By Promise Zalakata Kamanga – Lilongwe, Malawi- At least 100 hospitality units in Malawi are expected to be graded following the launch of the system end last week. This is the first time in the history of the country to have its accommodation units graded since its independence in 1964. The grading system, which has been postponed several times before, stands to be the real test of hospitality industry and the local consumer body has since commended its introduction. “Names will be changed if what claims to be a hotel is only a lodge, every unit will be called by... Continue Reading
By Nawa Mutumweno – The once-cinderella province of Zambia, North-Western, has been ‘re-branded’ since the ‘invasion’ of this rural economy by Kansanshi mine, the kingpin of the Canadian mining great, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) a few years ago. It is said that corporate entities should not only derive profits from the communities in which they operate but should plough back some of these rewards into these areas in order for seeds of development to germinate. This is one arena where the mine scores high marks with the launch of the Kansanshi Foundation four years ago which has changed the economic... Continue Reading
By Nawa Mutumweno – The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has signed an agreement with the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) for the manufacture and supply of six mainline locomotives and spare costing $16.4 million. According to media reports, the agreement signed was signed on Monday, November 1, 2010 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It is a follow up to the 14th Protocol signed by the Chinese, Tanzanian and Zambian governments covering the repair of rescue and loading equipment, rehabilitation of three shunting locomotives and training of staff on a long-term basis. TAZARA managing director, Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika signed... Continue Reading
By Nawa Mutumweno – Indongo Mining Limited is to establish the Mulungwa Coal Mining Project, estimated at $10 million, in Mulungwa Basin, Maamba, in Sinazongwe District, Southern Zambia. The company is a Zambian registered company in equal partnership with Jonah Coal Limited of South Africa. The project will involve coal mining whose essential element is an open pit and a coal washing plant with their associated ancillary equipment. When the pit is at full operating capacity, it will produce 840 000 tonnes of coal per annum with a mine life of nine years. Indongo has since submitted an Environmental Impact... Continue Reading
By Nawa Mutumweno – The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has given the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) a $105 million loan facility to co-finance the expansion of its Kariba North Bank hydropower station. The 360 MW hydropower station, which is being developed as an extension to the existing 720 MW Kariba North Bank power station, on the Zambezi River will cost $430 million. Construction works by China’s Sinohydro commenced in November 2008 and are scheduled to be completed by December 2012. “This signifies a major step change aimed to support the Southern African Development Community energy supplies into... Continue Reading
