The COMESA Business Council says it will instigate a consultative process to discuss issues affecting competitiveness in member countries. At a media briefing yesterday, COMMESA Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Dr Kipyego Cheluget, said the council would always advocate private sector participation in policy formulation as it was key in ensuring that the voice of businesses...

The Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone (Lusaka South MFEZ) Managing Director Mukela Lubasi says government has so far spent over US$ 50 million in developing the zone. She said the money had been spent on a power station, roads, water and sewerage systems. Lubasi said once fully developed, the zone; which sits on 2,100...

The Center for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) says it is impressed with progress made by Solwezi Natural Resource Watch Group (NRWG) in ensuring that local communities benefit from mineral revenues. CTPD economic governance programmes assistant Kangwa Muyunda told a NRWG in Solwezi, during a ‘capacity needs assessment’ workshop on mineral revenue sharing mechanisms recently,...

The Bank of Zambia says there are fake currency notes in circulation and that it has instituted court proceedings against those who have been caught with both local and foreign currency counterfeits. Central Bank head of communications Kanguya Mayondi said, in response to a press query, that there was a joint ongoing investigation with law...

The Zambia National Farmers Union has demanded for the resignation of Commerce Permanent Secretary Kayula Siame saying she does not understand her job. ZNFU boss Jervis Zimba told Diggers! in an interview that Siame is incompetent in the discharge of her duties because she was ignoring President Lungu’s call to promote agriculture diversification through local...

The Zambia Environment Management Agency (ZEMA) says it has arrested two Spectra Oil Corporation Limited Directors for contravening the provisions of the Environmental Management Act. Last week, ZEMA stopped Puma Energy Zambia and Spectra Oil from constructing new service stations on grounds that they had disregarded environmental regulations. But in a statement today, ZEMA corporate...

Caritas Zambia Executive Director Eugene Kabilika says there will be a backlash over the impending increase in electricity tariffs because people’s salaries have remained the same. Zesco intends to increase the cost of electricity twice this year – first in May by 50% and 25% in September. “It is bad news for people who are...

Energy Minister David Mabumba says Zambia will continue to import electricity for another two years. Mabumba was responding to a question from Mkushi North PF member of parliament Doreen Mwape who wanted to know when government would cease the importation of power after he updated the House on developments in the energy sector. “If we...

Smuggling of mealie meal from Zambia to neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo has continued despite an export ban. But Center for Trade Policy and Development acting executive director Isaac Mwaipopo says the DRC is a missed market which government needs to exploit. Speaking during a tour of the Mokambo boarder post yesterday,...

Centre for Trade Policy and Development acting executive director Isaac Mwaipopo says people living in mining areas must challenge policy makers to prioritize their interests. And Mwaipopo has advised them not to be heavily dependent on mining but to explore other sustainable income generating activities. Speaking during a ‘capacity needs assessment’ workshop with a Natural...