By Memory Chipili

“The mantle to develop the North-Western Province rests on all of us as local residents and not non-Zambians to change the status quo and create a conducive economic diversification especially in priority sectors that can produce fruit such as agriculture, tourism, energy, manufacturing and mining.”

Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) acting director Investments Moses Mwanakatwe made the remarks at a Business Symposium held on the sidelines of the ongoing North-West investment exposition in Solwezi where he explained the urgent need for the province to consider venturing into agriculture among other sectors instead of being dependent on mining alone.

Mr Mwanakatwe noted that Zambia boasted of 75 million hectares of land, of which the province sat on 12.5 million hectares.Of that spread, 5.8 million hectares was ready for use but only 2.7 million hectares was in use for agriculture purposes, with 46 rivers dotted across the province as a possible good irrigation option. This made the province a sound potential destination for agricultural investment.

“With all this land lying idle a lot more of jobs could be created if we can all consider taking up the mantle to open up and use this land in both small-scale and commercial farming ventures that will in turn help to improve the living standards of the locals in the province.”

He said in trying to diversify the economy of the country, Government had come up with the concept of farm block development whose aim is to specifically venture into commercialised activities such as livestock, poultry farming, milk processing and fisheries.

“Every province has potentially a total of 100,000 hectares of land set aside specifically for commercialisation of Agriculture purposes, and here in the province we do have the Solwezi farm block which is ready to be exploited by serious Investors,” he said.

Mr Mwanakatwe said the North West Expo has indeed unlocked the potential that the province had to develop through different key sectors aside from mining.

He said, for instance bee-keeping could be commercialised if value-addition was considered through honey processing factories, whose ripple effect would create jobs for locals and change their livelihood.

Mr Mwanakatwe added that the province was free from livestock diseases that affect other parts of the country, and from pests found in farming areas in other provinces.

“I challenge you, be you Zambian or non-Zambian, to come and approach the provincial administration and invest in the sector and take up the opportunities that are currently available and ready to be explored.”

Provincial permanent secretary Willies Mangimela said that the objective of hosting the province’s first-ever trade and investments Expo was to create long-lasting opportunities that would transform the local communities and give potential investors vital information.

“I encourage all exhibitors, partners and our visitors to reflect deeply on the theme and utilise the platform that is provided to get maximum benefit both business and networking purposes,” Mr Mangimela said. – Courtesy of SUMA SYSTEMS.

Open dialogue and transparency between government and the private sector is needed to improve and safeguard Zambia’s investment climate, says First Quantum Minerals.

The mining firm believes that a natural equilibrium must also be sought that sees Zambian people share the benefits of the country’s natural resources while also making investments a true business proposition for the private sector.

Speaking at this week’s Expo North West Zambia 2019, FQM Country Manager General Kingsley Chinkuli said that to stimulate an influx of new investors in various sectors in North-Western Province there was need for a better understanding of investors and investment requirements.

The Expo, of which FQM is the major sponsor, is being held under the theme ‘Unveiling the Hidden Treasures’.

“The province’s copper and gold resources have been unveiled by our company and others, creating a new and modern ‘Copperbelt’. To unveil that which is still hidden in the ground requires a positive policy on exploration. This province needs the next mine to come online in the near future, and it needs extension of the lives of existing mines,” said General Chinkuli.

However, he explained that despite the challenges of mining low-grade copper deposits of just 0.51 percent, First Quantum’s success was founded on three pillars that have enabled the investment to be unlocked: the nation’s natural resources; significant amounts of capital raised from international markets; and cutting edge skills and expertise drawn from across the globe to ensure the ore is mined profitably.

“The ‘glue’ that binds those three ingredients together is a strong partnership between government and the private sector in the form of genuine constant dialogue to deal with challenges and achieve our common goal of ensuring Zambia is a competitive environment in which to do business,” he added.

First Quantum Minerals remains committed to that transparent partnership, along with the sustainability, environmental responsibility and governance that form the bedrock of its approach to business, he said, adding that investment in people would attract further business to the area, confident there is an educated, skilled and eager workforce available, and that in turn will ensure the market will continue to grow, creating new employment for people who themselves become a market for yet more businesses.

“We firmly believe that the solutions lie in North-Western Province’s other ‘hidden treasures’. First Quantum believes that forestry is a great treasure worth protecting for an economic and orderly exploitation for the benefit of this land. This province has empty game reserves. These should be stocked with game for investment in tourism. We are taking a lead in this area.

“Our direct involvement in agriculture at community level through our Trident Foundation keeps growing every year, clearly demonstrating this region’s hidden treasure in its soils and weather. The production coming off our community farms through conservation farming should encourage any investor to take up investment in this area,” said General Chinkuli.

Speaking when he opened the expo, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu said that the Expo demonstrated government’s long-standing commitment to improve the use of resources, to promote diversification, industrialisation, job creation and poverty reduction.

“My government is committed to accelerating economic development by supporting such events, which are aimed at attracting both local and foreign investors. This is for us to exploit and unlock the investment potential that North-Western Province has in various sectors,” he said.

President Lungu added that government believed the private sector was a catalyst to supporting its quest to improve the livelihoods of its people through wealth and employment creation in line with the country’s Vision 2030.

Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo says crop diversification has the potential to increase availability of affordable, healthy foods and food security.

Mr. Katambo says with climate change effects becoming severe on food production, crop diversification will help avert the negative impacts and increase income for many households.

He said this in a speech read for him by Chief Agriculture Detention Officer Katuka Chongo during the launch of Beyond maize study report by Hivos in Lusaka.

Mr. Katambo expressed happiness that Hivos and cooperating partners are working with government on diversification efforts.

He said such systems are key in improving incomes for smallholder farmers.

And Hivos Senior Programs Manager Sustainable Diets Frank Mechielsen noted that Zambia has the potential to grow lots of food beyond maize which would be easy to feed the nation.

Mr. Mechielsen said the Sustainable Foods for All program is aimed at advocating for policy change for governments to effectively embrace food diversification.

Meanwhile, Hivos Southern Africa Regional Director Tanja Lubbers also reiterated the need to diversify Zambia’s crop production to mitigate foot shortages.

The Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) says it expects the 2020 national budget to focus on economic stimulation through enhanced private sector growth.

Association Chairperson Yusuf Dodia says there is need for government to put in place a deliberate measure that will see a larger allocation of the national budget going towards dismantling domestic debt, by clearing all its pending payments to government suppliers and constructors.

Mr Dodia told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that there is also need for the government to lower the cost of doing business in all the sectors of the country’s economy, by lowering taxes and charges attached to setting up a business.

He also advised that in order to grow the economy, government through the national budget should shift the policy on monitoring export earns from being captured in foreign to local currency.

He noted that by so doing the country’s economic growth capacity will be recapitalised and improved for the benefit of its people.

And Zambia Chamber of Small and Medium Business Associations (ZCSMBA) has urged government to reduce all zero rate taxes on imported manufacturing and processing equipment in next year’s budget.

ZCSMBA Chairperson Moto N’gambi observed that Small and Medium Enterprises are currently facing challenges to access, or import manufacturing and processing equipment that enable them add value to their products, due to high taxes.

He explained that with the current economy, pressing emphasis on value addition on locally produced products, government should consider to reduce taxes when importing the equipment so that small business persons can have access.

Mr Ng’ambi further appealed to commercial banks to come up with products and services aimed at helping SMEs access cheaper loans or equipment that can be used in value addition.

Minister of Finance Bwalya Ng’andu is next month expected to present the 2020 national budget to parliament.

Minister of Energy Mathew Nhkuwa has disclosed that government is exploring various measures aimed at mitigating the energy crisis that the country is facing.

Mr Nhkuwa noted that the current electricity deficits caused by the low water levels in most hydro generating water resources is an indication that the country needs to explore and tap into other potential energy sites.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that to this effect plans are underway by government, to start tapping water from the Congo River, through the Zambezi River source, using canals, into the Kariba, Itezhi-tezhi and Kafue gorge hydro power stations among others.

The Minister explained that the move is expected to caution the power shortages by increasing generation capacity to about 400 megawatts.

“We know that the demand for power has continued to increase and we are not sitting back, but we have come up with an immediate measure which is to tap water from the Congo River through the Zambezi River source into the Kariba, Kafue gorge and Itezhi-tezhi dams which is much cheaper than setting up new hydro power stations,” he said.

Mr Nhkuwa noted that tapping water from the Congo River is the immediate solution to the energy challenges, adding that the process is cost effective, because it will use the already existing infrastructure, compared to the construction of new power generating stations which are expensive.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Energy is tomorrow scheduled to hold a meeting with Acting Republican President Inonge Wina on the issue, before embarking on visibility studies.

And Energy Forum Zambia Chairperson Johnston Chiwanda said the current power deficits are an indication that the country cannot depend on hydro power generation for a long time.

Mr Chikwanda observed that Zambia’s potential of hydro-electric generation is facing serious threats due to adverse effects of climate change, hence the need to find lasting solutions to the problem.

“The days of depending on hydro-electric generation are numbered due to frequent adverse climate changes, we can no longer depend on hydro for electricity generation as a long term measure therefore we should diversify, “he noted

He explained that the statement by ZESCO and Zambezi River Authority that water in Lake Kariba has reached the lowest in 24 years is an indication that there is a likelihood of a further reduction in generation consequently affecting the economic activities due increased load shedding.

Mr Chiwanda further pointed out that it is necessary for Zambians to embrace other sources of energy prospect of introducing nuclear energy in the energy mix as a sustainable long term option for future generations.