Engulfed by the lake

18/11/2019 – by Derrick Silimina

Nowadays

© stepmap.de

Fishermen who depend for their livelihoods on Zambia’s Lake Kariba are increasingly drowning in the lake, victims of fierce storms that are likely related to climate change.

Early this month, in the latest instance of a series of tragic accidents, two fishermen drowned on Lake Kariba after a massive wave, driven by furious winds, hit their fishing rig and caused it to capsize. Two other fishermen on the rig survived. Last month, five fishermen drowned on Lake Kariba in separate incidents. In general, the rate of deaths by drowning for fishermen on the lake has been rising steadily in recent years.

The incident in early November followed a sadly familiar course: In the wee hours of the morning, a massive storm built upon the lake and overwhelmed the fishing vessels moored there.

The latest victims were based in Siavonga District on Lake Kariba’s northern shore. The lake, which lies along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is among the world’s largest man-made lakes by volume. The men had been fishing for kapenta, a type of sardine.

Drowning has become an increasing concern in other coastal regions as well. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide. In 2015, there were an estimated 360,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide.

The deaths, while tragic in themselves, also cast a cloud on the region’s economic future. After tourism, fishing is the second most important source of employment in the Siavonga district. In Zambia, fish is an important component of food security, with Lake Kariba accounting for 70 % of fish protein, according to the Fisheries Department.

Climate change is a likely cause of the series of drownings since vessels that previously were seaworthy have proved no match for more powerful storms.  Missing upgrades to the vessels may also be an issue. “I suspect that the fishing rig sunk because most of these rigs have mechanical challenges,” said Felix Kanyembo, a Siavonga fishmonger.

Accordingly, local authorities have called for tighter construction standards and other security measures to protect the lives of fishermen on the lake.

Others in the region see the problem entirely differently. Local folklore holds that ‘Nyami Nyami’ or ‘Water Spirits’ are causing fishermen to drown on the lake. According to African mythology, ‘Nyami Nyami,’ the River god who lives in Lake Kariba, is a serpent-like creature about three meters wide.

Some members of the local Tonga tribe who witnessed the construction of the Kariba dam wall in the 1950s add a further interpretation. They say the River god is married and that the building of the Kariba dam wall separated him from his wife. To the tribesmen, the recent series of drownings is nothing more than the River god’s revenge.

Moses Haambote, a Siavonga resident, is one who believes in this interpretation. Locals usually consult elders and perform rituals before going out on the lake, he notes. “If you ignore their guidance, you embark on a trip at your own risk,” he adds.

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

Tribal leaders disagree on copper mine

06/01/2020 – by Derrick Silimina

Nowadays

© stepmap.de

Adding to the controversy over a proposed open-pit copper mine in Zambia’s Zambezi National Park, various local tribal leaders are speaking up – on both sides of the issue.

While some tribal leaders in Zambia align themselves with the developers, saying the project will bring much-needed jobs and prosperity, others support tour operators and environmental activists, who say the mine will pollute the environment and damage wildlife.

The controversial Kangaluwi mining project – in the Lower Zambezi National Park, which lies on the north side of the Zambezi River – recently won a go-ahead from Zambia’s High Court.

The project’s licensee, Mwembeshi Resources Ltd. and its owner, Dubai-based Grand Resources Ltd, could soon start clearing land at the site, which lies between two seasonal rivers that flow into the Zambezi.

Now, tribal leaders are joining the debate, on both sides of the issue. Chieftainess Chiawa of the Goba people in Kafue district – to the west of the mine –  raised objections. “What will happen to all those animals when mining starts with all its noise?”, she asked. “I am really scared.” She notes that the Lower Zambezi valley provides a critical biodiversity link between animals in the Kafue and the Luangwa valleys.

However, Chief Mburuma of the Nsenga-Luzi speaking people in Luangwa district said the court should hold the project’s opponents in contempt. “The mine is in my chiefdom and we in Luangwa District are the people that need to be asked first,” he said. “I condemn certain chiefs who say this mine should not go ahead. It’s not in their chiefdom.”

The Kafue district “is far away from the mine,” he told journalists. “People in my district want the mine. We have no jobs here, due to lack of economic activities.”

Similarly, another tribal leader, Chief Mpuka of Luangwa district, said the proposed mine will create much-needed jobs. He added that tour operators – the major opponents of the mine – are the ones responsible for depleting animal herds in the park.

“They are airlifting the animals to other places that we don’t know,” Chief Mpuka said. “Most of the species, especially in the feline family, are depleted in this area. Where you find the animals are in Kafue, not here. So which animals are they protecting?”

Unemployed young people also support the project. “We welcome it, as it will be a source of alternative income for the people here in Luangwa district,” said Wisdom Mpundu, a 25-year-old youth of the Luangwa district. “The only usual source of income we have here is fishing, but the fish are being depleted and this problem is growing.”

Another youth, Moses Nkumbu, agreed that the government should not listen to the mine’s opponents. And Pauline Kalasa, also a young person in Luangwa, said many people will benefit from the mine project. “Look at the north-western and Copperbelt provinces, they are developed because of mining,” she said. “This is why we want the mine to come here.”

Environmentalists and tour operators argued unsuccessfully in court that the proposed mining operation threatens the park’s wildlife and environment.

Speaking with opponents of the mine before the high court decision, Ronald Chitotela, Minister of Tourism since July 2019, said the court should keep environmental concerns in mind when deciding on the appeal filed against the mine permit.

Noah Chongo, the national coordinator of the Zambia Community Based Natural Resources Management Forum, an organization launched by the former Tourism Ministry, said the government should revoke the mining license to protect the park and its wildlife.

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

Getting the Point

Acupuncture therapy gains popularity in Zambia

By Derrick Silimina | VOL.12 January ·2019-12-30

Anita Njobvu, 32, was introduced to acupuncture therapy by her husband because her blood pressure was through the roof.

"I was first introduced to some other Chinese herbal medicines and I later ended up with acupuncture treatment, which has been helpful as my blood pressure has actually stabilized," said Njobvu, who lives in Lusaka, capital of Zambia.

Acupuncture is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and involves the insertion of long needles into specific points on a person's body with the aim of balancing the body's energy levels.

Njobvu, who had been battling severe hypertension for some time, said that after three months of being administered with acupuncture therapy, she is now on the course of recovery.

Acupuncture is part of the growing trend of Chinese involvement in the health sector in Zambia. The growing footprint of TCM in the country is a mirror of the broader perspective of China-Zambia relations, highlighting mutual cooperation in a wide range of areas.

In Zambia, traditional and alternative medicine is used and accepted by a great majority of the population, regardless of ethnic, religious, or social background. So, people are open to the idea of TCM.

Popular treatment

Acupuncture treatment used to be something new to the African continent, but with awareness of it growing in countries like Zambia, an increasing number of patients are opting for the healing technique rather than conventional medicine.

"[My TCM doctor] Feng Kehong's treatment took about two months and from the third month, I have not had any high blood pressure readings," said Njobvu.

As compared to conventional medicine, Pamela Chisunka, a teacher in Zambia's Central Province, said that she found Chinese traditional remedies be more effective than Western medicine.

"I think for me, Western medicine couldn't help cure my chronic headaches. Conventional medicine just has temporary effect, and the pain remains when one stops taking the medicine. As a result, you spend more on medication," said Chisunka. For Benjamin Mambwe, a local bus driver from Intercity Bus Station in Lusaka, acupuncture has proven to be more effective than conventional medicine. He said it wasn't long after he began treatment that he recovered from partial paralysis earlier this year.

He told ChinAfrica that during the acupuncture treatment process, the doctor used needles to prick into the affected body part.

"You will feel a slight discomfort when she starts the process; but thereafter, it's okay and the pain will disappear. After 30 minutes, the needles are removed and the process is repeated [daily] for 10 days."

After the treatment, Mambwe is now back on his two feet attending to his daily duties.

Wide range of benefits

Meanwhile, Benjamin Chitumbo, a renowned Ndola-based medical doctor, is impressed with his Chinese counterparts and their effective medical practice.

"All I know from experience is that acupuncture is one of the alternative medical treatment methods as it is based on the long Chinese tradition and explains the interconnectivity of our hormones and nervous system. Acupuncture has been used for a variety of illnesses. It is certainly a practice that has helped many of my patients too," said Chitumbo.

It is because of this acceptance that Feng established the private medical facility - Zhong Yi Surgery in Lusaka, following an increase in demand for Chinese medical treatment among the city's residents.

"Since I came to Lusaka, more and more people understand acupuncture. I attend to various patients suffering from strokes, HIV/AIDS, hypertension, paralysis and diabetes, among others.

In 1997, Feng came to Zambia on a tour of duty from China and worked for two years as a resident medical doctor first at Ndola General Hospital in the Copperbelt Province and then Kabwe General Hospital in Central Province.

Driven by her passion to provide quality health care to people, Feng went on to establish Zhong Yi Surgery in Lusaka in 2002 with a focus on TCM care.

Feng's assistant Neila Mumba, a Zambian lady, explained how Zhong Yi Surgery, located in Lusaka's Roma residential area, has helped many Zambians recover from various diseases.

"We had a chief from north Zambia who suffered a stroke and he was unable to walk. But after [acupuncture] treatment, he started walking. We also have several cases of senior government officials who come here to seek medical attention," said Mumba. "For instance, there is one lady who is diabetic and she has been to several hospitals but her condition was quite severe and couldn't recover until she came here. Her condition has now improved as her sugar levels drastically came down."

Asked why she has prioritized acupuncture therapy and not conventional medicine in her private medical practice, especially since she is a fully qualified medical doctor who has served in Zambia's public hospitals, Feng said her calling is to help people with the most effective medical care available.

"In China, I learned Western medicine and TCM. I chose the latter after I established a private clinic; but before that, I practiced as a full time conventional doctor," said Feng.

Local compliance

Since TCM is built on a foundation of thousands of years of medical practice, it includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, exercise and dietary therapy, among others.

Feng said she has since been helping more local people understand how traditional therapies work and comply with local rules and standards.

"One big advantage of traditional Chinese medicine is that it is easy to perform, and it doesn't have high requirements for medical equipment," said Feng.

In line with how these medicines adapt to local conditions, the Zambian Government recognizes traditional and complementary/alternative medicine and national policies do support these treatments.

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.

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

According to the World Health Organization, at least 70 percent of Zambians use traditional medicine.

Recently, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said the government was in the process of reviewing the act that governs the traditional practice of medicine.

"As we strengthen our health system, we have identified the need to strengthen collaboration, in particular with China. Zambia will collaborate to strengthen cultivation of medicinal plants and to share experiences and knowledge," said Chilufya, when a delegation from Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (JUTCM) called on him at the Ministry of Health headquarters.

Chilufya has since hailed the wider partnership between China and Zambia, especially in the area of health infrastructure and human resource training. Zuo Zhengyun, head of the delegation and President of JUTCM, informed Chilufya that his university had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tropical Diseases Research Center (TDRC), to collaborate in the area of research.

Located in Ndola, Zambia, the TDRC is a biomedical research Center initiated by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Zambian Government.

"We also hope to cooperate through research and development to promote clinical use of Zambian traditional herbal medicines," said Zuo.

The mission to Zambia by the university follows Zambian President Edgar Lungu's visit to the JUTCM campus in 2018.

(Reporting from Zambia)

(Comments to zanjifang@chinafrica.cn)

Mineral waste threatens C/belt environs

DERRICK SILIMINA, Lusaka

ZAMBIA has a long history of mining and a large known resource base of copper, gold, and emeralds, among other deposits.
With Zambia’s vast potential for further discoveries, environmental impacts from mining operations in the country are significant and quite often severe.
Mining and mineral processing by its very nature comes with environmental costs and the effects can continue long after the mining operation has stopped.
Environmental experts say impacts from mining results from both historical and ongoing mining operations as the main conservational challenges associated with mines are pollution of air, soil and water, geotechnical issues and land degradation.
Arguably, most of the mines’ environmental hazards that have continued happening at some mining companies bring to the fore the safety of Zambian mineworkers and communities and the effectiveness of the country’s mine safety laws.
Economically, the sector is a substantial source of government revenue and formal employment, both directly and indirectly; but environmental and occupational safety challenges have continued to emerge.
Given the country’s endowment of natural resources, an array of stakeholders in Zambia, including investors, government agencies, and civil society organizations, have long questioned some mine operators’ poor safety records.
MINE NEGLIGENCE
A 2014 Geological Survey of Sweden on Environmental Impacts of Mining in Zambia dubbed Towards Better Environmental Management and Sustainable Exploitation of Mineral Resources states that environmental issues directly linked to historical mining operations on the Copperbelt are largely related to geotechnical integrity of waste dumps.
The survey unearthed at least 21 waste rock dumps covering more than 388 hectares, nine slag dumps, covering 279 hectares, and finally more than 45 tailing dams covering an area of around 9,125 hectares.
In total, the study found that more than 10,000 hectares on the Copperbelt are covered with mineral waste and thus represents a “loss of opportunity” for the local population in terms of other land use such as agriculture, forestry, housing, and ranching.
In addition to the geotechnical risks associated with waste dumps, the use of tailing ponds for water supply and fishing, as well as growing crops on the tailing surface, has the potential to cause health impacts to the surrounding environment and beyond.
However, some critics have alleged that mine pollution and safety issues are due to negligence on the part of mine owners to invest in safety and adhere to health standards. Others blame it on the absence of a national safety policy and a safety enforcement body to ensure the lives of mineworkers and surrounding communities are safeguarded.
“I wish to call on operators in the mining and quarrying industry to ensure that they conduct their operations in an environmentally friendly manner and in ways that guarantee safety and healthier lives for current and future generations,” Mines and Minerals Development Minister Richard Musukwa said recently when he officiated at the Zambia Chamber of Mines fifth National Conference on Occupational Safety, Health and Environment in Ndola.
LESSONS LEARNT
With scary lessons learned from the closed Kabwe zinc/lead mine still fresh, it is indeed high time operators in the mining and quarrying industry ensured that they conducted their operations in an environmentally friendly manner and in ways that guarantee the safety and healthier lives for current and future generations.
Mr. Musukwa noted that the interests of posterity must be taken into account now rather than later and urged mining companies to comply with all environmental regulations and standards in the country.
“Our quest to develop should not, in any way, burden our communities and future generations,” he stated.
Recently, the Government secured funds from the World Bank to a tune of US$25 million to implement the Zambia Mining Environmental Remediation and Improvement Project (ZMERIP). The aim of the project is to reduce environmental health risks associated with past mining activities not only in Kabwe but in other selected mining areas as well.
In line with the global goal of ending the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2030, Government, with help from the World Bank and NEPAD, have also joined hands with other countries in the region in a project called Southern Africa Tuberculosis Health Support System (SATBHSS) to contribute to the elimination of TB in Zambia and the sub-region.
The project’s development objectives are to improve coverage and quality of TB control and occupational lung disease services in targeted mining geographical areas of Zambia and to strengthen national and regional capacity to manage the burden of TB and occupational diseases.
MINE INTERVENTIONS
Reflecting on the theme of the just-ended Fifth National Conference on Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Protection dubbed Enhancing Health, Safety and Environment Synergies to Combat Adverse Effects, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) observed that it is of utmost importance that every mine operator, regardless of the size, places the protection of persons and the environment above the drive for profits.
FQM Zambia country manager Kingsley Chinkuli affirmed that the mining industry world over is a hazardous place to work in and, as a result, communities continue to fight the creation of new mines on the perception that mining activities damage the environment and disturb nature, despite economic gains from these developments.
“Therefore, we must pay tribute to our investors for investing heavily in people and technology to continually make the industry a safe working place and green. We must all appreciate that occupational health, safety, and environmental protection are the three sides of the triangle which describe a firm foundation for safe working conditions and protection, as well as the preservation of our natural environment,” Gen Chinkuli stated.
It is for this reason that the high standard of performance of FQM management and employees in this area define its corporate reputation as a safe and environmentally friendly company.
“We are a visible felt leadership (VFL) company and we preach a message of safety to our employees and challenge them to ‘stop and think’ when making decisions or taking actions that may compromise occupational health, safety and the environmental protection. At FQM, we protect the rivers (open or subterranean), fauna and flora jealously in our areas of operations, despite their size, impacting minimum damage to nature,” he added.
LUBAMBE
For Lubambe Copper Mine, issues of occupational health and safety among its workforce are of major concern as communications manager Loyce Saili explained that when EMR took over, their focus had been to increase production and prioritize safety measures.
“We want to increase production, but we also want to carry out operations in a safe environment. So, much as we are ramping up, we want to do it in a safe environment,” she said.
Ms Saili further highlighted that in 2018, production was around 22,000 tonnes of copper and that the mine was ramping up to produce about 40,000 tonnes by 2021.
“Everything that we are doing is aimed at increasing production, to increase the profitability of the mine and make the operations profitable. But to do all this, we need to do it safely. Our people must come to work in a safe environment and go back home safe,” she added.
“We have a lot of management commitment and money has been invested in the 2019 financial year in excess of US$1 million in order to ensure that the mine is safe; and this includes the purchase of emergency equipment and re-training of people as well as inculcating in every employee a culture of taking responsibility for their own safety,” Lubambe Copper Mine safety, health, and environmental manager Daniel Chihili said in an interview.
On the other hand, Barrick Lumwana Mining Company safety superintendent Christopher Haboombe noted that family members of mine operators play a critical role to realize safety, environmental health and avoid fatigue among employees.
“Our Barrick motto on safety is ‘Every person going home safe and healthy every day’, but to achieve that you need to work with the family. And for us, that is synergies by working with families,” he noted.
It is said that in sharing, one does not need to re-invent the wheel as coming together gives stakeholders an opportunity to learn, for free, the best practices of enhancing safety and environmental health of their mine operations, so was the just-ended fifth National Conference on Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment, courtesy of the Zambia Chamber of Mines.
It is therefore envisaged that investment in mines’ safety departments is enhanced to avoid environmental hazards on-site and beyond, in order to ensure that Zambia’s most lucrative industry is safe for all.

Kitwe Woman Scales Mt Kilimanjaro

By Derrick Silimina

HIKING to the top of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, has never been a task for the faint-hearted.

Aminata Njai, a 35-year-old accountant from Grizzly Mining Company on the Copperbelt, recently embarked on a mission to climb Tanzania’s snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro.

Aminata braved the furious winds and freezing temperatures to fulfill the epic expedition in honor of her late brother, Hamidou, and as a way of celebrating her 35th birthday.

According to experts, unlike Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro is considered a non-technical climb. One does not require mountaineering training or equipment such as ropes or crampons, which however does not make it a mere walk in the park!

On April 13, Aminata and other like-minded souls finally landed at the strenuous summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, an expedition that took six days.

“When I lost my Brother Hamidou, also known by others as Eric, I grieved because it was shocking and sudden. I decided to embark on the journey to partially pay tribute to him because at that moment I didn’t care about all the death stories I heard about Kili; little did I even care about dying. I needed to spend time away and it was worth it. I love you Hamidou,” said Aminata who is Payroll Manager at Grizzly Mining Company.

Having been in the gem fields for more than 10 years, Aminata said the stress of being at the mines also prompted her to look out into the adventure world.

“Whenever I have time to myself, all I look forward is to explore what is out there,” she chuckles.

Standing at 19,341 feet or 5,895 meters, Tanzania’s snow-capped Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain.

It is also the world’s tallest walkable mountain. To reach the summit, one must pass through five distinct climates, including rain-forest, alpine desert and eventually the glacial Arctic.

According to statistics, while more than 20,000 people attempt to scale Mount Kilimanjaro annually, only half of them reach the summit. This just attests to the severity of the challenge of making the ascent.

For Aminata, trekking Kilimanjaro has been on her bucket list for a very long time.

MEANING
“I believe life is an opportunity to create meaning, I have traveled the world. I did almost everything from shopping, museums, the beach, heights, and thrilling adventures. So, what else is left? So, for my birthday in April this year I planned Kilimanjaro; maybe because I knew I was very fit. What a wonderful experience, awarded with a certificate,” she narrates.

Renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow has argued that self-actualization is deeply entrenched in the human psyche, but it only surfaces once the more basic needs are fulfilled.

He believes that once the power needs for food, security, love, and self-esteem are satisfied, a deep desire for creative expression and self-actualization rises to the surface.

Aminata echoes Maslow’s theory and states, “Once you are self- actualized, you have met your full potential as an individual, also not leaving out the power of our Creator, this place makes you realize how powerful Allah our Creator is, He who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place to enjoy His creation

LESSONS LEARNT
Having succeeded on her mission to reach the peak of one of the wonders of the world, Aminata believes she has learned something important about life.

“There is so much that I learned on that mountain. When I came down, I was a different person because I realized so much. You know; in life, do not be too fast. Take one step at a time because when you are climbing the mountain and you are too fast, then you won’t make it to the top. You really must go slow and those are some of the lessons of life that I have actually learned. It also made me realize that when you take your journey with one step at a time, you will actually reach the end.”

Aminata further believes that team-work is also critical if one had to realize their goal in life.

“I don’t think you can manage to walk alone in that bush for six days. So, I learned lessons of unity and the importance of doing things as a group. I was in a group of about 12 porters and two guides. We stuck together throughout our journey and it was overwhelming because we pushed each other. Even if one gets sick, you have to be there for them.”

ROOF

To climb Mount Kilimanjaro is a once in a lifetime opportunity and this is the reason why people travel from all over the world to stand on top of the ‘Roof of Africa’.

Aminata, therefore, believes that being properly prepared to climb Africa’s highest peak is the key to a successful summit attempt. Since Mount Kilimanjaro is known as a ‘walk-up’ mountain, its routes and their variations take between five and nine days to complete, according to Ultimate Kilimanjaro, one of the companies that offer guide services there.

Although climbing Mount Kilimanjaro does not require one to spend time in the gym, there is no need to underestimate its risks and demands.

“You have to walk for eight hours a day because you can’t walk at night as it’s too cold and windy. It’s not even allowed to walk at night. So, during night-time, you have to sleep in tents as there are a lot of camping sites on the way. You camp at night and early morning around 6AM, somebody will wake you up, they will bring you hot water and some hot coffee, then by 7 o’clock, you start off again,” Aminata narrates.

Overall statistics show that since over 20,000 people climb Kilimanjaro every year, tourists’ deaths stand at about 10 per year. This represents a 0.03 percent chance of death or one death per 3,333 climbers.

Most die due to acute mountain sickness (AMS), also known as altitude sickness.

Aminata amplifies the official reports:

“It is actually very dangerous and a lot of people have died on that mountain. Even our porters would tell us stories of people who could not make it because at the end of the day, the higher you go, the less oxygen you have. So, some climbers run out of oxygen, you start panting and it’s hard you know. And there is no evacuation, no wonder people pass away whilst on that mountain. If you are lucky enough to pay a good insurance company, at least there is some evacuation up to a certain level.”

Aminata reveals that she too got sick at some point when they reached the apex of the mountain but against all odds, she made it!

“Once you start losing oxygen, your body will get into a certain condition in which either your blood pressure can rise or things like that. No wonder, when one is at the summit, you are only allowed to be at the peak of the mountain for 20 to 30 minutes because it’s risky but despite that, given a chance of trekking up the mountain, I will do it again!” – Feature courtesy of SUMA SYSTEMS.

Chinese Cement Company Builds a Solid Foundation in Zambia

China’s growing economic muscle in Africa frequently raises fears of domination. However, on the ground, these companies often create jobs and try to comply with laws aimed at strengthening local stakeholdership. A case in point is the Sinoma Cement Company, a Chinese company set up in Zambia in 2015. China-Zambia relations date back to 1964, but local political leaders have frequently criticized the Asian giant’s influence in the country. With $500 Million worth of Chinese investment, Sinoma Cement Company produces cement, pan bricks and other materials for export and domestic use. Its output includes 60,000 bags (about 3,300 tons) of cement per day.

Sinoma public relations manager Wang Weiqi says his company aspires to pursue localization (also known as Zambianization) policies in order to help develop the country.

“Sometimes back when we established our investment here in Zambia, we were told that Zambianization first! For us, that is not just the policy of Zambia but it is also the development strategy of our company because just like the old adage goes; ‘When you are in Rome do what Romans Do’ – also when you are in Lusaka, do what Lusaka people do,” he said in an interview. Wang further stated that beyond training about 50 local workers on how to use advanced equipment, his firm also embraces corporate social responsibility (CSR) as key to enhancing socio-economic development in the community within which the cement plant operates.

“Before the official opening of the cement plant in Chongwe district – Chifwema area, we have done the resettlement of the local people together with the local leadership. We have also constructed Nachitete Hospital and Nachitete Primary School all based in the rural parts of Chongwe district. In 2017, we also funded some local foundations on HIV/AIDS medical service in the area as well as dug some boreholes for the local community in order to improve their water reticulation,” he said.

Sinoma Cement Company Public relations manager Wang Weiqi (R) with Lusaka City Mayor Miles Sampa during a familiarization tour of the cement factory.

Wang stated that since road connectivity is critical to national development, his company has also contracted the Road Development Agency in order to build the 10 Km Chifwema road in order to ease the transportation of goods and services in the area.

Asked how the company will sustain the transfer of technology and skills development to the local community, Wang emphasized that Sinoma’s uniqueness:

“For Sinoma, we are different from other Chinese companies who have invested here in Zambia. We are doing manufacturing and we’ll be here not for 2 – 3 years, we’ll be in Zambia for 20 years, 30 years and we are also learning from other international companies and competitors. For us, the only strategy is to train them and make them learn as fast as possible because it is also very costly for us to only have Chinese colleagues in production working as engineers and technicians. It’s very important for us to transfer technology to our local colleagues,” Wang stated.

In a bid to cement China and Zambia’s bilateral relations, Wang urged Zambians to have a positive image of the Chinese investors and their investments if real economic development is to be realized:

“Especially for us who are doing manufacturing, now we know that, and understand how important it is for the locals to accept us and to have a good image of us so that we can find it easy to have a cordial working relationship,” he said.

Lusaka Mayor, Miles Sampa, recently praised the progress made by Sinoma Cement Company of Lusaka.

 “I am really impressed with the amount of development this company has attained since its launch in 2015,” The Mayor said this when he recently toured the cement plant in Lusaka.

Patson Phiri 34, a machine operator said he has benefited a lot from the cement company’s wide range of in-house training programs. These include courses on-site equipment operation, repairs, and servicing.

Patson, who operates one of the heavy-duty machines at the cement plant is optimistic that the Chinese firm is likely to create more jobs to Zambian youths when it reaches it full production goal of 75,000 bags of cement per day.

“I am certain that more direct and indirect jobs will be created which will grow the company even bigger and employ more of our youths,” he remarked.

Derrick Silimina is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Lusaka who writes regularly on Zambian agricultural, sustainability and China-Africa relations. He can be reached by email at derrick.silimina@gmail.com

Chinese Agricultural Firm Uses Drones to Fight Pests in Zambia

China is playing an increasingly larger role in African agriculture. Chinese influence through business investment, training, value addition, and capacity building is intensifying, and reshaping perceptions.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce is funding around twenty Agricultural Technology Development Centres across Africa. They are initially government-funded and run mostly by companies as part of a commercial model for training and technology transfer among developing countries.

In Zambia, one such center is run by Sunagri Investments. It promotes the use of smart agriculture through state-of-the-art gadgets like drones.

As a staple food, maize (corn) is dominant on most households’ menus and makes up about 90 percent of the country’s food energy intake. It is for this reason that it’s the most cultivated crop in the Southern African country.

Recently, Zambia has been battling an invasive pest commonly known as Fall Armyworms which have continued to ravage the staple crop every farming season. These notorious caterpillars have spread to more than 40 countries in Africa.

During the 2018/19 farming season, 59,993 hectares of land, supporting over 70,000 households, were affected by the outbreak of the armyworms. This has resulted in 46 districts and 521 agriculture camps sending out distress calls.

To counter the threat, Zambia’s Vice President Inonge Wina recently announced the purchase of 41,666 liters of pesticides worth US$500,000, funded from a US$3 million allocation by the African Development Bank.

The problem is how to best use this pesticide. Sunagri Investment Zambia, a Chinese firm, has invested in agro paraphernalia that promotes the use of smart agriculture through innovative tools like drones in order to combat armyworms. Its use of drone technology bypasses labor-intensive manual spraying in favor of intelligent automatic spraying.

“In 2016, do you know how many farmers cried due to an outbreak of armyworms? I then developed an idea and thought about how I can find the right drones that can help fix the armyworms outbreak in Zambia. In 2017, I managed to import 3 manual agricultural drones from China and subsequently brought in smart drones that can be able to spray insecticides even during the night,” Sunagri Investment Zambia Director Frazer Zhang said in an interview.

Zhang stressed that Sunagri’s XAG (Xaircraft) drone is one of the effective alternatives to help wipe out the pests quickly because manual spray during the day is labor-intensive, costly and a waste of chemicals as the worms only come out to feed on the crops at night.

Sunagri Investment Zambia Director Frazer Zhang showcase the XAG (Xaircraft) Drone during the just ended Agritech Expo in Chisamba district, Central Zambia. Photo by Derrick Silimina.

“First of all, we can fly in the night by using RTK positioning in the like manner we fly during the daytime. In terms of efficiency, each drone per day can cover 45 hectares and the task can effectively be done. After 3-4 days after spraying, you will find that the pests are vanquished including the bigger worms that usually hide inside the maize stalk,” Zhang said.

Zhang who has been in Zambia for 8 years urged farmers to invest in drones as the technology is smart, efficient and cost-effective depending on the size of the equipment and the area to be sprayed.

However, in view of the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment and the possibility of the pesticides to induce immunity in the pests, Zhang highlighted that the use of pesticides isn’t the most effective way to control the armyworms: “Moving forward, there is need to invest in environmentally friendly gadgets in future for detecting these pests on time.”

Zhang said his company is already working with Chamba Valley Farm, York farm, Seed-co, and Zambia Sugar among others in a bid to expand its services in the SADC region.

Zhang reiterated that through his enterprise, he hopes to influence the Zambian youth back to agricultural productivity.

“My dream number one is to make Zambia’s agriculture sector smart and my dream number two is that I hope to influence the Zambian young people back to agriculture. I want to make Zambia and its young generation become a model of smart agriculture in Africa,” he stated.

Amos Mweemba, a farmer in the Southern province, one of the highly affected regions in the country affirmed that the drone helped eradicate the worms on time.

“Just imagine, last time we were spraying at a 3 hectares farm in Choma district, we spent 20 minutes with this drone but with a tractor, it takes 3 hours,” Mweemba noted in an interview at the 2019 Agritech Show.

Agritech Expo spectators admire one of the drones on display during the just ended Agritech Expo in Chisamba district, Central Zambia. Photo by Derrick Silimina.

Zhang reiterated that through his enterprise, he hopes to influence the Zambian youth back to agricultural productivity.

“My dream number one is to make Zambia’s agriculture sector smart and my dream number two is that I hope to influence the Zambian young people back to agriculture. I want to make Zambia and its young generation become a model of smart agriculture in Africa,” he stated.

Amos Mweemba, a farmer in the Southern province, one of the highly affected regions in the country affirmed that the drone helped eradicate the worms on time.

“Just imagine, last time we were spraying at a 3 hectares farm in Choma district, we spent 20 minutes with this drone but with a tractor, it takes 3 hours,” Mweemba noted in an interview at the 2019 Agritech Show.

Derrick Silimina is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Lusaka who writes regularly on Zambian agricultural, sustainability and China-Africa relations. He can be reached by email at derrick.silimina@gmail.com