BARLOWORLD EULOGISES KK’S ECONOMIC LEGACY

 

Advertorial

By: Mbuyoti Silimina

The story of Barloworld Equipment Zambia Limited is one of success, longevity and high-performing products.

Ms. Mfikeyi Makayi
Barloworld Zambia Country Manager

With over 100 years of operations in Africa, the firm is backed by Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Barloworld Limited, a R62 billion company with secondary listings on the London and Namibian Stock exchanges.

Having entered the Zambian market in 1994 taking over the Caterpillar dealership from Mazembe Tractor Company, Barloworld’s past 26 years as an operator investor has seen the business expand its presence in the primary sectors of mining and construction.

“Our fixed presence in Lusaka, Kitwe, Solwezi, Lumwana and Kalumbila has consolidated our support to these industries as well as the Zambian people over the last two decades,” Barloworld Zambia Country Manager Mfikeyi Makayi told Nkwazi.Barloworld Zambia is cognizant of the socio-economic reforms put in place by Zambia’s first president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. Reforms which laid the foundation for the future success of Barloworld Zambia today.

But over and beyond political freedom, Dr. Kaunda wanted to achieve economic emancipation and improve the welfare of ordinary citizens through an enormous drive to accelerate investment especially, in the fields of mining and construction.

Dr. Kaunda’s investments in Zambians laid the foundation on which Zambians across the country can build on today. “KK’s mining policies were multi-faceted, in retrospect with good intention during difficult times. Firstly, of key note and success to this day was KK was very deliberate about education policies for Zambians. He ensured a deliberate policy that the Zambian people attained the best international education & exposure in running the mining sector through scholarships without discrimination or prejudice, Zambians were sponsored to universities globally by ZCCM with the view that they returned to work in the mining industry. Many Zambians today are known globally for their expertise in the fields of copper mining, engineering, geology and metallurgy.

Secondly, the 1969 Mulungushi and Matero Reforms significantly shaped the future of Zambia’s mining policy with the formation of ZIMCO and MINDECO. The intention was to maximize the sector’s economic potential & drive development,” Makayi noted, “it coincided with tumultuous times in independence struggles in southern Africa, with Zambia as a key frontline state.

As a result, Zambia became and remains one of the world’s largest copper producers and the second largest producer on the African continent (behind the Democratic Republic of Congo). Copper is the mainstay of the country’s economy and has been for almost a century.

The Barloworld country manager highlighted that KK’s One Zambia, One Nation motto which is embedded inevery Zambian’s mind has kept Zambia a peaceful and inclusive nation that has never experienced war. “This element of his leadership has shaped how we lead our business in Barloworld by reinforcing inclusion, having dialogue and appreciating differences.”

In this context, Barloworld’s consistency in delivering quality construction and mining equipment to the earthmoving industry has contributed to the growth of the country’s mining industry

In 2014, Barloworld solidified and affirmed its investment commitments by increasing its footprint North Western and Copperbelt provinces constructing a $14million facility in Kitwe, which comprises of a world class training facility, component rebuild centre and 10,000m2 warehouse to ensure adequate support to the mining operations in the Copperbelt and North Western provinces.

In the construction sector, whether one is in a residential or non-residential building, infrastructure or road construction, Barloworld Equipment’s best machinery and power generation equipment in Southern Africa – including 35 different types of work-tools ensure quality after sale service to all its paraphernalia.

“We seek to support projects that will ensure access to local and international markets with ease as the expansion of our road infrastructure is cardinal to boosting regional trade and with eight neighbours to become a land-linked country,” Makayi stated

Barloworld will always remember Kaunda for creating a solid foundation for the country’s development program which the firm renowned for its Cat earthmoving machines is happy to be associated with.

“Over the last 26 years, favorable mining policies encouraged mine operator’s exploration programmes into the North Western Province as our primary clients invested in new equipment which consequently meant increased opportunities to create employment and growth for Barloworld as well as to support the sector,” Makayi noted.

 

Zambia’s Uphill Inflation Woes

 

By Mbuyoti Silimina

As Africa struggles to respond to the deadly third wave of COVID-19, its month on month inflation is ultimately worsening the already depressed economic fortunes on the continent.

The Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) recently announced that annual inflation for June, 2021 increased to 24.6% from 23.2% in May 2021.

According to the agency’s monthly bulletin announced by interim Statistician General Mulenga Musepa on 24th June 2021, stated that on average, prices of goods and services increased by 24.6% between June 2020 and June 2021.

Interestingly, Zambia became the second country in the world to increase its benchmark interest rate this year as it seeks to bring down spiraling inflation that’s at a five-year high. In this context, the Bank of Zambia decided to maintain the monetary policy rate at 8.5%.

“The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) noted that, although inflation is projected to remain above the upper bound of the 6-8% target range over the forecast horizon, inflationary pressures are projected to ease faster than earlier anticipated, particularly towards the end of the forecast horizon. This is in view of improved supply of food, particularly maize and wheat following a strong crop harvest, higher than anticipated copper prices and improved external sector support,” Bank of Zambia Governor Christopher Mvunga said recently during the MPC of the central bank at its May 17-18 2021 meeting.

However, the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has charged that the MPR alone cannot be seen as the silver bullet to address Zambia’s inflation dynamics. Rather, in addition to robust monetary policy interventions, correcting the fiscal situation is of prime importance.

Topping the African list of inflationary pressure is Zimbabwe with a rate of 194% year on year, followed by South Sudan (46.8%), Angola (24.8%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, 20.4%) Ethiopia (19.2%), Nigeria (18.1%), Guinea (12.3%), Sierra Leone (10.9%) and Liberia (10.5%), according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) latest country analysis.

Financial experts say the spiking inflation rate in Zambia is due to a combination of complex factors such as the rise in food prices and depreciation of the kwacha which has in due course gulped the life out of the local economy.

Historically, the Zambian kwacha reached an all-time high of K22.61/US$1 in June of 2021 and global financial analysts expectations estimate it to trade at K22.85/US$1 in 12 months’ time. This has garnered public interest given the exchange rates’ link to other economic variables such as inflation.

“When you look at the reports from ZamStats, they point to the fact that food inflation is one of the major factors meaning that the prices of food have gone up and this entails that it is becoming more expensive to produce this food and with an import-based economy like ours where, for instance, agricultural inputs such as fertilizer and chemicals are imported, it is obvious that will continue to induce inflationary pressures,” Lusaka-based economist Mambo Haamaundu told Nkwazi.

Haamaundu further hinted that for as long as the high cost of production, widening fiscal deficits, unsustainable debt levels, low forex reserves, and tight liquidity conditions among others are not rectified, inflation will accelerate further.

As to whether Zambia’s inflationary pressures will get better or get worse, Haamaundu predicted, “I don’t see the rate of inflation going down in the next one or two months even before the year ends for as long as the country’s deepening macro-economic challenges are not addressed.”

With inflation up by 1.4% from 23.2% in May to nearly 25% for June, Private Sector Development Association (PSMD) Chairperson Yusuf Dodia has also charged that Zambia’s high inflation is unacceptable.

Dodia lamented that since Zambia is a net importer of goods and services, a continuous rise in its month on month inflation rate is an indicator of a struggling economy as consumers will continue paying the price due to high cost of doing business.

“We really need to deal with inflation at its root cause and two clear areas that we need to look at is to increase production of goods as a nation so that we can export more and to ensure that export earnings are returned into the economy,” Dodia stated. “Right now with a US$ 10,000 per metric ton of copper price on the international market, we are not benefiting from this in any way as a nation because once the export of copper is done, earnings are being kept outside Zambia, a situation that ought to be changed by government policy.”

Meanwhile, the EIU’s further glimpse in the sub region revealed that another anchor for price trends down south is low inflation in South Africa whose central bank, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) expects inflation to stay well within its 3-6% target-range, at 4.3% for the year.

“We expect even lower inflation, of 3.7% based on softer economic growth than the SARB is projecting for 2021 (at 2% versus 3.8%), which makes its record-low policy rate of 3.5% sustainable,” the EIU stated adding that as South Africa is a leading trade partner for Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini which all have currencies pegged at parity to the rand low price growth in South Africa is reflected in these countries and provides their respective central banks with space to remain accommodative over 2021 at least.

Interestingly, despite the COVID-19 outbreak, Ghana remains a shining example on the continent for having recorded lower inflation to a record low of 7.5% in May of 2021 from 8.5% in the previous month, below the middle of the central bank’s target range of 6-10%. Food inflation reached an all-time low of 5.4% (vs 6.5% in April). Also, non-food inflation declined (9.2% versus 10.2%), according to that country’s statistical service.

“We need a policy that will stimulate and facilitate competition in the economy without government interference in pricing mechanisms as well as the need to digitalise the economy by lowering taxation among ICT businesses especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dodia highlighted.

In this context, with existing vulnerabilities in the local financial sector and fragile economic growth, Zambia’s quest to restore and anchor macroeconomic stability is scheduled to implement its fiscal adjustment measures in line with the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) and understandings reached in discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over an economic bailout programme.

Zambia, which last year became Africa’s first pandemic-era sovereign defaulter on its Eurobond debt, will likely be able to finalise the IMF deal once the dust settles following a general election which took place in August of this year. An agreement with the fund is indeed crucial under the Group of 20’s so-called common framework for debt restructuring that Zambia will use to rework its more than US$12.7 billion in external debt.

It is also worth noting that at the time of writing Zambia had just voted in a new government in August 2021. We wait to see what effects this will have on the country’s inflation and overall economy.

Chinese Traditional Medical Therapy Brings Relief to Patients in Zambia

Feng Kehong in her clinic based in Zambia's capital, Lusaka- Picture by Derrick Silimina

By Derrick Silimina

Zambia is considering better utilization of its diverse medicinal plants, a worthwhile lesson learned from China.

Infertility can be stressful and frustrating for couples the world over; but in Zambia, there is also stigma attached to barrenness.

After trying for almost two years, Tamara Chiponge had given up hope that one day she would be able to bear a child of her own.

On the verge of reaching menopause, Chiponge became desperate for a child as she could no longer withstand the intense social stigma and pressure, especially coming from her close companions and family members.

“I used to put on a false smile to the public, but inside, I was hurting. I took care of other people's children [and it got to a] point where my mother-in-law forced me to adopt a two-year-old child,” she told ChinAfrica.

Infertility on the rise

Zambia's Health and Nutrition Communication and Advocacy Strategic Plan (2018-21) highlights that gauging from the prevalence of sexually transmission infections alone, it is estimated that both primary and secondary infertility rates in the country are of concern. Gynecologists' say infertility is actually a major public health concern because it affects one’s mental well-being, disrupts social bonding, lowers economic productivity and erodes self-confidence.

It is for this reason that Zambia's Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya recently said the situation calls for great investment in comprehensive reproductive health, including fertility services.

“Infertility accounts for 10 to 15 percent of outpatient gynecology's clinic attendance in Zambia, yet access to fertility services is seriously limited due to the high cost of services,” said Chilufya.

As in many other societies, in Zambia, the inability to conceive and bear a healthy child is considered to be the fault of the female partner rather than a problem of the couple. The lack of access to effective treatment causes much personal suffering, family discord and social disfunction.

Whyson Munga, Registrar of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of University Teaching Hospital (UTH), recently noted that infertility is a huge problem in Zambia. Munga said that out of every 100 women that visit UTH seeking gynaecology services, about 30 of them have infertility problems.

Worldwide, both men and women do suffer from infertility, but culturally, infertile women are at risk of social stigma. Health experts say infertility refers to failure of a couple to establish pregnancy after one year of having unprotected and adequate sexual intercourse.

In developing countries such as Zambia, much as infertility is a health condition, it is also a social problem because from the perspective of the individual concerned, many unfruitful women consider that without children, their lives are hopeless.

Chiponge’s condition dates back to her mid-20s, when she had a severe ectopic pregnancy (a complication of pregnancy when a fertilized egg grows outside a woman's uterus) somewhere else in her belly, according to medical experts. They state that if left unchecked, the condition is life-threatening as excessive bleeding may lead to death, hence the need for urgent medical care. Consequently, her chances of falling pregnant were negligible, having only one fallopian tube - she lost the other tube after an operation.

As an old adage says, desperate situations call for desperate measures. Chiponge had tried all sorts of medication, not only conventional medicine, including fertility boosters, but also advanced infertility treatment called invitro fertilization treatment and African traditional herbs, in a bid to conceive. But all was in vain.

Acupuncture success

- A female acupuncture model with needles in the shoulder

In Zambia, fertility treatment is prohibitively expensive for most couples, with some people becoming destitute trying to pay for it.

Chiponge was first introduced to acupuncture therapy in 2009 by her younger sister, a friend of Dr. Feng Kehong, a Chinese medical practitioner who runs Zhong Yi Surgery in Lusaka's Roma suburb.

According to Acupuncture.com (a Chinese online medical platform), acupuncture is defined as an age-old healing technique of traditional Chinese medicine in which needles are inserted into energy points on the human body.

“It was in 2009 when I met Feng. Since I desperately wanted a baby, after having failed to conceive for more than 15 years of marriage, I was put on acupuncture therapy for three months and the following year [2010] I conceived,” she said, adding she was 46 years old at that time.

Having concerns about infertility in a world that needs vigorous control of population growth may seem odd, but it's a choice that many have no control over.

Nathan Mbewe, a Ndola based teacher, recently survived a protracted stroke because of the acupuncture therapy he got from Feng.

“I had a stroke for some time and might have died had it not been for Chinese specialized treatment I got here,” he said, adding that acupuncture worked wonders on him.

Mbewe said he has been recommending anyone with chronic illness to seek acupuncture treatment, and they have reported progressive results. A truck driver based in the Zambian capital of Lusaka is also impressed with acupuncture after having recovered from his swelling feet that almost rendered him jobless.

“Due to the long-distance driving, I used to have constant swelling in my feet,” said Andrew Mulenga. “This affected my work, until a colleague advised me to consult Feng to try Chinese medicine after an attempt at conventional medicine failed,” he said.

At first, Mulenga questioned whether acupuncture was real and doubted that pricking needles into his body would change anything. But, to his amazement, after a few sessions, his condition started improving.

Helping with needles

According to Feng, who has been in Zambia since 2001, initially working as a doctor in two of Zambia's general hospitals before opening her own clinic, she is delighted that a lot of people are being helped through acupuncture in Zambia.

To help her cope with the increase in patients, Feng has trained a local assistance, Nelly Banda, to work with the needles.

Despite Chiponge having reached menopause, she successfully gave birth naturally to a bouncy baby girl who is now a healthy nine-year-old.

Feng said some of the known diseases that she has treated successfully include hypertension, stroke, diabetes, infertility and sexually transmittable diseases.

Officially, acupuncture has the accreditation of Zambia’s medical council, as the Zambian Government recognizes traditional and complementary/alternative medicine.

Although there are no official regulatory measures for recognizing the qualifications of practitioners, the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia reviews and registers traditional practitioners for licensing and plans are under way to develop such regulations.

Reminiscing about the time when Chiponge, now 56 years of age, came to seek fertility services at her surgery despite her older age, Feng said she was hesitant to help.

“I was hesitant to work on Chiponge; but after recommending acupuncture therapy on her, within a few months, she came back so excited and informed me she was pregnant,” said Feng. “You see, a lot of diseases could be treated through acupuncture and I have seen this happen over the years to many patients that I have attended to.”

Derrick Silimina is an award-winning multimedia journalist based in Lusaka, Zambia. His work has appeared on many media outlets in Zambia and abroad.

Made in Chibombo

Nowadays

© stepmap.de

By Derrick Silimina

In the town of Chibombo in central Zambia about 100 km north of the capital Lusaka, an important part of Zambia’s industrial future is taking shape. 

On a 600 hectare plot here, a unit of China’s Jiangxi United Industrial Investment Ltd is building and starting to operate a multi-facility economic zone (MFEZ). 

When completed, the Jiangxi MFEZ will be a combination of industrial park, technical innovation centre and agricultural processing zone.

Jiangxi United has pledged to invest $ 600 million in the project, under China’s massive Belt and Road infrastructure Initiative. For Zambia, the Chibombo project is part of an effort to build up its manufacturing sector and diversify its economy away from dependence on agriculture and mining.

The Chibombo site will be fully operational by the end of 2021, according to General Manager Xu Jianfeng. So far, five Chinese companies have agreed to invest a total of $ 160 million there:

• Golden Eagle Tobacco is investing $ 100 million in tobacco planting and processing.
• V.L. Pharmaceutical is investing $ 30 million in a medical-equipment manufacturing.
• Jiangxi Xinhu Steel is building a $ 20 million steel processing plant.
• Sun Line International Logistics is setting up a $ 5 million in a logistics service centre.
• The Electric Porcelain Branch of the Jiangxi International Chamber of Commerce is building a $ 5 million electrical insulator factory.

The tobacco plantation and processing facility, as well as a concrete-making base, are already up and running, Xu says. In all, 500 jobs have been created so far at the site, and project managers expect that number to grow to 1,800 by the end of 2021 and to 6,000 by 2025.

While looking for additional investors, Jiangxi United has spent more than $ 40 million on infrastructure such as roads and plans to spend $ 60 million more on infrastructure over the next three years. The wider infrastructure plan includes building a job skills training institute, a service centre for small and mid-sized enterprises in the area, a medical clinic and a police station.

Generally, special economic zones such as an MFEZ benefit from relaxed tax and/or customs regulations to attract investors. Zambia’s Trade and Commerce Minister Christopher Yaluma toured the project in February and said the government will support the project with “incentives that will attract more investors”. He added: “This is one of the fastest-developing economic zones in the country.”

Similarly, Zambian Vice-President Inonge Wina toured the project in June 2021 and said it will boost the region’s industrial base. Apart from creating manufacturing jobs, the project will spur investment in other sectors, such as housing development, she said.

The Jiangxi MFEZ is only a small part of China’s investment in Africa. China pledged $ 60 billion for Africa at a summit in Beijing in September 2018. 

This has massively stimulated Chinese-African trade. By 2019, trade between China and Africa grew about 20-fold compared to the year 2000, reaching $ 209 billion. In the same year, Chinese foreign direct investment in Africa reached $ 49 billion, according to the Chinese government.

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

Refuge in a storm

© stepmap.de

By Derrick Silimina

A home of 20 elderly people and 30 orphans, among them disabled, bedridden and mentally ill patients is comprised of residents that are admitted regardless of tribe or religion.

The Divine Providence Home in Chawama, a suburb of Zambia’s capital Lusaka, is a refuge for some of the country’s must vulnerable citizens. 

The home, founded more than three decades ago, is run by the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family, a Catholic religious order. It survives mainly on donations from well-wishers. With the impact of Covid-19, however, the home faces growing difficulties. Contributions of food, clothing and medicines from Zambian charities and businesses have all but dried up, as donors face pandemic-related financial problems.

“Since the outbreak of Covid-19 it has been tough to provide for the basic needs of the people being taken care of here,” says Sister Judith Bozek, 78, a Polish nun who heads the home. “Everything is more expensive now; it is difficult to cope in this pandemic,” Sister Bozek says. “A few people still show up sometimes to donate food, medical supplies, clothes and diapers for the orphans, but the needs are great. But we thank God; He is with us for sure.”

Residents say the Sisters running the home have managed admirably in these difficult times. Teddy Chipili, 68, from Luapula Province in northern Zambia, has lived at the home for over two years. He says the Holy Family Sisters rescued him from homelessness. “I was admitted to a hospital for six months, and after my discharge I lost my income and could not pay my rent. I was stranded, and I thank Sister Bozek and her team for having considered my predicament.”

Esnart Kangwa, 62, also arrived destitute. She has chronic diabetes and hypertension and eventually her family was unable to pay her medical bills. “Without Sister Bozek I would be dead now,” she says.

The Divine Providence Home is not the only charity facing pandemic-related difficulties. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says the pandemic has had a devastating impact on all types of social services, particularly those for children. Many children, adolescents and elderly people in Zambia are vulnerable to poverty, violence, family separation, malnutrition and disease.

In an effort to close the gap between their needs and what charities can provide, Zambia’s government introduced the Service Efficiency and Effectiveness for Vulnerable Children and Adolescents initiative in 2017. The initiative combines social protection programmes and government cash transfers with case management. The aim is to increase access to services for households caring for vulnerable children and adolescents.

“The government is committed to addressing these vulnerabilities,” says Pamela Kabamba, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. “The programme expands protection for the most marginalised Zambians.”

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

Moringa industry rekindles hope among Batswana farmers

 

Moringa Technology Industry Managing Director Hu Yan shares some moringa oil with Batswana farmers (xinhua)

By Derrick Silimina

While climate change is wreaking havoc throughout the world, Africa is more vulnerable to it's devastating effects than others due to the continent's very high dependence on agriculture.

"Pula," one of the most commonly heard words in Botswana, is not only the name of Botswana's currency, but also the Setswana word for rain. So much of what takes place in the Southern African country relies on this essential, frequently scarce commodity.

Botswana, a semi-arid region, has over the years been battling frequent droughts, heat waves and rising temperatures due to climate change. As a result, agriculture has become the most affected sector, thus compromising the country's food security.

Consequently, the intensifying droughts have continued to worsen Botswana's human and wildlife existence, which has also led to livestock and crop losses, leaving traditional farmers destitute, with some local farmers having abandoned or resorted to selling their farmlands.

However, it is said that "to every dark cloud, there is a silver lining," and in this context, a plant – Moringa - is becoming a favorable and alternative commodity among local Batswana farmers.

Favorable commodity

"Don't sell your land, we know times are hard now, but you will not benefit from it in the long run. That kind of money does not last," Assistant Minister of Basic Education Nnaniki Makwinja recently urged local farmers. "Rather than selling, consider growing moringa trees on your farms as the plant is one of the three projects we have since chosen in the socio-economic development of the cluster of our villages."

She implored local farmers to instead consider moringa as their "green diamond."

According to the Department of Agricultural Research, Statistics and Policy Development of Botswana's Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, about 69 percent of the population benefits from agriculture – as farmers, laborers or both; but prolonged droughts have affected the cultivation of crops and raising of livestock.

"I was attracted to this plant because it is planted organically and also because of its various food and medicinal properties. Therefore, the added value of this commodity will actually benefit local farmers in the country," Botswana Organic and Natural Foods Association (BONFA) Chairperson Oyapo Chimidza told ChinAfrica.

Chimidza said smallholder farmers have started on a small scale, despite a lack of adequate water. He affirmed that the commodity has a good market because it is in short supply locally and abroad, adding that his association is in the process of securing seeds and seedlings to get started.

BONFA, a moringa growing organization, is comprised of over 100 smallholder farmers in south Botswana who promote the development of the moringa industry in the country by engaging with the government and other relevant authorities on matters that affect their industry, while facilitating the development capacity and training of members and other stakeholders.

Nutritionists say that moringa is a versatile plant and every part of the plant can be eaten or used as ingredients in traditional herbal medicines. Its leaves and pods are a good source of many vitamins and minerals, including proteins, vitamin B, vitamin C, iron and magnesium, among others.

For this reason, Moringa Technology Industry, based in Gaborone, Botswana's capital, has been adding value to the moringa plant since 2014.

The Chinese processor and manufacturer of moringa products recently delivered the good news to hopeless local Batswana farmers and briefed them on the limited availability of moringa tree yields such as the leaves, sticks and pods that are used as raw material to produce moringa oil, nuts, noodles, powder, tea, pills, pasta and instant porridge, a few products that have already been stocked up in various local shops, chain stores and pharmacies.

"I want local farmers to start planting moringa trees so they can supply our manufacturing company that produces various moringa products," Moringa Technology Industry Managing Director Hu Yan said, adding that once local farmers are encouraged to grow moringa trees, the company can start exporting moringa products to Europe and the United States through the Botswana Investment and Trade Center.

With its wide range of health benefits that makes it appealing to European consumers who are looking for natural health products to improve their health and well-being, demand for moringa is increasing in the European market. The commodity's nutritional supplements are said to be increasing because of an ageing population, rising veganism and vegetarianism, growing need to reduce calories and weight loss, among others.

The global moringa products market was estimated at $5 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $8.4 billion by 2026, according to the Facts and Factors, a global business consulting firm.

Gaining scale

Regardless of the fact that Botswana is a semi-arid country with unpredictable rainfall, Hu has embraced moringa farming techniques with ease since the "wonder plant" requires little water and manpower, making it an ideal plant for the harsh weather conditions in the country. Notwithstanding the climate change challenges that continue to daunt local farmers' productivity which hampers their endeavor to end poverty, Hu has instead been living in Botswana since 1996, a country he now considers home in which he is doing all he can to contribute to its agricultural productivity.

However, trade experts are of the view that at least 50 tons of moringa is required to start exports, hence, Hu has planted over 20,000 moringa trees at his company's Tlokweng farm since 2017 and has also been training local farmers on growing moringa trees and giving them seeds to get started.

With Hu's quest to ensure that about 500,000 trees are planted within the greater Gaborone area, his efforts have since attracted both the young and old farmers from across the country.

"We go to some other villages around Gaborone and we show them how to plant this tree. We want them to then supply us (later on) after the trees are ready. This way, they too can do their own business," he reiterated.

Cecilia Boitumelo, a 42-year-old farmer, said from Hu's workshop which was recently held within the Lentsweletau-Mmopane area, she learnt a lot regarding moringa production and has resolved to start planting in a bid to supply to a readily available local market.

Ben Kgengwenyane, a small-scale farmer from Borolong Village in the outskirts of Gaborone, considers moringa plant as a game changer in his farming activities.

"I have always been a farmer of legumes, but with our constant unfavorable weather pattern, I always wanted a crop that is drought-resistant and can give me good money. After I discovered the moringa factory, I am now excited to grow the commodity," Kgengwenyane said.

(Reporting from Botswana)

CAS program helps underprivileged students fulfill their dreams

 

Some of the student beneficiaries at the UNZA with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Jie (COURTESY PHOTO)  

By Derrick Silimina 

As Africa continues to brim with a young labor force, abundant natural resources and wide ocean fronts perfect for global trade, there is a growing desire among its people for greater economic prosperity.

In this context, the significance of China's rapidly expanding education and training cooperation in Africa cannot be overemphasized.

China is the largest single provider of university scholarships to students from Sub-Saharan Africa, awarding about 12,000 out of a total of 30,000 bursaries that were distributed by the top 50 global donors, according to the Global Education Monitoring Report 2020 released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In Zambia, educational cooperation with China has undoubtedly achieved fruitful outcomes in recent years, as the Asian nation ascribes great importance to the development of education in the Southern African country.

According to an old saying, education breeds confidence, confidence breeds hope and hope brings peace. For this reason, the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship (CAS) program has played a great role in sponsoring outstanding Zambian students from modest backgrounds to attain education, and contributing to the development of the country.

According to the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, the purpose of the scholarship is to help young Zambian students from vulnerable families overcome their financial difficulties in order to realize their dreams and have a successful career.

Higher education 

During the three years from 2015 to 2018, China had provided 30,000 scholarships to African students and financing of $60 billion to implement 10 cooperation plans, one of which was for higher education; at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2018, China again pledged to provide Africa with 50,000 government scholarships and 50,000 training opportunities for seminars and workshops, and would invite 2,000 young Africans to visit China for exchanges in the next three years.

Through institutions of higher learning such as the University of Zambia (UNZA), China trains about 200 Zambians annually, which includes short courses on agriculture, aquaculture, small and medium business, management, and sports, among others.

"Faced with new developments and challenges, China will continue to improve institution building, develop new ideas and expand areas of cooperation with Africa to bring our cooperation to greater heights," Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the opening ceremony of the FOCAC Beijing Summit.

The China-Zambia educational cooperation plays a vital role in talent training, technology progress and cultural exchanges with fruitful outcomes.

As the future of China-Africa relations lies in young people, China is providing young Africans with more training and job opportunities, and opening up more space for their development.

"My academic life has literally been a struggle since high school as I always narrate this story to my fellow students and friends. Many thanks to the Chinese Embassy in Zambia for this rare scholarship opportunity as I want to improve my family's livelihood after I graduate," said Andy Ilunga, a third-year student pursuing a bachelor's degree in education at the UNZA.

Angela Tembo, another student at the UNZA pursuing a bachelor's degree in natural sciences, noted, "I am from a humble background where life isn't easy without university education. Having been considered for this scholarship is a great turning point for my future and that of my family."

"Educational cooperation between China and Zambia has achieved fruitful outcomes in recent years because the Chinese side attaches great importance to the development of education," Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Jie said recently when talking with the students from the UNZA who are sponsored by the CAS.

Li said that his embassy stands ready to continue to work with Zambian universities such as the UNZA, and also welcomes excellent Zambian students to pursue higher education in China.

The Chinese envoy has since encouraged students to work hard and become envoys of China-Zambia friendship and cultural exchanges.

Speaking at the same event, UNZA Deputy Vice-Chancellor Tamala Kambikambi expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for the support, and spoke highly of the development of China and Chinese education.

"As an institution, we look forward to enhancing cooperation with the embassy and promote educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries," Kambikambi said.

Building careers 

On their part, the students thanked Li for the embassy's support, saying they will cherish the opportunity to learn in the UNZA and contribute to Zambia's national development and the Zambia-China friendship.

"We cherish this opportunity and we promise to study hard to live up to the ambassador's expectation and make our due contribution to Zambia's national development and the Zambia-China friendship," said a student representative who expressed his appreciation for the support rendered by Li and the Chinese Embassy in Zambia.

Due to economic underdevelopment in the country, many students in the tertiary education are unable to fulfill all the academic requirements due to financial difficulties. This leads to emotional stress and, if not checked, affects their academic performance.

Although financial support to students in Sub-Saharan Africa has been stagnant since 2000, China's ongoing socio-economic partnerships in the region have resulted in an increase in aid for African students at both local tertiary institutions and in China since 2010.

According to World Education Services, an organization verifying academic credentials, some 30,000 Africans received scholarships between 2012 and 2015, and China has promised additional support.

UNESCO data show that China has increased the total scholarships – new and ongoing - for 2019–22 to 50,000. This reflects an increase of 20,000 over the number of scholarships that were made available in the preceding three years. It represents an additional 5,000 scholarships a year.

"You know what, in life – once you have hope for a better future, there will always be good people to help you. I look forward to seeing more Zambian students from humble backgrounds benefit and get empowered by this Chinese academic initiative," Ilunga added.

(Print Edition Title: Funding for Future)