The World Bank has approved $26.5 million International Development Association (IDA) credit to increase electricity access in 36 rural areas in nine provinces of Zambia; (Northern, North Western, Luapula, Muchinga, Copperbelt, Eastern, Western, Southern, and Central).

The Electricity Service Access Project will provide connections to the national grid for about 22,000 low-income households and about 1,000 MSEs in the selected rural areas.

“The majority of the beneficiaries will receive electricity services for the first time. Access to electricity in rural areas is important because it helps replace consumption of kerosene, diesel, dry cell batteries, and alternative fuels such as firewood that contributes to deforestation,” said Ina Ruthenberg, World Bank Country Manager for Zambia.

Overall national electricity access currently stands at 31 percent. While this figure is low in itself, it masks the significant disparity that exists between access in urban areas that stands at 67% and that in rural areas which is only 4%.

“This project therefore supports the Government of the Republic of Zambia priority of increasing electricity access in rural areas, and is aligned with two of the strategies that relate to energy in the recently launched Seventh National Development Plan (2017 – 2021), namely “Promotion of renewable and alternative energy” and “Improved access to Rural and Peri-Urban areas,” said Joseph Kapika, World Bank Senior Energy Specialist.

The project shall also support the Government in the development of a National Electrification Strategy that will provide a firm basis for further expansion of electricity access in the country.

The total cost of the proposed project is estimated at US$36.8 million, of which US$26.5 million will be financed by the International Development Association (IDA). An estimated in-kind contribution valued at US$2.7 million equivalent will be provided by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) and ZESCO Limited, and an estimated US$0.6 million will be co-financed by households and micro and small enterprises (MSE) for on-grid connections. In addition, the Government of Sweden has in principle agreed to finance the project through the Global Partnership on Output Based Aid (GPOBA) in the amount of US$7million equivalent.

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Sir Mo Farah said: “It’s so great to be here with the Queen’s Young Leaders today! Their passion and dedication to helping people’s lives in their home countries is amazing. You can really see how much change these young people have made through their hard work and they absolutely deserve this honor.”

The Hon Alexander Downer AC, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, said: “I am delighted to welcome these exceptional young people from 36 Commonwealth countries to Australia House this evening. The leadership these talented Queen’s Young Leaders have shown, and the lasting difference they are making in their communities, is inspiring.

“I’m particularly proud that this year there are three Queen’s Young Leaders from Australia. I look forward to celebrating the achievements of all of the Queen’s Young Leaders this evening.”

GHANAIAN President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged African countries to invest in human capital value addition by creating an education system that shapes a well-skilled workforce which can compete favourably in the global economy.

And President Akufo-Addo has called for industrialisation of African economies by promoting value addition to raw materials to attain prosperity.

Speaking when he officially opened the 53rd Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) yesterday, the Ghanaian leader said Africa needs an education system that can impart skills to citizens for them to realise their full potential.

“Our economies are not structured to meet the needs of our people. What Africa needs above all is value addition, and this can start by adding value to human capital through an education system that provides every child with a skill to realise their full potential.

“This is why on my part I made education as one of the foundations of my vision to build a knowledge-based industrialised economy. Access to free universal quality education is the key to participate in the new global economy,” he said.

This year’s ZITF is being held under the theme ‘Innovation and Industrialisation’.

And President Akufo-Addo has said raw material producing countries need to promote value addition to their products for them to achieve economic prosperity and improved living standards of citizens.

“Raw material producing economies do not create prosperity for their people, the way to prosperity is by ensuring access to value addition,” he said.

He said it is for this reason that every district in Ghana has a factory to promote value addition.

President Akufo-Addo said through the public-private partnership initiative, his country has successfully established enterprises to ensure that it does not become a retailer of cheap imports.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo said successful leaders are innovative and invest in new ideas that can stimulate economic development.

He said leaders must be focused on providing a better future for their citizens.

The visiting President commended ZITF organising committee for successfully hosting this year’s show.

ZITF board chairperson Jane Kabwela appealed to Government to consider improving the infrastructure at the trade fair venue.

Ms Kabwela said the construction of the Copperbelt International Airport will attract various businesses to the province, hence the need to improve infrastructure at the trade fair grounds.

She said the trade fair has continued to grow over the past few years with more than 600 exhibitors participating at this year’s event compared to 400 that took part in last year’s fair.

Earlier, President Lungu and President Akufo-Addo attended a luncheon at Mukuba Hotel sponsored by the National Road Fund Agency and Zesco.

And the State has told the court that Dr Matibini was on firm ground to suspend the 46 legislators. In an affidavit filed to oppose the summons for leave to apply for judicial review, National Assembly acting deputy clerk Cecilia Sikatele says the decision to suspend the applicants for 30 days is supported by law.

She says the conduct of the applicants was contemptuous because by boycotting the state of the nation address by President Lungu, they committed intentional disrespect to the head of State.

Ms Sikatele said the Speaker is empowered to discipline members of the National Assembly.

“We wish to state that following the boycott of the official opening of the National Assembly on 30th September, 2016, the Speaker in his ruling warned that future boycotts would be met with much stiffer penalty.

“In any event, the 54 UPND MPs boycotted the official opening of the National Assembly on 30th September, 2016, and were subsequently reprimanded. In the apology which was tendered by Mr G Nkombo, he admitted expressly that he was a prime mover of the boycott,” she submitted.

On June 13 this year, Dr Matibini suspended the UPND parliamentarians for 30 days during which they will not be paid salaries or allowances.
But the MPs have sought leave to apply for judicial review to challenge their suspension.

Nalikwanda MP Geoffrey Lungwangwa and 45 others are now seeking a declaration that the Speaker’s decision was illegal as they were just exercising their freedom of expression as guaranteed in the Constitution.

Meanwhile, SPEAKER of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has lifted the suspension of United Party for National Development (UPND) member of Parliament (MP) Rasford Bulaya after establishing that the lawmaker did not boycott President Lungu’s state of the nation address to Parliament.

This brings to two the number of MPs that have escaped the one-month suspension slapped on UPND parliamentarians. The speaker had initially suspended 48 MPs but he last week withdrew the suspension of Namwala’s Moono Lubezhi because she had been excused.

Dr Matibini has, however, reprimanded Mr Bulaya, the Mpongwe lawmaker, for being absent without permission.

Making a ruling yesterday, Dr Matibini said Mr Bulaya complained to his office that he was among the 47 suspended MPs when he was attending a court case at Mpongwe Magistrates Court on the material day where he was a witness in a case of “The People versus Gabriel Namulambe”.

Dr Matibini said Mr Bulaya did exculpate himself in response to a charge letter where he explained his absence.

“Unless it is practically impossible, a member must seek prior permission from the Speaker or the chief whip to stay away from the sittings. Review of the records show that Mr Bulaya responded to the charge letter addressed to all UPND MPs to exculpate themselves,” Dr Matibini said.

President Edgar Lungu has said that he will not be distracted in his programme to developing the country. The President said that his eyes were fixed on ensuring that the country’s key economic sectors are revived for the benefit of the citizens.

The Head of State said this yesterday at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport shortly upon arrival from Ndola where he attended the official opening this year’s Zambia International Trade Fair by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo.

President Lungu said the industrialization process taking across the country will create employment opportunities for Zambians. The President said that Government will remain committed to accelerating various development programmes across the Zambia.

And President Edgar Lungu has directed the Zambia Police Service to investigate the death of Kitwe street vendor Anita Nankamba who was allegedly beaten by Kitwe City Council Police officers days before she died.

President Lungu’s Special Assistant For Press And Public Relations Amos Chanda said that the Head of State regretted the death of Ms. Nankamba who was two months pregnant.

Speaking at a press briefing in Ndola, Mr. Chanda said the President wanted the Police to investigate the matter as soon as possible and bring the case to a close.

Mr. Chanda also noted with concern that cases of people using the name of the President and other senior government officials to extort money on the Copperbelt are increasing. Mr. Chanda said that some private companies have complained that people using the names of the President, the Vice President, the First Lady and himself were increasing.

On insinuations that Zambia was sliding into a dictatorship, Mr Chanda said all systems of governance were functioning well and that there is no dictatorship.

Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has authorised the Presidential Empowerment Initiative Fund for Marketeers and Vendors to spend K 300 000 to help maketeers who were victims of suspected arson cases in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces.

Patron of the Presidential Empowerment Initiative Fund for Marketeers and Vendors Chanda Kabwe said that the money will also be used for construction of ablution blocks at some markets on the Copperbelt.

Mr. Kabwe urged people under the program to be committed in paying back the loans to benefit other marketeers and vendors across the country. Mr. Kabwe who is also Central Province permanent secretary was speaking to ZNBC news in an interview in Mumbwa district.