EQUAL ACCESS
TBY talks to Jacob John Sikazwe, Chairman & CEO of World Panel Zambia, on bringing power to rural communities, the need to diversify Zambia's energy matrix, and producing cheap energy.
BIOGRAPHY
Jacob John Sikazwe has more than 40 years of practical business experience in international corporate leadership, human Resources management including transformation, logistics, marketing, banking and empowerment programs. Prior to joining the Energy sector, he worked in various parastatal companies including National Agriculture Marketing Board and Zambia Airways, as well as for Shell and BP. He has also served as Board Chairman of Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ) and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) in Zambia. He is currently chairman of several boards, including Barclays Bank Zambia, Marsh Zambia, and Puma Energy Zambia.What products does World Panel provide for the Zambian market?
In 2014, we launched our durable World Panel solar panels, devices that use renewable technology to charge mobile phones as quickly as an electrical outlet. The World Panel 500 combo-pack units with patented solar panel technology also come with a 5,000-milliampere power bank and a 10-bulb LED light. The panels, once fully charged, have enough power to charge six regular cellphones or 20 hours of light using the LED lamp. Our intention, through this product, is to increase access to energy amongst the poor people of Africa. Since we launched three years ago, we have had great sales, especially from institutions such as NGOs dealing with increasing quality of life in rural areas. From an individual perspective, few people in rural areas can afford the product and this has been one of our learning curves. While the product is designed for the rural community, socioeconomic conditions do not allow them to purchase it. We therefore entered into discussions about how to make this affordable and concluded by negotiating with the government to come under the policy of zero tax on renewable energy products. Since then, we have been able to bring prices down dramatically.
Is the product manufactured in Zambia?
We have not yet been able to produce the panels locally, although this is our eventual goal. Our panels were initially manufactured in China, even though the patent is from the US. Now, however, we have moved the product fabrication to a factory in the US. This product passes global standards. The original inventor of the product, professor John Anderson, did a great deal of research in African countries such as Uganda and Zambia, and was able to verify the quality and the efficacy of the product.
What is your view of the World Bank's Scaling Solar initiative, and its implications for Zambia's changing energy matrix?
For us as a country, it is a positive initiative. For many years, Zambia has depended on hydropower, and while this has in the past proved to be an effective source for powering the nation, we have seen how recent weather patterns have negatively impacted energy generation. Because of this, it has become crucial to think outside the box and diversify. Zambia has abundant sunshine and is an open country on a plateau. However, there is also the question of how to improve distribution channels of the captured energy from solar in order to ensure this energy reaches everyone who needs it. The majority of our population remains without access to energy. This has led to massive rural-urban migration, as people come to towns and cities in search of basic amenities they cannot access in more remote parts of the country. This, in turn, has resulted in congestion and overpopulation in Zambia's urban areas. To combat this, we should not just look at major projects, but also medium and small projects that can be set up in rural areas. With renewable energy, the initial cost appears high; however, in the long term it pays off. That is one of the things that the industry and the government need to focus on.
Is the government right to invest in large-scale projects like the Kariba Dam and Batoka Gorge hydropower plants?
Given the state of the global economy, as well as the particulars affecting Zambia, it is important that we have a balanced strategy. In terms of the medium and long term, Zambia will always benefit from abundant water, regardless of whether this is sometimes unpredictable in the short term. If we can capture this and generate enough cheap power for export, then that will exponentially improve our economic scenario. Zambia is surrounded by eight countries, the majority of whom need energy. If we can produce cheap energy and are able to link up, then our export potential will be immense. Therefore, these megaprojects will be vitally important for the economy at large.
EQUAL ACCESS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year In Review
What A Year
Zambia has long been a bastion of stability in Southern Africa, and while its economy has been rocked in recent years by the falling value of copper prices, a devaluating kwacha, and high inflation, through the Economic Recovery Program the government has bold ambitions to right the ship.
read articleReview
Convoke, Confound & Collect
Squeezed between a rock and a rather hard place by the slowdown in Chinese demand for copper, by far Zambia's biggest export and government-revenue generator, President Lungu has been forced to get creative in his country's alliances to broaden revenue streams and lessen its dependence on the vagaries of one foreign market.
read articleGuest Speaker
Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, Executive Secretary, Southern African Development Community (SADC)
TBY talks to Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), on regional economic development, boosting pan-continental free trade agreements, and improving security through mutual development.
read articleInterview
Susan Sikaneta, Ambassador, Zambia to Ethiopia & Permanent Representative to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa
TBY talks to Susan Sikaneta, Ambassador of Zambia to Ethiopia & Permanent Representative to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa, on championing peace across the continent, advancing women's rights, and promoting Pan-Africanism.
read articleInterview
Sebastian C. Kopulande, CEO, Zambian International Trade & Investment Centre (ZITIC)
TBY talks to Sebastian C. Kopulande, CEO of Zambian International Trade & Investment Centre (ZITIC), on taming austerity, stimulating sustainable growth, and creating the framework to support entrepreneurship
read articleFocus: Zambia Plus
Adding it All Up
On October 20, 2016, at the 2017 Budget Address, Finance Minister Felix Mutati launched the government's economic recovery program, christened "Zambia Plus." The program is designed to spur domestic productivity, through strengthening ties and collaborating with external donors and developers.
read articleReview: Banking
Macroeconomics Rule the Roost
In its ongoing efforts to diversify away from one principal commodity, copper, the government fosters the development, standardization, and efficacy of the private sector. In doing so the systematic support of the financial universe, especially banks, is vital, as is the goal of financial inclusion.
read articleFocus: SME Growth
IMF support program
An IMF support program stands to provide Zambia with some much-needed discipline on its expenditure and operational efficiencies; however, many caution the need for Zambia to determine what it wants to achieve and how the program will benefit the country.
read articleInterview
Christabel M. Banda, Executive Director, Insurers Association of Zambia (IAZ)
TBY talks to Christabel M. Banda, Executive Director of Insurers Association of Zambia (IAZ), on the evolution of the local insurance landscape, raising awareness, and tackling challenges in the sector.
read articleFocus: Solar
Sunny Side Up
As power demand continues to rise and power production continues to fall behind, it's the same old story for Zambia, still wrestling with an ongoing energy crisis. Public- and private-sector drives are seeking to mitigate this deficit by activating the country's solar industry.
read articleInterview
Margaret K. Chalwe-Mudenda, Director General, Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA)
TBY talks to Margaret K. Chalwe-Mudenda, Director General of Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), on new projects, the ZNDC, and expectations for the year ahead.
read articleInterview
Hon. Dora Siliya, Minister, Agriculture
TBY talks to Hon. Dora Siliya, Minister of Agriculture, on the investments being made in agriculture to enable agricultural households, diversifying Zambia's basket of produce, and making international markets more accessible for local producers.
read articleInterview
Hon. Charles R. Banda, Minister, Tourism and Arts
TBY talks to Hon. Charles R. Banda, Minister of Tourism and Arts, on the wealth of tourism destinations within Zambia, efforts to bring more visitors to the country, and what the Tourism Development Fund will contribute to developments.
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