Bruce Mwale

The advent of internet has brought about both positives and negatives for humanity. One would safely say internet is a blessing to humanity. With a click of a button, one is able to access information on almost any subject from almost anywhere in the World. Vital information can easily be accessed via the website using simple gadgets like smartphones and tablets. It is so convenient a tool in as far as sharing and receiving information between users. For those in the academia, research has been made simple as one can easily surf through the web and may not necessarily buy or carry any physical books all the time. For the business world, trade is simplified, you can talk of online shopping and banking that have come with technological advancement. The list can go on and on. But amidst the so many advantages, there lurks what you would call the evil side of internet. It is one huge threat to the new generation of Christians especially the youth. With its anonymity, immediacy a...

Financial Intelligence Centre – FIC has vowed to root out financial crimes in the country. FIC Director General Mary Tshuma says there is need to step up measures in the fight against financial flows. FIC Director General Mary Tshuma speaking at the conference She said this at the FIC second annual conference on Anti money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism and other financial crimes.  “As you may be aware, criminal activity is more sophisticated than ever, the impact of financial crimes is vast, but the effects go deeper than simple economics. The full cost of financial crime weight on normal people. The sick children, and elderly who do not receive essential treatment; lives lost but cutting corners and using substandard building material” Ms Tshuma said. “We must make Zambia a hostile environment for financial crimes “she added. Ms. Tshuma says while Zambia has enabling legal framework on anti-money laundering there is need to be more vigilant in...

Zambia construction industry continues to record a steady growth over the years. This growth has largely been driven by public infrastructure programmes and private investment. Data shows that in 2012 the sector contributed about 13 percent to the economy and about 15 percent in 2014, that is in terms of GDP. The industry has positively contributed to this growth in terms of income for the nation and the participating entities as well as the number of jobs created. The construction industry has also become a big employer of micro-firms. However, the construction boom has been added at the expense on the environment, as the industry is a high consumer of natural resources such as raw materials hence the need for construction guidelines as International Labour Organisation, representative, Ezarar Sakala outlines. At the launch of the environmental impact assessment guidelines for the construction sector, ZEMA Board Chairperson Dani Banda observed that the guidelines will imp...

The National Aids Council – NAC has called for increased local funding towards the fight against HIV and Aids. NAC Director Policy and Planning John Mwale says as much as foreign funding is appreciated there is need for more domestic funding toward the agenda. He was speaking at the ZAMCOM Science Café on Local Funding for HIV Prevention in Zambia. Mr. Mwale was quick to note that a lot strides have been made in the past three decades in as far the fight against the pandemic. “We have reduced the HIV prevalence from 15.5 percent in 2001 to about 11.6 percent in 2016, and in terms of incidence we have reduced from 85,000 new infections in 2006 to 46 thousand new infections in 2016,” Mr Mwale said. He said for Zambia to meet its aspiration of achieving a free HIV/ Aids generation by 2030 will be dependant partly to the available resources towards the health sector and specifically the HIV fight. Over 480 million dollars is needed in the HIV response for the 2017-2018 timefra...

Inadequate levels of power generation in the Common Market for East and Southern Africa - COMESA region, remains the main challenge in meeting the energy needs of the region. COMESA Director of Infrastructure and Logistics, Jean Baptiste Mutabazi made the revelations at the launch of the latest report on the Least Developed Countries - LDC in Lusaka today. Mr. Mutabazi says this has been compounded by low coverage of transmission and distribution infrastructure due to insufficient investment in the energy sector. "As of today, the entire installed generation capacity the COMESA , which has a population of about 420 million people, is estimated to be about 68, 000 megawatts. This figure is very low compared to some countries such as France with a population of about 65 million (more than six ties less) and an estimated power generation capacity of about 1200, 000 megawatts. This underscores the absolute and urgent need in Africa in general and the COMESA region in partic...

The removal of subsidies from fuel is expected to push the cost of production in various sectors of the Zambia economy. The agriculture sector which is Zambia mainstay for the majority poor in rural areas will not be spared. The Energy Regulation Board recently hiked the cost of fuel by about 30 percent citing the volatility of the Kwacha which has fallen by 30 percent against the US dollar since the previous price adjustment. But the National Union for Small Scale Farmers of Zambia says the removal of fuel subsidies will have an adverse effect of maize production. Union accountant Henry Mukuti fears that if the cost of production goes up, many farmers will be hit hard. And on intentions to remove agriculture subsidies, Mr. Mukuti says it will be a blow to the sector if the maize floor price will be static. The small-scale farmers are key for national food supply. With the upward adjustment in fuel it will only help farmers if the price of farm produce is not dictate...