Ex-Tanzania President Kikwete To Lead Commonwealth Observers

Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete

By Paul Shalala

Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has been appointed by the Commonwealth to lead a 17-man team of election observers to Zambia for the country’s August 11 general elections and referendum.

In a press statement, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland hopes that Zambia will conduct an inclusive, peaceful and credible poll to demonstrate the country’s culture of democracy.

She has disclosed that an advance group of Commonwealth observers was deployed in the country on 22 July while the rest of the team is expected to arrive on 4 August. 

“In solidarity with the people of Zambia, the Commonwealth will be present to observe these polls and will continue to work with relevant Zambian institutions towards further strengthening the country’s democracy,” said Ms Scotland.

She added that holding peaceful and successful elections is a high responsibility for the people and institutions of all Commonwealth member states.

“All Zambians including the election management body, political parties and their leaders, the citizenry, civil society, security agencies, the media and voters have a duty and responsibility to ensure a peaceful process and a credible outcome.”

According to the statement, the Commonwealth Observer Group will consider the pre-election environment and election preparations.

On August 11, the team will observe the voting, vote-counting and the results procedure.

The Commonwealth joins other international observers like the African Union, SADC and the European Union who have already deployed their observers.

Zambia has seven million registered voters who will be electing a President, Members of Parliament, Mayors, Council Chairmen and Councillors.

Voters will also be casting ballots in a referendum to amend the Bill of Rights.

Eurobond Helping To Improve Zambia's Trade With Neighbours

By Paul Shalala

A Zambia Railways locomotive

When it was issued in 2013, the US$750 million Euro Bond became a controversial topic in Zambia as various people received it with mixed reactions.

However, two years down the line, fruits of that Eurobond are now visible.

Zambia Railways was allocated 120 million dollars from the Eurobond and part of the money was channeled towards rehabilitating and constructing new rail lines on the Copperbelt.

Zambia Railways Limited has completed rehabilitating and constructing new rail lines in three districts of the Copperbelt to link smelters and mines at the cost of K8.6 million.

The districts connected are Chingola, Chililabombwe and Kitwe.

The railway firm has now finished connecting Konkola Deep Mine in Chililabombwe to the smelter at Nchanga in Chingola and the refinery at Nkana Plant in Kitwe.

This now means that raw copper can now be transported by railway from Chililabombwe to the smelter in Chingola and later the anodes can be moved from Chingola to be refined into cathodes in Kitwe before they are exported abroad.

The project was funded using Zambia Railways’ allocation of US$120 million from the US$750 million Euro Bond which was over subscribed when the Zambian government issued it on the international market in 2013.

Zambia Railways General Manager for Projects Fred Kaoma says the company has now connected Konkola Deep Mine in Chililabombwe to Nchanga Mine in Chingola and further to Nkana Refinery in Kitwe.

Mr Kaoma says the project will decongest  roads and help the mines transport their goods from one mine site to the other without more easily.

And Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Estimates Highvie Hamududu says works done so far are impressive as there is something tangible can be see.

Mr Hamududu, who is also Bweengwa Member if Parliament, says taxpayers want to see money from the Eurobond being utilized to the best interest of the nation.

Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Estimates are on the Copperbelt inspecting projects which were funded by US$ 750 million Eurobond.

The improvement of the railway infrastructure using the Eurobond will now enhance trade between Zambia and her neighbours.

“Now we will be able to move cathodes from Kitwe to Durban, Dar Es salaam or Beira or any other port. We have a good working relations in South Africa now,” said Christopher Musonda, Zambia Railways Marketing Manager.

He further revealed that through this improved railway system, exporting copper products through Zambia’s neighbours will be guaranteed.

“Exporting copper through Durban takes 30 days to reach China, but with our enhanced partnership with Tanzania, exporting through Dar Es salaam will now only take 14 days,” added Mr Musonda.

Trade routes in Southern Africa

Recently, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and his Zambian counterpart Edgar Lungu agreed to improve the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) to improve trade among the two countries.

This now means that trains from the state run Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) can freely transport goods from anywhere in Zambia up to the port in Dar Es Salaam.

Currently, TAZARA trains come from Tanzania and end up at Kapiri Mposhi while ZRL trains cant go beyond Kapiri Mposhi.

This new partnership plus the already established regional agreements for the Nacala Corridor and the Walvis Bay arrangement will help enhance trade between Zambia and her neighbours.