KANSANSHI MINE REWORKS SOLWEZI MATERNITY WARD AT US$250,000

KANSANSHI Mining Plc has completed US$250,000 worth of reconstruc-tion work at the Solwezi General Hospital maternity ward and handed it to the Ministry of Health.

BY DERRICK SILIMINA

Kansanshi Mine Assistant Gen-eral Manager John Gladston, who catalogued the works recently, did the handover on behalf of the mining company to Gov-ernment through North-Western Prov-ince Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu.Explaining the sprucing up of the facili-ty, Gladston said works included the re-moval of PVC floor tiles and installation of a healthy epoxy floor, the electrical wiring of sockets and light fittings as well as the fixing of new doors, bath tubs, toilets and hand wash basins. 

“In addition to the repair works, Kansanshi Mine procured new incu-bators, special maternity beds for the labour ward and normal beds and mat-tresses for the rest of the wards,” Glad-ston said.

All the works and equipment cost US$250,000 and of this total budget, Kansanshi Mine provided US$170,000 and its business partners chipped in with US$80,000.On March 8 in 2019, the maternity ward at Solwezi General Hospital suc-cumbed to a hailstorm which blew off its roof and caused extensive damage to the walls, floor, furniture and fittings.  

The storm further destroyed electrical fittings, and incubators among other equipment at the health facility.Gladston said the reconstruction of the maternity ward at the district hospital demonstrated the mining company’s dedication to the population in the area of its operation.  

“It gives us at First Quantum Miner-als and its Kansanshi Mining Plc great pleasure to finally hand over the new maternity ward at Solwezi General Hospital as the facility was completely decimated by a natural disaster which affected mothers’ access to health care at the hospital.”

 It was at such times that corporate cit-izens must, at all times, maintain cred-ibility in the areas of their operation and step up to meet social needs such as maternity facilities. It was an essential human endeavour and a fundamental human right for mothers to be able to give birth in a safe environment.

Gladston explained that the major re-construction work was completed in 2019 and comprised of the rebuilding of the walls to support replacement of the entire roof structure.  

“We are eternally grateful to these busi-ness partners, too numerous to men-tion who made it possible for us to com-plete the reconstruction work,” he said. 

And speaking when he officially re-ceived the new rebuilt maternity ward, Mubukwanu expressed gratitude for the swift response by Kansanshi Mine and its partners towards rebuilding the main maternity ward at the hospital. 

“We are truly grateful to you Kansan-shi Mining Plc and we will never tire to acknowledge the support that you are rendering to the community that is hosting you. You have truly demon-strated to be true partners of Govern-ment and true partners of the people of Solwezi and North-Western Province,” Mubukwanu said.

 He further noted that the mining firm’s timely response to rebuild a modern health facility would go a long way in enhancing quality health care delivery as well as motivate medical staff.Addressing maternal and child mor-tality was Government’s legacy goal number one which entailed reducing maternal mortality from 398 per 100 live births to less than 100 per 1,000 by 2021. 

“In 2018, we recorded 12 maternal mortalities while in 2019, we lost 14 women. In 2020, we have recorded sev-en maternal mortalities while neonatal deaths were 36 in 2019 and in 2020, we recorded 48 cases,” 

Mubukwanu noted.He emphasised that, in order for the country to attain this goal, it required collective efforts by the individuals that are involved, and the corporate entities that are involved also needed to con-tribute to the realisation of this goal.  

Out of the 28 business partners who contributed towards the reconstruc-tion budget of the maternity ward, the six who were Gold sponsors for their substantial contributions were Total Zambia, Mary Begg Community Clinic in Solwezi, Olibul Investments, Jachris, Quattro Bus Services and Mr Clean.In a vote of thanks, Solwezi Gener-al Hospital Medical Superintendent Namwaka Mukunyandela praised the mining firm and its business partners for the noble gesture, which would en-hance the provision of quality health care among expectant mothers. 

And Gertrude Luwingu, a mother of two who gave birth to a bouncy baby boy on the eve of the hand over, paid glowing tribute to the mining firm and its business partners for a job well done. 

“Thank you to Kansanshi Mine for re-storing our dignity because as mothers in the district, we used to face challeng-es a lot but now with this facility, we will be able to give birth in a modern environment.”

MBUYOTI MEDIA: When the Bee Stings

MBUYOTI MEDIA: When the Bee Stings:   12/10/2020  –   by Derrick Silimina Nowadays © stepmap.de Zambia is developing a sweet alternative to its reliance on the volatile copper ...

When the Bee Stings

 12/10/2020 – by Derrick Silimina

Nowadays

© stepmap.de

Zambia is developing a sweet alternative to its reliance on the volatile copper trade: a thriving international market in organic honey produced in the country’s north-western forests.

From modest beginnings, Zambia’s honey sector has grown to producing approximately 2,500 tonnes per year and employing over 30,000 people. Most of this production is exported, bringing in vital foreign currencies.

But there is a sting in the tail of this success story. Under a honey export protocol reached between Zambia and China in 2018, Mpundu Wild Honey, a Chinese-owned company based in central Zambia, was granted exclusive rights to export Zambian honey to China.

This exclusive deal has stung Zambian honey producers. Zambian beekeepers and honey traders say the deal bars them from accessing the lucrative Chinese market directly.

One of the affected local producers is Miombo Honey, which buys and processes raw organic honey and wax from bee farmers in the Miombo forests of the central Zambezian woodlands. The company sees rich market potential in the Far East. But founder Aaron Kantumoya says the exclusive rights for Mpundu tilt the scales in favor of the Chinese firm for exports not only to China but to the entire Asian market.

“What is currently happening in this sector is not fair,” Kantumoya says. “Some Chinese honey companies source our local product at below-market prices for export to China.”

Benjamin Kalima, a bee farmer in the Solwezi district of north-western Zambia, says the growing Asian demand for organic honey could help build up Zambia’s economy – if the honey trade were conducted on a freely competitive basis.

“These briefcase buyers, especially those from China, always exploit us,” Kalima says. “They come here and offer us a very low market price of 70 Kwacha (about € 3.3) per 2.5-litre container of honey, and we have no choice but to sell to them at this price because we need income for our families.”

A 2.5 litre container of honey weighs 3.6 kilograms, so the price that Kalima cites translates into approximately € 0.91 per kilogram. In contrast, the wholesale price on the Zambian market ranges between 50 and 80 Kwacha (€ 2.3-€ 3.7) per kilogram.

On international markets, honey trades at wholesale prices of about € 4.7 per kilogram, according to the National Honey Board, a US-based industry group. The difference between the local Zambian and the international price shows how lucrative exports could be for Zambian honey producers.

The firm that has exclusive export rights to the Chinese market sees the market potential as well. Zhang Zhanping, director of Mpundu Wild Honey, says his company plans to increase production from the current annual level of 3.4 tonnes by adding new beekeepers to its supply network.

“The export of Zambian honey to China will improve the economies of both countries through employment creation and international trade,” he says.

Derrick Silimina is a freelance journalist based in Lusaka. He focuses on Zambian agriculture and sustainability issues.
derricksilimina@gmail.com

COVID-19 Mayhem and the Travel and Tourism Sector

 

Words by: Mbuyoti Silimina / Images by: Kalichi Pictures May 19, 2020

With Zambia’s economic activity already in decline, COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus is wreaking havoc in key sectors of the economy. The respiratory disease caused by the virus looms large over Zambia, with over 4 million cases confirmed globally at the time of publishing. Before the virus emerged, Zambia was already facing mounting debt, a depreciating currency and escalating inflation, among other issues.

Of particular importance to Zambia’s economy is the travel and tourism industry where economic tremors are already being felt by the effects of the global pandemic. With slightly over 200,000 jobs created in 2017, the sector’s direct contribution to the country’s gross domestic product stood at K6.9 billion (around $6 million at the time), representing 3.2 percent of total GDP. The sector is estimated to rise by 5.6 percent from 2017 to 2027, to be growing around K12.5 billion ($1.2 billion) annually, representing 1.9 percent of total employment, according to projected figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Arts.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), an international non-governmental organisation which represents the travel and tourism private sector globally with over 170 membership says the industry is Zambia’s fastest growing and most bullish economic sector, according to its 2018 Report.

And the WTTC’s latest annual review of the sector states that international visitors alone spent K8.4 billion representing 8.3 percent of the total Zambian exports, and in terms of spending characteristics the leisure sectors account for a total of 38 percent while business was at 62 percent, domestic spending stood at 47 percent while international spending was 53 percent.

Over the last several weeks, the global pandemic has compelled countries including Zambia to devise a set of measures ranging from travel bans to the banning of public gatherings or even total lockdown in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.

“Eastern province has recorded a reduction in revenue amounting to US$3,591,793 followed by Southern Province with US$1,991,117, Lusaka Province US$425,296, Western Province with US$140,000 and Central Province, which houses Kafue national park has recorded a loss of US$600,000,” tourism minister Ronald Chitotela said recently at a media briefing in Lusaka.

He affirmed that Zambia’s tourism sector has not been spared from the effects of COVID-19 as the country has recorded a total loss in revenue of about US$7 million, representing a reduction of 21 percent, attributing the losses to tourists cancelling their trips and demanding refunds after making bookings.

In view of the recent developments, Finance Minister Bwalya N’gandu disclosed that GDP growth rate has since been revised downwards from 3.2 percent to around 2 percent despite the anticipated significant recovery in the agricultural sector. Other notable sectors expected to slow down include mining, manufacturing, construction and retail.

With the bulk of citizens living hand to mouth, economist Chibamba Kanyama has observed that a large number of Zambians survive by either selling something or offering temporary labour and a day out of the market is as good as death.

“My advice is that as we take lockdown measures, we should do so strategically. I am concerned about how the economy and individual households will survive long term,” he said.

Lusaka-based financial analyst Mambo Haamaundu has described the impact of the global pandemic on the travel and tourism industry as devastating.

“The occupancy rates in hotels and lodges countrywide have dropped as people are not travelling for holidays due to the circumstances that we have found ourselves in. Due to restricted movements, industries such as travel and tourism that thrives on the movement of people have been badly hit,” Haamaundu observed.

Despite Zambia not yet being in a full scale lockdown, a close analysis shows the economy has been severely affected. Economic activity is on the decline as more people are placed on forced leave and others work from home, additionally many people now only move when absolutely necessary, thereby affecting the transport sector and the wider economy.

On March 25 2020 President Edgar Lungu announced a suspension of all international flights from Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe international airports stating that all flights coming into the country should land and depart only from Kenneth Kaunda Airport in Lusaka city to ensure efficient and effective screening of travellers. This move alone, while important to containing the spread of the virus, will certainly affect inflows of tourists into the country.

“The region that has been hit the most is the Eastern province which comes with the South Luangwa national park safari packages. This has an effect on our treasury because some of these monies were paid in advance and the owners are demanding a repayment,” Chitotela disclosed.

Financial and Fiscal Measures

In a bid to revive the local economy, the Ministry of Finance has outlined some financial and fiscal measures in line with President Lungu’s seven point plan to combat the spread of COVID-19.

These include setting up an epidemic preparedness fund under the ministry of health amounting to K57 million; cabinet’s recent approval of a COVID-19 contingency and response plan with a budget of K659 million under the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and government has since started mobilising funds through the budget and engagement with various local and international stakeholders.

“Government will release K2.5 billion to reduce domestic arrears owed to domestic suppliers of goods and services; reduce outstanding arrears to pensioners under public service pension fund and retirees under ministry of justice; and reduce outstanding third-party arrears and other employee related commitments. In addition, K140 million will be released to pay local contractors in the road sector,” Dr. N’gandu said.

Effect on the global travel and tourism sector

The coronavirus epidemic is putting up to 50 million jobs in the global travel and tourism sector at risk, the WTTC has said.

The WTTC noted that of the 50 million jobs that could be lost, around 30 million would be in Asia, seven million in Europe, five million in the Americas and the rest in other continents.

According to statistics, over 800,000 people travel each month from Europe to the United States, equivalent to a $3.4 billion monthly contribution to the US economy.

The tourism industry currently accounts for 10 percent of global GDP.

WTTC’s managing director Virginia Messina has since called on governments to remove or simplify visas wherever possible, cut travel taxes and introduce incentives once the epidemic is under control. She also encouraged flexibility in the sector, so that travelers can postpone and not cancel their plans.

Zambia Faces a Humanitarian Disaster

 By Derrick Silimina

 A family of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo sit by their makeshift hut at the Kenani refugee transit camp. Source OBERT SIMWANZA/AFP/Getty

A country that has largely escaped the postcolonial war and bloodshed of many of its neighbors faces a humanitarian crisis.

When Kabongo Mukendi fled the Democratic Republic of Congo for Zambia in late 2017 with her two children amid a deadly conflict between the government and rebels in the DRC’s eastern Goma region, she knew building a life in a new nation would be difficult. What she couldn’t have known was just how difficult it would be — and not just for her, but also for the country taking her in.

Mukendi and her children — her husband is still in Congo — are among an estimated 10,000 Congolese refugees currently at the Kenani transit center in Nchelenge District, Luapula Province, in northern Zambia. And they’re just a subset of the more than 27,300 Congolese refugees in Zambia, almost half the total number of 60,606 from the DRC seeking asylum in neighboring nations, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Many more are still trekking into Zambia daily to escape the rising turmoil in the Central African state.

My heart breaks every time [my son] gets ill.

Kabongo Mukendi, a Congolese refugee in Zambia

Taking in refugees isn’t new for Zambia. But a sharp uptick in refugees — 5,761 Congolese crossed the border in 2017 — is coinciding with concerns over corruption in the use of foreign aid, leaving Zambia, a country that has largely escaped the postcolonial war and bloodshed of many of its neighbors, on the precipice of a humanitarian crisis of its own. Local and international aid agencies such as the Zambia Red Cross Society, the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration are securing more land, tents and other logistics to accommodate incoming refugees. But Zambia’s ability to support the refugees is being challenged by other cutbacks in aid. Sweden and Finland halted payments to a Zambian farmers’ collective in 2016 amid corruption allegations. And the U.K.’s Department for International Development (DFID) recently reported three nonprofits to the Zambia police and the country’s Drug Enforcement Commission following an audit showing that these organizations had misappropriated the agency’s aid meant for monitoring the 2016 general election — even as Zambia’s government is appealing for still greater financial assistance.

At the Kenani camp, Mukendi’s struggle is mirroring this crunch. She says she can barely put a decent meal on the table for her children. And her son, Jordan, had to drop out of school and find a job to help her meet expenses. 

“My heart breaks every time he gets ill,” she says, barely holding back her tears. “He’s only 13 years old.”

As with Mukendi, the majority of the refugee families are households headed by women, who have exhausted their savings and other assets. Life is a constant mix of fear, anxiety and hope for a better future. According to reports by some aid workers, 60 percent of those arriving in Zambia are children and show signs of malnutrition, malaria, respiratory problems, dysentery and skin infections. 

But the fears for Zambia are deeper. An outbreak of Ebola in Congo in 2017 has led to worries of a transmission of that disease to Zambia through the refugees. World Health Organization reports show that a staggering 560 people have died from cholera, Ebola and other related diseases in recent months in Congo. This has prompted the U.N. health agency to contribute $400,000 to assist in fighting the escalating pandemics rife in Goma and Kinshasa. Any transmission of the disease into Zambia could prove catastrophic for already overwhelmed humanitarian agencies, which are scouring for medicine, food and shelter, among other needs, amid fears that casualties could increase. Cholera is already rampant in Zambia.  

“We have over 200 families, mainly malnourished children and pregnant women as well as men who are yet to be accommodated in our camps, but we don’t have enough logistics to meet the growing needs of more food and medicines to cater for everyone,” UNHCR spokeswoman Mirriam Malunga said in a recent media statement.

Zambia’s home affairs minister, Stephen Kampyongo, recently called on all warring parties in the DRC to resolve their differences, telling journalists that Zambia was receiving on average 100 to 150 refugees daily. During the U.N. General Assembly in New York last September, Zambia’s president, Edgar Lungu, appealed for humanitarian assistance from the international community to help the refugees.

Getting that aid amid the swirl of corruption allegations is proving difficult. The UNHCR has so far received only $13.6 million — less than a quarter of the aid amount it needs — to support Zambia’s growing crisis. 

Some countries are stepping up. Germany has pledged to contribute more than $800,000 toward the UNHCR response in Zambia and Angola — another major recipient of refugees — in 2018. German Ambassador to Zambia Achim Burkart cited the “common experience of welcoming refugees fleeing from conflict” that Germany and Zambia share while he announced the aid. His embassy has also donated assorted items worth $60,000 to the Congolese asylum seekers at the Kenani transit center, making the German government one of the first bilateral partners to respond to the calls for assistance.

That aid is important, but Zambia and Congolese refugees like Mukendi will likely need more to ride out the crisis. “I wake up every day telling myself that this is a temporary situation and that things will get better soon,” Mukendi says. “I hope so.”

• Derrick Silimina, OZY Author

FQM Boosts Local Industry Business

 By Derrick Silimina (SUMA Systems), Times of Zambia

First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has strengthened its supply chain to companies in the manufacturing and construction sectors to enable them thrive.

Kansanshi Mining Plc Public Relations Manager Godfrey Msiska has observed that the mining giant has since provided many opportunities to the sectors thereby enhancing growth of the industry in Zambia.

He noted that the business entities and entrepreneurs regularly visit the mines to see how best they could fit into the supply chain.

“So we’ve been very supportive of that supply chain which has enabled those companies that are in the manufacturing industry to thrive. Now that’s industrial development because it means we have actualized the development of an entrepreneur’s plans to sell certain products to a customer like us.” He said

He notes that if FQM’s mines did not exist, the building industry would not have thrived. As a result, many Zambian firms that participated managed to up their game because if they did not build a demo house matching the mining company’s requirements they would not have had that opportunity to create business for themselves.

“I am happy to tell you that most, if not all, the Zambian construction companies that were engaged in building Kabitaka met the minimum requirement in terms of quality so they were given contracts.” He said.

In the energy sector, Mr Msiska emphasized that the company that is managing power distribution in the new Kabitaka town is a Zambian company that has accessed an opportunity to do business.

He affirmed that the local firm adds value by obtaining power from ZESCO’s main grid and distributing it to consumers in Kabitaka Township.

Getting the Point

 

Traditional Chinese medicine gains popularity in Zambia

By Derrick Silimina  ·  2020-01-13  ·   Source: NO.3 JANUARY 16, 2020

Participants at the opening ceremony of the 16th World Congress of Chinese Medicine in Budapest, Hungary, on November 9, 2019 (XINHUA) Anita Njobvu, who lives in Zambia's capital Lusaka, was introduced to acupuncture therapy by her husband because her blood pressure was dangerously high. The treatment used to be rare on the African continent, but with growing awareness in countries like Zambia, an increasing number of patients are opting for the healing technique rather than conventional medicine. "I was first introduced to Chinese herbal medicines and later ended up having acupuncture treatment, which has been helpful since my blood pressure has actually stabilized," said Njobvu. Acupuncture is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and involves the insertion of needles into specific points on the human body with the aim of restoring equilibrium between a person's physical, emotional and spiritual aspects. Njobvu, who had been battling severe hypertension for some time, said after about three months of acupuncture therapy, she is on the road to recovery. The growing footprint of TCM in the country is a reflection of China-Zambia relations, highlighting cooperation in a wide range of areas, including healthcare. Popular treatment Traditional and alternative medicine is used and accepted by a great majority of the Zambian population, regardless of ethnic, religious or social background. "[My TCM doctor] Feng Kehong's treatment took about two months and after the third month, I have not had any high blood pressure readings," said Njobvu. Pamela Chisunka, a teacher in Central Province, said compared with conventional medicine, TCM remedies are more effective for the treatment of certain kinds of diseases. "I think Western medicine wouldn't help cure my chronic headaches. It only has a temporary effect because the pain remains when you stop taking the medicine. As a result, you spend more on medication," said Chisunka. Benjamin Mambwe, a bus driver in Lusaka, said it wasn't long after he began to receive acupuncture treatment from Feng that he recovered from partial paralysis in early 2019. He told Beijing Review that during the process, the doctor used needles to prick the affected body part. "You feel a slight discomfort when she starts the process; but afterward, it's okay and the pain disappears," he explained. "After 30 minutes, the needles are removed and the process is repeated [daily] for 10 days." Since having the treatment, Mambwe is back on his feet, able to carry out his daily duties. In 1997, Feng came to Zambia as part of a Chinese medical team and worked for two years as a resident doctor first at Ndola General Hospital and then at Kabwe General Hospital in Central Province. Driven by her passion to provide quality healthcare to the people, Feng established Zhong Yi Surgery in Lusaka in 2002, with a focus on TCM care, following an increase in demand for Chinese medical treatments among local residents. "Since I came to Lusaka, more and more people have come to understand acupuncture. I attend to various patients suffering from strokes, HIV/AIDS, hypertension, paralysis and diabetes, among other conditions," she said. Feng's assistant Neila Mumba, from Zambia, explained how the medical facility, located in Lusaka's Roma residential area, has helped many Zambians recover from various diseases. "We had a chief from north Zambia who suffered a stroke and was unable to walk. But after [acupuncture] treatment, he was able to walk again. We also have several cases of senior government officials who come here to seek medical attention," said Mumba. "For instance, there is one lady who is diabetic and had been to several hospitals, but her condition was quite severe and she didn't recover until she came here. Her condition has now improved and her sugar levels have gone drastically down." Asked why she has prioritized TCM and not conventional medicine in her private practice, especially since she is a fully qualified doctor who has served in Zambia's public hospitals, Feng said her calling is to help people with the most effective medical care available. "In China, I learned Western medicine and TCM. I chose the latter after I established the clinic; but before that, I practiced as a full-time conventional doctor," she said. Feng Kehong performs acupuncture treatment on a patient at her clinic in Lusaka, Zambia, on August 29, 2018 (XINHUA) Local compliance Since TCM is built on a foundation of thousands of years of medical practices, it includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, exercise and dietary therapy, among others. Feng said she has been helping more local people understand how traditional therapies work while complying with local rules and standards. "One big advantage of TCM is that it is easy to perform, and it doesn't have high requirements for medical equipment," Feng said. Benjamin Chitumbo, a renowned doctor in the northern city of Ndola in Copperbelt Province, is impressed with his Chinese counterparts and their effective medical practices. "All I know from experience is that acupuncture is one of the alternative medical treatment methods based on a long Chinese tradition and explains the interconnectivity of our hormones and nervous system. Acupuncture has been used for a variety of illnesses. It is certainly a practice that has helped many of my patients," said Chitumbo. In line with how TCM adapts to local conditions, the Zambian Government recognizes traditional and complementary/alternative medicine, while national policies support these treatments. Although there are no official regulations for recognizing the qualifications of practitioners, the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia reviews and registers traditional practitioners for licensing and plans are underway to develop these regulations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 70 percent of Zambians use traditional medicine. Recently, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said the government is reviewing the act that governs the practice of traditional medicine. In addition, Zambia is considering better utilization of its diverse medicinal plants, a worthwhile lesson learned from China. "As we strengthen our health system, we have identified the need to strengthen collaboration, in particular with China. Zambia will strengthen cultivation of medicinal plants and share experiences and knowledge," said Chilufya when meeting with a delegation from China's Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (JUTCM) in September 2019. Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu visited the JUTCM campus in 2018. Chilufya also hailed the wider partnership between China and Zambia, especially in the area of health infrastructure and professional training. Zuo Zhengyun, head of the delegation and President of JUTCM, told Chilufya that his university had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tropical Diseases Research Center (TDRC) of Zambia on joint research programs. Located in Ndola, the TDRC is a biomedical research center initiated by the WHO in collaboration with the Zambian Government. "We also hope to cooperate through research and development to promote clinical use of Zambian traditional herbal medicines," said Zuo. The author is a correspondent of ChinAfrica, a monthly publication of Beijing Review, in Zambia Copyedited by Rebeca Toledo Comments to yanwei@bjreview.com