Latest news with #Zambia
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Zambia Proposes Increased Number of Lawmakers as Elections Loom
Zambia plans to boost the number of elected members of parliament by more than a third, raising the prospect of a higher government wage bill at a time when the state is trying to conclude a debt-restructuring process. Proposed constitutional amendments published in state newspapers this week would increase the number of elected legislators to 211 from 156, while also raising the number of nominated MPs to 10 from 8. The increase would be achieved by splitting yet-to-be-specified constituencies into smaller ones.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
The race for AfDB president: How the bank elects its leader?
The African Development Bank (AfDB) will on Thursday vote in its new president for a five-year term. The winner will succeed Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina, whose two five-year terms end in September. Here is what you need to know:Who are the candidates?Five experts are set to compete for the presidency of the AfDB, promising a tough contest. The candidates are Amadou Hott, former Senegalese Planning Minister; Samuel Munzele Maimbo, Zambian economist; Sidi Ould Tah, Mauritanian development banker; Abbas Mahamat Tolli, Chad's central banker; and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala, a South African corporate captain who previously served as Vice-President of the AfDB. In February, the Steering Committee of the Board of Governors on the Election of the President of the AfDB selected these five candidates from those who had submitted their candidacy. What has the race been like so far?The five candidates have offered an interesting rivalry. The Zambian and South African candidates have faced an especially awkward contest because both countries belong to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), a bloc which had previously endorsed the Zambian economist. In fact, Mr Maimbo has marketed himself as endorsed by both the SADC and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), a trading bloc bringing together countries from eastern and southern Africa. South Africa would later endorse Ms Tshabalala to enter the race. If she wins, she will be the first woman to head the bank in its 60-year history. Meanwhile, the Mauritanian and Chadian candidates have mounted lacklustre campaigns, but have persisted, choosing to speak mostly at events where potential voters gather. Who are the past presidents?Although the AfDB's membership includes foreign nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea, bringing the total number of members to 87, it exclusively lends to African countries. And only nationals of African countries can become president. The bank's 60-year history has seen nine presidents, including Dr Adesina. Others include:Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda) 2005 to 2015Omar Kabbaj (Morocco) 1995 to 2005Babacar Ndiaye (Senegal) 1985 to 1995Wila D. Mung'omba (Zambia) 1980 to 1985Goodall Gondwe (Malawi) 1979 to 1980Kwame Donkor Fordwor (Ghana) 1976 to 1979Abdelwahab Labidi (Tunisia) 1970 to 1976Mamoun Beheiry: The first president of the AfDB from Sudan, served from 1967 to 1970. What are the geopolitical considerations at the bank?Although only Africans can become president, the race for the bank's top leadership position can elicit a geopolitical contest. In the past, the US tried to prevent Dr Adesina from serving a second term, accusing him of misgovernance. However, the African continent rallied behind him. The current election could see a different kind of contest emerge, such as rivalry between Zambia and South Africa, or debate on whether the presidency should return to West Africa. How can one win the presidency?Representatives of member states — usually central bank governors or finance ministers — cast their votes. Unlike the African Union Commission, where a two-thirds majority is required, the AfDB election is won by obtaining more than half of the votes from African member countries and more than half of the votes from non-African member countries. Article 9 of the Rules of Procedure Governing the Election of the President states that a candidate is elected if he or she obtains 'at least 50.01 percent of the total votes of the regional (African) member countries and at least of 50.01 percent of the votes of all member countries, (both regional and non-regional) of the bank". This principle is known as the 'double majority vote'. What voting powers do members have?Not all members have the same voting power. According to the rules, the voting power of each member country, to be used in computing votes, is determined by the Board of Directors 'as at close of business on the last working day in the month immediately preceding the month during which the election of the president shall be held.'This computation is based on the shareholding. This means that only members who had paid up their capital subscriptions by end of April are taken into account in determining the voting powers. How do members vote?At the AfDB, the elections are conducted using an electronic voting system or physical paper ballots, in accordance with the Election Rules. This makes countries' voting patterns known to the public. This is in contrast to the African Union, where ballots are secret. If, after five rounds of balloting, no candidate has obtained the requisite double majority, the Board of Governors can deliberate and decide whether or not to proceed with voting for the president. If this happens, the election is postponed for up to a year, and the outgoing president or vice-president of the Bank from an African country is nominated. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The Herald
2 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Ellis expects tougher test from Zambia in Banyana's second Wafcon warm-up
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis is expecting Zambia to provide a tougher test for them when they meet in the final match of the Three Nations Series at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday. Banyana started the series with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Botswana in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, on Wednesday afternoon and Ellis said her team will likely to have to improve to beat the Copper Queens. 'No disrespect to Botswana but Zambia have a lot more quality and they bring different types of dynamics to us,' she said. 'Defensively we have to be better because their front line is good and if you make mistakes at the back, they are going to punish you. From our side, when we get opportunities, we have to put them away.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Zambia Inflation Slows to 11-Month Low as Food Prices Ease
Zambia's annual inflation rate eased to an 11-month low in May as improved rains helped cool price rises of corn meal and vegetables. Consumer prices rose 15.3% in May compared with 16.5% in April, Chief Statistician Chola Daka told reporters on Thursday in Lusaka, the capital.
TTG
3 days ago
- Business
- TTG
Tens of thousands to benefit from scheme incentivising people to opt out of hotel housekeeping
Travel's Just a Drop charity has hailed the success of an innovative pilot scheme incentivising Park Plaza Hotel Group guests to help raise money for its clean water and sanitation projects around the world. Guests in 17 hotels were offered loyalty points, bottles of wine and restaurant vouchers in return for opting out of housekeeping – reducing their hotel's water and energy consumption – and a £1 or €1 per night donation to the charity. The ecological programme will allow Just a Drop to support 17 projects across six countries this year, providing 42,000 people with access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. Projects include rainwater harvesting tanks and latrines in Zambia, menstrual hygiene training in Cambodia and piped water systems in Nicaragua. "Through the initiative, 22,476 people have gained access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, with an additional 19,551 expected to benefit in 2025," said Just a Drop, adding the partnership had benefited both organisations through 'storytelling and visibility'. It continued: 'Just a Drop shares detailed impact reports, stories and videos, bringing the programme's results to life for guests and staff. These narratives, showcased in hotel lobbies, in-room materials and digital platforms inspire deeper engagement and loyalty." The project enables Park Plaza to cut daily housekeeping costs, but also to reduce water and energy consumption. It said it hoped the programme would 'inspire the wider hospitality sector'.
