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Commerce, trade and industry Minister Felix Mutati has observed that Zambia still face challenges into the exportation of goods to the US market because of standards.
Mr. Mutati said that though African countries, Zambia inclusive have market access into the US, through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) , issue of standard has complicated the entry of goods.
He has stated that at the next AGOA summit, Zambia is likely to address challenges that hamper trade with the US.
The Commerce and Trade Minister noted that since trade with the US is only limited to oil and oil related products; this has brought limited transaction between the two countries.
He said that government wants to lobby for increased trade in other products and extension of trade period.
Mr. Mutati also says said that they is need to relax entry conditions to the US, as that would increase trade.
AGOA provides trade preferences for quota and duty-free entry into the United States for certain goods, expanding the benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.
Notably, AGOA expanded market access for textile and apparel goods into the United States for eligible countries.
This resulted in the growth of an apparel industry in southern Africa, and created hundreds of thousands of jobs.
[ QFM ]
The Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) has said foreign trips undertaken by President Rupiah Banda are calling the world’s attention to Zambia’s investment potential and called on critics to be objective in their analyses.
EAZ president Noel Nkhoma said former Defence minister George Mpombo and other critics of the president should remember that Zambia was not an island and that the president had a duty to market the country abroad.
He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the country would in time witness the positive fruits of President Banda’s investment-seeking trips, and commended him for inviting local business executives.
“He [Mr Mpombo] is wrong. In his latest trip to China, British Prime Minister David
Cameron travelled with several business executives to market their products and set up joint ventures.
“Has he heard anyone in that country condemning David Cameron? As Zambians, we must be objective,” Mr Nkhoma said.
He said the benefits for the country of foreign trips by President Banda would go up following his decision to invite local business executives to set up joint ventures with foreign investors.
Mr Nkhoma advised the business executives travelling with the president abroad to find a platform to share the benefits with other Zambians and that way, their interactions with foreign businesses would add more value to the people in the country.
Some business executives travelled ahead of the president on his trip to Brazil to engage business firms in that country for joint ventures and to market their products and services.
“We are very pleased that the president has taken heed of our advice that he should invite businessmen and women on these international trips.
“They will help open doors of opportunities for our businessmen to engage in meaningful ventures,” he said.
He said Zambians would in the near future appreciate Mr Banda’s trips more than they currently do because more jobs would be created as investments increase.
[pullquote]“We are very pleased that the president has taken heed of our advice that he should invite businessmen and women on these international trips.
“They will help open doors of opportunities for our businessmen to engage in meaningful ventures,” he said.
[/pullquote]
Mr Nkhoma wondered why Zambian politicians were condemning initiatives that were bringing value to the economy while in other countries similar thinking was being embraced.
He also called on President Banda to issue a decree that contracts below a certain threshold should be exclusively for Zambian firms in an effort to empower them like the situation was in Botswana.
Mr Nkhoma said the law providing for such modalities of empowering Zambians existed in the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission Act but had not been implemented.
During a visit to Brazil, presidents Banda and Lula da Silva expressed gratitude that the bilateral relations between the two countries were enhanced by the signing of eight agreements and two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) during President da Silva’s visit to Zambia in July this year.
Brazil and Zambia also signed an MoU on the establishment of a mechanism of political consultation aimed at creating a permanent channel of bilateral dialogue.
President Banda addressed a Brazil-Zambia business forum in Sao Paulo and called on Brazilian business investors to consider setting up businesses in Zambia because of its strategic location and positive investment climate.
He stressed the need for foreign investors to form partnerships with local investors.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) general secretary, Winstone Chibwe has challenged republican President, Rupiah Banda to ensure that resources meant for the operations of the food reserves agency (FRA) serve the intended purpose and not his world tourism ventures.
And Mr. Chibwe has described president Banda as a transit president who never comes back home but just passes through and proceeds to the next point.
Mr. chibwe said that president Banda does not have time to stay in the country long enough to hear for himself what people are crying for because he wants to use the little time left to tour every corner of the world.
He also observed that there are too many costs to his delegation that he does not realize that if well spent, he would record more growth than what is currently happening to the nation’s economy and the well-being of the people.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chibwe said that it is critical that the new FRA board is fully supported by government because the task before them is huge.
Mr. Chibwe has also urged the new board member to double up their effort in addressing the various challenges facing the FRA in crop marketing and especially storage.
Zambia's Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande (l),
President RUPIAH BANDA has delegated Foreign Affairs Minister KABINGA PANDE to represent him at todays SADC Heads of States meeting in Botswana.
The President was due to Chair saturdays SADC Troika Heads of State Meeting of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation.
Mr BANDA has however, delegated Foreign Affairs Minister KABINGA PANDE to represent him at the SADC meeting due to pressing national commitments.
The SADC meeting, which will be marked by the official commissioning of the new SADC headquarters in Gaborone, is expected to discuss political issues in the region.
This is according to a statement released to ZNBC by the State House Press and Public Relations Unit in LUSAKA yesterday.
President BANDA arrived back home friday from Brazil, where he was on a three day State visit.
During the visit, Mr BANDA and his delegation met a number of Brazilian investors.
The President, who also met his Brazilian counterpart LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, explained that his government will soon come up with mechanisms to replicate some projects being undertaken in Brazil.
President BANDA said this shortly after his arrival from Brazil.
While in Brazil, President Banda also held talks with the in-coming President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff and other senior officials.
During his visit, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised to enhance trade relations and hinted that companies such as Vale and Scania will soon invest in Zambia.
A visiting Norwegian Nurses Organisation says Mobile Clinics are the best alternative in the delivering of quality health care services to remote areas.
Organisatsion Vice president JAN ERIK says Mobile Clinics have proved to be an efficient way of providing health services to people that are far away from the traditional health facilities.
Mr ERIK says he would recommend to the Zambian government to go ahead with the purchase of more Mobile Clinics if his organisatsion was approached for advice.
He said this during a press briefing organised by the Zambia Union of Nurses Organisatsion in Livingstone saturday.
And Zambia National Union of Nurses Organisation president THOM YUNG’ANA said the concept of Mobile Clinics is NOT a bad idea.
Mr YUNG’ANA however, observed that various organisations and individuals have raised concerns over the Mobile Clinics because of issues of sustainability.
The Zambia national team held its first training session in Lusaka on Saturday ahead of their participation in the Cecafa senior Challenge Cup next week.
21 out of 23 call-up’s had by Saturday arrived in camp for the opening day of training held at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.
Georgian-based midfielder Chisamba Lungu is the first foreign-based player in camp while. Defender Davies Nkausu of South African league champions SuperSport United is due to join the team on Sunday.
Coach Dario Bonetti has meanwhile drafted two players into the team to replace midfielder Jonas Sakuwaha of Lorient in France and Chinese-based James Chamanga who have been dropped from the team.
Strikers Luka Lungu and Jackson Mwanza of Power Dynamos and Zesco United respectively have joined the team as replacements to Chamanga and Sakuwaha.
Also in camp were four Zanaco players who included striker Winstin Kalengo and vanecious Mapande who will be joining Egyptian club Arab contractors next month.
The duo’s team mates Allen Mukuka, Henry Banda and goalkeeper Roger Kacha are also part of Bonetti’s Cecafa Cup training camp.
Zambia are in Group A at this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup together with Burundi and Somalia including host Tanzania whom they face in their opening pool match on November 27.
This year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup will run from November 27 to December 12 in Dar-es-Salaam.
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has charged that it is not surprising to note that the National Constitution Commission (NCC) did not produce the desired results despite huge amount of money used in the exercise.
TIZ president Rueben Lifuka said it was obvious that the country would not hold the 2011 general elections under the new constitution because core issues were abandoned in the constitution making process.
Mr. Lifuka noted that this is a reflection that government does not have any political will in the referendum.
He added that this should be a lesson enough for Zambians to realize government’s irregularities.
Mr. Lifuka said the 2011 elections would not be any different from the previous elections that were hampered by election petitions.
[ QFM ]
United Party for National Development (UPND)vice president Richard Kapita says those who boycotted the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) have been vindicated by the announcement that the new constitution will not be ready by 2011.
Mr Kapita has called on voters to punish the MMD in the 2011 elections for being wasteful with tax payers’ money.
He said those who were against the NCC have been proved right by government’s announcement that only provisions from the draft constitution that do not require going to the referendum will be enacted by 2011.
The UPND Vice presudent said Zambians should hold the MMD government responsible for assuring the nation that the new constitution will be ready by 2011.
[pullquote]”What government has done with its failure to enact a new constitution by 2011 to the people who supported the NCC including the UPND is to throw an “egg” in their faces,” Mr. Kapita said.
[/pullquote]
Mr . Kapita wondered what would be enacted if the constitution will not have the 50 percent plus 1 vote clause and other important provisions contained in the draft.
“What government has done with its failure to enact a new constitution by 2011 to the people who supported the NCC including the UPND is to throw an “egg” in their faces,” Mr. Kapita said.
Mr. Kapita, however, ruled out his party boycotting the 2011 elections on the basis of the constitution.
[ QFM ]
The Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has vowed to bar Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President, Leonard Hikaumba from contesting for a third term as he has over stayed.
MUZ Secretary General, Oswell Munyenyembe has accused Mr. Hikaumba of having become compromised and toothless.
He claimed that Mr. Hikaumba has not been paying attention to the plight of workers as witnessed during the time workers went on a country wide strike and were victimized by Government.
Mr. Munyenyembe said there is need for ZCTU to have a leader who would take government and other employers to task in the interest of uplifting the welfare of workers.
The union leader was speaking to Muvi TV News in Kitwe.
Fears are rising among Ndola residents over allegations that fruit eating bats which have infested Ndola’s Northrise area may carry rabies.
Millions of bats have infested Ndola targeting three houses and have been described as a nuisance because of constant noise and excreting indiscriminately in the affected houses.
The migratory bats are not indigenous to Zambia and are believed to have started finding a safe place in Northrise as far back as 1998.
Bats are mammals that give birth, breastfeed offsprings and have their head facedown when resting.
[ MUV TV ]
One of the blocks for hostels being erected at the University of Zambia Great East road campus
The University of Zambia (UNZA) main Campus in Lusaka requires over K300 billion to successfully complete infrastructure development.
And UNZA seeks to construct a language centre next year.
This came to light in Lusaka today when UNZA Deputy Vice Chancellor Wilson Mwenya led a group of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) drawn from different companies and financial institutions on a conducted inspection of the infrastructure at the campus.
ZANIS reports that Dr. Mwenya named some of the dilapidated buildings at the institution as the library and students’ hostels which require a face lift while the ‘abandoned’ Coja project needs to be completed.
Structures at the Coja project have since been abandoned by five named contractors following Zambia’s loss to host the All Africa Games where UNZA was to provide accommodation to the visiting delegates had Zambia hosted the games.
Dr. Mwenya said infrastructure was a major challenge as there was little attention accorded in this area and called for investment at the country’s largest and highest learning institution from both Government and the private sector.
He appealed to both the Government and the private sector to consider partnering with the institution in order to make learning more enjoyable and conducive.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor however, commended Government for the funds it was receiving as well as other cooperating partners like the Japanese Government through Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Barclays Bank that have come on board.
On plans to construct a language centre, he said the facility would be financed by both the Zambian and Japanese governments though he did not disclose how much the project would cost.
In response, Education Permanent Secretary Andrew Phiri appealed to the private sector to consider partnering with Government in infrastructure development.
Mr. Phiri said Government placed infrastructure development as number one priority and noted that that the State alone could not manage because resources were inadequate.
The PS said Government was in a hurry to invest in the education sector hence its plans to upgrade the University and other tertiary institutions which were earmarked for a facelift.
He also disclosed that over 100 basic and 47 high schools were being constructed in an effort to attain the 2015 Millennium Development Goal number-two.
Earlier, Acting Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa said Government through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) had invited the private sector to participate in enhancing national development.
Professor Lungwangwa said this could be achieved if the private sector as stakeholders became proactive by identifying projects to undertake like Barclays Bank had done by adopting one of the hostels at the University.
UNZA was opened in 1966 but its infrastructure is a source of concern to both various stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the K13 billion worth new students’ hostels at the campus were nearing completion.
UNZA Dean of Students Hector Chiboola disclosed that only K500 million was needed for putting final touches before the building could be commissioned before the end of this year.
The 60-space storey building being constructed by Hua Jiang, a Chinese firm would be handed over to the Government soon.
The MMD has castigated its Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo for criticising President Rupiah Banda over his international trips.
MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga says Mr. Mpompo as a former Defence Minister ought to understand and appreciate the functions and duties of the Head of State.
Mr. Mabenga who is also Lands Deputy Minister said President BANDA who assumed office in 2008 has a mammoth task to fulfill the promises Late President Mwanawasa made before next year’s tripartite elections.
Speaking to journalists in Lusaka Friday, Mr. Mabenga said President Banda’s international trips have yielded a lot of economic benefits for the country.
And Mr. Mabenga said it is disappointing to hear people saying that the MMD leadership is celebrating the gains which were started by late President Mwanawasa.
He explained that there should be no comparisons between President Banda and the late President because there are all indebted to the MMD manifesto.
[ ZNBC ]
