Zambia’s ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita says about 8 potential German investors are expected in the country in the next few weeks to explore investment opportunities in the energy sector. Ambassador Mukwita says the South Africa-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Project Manager Markus Wolf has assured him that the investors will be coming following recent policy decisions by the Zambian government to remove energy subsidies.
“We expect between five to eight potential investors in the Germany energy sector to join us in Zambia in two months to seriously explore opportunities that are available in the Zambian energy sector,” Mr Wolf said.
According to a press statement released to the media by Kellys Kaunda, First Secretary for Press at the Zambia Embassy in German, Mr. Wolf made the disclosure to the Zambian ambassador in Germany Friday during an Information Workshop on investment opportunities in the Zambian energy sector organized by the GIZ, a German government international investment wing.
“Now you can see that the bold decision by President Edgar Lungu to scrap subsidies that kept tariffs in the energy sector artificially low is beginning to yield positive economic results as more and more foreign companies beat the investment path leading to Zambia”, ambassador Mukwita said. During his keynote address to the workshop, the Zambian envoy said the investment climate in the energy sector was now attractive following the removal of subsidies that had characterized the sector for over 40 years in Zambia.
In reference to this decision, Mr. Wolf told the Zambian envoy that “the high interest the Zambian energy sector was receiving” was due to the removal of tariffs that had suppressed prices thereby making investment in the sector unattractive, an apparent response to suggestions in some quarters that the interest may have been caused by what economists call a “bubble”, a sudden rush for an investment opportunity based on speculation.
Mr. Wolf was upbeat about the interest in the Zambian energy sector which he was optimistic would eventually translate in real investment and real partnerships between Zambian and Germany investors. On his part, the Zambian number one diplomat in the Federal Republic of Germany expressed even greater optimism saying “those that wantonly criticized President Lungu for phasing out subsidies now stood to be shamed”.
He said with the Zambian economy already on an upward growth trajectory, the removal of subsidies can only bring more and more growth in the country. The growth is spurred by development policies in the agricultural, tourism, mining, energy and other sectors.
“There is no country in the sub region that is more fertile for energy investment right now like Zambia,” Ambassador Mukwita said adding, “If the subsidies remained in place and tariffs remained artificially low, this German investment interest would not happen. The President made the right economic decision which will boost the economy in the long run.”
“You know it costs about US$1 million to build 1 megawatt of power so if only 26 percent of urban Zambians are electrified, the opportunities for further investment abound. The cost reflective tariffs will make Zambia a power exporter in our view,” said the Zambian diplomat.
Ambassador Mukwita said the Zambian embassy in Berlin will work hand in hand with the German Chamber of business in order to increase economic diplomacy adding that, “our political stability and peace continues to work for us as we woo investor.
Countryman better dont explore anything there its lost time and money!!!!!!!!!
How can Zambia insult by offering such Ambassador to Germany? Even Jews wouldn’t do that to German.
Does anybody remember when mutati at Livingston said investors were queuing up to invest in our energy sector,
Where are those investors, where are the multitude of israeli investors.
Everything is about talkingvup the government, operative word is. talking.
Mr. Mukwita it was IMF that instructed Zambia to remove susidies so they could get bailout.
Mr.Mukwita has the bailout come this year, as continually promised.
Mr Mukwita we are one grading off junk by Standard and Poor..
Lets see who is gonna bring into the country reputable investors other than Mukula tree thieves, “micro” chicken growers, fake cell phone dealers etc and the list goes on. These people are coming here running away from their aggressive leaders and finding refuge in Zambia through business brand. Again this another issue for the Cabinet next seating.
But why does this person always work in the papers.Cant he work quietly?What is so special about him that he should always be in the papers?I only came to know that there are even Deputy Ambassadors because of him.To this day he is the only Deputy Ambassador i have ever known.And why does he dress like a movie star using tax payers money?Surely a diplomat must have some form of modesty in his dress.
Come to think of it after his daily appearances in papers when he was in Sweden what are the results?He is one of those who make too much noise when working but show no result or more approprately get no results.
Someone show me a single diplomat who marches him in childish publicity stunts.Even proconsul down south appears to have settled down after being baptised by Maimane and other…
He is a showoff….
Any investors from Sweden, where you were?
Advise lungu to govern according to the rule of law may be investors will show interest.. .