President Hakainde Hichilema has urged the European Union (EU) to partner with Zambia in exploring investment opportunities. Addressing the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium this morning, President Hichilema said Zambia’s vast freshwater bodies, arable land and central location make it better placed to be at the centre of ending poverty in Africa.

And President Hichilema said his administration is working hard to revamp the economy which had been on a downward trajectory for the past few years.

He appealed to the EU for financial assistance, research and development, technology and skills that will help Small and Media Entrepreneurs- (SME’s) grow their operations.

Meanwhile, the President told the EU Parliament that his administration will pay much attention to legislative reforms and strengthen oversight institutions which are key for compliance.

He said government will also undertake significant electoral reforms as recommended by the EU observer mission in the  last year’s general elections.

And President Hichilema further reiterated government’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by Zambian women and youths. He however called on the EU to look to Africa for skilled human resources among youths and women.

The President also appealed to the EU to address migration issues with Africa which would make movements easy. He further said Zambia will continue being at the centre of promoting peace and security in region as evidenced from the peaceful elections last year.

On the Russia – Ukraine War, President Hichilema expressed concern on the challenges it has presented across the globe. He said food, fuel and fertilizer crisis have turned out to be huge challenges for Zambia because of the War.

President Hichilema thanked the EU for coming to his aid when he was incarcerated for 127 days in 2017 whilst in the opposition and for standing up for Zambia when there was so much political intolerance. He said his government has since brought to an end political intolerance as citizens are now able to free walk in public places despite belonging to different political parties.

Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema is today expected in Rwanda to attend the Commonwealth Heads of State General Meeting. The Global Summit which officially opens tomorrow is expected to be graced by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

And First Lady Mutinta Hichilema is in the Rwandan Capital Kigali. Mrs. Hichilema, who arrived last night around 22:01 hours, was received at Kigali International Airport by Rwanda State Minister for Justice, Solina Nyirahabimana, and Zambia’s Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Chipoka Mulenga among others.

While in Rwanda, the First Lady is expected to among other engagements, attend a meeting on ‘Violence against women and girls’ and a girls education project showcase.

She will also interact with other spouses of the Commonwealth Heads of State

By Edward Chisanga

President Hichilema preaches trade and investment to the EU

When President Hichilema tells the European Union (EU) that he wants more trade and investment between his country and the largest and perhaps richest regional grouping in the world, it is not because we like parroting his words that we support his call. Heads of State make statements in public, out of which intellectuals pick pieces and put them together to share a point with citizens, not out of malice for those found with stains in the story but to simply inform the public. The President simply asked the EU to invest and trade more with Zambia. He doesn’t tell me what to write out of that but I see an opportunity.

But Zambia has been divesting trade from the EU

Many Zambians may be forgiven if they assume that Zambia’s main trading partner is the EU. Yes, it used to be many years ago. But no more as Figure 1 below shows. Between 2001 and 2013, Zambia experienced rising trend in exports which was not continued thereafter. Instead, the last ten years are characterized by high rise in imports from the EU which, at one point in 2013, shot up to over US$1.2 billion.

Although government tried to bring imports down quite immensely, it continued to import significantly at the expense of exporting more to the EU, leading to massive trade deficit, which in 2013 reached a staggering minus US$800 million. Although the last ten years saw steadfast improvement in bringing down the deficit, manifested in the rising line shown between 2013 and 2020, this good effort falls short in overcoming the long downtrend shown between 2001 and 2013. Let me remind the reader that a country that continuously records trade deficits fails to leverage external income from trade unless it is spending money on importing capital and intermediate goods for industrialization.

Zambia’ major imports from the EU

Yes, Zambia imported more capital goods from the EU than consumer goods as Figure 2 below shows. But imports of consumer goods is equally high. I’m not sure if it is possible for the country to reduce significantly imports of consumer goods without knowing what they really are. Often, assumptions are made that the country should produce what it imports in order to lower imports and earn trade surpluses. But we have to be frank sometimes and state that many products produced by Zambians have very low quality and do not meet consumer needs. Most honey, made in Zambia for example has funny smell that makes it difficult to continue eating it. Consumers, including Zambians have the right to quality products including imported ones. Striking the balance between these two conflicting sides is not easy.

Zambians cannot simply be subjected to bad products for the sake of nationalism. Zambians must become globally competitive. But using dilapidated machinery, backward processes, unskilled manpower, juxtaposed by under-developed infrastructure, how can they?

Whether we like it or not, export value addition, improved products and the development of the local private sector may not come from Zambians alone in the long-term. It needs to be complimented by foreign direct investment (FDI) that President Hichilema is calling for from developed and more advanced developing countries. Zambia’s significant loss of FDI in the last two decades has largely contributed to its retarded economic growth. While Zambia has literally nothing to export to the EU (because, instead, it is exporting copper to China and Switzerland), our leaders must focus on negotiating FDI, technology, infrastructure and human capital development.

Much as I may be referred to as West-centric, by those who think that development will only come from Zambians, I assent that the President is doing the right thing. Viet Nam, which has overtaken Africa in exports of manufactured goods flourished partly due to FDI from the West and within Asia. But in Africa, we don’ have the likes of Singapore, Korea, China, etc where we can get FDI. South Africa is alone and only investing in retail outlets.

Central Province Minister Credo Nanjuwa has halted operations at Kaluba and parts of Kawasaki mine as the pollution worsens in residential areas near the mines in ways ward of Kabwe District.

Mr. Nanjuwa has since summoned all team leaders of the said mines to the office of the District Commissioner by 10 hours today.
The minister has tasked the local authority to ensure that those miners put culverts as they have blocked the main canal hence blocking the waters.

The Minister has also tasked Kabwe Municipal Council to ensure total safety of all farmers who have gardens in the said mining areas by Sensitizing them about the danger of planting their vegetables in lead contaminated areas.

Mr. Nanjuwa has stressed the need for the local authority to work closely with the office of the district commissioner to ensure safety of the residents that have complained of heavy polluted dust by the miners.

Meanwhile,the Minister also warned and cautioned miners from wearing UPND party regalia while conducting their mining activities.
He said that cooperatives were given licenses to conduct mining activities and not caders.

The Minister was accompanied by members of the Provincial joints operations Committee , the District Commissioner Lennox Shimwambwa, Director Engineering and Director Public Health and the District Health officer Dr. Tiza Mfune.

 Government has given bursaries amounting to K207,250  to 194 pupils for secondary boarding for term two under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in Serenje District in Central Province.

While applications for 226 students in the district are waiting approval for skills training.

ZANIS reports that Serenje town council secretary  Milly Muluti  confirmed that  the bursaries amounting to K71,750.00 have been given to 60 pupils for secondary boarding  out of which 47 are males and the remainder females.

68 pupils from Muchinga constituency have received bursaries for secondary boarding amounting to K135,500.00.

Meanwhile, approval of K2,023,953.00  for bursaries by the minister of local government will be given to  60 female students and 166 male students to acquire skill training from TEVETA accredited institutions.

“The numbers for both secondary boarding and skills training is reasonable considering that we are just starting. I am sure next time more will apply,” She observed.

She added that the council will continue to sensitise people on the increased CDF in the district.

A building block which houses the district administration and seven other government line ministries in Zimba district, Southern Province is on the verge of collapsing.

The civil servants operate amid fears that the building may   collapse any time soon.

As a result, smooth services to the  people in the area and nation at large are being hampered.

The building, formerly a Guest house for Zimba Town Council was turned into an office block catering the district administration, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Green Economy, Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development and the  Ministry of Information and Media.

Others operating in the same building owing to lack of accommodation space are Ministry of Community Development, Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security among other ministries.

The office block has no toilet and civil servants operating in the building walk about 500 metres away to relieve themselves or go to the nearby ‘bush’ to answer to the call of nature.

On an on-the-spot check conducted today by the Zimba Town Council Deputy Council Secretary, Jeremiah Sachikola and Council Chief Administrative Officer Vincent Mwaanga found several cracks on the wall of the building.

The inspection and tour at the building further revealed that they are big cracks in the walls of the building and the roof is also falling apart because of the planks that are rotten and eaten by termites (ants).

Besides, the toilets have collapsed, neglected and abandoned and become un-usable for a long time now.

The two Council officials were  shown around the dilapidated building by Zimba District Administrative Officer (DAO) Gift Hajongola.

Mr. Hajongola said if the building is not renovated quickly, civil servants working from the  building risked their lives.

 “This building will just one day fall  and we’ll be in trouble. There are no toilets and people go elsewhere to relieve themselves. Therefore, the better it is worked on soon,” the DAO said.

He , however said, a letter has been sent to the higher authorities for consideration over the building in question.

But Deputy Council Secretary, Jeremiah Sachikola is hopeful that the renovation work of the building will start next year.

He that at the moment, there are no funds but expressed optimistic that the Central government is aware of the situation to release the resources preferably using Constituency Development Fund, CDF to repair the building block.

And some of the government workers talked by ZANIS demanded to move out of the risky deplorable building.

Speaking with ZANIS on a condition of anonymity, the civil servants said the building is not fit for human adaptation.

“We work here in this building block with risks. The building isn’t fit for human adaptation,” stated one affected senior government employee.