Maravi

LETTERS - Mining, Leadership

Renegotiating mining deals
By EC
Thursday June 14, 2007 [04:00]

Many people have come out in support of the government, not imposing, but renegotiating of the mining taxes or mineral loyalty but alas it seems the message is falling on deaf ears.

Therefore, one is left to wonder as to why the government which is always parroting that it is in a hurry to develop, can forego a reliable and definite source of revenue to use to undertake a lot of development which our country so dearly needs.

One thing that comes to mind, about this resistance or inertia to move on this issue is that maybe some top brass in the government may be making hay while the sun is shining. It is incumbent, therefore on all vigilant Zambians and progressive organisation like The Post to be on the look out for any bribes that are perhaps being paid by some of these mining companies to government officials.

We should not all forget that some of the investors in the mining sector come from countries where corporate corruption is endemic in return for various political favours.

Let all empowered and learned Zambians bring to the public domain any information they may have on any ill-gotten money getting to the politicians from these scrupulous investors.

Why should the government be frugal in taxing ordinary suffering and toiling Zambian workers and trading masses, when major economic benefactors are left to go scot free?





http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=27858

Thursday June 14, 2007
We need quality leadership
By M. Musonda, Lusaka
Thursday June 14, 2007 [04:00]

The editorial of May 18th, 2007 indicated that it's important that we pay much attention to the backgrounds of the people we elect as our leaders. I agree entirely with you. This is very important even as we talk about the new constitution, because the constitution also will be interpreted and implemented by human beings.

This is the more reason we should stand side by side as we advocate for the new constitution. We should also not over-look the need to put the right people in place (especially president) to come and put this constitution to good use for the benefit of mother Zambia and the people.

Dictatorships usually don’t regard the constitution. We should advocate for quality democracy, not only quantity democracy. So quality leadership is necessary to be put in place.

Sometimes as Zambians we forget easily. Somebody who was in the ruling party yesterday becomes a hero immediately he/she joins the opposition.

We forget easily what that person did who even contributed to the current bad Constitution that we have in place today. To be in the opposition does not necessarily mean that you are now better and offering a good alternative to the ruling party at all.

Some opposition leaders we have should rest because I don't think they provide a better alternative to what we currently have.

In this regard I call upon The Post to dig deeper into backgrouds of the leaders, especially those who intend to contest the 2011 elections. The Post should not wait untill we are remaining with few months before elections.

Once you do this, we may have only 2 or 3 presidential candidates, because others would have fallen by the way side as you continue exposing there misdeeds. This will help the voters. Some politicians have continued to not show any remorse or regrets for what they did in the past. They think Zambians forget easily, can easily be cheated and are docile.

For the 2011 elections, we need fresh, vibrant, young and visionary leadership. Some of the old politicians have passed their time and season. There is need for young leadership with vigour and new ideas to move this nation forward.

posted by MrK @ 2:51 AM