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Agribusiness

The Cotton Board of Zambia said despite a number of farmers being affected by floods countrywide, including some cotton farmers, it still expect a slight increase in cotton production because there was a slight increase in number of farmers who were engaged in cotton production in the 2022/2023 farming season.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – Cotton Board of Zambia Senior Inspector Nyambe Kwalombota said the board expects slightly more volumes than last year as more farmers went into cotton production as they were incentivized by the prices which were offered in the last season.

“There are chances that we may still produce more than what was produced in the previous year as a number of farmers that were engaged are still likely to get something from their fields.” He said.

He added that, “the weather indeed affected cotton because they were a lot of floods and when that happens cotton don’t progress very well but we still expect that a good percentage of the farmers will still be able to get something.”

“Zambia produced 245 000 metric tons of cotton in 2021/22 and we have not yet finalized our paper work to ascertain the 2023 productions but we should be able to give figures for the 2023 projections in the next two weeks after finalizing with paper work.”

“Of course you may be aware that some farmers had too much water and had abandoned their fields while some were not able to spray because of too much rains but like I stated, there was an increase in the number of farmers so we may still see an increase this year.” He remarked.

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The Cotton Board of Zambia said despite a

Agribusiness

Government has announced that it will no longer allow maize and mealie exports following the country’s maize and mealie meal shortage.

Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu announced during a media briefing monitored by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – That Government is no longer giving mealie meal nor maize export permits as there is a shortage of the commodity in the country.

Mwiimbu said despite the policy of Government to allow exports, Government is currently not exporting any maize or mealie meal because the country has a deficit.

The Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an editorial had advised government to either temporary ban or issue strict exports quotas for Maize and mealie as an immediate measure to stabilize the situation

Mwiimbu has explained that, “The policy is that we are going to allow exports if there is a surplus but currently there is no surplus and as a result we are not giving any export permit to anyone to export maize out of the country because there is a deficit.”

“Our concentration currently is to ensure that Zambia is Maize secure and if after the harvesting season we realize more maize that can be exported we will actualize the policy that is still in place.” He added.

So we are not allowing anymore exports outside the country because there is a deficit in the country and once we have sufficient maize millers will be allowed to export.

Mwiimbu remarked that government has also enhanced security in border areas where it has been noted that mealie meal and maize has been smuggled.

Speaking at the same event, Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma said food security in the country is on top of the government’s agenda because we know food security means national security which means peace to the environment.

Lufuma who spoke during the briefing said despite government’s efforts to secure maize across the country there has been smuggling of mealie meal into some neighbouring countries which does not only amount to economic sabotage but also compromises Zambia’s food security.

“Food security is national security and anyone tempering with food security is tempering with the national security and as Ministers charged with defence and security of the country we shall never allow this deliberate sabotage for the national security through smuggling of mealie meal.”

Lufuma said defence and security wings have been directed to enhance security on the copperbelt and our men and women will ensure that the situation is brought under control.

“We also want to appeal to the public avoid panicking and buying more than a number of bags your family requires.” He said.   

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Government has announced that it will no

Agribusiness

United Capital Fertilizer UCF says the planned increase in production from 200 000 metric tons this year to over 300 000 metric tons next year which is likely to satisfy the local and the regional market will have a great impact on the farmers and the country as it will further reduce the commodity price.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – UCF Chairman Chance Kabaghe said realization of this plan entails that there will be no need for the country to import fertilizer as the country will be safe sufficient when fertilizers will be locally produced.

He said apart from satisfying the Government requirement under the Framer Input Support program FISP, there will be enough fertilizer for also individual farmers who may wish to buy the product at an affordable price.

UCF plans to increase production from the current 200 000 metric tons to over 300 000 metric tons in 2024 which translates to 600 000 for both Urea and D compound a situation which is anticipated to settle the local and regional demand market.

Kabaghe said the fertilizers will be available in a timely manner and also without questioning the quality because it will be certified by mount Makuru and the Zambia Bureau of standards.

“The idea is to compliment the seed industry as the country is self-sufficient in seed production so we really want to invest so much that this country starts having also its own fertilizers without thinking of importing. So as a country if we timely have seed and fertilizer available there is no reason at all this country cannot become a fully sustainable region food basket.” he explained.

He said more jobs are also likely to be created within the country and Farmers will be getting the commodity at a much lower price than they are buying because the product will be produced locally where the overheads for producing are much lower than when the product is imported.

He assured that the country will have fertilizer throughout the year as they will be producing 24/7 all year round and change the narrative of fertilizer only being available on the market during the rainy season.  

“We have sorted out the seed but the second thing is to sort out the fertilizer side which we have taken that leadership as the local and regional market is big so our role really in the next 3 years is to make sure that as a country we are self-sufficient and we start now exporting to the region so that the country can also start earning foreign exchange from our own fertilizers produced in Zambia.”

He said the investment of this particular plant will go to over $1 billion stating that they are only in the second phase with an investment of $600 million.

“Right now we are able to produce up to 200 000 both Urea and D compound and come next year we should be at 600 000 (300 000 D and 300 000 Urea) and when we get to that we will be becoming more self-sufficient with only some few importations.”

“Our plans going forward is to also start blending fertilizers. Now when you blend it means you test soils of a given area and then you identify what is really deficient then you blend fertilizer to address the specific soil in a given area.” he added.

He explained that, “the idea of just using D and Urea is a blanket recommendation all over the country but soils are different so as a country we have to start moving to start blending to suit the deficiencies of soils in Agro ecological zone.”

Meanwhile Kabaghe has also encouraged other companies interested in the production of fertilizers within the country to tap in and ensure that they address the issues that have been surrounding the supply of the product since time immemorial

He said the investment is really to make Government everything that they require for their fertilizer in FISP and also save some of the local farmers within the country.

“Currently we have 87, 000 in stock, I remember we had some problems in supplying for 2022/2023 FISP which will not be a problem in 2023/2024 because we had just started operating last year but now we are ready to supply all what the Government wants even before July everything should be supplied to Government.” Said Kabaghe.  

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United Capital Fertilizer UCF says the planned

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