Maravi

'Vulture funds' - Letters To The Post

'Vulture funds'
By Sam Barrait, Head of Media, Oxfam
Friday February 23, 2007 [02:00]

Recent reports highlighted a misunderstanding concerning the appearance on BBC Newsnight of Martin Kalungu-Banda when that programme reported on the case between Zambia and Donegal international last week.

Oxfam and Jubilee are campainging against the action which Donegal has taken and have been working with the BBC to bring the matter to international attention so that cases like this one can be prevented. Martin was offered to Newsnight as a spokesperson to speak as a Zambian citizen on behalf of Oxfam.

Newsnight knew that he had been a special consultant to the President and were aware that he is now a staff member of Oxfam. However, they made an error in referring to him as an advisor to the President.

The campaingn has already had an impact. After seeing the BBC report, congressman John Conyers in the USA has brought this case to the attention of President Bush who has indicated willingness to tackle the issue of ‘vulture funds’.

Oxfam will be campaigning when the court reconvenes in March to decide the amount that Zambia must pay. We hope that Donegal will not take the money from Zambia where it is urgently needed to pay for more doctors, nurses and teachers.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=23005

Donegal Vs Zambia
By Evans Chisanga
Friday February 23, 2007 [02:00]

As a concerned taxpayer, I wish to express my heartfelt emotions about the Donegal Vs Zambia case in the London courts which has been ruled against our country. While it is clear that Donegal and 'vulture' organisations like them belong to the other side of the moral spectrum, it has emerged from the trial that there were collaborators from the Zambian government side.

It is they that I wish to turn the spotlight on. Details from the trial suggest that Donegal 'donated' $2m to the scandalous and illegal PHI, and some undisclosed amounts to individuals. If that is not betrayal of an entire nation then what is it? This is extremely serious. Furthermore, I would like to express my dissapointment with the government spokesman VJ for seeming to embark on a campaign of illusiveness on just about any issue on which the public are demanding answers from government.

On the issue at hand, VJ chose to deflect questions on government's position on this case and preferred to censure the BBC for having mistaken a Banda they interviewed as an advisor to the President.

If you didn't know, that was pathetic. Why should the Zambian public be relying on foreign media to give us detailed information on a case involving our country? In fact Zambians should thank the BBC for having brought the issue to light as our government was evidently intent on keeping quiet about it.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=23002

Sata and Taiwan
By Daniel Maimbo
Friday February 23, 2007 [02:00]

The Post on 15 February 2007 carried a story in which PF president Michael Sata was explaining his exploratory visit to Taiwan. I admire Sata's stand on a number of issues but I was deeply disappointment with his shallow reasoning and conclusions about Taiwanese development.

Sata was comparing China to Taiwan and glorified the development he saw in Taiwan without going to China to have a fair comparison. To attempt to compare the Chinese economy to that of Taiwan without having visited China and to draw conclusions on merely what you have seen with your own eyes in Taiwan alone is not only wrong but also exposes blind loyalty, narrow-mindedness and above all hypocrisy. The indisputable and acknowledged fact world over is that China is the fastest growing economy in the world.

Sata is also quoted as having said that, "There are so many Taiwanese companies in mainland China. So the quality goods you are seeing here are from Taiwan and inferior ones are from mainland China."

What a conclusion! Honestly, even though Sata tailors his message towards the underprivileged, he should understand that not all Zambians are so daft as to buy conclusions without logic and intellectual analysis.

Sata should read Animal Farm by George Owell. He has indeed deliberately closed his eyes and says, Taiwan is always right and China is always wrong. Whatever comes from China is always poor quality and whatever comes from Taiwan is always good quality.

Finally, even though Sata's warning that "We have to be careful because if we leave them (the Chinese) unchecked, we will regret.

China is sucking from us; we are becoming poorer because they are getting our wealth", is important and welcome, this sounds merely petty jealousy against China but in favour of Taiwan as this warning is applicable to all countries Zambia is doing business with, not just China.

Labels: SATA, VULTURE FUND

posted by MrK @ 3:35 AM