Thursday 29 September 2016


ZIPAR/FSD ZAMBIA TRAIN OVER 25 BUSINESS JOURNAISTS IN LUSAKA.
Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) has advised journalists to take interest in economic policy development to facilitate effective policy dialogue debate that can enhance economic governance in the country.
And ZIPAR has pledged to promote economic and financial literacy to help citizens understand the liberalized economy and opportunities offered by recognizing opportunities and defining risks associated with such potential investment.
Speaking at the official opening of the Master Class for Business Journalists Financial Inclusion and Economic Literacy, ZIPAR Executive Director Pamela Nakamba Kabaso says journalists need basic understanding of economic and financial concepts to enhance the in-depth and quality of news coverage.
Dr. Nakamba Kabaso says her organization want to promote in-depth and analytical news reporting that can stimulate healthy economic policy debated which influence policy direction. 
She explained that the move to equip journalists with relevant economic and financial literacy because media creates an efficient and effective avenue through which masses can learn economics and finance.
ZIPAR Director Dr. Pamela Nakamba Kabaso

She further notes that the media has the capacity to make citizens have an understanding of economics in order to not only report facts but interact better with information in order to educate the public.
Meanwhile Dr. Nakamba Kabaso says there is need to promote economic and financial literacy to help citizens understand the liberalized economy and opportunities offered by recognizing opportunities and defining risks associated with such potential investment.
She noted that lack of clear understanding on liberalized economy and new opportunities on the market has resulted in an influx of foreign investors who are equipped with economic know how have reaped abundantly from the conducive economic environment.

She adds that Zambia has over the decades experienced high economic growth but achieved less than satisfactory reduction in poverty whereas inequality has increased.
The Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) and Financial Sector Deepening Zambia has organized a 5 days Master Class Training for Business Journalists on Financial Inclusion and Economic Literacy in Lusaka.

Tuesday 27 September 2016



SABMILLER ZAMBIA INVESTS US$1.7M IN NEW BOTTLE LABELLER
SABMiller Zambia is set to increase efficiencies at its Zambian Breweries Plc. Lusaka brewery with the arrival of a new state-of-the-art bottle labeller valued at US$1.7 Million.
The arrival of the labeller, Zambian Breweries is now on course to commence local production of Castle Lite the move which will reduce the price the consumer.
Zambian Breweries Plc, along with its sister companies National Breweries and Heinrich’s Syndicate, is part of SABMiller Plc , one of the world’s largest brewers, with more than 200 beer brands and some 70,000 employees in over 75 countries.
The investment in the state of the art machine is the demonstration of the company’s confidence in the Zambian economy, which encompasses Zambian Breweries, National Breweries and Heinrich’s Syndicate, and comes amid the company’s renewed confidence following the reduction in clear beer excise tax from 60 percent to 40 percent in January this year.
The labeller, which will be able to label all beer brands in 340ml and 375ml bottles and has a capacity of 27,000 bottles per hour. 
Zambia Breweries New Bottle Labeller Machines
 The machine was ordered from Hamburg, Germany, and took 75 days to transport by ship and truck.
This development, further, enhances our role on promoting local investment and job creation,
And Zambia Breweries Corporate Affairs Director Ezekiel Sekele says the company is passionate about brewing and has a long tradition of craftsmanship, making superb beer from high quality natural ingredients.
Mr. Sekele also disclosed that the once the machine is installed and fully operational, it will increase the productivity and efficiency of the Lusaka plant exponentially.

Monday 26 September 2016



PROFLIGHT ZAMBIA PLEDGE TO SUPPORT LOCAL TOURISM.
Proflight Zambia has announced that it is supporting this year’s World Tourism Day by bringing people to Africa’s top attractions quickly, safely and affordably.
The airline has announced that it is committed to backing tourism and freedom of movement in Zambia by signing up to the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day which is ‘tourism for all – promoting universal accessibility’.
World Tourism Day is held on September 27 every year to support the growth of tourism around the globe.
Proflight Zambia’s director of government and industry affairs Captain Philip Lemba says although Zambia has a vast range of incredible tourist attractions for both international and local visitors, many of them are spread out across the country, with long distances between them; “The fastest means of getting to these destinations is by flying, which is the best option for reaching all the far-flung places, quickly, safely and affordably.”
 Proflight Zambia, the country’s only domestic airline, flies to Zambia’s main tourism destinations which are spread out to the north, south, east and west of the country. Zambia covers just over 752,600 square kilometres, and the tourist destinations are scattered around the country.
“With the aim of promoting trade and movement in Africa, Proflight flies from its base in Lusaka through the regional routes to Lilongwe in Malawi, and Durban in South Africa, and through its domestic routes, which include Livingstone, Mfuwe, Lower Zambezi, Ndola and Solwezi,” added Captain Lemba. “Today, the airline carries over 130,000 passengers annually with its fleet.”
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the purpose of World Trade Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. “World Trade Day seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these objectives,” said a spokesman.
This year’s theme of ‘tourism for all – promoting universal accessibility’ looks at the effectiveness and convenience of how tourists reach their destinations.
Proflight feeds orphaned hippo
  
For instance, Lower Zambezi in the south east of the capital is 30 minutes away by flight from Lusaka on Proflight Zambia’s jets from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. Lower Zambezi boasts excellent game viewing by boat or canoe and is home to one of the largest remaining elephant herds in the world.
Lake Tanganyika in Northern Province is Africa's deepest and longest lake which offers great scuba diving as well as hiking to the top of Kalambo Falls, the second highest in Africa at 220m; other water sports, fishing and game viewing can be enjoyed at Sumbu Park on the shore. To reach these tourism sites by road or rail would take more than ten hours while by air it should only be an hour and a half from Lusaka to Kasama. This is clear evidence that travellers save more time travelling by air.
South Luangwa, Zambia's premier game park, is minutes away by flight from the capital Lusaka. South Luangwa is noted for its dense concentrations of game, with over 50 mammal and 400 bird species, while the Luangwa River boasts more hippos and crocodiles than any other river in Africa.
On the southern part of Zambia lies the city of Livingstone which is an hour and a half from Lusaka by air. Livingstone is where the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the mighty Victoria Falls can be found, as well as the Livingstone Museum, the Railway Museum, Maramba Cultural Village, Mukuni Tribal Village, and the many traditional ceremonies including cultural markets are all embraced here.
Proflight Zambia takes you to these tourism destinations either by scheduled flights or charter. A domestic and regional airline such as Proflight is essential in providing transport services that will enable tourists to access and reach the sites on time in a more convenient and comfortable way.

With direct flights to the various top Zambian tourist spots spread around the country, Proflight Zambia is committed to making travelling more convenient by allowing tourists greater freedom of movement and assisting them in reaching their destinations.
This year’s World Tourism Day’s theme picks up from last year’s which was ‘millions of tourists, millions of opportunities”. The subject for 2017 has already been earmarked as ‘sustainable tourism – a tool for development’.
Proflight Zambia is currently embarking on plans to add more direct flights to tourist destinations so that passengers can avoid having to connect at the capital Lusaka.

Tuesday 20 September 2016

EMIRATES REVAMPS CORPORATE LOYALTY PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE MORE VALUE ADDED INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESS TRAVELLERS
Emirates has revamped its corporate loyalty programme, Emirates Business Rewards, to provide greater value and added features for customers. The new programme has been simplified and made more competitive to allow for easier redemptions and upgrades even on last minute bookings.
One of the biggest features in the newly improved programme is the ability to use Business Rewards Points to book any commercially available seat at any time giving members cash-like convenience. Emirates is the first and only airline in the region to offer such flexibility as part of its corporate loyalty programme – improving cost-effectiveness for business travel.
Emirates recently commissioned an independent survey on the perception and habits of over 800 business travellers and decision makers of business travel in the UAE[i]. The key findings reiterate the need for cost effectiveness and flexibility in corporate travel which resonates with the new features of Emirates Business Rewards. According to the survey, the top 3 factors considered for airline selection were fare (30%), flight timings (26%), and value for money (23%).
Emirates Business Rewards will satisfy customer needs and provide value-added benefits catered to organisations of any size, charities and clubs. In addition to allowing redemptions for any seats, there is also greater flexibility when it comes to earning and redeeming the Business Rewards Points.
According to the survey, respondents most commonly book business travel online directly with the airline (29%). Smaller organisations were even more likely to conduct bookings directly online with more than 50% of their corporate travel booked this way. With less reliance on third party booking agents, Emirates Business Rewards has enhanced user-experience with easy-to-use customer dashboards. These include tools to manage and book services for employees, and monitor the savings accumulated so far on the programme.
Enrolment has also been simplified regardless of organisation size. The introduction of the ‘Guest Traveller’ function means that organisations can include non-company persons, such as consultants, or clients who travel on behalf of the organisation, and still earn Business Rewards Points.
While the programme will continue to provide value and service to key industries such as Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Trading and IT, the simplified system and unlimited employee enrolment will also allow other industries with a large labour force, such as the construction industry to benefit from the programme.

Emirates provides direct connectivity from Dubai to over 150 destinations across six continents. In all classes, Emirates provides quality products and value for money with luxurious private suites in First Class, flat-bed seats in Business Class and the iconic A380 Onboard Lounge, the largest in-seat screens in the world in Economy class at 13.3 inches and more than 2,500 channels of on-demand entertainment in all cabins. This is complemented by excellent on board service from an international cabin crew who speak over 60 languages.
CEEC PUMPS IN OVER 3 MILLION KWACHA IN FISH FARMING ON THE COPPERBELT PROVINCE.
The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) has disbursed a total amount of K3, 191,558.83 to thirty-two (32) projects in the Copperbelt Province, in particular Luanshya and Kalulushi districts.
According to the Fisheries National Annual Development Plan 2010 2015, the Copperbelt Province on average has an annual fish deficit of 10,982 tonnes, which means the deficit is met from outside the province with the bulk of it being imported from Asia hence the need to invest in the fish value chain in order to address the National deficit.
The move is in line with the industrialization and Job Creation Strategy of Government to develop the value chain clusters in districts in a bid to create jobs and wealth.
CEEC Public Relations and Communications  Glenda Masebe says the funded  investments along the fish value chain are mainly in production and processing and 92  direct jobs have been created as a result of the program.
Ms Masabe says CEEC support to the fish value chain cluster on the Copperbelt Province has resulted in significant benefits to the community such as employment opportunities for targeted citizens namely youth, women and the disabled in line with Government policy to create sustainable jobs for this category of citizens.
She says the Commission has supported 32 fish farmers and each farmer has constructed two fish ponds measuring 50m X 25m giving a total of 64 ponds.

Ms. Masebe explains that each of the farms has a pond area of 2,500 square metres (12,500 fingerlings) to produce 4 mt of fish per 6-month cycle, realizing annual production of 8 mt over two the year.

The Commission has invested in the fish value chain due to its potential to drive the economy of Zambia to greater heights. Aquaculture is an important component of Zambia’s Fisheries sector which significantly contributes to income,job creation and national food security.