Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to prioritize road construction and rehabilitation as a means to accelerate national development and foster connectivity among districts through an extensive road network.

During an inspection of ongoing rehabilitation works on the Manyinga-Mwinilunga road, Vice President Nalumango emphasized that road infrastructure development not only improves transportation but also generates employment opportunities for local communities and enhances trade activities.

“As the new Dawn government, we have chosen to invest our resources in economically viable projects such as road construction and rehabilitation, rather than funneling funds into the hands of a select few,” stated Vice President Nalumango.

She went on to highlight the economic significance of the Manyinga-Mwinilunga road, describing it as a crucial corridor for trade and commerce. Once completed, this road is expected to stimulate business activities, thereby promoting the overall development of Manyinga District and the surrounding communities.

Furthermore, Senior Chief Sikufele, the traditional leader of the Mbunda-speaking People of Manyinga and Kabompo districts, expressed his gratitude to the government for including Manyinga in its developmental programs. He praised the government’s efforts in providing opportunities for local youth through nationwide recruitments in sectors such as health, education, and the military.

Senior Chief Sikufele also noted the positive impact of government empowerment initiatives, including the Social Cash Transfer Empowerment Programme and Cooperative Grants accessed through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). These programs have been instrumental in supporting elderly and vulnerable community members.

Additionally, he commended the government for its role in restoring peace and unity across the nation, emphasizing the contrast with the previous regime’s divisive politics.

“With the UPND government, we are witnessing significant progress in terms of unity and peace, unlike the previous government, which perpetuated tribal politics, division, and hatred,” Senior Chief Sikufele stated.

By Arnold Chasaya

While all national parks along Zambia’s line-of-rail have continued to receive first-born’s investment attention, countless more national parks that are miles away from the so-called line-of-rail have received only political sympathy–not even empathy.

This is at the expense of the undoubted economic potential the marginalised national parks present before our own eyes.

PARTICULARS

Nsumbu National Park is one of the many economically viable national parks that have been sacrificed for the expansion of only a few national parks located in the reach of “city bakeries”.

The national park lies on the western shore of Lake Tanganyika, Northern Zambia. It covers about 2000 km² and has 80 km of lake shore.

Besides its rich biodiversity, Nsumbu National Park is special because of one particular asset: the Kasaba Bay!

Kasaba Bay was one of Dr. David Kaunda’s favourite working holiday and private retreat destinations.

“Dr. Kaunda often travelled to Kasaba Bay, which was a Presidential Lodge, for retreat, where some historical decisions and policy directives where announced” (Lusaka Times, 2022).

DEPTH OF THINGS

While the national parks along the so-called line-of-rail have been glorified so much for so long, many of them hardly showcase rare animal species whose sighting every tourist would want to keep spending dollars on, such as the Blue Duiker, a forest dwelling species unique to a countable number of national parks in Zambia, such as the Nsumbu National Park.

Other rare species you can only find in these marginalised national parks are small predators such as serval and side-striped jackal, notes Philip Briggs on Safari Bookings.

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

For Zambia’s tourism sector to expand and contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic development, we need an immediate change of mindset at central government level.

What do I mean? Government needs to invest in integrating these marginalised national parks in its planning. But before that integration is done, government needs to appreciate that these national parks have selling points unique to their locations; therefore, the integration should not use the same measuring scale across. What may work for the Lower Zambezi National Park may, terribly, fail to work for the Nsumbu National Park.

BIASED REPORTING

It’s so disappointing to note that in its Tourism Statistical Digest, which is a critical document…, the Ministry of Tourism takes a somewhat biased approach in reporting numbers–a practice that favours only the so-called “top 5 national parks”, which are Mosi-Oa-Tunya, Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa, Kafue, and Lusaka national parks.

For example, in the 2021 edition of the Tourism Digest, only the five national parks received the usual first-born treatment, at the expense of the many potent national parks located in marginalised rural communities of the country.

This biased approach threatens the growth or Zambia’s tourism sector because it presents an inconclusive picture about tourism numbers–a picture that results in selective planning.

The Chinese government has announced that the Chairman of one of the World’s leading telecommunications Company ZTE Li Zixue is expected in the country on Monday to begin the implementation process of setting up a smart phone factory in Zambia.

The ZTE Chairman’s visit follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ZTE and the Zambian government at the ZTE Headquarters in the Chinese City of Shenzhen.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Du Xiaohui said China recognises Zambia as an important market for investment especially in the Southern African region.

Ambassador Xiaohui explains that the coming of the ZTE Chairman will officially set the tone for the actual commencement and implementation of the smart phone factory.

The Chinese envoy further stated that China has committed to implementing in earnest some of the signed agreements during the state visit to China by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Meanwhile Ambassador Xiaohui said China remains committed to helping Zambia in her development process.

He said as a way of boosting the country’s development process, the Chinese government will offer Zambia technology, machinery and capital for the various sectors.

Ambassador Xiaohui said as agreed by President Hakainde Hichilema and President Xi Jinping, China will support Zambia in the area of international equity and justice which is an active contributor to regional and global peace and development.

He further announced enhanced collaborations between the two countries in the area of climate change.

The Chinese envoy stated that China will help Zambia with technology in smart agriculture in view of the effects of Climate change.

”Zambia and China will establish a green development strategic partnership and enhance cooperation on environmental protection, combating climate change, green economy and emergency risk response mechanism among others” The Ambassador said.

Ambassador Xiaohui also said that China will support Zambia in the establishment of industries aimed at value addition.

While in China, President Hichilema witnessed the signing of 15 MoU’s between China and Zambia in various sectors of the two countries’ economies

PTAZ Urges Ministry of Energy to Sue Firms for Failing to Engage Local Transporters

The Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia (PTAZ) has called on the Ministry of Energy to take legal action against Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for their failure to comply with Statutory Instrument Number 35 of 2021. This legislation mandates OMCs to allocate a minimum of 50 percent of fuel transportation contracts to local companies.

Expressing disappointment over the continuous disregard for the law by OMCs, Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary Chisangano Zyambo recently criticized their non-compliance with Statutory Instrument Number 35 of 2021 and the use of local transporters.

Benson Tembo, the Secretary General of PTAZ, lamented the persistent violation of the directive by Minister of Energy Peter Kapala by OMCs despite numerous reminders. In a phone interview, Mr. Tembo highlighted the unjust disadvantage faced by local transporters as OMCs continued to favor foreign transporters.

The dominance of East African transporters in the local petroleum industry has exacerbated the challenges faced by Zambian transport companies, and PTAZ is now urging swift and decisive action to rectify the situation.

The dispute underscores the importance of enforcing local content laws to ensure equitable opportunities for domestic businesses and promote economic growth.