Maravi

Criticism has given us impetus - Levy

Criticism has given us impetus - Levy
By Fridah Zinyama in Windhoek Namibia
Monday March 26, 2007 [02:00]

I am happy with the criticism that Zambians have given my government because it has given us the impetus to do our job, President Levy Mwanawasa has said. During a cocktail party organised by the Association of Zambians in Namibia (AZANA) at Safari Court Hotel on Friday, President Mwanawasa said his government would have been lazy had it been showered with praises when it came into power.

"I am glad that some people expressed scepticism at the ability of my government to lead," President Mwanawasa said. "This gave us the impetus to do our job properly." He said it had been exciting and challenging to serve the people of Zambia. "When we came into power, we found the economy on its knees and have been working tirelessly to resuscitate it," President Mwanawasa said. He wondered why some people were in the fore-front of criticising his government when they had been part of the government that had brought the economy of Zambia to its knees. "I do not take the kind gesture of the Zambian people in re-electing me back into power for granted as their support can be withdrawn," President Mwanawasa said.

He said his government had remained committed to the fight against corruption as it was detrimental to the country's economic growth. And President Mwanawasa said Zambia's reaching the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point had helped to reduce the debt it owed the international community. "The donor community wrote off about US $7.2 billion of the debt that we owed them, but the current challenge that we have is to convince people that the write off was a means in itself," President Mwanawasa said.

He explained that when the donors wrote off the debt, the money that Zambia was supposed to have paid back could be used for developmental purposes. "The benefits of HIPC completion point are however periodic and would be felt over a considerable period of time," President Mwanawasa said.

He also said the government had been trying to address the many issues that affect the people of Zambia but did not have adequate resources to do so at once. "Sixty five per cent of the national budget is spent on remunerations of civil servants and the remaining 35 percent is what is expected for national development," President Mwanawasa said. He said the percentage that remained for national development was not enough to address the serious issues that needed to be done in the country. "We are aware that roads, education, agriculture, health among other issues do not receive adequate funding from the national budget but there are no funds to do all these things," President Mwanawasa said.

He, however, said donors had gained confidence in Zambia because of its stance on corruption and had released funds that could be used for the country's development. "You will have to bear with us about the development of the country, as Rome was not built in a day," President Mwanawasa said. He said it was unfortunate that some people who had squandered public funds were busy condemning the government when they were the ones who created the mess in the first place. "We are repairing the mess which they left," President Mwanawasa said.

He also said he was concerned about the plight of the people in Zimbabwe. "I stand by what I said concerning this issue because I believe that the situation in Zimbabwe is a violation of human rights," he said. "The situation in Zimbabwe is affecting Zambia and the whole southern region." "If people in Zimbabwe cough, Zambians will also cough," President Mwanawasa said. He said it was true that he supported President Robert Mugabe's land reforms but did not approve of what was currently happening in the country. "Why should the Zimbabwean government rule its people in such a way?" President Mwanawasa asked. He said Zimbabweans should, however, find a solution to their own problems.

And President Mwanawasa said Zambians living in the Diaspora should also contribute to national development. He called on the professionals living outside the country to come back to Zambia as it needed Zambians to develop. "We need the tax that you Zambians living outside the country should pay...maybe we should even tax you more heavily," President Mwanawasa jokingly said.

He was reacting to AZANA chairperson Professor Choshi Kasanda's concerns over developmental issues in Zambia. Prof Kasanda had been complaining about the difficulties that people living in the Diaspora experienced whenever they wanted to acquire land in Zambia. "I’m not too sure whether you have tried enough. However, if you are looking for land in Lusaka, it is full," President Mwanawasa said. "Try applying for land in Sesheke, Mongu, Solwezi and Kasama; there is still plenty of land there."

He said the government had a policy of helping Zambians living in the Diaspora to acquire land. "Maybe because you have lived outside the country for a long time you are not considered Zambians...but honestly land in Lusaka is full and you will just have to find land elsewhere with the help from government," President Mwanawasa said. Earlier, Prof Kasanda had complained that most Zambians living in the Diaspora could not invest because they did not have land. "Zambia has lost out on investment because we do not have land on which to inject our money," he complained.

Prof Kasanda also called on the government to try and remove the tax paid on household goods being brought in by Zambians living abroad. But President Mwanawasa said they would consider it in Parliament but did not promise to have the tax removed. At the moment, Zambians living in the Diaspora can bring in one car after every two years.

Labels: DIASPORA, MWANAWASA, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:39 AM