Maravi

LETTERS - FDI, CBU,

Investments in mining
By Concerned citizen
Sunday October 07, 2007 [04:00]

Mandala made suggestions about mineral explorations that I find myself unable to ignore. He advised the government that the present conditions do not warrant opening up new mines by private companies. I am glad he is not an official advisor to the government because that kind of advice is not constructive. Zambia is endowed with a vast amount of minerals that are ordinarily too costly to mine.

Our government is not in a position, financially, to open new mines and this point does not need to be stressed any further. What is necessary to emphasise is that Zambia needs private investors to help the government come up with new developments in various forms such as new mines, new and modern equipment for the manufacturing and farming industry, infrastructure and the technical know how.

It is shallow to suggest that we as a country are not getting a good deal from the mining investrors therefore there should be no new mines to be opened by the private investors.

What we should work on is to revise the prevailing contracts with these investors. But are we sure we are able to bear the consequences of changing some clauses in an already agreed contract?

The consequences are simple to understand and anyone that has had a discussion with me before on this issue can easily educate the said Mandala and all those concerned but ill-informed on this subject.

Let’s get as many invetors as we can into our country to help us exploit our natural resources at a good fee.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32369

Let's be careful with foreign investors
By Gersh, Nairobi
Saturday October 06, 2007 [10:00]

It appears our leaders never learn. How many investors have come and left us in misery after making huge profits?

Why should President Mwanawasa and his ministers travel all the way to America to beg for investment?

In many cases foreign investment has not done Zambia much good except for plundering our natural resources.

They just enrich themselves and their countries, leaving us even poorer than they found us. So it is not just a matter of inviting foreign investors.
The government should also invest. I challenge the government to invest and also to be careful with these investors.







http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32408

CBU's prolonged closure
By Mwansa Sampule
Sunday October 07, 2007 [04:00]

Let me also join in the nation’s displeasure at the continued closure of the Copperbely University.

The nation has to know that the problems that led to the closure of the institution had nothing to do with the students but with the government and management.

Having been a student at CBU, I’m fully aware of how the government spits threats at students every time something goes wrong. Rumour has it that the government used the money meant for students' meal allowances to fund the SADC conference.

Now Lungwangwa thinks he can fool the nation by declaring an indefinite closure of CBU and force management to issue press statements that don’t make sense.

The other thing is that, since none of Lungwangwa, Professor Musonda or Ilunga's children are at the institution there is no need to hurry. I guess anyone can tell why the institution’ has remained closed up to now.

Let me allow intelligent minds to judge what I have said.


http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32370

Honorary doctorates
By Thomas Zulu
Saturday October 06, 2007 [10:00]

It seems Zambian presidents have become obsessed with being conferred a doctorate. It all started with Dr Kaunda (admittedly it was in fashion then), Dr Chiluba followed suit.

And now the incumbent President has been conferred with a doctorate.

The problem I find is that American and European leaders (presidents) who work very hard and the fruits are there to show in terms of sustained high standard of living are not bestowed with such awards.

This makes them meaningless. It is like crowning Lesotho as world champions in football without them playing in the World Cup or winning any serious games, leaving high achievers.

Nelson Mandela has achieved so much in uniting South Africa. He is a world leader and has been confered with several doctorates but he’s not even using them.
Many great achievers and movers of history are all addressed as Mr unless they have academic qualifications to enable them be called Doctors. What we need are performers not glory seekers.
We voted for a candidate to lead us to prosperity and not to have questionable doctorates.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32372

Fuel shotage
By Paul Nkomesha,Lusaka
Saturday October 06, 2007 [11:00]

The current fuel shortage once again shows the inability of the government to plan ahead.

We pay these people hefty sums of money to run our affairs but what do we get?

If they did their homework we would not be having these shortages.
My appeal to the government is that they should not neglect the duties for which they were elected.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32314

Mongu land allocation scam
By Concerned resident
Friday October 05, 2007 [04:00]

I would like to comment on the Mongu town clerk’s unearthing of an illegal land allocation syndicate by Mongu council officers.

The most disheartening thing is that after these three culprits were about to direct the investing officers to plots they had sold, investigations were stopped. Acquiring land in Mongu is almost impossible if you use the right procedure.

You are always told to keep checking until you get tired and give up, unless you go through the same culprits and pay millions of kwacha.
Madam Masebo, when are you going to visit Mongu Municipal Council, to save Mongu residents from this abuse of office which has become institutionalised?





http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32371

Looking to China
By Chilekwa M. Mumba,Lusaka
Saturday October 06, 2007 [10:00]

I would like to comment on President Mwanawasa’s statement that China is Zambia's hope for development. Whether it was taken out of context or not, it has provided an opportunity for us Zambians to perhaps review the route to improving our economy.

It is undeniable that China is looking for its footing as a major player on the world stage, thus their campaign to have access to African resources, evidenced by their willingness to provide loans to strategically selected African nations.

It seems to me that China by virtue of its strong domestic economic position has every right to take the next step to be a world influence by any means it deems necessary provided these "means" do not belittle other nations in Africa, let alone the world.

Zambia on the other hand, has a very weak domestic economic position, and its immediate goals are very different from China’s.

Thus I pose the question: Should Zambia look at China, located on another continent as the single and/or major partner to solve its domestic problems, when China's goals are way different? That's where I differ with the Mwanwasa adminstration’s policy on looking at China as Zambia's one economic redeemer..

In my view especially that Mwanwasa is SADC chairman- there should be serious efforts directed at strenghthening Zambia's ties with our neighbours - that should be the first step to improving our economy.

land-locked- and that has serious effects on the import/export area of our economy. Now if this adminstration, especially now when we have the SADC chairmanship, could use our embassies in our neighbouring countries, by stepping up their operations as more than just diplomatic stations;

Zambia may stop looking for answers across the ocean but look across the border - charity after all begins at home! Mwanawasa should take it upon himself to have high commisioners in our neighbouring countries who have a capability to negotiate and broker trade agreements which will give Zambia a better advantage than is currently obtaining.

This may mean replacing cadres masquerading as high commisioners, with resourceful and enthusiastic individuals who will take advantage of being a "neighbour", and get Zambia's import and export goods to move at lower costs.

Labels: CBU, FDI, FUEL, LETTERS

posted by MrK @ 7:00 AM