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Smart Zambia and the benefits of e-payslips – BLOG

  1. What is Smart Zambia?

Smart Zambia is an initiative established under Government Gazette No.836 of 2016 as an E-government division in the office of the President.  The initiative is aimed at transforming the country through information and communication technologies and deployment of electronic Government services and processes for effective public service delivery.

  1. What is the Mandate of Smart Zambia?

The Smart Zambia Initiative has a mandate of co-ordinating and harmonizing the implementation of electronic Government services and processes in order to improve service delivery across all Government Ministries and Spending Agencies.

  1. What are the functions of the Smart Zambia

In order to achieve its mandate Smart Zambia has the following specific functions;

  • Promotion and management of e-Government policies and programmes.
  • Development of strategies and standards that enhance usage and application of information and  communication technology innovations in the public sector.
  • Promotion of inter-government agency collaboration in providing e-Government services by integrating  related functions and systems.
  • Development of supportive and enabling shared infrastructure to ensure equitable access to effective and appropriate information and communication technologies among others.
  1. Implementation of the e-payslips

In its efforts to actualize electronic governance, Smart Zambia has introduced electronic payslips for all civil servants.   In the first phase of the e-payslip capturing exercise 109,000 civil servants were captured on the e-payslip platform and these are able to receive their payslips through emails out of 169,000.  The 60, 000 remaining are mostly in rural areas and are scheduled to be captured in the second phase once the districts are connected to the system. The implementation of the e-payslip system has a number of benefits to the Government.

In the first instance, through the e-payslip system, Government has been able to save K72 million on payslip printing and K68 million on the cost of paper annualy (Smart Zambia).  Secondly, the e-payslip system has helped Government curb fraud and to get rid of ghost civil servants.  This has helped the Government to save up money from salaries from those who were either dead or out of employment.

And lastly, the e- payslip system is complementing Government in achieving its green environment initiatives, this is because the phasing out of paper payslips entails reduction in cutting down of trees and low energy usage.

Look out for next PMRC  edition on Smart Zambia and the e-Voucher system.

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National Health Insurance – BLOG

Introduction

Health is central to development and is a precondition for, as well as an indicator and an outcome of progress in sustainable development.  It is therefore essential that Zambia achieves universal health coverage at every stage of life, with particular emphasis on primary health services, including mental and reproductive health, to ensure that all people receive quality health services without distress of financial hardship.

According to a study carried out by Ministry of Health and Central Statistical Office on Zambia Household Health Expenditure and Utilization (ZHHEUS, 2015) only 3.9% of Zambians have health insurance cover while the remaining 96% of the population depend on out of pocket payments when accessing health services. The above statistics if not addressed would cause Zambia not fully achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 3 which attempts to promote healthy lives and wellbeing for all at all ages by 2030.

The introduction of National Health Insurance is a step in ensuring that 100% of the populations have access to health care services through the scheme. Consultations on the National Health Insurance Bill started as early as 2012 and since then the Ministry of Health has continued to successively engage with various stakeholders on the formulation of the National Social Health Insurance Bill. These engagements with various trade unions and other key stakeholders in the health sector were coupled with general consultations validated by the Zambia Household Health Expenditure and Utilization Survey (ZHHEUS, 2015). Nation-wide consultative meetings and best practice comparative studies spearheaded by a technical working group to ensure that all stakeholders views and concerns about the enactment of the Bill are taken in to consideration.

What is the National Health Insurance Scheme

The National Health Insurance Scheme is a system of health insurance that covers a national population against cost of healthcare. In most cases the scheme is administered by the public sector or the private sector, and in some instances a combination of both.

Similarly, While there is no standard definition of what health insurance is, it is widely defined and perceived to be ‘a financial protection mechanism, for healthcare, through health risk sharing and fund pooling for a larger group of the population’ (WHO,2003). The main goal of the scheme is to cover all citizens who are exposed to health-related financial risks by eliminating the need for out of pocket payments for health services.  This model of health financing is beneficial to the population in the sense that, it offers a secured and sustainable financing model for the improved provision of drugs, health personnel recruitment, infrastructure development, and improved health information management system for better health care provisions for a country.

It is against this background that the government has formulated and intends to implement the National Health Insurance Act, which was formulated based on the Solidarity Model. The Solidarity Model of public health financing is a concept widely utilized by many countries to reduce costs and increase efficiency and effectiveness in a nations health sector. Although various countries have different country-fitted health insurance scheme structures, the concept of a Solidarity Based Model of health insurance financing can be identified in many of them. By definition, the modern meaning of solidarity in health insurance refers to the equal treatment for all social groups (elderly, low- income, immigrants, disabled etc.) anchored on a contributory based system mandating that all working citizens must join the same contributory health financing fund (Saltman R. 2015).  Members of these schemes are usually nationals and residents who pay on average between 6-10% of their income to the scheme/fund, which is widely accessible to the general population at various levels (different packages). The concept is meant to provide for sustainable health financing through the equitable and fair collection of contributions. The model is intended to expand coverage for vulnerable groups such as the chronically ill and elderly and although there may be numerous arguments as to whether or not this must be supported is based on the moral fibre of the policy makers and general citizenry.

The National Health Insurance Bill is intended to institute the National Health Insurance Scheme whose aim is to provide universal access to quality insured health care services for the population. The following are the objectives of the scheme:

  • Provide for universal access to quality insured health care services;
  • Establish the National Health Insurance Management Authority and provide for its functions and powers which include but are not limited to, implementing, operating and managing the scheme and fund established by the Act;
  • Establish the National Health Insurance Fund and provide for contributions to and payments from the fund;
  • Provide for accreditation criteria and conditions in respect of insured healthcare services and;
  • Provide for complaints and appeals processes and provide for the progressive establishment of provincial and district health offices of the Authority.

Contributions to the scheme 

The Bill, will provide for the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme into which contributions will be made for financing of the different categories of the insurance scheme. These contributions will form a fund that will be utilized to administer the payment of the cost of insured health care services accessed by members of the scheme. This funding model will reduce the Out of Pocket Payments (OPP) that are currently being used to access all required medical services despite the removal of user fees in public health service centres.

Contributions to the scheme are to be made by the following categories of people:

  • Contribution of 2% of income will be made towards the insurance. The employer will contribute 1% of income while the employee will also  contribute 1%.

Managers of pension schemes will make contributions for retirees.

  • Self- employed citizens will make contributions towards the scheme as well.

There are sections of society who are exempted from making contributions, among them are:

  • Mentally or physically disabled persons who are unable to work.
  • Elderly persons above the age of 70.
  • Persons classified as incapacitated by Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare.

Benefits Of The National Health Insurance Scheme

There are several benefits that will come with the successful implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme; the following are the notable benefits:

  • Reduction in barriers to health care access– despite the removal of user fees in public health service provision, most Zambians especially in rural areas still find it difficult to access health care services because of financial and non-financial costs they incur when accessing medical attention. These out of pocket payments include travel costs, expenses on drugs or medical investigations not available at public facilities, with the introduction of the national health insurance there will be a reduction in the challenges that come with out of pocket payments.
  • Improved health care provision– the implementation of Health Insurance Financing Model will improve the quality of health care in the country because it will provide sustainable financing to the sector which will not be affected by annual budgetary constraints. This Insurance fund will be used to provide optimal support to the sector through provision of drugs, basic diagnostics and improved human resource in the sector.
  • Improved health infrastructure – the National Health Insurance Scheme will foster the development of health infrastructure especially in rural areas. Improvement of infrastructure will reduce the long distances that most people in the rural areas face when accessing health care.  Improved infrastructure will foster improved information storage and management through investment in information and communication technology needed in the health sector.
  • Improved demand for health care – according to the Zambia Household Health Expenditure and Utilization Survey (ZHHEUS) 38.3% of 15million Zambians do not report illness or visit health care facilities and only about 21.3% do. These who do not report illness attribute it mainly to distance, cost of health care service and some perceived poor quality of health care services in public healthcare facilities. With the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme which will lead to the improvement of health care services and reduction in the out of pocket payments, the demand for health care services will increase and this will result in a reduction of mortality.

Recommendations for the successful implementation of the scheme

The following are PMRC recommendations for an effective National Health Insurance Scheme;

  1. Government should ensure adequate number of health personal and facilities for the This can be achieved by getting more of the private sector players onto the scheme through incentives such as tax exemptions on importation of specialised medical equipment.
  2. The Government should put up a system that will ensure prompt remittance of the contributions to the scheme and a quick repayment mechanism to participation health care providers.
  3. The Government should set up a monitoring and evaluation system for the for continuous monitoring and review of the operations of the scheme in a manner that will provide for accountability and justification of the implementation of the scheme.

PMRC would like to urge all citizens and organizations to understand the contents of the Bill as it is a milestone in the efforts towards universal healthcare services for all and improved service delivery in the Zambian health sector.

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Implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy in Zambia – BLOG

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Progress and Update of the Social Cash Transfer Programme in Zambia – BLOG

Introduction

The Social Cash Transfer programme was adopted to be one of the major social protection interventions whose aim is to continuously reduce extreme poverty in Zambia. The Program is among other social protection initiatives such as the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme (PWAS) which involves in kind transfers to the needy and the Food Program Management which is the provision of food to vulnerable households. These programmes implemented by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) for Incapacitated households.

The main aim of these programmes is to;

  • Provide and promote quality social welfare services
  • Alleviate poverty
  • Reduce destitution
  • Promote family values and
  • Reducing juvenile delinquency

 

Recommendations On The Way Forward ToSuccessfully Implement The Programme

In view of the challenges faced during the implementation of SCT in Zambia, PMRC recommends the following:

  • Set up and communicate an official channel for feedback from beneficiaries
  • Increases in budgetary allocations towards the SCT (increase in amount and number of beneficieries in comparison to poverty levels
  • Increased capacity building for integrated MIS and improved management systems will to reduce the administrative cost of implementing the SCT
  • Periodic forensic audits to ensure that there is an authentic data base of true beneficiaries.
  • Prioritizing monitoring and evaluation to avoid corruption and general aid diversion n Ensure that the transfer is more predictable and reduce the delays in payments. This will ensure that the beneficiaries are not inconvenienced
  • Establish a specific period for occasional registration of potential beneficiaries.
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Domestic Resource Mobilisation Parliament Presentation-BLOG

Introduction

Domestic Resource Mobilization (D.R.M.) refers to the generation of savings from domestic resources and their allocation to economically and socially productive investments. Such resource allocation can come from both the public and private sectors. The public sector does this through taxation and other forms of public revenue generation.

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Public Statement – Government intensifies working ties with PMRC through Cabinet Office

PMRC this morning met The Reform Coordination Division, a division under Cabinet Office in charge of coordinating the implementation of all Government reforms and innovations. The division focuses on coordinating the implementation of high impact reforms and innovations as outlined in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) and other key strategic documents like the Industrialization and Job Creation Strategy (IJCS). The division also ensures that reforms undertaken by Government are communicated within and outside Government.

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Zambia-China Infrastructure Development Cooperation Seminar hosted on 12th – 13th October 2017 at Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Lusaka.

Introduction

The seminar was jointly hosted by the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) and the Chinese Embassy in Zambia. The Zambia – China Infrastructure Development Cooperation Seminar was held from the 12th to the 13th of October 2017 at Taj Pamodzi Hotel under the theme “Delivering Inclusive and Sustainable Infrastructure”.

The main objective of the seminar was to assemble a wide range of key experts and stakeholders to discuss the best practices in Infrastructure Development by sharing their expertise and experiences as well as provide inputs and new insights on how Zambia can realize Infrastructure Development.

The seminar was officially opened by Hon. Ronald Chitotela Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development and closed by Hon. Margaret Mwanakatwe  Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry and PMRC Board Chairman. Over 150 delegates representing Government Ministries (such as the Ministry of National Development Planning, Ministry of  Housing and Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Local Government), Government Agencies such as the Road Development Agency (RDA), Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) among others attended the seminar.

Chinese firms involved in Infrastructure Development were represented by firms such as AVIC International, China Jiangxi and Henan International. Zambian local contractors were also represented individually and by organisations such as the Zambia Association of Women in Construction, the National Association for Medium and Small Scale Contractors and the National Council for Construction.

The seminar deliberations were guided by the following topics;

Challenges and Opportunities towards Infrastructure Development in Zambia.

Conducive Policy environment required for enhancing Infrastructure Development in Zambia

Discussions on China’s experiences with Infrastructure Development and explore lessons.

Investment Pitches: Opportunities for collaboration among Chinese investors, government agencies and the local investors.

Discussing how China can work with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to promote Infrastructure Development.

Highlights of Deliberations

Panel discussions stressed the need for the Government to conduct project appraisals before carrying out major infrastructure projects so as to assess their feasibility and benefit to the community and economy as a whole.

The panel emphasised the need to strengthen and improve the use of Private Public Partnerships (PPPs) in the execution of infrastructure projects.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was identified as a potential sector that required infrastructure development as these improvements would create business opportunities for internet and telecommunication services.

The need to enhance and improve the country’s 20% sub-contracting policy was emphasized. Implementation of the 20% sub-contracting policy must ensure that Zambian citizens are empowered and monitored to ensure the completion of projects.

The panel also noted that Infrastructure Development concentrated on roads whilst foregoing other transport sectors such as aviation, rail and water transportation that also need of Infrastructure Development.

A proposal was made to create a Sino-Zambia Chamber of Commerce to enhance business relations between Chinese and Zambian Nationals.

Calls were made to improve the policy environment to encourage the private sector to take up Infrastructure Development in tourism, energy, telecommunication and railway.

The gathering was informed that the National Council for Construction Act was under review to include inspection of sub-contracting standards. Calls were then made to improve stakeholder consultation in the process.

Submissions were made by the Zambia Disability Network to improve enforcement and ensure that the universal designs are adhered to when infrastructure is being built to ensure inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities.

The seminar learnt that the lack of knowledge about entry and participation in the Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZs) had hindered local investors from taking advantage of the MFEZs and Industrial parks

Further, it was also learnt that there were opportunities for the private sector to finance the utilities within the MFEZs.

The need to further review the Zambia Development Agency Act was emphasized to ensure that it included a small scale strategy that would lead to enhanced participation and partnering of local firms with Chinese firms and other foreign firms investing in infrastructure.

Recommendations

Zambian firms need a platform through which they can engage government on PPP investments that reflect an international level of delivery. An element of technical support to raise the standard of local private business proposals needs to be looked into.

Government needs to increase its level of consultation with professional services on what sort of infrastructure (in terms of intended end use and design) rather than just focus on engagement with contractors.

Government needs to take the lead in scoping opportunities and supporting feasibility studies that private sector can take up.

Broad based consultations in fora such as the symposium and at community level in affected areas are needed to identify infrastructure opportunities that deliver social and economic impact.

The financial sector needs to be realigned to national development needs such as the cost of finance and regulatory requirements for lending to private sector firms that want to create/explore infrastructure development opportunities.

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PMRC Governance Series Seventh National Development Plan (2017 – 2021)

Explaining Critical Features Of The 7NDP – Part 2  | Theme: Economic Diversification and Job Creation


DEVELOPMENT OUTCOME 1: A DIVERSIFIED AND EXPORT-ORIENTED AGRICULTURE SECTOR

According to statistics in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP), agriculture sector is the fourth largest contributor to GDP (8.7 percent) and the largest contributor to employment. The sector is critical for achieving diversification, economic growth and poverty reduction in Zambia. We observe that the 7NDP will focus on agricultural development, considering two major leverage effects:

Increasing farmers’ incomes directly supports rural demand, which results in the development of new activities and the diversification of the local economy, contributing to the overall process of structural transformation.

Increasing agricultural outputs leads to the development of both upstream and downstream activities, the consolidation of value chains and the expansion of agro-industries, which are significant sources of employment and present ideal opportunities for economic diversification.

Diversification within the agriculture sector will be central in improving productivity, providing inputs to agro-processing and the manufacturing sector, for increased contribution to foreign exchange earnings among others. Agro-diversification and development will thus be based on comparative and competitive advantages in line with the Government’s Green Revolution agenda. From the 7NDP it is clear that focus will be placed on improving production of high value exports, such as cashew nuts, coffee, maize, wheat, tea, cotton, sugar, fish, agro-forestry and livestock products as well as other commodities to support the local manufacturing sector. Further, in view of agriculture development, suffice to say that, irrigation development remains a key intervention for increasing crop diversification, production and productivity.

Fisheries Potential: Fisheries offer great potential for diversification, gainful employment and poverty reduction. The fisheries sub-sector in Zambia is however, underdeveloped contributing around 3.2 percent to national GDP and many natural water bodies have been overfished due to inadequate legislation, control and surveillance. Thus, the transformation of both livestock and fisheries into diversified, competitive and export-oriented sub-sectors envisaged over the 7NDP period will require increased investment in water management and aquaculture-related infrastructure, ICT, logistics, storage, cold chain and road infrastructure.

Strategies

Strategy 1: Improve production and productivity

Production and productivity improvement to be undertaken along the entire product value chain from farm to agro-processing and manufacturing at the sector and enterprise levels. The increase in production will be achieved through intensified agricultural mechanization, increasing the area under cultivation and the number of farmers participating in production.

Strategy 2: Improve access to finance for production and exports

This strategy will focus on enhancing access to affordable finance for farmers, agri-business MSMEs and exporters of high value agricultural products. Other interventions will include access to finance for auxiliary services to production and exports.

Strategy 3: Enhance agriculture value chains

Development in the sector value chains will include investment in production, agro-processing and marketing, including export market and distribution mechanisms. Value chain development will promote the participation of small and medium enterprises, coupled with provision of business development services to enterprises along different value chains. A notable development is that; Agro-processing parks will be established to support the processing of primary agricultural products into value added products.

Strategy 4: Promote diversification within the agriculture sector

The 7NDP clearly indicates that focus will be placed on agricultural diversification in crops, fisheries, livestock and forestry products based on comparative and competitive advantage of each product and agro-ecological zones.

Strategy 5: Enhance investment in agricultural infrastructure

Investments in agricultural infrastructure will be prioritised to create a conducive environment for a vibrant agriculture sector. Key among such infrastructure will be warehousing, storage, breeding centres and irrigation, among others.

Strategy 6: Promote small-scale agriculture

Small-scale agriculture has the potential to create jobs and enhance the living conditions of rural communities with the proviso that some key actions are implemented to improve the income, rights and status of farmers . These actions include addressing risk reduction through improved farming systems, a better market environment, secure land rights and adequate provision of public goods and social protection among others.

DEVELOPMENT OUTCOME 2: A DIVERSIFIED AND EXPORT-ORIENTED MINING SECTOR

The main  mining activity in Zambia is large-scale copper mining while the production; processing and export of other minerals has remained underdeveloped. Under the 7NDP, emphasis will be on broadening the range of minerals to cover non-traditional mining of gemstones, gold and industrial minerals as well as promotion of value addition to mining products.

PMRC observes that under the 7NDP a programme will be set up, financed through the Environmental Protection Fund and will be invested into productive jobs for environmental restoration, notably reforestation. This is a very positive move in view of the need for a green economy. Another development sighted is that: mining of iron ore will be scaled-up to support the growth of the newly declared Kafue Iron and Steel Multi-facility Economic Zone. PMRC  further observes that there is an opportunity for small-scale miners to tap into the programmes that are being lined up under the 7NDP in the mining sector.

Strategy 1: Promote exploration of gemstones and industrial minerals

Focus will be on increasing exploration, mining, processing and promoting use of industrial minerals and gemstone products, to increase contribution to the growth of other sectors. Under Mining, we observe that the Government has resolved to strengthen policy implementation and regulatory enforcement that does not stifle exploration of new mineral deposits.

Strategy 2: Promote local and foreign participation in mining value chains and industrialization

Under this strategy, efforts will be made to facilitate mining-based value addition and industrialization by supporting the development of manufacturing industries to produce inputs for other sectors, to contribute to the growth of other sectors.

Strategy 3: Promote petroleum and gas exploration

The strategy facilitates the establishment and capacity development of relevant institutions to monitor and regulate petroleum exploration. In addition, a governance framework for the sector will be established to attract investment and ensure efficient, safe and environmentally friendly petroleum exploration.

Strategy 4: Promote small-scale mining

As part of the diversification agenda within the mining sector, the Government will focus on building the productive capacity of small-scale miners involved in the exploration of gemstones and industrial minerals.

DEVELOPMENT OUTCOME 10: ENHANCED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

As a public policy research think tank, PMRC welcomes this development outcome, as it underscores the critical role and importance that research and development (R&D) plays in the innovation and development process of our country.  It is a fact that Research is a key element of many developmental agendas and, when well-planned and used, enables a government to formulate evidence-based policies that lead to massive economic gains over a period of time.  The 7NDP is  key to Zambia’s development agenda. R&D is expected to play a critical role in the diversification process and to explore opportunities that will enhance the productive capacities of the various sectors of the economy. During the Plan period, R&D will be given priority. PMRC submits that in order to achieve the objectives set out in the 7NDP, there is need for the Government together with stakeholders to invest in research and development. It is through research that evidence to inform cost-effective programming and policy changes can be generated to allow positive contributions to economic diversification and creation of decent jobs. PMRC positions itself as a medium through which various research will be conducted; that compliments the strategies and programmes set out in the 7NDP.

Selected strategies

Strategy 1: Enhance research and development, and innovation capacity

The strategy will focus on developing a high quality research base with a critical mass of highly qualified human resource, modern adequately equipped infrastructure and a technology development structure that will popularise science and technology for promoting and creating a national culture of research and innovation. This will increase national research activities in all sectors of the economy to enhance value addition for increased productivity.

Strategy 2: Enhancing policy formulation and analysis

To drive the economic diversification agenda, the Government will focus on strengthening policy-making processes through investing in research and analysis. Therefore, capacities will be strengthened to produce evidence-based analytical studies that will adequately inform policy development and subsequent paradigm shift.

The 3rd edition of the 7NDP-OPED series will focus on development outcomes in Tourism, Energy, Transport and Infrastructure.

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The Status of Early Childhood Care, Development and Education in Zambia

 

Early Childhood Education is one of the major factors that determine school performance and progress at a later stage in life. Research has shown that children who have participated in early childhood education and related programs generally remain in school and are unlikely to repeat classes and also, their performance is much better compared to those who have never attended pre- primary programs. Early childhood education is also believed to contribute towards low fertility rates as the incidence of childbearing for girls aged 10-18 is much less among those who attended pre-primary programs as children, compared to girls of the same age who had not attended pre- primary programs1.

The concept of Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) is not relatively new in Zambia, the colonial government came up with the Day Nurseries Act of 1957 which was the first sign of policy direction. Since inception in 1957 till 2014, early childhood education was left in the hands of private institutions, churches, non-governmental organizations and a few government welfare centres which were mainly located in urban and low density areas. ECCDE is a term that is used interchangeably worldwide but still refers to the same concept of early childhood education and cognitive development.

  1. Munthali .A., Mvula .P. and Silo .L., Early Childhood Development: the Role of Community Based Childcare Centres in Malawi; 2014
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The Spread of Tsetse Flies and Its Effects on the Agricultural Sector

Dear Friends and Colleagues

Worldwide economic growth and development over the last century has resulted in an unprecedented loss of biodiversity and a consequential reduction in ecosystem services and this has led to an increase in the emergence of biodiversity related diseases. The link between biodiversity and disease exist naturally in wildlife population, which form a reservoir of infection with sporadic spill over into human population. Ecological factors such as climate change, rainfall and vegetation support insect species such as tsetse flies.

Zambia has a vast area of national parks, game management areas and reserved forests, which support the tsetse fly population. Statistics indicate that about 30 – 40% of Zambia’s land is infested with tsetse flies, notably in Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia (Luangwa valley  and Kafue land areas). When these flies feed on human and livestock blood, they cause a disease in humans referred to as, Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and in animals called African Animal Trypanosomiasis (ATT). An Increase in the presence of tsetse flies has had negative consequences in infested areas in the growth of the agricultural and tourism sectors and loss of many lives. In His Speech to the 12th Session of the National Assembly, the Republican President His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu stressed Government’s commitment to diversifying from an economy based on copper mining to depend heavily on agriculture and that this must be achieved against all odds.

The need for economic diversification in the country away from the mining sector to the agricultural and tourism sector has lead to the expansion of these sectors. The agriculture and tourism sectors have been recognised by the government as alternative sources of employment creation. The increased spread of tsetse flies in the country has an impact on livestock production, this means that 60% of the country’s livestock is at risk, while the tourism sector is being affected by the transmission of diseases to wildlife in the national parks. Inability to control the effects from the flies will definitely affect the economic diversification especially in the agricultural sector. Sleeping sickness cases have been reported in Zambia before and failure to manage these cases has consequences on human health. The livestock sector remains key in supporting the entire agricultural production sector by providing animal draught power; protein and milk for improved nutrition; income generation and providing green energy to households (Biogas) and providing households and communities with healthy foods through organic manure.

We are aware that once these commitments are fulfilled, Zambia will boast of a resilient food system but also a great source of employment to improve livelihoods. The livestock sector remains key in supporting the entire agricultural production sector by providing animal draught power; protein and milk for improved nutrition, income generation, providing green energy to households (Biogas) and providing households and communities with healthy foods through organic manure. Zambia would do well to invest more in the livestock sector to mitigate the current high and unaffordable prices of fertilisers.

During the 34th African Union International Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control Conference in Livingstone, His Excellency President Edgar Lungu, reaffirmed that the Government would support initiatives to eradicate tsetse flies and he further challenged scientists and livestock stakeholders to eradicate tsetse flies through research and development. This reaffirmation has come at the right time when organisations have come together to fight tsetse flies such as Hivos Zambia, Policy Monitoring and Research Centre, Bio vision and Millennium Institute who have created models that will help in the implementation of the diversification agenda and are further   proposing for the Government to introduce and implement technologies that can combat the incidences to ensure that livestock restocking and promotion achieve results

Therefore as organizations we propose the following recommendations;

1- Increased funding in the research and development to  help contain tsetse flies.

2- Increase opportunities for capacity building for farmers in agricultural extension services and disease control.                           

3- Increased public awareness on prevention, identification  and treatment   procedures for HAT and AAT.

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