ZAMBIAN KWACHA STRENGTHENS: Miles Sampa, president of the Financial Markets Association of Zambia, hailed a 30 per cent strengthening of the kwacha in 2005 and attributed it to the country’s attainments of HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Country) status. “The fact that the government no longer has to look for dollars for debt servicing has resulted in holders of the currency offloading dollars onto the market in exchange for our kwachas,” he said in a press statement on 29 November. Mr. Sampa, who is also Director of International Banking for the Finance Bank of Zambia, added that a lucrative money market paying 17 per cent on treasury bills and 20 per cent for bonds had also helped to attract international investors. At 17.2 per cent, the current inflation figure was “not too far from the target of 15 per cent,” though this figure was prey to the strong South African rand and high oil prices, said Mr. Sampa. The inflation rate over the past 18 months in neighbouring Zimbabwe has been estimated, unofficially but reliably, at 580 per cent. (Times, 30 November; other sources)

SUPPLY CUT BOOSTS COBALT PRICE WHILE COPPER FLIES HIGH: Cobalt prices continued to surge in the wake of trouble at the Nickelwerk refinery owned by Falconbridge in Canada. End-of-November sales of this tightly-controlled metal were reported art £16.50 a pound for metal which is 98.8 per cent pure. Cobalt is used in a range of high-technology applications, including batteries for hybrid cars and catalysts, and is a target product of Konkola Copper |Mines’ development plans. Meanwhile copper for delivery in three months hit $4,384 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange on 9 December, after briefly touching £4,425. (Times, 29 November; Miningnews.net 30 Nov, 9 December)

EQUINOX TO RAISE ADDITIONAL MILLIONS TO FUND LUMWANA: Equinox Minerals expects to raise at least $127 million through its operations in Australia and Canada, to help fund its emerging $483 million Lumwana copper project. The company completed a feasibility study in October, with the capital cost for the 20-million-tonnes-per-annum operation inclusive of a $95.9 million mining fleet. Lumwana is to be commissioned in the second half of 2007. (Miningnews.net, 5 December)

POLICE IN DEADLY SHOOT-OUT: Police in Lusaka shot dead four men who attempted to rob a businessman at gunpoint as he emerged from a Lusaka bank. Driving a Toyota saloon car, they were trailed from Longacres, but escaped the police dragnet long enough to ram and overturn an Airports Corporation vannette. The police headed them off and waited for them at the Arcades Shopping Mall’s BP filling station. There followed what Daily Mail reporter Dean Mwaanga described as ‘like a scene from an action movie,’ as the police exchanged fire with the bandits and brought them down, one by one. Lusaka Division Commanding Officer Chendela Musonda said that the gang was believed to have been responsible for an aggravated robbery at Trade Kings Limited, where they stole K20 million, as well as for a recent robbery at the UTH Finance Bank branch where they got away with K66 million. (Mail, 29 November)

DRUG ENFORCEMENT TEAM NAB 10: The Drug Enforcement Commission recently arrested 10 people for trafficking in illicit drugs. These included two Zambians in Serenje selling 11 kilos of dagga and a Tanzanian in Nkonde with five bags containing 41 bundles of Miraa. The DEC has commended Zambian chiefs for their strictness in banning the cultivation of dagga in their chiefdoms. (Mail, 7 December)

FIRST LADY AND CHIEFS CALL FOR BAN ON TRADITIONAL SEX RITUALS: Maureen Mwanawasa, wife of the Zambian president has called for the arrest of anyone who promotes traditional practices that allow girls under 16 to engage in sexual activity. In an address made to commemorate World Aids Day on 1 December, and stressing the need to reduce further Zambia’s number of AIDS victims she said “Livingstone has a prevalence rate of 30 per cent and our prisons are at 20 per cent. We need to confront all practices that promote child abuse and increase the HIV/AIDS risk.” Chief government spokesman Vernon Mwaanga represented the president at a candlelight church service and said the government was committed to fighting the pandemic. Meanwhile six Central Province chiefs have met to formulate and announce a bold proposal to ban so-called ‘sexual cleansing’ – the involvement of a widower with a close relative, to get rid of the ghost of the deceased spouse - and other deeply ingrained ritual practices which encourage the spread of HIV/AIDS. (Times, 2 December; Mail, 10 December)

KK SAYS THANKS, BUT NO THANKS: Zambia’s first president has revealed that several distinguished representatives of established political parties have approached him to stand for the presidency again next year. He had been privileged to serve as president for 27 years, Dr. Kaunda told a press conference, and appreciated the faith people still had in him, but stressed that he had “no intention whatsoever to re-engage in active politics at any level.” He spoke of his Children of Africa Foundation and of a new project he had undertaken to raise the standards of peasant farmers. Also, he said, he would shortly be visiting his long-time friend Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, to deliver a solidarity message. “The West has no right to condemn him on the land issue,” said Dr. Kaunda. (Times, 29 November)

A GOOD DEAL FOR KONKOLA MINEWORKERS’ UNION: Unionised workers at KCM have been awarded a 35 per cent salary increase after six months of negotiation. (Times, 3 December).

DEATH OF A CHAMP: Lottie Mwale, whose international triumphs as a light heavyweight boxer made him a national hero, has died aged 54 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Born in 1952, Lottie started boxing as a child and by the age of 18 was fighting on the world stage as a member of the national amateur team. His achievements included a 1974 Commonwealth Gold Medal and a gold medal win when he captained Zambia at the World Military Games in Gaberone. He turned professional in 1977 and was brought to England in 1978 to fight the undefeated Tony Sibson, against whom he scored a first-round knock-out. He later scored a decision win against world champion Marvin Johnson. He continued to fight well into his 40s and acquired further African, British Commonwealth, Zambian and WBC titles. He leaves a wife and four children. (Mail, Ringside Report, 29 November)

CHRISTMAS TURKEYS DEFY BIRD FLU TASK FORCE: Apparently ignoring a national ban on the importation of poultry products, Shoprite Checkers in Manda Hill, Lusaka displayed for some time turkeys flown in from South Africa, before they were spotted by a vigilant Daily Mail reporter. The birds were on sale despite an assurance given in mid-November by Central Board of Health spokesman Dr. Victor Mukonka that a ‘task force’ would be on 24-hourly duty to ensure that all processed poultry was tracked down and promptly confiscated. Shoprite country manager Stefan Kranz declined to comment “They must have flown the coop,” said a Shoprite assistant, offering the delectable birds for sale. (Mail 29 November and other sources)

Exchange Rate 13 December, 2005:
£1 = ZMK 6,652.25

Welcomed by the High Commissioner of Zambia, HE Anderson Chibwa, more than 80 members and many guests attended the 2005 Annual General Meeting of the Zambia Society Trust held on 1 December at Zambia House, in what is now Chancery Hall and was once the studio of Victorian painter John Everett Millais, who built the house in the 19th century. Over lunch and wine friendships were renewed and after the AGM, which was addressed by the trust chairman James Cairns OBE, a large number stayed to hear David Wainwright’s engaging talk on Tropical Forest Products, the organic bee-keeping industry that he has fostered in North West Zambia and runs from North Wales, supplying Waitrose and other prestige stores in Britain.

Also hosted by the High Commission was the November launch by Atlantic Books of Africa: a modern history, by Guy Arnold, whose involvement with Africa began when he created Zambia’s National Youth Service on the eve of Independence. He has since been a sympathetic observer and analyst of events in the African continent. Guest of honour at the function was Chief Emeka Anyouka, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth in the 1990s and president of the RCS. The High Commissioner was represented by Mrs. Evelyn Manda, first secretary administration at Zambia House. Africa, a modern history will be reviewed in Zambia Spotlight. ISBN: 1 84354 175 0

The Chairman of the Zambia Society Trust
and the trust committee wish members
everywhere a joyous Christmas and
a happy and peaceful New Year

Correspondence and Membership queries:
Jo Herkes
Honorary Secretary
Zambia Society and Trust
4, Ashurst Way, East Preston, Littlehampton BN16 1AG

Tel: 01903 783 765
Fax: 01903 785 977