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The Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia – BTOAZ spokesperson Amis Daudi has revealed that whoever come up with the Road Transport and Safety Agency – RTSA published fare reduction rates and amounts which have been disputed does not appreciate the reality and intricacies of the public transport business model and risks killing the private transport sector.

Daudi stated that what RATSA published to the public regarding the  [proposed] 14% bus fare reduction is at variance with what was discussed at the consultative and stakeholders meeting that had been held with key stakeholders.

He said the numbers RATSA published are totally different from what was discussed in the meeting, adding that what was published is simply telling people in the transport industry to reduce or erode their current incomes by 50%, which would make the business unsustainable.

In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, the BTOAZ spokeperson said whoever was working on the numbers from RATSA is [inexperienced or] not close to the business reality on the ground.

Daudi further added that the reduction has not taken into consideration other operating expenses thst the Taxi and Bus operators pay for. Among other operational costs that the industry contends with are insurance costs, maintenance costs and the driver’s salary among others. “We have not closed the door, our door is still open for them [RTSA] to engage”, he stated.

And a random check conducted by ZBT has revealed that the new fare chat has not been released, hence no reduction has been effected. This has created some friction between passengers and bus operators, a situation that needs urgent resolution.

A Lusaka based bus driver spoken to by ZBT stated that it is unfortunate that RTSA has suggested to peg the price reduction for fares that is more than what was reduced to when you look at the price of fuel, hence affecting the [income] and cashing that was being generated.

“Us for example who  operate from Kanyama Roma Shungu route, it will be very difficult to work on what was announced, because people currently pay K8, meaning that if the K5 reduction that was announced by RTSA is effected, that will mean that passengers will start paying K3, which will be very difficult for us to balance up because we have cashing (daily income target) to meet ”, he stated.

James Saili said the only hope him and his fellow drivers have is to see the fuel price to reduce further if the proposed fares are to be accepted and for them to make it easy to do business. A check across the key cities in Zambia of Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola and Livingstone shows that the RTSA reduced fares have not been implemented.

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The Bus and Taxi Owners Association of

Lifestyle

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Elijah Muchima says local people are the reason behind the escalating number of foreigners owning a huge percentage of prime land compared to indigenous Zambians.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Muchima explained that local people are selling their pieces of land to foreigners and sometimes, foreigners are using Zambians to acquire land.

The Minister added that some foreigners have formed companies and are having those companies registered under the names of Zambian individuals, which is making it easy for the foreigners to acquire land noting that various ways are used to acquire land by foreigners.

Muchima noted that it is unfortunate that when an individual owns land, they cannot be told what to do with the land or whom they can sell it to adding that local people are aware of the consequences of selling most of the land in the country to foreigners but they are too hungry for money.

He mentioned that there is a law in place that disadvantages foreigners from owning land therefore, they can only own land in Zambia under the signature of the President or recommendations under the office of Lands and Natural Resources Ministry.

“It takes a few weeks but it is a procedure because it has to go to state house, the president has to be satisfied”, he said

Muchima has since urged Zambians to guard their lands because once land is gone it is difficult to claim it back.

 

 

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Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Elijah

Mining

Renowned Engineer Clive Chirwa says Zambia’s target of increasing copper production to three million tons in the next ten years is unattainable.

The UPND government is eyeing a copper production of up to 1.3 million metric tons for the 2022 fiscal year as the country begins taking steps towards achieving its target of 3 million metric tons of copper within the next 10 years.

In an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Chirwa argued that the target is unattainable because of the low copper content in the ores around the country.

“It is not attainable due to the low copper content in the ore around Zambia. If we get to 1.5 million tons of copper productions this year then we can celebrate success”, he said.

And Financial Analyst Maambo Hamaundu said government should first start by asking why the mining companies were not able to accomplish this 3 million tons production levels and then take practical steps towards achieving the pronouncement.

Hamaundu had earlier told the ZBT in an exclusive interview that achieving the set 3 million tons of annual copper production target by the government would put Zambia in a very good strategic position.

“The minister of finance in one of his pronouncements did indicate to say he wants to see an improvement in the mining sector in terms of production. Our production of copper now is around 850 000 tonnes per year, he is pushing to say we could go to 3 million tons per annum”, he said.

“If we accomplish that and with the projections that the copper prices are likely to stay up and might even go higher than where it is now, then Zambia is sitting in a very good position, we might see the benefits of higher copper production trickling down into Zambia”, Hamaundu noted.

“But all this will be centered around management, yes we can pronounce to say we want to go to 3 million tons but we need to ensure that there are practical steps that are being taken,” he said.

Hamaundu further said “we need to ask ourselves, why are we not accomplishing that 3 million tonnes production now? What challenges is the mining sector facing? Are the mines deliberately not just mining because they are perhaps demotivated because of the current tax laws or is it that they do not have sufficient electricity to help them mine”.

He said all those questions have to be asked and answers or solutions identified on what needs to be done to ensure the country meets the target it’s aiming at adding that ultimately if copper production improves, the ultimate and bigger beneficiaries will be the Zambian people.

“Of course the business owners will also benefit but the biggest beneficiaries will be the Zambian people because a number of jobs will be created in the process, we will have high tax revenues to meet the social services and other needs for the country. That is the position we are in as a country at the moment,” he explained.

The challenge has always been on how to strike a balance between the mining companies interests and the country’s interests and agreeing on predictable and long term taxation that is equitable for the key stakeholders. It remains to be seen how the new government will handle these very complex negotiations.

 

 

 

 

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Renowned Engineer Clive Chirwa says Zambia’s target

Markets

Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane says the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board is expected to meet and give Zambia a programme by the end of this month.

Dr. Musokotwane explained that once this happens, the IMF would be able to give the country a loan adding that the official creditors providing financing assurances has paved the way for Zambia to secure the $1.4 billion bailout package.

Speaking during a media briefing monitored by the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Dr. Musokotwane said this means Zambia must prove to the creditors including the IMF and the World Bank that the country is capable of managing its affairs properly.

He noted that in the next coming months, government and the official creditors would have discussions on how to restructure the debt to which government is committed adding that similar discussions will be held with private creditors.

The Minister said creditors agreeing to restructure the country’s debt unlocks further assistance from the IMF and other multilateral agencies noting that this is important because after debt restructuring, debt will be sustainable but not comfortable and will need to be serviced therefore the need for extra financing.

“Money was given to us by IMF last year, Zambia got 1.3 billion equivalent to dollars, just a gift never to be repaid, part of which is being spent in this year’s budget but it’s not sustainable too because at some point the money will finish and you still have a mountain of debt”, he said.

Dr. Musokotwane added that borrowing money after debt restructuring is still important because the country will still need to service its debt and remain with enough money to spend on social sectors such as health and education.

He said a year or two ago, out of K1 collected in tax revenue, 90 ngwee was spent on debt service and salaries of public workers with nothing left for anything else.

The Minister mentioned that cancelling unsustainable projects financed by debt is one of the measures to address the debt situation and government has put a law in place, which says for government to acquire external debt loans, parliament must agree.

Dr. Musokotwane added that the law also states that at any given time, the country’s level of indebtedness compared to the size of the economy will not exceed a certain level adding that the law will make it difficult for anyone to get the country back into a debt crisis.

 

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Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr.

Companies

Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Charles Milupi says government decided to cancel the contract for the construction of the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway because it has no money to fund the project.

Milupi said the project would now be undertaken by the private sector under the Private Public Partnership-PPP Act, which will not cost government anything adding that it was too expensive for government to continue with the works under the previous contract.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Milupi said government took time to negotiate the concession as everything is being done with transparency and the ministry will announce the outcome of the concessions before construction works resume.

“On this particular one even if we were doing it with our own money, we would save about  USD700,000 000, that would be equivalent to the first euro bond saved on one project, that shows how expensive things were given out”, he said.

He noted that government could not disclose when exactly the project will resume, as discussions are underway.

The Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway whose works are at 15% was on the list of cancelled loan financed projects and government has already engaged respective contractors to complete formalities for cancellation of work contracts for the dual carriageway among other listed projects.

The cancelled contract was on a loan amount of USD187,000,000.00 with the amount disbursed at USD30,000,000.00 and the undisbursed amount being cancelled at USD157,000,000.00

 

 

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Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development

Agribusiness

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has announced that the crop-marketing season for this year is in progress and the agency is already on the market buying Non-Genetically Modified white maize, paddy rice and soya beans as announced earlier.

FRA Public Relations Coordinator John Chipandwe said all clients willing to sell their crops to the agency can deliver their produce to any nearest Food Reserve Agency Satellite Depot countrywide.

According to information made available to the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Chipandwe noted that as farmers take their crops to the nearest FRA depot, the agency wishes to urge them to ensure that they clean the crops from their homesteads to prevent congestion and lessen on the time they will spend at the depot.

Chipandwe said the agency also wishes to advise farmers countrywide who will be selling their crops not to sell all their harvest or produce as the marketing season progresses as national food security begins at household level.

He added that farmers are therefore encouraged to sell only their excess produce after putting aside adequate varieties of food for domestic future use.

The Food Reserve Agency earlier announced that it would be buying a 50kg bag of maize at K180 for the 2022 crop-marketing season, which is an increment of only K30 from last year. The agency intends to purchase at least 170, 000 metric tons of maize, 1, 500 metric tons of soya beans and 1, 000 metric tons of rice.

FRA purchased 947, 777.55 metric tons of maize valued at K2.8 billion, 121.60 metric tons of soya beans valued at K1.2 million and 656.80 metric tons of rice valued at K3.2 million in the 2021 crop marketing season.

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The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has announced

Lifestyle

Transparency International Zambia-TIZ has urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ to ensure that the individual it appoints as the new Chief Electoral Officer-CEO has no political affiliation.

The Electoral Commission earlier announced that the Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano would leave ECZ on 7 August 2022 following a mutual agreement between both parties. Nshindano has served the commission since August 2019.

TIZ President Sampa Kalunga said different independent stakeholders should agree upon the next appointee so that even at a time when the UPND government leaves office; the individual would remain in office.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Kalunga said the appointment should be a sober one to avoid people losing confidence in the Electoral Commission therefore the need to refrain from appointing somebody because he/she sides with the ruling party.

“They should avoid appointing a person that will have to be changed with change of government. The new Chief Electoral Officer should have no political affiliations hence the appointment should go beyond praise singers”, he said.

Kalunga noted that there is need to build something that will lead the country into good systems of democracy and good governance.

“If they make a mistake and appoint somebody who is inclined only to the views of the UPND we won’t go anywhere”, he said.

 

 

 

 

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Transparency International Zambia-TIZ has urged the Electoral

Companies

The Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia has appealed to government to reconsider reverting to the quarterly fuel price reviews as the monthly review is negatively affecting the business community.

Association Spokesperson Amis Daudi said the cost of fuel is a fundamental cost in the operations of the industry for both the business community and bus owners therefore the need to bring about stability by reintroducing quarterly reviews.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Daudi said it is becoming very difficult for business as well as individuals to plan and budget on their spending because of the changes being made in various sectors of the economy due to fuel price changes every month.

“Last month they increased the price, after increasing the price we had to draw a fare chat and government delayed to give the approval of that chart until the 17th. By the time we were distributing the charts, it was around 20th so the new price has only been around for 10 days and we are already talking of a new one”, he said.

Daudi noted that the association has tried to table the issue during meetings but there has not been any positive response.

The Energy Regulation Board-ERB announced a downward fuel price adjustment of K3.56 for petrol and K3.14 for diesel for the month of August 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Bus and Taxi Owners Association of

Markets

Energy Expert Boniface Zulu says there is need for Zambia to invest heavily in new energy in order for the country to take its rightful place in the global energy market.

Zulu said the race to produce clean energy has never been greater than today as most regions, nations and private companies are putting resources together to maximize production of these systems.

According to information made available to the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Zulu said Zambia has not seized the opportunity fully to invest in alternative energy sources seeing that energy demand is huge and far outweighs production, which is currently 3800 megawatts and is proved to only cater for 31% of the general population.

“Pre-feasibility studies to build solar factories in strategic points around the country will see move faster than lightening into a new future that has never been seen before opening doors to industrialization, electric mobility, cultural change and economic prosperity”, he said.

He explained that the main goal to build such facilities is to reduce costs on importation of solar panels that will be used to build large state-owned power plants as well as provide the public with a cheaper source of generating energy within the comfort of their homes.

Zulu mentioned that the stipulated ideas need a lot of money that can be outsourced from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the African Development Bank and the U.S government partnership power Africa.

The Expert added that the initial project studies will cost an estimated $1.8 million with the help of financial aid, it will be easy to estimate the initial amount needed to bring a project of such magnitude to life.

He noted that the tasks ahead are not easy but planning has to take place immediately as the raw materials needed for the production line of these systems are widely available in Zambia.

 

 

 

 

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Energy Expert Boniface Zulu says there is

Companies

The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission-CEEC says it intends to recover 80% of the empowerment funds that were obtained by various individuals including artists, by the end of this year.

CEEC Public Relations Manager Michelo Mukata said the Commission has put in place plans to recover the empowerment funds from artists as well as other individuals who accessed funds under the Aquaculture Seed Fund, Skills Development and other schemes.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Mukata said the business loans that people get are meant to be paid back in order to make the empowerment sustainable so that other people can benefit adding that this will ensure the commission meets its mandate.

Mukata said the commission is currently recruiting more human resource in order to ensure continued monitoring and evaluation of the financed projects among other implementations so that all the money that is owed to the commission is recovered.

He has urged the general citizenry to make sure they practice what he called the highest level of responsibility and ensure they pay back the funds that they become accountable for when obtained.

 

 

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The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission-CEEC says it