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Lifestyle

The number of missing persons in Zambia which is now being exposed via social media may be bigger than it is being thought to be. The Zambia police has revealed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that for a person to be classified as a missing person, they have to have been absent for at least seven (7) days.

Of late, following the abduction and eventual disappearance of a mobile money agent – Pamela Chisumpa, more reports and stories have been circulating on social media of people reported missing, the young and the old, boys and girls and male and female with no clear indication quantification of how deep and big this problem is.

However an investigation instituted by ZBT is indicating that there is no readily available and live statistics of how many people have been reported missing across the country as the police reforms to digitize and upgrade its reporting system  has not been completed with most police stations still utilizing manual recording systems which are difficult for any management team to timely gather case statistics on a real time or timely manner.

An exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times, Zambia Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga disclosed that it takes seven (7) days for a reported case of disappearance to qualify to be classified as a missing person. Missing person classification is a parameter used worldwide to be used as a basis to Institute serious investigations.

The Police spokesperson told ZBT that sometimes Police receive reports of someone missing and later these people re-surface, that he or she was with the relatives. “ in some case, we have had parents who are on separation, [one of the] other parent gets them from school and the other parent reports that the child is missing”, he said.

And when asked about the statistics of the total number of missing persons across the country in Zambia total, Hamoonga said that such needs to be compiled because it takes 7 days for a reported case to qualify as a missing person.

Social media has been rife with increasing reports of alleged abductions, the most recent being that of Pamela Chisumpa aged 22 who remains still missing with police indicating that investigations are still underway and the other one relating to Mike Banda aged 26 who was later found and detained for giving false information to a public officer.

The Zambia Police spokesperson told ZBT that they currently have two confirmed adduction cases, these cases are both under investigations. One case of an alleged abduction is yet to be concluded and the other one has turned out to be a fake abduction case of Mike Banda who is currently in the custody, he said.

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The number of missing persons in Zambia

Politics

President Hakainde Hichilema says there is need to apply the rule of law in dealing with the matter in which a leaked audio recording purporting that Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Joseph Akafumba and Presidential Aide for Politics, Levy Ngoma attempted to undermine the democracy of the country.

Speaking when he addressed the nation during a Press Conference monitored by the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, President Hichilema said there is need to be sober when handling the matter and not be draconian stressing that the application of the rule of law is key in handling the matter.

When asked by a journalist, his position on the two government officials that are accused to have been in this audio and the conclusion he had made, President Hichilema said, “The rule of law is what we should use, it’s to apply the rule of law, it’s not to be draconian, it’s to be sober about these issues”.

He said he has asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) working with the Ministry of Information and Media to establish toll free lines so that every citizen is free to report any corruption cases.

In the leaked audio, the two UPND officials could be heard discussing how they were finding it difficult to convince the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Nshindano to agree with them in executing their plot against the Harry Kalaba led Democratic Party.

The audio was suggesting that the two officials were attempting to arm-twist the Electoral Commission of Zambia over the Democratic Party’s participation in the Kabwata by-election, which were held in February 2022.

 

 

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President Hakainde Hichilema says there is need

Lifestyle

President Hakainde Hichilema says government is aware of the high cost of living in the country, which it is working towards arresting, as it is aware of the implications on the ordinary citizens.

The Head of State said there is need to deal with the issues of debt, high fuel cost and the high cost of fertilizer in order to have a long lasting solution adding that government is combining short, medium and long-term solutions to address the challenges.

Speaking during a Press Conference at State House yesterday, monitored by the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, President Hichilema explained that in combating the issue of the high cost of living, part of the measures taken are that government is in conversations with bilateral countries, oil-producing countries and fertilizer producing countries.

He noted that government is working towards negotiating bilateral arrangements, which if successful will alleviate the pressure arising from fuel and fertilizer on the high cost of living.

The President said that turning around the economy that was leaking everywhere could not be done by the day but over a period of time adding that lasting solutions shall be created to these short-term issues, which are damaging.

 

 

 

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President Hakainde Hichilema says government is aware

Mining

President Hakainde Hichilema has clarified that government does not intend to give back Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to Indian mining firm Vedanta Resources.

Speaking during a Press Conference at State House, monitored by the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, President Hichilema explained that government is looking for a solution for KCM so that the mine can contribute to the three million tonnes copper production which government has targeted.

He said government also wants Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) to return to full production in order to increase production, earn more revenue and employ more people in the mining sector so that all citizens can benefit from the mines.

“I have seen the media falsehoods that we want to give KCM back to Vedanta, that’s not true, we want to unlock KCM, it’s a Zambian asset and nothing should stand in the way so that the people of the Copperbelt and the people of Zambia can benefit. When KCM is unlocked, it benefits the people of Copperbelt, it benefits our citizens here, it benefits suppliers, it benefits revenue and foreign exchange income”, he said.

The President said the mining asset is being abused and government is determined to do what it takes to bring the asset back into production adding that no innuendo or court process will slow government down.

“That’s why you hear the noise on the liquidator of KCM because he was sitting in the way of resolving the KCM problems, Mopani we are very close, it’s an easier asset to unlock so we are getting there, soon you will hear the progress we have made. KCM is a bit complicated and it was made complicated by appointing liquidator who should not have been there in the first place”, the President said.

 

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President Hakainde Hichilema has clarified that government

Markets

ZANACO has attributed the slight appreciation of the kwacha to the statement made by the Chinese Central Bank Governor Yi Gang that China will finally join Zambia’s creditor committee.

According to ZANACO’s Indicative Forex Rates on 22 April 2022, the kwacha is buying at K17.03 and selling at K17.36.

The Bank’s Head of Economic Research Dr. Patrick Chileshe said China’s commitment is likely to accelerate the pace of restructuring Zambia’s debt because previously investors were concerned with china’s participation in the process.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Chileshe said now that China is firmly on board, everyone is indicating that it is just a matter of when and not if as it is almost a done deal.

Chileshe explained that the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s indication that it has finally agreed to move ahead, together with the World Bank on Zambia’s US$1.4 billion bailout package has also contributed to the appreciation of the kwacha adding that IMF was also happy to hear that China is going to participate in the debt restructuring process.

He added that china been the largest lender to Zambia them participating in the process adds more credibility to the restructuring process for Zambia’s debt

“The rates are reacting to positive sentiments that have come out of Washington, positive news came out of Washington and that is what the market is reacting to. All the orders of foreign currencies appear that the kwacha is likely to gain significantly, we are seeing a low of around 15 so what we might see is more and more people might start panic selling and that must push the kwacha to more appreciation”, he said.

“We are seeing the kwacha crossing into well below the K16 mark into K15; it is already indicating that direction at the moment. If you look on the interbank market, the kwacha is trading at around K16.80 and we expect those rates to translate into market rates very quickly. We should see it next week open even much lower in terms of trading on the interbank market”, Chileshe said.

 

 

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ZANACO has attributed the slight appreciation of

Lifestyle

Intercity Bus Terminus Station Manager Annie Shikabonga has disclosed that the riot that broke out this morning at Intercity Bus Terminus and surrounding areas was sponsored by an employee of one of the bus companies.

Shikabonga has accused an employee of Shalom Bus Services of been behind the commotion that took place at Intercity this morning because he was not happy with management’s decision to reduce the number of callboys at the station.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Shikabonga said management allowed bus operators to remain with 2-5 callboys depending on how big the company is adding that the callboys should only be present when the busses are loading which they agreed to.

Shikabonga explained that once the busses are loaded and they leave the station, the callboys remain at the bus station harassing and stealing from people adding that the callboys do not use proper toilets and are also promoting the abuse of drugs around the area, a situation that led to the decision to limit the number of callboys at Intercity.

“Last week on Thursday we had a meeting between Intercity and bus operators at the council chambers. The problem that we have is we have an influx of callboys every day and it was observed that these guys are coming in because they are being paid K50 for every client that they bring to the bus everyday but they are harassing and stealing from people”, she said.

“Just yesterday the guy from Shalom approached my deputy and said we are not for the idea that the call boys go because we still need them. In the morning he was seen paying those guys, he told the guys to say protest and I will give you money”, she said.

Shikabonga noted that operation officers from Lusaka central police are keeping vigil and the situation is now calm.

 

 

 

 

 

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Intercity Bus Terminus Station Manager Annie Shikabonga

Markets

The Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) says the statistics from the first quarter of 2022 indicate that the market had sufficient liquidity to support the private sector, households as well as calls for bids from government.

This is despite most domestic businesses and the general public complaining of low liquidity “no money in circulation” and reports of reduced demand in the retail sector.

BAZ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Leonard Mwanza said that in terms of liquidity on the side of commercial banks, there has been sufficient liquidity that has been circulating on the Zambian market.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Mwanza said there has not been a point where banks are short of liquidity to meet their daily obligations or to place with the private sector borrowers as well as to place with the private sector through government bonds and treasury bills.

Mwanza reiterated that the liquidity profile on the market has been sufficient to meet liability obligations as they fall due. “Liquidity, we measure it as the capacity for a bank to pay the owners of the money, to meet their liabilities as and when they fall due and to have sufficient liquidity that they can use to support government intentions to borrow, to support individuals or the private sector to borrow”, he said.

There is a narrative and social media complaints that there is “no money in circulation” with some members of the public blaming the increase in the price of fuel as the main cause of reduced spending power experienced in the retail and informal sector.

There has not been an official statement from the ministry of finance or statistics to back the allegations of low market liquidity.

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The Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) says

Markets

An established economist has disclosed that Zambia will this year  2022 be surviving mostly on international reserves as the economy is facing serious difficulties.

Zambia’s reserves in July 2021 crossed the standard three months import cover threshold after getting a $1.3 billion special drawing rights – SDR allocation from the International Monetary Fund – IMF following the global Covid 19 pandemic.

An alternative source to grow international reserves through gold through a state owned Zambia gold company also suffered a set back after the rich Kasenseli gold mine of Mwinilunga was closed by the new dawn administration with no road map shared on its re-opening.

Yusuf Dodia told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that  Zambia is running a deficit budget, as more than 50% of the national budget is meant to be funded from foreign sources such as grants and loans which will makes it very difficult to build on the balance of foreign reserves held.

Dodia stated that the other factor that is making it difficult for the nation to build foreign reserves is the rising debt which has now increased from US$14.1 to over US$ 17 billion which is really causing problems in terms of the nation’s ability to finance it’d development programs.

“Building foreign or international reserves is not currently easy for the country because its fighting a difficult battle of trying to raise resources in order to manage the current situation of financing the national budget and also the servicing of external and local debt”, Dodia stated.

He added that a look at the 2022 national budget, it shows that the debt servicing allocation for this year is K78 billion as opposed to K46 billion last year, hence building or even maintaining the the balance held on international reserves becomes a very difficult action to focus on.

“If the country can tighten its belts and focus on developing the domestic private sector, make the cost of doing business in Zambia affordable as much as possible, reflect on the policy of energy management by adjusting the policy to ensure that industry and commerce get the cheapest fuel and electricity in the region, these can help to make the local industry competitive. I think that if we do that, we will be able to achieve economic growth and we will be able to begin to contribute and grow our international reserves”, he said.

The renowned economist told ZBT that situation the country finds itself in makes it difficult to address the issue of sustaining or even growing its international reserves. He added that it is pointless to start assessing whether the country has contributed towards growing its international reserves because one can see that the country is not adequately dealing with its day to day requirements, then how does it even start to deal with the issue of growing its international reserves? Dodia asked.

He said that the country is dealing with what gives people their basic needs and that’s to make sure that the people are productive, people are employed and making sure that people are managing in these difficult times of the covid pandemic, the increased oil prices and where the economy is not competitive as far as the regional economy is concerned.

He added that he does not expect the Zambian economy to pick up this year, because this is the year that the Ukraine – Russia conflict is going to have a big and negative impact on the economy, thus the year 2022 is the year were country will try to simply survive.

Analysts say Zambia can build serious gold reserves as an alternative or complimentary to forex reserves but lethargy and lack of drive from successive authorities at both the ministry of finance and Bank of Zambia remains a challenge.

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An established economist has disclosed that Zambia

Lifestyle

The Zambia Medical Association-ZMA has attributed the current shortage of drugs and medical supplies in health facilities to the shifting of procurement functions of medical supplies from the Ministry of Health (MOH) to the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA).

Association President Dr. Crispin Moyo said there was no transitional plan to ensure that there is continuity of supply of medicines during the period that the procurement was been transitioned to ZAMMSA.

Speaking during a press conference attended by the Zambian Business Times-ZBT , Moyo however noted that enough time has passed since the signing off and implementation of the ZAMMSA Act therefore there should already be a robust interim procurement mechanism to allow for continuity of service delivery.

“The reason why we have a shortage of drugs right now is that the Ministry of Health stopped procuring medicines in September and the procurement team at the Ministry of Health was also suspended”, he said.

“There were contracts that were signed that were cancelled because they were found to have not followed the due process, that created the gap in the supply of medicines, at the same time the procurement function was immediately moved to ZAMMSA without a transitional arrangement. The contracts were cancelled meaning ZAMMSA should have quickly moved in and procured the drugs but ZAMMSA was not a procurement agency, they were focusing on storage and distribution”, Moyo said.

Moyo said while the ministry is thinking of a transitional plan to make sure that there is continuity in the supply of medicines, the budget earmarked for procurement of drugs should be proportionately apportioned to health facilities to procure directly with a clear mechanism of accountability put in place.

“Let them buy locally for now, until ZAMMSA has picked up and their procurement system has been put in place. If that were possible, the minister of health and technocrats at ministry of health should start working on that mechanism so that those monies are disbursed to the facilities or atleast at provincial level. This will ensure that the procurement of drugs continues because not having drugs in a facility today may mean death to some of our people who are vulnerable”, Moyo said.

 

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The Zambia Medical Association-ZMA has attributed the

Politics

Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe has denied allegations that President Hakainde Hichilema and Vice President Mutale Nalumango as well as state house senior staff and other government officials met with former Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Provisional Liquidator Milingo Lungu to enter into an immunity in return for him resigning as KCM Provisional Liquidator.

Responding to a question from the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, during a press briefing held at the Ministry of Justice, Haimbe reiterated that its not the policy of the President and government to meet with persons who are in conflict with the law and undertake any sort of negotiation with them for purposes of undermining the course of justice.

“We wish to end all public speculation which suggests that the presidency has interfered in the DPP’s functions in any way including by issuing instructions to grant immunity to any persons facing criminal proceedings in Zambia. No such instructions have ever been issued as doing so would be abhorrent to the principal of the new dawn government to protect institutions of governance and the rule of law”, he said.

Haimbe said contrary to speculations that the president can direct the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the exercise of her functions, the opposite is true. He added that the only caution to the exercise of the DPP’S functions is that she must do so within the law, failure to which she must be held to account as no one is above the law.

He emphasized that it is not the policy of government for the president to meet and negotiate with any person that is in conflict with the law for purposes of subverting the course of justice.

The Minister also noted that any action taken by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the exercise of her office has been done unilaterally by her, in her sole discretion and in the purported exercise of her constitutional mandate.

Haimbe however said the ministry’s assessment is that there have been significant lapses in the way the DPP has exercised her functions concerning the confines of the law and in the public interest adding that, these lapses require thorough, independent and fair investigation by relevant bodies.

He added that the ministry is aware that various citizens have approached the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC) with complaints against the DPP and the JCC’s mandate among other things is to independently investigate and consider such complaints with a view ultimately to regressing them in accordance with the law.

The minister urged the JCC to expedite its consideration of the complaints before it so as, not only to afford the DPP a platform on which to explain her actions but also to put an end to public speculation over these important issues.

 

 

 

 

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Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe has denied allegations