Maravi

Letters - Governance, Flooding and The Post

Why the inefficiency is hurting
Written by Cecil Nsambila, USA
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 5:00:25 PM

Zambia has enjoyed peace like few other countries in Africa. What is incredibly
disappointing is the fact that peace and democratic transitions have not translated into prosperity and efficiency. Zambia receives so much foreign aid for improving management, but the sad story is that bureaucracy has prevented Zambians from enjoying lucrative lives they have always dreamed about.

Take an example of passports. Why is it that every time we have a new government, we have to change the passports? Most Zambians get passports for travelling and not business, so why do they have to be inconvenienced just because we have politicians who are short-sighted? Not only changing passports is a nuisance, but you have to pay more each time you acquire a new one.

As if that isn’t enough to cause stress, Zambians abroad have to worry about sending money to relatives and also waste time renewing a piece of paper that is used only when one decides to visit home. Why don't we have to renew the passport only when the old one expires? Why don’t we have an online system where we can apply for passport forms?

I can't even bother addressing the duo citizenship issue.

Just like your inefficiency has caused you to lose large revenues in mining, so have you lost out on large revenue from Zambians abroad who are frustrated with mediocre ways of treating your citizens.

Just like you are looking for new mining investors, very soon you will be looking for new Zambian citizens from somewhere because you always make lucrative concessions to foreign investors than your own Zambian investors.

Maybe the government should not be blamed. Perhaps we, the people, should have ourselves to blame because we are too passive and complacent to demand change!

http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/6802/64/

Govt action on floods
Written by Gady Mwamba Museka Mazabuka
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 4:59:48 PM

Over the past days, months and years, Zambia in some parts has suffered from an unprecedented series of widespread floods. This has resulted in thousands of residents in the affected areas losing their homes, livestock and crops in back-to-back flooding.

The nation needs more and better housing. What can the government do to minimise the risk of floods? And what are local authorities doing to help keep safe our homes and other belongings during flooding? Torrential rain have left many people in a vulnerable situation.

Nothing appears to be happening to help anyone as a result of the floods; we need to prioritise to give food and clean water to help those in need, we would all be glad to contribute if distribution can be organised.

And what about charity shops giving clothing to the affected people?

Charity should begin at home after all! I hope the government is doing something to ensure that those who have had their house destroyed are taken care off.



Hands off The Post
Written by Clergyman
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 4:58:50 PM

It seems that in the last four months of President Rupiah Banda's rule, he is bent on persecuting Fred M’membe and The Post without a proper trial. First and foremost, The Post has stood with and on behalf of the people through the Kaunda and Chiluba eras and now, Rupiah's.

It is unfortunate that whereas the Constitution of our Republic guarantees freedom of expression, our experience as Zambians is very contrary to the fundamental principles on which our country was founded by many heroes and heroines without even enjoying their sweat.

But, thank God we are free because of them.

The Post deserves a pat on the back for it's unwavering slogan of 'digging deeper' and this has been necessitated by the government's bureaucratic and delaying tactics on implementing the freedom of information Bill.

Let The Post continue doing it's work in peace! The Post is there not to please either the government nor private individuals but the whole populace of Zambia (true owners of the Republic). And The Post has the right to dig deeper and write deeper, especially that some of the political leaders are even enjoying the taxes the paper contributes.

Actually it would be interesting to find out through the Zambia Revenue Authority how many of our leaders have paid taxes on their income as well as on the private businesses they own.

I am sure there would be a lot of holes found and some heads would roll.

Fellow Zambians, The Post has fought for us through thick and thin, it's time to also support them now and tell the government to get their 'dirty' hands off our only reliable medium and source of communication.

Long live M’membe. Long live The Post.

Labels: FLOODS, RED TAPE, TAXATION, THE POST

posted by MrK @ 3:58 PM