Bravo Poultry Association of Zambia for preventing importation of chickens in Zambia

Recently many Zambians were alarmed with news that one of the biggest retail outlets in the country had been granted a poultry import permit allowing it to import several metric tonnes of dressed chickens into the country. The poultry industry is one of the biggest employers providing formal and informal employment to many Zambians. Many Zambians earn their living by rearing and selling chickens. They were therefore disturbed that the government had allowed importation of dressed chickens into the country.

The Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) raised concern because the imported chickens were going to be much cheaper than the locally produced chickens causing unfair competition as the local production costs are very high. Based on this the association appealed to government to repel the import permit that it had issued. Yesterday the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock informed Parliament that government had repelled the permit.

Happy New Year

I would like to wish a happy new year to all those that followed my blog last year. A year new always inspires us to reach new heights in our personal lives as well as in our careers. New year resolutions range from losing weight, getting a promotion at work or getting a higher profit for those who run businesses. The national resolutions are mainly expressed in form of the national budgets. The national budget outlines the main development benchmarks and priorities that a sitting government have planned for their citizenery. In Zambia the national budget was presented in the last quarter of 2011 following the formation of a new government that ushered in the Patriotic Front (PF) for the first time as a ruling party.

The national budget presented to parliament by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has been lauded by various quarters in Zambia as pro-poor. The outcome of the 20th September, 2011 General elections in Zambia clearly indicated that voters were keen to put into power a government that would better their lot. Zambia, classed as a middle income country by the World Bank in 2011, has some of the poorest people in the world especially in rural areas where poverty levels are above 65%. Urban poverty is also extremely high especially in high density areas. Youth unemployment is a huge problem with many young people that have finished college and Universtity education finding it impossible to get formal employment. There are also high levels of casualisation with many people earning very low incomes and working under poor conditions of service. These problems were top of the campaign agenda of the PF who campaigned on the slogan of 'More Money in your Pocket'. Many Zambians were therefore very keen to see how the PF campaign slogan has been translated into fiscal policy through the national budget.

The 2012 budget execution started on January 1, 2012. Some tax measures such as income tax which are expected to bring relief to workers in the lower income brackets are however not expected to come into force until 1st April. In this year's budget the income tax threshhold has been adjusted upwards from one million Zambian Kwacha to two Million Kwacha. This will definitely provide some tax relief especially to some civil servants in the teaching and health professions who are lowly paid. However, more is required in terms of improving incomes for some workers in the private sector working for foreign firms most of whom are not unionised and are poorly paid. In the wake of the PF taking over government there have been many work stoppages related to poor conditions of services in many private firms. This is an indication that more needs to be done in terms of labour laws to protect the rights of Zambian workers.

This new year therefore holds a lot of promise for many Zambians as they look forward to efficient execution of the 2012 budget by the PF government. This government has a lot of responsibility to see that the hope that they raised during the 2011 campaign is not quenched. There is need to put in place policies that promote employment creation especially for young people. The pronouncements by the PF government to increase the retirement age from 55 years to 65 years dampened the hopes of many young people. The government argues that increasing the retirement age will enable some public office workers that still have energy to serve to stay in office without being employed on contract basis. This is good in the short term. However, in the long term it will prevent civil servants to leave employment at an 'energetic age' when they still have the ability to set up private entreprises that can create employment. Retiring at 65 means that most people will not be able to invest their employment benefits in ventures that are productive.  It will also mean that there will be limited vacancies in the civil service at any given time to allow new office bearers to be employed. The upward adjustment of the retiring age has not yet been passed into law and has received a lot of negative criticism from young people and some civil servants.

The new year holds a lot of hope for Zambia. Most people are looking forward to a different way of governance especially with regard to the fight against corruption. In the recent past previous governments have paid lip service to the fight. It is hope that the new government will stamp out corruption especially in the areas of public procurements and awarding of public tenders. There is also hope that institutional barriers to creation of wealth will be addressed.

Climate change and ........

I am in Durban attending 'COP17'  and I can't help but notice that there is no aspect of human living that has not been linked to climate change during this 17th  Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Among the notable issues or aspects linked to climate change as depicted by the various exhibitions around the ICC in Durban where the conference is taking place include environment, agriculture,health, food and nutrition, literature, religion, technology, economics......

This is quite impressive. However, it is also a signal that perhaps we maybe diluting the problem by linking it to so many aspects that we are in danger of not realising how this phenomenon will have profound effects on the way that we live on this planet. We may also be in danger of not realising the significance that climate change is having by threatening the lives of millions of people that live on Small Island nations including Bangladesh where rising sea levels are a real menace to continuity.  Africa is also extremely vulnerable particularly in regions that are susceptible to rising temperatures that have significantly changed lifestyles particularly for farming and pastoralist communities.

It is therefore important that while it is good that climate change and its anticipated effects have resulted in very good technological innovations (electric cars, solar electricity, recycled products e.t.c) world leaders and all well meaning world citizens do not lose the focus on what kinds of actions are needed to save our planet. It is a fact that climate change has the potential to increased business opportunities and economic growth particularly to those nations that have invested in clean energy. However, it is fundamentally important for us to also take a critical look at the way that we are affecting very vulnerable countries that are unable to invest in clean technologies and whose peoples are at the risk of suffering the worst consequences of unpredictable weather as a result of increased green house gases in the atmosphere.

COP 17 presents a chance for many great nations to show leadership by saving the Kyoto Protocol and committing to a new commitment period. It is also important that some of the historically polluting nations also provide resources for adaptation particularly for Africa and other vulnerable regions in addition to development aid. Bishop Desmond Tutu, urged world leaders to take action now because earth is the only home we have during an inter-faith rally held at Kings Park Stadium on Satrurday, 26th November, 2011 in Durban, South Africa. The rally was part of a serious of events in the 'We have Faith-Act Now for Climate Justice' campaign. The campaign has been mobilising youths and faith leaders to play an active role in putting pressure 

Youths present signed petitions in 'ark' to Bishop Tutu at the King Park stadium during interfaith rally

on world government to ensure that COP 17 results in a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol.  He said that if we destroy this home by continuing to act the same way we have done in the past we will all suffer the consequences of our actions whether rich or poor.









Cleric urges PF administration to allocate 10% of national budget to Churches

A cleric in Zambia has called on the new Patriot Front (PF) government to consider giving 10 per cent of the national budget to the church in Zambia. Father Laston Lupupa SJ, Parish Priest at Our Heavenly Father Catholic Church in Chelston, Lusaka made the call during his homily on Sunday this week. The homily focused on a reading from the gospel of Matthew in which Jesus told the Pharisees and the Herodians to give to "Caeser what belonged to Ceaser and to God what belonged to God'' when they confronted him on the question of paying taxes.

Fr. Lupupa said that it was an obligation for citizens to pay taxes to the government and the responsibility of the government to ensure that the funds that were collected in taxes were used for the welfare of all citizens. He urged the new PF government to ensure that monetary resources collected in form of taxes are used prudently and ploughed back into projects that would benefit all Zambians.

He observed that that the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation by the Second Republican President Fredrick. T. J. Chiluba has not been accompanied by allocation of monetary resources in the national budget to the Churches. Most Churches depend on donations from well wishes to carry out capital projects such as building new church structures, hospitals and schools. He further pointed out that despite providing health and education services especially in rural areas, most church missions received very little financial support from the government.  He therefore implored the new administration to consider allocating about 10 per cent of the national budget to Churches. 

Rain, wind and cold air in October?

Photo Courtesy of Mwaka Kayula

This year's October weather has really been very unpredictable. When one wakes up in the morning they are not sure what clothes to wear. Most debate on whether to put on heavy or light clothes. In the recent past, October clothing was very predictable. Ladies would rush to the tailors and bouquent (including salaula) and get some light clothes in readiness for the anticipated hot weather. This October, however, we have been greeted by early rains. In some areas of Zambia the rains have been heavy. They have caused damage particularly to maize at the Food Reserve Agency's satellite depots dotted in most rural areas of Zambia. The photogragh on the left shows some maize that was soaked after a down pour at Batoka FRA depot in Southern Zambia.

Unpredictable weather patterns pose a serious challenge to long term planning particularly for weather dependent social and economic activities. Early rains in October have resulted in FRA making adjustments to their maize storage plans. In the past early rains were expected mainly in the last weeks of October or early November. Now that they have started in the first weeks of October farmers also have to adjust their land preparations and planting plans. Are these some of the challenges that we have to face as a result of climate change? If so, it is important that the country invests in better climate prediction facilities to assist the country to adjust to the changing climate. In addition, the international communities particularly developed nations that bear the responsibilities for the changing climate need to support least developed countries such as Zambia to adapt.

The cost of climate change adapation is enormous. In the case of Zambia thousands of metric tonnes of maize that were produced in last year's farming season risk being wasted if measures are not urgently taken to either move the stock to safe storage or cover exposed maize. Most of the maize was produced with subsized inputs and also bought from farmers at enormous cost to the government revenue. Therefore, if the stock is not secured millions of kwacha of tax payers' money will go to waste. This is unacceptable in a country where more that 60% of the population live on less than a dollar a day with some households only managing one meal a day during the lean seasons. FRA has responded quickly by providing satellite depots with taupaulins to cover the harvest in some cases and transport to move some maize to permananent storage sheds in other cases as reported in the Zambian media.

The cool and mild weather particularly in the evenings is very welcome by most. Apart from the comfort provided to many the weather also prevents high energy comsumption. This could be regarded as one of the postive aspect of climate change. In the past hot October evenings have resulted in high usage of electrical appliances such as fans and air conditioners increasing use of electric energy. The cool weather has also reduced on high numbers disease vectors such as mosquitos and flies which proliferate in times of hot weather.

Michael Chilufya Sata’s election as Zambia’s Republican President celebrated with euphoria

The day started with a very somber mood. Around lunch time most offices in Lusaka city had closed. All retail shops in the central business district, Kamwala second class trading area, sub-urban areas and local markets were also closed. Early in the day there were rumours of riots on the Copperbelt because of delayed announcement of the results of the Presidential elections that were held on 20^th September, 2010. Students at the University of Zambia gave an ultimatum to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to declare the results or else they were going to start rioting.

36 hours after the polls the mood in Lusaka, the centre of government was that of uncertainty and anxiety. Most residents stayed at home glued to television and radio waiting for more announcements of election results. Around 13:00 hrs Chairperson of the ECZ Justice Ireen Mambilima announced that Michael Chilufya Sata, opposition Patriotic Front (PF) presidential candidate was leading, followed by the incumbent President Rupiah Bwezani Banda according to results obtained from 116 out of 150 constituencies. She advised the members of the public to be patient and allow ECZ to do its work properly as all political parties had agreed that ECZ should complete publication of election results within 48 hours from the polling date.

In the evening most residents stayed in-door while they waited for further announcements. One could not help but remember the trends in the previous presidential elections results and thinking that history may repeat itself or a déjà vu would happen. Michael C Sata had been leading the incumbent Levy Patrick Mwanawasa in 2006 before being overtaken shortly before all results from constituencies were announced. In 2008, Rupiah B Banda had also come from behind to win the presidential poll. A lot of Zambians feared that the same would be the case this time around. Further results were scheduled to be announced at 22 hours on 23^rd September, 2011. However, after keeping vigil up to this time television stations announced that there was going to be a delay in the scheduled announcement.

Some minutes after mid-night Justice Mambilima accompanied by the Chief Justice Ernest L Sakala, the returning officer for presidential election results, addressed members of the press and political parties that were at the national elections totaling centre at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. Justice Mambilima explained that election results from 143 constituencies had been verified by ECZ . She explained that the leading candidate was ahead by a large margin that would not be affected by results in the remaining 7 constituencies not yet been obtained. The Chief Justice thereafter declared Michael Chilufya Sata as Zambia fifth Republican President as provided for in the 2006 Electoral Act based on 95% of all election results for 2011 polls.

The announcement was immediately followed by spontaneous shouts of joy. In Chelston, residents trekked to the streets especially Palm drive where they sung PF songs. Drivers were honking and speeding down the street. The celebrations were punctuated by blowing of vuvuzelas and symbolic peddling. There was a spirit in the air that was reminiscent of emotions felt and expressed by Zambians when Frederick Chiluba won the first multi-party elections in 1991, beating the incumbent President Kenneth David Kaunda who ruled for 27 years. The celebrations expressed a sense of freedom and independence.  The celebrations have continued. The President elect will be sworn in today, 24^th September, 2011 taking over from the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government that have ruled for 20 years.

Another maize bumper harvest, what next?

Zambia has recorded yet another bumper maize harvest. Travelling around Zambian towns and villages one observes stacks and stacks of bags of maize grain. The main storage depots are over-flowing with the maize. Satellite depots situated in the villages are also filled up with maize. Farmers are very happy that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is buying their produce and in many cases paying them on time.

This bumper harvest is however not in all areas of Zambia. Pockets of the country, for example, parts of Siavonga district did not record good maize harvests. Most of the rural households have already run out of food and are either purchasing maize or depending on relief. This is because parts of Siavonga district, if not all parts, experience the lowest amounts of rainfall in Zambia. Despite the fact that communities in these parts of Zambia should be growing cereals that do not require a large amount of water such as cassava, millet or sorghum the people in this area have a high preference for maize. Some early maturing maize varieties produce good yields but regardless of this most rural households are still growing late maturing local maize varieties putting their food security at risk.

This year and in the past few years the weather has been very favourable in most parts of Zambia resulting in very high maize production. This scenario can also be attributed to high numbers of farmers practicing conservation agriculture particularly in Chipata district. Most farmers are using conservation farming techniques that improve soil fertility. There was also distribution of large quantities of chemical fertilisers to farmers in 2010/11 farming season under the government run Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). These factors have now made Zambia a food surplus nation.

As already pointed out there are still pockets of very food insecure areas in the country particularly in the valley areas such as Siavonga where people had run out of maize stocks by as early as August this year. There is therefore need for the food distribution system to be improved in the country to ensure that food surplus areas help to feed food deficient areas. For this to happen there is need to put in place better food distribution policies. Currently, FRA is a major player in maize marketing and in storing food in the national reserves. The private sector also plays a critical role in purchasing maize from farmers. However, there are also high levels of exploitation of farmers by some private buyers who sometimes offer very uneconomical prices to farmers for their maize.

Given the fact that the climate has now become very unpredictable it is important that this bumper harvest is stored appropriately. Last year a lot of maize went to waste because of poor storage or late movement of maize from satellite depots to the main depots. This resulted in damage to most of the maize that was bought by FRA because of getting soaked from the rain. This year FRA should therefore make adequate preparation to avoid similar losses. It is not certain that there will be other bumper harvests in the future given the constant changes in climate and other maize production factors. East Africa has been adversely affected by drought in recent years and therefore we can not take the favourable weather that we have experienced in the past few years for granted. We need to become better at post-harvest handling of our bumper harvests. We also need to be better because government has spent billions of kwacha to buy this maize from farmers and therefore these financial resources will be wasted if we neglect to handle the maize appropriately. We also need to be better at putting in place distribution mechanisms that ensure that people living in maize deficient areas are given the ability to grow alternative crops and have enough purchasing power to be able to buy maize from surplus areas.