Chinese ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao has called on the Zambian government to invest in science and technology so as to speed up development in the country.

Speaking in lusaka at the official launch of the Huawei road show Mr Yuxiao said the country needs to develop its science and technology as it is the only way the country will be able to catch up with other nations in developing.

He said the country does not need copper only to develop but ICT can open doors to other development perspectives adding that with copper and a well developed ICT the country could open new possibilities.

He observed that Zambia is the fourth largest producer of copper in the world but has nothing to show for it as almost all the copper produced in the country is exported as raw material while with a well developed technology the country can open new possibilities by exporting finished products from its copper and other minerals that the country has in abundance.

He further said with the country investing science and technology it would be easy for the country to process its copper and other minerals that the country is endowed with hence government should put more attention to developing the science and technology sector of the country.

He also said government can only ignore the development of ICT at it owen peril; “saying in this information age you can not do without ICT.”

And Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga said government was aware of the importance ICT in developing the country.

Mr Mukanga said “By harnessing this technology – and encouraging others to do so – my government knows that it will help Zambia achieve the middle-income status by 2030.

“And that in turn will bring prosperity, employment and transform the quality of life for all citizens. We need to turn these possibilities into reality in order to; we need to be ahead of the game.

“Technology is changing fast, we need to be ahead of it; we need to be faster than it. For this reason it is vital that we all learn from the latest technology trend brought to us by Huawei.”

The theme of the roadshow at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka is “Connected Possibilities” and the truck features some of the latest ICT equipment and ideas that will enable Zambia to stay at the forefront of telecommunications developments.

Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga has observed that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) holds the key to Zambia’s prosperity.
Mr. Mukanga says by harnessing technology in the country, the Patriotic Front (PF) government is also aware of how fast technology will help Zambia attain middle income status by 2030.

He says this is why it is important for the country to turn possibilities that technology can bring about into reality, the more reason it is further necessary for the country to learn from the latest technology trends from other advanced countries.

Mr. Mukanga was speaking this morning when Chinese ICT Company Huawei launched its Demo Truck Road show to showcase its ICT solutions in Lusaka.

And Mukanga has observed that by virtue of Huawei being one of the world’s leading ICT solution providers, government is honored to have its products showcased in the country as such a platform provides an opportunity for communication and exchange of ideas of how ICT can benefit Zambia.

And speaking earlier, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao has observed that Zambia has the potential to do away with over reliance on mining to further develop.

Mr. Yuxiao says like other developed countries, Zambia can use Technology to foster its economic growth.

And Huawei Country Manager, Standly Qin Yuanhao disclosed that the four days Demo Truck Road show which started today through to Friday is meant to connect Zambia to possibilities that his company has developed through its international experience and research.

Goods worth undisclosed amount of money were gutted this morning when fire swept through a multi-million Kwacha building complex in Kitwe town housing a number of shops including Carnival Furnishers.

The building complex known as Yemba, situated along Matuka Avenue next to Barclays Bank and opposite Kitwe Main Post Office in the central business district (CBD) went up in flames in the early hours of the morning gutting a number of merchandise.

Among the severely affected shops were Carnival Furnishers and Yamaje Trading, stocking a range of various imported household goods such as home furniture, electrical appliances and clothes which were reduced to rubble.

On the scene around 07:45 hours, some of the shop owners were found watching haplessly as a combined team of fire-brigade from the Kitwe City Council, Mopani Copper Mines and the Copperbelt Energy Corporation struggled to put off the inferno that was now fast spreading to Barclays Bank.

Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga and Kitwe City Council chief Fire Officer, Stanley Sichivula who were spotted on the scene of fire, said they suspected an electrical faulty in one of the shops sparked the inferno which later spread to other shops within the complex.

Yemba building complex owner, Beatrice Sichizya who could not help it but to cry said she received a phone call around 06:00 hours informing her about the fire.

The distressed Ms Sichizya said when she got to the building complex they noticed smoke emerging from the ceiling in the roof of Yamaje Trading but could not see the fire itself until moments later when fire flames became visible.

“That is how we called the police and the fire-brigade from Kitwe City Council which came but unfortunately was not sufficient to contain the inferno and this was how they called for reinforcement,” Ms Sichizya said amid sobs.

And confusion characterized the CBD as unscrupulous individuals who had besieged the scene of the fire incidence tried to take advantage of the burning building to loot some goods.

Alert police in full riot gear fired teargas canister causing commotion around town with people scampering in different direction upon being choked.

Nearly all the shops along Matuka Avenue were kept closed while offices were immediately deserted as the teargas canister filtered through in the surrounding buildings brining business to virtue standstill.

Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge inspected the gutted shops soon after the fire brigade contained the inferno around 09:00 hours.

Mr Musenge was happy with the quick response by the fire brigade team saying had they delayed, many other properties including Barclays Bank could have been gutted.

Copperbelt police commissioner Joyce Kasosa said the fire completely gutted Yamaje Trading while Carnival Furnishers was partially destroyed.

Ms Kasosa said the value of goods destroyed was not known and that the exact cause of fire was yet to be established as investigations were still underway.

The Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) is happy with the economic strides made by the PF government.

FFTUZ Labour Day envoy to Nchelenge District in Luapula Province, Maybin Simukoko, says generally the 2013 real Gross Domestic Products (GDP) figures are impressive and rose compared to 2012.

Mr Simukoko noted that government adjusted the minimum wage upwards in a bid to improve the conditions of service and bring decency to workers.

He said though the FFTUZ noted with pleasure some of the economic gains that the PF government has recorded the need for the country to consolidate the manufacturing industry cannot be overlooked.

Speaking on Thursday in Nchelenge during the Labour Celebrations, Mr Simukoko said the manufacturing industry has the potential to employ millions of Zambians and subsequently grow the economy.

He further said producing processed products for both the local and international markets will help the country raise money for infrastructure and other developmental programmes which are crucial for a sustainable economy.

The union representative added that the government must also endeavour and invest in research and development to ascertain products and services that will compete favourably on the global market.

Meanwhile, Mr Simukoko has called for strong government commitments towards the delivery of low inflation rates and a strong financial sector.

Mr Simukoko said this will ensure the expansion of access to finances especially by individuals and the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs).

He noted that inflation remains in single digit at 7.7 per cent but government must enhance the corporate governance systems in order to stabilize the Kwacha against major currencies such as the Dollar.

Mr Simukoko further noted that the accessibility of financial services continue to be a challenge especially to individuals and SMEs but was quick to say that a significant progress has been to improve the availability and accessibility of these services.

He added that the government move to provide financial resources through the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) and the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) initiative has tremendously improved the situation.

And the FFTUZ has urged the government to guard against the peace that the country has enjoyed for the 50 years of political independence.

Mr Simukoko said Zambia has worked hard to maintain the peace but noted that unemployment among the youths is a threat to national stability.

He observed that some people have developed a bad culture of lies and violence that threatens to disturb the peace the nation has enjoyed since independence and appealed to relevant authorities to put a stop to it.

Mr Simukoko further said he was optimistic that the PF government would rise above petty politics and surprise the Zambian people by handing them the constitution.