Saturday, March 31, 2007

Give SADC initiatives on Zimbabwe a chance

Give SADC initiatives on Zimbabwe a chance
By Editor
Saturday March 31, 2007 [02:00]

The initiatives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on the Zimbabwean crisis deserve the support of all. It is clear to all, including the current political Zimbabwean leadership, that the country needs help to get out of its current crisis. It is now clear to the Zimbabwean leadership that they cannot get out of their current problems without the help of the SADC countries and without the goodwill of the international community.

What has come out of Dar-es-Salaam this week is a clear demonstration of the fact that no single person, politician or statesman, country, block or union of countries has the monopoly of wisdom. The various attempts to resolve the Zimbabwean crisis have taught us that the world today cannot rely only on one thinker but needs many thinkers.

President Thabo Mbeki and other African leaders’ approach to the Zimbabwean crisis has not been received well in America and Europe. These have argued for a more confrontational, more punitive and ruthless approach against President Mbeki’s more-friendly and quiet engagement. The European Union and the American government have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe against the advice of the SADC countries. But what is the main aim of these sanctions?

They appear to have had only one aim: to weaken and remove the government of President Robert Mugabe. But when critically analysed, it is not difficult to discern the fact that these measures seek to pressure and impose a government on the people of Zimbabwe.

Although the many problems Zimbabweans are facing today cannot all be blamed on these sanctions, it cannot be denied that these sanctions have been a war without guns and bloodshed on this country. But also, it cannot be denied that although these sanctions have succeeded in strangulating the Zimbabwean economy, they have had limited, if any, effectiveness for changing behaviour or government in Zimbabwe.

The only people these sanctions have succeeded in killing or injuring are infants, children, the elderly and the chronically ill. These sanctions have imposed hardship on ordinary Zimbabweans far more than on the political leadership of that country.

These sanctions have actually proved to be a blunt instrument in far as achieving their primary aim of regime change is concerned. Actually, these sanctions raise serious ethical questions of whether the suffering inflicted on vulnerable groups in Zimbabwe is a legitimate means of exerting pressure on the political leadership of that country whose behaviour, it would appear, has not been affected by the plight of the ordinary people.

The call by the SADC leaders for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe deserves support because decisions must take better account of the sanctions’ impact on ordinary people and must seek to avoid the suffering of the innocent.

And now that the SADC political leadership says it has started taking action to correct the situation in Zimbabwe, their work should be made easier by the removal of sanctions which may lead to the easing of internal and external tensions in and around Zimbabwe.

The Europeans and Americans should learn to support the initiatives of others because it is not only them who have the best solutions to every global problem. The situation in Iraq clearly shows us that the Americans and the British and other European politicians don’t have the monopoly of wisdom, they don’t always come up with the best solutions to problems.

It is important to discuss the Zimbabwean problem in an honest and frank manner because it is only through this that good solutions will emerge. We are told this was the spirit that characterised the discussions of the Zimbabwean crisis in Dar-es-Salaam. The SADC leaders, as Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has said, deserve encouragement and support in their initiatives to bring peace and stability to Zimbabwe. The politicians in Zimbabwe - both in government and in the opposition - need to be encouraged to take a more sober and accommodating approach in their politics.

The confrontation of all these years has left them and their people as losers - none of them has achieved anything positive from this confrontation. There is no need to carry on with this type of confrontation that has weakened and divided the people of that great and heroic country, leaving them virtually incapable of uniting to solve and tackle the many problems and challenges facing their country and its people.

As President Kikwete correctly observes, the political atmosphere in Zimbabwe is confrontational and this cannot be good for the establishment of any meaningful democratic dispensation. There is therefore need for all political forces in Zimbabwe to cooperate and give this SADC initiative a chance, which we believe if supported by all, will deliver what Zimbabwe needs to move out of its crisis.

There is need for all in Zimbabwe to exercise restraint and avoid the violence and intolerance that characterised the month of March. As has been observed, such actions will not help matters, if anything they will just help to inflame the situation. What Zimbabwe needs now is a friendly atmosphere that is going to be conducive for the holding of meaningful political discourse.

And violent actions and excessive political intolerance do not help to repair Zimbabwe’s hostile diplomatic relations. Zimbabwe needs healthy international relations to help it come out of its problems.

No one can now pretend that things are as they should be in Zimbabwe. This is a troubled country; it is a country that is very ill and needs some physicians. Denial will not help matters. In fact, the country has long passed the phase where the problems could be denied because the symptoms are now too clear for all to see - the economy is in shambles and all the economic indicators point to this fact; social services are not what they used to be and the political turmoil can no loner be concealed.

What Zimbabwe urgently needs is a reversal of fortunes in all areas of human endeavour. But this calls for serious efforts and sacrifices on the part of the Zimbabwean people and their leaders. Consensus and accommodation has to be reached first among the Zimbabwean people and their leaders themselves; and second with the international community, especially those in the SADC grouping.

From Dar-es-Salaam, we are seeing some new realisations and realism. We can only hope that this will be positively followed through and will end in meaningful initiatives that will help solve the problems of that country.

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Mugabe is ready to listen - Levy

Mugabe is ready to listen - Levy
By Brighton Phiri
Saturday March 31, 2007 [02:00]

PRESIDENT Mugabe is ready to listen, said President Levy Mwanawasa yesterday. And President Mwanawasa said he could not be dragged into his daughter Mirriam's involvement in the land saga because she was no longer under his custody. Speaking soon after arriving from Tanzania where he had gone to attend a Southern African Development Community (SADC) emergency summit on the political crisis in Zimbabwe, President Mwanawasa described his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe as receptive.

"Yes, we walked hand in hand with President Mugabe and he was receptive to me," President Mwanawasa said. "And I suggest that you go and read the statement which I issued in Namibia so that you can quote me correctly."

President Mwanawasa described the economic crisis in Zimbabwe as bad. "We have decided in Tanzania that we should work out means by which we could help Zimbabwe move out of its economic malaise," he said. "And I want to continue with that crusade when I am SADC chairman." President Mwanawasa is expected to take over the SADC chairmanship from Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. And President Mwanawasa said he could not be answerable for his daughter's transaction in her quest to acquire land because she was an adult who no longer lived with him.

When asked to comment on Mirriam's acquisition of land that was not advertised by Ministry of Lands, President Mwanawasa, who was visibly upset, asked the reporters: "Didn't they tell you that my daughter was 34 years old? And at 34 years, is she supposed to be under my custody?". Marriam Mwanawasa is among the several people that were allocated an unadvertised land in Lusaka's Makeni area.


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I am an innocent man - Mugabe

I am an innocent man - Mugabe
By Chansa Kabwela and Webster Malido in Dar-es-Salaam
Friday March 30, 2007 [12:02]

I AM an innocent man, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said on Thursday. And SADC leaders on Thursday declared that they had started taking action to correct the situation in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's secretary of state for information and publicity George Charamba said President Mugabe would continue to tell the West to hang as long as the concerns have the effect to undermine that country's sovereignty. When asked if he had been put under pressure during his meeting with his counterparts in Dar-es-Salaam, President Mugabe replied: "I am an innocent man, I have killed nobody." President Mugabe was among the SADC leaders that left immediately the meeting ended at about 16:00 hours local time.

And Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete, who briefed the press shortly after the joint communiqué that was released after the extraordinary summit, said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had for the first time taken steps to discuss the issue of Zimbabwe frankly and had been able to come up with the way forward. President Kikwete said SADC leaders had decided to promote dialogue in Zimbabwe as it could help to address the current differences. "When we get to a point where we are now taking action, give us the encouragement. Don't talk about the past, what we have done and what we haven't done and what is appropriate. I went to Zimbabwe and we had a lot of consultation that ended up with the summit and the landmark decision of formally promoting dialogue," President Kikwete said. "It's the first time in SADC that we have been able to discuss the issue of Zimbabwe so open, so frankly and taking the decision that has been taken. We need to encourage the process, encourage the government, the opposition so that they take the dialogue seriously and surely if this happens you will see a difference in Zimbabwe and we are determined to get there."

President Kikwete said the SADC leaders had mandated South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki to facilitate dialogue between the Zimbabwean government and the opposition in a bid to address that country's political problems. He explained that President Mbeki would work with the SADC troika of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. "The political atmosphere in Zimbabwe is confrontational and it is not good for the democratic dispensation. The appeal to the parties is to be co-operative to give this initiative a chance which we believe if given a chance it will deliver; but also for the parties involved to exercise restraint; avoiding as much as they can anything that will inflame the situation as we try to build towards a new democratic dispensation in Zimbabwe, an atmosphere that is going to be friendly, an atmosphere that is going to be conducive for the coming elections," he said.

Asked what criteria had been used to pick President Mbeki to facilitate dialogue when of late he had been criticised for remaining mute over the situation in Zimbabwe and whether he had accepted, President Kikwete said SADC and Zimbabwe had confidence in the South African President. "I don't want to speak on behalf of those who think Mbeki is doing nothing. I don't subscribe to the concept. President Mbeki accepted and President Mugabe did not object to it," he said. Asked whether SADC had any other capacity for possible action in an event that dialogue fails in Zimbabwe, President Kikwete said the regional body did not anticipate that but that the situation would be monitored and further action would be taken. He also said the summit discussed Zimbabwe's diplomatic relations, which were generally hostile.

President Kikwete said relations were not healthy and that the international community should assist the situation in Zimbabwe. "Our appeal to the international community is that all of us work towards facilitating the process. Whatever anyone of us can do to help the process move forward we should try to do that. Of course the summit looked at the continued isolation of Zimbabwe and said let the parties revisit the situation. There is always leverage through accommodation," he said.

President Kikwete said the summit also expressed concern over Zimbabwe's economic situation and appealed for the lifting of all forms of sanctions. He said the extraordinary summit mandated the SADC executive secretary to undertake a study on the economic situation in Zimbabwe and propose measures on how the regional body could help. "When you look at the macroeconomic numbers, GDP growth, inflation rates, exchange rates, they speak volumes about the health of Zimbabwe's economy. It is a situation that should not be left to continue. All of us in SADC agreed that we should try and help in our own small way," President Kikwete said. "The summit mandated the executive secretary of SADC to conduct a study on Zimbabwe's economic situation and come up with proposals and report to the SADC troika, SADC has two troikas. There is the troika of the organ on politics, which I am chairman and there is the troika of the SADC itself where the Prime Minister Mosisili is chairing and then there is President Mwanawasa and Botswana in that troika. In the troika of the organ on politics there is Tanzania, Angola and Namibia. The troika will look at the recommendations and decide what it is that we can possibly do."

Asked over the timeframe and whether the study on the economic situation would be tied to the political situation since they were inter-related, President Kikwete said the approach to addressing the problems had been separated despite the inter-relation. "You cannot heap everything on one individual so we separated the process," he said. Asked whether SADC leaders had discussed President Mugabe's intention to re-contest the elections, President Kikwete said the summit did not table the matter.

On the situation in Lesotho, he said political parties in the opposition complained to SADC ministers who were meeting over the way seats for proportional representation were given. President Kikwete said the summit had decided to send a SADC delegation at ministerial level to assess the situation in Lesotho as requested by political parties. On the political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Kikwete said all SADC were leaders concerned with developments in that country in that they were interested in seeing peace after the many years of conflict.

He said the summit decided that the DRC should have only one national army as opposed to the current situation where political parties and even individuals had their own private troops. "This situation is not going to help rebuild peace in DRC. The summit has appealed to the political parties, to individuals who have armed groups or elements to integrate these groups into the Congolese national army. If they don't want to do this they should demobilise. We cannot allow the proliferation of armed groups because it is a recipe for disaster in future," he said. "We expressed sadness at the loss of life. In essence if this appeal is heeded, then the DRC will be assured that there will be no armed conflicts in future."

When asked whether the DRC's losing presidential candidate Jean Pierre Bemba had been condemned by SADC in view of the violence that had rocked the DRC, President Kikwete said the regional bloc expressed great disquiet about the matter. And Charamba said the issue of land in Zimbabwe had been the basis of the conflict and that there would never be a day when the Zimbabwean government would surrender it. "And to suggest that there can be a day when we will say here is the land to buy the friendship, that simply will not happen," he said.

Charamba said Zimbabwe wanted the support of SADC in the face of the present package of sanctions. "There is the recognition that Zimbabwe's economy is central. That recognition is not different from the statement of solidarity. That is the solidarity that is badly needed in the face of the present sanctions. It is not anything beyond that, it is simply the recognition that we are under assault and needlessly so. These are illegal sanctions," he said.

Charamba explained that President Mugabe took time to attend the SADC extra-ordinary meeting to accurately explain what was happening in Zimbabwe and move away from the media image that was being portrayed. "He is there to make sure that on the basis of that information he gets the solidarity of SADC in his present fight against the British, against the sanctions," he said.
Asked if Zimbabwe would win the fight against the British, Charamba responded: "That's what makes Mugabe."

On the crackdown on the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Charamba said the opposition party was to blame because they were challenging the authority of the police. He said there were other leaders who were arrested during the rally in Harare's Highfield Grounds but that they were released without any bruises. On the issue of President Mugabe going for another term of office, Charamba said there was a misconception. "The Constitution of Zimbabwe does not have a fixed term of office for the President. One can run for office as long as they are fit to do so and as long as they have the support. What the President has done is to indicate his availability should the party decide that he be the candidate," he said.

When asked what Zimbabwe would do in an event that SADC leaders asked him to step down after the end of President Mugabe's current term, Charamba said that country's presidential elections would never be a SADC issue. "It is the function of the Constitution, the party running in the elections, people and the disposition of the person running for the elections," he said.

On constitutional reforms, Charamba said the process was on-going and that Zimbabwe's Constitution had been amended 17 times so far. He said the only body that had the right to rewrite, amend or change the Constitution was the Parliament of Zimbabwe.

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ZBC blames its failures on Levy

ZBC blames its failures on Levy
By Fridah Zinyama
Saturday March 31, 2007 [02:00]

THE Zambia Business Council (ZBC) has failed to meet some of its objectives because President Levy Mwanawasa has not availed himself for the annual meetings. Zambia Buisness Forum chairman Sherry Thole said the Forum had not met for the last three years and had therefore failed to meet some of its objectives.

The Chairman of the Council is President Mwanawasa, therefore the Council cannot hold any meetings to discuss any urgent issues pertaining to the Council without him. "We are supposed to hold bi-annual meetings which are aimed at charting the way forward for the private sector," Thole said. "The failure to do so for the last three years means that we have failed to implement some of the decisions which were critical for the growth of the private sector in the country."

She explained that the President's presence was important for the council, as it would show commitment on the part of government to develop the private sector. "We need the President's backup on most of the business decisions that the forum should make," Thole said. "The political commitment from government will give us the support we need to achieve some of our objectives."

She wondered why President Mwanawasa did not delegate to the vice-president to hold the meetings on his behalf. "If President Mwanawasa cannot make it to the meetings, he can instruct the Vice-president to represent him," Thole said.

But an independent business and financial consultant John Kasanga wondered where the President's priorities lay, if he did not prioritise the Zambia Business Council meetings. "I say this because Zambia needs to find solutions to its economic woes," Kasanga said.

He said if the government was committed to finding solutions to the economic woes the country was experiencing, then ZBC meetings should be on the president’s annual agenda. "If the President can find time to meet business delegations coming from abroad, surely he can find time to meet the local businessmen as well," Kasanga pointed out.

Efforts to get in touch with the special assistant for press and public relations John Musukuma proved futile as he was out of the country.

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PF's central committee to decide Nakazwe's fate

PF's central committee to decide Nakazwe's fate
By George Chellah
Saturday March 31, 2007 [02:00]

OPPOSITION Patriotic Front's (PF) central committee will today meet to decide the fate of Lusaka mayor Susan Nakazwe and councillor Boniface Musondamwaume. But when contacted, Musondamwaume promised to speak after the central committee expels him from the party.

PF sources yesterday disclosed that the central committee would convene in one of the conference facilities at Lusaka's Gospel Outreach Centre. "The meeting would take place in the morning at Go Centre. The number of members of the central committee is too big so the meeting cannot be held at the party secretariat at Farmers House," the source said. "That's why we have hired one of the conference facilities there to accommodate everybody."

The source revealed that mayor Nakazwe's expulsion would be among the many issues that would be handled by the central committee. "That one is a must, it's on the agenda because it's among the issues which they want to conclude once and for all. Then they would also discuss president Sata's proposals for changes to the party constitution among other issues," the source said.

And in a letter dated March 28, 2007 to Nakazwe, PF disciplinary committee chairperson Wynter Kabimba informed mayor Nakazwe about their recommendation to expel her from the party.
"I refer to the above quoted matter and the disciplinary committee proceedings held at the party secretariat on Cairo Road on Tuesday 27th March, 2007 at 15:00 hours which you personally attended.

The disciplinary proceedings were intended to accord you an opportunity to be heard on the charges which were levelled against you in accordance with the charge letter by the secretary general dated 09th February 2007," Kabimba stated. "You submitted an exculpatory statement to the said charges regarding your disobedience of the collective decision by Patriotic Front councillors during a meeting which you attended and held at the Civic Centre on Friday 02nd February 2007.

"After considering your exculpatory statement and your oral submissions to the committee it was resolved that: 'The committee recommends to the party's central committee that councillors Susan Nakazwe be expelled from Patriotic Front as a member.'"
When contacted, Nakazwe refused to comment.
But Musondamwaume promised to comment, after the central committee expels him.

"I have got no comment, not until I receive a letter of expulsion. I will definitely say something when I receive the letter of expulsion," Musondamwaume said. "I received a letter on Wednesday but I can't comment now because that's not final. The central committee will meet tomorrow and I will say something after they have decided."

Nakazwe and Musondamwaume were suspended for receiving Chinese President Hu Jintao at Lusaka International airport against the party directive.

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Friday, March 30, 2007

Lift sanctions on Zim: Sadc

Lift sanctions on Zim: Sadc
From Innocent Gore in DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania

SADC yesterday stood firmly behind the Government and called for the lifting of sanctions imposed on the country by the West. In a communiqué released at the end of a one-day extraordinary summit attended by 10 heads of state and government here, Sadc also appealed to the British government to honour its obligations and release funds to compensate former commercial farmers whose land was acquired for resettlement.

The summit "noted and appreciated the briefing by President Robert Mugabe on the current political developments in Zimbabwe".

"The Extraordinary Summit recalled that free, fair and democratic presidential elections were held in 2002 in Zimbabwe. The Extraordinary Summit reaffirmed its solidarity with the Government and people of Zimbabwe.

"The Extraordinary Summit reiterated the appeal to Britain to honour its compensation obligations with regard to land reform made at Lancaster House.

"The Extraordinary Summit appealed for the lifting of all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe," read the communiqué.

The Sadc heads mandated Sadc executive secretary Mr Tomaz Salamao to undertake a study on the economic situation in Zimbabwe and propose measures on how the regional bloc can assist the country to recover economically. This is the first time that Sadc has collectively called for the lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe and come up with a proposal on how the effects of those sanctions on the country can be countered.

The sanctions against Zimbabwe by Britain and her allies follow a bilateral dispute between Harare and London after the country embarked on land reforms in 2000. The British government of Mrs Margaret Thatcher promised to release funds for land reforms at the Lancaster House constitutional conference that culminated in Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980 after a protracted armed struggle.

However, the Labour government of Mr Tony Blair has refused to honour that obligation and has instead mobilised its allies — the United States and some countries in the European Union — to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Sadc has previously made it clear that the problems in Zimbabwe are a result of a bilateral dispute with Britain, mainly arising from the land reform programme, but had not pronounced itself explicitly on the need to have the sanctions lifted.

The Government has said it will not compensate the former commercial farmers for the land because it does not have the money to do so, but that it will pay for the improvements on the land such as dams and other infrastructure.

On the political situation in the country, the summit mandated President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa to continue to facilitate dialogue between the MDC and the Government and report back to the troika on Defence, Politics and Security on progress. "The Extraordinary Summit also encouraged enhanced diplomatic contacts which will assist the resolution of the situation in Zimbabwe," read the communique.

The summit was held in the wake of a protracted media onslaught on Zimbabwe by the West, with the international media, particularly the BBC and CNN, speculating that President Mugabe had been "summoned" by Sadc leaders to be "dressed down" or "shown the exit". But sources who attended the meeting’s closed-door session said President Mugabe briefed the leaders on the political situation in the country and the MDC terror campaign that has seen the opposition party petrol-bombing police stations in Harare, Chitungwiza, Gweru and Mutare.

Suspected MDC supporters also petrol-bombed a Bulawayo-bound passenger train and a supermarket in Warren Park. Speaking to reporters on arrival at Harare International Airport, the President said the summit had also urged the MDC to desist from violence and to recognise him and his Government as he was legitimately re-elected by the people of Zimbabwe in 2002.

He said President Mbeki would talk to the opposition and see whether there is need for dialogue with them, but warned them against engaging in violence. The summit also got briefings on the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lesotho by the leaders of those countries, President Joseph Kabila and Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili respectively.

The leaders resolved to render unconditional support to Mr Kabila’s government in its quest to restore law and order, maintaining peace and stability and spearheading national reconstruction. It reaffirmed the sovereign right of the DRC to have a single national army and urged former Vice President Jean Pierre Bemba to integrate his remaining armed elements into the national army or to be demobilised. They also appealed to other armed groups in the DRC to do the same. The summit reiterated that the rule of law in the DRC must be observed and respected by all parties in conformity with accepted international conventions. It expressed concern on the loss of lives and urged all parties to respect the sanctity of human life and the principles of human rights.

The summit also expressed support to the ongoing efforts for the economic reconstruction of the DRC.

On Lesotho, the summit agreed to send a Sadc delegation at ministerial level to assess the situation as requested by the opposition political parties who want the regional bloc to help in dealing with post-election tensions.

The other leaders who attended the summit were host President Jakaya Kikwete, President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi, President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, Prime Minister Themba Dlamini of Swaziland and President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia. Botswana was represented by its Vice President, Mr Ian Khama, while Angola was represented by its Minister of External Affairs, Mr Joao Bernardo Miranda. Madagascar and Mauritius were represented by their ambassadors.

President Mugabe returned home last night and was met at Harare International Airport by Vice President Joice Mujuru, the Minister of State Security, Land Reform and Resettlement, Cde Didymus Mutasa, the Minister of Information and Publicity, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, service chiefs and senior Government officials.

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Chavez Announces Takeover of 16 Estates for Venezuela’s Land Reform

Chavez Announces Takeover of 16 Estates for Venezuela’s Land Reform
Monday, Mar 26, 2007 Print format
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By: Venezuelanalysis.com

Caracas, March 26, 2007 (venezuelanalysis.com)— Sixteen landed estates will be expropriated for Venezuela’s land reform program, announced President Hugo Chavez yesterday, during his television program Alo Presidente. The total area of land that will thus become available for redistribution to peasants and agricultural cooperatives will exceed 330,000 hectares (815,000 acres) in the Venezuelan states of Apure, Anzoátegui, Barinas, Guárico, Portuguesa and Aragua.

The estates, which are all considered to be idle, are located throughout the country, explained Chavez, and will be used primarily for cattle ranching, due to the type of land involved. The effort represents a “true attack against latifundios [large idle landed estates],” said Chavez. He also added that landowners that own productive land do not need to worry, because cultivated land will not be touched by the government.

Speaking about the estate known as Hato Calleja, from which his program was being broadcast and which comprises 24,883 hectares (62,250 acres), Chavez said, “Starting today it will pass on to be what it always should have been: social property and social production for the satisfaction of the needs of the people.”

Chavez also announced the implementation of a new Integral Agricultural Development Plan for 2007 to 2008, which is supposed to contribute to Venezuela’s “food sovereignty.” Currently Venezuela imports approximately 70% of its food needs and the Chavez government has declared that it aims to increase agricultural production so that it no longer has to rely on imports to cover the country’s basic food needs.

The plan involves state support for strategic food categories, such as for rice, sugar cane, cacao, soy, coffee, cattle, fish, corn, cotton, and others.

“The objective of this plan is to promote the new production model on the base of principles of agrarian socialism and of social property,” said Chavez.

In one of the estates that was being expropriated in the state of Apure, General Wilfredo Silva told of how the army had to repel an attack from armed individuals that day. The attackers escaped and are now being tracked, said Silva. In the process the military discovered a small plane, which he suspects is used for drug smuggling. Chavez affirmed that all too often large landowners are “hiding crimes, drug trafficking and smuggling.”

According to official figures the Chavez government has so far redistributed over two million hectares to over 150,000 families in the course of the land reform program, over the past five years. Most of this land, though, has so far come from land the state owns. With yesterday’s announcement, though, the land reform is poised to shift towards the redistribution of privately held land.

Social Property

In connection with the new push for land redistribution, Chavez also announced that the constitutional reforms he is proposing will include a section for the introduction of social or collective property. "It's property that belongs to everyone and it's going to benefit everyone," said Chavez.

Last January Chavez announced five “motors” for the introduction of “21st century socialism” in Venezuela, of which constitutional reform is one of the five motors. The other four were the enabling law, which allows Chavez to pass laws by decree for a period of 18 months, education reform, the reform of political-territorial jurisdictions within Venezuela, and the “explosion of communal power.”

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Sickening irresponsibility on mineral royalty tax

Sickening irresponsibility on mineral royalty tax
By Editor
Friday March 30, 2007 [02:00]

Who benefits from mining? What is the myth and what is the reality?

These questions have been up in the air for a long time now. Exploitation of mineral resources constitutes a very significant element of our national wealth. Mining uses a non-renewable resource which means that there is an “economic rent” that belongs to all Zambians which at present is appropriated by the mining industry.

It is this fact that justifies an adequate mineral royalty tax. There is a growing worldwide consensus which is to charge the “economic rent” corresponding to resources. During 2006, preceding the general elections finance minister Ng’andu Magande made several loud, but now worthless public announcements that government was going to revise the mineral royalty tax. However, as we have seen from the 2007 budget proposals, there is little to show for it. Magande must learn to walk the talk and not just talk the talk. In America they have a saying; talk is cheap.

We know that the 2006 IMF mission at the invitation of government held meetings with Evans Chibiliti, the Secretary to the Treasury and chair of the technical committee examining development agreements and the fiscal regime for the mining sector. What did Chibiliti do?

Did he invite all the stakeholders and existing mining houses with development agreements for a discussion? From what we have gathered, no meaningful discussions have taken place to-date either with the mining houses or stakeholders. Yet we know from reading the IMF recommendations on mineral royalty taxes, which report neither the Ministry of Mines nor Cabinet has seen or discussed, that Magande carelessly accepted the IMF recommendations and proposed those he could get away with under the 2007 budget.

Why did Magande and Chibiliti ask for advice from the IMF, whose sole purpose for its survival is to articulate the “Washington Consensus” imperialist policies that have failed for decades in all developing countries? Why did Magande and Chibiliti not seek advice from South Africa, Chile, UK, India, Bolivia, and Venezuela, among others?

Eva Jolly, the senior advisor to the World Bank on corruption is right when she said she was shocked to see Zambia being deprived of rent for its land through the mining contracts. And we also agree with her that it is time Zambia renegotiated the mining contracts.

We have carefully looked at the development agreements and in most cases under the current development agreements fiscal stability provisions that guarantee that the fiscal regime will not be made more onerous during the stability period of 15 or 20 years. Stability provisions provide that the corporate tax rate will not be increased and the allowable deductions and allowances will not be reduced.

New taxes or new fiscal measures will not be imposed.
If the stability provision is dishonoured, for example, the government has committed to make up for changes to ensure the mining company is fully compensated.

However, if the current legislated fiscal administration were made more generous, the mining company would gain from this change. So it is a win-win situation for all development agreement holders and a lose-lose situation for government. The stability provisions benefit the mining company, protecting the company from tax and royalty increases, while permitting the company to benefit from any tax or royalty decreases.

And we have to ask; why have parliamentarians not seen the development agreements? Why is government hiding these agreements from Parliament and therefore the public? In Chile, the world’s principal copper producer whose exports constitute 40 per cent of global copper supply, a pivotal public debate has developed over the past few years concerning the mining sectors’ tax contribution.

During the period 1990 to 2001, the government-owned copper mining conglomerate Codelco paid around US $10.659 billion to their treasury, while the private mining companies only contributed US $1.638 billion in spite of their production being 25 per cent greater than Codelco.

In addition, taxes paid by Codelco per metric tonne of copper produced represented 28.7 per cent of the final price, while taxes paid by private mining companies amounted to only 5.3 per cent.

It is therefore estimated that the total of lost tax revenue during that period amounts to US $10 billion. In the face of public and parliamentary opinion, the Chilean government decided to put forward appropriate mineral royalty tax legislation.

In Colombia the history of royalties starts with the Constitution of 1991, in which it provides for an “economic compensation by way of royalty” for the exploitation of non-renewable resources. The royalty rates range from three per cent to 12 per cent for different minerals.

It also establishes the right to a share in these royalties for local communities and municipalities where exploitation takes place. It is obviously clear that neither Magande nor Chibiliti can make bold decisions on behalf of our country, as they appear to exclusively rely on IMF for all and any advice on budget issues.

We are aware that neither the Ministry of Mines nor Cabinet were availed the so-called IMF recommendations on mineral royalty tax. We must ask, what does the IMF know about mining?

Zambia’s development has been intrinsically linked with mining. The nature of the challenge is clear. It is to create a situation in which Zambia and its people can benefit and have a direct share in the wealth created by exploitation of our mineral resources in a way that it helps the quality of life of all Zambians.

As it is now in Zambia, no mining exploration or mining concessions are available for Zambians to invest, since almost the whole country has been given to foreign investors, with an exception of very few Zambians where foreign investors have appointed Zambians in superficial roles as “nickel and copper plated” directors and legal advisors in the role as Mr Fix-It. Surely this madness cannot go on.

We therefore insist that President Levy Mwanawasa appoints a committee of eminent citizens to inquire and recommend as to how best Zambia can move forward in attaining financial and development benefits from its natural resources for the greater good of Zambia. This is the way forward.

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Magande quiet on mine contracts

Magande quiet on mine contracts
By Kingsley Kaswende
Friday March 30, 2007 [02:00]

Finance minister Ng'andu Magande yesterday remained mute on whether the government will proceed to renegotiate the contracts with mining firms. When contacted over the issue, Magande, through his secretary said he had a “busy schedule” and could not attend to any questions. This was after he had earlier agreed to give an interview to this reporter on this issue.

There have been mounting calls for the government to renegotiate the mining contracts to allow the country benefit from high copper prices. The recent call is from the visiting special advisor to the Norwegian Minister of Development Cooperation on anti-corruption and money laundering, Eva Jolly, who said on Wednesday that she was very shocked to see Zambia being deprived of rent from its land through the mining contracts.

Jolly said time was up for Zambia to renegotiate the mining contracts. “Looking at them (mining firms), I am very shocked that Zambia is being deprived of rent of its land. I think maybe time has come to renegotiate these contracts. These contracts are depriving you of too much,” she told parliamentarians. Jolly is likely to meet with Magande next Monday.

While presenting the national budget last month, Magande said the government would seek negotiations with mining companies “so that there is mutual consent by contracting parties to revise the tax regime.” In the budget speech, Magande proposed to increase the country’s royalty tax on copper mining from 0.6 per cent to three per cent. However, the taxes’ increase would not affect the current mining operations, Magande later said, because most of them had entered into long-term contracts with the government.

On the other hand, mining firms are not prepared to renegotiate, the Chamber of Mines of
Zambia (CMZ) recently said. CMZ general manager Fred Bantubonse said development agreements were legal documents which both parties entered into voluntarily. “If authorities come up with a harsh fiscal regime, the impact may come later than now when investors decide not to invest,” Bantubonse said.

Last week justice minister George Kunda told Parliament that the development agreements entered into with mining companies were above the law. Kunda warned that the consequences of breaching the development agreements would lead to harsh penalties and that Zambia could be taken for international arbitration. He, however, said the development agreements provided for re-negotiations and the government would like to re-negotiate.

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LETTERS - Opposition, Mining Taxes and Criticism

Levy and the opposition
By Maurice
Friday March 30, 2007 [02:00]

The views as expressed by Ronald Chola regarding UPND President Hakainde Hichilema's statement over his readiness to meet our Republican President Levy Mwanawasa (Postbag 23, March 2007), cannot pass without comment.

According to Chola's school of thought, HH is being opportunistic by making himself available to meet the President of this nation, a country in which HH is leader of a large opposition political party.

To begin with, Chola should be made to know that the Democrats (Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama) as cited by him (Chola), cannot meet Bush because after all, Bush has no business with them;

whereas in the case of HH, Levy has business with the opposition that includes HH. So the comparison of Zambian and American politics in this matter does not apply and needs to be dismissed altogether.

Chola should also be made to know that being in the opposition does not mean one should always oppose what those in the ruling party are doing even when it is right. What Chola wants to see is a situation where the opposition are always in the opposite, always squeezing and pressurising Levy, even when we are supposed to work with him for the development of our nation.

This type of politics won’t take us anywhere. Chola and many others of that sort should know this.

Checks and balances...! Which ones are these Ba Chola, that HH and the other opposition leaders should provide to Levy's government? We don't need any parallel government in Zambia.

There’s only one government, and so the opposition are expected to deliver. How?

The answer is simple...by working with the government, and this includes offering suggestions to those in leadership; offering advise to them; correcting them by way of dialogue as opposed to attacks and pressure.

Levy alone will not be able to develop this country, neither will the oppositions' pressure on him. Instead, this will make the skins of those in government become thick; they will always work to fight back with all the machinery availabe, thereby diverting from the real issues that need government's attention.

For HH, I know you are a smart person, and you won’t listen to such senseless attacks as those from Ronald Chola. Go and meet Levy and offer to him some of the solutions to the problems our many Zambians are faced with. There is nothing sinister in HH meeting Levy. Let the 'American' think-tank go ahead with his school of old loser-winner politics. Zambia belongs to us all.





http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24463

Taxation in the mining sector
By Nkula Kaoma
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

In the ‘Saturday Post’ issue of March 24th 2007 , you carried a story where Justice minister George Kunda told Parliament that the development agreements entered into with mining companies were above the law.

This sweeping statement coming from Kunda has very dangerous implications. Taking into consideration Kunda’s lies over the illegal nolle prosequi that he facilitated over the now jailed Bulaya and the constitution-making roadmap, we need the input of the Attorney-General to clarify that statement.

The development agreements that Kunda referred to are provided for under section 9 (2) of the mines and minerals Act which among other things have altered the payment of mineral royalties from 3 per cent as provided for in section 66 of the mines and minerals Act to 0.6 per cent; royalties are a form of taxation.

Article 114 (3) of the Constitution provides that, “Parliament may make provision under which the President or the Vice President or a minister may by order provide that, on or after the publication of a Bill being a Bill approved by the President that it is proposed to introduce into the National Assembly and providing for the imposition or alteration of taxation, such provisions of the Bill as may be specified in the order shall have the force of law for such period and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by Parliament:”

The information available is that these development agreements like earlier stated, among other things altered the payment of royalties from 3 per cent to 0.6 per cent and that they were signed by the minister and the new mine owners.

Bearing in mind that royalties form part of taxation, were these development agreements presented in the National Assembly by the President, Vice President or Minister as “orders” seeking to alter taxation known as royalties as provided for by Article 114 (3) of the Constitution?

In signing government agreements, the Attorney-General plays a leading role, can the new truly learned Attorney-General clarify this matter for the nation.

If these development agreements were not presented as “orders” in the National Assembly seeking to alter taxation, then they are in breach of the Constitution and any other law (section 9 (2) of the mines and minerals Act) which is inconsistent with the Constitution, that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency be void.

As such, these development agreements can be altered by government without any breach so as to impose meaningful taxation in the mining industry for the benefit of the country.
It will be interesting for Kunda also to show the nation which law is below these development agreements or may be the Constitution is not law.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24512

What has criticism achieved?
By T. Mukelabai
Friday March 30, 2007 [02:00]

One day the big man and his team are the victims of incessant criticism from disgruntled citizens, the next the critics have done the nation a great service in putting the government in line.

This means that those who sing praises are the enemies because they will send the government to sleep. There is just no knowing what to say to please the big man. So be careful all the stooges and bootlickers - you may just be rewarded with a kick in the teeth for committing the correct crime.

As for the corruption fight, it is very dangerous to be part of the fight especially when you do not know who you are fighting against. Ask Rev Nyirongo, she will tell you all about it.

For the Reverend, the greater evil was to be seen not to tow the line. This was in spite of the fact that she thought she clearly recognised the enemy.

You see, when you live in glass houses, you should quickly learn that there is no throwing stones. If I were the power that be, I would have called her and told her "You see, Rev here we do not go consulting all and sundry. We first request the great one whether to squeak or not. Next time ask me first or you are out." But no, in this corruption fight there is only one fighter, everyone else is a spectator.

After all, the buck stops at his desk. So all you ministers be warned publicly, no careless opening of the mouth without permission or you are out.

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Freedom of information legislation is critical - Jolly

Freedom of information legislation is critical - Jolly
By Speedwell Mupuchi, Masuzyo Chakwe and Bright Mukwasa
Friday March 30, 2007 [02:00]

VISITING Norwegian special advisor to the Minister of Development Co-operation Eva Jolly has said freedom of information legislation is critical to the fight against corruption. At a media breakfast organised by Zambia Union of Journalists at InterContinental Hotel yesterday, Jolly said the fight against corruption demanded critical access to public information. She encouraged journalists to keep the impetus of fighting corruption to help eliminate poverty and imbalanced access to social services. "Access to information is very important and matters most in the investigation of corruption. There is need for legislations to be operational," Jolly said. "We cannot underrate the crucial role that the free press plays in the fight against corruption," Jolly said.

She said journalists needed to be free to request government and public officials for particular information, which was in the public interest. "My country has this in place. Officers could be asked to offer information of public importance by members of the public and journalists. Sometimes they even ask for bills public officers used on a trip and this promotes transparency," she said. Jolly said public officers needed to declare their assets before and after leaving office so that people could assess whether or not the wealth they amassed was reasonable. She urged Parliament to prioritise domestication of the African Union and UN conventions on corruption.

She also said donors intended to set up an asset recovery centre where they could train prosecutors on how to handle corruption cases and recovery of assets back to developing countries. "Maybe it could be set up in Brussels but anyway that's under discussion . We need such concrete measures to be able to repatriate resources back to developing countries affected by corruption," Jolly said.

And speaking at the same occasion, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director Bishop Paul Mususu (EFZ) said it was difficult to fight corruption because the press was muzzled. Bishop Mususu urged the international community to help Zambia domesticate many international instruments it committed itself to. He also hailed as progressive Jolly's comments on renegotiation of mine contracts. Bishop Mususu said no law was divinely ordained because people could renegotiate. "We have a lot of holes in our country where mining has taken place, all our wealth taken and nothing to show for the benefit of this country," Bishop Mususu said.

He said presently, it appeared government was only interested in a showpiece of mines opening and a booming economy without caring for Zambians. Bishop Mususu said there was a moral aspect of human life to the mining contracts. "That should come strongly in everything we do. Even if it was of a legal implication but morally is it fair the way we are doing it?" he said.

And at a dinner hosted for her at Norwegian Ambassador Terje Vigtel's residence on Wednesday night, Jolly praised the Task Force on Corruption for the wonderful work they were doing. She hoped that the Task Force's mandate would be reinforced and put into the constitution to enable it inquire into incidents happening now, not just those of the previous administration.

Jolly said there was no political will to go after corruption in most developing countries. She said there was a huge difference between what was being said and what was being done. And Ambassador Vigtel clarified that Jolly was not a senior World Bank advisor on corruption but a Norwegian government advisor who was carrying out an assignment for the World Bank.

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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Levy, Bingu are fragile - Sata

Levy, Bingu are fragile - Sata
By George Chellah
Friday March 30, 2007 [02:00]

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday said President Levy Mwanawasa and his Malawian counterpart Bingu Wa Mutharika are politically very fragile so they have found comfort in each other. And Sata said Lusaka mayor Susan Nakazwe should not think that PF was stupid to make her mayor. Meanwhile, Sata refused to condemn Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe over the current political crisis in that country.


During Hot FM radio’s Hot Seat programme yesterday, Sata - who was commenting on his expulsion from Malawi recently - said the problem in Malawi was about succession. He said just like former president Frederick Chiluba appointed President Mwanawasa as his successor, former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi did the same with Wa Mutharika. “Just like in Zambia, Bingu is being haunted by Bakili’s ghost who is more popular now. Bakili appointed him just like Chiluba did with Levy when he left some of us. My expulsion from Malawi is subject to speculation. Politically Bingu and Levy are very fragile so they have found comfort in each other. We are old friends with Bakili Muluzi and neither Levy nor Bingu can separate us,” Sata said.

On the Wynter Kabimba-led PF disciplinary committee’s recommendation to the central committee for Nakazwe’s expulsion, Sata said anybody who did not stick to PF rules might as well go elsewhere where there was lawlessness. “The office of the mayor is a very important one and people should go to the mayor and not the mayor going to them. There are so many civic functions but not to go and parade and smile at the airport...it’s not to go and be a spectator and be insulted by MMD cadres,” Sata said. “They are failing to address what is civic duty like cholera and other things. All they are doing is drink tea. Sylvia Masebo has not functioned, even MMD councils are not functioning because her aim is to fight PF.”

Sata wondered how the council could be effective when the mayor was ineffective and did not provide leadership. “... a person comes from nowhere and wants the limelight. Without PF, who would have known that a madam like Nakazwe existed? They want the limelight without providing anything,” Sata said. “We have had three streams of different mayors and they have all ended up defecting to MMD. They have destroyed their political careers. She should not think that PF was stupid to make her mayor. We were not stupid because that’s the highest position wherever you go in the world.” Sata said the PF organs were dealing with Nakazwe’s matter and would announce their conclusions in due course. “I am president of PF, I am not chairman of the diplomacy committee. The entire central committee will sit and read that report. The party has organs; this matter has gone to the disciplinary committee. It’s not for me to get excited over one simple person Nakazwe. She is being dealt with appropriately,” Sata said.

On the Zimbabwean situation, Sata refused to condemn President Mugabe. “We don’t have facts with what is happening in Zimbabwe; we are listening to BBC. Unless we have the facts, we cannot condemn President Robert Mugabe,” Sata said. “It’s surprising for our President to go to Namibia and say that he is not happy with Zimbabwe’s governance, what governance is in Zambia?”

On the demolition exercise currently being carried out by the government, Sata accused the media of encouraging mediocrity in the ruling of our country. He said all over the world, there were street vendors including in Europe. “We are going to court because the land in Kalikiliki does not belong to the council or government. The land belongs to an individual whom Sylvia Masebo is acting on behalf of. That’s the reason we are going to court,” Sata said. “The woman is so greedy, she is not successful on anything except greedy. She knows the President is not very well, she knows the President can’t remember anything so she is above him. If it’s illegal, who has complained because the land doesn’t belong to government or council? “If the owner of the land had complained, he must have gone to the ministry of lands. There was no notice. It’s a terrorist act Sylvia Masebo is doing. She thinks she is doing it to PF but most of those people are MMD.”

Sata said Masebo would be humiliated in court more than ever before. “She is a mother, what type of a mother is so brutal ... a mother being so cruel? Evicting people at midnight? When we fought for independence, we thought we were all going to be equal,” Sata said. He said there were 1,370 people that are affected by the demolitions. “We are demanding a minimum of K50 million compensation for any small Kantemba that was demolished. We are going to prove that in court that this government is callous, it’s cruel and do not deserve to be in government,” Sata said.

He said street vendors were everywhere including in Europe. “If you go to London or Germany, there are street vendors...nobody wants to be a street vendor. If you don ‘t have employment....ubucushi bupa amano (desperation brings innovation). They should provide an alternative,” said Sata.

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SADC leaders in Zimbabwe, DRC talks

SADC leaders in Zimbabwe, DRC talks
By Webster Malido and Chansa Kabwela in Dar-es-Salaam
Thursday March 29, 2007 [10:43]

SADC leaders have locked themselves into a closed-door meeting at their extraordinary summit which is expected to tackle the political and security situations in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). And Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, in his opening remarks at the summit, said the combined wisdom of all SADC leaders should be sufficient to handle any complex situation.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders remained tight-lipped even as local and international press kept bombarding them with questions on the anticipated outcome of the meeting, especially with regards to the situation in Zimbabwe. Yesterday's meeting was preceded by the SADC troika gathering and that of the Politics, Defence and Security organ, which is chaired by President Kikwete.

President Levy Mwanawasa attended the double troika meeting which ran from about 21:30 hours on Wednesday until past midnight this morning. The SADC leaders did not want to discuss anything with the media as they arrived yesterday morning at the Kilimanjaro Hotel where the special summit was being held. South African President Thabo Mbeki, who was the first to arrive at the venue of the summit, was the first leader to make it clear that their lips were tight.

When CNN's Jeff Koinange tried to squeeze a comment from President Mbeki on what he expected from yesterday's meeting and on what he was going to tell Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, the South African leader just said: "I don't know." When another journalist asked President Kikwete if the SADC leaders were going to apply any pressure on President Mugabe, the Tanzanian leader, who was hosting the meeting in his capacity as chair of the regional body's politics, defence and security wing just said: "Well, we are in a meeting". President Mwanawasa emphasised the point that he would not say anything by squeezing his lips with his fingers.

On his part, President Mugabe just told the inquisitive journalists that he was well. According to a programme released by SADC, President Mugabe was the only leader staying at State House while the rest were scattered around different hotels within Dar-es-Salaam. And President Kikwete acknowledged that the SADC region faces some daunting challenges. However, President Kikwete said there were only a few spots, which demanded attention.

"However complex and difficult some may appear none of them is impossible to fix. The combined wisdom and concerted efforts of all of us in the SADC region should be sufficient to handle any complex situation," President Kikwete said. "I believe through open and frank discussions we will be able to diagnose properly the political and security problems facing our region and on the cause of action to deal with them. I am confident that we will be able to recapture the old glory of the SADC region being the most peaceful, the most stable and fastest growing region in the continent." President Kikwete said the extraordinary summit was convened upon the recommendation of the ministerial meeting of the double troika, which met in Maseru from March 21 to 22, 2007.

He said that meeting reviewed the political and security situation obtaining in the southern African region and concluded that the challenges facing the region required attention of the summit as a matter of urgency. "Hence the ministers recommended to me as the chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation the urgent need for the convocation of an extraordinary summit," said President Kikwete. "This meeting is being held at the Kilimanjaro Hotel a historic place as far as the history of the liberation of southern Africa is concerned. Many meetings to strategise on the conduct of the liberation struggle were held in this hotel. "President Mugabe, President Mbeki, President Pohamba and many other comrades gathered here have vivid memory of that glorious past. We succeeded then against all odds, I am confident that we will succeed in our quest for a peaceful, stable and prosperous post independence and post apartheid southern African region."

According to the summit programme, the meeting was expected to run the whole day until about 18:00 hours after which the leaders were expected to come up with a joint statement on the issues they were expected to cover. The meeting was expected to deal with the political situation in Zimbabwe and the recent clashes in the DRC between government forces and the security. The DRC leader was among the nine presidents attending the summit. Others are President Mbeki of South Africa, President Mwanawasa (Zambia), President Mugabe (Zimbabwe), Dr Bingu wa Mutharika (Malawi), Hifikepunye Pohamba (Namibia), Armando Guebuza (Mozambique), Marc Ravalomanana (Madagascar) and the host President Kikwete.

Others are Lesotho's Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili who is the current SADC chairperson, Botswana's Vice-President Seretse Ian Khama, Swaziland's Prime Minister Themba Dlamini, Angola's foreign affairs minister Joao Bernado de Miranda and Mauritius High Commissioner to South Africa, Mohamed Dossa. Both President Mugabe and President Kabila were expected to brief their SADC counterparts on the situation in their countries as they seek to find solutions.

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Zimbabwe: Africa Summit Calls for End to Sanctions

Zimbabwe: Africa Summit Calls for End to Sanctions
Posted: Thursday, March 29, 2007
Zimbabwe Watch
March 29, 2007

African leaders agreed that President Thabo Mbeki should facilitate dialogue between the government and opposition political parties in Zimbabwe amid calls from Western leaders for strong actions to be taken against President Mugabe and the government of Zimbabwe. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) also called for western sanctions on Zimbabwe to be lifted and appealed to Britain to honour its commitments to assist with financing land reforms in Zimbabwe.

This may seem to be a slap in the face of Western leaders' calls for tough words and actions from African leaders against Robert Mugabe. It is quite obvious that African leaders are not dependant on western sources for news and reports on what is taking place in Zimbabwe.

"Of course the appeal to parties is to be cooperative and give this initiative a chance, also for the parties to exercise restraint and avoid anything that's going to inflame the situation," Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete told reporters at a news conference.

"The extraordinary summit mandated his Excellency President Thabo Mbeki to continue to facilitate dialogue between opposition and government and report back ... on progress," a statement at the end of the two-day summit said.

"The extraordinary summit reiterated its appeal to Britain to honour its compensation obligations with regard to land reforms," the summit statement said.

Also Read:

Africa summit calls for Zimbabwe dialogue

Email: zimbabwecrisis@yahoo.com

Visit: Zimbabwe Watch

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Loyal opposition

Loyal opposition
By Editor
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

Chief Macha’s statement that UPND president Hakainde Hichilema will be taking people, especially those from Southern Province where he has the largest following, for a ride if he met with President Levy Mwanawasa without their approval shows how most of our people don’t seem to appreciate the role of opposition parties in a multi-party setup.

This also shows that very few of our people recognise and understand the concept of loyal opposition.

Hichilema said he was ready to meet with Levy anywhere including State House to discuss national issues if doing so would contribute to national development. He further said: “We are available and we are not afraid of going to any place any time. People think when you go to State House, you are joining somebody. It’s a show of maturity to talk to somebody and raise your issues. Let’s take out enmity in our country.”

This is a progressive approach to national issues which our people, including chief Macha, should be encouraging our politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties to adopt. Zambia is constitutionally a multi-party democracy and this means we will always have politicians and political parties in opposition. In this setup, the opposition leaders together with their members and supporters should not see their role as that of opposing, frustrating and tearing to pieces anything coming from the rulers in government.

Multi-party democracy calls for a culture of compromise, tolerance and consensus building. When we talk about compromise, we are not asking our opposition leaders to compromise the principles on which their parties were founded for selfish, personal gains from the ruling party. We realise that both the ruling party and the opposition parties have the common responsibility of building the nation for the benefit of our people. Both the ruling party and opposition parties should agree in solving common problems and challenges that our nation faces. But these parties can only agree or disagree if they are on talking terms, not the quarrelling or insulting terms. How can they agree or disagree if they cannot sit around the same table to confront national issues?

As Nelson Mandela said, one can only compromise on fundamental issues. Insignificant things, peripheral issues, don’t need any compromise. We think that it is significant for our political leaders to ponder together the way out of our people’s squalor. This is not the responsibility of the MMD government alone.

Chief Macha said our people would only be liberated from poverty if the opposition got united. We think this is a mistaken view because even assuming that the opposition came together and formed a big force to dethrone the MMD government, they would still be expected to co-operate with the MMD as an opposition party.

That is why it is key for our people to appreciate the concept of “loyal opposition”. This concept is indispensable to a functioning of multi-party democracy. In essence, loyal opposition means that all sides in a multi-party democracy share a common commitment to its basic values.

Political competitors do not necessarily have to like each other. But they must tolerate one another and acknowledge that each one has a legitimate and important role to play. We must encourage tolerance and civility in the ways our politics are conducted. Competition in politics does not mean enmity among the political players. Hichilema does not need to shun Levy just because he is in opposition. He should feel free to approach Levy to discuss issues that are in the interest and for the benefit of Zambians. What will be wrong is for Hichilema to meet Levy for the sole purpose of cutting a deal for his personal benefits.

This is also true in case of other politicians, including those from the ruling party. The fact that these politicians in MMD are in the ruling party does not make them better citizens than those in the opposition. They should humble themselves and consult with their colleagues in the opposition because we have so many men and women in this category who have a lot to offer. It cannot be disputed that some of our opposition parties have very high calibre individuals who might actually be holding keys to some of our problems. But because of the arrogance and know-it-all attitude from those in the ruling party, these individuals are not consulted even in areas where their expertise might be required.

We say this because this country knows no single genius that can solve the many problems and challenges confronting our people. We need collective efforts to get our country out of its current difficulties.

Besides, in a multi-party democracy, those in government need the co-operation of those in opposition if they are to deliver the services required by our people in an effective and orderly manner.
The opposition political parties have a duty to participate in public life because they play an essential role in any democracy. As we have said before, the opposition are expected to be loyal not to the specific policies of those in government but to the fundamental legitimacy of the state and to the democratic process itself. This is because the opposition is also part of the state.

If the men and women in all our political parties are really patriots, their pre-occupation should be to see our country succeed in all areas of human endeavour regardless of who is in government.

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Be careful with Levy, chief Macha warns HH

Be careful with Levy, chief Macha warns HH
By Inonge Noyoo
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

CHIEF Macha of the Tonga people in Choma district has appealed to opposition UPND president Hakainde Hichilema not to take people for a ride in his decision to ‘work’ with the MMD. Commenting on Hichilema’s statement that he was ready to meet President Levy Mwanawasa to discuss issues if that would remove the Zambian people out of poverty, chief Macha advised Hichilema to consult widely before making any decisions involving the party.

He said Hichilema should be careful with any political deals that he intended to be part of.

"We know that all these opposition presidents aim to go to State House and will do anything that would make them accomplish their goals. But he (Hichilema) should not take us for a ride. Politics in Zambia has become that of regionalism and he is quite dominating here in Southern Province. It is important that the members here are consulted and agreeable to every decision made," chief Macha said. " With all fairness before issues such as these statements are made, he should have consulted the people."

Chief Macha said each party is representative of the people.
He advised that it was important for opposition political parties to come together and form a stronger opposition.

"I believe the opposition have the same cause. That is not to mean opposition leaders should not work together but they should do so with clear intentions and consent from the people," he said.
Chief Macha said it was only when the opposition came together that many people would have relief and be liberated from poverty. He said no one party would penetrate the people's hearts if it works in isolation.

"It's a pity our politics have become very bad. And it is now clearer that all these opposition presidents are just waiting to go to State House. But no one party can command total support in one region and hence the need for the opposition to work together and bring change," said chief Macha.

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World Bank official urges govt to renegotiate mining contracts

World Bank official urges govt to renegotiate mining contracts
By Speedwell Mupuchi
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:01]

SENIOR advisor to the World Bank on corruption Eva Jolly yesterday said she was very shocked to see Zambia being deprived of rent from its land through the mining contracts. And Jolly said time was up for Zambia to renegotiate the mining contracts. Addressing members of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC) at Parliament yesterday, Jolly said some Western companies were plundering African countries by using corruption to get good contracts. "They are honourable but they are using corruption to get good contracts. Corruption is still in use despite the fact that now we have an international convention forbidding it," she said. Jolly urged people to fight for transparency in the so-called tax haven as they fight corruption.

She also said senators in the US estimate that they are deprived about US $40 billion a year through tax havens which she said were also used for transfer pricing. "I think this is an interesting question for Zambia because you have contracts in mining industry which require getting tax on results but it is very difficult to calculate what this result is," she said. "Probably you don't have specialised people to look into the mining companies. It's much safer for you probably to have loyalties than to have taxation on the benefits. Then you can have loyalty on each tonne of copper being exported. It is then easier to control."

Jolly said she was very shocked with Zambia's mining contracts. "Looking at them, I am very shocked that Zambia is being deprived of rent of its land. I think maybe time has come to renegotiate these contracts. These contracts are depriving you of too much," she said. She said Zambia had several arguments to take forward over the issue. "If you can prove that these contracts were elaborated with corruption within them, they can be cancelled... If you can prove that the negotiators from the Zambian side were paid from the mining industry then you can cancel them," she said. "That is the most dramatic way of doing it."

Jolly said there were 70 tax heavens with a third of world wealth. She explained that these are places where authorities do not co-operate with judicial authorities. She noted that money from African countries was getting into European banks without problems. She said huge Western companies were using corruption of African leaders in their own interest. Jolly said till 2003 when the United Nations Convention against corruption was put in place, most countries could still keep money corruptly obtained from other countries.

Jolly also noted Zambia was getting help to retrieve money allegedly stolen by former president Frederick Chiluba. He said lawyers that helped Chiluba's money laundering were not satisfied that the international community was helping Zambia get the money. She said the lawyers were not satisfied because they were used to laundering money and that the case was symbolic and must be carried out because it was self-financing as the country could get the money back. "And you have to win because this is the first time you have democracy, you can really have a conviction of a former leader to pay back the money," she said.

Jolly said although it was expensive, Zambians needed to be steadfast. She said she was working with the World Bank to have a permanent revolving fund for asset recovery. She also said it was important for Zambia to have a non-corrupt and well-functioning anti-corruption and money laundering institution. Jolly, now a former Norwegian-French examining magistrate who served for 20 years as a judge, proposed an establishment of a Financial Intelligence Unit that would monitor financial flaws in and out of the country.

Mbabala UDA member of parliament Emmanuel Hachipuka said he could not comprehend how the National Assembly could be made to allow the development agreements to be above the Zambian constitution. He said he felt President Mwanawasa and the Speaker of the National Assembly had roles to play to state that the bill on mining contracts was ultra vires the constitution.

Hachipuka wondered how it was possible to arm-twist Parliament to the extent of placing development agreements above the constitution.

APNAC chairperson Given Lubinda announced that his organisation would start mobilising resources to deal with issues of the mining agreements. Regional Parliamentarian Network against corruption representative Catherine Namugala said corruption was to a large extent responsible for Zambia's poverty. She passionately appealed for help to repatriate resources from Western countries to address poverty and disease in Zambia.

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LETTERS - Taxation in the mining sector

Taxation in the mining sector
By Nkula Kaoma
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

In the ‘Saturday Post’ issue of March 24th 2007 , you carried a story where Justice minister George Kunda told Parliament that the development agreements entered into with mining companies were above the law.

This sweeping statement coming from Kunda has very dangerous implications. Taking into consideration Kunda’s lies over the illegal nolle prosequi that he facilitated over the now jailed Bulaya and the constitution-making roadmap, we need the input of the Attorney-General to clarify that statement.

The development agreements that Kunda referred to are provided for under section 9 (2) of the mines and minerals Act which among other things have altered the payment of mineral royalties from 3 per cent as provided for in section 66 of the mines and minerals Act to 0.6 per cent; royalties are a form of taxation.

Article 114 (3) of the Constitution provides that, “Parliament may make provision under which the President or the Vice President or a minister may by order provide that, on or after the publication of a Bill being a Bill approved by the President that it is proposed to introduce into the National Assembly and providing for the imposition or alteration of taxation, such provisions of the Bill as may be specified in the order shall have the force of law for such period and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by Parliament:”

The information available is that these development agreements like earlier stated, among other things altered the payment of royalties from 3 per cent to 0.6 per cent and that they were signed by the minister and the new mine owners.

Bearing in mind that royalties form part of taxation, were these development agreements presented in the National Assembly by the President, Vice President or Minister as “orders” seeking to alter taxation known as royalties as provided for by Article 114 (3) of the Constitution?

In signing government agreements, the Attorney-General plays a leading role, can the new truly learned Attorney-General clarify this matter for the nation.

If these development agreements were not presented as “orders” in the National Assembly seeking to alter taxation, then they are in breach of the Constitution and any other law (section 9 (2) of the mines and minerals Act) which is inconsistent with the Constitution, that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency be void.

As such, these development agreements can be altered by government without any breach so as to impose meaningful taxation in the mining industry for the benefit of the country.

It will be interesting for Kunda also to show the nation which law is below these development agreements or may be the Constitution is not law.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24467

Shoddy works on Kafue Estates road
By Lee Muzala, Kafue Estates
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

I am a Kafue resident, sickened by the standard of works being carried out on the road leading to Kafue Estates.

It is sad to note that jokes of such magnitude can be carried out under the noses of citizens. How do you get gravel to patch a worn-out tarred road? As you drive along the same patched roads, you see how much of the soil put in the potholes is being blown away by just one vehicle.

Ten vehicles later, the pothole resurfaces again. What technology is this? What bravery is this? Where is the MP? Who sanctioned the works? Someone needs to be answerable. We need answers! Bwana MP it’s time you plucked your head out of cloud nine, and get down to work, because five years is not too long.

Someone somewhere is sitting on a high stool because they are raking in millions of taxpayers’ money by bringing in that soil and shoveling it around to cover the gaping holes on the roads. As tax-paying citizens, we demand high quality jobs to be carried out on our infrastructure, amenities and other services.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24464

Chief Chibesakunda succession
By Benson Chita Ng'ona and Umwina Ng'ona
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

I want to rebuff the utterances in Newton Ng’uni’s letter to you on the aforecaptioned subject matter in the Post of March 22, 2007 and the more “detailed” version of the same that appeared in your publication of March 24, 2007.

I write as a true born Umwina Ng’ona and grandson to our venerable Chief Chibesakunda IX. Abena Ng’ona have no intention of conducting themselves in a similar manner as Ng’uni and carry on a debate on matters that have already been exhausted by the traditional structures in Umutambe, The Mutambe Royal Establishment and subsequently by the courts of law.

However, we cannot allow such a slanderous smear go without response, lest the public be left with a lopsided impression. It is therefore regrettable that I find myself in the unenviable position of having to respond to a misguided and uninformed person that Ng’uni is. Kusabaila uko!

First, we would like the readers to know that Bwembya Bob Luo was selected out of four contestants for the seat of senior chief Chibesakunda on November 25, 2003 in accordance with the Umutambe tradition. The question is, why has it taken this ‘gentleman’ so long to come up with objections to the prevailing situation? It is our contention that the man has an ulterior motive.

From his letter, one gets the distinct impression that Ng’uni has a keen interest in the Chibesakunda chieftaincy; however he was conspicuous by his absence at the selection process at which he would have had the chance to challenge the Umutambe electoral college over their decision as to who was their preferred candidate.

He has neither authority nor jurisdiction in matters that affect Umutambe. The man is from Mpika for God’s sake! What is more, where and from whom does Ng’uni get his authority to challenge the Umutambe Royal Establishment’s decision? Is he a member of the Mutambe royal family and is he himself Umwina Ng’ona from Mutambe?

Furthermore, is he a member of the Chibesakunda family? This is indeed a perplexing situation and we would like to have these questions answered and for him to show us his family tree. Ng’uni purports to be interested in keeping the Chibesakunda lineage pure.
From what stand point and who gives him these powers to insult our intelligence with such impunity?

As far as we are concerned, none of us has ever seen him grow in any part of Mutambe, neither did he ever represent this area during his tenure of political office when the wrangles were at their height?

Now that things are quite, must he start troubles? Who is this arrogant Newton Ng’uni to be personally attacking our popular and development-oriented chief? The people in Mutambe are not responsible for his miserable failure to win the Kanchibiya seat in the last Presidential and General Elections. If he is genuine in his intent, he should address his concerns to the Umutambe Royal Establishment, who sanction the selection of the chief instead.

To our knowledge nobody appointed Ng’uni as our spokesperson; we are well able to do that ourselves.

We rather suspect that this unfortunate person is being strung along like a brainless puppet by other forces who would like nothing better than to see Mutambe go through another 15 years without a popular chief.

In his letter, he appears to imply that His Excellency the President of Zambia recognised Luo’s ascension as a matter of political expediency. This, of course calls into question the sanity of this unfortunate fellow.

For his information, the President plays no part in the selection process whatsoever and as for us, we are totally indebted to His Excellency for recognising the wishes of the Mutambe Royal Establishment. We have no wish to continue this debate in the press and would advise bwana Ng’uni to make his way to Chinsali and confront the Umutambe Royal Establishment and show them the error of their ways. We will be waiting for him.

In the meantime, he knows that attacking a chief in the way he has done is not the way to do things and that he should desist and follow the laid down procedure, and as he is not from Mutambe, he is uneducated in these matters and should consult people who know better. Ng’uni’s assertions are libelous and completely unfounded.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24465

Solving the problem of street children
By Malcolm Chiyoba, UNZA
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00] Print Article Email Article
Following your editorial of the 26th of March, 2007, I would like to share some thoughts on this issue of streetism that looks like an everlasting problem in this country despite the multiplication of orphanages and such organisations trying to bring the situation under control.

The central idea I feel that needs re-emphasising is the role of the extended family in the fight against the vice.

The problem is, this problem keeps recurring even when the kids are removed from the streets and this is because the cause is not taken care of, and this primary cause is the broken extended family system that results in orphans left in hopelessness.

This, as it were, is not to suggest all those children are orphans for others are coming from huge families where a parent can’t afford even to count the children, let alone feed them. Others are from disabled parents.

All these children, who are even now getting pregnant from the streets must be put into perspective in our efforts to stop this sad thing.

And the best way to handle it is to strengthen the extended family system especially in cases of children who are orphans or whose parents are disabled.

For those careless breeders who are really up to "filling the earth," there is need for educating them on the importance of having a smaller number of children and this education can still be offered by the extended family and the government or maybe a law must be passed to put a maximum on the number of progene one should have in this nation.

The K6.2 billion allocated to getting the situation under control must be used to establish homes or unite these children with their families where their emotional, psychological and social needs will be better met than at an orphanage (they are doing a commendable work) or Zambia National Service. The point is if we continue just picking them from the streets we will be fighting a lossing battle.

Let’s just re-look at the extended family that has provided parent figures for many of us in this country.

The nuclear family is for the West! Parents, please tell your children about their relatives and tell them the values of a life system under which you grew up, otherwise we will not be strengthening the extended family.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24466

Getting rid of vendors
By Mukomwa Kambwali
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

I strongly support the action taken by the Lusaka City Council to get rid of vendors. The vendors' contribution to making Lusaka ugly and dirty cannot be disputed.

In this country, we seem to be very good at institutionalising wrongs. For example, when squatters are being removed for illegal settlement, we raise hell and claim they are entitled. Even the shanty compounds like Kalingalinga, Kamanga or Misisi which started as illegal settlements have now been accorded legal status.

The problem lies with the Lusaka City Council. One wonders whether anyone is accountable for the design of the city, ensuring that the construction of buildings is according to approved norms, and many other things. Going by their primitive adverts, the LCC seems to be only interested in collecting fees for services they never provide.

The LCC needs to be held accountable. Now that the vendors have been moved out, they should ensure that that part of the city is kept clean and no vendors allowed to crawl back. They should also ensure that no one starts constructing abnormal structures in the town centre.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24464

Chief Chibesakunda succession
By Benson Chita Ng'ona and Umwina Ng'ona
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

I want to rebuff the utterances in Newton Ng’uni’s letter to you on the aforecaptioned subject matter in the Post of March 22, 2007 and the more “detailed” version of the same that appeared in your publication of March 24, 2007.

I write as a true born Umwina Ng’ona and grandson to our venerable Chief Chibesakunda IX. Abena Ng’ona have no intention of conducting themselves in a similar manner as Ng’uni and carry on a debate on matters that have already been exhausted by the traditional structures in Umutambe, The Mutambe Royal Establishment and subsequently by the courts of law.

However, we cannot allow such a slanderous smear go without response, lest the public be left with a lopsided impression. It is therefore regrettable that I find myself in the unenviable position of having to respond to a misguided and uninformed person that Ng’uni is. Kusabaila uko!

First, we would like the readers to know that Bwembya Bob Luo was selected out of four contestants for the seat of senior chief Chibesakunda on November 25, 2003 in accordance with the Umutambe tradition. The question is, why has it taken this ‘gentleman’ so long to come up with objections to the prevailing situation? It is our contention that the man has an ulterior motive.

From his letter, one gets the distinct impression that Ng’uni has a keen interest in the Chibesakunda chieftaincy; however he was conspicuous by his absence at the selection process at which he would have had the chance to challenge the Umutambe electoral college over their decision as to who was their preferred candidate.

He has neither authority nor jurisdiction in matters that affect Umutambe. The man is from Mpika for God’s sake! What is more, where and from whom does Ng’uni get his authority to challenge the Umutambe Royal Establishment’s decision? Is he a member of the Mutambe royal family and is he himself Umwina Ng’ona from Mutambe?

Furthermore, is he a member of the Chibesakunda family? This is indeed a perplexing situation and we would like to have these questions answered and for him to show us his family tree. Ng’uni purports to be interested in keeping the Chibesakunda lineage pure.
From what stand point and who gives him these powers to insult our intelligence with such impunity?

As far as we are concerned, none of us has ever seen him grow in any part of Mutambe, neither did he ever represent this area during his tenure of political office when the wrangles were at their height?

Now that things are quite, must he start troubles? Who is this arrogant Newton Ng’uni to be personally attacking our popular and development-oriented chief? The people in Mutambe are not responsible for his miserable failure to win the Kanchibiya seat in the last Presidential and General Elections. If he is genuine in his intent, he should address his concerns to the Umutambe Royal Establishment, who sanction the selection of the chief instead.

To our knowledge nobody appointed Ng’uni as our spokesperson; we are well able to do that ourselves.

We rather suspect that this unfortunate person is being strung along like a brainless puppet by other forces who would like nothing better than to see Mutambe go through another 15 years without a popular chief.

In his letter, he appears to imply that His Excellency the President of Zambia recognised Luo’s ascension as a matter of political expediency. This, of course calls into question the sanity of this unfortunate fellow.

For his information, the President plays no part in the selection process whatsoever and as for us, we are totally indebted to His Excellency for recognising the wishes of the Mutambe Royal Establishment. We have no wish to continue this debate in the press and would advise bwana Ng’uni to make his way to Chinsali and confront the Umutambe Royal Establishment and show them the error of their ways. We will be waiting for him.

In the meantime, he knows that attacking a chief in the way he has done is not the way to do things and that he should desist and follow the laid down procedure, and as he is not from Mutambe, he is uneducated in these matters and should consult people who know better. Ng’uni’s assertions are libelous and completely unfounded.





http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24462

Accepting other people's opinions
By John Milimo, Lusaka
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

One fundamental aspect of democracy is creating room for other political parties to make rallies in order for them to continue selling their manifestos.

To my surprise here in Zambia, for an opposition to be given a chance to conduct a rally, it is a struggle.

Any opposition should not be considered as an enemy but a person with a different opinion, who looks at reality from a different angle. To be an opposition also does not mean opposing everything the ruling party says but challenging each other on how best you can develop the country.

The President and his government must be very flexible to positive criticism. My point here is that you must establish a mutual relationship because you all claim to serve the Zambian people for the common good. The ruling party must test itself democratically by creating room to be out of power not doing everything possible to remain in power.

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Regulatory framework for ICT too fragmented - Mwanawasa

Regulatory framework for ICT too fragmented - Mwanawasa
By Kabanda Chulu
Thursday March 29, 2007 [02:00]

THE regulatory framework in the Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) sector is too fragmented, President Levy Mwanawasa has said. And communications minister Peter Daka has urged service providers to reduce costs for ICT tools because they have become addictive to people. Officially launching the national ICT policy yesterday in Lusaka, President Mwanawasa - whose speech was read on his behalf by Vice President Rupiah Banda - said there was need to harmonise regulatory bodies that govern the ICT sector.

He said the Communications Authority regulates the telecommunications services, the Postal and Courier services is regulated by his ministry while the information ministry regulates broadcasting services. President Mwanawasa also directed the Ministry of Communications and Transport to expedite the implementation of e.governance (electronic governance) in all government institutions by way of connecting all departments to the government website. He said the ICT policy would contribute to national development through creation of an innovative and market responsive competitive sector.

And Daka said ICT tools were playing an integral part in economic development. “We therefore appeal to service providers to make these tools affordable because they have become too addictive. For instance, some people prefer to be hungry in order to buy scratch cards (talk time),” said Daka.

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