Maravi

LETTERS - Budget, National Unity, Derek Fee & VAT

2008 budget
By Kazhila Chinsembu,Windhoek
Wednesday January 30, 2008 [03:00]

I have just finished reading the 2008 Budget speech that hopes to unlock more fattening resources for the political hosts in government and their ectoparasites. Under education, the speech does not mention the University of Zambia, yet we all know how deplorable the infrastructure at UNZA is. And hopefully, the government will this year pay UNZA retirees their terminal benefits which they have been owed for 5 years now.

With the looming electricity crisis, coupled with the anticipated impacts of climate change (natural disasters like floods and drought), the 2008 budget has no specific allocations that answer to the high levels of preparedness required to mitigate these threats. But that is budgeting the Zambian style, a country where the biggest disaster is the government, whose policies have hiked rural poverty to 80 per cent.


http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=36896

VAT
By Dereck Fee
Wednesday January 30, 2008 [03:00]

On your front page of the Sunday Post I was quoted as condemning the reduction in VAT in the minister of finance's Budget. During a lengthy interview, I praised the minister for a very balanced budget and one which will contribute to the economic growth in Zambia.

I expressed surprise at the reduction in VAT while stating that in the European Union VAT is an internal part of the fiscal system which is usually not reduced.


http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=36897

One Zambia, One nation
By Concerned citizen
Wednesday January 30, 2008 [03:00]

I wish to say something about to the story you carried on January 21, concerning Saki's comment on the slogan One Zambia, One Nation. I wish to agree with him in his observation, but I beg to look at it from a different perspective.

Recently, there was a publication of names of newly-recruited teachers in all the nine provinces of Zambia, and I was quite disturbed with the criterion used, which does not promote the unity we all desire to have. I noticed that the deployment had not at all promoted the One Zambia adage, as it was clear that those from Eastern, Western, Northern, Luapula and Southern provinces were being posted back to their provinces.

In my view, the Kaunda era did better on this one and in a way it helped to promote the spirit of unity, as Tongas could be sent to Eastern, Easterners to Tongaland, Bembas to Ngoniland or Loziland and vice-versa. Now with the current trend, we will one day lose the unity we seem to have. Thus, change must start with the government policies on deploying its employees in the interest of service and national unity. Saki's obsevation goes beyond politics and let us consider it seriously.

Labels: 2008 BUDGET, DEREK FEE, VAT

posted by MrK @ 3:29 AM