The Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) has started equipping provincial offices with state-of-the-art equipment to enhance news coverage country wide.

ZANIS Director Loyce Saili has since challenged the provincial and district offices to bring out news from all citizens across the country rather than focusing on the big names in urban areas.

ZANIS reports that Ms Saili was speaking in Lusaka, when she handed over Camera equipment to ZANIS Central province office and reminded them to continue interpreting Government’s policies.

She said the Government is implementing a lot of programs and policies in the Country that need to be shared with the general public, citing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) health and the education sectors as some of the programs that need to be shared using ZANIS channel.

“Because we are a Government information wing under the Ministry of information, it’s important that we profile the government developmental programs. There is  a lot of programs that government is rolling out. There are issues of constituency Development fund. It is important that we highlight that. So much money has been allocated to these communities. We also need to interpret government policies” she said

Ms Saili disclosed that so far six out of ten provinces are receiving new equipment and that the remaining four provinces are expected to receive  before the end of the year, while the district offices will follow afterwards.

Ms Saili said the equipment has come at the right time when ZANIS has begun test transmission for its ZANIS TV channel   and has urged the receivers of the equipment to ensure that they take good care of the equipment to ensure optimum longevity.

And Central Province Provincial Information Officer, Florence Mwisa who received the equipment on behalf of the regional office assured that the equipment will be put to good use.

“We have a lot of work as a province and this camera will go a long way in capturing those developmental stories, the constituency development fund and other developmental news that will be taking place in the province. We will really do our best. We are grateful that we are among the first provinces to be considered” she said.

Three Cameras have already been handed over to other Provinces and all the ten provinces are expecteb to be covered by the end of the year.

ZANIS is currently conducting  test transmission for its ZANIS TV channel on top- star channel 6.

Government has reiterated its commitment to unlock the potential of the livestock subsector in the country.

Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Makozo Chikote says Government will achieve this by partnering with the private sector in addressing challenges that hinder the sector’s growth.

Mr. Chikote said some livestock farmers in Southern Province would now be protected from financial losses that arise due to theft, disease and adverse climate conditions through Inclusive Livestock Insurance.

He said this in a speech read for him by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Director, Mwambilwa Kabemba during the launch of the Inclusive Livestock Insurance Project in Mazabuka on Thursday.

The launch of the inclusive livestock insurance was as a result of collaborative efforts from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Zambia, and Mayfair Insurance among others.

The project will be piloted in Mazabuka, Choma and Kalomo District.

And FSD Zambia Chief Executive Officer Engwase Mwale said the aim of the project was to improve and increase access to high value and comprehensive agriculture insurance products for small holder farmers, particularly those who grow crops and reared cattle.

Mrs. Mwale said the tenure of the project was four years and 30, 000 smallholder livestock farmers were being targeted countrywide.

Meanwhile, Chief Hanjalika of the Tonga people of Mazabuka said the insurance package would help improve the lives of people in his chiefdom.

Chief Hanjalika however, said for the program to succeed in the area; more veterinary assistants had to be recruited to monitor the growth of livestock.

The Chief made these remarks through his representative. Fred Mooya.

The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation(ZESCO) has expressed concern at the continued vandalism of cables and equipment on its Chipata – Chadiza power line project whose aim is to connect the area to the national grid.

ZESCO Spokesperson, Henry Kapata speaking on the sidelines of Kulamba traditional ceremony of the Chewa people taking place in Katete district that  the utility company is carrying out a number of expansion projects  in Eastern province to connect some districts to the national grid.

Mr Kapata said some districts such as Chadiza were still getting power from ESCOM of Malawi across the border and the company wants all these to be on the national power line.

Mr Kapata however indicated that the continued vandalism on the works is derailing the project but expressed optimism this will soon be resolved.

” We are experiencing high incidents of vandalism on our transformers , cables and other pieces of machinery which is derailing our progress,” said Mr Kapata.

Mr Kapata reiterated the company’s commitment to providing electricity to all Zambians and ensuring customer satisfaction.

“We are a power firm we remain committed to providing our customers electricity to their expectations,” he said.

Mr kapata says the power utility company is proud to be premium sponsors of the 2022 Kulamba traditional ceremony in katete district

“As you can see the company has branded the pavilion and the main arena as part of our sponsorship to the ceremony,” he indicated.

Mr Kapata said as part of its social corporate responsibility, the company has provided  power to the venue of the ceremony free of charge, distributing free energy bulb savers and carrying out sensitization.

The ZESCO Spokesperson also said the company has also provided branding of the area and other logistical support.

Mr Kapata said this is all aimed at ensuring that the ceremony is held smoothly and Zambians across the country enjoy the event.

Government has re-affirmed its commitment to stabilize the country’s fiscal environment to enable the financial markets provide impetus for growth.

Ministry of Finance and National Planning Permanent Secretary for Budget and Economic Affairs Mukuli Chikuba said government is focusing on growing the economy through key sectors in order to increase Foreign Direct Investment into the Country.

Speaking when he featured the Quarterly economic review discussion hosted by the Zambia National Commercial Bank, Mr. Chikuba said the Country’s economy is projected to grow by 3 to 4 percent in the medium term and that this should improve as Foreign Direct Investment continues to come into the Country.

“Part of the policy trajectory or the components that make up the policy trajectory from where we are going forward is in the first year to attain macro-economic stability and stabilize the fiscal environment so that in the medium to long term the financial markets can provide the needed impetuous for growth.

“We are stabilizing the economy because we want investments to come in and improve further our macroeconomic projection going forward. We expect the economy to grow by 3-4 percent in the medium term, “ he said.

FDI is coming back into the country will further these projections.

The Permanent Secretary pointed out that what has happened in the mining sector with First Quantum Ltd announcing its investment of $1.5 billion is as

a result of the stability that government has established.

Mr. Chikuba emphatically stated that for this sector to grow, there was need for FDI to come in.

And speaking during the same discussion, Bank of Zambia Head of Economics Jonathan Chipili said the positive shifts in the micro- economic environment of the country, the cost of borrowing is expected to be lowered.

Mr Chipili expressed optimism that this will trigger a positive impact on economic growth.

“With the shift in the macro-economic environment, borrowing costs should begin to come down. Despite remaining sticky, there is a bit of curvature in lending rates, pointing downwards.

“ With this, borrowers should begin to see the benefits, ” he said

Meanwhile, ZANACO Head Economic Research Patrick Chileshe said the Kwacha’s strong performance is keeping prices of imported consumer goods stable.

Mr Chileshe said that the trend is at the same time muting production costs adding that positivity in the economy is helping to counter capital flight risk from rising external interest rates.

“The exchange rate is the most important factor in Zambia’s inflation dynamics. Zambia’s consumer basket is heavily tilted towards imported consumer items, which are usually priced in US Dollar so when the currency is appreciating, the direct effects are that the kwacha price of imported items start going down, although sometimes there is inertia by traders who maintain the same prices,” he said.

The quarterly economic review discussion panelists consisted of Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary in charge of Budget and Economic Affairs, Mukuli Chikuba, Bank of Zambia ( BOZ ) Head of Economics Dr. Jonathan Chipili, ZANACO Chief Risk Officer Mutisunge Zulu and ZANACO Head Economic Research, Dr Patrick Chileshe.

This is according to a press statement released by ZANACO Head Communications Verona Nkolola.