(TIMES) Levy throws gauntlet to Zambians abroad
Levy throws gauntlet to Zambians abroadFrom Fred Simposya,
Seattle, Monday
PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa has challenged Zambians living abroad to be active participants in Zambia’s economic development by remitting more funds for entrepreneurial ventures and sourcing strategic partners to lift the country out of its doldrums.
Speaking to a group of Zambians living in Seattle and Western Canada at the Seattle Marriot Waterfront Hotel, Dr Mwanawasa said while his Government had seen the reduction of poverty levels from 75 per cent down to 68 per cent, there remained “much to be done” to trickle down the economic benefits to everyone.
“We have had to take very hard measures at the expense of political popularity and Zambians have paid a heavy price for it. We felt that it was far better unpopular now and get things done than die being condemned,” he said.
There was positive economic growth over the last six years; tourism, agriculture and mining sectors were success stories. To crown it all, Zambia’s achievement of the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) status had helped lower the international debt stranglehold from $7.2 billion to $600,000. He confirmed that some oil deposits had been discovered in Zambia.
Zambians abroad must take a keen interest in developments back home and look for ways of supporting their former schools and remitting a little extra to support entrepreneurial initiatives.
“If you were a student of UNZA, you should send money to rehabilitate their room you lived in. Similarly you can send computers to your former colleges or high schools,” he said.
He said much of the challenge was to forge networks and alliances between potential donors, interest groups or foundations willing to learn from and partner with Zambia in various sectors.
In response to a question from Fred Muyumba on why the president had not forgiven his predecessor, Frederick Chiluba, Dr Mwanawasa said the former president was presumed innocent until proven guilty by Zambian laws. He had decided to let the courts handle the matter because it was the right thing to do.
He explained that there was no ill-will towards Dr Chiluba whom he referred to as “ a dear friend”. Although he had powers to pardon some “you can only pardon someone who has been convicted of a crime, which Mr Chiluba has not.”
Dr Chiluba still continued to receive his pension and his entitlements as a former President. “The government has sent him abroad for treatment at out expense.” He said he owed his life today to Dr Chiluba in so many ways.
Dr Mwanawasa said his call to have Dr Chiluba return some of the money said to have been taken from the Government had been spurned.
Speaking at the same meeting, Commerce Trade and Industry minister, Felix Mutati said Zambians abroad should consider cutting down on food consumption so they could remit at least $1,000 or more to their relatives.
Health minister, Brian Chituwo reported that Zambia had linked up with financial partners like the Bill Gates Foundation to help fight malaria, the number one killer of children and expectant mothers.
Labels: DIASPORA, NEOLIBERALISM
posted by MrK @ 8:48 PM
3 Comments:
Speaking at the same meeting, Commerce Trade and Industry minister, Felix Mutati said Zambians abroad should consider cutting down on food consumption so they could remit at least $1,000 or more to their relatives.
Now there is a plan. :)) It is a bad plan that will not appeal to anyone, but at least it's a plan. Let's not have breakfast, that should save at least $1000 per month. :) Those cornflakes really add to the food bill. And is the government going to lead by example on this one?
How about the government starts works projects, so that people who are presently unemployed can earn a real wage?
For $10 million, I could set up a project that would revolutionize agriculture in Zambia and Africa.
There was positive economic growth over the last six years; tourism, agriculture and mining sectors were success stories.
How is the mining sector a success story? At all? Zambia no longer owns the mines? So how is this a success story???
These are not success stories, because the huge majority of the people remain poor. There has been no 'trickle down' (to use Ronald Reagan's phrase) of economic opportunity to ordinary people.
Why does this surprise neoliberals? I don't do anything, because 'the market will take care of it'. Unfortunately, the market has never created the type of infrastructure that is not profitable, but is essential to commerce and
The real question is - why is this government calling for involvement from the diaspora (which I am all for), when he isn't doing everything in his power to make the Zambian economy appealing to Zambian businesses? Who are their suppliers going to be? Who are their local customers going to be? This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
The government needs to get off it's behind, and get actively involved in the issue of developing a Zambian economy.
Now that doesn't mean the creation of all kinds of socialist era instruments and market restrictions. It does mean a pro-active approach to finding out what the constraints on small business in Zambia are, and doing everything in it's power to erase those constraints. The government's priority should be to uplift it's millions of existing MSMEs and subsistence farmers.
Free markets and prosperity don't just happen, they have to be nurtured and monitored all the time.
"Zambians abroad should consider cutting down on food consumption so they could remit at least $1,000 or more to their relatives."
Government leaders would have done well to take the lead by applying public resources more rationally. For example, they should not have given themselves hefty pay packages earlier this year through the Presidential Emoluments Amendments Bill and the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Emoluments Bill. And they would gone further in this endeavor by reducing their pay packages, and/or instituting a moratorium on the not-so-essential political appointments, and on increments of their pay packages.
"There was positive economic growth over the last six years...."
Bwana Mwanawasa made a similar claim while attending a church service at Lima Hall in Itezhi-Tezhi on September 9, 2007. He observed that much economic progress had been made in Zambia since his New Deal administration was ushered into office 6 years ago.
But if meaningful socio-economic development has really occurred, why has it not resulted in belt-loosening by the majority of Zambians? The truth is that the New Deal government has thus far not succeeded in meeting the basic needs and expectations of the majority of Zambians.
Signs of socio-economic decay and backwardness abound: tens of thousands of Grade 7 and Grade 9 students have continued to be spilled onto the streets every year, the healthcare system cannot meet the basic needs of the majority of citizens, the majority of Zambians have no access to clean water and electricity, a critical shortage of decent public housing has compelled so many of our fellow citizens to live in shanty townships nationwide, public infrastructure and services are still deficient, civil servants are still not adequately compensated for their services and the payment of their meager incomes is often delayed, crime and unemployment are still widespread, and, among many other socio-economic ills, taxes and interest rates are still high.
What gets me every time, is that there is not even an attempt to involve local businesses and farmers in development.
Especially in agriculture, there is so much money to be made that no one in government should sit around and wait for foreign money to start things going.
Why is Levy Mwanawasa to allergic to domestic Zambian success?
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