Kasaba Bay to become an ICC this year

MINISTER of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Muskotwane, says Government has set aside adequate resources to ensure that Kasaba Bay in Northern Province becomes an international conference centre (ICC) before the end of this year.

The minister said this in Lusaka yesterday when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s ‘Let the People Talk’ programme.

Dr Muskotwane said Government will work towards ensuring that rehabilitation and expansion of Mbala Airport is completed this year so that it can accommodate larger aircraft taking tourists straight to Mbala before they travel to Kasaba Bay by road.

He said even the road from Mbala to Kasaba Bay is expected to be completed this year.

Zambia to join one Network this August

MINISTER of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, says the Government has committed itself to join the one network by August this year.

The minister said this in Lusaka Friday 29^th May, 2009 when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s ‘Let the People Talk’ programme.

This move will mean Zambia will enjoy local calling rates to countries already on the one network.

Telecom Companies such as Zain already offer the service in Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leon Congo DRC, Congo Brazzaville, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Sudan.

 

APRM website in Zambia

African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a self-monitoring mechanism voluntarily acceded to by Member States of the African Union (AU) with the aim of fostering the adoption of policies, standards and practices that will lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated regional and economic integration. It underscores the commitment to implement the codes and standards contained in the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance.

The APRM traces its origin from New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), a Strategic Policy Framework and Socio-economic Development Programme of the African Union (AU). The vision of NEPAD is “to eradicate poverty and to place countries, individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development, and at the same time to participate actively in the world economy and body politic”. This calls for improved governance of all entities whether public or private as well as action plans outlining realistic sustainable development targets, reinforcing successful best practices, identifying deficiencies and assessing the needs for capacity building in all African Countries.

In an effort to enhance the quality of governance in Africa, the 6th Summit of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) held on 9th March 2003 adopted the Memorandum of Understanding on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance. This contains prioritised and approved codes and standards in four focus areas, namely;

1. Democracy and Good Political Governance;

2. Economic Governance and Management;

3. Socio-Economic Development; and

4. Corporate Governance.

The APRM is open to all member states of the AU. Zambia acceded to the APRM on 22nd January, 2006 at the African Union (AU) Summit held in Khartoum, Sudan.

www.governance.gov.zm

Comesa Custom Union Set for June 7

THE launch for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Custom Union is set for June 7, 2009 with more than US$ 100 billion set aside for compensation for revenue losses to member states.

Speaking at a media briefing held in Lusaka yesterday, COMESA secretary general, Sindiso Ngwenya said the summit will be held June 7 to 8 while the council of ministers will take place on June 2 to 4.

Mr Ngwenya said the US$ 100 billion is provision of compensation under COMESA fund. He said the summit will be held in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls town.

He said from the 19 COMESA countries, 14 countries are part of the free trade area that was launched in 2000. “Deepening of the regional integration is important for our market especially now that we are experiencing the worst global crisis,” he said. Uganda and Eritrea have reduced tariffs by 80 percent while Ethiopia was also reducing on its tariffs.

Mr Ngwenya said intra-COMESA trade has increased from US$ 3.2 billion recorded in 2000 to US$ 15.2 billion in 2008. He said to increase on trade, there is need to add value to primary commodity exported outside the COMESA region.

“After 2010, Governments within the region will not have to depend on trade tax for their revenue because tariffs are being lowered. Government will get more of their income from Pay-As-You-Earn and Value Added Tax,” he said.

Mr Ngwenya said the challenge faced by the region is to develop industries in rural areas that will add value to raw materials and create jobs. He said there was need to look at the broader economical benefits that will be accrued to the nations than complaining of the few industries that would be affected by the customs unions. He said if some sectors of the economy feel that the customs union will injure them, they can evoke COMESA safeguard measures to protect infant industries.

He said the COMESA regional and payment system will also be launched at the same meeting. The summit will also review progress by COMESA, Eastern Africa Community and Southern African Development Community on formation of a single customs union for the three blocks.

ZIBAC Resolutions

THE sixth Zambia International Business Advisory Council (ZIBAC) has recommended that a statutory instrument be issued to ban the practice by local businesses to quote their prices in US dollars.

The conference noted that there was need to ban businesses from quoting their prices in dollars because it demeaned the local currency.

Delegates also called for the improvement of access to finance and reduction of cost of borrowing.

According to the resolutions read out by the conferences convener Evans Chibiliti, Zambia also needs to expedite implementation of the business licensing report and increase resources devoted to tourism marketing. It was resolved that:

1.    The Zambia Wildlife Authority and tourism department should quickly be restructured.

2.     Zambia should urgently complement investment in extension services, research, rural roads and irrigation in order for it to achieve meaningful economic progress.

3.    The conference also called for a predictable export policy, especially for food grains and to improve land tenure systems and security of title.

4.    For infrastructure enhancement, it was recommended that there should be cost-effective tariffs at Zesco, while managing it commercially, reviewing efficiency and reviewing the firm’s salary structure.

5.    For petroleum, creating a tax regime to contribute to an enabling environment and establishing sufficient petroleum storage capacity across the country for a uniform pricing are necessary.

6.    In telecommunications, there is need to submit three Information communication and technology bills to Parliament by August 2009 and to reduce international gateway fees by December this year.

7.    The gathering also felt the need to formulate a responsive business model and restructuring for a viable competitive company to commence by June 2009, besides addressing the cost of restructuring.

8.    The conference also recommended revamping operations of bulk transportation through railway and called for infrastructure rehabilitation.

9.    In labour law reforms, the tripartite council agreed that redundancy packages, employment rights, decent work, employment security and casualisation should be dealt with.

10. The delegates called for high-level political will and accountability from the president’s office for private sector development reforms to take place.

Support a Zambian filmmaker

Zambian filmmaker Chansa Tembo has been named a finalist in the U.S. Embassy’s inaugural Democracy Video Challenge online film contest. Mr. Tembo will compete with two other African filmmakers for the chance to win an all-expenses trip to Washington, DC, New York, and Hollywood to represent the continent of Africa in the worldwide contest.

The Democracy Video Challenge is a combined initiative between the U.S. State Department and the on-line video sharing site YouTube. Filmmakers from around the world were asked to submit films that answer the phrase “Democracy is…” Films could not exceed three minutes or use copyrighted material, but there were no other limits to filmmakers’ visions.

Mr. Tembo beat long odds to become a finalist. The contest received more than 900 submissions from 95 countries. Zambia led Africa with nine original entries.

Mr. Tembo’s film, entitled “Democracy is like a smoothie,” shows a variety of fresh fruits being blended together. The film asserts that “democracy is like a smoothie of blended philosophical ideas, ideologies, cultural norms and aesthetic values.”

Winners will be determined by a public vote which is underway now at http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge. The public can vote for videos by giving them a thumb’s up.

RB Sets Up Oil Exploration Committee

Livingstone, Zambia - President Rupiah Banda has announced the appointment of seven members of the Petroleum Committee to be responsible for formulating policies relating to exploration, development and production of petroleum in Zambia.

Mr. Banda has appointed four Cabinet Ministers as members of the committee in line with the provisions of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) ACT of 2008.

He said the committee will also approve the oil and gas exploration, production and award licenses to would be investors among other function.

Among the people appointed are Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Maxwell Mwale as the Chairperson while Minister of Energy and Water Development takes vice position.

Other are Finance Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Commerce Minister Mr. Felix Mutati, Bank of Zambia Governor Dr. Caleb Fundanga, Energy Expert Mr. Andrew Kamanga and Engen Director Mr. Guy Phiri.

This is according to the statement made available to Flavafm by his Spokesperson, Dickson Jere.