Journey to the next destination

 By Derrick Silimina

As the train engine roars, doors of the wagons gently open at 07:30 a.m., with crew members waiting for the passengers to board before starting the journey for their next destination. 

An hour before the departure, Marriam Gadesa heads to the locomotive cabin and quickly tests the locomotive’s power supply, and then starts the engine.  

“After the engine is started, I do the electrical and air brake tests. Once all the passengers are onboard, the driver is given a signal to make final preparations for the journey from Addis Ababa to Djibouti,” Gadesa told ChinAfrica.  

Despite being an electrical engineer at Ethio-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Co. (EDR), Gadesa, 30, aspires to become a train driver, especially as this traditionally male-dominated career has transformed significantly over the years, making it more common for women to work as drivers. 

Chinese investment 

Considering the significant role railway plays in land transportation, trade facilitation, and economic and social development, railway experts say rail transport in most African countries has suffered from decades of low direct investment, poor infrastructure management and inefficient train operations. 

Since 2001, Africa has recorded a very modest increase of 7 percent in freight transport, and a drop by the same amount in passengers, while the worldwide railway transport for freight and passengers has increased by more than 40 percent during the same period. These figures show that the development of the railway system in Sub-Saharan Africa still faces serious barriers, according to a recent study by the Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy Programme. 

Chinese investment is playing a big role in changing this situation. For example, a Chinese sponsored programme is equipping young African train drivers with technology and skills training. The initiative has become the backbone of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway as it safely chauffeurs across the vast East African plateau. A joint venture between Ethiopia and Djibouti, EDR operates the 756-km rail route from Addis Ababa to the port of Djibouti. The daily passenger and cargo services of the East African railway contribute greatly to the socioeconomic growth of both countries. 

In 2019, Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College (ZZRVTC) in Henan Province signed an agreement with EDR to train electric locomotive drivers for the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway - thanks to the Chinese government-sponsored program. 

The first batch of 28 trainees from Ethiopia and Djibouti recently got fully trained in driving, monitoring, and maintaining electrified trains after they underwent eight months of study at the Chinese college. 

“Every single encounter and activity during the eight-month training in China has benefitted us a lot and has enriched us all. That will forever remain in our memory. A big thank you to the Chinese teachers for their careful guidance during the training and study period,” Tilahun Girma, the only woman in the class of 28 trainees, told ChinAfrica.  

Yidnekachew Mekonen, an Ethiopian train driver who took the same training, echoed Girma’s sentiments, “Our training was adapted for our country’s locomotives. That knowledge will help me to contribute effectively to my country’s railway system and in turn to our socioeconomic emancipation.” 

After becoming commercially operational in 2018, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway became the first electrified cross-border railway in Africa. It is a flagship project under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. 

Designed to help to drive industrial development of the two neighboring nations, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway has created over 50,000 jobs in the two countries, laying a solid foundation for the development of railways, and has trained more than 3,000 professionals, according to the Ethiopian government. 

Information from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics shows that with the help of Chinese technology, the railway has also cut the transportation time for goods between the two nations from more than three days to less than 20 hours, and reduced the cost by at least a third, substantially bolstering the imports and exports of Ethiopia, a land-locked country in the Horn of Africa. 

According to EDR, the railway has operated a combined total of more than 1,800 passenger trains, carrying nearly 530,900 passengers, and 6,133 cargo trains, transporting about 7.32 million tons of goods since it was put into operation in January 2018. 

Serving the country 

“The skills and technology transfer to the local staff will greatly enhance Ethiopia’s economic prospects and help Ethiopia to embark on the road to prosperity,” Liu Yu, minister counselor for economic and commercial affairs of the Chinese embassy in Ethiopia, said, adding that training for local train drivers is an important part of cooperation between the two countries. 

Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Communications Dagmawit Moges Bekele has since urged the young train drivers to use their skills to serve the country and contribute to the improvement of the railway sector in Ethiopia. 

With the rapid advancement of China’s rail system, in particular the high-speed rail, ZZRVTC has indeed become a world-leading institution in the field of rail technology education. 

“We actively cultivate talents for different countries. We have trained railway transportation technical personnel for Ethiopia, Laos, and Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, we have established overseas branches to enhance vocational education and actively develop vocational training standards. We have already developed eight vocational standards in collaboration with Tanzania and Ethiopia,” ZZRVTC President Li Fusheng noted.  

Given the prospects of the railway sector, Gadesa looks forward to switching from being an electrical engineer to becoming a fulltime train driver, and is waiting for another Chinese training opportunity to sharpen her career prospects and make strides in Ethiopia’s railway industry.  

“My passion for the railway sector is hard to describe. Each time the train runs along a curve and I look behind and see more than 50 wagons being pulled gently, I feel awesome knowing that I am in charge of its powerful engine,” Gadesa said proudly.

Dr. Sixtus Mulenga: Zambia’s mining trailblazer

By Derrick Silimina

As the world moves more decisively towards a green energy transition following rising demand for manganese each year, a Zambian mining stalwart has set his sights far beyond the critical metals’ production.

Dr. Sixtus Mulenga is a mining trailblazer and founder of Zambia’s very first wholly, privately-owned large-scale mining firm - ‘Musamu Resources,’ an emerging mineral exploration and mining company. Musamu which means a ‘tree’ in Tonga dialect, is a philosophical term signifying growth and development.

The 71-year-old mining expert became the first Zambian mining geologist to be employed at Bancroft - the present day Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) which was then operated by Anglo American. Since the onset of his mining career, Dr Mulenga’s pioneering approach to the mining industry inspired him to become among the first Zambians to qualify as a geologist back in the 1970s, after he attended North London Polytechnic, attained a Master’s and then a PhD at London’s Royal School of Mines, Imperial College of Science Technology & Medicine, University of London. 

After leaving University, Dr. Mulenga’s lifelong dream as a young geologist was his aspiration to one day find a mineral deposit of his own, an idea that was entrenched in him after he became the first Zambian mining geologist at then Bancroft mine, now known as KCM which was named Bancroft then after the geologist who discovered the bancroft deposit and Anglo America honoured him by what he did.

In early 2009 after his over 35 years industry experience both in Zambia and the global mining arena, Dr. Mulenga embarked on an odyssey of starting his own self-funded mineral exploration project and settled on a 1,000-square-kilometre piece of land in Chipili District of Luapula Province – home to several large geological basins, where part of the Central African Mineral Belt rolls over Zambia’s borders.

“It was a life plan for me, which I created when I graduated because at the University of London, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College where I got my Doctorate and Masters Degrees, in west London, they were teaching us how to give back to society. They were teaching us principles of sustainability. When you have all this knowledge at the end of the day, what contribution are you going to make to human society? So that was always at the back of my mind. Yes, I work to provide a living for my family but beyond that, I crystallised all this knowledge and went out in the bush and found a gift I will give back to society,” Dr. Mulenga told Solwezi Today magazine in an exclusive interview.

In 2012, after three years of arduous mineral exploration with his technocrats which involved land surveying, geological mapping, geochemistry soil sampling and geophysics survey of the area among others, Dr Mulenga disclosed that his dream finally came to pass as he eventually discovered manganese ore at the bottom of a two metres trench, a development that tranquilised his long and illustrious mining career. 

Today, Dr. Mulenga is indeed living his dream as the whole idea of building his mining project is to have a fully-integrated mining business, with a plan to build a manganese processing plant to a stage where it can feed into the electric car battery-manufacturing value chain.

He hinted that in the location where his mining operation is currently underway, there is a certified reserve of one million tonnes but there is approximately 40 million tonnes of manganese resource.

“I don't get disturbed by challenges that I come across as I just see them as hurdles that need to be sorted out. That's why I am inner driven, intrinsic driven and believe in myself that if somebody else can do it, I can also do it. There's nothing special because the only difference is time and one’s capacity because as you know, exploration is capital intensive and needs a lot of money and I did it from my own funds,” he affirmed.

Arguably, the potential for Zambia to tap into opportunities for value addition are indeed far-reaching, and extend into several sectors. But above all, Dr Mulenga’s pioneering groundwork for economic diversification around his new mine has cheered many stakeholders. 

For this reason, Dr. Mulenga has held corporate senior executive management positions for several years including as a non-executive board director of several international stock exchange listed companies operating in Zambia. At national and international levels, he has also provided mining consultancy and technical advisory services to the Government of Zambia and the World Bank.

The versatile mining guru is also a Chartered Engineer – UK Engineering Council, a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and Member of the Institution of Mining & Metallurgy UK, Registered Engineer & Member of the Engineering Institution of Zambia, Executive Member of the International Mine Water Association, Council Member of the Zambia Chamber of Mines, Chairman of the Geological Society of Zambia and past Chairman of the Zambia Branch of the Southern Africa Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.

Looking into the future, Dr Mulenga’s mind is brimming with ideas for creating an ecosystem in which mining operations catalyse development in sectors like agro-processing and manufacturing that can sustain themselves beyond the life of mine. 

As a result of his other acclaimed past roles he served including as Group Consulting Hydro-Geologist at Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Ltd, Chief Geologist of Konkola and Nchanga Mines, as well as General Manager Corporate for Albidon Zambia Ltd respectively, Dr. Mulenga is a proud father of three biological children and has been married to Rebecca Mulenga for 44 years. 

In his spare time away from his mining activities, Dr. Mulenga enjoys family time. He likes reading books and participates in body wellness activities through yoga, swimming and jogging. He is also a staunch Catholic by faith.

“I am blessed with three biological children. Okay, a son who is late and my two daughters, the ones that you've seen, but beyond that, I have more than three children. And then I took over my siblings' children. So from my siblings, I have seven children who I raised and educated. So in total, I have 10 children and the youngest one is graduating this year as a mechanical engineer at University of Cape Town,” he shared.

Asked what legacy he would love to leave for his country once all is said and done especially in the mining industry, Dr. Mulenga chuckled and highlighted that he would love to demonstrate that Zambia must believe in itself and that any dream is doable provided one exercises patience, focus, tenacity and stability of mind. 

In a presentation he delivered recently in Lusaka during the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) organised programme dubbed, ‘The future of mining in Zambia,’ Dr. Mulenga reiterated, “As a country, we need to encourage Zambians to go into mine exploration. There must be capital markets, we must be able to raise money within the country to do it. Because you cannot do your exploration or develop a mine by selling your property or house or selling vegetables. It's impossible!” 

A Source of Success

By Derrick Silimina

Every two to three months, Garry Mwitwa leaves his hometown of Kafue and boards a plane bound for China to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of electronics on every trip. 

Proficient in Chinese and able to bargain with Chinese wholesalers in Beijing, Mwitwa, 35, is a symbol of the booming goods imports from China. The young entrepreneur often carries wads of cash to buy used Chinese-made phones and accessories to sell back home. 

“If you want to be successful in life and realize your dream, you must be in charge of your own destiny and try to be physically present in each and every place to get the necessary exposure,” Mwitwa told ChinAfrica, while carefully placing hundreds of items of Chinese electronics on the shelves of his store. 

Mwitwa, who owns an electronics retail outlet in Kafue Town, 40 km south of Zambia’s capital Lusaka, has been traveling to China since 2015.  

Likewise, Anita Namfukwe, proprietor of Nams Fashions nestled in Lusaka’s central business district, is also upbeat about her business as the stylish and affordable Chinese garments are well sought after by local consumers. 

“Yes, my business is doing fine, because whenever I order my goods from China, I can get a good profit margin compared to buying from Malaysia, and that’s why I choose the Chinese market. In addition, the demand for Chinese-made garments is high,” Namfukwe said. She plans to expand her business by opening another outlet in the city’s bustling Comesa Market, after having ordered $5,000 worth of women’s garments.

Market appeal  

With its vast manufacturing industry and competitive product offerings, China has become a lucrative destination for most Zambian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to expand their business in the international trading space. 

Arguably, Zambian traders favor the Chinese market because of the diversity of products that are readily available at affordable prices. From electronics to clothing and footwear, a wide range of Chinese goods has found a ready market in the Southern African country. 

Some of the SMEs based at Lusaka’s Kamwala Market revealed that getting goods from China is a seamless process - one that enables them to not only take care of their families, but also create local employment. Others who order their merchandise via online platforms such as Alibaba say they have cultivated good relationships with the Chinese suppliers who are not only honest but also consistent and efficient. 

Underscoring the importance of the Chinese market, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema recently led the largest-ever delegation since he took office to China on a state visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping from 10 to 16 September. 

During the visit, President Xi and President Hichilema upgraded the relationship between Zambia and China to a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership.  

A pivotal moment during the visit was the signing of more than 15 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering various sectors of the Zambian economy, which gives expression to the shared vision for cooperation and partnership in areas such as finance, trade, agriculture, media, and tourism. These agreements opened up new opportunities for Zambian commodity importers and exporters, further strengthening economic ties. 

Considering the country’s peaceful environment and favorable business policies, President Hichilema invited several companies engaged in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and smartphones to encourage them to expand their operations to Zambia. 

As a result, telecom equipment maker ZTE plans to open a smartphone plant in Zambia, following an MoU to construct the factory. 

“Our last engagement in Shenzhen was at ZTE, a leading global ICT solutions provider. This will be a game changer that brings many jobs, as we increase digital solutions to citizens through our e-government division,” President Hichilema said. “We encouraged them to consider opportunities in Zambia for digital platforms, as we push to transform our country into a modern economy through tech advancement.”  

The Zambian head of state affirmed that this comes after realizing the need to swiftly develop Zambia’s digital space, as part of his administration’s smart economic transformation plan. He reiterated that the agreements would help Zambia to become fully digital, which will benefit everyone, particularly rural communities. 

New chapter 

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Du Xiaohui said the two countries were writing a new chapter in their “all-weather” ties. 

“The two heads of state jointly drew up a new blueprint for the development of China-Zambia relations, which will have a lasting and far-reaching impact on bilateral relations,” the Chinese envoy stated. 

Along with the sales of popular smartphones, the Chinese brands such as Tecno, Itel and Infinix are also fostering the growth of Zambian smartphone retailers and accessories suppliers, thus helping to build the economy. 

Across Zambia, city and town centers are brimming with brightly coloured advertisements for Chinese smartphones as scores of new retailers are springing up to meet the burgeoning demand. 

Webby Kunda’s shop on Lusaka’s Chachacha Road displays a wide range of, mostly, Chinese brands. 

“I started selling smartphones in 2016. Back then, I struggled to sell even one handset per day; but thanks to the arrival of so many Chinese smartphones with advanced features and good prices, things have changed,” Kunda noted.  

In this context, smartphone retailers and accessories suppliers like Mwitwa are elated over ZTE's MoU. Once ZTE sets base in Zambia, his business will certainly flourish as he will be able to order his goods locally, thereby saving the import duties and time needed to ship the goods from China.  

“This is great news for us electronics dealers, as it will not only revamp our business growth, but also create direct and indirect jobs, especially among the young people countrywide,” Mwitwa added.

REA optimizes power generation

 By Lumbiwe Mwanza

Morgan Chama anxiously puts up a smile as he uses his barbing machine to fix his clients’ hair style in readiness to get paid, before a scheduled power cut.  

But Chama, 30, is unable to fully hide the pain in his eyes caused by the persistent load-shedding that is in turn affecting his barbershop which solely depends on electricity supply from ZESCO, Zambia’s major power utility company. 

“I depend on a constant power supply to work but lack of electricity these days has a direct negative impact on my business. I am now unable to make enough income to pay bills and provide for my family,” Chama bemoaned.

Of late, the incessant power supply has hit the economy hard across all sectors, including metal fabricators, hair salons, and butcher’s shops among others. Thomas Sipalo, owner of a butchery in Lusaka’s sprawling Soweto market, sees the impact immediately in his refrigerators. 

“My beef products go bad every time the power supply is shut down,” Sipalo complained.

Recurrent power cuts have also forced 25-year-old artisan - Noel Mulenga to shut down his welding business in Kalingalinga township, one of the slums nestled east of Lusaka town which he relied on to raise school fees for his children. He needed electricity to operate the equipment, but he could get it just for a few hours a day. 

“I had no choice but to close my barbershop after ZESCO recently rolled out a load-shedding schedule which lasts from four to eight hours at a stretch,” Mulenga narrated.

As a result, Chama recently relocated from Rufunsa district to Kampekete village in Chongwe district  - 35 kilometers east of Lusaka city, Zambia’s capital after his barbershop business failed to tick due to chronic power shutdown and went all out to re-establish himself in search of a stable power supply.

Thanks to the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) who recently completed the electrification of Kampekete Village and a Community School under a pilot project which has utilized excess 5kW power from Chitumba Solar Milling Plant. 

Chama is now among the community members who are proud beneficiaries of REA’s initiative to tap power from the excess 5kW power from Chitumba Solar Milling Plant to help run his enterprise with ease.

“I am now operating with a peace of mind because ever since I re-established my business here, I have had no challenges with power cuts here and I have since recapitalised my barbing business and I plan to open another outlet due to increased demand of my services,” Chama stated. 

Similarly, Lucy Kabwe, 34, is now also a successful owner of a liquor store who supplies cold beers to her clients in the Kampekete community. 

“My business nowadays is booming as compared to olden days when we relied on buying ice-cubes to cool the beers which was unsustainable but now, I am a proud owner of a fridge due to consistent power supply from the Chitumba Solar Milling Plant,” Kabwe

Zambia has traditionally depended on the water flows of the mighty Zambezi and Kafue rivers for its hydropower - a clean and renewable resource that now seems unsustainable. 

Chronic drought caused by climate change has lowered water levels to the point where power production is severely curtailed. The water level at the Kariba Dam has been decreasing steadily because of droughts and low inflows from the Zambezi River and its tributaries.  Droughts in recent years have cut electricity output by nearly one-third of Zambia’s total installed hydroelectric capacity of 2,380 mw.  

In 2019, water levels in the Kariba Dam plunged to their lowest level since 1996, falling to 10 percent of the normal level. Late last year, the level of usable water in Kariba, tapped by both Zambia and Zimbabwe, stood at 2.68 percent of the normal, according to the Zambezi River Authority, which manages water supply for the two countries and is responsible for the allocation of water used by Zimbabwe’s Kariba South and Zambia’s Kariba North power stations. 

Energy experts say droughts caused by climate change are not the only factor behind Zambia’s energy woes; chronic under-investment in hydro projects has also caused problems. So even when there is sufficient rain, the power supply cannot keep up with the demand from mining, manufacturing and agriculture. 

According to the US Agency for International Development, Zambia gets 85 percent of its power from hydro projects. The biggest problem is that the Southern African country is over-dependent on hydro energy, a fuel source that is subject to the vagaries of the weather.  

Therefore, rural electrification is key to unlocking the potential in these communities and provides a canvas for innovative and creative ways to plug in ordinary people.

In today's technologically advanced world, access to electricity has become an essential aspect of life. Unfortunately, many rural communities in Zambia still lack this fundamental resource. 

However, the rise of electrification initiatives by REA brings new hope, promising transformative opportunities for these underserved regions.

For this reason, REA is this year targeting to electrify 64 development projects in rural areas and the institution has done a master plan that has identified 1, 217 rural projects  that need to be electrified.

“The institution has been tasked by the government to meet 51 percent access to electricity in rural areas by 2024 following the increased budget allocation for rural electrification shows how committed the government is to seeing rural areas developed,” REA Corporate Affairs Manager Justine Mukosa recently said.

A Fruitful Exchange

 By Derrick Silimina

In the heart of South Africa’s rugged Swartberg and Koue Bokkeveld mountains lies the alps towering majestically above fertile citrus farmland, forming a wall that sustains enough rainfall to attract farmers to the south. 

Siabonga Mbete, 34, grows tangerine - a small seedless fruit of the citrus family that is turning South African farmers into millionaires. 

As trucks veer off the dusty road into farmlands to collect some tangerines and lemons at Mbete’s smallholder farm located in Eastern Cape Province for the export market, the young farmer is upbeat about citrus farming, which has spawned multiple agribusinesses and unlocked agricultural potential of the country. 

“This farmland is a lifeline for most of us in our community and this farm does help us a lot in putting food on the table and providing for our families. Personally, this farm has also helped me to gain skills and I plan to start my own citrus farming project in future,” Mbete, one of over 200 seasonal workers at the Khangela Citrus Farm, told ChinAfrica. 

Rapid expansion 

According to the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) of South Africa, the local citrus industry has achieved remarkable growth over the past few years, with over 160 million cartons of fruit packed for export across the globe in 2022. By 2032, the sector aims to export an additional 260 million cartons a year, contributing 240,000 jobs and 50 billion rands ($2.66 billion) in revenue annually to the South African economy. 

Each year, the citrus season in South Africa brings a good harvest, especially for the black-owned Eastern Cape farms. For instance, the Khangela Citrus Farm in Addo region, some 72 km northeast of Port Elizabeth, has been exporting citrus produce like oranges, tangerines and lemons to Japan and some Middle Eastern countries. 

The farm was bought by the South African government, which invested millions of rands on infrastructure and skills development for the surrounding communities in Sarah Baartman District Municipality in Eastern Cape.  

On the other side, South Africa’s Western Cape Province enjoys a unique Mediterranean-like climate which is renowned for its fertile valley nourished by the Olifants River where tasty and nutritious citrus fruits are grown.  

“Our success is made possible by the support we get from the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Apart from clinching some export contracts to the Middle East, our cooperative also supplies local companies that add value to our fruits,” said Karabo Mduli, a co-owner of the Bokamotso Citrus Project, a family-run smallholder farm. 

Arguably, the citrus groves of South Africa have supported generations of families that continue to live, work and thrive on their farms, and this long heritage of citrus production continues to play a major role in the economic future and lives of successive generations. 

Having started small with about 1,000 fruit trees, Mduli has seen her agribusiness venture grow immensely to over 8,000 trees. She has since managed to employ 50 local workers in addition to over 100 seasonal laborers to help to manage her agricultural venture. 

However, citrus exporters like Mbete and Mduli are now grappling with the burden of much stricter regulations which were recently imposed by the European Union (EU) on South African citrus imports. The action has shaken South Africa’s export farmers and hurt the profitability of local citrus growers. 

In addition, logistical issues have proven to be a major challenge for most South African citrus farmers, especially those in the northern part of the country, and Mduli is no exception. 

Critical new market 

In this context, the CGA has noted that a revised lemon protocol signed by South Africa and China in 2021 was a major achievement. 

The association believes that with local lemon production expected to grow by 175,000 tonnes by 2024, the finalization of the revised protocol means China will now become “a critical new market” and will secure 325 million rands ($17.32 million) in new export revenue. 

“We envision exporting 25,000 tonnes of lemons to China by 2024 and the current trend indicates favorable export figures,” CGA Chief Operating Officer Paul Hardman recently said. 

South Africa has already enjoyed phenomenal growth in exports to China in recent years, with shipments of grapefruit, orange and soft citrus reaching 130,000 tonnes in 2020. 

Hardman noted that South Africa’s citrus export industry is a key source of employment, providing 140,000 jobs and contributing $1.6 billion in annual export revenue. He added that the improvement in trade relations with China has played a vital role in job creation and revenue generation. 

Statistics show that South Africa is the second-largest exporter of fresh citrus in the world, after record-breaking exports of 146 million cartons of citrus in 2020, thanks to the country’s favorable weather conditions that enable fruits to grow in optimal conditions, producing superior summer citrus that is seedless and easy to peel. 

Growth projections for soft citrus, lemons and Valencia oranges indicate an expected additional 6.8 billion rands ($362.36 million) in foreign exchange earnings and the creation of 22,250 stable jobs over the next three years. 

Trade analysts say China-South Africa trade has taken a giant leap from $1.4 billion in 1998 to $56.7 billion in 2022, and that gaining access to the Chinese market is a vital step in boosting an export-led growth of the South African citrus industry, which is a commitment the government has made under the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan. 

After the EU erected barriers to imports of South Africa’s citrus last July, the government suggested that they might have to start looking elsewhere for markets.  

“As a government, we open more export markets for the industry; as the estimates suggest, there will be roughly 300,000 tonnes [of agricultural products] added to the current volumes in the next three years that require an export market,” Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza recently noted.  

Tributes salute Philip Pascall legacy

By Derrick Silimina

People from all walks of life converged at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka recently to honour the life and legacy of Philip Pascall, the co-founder and visionary leader of First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

Philip steered the mining giant to global heights, leaving an indelible mark on the world mining industry. Under his leadership, he established an entrepreneurial culture that saw the company formed in 1996 grow from a 10,000 tonnes tailings re-processor with the Bwana Mkubwa project in Zambia to one of the world’s largest copper producers with operations spanning five continents. 

Philip’s legacy stretches into the local communities in which FQM operates, bringing improved standards of health and education in often remote places and employing more than 20,000 people globally. 

In a touching tribute to Philip who died on September 19, 2023, his young brother Matt Pascall shared a great insight of Philip’s early life and experiences in rural Zimbabwe and how his unique character helped shape his professional and entrepreneurship journey. 

Matt noted that Philip was born in Southern Rhodesia in 1947, the present day Zimbabwe. At five, he suffered from malaria and was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for some days, then and later on his parents had to evacuate him from Salisbury, now Harare, to Mutare via a train. 

That was a daunting experience for the young Philip. Philip’s legacy stretches into the local communities in which FQM operates, bringing improved standards of health and education in often remote places and employing more than 20,000 people globally People from all walks of life converged at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka recently to honour the life and legacy of Philip Pascall, the co-founder and visionary leader of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. 

Matt further stated that Philip’s illustrious mining career started after he studied at a University in England where he pursued Control engineering, a branch of Electrical engineering which had nothing to do with mining. 

After that Philip was involved in oil exploration in Nigeria and Mozambique. Following a short stint in Australia where he was project manager for a diamond mining firm and civil engineering, he later built many mining projects not only in Australia but also in Zimbabwe, Indonesia, America and other countries in the world. 

“It all started in 1996 when he came to apply for a hunting concession in Zambia. Out of curiosity for other opportunities, Philip founded Bwana Mkubwa Mine in Ndola which became a solid foundation for FQM. After the privatisation of ZCCM, we extended our operations to the Kansanshi mine and later another mining project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” Matt narrated. 

And Kansanshi Mine General Manager Anthony Mukutuma said Philip would be remembered as a man who built a top-tier mining company in under 20 years, and that his greatest legacy would be the people, lives and livelihoods of millions that he had impacted directly and indirectly. 

“The people’s first culture at FQM is Philip and it is our attempt to put to paper Philip’s approach to life and the world that made him so impactful,” Mukutuma said in remarks given on his behalf by the company’s Corporate Secretary Joyce Muwo. 

The General Manager emphasized that Philip’s idea of giving was not based on what he had but how he could better the lives and livelihoods of others; particularly in the areas of personal growth, education, health and sustainable development. 

CHANGED 

In this context, courtesy of an FQM University of Cape Town Scholarship, Philip has changed many lives including young Zambians of humble background whom he empowered academically, offering them unique opportunities. 

Reminiscing on his humble beginnings during the memorial service, FQM Trident Technical Manager-Mine Maintenance Nathan Mbulo paid his glowing tribute to Philip and disclosed how difficult life was, growing up in a family that relied on his mother’s meagre salary. 

Mbulo, 34, stated that at tertiary level, his university prospects were limited to Zambia as his family could not afford an education abroad. 

“Thanks to FQM, after a series of interviews and tests, I was awarded a scholarship to study Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Thus, I began my journey with First Quantum that has spanned three continents.” 

He noted that over the last 10 years, he had been privileged to attain two master’s degrees and had enjoyed various roles, eventually rising to his present position. Tamara Habile is also among recipients of an FQM University of Cape Town Scholarship who studied Chemical Engineering. 

“The deliberate plans by FQM in giving back to the community has made a mark on my life personally. It has made me a graduate of one of the most prestigious universities in Africa and additionally gave me a great start to my career,” Habile added. 

OPPORTUNITIES 

Mahali Zabangwa who also studied Chemical Engineering affirmed, “Today, I stand a seasoned Senior Metallurgist, a position that might have remained out of reach were it not for the opportunities and support provided.” 

Zabangwa acknowledged that Phillip’s vision established a sturdy foundation for exciting careers and promising futures. 

Aibaki Tembo who also studied Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Cape Town echoed his colleagues’ sentiments and said, “I stand as proof of his dedication to nurturing talent and his generosity. His legacy will forever echo in the corridors of the success he built, and his impact will be felt in the lives he touched.” 

Tembo described as “inspiring” Philip’s generosity and vision to cultivate a new generation of ground-up leaders. 

COMMUNITY PLAYER 

In his tribute, Chief Mumena of the Kaonde people hailed Philip as a community player who touched many lives. 

“What we learn from Philip is that he came to our land and not to reap but to sow; and he did so through a wonderful seed, real seed which is the seed of humanity. He exhibited that through being a community player and a great partner in socio-economic development. Philip was a true African as much as he was a global citizen with a footprint on almost all the continents on the globe,” Chief Mumena said. 

The traditional leader indicated that Philip was a great mining stalwart who invested in the livelihoods of people in the province through education, health, infrastructure and agriculture among other corporate social responsibility programmes. 

Dean of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross Father Charley Thomas affirmed that Philip’s pioneering spirit extended the mental and physical boundaries of the Copperbelt Province. 

“Philip was driven by purpose and had a clear vision to create a better world. The impact of Philip’s world is beyond the 20,000 employment created globally by FQM or even the 10,000 indirect jobs; the impact of what he started is going to stay for years to come,” Fr. Thomas said in his sermon. 

“Philip's reputation and his unique signature on life continues to positively impact many lives. He indeed ran a good race that is resoundingly a true definition of what the Bible in Ecclesiastes 7:1- 4 reminds us that, "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death is better than the day of one’s birth.” 

Present at the memorial service was Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwimbu who was flanked by senior Government officials, former Vice-President Enock Kavindele, Chief Kapijimpanga and Chief Mumena of the Kaonde people, and FQM senior staff. 

Philip is survived by his wife Vivien, children and grandchildren.