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.

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Chishimba Kambwili says government has approved the creation of the Education Loans Institution to replace the bursary scheme, which is being offered to students in institutions of higher learning.

Mr Kambwili says cabinet approved the creation of the institution last week.

He said this will provide education loans to students taking up studies in institutions of higher learning.

Mr Kambwili said a mechanism will be put in place to ensure that government recovers the money loaned to the students upon them starting work.

He said it is the wish of government to ensure that every child attains higher education.