By Michael Musonda

Electrical wiring is a critical component of modern infrastructure, enabling the delivery of electricity to various points of use. However, the electrical wiring at our two highest institutions of learning often raises concerns that must be addressed urgently, especially in light of the recent incident involving the death of a female student allegedly due to electrocution.

One major challenge faced by both universities is outdated electrical wiring systems, which have not been updated to meet current load and revised safety standards since the construction of the buildings many decades ago. This can lead to issues such as overloaded circuits, insulation degradation, and inadequate earthing, significantly increasing the risk of electrical accidents.

Additionally, there is evidence of little to no maintenance of electrical systems as shown by pictures circulating on social media and our investigations.

Another issue to note is overcrowding in university hostels, which has led students to modify electrical outlets or install additional ones to provide more points for access. This DIY approach, often carried out by unqualified individuals, can further compromise electrical safety.

Furthermore, the two learning institutions were designed to have centrally located cooking places and dining rooms, which no longer exist, leading to students using cookers, fridges, and other appliances in their rooms. This additional load may not have been accounted for in the original wiring, creating further safety concerns such as overloading.

To improve the state of electrical wiring at these universities, as an electrical safety advocate, I recommend the following measures:

1. Conducting a detailed electrical wiring system audit with a focus on safety
2. Upgrading outdated electrical wiring systems to meet current load and safety standards
3. Instituting regular inspections and maintenance of electrical systems as per the wiring code of practice and other relevant standards
4. Implementing /improving a system for reporting and addressing electrical issues.
5. Raise awareness among students and staff about electrical safety with a focus on hazard identification.

The state of electrical wiring at our two universities is a serious concern and must be treated as such. By prioritizing regular maintenance and raising awareness on the dangers of electricity, the two universities can ensure a reliable and safe electrical system that does not endanger the safety of their students.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are wholly mine and do not represent those of my employer.

By Mwansa Chalwe Snr
This review of the performance of the Zambian economy for the first quarter of 2024, is carried out from the four perspectives of the main players in the economy – the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Government, Zambian Households and the Private Sector. This approach is meant to make it easy for non-technical ordinary citizens to understand. The analysis is also evidence based, and covers both the quantitative and qualitative angles.

At the time of publication, we did not have the latest IMF assessment of the Zambian economy, and so it was not possible to present their latest performance review of the economy. The last IMF review of the economy was in November, 2023, and their next review is in April,2024.

GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE

The quantitative analysis of the Zambian government’s performance is based on two major components: Bank of Zambia data and the Treasury data. At the time of carrying out this analysis, the treasury numbers relating to the budget performance regarding government revenue, expenditure and other metrics, for the first quarter, were not available, and therefore, no analysis has been done from that angle.

However, according to the information available from the Bank of Zambia, the government performed very poorly during the first quarter. The cost of money was high, there was a critical shortage of liquidity in the economy, inflation was high and increasing, the kwacha exchange rate was high and generally unstable. The evidence of this, is reflected in the various Bank of Zambia statistics.

Interest rates as represented by the Monetary Policy Rate went up from 11% to 12.5%, inflation increased from13.1% to 13.70%, Statutory Reserve Ratio increased from 14.5% to 26.5%, the Kwacha exchange rate was high and ranged from K25 and K27, and foreign exchange reserves at the beginning of January,2024 were at a low $3.3 Billion which is equivalent to 3.7months of import cover. And the Central Bank Governor was open about the most important metric in the Zambian economy, which drives most other economic variables.
“ What we are saying is that the Kwacha has been under severe pressure. There has been excess demand for foreign exchange in our market. We recognize that we do not have sufficient and will not have sufficient foreign exchange to defend the currency”, Dr. Denny Kalyalya said.

It should be noted that when assessing the performance of the economy from the government’s perceptive, the analysis is incomplete, if one only uses quantitative metrics only, and ignores the non-financial and qualitive factors.

The Zambian government did perform fairly well based on non-financial measures. They were able to secure a deal with International Resources Holding (IRH), in which IRH committed to invest a total of US $1.1 billion into Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) as a Strategic Equity Partner. The potential upstream benefits of the deal include job creation, foreign exchange earnings, tax income, dividends and corporate social responsibility activities.

The other qualitative achievement by the government in the first quarter was in regard to the debt restructuring deal.The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Official Creditor Committee (OCC) was finally signed by all of them including China and India. The government also concluded a deal with Bondholders.

The potential benefits of the debt restructuring deal include: more funds available for social sectors, normalization of Zambia’s credit rating, improvement in market sentiment by both local and foreign investors, reduction in pressure for government to borrow from the domestic market thus lower interest rates, increased access to grants and concessional borrowing

HOUSEHOLDS PERCEPTION OF THE ECONOMY

The majority of ordinary Zambians’ current perception of the economy is that it is not working for them. Zambian households argue that the cost of living is high. They have no money in their pockets. They justify this claim by pointing to the high prices of mealie meal, fuel, electricity, interest rates, transport, and the high exchange rate.
These claims by citizens seem to be supported by empirical evidence from economic statistical surveys done by various credible organizations. The government owned Zambia Statistics Agency( Zamstats), for example, has reported inflation to have increased from 13.1% in December 2023 to 13.7% in March,2024. The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) basket of goods for December,2023 was at K9,157, it increased to K10,603 in March, 2024, which was an increase of K1,446 or 15.8%.

Zambian Citizens also feel that jobs are difficult to come by because the economy is simply not creating enough jobs due to the low economic activity. This is evidenced by Stanbic Purchasing Manager Index (PMIs) for 2024, which were below 50. And apparently, their claim is supported by the International Monetary Fund who are our current benefactors.

“The participation rate in the labour force is low and only 31 percent of the working age population is employed. There are limited employment opportunities, and even among those employed only 27 percent are in formal employment,” IMF wrote in the Zambia Country Report of July 2023, whose situation has not changed.

PRIVATE SECTOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

The Zambian private sector performed poorly in the first quarter of 2024 for a variety of reasons. The top most constraint to Private sector growth is the high cost of doing business in Zambia. The term: “high cost of doing business,” is made up many components. These include high interest rates, high fuel prices, high cost of imported inputs, excessive taxation, high electricity tariffs, multiplicity of regulations and licences with their attendant levies. In order for government to achieve the 2024 Budget theme of: “Unlocking Economic Potential,” they should address the above constraints to the growth of the Zambian Private sector.

The quantitative evidence of the poor performance of the Private Sector in the first quarter of 2024, was captured in the monthly Stanbic Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI)Surveys. Business activity fell throughout the quarter from 49.6 in December,2023 to 48.8 in March,2024. Readings above 50.0 signal an improvement in business conditions on the previous month, while readings below 50.0 show a deterioration.

Head of Sales at Stanbic Bank, Musenge Komeki, succinctly captured the status of Private Sector performance during the first quarter, in his comments on the monthly Stanbic Purchasing Manager Index ( PMI).

” The private sector health in Zambia declined. Business conditions continued to see a deterioration as a result of reduction in money supply and the depreciation of the kwacha, which have negatively impacted demand. Money shortages crippled new orders and forced cutbacks in output, employment and purchasing activity.” he said.

CONCLUSION

The Zambian economy grew by 4.6% in 2021, 4.7% in 2022 and 4.3% in 2023.It is forecast to grow by 4.7% in 2024. These rates are insufficient for the country to develop, create jobs and reduce poverty. And the IMF agrees with this assertion.

“ Despite its abundant resources, growth has been insufficient to lift its young and growing population from poverty. More than 60 percent of Zambia’s population lives below the international poverty line compared to 35% across the Sub Saharan Countries,” IMF said in a statement reviewing the Zambian economy.
In the light of the general election due in 2026, and having sorted out the debt and mining issues, as well as sufficiently marketed Zambia as a good destination for foreign direct investment (FDI),the government should laser focus on local solutions for job creation through Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in order to create millions of jobs for youths. In the 21st century, Youth determine elections in almost all countries, like they recently did in Senegal.
It has been established by studies that in order for economic growth to have any impact on poverty in developing countries like Zambia, the country’s economic activities ought to be growing at 10 % or more, as China and South East Asia countries have proved. And to achieve this growth rate, it requires innovative solutions, and the engagement of experienced local thinkers, who understand Zambia, its economic problems and its culture better.

The writer is a Chartered Accountant and Author. He is the Founder of a research based virtual Knowledge and Strategy firm, Prosper Knowledge Solutions Limited. Contact : pmchalweATgmailDOTcom.

By Sishuwa Sishuwa

I have noted the attempts of some in our country to shield President Hakainde Hichilema from legitimate criticism whenever his appointed officials are seriously found wanting. A good case in point is the continued unprofessional and partisan conduct of the Zambia police service under the leadership of Inspector General Graphel Musamba. It is often suggested by Hichilema’s apologists that the problem is not the President; it is the IG: “HH is a good man; it is just his officials who are bad or failing him”, the apologists would often say without explaining the miracle of how this supposedly good man ended up being surrounded by bad people, why he has kept them in their public positions, and what this says about his judgement.

It is a clever strategy to blame appointed officials rather than the appointing authority if the aim is to shield the president from criticism as it implies that the appointed officials are not following their superior’s wishes or orders. Under the Russian Empire, there was a phrase that described this strategy: “If only the Tsar knew!” This expressed the idea that all abuses of power and injustices were carried out by imperial officials without the Tsar’s knowledge and if the Tsar knew about it, then he would be horrified and rectify it immediately. This is precisely what Hichilema’s apologists would want people to believe. What they are doing is the current version of the former ruling party’s “President Edgar Lungu is a good person; it is just the people surrounding him” narrative. As it was under Lungu, this is a poor excuse. As did his predecessor, Hichilema appointed those people! He was not forced to do so nor to keep them.

The ultimate culprit in the ongoing misconduct of the police is not the Inspector General of Police, however deplorable Musamba’s professional conduct has been since he was appointed to the role in April 2023. It is President Hichilema. If the IG was doing what Hichilema does not approve, the president would have long removed him from that position. In fact, Hichilema has previously and publicly praised the conduct of the same IG being condemned by the public, stating that he wishes he had appointed him earlier! There is a wider point to be made here about the police under Hichilema: what we are witnessing today, as was the case under Lungu, is the continued institutional deterioration, loss of autonomy and politicisation of the police.

In addition to its constitutionally prescribed mandate of protecting human rights, the core operational duties of a professional police service are to maintain law and order, protect members of the public and their property, prevent the commission of offences and to bring the offenders to justice. To effectively execute these responsibilities, the police must possess the authority, widely recognised by the public, as the lawful and rightful body to enforce them and to do so in a professional and impartial manner that builds public confidence in the institution and helps improve the quality of life for all citizens.

It is precisely this authority that has deserted the police in Zambia today, as was the case under the PF. The public, rather than viewing it as an apolitical and professional body that is out to protect individual liberties of all Zambians regardless of their political affiliation, now regards the police as nothing more than hired agents of the ruling party. This is because the executive branch of government has corrupted the police, as it has done to other state institutions, to primarily function as a sword for the political elites in power and their supporters.

A fundamental part of corruption is corrupting the system, including the police, the judiciary, and other supposedly independent state institutions in order to serve the interests of those in power. This is precisely what Hichilema and the UPND have done in order to entrench their grip on power. Think of the police guarding an illegal assembly of Miles Sampa rather than stopping it! Think of the police effectively banning public rallies by opposition parties since the election of Hichilema in 2021. Think of the police…

This is not to defend IG Musamba; it is to say that we should direct our energies to where the buck ultimately stops: Hichilema. Yes, the police is today led by a top command that epitomises its professional decay, lack of autonomy, and partisanship. In fact, I would say that there is a curious way in which the true character of the President of Zambia, especially in relation to their attitude towards power, the rule of law and their commitment to entrenching civil liberties and safeguarding the independence and integrity of state institutions, is partly revealed or expressed by his or her choice of appointment to the position of Inspector General of Police.

Superlatives cannot adequately capture the unprofessionalism that has marked the tenure of Musamba as Inspector General of Police. Musamba embodies all that is wrong with the police service today: partisan, unprofessional, and out to do the bidding of the ruling elites. His occupancy of the office of Inspector General of Police has left its reputation in tatters. But the point is that Musamba did not appoint himself to that position. He was put there and has been maintained by President Hichilema. That is the official we must ultimately condemn or hold to account. It is easy to go for the small fish, but we harm public interest and even those we are supporting when we shield them from legitimate criticism.

Many Zambians have complained against the conduct of both the police and Musamba himself especially in relation to protecting democratic rights. Has this troubled Hichilema? No! Why? It is because Musamba is Hichilema’s chief enforcer, the person who does the dirty work the boss does not want to be seen to be doing or sanctioning; the Thabo Kawana of the police – someone working for a boss whose curated image would suffer for his direct association with their dishonourable and nefarious acts.

The result of a police service led by Musamba is what we have today: an institution so bereft of public respect that it is largely a matter of discretion to refer to it as a service. A two-tier system of policing has continued to exist in Zambia: one for UPND leaders and supporters who are at liberty to do as they please, and another for the rest of us who are denied their rights to assemble and whose individual liberties are constantly tramped upon at will. In this climate, Musamba cannot be expected to be professional when he is simply an extension of the cadrisation of the police.

It is a shame to have individuals with no sense of doing the right thing according to our laws in the service of the Zambian people at the helm of such an important organ of our security services. One glimmer of hope is that ordinary police officers, majority of whom are young, professional, and principled, have a dim view of their IG and not all of them display the same levels of partisanship and lack of respect for human rights.