For millions of ordinary travellers, inter-African travel is still too often a nightmare. Be it border hassles, lack of road or air routes linking key cities, or the frustrations of being refused entry to a country because of visas, the end result is to curtail the free movement of people, viewed by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) as one of the pillars of regional integration.

That freedom of movement is inextricably tied to the Bank’s vision to create the next global market in Africa. As the Africa Economic Conference opens in the Rwandan capital Kigali, the theme this year: Regional and Continental Integration for Africa’s development,” also aligns with another major Bank priority – placing infrastructure development at the centre of Africa’s regional integration efforts.

Host nation Rwanda has taken bold leadership steps to champion regional integration, announcing at the beginning of this year an entry visa on arrival for travelers from all African countries.

The third edition of the Bank’s Visa Openess Index, to be launched on day two of the meeting, will be an important opportunity to measure which countries are making improvements that support free movement of people across Africa.

“The Index has helped raise awareness and drive visa policy reforms across the continent to ease movement of people, unlocking opportunities for intra-African tourism, trade and investment. In so doing, the Bank is directly contributing to the objectives of the AU initiative for a Single African passport,” Gabriel Negatu, Bank Director General, East Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office said in his remarks during the opening plenary.

Speaking on behalf of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Hon. Claudine Uwera, Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning said the conference addressed a theme “close to our hearts.” “This conference is important to charting the way for inclusive integration…that would benefit all,” Uwera said.

“Governance will determine the development path for our countries,” Uwera added, noting the equally important role of political will and commitment from African leaders.

The annual Africa Economic Conference is the continent’s leading forum fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange in the search for solutions to the development challenges of Africa. It brings together leading academics, high ranking government representatives and development practitioners from across the globe.

AEC 2018 will highlight “transformative initiatives for accelerating progress in infrastructure integration that are inclusive and promote equity, including the removal of barriers for movement of people, goods, and services across borders.”

Other convening partners to the Conference, the United Nations Development Programme UNDP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), commended Rwanda’s role as a front-runner for integration efforts in Africa and spoke on the urgent need to build on the momentum for an inclusive and equitable integration.

“The government of Rwanda is walking the talk and continues to set the pace,” Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa, said.

Also speaking at the plenary, Giovanie Biha, Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said while there were still major steps ahead, “we are moving in the right direction.”

Highlighting the Bank’s emphasis on research and knowledge management as important drivers of policy dialogue, good policy planning and implementation, participation this year’s AEC is being organized under the leadership of the Bank’s Research Department and Regional Integration Complex.

Sessions over the three-day meeting will examine the social, cultural and political frameworks for successful integration, building on the landmark signing this year of the Africa Free Trade Agreement the world’s potentially biggest free trade agreement, which aims to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments across Africa.

Participants will also look at the role of the private sector and civil society institutions.

Given the urgency of regional integration – “no longer a choice,” according to its organizers, this year’s meeting is a must attend for those interested in Africa’s Development agenda.

“Important pages of our continent’s development history are being written,” Uwera said. “Let’s take this opportunity to move the continent ahead.”

The 2018 Africa Economic Conference is taking place at the Marriot Hotel in Kigali, from 3-5 December.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

SOURCE
African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

The annual Africa Economic Conference is the continent’s leading forum fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange in the search for solutions to the development challenges of Africa

Media Authorities in China have called on Zambia to provide more information on the various investment opportunities in the country.

This is because millions of potential Chinese investors are yearning for additional information on Zambia as a preferred investment destination in Africa.

ZNBC Staffer Kennedy Bwalya reports from China that the information came to light during an interaction forum between a delegation of Zambian journalists and management staff at Chongqing Daily News Group in the Chinese city of Chongqing.

And addressing the Zambian media team, Chongqing Daily News Group Director for the News department, Cui Jian called for increased media collaboration between Zambia and China.

Ms. Cui said Media personnel in the two countries should work closely to strengthen economic, social and political ties.

She also said there is need to cooperate in consolidating efforts aimed at integrating traditional media with new media platforms in the digital era.

Ms. Cui said capacity building and integration of media resources is key to the survival of the traditional media.

Chongqing Daily News Group runs 15 newspapers and 14 websites.

The Zambian Media team is in China for the first ever Zambia Media Think Tank Seminar.

Works on the project to connect some parts of Lusaka to a permanent water supply network have reached 40 percent.

Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) recently announced that it had embarked on a K153 million project to connect residents in some parts of Lusaka to the permanent supply line.

However, Company Public Relations and Marketing Manager, Patson Phiri has attributed the slow pace of the works to the rocky landscape of most project sites.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that due to this challenge, the water utility company will not meet the set deadline of January 2019 to complete the works.

“For now the works are only at 40 percent, the works have been low because these areas are rocky thereby, posing a challenge so we will not meet the January deadline,” he said.

Government through LWSC came up with a project of connecting people to permanent water supply line as a measure to increase access to clean and safe water especially in areas that are considered to be cholera epic centers during the last cholera outbreak.

Areas that are earmarked for the project include Kanyama and Bauleni which will be connected to the permanent network while, in Chawama the company will put up water kiosks in order to increase access to clean and water safe.

Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri has commended the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) for promoting gender equality by employing more women teachers in the recent recruitment.

Mrs. Phiri says her Ministry is happy that more women have been considered for the teaching jobs noting that the move will correct the imbalance which exists between men and women when it comes to job recruitment.

She says it is important for government departments, ministries and private companies to engage more women when giving jobs.

Mrs. Phiri says President Edgar Lungu has led the way in putting more women in decision making positions hence, the need for everyone to emulate the move.

She was speaking to journalists in Lusaka shortly after she launched the National Advocacy and Communication Strategy on Ending Child Marriage in Zambia.

The Teaching Service Commission has recruited 1-thousand 2-hundred and 65 female teachers against 7-hundred and 44 male teachers.

Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo says the twinning of Chongwe District in Lusaka Province with Mianyang City of Sichuan province in China is likely to foster development which will benefit citizens of both countries.

Mr Lusambo, said that the link created between Mianyang City and Chongwe will strengthen the cordial and a long relationship which has existed between Zambia and China.

He stressed that the collaboration between the two districts will also boost the relationship between the two countries to a higher level.

Speaking when Mianyang City party secretary called on him at his office yesterday, Mr. Lusambo said Chongwe has the potential to grow in areas such as Agriculture, Mining, and aquaculture which can be explored during the twining of the two cities.

He added that President Edgar Lungu wants to see development in the country and he hopes that the benefits from this link will be extended to other districts in the province.

Mr Lusambo has since called on investors to take advantage of the potential investment opportunities in the country.

Meanwhile, Party Secretary for Mianyang City, Liu Chao said the twinning of the two cities will promote communication and cooperation between the two countries.

Mr. Liu said his team was in the country on a reciprocal visit following the vice-president’s visit to Sichuan province where the twinning of the two cities was tabled.

He also hoped that the twinning will be taken to higher levels where Zambia and China can engage in investment exchange.

Local Government Association of Zambia President Christopher Kang’ombe has commended Government for its commitment towards fostering a sustainable environment.

This follows the issuance of Statutory Instrument No 65 of 2018 on Extended Producer Responsibility, Regulations.

LGAZ President who is also Kitwe Mayor said that the SI was another milestone towards ensuring sound environment.

The SI which is designed to regulate non-returnable glass and plastic bottles, beverage cans, electronic equipment and their resultant waste among others, came into force on 3rd August 2018.

Mr. Kang’ombe said the development will go a long way in minimizing generation of the type of waste.

He has however, cautioned that while progressive pieces of legislation are being put in place for the good of the people, they will not yield positive results if enforcement of the same is weak.

In the same regard, he appealed to all councils in the country as institutions closest to the people to study the provisions of the SI for them to make meaningful contributions towards enforcement of the law which he said should be coupled with comprehensive civic education to enhance compliance.

He further said that the development called for concerted effort and change of mindset to ensure the SI and other related pieces of legislation yield intended results.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS by LGAX Information Officer Mpatanji Namumba.