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ZAMBEEF Product Plc says it will not hike prices of bread as Zambia has sufficient stocks of wheat to satisfy demand and safeguard food security.
Zambeef Group head of public relations Justo Kopulande said recent reports on the hike of bread are unjustified because millers have bought enough wheat to meet the demand of consumers.
“As far as the company is aware, millers have bought enough wheat to meet the demand and therefore do not need to import this commodity,” he said.
According to latest reports from the Zambia National Farmers Union, Zambia has 187,039 tonnes of wheat available in stock which would last for 9.35 months at a consumption level of 20,000 tonnes per month.
He said the company is a large producer of bread and wheat adding that if VAT was to be removed from wheat flour and bread, the price of bread would instantly reduce by 16 percent.
Mr Kopulande said this in a statement made available to the Mail yesterday. He said wheat producers have proposed for an import parity pricing model which represents a fair pricing mechanism.
“ We are aware that the price of wheat has always been an issue ,but what wheat producers are proposing is an import parity pricing model ,which is also a win – win situation for all stakeholders who include producers, millers and consumers,” he said.
He said once the proposed pricing mechanism is implemented,it will solve arguments on the current wheat price.
He said in a decade, Zambeef has invested over US$50 million into Zambia’s food security by ensuring that the country has enough wheat.
“In 10 years, Zambeef has endeavoured to contribute to Zambia’s food security, especially in self-sufficiency in wheat by investing US$50 million in irrigation equipment and farming 8,000 hectares to produce wheat,” he said.
He said dependence on food imports jeopardises national food security.
MORE MMD provincial chairmen have voiced their concerns on the need for their leadership to find money for an extraordinary convention that will usher in the new party president.
They are also calling for the re-introduction of the position of party vice-president, which was removed from the party’s constitution at its national convention in April this year.
Deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu on Monday said the MMD does not have money to hold an extraordinary convention to elect party president Rupiah Banda’s successor. Mr Nyangu said MMD members should allow the party’s national executive committee (NEC) to nominate a leader in an acting capacity in between conventions in line with the party’s constitution.
The provincial chairmen now calling for an extra-ordinary convention are Emmanuel Chungu (Luapula Province), George Kangwa (Central Province), Ezekiel Mtonga (Eastern Province), William Banda (Lusaka Province) and Stephen Mukuka (Northern Province).
They are supporting calls by MMD Copperbelt province chairman Joseph Chilambwe, who has appealed to the former ruling party’s national leadership to hold an extra-ordinary convention at which Mr Banda’s successor will be elected.
Southern Province chairman Edgar Keembe has, however, said the NEC should nominate a leader in an acting capacity before the convention is held. Mr Chungu said in an interview from Mansa yesterday it will be beneficial for the former ruling party to hold an extraordinary convention to elect a leader.
“In the absence of the mini-convention, those who are interested in standing should be given ample time to travel and meet as many people as possible so that they can also listen to what people want to say before a resolution can be passed to the NEC for ratification, but the ideal situation is to go for a mini-convention,” he said.
Mr Chungu said the MMD needs to re-introduce the position of vice-president, which was removed from the party constitution at the last national convention. “We need to normalise that, we should have a vice-president now that we are in opposition,” Mr Chungu said.
And Mr Mtonga said it is important for the MMD to legitimise the position of party president and vice president through the participation of the majority members at a mini-convention.
“No-one should hide behind financial limitations because where people are determined, they can pool resources as party structures and do the right thing. We should not make the same mistakes that have made us lose the elections,” he said.
Mr Mtonga said the position of vice-president should be re-introduced for the MMD to effectively function and rebrand itself now that Mr Banda has announced his intention to retire from active politics.
He said MMD members should ask the NEC to immediately set a date for a mini-convention in line with the party constitution.
And Mr Kangwa said MMD members in Central Province want to participate in electing Mr Banda’s successor through a mini-convention. “We cannot sit only as NEC members to decide who takes over the party presidency because we are few and people may not be kind to us. Our members will think that they are not part and parcel of the leader we will put in office,” he said.
Mr Kangwa said the party president should continue in office until the party secures funding to hold an extraordinary convention.
And the Lusaka Province chairman said the decision to elect a party president should not be left to the NEC alone, but that the majority members should participate in the process.
“We should not deny the general membership an opportunity to decide who should lead them. This time around we are not in government and the best way to go about this is to allow the majority to choose a leader and not to impose a candidate on them,” he said.
Mr Mukuka said NEC can nominate a leader in an acting capacity, but that a convention should be held to elect the party president. “Our president, Mr Rupiah Banda, has done a lot to take us where we are today and he should be commended for that,” he said.
But Mr Keembe advised MMD members not to be in a hurry to elect Mr Banda’s successor. “Let us take our time, there is a constitution which provides that the NEC can sit and appoint a leader in an acting capacity.
“We don’t have money to start going for a convention. We have to go back to our structures to establish how many of our members have defected and those that have remained before we can think of going to a convention,” he said.
Early this week, Mr Chilambwe said the party should find money to hold a mini-convention to ensure that the majority members participate in choosing Mr Banda’s successor. But Mr Nyangu said MMD members should look at the cost implication, which the former ruling party cannot afford.
A WITNESS on Monday testified that former Minister of Defence George Mpombo’s bill at Luangwa House Lodge in Chipata accrued up to K960, 000 and not K10 million. Luangwa House head receptionist Patricia Mapani, 39, of Government Flats Kalongwezi in Chipata said Mpombo stayed at the lodge for two nights and accrued K960, 000, which was paid by the Zambia Army regional office.
This is in a case in which Mpombo is charged with theft by public servant contrary to section 277, which is contrary to sections 342 and 347. He is also charged with uttering a false document contrary to section 352 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Ms Mapani said money was paid by the Zambia Army regional office because they are the ones who took him to the guesthouse and took responsibility for his stay in Chipata.
“On September 23, 2010, I was visited by a police officer from headquarters and he presented to me some receipts which he wanted verified from the lodge.
“He showed me a receipt on a headed paper for Luangwa Lodge, drawn in the name of Mpombo, amount K10 million, room number 217 and stated that it was for accommodation and beverages,” Ms Mapani said.
She said the alleged forged receipt had a post box number and phone number for the lodge and another phone number which did not belong to the guesthouse. Ms Mapani said the receipt was not a government receipt because it was printed on a headed paper called Luangwa Lodge when there is only Luangwa House in Chipata.
[pullquote]In count two, Mpombo jointly and while working with other unknown persons, allegedly forged documents namely tax invoice number 6358 and receipts numbers 2846 and 4468 purporting to show that they were genuinely issued when in fact not.[/pullquote]
She said the room number on the receipt indicated that Mpombo stayed in room 217 which Luangwa House did not have because the room numbers at the guesthouse range from one to 25.
Ms Mapani said the date on the alleged receipt indicates that Mpombo stayed at the lodge on June 18, 2008 when in fact he lodged at the guesthouse on June 11, 2008. Particulars of the offence are that Mpombo jointly and while working together with other unknown persons, being a public servant as Minister of Defence, allegedly stole K18 million which came into his possession by virtue of his employment.
The offence is alleged to have been committed on unknown dates but between June and September 2008 in Lusaka. In count two, Mpombo jointly and while working with other unknown persons, allegedly forged documents namely tax invoice number 6358 and receipts numbers 2846 and 4468 purporting to show that they were genuinely issued when in fact not.
The offence is alleged to have been committed on unknown dates but between June 9 and September 12, 2008. Particulars of the third count are that Mpombo knowingly and fraudulently presented false documents including two receipts, tax invoice and retirement of special imprest forms to Minniver Mhlanga. The offence is alleged to have been committed on unknown dates but between June 9 and September 15, 2008.
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott has challenged whistle blowers to provide facts for cases they wish to be investigated by the new government. Dr Scott was reacting to allegations by Patriotic Front Chongwe Constituency chairperson Oliver Kachepa that some Food Reserve Agency (FRA) officers are involved in the illegal sale of maize.
Dr Scott said his government is committed to fighting corruption, but can only do so when facts are provided. “We as the PF government do not want tukachepas (rumour mongers) and we do not act on rumours. We want facts. We want people that will give facts to the allegations, and we are more than ready to investigate any case,” Dr Scott said.
He was speaking in Chongwe at a rally to drum up support for the PF’s Chongwe aspiring candidate Sylvia Masebo yesterday.
And Mr Kachepa has called on the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate Chongwe district FRA officers on their alleged sale of maize for self-enrichment. “We want the government through the Anti-Corruption Commission to come and investigate the officers here. We have for the first time seen FRA officers here build mansions and buying cars.
FRA officers here are selling the maize that Government has already bought from farmers and are using the money for self-enrichment,” Mr Kachepa said. He said the people of Chongwe are happy that the PF government has put the fight against corruption first on its agenda.
Mr Kachepa said corruption is the cause of the high levels of poverty the country is facing today. He also urged Government to investigate the case of hammermills and suits that were given to the village headmen in Chongwe by the former ruling party.
Meanwhile, PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba says the ruling party is investigating allegations of electoral malpractices that led to the MMD’s victory in Chongwe Constituency during the September 20 elections.
Speaking at a rally to drum up support for Ms Masebo yesterday, Mr Kabimba said last month’s elections in Chongwe were characterised by violence and corruption, which he said was being engineered by the MMD.
Mr Kabimba said the former ruling party allegedly took pre-marked ballot papers to the constituency to ensure its preferred candidate emerged victorious. He said once the investigations are over, and if MMD leaders will be found with a case, they will be tried and jailed according to the law.
“We are investigating a case of electoral malpractices here in Chongwe where the former President (Rupiah Banda) engineered the victory of (Japhen) Mwakalombe. I can tell you that if we establish a case against him, he will be taken to jail because there is no immunity for a criminal offence. No head of State should defraud the electoral process to suit his desire,” Mr Kabimba said.
And speaking at the same rally, Ms Masebo said the PF has already won the seat, adding that last month’s elections were full of intimidation and lies by the former ruling party. Ms Masebo said she is happy that God had vindicated Mr Mwakalombe, who she said was used by the former ruling party.
She said President Michael Sata is a man of action, hence the need for the people of Chongwe to vote for her. Speaking earlier after filing in nomination papers, Ms Masebo said she is confident that she will carry the day come November 24.
And several people defected to the PF, among them former Itezhi Tezhi member of Parliament Godfrey Beene, former Mwinilunga MP Elizabeth Kalenga and former FRA director Frida Luhila.
And receiving the defectors Mr Kabimba said his party is willing to work with them to improve the welfare of the people of Zambia.
FORMER Minister of Mines Maxwell Mwale says his successor, Wylbur Simuusa, should seek guidance from the Ministry of Finance to establish what happened to the US$167.5 million obtained from the sale of 2.28 percent stake in Lumwana Mining Company (LMC) by the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mine-Investment Holdings.
On Monday, Mr Simuusa alleged that US$167.5 million the country received after ZCCM-IH gave up its 2.28 stake in Lumwana Copper Mining following its acquisition by Barrick Gold cannot be traced or was used for something it was not intended.
However, in an interview yesterday, Mr Mwale said the Ministry of Finance is in a better position to explain how the money could have been used because it handles all the country’s financial resources.
Mr Mwale said if Government wants the truth on what happened to the money received from Barrick Gold, the world’s biggest gold digger, the Ministry of Finance is in a better position to state what the money could have been used for.
The former Mines minister said his successor is looking for the money from the wrong organisation as ZCCM-IH is only an investment holding for Government and does not handle any money.
“My successor should know that the ZCCM-IH is just an investment holding for Government and if he wants to know where the money went, then he should ask the Ministry of Finance,” he said.
Mr Mwale said the Ministry of Finance controls expenditure for Government ministries and institutions but he could, however, not state whether the money was used or not.
Mr Simuusa said calls for a report from the ZCCM-IH to be availed to him on how the funds were used have proved futile and he has since given it a one-week ultimatum to do so.
On June 1, the ZCCM-IH issued a statement in local media announcing that its board accepted an offer to sell its 2.28 percent stake in LMC to Barrick Gold.
Nkana will play their remaining home game of the season at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
This is after Faz banned them from playing any of their home games in Kitwe for the foreseeable future due to crowd trouble at their Nkana Stadium ground in Wusakile Township.
“We have decided to play at Nchanga,” vice chairman Ken Mwansa said.
Mwansa said Nchanga Rangers have agreed in to host Nkana but they have yet to put it in writing and if that falls through then they would be forced to play in Chililabombwe.
“If that fails then we will use Konkola Stadium and we have agreed in principle to use the stadium,” Mwansa said.
Nkana’s final home game will be against demoted Lime Hotspurs this Saturday whom they host in a Faz Super Division Week 29 game.
Nkana have no relegation worries and are 6th on the table with 43 points from 28 games and 10 poinst adrift of leaders Power Dynamos as they end their second successive season back in the Super Division after a six year absence.
Government has expressed pessimism at allowing Zambians living in the Diaspora to hold dual citizenship. Vice President Guy Scott said that although the issue of having dual citizenship among Zambians could be important and helpful to some, government was worried that other people might misuse it for dubious activities.
Dr. Scott has said that the government is however still studying the issue. “The issue of dual citizenship was important but we are worried about the misuse it will bring. But it would be important that you are entitled to that,” he said.
Dr. Scott was speaking at Edith Cowan University in Perth when he addressed Zambians living in Western Australia. The Vice President told Zambians in Australia that government will cautiously discuss the issue of dual citizenship at cabinet level.
And Dr. Scott has disclosed that government will discuss the need to establish a consular office in Australia especially that the number of Zambians living in that country has increased.
He said that opening a consular office will allow Zambia and Australia boost their business ties while easing the lives of Zambians in that country. There are over 4,000 Zambians living in Australia, out of which about 2,000 live in the western part of that country.
The Vice President further called on Zambians in Australia to invest back home and help rebuild the country. He said the PF government will level the playing field for both foreign and local investors who want to engage into various businesses in Zambia.
Meanwhile, Dr. Scott told Zambians in Australia that the Patriotic Front won last month’s general elections because young people were frustrated by the failure of the previous government to create job opportunities for them.
He said government now has a challenge of providing Zambians with their needs hence the need for investments that will create employment. Earlier, Zambians living in Western Australia asked government to urgently address the request to allow them be citizens of two countries.
Chairperson of the Organisation of Zambians Living in Western Australia (OZALIWA), Chilekwa Mwaba, said Zambians living abroad will easily invest home if they are granted dual citizenship status.
Mr. Mwaba also appealed to government to open a consular office in Perth because most of the Zambians are living in Western Australia. He said the Zambian embassy in Tokyo in Japan is too far to quickly address needs of Zambians living in Australia.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chishimba Kambwili, thanked Zambians living in Australia for conducting themselves well. Mr. Kambwili said there have been no bad reports about Zambians in that country.
The Vice President, together with Mr. Kambwili, Commerce Minister Bob Sichinga, Labour Minister Fackson Shaenda and some senior government officials were attending the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM 2011) in Perth which has since closed.
Bank of Zambia has slashed its reserve ratios on Tuesday to cut the cost of borrowing for commercial banks and consumers in a bid to stimulate economic growth in Africa’s biggest copper producer.
The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) said the reserve ratio for both local and foreign currency deposits would be 5.0 percent from 8 percent previously, while the core liquid assets ratio would go down to 6 percent from 9 percent.
The bank also said it would continue to work towards introducing a policy rate as a benchmark for determining interest rates.
Since his surprise election in September, President Michael Sata has made it clear he wants to cut the cost of credit to bring more Zambians into the economy, although investors have worried it could lead to higher inflation.
The BoZ said the cut in reserve limits should inject 700 billion Zambian kwacha ($142 million) into the banking system, but analysts said it was not overly aggressive easing given that the original 8 percent was high by African standards.
For instance, Kenya’s central bank said on Tuesday it was raising its cash reserve ratio by 50 basis points to 5.25 percent from Dec. 12 as part of an concerted effort to control runaway inflation.
“We know that they want to reduce bank lending rates, and when you have a very high cash reserve ratio, it does add to the cost of doing business,” said Leon Myburgh, an Africa analyst at Citibank in Johannesburg.
Felix Katongo will get a chance to stake a claim for a place at next year’s Africa Cup after he was named in Zambia’s 2011 Cecefa Senior Challenge Cup-bound team.
The Green Buffaloes midfielder has been out of favor under ex-Zambia coach Dario Bonetti due to poor fitness for the last five months.
Katongo has suffered from a dip in match fitness since abandoning his Libya club Al Ittihad at the height of the conflict there in February.
The midfielder has now settled down with buffaloes in the second half of this season.
Also named to the 24-man team is Nkana’s prolific duo of Reynold Kampamba and Evans Kangwa.
Kangwa and teenage striker Kampamba have scored 16 and 9 goals respectively for Nkana this season in all competition.
The team will go into camp in Lusaka this Sunday at the Faz Technical Centre to begin the first week of training.
This year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup will be held in Tanzania from November 24 to December 12.
Cecafa Team
Goalkeepers: Davy Kaumbwa (Green Buffaloes), Rabson Muchele’nganga (Nchanga Rangers), Jacob Banda (Zesco United), Kalililo Kakonje, Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos)
Defenders: Nyambe Mulenga, Daudi Musekwa (Both Zesco United), Dennis Banda (Green Buffaloes), Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows), Lawrence Chungu (Power Dynamos), Charles Siyingwa (Zanaco)
Midfielders: Nathan Sinkala, Felix Katongo, Allan Mukuka (All Green Buffaloes), Bruce Musakanya (Red Arrows), Simon Silwimba (Zanaco), Thomas Nyirenda (Konkola Blades), Joseph Sitali, Kennedy Mudenda (Both Power Dynamos)
Strikers: Alfred Luputa, Chakwa Lungu (Both Zesco United),Evans Kangwa, Reynold Kampamba (Both Nkana), Luka Lungu (Power Dynamos)
President Michael Sata has castigated cabinet office for leaking state information and breaching security.
Mr Sata said that he was disappointed that there is no confidentiality at Cabinet office and security information is being leaked to the media.
President Sata was speaking during the swearing in ceremony for three permanent secretaries for Northern, Central and Western Province.
Mr Sata has also warned the new permanent secretaries against peddling rumours at the expense of work as they risk being removed.
He directed the permanent secretaries to tour all the districts in their provinces to understand the needs and suffering of the people.
President Sata says the new officers should not reveal any information they receive because they are under oath.
President Sata has appointed Edwin Zumbunu as Central Province Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Mwamba for Northern Province and Augustine Seyuba as Western Province Permanent secretary.
THE Commission of Inquiry established to probe irregularities at the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) has heard that Meanwood Property Development director Robinson Zulu was well-connected to former president Rupiah Banda and that the two sat next to each other to watch the Zambia National Soccer team in training before the transactions started.
NAPSA director of investment Joseph Ngosa testified before the Sebastian Zulu Commission of Inquiry that NAPSA director-general Stanley Phiri asked him if he knew how connected Mr Zulu was before he handed him a letter from Zulu.
This is in a mater in which NAPSA is alleged to have purchased 1,500 hectares of land from Meanwood Property Development in disregard of tender procedures and in the absence of a business development plan.
Mr Ngosa said soon after he was informed that Mr Zulu sat next to President Banda during the soccer training match at Edwin Imboela Stadium, Mr Phiri produced a letter authored by Mr Zulu offering land to NAPSA at K50 million per hectare.
Mr Ngosa also revealed that Mr Phiri further told him to immediately start making arrangements to meet Mr Zulu and discuss the land issue in detail so that NAPSA could purchase it.
He told the commissioners that during the transactions and preceding meetings, he had in mind the statement by the director informing him that Mr Zulu was well-connected and sat next to president Banda at the national soccer team training session.
Apparently, Mr Ngosa explained that, there was no investment at the time by NAPSA but he went ahead and discussed with Mr Zulu.
Director of finance, Doreen Chiwele also testified that there was political pressure in the acquisition of NAPSA land in which Mr Phiri also confessed to her that he was being pressured to ensure that NAPSA bought the land.
During the testimonies by the two officials, Mr Phiri was also present at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
She said it was clear that Mr Phiri was under political pressure and looked stressed as he continued pushing for the payment to Meanwood Property Development.
Ms Chiwele said Mr Phiri even confessed to her that he was under political pressure to buy Meanwood land at K75 billion.
Ms Chiwele said at that time, she refused to process the initial payment of K35 billion towards the deal.
She revealed that there were several other offers for land with lower costs but the decision could not be altered because of the political pressure.
Ms Chiwele said Mr Ngosa had written a memorandum to Mr Phiri for the attention of the investment committee of the board of directors but he was told to amend it and remove the aspect of the reservations.
She said in the memorandum to Mr Phiri, Mr Ngosa was explaining the correct procedures and that there were other offers with lower prices.
When asked by Mr Zulu, who is also Minister of Justice who exactly issued political instructions, Ms Chiwele said she was not told by Mr Phiri.
She said there was no evaluation process used to buy the 1,500 hectares of land because other institutions that offered land were excluded.
Ms Chiwele said the procedure used to procure the land was irregular.
Its the most popular sport in the world . Everywhere you go you will find people playing football , from the streets to stadiums. Those who play professionally have to follow a strict workout plan in order to maintain their endurance ,speed and power.
This work out will concentrate on balance ,power and muscle control. This will be helpful whatever position you play.
WORKOUT
Knee raising pull up
3 sets , 10 reps
How its done
Grab a pull-up bar with an overhand grip, your hands a bit wider than shoulder-width apart.
Bend your elbows to pull your body upwards and simultaneously bend your right knee to lift it toward the bar.
When you chin is above the bar, lower yourself back down and repeat on the other side.
Superleap
3 sets, 10 reps
How its done
Stand with a wide stance on a thick exercise mat.
Bend at your hips and knees to quickly lower your body halfway into a squat position.
Swing your arms overhead as you explode upward.
Land as softly as possible and then immediately drop down to the half squat position.
Weighted back extension
3 sets, 10 reps
How its done
Lie face down at a back-extension station with your feet anchored.
Hold a pair of dumb-bells with your arms hanging down.
Keeping your abs tight, raise both your torso and arms until your body is in a straight line.
Hold and then lower yourself.
Barbell duck-under
3 sets, 20 reps
How its done
Set a barbell at waist level on the supports of a power cage or Smith machine.
Stand side on to it. Take a long stride beneath the bar then duck underneath.
Stand up on the other side and repeat the motion to return to the starting position.
Go back and forth until you’ve passed under the bar 10 times in each direction.
THERE is good news and bad news regarding Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) decision to sell a 2.28 percent stake it held on behalf of ordinary Zambians in Lumwana Mining Company (LMC) located in North-Western Province.
The good news is, ZCCM-IH that had acquired a stake in LMC from Australia’s Equinox Minerals Ltd, (the first owners) bagged an instant US$167.5 million when LMC was taken over by the world’s largest gold digger, Barrick, in exchange for a minority stake it paid US$30million in just under six years.
The bad news is learning from Wylbur Simuusa, the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, is that the Barrick Gold cash out cannot be traced or it could have been used for something it was not intended for. In Kwacha terms, the money stands at about K850 billion.
“The money Barrick Gold paid for Lumwana for our 2.28 percent stake is not with us as a government. “I can safely say it is missing because constant calls I have made for a report regarding how the money has been used or what is remaining have not been heeded up to now,” Mr Simusa said.
“Because of the urgency of the matter and the magnitude of the money involved, I am giving ZCCM-IH one week to place a report on my desk explaining where the money is or how it has been used if it has been used”. The transaction was concluded just under five months ago before the polls.
Mr Simuusa said: “the money is supposed to be used for clearly stipulated projects and I have received no co-operation regarding the use so far. I asked questions about the money when I was in the opposition, I was given none, and since I was sworn into office last month, I have received no co-operation. This money belongs to Zambians. It ought to be accounted for.”
On June 1, ZCCM-IH issued a statement in local media announcing that “after due consideration and consultation, the board of ZCCM-IH has accepted the offer to sell,” its 2.28 percent stake in LMC to Barrack Gold, the largest gold miner in the world at US$167.5 million.
Reactions were mixed regarding the ‘sale’ of the minority stake in the largest open-cut mine in Zambia with the anti-trust – Zambia Consumer Competition Commission – on May 27 asking the gold miner to let Zambia “keep its minority stake” in the company but the Peter Munk-owned Barrick Gold prevailed after some “discussions” with State House.
If ZCCM-IH had been allowed to keep its stake in LMC, by extension, Zambia would have owned a stake in the multi-billion dollar JabalSayid copper and gold project in Saudi Arabia but now that is history and reasons for not rising to this occasion remain elusive.
What is certain though is that a highly powered Canadian delegation comprising a former Canadian prime minister and a Zambian living abroad paid intensive meetings at State House to “explain” why it was important for Zambia to give up its stake in both LMC and Jabil by extension.
The money realised from Barrick is supposed to be used for “recapitalisation projects in companies like Ndola Lime, for instance, Maamba Collieries and Konkola North Copper (KONOCO), including the repayment of ZCCM-IH loans,” Mr Simuusa said.
The other part of the money was to be used for “exploration of oil and gas, and for investing in Greenfields and diversification projects. This list I have on my table shows that this has not been done yet that’s why I want a full report on my desk.”
The Daily Mail contacted Mr Mukela Muyunda, the ZCCM-IH chief executive officer, to seek clarification on the Barrick Gold money yesterday but he referred queries to company secretary Chabby Chabala.
Mr Chabala said, “We (ZCCM) cannot release ‘market-sensitive’ information without authorisation from the share-holders or the Lusaka stock exchange.”
Mr Reuben Lifuka, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president, in an interview said it would be sad if the money had been “misapplied given the high poverty levels in Zambia because that amount of money has the ability of immediately changing people’s lives for the better”.
Mr Lifuka said it is cases such as “this one that we have been calling for greater transparency and for the strengthening of whistle-blowing regulations so that over-sight systems can be strengthened by way of regulation”.
But just what can one do with some US$170 million in a country like Zambia whose poverty levels stand at more than 65 percent and rural poverty peaks at more than 70 percent and more than 400,000 children of school-going age do not attend school according to a United Nations study?
A quantity surveying expert with a government ministry told us that the money can build about 7,000 classrooms at a cost of about K150 million each. It can also sink a huge number of bore-holes (at K20 million each) to provide access to clean water, which still remains a challenge in many parts of rural Zambia.
But without the report on Mr Simuusa’s desk, the rest will just be speculation. No-one will ever know whether the money is still ‘intact’ or has been used partially or in its entirety.
The only other way Zambians would know how the money was used would be through a parliament order according to legal experts or by coersion through the Minister, who so far has hit a brick wall.
THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has been allowed to sell a million tonnes of maize at a reduced price to ensure that excess maize does not go to waste.
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Emmanuel Chenda said the excess maize was accumulated over the last three years when the country experienced successive bumper harvests.
“As you may be aware, the country has had three successive bumper harvests starting from the 2008/09 season. Over the years, the capacity of the FRA to secure markets for the huge maize surplus has been over-stretched,” he said.
He said due to the urgency of the situation, Government has allowed the FRA to sell 1,067,000 tonnes of maize at a much reduced price of from US$170 to US$180 per metric tonne to a range of US$135 to US$170 per metric tonne depending on the location of the maize.
“At this lower price range being recommended now, Zambian maize will be competitive within the SADC and COMESA regions. The southern African regional commodity exchange (SAFEX) is currently quoting maize at a range of US$296.64 to US$298.51 per metric tonne,” Mr Chenda said.
He said as at October 14, 2011, the total maize stocks under the custody of the FRA were 1,927,912 tonnes valued at K2.506 trillion.
Mr Chenda said the FRA also has 300,000 metric tonnes already secured as strategic food reserves by the FRA, which are sufficient for national consumption needs for three months at a monthly rate of 80,000 tonnes including provisions for unforeseen demands.
Zambia consumes about 960,000 metric tonnes of maize per year.
He said to ensure that maize does not go to waste, Government transported the commodity to secured storage facilities, and where this has not been possible, to cover all the remaining maize to secure it from the imminent rains in most rural depots with unsuitable storage facilities.
“Government has further partitioned the market for the surplus maize into four segments, each with a competitive price, that can be relied upon to quickly boost the demand for the commodity,” Mr Chenda said.
He said localised community sales in most districts have been allocated the most grain with 10,000 tonnes while exporters, mostly grain traders, will get 600,000 metric tonnes.
“The category of millers, stock-feed manufacturers and other processors has been allocated 432,000 tonnes while the disaster management and mitigation unit has been given up to 25,000 tonnes,” he said.
THE Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) has bemoaned the suspension of Zambezi Airlines and called on the airline to quickly put its house in order and re-apply for an operating licence.
In an interview, ZACCI president Geoffrey Sakulanda said the suspension of Zambezi Airlines will deprive Zambians of an airline that offered low rates to business travellers.
Mr Sakulanda said the airline has contributed to the creation of jobs and tax contribution to Government despite the money it owes National Airport Corporation Limited (NACL).
Zambezi Airlines owes NACL K10 billion.
He said the suspension of the airline will not just affect travellers but also the different suppliers that did business with it. He said globally all international airlines are facing problems and are surviving because of the support from their respective governments.
“Clearly, running a business is very expensive, it is unfortunate that this has happened to Zambezi Airlines. The challenge must have been accessing funds in Zambia and borrowing externally is difficult,” he said.
Mr Sakulanda said the best way to sustain the operations of local airlines is either through partnership with international airline brands or Government pumping in money to save them from collapse.
He cited South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and British Airways as some of the airline that are supported through public funds. “You cannot finance an airline from own resources, it’s expensive and given the number of travellers in Zambia, airlines sometimes just burn fuel. It’s impossible,” he said.
Meanwhile, a check at the Zambezi Airline offices at Kenneth Kaunda International airport found workers locked up in a meeting with the airline’s chief executive officer Maureen Dlamini.
And Ms Dlamini said she could not talk to journalists because the airline chairman Maurice Jangulo had earlier issued a statement. She said the meeting was not open to the media.
“I can not talk to you, the chairman issued a statement on ZNBC (Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation) news last night (Sunday) and we will maintain that statement,” she said.
Some workers who sought anonymity said management has assured them that, their jobs are secured as management engage Government on the way forward.
On Sunday, Dr Jangulo told ZNBC that Zambezi Airline has learnt with shock about Government’s decision to suspend its air operating certificate but is working round the clock to ensure that its licence is re-installed.
Government over the weekend suspended Zambezi Airline operator certificate citing serious safety concerns and that it will soon institute a tribunal to make inquiries on the airline’s operations.
Meanwhile a passenger, Violet Nakamba who was supposed to fly to Harare this morning, described the services of the airline as pathetic. “I was supposed to fly to Harare for a meeting which starts tomorrow (today) but I have been inconvienced. I will fly via South Africa and it will take me four hours to Harare instead of one hour,” he said.
Ms Nakamba said it is sad that many Zambian do not support local industries and products due the poor services and standards.
