CHINA AND ZAMBIA CELEBRATES LIBERATION ARMY DAY

By Daily News Reporter

Chinese Embassy in Zambia Holds Reception Celebrating the 97th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army

Wang Sheng, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, delivered a speech in which he reviewed the glorious history of the People's Liberation Army

On July 24th, the Chinese Embassy in Zambia held a reception, celebrating the 97th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Over 200 guests attended the event, including Zambia Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Nyoni, Minister of Lusaka Province Hon. Sheal Mulyata, senior officials from the Ministry of Defense, the Zambian three military services and the police service, members of the diplomatic corps in Zambia, representatives of Chinese enterprises and Chinese community in Zambia.

Wang Sheng, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, stated that this is a glorious history of the People's Liberation Army under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. He emphasized that the Chinese military has always been a strong force for world peace, highlighted the Three Global Initiatives, put forward by President Xi Jinping, and provided feasible pathways and solid support for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

He reaffirmed that China and Zambia will work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and continue to be partners in promoting a high-level community with shared future on their respective path of modernization.

Jiang Lei, the Defense Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, said that the Chinese military will continue to fulfill its solemn commitment to safeguarding peace, strengthen cooperation with Zambia in areas such as personnel training, military medicine, and equipment technology, and steadly advance the relationship between the two armed forces to new heights.

 

 

 

United Nations (UN) Tourism Shines a Light on Investment Prospects in Zambia

By Daily News Reporter

UN Tourism has launched a guide on sustainable tourism development in Zambia that identifies key sectors for investment. Titled “Tourism Doing Business—Investing in Zambia,” the guide aims to boost economic growth nationwide.

Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of UN Tourism, stated, “This publication will lead to greater prosperity, job creation, community empowerment, and SME expansion in Zambia. It offers a comprehensive overview of Zambia’s economic, political, and social landscape, highlighting the vast opportunities within Zambia’s tourism industry."

Rodney Simbuka, Minister of Tourism of Zambia, said: "Investment in tourism is pivotal not only for sustainable development, economic growth, job creation but also the preservation of our rich cultural heritage and the conservation of our natural resources creating opportunities for the local communities.”

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Zambia’s economic outlook is promising, with projected growth rates of 4.3% in 2023, 4.7% in 2024, and 4.8% in 2025. Zambia has maintained a steady growth rate of 3.2% over the past decade, demonstrating economic stability that exceeds the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 3.0%.

“Tourism Doing Business—Investing in Zambia,” outlines the opportunities for international investors, emphasizing: 

Zambia’s biodiversity and natural resources make it an attractive destination for investors, with 30% of its land (22.4 million hectares) dedicated to 20 national parks and green spaces.

Zambia shares borders with eight other countries. The location of this landlocked nation, along with its cultural diversity, with more than 70 ethno linguistic groups, are a few of its many merits.

Zambia has been ranked the 7th Best Country to do Business out of 54 African nations and the 1st for Ease of Obtaining Credit in Africa after celebrating 60 years of peace and stability.

Zambia offers attractive investment incentives, with 16 investment promotion and protection agreements currently in place.

 

 Is marketing effected by climate change

By Daily News Reporter

let us look at Consumer Preferences first

As climate concerns grow, consumers are increasingly seeking environmentally friendly products. This shift in demand pushes companies to market sustainable products and practices. Governments are implementing stricter regulations to combat climate change, which affects how companies market their products. Compliance with these regulations often becomes a key selling point.

Companies are focusing on building a green brand image to attract eco-conscious consumers. Marketing strategies now often include highlighting efforts to reduce carbon footprints and promote sustainability.

Marketing teams are involved in developing and promoting products with lower environmental impacts. This includes everything from sourcing sustainable materials to reducing packaging waste.

Marketers need to use their platforms to educate consumers about climate change and the importance of sustainable choices. This involves transparent communication about the environmental impact of products and corporate practices.

Overall, climate change is reshaping the marketing landscape, making sustainability a central theme in many marketing strategies. 

 Make cervical cancer prevention and control a priority-Ayong

By Daily news reporter

The Executive Director of Vital Voices for Africa (VVA) has called on African governments and development partners to make cervical cancer prevention and control a priority, 

Speaking at virtual space, a weekly event hosted by Being Africa Executive Director of Vital Voices for Africa Mr. Caleb Ayong stated that the is a major factor that discourages women from going for screening is the embarrassing fact that they must expose their private parts to a medical practitioner, whom in most cases, is a man.

And according to Medical experts has warned that early stages of cervical cancer have no symptoms, and most cases of the disease are only detected when they are at an advanced stage, where treatment is no longer possible. They therefore recommend regular screening to ensure early detection, when the condition can be completely treated.

In August 2020, the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Strategy for cervical cancer elimination, which aims to have countries reach and maintain an incidence rate of below 4 per 100 000 women by 2030. According to the WHO, achieving that goal rests on three key pillars and their corresponding targets. These targets are include getting 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15; 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45; and 90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed.

He has further noted that if HPV vaccination, and screening for cervical cancer are prioritised by governments and development partners if Africa, 

"we can effectively meet the WHO global strategy and eliminate the disease in the continent"

He stressed on the need to invest in making less intrusive screening methods more available and affordable so that more women can be comfortable getting screened. There are currently two approved screening methods for cervical cancer which are the commonly used pap smear undertaken by a healthcare professional, and the more expensive but self-applied HPV DNA.

“It is possible to eliminate cervical cancer, but it is not a priority for African governments and perhaps, development partners. I call on governments, international donors and development partners to take it upon themselves to make the eradication of cervical cancer a priority. It can be done, but it is not a priority. That is the problem.” said Caleb. 

“If we invest in making cervical cancer screening more user-friendly, and less intrusive, it could help get many more women screened across the continent. Once we can get more women screened, we will be able to identify cervical cancer at an early stage, and the automatic result is that we will have fewer cases where the disease reaches an advanced, fatal stage.” he added.

Using the example of the Roll Back Malaria initiative where massive investment continues to be made to sensitise populations on malaria prevention and control, and to provide mosquito bed nets to every household,

He has urged the partners and governments to undertake similar investments for cervical cancer eradication in Africa. 

“It is expensive, but the good thing is that it only concerns women. Moreso, women of a certain age. So why not target the age group, invest in these women and get them protected once and for all?” Caleb said.

The WHO states that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally with around 660 000 new cases and around 350 000 deaths in 2022. The highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality are in low- and middle-income countries. This can change if we invest in ensuring that HPV vaccines are available for every girl of vaccination age, the self-applicable and more efficient HPV DNA test is provided at least twice to every sexually active female as recommended by the WHO, and strategies are put in place to ensure effective screening and vaccination.

 Critical Minerals Africa (CMA) to Host Investment Forum Showcasing Opportunities in African Critical Minerals

CMA 2024 will take place under the theme Innovate. Enact. Invest in African Critical Minerals to Sustain Global Growth

By Daily News Reporter

Investment in African critical minerals are on the rise, with global entities acquiring assets, funding upstream projects and developing midstream and logistics facilities. Over the past three years, Zambia  ­– Africa’s second-largest copper producer – has recorded $10 billion in investments in its mining sector. These investments are pushing the country closer to its goal of increasing copper production to one million tons by 2026 and three million tons by 2030, with several new projects coming online. To promote opportunities and drive fresh investment across African markets, the upcoming Critical Minerals Africa Summit will feature a dedicated Investment Forum.

The Critical Minerals Africa 2024 summit on November 6 - 7 serves to position Africa as the primary investment destination for critical minerals. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2024 conference on November 4 - 8, offering delegates access to the full scope of energy, mining and finance leaders in Cape Town.

The Investment Forum will delve into investment opportunities across the spectrum of critical minerals and rare earth projects, highlighting how African governments are partnering with global stakeholders to create an enabling environment for market expansion.

Zambia introduced the Mineral Royalty Tax Reform in 2022 – reducing mineral royalty rates for investors – resulting in a surge of fresh investments. In June 2024, mining firm Jubilee Metals Group  acquired two operational copper mines to support efforts to increase activities at its Sable Refinery in Zambia. Canadian mining firm Ivanhoe Mines also announced that is investing in the expansion of a concentrator at the Kipushi Copper Mine, aiming to increase output to 960,000 tons of copper annually by 2030, up from 140,000 tons in 2024. The UAE’s International Resources Holding is providing $300 million to enhance copper production at Mopani Mines, following its acquisition of a 51% stake in a $1.1 billion deal in April 2024. The Investment Forum will showcase lucrative prospects for global investors within Zambia’s copper value chain.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe  banned the export of raw lithium in 2022 in a bid to attract investments across the midstream sector to value add its lithium output. The regulation aims to help the country account for 20% of global lithium demand, build a $12 billion economy by 2030 and has resulted in an influx in new investments and project launches. Mining revenue  has grown from $3.5 billion in 2020 to $9.77 billion in 2023, as a result. Mining firms including Rwizi Rukuru, Shengxiang Investments, Chengxin Lithium Group, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine Resource Group have invested in large-scale lithium processing facilities in 2023 and 2024. The Investment Forum will feature stakeholders from Zimbabwe’s critical mineral sector in panel discussions and exclusive networking sessions, highlighting investment opportunities across the mining value chain.

With the global demand for critical minerals set to increase by four times by 2030 – driven by increasing adoption of clean energy technologies – Africa, which holds 30% of the world’s total critical mineral reserves, is well positioned to attract global investors. South Africa holds 80% of the world’s platinum group metals, Morocco 70% of total phosphate, the Democratic Republic of Congo the world’s largest cobalt reserves, Guinea-Conakry the world’s second-largest bauxite reserves, and Gabon the world’s second-largest manganese resources. CMA will spotlight these resources and partnership opportunities available for global stakeholders as African countries unlock their full mineral potential for GDP growth.

“Africa’s critical mineral resources present an opportunity for the continent to forge partnerships on infrastructure development and economic growth with global investors. We hope to see an increase in investments flowing into Africa as global mining stakeholders capitalize on the continent’s vast resources and strategic locations to feed the global demand,” stated Rachelle Kasongo, Project Director at CMA-organizer, Energy Capital & Power.

 Zambia’s First lady Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema with Merck Foundation give AID  

By Daily News Reporter

The First Lady’s office Mutinta Hichilema in partnership with Merck Foundation has donated assorted items such as 6000 exercise books, stationary, 1, 700 school bags and 3,334 story books to Bundabunda Primary School in Musebo village of Chongwe District.

Technical Advisor to the First Lady, Shelly Tayali who represented the Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema  stated that the donation is expected to assist pupils at the school who do not have access to the necessary school materials.

Ms. Tayali’s emphasis on the importance of education for every child resonates deeply. Indeed, education serves as a powerful equalizer, opening doors to better lives and securing brighter futures. Her call to parents in the area to take advantage of the government’s free education policy is commendable. No child should be left behind.

Additionally, Ms. Tayali’s advocacy against child marriages aligns with the broader goal of safeguarding children’s rights. It’s heartening to see community engagement and efforts to address this critical issue. The proposal to dedicate specific days in each school term for advocacy on ending child marriages is a practical step forward.

Mr. Mubita’s appeal to the First Lady to assist girls and boys to demonstrates compassion and a commitment to making a positive impact. Girls and boys who struggle to attend school to give AID and challenges faced by some students. The donation of a new wheelchair by Mrs. Hichilema is a remarkable gesture that directly improves Grace’s access to education.

 

 

 

 

 NETONE TECHNOLOGIES TO TRANSFORM DIGITAL PLATFORM

By Daily news Reporter

Bejoy Nettikadan Executive officer of Netonehas said the institution has made an important first step for the technology space in Zambia as it totally transforms the sector by creating local skills, affordable devices and also opportunities for regional trade,

Recently NETONE Technologies was awarded an award and a certificate by Zambia revenue Authority (ZRA) for Complying ZRA’S regulations.

He stated that the institution is committed to provide innovative solutions and state-of-the-art IT services to its clients.

Nettikadan noted that focus on being customer-centric and tailoring solutions to meet clients’ needs is crucial.

“Having a cross-functional team with local expertise ensures effective collaboration with organizations of varying sizes and industry verticals. And of course, the emphasis on maximizing ROI through technology investments and digital initiatives is essential for business growth.” He added.

Speaking at business meeting in Lusaka Nettikadan stated that ZRA’s Smart Invoice is an electronic billing system implemented by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).

This software application can be installed on Windows-based desktop computers, laptops, or tablets. It allows users to create, customize, and manage transactions locally on their own devices. Suitable for all taxpayers except those with accounting packages.

Online Smart Invoice accessed through a web browser or online portal, this platform is ideal for service industry taxpayers who issue few invoices.

These systems integrate with Smart Invoice after certification. Suitable for taxpayers with accounting packages or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Integration is achieved through an interface with the Virtual Sales Data Controller (VSDC).

 

 

 ZAAB against this model is ill-suited for Zambia’s farmers

“It fails to support the country’s diverse food and farming system and limits adaptation to climate change……………... Nketani

By Daily News Reporter

Plant breeders' rights (PBR) or plant variety rights (PVR) are rights granted to the breeder of a new variety of plant that give the breeder exclusive control over the propagating material and harvested material of a new variety for a number of years.

Farmers’ Rights play a crucial role in shaping inclusive seed legislation. These rights recognize the essential contributions of farmers to agricultural biodiversity and the conservation of plant genetic resources. So Farmers have the right to save, use, exchange, and sell seeds from their own harvest. This practice helps maintain local crop diversity and adaptability.

And in addition farmers should be actively involved in decisions related to seed policies, research, and development. Their traditional knowledge and practices contribute significantly to sustainable agriculture.

Farmers should have access to diverse genetic resources, including traditional varieties. This access enables them to adapt to changing environmental conditions and improve crop resilience.

When commercial varieties are developed using farmers’ genetic resources, fair and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms should be in place. This ensures that farmers receive compensation for their contributions.

Farmers’ Rights protect against unfair practices such as seed patents and restrictive intellectual property rights that hinder farmers’ ability to save and exchange seeds.

And Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity (ZAAB) is against Zambia’s intention to join the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). They express concern about the undue influence of the UPOV secretariat in drafting Zambia’s new Bill.

According to ZAAB country coordinator Mutinta Nketani, stated that amending a sovereign law solely to further outside and private interests at the expense of national interests, particularly farmer’s rights, is unacceptable. The proposed amendments aim to align Zambia’s laws with the UPOV 1991 standards, but Nketani argues that this model is ill-suited for Zambia’s context. It fails to support the country’s diverse food and farming system and limits adaptation to climate change.

Nketani has urged the government to abandon efforts to pass, repeal, and adopt the proposed new Bill to officially join UPOV. Let them Facilitate an open and transparent national discussion on farmer’s rights.

“Develop and adopt a comprehensive legal framework to fully implement Zambia’s obligations regarding farmer’s rights” Nketani said.

She further said that if enacted, the Bill could pose a threat to Zambia’s agro-biodiversity, lead to increased seed prices, and potentially result in corporate control over the seed and food system. It’s essential to balance international standards with local needs and priorities. (© Copyright Reserved) 

 

 

Comprehensive sexuality education is not about sex

“Let us all provide youth with the right information on life skills and health education…………… Mutwale

By Daily news Reporter

Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA) which is a non-governmental organization dedicated to gender justice in the education sector. And to promote girls’ and women’s education across sub-Saharan Africa, aligning with the global Education for All agenda.

FAWEZA’s commitment to advancing education for women and girls is vital for achieving equitable and inclusive educational opportunities.

Programmes Manager Ivy Mutwale said this during media interaction in Lusaka that between 2020 and 2024, the reduction of teen pregnancy was about 1000. As a result, comprehensive sexuality education was introduced as a mitigation measure to prevent continued pregnancy among young people and the exposure of learners to diseases such as STIs and HIV.

The main objective of this education is to provide youth with the right information about Comprehensive sexuality education, which is now called Life Skills and Health Education (LSHE), is teaching children about their rights, their bodies, how they can prevent unprotected sex, and how they can abstain.

That there is a need for the government to support training and capacity building for educators, have regular assessments of LSHE programmes, and implement feedback mechanisms for the continuous improvement in schools in 10 provinces of this country.

 

How Artificial Intelligence Can Boost Your Business

By Daily News Reporter

Once locked onto the right targets, AI helps discover the most effective channels to reach potential customers, helping to ensure marketing efforts are reaching the right audiences

Mid-year is often a good time to review the status of your business and consider making changes to help your business grow during the second half of the year. It is also an opportunity to assess the level of support your business is getting from digital solution tools, what is available in the market, and what to consider helping propel your business and customer engagement.

While enterprise businesses may have large technology budgets and can assemble a team of specialists, it can be different for small and microbusiness owners. They grapple with a variety of unique challenges running their business to compete in crowded marketplaces, yet this is starting to change.

Generative AI (AI) has taken significant strides over the past year and introducing new tools and strategies does not have to become a major investment or require expertise. With AI by your side, it’s use can help create a marketing strategy to not only stand out, but also help to drive increased engagement and fuel growth. With the increasing use of AI tools, Generative AI is on a path to become the next equalizer for small businesses.

Putting AI to work for content creation

AI becomes a companion in crafting both creative and easy to use content calendars. With AI tools, it can be easy to determine which themes and topics will resonate with desired audiences. From there, content can be created to be distributed across channels, establishing deeper connections with customers while boosting an online presence.

Generative AI steps in to assist in crafting content that captures attention and keeps readers engaged. It provides suggestions and enhancements to existing content and suggests professional images giving small businesses an edge in refining their messaging. And it saves time by tailoring integrated content across various channels. AI's ability to tweak copy based on real-time feedback and analytics, can also help to fine-tune a rich content strategy delivering strong results.

Unveiling the benefits for targeted marketing

AI tools can also be used to delve deeper into competitor research. Using sophisticated algorithms and data, AI tools can swiftly gather information on competitors’ activity. And that is not all – AI can also serve up invaluable customer insights by analysing data from various sources. By discerning customer preferences, behaviours, and demographics, small businesses can more precisely pinpoint the right audience for their products and services. Once locked onto the right targets, AI helps discover the most effective channels to reach potential customers, helping to ensure marketing efforts are reaching the right audiences.

Evaluate, Adjust, and Shine

AI powered tools are not just here to make businesses look good, they excel at measuring customer performance. By tracking metrics like website engagement rates, conversion rates and customer satisfaction, AI provides insights into what is working and what needs a tweak. This allows small businesses to gauge the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and make informed decisions for improvement.

With access to this variety of insights, along with knowledge of their own business plans, businesses can take advantage of the benefits of using AI tools to streamline processes, consider new ideas and gain customer insights. Working along with human intervention, these insights can be essential to refine the outcomes. Knowing the business well can add the human evaluation element to the AI produced insights, which presents a more well-rounded view when considering opportunities for improvement.

With business owners using AI responsibly, the use of AI tools can be a significant technology enhancement for small businesses looking to go up against their competition and successfully grow their business. With these tools easily available to small business owners and entrepreneurs, AI offers the ability to both save time and money while elevating brand presence and resonating with target audiences more effectively than ever before.

 

 

Standard Chartered stakes over K1.5m for women businesses

As six women entrepreneurs receive $60,000 through the Bank’s Women in Tech programme

Standard Chartered Bank has announced the winners for Cohort Four of the SC Women in Technology Incubator Programme (SC WIT). The six women-owned businesses that emerged victorious in Cohort 4 are walking away with $60,000 seed funding after an intense and robust training programme. Each winning business will get $10,000.

The SC WIT Incubator Programme is designed to identify, develop, and support women-led businesses in the technology sector. Through the incubator programme, participants receive training, mentorship, and access to resources to help them scale their businesses and drive innovation.

Speaking at the awards and graduation event, Standard Chartered Bank CEO, Sonny Zulu stated that the SC WIT programme is part of the Bank’s bold and ambitious stand to lift the participation of women and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the economy to build more sustainable communities.

“The SC WIT programme is part of our broader global initiative – Futuremakers by Standard Chartered – to tackle social and economic inequality by promoting greater economic inclusion. When we launched SC WIT in November 2020, we were responding to the call for the much-needed support for small and medium enterprises who are now increasingly playing a critical role in growing the country’s economy.  This initiative equally supports government’s efforts to grow SMEs as evidenced by the formation of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development,” Mr Zulu said.

The Standard Chartered CEO revealed that it has grown the number of winners this year. Now, six women owned businesses from cohort 4 will receive $60,000 from the Bank as seed capital. “It is a proud moment for us at Standard Chartered, as we witness the success and further development of the programme. We are very proud that this year, we have increased the number of winners from 5 to 6. Therefore, 6 Zambian female-owned businesses will emerge victorious this year. We have invested over K10m into WiT over the last 4 years and this investment is testament to the Bank’s aspiration to lift the participation of Zambian women in our economy,” he explained.

Mr Zulu highlighted that SC WIT Cohort 4 had businesses from a diverse range of sectors including health, agriculture, farming technologies, health, logistics and food, amongst many others. “It is exciting to see women led business in various sectors embracing technology and innovation. As a bank we are passionate about technology ourselves, we have led the way by launching Zambia’s first-ever end-to-end digital bank which now provides our clients with access to over 70 banking services at the click of a button at their own convenience,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, BongoHive Executive Director, Lukonga Lindunda noted that, “SMEs account for over 80% of employment across Africa and The World Economic Forum (WEF), highlights that women make up 58% of Africa’s self-employed population, contributing around 13% of Africa’s total GDP.

Therefore, we see that the contribution of female-led businesses to Africa’s economy is undeniable and calls for concerted efforts, especially in the areas of financing and mentorship for them to thrive in a growing and often highly competitive business landscape.

As BongoHive, we look forward to a continued partnership with Standard Chartered Bank to work together in ensuring that female entrepreneurs in Zambia are availed the support they need for them to grow their businesses and contribute to national development through job creation.”

 

And Minister of Small Medium & Enterprises Development, Honourable Elias Mubanga, congratulated Standard Chartered for their continued commitment to empower Zambian women entrepreneurs and providing them with the tools and funding needed to succeed.

“I am delighted to be part of the Women in Tech Cohort 4 graduation event and proud that so many Zambian women entrepreneurs continue to benefit from this great programme by Standard Chartered Bank. As a Government, SMEs are at the heart and are the pulse of our economy – that is why it is very important that they are supported by both government as well as the private sector,” said Mubanga. 

Mr Mubanga added that government remains firmly committed to empowering SMEs, especially those owned by Zambian women. He thanked Standard Chartered for their continued commitment and dedication to the cause of SMEs in Zambia.