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File: Coal Mine workers picking coal without protective clothes at Shaft One at the chinese collum mineChief Sinazongwe of Southern Province says he is expecting Column Coal Mine in Sinazeze – Sinazongwe district to compensate all the villagers that will be displaced by September month end
Chief Sinazongwe has told ZNBC news that the villagers need to be compensated as early as possible so that they prepare themselves in readiness for farming in the next rainy season.
He says the mining management has agreed to compensate the people whose houses are on top of the mine tunnels and those that are on the hanging walls.
Meanwhile close to One thousand households who are living right on top of the underground mine and those that are living on the hanging walls have called on column coal mine to quickly compensate them.
The affected residents say they want to move as soon as possible because they are not living in peace as their houses keep shaking due to the explosives underground.
But Column Coal Mining Limited Underground Manager Elvis Ng’andu has assured the residents that they will soon be compensated to allow them move.
Mr. Nga’ndu says the company has already engaged a consultant who is currently on the ground measuring the amounts of land and property so that the residents can be compensated accordingly.
Last year several houses on top of the mine collapsed a situation which was attributed to an earth tremor but the residents believe it was because of the mining activities underground.
The Zambia Police Service in Lusaka says it will continue to enforce law and order in all the communities to ensure public peace.
Lusaka Commissioner of Police Nelson Phiri says police in the area will not rest until law and order is attained in the capital.
Speaking to ZANIS in a telephone interview, today, Mr. Phiri said the police will make sure that there is sanity in the capital especially among the youths in view of the mushrooming street parties in the city.
“Law enforcement is a continuous processes so wherever we know that there is some sought of indiscipline and law breaking we come in as the police to enforce law and order”, said Phiri.
Mr. Phiri has urged communities to cooperate with the police in curbing any wrong doings to ensure maintained peace and security.
“It is impossible for the police to be in all the areas but we depend on members of the public to call us when they see something wrong going on so that we step in and help reduce on wrong things .
“We also advise parents to make sure they monitor and mentor their children to avoid the children being found in wrong place at a wrong time,” added Mr. Phiri.
He said as much as the Police had a department which dealt in sensitising and counselling youth on wrong doings the police will not hesitate to take action to on those would be offenders.
Street parties, common in the western world, have become a regular trend held either on the streets or at drinking premises in the capital and involve young people.
Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) says t the Teaching Council of Zambia ( TCZ ) should take punitive measures on any teacher found wanting.
PROTUZ Lusaka provincial chairperson Paul Chipimo says after 490 teachers have so far been found with forged Grade 12 and General Certificate of Education (GCE) certificates, it is prudent upon the TCZ to take stern disciplinary measures on any erring teacher.
Mr. Chipimo said the development of teachers been found with forged certificates is a saddening one but the teaching council should take the required steps to the erring teachers to protect the teaching profession.
“Our interest is serving the teachers however it is very unfortunate that others have forged papers, our stance is that let the employer do what is necessary to the erring individuals because we don’t support illegality,” he said.
Mr. Chipimo said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka, today, that teachers need not to comprise with standards because they are role models to society.
He added that the Teaching Service Commission should however be considerate and critical in dealing with certain cases of the teachers which may be sensitive.
“I think in dealing with the issue some cases should be critically handled because whatever the case the employer has the bigger say in the decision that will be made on this matter,” he said.
Teaching Council of Zambia recently so far discovered 490 teachers with forged Grade 12 and General Certificate of Education (GCE) certificates.
This was revealed during the ongoing teacher registration exercise for teacher’s country wide.
President Edgar Lungu says Trade and Investment Relations between Zambia and Swaziland are cardinal to fostering economic growth for the mutual benefit of our citizens and the SADC region.
The President said this when he read a speech during Swaziland 49thInternational Trade Fair organised under the theme: “Unlocking Trade Opportunities for Economic Growth”.
“My coming here for the third time signifies that our friendship is growing from strength to strength. This is good not only for Zambia and Swaziland, but the Southern Africa Development community (SADC) region and the entire African continent, “ said President Lungu.
“Therefore, the Swazi Trade Fair should be viewed as a celebration which has continued to provide a platform for organizations to interact, forge business partnerships and promote trade and investment in Swaziland and the region, “ he added.
The Swaziland 49thInternational Trade Fair’s theme is befitting and timely because both countries cannot attain economic development without promoting trade, as it stirs economic growth through increased commercial opportunities and investments, thereby reducing poverty among the people, said President Lungu.
Mr. Lungu said, Trade also plays an important role in cementing ties between nations by bringing people together from diverse sectors in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner to exchange innovative ideas.
“Our friendship is anchored on a rich history pioneered by our fore fathers dating back to pre-colonial days and it is this realisation that Zambia continues to treasure the warm relations shared between our two countries, said President Lungu.
Mr. Lungu said, the 37th Ordinary SADC summit they had recently attended, of heads of state and government whose main objective was to place the region’s Industrialization at the Centre of the SADC development agenda.
He said, the agenda was aimed at deepening and broadening productive capacities and enhancing competitiveness.
“In our effort to stimulate trade, my government is committed to ensuring that we boost trade between our two countries in line with this year’s trade fair theme. As we implement our industrialization agenda through regional value chains, I am confident our trade and investment opportunities will be enhanced even more” said President Lungu.
This is contained in a Statement signed by the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda.
Zambian singer, Taska, released the music video for his latest single “Uka“. The song was produced by renowned music producers – Jimmy Jugde & Jerry Fingers. Video directed by Chichi Ice.
“ConCourt Dismisses Miyanda’s Petition”, so bleated one of the Government Gazettes, otherwise known as Sunday Mail, on page 1 of its edition dated 27th August 2017. It is a miracle for opposition persons to get prominent coverage by the public media unless there is a negative twist to the subject. Yes, there was a judgement delivered as reported, but there is a lie and some spinning accompanying the report. Thus it is imperative to contextualise my comment on the report in order for the public to understand why I have reacted in the manner I have done.
The big lie is the following sentence in paragraph three of the story and its timing “In a judgement delivered on Friday…” No, Friday? If there was a judgement last Friday on 25th August 2017 then this was the second Judgement of the same Petition!
I filed the case “Godfrey Miyanda and the Attorney General, Cause Number 2016/CC/0006” at the ConCourt Registry at Lusaka on 11th April 2016, after paying the requisite fee of K226.00. The number 0006 signifies that it was one of the earliest ConCourt cases, in fact the sixth case. The Petition was accompanied by a Certificate of Urgency, with the prayer that it be heard BEFORE the Presidential and General Elections of 11th August 2016 because some of the challenged provisions needed to be determined before the elections. I served the documents on the Attorney General’s Chambers on 18th April 2016; hence even President Edgar Lungu, the PF candidate, was or ought to have been aware.
The Petition was heard on 18th August 2016, AFTER the elections; but six months later there was still no judgement whereas several cases lodged after mine were heard and determined. Early in 2017 the Minister of Justice announced that Government would be tabling constitutional amendments in Parliament; this disturbed me so I wrote to the Speaker on 21st February 2017 to pre-empt the tabling of the intended amendments until judgement of my Petition. Soon after that Petition, even before the Speaker’s office had responded to me, I was telephoned from the ConCourt on or 8th March 2017 with the message “your Judgement is tomorrow”! There was no prior Notice of Hearing but I nevertheless attended on 9th March 2017; the Attorney General’s Chambers did not attend.
Other lies in the story consisted of deliberately withholding information from the public, thus conveying half-truths. For instance the ConCourt ruled in favour of the Speaker taking over the reins of power; I had strongly canvassed against the Speaker taking over, even briefly for sixty days. I based my argument on the Principle of the Separation of Powers (I still do) and our independence history which has recorded that there was a state of emergency in Zambia continuously for nearly 30 years from 1964 to 1991 until the advent of the MMD regime! It was the position of Presidential Candidate Hakainde Hichilema and his Party in the aborted ConCourt Petition that the Speaker should take over. I lost my argument as the ConCourt endorsed the UPND position. So according to the ConCourt, as the law stands now, the Speaker should have taken over from President Lungu. So why has the Sunday Mail hidden this fact? Obviously it is because the UPND’s argument has been sustained although this is via the Miyanda and Attorney General case.
Again my contention against the mixed grill referendum was supposed to be concluded before the election but the Court decided it after the election and I lost the argument as reported. My only consolation now is that I had strongly and persuasively campaigned on the internet against that “twinning trick” to confuse voters and we, the NO VOTES, won. Those in authority started a false hate campaign that the UPND introduced partisan campaigning against the Referendum. But the truth was that the partisan campaign was launched by the PF President when he broadcast live to the whole nation at the Lusaka Independence Stadium, revealing among other things that the PF Central Committee (repeat PF Central Committee) had resolved that people must vote yes in support of the Referendum Question – clearly a partisan position!
I am particularly disappointed that I lost the argument to preserve our customary land for all our people. I shall discuss this fully later when I analyse the 83 page ConCourt Judgement as presently I have other matters running in the Constitutional and High Courts, including the so-called Third Term case. After rubbishing my patriotic red flag over our Republican Constitution, I hope that those charged with the responsibility to protect our independence and sovereignty will quickly swallow their pride and aggressively stop aiding and abetting the raping of our customary land by urgently effecting policies, strategies and methodologies that are above board; such actions shall put Zambian interests first, by delivering the fruits of the prophesied Jubilee Season – Prevention is Better than Cure!
The Sunday Mail also highlighted the allegation that my submissions were “incoherent”. To be incoherent means that a statement or submission is hard or difficult to understand or is not clear. It is my strong contention that it is the bounden duty of any judge or court that is adjudicating on a case to cure any incoherence by getting clarification from the party concerned BEFORE passing judgement, especially in the case of a court such as the ConCourt, where there is no right of appeal against its judgement, even as a Court of First Instance – mark this, NO APPEAL!
I am sending an exact copy of this statement to the Sunday Mail. I challenge them to publish this statement in full and prominently, on their front page, as a condition for publishing it, otherwise they will earn the permanent title of Government Vuvuzela. Fellow Zambians, brace for a second miracle in the Sunday Mail!
GODFREY MIYANDA, BRIGADIER GENERAL, [30TH AUGUST 2017]
POLICE on Friday raided a house in Lusaka’s Woodlands area and stopped an alleged sex party involving 70 teenagers aged between 13 and 18.
Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said in a statement yesterday that bottles of beer and used condoms were found on the scene. The incident happened between 17:00 hours and 18:00 hours.
Mrs Katongo said police knew about the party after receiving a report from a concerned citizen.
“About 70 of them were rounded up and picked. They were locked up after charging them with conduct likely to cause breach of the peace,” she said.
Mrs Katongo said parents and guardians turned up and pleaded with the police to have the juveniles released and paid admission of guilt for them. The juveniles have since been released.
Some parents were reportedly shocked to find their children at the police station because most said they had dropped them off at various schools and tuition centres for lessons.
“Police are looking for the owner of the house because in this country, it is an offence to use premises as brothels. Action on the owner of the house will depend on the outcome of our investigations,” she said.
Meanwhile, Media Networks on Children’s Rights and Development director Henry Kabwe has regretted the continued increase of juveniles engaging in sex parties and other illicit activities.
Mr Kabwe has since called on the police to also look into issues of defilement and counselling, especially that the youngest was 13 years old.
“Parents must begin to lobby for the re-introduction of play parks for our children so that our children can have other forms of entertainment. As it is, they have easy access to internet and sometimes end up copying the wrong things,” he said.
Anti Mutati protests
PF youths in Northern Province have joined Eastern Province counterparts’ call for MMD leader Felix Mutati, who is also Finance Minister, to resign from government.
The youths who were led by Burton Bwalya yesterday have accused Mr. Mutati of jeopardizing the PF while strengthening MMD grass-root structures.
They have since given Mr. Mutati a 24 hour ultimatum to resign from government or relinquish his MMD leadership position.
This came to light when the youths presented a petition to party provincial vice chairperson Peter Mwansa in Kasama , yesterday.
The youths further alleged that Mr. Mutati has concentrated on promoting his presidential ambition at the expense of his ministerial work.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr. Mutati by broadcast time failed as he was unre4achable by his mobile phone.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”
(Acts 16:25-26, NIV)
In Your Midnight Hour
Paul and Silas were put in jail for spreading good news. It wasn’t fair. They were beaten and accused without a trial. As they sat in the prison, bloodied, bruised and hopeless, it looked like things were over for them. When they had no hope, nowhere to turn, when they were literally trapped and bound in their circumstances, they began to sing praises to God. As they did, right at midnight—their darkest hour—there was suddenly a great earthquake. The prison doors flung open, their chains fell off, and they walked out as free men!
We’ve all had times when we felt completely trapped by circumstances. We’ve all felt lonely and hopeless. So many along the Gulf Coast are facing their darkest hours. Today, I encourage you to do what Paul and Silas did and begin to praise God! When you praise Him no matter what, that’s when God enters your situation. That’s when He can break your chains and set you free. Praise Him in your midnight hour and watch Him show up and set you free.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, right now I lift my heart to You. You are worthy to be praised! I will bless You in the midnight hour knowing that You are good, and You have victory and freedom in store for me in Jesus’ name! Amen.”
Ten-man Zambia ended their World Cup jinx against Algeria on Saturday when they beat The Fennecs 3-1 at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Algeria had won all four previous World Cup qualifying encounters at home and away against dating back to1985.
It was also Zambia’s first competitive win over Algeria since they beat the North Africans 3-2 for bronze at the 1982 African Cup in Libya.
Coach Wedson Nyirenda described the winas cricital inthe 2018FIFA World Cup Group B qualifying race.
“It was not an easy game for us it was a big challenge for us but all in all our main was to get the 3 points which we have achieved sonthat we stay in the race,” Nyirenda said.
A brace from Brian Mwila in the 6th and 32nd minute put Zambia 2-0 in the break.
But Yacine Brahimi cut that lead in the 52nd minute with a breathtaking volley to beat Kennedy Mweene.
Three minutes later Zambia suffered a setback when Fashion Sakala was sent off for a second booking.
But Zambia’s nerves were calmed in the 88th minute when Enock Mwepu fired in a,low shot after coming on as a 56th minute substitute for Chisamba Lungu.
Zambia rise to 4 points and are now 2nd in Group B and five points behind leaders Nigeria.
Algeria Stay rooted to the bottom of Group B on1 point,one point behind 3rd placed Cameroon who lost 4-0 away to Nigeria.
Zambia face Algeria on Tuesday away in Constantine hoping to maintain 2nd place ahead of their October 7 away date against Nigeria.
President Kaunda walked for long distances and rode a bicycle through bush paths from Shambalakale Village in Chinsali to Mokambo Border with the Congo to buy salaula to sell back in Chinsali to support his wife Betty and family in the 1940s.
Mama Mulena Mukwae Nakatindi Yeta Nganga walked on bush paths in 1925 in Barotseland. Solomon Kalulu walked on bush paths in 1924 between so many villages around the Lusaka wilderness area where he was born. Mama Monia Nanyangwe Chintu walked on bush paths in Kitwe in 1942. Sikota Wina walked through so many bush paths in 1931 in Mongu in the Barotse Province. Mama Wendy Nakapembe Sinkala walked on bush paths in 1959 in Isoka and years after in Luanshya. There were so many bush paths that criss-crossed in Lundazi that connected so many villages; Ngwata and Chiroba, Kanyanyata and Bilapacande, Limbalimba and Jalijali, Boyole and Basiti.
The late Dr. Yizenge Chondoka who passed way in May this year said our Zambian ancestors in the 1890s walked through bush paths that started from as far as Chama in the Eastern Province of Zambia, traversing hills and treacherous mountain valleys all the way through Fort Jameson (now Chipata), to Salisbury in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Johannesburg and all the way to Cape Town in South Africa. They were trekking to walale (town) looking for jobs.
There were bush paths in Lusaka from the Show Grounds to University of Zambia (UNZA). There were bush paths from Kalingalinga to UNZA and to Mtendere and to Kalikiliki. There were bush paths from Zani Muone to Ng’ombe compound; from Chiborya compound to Chawama to Kanyama all the way to Matero.
Perhaps one of the most soulful experiences in life is to walk on a bush path. It is so exhilarating because it is so quiet and serene that you can hear your own footsteps when you walk. You detour from the path to eat some ripe wild fruits such as nthumbuzgha, matyowo, and kasokolowe. You can meet relatives and strangers on the path. You can detour from a bush path to relieve yourself. You can hear the Nyatiti, Nyapwere, the Nyasisi, the forlorn cry of the Nyalikoma bird, and the mnthyengu bird that sounds like it is speaking sophisticated English.
You can hear loud exploding sounds like fire crackers when you walk on a serene bush path during the hot seething October heat. The sounds are those of very hot dry brittle exploding sounds of the dry mphampha of the mutondo and chiyombo tree seeds. You can hear the sounds of chenje or cicadas during the seething October heat. You can especially see the njiba bird with its distinctive melodious song that pierces the serene air of Savannah woodlands. The njiba bird song symbolizes the beautiful Savannah wilderness where all the 7.5 billion people today in the whole world started their lives from a hundred thousand years ago.
You can cross streams and small creeks walking on a path where you can drink clear pristine flowing clean water if you are thirsty or wade your hot bare feet in the cool clean water. When you are walking on a path best of all, you enjoy the gift of time to think, contemplate, fantasize, think of your family, the past, the future, the present, wife, husband, a lover or the purpose of your walk, think about God, mathematics, life, death, evil, school, work, farming harvest, or ufwiti or witchcraft. When you are on a path sometimes you don’t know or are not sure where you are going. If you are sweating and tired, you can sit and rest for a short while under the cool shade of the mutondo tree before you resume your journey.
When I woke up that morning in my bedroom after the night of the priceless dream about Linda Jotanda that many men would envy and I cherished, I knew I was on a bush path of life. Except I did not know where I was going and I could not be sure where this path of deeply romantic love with Linda Jitanda was leading me to. But I certainly knew what my heart’s desire was: I wanted to see and be with Linda Jitanda again even if it was just for a precious minute; Oh! How that would be as a good as being with her for eternity. It was both intoxicatingly good and but also terrifying. Is that what deep love does?
I could hear voices of children and adults throughout the house. The pata pata of running feet back and forth in the hall way past my bedroom door. The multiple flashings of the toilet; the running and shutting off of water taps in the bathroom. The scent of frying eggs wafted under my bedroom door.
“Mummy! I can’t find my other shoe?”
“Misozi! I always tell you when you come back from school, to take off your school uniform and fold it nicely and put it in the closet. Then put both of your shoes under your bed. Yesterday one shoe was in the kitchen and the other one near the TV. Have you looked in the living room??”
“I found it!” shouted Mizosi.
“Now, hurry up! Your father has already started the car. He will leave you!”
The front door slammed. My uncle was leaving for work. My Aunt Nya Zghambo taught Grade 1 up 4 at Northmead Primary School. She worked in the afternoons and did not have to walk to work nearby until 12 hours.
I looked at my watch. It was 7:15 hours. I turned on my short wave radio to the Home Service to see if there was a program in ChiKaonde. I turned to the station in time to hear the middle of a ChiBemba song:
Ushiku ulya nikumwene
Nikumwene nga kuchiloto
Ala iwe waliwama
Jitanda e..hhhh!!!
Tumenso tobe twa ma lavu
Chimubili chobe cha mafiga
Ala iwe waliwama
Jitanda e..hhh!!!
The night I saw you
It was like a dream
Oh! You are so gorgeous
Jitanda e..hhh!!
Your eyes are full of love
Your body a lovely figure
Oh! You are so gorgeous
Jitanda e..hhh!!!
My mind replaced in the song “Mariyana ehhhh!” with “Jitanda ehhh!!” I hummed the song in disbelief. How could that song come on to the radio after what I had been through, my feelings and last night’s dream? Was this Linda Jitanda communicating with me in telepathy through the radio? This spurred me on as I was even more determined to do something to see her or just even find out what happened to her even if it was going to be heart breaking news.
The song was an interlude before the ChiBemba program announcer announced the rest of the ChiBemba programs lineup of Home Service radio Programs that morning up to 8:00hrs. He said ChiNyanja programs were from 8:00 to 10:00 hours; ChiTonga programs from 10:00 to 12:00 hours and ChiKaonde from 12:00 to 14:00hours. Although I could not speak ChiBemba, I could understand it. No luck with ChiKaonde programs as I would be at work with no radio.
I moved the radio dial to the General Service of Zambia Broadcasting Services which was always in English only. I caught the last part of the news bulletin as Kenneth Maduma the News Reader was saying……..
“To end the seven hours news, here is a summary of the main headlines: “President Samora Machel of Mozambique will conduct an official visit to Zambia next week on Wednesday as part of his thank you tour to the Front Line States in their support of Frelimo during the armed struggle against Portuguese colonialism. The Mozambican President will address a mass rally in Lusaka with President Kaunda …..The Minister of Finance has urged the Party and its Government to……”
I had never seen Samora Machel before. May be this would be my chance for me to see him at a mass rally even if it was a work day. I had to get up to get ready for the work day. I was going to report to my boss about my trip and ask if I could be transferred to Mwinilunga. I just remembered one thing: the Secretary to my boss, Mrs Lungu at the office, was the most blunt but funny person in the office who liked to criticize, make commentary and tease everyone including political leaders; even including President Kaunda. What would she ask me about my trip to Mongu in front of everyone in the office? I couldn’t tell her everything? I was going to go to Kingstones Book Store during lunch. May be in the evening after work, I could quickly go to the 3 or 4 bars in town to ask my friends, if they were there, what they thought about my love for Linda Jitanda; did they think I was infatuated? If I got home early enough, may be I could tell my mbeba (mice) story to my nephew Tozani and niece Misozi.
But what I was very excited and anticipating was that this is the morning after I met and fell in love with Linda Jitanda. I was going to walk through the path from Buchi Road for almost an hour from the house to NAMBOARD Kwacha House in Cairo Road. How would I feel? Will I discover something different on the long path? Will this be like any other day? What will I be thinking?
By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D.
Professor of Sociology
“Revision of Zambia’s sovereign rating is an affirmation of the soundness of Government policies,” was the conclusion of Mr. Felix Mutati, Minister of Finance. What happens when this is reversed? Will the minister make a public statement? What will be the contents of the statement?
We ask these pertinent questions in light of the warning coming from the same people who gave positive marks to Zambia’s sovereign rating that seems to have been ignored totally by the minister in his uneven remarks.
In case he did not see it, they warned, “We could also lower the ratings if previously destabilizing factors re-emerge, for example, if copper prices were to materially fall, or if rainfalls disappointed, or if improvements in the liquidity of the domestic banking system reversed,” they said, adding that “these factors have a substantial bearing on macroeconomic stability, growth, and the government’s financing position.”
They know very well the fluid economic situation of our country. Yet, we Zambians should know better and that is why leaders should learn to work quietly and wait for results. Sovereign rating is important but it is not the end,just as macro-economic stability is essential but is not the end in itself.
Zambians will not use these indicators alone to judge the performance of the economy because there are other perhaps more important things to take into account.
Industrial development is perhaps the best indicator
There are other essential factors. But certainly industrial development is perhaps of greater significance. Yet, we hardly talk about it. Discussions of economic growth are incomplete when we don’t link macro-economic stability or sovereign rating to important economic fundamentals such as industry.
I pick on industry because this is the sector that can make a difference and has a multiplier effect if developed. Even mere dialogue with the public over an important subject like this could generate some good ideas. The good news is that after almost five decades of timid growth, industry value added in the economy showed very robust rise in absolute values in the last ten years from $4.4 billion in 2007 to about $9.1 billion in 2013 (Figure 1).
In the period 2012 and 2014 industry in the economy has seen its highest rise ever and this can largely be explained by investment in the copper industry, hats off to the leadership and investors like Mopani mines and others. As a share in the GDP, of course industry, accounting for 34% in 2015 has had a large role although there has been erosion like in manufacturing from 48% in 1990 for example.
But there are two important points here. First, $9 billion worth of industry in the economy is simply too low to facilitate structural transformation, job creation and improved living standards. To do this, industry will have to expand to high levels. Tanzania’s industry in the economy is about $11 billion. Vietnam’s industry is $ 64 billion. In 2015 Zambia’s industry dropped from $9 billion in 2013 to about $7 billion. (National statistics office may have latest figures, my data is up to 2015 only).
In terms of growth in absolute values, the period between 2001 and 2011 saw the highest growth of industry save the deep drop between 2009 and 2010 as well as the current trend from 2012 (Figure 2). Compared to the last three to four decades, the country has experienced flourishing industry although again, growth based on small dollar values is a major challenge. The highest growth was about only $2 billion in 2007 and 2011 while the past period between 1970 and 2000 was one of anaemic growth averaging $400 million per month.
Conclusion
In conclusion, congratulations to the leadership and investors in the mines. At least there is a noticeable picture showing that in comparison with the last four decades, industry showed steep rise in dollar values in the last one decade. If the level of 2013 can be maintained by reversing the current downward trend, that would be excellent.
But there is another painful point. Industrial growth based on the mining sector alone will only remind us of the last article: Imagine Zambia without copper. Instead, we must focus on sub manufacturing sectors like food and beverages and textiles and clothing, especially the latter which is the first step for industrialization in most successful countries like Vietnam.
Finally, Vietnam people rarely talk in public places. They never speak in many public meetings like we Zambians do. I am sure their leaders too hardly preach about their economic achievements. Unlike most of us, they look very humble and, although it is difficult to correlate this humility with performance, it is highly likely that it has substantially contributed to their economic success.
I think they are leaders who dedicate their lives to hard work and leave praises to the public. So, perhaps simply work and let the public judge for you. These public photos and statements that we like portraying so much will not help the country to develop. We need not mask the real economic problems with smiling pictures and public statements appearing to show achievements.
A delegation of 20 Chinese businessmen and agriculturalists from Han Chin City in China yesterday visited the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) to explore possibilities of partnership with the Union and investment in Zambia’s agriculture sector.
And the ZNFU has called on the Chinese to consider utilising the abundant opportunities available in Zambia’s agriculture sector, which country teems with abundant arable land, where only 6.02 million hectares or 14% of 43 million hectares of land classified as high potential for agriculture is being utilised, water resources and a good investment climate.
ZNFU president Jervis Zimba urged the delegation to explore possibilities of investment in the entire agriculture value chain, value addition and processing. He also told the Chinese delegation that a window for enhancing mechanisation and technological advancement begs to be tapped. He said Zambian farmers want to move with the rest of the world in agricultural technological advancement that would trigger increased production and improved productivity.
He said there lies a great opportunity to invest in irrigation, with irrigation potential estimated to be about 2.75 million hectares; based on water availability and soil irrigability, which 523,000 hectares can be economically developed.
He said only 340,000 hectares of land is irrigated in Zambia, which is about 65 percent of the economical irrigation potential leaving a total of 183,000 hectares yet to be developed.
The ZNFU said massive investment opportunities exist in various agriculture sub-sectors that include;
Soyabeans and edible oils production, livestock, stock feed and livestock processing (which includes beef, poultry and pigs), tobacco and value addition, sugarcane, sugar and ethanol production, dairy, and maize with potential to invest in Value Addition Processing Equipment and Machinery and storage facilities.
Mr. Zimba said there is also a huge export market in the region, with the Congo DR offering the largest market for not only unprocessed, but also fully processed agriculture products.
The Chinese delegation said its main investment interest is in plantation agriculture, fisheries, agriculture value addition, processing and agriculture machinery, but mainly livestock and the entire agriculture value chain.
Head of delegation Cheng Chungsheng said they bring with them vast agriculture technology in raising cattle, chickens and other agricultural products and massive marketing experience and ready capital.
Mr. Chungsheng said they have been to South Africa, Zimbabwe and now Zambia and are happy with what they have seen here.
Mr. Chungsheng said his delegation wants to set up industries in Zambia, which, apart from growing agricultural products, would process everything from within the country and export finished products. He said they want to create employment and transfer agriculture technical knowhow among the local Zambians.
Mr. Chungsheng intimated to ZNFU that another delegation would visit the Union before the end of the year.
