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Maamba Collieries Plant
ZAMBIA is going to record an energy surplus by the end of next year once stakeholders participated effectively in efforts aimed at boosting power production.
Zesco, senior manager, in charge of generation, Ernest Banda said in Lusaka that Zambia is likely to record an energy surplus by the end of next year, as long as investors in energy, the public and all stakeholders participated effectively.
Mr Banda said this during a presentation at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the promotion of renewable energy hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Water Development and Tomorrow Investments.
“Going forward, in the long term, hydro power will increase with the successive completion of the power agreements and when all the energy projects go online. Zambia will exceed the demand of 1,900 mega watts and have surplus power by the end of 2016,” he said.
Mr Banda said the current demand for power is 1,750 mega watts and during peak hours, the demand was at 1,940.
The power that was available currently was 1,230 mega watts.
In order to mitigate these problems, Zesco with the support of Government has made interventions like importing power and managing the load using power cuts as well as embarking and supporting power projects.
Mr Banda said Zesco had also embarked on the third phase of distribution of compact fluorescent lamps and would soon be lobbying for the banning of importation of incandescent bulbs in the country.
Energy Minister Dora Siliya said there was need for investment alternative energy by the private sector in order to mitigate the energy deficit.
Ms Siliya said the private sector should be vibrant enough to come up with initiatives that would help the country.
She said the onus was especially for youths to invest in the energy sector.
“There are a lot of opportunities in the sector for the private sector especially the youth. Do not wait for Government to come up with measures to get you together. You should come together yourselves and tell Government what you want us to do for you,” she said.
She said each citizen had a role to play in energy saving by choosing to use energy saving bulbs and opting to use solar powered equipment.
Ms Siliya said she was holding discussions with her Commerce, Trade and Industry counterpart Margaret Mwanakatwe on coming up with measures to exempt certain solar powered goods from tax in order to encourage the public to use solar powered household goods.
VICE-President Inonge Wina has assured that President Edgar Lungu will not fail to run the country despite the economic problems that the country is currently going through.
Ms Wina said Mr Lungu was a humble leader whose interest was on Zambians and would do everything possible to improve their wellbeing.
She was speaking during a luncheon held in her honour by Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) Muyeba Chikonde and his wife Musonda at the official residence.
This was according to a statement released yesterday by first secretary for press at the Zambian mission in the UK Abigail Chaponda.
She said the economic challenges that Zambia was facing were not unique to Zambia alone, but to many other African countries and that the country would pull through by the grace of God.
Ms Wina said the prayers that were held on October 18, this year, were not in vain because a lot of things in the country had started producing positive results.
She urged Zambians in the diaspora to ignore negative reports because they were coming from people that were not happy with the current administration.
Ms Wina was in London leading a Zambian delegation to an Investment Forum organised by the Developing Markets Associates (DMA).
She was accompanied by Commerce, Trade and Industry, Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe, Tourism Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa and other government officials and others from the private sector.
The Trade and Investment Forum is starting today in Central London with more than 200 UK based businesses and investors expected to attend.
The event would focus mainly on priority areas such as energy, agriculture, infrastructure and the extractive industries as well as industrialisation.
Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba makes an intervention during during discussion before the launch of the Zambia-South Africa Business Council in Johannesburg
TRANSNET of South Africa has proposed to establish a multi-purpose fuel pipeline from Ndola to Lusaka which will help Zambia reduce its fuel pump price, among other benefits.
Transnet has also offered, on terms that could be agreed on later, to pass on to Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) its railway fuel tankers that it previously used to transport fuel stocks between Durban and Johannesburg. This follows Transnet’s completion of a 20 billion rand pipeline between Johannesburg and Durban.
This is contained in a statement issued to media by Press Secretary at Zambia’s mission to South Africa Nicky Shabolyo.
The company has had to take the pipeline option as this has in recent times been identified as the most cost effective and efficient way of delivering fuel across long distances.
The company has further called for the resolution of challenges it has been facing with ZRL in implementing its so-called North-South Corridor project which is part of its efforts to realising its grand venture of integrating South Africa with the rest of the continent through the creation of competitive corridor supply chains.
The projects came to light when Zambia’s High Commissioner-Designate to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba met Indeni Chairperson Mr. Johnstone Chikwanda, Transnet Executive Manager for International Business Ms. Nyameka Madikizela and Commercial Manager in charge of private sector participation Ms. Maggie Tsholetsane at his office in Pretoria yesterday.
Transnet is a South African state-owned company with experience in rail transportation, port management as well as pipeline technology and transportation.
Ms. Madikizela said Zambia had strategic resources and its location was attractive to Transnet in as far as the logistics supply chain and rail transportation of imports and exports through South African ports was concerned. The North-South Corridor, to which Zambia is a major party, can accommodate bigger vessels at a shorter turn-around time when compared to other export/import corridors.
“Transnet has been working closely with Zambia Railways Limited as a strategic partner, as Zambia is one of the few countries where there is return cargo originating from its source,” Ms. Madikizela said.
She said Transnet has established three Joint Operating Centres (JOC’s) on three of their international corridors which are Maputo, Noth-South and East-West Corridors and that the plan was to integrate South Africa with the rest of Africa through corridor chains that will integrate its ports and railways efficiently.
Ms. Madikizela said ZRL was a co-signatory to the North-South Corridor operations memorandum of agreement (MOA) which included the development of the Maputo Corridor long-term railway and port investment plan so as to ensure that the planned volume growth and logistics are synchronised with the required infrastructure investment.
She regretted that the momentum on the North-South Corridor has slowed down and urged all parties to the project to re-dedicate themselves.
The North-South Corridor investment project was being led by the NEPAD Business Foundation; and sponsored by TFR and Grindrod (a shareholder in BBR). The project takes into account the current and future volumes, the infrastructure assessments, the funding requirements, and others. The NEPAD Business Foundation is in the process of appointing consultants to execute the outputs that the railway operators were unable to execute.
On the proposed pipeline from Ndola to Lusaka, Ms. Madikizela said this would be a public policy driven project which could be constructed along the ZRL corridor under a private-public-partnership (PPP) structure. The project would involve a local partner, ZRL and Transnet and did not require the Government of Zambia to raise or source any funds as financing would be raised by the PPP members.
She said the proposed multi-purpose fuel pipeline would be from Indeni Oil Refinery in Ndola to another terminal to be established in Lusaka.
Ms. Madikizela said the pipeline would be underground and made of appropriate material and envisaged to transport about 500 million litres of stock per year.
She said Government support would be needed as the bulk of the fuel to be transported would be inter-depot and belong to Government. Ms. Madikizela pointed out that revenue would be raised by charging fuel owners, who are the Government and oil marketing companies, a tariff for carrying the commodity.
“This is a huge project which, just as in the case of a similar project we have just finished between Durban and Johannesburg, will directly and indirectly create significant employment for Zambians both during and after construction.”
“This way of transporting fuel has several advantages which include reduced fuel cost for owners, it is safer compared to road tankers, there is reduced pressure on roads and above all it guarantees fuel security or availability in the country as the pipeline is complete with a depot which could contribute to increased fuel holding capacity in the southern region of Zambia,” she said.
His Excellency Mr. Mwamba said the Mission has written to the Ministry of Transport and Communications and proposed meetings with stakeholders in Zambia to be held between 15 and 19th November, 2015.
Mr. Mwamba said the proposed projects would help reduce the fuel pump price for the benefit of individuals and the business community in Zambia which he said would lead to economic growth.
The Bank of Zambia has raised its policy rate to 15.5 percent from 12.5 percent in a move aimed at curbing rising inflation.
The Central Bank has also announced that it is lifting caps on lending rates.
BoZ Governor Denny Kalyalya told a quarterly media briefing reporters in Lusaka that the move to raise interest rate.
Dr Kalyalya said the Bank’s Policy Monitoring Committee is hopeful that the measures will help stem the rise in inflation.
He said keeping inflation expectations anchored in single digits is critical to maintaining the targeted macroeconomic objectives and in particular steering inflation towards the 2016 target.
The next Monetary Policy Committee Meeting will take place in February 2016.
Below is the full statement from Dr Kalyalya
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held its meeting on 2nd November, 2015. The MPC considered developments in the global and domestic economies during the third quarter of 2015 and the outlook for the fourth quarter.
The MPC also decided on the monetary policy stance aimed at achieving the inflation objective and to support macroeconomic stability.
GLOBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
The Committee observed that the trend of weak growth in the global economy evident in the second quarter of 2015 was sustained during the third quarter of the year.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its October 2015 World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update revised global growth downwards to 3.1% in 2015, 0.2 percentage points lower than the July WEO Update. Growth prospects remain uneven as output in advanced economies is expected to pick up slightly while activity in emerging markets and developing economies is projected to further slowdown, maintaining the deflationary pressure on commodity prices.
Over the third quarter, the average prices for copper and crude oil (Dubai) continued on a downward trend, falling to US$5,267.0 per metric tonne (mt) and US$49.9 per barrel from US$6,057.0 per mt and US$61.4 per barrel, respectively. As was noted in the August 2015 Monetary Policy Statement, the prospects for interest rate increase in the USA during the year continued to shift investor preferences in favour of US dollar denominated assets and further supported the strengthening of the US dollar. With this prospect on the horizon and the further slowdown in the Chinese economy, it is expected that the currencies of emerging markets and developing economies will remain under pressure as investors realign their portfolios.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DOMESTIC ECONOMY
The Zambian economy is currently facing significant challenges, with deterioration in the external environment similar to what was experienced during the global financial crisis of 2007/8. This has been compounded by domestic shocks related to the significant reduction in energy supply, fiscal pressures and adverse sentiments. The Committee is cognisant of the urgent need to diversify the economy that will require measures to support investment and growth in key sectors, such as agriculture, energy and manufacturing.
Monetary policy coupled with fiscal consolidation will be critical in anchoring macroeconomic stability. The fiscal deficit target for 2016 of 3.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) announced by the Hon. Minister of Finance in his 2016 Budget Address to Parliament represents a significant step towards anchoring macroeconomic stability.
MONETARY POLICY
At its previous Meeting in August 2015, the MPC kept the policy rate constant, having raised the Statutory Reserve Ratio in April 2015 to 18% from 14%. During the third quarter, liquidity conditions in the banking system rose reflecting increased Government spending and the net maturity of Government securities.
The Bank of Zambia, therefore, heightened its open market operations and kept the interbank rate just above the upper policy rate band of 14.5%.
INFLATION
The average overall annual consumer price index (CPI) inflation was 7.4% in the third quarter, 0.3 percentage points higher than the second quarter average of 7.1%. Inflation ended higher at 7.7% in September 2015, up from 7.1% in June 2015. Food price inflation edged higher to an average of 7.9% in the third quarter from 7.1% in the preceding quarter. However, quarterly average nonfood price inflation declined to 6.7% from 7.0%.
The increase in inflation was largely attributed to the pass-through from the sharp depreciation of the Kwacha exchange rate, increase in pump prices of refined petroleum products, revision of fees and fines, and the high production costs induced by increased power rationing, which led to the use of more expensive power from diesel generators.
MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES MARKETS
Excess liquidity in the banking system increased substantially in the third quarter due to net Government spending as well as maturity of Government securities.
The high liquidity level raised reserve money by 8.7% to K13.5 billion at the end of September, depressed demand for overnight lending facility funds, and pushed the Treasury bill and Government bond composite yield rates lower by 1.6 and 0.3 percentage points to 21.7% and 23.5%, respectively.
While the value of funds raised through Government securities auctions jumped 20.3% to K4.0 billion, the outstanding balance of Treasury bills and bonds (at face value) fell 2.0% to K25.5 billion.
To contain the liquidity build up and attenuate inflationary pressures, the Bank of Zambia heightened its open market operations.
MONEY SUPPLY, CREDIT AND INTEREST RATES
Broad money (including foreign currency deposits) increased by 26.3% to K46.6 billion in the third quarter largely due to the rise in deposits.
The expansion in deposits to K42.0 billion (and increase of 28.2%) reflected valuation effects owing to the sharp depreciation of the Kwacha against the US dollar in the third quarter.
Foreign currency deposits rose by 9.4% to about US$1.8 billion while Kwacha deposits marginally increased by 0.7% to K20.9 billion. Growth in domestic credit slowed down further in the third quarter to 2.7%, mainly due to a decline in lending to Government that fell by 52.9%. Lending to the private sector, however, rose by 22.0% in the third quarter from 1.2% in the second quarter. The average lending rate for commercial banks rose marginally to 20.8% at end-September from 20.4% at end-June.
Similarly, the average savings rate (ASR) for amounts above K100, and the average 30-day deposit rate for amounts exceeding K20, 000 marginally rose to 3.30% and 6.6% from 3.28% and 6.4% over the same period, respectively.
With the rise in inflation, real lending rates declined.
The average real lending rate decreased to 13.1% in September from 13.5% in June 2015.
Similarly, the real average 30-day deposit rate for amounts above K20,000 declined to -1.1% from -0.7% while the real ASR for amounts exceeding K100 declined to -4.4% from -3.8% in the second quarter.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
The Kwacha came under severe pressure in the third quarter. Factors behind this were weak copper prices induced mainly by declining growth in China, the main buyer and consumer of copper; and adverse sentiments relating to power rationing, developments in the mining sector (prospects of job losses and scaling down of operations and reported loss of interest from investors), fiscal and current account deficits; and general performance of the economy.
Consequently, the Kwacha depreciated sharply by about 60% against the US dollar to end the quarter at K11.9800/USD. The Kwacha also weakened by an average of about 51% against the British pound sterling, euro and South African rand to end the quarter at K18.2334/GBP, K13.4435/Euro and K0.8679/ZAR, respectively.
EXTERNAL SECTOR
The current account deficit widened further in the third quarter to US$401.0 million from US$305.9 million recorded the preceding quarter on account of higher import related service payments and the increase in income on equity payments by foreign owned enterprises.
The deficit on the balance of goods narrowed to US$14.0 million from US$91.0 million recorded in the preceding quarter due to a higher growth in goods exports relative to imports. Preliminary data show that an overall balance of payments surplus of US$716.0 million was recorded in the third quarter against a deficit of US$27.8 million in the second quarter mainly as result of the receipt of the third Eurobond proceeds.
FISCAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENTS
The Hon. Minister of Finance in his 2016 Budget Address announced a reduction in the planned fiscal deficit to 3.8% of GDP from a projected 6.9% of GDP in 2015. Achieving this sharp fiscal consolidation will help to anchor macroeconomic stability, and ease domestic financing requirements and funding pressures.
This will therefore also support the conduct of monetary policy.
THE BANK OF ZAMBIA POLICY RATE
In arriving at the decision, the Committee took into account the inflationary developments in the third quarter and the inflation outturn of 14.3% in October, 2015.
The October outturn has pushed inflation into double digits, largely reflecting the sharp depreciation in the exchange rate as witnessed in recent months. Keeping inflation expectations anchored in single digits is critical to maintaining our targeted macroeconomic objectives and in particular steering inflation towards the 2016 target.
To this end, the MPC decided to further tighten monetary policy by raising the Policy Rate to 15.5% from 12.5%. In addition, to allow for better functioning of the credit market, the MPC decided to lift the caps on lending rates.
Both measures take effect immediately. The Bank of Zambia will continue to monitor domestic and external developments and stands ready to take appropriate monetary policy measures to support macroeconomic stability. The next MPC Meeting will take place in February 2016.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe with Permanent secretary Siazongo Sikalenge
Government has commended Total Zambia for initiating programmes aimed at empowering youths and supporting enterprise development.
Speaking at the official launch of Total Zambia Start Upper Challenge in Lusaka, Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe who was represented by Director of Foreign and Trade Lillian Bwalya said the initiative by Total Zambia to support youth entrepreneurship will help create jobs and wealth among youths.
Total Zambia’s new initiative, the ”Start upper of the year’’ Challenge, is a local contest aimed at identifying and rewarding young entrepreneurs through the provision of start up support worth K390,000.00 in prizes for the three best business creation.
Mrs Mwanakatwe said the initiative demonstrates true commitment to the Zambian cause and desire to be the benchmark in the industry whilst providing a service that the Zambia community deserves. She added that government is keen and will support such great ideas tailored to help young Zambians to accelerate their business projects.
Mrs Mwanakatwe said government is also aware of Total’s other programs such as Young Dealers, Awango Solar Lamps and Young Graduates program directed at encouraging the professional development of graduate students from CBU and UNZA through the offer of internship for an initial period of 18 months to acquire professional experience within the Total Group both locally and internationally.
And Total Managing Director Damien Ricour-Dumas said the launch of the competition is aimed at identifying and supporting start-ups in Zambia that demonstrate potential to lift communities.
Mr. Ricour-Dumas noted that many young Zambians aspire to start their own business and build a bright future hence the introduction of Start upper of the year Challenge.
He added that the initiative supports enterprises that are dealing with challenges in the community.
Mr Ricour-Dumas observed that entrepreneurs are problem solvers and the Start Upper Challenge asks members of the public to show how their business can make a difference in the community.
The competition is open to individuals up to 35 years at the time of submitting the business application which must be implemented within 6 months after selection of winners or have a business that is under development and is less than 2 years.
Finance Deputy Minister Christopher Mvunga (centre) during a bilateral meeting with Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Lenni Montiel on 10 July 2015. On the right is Ministry of Finance Director of National Planning Chola Chabala. PHOTO | CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA | ZAMBIA UN MISSION
Zambia today marked the International year of Evaluation with the launch of the Zambia Monitoring and Evaluation Association which has been formed to raise standards of research, monitoring and evaluation practice.
The International year of Evaluation was declared by the United Nations General Assembly after it was approved at last year’s meeting with a view of placing emphasis on the importance of building capacities for evaluation of development activities at the country level.
This day is commemorated in order to coordinate efforts to strengthen capacities of member states to develop a strong competency in evaluation.
ZANIS reports that Deputy Minister of Finance Christopher Mvunga graced the 2015 International Year of Evaluation at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka by also launching the Zambia Monitoring and Evaluation Association which was formed last year.
Mr. Mvunga said stakeholders should take keen interest in monitoring and evaluation because it is critical to decision making and understanding progress being made in development efforts.
The Deputy Minister said government expects the launch of the Zambia Monitoring and Evaluation Association to enhance monitoring and evaluation capacities in the country.
And UNICEF Zambia Officer-in-charge Shadrack Omol stated that generating evidence and using evaluation to improve people’s lives through better policymaking is the reason why 2015 was declared as the International year of Evaluation.
Mr. Omol said UNICE as a member of the United Nations Evaluation group looks forward to working with all partners in Zambia to enhance national evaluation capacities during the 2015 International year of evaluation and beyond.
Meanwhile Zambia Monitoring and Evaluation Association Chairman Ian Membe said the association will focus on lifting the standards of theory and practice of monitoring and evaluation and to ensure and advocate for good quality supply and demand for monitoring and evaluation in the country.
Local Government and Housing Minister Stephen Kampyongo has installed a new board of the National Housing Authority (NHA) with a call on members to provide affordable and decent housing for all Zambia.
Mr Kampyongo has since advised members not to be liabilities to the housing authority by making demands that cannot be met by the company. He stated that Board of Directors of the National Housing Authority must provide efficient, affordable and decent housing for all.
Mr Kampyongo, who is also Shiwangandu Member of Parliament, said that it is the duty of the board of directors to facilitate policy guidelines that prioritise improved provision of low cost houses manageable by all.
He said the Housing Authority, should work hand in hand with government’s vision in moving the country to a prosperous middle income Nation by the year 2030.
And newly appointed board Chairperson of NHA, Francis Ndilila, said his team, will complement government’s commitment to building affordable and quality houses according to its mandate.
Dr Ndilila stated that NHA will support government in its plan to construct 10,000 housing units annually country wide.
The National Housing Authority has been operating without a board for some time and the newly appointed members are required to provide the required policy guidance and oversight in the management of the company.
President Lungu addresses Chambishi residents after a tour of the market on Monday, Novermber 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
President Edgar Lungu has called on Mopani Copper Mine management to handover the mine to the government if they have failed to run it.
President Lungu says government will not allow management to close the mine and lay off workers just because of the challenges the sector is facing.
He says that the miners always accumulated huge profits when the situation in the sector is vibrate vibrant and wondered why they should rush into closing and laying off workers when things are tough.
The President made the call when he addressed a public rally at Shinde stadium in Mufulira on Monday.
President Lungu re-affirmed that government will not allow Anglo American to take over any of the old mines in the country.
He said that Anglo America should consider setting up their own mines which they abandoned when things were tough.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has advised Zambians to reject tribal politics. President Lungu has further advised Zambians not to be used and misled by political leaders championing regional politics.
Mr Lungu said unlike other political parties, the Patriotic Front is a National Party that accepts members from all tribes and regions.
President Lungu has also advised the Lamba people of the Copperbelt not to accept to be used by desperate political leaders championing tribalism.
President Lungu said Lambas are very good people who have accepted and allowed other tribes from all parts of the country to settle on the Copperbelt.
He said this at Shimukunami school grounds in Lufwanyama District when he addressed a public rally.
President Lungu said the people of Lufwanyama should work with and support the PF because it is the only government that has managed to take development to the area since 1964.
He said this can be seen from the massive infrastructure development projects in the area such as roads, schools and Health centers.
President Lungu assured the people of Lufwanyma that he will ensure that they benefit from the massive wealth in the emerald sector in the district.
The Head of State inspected the newly constructed Lufwanyama district hospital built at a cost of 15 million kwacha. While at the hospital, the Head of state visited some patients at the Health institution.
Earlier in the morning, President Lungu met Lamba Chiefs at the Presidential Lodge in Kitwe where he hosted them during a breakfast meeting.
Open letter to Dr Mujajati (Zambia Medical Association President)
Herbal and traditional medicine
With reference to the aforementioned, I would like to enquire about the Medical Associations standing on Herbal remedies being sold around some townships.
I write to you to enquire if the Medical Association, working with the Pharmaceutical association, has taken any steps in testing the acclaimed healing powers of herbal medicine being sold around many areas, including my constituency, Munali.
Many herbal remedies like, 7 wonders, morringa, lemon crystal, processed charcoal and so on are prescribed around street corners and are claimed to cure complicated medical conditions.
I want to push in a formal request, for the Association of medical professionals to investigate the herbal remedies, to firstly safe guard the welfare of citizens and secondly, if the remedies are indeed as effective as they are claimed to be, we can start working on creating a platform to empower our youths, in munali, and other parts of the country to produce and package the medicine for commercial use.
A locally produced drug would create alot of empowerment for our citizens and essentially better the lives of many zambians.
Zambia has been invited for a four-nations tournament in Angola this weekend ahead of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Sudan.
The round-robin tournament will be held in Luanda from November 6-7 where Zambia will play DR Congo, Namibia and hosts Angola in the two-day event.
The invitation will be played just four days before Zambia face Sudan in a 2018 World Cup second round, first leg qualifier in Khartoum on November 11.
George Lwandamina will take a home-based team for the tournament.
“What is important is we will get some training games and we will expose as many players as we can so that we have broader base from where to pick from,” Lwandamina said.
FDD President Edith Nawakwi during the Launch of the start up Programme for farmers
Forum for Democracy and Democracy (FDD) Leader Edith Nawakwi has charged that Zambians will starve to death next year because of the poor agricultural policies implemented by the PF Government.
Speaking during the launch of the Startup grants program for small scale farmers, an initiative of her party in Lusaka today, Ms Nawakwi said that for the first time in the history of the nation, Zambia will be on the United Nations (UN) list of nations in need of relief food.
Ms Nawakwi explained that the K500, 000 program she has launched will benefit over 4, 000 farmers in various parts of the country to help them sustain their farming efforts.
Below is the full speech during the launch
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE FDD AGRICULTURE START-UP GRANTS PROGRAM FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS BY PRESIDENT EDITH Z. NAWAKWI AT THE FDD PARTY SECRETARIAT
Good morning fellow countrymen and women.
It is evident that while the whole country has become bankrupt, the worst hit, are the farmers who have been kept poor by successive governments.
In order to make progress, we have to identify the needs of a household.
The Patriotic Front Government has put a tombstone on all farmers, be it small scale or large scale.
With the prevailing load shedding, sky rocketing cost of production and inconsistent policy direction by this Government, it will take radical strategies and programs to resurrect farmers from the abyss of poverty which the PF Government has buried them.
What is prevailing is a serious sign that next year there will be massive hunger. This whole country will be in starvation. There will be no grain to grind. Hospitals will run out of drugs. The price of food and other essential goods and services will go beyond the reach of most of us.
All this could have been avoided had our humble President listened to our advice. We advised President Edgar Lungu to change course. We told him that he was cruising downhill at an alarming speed. But he didn’t listen. Now that he has grounded our economy to its knees, he has resorted to threats and insults.
Members of the press and distinguished Party Officials present; I welcome you all to this very important occasion, an occasion that will forever change the lives of thousands of households across our great country.
In our spirited effort to achieve a poverty-free Zambia through the creation of wealth at household level, I am proud today to officially launch the FDD Agriculture Start-Up Grants Program for Small Scale Farmers.
This program is aimed at supporting small scale farmers with various high value agro products for a period of three years to enable them generate higher incomes and move them from peasantry to self-reliance. It is equally designed to provide technical support that will enable farmers to increase productivity and diversify into agro-processing to add value to their produce.
As a party, we have embarked on a vigorous program of empowering farmers by providing them with Soya beans, Sun Flower and vegetable seed.
The initial number of farmers who will directly benefit from this program is 4000. These will include farmers from Chadiza, Chipata, Chisamba and Samfya Districts.
As you may be aware, small scale farmers contribute more than 80% of all the maize that we produce as a country. The bulk of these farmers, who are breaking their backs to feed our nation are women.
The sad reality, however, is that the majority of these farmers despite their hard work and sacrifice live in dehumanising poverty and deprivation. This is as a direct result of bad Agricultural policies that successive governments have been pursuing.
Agriculture which should be a cornerstone of our economic growth and national development has grossly been mismanaged by our colleagues in government. The budget allocation is in adequate. There is insufficient technical support and a general lack of planning to ensure successful diversification, mechanisation, processing and profitable marketing of our agro-products.
It is clear that Maize alone shall never lift our people out of poverty. The whole Maize business from FISP to FRA is a scandal that has plunged our farmers into untold misery.
Time has come for us to empower our farmers with high value crops and other agro-products that can generate enough income for their families and create employment for our youths.
Diversification and agro-processing is the only way to make agriculture a profitable industry capable of creating millions of jobs, eradicate poverty and increase our nation’s foreign exchange earnings.
We passionately appeal to our cooperating partners and other stakeholders to support us financially, materially and technically in order for us to expand this program and increase the number of beneficiaries.
Thank you.
May God bless our country.
FDD President Edith Nawakwi during the Launch of the start up Programme for farmersFDD President Edith Nawakwi during the Launch of the start up Programme for farmersFDD President Edith Nawakwi during the Launch of the start up Programme for farmersFDD President Edith Nawakwi during the Launch of the start up Programme for farmersFDD President Edith Nawakwi during the Launch of the start up Programme for farmers
1President Lungu pose for a photograph with his school mates and current Teachers when he visited his former school at Mukuba Secondary school in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
2President Lungu addresses former Mukuba secondary school pupils and current Teachers when he visited his former school in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
3President Lungu addresses former Mukuba secondary school pupils and current Teachers when he visited his former school in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
4President Lungu with Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge during a tour of Mukuba Secondary school pupils. This was when the Head of State visited his former school in Kitwe on November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
5President Lungu and First Ladty Esther Lungu pose for a photograph with Mukuba Secondary school pupils. This was when the Head of State visited his former school in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
6President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu having a feel of a desk at Mukuba secondary School . This was when the Head of State Visited his former School in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
7President Lungu addresses pupils when he visited his former School at Mukuba Secondary school in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
8President Lungu addresses pupils when he visited his former School at Mukuba Secondary school in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
9President Lungu addresses pupils when he visited his former School at Mukuba Secondary school in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
10 President Lungu addresses pupils when he visited his former School at Mukuba Secondary school in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Seafood, seafood, seafood; what can I say about seafood; apart from, it is absolutely amazing. It is particularly great for those who do not suffer from fish allergies, of course, and it is also great when it is prepared correctly and you do not have to worry about food poisoning. But enough of the doom and gloom; seafood is delicious, fresh and flavoursome. It can be cooked in many ways and incorporated in many dishes. It literally comes in all shapes and sizes; fish, lobster, crab, shrimp, prawns and for the brave souls – squid and octopus…although I must say the latter doesn’t sound that appetising to me. Maybe it’s because I imagine them alive and swimming around the sea, scaring everybody with their gigantic heads and long gangling tentacles. I should probably stop there; otherwise I’ll put you off your food. Anyway…the good news is, today I am focusing on juicy tasty, crunchy prawns; Crispy prawns with homemade sweet chilli to be exact. So sit back, read up and enjoy.
Please note: This dish is more of an appetiser; but keep reading to find out how it can be made with other side dishes to transform it into a main course. Enjoy
Ingredients
For the prawns
Vegetable oil , for frying
16 medium sized prawns (or a packet of prawns)
100 g plain flour
1 tsp ground sea salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 lemon , cut into wedges
For the sauce (makes 1litre)
500g long fresh red chillies, stems trimmed
3 garlic cloves, peeled
750ml white vinegar
645g caster sugar
Method
Make the sweet chilli sauce first by halving 100g of the chillies and placing them in a food processor or blender. Halve and deseed the remaining chillies, chop and place them in the food processor. Add garlic and 250ml white vinegar. Place the chilli mixture, remaining vinegar and caster sugar in a large saucepan over a low heat. Cook, for 5 minutes, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 35-40 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Pour into sterilised airtight bottles and seal.
Place a deep saucepan over a medium–high heat (roughly 180ºC). Fill three-quarters full with vegetable oil and leave to heat up.
Meanwhile, wash and pat dry the prawns, making sure any black bits have been removed. Place the flour, salt and pepper into a large bowl, then add the prawns and toss to coat them (you’ll need to do this in batches).
To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a piece of bread into the pan – if the bread floats to the surface, sizzles and turns golden, it’s about right. Using a spoon, carefully lower the prawns into the hot oil and fry for 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden and crisp on the outside and cooked through (you’ll need to do this in batches). Transfer the cooked prawn’s then repeat with the remaining prawns.
Serving
Serve the crispy prawns straight away, with lemon wedges for squeezing, and the sweet chilli sauce on the side for dipping. Keep any leftover chilli sauce in sterilised bottles and store for up to 2 months in a cool dry place or the fridge.
For a main course; you can serve these with a side of fresh, crisp salad or with some homemade oven baked wedges…yum!!
To make the wedges, preheat your oven to 200 ? C. Take one large potato, wash it and peel off the skin. Slice it long ways into 4, then slice each piece long ways again into about 3-4 pieces. In a bowl, season with salt, pepper, paprika and 1 tbsp of vegetable oil or olive oil; toss the wedges and arrange them flat on a baking tray. Bake them in the oven for 30-40 minutes, turning them over half way through.
Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.
You can find her work onwww.kantakakes.com. Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.
Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) President Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba says he has been proved right when he predicted in September 2015 that Zambia was heading for double digit inflation. Dr Mumba says this is due to excessive reckless spending by the Patriotic Front (PF) government and the weakening Kwacha which has driven prices upwards.
Speaking in Lusaka last week, Dr. Mumba said the alarming jump in the inflation rate from 7.7% to 14.3%, an increase of 86% in a single month, is indicative of more difficulties to come for the people of Zambia. He has called on the PF Government to demonstrate seriousness in efforts to save the economy from collapse and rescue Zambians from suffering.
Dr. Mumba explained that the PF has failed to correctly diagnose what is wrong with the country and have continued blaming the current crisis on global factors while ignoring their role in causing and prolonging the situation.
Dr. Mumba reminded the nation that the Minister of Finance Honourable Alexander Chikwanda recently told the nation that he has tried to plead with the President Mr Edgar Lungu, Vice-President Inonge Wina and all PF ministers to stop wastage of money by cutting down on unnecessary foreign travel when the country’s coffers are dwindling, but this advice has fallen on deaf ears because Ministers get per diem of $500 per day when they travel.
Dr. Mumba reminded the nation that the Minister of Finance Honourable Alexander Chikwanda recently told the nation that he has tried to plead with the President Mr Edgar Lungu, Vice-President Inonge Wina and all PF ministers to stop wastage of money by cutting down on unnecessary foreign travel when the country’s coffers are dwindling, but this advice has fallen on deaf ears because Ministers get per diem of $500 per day when they travel.
Dr. Mumba said the PF government does not care for the suffering masses, most of whom go to bed hungry due to high prices of commodites. The PF ministers only care about their lavish lifestyles which are funded by tax-payer money.
He said the Zambian economy is in very poor health and needs urgent intervention but that the PF government is incapable of doing the right thing due to their selfishness and lack of understanding of the economy.
Dr.Mumba said the MMD is ready again, as in 1991, to rescue the people of Zambia from the collapse of the economy and untold suffering.
