Leaders without a vision
By Saka Sokontwe, Lusaka
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
What do you think is the most difficult challenge facing Zambia 43 years after getting its independence?
The most critical problem facing Zambia today is the leadership vacuum that grew from the time MMD came into power.
It is during the MMD era that our beloved country has become like a ship whose captain cannot safely bring it to the shore and to make matters worse, the captain has engaged the services of pilots who do not know the local waters well.
I firmly believe that most of the problems we are experiencing rise and fall on leadership.
The invaluable expertise of a leader in any country, group or organisation more than anything else will determine its success or failure.
The impact of leadership is seen even in ancient Israel, where all was well with the nation when they had a good leader. When they had a bad leader, things went wrong for everyone.
The conclusion is that Zambia has been put in a quagmire by people who aspire for leadership without a vision on how best to serve this great nation.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33348
Mining investors
By Mwenya M
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
Zambians of goodwill need to support the government's efforts to renegotiate the mining contracts in Zambia. For too long these investors have been getting away with huge profits in their pockets. It is time to get substantial revenue from these corporations.
As if that were not bad enough, these mining investors do not even respect Zambia's labour and environmental standards.
Investment is not a licence to steal and exploit other people. Zambia must welcome only responsible investors who pay a fair tax to the government and are able to promote social development in communities.
As for the government, you were not truthful enough to tell the people of Zambia the cost of selling the mines.
The people sacrificed social and economic benefits to allow MMD to sell the mines to foreigners. You have a chance now to set the record straight and let the mineral wealth be of benefit to Zambians.
Profits from the mineral wealth are not benefiting Zambians but investors who cannot even enlist on the Lusaka Stock Exchange. Why are these investors not giving back to Zambia's economy?
Today, a Vedanta University is being constructed in Orissa, eastern India, and will host a 1600 bed medical teaching hospital and several world-class faculty schools; with a $1 billion donation from an affiliated “foundation” of Vedanta Mining Investments. This is a largest-ever single donation to a university.
Why not invest in the same manner in Zambia where the funds are coming from? Soon our graduates will be replaced by Vedanta University graduate professionals in the mining sector, hence increasing the unempolyment levels. Let's renegotiate to get a fair deal on the mining sector.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33310
Chinese investment
By Isaac Makashini USA
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:01]
It is not surprising that once again the issue of Chinese investors in Zambia has come to the fore over the last few days.
Despite all the political calisthenics that Michael Sata is known for, I think one thing he has been consistent on is to keep his axe sharp to bring down the rising forest of Chinese monopoly in the Zambian economy.
Whether for good or ill motives, no politician has blown the whistle more loudly than Sata has done to expose the numerous fouls committed by our economic partners from the Far East.
Before we dismiss Sata’s concerns as the rantings of a man selfishly wanting to cash in on this volatile matter, we must pause and ask ourselves whether there is no merit in some of the issues which he has persistently raised.
It is not a secret that the Chinese investors’ treatment of our local people in these industries is inhuman, to say the least. Even the government has admitted this.
While we need Chinese investment in our country, we must not give a deaf ear to the serious labour miscarriages our “all-weather friend” has continued to commit with impunity.
I think we need to sit down and ask ourselves what cumulative benefits for the future of our country we are reaping from this one-legged economic partnership with China.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33344
Self-reliance
By Mwanza Mathias, UNZA
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
I hereby commend The Post for its relentless fight towards good governance and better life for every Zambian. We have heard the saying "Life begins at forty." Going by this saying, Zambia would be said to be 3 years old. Alas, 43 years after independence, Zambia is no longer a youth. It’s sad Zambia can only pride in past glory of once having had one of the strongest economies in Africa. Where did we go wrong?
Independence is about freedom. Freedom entails being self-sufficient, self-reliant and having direction.
Freedom is about being able to make choices in your best interest as a nation and thus being responsible for those choices. Peace is sustainable. Freedom is about every citizen being able to voice out and be heard. The feeling of partnership creates the spirit of responsibility in every citizen.
Our freedom fighters had the role of seeing us liberated and our role and challenge is to sustain the unity, peace and realisation the vision of our forefathers, who foresaw a self-sufficient Zambia with social, academic, religious and economic freedom.
As we celebrate, let’s revisit our policies such as mining agreements and investment policies, where most Zambians will be able to set up enterprises and employee fellow Zambians, where Zambia's potential of becoming a manufacturing nation is realised, putting to use its vast natural resources and realising its role among great exporting African nations, hence reducing poverty levels.
We may have diverse political, religious and ethnic interests but we are one Zambia and one nation above everything else. Even a good, sustainable constitution is possible when we all forego individual interests and put Zambia first. Happy 43rd independence anniversary Zambia and God bless!
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33347
Improve drainage systems
By John Milimo, Lusaka
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
As we approach the rainy reason, let us not forget that we have a problem of drainage systems in many parts of our country. Before it is too late, let us start doing something constructive in order to improve our drainage systems.
As we all know, our government is very slow in answering people's requests.
Let us therefore start doing something in our small little ways to improve our drainage systems, because it is we that will suffer unnecessary floods, which are likely to lead to the out-break of water-borne diseases like cholera.
To protect ourselves from such diseases and unnecessary inconveniences, let us therefore attend to our drainage systems adequately.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33308
Bush's remarks on Fidel
By Prince Bill M. Kaping’a Kitwe
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
Cuban leader Fidel Castro has been away from the public eye since July, 2006. This is the day that he officially transferred power to his younger brother Raul Castro, who is also that country’s defence minister.
This was precipitated by Castro’s ill-health. In apparent reference to this, United States President George W. Bush rumbled in his recent address to Cuban dissidents in Miami, and I quote: “The long rule of cruel dictator Castro is nearing its end!” This comes hot on the heels of similar remarks he made earlier before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a move that prompted Cuban foreign minister Felipe Perez Rogue to walk out in protest.
Isn’t the current US President a devout born-again Christian or so we are told? But contrary to the norms and ethics of Christianity, Bush’s heart seems to be so pregnant with immense hatred for one Fidel Castro that his belief and earnest prayer is seemingly that the rightful place for Fidel is the grave. What sort of Christian is Bush?
According to the Bible that I know and read, vengeance belongs to the Lord our God alone.
The same Bible further teaches us to “Love your enemies, do good to them, lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35) Where does Bush’s mercifulness stand as the Bible clearly commands? Why should he be pronouncing doom on Fidel for whatever reasons if he is indeed a true Christian?
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33309
Too much freedom
By Gabby GP,Kabwe
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
As Zambia celebrates its 43 years of independence, we need to ask ourselves serious questions about our past, present and future.
We may boast of 43 years of political independence, yet we are nowhere close to economic independence.
I may sound rhetorical that part of that independence is locked up in part three of our Constitution called the Bill of Rights, it’s locked up with our leaders that hog decision-making positions and jobs that would otherwise be handed down to the young and vibrant generation for continuity and fresh ideas.
It’s locked up in our ability to make some bold decisions such as simply revising the mineral rights currently at play in our mining sector.
Conversely, too much independence has seen our underage youth start hanging out in clubs and nightclubs, and nobody seems to care. Our future hangs in the balance as young people not only need the recognition due to them but also a firm policy and monitoring system that keeps them away from self-destruction.
If this independence commemoration were to carry meaning, somebody must be silent no more; somebody must cry out and spare not, before our nation goes to the dogs.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33313
Leadership
By Dr Henry Ilunga Kasongo Mongu
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
Leadership is defined as the qualities and skills of a good leader; and those qualities are respect for others, humility, moderation of language, honesty, integrity, selflessness, transparency and accountability.
Anyone who aspires to a leadership position must have these qualities. It is for this reason that I agree with Father Bwalya who stated in the Sunday Post of October 28 that Sata’s action raises a lot questions , and he insisted that the Zambian public should not take such conduct lightly, especially that it concerns a man who has attempted to occupy the highest office in our land.
However, I do not agree that it is the responsibility of the public to make their leaders accountable as Father Bwalya wants us to believe; politicians and other leaders must be honest, responsible, transparent and accountable by virtue of their position.
The onus of the public lies in the power they have when choosing or voting for their leaders. They should not vote for non-performers or people who are selfish, unpatriotic and not accountable.
Coming back to the case of Sata, we hope that the Patriotic Front leadership will humbly explain to the Zambian people the nature of the dealings it has with Taiwan.
Sata and Dr Guy Scott should also explain why Sata lied in his attempt to obtain money from the Taiwanese government, and why such a big amount as 50,000 dollars was to be deposited in Sata’s personal account. Are they (Sata and Guy) trying to say PF has no account, and all the money it receives from local and international friends comes through Sata’s account? Not doing so would be a serious blow to Zambia’s growing multipartism and to the Patriotic Front as a party.
The silence from the people of Zambia on Sata’s scam does not mean they condone his activities; it is on the contrary a display of maturity, wisdom and strength.
There is an African proverb which suggests that a man who, after seeing a naked mad person on the street, decides - out of pity and sympathy - to cover the mad man’s nakedness should first secure his own wrapper; otherwise he may cause a shame of himself if it falls off while he struggles with the lunatic, making passers-by mistake him to be mad too.
The silence of the Zambian people means a meditation on the country’s type of leadership, in this case PF, and a sober preparation for 2011, when the people of Zambia will vote wisely. They will vote for a leader - not a trickster.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33340
Let's dialogue on NCC
By Charles Chunda Ngosa
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
The most reasonable thing we can do is to put our heads together as far as the National Constitutional Conference is concerned and agree upon resolving anomalies our country is besieged with.
We are quarrelling as Zambians but other nations are busy sweeping money away from our country at an alarming rate. As Zambians, let's come together and make our economy fool-proof. We are just a laughing stock in the eyes of the international community.
Our country is one of the richest nations with a semi-developed infrastructure. Zambians are intelligent people who can be anything in the world.
The problem is we are not objective, focused and foresighted but are busy crying that we are poor.
Changing the party is not a solution to the problem of abject poverty and others but a good mindset is. Zambia needs attitude revolution.
Running up and down going to different nations to discuss investors is not a solution of wanting leadership. If one is to win confidence of the people, he/she should stay around with the people he/she claims to love, highlight their problems and offer solutions.
Foreigners who have come to Zambia cannot outwit us and go on doing things the way they like.
Labels: INDEPENDENCE, LEADERSHIP, LETTERS
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Unnecessary overzealousness
By Editor
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
Writing in 1859 in his book, On Liberty, John Stuart Mill remarked: "If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." He further argues that "the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it.
If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error."
That is the whole point about free speech and freedom of expression - to allow opinions to flow freely, regardless of how much we may detest some of them. In simple terms, the principle of freedom of speech allows us to speak freely without censorship from anyone.
In fact, freedom of speech is often regarded as an integral concept in democratic societies such as ours.
The right to freedom of speech is so fundamental that it has been guaranteed under international law through numerous human rights instruments, notably under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Other nations such as the United States have gone further by enshrining it in their constitution that their law-making body, Congress, shall not make laws that infringe upon such fundamental rights.
It is, therefore, very strange that our High Commissioner to Namibia, Mr Griffin Nyirongo, wants to curtail the freedom of Zambians who live in Namibia and interact via the internet to discuss issues and subjects of their own choice. And going by the explanation from Kazhila Chinsembu - the university lecturer High Commissioner Nyirongo is trying to censor - it is clear that the censorship is unwarranted and totally out of tune.
First, the High Commissioner should know that while he may not like what Patriotic Front president Michael Sata said in the United States, the best way for people to know whether or not what Sata said is right or wrong is not to stifle debate over the matter.
Indeed, it is not possible to agree with each and every opinion we come across, just like we ourselves do not agree with Sata's approach on the China-Taiwain issue. But censoring unpleasant or unpalatable opinions isn't the best way of counteracting those ideas which we are not comfortable with.
On the contrary, censorship actually always defeats its own purpose because in the end, it just creates the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion; censorship creates a society that is incapable of thinking on its own. If anything, censorship is a reflection of society's lack of confidence in itself and this is perhaps why it is mainly associated with authoritarian regimes where free thinking is an intolerable idea.
Going by his reaction to Sata's Harvard University address, it is clear that our High Commissioner in Namibia has a lot to learn in terms of the concept of free speech and free expression, especially in a democratic society like ours. But as John Stuart Mill advises, we have to understand that "If the arguments of the present chapter are of any validity, there ought to exist the fullest liberty of professing and discussing, as a matter of ethical conviction, any doctrine, however immoral it may be considered." Essentially, what Mill is telling us is that any doctrine, and for that matter any opinion, should be allowed the light of day no matter how immoral it may seem to everyone else. And such freedom should exist with every subject matter, such that we have "absolute freedom of opinion and sentiment on all subjects, practical or speculative, scientific, moral or theological."
So the High Commissioner cannot start dictating to Zambians living in Namibia the kinds of subjects they need to debate because freedom of speech cannot be limited only to the subjects which he is comfortable with.
By saying all this, we are not suggesting that such freedom is completely absolute because we know that every freedom comes with a corresponding responsibility from those exercising it. Yes, there should be rules in terms of how we conduct ourselves as individuals exercising these freedoms but that should not amount to censorship as we are seeing in High Commissioner Nyirongo's conduct.
For the sake of decency and acceptable norms in our societies, we can have limits, rules and regulations in terms of, for instance, the language or actions applied. But the law, as well as other ethical requirements, have taken care of all such concerns. Thus, it would be wrong for anyone, as the High Commissioner is doing, to be dictating the kinds of subjects that people should be debating.
We want to believe that through the discussion forum that Zambians living in Namibia interact over, the idea is to encourage a democratic culture in terms of engagement on various subjects, including those that touch on our national politics.
If that is the case, the best test of democracy would be to allow individuals the freedom to criticise, the freedom to present opposing or alternative ideas or opinions, including introducing subjects or topics that may not be pleasant to others.
Let us not forget that freedom of expression is integral to tolerance. And we believe that tolerance, especially tolerance of divergent views - no matter how unpopular those views may be - should be a basic value that we should easily embrace as a society.
So, instead of wasting his energies and time trying to undermine invaluable ideals of liberty and democracy such as freedom of expression, our High Commissioner in Namibia would do well to ensure that these fundamental principles are protected. As High Commissioner, he is actually in a very ideal position to do so.
Furthermore, the High Commissioner should realise that the advancement of technology, particularly the development of the internet, has now opened many new possibilities for people to exercise freedom of speech using methods that are not as restrictive as the conventional communicative media and no matter how much he may want to do it, it will be difficult for him to censor people interacting via cyberspace.
Therefore, the High Commissioner's overzealousness over Sata's Harvard University lecture is not necessary.
Labels: EDITORIAL, FREEDOM OF SPEECH
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High Commisioner Nyirongo reprimands UNAM lecturer for circulating Sat
By Bivan Saluseki
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
ZAMBIA’S High Commissioner to Namibia Griffin Nyirongo has reprimanded University of Namibia (UNAM) lecturer Kazhila Chinsembu for circulating PF leader Michael Sata's speech at Harvard University in the United States to a mailing list of Zambians living in Namibia.
Chinsembu, who is secretary of Association of Zambians in Namibia (AZANA), yesterday confirmed that High Commissioner Nyirongo had reprimanded him over Sata's speech while his wife had received a text message from an anonymous person that she would have her front teeth knocked out.
Chinsembu, who is a lecturer in the Department of Biology at UNAM and former University of Zambia lecturer, said he had been reprimanded by High Commissioner Nyirongo who asked him not to circulate Sata's political message to others in Namibia.
"He said we could only talk about things which don't concern politics," said Chinsembu.
He said he had since received anonymous calls from some people threatening him and his wife.
He said his wife had received a text message asking her how she would feel if she had three of her front teeth knocked out.
High Commissioner Nyirongo could not be contacted for comment because he was reported to be at Parliament where South African President Thabo Mbeki was giving an address.
According to an email message from High Commissioner Nyirongo dated October 27, 2007 to Chinsembu, AZANA list was not for political discourse.
"You will recall that Professor Kasanda did write, sometime ago, to all that the AZANA circulation list is not for political discourse. It is an information circulation list on events affecting the Zambian community in Namibia," he stated.
"It is therefore surprising that you chose to ignore the earlier advice to which you agreed to. Let us refrain from using AZANA for political purposes as we respect the different political positions that hold in a democratic dispensation."
High Commissioner Nyirongo said Sata's speech was of political nature and therefore did not merit circulation on the mailing list.
But Chinsembu on October 29 wrote back stating that High Commissioner Nyirongo's email meant that the mailing list was for AZANA, a 'non-political' organisation whose membership should not share 'political' information.
"Sir, I have read the AZANA constitution with all its old and new amendments. The current constitution does not stipulate that the Association is non-political. Neither does the constitution say AZANA members should be apolitical. There are no clauses in the current constitution that speak to the political orientation of AZANA and its membership," Chinsembu stated.
"Therefore, the current constitution does not stop the exchange of political information amongst members. The circulation of Mr Sata's paper was therefore done within the enjoyment of my constitutional rights as a member of AZANA."
Chinsembu said even assuming that the emailing list was for AZANA, the constitution did not have a clause stipulating what content should or should not be posted on that emailing list.
"Apart from universal norms that exclude the transmission of obscene material and classified documents, there are no 'terms of agreement' that guide the content for this emailing list.
Even if we assume that AZANA is a 'non-political' organisation, such an assumption does not curtail members from freely exchanging information regarding their motherland. Why should we not share information about our country on this mailing list, yet we have entrusted politicians to run the affairs of our country?" he asked.
"Your Excellency, information is an important resource for development. This is why those great men and women that wrote the AZANA constitution stated in Article 10(4)(c) as follows: 'to make available..newspapers and other audio-visual materials from Zambia'."
Chinsembu said the paper Sata presented at Harvard University was news in Zambia, and those that read Zambian newspapers would attest that that information was already in the public domain.
"In this digital information age, sharing Sata's full paper on the mailing list was in full accordance with Article 10(4)(c) of the AZANA constitution," he said.
Chinsembu said the sharing of information was critical to the reconstruction of Zambia.
"Again this is espoused in the constitution's preamble as follows: 'that we may by our actions enhance and expedite the reconstruction of our country'.
Exchange of information is also healthy as it keeps us in touch. Articles 2(e) and 10(4)(e) of the constitution also make reference to 'keep in touch' and to carry out any other activities aimed at ensuring regular interaction among Zambians, respectively," he said.
Chinsembu said in the spirit of such noble and selfless AZANA objectives, he would as a concerned member of AZANA continue to post on the emailing list any information that he felt helped them to better understand Zambia, and would not need to seek editorial approval from anybody.
Chinsembu said he was not a personal fan of Sata, and did not even belong to PF.
"But hate him or like him, Sata is a leader of a political party that enjoys power in Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces of our country and anything he says forms an important element of his party's policies, which policies Zambians may be interested to read about at any forum, including the so-called AZANA mailing list," he said.
"So I am inspired by the many people that enjoyed reading Mr. Sata's presentation at Harvard University, one of the world's greatest citadels of knowledge.
I believe that anybody with information about our country should be encouraged to share such information with other countrypersons without the fear to make offence. I am aware that in a democratic society, not everybody will agree with everything. It is healthy to agree to disagree."
Chinsembu said diversity of opinions was the foundation of great nations.
"But we should not allow ourselves to be cowed down by political party extremists that have no regard for the political opinions of others," he said.
He said lack of access to information and ignorance of the masses were the tools that built dictatorships.
"Sir, I have never yielded to political correctness and do not intend to do that now. I will not yield to some self-appointed editors that want to censor what information should or should not be distributed to Zambians," Chinsembu stated.
"Of note is the unfortunate tendency by some individuals that hold public office to often want to hunt down those with opposing political opinions. In Zambia, history teaches us that holding high public office comes with the shifting sands of political fortunes."
Chinsembu stated that rights and freedoms had never rolled-in on the wheels of inevitability.
"This is why I guard the right to information. Let us learn to tolerate diversity of political opinions. If one has time to read the political views of others, let them read. Zambia needs ideas from everybody regardless of their political party," he said.
Chinsembu said the best idea was to have many ideas.
"Your Excellency, since your opinion on this matter reflects government policy, I will in future, and through the media inform other Zambians living outside the borders of Zambia of this new government policy," stated Chinsembu.
Labels: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, FREEDOM OF SPEECH
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Single-digit inflation just on paper, says Mususu
By Ntalasha Mutale
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Bishop Paul Mususu has said Zambia should not brag about the single-digit inflation rate because the levels of poverty were still high. In an interview, Bishop Mususu said the single-digit inflation rate was just on paper as people continued to experience poverty. He said government officials should not fool themselves that everyone was living in luxury because they themselves lived well.
“Zambia has certainly not attained its economic independence and one does not need to be a scholar to see that,” he said.
Bishop Mususu challenged finance minister Ng’andu Magande to accompany him on one of his missionary trips to see the levels of poverty people were experiencing.
Bishop Mususu also said current investors in the mining sector were not interested in their workers’ welfare as it was with the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM).
“These so-called investors do not even care about where the local people sleep, what they eat, or their health. All they want is to make their money and leave,” Bishop Mususu said.
He said if Zambia was to develop, a balance in foreign investment was needed.
“Zambia should tighten up its investment structures rather than let the local people suffer in the name of investment,” Bishop Mususu said.
And Bishop Mususu said the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) had divided the Church because some members were allegedly being bribed by the government.
He also wondered why some organisations such as the EFZ and the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) had been asked to nominate only three members to represent them in the NCC while others such as the United Liberal Party (ULP) had been given a chance to nominate six.
“It is not fair that EFZ should only be given three places of members to participate in the NCC. That’s not enough, we are worth more than the three places we have been given,” said Bishop Mususu.
Labels: BISHOP MUSUSU, EFZ, INFLATION
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Sata has disturbed govt - Mpombo
By Nomusa Michelo
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
GOVERNMENT is disturbed by Patriotic Front president Michael Sata's attempts to discredit China, acting chief government spokesman George Mpombo has said. Briefing the press at government building yesterday, Mpombo said it was apparent that Sata had appointed himself as a megaphone for Taiwan's cheap political propaganda and economic imperialism.
"It is regrettable that those seeking cheap popularity and foreign financial support are using issues involving foreign investors and their entry in Zambia for local political rhetoric. Government is particularly disturbed that Mr. Michael Sata, president of the Patriotic Front, in order to discredit China in order to get money from Taiwan has called Chinese people crooked investors," he said.
Mpombo said it was sad that Sata who seeks the office of President of the country should allow himself to be an agent of distabilisation between nations and discredit a sovereign government (China) recognised by the world community by telling lies about its nationals. Mpombo said it was observed that Sata's election campaign last year was bankrolled by the Taiwanese, whom Sata promised special favours if elected.
"He now has to embark on a campaign of lies against China to justify the money he received as he no longer can provide that favour he promised the Taiwanese," he said.
And Mpombo dismissed allegations by Sata that the Chinese who are granted work permits were unqualified labourers taking up jobs reserved for Zambia.
"What is true is that Chinese, like many other nationals have responded well to invitations to invest in various fields, including manufacturing, construction, mining, financial institutions and agriculture," he said. "Their investment since 1996 is US $377 million, employing 11,000 workers."
Mpombo said according to records at the immigration department, only 2,340 Chinese had been granted work permits, self-employment permits and entry permits between 2004 and 2007.
He said some investors might come into the country with their spouses and children and that each investor was allowed up to five expatriates of his or her choice. Mpombo said if qualified Chinese engineers in the mines or factories also do manual work of pushing wheelbarrows to speed up work, it would be wrong to call them labourers or revoke their permits for doing so.
He said Zambian engineers should instead emulate the Chinese. He said with reference to mine accidents and conditions of work, there was only one large scale mine owned by Chinese in Zambia, namely Chambishi Mines of NFC Africa Mining Plc, which had not recorded any fatal accidents in the last twelve months.
Mpombo said it was also untrue and unfair to suggest that the Chinese owners of BGRIMM Explosives factory were responsible for the accident in which 50 people died.
"The independent team of investigators into the accident did not find the cause of the accident and suggested two possible causes - a metal object of detonator in the emulsion mixing tank or a chemical contamination of the emulsion matrix to have ignited the explosion," he said.
"However, following the team's investigations, it has been recommended that the Explosive Act and regulations be reviewed, Mines Safety Department should design and distribute a standard register book and that the BGRIMM factory be reconstructed."
On the quality of goods imported from China, Mpombo said specialised agencies like the Zambia Bureau of Standards deal with quality of goods and imports. He said the agencies issue permits or certificates to qualify products and that Chinese products were no exception.
"Further, and more importantly, most of the Chinese garments are imported by Zambian traders who have found them to be in greater demand than those from other countries or locally made ones," said Mpombo.
Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, SATA, TAIWAN
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Nonde predicts severe effects of privatization
By Mutuna Chanda
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
ZAMBIA is yet to see the harshest effects of privatisation, Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) general secretary Joyce Nonde has warned. In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Nonde said what Zambia had seen in retrenchments and violations of workers’ rights after the privatisation of what used to be state enterprises was just a tip of an iceberg.
“Privatisation has caused a lot of casualties. The harsh treatment of workers and other evil offshoots of privatization are still coming especially that we as a country have no mechanism to monitor what is happening on the ground, we don’t know what the investors are doing and how they are treating their workers,” Nonde said.
“Countries that have developed are those that have controls and have ensured that investors use their resources for development. Even when they leave if they are foreign investors, they ensure that resources remain for the country’s development but in our case we are not even making an effort to control the situation.”
Zambia embarked on an aggressive privatization programme since the early 1990s and has so far privatised 262 companies out of 284 that had been earmarked.
And Nonde, who recently attended the British Labour Party conference in Bournemouth in the United Kingdom and chaired a group discussion on global rights, reiterated ZUFIAW’s position against globalisation in its current form.
“Globalisation is disadvantaging the weak. Even in the UK, workers are complaining that international companies are taking away their jobs and are giving them to developing countries. Here in developing countries what is happening is that our workers are being exploited. So we see that on both ends globalisation in its current form is only benefiting the rich. It is favouring capital,” Nonde said.
Meanwhile Nonde said ZUFIAW officials last Friday met Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZNCB) managing director Mark Wiessing.
ZNCB was recently privatised by the government and handed over to Rabobank of Netherlands which acquired 49 per cent of the bank’s shares.
Labels: GLOBALISATION, JOYCE NONDE, PRIVATISATION, ZNCB, ZUFIAW
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Opposition political parties
By Editor
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
It is very sad that the country's independence party, UNIP, has died such a humiliating death. Whether UNIP's leaders or members like it or not, the party in its present state is as good as dead and the earlier they wake up to this rude reality the better. Today, UNIP is nothing but an empty shell, a shadow of its former self. It is actually an understatement to say that the party is sinking because it nose-dived into deep waters a long time ago and it seems no one in UNIP is willing to pick up the debris from the wreckage and patch up the broken pieces to resuscitate the party.
But UNIP's fate should not be a cause for celebration. What has happened to UNIP is very sad not only for the party but also for the nation. This is because for a country that is still trying to develop its multiparty democracy, the death of any major political party - especially the country's oldest political party - should be a worrying phenomenon.
Yes, political parties may become weak once in a while for several reasons or factors. However, the outright disappearance of a one-time ruling political party should concern us all because it is actually a danger to the growth of our multiparty democracy.
If anything, it is not right to allow political parties to disappear just like that and continue to call ourselves a multiparty political system. Since the reintroduction of multiparty democracy some 17 years ago, the only dominant political player has been the MMD and of course the ruling party has been riding very high on the advantage of incumbency besides the fact that the opposition has remained weak and incoherent.
As things are happening in the political arena, let us keep in mind that our political system is premised on multiparty democracy. But at the moment, we can safely say that we only moved from a one-party system under UNIP in 1991 to another de facto one-party system under the MMD, regardless of the fact that under the law we are operating a multiparty political system. Looking at what is happening in our political system, the idea of a multiparty democracy is laughable and we can show why.
Apart from the fact that the MMD has monopolised political power since the introduction of multiparty politics, another fact - and this has worked as an advantage for the MMD - is that the opposition has remained incoherent, unpredictable and uncoordinated. In fact, the majority of opposition political parties in Zambia largely operate on an ad hoc basis, where their visibility is limited only to election time.
And this can partly explain why during the last four general elections from 1991 to 2006, the results have produced different political parties as main opposition parties in the National Assembly. After the 1991 elections, UNIP emerged as the main opposition after losing power to the MMD.
During the 1996 elections, of course thanks to UNIP's boycott of the elections, there was a further fragmentation of the opposition where we ended up with parties such as the Zambia Democratic Congress and Agenda for Zambia being the main opposition parties, regardless of the fact that they had members of parliament few enough to be counted on five fingers.
After the 2001 elections, it was the UPND which emerged as the main opposition party in Parliament. As we speak today, the Patriotic Front is the leading opposition political party in Parliament. Now, looking at this confusion, it is easy to conclude that our multiparty democracy has really gone crazy and this has largely been aided by the poor state of our opposition political parties. And when we talk about the death of political parties, UNIP is not the only party in this situation.
Today, there are many other parties that exist only on paper and they operate as though there were no future to look forward to because their leaders are incapable of providing the necessary guidance or leadership as they have basically resigned themselves and their parties to fate.
As we have already stated, by law we are a multiparty democracy but if we are to lay facts the way they stand today, we just moved from a de jure one-party state into a de facto one-party state and there is no difference. But what our politicians must begin to realise is that multiparty democracy, being a political culture, needs a suitable atmosphere for its promotion, for it to grow.
The culture of democracy - tolerance of dissent, representation, consultation and consensus - needs to develop from the grassroots and not from the top leadership of political parties as it currently appears to be. In most cases, this has been the tragedy for our political parties because most of their leaders want to cling to the idea of being the godfathers; they are the alpha and omega and nothing can move as long as they are not personally involved.
Little wonder that leaders like Michael Sata can be asking party sympathisers to deposit money meant for party affairs in their personal accounts because they cannot distinguish between self and the parties which they lead. As far as they are concerned, Sata is PF and PF is Sata. Period.
For as long as this remains our way of doing politics, it should not be surprising if our political parties continue to head towards their political graveyards. Our political parties need to refocus and realise that the purpose of multiparty democracy is not to just increase numbers in the Registrar of Societies' books but to ensure that political legitimacy is promoted in the country and that they mobilise their members along clear principles for the sake of the development of this country.
Ultimately, we expect political parties to be embarking on programmes and policies that are relevant to the needs of the people today. Otherwise, as we are seeing now with UNIP, the parties will themselves become irrelevant to the people.
Labels: EDITORIAL, OPPOSITION, UNIP
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Review mineral royalties in 2008 budget - DPI
By Fridah Zinyama
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
DEVELOPMENT Partnership International (DPI) Zambia has echoed statements by stakeholders that government reviews the mineral royalties and corporate taxes in the 2008 national budget. DPI-Zambia strategy coordinator Richard Musauka said development agreements should be reviewed including concessions so that the nation can benefit from increased earnings from the mines.
“The tax measures should include withholding tax on dividends, interest, royalties, management fees and payments to affiliates or subcontractors in the mining sector at a standard rate,” he said.
Masauka said mining firms that had received tax incentives in 2000 to enable them stabilise their operations at that time of low prices should be made to contribute more to the national treasury since the mineral prices at the international market were at their best.
Masauka said the 2008 national budget should provide for mining companies in the country to pay mineral royalties and corporate tax at a revised standard.
And finance and national planning minister Ng’andu Magande said government had only received K300 billion from mineral royalties and company tax as of August this year.
“Questions have been raised as to whether the concessions are still justifiable. We have seen an unprecedented increase in the international metal prices. Therefore, the basis on which these concessions were given no longer exist which is why our renegotiating team is retreating to find the best way in arriving at a status that benefits both the mining companies and the people of Zambia,” he observed.
Labels: 2008 BUDGET, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, DPI, MAGANDE, MINING CONTRACTS
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Kazonga calls for end to maize imports from Malawi
By Pride Bwalya
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
GWEMBE district commissioner Dorothy Hamvula has commended the Glassco Foundation of Canada for donating spare parts for 300 boreholes and a computer all valued at US $10,000. During the handover of the spares and computer to the beneficiaries at Gwembe District Council in Munyumbwe last Friday by the chairman of the foundation Collin Glassco, Hamvula said the government was committed to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on provision of clean and safe water to all citizens.
She said that government counted on its co-operating partners and non-governmental organisations such as the Glassco Foundation to help bring about development to Zambians.
Hamvula also said that just like education services, there was need to take health services closer to families if some of the MDG’s were to be met in the district.
She appealed to Glassco Foundation to continue supporting Gwembe District not only in the provision of water but also in health and education sectors.
Glassco Foundation director Debbie Norman said that she was impressed with implementation of the foundation’s trachoma programme by the partners on the ground.
Norman said it was gratifying that a good number of boreholes had been drilled and sunk and was confident that the reaming ones would soon be covered in Gwembe District.
She said the donation of the spare parts for the boreholes and the computer was the commencement of another phase in the programme whose aim was to ensure sustainability of the water points.
She urged the beneficiaries to guard the boreholes jealously.
Labels: MAIZE, MALAWI
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Keep Zim mediation secret, says Changara
By Maluba Kaindu-Jere
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
PRE-empting South Africa’s mediation in the Zimbabwean crisis may frustrate the process, Oasis of Life lead pastor of Bulawayo Dickson Changara has said. Pastor Changara said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that it was best the mediation process be kept secret as disclosing it could sway the outcome of the process which he said was a timely intervention.
“It is obvious that we need people that are willing to come and help us. South Africa has a quiet diplomacy and I believe it is helping Zimbabwe in some ways. But on the mediation being kept secret, I feel if the process is pre-emptied it could frustrate the efforts,” he said. “I believe South Africa and president Mugabe are working on ensuring Zimbabweans got what is best for them.”
Pastor Changara described the situation in Zimbabwe as complicated but that President Mugabe was trying his best to revive the economy. He said it was important for the government to reach the grassroots and implement policies that would benefit the ordinary people.
Asked on what his mission to Zambia was, Pastor Changara said Zambia at one time experienced what Zimbabwe was currently going through hence he came to learn how Zambia resolved her problems. He said Zimbabweans were anxious to see things return to normal and were looking forward to a speedy recovery of the economy.
“The situation in Zimbabwe is bad such that even the basic commodities are not readily available in the shops, people queue for bread being baked and others cross borders to look for food,” he said. “I feel that the government needs to reach the grassroots and implement policies that will benefit everyone.”
Asked what he thought about the pace at which President Mbeki’s mediation process was moving, Pastor Changara responded: “If people are hungry and you tell them you will have your food next week, do you think that is good enough?”
Pastor Changara observed that President Mugabe had his own views on the matter and that there was need for the issue of Zimbabwe to be sorted out by themselves.
Changara said this stance did not mean other countries could not assist physically as long as they did not impose requirements or conditions.
“The crisis in Zimbabwe can be sorted out by Zimbabweans; we need the international community to understand what people are going through,” he said.
Pastor Changara observed that the poor harvest which resulted in reduced production levels had worsened the food shortages in Zimbabwe.
The SADC extraordinary summit of heads of state tasked South African President Thabo Mbeki to mediate in Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis.
Labels: MDC, ZANU-PF, ZIMBABWE
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Zambia's new bid to cash in on copper - It has the raw material, so why doesn't it have the wealth? Nick Mathiason reports from Africa
Sunday October 28, 2007
The Observer
Last week, Anshell Chibuye took a day off work as a turbine operator in one of the largest copper mines in the world - Zambia's Konkola - to bury his 20-year-old nephew, who had died of malaria. 'My nephew went to hospital too late,' the 40-year-old explains quietly. In Chamboli, his shanty compound near the border with Congo, 10,000 people are crammed into breezeblock bungalows and mud huts. There, Chibuye, a father of three, also brings up two other children whose parents died of HIV/Aids - a disease affecting well over 1 million of Zambia's population of 11 million.
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Chibuye is better off than most. In one of the world's poorest countries, where half are unemployed and the average life expectancy is 38, his wife also has a job, as a teacher. Their combined incomes place them above the poverty line.
Chibuye believes education, healthcare and roads have deteriorated in the last decade. He is not alone. Church and union leaders, opposition politicians and aid agencies all point to Zambia's central question: why is this once middle-income country so poor, when it is so rich - £2bn worth extracted from its mines last year - in copper?
Copper is used in everything from electrical wiring, phone and internet lines to computers and cars, and since Zambia's copper mines were privatised at the insistence of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, the metal has quadrupled in value to about £4,000 per tonne.
The answer to the Zambian question boils down to the terms of that privatisation, in which Rothschild and law firm Clifford Chance played the leading role as advisers, seven years ago.
On behalf of the Zambian government, the London-based firms parcelled the mines and smelters, which were then losing £500,000 a week after years of underinvestment and low commodity prices, into seven entities. The government holds a tiny stake, which it has used as collateral on new loans. Zambia's mines are now owned by the likes of Canada's First Quantum Minerals, Glencore International, the firm founded by controversial American commodity trader Marc Rich, and Vedanta Resources, the UK-quoted mining firm run by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal.
Last year the Zambian government, led by newly re-elected President Levy Mwanawasa, admitted that the royalties it received from copper represented just 0.6 per cent of sales - little more than £12m against £2bn of copper turnover. That royalty percentage is considered by academics and government officials to be the lowest any country has agreed to.
'We say "we sold the mines but the mining companies forgot to pay us",' joked a senior government official in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, last week. But the last fortnight has seen a development which is being closely watched by other African governments and mining executives in boardrooms across the world.
Stung by being virtually wiped out in Zambia's Copperbelt region in last year's elections, Mwanawasa has forced mining firms to the renegotiation table. On the agenda are moves to raise the royalty rate fivefold to 3 per cent and to increase corporation tax on mining firms from 25 to 30 per cent. Even that increase will leave mining outfits paying less than £100m a year because of generous capital allowances, whereas Zambia's hard-pressed personal taxpayers contribute four times as much: £280m.
Government insiders say mining firms have 'no legal obligation to sit with us; all we're using is moral persuasion'. But unless a new deal is signed, officials admit that one of history's biggest commodity booms will pass Zambia by, and with it the chance to improve the lives of its people.
Just how Zambia signed up to the original privatisation agreement remains, after seven years, something of a mystery. The contracts, which ran to over 20 bulky volumes, were never presented to parliament. At the time the country was run by disgraced former President Frederick Chiluba. Earlier this year, Chiluba, who is now gravely ill, was convicted in a London court of siphoning off tens of millions of pounds. Civil servants allege that MPs received advances on expenses as the vote came to a head, and there is widespread suspicion that government officials benefited greatly from the sale.
Others point the finger at the World Bank and its advisers. Professor John Lungu, a respected academic at Zambia's Copperbelt University, says the World Bank told the government that some of the mines to be sold had just seven years of life in them. Yet the very same mines are still fully functioning and scheduled to operate for at least another 15 years.
'How could so much investment go in with seven years' worth of copper left? It baffles the mind,' Lungu said.
This week a report by Christian Aid will focus on the need to create a new tax framework for Zambia's mineral resources. It will say: 'Pressure must be brought to bear on all parties - from the Zambian government to the mining companies - to ensure that the renegotiation is as successful as possible and that any funds generated are used transparently to the benefit of the population.'
Zambia is a peaceful country, not riven by tribal rivalries. Yet there is now a tangible resentment at the arrival of Chinese workers on the back of copper production agreements between the two countries. Of course, the real root of anger is Zambia's inescapable poverty set against the mining firms' huge profits.
'People are angry,' said Chibuye. 'It shouldn't be taken for granted that [the stability] will stay like this forever. I'm sure one day we will react.'
Labels: COPPER, CORRUPTION, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, MINING CONTRACTS
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Don't 'Undermine' Development in Zambia
Major Scottish investors are backing a Vedanta Resources-owned copper mining company which is selling Zambia short whilst generating huge profits from the country’s finite natural resource, according to evidence in a report published today. It calls on Vedanta and its Scottish investors including Standard Life, HBOS and Dundee-based Alliance Trust, to use their ‘corporate social responsibility’ credentials to help rectify the situation before current contract renegotiations with Zambia are concluded.
The joint report, Undermining Development? Copper Mining in Zambia, by three international development organisations, SCIAF, Christian Aid, and ACTSA, examines the record of Zambia’s largest copper producer, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).
KCM is majority-owned by Vedanta Resources – a UK-based FTSE 100 company backed by household names such as Standard Life, HBOS, Alliance Trust and Barclays. Such investors often ‘talk the talk’ on corporate social responsibility but during the research period held major stakes in a company with a questionable record on sharing the benefits of its operations with the host country, the environment, and its impact on local communities.
The report authors say KCM is ‘short changing’ Zambia with royalty fees of just 0.6 per cent instead of the 5 to 10 per cent industry average in developing countries. Whilst legal, this rate of royalty implies that, in 2006/07, the Zambian government would have received mineral royalties of only US$6.1 million from KCM, while the company extracted copper ore worth over US$1 billion.
Zambia’s copper generates 75 per cent of the country’s foreign export earnings but according to the report the government is not receiving its fair share of the income generated at a time when life expectancy in the country is 37 years, one in three children do not go to school, and 68 per cent of the population live in extreme poverty.
Last year KCM made a net profit of US$310 million which is more than Zambia spent on healthcare. If the country continues to receive such a raw deal, it is likely to remain the ninth poorest country in the world according to UN rankings.
The international development organisations are calling on major investors in Vedanta/KCM to put pressure on the companies during the current negotiations. Specifically, they argue, KCM should:
· pay 30 per cent of profits in income tax (up from 25 per cent);
· pay mineral royalties of at least 3 per cent, up from the current 0.6 per cent;
· pay the Zambian government a larger share of the difference between the actual copper price and the trigger copper price in the price participation scheme.
According to the Zambian finance minister at the time, the government was put under considerable pressure from the World Bank, IMF and other donors to privatise its copper mining industry in the 1990s; privatisation was a condition for debt relief. This contributed to the Zambian government having a weakened bargaining position during negotiations with the private mining companies.
SCIAF Policy Analyst Abi Dymond is the principal author of the report and states that whilst private investors in developing countries are there to make a profit and do provide social benefits such as employment, Zambia is not receiving a fair proportion of the money raised by its copper resources at a time when the country urgently needs funds to lift its population out of absolute poverty.
“It is vital that Zambia is given a fairer share of the profits from its main natural resource to help combat crippling poverty in the country. SCIAF, Christian Aid, and ACTSA are now calling for Vedanta/KCM management and Scottish investors to use their influence to make sure Zambia gets a fairer deal. This is a great opportunity for the big UK-based investors to put their much-vaunted corporate social responsibility policies into practice, and we look forward to their support.
“Evidence suggests that Zambia is drowning in poverty whilst a rich mining company is running away with its greatest natural resource. Vedanta/KCM and its Scottish investors such as Standard Life and HBOS might have fine words to say on corporate social responsibility on their websites but our report shows that on the ground there’s a lot of work to be done. Of course, private companies and investors have to make attractive profits but this should not be at the expense of sharing reasonable amounts of revenue with the Zambian government so it has a chance of lifting its people out of abject poverty. We urge Vedanta and KCM, whose presence in Zambia does have many positive benefits, to give the Zambian government and its people a better deal.”
Joyce Nonde, President of the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) said:
"We endorse this report and are encouraged by the international pressure being applied on the company (KCM) and the support for Zambian Civil Society calls for improved development agreements, labour rights and environmental protection. It is time that companies operating in Zambia started paying fair taxes and mineral royalties and commit to assist the development of our country rather than undermine it."
The report also focuses on the welfare of those who work at the KCM mines. Some sub-contracted skilled labourers claim that they are paid as little as £37 per month when it is estimated that the average Zambian family needs at least £151 a month to meet their basic needs. Concerns over the pollution arising from KCM’s activities, and its effect on local communities are also highlighted. An investigation by The Environmental Council of Zambia found the ‘grossly negligent’ behaviour of ‘KCM management’ resulted in rivers used by local communities for drinking water being ‘significantly polluted’.
The report also calls on the UK government to make amendments to the Companies Act 2006 to ensure that UK businesses are held to account for the social and environmental impact of their activities in vulnerable developing countries.
A Corporate Accountability Group headed by Anne Moffat MP is currently investigating the implications of the Companies Act 2006 and how it is applied by British companies abroad. Vedanta’s operations will be assessed as a case study of the group.
You can read the final report at www.sciaf.org.uk/extractivesreport and send an email to the Director of Corporate Strategy at Vedanta, to help make sure that Zambian efforts to end poverty aren’t undermined.
Media contact:
SCIAF: Val Morgan Tel: 0141 354 5555 / Mobile: 07914 408 589 Email: vmorgan@sciaf.org.uk
Labels: CORRUPTION, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, JOYCE NONDE
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Chinese should respect labour laws
By Jenkins Chisoni,Glasgow
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
Here we go again, what is our very able commerce minister Felix Mutati talking about? In one instance he admits his worry about the influx of Chinese labourers in Zambia and in another he seems to be justifying the influx.
Have I misunderstood the minister? I hope I have, but how am I to believe that labour law enforcement officers can be supported in arresting and throwing out Chinese lawbreakers without stepping on the toes of the minister, whose interests are in Chinese investments and trade, not the jobless Zambian labourers?
I agree with the minister that the US and the western countries are the biggest trading partners of China with the US even complaining about the trading deficit of over US$255 billion imports from China against US$40 billion US exports to that country.
The interesting observation is that none of the Chinese US$255 billion worth of exports to the US is human unskilled Chinese cheap labour. Yet, for the less than 5 per cent trade to quote our minister, China imposes on us, the poor Africans, acceptance of the Chinese labourers without discussion and with full knowledge of our labour laws. I have no doubt that the Chinese Embassy has got a copy of our labour laws.
The future of trade is with main-land China and not Taiwan as Sata wants to make us believe. But we need to protect our diginity as a nation and ask China to observe and respect our labour laws.
The truth though is that it is a very tricky situation for the minister because he has to turn a blind eye on labour law enforcement officers who can only show their teeth but not bite the foreign labourers for fear of the powers that be. Yes the labour laws are very clear as the minister says, but where is the will to implement them? That is the big question.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33262
We must question Chinese investments
By Davies C.Chileshe
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
The presence of Chinese investments in most parts of Africa, especially here in Zambia is something that we must question.
China is in a position to help other developing countries economically.
But from the outset China has a massive interest towards African resources.
The question to ask is what are the Chinese here for. Are they here for the development of Africa or to reap from the vast resources that the continent has?
Are they there to render help to the Zambian government? Or are they there to help themselves through Zambian resources at the expense of poor Zambians?
Reading The Post of Saturday October 27th, I’m impressed with the stance that the commerce minister Felix Mutati has taken. He has raised a concern on the influx of Chinese labourers.
He has wondered why the situation is like this despite having labour laws to help control the situation.
The government should do something before the situation gets desperate. They should revisit and reinforce labour laws. I salute Mutati for his stance.
I know that it is not such an easy thing to do, for many would prefer to please the President in order to maintain good relationships with China despite the injustices they are doing to us.
Finally I would like to advise everyone that we are not suppose to throw away or despise completely the words of Sata. I see quite a lot of sense in what he says about China. Why should China keep on bringing its labourers while Zambia is stricken with a crisis of unmployement?
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33263
Infrastructure development
By Concerned Citizen
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
I wish to comment on the government’s failure to address some of the infrastructure problems we are facing. Most roads are in a pathetic state and all the government is saying is that there’s no money. As workers we pay tax monthly and copper prices are high now. Can government justify why we can’t have better roads?
A number of accidents have occured on the Kitwe-Chililabombwe via Chingola road due to its poor state, resulting in deaths. Why does governemnt have to wait for people to die before addressing this issue?
One wonders why money for by-elections is always available and allowances for ministers and the President are always there when money for infrastructure development is always unavailable.
The government should be more dedicated to the development of infrastructure.
The other problem that this country faces is that of housing, which could easily be addressed if the governmement had a programme to build houses every year.
I urge the government to set aside money for housing every year.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33264
US military base in Africa
By John Milimo,Lusaka
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
The idea of a military base in Africa should be unthinkable simply because a lot of African countries are in extreme poverty and are faced with high levels of unemployment which are now driving people into acts of desperation. My simple question is: How will the military base help to alleviate human suffering.
For me the military base will increase human suffering because it will psychologically prepare people for wars.
May the resources which they want to use for the military base be put to good use of alleviating human suffering on the continent. I appeal to all African leaders to reflect on the idea of a military base in a more serious way, lest they create more problems than they can solve.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33217
Mpombo's remarks on NCC amendment
By Musonda Kunda Lusaka
Sunday October 28, 2007 [03:00]
The statement by Mpombo that the government is not going to amend the NCC Act anymore is strange as it is retrogressive. The minister must know that amending of any Act is not a sign of weakness but is a gesture to show that concerns of stakeholders are being put into consideration.
The minster must know that dialogue forms the basis of all progressive endeavours including political activities.
By him coming out in open to say that the government is no longer going to amend the NCC Act any more is a clear demonstration of the MMD government’s inability to dialogue and unwillingness to change their stance even in the view of abundant evidence and need.
The government must reconsider the position otherwise they shall defeat the whole essence of democracy in which dialogue is enshrined.
Labels: AFRICOM, CHINESE, GEORGE MPOMBO
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Chinese labourers
By Editor
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
It is said that if one is too heavily indebted to another, one will lose his or her own independence. This is also said of a man who chooses to borrow another man’s legs because he will go where the owner of the legs directs.
This scenario is likely to be very applicable in Zambia’s relationship with China, especially when it comes to the latter’s investment in our country. Many of our citizens who are genuinely concerned about Zambia’s co-operation with China, not Michael Sata who wants to cash in on this subject, have raised very valid concerns which the government needs to look at seriously.
Only last week, commerce minister Felix Mutati said he was worried about the influx of Chinese labourers in Zambia. And on Saturday, we saw and heard Mutati on television saying Zambia as a country should show appreciation for the great help it has received from China for many decades.
It is true that Zambia needs economic allies like China if it has to make meaningful economic developments. But we see a great danger in this approach. It is clear to us that our government is over-glorifying Zambia’s economic friendship with China. Suddenly, there is so much importance being attached to China and its people, even at the expense of the Zambian people.
No doubt, there should be some mutual interdependence in Zambia’s relationship with China in the same manner hands that wash each other do. There is mutual interdependence in the act of handwashing, just like people depend on each other.
However, looking at the way our government is taking relations with China, it is clear that we have surrendered our rights and control in terms of how China is going about its investment in Zambia. While it is appreciated that China is doing a lot to improve or develop Zambia’s economy, it is not to be accepted that investors from China will come here and operate as they please.
It was interesting to hear Mutati complain about the influx of the Chinese labourers in Zambia on the one hand, and urge Zambians to show appreciation for China’s help on the other. We wonder in which way Zambia or Zambians have to show appreciation for China’s help. Is it by ignoring the Chinese labourers flooding our streets? Or is it by tolerating those Chinese investors who are flouting Zambia’s labour laws.
If the government is crying about the influx of Chinese labourers in Zambia, who is going to stop this anomaly? Like Nevers Mumba and others have rightly observed, we cannot blame China for the influx of Chinese labourers in Zambia, we cannot blame China for some of their investors who are not respecting our labour laws, we cannot blame China for those Chinese investors exploiting our people.
All these things are happening because our government has tolerated them. It is said that when one is unhappy, the cause of his unhappiness is within oneself. We remember how some Chinese investors in Sinazeze last year humiliated the then Southern Province minister Alice Simango when she visited the mine where some Chinese investors are operating to physically check how the Zambian workers there were exposed to inhuman conditions as well as hazardous working conditions. Simango was denied access to the premises. Instead of applying the law against these cheeky investors, Simango just broke into tears, lamenting the bad attitude of these Chinese investors.
Today, nothing has improved in this mine and our people are continually exposed to harsh working conditions. It is true that poverty transforms a free man into a slave. When a man becomes penniless, he loses the freedom and options that he had before. Yes, Zambia may today be poorer but we are not expected to lose our freedom and options.
How can we continue to complain about the high unemployment levels when we are surrendering everything to the Chinese and other foreigners?
While it is true that we need Chinese expertise in certain fields, we do not expect a horde of Chinese labourers in Zambia. Do we really require a multitude of Chinese or Taiwanese to come to Zambia to push wheelbarrows? Do we need the Chinese to mix cement with sand when most of our youths are jobless? Do we need Chinese to grow vegetables in Zambia for Zambians? Do we need the Chinese to cook and sell nshima at City Market? Are we being serious as a country?
Enough has been said about this investment from our friends in China. What we require now is pragmatic action from our government. We expect to see the Minister of Home Affairs and his officials in the ministry to play their role effectively just like the Minister of Labour and other related ministries should do.
Labels: CHINESE, EDITORIAL, FDI
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Zambia must use the law to check Chinese - Nevers
By Speedwell Mupuchi, Maluba Kaindu-Jere, Mutale Kapekele and M
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
ZAMBIA must use the power of domestic legislation, effective negotiation and diplomacy to get its slice of the international cake, former Republican vice-president Pastor Nevers Mumba has said. And United Liberal Party president Sakwiba Sikota has said it is unfortunate that there is an influx of Chinese labourers in Zambia. Commenting on the Zambia-China relations, Pastor Mumba yesterday said Zambians should be street-wise and put in place guidelines and regulations that would forever protect the vulnerable citizens.
“The issue of China and Zambia can be likened to a sloppy Zambian stadium. The stadium slopes towards our goal post. The visiting team (China) just has to roll the ball into our goal post. It is easy for them and it is working for them. It is not in their interest to spend money to level the playing field. We have to level the playing field,” he said.
Pastor Mumba said that he discovered while he was in government that Zambians were failing to police own regulations.
“One of the reasons for such failure is corruption. Those ministries and departments responsible for issuing work permits, inspecting safety equipment and procedures are usually compromised by these investors who have lots of money,” he said.
Pastor Mumba said in a global world of international commerce, Zambia must use the power of domestic legislation, effective negotiation and diplomacy to get its slice of the international cake. He said he did not think in choosing Taiwan above China, one had to hate one to love the other.
“Zambia, like any other nation of the world must to a larger extent remain non-aligned. America deals with both Taiwan and China. America which promotes democracy and is opposed to dictatorships has gone to bed in broad daylight with nations like, Saudi Arabia and Musharaf’s Pakistan! This might appear immoral, but for America, an ally is the one who is most relevant to the battle they are fighting,” Pastor Mumba said.
He said it was not China’s responsibility to put in place guidelines and regulations to protect the vulnerable citizens.
“China, like any other nation of the world, is hungry for our resources and will take advantage of any loophole created by our carelessness. We are the only ones who can ensure that investors pay Zambians well,” Pastor Mumba said. “We are the only ones that can ensure that safety regulations are followed. We are the only ones who can decide the conditions to sell any national asset to a foreigner or foreign firm.”
Pastor Mumba said China could not be ignored. He said America today did more business with China than any other nation of the world and yet they were opposed to China politically.
“All that America has done is to create strong controls on how foreign investment will be handled. Chinese investors cannot oppress an American in broad daylight, because the government will withdraw their investment license and possibly be deported,” he said.
Pastor Mumba called for removal of inequalities in the nation that seemed to favour foreigners above locals without jeopardising Zambia’s ability to continue attracting foreign investment.
“Today, it appears to be easier for a foreigner to get a job in Zambia than it is for a Zambian. This cannot be China’s fault. Their goal, if they had a way, is to make maximum profit with minimum input. This can mean bringing in their own labourers and paying Zambians poorly so that they maximise on the profits they externalise back to China.”
Pastor Mumba said the issue of Chinese labour being brought into Zambia deserves closer scrutiny.
“When Zambia’s unemployment rates are growing higher, it is only fair to ask, ‘why should Chinese labour be brought in when we have thousands of our people who are able-bodied and ready to be trained and work for a life-sustaining wage?’ That’s a fair question that deserves to be asked,” Pastor Mumba said.
He said it fell upon the Ministry of Labour and Social Services to justify why Chinese cheap labour was needed in Zambia.
And Sakwiba Sikota expressed surprise that commerce minister Felix Mutati was complaining about the influx of the Chinese when government was the one that issued permits. He also said it was the government’s responsibility to ensure Zambia did not have unnecessary labour.
“Instead of complaining about the influx of the Chinese, Mutati should have told us what the government will do to solve this problem,” Sikota said. “Zambians have a lot of skills and there is no need of giving jobs to Chinese which can be handled by Zambians. The next time the government comments, we expect them to tell the nation how they would have solved this problem.”
Last week, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata during a Human Rights forum at Harvard University in the United States where he was invited to make a presentation on human rights, charged that crooked Chinese had invaded Zambia.
However, Mutati last Thursday called for the enforcement of labour laws to address the problem of the influx of Chinese labourers.
And Sikota said that Zambia should have good relations with all governments.
“Our policy is to cultivate and have good relations with all governments because doing so can ensure good investments to benefit the Zambian people. We want investors who will give good positions to Zambians and not just exploit them,” said Sikota.
Labels: CHINESE, FDI, NEVERS MUMBA, SAKWIBA SIKOTA
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Those to boycott NCC will be buried - Mulasikwanda
By Royd Mwenya and Ntalasha Mutale
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
Those who will boycott the National Constitution Conference (NCC) will be buried and forgotten, gender minister Patricia Mulasikwanda has said. Officiating at this year’s Chakwela Makumbi traditional ceremony in Chongwe on Saturday, Mulasikwanda said those who had boycotted events before never gained anything.
She said when UNIP boycotted the 1996 general elections, they lost all the seats they had in parliament. Mulasikwanda said because of that, UNIP would never regain power. She said she stood on the word of God and that even God said if those he wanted to do his work failed, he would raise stones to finish his work.
She said God would raise other people to take part in the NCC, adding that those who would attend the NCC will carry the day.
“It is important to gain and not be buried by your decision,” Mulasikwanda said.
She appealed to those intending to boycott to rescind their decision and participate so that their concerns could be addressed during the NCC because boycotting critical national issues was wrong.
She said the government would not manipulate the process of constitution making as some people were made to believe.
She also appealed to chieftainess Nkomeshya to help address the issue of the NCC with fellow traditional leaders.
Mulasikwanda said ceremonies like the Chakwela Makumbi of the Soli people in Chongwe provided a good platform for government to discuss issues of national interest.
Meanwhile, Mulasikwanda said the government would continue with the fertiliser support programme that was initiated to support small-scale farmers for food security.
She said the programme had proved to be one way of reducing poverty among the people.
Mulasikwanda said government had already targeted to support 3,500 farmers in Chongwe district. She said 11,500 by 50 kilograms bags of D-compound fertilizer had already been delivered and now awaited distribution to the district.
Mulasikwanda said the government had undertaken a number of rehabilitation works of the road infrastructure to facilitate transportation of various products from the outskirts of the district.
She said the 64 roads in Chongwe district were being rehabilitated and that the construction of the Kasenga bridge in Chinkuli ward had been completed and was soon to be commissioned.
She also said that the government had recruited 83 teachers and that more would be recruited to cater for the remaining schools in the district.
“Government is considering to construct another basic school, a resource centre at Chongwe Basic School and a science laboratory at Mikango High School to ensure that our children learn in a conducive environment,” she said.
Mulasikwanda advised Zambians to stop cultural practices that promoted the increase of HIV/AIDS. She said government under the District Water Livelihood Support and Sanitation Project had constructed eight VIP pit latrines in Chikwela village and rehabilitated four boreholes in Matako, Shishengula and Katoba villages.
Earlier, senior chieftainess Nkomeshya appealed to the government to allocate another 2,000 by 50 kilogramme bags of fertilizer to meet the shortfall from the initial delivery. She also appealed to the government to urge the Food Reserve Agency to devise a better system of paying farmers for their produce to enable them effectively plan for the coming farming season.
“My concern on agriculture is that farmers in my chiefdom and the district as whole are not paid on time by the FRA, thereby delaying them in preparing the necessary inputs such as seeds and fertilizers in readiness for the next farming season,” she said.
Chieftaness Nkomeshya also appealed to the government to reconsider its decision to establish a provincial hospital at Chainama College in Lusaka and take the project back to Chongwe district.
Chieftainess Nkomeshya also pleaded with interest groups and other stakeholders to participate in the NCC so that the peace and tranquility the nation had been enjoying over the past 43 years could be preserved.
Labels: CHIEFS, CORRUPTION, NCC
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Kaunda invites former African heads of state
By Brighton Phiri
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
DR Kenneth Kaunda has invited former African heads of state and government for a caucus meeting on HIV and AIDS to be held in Livingstone next month. Dr Kaunda has called the former African leaders in his capacity as Aidscom Africa patron, an organisation formed to articulate issues of HIV and AIDS at regional level.
In his letter of invitation, Dr Kaunda explained that the planned conference would map out strategies to tackle the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
"On behalf of Aidscom Africa, I wish to invite Your Excellency to honour us with your presence and support at the conference under the theme: Ending of AIDS, Africa takes charge," read Dr Kaunda's invitation letter to former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano. "You will recall from our presentation at the Africa Forum in November 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa that we had planned to undertake this initiative in February this year. However, on reflection, we viewed it appropriate to situate the conference closer to the World AIDS Day (December 1)."
He stated that the daunting challenges faced by Africa due to HIV and AIDS called for joint action by all stakeholders at both national and regional levels in order to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in society.
"Aidscom Africa holds the view that more needs to be done collectively if we are to win the fight against HIV and AIDS," read Dr Kaunda's letter. "It is our hope that together with other regional communication activities, the conference will become an annual event hosted in different parts of the region."
Dr Kaunda named former presidents Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Tanzania's Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa, Botswana's Sir Katumile Masire, Namibia's Sam Nujoma, Malawi's Bakili Muluzi, Ghana's Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings and Burundi's Pierre Buyoya.
Other invited stakeholders are former secretary general of the United Nations Koffi Annan, former secretary general of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, African Forum executive secretary Dr. John Tesha and former Southern African Development Community secretary general Simba Makoni.
Dr Kaunda has also invited the Swedish, Norwegian, American and Danish embassies, United National Development Programme (UNDP) and National AIDS Council for the conference scheduled between November 21 and 23.
According to Dr Kaunda's assistant Godwin Mfula, former president Chissano, Mwinyi, Mkapa and Nujoma were among the dignitaries that had confirmed their attendance.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, LEADERSHIP
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Investors have brought funds into mining, says Dr Mwansa
By Zumani Katasefa
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
MINES minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa has said that new mine investors have put in an investment exceeding US $2 billion from the year 2000 to the end of 2006 into the mine industry. Dr Mwansa said this investment went into rehabilitation of plant and machinery and into starting new green field machinery.
“The government policy to privatise the mines laid the foundation for the resurgence. As you may all know, the new investors have brought in fresh funds into the mining industry. From the year 2000 to the end of 2006 total investment exceeded US $2 billion,” he said.
Dr Mwansa said already the investment had increased copper production from 257,000 in 2000 to 515,000 tonnes in 2006 adding that by 2009 copper production would be at 1.2 million tones.
“Improvement in metal prices is another important factor behind the resurgence of the mining industry. In the case of copper, prices in the international market rose from an average of US $0.72 per pound in 2000 to about US $3.00 at the end of 2006. Strong demand by the large economies of India and China explain the price change. This demand is likely to be with us for some time to come because of long term expansion programmes in the two economies,” he said.
Dr Mwansa said new discoveries of copper at Lumwana in North Western Province and in other areas of Zambia and nickel in the Munali Hills of Mazabuka district in Southern Province and uranium in near Lake Kariba also explained the current resurgence of the mining industry.
Dr Mwansa said government had allocated K8.3 billion for petroleum exploration in various parts of the country.
“Further, the geological exploration work has revealed indications of energy minerals that include uranium and coal. There are also strong indications of presence of oil and natural gas in various parts of Zambia. Exploration work for oil and gas is in progress in Lukulu and Kalabo in Western Province. Work in Chama and other parts of Eastern Province is almost complete. The nation will soon be informed of what the results are,” he said.
Labels: KALOMBO MWANSA, MINING, PRIVATISATION
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Finnish envoy to promote trade partnerships with Zambia
By Chibaula Silwamba
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
FINNISH Ambassador to Zambia Sinikka Antila has said she wants to promote trade partnerships between businesses in her country and Zambia. And Ambassador Antila said Finland will next year provide aid worth about 15 million euros to Zambia, of which 5 million euros will be direct budgetary support. In an interview in Lusaka, Ambassador Antila said she would encourage partnerships between Zambian and Finnish businesspersons.
She said her country would also focus on development cooperation.
“We work and support Zambia’s efforts in three sectors in environment and natural resources management especially forestry and the second sector is agriculture and the third, which is very important, is private sector development. In addition, we give general budgetary support and support good governance programmes,” she said.
Ambassador Antila said Finland’s assistance to Zambia was very important and her country wanted to see results in all the areas that it was helping Zambia.
“Our aid support to Zambia is also growing and as I said to President Mwanawasa, we must have economic growth,” Ambassador Antila said.
However, Ambassador Antila said it would be important for national management systems to ensure accountability of aid from Finland.
Labels: FINLAND, TRADE
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Zambian Breweries, Zim firm sign deal
By Kingsley Kaswende in Harare
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
A ZIMBABWEAN packaging manufacturing firm, Mega Pak, has entered into a deal to supply Zambian Breweries with crates for both beer and soft drinks. The contract will see Mega Pak supplying initially 300,000 crates and potentially raising supply to 1.5 million beer crates and 1.5 million soft drink crates, upon satisfying the first consignment.
The deal is a major boost to the manufacturing firm, struggling with lack of foreign currency to purchase its requisite materials.
Managing director, Martin Makomva, said Mega Pak would earn US $700,000 from the arrangement.
The company, which has been facing viability constraints in recent weeks, has just been handed down US $1.1 million by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe under its new facility to assist exporting firms.
The funds helped kick-start production that had been suspended since July.
"We are aware of the huge demand for foreign currency in the economy. We also take seriously our responsibility to conserve and to generate foreign currency for the country,” Makomva said.
He said Mega Pak would produce for Zambian Breweries sparkling beverage crates that contains 70 per cent recycled material and 30 percent virgin material.
The recycled material will come from used crates in Zambia, where Mega Pak will set up a temporary plant.
"Mega Pak will dispatch a shredding machine to Zambia to crush about 150,000 used Coca-Cola crates," Makomva said. "The crushed material will then be shipped to Zimbabwe for further processing after which it will be mixed with virgin material to produce the crates."
Zambia Breweries will buy the virgin material from Mega Pak's traditional suppliers in South Africa and deliver the material to Mega Pak premises in Ruwa, east of Harare.
Labels: PACKAGING, TRADE, ZAMBIAN BREWERIES, ZIMBABWE
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State works on Petroleum Act
By NANCY MWAPE
GOVERNMENT is expected to finalise the amendments of the Petroleum Act by December or January next year. Mines and Development Minister, Kalombo Mwansa who is also the Petroleum Committee chairman, said tremendous works have been done on the amendments of the Act. In an interview, Dr Mwansa said once legal aspects on the law were completed, Government would announce the tender procedures.
He said announcing of tender procedures would enable Government select the best companies globally that could carry out further exploration works.
Dr Mwansa said the Petroleum Committee, made up of nine ministers, was last week in North-Western province looking at the sites where the samples were collected.
He added that the committee also paid a courtesy call on traditional leaders in the province to inform them on the status of exploration of oil and gas.
He stated that the committee briefed the leadership in the province on the status quo on the oil and gas blocks in the province.
The minister added that the committee explained that Government had suspended work on oil and gas exploration in order to look at the existing law before any further works could be done.
Dr Mwansa said the current law did not protect the country’s interest adequately.
Labels: OIL, PETROLEUM ACT
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‘Give ex-miners disused dumps’
By Times Reporter
PRESIDENT Mwanawasa has urged mining firms on the Copperbelt to consider passing on disused dumps and pits to former miners for small scale operations as a way of curbing illegal mining activities and contributing to poverty reduction.
President Mwanawasa said the Government was concerned to learn that last year, nine illegal miners died at Nchanga Mine alone as compared to 18 lives lost in the same year in official mine accidents throughout Zambia.
Dr Mwanawasa said this in a speech read for him by Vice- President, Rupiah Banda, during the ground-breaking ceremony at Muliashi Mine under Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) in Luanshya yesterday.
Dr Mwanawasa said while the Government would continue to act forcefully against illegal miners, it was important that an avenue was created for legitimate mining at small scale.
President Mwanawasa appealed to LCM and other mining houses to do more to economically empower former miners.
He said mining firms on the Copperbelt should use the former miners association as a vehicle for supporting the Government in empowering its citizens economically.
He commended LCM for supporting former miners to develop an Iron ore mining and processing facility in Luanshya and donating K28 million to women members of the association to buy sewing and block-making machines.
Dr Mwanawasa said the opening of Muliashi Mine signified hope for the future of Luanshya.
Dr Mwanawasa said that when his administration came into office, the economic and social life of Luanshya was in ruins.
He said the first attempt to bring Luanshya back to its old glory failed because the Binani Group, which bought the mine, failed to recapitalise it, and Binani’s company, Roan Antelope Mining Corporation (RAMCOZ) went into receivership.
“The future appeared hopeless to the old and young. As a result people were skeptical when the second attempt to privatise the mines was launched with International Mineral Resources (IMR), Beny Steinmetz Group resources (BSGR) becoming the majority shareholder in 2004,” he said.
Dr Mwanawasa said contrary to the fears, the situation was improving. He said the $33.5 million purchase amount for the Muliashi project would go towards settling RAMCOZ debts.
President Mwanawasa said RAMCOZ not only failed to pay salaries and terminal benefits of former workers, it still owed large amounts to Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), Atlas Copco, Barlows, Kafironda Limited, Total Zambia, Professional Insurance and Luanshya Municipal Council.
The President said in principle, the houses occupied by the miners belonged to all these creditors who are yet to be paid by the receiver.
Meanwhile, Dr Mwanawasa has disclosed that some companies intending to set up coal based power plants have shown interest in buying shares in Maamba Collieries in order to address the looming electricity power shortages in Zambia and in the region.
He said the Attorney General cleared the share transfer agreement, which effectively transfers all the shares in Maamba Collieries to ZCCM-IH, last month.
He said ZCCM-IH had been instructed to go for an open competitive bidding process to select a partner to work with.
Dr Mwanawasa said the competitive process would select the best business partner for ZCCM-IH in Maamba Collieries and give the company a new lease of life.
The President also announced that the revised Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act would be ready before the end of December this year.
And speaking earlier, LCM board chairman, Jay Saraf, said the construction and development of Muliashi Open Pit and ancillary processing plant was good news to the workforce, as it would secure their future.
Mr Saraf said LCM employs 2500 people and the Muliashi project at construction level would create another 1000 jobs.
He said upon completion of the construction works and start of operation, the company would employ an additional 400 workers.
Labels: MINING
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