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File:President Edgar Lungu during the Tour of Kansanshi Mine PLC in Solwezi on Friday watches Female Grace Katambi Mine Truck driver 168tonnes 15-05-2015 Picture EDDIE MWANALEZA /STATE HOUSE.
The Chamber of Mines of Zambia has warned that the country may be plunged into total darkness if mining companies do not cut back on power usage.
Chamber of Mines of Zambia President Jackson Sikamo said the level at which water is continue going down is urgent and that Zambia would be in total darkness by October if there are no cut backs now.
Mr Sikamo has since announced that ZESCO will cut electricity supply to mining firms by 30 percent.He explained that Copper mines will have the option of buying emergency imported power at a higher cost.
Mr Sikamo said most mining companies in Zambia are already making losses as copper prices linger near six-year lows saying having to pay more for the emergency power supplies unaffordable.
He said it is too early to say what the production impact of the power reductions will be or if they will cause job cuts.
Mr Sikamo said the decision was reached on Tuesday in a meeting involving mining companies, officials from ZESCO and the Copperbelt Energy Corporation.
Mr Sikamo said ZESCO informed the meeting that it is limiting supplies due to a 30 percent deficit after water levels at its hydro-electric plants fell due to poor rainfall.
He said both Zesco and CEC have indicated that they will make available 70 percent of the power and the remaining 30 percent will have to be imported at higher cost.Mr Sikamo said individual mining companies were expected to inform their power suppliers how much of the imported power they need this week and agreements may be signed by next week.
He also observed that the power imports would mainly be sourced from coal-fired and diesel-powered thermal plants within the region.Mining companies earlier this month agreed to a voluntary reduction in power use of 10 percent to 15 percent.
Zesco has a 560-megawatt shortfall after water levels fell at the hydropower dams it relies on for more than 90 percent of its supplies.Zambia’s normal generating capacity is about 2,300 megawatts.
File:Youth conducting business at Mwaisen shopping centre in Chingola township
Yesterday was the day when the revised 2015 national youth policy and action plan for youth empowerment and employment was launched. Many social and political pundits have given their own analysis regards the launch by the President.
As a youth advocate who has played an active role in youth affairs in this country, I wish to state that Youths of Zambia are tired of ceremonial speeches which are just thrown away after such ceremonies finish. We are tired as Youths of being used as Political tools and later dumped until the next election. Launching and re-launching the same policies over and over again won’t sort out the many problems and challenges that youth are facing.
[pullquote] Launching and re-launching the same policies over and over again won’t sort out the many problems and challenges that youth are facing
[/pullquote]
The UNIP, MMD and PF government have all failed to implement youth policies that guarantee educational and employment opportunities. Unemployment figures amongst the youth have continued to rise. This is irrespective of the levels of academic qualifications obtained as employment opportunities are nonexistent.This is despite the many youth policies which we keep launching and yet unable to implement.
Prohibitive tuition fees have made lots of Youths drop from institutions of higher learning and there is simply no hope at the moment.
It is so amazing that, fifty years after independence youths in this country have not been integrated in national development. The majority of the Zambian youths have remained unemployed, ill-educated and without any formal skills to enable them to earn a living in society and contribute to national development. Every time Politicians keep telling us the same things and yet there has been no implementation at all.
As we head toward an election year many such promises will be made regards jobs, 500 000 jobs etc. but we are tired of political lies and rhetoric .We want to see action not just prepared speeches without any accompanying action.
Finally I wish to appeal to youths across the country not to fall for empty promises. We have been cheated many times and enough is enough. We are the majority in the population pyramids of our country and as such we should not be sidelined in national development. Let’s therefore arise and shine, take our rightful position and take over the governance of this country. 2016 is our time to retire the old and recycled politicians but also politicians that have failed to deliver on their election promises.
Bobby Williamson has named two Zambian-based players for Kenya’s 2017 Africa Cup Group E qualifier in Nairobi against Zambia.
The Scotsman has called Zesco United defender David Owino and Nkana’s new 2015 mid-season signing, the striker, Jacob Kelli.
The duo is part of a 17-member foreign-based call-ups for the September 6 qualifier.
Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama headlines the list together with his brother and midfielder MacDonald Maringa who is unattached following bankrupt club Parma’s demotion from Serie A.
Veteran striker and Kenya’s star of their last Africa Cup outing in 2004 Dennis Oliech, who now plays for UAE side Dubai CSC after ten years in the French Ligue 1, is also part of the contingent.
Kenya, who drew 1-1 away to Congo-Brazzaville on June 14, in a Group E that is all tried on one point heading into round two of the 2017 qualifiers.
Zambia drew 0-0 at hoem with Guinea Bissau on June 13 in Ndola.
Arnold Origi – Lillestrom (Norway), Brian Mandela – Maritzburg United (South Africa), David Owino – Zesco United (Zambia), David Ochieng (Unattached), Lawrence Olum – Kedah FA (Malaysia), Macdonald Mariga – (Unattached), Paul Were – (Unattached), Ayub Timbe – SK Lierse (Belgium), Clifton Miheso – VPS FC (Finland), Anthony Akumu – Al Khartoum (Sudan), Victor Wanyama – Southampton FC (England), Johanna Omollo – Royal Antwerp FC (Belgium), Dennis Oliech – (Unattached), Jacob Kelli – Nkana FC(Zambia), Allan Wanga – Azam FC (Tanzania)
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma
GOVERNMENT has made further headway as it hastily creates a power-pool from imports and other local interventions to end load-shedding, Energy Minister Christopher Yaluma has said.
Mr Yaluma said among the projects to be rolled towards the end of this year and the start of next year are the Kasama-Pensulo, the Itezhi Tezhi power projects and the Maamba Collieries thermal power plant.
Additionally Zambia and Malawi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a 330 kilovolts power interconnector to boost supply between the two countries as the region grapples with a power deficit.
Recently Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed another MoU targeting the development of hydropower plants on the Luapula River as a long-term measure to boost power generation for both countries.
The project would commence in 2017 and complete in 2020.
Mr Yaluma said on Tuesday after the signing of the MoU with Malawi that the projects once completed and others that would be launched soon, would greatly address the issue of load-shedding in the country.
He said the importation of 148 Mega Watts (MW) of power from Mozambique was already on course apart from the 100 MW which had already been added to the power grid from the neighbouring country.
He said another 60 MW was being planned for importation from South Africa.
He said once power was sufficient, Zambia would become a hub for power generation in the region.
He said it was for this reason that Government was fast tracking development and upgrading of infrastructure development in the energy sector.
“We agreed to fast track projects in the energy sector and we have gone very far in as developing this infrastructure is concerned,” Mr Yaluma said.
The 330 KV Pensulo-Kasama substation had been completed and transmission was scheduled for this year and the same applied for the 120 MW Itezhi Tezhi power plant slated for commissioning between November and December this year while Maamba which would produce 150MW would be commissioned by February next year.
On the inter-connector with Malawi, Mr Yaluma said this would involve the construction of a transmission line from Pensulo in Zambia to Lilongwe in Malawi.
Mr Yaluma said the connection between the two countries would help them manage power networks in the region effectively.
“I think this connection is long overdue for Zambia, but with what is going on in Zambia in terms of power crisis, I think this is the right time,” he said.
He said Zambia and Malawi should position themselves in the region to ensure inter-connectivity of grids was done across countries and assist boost foreign exchange.
He said Zambia would also sign more deals with Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.
Malawian Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Bright Msaka said energy was a challenge to both Zambia and Malawi hence the importance of the two countries to connect with all countries they shared borders with.
Mr Msaka said Malawi would be cooperating with Zambia in the energy sector to ensure that the two countries assisted each other.
“It is the desire of both of us to ensure we provide service to both countries. Our first inter-connector is with Zambia naturally. We want to promote and develop mining and manufacturing industries, as well as expanding domestic power,” he said.
FILE: A street vendor who trades on juices waits for customers at her selling point in Livingstone
THE Livingstone City Council has warned of stern action against street vendors who are currently making advances and maneuvers to resume trading in the central business district especially in the late afternoon.
Livingstone City Council acting town clerk Chabala Chanda said the local authority was aware of some vendors sneaking their products on the streets and the frontage of the Main Post Office in Livingstone saying the State Police would be engaged curb the vice.
Mr Chanda said it was unfortunate that some vendors had decided to come back into the streets when they were offered alternative trading areas shortly before the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Conference in August 2013.
He said there was need for traders to continue trading in those designated places because that would also help keep the city clean.
“As a local authority, we have not allowed any form of street vending especially in the central business district,” Mr Chanda said.
He said it was important for traders to abide by the law because no one was going to be spared if found on the other side of the law.
But some vendors talked to say they were forced to bring their merchandise into the central business area because that was where they found customers.
A vendor, Josephine Mutaka who trades in assorted vegetables and fruits, said vendors were tired of waiting for the completion of the ultra-modern Town Centre market which had taken almost two years from the time construction started.
Ms Mutaka said customers found it convenient to buy from them because they were within reach other than going to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) market as well as Green Market.
She appealed to the Government to quickly find resources and complete the Town Centre market which was centrally positioned in town.
“We are appealing to the Government to find resources to finish the construction of market. In 2013 when they started constructing the market, we were told that it would only take six months to be completed, but six months has now become two years.
“We to know what is happening otherwise we shall all come back and trade from the street because it is more convenient for us and our customers,” Ms Mutaka said.
File: Peasant farmers wait for the Food Reserve Agency to buy their maize
THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has targeted to buy 500,000 tonnes of white maize starting next week on Monday at a cost of K 70 per 50 kilogramme bag during this marketing season.
The FRA would further buy 2,100 tonnes of paddy rice at K60, 000 per 40 kilogramme bag and emphasized the need for farmers to ensure their grain met the internationally acceptable standards.
FRA executive director Chola Kafwabulula said a total of K700 million would be spent to purchase the 500,000 tonnes and was expected to create more than 6,000 direct seasonal jobs mostly for youths and the local communities.
” In view of the attainment of the recommended 12.5 per cent moisture content for maize grain, the FRA will enter the market by Monday, August 17, 2015, FRA is targeting to buy 500,000 MTof maize and 2,100 of rice, the buying period will go up to October month end,” Mr Kafwabulula said.
Mr Kafwabulula said the Agency would only buy the authorized quantity of crop for strategic reserves and expected the private sector to play an important role effectively by buying a good share of the marketable surplus crop from farmers.
Mr Kafwabulula said at a press briefing yesterday that the delay to commence the process of buying maize from farmers had been hampered by the moisture levels which were above 12.5 percent caused by the sudden late rains and low temperatures recorded in past weeks.
He said countrywide recruitment and training of personnel to undertake the exercise had already been conducted while 17,577,171 empty grain bags, 33,761 bailing, 10,825 black polythene sheets, 3,251 platform scales and 4,136 grain services had been made available for the smooth and uninterrupted season.
Mr Kafwabulula said significant purchases were expected in Northern regions of Luapula, Muchinga and the North Western where private sector participation was minimal due to challenges on terrains and inadequate support infrastructure.
“The Agency’s vision through its storage investment plan is to attain 2,118,000 MT of secure storage by the year 2018, the crop destruction of this year stands at four per cent compared to 16 per cent last year while in 2013 it was at 19 per cent,” he said.
FILE: Katete electorates at a political rally
COUNCILLORS in Katete District have been impeached their council chairman Abraham Zulu for putting the name of the council into disrepute.
The resolution to impeach was arrived by 19 councillors out of 21 who voted against his removal from his position as council chairman at a meeting held on Monday in Katete.
Mr Zulu who is Chavuka Ward Councillor in Mkaika Constituency however declared interests in the same voting process adding that Katete District council has 22 councillors.
According to sources, Mr Zulu never listened to the advice from the council management regarding the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) over an activity at the bus station.
The councillors alleged that the Chavuka Ward Councillor had been issuing conflicting statements to the members of the public regarding the same funds alleging that the money had been misapplied.
Milanzi Member of Parliament (MP) Whiteson Banda confirmed but could not go into details as he was driving.
When reached for comment, Mr Zulu who threatened to take legal action against the caller said he would give statement when he finalised whatever he was doing because he was in Chipata to see his lawyer.
THE Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has issued an investment licence to Australia’s Maysen and Borowski Claymont Joint Venture (MBCJV) and Phoenix Materials and Constructing Company of Zambia for the construction of an oil refinery and pipeline at a cost of US$1.9 billion.
Sub-Sahara Gemstone Exchange Industrial Park chairman Phesto Musonda said about 18,000 jobs are expected to be created during construction of phase while 5,000 workers will be engaged once the oil refinery is operational.
The Bwana Mkubwa oil refinery plant will be situated at the Sub-Sahara Gemstone Exchange Industrial Park in Ndola.
Mr Musonda assured that the project is on course.
“We want to assure you that we are on course with the development of the project. Yes, there have been some setbacks in the past in terms of investment climate and certain policies that affected implementation,” Mr Musonda said.
He was speaking in an interview in Ndola on Tuesday shortly after a Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) delegation paid a courtesy call on him.
He said since the joint venture agreement was signed, the firm had recorded some serious milestones.
“The project is a serious one, which has really advanced and we have since obtained an investment licence from ZDA. Also, although there was a delay, we are happy that Government has since issued and approved for us to conduct a bankable feasibility study,” Mr Musonda said.
He said talks with different partners to set up a special purpose vehicle to move the project forward are underway and that many studies have so far been done.
Mr Musonda said the new oil refinery is very catalytic to diversifying the national economy due to many bi-products expected from the implementation of the project.
The new refinery is expected to stimulate growth of other auxiliary industries such as development of commercial entities, warehousing, dry port, and container depot, skills training centre, houses and a green space.
The construction of Bwana Mkubwa oil refinery plant is expected to have a capacity to process about five million metric tonnes of crude oil annually.
The new refinery will be fed with crude oil through a new pipeline that will be built alongside the 1,800km Tazama pipeline from Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.
The project will also involve development of two exporting lines to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania to provide efficient regional distribution of regional petroleum products.
Public toilet at KK International Airport in Lusaka
THE Commuter, a Livingstone-based association which advocates for the rights of commuters, has urged local authorities in Zambia to consider building more public toilets in bus stations and bus stops to promote a better sanitary environment.
This is in view of the fact that commuters, tourists and other bus station users have no access to clean water and sanitary facilities at most bus stations and bus stops countrywide.
Commuter Chief Executive Officer, Liswaniso Mwanalushi, said it was a well-known fact that some bus stops especially in Lusaka had been turned into bus stations by call-boys and political party cadres and hence the need to have more public toilets in such areas.
Mr Mwanalushi said in Livingstone yesterday that the bus stops at Kamwala Freedom Statue on Independence road as well as Arcade’s bus stop on Great East Road and many parts of the Freedom way in Lusaka had been turned into bus stations.
“This scenario is the same countrywide and one thing that stands out is that these places have no public toilets.
“Therefore, this situation is making life very difficult for commuters and tourists in need of the services of a public toilet because sometimes it takes very long for buses to fill up,” Mr Mwanalushi said.
The Commuter’s demand to councils is that they should recognize the bus stops and bus stations and build public toilets as the various facilities are demand driven.
“Commuters have the right to demand for bus stations and bus stops to be built at places that are convenient to them.
“In any case, new residential areas and shopping complexes have sprung up making this demand very relevant,” he said.
Mr Mwanalushi said commuters, who use public places such as bus stations and shopping malls, need access to clean water and public toilets.
He said the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit at the Ministry of Finance and officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should support the Council’s efforts of working with the private sector by allowing councils to work freely with private innovators in improving service delivery in the transport sector.
“With this hydro power shortage facing our country, biogas generated from fecal matter is an alternative option local authorities should consider promoting and using.
“Bus operators should start using buses that have toilets on board while the Government should invest in fecal sludge digesters so that buses can decant at bus stations for onward convention to gas by bus station management. This can create jobs for jobless youths especially call-boys and party cadres who are illegally managing bus stations,” Mr Mwanalushi said.
FILE: Dr Scott on Holiday at Lower Zambezi National Park
A TRAVEL and Tourism company based in France, Eurowings Group Tawney, has observed that Zambia is an affordable tourism destination contrary to false claims that the country is an expensive tourist destination.
The French firm made the observations when it returned from Zambia where it conducted a familiarisation tour.
This is according to a press statement released yesterday by First Secretary for Tourism at the Zambia Embassy in Paris, France, Percy Ngwira.
Mr Ngwenya, who is Zambia’s liaison officer at United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), said the French firm made the remarks in France after concluding a tour of selected tourism sites in Zambia.
This came to light when Bonnis Sébastien, who is the Tourism Product Manager in charge of Asia – East Africa & Southern – Indian Ocean – South and Central America – Caribbean for Eurowings Groupe Talwyne paid a courtesy on Zambia’s Ambassador to France, Humphrey Chibanda, at the Zambia Embassy in Paris.
Mr Sebastien was part of the European travel agents that travelled to Zambia on a seven day familiarisation tour in May 2015, at the invitation and sponsorship of Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.
The itinerary included the City of Lusaka, South Luangwa National Park and the City of Livingstone.
Mr Sebastien informed the Ambassador that before travelling to Zambia, he had a different picture of Zambia as a tourist destination for the Europeans.
He said he was amazed at the tourism development in Zambia saying his experience in Zambia was something he would never forget.
His experience in South Luangwa National Park is one he shall forever cherish in his life of travel.
Mr Sebastien informed Ambassador Chibanda that he was surprised at the abundance of wildlife in South Lungwa National Park.
Though he have never been to other parks in Africa, other travel agents that travelled with him on this tour have had a chance to visit other parks in Africa but they confessed that South Luangwa is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world.
“Imagine we were able to see all the African big Five with two hours of our first tour of the park.
“I don’t know if lucky was on our side that day but I think it was just amazing,” Mr Sebastien said.
He said he was very glad to have been exposed to all the tourism products in the destinations that they visited in Zambia and for having been given a chance to sample various accommodation facilities that Zambia offers from five star hotels to safari camps.
Mr Sebastien said Zambia, just like any other competitor destination in southern Africa, was not expensive.
“I had a chance to collect the rates for accommodation and tour activities and since coming back I have been making comparisons and I can confidently say Zambia is not an expensive destination tourist compared to other destinations in the region,” he said.
On Lusaka, Mr Sebastien said he was amused at how fast the capital city of Zambia was developing which was a good for city tourism.
He also said Livingstone was truly the tourist capital of Zambia as one could find and do all tour activities in place saying the country’s tourist ciy was an amazing tourist destination.
“Your Excellency, you have an amazing country and you have a lot to offer to the French market. The only problem is that Zambia is not yet competitive in France as a tourist destination of choice.
“You need to do more marketing activities to make the French population know what Zambia offers.” he said.
Mr Sebastien also bemoaned the absence of a direct flight from Europe into Zambia.
In response, Ambassador Chibanda thanked Mr Sebastien for having taken time off his busy schedule to share with him his experience of Zambia as a tourist destination.
Mr Chibanda called on Mr Sebastian to continue helping the Zambian Embassy in Paris and ZTB in the marketing efforts to make Zambia a tourism destination of choice for the French market.
President Edgar Lungu with Amos ChandaPRESIDENT Lungu does not need United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema’s permission to appoint any opposition member of Parliament (MP) into his Government, special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda has said.
Mr Chanda said the Constitution of Zambia has no provision to compel a sitting President to consult any opposition leader, including Mr Hichilema, before appointing opposition MPs to government positions.
He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Sinazongwe MP Richwell Siamunene will today be sworn in as Minister of Defence.
Mr Chanda was reacting to Mr Hichilema’s sentiments in which he has questioned President Lungu’s appointment of Mr Siamunene as minister of Defence.
He said the action by President Lungu is not subject to Mr Hichilema’s demands for permission because it is constitutional.
“The action by President Lungu is an act of national-building and inclusiveness with people in the Cabinet from all parts of the country,” Mr Chanda said.
He said this is the most representative Cabinet since independence with members from all provinces.
President Lungu appointed Mr Siamunene as Minister of Defence on Tuesday. Mr Siamunene becomes the third opposition MP in Cabinet.
And the Royal Foundation of Chiefs in Southern Province has praised President Edgar Lungu for running an all-inclusive Cabinet.
Royal Foundation of Chiefs chairperson Chief Chikanta said the appointment of United Party for National Development (UPND) Sinazongwe Member of Parliament (MP) Richwell Siamunene as Defence Minister showed that Mr Lungu’s administration was all-inclusive.
Chief Chikanta of Kalomo district said Mr Siamunene’s appointment should shame some sections of society who criticized Mr Lungu’s structure of Cabinet.
“For us as chiefs, this appointment of Mr Siamunene is very good, we are so excited because it shows our President (Mr Lungu) has trust in everybody,” he said.
He urged Zambians regardless of political affiliations to support Mr
Siamunene as he takes his position.
In Sinazongwe Constituency, Mr Siamunene’s electorate commended Mr Lungu for elevating their MP saying such a development was unifying.
UPND Southern province Information and Publicity Secretary Rudolph Phiri challenged Mr Siamunene to work hard and fulfill the core mandate of the ministry in line with expectations of Zambians.
Mr Phiri said the Defence ministry was challenging and that Mr Siamunene should prove to the people of Zambia by working hard.
Meanwhile, a cross section of stakeholders has welcomed the appointment of Mr Siamunene as Defence Minister.
Mr Siamunene, who was previously Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Deputy Minister, takes up the post from Mr Lungu who was elected Republican President and was serving as Defence Minister.
Governance expert Ng’ande Mwanajiti commended President Lungu’s decision to appoint Mr Siamunene as Defence Minister.
Mr Mwanajiti said in an interview yesterday that President Lungu’s decision was good because it went a long way in harmonising governance and showed equity in the allocation of positions.
“The Ministry of Defence is practically the third position in Government. In essence, the President has demonstrated that he is willing to entrust the security of the nation in the hands of the opposition,” Mr Mwanajiti said.
He said every Zambian aspired to be in Government and the President’s move should cheer every citizen.
Mr Mwanajiti said he was not looking at Mr Siamunene as an individual that has been appointed Defence minister but his appointment as implementation of the ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ motto.
Mr Lungu, he said, has shown in his ministerial appointments that he did not look at voting patterns but on equity.
He urged all Zambians to criticise only when there was need to and only make comments that added value.
First Lady Esther Lungu being entertained on arrival at Mongu airport for the outreach programme for people with special needs in Western Province, on Wednesday, August 12,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE
First Lady Esther Lungu has arrived in Mongu District of Western Province ahead of a 20 day outreach programme.
The plane carrying the First Lady touched down at Mongu Airport at about 11:50hrs and was accompanied by Western Province Minister Poniso Njeulu, Community Development Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister Josephine Limata, and Southern Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu.
Upon arrival at the Airport the First Lady was treated to some traditional music from the local dance troupe.
Addressing the people that received her, Mrs Lungu said she is interested in seeing that women’s lives are uplifted.
Mrs Lungu said she will try her best to ensure that the welfare of women is improved through Women Clubs.
Speaking earlier Western Province Minister Poniso Njeulu said the people of Western Province are not tribal.
Mr. Njeulu said people in his area believe in the one Zambia one Nation philosophy.
He further said that he is happy that government has given relief maize to the people of Western Province which has since been distributed.
According to a programme obtained from the Western Provincial Administration, the First Lady will among other projects visit Lilato orphanage, Sefula school for the blind, Nalolo health Centre and nine women clubs from different districts of the Province.
First Lady Esther Lungu with Community Development, Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister Josephine Limata and Mongu Central Member of Parliament Nathaniel Mubukwanu (r) on arrival at Mongu airport, for the outreach programme for people with special needs in Western Province, on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA /STATE HOUSEFirst Lady Esther Lungu greets Mongu residents on arrival at Mongu airport for the outreach programme for people with special needs in Western Province on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA /STATE HOUSE
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Food Agriculture and Natural Resources says most SADC member states except Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa will experience maize deficit in the region this year.
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Director Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Margaret Nyirenda disclosed this during a media briefing held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) in Botswana today.
Ms. Nyirenda said Zambia and Tanzania recorded a maize surplus of 880, 000 metric tonnes and 810, 000 metric tonnes respectively while South Africa has 310, 000 metric tonnes.
She however attributed the poor yield to poor budgetary allocation and low donor support from the international community.
Other factors that have contributed to the low food production in the region include unfavorable climate change, increase in population, poor health and sanitation, high poverty levels and rapid urbanisation, among others.
“Increase in national and donor support as well as assistance from the private sector is inevitable if food security in the SADC is to be sustained,” she explained.
However, she observed that even though Zambia has recorded a surplus in food production, the country‘s humanitarian assistance has increased to 798, 948 this year from 351, 267 last year.
“SADC region is cognizant of the increased number of vulnerable people who require both food and other humanitarian assistance,” explained Ms. Nyirenda.
Ms. Nyirenda however hastened to say that the regional body is making strides in order to improve the lives of its people within the region.
“The region continues to ensure that food security is attained at both house-hold and national level. Agriculture, food security and prudent management of natural resources remain at the epic centre of the SADC region,” she added.
The SADC Director Food Agriculture and Natural Resources explained that most parts of the SADC region recorded poor rainfall for the period 2014/2015 with prolonged dry spells in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.
“Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique experienced both floods and prolonged dry spells,” Ms. Nyirenda noted.
Ms. Nyirenda stated that the availability of maize which makes up more than 75 per cent of total cereal production is this year forecasted at 31.73 million tonnes as compared to 36.79 million tonnes in 2014.
She expressed concern that with such a record in place, it meant that the total requirement for the region for 2015 is estimated at 32.93million tonnes, reflecting an overall maize deficit of 1.20 million tonnes.
The media briefing, among others, is a run-up to the 35th Ordinary Session of the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit that will start on 17 August, 2015 in Botswana.
FILE: Pigs enjoying on the flooded road that passes through Chibolia Compound in Lusaka
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) says it is committed to the rapid creation of a proper drainage system for the city and is uniting with the founders of the project Millennium Challenge Account Zambia (MCAZ) in doing so.
LCC Assistant Public Relations Manager Brenda Katongola said the council has provided MCAZ with the essential information for implementing technical assistance to the institution.
Ms. Katongola said contrary to chatters that the local authority failed to provide MCAZ with information on plans for the layout of the city’s overflows regarding the drainages project, the council had succeeded in supplying MCAZ with the information they demanded in correspondence on April 30, 2015.
She said the council through its Engineering Services and the Public Health Departments gave MCAZ a complete report on the Urban Development Plan that the Council in collaboration with Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) had drawn out.
Ms Katongola stated that the local authority and MCAZ had a cordial working relationship and held a series of meetings on the Urban Development Plan for Lusaka.
She further stated that the two institutions shared a common strategy and vision on establishing a plan for future drainage investments in Zambia where water will be poured from the tributary drainages into the Bombay Drain.
Ms. Katongola added that the Council had also presented its annual allocation and expenditure report on drainage maintenance to MCAZ and that the allocation will be done in conjunction with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for a proposed three years from 2013.
FILE: A Woman voting voting for the new Republican president at Kaumbwe Polling station in Chipata
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) says although the region has recorded progress in women participation in politics, it still remains a challenge as first past the post electoral system which inhibits women’s participation in politics is still being used among SADC member states.
The SADC Acting Head of Gender Unit Elizabeth Kakukuru disclosed this during a media briefing held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) in Botswana today.
Ms. Kakukuru said the first past the post electoral system is difficult for women who have to stand against men who at most times tend to have an upper hand as compared to them.
She also cited the factor of cultural norms as another hindrance that continues to render women as poor participants in political leadership.
“The increase in Gender Based Violence cases for certain countries is also contributing to this situation, “cited Ms. Kakukuru.
Ms. Kakukuru stated that although the region has recorded progress in women participation in politics, only a few SADC member states have recorded beyond 40 per cent, which is still below the SADC Gender attainment participation of 50 per cent women empowerment.
She however observed that although some member states have not done well in enhancing women empowerment in political leadership, they have made positive strides in public services.
Ms. Kakukuru further added that in some quarters, SADC countries have been engaging women in conflict resolution assignments which have yielded a positive record for the region.
“A number of women have been seen participating in peace keeping assignments,” she illustrated.
According to Ms. Kakukuru, targets set under the Gender protocol among SADC member states is that by 2015, member states are to abolish the minority status of women and that with the 50-50 target , no member state has yet achieved it as the nearest for the region stands at 47 per cent.
Additionally, addressing the gender stereo types on education is currently at 23 per cent and that member states to reduce gender based violence by half in 2015.
