The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has proposed that the Government through various ministries implements some measures aimed at reducing the high cost of living in the country.

The JCTR Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for the month of July 2022 in Lusaka stood at K9, 332.82 showing an increase of K31.36 increase from the K9, 301.46 recorded in June, 2022.

The center says the upward movement in the food basket is attributed to price movements in items such as charcoal, fruits but acknowledged notable reductions in items such as 6kg tomatoes which went down by K39.00 from K111.36.

JCTR said the Government through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning should consider waiving or reducing import duty for edible oils to help reduce the cost of production for items such as cooking oil in a bid to reduce the cost of living.

JCTR Executive Director Fr. Alex Muyebe said increased budget allocation to the livestock sector in the 2023 national budget particularly for the growth of animal feed inputs such as soya beans and sunflower could also reduce the cost of living.

Fr. Muyebe said the Ministry of Agriculture should also continue working towards sustained expansion of irrigation support in the 2023 national budget.

“The cost of living trends recorded for the month of July 2022 could be attributed to a number of developments. These include; fuel pump price increments recorded at the beginning of July 2022 that may have had an impact on the cost of production for items such as cooking oil, seasonality as seen in the price increase recorded for charcoal and reduced prices for various food items; tomatoes, vegetables, onion, cassava flour among others. Another notable factor could have been the appreciation of the kwacha against major currencies such as the US dollar that may have led to a lower cost of feed imports for the production of food items such as eggs and milk. Further examination of the cost of living for July 2022 is taking place against a backdrop of notable policy developments. The month of July saw the historical recruitment of 30,497 teachers and 11,200 health workers,” Fr. Muyebe said.

“Additionally, through the approved supplementary budget of K22 billion arising from financial prudence and lower debt servicing expenditure in the first half of the year, government has redirected resources to selected budget lines including; K4.7 billion to the agriculture sector, K280 million to support secondary schools, K6.5 billion to dismantling arrears, K752million to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation through the Zambia Revenue Authority and K2billion to critical roads. Further, on 30th July the Creditor Committee for Zambia under the Common Framework for Debt Treatments issued a statement agreeing to negotiate debt restructuring for Zambia. The possibility of debt restructuring has the potential to spur investment necessary for growth and poverty reduction impacting on the cost of living. JCTR recognises that the above interventions are a step towards responding to the cost of living challenge. The interventions in the education and health sectors, not only provide a platform for improving service delivery but ultimately cushions close to 42,000 households with potential impact to improve living conditions for at least 200,000 persons,” he said.

Fr. Muyebe said the cost of living for an average family of five as surveyed by the JCTR stands way above the national average incomes pegged at K4391 according to the 2020 Labour Force Survey.

“The gap between the prevailing cost of living and incomes means families are unable to meet the cost of the most basic essentials which results in compromised living conditions and sustains a vicious cycle of poverty in families and in the nation. JCTR therefore submits the following key recommendations: Ministry of Finance and National Planning – consider waiving or reducing import duty for edible oils to help reduce the cost of production for items such as cooking oil – Increase budget allocation to the livestock sector in the 2023 national budget particularly for the growth of animal feed inputs such as soya beans and sunflower.”

“Ministry of Agriculture – continue working towards sustained expansion of irrigation support in the 2023 national budget, the 2023-2025 Medium Term Budget Plan and Vision 2030 to realise all year round food production . Ministry of Energy – Facilitate the provision of sustainable and affordable energy sources that will respond to the low incomes of the majority Zambians. Energy Regulation Board – Consider reverting to 90 day pump price review cycles to aid in stabilizing the pump price of fuel. Bank of Zambia – Sustain efforts aimed at stabilizing key macroeconomic fundamentals such as the exchange rate that provides greater certainty for importation, therefore encouraging more trade and investment at local level aimed at ultimately improving prices of commodities and services,” Fr. Muyebe said.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) have applauded the Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club (GBWFC) for winning the Hollywood bets Cosafa Champions League.

FAZ President Andrew Kamanga indicated that the Green Buffaloes defeated defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 6-5 on post-match penalties after a 0-0 regulation time result.

Mamelodi Sundowns are also the reigning CAF Women’s Champions League champions.

Kamanga noted that Green Buffaloes contribute a huge number of players to the various national teams and have deservedly brought honour to the country and some of the stars in the GBWFC were part of the 2022 Women’s Africa cup of Nations (WAFCAN) bronze winners that will be heading to the FIFA World Cup in Australia, New Zealand.

‘’On behalf of the executive committee and the entire football family, I wish to Congratulate Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club for lifting the Cosafa Champions League crown. It is a continuation of the winning trajectory that the women’s game is on.

“Congratulations to the team and technical staff and everyone around the team that have made this achievement possible. We know that this victory is only the first step to be among the elite of the continental women’s game,’’ he said.

Kamanga added that the success of GBWFC will inspire other clubs to aspire for greatness outside the Zambian border.

“We are indeed back in the Champions League as was said by the FAZ patron President Hakainde Hichilema not too long ago. The next step is to ensure that this success helps open doors for sponsorship for the women’s game. Our women super league that is in its infancy desperately needs sponsorship to fully elevate it to a strong force,” he said.

Kamanga pointed out that the CAF Women’s Champions League will also help keep the players engaged off national team duty as the team seeks to maintain a competitive group before the biggest global showpiece.

‘’GBWFC has also qualified to the CAF Women’s Champions League with the coronation as Cosafa champions providing double joy,’’ he said.

This is contained in a statement issuedby FAZ Communications Manager Sydney Mungala.

Moringa farmers in Ndoka ward of Kalabo district, Western province, have called for technical support in a bid to plant the shrub at a large scale.

One of the farmers Ngebe Muyombo says the plant’s survival rate has been very low because of the poor management practices resulting in low yields.

Ms Muyombo told ZANIS that lack of technical knowledge has resulted in her only managing to raise a few shrubs around the homestead despite the plant’s huge economic demand and nutritional value available on the market.

She said the limited information on the management and processing of the moringa plant has made the farmers to grow only for subsistence, catering for home consumption

“Every part of the moringa plant is suitable for either commercial or nutritional purposes. These few moringa plants which have survived were provided to us in 2018 by a Non-Governmental Organisation called People In Need (PIN) free of charge so that we improve our social-economic wellbeing.

We only received limited training in basic management and uses of the plant. But due to lack of detailed technical knowledge as well as capacity building in terms of management, expansion and processing, we’re still cultivating the plant at a subsistence level with the harvest only catering for home consumption,” she said.

Meanwhile, another farmer Moya Ndopu, observed that moringa is an effective remedy for malnutrition and other common illnesses.

Ms Ndopu said the plant’s pods and leaves are  potent in vitamins as well as minerals which are essential for the optimum growth of both human beings and livestock.

Ms Ndopu explained that the plant’s pods provide her household with delicious beans while the leaves are a good source of vegetables.

“The nutritional benefits of moringa are amazing. By consuming moringa, my family is now healthy and no longer suffers from eye diseases, diarrhoea and other illnesses which used to be common among household members. I have also learnt that this plant enhances cognitive development especially among children,” she noted.

Ms Ndopu however bemoaned that despite the plants attaining maturity, the yields have always been low due to poor management among farmers in the area.

She further implored fellow farmers and households to seize moringa’s nutritional or commercial benefits, seek technical support and plant it at a large scale or subsistence level depending on one’s capacity.

Angolan Ambassador to Zambia Azevedo Francisco has implored all eligible Angolans residing in the diaspora to register to vote in the upcoming Angolan general elections slated for August 24, 2022.

Mr Francisco, was in Kalumbila district to meet the Angolan community to encourage them to participate in the upcoming general elections.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Kalumbila District Commissioner Brenda Sankisa, Ambassador Francisco outlined that his team had already met Angolans residing in Lusaka and Mongu and that they were yet to meet the Angolan communities in Kitwe and Livingstone.

He disclosed that Zambia is among the 12 countries that hosts a bigger number of Angolans and that one   polling station will be placed in Solwezi at the Angolan Consulate.

“We have selected 12 countries across the world where we have bigger numbers of Angolans, among the African countries we have Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville”, Mr Francisco said.

He said for the first time people in the diaspora are being called upon to participate in the general elections with a record of 38,000 Angolans living in over 12 countries on the African Continent.

“All the 12 countries equal to 38,000 Angolans, we have so far enlisted 18 million eligible Angolans to vote in Angola and the diaspora,” Mr Francisco said.

He said Angola is currently in a campaign process and eight political parties will be participating in the general elections.

Meanwhile, Kalumbila District Commissioner Brenda Sankisa assured the Angolan Ambassador of a peaceful environment as they hold their voting registration and exercise.

Ms Sankisa also wished the Ambassador and the people of Angola a successful general election.