The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has regretted the disruption of supply of fuel in some parts of the country.

ERB Communications Manager Kwali Mfuni attributed the disruption of fuel supply to a strike action by an organization representing truck drivers which affected tanker drivers.

In a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka on Tuesday, Ms Mfuni explained that preliminary investigations by the ERB revealed that tankers carrying imported fuel could not cross into the country while other tankers had to be parked for safety.

“However, due to the strike action which affected some tanker drivers, some parts of the country experienced disruption in fuel supplies as some deliveries could not be made as scheduled” said Mfuni.

The ERB has since assured the general public that the country has adequate stocks petroleum products to meet local consumption.
Ms Mfuni said measures have since been put in place to provide security escorts to petroleum tankers to ensure safe delivery of fuel to different parts of the country.

She appealed to stakeholders to allow for restoration and normalization of supply of fuel at the earliest.

Ms Mfuni urged motorists not to panic and rush but buy fuel as they normally do and report any suspected fuel hoarding by tanker drivers.

Bloomberg reports that Bondholder meetings to vote on Zambia’s request for debt relief were postponed today after failing to reach quorums, increasing pressure Zambia to reach agreement with its creditors before it falls into default.

The meetings will be reconvened on November 13, according to a regulatory filing.

That’s also the deadline to make a coupon payment that Zambia skipped on October 14, before it triggers a default that will give bondholders the right to demand immediate repayment of the principal.

Zambia said last month it won’t be able to meet obligations without a six-month interest-standstill agreement.

The process has been keenly watched by other poor nations seeking debt relief, as well as fixed-income investors worried about where the next potential default may be.

While Zambia said it wants to treat commercial and official creditors on an equal basis, bondholders are concerned any relief they grant would be used to service debts owed to Chinese state lenders, which account for as much as a third of its external liabilities.

“No-one is a winner without an agreement,” said Simon Quijano-Evans, the London-based chief economist at Gemcorp Capital LLP.

“The real way forward is to increase transparency and adopt a multi-pronged approach that includes bondholders, the international finance institutions and China, just like Ecuador did.”

“We have no visibility on the use of proceeds if we agree to a debt standstill,” Kevin Daly, a London-based portfolio manager at Aberdeen Standard Investments in London, which holds Zambian Eurobonds, said before the start of Tuesday’s meetings.

“We have no clarity on how they intend to restructure their Chinese debt, we have no fiscal framework to ensure debt sustainability, and they are unlikely to reach a deal with the IMF ahead of the elections.”

Zambia’s $1 billion of 2024 Eurobonds fell 0.8% to 43.9 cents on the dollar by 1:56 p.m. in London.

The Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape Project (ZIFLP) disbursed about US$1.77 million (about K65, 570, 643.48) to communities in Eastern Province that applied for grants to undertake community-members-driven projects that empower local people while protecting the environment, promoting community mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

ZIFL Project is an initiative of the Government of Zambia through a loan facility from the World Bank at a total cost of $32.8 million meant to support rural communities in Eastern Province to allow them better manage the resources of their landscapes to reduce deforestation, improve landscape management and increase environmental and economic benefits for targeted rural communities.

The three components of the Project are meant to create enabling conditions for livelihood investments to be successfully implemented and provide support for Local Level Planning and Emissions Reductions Framework, focus on activities that improve rural livelihoods, conserve ecosystems and reduce Gas Emissions, finance activities related to national and provincial?level project coordination and management, and provision of assistance in the event of a disaster or emergency relief.

The Ministry of National Development Planning is the coordinating ministry for the Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape Project. Through the project team, the ministry thoroughly assesses the applications to ensure that deserving beneficiaries are given the grants, which benefit a cross-section of the local communities.

The community based recipients of the recently disbursed grants include Tithandizeni Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which is involved in cooking oil production, sunflower and soya beans production which received K 2,155,194.32 and the Msoro Tillers and Haulage Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Ltd that is involved in cooking oil production, sunflower and soya beans production which received amount K 2,184,551.53. Both cooperatives are in Mambwe Districts. In Petauke Lusangazi the recipients include Mukachizula Community Forest Co-operative Society Limited, which is involved in vegetable production, goats rearing, chickens and fish farming and received K2,991,390, Njanji Community Action Initiative LTD involved in vegetable production, goats rearing, chickens and fish farming which got K 2,935,508.04 and Alimanriz Youth Development Initiative received K 2,991,390 for its project involved in vegetable production, goats rearing, chickens and fish farming.

In Sinda District, the two recipients are Sinda district women association which is involved general farming, gardening received K3,000,000.00 and Kamgelo Gardeners and Fish Farmers Cooperative that is involved in general farming, gardening, fish farming received K 2,706,750.

In neighbouring Katete District, Kamzunguzeni Beekeeping Cooperative Society that is involved in beekeeping, goat production, general farming, community forest management received K 286,130 while Kabvinyambili Multipurpose Cooperative (Aqua-culture and Village Managed Forrest) which is involved in community forest management, general farming and fish farming received K 368,450.

In Chadiza District, the recipient Kadamsana Women’s Club involved in community forest management, general farming, chicken rearing received K 260, 020 while Mwai Wathu Youth Group involved in beekeeping, goat production, general farming, community forest management got K 234,200. In Vubwi District, Takumana Multi-Purpose Cooperative which is involved in community forest management, goat rearing, bee keeping, general agriculture received K 1,489,200 and Vubwi District Agricultural Cooperative Union Limited involved general agriculture, goat rearing, fish farming received K 3 million.

In Nyimba District, Mwansanika Community Forest Management Group which is involved in general farming, fish farming, chicken rearing, goat production, community forest management received K1,446,200 while Mtilizi Scheme Project which is involved in general farming, cashew production, goat rearing, chicken rearing received K 2,196,000.

In Chipata, Kasengengwa and Chipangali the recipients included Chipata-Kamakapoko Group which is involved in chicken rearing, fish farming, goat and sheep rearing which got K1,964,000, Chipangali-Cholinga Group involved in goat production, chicken rearing and fish farming received K 1,716,602 while Kasenengwa-Malambalala Community Forest received K 893,587.70 for use in its projects in community forest management, general farming, gardening, trading.
In Lundazi, Lumezi and Chasefu, the recipients included Lundazi District Women’s Association involved in chicken rearing, sunflower and soya beans production received K 1,143,219.55, Lumezi-Chikomeni CRB which is involved in eco-tourism and construction of the first lodge in the area received K 2,777, 402, Chasefu-Kamilancheto Livestock Cooperative Society involved in fruit production, general agriculture, goat production received K 545,000 and Chasefu-Kavikwawa Livestock Co-Operative-Mzileni, which is involved in smallholder irrigation scheme received K1,943,514.23.

The government has urged communities in Eastern Province to form cooperatives and apply for funds from the Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape Project (ZIFLP) grants in order to empower themselves and stimulate development in their areas.

Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme, told communities that they need to get organized into cooperatives so that they can access funds to improve their livelihoods and transform their communities.

Mr Chiteme said this when he held meetings with various stakeholders in Eastern province where Vice-President Inonge Wina, handed over grants worth about K65.5 million to 23 cooperatives involved in agriculture, forestry and wildlife in all the districts of Eastern Province.

The Minister has since called on traditional leaders to encourage their subjects to form associations in order to access empowerment funds.

In a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday by Ministry spokesperson Chibabula Silwamba, Mr Chiteme said this when he paid a courtesy call to Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni people in Chipata District.

The Minister urged people in the Eastern province to rally behind the Government in order to combat climate change and ensure that the country attains sustainable development.

Mr Chiteme was accompanied to Chief Madzimawe by Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo, Sinda Member of Parliament Masauso Tembo and Chipata Central Member of Parliament Moses Mawere.

Mr Katambo thanked Chief Madzimawe and other traditional leaders for their continued role in promoting unity among the people and creating linkages with the Government that are contributing to development.

And Chief Madzimawe commended the government for the ZIFLP Project which he praised for rendering support to people in rural areas through easier access to grants.

“It is encouraging that you are making access to Zambia Integrated Landscape Project grants easier for people in the villages and this is encouraging,” said Chief Madzimawe.

The traditional leader said climate change negatively affects communities and destabilizes food security, but was grateful that the Government had put in place measures to address the environmental challenges and ensure food security.

Chief Madzimawe also commended the Government for the timely distribution of farming inputs.

Sinda MP Masauso Tembo also thanked the Government for the ZIFLP grants given to Sinda District Women Association and Kamgelo Gardeners and Fish Farmers Cooperative.

And Mr. Chiteme further held meetings with Nyimba residents at which he explained the dangers of climate and the need for people to appreciate and respond to Government efforts of climate mitigation and adaptation.

Accompanied by Agriculture Minister, Sinda MP Masauso Tembo and Minister in the Office of the Vice-President Olipa Phiri, who is also Nyimba Member of Parliament, Mr Chiteme emphasized the need for community members to come together and form cooperatives that can be vehicles through which they can receive ZIFLP grants to empower themselves.

Mr. Chiteme urged other Nyimba communities to emulate the Mtilizi Scheme Project and Mwansanika Community Forest Management Group that received about K2 million and K1.4 million respectively.

Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo assured the people of Nyimba that the Government will continue to support them with farming inputs in order to ensure food security at the household, community and national level.

In response, the Chikomeni Community Resource Board thanked the government for the gesture and assured that it would use the funds to construct a community-owned lodge which will promote eco-tourism that will create about 200 jobs.

“The lodge will be established in Lukusuzi National Park. This is the first lodge to be established in this area. Therefore, we are guaranteed that livelihoods in this area will significantly improve due to this initiative,” said the Chikomeni Community Resource Board.