But copper is not all there is. The Bank of Zambia recently reported that there was in fact a decline in copper production in the month of February this year, but cobalt production shot up by nearly 37% to fill the breach. The Zambian government has also turned its sights on creating an economy not dependent on diminishing assets such as metals, minerals and gemstones but on the sustainable areas of agriculture and tourism – in both cases they will have a significant impact on freight possibilities and volumes. Its southern neighbour and ultimately incubator of a major part of its economic resurgence is Zimbabwe, which has imported a destructive political doctrine and exported a vital commodity – lots of expertise in farming and a host of other disciplines. Many disillusioned South African farmers have also taken Zambian opportunities to develop the agricultural base. “We have seen a sudden increase in the amount of irrigation equipment into the country which says only one thing- the agricultural sector is growing,” says operations director for Celtic Freight Zambia, Abri Potgieter. An interesting development is in the alternative crops on offer. Even honey is now exported on a grander scale, and less than 10% of Zambia’s arable land has been used, which positions the landlocked country as a major player in Africa for the provision of food for itself, regionally and internationally. And the Zambian government has committed itself to farming at both a macro and a micro level, with a visible commitment to sustainable food security involving even smaller farmers. All of this breeds a stability that is reflected in the price of the local kwacha to either hard currency or rands. It has maintained its levels for at least two years now. Along with all the hoopla comes the pressure to provide and perform. In recent reports the Zambia Chamber of Medium Business Association (ZCBMSA) challenged the government to concentrate on infrastructure development, which pointedly means the infrastructure required for access – roads and rail.
