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The Bank of Zambia has predicted that the country’s inflation rate is expected to slow down during the second quarter of the year.
Bank of Zambia Governor Caleb Fundanga says the slowing down of the inflation rate will largely be as a result of an increase in the supply of fresh food with the onset of the 2009/2010 crop harvest period.
Dr. Fundanga however says the recent hike in fuel prices might lead to an increase in the inflation rate which will result in increased commodity prices.
Speaking during a quarterly media briefing in Lusaka this morning,Dr Fundanga added that preliminary data shows that Zambia recorded an overall balance of payment deficit of 81.4 million untied states dollars during the first quarter of 2010 compared with a surplus of 18.2 million United States dollars in the previous quarter.
He adds that during the period under review, the current account deficit narrowed to 25.1 million United States from 113.3 United States dollars million recorded in the previous quarter.
He states that this was largely due to a reduction in the income account in the account balance following the decline in income on equity payments.
The central bank governor further revealed that the merchandise trade surplus increased by 35.4 percent to 368.5 million United States dollars in the first quarter of 2010, from 272.2 million United States recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009 mainly due to an increase in exports.
Longburn Adventist College student Joshua Dann was shocked into action when he heard about the suffering of the sick in Zambia.
“I thought it was really sad, like we live here with so much stuff and complain when we don’t have enough to eat like `Oh, I’m a bit hungry,’ but really it’s nothing compared to what people over there have to go through,” he said.
He organised a concert last year, which raised $2600 for the needy – and this time round he hopes to topple this figure.
In 2008 Joshua heard a speech by Auckland surgeon David Friend about medical work he was doing in Kikonkomene leprosy village in Zambia.
Conditions in the village were appalling, with rats crawling through holes in dilapidated houses. Victims couldn’t afford even basic items such as cooking oil and firewood, and had to construct shoes out of car tyres.
Many of the sick had lost the ability to walk or fend for themselves, and received no support from their government.
Joshua said: “I looked at those people and thought, `We need to do something about it, we can’t just let this happen’.”
Rallying together his friends, musicians and the church community to help, Joshua held the first concert in 2008.
It was a success, and Friend emailed to say the money had made a huge difference.
Not only did it help with house repairs and essential items at the leprosy village, but allowed life-saving surgery on patients at Mukinge hospital, where Friend works fulltime as a surgeon. It also paid for soaps and bibles for inmates at nearby Kasempa prison.
“I was pretty stoked eh, it’s really awesome what all of us have done and that the concert has made such a big impact on someone’s life,” Joshua said.
Joshua’s dad Jonathan Dann said he’s proud that Joshua and his friends are using their talents for the benefit of other people.
The concert is this Saturday at 7pm, at Crossroads Church. Performers include The Parachute Band’s Omega Levine, musicians from Longburn Adventist College, and the Huntly Jazz Band.
Commerce minister Felix Mutati
Government has with immediate effect abolished the Minimum capital requirement to start a company as part of the on-going business legislative reform aimed at making business easy.
This means that People wishing to start businesses will not be subjected to disclose their capital to PACRO.
Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati announced the change at a press briefing in Lusaka this morning.
Mr Mutati said the move is part of business licensing reform approved by government last year in July whose objective was to reduce the burden faced by the community when establishing their businesses.
He disclosed that 23 licenses out of the 517 have so far been eliminated while 40 bills will be approved by Parliament at the next sitting.
Last year Cabinet approved the business Licensing Reform report that directed that 170 licenses be eliminated and 57 redefined.
The report also provided that 99 licenses be amalgamated into 21 licenses with the rest being returned after being streamlined.
[QFM ]
Two Zambian women who have been sentenced to prison over drug dealings in Mauritius have advised their fellow women not to engage in illegal ways of making money.
Maureen Mukunta aged 36 and Mulenga Banda aged 28 said this in Lusaka on Tuesday night, upon arrival from Mauritius where they were serving sentences of drug trafficking.The duo will serve the remainder of their sentences in Zambia.
Zambia has seen an increase in the number of women trafficking in drugs. From January 2010
to date, nine women have been arrested abroad while 126 have been arrested within the country, among them four teenagers.
[MUVI TV]
Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has described as a mockery the increment of fuel prices of over 13 percent to civil servants who had their salaries recently hiked to only 15 percent .
CSPR Executive Director Patrick Mucheleka said the increment of fuel has reduced the 15 percent salary hike to a mere nominal increment which will not make any difference.
He said the the salary gains were already insignificant because of the reduced purchasing power of the kwacha and the high rate of inflation stressing that increment of fuel will further erode the gains of the workers from their salaries.
[pullquote]He added that it is the consumers and not the suppliers that would suffer and feel the effects of the increment as the service providers will pass on necessary costs to them.[/pullquote]
Mr Mucheleka said in an interview that it is the same workers that contribute to the treasury of the country more than even the mines do adding that the Government’s move would lead to stagnation of the state treasury.
He added that it is the consumers and not the suppliers that would suffer and feel the effects of the increment as the service providers will pass on necessary costs to them.
Mr Mucheleka charged that if government insists on having the super taxes on the mining sector it could alleviate some of the problems the economy is facing.
He urged government to find another alternative means to generate revenue as opposed to subjecting a few formal workers to subsidizing their costs.
[ QFM ]
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said it is unAfrican and abnormal for people to discuss other peoples’ health in public.
Speaking on arrival from Livingstone at Lusaka International Airport yesterday, Mr Banda said every person was entitled to their privacy.
He was responding to questions by journalists who wanted him to comment on Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata’s invitation to him and Vice-President George Kunda to undergo medical tests.
“It is unZambian for people to talk about another person’s health in public. How can I start talking about his health?” he asked.
And Patriotic Front Bahati Member of Parliament Besa Chimbaka has backed National Democratic Focus president Ben Mwila’s appeal to Mr Sata to withdraw his candidature for the presidency because of health concerns.
Mr Chimbaka said the office of president was a demanding job and a person vying for the position must be able to handle the pressures that go with it.
He said voters should not aim at satisfying an individual candidate but consider the high cost involved in organising a presidential by-election in case of anything.
Mr Sata was not reachable by press time but his vice-president Guy Scott said Mr Mwila was speaking from a position of ignorance because it was normal for anyone to become sick.
Dr Scott urged Zambians to stop listening to people like Mr Mwila because he was not a cardiologist.
“You the Press must also list the diseases that Mr Mwila has so then we will see who will contest,” Dr Scott said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
Forum for Leadership Search executive director Edwin Lifwekelo blamed Mr Sata for starting the debate by talking ill about Vice-President George Kunda’s trip for medical reviews in South Africa.
The PF leader was accused of having made telephone calls to South Africa seeking confirmation that Mr Kunda was dead.
Details emerged later that Mr Sata was also diagnosed with some
diseases including a heart condition. Mr Sata said the diseases were ‘minor’ and had been treated.
Matero MP Faustina Sinyangwe and Luapula MP, Peter Machungwa said Mr Sata was at liberty to aspire for any leadership position whether or not he was unwell.
Dr Machungwa said politicians should not stop others from contesting positions available for any Zambian regardless of the medical condition.
Mrs Sinyangwe said in a separate interview that the debate about illnesses was unhealthy and did not reflect the African culture that did not encourage discrimination based on sickness.
Independent Churches of Zambia president Reverend David Masupa urged politicians to concentrate on development issues instead of illnesses.
Rev Masupa said everybody was potentially ill and urged all those who had been accused of being unwell to remain steadfast in their political activities.
Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde-Simukoko said politicians should not deviate the citizens from real issues.
Ms Simukoko said the debate and insults about illnesses did not add to the well-being of the people.
POLICE in Ndola have launched investigations into reports that Change Life Zambia director Frank Bwalya publicly insulted President Rupiah Banda after allegedly referring to the head of State as ‘Muwelewele’, a Bemba word meaning useless.
And police have said Father Bwalya has also lodged a complaint that his life was under threat by some Ndola-based MMD youths who were said to be quoted in some sections of the media as saying they would beat him if they met him.
Copperbelt Province police chief Antoneill Mutentwa said Ndola District MMD publicity secretary Alex Mubanga lodged a complaint against Fr Bwalya at Ndola Central Police Station yesterday.
Mr Mutentwa said according to Mr Mubanga, some MMD youths in Ndola were not happy with Fr Bwaya referring to the president as ‘Muwelewele’ at a public rally in Luanshya last weekend.
He said police officers who attended Fr Bwalya’s rally were still studying the matter.
Mr Mutentwa said the Catholic priest had also lodged a complaint against Mr Mubanga who was quoted in the some sections of the media as saying he would see to it that Fr Bwalya was given a good beating by MMD youths.
“We are studying both cases and arrests will be made if there is sufficient evidence,” he said.
UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma (R) and Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba (l)
THE Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) will not hold its convention prior to the 2011 tripartite elections, party spokesperson Charles Kakoma has said.
Mr Kakoma said the UPND convention would only be held in 2012, six years after the last convention was held in 2006.
He said his party and the Patriotic Front (PF) were currently working on the rules that would be adopted by the joint governance council of the pact to guide the two parties on how to come up with one presidential candidate for the 2011 elections.
But when reminded that PF leader Michael Sata had already declared that he would contest in 2011 as a presidential candidate despite UPND’s insistence that the pact would come up with one presidential candidate, Mr Kakoma said anyone was free to declare intentions to stand in next year’s elections.
He said the joint governance council would soon meet to adopt the guidelines prior to the launch of the pact which he said was delayed because of the Mufumbwe and Milanzi by-elections held on April 29.
But PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba said Mr Sata’s stance to contest the 2011 was based on hope that he may be picked as the pact’s presidential candidate.
“Mr Sata has not declared that he will contest as president in 2011.
“But I should say the statements that have been attributed to him that he will contest the 2011 are based on hope that he may be picked by the Pact as the 2011 candidate,” Mr Kabimba said.
Despite the Pact’s decision to come up with one presidential candidate, Mr Sata on May 5 vowed that he would contest the 2011 election and that he would continue to vie for presidency even if he lost next year’s polls.
This was when he featured on a live programe, ‘Face the Media’ on Radio Phoenix.
Mr Kabimba said the PF convention had been set for October this year, after the completion of elections at lower level.
“We hope to complete elections at the lower level by the end of this month.
Asked to comment on the stance by the UPND to hold the convention in 2012, Mr Kakoma said despite the fact that the two parties were in a pact, they were still different political parties with different constitutions.
MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba said the ruling party would go ahead with the planned convention once all the elections at lower level up to the provincial level were concluded.
Dr Kalumba said the MMD national executive committee would soon meet to come up with the date for the convention.
“The MMD convention will go ahead as planned. What we are doing now is to ensure all the elections at lower level are done.
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said that it is targeting to register 2.5 million new voters before the 2011 general elections.
ECZ deputy director for information technology, Brown Kasaro said yesterday during a media luncheon that the commission would conduct an initial 90-day continuous voter registration exercise through periodic mobile registration campaigns in all the 150 constituencies.
The continuous voter registration process will begin next month.
Mr Kasaro said the 2.5-million target arises from projections from the Central Statistical Office that there are 6.4 million Zambians aged 18 years and above and are
eligible to register as voters.
The 6.4 million projection includes people who are already registered.
Mr Kasaro said ECZ would deploy registration officers in all the constituencies at the same time.
“They will spend an equal number of days per registration centre in each respective constituency,” he said
The campaigns would be supplemented by an extended stay of registration officers at the district centres in order to capture eligible voters who would otherwise not be able to register during the mobile campaigns in the constituencies.
He said the commission would deploy 940 registration officers, translating in an average of six officers per constituency.
The Government has provided K70 billion in the 2010 national Budget for the registration of voters.
The Football Association of Zambia (Faz) has named 12 foreign-based call-ups for Zambia’s friendly against Chile this month.
The 12 will include the European-based duo of Jacob Mulenga and Christopher Katongo of FC Utrecht and Arminia Bielefeld in Holland and Germany respectively.
James Chamanga of Dalian Shide in China has also been called-up the friendly match tentatively scheduled for May 26 away in Chile after Zambia face South Africa awy in the two sides CHAN second round, first leg qualifier on May 23.
Other foreign-based call-ups are South African-based and they are midfielder Isaac Chansa of Orlando Pirates, goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene from Free State Stars and Amazulu defender Kampamba Chintu his clubmate and goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje including Felix Katongo of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Joseph Musonda of Golden Arrows, defender Emmanuel Mbola and Stophira Sunzu of TP Mazembe in DR Congo are also in the team.
Rainford Kalaba of Sporting Braga in Portugal, who has been without a club for the last five months because of a transfer impasse at which he is at the centre of, is also in the team.
An unidentified woman and her daughter selling vegetables and other foodstuffs
The cost of basic needs for a family of six in Zambia has increased in the last three months.
According to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Basic Needs trends, the cost of living across major towns in Zambia has increased.
JCTR Programme Officer for Research, Raphael Phiri, said the nominal cost of food for Lusaka city in the month of March rose to K901, 500 from K842, 400 in January for a family of six.
Mr. Phiri said the price of tomato increased from K5, 000 per kilogramme to K7, 800 during the same period of time.
“The increase in food prices could be attributed to the rise of cost of vegetables and dry foods,” he said.
He added that the price of green vegetables also rose from K3, 800 per kilogramme in January to K5, 400 in March.
“Dry foods on the other hand, such as Kapenta rose from ZMK68, 600 in January to ZMK78, 300 in March,” he said.
Mr. Phiri explained that the cost of essential non-food items showed some stability during the same period.
However, he noted that the price of charcoal increased from K61, 000 in January to K68, 800 in March, adding that rentals for a three bed roomed house now averages K1.5 million per month in the medium density area.
The prices of other food stuffs and non-food items are likely to increase further in the second quarter of this year due to the upward adjustment of fuel prices.
Yesterday, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) hiked fuel prices by between nine and 13.18 percent.
The price of petrol has been increased by 13.18 percent, which translates into an increase of K882.00 for a litre and 9.5 percent for diesel, translating into K598.00 increase per litre.
Petrol is now costing about K7,574 per litre from K6,692 in some service stations while diesel is costing about K6,800.
Multichoice Africa has agreed to carry the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) radio signal on its DSTV satelite link in order to restore normal radio transimission countrywide
The development is expected to end months of weak radio reception in some parts of the country which happened when the satellite link, ZNBC was using to transmit its signal went off early this year.
Information and broadcasting Services minister Lieutenant-General Ronnie Shikapwasha disclosed this after he held a meeting with president of Multichoice Africa Collins Khumalo in Johannesgurg,South Africa yesterday (Tuesday).
General Shikapwasha said Government was concerned about the poor ZNBC radio reception being experienced in some parts of the country and was happy that a solution has been found.
Multichoice Africa president Collins Khumalo said at the same function, that his company has acquired additional space on its DSTV satellite to accommodate the ZNBC radio signal free of charge.
Mr Khumalo whose company holds 50% stake in Multichoice Zambia ,a DSTV joint venture with the national broadcaster,said the ZNBC radio signal wil be installed on the DSTV satellite as soon as technical logistics are in place and a contract signed between the two parties.
“This is a matter we are resolved to address as soon as possible,”said Mr Khumalo.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Services minister LT-General Ronnie Shikapwasha has commended Multichoice Africa for the contribution it is making to the growth of the broadcasting industry in Zambia.
Speaking after a conducted tour of Multichoice Africa facilities in Johannesburg ,South Africa yesterday ,General Shikapwasha said since its establishment as a joint venture with ZNBC in 1994, Multichoice Zambia has become a household name in Zambia through its provision of DSTV service providers on the continent.
The minister said he was impressed with the investment Multichoice has made in technology and human resource development trickle to the benefit of ZNBC through technology exchanges and training.
He said Government is also happy with the Multichoice’s social responsibility programme in which the company is providing support to the education and sports sectors in the country.
Earlier, Multichoice Head of Regulatory Affairs Mgqibelo Gasela said a total of $3billion has been invested in the growth of the company during the past two decades.
Mr Gasela said Multichoice Africa has over the past five years established 152 resource centres at schools in Zambia which it has equipped with decoders, dish kits and educational channels to supplement Goverment’s efforts in the delivery of quality education.
Mr Gasela said the number of beneficiary resource centres is set to increase to 200 this year with the addition of 40 more resource centres countrywide.
He said the company has also invested over $4million in the live coverage of the Zambian soccer league this season.
“As a company ,we prefer to work with Government rather than against Government .We are keen to contribute to the growth of the broadcasting industry and the economy in Zambia through our services,” said Mr Gasela.
Multichoice Africa operates in 48 countries across the continent.
Female boxing champion Esther Phiri and trainer Anthony Mwamba
National Milling Corporation has signed a deal with the Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (ZNBC) to broadcast live the Women International Boxing Association title fight between Esther Phiri and Duda Yankonvich of Brazil.
National Milling Corporation managing Director Peter Cottan, who is Esther’s sponsor, announced at a media briefing in Lusaka today that the sponsorship deal has been valued at K80 million.
He said the sponsors are also in talks to see whether the national broadcaster can also broadcast the fight live on radio 2 to cater for those who can not afford to watch the fight on Television.
Cottan said the sponsorship deal is also along side the Super Sports deal which was signed earlier this year for the bout to be beamed live in 46 sub Saharan countries.
He has meanwhile, expressed satisfaction with the sponsors for coming on board in sponsoring the WIBA title which is slated for 29 May in Lusaka.
He said National Milling has raised over K500 million out of the projected K650 million and remained hopeful that the K150 million will be secured before the fight.
And Esther Phiri has reiterated her readiness to win the bout which will be her sixth belt and for her third world championship.
She said she has trained hard for the fight and promised the fans a very good fight this month end.
Esther said the fans should expect the best fight from her which will not be other than a win.
She said Yankonvich will dance to her tune through her newly introduced punch popularly known as Jiongolo.
She has also thanked the sponsors for their tireless support and urged them to continue promoting boxing in Zambia.
Meanwhile African Boxing Union (ABU) bantam weight champion Kennedy Kanyanta’s opponent Francis Miyelusho has been replaced by his fellow Kenyan Twalib Mubira in the supporting bout.
Francis Miyelusho who was to fight Kanyanta has been replaced due to his engagement in another fight a week earlier.
Esther will be fighting Yankovich of Brazil, who is the current world number one WIBA light welterweight on May 29 at Mulungushi International Conference centre.
Alliance for Commodity Trade in East and Southern Africa (ACTESA) has today signed a six -year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) to provide good seed to the Comesa Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region.
The MoU is expected to provide access to reliable and sustainable source of high quality seed for farmers in the region to achieve intensification necessary for African Green Revolution.
The MoU would also enable the two parties to establish certain seed industry support activities to enhance industry competitiveness at national and regional level.
ACTESA CEO Chris Muyunda said in Lusaka today that good seed is vital for agriculture and it is therefore important to provide farmers with the seed that they require.
Mr. Muyunda observed that once farmers are provided with good seed, it would help enhance food security and move the region forward.
He said signing the MoU with AFSTA would also help improve on quality seed supply and good crop yield in the region.
The signing of MoU enables African Seed Trade Association to work closely with ACTESA to ensure swift development of the seed industry and a more reliable, affordable and competitive source of seed in the COMESA region especially catering to the needs of small farmers.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati says Zambia has benefited from Indian investment worth over U$D3 billion for the past three years.
And Mr Mutati has disclosed that Zambia is happy to work with the Indian government adding that the bilateral relations existing between the two countries should be embraced by all loving Zambians.
Speaking at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka during the official launch of African Competition Programme (AFRICACOM) on Wednesday, Mr Mutati told the delegates that competition is vital to the development of any country world over and as such, Zambia will ensure that there is balanced competition in the private, public and consumer sectors.
He said Zambia delayed in signing for this agreement due to the fact that it did not include copper ore which has been one of the Zambia’s major exports to India. Mr Mutati further stated that market access to India has tremendously increased to 94% of late, a situation he described as good for the country’s economic development.
He cited the Konkola Single deep mine which was recently launched in Chingola as one of the biggest Indian investment of about US$1.6 billion. Mr Mutati said the Chingola Deep Mine would be the biggest mine in the country adding that the investment from India was poised to increase because the Indian Government was interested in some other projects in the country such as in Manganese mining among other investment opportunities.
And Mr Mutati said in order for Zambia to increase its investment portfolios, the country has created Small Medium Enterprises (SMES) which he said was key to moving the economy and that Government had designed programmes directed towards Small Medium Enterprises such as Economic Empowerment Fund.
He said Government has pumped US$40 million towards the same programme to facilitate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises among them the preferential procurement, policy and legal framework and North to South trade corridors.
Meanwhile, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary General Supper Chiai said Zambia is one of the leading countries in the area of initiating strategies and preparedness for trade and globalisation in India and promised that the Indian Government is very much prepared in fostering this bilateral trade between the two countries,
Dr Chiai said India would not dictate to Zambia about trade policies embarked on by the Zambian Government but pledged to continue working together as partners in developing and enhancing trade between the two countries.
He said the Indian Government would continue helping Zambia in the area of diversification and increased trade volumes with other countries with common agenda in Africa and beyond respectively.
