Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has confirmed that he will grace this year’s Zambia’s International Trade Fair (ZITF).

This came to light when a special envoy from Kenya, Fred Matiangi, paid a courtesy call on President Edgar Lungu at State House.

Mr Matiangi told President Lungu that his Kenyan counterpart has accepted as requested by the Zambian government for him to grace this year’s ZITF.

He disclosed that the Kenyan President will be in Zambia on July 4, 2015, to officiate at this year’s ZITF.

Mr Matiangi said Zambia shares a special relationship with Kenya hence the acceptance by President Kenyatta to officiate at this year’s ZITF.

He further disclosed that President Kenyatta will be accompanied by a delegation from the private sector and the business community during his state visit to Zambia.

Mr Matiangi assured President Lungu that his Kenyan counterpart is committed to further strengthening the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

He noted that President Kenyatta cherishes the relations that the two countries enjoy.

And in response to the message sent by the Kenyan Head of State, President Lungu said he was looking forward to the visit of his counterpart.

President Lungu revealed that he is eagerly waiting for Mr Kenyatta’s visit to Zambia.

Mr Lungu noted that the confirmation of President Kanyatta’s coming is an indication that the trip is on.

The Head of State told the visiting special envoy to inform President Kenyatta that Zambia is warmly preparing for his visit.

EXIM bank of China has released a payment of US$108 million for the construction of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA).

The upgrade of the KKIA will cost US$360 million which will be financed by the Exim Bank of China through a loan facility signed by the Government.

Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Yamfwa Mukanga confirmed the development in Lusaka yesterday.

The minister said the airport would be upgraded by China Jiangxi International at a cost of US$360 million and is expected to be finished in 2018.

“We are looking at the programme of works and we have told the contractor that the programme of works should be handed in by Friday because we want to have a programme other than just working so that we can review it,” he said.

The new airport will contain a new two-storey terminal building,22 check-in counters, 12 border channels and six security check counters; a presidential terminal, a new air traffic control building and tower.

It will also include a new Zambia Airport Corporation office, ashops complex and a hotel, among others.

Mr Mukanga said significant progress had been attained regarding the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport project following the thorough review of the architectural designs.

“Currently about 95 per cent of the drawing have already been done but out of those 95 per cent we have Rescue and Fire Appliance Bay which is done and we have a VIP lounge site which has been done also,” he said.

Mr Mukanga said they have other challenges that needed to be worked on adding that once the money is released in the China Jiangxi International account they will be a lot of progress.

“Most of the issues that were affecting construction were issues of understanding and ensuring the contractor does its part,” Mr Mukanga said.

Mr Mukanga said the funds for the construction of the KKIA were intact saying that the funds would be transferred directly into China Jiangxi International’s account.

“The money will be released directly into the contractors account from Exim Bank of China… it’s not coming from the ministry to the contractor even when we signed a loan the money moves from Exim Bank of China to the contractor and what we want is to see the result,” he
said.

The new KKIA once completed will be a show piece in the region competing with the likes of OR Tambo in South Africa. ZACL is striving to make the airport a regional hub.

Forum for Democracy and Development President Edith Nawakwi has observed that the African content should treat the provision of Clean Energy as a human rights issue because the commodity is as important as bloody is to the body.

The opposition leader says poverty and lack of energy are directly related and that African leaders should look at poverty eradication as way of increasing the demand for clean energy in the continent.

Speaking when she featured on Africa Debate a monthly debate program on the BBC Radio Ms. Nawakwi who is a former Energy Minister in the late President Chiluba’s administration noted that people in the continent continue to use toxic energy due to the high cost of renewable energy.

She explained that uplifting the stand of living of the masses in the continent would come with the demand for cleaner energy hence the need for African leaders to discuss funding for uplifting people’s lives.

“I still insist that we need to say that energy is a right which ever source it comes from and it has to come from renewable sources because energy is to the economy what blood is to body, you cannot give toxins to the body therefore you cannot give toxic electricity to your people.

I would like our leaders when they go to the next United Nations (UN) meeting to talk about funding for the uplifting of the standard of living of our people because that will come with their demand for cleaner energy,” said Ms. Nawakwi.

And Ms. Nawakwi observed the best way of mitigating greenhouse emission is by sensitizing people on the negative impact the indiscriminate cutting down of trees has on the environment as well as looking for optional solutions for specific communities.

“The best way to contribute in reducing greenhouse gases is by motivating our people to understand that you may cut a tree to make fire wood but that will contribute to the adverse effects of the environment in the feature.

I would like us to find solutions were we motivate our people to start looking at tree planting as well as Agro- forestry. I think that this is the quickest solution if we are going to move forward with this debate otherwise if we move the debate were hydro generation is the answer we will miss the point,” Ms. Nawakwi said.

She added “Hydro generation is mostly used for commercial use as for households we need to look at specific solutions for specific communities.

Let’s look at the specific case of Zambia, yes we have potential in as far as Hydro generation is concerned but how many Zambians will be connected to the national greed in the next 50 years.”

The full program can be downloaded on the BBC website by going to BBC Africa Debate.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02sftfs

THE 5th African Digital Television Development conference is underway in Beijing, China as countries world-over, Zambia included, prepare to switch over from analogue to digital television broadcasting on 17th June, 2015 as prescribed by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union, ITU.

The conference which is being hosted by StarTimes, one of China’s lead players in digital technology, has brought together high profile delegations from 29 countries in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world.

They include government officials, experts in the broadcasting industry, heads of financial institutions, media representatives and other international broadcasting content suppliers.

Zambia is represented at the five day conference, by Information and Broadcasting Services Minister and Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili whose delegation includes his permanent secretary Godfrey Malama, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, ZNBC board chairperson Dr John Mulwila and ZNBC Director general Richard Mwanza.

In his statement during the official opening ceremony of the conference this morning, Mr Kambwili said the conference provides a fertile opportunity for the exchange of ideas, experiences and expertise as Africa and the rest of the world prepare to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting technology.

He told the gathering that the Zambian government is implementing the digital migration programme in three phases starting with urban areas along the line of rail to be followed by provincial centres and finally the rest of the country.

He said phase one of Zambia’s digital migration has since been completed and will be switched from analogue to digital broadcasting on 17th June, 2015.

“Zambia is therefore, keen to learn from China and other countries’ experience and expertise in moving our digital migration process forward. We also see this meeting as crucially important in bridging technology transfer from China to Africa,” said Mr Kambwili.

Mr Kambwili also spoke highly of the long-standing relations between Zambia and China in many sectors of development.

The Minister said China’s policy of cooperation with other countries rather than coercion, has generated favourable conditions for the continued growth of its relations with Africa.

“Zambia, like other African countries, cherishes the excellent and long-standing relations with the People’s Republic of China. The two countries have, and continue to cooperate in many sectors of development which include health, education, infrastructure development, sport, information and technology,” he said.

Construction works for the new Kenneth Kaunda International Airport terminal has started.

Works, Supply, Transport and Communication minister Yamfwa Mukanga says the works will be completed within the stipulated 54 months period.

Mr. Mukanga who inspected the works in Lusaka today said the funders EXIM Bank of China has released 1 hundred and 8 million dollars out of 3 hundred and 60 million dollars earmarked for the project.

He said government has no direct involvement in the financing of the project and that the designs are still the same contrary to media speculations.

Mr. Mukanga says 95 percent of the drawings have been completed.

He said the Contractor China Jiangsu will start with the construction of the Presidential terminal, fire and rescue, control tower and the International terminal building.

And government says it has not abandon plans to introduce a National Airline.

Mr. Mukanga says is still working out strategies on the project.

He has told the media in Lusaka that government is hopeful that Zambia will have a national flag carrier by the year 2018.

He said government wants the country to have a national airline once the modern Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Terminal is completed.