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First Quantum Minerals has announced that it will pump in another $1billion into its operations in Zambia.
FQM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Philip Pascal announced this when he led the FQM team that paid a courtesy call on the Zambian delegation at the Mining Indaba in Cape town.
Pascal said the company is reinvesting over $350m to modernise Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi.
He also said they will invest over $700m in a new smelter.
And Director of Operations Matt Pascal said the company was Zambia’s largest tax payer and have paid over $3.6billion in taxes in a period of ten years.
He said the company had also built a 600km electricity power line from Lusaka West to Kalumbila in Solwezi at a cost of $206 million.
Mr. Pascal said the company also had corporate social responsibility programs in the local communities.
And Minister of Mines Christopher Yaluma said government was seeking responsible investors into Zambia.
He said Zambians were expecting meaningful contributions to communities and to the domestic revenue of the country.
He welcomed the contributions that FQM had made to the country.
The FQM team after meeting the Zambian delegation at the Mining Indaba
Chipulukusu local Magistrate Agness Mulenga fined Mr Chibwe, the protocol officer to Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo K15, 000 after being sued by Mr Ngwira.
Facts before the court were that on 15 occasions, Mr. Lusambo’s protocol officer sexually abused Mrs Ngwira in the cabinet office while promising her a job.It was also heard that Mr Chibwe did abuse Mrs Ngwira in different lodges on the Copperbelt.
United Party for National Development (UPND) national youth spokesperson Gilbert Liswaniso has described this incident as unfortunate.
Mr Liswaniso said women must be empowered with jobs and not be abused sexually as this is detrimental to the upholding of morals in the country.
He says it is unfortunate that women under the PF cannot genuinely be awarded jobs unless they are abused sexually a situation he further describes as unprofessional.
Luano District Deputy Council Chairperson Benford Katiti has reported the collapse of 2 bridges that link Luano District with Rufunsa District in Chimika area.
Mr.Katiti , who is also PF’s Chimika Ward councilor,said that the 2 bridges were along the Mwapula and Musambangomwa streams along Chitemalesa Feeder road that links the two districts.
He said that he is appealing for help from the Disaster Management Mitigation Unit(DMMU) to help in repairing the infrastructure that had been damaged by heavy rains early this week.
He said that this development had impacted negatively on the communities of Luano’s Chimika area, adding that residents bought most of their food from Munyeta in Rufunsa.
Luano District Council Director of Works Elias Mwalaba confirmed that he had also noted the collapse of another bridge in Kaundula chiefdom’s Nkomashi ward.
Mr. Mwalaba assured residents in both Nkomashi and Chimika wards that his office would accord the matter with much urgency.
He also took the opportunity to urge other civic leaders to report all damage of public infrastructure promptly to his office.
Western Province Minister sets economic empowerment programmes such as the Cashew nut project as one of the key performance areas by which his tenure of office will be define by.
Speaking when he addressed Civil Servants in Sesheke District recently, Mr Nathanial Mubukwanu said that there are a lot of economic programmes that government and cooperating partners have funded in the Province that have not realised intended goals.
“I will ensure that all projects that have been started translate into meaningful poverty reduction projects,” he said.
The minister cited the US$55.4 Million Cashew Nut Project as a ‘gold mine’ that the people of Western Province can use to emancipate themselves from poverty.
“The cashew nut project will be rolled out across the province as early as possible in order for many people to reap its benefits,” Mr. Mubukwanu said.
He said that supermarkets like Shoprite are ready markets for the commodity and its demand is there across the world.
“I have spoken to Shoprite Checkers and they are ready to buy a lot of Cashew nuts from us. The price of Cashew nuts per tonne is higher than that of copper, hence this project will greatly improve the economy of the Province,” the Minister said.
He said that in future, there will be need for each province to be aware of how much it is contributing to the national coffers and Western Province should hold its head high in this aspect.
“Western Province should be proud of how much it will contribute to the national treasury through the Cashew Nut project because it will generate a lot of income for the targeted farmers and for the nation as large,” Mr. Mubukwanu noted.
The Cashew Nut Project which was launched in 2015 and being implemented in Western Province of Zambia is a US$55.4 Million Project that is being funded by the African Development Bank with partnership with the Zambian government.
File:President Edgar Lungu exchange with their Royal Highnesses chiefs Chikankata, Sinazongwe and Mapanza in Choma on Wednesday before taking a flight to meet with Chief Macha,picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/statehouse 20-1-2016.
Chiefs in Southern province have welcomed government’s decision to build more palaces for traditional leaders in the country.
Chieftainess Mwenda of Chikankanta District in Southern province thanked government for reaffirming its commitment to build more palaces.
But the traditional ruler appealed to government to ensure completion of the previous construction works of the other palaces that were started last year under phase one.
“We are happy that government has remembered us my only appeal is that let government finish the other construction projects of the other palaces before the embarking on building news ones,” she said.
Chief Sinazongwe of Sinazongwe District said the initiative to build the palaces was a good idea because some of the chiefs built their own palaces while others stay in old structures built in the colonial era and needed a face lift. He commended government for its decision to build palaces for chiefs in the country.
“We nearly forgot about the new palaces that government promised us,it’s gratifying to hear that they are still committed to build palaces for us,” he said.
Recently Finance Minister Felix Mutati reaffirmed Government’s commitment to construct more palaces for traditional leaders. Government has allocated K62 million in the 2017 budget for the
construction of palaces country wide.
The palaces were being built in phases under phase one Southern province received an allocation of three palaces of which one had been completed and two were still under construction.
The one that had been completed was for Chieftainess Choongo of Monze while two other palaces for Chief Chona of Monze and Chieftainess Mwenda were yet to be completed.
File:Coppperbelt Minister Hon. Bowman Lusambo speaking at the Copperbelt Consultative meeting
Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo has assured the nation that the Copperbelt Province is now ready for an economic rebound following the steady rise in metal prices.
In an interview with Zambian Journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing 2017 Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, Mr Lusambo said the Copperbelt region is now poised for a change in its economic fortunes.
He has since commended some mining houses on the Copperbelt that have started re-hiring workers who were laid off when metal prices fell in 2015.
Mr Lusambo said the decision by the mining firms to start re-employing the miners is an indication that the Copperbelt is now on the path to recovery.
The Copperbelt Minister who is part of a high powered government delegation led by Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma said the Mining Indaba has provided a good platform to market the Zambian mining story to the investor community.
He said the presence of the Zambian delegation at the Indaba has reignited interest into the Zambian mining sector by a broad range of mining investors.
Mr Lusambo who echoed Mr Yaluma’s presentation during his key note address to the gathering said the Zambian investment climate is one of the best in the world.
“I wish to restate what Hon. Yaluma submitted during his presentation that Zambia remains one of the best investment destination in the World. The country is ideal for such long term investments such as mining because of its peace and stability and an entrenched Rule of Law. So our message here to the rest of the world is that as Zambia, we are open for business,” Mr Lusambo said.
He added, “the interest about Zambia that has been generated here after Hon. Yaluma’s excellent presentation has been very exciting and overwhelming. We are looking at attracting credible investors into our mining industry arising from this very important conference.”
He also announced that the PF administration of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is focused on diversifying the country’s mineral production from base metals to other high value minerals such as precious stones.
Mr Lusambo said the Copperbelt Province has massive deposits of precious stones such as gemstones, Emeralds and Green Tourmaline whose production need to be harnessed.
The Mining Indaba which is the largest gathering of financiers, investors, lawyers and mining professionals in African mining opened on Sunday and closes on Thursday this week.
Hundreds pay their respects to late Joe Chibangu at Memorial Park
Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda has promised to name a street in his constituency after late music icon Joe Chibangu.
Speaking at the funeral service for late Chibangu, Mr Lubinda who is also Justice Minister said the arts fraternity should meet to discuss and nominate a street in Kabwata which will be renamed Joe Chibangu street in honour of the late musician.
Mr Lubinda said musicians of late Chibangu’s stature needed to be honoured.
The late Joe Chibangu aka Joe “The Ambassador” was put to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lusaka on Tuesday as hundreds of fans turned up to pay tributes for his contribution to the modern sound of Zambian music.
Joe Chibangu,41, died last week, Friday, February 3, 2017, at his home in Thorn park, Lusaka.
He is survived by a wife, Jubilee and 3 children.
This was after Zambia Association of Musicians President Njoya T had called on Government to honour people like Joe Chibangu with a National mourning.
Mr. Tembo gave examples of some other artists who have been honoured, such as late Alick Nkhata.
Joe Chibangu’s graveGiven Lubinda and Vincent Mwale at the funeral service for late Joe Chibangu
Amos ChandaSTATE House has described as misleading a statement attributed to Unted Party for National Development president Hakainde Hichilema that Mulungushi Textiles in Kabwe has been closed.
Special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda said a Japanese investor has been found to run the firm and will soon install state-of-the art machinery at the plant.
And Mr Chanda said in an interview yesterday that President Lungu has directed that all workers being owed money by the company are paid immediately.
He disclosed that Government has already released K5 million for the outstanding payments.
He has assured Kabwe residents that President Lungu has their interests at heart and will not let them down.
He said the Industrial Development Corporation and other relevant government agencies have initiated processes that will ensure that Mulungushi Textiles continues to be a viable entity
Patriotic Front Media Committee Chairperson Frank BwalyaPATRIOTIC Front (PF) deputy spokesperson Frank Bwalya says his party remains united and will not fall prey to outside forces bent on fuelling divisions.
Mr Bwalya said PF members are allowed to express their opinions on matters of national interest but that not everyone is allowed to officially speak on behalf of the party.
He said this when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s ‘Let the People Talk’ programme yesterday.
“Democracy thrives when people are allowed to express divergent views on various issues. PF members can comment on national matters but only a few are allowed to articulate official positions of the party,” Mr Bwalya said.
He said as spokesperson of the party, he usually consults senior leaders before speaking and that he does not issue statements anyhow.
Mr Bwalya said there is no division in the PF and that it is not immune to misunderstandings as it is the biggest political party in Zambia with a large membership.
PF media and publicity committee vice chairperson Sunday Chanda was on Monday quoted in the Daily Nation newspaper as saying United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and former proprietor of the defunct Post Newspapers Fred M’membe are actively encouraging divisions in the PF in preparation for the 2021 elections.
And Mr Bwalya said some PF members have commented on some of the decisions of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) because it is open to criticism.
He said opinions made by party members do not represent the official position of the PF.
Mr Bwalya said he is happy that both Roan member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili and Luanshya mayor Nathan Chanda are willing to reconcile over their differences.
He urged PF members to remain united and peaceful and continue supporting President Lungu.
The PF central committee has directed that a team to be headed by party vice-president Inonge Wina be set up to facilitate reconciliation between the two leaders who have been locked in a bitter feud since the adoptions for last year’s general election.
Two hundred more households in Overpill and part of Zambia Townships in Choma have been affected following a heavy pour that was experienced on Monday bringing the total number of families to 300.
A check in Overspill, found the water levels still high and the pit latrines flooded raising fears of a possible disease outbreak.
Zambia National Service (ZNS) were by press time found at the Masuku Bridge trying to unblock the drainage so that there could be a free flow of water.
Southern region Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) coordinator Edwin Petelli said they would engage the Choma Municipal Council (CMC) to find a solution to prevent the flooding of Over Spill and Zambia Townships.
Mr Petelli said consultations with the Council would begin immediately on what type of infrastructure was needed in the area.
“We will begin consultations with the council now.This area is a dambo and these houses were built on natural drainage where water used to flow.
“In the past we didn’t experience flooding due to the scarce rainfall pattern,” he said.
Area Councillor Navy Moonga expressed worry at the flooding of the pit latrines and called for quick interventions.
Mr Moonga said there was need to also open up other out lets for water to flow without any difficulties.
“This is a succession type of problem and requires urgent intervention failure to which it will result in disease out breaks,” he said.
President Edgar Lungu and Botswana President Dr. Ian Khama tour the first stage construction of the Kazungula Bridge Project costing $162 Million
President Edgar Lungu has said the Governments of Zambia and Botswana will stick to the promise they have given to their people to complete the construction of Kazungula Bridge.
Mr Lungu said he and Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama would continue visiting the project to ensure that the progress they saw was maintained.
He was speaking at CRESTA Mowana Safari Lodge in Botswana’s Kasane town during a joint media briefing with Dr Khama after a tour of the Bridge Project on both sides of the Zambezi River.
“We will be coming to these projects in six months or a years time to make sure the progress we have seen is maintained because this is the promise we have made to the people of Botswana and Zambia.
“We will stick to the time we have given ourselves to execute the project,” he said.
He said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region had embarked on regional integration which was one way in which countries in the region were going to integrate.
Mr Lungu, who left Kasane International Airport for Lusaka around 13 hours, said Africa was looking to trading within Africa.
“If Zambia and Botswana succeeds, there will be more trade in the region and beyond.This project is not only for Botswana and Zambia but it is intended
to invite and excite investment from outside so that Africans can begin to trade among themselves.
“Several times we look to beyond Africa in terms of trade including political influence at the end we see this as a mark of bonding between Botswana and Zambia in trade, economic growth and prosperity of the people,” he said.
The Head of State also thanked contractors and engineers for a good safety record from the time construction started in 2014.
“So far minor incidents have been recorded since the start of the actual works.Keep it up in terms of safety standards because we worry about this
project because we don’t want to lose lives,” he said.Mr Lungu said many more projects would come on board once the Bridge project was completed.
“When this project succeeds, many more will come. I also appreciate the challenges Botswana is facing in opening up the railway line and challenges experts have in environmental protection, in designing and implementation.
“I am sure something can be done to sustain a balance between our wildlife, fauna and the rail road because we know that this part of Botswana has impeccable record of wildlife preservation and tourism,”he said.
He said the two countries wouldn’t want to sacrifice the environment that they had sustained very well in Botswana at the expense of bringing prosperity in terms of the railway road.
“The challenge is on you Botswana people working with experts worldwide in finding solutions so that we can have a win-win solution so that we can have this rail road running because most of our roads in Zambia are adversely affected by cargo which sometimes weighs beyond the limit the roads can take.
“I know these roads are supposed to take a number of years but most of the times they wear and deteriorate faster because of the excess cargo,” he said.
Speaking at the same meeting, Dr Khama said the Kazungula Project was remarkable and it would further strengthen the relationship between Zambia and Botswana.He said the project was in line with the SADC emphasis on industrialisation and regional integration.
“The Kazungula Bridge project is well positioned in Southern Africa and we look forward to furthering our cooperation with the two countries,” he said.
Mines Minister Chris Yaluma speaking during the Mining Indaba 2017
Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma says Zambia remains one of the best investment destinations in the World.
Speaking when he gave a key note address to market Zambia’s potential in the mining and other extractives at the mining indaba, Mr Yaluma said Zambia’s peace and stability and a well-developed Rule of Law remains attractive features for investors.
He said government has developed a mining policy and laws that seek to increase and drive private sector investment to develop the mining sector.
He also said the stable policy environment seeks to increase participation of Zambians in the mining sector as owners, suppliers and skilled managers and employees.
He said the good and stable policy environment would spur industrial growth and foster the local manufacturing sectors that has stagnated.
He also said government was seeking mining to be done in an environmentally fair manner.
Hon. Yaluma also took time to give a landscape tour of the mining sector on Zambia.
He said Zambia’s economy would be driven by sectors such Agriculture, Tourism and Trade and government is optimistic that Zambia would achieve its Vision 2030.
He said the new mining act, was aimed at fostering a responsible management of natural resources.
He said the mining sector presented a vibrant opportunity for Zambia to achieve the Vision 2030.
Mr Yaluma said that Zambia would become a prosperous middle income country by 2030.
He also informed the Indaba that the Oil and Gas sector remained untapped and hoped that a breakthrough would emerge from the blocks that government had given for exploration.
Mr Yaluma assured that government would resolve the energy deficit that affected recent industrial activities in the sectors such as mining and agriculture by investing in new electricity generation projects.
The Lusaka Fast Track Court on Traffic Offences has found guilty and fined Unlimited Gifts Limited Company on two counts of using a vehicle as a Public Service Vehicle for carrying goods contrary to section 101 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.
Magistrate Anna Holland has fined Unlimited Gifts Limited Company K600.00 for each count or six months simple imprisonment for the company directors, in default.
Particulars of the offences are that Unlimited Gifts Limited Company on 05th February 2017, did use Trailers registration number AEB 675T and AEB 634T on a public road for carriage of goods, separately, without a Road Service Licence.
The Court has also found guilty Mazhandu Family Bus Services on two counts, for permitting a vehicle to be driven on the public road without a valid Road Service Licence contrary to section 101 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.
Magistrate Anna Holland fined Mazhandu Family Bus Services K600.00 for each count or six months simple imprisonment for the company directors, in default.
“The RTSA, therefore, urges all motorists to observe road traffic rules and regulations as those found wanting will be prosecuted according to the provisions of the law. To facilitate for the country-wide enforcement of eliminating bad road users, the Agency is expected to roll-out the Fast Track Court for Traffic Offences to Central, Copperbelt, Eastern and Southern provinces before the end of the year 2017,” said Frederick Mubanga, RTSA Spokesman
Finance Minister Felix Mutati says government is doing its best to ensure that the stock of domestic arrears is dismantled.
Mr Mutati said this in relation to the K2.1 billion which has been released by the Treasury between December, 2016 and January 2017 targeted at domestic arrears.
And Government has today released K200 million for the 2016/2017 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
This brings the total releases to the current seasons FISP to K800 million.
“The money locked in domestic arrears belongs to our people some of whom manage Micro, Small, or Medium Enterprises. We are committed to pay them,” he said, further adding that, “the government is working hard to ensure that these arrears are dismantled as and when the resource-envelop and competing demands allow.”
“We are putting in place systems to instill fiscal prudence and promote budget credibility by only financing programmed activities so that our fiscal objectives for the 2017 budget, the medium term expenditure framework and long-term development plans are met accordingly,” assured the Minister on government’s commitment to improve the handling of public resources, which this year will include revision of the Public Finance Act and enactment of the Planning and Budgeting Bill.
And Mr. Mutati has said the K200 million release for the 2016/2017 FISP will held to bring the economic diversification programme, through agriculture development, on track.
Of the K2.1 billion funds released by the Treasury between December 2016 and January, 2017, K701 million went to infrastructure related programs. Under this category, the Ministry of Higher Education got K70 million, Ministry of Local Government was given K70 million for water, sanitation, markets and bus stations, Ministry of General Education got K70 million, and Ministry of Health K76 million.
Others who received funds to dismantle arrears include the National Road Fund Agency which got K300 million for roads, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing which was given K90 million for infrastructure in the new districts, and the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (LS-MFEZ) which received K25 million to settle arrears related to construction of an electricity substation.
K615 million was released for agriculture related programs.This included K400 million for the Farmer Input Support Programme [FISP] for arrears which accrued in the 2015/2016 season, and a further K190 million for arrears under the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Other arrears targeted include an allocation of K80 million given to the Public Service Pensions Fund for pensioners, K69 million to the Electoral Commission of Zambia for reduction of arrears related to the 2016 general elections, K50.2 million for reduction of arrears for electricity imports, and K300 million to PTA Bank for fuel import arrears.
