https://www.facebook.com/1726146840758279/

Fungai Chalimba, Lusaka (2026)

25/04/2026

The Mansa Solar Plant : Powering Zambia’s Industrial Future

The commissioning of the 50 MW Mansa Solar Plant on April 25, 2026, is a decisive win against load shedding and a vital spark for a 24-hour economy. By generating far more power than the local area requires, the plant stabilizes the national grid and allows ZESCO to conserve water at hydroelectric dams during the day. This reliable supply ensures that factories can run night shifts and businesses can operate safely after dark, providing the "invisible infrastructure" needed to boost employment and ensure productivity no longer stops when the sun goes down.

This project also marks a critical shift toward energy diversification and climate resilience. For too long, Zambia’s economy has been vulnerable to droughts that cripple hydroelectric output. By tapping into Luapula’s consistent sunshine, the nation is building an "all weather" energy basket that remains stable regardless of rainfall patterns. This diversification lowers the risk for investors and ensures that the wheels of industry keep turning year-round, signaling a move toward a modernized, sustainable energy policy that can withstand environmental shocks.

Ultimately, the plant acts as a catalyst for economic development, transforming northern Zambia into a hub for energy-intensive sectors like mining and automated agriculture. The availability of stable, renewable power reduces operational costs and encourages the adoption of digital technologies and modern irrigation systems. By turning theoretical economic goals into tangible infrastructure, the Mansa Solar Plant bridges the gap between potential and prosperity, laying a solid foundation for a self-sufficient nation ready to compete in a global, electrified marketplace. Twalumba kapati 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾🇿🇲.

19/04/2026

The Electric Giant 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾🇿🇲.

This isn’t just a normal dump truck; it’s the first ever world electric dump truck of its size, recently commissioned at the Kansanshi Mine in Zambia. Developed through a landmark partnership between First Quantum Minerals (FQM Zambia ) Hitachi, and ABB, this massive vehicle utilizes a specialized trolley assist system to power its climb while simultaneously recharging its battery. By leveraging Zambia’s grid, which is nearly 90% renewable hydropower, the mining sector is finally breaking its heavy reliance on imported diesel. This transition integrates domestic clean energy directly into the primary engine of the national economy, marking a historic leap in industrial innovation.

From a macroeconomic standpoint, this shift acts as a critical shield against the supply shocks and price volatility caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. As global oil prices surge due to geopolitical instability, Zambia's transition to electric fleets allows the mining sector to maintain steady production costs regardless of the price of crude oil. This movement reduces the massive demand for foreign currency needed to purchase fuel, which in turn helps stabilize the Kwacha and protects the national budget from external energy crises. By decoupling industrial growth from the oil market, the economy gains a vital buffer against "imported inflation."

This milestone is a clarion call for Zambia to seize its destiny as a global leader in the green energy transition. By proving that heavy industry can thrive on local, renewable power, we are not just mining copper; we are pioneering the blueprint for a self-sustaining Africa. Now is the time for policymakers, investors, and the youth to double down on home grown innovation and modernizing our infrastructure. Let this electric giant be the first of many steps toward an economy that no longer waits for global markets to dictate its future, but instead drives forward with the unstoppable force of its own clean energy. Twalumba kapati 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾

16/04/2026

What The Reopening Of The Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles Means to the people of Zambia 🇿🇲 .

The reopening of the Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles Joint Venture marks a historic turning point for Kabwe, bringing life back into a city that has long navigated the challenges of industrial stagnation. For years, the facility stood as a silent monument to the city’s past economic glory; however, its revival backed by significant investment and modernized production lines is set to transform the local landscape once again. By creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs, the textile giant offers a renewed sense of dignity and financial stability to local residents, positioning Kabwe to reclaim its status as a premier industrial heartland in the Central Province.

On a national scale, the resurgence of Mulungushi Textiles is a cornerstone of Zambia’s broader industrialization and economic diversification agenda. By localizing the production of essential goods like school uniforms and professional garments, the country is making a strategic move to reduce its reliance on expensive imports and conserve foreign exchange. Furthermore, the ripple effects extend deep into the agricultural sector, where cotton farmers are being integrated into a sustainable value chain. This strategy ensures that Zambian raw materials are processed on home soil, strengthening the national economy and enhancing competitiveness within the regional market.

For students at skills training colleges like the Kabwe Institute of Technology (KIT), this reopening serves as a massive, real-world classroom and a direct bridge to professional employment. The introduction of modern industrial machinery creates an urgent demand for a workforce skilled in tailoring, industrial maintenance, and automated systems management. This alignment allows students to pursue specialized internships and practical attachments locally, ensuring their training is directly relevant to the needs of a 21st-century manufacturing sector. Ultimately, this synergy secures a steady pipeline of talent, empowering young Zambians with the technical expertise necessary to drive the country’s industrial future. Twalumba kapati 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾🇿🇲.

08/04/2026

The $5.1 Billion Injection into the Zambian Mining Sector 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾.

The recent $5.1 billion investment from Chinese firms is a strategic win for Zambia’s economic future. By targeting deep level mining and reopening sites like the Luanshya 28 Shaft, this capital turns dormant resources into active assets. For China, it secures copper for the global green energy transition; for Zambia, it provides the massive liquidity needed to modernize aging infrastructure.

This injection of capital is the primary engine behind the goal to hit 3 million tonnes of copper by 2031. Projects like Sinomine Kitumba are even building their own solar plants to bypass national grid instabilities. By introducing automated systems and stabilizing power, these firms are reducing downtime and significantly increasing the yield of refined copper per ton of ore processed.

Crucially, this investment is a major win for the people of Zambia, creating over 19,000 direct jobs and stimulating local businesses. By strengthening the Kwacha through increased exports, it helps lower the cost of living by making imports more affordable. Furthermore, the resulting tax revenues provide the government with the "fiscal space" to fund essential public services like healthcare, schools, and roads, ensuring mineral wealth translates into better lives for all citizens.🫱🏽‍🫲🏾🇿🇲

05/04/2026

Early this morning, I went to the field to check on my maize as it's drying, since the harvesting season is just around the corner. I was genuinely impressed with how big and healthy the cobs are. This year's harvest is definitely going to be one of the best and biggest we've seen in a long time 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾.

Not only does this reflect a better farming season compared to last year, but it's also a sign of a bumper harvest and secured food security for the nation.🌾🇿🇲

From the southern region of Zambia, twalumba kapati 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾🇿🇲….

02/04/2026

Understanding what the suspension of VAT and excise duty on petroleum means to an average citizen and the nation at large.

In a decisive move to shield the nation from global volatility, the Zambian Government declared a fuel supply emergency, effectively zero rating Value Added Tax (VAT) and suspending excise duties on petrol and diesel. This intervention, sparked by rising international crude prices and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, serves as a vital economic shock absorber. By stripping away these tax burdens for an initial 90 day period, the state is actively preventing a massive spike in pump prices that would otherwise cripple the purchasing power of the average Zambian household and escalate the cost of living.

For the domestic economy, this policy acts as a catalyst for stability in the "productive sectors" specifically agriculture, mining, and transport. Since fuel is a foundational cost, maintaining manageable prices ensures that the cost of transporting food and copper does not skyrocket, thereby taming imported inflation. By absorbing the fiscal hit at the government level rather than passing it to the consumer, The government is protecting the profit margins of small businesses and the operational budgets of large scale industries, ensuring that the wheels of commerce continue to turn despite external shocks.

On a global stage, this maneuver signals Zambia’s commitment to proactive and pragmatic fiscal management. While many emerging markets face stagnant growth due to energy crises, Zambia’s "tax holiday" approach fosters a predictable environment that encourages continued investment and business confidence. By prioritizing macroeconomic resilience over short term tax revenue, the government is positioning the country to emerge from this global energy crunch with its industrial base intact and its path to long term economic growth secur

30/03/2026

Be a man who keeps fixing his life even through pain, failure, rejection, loss, disrespect, or heartbreaks. 💙

18/03/2026

How a 24-hours economy will boost GDP,Creat Jobs and Attract Investment 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾📈.

06/03/2026

Ladies and gentleman, the weekend 😅🫂… be safe don’t drink and drive , Remember making the world a better place starts with you 🌍.

01/03/2026

The Fragile Foundation: Why Political Instability Still Threatens the Global Economy

Date: March 1, 2026

In my article published on December 8, 2025, I argued that the modern global economy is built on a fragile foundation of "predictable policies and secure transport routes." I warned that if political polarization intensified and armed conflicts spread, the global economy would face "unprecedented pressure." On February 28, 2026, that theoretical pressure reached a violent breaking point with the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This event has instantly shifted the world from an "atmosphere of uncertainty" into a state of active global emergency.

The most immediate consequence of this "War Politics" is the weaponization of energy geography. As I previously wrote, global supply chains are "designed for efficiency, not conflict," yet the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has responded to the strikes by effectively paralyzing the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway carries 20% of the world’s oil and 25% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG). With this chokepoint closed, the "efficiency" of the global market has been replaced by a supply vacuum, sending Brent crude prices surging toward the $100 per barrel mark.

This crisis disproportionately impacts the nations that rely most heavily on Middle Eastern stability specifically the industrial engines of Asia. Japan and South Korea, which import over 80% of their energy through the Strait, now face immediate fuel rationing and skyrocketing manufacturing costs. Similarly, India, which imports nearly 85% of its crude, is seeing its domestic inflation explode. proving my December thesis that regional conflicts quickly erode growth for even the most distant trade partners.

Beyond the gas pump, we are witnessing the "Flight to Quality" that occurs when political environments become unpredictable. As I noted in December, investors pull back from regions where instability threatens returns. Today, capital is fleeing emerging markets and volatile equities, pouring instead into "safe havens" like Gold and the U.S. Dollar. This shift makes international trade even more expensive for developing nations, further fragmenting the global economy and hurting "ordinary people across the world" through a weakened purchasing power.

the events of February 28 have validated the urgent need for the diplomacy and international cooperation I called for two months ago. We have moved from a "just-in-time" economy to a "just-in-case" reality where the safety of a single waterway dictates the price of bread and electricity worldwide. If global leaders cannot restore the secure transport routes and political stability I wrote about last year, the global economy will not just slow down it will fundamentally break under the weight of persistent conflict.

By: Fungai Chalimba

source: Al Jazeera English
゚

13/02/2026

゚

Fungai Chalimba

25/04/2026

19/04/2026

16/04/2026

08/04/2026

05/04/2026

02/04/2026

30/03/2026

18/03/2026

06/03/2026

01/03/2026

13/02/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share