ActionAid Zambia has questioned the motive behind the creation of new districts on Solwezi district by President Edgar Lungu.

It said the creation of new districts is a form of decentralization, with potential to enhance service delivery at the local level but stated that the manner in which this is done is questionable for a number of reasons.

It pointed out that there seems to be no proper analysis of the social and economic environment when creating new districts.

It said on the economic front, government did not budget for the creation of new districts in the 2015 budget.

ActionAid said the creation of new districts should be accompanied with improved investment in infrastructure development, which requires sufficient resources.

In a statement, ActionAid said with the current high fiscal deficit Zambia is already experiencing, it is unlikely that government will be able to support infrastructure development in these new districts.

It said the creation of new districts is further widening the fiscal deficit.

“The creation of new districts should be accompanied with improved investment in infrastructure development, which requires sufficient resources. With the current high fiscal deficit the country is already experiencing, it is unlikely that government will be able to support infrastructure development in these new districts which will disadvantage the people
of these districts as structures, systems and services to support them will be none existent. This creation of new districts is further widening the fiscal deficit,” it said.

It also said the expectation that investors should lead and spearhead development in the newly created districts is misplaced.

“We should remember that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is voluntary and largely depends on the goodwill of investors. The President in his statement when declaring Kalumbila and Mushindano as districts argued that he expects Mushindano district to have modern facilities like Kalumbila where First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has developed modern infrastructure. While it is accepted that investors could undertake CSR, it is the responsibility of government to provide modern facilities to its people and not to rely on investors.”

“ActionAid is concerned that the declaration of new districts is being undertaken with little consultation of affected communities and stakeholders. ActionAid notes that on many occasions, the President just declares an area a new district when attending a political rally or when visiting traditional leaders in that area.”

It said often such pronouncements are made at political rallies to win votes and there is no proper consultation with the local people.

“Although government has been talking about participatory governance this is against the principle of participation and could breed conflict if not well handled,” it said.

The organization is further concerned that the pronouncement of these two new districts comes in the wake of an impending by-election in the district and maybe misconstrued as a political gimmick by the ruling Patriotic Front government.

“ActionAid is further concerned that new districts that have so far been created have not been adequately resourced and that these have now become a burden on national treasury as in some cases employees recruited in the districts have no infrastructure to operate from with a number of districts.”

It added, “In the last three years, over 25 districts have been created. However, there has been no comprehensive information given by government regarding the establishment of key infrastructure in the new districts. Information on the ground is that there is little going on in terms of infrastructure development in the newly created districts.”

President Lungu over the weekend announced the creation of Mushindano and Kalumbila districts in Solwezi.

PF has so far brought the total number of districts to 105 from 74 since taking over in 2011.

President Edgar Lungu has directed the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to accelerate the connection of electricity to the newly created Mushindamo District near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

REA Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Musonda told ZANIS in an interview that the Head of State wants the new district which is 130 kilometre from Solwezi District to also benefit from the country’s ambitious rural electrification programme.

Mr. Musonda said REA will spend about K30 million on the project to connect the area to the national electricity grid so that they can have access to reliable energy source.

He said among the facilities to be connected is the Kipushi border post housing the Immigration and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA offices, Kilumba and Mushindamo rural health centres, over 10 primary schools including Mushindamo Girls Technical School, government departments and some residencies.

Mr. Musonda said about 50 kilometres of overhead power lines have already been constructed out of a stretch of about 130 kilometres and all the materials have since been moved to the site.

He added that REA has also constructed a substation from which it will tap power from ZESCO to feed the grid extension that will take power to Mushindamo district and Kipushi border post.

Mr. Musonda further explained that the remaining works have since been segmented into four lots and will soon be awarded to contractors to expedite the completion of construction works before the commencement of the rain season.

And North-western Province Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga said government was happy with the progress made to electrify rural areas such as Kipushi border post.

Mr. Malupenga pointed out that President Lungu is desirous of developing Mushindamo district and Kipushi border post by ensuring that power is connected and a good road linking the area is constructed.

He said President Lungu further wants the vast economic potential of the area to be exploited in order to improve the livelihood of the people and contribute to the national economic development.

Mr. Malupenga said road works have already commenced adding that government will by 2016 upgrade the Solwezi-Mushindano road to bituminous standards under the link Zambia 8000 project.

ZESCO has further reduced electricity generation at Kariba north bank power station to 300 Mega Watts (MW),blaming this on it’s customers who they say consume too much electricity after load shedding hours.

The country now only has 1,158 Giga Watt hours (GWh) of electricity accessible for generation at Kariba from the 4,996 GWh which was available for the period June 1, to December this year.

Zesco senior manager for marketing and public relations Bessie Banda said at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the Kariba power station could be shut prematurely due to the impending lack of water for electricity generation.Zesco previously generated 800 MW from Kariba before the figure trickled down to 560 MW after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) rationed water supplied for generation owing to poor rainfall.Ms Banda said the current pattern of consumption after the 8-hour daily load shedding programme was not helping the rationing exercise which is intended at conserving water for electricity generation in the months ahead.She said the trend of consumers maximising the usage of electricity while the commodity was available could lead to Zesco prematurely shutting Kariba power station as early as next month.

The Plan

1. To urge Consumers to stop maximising usage of electricity
   Zesco is appealing to it’s esteemed customers to continue to conserve and use electricity energy responsibly when power supply is restored to avoid shutting down the power station prematurely next month.
2. Buy solar panels, etc ..just in case
   Government has fast tracked the process of finding alternative sources of energy to replace hydro-electricity.Mines, Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary Emelda Chola said a number of companies had been identified to supply alternative sources of energy in case the country’s existing stock from hydro deleted completely.
3. Import emergency power for the mines
   ZESCO will import an additional 140 MW as emergency power from an independent gas producing firm based in Mozambique.ZESCO senior manager for system operations and trading Changala Nswana said the bulk of the consignment would be targeted at servicing the mines.This brings electricity imports from Mozambique to more than 400 MW after Zesco earlier contracted 300 MW from Electricidade de Mozambique (EDM).
4. 60MW expected from Itezhi-tezhi in December
   ZESCO has made headway on medium and long term projects to improve distribution with the 120 MW Itezhi-tezhi hydro power project which is 87 percent complete.The first 60 MW of the project will be commissioned in December this year while the other 60 MW would be commissioned in January, 2016.
5. 300MW from Maamba Collieries next year
   The 300 MW coal fired power plant by Maamba Collieries will be commissioned in two phases in the first quarter of next year.
6. Install 300MW solar plants
   Zesco would install 300 MW of power in distributed solar plants starting next year
7. Buy 2million fluoresent lamps
   Two million compact fluorescent lamps have been procured for distribution countrywide.

The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has been in the process of engaging community members who encroached upon Mumbwa Game Management Area for the past two years. This process was not handled by ZAWA alone but with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in the office of the Vice President.

Local communities are allowed to live in GMAs but are required to settle according to the provisions of the General Management Plan (GMP) – which is part of the Law.

Through the process of negotiations and community sensitization, community members agreed to be resettled. The process of resettling the people started on Wednesday August 26, 2015 and is expected comes to an end on Tuesday September 1, 2015 as most of the farmers have found alternative land on which to settle.

Some farmers are going back to their places of origin mostly in Southern Province where they left other farmlands, while others especially the young and energetic are progressing to Kasempa and Mufunta GMA.

ZAWA will soon be making follow-up to advice the chiefs like Kahare and Kasempa where these people are re-locating to advise them on how best to settle them.

ZAWA would like to correct the impression created by certain quarters that the authority had prematurely evicted and terrorized the squatters by burning their houses.

We would like to inform the public that the farmers occupied make-shift structures some of which ZAWA are burning down after the occupants had moved out to deter poachers from using these unoccupied structures as hide-outs.

ZAWA has a mandate to manage wildlife and as a government authority has a human face and the people who are shifting from the GMA have not lost a single piece of property. The people being relocated can confirm that.

Sakabilo Kalembwe (Zacks)
Public Relations Officer

Proflight Zambia will start direct flights to Durban from next month, linking Lusaka with direct flights to the home of South Africa’s business port and one of its most popular tourist destinations.

The latest route is part of the airline’s strategy to expand across Southern Africa, making Lusaka a hub for air travel throughout the region.

Starting from September 22, Proflight will fly three times a week to Durban using its 50-seater CRJ-100 aircraft. If demand proves strong then the airline hopes to add a fourth weekly flight to the Lusaka-Durban schedule.

P0024 will leave Lusaka at 11:00hrs on Tuesdays, Thursday’s and Saturdays, arriving in Durban at 13:30hrs.

The returning P0025 flight will leave Durban at 14:10hrs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and arrive in Lusaka at 16:40hrs. On Sundays P0023 will leave Durban- at 12:00hrs and arrive back in Lusaka at 13:3hrs

This means travellers from Lusaka and elsewhere in Proflight’s extensive will be able to attend to business in Durban, go shopping, visit the sea and spend time on the beach, visit family and friends, go to concerts and shows, and attend rugby, football and cricket matches.

Fares start from $210 per person one way/K1785 with children at half price.

The new Durban flight also links to smooth connections with Proflights services between Lusaka and Ndola, Kitwe, Solwezi and Mfuwe.

‘Durban, as an important gateway for Africa and a thriving tourist destination, this new flight will add value to tourism and promote business linkages between cities. It will also promote Zambia’s tourism and market its potential to customers travelling between cities,’ said Proflight Director of Government and Industry Affairs Captain Phillip Lemba. 

Durban is South Africa’s second most important manufacturing hub after Johannesburg with the presence of a number of major multi-national companies and it is famous for being the busiest port in the African continent.

South Africa as a growing market continues to play an important part in Proflight’s international network expansion strategy.

THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has summoned four oil marketing companies to respond to allegations that they abrogated the Energy Regulation Act.

ERB public relations manager Kwali Mfuni said in a statement issued in Lusaka that the four companies are Mt Meru Petroleum Limited, Juba Transport Limited, Samfuel Limited and Kobil Zambia Limited.

“The ERB summoned four licensees to answer to allegations against them ranging from breach of license conditions, technical standards and violations of the provisions of the Energy Regulation Act,” Ms Mfuni said.

She said Mount Meru was called to answer allegations concerning transportation of petroleum products beyond the stipulated time of 18:00 hours as provided for in the Zambia Standard 372: Operational requirements for road tank vehicles – code of practice.

Ms Mfuni noted that a tanker was involved in a road traffic accident around 23:30 hours enroute to Kawambwa, where it was to deliver 7,000 litres of petrol, 6,000 litres of diesel and 27,000 litres of kerosene.

She said Juba Transport was summoned for allegedly allowing the syphoning of fuel from a tanker at an undesignated area, resulting in massive spillage, therefore posing a risk to the safety and health of the general public and the environment.

“In addition, ERB took to task Juba Transport for failing to discipline or monitor its driver while in transit,” Ms Mfuni said.

She said Samfuel was cited for selling fuel at its depots in Kitwe and Ndola, which are not licensed by the ERB as petroleum sale points.

Ms Mfuni said Kobil was tasked to exculpate itself for selling fuel at Yexley Luangwa without a licence.

THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has started paying farmers who supplied it with maize.

FRA executive director Chola Kafwabulula said K96 million has so far been disbursed to banks countrywide and that farmers can now receive payments for their produce.

“Money to pay farmers has already been sent to various banks countrywide, meaning that some farmers will start getting their money today [Monday],” he said.

Mr Kafwabulula was speaking in Kasama shortly before embarking on a tour of satellite depots in Northern Province.

He said FRA had by August 30, bought 39,141 metric tonnes of maize at a cost of K58.7 million from farmers in Northern Province.

Mr Kafwabulula said Mbala district had the highest number of maize bags bought, totaling 9,700mt, at a cost of K14.5 million.

He said in this vein, FRA has engaged a Chinese firm called Advanced Solutions to construct maize sheds to secure the produce.

Mr Kafwabulula said the FRA has already signed a contract worth K73 million with the company, which will construct 98 sheds countrywide.

“In Northern Province, Mbala will have three sheds and each will have capacity of storing 5,000mt. Kasama will have four sheds with storage capacity of 5, 000mt each. Luwingu will have one shed with a capacity of 3,000mt,” he said.

He said Mungwi will have one storage shed with a capacity of 5, 000mt, and Kaputa will also have one shed with the storage capacity of 1,000mt, while Mporokoso’s after-harvest facility will have the capacity for 1,000mt.

Mr Kafwabulula said that FRA will also construct one silo in Kasama with a storage capcity of 25,000mt.

He said these measures will reduce grain wastage.

And Government says it is pleased with the pace at which the production and distribution of fertiliser under the farmer input support programme are taking place with 60 districts across the country receiving their supplies, CAROLINE KALOMBE reports in Lusaka.

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock permanent secretary David Shamulenge said Government contracted companies to supply inputs and that fertiliser has been delivered and equitably distributed in accordance with the requirements of the provinces and districts.

“At this good pace, Government is certain and sure that all the targeted fertiliser will be at the farmers door step before the planting season and the onset of the rain season,” Mr Shamulenge said.

He said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that his ministry will adhere to President Lungu’s directive to ensure that farmers receive their inputs on time and has further directed provincial agriculture coordinators to monitor the distribution of the inputs.

“Therefore, government will not hesitate to take punitive measures against any erring supplier or other players,” he said.

Mr Shamulenge said 61,118.9 metric tonnes of basal dressing , D-Compund has been produced by the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia which is more than half of the projected 106,409.9 metric tonnes the company was contracted to produce, supply and deliver countrywide.

He said Nyiombo investments and Nerias investment were contracted to supply top dressing, Urea fertiliser and that 41 650 metric tonnes has been supplied representing 41 per cent of the projected 101, 650 metric tonnes.

GOVERNMENT will protect the jobs in the mining sector through interventions such as providing an environment that promotes investment and predictability.

According to the proposed 2016-2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the 2016 Budget paper issued on Sunday by Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba, Government would continue to promote investments by providing a predictable, consistent and stable environment.

This, Mr Yamba said, would protect and secure the many jobs created by the sector.

“In addition, the operationalization of the revised mining law to streamline issuance of mining licences, establishment of a tribunal and promotion of local content will enhance development in the sector,” Mr Yamba said.

He said the mining sector was earmarked for growth because copper output is projected to increase from 741,916 metric tonnes this year to 916,767 metric tonnes in 2018 largely on account of the improved output at Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi due to the new smelter.

Production at Konkola Copper Mines is also projected to increase because of the Konkola Deep Mining Project which is due to start operating soon.

The development of Kalumbila and Chambeshi West Ore would also spur growth in the mining sector.

Mr Yamba said the mining and quarrying sector is set to benefit from the mineral diversification by enhancing production of minerals such as nickel, gold, iron, manganese and uranium.

Meanwhile, the Civil Servants Union of Zambia (CSUZ) has said it is happy that the proposed budget guaranteed the creation of new jobs and increased salaries in 2016.

CSUZ secretary general Joy Beene said in an interview yesterday that the civil servants were happy the wage and employment freeze have been lifted.

He said the proposals to create more jobs and increase salaries were in line with the Patriotic Front manifesto to give youths jobs and give people more money in their pockets.

“Finally the PF are doing as they promised. To put more money in people’s pockets by creating jobs in the public sector which will obviously be taken up by youths,” Mr Beene said.

He urged Government to deliver on its proposals because it was the largest employer that needed to suck in people that graduated year after year.