GOVT SECURITIES AUCTION THRESHOLDS REVISED
BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes
THE Bank of Zambia (BoZ) has revised upwards the Government securities auction thresholds for both Treasury Bills and bonds with effect from September 13, 2021.
BoZ Assistant Director – Communications, Besnat Mwanza, said in Lusaka recently that the thresholds have been revised to realign them with economic changes and passage of time since they were instituted.
Ms Mwanza indicated that the maximum bid amount for non-competitive window had been adjusted to K499,000 from K29,000 per bidder for a maturity tenor.
She, however, stated that the minimum bid amount for non-competitive bids were unchanged at K1,000.
Ms Mwanza the minimum bid amount for competitive bids had also been adjusted to K500,000 from K30,000 per bidder for a maturity tenor.
“The Bank of Zambia wishes to advise the general public and investors in Government securities of the following changes to the Government securities auction thresholds for both Treasury Bills and Bonds,” she said.
Ms Mwanza said the factors that have been taken into account include the impact of inflation over the last 20 years since they were revised.
Ms Mwanza said in line with Government’s objective of enhancing financial inclusion, the revision would encourage wider participation of smaller retail investors who may prefer to participate in a non-competitive window as price takers with relatively higher amounts of up to K499,000.
She said the changes would take effect from September 13, 2021.
Schoolgirls to benefit from Airtel, Smart Zambia trainings
AIRTEL Networks Zambia Plc has partnered with Smart Zambia Institute to provide digital skills training to schoolgirls in the country and to encourage them to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Under the programme, hosted by Smart Zambia Institute, 150 girls selected from three provinces in Zambia will undergo digital skills training that will run throughout 2021.
Airtel Zambia will support connectivity for the sessions by providing routers and data for the duration of the project as well as provide mentors for the schoolgirls, drawn from across the business, in addition to offering job shadowing opportunities after the training.
Airtel Zambia Managing Director, Apoorva Mehrotra said the partnership was part of the Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) initiative launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN’s specialised agency for ICT, and digital communications and technology firm, CISCO.
And Smart Zambia Institute National Coordinator, Dr Martine Mtonga said, “As we embark on a journey to transform our country, Zambia, into an information and knowledge-based society supported by increased access to ICT by all citizens by 2030, it is imperative that we do not leave anyone behind as regards digital literacy”.
Dr Mtonga said the aim was to inspire the girls and make them understand the benefits of and the opportunities for undertaking STEM studies for their future careers and to give an opportunity to the girls in underprivileged communities and rural areas, that typically would have been denied the opportunities to acquire Digital Skills, to be able to participate in the socio-economic activities of their country.
ITU Africa Regional Director, Andrew Rugege, said digital skills were essential to closing the global digital divide and empowering people and communities.
And the National Institute of Public Administration, where the training will take place are elated to be part of this life transforming process with Executive Director Ambassador Professor Royson M. Mukwena saying: “NIPA is elated with this strategic collaboration”.
