Derrick Fee has a point
By The Post
Sat 11 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
No democracy can flourish without the service of a fully functional and independent justice system. The European Union is right when it observes that a functioning, fair and accessible system of justice is the foundation of every truly democratic country.
As we have been advised, we must as a nation, ensure that the judiciary is politically independent and free from interference by the executive. It is true that it is only when the judiciary is free from political interference that its legitimacy in the eyes of the Zambian people is enhanced.
Truly as EU Head of delegation Derrick Fee has observed there is need to allow the judiciary to operate independently because it is imperative that it discards all political interference. Fee was right to stress that the development of any nation is based on an efficient justice system.
We hope that Rupiah Banda and those that work with him will take this advice to heart and reflect over it. It won’t help them to start attacking the EU over these well-intentioned comments.
What Fee has said merits very serious and sober reflection. The independence of the judiciary is very important. It is a subject that should be discussed and debated fully if our country is going to develop a well functioning justice system that safeguards our democracy and its governance system.
As we have indicated before making people fearful of the judiciary and stopping them from holding legitimate discussions on its failures, particularly, does not do anything to enhance the dignity and prestige of this institution. It does not also mean that since people are not able to talk about the judiciary then it is free.
Fee refers to a very important concept that the judiciary needs to reflect on very carefully. In calling for ensuring that the judiciary is independent from political interference, Fee identifies a benefit. He says that the independence of the judiciary enhances its legitimacy in the eyes of the Zambian people.
The concept of legitimacy implies that the people accept the determinations of the judiciary because they believe it as a fair and independent arbiter whose decisions can be trusted. Those decisions need not be liked, but if a judiciary has paid attention to its legitimacy and independence, the decisions will be accepted anyway.
This is the challenge that our judiciary has. It needs pay attention to its legitimacy. Our people need to feel that all the decisions that it makes are professionally conceived without any undue considerations.
We cannot, and should not deny that the image of our judiciary is badly dented. If we have to borrow from the reasoning of Fee, we could say that the legitimacy of the judiciary has not been enhanced by some of its decisions.
Sometimes we are tempted to think that the judiciary is so detached that they have lost the common touch that they require to be able to address the frustrations and expectations of common people. This is a dangerous development which does not inspire hope.
There is a perception that our judiciary is unprofessional when it deals with matters where those in power have an interest. It is not enough for the judiciary to simply say it is independent. It is also not enough for the judiciary to plug its ears to stop hearing what the people are saying and what they feel.
The fact that they stop hearing what the people are saying does not change the reality on the ground. The illegitimacy of the judiciary however caused should be a source of great concern. The judiciary must do everything to ensure that this problem is addressed. We cannot have a judiciary whose decisions are always questioned.
This does not serve anyone’s best interest. At one point or the other we may all need the services of an independent arbiter; yes we have to rely on the protection of an independent judiciary from the capricious and sometimes malicious abuse of power by those in authority. In this respect an independent judiciary guarantees the human rights of everyone without regard to the whims and wishes of those in power.
We have said before, but this bears repeating. The standing of the judiciary in this country was savaged by the scandal that got rid of the last Chief Justice, Matthew Ngulube. The damage that the scars of corruption left by Ngulube did to the judiciary have not been healed. It was in the context of politics that Ngulube messed himself up.
In trying to be close to Frederick Chiluba, Ngulube took bribes. This issue has damaged the legitimacy of the judiciary. The recent Chiluba decisions have done nothing to improve this situation.
There is a problem with our political system that needs to be addressed somehow. It is clear that there is no effective system of checks and balances that encompasses the President.
In other words the President, in our system, is above all the other organs of the state which are meant to maintain the balance of power. The judiciary is not truly independent of the President. Rupiah’s statement on Chiluba’s cases bears witness to that. Parliament is also not really able to control the President in any meaningful way. The President is virtually a law unto himself.
It is this concept of an all powerful President that militates against the independence of the judiciary. This problem is clearly manifested when cases in which the President has expressed an interest before the courts. One cannot help feeling that sometimes our courts engage in self-censorship to please the President.
This is what has happened in the case registration of the London High Court Judgement. It would appear that Judge Evans Hamaundu was so overwhelmed by the case he was handling that even forgot that his own decision which he had made earlier where established the principle that a foreign judgment such as the one obtain against Chiluba could be registered for enforcement in Zambia.
So confused was judge Hamaundu that he even ignored recent Supreme Court decisions that clearly acknowledge that UK judgments are registerable in Zambia. Such conduct does nothing to promote the legitimacy of the judiciary. On this score, we all have to acknowledge that Fee has a point: only a judiciary free of political interference can enhance its own legitimacy.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DEREK FEE, JUDICIARY, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Accessible to justice system is the foundation of every democratic state – Dr Fee
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 15:01 CAT
A functioning, fair and accessible system of justice is the foundation of every democratic state, the European Union (EU) has said. And the Danish government has said it is not impressed with the pace of improvements been made the Justice system of the Country.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding for financial support of the Zambia justice service over the next three years between government and the three cooperating partners amounting to a total of US $11.35 million under the Support to Access to Justice programme, EU head of delegation Derrick Fee said that the European Union strongly values the independence of the judiciary.
“As we are convinced that it is only by ensuring that the judiciary is politically independent from the legislative and executive powers that it can enhance its legitimacy in the eyes of the Zambian people, “he said.
“As cooperating partners we have a great interest in ensuring that administration of and access to justice are improved in Zambia.”
Fee said there was need to allow the judiciary to operate independently as it was imperative that it discards all political interference, stressing that development of any nation was based on an effecient justice system.
“Today as EU, this ceremony provides me with an opportunity to remind you that EU is fully committed to these principles of justice,” he said.
“This falls within the wider concept which is at heart of the relations between the government of Zambia and the EU and its members states under the Cotonou Agreement.”
The EU head also said the MoU under the Access To Justice programme which has been been a pilot project facilitated by the Royal Danish Embassy since 2007 was meant to allow for a significant scaling up of activities through increased financing under the project.
“In this respect, the EU will contribute 6 million euro ,DANIDA 3.85 million euro and GTZ 1.5 million euro all in grant form,” he said.
And the Danish envoy Thomas Schjerbeck who signed on behalf of his government said he is not impressed with efforts being made in the prisons which were also catered for under the said programme.
“Denmark has a wider cooperation with Zambia as we have been working in many sectors but I was asking myself before we came today that if we only had one programme, what would that be? I think it would this one because we consider the independence of the legal sector as one of the most fundamental things in building democracy,“ he emphasised.
He said this was important if the human rights of the people were going to be secured.
“It’s a question of ensuring rights of people, women’s rights, children’s rights, poor people’s rights and as the Vice-President rightly said it doesn’t come overnight. It’s something which we can’t just take the Danish model and copy it to Zambia. We don’t expect the Zambian model to look like the Danish one it has to be tailor made in respect to differences of level of development, of geography, poverty levels which for us is one of the fundamental reasons for being in Zambia,” he said.
The envoy highlighted the slow pace of improvements in the system since its support to the programme commenced.
“Some of us have been visiting the prisons, I have been there several times and am not impressed with the speed of improvements. I am very, very thankful that a good number of things have been achieved as was mentioned like the parole institute to handle the audit of prisoners which are fundamental to action being taken. What am saying now is I hope that the poor persons especially those that are on remand who have not yet had their cases heard will be addressed as a priority,” he said.
He further added that judging by the human rights perspective this was an incredible task.
And speaking earlier after signing on behalf of government, justice minister George Kunda, said the Access to Justice programme was going to contribute to establishment of a more efficient system for processing cases.
“The programme will contribute to establish a more efficient system for processing cases, improving coordination in the sector and enhancing support to vulnerable people,” he said.
He noted this will also lead to an increase in non-custodial sentences and in turn reduce overcrowding in prisons.
Kunda who is also Vice-President admitted that there were numerous challenges remaining in the sector and that there was need to be honest in recognizing that it takes time and concerted effort of all key players to improve the quality of administration of justice.
The support will among other things support the programmes of the Zambia Police, Director of Public Prosecutions, Legal Aid Board and the Zambia Prisons Commission.
The Access to Justice programme is an initiative that has been supported by the Danish Embassy in Zambia since 2007.
Labels: DEREK FEE, GEORGE KUNDA
Read more...
World Trade negotiation not progressing well – Dr Fee
By Mutale Kapekele
Mon 14 June 2010, 12:20 CAT
WORLD trade negotiations are not going well despite calls that they should be concluded this year, European Union head of delegation in Zambia Dr Derik Fee has observed.
In an interview on Saturday, Dr Fee said it looked unlikely that the current round of negotiations would be completed this year.
The current round of negotiations started in 2005 but has failed to reach a conclusion owing to issues of concern raised by Low income Developing Countries (LDCs), a group that Zambia heads at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The LDCs have argued that agricultural subsidies in developed countries have made those markets uncompetitive for exports from countries that did not offer subsidies to farmers.
Dr Fee said trade was the solution to speeding up Africa’s development and urged Zambia to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement if she was to benefit from world trade.
“Zambia and the Comoros have not yet signed the EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) which is not a good thing,” Dr Fee said. “It is sad that Africa missed the trade boat in the 1980’s at the time when most of Asia came aboard, look at their success now. But it’s not too late; Africa can still get in the boat and accelerate its development by joining the global trade system. This is your (Africa) future.”
And Dr Fee has said international calls from Zambia were too expensive and urged the government to address the matter.
He said he had previously talked to late President Levy Mwanawasa on liberalizing the international gateway as a way of reducing the cost of international calls.
Labels: DEREK FEE, WTO
Read more...
Corruption in road works
By Editor
Sun 23 May 2010, 04:00 CAT
IT is necessary to critically evaluate how international assistance to our road sector is being managed. It is also necessary to critically analyse the effectiveness, efficiency and orderliness of the utilisation of both the Zambian taxpayer’s funds and donor assistance to our road sector.
It requires little intelligence – if a little is all one has – to realise that things are not as they should be in the management and utilisation of funds allocated to our road sector. This is the sector where corruption, outright theft of public funds is at its highest.
All sorts of crooked elements are found in this sector. This is the sector that contributes the highest funding to the ruling party. It is a sector that is used to steal Zambian taxpayers’ money and funds contributed by donors. It is therefore not surprising that although every year billions, if not trillions, of kwacha are spent on our roads but very little improvement is seen.
Today the road to Chipata is in shambles although billions of kwacha have been spent to fix it. The road to Northern Province, after Serenje, is in a terrible state. Yet this is the road on which we transport our imports and exports to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. The road from Mpika to our inland port of Mpulungu is also in shambles.
The road from Serenje to Mansa is also not in the best condition and needs some serious works, especially near Samfya. The pedicle road that connects Mufulira to Luapula still remains a dangerous gravel road. The Chingola Solwezi Road is almost gone and needs extensive works. The Lusaka Mongu Road needs major repairs, especially between Kaoma and Mongu.
There’s no need to talk about the never-ending construction of the Zimba-Livingstone Road. Here we are not even talking about the many gravel and feeder roads that are in terrible conditions. But every year billions or trillions of kwacha are being spent on roads. The question arises: where is this money going?
The truth is this money is being stolen through corrupt contracts where those in power influence the awarding of road construction tenders to their friends who in turn, and in one way or another, share the proceeds with them. They fund their campaigns.
A close look at those involved in road construction in this country will reveal that they are well-connected to or are partners of those in power. This means that road works are overpriced and shoddy jobs are done without any possibility of remedial action.
It is therefore not surprising that the best roads in this country are those whose construction the donors themselves directly supervised. A good example of this is the Kapiri Mposhi-Serenje Road whose construction was directly funded and supervised by the Danes.
If this trend is not reversed, our road infrastructure will continue to deteriorate while individuals connected to those in power increasingly become richer. We therefore need to pay a lot of attention to the issues revealed by the Auditor General’s report on the audit of the Road Development Agency. We also need to pay special attention to the concerns raised by our cooperating partners on the way we are managing the resources made available to our road sector.
We should positively look at the decision by key donors to this sector to withhold funding until we put our house in order. We know that those in government, including Rupiah Banda himself, are not happy with this withholding of donor support to our road sector. They think the donors are trying to reduce their electoral chances in next year’s elections by denying them the opportunity to show some progress in the maintenance of roads.
It is true that Rupiah’s government had started a programme of showing how well they were doing in the construction and maintenance of roads. And they wanted to use this as a key factor in their campaign for re-election. The withholding of donor funds is therefore seen as derailing their campaign strategy.
But if they really wanted to show progress in this sector, they should have made sure that every kwacha spent in this sector was well-accounted for and was efficiently and effectively utilised. In that way they would have more to show without anyone being able to challenge their record.
But the problem is while they want to show progress in the maintenance and construction of roads, they are at the same time busy stealing and abusing the resources the Zambian people and the donors have provided for that purpose. They can’t take the money provided for roads and put it in their pockets and at the same time expect good roads to be constructed and maintained.
Their failure to maintain our roads in good state cannot be concealed because many Zambians today own automobiles and they drive on these roads; they bear the cost of bad roads through the excessive wear and tear to the motor vehicles. It is also a well-known fact that bad roads increase the cost of production, the cost of consumer goods and are a strain on the foreign exchange of our country because more and more spares, tyres, rims have to be imported.
We think Dr Derek Fee, the head of the European Delegation in Zambia, has aptly explained the consequences of all this: “the incidence of the shortcomings on the economy of Zambia cannot be overemphasised. As a direct consequence, the rural roads network remains in poor condition and the urban-rural divide keeps deepening. For a country with limited financial resources, with high levels of poverty, every effort should be made to use funds effectively so that investments result in quality and sustainable infrastructure. Furthermore, the transparent and efficient use of public and donor funds is essential to ensure value for money. The government and cooperating partners are held accountable by their respective taxpayers for the good use of the finances. Though cooperating partners are committed to the development of the country, including at a time when their own financial situation is particularly difficult, they expect assurances on the management of public finances so that the partnership can be in full confidence.”
But whereas the cooperating partners are accountable to their tax payers, our government is not and does not want to be accountable to any Zambian tax payer.
Those taxpayers who try to question what the government is doing with their money are harassed, intimidated and humiliated in all sorts of ways for simply trying to ensure that the taxes they pay are used in their best interests. To question what they are doing with your own money is a crime, is treason. This being the case what options are there for a Zambian taxpayer to demand accountability in the use of the taxes he pays?
As for the donors, we welcome their decision to withhold funding to our road sector until acceptable levels of accountability are attained. There’s need for them to continually evaluate how their assistance should be given and is utilised. We think that this assistance should be conditional so that it would be necessary to monitor how it squares up to the conditionalities. When you help some, a position is taken, and that position is taken on the basis of certain analysis of the effectiveness of that assistance. The assistance should be conditional; if not, we run the risk of it being turned into the opposite of what we want. International assistance offers us positive opportunities of a much more rapid development but it needs to be managed and accounted for in an efficient, effective and orderly manner.
But to achieve this, the present corrupt, inept, selfish, greedy and thieving leadership must be swept away and new leadership created. This requires leaders who see farther than their own pockets and narrow personal interests. We believe that with the cooperation of donors who want to see honesty and accountability in the governance of the country, some day the Zambian people will be able to construct that type of leadership and, one way or another, free themselves from the present opprobrious leadership.
We therefore make a clarion call to all the Zambian people to join our cooperating partners in demanding more and more accountability on the use of Zambian taxpayers’ and donor funds on public works. We also urge all Zambians to support the withholding of donor funding to the road sector until there are acceptable levels of accountability in the use of public funds. The nation has nothing to lose but all to gain from this withholding of donor funding to a wasteful and most corrupt sector of our economy. We have all to gain and nothing to lose from increased levels of accountability.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DEREK FEE, ROADS
Read more...
Donors set conditions for funding to road sector
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Sun 23 May 2010, 04:00 CAT
KEY donors to the road sector have said the release of the Auditor General’s report on the audit of the Road Development Agency (RDA) is not enough motivation for them to resume funding to the road sector.
And the donors have said the Auditor General’s report on the audit of the RDA
confirms their concerns last year in relation to budget execution and control, resulting in a significant over-commitment.
The Auditor General has revealed that RDA overcommitted the government by over K1 trillion through over-procurement of contracts in the 2008 annual work plan and at the same time, the audit report has revealed that about K19.1 billion imprest had not been retired by RDA since 2004.
Most road projects in the country have stalled as the key donors like the European Union, the biggest donor to Zambia, withdrew funding over concerns of irregularities in the operations of RDA.
In a statement released by the head of the European Delegation in Zambia Dr Derek Fee yesterday, co-operating partners commended the Auditor General for the comprehensive audit of the RDA for the years 2006 to 2009.
The donors, however, said resumption of funding to the road sector would depend on the government taking corrective measures arising from weaknesses identified by the audit findings.
“This audit is an important element of the Road Sector Management Plan developed in 2009 with the Government of the Republic of Zambia,” De Fee stated. “Remedial measures arising from the Audit findings, together with a realistic, affordable and sustainable road sector investment programme (ROADSIP II), would pave the way for the resumption of new road works which are still withheld by CPs.”
The EU stated that the audit outlined serious issues in the management of resources, procurement, contract management, and the quality of works.
“Cooperating partners note that the audit confirms the concerns expressed in 2009 in relation to budget execution and control, resulting in a significant over-commitment,” Dr Fee stated.
The donors observed that irregularities bordering on financial mismanagement only succeeded in worsening poverty levels in the country.
“The incidence of the shortcomings on the economy of Zambia cannot be overemphasised. As a direct consequence, the rural roads network remains in poor condition and the urban-rural divide keeps deepening,” Dr Fee stated.
“For a country with limited financial resources, with high levels of poverty, every effort should be made to use funds effectively so that investments result in quality and sustainable infrastructure. Furthermore, the transparent and efficient use of public and donor funds is essential to ensure value for money. The government and the cooperating partners (CPs) are held accountable by their respective taxpayers for the good use of the finances. Though CPs are committed to the development of the country, including at a time when their own financial situation is particularly difficult, they expect assurances on the management of public finances so that the partnership can be in full confidence.”
And the donors have welcomed the dissolutions of the Road Development Agency and the National Road Fund Agency boards.
“The CP stand ready to support the government in its endeavour to strengthen the institutions responsible for managing and providing oversight in the roads sector,” Dr Fee stated.
“Following the creation of the three road sector agencies, as part of the sector reform in Zambia, the challenge now is to create an enabling environment, with special focus on institutional capacity building. CPs, in particular, stand ready to assist with the strengthening of the Road Development Agency to enable it to address the issues highlighted in the audit. The pace of the remedial and policy actions will dictate the timing of CP resumption of resources to the sector.”
Labels: AUDITOR GENERAL, DEREK FEE, DONORS, RDA, ROADS
Read more...
Fee confidence of solution to New Soweto Market issues
By Agness Changala
Fri 16 Apr. 2010, 03:20 CAT
EUROPEAN Union (EU) head of delegation Dr Derek Fee is confident that the issues delaying the commissioning of the New Soweto Market will be resolved amicably for the benefit of the marketeers and the general public.
Giving his position on the government’s delay to open the market, Dr Fee said the commission was informed that the market had not yet reached a 100 per cent occupancy rate due to ongoing litigation regarding the initial allocation of stalls.
“We are, however, confident that this issue will be resolved amicably for the benefit of the marketeers and the general public,” he said.
Dr Fee said the timing of the official opening of the Soweto market had been receiving serious attention from all stakeholders involved.
“These being the government, the EU, the marketers and the Lusaka City Council (LCC),” Dr Fee said.
He said the Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH) was preparing the official opening.
“As such, we have been in constant dialogue with Government through the MLGH and State House for the commissioning and opening of all these EU-funded markets. We are optimistic that suitable dates can be announced soon,” he said.
Dr Fee said the ownership of the New Soweto Market and other EU-funded markets in Kitwe Ndeke, Buchi-Kamitondo and Nakadoli, Lusaka Chelstone and Chilenje and Ndola Chisokone and Ndeke lies in the hands of the government.
The rehabilitation of the New Soweto Market was completed on November 17, 2008 with final acceptance given after a 12 months period of maintenance.
The completed infrastructure has already been handed over to the Lusaka City Council.
Labels: DEREK FEE, NEW SOWETO MARKET
Read more...
Govt’s non-running irrigation programme upsets EU leader
By Mutale Kapekele
Sat 30 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
EUROPEAN Union (EU) head of delegation for Zambia Dr Derick Fee has said he is surprised that the Irrigation Fund project that was introduced in 2007 by the government to improve farmers’ productivity has not been implemented.
Answering questions from journalists after officiating at the launch of the Zambia National Farmer’s Union (ZNFU) project on improving productivity of smallscale agriculture sector yesterday, Dr Fee said he was surprised to learn that the money for the project was not there.
In September 2007, the government introduced the US $135 million Irrigation Development Fund (IDF) to help improve farmers' productivity which was supposed to be a revolving fund managed by Finance Bank Zambia.
The fund which was initially to run over a five-year period targeted small and medium scale farmers, largescale farmers and manufacturers of irrigation equipment.
“I remember attending the launch for the irrigation project and we worked with the African Development Bank ADB now Bank ABC and I am very surprised to hear that the money is not there,” Dr Fee said.
He said the irrigation project was a good one and urged the government to come up with other serious projects that the EU could fund.
“We only get involved with serious projects, we are not here to waste our time and our partners’ time,” he said.
“If there is a serious irrigation project, we can talk and see what we can do. We don’t want to hear about potential programmes. I have been hearing about potential for the past three years. Yes, potential is okay but you need to move to action.”
Earlier ZNFU president Jervis Zimba disclosed that the funds for the irrigation fund had disappeared.
“There is nothing in the account for the irrigation fund,” Zimba said.
“Right now, there is no irrigation fund. We don’t know where the money went. This is a very sad story because we should not be talking about irrigation now. I am happy that God has punished us with the drought that we are experiencing so that people can see the importance of irrigation.”
The EU yesterday released 2.4 million Euros K15 billion to ZNFU for the improvement of productivity for smallscale farmers. r Fee said the 87,000 farmers were expected to benefit from the project through increased access to agricultural support services.
“This will lead to increased household food security,” Dr Fee said. “The increased volumes of marketed farm produce will greatly contribute to reducing food prices and hence stabilising them on the local market in the long run.”
Zimba said food security was the greatest concern to his union and the country.
“Regrettably, there is overwhelming evidence that food security is still one of the greatest challenges of our time in this country,” he said.
“It is for this reason that ZNFU for over a century now has continued to work hard in mobilising farmers to ensure food insecurity will be one day a thing of the past.”
Zimba said from this year on, ZNFU would work on “unlocking” the potential for farmers.
Labels: DEREK FEE, IRRIGATION, IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES., JERVIS ZIMBA, ZNFU
Read more...
EU taxpayers’ money meant to benefit ordinary Zambians – Fee
By Agness Changala
Mon 23 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
EUROPEAN Union (EU) head of delegation in Zambia Derek Fee on Saturday reiterated that EU’s taxpayers’ money is meant to benefit ordinary Zambians.
Dr Fee said this when he committed to Zambia 4.6 million euros about K32 billion through World Food Programme (WFP) meant for urban food vouchers project during the launch of the Mobile Delivery Tracking in Kafue.
The agreement which was signed between Dr Fee and WFP country representative Pablo Recalde would last over 18 months.
Dr Fee said the 4.6 million euros would assist improve the lives of malnourished children, those on Anti Retrial Viral (ARV) drugs and Tuberculosis (TB) patients.
“This will be implemented by the WFP, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) and will contribute to improving the lives of the vulnerable in society,” he said.
Dr Fee also called on improved productivity of food by investing in the agriculture sector, saying Zambia had enough resources to produce more food.
And WFP together with other partners lunched the Mobile Delivery and Tracking (MDT) system which is a new food distribution mechanism to address hunger among the vulnerable households.
Recalde explained that MDT was developed by local financial services and software specialists.
He said the system involved the use of mobile phone technology allowing for real time registration of beneficiaries and the movement of money to suppliers of the food.
Recalde said the approach followed a similar system as that of the scratch card by mobile phone networks in Zambia.
He said the targeted beneficiaries would receive a scratch card through a clinic or health centre which identified them to a specified food ration basket from the designated retail agents in their respective locations.
Recalde said each scratch card had a specified value and was redeemable only within that district.
He said the programme’s overall objective was to ensure food security among the most vulnerable households affected by the rising cost of staple food commodities.
“The programme will protect livelihoods of the very poor, those affected by the high food prices as well as create a sustainable and cost effective delivery mechanism of food commodities and strengthen a coordinated approach to targeted safety nets,” Recalde said.
He said his organisation was committed to work in line with the government’s Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) in ensuring that Zambians were empowered at individual and household levels.
“This will increase private sector participation in the economy which will help the country achieve its 2030 vision of becoming a middle income country by that date,” said Recalde.
And Kafue member of parliament Bradford Machila said the innovation that had been initiated would contribute greatly to alleviating the immediate hunger needs of the households negatively affected by high food prices and the global financial crisis.
Machila, who is also Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, observed that as a result of the MDT system, the logistical and operational costs of traditional food delivery mechanisms would be reduced while local markets would be empowered by making use of the resources available in the community.
“Above all, this new system will create a sustainable and efficient food delivery mechanism to vulnerable households, contribute to reducing household food insecurity and help in shifting people towards sustainable demand,” he said.
Machila said the programme which was first launched in his constituency would benefit 1,000 vulnerable households in Kafue and 139,000 people in Lusaka, Ndola, Livingstone and Mongu districts.
Labels: DEREK FEE, DONORS, EU, HYPOCRISY
Read more...
DRC counsels donors over repatriation of refugees
By Mwala Kalaluka in Mpulungu
Sun 08 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
DONORS supporting the repatriation of Congolese refugees should be mindful that the DRC has been destroyed by war, DRC’s Ministry of Home Affairs permanent secretary Xavier Kiriza has said.
And European Union (EU) head of delegation Dr Derek Fee has said the donors will not extend support to any Congolese refugee that will opt to remain in Zambia after the voluntary repatriation.
Briefing the press ahead of the repatriation of 502 Congolese refugees from Mwange and Kala camps in Northern and Luapula provinces in Mpulungu on Wednesday, Karizi said as the donors assist the refugees to return to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), they should not ignore the fact that the country was just coming out of a serious war.
“The donors who are in this room know that our country has just come out of a conflict. They also know that our country was destroyed by war, when you try to help our brothers and sisters you have to take it out of your hearts that the country they are going to has just come out of war,” said Karizi who was flanked by the deputy governor for Katanga Province Yav Tshibal. “We love our brothers and sisters who are in Zambia and our hope is this and our prayer of everyday is that they return back home where work is awaiting them for the reconstruction of the country. A country, which has been destroyed, you know it better.”
Karizi said most of the DRC towns had problems of their own and unemployment levels in that country were at their highest.
“Here also we are trying to request to the agencies that are dealing with development, those who are here and not in this meeting. For the donors that are not in this meeting we hope they can come in and help our colleagues as they re-integrate,” Karizi said as members of the diplomatic corps listened attentively. “The refugees have a type of life that they are leading here in the country of asylum. We would not like them to say the way the Israelites said to Moses that ‘you Egypt where we were eating meat and when we come back to our country we have nothing’. We would like the donors in this room to take this issue seriously.”
Karizi said the DRC was experiencing an urban tumor in most of its towns and that the returning refugees might add to the problem if the country’s reconstruction was not supported.
“Our towns have already problems in their surroundings. We have a big number of unemployed people. If some refugees return and go and settle on the surroundings of the town and settle themselves there then we risk having urban tumor that will result into criminal activities. We will have a lot of children without families and if those children won’t have families they turn into street children,” Karizi said.
However, Karizi thanked the Zambian government and the donor community for supporting the return of the Congolese refugees.
“To start is to say a certain word to our brothers and sisters in Zambia. They received our brothers and sisters with open hands, in the area of African fraternity and friendship, which unites our two countries. I request our brothers and sisters from Zambia so that they can send this message of appreciation to the President so. That one who can do with little can do a lot and that is what we want to ask the donors, to continue with the job that they have started with that excellent action,” he said. “You have assisted us through UNHCR and its agencies, local and international. We have observed that everytime from the beginning UNHCR is fully-fledged with work and our hope is high that UNHCR have to continue with the work.”
Karizi said there was need for the DRC and Zambian government to see how they could harmonise the logistics for the return packages and to also reveal the figures for the number of identified spontaneously settled Congolese refugees.
And Ministry of Home Affairs permanent secretary Ndiyoyi Mutiti said the repatriation of Congolese refugees, which hit the 15,000 mark as of May this year was a momentous occasion.
She said the occasion was an indication that the ministry and other stakeholders’ targets on the repatriation programme were on course.
UNHCR country representative James Lynch said the donors had assisted greatly in the programme, which would not have been achieved without the financial support.
Labels: DEREK FEE, DRC, EU, REFUGEES
Read more...
Dr Fee asserts Zambia’s right to decide on GMOs
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Thursday, February 26, 2009 8:33:35 AM
EUROPEAN Commission head of delegation to Zambia Dr Derek Fee has said Zambia has a sovereign right to take its own decision on consumption of genetically modified organisms (GMO).
However, Dr Fee explained that the European Union (EU) takes stringent precautionary measures on importation of Genetically Modified (GM) farm produce to avoid affecting the human health and the environment.
Commenting on President Rupiah Banda's call that Zambians should re-open debate on the possibility of the country importing genetically modified maize for consumption, Dr Fee stated Zambia had a sovereign right to decide on the matter.
Dr Fee was responding to a press query from The Post on whether the EU would be allowing farm produce from Zambia in an event that President Banda's proposal to start consuming GMO goes through, which is likely to contaminate the country's seed bank.
Following President Banda's suggestion, some experts and ordinary people alike have expressed fears that allowing the consumption of GMO food might lead to contamination of seed banks.
The fears are that any farm produce and food produced using GMO contaminated seeds could not be exported to the EU market, which is Zambia's largest export market.
However, Dr Fee said the European Commission had no intention to interfere in Zambia's decision-making process on the GMO.
"It is important to state from the outset that Zambia, like every other country, has the sovereign right to take its own decisions over GM products and it is not the European Commission's intention to interfere in this national debate," Dr Fee stated. "As regards entry into the European Union, the European Commission ensures that all use of GMO is treated with the necessary precautions in order to protect human health and the environment."
Dr Fee, therefore, stated that all GMOs were subjected to thorough environmental and health risk assessment by the European Commission's European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
"This precautionary principle stipulates that all GMOs meet systematic post-marketing monitoring, labelling and traceability requirements before the European Commission makes its decision regarding authorisation," stated Dr Fee.
Regulation (EC) number 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed stated that in order to protect human and animal health, food and feed consisting of, containing or produced from genetically modified organisms (referred to as genetically modified food and feed) should undergo a safety assessment through a community procedure before being placed on the market within the EU.
President Banda recently urged Zambians to re-open debate on whether they should start consuming GMO foods or not.
This was after reports revealed that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) had sent back trucks that brought in GM maize, which was supposed to be bought by the FRA, contrary to the contract it signed with the supplier to bring in non-GM maize.
The supplier of GM maize is alleged to be linked to President Banda's son, James.
Labels: DEREK FEE, GMO
Read more...
Govt shouldn’t blame current problems on global economic situation – Kashita
Written by Nicholas Mwale and Nchima Nchito
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:51:10 PM
FORMER works and supply minister Andrew Kashita has said the government should not blame all the current problems being faced in Zambia on the global economic situation.
And European Union (EU) head of delegation to Zambia Dr Derek Fee has asked the government not to panic over the current economic situation in the country. In an interview, Kashita said the government lacked understanding on the country's priority areas.
“It is not possible to blame everything on the world economy. How can the global economic meltdown affect our maize production?” Kashita asked.
He said the country could never run short of food if the government's put in place adequate mechanisms to produce enough maize stocks.
“The country can sell maize if only there is so much in excess. This is the only way you can have maize in stock to the extent that you never run short of food,” Kashita said. “If that is how it was, this country should have been a maize basket for the surrounding countries.
Most farmers had maize in stock but they were saying that they did not have it because of the unattractive prices on the market. Most farmers, like those in Chipata were selling their maize in Malawi following better prices there.”
Kashita suggested that the government's strategy in promoting maize production should have been focused on small-scale farmers and not commercial farmers.
“Commercial farmers should be channelled in wheat production and things like that,” he said. “If planning was good, we can even be a very big producer and supplier to the neighbouring countries.
There are a number of things that have gone wrong because many ministers do not understand priority areas such as education, agriculture and tourism.”
Kashita further expressed shock that Luanshya Copper Mine would be closed without the mines permanent secretary knowing about it.
“It is very surprising that Luanshya Mines announced about the closure before the minister or the permanent secretary knew about it. Under normal circumstances, there should have been meetings first before the company make an announcement,” said Kashita.
And Dr Fee said it was important to note that copper prices usually fluctuate on the international market, urging the government to be calm.
“Even the issue of the copper prices, depending on market forces, they will go up or they will go down,” he said. “So far I think the government's approach towards the Zambian economy is ok.”
And Dr Fee said Zambia could not come up with measures to protect the economy from effects of the current global economic crisis because it was not an urgent issue in the country. [So the global economic crisis has nothing to do with the drop in copper prices? More unaccountable 'advice' from the free market economists; they are full of excuses while people are going to starve. MrK]
“Zambia is not at the centre of the current economic global crisis, so you cannot expect the same measures as those put forward in Western countries. What happens in economies like the US has a global effect, that is why there is so much done to rescue their economies,” he said. “I think so far, the Zambian economy is being well managed.” [Zambia cannot expect the same measures as rich countries, because thanks to Derek Fee, it are the rich countries which now have Zambia's money. MrK]
Dr Fee added that Zambia needed to diversify its economy and move away from its dependence on copper.[Which it can only do if it taxes the mines to the max, and then develop agriculture and infrastructure. MrK]
“Every commodity will have its periods of high prices and low prices, that is why it's not prudent to over rely on one commodity for revenue,” he said.
Dr Fee reassured the EU's continued support to different projects in Zambia despite the current economic meltdown.
“We have committed some money for regional projects from 2008 to 2011 and these will go on as planned,” said Dr Fee.[Money that will be worth considerably less. Let's hope it doesn't turn into paper money. MrK]
Labels: ANDREW KASHITA, DEREK FEE, GREAT DEPRESSION II, MMD, NEOLIBERALISM
Read more...
COMMENT - Is not commenting on the legitimacy of elections before they have been held a courtesy the EU only extends to it's 'friends', or are they learning from their mistakes in Zimbabwe?
EU cautions donors over poll
By CHARLES MUSONDA
THE European Union (EU) says it will be wrong for any donor to comment on Zambia’s possibility of having a free and fair Presidential election before the October 30 poll takes place.
EU delegation leader Derek Fee said in Lusaka yesterday that all concerned parties should wait until the outcome of the poll before stating their positions.
Dr Fee was answering questions from journalists at a media briefing held in Lusaka yesterday during the signing and launch of the EU’s contribution agreement for the October 30 presidential election.
At the same function Norwegian ambassador to Zambia Tore Gjos said donors did not want to be influenced into issuing statements by what politicians were saying.
Meanwhile, cooperating partners have launched a response to an urgent electoral assistance request by the Zambian government for the conduct of next week’s poll.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident coordinator Macleod Nyirongo said the response was a practical step by Finland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, United States of America, EU and the UNDP to promote development of democracy in Zambia.
Dr Nyirongo said the high-level policy dialogue would continue as the Electoral Commission of Zambia collated lessons learnt from the election.
Dr Nyirongo said elections were a first and critical step for the observance of the rule of law.
He said the success of elections was dependant on legitimacy, efficiency, and effectiveness of institutional frameworks.
Dr Nyirongo said promoting democracy was a critical commitment world leaders undertook during the global summit that adopted the Millennium Development Goals.
“The contribution agreements to the 2008 Presidential Election Trust Fund we have signed today are aimed at providing short term support to critical areas in the conduct of the 2008 presidential election in Zambia,” he said.
Dr Nyirongo said the critical areas of support included voter education, training of electoral officers and procurement of critical electoral materials, training of conflict resolution committees and collating lessons learnt.
Dr Nyirongo hoped both the Zambian government and the Electoral Commission of Zambia had benefited from having a coordinated cooperating partner response.
Norway has contributed US$2.5 million, Sweden (US$ 2.1 million), Japan (US$1.2 million), while Finland and the EU have contributed US$250, 000 and US$1.5 million respectively.
Labels: DEREK FEE, DONORS, ELECTIONS, EU
Read more...
EU to avail 1bn euros for food security in southern Africa
By Florence Bupe
Wednesday July 30, 2008 [04:00]
THE European Union (EU) has earmarked one billion euros aimed at enhancing food security in the southern African region, head of delegation Dr Derrick Fee has disclosed. And Dr Fee advised African leaders to focus on finding solutions to the continent’s economic and political problems. Speaking on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme yesterday, Dr Fee said the EU was committed to helping the region find a lasting solution to the prevailing food insecurity.
“The EU will make available one billion euros for food security in the southern African region under the Common Agriculture Policy,” Dr Fee disclosed. “Of this amount, 750 million euros will be released in 2008, while the remaining 250 million euros will be released in 2009.”
Dr Fee added that as an additional step in promoting food security in the region, the union was assisting in the rehabilitation of infrastructure such as roads.
He explained that in Zambia, the EU was in the process of rehabilitating the Zimba-Livingstone road and the Chipata Road as part of its efforts to improve agricultural produce distribution within and around the country.
And Dr Fee advised African countries affected by the power deficit to utilise power pools in averting the energy problem.
“We are in support of the southern African and east African power pools as they are very important elements in the sharing of power. There is great potential for additional power in the region. Those countries that have surplus power generation should share with deficit countries, it’s all about sharing,” he said.
However, Dr Fee pointed out that it would take the region years before the power situation could normalise.
He observed that as the region continued to record growth in various sectors of the economy, the demand for power would continue to increase, thereby creating the need for increased generation.
“We should realise that the power problem is also associated with economic growth. It is not possible to have a growth rate of six to seven per cent consecutively and expect the demand for power to be static,” Dr Fee said. “This region has the potential to alleviate the power problem, but it may only be in 2010 or 2011 that a major change in the power sector may be realised, that is in the long term.”
Meanwhile, Dr Fee said the broadened sanctions against President Robert Mugabe would not in anyway disadvantage ordinary Zimbabweans.
“The sanctions that have been put in place are another way of pushing for Zimbabwe’s regime to behave correctly towards their own people. It is morally wrong for one to infringe on people’s rights and then think they can wander around and be accepted everywhere,” he said.
Dr Fee said African leaders had the responsibility to find solutions to political and economic problems if any meaningful progress were to be registered in the process of democratic governance.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DEREK FEE, EU, FOOD, SANCTIONS
Read more...
EU-supported entrepreneurs have raised K137bn, says Fee
By Chibaula Silwamba
Friday April 18, 2008 [04:00]
EUROPEAN Commission head of delegation in Zambia Dr Derek Fee has said Zambian entrepreneurs supported by the EU-funded Export Development Programme (EDP II) have generated 25 million Euros (about K137.5 billion) in export earnings. Speaking at the hand over of EU funded Export Development Programme (EDP II) assets to the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) in Lusaka on Wednesday, Dr Fee said the EDP II, in its five-year existence, had created employment for over 3,000 persons.
“During its five years, EDP II provided assistance in form of loans, grants and technical assistance to a total of 28 producer associations who have expanded market knowledge and contacts, expanded exports, increased employment, created income and improved access to capital and finance,” Dr Fee noted.
He said the European Commission support to non-traditional exports started in 1993, with the first Export Development Programme (EDP I) that assisted producer associations in some few sectors.
“EDP II activities were based on three pillars: the first one was the export financing facility that provided credit and grants to exporters through their respective producer associations. In January 2008, the fund was handed over to ZDA, which is managing it now under the name of Zambia Export Development Fund (ZEDEF),” he said.
Dr Fee said the EDP II’s support was meant to make the Export Board of Zambia (EBZ) a "world class" exports promotion agency. EBZ merged with the Zambia Investment Centre to form the current ZDA. He said the European Commission was proud to have contributed to the birth of the ZDA and to be associated with its operations.
“Indeed, we think that a fully operational ZDA in line with the international best practices is a key element in creating an enabling environment for private sector development. Obviously, government's commitment will be crucial to achieve this,” he said. However, Dr Fee said the hand over of assets was not the end of European Commission's involvement with ZDA, nor with the export industry.
Labels: DEREK FEE, EDP II, EU, ZDA
Read more...
2008 budget
By Kazhila Chinsembu,Windhoek
Wednesday January 30, 2008 [03:00]
I have just finished reading the 2008 Budget speech that hopes to unlock more fattening resources for the political hosts in government and their ectoparasites. Under education, the speech does not mention the University of Zambia, yet we all know how deplorable the infrastructure at UNZA is. And hopefully, the government will this year pay UNZA retirees their terminal benefits which they have been owed for 5 years now.
With the looming electricity crisis, coupled with the anticipated impacts of climate change (natural disasters like floods and drought), the 2008 budget has no specific allocations that answer to the high levels of preparedness required to mitigate these threats. But that is budgeting the Zambian style, a country where the biggest disaster is the government, whose policies have hiked rural poverty to 80 per cent.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=36896
VAT
By Dereck Fee
Wednesday January 30, 2008 [03:00]
On your front page of the Sunday Post I was quoted as condemning the reduction in VAT in the minister of finance's Budget. During a lengthy interview, I praised the minister for a very balanced budget and one which will contribute to the economic growth in Zambia.
I expressed surprise at the reduction in VAT while stating that in the European Union VAT is an internal part of the fiscal system which is usually not reduced.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=36897
One Zambia, One nation
By Concerned citizen
Wednesday January 30, 2008 [03:00]
I wish to say something about to the story you carried on January 21, concerning Saki's comment on the slogan One Zambia, One Nation. I wish to agree with him in his observation, but I beg to look at it from a different perspective.
Recently, there was a publication of names of newly-recruited teachers in all the nine provinces of Zambia, and I was quite disturbed with the criterion used, which does not promote the unity we all desire to have. I noticed that the deployment had not at all promoted the One Zambia adage, as it was clear that those from Eastern, Western, Northern, Luapula and Southern provinces were being posted back to their provinces.
In my view, the Kaunda era did better on this one and in a way it helped to promote the spirit of unity, as Tongas could be sent to Eastern, Easterners to Tongaland, Bembas to Ngoniland or Loziland and vice-versa. Now with the current trend, we will one day lose the unity we seem to have. Thus, change must start with the government policies on deploying its employees in the interest of service and national unity. Saki's obsevation goes beyond politics and let us consider it seriously.
Labels: 2008 BUDGET, DEREK FEE, VAT
Read more...
Fee condemns VAT reduction
By Post Reporters
Sunday January 27, 2008 [03:00]
EUROPEAN Union (EU) head of delegation in Zambia Dr Derek Fee has said it was not a good idea for the government to have reduced Value Added Tax (VAT). And the United States government has said the Zambian government’s continued emphasis on the growth of the health and education sectors is the right way towards positive economic growth.
And Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) national secretary Chibamba Kanyama has urged the government to put in place measures so that the budget cycle is not blamed for failure to implement projects.
In an interview immediately after finance and national planning minister Ng’andu Magande unveiled the 2008 Budget before the National Assembly on Friday, Dr Fee said the reduction of VAT from 17.5 to 16 per cent would increase consumption.
“The reduction in VAT isn’t going to make huge changes in people’s lives, instead it will increase consumption and that is not a great idea,” Dr Fee said. “In the EU a consumption tax of between 17 and 21 per cent is favoured.”
Dr Fee said he was of the opinion that it was better to enable people to invest in productive activities as opposed to increasing consumption.
“The Minister of Finance has done a bit of a mix of both,” Dr Fee said. “He has increased non taxable income which increases people’s incomes and also reduced VAT but again as I say in my opinion, it is not a great idea to reduce VAT.”
And Patriotic Front (PF) Kabwata member of parliament Given Lubinda said the government should have retained VAT at 17.5 per cent.
“VAT is a consumption tax. Why should people pay less to the government on consumption of beer and other products?” Lubinda wondered. “I would have been happier if VAT was retained at 17.5 per cent and then Pay As You Earn reduced further than what has been done.”
Lubinda said the increment in non-taxable income from K500,000 to K600,000 would make little impact.
“What is K600,000 in our economy?” Lubinda asked. “The tax free income in Zambia should have been at least K 1.5 million. K600,000 is even lower than the government’s basic pay which is K 750,000.”
And Zambia National Farmers Union president Guy Robinson expressed concern at the government’s reduction in the allocation to the agriculture sector.
“The allocation to agriculture has dropped from 8.8 per cent last year to 6.6 per cent. We hoped that the allocation would have increased,” Robinson said.
“Our main area of concern appears that the livestock disease fund has reduced by 50 per cent. What we would like to find out from the Ministry of Agriculture is if that is the amount that they asked for from the Ministry of Finance or it was just the Ministry of Finance’s decision to allocate that amount.
They need to sit and re-look at those figures because livestock diseases are still crippling this country and with conditions of weather being as they are, livestock diseases are expected to be worse this year.”
And US Embassy deputy chief of mission in Zambia, Michael Koplovsky, said his government supported the Zambian government’s plans to improve the social sector.
Out of the K13.76 trillion budget, the education sector has a 15.4 per cent chunk while health is set to get 11.5 per cent of the allocation. Koplovsky said the US government was interested in three key budgetary components which are health, education and economic growth.
“Education and health are very important investments for the future of Zambia. Only with proper education do Zambians have a foundation for this kind of economic growth and only with health will Zambians be actually able to see these opportunities that this government is growing,” he said.
“The message captured it very well, that the best way to fight poverty is the policy in the budget that encourages economic growth and the government has had a very good record of economic growth and it has set a good target of 7 per cent economic growth.”
Koplovsky said the lowering of taxes was a good way of putting money in the pockets of the less wealthy Zambians. British High Commissioner to Zambia Alistair Harrison said he was encouraged by the warm words that Magande had for the cooperating partners.
“This is a clear indication that he wants to continue the successful partnership that exists between the cooperating partners, the Zambian government and its people,” said High Commissioner Harrison who described the contents of the 2008 budget as positive.
And Caritas Zambia executive director Sam Mulafulafu said pressure would be mounted to ensure that the government honours its budgetary commitment to pay-off outstanding arrears for pensioners and retirees.
Mulafulafu said Caritas would eagerly wait to see how the government implements its pledge to offset all retirement and pension arrears in this year’s budget.
“We trust that it is realistic and for us we will take it as it is and we will put pressure because the commitment has been made,” he said.
“It will bring income and I hope they will invest because most of these retirees are spending a lot of time in Lusaka, spending more money which they do not have.”
He asked the government to undertake the pay-off early in the year to allow the retirees get back to their areas and engage in productive ventures.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s renowned musician Mukosha Chembe, alias MC Wa Bwino, said the zero-rating of tax on music equipment was a plus for the industry and a reward for the musicians’ 10-year lobbying over the issue.
“I am ordering equipment immediately because the measures are coming into effect by midnight tonight,” said Chembe.
And Kanyama said there was need to enhance capacity building in project implementation in order to align the system with the disbursement of funds.
“Government needs to do a lot in project implementation because what is budgeted for must be put in place rather than taking funds back to the treasury. Hence systems should be put in place early enough so that the budget cycle is not blamed for any failure to implement,” Kanyama said.
“And the tender board system must equally be overhauled in certain areas so that there is speedy implementation of projects within a given year and standards and specifications for implementation by the contractors must be properly agreed so that they (contractors) meet bench marks.”
And World Bank country manager Dr Kapil Kapoor has advised the government to ensure that revenue proceeds from windfall mining taxes are spent on projects that will benefit poor people.
He said the biggest challenges facing Zambia was to increase and sustain the economic growth rate as well as implementing key projects.
“Overall, the budget is good, especially that key sectors such as health and education have been prioritised, but what remains is to grow the economy and sustain it and also implementation of major projects is a positive development,” said Dr Kapoor.
“But it is not clear how revenue proceeds from windfall mining taxes will be utilised and we advise the government to ensure that funds are spent on projects that will benefit poor people who are in the majority.”
Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) chairman Hanson Sindowe said the reduction in the standard rate of value added tax (VAT) would enhance the competitiveness of local entrepreneurs.
“Any measure resulting in reducing the cost of doing business is welcome and we are happy that government has looked into this issue of lowering the VAT since it will be a boost to economic growth,” said Sindowe.
Zambia Manufacturers Association (ZAM) chairman Dev Babbar said the introduction of export levy on cotton seed and copper concentrates was a positive development.
“This is what we have been calling for because value addition will result in job creation,” said Babbar.
Labels: DEREK FEE, EU, VAT
Read more...
Fee calls for new trade regime between Europe, ACP countries
By Chibaula Silwamba
Monday October 01, 2007 [04:00]
EUROPEAN Union head of delegation in Zambia Dr Derek Fee has said there is need for a new trade regime between European countries and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. And Netherlands Ambassador to Zambia Eduard Middeldorp said it was important that Parliament and the Zambian government accounts for the donor aid flowing into the country.
During the newsmakers forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post newspapers at Chrismar Hotel last Saturday, Dr Fee said parties to the negotiations about the EPAs were close to a final agreement.
“At the time of Cotonou Agreement, we told these (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries that we have a trade waiver from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which would expire on January 1, 2008 and that we would have to, in the intervening period, negotiate EPAs with these 77 ACP countries which conform to WTO rules.
Now some people will say well, why can’t we extend on that date because there are several very sensitive products which are entering the EU at the moment from the 77 ACP countries that other people in the rest of the world are just about to make a complaint to the WTO.
In particular bananas, which the colleagues in Latin America are ready to put a complaint to WTO, sugar which the Brazilians are interested in as well,” he said.
“So we have to do something in terms of new trade agreements by 1st January, 2008 and we have been negotiating this for the last seven years and we are getting very close to final agreement.”
Dr Fee said there would be no chance of the European products flooding the Zambian market.
Dr Fee said the EU was the world’s biggest trading block and wanted to import more commodities from ACP.
“EPAs will set our framework for trade with Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries for the next foreseeable future. We have to look at how we can help all ACP countries to develop their private sector and their own supply side not only to export to us.
The intra regional trade is potentially a lot more lucrative to countries of COMESA group than increased trade with the EU,” he said.
Dr Fee said the EU in the next few weeks would have to discuss with commerce minister and President Mwanawasa on what EPAs meant for Zambia.
But several people that contributed demanded that the EPAs should not go ahead because they would disadvantage Africa.
They complained that European farmers would get subsidise unlike their African counterparts hence the trade arrangement would be not be balanced and Europe would benefit more than Africa.
Meanwhile, Dr Fee said the EU was the biggest donor in Zimbabwe at the moment.
“This year we are giving 197 million pounds aid between European Commission and the member states in aid to Zimbabwe. That aid is absolutely directly given to Zimbabweans, I can tell you that Zimbabweans on the ground see European aid because it’s given to them directly. We are also the biggest donor of food security at the moment in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“What is the situation between the EU and Mugabe? We have been saying this for a long time and we will continue to say there are no economic sanctions from EU against Zimbabwe. In fact, Zimbabwe has a positive balance of payments with the EU, in other words they sale more to the European Union than they import.
“What we have are sanctions against Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe’s President) and 173 other named individuals including Mugabe’s wife Grace and his main supporters within ZANU PF. So there are travel restrictions to the EU only to those people.”
He also said the Portuguese President would make a decision on whether or not to invite President Mugabe to the EU/Africa summit in Portugal in December.
And Ambassador Middeldorp said it was important that Parliament and the Zambian government account for the donor aid flowing into the country.
“We are really trying as embassies and representatives here to know where our money is going. Yes, we are visiting rural areas to see where our aid is going,” he said. “But it’s not just the donors being accountable, it’s definitely also a matter of government of Zambia and Parliament in Zambia to be accountable for the aid flowing to Zambia.
Ambassador Middeldorp said there was need to improve the health and education sectors.
He added that private sector development was important for Zambia.
“We are involved in private sector development in the sense that we are trying to create together with the Zambian government an environment where business is possible and profitable,” he said.
He also said it was difficult to involve foreign companies to explore minerals if they were offered very low percentages.
“The Zambian government is presently negotiating with a lot of these companies to make more profits for Zambia and I think that is the way forward,” he said.
Ambassador Middeldorp said donor countries had problems to align their aid with the local development plans, such as the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) because they had their own areas of priority.
Labels: ACP, DEREK FEE, EU
Read more...
