The Zambia National Farmers’ Union says it has received reports of Foot and Mouth Disease in Monze, Pemba and surrounding areas with shock.

This is because the development comes barely a few weeks after the outbreak of FMD in Chisamba east; which was effectively contained.

ZNFU President Jarvis Zimba says the Union feels there are some elements that have been negligent in the handling of animals and have casually ignored biosecurity measures when moving animals as stipulated by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock’s Veterinary Department, resulting into the importation of FMD.

“We need not emphasise the risk that these perpetrators are putting our country’s animal population at, and more, the image that this portrays to countries that have been courting Zambia to export animals to, and the losses in monetary terms that come with the FMD”, he lamented.

Mr. Zimba said the Union shall not sit idly by and allow a few selfish and negligent elements and peddlers of FMD to bring down expensive positive strides farmers have made over the years to improve local breeds and grow their livestock sector.

He has since called on the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to conduct a thorough forensic investigation into the matter, trace the perpetrators and bring them to book.

“As farmers we all have to be responsible for every action that we take. And as ZNFU, we shall pursue this matter to its conclusion, together with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and other Government authorities”, Mr. Zimba said.

He has however applauded Government for moving swiftly to acquire the vaccines, treatment and vaccination of animals in Monze, Pemba and the surrounding areas.

Mr. Zimba has also thanked the District Taskforce for the tireless job done over the past two weeks saying the ZNFU will continue to collaborate and work closely with Government to ensure real growth is achieved in agriculture.

The Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development has announced that K20 Million has been released to go towards ongoing construction of the Kazungula Bridge.

Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Charles Mushota says the Ministry of Finance released the money on Friday 15th March, 2019.

Engineer Mushota has however explained that the contractor working on the Kazungula bridge has not yet received the money due to technical difficulties in money transfer.

“The Ministry of Finance has assured me that they released the money on Friday last week. However, due to technicalities regarding government money transfer, the money has delayed in hitting the National Road Fund Agency (NFRA) account for onwards disbursement to the contractor.” Engineer Mushota said.

The Permanent Secretary says he has been assured by the Ministry of Finance that the technicalities will be resolved and the contractor will be paid soon.

“There is no need to panic as we are all determined to ensure that the contractor is paid and work continues. The Kazungula bridge is a very important project government is undertaking and everyone is focused to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in the construction process.” Eng. Mushota Explained.

The Korean multinational Daewoo Engineering and Construction which is constructing Kazungula Bridge today closed down the site due to a financial issues.

But Engineer Mushota has assured the contractor and all the workers that they should resume work as government is seriously and competently addressing their concerns.

This is according to a statement issued to the media by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister spokesperson Jeff Banda.

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has urged the government to closely monitor and regulate the amount of mealie meal being exported to avoid shortages and price hikes of the commodity in the long term.

In a statement released to Q-News, the JCTR notes that while the lifting of the mealie meal ban might contribute positively to Zambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Balance of Payments through increased foreign earnings from export revenues and contribute to maize farmers’ profitability and increase their incentives to produce maize, the ban may impact negatively on the poorest of the poor who solely rely on maize meal.

The JCTR says the current unpredictable weather patterns could have an effect on the production of maize which might affect the price of mealie meal.

The center adds that the lifting of the ban during a dry spell period may threaten food security and possibly cause an upward rise of the cost of mealie-meal locally.

It further notes that with the already high cost of living in Zambia, lifting of the ban could further increase the cost of living if not well managed as most households would now have to pay more for mealie meal due to increase in prices.

The JCTR says with the lifting of the ban, producers would most likely prefer the export market, where they would earn more, to the local one, thereby significantly reducing the availability of the commodity locally thereby causing an increase in the price locally.

The JCTR notes with worry that preferential option for the poor is being lost especially that their social concerns are not put first with regard to the lifting of the ban.

The center has since called on the government to legislate consistent policies on mealie meal exports to avoid the back and forth pronouncements of the export bans.

A delegation of Egyptian investors is in the country to explore investment opportunities in various sectors of the economy.

The 35 member delegation led by Chairman of the African Cooperation Committee of the Federation of Egyptian Industries Sherif El Gabaly has met President Edgar Lungu at State House to express their interest to invest in the Zambian economy.

President Lungu said Zambia is open for investment from stakeholders within the African continent and beyond.

President Lungu said it was impressive that Zambia has continued to receive potential investors from fellow Africans, saying this should encourage more investors from within the continent.

He noted that it was important for countries that are not yet industrialized to look to countries whose economies are doing well, such as Egypt.

The President added that Zambia is ready to accommodate investments from anyone willing to invest in any sector, as the country has abundant land resources and plenty of water to enable investment.

The Head of State stressed that as the country positions itself to become the food basket for the continent, Zambia will welcome investments in the agricultural sector, where he noted Egypt was doing well.

The President further expressed gratitude that his trip to Egypt last year has started paying dividends following the arrival of the Egyptian investors who are willing to invest in the country.

And Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia Ahmed Mustafa said the business delegation is in Zambia to seek economic cooperation with their fellow businessmen and women.

Mr Mustafa said his country has brought the biggest business delegation to Zambia because of the investment potential that country is endowed with.

He said Zambia attracts a lot of business investment for both Africans and other investors beyond the continent, hence his government’s decision to send a delegation to the country.

And Delegation leader Sherif El Gabaly notes that the delegation which is under the Federation of Egyptian Industries has 19 chambers specialized in different sectors of the industries.

Dr Gabaly said the delegation has representation from sectors such as food processing, food packaging, pharmaceuticals, engineering and chemical industries, among others.

He said the delegation has put Zambia as a priority country for investment hence the decision to embark on this trip.

He revealed that Egypt has a big industrial base but has not been well introduced in African, stating that the delegation is also working on bringing good quality Egyptian products besides investment.

He said the Zambian and Egyptian business persons will have a chance to interact and share knowledge during the business forum which he said will also help them know more about Zambia.