Developing nations put climate change at heart of plans

Doreen Nawa reports......

Representatives from governments in Africa and Asia have formed a network to support their efforts to factor climate change into their development plans.

The group developed its plans at the 7th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change, which ended today in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The Government Group Network on Climate Change Mainstreaming and Development includes members from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, The Gambia and Zanzibar – and will expand to include other countries.
The network exists to enable policymakers in countries at risk from climate change to share information and collaborate in ways that can strengthen their policies and plans by ensuring they consider how climate change could affect development.
The network has developed a framework for assessing and planning how to integrate climate into the business of national and sub-national planning professionals. The building blocks of the framework are political will, information and awareness, and resources for programmes and projects.
The CBA7 conference – organised by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the Bangladesh Centre for Advance Studies (BCAS) -- brought together over 250 international practitioners, scientists, government and non-government policy and decision makers.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the conference with a strong call for rich countries to help poorer ones to adapt, but also pointed out that developing nations were already leading the way in adaptation.
“This year's event was especially important in bringing on board significant participation from governments, who now join the civil society based groups that have been mostly involved so far,” says Saleemul Huq, senior fellow in IIED’s climate change group. “This seventh annual meeting has demonstrated how far and fast the community of practice has grown over just a few short years.”
Conference delegates – and online participants who followed the conference over the internet –learnt about ways that people around the world are adapting to climate change in both rural and urban settings, and how governments can embed adaptation in all policy arenas.
“The conference was very useful both in terms of the things I learned that could be replicated at country level and through the interactive networking opportunities it created,” says Lamin Jobe from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs in The Gambia. “It has inspired me to advocate for mainstreaming monitoring and evaluation into our climate change planning and implementation processes.”
“Bangladesh has reasserted itself as the adaptation capital of the world,” says Atiq Rahman, director of BCAS. “The issues of climate, development and vulnerability of the poor must be central to future decision making process. There must be assured, adequate and sustainable financial resources for the poorest of the world impacted by climate change induced extreme events."
Next year’s conference will take place in Nepal and its theme will be ‘financing adaptation’.

Zambia, Zimbabwe launch initiative to eliminate malaria

A regional initiative that aims to eliminate malaria in the Zambezi valley was launched Thursday by Zambia and Zimbabwe, with support from the Global Fund toFight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

As a the two countries joined the rest of the world in commemorating an International Malaria day on April 25, 2013, a cross-border malaria initiative aimed at eliminating the disease among communities living on border areas along banks of the Zambezi River was launched.

The initiative launched between Zambia and Zimbabwe involves harmonisation of policies and joint coordination.

Health Minister Joseph Kasonde and Zimbabwe Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Douglas Mombeshora launched the historical initiative in Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe.

Dr Kasonde said the initiative would act as a catalyst for other initiatives which had been formed but had not formalised operations across borders.

According to epidemiological set up, Southern Province of Zambia falls under category two among areas where sustained malaria prevention and control has reduced transmission.

Dr Kasonde said cross-border initiatives were not stand-alone activities but complimented national efforts to control and eliminate malaria.

Dr Mombeshora said at the same function that he was hopeful that the Zambia-Zimbabwe Cross Border Malaria Initiative would succeed.

He said the joint coordination of malaria control would accelerate reduction of malaria transmission among the border communities and contribute significantly towards malaria elimination.

The Zambezi River, which forms a long border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is a source of livelihood for the communities along its basin but it is also a source of malaria infection as it supports
conditions for the malaria vectors.

African countries face a $7-billion funding gap to control and eliminate malaria. Every year 660,000 people die from malaria, and 90 percent of those deaths are in Africa.

Eliminating malaria by 2015 is one of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals. But an estimated $26.9 billion is needed in the next three years to reach the goal.

Malaria deaths have decreased to an average of about 33 percent on the African continent. But scientists expect that shortages in funding for control interventions could quickly turn around those results

Galaxy S4 to land in Kenya May 2

This file photo taken on March 14, 2013 shows Samsung's new Galaxy S4 during its unveiling at Radio City Music Hall in New York

Samsung is set to launch the Galaxy S4 in the local market next week backed by attractive data bundle offers from the respective mobile operators.

Apple, Nokia and Samsung have been battling for the top slot in Kenyan market. The Galaxy S4 has to contend with competition from Apple's iPhone 5 and Nokia's Lumia 920 as the battle for smart phone supremacy rages.

Mobile operators Airtel Kenya and Safaricom have started a pre-order service for the Galaxy S4 ahead of the local launch.

Airtel Kenya subscribers making an early bid for the Galaxy S4 will pay Kshs 52,999 for the smart phone that will be accompanied with an offer of 21GB free data bundle.

Safaricom subscribers will pay Kshs 57,999 and get an offer of 4.5GB data bundle spread over three months.

Robert Ngeru, the Samsung Electronics East Africa Chief Operating Officer, disclosed that the new smart phone will be unveiled in Kenya on May 2 just days after the global launch set for this Saturday.

Mr Ngeru made the disclosure in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday night during the Africa leg of the Samsung Galaxy S4 World Tour 2013.

The Galaxy S4 will be marketed under the tagline Your Life Companion.

Purchasers of the Galaxy S4 will also enjoy a two-year free Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH) warranty to cover screen and liquid damages at no extra charge.

This insurance cover will protect Galaxy S4 customers from the risk of accidental screen breakage and hardware damage from water.

The launch of Galaxy S4 follows a partnership with local mobile phone service operators geared at scaling up internet mobile penetration.

In the partnership, Samsung Smart phones will now be launched in the local market backed by attractive data bundle offers from the respective mobile operators.

“At Samsung, we have held successful talks with the regional operators who have accepted to provide generous data bundles for customers purchasing the Galaxy S4 as part of a joint effort to promote mobile internet promotion,” Mr Ngeru said.

"Our market research recently confirmed that marketing such powerful smart mobile devices and failing to provide data bundles was akin to selling a new car without fuel or tyres.”

The Galaxy S4 consumer sales will kick off at 10am on Saturday April 27 in South Korea, United States, Britain and South Africa among other key global markets.

Malawi’s Maize Shortage Hits Women

Queues at Malawi’s state-run maize traders are never-ending as thousands of people wait for days to purchase the staple crop. At the Lilongwe Admarc people sleep overnight in the queue as they wait for a chance to buy maize. Credit: Mabvuto Banda/IPS

EACH night Esnart Phiri, a widow with five children, sleeps outside the gates of the state-run maize trader or Admarc market, in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe, as she waits for days on end to buy maize.
Queues at Admarcs are never-ending as thousands of people wait for days to purchase the staple crop. Phiri told IPS that she puts her eldest child in the queue at night, in order to keep her place for the next day, while she sleeps with her other children in one of the office corridors across the streets.“The market has become my temporary home with my children because I have no energy to walk back and forth every day. I would rather sleep here and wait for the maize,” she said. Phiri is from Chinsapo Township, some 40 km from Lilongwe.This southern African nation has been hit by a maize shortage after two consecutive dry spells. Maize is Malawi’s most important food crop, accounting for 90 percent of all caloric intake, followed by cassava, sweet potatoes and sorghum. But, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Malawi’s cereal production for 2011/2012 was seven percent below the previous season’s harvest.
Over two million people are facing food shortages this year due to the prolonged dry spells and soaring food prices that have pushed consumer inflation to 36.6 percent as of March.
Phiri may not be willing to walk from Chinsapo every day, but each morning before the sun rises, a four-month pregnant Memory Jamesi wakes up and walks 40 km to the Admarc in Lilongwe.
A few weeks ago the mother of three was so weak that she fainted while standing in the long Admarc queue.
“I felt very weak and tired…I started shaking violently as I stood on the queue and I don’t know what happened after that,” Jamesi told IPS as she lay in her hospital bed in the over-crowded female ward at Kamuzu Central Hospital.
But Jamesi’s plight is hardly unique. About five in 10 residents in Chinsapo said their children have gone hungry over the last few months, not only because of the maize shortage, but because they cannot even afford to buy it when it is available.
A 50-kg bag of maize used to cost around 13 dollars, but now the price has more than doubled to about 30 dollars – way above the earnings of those living in dire poverty, on less than 20 dollars a month.
In a country where women make up 70 percent of the farming workforce and are the breadwinners in their families, women and children are bearing the brunt of the high food prices.
The food situation has also worsened in the last two months, since about 30,000 metric tonnes of maize in the strategic grain reserves went bad.
This, according to principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Jeffrey Luhanga, was enough maize to feed almost 400,000 of the two million people in need of food aid.
“The 30,000 metric tonnes of maize that went bad was enough to feed the masses up to harvest period. But now we have had to import 50,000 metric tonnes from Zambia to help fill the gaps,” Luhanga told IPS.
This was the first time in six years that Malawi has had to import maize from neighbouring Zambia.
From 2006 to 2011, Malawi reaped bumper harvests of maize because of a successful fertiliser subsidy programme. Under the programme, which started in 2005, the poorest farming families are given a 40 percent reduction in the cost of fertilisers and seeds.
It worked well for Malawi. In 2003, the country adopted the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which aims to help eliminate hunger and reduce poverty.
But the two consecutive dry spells and corruption in the distribution and supply of fertiliser for the subsidy programme have cut the bumper harvests and affected yields.
“During the last two years under the administration of (late president President Bingu wa) Mutharika, the fertiliser inputs subsidy programme was corrupted and the targeted families did not benefit because fertiliser was diverted. Secondly, two droughts, especially along the country’s maize belts, affected the harvests,” Luhanga said.
However, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Peter Mwanza told IPS that the coming harvest was expected to be a strong one thanks to good rains.
“Our first crop estimate shows that we expect to harvest 3.5 million metric tonnes, which is more than what we harvested last year,” Mwanza said.
The initial harvest being forecast is more than the national requirement of 2.8 million metric tonnes.-IPS

Reliving the Cape to Cairo route

South Africa is leading infrastructure push in Africa, as it seeks to maintain its status as the gateway to the continent.

Doreen Nawa reports..........
Intra-regional trade in Africa is not growing fast enough to cushion against the economic slowdown that is affecting important international trade partners; of the estimated US$1bn trade earnings generated by the three largest Regional Economic Communities (RECs) - ECOWAS, SADC and COMESA, only 7.6% is intra-African.
The causes of low trade figures are well documented. They include poor regional transport infrastructure and inefficient cross-border procedures, which drive up the cost of transportation. To address these challenges, RECs are taking collaborative approaches through various initiatives, which include building transport infrastructure.
 South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma champions one such initiative - the North South Corridor (NSC) Aid for Trade Programme, a brainchild of the COMESA, SADC and EAC.The NSC comprises of inter-related projects that address road, rail, port, air transport infrastructure; border posts and energy interconnectors. It comprises the Dar es Salaam corridor linking the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with the Copperbelt in Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo; and another link via the Copperbelt to the Port of Durban in South Africa.
When completed, the project is envisaged to improve 8,650 km of roads (outside SA) and 600 km of rail tracks. There are 157 identified projects in various stages of the project life cycle, including 59 road projects, 38 rail projects and 6 bridge projects. President Zuma, while updating the African Union on the progress of corridor last year said that the Trans-African Highway Route 4 would be incorporated to extend the NSC from Cape Town to Cairo. This development increased the number of projects to 204; 81 road, 48 rail and six bridges.
The NSC is particularly important to South Africa, as the country tries to maintain its position as the ‘gateway’ to Africa. Consequently, the government is pushing for deeper regional integration in order to access resources, and investment and trade opportunities in the rest of the continent. A well-developed transport network (road and rail), and elimination of barriers to trade would help shore up South Africa’s exports to the rest of Africa, which currently account for about 18% of the country’s total exports, and nearly one-quarter of manufactured exports. This would also give international investors who use the country as a springboard an established network to reach customers.
“There are questions about whether South Africa can sustain its position as the ‘gateway’ to the rest of Africa, yet its best card in the BRICS alliance is this fact. The North South Corridor could be exactly the competitive advantage that South Africa needs to maintain the gateway title,” says the director of Trade Law Chambers, Rian Geldenhuys.
The World Bank’s Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic for the COMESA region estimates that achieving regional integration for eastern and southern Africa would require sustained spending of US$5.5-billion a year on infrastructure. To meet this requirement, funding will have to be sourced not only from governments and the donor community but also from the private sector. Private capital for transport infrastructure has not been easy to attract due to unfavourable regulatory environments and low returns on infrastructure investments.

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Some NSC countries such as Zimbabwe and Zambia have made notable progress in establishing regulatory framework for public private partnerships. Research analyst at Frost & Sullivan, James Milne, says the infrastructure projects would benefit South Africa’s construction industry, which is currently experiencing a lull at home.
“It appears as the construction market continues to stagnate, more South African companies will attempt to enhance their exposure in the tripartite area in order to leverage the opportunities in the NSC,” says James.
A key pillar of South Africa’s beneficiation strategy is a proper local and trans-regional transport network. The beneficiation entails sourcing raw materials within SADC and transporting them to South Africa for beneficiation and consequent re-export to SADC and other countries.
“This is a major reason to prioritise and fast-track the development of rail and road infrastructure. We should send our public sector, for instance Transnet, and private sector into these countries to assist with the development of infrastructure as opposed to the Chinese. This can be done and an example hereof is Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) operating Guarulhos international airport in Brazil,” says Rian.
One of the key areas that require urgent attention is aligning customs procedures to allow the movement of people, goods and services across borders. Trade research conducted by the World Bank in 2012 said African countries are missing out on billions of dollars in potential trade earnings every year because of high trade barriers with neighbouring countries. Said the bank: ‘…for all the countries South African retailer Shoprite operates in, for example, approximately 100 (single entry) import permits are applied for every week; this can rise up to 300 per week in peak periods. As a result of these and other documentary requirements, there can be up to 1 600 documents accompanying each truck Shoprite sends with a load that crosses a SADC border...’
The NSC corridor is the busiest corridor in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of value and volume of freight. Logically, one would expect that customs integration should have happened already. Unfortunately, this is not the case despite the establishment of a SADC free trade area, which allows many goods duty free status.
“Ideally, one document should allow a truck to travel across several borders. The cherry on the icing will be the establishment of a massive single-market (almost 550m people), which would be very attractive to the local and international community of investors considering opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa,” says Rian.
An example of how reforms at customs can reduce delays at borders such as Beit Bridge is the Chirundu One-Stop Border Post in Zambia. Launched under the NSC project in 2009, the Chirundu border post has resulted in a one-third reduction in transit times; delays for freight transport have been reduced from three days to same day clearance, and 83% (from three hours to 30 minutes) for passenger transport.
Given the relative importance of road transport on the NSC, railway systems have somehow been relegated to the periphery. Railways are unreliable, with high accident and failure rates due to poor management and lack of investment. To deal with the problem, governments across eastern and southern Africa privatised the sector through long-term concessioning. However, experts say the processes are deeply flawed.
“The privatisation process took too long at a time when there was no funding. Besides the agreements were weak and deals signed with unqualified companies,” says Toyin Dawodu, managing partner at Capital Investment Group, adding that the sector has not been regulated and boosted with public investment and subsidies to make it competitive like the road sector.
Only 5% of regional traffic volumes (excluding South Africa) travel by rail. According to a report by TradeMark SA, rail operating costs are high and do not justify the low volumes of goods that are transported. The report also said railways are losing customers and are increasingly unable to attract the necessary funding required to return to competitive levels of reliability. Traffic and income levels would have to increase by three to four times if financial viability and sustainability are to be achieved.
There is a renewed interest to develop rail by government and other stakeholders. Investigations are being made to determine how to best revive the railway systems so that they can be part of a more efficient multi-modal transport system that can take the pressure off roads.
South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) announced recently that it had started negotiations with railway organisations to create a unified railway system on the NSC.
The talks with National Railways of Zimbabwe, Zambian Railways, Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo and Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway line, would establish a joint operating centre that would allow for improved rail-time communication and effective and quick deviation management across borders.
Transport minister, Ben Martins, said the four organisations would develop a joint marketing drive, which is intended to encourage exports from South Africa, and identify the return cargo that will optimise the use of the same wagons for imports into the country.
“Rail will always be in the centre for trade in the SADC regional development corridors. It can only increase opportunities that will be spin-offs from the unified railway system. Examples of these are connecting hubs and road transport that complete the logistics solution,” said Martins.

Zimbabwe could tax mining sector to fund July elections

Zimbabwe's minister of Finance Tendai Biti

Zimbabwe could introduce new taxes on its mining sector to help fund July elections instead of borrowing on the debt markets, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe, which is on the verge of bankruptcy, withdrew a request for UN election funding last week, saying the UN had tried to "interfere" in security matters and the media.

"The fact of the matter is that Zimbabwe does not have the resources for funding the election," Biti said in a speech in London.

The UN loan agreement, thought to be worth $132-million, would have helped fund a viable election for a country that has suffered contested and bloody elections in recent years.

On April 15, Biti said South Africa would offer Zimbabwe a $100-million loan as an alternative, though a treasury spokeswoman said the two governments were only "engaged in ongoing discussions."

Biti, an ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangarai, who forged an uneasy power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe in 2008 after bloody and disputed elections, said he was "not keen to borrow".

Aside from enacting fuel duties, which came into effect on March 9 and raised $80-million, Biti said he would consider introducing three or four other taxes, including some on the mining sector, likely to affect the world's two largest platinum miners, Anglo American and Impala Platinum.

Under an "indigenisation" policy, Zimbabwe has been demanding that foreign companies, particularly mining firms but also banks, transfer a 51 percent stake in local operations to indigenous investors.

Mugabe's Zanu-PF party proposed a legislative amendment this week that would have seized majority stakes in foreign-owned mines before the elections, prompting suspicions the money would be used to fund his campaign.

The amendment, which requires the approval of a parliament dominated by the MDC, to pass is unlikely to go through. www.miningweekly.com

Zambia's Konkola says smelter to remain shut for one month

KCM’s new Nchanga smelter under construction.

Doreen Nawa reports........

Zambia's Konkola copper mines, owned by London-listed Vedanta Resources, said on Tuesday that its Nchanga smelter will remain shut for one month.

Konkola last week closed the smelter as a result of a metal leak through the wall of a furnace.

Mined metal productiion was unaffected by the smelter shutdown, Konkola said.

In a press statement Ashwin Bajaj Senior Vice President - Investor Relations, Vedanta Resources plc said following the metal leak at the Flash Smelting Furnace of the Nchanga Smelter on Friday 19^th April 2013, KCM is advancing its 15-day maintenance shutdown of the Nchanga smelter scheduled for September 2013 to coincide with the current shutdown, while copper cooling elements of the furnace are being replaced.

Bajaj said mined metal production remains unaffected by the smelter shutdown. Smelter production is expected to resume within four weeks, and H1 smelter production as per company plan is expected to be unaffected.

Vedanta Resources plc ("Vedanta") is a London listed FTSE-100 diversified global resources major. The group produces Aluminium, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Iron ore, Power, and Oil and Gas. Vedanta has world-class assets in India, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, Ireland Liberia, Australia and Sri Lanka and a strong organic growth pipeline of projects.

With an empowered talent pool globally, Vedanta places strong emphasis on partnering with all its stakeholders based on the core values of entrepreneurship, excellence, trust, inclusiveness and growth.

Zambia to have a second stock exchange

THE Bond and Derivatives Exchange (BaDEX) Zambia, the second stock exchange in the country, is expected to be operational by June 2013.

BaDEX is in the process of introducing a financial contract dubbed Kwacha-dollar currency future.
Deputy chief executive officer Peter Sitamulaho confirmed the development at a recent Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) media sensitisation workshop in Lusaka.
He said the second exchange would start trading once a clearing member signs an agreement with one of the local commercial banks between May and June 2013.
The instrument would deepen the capital markets by introducing new products and liquidity and that it would make Zambia become more visible to the international markets, which already have similar products in countries like South Africa, Unites States of America and the United Kingdom.
Mr Sitamulaho said this would complete the already existing forward contracts offered by commercial banks in the cash market.
The Kwacha-dollar currency future will be a capital market instrument which will be used by business to hedge their foreign exchange transactions.
In light of the introduction of the Statutory Instrument number 33, Mr Sitamulaho said this future would be offered by BaDEX as a positive initiative and would assist many importers and exporters who have exposure to foreign exchange risk.
"With this instrument in place companies will be able to protect their cash flows and better plan knowing that their foreign exchange exposure is protected," Mr Sitamulaho said.
He said the instrument would further reduce transaction costs for importers and exporters who at present have to place collateral with commercial banks or were required to take out credit lines with banks to ensure that they enter forward contracts.
Mr Sitamulaho explained that because the contracts were offered on the BaDEX exchange, credit risk was removed.

Currently, Zambia only has one bourse, the Lusaka Stock Exchange.Times of Zambia

Gemfields generates record sales from Lusaka auction

 

GEMFIELDS Plc, the world’s biggest emerald producer, says it generated record revenues from a low quality auction of its emeralds and beryls in Lusaka last week.

Gemfields is one of the world´s leading coloured gemstone companies.

With a strong focus on Zambian emeralds, Gemfields mines, processes and markets both rough and polished gemstones internationally. Gemfields prides itself on its unique ability to bring ethically produced, conflict-free gemstones of certified provenance directly from mine to market on an integrated basis.
The auction, held at the request of the government, saw 6.3 million carats of emerald and beryl extracted from the Kagem Mine in Zambia sold, generating US$15.2 million in revenues, the most it has ever raised from a lower quality auction, the company said yesterday.
The company, which has held 12 auctions since July 2009, had put 17.3 million carats on offer in Lusaka last week.
The average price per carat of the stones was US$2.42, down seven per cent from its last lower quality auction in Jaipur, India, reversing the historic growth pattern for the first time.
The company suggested this could be due to a number of declined auction invitations, which was higher than in prior auctions, most notably due to the travel demands placed on clients in reaching Lusaka, typically involving three flights and approaching 24 hours of journey time.
Only 25 of 31 Indian gemstone companies turned up to an auction in Lusaka, amid complaints from buyers that hosting auctions in the Zambian capital was “impractical”.
“Taking into account the prevailing uncertainty surrounding Gemfields’ future ability to freely sell emeralds outside of Zambia, Gemfields is generally satisfied with the results of its Lusaka auction. The results were reasonable but probably not as optimal as they could have been,” Ian Harebottle, chief executive officer of Gemfields said.
Earlier this month, the government banned the selling of Zambian gemstones abroad, a move that the government said was meant to protect the country from unscrupulous buyers and keep gem wealth in the country.
“Clarity and stability within our operating environment will no doubt also have a positive impact in the longer term and on the peace of mind of our customers,” said Harebottle. “Confidence in the secure, reliable and convenient supply of our gemstones is a critical ingredient. We will naturally continue to engage all relevant stakeholders within Zambia and abroad in an effort to seek resolution of the prevailing situation in the best interests of the Zambian emerald sector as a whole.”
Gemfields has raised US$175.7million in revenues from its 12 auctions since July 2009. ukzambians/self.

Zambia's president sacks Clive Chirwa

President Michael Sata on Tuesday suspended the chief executive of the Zambia's state-run rail company Zambia Railway for alleged corruption, after he served for less than six months.

His suspension from the recently nationalised firm, came two days after the president dissolved the board of directors.

Clive Chirwa, was ordered to vacate the company's Lusaka apartment where he was staying.

“I am suspending you from duty and you will be on half pay,” Sata said in a letter to Chirwa.

Zambia's anti-corruption agency meanwhile has opened investigations into reports of graft and allegations of abuse of office levelled against the railways chief and the board, commission spokesman Timothy Moono said.

Chirwa and board members have in recent days been wrangling over cash. Chirwa complained that board members were holding too many meetings that cost the company over $93,000 each month while the board members alleged that the CEO was earning a hefty monthly salary equivalent of $46,000.

Zambia's government nationalised the railways company in September last year, taking control from a South African operator.

Government has with immediate effect dissolved the Board of Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) and that forensic investigations and audits will be instituted to ascertain the truth on alleged gross mismanagement of the company.
On Monday this week, Works, Supply, Communications and Transport Minister Christopher Yaluma  wrote letters to the ZRL Board about Government’s decision to dissolve them.
Mr Yaluma told journalists that Government was concerned with operations of ZRL and the first step it had taken to restore sanity after the revelations was to dissolve the Board.
He said Government’s desire was to realign the objectives of ZRL and that forensic investigations and audits would be engaged to ascertain revelations of financial misuse.
“The ZRL Board was dissolved on Thursday last week in the afternoon. For now, they have no blessings from Government in whatever they will do because that will be done in their individual capacities.
“ZRL is an important industry that we need as a country and when we hear of allegations we have to carry out smooth investigations on the matter and the first step to restore sanity now, is by dissolving the board,” he said.
Mr Yaluma said Government had embarked on an ambitious developmental programme to revamp the railway sector by redesigning it to higher standards in order for it to bring desired revenues.
He said Government was resuscitating ZRL and could not remain quiet with allegations of financial misconduct and subsequent a ‘war of words’ between the dissolved Board and management.
Government recently said that the financially beleaguered ZRL would receive capital injection amounting to $120 million (K600 billion) for use in undertaking a major facelift following Zambia’s successful issuance of the first sovereign bond amounting to $750 million.
The Board comprised former Task Force chairperson Mark Chona as board chairperson economist Oliver Saasa as deputy. Other members are Transport Permanent Secretary (PS) Muyenga Antanga, Commence and Trade PS Stephen Mwansa and Ministry of Finance PS for budget Pamela Chibonga.
Solicitor General Musa Mwenye, Road Transport and Safety Agency executive director Zindaba Soko, a consultant Jornam Mwansa, a lawyer Irene Zeko Mbewe, a mechanical engineer and consultant Geoffrey Mulenga and a retired ZRL worker Richard Chipanama, are others.

Harnessing the internet to drive socio-economic development

 

Over the last few years internet penetration has continued to grow in sub-Saharan Africa. While the access gap remains significant in most countries, policy makers and the public now know that it's not just a question of getting more Africans online, but also about the economic benefits that the internet can bring.
 

For example, last year a study in South Africa showed that the internet economy contributes up to $7.1 billion/R59-billion (or 2%) to South Africa's gross domestic product.

A new report by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, supported by Google Africa, is one of the first studies to examine the internet's impact on, and potential contribution to, social and economic development in several sub-Saharan Africa countries. It reveals how internet-enabled services are affecting the public and private sectors in agriculture, health, finance, education, governance, energy and transport, and SME growth.

The report also analyses the pre-conditions for impact, looking at both business and ICT infrastructure as well as factors that influence how and why users get online. The findings are based on a survey of 1,300 organisations in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal.

One of the key findings of the report is that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are surprisingly optimistic about the internet's potential. More than 80% of SME owners expected that the internet will help them grow their business.

In addition, the report identifies big opportunities for cost savings as businesses shift to enterprise systems powered by the Internet. For example, in Kenya the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) reduced its administrative costs from 60% to 32% by automating its claims processing, accessing real-time data and tracking payment processes.

In agriculture, access to online information is creating price transparency, improving supply chain management and providing climate and growth data which ultimately reduces costs and increases farmer incomes. For example, Manobi's time to market service estimates that it has increased gum producer incomes by 40-50% by creating price transparency across local and international markets.

Another interesting development is the growing linkage between mobile money and commerce, with services like Pesapal, MTN mMoney and Pagatech creating the infrastructure to generate internet-based commerce. Meanwhile in healthcare, organisations are leveraging the internet to reduce training costs for nurses.

The primary challenge for policymakers is to align policy across three dimensions - ICT policy, sector policy and general policies for doing business - in order to create the right environment to capture the internet's potential.

Some governments in the countries featured have succeeded in creating the right market conditions. However, policymakers need to ensure ongoing investment in both core infrastructure and the conditions that drive Internet usage, including access, awareness, and attractiveness. These are needed to foster thriving ecosystems that drive both economic and social gains. Without such investments, policy makers risk missing out on the full benefits of the Internet.

This report will help governments and policymakers across the region better understand how they can take advantage of the internet to drive their economies, to remain competitive and to benefit their citizens.-Bizcommunity.com

Findeco House lights up Lusaka skyline

 

The night skies in Lusaka, Zambia, are lit up by Continental Outdoor Media, hosting the Samsung logo on Findeco House which has now become an iconic site on the skyline.

In 2012 Samsung was voted as the ninth most recognised brand in the world. Findeco house reveals Samsung's commitment to the African continent and in particular Zambia. Samsung has taken ownership of the cityscape by acquiring this Continental Outdoor building space as a permanent site and in so doing, has demonstrated its brand power in Lusaka.

This project took fifteen months to finalise, from the initial first tender to the flighting of the Samsung creative and turning on the lights. It was a massive team effort that required local Zambian and South African engineers' expertise to ensure that a quality product was constructed and delivered in line with International standards and on time.

This would not have been possible had it not been for the co-operation and assistance of the NHA (National Housing Authority).

The building is twenty-two storeys high and can be seen from numerous locations within Lusaka. It is the tallest building in Lusaka and Zambia. Sites such as Findeco House are iconic landmarks and are interwoven into the fabric of the city's cultural identity.

Construction of Findeco House was commissioned by the first Republican President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda on 28th June 1978 and completed in the same year. The original owners of the building were the State Finance and Development Corporation Limited (Findeco Limited). Findeco Limited was the holding company of the Zambia Industrial and Mining Corporation Limited (Zimco Limited) in the financial sector.

Findeco House is located on the Corner of Cairo Road and Independence Avenue, on the Southern part of the Central Business district of Lusaka. Its total area is 8900m squared, which is leased as office and retail space. There is also parking space in the basement. -Bizcommunity.

IMF forecasts 'solid growth' for Africa

 

IMF forecasts "solid growth" for Africa

 

The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) latest World Economic Outlook predicted economic activity in Africa's reinvigorated economies will "remain robust" this year and next.

Regional GDP is expected to increase 5.6% in 2013, slightly lower than previously expected, but still among the fastest growth rates anywhere in the world.

Resource-rich economies like Nigeria (7.2%) and growing lower-income economies like Mozambique (8.4%) are expected to lead the way.

Only two countries, Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea are expected to see their economies shrink.

Next year an economic resurgence in South Africa is expected to push sub-Saharan growth to around 6.1%, faster than first thought.

The South African economy, hobbled along this year and last mainly because of sluggish mining production and a downturn in key eurozone export markets. SA is forecast to grow at 3.3% next year.

But, the IMF admits, the regional outlook for 2014 depends on improvements in the economic outlook for Europe and other key export markets.

External shocks

Its warning that some African economies remain vulnerable to external shocks comes as lower Chinese growth figures pummelled gold prices.

The largest drop in the precious metal's spot price in three decades sent the Johannesburg Stock Exchange down 1.6% on Monday (15 April), with many major producers taking a beating.

"The main risks to the outlook for sub-Saharan Africa stem from the external environment, although domestic security and political risks should not be discounted," the report said.

"Given the still-uncertain global economic environment, countries whose policy buffers are thin and where growth is strong should seek to rebuild their fiscal positions," it said.

The IMF said growth rates came in slightly lower than last October's forecasts because of the impact of floods on Nigerian output and labour stoppages in South Africa.

In 2012 South Africa was rocked by a series of deadly labour strikes, which mine owners estimated cost the economy around US$1.2bn.

Violent conflict also curbed growth and the IMF says this volatility remains a threat.

Oil exports from South Sudan where interrupted and the economies of Mali and Guinea-Bissau were hit by conflict.

"On the positive side, Angolan oil production strengthened, and Ivory Coast experienced a sharp rebound in economic activity after the election-related disruptions of 2011," it said.

The IMF encouraged a continuation of spending to improve infrastructure and boost production capacity, both of which have helped fuel the rise of African consumers.

On average urban Africans already spend more on apparel and food than people in Brazil, China or India, according to a recent McKinsey study.

While the price of basic goods continues to increase in many African nations, such as Nigeria and Angola, the IMF says other countries should take advantage of moderate inflation.

"The success in reducing inflation has provided room for a gradual easing of the monetary policies in several countries," it said.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge

No room for homosexuality-New Zambian Constitution

The ongoing National Constitution Convention has recommended to the Technical Committee on Drafting the Zambian Constitution to make clear and precise a clause in the draft constitution that bars Anti-Social practices such as homosexuality, lesbianism and other abominable practices from being practiced in Zambia.
The convention which reconvened for plenary discussion today has been scrutinizing articles especially those that provides the rights of people and articles that describes the minority and marginalized groups to ensure that the practices of homosexuality and lesbianism are not given leeway into the national document.
Debate deepened on article 27 of the Draft Constitution which provides that a person has the right not to be discriminated against, directly or indirectly on any grounds including birth, race, sex, origin, colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language, pregnancy, health, marital, ethnic, tribal, social or economic status which rose concerns that homosexuals and lesbians might use to their advantage.
Both Kembe Member of Parliament and Bishop David Masupa noted that the people of Zambia have clearly spoken that they do not want homosexuality and lesbianism hence the need to spell out in clear terms that such practices are illegal.
And Request Muntanga contended that the article should not have a place in the Zambia constitution and the monies that people who encourage homosexuality and lesbianism promise should be rejected.
He said the drafts persons of the constitution should not include semantics or difficult language in barring such practices.
Adding to the motion Chief Mumena described homosexuality and lesbianism as abominable acts that delegates should watch closely so that they do not sneak into the constitution in any way.
The house voted against amending the article to delete ‘on any other grounds’ but after an explanation that it might allow anti-social practices, the whole house changed but called on the committee to simplify the article so that it is better understood.
A similar scenario prevailed on clause (c) of article 9 where the convention wanted the technical committee to redefine the minority and marginalized groups who should be protected and not be discriminated against so that the homosexuals and lesbians do not enjoy such constitutional rights.
Meanwhile, clause (3) of article 28 has been referred to a vote on the last day of the convention after delegates failed to reach a consensus just like on Barotse Agreement of 1964.
According to the provincial resolutions, 9 provinces recommended for the upholding of the article but delegates were divided as to whether the death sentence should be abolished or allowed to stand in the constitution. ZANIS

Gemfields warns of possible Zambia ban on overseas gemstone auctions

 

 

 Aim-listed gemstone miner Gemfields has warned shareholders of a possible ban by the Zambian government on the sale of domestically mined gemstones outside of the country, which would severely impact on the company’s revenue.
If instituted, the measures would prevent the company from freely selling its gemstones in the markets where it believes it would realise the best prices.
Gemfields' principal asset, the Kagem emerald mine, is located in northern Zambia and is 75% owned by Gemfields, with the Zambian government owning the remaining 25%.
Gemfields also owns 50% of the Kariba amethyst mine in southern Zambia, with the Zambian government owning the other 50%.
“At a press conference in Lusaka on Friday, the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (MoMEWD) distributed a press statement seemingly restraining Kagem and other producers from selling emeralds outside Zambia,” Gemfields said in a statement on Monday morning.
“Since 2009, Kagem's production has only been sold outside Zambia, generating $160-million of revenue from eleven auctions. Representatives from government have routinely attended those auctions,” the company noted.
The statement issued by MoMEWD noted that “government has directed that all auctioning of emeralds be held in Zambia".
Gemfields said that, while the press statement dealt primarily with emeralds, it also referred to a “pronouncement” by Zambia’s President Michael Sata that “all gemstones should be sold within Zambia”.
Such a requirement or law, if confirmed, would similarly affect the Kariba amethyst mine.
“Gemfields believes that any outright limitation on selling emeralds in other countries could have the potential to materially constrain Kagem's revenues, as well as the broader development of the global Zambian gemstone sector.
“Such a limitation would place Zambian emeralds at a disadvantage relative to other emerald-producing countries where no such limitations are in place,” the producer cautioned.
Auction Scheduled for Lusaka
Following earlier verbal requests by MoMEWD, Gemfields and Kagem had agreed to include Zambia as one of the destinations on its 2013 international auction circuit.
Accordingly, Gemfields and Kagem would host an auction in Lusaka from April 15 to 19.
Thereafter, Gemfields' next auction was scheduled to take place in Singapore in June.
The company advised that neither Gemfields nor Kagem had, as yet, participated in, nor been invited, to any industry or stakeholder consultation process regarding the proposed measures.
“Kagem has written to MoMEWD requesting clarification of the terms, conditions and basis of the measures. Gemfields believes that a key component of Kagem's success in recent years has been its ability to provide a secure, reliable and consistent supply of well-graded, high-quality emeralds to its customers in locations that are competitive and convenient.
“It is, therefore, important that the prevailing uncertainty be clarified promptly, minimising apprehension in the downstream market and supporting Kagem's and Gemfields' ongoing efforts to position Zambian emeralds at the forefront of the global emerald industry and as the first choice for discerning consumers,” the company said.
Further, Gemfields believed that the press statement by the MoMEWD suggested that the sale of Zambian gemstones on foreign markets had contributed to capital flight.
“Gemfields and Kagem set the benchmark for transparency in the sector, publishing detailed auction information including the revenue received for each of its auctions, as well as all of its gemstone production data, including unit costs, on a quarterly basis,” the gem miner stated.
Gemfields CEO Ian Harebottle said the recent developments had the potential to endanger the health of the company, immediately after it had started to deliver meaningful, positive results on behalf of stakeholders.
“The record shows that Kagem's financial and operating performance has never been better. The combination of our investments in the mines, our auction practices, proprietary emerald grading system and global marketing campaigns have delivered dramatic results not only for Kagem, but also for the wider Zambian gemstone sector,” he asserted.
He further noted that Kagem's repatriation of foreign currencies, payments of Zambian corporation tax and gemstone royalties stood at all-time highs, and believed the same to be true for total tax and royalty receipts from the Zambian gemstone sector.
“This record of success and growth should not be put at risk,” he said.-miningweekly.com

Al-Bashir snubs Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration

By DOREEN NAWA in Nairobi, Kenya.

A few hours away from the inauguration of incoming Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, one of  the much anticipated guest Omar al-Bashir snubs the invitation.

With so much publicity in the local and international media about who is to attend Tuesday’s presidential inauguration Sudanese president will not be among the 50 expected heads of states.

According to one of the Local media, The Standard Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is not traveling to Nairobi to attend Tuesday’s presidential inauguration.

The Standard says Bashir will not be present despite press reports to the contrary.

Quoting government spokesman Muthui Kariuki  today Monday, Mr Kariuki confirmed that Bashir will not be present during Tuesday’s ceremony.

On Sunday, a Sudanese publication had reported his attendance saying he would later head to Chad for a conference.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes committed in the Darfur conflict which broke out in 2003.

Kenya, a signatory state to the Rome Statute is under legal obligation to arrest him if he sets foot in the country.

Bashir’s presence at the inauguration of incoming Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta would have been significant because al-Bashir faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.

Kenya is a party to the treaty that created the ICC and would be legally obligated to arrest him. Kenyatta also faces charges at the ICC over allegations he helped orchestrate the 2007-08 violence that marred Kenya’s last presidential election. Kenyatta’s trial is scheduled for July.

Other Heads of States who have arrived here in Nairobi Kenya include Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame,Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete, South Africa’s Jacob Zuma and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Joseph Kabila.

Other s expected are  Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn - Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairman  of African Union,  Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh - President of the Republic Djibouti, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mahmud - President of the Republic of Somali, Mr. Salva Kiir Mayardit - President of the Republic of South Sudan, Robert Mugabe - President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Also in attendance will be Abdelilah Benkirane - Prime Minister of Morocco,  Abelmalek Sellal - Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Algeria, Dr. Hisham Kandil - Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Danny Faure -Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Terence Sinunguruza - First Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, Khumbo Kachali -Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr Guy Scott - Vice President of the Republic of Zambia.

Rev Jesse Jackson will also attend as a Special Guest of the President-Elect Uhuru Kenyatta.

Implement comprehensive policies on cervical cancer

Implement comprehensive policies on cervical cancer
By DOREEN NAWA
GOVERNMENTS in southern Africa must implement comprehensive policies on cervical cancer in order to substantially reduce the number of deaths from the disease, according to a report published by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC).
Cervical cancer is now the primary cause of cancer death among women in southern Africa. According to the report published on late last year entitled "Tackling Cervical Cancer: Improving Access to Cervical Cancer Services for Women in Southern Africa," very few countries in the region have comprehensive policies on cervical cancer.
The report notes that essential prevention services, such as screening and vaccination, are not widely available in the public health sector in most countries; and treatment for both pre-cancerous lesions and invasive cancer remains a challenge.
"Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in southern Africa and yet it is completely preventable and treatable even in low resource countries," said Priti Patel, deputy director of SALC.
"Southern African governments need to make ending cervical cancer a priority to prevent the unnecessary loss of thousands of lives."
Based on regional desktop research as well as field research in Namibia and Zambia, the report found that many women only access medical assistance when they have advanced cervical cancer, which is much more difficult to treat and can be incredibly painful.
The report also notes that women living with HIV are more vulnerable to cervical cancer. "
Given the high rates of HIV among women in southern Africa and their greater vulnerability to cervical cancer, it is imperative that governments focus on ensuring that women living with HIV have better access to cervical cancer services,"
Ms Patel said. The report, which was partly funded by Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), points out that the failure by Southern African governments to adequately provide medical and other cervical cancer-related services may result in violations of a number of constitutionally protected rights.
Among the rights that could be violated are the rights to life, health, equality, dignity, bodily integrity, autonomy and information.
Project lawyer and author of the report, Nyasha Chingore-Munazvo says failure to provide services may also violate the rights to freedom from all forms of discrimination and from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
"The failure to adequately address cervical cancer not only leads to the deaths of women, but also violates a number of fundamental human rights enshrined in national constitutions as well as under international and regional law," said Ms Chingore-Munazvo.
"This report shows that just by implementing a comprehensive policy on cervical cancer governments can transform cervical cancer treatment in the region. Hopefully, they will read the report and act upon its findings." Ms Chingore-Munazvo.

Youths leading the way out of illegal mining



Suzyo walks out of class at KIHSR in Kafue

By DOREEN NAWA 
THROUGH a journey of self-discovery, 22-year-old Suzyo Kumwenda is focusing on a future of unlimited possibilities.
Suzyo, an ex-illegal miner in Chingola, has flipped to a new profitable page in life.
Suzyo is a role model for several Chingola youths, who had fallen prey to a syndicate of copper thieves commonly known as Jerabos, a cliché for 'Jail boys or ex-convict.'
As Suzyo pursues a three-year Diploma in Clinical Medicine, at the Kafue Institute of Health Sciences and Research (KIHSR), his bold decision to abandon illegal mining is impacting on his peers hundreds of kilometres away.
Suzyo's colleague Christopher Chola, aged 25, also an ex Jerabo desire to enter into law school by 2014. "Suzyo is our leader, he has inspired all of us," Chola told Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Chairman Navin Agarwal and Chief Executive Officer Jeyakuma Janakaraj recently.
This strong point is shared by reformed 20-year-old Davies Sinyangwe, who is working hard to accomplish his wish to become a mechanical engineer.
Davies went back to pursue his secondary education at Kabundi High School. KCM and other mines have persistently fought to rid some of their assets of illegal mining, which police say is being driven by the selfish desires of the Jerabos.
Enhanced policing around its Nchanga Open Pits by KCM officers and Zambia Police has scored many successes so far.
However, the model to empower the youths through the Youth Talent Club, which is being funded by KCM and implemented by the Development Aid from People to People (DAPP), is impacting positively on youth behaviour.
Suzyo is credited by many youths as the leader for change in the entire matrix. "I became irresponsible when I was in Grade 11 in 2007 and a friend of mine introduced me to the Jerabos. I joined the group of copper thieves because of some challenges I faced since I lost my father," recounts the medium-built Suzyo as his eyes spin with remorse.
Although his ill-gotten cash from selling pilfered copper ore enabled Suzyo to buy food and cover other expenses, he recounts the undertaking was too risky and the money inadequate to count for a decent life. Additionally, it just kept eating-off his conscience.
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE
Accordingly, he learned one secret in life, 'rush not.' "It pays to wait patiently, if something is meant to be yours, the best is to wait and it will surely come rather than forcing matters. I got into illegal mining because of my being impatient, my involvement with the 'Jerabo-life' was because I needed quick money," Suzyo says.
"We used to go into the pits around 19:00 hours every day after school and came back after midnight... it was very dangerous" Suzyo recounts a touching experience one night when his colleague died instantly after being trapped in the tunnels.
"Even though I feared for my life, I had no option but to continue," says Suzyo, who wasted three years in the illegal and dangerous activity.
uzyo initially thought there was nothing else he could do apart from straying into the Nchanga open-pits.
But soon he realised there was a better life elsewhere and he credits his friend Chris Musonda for introducing him to the Youth Talent Club.
"As Chris started telling me about the Youth Talent Club and the benefits of joining the club, I never believed his story because it looked like a waste of time. I saw stone-picking as a very lucrative business," says Suzyo.
As his friend persisted, Suzyo visited the Youth Talent Club and was part of a seminar overwhelmingly attended by reform-minded youths.
POOLING RESOURCES TO FOSTER CHANGE

Suzyo in his class at KIHSR in Kafue

"One day I decided to follow him to the club, and we were taught how to manage businesses. That time, I was at cross-roads not knowing which way to go whether to continue with picking stones or start-up my own 'clean' business," says Suzyo.
In February 2011, Suzyo and nine other youths received a K3 million DAPP soft-loan. This amount was not enough to start-up a meaningful business and the 10 youths consented to form two groups of five each.
Suzyo and four others pooled their K1.5 million total capital to start a chicken rearing business, while the other group started a kiosk business.
"We started with 100 chicks, and after selling the chickens, we moved to 150 chicks," Suzyo explains.
A few months later, three of the group members quit and got into formal employment. Soon after that Suzyo was running the business alone.
"I made some reasonable cash, which I managed to save. I had some challenges but I did not succumb to the difficulties," he says.
As time progressed, Suzyo's mother handed him an acceptance letter from the Kafue institute and his K3 million savings and a K1 million bonus from his mother was enough to pay fees for his tertiary education.
Suzyo's strong desire to be in school tallied with his mother's wish for the son's better education.
"So when mummy gave me the acceptance letter, I looked at it as a blessing and accepted it whole-heartedly," he says.
Though in school, Suzyo has not abandoned the chicken business back home. "My sister is in charge of the business. I cannot afford to stop the business because it is the only means of raising funds to pay for my school fees." Suzyo's determination has inspired Chola to open a bank account.
A LEADER IN THE MAKING
"I have managed to save K9 million and by the end of (October) I will raise my savings to K9.5 million," says Chola, whose talent for artistic crafts made using paper, beads, cassava, glue, wood and grass earns him a minimum of k60,000 per artefact.
Chola says he has managed to construct a small house on his mother's plot in Kapisha Township in Chingola.
"We were used like slaves by the Jarabos," Chola recalls. "I want to tell my fellow youths that it is unprofitable to engage in illegal mining."
At the centre of the Youth Talent Club is the selfless widow Ireen Chola, a DAPP Section Leader in Kapisha, who recruits the youths in the club. KCM, which has spent K450 billion on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes in the last six years, finances the DAPP to implement numerous sustainable livelihood programmes.
These programmes have changed the lives of many youths, men and women in its areas of operation - Nampundwe, Chingola, Chililabombwe and Kitwe.
"I have one son and I would not want him to be involved in illegal mining because it is extremely dangerous.
As a result, I help the youths to change their lifestyle by encouraging them to pursue something profitable in life," Mrs Chola says.
"She is our mother-figure!" exclaims Davies Sinyangwe, the changed Grade 11 Kabundi High School student.
"Above all, I thank KCM that they have this programme for the youths, which is truly changing our lives."
Suzyo summarises thus, "nothing will stop me from achieving my goals!" Reading Suzyo's mind creates a strong impression of a leader that will impact young people for generations to come. Pursuing a decent future takes many forms and some reformed youthful illegal miners in Chingola are showing a unique path to success.

Food

Women: Zambia's neglected food heroes

By DOREEN NAWA

IT is undoubted to say that household food security in Zambia and southern Africa has a female face.

This is because women and girls form the majority of farmers.
"The prevalence, depth, and severity of poverty are greater in rural Zambia and the region as a whole and this is because women who are Africa's food heroes have been neglected. No support and no clear policies to back their interests," says Elizabeth Mpofu, chairperson of the Eastern and Southern Africa small-scale Farmers' Forum (ESAFF).
According to Ms Mpofu, girls and women form part of the informal economy and only own tiny portions of land producing small volumes of food.
According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 80 percent of Zambia's food is produced by small holder farmers whose majority are women.
Naturally in Zambia, women farmers are often more productive than men and will ensure that the family has access to food and good nutrition.
But these women, 'the food heroes' in Zambia and other developing countries lack support to effectively produce enough food in order to fight poverty and hunger.
It is against this background that issues of women were at the centre of discussion at the meeting.
It has been noted that issues of women in food production must be tackled carefully to counter poverty and hunger and in turn ensure food security.
Speaking during a regional policy dialogue on food security in Lusaka, Beatrice Makwenda, and programmes coordinator from the National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM) says: "Food security could not be achieved without women, and that the world's hungry also needed leaders to prioritise actions.
There is need for a major endorsement for investment in women because they are the bulk of food growers in the developing world which include Zambia and Malawi."
Ms Makwenda says despite women being the major household food producers in the developing world, the women face many challenges at the moment like increased production costs, impact of climate change and access to finance.
"It is time to recognize that women are the most important part of the food security and without them there will be no food. We are asking policy-makers and other stakeholders to work in closer partnership with women to listen and respond to their needs in the region or developing countries are to overcome food insecurity," says Ms Makwenda.
General poverty and hunger in Zambia has continued to increase but statistics show that the country's food security conditions remain stable.
But Ms Makwenda says if nothing is done to address the current challenges that women farmers are faced with, the country's food security conditions may not remain stable.
It comes as no surprise why it has been hard to achieve food security in Africa, according to Ms Makwenda, part of the reason for it being so tough is that while women's labour force participation in agriculture is the highest in Africa, less than one in four agriculture researchers are women, and this has left us underserved throughout the agriculture value chain. "Women were not at the decision-making table on food priorities.
Although bringing them on board is not the answer to every problem, it would ensure better and faster progress, and small-scale farmers - a majority of whom are women in Africa - would be better served by means of boosting food production and enhancing livelihoods.
The Zambia Vulnerability Assessment has revealed that most households are food secure despite a small decrease in overall staple food production.
Zambia is ranked 164th out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index and was recently reclassified as a lower-middle-income country by the World Bank.
Poverty and food insecurity are widespread in both rural and urban areas, and Zambia remains extremely vulnerable to recurring natural disasters, including floods, drought and animal disease.
Food security is fragile because subsistence farmers depend on rainfall and traditional hoe cultivation.
Even in years of national food surplus, many subsistence farmers struggle to make ends meet. According to the United Nations World Food Programme, most households in Zambia are currently food secure, with only 62,842 of the country's estimated 13.4 million people being acutely food insecure.
Taking stock of regional efforts towards curriculum reform in agricultural education, to be fully inclusive of women and youth would be step in the right direction.
According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Nicholas Banda, small-holder farmers including women are key to the food security in Zambia and globally.
The deputy minister says in order to improve productivity and farming methods, rural women need technical advice, information and training.
"A good development strategy would recognise the (crucial) role of educating and training rural women to improve production and productivity; promote women-friendly farming technologies that could reduce [the work day] and give women more time for other income-generating activities," says Mr Banda.
Women who are at the centre of food production in Zambia face numerous challenges that have been ignored for quite some time.
One of the small-scale farmers representatives at the meeting Lubono Mweemba of Chibombo area says lack of proper infrastructure such as feeder roads, inadequate provision of inputs such as fertilizers and seeds, poor access to markets have been a drawback against increased agricultural production.
"We need a new generation of leaders who are innovative, visionary, entrepreneurial, well-skilled and gender-responsive, and they have to respond to the priority needs of small-holders, most of whom are women," Ms Mweemba said.
Ms Mweemba believes that there is an urgent need to change the attitude and mindset within rural communities, where male dominance prevails in all sectors of development.
"Men should work together with women, recognising that the issue of gender [inequality] affects both men and women, though women feel it more acutely. Men should be fully involved in the goals of reaching sustainable development and reducing gender inequality," Ms Mweemba says. Despite the fact that women make up over 75 percent of agricultural workers and livestock-keepers in developing countries and constitute the majority of food producers, processors and marketers in Africa, their role in determining policies in the agricultural sector still remains a minor one.
According to Ms Mweemba, deep-rooted cultural perceptions could be one reason. "Women's opinions are not valued and their rights [are seldom] acknowledged.
Age-old barriers like the patriarchal system need to be addressed by engaging not only the government but also traditional [village or district] leaders," Ms Mweemba says.
Ms Mweemba says another reason is the lack of access and control over land and all productive resources, as well as the fact that the highest rates of illiteracy are among women, particularly rural women.
"The government should back its agricultural policies with the relevant legal frameworks in support of the development of small-holder women.
They should support women's involvement in the formulation, implementation and review of the budgeting process to ensure that resource allocations are gender-responsive," says Ms Mweemba.
There is also the challenge of implementing other regional gender protocols and conventions that have already been signed but not fully implemented, like the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa.
Agriculture is not the sector for the past; it is the sector for the future and anything done to improve it is worth doing.