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Tech

The Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia PTAZ says despite the stringent measures being undertaken by the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), Road Transport and Safety Agency RTSA, Zambia Bureau of Standards and the Energy Regulatory Board ERB, on the Zambian tankers, it is unfortunate that some foreign fuel tankers are being exempted from inspections as they rely on mutual recognition.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – PTAZ Secretary General Benson Tembo said, foreign tankers are currently being exempted from inspections considering that they are inspected by the respective countries and that they can just come into the country a situation he said do not happen to Zambian fuel tankers when they go in other countries as they are subjected to inspections.

He said the situation has allowed some foreign tankers with effects to bring fuel to the country suggesting that foreign fuel tankers are supposed to be sub-contracted by licensed transporters in Zambia who understand the Zambian standards.

“If they are subcontracted by the Zambian licensed transporters, Zambian transporters will then take full responsibility to make sure that the tankers meet the Zambian standards unlike what is happening today where the tankers are found on the road without any inspection at the boarder or point of discharge.” He said.  

Tembo since called on the intuitions mandated to inspect fuel tankers such as the Energy Regulatory Board ERB, Zambia Bureau of Standards, and the Road Transport and Safety Agency RTSA among others to up their game in as far as inspecting foreign tankers is concerned.

He said there is need for the institutions such as ERB, Zambia Bureau of standards and all other institutions involved to do better and be fair than they have done in the past adding that the issue of allowing foreign tankers bringing fuel in the country without inspection must be stopped as it is costing Zambians.

Tembo said the approach must be changed and foreign tankers should be sub-contracted by the Zambian transporters licensed by the ERB or any other institution so that they are able to take full responsibility and make sure that they only allow tracks that meet the Zambian standards.

“Currently what we are seeing and learning is that we have encouraged foreign companies and if we ask the OMCs they say they don’t contract the foreign tankers but they are contracted by the people who are supplying them fuel.”

“I can buy a tanker today and I have to wait for 8 months for me to put that tanker on the road in Zambia while my colleague in Zimbabwe will buy a tanker and put it on the road even tomorrow, so you can see the difference hence the need to adhere to the provision of the Zambian set up and then those suppliers supplying fuel must also abide by the regulation.”

Meanwhile, PTAZ has challenged government to build safe parking spaces for fuel tankers that meet the set standards across the country. he said this will help the country boost its revenue collections.

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The Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia PTAZ says despite

Uncategorized


The Seventh Day Adventist – SDA North Zambia Union Conference has denied allegations that the church has a hand and has been careless in supervising its youth groups with the latest calamity resulting the capsizing of the super boat on Lake Bangweulu which left about 14 church members dead by drowning.

This is the second incident of deaths by drowning of SDA members in two successive years, leading to members of the public alleging calling for independent investigations. Last year in January 2022, Six SDA church members drowned in lake Kariba in Siavonga see link https://zambianbusinesstimes.com/tragic-sda-youth-camp-meeting-was-characterized-by-illicit-activities/


Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT before the burial ceremony for the 14, SDA North Zambia Union Conference President Tommy Namitondo said the Church understand from the community leaders that the accident was a normal accident and not caused by the church.


The SDA union President Namitondo told ZBT that accidents happen around the country and it would be wrong for anyone to think that the accident was caused by the church.“In as far as we understand from the community and the leaders of the community the accident was a normal accident and not caused by the Church.”

“This is the most unfortunate situation and the highest calamity the church can have to burry young people but we believe God has not forsaken us.” He remarked.“On our side as the churches we need to enhance the insurance policies and we encourage people who have meetings to improve the safety on which mode of transport people may use but when you are talking of the place where the accident happened there is only one mode of transport which is water.”


Meanwhile, the union President Namitondo has pledged that the church with the help of Government will intensify thorough investigations to determine the cause of the accident and improve on the findings.
The incident happened on Friday 31st March 2023 when the superboat said to have a carrying capacity of 16 which was reportedly carrying 44 SDA church members capsized on Lake Bangweulu in Luapula Province between Chilubi and Chishi Islands. The general citizenry have however expressed concern as this is not the first time members are perishing in uncertain circumstance. Namitondo has since cautioned church members countrywide to adhere to all safety regulations whenever they are on a journey.


When asked about the measures taken to enhance member safety, Namitondo said, the local churches are controlled by the local conferences who are tasked to ensure that things are done in the rightful manner. “As a local organisation we will control the way people travel, engage each other with the local SDA Churches to strengthen already existing safety measures going forward. “We know that we are far as the union and we don’t do these local meetings them as we don’t organise them as they are not under our jurisdiction but the local conferences.”


“We have several safety measures in place already and what the union needs to do is to check if the measures are being implemented and the local conferences have also the duty to check whether their local churches are implementing safety measures that have been put in place.” He said.


President Namitondo has also clarified that the members where not going for a youth camp but visiting another local Church to promote camps that will be held near the end of April this year. He added that the Church will render financial support to the affected Families and ensure that they have a way to start after this calamity.


“We pray that God will comfort the families, the church and the nation and am encouraging the members that we should continue praying, when the devil attacks you don’t surrender but you continue with the battle. We know we are not on a holiday, we are in the battle field and anything is possible to discourage us but we shall not be discouraged.”

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The Seventh Day Adventist - SDA North

Mining

The annual Copper production at one of the largest underground mines in Zambia, Lubambe copper mine has continued decreasing year in year out despite Despite Government’s aspirations to hit the 3 million copper production target.

The 2022 copper production at Lubambe stood at 17, 917 metric tons from the 18, 373 metric tons produced in 2021. This is also far below the 44 162.98 MT produced in 2018, 46 029.79 MT in 2019 and 21 062.13 metric tons produced in 2020.

Lubambe Copper Mine is a large-scale operating underground copper mine situated on the Zambian Copperbelt close to the town of Chllilabombwe. The Mine is 80% owned by EMR Capital Resources, while 20% is held by ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc.

According to Government official statistics obtained by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – Chililabombwe’s Lubambe Copper Mine recorded a decrease of about 26 245.81 metric tons of copper production in 2022 when compared to 2018.

The decrease is however against the new dawn government’s aspirations to hit the 3 million tons of copper production in the next nine years which requires large scale mines to increase productions.

This has also contributed to Zambia’s 2022 annual copper production which dropped by 5% to about 760,000 tons from the 800,696 tons which was produced in the preceding year 2021. Efforts however to get a comment from Lubambe Copper Mine proved futile as officials could not give answers by press time.

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The annual Copper production at one of

Tech

The Zambia Consumer Association ZACA has expressed worry on the continued silence by the Zambia’s wholly owned Mobile Network Operator Beeline telecom Zambia to operate as Zedmobile Zambia regarding the commencement of operation.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – ZACA Executive Secretary, Juba Sakala said after the launch in December, 2022, consumers expected the company will commence operations as expected on the 31st of January.

He said consumers are concerned as they don’t want what had happened to the previous company as they are now looking forward for the company to commence operations as soon possible and if possible they should call for a media briefing to give an update on what is happening as users are anxious to use the fourth mobile service provider.

Sakala was of the view that there could be some challenges and logistics and other issues but being quiet is a source of concern when the consumers are highly anticipating the commencement of operations for the Zambian wholly owned company that they would want to exceptionally support.

“It is unfortunate that the project looks to be slipping away in the consumers hands but going forward we need them to give a brief statement on what they are doing and when exactly they will commence operation as going quiet gives more suspicions and questions so we hope they explain what is on the ground.” remarked Sakala.

ZedMobile was launched in December 2022 but consumers have not been able to have access even to sim cards for the Zambian wholly owned mobile networker operator.

Beeline was granted an operating license in February 2021 and had initially been set to launch commercial mobile phone services and operations in June of 2022 but encountered problems to meet the deadlines which was at the time blamed on Covid-19 and its related socio-economic impact.

Then later during the year 2022, ZICTA’s Manager – Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Banji Michelo confirmed that Beeline was granted an extension because they were unable to commence operations due to challenges with the procurement process owing to Covid-19. ZICTA then stated after Covid 19 concerns lessened that “but now the company will launch operations on January 31, 2023.” Stated Michelo.

And when contacted by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, earlier, Beeline promoter Kelvin Hambwezya said he could not comment on the matter.

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The Zambia Consumer Association ZACA has expressed worry

Companies

United Capital Fertilizer UCF has disclosed plans to construct an independent power substation that will help to build a self-sufficient projected production of fertilizers in the next two years.

UCF plans to increase production from the current 200 000 metric tons to over 300 000 metric tones 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.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – UCF Chairman Chance Kabaghe said the project is likely to cost $600 million as they will also need to put in place a 75Mega watts power plant so that they are self-sufficient in terms of electricity.

He said with the persisting electricity problems in the Country, the company may not afford to run a fertilizer plant which has problems hence the need for their own independent power substation.

Kabaghe explained that the power plant project alone is projected to cost about $75 million dollars as roughly it costs about $1 million per megawatt.

“Currently UCF consumes power from ZESCO with some transformers, but once we start producing at the projected full capacity in the next two years we will not need ZESCO as we will have our own station because we are anticipating all those problems to come in future and we need to be in house so that we can stay.” Said Kabaghe.

“Because once we start exporting fertilizer and people buy forward, we cannot afford to disappoint them so we need to have all the necessary components in place in particular the heating facility because the requirement for electricity is very high.” He said.  

Kabaghe said realization of the 600 000 fertilizer production, entails that there will be no need for the country to import fertilizer as the country will be safe sufficient as the fertilizer will be locally produced while the product will be easily accessed with low prices.

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United Capital Fertilizer UCF has disclosed plans

Mining

Mopani copper mine has held its first Women in Mining Business Forum & Exhibition aimed at facilitating networking and strengthen business linkages for Women in the mining sector.  

Mopani Copper Mine Chief Executive Officer has underscored the need for stakeholders in the Mining sector to enhance Women empowerment in the mining sector in Zambia.

Speaking during the opening of the first Mopani Women in Mining Business Forum & Exhibition held in Kitwe, Mopani Chief Executive Officer Charles Sakanya said Women in Zambia and the Sub-Saharan region have been struggling to benefit from the opportunities of large-scale mining operations and often disproportionately suffer from the negative impacts of the industry.

Sakanya said Women’s economic empowerment is essential to ensuring that the benefits of the mining and minerals sector are shared widely by the community. “It is Mopani’s desire to increase local spend and we recognise the urgent need to invest in our women.” He added

He added that, “For the mining industry to become a vehicle of inclusive economic growth, gender considerations and women’s economic empowerment must be integrated into every phase of mining projects. Mopani is abreast with this fact and commits to ensuring that no one is left behind.”

He explained that Mopani’s Corporate Social Responsibility aims to contribute to building thriving and resilient communities through community social investments and local economic development and shared value. “We want to achieve this through our Policy to include women in mining which is part of the Local Enterprise Development (LED) programme, by instituting capacity building initiatives that empower women, local communities and Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) for competitive relevance.”

He said to ensure that these initiatives are sustainable and inclusive, Mopani employ a consultative approach to draw from best practices and lessons learned through continued engagements with stakeholders and the forging of important partnerships.

“This forum is a trigger for a wider programme in which Mopani intends to implement a supplier development programme which will elaborate a process of closer relationships with suppliers, on a one-to-one basis, with the goal of improving their performance which will be monitored by my office to ensure women participation increases in the next years to come.” According to his speech made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT.

Mopani Copper Mines PLC in collaboration with private sector development organisation, Prospero Ltd and the Copperbelt University (CBU) Africa Centre of Excellence and Sustainable Mining in Africa is holding its first Women in Mining Forum & Exhibition from 29th and 30th March 2023.

Mopani’s Women in Mining Business Forum & Exhibition is aimed at facilitating networking and strengthen business linkages for Women in the mining sector.  

The Forum & Exhibition is being held under the theme: “Creating Deliberate Spaces for Information Sharing, Dialogue and Business Growth.” This event is the flagship of the Women in Mining Programme designed to promote gender diversity and encourage the growth of women-led businesses and SMEs in the mining industry.

The event is a 2-day face-to-face meeting featuring an array of topics related to doing business with the mines, the role of business member organisations in providing an organised voice for private sector development, access to finance, and opportunities for growth with technology, among others.

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Mopani copper mine has held its first

Mining

The Zambia’s 2022 annual Gold Production has dropped from 2,432 metric tons produced in the previous year 2021 to now 1,515 metric tons produced in the year 2022.

According to a consolidated mineral production report obtained by the Zambian Business Times –ZBT, the 2022 reduction represent 917 metric tons. The drop is largely attributed to lack of traction by the mines ministry to formalize known artisanal mining activities and failure to timely re-open Kansenseli and Mumbwa Gold Mines among others.

At a time when gold mining is supposed to have been on the increase, traditional leaders and concerned residents of Mwinilunga in North Western Province have told ZBT that corrupt senior officials in government have been resisting re-opening the gold mine as they have some illegal miners sneaking in to mine.

A legislator from the gold rich Mwinilunga district accused the Zambia National Service – ZNS ( a state security wing charged with the responsibility of guarding the mine) of facilitating gold theft from then closed Kasenseli mine. Gold mining is a Lucrative amen which can be financed even locally but some corrupt government technocrats want to sell to cash in on commission and facilitation fees.

Meanwhile, a Mining Expert Edward Simukonda has attributed this massive decline to the continued closing and failure to re-open gold mines like the state owned Kasenseli Gold Mine and Mumbwa Gold mine among others. Simukonda told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT- that the continued closure of the state owned gold mine and others is negatively affecting Gold production in the Country resulting into reduced forex inflows.

The continued closure of the state owned Kasenseli Gold Mine in Mwinilunga District is also affecting the country’s revenue generation. Simukonda said Government had also restructured its system at the Cadestre department which he said had also affected a number of companies leading to the slowed down production. 

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The Zambia’s 2022 annual Gold Production has

Mining

Barrick Gold Lumwana Mine has reported a 12% increase in the annual 2022 copper production beating the 2021 production.

The 2022 annual copper production at the North Western’s Lumwana Copper Mine stood at 121, 113 metric tons representing a 12% increase in production.

According to mineral production figures obtained from the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, obtained by the Zambian Business Times –ZBT – the 2022 annual Copper production at Lumwana stood at 121, 113 metric tons from the 108, 790 metric tons recorded in 2021.

The North Western Province based Lumwana mine is a large copper mine located in north-west Zambia in North-Western Province.

Lumwana is owned by Barrick Gold and represents one of the largest copper reserves in Zambia and in the world having estimated 5.014 billion pounds of proven and probable copper reserves of ore grading 0.68% copper.

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Barrick Gold Lumwana Mine has reported a

Mining

Zambia is set to start commercial Uranium production in 2027. GoviEx Uranium, the company with mining rights has exclusively confirmed that the company is expected to secure the project financing and start construction at Muntanga Uranium Mine once the bankable feasibility study is completed.

GoviEx Uranium Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Isabel Vilela disclosed that the Company aims to deliver a bankable Feasibility Study for the much expanded Muntanga Uranium project by next year in 2024. The mine is located in Siavonga district of Southern Province.

Vilela explained that the Muntanga project was permitted in 2010, just before uranium prices collapsed to $16/lb, below the industry cost of production following the Fukushima nuclear incident in Japan in 2011, adding that they only acquired the project at the end of 2016, when uranium prices were still below the industry cost of production.

She told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that that the original 2010 mining permit was based on a 20Mlb U3O8 mineral resource which has now been expanded to 60 Mlbs. Vilela said this highlights the fact that the Company focused on expanding the project and optimizing it to improve its potential economics and hence accelerated its development timeline during the period of low uranium prices.

“As you may understand, this is a complex process that involves multiple factors working in tandem. Typically, a mining project commences construction a few years after the completion of a Feasibility Study, subject to the duration required to secure financing.” She said.

She added that GoviEX is also updating the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment – ESIA to an International Financial Corporation (IFC) standard, in line with current international best practices.   Vilela stated that this total process usually takes approximately 3-4 years to complete with the first uranium production targeted for 2027/2028. Uranium production can add to resolving the energy deficit Zambia continues to grapple with whenever water levels drop on the back of hydro power over-dependence.

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Zambia is set to start commercial Uranium

Politics

The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia – EFZ has questioned the role that the police played during and after the recently held ‘gay and lesbian’ parade stating it is the prayer of the Nation that the alleged summoning of the Organisers of the gay parade seen in Lusaka over the weekend, is not a desperate attempt to soften the hearts of the Zambian people while pretending to be doing something about it.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – EFZ Executive Director, Bishop Andrew Mwenda, said the Nation is left with a bitter aftertaste of the pro-gay march and further wondered if the organisers are less informed about gay rights in Zambia, the stance of the Church and the position of the President on Homosexuality.

Bishop Mwenda said the act is disgusting especially when Zambia is a Christian nation and its Governance is anchored on the Word of God which cannot be altered by man and the rule of law.

He said these acts are clearly a violation of the Biblical teachings and an arbitrary disrespect of the rule of law among others.

He said it is disheartening to note a clear disregard for the season which is aimed highlighting women as key partners in development, a month which is meant to advocate for women’s and children’s rights.

“Am suspicious of the police when they says that the police were cheated but the fact is how do they summon them when they gave them officers to escort them and the officers read and heard what the guys where saying that it was a LTQB thing and still permitted them to proceed with the protest.” He questioned.  

“So we really do not understand how the police worked so we call up on the police command especially Mr Lemmy Kajoba himself to up their game in this issue as it is against the law. It happened in August 2022 and the police just let it like that as we have not heard anything from them since then and this is yet another incidence and we are trusting that the police will not just let go but apply the law to its fullest.”

“I also want to appeal to our youths that money is not everything and they shouldn’t be bought and given to such messed issues as life goes beyond today and you can’t sell your life for money. We know poverty is there but youths should resist from being used from such as the thing is irreparable.” He warned.  

He told ZBT that, “We are working with the police and if the law does not get applied to the full EFZ will take the issue upon themselves to make sure that the law becomes stronger thereby appealing to parliament and the court to ensure that the law is applied to the fullest.”

He said the freedom of expression people long to enjoy should not be used to corrupt the moral fabric of this country and challenged the Zambia Police to quickly arrest the organisers who deliberately disregarded the law.

Bishop Mwenda has also encouraged youths in the country to uphold and respect the Zambian Cultural and national values as Africans and as a Christian Nation

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The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia - EFZ