The Zambia-Europe Cargo Flights Start

Two Cargo Airlines have team up to service the Lusaka-Europe route. DAS Air Cargo (DAC) and Southern Aviation Limited (SAL) of Lusaka have formed a partnership to provide weekly cargo flights between Zambia and Europe.

Zambian horticultural producers are mighty happy. They have sighed a relief. Not so long ago they had to channeled their exports through South Africa when British Airways cancelled its cargo service to Lusaka. It will now be cheaper to get their beautiful and high value flowers and vegetables to Europe.

DAC established in 1983 by Captain Joe Roy operates from Amsterdam, London Gatwick, Dubai, Entebbe (Uganda) and Lagos (Nigeria) linking Africa with Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Besides scheduled services DAC operates ad hoc charter services and tailor-made cargo solutions.

DAC first started servicing the Lusaka route in 1985 when it acquired a DC10-30F. Today the company has six DC 10s. The company also services China.

SAL director Mark Mfula lead the negations for his company.

So lifting cargo to and from Lusaka is no big deal just like visiting Zambia is no big deal too! And the safaris are great… the Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River, the beautiful wildlife and the birds too!

LuSE Gets 2 International Recognitions

In 2005 the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) received two international recognitions. That’s why LuSE general manager Joseph Chikolwa is pleased about his stock exchange’s performance in the financial markets.

Early In 2005, world rating agency Standard and Poors (S&P) voted LuSE the third best performing stock exchange in Africa. The exchange was also voted best performing bourse in Central and Eastern Africa.

And a fortnight ago, Zimbabwe’s Financial Gazette voted the exchange the best performing in Southern Africa, outperforming older bourses like the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

Chikolwa said that although LuSE had only one listing in the year, the bourse scored a first by introducing a corporate governance code for listed companies in the region. In addition LuSE achieved a 70 per cent return rate in US dollar terms.

Where else in the world would you find a stock exchange so young (debuted in 1994) but such a great performer? What’s more the Zambian government bonds are a great hit too, both among corporate and individual investors. So don’t be left out if you can help it.

And don’t forget! Zambia safari will always be there waiting for you to sample it. It’s now great in Zambia!

LuSE and JSE Link UP Operations

Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) general manager Joseph Chikolwa announced that LuSE and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) will complete the link up in operations by next June. The LuSE-JSE link up would be implemented in phases.

Chikolwa said, “The first phase was successfully completed in the first half of 2004. Currently we are at Phase II, that requires funding for infrastructure, professional services and the actual set up,”

This project falls under the Committee of Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) stock exchanges. LuSE is eagerly looking forward to the link up in the first half of 2006.

But why the link up of operations? JSE is the largest stock exchange in southern Africa and LuSE is Africa’s best performing stock exchange. The synergy in operation will just blow you away…

Meanwhile five companies that operate with LuSE have already paid out dividend in the third quarter. These are Chilanga Cement, Shoprite Holdings, BP Zambia, British American Tobacco and Pamodzi Hotel. And the the index had a leap from 1,026.09 to 1,285.51 because of the continued rise in share prices in almost all companies on LuSE.

For example, in June Chilanga Cement Plc was K1,650 and closed at K1,800 in September, BP Zambia Plc moved from K200 to K310.00, Farmers House Plc moved from K1,100 to K1,500. This trend was noted in almost all the stocks.”

So if you want to do some investments why not try LuSE? And Zambia safari will be waiting for you to enjoy it. I wager you won’t be disappointed.

And don't forget to check Zambia Safari Blog

Now the French Support Zambia Safari

Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the French Embassy to bring to Zambia 12 French tour operators and journalists. The French ambassador to Zambia Francis Saudubray said the French government would facilitate the travel of six tour operators and six journalists for a cultural, eco-system and wildlife programme.

Under the terms of the MoU, the French side would pay for the cost of travel from France to Zambia of the tour operators and journalists while the Zambian side would cover all ground costs such as internal flights, vehicles, accommodation, park entries and all other activities of the tour operators and journalists.

Ambassador Saudubray said the tour operators and journalists would also visit the northern parts of the country to sample the often-ignored vast tourism potential in the part of the country. Ambassador Saudubray also revealed that the Accor Group of Hotels from France are coming to Zambia on a feasibility assessment to look into prospects of investing in Lusaka and Kitwe.

He said Zambia was an authentic tourist destination, which can attract more Europeans.

Zambian Bond Market and Offshore Investors

African Banking Corporation (ABC) Holdings Limited chief executive officer Douglas Munatsi has commended the recent influx of offshore investors into the Zambian bond market. Munatsi attributed this to Zambia's economic and political stability over the years. This, he said, had set the country on the road to become a significant economic player in southern Africa.

Munatsi was excited: "Zambia is the most exciting economy in the region now and that is why investors like hedge funds are flocking into this country's bond market. The kwacha has defied gravity and rallied well against the major currencies and this strengthens a stronger outlook for the economy in the short term."

And ABC Zambia managing director Zandile Shaba implored the government to manage the appreciation of the local currency Kwacha to avoid the negative effect to exporters. She said that there was need to ensure that the Kwacha did not fluctuate like in the past.

The bullish Zambia is an exciting investment destination. What is more the Zambian safari sector is not yet fully developed and the government has its arms wide open. And remember that there is no exchange controls here. So jump on the bandwagon and come to see for yourself.

Untapped Potential of E-governance and Zambia Safari

Zambia is in Africa but when you enter a government office don’t be surprised if you find a desk top computer comfortably humming on top of a table. A note book computer shouldn’t shock you either. The information communication and technology (ICT) has arrived even here in Zambia in Africa!

To what benefit? You can now conduct business easily and fast… Why? E-governance, the digitalisation of government service delivery mechanisms is here. It’s about simplicity of service delivery, morality and integrity in the public sector.

The accountability, the responsiveness and transparency in the discharge of public goods and services have should improve. E-governance will assist in de-bureaucratisation (the bureaucratic pain will be no more) and simplification of government processes and procedures. Visas or investment licences will be like a breeze to obtain.

And a national ICT policy is in the offing… Zambia’s National Development Plan (NDP for 2006 - 2011) is being developed through e-governance. The schools have jumped on to the bandwagon too. There are 700 teacher resource centres countrywide. However, Richard Mwanza of the government’s Communications Authority (CA) acknowledges that the full ICT application is yet to make a mark in Zambia.

But Lusaka City Council (LCC) has made a start. The municipality has embarked on e-governance with the support of United Nations Education Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) to pursuit an efficient and transparent governance in Zambia.

What’s more? You can find out ahead and easily too about the safari trip you have always wanted to take. Just click here to see the Zambia safari highlights and adventures.

Coffee Production is Growing in Zambia

Production of Zambian coffee has grown by over 30 percent. Mubuyu Farms (MF) of Mazabuka is a good example. MF has this year harvested 8.2 million kilogrammes of cherry coffee from the 2004-2005 season, up from 5.4 million-kilogrammes harvested in the 2003-2004 season. A whopping 52 percent!

Senior coffee production manager Joe Likomwa attributed the increase to good management and the fact that the trees had now been growing for more than four years. After the dry processing of cherry in 2003/04 season, the farm managed to harvest 858,000 kilogrammes of the green beans. This year the farm was projected to harvest close to 1.4 to 1.5 million kilogrammes of green beans by the time the drying process is completed in mid December.

Mr Likomwa said during the harvest period, the farm recruited 2,600 casual employees compared to 1,700 people who were given casual employment during the 2003-04 seasons.

And Likomwa said out of all the harvested coffee beans last year, everything was exported except for 12,000 kg which was allocated to local consumption and to promote coffee drinking in Zambia.

‘‘The response from local consumption has so far been good and we will continue to make our munali coffee for local and export consumption,’’ said Mr Likomwa. Currently the market for Mubuyu farm is South African but the farm is looking for other prospects too.

Mubuyu farms is a privately owned coffee farm in Mazabuka, 70 kilometres south of Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city. William Lublinkhof employs about 1,000 permanent employees on 500 hectares of irrigated land. He is alleviating poverty of the people of Zambia a country largely unspoiled by farming or development.

Demand for Zambian Coffee Rises

The Japanese market now wants more Zambian coffee. And for that the Coffee Growers Association of Zambia (CGAZ) is thrilled. Zambian coffee is considered as one of the best in African and perhaps among the best in the world at large.

The Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO) director of research Akikazu Hamada confirmed this demand. He revealed this while attending a seminar at the Export Board of Zambia (EBZ) offices in Lusaka, Zambia. And the discussion was on the “food and other export opportunities to Japan.”

Mr Hamada, a Johannesburg based diplomat said the demand for Zambian coffee in Japan was increasing. So his organization was in Zambia to assist Zambian coffee exporters to increase their share on the Japanese market. But for what expectations? Up will go the export volumes for Zambia!

Meanwhile Japan will hold a Food exhibition (FOODEX) in February 2006. And Zambian exporters are fortunate. JETRO plans to sponsor the Zambian association of coffee exporters. And luckily Zambia’s agriculture is on the up swing. JETRO was also interested in other products such as paprika. Besides coffee Zambian honey, ornamental fish, sugar and crocodile skins could be exported to Japan.

During the Expo 2005 in Japan products from Zambia attracted a lot of interest. Visitors to the exposition also wanted information on other Zambian goods and services especially about the Victoria Falls the world’s largest curtain of falling water. Besides the abundant wildlife in pristine wilderness the waterfall is Zambia’s safari flag ship.

Marketing Institute Markets Zambia

Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM) president Mable Mung’omba has jumped onto the bandwagon to support Zambian safaris. ZIM plans to assist Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB) to market Zambia abroad. Mung’omba said her institute would assist the Government to market the country more especially in enterprises in tourism and safaris.

Mung’omba was speaking during the ZIM annual awards gala night which is held at the end of every year.

How does her institute plan to do this? ZIM would introduce programmes that Zambian business people would participate in order take advantage of the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) initiative of the United States of America and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) a new development programme for Africa.

Why the interest in the Zambian tourism sector? The government has targeted the tourism sector to contribute 10 per cent growth to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2010.

“We have agreed that we will be seeking to become a role model to the nation, since we are marketers we need to become relevant to everything that Government is doing,” Ms Mung’omba said.

And Tourism is the third most important sector in the country’s economy after mining and agriculture.

Zambian Financial Markets Go International

Two years ago the Zambian financial markets joined the Paris based Financial Markets Association, whose French acronym is ACI. This association comprises the largest number of international associations in financial markets. Members are drawn from over 80 countries. Currently there are 65 affiliated national associations. Zambia is the second affiliated country in Southern Africa after South Africa.

ACI remains the leading global association of wholesale financial market professionals. Their target is to develop the markets through education, market practices, technical advice and networking.

Financial Markets Association of Zambia (FMAZ) president Miles Sampa says ACI-Zambian was formed two years ago to serve the foreign exchange business. But Zambia is a start up market having only come into being after the 1992 liberalisation of the foreign exchange. And probably the second country with no exchange controls in the whole of Africa.

The Zambian financial market has since evolved in line with the macroeconomic and global trends. So the issue of best practices is of paramount importance.

Mr Sampa said in last two years ACI-Zambia has acted as an advisor to the Central bank and the Bankers Association of Zambia . As a result Zambia’s foreign exchange dealers are required to have an ACI-Financial Market Association dealing certificate. Integrity and fare business practices are therefore in place.

So it stands to reason to consider investing in Zambia especially in Zambian tourism. The opportunities are myriad.

Now Its Cutting and Polishing of Gemstone

Bobbili Gems, (BG) a subsidiary of Silicon Zambia Limited is a new comer in gemstone industry in Zambia. Other than sale uncut stones like they have done in the past BG have joined the lucrative business of cutting and polishing gemstone. This has made the market value of their products literally “jump through the roof.”

Traditionally GM has been processing jewellery. They do their jewellery business from the superb five-star luxury premises of the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka. So when next in Lusaka Zambia’s capital city check them out at the Taj Pamodzi.

CEO of Silicon Zambia Vasu Reddy said his company started operations in Zambia in 2000. Reddy is happy that the company has now started to add value to their products. GM is now cutting and polishing precious stones.

“Zambia produces a lot of world class gemstones but countries that hardly produce any gemstone are market leaders in the export of finished products” bemoaned Reddy.

Bobbili Gems’ gets all its raw materials from Zambia. So apart from its great safari assets Zambia is just about the largest producer of raw emerald gemstones besides from Brazil.

Now It’s an Airline for Zambia Safari

Wow, now it’s the big one. A task force was recently appointed for the purpose of establishing a Zambian national airline. National Airline Taskforce (NAT) chairman George Lewis disclosed that the recently registered Air Zambia (AZ) will be the national’s flag carrier. The airline is aimed at boosting Zambian tourism.

AZ was incorporated on October 11, 2005. Various interest groups are involved. These are from the aviation industry, travel and tours, hotels and catering, the hospitality and tourism industry including the general public. Already an application for an operating licence has been logged with the Ministry of Communications and Transport (MCT).

AZ would be private sector driven with government support. “The government has been asked to transfer to Air Zambia any residual Zambia Airways (ZA) assets such as the maintenance base at the Lusaka International Airport in return for a golden share,” Lewis said. ZA a forerunner airline to AZ was liquidated in November 1994 after serious financial problems.

Lewis added that Air Zambia would also provide extra freight capacity for horticultural exports which the British Airways stopped to airfreight. Currently Zambia Export Growers’ Association (ZEGA) have to haul 40 tonnes of produce to South Africa by road for onward air transfer to Europe.

It’s now a matter of time. The incentive to build an airline exists. And if safaris are your interest the airline will ease travels to and from Zambia. …And the Victoria Falls will not lack for easier access. Not at all!

Another SA Airline to Service Zambia

A low-budget South African airline, Kulula.com Airways will soon start flights into Lusaka International airport. Kulula.com is a popular South African domestic airline that allows passengers to book directly online at Kulula.com web site. Currently Kulula.com is in discussion with the ministry of Transport and Communication in Zambia.

The bright green Kulula.com aircrafts have already started the Johannesburg-Harare and the Windhoek routes. The strategy of airline is a low cut-price flying that offer neither meals nor free liquor on the two-hour flight to Cape Town. So the airline is able to charge 60 per cent cheaper than their competition. And the number of passengers is on the increase. Once Kulula.com starts the Lusaka-Johannesburg route South African Airways (SAA) will have a good run for their money.

Gidon Novick (34) from Senderwood, Johannesburg is Kulula.com executive director. Novick who holds a MBA from Kellogg University in the United States (US) has started a price war. SAA chief executive officer (CEO) Khaya Nqgula said his airline was considering launching a low-cost carrier to compete with Kulula.com. The shareholders Transnet and the South African government probably have no choice but to give consent.

And who is to benefit from this price war. But you the safari traveler anxious to sample the unique southern African safaris and Zambia safari in particular.

Zambia to Receive 1 million Tourists

The “Visit Zambia 2005-2010” is expected to lure over one million tourists to visit Zambia by 2010. Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Kabinga Pande said the Zambian government had embarked on a tourism promotion initiative to create awareness of Zambia’s proximity to South Africa which would host the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.

While in London attending the World Travel Market (WTM) exhibition at ExCel, Mr Pande said Zambia would encourage participating teams to camp in Zambia and to use the three new stadia Zambia is construction before the World Cup finals.

The WTM exhibition attracted more than 5,500 exhibiting companies and 46,000 tourism industry professionals from more than 190 countries. The exhibition is the most effective international travel and tourism industry business forum.

As president of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) Mr Pande received the prestigious annual World Tourism Award for 2005. The award recognised the friendship and collaboration ATA used to bridge the Asia-Africa tourism.

Zambian companies that attended the WTM for the first time include Alendo Travel Tours & Car Hire and Norman Carr Safaris.

And locally the Zambian government special Tourism Loan to help Zambian join the Zambian tourism industry was preferentially pro women. Already 51 per cent of the financing went to Zambian women.