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The Zambia Revenue Authority-ZRA has collected over eight hundred billion kwacha in taxes from January to September this year.
ZRA commissioner general CHRITICLES MWANSA says the organisation has however recorded a deficit of five hundred and fifty three billion kwacha in the past nine months.
He attributed this to poor perfomance of trade taxes.
Mr MWANSA said the rapid depreciation of the kwacha against major currencies at the beginning of the year made the cost of importing goods very high and impossible.
He said the commission is however confident of meeting the tax targets despite many set backs experienced due to the economic down turn.
Mr MWANSA said this in a statement presented by Commissioner for domestic taxes WISDOM NHEKAIRO at a media briefing in Lusaka today.
Meanwhile ZRA has collected over one hundred and sixty billion Kwacha in mineral royalties over the past nine months beating the set target of one hundred and fourteen billion kwacha.
Mr MWANSA said ZRA has also embarked on a pilot audit report for three major mining companies in the country as part of its means of strengthening tax collections.
He said this will also include small scale mining companies so that all firms dealing in mineral exports pay taxes to government.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) Pact have adopted Watson Lumba as their candidate for the Solwezi Central Parliamentary by-elections.
Speaking at a PF/ UPND press briefing in Lusaka toady, PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said Mr. Lumba will stand on the UPND ticket.
Mr. Lubinda said Mr Lumba has been an active politician in Solwezi and chairman of the government contracts committee in the National Management Committee (NMC) of the UPND.
He the pact is confident that the pact will scoop the seat in Solwezi because the pact is becoming sharper and clearer.
Mr. Lubinda has since called on the electorate in Solwezi Central Constituency to vote for Mr. Lumba.
The seat fell vacant after the death of Solwezi MMD area Member of Parliament (MP) Ben Tetamashimba and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set November 19th 2009 as the date of elections.
Speaking earlier UPND Chairperson for Information and Publicity Charles Kakoma announced that the party yesterday expelled Namwala Member of Parliament (MP) Major Robbie Chizyuka.
Mr. Kakoma said the expulsion comes as a result of Mr. Chizyuka’s gross misconduct which has caused discontent and despondency in the pact.
He explained that the party has since written to Mr. Chizyuka’s lawyers who have since responded on the matter.
Mr. Kakoma further explained that the Speaker of the National Assembly has also been informed and advised to declare the Namwala constituency seat vacant.
He further said the Southern Province MMD have welcomed the move to expel the area MP.
President RUPIAH BANDA has expressed concern over the high lending rates that banks charge on loans.
President BANDA said the high lending rates would only discourage Zambians from accessing financial services from Banks.
The President said this when he officially commissioned the First National Bank- FNB in Lusaka.
The President also urged FNB to extend its services to rural areas.
He said by doing so the Bank would help mobilise savings from the rural population who depend on agriculture.
Mr BANDA also advised the Bank to design products that are friendly for SME’s.
President BANDA said the SME sector is critical to Zambia’s economic growth and employment creation.
South African Ambassador to Zambia, Moses Chikane disclosed that South African Investment in Zambia now stands at 400 million dollars.
He said FNB’s entry in Zambian financial sector should help address the problem of access to financial services.
FNB South Africa, Chief Executive Officer Michael Jordan said the bank plans to expand its operations throughout Africa.
He said the bank would soon start operating in Angola, Tanzania and Nigeria.
Mr Jordan said the bank wants set up branches in all the nine provinces of Zambia.
FNB has invested about 75 millions dollars in the country.
It becomes the 16 commercial bank operating in Zambia and the fifth to open doors this year alone.
[ZNBC]
The Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) Mukangala ward councilor Francis Kanema has scooped the council chairmanship through votes casted in Mwinilunga district.
The seat was tightly contested between MMD councilor Kanema and UPND Mulumbi ward councilor William Mukangla, both councilors failed to beat each through the ballot.
The first round of voting both MMD and UPND councilors scored 12 votes each out of the 24 votes casted, second round the councilor still failed to beat each other as they scored 12 votes each.
The full council went for the third round of voting; still a deadlock could not be reached as the two candidates scored 12 votes each from the 24 votes cast.
A lot was used to decide the winner of the position of the council chairperson, through a lot Councilor Kanema managed to beat his reveal councilor Mukangala
And addressing the full council shortly after being declared a winner by the electoral officer Munganga Shadrick , Councilor Kanema assured the both MMD and UPND councilors that he would work towards improving the operations of the council.
He said wining through a lot was a bad sign, hence the need to improve the operations of the council.
Chairperson noted that the poor performance of the council has attributed to some councilors from the MMD to vote for UPND.He stressed that his office remains open to the councilors despite their political affiliation.
Meanwhile the position of vice chairperson went to MMD IKelenge ward councilor Eriton Kabola who went an opposed.
SPEAKER of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa yesterday warned members of the Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) to desist from referring the electoral pact when in Parliament.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said the electorate voted for the MPs based on their respective political parties and not the pact and as such, the members should avoid talking about it.
The speaker said this after Chinsali MP Christopher Mulenga (PF), during the debate on the 2010 national Budget said he was happy that the pact had a new member named Geoffrey Mwamba of PF.
“Be mindful of what the constitution states, you are in this House through a political party process or independent. If you constantly bring in things that are not in the provisions of the constitution, you are confusing the voters,” Mr Mwanamwambwa said.
“The voters want to know if you belong to the UPND, PF or MMD. Nobody will stop you from talking about the pact outside the chambers,” Mr Mwanamwambwa said.
Contributing to the debate on the 2010 Budget, Moomba MP Vitalis Mooya (UPND) said the construction industry in the nation was not growing as fast as it should because Government-funded projects were taking long to complete thereby increasing costs.
Mr Mooya said for instance, the construction of the Dag Hammarskjold Stadium in Ndola was much lower in the 1980s but because of the delays, the total cost was in 2009 estimated at more than K 300 billion.
According to the world economic report on construction, Zambia was ranked 125 out of the 129 countries surveyed.
Chilanga MP Ng’andu Magande (MMD) said as much as he supported the Budget, he was not comfortable that it did not highlight the activities that would be undertaken during the year.
It was important that the Government was transparent, accountable and adhered to the tenets of good governance so that donors could continue assisting in the development projects.
“If rules and laws are not followed to the letter, that is corruption. Reduction in donor aid could have been avoided if we are perceived to be a country that is seen to be fighting corruption,” Mr. Magande said.
Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister, Chilesehe Kapwepwe told the House that the daily revenue collection by the Zambia Revenue Authority at Nakonde border post for the period 2005 was K829.1 million, in 2006, K 801.0 million, in 2007, K 1,375.7 million and in 2008 it was K1, 507.9 million.
She said this in response to a question by Chinsali Central MP Christopher Mulenga (PF) who wanted to know how much was collected at the border post on a daily basis in the said years.
Mr Mulenga also wanted to know how much revenue was collected at the same border post from 2005 to 2008 year by year.
OVER US$2 billion is to be invested in a shopping mall and hotel next to the Kitwe- Chingola Road, making it the biggest investment recorded in the province.
And Government has signed a US$215 million investment promotion and protection agreements (IPPA) to facilitate the expansion and refurbishment of Manda Hill shopping mall in Lusaka and construction of a modern mall on the Kitwe-Chingola Road.
The IPPA provides various structures of incentives that Government will grant the investors.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati said Government will support and facilitate all investments in Zambia.
Mr Mutati said the structure of incentives to be provided under the signed IPPA include zero-rating value added tax during construction, facilitation of work permits and removal of withholding tax on remittance.
Other incentives include duty-free imports of building materials into Zambia, and developers will be allowed to recover 100 per cent of the establishment cost.
Mr Mutati said Government will continue to maintain a friendly macro environment, reduce inflation and the cost of doing business in Zambia.
“The construction of a new mall on the Copperbelt, and expansion works at Manda Hill mall will create jobs for the locals,” he said.
He said Government is happy with the infrastructure support along the Chingola-Kitwe Road, opposite the Chambishi Multi-Facility Economic Zone.
He said investments in the Chambishi zone is projected at about US$1 billion, while the new mall will gobble US$160 million. The works at Manda Hill will cost US$80 million.
He said Government will soon tender the Kitwe-Chingola Road for the construction of a dual carriage way.
“In excess of US$ 2 billion will be invested in the area, which will be the highest investment in Zambia. Construction works at Levy junction in Lusaka has started and we hope to create more jobs for our people from these developments,” he said.
And speaking at the same function, HBW group (developers of Manda Hill) executive director Gareth Poole said the project involves construction of additional shopping and other commercial facilitates at the complex.
Mr Gareth said once Manda Hill is expanded and refurbished, it will be the best mall in Zambia with international standards.
He said trading at the newly-constructed Mr Price store will start next month while the new parking slot will be completed in December.
He said all construction works at the mall will be completed next month.
Phoenix Materials managing director Phesto Musonda said the project on the Copperbelt is set to develop an integrated upmarket shopping centre, commercial office park, a 210-room hotel, casino and conference centre.
Mr Musonda said TGP Properties Limited is a joint venture between a Zambian company called Phoenix Materials and HBW Group of South Africa.
He said the two investors plan to develop the Copperbelt City by building infrastructure next to the Kitwe-Chingola Road, a project expected to create 1,000 jobs.
And Zambia Development Agency board chairman Luke Mbewe said the agency does not have any problem concerning the approval of the two investments, which will create additional jobs on the Copperbelt and in Lusaka, once completed.
High risk behavior during public gatherings such as the lukwakwas, Mbundas-Liyoyelo and Chivweka traditional ceremonies is among five major factors leading to high levels of HIV transmission in Kabompo district.
This was contained in a District AIDS Task force (DATF) second quarter report made available to ZANIS in Kabompo today.
The report said that rural health facilities involved in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases had revealed the presence of such disease at high levels in age groups 15 to 49 years especially in communities along the main road in the St. kalemba mission hospital.
The report said that Kabompo district with the population of 99,711 has estimated adult HIV prevalence rate of 6.1 per cent.
The report cited low status of women, unemployment, poverty and low use of condoms in the district as the other four major factors for increasing HIV Transmission in the district.
The report said that there had been an increase in the number of traders from the neighboring countries in search of caterpillars and groundnuts in Kabompo district this year as another factor for the increase in HIV transmission..
To mitigate the situation, the report said, 1,161 information, education and communication mistrials and 2,927 male condoms were distributed during the quarter of the year.
The report went on to say that 1,314 males and 733 females were tested for HIV from which 34 males and 48 females were found HIV positive.
The report said that 11 males and 39 females were with advanced HIV infection and put on ARV therapy and 103 males and 179 females were also provided with palliative care while 1,127 male and 1,151 female orphans and vulnerable children received care and support from community based organizations and non-governmental organizations.
[ZANIS]
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha
THE Government has advised people with divergent views over sale of ZAMTEL to allow the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) to do its work professionally.
Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said the Government had confidence in ZDA and felt that it would carry out the sale of ZAMTEL competently.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister, said the calls by some sections of society to block the sale of Zamtel were not being done in good faith.
He said the Government would continue to allow the ZDA to conduct their work in a professional manner as the agency had capable men and women who would conduct the sale of the company in the interest of the nation.
“My advice to those opposed to the sale of ZAMTEL is that they should allow ZDA to do the work professionally. This tendency of critising everything will not help us,” he said.
He said the decision to sell Zamtel was being done in good faith and wondered why some people were critising the move which was aimed at serving the company from total collapse.
The Government had no hand in the sale of ZAMTEL and it was for this reason that it had allowed the agency to the work without interference.
Last week, ZDA announced that two of India’s biggest telecommunications firms and one of Africa’s largest communication service providers, were among eight foreign companies and consortia that have been shortlisted to buy a stake in ZAMTEL.
South Africa’s Telkom, one of Africa’s largest telecommunications firms in terms of operating revenue and assets is on the list of the shortlisted firms.
Telkom has been pursuing opportunities in Africa since it sold a 15 per cent stake in Vodacom to Britain’s Vodafone for $3 billion.
India’s State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), which are both part of a consortium and also looking to buy a 46 per cent stake in Kuwait Mobile firm Zain, also prequalified to bid.
BSNL has cash reserves of more than $7 billion and is the second-largest telecommunications company in India with 57.3 million mobile subscribers and 28.5 million fixed line customers, trailing only Bharti Airtel.
MTNL also operates in Mauritius through a unit called Mahanagar Telephone Mauritius Limited (MTML) and submitted interest in a stake being sold in Nigerian telecommunications firm, Nitel.
The rest are Altimo Holdings or Vimpelcom of Russia, LAP Green Limited or LAP Green Networks of Libya, Portugal Telecom, Orascom Telecom Holdings or Telecel Globe Limited of Egypt as well as UNITEL consortium of Angola.
The Immigration Department in Senanga district has arrested three Chinese nationals for illegally working in Zambia.
The arrests were made during a combined operation with Nangweshi Police and Immigration officers. The Chinese men were working for a named Sawmilling company in Shangombo area.
Immigrations Public Relations Officer, Mulako Mbangweta, confirmed the arrest to ZANIS in Senanga, adding that the victims admitted the offence leveled against them.
Ms Mbangweta said Dia Xinlong, 46, Lu Peizhi, 41, and Liu Aoran, 21, have since paid K1,080,000 each for admission of the offence.
Ms Mbangweta explained that the trio entered Zambia only as visitors but unlawfully engaged in paid employed at a Sawmilling company.
She said working without a permit was contrary to Sections 19 (1) and 30 (1) Cap 123 as read with amended Act 25 of 1997 of the Laws of Zambia.
Ms Mbangweta warned that the law would always catch up with people engaged in illegal activities and advised foreigners and foreign companies to desist from such activities.
Senanga District Commissioner, Kwalombota Muwanei, says the presence of Zanaco in the district is of great value towards economic development.
And Branch Manager, Cosmas Mwiinga, says the bank has enough credit to lend out to viable projects and businesses.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by Zanaco to celebrate the bank’s 40th Anniversary, Mr Muwanei said the presence of the financial institution in a rural district like Senanga was of great economic value.
Mr Muwanei also appealed to government institutions and other employers to localize their financial transactions through the local Zanaco branch so as to access a quick banking service.
He appealed to local people and businessmen to reduce risks of loosing money by accessing affordable banking services at Zanaco.
And at the same function, Branch Manager Cosmas Mwiinga called upon individuals and the business community to take advantage of the existing products at the bank.
Mr Mwiinga said the banks had enough credit to lend out to viable business ventures.
The dinner was attended by heads of government departments, the business community and other prominent people.
Northwestern Province Local government officer McLeaud Nyirenda has called for discipline and integrity from all stakeholders to participate in the forth-coming Solwezi central constituency by-elections.
Mr Nyirenda said for the Solwezi central constituency by-election to be free and fair, interested stakeholders will have maximise discipline, transparency, impartiality and integrity.
He said this when he officially opened a briefing programme for stakeholders, District Electoral, Returning and Assistant returning officers for the vacant Solwezi central parliamentary seat following the recent in timely death of late local Government minister Ben Tetamashimba.
Mr Nyirenda said the election should show a direct result of well disciplined officials to up hold democracy.
He therefore called on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to be vigilant and sensitize the people on the need and importance of voting as it is their human right to do so.
Mr Nyirenda also commended the ECZ for the programme aimed at acquainting stakeholders with their operation and thanked all stakeholders for finding time to take part in the programme saying this shows that people attach great importance to the voting process.
President Banda about to unveil the First National Bank plaque during the launch in Lusaka
President Rupiah Banda has said Zambia’s business environment has remained stable and has continued to attract foreign investors despite the effects of the global economic crisis.
President Banda said Zambia has continued to record foreign investment in a number of sectors, among them the banking sector in the recent past, noting that this was testimony that the country’s economy was growing.
Mr. Banda was speaking at Lusaka’s Intercontinental hotel today when he launched the First National Bank (FNB).
He said it was important that the economic growth was supported by an efficient and effective financial sector.
“Increased economic activity demands a wide range of banking products and services which should be tailored to meet the new business challenges,” he said.
President Banda said in the last three years, the banking industry in Zambia has been steadily growing in total assets averaging at 30 per cent annually.
“Of this growth, almost 60 per cent was on account of net loans and advances largely to the private sector. This suggests to me that the economy is growing,” he said.
President Banda said the banking sector was one of the most important sectors to the growth of the economy because it provides finance to individuals and corporate entities for business activities.
He said the opening of FNB-Zambia would further promote the existing businesses and provide an environment that is conducive for investment opportunities, which subsequently should stimulate economic growth.
He hoped that FNB would help reduce the cost of bank services in the sector.
The President also urged banks to be innovative in the ways of providing access to short, medium and long term finances to Zambians.
“I similarly urge all commercial banks to move away from “arm chair banking” to making credit available to deserving customers at affordable rates,” he said.
President Banda added that by performing an effective intermediary role, banks would complement government’s efforts to enhance economic development in the country.
He however expressed concern that banks were still lending money at high interest rates and bank changes in Zambia, the development he said was discouraging average Zambians from accessing financial services.
President Banda added that the high interest rates on bank borrowing and other bank charges, particularly on deposit accounts, have made loans very expensive thereby increasing the level of loan delinquencies in the financial sector.
“Arising from this and due to generally low rates on deposits, there is a real risk that both savings and investments may be discouraged and threaten the tangible progress our economy has thus far recorded,” he stressed.
He further said such high rates have since disadvantaged micro, small and medium enterprises, which are important to the national economic growth.
And FND-South Africa Chief Executive Officer, Michael Jordaan, said his bank decided to open branches in Zambia because of the country’s sound investment and business opportunities.
Dr. Jordaan said Zambia has continued to offer a friendly business and risk free political environment, despite the global economic crisis.
Meanwhile, South African High Commissioner to Zambia, Moses Chikane said the two countries have long historical political, social and economic relations.
Mr. Chikane the opening of FNB in Zambia was one way of strengthening the existing economic relations between Zambia and South Africa.
He observed that lack of access to financial services was a major hindrance to the growth of the private sector in any country.
He said FNB would increase the tax revenue base for the Zambian government and help alleviate poverty through job creation.
The new bank already employs 96 Zambian professionals and hopes to increase the number as it expands.
Mr. Chikane said improved financial services in the Southern African region will drive the countries to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
And Deputy Minister of Finance, Chileshe Kapwepwe said the increased investments between Zambia and other Southern African countries was a manifestation of the South-to-South cooperation.
FNB originated from South Africa in 1838 and is present in Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland and now in Zambia.
In Zambia, the bank already has three branches, two in Lusaka and one in Ndola on the Copperbelt province.
Nkana get back down to the business of promotion on Wednesday following their ejection from the Barclays Cup last Saturday when they host Luanshya United in a rescheduled Faz Division 1 North Week 30 game in Kitwe.
Nkana will be looking to put their elimination from the Barclays Cup behind them after losing 8-7 on post-match penalties against Choma Eagles following a 1-1 draw
in the Barclays Cup quarterfinals played at Woodlands Stadium on Independence Day.
Fewdays Musonda’s side currently lie 2nd on the Division 1 North table on 52 points, four less than leaders Nchanga Rangers who thumped Chindwin 3-0 in Chingola in their Week 30 match on Independence Day.
Victory will over Luanshya will keep Nkana in 2nd place with six games left to play before the promotion places are sealed although they will move up to 55 points within one of Bruce Mwape’s Rangers.
Luanshya under former Roan United and Zambia international striker Nicholas Bwalya are not looking good and currently lie second from bottom in 17th place as Zambians oldest club struggles to stay in Division 1 a season less than a season after they were promoted.
Kitwe is never an easy place to win and it will be especially so for Luanshya who lost 2-1 at home to Nkana in the first leg week 13 match played midway through the year.
And across town at Buchi Stadium, 4th placed Mufulira Wanderers on 47 points visit Elijah Litana’s Mining Rangers looking to revive their chances of staying in the hunt for promotion.
WEEKEND SCORECARD
2009 Barclays Cup Quartefinals
24/10/2009
Trade Fair Grounds, Ndola
Power Dynamos 1(Simon Bwalya 89″)- Zesco United 0
Woodlands Stadium, Lusaka
Green Buffaloes 1(Brian Chilando 65″)*- National Assembly 1(Lawrence Phiri 75″)
*Buffaloes win 6-5 on pp
