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Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki has saluted Zambia for being a pivotal pillar of his country’s liberation struggle.
Mr Mbeki said his country will always treasure the support Zambia rendered in the liberation of South Africa from apartheid.
The former South African leader stated this when he paid a courtesy call on President Hakainde Hichilema at State House in Lusaka today.
Mr Mbeki, who held private talks with President Hichilema, said he was thrilled at the warm reception he has received in Zambia.
“We are very happy to be back here at State House which stood as a pillar of support in our liberation” wrote Mr Mbeki in the Visitor’s Book at State House.
Mr Mbeki said Zambia will continue to remain his second home due to the attachment he has and the unmatched hospitality and warmth.
“This is of course home from home for us, and we are very happy to be received with such warmth by President Hichilema” wrote Mr Mbeki.
Mr Mbeki was accompanied to State House by the South African High Commissioner to Zambia and other officials.
The former South African leader is in the country along with former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano at the invitation of the Kenneth Kaunda Foundation.
Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo has expressed optimism of Zambia’s quest to reach 70 percent of the Covid-19 vaccination target by July this year.
Ms. Masebo says government is using the decentralization process by using local leadership to enhance its vaccination coverage in all parts of the country.
The Minister was speaking in Lusaka , when World Bank Managing Director, Anshula Kant visited her at her office.
She attributed the increased covid-19 vaccination response to the support rendered to the country by cooperating partners such as the World Bank.
The Minister said the World Bank through its Covid-19 emergency response funding provided to Zambia 3 million United States dollars targeted at strengthening its response capacity through the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI).
Ms. Masebo explained that the resources have so far been used to recruit temporary vital staff specifically to deal with covid-19 health care services.
She further thanked the World Bank for the continued support to the Zambian health care system by providing support to strengthen its capacity.
She cited the support to the ZNPHI and the African Center for Disease Control as some of the projects funded by the World Bank that Zambia is benefiting from.
” We want to thank you for your support to the health care service provision to Zambia, among them is the covid-19 emergency response programme, such measures have helped us to scale up our vaccination drive and am optimistic that by July we will reach the 70 %,” she said.
And World Bank Managing Director Anshula Kant has promised to continue providing support to Zambia to improve its health care service provision.
” We appreciate our collaboration with Zambia and we are ready to support you in all the areas of development in the provision of improved health care services,” she said.
The World Bank Group Managing Director who is also Chief Finance Officer is in the country for a three day working visit where she has held h meetings with the President Hakainde Hichilema, Secretary to Treasury and Bank of Zambia officials.
Ms. Kant has also visited a World Bank funded farm project,she is expected to leave tomorrow after concluding her scheduled business to Zambia.
Ex-Chipolopolo and Portsmouth striker Collins Mbesuma says forward Patson Daka has done well so far at Premier League side Leicester City.
Zambian striker Daka, a £23m signing from RB Salzburg last summer, netted 11 goals in his first season in blue to finish as the club’s third-highest scorer.
However, he had a difficult conclusion to the campaign, scoring just once in his final 15 outings.
In an interview, Mbesuma said Daka should be consistent ahead of his second season at Leicester.
“I think he has done well,” Mbesuma said.
Mbesuma made four Premier League appearances for Portsmouth between 2005 and 2006.
“I think what he just needs is just consistency,” he said.
“For sure he is playing under good coaches and a good environment.I think he just has to keep on improving,” Mbesuma said.
Daka scored 60 goals over the previous two seasons with Salzburg before shifting to Leicester last summer.
GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Transport and Logistics has said that it has no intentions to stifle youth innovations of the growtthe h of small and medium business.
This came up as a response to a question by the Member of Parliament for Kantanshi Parliamentary Constituency Honourable Anthony Mumba
Hon. MUMBA wanted to know whether the Government is aware that compelling online car-hailing services to register with Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) is stiffing youth innovation and hindering the growth of small and medium businesses and if so, what measures are being taken to ensure that online car-hailing services are not adversely affected by the registration process; and what measures are being taken to enhance electronic communication technology innovations in the transport sector.
In response, Hon. Tayali said Government’s interest is to ensure that the online car-hailing services operate under a well-defined regulatory framework which is backed by law.
He said the existing regulatory framework was designed for conventional taxi operations and not online ride-hailing operations.
The Minister said applying such a regulatory framework to online car-hailing operations has proved a challenge as most of the vehicles registered on the Online Applications may fall off if the law is to be applied strictly.
Further, Hon. Tayali said Government is undertaking all the necessary consultations with all relevant stakeholders and is in the process of issuing tailor-made regulations to accommodate the operations of online car-hailing operators in Zambia while at the same time ensuring that appropriate taxes are paid to the Government.
He said Government will issue Statutory Instruments (SI) that will address these matters. The Minister also noted that Government will not put a deadline to the consultative process in order to do it right, but will, therefore, allow online car-hailing services to continue operating under the status quo until the regulations are issued.
Hon. Tayali also said Government is cognizant of the role that technologies play in facilitating business development and growth. He said Government has and will continue to put in place policies and legislation that embrace the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the transport and logistics sector.
The Minister added that Government is in the process of revising the ICT Policy of 2006 and developing the Digital Transformation Strategy and the National Logistics Strategy which imbed the use of ICTs in service delivery.
The government says over 1 Million social cash transfer beneficiaries will be reached by the end of this year.
Community Development and Social Services Minister, Ms Doreen Mwamba has disclosed that the caseload is expected to reach a land mark of 1,027,000 by 31st December, 2022 in accordance with the social cash transfer guidelines
Speaking when she gave a Ministerial statement in Parliament today, Ms Mwamba explained that 646,882 beneficiaries accounts for female headed households,129,100 for households with persons with disabilities while 162,715 is for elderly persons.
The Minister further informed the house that chronically ill and those on palliative care accounts for 31,194, while 3,432 is for child headed households adding that payment of transfers has been predictable and regular as evidenced by payments which are up to date.
“Payments for the months of May and June are currently underway in every district and are expected to be concluded by this Friday, 1st July, 2022. This is important to ensure that household incomes are stable to assist beneficiaries in meeting their immediate needs, invest in assets and avoid negative coping strategies” she said.
She said government has since automated the payment system through the development of the Zambia integrated social protection information system (ZISPIS), which is a gateway for data management and electronic payment system to enhance administration, planning, coordination, transparency and accountability in the management of the social cash transfer programme.
The ZISPIS is also aimed at improving efficiency as well as to ensure real time tracking of resources in order to reach the intended vulnerable households and also provides users with timely, accurate, consistent, complete and relevant information for enhanced decision making.
“The ZISPIS has been piloted in Kitwe and Namwala districts to pay beneficiaries for the January/February and the March/April 2022 payment cycles. In addition, payment of transfers to beneficiaries in the other districts have been processed using the ZISPIS” Ms Mwamba further informed parliament.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has continued to implement the grievance management system, a mechanism that allows community members and other stakeholders channel their complaints relating to the social cash transfer programme and receive timely feedback.
And the Minister further informed Parliament that the Ministry has started the process of revamping the functional literacy programs which aim to improve the literacy levels among the beneficiaries.
The Minister therefore urged all members of Parliament to take time to familiarize themselves with the guidelines which are available in all district offices as well as sensitize their constituencies on the programme.
Several Ministers working in the New Dawn administration are unhappy with President Hakainde Hichilema’s style of leadership accusing him of undermining them.
The Ministers are now threatening to rise up against President Hichilema and resign from his government if he continues running government as a “One Man Show.”
The Ministers who spoke to Lusaka Times in confidence have challenged President Hichilema to publicly deny the accusations if they are untrue.
They said they have resorted to exposing his poor leadership style as a way of getting him to change but threatened that they will resign enmass if he continues with his style.
They accuse President Hichilema of micromanaging all aspects of his government including all appointments to government and parastatal roles.
They said even in Cabinet Meetings, no one of them is allowed to even oppose President Hichilema’s position on any matter presented to Cabinet.
“On appointments, no Minister has ever made any appointments, the list of how to appoint is brought to us and we just read the names. The list is done by him alone at State House. This is why some Boards are still not done up to now because only one man is doing everything,” one of the female Ministers said.
“This is why regional balancing of this appointments is becoming very difficult because they are coming from one mind,” she added.
Another Minister complained that all the Ministers under President Hichilema are treated like children.
“He doesn’t consult us, even in Cabinet, we just go to rubber stamp his positions. Do you know that he appointed all the Press Attachés? That is how bad things are in this government,” he said.
The Ministers explained that since some of the appointees know that they were appointed by President Hichilema, they have no respect for Ministers.
“Now what is happening is that some parastatal Chiefs know that the appointment letter came from State House, we are failing to direct or instruct them. They can’t follow our orders because somehow they know that they came through State House and therefore they will only listen to the President.”
One Minister recounted how some Board Members recently paid themselves irregular allowances and when they were questioned by the line Ministry, they rushed to State House and pushed that the Minister be sacked.
“They style of leadership has made our work very difficult. We are like robots and it’s very frustrating,” a Minister complained.
The Ministers stated that their working morale is at the lowest.
“This man (President Hichilema) doesn’t know how to work as a team. He doesn’t allow us to get allowances even on our foreign trips. If the host Country or organisation doesn’t cater for your allowances, you will struggle through out your visit because he has instructed controlling officers not to say us any allowances when we travel. How can we work like Children?”
“He doesn’t listen to us. He is very distant from us. The only Minister he is close to is Stanley (Kakubo) but all of us feel like we are serving in a government that doesn’t want us.”
A combined team of law enforcement agencies in Kitwe has picked up 24 pupils aged between 15 and 21 in connection with drug abuse and alcohol abuse within school premises.
Officers from Zambia Police and Drug Enforcement Commission rounded up the 24 pupils and one school leaver during an operation conducted on Tuesday morning.
The suspects are detained at Kitwe’s Riverside Police Station.
Speaking when Kitwe district commissioner Lawrence Mwanza and Kitwe district education board secretary Christopher Nyungila visited the police station, Riverside Police Station Officer Incharge Thomas Swala said the 24 pupils are from Kitwe Boys, Mukuba Boys and Parklands Secondary Schools.
Mr. Swala said Police further picked up a school leaver from North Western Province who was found abusing drugs alongside pupils.
“A total number of 24 pupils and 1 school leaver have been picked by the Zambia police from Kitwe Boy’s secondary school for suspected drug abuse. The boys were picked up during an operation conducted at the school between 11 -12 hours on 28 th June 2022. Out of the 24 pupils, two were from Mukuba Secondary School while one was from Parklands Secondary School while the school leaver was identified as Clement Katilungu aged 20 from North Western Province. The boys were picked up in an area prone to drug and alcohol abuse within the school premises and are currently detained at Riverside Police Station,” Mr. Swala said.
Drug abuse among youths is reported to be rife in Kitwe City.
“All of them are males. The distribution is: 21 from Kitwe Boys Secondary School then we have four who are not from that school. Two are from Mukuba Secondary School then we have one from Parklands School and we have one who is a school leaver. This one Clement Katilungu completed school in North Western Province at Zambezi Boarding School. He is 20 year old. He was captured within our area of target. The age range is between 15 and 21. The oldest appears to be Katilungu. These are the boys, we have not yet booked them but we have recorded all their particulars.The operation involved the Zambia Police from Kitwe District Headquarters, and then we also had four officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission who came to work with us. They were captured from an area prone to abuse of liquor and dagga within the school premises,” he said.
Kitwe District Education Board Secretary Christopher Nyungila said the arrests and detention would help curb illicit activities in schools.
Mr. Nyungila saluted the Police officers and the Drug Enforcement Commission for carrying out the operation in schools.
Kitwe District Commissioner Lawrence Mwanza said the state is restoring sanity in the district and appealed to parents to monitor the activities of their school children.
The World Bank Group has pledged continued support to Zambia’s enhanced food security by helping Small and Medium scale farmers improve their farming activities.
World Bank Director for International Development Agency Resource Mobilization Samuel Maimbo says as the World faces a global food crisis, small Scale farmers have an important role to play in contributing to food security at national level.
Mr. Maimbo was speaking when the World Bank delegation led by its Managing Director Ashula Kant toured Panuka farms, one of the farms benefiting from its 40 million United states dollars funding for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME).
The project being implemented by the Zambia Agribusiness and Trade Project (ZATP) is aimed at contributing to increased market linkages and growth of agribusiness for small scale farmers.
He said the World Bank is ready to support small and medium size farmers with the provision of access to finance and market linkages to grow their business.
Mr Maimbo noted that with proper utilization of the funding, the bank is committed to providing more support for many small scale farmers across the country to benefit.
He further commended Panuka farms for putting the funding into good use by investing in clean energy infrastructure that will help in combating the negative effects of climate change.
“We are impressed, this is putting the support into good use, and will ensure that many other farmers are supported countrywide so that they can improve their activities and contribute to national food security in the wake of the global food crisis, “he added.
And ZATP Project Coordinator, Golden Makayi disclosed that so far 93 SMEs and 133 producer organisations are benefiting from the financial support through the project.
Mr. Makayi explained that the beneficiaries are supported with funding to buy farm equipment, training and mentorship.
He noted that the project also provides for market linkages for beneficiaries to sell their produce to established local and international markets for their benefit.
Mr. Makayi stated that the project has also helped the beneficiaries to compete favourably on the regional markets by supplying to international chain stores such as Shoprite, adding that it has also contributed to job creation and revenue collection.
“We were given 40 million US$ to contribute to market linkages and strengthen institution and regulatory framework in agribusiness and so far 93 SMEs are receiving support while 133 producer organisations have received mentorship,” he said.
And Panuka Farms Founder, Bruno Mweemba said his farm benefited over 37,000.00US$ from the World through ZATP.
Mr. Mweemba explained that he invested the funding in putting up greenhouse shelters, solar energy and cold room among others.
He noted that the farm that has employed 24 full time workers is currently supplying 95 percent of its horticulture produce to Shoprite.
He said the farm is strictly adhering to climate smart agriculture such as the use of greenhouses for production of different crops, hence has only used less than two of its five hectares of land to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Mr. Mweenba further appealed for more support to put up additional greenhouses adding that the current eight cannot effectively meet his increased production due to improved demand.
“Farming using greenhouses has proved that there is increased productivity compared to using open spaces, and our aim is to use a smaller piece of land so that we do not cut a lot of trees, but the use of greenhouses is expensive as one unit of the green house is fetching at about 7000 US$ hence we appeal for more support,” he added.
Zambia is not endowed with large proven reserves of fossil-fuel resources such as coal, oil or natural gas. Currently all petroleum products in Zambia are imported which leaves the country at risk to global energy shocks. The vast majority of the electricity supply (83%) is dependent on hydro sources which have become prone to effects of climate change in the form of uncertain rainfall patterns and increasingly frequent droughts. Recent electricity supply deficits in 2015 and 2020 have had a detrimental effect on economic growth and poverty reduction. This is a picture of a country with too narrow a range of energy sources and too dependent on imported fuel.
The bulk of primary energy used in Zambia is obtained from biofuels with 73% coming from this source in 2019. This consists mainly of solid biomass such as firewood and charcoal. The large reliance on biomass is not sustainable and has negative consequences for local environments in the form of increased deforestation and pollution. Oil and other imported petroleum products make up 12% of the energy supply. There is increased local production of bioethanol for blending with petrol at a ratio of 1:10 which would slightly reduce the dependence on oil. Hydro-electric power contributes only 10% of the energy supply despite its economic importance. The variation of primary energy supply sources in Zambia between 1990 and 2019 is shown in the figure below.
Figure 1: Total primary energy supply by source, Zambia 1990 – 2019 [1]To increase energy resilience and security of supply the Zambian energy sector needs to diversify where and how it sources its energy. The recent shocks to world fuel prices caused by the Russia-Ukraine military action have brought into sharp focus the need for energy self-reliance in many countries. To reduce energy supply risks and the amount of foreign exchange spent on importing fuel, more of the energy used in Zambia needs to be obtained from sustainable local sources.
Increasing use of renewable energy sources for electricity and the development of battery technology for transportation are transforming the energy landscape. This change presents itself as an opportunity for countries such as Zambia which have abundant water, sunshine and wind resources but an underdeveloped energy sector.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen has been touted as the fuel of the future in the energy transition from fossil fuels to low carbon energy. Many technological innovations are being made to ensure that hydrogen is a safe and cost-effective product to generate, store, transport and use. According to projections, the global final energy mix will rapidly shift towards electricity and hydrogen, with one estimate that the two technologies will represent 32% of the global energy mix by 2035 and 50% by 2050. This trend is shown in the figure below.
Figure 2: Projections for the global final energy consumption mix until 2050 [2]
Hydrogen is a high energy density carrier with 3 times the energy density of petrol. It can be used as a feedstock in industries that are dependent on expensive imported petroleum fuels. Hydrogen can act as energy storage for excess or intermittent electricity generation from renewable energy solutions. Strategies to attain universal energy access in Zambia could use hydrogen as leapfrog technology in areas with low energy access. For example, bottled hydrogen may be used to provide low carbon cooking solutions in difficult to electrify rural areas. As a locally produced fuel, hydrogen would have the potential to transform the energy sector in the country.
Green hydrogen is created using renewable electricity in an electrolyser by splitting water into its constituent parts. Green hydrogen can be used to link renewable electricity generation with sectors that are difficult to electrify such as heat for industry and as a fuel for large vehicles.
Because of its physical location and suitable natural resources Zambia is predicted to be able to produce green hydrogen that would be competitive in price on the world market as shown in the figure below. According to this assessment southern and western parts of the country should be able to produce hydrogen at a price less than $2.2/kg at some point between 2030 and 2050. This estimated future hydrogen price is compared with current energy prices in the table below.
Figure 3: Hydrogen costs from hybrid solar PV and onshore wind systems in the long term [3]
Table 1: Comparison of projected hydrogen price with current energy prices for similar fuels in Zambia
Diesel price of K25.65/litre and exchange rate of $17.3/K
Liquefied petroleum gas, estimate based on K810 for 19 kg, May 2021 price
Electrolysers
The technology necessary to successfully deploy clean energy is largely imported into Zambia. A new technology and innovation ecosystem needs to be developed in which industry, academia and government work together to select and develop the most appropriate technology needed to solve local problems and generate wealth in the country. One technology that could be of benefit to Zambia is the development and manufacture of electrolysers.
Electrolysers use electricity to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen. Electrolysers come in three main types: alkaline, polymer electron membrane (PEM) and solid oxide. Alkaline electrolysers are the most used type in industrial settings. They use electrodes made of iron, nickel and nickel alloy sometimes with cobalt catalysts which would make this technology relatively accessible for sourcing materials in Zambia. By contrast PEM electrolysers require more exotic rare materials like iridium and ruthenium. Both alkaline and PEM electrolysers operate at relatively low temperatures (< 80°C). Solid oxide electrolysers are still in development in part due to technical problems caused by their operation at temperatures greater than 700°C.
Figure 4: Schematic and properties of alkaline electrolyser [4]Figure 4b chematic and properties of alkaline electrolyser [4]
Energy Storage
Hydrogen can be used to store energy when there is an excess of renewable electricity supply and for transportation to difficult to electrify locations. Many rural areas have low population densities in which the economics do not support extending the national electric grid to these locations. Stored hydrogen fuel offers an alternative to battery storage technology and liquefied petroleum gas (used extensively in some countries such as India and Brazil) to provide energy to remote areas or for cooking purposes. Compressed ammonia gas is an effective means of storing and transporting hydrogen and could be deployed for both small and large-scale energy storage needs. It is noted that for short term storage needs such as diurnal cycles, batteries would provide a more efficient means of energy storage whereas hydrogen would be more suited to longer duration storage. The figures below demonstrate this.
Figure 5: Energy capacity vs storage duration for hydrogen and other storage technologies [4]Figure 6: Relative efficiency of electricity generated from battery and hydrogen stored energy [4]Fertiliser Manufacture
Green hydrogen can be used as a feedstock for industrial processes. Hydrogen when combined with nitrogen from the air forms ammonia which is a precursor to nitrogen-based fertiliser (urea and ammonium nitrate) manufacture. Current methods of ammonia and fertiliser production are energy intensive and use natural gas (methane) as a feedstock. The natural gas is reformed at high temperatures using steam to obtain hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The figure below shows how the process to create fertilisers from green hydrogen might work.
Figure 7: Green ammonia and low carbon fertiliser production [5]Zambia imports fertiliser at great cost though there are attempts to increase local fossil fuel-based fertiliser manufacture. Between 1972 and 2015 Sable Chemicals in Zimbabwe used electrolysers powered by hydro-electric energy to produce green hydrogen and ammonia for fertiliser manufacture. Ammonia production was stopped in 2015 due to a persistent country-wide energy deficit and increased electricity tariffs. Zimbabwe now imports ammonia gas from South Africa.
Steel Manufacture
Green hydrogen can also be used as a source of heat for industrial processes. In the Zambian context the most notable industrial use would be steel manufacture.
Replacing coal with hydrogen is a promising option still in development for decarbonising the steel production process. The main Zambian steel manufacturing facility, UMCIL Kafue Steel, uses a coal-based direct reduction process for the conversion of iron oxide ore to direct reduced iron. Green hydrogen can be used to replace coal as a reducing agent.
Hydrogen Cooking Solutions
Clean energy solutions are required to reduce the dependence on biofuels such as charcoal and firewood. Indiscriminate use of such fuels causes deforestation, damages ecosystems and exacerbates climate change. Additionally, many people exposed to the pollution of these fuels experience poor health outcomes. Green hydrogen offers an alternative cooking fuel in places that are difficult to reach with conventional grid or off-grid solutions. Combining bottled hydrogen with hydrogen gas cookers could be the way to solve the energy deficit in remote areas.
Figure 8: Hydrogen cooking solutions [6]
Transportation Vehicles
Whilst electric batteries have taken a lead in decarbonising the passenger vehicle sector, alternative clean energy solutions are needed for heavy goods and larger passenger vehicles. Currently electric vehicle battery technology does not provide the power or range requirements for larger vehicles. Hydrogen offers a potential solution with the development of fuel cell or synthetic fuel technology.
Fuel cells work like batteries but combine hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity, which is opposite to what an electrolyser does. Recently, Anglo American unveiled the world’s largest hydrogen-powered truck weighing 220 tonnes at a platinum mine in South Africa in an aim for the mining company to be carbon neutral by 2040, as shown in the figure below.
Figure 9: South Africa Launches world’s biggest hydrogen-fuelled truck [7]Alternatively, synthetic fuels can be made from the combination of green hydrogen and carbon dioxide to form a man-made liquid fuel similar to petrol, diesel or kerosene.
Namibia
In late 2021 the Namibian government announced plans to invest $9.4 billion over 40 years in green hydrogen production in collaboration with German consortium Hyphen Hydrogen Energy. The factors in favour of this investment are the abundant solar and wind energy resources in Namibia, proximity to the sea and significant reserves of platinum and iridium required to manufacture polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysers. The level of proposed investment is all the more remarkable considering that Namibia’s GDP in 2020 was $10.7 billion. The initial project phase worth $4.4 billion would create a 2 GW renewable energy electricity plant due to open in 2026. Further expansion at the end of the decade would generate a total of 5 GW of renewable energy capacity and 3 GW of electrolyser capacity.
Conclusion
A diversity of energy sources reduces risks to security of supply and increases the resilience of a country’s energy sector. Since Zambia imports all of its petroleum products, transitioning to an energy type that can be generated locally is important to establishing energy security, for wealth creation and improving balance of payments.
Manufacture of hydrogen electrolysers would provide an opportunity to create value-added industries using locally available minerals such as nickel and cobalt. Further development of much needed local industry, such as the manufacture of fertilisers and steel, can be enhanced using cheaper locally sourced fuels.
It is vital that appropriate research and development is undertaken to own technologies that are likely to form part of the future energy mix. Close collaboration is required between industry, academia and government to achieve the necessary technological upgrading and the transition to innovation-based economic growth.
The array of potential energy technologies that could be developed in Zambia include solar PV, concentrated solar thermal power, wind turbines, electric vehicle batteries, electrolysers, fuel cells, green hydrogen and synthetic fuels. A systems analysis approach would be necessary to determine which are the most optimum technologies to develop further within the Zambian economy.
The direction of the future global energy mix, abundance of renewable energy sources and water in Zambia, and the strategic and economic benefits of having a locally sourced fuel provide a strong case for the development of hydrogen technology solutions.
References
https://www.iea.org/countries/zambia
Global Energy Perspective 2022, McKinsey and Company, https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/oil-and-gas/our-insights/global-energy-perspective-2022
The Future of Hydrogen, International Energy Agency, June 2019, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-hydrogen
Carbonomics, The clean hydrogen revolution, Goldman Sachs, Feb 4 2022, https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/pages/carbonomics-the-clean-hydrogen-revolution.html
Green Ammonia and Low-Carbon Fertilizer Production in 2050, Fertlizers Europe, https://www.fertilizerseurope.com/paving-the-way-to-green-ammonia-and-low-carbon-fertilizers/
Solar Hydrogen for Cooking in the Global South, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lrese/sunhydrogencooking/
South Africa launches the world’s biggest hydrogen-fueled truck, https://www.citizen.co.za/news/3092243/south-africa-launches-the-worlds-biggest-hydrogen-fueled-truck/
Dr Roy Moobola is a specialist in energy solutions and a university lecturer in engineering.
Patriotic Front (PF) party presidential aspirant Brian Mundubile has urged citizens to constantly forgive leaders for the mistakes they make when governing the nation.
Dr. Mundubile, the leader of the opposition in Parliament, said leaders sometimes step on people’s toes in the course of their duty.
The Mpolokoso Member of Parliament was speaking during the celebration of the Patron Saint at Our Lady of Perpetual Catholic Church in Mindolo, Kitwe.
Dr. Mundubile urged Church members to constantly pray for political leaders to ensure that there is true unity in the country.
He said without prayers the leader’s bid to unite the country will be all in vain.
“I want to say that we derive a lot of comfort when we come to Church like we have done today. We get some direction and we also find peace and healing. Like I stated before, there is a need for you to continue praying for us to ensure that we find true unity in our country even in diversity, we find peace. Without your prayers our bid to unite this country will be all in vain. Without your prayers we will find peace within ourselves and within our political divide. It is therefore important that as we come to Church we come as one. We remain in our accord and pray to our God our Lord,” Dr. Mundubile said.
Dr. Mundubile further apologised for the mistakes the PF made when in Government.
“I further wish to state that as Christians let us all embrace the spirit of forgiveness. We have to forgive one another. I know that for us as politicians we are my friend Alexander Chiteme and many other leaders here. While we led the country it is possible that during our reign we made mistakes. We may have stepped on people’s toes. Brothers and sisters I want to take this opportunity to ask you to find it within your heart and forgive those of us that may have wronged you. The time is now, and the time is right that if at all there was an omission, there was a mistake that was made then please find within your heart to forgive us. At the same time find it within your heart to continue to forgive leaders both in the past, in the present and for those that may make mistakes in the near future. I thought it was timely to say to the Church,” Dr. Mundubile said.
Dr. Mundubile also saluted the growth of the Church in the 62 years it has existed.
“The Parish Priest (Fr. James Dokowe), please allow me to address my short address on this occasion. On this important occasion I am gladly and justly happy to join Parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Catholic Church in celebrating the Patron Saint Mother Day. Really it is common knowledge that over 62 years you have worked as a team together with other stakeholders within and outside government in making the Parish self sustaining and spiritually sound. I paid a lot of attention as you catalogued the many events and activities that have happened to this Church with the assistance of my brother (Chiteme) and many other stakeholders. Your achievements my brothers and sisters in Christ are a living example of your true faith in what believing and love that you have for the Church. I would like to remind you that the Patron Saint celebration will be meaningful if we can imitate our Mother Mary in her loyalty and humbleness,” Dr. Mundubile said.
Shepolopolo on Tuesday night ended their pre-2022 Women’s AFCON friendly itinerary with a 5-0 loss to Uganda in Marrakesh.
The 2022 CECAFA Women’s Cup champions went into the break with a three-nil lead after scoring all three goals in the last eight minutes of the first half.
Rita Kivumbi put Uganda ahead in the 38th minute and a minute later Fauzia Najjemba added the second.
Viola Nambi added goal number three in the 42nd minute to score one of two on the day.
She completed her brace in the 57th minute and fifteen minutes later, Fazila Ikwaput completed the rout.
The result was Shepolopolo’s first loss in their pre-tournament games after drawing 1-1 with WAFCON hosts Morocco on June 8 in Rabat and beating club side FC Phoenix Marrakech on June 25 in Marrakech.
It was also Zambia’s first loss in their earlier seven international matches played in 2022 after two wins and five draws.
Shepolopolo now head back to training for the final countdown ahead of their July 3 Group B opener against Cameroon in Casablanca.
Togo and Tunisia are Zambia’s other Group B opponents at the WAFCON Morocco is hosting from July 2-23.
Green Party president Peter Sinkamba has called for increased allocation of funds to the Drug Enforcement Commission to enhance sensitization programmes against drug abuse in schools.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kitwe today, Mr Sinkamba acknowledged that there is rampant drug abuse among learners in schools and universities a situation he said should be addressed.
Commenting on the World Drug Day which falls on June 28, which Zambia has also commemorated today, Mr Sinkamba further called for a stronger policy to guide and regulate the access and use of drugs of abuse such as marijuana and cocaine.
He noted that Zambia did not have a strong policy regulating the administration of drugs which he said leads to the rampant abuse of drugs by learners in schools both at secondary and tertiary education levels.
The Green party president also called on the Drug Enforcement Commission to collaborate with non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) to enhance sensitization against drug abuse in schools.
“When you have a policy which guides you, you cannot have a problem of drug abuse in schools, colleges and universities, the biggest problem we have is lack of policy on drug abuse and we shall resolve that problem with the policy, of course, the Drug Enforcement Commission is trying through the community outreach programmes to sensitize children and students not to indulge but more resources need to be availed,” Mr Sinkamba said.
He also noted the need for the introduction of drug abuse in the learners’ curriculum so that children start learning about drug abuse and its dangers so that they appreciate the importance of abstaining from drugs as they are growing up.
Meanwhile, Mr Sinkamba has bemoaned the slow pace at which the New Dawn government is moving in legalizing the growing of Marijuana for medicinal purposes.
He said Zambia would have been thinking about growing the second crop by now if the government was moving fast in finalizing the law on the implementation of the policy.
He noted that Zambia was losing huge sums of money and employment opportunities by delaying the implementation of the policy on the cultivation of marijuana.
He was however hopeful that the process of formalizing the law on the legalization of marijuana cultivation will soon be actualized.
Today President Hakainde Hichilema led Zambians in commemorating the World Drug Day at Mulungushi International Conference in Lusaka.
And last year, the Patriotic Front government passed the law legalizing the cultivation of marijuana which is earmarked to be piloted by the Zambia National Service (ZNS).
Kellys Kaunda, the Chief Information Officer for 12K Energy Group, has advised President Hakainde Hichilema to replace his entire media team at Statehouse.
Posting on his Facebook page in reaction to what he described as taking his article out of context, Mr Kaunda accused the current media team to have let the president down and warned that soon the president will realise how a scam the team is.
Mr Kaunda listed a number of incidents where the media team had let the president down and cautioned that if the president chooses to keep his media team, he will have no one except himself to blame should Zambians continue to misperceive his moves.
Below is the full post
PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA MUST REPLACE THE ENTIRE STATE HOUSE MEDIA TEAM
The Watchdog, run by some members of the President’s media team has taken my article this morning out of context. The lamentations regarding staff turnover after the change of government was made by UPND members on a panel that included Dr. Munshya, who is now High Commissioner-designate to Australia.
Deceitfully, the State House media team left out this fact, typical of how they always covered stories even when they were in the opposition. This line of media communication will not cut it now that you are in State House.
So far, you have lamentably let down President Hakainde Hichilema and the country at large. Responding to my article doesn’t come anywhere nearer what is expected of you. You may hoodwink a few people around you but not any communicator worth his salt. Here is how you have lamentably failed President Hakainde Hichilema.
When he announced his cabinet along with new ministries, some of which include the Green Economy, did any of you lay out any strategic communication plan to unpack the concept of a green economy and how it is related to climate change policies? When the President made his inaugural speech to the UN General Assembly, did any of you even realize that the man was outlining his foreign policy objectives by rolling out a communication strategy to this effect?
The President set up a public/private dialogue forum, did any of you communicators at State House demonstrate how big this development was in policy formulation and implementation or business/state relations and their relevance to national development?
The President makes one of the most important speeches of his career before the EU parliament, did you demonstrate any knowledge of what that speech meant and how it should be received?
The President has touted the increase in CDF as a major development in Zambia, has any of you media team members demonstrated any knowledge regarding public policy implementation and how this may be communicated to secure a public understanding of what it means? I can go on and on.
This President is way beyond your paygrade. You have scammed the man into believing that you are the right people for the job. Yes, I have the right to be angry because, I alone, can handle the job you have lamentably failed. And believe you me, should this President offer me to run the State House media team, I will accept because I owe it to the Zambian people.
The man you are serving ran an empire in the private sector where merit was the currency of trade. If you think he is not going to realise that his media team is a scam, you are out of your minds. If he chooses to keep you, he has no one except himself to blame should Zambians continue to misperceive his moves.
Lumezi Member of Parliament (MP), Munir Zulu, says there is need for the government to revisit the crop prices announced by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) recently.
Mr. Zulu observed that the commodity prices for the 2021/2022 crop marketing season do not correspond with costs incurred by farmers during the last farming season.
“The price of maize and soya beans has negatively affected the farmers and going forward, the government shall be engaged so that it considers increasing the market price of maize and soya beans,” he said.
Speaking to ZANIS today when he ended his visit to the valley area of the constituency, Mr. Zulu said the government should consider buying maize and soya beans at a more beneficial price to farmers.
He added that an upward adjustment in the price of grains will also assist farmers make a profit from their crops sales.
“The FRA price is not tallying with the cost of production for maize, however, increasing the market price will also help with the high cost of fertilizer,” he said.
The FRA recently announced that it will buy a 50 kilogramme bag of maize at K160 while a 50kg bag of soya beans is pegged at K550.
And Mr. Zulu has bemoaned the deplorable state of feeder roads in Mwanya, Chitungulu and Kazembe chiefdoms respectively.
“The road network is so bad and it is unfortunate that the constituency keeps recording road fatalities due to the poor roads,” he said.
Kitwe District Commissioner, Lawrence Mwanza, says his office and the Black Maintain Community Consortium will consider reducing the number of trucks loading at the slag dump (Black Mountain) every day in a bid to reduce traffic congestion on the Kitwe-Kalulushi road.
This decision follows complaints from residents of Kitwe and Kalulushi about the traffic congestion on the road caused by the trucks ferrying material from the black mountain to the processing companies.
Mr Mwanza said there are over 300 trucks using the road every day.
He noted that the problem is compounded by the numerous trucks heading to the Kasumbalesa border that use the same road, adding to the trucks from the black mountain.
“The quick solution there is the one that we have been working on. We have managed to find a route behind Mopani for the trucks carrying the slag from the black mountain, so if we take away all those trucks at the back, we will be easing up the route but we still have a challenge with the numerous trucks entering Kitwe enroute to Kasumbalesa,” he said.
He explained that the government is actively looking for a lasting solution to the challenge of constant congestion on the road, which he said is inconveniencing many other motorists.
And Mr. Mwanza has said the government will soon work on the Chibuluma-Kalulushi road which he said is also contributing to the traffic congestion because of its poor state.
The mining operations at the black mountain have continued to be the cause of traffic congestion both in Kitwe town and on the Kitwe- Chibuluma road.
Residents of Kitwe and Kalulushi using the road to go for work and back home have complained about the congestion saying it is becoming difficult for them to get to their various destinations on time.
There have also been cases of thefts from motor vehicles especially around St. Anthony compound as vehicles move slowly due to the traffic jams.
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