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The Patriotic Front in North Western province has backed calls by the ruling party’s Secretary General to direct councils to stop harassing street vendors.
PF provincial chairperson Jackson Kungo says just as stated by the Secretary General, councils across the country North western province inclusive should revisit the issue of street vendors by finding an amicable way of dealing with it.
He said ruling party was founded on the pro-poor principle therefore it will not tolerate the harassing of vendors.
‘’On behalf of the party in the province, I wish to state categorically that we are in full support of our Secretary General’s directive that councils should not harassing street vendors,’’ he said.
He said the ruling PF was voted for by the same poor people that are being harassed.
He said the party will not relent in making sure that the poor people actively participate and benefit from the economic development of the country as highlighted in the PF manifesto.
‘’To us, street vendors are our people and anyone beating them will also be dealt with,’’ he said.
He suggested that councils should dedicate some streets to street vendors and provide facilities such as water and toilets for them and be given serious conditions to be cleaning where they are trading.
Several Tailings dams which government has leased to some developers in Kitwe have started polluting the environment leading to trees and grass drying up due to leakage of mineral deposits such as red oxide to the environment.
A check at some Tailings dams in the Nkana Tailings Complex found some grass dry and some trees drying up.
This follows the washing away of the walls that hold the Tailings dams due to heavy rains.
Mines Permanent Secretary Paul Chanda threatened that his Ministry will be forced to review the licenses in order for the Tailings to be taken care of.
Mr. Chanda told ZNBC News that the license holders have not secured the Tailings, leading to them polluting the environment.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Mining Environmental Remediation and Improvement Project will soon embark on rehabilitating Tailings dams which will show the potential they have in the nation.
Project National Coordinator Gideon Ndalama said the first Tailings dam to be renovated will be in Mufulira.
A tailings dam is typically an earth-fill embankment dam used to store byproducts of mining operations after separating the ore from the gangue.
Tailings can be liquid, solid, or a slurry of fine particles, and are usually highly toxic and potentially radioactive.
All People’s Congress Leader Nason Msoni has urged government to reconsider its decision to lift the ban on the export of mealie meal.
Mr. Msoni said the rain pattern being experienced in the country is a clear threat to Zambia’s food security as the maize crop has failed due to drought.
He said it will not make economic sense for Zambia to sell mealie meal now and later source it from other countries at a very high cost.
Mr. Msoni wondered whether government has done a due diligence to determine the possible effects of such a move on the food security of the nation.
He said policies that are aimed at benefiting a few individuals and in this case the millers must be avoided as they will be costly to the nation.
Government yesterday lifted the ban on the export of mealie meal.
However, Millers who have accessed government subsidized maize from the Food Reserve Agency will not be allowed to get import permits for mealie meal and state security Agencies will also remain on alert in strategic cross boarder points to prevent illegal exports.
Zambia currently has in excess of 700, 000 metric tonnes of maize grain stocks and government is convinced that the country is food secure and mealie meal prices will remain fairly stable.
The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has suspended independent TV station Prime TV for ‘exhibiting unprofessional elements in its broadcasting through unbalanced coverage, opinionated news, material likely to incite violence and use of derogatory language.’
IBA Board Secretary Josephine Mapoma says that during the suspension the station is expected to conduct in-house training on basic journalism ethics and news writing.
Ms. Mapoma said Prime Television has been broadcasting through unbalanced coverage, opinionated news, material likely to incite violence and use of derogatory language.
She was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka on Monday morning.
“Further to your hearing held on 1st March, 2019, the Board at its 16th Board Meeting resolved to suspend your license with immediate effect for 30 days. During the suspension period, the station is expected to conduct in-house training in basic journalism and news script writing,” stated Ms. Mapoma in a letter to Prime TV proprietor Gerald Shawa.
And IBA Board Chairperson Chanda Kasolo who is also Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary says the decision to suspend Prime TV was made after thorough consultations and engagement with stakeholders.He said there was no political interference involved and the decision comes after thorough consultations and engagement with other stakeholders.
Mr Kasolo said if there was any interference, the noble thing he could have done was to resign and not allow to be used by anyone.
IBA has also issued 22 radio licences, suspended two including Prime TV and Valley FM and revoked another two licences of Ngoma and Kafue radio stations.
Valley FM Radio License of Nyimba is suspended for 60 days due to unprofessional conduct.The station is said to have failed to balance and moderate a discussion program and has during the suspension period been directed to conduct in house training for management and engage trained Journalists.
The radio licenses for Ngoma station of Luanshya and Kafue radio stations were revoked for non-payment of license fees.
Kafue Radio station license was also revoked because it was off air most of the time and when they were on air, had no content but played music throughout.
The Zambia Medical Association has begun formal discussions with the Ministry of Health and Private Medical Universities to address the issue of medical training that will be affordable for the training institutions.
The Ministry of Health increased the student placement fees by over 500% for 2019. Medical students who go through 4 rotations a year,each of 8 week duration would therefore be required to pay K32 000 annually in addition to tuition.
ZMA President Dr. Abidan Chansa said both parties are committed to the current situation of dialogue that has ensued.
Dr. Chansa said the Association anticipates that these discussions will continue to be held in an honest environment where the responsibilities that the private Universities ought to contribute to and the training institutions needs will take centre stage and will result in development of long-term plans that will direct training of healthcare workers in a well-coordinated manner both in public and private institutions.
This will also encourage better utilisation of scarce hospital resources that include surgical consumables and other diagnostic resources that are key to training of quality medical doctors.
And on the proposed increment of clinical placement fees, Dr. Chansa said the Association has resolved that there is need to continuously look at ways of improving the quality of Medical Education provided for all holistically.
He noted that Zambia has been on an ambitious path to achieve Universal Health Coverage and to realise this, human capital development and innovative ways of healthcare financing remain critical.
Dr. Chansa said currently, the sector has seen a rapid rise in the need to train more health professionals both at undergraduate and postgraduate which has resulted in an increase in public and private schools providing training in health courses.
He said all these trainings happen in public institutions with a resultant increase in the cost of provision of health care as the training of healthcare workers increases the cost of running the institutions.
Dr. Chansa said ZMA remains a supporter of progressive government policies to achieve the Country’s goals in achieving Healthcare Financing, Universal Health Coverage, ending the HIV epidemic, Malaria and Tuberculosis through training of well qualified medical personnel.
File:A boy is photographed at a public meeting with rugged clothes
The Golden Progressive Party has called on government to translate the revenue from the new mining tax regime into tangible pro poor policies that will directly lift millions of Zambians out of poverty once the new mining tax regime comes into force.
Golden Progressive Party President Jackson Silavwe is concerned that about 60 percent of Zambians live below the poverty line.
Mr. Silavwe said the Government must robustly bring down the cost of living such as accommodation, transport, school fees and mealie meal among others which have remained out of reach for many Zambians.
He said government must also work towards replenishing the country’s gross international reserves to 3 months import cover from the current 1.9 months falling to US$1.6 Billion for the first time in 10 years.
Mr. Silavwe has since urged the PF government to create a contingency fund in which a fair percentage of revenue from the new mining tax regime shall be reserved for both external and internal debt servicing.
In the 2019 National Budget, Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe announced a new mining tax regime which revised the mineral royalty tax rates and abolished the value added tax refunds.
The new mining tax regime resonated very well with many Zambians and expressly supported the Government’s position but the mining companies responded with threats of job losses and downsizing production.
The threats from the mining companies drew sharp criticism from citizens, trade unions and many other stakeholders.
Economic performance in 2018 remained generally resilient, supported by relative macroeconomic stability as well as less volatile commodity prices particularly for copper. This notwithstanding, several downside risks included: continued global trade tension; and, rise in global oil price, negative market sentiment related to fiscal challenges; upward adjusted debt; sluggish credit growth; depreciation of the Kwacha impacted on the overall performance of the economy ( Minister of Finance, Margret Mwanakatwe, December,2018)
Companies in Zambia experienced a further deterioration in business conditions in December, ending a challenging second half of 2018. Output fell at a sharp and accelerated pace in December, with slow business and a lack of money in the economy highlighted again by panelists ( Stanbic Bank Purchasing Managers Index Survey, 2019)
Credit to the private sector remained constrained and contracted in the fourth quarter of 2018, underpinned by elevated lending rates and persistently higher than programmed fiscal deficits. To support sustainable macroeconomic stability and achieve higher growth, prompt and effective implementation of fiscal adjustment measures remains critical ( Bank of Zambia Governor Dr. Kalyalya, Feb 2019)
The current fiscal position of the nation does not allow for a massive experiment in the risky aviation industry at the expense of taxpayers. Zambia is grappling with rapidly increasing debt, now about US$16 billion, and is currently implementing austerity measures (Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD )researcher Bright Chizonde, January 2019)
Corruption really has serious negative implications on the economy of the country, especially in Zambia where most of the major projects are being done by donors like the USA, in terms of the rehabilitation of our sewer system, water reticulation system, also the help that we are receiving in the health sector. It sends a very bad picture as to what is happening in the country. People cannot stop talking about corruption. But because there are accusations of corruption, people are talking about corruption and other problems in the economy. That is sending a negative picture to the capital market and our bonds are performing very badly because of this. ( Dr. Lubinda Habazooka, Economics Association of Zambia President)
There have been a lot of comments about the performance of the Zambian economy in 2018 leading into 2019 by various commentators and experts but no full unbiased picture has yet been given. The majority of comments and analysis have been couched in technical language as usual, whereby ordinary Zambians, cannot exactly figure out what is happening apart from feeling the effects. This article presents facts supported by numbers from the government, World bank/IMF, Africa Development bank and Bank of Zambia. The analysis and interpretation of the same is done in a relatively layman’s language.
This writer tries as much as possible to give an objective, independent but critical picture of the Zambian economy while wearing patriotic lens. It is in this respect that it is not true to say the Zambian economy is in a crisis like it was in 2015 as postulated by certain quarters. On the other hand, it is also incorrect to say the economy is doing very well and government should be contented.
The analysis looks at the following main ten economic indicators: interest rates, inflation, exchange rates, unemployment, Debt/ GDP %, and fiscal deficit % of GDP, international reserves, external debt%, domestic debt% and GDP. The article goes on to explain the effects of these technical indicators are having on ordinary people. The objective is to educate the public, politicians and also help government to act and accelerate the implementation of reforms.
The bright spots in the Zambian economy
The major bright spots in the Zambian economy lie in the monetary policy environment where both the monetary policy rate and the Statutory Reserve Ratio has been maintained at 9.75% and 5% respectively for a period of 12 months. In a normal economy, these metrics were supposed to bring down interest rates to between 12% -15% but because the government is borrowing from the market at 21.5% and continuing, it is a pipe dream to expect commercial bank rates to come down any time soon.
Although the inflation rate has been trending upwards for quiet sometime, one needs to consider that it was about 22% a few years ago. At the latest rate of 7.8% at the end of February, 2019, it is both below the double digit inflation threshold and the Central bank target of the 8%. The recent reduction in pump price of petrol is also a positive for the economy.
The expected maize output for 2018/19 season is 2.6 million tonnes compared to 2.4 million the previous year. This means that Zambians will not have to import the staple food. On the other hand, the price of copper has been relatively stable, hovering around $6,000 per tonne, and had it not been for the USA and China trade war, it may have even reached beyond $7,000 per tonne. The latest copper price as at 28 February, 2019 was $6,500 per tonne.
There is no doubt that the Government’s announcement of revision of mining taxes, which have been very popular among Zambians, is a step in the right direction. Zambia needs to benefit more from its natural resources. The firm stand of government, and the public outcry about the Mining houses’ corporate greed, forced mining houses to backtrack on the threat of job losses. The stand by government and Zambians is commendable.
The other bright spot in the economy is the stable electricity supply. Zambia’s power generation capacity has increased above the 1901 MW which is about what the nation needs at its peak. The Finance Minister reported a 12.6 % in the 12 months period ended 2018 in power generation. This augurs well for the productive sector of the economy. There is virtually no load shedding in Zambia apart from a few inexplicable disruptions for domestic users from time to time. The dark days of load shedding are long gone. This is certainly a positive given the trauma that load shedding caused in 2015 and 2016.
The Zambian economy has been growing, albeit in a subdued manner. The economy is expected to grow at about 4% in 2018. According to the African Development Bank, the medium-term outlook remains positive, with growth projected at 4.2% in 2019 and 4.3% in 2020. Although the fact that the economy is growing and not in recession is a positive; it is way too low to have any positive impact on the lives of ordinary Zambians. It is also way below the growth rates of countries like Ghana, Ethiopia and Rwanda which are growing between 7% to 10%.
The last positive aspect about the Zambian economy is the issue of the competence of the two key managers of the economy- the Central Bank Governor and the Minister of Finance. The writer is an admirer of Governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya’s management of the Central since he took over.
The current evidence also suggests that Mrs Margret Mwanakatwe, despite being a Chartered Accountant like the writer, and not an economist, has so far proved to be a promising finance minister. This is especially regarding her attitude of being transparent by regularly communicating to the market, information about the economy. She has helped in building some level of confidence among market players. However, the jury is still out on her. In the event that she manages to seal the elusive deal with the IMF, it will certainly bode very well for her competence. The two economic managers have demonstrated that when the right Zambians are appointed with the three crucial ingredients to success in such jobs – Education, Experience and Exposure – and with minimum political interference, they can deliver.
The dark spots of the Zambian economy
The poisoned well of the Zambian economy, from which we are all drinking, is the massive public debt. According to the African Development Bank, in 2018, Zambia’s domestic debt was estimated at 20% of GDP while the external debt, including government guarantees, fell to an estimated 39.2% of GDP which makes the total ratio to be 59.2%. The high public and publicly guaranteed debt led to Zambia being classified as being at high risk of debt distress in 2017 by a joint IMF-World Bank’s Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) study and led to the subsequent suspension of the IMF talks on the bailout programme.
The total debt servicing costs are estimated at about 35% as of total revenue. The external debt alone is estimated at US$ 9.51 billion from US$ 8.7 billion at end December 2017 an increase of 9%.Domestic debt which is mainly government securities as at 30 September,2018 was $4.62billion (K54.6 billion). Domestic arrears (amounts owed to suppliers of government) were $1.25 billion (K14.7 billion) whereas Government guarantees were $1.2 Billion.
It follows from the above numbers that the total government debt without guarantees is $15.38 billion if domestic debt and arrears are converted at K11.8. When Government guarantee is added, the total government borrowing amounts to $16.38 billion. This is way too high and is causing havoc in the economy.
Government’s high domestic borrowing at high interest rates continues to crowd-out private sector lending and encourage banks to charge high lending rates to households and the private sector. Government is borrowing at 21.5% for treasury bills and 19.9% for government bonds. It is no surprise that commercial bank lending continued to be very high at 23.6 per cent in December 2018. The banks’ lending to the private sector has continued to decline meaning that economic activities ( growth) will continue to be subdued and employment creation will continue to be a pipe dream.
The government’s fiscal deficit for 2018 is estimated at 7.45% of GDP which is above the 6.1 % budgeted in 2018. The target was missed mainly due to high capital expenditure, rising debt, growing government suppliers debts and a large wage bill. According to the African development bank, “Another downside risk to the economic outlook arises from the slow pace of fiscal consolidation”.
In regard to foreign exchange, foreign reserves have dropped to $1.57 Billion from $1.8 billion, which is 1.8 months import cover. On the other hand, the Kwacha depreciated by 25.2% in 2018 from an average of K 9.49 per dollar in 2017 to an average of K 11.8.
One of the most important economic metrics that is ignored or not talked about much is the unemployment rate especially among the Youth. The survey carried out by Ministry of Labour and social services indicated that Zambia’s employment rate is 41.2%. This could be even being higher. The issue of jobs in Zambia, it appears, is not a taken seriously by the Government and Opposition parties
The net impact of all the above negative effects is reflected in the low economic activity in Zambia. The very low economic activity in Zambia in 2018 was confirmed by Stanbic Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).
“Output fell at a sharp and accelerated pace in December, with slow business and a lack of money in the economy highlightedagain by panelists. The acceleration in the rate of decline in activity was recorded in spite of a slower reduction in new business. Operating conditions have now decreased in five successive months,” the Survey reported.
The World Bank review of the economy of Zambia in 2018 also supports the above view of the subdued economic activity. “Economic activity has faced a drag from a deteriorated fiscal and debt situation. Large domestic public expenditure arrears increased non-performing loans to 13.4 per cent of outstanding loans in May 2018, from 9.7 per cent in 2016, leading to lower private sector lending,” World Bank’s 11th Edition of the Zambia Economic Brief said.
How ordinary Zambians are currently affected by economy
The question lay people may ask is what is the implication of all the above technical language and numbers? First and foremost, when looks at the positive and negative economic indicators in the Zambian economy, the net effect is that the negatives far outweigh the positives and thus the reason why the majority of Zambians are of the view that the economy is not working for them. The main street, who is made up of farmers, villagers, venders, workers, youth, women, small businesses cannot say there are better off than they were ten years ago.
It is crystal clear that the causes of Zambia’s economic stagnation and problems are the interrelated issues of excessive public debt both domestic and foreign, Kwacha’s depreciation, high commercial bank interest rates, low liquidity (shortage of cash in the economy), excessive and reckless government expenditure, low domestic revenue mobilization and the endemic corruption.
The combination of the above negative economic indicators have resulted in the lack of employmentopportunities for Zambians especially the Youth, high cost of living, shortages of medicines and supplies in clinics and hospitals as grants are irregular, cancellation of meal allowances for University students, less money in Zambian pockets, less business for vendors, delay in payment of farmers, delay in paying of government contractors and suppliers, delay in payment of civil servants in some months, and above all escalating poverty levels especially in rural areas.
The bottom line is that with excessive debt servicing at about 35% and a wage bill of about 50% of revenue, the huge expenditure on some superfluous capital projects with no discernible economic value, less funds will be available for the promotion of social programmes in education, health, social welfare. This writer and other experts warned about the negative effects of excessive debt four to five years ago,but we were called all sorts of names including being called lunatics by one former finance minister who is very comfortable in retirement and not feeling our pain for the debt mountain mess he helped create when he presided on a borrowing binge, despite the fact that he had the experience of the devastating effects of excessive borrowing during the UNIP/ KK years.
CONCLUSION
In summary, although a number of economic problems have been enumerated, there are three main issues that are preventing Zambia’s economy from growing by as much as 10% and which if addressed can reboot the economy and restore market confidence. These are huge public debt, excessive government expenditure and endemic corruption. These are the issues that need to be prioritised, laser focused on, and the rest is likely to follow without doubt.
If Zambia was a company, as former corporate consultant, i would have recommended a restructuring and turnaround strategy. Zambian economy needs a serious restructuring because given that approximately 35% of revenue goes to debt servicing and about 50% goes to the wage bill, foreign reserves are at $1.57 billion or 1.8 months import cover, unemployment is at 41%, commercial bank rates at 23%, this is clearly a sign of an economy that is very precarious and at great risk. It is vulnerable to any foreign and domestic shock.
Government needs to accelerate the implementation of the austerity measures in place and even add new ones like reduction in the number of the vehicles given to officials, curtail allowances and per diems and generally implement the reduction in big government like the creation of new districts.
The writer is a Chartered Accountant by profession, a Private Sector Development expert and an Entrepreneur. He is an independent finance and economic commentator/analyst and a Patriot.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has refuted stories, circulating in some sections of the media alleging that Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has directed senior police officers to arrest and prosecute the four dismissed Sesheke police officers.
Public Relations Officer, Nephas Chifuta has described such stories as false and malicious.
Mr. Chifuta has warned that publication of false and malicious information is an offence which attracts severe punishment under the laws of Zambia.
He says Mr. Kampyongo has never held any meeting on the outcome of the Sesheke Parliamentary by-election with either senior police officers nor Ministry of Home Affairs members of staff.
Meanwhile Mr. Chifuta says the prosecution of criminal suspects is the jurisdictional mandate of the National Prosecution Authority -NPA- and not the Minister of Home affairs.
This is contained in a statement released to ZNBC News in Lusaka.
Investors from the United Kingdom Copper Tree are set to develop a copper processing plant at the famous Uchi dump site in Kitwe on the Copperbelt.
Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu told ZNBC news in Kitwe
that Copper Tree has discovered valuable minerals at the Uchi dump site and that the construction of a copper processing Plant will start in July this year.
Mr. Mpundu says the company will start recalling and processing minerals at the Uchi dump site which has since been closed and fenced off.
He further disclosed that the old copper processing techniques used by mining firms in Kitwe then, left very valuable mineral deposits in all the dumping sites dotted in the city including Uchi.
Mr. Mpundu added that the construction of the Copper processing plant is a plus for the city as it will boost job creation apart from stimulating economic activities in the area.
Meanwhile, the Mine workers Union of Zambia -MUZ- President Joseph Chewe has welcomed the construction of a copper processing plant saying it is an answer to the value addition government has been calling for.
But a Copperbelt University business Expert Professor Biemba Maliti has urged Copper Tree to consider opening up an open pit mine at the Uchi dump site instead of a Copper processing plant to protect the environment.
The Uchi dump site is said to possess huge deposits of Cobalt and Copper.
Socialist Party Zambia and 2021 presidential candidate Fred M’membe with members of the Socialist Youth League of Zambia march in solidarity for Venezuela’s Leader Nicolas Maduro in Caracas recently.
SOCIALIST Party deputy secretary general Dr Fred M’membe has asked the Zambian observer to observe clearly and report truth.
In a statement, Dr M’membe stated that for some time now, The Zambian Observer had carried articles crediting them to him, which he had not written.
He called the development “strange but worrying pattern”.
“Until now, I have not complained about the Zambian Observer’s knack for publishing falsehoods under my name. We had hoped their figment of imagination would have an end!” he stated.
“But their propensity to slander me is getting out of hand. The Zambian Observer’s conduct is not a mistake. It is a premeditated activity whose motive they themselves know. It’s not just unprofessional, unethical but it’s both immoral and dirty. It cannot continue. Don’t go all the length to destroy the noble platform and profession of journalism because doing so will rob the human race greatly.”
Dr M’membe stated that he has not authored the article circulating in the Zambian Observer under the headline: A Must Read: Fred M’membe voices out.”
“We urge the Zambian Observer to observe clearly and report truth. It doesn’t hurt to cultivate news and inform our citizens but please don’t use my name for the sake of your circulation and capital,” stated M’membe.
Below is the statement in Full
Press Statement for immediate release and circulation
For some time now, The Zambian Observer has carried articles crediting me, Fred M’membe, which I have not written. A strange but worrying pattern.
Until now, I have not complained about the Zambian Observer’s knack for publishing falsehoods under my name. We had hoped their figment of imagination would have an end!
But their propensity to slander me is getting out of hand.
The Zambian Observer’s conduct is not a mistake. It is a premeditated activity whose motive they themselves know. It’s not just unprofessional, unethical but it’s both immoral and dirty.
It cannot continue. Don’t go all the length to destroy the noble platform and profession of journalism because doing so will rob the human race greatly.
I have not authored the article circulating in the Zambian Observer under the headline: A Must Read: The truth Fred M’membe voices out.
We urge the Zambian Observer to observe clearly and report truth.
It doesn’t hurt to cultivate news and inform our citizens but please don’t use my name for the sake of your circulation and capital.
Issued by Fred M’membe
March 3, 2019
18:18 Hours
Lusaka.
It was a Black Sunday for Zesco United and Nkana in their respective Group C away matches of the 2018/2019 CAF Confederation Cup fixtures.
In Sudan, Zesco were downed 3-1 by Al Hilal to see George Lwandamina’s side collect just one point from their last three games since beating Nkana 2-0 at home in Ndola on February 3.
Al Hilal, who drew 1-1 away at Zesco in the first leg on February 24, put on an authoritative display at home in Omdurman when Bakhet Hamid and Mohamed Eldai struck in the 9th and 35th minutes respectively as Zesco battled to get its defensive act together.
But a ray of hope appeared in the 38th minute for Zesco when Lazarus Kambole cut the deficit to see the two sides go 2-1 into the break.
However, Al Hilal captain Abdel Latif Boya extinguished any of those thoughts harbored by Zesco when he unleashed a left-footed long-range volley that sneaked in on the near post beating an out-stretched Zesco goalkeeper Jacob Banda.
Al Hilal top Group C on 7 points, one more than Nkana who fall from first to third after losing 3-0 away in Ghana to second positioned Asante Kotoko in Kumasi.
All three of Kotoko’s goals came in the first 30 minutes of the opening 45 minutes through Safiu Fatawu, Emmanuel Gyamfi, and Martin Antwi in the 4th, 23rd and 28th minutes respectively.
That Kotoko’s blitz promoted Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi to substitute goalkeeper Allan Chibwe for Kelvin Malunga in the 30 minutes to mitigate the one-way traffic in Kumasi.
Kotoko jump from last to second on 6 points with a better goal difference over Nkana.
Meanwhile, Nkana and Zesco now return home to face-off in a bottom two showdown of their penultimate Group C match in Kitwe on February 10.
Ndola Town Clerk Wisdom Bwalya has dispelled allegations by association of Vendors, Traders and Marketeers of Zambia that officers from local authority are harassing street vendors.
Speaking to ZANIS Ndola in an interview, Mr. Bwalya said the enforcement officers have acted professional while on duty.
Mr. Bwalya said the position of the local authority is to keep street vendors out of the Central business district.
He emphasized that the law is very clear on street spending and that the local authority will enforce it in a dignified manner.
Mr. Bwalya was reacting to a statement issued by Association of Vendors, Traders and Marketeers of Zambia President Fredrick Tembo to which he has accused council police of harassing vendors found trading in undesignated places.
Mr. Tembo says his office has received overwhelming complaints from vendors that they are being harassed by council police officer.
Mr. Tembo further accused the council officers of failing to release the merchandise to the vendors upon admitting to the offence.
He has appealed to the local authority tie attach a human face when dealing with the issue of street vendors.
Agriculture Minister Hon. Michael Katambo discusses cassava with Zambian Breweries director of corporate affairs Ezekiel Sekele. Picture by Alex Mukuka.
The Ministry of Agriculture has with immediate effect lifted the ban on the export of mealie meal.
In a statement made available to ZANIS today, Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo said this is to ensure a smooth flow of exports of mealie meal.
Mr. Katambo said the ministry will apply a regulated export regime that they have been using to facilitate maize seed exports through the Eastern and Southern African region and so far worked well.
He however said it should be noted that millers who have accessed the government subsidized maize from the FRA, will not be allowed to get import permits for mealie meal.
Mr. Katambo further warned that state security agencies will also remain on alert in strategic cross-border points to ensure that illegal exports are kept in check.
He said this decision was arrived at in close consultations by the Ministry of Agriculture with key stakeholders that included the Grain Traders Association (GTAZ), The Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ), The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), Zambia Agricultural Commodity Exchange (ZAMACE) as well as the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Mr. Katambo said having established that the country currently has in excess of 700,000 metric tonnes of maize grain stocks, government is convinced that the country is food secure and that mealie meal prices will remain fairly stable.
He has urged farmers, millers and grain traders to take advantage of this market window and close deals with importers in close border markets, particularly those from Congo DR.
Mr. Katambo explained that from the consultation that government has been having with stakeholders in the agriculture industry, it has become very clear that as a country, there is need to develop a predictable and transparent agricultural commodity marketing system.
Lusambo greats Bread of Life Ndola Reverend George Chanda during a Church service
Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has urged Zambians to strive to get a share of the country’s wealth.
Mr Lusambo said it is disheartening to note that despite Zambia being endowed with vast resources, majority of citizens are not benefiting.
He said the PF Government is determined to distribute the national resources equally in line with the Seventh National Development Plan which seeks not to leave anyone behind.
Mr Lusambo said there is need for Zambians to be aggressive and take advantage of the opportunities that government is creating to create wealth.
The Lusaka Province Minister who is also Kabushi Member of Parliament was speaking in Ndola this morning when he addressed congregants at Bread of Life Ndola.
“Zambia is a blessed country. We have plenty of resources which we should all share. We have a rich nation and there is no excuse for us to continue suffering,” Mr Lusambo said.
“We have our foreigners who come here with handbags and suitcases and leave with trunks of Dollars. Where do they get all that money from? It’s from this same country which goes to show that Zambia is not poor,” he said.
Mr Lusambo also implored the Church to continue working closely with the Government in the development process of the nation.
He said the Church and the Government are all serving the same constituency of the people.
Mr Lusambo observed that the Church should be included in the proposed national dialogue process.
Mr Lusambo addressing congregants at Bread of Life Church NdolaMr Lusambo attending Church Service at Bread of Life Ndola
