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The Ministry of Finance has released K115 million to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to facilitate the settlement of some dues in the reserve food purchasing chain.
A financing plan is underway to release an additional K85 million in a fortnight.
A few days ago, the Treasury released K400 million for the e-voucher and Farmer Input Support Programme to ensure the smooth management of the affairs of the agriculture input supply management system.
Ministry of Finance Spokesman Chileshe Kandeta said to maintain the economic diversification drive, the Government will, during the 2017/2018 farming season, fully migrate to the e-voucher system that is aimed at covering an estimated one million beneficiaries.
Mr Kandeta said Government has further obtained financing of USD 40 million from Exim Bank of India that will be used for agriculture mechanisation.
“In addition, the Government is facilitating a USD 100 million public private sector investment into a tractor and agriculture equipment assembly plant in the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone,” Mr Kandeta said.
“In 2018, the Government will continue with the implementation of the USD 50 million Zambia Acquaculture Enterprise Development Project,” he said.
“To support accerelated productivity in the wider agriculture sector, the Government will in 2018 also recruit 750 extension service workers for agriculture, fisheries, and livestock.”
He added, “For Ministry of Finance, all these efforts are evidential to the Governments resolve and firm standing in diversifying the economy through labour intensive sectors like agriculture.”
The Lusaka Magistrates Court has sentenced former Ministry of Health Human Resources Officer Henry Kapoko to two years imprisonment with hard labour for abuse of authority of office and money laundering.
Lusaka High Court deputy registrar Aridah Chulu who sat as a magistrate this afternoon delivered a seven-hour long judgment delivered and convicted Kapoko on all the six counts he was facing.
Magistrate Chulu, however, acquitted Kapoko’s co-accused former assistant director of administration at the Ministry of Health Norbet Peleti who was facing a count of theft by servant.
Magistrate Chulu said she had no doubt in her mind that Kapoko abused his authority of office and stole money from the Ministry of Health as huge amounts of money were deposited into his personal accounts after his companies were awarded contracts at the ministry.
She said Kansma Investment Limited, a company which won the tender for the supply of computers and printers, belonged to the convict’s cousin and that he was facilitating for the payments for the same.
Magistrate Chulu said the inquiry address used for the company was for Best Home Lodge which was the Kapoko’s property and that the quotation for Kansma was found at his residence during a search by investigative wings.
The court said it was clear that Kapoko stole K586,701.00 from Kansma for the items which were not even delivered.
“There is no doubt that the convict engaged in a business transaction and money acquired from an illegal activity was used to purchase stand number five Mandahill Road,” Magistrate Chulu said.
Magistrate Chulu said Kapoko should not have allowed his companies to participate in the tender process since he was a public officer.
After the judgement was delivered, Kapoko’s lawyer Kelvin Bwalya Fube told Journalists that their client intends to appeal the conviction.
In count one, Kapoko being a public officer obtained advantage by influencing the awarding of a contract to Kansma Investment Limited to supply and deliver 15 HP desktop computers and 15 laser jet printers to the Ministry of Health between October 2007 and 31 January, 2008.
He was also accused of influencing the awarding of contract to the same company to supply and deliver 7,200 reams of human resources development forms, a transaction that involved the ministry.
Kapoko was also facing three counts of money laundering in which he indirectly engaged in a business transaction involving K1,173,402.00, money acquired from an illegal activity.
He was also accused of stealing property of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley ChandaThe Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) says the payment of Value Added Tax(VAT) refunds to the mines is up to date.
ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda says there are no arrears in VAT refunds to the Mines.
Speaking to ZNBC news in an interview in Chirundu, Mr. CHANDA disclosed that ZRA is paying about 80 million United States Dollars in VAT refunds monthly.
He explained that ZRA has some refunds in the pipeline that are being verified and audited.
Mr. Chanda said the refunds were accrued in 2013-2014 because VAT rule number 18 which demanded mining companies to avail certificates of sale from the countries of destination.
And Mr. Chanda disclosed that the Authority is in the process of establishing an office which will specifically be dealing with VAT refund verification to protect government revenue.
He said ZRA has recorded many VAT refund frauds where some companies are demanding twice the same amount.
Mr. Chanda was responding to media reports that ZRA is owing millions of dollars to mining companies in VAT refunds.
President Edgar Lungu has advised newly sworn-in Clerk of the National Assembly Cecilia Mbewe and Anti-Corruption Commission Director General Zachariah Phiri to embrace criticism.
Speaking during the swearing in ceremony at state house, the head of state said the two have huge roles to play in serving the public and will be subjected to a lot of criticism.
President Lungu has assured them of State House’s support and noted that he will not interfere in their work.
He said he will continue engaging the newly appointed officials when need arises.
And newly appointed ACC Director General Zachariah Phiri has called on the public to report corruption allegations to the commission and not through the media.
Mr. Phiri also emphasised the need for citizens raising corruption allegations to provide evidence so that it is easy for the commission to carry out investigations.
President Edgar Lungu greets Mrs Cecilia Mbewe Clerck of the National Assembly looking on is Vice President Mrs Inonge Wina at State housePresident Edgar Lungu Swearing in Mrs Cecilia Nsenduluka Mbewe – Clerk of the National Assembly at StatehousePresident Edgar Lungu Swearing in Mrs Cecilia Nsenduluka Mbewe – Clerk of the National Assembly at Statehouse
Non-Government Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has expressed sadness that 53 years after independence, 54.5 % of citizens still live in abject poverty in Zambia.
In a statement to pan African Radio news, NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale said it is clear that the majority of the citizens are not fully independent as they are still under economic slavery in their own country.
Ms Mwale says in a as much as she appreciates the positive plans outlined in the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP, but it is saddening that half a century through after independence, Zambia can still have majority citizens having challenges with accessing quality medical facilities and clean drinking water and sanitation.
She has alleged that this has resulted in increased mortality rates for women and children. It is therefore imperative that these challenges are redressed in a more concerted manner if the country is to realize its development goals.
Meanwhile, Ms. Mwale has stressed the need for more targeted interventions that will help in reducing the existing inequalities and poverty levels in the country, especially in rural areas.
“It is sad that fifty-three years after independence, 54.5 % of citizens still live in abject poverty in Zambia” Ms. Mwale said
Chief Mumena of the Kaonde people of North Western Province says the indiscriminate cutting of trees for charcoal burning is alarming.
The traditional leader is calling for a stop to the practice in an effort to protect the environment for future generations.
The Chief was speaking when Transmission ELTEL handed over the Ecological Assessment document for the proposed stocking of wildlife animals in the Royal Mumena Ranch in Solwezi.
He noted that it is unfortunate that most forests in the country are now depleted because of the indiscriminate cutting down of trees.
And Transmission ELTEL Director Bengt Rostlund said the corporate world need to do more in giving back to communities where they operate.
Meanwhile Transmission ELTEL General Manager Edwin Matokwani noted that wildlife management can be used for both conservation purposes and as a tourist attraction.
Earlier, North Western Province Permanent Secretary Ephraim Mateyo thanked Transmission ELTEL for sustaining an active social responsibility programme.
Mambilima Member of parliament Dennis Wanchinga says the PF government will fulfill its promise to deliver development to the area and Luapula province in general.
Dr. Wachinga, who is also Minister of General Education, has urged his constituents to continue supporting the PF and appreciate the infrastructure development that is taking place in the area.
Mambilima Member of parliament Dennis WANCHINGA (r)
He said Mambilima has continued to enjoy support from government in terms of infrastructure development and people need to work with government so that they continue benefitting from government’s goodwill.
Speaking to ZNBC News in Mwense District, Dr Wanchinga called on the people of Luapula province Not to be swayed by detractors who are peddling lies and making promises to develop the province
Dr Wanchinga was in Mambilima constituency to hold meetings with PF functionaries and to deliver desks and equipment for schools and clinics.
The Drug Enforcement Commission in Western Province has arrested one person for unlawful cultivation and trafficking in cannabis contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Bob Musialela Nosiku, 31, of Namakena Village in Limulunga District has been arrested for trafficking in forty-three balls of dry loose cannabis weighing 1.84 kilogrammes and cultivation of cannabis plants weighing 500.2 kilogrammes in a field behind his house.
Meanwhile, the Commission in Southern Province has arrested Kineta Chigwagwa, a female small scale farmer of unknown age, in Ndongo Village of Kalomo District for trafficking in 165 kilogrammes of loose cannabis.
And, the Commission has also arrested Francis Simpati, 32, a businessman of Kabanda Village in Sinazongwe District for being in possession of counterfeit notes amounting to K 8, 200.00 in K 100 bills. The suspect was apprehended as he was about to transact with an unsuspecting shop attendant.
The Commission wishes to advise members of the public to study the features of the Zambian Kwacha notes and always report any suspicious notes to avoid becoming victims of unscrupulous individuals behind the spate of counterfeit notes.
All suspects are in Police custody and will appear in court soon.
The Competition and Consumer Protection has in the interim directed Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and MTN Zambia (MTN) to allow City of Lusaka Football Club to use the Woodlands Stadium until investigations commenced by the Commission have been concluded. Further the Commission has allowed Woodlands Stadium to be used for other football fixtures such as cup tournaments with immediate effect.
The decision to place interim measures allowing the use of the stadium was made by the Technical Committee of the Board on 20th October 2017 in Lusaka. This interim measure undertaken by the Commission is provided for under section 62 of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act no. 24 of 2010. This section allows the Commission to offer relief to a party of an ongoing investigation of an alleged anti-competitive conduct. The Commission had received allegations on 24th August 2017 that the FAZ and had issued a letter to City of Lusaka F.C. that prohibited the use of Woodlands stadium for any Super League matches due to the presence of Vodafone Zambia (Vodafone) paraphernalia and branding within the stadium.
It was also reported that FAZ advised City of Lusaka F.C. to find an alternative venue for their remaining home fixtures for the season as the branding by Vodafone was allegedly in violation of the sponsorship agreement between FAZ and MTN.
The Commission instituted investigations and wrote to FAZ and MTN on the above allegations on 6th September 2017, and to-date has not received any response from FAZ, while MTN responded stating that they did not make the decision to stop Vodafone from branding the stadium and evicting the club from the stadium as the decision was entirely made by FAZ.
Investigations thus far have revealed that City of Lusaka and other sponsors have from the 24th of August 2017 to the 4th of October 2017 incurred an estimated total loss of three million seven hundred and thirteen kwacha (K3,713,000) and are likely to lose sponsorship if the status core continues.
Therefore, based on these facts, the Technical Committee of Board put in place interim measures allowing the use of the stadium with immediate effect, until such time as full investigations are completed by the Commission.
The Commission will continue to get necessary information regarding this matter to enable a thorough investigation and the Media will continue to be updated on the findings and course of action.
Issued by:
Mrs Namukolo Kasumpa,
Public Relations Officer,
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has been invited to speak at the at The Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, UK, commonly known as The Chatham House next Tuesday 31st October,2017.
Mr Hichilema confirmed that he has been specifically asked to discuss the UPND priorities, support required for opposition political parties and the role of the parties in ensuring that Zambia’s democracy is preserved.
The Chatham House was named the top non-U.S. think tank by Foreign Policy Magazine.
In the University of Pennsylvania’s 2015 Global Think Tanks Report, Chatham House is ranked the second most influential think tank in the world after the Brookings Institution.
According to a notice on its website, the discussion will be chaired by Alex Vines, Director of its Area Studies and International Law who also Heads its Africa Programme.
It says at this meeting, Hakainde Hichilema will discuss his UPND priorities, how to strengthen opposition parties and their role in Zambia’s democratic future.
In Zambia’s 2016 national election, the Patriotic Front (PF) was re-elected by a narrow margin.
The PF’s Edgar Lungu secured 50.35 per cent of the vote according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia, narrowly avoiding a second round, while his main rival, Mr. Hichilema, won 47.67 per cent.
The UPND, led by Mr Hichilema, alleges electoral fraud and has challenged the result in the courts and through direct protests.
Too much fructose can damage your liver, just like too much alcohol.
There is growing scientific consensus that one of the most common types of sugar, fructose, can be toxic to the liver, just like alcohol.
Fructose is the sugar that makes fruit taste sweet. For most people, there’s nothing wrong with eating fructose in its natural state, in fruit.
But today, manufacturers extract and concentrate the fructose from corn, beets and sugarcane, removing the fiber and nutrients in the process. Getting frequent, high doses of fructose throughout the day, without fiber to slow it down, is more than our bodies were designed to handle.
Nearly all added sugars contain significant amounts of fructose. Typical formulations of high-fructose corn syrup contain upwards of 50% fructose, depending on processing methods. Table sugar and even sweeteners that sound healthy, like organic cane sugar, are 50% fructose.
What’s unique about fructose is that, unlike any other sugar, it’s processed in the liver. Small amounts of fructose, meted out slowly, are not a problem for your liver. Think of eating an apple – its sweetness comes with a lot of chewing that takes time. The apple’s fiber slows down its processing in the gut.
But when we consume large amounts of fructose in added sugar, particularly in liquid form on an empty stomach, it slams the liver with more than it can handle.
As with alcohol, a little added fructose, consumed with fiber-rich foods, is OK. It’s only when we frequently consume large quantities, in concentrated form, that fructose becomes a health hazard.
Liver damage is a looming health issue
For a long time, doctors mainly worried about life-threatening liver disease in alcoholics. But since 1980, there has been growing concern about two new conditions linked to fructose consumption from added sugar, as well as to obesity and other unhealthy dietary additives, such as trans-fats:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): This is characterized by excess fat build-up in the liver.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): This is characterized by fatty liver, inflammation and “steatosis,” which is essentially scarring as the liver tries to heal its injuries. That scarring gradually cuts off vital blood flow to the liver.
About one-quarter of NASH patients will progress on to non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis, which requires a liver transplant or else it can lead to death.
Since 1980, the incidence of NAFLD and NASH has doubled, along with the rise of fructose consumption. Approximately 6 million individuals in the United States are estimated to have progressed to NASH and some 600,000 to NASH-related cirrhosis. Eating a lot of trans-fats, being overweight and not exercising also can contribute to NASH. Most people with NASH also have Type II diabetes.
What is alarming is that NASH is now the third-leading reason for liver transplantation in America.6 And it will become the most common if recent trends continue. Rates of NASH have doubled in America during the past 20 years alongside a dramatic increase in sugar consumption.
Estimates vary, but conservatively, 31% of American adults and 13% of kids suffer from NAFLD.
How do you know if you have a liver problem?
You should be concerned if you or your kids have a “sugar belly” or belly fat. If your waist is larger than your hips, you should ask your doctor for a blood test that checks for triglyceride levels.
A sugar belly occurs when the liver detects more fructose than can be used by the body for energy. That excess fructose is broken down by the liver and transformed into fat globules (triglycerides), some of which are exported into the bloodstream and selectively deposited around your midsection and internal organs. Just as people who drink too much get a “beer belly,” those who eat or drink too much fructose can get a “sugar belly.”
Fat cells that accumulate around your midsection send out disruptive hormonal messages that upset your body’s normal chemical balance.11,12 Scientists are actively studying how these hormonal imbalances become implicated in a wide variety of diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
Why am I only hearing about this now?
Scientific evidence on fructose and the liver is relatively new, but it is a major area of laboratory and clinical research in our best universities and medical centers.
The goal of SugarScience is to bring you the latest research, getting the most critical information out of universities and into public awareness as quickly as possible. Getting you the news on fructose toxicity could change your health and the health of your kids. It’s a good example of why we’re here.
Zambia’s agriculture has a special place in the country’s political and economic agenda. Since independence, everyone has been saying it is important but they don’t show figures to back their statements. But, as we celebrate our independence, let us look at only a few of the issues to see whether, in fact we are independent in this sector. First, the argument for agriculture; second, international trade in agriculture; third, Is Zambia competitive in Africa’s Agriculture value added in the Economy? And forth, way forward.
First, why is Zambia clinging to the sector that others are ceding for manufacturing?
Why is Zambia clinging to the sector that others are ceding for manufacturing where the value for money and job creation is? For over five decades, we have argued that agriculture is an important sector, stating that its contribution to total labour force in share terms is about 70-80%. Even when that share declined to 60 per cent and has remained flat for over three decades, we continue to use the 70 per cent argument. Table 1 below shows that though slowly, the share has been eroding and may plummet further in the next ten years. More importantly, we also know that a large chunk of that share is not something that we should really be boasting about because it is subsistence or rudimentary. Further, the so-called importance of the sector is largely perceived in local context. As Table shows, some countries including African ones are moving away from agriculture as a main source of employment. These are the countries such as Mauritius and Tunisia in Africa that are experiencing growth in manufacturing as a major source of job creation and poverty reduction. In Asia, it is manufacturing, hardly agriculture that powered countries to achieve millennium development goals while Africa was slumbering and, history may repeat itself in the same way for Agenda 2030. Even if agriculture employs more people than any other sector, the point is that most of these employees are engaged in subsistence activities.
Table 1: Share of Zambia’s agriculture in Total Labour Force in percentages
1980
2016
Bangladesh
69
38
Mauritius
28
6
Thailand
72
41
Tunisia
36
20
Viet Nam
76
56
Zambia
72
59
Source: Unctadstat
The trade figures do not support the agriculture argument
The English dictionary explains the word subsistence as, ‘denoting or relating to production at a level sufficient only for one’s own use or consumption, without any surplus for trade.’ The definition is backed by statistics that show that Zambia’s participation in international trade in agriculture is stunted and almost not there. In the context of international and even regional trade, Zambia is very far from integration in this sector and is simply not competitive. Despite the good news that the country’s trade balance in agriculture with the world is positive and growing (Figure 1), exports and imports of agriculture are not only too low but are hardly growing significantly. Exports and imports totalled only $ 761 and $ 480 million respectively in 2016, a drop from $ 1.5 billion for exports in 2013. So, exports in blue line in absolute terms are declining as the trend in the graph shows.
The good news is that unlike most African countries, Zambia seems to have a strong resolve not to be a perpetual net-food importer. As can be seen from Figure 2, the country is exporting more food than it is importing. But, again, the figures in absolute terms of only exports of $600 million and imports of $400million giving a trade surplus of $200million is simply too low to propel any development.
Agriculture export products are inferior and too low in value
Exports of tobacco, maize, cotton and others listed in Table 2 are not dynamic products. Even if they were useful, their absolute values are simply too low. Honorable Minister, look at Table 2 below and tell the Zambians, how can we be exporting $ tobacco worth less than $200 million to the world? In June this year, the Minister of Agriculture boasted, “We are the biggest producer of non genetic maize in the region. Our total consumption of maize as a country is 1.8million metric tonnes. Last year we produced 2.8million metric tonnes. This year we have unprecedented production of 3.8 million”, Said Hon Siliya. Yet exports to the world are less than $200 million. These are not competitive trade figures. We cannot even grow enough vegetables to export, at least to African countries, instead we export less than $20million. The Zambian Ambassador in South Africa was pictured with South African farmers. How much investment have they made in the country to support trade in agriculture?
Table 2: Zambia’s exported agriculture products to world in $ Millions
2016
[TOTAL] Total all products
5,801
[121] Tobacco, unmanufactured; tobacco refuse
160
[044] Maize (not including sweet corn), unmilled
117
[061] Sugar, molasses and honey
112
[263] Cotton
65
[081] Feeding stuff for animals (no unmilled cereals)
[431] Animal or veg. oils & fats, processed, n.e.s.; mixt.
13
Source: Unctadstat
Why are we not importing more Agricultural Raw Materials as inputs for expansion of productivity?
I m not expert in agriculture but, I thought imports of agricultural raw materials signals an insatiable appetite for expansion of production in agriculture since it must be seen as an input. As I understand, there are three main groupings, first, “basic natural resources that are input into the agricultural process to produce various types of food, and finally, fertilizers, pesticides, or other organic means of controlling damaging insect populations, as well as mechanized equipment and reliable sources of energy to run modern farming operations.” Yet, as Figure 3 shows, the share of imports of these items account for very little in total imports of $7 billion and this is even eroding. To put this in practical terms, imports amounted to only $ 46 million in 2016. What can this amount do to expand productivity? Or how much is being imported as capital and inputs in the expansion of production in agriculture?
Third, Is Zambia competitive in Africa’s Agriculture value added in the Economy?
Despite the many political statements made publicly that Zambia will be the hub of agriculture in the region, the country is not competitive regionally. In 1970, Zambia ranked number 29 among African countries in agriculture value added in the economy, meaning, countries even with smaller GDP like Malawi and Niger have more agriculture in their economies than Zambia as Table 3 (a) below shows. In 2016, the country ranked number 27, not far from the ranking of about five decades. Today, Zambia’s agriculture value added in the economy is only $ 1.6billion compared to $2.6 billion for Niger or $6.7 billion for Cote D’Ivoire. It means, the country has not been making progress in regional competitive terms. In terms of share in the GDP, agriculture value added declined from a once-upon a time high mark of 33% in 1993 to now 8%. It also means that achieving the objectives set in agriculture of reducing poverty, creating jobs and structural transformation will remain more in public statements than in action.
Table 3: Zambia’s Agriculture value added in Economy in $ Millions compared with African countries
Table (a) 1970
Table (b) 2015
In $Millions
In $Millions
Africa
22,907
Africa
347,741
1
Nigeria
5,598
Nigeria
102,042
2
Egypt
2,058
Egypt
35,750
3
Ghana
1,354
Sudan
25,785
4
Ethiopia (…1991)
1,335
Ethiopia
22,679
5
South Africa
1,230
Algeria
19,231
6
Mozambique
1,194
Kenya
19,017
7
Morocco
862
Tanzania
13,528
8
DRC
808
Morocco
12,516
9
Kenya
802
Angola
8,131
10
Algeria
684
DRC
6,945
11
Uganda
616
Côte d’Ivoire
6,774
12
Angola
541
Ghana
6,752
13
Sudan (…2011)
479
South Africa
6,667
14
Malawi
470
Uganda
5,959
15
Tanzania
412
Cameroon
5,957
16
Côte d’Ivoire
408
Mali
4,806
17
Cameroon
292
Tunisia
4,168
18
Mali
273
Burkina Faso
3,437
19
Zimbabwe
271
Mozambique
3,403
20
Madagascar
266
Rwanda
2,646
21
Tunisia
229
Niger
2,601
22
Niger
210
Chad
2,495
23
Senegal
195
Madagascar
2,289
24
Burkina Faso
182
Sierra Leone
2,247
25
Somalia
180
Senegal
1,857
26
Mauritania
158
Benin
1,737
27
Burundi
155
Zambia
1,662
28
Guinea
150
29
Zambia
139
And forth, what next?
What next is a unique question because even I have no special answers. No one has, otherwise we would be better today. But in trying to search for answers, there are some obviously little things that need addressing. We have Israel as Zambia’s development partner. Yes, our Head of State was there not long ago. One of that country’s strengths lies in the specialization in irrigation which is essential for agriculture. Expanding irrigation infrastructure and coverage and investing more money from cash obtained from copper sales, in agriculture is key. Productivity, seen in the growth in agriculture value added is one thing, but this is too low.
The budget for agriculture development needs to be expanded but with the strict objective of manufactured products. No more should we talk about agriculture but manufactured goods of an agriculture nature. History shows that budget for agriculture has been minimal. Table 4 shows the shares of agriculture from 2009-2014 in total national budget as announced by the Minister of Finance for 2008-2013 address. Clearly, the shares have been eroding instead of increasing and perhaps this trend continues today. There is need for stronger infrastructure and manufacturing value added in the economy. Growth does not come with little thinking. It comes with big thinking. Stop making big statements on little steps of achievement.
Table 4: Budget for agriculture as a share of total budget in percentages
Chief Mumena (r ) shares a light moment with North-Western province minister Richard Kapitaduring the commemoration of 52ndIndependence at Solwezi StadiumChief Mumena of North Western Province says there is need for political players to put their perceived political differences behind and the interest of the nation first as the country celebrates 53 years of independence.
And the traditional leader says it does not make sense for anyone to shun the Uhuru celebrations.
Chief Mumena says politicians and Zambians in general should emulate the spirit of the forefathers who united to liberate the country from the colonial masters.
The Chief told ZNBC News in Solwezi that there is need for unity of purpose to achieve economic emancipation.
He charged that today is not a day to politick and trivialize independence celebrations, but for people to put aside their political regalia and speak with one voice.
And Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo says government wants to give the people of Zambia economic freedom through increased agricultural production.
Mr. Lusambo says the Copperbelt Province is poised to drive the diversification agenda by making the region an agricultural hub by 2021.
He says government has already shown commitment to transforming the province from being copper dependent to agriculture through its diversification agenda.
Mr. Lusambo says agriculture has potential to create thousands of jobs and create wealth for the people.
Speaking during commemorations to mark 53 years of Zambia’s independence, Mr. Lusambo also called for peace and unity in the country.
He said the gallant men and women fought for political independence and it is now up to the current generation to maintain peace and unity in the country.
And Ndola Central Member of Parliament Emmanuel Mulenga thanked the residents of Ndola for turning up in numbers to celebrate independence.
He said the Copperbelt is enjoying massive development with various projects to the tune of over One billion US dollars.
Meanwhile, Captain Dominic Mubanga from the commando unit encouraged Zambians to continue being united.
Government has secured land for the establishment of a new refugee camp for Congolese asylum seekers in Kawambwa District – Luapula Province.
And Refugee Officer Mwika Musakazi says the number of asylum seekers running away from skirmishes in the Democratic Republic of Congo may hit 20 – thousand soon.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees -UNHCR- led by Mr. MWIKA, Kawambwa District Commissioner IVO MPASA disclosed that government has found land in 47 Miles farmland area of Kawambwa for the sett
ng up of a permanent camp for the asylum seekers.
The District Commissioner explained that 1-thousand hectares has so far been demarcated with an option to increase the size.
Mr. Mpasa said Kawambwa had in the past hosted refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo and has no problem hosting them once again.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mpasa has appealed to the UNHCR not to build makeshift structures but consider permanent ones that may continue standing even after refugees are repatriated.
He said the UNHCR has in the past built temporary houses, schools and hospitals in Kala refugee camp which collapsed immediately after the Congolese refugees were repatriated in 2010.
And Mr. Mwika said the population of the asylum seekers at Kenani One and Two transit camps has hit 5-thousand 3-hundred and 99 as of last week with the number expected to rise.
