Take empowerement funds seriously

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

THE announcement by the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) that it has allocated K10 billion to each province for disbursement this year is most welcome.
This revelation is a definite pointer to Government’s determination to ensure that the policy on citizens’ economic empowerment succeeds.

Already, the commission has approved 61 applications from nine provinces for September 2009 alone. The beneficiary provinces include Lusaka, Eastern, Western, Southern, Luapula, North-Western, Northern, Central and Copperbelt.

With this development, we urge fellow citizens to take the CEEC initiative seriously and prepare themselves to participate in the global economy as Government increases citizens’ access to investments through the CEEC programme.

Since the programme started last year, it is clear that Government wants to increase Zambia’s access to investment so that citizens, including women and the youth, have an opportunity to fully exploit their entrepreneurial abilities in many ways.

The creation of multi-facility economic zones on the Copperbelt and in Lusaka province is, incidentally, another way of empowering the local people in order to uplift their standards of living through job creation.

It is abundantly clear, therefore, that Government is keen to ensure that Zambians fully participate in the economic affairs, at both the national and international levels.

President Banda has repeatedly assured the nation that his Government on its part will continue implementing prudent macro-economic policies to safeguard gains made so far while ensuring that all economic activities benefit the people. The focus for this year is to grow the economy and diversify into various sectors, including agriculture and tourism.

Fair-minded and objective people will agree that so far, the country’s economic, political and social programmes are on the right track. This is evidenced by the positive economic developments which can be seen across the country.

It is with this background that we wish to encourage those who still habour mixed feelings about the CEEC to shake off their fears and anxieties and visit the nearest office in their area for advice on how to access the finances so that they are empowered to participate in national development.

The projects which the CEEC recently approved were mainly in manufacturing, information and communication technology, transport services, education, trading, tourism, agriculture, mining and construction.

This goes to show that the areas of interest are wide and there is room for the general population to engage in many projects of their choice. We, therefore urge members of the public to apply for funds and join other emerging entrepreneurs and get empowered through the CEEC programme.

As prospects for the global economy begin to brighten again, this is the time for Zambians to take advantage of the CEEC instrument and engage in entrepreneurial activity to help grow the national economy.

The notion that only Government is responsible for the growth of the economy is archaic as it does not tally with reality in today’s world.

Growing the national economy should be everyone’s business, especially now that Government has set up this facility that helps equip citizens with financial resources to start business ventures in any sector.CEE Funds are there for the taking. It’s up to citizens to rise to the challenge.

Livestock, key to growth, poverty reduction

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

AGRICULTURE remains the key to growth and poverty reduction in Zambia as more than 60 per cent of the population derives its livelihood from it.

But it is clear that agricultural development has not received adequate support in the past, hence the deliberate shift by the government to give it the brace it deserves.

Statistics show that in the recent past, Government spending on agriculture has been less that five per cent of the national budget, and less than one per cent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This low spending has resulted in the run-down of agricultural infrastructure, poor extension service delivery and has sparked high and repeated incidences of livestock diseases. The effect has been low agricultural productivity and high prevalence of poverty, especially in rural communities.
Livestock production, in particular, which is a common urban and peri-urban income generating activity with potential to reduce poverty among households, has suffered a great deal due to insufficient support.

Outbreaks of the contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in various districts, particularly in Southern and Western provinces, coupled with the foot and mouth disease, have, for example, threatened and significantly reduced the cattle population in these areas.

Reports indicate that the outbreaks are mainly due to uncontrolled cattle movement, coupled with a serious breakdown of animal disease surveillance systems in the country.

Raising cattle, or any other livestock for that matter, is therefore, a risky business in Zambia. A whole range of diseases can easily attack one’s herd with depressing regularity, often killing hundreds, if not thousands, of animals with each outbreak.

In some cases, diseases have wiped out entire herds, leaving the owners, mostly villagers, destitute.

The cost of disease weighs most heavily on the rural poor, who depend on cattle and other animals for their livelihood. Cattle are, in fact, in many areas a traditional store of value, a kind of bank account on hooves.

But despite the ever-looming danger of disease, few farmers vaccinate their animals or, better still, test them for infection. When animals fall sick, they usually die for lack of diagnosis. Medical assistance is rarely available, and when it is, villagers often don’t trust it to work.

Furthermore, there are too few veterinarians in the country, and those available usually work exclusively with large, commercial cattle owners. Most vets have little interest in serving the poor farmers, who are spread out across the countryside. Yet these are the people who need such help more.

President Banda’s statement in Cuba that his administration is in a hurry to fight poverty in rural communities through reducing and eliminating livestock diseases is, therefore, a clear pointer to Government’s resolve to help the poor rural communities.

Mr. Banda was emphatic when he said rural communities in Zambia depend heavily on livestock as a source of income and means of labour for their livelihood, hence the need to fight livestock diseases with renewed vigour.

It is necessary therefore that the existing gaps that have led to a breakdown of animal diseases surveillance systems and poor support to rural farmers are urgently addressed so that the livestock industry can be protected to improve agriculture and reduce poverty in the country.

Ease land acquisition to Zambians

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

If it is difficult for Zambians resident in the country to acquire land, it is almost a nightmare for those living abroad to do so. Yet land is the first factor to consider if one is contemplating investment in property development, agriculture or business.

It is common knowledge that the government and the business community are working hard to develop a conducive environment for doing business in Zambia. The recent developments in the mines and modern shopping malls springing up across the country are there for all to see.

What is of concern, however, is whether ordinary Zambians are also getting a fair share of their own land to enable them to engage in income-generating ventures, including agriculture.

A Zambian economist, Yusuf Dodia, recently observed that some quarters of central and local government have, unfortunately, been extravagant in allocating land to all descriptions of investors, whether local or foreign.

Huge tracts of land have been given out to people and businesses that have sat on these properties only to re-sell them years later at astronomical prices, while local residents cannot access land for domestic and small-scale commercial or agricultural development.

Mr Dodia cites the shores of Lake Kariba from Siavonga right down beyond Maamba, where big chunks of land have been given to people outside the local communities. Many of these pieces of land have not seen a single piece of development in the form of buildings or other infrastructure beyond a simple barbed wire perimeter fence.

This scenario is, in fact, common in most parts of the country where huge tracts of land are left idle for a long time only to be sold to foreign investors with plenty of liquid cash.

Land acquisition by ordinary people is not an easy matter as it is further compounded by the long and arduous procedures one has to follow at the councils, Ministry of Lands or through the traditional rulers.

The directive by President Rupiah Banda to Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane and Minister of Lands Peter Daka to find ways of easing the process of acquiring land, especially for Zambians living abroad, is, therefore, very timely.

Zambia is currently an ideal destination for investment, and financial magnates across the globe target land and other resources for their investments. As the country opens up to the outside world, it is important that indigenous people have access to their own land and are not reduced to hopeless spectators.

Yes, local communities are encouraged to accept and support developments driven by foreign capital as these can lead to improvements in the quality of their lives. But when the people feel that they are mere spectators, they are likely to resent the developments and look for ways of undermining them.

There are also short- and long-term political ramifications of such a situation.
Addressing scores of Zambians living in New York on Tuesday, the President was emphatic that land is valuable and Zambians regardless of where they live should acquire pieces of land for agriculture and other investments. The “big investor” syndrome should not hold sway in perpetuity.

The challenge now is for the relevant stakeholders to do some domestic housekeeping and ensure that strategic planning of land allocation is instituted to enable local people and those in the diaspora to access land without difficulty.

Swine Flu causing havoc in Zambia

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

WE fully understand and appreciate many people’s concern at the increasing number of cases of suspected Swine Flu in the country, especially among school children.

After all, already, health authorities on the Copperbelt have closed Luanshya Trust School after the institution recorded a drastic increase in the number of children suffering from suspected Swine Flu or the H1N1 virus.

At Mpande Girls Secondary School in Kapiri Mposhi, 31 pupils are reportedly quarantined on suspicion that they are suffering from Swine Flu. The situation is the same in Ndola where more than 100 pupils at Ndola Girls National Technical High School were earlier in the week quarantined for suspected HINI infection.

This development is worrying in view of repeated warnings by medical authorities that Swine Flu is highly contagious and has already spread rapidly to 191 countries, starting from America to Europe and Asia and may well be taking its toll on Africa, including Zambia.

What complicates matters is that the signs and symptoms of H1N1 and seasonal flu are very similar and, like with common flu, most persons with H1N1, it is said, may get better even without any specific treatment. Transmission of the virus can, therefore, not easily be stopped.

It is also important to note that in an individual with a normally functioning immune system, the body is capable of effectively fighting off the virus using its own internal defences. But, as reports indicate, the infection could be fatal in individuals with low immunity. And there is evidence that the virus has already claimed lives in Mexico and other parts of the globe.

That’s why many people share the fears expressed by the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba, who said in Kabwe that the situation may get worse if urgent measures are not taken to bring it under control.

In the view of Mr Hikaumba and others, the government should consider temporarily closing all schools countrywide in order to prevent the spread of the Swine Flu.

Experts reviewing the HINI pandemic worldwide, however, point out that closure of schools or public places like cinema halls and malls can only delay, but cannot stop, the spread of H1N1
They argue that closing schools is not a solution because the affected pupils would spread the disease to their families and the communities in which they live.

The experts say a vaccine is the most effective tool for controlling the spread of H1N1.
We think both viewpoints are valid and neither can be dismissed completely. What is needed, and quite urgently, is a careful study of all available options to come up with the most practical, effective, measure to safeguard life and avert the costs associated with treatment and care.

We welcome steps taken by Government to encourage individuals and communities to observe respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene and other measures to protect themselves against the disease. We hope the same zeal will be applied to secure a vaccine because it appears to be the most feasible measure available for controlling the spread of the pandemic.

In the meantime, Government should consider putting up emergency measures to ensure that pupils in examination classes continue learning even in the event that they are quarantined. Otherwise, they will be greatly disturbed and disadvantaged come examination time.

UNDP aids DATFs

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

WE COMMEND the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its decision to provide financial resources to the Ministry of Health for six months to facilitate operations of the District AIDS Task Forces (DATFs) around the country.

This follows the delayed disbursement of money by the Global Fund pending on-going investigations into the alleged theft of public resources at the ministry.

The move is commendable because the government is facing challenges to finance the health sector in view of the investigations at the ministry. The funds from the UNDP will, therefore, ameliorate the situation and assist sustain the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The funds are most welcome particularly because the government is currently implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework (2006-2010), which led to the establishment of the National AIDS Council (NAC), the nine Provincial Task Forces and the 72 District AIDS Task Forces to support comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programmes.

DATFS normally receive funding per quarter from the Global Fund through the Ministry of Health for various AIDS sensitisation activities but this has not been possible since June 2009 because of the on-going negotiations between Government and the cooperating partners.

Support to the DATFs is crucial because they are responsible for mobilisation and coordination of the national response to HIV/AIDS at community level where its impact is most felt.

The human toll as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a tragic reality and the assurances by the UNDP resident coordinator Macleod Nyirongo that funding to the ministry will continue, therefore, gives us hope that help will continue to reach the districts where majority of the vulnerable rural communities live.

We are aware that despite the multiplicity of donors and of funds towards the HIV/AIDS fight, most of the programmes have not benefited the poor majority. But by decentralising the institutional response for HIV/AIDS programmes in rural communities, through the DATFs, the government has stimulated community-based initiatives in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment.

It is with this background that we salute UNDP for the gesture to support the DATFs for the next six months because the funds will promote a national response at the district level.

DATFs are district-level associations of political, community and non-governmental organisation leaders that work in partnership to coordinate HIV/AIDS activities in the communities.

We urge other organisations to emulate UNDP to assist DATFs access funds and improve on their ability to develop strategic HIV/AIDS plans, driven by local concerns and priorities.

To show gratitude for this magnanimous gesture, the DATFs should also use the resources prudently to ensure continued support.

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.