Zamsaf proprietor bemoans govt bureaucracy in Luapula
By Mwila Chansa in Mansa
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
ZAMBIA Safari (ZAMSAF) proprietor Nickson Chilangwa has said bureaucracy by leaders in the government is killing development in Luapula Province. During the culture night at Mansa Sports Club to kick-start the Destination Luapula Campaign on Thursday, Chilangwa urged government officials to be decisive in development matters.
“I applied two years ago to build a lodge at Ntumbacushi and to date, no one has responded to my request,” Chilangwa said. “You are losing money because of bureaucracy. You should make timely decisions.”
He added that no one should think that foreign investors would develop Luapula if local people themselves did not work together to develop the province.
Chilangwa noted that it was sad that Samfya beach had remained undeveloped for a long time.
And Luapula Province minister Crispin Musosha said the government would try to address the concerns raised by Chilangwa.
Musosha said Luapula had an enormous potential which, if tapped, would significantly benefit the country in terms of employment opportunities and poverty reduction.
And tourism deputy minister Vera Tembo said the government was committed to continuing late president Levy Mwanawasa’s vision of developing the country’s northern circuit.
Tembo said the government was aware of some people that questioned its resolve to develop tourism in the northern circuit owing to its poor infrastructure.
Labels: LUAPULA PROVINCE, NICKSON CHILANGWA, RED TAPE, ZAMSAF
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Caught in their own web of lies
By Editor
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
The Zambian people are not fools, they are intelligent people who are capable of analysing what's being said and done by their politicians. And they are following closely and intelligently the electoral corruption discourse going on. This is probably because they want to have elections that are free and fair. And a reader of The Post yesterday sent us a letter which read:
"Editor,
The revelations of money exchanging hands at Government House must unnerve any Zambian who truly loves this country and cares about their own welfare and that of posterity.
Watch this: James Lukuku reveals National Revolution Party has been paid K15 million to endorse Rupiah Banda's bid for State House, but Cozmo Mumba, William Banda and Mike Mulongoti vehemently deny knowledge of or involvement in any such transaction, with Mulongoti even accusing The Post of just being malicious.
Cozmo: Even if you called Mr Mulongoti now, he will confirm that that he never met us... I didn't see that envelope myself, unless somebody else received it. My deputy national chairman did not receive it unless he went alone using the party name and got money, which is criminal.
William Banda: I never saw them, they didn't come there. If they came there, I would have been aware about them. Who cleared them because I was supposed to clear them if they came there? If they have told you that, it's a lie.
Mulongoti: You think with my status I can be an usher? ...You mean I should not be at Government House? If I am there, I am meeting the Revolution Party? (The Post, September 25)
But a day later, the same Mulongoti confesses that the alleged transaction did indeed take place but it was only a 'small donation'. And why at Government House anyway? It does not at all require one to be a career investigator to smell a rat here.
What disgusting politicians! Just what do they take Zambians for? Their pets? Why can't some of these characters learn to honourably resign, especially when they make a public shame of themselves the way Mulongoti has done.
Rupiah even has the audacity to visit Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and play clean with pronouncements of being committed to the fight against corruption.
One can only imagine what could have prompted that visit in the first place. Anyway, I sincerely hope that ACC will not wait too long before they return that visit to equally show their commitment to the crusade against the horrible cancer of corruption, especially in public office.
I don't care about the amounts involved; it is enough that if there have been cancerous activities at Government House, come October 30, they must never, never be allowed to extend their deadly tentacles to the heart of the nation - State House; otherwise, that will spell doom for us. We will be dead and buried."
The depth of deceit, crookedness, calumny, lies, manipulation to which Rupiah Banda and sponsors seem prepared to sink to win the October 30 elections is frightening.
It is even more frightening that they are not ashamed to come out in the open to expose their deceitfulness before the nation. Normal human beings are known to have shame. But these characters don't seem to be ashamed of any wrongdoing, of lying.
It is very clear that Rupiah and his sponsors are taking Zambians for granted.
We carried a story on Thursday where New Revolution Party former secretary general James Lukuku revealed that Rupiah gave them K15 million to endorse him as their preferred presidential candidate.
Lukuku revealed that the money was given to them by William Banda and Mike Mulongoti after their meeting with Rupiah. We also reported that this money exchanged hands because it was first wrongly given to Nevers Mumba who had a meeting with Rupiah earlier. However, after a couple of phone calls, Cozmo Mumba and his officials managed to get back the K15 million.
When we contacted Mike, he was very upset that we had reduced him to the level of an usher when he was chief government spokesperson. Mike also asked us whether we think that he can only go to Government House to meet New Revolution Party officials.
William denied having seen Cozmo and his officials at Government House. He said he is always found at Government House because he is a protocol officer and that if Cozmo and his officials went there, he would have even been the one to usher them into the Vice-President's office.
Nevers confirmed that he had a meeting with Rupiah but denied anything to do with the envelope containing K15 million. However, he confirmed having seen Cozmo and his officials.
Cozmo confirmed having met Rupiah and disclosed that they talked about continuity, genuineness of the K30 billion Youth Fund and how the young people could be involved in national development. Cozmo denied having received any money.
But Mike on Thursday called for a press briefing, where The Post was not even invited despite having originated the story, and confirmed that the MMD actually gave New Revolution Party leaders K15 million to help them file in their nominations. Mike said there is nothing wrong with offering assistance to political parties and it is sad that certain sections of the media want to politicise the money given to New Revolution Party to enable the party to file in nominations.
This is contrary to what his boss, Rupiah, said when he toured the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) offices. Rupiah said media allegations that he bribed opposition party officials for them to endorse his presidential candidature in the October 30 were mere politics.
The inconsistencies, contradictions and dishonesty of the people involved in this entire scheme are embarrassing and frightening. How can Mike, who earlier denied having been at Government House, tell the nation that the MMD had given New Revolution Party K15 million for their party activities?
Does it make sense that William who is always found at Government House did not see Cozmo and yet Mike has confirmed receiving a budget from the New Revolution Party leaders the same day they had a meeting with Rupiah?
Where does this revelation leave Cozmo who earlier said he did not get any money from Rupiah? How can people believe remarks by Rupiah at the ACC offices that he did not bribe the opposition when his campaign manager has just told the nation that the MMD 'donated' K15 million to the New Revolution Party?
Mike is saying that there is nothing wrong with MMD helping other political parties. Does it make sense for the ruling party to fund an opposition political party to run in the same election?
If it does make sense to them, how can they explain Rupiah's statement during his meeting with Cozmo where he said that the party has not received enough funding for them to meet New Revolution Party's budget of K80 million?
Since when did the MMD become so generous with funds to an extent of funding parties like the New Revolution Party? Why was the donation made at Government House when the so-called 'big brother party' has a secretariat at Lusaka House, a campaign office in Rhodes Park and a district office on Freedom Way in the central business district?
Anyway, this does not surprise us. MMD spokesman Benny Tetamashimba clearly stated that they wanted Rupiah to be adopted as the presidential candidate because he would be able to use state resources as acting Republican President.
It is these resources that Rupiah has started using or rather abusing? That is why in one breath, Rupiah says his party has not received enough funding and in another, Mike says his party was merely helping the New Revolution Party. It is clear that these characters are taking Zambians for granted, they have no respect for the Zambian people and their intelligence.
With these characters around, we will have so many political parties on their payrolls. They will corrupt their fellow politicians to an extent that it will distort our multiparty democracy. With these characters in power, this country will be sliding backwards in very long strides.
Again, we warned against the adoption of people like Rupiah.
What does this whole story tell about Rupiah's character and personality? How can anyone take Rupiah's statement at ACC on his commitment to fighting corruption in the country seriously?
Which legacy are these characters trying to continue when they talk about "continuing with Levy's legacy?"
These are honest questions seeking honest answers.
It is clear that Rupiah and his sponsors are engaging in questionable practices in their campaigns. The K15 million may be a tip of the iceberg. We can only imagine how many 'donations' the other people frequenting Government House have received from 'big brother' Rupiah.
And we welcome Cozmo's appeal that the ACC should investigate this matter and bring the culprits to book.
We remind Rupiah and his friends of the saying: "What a web we weave for ourselves when we practice to deceive!"
Labels: MMD, THE POST
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Court action seeks to end Rupiah's Vice-presidency
By Bivan Saluseki
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
ANTI-Rigging Zambia Limited has asked the High Court to declare that Rupiah Banda is no longer Vice-President and acting President of Zambia following his filing of nominations for the office of Republican President. According to originating summons taken out by KBF and Partners on behalf of Anti-Rigging Zambia, Vice-President
Banda ceased to be nominated member of parliament by virtue of having filed his nomination for election to the office of President on September 26, 2008.
The summons stated: "That as a consequence of the foregoing, the Respondent is not entitled: (a) to perform the function of the Office of the President of the Republic of Zambia; (b) to enjoy the benefits of the Office of the Vice-President and/or Acting President; (c) to enjoy or use public resources to fund his political campaign for election to the Office of President of the Republic of Zambia which he hitherto enjoyed before the filing of his nomination."
Anti-Rigging Zambia has also sought the court's interpretation of Articles 71(2) as read in conjunction with Article 65(2), Article 38(2); and Articles 45, 63 and 34.
And in an affidavit sworn by Kaluba Musenda Simuyemba who is a director in the company, it is stated that Vice-President Banda filed his nomination as candidate for the office of President before Chief Justice as returning officer.
It stated that the respondent was now property of the MMD, which party must now be solely responsible for all the respondent's funding, security, transport and other campaign expenditure.
The applicants have further instructed their counsel to apply for an order for a mandatory injunction restraining the respondent or his agents, employees, members of his political party or any other person acting on his authority.
Labels: RUPIAH BANDA
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Mugabe asks Britain, US to lift sanctions
By Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe has said his country understands only too well that sustainable development is not possible without agrarian reform. And President Mugabe paid special tribute to Thabo Mbeki of South Africa whose patience, fortitude, sensitivity, diplomatic skills and painstaking work made it possible for the Zimbabwean parties to overcome what had appeared to be insurmountable and intractable difficulties to reaching an all-inclusive unit government agreement.
President Mugabe also asked Britain and the US to lift their sanctions against Zimbabwe so that the country could focus on its economic turnaround programme undisturbed.
Before the 63rd UN General Assembly session in New York on Thursday, President Mugabe said his government had gone a long way in laying the foundation for sustainable food production through its Land Reform Programme.
He said the majority of rural people had been empowered to contribute to household and national food security and to be masters of their own destiny.
"However, the effects of climate change that have included recurrent droughts and floods in the past seven years and the illegal, unilaterally-imposed sanctions on my country have hindered Zimbabwe's efforts to increase food production," President Mugabe said.
He appealed to the world's collective conscience to apply pressure for the immediate removal of the sanctions by Britain, the United States and their allies which had brought untold suffering to Zimbabweans.
President Mugabe said cooperative and pacific approach often led to lasting solutions to conflicts.
"We therefore deplore the vindictive approach which often is characterised by self righteous finger-pointing, double standards and the imposition of unilateral sanctions to coerce smaller and weaker countries to bow to the wishes of militarily stronger states," he said.
President Mugabe said not long ago, some permanent members of the UN Security Council sought to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter so its weight of sanctions and other measures could be applied against Zimbabwe which by any stretch of imagination was not a threat to international peace and security.
"What insanity is this that has afflicted some world leaders," he asked. "Should the sacred document, the UN Charter, be allowed to suffer such undeserved emasculation and disgraceful abuse? Where is the protection of the small and innocent countries like mine from the threatened and real acts of aggression and punitive acts often based on completely false allegations of violations of the rule of law, democracy or human rights? By the way, those who falsely accuse us of these violations are themselves international perpetrators of genocide, acts of aggression and mass destruction."
President Mugabe said masses of innocent men, women and children who have perished in Iraq demanded retribution and vengeance.
"Who shall heed their cry?" he asked. "Surely those who invaded Iraq under false pretences and on the strength of contrived lies and in blatant violation of the Charter and international law must be made liable for them."
President Mugabe said Zimbabwe derived solace from the fact there were some UN Security Council permanent members who took principled stands and protected the country's sovereignty.
He said their acts ensured Zimbabwe did not fall prey to a cocktail of lies which had been designed by detractors to call for stiff UN sanctions.
"While we recognise the important role of the offices of the Secretary General in assisting member states to resolve political and other problems, we are of the view that international civil servants should discharge their noble duties with sensitivity and neutrality," President Mugabe said. "At no time should they seek to pander to the whims of the mighty against the weak."
He informed the Assembly that the inter-party talks in Zimbabwe ended with the signing of an agreement on the formation of an all-inclusive government on September 15.
President Mugabe said achieving the agreement entirely by African mediation was clear testimony that Africa was capable of solving her challenges and problems which were often the remnants of colonialism.
"In that regard, I wish to pay special tribute to president Thabo Mbeki of South Africa whose patience,fortitude, sensitivity, diplomatic skills and painstaking work made it possible for the Zimbabwean parties to overcome what had appeared to be insurmountable and intractable difficulties to reaching agreement," said President Mugabe.
"My party, ZANU-PF will abide by the spirit and letter of the agreement to which we have appended our signature. As government, we are prepared to cooperate with all countries which also respect Zimbabwe's sovereignty."
He thanked the SADC, the African Union and individual African and other leaders who lent their support to the unity government accord.
Labels: SANCTIONS
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MMD complains to MECOZ over Post editorials
By Noel Sichalwe
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
MEDIA Council of Zambia (MECOZ) chairperson Sister Rose Nyondo yesterday confirmed receiving a complaint from MMD against The Post for its editorials published since August 20, 2008. But Press Freedom Committee of The Post secretary general Sheikh Chifuwe said the complaint to MECOZ by the MMD is misplaced.
Sr Nyondo said the MMD campaign committee lodged the complaint on September 22, accusing The Post of publishing more than 20 editorial comments full of hate speech against their party presidential candidate Rupiah Banda.
She said the MMD alleged that The Post had scandalised the personality and character of Vice-President Banda who was also Acting President without any good cause.
"MECOZ would like to appeal to the media to exercise fairness and impartiality in the coverage of all four presidential candidates who apart from Honourable Banda include Mr Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF), Brigadier General Godffrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party and Mr Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) who are taking part in the 30th October 2008 presidential elections. Particularly, the media also needs to at all costs desist from insults, inflammatory and derogatory language because such will not help the public in anything related to elections," she said.
Sr Nyondo said insults and the use of any unpalatable language by the media was unacceptable in the journalism profession.
"As MECOZ, we would like to remain on record again that insults by any media are unethical," she said.
Sr Nyondo said there had been several public concerns expressing disappointment at the conduct of the media in their coverage of the electoral process by focusing on personal attacks.
"Our advice to the media is that, they should reflect on their conduct and ask themselves whether what they were doing was building the nation or not," said Sr Nyondo.
But Chifuwe said The Post's editorial comments have been based on facts and that the newspaper was entiltled to express its opinion on anyone aspiring for public office.
Chifuwe said it was mischievious for Sr Nyondo to make general comments on a complaint received about a newspaper, which is not a member of MECOZ and on issues she did not understand.
"First, The Post is not a member of MECOZ. Both the MMD and MECOZ should know that membership to MECOZ is voluntary. It is not mandatory to belong to MECOZ.
Second, the complaint itself is without merit. At no time did The Post publish any libelous or defamatory stories or comments about Vice-President Rupiah Banda and the MMD," Chifuwe said. "If any such material has been published, let Vice-President Rupiah Banda and the MMD go to court.
One can only meaningfully pass judgment in a matter where both parties are heard. At no time did Sr Nyondo ever attempt to get in touch with us to find out our position on the matter. Being a woman of God, Sr Nyondo should know that God is a God of justice. She is calling for fairness when she is not being fair herself, she is passing judgment based on one side."
Chifuwe said all the editorial comments of The Post could be proved and justified and that everything published about Vice-President Banda was true.
"If there is a lie, let them take us to court rather than try to use an organisation that has no credibility. The behaviour of MECOZ shows why The Post cannot be a member of MECOZ - elements who can convict other people without giving them an opportunity to be heard.
This is why we have made it clear that we are not, and we will not, be members of MECOZ," said Chifuwe. "We have no problem with how many editorial comments we write on wrongdoings. This is not first time we are doing so.
If Sr Nyondo and MECOZ and their MMD friends have got any memory in them, they will recall that we ran daily editorial comments for five weeks on late president Levy Mwanawasa and his attempt to grant his friend Kashiwa Bulaya a nolle prosequi. We did this until Levy yielded and Kashiwa Bulaya was eventually convicted."
Labels: MECOZ, MMD, THE POST
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Mugabe asks Britain, US to lift sanctions
By Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe has said his country understands only too well that sustainable development is not possible without agrarian reform. And President Mugabe paid special tribute to Thabo Mbeki of South Africa whose patience, fortitude, sensitivity, diplomatic skills and painstaking work made it possible for the Zimbabwean parties to overcome what had appeared to be insurmountable and intractable difficulties to reaching an all-inclusive unit government agreement.
President Mugabe also asked Britain and the US to lift their sanctions against Zimbabwe so that the country could focus on its economic turnaround programme undisturbed.
Before the 63rd UN General Assembly session in New York on Thursday, President Mugabe said his government had gone a long way in laying the foundation for sustainable food production through its Land Reform Programme.
He said the majority of rural people had been empowered to contribute to household and national food security and to be masters of their own destiny.
"However, the effects of climate change that have included recurrent droughts and floods in the past seven years and the illegal, unilaterally-imposed sanctions on my country have hindered Zimbabwe's efforts to increase food production," President Mugabe said.
He appealed to the world's collective conscience to apply pressure for the immediate removal of the sanctions by Britain, the United States and their allies which had brought untold suffering to Zimbabweans.
President Mugabe said cooperative and pacific approach often led to lasting solutions to conflicts.
"We therefore deplore the vindictive approach which often is characterised by self righteous finger-pointing, double standards and the imposition of unilateral sanctions to coerce smaller and weaker countries to bow to the wishes of militarily stronger states," he said.
President Mugabe said not long ago, some permanent members of the UN Security Council sought to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter so its weight of sanctions and other measures could be applied against Zimbabwe which by any stretch of imagination was not a threat to international peace and security.
"What insanity is this that has afflicted some world leaders," he asked. "Should the sacred document, the UN Charter, be allowed to suffer such undeserved emasculation and disgraceful abuse? Where is the protection of the small and innocent countries like mine from the threatened and real acts of aggression and punitive acts often based on
completely false allegations of violations of the rule of law, democracy or human rights? By the way, those who falsely accuse us of these violations are themselves international perpetrators of genocide, acts of aggression and mass destruction."
President Mugabe said masses of innocent men, women and children who have perished in Iraq demanded retribution and vengeance.
"Who shall heed their cry?" he asked. "Surely those who invaded Iraq under false pretences and on the strength of contrived lies and in blatant violation of the Charter and international law must be made liable for them."
President Mugabe said Zimbabwe derived solace from the fact there were some UN Security Council permanent members who took principled stands and protected the country's sovereignty.
He said their acts ensured Zimbabwe did not fall prey to a cocktail of lies which had been designed by detractors to call for stiff UN sanctions.
"While we recognise the important role of the offices of the Secretary General in assisting member states to resolve political and other problems, we are of the view that international civil servants should discharge their noble duties with sensitivity and neutrality," President Mugabe said. "At no time should they seek to pander to the whims of the mighty against the weak."
He informed the Assembly that the inter-party talks in Zimbabwe ended with the signing of an agreement on the formation of an all-inclusive government on September 15.
President Mugabe said achieving the agreement entirely by African mediation was clear testimony that Africa was capable of solving her challenges and problems which were often the remnants of colonialism.
"In that regard, I wish to pay special
tribute to president Thabo Mbeki of South Africa whose patience,fortitude, sensitivity, diplomatic skills and painstaking work made it possible for the Zimbabwean parties to overcome what had appeared to be insurmountable and intractable difficulties to reaching agreement," said President Mugabe.
"My party, ZANU-PF will abide by the spirit and letter of the agreement to which we have appended our signature. As government, we are prepared to cooperate with all countries which also respect Zimbabwe's sovereignty."
He thanked the SADC, the African Union and individual African and other leaders who lent their support to the unity government accord.
Labels: MUGABE
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We're heading for victory - Rupiah
By Chibaula Silwamba and Inonge Noyoo
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
WHEREVER our late president Mwanawasa is, he should be feeling very happy that we are heading for victory, MMD presidential candidate Rupiah Banda said yesterday. And Vice-President Banda's declaration of assets filed in the Supreme Court yesterday revealed that he was worth K2.935 billion.
Addressing MMD members outside the Supreme Court in Lusaka soon after filing in his nomination papers before Chief Justice Ernest Sakala and Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson justice Florence Mumba, Vice-President Banda promised to dedicate his presidency to make the lives of Zambians better than they were now.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you very much! Can we keep quiet please? Fellow MMD supporters, I just want to say a few words!” shouted Vice-President Banda, as his supporters chanted songs in his praise. “I thank you and I want to promise you that I shall uphold this democracy of ours which was brought about by the MMD as a party.
I want to thank you for continuing to support this party which was left to us by the late lovable president Mwanawasa. Wherever he is, our president is looking down upon us and feeling very happy that the party he formed…that we are heading for victory.”
Vice-President Banda urged all MMD members to campaign and ensure that they retained the presidency.
“From here, each one of us should return where they came from to campaign for the victory of the MMD and for Rupiah Banda,” Vice-President Banda said.
He urged party members to tell the voters what the MMD would do for Zambians.
“Once again, I want to promise you that I shall dedicate my three years as president to you to make sure that your lives are better than they are now,” said Vice-President Banda amid cheers from cadres who regularly interrupted him with slogans.
“There are some of the things that you have already seen that we have started, myself and my colleagues in Cabinet to do. We have reduced the price of fuels, we have reduced the price of mealie-meal, and we shall continue to make sure that the Zambian people live a better life than they are living now.”
Vice-President Banda observed that the huge crowd of MMD supporters that witnessed his filing of nomination papers was evidence of the strength of the governing party.
In his declaration of assets to the Chief Justice, Vice-President Banda revealed that he had a 450 acre farm in Chipata valued at K550 million, a farm tractor valued at K40 million, a residential house on Chila Road worth K900 million and two properties in Chipata valued at K250, 000.
He also declared an Isuzu pick-up vehicle valued at K15 million and a Toyota VX motor vehicle valued at K30 million.
Vice-President Banda declared that he had 100 per cent interest in Robert Hudson Zambia Limited and Allenwest Zambia Limited, adding that no dividend had been received from the two companies.
He also revealed that he owned shares in Chilanga Cement, Zambia Breweries, Investrust Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Intermarket Bank valued at K1.150 billion.
Vice-President Banda's declaration was valued by Moores Rowland chartered accounts.
Vice-President Banda arrived at Supreme Court grounds at 10:25 hours aboard a luxury Scania Marcopolo bus bearing his portrait and campaign messages which read: “Vote Rupiah Banda.”
As the bus and motorcade arrived, MMD cadres carrying placards bearing Vice-President Banda's portrait, thronged it. It took the motorcade about five minutes to manoeuver from the gate to the entrance of the Supreme Court entrance. As Vice-President Banda disembarked from the bus, the cadres erupted into ululations, chanting slogans and songs for him.
Vice-President Banda was accompanied by several ministers and MMD national executive committee (NEC) members, who included George Kunda (justice), Dr Kalombo Mwansa (mines), Sylvia Masebo (local government), Dr Eustarckio Kazonga (local government deputy minister), Gabriel Namulambe (sports), Kapembwa Simbao (works and supply), Patricia Mulasikwanda (gender), Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha (home affairs), Catherine Namugala (community development), Geoffrey Lungwangwa (education) , Mike Mulongoti (information), Professor Fashion Phiri (foreign affairs deputy minister), Katele Kalumba (MMD national secretary), Benny Tetamashimba (MMD spokesperson) and Maybin Mubanga (NEC chairperson for agriculture).
Others were former Republican vice-president Enoch Kavindele, who sweated as moved closer to Vice-President Banda as he was getting into his official vehicle.
Opposition United Liberal Party Lukulu member of parliament Ireen Imbwae, UNIP deputy national secretary Rev Alfred Banda, New Generation Party president Humphrey Siulapwa were at the Supreme Court to support Vice-President Banda as he filed his nomination papers while Forum for Leadership Search director Edwin Lifwekele, was one of the 200 supporters for Vice-President Banda.
Earlier, some MMD cadres 'hunted' for The Post journalists with a view to beating them up.
Meanwhile, an MMD cadre was almost run over by a bus after he fell from a moving vehicle onto the tarmac but managed to walk out of its way.
At the Supreme Court grounds, MMD cadre Esther Nakawala and other cadres almost caused confusion as they shouted in protest for not having been given MMD chitenje materials and caps bearing Vice-President Banda's portrait.
Despite Mulasikwanda's plea that they tone down their voices, the cadres dared her and continued demanding that they be given the chitenje materials.
“There is no way you can be giving chitenge to people who just joined the MMD from FDD instead of giving the chitenge to us the founder members of the party,” the cadres complained and warned. “Twalalwa! Twalamuma! [We will fight, we will beat you up!”
Nakawale only stopped shouting after she was given a cap.
Labels: RUPIAH BANDA
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NRP withdraws support for Rupiah
By Maluba Jere
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
INFORMATION minister Mike Mulongoti has contradicted Vice-President Rupiah Banda with his revelation that the MMD 'donated' K15 million to the opposition National Revolution Party (NRP) for filing nominations.
Vice-President Banda had earlier said that reports in The Post that he gave K15 million to NRP leaders for them to support him in the October 30 presidential elections were mere politics meant to scandalise him.
Former NRP secretary general James Lukuku revealed on Wednesday that NRP had received K15 million from Vice-President Banda to endorse his candidature.
And reacting to this revelation Mulongoti - during a press briefing on Thursday - confirmed that MMD had given the K15 million to NRP. He justified the 'gift', saying there was nothing wrong with offering assistance to small political parties.
Mulongoti said the MMD gave K15 million to NRP after its president, Cozmo Mumba, requested for financial assistance. He said it was sad that certain sections of the media wanted to politicise the money given to NRP to enable it file nominations.
"As campaign manager there are many people who have gone there to see me, looking for assistance because either the party is too small, they have no capacity or they are honest enough to realise that MMD we are a bigger and stronger party and that the political parties who are supposed to help them realise that it would be a waste of money to invest in a political party which has no chance of winning elections," Mulongoti said.
"And we are a bigger brother and we are proud to say that if people come and make a request as a political party, if we can help, we are free to help. It does not imply that we are corrupting anybody. There is no need to corrupt people because we have support all over the country. Those who are busy trying to undermine us by pretending that the people they are supporting are much more holier than us, we know who they are."
And according to the Times of Zambia yesterday, Mulongoti said Cozmo Mumba had in the past asked to be linked to Vice-President Banda's campaign. He said he had asked Cozmo what exactly he wanted to discuss with Vice-President Banda. He said Cozmo said he wanted to discuss matter concerning elections.
He further asked if Cozmo had any other business to discuss with Vice-President Banda. Cozmo disclosed that his party needed resources for transport from constituencies to the Supreme Court to file presidential nomination papers, food for 500 people, banners, public address system and fuel totaling K15.5 million.
Mulongoti said he advised Cosmo that he was not comfortable with the issue regarding resources in that the MMD also needed the same resources. He said the same day he had a telephone conversation with Cozmo, Mulongoti found Cozmo at Government House where he handed over a copy of NRP's budget to him.
However, Mulongoti's revelation was contrary to what Vice-President Banda said when he visited the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) offices on Thursday morning.
Vice-President Banda said media allegations that he bribed opposition party officials for them to endorse his presidential candidature in the October 30 elections were mere politics. Vice-President Banda said those who came up with the story carried in The Post on Thursday were merely trying to scandalise him.
Vice-President Banda said it was not possible to buy support to be a leader of a country. He said a person could only become president through people's wishes.
"People have to elect you as a legitimate president of the country," he said.
Meanwhile, NRP former secretary general James Lukuku said Mulongoti had exposed the corruption in MMD.
Lukuku said he had been vindicated by Mulongoti's statement.
"He Mulongoti has just exposed the corruption that is in the MMD and I would urge the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures," Lukuku said. "We are being ruled by people with no integrity. People must know that what goes round comes around and this is the bribery I was talking about."
Lukuku wondered why Mulongoti earlier denied having given money to the NRP, saying he had now contradicted himself.
"The information minister's statement on national television has vindicated me because he himself refused having given the party NRP money," Lukuku said. "The statement is most welcome because some sections of society thought I had orchestrated the story about the K15 million."
But Cozmo yesterday denied having received K15 million from the MMD and accused Mulongoti of being a liar. He said both Mulongoti and Lukuku were liars with hidden agendas.
"I never met Mulongoti to talk about anything but I had a meeting with the Vice-President and in our meeting, there was no money involved. We talked about other things but nothing to do with money," Cozmo said. "I challenge Mulongoti to confess if he gave me any envelope. Maybe he gave it to Lukuku and if he Lukuku got that money then he should return it."
Cozmo also said he had resolved to withdraw his earlier support for Vice-President Banda, saying people had misunderstood his endorsement.
"The indication right now is that we were going to support Mr. Rupiah Banda because of the same money. We have now relinquished our support because it seems we were bought to rally behind Rupiah Banda," Cozmo said.
"We have also boycotted the elections and I would like to advise all my members not to vote in the presidential election but rather support our candidate in Ndola Central Constituency. We will not support anyone, whether it is Mr. Banda, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema HH or Patriotic Front Michael Sata but support our candidate in the parliamentary election."
Cozmo also urged the ACC to investigate the matter and ensure that culprits were brought to book.
When contacted for comment yesterday over Cozmo's statement, Mulongoti said he did not have time for immoral people before cutting the line.
"I have no time for immoral people. That's all I can say," said Mulongoti.
But Lukuku warned Cozmo to stop denying having received money from the MMD, saying he would expose him of other things.
On Wednesday, Lukuku revealed that NRP had received K15 million from Vice-President Banda to endorse his candidature.
Lukuku said the NRP had a meeting with Vice-President Banda where they presented their budget of K80 million but that the Vice-President told them that they had only prepared K15 million for them.
Lukuku said Vice-President Banda then asked them to collect the money from William Banda who was outside his office with Mulongoti. According to Lukuku, the envelope containing the K15 million was wrongly given to Victory Ministries founding pastor Nevers Mumba but that it was later retrieved with the help of William Banda.
Lukuku then differed with Cozmo over his decision to support Vice-President Banda because the NRP had earlier resolved to endorse Hichilema's candidature.
When they didn't agree, Lukuku resigned from the party.
And when contacted for comment on Wednesday, Cozmo said Lukuku had been fired from the party about four days before his meeting with Vice-President Banda.
However, he confirmed having met Vice-President Banda where they discussed continuity, the genuineness of the K30 billion Youth Fund as well as the involvement of young people in national development.
Cozmo denied having received money from the Vice-President.
William Banda said Cozmo did not meet Vice-President Banda, adding that if he went to Government House, he could have definitely seen him.
Mulongoti was very upset when contacted to comment on the matter.
"Do you think I have a job like that of being an usher? I am asking you. You think with my status I can be an usher?" asked Mulongoti.
"That man is an Acting President. He has protocol officers. Will it be in order for me as a minister to turn into an usher? You are just being malicious because you know that at my level I can't be an usher."
Mulongoti said his presence at Government House did not mean he was ushering in people that wanted to meet the Vice-President.
"You mean I should not be at Government House? If I am there, I am meeting the Revolution Party?" Mulongoti asked before hanging up.
Labels: MIKE MULONGOTI, NRP, RUPIAH BANDA
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Finland pledges 9m euros to Zambia's environmental conservation progra
By Noel Sichalwe
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
FINNISH Ambassador to Zambia Sinikka Antila has pledged about nine million Euros towards programmes aimed at conserving Zambia’s environment. Speaking at a strategic environmental awareness workshop, Ambassador Antila said she was glad that the Zambian government had nominated her country to be a lead partner in environmental programmes.
She said the role of Finland was to facilitate support to various sectors and institutions dealing with environmental programmes.
Ambassador Antila said her government’s support would be funded through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources’ mainstream programme.
She challenged other donors to support environmental programmes, saying the natural environment was the most valuable economic asset that Zambia had and which could be utilised properly.
Ambassador Antila said urgent action was needed in planning and implementation of the strategic plan in order to preserve the environment.
“My government will continue to support Zambia in mainstreaming the environmental programmes,” said Ambassador Antila.
And tourism and enviroment permanent secretary Mukuka Zimba said the government was happy with the support given by Finland towards the preservation of Zambia’s environment.
Finance permanent secretary James Mulungushi said lack of awareness on environmental degradation had caused a lot of global concerns on environmental issues.
Mulungushi said it was now an imperative requirement that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) became effective, emphasising the need to consider environmental programmes in the production process.
He said there were currently over 100 EIA projects being undertaken in Zambia, as the Vision 2030 had spelt out the need for environmental conservation.
Mulungushi also said the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP), which is a vehicle to attain the 2030 Vision, has a budget of up to K277 billion for environmental programmes of which K37 billion would be provided by the government and the donors would provide K231 billion.
Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) acting director Victoria Mupwaya said the institution was facing a lot of challenges because people perceive environmental protection as a threat to the agriculture sector.
Labels: FINLAND
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Zambia Jan-July copper output rises 14.4 pct
Fri 26 Sep 2008, 11:43 GMT
LUSAKA, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Production of cathode copper in Zambia rose 14.38 percent to 332,531 tonnes between January and July 2008 compared with the output for the same period last year, the central bank said on Friday.
The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) also said cobalt production for the same period fell slightly to 2,655 tonnes, versus 2,673 tonnes in the corresponding period in 2007.
The mineral-rich country of 12 million people exported 315,992 tonnes of copper for the seven months to July, indicating a 15.9 percent decline after exporting 265,803 tonnes in the same period last year, a report from the central bank showed.
However, cobalt exports rose to 2,716 tonnes this year compared with 2,642 tonnes in the same period in 2007.
Copper industry analysts have said fluctuations in production and export figures are due mainly to stockpiling by the copper mines and consumer demand.
Zambia plans to lift its copper output to 600,000 tonnes by December from 535,000 tonnes the previous year.
The government also forecast that copper production will peak at 1.0 million tones by 2010 after new mines begin production.
Treasury data indicated that the foreign copper and cobalt mines have invested more than $3 billion in the Zambian mining sector, the economic lifeblood of the country since the early 2000s.
The copper mines are Zambia's major employer and earn the country the bulk of its foreign exchange. (Reporting by Shapi Shacinda; editing by Karen Foster)
Labels: COPPER
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Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Consults on Economic Crisis
Zimbabwe Independent (Harare)
25 September 2008
Posted to the web 26 September 2008
Dumisani Muleya
ZIMBABWE'S Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai is on a whirlwind consultation tour on policy issues before he is sworn in -- possibly next week after resolution of the deadlock on the allocation of ministries.
The stalemate over the distribution of ministries will almost certainly be resolved when President Robert Mugabe returns home from the United Nations General Assembly. Sources said only four government ministries -- finance, home affairs, local government and foreign affairs -- remain contested.
There is also a dispute over prisons and water resources ministries. This means effectively 25 ministries have been agreed upon.
Mugabe is entitled to appoint 15 ministers, Tsvangirai 13 and the deputy prime minister-designate Arthur Mutambara three.
The negotiating parties met last week after their leaders failed to resolve the issue to try to break the impasse.
However, the negotiators decided to refer the issue back to their principals whom they said were better placed to deal with the matter. Sources said a compromise could be found on the matter by dividing contested ministries between Mugabe and Tsvangirai.
Once the deadlock is broken, Mugabe will announce the new cabinet next week to pave way for the inclusive government.
Tsvangirai's spokesman George Sibotshiwe confirmed his boss was meeting various economic and social groupings as part of his consultations. As prime minister Tsvangirai will be responsible for policy formulation and implementation.
"The main purpose of his meetings is to consult with various sectors of the economy and different groupings to get their views on reconstruction and recovery of the country," Sibotshiwe said.
"He is going to give a comprehensive briefing about the outcome of his consultations at the end of this process."
Tsvangirai is accompanied on his tour by his advisers Ian Makone, Eddie Cross and Wellington Chadehumbe.
Tsvangirai's consultations indicate his optimism about the power-sharing agreement signed last week between Zanu PF and the MDC under the aegis of former South African president Thabo Mbeki.
There are reservations about the deal, which leaves Mugabe as president. "The deal as far as we are concerned is the best thing for the country," Tsvangirai said last week. "We will be able to work within the deal to achieve the necessary transformation."
Mugabe, who remains the head of state and government, commander-in-chief of the defence forces and chair of cabinet and the national security council, also said this week the agreement would work.
"Every one of us is actually positive about the agreement, or the need to cement the agreement and make it work," Mugabe said in New York at the United Nations General Assembly before his address last night.
"I don't see any reason why we can't work together as Zimbabweans," he said. "We are all sons of the soil, as we say, and the differences arise purely from your own conceptions of what Zimbabwe should be and what the government of Zimbabwe should be."
They said Tsvangirai wanted to ensure that he is fully informed about the dire economic and social conditions before taking office soon.
Sources said Tsvangirai has so far met business leaders and captains of industry, the farming community and players in the agricultural sector, the mining sector, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups and the labour movement. He is also expected to meet more players in other sectors of the economy and various interest groups including the media.
Some of the specific groups he has met are the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, Chamber of Mines, NGOs including the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation, and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, from where he launched his political career. Late yesterday, he met farmers' representatives.
He has asked the Chamber of Mines and the CZI to draft policy documents for their respective sectors. Sources said business representatives wanted to know how Tsvangirai would proceed with the contentious issue of indigenisation.
The MDC leader is said to be also focusing on the resumption of food aid to deal with the current humanitarian crisis.
According to the United Nations, over 5,1 million people -- approximately 45% of the population -- would have no access to food by year-end.
Tsvangirai is trying to get an appreciation of the food crisis, especially in rural areas.
He would also focus on the revival of the ruined agricultural sector to restore production to avert food shortages next year.
Tsvangirai's economic policy document drawn up before the March elections states that the basic objectives of reconstruction would be to "stabilise the national economy, restore macro-economic fundamentals and initiate a process of economic recovery". It says there would be a need to tackle inflation, interest rates and exchange rate problems as fast as possible to create a stable macro-economic environment.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report this week Zimbabwe needs about US$5 billion in foreign aid over five years to re-build its shattered economy.
The report, compiled after the signing of the power-sharing agreement, said US$1,6 billion of the financial aid would be needed immediately to facilitate recovery.
Labels: COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, NEOCOLONIALISM
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Zimbabwe: Mutambara Reins in Rebellious MPs
Zimbabwe Independent (Harare)
25 September 2008
Posted to the web 26 September 2008
Loughty Dube
THE Arthur Mutambara-led MDC has re-established its grip on rebellious MPs who last month struck a deal with Morgan Tsvangirai's formation and voted for Lovemore Moyo as Speaker of the House of Assembly against their own candidate.
Authoritative sources said the Mutambara formation recently warned the MPs that they would be expelled from the party and lose their parliamentary seats if they defy their leaders in future.
The sources said the party leadership reined in the legislators after last week's signing of an inclusive government deal between Mutambara, Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe.
The three parties agreed, among other things, that for one year should any "electoral vacancy arise in respect of a local authority or parliamentary seat, for whatever reason, only the party holding that seat prior to the vacancy occurring shall be entitled to nominate and field a candidate to fill the seat subject to that party complying with the rules governing its internal democracy".
The sources said Mutambara's party told the rebellious MPs that it would use this provision to expel them and nominate loyal members to fill the parliamentary seats.
"The MPs now have an axe hanging over their heads," one of the sources said. "The party leadership now has re-established its grip on the legislators and they have to tag along with what the party says if they are to save their jobs."
Seven out of 10 MPs from Mutambara's MDC voted alongside Tsvangirai legislators to elect Moyo Speaker of the House of Assembly.
This was despite the Mutambara formation sponsoring former Gwanda MP Paul Themba Nyathi.
Moyo polled 110 votes against Nyathi's 98, despite the fact MDC-Tsvangirai had 99 MPs in parliament on the day of voting.
Moyo's election has since been challenged in the High Court by independent legislator Jonathan Moyo saying the MDC-T legislators violated the principle of secret voting.
Moyo said the MDC-T MPs showed their ballot papers to the party's deputy president Thokozani Khupe, secretary-general Tendai Biti, chief whip Innocent Gonese and spokesperson Nelson Chamisa after voting.
Moyo's application seeking the nullification of the election of the Speaker is being backed by three MPs from the Mutambara faction -- Moses Mzila Ndlovu, Patrick Dube and Siyabonga Ncube.
Meanwhile, despite the current impasse on sharing cabinet posts between Tsvangirai and Mugabe, it is understood Mutambara's camp will head the ministries of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture; Industry and Commerce; and Regional Integration and International Trade.
Authoritative sources said Mutambara was allocated the ministries without hitches when he met Mugabe and Tsvangirai last Thursday.
During the meeting, Mugabe and Tsvangirai disagreed on which ministries their parties should have, with Zanu PF reportedly insisting on taking key ministries, among them Defence, Home Affairs, Local Government and Finance.
According to the deal, Zanu PF will have 15 ministers, MDC-T 13 and MDC-Mutambara three. Zanu PF will also have eight deputy ministers, MDC-T six and MDC-Mutambara one.
"There were no problems with negotiations on the Mutambara side," one of the sources said. "He managed to secure the posts that his party wanted without any hitches and Mutambara spent most of his time watching Tsvangirai and Mugabe slugging it out for the remaining ministries."
The sources said the Mutambara faction also managed to secure the deputy Foreign Affairs post.
Edwin Mushoriwa, the MDC-Mutambara formation spokesperson, confirmed to the Zimbabwe Independent yesterday that some ministries were allocated to his party.
However, he declined to reveal the portfolios arguing that "things may change" when the principals meet to finalise the allocation upon the return to Zimbabwe of Mugabe from New York.
"It would not be correct to say that we are happy with the ministries we were allocated," Mushoriwa said. "The negotiating process is ongoing and there might be more compromises when the principals meet."
Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, MDC
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COMMENTS - Ok, here we go. Let's deregulate the Zimbabwean banking system. Don't bother looking at what deregulation of the American banking system has done in the USA - the collapse of Lehman Brothers, which survived the American Civil War, WWI, WWII, the crisis of 1974, the 1980s - finally bankcrupted by the deregulation of the financial markets. This is what Tsvangirai now wants to visit on the people of Zimbabwe. Beware of this wolf in sheep's clothing - borrowed sheep's clothing, because
the most rabid neoliberal in the MDC is Eddy Cross. " The MDC hopes that Zanu PF moves away from its intransigent position on key ministries so that a new government begins to address the people's basic needs. "
The MDC's prescriptions have nothing to do with the people's needs or interests, and is only about corporate interests - corporations like Anglo-American and LonRho.
Banking deregulation. Anyone can take a stroll past people queing at bank accounts, but Tsvangirai is not being honest with them about what the MDC's policies are really going to mean for them. :(
These are pictures of Morgan enjoying his handiwork. He should be thanking the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 for hyperinflation, without which he would not have the opportunity to rob Zimbabwe blind.
Tsvangirai surveys banking chaos
TOUR: Tsvangirai is cheered by Zimbabweans waiting at a bank queue on Friday, September 26, 2008
Posted to the web: 26/09/2008 15:24:17
ZIMBABWE'S Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday made a surprise visit to banks in the capital Harare that were the scene of long queues resulting from cash shortages.
Some of those queuing temporarily forgot about the miseries as they cheered the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader. Others said they had been in queues daily for several weeks.
"We no longer have anything to do other than to come here daily to withdraw money since the daily maximum limit is worthless," said Maureen Mashavave, who was carrying a baby on her back in a queue outside the Kingdom Bank.
Tsvangirai - accompanied by his MDC deputy Thokozani Khupe and party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa - asked people if they were happy with $1 000 as the maximum daily bank withdrawal allowed in Zimbabwe (that will be raised to $20 000 from next Monday, according to the central bank).
A loaf of bread costs at least $1 500.
He left, shaking his head, and saying he was concerned about the situation. "This is totally unpleasant and it has to be addressed as a matter of urgency."
"Hunger and problems are now gone," a bystander shouted at Tsvangirai in reference to the former union leader now being part of the government.
Cash shortages are just part of the collapse of the economy of a country that was once the breadbasket of the southern African region.
Zimbabwe's economy has been on a steep downturn for a nearly a decade with an estimated 90 per cent unemployment, shortages of electricity, food, fuel and medical drugs, and at least 80 per cent of the population living below the poverty line.
Year on year inflation, officially 11.2 million per cent - but independent economists peg it at more than 20 million per cent - is the highest in the world.
Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe signed a power sharing deal on September 15 aimed at reviving the country's economy. - dpa
Labels: BANKING, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, NEOLIBERALISM, SANCTIONS
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Monetary regulations harming the poor
TOUR: Tsvangirai is cheered by Zimbabweans waiting at a bank queue on Friday, September 26, 2008
By Elton Mangoma MP
Posted to the web: 26/09/2008 15:45:22
THE MDC condemns the current monetary regime which allows both individuals and companies to withdraw a paltry $1 000 per day which is not enough to address the basic needs of an average family.
The long queues at our banks as people strive to withdraw their salaries are an indictment on the unworkable policies of this government.
Maximum daily withdrawal limits have put a strain on both companies and individuals as the amounts are largely inadequate even for a two way trip to Chitungwiza. An average family of five needs about $7 000 to buy basics every day and $1 000 per day is not even enough for a two-way trip to Chitungwiza.
Civil servants and ordinary Zimbabweans are spending important production time of up to a whole day in bank queues waiting to withdraw money that is only enough to buy cellphone airtime for four minutes!
The repercussions of keeping people's money in banks while inflation erodes value are far greater than simply increasing the daily limit.
The restrictions on daily maximum withdrawals have spawned corruption, crime and petty theft as people resort to other means of raising a quick buck to sustain their families.
With the critical humanitarian situation in the country, people need money to feed their families and their parents. Even the BACOSSI programme has dismally failed to address the massive starvation that has swept across the country. It has failed because people need more than just cooking oil, beans, soap and mealie meal which are covered by this programme. They need to pay school fees for their children.
They need water and power in their homes. They need transport to go to work. They need to buy clothes and school uniforms for their children. They need to survive in this hostile economy where all measures taken by the previous government have dismally failed to ameliorate the people's poverty.
The RBZ regulations to allow selected shops and wholesalers to sell goods in foreign currency will cause more havoc on an economy already teetering on the brink of total collapse. It is unclear where ordinary Zimbabweans will be expected to access the foreign currency to buy these goods without resorting to the parallel market. It is also unclear how a majority population getting its salary in local currency will be expected to take advantage of these shops.
The MDC hopes that Zanu PF moves away from its intransigent position on key ministries so that a new government begins to address the people's basic needs. The only way forward is to speed up the political resolution of the Zimbabwean crisis as brokered and guaranteed by SADC and the African Union on 15 September 2008.
Zimbabweans cannot wait any more.
Hon Elton Mangoma, MP is the secretary for economic affairs for the MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai
Labels: BANKING, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, REGULATION, SANCTIONS, ZIMBABWE
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Motlanthe sworn in as SA President
NEW MAN IN CHARGE: Kgalema Motlanthe became South Africa's third blak President after the end of apartheid on Thursday, September 25, 2008 • Mbeki's brother warns SA 'entering era of anarchy'
Last updated: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:29:42 GMT
THE deputy leader of South Africa's ruling party, Kgalema Motlanthe, was sworn in Thursday as the nation's third president since the end of apartheid. "I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa, and will obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all other law of the Republic," he said, reading the oath.
Motlanthe gave his oath of office before the chief justice of the constitutional court Pius Langa, as well as cabinet ministers and reporters, shortly after winning election in parliament.
A former trade unionist and freedom fighter, he is assuming what many believe will be a brief caretaker role after Thabo Mbeki was ousted in a power struggle within the governing party.
South Africa's Parliament, which elects the president from among its members and is dominated by the African National Congress, elected Kgalema Motlanthe with 269 votes to 50 for the main opposition party's nominee.
Jacob Zuma, whose allies engineered Mbeki's ouster, watched from the public gallery. Zuma was not eligible for the presidency because he is not a member of parliament.
When the vote results were announced, members of Parliament rose to cheer, and Motlanthe gave a two-thumbs up salute to the gallery. He is expected to step aside after elections next year, when Zuma was expected to become president.
Mbeki did not attend the National Assembly session and Cabinet ministers who have said they were leaving with him also were absent. Among them were the former deputy president, defence minister, intelligence and prisons ministers. Other members of Mbeki's team have said they would be willing to serve in the next administration.
Last Saturday, the ANC ordered Mbeki to quit. The party, urged on by Zuma's leftist allies, acted after a judge threw out a corruption case against Zuma on technical grounds and said Zuma may have been a victim of Mbeki's political machinations.
The ANC struggled to reassure South Africa and the world there was no reason to fear instability in Africa's economic and diplomatic powerhouse. But the situation is fragile, as was clear Tuesday when Mbeki's office announced that 13 ministers and three deputies had resigned from the 28-member Cabinet, among them the highly respected finance minister, Trevor Manuel.
South Africa's stocks and currency reeled. Only later did it become clear that six of those who resigned, including Manuel, had already told the ANC they were willing to serve in a new government. Manuel was expected to be named to a new Cabinet later Thursday.
Zuma is seen as owing his rise to support from labour, the South African Communist Party, and the ANC's increasingly impatient youth wing. But Zuma has said repeatedly he does not plan a major departure from the free market policies of Mbeki and Manuel. South Africa enjoyed unprecedented growth during Mbeki's nine-year tenure, but critics say he did too little to ensure the new wealth trickled down to the black majority.
For all the uncertainty of recent days, some South Africans say the smooth transition was a mark of the maturity of their democracy 14 years after the end of apartheid.
Muzi Sikhakhane, a Johannesburg attorney who was visiting Cape Town and among a handful of people who gathered outside parliament Thursday, said South Africans would "emerge from this stronger."
But he added: "I hope that the new leaders are not just fighting for positions, that they are fighting in order to make our lives better."
South Africans have been anticipating a shift from Mbeki to Zuma at least since December, when Zuma defeated the president in a party election for the ANC's leadership.
Tony Leon, a leading member of the opposition Democratic Alliance, called the ANC ouster of Mbeki in December "brutal, but democratic," and found reason for hope in the events following it that culminated with Thursday's election.
"South Africa's current uncertainty could, over time, lead to far less predictable and far more democratic political outcomes, not immediately, but certainly over time," Leon said in a speech to university students in Cape Town Thursday.
Steve Matomane, an 18-year-old student who also was in the crowd outside Parliament, criticised the way Mbeki was ousted. But he said he did not expect much change in the way his country would be governed.
"As South Africans we don't have to panic," he said. "I think Zuma will do a wonderful job because he was selected by the ANC and they believe in his ability, his capability."
About 40 people demonstrated in support of Mbeki outside Parliament Thursday. Mzoxolo Sume, a 42-year-old security guard, stood with a sign saying he believed Mbeki had been the victim of a "coup."
"I don't think this is in the interest in the nation," Sume said. "It's about the infighting within the ANC."
Mbeki presided over his last Cabinet meeting Wednesday night. Essop Pahad, a top aide to Mbeki, described the session as "very special and very emotional," saying much of the time was devoted to ministers praising Mbeki and the president saying farewell. - AFP/AP/Reuters
Labels: ANC, KGALEMA MOTLANTHE, SOUTH AFRICA
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COMMENT - Well I would like see all the neoliberals to come around to the fact that you cannot have an economy without the involvement of the population - an economy that rests solely on the presence of huge corporations in the economy. They are coming to this a little late, after 17 years in power, so it is up to the electorate to judge how convinced they are about their change of philosophy.
But I welcome any involvement of the population in the economy. The way to do that in my opinion is through reinvestment of profits from the mines in infrastructure and agriculture, as well as looking into ways to manufacture finished goods. However, with 70% of the population living on less than $1,- per day, 70% or more of Zambia's agricultural land not being under cultivation, and only 3% of arable land being irrigation and not dependent on rainfall, I think it is obvious what has to be done to move the economy away from depending on the export of raw materials.
Let there be more participation in the economy-Magande
September 25, 2008
Government has said there was need for more business people and individuals to participate in the country’s economy by investing in various sectors of development. Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Ng’andu Magande, said
there should be an increased participation in the country’s economy to enable it to expand more.
Mr. Magande said this at a meeting organized by the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZMA) in Lusaka today. He said diversification of various sectors in the economy could also enhance investment as the country continues to enjoy economic growth.
And Mr. Magande has called on manufacturers to ensure that the reduction in fuel prices, which was recently announced, trickled down to the consumers.
Mr. Magande also urged consumers to ensure that they demanded for better prices from traders in order for them to benefit from the reduction of prices.
He noted that lack of active participation in ensuring that prices were reduced by stakeholders such as manufacturers and consumers were some of the challenges government was facing in managing the economy of the country.
Mr. Magande said government has also continued to face other challenges such as the unsteady fuel prices on the global market.
And speaking earlier, Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZMA) president, Dave Baba, said members of the association have also been challenged with rising production costs as a result of rising fuel prices and load shedding by Zesco.
Mr. Baba said the association was however ready to partner with government and other investors in other sectors to enhance production of goods in order to prevent loss of revenue.
He said partnering with other stakeholders could also result in cushioning the challenges faced by the members of association, adding that it could also increase the country’s revenue.
ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS
Categories: Economy
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Labels: DEMAND SIDE ECONOMICS, MAGANDE
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Statement to the UN General Assembly by President Mugabe
Full text of the Statement by President Mugabe to the UN General Assembly delivered on Thursday 25 September 2008
Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:20:00 +0000
Statement by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade R.G. Mugabe, on the occasion of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly: New York, September 25, 2008-09-26
Your Excellency Mr Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly,
Your Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations,
Your Majesties,
Your Excellencies,
Heads of State and Government,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Comrades and Friends,
Mr President,
I wish to begin by joining those who have congratulated you on your election as President of the 63rd Session of the General Assembly. My delegation is confident that under your able stewardship the General Assembly will make progress on many issues due for discussion during the current session.
I would also like to pay special tribute to your predecessor Mr Srgjan Kerim who successfully presided over the 62nd Session of the General Assembly.
Mr President,
Our discussion focus this session, namely the impact of the global food crisis and poverty and hunger in the world as well as the need to democratise the United Nations relates well to our Millennium Development goals. For us in the developing world, the eradication of poverty is the first of our priorities and should indeed continue to receive serious attention.
The current global food crisis characterised by escalating food prices is causing untold suffering to the majority of poor people in many developing countries. This has been compounded by the energy crisis with devastating social economic consequences especially on the most vulnerable in society such as women, children, the elderly, as well as people living with HIV and AIDS. The crisis now qualifies as a humanitarian emergency which requires global solidarity to provide post haste assistance in the form of food, water and energy.
Mr President,
For most developing countries, the crisis is competing with other pressing demands for scarce resources for development, including achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially as are faced with declining Official Development Assistance (ODA) and foreign direct investment. The trend will, regrettably, reverse some of the progress made towards the attainment of the MDGs. It is, therefore, crucial that national efforts aimed at addressing these global food and energy crises be complemented by appropriate international assistance and interventions, including debt cancellation for low-income food-deficient developing countries so as to release more resources to fight hunger. Adequate support for food production programmes is absolutely necessary.
We call for more research into better seed varieties and assistance in irrigation technology and improved water harvesting methods, necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture. Zimbabwe believes that the challenges of climate change should be addressed in the context of development programmes that recognise the three pillars of economic and social thrusts as well as environmental protection.
Mr President,
In the past year, Zimbabwe is proud to have played her modest part in promoting sustainable development through its chairmanship of the 16th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD16). The Session which examined the obstacles and barriers to development in the areas of agriculture, land use, and rural development, and to drought mitigatory measures and desertification prevention in Africa. My Government, which was an active participant at the International Conference on the global food crisis, under the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome, in June this year, will continue to play its active role in formulating policy recommendations on this subject of sustainable development targets.
Mr President,
We share the view that trade is an important tool for development and so we reiterate our call for an open, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory trading and financial system, that seeks the removal of the main trade barriers. Tariffs have unfortunately remained high on goods from developing economies such as textiles and farm products. It is, therefore, disturbing that the Doha Round negotiations have collapsed without any indication of when they will be reconvened.
Mr President,
The objectives of the U.N. Charter in the economic arena will remain unfulfilled unless all member states genuinely and seriously participate in efforts to redress challenges that persist in developing countries. Social justice, political stability and sustainable development in most developing countries can best be achieved through genuine and committed support for empowerment programmes through, inter alia, just land ownership patterns. We understand only too well in our context that sustainable development is not possible without agrarian reform.
Mt Government has, therefore, gone a long way in laying the foundation for sustainable food production through its Land Reform Programme. The majority of our rural people have been empowered to contribute to household and national food security and, indeed, to be masters of their own destiny. However, effects of climate change that have included recurrent droughts and floods in the past seven years, and the illegal, unilaterally-imposed sanctions on my country have hindered Zimbabwe’s efforts to increase food production. Once again, I appeal to the world’s collective conscience to apply pressure for the immediate removal of these sanctions by Britain, the United States and their allies, which have brought untold suffering to our people.
Mr President,
Zimbabwe has always been and continues to be a firm believer in multilateral approaches to solving disputes as opposed to the unilateralism favoured by some countries. Our experience has shown that the cooperative and pacific approach often leads to lasting solutions to conflicts. We, therefore, deplore the vindictive approach which often is characterised by self-righteous finger-pointing, double standards and the imposition of unilateral sanctions to coerce smaller and weaker countries to bow to the wishes of the militarily stronger states.
In addition, the unilateral and coercive economic measures that we have witnessed in recent years are again completely at cross purposes with the principles that guide international co-operation as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
Mr President,
Not long ago, some permanent members of the Security Council sought to invoke Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter so its weight of sanctions and other measures could be applied against my small country which by any stretch of imagination is no threat to international peace and security. What insanity is this that has afflicted some world leaders? Should the sacred document, the U.N. Charter be allowed to suffer such undeserved emasculation and disgraceful abuse? And where is the protection of the small and innocent countries like mine from the threatened and real acts of aggression and punitive acts, often based on completely false allegations of violations of the rule of law, democracy and human rights? By the way, those who falsely accuse us of these violations are themselves perpetrators of genocide, acts of aggression and mass destruction.
Mr President,
The masses of innocent men, women and children who have perished in their thousands in Iraq surely demand retribution and vengeance. Who shall heed their cry? Surely those who invaded Iraq under false pretences and on the strength of contrived lies and in blatant violation of the Charter and international law must be made liable for them!
Zimbabwe does derive solace from the fact that there are some members of the Security Council who have taken principled stands in defending the Charter and protecting our sovereignty by ensuring that the Security Council acts not only within its mandate but also impartially, objectively and justly. Indeed, their sense of justice ensured that Zimbabwe, a country that does not pose any threat to regional and international peace, did not fall prey to a cocktail of lies which had been designed by our detractors to call for U.N. sanctions against it under Chapter VII. We thank them for their stand for truth and objectivity!
Mr President,
While we recognise the important role of the offices of Secretary Gneral in assisting member states to resolve political and other problems, we are of the view that international civil servants should discharge their noble duties with sensitivity and neutrality. At no time should they seek to pander to the whims of the mighty against the weak. Similarly, we call on some Security Council members to desist from abusing the U.N. Secretariat in an attempt to promote their political interests. It is our firm belief that the Secretary General and his staff should be allowed to serve all member states without fear of favour.
Mr President,
We reiterate our long held view that the Security Council as presently constituted is undemocratic. The present configuration renders it subject to manipulation by the powerful countries that use the Council as a readily available legitimising forum for their political machinations. Thus it is imperative that the Security Council be democratised by ensuring equitable geographical representation through increasing its membership. Zimbabwe remains steadfast in its support of the Ezulwini Consensus which calls for Africa to have two permanent seats with the same powers and prerogatives as the current permanent members and two non permanent seats.
Mr President,
We share the view that the General Assembly, a body that represents all of us and enjoys wider representation of States, must continue to be the supreme decision-making body of the U.N. We call for its revitalisation to make it more effective and to enable it to fully discharge its Charter mandate. It is our fervent hope that a revitalised General Assembly will reassert its prestige, its pre-eminent role, its authority and its capacity to guide and direct other organs of the U.N. system. In that context, the tendency by some members of the Security Council to usurp the power and mandates of the General Assembly must be resisted.
Mr President,
I am pleased to report that the inter-party talks in Zimbabwe, for which our regional grouping, SADC, appointed a facilitator, ended with the signing of an agreement on the formation of an all-inclusive government on 15th September 2008. This was achieved entirely by African mediation, which is clear testimony that Africa is capable of solving her challenges and problems which are often the remnants of colonialism. African leaders, working together, were able to find an African solution to an African problem. In that regard, I wish to pay special tribute to President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, whose patience, fortitude, sensitivity, diplomatic skills and painstaking work made it possible for the Zimbabwean parties to overcome what had appeared to be insurmountable and intractable difficulties to reaching agreement.
I would like to extend my thanks to SADC, the African Union and individual African and other leaders, who lent their support to this initiative. My Party, Zanu (PF), will abide by the spirit and letter of the agreement to which we have appended our signature. As government, we are prepared to cooperate with all countries which also respect Zimbabwe’s sovereignty. I would, therefore, like to appeal to those members of the international community who have imposed illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe to lift them so that my country can focus, undisturbed, on its economic turn-around programme.
In conclusion, Mr President, we hope that we will continue to shape an organisation which upholds universal values and interests, which attends to the urgent needs of those in need and which remains at the service of humanity.
I thank you.
Labels: MUGABE, SPEECHES, UN
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Mugabe calls for removal of sanctions, accuses the West of genocide
Natasha Greenwood in Los Angeles, CA
Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:07:00 +0000
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has accused Western powers of genocide and called for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed by the United States and Britain in his speech to the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly currently taking place in New York.
He criticized the U.N.’s efforts to try and impose further sanctions against Zimbabwe through the U.N. Security Council, and praised Russia and China for blocking them saying that “Zimbabwe does derive solace from the fact that there are some permanent members of the Security Council who have taken a principled stand in defending the Charter.”
The President called on the Security Council to act “impartially, objectively and justly” and “within its mandate”.
“Not long ago, some permanent members of the Security Council sought to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter so its weight of sanctions and other measures could be applied against my small country which by any stretch of imagination is no threat to international peace and security,” he said.
He asked: “What insanity is this that has afflicted some world leaders? Should the sacred document, the U.N. Charter be allowed to suffer such undeserved emasculation and disgraceful abuse?”
“By the way, those who falsely accuse us of these violations are themselves international perpetrators of genocide, acts of aggression and mass destruction,” said the president in his speech.
"The masses of innocent men, women and children who have perished in their thousands in Iraq surely demand retribution and vengeance. Who shall heed their cry?" President Mugabe asked.
“Who shall heed their cry? Surely those who invaded Iraq under false pretences and on the strength of contrived lies and in blatant violation of the Charter and international law must be made liable for them.”
President Mugabe also called on the office of the Secretary General to be used impartially and not for the furtherance of the interests of powerful nations like the U.S. and Britain. He called on the Secretariat to discharge its role with “sensitivity and neutrality” and “serve all member states without fear or favour”.
MUGABE ON THE POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT
President Mugabe also highlighted the power-sharing agreement that he signed with the two leaders of the Movement for Democratic Change formations led by Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, saying that the agreement was a triumph for African diplomacy and was “clear testimony that Africa can solve her own challenges and problems which are often remnants of colonialism.”
He praised outgoing President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki for his efforts in facilitating the all-party talks in Zimbabwe.
“I wish to pay special tribute to President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, whose patience, fortitude, sensitivity, diplomatic skills and painstaking work made it possible for the Zimbabwean parties to overcome what had appeared to be insurmountable and intractable difficulties to reaching (an) agreement,” said President Mugabe.
The President also thanked the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), the African Union and other leaders who lent their support to the power sharing negotiations in Zimbabwe.
He reiterated that the Zanu PF party was committed to the formation of an all-inclusive Government. “My Party, Zanu PF, will abide by the spirit and letter of the agreement to which we have appended our signature,” he said adding that the all-inclusive Government was “prepared to cooperate with all countries which also respect Zimbabwe’s sovereignty.”
The President also asked the countries that imposed illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe “to lift them so that my country can focus, undisturbed, on its economic turn-around programme.”
Labels: SANCTIONS
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VoIP is now legal in Zimbabwe? Econet International Calling Card
Robert Ndlovu - Opinion
Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:22:00 +0000
IT may appear that some sense has finally been knocked into telecommunications regulation body of Zimbabwe POTRAZ? If developments at Econet wireless are anything to go by, VoIP is now legal in Zimbabwe. Or Is it?
VoIP – Voice Over Internet Protocol is the sending of voice calls over Internet Protocol as opposed to GSM or traditional switched network like PSTN that are relatively expensive.
Zimbabwe allows only local VoIP traffic. Which means a person in Bulawayo can call someone in Harare over the Internet. But up to now it was illegal for anyone in Zimbabwe to make or receive international calls over the internet.
The Chronicle in Zimbabwe , carried an article recently to the effect that, giant Econet was granted a “go ahead” by POTRAZ to operate an international calling card platform in Zimbabwe. This so called ICC runs on VoIP using session initiation platform (SIP) as the signaling protocol.
He said the mobile telecommunications provider was last week granted authority to sell the cards in foreign currency under its new International Calling Card (ICC) platform. The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe finally gave the nod more than a year after Econet submitted an application to implement the system.
“The ICC system is one of our innovative products, developed in partnership with a United Kingdom-based provider where subscribers can purchase recharge cards in foreign currency and use the system to make international calls,” [Econet CEO – Mboweni - www.chronicle.co.zw – September 19, 2008]
For what we know Econet is a GSM wireless , 3G operator and an Internet service provider via Ecoweb in Zimbabwe based on the licenses it was granted by POTRAZ.
The three IAPs — Telecontract, TelOne and Ecoweb — hold the IAP Class B licence, which is an internet licence that allows them to only transmit data using the internet and not voice. Was Econet now granted IAP license class A which allows for VoIP ?
The recent announcement by Econet on their new calling card platform implies that VoIP has been legalized in Zimbabwe. That would be great news indeed .
But is that the case? Is that official? Or it’s only for Econet?
* This ICC platform uses routing of calls over Internet Protocol.
* Outgoing VoIP is illegal according to POTRAZ in Zimbabwe
* Companies in Zimbabwe can call each other over the Internet as LONG as the calls do not leave Zimbabwe.
* When was Econet granted a VoIP license?
* Does this mean companies like Telco with a VoIP license can now originate international traffic ?
VoIP Lawsuit - Econet vs Easi-E-Connect – July 2007
Sometime last year Econet took Easi-E-Connect directors Herbert Rinashe and Irfaan Valera based in Harare to court saying that they had defrauded Econet up to US $ 77,000. Econet claimed that this company was defrauding them by terminating VoIP traffic using the internet and Econet SIM cards. Apparently this company beat Econet in implementing International Calling Card platform and the poor fellows were arrested for being innovative. Easi-E connect did not defraud Econet but were innovative enough to reduce the cost of calling from outside Zimbabwe using intuitive and smart VoIP / GSM technologies .[Source www.thezimbabwean.co.uk – July 7 , 2007 ]
Let me explain what this company was accused and charged of.
Easi-E-Connect used the Internet to receive telephone calls from say UK onto a GSM modem located in Harare. This GSM modem contained multiple SIM cards from Econet. So an overseas a caller calls a certain access number in the UK that will prompt the user to enter a PIN. After a correct PIN has been entered, the system will then prompt the caller to enter a destination number e.g. 0912 444 666, then the call will be routed over IP (internet) directly to a GSM modem connected to the Internet in Harare. Bear in mind this GSM modem in Harare has several SIM cards, legally sourced by the company from Econet. Then after receiving that call over IP the SIM then calls the desired number and the call is connected and people start talking.
This means the call from the SIM card in the GSM modem to any number in Zimbabwe is literally a local call. The time used by these SIM cards was prepaid or post paid for. And Econet felt they had been defrauded !
Call Synopsis – 3 legs
Leg 1 ó Caller in UK calling a local access number, entering PIN, and then entering destination number (the caller has paid local telephone service that he/she pays for monthly)
Leg 2 ó Call travels over the internet from UK and hits GSM modem in Zimbabwe (The calling service provider is connected to the Internet via an ISP and pays for the bandwidth it uses)
Leg 3 ó SIM card in GSM modem then calls the destination number. (The GSM modem owner in Harare pays for his Internet service with his/her ISP and also pays for his/her airtime to the SIM card provider)
“This caused prejudice of US$77 000 to Econet in unlawful converted international incoming calls terminated minutes for the month of June 2007 alone . . . and nothing yet has been recovered," a Harare Magistrates’ Court document read.
Illegality of VoIP
Which of the call legs illustrated above is illegal?
Now Zimbabwe imports diesel from say Saudi Arabia via NOCZIM . In order to reduce the cost of diesel to the end user, NOCZIM will add ethanol to the fuel. This is called blending. Jatropha or ethanol is used for this. This helps cut the cost of the fuel by 20 % and is indeed a great innovative use of technology to reduce fuel costs and also use bio-friendly green fuels !
Now how would you react if BP or Shell in Saudi Arabia takes you to court for diluting their fuel with jatropha or ethanol to produce blend?
I don’t see anything illegal when a company such as Easi-Connect , route voice calls over an IP network in order to cut down origination and termination costs. Hopefully Econet now understands this. By embracing a technology that they took someone to court for, Econet and POTRAZ have sent a good signal to all VoIP practitioners to leverage on the VoIP platform.
This is good news for Zimbabwe as that move will encourage technology companies based in and outside Zimbabwe to aggressively deploy VoIP based services which include but not limited to , Calling card services , Call centers , Virtual telephone numbers , Internet Fax , call conferencing etc.
We live in an extremely dynamic and competitive global village where regulations and fear of competition have been noted as clear obstacles to ICT development and progress in Africa.
Potraz must come clear about VoIP because if they don’t well people will still use it .If Potraz tries to force ISP to block VoIP traffic on their networks , well people can always install VSAT dishes.
Call Centers
Blind restrictions on part of POTRAZ are seriously stifling progress and employment creation opportunities in this fast moving telecoms lane . In Africa countries like SA and Kenya are now new targets for US based companies to provide customer services over the phone by using VoIP.Availability of a call centers is going to play a pivotal role for the tourism industry come SA 2010 FIFA to be held in SA.To be able to handle millions of calls before and during the soccer show case, VoIP enables operators to access cheap and reliable calling plans to contact their potential customers in Europe, Americas and the like.
Zimbabwe is an ideal destination for customer support service centers over the phone as the country has a high literacy rate and people in Zimbabwe have a very high command of the English language. Call center software is available in free open source versions and can be downloaded for free from thousands of websites like www.asterisk.org. Advances in ICT in Zimbabwe can not remain a domain of a special few because of protective and restrictive conditions imposed by a body which has little understanding that restricting VoIP will not work. VoIP runs on open protocols like (IP/UDP/SIP/RTP) and trying to restrict their use will be tantamount in trying to ban technological progress and development in Zimbabwe.
Prohibitive License Fees
This discussion would be incomplete if no mention is made to the prohibitive licenses that POTRAZ is demanding for data licenses and ISP licenses.
POTRAZ is demanding millions of USD $ for one to secure a data license as of February 2007. Surely this is a clear message to prospective telco providers to look elsewhere. Yes they are looking elsewhere by erection of satellites for use for both voice and data. The size of some VSAT is about the same size as the TV satellites that have been deployed all over Zimbabwe to watch outside TV broadcasts like SABC. If POTRAZ continues to make entry into data and voice in Zimbabwe business prohibitive, the mushrooming of data and voice satellites, which cost about $ 2000, will continue unabated.All one needs is a satellite dish installed on site pointing in the right direction into the sky and then activating the data and voice with the service provider.
Flow of information is fundamental to any country’s serious economic growth. But in Africa it appears authorities put all measures they can , to stifle technological innovation.
Zimbabwe is set to witness some very interesting scenarios when returning residents from diaspora, used to high speed access abroad, will be faced with communication challenges on their return. It must be remembered that some of these returning residents have been away from Zimbabwe for more than 10 years and in that period , they have moved in sync with global telecommunications trends.
ICT Penetration Indicators (July 2007 Figures)
Population 12 .2 million (est.)
Fixed telephone lines 343,200
Fixed line density 2.81 %
Mobile lines 1, 001 ,000
Mobile line density 8.2 %
Internet users 1,200,750
Internet penetration 9.84 %
It is clear from the statistics above that fixed line development has not progressed as fast as mobile wireless and internet growth. So there is NO rocket science needed to figure out that any work to increase tele-density in Zimbabwe will revolve around wireless and internet based technologies. Progress is already being made in that direction with Econet being granted a 3G license. Telone has also made moves to increase phone line delivery by use of CDMA wireless solutions as the last mile to connect end users to the Telone telephone network. For now this service is restricted to Harare and Chitungwiza only.
Conclusion & Economic Challenges
Is VoIP now legal in Zimbabwe? By giving a go ahead to the SIP based International Calling Center to Econet; Potraz has sent strong messages to businesses – that yes its OK to implement VoIP in Zimbabwe.
POTRAZ needs to explain to us the criteria used to allow Econet to use VoIP. Because I don’t see any reason why ZOL , Mweb , Telconet , Africaonline and other ISPs can not do VoIP. I used to think that Telco was the one awarded the IAD license A ?
The deregulation of VoIP is long overdue and inevitable .The sooner this is done the better. Other wise the high costs of making calls will force business and organizations alike to adopt other alternatives that authorities might deem illegal. Of course this already happening. Don’t ask me who and where!
Also this time around I am confident that Econet will not take anyone to court for using a technology that they themselves are without a VoIP license for that matter!
We are talk about indigenizing our economy .We can not promote this process of indigenization on one hand and prosecute those who come up with creative solutions on the other.
People do not stop planning because the country is facing an unprecedented economic challenges highlighted by six figure inflation highs and near zero productivity levels. The onus is upon us come up with solutions that relate to our unique position. Nobody but us can help ourselves. Now that it seems political sanity is prevailing with the powers that be, we hope this will translate to deliverables.
Let’s walk the talk.
I have been out of Zimbabwe for a while now and so I would appreciate corrections and pointers to facts that I have raised in this article regarding the legality of VoIP in Zimbabwe.
Comments and questions most welcome.
Robert Ndlovu (IT & Telecoms Consultant)
ndlovu@ifoni.net
New York – USA
Labels: VOIP, ZIMBABWE
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