Wednesday 29 December 2021

Tadalisika Zulu: An Ambitious Young Zambian Engineer

By Paul Shalala

Tadalisika Zulu with Minister of Infrastracture Charles Milupi
when he toured the KK International Airport project site

She was born on the 12th of October 1998 in Lusaka

Tadalisika Zulu is a third born child in a family of four.

Growing up, mathematics was her favourite subject and she says she enjoyed doing calculations.

Her performance in class made her attempt what was not imagined at the time.

“At the age of 10, I attempted the Grade 7 exams as a 5th Grader in 2008. I passed the exams and I went to St. Mary’s Secondary School in Lusaka for Grade eight. I later went to St. Monica’s Secondary School in Chipata for my Senior Secondary,” she said in an interview.

Tadalisika completed Grade 12 at the age of 15, three years ahead of what mostly consider the normal age for a Sugo in Zambia.

“I turned 15 years a week after I started writing the Grade 12 examinations. My love for mathematics increased throughout high school and it became my best subject. I was so confident in my skills that I was looking forward to writing the math exam because I knew it would be an automatic distinction.”

As expected Tadalisika, got a distinction in mathematics.

While awaiting her Grade 12 results, Tadalisika was in deep thoughts, trying to gather her thoughts on which course to pursue.

Her best two courses were Aeronautics or Civil Engineering because they both involve mathematics and creativity.

Tadalisika supervising some workers

During her gap year, she lived with her family in Kabompo District of North Western Province.

While in Kabompo, Tadalisika noticed the lack of proper infrastructure and this made her resolve to pursue engineering even stronger.

In 2015, she enrolled at Wuhan University of Technology and four years later, she graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering.

“I returned to Zambia and began my internship at the Department of Public Infrastructure under the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development. As an intern, I worked on several projects before I was appointed as the Clerk of Works at the New China-Aided International Conference Center including the new Maina Soko Military Hospital,” said Tadalisika.

Currently, she is the Clerk of Works at the construction site for the new China-Aided Zambia International Conference Center.

In the beginning, most of casual workers she supervised thought she was just a translator and not an engineer.

Her young age seems to have convinced these workers that Tadalisika is employed as an interpreter as she speaks fluent Chinese.

Being the only female engineer and the youngest on the team, Tadalisika says she usually kept a low profile when big delegations made site visits.

“I was lucky to become an InnovateHer mentee under When Females Lead and Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK). The program taught me to have more confidence in myself as an engineer. My mentor taught me that being a young black female engineer is a strength, not a disadvantage,” she revealed.

Tadalisika in a meeting with a visiting delegation

The experience gave her the confidence to lead a site tour when the Minister of Infrastructure Housing and Urban Development and other officials visited to see the progress of works.

Tadalisika plans to pursue a Masters in Sustainable Construction or Infrastructure because she wants to gain expertise in the green built environment to promote green, inclusive infrastructure in Africa.

She names her role models as Dr. Nike Folayan and Mopelola Olatunji who are accomplished British and British-Nigerian female engineers respectively.

Tadalisika is an avid reader and a tea and coffee addict whose passion is fighting climate change, and promoting gender equality and sustainable infrastructure.

Looking at the pace Tadalisika has risen, not even the sky is the limit for her.

She is likely to get to where she dreams to go and make it big in the engineering profession.

At 23, this young engineer has achieved what many youths at her age have not achieved.

Tuesday 28 December 2021

The fight To Protect The Bat Migration In Zambia Rages On

By Paul Shalala 
Bats arriving in the Kasanka National Park
 - Picture by Katie Siedel

At stake is the survival of ten million fruit bats which annually make their pilgrimage from the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Kasanka National Park in Chitambo District in Zambia.

This is considered the largest mammal migration in the world.

The fruit bats, whose scientific name is Eidolon Helvum, make this journey every year starting in early October and they stay in the park until late December. 

They come to the Kasanka National Park to eat fruits and on their way, the bats pollinate plants and ensure nature thrives. 

However, this annual pilgrimage is threatened by human activities. 

A huge chunk of land near the park has now been turned into a farm and stakeholders are getting worried. 

To put it into context, the Kasanka National Park is the home of the bats when they land in Zambia. 

The park is managed by the Kasanka Trust Limited, a non governmental organisation which has huge interest in the survival of the bat migration. 

Around the national park is the Kafinda Game Management (GMA) area which covers almost the entire Chitambo District in Central Province. 

This GMA is a buffer and protects the park from humans. 

Lake Group, a conglomerate which has several subsidiaries across Africa and the Middle East, seeks to establish a huge mixed use farm in the Kafinda GMA which is aimed at creating 1,000 jobs. 

Some of its subsidiaries are Lake Oil, Lake Gas, Lake Steel, Lake Petroleum which runs several filling stations on the continent, Lake Trans which is the transport arm while Lakes Gas specialises in LPG and many others. 
Lake Agro Industries Managing Director
Abdulaziz Ahmed speaking at the public hearing
 - Pictures by ZEMA


Lake Agro is now establishing a farm on a 3,000 hectares piece of land in the Kafinda GMA which the firm acquired from Chief Chitambo. 

The firm has gone ahead to clear a huge chunk of land and planted maize, wheat and soya beans. 

Nine center pivots have already been installed and are irrigating the fields. 

This is despite their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) not being approved by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA). 

The Environmental Management Act Number 12 of 2011 and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations; SI. No. 28, of 1997 all provide for any project of this magnitude to be approved by ZEMA before any works can commence. 

Sensing that Lake Agro had already started works, ZEMA issued the company with a stop order on 11th October 2021. 

The stop order was signed by the ZEMA Director General and it read in part: “You are ordered to......... immediately cease the operation of all project activities at the project site. These activities include but not limited to land clearing, water abstraction from Luombwa River, operation of center pivots, maintenance of farm and support equipment, landscaping....” 

Lake Agro Industries received and date stamped the stop order at its Ndola office on 13 October 2021 but did not abide by it. 

By 29 October, 2021 when ZEMA held its public hearing at the project site, all farm activities were operating normally. 

Possible Impact of the Agro Project on Biodiversity 

As stated earlier, the project has already kicked off despite not being cleared by regulatory authorities. at the public hearing, Lake Agro Industries General Manager Surya Rao Adapa gave an overview of what the firm has already done in Chitambo so far. 

“We have already developed 560 hectares of land and planted three crops. We have already invested $9 million and paid a lot of taxes to authorities, “said Mr Adapa. 

As part of its legal requirements to seek permission to kickstart its agriculture project in the Mapepala and Nabowa areas of Chitambo, Lake Agro industries prepared an Environmental Impact Assessment which was presented at the public hearing. 

This blogger attended the hearing and now analysis some of the plans made by the investor. 

Lake Agro contracted a local firm called Global Environmental Consultancy to prepare the EIA report which was presented to ZEMA. 
ZEMA Director of Operations Morrison Songwe


The organisation’s Lead Consultant Gillian Simfukwe made a presentation at the hearing. 

Mr Simfukwe said the project is aimed at increasing crop production by irrigation to enhance food security in Zambia. 

“The developer was initially given 10,000 hectares of land by Chief Chitambo which was reduced to 7,000 hectares and again that was reduced to 5,000 hectares and finally reduced to 3,000 hectares by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife,” said Mr Simfukwe. 

He revealed that the Kafinda Game Management area was a sensitive biodiversity area which buffers the Kasanka National Park from human settlements. 

He listed the following activities which are expected to come with the project by Lake Agro industries in the area: 

- Land clearing for center pivots 
- Abstraction of water from the Luombwa river. 
- Construction of farm buildings and roads. 
- Installation of power systems.

The consultant said the agriculture project is likely to have a lot of impacts on fauna. 

He listed them as follows: 

- Felling of trees which will impact a number of living and non living things. 
- Generation of dust which will affect workers and wildlife. 
- The bat migration will be affected. 
- The abstraction of water will reduce the amount of water and affect people both downstream and upstream of the Luombwa river. 
- Noise pollution will affect almost everything in the area. 
- The center pivots will change the outlook of the area. 

Mitigation Measures 

Realising that the project will affect both fauna and flora, Mr Simfukwe said Lake Agro Industries plans to implement the following mitigation measures to protect this sensitive area. 

 - The company will protect the bufferzone in order to preserve the ecosystem. 
- On felling trees, the firm wants to work hand-in-hand with the Forestry Department to stop indiscriminate cutting. 
- Lake Agro wants to invest in dust suppression machines to reduce dust in the area. 
- The firm said it will not be farming in dambo areas to project aquatic life. 
- Use of latest water uptake equipment. 
- The company will use reforestation to mitigate the effects of cutting down trees. 
- Create 1,000 jobs to reduce poverty in the area 
- Improve anti-poaching activities in the area. 

Stakeholder Concerns 

After the Consultant made his presentation, many stakeholders were not satisfied with Lake Agro’s plans to mitigate the impact of the investment. 

Further, many stakeholders were not happy that Lake Agro Industries went ahead with the project despite ZEMA not having given the project a go-ahead. 

When the floor was opened for questions and contributions, various people spoke out. 
Mehluli Malisa, the lawyer for Kasanka Trust Limited


Mehluli Malisa, the lawyer for Kasanka Trust Limited was the first to speak and his concern was mainly why Lake Agro Industries disregarded several pieces of legislation and proceeded with the project without approval. 

“You say you have complied with all laws, why was the Kafinda GMA plan ignored in your EIA? It has the force of law. Section 29 of the Environmental Management Act of 2011 says no development can take place without authorisation from ZEMA. Why is your project in full swing?”said Mr Malisa of Muyatwa Legal Practitioners in Lusaka. 

He further questioned why Lake Agro industries ignored several stop orders from ZEMA and other government institutions which had ordered the company to move the project to the Nansanga Farming block which is a few kilometres away and has thousands of hectares of land reserved for commercial farming. 
 
In response, the Lead Consultant Mr Simfukwe issued an apology on behalf of the developer. 
 
“A wrong is a wrong and a right is a right and I believe in that. This was a wrong; they started before the EIA was approved. But there are channels that are responsible for that, those are channels we will wait to give us penalties if any.....,” he said. 
 
At this point, Lake Agro Industries Managing Director Abdulaziz Ahmed chipped in to defend the company’s decision to kick start the project early. 
 
“The late Chief, May His Soul Rest In Peace, insisted that the project continues because it will benefit the Nabowa and Mapepala communities. For this reason, we put our heads together and started the project. Today we are regularising everything and taking all concerns,” he said. 
 
Another stakeholder from Lavushimanda District in Muchinga Province asked whether the company had acquired water rights from the Water Resources Management Agency (WARMA). 
 
This question arose from the fact that Lake Agro is already using water from the Luombwa River to irrigate crops using center pivots. 
 
In response, the company claimed to have water rights. 
 
“Last year we got a temporal permit from WARMA for 6,000 cubic meters of water per day. We applied for more rights according to our plan. We received a demand notice and yes I can say we have water rights upto November,” said Mr Adapa. 
 
However, WARMA was represented at the hearing and gave a clear picture. Felix Kabombo, an Inspector at WARMA explained that Lake Agro Industries was only given a temporal permit for initial works and not for full scale irrigation. 
WARMA Inspector Felix Kabombo

 
“We only give a full five years permit after following all laws including clearance from ZEMA. At the moment, they (Lake Agro) only have a permit for developments they are doing, not irrigation,” said Mr Kabombo. 
 
Others questioned the actual EIA and its contents. 
 
For example, Kasanka Trust General Manager James Mwanza wondered why the developer opted to use hydraulic baseline data which is over 30 years old when latest reports are readily available. 
 
To him, the use of outdated statistics was tantamount to misleading ZEMA and the public over the plans for the project. 
 
For the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), an organisation which fights for the preservation of nature, their concerns were twofold: conditions of service for workers and mitigation measures proposed for the area. 
 
WWF Head of Species Moses Nyirenda
WWF Zambia Head of Species and Protected Areas Moses Nyirenda said investigations by his organisation have revealed that workers are being paid below the government-set minimum wage. 
 
“What type of employment is here? Is it cheap labour or sustainable jobs? The rates offered are below the minimum wage...... This is a pristine area but your restoration and mitigation measures are vague,” said Mr Nyirenda. 
 
In response, Ahmed said the company was providing sustainable employment and had already employed between 100 and 150 people. 
 
For those involved in protecting birds in the wild, a project of this magnitude is a big concern to them especially that the Kasanka area is an important bird area. 
 
“Are you aware that in addition to the bat migration which is being talked about, this area sits in one of the eight worldwide recognised bird migratory fly ways which is the East Atlantic Fly Ways?”asked Clara Nanja the Programme Manager at BirdWatch Zambia. 
 
BirdWatch Zambia Programme Manager Clara Nanja
Ms Nanja’s other concern was on where Lake Agro industries is planning to conduct its re-aforestation efforts. She wanted to know whether it is the areas already cleared where center pivots are already installed and operating. 
 
For the Department of National Parks and wildlife which is responsible for the management of protected areas the country, it made a 360 degrees u-turn at the public hearing. 
 
This is the same institution which years ago gave Lake Agro Industries a go-ahead to set up the farm in the Kafinda Game Management Area. 
 
However, at the meeting, it was a different story. 
 
“The department is against large scale farming in the Game Manament Area. The location is in a sensitive area for the dispersal of bats in the Kasanka National Park. We recommend that this farming development is relocated to Nansanga Farming block where extensive farming is not in conflict with conservation,” said Sangulukani Phiri, who read a statement on behalf of the Department’s Director. 
 
Mr Phiri said once the developer relocates to Nansanga, it should restore the area it has already cleared and ensure it is environmentally friendly for flora and fauna. 
 
The Department however said if Lake Agro is allowed by ZEMA to operate in the GMA, it should be restricted to the 560 hectares it has already cleared to protect the environment. 
 
Community Concerns 
 
Among the many community members who spoke, their biggest issues were to do with access to water, sustainable jobs and importation of labour by Lake Agro Industries. Maggie Mwelwa, a resident of Mapepala complained that the investor had brought supervisors from Tanzanians who were mistreating local workers. 
A resident of Nabowa speaking at the hearing

 
“There is a lot of segregation. They brought many people from Tanzania who are supervisors. Some workers come from the Copperbelt. We the locals are not benefiting. How are we going to educate our children,” she said. 
 
Her view was shared by many other locals who complained about the foreigners. 
 
“We appreciate this development, it has created jobs. However, they brought Tanzanians who are mistreating our people. I can even name those Tanzanians: Robert Tapo, Jimmy Tapo, Nchimunya Tapo and many others. Surprisingly, none of them has come to this meeting, why are they hiding?” said Harrison Mumba, a resident of Nabowa. 
 
Other residents complained of unfair dismissals by Lake Agro Industries. 
 
For example, Joseph Pengele, an old man, complained that he was fired two years ago and he has not been compensated. 
 
He further said workers get injured at work but they are not given enough compensation. 
 
Another resident who identified himself as Mukosha said in the three years the company had been operating, none of the local workers had signed contracts. 
 
“None of our people here have seen contracts. Maybe workers from Ndola have signed contracts. But for workers from Nabowa and Mapepala, their jobs are terminated anyhow due to lack of contracts,” said Mukosha. 
 
In response to these concerns by the community, Ahmed said he would send Human Resource Officers from Lake Agro Industries’ Ndola office to address concerns on mistreatment and intimidation. 
 
Conclusion 
 
In the end, the task now remains with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency to decide whether to issue clearance to the project or reject. 
 
ZEMA also has the powers to punish Lake Agro Industries for having gone ahead to clear and plant crops on a 560 hectares piece of land which is deep in a game management area and threatens the annual bat migration which attracts thousands of tourists per year. 
 
The outcry by non government organisations, government agencies and locals for this project are genuine because it has been hurried and threatens the very existence of the bats which are a marvel and an important part of the ecosystem in the Kasanka area. 
 
For now, all eyes and ears are focused on ZEMA; everyone wants to know what decision the environmental watchdog will make. 
 
“ZEMA has already made its professional verification of the project. Our Board will look at these issues and make a decision. All comments will be taken into account as we make a decision,” said ZEMA Acting Director General Simon Mwansa at the close of the public hearing.

Tuesday 7 December 2021

Zambian Youths Invest In Environmentally Friendly Charcoal

Gilbert Tembo with Science and Technology Minister
Felix Mutati at the National Innovation Fair.
By Paul Shalala

As the energy crisis hits Zambia, adverts from the power utility Zesco keep being published in daily tabloids, guiding consumers on which towns and areas of the country are likely to be loadshedded.

This has forced Zambians to use charcoal as a back-up energy source.

Making charcoal means cutting down of trees in the wild and almost all charcoal burners do not take part in afforestation programs.

To make matters worse, there is no law or policy in Zambia which compels people to replant trees after felling trees.

This situation has led to the wanton destruction of the forests and protected areas.

The price of charcoal has even reached an all-time high, fetching three times what it was five years ago.

A 50 kilogram bag of charcoal is now selling around K120 and this has become big business for some Zambians.

To mitigate the impact of deforestation, some youths in Zambia are now investing in clean energy sources such as charcoal briquettes which are environmentally friendly and do not emit smoke while burning.

One such youth is Gilbert Tembo aged 34 of Katete District in Eastern Province.

“I invented a coal briquette made from agricultural wastes such as maize combs, groundnut shells, rice husks, soya beans stalks, grass or leaves. It is an alternative energy for charcoal and firewood,” said Gilbert in an interview.

His invention has made him compete at various levels this year and he recently got funded to expand his business.

Some of the charcoal briquettes Gilbert makes

At a Provincial Innovation Fair held in Eastern Province earlier this year, Gilbert pitched his idea and he was selected among five innovators to represent Eastern Province at the National Innovation Fair which took place at Mulungushi International Conference in Lusaka from 4 to 5 November 2021.

“I participated in the National Innovation Initiative contest organized by UNDP, NTBC, PACRA and UNFP in Lusaka. Out of 3,100 applicants, 100 were shortlisted countrywide and I was one of them. 20 finalists are to undergo a business acceleration training. And I found myself amongst the finalists and got awarded a sum of K50,000, plus a breakfast with the Honorable Minister of Science and Technology Mr Felix Mutati at southern Sun Hotel.”

Gilbert’s innovation is smart energy and it fits in well with the resolutions of the recently held United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland where deforestation was pointed out as a major threat to the environment.

Developed countries have pledged millions of dollars to third world countries to fight deforestation.

According to official government statistics, 79% of Zambians both in urban and rural areas use charcoal as fuel for cooking and heating.

To satisfy this huge appetite for charcoal consumption, about 300, 000 hectares of land is lost annually in the country.

To curb this, Gilbert thought of inventing an alternative energy source which is cheap, environmentally friendly and safe as it does not emit harmful gasses when burning.

He adds: “I plan to commercialize and pack in 5, 10 and 50kg bags. This project has the potential to create direct and indirect jobs and it will add value to people’s lives. Climate change is real as evidenced by extreme hotness, floods, poor rain pattern and we need to do something.”

Another youth who is investing in sustainable energy sources is Collins Simfukwe, a 34 year old inventor of Mufulira District on the Copperbelt.

Collins is a former miner who quit his job at Mufulira Mine in order to establish a business to supply smokeless charcoal to clients.

Collins Simfukwe showing one of the machines
he invented at his factory

“I worked in the mines soon after completing Grade 12 but later, I resigned and started working on my own. It was a risk but here iam, am selling these charcoal briquettes to various clients,” said Collins.

When this author visited Collins at his house where he manufactures the charcoal briquettes, he was shocked to see how the small house in Kantanshi Township has been turned into a fully-fledged factory.

All the machines being used there were invented and made by Collins.

He says he started inventing things when he was a member of Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) in Grade five at Mufulira Basic School.

“JETS took me to South Africa, Namibia and all over Zambia where we attended fairs and showcased our inventions. It is this experience which led me to venture into smokeless charcoal briquettes,” he added.

When making the charcoal briquettes, Collins uses maize cobs, leaves, grass and anything that is thrown around.

In that way, he converts waste into an environmentally friendly energy source which does not release smoke into the atmosphere.

And most of his clients are poultry farmers both in Zambia and abroad.

“Ordinary charcoal emits a lot of smoke but charcoal briquettes do not emit smoke. One briquette burns between seven and 10 hours and poultry farmers in Mufulira, Kitwe, Lusaka and the Democratic Republic of Congo come here to order because they last long.”

With the creation of the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Collins is ready to work with government to promote clean energy sources.

He says with the experience he has in producing charcoal briquettes, he can advise the Ministry on better options for energy use.

Collins works with his wife and a relative at their factory which is just in the backyard of their house.

Due to lack of funding, they use domestic electricity for their production and lack of enough space at their house means they cannot expand production.

However, their actions have been noticed by the Mufulira Municipal Council.

Charcoal briquettes which Collins produces

“We will promote what this young inventor has done and we will give him enough land so that he can expand his business,” said Mufulira Mayor Tanaeli Kamanga in an interview.

Another official from the local authority Castro Chisanga, the Director of Public Health, toured the factory to see what Collins is doing

“We are impressed as a local authority, this inventor is using organic waste and he is playing a vital role in conserving the environment. There is rampant deforestation in Mufulira but if this business is promoted, our trees will be spared,” said Mr Chisanga.

A Copperbelt-based environmentalist Lovemore Muma says the two inventors, Gilbert of Katete and Collins of Mufulira, need to form cooperatives and source for funding to expand their businesses.

“These are important inventions which can change the lives of many youths in the country. Let these youths form cooperatives to access funding. That way, they will be able to expand and impact the nation by reducing deforestation which is driven mainly by charcoal production,” said Mr Muma who is also Executive Director of The Earth Organisation.

Mr Muma has urged the two young inventors to work with the Ministries of Small and Medium Enterprises, Green Economy and Environment and Science and Technology to commercialise their inventions.