Instruments of change

By Derrick Silimina

Lucy Wahome stumbles and struggles to maintain her balance and walk as a nurse rushes to lend her support, soon after she gets admitted at the clinic. 

Wahome, 30, initially sought medical treatment at her home clinic in Kiambu County, Kenya, which seemed well organized; but she later realized that constant power outages at the facility seriously compromised the quality of care at the clinic. 

“I discovered that I had fibroids two years ago and decided to take some herbal medication, thinking they would disappear. However, my condition worsened, and then I got admitted at our local medical facility for a surgery. But the facility could not schedule one due to constant electricity shutdown,” Wahome told ChinAfrica. 

Prolonged power blackouts have paralyzed vital installations, including the equipment at various hospitals. The power outages have been attributed to factors including an aging transmission network, staffing challenges at the state-owned power utility - Kenya Power, extreme weather events and vandalism, among others. 

On the brink of death, Wahome was referred to the Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya’s largest referral hospital, located in the north of capital Nairobi.  

“Had it not been for this medical facility’s initiative to invest in a power gadget to help provide uninterrupted electricity which enables surgeons to do their surgery nonstop, I would have been dead by now. Today, despite a painful operation, I am on a road to recovery,” Wahome stated. 

Life-saving investment  

As of 2022, the hospital has over 1,800 beds, more than 6,000 staff, 50 wards, 22 outpatient clinics, 24 operation theaters (16 specialized) and an accident and emergency department, according to Kenya’s Ministry of Health. 

The massive health facility previously relied on outdated and unreliable gasoline-powered electricity generation equipment to supply power. Power outages were common and posed risk to the life of patients, especially in intensive care units. 

The recent installation of a substation at the referral hospital has brought huge relief to patients who queue up early in the morning to access quality medical care.  

Beijing Sifang Automation Co., under a partnership with World Bank-funded Advanced Distribution Management System of Kenya Power, has established a ring main unit (RMU) to ensure stable electricity supply, not only to the hospital, but also to numerous public and private facilities in Nairobi and neighboring districts. The unit is equipped with automated instruments manufactured in China.  

The head of the hospital’s electrical section Peter Onyango said the installation of Sifang’s RMU has effectively eliminated power supply disruptions, notably enhancing the quality of care for patients with critical medical conditions. 

“My baby recovered quickly in the incubators after she was born prematurely at seven months, thanks to the continuous electricity supply. I cannot imagine what would have happened if the power supply was erratic like other medical centers,” Hellen Kamau, a patient, said. 

Onyango revealed that the previous gasoline-powered equipment to manage electricity supply was unreliable, and posed risks to patients in the intensive care wards due to power outages. 

“With Sifang’s equipment, we can now remotely detect faults and promptly restore power, mitigating risks to patients,” He stated. 

Francis Maina, project manager at Kenya Power, said that through a competitive bidding process, the Chinese company secured the tender to install RMUs, ensuring stable electricity supply at the country’s primary referral hospital. 

“The partnership with Beijing Sifang has significantly contributed to the utility’s digitisation efforts, enhancing grid reliability while cutting down on fuel and maintenance costs for clients,” Maina added. 

Digital infrastructure 

The RMU is a prime example of China’s contribution to Africa’s ongoing rapid urbanization and regional integration, which will accelerate the pace of digital transformation on the continent and raise the prospects of the digital economy. 

From the Internet and e-commerce to mobile payment and digital infrastructure platforms, Chinese companies are actively participating in Africa’s digital transformation, helping the world’s second-most populous continent to catch up with other regions of the world. China has delivered to most African states innovative solutions in the realm of telecommunications, smart manufacturing, electrical automation and e-commerce, among others. 

In Botswana, for instance, Chinese companies are actively involved in building a robust digital infrastructure. China Jiangxi International and Technical Cooperation Co. Ltd. is setting up the Digital Delta Data Centre. The state-of-the-art facility is housed in a two-storey building in Gaborone, the country’s capital, and is well equipped with support facilities. It will become the country’s largest data center once completed. 

“This facility is vital to ensuring Botswana’s network data security and we believe that it will transform the ICT ecosystem in Botswana,” said Keabetswe Segole, acting chief executive officer of Botswana Fibre Networks, the wholesale provider of national and international telecommunication infrastructure in Botswana. 

For instance, Transsion, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has been Africa’s top smartphone seller for years. Through its popular mobile phone brands such as Tecno, Itel and Infinix, the company is now expanding to the area of mobile applications, attracting more and more users with its music streaming platform Boomplay, news aggregator Scooper News, and short video sharing platform Vskit, among others. 

E-commerce is another area where China-Africa digital cooperation is rapidly expanding, which allows a growing number of Chinese companies to share their expertise in digital payment and entertainment, thereby boosting people’s living standards on the continent.  

“I can’t remember the last time I took a flight to order spare parts from Beijing. China’s e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba have really facilitated my business and enhanced my profitability,” said Clement Chilufya, an auto spare parts dealer from Lusaka, Zambia. 

Nc’wala festival ignites business ingenuity

By Derrick Silimina

In the midst of Nc’wala fanfare, wads of Kwacha notes exchange hands among entrepreneurs as they scramble for limited time trying to cash in from the traditional ceremony.

Situated about 560 kilometres from Lusaka, Zambia's capital, Chipata town was swarmed by local and international tourists who had come to witness one of the country's top traditional ceremonies.

As traditional leaders and residents of Chipata town in eastern province celebrated in pomp and splendour of the Ncwala ceremony to mark the first harvests of the season, but for local SMEs, it was a rare moment to eke a fortune out of the three days’ event.

“Nc’wala is a platform for us to display our quality services to our valued clients no wonder why our lodge is already fully booked and we have been so busy as response from clients has been overwhelming especially during the Nc’wala ceremony and business is on point,” Eastern Comfort Lodges Supervisor Rachael Banda told Solwezi Today Magazine.

Banda is optimistic that the future of the hospitality industry in the district is bright as Comfort lodges has widely spread its footprint in the district and that plans are underway to expand to Petauke district. Considering that during Nc’wala, hospitality business in Chipata is always at its peak as tourists from across the globe trek to the border town to have a glimpse of the lively traditional showpiece as well as to sample the local cuisine.

However, ahead of the Ncwala traditional ceremony, Chipata district is always hit by a critical shortage of accommodation forcing people to seek lodging in nearby towns of Katete, Petauke and Mwami districts as well as neighbouring Malawi due to an overwhelming number of Nc’wala enthusiasts.

A check at Chipata’s Royal Orbit lodge located right next to SGC filling station along the great east road found an executive room pegged at K3,500 each while a standard room was going at K2,500 each respectively for the N'cwala weekend but these rates are revised downwards immediately after the Nc'wala ceremony.

For Aaron Gondwe, it's that time of the year again to make cool cash for his taxi business especially that booking rates are doubled during the Nc’wala ceremony.

“I anticipate a profit margin of not less than K20,000 as my five cars get busy during the event ferrying clients prior, during and after the event,” said Gondwe, a taxi operator who operates from within Chipata’s Central Business District. 

Gondwe disclosed how the traditional ceremony has been a game-changer in transforming his transport  business as he now plans to establish a car hire company this year.

Just like transporters, hoteliers as well as lodge operators take advantage of the event and boost their sales, traders of various goods and services are not left behind as they too jump on the bandwagon of tough tested entrepreneurs to cash-in from the once-off annual event. 

“I anticipate more sales for my artwork before the end of the event. This festival has always remained a pillar of our industry considering that most of our buyers are tourists who come to attend Nc’wala,” said Martin Jere who specialises in artefacts such as sculptures.  

For this reason, the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EPCCI) has over the years positioned itself for business opportunities that come with the ceremony.

“It being a social, cultural and tourism event, it means that even those who are involved in tourism, hospitality, catering and transport related businesses at least derived some benefits out of the Nc’wala ceremony. Therefore, from the cultural and economic point of view, this year’s event was a success,” Chamber President Thomas Mtonga said in a telephone interview adding that as a cultural heritage, Nc’wala festival has continued to contribute to the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry in the province.

Mtonga noted that as the profile of the traditional ceremony grows, it brings out the corresponding corporate interest in sponsorship as it has become inevitable for the corporate world to get on board and compete for attention by being sponsors.

For instance, Seedco has long been associated with the Nc’wala as a key sponsor for many years due to its business interests in the Eastern Province where it has a huge footprint. However, it is not the size of sponsorship but spirit behind the contribution to the successful staging of the event which matters. 

Some cultural pundits are of the view that commercialisation of traditional ceremonies is the way to go as it will boost the local economies via demand for accommodation and sale of artefacts as well as as promote revenue generation via visiting historical sites especially that much of this revenue will be in foreign exchange which is critically need as a country.

Meanwhile, as the main event reached its climax on the final day, paramount Chief Mpezeni left Laweni - his resting place as he led hundreds of impis to Mtenguleni - venue for the annual Nc’wala traditional ceremony. Thousands of onlookers were mesmerised by ngoni warriors clad in animal skins amidst songs of jubilation.

 

The event was characterised by the Ngoma dances, where the dancers artistically stomp the ground while waving their clubs. The ceremony culminated when one of the Ngoni warriors spears a black bull to death, while another slits its throat and collects the blood for the paramount chief to drink, a signal that people should now start eating the produce from their fields.

This years’ Nc’wala has been described as special since Paramount Chief Mpezeni is clocking 40 years on the throne and 40 years since the resumption of the ceremony. The ceremony is commemorated by the Ngoni people based in Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa. The Ngoni people are believed to be descendants of the Zulu people of South Africa who settled in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique after fleeing from wars.

The 2023 Nc’wala ceremony which was attended by various traditional leaders across the country, Malawi and Mozambique was commemorated under the theme; “40 years of love, peace and unity.”

“This ceremony makes us keep the tradition of our forefathers alive and helps the new generation know where they came from,” said Monica Mbewe, a Ngoni based in Lusaka.

Cholera outbreak unleashes economic shocks

 By Derrick Silimina

Zambia is grappling with one of its worst cholera outbreaks in recent years as more than 350 people have died and nearly 10,000 active cases have been registered. 

As a result, lady-driven businesses are in danger of closure or failure after the negative impact of cholera and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Zambia Federation of Associations of Women in Business (ZFAWIB) now fears.

ZFAWIB have expressed concern that barely two years out of the Covid-19 experience, the cholera outbreak has financially stressed local businesses, especially those run by women. 

“We are foreseeing a situation where most female-run businesses will fail to grow, worse still shutting down over the years after Covid-19 and cholera outbreak coupled with the high cost of doing business,” ZFAWIB Chief Executive Officer Maureen Sumbwe says. 

She urges women in business to be resilient and “think outside the box” if they are to rebound because millionaires are usually made amidst crisis. 

Sumbwe has implored Government to come up with a deliberate business policy that will help cushion female-run businesses amid calamities if they are to continue contributing effectively to the country’s national coffers. 

“We appreciate the Government's concerted efforts to have local SMEs access finance but we also anticipate a situation where our locally-produced goods may be promoted for them to access markets locally and internationally.” 

WATER 

Commonly known as a disease of poverty affecting people with inadequate access to safe water and basic sanitation, cholera is spread by consuming contaminated water or food, and causes severe dehydration from vomiting and diarrhoea. Left untreated, it can kill within hours. 

As health workers scramble to contain the crisis that has the potential to be the worst the country has seen since the first in 1977, financial experts say the epidemic is likely going to negatively affect the country’s already struggling economy. 

“Cholera is forcing the Government to spend more resources to try and deal with the public health crisis in an already stressed health sector. This epidemic is also slowing down an industry which is already growing, especially the hospitality and recreation sectors which are forced to slow down their activities,” observes Lusaka based economist Munyumba Mutwale. 

Mutwale argues that cholera is a drainage and sanitation issue that ought to have been resolved a long time ago in lower income areas by converting human waste into raw materials for charcoal industries. Such industries would create a sustainable business model and in turn put free toilets and sanitation facilities in lower economic areas thereby knocking out cholera once and for all. 

He notes that it is high time the local authorities consider drainages and toilets to be of economic value, as well as set up modern markets where refuse disposal is channeled to paper and plastic recycling industries. 

OUTBREAKS 

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Zambia is among 18 countries in the world experiencing cholera outbreaks. Studies of cholera epidemics in Zambia and elsewhere suggest that such costs can be significant—up to 2 percent of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

In response to a surge in cholera cases, the Government recently announced the deferment of the 2024 Term One schools opening from the scheduled January 8 to January 29, emphasizing the need to prevent and mitigate the spread of the disease. 

“This postponement applies to all public, private, aided, and community learning institutions, including Early Childhood Education (ECE) centers, primary, and secondary schools. Learners at all levels are expected to resume classes on January 29, 2024, after a three-week extension from the initial opening date,” Education Minister Douglas Syakalima recently said. 

The education sector has also been affected, especially private-owned institutions whose budgets have now been disrupted, as many of them expect tuition fees from learners to help finance their operations. 

“Our operations here are solely dependent on the school fees that we collect from our learners, so this deferment has really affected our school budget, making it difficult to pay our staff, pay utility bills and rentals along other bills with or without an outbreak of cholera,” says Clement Mugala, a school administrator based in Lusaka. 

CLEANING UP 

Certainly, the cholera outbreak does not only pose a health risk but also poses an economic risk as the cleaning up of the informal trading areas has brought many small businesses to a halt. 

This has negatively impacted SMEs that depend on Lusaka’s Central Business District (CBD) and surrounding areas for trade. 

A check at Lusaka’s sprawling Matebeto market, renowned for its mouthwatering cuisine, found the eatery with scant customers. The place usually swarms with enthusiasts of traditional meals. 

“When business is at its peak and on a good day, I usually make between three thousand and five thousand kwacha. But now, since the onset of cholera, I make less than one thousand because clients are hesitant to come to order food,” moans Agness Chibwe, a restaurateur at the Thornpark market.

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.