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National Democratic Congress President Chishimba Kambwili has urged Government to immediately pay delayed May salaries to Copperbelt University and the University of Zambia.
Mr. Kambwili has since given Government a 24-hour ultimatum in which to pay delayed salaries to workers at the two affected institutions.
He wonders how Government expects starved and demotivated workers to survive and later on deliver as expected.
Mr. Kambwili is concerned that Government has not put in place measurers to ensure that university workers are paid on time.
The NDC leader said this in an interview with journalists in Lusaka today.
And Mr. Kambwili has called for the immediate reopening of the Copperbelt University.
He has urged Government to listen to the plight of citizens calling for the reopening of CBU.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kambwili says the recent austerity measures announced to salvage the economy are a farce.
Mr. Kambwili says it is strange that President Edgar Lungu and his Ministers have continued undertaking unnecessary trips outside the country.
He has cited President Lungu’s recent trip to Congo DRC as unnecessary.
And the NDC leader has urged Government to lift the livestock movement ban in the Southern province which has been greatly affected by drought.
He noted that its only logical for Government to allow people in the region to sale animals so as to meet their financial obligations.
Most times when the PF Members of Parliament are deliberating over constitutional issues, they normally fail to look at issues in all angles and normally end up shooting their own selves, an example is the way they hurriedly implemented the grade twelve clause and ended up knocking most of their colleagues out of Parliament (e.g their SG) and yet even those that knocked themselves out were busy parroting the amendment that also included the grade twelve clause just because the majority among them where saying the same.
Today the national dialogue forum has brought in a suggestion of Ministers and their deputies staying on beyond the life of parliament and only relinquishing their positions after elections and appointment of new office bearers, now what are the legal implications of this move.
A minister or deputy minister can only be appointed as such from sitting members of Parliament.
When Parliament is dissolved then automatically those position which only exist by virtue of one being a parliamentarian also cease to exist because one can only be a minister or deputy by virtue of one first being a member of parliament.
In the event that the PF tries to circumvent the above by declaring that parliament will continue until the next office holders are elected into office then it follows that parliamentarians are not supposed to get their final gratuity until such a hand over to the next office holders are done because it is at that point when the tenure would have been deemed to have expired and taking moneys before that time would be deemed to be getting moneys before the expiry of the contract.
Now, I am not a lawyer but common knowledge should allow us to see that the above should and must prevail in the event that the national dialogue provision is assented to meaning the MP’s will be paid by the incoming administration who may also decide to hold on to such moneys until such an office bearer is cleared of wrong doing before the gratuity is eventually paid.
I hope that the legal minds can look at this issue and advise accordingly so that MP’s do not cry after implementation of the said national dialogue provision and mind you the incoming administration will have a big say in when to pay such monies.
Growing up, I loved boxing. I never fought in any competitive games, but I trained with a professional once a week and would regularly go to the ring to spar with kids my age. There is something beautiful about the skills and quick thinking required to put together the right combo in the moment, to get out of the way or get your fists up before getting a hit to the face, and to give it your all despite nothing in the world being more tiring.
However, I never really enjoyed watching boxing. I found that without being in the ring, you get very little sense of what’s actually happening. You see the brute force but not the skill. Eventually, I found UFC live streaming online for free and now I’m hooked.
There is something to the almost-anything-goes nature of so-called “cage fighting” that thrills me every single time. Fight nights are huge events watched around the world.
Here are some of the reasons I love watching UFC.
It’s unpredictable
UFC fights never go in the direction you expect them to go. You have little idea of what each fighter is going to do in the next few seconds, let alone how the entire fight will play out. In one moment, fighters might be holding onto each other, upright, and in the next they’re on the floor, with one of them having the upper hand.
But the fighter with the upper hand now might well go on to lose the fight. Furthermore, the fight can end with a submission, either made by the fighter or the referee on behalf of them. This allows for that exciting moment in which you watch the fighter on the verge of conceding defeat take that all-important step.
Fewer, longer rounds
One of the most frustrating aspects of watching boxing is that rounds are so short. Sometimes, it takes until the third minute of a round for the fight to get into swing, then the bell rings and the flow is disrupted.
Whereas boxing has twelve three-minute rounds, UFC has five five-minute rounds. This means there is less time spent in between rounds and more time for a fight to reach its crescendo. Most fights don’t reach the fifth round, because it is so draining and one fighter gets forced into submission. Instead of watching twelve rounds in which nothing might happen, you usually get two or three action-packed rounds.
A wide range of skills
Finally, UFC is a combination of different skills, and you get to see all of them on display. Fighters can use techniques from a range of martial arts and fighting styles, and you get to see far more variety than with any other combat sport.
Watching punches and fancy footwork is great, but seeing fighters throw each other to the ground and continue the fight down there is all the more exhilarating.
Since watching UFC online is now so easy, you might as well give it a try. Millions of people around the world love the game, and I can testify that it is truly incredible.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants ACCA and the Zambia Centre for Accountancy studies ZCAS have renewed their 5- year strategic performance agreement.
Head of ACCA Zambia Mrs. Janice Matwi and ZCAS Executive Director and Vice Chancellor Professor Mutale Musonda announced the renewal at a signing ceremony in Lusaka last week.
Mrs. Matwi said ACCA is leading the way in the accountancy profession and is doing so by building partnership around the world in countries where ACCA has presence.
She said ACCA has been creating partnerships throughout its history as they are central to its ability to deliver the ACCA qualification.
Mrs. Matwi added that ACCA’s learning partners such as ZCAS were fundamental to the success of the ACCA student through the provision of quality tuition.
And also speaking at the signing ceremony Professor Musonda said ZCAS has invested heavily in consistently improving the learning standards of its students.
He said ZCAS had performed extremely well in the last 5 years and the Institution’s pass mark has remained above the world average hence retaining the platinum status which is the highest partner accreditation level under ACCA
Professor Musonda reiterated ZCAS’ commitment to provide the best tuition students can get and maintain the high standards that ZCAS is renowned for.
Zambia’s ambassador to Ethiopia, who is also Permanent Representative to the African Union Emmanuel Mwamba in the middle
Zambia has commended the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for the technical support it renders to various programs and projects to the Country.
Speaking when presenting Letters of Credence as Permanent Representative to UNECA to Dr. Vera Songwe, United Nations Under Secretary and the Executive Secretary of UNECA, Zambia’s ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba said the technical support rendered was appreciated.
He said Zambia is also privileged that Lusaka is the current host of the UNECA sub-regional office for the Southern Region.
Mr. Mwamba said UNECA is critical to the regional developmental agenda and helps with technical support of our national plans and our collaboration with regional economic communities such as SADC and COMESA and associated regional programs such as the Zambia-Malawi-Mozambique growth triangle.
He said that UNECA was collaborating with the Zambian government in giving technical support to programs such; upcoming national census, the 7th National Development Plan, the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) and civil registration.
And Dr. Vera Songa commended Zambia for its steadfast development agenda.
She said UNECA was providing technical support to climate change issues and the civil registration projects and requested Zambia to draw technical expertise from the institution.
This is contained in a statement issued to the media by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia Inutu Mwanza.
The PF Central Committee has unanimously expelled from the party members Julius Komaki and Kelvin Fube Bwalya with immediate effect the duo for gross indiscipline and uttering statements aimed at creating disunity and confusion in the Party.
Party Secretary General Davis Mwila said the duo essentially expelled themselves when they started pushing for disunity and anarchy in the Party because there is no progressive political movement that allows laws of the jungle to take centre stage.
Speaking at a media briefing, Mr. Mwila said this must serve as a warning to members of the Party that in asserting their freedoms as a member, they should not drag the party’s name into disrepute.
Mr. Mwila said the two colleagues must therefore be removed from all platforms associated with the Patriotic Front with immediate effect.
Below is the full statement
1. INTRODUCTION
Yesterday, 2nd June 2019, Central Committee met and chaired by His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and attended by the Republican and Party Vice President Mrs. Inonge Mutukwa Wina.
Central Committee had previously adjourned after its sitting on 26th May 2019. The following decisions were made:
2. APPOINTMENTS
Let me also announce that the Party President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu has made the following ratified appointments and changes to Central Committee:
A. Hon Michael Katambo has been appointed as Member of the Central Committee with immediate effect
B. Hon Richard Musukwa MCC becomes Chairperson for Mobilization
C. Hon Charles Banda MCC becomes Chairperson Mines and Mineral Development
3. PARTY DISCIPLINE AND UNITY
Central Committee reaffirmed to uphold discipline and unity of the Party at all levels. On this score, the Party resolved that discipline and unity of the Party is paramount to the Party’s growth and vision, as such all leaders are expected to lead by example. In enforcing discipline and unity by the Party, there shall be no sacred cows. A Party without unity of purpose and discipline cannot outlive itself. The current leadership of the Party is resolved in building a disciplined movement as a vehicle for development and creating a better life for all our people.
4. SOCIAL MEDIA ABUSE IN THE PARTY
The Central Committee resolved to bring social media abuse to an end. I wish to state here that the era of social media abuse in the Party is over. Let me make it clear that the Party promotes the healthy usage of social media and will do all it can to ensure that our members do not become victims or perpetrators of social media abuse. We have a duty to ensure that Social media reinforces our vision, ideals and unity as a Party. The Party takes great exception to an emerging tendency were people want to believe they can take to social media to insult, defame and bully those they do not agree with. This cannot be said to be the exercising of one’s freedom of expression. It is an abuse of the freedom of expression and goes against the intra-party democracy we seek to build and promote.
On this score, let me announce that Central Committee resolved to promote and enhance the proper use of social media in ways that reinforce the ideals such as unity, tolerance, civility, of PF.
Let me announce that perpetrators of social media abuse in the Party and at whatever levels will face the axe with immediate effect. This is a serious resolve by the Party to curb social media. To this effect, the Party is putting in place a social media monitoring system team to track any abuse of social media. Those found to abuse social media and sowing seeds of discord will not be tolerated in the Party.
The Party is directing all Provincial Chairpersons across the Country to get in touch with the Party Secretariat to facilitate the creation of Provincial and District Social Media blogs which must be registered with the Party and names of administrators submitted to the Party Secretariat.
Further, members will be expected to subscribe or join these platforms on voluntary basis. Those who wish to have their blogs must not use the Party’s name, acronym or symbol. Further, in cases of abuse, liability must extend to administrators of these blogs. Central Committee heard that members of the Party including senior party officials are added to these blogs without their consent, others are even made administrators without consent.
5. PREMATURE CAMPAIGNS IN CONSTITUENCIES WITH PF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
Central Committee resolved that to take punitive actions against members campaigning in Constituencies which have sitting PF MPs. The measure is aimed at ensuring that sitting MPs are given the space to deliver without any obstacles whatsoever.
Members of the Party are therefore expected to manage their ambitions because failure to do so will attract disciplinary measures and being blacklisted by the Party. I am therefore directing all those members going into Constituencies where we have PF MPs to stop with immediate effect. All members of Parliament are encouraged to report any such individuals to the Party Secretariat and we will not hesitate to take action.
Further, let me call on all members of parliament to be on the ground. The Party will also not tolerate absentee MPs and in this regard, the Party is going to track our MPs performance in their respective constituencies and those found wanting will be summoned by the Party.
6. RE-ADMISSIONS
Central Committee resolved to re-admit former UPND Vice President Comrade Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Comrade Eric Chanda into the Party as ordinary members.
Patriotic Front is the people’s movement and all those who had left but would want to come back can still do so following the Party’s laid down procedures.
On this score, let me emphasize to all new and old members that the Party expects nothing but loyalty to the Party, its leadership, vision and ideals.
7. EXPULSIONS FROM THE PARTY
Central Committee received reports and recommendations for the expulsion of Mr. Julius Komaki and Mr. Kelvin Fube Bwalya. Central Committee unanimously resolved to expel from the Party with immediate effect the duo for gross indiscipline and uttering statements aimed at creating disunity and confusion in the Party.
Let me mention here that the duo essentially expelled themselves when they started pushing for disunity and anarchy in the Party because there is no progressive political movement that allows laws of the jungle to take centre stage.
This must serve as a warning to members of the Party that in asserting your freedoms as a member, do not drag the party’s name into disrepute. We shall enforce discipline in the Party and there shall be no sacred cows.
The two colleagues must therefore be removed from all platforms associated with the Patriotic Front with immediate effect.
8. STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Central Committee received a report from the Party’s Finance Committee on the State of the Economy. The report was extensively deliberated and at an opportune time, I will be directing the Finance Committee to publish the Report in print media.
Suffice to say the Party is aware of the challenges in the economy and fully supports government’s announced austerity measures. The Party is fully aware of the challenges facing our people and would want to assure that we are standing together in building a strong and resilient economy especially against external shocks.
Central Committee also heard of the energy challenges following last season’s erratic rainfall pattern. We are aware that some of our Opposition colleagues will want to politicize an act of nature such as the drought we recently experienced as a country.
Patriotic Front is therefore calling on all members of the public to do what they can to conserve energy. As part of our manifesto 2016-2021, Patriotic Front in Government continues to prioritize investment in other sources of energy such as solar and thermal. Diversifying energy sources from hydro to other forms is in the best interest of Zambia because climate change is real.
9. RESOLUTIONS OF THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE FORUM
Central Committee received a report on the outcomes of the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) by the Party’s legal Committee. The report was deliberated upon and Central Committee resolved to hold a special session to further discuss resolutions and bills arising from the NDF in order to give the Party’s position.
Let me state that the Patriotic Front remains committed to listen to the people on all resolutions of the NDF and shall appear before the Parliamentary Committee once the process starts.
In the meantime, the Party is calling on all its members and members of the public to study all the resolutions of the NDF to ensure they understand what is contained therein.
10. ELECTIONS COMMITTEE REPORTS
Central Committee received and discussed election reports for Bahati, Roan, Sesheke and Kafue by-elections. The discussions were honest, candid and open. Arising from the reports by the Elections Committee, Central Committee has since directed for heightened Party mobilization under the new Chairman for Mobilization MCC Richard Musukwa.
Rebuilding and energizing structures for mobilization especially in areas where we did not perform well starts now. The Mobilization committee Chairperson has been directed to immediately present an action plan for discussion and implementation in the shortest possible time.
11. CONCLUSION
We pay glowing tribute to the president of our Party, who is also Head of State – His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu for his leadership as continues to work at laying strong foundations for a better Zambia.
Thank you!
Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo has donated assorted Items including Mealie Meal and Cooking Oil worth K600,000.00 to the old aged and less privileged in his constituency.
Speaking during the donation at Musa Kasonka Grounds, Saturday, Hon Lusambo said it is important to look after the less privileged in Society and as Kabushi lawmaker, he will continue to extend his hand to his people in whatever little way he can.
Lusambo, alias the Bulldozer, has also donated 60 desktop computers to public schools through their respective PTA Committees in Kabushi to enhance education as it is important noting that education is the equaliser between those who are poor and the rich.
“The computers we are donating to some of the schools today can not be compared to those second hand computers some former member of Parliament for Roan constituency used to brag about. These are brand new computers because we believe that our people deserve the very best.”
Other items that were donated includes 3,000 blocks and cement to schools that are undertaking various infrastructure expansion projects and a thousand boxes of washing paste.
The Bulldozer has however warned against anyone trying to undermine his efforts to stop as such elements would never outdo the goodwill of His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu towards Kabushi through its elected lawmaker.
Hon Lusambo who is also Lusaka Province Minister is in his constituency to inspect ongoing developmental projects among other engagements.
And he will later today, Sunday, meet and interact with marketeers and hand over empowerment funds aimed at boosting their working capital.
Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman LusamboKabushi Member of Parliament Bowman LusamboKabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo
Health Minister of the Republic of Zambia, Hon. Dr. Chitalu Chilufya delivered an ambulance to the health centre
Health Minister of the Republic of Zambia, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has said that opposition leaders whose sole agenda is to gain political capital out of every situation facing the nation should not be allowed to poison the minds of the public with political discourse which lacks prudence and dignity.
Dr Chilufya said that it remained governments inescapable duty to provide health services to the people of Zambia even in the wider sense of fiscal consolidation.
Dr Chilufya said that every Zambian needed to know that the nation would only prosper if its health campus was pointed the right way, adding that was to this effect that Republican President Edgar Lungu had pitched health as a Key economic investment.
“This is not a matter were you try to cash in on political capital and start celebrating austerity that all expenditure in the health sector must stop. We want to reassure the Zambian Public that even in the face of fiscal consolidation, health services will continue to be provided to the nation,”
” Drugs will continue to be bought. We will not be distracted by doomsayers and politicians hell bent on making political capital out of every situation,” he said.
He stated that health was bi partisan and called on all well meaning Zambians to treat with contempt any attempts by disgruntled opposition leaders to politicize issues of Health.
The Minister said this when he delivered an ambulance to Mungule Chiefdom in Katuba district yesterday afternoon.
Chieftainess Mungule of the Lenje people of Katuba district in Central Province
And Chieftainess Mungule of the Lenje people of Katuba district in Central Province has marveled at speed with which Republican President Edgar Lungu responds to the needs of his people.
Speaking when Health Minister of the Republic of Zambia, Hon. Dr. Chitalu Chilufya delivered an ambulance to the health centre in her Chiefdom, the traditional leader revealed that it was just on Wednesday last week that she had made the request to the Head of State that he provides an ambulance to the health facility in her chiefdom, to make it easier for complicated cases which are referred to facilities like the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, to be transported.
She said the President had promised her that he would make the ambulance available and expressed delight at how quickly he had responded to her request.
And Chieftainess Mungule said she would not tolerate the ambulance being used for anything other than the intended purpose.
She said the ambulance was for carrying patients and not for personal use by the health workers and warned that stern action would be taken against anyone found misusing the ambulance.
The Chieftainess called on her subjects to cooperate fully with the government of President Lungu if development is to be a reality for Katuba district.
She said the time had come for Katuba to share equally in the national cake and said the ruling Patriotic Front was the only party which would deliver the much needed development to the area.
She said President Lungu had so far demonstrated that he is a leader whose agenda is to see development distributed equally to all parts of the nation.
She urged her subjects to give development a chance by choosing to work with the government of the day.
And Dr. Chitalu Chilufya said he was an envoy of the President who had sent him to deliver the ambulance to Chieftainess Mungule’s area.
He announced that the President had received with sadness the news that the health facilities in Katuba were inadequate to service the catchment population of 100,000.
He said the President’s agenda for Zambia to be a middle income nation by 2030 would only be realised with a healthy labour force and that was why he placed premium on adequate infrastructure for health.
He said the President had therefore instructed him to ensure that the Mungule Clinic was upgraded to a Mini Hospital which would adequately provide residents with health services across the continuum of care.
He said the President had an agenda for Universal Health Coverage in the nation which would leave no one behind, residents of Katuba included.
A by Election is scheduled in Katuba district following the death of the area MP.
Pick n Pay Staff during the opening of the store
By Eng Kumbukilani Phiri
On Thursday the 27th May, 2019, we woke up to a news bulletin by Hot FM that the Vice President Inonge Wina has called for more space for Zambian products in supermarkets countrywide.
It was further reported that Mrs. Wina has expressed concern about the current trend where there are more foreign products on shelves in all chain stores than local products.
According to her, this situation has to be reversed to empower local producers and enterprises that thrive on the agriculture and manufacturing value chains but have no market now.
The Vice President further directed the relevant ministries and agencies to make sure that this initiative bears rewards to businesses and the people of Zambia.
In her view this call to action was not however meant to stifle competition in any way but to let the local economy grow through decent and sustainable jobs along the value chain, with the view to uplifting the living standards of rural and urban dwellers.
Mrs. Wina further encouraged Zambian suppliers to adhere to international standards to meet local and international market expectations.
Looking at this call from the Vice President, I am pretty sure many forward thinking Zambians will agree with her. For many years now after the demise of the manufacturing industry in the early 90s, many Zambians have been calling for the resumption of the manufacturing industry to drive our economy and also to be a key driver in the diversification process.
To the young ones, please take note that at some point Zambia used to have a thriving manufacturing base where we produced almost everything for ourselves starting from car assembly, manufacturing of radios, clothing wear, shoes, foods and drinks, most fast-moving goods found in supermarkets, just to mention but a few. The restructuring of the economy to a liberalized one after 1991 ended up killing most of these industries as the country became open to importation of foreign and cheap products. The truth is that most imported products though cheap never matched the quality of what we produced, however, they came in and competed on low price and they won. The result was that our manufacturing industry died and many people lost their jobs. This also created a huge skills gap which will take many years to build up. In the end Zambia ended up depending on copper alone in terms of export which resulted in our country being a net importer of goods and services up to today.
As bad as things may be, there is still hope for Zambia as we now again have a very ripe base to revive our manufacturing industry premised on good infrastructure and an educated and young population. The truth is, we have all realized that over dependence on copper is very unsustainable and therefore the need to quickly diversify to other industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energies etc.
Some scholars have argued that the local content in mining countries like Zambia is less than 10% since we sell raw materials to industrialized countries where all the processing takes place. Therefore, moving away from mining and supporting local agriculture and manufacturing where the local content is as high as 90% means more benefits to the country in terms of job creation and retention of Forex which we badly need now to cushion the depreciation of our Kwacha. If we already had a thriving manufacturing industry, the depreciation of the Kwacha could have actually helped us increase exports, but that is not the case now because we manufacture and export very little. Therefore, continued depreciation of the Kwacha will only increase our inflation and stifle the economy even further.
Coming back to the Vice Presidents call for chain supermarkets to increase space for local products, we first need to start with the basics. For Zambian Manufacturers to compete effectively on price and quality in the supermarkets, a lot needs to be done to make them competitive. Firstly, government needs to make it easy for Zambian manufacturers to do business by increasing the incentives in the sector such as tax holidays for indigenous companies that invest over $20,000 in manufacturing machinery and employ over 10 Zambians. Zero rate duty on all manufacturing machinery and inputs bought by indigenous Zambians regardless of where they are setting up other than the current situation which requires one to invest over $500,000 and be in a multi facility economic zone (MFEZ). This law only favors foreign investors who may not have long-term commitments to our country. Further, accelerate and increase the creation of business incubation hubs under CEEC in all provinces as is ongoing. Increase cheap financing through CEEC and Development Bank of Zambia for indigenous Zambian startups to encourage innovation and creation of Zambian manufacturing companies. Let indigenous Zambians without collateral use machines bought as collateral to access financing for operations and expansion. Introduce entrepreneurship as a subject in the school curriculum from as early as in primary school at Grade five. Let it be practical oriented where pupils and students will be identifying business gaps in their communities and come up with solutions that will ensure that the problems are not only solved but also make financial gains for them. Once our children are exposed to creative thinking and innovation from grade five to tertiary education, we will have more graduates coming out of school with projects to start that will create employment not just for themselves but others as well.
Once all this is done further consider a law like the 20% subcontracting policy to compel chain stores to stock not less than 40% local products unless they can’t source them locally.
The consequences of excessive debt that I predicted three and half years ago and again 18 months ago, are now here with us, tighten your belts!
By Kalima Nkonde
In January, 2016 and again in January 2018, as a patriotic and non-partisan Zambian, who means well for the country, I penned two comprehensive analytical articles in a layman’s language. The articles were meant for the man on the street, cadres, our leaders in government, opposition parties etc. who do not understand the technical economic jargon to educate them about the consequences of excessive borrowing and the ambitious, massive infrastructure programme that our Government had embarked which President Lungu vowed to continue in spite of all the rational economic advice from experts.
In light of the austerity measures re-announced in an emergency cabinet meeting last week on May 27, 2019 , I have reposted my two articles through links below so that there are a reminder to government that, had they heeded my advice and others, we would not be in the mess we are in today. The economy would have fully recovered by now as it started showing such signs from early 2017, when IMF negotiations were going on and their team were literally supervising our economic management indirectly through providing technical expertise which was the basis of the “ Zambia Plus programme”.
The articles in the link are also a reminder and a warning to the current administration that things will get worse if the measures they have announced, continue to be mere words and no serious action of implementation is taken. It is as certain as the sun rising that by 2021, if measures are not implemented in full, the electorate may not be forgiving and charitable again. They will argue that we had an economic crisis 2015/16, and five years on, we are still in a crisis mode and ask questions: “what the hell is going on with economic management with all the advice?”. The answer will be crystal clear for all to see and feel.
I would advise government that more measures be taken to change the current negative perceptions about government to signal seriousness through actions that are conspicuous to the public. Perceptions can be more important than reality and these need to be managed by experts not cadres. The issue of big government needs to be tackled. There is need to take measures like reduction of the size of cabinet like South Africa has done, reducing Presidential motorcades, reduction in “working” visits by the President so that he spends more in the office.
The President should also take more responsibility by communicating to the electorate directly rather than through ministers and the Press Aide. If truth be told, the delegated statements by the aforementioned are not taken seriously by the public and investors. The President needs to be addressing the nation on critical matters like the current economic crisis and the KCM debacle so as to re-assure the nation and calm the markets, as his predecessors used to do.
In order to put the Zambian economic status in perspective as at the beginning of June, 2019 and to show readers why President Lungu held the emergency cabinet meeting, below are some of the economic metrics which are all trending southwards.
The numbers should concern any Chief Executive of the country and compel him or her to take brave and bold steps, take responsibility, and announce the austerity measures personally and not delegate the task to a finance minister whose stock was plummeting due to negative publicity. It really bothers some us, as Zambians, who are enlightened about how markets operate and the importance of communication and messaging, wonder if any thought is given to some of these issues. The finance minister should not have been given such a responsibility this time when she was on the ropes .Below is the current economic status of Zambia which in my view, is not yet very dire or catastrophic yet, but whose trends are very concerning because the impact has started trickling down and negatively affecting main street
Monetary policy rate from 9.75% to 10.25%;Fiscal Deficit of 7.6% instead of the budgeted targeted 6.1% (capital projects spending and debt servicing for both foreign and domestic debts mainly responsible for the deficit)
Government bond subscription rate dropped to 22.6% from 21.4%
Kwacha depreciation from $11.89 in December,2019 K14.00 in May 2019,
Inflation from a low of 6.1 % in 2017 to 8.1.% in May,2019 due to food prices breaching Bank of Zambia threshold
Foreign Reserves fell to $1.4 Billion (1.7 months import cover) from $1.8billion in December,2018
Commercial bank lending increased from 23.6% to 24.6%; Private sector credit continuously declining
Subscription rate for government bonds reduced to 29% from 33%,Portfolio investment declining resulting in less forex inflows
Economic growth for 2019 has been downgraded by IMF to 2.3% from 3.7% in 2018.
Debt/ GDP ratio is at 73.1% including domestic arrears at end-2018
Debt servicing percentage to revenue over 25%
Eurobond yield 22%, one the worst performing in the world apart from Venezuela
Although the above statistics are trending upwards, all is not lost yet and the situation can still be arrested and reversed but well thought out strategies including a proper communication strategy involving the President and the re-engagement of the IMF can accelerate the recovery.
In order to simplify the effects of the above technical statistics to the man on the street, and to demonstrate that they affect all Zambians regardless of political affiliation, here is the impact of the above statistics. The negative statistics are reflected in the high prices of commodities including mealie meal, high unemployment rate (lack of jobs) especially among the youth, low forex inflows from investors, shortage of cash in the economy, late payment of salaries, late payment of suppliers, late payment of farmers shortage of medicines in hospitals, cancellation of University students allowances, non-payment of pensioners etc.
Below are links to my January,2016 and January,2018 articles where I outlined the dangers of the ambitious, massive infrastructure programme and the excessive borrowing binge that the government had embarked on. The fears that I and others had warned about, are slowly materializing thus the emergency cabinet meeting and the consequential austerity measures announced for the umpteenth time. We hope that this time around, there is political will to see the measures implemented in full.
Zambia continued their COSAFA Cup great escape act at the quarterfinal stage of the tournament for a second successive season after coming from two-down against Malawi to advance to the semifinals on post-match penalties in Durban.
Chipolopolo also toiled to the 2018 semifinals after beating Namibia 4-3 on post- match penalties following a 0-0 draw in Polokwane.
Meanwhile, Malawi squandered a 2-0 lead to let Zambia labour back into the match in dramatic fashion to finish 2-2 and ultimately punish The Flames 4-2 on post-match penalties.
Gabadinho Mhango punished defender Tandi Mwape for some sloppy defending in the 3nd minute in a match Zambia were second best against a convincing Malawi.
Zambia’s defensive frailties again returned to haunted them in the 48th minute when Benson Sakala fouled Mhango in the box and Gerald Phiri stepped up to send debutant goalkeeper Sebastian Mwenge the wrong way.
But Austin Muwowo but cut the deficit in the 58th minute and a minute later was substituted.
Emmanuel Chabula justified his arrival in the 58th minute for Lazarus Kambole with an 88th minute equalizer to send the match to post match penalties.
Zambia then converted all their penalties through Bruce Musakanya, Mwila Phiri, Adrian Chama and Chabula.
But Malawi were undone by Chawanagawa Kaonga who fired high and over and Precious Sambani who hit the post to end Malawi’s dreams of reaching the semifinals.
Zambia now face defending champions Zimbabwe in the semifinals on June 5 in a repeat of the two sides last two final meetings that have both gone the Brave Warriors way.
A GROUP of companies, AGRAWAL, from GOA State, India, plans to build a ONE Hundred Mega Watt capacity solar panel manufacturing facility in Zambia.
Group Chairman KRISHNAKUMAR AGRAWAL says the project would cost FIVE Million US Dollars private capital investment.
He says the exercise might take SIX months if the company completes the registration and legal process as well as getting satisfaction with the market demand.
Mr. AGRAWAL says the project would result in jobs creation and skills transfer to the Zambian populace especially youths, for the company founded in 1950, currently running a SIXTY mega watt solar panel manufacturing facility in GOA.
He says the company has special skills in executing OFF- grid and ON- grid projects for open access market while the rest of the solar energy is sold to government in addition to large scale solar pumps.
This came to light when Zambia’s High Commissioner to India JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA toured the solar manufacturing company in the Indian State of GOA, TWO Thousand kilometres away from the Indian Capital, NEW DELHI.
And Mrs. KAPIJIMPANGA says GOA State has determined investors such as Mr. NARAYAN BANDEKAR who built a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant at the Lusaka South Multi Facility -MFEZ and SAFAL Managing Director PANKAJ JAIN, running a manganese factory in SERENJE.
She says Zambia has EIGHT months of continuous sunshine, progressive banking system and a strong legal framework that supports private sector investment.
Mrs. KAPIJIMPANGA says the Mission recorded three companies in the first quarter of the year 2019 that started actualising investment in Zambia among them PRASAD Seeds, VAGMI Cottons and OM Rollers and Smelters with combined investment worth over ONE Hundred Million US Dollars.
She says more investment will increase total investment from India above the current EIGHT Billion US Dollars.
This is contained in a statement released by First Secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in India, BANGWE NAVILEY.
FILE: Zesco spokesperson Henry Kapata talking to Sarah Tembo, a beneficiary of newly electrified thatched house in Luangeni village in Chipata District Eastern Province. Picture by Jean Mandela
ZESCO National Spokesperson Henry Kapata has urged the public to give the power utility firm maximum support if the load management hours are to reduce from the current four hours.
Mr. Kapata said in Livingstone that there is a lot of misuse of electricity by the public with some people leaving appliances on even when they are not using them.
Mr. Kapata said that water levels in the water bodies in Zambia have drastically reduced compared to the same time in 2018, adding that the Victoria Falls Power Station in Livingstone currently has 882.6 meters of water above sea level compared to 883.7 meters in June 2018.
Mr. Kapata said that Lake Kariba currently has 479.93 meters of water above sea level signifying 31.2 % compared to 79.2% in June 2018.
Mr. Kapata said that Itezhi-Tezhi is now at 86.9% compared to last year’s 99.7 while Kafue gorge also has reduced water levels.
Meanwhile Mr. Kapata said that Zesco has intensified security measures at the Victoria Falls power station to prevent baboons from tampering with sensitive installations at the station.
Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe says the distribution of Agro inputs under the Farmer Input support program FISP using the E-voucher has been infiltrated by fake Agro dealers who are siphoning money from the government.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe says the money that the government invested in the programme is going down the drain.
She says this is one of the reasons why payments to agro dealers has delayed this season.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe said this in Nakonde during a sales Tax consultative meeting where an agro dealer wanted to know when government will pay agro dealers for inputs supplied under the FISP.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the government has so far paid out 69 million Kwacha under the E-voucher for the 2018/2019 farming season.
She however assured agro-dealers and farmers that the government will not delay the distribution of inputs under the 2019-2020 farming season.
