COMMENT - Zimbabwe after landreform is today the biggest producer of tobacco in the region. Tobacco didn't collapse, it took off. And it will when the South Africans and Namibians get their land back. Make no mistake, legislation like
the Maize Control Acts and Native Land Acts were intended to reduce productivity to protect market prices for the European minority. African profits were used to subsidize colonists' agriculture.
" “For the 2018 crop season, we had a production of about 11.2 million Kgs of tobacco valued at about US$23.1 million. Why choose to come and grow tobacco in Zambia? In the region Zambia is the smallest tobacco producing country but it has the largest potential. Zimbabwe currently grows over 200 million Kgs, Zambia is at about 25 million Kgs, Malawi is at 165 million Kgs, Mozambique is at 85 million. So, we are very small. Other countries are progressively increasing their production [but] in Zambia it’s been a very slow process,” Matakala explained. "
(LUSAKA TIMES) Zambia has largest potential to grow cash crops, says JTI
By Chambwa Moonga on October 18, 2018
(By Chambwa Moonga in Kaoma)
JAPAN Tobacco International says while Zambia is the smallest tobacco producing country in the region, the country has the largest potential to grow the cash crop.
Briefing journalists on Tuesday afternoon in Kaoma, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Leaf Zambia Limited corporate affairs and communications manager Litiya Matakala explained why his firm chose to grow tobacco in Zambia.
He later led journalists to tour JTI’s operations based at Rose wood in Kaoma.
JTI is a leading tobacco products company.
“Currently, we are the third largest in the world and our goal is to become number one by 2030. When it comes to Zambia, JTI established itself in 2009…” Matakala said.
“We contract farmers to grow tobacco in Zambia. We grow two types of tobacco, burley in the Eastern Province and Virginia, which is grown here in the Western Province, Kaoma. We basically provide input loans and extension services to our growers. So, we have a team of leaf production technicians who are extension officers who work closely with the farmers to grow the tobacco. In terms of the number of growers as we speak now, from the 120 or so farmers, we are now sitting at over 4,000 growers in Kaoma. Overall, we have about 7,000 farmers that we contract year in, year out.”
He said JTI had a research centre in Chisamba district where it does trials for new tobacco varieties and “see how we can improve yields.”
Matakala added that as of this year, JTI had about 201 permanent employees countrywide while another 330 were employed on a temporally basis annually.
“For the 2018 crop season, we had a production of about 11.2 million Kgs of tobacco valued at about US$23.1 million. Why choose to come and grow tobacco in Zambia? In the region Zambia is the smallest tobacco producing country but it has the largest potential. Zimbabwe currently grows over 200 million Kgs, Zambia is at about 25 million Kgs, Malawi is at 165 million Kgs, Mozambique is at 85 million. So, we are very small. Other countries are progressively increasing their production [but] in Zambia it’s been a very slow process,” Matakala explained.
“There are a number of things that need to be worked on in terms of the regulatory environment and how the Ministry of Agriculture is going to position the crop (tobacco) because in the Seventh National Development Plan it’s identified as a key crop and it’s a key crop. When you look at the returns per hectare compared to other crops, there is definitely more value in tobacco production than there is in other cash crops.”
He stressed that Zambia produced quality tobacco albeit “it’s a small volume production.”
“The land availability is good; far much better than Zimbabwe which is the largest producing country of Virginia tobacco in this part of the world,” he said.
On sustainability of the business and its impact on the environment, Matakala said: “For JTI we take environmental issues seriously. Over the past four, five years we have been implementing a number of projects; we are planting trees and we’ve also started investing in more efficient tobacco curing facilities.”
“So, in terms of wood loads (planted trees for using to cure tobacco), we’ve got about 1,750 wood loads which are established and each wood load has 200 trees. Over the next three years, all our farmers will have a wood load, starting this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Matakala disclosed that in terms of tonnage for Virginia in 2017, “we had 4.6 million Kgs and that was [from] 3,500 growers. Then for this year we’ve got about 4,185 growers and tonnage [is estimated to be] 5.8 million Kgs.”
Labels: JAPAN, LAND REFORM, TOBACCO
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Japan team to explore mining opportunities in Zambia
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Wed 05 Feb. 2014, 14:00 CAT
JAPANESE parliamentary vice-minister of economy, trade and industry, Yashihiko Isozaki says his country will this year send a high-level delegation to Zambia to explore mining opportunities in the country.
Speaking during a meeting with mines, energy and water development minister, Christopher Yaluma, on the sidelines of the ongoing 20th annual Investing in Africa Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, Yashihiko said Japanese companies were showing interest in investing in Zambia's mineral resources.
He said Japan's four basic initiatives for Africa included resource investment promotion and infrastructure improvement, which involved dispatching fact-finding missions, human resource development and sustainable resource development through sharing legal experiences and technological developments in curbing mine pollution.
And Yaluma said Zambia needed Japanese assistance in areas, such as capacity building to sustain the mining industry, saying there was serious lack of it in both financial and human resource.
"That is why I feel elated on your pronouncement of sending a team to come and look at mining investment," he said. This is according to a statement issued by first secretary for press and public relations at Zambia's High Commission in South Africa, Patson Chilemba.
Yashihiko agreed with Yaluma, further saying that Japan was hoping to develop projects; working with trained Zambian engineers in unexplored areas such as oil and gas as well as mineral exploration.
Yaluma said Zambia was trying to move into a new direction where mining companies would not just focus on mining, but should consider addressing social needs of the communities they operated in, to which minister Isozaki affirmed.
Yashihiko also asked Yaluma for Zambia's support over the decision by Japan to run for the United Nations (UN) Security Council seat for non-permanent members in 2015.
Yaluma said he would bring the issue to the attention of foreign affairs minister, Wylbur Simusa and Cabinet.
Yaluma yesterday led the Zambian delegation, which included mines deputy minister, Richard Musukwa and deputy high commissioner to South African Joe Kaunda, during the official opening of the Indaba at Cape Town Convention centre. He was also expected to deliver a speech during the four-day event which had attracted thousands of delegates from across the globe.
Labels: JAPAN, MINING, YASHIHIKO ISOZAKI
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(HERALD ZW) . . . I am not a dictator
Monday, 03 June 2013 00:11
Lovemore Chikova in YOKOHAMA, Japan
President Mugabe says he is not a dictator but is being smeared by Western countries because of the land reform programme that addressed colonial injustices through dispossessing white farmers of excess land.
Speaking in separate interviews with Kyodo News, NHK News and Asahi Shimbun newspaper, all of Japan, yesterday, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said Zimbabwe has followed the tenets of democracy since independence.
“They say I am a dictator because we took land from the Europeans,” President Mugabe said. “But we had an agreement with the British government that there would be land reform and acquisition.
“We have held elections from day one and every five years we have been holding elections. (Tony) Blair (former British prime minister) said he wanted to appeal to Europe politically by telling them that we were violating democracy, violating human rights and the rule of law. He then appealed to Europe to support him to impose sanctions on us.”
President Mugabe said Zanu-PF stood for people’s rights.
“So, how does one become a dictator when one says we take our land because you do not want to pay compensation, you Mr Blair,” he said.
“We stand for people’s rights and don’t forget the people fought for the land and died for it. We had thousands of people killed in massive bombings. One incident claiming as many as 700 lives. We used to bury them in mass graves in Mozambique and Zambia.”
President Mugabe said he never imprisoned any Briton for political reasons, yet he was imprisoned for 11 years because he was fighting for independence.
He said people would vote freely in the harmonised elections expected on or before July 31.
“There will be no violence,” he said. “We do not want to mete out violence on our people. What for?”
President Mugabe said he would retire when the appropriate time comes.
“You do not talk of retirement when elections are coming, do you?” he said. “You want me to retire? Retirement will come when the occasion demands it. But just now we are going to fight to beat the sanctions and to disgrace the Europeans and the Americans who thought we will collapse.
“Yes, I have thought about retirement, but not when the British are saying we want regime change. I won’t be changed by the British, my people will change me.”
President Mugabe said he would go on as long as Zimbabweans want him to continue.
“I do not retire from their government (Europeans), I am a Zimbabwean serving Zimbabwean people,” he said, “If my people say I must retire, I retire. But they still want me to go on. So, who is saying I must retire? The same enemies who imposed sanctions on me? That’s the more reason why I will not retire and will not die also,’’ he said.
President Mugabe attributed his longevity to strong genes and adherence to a strict exercise regimen.
He said the inclusive Government was not workable, likening it to putting together water and fire.
President Mugabe said the MDC was formed with the help of the British to extinguish the fire of the revolution.
He said Europeans who imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe were being surprised by the country’s resilience.
“People of Europe are surprised why we are still alive,” he said. “They thought we were going to die, all of us, and this ‘monster’ called Robert Mugabe, they announced how many deaths of me? I don’t know now.
“I have ceased to count how many times they have said he has died, but here you are seeing me. I am not a ghost after dying so many times. A ghost of a ghost, of a ghost.”
President Mugabe said he pointed out to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their bilateral meeting on Saturday that after warming up to Zimbabwe in the early years of independence, Japan had suddenly gone cold.
“I remarked to the Prime Minister that we thought they were being influenced by Europe which had imposed sanctions on us,” he said.
“We didn’t understand why Japan should act in the same way as Europe and even withdrawing some financial grants.”
President Mugabe said Mr Blair, whom he could “not credit with much wisdom” was responsible for misleading other nations about Zimbabwe.
But he said he was not isolated from the world because of the sanctions since Europe did not represent the whole world.
“The world’s two biggest countries China and India, over a billion people each, and the whole of Asia I can visit any country and so its not isolation,” he said.
“What do I have to do with those robbers of Europe? They lived on our natural resources, depended on our gold. Now they have exhausted their natural resources. Africa still has plenty of natural resources and my country still has plenty of natural resources.”
President Mugabe also had courtesy calls from some Japanese organisations and companies at his hotel.
Speaking after meeting him, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation president Hirobumi Kawano said they were interested in bringing minerals exploration equipment to Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabwe is famous and rich in mineral resources and we want to enhance our cooperation in that area,” he said.
AFRECO president Mr Tetsuro Yano said he held a successful meeting with the President centred on investment in the manufacturing sector.
President Mugabe also met with Kaidaren Committee on Southern Africa chairperson Mr Yutaka Kase and discussed water and sewer reticulation infrastructure issues that need urgent attention.
He later met with Japan-African Parliamentary Friendship League chairperson Mr Ichiro Aizawa.
Labels: JAPAN, ROBERT MUGABE
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Zambia is headed for prosperity - Kuwabara
By Mukosha Funga
Tue 30 Oct. 2012, 13:50 CAT
JAPANESE deputy ambassador to Zambia Atsushi Kuwabara says he is confident that Zambia is on its way to meaningful economic development if people work hard and persevere. In an interview, Ambassador Kuwabara said human education was the key to development.
"I understand that one of the top priorities of the current Zambian government is human education, so I think if things go well, this country will prosper in the near future," he said.
"Education should be the central focus because no country can develop without it and it cannot sustain development. Human resource is very important because everything is based on it."
Ambassador Kuwabara said in order to encourage people to develop a culture of hard work, it was important to empower them with incentives.
"People react to incentives. So if there is a better policy framework, and opportunities, people will work hard. In order to improve the work culture and work ethics, incentives must be made attractive," Ambassador Kuwabara said.
He said for any country to develop, it took hard work and perseverance.
"For example, Japan has been regarded as a country that produced fake products; when Americans saw a Japanese product, they said it was very bad quality but after 2-3 decades of hard work, we have been regarded as the ones with the most sophisticated products. So as long as people are educated, they persevere, there can be a change in just 2-3 decades," Ambassador Kuwabara said.
He also said with the help of international communities like Japan, Zambia would be able to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
"It is important that also those in businesses, not just the government, should communicate and understand the importance of MDGS," said Ambassador Kuwabara.
Labels: AMBASSADOR, ATSUSHI KUWABARA, JAPAN
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Sata leaves for Japan
By Bivan Saluseki in Tokyo, Japan
Mon 08 Oct. 2012, 14:30 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata is this week expected on a working visit here where he will have a series of meetings with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, including the Emperor Michiko and Empress Akihito at the imperial palace.
According to an evolving programme, President Sata will also have meetings with officials from Keidanren - Japan's Federation of the Private Sector, Hitachi executives and the president of Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).
He is then expected to meet African ambassadors, chief executives of Toyota and attend a reception hosted by the Japanese government, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
President Sata will also visit Hokkaido University and other agricultural projects before attending mass at Kita Ichijo Catholic Church in Hokkaido.
About half of the milk in Japan is produced in the vast, scenic countryside of Hokkaido, the largest of Japan's 47 prefectures and northernmost of Japan's four main islands.
Cows are a symbol of this prefecture with souvenirs, locally produced snacks with bovine-inspired packaging.
The Japanese government is hoping to attract tourists by seizing the chance to promote Japan at the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group, which begins in Tokyo tomorrow.
With the public and private sector acting together, the government aims to showcase the attractiveness of the nation's culture through various events.
The government also aims to restore the image of Japan, which was damaged following the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent disasters.
The annual meetings - being held in Tokyo for the first time in 48 years - are formal gatherings of financial and central bank chiefs from the 188-member countries and make up the highest decision-making bodies of the two organisations.
About 20,000 people involved in the meetings are expected to visit the country.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened up in view of the IMF/World Bank meetings with more than 5,000 police officers and some sniffer dogs to sanitise public places.
Security officials said the deployment was a precaution against terrorist attacks and sporadic protests.
Labels: JAPAN, MICHAEL SATA
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Japan keen to restore Zim ties
Saturday, 25 August 2012 00:00
Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
JAPAN is keen to restore its relations with Zimbabwe that had slumped over the past 10 years after the Western imposed illegal sanctions on Harare. A Japanese business delegation led by Vice Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Toshiyuki Kato, met Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Youth Development, Indeginisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere on Thursday.
The meetings were aimed at exploring how business relations could be restored.
In his opening remarks, Minister Mumbengegwi said although Japan had not imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe, its conduct was not in any way different from what the West had done on Harare.
“We have been wondering whether Japan had made undeclared sanctions on Zimbabwe. With your visit it shows that Japan is ready to do business with us . . . we want to restore relations with Japan to the level in which it was during the first 20 years of independence before we embarked on our land reform programme when sanctions were imposed,” said Minister Mumbengegwi.
He said the two countries used to enjoy good bilateral relations during the first 20 years.
Mr Kato said his country was keen to work together with Zimbabwe.
“Now it is time to work together and see what opportunities there are for us. I really appreciate that we discuss areas where we can co-operate,” said Mr Kato speaking through an interpreter.
During their meeting with Minister Kasukuwere, the business delegation sought to understand the indigenisation regulations and how they impacted on foreigners.
Minister Kasukuwere explained that there had been a lot of distortions about the Government’s legal position on the matter by some sections of the media.
“There has been deliberate distortion on the policy to paint this policy in bad light. There is no country that can develop when its citizens are outside the mainstream of the economy,” said Minister Kasukuwere.
He said it was critical to have an inclusive economy where indigenous persons participate in the investment activities of their country.
“It is not a law that takes away what you would have brought to Zimbabwe. No. This law is not punitive but encourages Zimbabweans to be in entrepreneurship,” he said.
The business delegation comprised mining, energy, communications, and Toyota motor industry among others.
Labels: JAPAN, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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Zambians are hungry for development, says Suba
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Sun 25 Mar. 2012, 12:59 CAT
ZAMBIANS are hungry for development and want it at the speed of light, says In'gutu Suba. And Japanese Counsellor and head of economic corporation at the Embassy of Japan Atsushi Kuwabara says infrastructure development has been his country's major issue since the launched of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in 1993.
In a speech read on her behalf by Livingstone town clerk Vivian Chikoti at the close of the NEPAD-OECD African initiative's private public partnership training programme at New Fairmount Hotel, Suba said the government needed a new crop of civil servants that understood the Public Private Partnership concept.
"We need o embrace new innovative ways that will help speed up social and economic development in Zambia. Time is of essence if we are to progress as a country. We need to begin to implement developmental programmes at the speed of light. Our people are hungry for development," Suba said.
She said Zambians were looking up to professionals for developmental processes.
"Zambia has lagged behind in development for too long. Probably this PPP training programme is the panacea that can deliver us from this evil of underdevelopment. It is never too late perhaps this is the right time to saw the seed of development," Suba said.
Kuwabara said next year's TICAD conference would focus much on the private sector's infrastructure development such as reliable transport.
"Japan is working on enhancing its investment in Africa which led to the formation of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAP) to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners," Kuwabara said.
Labels: AMBASSADOR, DEVELOPMENT, JAPAN
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Mpundu Trust Account
TIME PUBLISHED - Tuesday, December 6, 2011, 8:32 am
President Michael Sata has instructed the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the US$ 1 million held in Mpundu Trust Account. The directive comes in the wake of revelations that Mpundu Trust has unexplained funds in one of the banks in the country.
“Information we have received is that Mpundu Trust is holding over US$1 million with one of our local banks. Considering the colossal amounts involved in this bank transaction, I strongly believe that it’s only fair and prudent for the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), in liaison with other law enforcement agencies to professionally and systematically investigate this matter,” President Sata said.
“Let it be known from the onset that the decision to probe Mpundu Trust is without malice or ill-motive but to simply set the record straight by ensuring that the due process of the law applies. We promised the Zambian people that accountability, transparency and fairness before the law will be the bedrock of our administration, this is what we are doing.”
In another related development, President Sata has directed the Minister of Finance, Hon. Alexander Chikwanda to ensure that billions of Government revenue which is lying idle in one of the local bank is reclaimed by the Ministry of Finance.
“There is a balance of K12.2 billion GRZ funds that must be moved to the Ministry of Finance Treasury Accounts and I want this to be done as soon as possible,” says the President.
Meanwhile, President Sata has expressed deep regret and sorrow at the death of Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan Dr. Mbikusita Wamundila Lewanika.
“Our dear brother, Dr Lewanika served this country diligently and devotedly in various government portfolios and this loss will definitely be felt by many,” the President said.
“Kindly convey on behalf of the People and Government of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the deceased’s family and friends.”
The President has authorised Her Excellency Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, Zambia’s Ambassador to Brussels, who is also the deceased’s elder sister to travel to Tokyo on government expense to help with arrangements to repatriate the remains of the late diplomat.
Dr Lewanika died yesterday at 01:00 PM Tokyo time
Labels: AMBASSADOR, INONGE MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA, JAPAN, MICHAEL SATA
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Japan launches direct investment in Zambia
By Mutale Kapekele
Fri 03 June 2011, 08:40 CAT
JAPAN has launched its first-ever major foreign direct investment into Zambia
through Hitachi Construction Machinery’s re-manufacturing factory whose
construction commenced yesterday.
President Rupiah Banda, who attended the ground breaking ceremony to mark the
commencement of the Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) re-manufacturing
factory in Lusaka, received an excavator from the company as a gift.
HCM is the largest manufacturer of construction, mining and earth-moving
equipment in the world and boasts of a global presence.
In his speech at the occasion, President Banda said the US$ 15 million
investment into the construction phase of the project was evidence that Zambia
was still an attractive business destination.
President Banda said it was exciting that Hitachi had picked Zambia as a
regional hub for its products.
“If this project succeeds, the company shall undertake an expansion programme
that will extend their services to other major industrial entities in the
region,” President Banda said. “I am made to understand that Zambia and the
entire region have never had the kind of technology Hitachi is proposing.
With this development, I am certain that Zambia shall become the front runner for earth moving equipment parts in the region. This project will benefit the
country through job creation and transfer of technology.”
He said although Zambia enjoyed a warm and cordial relationship with Japan, the
level of investments from the latter still remained low and that the coming of
Hitachi could attract other Japanese companies into the country.
“Zambia still offers huge investment opportunities in the tourism, agriculture,
manufacturing, mining and other sectors,” said President Banda. “In addition,
the multi-facility economic zones that Zambia is currently developing offer
opportunities for value addition activities. I wish to encourage Japanese
investors to tap into this great potential.”
Speaking earlier, Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Akio Egawa described Hitachi’s
coming to Zambia as a memorable moment. Ambassador Egawa said although Japan
currently faced major economic and social challenges presented by the earthquake
and tsunami disaster, it will still continue to assist Zambia in every possible
way.
And Hitachi vice-president Yukio Arima asked for continued government support
and said his company had passion and strong will to invest in Zambia.
Labels: FDI, JAPAN
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Don’t frustrate investors,Mutati tells Zambians
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 16:20
Commerce,Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati has urged Zambians not to frustrate investors coming into the country
Mr. Mutati said government has worked hard to bring investors in the country warning that if frustrated investors can leave the country for other countries.
He also noted that there is need to address the bureaucracy that seems to be having a negative impact on investment. Mr. Mutati pointed out that certain government ministries should ensure that bureaucratic tendencies that surround investment are well sorted out.
Speaking in Lusaka this morning when he met a Japanese business delegation, Mr. Mutati states that government would keep on working hard to attract more investment into the country for the benefit of the Zambians.
Mr. Mutati has since thanked Japan for choosing Zambia to explore investment
opportunities in the various sectors.
He said Japanese investment would further attract other countries to invest in Zambia because of its global dominance.
Mr Mutati said government welcomes such investment because it is aimed at creating jobs for Zambians.
And Japanese ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura has praised Zambia’s steady progress in economic growth.
Mr. Mitamura said Japan remains committed to help Zambia to attract investment from Japan.
He has further praised Zambia for the way it managed the effects of the global economic downturn last year.
And Japanese business delegation leader George Hara said the team is in the country to help contribute to infrastructure development.
He noted that once settled, the business delegation will help the country achieve economic growth.
[QFM]
Labels: FDI, FELIX MUTATI, JAPAN, NEOCOLONIALISM
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Japanese firm to help Zambia find mineral deposits
By Fridah Zinyama
Wed 02 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
JAPANESE Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura has said a Japanese company has planned to work with the Zambian government to accurately map out areas which have mineral resources but not yet identified.
Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Cooperation (JOGMEC) have state-of-the-art Remote Sensing technology which can be used for surface detection of minerals. During a press briefing at the Japanese embassy on Monday, ambassador Mitamura said he was hoping to encourage more Japanese investors to come and invest in Zambia.
“Japan is currently the only country in the world that has this kind of technology (Remote Sensing) and we are transferring this technology to our co-operating partners in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region,” he said.
Ambassador Mitamura explained that although Zambia had managed to map out most of the areas in the country which had different mineral resources, other areas could be discovered using the Remote Sensing technology.
“JOGMEC currently has its Geological Remote Sensing Centre in Botswana and is offering training to SADC member countries on using this technology,” he said.
Ambassador Mitamura said so far, four Zambian geological engineers from the Geological Survey department had received training on the new technology.
“We are particularly interested in Zambia because of the vast mineral resources that the country has,” said Ambassador Mitamura.
Labels: JAPAN, MINING
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ACC probes new envoy to Japan
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 3:41:46 PM
THE Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating newly-appointed Ambassador to Japan for alleged abuse of office and corrupt practices. According to government sources, Dr Lewanika is being investigated over his appointing of managers to implement the US $24 million donor-funded Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS) project contrary to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the government of Zambia and cooperating partners [donors].
ACC acting director general Rosewin Wandi confirmed the investigations.
"But I don't think it is fair to divulge further details because that will jeopardise the inquiry, but the inquiry is open and ongoing," Wandi said.
According to the MoU signed between the government of Zambia and cooperating partners [donors], adequate and qualified IFMIS managers must be competitively recruited originally and that they should not be civil servants.
But Dr Lewanika last year, during the time he served as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance, removed the managers that were competitively recruited and replaced them with civil servants without following guidelines such as advertising for the vacancies and informing the cooperating partners, who are supposed to issue a notice of objection or no objection when IFMIS managers were recruited.
But last week when contacted for comment, Dr Lewanika referred all queries to Secretary to the Treasury, Likolo Ndalamei.
"Basically I have no comment, as you know I am no longer PS [permanent secretary] but ask the ST [secretary to the treasury], anyway there is nothing new with this matter [allegations], maybe The Post newspapers have friends at IFMIS who are telling you lies, but to me the nation is more important than individuals, so just do your homework and research properly," said Dr Lewanika.
The overall objective of the IFMIS project was to contribute to the efforts of the government in improving capacity to effectively and efficiently mobilise and utilise public resources [improve public expenditure management] and to strengthen overall financial accountability.
This development would have entailed the ministry of finance headquarters and the office of the Auditor General to be able to monitor all accounting procedures in ministries and government departments around the country.
And phase one of the project was to commence ‘go live’ in April 2008 on a pilot basis involving eight sites, that is five ministries, two provinces and one spending agency.
However, Dr Lewanika decided without following procedures to terminate the contracts of three key and competitively recruited IFMIS managers namely, Dr Douglas Kunda, Christopher Kasaro and Harry Pelekelo and replaced them with civil servants, against the MoU [signed with donors] and the 2003 Cabinet circular on terms and conditions of service for seconded government officers.
"This development affected and to date has affected IFMIS project implementation, since the appointment of new managers Joel Ukwimi, Innocent Mututa and Francis Mwale, delayed the commencement because they were new people and the learning process had to start all over again hence delaying the project that had reached advanced stages with a two months to ‘go live’ and this learning process is continuing and no specific date of implementation has been set," the source said.
The sources said Dr Lewanika's appointment of Ukwimi, Mututa and Mwale was not advertised and the donors were not informed, therefore the trio, who are still civil servants, were not competitively recruited.
The sources further accused Dr Lewanika of not obtaining approval from the Public Service Management Division when appointing civil servants to projects outside their job description.
"The MoU and the 2003 Cabinet circular on secondment were not followed when appointing these people, since these positions were supposed to be advertised, people competitively apply and be interviewed and a no objection be issued by the cooperating partners funding the IFMIS project and the people taking these positions were supposed to be highly qualified," said the source.
Labels: ACC, AMBASSADOR, IFMIS, JAPAN
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ZABS appoints Japanese agency for vehicles inspection
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 4:54:07 PM
ZAMBIA Bureau of Standards (ZABS) has appointed a Japanese agency to carry out mandatory roadworthiness inspection on all imported used motor vehicles effective May 14, 2009.
The inspection, which is aimed at minimising the risk of unsafe and sub-standard vehicles that enter the Zambian market, would attract a fee of K756,342.
Announcing the development in Lusaka, ZABS director Mataa Mukelebai said all imported used motor vehicles would have to meet mandatory requirements of the Zambian standard ZS 560 for roadworthiness.
He explained that in December 2006, the Zambian standard ZS 560 for road vehicles-inspection and testing of used motor vehicles for roadworthiness was declared compulsory.
“To this effect, it is a requirement that all imported used motor vehicles meet the requirements of this standard and ZABS has appointed the Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre as its agency to carry out pre-shipment inspections for road worthiness inspection of all used motor vehicles from Japan, United Kingdom, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and South Africa destined for Zambia,î Mukelebai said. “This inspection has been initiated to minimize the risk of unsafe and substandard vehicles entering the Zambian market, thus ensuring public health and safety and environmental protection in Zambia, so all exporters, importers and other stakeholders of used motor vehicles must meet the requirements of this important safety pre-export inspection."
Labels: JAPAN, MATAA MUKELEBAI, ROADS, ZABS
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Government asks Japan to help develop City of Lusaka
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 15:26
Government has asked the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to help implement the Lusaka city master plan, which is aimed at urban development for the greater city of Lusaka under the vision 2030.
Lusaka City Council Director of Engineering Services, Bonwell Lwanga disclosed this during a press briefing in Lusaka today saying the local authority was now waiting for response from JICA.
Mr. Lwanga said under the master plan, the council will embark on water and sanitation, public transport and infrastructure and improved environment projects.
He said the three projects were part of the urban development for the greater city of Lusaka, which would among other things reduce traffic, decongest the city and developing other less developed areas within the city.
Mr. Lwanga said the projects will also include developing the surrounding districts of Lusaka such as Chibombo, Kafue, and Chongwe.
He said US$ 45 million will be required for the first phase of the project that will involve the construction of inner ring roads in Lusaka.
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) says the environmental assessment of the Lusaka master plan might start in June this year and the implementation will start immediately the assessment is completed.
ZANIS/GP/KSH/ENDS
Labels: CONSTRUCTION, JAPAN, LCC, TOWN PLANNING
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COMMENT - This is what I mean when I say that nearly all the money gets stuck at the ministerial level. I want the ministry of Finance and National Planning to have electricity, but $48 million sounds like a lot of money to spend just on a ministry. That is two times the budget for the Ministry of Technology and Vocational Training.
Zambia receives K274bn loan from Japan
Written by Florence Bupe
Friday, March 27, 2009 6:04:05 AM
THE Japanese government has provided a
K274 billion (approximately US $48 million) Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan to Zambia for the implementation of the Increased Access to Electricity Services Project.
The two governments yesterday signed an exchange of notes for
the electrification project at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning in Lusaka.
During the signing ceremony, finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane said limited access to electricity services was a major factor undermining the pace and scope of rural development.
“The limited access to electricity services has been a major factor that has been undermining the pace and scope of rural development. This has hindered the growth of income generating activities and incapacitated government’s ability to provide public services in rural and peri- urban areas,” said Dr Musokotwane.
The Increased Access to Electricity Services Project is a five-year deliberate intervention embarked on by the government under the Rural Electrification Project to address the challenges hindering the smooth distribution of electricity in the country.
And Japanese charge d’affaires Toshihiko Horiuchi said access to electricity was a prerequisite to the eradication of poverty in Zambia.
“The government of Japan considers access to electricity as a critical prerequisite to the eradication of poverty in Zambia by stimulating economic and social development in rural areas,” he said.
Horiuchi explained that this was the first ODA loan provided to Zambia since 1992.
“The Japanese government has not extended an ODA loan to Zambia since 1992 because the Zambian government was suffering from heavy indebtedness. However, following Zambia’s attainment of the HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Countries) point in 2005, we are now able to resume the provision of ODA loans to Zambia,” said Horiuchi.
Labels: DEBT, ELECTRIFICATION, JAPAN, MINISTRIES
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Japan urges Zimbabwe to form all-inclusive govt
Ralph Nkomo
Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:47:00 +0000
JAPAN has urged Zanu PF and the opposition MDC factions to form the all-inclusive Government after the gazetting of Constitutional Amendment Number 19 Bill and help put to an end the humanitarian and political crisis in the country.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital, Harare the Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Koichi Morita said the inclusive Government is the answer to some of the challenges facing the country and those in the opposition should take up positions they agreed on.
“We urge all the parties in Zimbabwe to form an inclusive Government as agreed on September 15,” said the ambassador.
“My country believes that an inclusive Government is the only answer to the challenges being faced by the people of Zimbabwe,” he added.
Morita, who presented his credentials to President Mugabe in October this year, was referring to the September 15 Global Political Agreement signed by the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change and the ruling Zanu PF party.
Under the Agreement, the leader of the larger MDC-T formation, Morgan Tsvangirai becomes Prime Minister and Professor Arthur Mutambara of the smaller MDC formation, become Deputy Prime Minister.
At his appointment ambassador Morita urged Harare and London to resolve their dispute for the sake of the Zimbabwean people.
He said the dispute between Britain and Zimbabwe was not insurmountable and expressed optimism that relations between the two countries would normalize in the near future.
Ambassador Morita’s sentiments follow similar echoes by the Sadc Chair, South African President Motlanthe, who said he expected the all-inclusive Government to be formed this week.
Labels: JAPAN, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, ZIMBABWE
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Japan to invest $2bn in emerging markets
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 6:01:40 PM
THE Japanese government has devised a plan to invest US $ 2 billion to help recapitalise banks in smaller emerging markets such as Zambia.
According to a communique issued after a meeting between Japanese finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa and World Bank president Robert Zoellick, Japan would become a key founding partner in a World Bank fund created to support and help recapitalise banks in smaller emerging markets.
The World Bank in Zambia has since projected an increase in its annual lending from US $19 billion to US $35 billion due to the recent international financial crisis.
Japan’s contribution would be the first to the fund, which was announced last week by Zoellick as part of the World Bank’s response to the crisis that includes a substantial increase in financial support for developing countries.
Zoellick explained that as part of the larger response to the financial crisis, the World Bank has included a substantial increase in financial support for developing countries.
“The fund aims to inject capital into banks in smaller emerging markets, which may suffer as investment flows decline in the wake of the global financial crisis because this will particularly hurt small and medium-sized enterprises,” stated Zoellick.
And Nakagawa stated that Japan’s investment of US $2 billion is a sign of the strong partnership between the Japanese government and the World Bank Group.
He stated that the contribution would be made through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and would mark the successful launch of the fund.
“We highly appreciate the World Bank’s response to the financial crisis and this initiative to recapitalise banks is similar to the domestic measures we are taking to stimulate the Japanese economy,” stated Nakagawa.
The World Bank has pledged to increase financial support for developing countries, including the launch or expansion of four facilities for the crisis-hit private sector that is critical to employment, recovery and growth.
Labels: DEVELOPMENT, INVESTMENT, JAPAN
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'Willpower is necessary to defeat poverty'
By Editor
Friday May 09, 2008 [04:00]
It will not be possible for us to defeat poverty and develop without increasing or restoring the confidence of our people in themselves. To restore the confidence of our people in themselves is only the first step in a long march towards eradicating poverty and developing our country.
We have a great country, but developing it will require a lot of effort, hard work and sacrifice. And this must be made clear to all our people and their political leaders. Our people and their leaders must be helped to remain modest, prudent and free from arrogance and rashness in their style of work.
But on what basis should our policies and efforts in trying to defeat poverty and develop rest? It should rest on our own strength, and that means eradicating poverty and developing our country through our own efforts.
However, no country in the world can overcome or solve all its problems by itself; we need the help and support of others; we need friends to help us. Nevertheless, we should stress in everything we do the need for eradicating poverty and developing our country through our own efforts. Relying on the forces and efforts we ourselves organise, we can defeat poverty.
We should stand for self-reliance. It is not wrong for us to hope for foreign aid but we should not depend on it; we should depend on our own efforts, on the creative power of our people and their leaders.
Dependence is a terrible disease and it kills all our initiatives. There is need for us to change our attitudes and start to believe that we can solve our problems with very little, or without, outside help. This dependence syndrome we have today must disappear if we are to see a reversal of fortunes. By dependence syndrome we mean an attitude and belief that we cannot solve our problems without outside help. And this is a weakness that is made worse by charity or aid.
For instance, if an outside agency comes to a community and constructs a human settlement facility, like water supply, it is natural for the community members to see it as belonging to the outside agency. When that outside agency goes away or runs out of funds, the community members will have no motivation to repair and maintain the facility, or to sustain the service in order for the facility to be used, and used effectively, by the community members.
In order for the facility to be maintained and sustained, the community members must have a sense of responsibility for the facility.
Unless the community as a whole has been involved in decision making about the facility – planning and management – and has willingly contributed to the cost of its construction, the sense of responsibility or ownership will be missing. It will not be effectively used, maintained or sustained. It is impossible to build a human settlement facility or service and not expect that it has to be repaired and maintained. That is like trying to eat once and for all.
Whereas it was once thought that community self-reliance in itself was a good thing, it promoted grassroots democracy, human rights, self-development and human dignity, now it has gone much further than that. If communities cannot become more and more self-reliant and empowered, they will simply not develop, and so poverty and apathy will eventually destroy them. Therefore, countering dependence should receive a lot of attention. Dependence must be reduced in every action we take.
And when one looks at the way our national economy is managed, there is very little, or no democracy at all, in this sphere. The involvement of our people in national economic decisions and policies and the way they are implemented is very low. The donors literally make the decisions and arrange things in such a way as to make them appear as though they are ours. But in reality, all that we are implementing is donor policies.
We should carry on constant propaganda among the people on the facts of world progress and the bright future ahead so that they will build their confidence in themselves and their efforts. At the same time, we must tell the people that there will be twists and turns in our road. There are still many obstacles and difficulties on the road of progress in eradicating poverty.
We should assume that the difficulties will be many, for we should prefer to assume there will be more difficulties rather than fewer. Some of our people and our leaders do not like to think much about difficulties. But difficulties are facts; we must recognise as many difficulties as there are and should not adopt a policy of non-recognition.
We must recognise difficulties, analyse them and combat them. There are no straight roads in the world; we must be prepared to follow a road which twists and turns and not to try to get things on the cheap. It must not be imagined that one fine morning all our poverty will go away through the help of donors and the investments of foreign entrepreneurs.
We have done crazy things in many areas of our country’s economic management. We have left too many decisions in the hands of donors and foreign investors. For instance, today a few foreign companies determine which minerals should be discovered and put up for mining. We have no say on what should be mined and in what quantities; it’s all left in the hands of foreign private investors. They are the ones determining our future. This doesn’t make sense. This is ridiculous. This is carelessness.
In a word, while the prospects are bright, the road has twists and turns. There are still many difficulties ahead which we must not overlook. But if our leaders unite with all our people in a common effort, we can certainly overcome all difficulties and defeat poverty and achieve high levels of development.
Anyone who sees only the bright side but not the difficulties cannot fight poverty effectively.
The wealth of a society is created by the workers, peasants and working intellectuals. If they take their destiny into their own hands and take an active attitude in solving problems instead of evading them, there will be no difficulties in the world which they cannot overcome.
We therefore agree with the remarks made by our Japanese friends urging us to develop a strong will power if we are to defeat poverty and develop our country. We should also heed their advice on dependence.
Our people and their leaders must take all this fully into account and be prepared to overcome all difficulties with an indomitable will and in a planned way.
However, in times of difficulty, we must not lose sight of our achievements, must see the bright future and must pluck up our courage. In building new things, we often experience difficulties and setbacks. It is sheer fantasy to imagine that the cause of eradicating poverty and developing our country is all plain sailing and easy success, without difficulties and setbacks or the exertion of tremendous effort.
At certain times in any struggle, the difficulties outweigh the favourable conditions and so constitute the principal aspect of the contradiction and the favourable conditions constitute the secondary aspect. But through their efforts, our people and their leaders can overcome the difficulties step-by-step and open up a favourable new situation; thus a difficult situation gives way to a favourable one.
Moreover, what is work? Work is struggle. There are difficulties and problems in our efforts to eradicate poverty and develop our country which we must overcome and solve. We must work and struggle to overcome these difficulties. And a good leader and citizen is one who is more eager to go where the difficulties are greater.
It is time we realised that no one will develop this country for us; Zambia will primarily move forward through our own efforts and sacrifices.
Labels: JAPAN, POVERTY
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Strong willpower is necessary to defeat poverty - Japanese development
By Mutuna Chanda
Friday May 09, 2008 [04:00]
A STRONG willpower to defeat poverty is necessary for development, a Japanese development expert has observed. And Dr Kenneth Kaunda has said HIV/AIDS will be easy to defeat if poverty is eradicated. And Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura has said it is important for local people to take charge of donor-supported projects to enable them to continue after donors have pulled out.
In an interview on Wednesday, after the commemoration of the Participatory Village Development in Isolated Areas (PaVIDIA) day in Chongwe's Kalimansenga village, Takahiro Miyoshi observed the differences in the willpower between the Japanese during their times of underdevelopment and that of present day Zambians.
PaVIDIA is a Japanese government-supported project in collaboration with the Zambian government that promotes sustainable agriculture through the active participation of locals.
Miyoshi is chief advisor in village development of PaVIDIA.
"Japan used to be very poor but our ancestors had a very strong willpower," Miyoshi said. "So willpower is necessary for development. Unfortunately, in Zambia, currently because of the long history of colonialism there is so much of a dependency syndrome among the people but this is beginning to change when you compare with the time we started working on the PaVIDIA project in 2002."
Miyoshi said the mindset of people had changed from the time the project was introduced in various villages.
"When we started the PaVIDIA project, people used to think they were so poor but now there is a paradigm shift and they no longer think that they are poor," Miyoshi said.
However, he said Zambia needed to improve on its infrastructure to support the development of rural areas.
"Infrastructure will be necessary to encourage development because now resulting from poor roads, people can produce but may not be able to sell because they can't get a good market," said Miyoshi. "Also more schools are needed for people to learn and hospitals for healthcare."
And Dr Kaunda encouraged the villagers of Kalimansenga to work hard in the agriculture projects that the Japanese government was supporting.
"There's no more effective way of defeating poverty than working hard," said Dr Kaunda.
Ambassador Mitamura said the Japanese government had committed around US$4.5 million since 2002 to the PaVIDIA projects reaching out to over 56,491 villagers in four provinces in the country.
"In a typical case, financial and technical assistance has been provided for such activities as drilling of boreholes, training of instructors in the maintenance of boreholes, purchase of hammer mills, provision of two cows per village for animal draught power as well as facilitating the provision of building materials for food storage and community meeting facilities," said Ambassador Mitamura. "The project is meant to encourage villagers to exercise ownership of their development initiatives with relatively reasonable funds as start up capital.
The greatest merit of the project is that Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives staff are trained on how to manage the project so that it can continue to run even after the termination of support from the government of Japan."
Labels: DEVELOPMENT, JAPAN
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Japan to start single loaning system to developing countries
By Joan Chirwa in Nagoya, Japan
Thursday November 01, 2007 [03:00]
DEVELOPING countries will soon start receiving technical assistance loans and grants under one financing arrangement from the Japanese government. Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) Chubu director general Hiroshi Yoneda said streamlining loan and grant disbursement for technical co-operation to developing countries could enhance availability of resources.
“Unlike the current arrangement where JICA and the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) both provide technical loans and grants to developing countries, the new system will make us the largest bilateral development agency,” said Yoneda when 18 African journalists visited JICA Chubu on Tuesday. “It is important that money is put together and then given to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) for technical assistance. This loaning programme will be flexible.”
Yoneda said the single loaning system from the Japanese government would make available resources of about US $10 billion for 155 countries currently receiving aid from Japan.
He further said Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) was decreasing due to unsettled debt by some developing countries.
Most African countries will however not be affected by the trend since the Japanese government is making efforts to double technical and development aid to the continent by the end of this year.
In Zambia’s case, total Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the country up to Japan’s fiscal year 2005 totalled 49.49 billion Yen (approximately K1.6 trillion).
Japan has also provided debt cancellation of more than 74 billion Yen (approximately over K2.4 trillion) upon Zambia’s attainment of the HIPC completion point at the end of 2005.
“Japan’s ODA is not increasing, but it is rather decreasing because we have a lot of debt. Overall ODA is increasing but Japan’s contribution is decreasing,” Yoneda said. “However, there are countries that are really coming up such as the United Kingdom. Other European countries are also increasing ODA.”
Japan’s ODA last year dropped to US $11.6 billion from US $13.1 billion in 2005.
Its total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at US $4.3 trillion in 2006, ranked second after the United States of America (USA) whose total GDP in 2006 was recorded at US $13.2 trillion.
Japan is widely known for its technology and automobile industries, making it one of the world’s largest exporters of automobiles and other technological machinery.
Labels: DEVELOPMENT, JAPAN, JBIC, JICA, LOANS
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