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President Edgar Lungu
President Edgar Lungu has given Secretary to Cabinet Roland Msiska, seven days, to take decisive action towards curbing all malpractices in the administration of the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) programme.
President Lungu has further directed Minister of Community Development Emerine Kabanshi and her Finance counterpart Margaret Mwanakatwe to continue their engagements with donors.
He has further directed them to assure donors of the remedial measures that government has been undertaking since the reported cases of misuse, earlier this year.
The President has further regretted that that the comprehensive report on the administration of the social cash transfer funds ordered four months ago, was only availed to him on September 14, 2018.
Reports indicate that a total of K43,819,164 accounts as an outstanding balance owing to beneficiaries in Luapula, Northern, North-western, Muchinga, Western and Copperbelt provinces respectively.
The Head of State has since directed that all remaining actions and remedial measures be availed to him within one week.
“I want a speedy and decisive investigation into the matter, to establish the status of the disbursement of the Social Cash Transfer programme,” the President said.
“Wherever cases of abuse requiring criminal investigations may arise, such cases must be reported to relevant agencies and where administrative action is required, I want to see prompt action taken,” he added.
President Lungu has also raised concern over the reported breach in the administering of the Social Cash Transfer, saying the perpetrators are disadvantaging the vulnerable who society who depend on this vital safety net.
And President Lungu says he is as frustrated as the donors funding the programme because the main aim of the project is to ensure that the plight of the vulnerable in society is met.
On September 5th, 2018, the Secretary to Cabinet led a government delegation to a meeting with donors, where measures being undertaken to address the problems encountered in the SCT programme were shared.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda.
Zesco United’s quest to maintain their eight-point lead faces a massive test on Wednesday when they visit nemesis Nkwazi at Edwin Emboela stadium in Lusaka.
Nkwazi may be 10th on the log but have been a stubborn customer for Zesco over the years despite the latter even beating the Lusaka side 2-0 in the first leg this season at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Zesco have not beaten Nkwazi away in their last seven meetings since the Policemen bounced back to the top flight in 2015.
All three wins have come at home in Ndola but Nkwazi have left Levy Stadium with one of their two victories over the six-time FAZ Super Division champions during the last three seasons.
And so Zesco must dig deep on Wednesday at Edwin Embolea where they drew 1-1 last November.
Furthermore, Zesco trace their last away win at Nkwazi to 2010 when they beat their hosts 3-1.
With five games left, Zesco lead on 73 points while Nkana are second on 65 points tied with Green Buffaloes.
Meanwhile, a draw will not be a good result with in-form Nkana taking the short trip up the road to Chingola to face second from bottom Nchanga Rangers whom they beat 2-0 in the first leg in June.
However,Nchanga will be a bit relieved to hear that their tormentor in the first leg Idris Mbombo ,who scored a brace in that 2-0 win for Nkana in Kitwe, is still sidelined with a head injury he sustained at training last week that saw him also miss the 3-0 home win over Nakambala Leopards last Sunday.
FAZ SUPER DIVISION
WEEK 36
19/09/2018
Forest Rangers-Power Dynamos
Green Eagles-National Assembly
Nchanga Rangers-Nkana
Kitwe United-Napsa Stars
Nakambala Leopards-Zanaco
Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy-New Monze Swallows
13h00:Lusaka Dynamos-Buildcon
15h00:Red Arrows-Lumwana Radiants
13h00:Green Buffaloes-Kabwe Warriors
15h00:Nkwazi-Zesco United
The 2017 third place finishers, who have yet to concede a goal in the competition, finished top of Group B on maximum 9 points following Tuesday’s victory at the tournament South Africa is hosting in Port Elizabeth from September 12-20.
They will meet Cameroon again, this time in the semifinals, after earlier beating the latter 1-0 last Saturday to hand the guest team their only defeat at the tournament that they opened with a massive statement following 8-1 win over Mozambique.
It took Chipolopolo until the 45th minute to open scores against Mozambique when Rachel Nachula gave them a 1-0 halftime lead.
Mozambique, though, suffered a setback in the 57th minute when Cecilia Mufume was sent off for dangerous play.
Despite their numerical advantage, it until the 72nd minute for Shepolopolo to extend the lead when Mary Mwakapila made it 2-0.
Barbara Banda then struck with a free-kick on the 84th minute to take her tally to two goals from three matches at the tournament .
“What this simply means is we were in a tough group that’s why we are going to meet again,”Shepolopolo coach Beauty Mwamba said.
“I feel it will be less pressure on us because Cameroon is a big team, but we have also become a big team after beating Cameroon.
“But I think we have less pressure now and hope to carry the day again.”
Meanwhile, in the other semifinal this Thursday, another guest side Uganda will face defending champions and hosts South Africa for a place in Saturday’s final.
Government says all the 42 fire tenders that were bought at US$42 Million US dollars are comprehensively insured.
Minister of Local government Vincent Mwale said each fire tender was insured at K10 million which translates into US$1 million per fire truck.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Mwale explained that of the 42 fire tenders only three were involved in road traffic accident since they were procured.
He said of the three that were involved in accidents one, for Chililabombwe, was completely damaged and the insurance processes are under way at Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZISC).
“All the fire tenders are insured at US$42 million meaning that each was insured at K 10 million This is government’s position and only three were involved in an accident,” Mr. Mwale stressed.
He said this in parliament today during the oral answer session when he was responding to the question from Chipili Area Member of Parliament Jewis Chabi who wanted to know whether the 42 fire tenders procured by the government are comprehensively insured.
The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has refuted claims that it has received funding from a western government to condemn the growing dominance of China in Africa.
Secretary General Mwenya Musenge said the suggestion by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) that the anti China crusade the NDC has mounted is being driven by imperialists nations are false.
And Mr. Musenge has challenged government to name the opposition political parties and nongovernmental organizations that the West is allegedly using to discredit China.
Mr. Musenge told q-news that the NDC has a lot of respect for Western Countries because most of them are promoting democracy and good governance in a number of African countries.
He states that this is why he is concerned that the ruling PF has embarked on a deliberate attempt to discredit western nations.
The University of Zambia has officially launched the United States of America UNZA Alumni Relations Foundation in Washington DC. The Government of the District of Columbia through the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Corporations Division issued the Certificate of Registration signed by Superintendent of Corporation Patricia Grays.
America UNZA Alumni chairperson Professor Kenneth Mwenda and Head of Alumni Relations and Advancement, Kennedy Msusa presented the Certificate to Zambia’s Ambassador to the U.S., His Excellency Dr. Ngosa Simbyakula, S.C., at the Embassy of Zambia in Washington D.C.
And Dr. Simbyakula has commended the UNZA U.S.A Alumni for their resourcefulness in successfully registering the foundation in the United States. He said the Alumni are an important vehicle that most universities in the western world use to raise funds for research, scholarship and infrastructure development.
“In fact we are way behind; nonetheless, it is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So this is a very significant step in formalizing the registration of the Alumni foundation so that those former UNZA students and other well-wishers in the USA can use this as a vehicle in supporting tertiary education in Zambia. As an Embassy we will do all we can to support this exercise. Well done!” said Dr. Simbyakula who is also an Alumnus of UNZA.
Meanwhile, Prof. Mwenda thanked the Embassy for facilitating the registration process of the association and appealed to former UNZA students in the U.S.A to come on board and render support to the institution.
And Mr Msusa who just returned from China to establish a similar Alumni chapter said UNZA Alumni body had five strategic directions that focus on strengthening its governance structures.
He said UNZA Vice Chancellor Professor Luke Evuta Mumba is also delighted for partnering with the Embassy of Zambia in Washington to build capacity for the higher learning institution in Zambia.
Mr. Msusa noted that there is need for strong governance systems within the Alumni framework to help push its agenda of research, scholarship and infrastructure development at the University of Zambia.
“This initiative exactly points to achieving these goals. The friends of the University of Zambia sit between individuals and corporate sector who will like to see how we are governed and build confidence in our activities,” Mr Msusa said.
Issued by
Cosmas Chileshe
First Secretary – Press & Public Relations
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia
Washington D.C
Every time I visit Africa, I am struck by two things that go hand in hand: the youth and the energy.
The median age on the continent is 18. Compare that to the median age in North America, which is
35.
These young Africans are inheriting a continent where fewer and fewer people have to struggle to survive and can instead devote their energy to planning for and investing in the future. The percentage of Africans living in poverty has dropped from 59 percent of the population in 1990 to 38 percent today.Africa’s improvement in living conditions is one of the most important trends in recent history, and yet the data shows that it is also one of the most fragile.
Each year, our foundation releases a report tracking progress in the fight against global poverty and disease. According to current trends, the number of people around the world living in extreme poverty could stop declining and could even start growing again.
Most countries in the region are continuing to make steady progress against poverty. Ethiopia, for example, is on track to eliminate poverty within a couple of decades. As a result, poverty is concentrating in a relatively small handful of countries beset by severe climate change, violent conflict, and weak governance.
By the mid-century mark 40 percent of the extremely poor people in the world will live in just two countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. Together, those two nations will be home to almost 600 million people, and they are poor and fast-growing enough to offset the gains by their neighbors.
Some people both inside and outside the continent worry about what this large group of very young, very poor people will do when they are denied opportunities. Will they cause insecurity, instability, and mass migration?
But I think just as much about what they will accomplish if they have access to opportunities—if they grow up healthy, get an education, build businesses, dream up new inventions, and grow the global economy, the way that bright young men and women from around the world have always done.
The key to providing opportunities in the places where they are currently lacking is investing in what economists call, “human capital,” or the health and education of young people. These investments are not the only ingredient of a healthy economy, but they have played a pivotal role in lifting nations like China and India out of poverty. Economic models show that they can do the same for Africa, growing the continent’s GDP by nearly 90 percent by 2050.
But first, African governments and businesses will have to invest more in their young people. There are two areas, in particular, where they should focus this investment to maximize long-term growth prospects:
First, health: Most African countries have participated in the global revolution in child survival. Rwanda, just a few years removed from genocide, has built and effective health system from the
ground up and seen the steepest drop in child mortality ever recorded. The next step is making sure children don’t merely survive but thrive. One third of African children are stunted, which means their brains and bodies aren’t developing fully. But there are proven strategies solving the stunting problem, and many have to do with food security. For example, China was able to reduce stunting by nearly 70 percent between 1990 and 2010, in part
because the country’s farmers adopted new agricultural technologies. African countries, most of which are still predominantly rural, must invest in agricultural transformation to fight malnutrition and poverty.
Second, education. Since 2000, the number of African children enrolled primary school has increased from 60 million to 150 million, and the number of girls in school is now virtually equal to the number
of boys. The next step is improving the quality of the education all students receive. The data is spotty, but it suggests that more than half of students on the continent aren’t achieving minimum proficiency in math and reading. Low-income countries can achieve excellent results in their schools. Vietnam, for example, has a 97% literacy rate; in 2015, they were the poorest country to participate in international student testing, but still ranked 8th. Governments must learn how to transfer this success so that all students benefit.
For most of human history, poverty was thought to be an inevitable part of the human condition,something that had always – and would always – exist. Over the last two decades, however, Africa has proven otherwise and shown the world that poverty is not an inevitable.Whether more young Africans live in poverty – or more live to fulfill their potential – depends on the choices and investments we make today. I am hopeful we will make the right ones.
Bill Gates is co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation’s 2018 Goalkeepers report launched today and can be accessed atGoalkeepers Report
Ministry of Education permanent secretary Henry Tukombe
The Ministry of General of Education has authorized all colleges of education countrywide to continue with the recruitment of teachers for the 2019 intake following the low turn for applicants in the August trainee interviews.
Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Henry Tukombe says nearly all colleges countrywide failed to raise the required enrolment number for the 2019 intake due to the low turnout of applicants.
According to a memo he issued to all colleges of education dated 9th September 2018, Mr Tukombe said he has granted authority to the colleges to continue recruiting up to 31st December this year in order for them to reach the required numbers.
Meanwhile, Kitwe College of Education Principal Andrew Mutobo says the college will soon advertise and start implementing the directive by the Permanent Secretary.
Dr. Mutobo said on average, the college recruits around 700 student teachers annually but recently, only 250 students applied.
The Kitwe College of Education is the largest recruiter of student teachers in the country among colleges of education.
File:Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Buleti Nsemukila (centre)
Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Buleti Nsemukila has observed that the forestry sector is one that government can use to raise non-tax revenue.
Dr. Nsemukila urged government departments in the province not to only rely on tax revenue all the time but to come up with activities that will raise non tax revenue.
Speaking when the Luapula Provincial Administration handed over two vehicles to the department of forestry and agriculture which were procured at cost of K562, 130, Dr. Nsemukila urged government departments to emulate the forestry department which has been able to raise non-tax revenue.
Dr. Nsemukila is hopeful that the vehicle that has been given to the forestry department will help them raise more non-tax revenue for government and achieve their annual revenue target.
Meanwhile, Forestry Officer Nason Hara disclosed that the department of forestry in the province is targeting to raise K2.5 million before the end of the year.
Mr. Hara observed that most of the functions of the department of forestry are field based which requires that officers move long distances and that the coming of the vehicle will go a long way in ensuring efficiency in the running of the department.
FILE: President Sata addresses Chinese Investors at China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co . Ltd ( CNMC ) during the Zambia China Economic and Trade Forum on April 11,2013-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
By Kalima Nkonde
There is a severe lack of transparency over many key terms, including repayment, contracting obligations, project feasibility, and value for money and loan security. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to have a clear account of the implications of this borrowing for the public finances.(The Center for Trade Policy and Development report by Trevevor Simumba)
China will pay more attention to improve Zambian peoples’ livelihood and make every Zambian obtain tangible benefits (Chinese Ambassador Li Jie)
It’s all about pouring too much money which we cannot afford, we cannot pay and also because we do not need these projects for Malaysia at the moment. We do not want a situation where there is a new version of colonialism happening. China knows that when they lend big sums to a poor country, in the end they may have to take the project for themselves.(Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr.Mahathir Mohammad, after cancelling Chinese $22,5billion loan contracted by his predecessor)
Beijing encourages dependency using opaque contracts, predatory loan practices, and corrupt deals that mire nations in debt and undercut their sovereignty, denying them their long-term, self-sustaining growth. ( Former US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson )
China does not interfere in Africa’s internal affairs and does not impose its own will on Africa. What we value is the sharing of development experience and the support we can offer to Africa’s national rejuvenation and prosperity.(China’s President Xi Jinping)
China has been accused of giving huge loans to Zambia, African countries and other smaller countries around the world for some projects, knowing very well that countries will fail to pay, and forcing countries to give up major concessions. China is said to be using strategic debts to gain political leverage with economically vulnerable countries like Zambia. These loans have been called by critics as predatory loans as they do not follow accepted international standards for lending and are laced with suspicions of graft and neocolonialism by stealth. The Centre for Global Development has referred to these loans as “Debt colonialism” or ‘Debt-trap diplomacy”.
In Zambia, China has further been accused of inducing the government into many vanity projects without proper feasibility studies to determine their viability by way of acceptable internal rate of return thereby saddling the country with excessive debt, resulting in the country being at risk of debt distress according to IMF. In the light of the negative publicity, both President Lungu and Chinese Ambassador to Zambia had to defend the relationship and the escalating Zambian debt in Parliament and at a Press conference respectively on 14 September, 2015.
China’s President Xi Jinping, on the other hand, had also defended the country’s investments in Africa, saying they are not for vanity projects. “China does not interfere in Africa’s internal affairs and does not impose its own will on Africa. What we value is the sharing of development experience and the support we can offer to Africa’s national rejuvenation and prosperity,” he said when addressing FOCAC Conference recently in Beijing.
This article provides some practical advice to the Zambian and Chinese governments on the areas they should focus on in Zambia .The measures are expected to have immediate positive impact on ordinary Zambians in terms job creation, foreign exchange, tax revenue etc thereby stem the onslaught of justifiable criticism of the status quo. The outcry by Zambians about Chinese excessive debt is a result of Zambians not seeing any tangible benefits after more than 10 years of massive infrastructure construction boom financed by excessive debt and this is what should be addressed. Surely, there must be something wrong with the prioritization or the current infrastructure mix for it not to trickle down by now. To many Zambians, it seems that development is only happening in the pockets of Politicians, Senior Civil servants and business people connected to the ruling party as there are no jobs, no money but only a myriad of taxes to service loans thus the bitterness. It is a time bomb. The Chinese government through their ambassador – smart as they always are- seems to have realized this and the Ambassador addressed the issue during his press conference by stating that China will change how it handles Zambian cooperation in the future.
“China will pay more attention to improve Zambian peoples’ livelihood and make every Zambian obtain tangible benefits of Belt and Road Initiative. In future, practical cooperation between the two countries will be shifted to the construction and operation of industrial parks and transfer of manufacturing industry,” Ambassador Li Jie said when addressing a press conference following an onslaught of criticism of Chinese debt to Zambia and allegations of China taking over some of Zambian assets like ZNBC, NRDC, ZESCO and Kenneth Kaunda Airport.
As far back as 2013, China did realize that its relationship with Africa was lopsided and had been criticized but it appears that no practical action has been taken in Zambia’s case, as yet. In 2013, The New York Times quoted Chinese President in Dar- es- Salaam, Tanzania while addressing a rally, that China was going to change its strategy.
“China frankly faces up to the new circumstances and new problems in Sino-African relations. We will strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with African countries in agricultural, manufacturing and other spheres, helping these countries convert their resource advantages into developmental advantages”, President Jinping said.
The major criticisms of China in Africa have been as follows : China exporting corruption to Africa and promoting dictators, the lack of transparency in Chinese loans as they are shrouded in secrecy, China choosing projects which are not viable and knowing countries will default, China’s infrastructure projects exporting jobs from host countries rather than creating them, China not entering in JVs with host countries companies and not transferring technology, China not been giving loans for agriculture and manufacturing but instead concentrated on roads, bridges, railway systems and airports which will in future facilitate the flow of Chinese goods into Zambia and raw materials from Zambia to China thus not supporting industrialization.
According to Africa Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina Adesina, “The issue that I have seen is the asymmetry of power in the negotiations of the transactions, where you are actually giving your mining rights away just because you want to build a superhighway.”
Chinese criticism has been led by Western countries and its media. While some of the criticisms are justified, most of them are not, and there is an element of exaggeration and sheer sour grapes by Western countries as some of the claims are not supported by any research. The few studies that have been done by independent experts, have disapproved the majority of the myths. The West is simply jealous of the Chinese and the competition there are providing for investment opportunities in Africa. They are also bitter that they cannot control China’s investment strategy as China declined the invitation by the IMF and the World Bank to join the Paris Club which is group of creditors to governments which sets rules for the lenders and debtors alike-basically a cartel for creditors.
The West has never been a friend of Africa and has never been interested in its development but rather wanted o perpetuate dependency, and so their advice to Africa with regard to China needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. The Western media’s coverage of Africa has always been negative and the writer experienced this in England first hand in his 30s during the Thatcher and Reagan years of the 1980s.There are, however, some red flags about Chinese cooperation with Zambia and Africa which are valid and we need to be smart and bargain with China with open eyes not forgetting that to every aid, there are strings attached; although Chinese strings may be opaque and not apparent to the naïve and naked eyes, there are still there, but not just documented.
It appears that the recent Forum for Africa – China Cooperation (FOCAC) Conference in Beijing was meant to address some of the criticisms and China cleverly came up with eight initiatives and a $60billion financing package. The eight FOCAC initiatives that China presented which were meant to address some of the issues raised above are: Industrial promotion, Infrastructure, Trade facilitation, Green development, Capacity building, Healthcare, People to People exchange and Peace and Security. What was clearly absent, and which is important from Zambian population perceptive, is the Corruption and Rule of law initiative, Agriculture mechanization initiatives as well as the Clean Energy initiative.
As Zambians, what is important is to recalibrate our relationship with China, take advantage but stop being naïve that China is a “father Christmas” and has no motive to its current lending practices. China is smart and thinks long term, 30 to 50 years, whereas our leaders think in terms of winning the next election. Inasmuch as China may seem to have no agenda, future generations of Chinese may act differently and not be as “ kind”. Strategic thinking by our leaders is important in dealing with the Chinese.
The first solution for China and Zambia to silence critics is to address the issue of corruption which is suspected in some of the deals as evidenced by the over pricing of projects, choice of projects, secrecy in deals, paupers becoming instant millionaires without having invented etc. China has been criticized for having exported corruption while rooting it out vigorously at home. Chinese President Xi Jinping has made fighting China’s rampant corruption a personal mission since he became president in 2012. It has been one of his top priority and it is therefore curious why corruption and rule of law is not one the eight initiatives of FOCAC.The fight against corruption is clearly more important to Zambia in particular, and Africans in general, than People to People exchange, Peace and Security Initiatives which clearly are more in China’s interest than Zambia and Africans, given China’s ever growing population and its need to exert more power that its population and size demands through the establishment of military bases.
It should be pointed out that the fight against corruption is ideology neutral and if China and President Jinping had put it as one of the initiatives, it would have won him hearts and minds in Africa as it has done for him in China. It would not in any way constitute political interference. Its absence from the eight initiatives enhances critics’ view that China is benefiting from it and using it as a tool to access African resources.
In order to put China and President Jinping’s fight against corruption in context, it is important to state what the Chinese President has done at home regarding corruption since he took over in 2012.This is to highlight the old saying “ What is good for the goose is good for gander”, so that we do not have double standards.
According to the BBC report on Jinping’s anti corruption crusade, “Judging by the numbers alone, the campaign has achieved impressive results. Astonishingly, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has disciplined well over one million officials since Xi took power in 2012. The anti-corruption campaign has snared hundreds of high-level leaders – including, most recently, former Chongqing Communist Party General Secretary and Politburo member Sun Zhengcai. Xi’s fight against corruption has made him enormously popular among the Chinese people. Among the biggest names to fall under Mr. Xi’s campaign has been Zhou Pyongyang, once the third most senior leader in China, and Bo Xilai, the former party chief of Chongqing who once seemed destined for senior leadership.”
If President Lungu was take a leaf out of Jinping’s book, by embarking on a corruption crusade with no secret cows, his stock among Zambians will go through the roof. On the other hand, if President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government were to openly address the issue of corruption and rule of law in Zambia as he is doing at home, he will be immensely popular .China should consider making the fight against corruption in Zambia and Africa as a whole, one of the conditions for loans otherwise the perception of Beijing encouraging corruption and being an exporter of corruption will persist. What is good for China should surely be good for Africa.
Second, in order for the PF administration to take full advantage of the initiatives announced by China during FOCAC, it is vital that some of the remaining loans in pipeline are converted to building agriculture sector infrastructure and mechanization of the sector. This will be in line with the 7th National Development plan objectives of economic diversification. The roads, airports, stadiums and railway line financing should be minimized or shelved or be complemented with agriculture.For example, the $2.3 billion Chipata Serenje railway line can wait and part of the money diverted to agriculture infrastructure, like expanding the Nitrogen Chemicals factory to manufacture all sorts of fertilizers including ammonium nitrate or factories were set up for the manufacture of farm equipment like tractors or to building mass irrigation dams etc to boost production of products like soya beans,cotton,wheat, sorghum to export to China . Zambia can then get a small chunk of the $26 billion agriculture exports by USA to China which President Trump has put at risk due to his trade war with China. The positive impact of such investments will be felt within two years.
The importance of Agriculture for Africa has been identified by African Development Bank and one wonders why it is missing among the 8 initiatives. The ADB President, Akinwumi Adesina did make this point when talking to the Dutch government recently.
“The greatest agenda we have is how to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential. If Africa can get the right technology to raise productivity, transform its savannahs, turn agriculture into a business and address the issue of nutrition,” Said Akinwumi Adesina
Third, China should promote manufacturing especially in the copper mining sector with priority given to the manufacture electric car components like batteries as China is the World Market leader in electric cars since we have copper and cobalt. This is practical and is not rocket science and can easily be implemented.
Fourth, China should bring in investment to transfer clean energy technology such as Solar and Wind energy given that China is market leader in these technologies and consign the crazy dreams of Nuclear energy to the dustbin.
Fifth, in order to promote transparency, Chinese projects should be subjected to normal project management processes and principles by Zambia with its five phases of project initiation where the objectives and feasibility of object is determined, project planning, project execution, project monitoring and control and project closure. This has not been happening on most projects as the RDA report to President Lungu attested in 2015.
“The accelerated method of road construction works exposed the Agency to high risks of cost escalations due to the fact that the real scope, cost and time frame of the projects were unknown. In the absence of adequate project preparation at the planning and design stage and stringent fiscal discipline during project implementation, cost escalation on road projects are bound to increase further,” the RDA report stated.
The above steps will have immediate positive impact on ordinary Zambians in terms of job creation, foreign exchange earnings through exports, Tax revenue, providing easily discernable cash flows for loan repayment unlike now where one struggles to see how the infrastructure built will directly generate cash flows to repay loans . The above projects are better value for money and benefit millions of ordinary Zambians than airports, some roads and stadium some of which can wait. One just has to visit Livingstone’s Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula airport after 13.00hours to see how underutilized the airport is at the moment and it is similar to Sri Lanka’s Mattala airport which was built with Chinese loan and been deemed as the emptiest airport in the World.
In conclusion, if Zambia’s current relationship with China and the composition of the project portfolio is not changed, then critics will be emboldened and justified that China is deliberately giving loans for vanity projects knowing that they will not generate revenue and Zambia will not pay and subsequently, China will take over Zambia’s assets like it has done to Sri Lanka by acquiring a 99-year lease on the Hambantota port for failure to pay $8billion loan. In Africa, Djibouti has had a Doraleh Multipurpose Port built and run by Chinese company, China Merchants Group (CMG). In addition, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has built China’s first overseas military base located near the commercial port at Doraleh. This is a clear testimony that China is using its economic influence to advance its security interests and yet it maintains the guise of non-interference.
It should be pointed out, however, that Zambia and Africa needs China but we should be smart about our cooperation by using our best brains regardless of political affiliation, to negotiate deals with China rather than using ruling party cadres, so that we can drive a good bargain. Zambia’s relationship with China should never be a partisan issue. In the light of their public statements, the Chinese are ready to offer us good deals but we need to prioritize.
The writer is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a Private Sector Development expert. He is an independent finance and economic commentator/analyst. He has lived in England, South Africa and Botswana for over 25 years.
Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says he is extremely happy that Coca-Cola, which is best known for its eponymous caffeine-based Coca-Cola drink, has decided to experiment with a different drug: cannabis.
Reacting to a BBC news that the Coca- Cola drinks giant is in serious talks with a Canadian local cannabis producer Aurora Cannabis about developing marijuana-infused beverages aimed at not intoxicating consumers but to relieve pain, Mr. Sinkamba said time has come for all doubting Thomases to simply accept that cannabis is safe medicine.
“Along with many others in the beverage industry, we are closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive cannabidiol as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world,” Coca-Cola is reported to have said in a statement.
“It’s going to be more of the ‘recovery drink’ category,” the source told the BBC.
Cannabidiol, a constituent of cannabis, can help ease inflammation, pain and cramping, but has no psychoactive effect.
The move by Coca-Cola comes at a time when Canada prepares to follow certain US states in legalising cannabis for recreational use, after years of permitting it for medicinal purposes.
Legalizing cannabis has given rise to a large cannabis growing industry and some high-profile partnerships.
Earlier this year, beer giant Molson Coors Brewing said it would make cannabis-infused drinks with Hydropothecary, while Corona-beer maker Constellation Brands invested $4bn more into a cannabis firm Canopy Growth.
A partnership between Coke and Aurora would mark the first entry of a major manufacturer of non-alcoholic drinks into the market.
Coca-Cola’s shares rose marginally in early trade yesterday.
And the Green Party leader says he is now vindicated on the question of mass production of cannabis for medical purposes.
“Doubting Thomases have never taken our medical cannabis policy seriously since we announced it five years ago. This policy is for real. It is the only policy agenda at the moment which undoubtedly can be a game-changer in our economy. It is a multi- billion-dollar business only second to smart phones,” he said.
And Mr. Sinkamba has disclosed that he is talks with Finance Minister Margret Mwanakatwe to embark on his pilot project for medical cannabis. He hopes that the talks will materialize so that he proves the point that the cannabis business can be a game-changer even here in Zambia.
“You see, if we had embarked on this agenda in 2013 when I announced it, Zambia would have been same today. We would have been a very rich country by now. Nonetheless, I am holding talks with the Finance Minister. I hope that talks materialize. I want to prove the doubting Thomases that this business can be a game-changer even here in Zambia,” he said.
“We have also been talking to DEC on developing medical-grade cannabis seed though stalled due to on-going litigation issues. We informed DEC of our planned for export of seed stock under an import seed license of our partner based abroad, to enter their research programme so that they can examine the terpenes and cannabinoid profiles of strains from Zambia for medical-grade cannabis. This may well provide a support to our country’s progression in commercialisation, but also an idea to jump start the medical-grade seed stock the nation will require in the future. Our plan is to leaders in medical-grade cannabis in SADC and the rest of the world because of our comparative and absolute advantages,” Mr. Sinkamba added.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dora Siliya
Government has said that it is opposed to the constitutional requirement that gives Parliament authority to approve contraction of all public debt.
Chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya said that this constitutional requirement is one of the lacunas in Republican Constitution that needs to be rectified.
Ms Siliya said that allowing Parliament to be approving the acquisition of loans and debt by government only dilutes the separation of powers.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka Ms. Siliya wondered how Parliament, which is supposed to play an oversight role on government, should take up the functions of the Executive.
A Lusaka resident has written to the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to complain over an advertisement that is running on a named television station allegedly inciting people to rise against Chinese nationals.
Chanoda Ngwira says the political advert can be a source of unlawful acts such as xenophobia and can incite people to rise against Government.
Mr. Ngwira has told ZNBC News that the advert is a contravention of the IBA Act and that materials of such nature can easily trigger crime and plunge the country into chaos.
According to the letter dated 15th September 2018 to the IBA Director General and made available to ZNBC News, Mr. Ngwira says the political advert aired repeatedly on all prime television bulletins, between September 11 and 15th is a breach of the licensee
He has since called on the IBA to act and intervene in the matter.
Water and Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Bishop Edward Chomba
The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the Water Resources Management Authority(WARMA) have been directed to firmly deal with anyone who is not complying with environmental regulations.
Water Development Permanent Secretary Ed Chomba said this at the official opening of the 36th Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA) conference in Livingstone under the theme, “Rethinking Education for Sustainable Development: A Key to our Future.”
Bishop Chomba said government is concerned that the integrity of the rich natural resources in Zambia is under threat.
He said the looting of the Mukula tree and indiscriminate cutting down of trees for charcoal are among the major factors endangering the environment.
Bishop Chomba said most Zambians depend on the rich natural resources and biodiversity of the ecosystem for their livelihoods hence the need to promote sustainable management of the environment.
And Zambia Network of Environmental Education and Practitioners(ZANEEP) Patron, who is Minister of Justice Given Lubinda said Zambia has embarked on various positive activities to restore the environment such as the plant a million trees initiative.
In a speech read on his behalf by Plant a Million Trees Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Chibesakunda, Mr. Lubinda said planting a million trees is part of Zambia’s environmental transformation Agenda.
And EEASA President Mumsie Gumede has urged the delegates to the conference drawn from the SADC region to take charge of the affairs of Africa.
A land wrangle involving over 1,000 hectors of land affecting five villages and Riverside Training Institute in Chief Naluama in Chikankata district in Southern Province has erupted.
Group Spokesperson, Village Headman, Ancient Mweemba, said their 1,232 hectors of their land has been invaded by Riverside Training Institute and that efforts to resolve the matter with Chikankata district Council authority has yielded negative results.
Mr. Mweemba told ZANIS in Chikankata district today, that the land dispute involves five villages namely Nanduba, Shingoma, Chinyoma,Simucende and Shapole, respectively.
He complained that their ancestral land reserved as grazing land was sold to Riverside Training Institute in a suspicious manner which require investigations including the purported fake title deed owned by the Training Institute.
Mr. Mweemba disclosed that they have been using the land in question for more than 100 years now.
And Chikankata District Council Chairperson, Conrad Ngoma said the local authority is aware about the land wrangle.
He stated that, they advised both parties to take the case to court for further arbitration.
“As far as the council is concerned, RiverSide Training Institute has got a title deed which they claim was offered to the them many years ago in 1964,” Mr. Ngoma said.
Meanwhile, some villagers have insisted that the said title deed is not genuine.
And Mr. Mweemba said villages are aggrieved and have since threatened to take the law into their own hands to protect their ancestral land from being evaded by foreigners while, they sit and watch.
He said the Ministry of lands should quickly move in and investigate this issue as a matter of urgency.
