Friday, June 20, 2025
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 622

I’m not being paid to promote gay rights in Zambia-Laura Miti

Chief Editor
-
15
I’m not being paid to promote gay rights in Zambia-Laura Miti

Outspoken civil society activist Laura Miti has denied allegations that she is being paid to promote gay rights in Zambia.

Despite denying the allegations, Ms. Miti has said Zambia should decriminalize gay sex in Zambia.

Featuring on ZNBC Television’s Sunday Interview, Ms. Miti said she cannot receive money to champion the agenda she does not believe in.

Ms. Miti, however, said Zambia should stop jailing people over gay sex.

“I am not pushing for gay rights. Let me speak about this, you know to have gay rights you have to put them in the constitution. I don’t think we should. I don’t think we are ready. I don’t think you push a country to put in their constitution what generally they are not ready for because that constitution becomes academic. And if you look at western countries, it took them hundreds of years to get to the point when they could put gay rights in the constitution so I don’t think Zambia and Africa to a large extent is ready for that,” Ms. Miti said.

“My point is, we must not put people in jail. That is the only point. Let’s make small movements and the small movements for me are that you cannot break down hotel rooms. Just think of all the people we have gotten in prison. They had private relationships. It is them two consenting adults doing whatever they do. Gay rights currently illegal just like apartheid was legal. You see what I mean, apartheid was legal, and does that make it just? So all I ask for is that they should not be put in jail. That is the only thing. We should change the law and not make this criminal. Let’s decriminalize it,” Ms. Miti said.

The activist insisted that she does not pursue wealth in her life.

“My response to being paid to push an agenda is that anybody who says you have been paid to say something usually has a price themselves and it is very sad. I just think to myself if you think I have been paid it means you could be paid. You know what I mean; you could be paid to say something you don’t believe in. I could never be paid to say something I don’t believe. You know if I was being paid I would marvelously be rich. Luckily for me I don’t pursue wealth, I don’t pursue wealth. I don’t wanna be rich but even if I wanted to be rich I don’t just have the kind of money so I genuinely believe that we should not have people sitting in jail. That is my only issue. We should not have people sitting in jail, arrested over having sex,” she said.

Ms. Miti said Zambia should direct its energy to fighting rampant non consensual sex.

“Let me tell you what I think we should be dealing with which really breaks my heart. You know right now the sex problem we have in the country is non consensual sex. In this country, young girls and even girls of the age of consent routinely have sex they do not want because they are looking for a job, because they are trying to enter police, because they are trying to get any of these hierarchical institutions. You have young girls 10, 11, 12… of living in homes which are probably of not their parents. Raped by their parents, raped by their uncles. Issues being resolved at home. Do you know why? Because as a country we believe that heterosexual sex, we seem to understand man. We have so many broken people over non consensual sex. Last week, someone came into my inbox and she named a human resource manager of a huge private company in Zambia who has pushed her to have sex with him unless. Otherwise she won’t get the job. What I am saying is that as a country we are very myopic. These issues that are affecting us like extreme poverty, we are not discussing them,” she said.

On the same TV Show, Ms. Miti called for the quick enactment of the Access to Information Law in Zambia.

She further said the proposed amendment of the Public Order Act should be tabled in the next session of Parliament

MPs push for 20% salary hike, want K3, 000 as sitting allowance and US$120,000 Car Loan

Chief Editor
-
37
MPs push for 20% salary hike, want K3, 000 as sitting allowance and US$120,000 Car Loan

Members of Parliament will soon become some of the highest paid workers in Zambia if their demands for a 20% pay rise goes through.

As Parliament reopens tomorrow, the MPs who currently receive an average of K50, 000 want their monthly salaries to go up by 20%.

They also want their sitting allowances to increase to K3, 000 per sitting from the current K1, 500.

The People’s Representatives are also demanding that their Car Loans allocation be increased to US$120,000.

They also pushing for increases in other benefits such as Fuel allowances.

Some MPs interviewed defended their demands on account that the cost of living has gone up.

And sources at the National Assembly have confirmed that the MPs have called for a Caucus at which they hope to agree on the next course of action if their demands are not met.

The Caucus will take place at Parliament Building on Tuesday morning before Parliament opens later in the afternoon.

The sources revealed that during last sitting, Petauke Member of Parliament Emmanuel J. Banda was tasked with presenting the petition to Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane which was signed by all opposition and Independent MPs demanding for a higher pay.

“The MPs feel that petition was largely ignored and they believe it never received any attention from the President and now in this sitting, they want to put it as Agenda Item No. 1 and they will not relent until their demands are met,” said the source.

The source said the MPs are planning to conduct a silent protest in Parliament if they do not get their demands addressed.

“They plan to be keeping silent when in the House so that there is no debate whatsoever as a way of making the Executive respond to their demands. What is interesting is that the current Ministers of Finance and Home Affairs (Jack Mwiimbu) were in the forefront pushing for a salary increment in the last Parliament before the August 2021 elections, it would be interesting to see how they will conduct themselves on this matter this time around,” the source said.

TOFAZA calls for increased sensitisation on the gravity of tobacco

Support Editor
-
3
TOFAZA calls for increased sensitisation on the gravity of tobacco

Tobacco Free Association of Zambia (TOFAZA) has called for sensitisation on the gravity of tobacco on the environment.

With the globe having commemorated World Environment day yesterday, TOFAZA says the day should be used as a platform to raise awareness on all matters that negatively affect the environment, including tobacco growing, and  manufacturing and use.

In a statement, TOFAZA Executive Director Brenda Chitindi says the impact of tobacco on the environment happens at various stages including growing and cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal of tobacco products.

“Each of these stages has negative implications for the environment, including the use of precious resources such as water and trees and the creation of pollutants through manufacturing,” she elaborated.

She added that tobacco production affects the air, before it is even smoked to cause further damage to a person’s health.

“Tobacco growing destroys forests, damages soil and depletes water supplies. Manufacturing on the other hand contributes to the production of toxic waste.

“ Tobacco use pollutes the air we breathe, while also leaving residual nicotine and other harmful chemicals on indoor surfaces thereby exposing non-smokers to second-hand and third-hand smoke toxins,” she explained.

Zambia needs to pick up the pace and put greater efforts in finding better solutions to pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss in order to truly transform society and economy, and ultimately take care of the environment.

Stressing that this task requires concerted efforts, Ms. Chitindi has urged government to adopt the tobacco control bill which has been pending for over a decade, as one of the interventions in ensuring a healthy environment.

The World Environment Day falls annually on the 5th of June to raise awareness on the importance of preserving nature.

This World Environment Day theme is :  ‘Only One Earth‘, which draws our attention towards playing our role effectively while living in perfect harmony with nature – without proving a burden on it.

 

Kamanga: All Home Games Are Must-Wins

sports
-
3

FAZ President Andrew Kamanga has told Chipolopolo to excel in home matches if they are to qualify to the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.Zambia is hosting Comoros on Tuesday evening in Lusaka in their second Group H match after losing the opener 3-1 against Ivory Coast in West Africa last Friday.

Writing in his weekly column dubbed ‘The President’s Corner’, Kamanga said Zambia has an opportunity to amends against Comoros after the disappointing outing to Ivory Coast.

“Our beloved Chipolopolo were away in Yamoussoukro in Ivory Coast where they suffered a 3-1 loss in the opening match. Admittedly, the result was disappointing for the nation, but we have an opportunity to make things right on home soil tomorrow when we host Comoros Islands,” he wrote.

“The Tuesday match is particularly important because from the experience of past qualifiers, most teams that make the final tournament maximize points in home games,” Kamanga said.

The FAZ boss urged fans to rally behind Chipolopolo at National Heroes Stadium on Tuesday evening.

“We therefore implore the fans to turn up in numbers and cheer our boys on Tuesday. We saw how far home support can go in spurring the team when we faced Ivory Coast on Friday. The Ivoirians painted Yamoussoukro Stadium orange and never for a moment dropped their voices in support of the elephants. We have no doubt if the fans can turn up for the team, they will be rewarded with positive rewards,” he added.

Fish farming business threatened in Northern province

Support Editor
-
2
Fish farming business threatened in Northern province

Aquaculture development in Kasama township in  Nothern province is under threat as a result of limited fingerings in the area.

The affected fish farmers have bemoaned that because of the limited breeds of fingerlings, their businesses are now threatened as they are failing to meet their customers’ needs.

However, Kasama District Commissioner (DC)  Elizabeth Goma has appealed to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to allow local fish farmers to start breeding hybrid species.

Mrs. Goma  laments that fish farmers in the area are discouraged to continue with their enterprise because the current recommended species take time to mature.

She said some fish farmers have spent a lot of money but are not yielding any profit because the fish they have been allowed to breed is not profitable.

Mrs. Goma said when she visited Miracle Fisheries Company that even some youths who acquired loans to venture into fish farming might not be able to pay back.

She observed that in other provinces fish farmers are allowed to farm hybrid fish like the Nile Tilapia and the Niloticus species which mature fast and are profitable.

Miracle Fisheries Company Director Navit Patel said his company has the capacity to produce over seventy thousand tons of fish every six months once they start using hybrid fish species.

Mr. Patel observed that his company has invested Millions in the fish project but they have not realized much profit in the last eight years of operation.

He noted that the company which has created over 60 permanent jobs risks being closed up.

Mr. Patel said if his company is allowed to start production of hybrid fish it will even increase the number of employees and production capacity.

Meanwhile, Bright Mweemba, a youth who has ventured in aquaculture farming said it’s hard to manage the recommended indigenous species.

Mr. Mweemba called on the government to look into the matter so that a lot of people can be encouraged to venture into fish farming.

Don’t pay for shoddy works- Kasanda

Support Editor
-
4
Don’t pay for shoddy works- Kasanda

Information and Media Minister Chushi Kasanda has directed Chisamba Town Council not to pay contractors constructing infrastructure under the Constituency Development Fund -CDF- if the works do not meet the required standard.

Ms. Kasanda who is also Chisamba Constituency Member of Parliament has expressed disappointment at the quality of most infrastructure constructed in her constituency under CDF.

ZANIS reports that the minister said government is spending a lot of money on infrastructure that does not meet the required standard.

She said there is need for contractors to deliver projects to the government that have value for money.

Ms. Kasanda was speaking when she inspected a one by three classroom block at Lukoshi Secondary School.

She urged the local Authority to closely monitor the projects instead of waiting until at the end of it.

3 Chipata Cops implicated in robbery

Support Editor
-
6
3 Chipata Cops implicated in robbery

Three police officers from Chipata district who are implicated in a robbery in which 150,000 Kwacha was stolen from the driver of a Chinese national have appeared in the magistrates Court.

This is the matter in which officer in-charge of police intelligence in Eastern Province detective superintendent Nedson Mwandu 55, criminal investigations officer detective chief inspector Mike Kasumba 49 ,and SergeantMassimo Hamutete  40 who is under the Anti-robbery unit are charged with aggravated robbery.

The accused appeared before principal resident magistrate Noniface Mwale   for explanation of the charge.

Earlier, the state substituted the charge from theft to aggravated robbery.

They are alleged to have attacked Nodd Mwanza  along Sunnyside resort off Malawi road on May 19, 2022 and stole 150 thousand kwacha belonging to a Chinese businessman Chen Zhang.

The accused will appear for mention on June 14, 2022 whilst waiting to appear in the High Court for plea.

The police officers are represented by John Phiri  from JMP associates.

Mongu DC disapproves the recruitment process of heath personnel

Chief Editor
-
16
Mongu DC disapproves the recruitment process of heath personnel

Mongu District Commissioner, Akabeswa Imasiku has disapproved the recruitment process of 142 health personnel by the human resource committee in the district.

Mr Imasiku said this during the media briefing at his office, saying the recruitment process has to be redone citing a lot of irregularities in the process.

The District Commissioner said the human resource committee has not followed the decentralization policy of considering the local applicants including those who were doing voluntary services with the clinics in the district.

Mr Imasiku said the human resource committee tasked to do the recruitment has disadvantaged the local residents adding that the province has been used on several times as an entry and exit points of civil servants.

He said currently the district has 41 positions in the education sector with people on payroll who are not working in the district but they are elsewhere.

And Mr Imasiku has, however, expressed happiness with the teacher recruitment as his office was fully engaged.

Mabika Not Coming For Comoros Clash

sports
-
4

Aime Mabika is not coming for Tuesday’s 2023 AFCON qualifier game against Comoros at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

Last Thursday, Sports Minister Elvis Nkandu hinted that we might see the USA-based defender during one of the two June’s Group H qualifying matches following progress in his naturalisation application.

However, sources familiar with the development have indicated that the paperwork is still being processed.

The 23-year-old defender from USA MLS club Inter Miami was born in Lusaka to DR Congo parentage before the family left for America.

Mabika made his Zambia debut on March 25 in the friendly against Congo-Brazzaville played in Antalya, Turkey.

He one of two players from the diaspora who was called-up for the trip to Turkey together with UK-born defender Frankie Musonda of Scottish second tier club Raith Rovers.

Musonda’s application was successful and is part of the Group H qualifiers and featured in Fridays 3-1 Group H away loss to Cote d’Ivoire.

K9.3 billion released for 2022 Budget Implementation, all arrears to contractors cleared

Chief Editor
-
18
K9.3 billion released for 2022 Budget Implementation, all arrears to contractors cleared

The Ministry of Finance in May released K9.3 billion towards the ongoing implementation of the 2022 National Budget.

Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said that 9.2 billion of the total release was domestically financed while 76 million Kwacha was foreign.

Dr Musokotwane said that of the released funds 646.5 million Kwacha was channelled towards the countrywide supply of drugs and medical supplies to avoid interruptions while public hospitals and universities got 29.2 million Kwacha for operational expenses.

He says women and youth empowerment programmes under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) were given K 2.8m.
The Minister states that primary and secondary schools are funded on a quarterly basis hence grants for the second quarter were disbursed in April to facilitate the smooth implementation of the free education policy in the second term.

Dr Musokotwane further reveals that Food Security Packs and the Social Cash Transfer Programme got K1.50m and K169.3m. Other sectors that have benefited are road funds with 741.4 million Kwacha which involves payments to over 700 micro, small and medium scale contractors and suppliers of services in the road sector.

In a statement to the media in Lusaka, Dr Musokotwane said this has cleared all arrears to contractors.
The Minister also noted that K368.8m was released to dismantle liabilities for goods and services previously supplied to the Government, of which 1-hundred million Kwacha went towards payment of personnel-related arrears for public service officials, some of whom were owed for more than 5 years.

And Dr Musokotwane said K2.4bn was released for debt service of which K433m went to external debt service for multilateral creditors while  Salaries for civil servants and overseas allowances for employees in missions abroad got K3.91bn.

Meanwhile, Dr Musokotwane has expressed delight that consultations for the 2023 National Budget and the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework are progressing well.

He said the positive feedback from stakeholders and the public to the Ministry’s invitation to participate in the formulation of next year’s national budget and the MTEF for 2023 to 2025, is encouraging and demonstrates the resolve by Zambians to help shape the direction of economic policy and the national development process.

So far the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has held participatory consultations in Luapula and Northern Provinces with nine other meetings set from June 6 to 22 in seven provinces.

Unite the country, Copperbelt Minister, Elisha Matambo tells the church

Chief Editor
-
4
Unite the country, Copperbelt Minister, Elisha Matambo tells the church

Copperbelt Minister, Elisha Matambo has called on the church to help the New Dawn government unite the country.

Mr. Matambo sadly noted that the church was also equally divided especially in the run up to the 2021 general elections although the Lord allowed to the country to hold peaceful elections.

Speaking in Kitwe yesterday during a graduation ceremony for 118 members of the clergy from various Pentecostal churches organized by the Throneroom Christ Ministry International, Mr. Matambo noted that the country never held thanks giving prayers after the peaceful elections following the prayer meetings that were organized to pray for peaceful elections.

Mr. Matambo has since called for holding of thanks giving meetings for the peaceful elections and many other good things that God has done for the country.

He further reiterated President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to working with the church in fostering national unity and development.

He said the Head of State has also made it clear that as long as he is President, Zambia will remain a Christian nation.

He noted that governments come and go but the church remains, a reason he said his government will continue to work with the church.

He further stated that the New Dawn government has managed to remove cadres who were harassing the church.

And Mr. Matambo urged the graduating clergy to be strong prayer warriors and intercede for the country especially the Copperbelt which he said is the economic pillar of the country.

He further assured the clergy that he will organize an indaba with local authorities in the province to see how churches can be helped to acquire pieces of land where they can build their own permanent structures.

He noted that most churches do not have their own worshipping structures because they have difficulties in securing land.

And the clergy took advantage of the presence of Mr. Matambo to pray for him against all evil plots against him.

Throneroom Christ Ministry International Nigeria, Deputy Coordinator Programme and Planning, Nuhe Kure prayed that the holy spirit protects Mr. Matambo against backstabbers that are not happy with him being the provincial minister.

He said the Copperbelt was an important province which hold the economic fortunes of the country which makes it the envy of many politicians.

And Earlier, Father Robert Sihubwa from the Anglican Church in Lusaka said the church is willing to work with the government in promoting peace and uniting the country.

Father Sihubwa said the church will help intercede for the country and leave its doors wide open for consultations by government officials.

During the graduation ceremony, 118 members of the clergy graduated in various spiritual skills after a one month training.

Two health posts in Kaoma constructed with CDF funds completed

Chief Editor
-
5
Two health posts in Kaoma constructed with CDF funds completed

The government has completed the construction of two health posts and a market shelter all valued at K600,000 in Kaoma Central Constituency under the 2020/2021 Constituency Development Fund(CDF).

The health posts and market shelter have since been handed over to the community for use.

One health post was constructed in Namaloba Ward at Namimbwe, while the other and market shelter is in Chilombo Ward at Chilombo.

Due to the absence of a health facility, People of Chilombo and Namimbwe were traveling over 10 kilometers in the night to access health services at the District Hospital.

The health posts will cater for over 1500 people in both Chilombo and Namimbwe wards.

At Chilombo, Marketeers sold their merchandise in an open space without toilets causing a health hazard on both the buyer and the seller.

The market shelter will cater for over 40 Marketeers around Chilombo and surrounding areas.

Speaking during the handover ceremony Kaoma Central Member of Parliament, Morgan Sitwala stated that the construction of the health post was clear testimony of President Hakainde Hichilema to prioritize the right to provide basic health services to all citizens.

Brigadier General Sitwala said there is an assurance of a better service as there should be no excuse from health workers not to offer the much needed service to the community.

“The increment of CDF will eradicate health facilities backlog and the financial hardships the people of Namimbwe and Chilombo to hire vehicles because of the distances they were covering to access medical services and we don’t expect any excuse from health personnel but to provide the service to our people, everything needed is in place,”General Sitwala said.

General Sitwala commended the council for ensuring that the projects were delivered within the stipulated timeframe.

And Kaoma Town Council Secretary, Raphael Kamanga said the health posts were constructed in areas where people demanded for the service.

Mr Kamanga disclosed that a total of K203,000 was spent on the Namimbwe health post while Chilombo gobbled K208,000 and the market shelter was built at K187,000.

He disclosed that staff houses were yet to be constructed at the two facilities.

And representing the user department Ministry of Health Acting Health Director, Lawrence Shabalala commended government for the construction of health posts as they will help his ministry bring the health services closer to the people.

Mr Shabalala said the construction of the health posts will help in the evacuation of patients to the District hospital because of the good communication facilities put in place.

He appealed to the community to jealously guard the facilities against vandalism before they are fully operational.

One of the beneficiaries, Anna Ngombo narrated how she lost a child who was very ill at home as she could not afford to hire a vehicle to the hospital.

Mrs Ngombo said the construction of the health posts will save life and further commended government for the gesture.

Investors urged to explore tourism potential during Mutomolo ceremony

Chief Editor
-
4
Investors urged to explore tourism potential during Mutomolo ceremony

The Mambwe- Lungu Cultural Association (MALUCA) has appealed to investors to take advantage of this year’s Mutomolo traditional ceremony to explore the rich tourism potential found in the area.

MALUCA National Chairperson, Felix Mulwanda also announced that this year’s Mutomolo traditional ceremony is scheduled to take place from 24th to 25th of June at the shores of Lake Chila in Mbala district.

Mr. Mulwanda told ZANIS in an interview in Kasama today that this year’s ceremony will be very unique.

He explained that the ceremony will have various stands to showcase some of the rich cultural practices synonymous with the Mambwe- Lungu people.

Mr. Mulwanda urged Zambians including those living in the diaspora to turn up in number so they can come and appreciate the way of life of the Mambwe- Lungu speaking people.

He said people coming for the event should also take advantage of their visit to sample the various tourism sites found in Mbala, Senga and Mpulungu districts.

He explained that the three districts have historical places and natural wanders such as the Lake Tanganyika which is the second deepest rift valley in the world and Lake Chila which is linked to the 1st world war.

Mr Mulwanda added that the areas are also blessed with Kalambo Falls, Nzunzu Mountain which has a highest pick for mountain climbing and the Moto-moto museum.

And National Treasurer, Lawrence Sinyangwe disclosed that the organising committee is in need of over K800,000 to successfully host the Mutomolo ceremony.

Mr Sinyangwe said the committee has so far managed to raise K90,000 out of K800,000 needed.

He has since appealed to all the stakeholders including business houses to come on board and support the event.

Mr. Sinyangwe also challenged youths in the country to take keen interest in learning the traditional ceremonies of different ethnic groups in order to have deeper knowledge and understand the country’s heritage

The Mutomolo traditional ceremony is celebrated annually by the Mambwe- Lungu speaking people to thank God and taste the first harvest.

Read my lips, there will be no cadreism: Another Hichilema’s failing promise

Chief Editor
-
12
Read my lips, there will be no cadreism: Another Hichilema’s failing promise

By Venus N Msyani

“Read my lips, there will be no cadreism” is another president Hakainde Hichilema’s failing promise.

It appears cadreism Zambia is experiencing at the moment is not cadreism to President Hichilema. If it were, the president would have started condemning to defend his promise.

Recently cadres held a press briefing at court ground calling for changes in the judiciary. That is first class cadreism.

Appearing on Diamond TV program on Monday May 23rd, 2022, United Party for National Development (UPND) national youth chairperson, Gilbert Liswaniso mentioned rehabilitation as a new way of dealing with people “insulting” President Hakainde Hichilema. Hoping is not intimidation and bullying.

According to Mr. Liswaniso, anyone who criticizes the president is not normal. Such person needs rehabilitation.

“We will try by all means to ensure that the types of Nakachinda, Bowman Lusambo, all those individuals, are just few individuals because they are not many. We will rehabilitate them to become normal and is us in UPND to show them.” Mr. Liswaniso has declared.

Patriotic Front (PF) Information and Publicity Chairperson Raphael Nakachinda claim to use his binoculars to zoom President Hichilema performance and uses his Facebook page to report what he observes.

He has been absent on his Facebook page for about two weeks now. Before disappearing, Mr. Nakachinda had posted a short video on his page complaining about UPND cadres plotting to torture him.

It is very possible Mr. Nakachinda is being intimidated and bullied by Mr. Liswaniso and his team.

Another mentioned critic Bowman Lusambo has apologized to President Hakainde Hichilema. The surprising party of it is that the Kabushi MP now believes President Hichilema’s fight against corruption is noble!

“We believe this fight is noble and intended to help develop Zambia. If there are any resources that belong to Zambia that may have been looted, they should be recovered and rechanneled for the benefit of all.” Mr. Lusambo wrote on his Facebook page while concluding his apology to HH.

One would not be wrong to conclude that Hon. Lusambo has been rehabilitated by Mr. Liswaniso and his team; cadres.

Who knows, it could be through intimidation and bullying. This is a person who few days ago the fight against corruption had left him homeless!

“Read my lips, there will be no cadreism” is another Hichilema’s failing promise. Political intimidation and bullying is real.

It doesn’t Make Sense to give Tax Breaks and Other Unnecessary Incentives to Mines

Chief Editor
-
7
It doesn’t Make Sense to give Tax Breaks and Other Unnecessary Incentives to Mines

Fred M’membe President of the Socialist Party

There is really no need to be in a rush to give away our minerals to foreign transnational mining corporations for next to nothing. Anglo American, Anglovaal, Glencore, Vendata and other mining corporations are interested in our minerals because there are gigantic profits to be made now and in the future. The relationship between corporations and the government is not based on any special connections necessarily – although of course they would be happy if the government was under the control of puppet politicians who were in their pockets – their interest is in the profits. The prices of copper and cobalt are set to rise dramatically, and so are their profits. Here’s why:

It takes 180 pounds of copper to make a Tesla or other electric vehicle. This is five times the amount of copper needed to make a combustion engine motor vehicle. It takes 450 pounds of copper to build a normal house, once you include electric appliances, wiring and fixtures. If you put solar panels on it that will take another 100 to 150 pounds of copper wiring. A solar farm used to generate energy requires five times the copper it takes for an equivalent natural, coal, or nuclear power plant.

• If we are going to turn our cars into electric vehicles, we are going to need a lot more copper over the next ten years.
• If we are going to build houses for all the millennials – the largest generation on the planet – we are going to need a lot more copper.
• If renewables, such as wind and solar power, are used to build those things and supply energy then we are going to need a lot more copper.

This red metal is sometimes called Dr Copper because it has an uncanny ability to predict recessions and economic booms. The reason for this is that we unlikely to go into recession when we are in a building boom, whereas we are more likely to when we are not. Industry, factories, homes, appliances and cars, all require copper, and that is never going to change because, if you look at the periodic table, you will see that there is no alternative to copper, except for silver. Silver conducts electricity better than copper but because it is so expensive it will never serve as a viable replacement. Plus, global copper reserves are estimated to be around 870,000,000 tonnes, whereas silver reserves are put at 530,000 tonnes.

Let us take this conversation further. Statistics show that 20 percent of the world’s population uses 50 percent of its copper; 13 percent of the population has no electricity; three out of four people on the planet – 75 percent – don’t have access to a car; so, if the 80 percent of the world that doesn’t currently use that much copper starts to do so as a result of increased energy needs – by buying appliances, electric cars, building houses and so on – then we will see a significant increase in the demand for copper. The price of copper, even though it has risen, will be so much higher when that demand increases.

And there is another factor. The EU has reacted to Russia’s war with the Ukraine by feverishly moving towards renewable energy, which, as we said above, requires five times the amount of copper as other energy sources. This will also spur the demand for electric vehicles. While recycling can meet up to 35 percent of current global copper consumption, we don’t have enough copper to recycle to satisfy increased renewable energy demands, plus, it takes a long time to bring copper mines online – around five to 10 years to market.

The upshot is that the demand for copper is going to increase significantly and so is its price. Under these circumstances, it doesn’t make sense to give tax breaks and other unnecessary incentives to transnational mining corporations. Why would we do that? We certainly would not be acting wisely. I can think of no reason why a government would do it, unless it was out of acting out of ignorance or corruption.

1...621622623...5,639Page 622 of 5,639

Company

Trending

Categories

© Lusaka Times