Sanctions 'not serving anyone': Biti tells Canada
09/01/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
FINANCE Minister Tendai Biti has told Canada and other Western countries to lift sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe because “they are not serving anyone”.
Biti told reporters after delivering a lecture at Carleton University in Ottawa on Tuesday night that the policy of trying to isolate President Robert Mugabe was no longer useful – four years after a coalition government stabilised the economy and eased political tensions.
“Canada is such an important country, and has been an important country over the years, that it must be engaged in Africa and in the difficult places over the world,” Biti is reported telling the Globe and Mail newspaper.
He called on Canada and the international community to lift sanctions on the country and its officials, saying they are “not serving anyone.”
“The use of sanctions and isolation, I think they’ve outlived their usefulness,” he said.
Biti, the secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, became Finance Minister in 2009 after the opposition party formed a unity government with Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.
Last year, Biti wrote to the United States treasury to protest the inclusion of two diamond firms – Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources – to the list of companies sanctioned under its Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA).
The companies were apparently punished for partnering the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Company (ZMDC) which was already on the US sanctions list.
Biti told Assistant US Treasury Secretary Charles Collyns that the US actions flew in the face of the Kimberley Process’ green light for Marange diamonds.
He blasted: "It would be curious to find out the motive of your decision against the two companies. Your decision will not stop the mining that is a sovereign issue covered by international law.
"Most importantly, it will not stop the sale of diamonds. All it does is to encourage more opaqueness and underwriting of the diamond industry... this is a self-defeating and retrogressive position; one which I hope was not taken to placate powerful interests who were against the Kinshasa agreement."
Biti was scheduled to meet Wednesday with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and his parliamentary secretary, Deepak Obhrai.
The meeting will “provide an opportunity to express Canadian views on the need for continued political reform in Zimbabwe, including a referendum on a new constitution, free and fair elections, and the respect for human rights,” said Rick Roth, a spokesman for Baird.
Biti said he would use the meeting with Mr. Baird as an opportunity to press the Canadian government to broaden its relationship with Zimbabwe.
Biti flies to London from Canada to speak at Friday’s ZimInvest London 2013 fair which aims to promote Zimbabwe as a safe investment destination.
Labels: CANADA, MDC, SANCTIONS, TENDAI BITI, ZDERA
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Ben-Menashe escapes house fire
03/12/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
A FIRE has ravaged the Canadian home of Ari Ben-Menashe, the former Israeli spy who famously tried to ensnare MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai in a plot to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.
Ben-Menashe, a former arms broker and international lobbyist, was unhurt in the fire which gutted his upscale Westmount home in Montreal on Sunday evening, Canadian police said. Montreal police spokesman Constable Daniel Lacoursière said that a passerby noticed the flames and spotted a person fleeing.
The three-alarm blaze prompted a response from two different fire stations. The crews arrived to find that Ben-Menashe and a woman had made their way safely outside.
“The fire crews arrived to find the house fully engulfed on the first floor,” said Richard Bourdeau, chief of operations for the fire department. “The fire quickly spread to the second floor.”
The blaze at the semi-detached home was so fierce that fire crews were not able to go inside. Another two people had to flee the adjoining house, which is for sale.
The investigation has now been turned over to the police arson squad, Constable Lacoursière said, though he warned the damage is so extensive it could be difficult to learn what caused the fire. Fire crews said Monday it was not safe for anyone to enter the house, which was expected to be demolished later.
Ben-Menashe, an Iraqi-born Israeli, has been tied over the years to different foreign governments including Israel, Zimbabwe and Iran.
He was charged in the United States in 1989 with trying to sell military transport planes to the government of Iran — but was acquitted.
In 2002, Ben-Menashe was again thrust in the international spotlight, after taking on as a client Morgan Tsvangirai. In what has been described as a nefarious double-cross, Ben-Menashe made video and audio recordings that purportedly revealed Tsvangirai plotting the assassination of President Mugabe.
He then delivered the recordings to Mugabe, a long-time friend and ally. Ben-Menashe and Mugabe immediately signed their own consultancy deal that was worth more than US$1 million.
Tsvangirai was charged with treason and Ben-Menashe became the prosecution's star witness.
A verdict was rendered in 2004; Tsvangirai was acquitted. In his decision, the trial judge called Ben-Menashe's courtroom behaviour as "very rude ... he made gratuitous remarks ... The witness was unpleasant and continued to exhibit contemptuous behaviour even after being warned by the court."
Ben-Menashe later said he had no regrets. "Tsvangirai is the one who approached us," he insisted. "He asked us to do a coup and kill Mugabe. I did not frame him. We don’t do that. He just walked in. He approached the wrong guy."
Labels: ARI BEN-MENASHE, CANADA, HOUSE FIRES
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COMMENT - The Canadian government of today is a rightwing tool. Like the Swedish government.
Canada quits UN body over Mugabe honour
Good to see you ... President Mugabe welcomes President Sata in Victoria Falls
31/05/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
CANADA has withdrawn from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) over the agency's appointment of President Robert Mugabe as a special tourism ambassador. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird confirmed the development Thursday.
Mugabe and Zambia’s Michael Sata were appointed tourism ambassadors by the UNWTO on Tuesday at a ceremony in Victoria Falls where the two leaders signed an agreement for the joint hosting of the organisation’s congress next year. But the honour sparked protests from critics who accuse the Zimbabwean leader of human rights violations.
A spokesman for the Canadian foreign ministry said Mugabe’s appointment was the "last straw" for Canada's participation in the UNWTO.
"After (Minister Baird) heard that (Mugabe) was honoured at an event, after he was invited to join this global leaders group, he signed the Order in Council almost immediately," the spokesman said.
"They were legitimising him by enlisting Mugabe to promote tourism. In our view that makes him a small 'a' ambassador."
However, Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi said Canada’s withdrawal was inconsequential as the country was a “small player in the global tourism industry”.
“Does Canada capture your imagination? We do not even use their currency,” Mzembi said.
“It (Canada) is not a player in the sector. It wants to leverage on the Mugabe brand. They want to take advantage of the Mugabe brand to be on the global map.
“If they want to withdraw, let’s go ahead. They will not be the first to withdraw because countries such as the US and Britain are not members.”
“No one can doubt that President Mugabe has done a lot for the tourism sector than anyone else in the world.
“He has recognised tourism as a pillar of the economy and has dedicated a ministry to deal with that.”
The UN body also dismissed Canada’s reasons for the pull-out, pointing out that it doesn't actually have an ambassadorial program.
The UNWTO said it gave an Open Letter on Travel and Tourism to the presidents of Zimbabwe and Zambia on May 29, in recognition of a tripartite agreement with both countries on the hosting of the 20th Session of the UN General Assembly in Victoria Falls, which straddles the borders of both countries.
The agency added that the same letter had been given to leaders of other countries around the world.
"The receiving of the Open Letter implies no legal commitment or official title attribution to the country or the recipient," the agency said in a statement.
Labels: CANADA, ROBERT MUGABE, UN, WALTER MZEMBI
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Sata questions EU, opposition meeting
By Moses Kuwema and Mwala Kalaluka
Thu 10 May 2012, 17:40 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says his government takes strong exception to foreign diplomats who interfere in the country's internal affairs.President Sata's remarks come in the wake of a meeting held by some representatives from opposition parties with the European Union in Zambia over the suspension of three judges.
Speaking at State House yesterday when outgoing Canadian High Commissioner to Zambia and Tanzania, Robert Orr bade farewell to him, President Sata urged the Minister of Foreign Affairs and tourism to look into the matter.
"You Canada have not interfered in our local affairs, when we were a dependent country. What we have seen, some people…most of our laws in Zambia are derived from the Commonwealth and the European Union. And when we find that our colleagues are interfering in the internal affairs of Zambia, we take strong exception. The Minister of Foreign Affairs should have a look. When diplomats start entertaining opposition, we don't do it in Canada, why should they do it here? We don't do it in Europe, why should they do it here?" President Sata wondered.
On Tuesday, opposition political party leaders met European Union officials in Lusaka over the suspension of judges and the setting up of a tribunal to investigate them.
The diplomats have allegedly also been meeting some people from Western Province.
Sources said a delegation from Western Province is in Lusaka to make presentations to diplomatic missions accredited to Zambia over secession.
Sources told The Post yesterday that the delegation that was headed by Ngambela Sinyinda and some indunas counsellors had already made presentations to the Russian Embassy and was yet to meet other diplomats as a build-up towards Barotse-land's 'declaration of a dispute' with Zambia.
"Their representations are based on the resolution of the Barotse National Council to be independent from Zambia," said a source. "The delegation recently met officials from the Russian Embassy. They are scheduled to meet the Finns today yesterday and they are also going to meet officials from the US Embassy next week."
Other sources said the BNC delegation had already sent requests for an appointment with the Netherlands Embassy but that they were yet to get a response.
And President Sata said Zambia was grateful to Canada for the aid it provided in the past.
He said the decision by Canada to cut aid to Zambia was understood because of the difficulties the world was going through.
"We understand the difficulties the world is going through and since the Canadians were decent enough to tell us to say they cannot continue, they have got their own difficulties. We have some other Western countries who cannot afford, they are reducing on the number of missions and we have no choice. We are very grateful to the Canadian government. I am very grateful, you have come and I hope you have enjoyed your stay in Africa," he said.
President Sata said Zambia had continued to learn a great deal from former British colonies such as Canada and New Zealand.
He said Zambia was still benefiting from Canada in terms of education and other areas.
"We wish we could have more. As you have seen, Zambia is still developing after 48 years, we are still a developing nation," President Sata said.
And High Commissioner Orr said Zambia and his country had worked together closely in a variety of ways and it was important for the two countries to continue to do so.
High Commissioner Orr said the relationship between Zambia and Canada was growing particularly on the commercial side.
"As you said, the relationship between Canada and Zambia has been very strong since the time of independence. In fact, its mature, it is growing particularly on the commercial side now and there is progress. We look forward to continuing strong relationships with Zambia in future. We have worked closely together in a variety of ways and I think that is important and we will continue to do so. There are other things Canada has to learn from Zambia as well," High Commissioner Orr said.
Labels: CANADA, EU, MICHAEL SATA, NEOCOLONIALISM
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Redefining the U.S.-Canada Border: The End of Canada as a Sovereign Nation?
by Dana Gabriel
Global Research, March 13, 2012
beyourownleader.blogspot.com
Through a series of bilateral meetings, U.S. and Canadian officials are busy working out the details of the perimeter security action plan. This includes a recent joint crime forum which dealt with border and law enforcement issues. These various discussions are part of the implementation process which when finished would bring about the complete transformation of the northern border and another step closer in the creation of a fully integrated North American security perimeter.
In early March, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano met with Canadian Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and Public Safety Minister Vic Toews as part of the Cross-Border Crime Forum. On the agenda was, “transnational crime issues such as organized crime, counter-terrorism, smuggling, economic crime and other emerging cross-border threats.” Both countries also signed a memorandum of understanding on the Dissemination and Exchange of Information to combat human smuggling and trafficking. The meetings were used as an opportunity to further advance U.S.-Canada cooperation in areas of law enforcement, criminal justice and intelligence. This ties in with my previous article which detailed the Obama administration’s new counter-narcotics strategy for the northern border that includes closer collaboration with Canada in the war on drugs. Much of the joint crime forum discussions focused around the progress being made on the Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan, announced in December 2011.
A readout of Attorney General Holder and Secretary Napolitano’s visit to Ottawa explained that talks with their Canadian counterparts centered largely around promoting the perimeter security agreement. It highlighted, “efforts to develop the next-generation of integrated cross-border law enforcement operations, and improve information sharing practices.” Attorney General Holder stated, “Our productive discussions today at the Cross Border Crime Forum go a long way toward advancing a key pillar of the Beyond the Border initiative that President Obama and Prime Minister Harper announced last year: integrated law enforcement that adds value to our relationship by leveraging shared resources, improving information sharing and increasing coordination of efforts.” Secretary Napolitano emphasized that, “We will continue to work with Canada to further enhance information sharing and integrate our cross border law enforcement operations, strengthening the national and economic security of both our nations.” As part of the perimeter security deal, both countries are moving ahead with harmonizing intelligence sharing capabilities.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently hosted stakeholder meetings regarding programs and initiatives found in the Beyond the Border action plan. CBP Acting Deputy Commissioner Thomas Winkowski confirmed that the, “agreement forged by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper is about strengthening and expediting trade and travel between our countries.” He went on to say, “It’s about finding common-sense solutions to our most complicated problems. And it’s about extending national security for both of our nations, well away from the border.” CBSA President Luc Portelance acknowledged, “As these joint meetings with stakeholders indicate, we are committed to working with our U.S. partners to bring about greater consistency, efficiency and predictability in the management of our shared border.” The perimeter security deal will mean deeper integration between both border agencies. Some have warned that it might force Canada to harmonize its immigration and refugee policies with U.S. practices. Over a period of time, this could lead to the creation of a binational institution that would manage the northern border.
Steven Chase of the Globe and Mail reported that during recent border security discussions, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary of International Affairs, Alan Bersin commented on how, “he believes the time will come when Canada and the United States have a joint organization to handle border controls – what he described as a NORAD border.” Bersin is quoted as saying, “Why should we have separate admissibility processes … if, in fact, North American security would suggest that a Canadian and a U.S. immigrations and customs official ought to be working together to clear people in Frankfurt who are coming into Canada, to clear them such that they would be able then to come seamlessly across (the joint border into) the United States.” An article by Christopher Sands of the Hudson Institute also included another top level Homeland Security official using the same NORAD analogy to describe future joint border controls. David Heyman explained that this, “could be a model for how the two countries might handle the protection of citizens against 21st-century threats from terrorism, pandemics, cyberattacks, and organized crime.”
On February 16, the Conservative government introduced the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act. The legislation proposed, “reforms to the asylum system to make it faster and fairer, measures to address human smuggling, and the authority to make it mandatory to provide biometric data.” The new changes would put Canada in line with the U.S. and other international partners. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney praised the use of biometrics as an, “important new tool to help protect the safety and security of Canadians by reducing identity fraud and identity theft.” He added, it “will improve our ability to keep violent criminals and those who pose a threat to Canada out. In short, biometrics will strengthen the integrity of Canada’s immigration system while helping facilitate legitimate travel.” Under the section about sharing relevant information to improve immigration and border determinations, the U.S.-Canada action plan calls for implementing, “systematic and automated biographic information-sharing capability by 2013 and biometric information-sharing capability by 2014.” There are fears that a joint biometric identification system would be used to track Canadians and Americans alike.
U.S.-Canada bilateral dialogue on strategic issues concerning the Beyond the Border deal continues as the action plan lays out deadlines where initiatives will be incrementally implemented over the next several years. The proposed changes promise to bring about a radical transformation of the northern border. This will further bring Canadian security practices in line with American ones and under the reach of the Department of Homeland Security.
Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com. Visit his blog at beyourownleader.blogspot.com
Labels: CANADA
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Privatisation: Leading Canada's Public Healthcare to the "Free-market Guillotine"
by Stefan Christoff
Global Research, December 25, 2011
rabble.ca
National discussion in Canada on the Conservative government's new healthcare financial ultimatum, a take-it-or-leave-it-style proposal, largely revolves around myths. First that financing alone is key to securing a sustainable public healthcare system and second that free-market economic winds will provide sustainable guidelines, via GDP, for viable future government healthcare financing.
A surprise delivery from Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to provincial finance ministers, over a fancy lunch-in at the Chateau Victoria Hotel this past Monday, the plan offers no space for negotiation toward collective national solutions for public healthcare.
Essentially, the Conservative proposal works to strip federal responsibility in crafting, via national negotiations, coherent and sustainable healthcare systems in Canada's provinces and territories. A clear move away from the flawed but important Canada Health Act and a political node to provincial governments already working to allocate federal healthcare financing toward enhancing the corporate, for-profit sector role in delivering healthcare, as already seen extensively in Alberta and Québec.
In reality, the Conservative plan will see six per cent healthcare funding increases until the 2016-17 fiscal year, with little regulation over provincial governments increasing experimentation with public-private partnerships. Beyond 2016-17 the plan is to bind federal healthcare spending to GDP growth, a fundamentally dangerous move toward codifying Canada's public healthcare into capitalist economic terms.
Essentially, the Conservative deal stands as cash for healthcare in the near future and uncertainty for the long term. Cash solutions are never long-term solutions to collective challenges, fast money and free market thinking will not solve the deep problems facing public healthcare in Canada.
Beyond important calls for the Conservative government to negotiate viable terms to sustain public healthcare in Canada, with politicians from provincial and territorial governments, also note that zero official opportunity for the people of Canada to contribute ideas toward the future of public healthcare have been outlined.
In reality, a viable and democratic process in Canada, relating to public healthcare's future, would encourage neighbourhood assemblies and participatory political processes coast-to-coast, similar to the general assembly model celebrated by the Occupy movement.
Global Research Articles by Stefan Christoff
Labels: CANADA, HEALTHCARE, NEOLIBERALISM
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Canada wants Zim to trade its diamonds
Thursday, 22 December 2011 00:00
Takunda Maodza Senior Reporter
CANADA says it is comfortable with Zimbabwe trading in its Marange gems as the move will strengthen the global diamond industry.
In an interview with journalists yesterday at State House in Harare after presenting her credentials to President Mugabe, new Canadian ambassador Lisa Stadelbauer said
her country had no problems with endorsing the sale of diamonds from Zimbabwe."We are quite pleased with the arrangement," she said. "We take the KP seriously and it is important to have a strong diamond industry."
Ambassador Stadelbauer said Canada was among countries that endorsed the KP decision allowing Zimbabwe to sell her diamonds at a meeting held recently in the DRC.
Canada is a US ally and was among countries that were advocating for a ban on the export of the Marange diamonds, citing claims of human rights abuses at Chiadzwa.
Only last week, Washington slammed Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources, two of the major diamond mining companies in Marange, with sanctions in a bid to frustrate Government's efforts to turn around the economy.
The West fears allowing Zimbabwe to freely trade in her diamonds would render useless its illegal sanctions on Harare.
Three other ambassadors from Egypt, Angola and Japan presented their credentials to President Mugabe yesterday.
New Egyptian ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Bassam Khalil, deployed by the Mohamed Hussein Tantawi led administration in Cairo, pledged to further political and economic ties with Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Khalil said discussions centred on strengthening the already excellent relations between the two countries.
"We had a good meeting with President Mugabe. He is well informed about the situation in Egypt. We discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations," he said.
Ambassador Khalil stressed the need to improve trade between Harare and Cairo, saying the level of business between the two countries was not satisfying.
"There are a lot of things that can be done. We have excellent relations that should be translated to economic levels," ambassador Khalil said.
He said Egyptians were keen to invest in agriculture and mining in Zimbabwe.
On the volatile political situation in his country, ambassador Bassam said: "We have a transitional situation in Egypt. We hope this will be over soon.
"We had a major revolution in Egypt and when a revolution of that magnitude occurs we have a period of instability."
New Angolan ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Pedro Hendrick Vaal Neto said his meeting with President Mugabe analysed the level of co-operation between Luanda and Harare.
"We think that bilateral co-operation should be increased. Both countries have potential and we should find areas we should develop more," he said.
"Zimbabwe and Angola are very close friends and we want to make that friendship closer and effective."
The Japanese ambassador Mr Yonezo Fukuda pledged more developmental assistance to Zimbabwe.
Labels: AMBASSADOR, CANADA, DIAMONDS, KIMBERLEY PROCESS
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Canadian mining firm scoffs at indigenisation drive
Saturday, 03 December 2011 00:00
[Caledonia chief executive officer Mr Stefan Hayden] Takunda Maodza Senior Reporter
CALEDONIA Mining Corporation has scoffed at Government's economic empowerment drive, branding indigenisation regulations a political gimmick to lure votes for Zanu-PF.
The Canadian firm's remarks come at a time when President Mugabe has told foreign companies that are not comfortable with the black empowerment drive to leave the country.
The Toronto and London-listed gold mining company which owns Blanket Mine in Gwanda was this week quoted by Mining Weekly as vowing not to cede 51 percent stake as prescribed by law.
Caledonia chief executive officer Mr Stefan Hayden said his company did not intend to finalise a sale of its shares to locals until the run-up to elections.
Mr Hayden said the policy was "a political football game at the moment".
"If Zanu-PF plays the indigenisation card now, then, come the elections, there is nothing left to play," he was quoted as saying.
Mr Hayden said negotiations on his company's indigenisation plan "will continue until before the elections".
Caledonia looks forward to producing at least 40 000 ounces of gold next year.
Zanu-PF yesterday advised the firm to comply with the law, saying the indigenisation programme was unstoppable.
"All companies are expected to comply with the indigenisation law. We are not politicking.
"We are empowering our people and this has been demonstrated by the Chegutu-Mhondoro-Ngezi-Zvimba and Unki Mine Community Share Ownership Trusts," said Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu refused to comment on the matter yesterday, referring all questions to Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
Caledonia has always been on a collision course with Government.
Its mining licence was briefly cancelled mid this year after the company failed to submit an acceptable indigenisation plan.
Mr Hayden flew into the country following the cancellation of the licence and engaged Minister Kasukuwere.
Government lifted the cancellation after the firm pledged to provide a revised economic empowerment plan compliant with the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.
Launching the Tongogara Community Share Ownership Trust at Anglo-American Corporation-owned Unki Mine recently, President Mugabe said of defiant companies: "This (black economic empowerment) is our policy. We do not hide it. We want empowerment for our people. Vanenge vasingade, we say go now, if not yesterday."
Labels: CALEDONIA MINING CORPORATION, CANADA, INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE)
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ZCCM-IH to disclose the whereabouts of K850 billion next month after board approval
TIME PUBLISHED - Monday, November 7, 2011, 5:13 am
ZAMBIA Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has
broken its silence regarding the whereabouts of the US$167.5 million Barrick Gold paid for a 2.28 percent stake in Lumwana Mining Company (LMC).“The funds are
placed in short-term investments with local financial institutions,” ZCCM-IH said in a statement placed in the Daily Mail following
concerns from minister of Mines and Minerals Development Wylbur Simuusa that the company might have either ‘misplaced’ or ‘misapplied’ the money.
ZCCM-IH, in a management statement, said it will disclose the whereabouts of the money after a board approval next month because doing so before the board’s consent would be tantamount to flouting listing rules. The company is listed on the Lusaka and New York bourses.
Last week, Mr Simuusa gave the company a one-week ultimatum to account for the money which in Kwacha terms stands at tens of billions and could provide a major boost to poverty reduction programmes.
Former minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane, in an interview via phone from Zimbabwe where he is doing some work, said he is confident the money could not have been misapplied.
ZCCM-IH, in a management statement, said it will disclose the whereabouts of the money after a board approval next month because doing so before the board’s consent would be tantamount to flouting listing rules.
“If there are any suspicions by the minister (Mr Simuusa) that the money is missing,” Mr Situmbeko said, “the matter must be reported to the police.”
The Peter Munk owned gold digger paid Australia’s Equinox Minerals up to US$7.5 billion for LMC and insisted on buying off the 2.28 percent stake Zambia had even after the local competition commission advised that ZCCM-IH must maintain the stake which by extension gave ZCCM-IH a stake in the multi-billion Jabil copper and gold mine in Saudi Arabia.
Criticism mounted regarding ZCCM-IH’s decision to take a ‘measly’ US$167.5million from the largest gold digger in the world instead of actually demanding a large stake in the mine that has an extendable 35-year lease life.
However, speculation has been escalating that ZCCM-IH only agreed to give up the 2.28 percent stake in LMC after Canada’s Prime Minister from 1984 to 1993 Brian Mulroney visited State House with a Zambian author based in the United States.
Barrick Gold is a Canadian owned mine. The nature of discussions Mr Mulroney “quietly” had at State House with the Zambian author and State House officials remains unknown.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Labels: CANADA, CORRUPTION, LUMWANA MINING COMPANY, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE, WYLBUR SIMUUSA, ZCCM-IH
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Sata pledges to run Zambia better than Rupiah
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 05 Oct. 2010, 12:40 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has pledged to run Zambia’s affairs not in the manner President Rupiah Banda is doing.
He said this during a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Tanzania and Zambia Robert Orr at Chit Chat Café in Lusaka’a Rhodes Park area last Thursday. He said Zambia was drifting into a very dangerous path on the fight against corruption by removing abuse of authority from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act.
Sata said Zamtel had been corruptly privatised to LAP Green of Libya.
“As we are talking, the leadership of government are always in the aeroplane. The man where you originally came from was a Johnnie Walker but what we have now is a John flier,” Sata said.
He said the Canadian government helped Zambia to reduce the infant and maternity rates but there was no one paying attention to such issues now. He said he wanted to reinstate human dignity, saying if leaders respected the people they would not steal from them.
“If you respect people you don’t get doctors striking,” Sata said.
He said conditions for paying tax in the mining industry should benefit all, and not only the Chinese mines.
At this point, PF vice-president Dr Guy Scott chipped in by asking High Commissioner Orr if the Canadian economy was on a drive to cut government spending.
High Commissioner Orr said Canada had tried to spend its money on ways which were appropriate.
He said as a result, Canada had doubled assistance to Africa in the last five years.
Dr Scott there were some worries about the conduct of elections because the number of voters captured looked selective.
“I am told that what used to be of Rhodesia and Nyasaland to help each other into elections, we send experts into Malawi. I understand Mr. Robert Mugabe has now sent some experts and we know his style of elections,” said Dr Scott.
In response, High Commissioner said Canada wanted free, fair and transparent elections which would result in the will of the people being respected.
On the same issue, Sata said a free and fair election provided a conducive environment for good governance and investment.
[And that is about as far as they should go in making concessions to FDI. It is time for Zambia to start developing. And that means that the mines pay 50% of their incomes (or more) in taxes to the state. Plus pay a road tax as long as they oppose the rail option and keep destroying the roads with their millions of tonnes of ore. MrK]
“No investor will risk bringing money into a country where they know very well that the person who is in charge of the country has not won an election,” said Sata.
Labels: CANADA, MICHAEL SATA, PRIVATISATION, RUPIAH BANDA, ZAMTEL
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COMMENT - You can't talk of providing leadership on Zimbabwe and praise the military dictator of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, at the same time. Paul Kagame is a US/UK stooge, who is deeply involved in the atrocities in the Eastern DRC.
Canada urges Zambia to provide leadership on Zim political agreement
By Patson Chilemba
Thu 01 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
NEWLY-accredited Canadian High Commissioner to Zambia Robert Orr yesterday said Canada looks to Zambia to provide leadership within SADC to ensure the implementation of the global political agreement in Zimbabwe.
And President Rupiah Banda received credentials from three diplomats who included High Commissioner Orr, High Commissioner Ndangiza Fatuma Nyirabokwa from Rwanda and Ambassador-designate Oliver Richard from France at State House.
Presenting his credentials, High Commissioner Orr said Canada was grateful for Zambia’s support in the international fora on issues of common interest and regional peace and security.
“In particular, Canada looks to Zambia to provide leadership within SADC to ensure the implementation of the Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe and Zambia’s commitment to sustain peace, security and prosperity in the Great Lakes Region,” he said.
High Commissioner Orr said Zambia and Canada had much in common in that they both had low population density, vibrant ethnic diversity and a profound dedication to the ideals of “peace, order and good government”.
“Canada sees it as essential that there are strong efforts in Zambia to ensure good governance, including efforts to attack corruption, to foster an environment for multi-party democracy and to support an open and free election process. These elements are key ingredients to allow proper democratic and economic development of the country,” he said.
High Commissioner Orr said Canada remained committed to supporting sustainable development and providing humanitarian assistance in order to promote a more equitable and prosperous world.
He said Canada had delivered on its commitment to double aid to Africa to $2.1 billion in 2008/9 from the 2003/4 levels.
High Commissioner Orr said Canada had joined other partners in supporting the strengthening of the electoral processes in Zambia, with a contribution of $2.5 million.
He said in 2007/8 Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) provided $17.27 million in official development assistance to Zambia and increased this to $20.56 million in 2008/9.
“Unfortunately, because of the world’s financial situation and its impact on Canada’s budget, some difficult decisions have been made and continue to be made about Canada’s overseas presence. The result has been seen readjustment of our overseas staff complement, including the closure of some missions and reduction of staff in others,” said High Commissioner Orr.
“This has also resulted in a non-resident High Commissioner to Zambia. Notwithstanding this change, I can assure you that it has not reduced Canada’s commitment to work with Zambia in pursuing common political objectives, continuing commercial activities and delivering development assistance in an efficient manner, even if some activities are from a greater distance.”
Accepting the letters of credence, President Banda said High Commissioner Orr was taking his appointment at a time when Zambia and Canada were emerging from the world economic crisis.
He said although the impact of the crisis in the two countries had been different, owing to the varying levels of development, there was need to re-focus the partnership towards using Canadian development assistance to enhance the resilience of the Zambian economy to withstand the unexpected global economic shocks.
And Ambassador Richard said time seemed ripe for exploring possibilities of bilateral official development aid projects between France and Zambia.
He said the French Development Agency, which is the French governmental body in charge of official development aid, recently granted 35 million pounds for a project in Namibia aimed at connecting the Zambia and Namibia national electricity grids, and they also granted a US $35 million credit line to ZANACO.
Ambassador Richard said the French Development Agency was willing to provide the government of Zambia with loans at concessional rates.
President Banda said SADC faced the challenge of assisting Madagascar return to constitutional order and Zimbabwe to resolve issues pertaining to the implementation of the global political agreement.
Receiving the letters of credence from High Commissioner Nyirobokwa, President Banda said the recent history of Rwanda had been indelibly marked by the tragic events that took place about 16 years ago.
He said memories of that continued to impact not only on the daily lives of the ordinary people of Rwanda but also the relations that country maintained with immediate and distant neighbours in the Great Lakes Region.
President Banda said he fully supported President Paul Kagame’s efforts aimed at ensuring that Rwanda came to terms with itself.
President Banda said the genocide victims must genuinely forgive the perpetrators and conversely in order to return the country to peaceful and harmonious co-existence.
High Commissioner Nyirobokwa said the last 16 years after the genocide had been a tale of courage under fire.
High Commssioner Nyirobokwa said Rwanda had emerged as a peaceful, united and reconciled country at peace with itself and with the neighbours from the ashes of devastation and anguish, thanks to the leadership of President Kagame.
Labels: CANADA, PAUL KAGAME, RUPIAH BANDA
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COMMENT - The mining issue is so ready for examination that it is unbelievable. Who would have heard of Canadian human rights abuses in the DRC?
Canadian firms dominate mining activities in Africa – and have a bad human rights record
Posted Monday, March 1 2010 at 00:00
Few issues have generated as much heat in recent African affairs as China’s foray onto the continent. Much has been made of the dragon’s insatiable hunger for the continent’s mineral wealth. The breadth of Chinese involvement has focused minds in the West and provoked much media hyperbole.
However, at the same time, the Middle Kingdom’s great rival from North America has been active as well, though its activities seem not to attract as much attention. No, I’m not talking about the US. Rather, the other North American superpower — Canada. Yes, Canada. Soft, unassuming Canada dominates mining and mineral exploration on the continent.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources Canada (NRC), only South Africa has more mining assets and investments.
And while the Rainbow Nation’s interest is concentrated, it is just ahead of Canada in the African mining industry.
While South Africa’s gold pot is to be found largely within its borders, by 2007, Canadian companies were active in 35 African countries and Africa represented 17 per cent of the total $85.9 billion in cumulative Canadian mining assets.
This year, the total value of Canadian mining assets in Africa is expected to surpass $21 billion compared to just $233 million in 1989.
The Canadian government has actively supported this expansion.
Since the 1990s, under the influence of industry associations, the Canadian state has implemented a comprehensive strategy to support the expansion of investments and activities abroad.
Fiscal measures designed to attract mining interests include tax deductions for expenditure incurred abroad and exemptions for profits repatriated to Canada.
According to its 2007 annual report, Export Development Canada, the government’s export credit agency, has supported projects totalling $22 billion worth of exports and investments in Canadian companies in the extractive sector.
Endowed with both minerals and a long mining tradition, Canadians are not exactly lacking in expertise.
As of 2001, the sector accounted for 4 per cent of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with $64 billion in exports and $30 billion in capital expenditure, while employing a total of 400,000 people.
The year before, in 2000, there were at least 2,200 Canadian companies related to the mining industry.
So why do they want our minerals? Could it be to power their manufacturing sector?
With a modest 2 per cent growth, Canada had been the exception to the trend of manufacturing job loss among developed countries over the past quarter century. But now they are playing catch-up.
Between 2004 and 2008, as Canada’s mining investment in Africa has exploded, their manufacturing sector imploded, shedding over 300,000 jobs.
Its share of total employment fell by close to one-third and when the US Bureau of Labour Statistics released a comparison of average annual growth rates in manufacturing output over the 2000-2007 period in 16 different industrialised countries, Canada was right at the bottom with real output declining at an average rate of 0.3 per cent per year. So, it is not like they have a voracious appetite for raw materials.
How about energy? Perhaps they need some of our oil and natural gas? Not a chance. Canada is a net exporter of oil, natural gas, coal and electricity.
In 2006, the country produced 19.3 quadrillion British Thermal Units (Btu) of total energy, the fifth-largest amount in the world.
Not only is Canada the largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world, it also ranks third and seventh in global gas and oil production respectively.
Even as Canadian companies are busy signing oil exploration and extraction contracts in Africa, back home oil tycoons have invested more than $28 billion in Alberta’s oil sands and estimates are for that investment to mushroom to $117 billion in the next decade. So no, they don’t need our oil.
Why are they here then? The reason is actually quite simple. For one, minerals are relatively easy to find in Africa.
The continent hosts 30 per cent of the planet’s mineral reserves including 40 per cent of gold, 60 per cent of cobalt, 90 per cent of the world’s PGMs (Platinum Group of Metals) and proven oil reserves of over 117 billion barrels as at the end of 2007.
In Canada, the easy-to-find stuff has already been found. Companies are now developing low-grade projects with marginal economics and investors have reached a stage where they assume that mines will not be delivered on time and on budget.
A good example is British Columbia’s Galore Creek Project, a partnership between two Canadian mining entities, NovaGold and Teck Cominco, to develop what was supposed to be “one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits, with quality, long-life reserves and excellent geologic potential.”
It was halted after costs more than doubled and the estimated long-term copper price raised questions about its economic feasibility.
In some places in Africa, meanwhile, a company like First Quantum Minerals Ltd can get its Lonshi mine up and running less than a year after a discovery is made and there are highly prospective regions like the Central African copperbelt that have had no serious exploration for decades, or ever.
“You’re looking at virgin ground that’s almost untouched. It’s finally being explored properly,” says Jean Luc Roy, CEO of the copperbelt exploration company El Nino Ventures Inc.
Robert Lavalliere, vice-president of investor relations at Anvil Mining Ltd, the leading copper producer in the DRC with three major projects, notes the productive potential of open pit mines there is “three, four, five times” that of the rest of the world.
However, this is not universally true of the continent. The experience of Tiomin Resources Inc. in Kenya will suffice to illustrate this.
Money
That said, it is abundantly clear that Canadians are not here just for the minerals. They’re here for the money.
And with sky high global prices for raw materials, you can bet there’s lots of it to be made.
According to CorpWatch.org, 60 per cent of all the world’s mining companies are based in Canada, generating $50 billion a year for Canadians.
As everyone (except the African people, of course) fights for his piece of the pie, moral standards are being thrown to the wind.
Around the world, Canadians are generally regarded as a pleasant, soft-spoken people.
But being home to nearly two-thirds of the world’s mining and exploration companies, it is inevitable that there will be some rotten apples.
Each year, a significant number of these are accused of environmental and human rights abuses, often in developing countries where the government is weak or corrupt.
Their behaviour is so bad that in some places, according to the Toronto Star, the word “Canada” is so reviled that travelling Canadians mask their citizenship by wearing, of all things, American flags on their caps and backpacks.
The Canadian government has struggled for a decade with how to hold mining firms accountable for their actions overseas. So far its attempts have proved inadequate.
It has disregarded repeated calls for an independent investigation into the 1996 Bulyanhulu gold mine incident.
In 2001, eyewitness accounts, family testimony, photos and police videotape uncovered by the Lawyer’s Environmental Action Team (LEAT) of Tanzania corroborated long-standing allegations that employees of the Canadian-owned Kahama Mining Corporation Ltd (KMCL) in conjunction with the Tanzanian police, buried over 50 artisanal miners by bulldozing over the entrances to the shafts in which they worked at the Bulyanhulu gold mine in 1996.
In 2002 it ignored a United Nations report called on it to investigate the actions of seven Canadian companies accused of illegally exploiting resources from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Two years later, 73 people were killed by the Congolese military, which used vehicles, supplies, pilots and drivers from a Canadian-Australian mining company to transport them to the site of the massacre.
According to MiningWatch’s Jamie Kneen, Anvil Mining had been forced to shut down production at their Dikulushi Mine when a so-called “rebellion” took place in a nearby village; a rebellion of “10 to 12” villagers that had nothing to do with mining. Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), of the DRC government, provided with trucks and logistics by Anvil, proceeded to seize the town and then went door-to-door “raping and pillaging.”
As recent revelations from Uganda demonstrate, these companies are not above signing secret agreements or dumping toxic waste into rivers as they did in Tanzania.
Denis Tougas, director of the L’Entraide missionnaire (L’EMI) in Montréal, notes that “it’s a safe bet that Canada’s image as a moderate country and disinterested development partner in Africa is now thoroughly outdated.”
Labels: CANADA, DRC, HUMAN RIGHTS, MINING
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Zambia willing to renegotiate new mining taxes
Tue 30 Sep 2008, 12:37 GMT
LUSAKA, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Zambia is willing to renegotiate mining taxes set earlier this year with foreign firms facing difficulties arising from them, a minister said on Tuesday. In April, mineral royalty rose to 3 percent from 0.6 percent and corporate tax to 30 percent from 25 percent.
The government also introduced a windfall profit tax at a minimum 25 percent and a variable profit tax at 15 percent on taxable income above 8 percent, effectively raising mining tax to 47 percent from 31 percent, despite industry objections.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Kalombo Mwansa told Reuters in an interview the government in the mineral-rich southern African country was in advanced talks with Canada's First Quantum Minerals , which has raised serious objections to the new fiscal regime.
"There have been discussions between First Quantum and the ministers for justice and finance over the tax issue," Mwansa said.
"We are ready to dialogue to keep mining viable so that they (mining companies) keep expanding and remain profitable."
Mwansa said negotiations to cut some taxes would be extended to other mining investors who approach the government over their operational difficulties.
"We are open to dialogue if there are problems at individual mines because the taxes were introduced to benefit the government while they (firms) remain viable," Mwansa said.
He said Zambia's mining industry was thriving despite the global financial turmoil because most big players had committed funds way ahead of the credit crunch in the U.S and Europe.
"Everything is on course in spite of the global financial squeeze with the major players like the Chinese continuing with the building of a (key) copper smelter and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) proceeding with the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP)," Mwansa said.
The KDMP, which will come on stream in 2010, is expected to be Zambia's largest single producer of copper metal, with output projected at 150,000 tonnes per year.
Mwansa said Australia's Equinox Minerals Ltd. , was due to start producing copper at its Lumwana mine before the end of the year while South Africa-based TEAL Exploration and Mining was progressing well with its Konkola North copper project.
He assured foreign investors that Zambia remained a safe destination for copper mining and government policy would continue to safeguards investors.
"There is no going back with our policies to safeguard foreign investments. There is no cause for alarm because the environment is conducive for the protection of investments," he added.
Copper and cobalt mining is Zambia's economic lifeblood and the vast copper mines are a major employer in this southern Africa country of 12 million people.
(Editing by Michael Roddy) (Reporting By Shapi Shacinda, Lusaka newsroom +260-977843609/260-955779523)
Labels: CANADA, FIRST QUANTUM MINING, KALOMBO MWANSA, WINDFALL TAX
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