By Mwansa Chalwe Snr

The New Dawn administration -UPND- was ushered into power in August, 2021 by the Youth who voted in unprecedented numbers to get rid of the Patriotic Front (PF), in what was essentially an electoral revolution. The Youth placed their hopes for quick jobs in President HH under the mantra: “Barry will fix it”, but this, has not yet happened, and there are no promising signs. The Opposition and other Critics have accused the government of having no clear roadmap for the creation of jobs for the Youth. They allege that the administration has forgotten about the Youth and put them at the backburner in preference to foreign interests.

To date, there has not been anybody who knew how the Zambian Youth felt about the New Dawn administration’s ten months in power. However, for the first time, there is some independent empirical evidence suggesting that they are on a wrong path to youth job creation. This is a very important feedback that needs to be reacted to by government and taken seriously by the President.
Zambia and African Youth Perception of their Governments

According to the Africa Youth Survey (AYS) 2022, sponsored by Ichikowitz Family Foundation of South Africa, 84% of Zambian Youths are dissatisfied with the government’s job creation efforts. And in a bar chart illustration, 90% think the country is heading in the wrong direction. It is the first time since the election of 12th August, 2021, that the degree of Zambian Youth discontent or dissatisfaction has been scientifically highlighted.
Zambia was among the 15 African countries in the sample surveyed. The scientific data was gathered by the consulting firm Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) Insights of South Africa. In general, the majority of African youth have lost confidence in their own countries and the continent as a whole, to meet their aspirations, and a rising number are considering moving abroad, Kaamil Ahmed reported in the UK Guardian Newspaper.

“According to the survey published on 13 June, 2022, by African Youth Survey, in 15 countries, almost all countries at least two-thirds of young people surveyed believed their nations were going in the wrong direction, apart from Rwanda and Ghana, where 60% and 56% were optimistic about their country’s direction. Only 32% of the 4,500 young people interviewed, aged 18-24, were optimistic about Africa’s prospects. Ivor Ichikowitz, whose South African family foundation commissioned the report, hopes the survey’s data will be used by governments to support the aspirations of their young people,” The Guardian Newspaper reported.

The Lagos-based Pan-African business news provider, Business Insider Africa, whilst commenting on the survey, observed that: “The Africa Youth Survey (AYS), thanks to the depth of these interviews, has become an authoritative source for understanding the opinions of Africa’s rising generation.”

The AYS suggests that Africa’s Youth want to see their governments prioritising job creation and not foreign direct investment, which they put at 6% as a priority, because it does not benefit them sufficiently or the local economy.

“Six in ten believe foreign companies have been allowed to take advantage of their country’s resources without sufficiently benefitting or contributing to the local populations. In order for the African continent to progress and move forward, youth think that the top priority should be creating new, well-paying jobs, followed by reducing government corruption. More than two-thirds (69%) say they are dissatisfied with how their national government is performing on creating new employment opportunities for people like them. Youth in Nigeria (87%), Zambia (84%) and Malawi (82%) are particularly dissatisfied with job creation efforts in their country,” the Survey noted.

Zambia’s Youth unemployment Conundrum

In order to put the Zambian Youth unemployment problem in context, a few numbers can give the reader the magnitude of the problem. According to the United Nations Population Fund, 82% of Zambian population is below the age of 35 years old. In 2018, Zambia’s Youth unemployment rate was last officially put at 41.2% but many analysts believe it could be between 60-70% now given the last two years of the pandemic. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 350,000 youths enter the job market from education institutions yearly. The formally employed are estimated at 1.2million (6.67 % of population),whereas informal employment is about 6.8milllion.The former Commerce Minister, Bob Sichinga claimed that there were about 7.5million Zambian Youths unemployed. The reality is that the number of Youths unemployed are in millions and any solutions ought to be based on these numbers.

President HH is urged to take immediate action. He should personally pursue this youth unemployment issue by intervening with the same vigour as he is doing with trade, investments, debt restructuring and mining incentives. These strategies will take time to produce any results. Youths need immediate results. In any case, the aforementioned strategies will not create the critical mass of jobs required. Strategies for solving Youth unemployment that the Author is privy to, are not mutually exclusive to the pursuit of foreign direct investments and trade promotion. The two strategies could be implemented in parallel. There are latent jobs out there in the economy that just need activation with a bit of common sense and innovative thinking plus looking outside the inner circle for solutions.

Suggested Solutions to New Dawn Administration

In order to change the Zambian Youth’s perception as per Africa Youth Survey (AYS), and regain their confidence, the New Dawn government needs to take two major steps immediately to give the Youth hope. First, they need to quickly design a Road Map for Youth Job Creation. It should be credible, comprehensive, coordinated and communicated to Zambians. The President himself should communicate it to the nation for it to be taken seriously. The Comprehensive Road Map should include outlining the seven major causes of Youth unemployment and how the planned interventions will solve them; identify the four main youth demographics and the different solutions applicable to them; provide short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions for solving Youth unemployment. The Roadmap should also be cross-cutting among the four Youth cluster Ministries. The one size fits all approach to resolve Youth unemployment like the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Youth Development Fund (YDF) etc are unlikely to be successful. Secondly, the New Dawn should quickly implement shovel ready short term initiatives for fast-tracking youth job creation.

While in Opposition, about two years ago, President HH wrote a Youth job creation policy brief on his Facebook page. He mentioned one brilliant and practical idea capable of fast tracking the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The President may have forgotten about the idea due to his busy schedule. My associates bought into the idea and decided to extensively research on it. They found its validation in the African Development Bank documents relating to the Bank’s Jobs for Youth in Africa (JfYA) Strategy (2016-25). Together, we subsequently designed a technology-based, practical entrepreneurship programme for implementing President HH policy idea in practice. It is called the “Digital Entrepreneurship Value Addition (DEVA) programme. The solution is mobile technology-based and is capable of transforming the Youth job market the way mobile money has done to financial inclusion. It is one of the quickest solutions to solve youth unemployment and a possible game-changer. We would recommend it to any African government struggling with Youth unemployment. The proposed initiative could easily create over 100 000 jobs within the next six months by tapping in the blue ocean of latent jobs that only require activation with smart technology and innovative practical ideas.

Conclusion

In the light of the findings in the Africa Youth Survey(AYS), it is advisable for the New Dawn government to press a reset button, and recalibrate its priorities as the Youth have clearly given them unequivocal feedback. They should not make the same mistake that the PF made of ignoring the voices of the youth, as well as some of us, who are passionate advocates for youth employment creation, who offered solutions based on empirical evidence, hands on experience and exposure, as we are doing now.

It would be in the spirit of cooperation between the public and private sector, as per recently set up Public Private Dialogue Forum, that we could easily assist in crafting a Youth Employment Creation Roadmap and implement a fast track youth job creation initiative with our partner, the 3 million member Zambia National Marketeers Cooperative Association (ZANAMACA) in a tripartite Public Private Partnership with government. All the President has to do, is to intervene by giving us the signal and support, because the Civil Service on its own, from our experience, is full of inertia and bureaucracy and nothing urgent like this will ever be done without the Presidential directive.

To conclude, it would be useful to quote the AYS Sponsors comments’ on the Survey results so that our government and other African governments are guided and avoid being complacent about their security of tenure in office given this demographic’s power.

“The 2022 African Youth Survey provides us with an indication of how our next generation of African leaders will respond to new demands. I have no doubt that this can become one of the most critically important development tools for the continent. The youth won’t stand by idly. The era or one man, one vote, once, is long gone on this continent. This has emerged in both surveys – then in full sight in Zambia in 2021.The youth want to preserve the natural resources that are their heritage. They will start their own businesses and they will move to where they believe those greatest opportunities lie.

“African youth remain focused on their personal and entrepreneurial ambitions, they want to be in charge of their own destinies. Three-quarters of youth know what they want to do with their lives, and a similar proportion have plans to start their own business within the next five years despite challenges for both their personal and professional ambitions – lack of access to capital and widespread and affordable internet limit entrepreneurial ambition,” Survey comments Suggest.

The writer is a Chartered Accountant and Author. He is a semi-retired international MSMEs Consultant, an independent financial commentator and a Mentor/Advisor. He is also an Op-Ed Contributor to the Hong Kong based, Alibaba owned, and South China Morning Post (SCMP). Contact: pmchalwe@gmail.com

ZAMBIA BOUND BY LOVE

It is an open secret that President Hakainde Hichilema has continued to value coexistence in promoting democratic tenets.

We have seen him embracing even those who made him feel less of a Zambian through torture of the mind and physical abuse during the time he was in opposition.

Today, during the funeral service of the veteran politician and late freedom fighter Honourable Sikota Wina President Hakainde Hichilema lightened with serene interacted with his predecessor, Edgar Lungu to.the amusement of his fellow citizens including the international community.

This must be a lesson or demonstration of unity of purpose in the consolidation and upholding of the One Zambia, One Nation motto, as espoused by founding fathers President Kenneth Kaunda and the late Honourable Sikota Wina himself.

President Hichilema reminded the Zambian people that the late Honourable Dr. Sikota Wina, was the last man to have died from a generation of patriotic citizens and youthful leadership having served the country in various portfolios diligently.

We are also called as young people in the history of Zambia who turned up in large numbers to usher in President Hichilema to change the face of Zambia to peace and a path to economic recovery.

It is important for the youth to engage actively in meaningful politics and governance issues.

Since his ascendency to the presidency, Mr Hichilema has always insisted that those who propagate hate, violence and divisive sentiments are on their own.

#So_true!

It is on record that under the new dawn administration, Zambia has experienced unprecedented levels of tolerance, oneness and restoration of one’s dignity, which were unheard of not too long ago.

As promised, Bally is working hard to bring back our economic fortunes on track which was in dire stress as different political parties can now assemble in one place full of serenity and brotherlihood.

Trust the process we are in safe hand…

Liswaniso Gilbert
UPND Youth National Chairperson

Military etiquettes,customs and traditions!

Unlike many other professions, the military profession is both a calling and a way of life. As such, the military life is premised on customs and traditions, many of which have been established as a result of this long history.

Within the military, Etiquettes, Customs and Traditions are simply the display of good manners, politeness and respect from both subordinates and seniors to each other. They are regular, expected actions which help maintain order and enforce military discipline.

In the Zambia Army, where most military personnel live and work in cantonments, Military Etiquettes, Customs and Traditions are practised both on and off duty and are considered more or less a way of life.

Here are the three (03) military customs and tradition found in the Zambia Army:

1. The Salute

The salute is a custom deeply rooted in tradition and is a symbol of respect and a sign of comradeship. The most common form of salute is the hand salute which began in the days of chivalry when it was customary for knights dressed in armour to raise their visors to friends for the purpose of identification.

In the Zambia Army, Soldiers salute all Officers, and Officers salute their Seniors. Salutes are returned by persons saluted except when in civilian clothes or when in uniform but uncovered (without headdress). If a junior salutes a group of seniors, the senior most in the group returns the salute simultaneously. The salute is accompanied with an articulate, ‘Good morning Sir/Madam; Good afternoon Sir/Madam, and Good Evening Sir/Madam’ according to the time of day.

2. The Senior Place of Honour

According to this custom, seniors will always walk and sit on the right of their juniors. The position of honour originated from the medieval swordsmen who always wore their weapons on the left side and drew them to their right. The strongest and most experienced warriors were given the place of honour (right) to allow them easy access to their weapons. Another military custom is coming to attention.

3. Call to Attention

When a Senior enters a room of Juniors, the room will be called to attention and the Senior-most among the Juniors will pay compliments. In the Zambia Army all military personnel are also addressed properly by either their appointment or their rank and surname. It is common for Seniors to address Juniors by their first names but never vice versa. Being a former British colony, it is also common for Seniors to call Juniors ‘Old Chap’, which is a British affectionate term.

Credit: Zambia Army Facebook page

By Fanny Kalonda

CHINA says it is willing to work with other international partners in Zambia to contribute to the country’s economic growth and people’s livelihoods.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on President Hakainde Hichilema at State House on Friday, China’s department of African affairs director general Wu Peng said the Asian country had since urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to quickly approve disbursement of the 1.4 billion dollar package to Zambia.

“We congratulate your administration’s already achieved success within very short time. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen bilateral strategic communication. We also the Chinese side appeal for an early approval and disbursement of the 1.4 billion dollars to Zambia. China is willing to work with other international partners of Zambia to contribute our share on your economic growth and your people’s livelihoods, living standards,” said Wu. “Today is Memorial Day of president Kenneth Kaunda who passed away, he is well known in China. We remember his contribution and others. The Chinese side is very satisfied and appreciate your agency’s new administration since Your Excellency took office from last year. We are glad to see you committed to holding national solidarity, economic growth, social equality, fighting corruption and better Zambian people’s livelihoods.”

And President Hichilema said it is important for Zambia to unlock the debt situation, adding that ‘’it is like a python, that debt is really strangling us’’.

He said the quicker the country resolved the issue and release revenues towards development expenditures, the better.

“It is important for us that we unlock the debt situation because it is like a python, that debt is really strangling us, and the quicker we resolve that issue and release revenues towards development expenditures the better. We hope that Zambia will continue to be supportive of the process, we appreciate that. We appreciate your commitment to supporting Zambia’s social economic agenda,” he said. “You coming here is as a result of the seriousness attached to that telephone conversation. And to underscore, since you are visiting, I wish to reiterate and confirm the warm relations that Zambia and China enjoy over a period of time; a long period of time in our difficult days during the liberation struggle. China was able, Your Excellency the director general and Ambassador, to give us support; to give us this country and the people of Zambia support in those difficult times and we appreciate that. And while we were facing such challenges, you as a country came forward, for example, to assist us open a trade route to the sea.’’

President Hichilema highlighted some the challenges Zamb9ia had post-independence.

‘’At the time it was very crucial to us because of the political situation that we were facing, I’m sure you remember. We had the Rhodesian side and China came to our side with Tanzania to construct the TAZARA railway. Director general, this shows the strength of our relationship; therefore, it is important for the two countries to continue living,” he said.

And President Hichilema said TAZARA was an important aspect, adding that there was need to find another way of organising the rail line.

“As our founding fathers, you know chairman Mao and president Kaunda, and the relationship they built needs to outlast all of us. TAZARA still remains important to us and we are hopeful that we can find another way of reorganising TAZARA; giving it a new life, it is the world’s asset. Zambia remains committed to this agenda of TAZARA.”

The minority shareholders of ZCCM-IH are calling for investigations into the purchase of the 90% shares of Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) by ZCCM – Investments Holding from Carlisa Investment valued at $1.5 billion last year.

The minority shareholders of ZCCM-IH have already written to Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission Board Musa Mwenye and Director General Gilbert Phiri over their proposed investigations into the transaction.

The group has further written to Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha asking his office to review the detailed sale agreement.

Spokesperson of minority shareholders of ZCCM-IH Thierry Charles said buying Mopani at $1.5 billion in 2021 was too exorbitant.

“The Mopani $1.5 billion deal must be investigated in the light of the above-mentioned elements which we question, we ask Chairperson of the Anti Corruption Commission Board Musa Mwenye, Director General Gilbert Phiri and Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha to launch investigations regarding the conditions under which the contract for the purchase of shares in MCM was negotiated and drafted: to look for any undisclosed adverse clauses that explain the inconsistencies in the figures and to question all those who negotiated the exorbitant $1.5 billion deal,” Charles wrote.

“Contrary to the false claims of former Vice-President Inonge Wina, the acquisition of the 90% stake in MCM was not the best deal of the year but rather appears to be the worst ZCCM-IH deal of all time. We are well aware that other ongoing ACC investigations to track down the looters of the clique are very busy. However, the sums involved in Mopani are colossal, not only for the purchase but also for the financial consequences of the deficits, and therefore deserve a strong mobilisation of ACC and AG services to investigate this deal which seems to us to be leonine,” Mr. Charles stated.

He continued:”The Mopani $1.5 billion deal must be investigated In a letter dated 6 June 2022 to Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission Board Musa Mwenye and Director General Gilbert Phiri, our shareholder group wished to express our questions and concerns regarding the purchase of the 90% shares of Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) by ZCCM – Investments Holding from Carlisa Investment Corporation. In a letter dated 8 June 2022 we also asked Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha to review the detailed sale agreement. 1. Background On 31 March 2021, ZCCM-IH acquired 90% of the shares in Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) from Carlisa Investment Corporation, owned by Glencore and First Quantum Minerals, following approval by ZCCM-IH shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting. The amount negotiated was $1.5 billion to be repaid annually over a period of 10 to 17 years.”

Mr. Charles expressed the misgivings of minority shareholders of ZCCM-IH in the deal.

“An appalling sale price Carlisa intended to put MCM into care and maintenance, so the $1.5 billion price for a company that had been making losses for many, many years was totally unjustified. The minority shareholders were in favour of ZCCM-IH finally becoming a full-fledged mining operator, and the takeover of Mopani seemed a good opportunity given the figures and information presented in the Circular to Shareholders issued on 9 March 2021. Opaque sales contract The detailed sale agreement was not disclosed to the minority Shareholders of ZCCM-IH, but we were given information in the Circular to shareholders. MCM’s copper production would be sold to Glencore at LME prices. Catastrophic and inconsistent figures .Visibly biased data and arguments put forward in the Circular to shareholders it was stated: Assuming current copper prices are maintained, it is forecast that the company will generate sufficient cash inflows to finance capital expenditure internally,” he said.

“The average expected Copper price average was US$ 7,000 yet, when copper prices are around US$ 9.500, the Management of ZCCM-IH indicated that the company is currently not generating free cash flows owing to the fact that the company requires capital investments in order to increase productivity during the Virtual Shareholder Open day on 27 April 2022. There have even been Press reports about MCM’s inability to pay suppliers on time, while the largest repayments to Carlisa have not even begun. Inconsistency of figures while copper production is in line with or above expectations and copper prices are very high, EBITDA is completely at odds with the figures presented in the Circular. The problem is not technical, copper production is indeed satisfactory.”

“The problem is elsewhere and the detailed contract seems to be the cause. Questionable verification of the sale contract by former Attorney General Likando Kalaluka Like any contract involving a parastatal company, the contract for the sale of the 90% stake in MCM had to be supervised by the Attorney General for compliance and to ensure that the interests of the Zambian people were safeguarded. However, former Attorney General Likando Kalaluka validated an illegal deal between Milingo Lungu and ZCCM-IH for the suspicious bonding of a loan to KCM just before the 2021 presidential elections. Likando Kalaluka’s competence and seriousness therefore raise questions about the quality of the audit and the legality of the contract signed with Carlisa in early 2021.”

FIX COST OF LIVING, NOT POLITICAL FOES
By Edwin Lifwekelo

THE United Party for National Development (UPND) administration must quickly put in place practical measures aimed at alleviating the suffering of citizens instead of wasting resources on vengence.

It is important to remind the UPND that it promised the nation that it would fix the economy immediately it formed government.

But it is no longer a secret that ordinary Zambians are grappling with the harshest living conditions in decades.

Many families are barely surviving as they do not know where their next meal will come from because of the high cost of food.

The prices of essential commodities and basic household consumables are beyond the reach of an average household.

Their groans are too audible to be ignored. They need relief, not promises. Instead of relentlessly harassing and persecuting political foes the New Dawn government should ensure that food and household consumables are affordable to the poor.

Besides the unaffordable prices of household consumables travel has become a luxury as a result of the exorbitant price of fuel.

Workers and traders are walking long distances to and from their work and trading places as they can no longer afford the bus fares under this incompetent government.

We urge President Hakainde Hichilema to stop his tourism foreign trips and deliver to Zambians what he promised them. He should stop claiming that his government needs more time to honour those promises because Zambians will not take that excuse.

When he was making the promises he did not tell the voters that they would wait for one year before he could start delivering.

As a reminder President Hichilema publicly declared that after being sworn in as head of State at 10:00 hours the rate of the kwacha against the dollar would drop by 14:00 hours.

He said by 15:00 hours of the same day he would have sold the Gulfstream presidential plane and channelled the proceeds to education.

The President promised that every family would immediately start enjoying three decent meals every day.

He said the price of mealie meal would immediately drop from K170 to K50 while the price of fuel would drop from K17 to K12 or K13.

The list is long. But he has fulfilled none of these promises which enticed Zambians to vote for him.

It is disappointing that the President and his party do not have the courage to go back to the Zambians they deceived and apologise that they had had no idea of what it would take to fulfill those promises.

People are suffering everywhere and are not interested in empty speeches.

Issued by:
EDWIN LIFWEKELO
PF Deputy Media Director

Where are the academics and other praise singers who sang for the new dawn?

By Joseph Chirwa

1. Introduction

The United Party for National Development (UPND) is one of the only two political parties that enjoyed support from academics and other thinkers.

The other party is the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD). With the Patriotic Front (PF), the support was not as overwhelming as that enjoyed by the UPND and MMD in their ascension to power. For starters, most academics and thinkers were not sure of the PF and only few supported it between 2001 and 2011. For the MMD we can simply say that it is the biggest beneficiary of support from academics and thinkers. There was a mass revolt against Kenneth Kaunda and his United National Independence Party (UNIP). Frederick Chiluba rode on the support of academics and thinkers. This is the same of President Hakainde Hichilema and UPND. Academics and thinkers sacrificed it all to see him win especially in 2021. The question is where are they now?

2. We are not career critics

A debate raged on social media when prominent estranged supporters of HH and UPND (previously anti-ECL and PF) asked very pertinent questions. The questions were very genuine from persons who are true patriots and who still have their souls intact. They asked as to where the elites in the name of thinkers, academics and others are in times of trouble. They questioned the deafening silence at the time of politics of tribe characterised by appointments based on tribe, nepotism and cronyism. They asked as to why renowned critics of the PF regime were silent when what they criticised against the PF was happening and happening at a high frequency under the UPND. They asked as to why it is now better for a region or regions to appoint themselves at the expense of others. They asked as to why police brutality is now acceptable in the eyes of those critics of the PF when the previous government did the same. They asked as to why corruption is now acceptable but under the PF it was condemned. They asked as to why the President now cannot be held accountable by academics and thinkers who have effectively been gagged or gagged themselves. In response, they were called names such as dogs and fools to mention a few. But one striking answer from one of the charlatans and praise singers caught my attention: we are not career critics. One of them added on his live Facebook feed that we shall continue to praise sing even if HH fails.

3. An educated cadre is a dangerous one

An educated cadre is a dangerous cadre. As Michael Sata once said educated people are cowards. They are opportunists. They exist in two kinds: those already appointed to positions and those awaiting appointments. Those already appointed to positions have effectively sold their souls. Very few can contradict their master. They never condemn government even when things are bad. They are gagged forever or until they are fired. Then there are those awaiting appointments. They are burning with anxiety from expectation. Each day it builds up and no appointment. Nine months since they helped the ‘new dawn’ ascend to power nothing. They are boiling and it is just a matter of time. They cannot talk now because they fear that they may lose out or be removed. Both of these types of academics and thinkers are sellouts. They are not patriotic Zambians. They either criticised ECL and the PF using tribal lenses or personal hatred as a result of them not being appointed. They have no loyalty to the flag. They are hired guns.

4. The silence continues

Some of these praise singers and goofballs masquerading as academics and thinkers are now silent because they have sold their conscious. It happened to me during the PF era. I stopped to think and I lost my conscious. I promised to be independent and never again to sell my soul to politics. I am ever inspired by the words of Ray Bradbury who once said that “I hate all politics. I don’t like either political party. One should not belong to them, one should be an individual, standing in the middle. Anyone that belongs to a party stops thinking.” I am now a liberated mind and I pray for my colleagues at local universities and in the diaspora to put Zambia first. Let us be like Sishuwa Sishuwa and speak the truth no matter how unpopular it is. Let us all be like Laura Miti who tells it as it is regardless as to whether one is in government. The truth shall set you free. Remember, all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

5. It starts small and gets bigger

The wisdom that small injustices become big must be borne by our esteemed praise team. This is how it starts. Reporting and transporting suspects to godforsaken areas. Using state machinery to kill other political parties. Threatening judicial officers in the discharge of duties. Bragging about purging those seemingly loyal to the previous regime. Presidential gatekeepers going unpunished for leaked conversations undermining the rule of law. Killing the opposition to build a one party state. Political parties are the foundation of our democracy and we need them. Henry Clay advised that “political parties serve to keep each other in check, one keenly watching the other.” It starts small then it manifests into calamity and disaster. Let us not tolerate small injustices because these will soon manifest. Let the UPND put to stop all shenanigans that made the PF being voted out of power. The arrogance that we will serve straight terms must not be repeated. It was the PF that said never UPND, remember? Where is the PF now? Where is the MMD? Where is UNIP?

6. Blind loyalty must be to God, country and family

George McGovern’s counsel may be timely to these academics and thinkers who have grown cold feet at the altar of expediency. The great American stated that “the highest patriotism is not blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one’s country deep enough to call her to a higher plain.” The Idealist warned that “cataract is the third biggest cause of blindness. Religion and politics remain the first two.” I am not advocating for academics and thinkers to avoid politics. They must be active. They are the soul of the nation. They are the voice of reason because without them, Plato warned that one of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by inferiors. That is why we need patriotic academics and thinkers to help sound the alarm and offer solutions when our servants in government bully us or betray our beliefs, faith and trust. When it comes to issues of government and the governed, we must always take sides. Eric Wiesel guided that “neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Frederick Douglass also warned that “the limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

7. Conclusion

Wake up son of Africa. Wake up son of Zambia. Use your education to the benefit of all and not self-aggrandisement. Use that voice to speak for the voiceless because that is what education is all about. Never betray your conscious because it will haunt. The deafening silence of those critics of the previous regime is a betrayal to those people they inspired to vote for UPND and against PF. Same wrongs must be condemned equally. Remove the cataract that is making you see injustices differently. The UPND must be wary of these academics and thinkers because they are the most dangerous. Let us support this President especially that he had a popular vote and mandate. Over two million Zambians voted for him. We can only do that by being salt to the menu. By being light in times of darkness. By being a voice of reason when charlatans, goofballs and praise singers want to derail him. We can do that by offering criticism and critical thinking as academics and thinkers.

The author is an academic, author and scholar based in Kasenengwa district and Lusaka city. He attended Chipata Day Secondary School and Chizongwe Technical High School in Chipata.

MINISTER OF ENERGY WROTE

THE ANGOLA-ZAMBIA OIL PIPELINE PROJECT PICKS UP PACE

Last week I hosted stakeholders of the Angola-Zambia Refined Petroleum Multi-Product (AZOP) Project at my office as we discussed plans to speed up the implementation of the project. Representatives of the Angola’s oil company Sonangol and the Zambian firm BBRL attended the meeting which was called to analyse the new terms of reference for the project.
The project idea and negotiation have been ongoing for about 10 years, since it was kickstarted by the Zambia Development
Agency (ZDA) in 2012. We now want to see this project moved from paper to the field.

The Head of the Angolan Diplomatic Mission in Zambia, Ambassador Azevedo Francisco, brought to me a message from Angolan Minister of Natural Resources, Oil and Gas Diamantino Azevedo of commitment to move forward with the agreements signed by the previous Zambian government in the energy field and particularly the AZOP project. “We just need to give life to the agreements already signed”, concluded the Angolan diplomat.

The meeting was also attended by Zambian Ambassador to Angola H.E Lawrence Chalungumana, who was also the Zambian envoy at the signing the agreements under the previous government.

The AZOP project will see the culmination of a petroleum pipeline and a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) pipeline built to transport oil products and gas from Angola to the Zambian market. 2020 estimates suggest a cost of USD 5 billion for the construction of the “pipeline” for the multiple transport of oil products from Angola. Initial ideas suggest that the petroleum pipeline will carry multiple products like diesel and kerosene while the gas pipeline will have turbines placed at intervals to take advantage of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) velocity and kinetic energy as its pumped to Zambia to generate electricity in forms of combined cycle gas turbine units. However, the final designs and costs will depend on final feasibility studies and its only expected to be commissioned in more than 3 years time due to the complex engineering design solutions that have to be derived first.

May I reiterate here that the plan is to have the private sector develop the pipeline, with state-owned petroleum Angolan company SANANGOL and the Zambia state company Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) being strategic equity partners. This may be through a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives. Finer details will be availed to you all soonest.

May I also disclose that the Angolans look at the construction of the petroleum pipeline to Zambia as part of their strategic plan in the petroleum sector. Angola will have excess fuel for exports soon since it has been developing a 100,000 barrels per day refinery in Cabinda, a 100,000 barrels per day refinery in Soyo, a 200,000 barrels per day in Lobito and is increasing the refinery capacity of the already existing refinery in Luanda by 3 times. Angola wants to take advantage of the privileged geographical location of our country, which borders eight countries and which can be a strategic transit point for oil products from Sonangol to other country once they land here through the pipeline.

Consequently, our Angolan counterparts conducted studies and came up with a plan that a storage station for oil products shall be built in one of the provinces of eastern Angola, from which the fuels can then be supplied to different countries in the Southern Africa, including Zambia.

Though the original plan was to bring the pipeline all the way to Lusaka, the feasibility studies will determine the best route – either through North-western Province or Western Province – and the best location for the pipeline terminus.

Once works start, this could be the first pipeline built in Zambia since the TAZAMA pipeline between Zambia and Tanzania built in 1969 by the UNIP government.

Hundreds of jobs are expected to be created for many Zambians and Angolans during construction and after commissioning. Further, this project is expected to help reduce the cost of landed petroleum products in Zambia by cutting off shipping and other middle men costs when the oil is imported from Angola as opposed to the current sources in the Middle East.

Good morning.

Hon. Eng. Peter Chibwe Kapala
Minister of Energy

6. 2022

By Kombe Mataka

PRESIDENT Hakiande Hichilema says socialism has failed in economies where it was being propagated and that those propagating the ideology must be careful not to propagate things that don’t work for the economy.

Speaking at late president Frederick Chiluba’s 11th memorial service held yesterday, President Hichilema praised the second president and his courage for liberalising the economy.

“The new dawn government is proud of the vision that president Chiluba had for this country. One of the things Chiluba and his team did was to drive the liberalisation of this country’s economy. Remember one party state: Socialism, Communism, which failed. There is no question about that. Communism and socialism failed,’’ he said. ‘’It did not just fail here it failed even in the heart of communism, so when I see advancement of those issues, sometimes I say, ‘do we want to go back to shortages. We heard of the cooking oil, queuing for cooking oil’. When I got married to that lady seated (points at his wife Mutinta) there was no juice in the shops because we married in the late eighties. We couldn’t organise drinks. The Coca-Cola you take for granted today, was not there. So, I remember one of the parastatal leaders called Mantanyani tried to concoct TipTop to try and take the space of Coca-Cola and Fanta; and even that Tip-Top we had to queue to buy a crate or two. We should not lose those memories and start propagating things that can destroy the economy.”

President Hichilema aulogised Chiluba as a courageous person who took bold economic decisions.

“Dr Chiluba was courageous to move the economy into a liberal sphere, an open economy and almost automatically things started happening. And Coca-Cola reappeared. You who love Coca-Cola, if you were born in the eighties, you wouldn’t have it because it was not there because of the economic policies,’’ President Hichilema told the audience. ‘’So, I think you must learn lessons. We must build one legacy to another and carry one. The policies of a liberal economy do deliver if managed properly. The policies that we had led us to a debt contraction; leading us to a HIPC to a point where by the time president [Levy] Mwanawasa came in officer he concluded a debt write-off. Our country’s debt came down to just a billion dollars. And it is unimaginable in my ingenuity, I just couldn’t believe that we are in another debt crisis…because we don’t learn lessons. We have returned into a big hole.”

The President said it was shocking how the country had attained a debt worth over $20 billion in seven years, exclaiming that “…umm no, it’s not right. Let us learn lessons so we can serve the people better.”

He said Chiluba stood for debt reduction and that as a way of honouring him, the new dawn government would ensure the debt problem was dealt with.

“I must say I am sure he will hear the message. Yesterday, the day before yesterday, we had the first creditors meeting where all the key creditors attended. China chaired the meeting and we are on our way to restructuring the debt,” said President Hichilema. “We apologise that we messed you up along the way. What you had resolved returned with venom. You can count on us; we won’t let you down.”

And former vice-president Enock Kavindele who served under Chiluba said he was a determined person and one that could not be challenged easily.

He said Chiluba could not have died at an early stage had it not been for the pressure that had come from being prosecuted.

Former president Edgar Lungu who was invited did not attend the event.

Former first lady Vera Chiluba was also missing at the event.

THE DEBT RESTRUCTURING PROCESS AND THE IMF SUPPORTED PROGRAMME

Lusaka, Sunday, 19th June 2022 – In light of public statements by certain sections of society on the status of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Supported Programme and the debt restructuring process, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning considers it necessary to clarify on some matters of concern and on others that have been misrepresented.

The New Dawn Government reached a Staff Level Agreement (SLA) with the International Monetary Fund barely three (3) months after assuming office in August, 2021. This was on the backdrop of futile efforts previously pursued for more than five
(5) years. The Government’s anticipation was for the IMF Supported Programme to be agreed by June 2022, however, there are some finalisation steps, mainly related to the debt restructuring process, that still need to be undertaken before the IMF Management and Board considers and approves the programme.

The consideration of Zambia’s application for an Extended Credit Facility by the IMF Board and the country’s debt restructuring process, are interrelated. Therefore, getting the IMF Board approval is centered on getting financing assurances from the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) under the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatment. Their pace of progress, however, is not entirely dependent on the Zambian Government’s efforts. Notwithstanding, it is our expectation that with the due processes followed, we will get an IMF Supported Programme this year and place our debt on a sustainable trajectory, once again.

For the information of stakeholders, negotiations with our Creditors under the Common Framework are supported by an independent Debt Sustainability Analysis conducted by the IMF and the World Bank, accompanied by reforms, to ensure the future sustainability of public debt through an IMF Supported Programme (in Zambia’s case a 3-Year Extended Credit Facility). The whole process is systematic and entails substantial traction as we move towards attainment of credible assurances on how the country’s debt will be treated by the Official Creditor Committee before the IMF staff submit Zambia’s case to the IMF Management and the Board for consideration.

Some key milestones are as follows:

1. Finalisation of the Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) with the IMF and the World Bank. This has been done;
2. Pledges by multilateral lenders to provide concessional financing to Zambia as part of the effort to resolve the country’s financing limitations based on the DSA results;
3. Convening the OCC (mainly bilateral related lenders) to discuss Zambia’s request for debt relief under the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatment. This action has commenced; and,
4. Convening, immediately after the OCC, a committee of Commercial Lenders (Eurobonds, Commercial Banks, and Private Lenders etc). This is pending completion of discussions by the OCC.

Pursuant to some of the milestones listed above, the Government has regularly engaged both Official Creditors and Private Creditors. They have been provided with economic policy and debt data, with a view to facilitate decision-making and successive meetings of the two creditor groups.

High-level bilateral discussions have been held, too. One such engagement was the virtual summit meeting between Mr. XI JIPING, the President of the Peoples Republic of China (Zambia’s biggest bilateral creditor and the world’s second biggest economy) and Mr. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, the President of the Republic of Zambia (Currently one of Africa’s best investments destinations). The engagements resulted in the first successful meeting of the OCC on Thursday 16th June, 2022, under the auspices of the Paris Club and the G20. The meeting with private creditors will follow-through after consensus is reached by Official Creditors.

The Government has been engaging multilateral partners for concessional financing as part of the effort to resolve Zambia’s fiscal limitations. As announced before, the engagements have culminated in several benefits such as the pledge by the World Bank to support the national budget through a Development Policy Operation. As soon as the IMF Supported Programme is approved by the IMF Board, it is envisaged that the World Bank will supply funding amounting to US$275 million over the next three (3) years.

Furthermore, the Bank is providing sizeable positive net flows to Zambia. Under IDA19, the Bank is committing approximately $959 million to support Zambia’s recovery from the multiple debt and economic crises and help to institute reforms for inclusive growth and poverty reduction. Of this, U$$294 million has already been committed for scaling up social cash transfers and projects to strengthen the pandemic response, including vaccination and emergency health financing to improve service delivery.

The remaining U$$665 million will be presented in three operations to the World Bank Board for approval within June 2022. The program includes two results-based operations, the first to reinvigorate growth in agriculture and support reform of the agricultural subsidy regime and the second to strengthen decentralized public service delivery while enhancing public financial management, accountability, and citizen engagement and will support the increased resource allocation towards Constituency Development Fund. The third operation will finance additional social protection spending in response to various shocks.

Furthermore, upon agreement of the Country Assistance Strategy during the second half of 2022, financing is also expected from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) over the next 3 years. This implies that over the medium-term, an estimated US$500 million or more will be available to Zambia (through the Africa Development Fund), for economic and social development. This is another demonstration of a functional and cordial relationship between Zambia and her multilateral partners.

Going forward, the Government will continue to work tirelessly towards returning the country to a state of fiscal stability that will facilitate sustainable growth. Through the soon to be launched Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), the Public Private Dialogue Forum and other development delivery frameworks, the New Dawn Administration will continue to make sincere efforts targeted at trending the living conditions of our fellow citizens towards equal opportunities, sustained prosperity and poverty reduction, on the platform of a stabilized and transformed economy that inspires improved investor confidence, facilitates more local and foreign investments, creates more opportunities and jobs, and nurtures the economic freedom of the people of Zambia.

OPTIONS TO ADDRESS ZAMBIA’s DEBT CRISIS- ALTERNATIVES or ADJUNCTS to IMF

EXTRACT from Options for paying back Zambia’s Eurobond Debt- ZIPAR Working Paper No 39, December 2019
Mbewe Kalikeka, Shebo Nalishebo, Florence Banda-Muleya

a) ROLLING OVER:

If it can find new buyers for a new Eurobond, the Government would aim to issue another Eurobond in September 2022 upon maturity, with a total value of US$750 million and use the money raised to pay the holders of the current Eurobond. However, given the low credit rating and the current debt sustainability levels, it would be a challenge to find buyers of a new Eurobond at maturity. This is not an option that the Government should be considering. At worst, it is unfeasible; at best it is extremely expensive.

b) REFINANCING:

Under this option, the Government would seek to change the terms of the 2022 Eurobond before maturity, including extending its duration so that it does not have to be redeemed in September 2022. This could be challenging as it would mean negotiating with a wider range of players, and could be a long process – perhaps too long given the precarious nature of the Zambian Government’s position. As a first step, Zambia needs to establish who holds the country’s bonds and understand their priorities before entering any negotiations.

c) RDEDEEMING:

Under this option, the Government would pay the Eurobond when it became due in September 2022. This requires the Government to have US$750 million available at the time. The main issue is where these funds would come from. Basically, there are three options: higher taxes or increasing other revenues (or cuts to other spending), further borrowing or selling assets. The sale of some assets seems to be the most viable of the three options, but it is not a costless option. The Government would permanently lose control of these assets and any future dividend payments on them. The Government may also have to sell the assets at below their market value to ensure a successful sale in a short period of time, particularly if the assets are a large stake.

d) BOND BUYBACK:

If the Government chooses to redeem the Eurobond in September 2022, it would have to find US$750 million to do so. A bond buyback would allow the Government to pay for the principal at the current market value of the Eurobond which is only around US$500 million. To avoid default or refinancing the Eurobond, it would appear to make sense, therefore, for the Government to start buying back the Eurobond before redemption because of its lost value. But with no sufficient sources of financing for this option, the Government would need to raise funds for a buyback. Options for this are limited, but include trying to issue a new bond (though this will encounter the same challenges as a roll over) or the sale of assets.

Government has signed a host agreement of the Fourth African Union ( A.U ) Coordination Summit with the African Union (AU) Commission which is slated for 14thto 17th July,2022.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at Mulungushi International Conference center today in Lusaka, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kakubo indicated that the summit will bring together 13 heads of state and government.

Mr. Kakubo explains out of the 13 heads of states and government, five heads of state and government form the bureau of assembly of the AU and eight heads of state and government chair eight regional economic communities on the continent.

The summit will be preceded by the 41st ordinary session of the executive council from 14th to 15th July, 2022 and it will be attended by the Foreign Ministers of all 55 member states of the African Union.

The event will allow Zambia to build a solid foundation of cooperation with countries on the continent based on shared history and values, respect for the rule of law and rule-based multilateralism.

‘’The last time Zambia hosted a meeting of the African Union was in 2001,in this regard this event is an important undertaking as the country has not hosted a meeting of this magnitude in a long time.
“ It is absolutely crucial that Zambia takes advantage of this opportunity to promote our beautiful country, our hospitality and numerous opportunities in Tourism, Trade and investment among other areas,’’ noted Mr.Kakubo.

Government has been seized with preparations for the summit and the process is being facilitated by the ministerial organizing committee which is chaired by the minister of Foreign Affairs.

And the AU Commission Ambassador Ratebaye Tordeta congratulated the government of Zambia for accepting to host the AU summit and for the satisfactory work so far following assessment by the AU team.

Dr. Tordeta added that the AU is also ready in terms of preparedness and all pending issues will be finalized soon.

‘’For us all the pending issues will be finalized as soon as possible. On behalf of the team, may you convey our deep gratitude to President Hakainde Hichilema,’’ said Dr. Tordeta.

Kasaba Bay is one of the places in Zambia that is synonymous with the country’s late founding father Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda.

Situated in the Nsumbu National Park area in Nsama District of Northern Province along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Kasaba Bay was one of Dr. Kaunda’s favourite working holiday and private retreat destinations.

National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) Northern Region Director, Kagosi Mwamulowe explained that Kasaba Bay is of great significance to Zambia’s history and heritage due to its link to the late first President.

Mr. Mwamulowe said during his presidency, Dr. Kaunda often travelled to Kasaba Bay, which was a Presidential Lodge, for retreat where some historical decisions and policy directives where announced.

He revealed that cabinet re-shuffles were also among the major announcements made from the tourist destination during the founding president’s tenure of office.

“Kasaba Bay is very significant to Zambia’s history because the late first President could go there for his retreat and each time he was there, the whole nation was early attentive because key announcements were made from that side including cabinet reshuffles,” Mr. Mwamulowe said.

Mr. Mwamulowe disclosed that the Kasaba Bay had chalets arranged according to hierarchy of the presidential entourage and had a number of facilities for hosting of high-ranking meetings.

He said the then Presidential Lodge is also important to historical events between Zambia and her neighbouring countries including the liberation of Southern Africa.

The Regional Coordinator cited the hosting of the meeting by Dr. Kaunda with former President of the then Zaire Mobutu Seseko and Mozambique’s Samora Machel on 19th October, 1986 to discuss matters of peace.

He disclosed that it was after the said meeting late former Mozambique President Machel took off with his plane from the Zambia Air Force Base in Mbala before his death in a tragic air crash.

“On 19th October in 1986, Dr. Kaunda hosted former President of the then Zaire Mobutu Seseko and Mozambique’s Samora Machel at Kasaba Bay to discuss matters of peace concerning the guerrilla fighters in Mozambique and it was after that meeting that President Machel died in a plane crash,” he said.

Mr. Mwamulowe has since revealed that plans are underway by the Ministry of Tourism through NHCC to declare Kasaba Bay as a National Monument and preserve its rich historical importance.

And with the New Dawn Administration having identified tourism as a key sector in the economic transformation agenda plans are underway to develop Kasaba Bay as a major tourist resort in the Northern Tourism Circuit.

Northern Province Minister Leonard Mbao said government is aware of the rich history of Kasaba bay as well as its tourism potential and wants to ensure that the area is given a befitting status.

Mr. Mbao said promoting the Northern Tourism Circuit cannot be done without the mention of Kasaba Bay based on its historical background and connection to First Republican President late Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.

“He held cabinet meetings from there and other African countries were critical decisions were made and the best way for us as a province to honour our founding father is to rekindle Kasaba Bay,” said Mr. Mbao.

The Provincial Minister said the allocation of K150 million in this year’s budget towards the development of Kasaba Bay Airport is an indication of government’s commitment to the actualization Northern Tourism Circuit.

He added that government has also sourced for funds from the World Bank towards the development of Kasaba Bay.

Mr. Mbao, who is also Mpulungu area Member of Parliament, said the money is expected to facilitate the planning and development of the tourist resort.

VELOS IS OUR VERY OWN COMPANY GUYS!
By Shalala Oliver Sepiso

Yesterday, our friends in PF came up with two lies about the Ndola-Lusaka Dual Carriageway project and the shortlisting done by RDA. Firstly they said Velos is a South African company associated with the UPND. Secondly that Casilli’s company was chosen because he is friends with Bally or that he funded UPND.

In this posting let me address Velos. I will later in the day address Casilli and even later AVIC.

The reality is that Velos Enterprises Ltd is a Zambian construction company. The company website states that Velos was founded in 1975 and is “”Zambia’s leading Construction Company. It says it is a local Zambian company with all its directors permanently resident in Zambia.

Over the past years, Velos has been working in all parts of Zambia on Construction projects ranging from Schools, to Housing, through to industrial buildings.

A casual perusal of their website and their Facebook page showed me that they have done the following projects: the Standard Charted Bank HQ building as part of Novare Central Project on Addis Ababa Drive at the cost of US$ 30,000,000.00, Leopards Hill Shopping Mall aka Bauleni Shopping Centre where The Cartel is at a cost of US$ 8,000,000.00, Bonanza Golf Resort at a cost of USD 20,000,000.00 including the Protea Hotel Bonanza Project at the cost of US$ 28,000,000.00, Pinnacle Mall Kabulonga at US$ 14,000,000.00, Novare Great North Shopping Mall at US$ 21,500,000.00, Twin Palm Mall at US$ 7,000,000.00, Kawambwa Housing Project, Chichele Presidential Lodge, Kazembe District Hospital in Luapula Province, Nchelenge District Hospital near the shores of the beautiful Lake Mweru, and Mambwe District Hospital site near Mfuwe town. It has also done works for Spar Zambia, Baobab College, Hitachi, SDV Bollore in Chingola, ZESCO substations, Melissa Supermarket, Toyota Zambia Nangwenya Showroom at US$5,200.246.00 and FNB HQ at Acacia Park at $500,000.00.

Velos also constructed the Mosi-ou-Tunya Square Shopping Mall in Livingstone and Barotse Mall in Mongu.

I also remember from my memory that Velos is the company which constructed Protea Hotel Mulungushi Towers at a cost of USD12,000,000 and Protea Lusaka, who are both at Arcades Mall, also done by Velos at US $8.5M. In fact the company’s offices are located in the Office Suite on the 8th floor of Protea Hotel Lusaka at Arcades Mall, as a result.

Now is this the profile of a firm that is to be associated with UPND? No. Aracdes was opened by Mwanawasa, many projects were done in Sata and RB times and yet more were done under ECL. Its a Zambian company. The bulk of the money they make off the Dual-Carriageway will remain in Zambia.

The interesting thing is that our PF friends, who sing songs that UPND are puppets of the West and give business for foreigners, yesterday and today, switched to singing that on this Ndola Dual carriageway, this Zambian company should not get the business. They are not singing their usual anthem of supporting local suppliers so we can keep all the money within the country. They have been advocating for contracts to be given to Zambians that are capable. This is now happening on this road and they are still complaining. Finshi mufwaya!

This is a competent firm which you hired as PF many times. Besides lets empower our very own people if they win the bid.

Oh by the way, they have road construction experience. In these malls and projects they do, there are many roads they have done with bituminous standards. Road design is done by RDA and supervision can be done by others. Besides they can also sub-contract others where need be.