By Nawa Mutumweno – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will open the UNWTO General Assembly on August 26 while President Michael Sata is expected to officially close the world’s biggest tourism gathering on August 28, 2013. According to a programme released in Livingstone on February 18, 2013 by the Zambian Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo, the General Assembly will be held from August 24 to 29, 2013 in Livingstone and Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls Town. The activities of the General Assembly have been shared equally between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The structure of the conference which is expected to... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Wednesday, February 20th 2013 |
By Nawa Mutumweno – It is lucidly clear that global growth in 2012 was uneven and weak, engendered by the turbulence in the Eurozone, lethargic growth in the United States, and a slowdown in the major emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil. This sluggish growth in the world economy depressed prices for copper, Zambia’s major export, while oil and food prices were generally higher. ‘’Growth in sub-Saharan Africa has been relatively favourable, partly due to increased trade and investment flows between Africa and key emerging economies and the relative insulation of the region from external financial shocks,’’ Finance... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Monday, February 4th 2013 |
By Nawa Mutumweno – Dubbed the Asian ‘tiger’, China has made serious inroads into Africa, Zambia included. One shining example of this economic intervention is the China-Africa Development Fund which invests in infrastructure and construction projects. In the few years of its existence, financing from this organisation has virtually changed the face of Africa. The fund was launched (under the auspices of the China Development Bank) with a $5 billion funding provision. The business scope of the fund mainly includes equity and quasi—equity investment, fund investments, fund management, investment management and consulting services, with the money being ploughed into African countries’ agriculture, manufacturing, energy transport, telecommunications, urban... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Monday, February 4th 2013 |
By Nawa Mutumweno – Government sees the forthcoming hosting of the 20th United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly as a grand opportunity to further promote tourism investments and boost tourist arrivals into the country. Tourism and Arts minister Sylvia Masebo disclosed recently that the country’s tourist capital, Livingstone, will be the biggest beneficiary of the event with the Government having released sufficient funds to improve its infrastructure. Government is carrying a deliberate facelift of Livingstone through the improvement of roads, water and sanitation, markets, bus stations and stadiums, among others. There are also plans to construct a convention... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Thursday, January 31st 2013 |
By Nawa Mutumweno – The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has procured six new diesel electronic mainline locomotives from China and re-commissioned two heavy duty cranes to boost operations. These two projects mark significant progress and a tremendous step towards the implementation of capacity building projects under the 14th Protocol of Economic and Technical Cooperation, which was signed by the governments of China, Tanzania and Zambia in December 2009. The inter-country rail firm is happy to be on the last lap to the completion of all projects under the auspices of the protocol although it continues to face challenges, its... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Thursday, January 24th 2013 |
