The Japanese government has given Zambia a grant worth 500 million Yen that will be used to buy modern equipment for the School of Veterinary at the University of Zambia.

Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe signed the agreement on behalf, while Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hidenobe Sobashima signed on behalf of Japan.

President Edgar Lungu and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe also witnessed the signing ceremony.

And speaking during a joint media conference, President Lungu said his visit to Japan has already yielded results as can be seen from the agreement signed that will benefit the University of Zambia.

He also announced that he has invited Mr Abe to visit Zambia at an opportune time.

President Lungu said the Japanese Prime minister has since accepted the invitation.

Meanwhile, Mr Abe said there is need to promote trade between Zambia and his country.

The Japanese Prime Minister said the Japanese government will continue giving support to Zambia in areas such as health and education.

He said Japan will also work with Zambia in various forums such as the United Nations and praised the Zambian government record of looking after refuges.

Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has said that his decision to meet Japanese investors in Tokyo is the sign that Zambia does not segregate investors.

The Head of state said that government will continue welcoming Foreign Direct Investment as long as it is aimed at benefiting the masses, adding that the Minister responsible for trade and commerce has been asked to help those that want to invest in different sectors of the economy.

Speaking when he addressed Zambian heads of public and private companies President Lungu challenged them to find business opportunities in Japan.

He said partnerships with big foreign firms will allow local companies to learn best practices and grow their businesses.

President Lungu said job creation requires concerted efforts hence his government’s decision to work with both private and public companies.

And speaking during the same meeting Redpath Country Director Anthony Kabaghe urged government to give more support to Zambia firms if they are to compete favourably.

Government has announced that Zambia will not bid to host the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AfCON).

Ministry of Sports Spokesperson Muma Mukupa says Zambia will not bid to host AfCON because the costs of hosting the continental soccer showpiece was not factored into the 2019 national budget which has already passed.

Mr. Mukupa stated that hosting the Africa Cup of Nations requires a lot of financial resources which could have only been possible if it was included in the national budget.

Mukupa says government is happy that the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has expressed interest to bid to host the 2019 AfCON except the country has no capacity at the moment to host a tournament of such magnitude.

FAZ expressed interest in bidding to host the 2019 AfCON tournament few weeks after the Chipolopolo’s ambitions of qualifying to the showpiece were ruined by Mozambique.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced last month that Cameroon had been dropped from hosting the tournament due to delays in preparations to stage the continental showpiece.

CAF is expected to announce the new hosts of the AfCON tournament on December31, with South African ranking among the front runners.

Five people have died in a Road Traffic Accident which occurred today on 19th December, 2018 at 0640 hours at Dallas area North of Mazabuka town along great north road involving six motor vehicles leaving three others with serious injuries.

Involved in the accident was a Hino truck registration number FR 96 CD GP driven from south to North by Chari Charles aged 54 of South Africa , a Volvo truck registration number ABX 8247 towing a trailer registration number ALR 7391T being driven from north to south by Emmanuel Chimbipa aged 34 of Chikumbi area in Kabwe and a Toyota Noah registration number BAH 9525 being driven from south to north by Emmanuel Daka.

Others were a Nissan registration number BX 88 XM gp driven from south to north by Odycious Hamweemba aged 48 year of Kakumbi site and service, a Benz light truck registration number BY 97 GR gp towing a trailer registration number CM 64 XG GP and a Toyota Alphard registration number BAH 1786 driven by Emelia Mbewe Thokozani aged 26 years of Chelston from north to south.

Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo said the accident happened when the driver of the Hino Truck, due to high speed lost control of the motor vehicle and in the process hit into a Volvo truck which was coming from the opposite direction, proceeded to hit in the other three motor vehicles from the rear which made the driver of the Toyota Noah to lose control and over turned.

Mrs. Katongo explained that after the accident, four persons sustained head injuries and died on the spot while the driver of Noah identified as Emmanuel Daka aged 40 years of Hill side Mazabuka sustained a fractured neck and died on the way to the hospital.

She said all the bodies of the deceased, whose names have been withheld until their next of kin are informed, have been deposited in Mazabuka District Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Movement for Multiparty Democracy faction President Felix Mutati has told members in Northern Province that he will channel his energies towards rebuilding the former ruling party and ensure that it is a condition to compete in future elections.

Speaking during an indoor meeting in Kasama, Northern Province, Mr. Mutati said he has more time to deal with party matters after the end of the tour of duty in government and that members should ensure that they continue to mobilize the party.

He said it is only by mobilisation that the party will be recorgnised by Zambians and that his strength as president of the party lies in the numbers and not in how much insults can be dished out towards opposing parties.

He explained that rushing to the media to criticise government will only give you a few headlines but that will not give you numbers to win an election adding that as a president he will not engage in exchange of words but build the party.

And the MMD leader has told the Provincial Executive Committee to start preparations for a card renewal launch in the province.

He said the party will next month launch the card renewals on the Copperbelt Province which will be followed by the launch in Kasama hence the need for the province to ensure that they go on the ground and recruit more members.

Mr. Mutati is in Kasama for a series of meetings with the party structures and with him is his national secretary Raphael Nakachinda and the Chairperson for Education Henry Mulenga.

The National Democratic Congress has urged Government not to allow mining firms to effect job cuts in the extractive industry.

Party Acting spokesperson Misheck Moyo said revelations that mining firms on the Copper belt and North Western provinces intend to cut jobs are uncalled for.

Mr. Moyo has appealed to Government to convene an urgent tripartite meeting with stakeholders to discuss perceived challenges mines might be facing and should bring on board mining firms, unions and Government.

He has proposed that experts from both the Ministries of Finance and Mines should attend the said meeting.

“As NDC, we feel the reasons advanced by mining firms to trim labour in the wake of proposed changes in the tax regime are extremely trivial. We are of the view that mining firms merely want to blackmail Government not to effect the proposed tax changes”, Mr. Moyo said.

He has said that Mining firms are being irrational and grossly unfair in their approach adding that the NDC supports the proposed tax changes in the mining sector.

Mr. Moyo said Tax adjustments in the mining sector will enable Government raise more money for development projects as the current tax regime in the mining sector has gravely disadvantaged Zambians.

And Mr. Moyo has implored mining firms that are experiencing operational problems to consider leaving the country and immediately hand over the mines to serious investors.

He said government must consider effecting radical measures that may include taking over mines that are claiming to be experiencing challenges.

“As NDC, we stand together with our colleagues working in the mining sector, we shall not allow any job losses at any mine. We shall speak for the voiceless miners and ensure that their jobs are protected and secured”, He added.

Mr. Moyo said the Ministry of Labour should closely monitor the happenings in mining firms in the wake of looming job cuts and increase its share holding stake in mining firms through ZCCM-IH.

He said ZCCM-IH has the capacity to take over and run ailing mining firms.

Mr. Moyo said it is a pity that some mining firms operating in the country are extremely selfish and such firms will do anything possible not to share their profits with the people of Zambia.

First Quantum Minerals says it will go ahead and reduce production at its Sentinel mine immediately the new Sales Tax takes effect on 1st April 2018.

FQM Director of Operations Matt Pascall said in a staff memo that the reduction in production will inevitably result in job cuts.

Mr Pascall has also denied allegations that it is using arm twisting tactics to oppose the new tax measures contained in the 2019 budget.

He said following the 2019 Budget announcement on 28th September, Kalumbila Minerals Limited has conducted a thorough analysis with respect to the Budget’s impact on the Sentinel Mine. First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and KML are mindful of the concerns expressed by various observers and other stakeholders about reducing the number of employees at the mine,” Mr Pascall said.

“Some of the comment has been that reducing employee numbers should be a last resort after all other avenues of cost reduction have been exhausted. We would like to assure all our employees that this is exactly the position taken by KML,” he said.

“Our major costs are: taxes; electricity; maintenance spares; reagents and consumables (diesel); and wages and salaries. We have very little control of the cost of taxes, electricity and diesel as these are set by the government – furthermore all of these have been subject to steady increases over the past 7 years, even where such increases are in contradiction to signed agreements,” he observed.

Mr Pascall stated that with the low grade of ore at Sentinel Mine at 0.5% Copper which is the lowest being mined in Zambia and the historic low copper prices of 2016/17 the mine has done, and continues to do, everything possible to minimise its costs and consumption of reagents, consumables, maintenance spares and labour.

He said the sole remaining avenue to reduce consumption is by reducing the tonnage throughput.

“Once the new tax measures take effect it will no longer be economically viable to continue to run Sentinel’s operations at full capacity. It is with deep regret that the reduction in operational output will also lead to a reduction in employee headcount,” he said.

Mr Pascall said this reduction in both throughput and employee numbers will take place over a period of some months and those affected will be notified in due course through their line managers.

“However, the imposition of General Sales Tax on 1st April, which is likely to increase our costs by at least 20% on procured items, will necessitate the full manpower reduction to be in place by that date. Various government spokesmen have commented that KML should have dialogues with government and not simply resorted to “strong arm tactics”. We, and I personally, have met with numerous Honourable Ministers and other government officials from the very early dates that the various tax changes were proposed. We discussed in detail the implications, including reducing work forces, and even left them with written confirmation of our concerns,” he said.

“Unfortunately, despite all efforts (not only by FQM but also the whole of the mining industry) to objectively and transparently inform decision makers on the inevitable consequences of the proposed measures, our message seems not to have been heard, and the tax changes have been implemented.”

Mr Pascall assured that Sentinel Management will do its best to mitigate the impact that these changes will have on employees and the broader Kalumbila community.

“We would hope that at some time in the future the tax regime will be adjusted to take into account the requirement of investors to make satisfactory returns on their investment, and would like to assure any affected workers that wherever possible they will be reemployed once it becomes viable to revert to full production.”

He added, “In anticipation of a future return to full production and throughput it will be management’s critical responsibility to ensure that the entire plant for this wonderful, world-class, mine is maintained in first class, ready-to-work, condition.”

He hoped that threats to reduce access to expertise required to ensure this condition is maintained will not eventuate.

“We will keep you informed at every stage of this restructuring of Sentinel’s operations. Finally, I would like to thank our entire workforce at every level and in every role for the part you have played in making Sentinel one of the world’s great mines. It has been a long hard road and many of you have worked long hours to overcome operational problems and help us get to the current situation, where some of the biggest and most modern equipment in the world functions so well,” he said.

“Management’s prime responsibility is to ensure the long term viability and continuity of this mine, and it is with deep regret that the steps outlined above will be required for reasons outside of our control. Despite this message I would like to extend Season’s Greetings to all employees for a Blessed Christmas and to wish you and your families a Healthy, Safe and Prosperous 2019.”