Florence Banda, 37 wins Miss Big Lilongwe
By Nyasa Times
Published: March 7, 2010
Florence Banda, 37, scooped the Miss Big Matofotofo Lilongwe crown after she beat seven other contestants who took part in the pageant held at Sunbird Capital Hotel on Saturday night.
Miriam Kaudzu was crowned the first princess, Agnes Kapanda became the second princess while Bertha Tambala was crowned Miss Personality at a glittering occasion attended by Minister of Women and Gender, Patricia Kaliati and deputy minister of culture , youth and sport Billy Kaunda.
Although 12 contestants had been penciled for the event, the figure had to be scaled to eight after other contestants failed to make it on the night citing various reasons, according to the organisers.
Other contestants who defied the stereotypes that the modeling industry had attached to flesh women included Ronalisa Nyasulu, Memory Zinayi, Maureen Chiotcha and Maulana Chigoneka.
The Big beauty queens were paraded on catwalk in different categories that included the traditional attire session, formal and casual wear as well as the question and answer segment.
Florence a married woman with two kids who works at Zodiak Broadcasting Services said she was excited to scooped the first prize in the fat pageant.
“I am glad to be crowned the first Miss Matofoto in Malawi’s capital city. It has been a great event,” said Banda.
.Lwazi Mbowa the organizer who first introduced the show in Zimbabwe, paraded the Miss Biggy Matofotofo of Zimbabwe and her princess to a resounding cheers of the crowd.
“This is a new thing that we introduced,” Mbowa said. “Our first goal is to build the confidence of the big African women who could not take part in these other pageants because of their big bodies. Most of them lack confidence and we believe that after confidence building they will be able to achieve bigger things,” she said
Mbowa said ‘super-slim’ is no longer a pre-requisite for most beauty pageants.
The organizer said they will also hold the Miss Biggy pageants for ‘fabulous and thick’ women in commercial capital, Blantyre and Mzuzu City in the northern region.
“This pageant is a platform to recognise Africa’s true definition of beauty and at the same time, celebrate Africa’s true tradition,” she told Nyasa Times.
She said the contest aims at dislodging stereotypes that for a long time had been associated with weighty women. It also aimed at abandoning the western concept of beauty which does not appreciate well endowed African women.
Mbowa said she is working on modalities to popularize the unique beauty contest throughout Africa.
The western idea that beauty is only in the slim and tall was hammered into Africans during colonialism and it became the widely accepted conceptualization of beauty to the extent that all beauty pageants continent-wide emphasized on weight and height restrictions.
The coming of Miss-Biggy Matofotofo, therefore, would be a welcome development, as Africa would have shown its capability to redefine beauty according to its own values.
Labels: FLORENCE BANDA, MISS BIG MATOFOTOFO, MISS ELECTIONS
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Zim must forget the West, look East
by Garikai Chengu
07/03/2010 00:00:00
AS THE global economic balance of power shifts from West to East, it is becoming increasingly evident that we are living through the end of 500 years of Western dominance. Consequently, Zimbabwe must exercise long-term strategic vision, by
perfecting the art of benefiting from China. Most analysts agree that China will break away from the US and have the world's largest and most influential economy by 2025.
However, as things currently stand America needs China to buy her Treasury bills; and China needs America to buy her exports. They are like two drunken giants leaning on each other. Yet a sobering reckoning of some sorts seems inevitable; and it is difficult to see how both can be winners.
The defining moment of the past decade which suggested that only one giant would remain standing, was the crippling global recession and consequent realisation that China holds vast global reserves, while the US lives increasingly on unsustainable credit.
US reliance on Chinese capital to stabilize its accounts signifies that the decline and fall of America's undeclared empire might therefore be due not to despicable terrorists at the gates or to the rogue regimes that sponsor them, but to a fiscal crisis at home.
For 500 years prior to this crisis, what had given the West the edge over the East was five key features: the capitalist enterprise, scientific advancement, global imperialism, the consumer society and the 'Protestant' ethic of work and capital accumulation.
China has clearly replicated the first and second points and may be in the process of adopting the others with some alterations (consumption and the work ethic). Only point number three- imperialism (in the overt manner in which it was practised by the West) - shows little sign of emerging in the People's Republic.
The new world order will not commence after China's economy overtakes that of the US in 2025, it has started already. The US was the old order's main architect, and China is the rising power of the new.
Thus, the decision by President Robert Mugabe to Look East was strategic and prescient; however, the country must now perfect the art of benefiting from China's colossal rise.
In order to do so Zimbabwe must recognise and expand mutually beneficial areas of political, economic and social cooperation between the two nations.
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Sino-Zim relations
From the outset it is important to note that looking East does not mean completely turning one’s back to the West.
A great deal of emphasis has been placed on the need to re-engage the Bretton Woods institutions as well as establish a kind of détente with the West; and rightly so.
However, this rapprochement must occur in simultaneity with a strengthening of economic relations with China, which has fast become of great geo-strategic importance to Zimbabwe on several fronts:
Firstly, President Mugabe's administration has had links with the Chinese government ever since China provided Zimbabwe's guerrillas with training, logistical and material support to wage the Liberation Struggle.
Chinese authorities’ associations with the Second Chimurenga, and subsequent cordial political relations, have resulted in the crucial formation of an ideological alliance with a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
This alliance has been unwavering throughout the Third Chimurenga, where China's support was instrumental in derailing attempts by Western nations to use the UN Security Council to put sanctions on the people of Zimbabwe in pursuit to illegal regime change.
Illegal economic sanctions have brought Zimbabwe and China closer resulting in the former’s increased reliance on the latter for imports of telecommunications, road-building, irrigation and farming equipment that can no longer be imported from the west. Presently, over 40 major Chinese companies operate in Zimbabwe.
From China's perspective, this long-standing alliance serves as a means of not only, improving political ties with its fifth largest trading partner in Africa, but also cultivating good relations with a nation that is strategically nestled between its two biggest African trading partners, namely Angola and South Africa.
Crucially for China, Zimbabwe neighbours its flagship infrastructure project on the continent, a transcontinental rail-road linking Tanzania’s port to copper filled Zambia and oil rich Angola.
China's keen interest in Zimbabwe is by no means confined to the location of Zimbabwean soil, but also includes the abundant natural resource endowment that lies beneath it.
These strategic minerals include the second largest platinum deposits in the world, estimated at in excess of $500 billion; voluminous yet to be exploited coal-bed methane gas; vast coal reserves and immense hydroelectric power potential; as well as the geological treasure zone in the Great Dyke region, home to abundant deposits of copper, chromium, nickel and gold, to mention but a few.
Secondly, China’s voracious appetite for these mineral resources has driven it to become the largest investor in Zimbabwe.
The People's Republic has also overtaken Western nations as the investor with the fastest growing foreign direct presence in Zimbabwe.
Crucially for Zimbabwe however, increased FDI and export opportunities are more likely to come from an economy that is continuing to grow at a booming pace, than from those that are begging for bailouts and assistance from it.
Finally, Beijing’s propensity to give Zimbabwe assistance in the form of interest-free loans and grants is of increasing importance as Western capitals, and the multilateral institutions they commandeer, continue to maintain illegal economic sanctions on Harare.
Over the past three years, China has provided approximately half a billion dollars to Zimbabwe in direct assistance for investment in infrastructure including schools, clinics and transport routes. These no-strings-attached soft loans for economic development are a far cry from IMF and World Bank 'reforms' which require a reduction in spending on the aforementioned infrastructure.
Why would Government look west and agree to voluntarily lower its citizenry’s living standards on the back of exorbitant loans, when it can receive virtually interest free capital aimed at investing in development and improving people’s living standards, by simply looking east?
Chinese loans and grants on the African continent last year amounted to more than $8 billion to Angola, Nigeria and Mozambique alone, compared to the $2.3 billion granted by the World Bank to the entire Sub-Saharan African region.
Therefore, as important as World Bank and IMF approval is as an indicator for countries and investors like, the deepest and most generous pockets are found in the East.
The economic tectonic shift eastward may have taken 500 years but the Zimbabwe Government must waste no time in perfecting the art of benefiting from China, by focusing on strengthening Sino-Zimbabwe relations on all fronts.
Garikai Chengu is a scholar at Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He can be contacted at chengu@fas.harvard.edu. The views expressed herein are solely those of Garikai Chengu
Labels: CHINA
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COMMENT - This government is a criminal enterprise, as previous MMD governments were before it. Zambia is running up debts it's citizens will have to repay, so the foreign mining companies don't need to pay taxes, and the politicians can take their bribes. In fact this 'democratic government' is being remote controlled from London, New York, Toronto and Sydney. That is where the real decisions are made. Anyone with integrity in this government should resign immediately, until the mines are taxed 20% of their revenues. This government with do anything, and go to any length, to avoid having their friends pay taxes, and the people of Zambia be damned. This is neocolonialism.
Guard against another debt trap
By The Post
Sun 07 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THERE is need for serious reflection on the manner in which our country has continued to contract debt. We say this because our nation risks falling into the debt trap, a suffocating trap that future generations will have to struggle to liquidate. In 2006, our country attained the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point.
The HIPC and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative contributed significantly to the reduction of our country’s debt, which stood at about US $7.1 billion at the time. However, according to this year’s budget, “the government’s stock of foreign debt is expected to grow by US $59.7 million to about US $1,159.6 million by end of 2009.
This is well within sustainable limits, and in line with the government’s debt policy.” We know that our domestic debt stands at about US $400 million. Simply put, our external and domestic debt as a country is now about US $1.6 billion.
The government of Belgium last Thursday cancelled the 5,100,000 Euros about K34 billion loan lent to Zambia towards the rehabilitation of Lusaka International Airport.
This is a very welcome development, especially that our country requires resources to address the numerous challenges our people are facing. But there is need for a serious national debt management strategy that will protect the country from unnecessary debt contraction and misapplication of funds that ultimately erode the gains of debt cancellation.
We are where we are as a nation, as a country, not because we have not had access to finance, to debt, to money to borrow. We have had a lot of access to debt and that is why today we are still having countries cancelling our debt.
The questions we should be asking as we borrow are: why are we borrowing; what are we going to use that money for; do we have capacity to manage effectively and in an orderly manner what we have borrowed and lastly we should ask ourselves how we are going to pay back.
These seem to be simple questions but they are of great importance to the management of our economy and the future of our country.
These are questions not only those who manage the affairs of the country should ask themselves but all of us – as individuals and corporate entities - whenever we think of or contemplate borrowing money for anything. Problems can arise if these questions are not raised and answered properly.
Not so long ago, the government’s plan to get a loan of US $53 million about K246.1 billion from Exim Bank to procure mobile hospitals from China was exposed and Rupiah Banda supported it and described it as a damn good idea.
This plan has been condemned by our people especially that the money which will be used for procurement will be a loan that will have to be repaid later.
However, this plan of mobile hospitals apparently still stands because Rupiah has announced that the Zambian government has submitted a list of projects, which includes mobile hospitals with the hope of seeking financial assistance from China’s aid package for Africa.
Just recently we were told that Rupiah told the World Bank president Robert Zoellick that Zambia is trying to seek higher interest loan facilities from the Brenton Woods institute to finance the repair of roads damaged by mining activities in the country.
Zoellick told journalists from African countries via video conferencing from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that Rupiah was considering borrowing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) window to finance crucial infrastructural projects.
But we know that borrowing from the IBRD, a non-concessional window attracts interest rates of between three to three and half per cent while disbursement of financing for projects by World Bank through the International Development Association (IDA) window is done through grants and soft loans. Zambia currently accesses financing for infrastructural projects from the World Bank through the IDA window.
This decision – among others - by Rupiah to borrow through the IBRD, if it is implemented, in our view is what risks taking the country back into the debt trap, undesirable at it might be.
For instance, if the government borrows money to work on the roads leading to the mines, the revenue they get from the mines with the change in the 2008 mining fiscal regime will not even be sufficient to help pay back that loan.
The country will continue paying back that debt long after some of those mines have closed shop and the roads are damaged again.
We are not in any way saying that the roads leading to the mines should not be worked on. They should, but at a cost that will not land the country into a huge debt. The government has to find a better way of financing such a project and raising revenue from the mining sector itself could be a start.
At the rate we are going, no matter how much we borrow, we will not be able to address the problems and challenges facing our people because a large chunk of money we borrow is stolen, wasted, misapplied or misused in one way or another. A government project that should cost US $1 million in a well managed economy ends up costing US $5, 10, 20 or so million.
What type of return can one get on an investment where more is spent far beyond the proper or reasonable cost of the undertaking? If that type of cash is spent on a road, the road will be worn out before the loan is repaid and this creates a problem because we will be required to work on it again before finishing the previous loan repayment and this is what is happening in most of our projects. What this means, if it is allowed to continue, is that we will not get out of the debt unless we stop.
It is unfortunate that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) not so long ago referred to a referendum the clause in the Mung’omba draft constitution which seeks to compel the government to disclose to the National Assembly the terms and conditions of the loans they want to contract.
This system could have helped to provide authority to Parliament to discuss loans, terms and conditionalities attached to all debts the government can contract. It would have enabled parliamentarians, who are the representatives of the people, to determine the country’s limits for both external and domestic loans.
Our country seriously needs a flexible tool that can help in the monitoring of debt resources from the point of allocation, disbursement, utlisation and the evaluation of the implementation process.
It is sad that our country has not made good progress as far as reforming policies and laws that led us into the previous debt trap. Yes, our country’s debt problems were caused by numerous factors such as the balance of payment problems but we need to work on the weak institutional frameworks.
And these are the policies that need serious attention to protect the country and the future generations. We will continue to get write-offs as a country but they will not be a solution if we do not make serious attempts to manage the way we borrow and how we use the money we borrow.
Involving Parliament in loan contraction will not in any way reduce the powers of the Executive. We strongly believe that there is no way the Legislature can prevent the government from borrowing money if the intentions are good or if the money is aimed at investing in projects that will uplift the standards of our people who continue to wallow in poverty.
The Legislature can only prevent the Executive from borrowing money if it is for projects like mobile hospitals and other unnecessary things. And that is why we need this important clause in our Constitution to prevent abuse and enhance accountability.
There are countries in Africa such as Uganda, which have provisions for parliamentary ratification of loans in the interest of transparency and accountability and to ensure that they borrow for the right reasons.
There are also countries like Namibia, which have placed a ceiling on debt contraction and cannot go beyond a certain percentage of their country's Gross Domestic Product in their borrowing. All these measures are there to ensure good governance and development for the benefit of the people.
The fact that developing countries such as ours lack proper bargaining power on the loans leaves us at the mercy of international financial institutions and bilateral donors. And this is where the reality of the flaws in the distribution of power internationally comes to the fore.
This is the reason why Parliament should be able to look at the conditions of all loans before the government actually commits the country. Contractual processes should be as transparent as possible and Parliament should be involved to ensure that whatever money our country is borrowing is in line with the development priorities.
Challenges of misapplication of funds are still there as evidenced by the Auditor General’s annual reports and our poor people will continue to suffer as long as these reports are treated as an academic exercise.
Poverty, disease and underdevelopment will continue to be with us as long as fighting corruption and prudent usage of resources continues to be confined to political rhetoric.
Our bilateral and multilateral partners will continue to cancel our debts but our people will still lack the basic of needs if there is no proper leadership; if priorities are not set right; if the thieving goes unabated; if the wastage of resources on expensive tourism expeditions all over the globe are perpetuated.
We need to guard against the resurgence of the debt trap because it will create a nightmare for the future generations.
Labels: DEBT, HIPC, WINDFALL TAX
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LCC calls for reforms to local governance system
By Florence Bupe
Sun 07 Mar. 2010, 07:10 CAT
THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) has called for
reforms to the local governance system as a means of enhancing service delivery.
Appearing before the parliamentary committee on local governance and chiefs’ affairs, LCC acting town clerk Bornwell Luanga said the development of local communities could only be achieved through the effective functioning of local authorities.
He said the revenue base for most local authorities was low and unable to sustain development. Luanga called for reforms to the authorities’ financial systems.
“Whereas the central government has undergone a number of reforms, the local government service has been the only sub-government organ that has not benefitted or restructured to improve on its service delivery,” he said.
Luanga said the reintroduction of the local government service commission was critical for the reformation of the local government system.
“It is our view that the commission will be composed of members with competent professional background to serve and revive the local government system,” he said.
Luanga said the commission would be mandated to study the challenges that had caused the local authorities’ failure to perform satisfactorily.
He recommended to the committee that the Republican President appoint the commission upon recommendation from the local government minister.
“It is also recommended that the local government service commission should operate directly under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, being the supervising ministry for all local authorities,” said Luanga.
Labels: BORNWELL LUANGA, LCC, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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‘Single-sourcing of Chinese firm for boreholes smells of corruption’
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 07 Mar. 2010, 08:04 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda has charged that the government’s single-sourcing of a Chinese firm to sink 6,000 boreholes at a cost of US $50 million about K234 billion smells of corruption.
Commenting on the Ministry of Energy and Water Development’s single sourcing of China Xiangsu International Economic-Technical Cooperation Corporation Limited to sink 6,000 boreholes countrywide at a cost of US $50 million and the quick rate at which the contract was awarded, Lubinda said the contract should have been given to several Zambian companies as part of citizens empowerment initiative.
“When government processes are circumvented, it raises lots of suspicion. What is it that is motivating these people to circumvent normal government procedures? In whose interest is it?
Naturally it raises suspicion to the extent that there are some people who want to benefit from this. This smells of corruption. There must be some individuals who want to benefit from the process without following the law,” said Lubinda who is also Kabwata member of parliament and president of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC).
“I appeal to all members of parliament to revisit the Zambia public procurement Act so that we start to close up some of these loopholes which the government is abusing. We need to tighten the law for the sake of delivering development to the people who are suffering. People are dying in floods and instead of this government getting equipment to open up drainage systems as a matter of emergency, they are treating the drilling of 6,000 boreholes as a matter of emergency.”
He said boreholes could not be sunk in the rainy season, hence it was irrational for the government to fast-track the tender process of drilling boreholes as if it were an emergency.
“All professionals drilling boreholes know that the best time to drill boreholes is in the dry season. They are rushing this because some individuals must have personal interests and Zambians must rise and stop this,” he said.
“The time of giving approval and awarding the contract was all done in less than a week. That is supersonic speed. What is it that we are rushing for to allow the expenditure of US $50 million? Is the issue of drilling boreholes a matter of emergency? For them to rush the whole process of awarding a tender of borehole drilling and yet those boreholes will not be drilled until after three or four months because the contractor has to mobilise and so on, breeds a lot of suspicion.”
Lubinda said as a parliamentarian who was among the people that passed the public procurement Act, he felt sad that Parliament was abused by passing the law that was now subject to rampant abuse.
“It seems like when the law was made to give an opening for ministries to be able to single source on areas where there are no competitors, it seems like we opened a floodgate for them to abuse that provision to single source for literally everything,” said Lubinda in an interview on Friday.
“I want to assure the citizens that I will do whatever is within my means to try and revisit that law. As president of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption, I am taking up this matter so that the APNAC Zambia Chapter can find some time to go through and revisit the public procurement Act, to look for ways to tighten that law so that we close in on the opening that we allowed which is being abused by this government.”
He observed that Zambia had well established borehole drilling companies that had been set up over the last 10 years.
“Why is it that we are having this tendency of awarding these contracts only to foreigners at the expense of local investors? Can the Zambian companies fail to sink 6,000 boreholes? Couldn’t we have even thought that those 6,000 boreholes can be drilled by several local companies instead of giving the whole work to one company, we share it amongst 10 companies, to empower Zambians?”
Lubinda asked. “Where is the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission? The CEEC was established by an Act of Parliament for them to ensure that Zambian companies are given preference.
The CEEC Act provides that preferential treatment for tenders should be given to Zambian companies and yet we see the government giving business to foreigners with impunity without regard to local companies.”
A government source revealed about the bid rigging in the boreholes tender process.
“The contract involves the construction of 6,000 boreholes country wide and the amount for the project is US $50 million, the bidder is China Xiangsu International Economic-Technical Cooperation Corporation Ltd,” the insider said.
“Tender invitation: 18th February, 2010, receipt of bid 18th February, 2010, letter for negotiation 22nd February, 2010, authority to negotiate given on 22nd February, 2010 and date of negotiations on 23rd February, 2010 and award of authority by CTC on 23rd February, 2010. Therefore, direct bidding (bid rigging) contrary to ZPPA Act of 2008.”
But Ministry of Energy and Water Development permanent secretary Teddy Kasonso said the contract had not been concluded.
Labels: APNAC, BOREHOLES, CHINESE, CORRUPTION, GIVEN LUBINDA
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Rupiah is a foreign-based President, says Sata
By Patson Chilemba in Lundazi
Sun 07 Mar. 2010, 09:00 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has observed that President Rupiah Banda has now become a foreign-based Zambian President because he is haunted by the 2008 elections he fraudulently won. And Sata said former president Frederick Chiluba has to be seen to continue attacking him in order to get more favours from President Banda.
Featuring on Radio Chikaya in Lundazi on Friday afternoon, Sata said President Banda had never been at peace from the time he fraudulently won the elections, hence his frequent trips to other nations.
He said instead of spending most of his time in the country to address problems such as the deplorable 174-kilometre Chipata-Lundazi Road which takes five hours to traverse, President Banda had seen it fit to enjoy himself by visiting other nations.
“Even today, they don't have the peace of mind. That is why they don't stay in Zambia. Our President has gone for good to China,” Sata said. “He will visit the country from China soon and after a little while he will go. He is a Johnny Walker.”
Sata said he won the 2008 elections but they were stolen from him and the Supreme Court did not sanction a recount.
“They want to get rid of me, they want to eliminate me. But I have more radical young men, and if things were going the same way they are going, Zambia would not be as liberal as it is,” he said.
Sata said he was not worried by the desperate attempts from the government to bar him from standing as president because he was always ahead of them.
“I was in the national executive committee (NEC) meeting when Chiluba proposed to bar Dr Kaunda from standing. He was scared that in 1996, if 'we don't bar Dr Kaunda, Chiluba was going to lose',” Sata said.
“When he saw we had barred Dr Kaunda and chief Inyambo Yeta had remained and was going to get it, so he brought in this fictitious clause to bar chiefs from participating in politics. All the chiefs suffered because of Inyambo Yeta.”
Asked on assertions by Chiluba that he abused office by putting K1.2 billion government money in his bank account, Sata wondered why Chiluba allowed him to remain in office for 10 years if he had abused office.
He said this only went to show that Chiluba had no problem with corruption.
He said he would campaign to ensure that the Chipata-Lundazi road was worked on.
Sata also promised to reinstate the chietaincy of Kapichiya.
He said people like National Constitutional Conference (NCC) chairperson Chifumu Banda were more preoccupied with making discriminatory laws and enriching themselves but had forgotten to speak for the development of the people.
“Chifumu Banda does not want anyone without a degree to become MP here,” Sata said.
Earlier in the morning on Radio Mano in Kasama, Sata said if Chiluba had continued where Dr Kaunda left off, Zambia would not have been this poor.
He said two days ago, he was in Kitwe and Mansa and he did not see the political shift that Chiluba was hallucinating about.
Sata said people should sympathise with Chiluba because his dubious acquittal as well as the criminal case facing his wife, Regina, were troubling him.
“So in order for him to get more favours from Rupiah Banda, he has to talk about me. So my relative Fredrick Chiluba, I feel pity for him. The Bible says be merciful on him because he doesn't know what he is doing,” he said.
Sata also said Chiluba's lie that he was a polygamist had been exposed by Lusaka Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu.
He said he had signed the affidavit to sue the Times of Zambia for carrying defamatory material and would sign another for Chiluba upon his return from this campaign tour.
On Vice-President George Kunda's assertions that he was mad, Sata wondered who looked more mad between him and Vice-President Kunda.
Sata said mad people were those who had taken away fertiliser from the people and channeled over K350 billion to the NCC.
He said Vice-President Kunda and his colleagues would want the NCC to continue so that they could continue looting.
“Then he goes back to Rupiah Banda to say 'extend the NCC and give me K5 billion',” said Sata.
Labels: RUPIAH BANDA, SATA
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Chief Ndungu accuses govt of not taking floods seriously
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Sun 07 Mar. 2010, 09:20 CAT
CHIEF Ndungu of the Luvale people of Zambezi District in North Western Province has accused the government of not taking the flood situation in his area seriously. In an interview yesterday, chief Ndungu expressed sadness that no senior government official had been to his area to assess the floods.
“During the reign of the late president Levy Mwanawasa when we had floods here, the president himself came to assess the situation but we are very sad as a people that no senior government official has come now. Government is not taking the situation seriously,” chief Ndungu complained.
He added that his subjects were not only unhappy but they also felt sidelined by the government.
Chief Ndungu said in times of disasters, the government could easily find resources by appealing for assistance from cooperating partners but this had not been done.
He said about 1,000 houses had collapsed as a result of the floods and nothing tangible had come up despite numerous appeals for tents.
“People are spending their nights in the cold. When it comes to relief food, only 600 bags of maize ferried by speedboats have arrived. Those are not enough to cater for the number of people in need,” chief Ndungu said.
He said when he returned from this year’s Nc’wala ceremony, he found most parts of his palace at Mize submerged in water.
And chief Ndungu observed that if the government was serious, it could build permanent canals to prevent water from going to his palace in times of heavy rains.
Chief Ndungu explained that the removal of logs that were initially erected to prevent water from going to his palace had created a path for water and thereby made it prone to floods.
Labels: CHIEF NDUNGU, FLOODS, NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE
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Mpezeni urges repair of roads to chiefs’ palaces
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sun 07 Mar. 2010, 09:40 CAT
SEVERAL mourners including Eastern Province minister Isaac Banda were last Thursday forced to walk to late chief Mishoro's palace after their vehicles got stuck in mud on the dilapidated road that leads to the palace. And paramount chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni in Eastern Province, has appealed to the government to repair roads leading to chiefs’ palaces.
The mourners who included Banda, provincial permanent secretary Eularia Syamujaye, deputy permanent secretary Nicholas Banda, Chipata District commissioner Moses Nyirenda, and provincial education officer Pilila Jere walked to the palace after their vehicles failed to go through the damaged road leading to the palace.
Several vehicles were parked on the roadside as mourners rushed to the palace.
Later in the afternoon, some vehicles meandered through the bad road and eventually reached the palace.
The portion that needs urgent attention stretches from the Msoro road to the palace.
Some mourners complained that the bad road was a clear sign of how some rural areas were neglected.
"Next year they (politicians) will be coming for campaigns, after voting for them they will neglect us again. So there is no need for voting because people do not do what they promise. It’s bad that our member of parliament Vera Tembo is not here to see the road for herself,” said Jack Soko a motorist whose vehicle got stuck before Msekera stream.
And Mpezeni urged the government to pay attention to the roads leading to palaces.
“I hope you will pay attention to the roads especially those that lead to palaces...this stream Lutembwe was full and we have faced problems. I hope you will attend to it," Mpezeni said.
He said the late chief Mishoro was a good man who served his people well.
He commended the government for providing a coffin and other assistance towards the funeral.
Mpezeni said headman Nzimakazi would take care of the chiefdom as they awaited a new chief.
Nc'wala ceremony organizing committee secretary Leo Jere said it was good that the minister and the permanent secretary walked to the funeral house because of the poor state of the road.
“They have seen how the road is. Chief Mishoro III, we are burying today, used to say ‘repair my road’ but there was nothing. The chief used to say ‘you will only repair my road when I die.’ Have they repaired? No, they have walked. You should repair the road from Chinjala road to the chief’s palace and also on the Chiparamba side so that when we come for the installation, the road will be good because we don't want to get stuck again," Jere said.
Banda said the chief’s death had come as a shock to the government.
"The chief being the longest serving on the throne as chief is described as a vessel of wisdom, not only to the younger chiefs but to all of us and his subjects. As government when we lose a chief then there is a big gap in developmental. The late chief worked closely with government and none of us here heard of him to the contrary," Banda said.
He assured the royal family that the chief's loss was not theirs alone because the government mourned with them.
Banda later promised Mpezeni that the government would work on the roads.
"I think that … you know that we received the road making equipment recently so we started by repairing big roads and also the roads that leads to our two paramount chiefs. Last year we started working on the Msoro road and this year the issue of this road is in the budget. We will repair this road soon.
Even us, we have seen that the experience we had wasn't good so will work on the road as fast as possible," Banda said.
Chief Mishoro, the longest serving Ngoni chief, died at 85 and is survived by three wives, 20 children and 75 grandchildren.
The chief was installed in July 1955.
Labels: CHIEF MPEZENI, CHIEFS, EASTERN PROVINCE, ROADS
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COMMENT - Maybe that is why the Agriculture special at ZambiaBlogtalkradio was so uneventful. All these officials sounded like they barely knew anything about their own business. Did we really need to know the names of the ministries that are involved in agriculture? They didn't have anything insightful to say about the subject.
Sacika attributes corruption in civil service to appointment of cadres
By Agness Changala
Sun 07 Mar. 2010, 06:50 CAT
FORMER secretary to the cabinet Sketchley Sacika has attributed the inefficiency, lack of commitment and corruption in the civil service to the appointing of unqualified political cadres as permanent secretaries.
On Monday, outgoing Southern Province permanent secretary Darius Hakayobe said there was no permanent secretary who was not a politician and pleaded with his successor Gladys Kristafor to look after provincial minister Daniel Munkombwe.
Commenting on Hakayobe's sentiments, Sacika said most of the permanent secretaries were not qualified for their positions because of such political appointments.
“They are not qualified because the ruling MMD has become a recruiting ground,” he said.
“Politicisation of the civil service won't make the government perform well, more especially if we do not attach the aspect of professionalism where men and women will compete for positions based on their qualifications.”
He said those in the government played double standards because while they asked civil servants not to engage in politics, it suited them to appoint political cadres to important positions like permanent secretaries and district commissioners.
Sacika said permanent secretaries were not supposed to be politicians but administrators. He said claims by Hakayobe that permanent secretaries were politicians were misconstrued and misunderstood.
“If the post were not permanent, they would have given it a different name but it's unfortunate that they have turned it into a political post,” he said.
Sacika said Hakayobe's sentiments were not surprising because they were a reflection of what was happening in the government.
“The essence of the government has been entrenched in a one party mode, “ he said.
“We are supposed to be a multiparty state but the way the government conducts its affairs still reflects what used to happen in one party state.”
Sacika said the ruling MMD, like in the one party state, had taken over state institutions like the parastatal organisations and all these at civil service level were being controlled by their political cadres.
Sacika said the civil service both at permanent secretary and director levels was now controlled by party cadres.
“The question is, should that be case? “ The answer is no!” he said.
Sacika said the civil service belonged to men and women who were appointed or promoted based on their qualifications.
Labels: CADRES, CIVIL SERVANTS, CORRUPTION, DARIUS HAKAYOBE, DR. SKETCHLEY SACIKA, PATRONAGE, PERMANENT SECRETARIES
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Does Rupiah want to stop corruption?
By The Post
Sat 06 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
Bob Sichinga, with his usual intelligence and highly penetrating mind, has made very interesting observations and has asked a very pertinent question about Rupiah Banda and corruption. Bob says Rupiah can put an end to corruption within the government if he wanted to, but the question is: “Does he want to?”
Bob has not given a direct answer to this question, although its not difficult to discern his view on this. However, we will not try to speak for Bob or put words in his mouth.
We will attempt to answer Bob’s question. In our view, Rupiah doesn’t want to stop corruption and he is incapable of stopping it.
We say this because Rupiah can’t survive politically and otherwise in an environment free of corruption. In an environment free of corruption, merit prospers; greed, deceit, lies, manipulation and corruption fail. And without lies, deceit, manipulation and corruption, Rupiah will not be able to survive for long in that office and in our politics in general. Rupiah is where he is today because of lies, deceit, manipulation and corruption.
To become president, Rupiah had to resort in various degrees to these evils. Who can deny that in the 2008 elections Rupiah was involved in electoral bribery? Money and other goods were flying around in all directions to buy or manipulate weak souls so that they give him their support and votes. Sugar and mealie-meal were being distributed to voters in the view of everyone.
And these corrupt practices are not new in Rupiah’s politics, in his life. He did the same in 1991. There are undeniable records of Rupiah’s corruption in this regard.
Rupiah cannot stop corruption because without it he will not be able to achieve the purpose and meaning of his presidency. Rupiah is not in State House to serve the people of Zambia heart and soul; he is there to serve himself, his family and friends and to be served.
Within just a very short time, the financial fortunes of Rupiah and his family have changed beyond recognition. His children who were in serious financial problems are today awash with money and are proud owners of this and that; they are the suppliers of this and that; they are the brokers of this and that deal – they are literally behind every meaningful deal. What has made this possible?
What has made it so easy for them to recover from their financial doldrums and overnight become so rich? The only reasonable explanation for this is that Rupiah’s presidency has been used as a ladder for their prosperity. And whichever way one wants to look at this, it cannot be explained in any other way other than it being a product of corruption.
To retain power next year and to keep enjoying these business deals and the huge amounts of money that they generate, Rupiah has to continue doing what they have been doing – travelling on the path of corruption, of abuse of power in the most arrogant and insensitive manner.
This is why Rupiah has no quams engaging in the most naked forms of corruption like that of shielding Chiluba from meaningful prosecution. Rupiah has made it very clear that he will not allow the state to appeal against the acquittal of his friend Frederick Chiluba who was acquitted of corruption charges in the most questionable manner – a manner that leaves no one guessing what must have happened.
Rupiah needs Chiluba. But for what? For corrupt politics – politics based on tribalism, regionalism, manipulation, lies, deceit and corruption. Rupiah needs the support and assistance of corrupt elements to stay in power. Honest people cannot help to sustain Rupiah in power because with his serious lack of merit, they will not be able to sell him to the electorate.
An honest account of Rupiah will simply make him unelectable. Therefore, lies, deceit, manipulation and corruption have to be resorted to sustain him in power. How else can Rupiah remain in power if not with lies, calumny, manipulation and corruption?
For these reasons Rupiah cannot fully commit himself to fighting corruption. The most he can do is to pay lip service to the fight against corruption. Not even the most corrupt politician can go to his people and tell them I am for corruption; not even Zaire’s Mobutu could do that.
Even Mobutu used to fire some people for stealing public funds when he himself stole more than US$ 5 billion from the humble people of that rich but poor country. So no one should expect Rupiah to openly say that he supports corruption.
He lives by it and survives on it, but he will not be able to openly say he is for it. We can only judge Rupiah’s commitment to the fight against corruption on the basis of his deeds. It is said that “doing is the best way of saying”. Thus, Rupiah’s position on corruption can only be seen through the way he lives, his daily actions. Living is the best way of believing.
There is no way a person who is opposed to corruption can defend corrupt elements and their corrupt deeds the way Rupiah is doing it. Rupiah has come out openly to defend and protect Chiluba and his tandem of thieves. And Rupiah is today handing back to these thieves their loot that the state had rightly confiscated.
And this same Rupiah is today dilly-dallying in getting the London High Court judgment that was obtained by the Zambian government through George Kunda as Attorney General. This judgment would enable the Zambian people to get back something from what was stolen from them. It is impossible to imagine how Rupiah will do this when today he is busy handing back stolen property to these same people just to come and retrieve it later.
Clearly, Rupiah has no intention of enforcing the London High Court judgment against Chiluba and his crooked friends. After all, he has been going round saying Chiluba is innocent despite his government holding the London High Court judgment against Chiluba in its hands.
A person who behaves in this way cannot in another breath be expected to stop corruption in this country. It is clear that Rupiah is not for a Zambia that is free of corruption. Rupiah is a defender of corruption.
If one is truly honest, if one is truly opposed to corruption, one cannot defend corruption, he cannot be corrupted. If one is unassuming and has a clear understanding of the worth of his fellow citizens and of himself, one cannot defend corruption and resort to corrupt means to stay in power the way Rupiah is doing.
Rupiah does not inspire confidence in the fight against corruption. He has done everything possible to undermine the fight against corruption. Government officials and their friends in the private sector are no longer scared of abusing their offices and stealing public funds as long as they are close and in good terms with Rupiah. Being in good terms with Rupiah is all that matters.
We cannot develop our country and overcome the many problems our people are today facing with a political leadership that looks at things in that way. To make Zambia rich and strong needs several decades of intense effort, which will include, among other things, the effort to practice strict economy, combat waste and eradicate corruption from government dealings, that is, the policy of building our country through honesty, diligence and frugality.
The principle of honest public service, diligence and frugality should be observed in everything. We must particularly advocate diligence and frugality, we must pay special attention to economy. Wherever we happen to be, we must treasure our limited material resources, and must not take a short view and indulge in wastefulness and extravagance.
In order to speed up economic development in our country and move the great masses of our people from poverty, we must do our utmost to ensure that public resources are utilised in the most efficient, effective and orderly manner and take resolute measures against anyone destroying, abusing or stealing them and pay attention to thrift and economy.
Thrift should be the guiding principle in our government expenditure. It should be made clear to all government workers and public officials that corruption and waste are very great crimes. Our national campaign against corruption under Levy Mwanawasa, weak and limited as they might have been, were starting to show some positive results. We have lost our bearings on this score and there is need for us to get back in the right direction.
Labels: CORRUPTION, ROBERT SICHINGA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Banda can stop corruption if he wanted to – Sichinga
By Mutale Kapekele
Sat 06 Mar. 2010, 03:40 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda can put an end to corruption within the government if he wanted to, economic consultant Bob Sichinga has said. Speaking when he appeared on Muvi TV’s Matter at Hand program, Sichinga said President Banda had the power to end corruption in the country.
“If the President wants to, he can stop this corruption,” Sichinga said on Monday.
“But the question is, does he want to? By the stroke of the pen he can do so. He can call a Cabinet meeting and ask his ministers, the permanent secretaries and responsible officials and say this should stop! All it takes is political will and commitment.”
He said corruption was endemic because there was no political will to control it.
“How do you fight corruption when politicians drive government vehicles with government fuel to political campaigns?” Sichinga asked.
“In fact, corruption is mainly perpetuated by politicians and civil servants below the permanent secretaries. That is why I am saying the President can easily put an end to this.”
Sichinga, who is former public accounts committee chairperson and Kafue member of parliament, charged that civil servants had seen a weakness in the public accounting systems and took advantage of it.
“Every fund that the government has introduced has been abused. That is why the country is losing billions and in some cases trillions to corruption,” Sichinga said.
“Houses in Chalala have been built on this kind of money. There is clearly a failure in accounting systems. People in the civil service have seen the weakness in the system and are stealing.”
He said those who witnessed abuse of public funds in the civil service did not report for fear of exposing other officers.
“If one person is revealed, there is fear that they will tell on the others who are doing the same. They are scared that that person can say how about directors, permanent secretary or that officer?” he said.
“Clearly there is a failure in the financial system. Permanent secretaries should take their time to study cheques before they sign. If they are in a hurry, they will make mistakes of signing for things that are not verified and certified.”
He also urged Zambians to get interested in how public funds were being managed.
“As Zambians we should be interested in our money. The government raises taxes because they need money to develop the country, Zambians should be angry enough to demand action when the money is stolen,” Sichinga said. “Some of the money is used by the MMD for campaigns.
The vehicles that are sometimes used have public fuel when campaigns are not government business. I am not saying this for political capital. I am pained by poverty because resources are available. We should be asking for accountability. We are not a poor nation, our resources are just poorly managed because Zambians choose wrong people to lead them.”
He said “crazy” things had taken place in the country and wondered how the police would enforce the law when some of their senior officers were culprits of alleged abuse of public resources.
“The police are also culprits of abuse of our resources, how do you expect them to go and arrest others?” he asked.
“Is the fight against corruption lost? Why should officers involved be demoted instead of prosecuting them? There is deliberate stealing.
The government has not put guidelines on how funds should be used but people should know that public funds are not pocket money. We don’t need the Executive that does not act to protect their friends.”
He said the government should account for the money that was spent during the illness and subsequent death of late president Levy Mwanawasa.
He said names of ‘thieves’ should be published because they were given every chance to explain themselves by the auditors at the times of auditing.
“If names are published, we may reduce the AG’s report by half,” said Sichinga. “We need accounting systems that are compliant with the law.”
Labels: CORRUPTION, ROBERT SICHINGA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Rupiah’s govt has appetite for corruption – HH
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sat 06 Mar. 2010, 03:50 CAT
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema yesterday said the government's single-sourcing of China Jiangsu International to sink 6,000 boreholes countrywide at the cost of US $50 million is part of corrupt activities being perpetuated by those in the President Rupiah Banda administration.
Commenting on the Ministry of Energy and Water Development's awarding of a contract to China Jiangsu International Economic-Technical Cooperation Corporation Limited, Hichilema accused the President Banda government of having appetite for corruption.
He wondered why the government continued to abrogate the public procurement Act by single sourcing of contracts like in the case of the evaluation of Zamtel, fuel procurement and other tenders.
He challenged the government to abide by the public procurement Act.
“They must follow the law. The MMD has proven that they have no capacity to follow the law,” said Hichilema. “Zambian people must reject this.”
He said the Zambian people must stand up and reject the contract awarded to China Jiangsu International.
Insiders at the Ministry of Energy and Water Development revealed that the government awarded the contract within one week.
“The contract involves the construction of 6,000 boreholes countrywide and the amount for the project is US $50 million, the bidder is China Jiangsu International Economic-Technical Cooperation Corporation Ltd,” the insider said.
“Tender invitation: 18th February, 2010, receipt of bid 18th February, 2010, letter for negotiation 22nd February, 2010, authority to negotiate given on 22nd February, 2010 and date of negotiations on 23rd February, 2010 and award of authority by CTC (Central Tender Committee) on 23rd February, 2010. Therefore, direct bidding (bid rigging) contrary to ZPPA Act of 2008.”
But Ministry of Energy and Water Development permanent secretary Teddy Kasonso on Thursday said the contract had not been concluded.
“We have not yet concluded that contract. No! Not yet,” said Kasonso. “Where do you get all that kind of money? All processes have to be followed and so on.”
Labels: BOREHOLES, CORRUPTION, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RUPIAH BANDA, TEDDY KASONSO
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Nkombo reveals Kunda’s covert scheme
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sat 06 Mar. 2010, 04:20 CAT
MAZABUKA Central parliamentarian
Gary Nkombo yesterday claimed that
Vice-President George Kunda asked him with his Siavonga counterpart Douglas Syakalima to covertly work with the UPND in 2008 as he had no confidence in then acting President Rupiah Banda.
Reacting to Vice-President Kunda’s continued allegation that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was earmarked to be replaced by Nkombo and Syakalima would be appointed vice-president of the party, Nkombo said he had resorted to reveal whatever Vice-President Kunda, then justice minister, told him in confidence.
Nkombo said in September 2008 at the Parliament balcony, Vice-President Kunda asked to covertly work with the UPND because he had no confidence in President Banda, whom he described as a dictator.
“Mr Banda must know, and I have proof to this effect that Mr George Kunda did not even have confidence in him at the time that he ascended to the office of the Presidency.
During the campaign, George Kunda came to Douglas Syakalima and I to usher his officials from the MMD in Muchinga to start working with us covertly because he did not have any confidence that he will be retained in the new Rupiah Banda government. That is the fact and I challenge George Kunda to refute,” Nkombo said.
“At the balcony of Parliament, George Kunda, myself and Douglas Syakalima spoke about this matter. But you know luck favours fools, he already forgets that we also have a lot of information that can be backed by evidence that George Kunda was going to usher his entire Muchinga Constituency committee to start working covertly with the UPND.
Mr Mwanawasa died on the 19th August 2008, right? Kunda approached us in the first week of September 2008. He was dead scared. He called Mr Rupiah Banda a dictator. Mr George Kunda did not support Mr Rupiah Banda’s candidacy and everybody knows that, it should not even be a secret. Mr Banda called him maybe to start galvanising the MMD.”
He said there was a lot he knew about Vice-President Kunda.
“He Vice-President Kunda said he wanted to be with the UPND if Rupiah Banda threw him out. So he is a double- tongued fellow and not to be trusted. If George Kunda has got what it takes, let him stand up and challenge that statement.
There is a lot that we can say about our interaction with George Kunda when he was justice minister, how scared he was with Rupiah Banda, how he called Rupiah Banda a dictator. We have got that information. We have had several meetings with George Kunda, Douglas Syakalima and myself.
But he forgets that politics must remain politics. But since he has started now making these stupid innuendoes, we have no choice but to expose him.”
He said Vice-President Kunda had no confidence in the systems he works with.
Nkombo said he had a lot of respect for the office of the Vice-President but not Kunda.
Nkombo said Vice-President Kunda was concocting lies about the UPND that never existed.
Labels: DOUGLAS SYAKALIMA, GARY NKOMBO, GEORGE KUNDA
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C/belt, Luapula give Sata a rousing welcome
By By Patson Chilemba
Sat 06 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata on Thursday received rousing welcome in Copperbelt and Luapula provinces as he went to feature on Radio Icengelo and Radio Yangeni respectively.
Sata received rousing welcomes in Kitwe and Mansa when he arrived unannounced to feature on the radio programmes in the two towns.
In Kitwe, many people only became aware that Sata was in town when they heard him speak on Radio Icengelo. When the radio programme finished, several people found their way to the road sides to catch a glimpse of Sata, while at the same time showing solidarity by raising a clenched fist, the PF symbol.
At Chisokone market, on his way to South Downs Airport, a horde of marketeers and other residents were found waiting for Sata. They ululated and raised the PF symbol, while others shouted, “Pabwato, pabwato”.
From amidst the ululations and shoutings, one was heard saying: “Mwilasakama kuno, muyeko kumbi. Kuno twaliisala kale. Don't worry, all is well here. Just concentrate on the other areas. We have already chosen you here.”
In Mansa, Sata mockingly said on radio that he had arrived unannounced in the area because someone recently said that Luapula was a no-go area for him, but that he wanted people to speak for themselves.
A check in the town centre found that many people attentively listened to the radio as Sata spoke.
And when the Zesco power got interrupted briefly during the programme, some were heard saying that the power utility company had been instructed to switch off power just because Sata was on radio.
However, power was restored five minutes later and the programme continued.
After the programme, several people lined up the streets to catch a glimpse of the PF leader.
And featuring on Radio Icengelo earlier on Thursday, Sata said Vice-President Kunda's attacks on him and the PF-UPND Pact were a sign that the MMD and the government were shaken by the strength of the Pact.
“How can a person who is not a member of the Pact tell you something about the pact?” Sata asked.
“They talk about the Pact because it is worrying them, it is troubling them. George Kunda ngachita notumilomo filya, he feels the impact of the Pact. They are saying the Pact is evil. What has it done? I am mad because I shall continue speaking the truth. If I die, I will die with the truth. The Pact is very strong.”
Asked by the interviewer to comment on the recent assertions by former president Frederick Chiluba who wondered what kind of a party PF was which did not have membership cards, Sata said there were several political parties even in the United States and United Kingdom which did not have party cards.
“Chiluba's thinking is as tall as he is,” Sata said. “Chiluba's logic is as tall as he is. Leaders have identity…I know the reason why Chiluba was talking about having cards. When his so-called uncle B.Y Ben Mwila formed ZRP when he was expelled from MMD, he Chiluba used Office of the President to print ZRP cards…and people said, 'I have resigned from ZRP.' And one of the ZRP people is here in the studio, Chibwe Mulenga. But I knew all those tricks, that is why I said PF, no cards.”
Sata said he sympathised with Chiluba because he was under extreme pressure at the moment. He said that was why he was reluctant to respond to some of Chiluba's allegations because people would fail to tell who was petty.
“He has remained with very few friends, and therefore when he finds that there is somebody who is trying to help him, he will quickly turn against his own friends, people like Chibwe. You will be shocked that he has made up with B.Y Mwila, but not the people that were with B.Y Mwila,” Sata said.
Sata wondered what type of country Zambia would have been without Dr Kenneth Kaunda, saying most of the infrastructure that could be seen today was left by the former president.
“You see, people are saying that Luapula is a no-go area,” Sata said. “Kaunda built Tuta Road up to Kashikishi, and then he went up 20 miles to Chipili. Kaunda does not come from Luapula Province. Levy Mwanawasa does not come from Luapula Province, he put a bridge which people have been crying for all the time. What about Chiluba, what did he do?”
Sata said there was money in Zambia only that there was too much thieving by those in leadership because they did not care to develop the nation.
He said the government was too large and wondered where revenue from the sale of vast mineral resources the country possessed went to.
Sata said Zambians did not obtain Independence in order to suffer.
“We are not going to steal money, we are not going to plunder, we are not going to buy suits, we are not going to buy shoes. We are not going to give girls houses, no. Because if the Europeans who came here, if they wanted more shoes, do you think there would have been Riverside?”
Sata asked, adding that he was not as petty as Chiluba. “If I was like him, I would have given incidence by incidence, including who burnt the local court in Ndola, Chifubu, that very important day. Knowing that they Chiluba and government have not delivered, they would like to call Mr. Sata names.”
Sata said when PF comes to power, he would not chase away investors, but they would have to respect Zambians.
“Because around Miseshi, Mopani Copper Mines have opened the mines, two yards from people's houses without even arranging compensation or relocating these people…and when I speak they say 'Sata is mad.'” Sata said. “And again this Maxwell Mwale young man, so-called Minister of Mines came here with George Kunda, called the mining companies and told them 'don't give Zambian suppliers any more contracts because they are the people who are supporting PF.'
And then they said 'you have to register to be a contractor and there will be a tender procedure where the tender will be considered in Johannesburg and India.' Who knows us in India because the copper here is our copper.”
Sata said Zambia today was like a borrowed country where people did not know what they would eat the following day while unemployment level was at 85 percent.
And featuring on Radio Yangeni Mansa later in the afternoon, Sata asked for a minute of silence in honour of home affairs deputy minister Misheck Bonshe who died in Nigeria.
He said Bonshe was neglected by President Banda just like he Sata was removed as health minister when he was undergoing a serious goitre operation.
Sata said the people of Luapula had elected Judas Iscariots who had gone to Parliament to enrich their pockets, and they also elected another Iscariot in Chiluba.
He maintained that there was no need for President Banda to interfere in Chiluba's theft case before court.
Asked by the interviewer why his relationship with Chiluba had degenerated, Sata said Chiluba was on fire and knew that the only person with a bucket of water to put the fire out was President Banda.
Asked if he was ready to meet Mwata Kazembe over the Mwata's statement that he would meet him and Chiluba over their differences, Sata said Mwata Kazembe had always been consoling to him.
“He's been my brother, and at the same time my chief. I am ready to meet Mwata Kazembe anytime, and he does not need to restrict himself to Frederick Chiluba because Chiluba is not an issue Zambia is an issue,” Sata said.
Sata also revealed that when President Banda visited Luapula Province recently, some senior government officials bought him goats to purport that they were gifts from the people to show that he was well received in the Province.
He said goats were bought and MMD cadres were ferried to Mansa, and filled up most lodges.
Sata said Bahati PF 'rebel' member of parliament Besa Chimbaka had been telling people that he would contest Mansa-Central in 2011 because area member of parliament Chrispine Musosha was said not to be in good books with President Banda as he was viewed to be MMD presidential aspirant Ng'andu Magande's sympathiser.
Labels: COPPERBELT PROVINCE, LUAPULA PROVINCE, PF-UPND, SATA
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Strong liquidity enables us to continue building market share – StanChart
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Fri 05 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
STANDARD Chartered Plc has announced a seventh successive year of record income of US $15.18 billion and operating profit before tax of US $5.15 billion last year despite adverse effects of the global economic crisis.
Standard Chartered Plc, which trades in the country as Standard Chartered Zambia Plc stated that the results demonstrated the underlying strength and momentum across its markets and businesses, despite the ongoing adverse global economic conditions.
“Our strong liquidity and capital position enabled us to continue building our market share across our footprint, generating positive business momentum as we enter 2010,” Standard Chartered Plc stated.
“2009 delivered strong and diversified profit and income growth across our markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Five markets delivered income of over $1 billion, with India and Hong Kong also delivering over $1 billion in operating profit before tax (OPBT).”
Standard Chartered Plc stated that wholesale banking continued to demonstrate strong business momentum with significant increases in both client and own account income growth, while consumer banking saw a strong upturn in performance during the second half of the year.
“Throughout the tough environment, Standard Chartered has continued to provide support for its customers and corporate clients, significantly increasing lending and other forms of support across our markets,” stated Standard Chartered Plc. “2009 total lending climbed by 13 per cent US billion to US $250 billion. We helped many more of our customers buy their own homes, increasing our mortgage lending by nearly 21 per cent to US $58 billion. We helped small and medium enterprises start up and grow with an extra 14 per cent increase in lending to more than US $13 billion.”
Standard Chartered Plc stated that it continued to focus on the basics of good banking, keeping a tight grip on costs and risk control and maintaining a liquid and conservative balance sheet.
Labels: BANKING, STANCHART
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Zambia has enough maize to reach next season – Daka
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 06 Mar. 2010, 03:10 CAT
PARLIAMENT yesterday heard that the nation has in stock about 402,000 metric tonnes of maize that will last up to the next marketing season.
Delivering a ministerial statement on the current food security and input distribution for 2009-2010 agriculture season, agriculture minister Peter Daka said the maize was in the hands of different players in the sector.
“In terms of food security, as at 17th February 2010, the country still had a total of about 303, 975 metric tonnes of good quality maize grain.
The maize was held by players in the sector as follows: The Food Reserve Agency, 194,933 metric tonnes; Millers who belong to the Millers Association of Zambia, 100,000 metric tonnes; and the Grain Traders Association of Zambia, 9,042 metric tonnes uncommitted stocks,” Daka explained.
“In addition to the above figures, the Zambia National Farmers Union expects its members to harvest about 100,000 metric tonnes of early maize. The total maize available is therefore about 402,975 metric tonnes. This maize is enough to see us up to the next marketing season.”
Daka said the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Statistical Office were currently conducting training for officers to be involved in the crop forecasting exercise aimed at assessing crop production for this season.
And science and technology minister Dr Brian Chituwo told Parliament that the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) in Lusaka had a workforce of 181 as at December 2009.
Responding to a question from Pambashe parliamentarian Dr Bernard Chisha who wanted to know what the total workforce was, the qualifications of respective officers and what research and development programmes the personnel at the institution were involved in, Dr Chituwo said although NISIR had numerous challenges, some important national research programmes were still being carried out.
“As at December 2009 the total workforce at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research stood at 181. Of the total workforce, the number of scientific personnel holding Bachelors degrees, Master’s degrees and Doctor of Philosophy degrees is currently 34 and distributed as follows: Bachelors degrees 7, Master’s degrees 13, Doctor of Philosophy degrees 4,” Dr Chituwo said.
Dr Chituwo said the institution still conducted several research programmes in biotechnology, livestock productivity and disease control; and information services, among others.
Labels: FOOD, FRA, MAIZE, PETER DAKA
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Formation of new political party doesn’t make sense, UNZA lecturer
By Namatama Mundia
Sat 06 Mar. 2010, 03:10 CAT
IT does not make any political sense to form another political party at this point in time, University of Zambia political and administrative studies lecturer Phineas Bbaala has said.
Commenting on the newly-founded National Restoration Party (NAREP) yesterday, Bbaala said forming a political party at this time did not make sense but that the new party should have studied the ideologies of already-existing parties to see where they fit in.
“The problem is we don’t have serious ideological divide between and among political players because if we had a clear ideological divide, it could have been clear for a person who wants to start a new political party,” he said.
Bbaala said the founders of NAREP should have studied the positives of existing ideologies before forming a new party.
“If those parties don’t represent your ideologies, that’s the only time you can form a political party,” he said.
Bbaala however, said Zambians should not expect any surprises from NAREP.
He added that if NAREP’s aim was to form government next year, then they have not done a right thing.
“And they NAREP will not go anywhere if they have been sponsored by another political party because the sponsor will not want a new party to become popular than them,” Bbaala said.
He added that NAREP was not going anywhere when the pendulum was between the PF-UPND pact and the MMD.
“I don’t think there is another political party or group that can perform better than the MMD and the PF-UPND pact, those colleagues should have studied the manifestos of MMD, PF or UPND and they could have found where they fit in,” he said.
Bbaala advised the NAREP founders to dissolve the party and join any of the existing parties.
Bbaala said he does not see NAREP winning any election and that they are just wasting their resources, time and energy.
“I don’t think they have resources, time and energy to go for campaigns and trail their political manifestos. The mood in the country is on MMD, PF and UPND and no other party can get that support,” said Bbaala.
Labels: PARTIES, PHINEAS BBAALA, POLITICS, UNZA
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Zimbabwe can’t be ignored — Mzembi
ZIMBABWE was recently readmitted into the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the equivalent of the World Health Organisation, after years of excommunication due to non-payment of subscription fees. The Government, through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, immediately went into overdrive to promote, rebrand, repackage, rebuild and market Zimbabwe as a safe tourist destination and investment hub, ahead of the 2010 World Cup soccer finals, slated for South Africa. Our Features Editor, ISDORE GUVAMOMBE (IG), interviewed Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi (WM) on these and other issues.
IG: You have been Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry for a year now. How has it been?
WM: Hectic. It has been very eventful. In fact, we are very grateful to his Excellency the President, Cde Mugabe, for his vision in creating a stand-alone Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, whose portfolio was given to me. His example was immediately followed by South Africa, which has also established a full Ministry of Tourism.
We have manoeuvred through this Ministry and ZTA, enabling us to pay our subscriptions to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. We won a seat in the executive committee of the UNWTO after campaigning quietly and are now using our position to influence events from there.
Actually, I am yet to see any ministry, since the inception of the inclusive Government that has achieved what we have achieved.
IG: Which other achievements have you made?
WM: Numerous. ZTA chief executive Karikoga Kaseke was elected first vice president of the African Tourism Marketing Initiative.
We feel flattered and honoured for Kaseke. I think it was long overdue for a man who has worked so hard for tourism.
On three occasions we have brought to Zimbabwe, the UNWTO assistant secretary-general and advisor to the secretary- general, Professor Jeofry Lipman, to the country and struck a training deal for our industry. The three visits affirm our presence. They are feeling us.
No one can ignore Zimbabwe now.
IG: What else have you achieved within the year?
WM: We have successfully hosted the Africa investor, Pan African Investment Conference, where we scooped three awards.
Zimbabwe won The Best Upcoming African Tourist Destination, African Sun won the Best Hotel Investment Award and Phillip Chiyangwa the Best Tourism Investment Award.
IG: Besides the awards what did Zimbabwe benefit from hosting this conference?
WM: Yes, we clinched US$2 billion worth of investment deals that are now being pursued by the industry.
We also used the conference to dispel misconceptions about the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act and the process. We told them our sector is not affected; it is already compliant, so there are no problems there.
IG: Can you explain your main thrust for the year?
WM: Those who have been following events in the ministry and ZTA might have noticed that last year was the year for re-engagement. We attended 30 international expositions and exhibitions to make a statement for ourselves and what we stand for. We got our voting rights back from UNWTO.
IG: What is this year for?
WM: This year is the year of investment. This is why we started the year with an investment conference that clinched US$2 billion worth of investment deals.
We have come up with a tourism masterplan that must culminate in every province having a structure like the Harare International Conference Centre. We are decentralising, devolving to give the provinces ownership and input. We are going to establish provincial tourism boards, provincial offices and provincial leaders that complement each other.
IG: You have said much about the local scene. What are you going to do on the international scene this year?
WM: Budget permitting, we want to increase our presence on the international source markets. At the inception of the inclusive Government, we were facing travel warnings, the embargoes, but we have managed to negotiate our way out of it. Today, sanctions remain our major problem. Other tourism industries get funding from the ACPU, Continuo Agreement, Section 23, but we are not.
IG: What about the latest extensions of sanctions?
WM: Well, the two pronouncements, one by the EU and another by America, are tantamount to travel warnings or travel bans. They discourage the visitor. But like what President Mugabe said, we should ignore them and move on as if nothing happened. We are very clear that all major pillars of economic development are under siege. The diamonds are under siege, farming is under siege, tourism is under siege because the sanctions are sending negative signals. Even in the region, we tend to get indifference from our neighbours because they fear collateral damage.
IG: Tell us about the 2010 World Cup finals. Many people think there is nothing for Zimbabwe to gain except the media hype.
WM: The World Cup is an African event hosted by South Africa on our behalf. Around 450 000 tourists are expected in South Africa and as Zimbabwe we want to bring 30 percent to Zimbabwe in a spillover effect. If we do that, we are home and dry.
IG: What is there for the ordinary people of Zimbabwe?
WM: Zimbabwe is not among the 32 teams participating in the finals. What we have to deal with is connectivity. . . issues about how to connect our people to this mega event, physically or otherwise.
Physically, we have to ensure that the luxury buses are there to ferry fans, we have to equip Air Zimbabwe and we also have to open the skies for other players to make transportation easy to match venues. Air Zimbabwe, for instance, must repackage its routes and say we now have Harare-Masvingo/Buffalo Range-Polokwane, because there will be matches there.
For most of our people who will not be able to go and watch the matches physically, we have fan parks or fan clubs that will be put in every suburb and other strategic areas for our fans to meet and watch matches.
I have two companies that have pledged to put 10 viewing points each and more are still coming.
What we are working on right now is standardisation and formalisation because we need to look at the law in terms of how many people can gather at one place. We also have to look on health issues, ventilation, sanitation and so forth. In short, we need to do the right things for our people.
IG: Where is the money for all these things coming from?
WM: We have applied for US$25 million from the Ministry of Finance, but there has been bureaucratic bungling when my Permanent Secretary got in touch with his counterpart in Finance. I am now personally engaging the minister so that at least something comes out of it. We need our own financial base before we ask from others. South Africa has spent 34 billion rand, but they started with their own 17 billion rand before getting money from others.
We are also imploring the private sector to move and do things. We want to lure teams to camp in Zimbabwe for training.
IG: But we are told no team is going to camp in Zimbabwe for the World Cup finals since South Africa has taken in all teams.
WM: No. The Fifa rules are that no team is allowed to camp outside the host 10 days before the tournament kicks off. That means in the last 10 days before the tournament, all teams must be resident in the host country. For Zimbabwe, we want teams to camp here for training before they eventually zero in on South Africa.
IG: But we don’t have any team coming . . .
WM: We have one already in the pocket, but I am not at liberty to disclose for reasons of keeping our detractors out of play.
We have two or three others we are closely negotiating with. To us it does not make sense for an African team like Ghana to go and acclimatise in Europe and not in the Sadc region that is close to South Africa. It defies logic.
IG: There seems to be a departure from the previous African vision of sharing the proceeds of the soccer finals as envisaged by former president Thabo Mbeki in his bid to host. What exactly is happening?
WM: For one reason or the other, we get such signals from our neighbour, but we have talked over it. We need to re-market the concept the South African Minister of Tourism to come to Zimbabwe, to Victoria Falls, precisely to market this destination together with the World Cup.
Outside the soccer matches, the Victoria Falls is one of the major attractions, together with the Table Mountains of South Africa, the Kalahari sands of Namibia. So we want to package regionally. Zimbabwe has 14 million people, but when marketed with the Sadc, it becomes a big game of numbers. Regional packaging should be our strength.
Victoria Falls is a must visit. Victoria Falls must be to each tourist, what Mecca is to the Moslems, a must visit.
IG: As Minister of Tourism, where do you want to take this industry to and how?
WM: We have played our part and we cannot be ignored as a tourist destination.
That I sit on the UNWTO executive board, within a year of our re-admission, means we are doing very well. The world now recognises our presence. I want Zimbabwe to think big, to have a vision beyond our current lifespan and generation.
We must reposition ourselves to host World Cup 2034, when it again comes to Africa. We must start working on it now. We must see beyond our lifetime.
Let us look at building false beaches, buying aircraft, building stadiums and so on. We will be there. We are on our way to the Promised Land.
l Feedback: isadore.guvamombe *** zimpapers.co.zw
Labels: TOURISM, WALTER MUZEMBI, WALTER MZEMBI
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COMMENT - Farmers need a continuous support system - marketing, storage, transportation, information about new crops and prices, insurance, irrigation, credit. Agriculture is an
industry, and must be treated as such, especially by those in government who have had little experience with commercial farming. Empty phrases and spychologizing like 'dependency syndrome' are best left far behind. The term 'dependency syndrome' was used by Tendai Biti to excuse de-funding the new farmers and the agricultural sector.
Time to end dependency syndrome
WHILE the injection of US$10 million by the Government towards winter wheat cropping is a fulfilment of some of its obligations to ensure food security, we, however, strongly believe that time is now ripe for farmers to stand on their own feet.
There is nothing wrong, though, in Government introducing subsidies to help farmers but the good gesture only becomes bad when it creates a dependency syndrome that makes farmers even lazy to work.
If the subsidised inputs — seed and fertilizer — are used in production, then surely, barring erratic rainfall, attaining food security would not be a difficult task.
But more often than not, the subsidised inputs have landed on the illegal parallel market where they are sold at exorbitant prices. It is unfortunate that we have turned some market intermediaries into farmers, resulting in the flooding of inputs on the parallel market.
Most farmers are beneficiaries of the Farm Mechanisation Programme that saw many getting an assortment of equipment, such as tractors, combine harvesters, boom sprayers, among others. This means Government has taken care of other critical factors of production.
Farmers had been spending a lot of money hiring farm equipment for tillage, herbiciding and harvesting. Now their major cost factor has shifted from hiring equipment to only buying inputs.
So the huge amount of money they have been using to hire equipment can now go towards buying seed and fertilizer. A lot of saving has been witnessed as farm equipment beneficiaries now only worry about maintenance costs.
In essence farmers are in the business of farming and should thus be responsible for their operations. It is time farmers stopped leaning heavily on the Government for support but started standing on their own feet.
The Government has played a huge part not only in ensuring farmers make money but feed the nation through various support schemes. Farmers have been supported for several seasons now and surely no child can breastfeed forever.
Farmers should start playing ball and show leadership by being able to mobilise their own resources to move winter wheat production in particular and agriculture in general forward.
The support that comes from the Government should be viewed as a bonus for the farmers as they seek other means to sustain their operations. Farming is not different from any other business where businesspeople negotiate lines of financial support from the banks.
Having said this, we however want to commend the Government for remaining sensitive to the plight of wheat farmers by releasing funds at a time we feel farmers should be self-financing.
We remain optimistic that genuine farmers will access the low-cost inputs for the sole purpose of production and not for resale.
It is encouraging that the Government has put in place measures to guard against chancers and other market intermediaries from accessing the inputs by demanding proof of availability of electricity and irrigation water and delivery invoices for the past three seasons.
We hope problems encountered in the past seasons of shortage or lack of inputs on the market, have been tackled. We want to see the seed and fertilizer on the market for farmers with resources to buy.
Preparations for winter cropping in terms of putting together the inputs should start now and the package that the Government has put up for sale at low cost should be available on the market without delay.
Farmers with resources should use them to finance their cropping and leave subsidised inputs to those still struggling.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, MDC CORRUPTION, NEOLIBERALISM
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‘Appointments to public or private positions should be on merit’
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Fri 05 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
ZAMBIA Civic Education Association (ZCEA) executive director Judith Mulenga has said appointments to public or private positions should be based on merit not on ethnicity, family connections or friendship.
Commenting on the International Women’s Day which falls on March 8 under the theme ‘Equal rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for all,’ Mulenga said society should strive to remove inequalities that stopped every Zambian from accessing services such as education, health, shelter, safe clean water and sanitation regardless of their social class, ethnicity, ancestry or physical disabilities.
Mulenga hoped the theme for International Women’s Day would not end up in slogans and marching in smart outfits but should be reflected in all laws, policies and procedures.
“Equal rights and equal opportunities do not manifest themselves through the production of banners, placards and T-shirts and marching in various chitenge outfits but that this important calendar day’s themes will start a process of serious reflection at all levels of society to incorporate elements of this year’s theme not only in policies but also in attitudes and relationships among all,” she said.
Mulenga said discriminations, stereotyping and prejudices that perpetuated inequality in every facet of life needed to be confronted at a personal and institutional level.
Mulenga said institutional cultures should abhor any form of discrimination that hindered progress for all such as sexism, which was the belief that one’s gender was inherently superior or inferior to another, sexual harassment, ageism, which discriminated people because of their age, disability, religion or ethnicity.
“For example, many people will make discriminatory remarks or jokes about individuals based on gender, age, disability, religion or ethnicity because of ignorance, or prejudice and often such remarks and jokes seem harmless but unfortunately even something which seems to be harmless fun can be painful to others and have wide reaching consequences on the self esteem of the victim,” said Mulenga.
And Lucy Muyoyeta urged political parties to adopt more women during elections.
Muyoyeta, who is former Non Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) board chairperson, said it was well-known that women had done a lot in terms of organising themselves both from political parties and other sectors.
She said Zambia had made some progress in some areas as far as women’s rights were concerned.
Muyoyeta said there was some progress in the education sector particularly primary education, which had seen an increase in the enrolment of girls but there was still a struggle at higher levels of education.
She said there was an improvement in the maternal mortality rate.
“We are still struggling with women in decision making. We are nowhere near the 50 per cent AU declaration of women in decision making and the 30 per cent SADC declaration of women in decision making. We are still struggling with old issues, gender-based violence still remains a big problem,” said Muyoyeta.
“We are still struggling with new issues like human trafficking which is little talked about yet we know it is a growing issues, it affects girls and women. Issues related to climate change yet they have an impact on the women.”
Labels: CIVIL SERVANTS, JUDITH MULENGA, LUCY MUYOYETA, NGOCC, ZCEA
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COMMENT - The cost of borehole in Zambia is $4,000 not $8,300 per borehole. ($50 million / 6,000 boreholes = $8,333 per borehole. Also, at scale costs should go down, not up.)
Govt single-sources Chinese firm to sink 6,000 boreholes for $50m
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 05 Mar. 2010, 05:00 CAT
THE Ministry of Energy and Water Development has single-sourced China Jiangsu International to sink 6,000 boreholes countrywide at the cost of US $50 million (about K234 billion).
But Ministry of Energy and Water Development permanent secretary Teddy Kasonso yesterday said the contract had not been concluded.
Insiders at the ministry revealed that the tender bid was rigged in favour of China Jiangsu International notwithstanding the huge cost, which required a loan, possibly from a Chinese bank.
“The contract involves the construction of 6,000 boreholes countrywide and the amount for the project is US $50 million, the bidder is China Jiangsu International Economic-Technical Cooperation Corporation Ltd,” the insider said. “Tender invitation: 18th February, 2010, receipt of bid 18th February, 2010, letter for negotiation 22nd February, 2010, authority to negotiate given on 22nd February, 2010 and date of negotiations on 23rd February, 2010 and award of authority by CTC (Central Tender Committee) on 23rd February, 2010. Therefore, direct bidding (bid rigging) contrary to ZPPA Act of 2008.”
The insider said the bid processes were done at the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) offices in Lusaka.
The insider wondered why the Ministry of Energy and Water Development went for a direct bid.
“The amount is too high,” the insider said. “But probably we will get a loan from China. So watch out when RB returns from China.”
When contacted for comment, Kasonso acknowledged that the amount required was huge but said the contract had not been awarded.
“We have not yet concluded that contract. No! Not yet,” said Kasonso. “Where do you get all that kind of money? All processes have to be followed and so on.”
Labels: BOREHOLES, CHINA, CORRUPTION, JIANGSU INTERNATIONAL, MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, TEDDY KASONSO
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Rupiah’s defence of Chiluba’s corruption
By Editor
Fri 05 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
OBLIGATIONS to the people should take precedence over commitment to an individual.
It is clear that for Rupiah Banda obligations to his friend Frederick Chiluba have taken precedence over his obligations and duties to the people. Instead of serving the people of Zambia heart and soul, Rupiah is more interested in his own political fortunes. Rupiah is not there to serve the people wholeheartedly. He appears ready to abandon his obligations to the people in pursuit of self-interests.
And as Anglican priest Fr Richard Luonde has observed, under Rupiah Zambia is in the hands of people who are not sincere; people who are ready to gamble justice due to the people in the political casino if they think their political fortunes will increase. In the belief that Chiluba will increase his appeal to the voters, Rupiah is ready to sacrifice a lot and ensure that Chiluba remains far away from prison to campaign for him. Rupiah has clearly betrayed the people, the poor. He has failed to promote the interest of the people. What Rupiah is interested in, is not the welfare of the people but his own political survival and the other things that go with one holding political power.
Instead of promoting the interests of the people and secure justice for them, Rupiah has chosen to protect Chiluba and unjustly deny the people justice. Rupiah sees nothing wrong with habouring criminals, thieves, plunderers. Rupiah is very comfortable in the company of Chiluba, a man this government believed to have stolen from the Zambian people and took to court in London to try and recover what he had stolen. And the person who took Chiluba to court in London in the firm belief that he had stolen was no other than the then Attorney General of the Republic, George Kunda. The London High Court gave this government the judgment it was seeking. But now because the political circumstances have changed, this government, including the then Attorney General, want to repudiate that judgment and turn it into an orphan.
This is how crooks operate; this is how insincere people conduct themselves; this is what dishonesty does to human beings. Rupiah and his minions have no shame in trying to shield Chiluba and his league from justice. Rupiah does not even feel ashamed to be in the company of Chiluba’s convicted wife Regina. And while Rupiah was calling on Zambians to accept the judgment acquitting Chiluba, he was not doing the same with that convicting his wife for the stolen money she was receiving from him. This was not a judgment by a British court but by our own magistrate. They have accepted our magistrates’ court’s acquittal of Chiluba but not its conviction of his wife. And Rupiah is not calling on the Zambian people to accept the conviction of Regina. Regina may not be in prison but she is a convicted criminal who is not in prison on account of bail pending appeal. And if Chiluba’s wife is convicted for receiving stolen money from him, where does this leave Chiluba himself? And this is not the only issue, the only court that has looked at things in this way.
The London High Court has found Chiluba to be a thief who has stolen public funds. Our own magistrates’ court has also found, as a matter of fact, that Regina received stolen money from Chiluba who at that time was her ‘boyfriend’. All this to Rupiah and George means nothing; means that Chiluba is innocent! What innocence?
There is a lot of money to be lost because of Rupiah’s selfishness. The Zambian people stand to lose millions of dollars that could be recovered from Chiluba and his friends. This will be the price the Zambian people will be forced to pay for Chiluba’s friendship with Rupiah and his desire to ensure that he doesn’t go to prison.
This is the type of servant the Zambian people have in Rupiah. What type of servant is this who does not advance the interests of his masters but is more concerned with those of their enemies? Whatever true leaders of the people do is to serve the people. Their duty is to hold themselves responsible to the people. Every word, every act and every policy of theirs must conform to the interests of the people; they have the interests of the people and the sufferings of the great majority at heart.
Zambia needs leaders who can look after the interests of her people as they do with their own lives, subordinating their personal interests to those of the people. We need leaders who are more concerned about the masses than about any individual, and more concerned about others than about themselves. We need to bring our political leaders to understand that the supreme test of their words and deeds is whether they conform with the highest interest and enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of the people. At no time and in no circumstances should they place their personal interests first; they should subordinate them to the interests of the nation and of the masses. Hence, Rupiah’s handling of Chiluba’s corruption cases – his acquittal and the withdrawal of the appeal against this – can be said to be corrupt; it is selfishness at its worst. Wholehearted devotion to public duty is therefore required. The people of Zambia need leaders who are ready at all times to stand up for the truth, for that which is fair and just, because truth, fairness and justice are in the interest of the people.
And as Fr Luonde has concluded, Rupiah has failed to promote the interest of the people but is instead busy protecting crooks that have swindled the country. Given this behaviour, what should be the Zambian people’s attitude towards Rupiah? Should they support him or vote for him?
The masses of our people are looking for leaders who are willing to protect their interests. Moreover, a government of the people, by the people, for the people protects and promotes the people’s rights and interests and not of those who rob them, who steal from them. But Rupiah’s government seems to be a government of crooks, by crooks, for crooks and as such they are busy protecting crooks and their interests, their loot. Is this the type of government the masses of our people should seek to promote, defend or preserve? Is this the type of leaders the masses of our people should be expected to vote for – leaders who allow the poor to be robbed?
What Rupiah has done is indefensible and he will live to regret it. Rupiah is doing all this for Chiluba for selfish reasons. And that which is done for selfish reasons can never be noble. Shielding corrupt elements from justice is not a noble thing; it is an evil deed that can only be done by people who are evil and full of vanity and greed.
With all this, there is no way Rupiah can claim to be fighting corruption in this country. It is not possible for one to fight corruption while at the same time defending corrupt elements. Rupiah can only be one thing: a fighter against corruption or a supporter of corrupt elements. These two positions are mutually exclusive. It’s clear that Rupiah has chosen to defend corruption and corrupt elements and to fight those who are fighting corruption. This is how things stand today. But is this the type of president the Zambian people want? This will be very easy for Rupiah if the majority of our people were corrupt like his friend Chiluba. Things are going to be very difficult for him because his corrupt friends and their supporters are in the minority. So Rupiah has chosen to fight the majority.
They have gotten their acquittal; they have withdrawn the appeal. And they think they have won but soon this will be like a mouthful of sand – they wont enjoy it at all; it will be too much for them to chew.
Labels: CHILUBA, RICHARD LUONDE, RUPIAH BANDA
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