Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali, has called on the private sector to partner with the government in the Greenfield railway project.

Mr. Tayali said the partnership between government and the private sector in developing the rail line will facilitate linkages in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

He noted that collaboration with the private sector is key towards the implementation of regional rail projects and could open up critical railway corridors which will enable trains to operate seamlessly across the SADC region and beyond.

According to a statement made available to the media in Lusaka today by Zambia High Commission to South Africa First Secretary and Public Relations Tamara Nyirenda, the minister was speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa, after delivering a speech at the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Rail Conference and Exhibition.

“Zambia is accelerating efforts to ensure that the railway sector improves its efficiency and contributes to the movement of heavy and bulk cargo in the region, thereby preserving the road infrastructure,’’ he said.

Mr.Tayali said some of the routes are the Livingstone via Kazungula to Sesheke railway spanning 200 kilometres, Livingstone via Kazungula Bridge to Mosetse in Botswana covering 430 kilometres on North-South corridor, Nseliuka-Mpulungu railway covering 192 kilometres, the Chipata via Petauke to Serenje railway stretching 388 kilometres on the Nacala corridor to the port of Nacala and lastly the Kafue to Lion’s Den in Zimbabwe covering 210 kilometres on the Beira corridor which connects to the port of Beira in Mozambique.

Mr. Tayali added that the Zambian government has developed a national transport infrastructure master plan which contains the comprehensive expansion of domestic rail networks that are designed to link into the regional networks.

‘’This is in line with the government’s aspiration in the transport sector, to create an efficient and integrated inter-modal transport system which will provide for inter-linkages among the four modes of transport which are, rail, road, air and water,’’ stated Mr. Tayali.

The Southern African Railway Associations (SARA) event is Africa’s only railway event hosted by railway operators.

The event attracts Transport Ministers from the region, companies, customers, suppliers and captains of industry.

President Hakainde Hichilema has called for concerted efforts in addressing the challenges in the agriculture sector for it to perform to its full potential.

President Hichilema said government and the private sector should place a premium on the issue of low productivity in the agriculture sector for economic transformation.

He bemoaned the staggering numbers in the production of crops as the country continues to record the same tonnes, which he said is of great concern.

The Head of State was speaking at the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) 116th annual congress under the theme ‘stimulating a resilient agriculture sector.’

President Hichilema explained that the world cannot do without food hence the need to be climate resilient by coming up with opportunities that will set Zambia’s agriculture sector on the map.

The Head of State noted that the country has great potential to satisfy the readily available local and international market hence the need for collective responsibility in order to build a sustainable solution.

“We have been marketing the potential of the country on the global space, it is time for us to do something so that the country can walk the talk. We have the capacity and ability to do it, let us play our part as government and also stakeholders,” President Hichilema stated.

The President said his administration will not tolerate anything that affects the running of the agriculture sector for improved productivity.

He further called for the use of technology to be more efficient and become more competitive on the market.

He added that government will continue working around stabilizing the exchange rate because it affects the cost of doing business on an international level, all part of efforts to bring macro stability so businesses can have predictability to plan properly.

Meanwhile, the President also committed to addressing issues that affect the citizens such as corruption and extravagant living by those in higher offices.

“We will not be weighed down by the misappropriation of funds, by the time it’s two years a few things will be broken to allow things to open up doors, officers have had one year to align to the vision of the country,” he noted.

And Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) president, Javis Zimba complained that the cost of doing business for farmers is tough as they operate on a thin line.

Mr. Zimba explained that every process in the farming cycle is beyond the control of farmers, thus called on the Government’s support in order to lower the cost of doing business.

He said ZNFU wants to see an agriculture sector where government policies are sensitive to commodity prices so that whatever farmers grow is not a loss.

Mr. Zimba further appealed for a cease fire on the collection of levy from farmers until a sustainable solution is found.

Mr. Zimba further noted the importance of value addition so that farmers are able to have a sustainable crop value chain and do not make losses when prices are low for particular crops.

On the issue of animal diseases, Mr. Zimba urged government to work hand in hand with farmers so they are part of developing a sustainable solution.

He disclosed that ZNFU is in the process of developing an animal health care system so that livestock farmers from the onset can be knowledgeable on animal disease control and welfare.

He was however happy that government will turn around the sector to sustainable growth as ZNFU will continue to provide recommendations needed to improve agriculture in the country.

Mr. Zimba commended the actions that government has committed to resolve in the agriculture sector especially those pronounced in the 2023 national budget.

And speaking at the same event, Corteva Agriscience Managing Director, Samson Nyendwa appreciated the presence of the Head of State which underscores the commitment he attaches to the agriculture sector as a priority and key driver of the country’s economic development.

Mr. Nyendwa said the company looks at enriching the lives of farmers and consumers, by providing innovative sustainable solutions to the farmers.

Zambia requires over 14 billion United States dollar worth of investment in its energy sector to meet the growing demand of electricity services.

The 14 billion US dollars is being spent on investment into the energy sector between 2020 and 2040.

The demand has been projected to increase by 95 percent and will be mainly driven by domestic and bulk supply.

Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Director for Economic Regulation, Alfred Mwila, said this during the dissemination of the findings of the electricity Cost Service Study (CoSS) and government green paper in Lusaka today.

Mr. Mwila noted that peak electricity demand for the country will increase from 2,143 megawatts in 2020 to 4,169 megawatts in 2040.

He explained that the study was aimed at determining the country’s power system, cost of electricity from generation, transmission and distribution in order to come up with an appropriate tariff that will in turn improve the utilities service delivery to customers.

He stated that the study will also help the utility companies to be more financially sustainable and ensure security or supply through various investments.

Mr. Mwila explained that for customers, the study will lead to improved service delivery and less unplanned power cuts.

He added that the last CoSS was done in 2006 and it only focused more on ZESCO as it was the major player in the electricity industry at that time.

He noted that the current study has taken into consideration the different changes that have taken place in the market and has allowed other players operating in the Zambian power sector.

He said the current CoSS, which started in 2019 and was completed last year, was carried by energy market and regulation consultants with support from the African Development Bank.

And the Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary for Administration, Francesca Zyambo, has called for active participation from stakeholders on how they want the study to be improved upon.

In a speech ready for her by the Ministry of Energy Director for Planning and Information, Mwape Chibala, Ms Zyambo explained that the green paper is not the government’s final position hence the need to engage other stakeholders.

She has since encouraged stakeholders to make submissions and comments on the CoSS so that the government can come up with an inclusive study that will help in coming up with a final decision on how the country’s electricity sub-sector will be managed for the benefit of everyone.

She further said the Ministry of Energy and ERB will conduct the consultative meetings in all the provincial centres of the country to allow for divergent views before coming up with a white paper.

The white paper will contain the government’s final position and policy direction on the findings and recommendation of the electricity cost of service study.

Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Charles Milupi, says Zambia should develop a good road network for it to register significant economic development.

Mr. Milupi says a durable and sustainable road network is an engine to social economic development.

He said this in a speech read for him by his Permanent Secretary, Danny Mfune at a symposium on construction of concrete roads in Zambia in Lusaka today.

“As government, we remain resolved to ensure that the road network supports our economic agenda as the new administration, especially in the area of job creation,” he said.

The minister noted that the objective of the symposium on concrete road construction is to share views among various stakeholders such as engineers and academicians among others.

He said it is time for the country to shift to concrete road construction which he said is sustainable and does not require constant maintenance.

Mr. Milupi explained that concrete roads generally perform better and last much longer as compared to bituminous ones.

And Road Development Agency (RDA) Board Chairman, Mulchand Kuntawala, said the symposium has brought together a cross section of experts to brainstorm on how best to handle concrete roads in the country.

Mr. Kuntawala said RDA is following the presidential directive for the country to venture into concrete roads which can allow for more haulage on the road.

He said a durable and sustainable road network is a catalyst for job creation and economic development.

Mr. Kuntawala added that RDA recently floated a tender for the construction of a bypass concrete road in Chibuluma as a pilot project.

Earlier, Chilanga Cement Commercial Director, Chooye Hamusankwa, said the cement company has already partnered with RDA to champion the construction of concrete roads in the country.

Mr. Hamusankwa said Chilanga Cement is committed to providing materials for sustainable concrete roads to spur economic activities.

The World Bank has approved a 275 million United States Dollars development policy operation for Zambia to support the country’s reforms to restore fiscal and debt sustainability and promote private sector-led growth.

The operation is an integral part of the International Development Association’s (IDA) substantial contribution to help Zambia recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and spillovers from the war in Ukraine, emerge from its debt crisis, and shift to more sustainable and inclusive growth.

In a press statement issued by the World Bank on behalf of the Group President David Malpass, it was noted that Zambia is in debt distress and needs a deep and comprehensive debt treatment to place public debt on a sustainable path.

Mr Malpass cited that in January 2021, the government requested support under the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments and launched fiscal and structural reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and reinvigorate growth.

He added that the government has prioritized commitment to fiscal discipline, improved public financial management, and greater transparency, including in debt management and reporting, other structural reforms have focused on removing market distortions, improving transparency, and fighting corruption.

“Restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability is necessary for attracting private sector capital inflows, investment, and growth,” Malpass said

“As Zambia seeks debt relief under the G20 Common Framework, I urge official bilateral and private sector creditors to agree promptly on a deep debt reduction that is consistent with the joint WBG-IMF debt sustainability analysis and brings public debt to sustainable levels, foster growth and private sector investment depend on prompt completion of the debt reduction,” Malpass added

Mr Malpass explained that the operation supports the government’s policy and institutional reforms aimed at: 1) restoring fiscal and long-term debt sustainability, 2) increasing farmer productivity and access to agriculture markets, 3) ensuring sustainable access to energy, and 4) enhancing access to finance and private sector development. Financing for this operation is provided by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA).

Mr Malpass further explained that the operation is part of the coordinated support with Zambia’s development partners to promote critical structural reforms. Continued support by the development partners is needed as Zambia is pursuing appropriate economic policies and making good faith efforts to reach a collaborative agreement on debt treatment with its official bilateral and private sector creditors.

The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 74 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has provided 458 billion United States Dollars to 114 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about 29 billion United States Dollars over the last three years (FY19-FY21), with about 70 percent going to Africa.