as the National Assembly of Zambia, we have committed to planting at least a thousand trees in each of the constituencies across the country” said Moyo.


He mentioned that the program has already been launched in a number of constituencies and that the National Assembly is committed to seeing that the trees being planted are natured. “With the support of ZAFFICO as demonstrated through the donation, we are certain that the correct objective will be achieved” said Moyo.


Moyo assured ZAFFICO that the members of parliament will be encouraged to sensitize their constituencies to participate in the activities of planting trees thereby contributing towards influencing the transformation of constituencies and the country at large to a greener and cleaner society. He also assured the management of ZAFFICO that the National Assembly of Zambia will nature the seedlings, and continue to partner with the organization for the noble cause.

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The Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation

Markets

The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants –ZICA has expressed concern with reports that Zambia’s official creditors including China have rejected a deal the country struck with its international bondholders.

The official creditors are reported to be alleging that the deal did not deliver debt relief comparable to what they offered in a separate deal. The agreement in principle, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also rejected, is said to have not complied with “Comparability of Treatment.”

Speaking at the ZICA fourth quarter media briefing in Lusaka attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZICA president Yande Mwenye said the implications are that the full conclusion of the debt restructuring process is likely to extend into 2024.

“This may adversely affect budget implementation and execution.” ZICA has since advised the government through the Ministry of Finance to clear the air by providing comprehensive information on the progress of the debt restructuring process in order to dispel speculations being fueled due to lack of information.

“We urge the Ministry of Finance to issue a comprehensive statement on the current state or the status of debt restructuring to dispel any speculation, that is currently being fuelled due to the lack of information.” She said.

Meanwhile, ZICA has advised the Government to address Zambia’s deep-rooted structural disparity that has manifested itself in a mono-economy still heavily reliant on copper mining.

The ZICA President said the Government must expedite the diversification of the country’s export base towards sectors such as Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Tourism as espoused in the current national development plan and other policy documents as this will ensure a multiplicity of sources of foreign currency thereby arresting [Kwacha] depreciation over time.

She said the exchange rate remains a significant variable in Zambia’s economy hence, the persistent depreciation of the Kwacha continues to pose economic challenges.

“Going forward, a combination of short-term and long-term measures must be used to arrest the perpetual depreciation of the Kwacha. This way, the Kwacha can be redeemed and consequently the economy insulated from the shocks arising from the Kwacha’s depreciation.”

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The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants –ZICA

Mining

The Mumbwa Gold Mine in Zambia has the potential to significantly boost the country’s economy, with an estimated $5 billion in revenue expected.

The mine, which is located in the central province of Zambia, is expected to be one of the largest gold mines in Zambia and a significant contributor to the gold market once operating at full capacity.

The impact of the delay in reopening the Gold Mine has however been felt by the government in terms of lost revenue. With the potential to generate over $5 billion, the mine could have been a significant source of income for the country especially at a time when the country is still working on its debt restructuring.

According to the former Central Province Minister and Mumbwa Central Member of Parliament Credo Nanjuwa, the Mumbwa Gold Mine has the potential to generate a significant amount of revenue for Zambia however, delays in reopening the mine have had a negative impact on the government and the local community.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – the former Provincial Minister disclosed that according to the recent Mineral Exploration report, the Gold mine has minerals worth over $5 billion which would be great for the country as it would positively contribute to the appreciation of kwacha which is still struggling.

Nanjuwa said the people of Mumbwa were very expectant that the mine would be given a license for investors to start working and bring in the much-needed development in the District and the country at large.

He said, “We are very much aware that the reopening of the Mumbwa gold mine will create employment opportunities for the province and the nation at large and at the same time provide business opportunities hence we are in a hurry to ensure that the whole process is concluded as soon as possible.”

Najuwa noted that what was at stake at the time was the process of acquiring a mining license as the investors who were there doing the explorations concluded and submitted the report to the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.

Meanwhile, efforts to get a comment from the Mines Minister on the matter proved futile by press time.

Mumbwa Gold Mine can be a significant development for Zambia with the potential to provide much-needed economic stimulus for the country.

The government has since been urged to take action to resolve the issues surrounding the mine and reopen it among others as soon as possible. This will not only benefit the government in terms of revenue but also provide much-needed employment opportunities for the local community.

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The Mumbwa Gold Mine in Zambia has

Companies

Indo Zambia Bank – IZB has defended it’s quarter three (3) 2023 record of having posted higher earnings from securities than the core business of making loans.

Indo Zambia revealed that despite posting higher earnings from securities than loans, the bank has posted the second-highest loan-to-deposit ratio among the top 10 banks in Zambia, at the end of Q3 2023.

According to the latest Q3 quarterly results seen by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, IZB’s loan-to-deposit ratio stood out in comparison to its peers, some of which seems to also have concentrated more on investing in government paper at the expense of banks core business of raising deposits and making loans.

The Indo Zambia bank’s management team is confident that it can continue to grow its loan book while maintaining a strong liquidity position and upholding its commitment to responsible lending practices.

Responding to ZBT on why the Bank is not channeling more funds into the local market through making more loans and advances as opposed to locking more funds in Government and other securities, the bank’s Managing Director Kowdichar Shashidhar revealed that the bank’s deposits consist of both long-term and short-term deposits, with various tools and benchmarks employed to ensure that funds are channeled into the local economy through loans, while also meeting the liquidity requirements of depositors.

Shashidhar told ZBT that “the composition of the Bank’s deposits consists of both long-term and short-term deposits, the latter of which is available for removal/withdrawal by the respective depositors, on demand. As a result of this, the Bank has various Asset-Liability management tools and benchmarks that it employs to ensure that it is able to channel funds into the local economy, by way of loans, as well as meet the liquidity requirements of depositors, when called upon.

The Indo Zambia MD further stated that there are also regulatory requirements on the amount the bank is able to lend in relation to its deposits.”

The Loan to deposit ratio – LDR is generally considered to be the amount that a bank invests into the society in which it generates its deposits. It is therefore critical for economic development that banks post a healthy loan to deposit ratio that can support and fund innovation and business growth.

A review of the Indo Zambia balance sheet further revealed that the Bank’s Q3 loans-to-deposit ratio was about K4.8 billion to about K10.5 billion i.e. 46% of deposits are used to make loans which is below 50% threshold needed to inject a multiplier effect into the Zambian economy.

Shashidhar however said that regulatory requirements limit the amount of lending the bank can do in relation to its deposits. The bank has a commitment to its depositors and shareholders, including the government of Zambia.

The Indo MD explained that the Statutory Reserve ratios (SRR) require the bank to reserve a percentage of its deposits with the Central Bank, which is not available for onward lending or investment. “As of Q3, SRR was 11.50% and has subsequently increased to 14.50% and now at 17%, which denotes that the Bank will be required to increase the number of its deposits which will be held in reserve with the Central Bank, and thereby reduces the amount that will be available for Lending.”

He said Considering the regulatory environment, as well as liquidity considerations highlighted above, it may be noted that at the end of Q3, IZB had the second-highest Loan to Deposit Ratio amongst the top 10 Banks in Zambia, which may be considered a clear indication of the bank’s commitment to supporting the local economy.

He added that the bank has a responsibility to ensure that its Lending decisions are prudent and well-judged. “The Bank’s commitment to Shareholders and Depositors is therefore best demonstrated by the Quality of Lending, and the Quality of the Bank’s Loan Portfolio.”

Shashidhar said It may however be noted that the Bank’s investments in Government securities also provide support to the Government for various activities such as social spending on healthcare, education, etc, which is also essential for the local economy.

He told ZBT that regulatory requirements limit the amount of lending the bank can do in relation to its deposits. The bank has a commitment to its depositors and shareholders, including the government of Zambia.

Asked if it’s ndo Zambia strategy to be earning more from investments in securities [about K260 million] and only about K179 million from banks core businesses of loans and overdrafts as the bank seems to be more concentrated on investment in government securities [which results in crowding out effect] than the actual business of lending?

Shashidhar responded that the bank’s long-term strategy is to grow its loans and advances as part of its core activities.

The Indo MD defended the banks record stating that “the bank saw a 14% growth in loans and advances by Q3, with a further increase to 32% when considering the bank’s performance up to October 31, 2023. However, there was a decline in investments by about 13% by Q3”.

Most banks in Zambia are currently using their deposits generated from the market and investing them mostly into government securities resulting in low availability of funds available for investment for firms.

The Government is simply crowding out the private businesses and firms, a situation that is not ideal for supporting private sector led economic growth.

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Indo Zambia Bank - IZB has defended

Agribusiness

bread prices to go up 7%The Bakers Association of Zambia (BAZ) has revealed that bread prices are expected to go up by about 7% due baking ingredients and flour prices which have gone up from k900 to k960.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, BAZ Chairperson Aziz Kapdi confirmed that flour prices which is the main ingredient has now gone up following the high cost of doing business which is threatening the prices of the final product.

Kapdi lamented that bakeries are now being forced to sell bread to please and attract customers and not to make profit for the fear of losing customers.

He said whenever bakeries decide to increase the price of bread to meet the cost of flour and baking ingredients, the customer turnout decreases.

He has since appealed to the government to consider subsidizing or introducing a price ceiling on wheat flour.

“The current price of flour is k960 for a bag of 50kg they increased to k60 at a go. The cost of flour and all the major ingredients like yeast, salt and plastics have gone up. Bakeries are crying, they don’t know what to do. Whenever bakeries manage to try and increase the price, there are no customers. Customers are complaining. So we don’t know what to do.”

“We are asking government if they can put some subsidies in the bakery industry or have a standard price for flour just as they have done for mealie meal because we don’t know which direction to go at the moment. Bread is selling at k13 when a loaf should be k20 that’s when some bakeries will manage to make profit and to replace their equipment’s over time,” said Kapdi

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bread prices to go up 7%The Bakers

Lifestyle

The Lusaka City Council (LCC), has failed to discipline the unregistered churches with no track record for fear of being labeled as people who do not believe in God.

The Council of Churches in Zambia – CCZ, one of the church’s mother bodies, has been calling on the government to protect citizens from unscrupulous individuals pretending to have powers to deal with people’s problems.

The organization has been urging the government to come up with measures to control the operation of churches in the country, saying the conduct of some churches is tarnishing the image of the church as News headlines of clerics engaging in illegal and undercover activities in the name of the church have become common in the country.

CCZ general secretary Fr. Emanuel Chikoya expressed concern that LCC is more focused on disciplining businesses operating without licenses a situation he believed is the major contributing factor to the current mushrooming of Churches in Zambia especially in the shanty compound which he said is a danger to society.  

Reacting to this in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, LCC public relations manager Chola Mwamba confirmed that the authority already has complaints from members of the public on churches operating in residential areas and that the authority is working on how best they are going to carry out their enforcement. “In this Nation, when one talks negatively about Godly things people would rise against that person.”

Mwamba however, said the local authority is not going to threaten unregistered churches for fear of being labeled as people who don’t believe in God by the members of the public.

“We already have complaints of churches operating in residential areas but when you talk negatively about Godly things you know how people would rise against you. So we are trying to see how best we can phrase that statement that will sit well with society and our norms but we are working on it. So there have been all sorts of complaints of churches in residential areas disturbing neighbors but then as a local authority we need to sit and analyze how we are going to do our enforcement,” she said.

Mwamba noted that it’s illegal for people to turn their homes into churches without informing the local authority.


“It’s illegal for people to turn their homes into churches without informing the local authority. As a local authority, we want sanity and ordering residential areas. So to turn your home into a church, you are actually disturbing your neighbors. As a local authority, we are going to ensure that we enforce the law where issues to do with gatherings are concerned and where issues to do with change of use are concerned. Because for you to turn your home into a church you have to apply for change of use and it has to pass through the council for it to be approved or disapproved,” she said.


“We are appealing to members of the public to follow the law where issues to do with change of use are concerned. When you are having a gathering of more than 20, or 30 people and you don’t have public facilities like washrooms would cholera spare you? So we are appealing to all those that are coming up with illegal churches to desist from doing so,” said Mwamba.

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The Lusaka City Council (LCC), has failed