Change ‘Culture remodelling', Kang'ombe urges government
By Mwila Chansa-Ntambi
Tue 07 Feb. 2012, 13:00 CAT
RIVERSIDE ward councillor Christopher Kang'ombe says there is need for the government to simplify the message of how they are going to better people's lives. In a letter dated January 30th, 2012 addressed to finance minister Alexander Chikwanda, Kang'ombe stated that there was need for the PF government to
begin a series of programmes meant to explain its empowerment programmes to Zambians."One of the programmes I wish to propose undertaken is transforming the Culture Remodelling programme on ZNBC into the ‘More money in your pockets' programme with the sole purpose of making citizens understand how we would want to better the lives of Zambians," he stated.
"In the past we saw economists being invited on Culture Remodelling to explain how the economy had grown in terms of GDP percentage growth and other very highly technical parameters many Zambians did not understand."
Kang'ombe suggested that the Ministry of Finance handles things differently by simplifying the programme to enable the public understand what the PF government wanted to achieve and how it would attain its objectives.
He added that while he appreciated the innovative idea by former finance minister Ng'andu Magande to introduce the Culture Remodelling, the programme in its current form was not only an MMD concept but was also tailored to explain a different vision from that of PF.
"Our vision and manifesto are different from that of the former ruling party and this must be explained to the people of Zambia in terms of empowerment programmes," stated Kang'ombe.
Labels: CHRISTOPHER KANG'OMBE, PF
Read more...
Budget success will depend on corruption fight - Kang'ombe
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe and Mwala Kalaluka in Lusaka
Mon 14 Nov. 2011, 14:00 CAT
THE success of the 2012 national budget will be largely dependent on an effective anti-corruption fight, says Riverside ward councillor Christopher Kang'ombe.
And a senior development financier says Zambia must do proper road contracts by sealing loopholes identified in the Auditor General's report to avoid wasting resources on poorly-contracted projects.
Meanwhile, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) says increased expenditure to the road sector will remain valueless if the government does not tackle transparency challenges by auditing all public road procurements.
But the Engineering Institute of Zambia says investment in the road and transport sector will only bear fruit if implementation is timely.
Commenting on the K27.7 trillion 2012 national budget presented to Parliament on Friday by finance minister Alexander Chikwanda, Kang'ombe observed that huge sums of money had been allocated to key sectors of the economy and that failure to prudently manage these funds would make the budget not achieve socio-economic development.
"I therefore wish to state that the success of the budget depends ultimately on a very effective anti-corruption fight that will ensure that every amount allocated per sector goes to the intended purpose and not diverted by disbursing officers in respective ministries," Kang'ombe stated.
"Top on the major features of the budget is the increment in mineral royalties' tax which has been adjusted to 6 per cent and a potential source of revenue for government to undertake developmental projects. The funds to be realised from this income will definitely be in billions of kwacha and must therefore be accounted for and utilised in the most prudent way."
He stated that the same could be said of funds allocated to support agriculture, health and education sectors that had received respective percentage increments compared to allocations made in the 2011 budget.
Kang'ombe observed that the additional funds might be serious sources of theft and abuse of resources and thereby lead to failure of implementing intended objectives.
He urged the Ministry of Finance to ensure that they devise monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the huge sums of money allocated per sector and for planned projects are utilised on time.
And on the 100 per cent increment in grants to all the 73 district councils, Kang'ombe observed that there was need for corresponding awareness on the prudent use of such funds.
"Normally, there is a tendency by council officers to divert public funds for projects to other pressing council projects like salaries for workers who are normally in arrears," he said.
Kang'ombe also hoped that operations to be undertaken by officers from the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) would be equally funded more from the 2012 national budget.
He stated that additional support to the ACC and other wings of the government may also go towards awareness programmes to be facilitated by the ACC to all line ministries that would be disbursing the huge public funds set aside in the budget.
"For this appeal I am making to work effectively, there must be real political will from our central government that assists our controlling officers to prudently use these public funds and ensure success of the 2012 budget. It is only prudent use of the allocated funds that will ensure meaningful development for all Zambians," stated Kang'ombe.
And commenting on the K4.4 trillion 2012 budget provision for the road sector, African Development Bank AfDB country representative Freddie Kwesiga said on Friday that loopholes noted in the road sector by the Auditor General should be sealed.
"The minister hinted on all the major roads that need to be done.
Remember, we also had the Auditor General's report on how we should move ahead with the roads where the areas of loopholes are, which the minister says we must seal this area of loopholes," said Kwesiga in an interview at Parliament building shortly after Chikwanda delivered his government's maiden budget. "We must do proper contracting so that the money is not wasted in very poor contracts."
And Transparency International Zambia president Reuben Lifuka said the government's increased expenditure to the road sector should be handled comprehensively so that the country gets value for money.
"We should be able to assess whether we have value for money. Did money that was spent on the road sector really bring value for money?
Are we seeing durable roads? Are we seeing infrastructure that can last beyond the length of time that is required?" Lifuka asked. "Where we are seeing there are shortcomings, I think it is incumbent upon this government to investigate. We have called for audits of all procurements of public roads, but I think we still demand that this be done in order to assess whether we got value for money."
Lifuka said TIZ wants President Michael Sata's administration to improve transparency in public procurements.
"One of the challenges we have seen with infrastructure development over the past is the absence of transparency in the way procurement is done. More information needs to be provided on how contractors are being selected," he said. "We also need to see the government broadening the spectrum of contractors participating in public works, not only foreign-led companies but also the local companies. We need to build capacity in the local companies."
He said it was important that the government did not abandoned projects that were started by the previous administration.
"These projects need to benefit the rural people out there. Money has been spent and it would not be logical to expect the government to abandon the projects that were started," said Lifuka. "Of course, specifications might change, I have in mind the Mongu-Kalabo road. What one needs to look at is whether they will spend the same amount of money that was earlier proposed or in this particular incident government would be able to revise the design and specifications on the Mongu-Kalabo road."
But Engineering Institution of Zambia president Henry Musonda said in an interview on Friday that increased funding to the road sector and opening up of the country through links was welcome.
"But EIZ would like to see the new government develop, as soon as possible, a strategic plan for the transport sector forming the basis for all activities for the new government's infrastructure agenda as part of the priority development programmes and projects, to be achieved in a specified time frame," Musonda said. "In his address to Parliament, the President gave an outline of the plan for some key link roads across the country. However, we would like to see a documented plan to guide the development and increased funding of the sector aimed at accelerating infrastructure development."
He said procurement-related problems had caused long implementation delays in critical economic development projects and thereby obstructing the desired economic benefits to Zambians.
"The GRZ implementing agencies should be implored to put in place an efficient and effective procurement system if the new government is to generate desired results within the next 12 months," said Musonda.
Delivering the 2012 Budget in Parliament on Friday afternoon, Chikwanda announced an increase in expenditure to the road sector, which now stands at K4.4 trillion, the bulk of which will go towards ongoing projects.
Labels: BUDGET, CHRISTOPHER KANG'OMBE, TIZ
Read more...
Politics and principles
By The Post
Sat 23 July 2011, 14:00 CAT
There is need for politics that are rooted in a straightforward view of society, in the understanding that the individual does best in a strong and decent community of people with principles and standards and common aims and values.
And Christopher Kang’ombe is very right when he says that lack of values in Zambia’s politics has led to bad governance practices. It seems now politicians are ready to do anything just to stay in power, to be elected or re-elected. There are no standards, there are no principles, there are no values.
Everything goes. Well, it is said that “those who stand for nothing fall for anything”. There is no choice between being principled and unelectable; and electable and unprincipled. One should win because of what they believe. Yes, people should be pragmatic and adapt to the changing environment. This is perfectly in order. And change is an important part of life. Those who don’t change die. If the world changes, and we don’t, then we become of no use to the world. Our principles cease being principles and just ossify into dogma. But we shouldn’t change to forget our principles. We should change to fulfill them. And we shouldn’t change to lose our identity but to keep our relevance. In politics, change is an important part of gaining the people’s trust.
This nation was founded by Dr Kenneth Kaunda and his colleagues on very strong principles, on very high levels of honesty, integrity, patriotism and love for our fellow citizens. All that has changed.
Today, this is a nation of vultures. It is each man for himself; no one is his brother’s keeper. There is need for change. There is need for us to go back to the founding principles of our nation and once again show our people that politics is not some byzantine game but a real and meaningful part of their lives. There is need to show our people that politics is not a dirty game but a genuine way of being at the service of others for the integral development of the country. And for this reason, politics needs people with credibility whose presence in the political arena can bring good values to the political process. Therefore, our participation in political life should be guided by good values of respect for human dignity, human rights, common good, social justice, solidarity, integral development, concern for the poor and non-violence in resolving conflicts.
Some people find it strange to talk of “honest politics” since politics is mostly perceived as a “dirty game” because of opportunistic and incompetent politicians. Such politicians disrespect the dignity, rights and freedoms of persons. This does not make politics a “dirty game”, fit only for thieves, crooks, scoundrels, jackals and so on and so forth! But politics should be honest and responsible because it is an effective way of serving others and working for the integral development of one’s country. Politics must be exercised or practiced within the limits of the moral order.
The founding fathers of our nation based their politics on morality, honesty, integrity, patriotism and love. To borrow from Vaclav Havel, we would say “Let us try in a new time and in a new way to restore this concept of politics. Let us teach ourselves and others that politics should be an expression of a desire to contribute to the happiness of the community rather than of a need to cheat or rape the community. Let us teach ourselves and others that politics can be not only the art of the possible, especially if this means the art of speculation, calculation, intrigue, secret deals and pragmatic manoeuvering, but it can even be the art of the impossible, namely, the art of improving ourselves and the world”.
We must work unceasingly to lift this nation to a higher destiny, to a new plateau of morality, integrity and honesty in public life. Let us not accept low standards in our politics. Everyone has a role to play in creating the type of Zambia we want to live in. And everyone can benefit, everyone has responsibility, everyone has rights. Let us not wait for a messiah to one day appear and redeem our country. As Nelson Mandela says, “no single individual can assume the role of a messiah”. We do not need to wait for some stroke of good fortune, some benign giant, some socially conscious Samson to come along and pick up the wretched of the earth. A good society will not come by itself. We have to work for it. We have to struggle for it. In a word, we have to create it. We must do it together. We cannot buy our way into a good society. We must work for it together; we must plan for it together. This can only be done together. It is said that leaders lead, but in the end, the people govern. Our daily deeds as citizens of this country must produce an actual Zambian reality that will reinforce our belief in justice, strengthen our confidence in the nobility of the human soul and sustain all our hopes for a glorious life for all. We shouldn’t allow the resources of this country to benefit just a few.
Again, to borrow from Havel, we would say “our country is not flourishing. The enormous creative and spiritual potential of our nation is not being used sensibly…But this is still not the main problem. The worst thing is that we live in a contaminated moral environment. We fail morally ill because we became used to saying something different from what we thought. We learned not to believe in anything, to ignore each other, to care only about ourselves…We had all become used to the totalitarian system and accepted it as an unchangeable fact and thus helped to perpetuate it. In other words, we are all – though naturally to differing extents – responsible for the operation of the totalitarian machinery; none of us is just its victim: we are also its co-creators”.
It is said that democracy is more than the sum of its institutions. Truly, a healthy democracy depends in large part on the development of a democratic civic culture. Culture in this sense refers to the behaviours, practices and norms that define the ability of a people to govern themselves. In the end, we get the government we deserve.
Labels: CHRISTOPHER KANG'OMBE
Read more...
Lack of values has led to bad governance practices, says Kang’ombe
By Mwila Chansa-Ntambi
Sat 23 July 2011, 13:59 CAT
LACK of values in Zambia’s political dispensation has led to bad governance practices, states Kitwe’s Riverside ward councillor Christopher Kang’ombe.
In a statement, Kang’ombe observed that one of the major reasons why Zambia had been lagging behind in terms of good governance was that most political players had not seen the importance of advancing values that promoted the very essence of being in leadership.
“Politics should essentially be about the people getting better representation but the opposite is happening in Zambia where a government minister can demand for close to K1 billion in gratuity for five years of voluntary service while ordinary retirees wait for many years frequenting NAPSA offices to get less than K100 million in benefits. This should tell you something about the quality of politics we have in Zambia,” Kang’ombe stated.
He cited respect for the views of the ordinary citizens, respect for the rule of law, avoidance of being corrupted by those seeking business favours from political leaders and the promotion of respect for human rights as some of the values that leaders ought to have.
Kang’ombe stated that it was unfortunate that most of the above mentioned values were lacking in the majority of individuals that had been given an opportunity to provide political leadership in Zambia for the past 20 years.
He added that parliamentarians and ministers alike had passed so many laws that they knew would not help ordinary citizens.
“While the main culprits are those in government, some opposition parliamentarians have also found themselves forgetting why they go to parliament and end up supporting the enactment of bad laws. How else can one explain the failure by the current government to intervene in the plight of the mine workers across Zambia where payment of poor salaries and abuse of workers is the order of the day?” he wondered.
Kang’ombe stated that it was public knowledge that Zambian workers in most sectors were getting ‘peanuts’ because there was too much intimidation from employers, thereby making workers fail to demand that which was rightfully due to them.
“The worse part of it all is the fact that those in political positions have been compromised by the same employers and this amounts to lacking values that are expected in leaders. Only recently there have been too many cases of workers being beaten up for latecoming and yet our government officials are quiet with no action being taken,” stated Kang’ombe.
Labels: CHRISTOPHER KANG'OMBE, MMD
Read more...
Current constitutional bill has failed to address key issues - Kang’ombe
By Mwila Chansa
Thu 10 Mar. 2011, 04:00 CAT
THE constitutional bill currently before Parliament is a useless document that all progressive and independent-minded Zambians should condemn, according to Kitwe's Riverside ward councillor Christopher Kang'ombe.
In a statement, Kang'ombe observed that the constitutional bill had all the fundamental weaknesses of the 1996 Constitution.
He noted that the few proposed amendments to the current bill before Parliament did not include critical issues such as the 50 per cent plus one requirement for a presidential candidate and the implementation of electoral reforms among others, that if not considered may lead to political violence in Zambia.
“For over two years, over 500 Zambians sat at the NCC National Constitutional Conference, drawing huge allowances and yet they knew that the government will selectively draft the constitutional bill as presented to parliament by Vice-President George Kunda,” he stated.
“The three Church mother bodies have been vindicated for having refused to participate in a process that was destined to fail.”
Kang'ombe added that the bill had failed to address key issues on good governance and electoral reforms.
“One of the pre-requisites for good governance is real democracy that allows citizens to choose their leaders in the most transparent manner. These are the issues I expected George Kunda Vice-President to present to Parliament for debate and not the irrelevant provisions highlighted in the constitutional bill of 2011,” Kang'ombe stated.
He cited the proposed change of name of the police from police force to police service as one such untimely amendment in the constitutional bill because the proposal would not make police officers less corrupt or more motivated.
“This is also similar to the Christian nation declaration which can never make our citizens more Christian than they are just by a mere declaration,” he added.
Kang'ombe further stated that revising the composition of the National Assembly from 150 to 265 parliamentarians should not take precedence over more important amendments like the 50 per cent plus one requirement.
He wondered where additional funds to expand Parliament would come from and that Zambians would probably have to pay more taxes to meet the huge expansion costs.
Kang'ombe stated that Zambians were misled into believing that the recommendations of the NCC would form the basis for a new constitution but that what they were seeing was the contrary.
“The lack of commitment and political will by government has once again prevailed over the constitutional reforms and with this in mind; disputes arising from this year's elections must be expected,” said Kang'ombe.
Labels: CHRISTOPHER KANG'OMBE, CONSTITUTION
Read more...
Kang’ombe calls on CCS to settle K9bn land rates debt
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Fri 04 June 2010, 04:00 CAT
IT is irresponsible for Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) to refuse to pay land rates to Kalulushi Municipal Council, Kitwe’s Riverside ward councillor Christopher Kang’ombe has charged.
In a statement yesterday, Kang’ombe demanded that the K9 billion owed to Kalulushi council must be settled immediately to enable the local authority provide services to residents.
CCS owes Kalulushi Council about K9 billion in unpaid rates and despite being given a 30 per cent rebate, the company has still failed to pay the money thereby hampering the council’s operations especially in service delivery.
“We all know that this local authority has very few sources of income and as such the outstanding K9 billion must be settled immediately,” he stated.
Kang’ombe accused the government of continually passing legislation that not only affected council operations but also undermined the legitimacy and relevance of elected officials.
“The same government is on record to have issued statements that have hampered collection of land rates in most districts and I’m therefore disappointed to learn that the same lack of political will is being exhibited by the same government which must be in the forefront of encouraging the investors to pay their obligations to local councils,” he stated.
He stated that the government’s double standards should be challenged by every well-meaning citizen because if they were allowed to continue, even ordinary Zambians would begin refusing to pay rates.
Kang’ombe stated that most councils on the Copperbelt had no alternative sources of revenue other than mining companies and wondered what would happen if mining companies in other districts stopped remitting rates to respective local authorities.
“The government risks setting a bad precedence of other mining companies asking ‘what is so special about the Chinese investors at the Chambishi Copper Smelter’ who in my opinion must be treated in the same way as other investors,” Kang’ombe stated.
He stated that Zambians had nothing against Chinese investment but problems would arise if people heard that they Chinese investors were refusing to pay land rates.
Kang’ombe urged the government to stop interfering with the operations of councils.
Kang’ombe also urged CCS to start attracting goodwill from Zambians by paying their workers well and ensuring that they meet the country’s legal provisions by paying land rates.
Labels: CHAMBISHI COPPER SMELTER, CHAMBISHI MINE, CHRISTOPHER KANG'OMBE, CORRUPTION, COUNCILS
Read more...
Harrington urges presidential advisors to assist Rupiah make informed decisions
Written by Maluba Jere in Lusaka and Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Sunday, August 16, 2009 3:57:55 PM
FORMER transport and communication minister William Harrington has said President Rupiah Banda’s advisors should assist him in making informed decisions and avert unfortunate situations at the country’s highest learning institutions.
And former Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) secretary general Christopher Kang’ombe has said the closure of CBU should have been the last resort.
Meanwhile, COBUSU president Kasonde Mwenda has observed that the closure of the institution would trickle down to every taxpayer in the long run, especially if management decides to prolong it beyond two weeks.
In an interview yesterday, Harrington said the protests by University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) students against the appointment of Dora Siliya as education minister could have been avoided if President Banda had serious and committed advisors at State House.
“The Presidents’ advisors should assist him to make informed decisions on important and sensitive national issues such as in the Dora Siliya case, to avert the unfortunate situation at our two highest institutions of learning,” he said.
“I say so because as first petitioner in the Judge Dennis Chirwa-led Tribunal appointed to investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of office leveled against Ms. Dora Siliya, I recall that whereas Justice Philip Musonda delivered his judgment on Ms. Siliya’s application for judicial review on 16th June 2009, the President speedily went ahead to announce his decision to appoint Ms. Dora Siliya MP as new Minister of Education on 18th June 2009, replacing Mr. Geoffrey Lungwangwa MP who was transferred to the Ministry of Communications and Transport.”
He explained that he was not speaking as a spokesperson for the students but that he could only take a wild guess that they (students), just like many other enlightened citizens, were alive to these facts.
Harrington also said it was misleading and prejudicial for President Banda and others to say that Siliya had been cleared by the courts of law since the matter was still in court following his filling of a notice of appeal.
He said it would have been better if President Banda just informed the nation that he had intentions of reappointing Siliya as minister, adding that he should have waited until after the court had completely disposed of the case.
“Barely a week thereafter on 28th June 2009, the President went ahead to swear in Dora Siliya as new Minister of Education and publicly congratulated her on being ‘cleared by the courts’ over the findings of the tribunal,” Harrington said.
“The question that begs an answer is, was the President advised that the matter was still in the ‘courts’ and his statement was therefore prejudicial to my appeal? If the President had been well advised, perhaps he may not have made that premature declaration.”
Harrington further said chief government spokesperson Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha did not help the situation when he advised the consortium of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who had written to President Banda complaining about his decision to re-appoint Siliya when he said those who were not happy should go to court.
He said Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s statement was not helpful to President Banda and the nation as a whole because the matter was yet to be decided by the Supreme Court.
“This statement by the honourable chief government spokesperson is misleading, prejudicial and most unhelpful to the President because, notwithstanding the fact that Dora Siliya has not been cleared by the ‘courts’ as the matter is yet to be determined by the Supreme Court of Zambia following my notice of appeal,” Harrington said.
And commenting on the decision by the CBU senate to bring forward the end of the second term, Kang’ombe who is also Riverside ward independent councillor, said the closure was unnecessary given the nature of students’ demands.
Kang’ombe said CBU management should have sought assurance from the students’ union body and had a round-table discussion with them in seeking a way forward.
He feared that as the situation stood currently, there was a possibility that the closure could be indefinite.
Kang’ombe added that the government’s accusations on students that they were being used by politicians would not solve the problems at CBU.
“I think there is need for stakeholders to appreciate each other’s concerns for peace to be guaranteed,” said Kang’ombe.
“It would not take a politician to tell the students to demand justice for their friend who was shot for example. I think issues should have been looked at separately. I don’t think students would wait for a politician to tell them what to do.”
And Mwenda described the closure as unfortunate.
Meanwhile, Mwenda called for a professional investigation into the alleged theft of K200 million from the man whose car was stoned and burnt on Thursday night.
Mwenda said as far as he was concerned, the students could not take responsibility for the lost money because it was far-fetched and based on hearsay.
“We just read about the issue of the money from the media but what I know is that if there was money involved, we could have heard it from the students themselves before we could even hear it in the media. I can only talk about what I can see which is the burnt car and not the money. It is unfortunate that the car was burned,” said Mwenda.
On Friday, the CBU senate brought forward the end of term two to allow management enough time to restore calm and bring back a conducive learning environment and ensure public safety at the institution.
This followed a demonstration on Thursday evening which resulted in students burning a private vehicle.
Labels: CBU, CHRISTOPHER KANG'OMBE, COBUSU, KASONDE MWENDA, WILLIAM HARRINGTON
Read more...
