Bumper maize harvest relief to families

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

THE announcement by Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Brian Chituwo, that the country has recorded a maize surplus this year is welcome news to most households.

Dr Chituwo said on Thursday that the country has recorded a maize surplus of 203, 271 metric tonnes, which is sufficient both for human consumption and industrial utilization.

The maize surplus is a relief in most homes because families will now anticipate a reduction in the prices of mealie meal and other products, whose prices went up because there were insufficient stocks of the commodity in the country.

Maize was in some cases imported at a great cost forcing some millers to increase prices due to high production costs.

Government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) was in the process prompted to subsidise the commodity to cushion the impact of high production costs and enable families afford to buy the staple food.

Now that the country has been informed of a bumper harvest, the nation is anxious to know what the floor price will be so that farmers, millers and other stakeholders can decide what to do this season.

We urge the Government to quickly announce the floor price of maize so that the farming community particularly peasant farmers do not rush to sell their maize to traders who will not receive value for their produce.

We, however, hope that the abundance of maize in the country will enable millers to cut on their production costs and pass on the benefit to consumers by reducing the price of roller and breakfast meal as well as stockfeed to ease the price of poultry products.

In light of the surplus, the government can also review the issue of maize exports but we wish to caution that exports be allowed only when the country has sufficient stocks in strategic reserves.

The experience of the recent past when emergency measures had to be instituted to import the commodity was costly and should be avoided by ensuring that the country has enough and affordable maize stocks to last until the next season.

We urge both large and small scale farmers to expand their hectares and stock enough seed to plant next season so that the country can have another bumper harvest.

We also urge the nation to work harder to produce other food crops because this year’s bumper maize r harvest is an indication that it is possible for Zambia to feed itself.

We believe the same attitude of hard work can be extended to other products so that the country can reduce its dependence on imports especially in view of the current global economic recession.

Quality education in Zambia on the horizon

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

EDUCATION in Zambia is a basic human right and is vital for the development of the nation because it empowers people, enabling them to be proactive, to control their lives and broaden economic and social opportunities.

However, the education system in Zambia has suffered a decline in the recent past as a result of a drop in national revenue and other factors.

Despite this set back, the government has however, made serious effort to recover and reform the education sector.

We are, therefore, cheered by the on-going programme to decentralise education and the subsequent creation of education boards because this is a sure way of delivering quality education to the people.

It is commendable that the Ministry of Education is equally supportive of free primary education that has resulted in a massive increase in enrolment across the country.

The announcement by Education Minister Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa on Tuesday that Government is now involving all stakeholders in the provision of education is therefore a laudable move to ensure no one is left behind in the educational reforms.

Prof Lungwangwa said in Livingstone that Government has, through projects like CHANGES2, been encouraging the involvement of community participation so that it can render direct support to the operations of the education institutions.

This is how it should be because decentralising the delivery of education and involving local communities dismantles the top-bottom approach in planning and budgeting for education boards.

Planning for orphans and vulnerable children, for example, can better be done by local communities in which the orphans live as opposed to centralised prescriptions from the ministry headquarters in Lusaka.

It is gratifying that the performance of CHANGES2, a programme supported by USAID, which trains at least 800 teachers annually has so far proven to be a very useful tool to decentralise education.

The programme provides small grants for schools to begin income-generating activities, produces learning materials on HIV/AIDS, school health and nutrition, to support effective teaching in schools and communities.

We thank the United States government for supporting this progamme since inception in 2001 and we hope other well-wishers can assist the Ministry of Education reach out to other areas in the country.

We are aware that despite the reforms, investment in education is inadequate and support largely depends on external sources and we urge other cooperating partners to emulate USAID to accelerate the decentralisation of education in the country.

The government, too, should, on the other hand, seriously look at improving local resources and strengthen support to the education sector because it is a priority area in national development.

It is equally important that the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which is still one of the most formidable challenges facing the country and the education sector in particular, is given attention because there are inadequate education and support services for students and teachers. Teachers are just beginning to come forward for HIV counselling and testing.

We hope under the decentralised system of education, HIV/AIDS education will be high on the agenda by the education boards, the high schools and the teacher training institutions and protect future generations.

Zambia's power black-outs to end soon

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

ZAMBIA, like other countries in southern Africa, has been hit by a power shortage and has been rationing electricity supply for some time now.

The beginning of last year in particular brought a challenging period in the electricity sector in the country.

The national power grid failed on January 19, last year, and the whole country plunged into darkness.

Power was only partially restored in the early hours of Sunday, January 20, 2008. It was a difficult period for the nation as all sectors were affected.

Miners were trapped in shafts while other industries could not produce projected quantities as power was unreliable.

The nation was later informed that the black–out was initiated by a disturbance in the Zimbabwean grid, which resulted in the loss of a major load and shut down of the Kariba North Bank power station.

This caused overload and subsequent tripping of the machines at Kafue Gorge and Victoria falls power stations, resulting in the black-out.

Subsequently ZESCO Ltd, deepened power rationing to domestic consumers while the Copperbelt Energy Corporation, which supplies power to the copper and cobalt mines, also cut back supply following disruptions in electricity imports.

Although there is some stability in electricity supply, rationing has continued creating the need for alternative sources of electricity.

It is in this light that government through the Ministry of Energy and Water Development is looking for private partners to finance, construct and operate a hydroelectric power plant located in the Kafue Gorge, approximately 65km upstream of the confluence of the Kafue River with the Zambezi River to provider a source of power to supplement national demand.

Kafue Gorge Lower will be located immediately downstream of the existing 900 megawatts Kafue Gorge Upper hydroelectric power station.

It is therefore a positive development that the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation has this week invited officials from the Ministry of Energy and Water Development to Washington, D.C, to initiate discussions on the technical work completed on the Kafue Gorge project.

Once discussions with government are completed and a better understanding of the dam size is proposed, the next step will be to look for investors with knowledge of international best practice in large scale hydro-electric and dam projects as well as experience of working in emerging markets, preferably within the context of Southern Africa.

The need for increased electricity supply cannot be over emphasized because with increased activity in the mines, agriculture and other industries, consumption will also increase.

The country’s population is also on the rise and domestic needs for electricity are also increasing.
We are anxious to see an end to the costly power cuts as they affect production while domestic and industrial machines risk breaking down due to power surges.

The proposed Kafue Gorge hydropower project, which will have a capacity of 750 megawatts, is therefore the country’s only immediate hope that may end the power black-outs.

We urge all the stakeholders in the project to take the negotiations very seriously so that the project can be a reality in record time.

Zambians urged to work hard, diversify economy

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

WE SALUTE the international donors who have so far given Zambia US$174.1 million out of the US$312.88 million pledged for this year.

The government is obviously elated at this gesture because these funds will support the national budget to meet various development projects in the country.

The disbursements come in the wake of President Banda’s assurances that Government is committed to lift the living standards of the people and would work tirelessly to achieve this goal.

He has said his government is in a hurry to meet the aspirations of the people and that with hard work and cooperation, the desired development will be achieved.

Apart from these assurances, the government has put in place far-reaching measures to control inflation, curb corruption and has created an enabling environment for investment in the economy.

We therefore see the disbursement of the funds by the donors, which represents over 55 per cent of the projected budget support for 2009 as an indication of the confidence the international community has in the leadership of Mr Banda.

The decision by the donor community, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund is a clear indication that the government can be trusted as it has demonstrated the desired leadership to serve the people of Zambia.

However, as much as we are grateful for the support from the donors, Zambians should continue working hard especially through economic diversification to enable the country have reliable and multiple foreign exchange generating sectors.

After almost 45 years of independence, the nation should by now be able to have several other economic sectors to fall back on especially since the mixed fortunes of the mining industry cannot always be counted on.

We therefore call on the nation to work harder and diversify the economy so that the country can generate financial resources from other sectors and reduce dependence on copper and lessen on foreign aid.

Apart from receiving grants from donors, the country should be able to tap the abundant local resources and create the much-needed wealth.

In that way, the country will be able to sustain itself economically while the generous assistance the country continues to receive will complement what the country has.

On the other hand, we wish to appeal to those charged with the implementation of donor-funded projects to ensure the money is used as intended.

Chinese firm takes over Luanshya mine

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

THE Copperbelt is slowly getting back to its feet with the announcement that China Non- Ferrous Metal Company (NFCA) has been selected to take over Luanshya Copper Mine (LCM) and subsequently re-open it.

President Banda said negotiations are expected to end on May 22 in preparation for takeover of the mine at the end of this month.

This is a positive development for the country especially for the thousands of miners on the Copperbelt who lost jobs in the past few months at the height of the global economic crunch.

We are all anxious to know how the Chinese firm will handle LCM operations including the company’s social responsibility to run the Luanshya Mine Hospital, the Trust School, the Craft School and the sports recreational facilities in Luanshya.

One thing for sure is that NFCA faces a mammoth task to reorganize production of the mine and this may entail engaging new miners and other specialists including the use of new technology in mining.

A huge investment outlay will obviously be made to revive production as well as serious planning done to effectively run the Mine Hospital, schools and the sports facilities.

It is with this view in mind that we call for patience by all the stakeholders to give management at NFCA time to settle down once the negotiations are concluded and allow the company operate without any interference.

Stakeholders should therefore not expect miracles or overnight accomplishments in Luanshya - but with patience, the difficulties that beset the mine may just become history.

We call on the Mineworkers of Zambia (MUZ) and the National Union of Mineworkers Workers (NUMAW) and politicians to join government and assist the technical committee handling the negotiations with NFCA to arrive at a mutual package that will protect both the employees and the entrepreneur.

This is not a time for fault-finding but a time for solidarity to find long- lasting solutions to the mining industry.

Mining is not an easy task and it takes entrepreneurs with a heart for the nation to risk their finances and invest in copper production during this time of the global economic meltdown.

The price of copper is improving but this is not an automatic signal that investors can pump their monies anyhow where the metal is available.

The Chinese, particularly NFCA should therefore be praised for being magnanimous enough to take up this challenge to direct their resources into a mine where others have failed.

We are confident that the Chinese being a hard-working people, a trait they are known for, both by critics and admires, will soon bring a positive environment to LCM.

We urge the new mine owners to reconsider re-employing the miners who were retrenched and offer business opportunities to local suppliers and contractors to ease the unemployment in Luanshya and the Copperbelt region as a whole.

We also appeal to other mining firms in the country to emulate NFCA and re-invest in Zambia because the country still has the potential to remain a copper giant for a long time to come.

We urge other investors to take advantage of the prevailing peace in the country and the attractive concessions in the mining sector to tap the vast mineral wealth not only on the Copperbelt but in other areas as well.

Africa should step up Swine flu surveillance

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

REPORTS that swine flu may have spread to Africa are worrying and we urge the nation to become more alert and report any suspicious case to the nearest medical authorities.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), some 12 suspected cases of swine flu were under investigation by Friday last week, though there is no confirmed case on the continent so far.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Luis Gomez Sambo told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting of African Ministers of Health in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that results of five cases under close investigation were being expected.

One of the five suspects is from Benin, while the remaining four are from Seychelles. There are also suspected cases in Kenya and Uganda while the suspected cases in South Africa have proved negative to the H1N1 strain of the virus.

We do not wish to alarm the nation but we feel duty bound to caution the public that although no case has been confirmed in Africa so far, the fact of the matter is that the continent “is under siege” and no country should sit on its laurels and think all is well.

As a country, Zambia therefore, needs to step up the surveillance system and ensure that concrete measures are in place to meet the emerging threat of the H1N1 and related epidemics.

Zambia is already a casualty of other pandemics like the HIV/AIDS and if the country is to be hit by the flu virus, the cost to respond to the disease may be too huge to bear or the country may even fail to adequately deal with problem.

It is for this reason that we wish to remind the nation to be more alert and vigilant over any possible outbreak of the H1N1 virus because if it is confirmed in some of these African countries, which are not too far away from Zambia, then the risk of spreading here become even higher.

We commend WHO for the quick response to the disease particularly its understanding that African countries are vulnerable and the response capacities of the individual governments need support.

The organisation is monitoring the outbreak and providing technical guidance to all countries, in addition to dispatching stocks of 1,000 Tamiflu vaccines to each member states in Africa to strengthen their response.
We join WHO’s call that disease surveillance be increased and that appropriate information about the disease.

continues to be provided to the public while relevant medicines should also be stockpiled for any eventuality.
According to the latest update from WHO, 23 countries have officially reported 2099 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Out of this number, a total of 44 deaths have been reported, including 42 in Mexico and two in the US.
We hope the African health ministers who gathered in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to discuss public health challenges confronting the continent, as well as efforts to improve maternal, neonatal and child health also came up with joint strategies to face the challenge posed by the new influenza outbreak.

With new the H1N1 influenza virus, now in our midst, the life expectancy on the continent may go down even further, hence the need for African countries to pull their resources together and be counted in taking the lead to protect the people from pandemics such as the swine flu.

Zambia, DRC frequent consultations critical

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

ZAMBIA and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are neighbours who share one of the longest common borders in Africa and enjoy harmony despite the diversity of culture of the two peoples.

In fact, for a long time, even prior to independence, the two countries have co-existed as a family and have shared both difficult and happier times together.

It is due to this bond of cooperation that the successive governments in the two countries have over the years and in different ways tried to bring the people of the two countries much closer to each other.

Apart from the high-level bilateral visits by leaders in the two countries, the general population at different levels has also expressed the desire to live as one people, hence, the criss-crossing at border areas by both Zambian and Congolese nationals.

Some townships on the copperbelt are even popularly known as “little Congolese towns” because of the high population of the Congolese nationals living there and we are convinced that deep inside the DRC, some Zambians are obviously also at home there. This is how it should be - the true spirit of pan-Africanism.

We are therefore cheered by the current visit of the DRC interior and culture minister, Jean Marie Dikanga Kazadi, who said in Ndola on Wednesday that there was need for the two countries to meet regularly to discuss matters of common interest.

We agree that Zambia and the DRC should often meet as a family to discuss issues that concern both countries to enhance peace and cooperation.

Issues that immediately come to our mind include the current voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees to their home country and the modernisarion of the Chembe border post.

We are aware that plans are underway to redesign and turn Chembe border in Mansa district into a modern town to prepare the area for an anticipated increase in the number of business activities since the commissioning of the Levy Mwanawasa Bridge.

Mansa district council Town Clerk Bwanga Kapumpa recently disclosed that the authority would use the K150 million Integrated Development Plan (IDP) funding from government to turn Chembe into a modern border town. How far have these plans gone? It will obviously be in the interest of both countries to know if there is progress.

The tarring of the Pedicle Road is also still outstanding and is one of the many issues that can boost development in the two countries, if it was concluded quickly.

We are also anxious to know if the repatriation of the Congolese in Zambian refugee camps is on course because there were reports that some of them were reluctant to go back home.

Such programmes and many others affecting the two countries call for dialogue so that there is harmonization in the implementation process.

It is commendable therefore that Mr Kazadi is in the country because the presence of the minister in the DRC delegation is an indication of the value the government of President Joseph Kabila attaches to the cooperation between the DRC and Zambia.

We hope the consultative talks will address pertinent security issues affecting the two countries and provide the platform for consensus to deal with other matters agreed in the joint regional permanent commission.

We agree with Copperbelt permanent secretary Villie Lombanya that the joint permanent commission, which was last convened in 2007, needs to meet regularly so that the momentum to enhance cooperation between the two countries is not lost.

Financial indiscipline rocks Ministry of Home Affairs

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

WE are disturbed by reports of glaring financial irregularities in the Ministry of Home Affairs that were exposed by the Public Accounts committee in Parliament on Wednesday.
In fact, our heart bleeds to learn that billions of Kwacha have either gone missing or are unaccounted for by a law enforcement ministry.

Workers who observed Labour Day yesterday must have shuddered in disappointment to learn that some workers in the Ministry of Home Affairs were recklessly embezzling funds running into billions of Kwacha despite the difficulties the country was going through and worse still, when they are the ones who are supposed to be curbing such malpractices.

Honestly, how does one explain such high levels of indiscipline by a Ministry which is supposed to be in the forefront in enforcing the law? It is really shameful indeed.

The public officers in the Ministry of Home Affairs who are misusing or misapplying public funds are as bad as ordinary thieves because they are stealing from the people.

This is day-light robbery if workers can take advantage of the loopholes in the ministry and deliberately fail to account for public funds.

We understand that some of the financial irregularities at the ministry include failure by workers to process loss reports, unvouched expenditure, over-statement of prices, non-recovery of loans, missing payment vouchers, unsupported payment vouchers and delayed banking.

Other irregularities include variation of contract prices, undelivered motor vehicles paid for using public funds, irregular contracts, unreturned imprest and wasteful expenditure.

We are agree with Public Accounts Committee chairperson, Charles Milupi that the permanent secretary, Mrs Ndiyoyi Mutiti, who is the controlling officer, has a mammoth task before her and she must ensure that all culprits are brought to book.

Mrs Mutiti should adhere to the directive that she should submit all the names of the officers that have misused or misapplied public funds. We are all anxious to see proof of action that has been taken against the officers.

Their names must be submitted to Parliament without hesitation and even made public because after all, there is nothing sensitive about publicising names of people who embezzle public resources.

It would not be enough for the controlling officer to recover money from an officer who steals public funds but the affected officers must be dealt with according to the law.

The ministry has to be cleaned and order restored because they were tarnishing the good image of a hard working government.

It was only the other day when Acting Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Daniel Bowasi assured the nation that government had made progress by implementing comprehensive reforms to promote transparency and accountability.

But with reports of such reckless financial mismanagement at the ministry of Home Affairs, the public will start wondering about the truth was and this will derail the good intentions of the government.

We appeal to higher authorities to move in and stop the rot at the ministry and we recommend that those officers who will be found wanting be dismissed immediately or better still be turned to the Police for prosecution because their behaviour is scandalous to say the least.

Lift sanctions on Zimbabwe

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

ZIMBABWE has suffered enough and it is time that the international community lifted the economic sanctions to allow the country implement the economic recovery programme.

The all inclusive government is now in office and it is commendable that it is trying by all means to improve the well being of its people.

It is in view of this that we echo President Banda’s call to lift sanctions that were imposed on Zimbabwe.

We feel the European Union and the United States in particular, can now reflect on their positions and join the SADC region and assist Zimbabwe succeed in its recovery programme.

The path which Zambia has taken to deepen the economic relations with Zimbabwe is commendable as it will go a long way in ameliorating that country’s economy which has been in limbo a long time.

The effects of the world-wide economic recession have obviously also hit Zimbabwe, making the country more vulnerable, hence the need for other countries to adopt a more sympathetic stance and lift the sanctions.

We are aware that the countries that imposed the sanctions acted in that manner because of problems of democracy that had surrounded Zimbabwe but that phase has since passed as there is now an all inclusive government in place to address the interests of the people.

The continued imposition of sanctions is therefore an unnecessary punishment on the people of Zimbabwe.

There is need to reduce poverty, improve infrastructure and increase trade and enhance agriculture and food security in Zimbabwe but this can only be achieved if all the cooperating partners work together.

Zimbabwe has the potential to fully exploit its economic potential and return to be a major food basket in the region but it needs help from the rest of the international community.

It is gratifying that the leadership in Zimbabwe is also sticking to the agreement between political parties and this should dispelled doubt in some sections of the international community about the success of the unity government.

Instead of continuing with sanctions, we appeal to those countries to take a second look at the potential of Zimbabwe’s agriculture and tourism and direct investments in those areas.

Mr Banda rightly observed that other countries should help Zimbabwe overcome her difficulties instead of looking for faults in the unity Government.

This is a time for reconciliation and we hope Zimbabwe will again become a member of the international community free from economic sanctions.

Zambia obseves May Day

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

TODAY we join the rest of the nation in commemorating Labour Day which is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world to mark the economic and social achievements of workers.

It is a historical day as it provides for reflection on what the workers have achieved over the year and an opportunity for workers to take stock of their situation and plan ahead.

We are aware that this year’s celebration is being observed when the country is facing some of the most difficult times due to the adverse effects of the world-wide economic recession.

We agree it has been difficult for workers to make ends meet due to the high prices of food and the job losses especially in the mines.

This is however, not an opportunity for anybody especially opposition parties to politicise this year’s Labour Day celebrations.

There are reports that some political parties are planning to hold demonstrations over the job losses in the mines and this is uncalled for.

We appeal to such political parties to call off such demonstrations because the workers would not like to see their day being spoiled by politicians.

It would be unfortunate for politicians to hijack the day and use it to settle political scores by holding demonstrations.

We appeal to the workers and the public at large not to allow themselves to be used to fight personal and political battles by some disgruntled politicians who have no interest of the nation at heart.

We have said before that the current job losses in the mines and high prices cannot be blamed on the leadership of President Banda because they are as a result of circumstances beyond the control of the Zambian government.

Demonstrations over the job losses would therefore not solve the problem.
We appeal to those harbouring ideas to demonstrate to be level-headed and instead use the occasion to plan ahead and find solutions to the current economic problems.

We are all concerned about the plight of the workers who lost jobs in the mines and the government has engaged in talks with the various stakeholders to mitigate the effects of the global recession.

The problems affecting Zambia have also hit many other countries and there is no need to make political capital out of the global economic crunch.

The government, opposition parties, workers’ representatives and the workers themselves should instead put their heads together and help find solutions.