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Mining

Zambia has posted increase in annual silver production after the release of official 2022 annual minerals production numbers. The Copper rich country has posted a gigantic jump in annual silver production, with annual 2022 production hitting 17 tons.

Spot prices for Silver in February 2023 are averaging at about $700 per kilogram or $700,000 per ton, meaning that the Zambian economy would ideally be cashing or has cashed in about $11, 900 000 million if export proceeds are to be remitted back into the local Banking system.

A check by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – shows that annual silver production has jumped by 12 tons from 6 tons produced in 2021 to 17 tons produced last year in 2022.

Following this production jump in Silver, a Mining expert has urged the central bank – the Bank of Zambia BoZ to consider stockpiling the increasing silver which is being produced in Zambia as it’s a high value mineral that could be used like gold as a strategic reserve to help arrest the perpetual depreciation of the Kwacha.

Zambia’s Silver production has hit 17 tons in 2022, this is a record increase from the previous years production of only 6 tons for 2021. The official report did not state which mine has produced the Silver, but a source who is not authorized to speak to the media said it’s most likely coming from FQM’s Kansanshi mine and Mopani among others.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mining expert Edward Simukonda said silver has the capacity to seriously contribute to the Zambian economy as it has good price on the London Metal exchange – LME.

Simukonda said such rare metals that are being produced in Zambia should be well accounted for and stockpiled at the central Bank so that the country can build up reserve as there is no much silver in the world.

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Zambia has posted increase in annual silver

Agribusiness

Traders have spotted a lack of white onion on the market adding that the only little white onions available on are last year’s harvest which are normally stocked.  

The shortages of white onion on the market has been caused by especially heavy rainfall which has been experienced in the country.  

Excess rains followed by floods have for a long time been blamed for creating the most difficult season for white onion production in the country.

According to Fruit & Veg Traders Association President Bernard Sikunyongana, the country is relying on red onions which is produced throughout the year.

Fruit & Veg Traders Association President said consumers will have to rely on red onion through April and early May as they anticipate to start receiving white onions direct from the fields in the previous month.

Sikunyongana told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that the country’s white onion production has been facing the most difficult approach during the rainy season due to the conditions which do not support the growing of the crop.

Meanwhile, Sikunyongana said there is no need for Importation of white onions as there is enough red onion on the market to satisfy the demand.

“We are predicting that the supply of white onion direct from the field will begin in May this year. This is because white onion cannot be produced during the rainy season so when we produce the white onion we have to stock it for the rainy season while the red onion is produced throughout the year.”  

Zambian Farmers have since been encouraged to venture into onion production as there is a large market with potential to make money and create job opportunities.

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Traders have spotted a lack of white

Tech

A peaceful protest to the Copperbelt Provincial Education Officer – PEO by over 30 teachers has exposed the fact that some teachers have not yet been put on payroll just on the Copperbelt with numbers from the nine other provinces yet to be confirmed.

But an impeccable source on the Copperbelt has intimated that about 5 well known District Education Board Secretaries – DEBs on the Copperbelt – C/Belt have been accused of conniving with the over 30 teachers to source for illegal deployment letters without the blessing of the Teaching Council of Zambia – TCZ a situation which is costing the said teachers as they have not yet been put on payroll but have been working as volunteers.

A source who declined to be named disclosed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – that about 5 DEBS on the Copperbelt were paid about K20,000 from each of the affected teachers whom they had promised that they would be deployed by government when actually not.

The said teachers were alleged to have been deployed in 2020/2021 and have up to now not yet been put on payroll, stormed the office of the Copperbelt Provincial Education Office (PEO) Dr. Stephen Chishiko to protest over the Government’s delay to place them on payroll.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times –ZBT – official union leader who declined to be named said it is not Government per say who has failed to put them on the payroll but the unfaithful DEBs officers engaged.

The alleged 5 Debs officers involved in this matter are from Ndola, Kitwe, Luansya and Chingola all from the Copperbelt.  

The source said according to the investigations conducted by the union, the accused officers are also behind the earlier protest conducted by the affected teachers.  

“We have Debs Kitwe, Debs Chingola, Debs Luanshya, Debs Ndola and other Debs whom we are yet to establish their names. We want those officers to be disciplined because they have inconvenienced the teachers as they lied to them that they have been deployed when actually not so for that, they need to be disciplined.”

Asked if the affected teachers are still teaching when they are not yet on payroll, the source said, “For now there is no teacher who is working because they are not yet on payroll adding that most of them that are still doing the work, are just doing it as volunteers but deep down their hearts they are not revealing those letters but we have seen a few who have come to say I have just been put on the payroll and this is normally done by the same Debs who connived with them.”

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A peaceful protest to the Copperbelt Provincial

Mining

The Chinese owned NFC Africa Mine has recorded an annual increase in both its copper and gold production at its Chambishi based mine of kalulushi district on the Copperbelt. At this rate of production, Kalulushi town is expected to get some linkage industry success if local authorities negotiate proper deals.

Copper production at Non-Ferrous China Africa (NFCA), a subsidiary of the state-owned China Nonferrous Metals Corporation (CNMC) increased by over 5,000 tons in 2022 from about 62,300 tons recorded in 2021 to 67,600 tons recorded in 2022. An an average copper price of $9,000 per ton, the mine has produced copper worth $608 million.

The Chinese owned mine has posted two consecutive years of increased production as the report further shows an increase of 18,675 tons when compared to the about 48,900 tons of copper produced in 2020.

According to the consolidated report obtained by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – compiled by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Gold production at the chinese mine also increased by about 3kgs from about 51 kgs in 2021 to about 54 kgs in 2022

Non Ferrous Company Africa Mining – NFCA was established in March 1998 as the holding company of Chambishi Copper Mine as part of the privatization of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Limited (“ZCCM”). It is majority owned by China Non-ferrous Metals Company Limited (“CNMC”), which holds an 85% shareholding stake, whilst ZCCM – Investments Holdings holds a 15% shareholding stake.

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The Chinese owned NFC Africa Mine has

Mining

 Mwinilunga town Council Chairperson has called upon the Head of State President Hakainde Hichilema to quickly push up reopening of Kasenseli Gold mine to improve the economy of Mwinilunga and the country at large.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – Mwinilunga Town Council Chairperson Jonathan Chinyimba said the delay in reopening the gold Mine has done more harm than good as levels of poverty have escalated in Mwinilunga.

Chinyimba said the delay has resulted to high levels of poverty and non-creation of employment and the district still remains behind in terms of development.

“You know where there is a mine you expect to see business flowing and improved social and economic development but the delay has caused the people of Mwinilunga to remain in poverty, and remain without employment as youths are crying day and night.”

“We want to get something from Kasenseli gold mine that can make our roads better and create employment and fight poverty and also the council collect revenue which will be ploughed back to the community.” He added.

“Am requesting His Excellence the President of the Republic of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema to quickly push up for the reopening of this mine so that our people do not remain in acute poverty but that they can equally have an improved social and economic development.”

“The council is still unable to raise adequate revenue as other colleagues with mines in their jurisdiction as we have a limited revenue raising because of the same because more business are not working as expected.”

“I am requesting the head of state to assist pushing up the reopening of this important gold mine that have the capacity to alleviate poverty in Mwinilunga.” He added.

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 Mwinilunga town Council Chairperson has called upon

Tech

The Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia-BETUZ has reiterated that government is still owing money in settling and leave among other allowances to some teachers on the Copperbelt.

Earlier The Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia-BETUZ had disclosed that government was owing over K3 million in allowances to teachers on the Copperbelt. BETUZ indicated government did not only owe teachers on the Copperbelt but also owed teachers around the country adding that the over K3 million which was being owed to teachers dates as far back as 2010 hence the need for government to begin paying off this debt.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – BETUZ Copperbelt Provincial Chairperson Aaron Kunka has since appealed to Government to urgently clear the backlog of these allowances and other related remunerations to the teachers so that they are motivated further.

Kunka noted that Government has started liquidating, “we witnessed what we call PE and they started with the retirees and most of them have been cleared and we are yet to see the clearance of these other allowances from our teacher members. He added.  

“Am not preview of how much the balance is now especially that we have the new teachers on board who have not equally been settled.” He said.

He said the union will continue to rehearse with government and remind the administration to meet its obligations as well as advocate for better conditions for its teachers.

Kunka has also thanked Government for commencing liquidating the backlog and the support it has rendered to the education sector so far.  

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The Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia-BETUZ

Agribusiness

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture says Government is still carrying out assessments to determine how much maize is remaining in the strategic reserves even if he has maintained that the country has enough maize in stock.

Despite the Minister of Agricuture Mtolo Phiri promising that there is enough Maize in the Country, Calls have continued from concerned stakeholders and experienced hands in statecraft demanding that Government immediately ban the export of Maize and mealie meal to prevent an impending catastrophe.

Continued export and even the news that government is planning to allow imports of maize shows that there is confusion and inexperience, a situation many feel is causing the shortage of mealie meal and maize leading to the higher prices of the commodity in the country.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Green Mbozi said assessments were not yet concluded as to ascertain how much maize was remaining in the strategic reserves.

Responding to the ZBT query on how many tons of maize was currently available in the country, Mbozi said Government has been releasing maize to the millers and it was very difficult to tell how many tons was remaining in stock.

He mentioned that Government is aware of escalating mealie meal prices in some selected parts of the country caused by high demand but said government will not ban the commodity export stating that there was enough maize and mealie meal for the country.

He said he was aware that in some parts of the country the prices are quite high as they are going up to k300 per 25 kilograms of breakfast meal adding that he was also aware that at Sakania boarder post the price of the commodity is about k600 per 25 kg.

Mbozi said the prices are high especially in the places near boarders because of the proximate to the boarder where the population on the other side is facing hunger leading to high demand which further affect prices.

He said this is because of the pressure colleagues in Congo, Tanzania and in Malawi among others are facing as there are deficit in terms of maize which is a staple food in these countries.

Mbozi reiterated that Government has not banned the export of maize and mealie meal as it has only restricted the export while making assessments of what is remaining in the strategic reserves.

He also mentioned that there has not been export quotas set to control exports as the maize which is allowed to be exported is not from the Food Reserve Agency. “The ones we are saying we can give a permit if any person have their own maize anywhere and they can prove that they didn’t take from FRA yes they can take it.” “What is there in the strategic food reserve is for Zambians and if traders or farmers have their own maize which they grew and they have it in their storage we can issue them a permit.”

When asked about measures that Government is putting in place to arrest the increase in mealie prices, Mbozi said, “the measures which are there is that we still have maize in the strategic reserve and on a weekly basis when needs arises we release sufficient stocks of maize to selected millers located in the various areas of the country.”

He said Government is working on the situation as it is closely monitoring the maize that is given to the millers. In land its easier but on the boarder there is need to increase the security personnel to help protect the maize and mealie meal from going out.

Mbozi said people are only taking advantage to smuggle the commodity as most of the boarders are very wide and practically it is not possible for Zambia to guard and put security personals along the border length, “and because of that we have challenges as people move at awkward time in the night in ungusseted roads where most likely there are no officers.”

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The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of

Mining

Demands from various stakeholders on the Copperbelt have continued on the need for the owners of Chambishi Metals Eurasian Resources Group – ERG to take a stand of either revamping the plant or surrender it to the Zambian Government to find alternative investors.

Former Mining Suppliers President Augustine Mubanga has charged that failure to which, the owners of chambishi metals should be penalised because the continued closure of the plant is tantamount to economic sabotage when the conditions are very favourable and they have failed to reopen a facility.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mubanga said the plant should be given productive life as it is wrong to continue putting it on care and maintenance or else Government should find ways and means of bringing back the plant to production.

He said Chambishi metals is an important asset that relates to the new dynamics in the mining sector. With the drive towards electric vehicles, it is the only plant in Zambia that is able to process exclusively cobalt and copper, hence demanding for its urgent reopening as there are various benefits that the country can accrue from an investment of such magnitude when in full operation.

Stakeholders in the mining sector and residents of Chambishi have in the last three years continuously advocated for the re-opening of Chambishi Metals whose other operations include treatment of cobalt/copper sulphide/oxide concentrates, and cobalt carbonate/hydroxide materials.

The continued closure of Chambishi metals has continued negatively affecting the construction sector as the availability of gypsum, which this mine used to produce, affects locally produced Cement prices. Cement is a key determinant of the cost of brick and mortar construction.

Mubanga said the continued closure of Chambishi metals is tantamount to trying to destroy the economy of the country because they are denying an opportunity for people’s employment, businesses, and the country revenue that it may have or may accrue from the asset. “They are also denying the host towns from benefiting from corporate social responsibility projects.” He added.

ERG put Kalulushi District-based Chambishi Metals on care and maintenance in January 2020 when over 200 workers were sent home due to lack of feedstock to continue sustaining its operations and up to date operations have not yet resumed. The regulations for tax on imported feedstock was lifted but the plant remains closed.

Chambishi Metals when operational, is the country’s largest producer of cobalt and gypsum, a key ingredient in the manufacturing of cement and key for enabling growth of the construction sector.

Meanwhile efforts to get a comment from the Ministry of mines and minerals development proved futile by press time.

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Demands from various stakeholders on the Copperbelt

Tech

Airtel Networks Zambia Plc has for the 2nd year running walked away with the most awards at the annual Zambia Institute for Public Relations and Communications (ZIPRC) conference and awards night held recently in Livingstone.

Airtel emerged winner in 4 categories that included, the ‘Best Public Relations Campaign’, the ‘Best Digital Platform’, the ‘Best Digital Media Campaign’ and the ‘Best Publication’.

The Conference and awards night were graced by Southern Province Minister, Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa who is also Member of Parliament for Choma.

Speaking about the awards that were received on behalf of the Company by Head of Corporate Communications Yuyo Nachali-Kambikambi, Airtel Zambia Managing Director Manu Sood said the Company was delighted and humbled to be recognized with the awards.

Manu said, “We feel proud to be playing our part in enabling connectivity and thereby supporting economic growth as envisaged in the 8th National Development Plan. Airtel is committed to providing the Best Customer Experience through our wide network across the Country and continued focus on Customer Service.”

He added that Airtel was proud to see that the Airtel App won the Best Digital Campaign as well as Best Digital Platform, because Airtel App has become very popular among a fast growing customer base due to its many advantages which includes it being safer to use for mobile money as the screen displays the name of the person you are sending money to.

“For the Best Public Relations Campaign, we are proud to note that over 7000 Zambians took part in “The Voice Africa” which is an Airtel title sponsorship and the number one competition format music and entertainment show in the world, airing in over 180 countries. Our 2022 Annual Report which won the Best Publication Category provides an overview of the company’s financial and operational performance over the past year including our work with the communities.” Remarked Manu.

This is according to a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – by Airtel’s Head of Corporate Communications Yuyo Nachali -Kambikambi.

Picture below, is Southern Province Minister, Cornelius Mweetwa handing over one of the 4 awards to Airtel’s Head of Corporate Communications Yuyo Nachali -Kambikambi at the just ended ZIPRC in Livingstone.

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Airtel Networks Zambia Plc has for the

Tech

The Zambia Airports Corporation Limited – ZACL has disclosed that airports across Zambia saw more tourists arriving from various parts of the world especially from within Africa and Europe in 2022 when compared to 2021. The rebound in arrivals however have not yet surpassed the pre-Covid levels.

ZACL is however cognizant of major downside risks which include a new COVID-19 variants, high international crude oil prices, higher global inflation and supply chain disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war.

Acting Managing Director of Zambia Airports Corporation Limited, Maggie B. Kaunda said ZACL served over double the numbers, they served about 1.7 million passengers in 2022 compared to about 750,000 passengers in 2021. ZACL served about 550,000 passengers in 2020 and about 1.9 million passengers in 2019.

Kaunda said this was driven by the relaxation of COVID-19 measures following continued reduced positivity rates globally such as the removal of the PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers to Zambia by the Ministry of Health. She added that the passenger statistics in 2022 represented an overall recovery of 89% to preCOVID-19 levels, compared to recovery levels of 41% in 2021 and 29% in 2020.

Kaunda explained that overall international passengers recovered by 83% and domestic passengers by 111% with Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) and Solwezi Airport recording the highest recovery rates at 96% and 121%, respectively. Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (HMNIA) which serves the tourism industry recorded the least recovery at 50% of 2019 levels.

She said the hosting of various meetings and conferences in Zambia such as the 4th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (MYCM), the 38th Annual Conference of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) and the 2022 Africa Innovations Ministerial Summit also contributed greatly to this recovery.

Kaunda said recovery in domestic passengers was driven by competitive pricing of domestic travel provided by Zambia Airways and Proflight Zambia into Livingstone, Solwezi and Ndola.

“Going into 2023, international passenger traffic is expected to continue growing given the upsurge in confidence in air travel provided by increased vaccination rates, safety measures and Governments continued support.”

She said the attainment of 70% vaccination rate of eligible population in Zambia in 2022 coupled with the waiver of visa requirements for selected countries which include China and the United Kingdom is expected to result in an increase in passenger numbers at our airports.

Uncertainties of China’s Zero COVID-19 policies which had constrained both domestic and international market and the recent easing of travel restrictions in China also poses a new risk to recovery due to the potential for importation of infections. She said ZACL will continue to engage key stakeholders in the industry to ensure that they collaborate and make Zambia an attractive and affordable destination for meetings and conferences

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The Zambia Airports Corporation Limited - ZACL