INDO Zambia Bank (IZB) has lived up to its mantra of ‘Supporting you, Developing Zambia’ by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Hills, an upmarket real estate firm for the phased development of commercial, retail and mixed use real estates in the Palabana area of Chongwe District.

The MoU, a game-changer, is changing the face of Leopards Hill Road on the outskirts of Lusaka with aesthetically appealing structures and bringing to the table best practices of the industry.According to the MoU signed in Lusaka on Monday 20th January 2025, IZB will provide seamless real estate financing solutions.

“This partnership allows eligible customers of IZB to access financing for both land intended for property construction and completed properties, and our customers can initiate the purchase process through the bank’s branches and The Hills sales and marketing outlets,” IZB Managing Director Brajesh Kumar Singh said.

And Mwelwa Chibesakunda, Chairperson of The Hills described the signing of the MoU as “a significant milestone in the development of The Hills as it gives our clients and the general public including Zambians in the diaspora exclusive access to mortgages and construction loans at affordable interest rates and favourable tenures that allow existing and potential homeowners to invest in their homes and secure their futures.”

Mr Chibesakunda said the partnership with IZB paves the way for The Hills to work with other companies that operate in construction, manufacturing, property development and other sectors which will enable the Hill to play its role towards the national aspirations in order to build a better and stronger Zambia.

“We are extremely pleased with the partnership that we have forged with Indo Zambia Bank as it will enable IZB and The Hills to achieve their visions of investing in sustainable and inclusive communities while providing key services and amenities such as roads, water and sewerage, electricity, healthcare and education all within one development,” he said.
Mr Chibesakunda said the partnership also bears significant impact on the country’s housing needs as it will create in excess of 1,500 new homes which will materially contribute to reducing the current housing deficit in Lusaka particularly.And Mr Singh said as part of the efforts to support home ownership and empowerment of the citizenry, IZB has revamped its Indo Home Loan facility in response to specific needs of a cross section of society.

Among the key improvements to the home ownership scheme include a longer repayment tenure of up to 300 months, low interest rates tailored to meet the needs of salaried individuals, self-employed business people and families.Mr Singh says the Home Loan facility covers various purposes, including purchasing readymade houses,acquiring plots and constructing property, construction on existing plots within 18 months, home improvements, including repairs, renovations and extensions as well as refinancing on revised terms.“Additionally, customers can apply for an Indo Top Up loan, specifically designed for the takeover of their existing home loans. This facility can also be extended to existing IZB home loan borrowers,” he said.

Reacting to the MoU, Lusaka resident Mike Ng’uni said the greatest significance is the growth of real estate lending portfolios in the Zambian financial landscape.

“This should help refine financial products along the peculiar requirements of the sector, away from those in the general lending pool. Banks, by their pole position of having access to cheaper money through deposit taking, could help lower the cost of real estate financing, thereby increasing financial access to more developers. Hopefully, it shall also help build a cadre of banking professionals with deeper skills set of the real estate sector and help tailor appropriate products,” Mr Ng’uni said.

He said the sprouting of housing estates is helping in structured developments, which local authorities have failed to implement and enforces development of aesthetically appealing structures and brings to the table best practices of the industry," he said.

A business executive Cephas Chabu hailed the MoU as a synergy bringing together finance and technical services to accelerate the roll-out of home mortgages at a faster rate and help bring down home deficit in Zambia.

“Most home loan institutions have the liquidity but lack uptake due to challenges such as costs of architectural drawings, valuations etc. So this partnership will bring everything under one roof hence increasing home loan uptake and home stock,” Mr Chabu said.

By Benedict Tembo

Donald Trump’s announcement of a $100 billion artificial intelligence investment venture, with industry leaders such as SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Oracle’s Larry Ellison at the helm, confirms two key truths: dismissing AI as yesterday’s story is a mistake, and every investor must ensure they have exposure to AI.

Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations, comments: “Many analysts argue the AI rally is going to dampen this year, but this news reaffirms that we’re merely in a recalibration phase, not a revolution in market leadership.

“AI is not a fleeting trend—it’s the foundation of the future. Investors who fail to recognize this risk missing out on one of the most transformative opportunities of our time.”

The venture, which aims to grow to $500 billion, focuses on advancing AI infrastructure such as data centers and physical campuses while accelerating real-world applications in sectors like healthcare and energy.

Although companies like Microsoft and Nvidia are not officially backing the initiative, they are expected to play significant roles in the broader ecosystem of AI-driven growth.

“Trump’s promise to fast-track these projects using emergency declarations and executive orders further highlights the urgency and scale of this economic shift,” notes Nigel Green.

In 2023 and 2024, the so-called “Magnificent Seven” tech giants—including Nvidia and Microsoft—drove entire indexes to record highs.

These companies were responsible for a significant share of the S&P 500’s gains, making AI the defining story of the market. However, this dominance has led some to speculate that AI’s influence may be peaking.

deVere Group disagrees. “The recalibration seen in AI stocks is not a sign of decline—it’s a natural evolution after explosive growth. Leaders in the sector, such as Nvidia and Microsoft, remain at the cutting edge of innovation, driving advancements in computing, software, and AI infrastructure.

“Investors shouldn’t mistake short-term market adjustments for the end of AI’s dominance,” says the deVere CEO.

“The trajectory for AI remains firmly upward as its applications continue to grow and expand across industries. This isn’t the time to lose confidence.”

Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to technology sectors; it is transforming healthcare, logistics, energy, and financial services. “It’s become a critical driver of productivity and efficiency, making it a foundational component of the global economy.”

deVere Group highlights that investors who move early in transformative economic shifts reap the most significant rewards. The compounding opportunities in AI are vast, and those who position themselves strategically now stand to benefit from the next wave of growth.

Green continues: “AI is not a speculative play, it’s a structural shift in how industries operate. From equities tied to leading AI companies to diversified technology funds, there are clear pathways for investors to capitalize on this revolution. Companies like Nvidia and Microsoft remain pivotal players, particularly as their contributions to AI ecosystems grow.”

Nigel Green concludes: “Analysts who dismiss AI as yesterday’s story are missing the bigger picture.

“Trump’s AI initiative is a wake-up call to the immense and ongoing potential of artificial intelligence.

“The time to build exposure to the defining economic shift of our era is today.”

Hon. Sunday Chanda, Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya, has called for a strategic focus on agriculture as the cornerstone of Zambia’s economic transformation. He described the nation’s vast arable land, favorable weather, and industrious citizens as untapped assets capable of driving industrialization, creating jobs, and ensuring food security.

Speaking on the urgency of realigning Zambia’s economic strategy, Hon. Chanda highlighted the critical need to modernize the agricultural sector. He emphasized the importance of reducing dependence on rain-fed farming by investing in large-scale irrigation systems to enable year-round farming and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The MP also called for strengthening the country’s agribusiness sector to position Zambia as a hub for agricultural processing. He noted that building strong value chains would not only add value to raw produce but also create thousands of jobs, particularly in rural areas.

Mechanization was another key point of focus. Hon. Chanda stressed that the government must partner with private players to expand access to modern farming equipment and training for small-scale farmers, thereby improving productivity. He also advocated for crop diversification, urging the nation to look beyond maize cultivation and invest in crops like cassava, millet, rice, and high-value cash crops.

Drawing inspiration from Côte d’Ivoire, where large-scale farming and crop diversification have revolutionized agriculture, Hon. Chanda said Zambia has the potential to replicate this success. “Zambia must embrace diversification to secure food security and unlock new export opportunities,” he said.

However, Hon. Chanda acknowledged that the sector faces challenges, including the high cost of inputs, fertilizer smuggling, and limited market access. He called for immediate measures to address these issues, including tax incentives on inputs, streamlined distribution systems, and policies to curb resource leakages.

“Agriculture is more than a means to feed the nation it is a powerful tool to tackle inflation, reduce poverty, and spur economic growth,” Hon. Chanda said. He called for collaborative efforts from stakeholders, policymakers, and citizens to create an enabling environment for the agricultural sector to thrive.

Hon. Chanda concluded by urging Zambia to empower farmers, ensure affordable access to inputs, and adopt modern farming techniques. “Together, we can unlock the full potential of agriculture, fostering prosperity for all and securing a sustainable future for generations to come,” he said.

The call from the Kanchibiya MP comes at a time when Zambia is looking to redefine its economic priorities, with agriculture seen as a sector poised to deliver long-term benefits for the nation.