Nevers calls on Sata to seek forgiveness for failed promises
By Allan Mulenga
Mon 02 Dec. 2013, 14:01 CAT
COMMENT - President Sata 'should apologizie' - why, to make the MMD look better? Just like in the USA? Nevers Mumba has no, repeat, no original ideas of his own. None. Ignore. By the way, there is something particularly obnoxious about a charlatan who used the cloth to hide behind. Call me conservative. :) - MrK
MMD president Nevers Mumba has asked President Michael Sata and the PF to seek forgiveness from Zambians for failing to deliver campaign promises. And Mumba has advised President Sata against using "a strong hand" in dealing with the nurses' strike.
Commenting on President Sata's statement in Mansa that it was not possible for the government to introduce free education because it is a cost, Mumba said Zambians would not take kindly to excuses from President Sata and the PF for failing to deliver campaign promises.
"Zambians are upset that they were taken for a ride. They were given promises that are now being backpedalled. Our advice is that there is no Zambian who is going to take kindly the comment that 'there will be no free education' without government coming out in the open to ask for forgiveness for the promise that they gave," he said.
"Zambians are not expecting anything outside what PF promised. They are not asking PF to do anything that they didn't promise. All they are saying is, 'this is what you promised us, please deliver it. If you are unable to deliver it, tell us that you are sorry for the promise and tell us that you did wrong to ruin our votes by telling us what is not true'."
Mumba accused the PF of backtracking on its campaign promises.
"It is incumbent upon government to come clean and explain to the Zambian people that their intentions were made to do the right things, but they have discovered that governance is more than being in the opposition making political promises," he said.
"That might play a little bit with the Zambian people not just to backpedal and expect Zambians to accept it."
Mumba claimed that the PF made promises out of ignorance of the governance system.
"The first step for the PF is to let the Zambian people know that they did not exactly understand what was involved in running government. They made those promises because of that ignorance. In the absence of that repentance, the Zambians will not take their backtracking," he said.
And Mumba advised President Sata to employ dialogue in resolving the impasse between the government and striking nurses.
"At the moment because of what people are going though and the promises that the PF made, it is unnecessary for the party in government to use a strong hand to try to wish away the grievances of the public sector. The public sector was promised certain things; those things have not been delivered," he said.
"I would advise very strongly that in the interest of keeping the peace of our country, the government prefers the issue of dialogue and understanding what the plight of the public workers is instead of saying 'the government is going to strike'."
Mumba disclosed that he had written President Sata on the issue surrounding nurses' strike action.
"I have done a letter in which I have asked the President to be able to consider dialogue to the level where our public sector workers could feel confident that government is committed to resolving their issues. That statement in Mansa was unfortunate," he said.
Mumba said the opposition would not take kindly to the government's manoeuvres to fire striking nurses.
"We will not take it kindly if the government attempts to fire these public workers that are aggrieved in the same manner that the government did not take kindly to KCM trying to offload those thousands of workers. It will be unfortunate for government to take that route, because there is room for negotiation. They are negotiating for the things promised to them. I think government should listen," said Mumba.
President Sata on Saturday warned nurses to resume work before the government strikes.
Labels: HYPOCRISY, MICHAEL SATA, NEVERS MUMBA, PF
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(HERALD ZW) MDC officials in land rush
October 15, 2013
Lloyd Gumbo Herald Reporter—
SEVERAL officials from MDC formations have gone behind their parties’ backs and applied for land for resettlement, despite vilifying the empowerment programme in public, which was the raison d’être behind the launch of the opposition on September 11, 1999.
This comes at a time when studies the world over are hailing the success of the programme, with the all-white Commercial Farmers Union — one of the MDCs’ chief sponsors — announcing it cannot continue swimming against the tide and also wants its members to benefit from land reform.
The union has since expressed willingness to work with black farmers’ unions in a federation. Investigations by The Herald showed that officials from the two MDC formations have been applying for farms, with some of them benefiting while others are on the waiting list.
MDC-T Gweru Urban legislator Mr Sessel Zvidzai has expressed his intention to apply for a farm in Cool Maurine in Gweru, while former Gweru Urban MP Mr Roderick Rutsvara applied for land to build a school.
“In Mashonaland East, former Goromonzi South MP, Mr Greenbert Dongo and Chitungwiza provincial member Mr Archiford Marongwe, applied for A2 farms in Goromonzi district.
“But they were told that there are no vacant farms. They were asked to look around for farms that are still under white farmers and advise the ministry. They have not yet briefed the ministry on their findings,” said a source in Mashonaland East Province.
“There is also another MDC-T official from Mashonaland West Province who got a farm in Beatrice. As you may be aware, Tracey Mutinhiri (MDC-T losing candidate for Marondera East) still has her farm that she got when she was still in Zanu-PF.
“Elton Mangoma has a farm along Marondera-Murehwa Road, but he bought it just before the land reform.”
There were indications that MDC-T provincial chairperson for Harare and Glen View South Mr Paul Madzore benefited from the programme.
In Matabeleland North, another source said several MDC-T officials benefited.
“Joel Gabbuza (Deputy MDC-T spokesperson and Binga South MP) has a farm, but I am not sure if he got it through land reform, but what I know is that he benefited from the mechanisation programme. He got a tractor. The party tried to make noise about it, but he didn’t bother.”
Another source from the same province added: “Provincial organising secretary Mr Thembinkosi Sibindi has a farm in Nyamandlovu, provincial secretary for Economic Affairs Mr Agrippa Sithole has a farm in Bubi.
Mr Mark Ncube, the MDC-T Bubi district treasurer, also has one in Bubi.
“Some MDC-T activists who benefited include Esinath Zhou who is wife to Chris Gande of Studio 7. There is also Mr Ernest Ngwenya who benefited in Bubi as well,” said the source.
It is understood some MDC-T legislators in Bulawayo whose identities could not be ascertained also applied, but are on the waiting list.
Among MDC beneficiaries is party leader Professor Welshman Ncube.
“He is into cattle ranching in Somabhula area in Midlands. He is doing well at his farm and has been seen with hundreds of cattle at some auctions conducted in Bulawayo (ZITF Grounds). In fact, he is one of the most successful farmers in the province.
“Former MDC legislator for Insiza South Mr Siyabonga Malandu Ncube also benefited. Another official from the party who joined is Mr Xaba Sibanda who is the Nkayi South district secretary for Transport and Welfare,” said a source.
Mr Gabbuza insisted that his party was against the way land reform was conducted.
“Our party has never been against land reform, but we raised concern about how it was conducted. The exercise was chaotic and violent.
“We know there are no more farms available, but we insist that those who want them should follow proper procedures in applying.
“We have told them that they should make sure they do not get involved in bloody farms where former owners lost blood.
“Our party has also called for title of some sort so that people cannot be evicted willy-nilly,” said Mr Gabbuza.
Mr Madzore said he did not own a farm because his party did not allow them to apply.
“It is not first time stories have been written about me owning a farm. I do not own any farm because my party’s policy is that the land reform was chaotic. We did not have to kill to repossess the land. Our policy as MDC-T, which I respect, restricted me from applying for a farm even
though I wanted it.
“I respect that policy because we agreed to it as a party that we should not take the farms,” said Mr Madzore.
Mr Sibindi confirmed he benefited from the land reform but declined to comment on his party position on the exercise.
MDC spokesperson Mr Kurauone Chihwayi, confirmed a number officials in his party applied for land.
“I applied two times and I am yet to receive a response. There are so many people who have applied for land, but I have forgotten their names,” he said.
According to the Zanu-PF manifesto ahead of the July 31 harmonised elections, the historic fast-track land reform programme created employment opportunities and support for the livelihood of over 1,7 mi,lion.
A total of 976 500 (A1) and 113 802 (A2) individuals have benefited from the land reform programme.
Prior to the land reform programme only 348 000 people were employed or had their livelihoods supported by land.
Beneficiaries of the land reform programme also ventured into tobacco farming that had hitherto been the preserve of only 1 547 white commercial farmers.
Farmers resettled under the A1 scheme have benefited from 4 million hectares of land while A2 farmers have received a total of 3,5 million hectares.
The land reform programme has also been cross cutting with 36 343 war veterans, 14 537 women, 727 youths and 130 109 others benefiting from the programme.
About 276 000 indigenous Zimbabweans are now proud owners of 12 117 000 hectares of arable land that was owned by 3500 white farmers. Every year the farmers are pocketing over half a billion in US dollars after selling tobacco.
Labels: HYPOCRISY, LAND REFORM, MDC, RODERICK RUTSVARA, SESSEL ZVIDZAI
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai vows to win ‘rigged’ elections
They can't be serious ... Biti, Chamisa and Tsvangirai discuss Zanu PF's election manifesto
11/07/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
MDC-T leader and outgoing
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told supporters Thursday that elections scheduled for the end of the month had already been rigged by Zanu PF but vowed to win regardless.
Tsvangirai was addressing hundreds of supporters at Neuso Business Centre in Mhondoro as he stepped up his campaign for the July 31 elections which will choose a substantive government to replace his uneasy coalition with President Robert Mugabe.
The rally was also attended by other top MDC-T officials including secretary general Tendai Biti and national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa.
“Although the MDC-T is assured of victory it is against a peaceful but a rigged election,” Tsvangirai said.
The MDC-T leader last week said he would participate in the elections with a “heavy heart” as he lamented the failure to force the implementation of key reforms that would help ensure a credible ballot.
The party has also expressed concern over the state of the voters roll as well as the manner in which the registration of voters was carried out ahead of the key vote.
Tsvangirai however, said the momentum for change after more than three decades of Zanu PF rule was irreversible.
“Everyone at the moment is craving for change and the time is now,” he said.
He promised supporters to restore “good governance” if elected into power as well as launch a crackdown against corruption which he claimed had been allowed to run rampant under Zanu PF leading to widespread suffering among ordinary people.
“The incoming MDC government will deal with the culture of impunity,” he said. “The people should be given freedom of association and choice.”
Outlining the party’s policies, Tsvangirai said an MDC-T government would move to revitalise the country’s struggling economy and create new jobs through the promotion of foreign direct investment.
The party would also launch a national housing programme to address the shortage of housing in both urban and rural areas as well as redevelop key infrastructure such as roads and railways which are in a state of near-disrepair due to neglect.
The MDC-T leader said funding for these projects would come from the country’s mineral resources such as diamonds which he claimed were currently being “looted by a few individuals in Zanu PF”.
On agriculture, Tsvangirai ruled out repossession of land already redistributed under the country’s land reforms but said the MDC-T would move to ensure the resource was utilised productively.
“The MDC-T government will not repossess land but we will encourage maximum utilisation that will see the creation of more jobs in the country,” he said.
Also addressing the gathering, Biti slammed the indigenisation programme which is being pushed by Zanu PF saying it was elitist and had only benefited a few individuals connected to Mugabe and his party.
“The MDC has an envisaged plan of action in place to improve the lives of the people of Zimbabwe. The MDC through its tenure in the inclusive government has shown that it has policies with the people at heart,” said Biti.
Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), HYPOCRISY, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
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Indigenisation an elitist transfer of wealth: Biti
26/04/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
MDC-T secretary general and Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, has dismissed the indigenisation programme as an “elitist transfer” of wealth which will not create any “new value” or achieve broad-based economic empowerment.
Under the programme, which is being driven by President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party, foreign companies must cede control and ownership of at least 51 percent of their Zimbabwe operations to locals.
Biti’s MDC-T party – which has been in an uneasy coalition with Zanu PF since 2009 - says while it backs the principle of economic empowerment, it was opposed to the model being implemented by Zanu PF.
And speaking in London this week as he returned from meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, the Treasury chief said the approach taken by Zanu PF would not work.
He said: “What method and formula are you using? This is where, from a purely scientific view, the Indigenisation Act is found wanting … The law obliges the indigenous entity the duty to buy [51% equity in existing firms].
“It is a model that is not creating new value. Secondly it is a programme that is elitist in nature; now, which ordinary person has that kind of money?
Biti said Zanu PF’s equity transfer approach does not take into account the fact that Zimbabwe is a small economy with a budget of $4 billion and in need of capital in the form of foreign direct investment, overseas development assistance and savings.
“In short, it’s a programme that needs to be revisited. But despite that, indigenisation on the ground has not been a hindrance to any serious investor in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“That’s why there’s been no capital flight. In fact, to those that are adopting a wait and see attitude, the train is moving”.
Meanwhile, Biti also revealed that he had been granted Cabinet approval to levy new taxes on the mining sector as the government scrambles for cash to fund elections due this year.
He however, assured miners that he would not be raiding their pockets for the US$132 million needed for the polls which will elect a successor to the coalition government.
Zanu PF and the MDC formations have still to reach a deal over the exact timing of the polls but Biti said working together in the coalition government had helped ease distrust between the parties and anxieties about political transition in the country.
Labels: HYPOCRISY, INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE), MDC, TENDAI BITI
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Biti: IMF not treating Zimbabwe fairly
26/04/2013 00:00:00
by Chofamba Sithole
COMMENT - Gee, I guess that would be because of the US sanctions that forbid the US director to the IMF or 'any international financial insittution' to not veto any extension of "loans, credit or guarantees to the Government of Zimbabwe". In other word, the same Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 (Section 4C) that the MDC helped draft to make the Zimbabwean people's lives miserable so they could blame 'mismanagement by Mugabe'. Read ZDERA. - MrK
THE IMF should treat Zimbabwe in the same way it does other countries and must not shift goal posts or change agreed benchmarks on political grounds, Finance Minister Tendai Biti told a meeting at Chatham House in London on Wednesday.
Biti, who confirmed recently that Zimbabwe had reached a tentative agreement with the fund on a staff monitored programme (SMP) to help the country manage its economic reforms and clear debt arrears, was en-route from Washington, US, where he met IMF officials.
“We’ve done better than some countries,” he told the Chatham House meeting, “But the problem is that Zimbabwe is treated on the basis of its politics and not on our balance sheets.”
Biti said that he told IMF managing director Christine Lagarde that “equality of treatment [must] be respected; we don't want shifting of targets.”
The Fund’s executive board last October relaxed the restrictions on IMF technical assistance to Zimbabwe that resulted from the country’s protracted financial arrears to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, paving the way for the SMP agreement.
SMPs are informal agreements with IMF staff whereby staff provide advice to national authorities on the design of their economic programme, and monitor the implementation of such a programme. However, they do not entail endorsement by the fund’s executive board nor financial assistance.
Zimbabwe owes an estimated $10 billion to the IMF, the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB).
Biti lamented the country’s unflattering D-Minus credit rating. He said a special team that was set up to verify the country’s sovereign debt had completed 96 per cent of it task.
Labels: CHATHAM HOUSE, HYPOCRISY, IMF, TENDAI BITI, ZDERA
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Kunda's death is heartbreaking - Sata
By Kombe Chimpinde
Wed 18 Apr. 2012, 13:30 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has described the death of George Kunda as heartbreaking. And President Sata has declared three days of national mourning in honour of the late former Republican vice-president Kunda.
President Sata said he was deeply saddened at the passing of Muchinga MMD member of parliament Kunda SC at UTH on Monday. In his letter of condolences to Kunda's widow Irene, President Sata described the former vice-president's death as heartbreaking.
"It is with deep sorrow and grief that I learnt of the death of your dear husband Mr George Kunda SC, the former Republican vice-president of Zambia," read President Sata's letter to Irene in part.
"On behalf of the government and the people of the Republic of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, I extend my highest and sincere condolences to you, the children and the Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) for this painful loss."
President Sata, in a statement released by State House special assistant to the president for press and public relations George Chellah, said that it was indeed tragic that the nation had lost yet another leader who served the country in various distinguished portfolios.
"Mr Kunda's works as a lawyer for Luanshya District Council, as president of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and as Member of Parliament for Muchinga Constituency and Republican vice-president have undeniably helped in strengthening our country's political and economic capabilities," President Sata stated.
"No doubt, the Zambian populace feel deeply sorry for the loss of a national leader of Mr Kunda's stature and public service credentials, and share your family's grief."
President Sata described the late former vice-president as a resolved politician.
"I remember Mr Kunda from the early days of his career as a determined young lawyer at Luanshya District Council as well as his later days as a resolved politician who was never shy or afraid to exercise his democratic right to debate and devotedly defend his stance on many key national issues. Thereby enhancing and safeguarding our country's democracy, which we all cherish dearly," the President stated.
"And more recently, I last met Mr Kunda at State House when he accorded me the respect of accepting my invitation to join us for a luncheon hosted in honour of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Mr Ban Ki Moon when he visited the country in February this year. Therefore, in recognition of Mr Kunda's contribution to this country, I have declared three days of national mourning with effect from Wednesday 18th April to 20th April, 2012, so that we can come together as a people in prayerful reflection and mourn our dear departed colleague with honour and dignity."
President Sata prayed that the Kunda family takes comfort and solace in the understanding that the entire nation's thoughts and prayers are with them during this devastating and excruciating period.
And Kunda is expected to be buried at Embassy Park in Lusaka.
According to Secretary to the Cabinet Evans Chibiliti, the mourning period will run from Wednesday April 18 to Friday April 20 , 2012.
"The body of George Kunda, SC, MP, who died in the University Teaching Hospital will lie in state for two days starting from Wednesday, 18th to Thursday, 19th April, 2012 at Mulungushi International Conference, to accord time to members of the public to pay their last respects," he stated.
Chibiliti stated that the burial of Kunda will be preceded by a valedictory session at the High Court in Lusaka before a requiem Mass at the Catholic Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Longacres in Lusaka.
And Howard, who is family spokesperson and Kunda's first born child, confirmed the funeral programme in an interview.
"He has been accorded a state funeral. National mourning begins today up to Friday when he will be put to rest at Embassy Park in Lusaka," Howard said.
A check found family friends and government officials coming and leaving the house of mourning situated in New Kasama.
Several senior government officials visited the house of mourning.
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya announced that all party functions had been suspended during the period of mourning.
Council of Churches in Zambia secretary general Suzanne Matale said the country had lost a leader that was in the frontlines when it came to the issue of offering checks and balances to the government.
She prayed for God's comfort among the family members as the family endures this trying moment.
And Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president James Banda said the association was saddened by Kunda's death, who was once president of the association.
"George Kunda was a very senior member of the Zambian bar and held in high esteem by the legal profession. He served as president of the Law Association of Zambia and his tenure was instrumental in the formation of the SADC Lawyers Association," he said.
Banda hailed Kunda's skillful research methods and his forceful arguments in court which lawyers would remember him for.
Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, HYPOCRISY, MICHAEL SATA
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COMMENT - This was the same guy who was campaigning for the MMD only a few months ago, because they promised him a license deal, or something.
Contracts have compromised Kavindele, charges PatrickKavindele asks Sata to restore Vodacom's operating licence
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Thu 29 Dec. 2011, 13:56 CAT
VODACOM Zambia executive chairman Enoch Kavindele has asked President Michael Sata to restore his licence to operate a fourth mobile phone provider in the country.
At the height of the controversial US$257 million sale of Zamtel to Lap GreenN of Libya in 2010, Vodacom Zambia's licence was revoked after former president Rupiah Banda directed that the licence for a fourth mobile provider be suspended for five years.
The move to ban a fourth mobile provider, which sources close to the transaction say was part of conditionalities made by Lap GreenN to take over the country's sole total communications provider, was widely considered repugnant to development of the robust mobile phone sector.
Banda's ban against issuance of another mobile phone licence until 2015 to ensure Zamtel found "its feet" also abrogated local laws governing competition practices.
Former communications minister Dora Siliya said Vodacom Zambia's licence was cancelled to protect Zamtel, which at the time, was threatened "with closure and all workers would have lost jobs if Vodacom was allowed to operate".
In a letter to President Sata, Kavindele, a prominent businessman, said he was a victim of injustice during the hurried sale of Zamtel by the fallen regime.
Kavindele told President Sata that his company, Unitel Communication, in partnership with Vodacom South Africa had been awarded a licence, through a tender process to operate a fourth mobile licence in Zambia.
Kavindele stated that that time, there wasn't enough radio spectrum and business could not take off.
He explained that when the radio spectrum was created, the previous regime of Banda had already started negotiating to sell Zamtel.
Kavindele, then hauled government and Zambia Information Communications Technology (ZICTA) before the Lusaka High Court, and succeeded in his pursuit.
The licence was not, however, restored as the State appealed to the Supreme Court over the High Court ruling.
"We implore Your Excellency to allow Vodacom Zambia operate the 4th mobile licence in partnership with Vodacom as per tender approval and High Court judgment," Kavindele stated.
"Your Excellency, there are many advantages to Zambia in having us operate the fourth mobile licences, which include the lowering of call rates…"
Kavindele stated that President Sata had set a precedent for correcting injustices done by the previous administration after he gave back Finance Bank to previous owners led by Dr Rajan Mahtani at the verge of being sold to FirstRand National Bank of South Africa.
Transport minister Yamfwa Mukanga has indicated that the government is likely to revise the law banning an entry of a fourth mobile provider.
Mukanga said the restriction of the number of mobile service providers to three was a decision of the MMD regime and that the PF government "will not protect anyone in the Zamtel issue".
Labels: ENOCH KAVINDELE, HYPOCRISY, LICENSES, YAMFWA MUKANGA
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US ambassador hails land reform programme
Friday, 25 November 2011 00:00
Fungai Lupande Herald Reporter
US Ambassador Charles Ray on Wednesday made a major climb-down on the country's land reform programmes calling them "necessary" to improve the people's lives. Speaking during a visit to Chakona-Muunganirwa Irrigation Scheme in Bindura, he urged Government to continue the programme.
He said his government recognised that land reform was necessary in Zimbabwe long before the country embarked on the programme.
"Many of the Zimbabweans I have met think that my government is unhappy with President Mugabe and Zanu-PF because of land reform.
"Let me take a moment to set the record straight."
He said: "Long before Zimbabwe had A1 or A2 farmers, the US government recognised that land reform was necessary in Zimbabwe.
[Is he saying that it was the US government which started land reform? - MrK]
"Access to land for more people was clearly needed for Zimbabwe to achieve the human dignity people fought for."
He however, added that his government was against the "violent nature" that led to the farm occupations.
"But let me be clear that we do not oppose the general aim of land reform, which is to economically empower people by helping them to build better lives through jobs, income generation, self-reliance, dignity, and opportunity."
Mr Ray said vast tracts of the country's land were lying fallow while many lacked land.
"Zimbabwe can achieve far more with its fertile land and talented people, and there are many ways to expand production and achieve a more equitable distribution of its benefits," he said.
Mr Ray said Zimbabweans should be united and look up to the future.
"Zimbabweans and their Government should look positively to the future. Politically motivated dispossession and retaliation create conflict, not empowerment.
"In Bindura and Guruve districts today, Zimbabweans are bringing markets back to life. And markets empower people."
He added: "Neither American businesses nor the American government oppose empowerment or more equitable distribution of national wealth. But as Zimbabwe pursues these objectives, I hope you will remember that true empowerment does not come at your neighbour's expense."
Mr Ray said with good rains and assistance from Africare more than 5 000 families in Bindura and Guruve districts will become more productive while increasing their income.
"Farming is a way of life for many Zimbabweans. In a few weeks' time, you will see in these fields the green shoots of your next harvest."
Labels: CHARLES RAY, HYPOCRISY, LAND REFORM
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COMMENT - This is what Robert Sichinga said about the Windfall Tax when he was not in office, a year and a week ago. This article from 2010 puts into stark contrast the u-turn that Robert Sichinga and the PF have made on the Windfall Tax, the second they got into power. Are the PF just a couple of old men who chose security over revolution the second they achieved their personal ambitions? Why the silence on the Windfall Tax, other than stating that somehow, someone convinced them that it is a bad idea? This article is in stark contrast with this recent article: (STICKY)
Government has a challenge of creating 5.5 million jobs, says Sichinga All of a sudden, 'we need jobs, not taxes'.
Refusing windfall tax is an injustice - Sardanis
By Joe Kaunda and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Fri 12 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT
Andrew Sardanis has described the government's refusal to reinstate the windfall tax regime in the mining sector as an injustice to the country. And economic consultant Bob Sichinga has advised opposition political parties to make the issue of restoring windfall tax a campaign issue in next year's general elections.
In an interview, Sardanis who presided over negotiations during the nationalisation of the mines under the Kenneth Kaunda administration, said he was appalled to learn that government was only getting 2.6 per cent in revenue from the exports of copper that stood at US$2.9 billion despite the huge boom in metal prices.
"…in other words a total tax of only 2.6 per cent of total revenue. When the mines were bought by the current owners, the copper prices stood around US $1,500 per tonne, but the price has shot up to the current over US $8,500," Sardanis observed.
He described the low revenue from the mining sector to the government a huge anomaly and an injustice to the country especially that the global markets were still predicting a further rise in metal prices on account of an anticipated long term shortage of copper.
"It is an injustice for the government to only collect US$ 77.6 million from copper exports valued at US$2.9 billion. And I do not see that the mines themselves in their heart of hearts would consider it an injustice to pay extra more," he said.
And further disagreeing with finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane's assertions that any changes to the current tax regime in the mining sector would chase away investors, Sardanis maintained that it was time government realised that the country was losing an opportunity to benefit from the remarkably high copper prices.
"Do you honestly think they (mines) are going to close down and leave? The reality is that at the moment there is predicted a long term shortage of supply (of copper) which would mean the price is likely to rise even further. So I do not understand why there are these fears of the investors leaving," Sardanis stated.
"They (government) ought to realise that copper is a wasting asset, it is not going to grow in the ground again."
He expressed concern at what would be a missed opportunity for the government to pass on the benefit from the mining sector into the socioeconomic development of the country.
And Sichinga, who has described President Rupiah Banda and Dr Musokotwane as unpatriotic for opposing the reintroduction of windfall tax, has charged that despite increasing pleas for maximising revenue collections from the mining sector, the government has continued to be adamant and irresponsible.
He said it was in this vein that campaigning on the platform of increasing tax collections from the mining sector would determine how serious the opposition political parties were to the governance of this country.
The mining sector which contributes about 70 per cent of the foreign exchange earnings and about 11.2 per cent of the country's gross domestic product only accounts for just over one per cent of the revenue collections by the Treasury.
"I am suggesting that if political parties were serious, they should make this a campaign issue," Sichinga said.
"They should say to the people that we are failing to get development because your government is not serious about obtaining the benefits of our God-given endowment to your country. So, if I were in politics, that is exactly what I would be saying. I will be making this a campaign issue that ‘the government is irresponsible, not being patriotic and failing to do what is necessary'. Why tax you and I at 35 per cent and tax the mines almost nothing?"
Sichinga said the re-introduction of the windfall tax should be also debated in Parliament and those members of parliament (MPs) who oppose it should be exposed and de-campaigned.
He charged that President Rupiah Banda and Dr Musokotwane were not patriotic to this country.
"Why would any patriotic citizen or leader stop that windfall tax? That issue is so crucial such that the civil society and ordinary citizens will continue to argue they must impose that tax," Sichinga said.
"I am also urging Parliament to reintroduce this topic and even if they get defeated, they must ask for a division and we must know which people are supporting the government over this failed and imprudent manner of taxing the mines. They should be named during the campaigns that these are the people who refused to have taxes imposed on the mines and let them go to the Copperbelt and campaign on that basis."
He observed that the current regime favoured getting underhand payments from the foreign mining firms at the expense of the country.
"What justification is there? What is clear is that the government wants to benefit from these mines by them giving them campaign monies and that is why they are not imposing these taxes," he said.
"There is no other reason. We have written, we have spoken, we have made our case… Dr Musokotwane, the president and their cabinet have not given us any justifiable reason why they mine should not being paying taxes."
Sichinga also dismissed assertions by the government that windfall tax on the mining sector would scare away investors.
He said evidence has shown that countries that were increasing taxation in the aftermath of the global economic crisis remained stable as no investor had shown any signs of movements.
Sichinga also rejected Dr Musokotwane's insistence on the application of variable profit tax as not feasible because the government does not understand the cost structure for most mining operations.
"In our country, the mines have different costs of production but the maximum you can expect from even the ones with the lowest ore content is not to go beyond U$ 2, 000 per tonne," he explains. "That means they are making super profits between the US $2, 000 mark and the US $8, 000."
He further dismissed the announcement that the government would audit mining firms for tax compliance.
"They are saying they are going to carry out an audit of what has been exported. It means they don't even know what has been exported at the moment," said Sichinga. "Otherwise why would they be asking for an audit now? What have they been doing all along? On what basis have they been taxing the mines in terms of the exports? It frightens me that you can have a government saying that they are going to carry out an audit and yet they are arguing that the mining companies would leave Zambia if they were to impose taxes."
He reminded the government that with windfall tax, nobody would be taxing the mines when they made losses or when the copper price fell below an agreed level.
Labels: HYPOCRISY, LYING, ROBERT SICHINGA, TAXATION, WINDFALL TAX
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COMMENT - The CIA has some gall criticizing the size of the Swaziland army, when the US is opening up new bases in Australia, and has the biggest army in the world by far. Perhaps they think the army is too strong to easily overthrow and invade, by financing and arming the political opposition.
SD spends too much on the army – CIA
By WELCOME DLAMINI on November 18,2011
Soldiers marching during a parade. However these soldiers have nothing to do with the article.MBABANE – As Swaziland grapples with a financial crisis it has also been found that government is spending too much on its army.
The 2011 Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook carries what is termed as latest statistics which show Swaziland reportedly spending more money on the army than any other country in the SADC region and ranks 13th in the world. The comparison has been made in terms of the percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) that a country spends on the army. It must be noted that the CIA based its information on statistics dating between 2005 and 2010 for the various countries but when it comes to Swaziland the data is for 2006.
In the entire African continent, Swaziland reportedly ranks third after Burundi and Morocco who are ranked eighth and 11th in the world respectively. The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.
The statistics come at a time when there has been a public outcry over government’s priorities in terms of expenditure as even a recently tabled supplementary budget made a provision for a further E64m request for the army.
The National Public Servants and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) Secretary General Vincent Dlamini said they have been concerned over the spending pattern of government for a while.
"Swaziland is not even involved in peacekeeping operations and therefore we have a problem with government militarising the country," he said.
Dlamini said government had got its priorities all wrong as it should be focusing on health, education, job creation and infrastructure development so as to resuscitate the country’s economy. Dlamini said the best way for government to defend itself was by providing enough services for the people.
"Let government assist SMEs so as to create more jobs. Once we have more people working then people will be happy and there would be social stability. Let us focus on that, not the military," he added.
According to the CIA, Swaziland spent 4.7 per cent of GDP on the army while Burundi and Morocco spent 5.9 per cent and five per cent respectively.
An analysis of the statistics suggests that the kingdom’s military expenditure surpasses that of the United States of America and war-ravaged Libya.
The USA, which is one of the world’s ‘superpowers’ spends 4.06 per cent of its GDP on the army and is ranked 24th in the world.
Libya, which is fresh from an uprising that cost the life of its leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, spends 3.9 per cent of GDP on the army and ranks 25th in the world. Rwanda is ranked 26th in the world and at a spending of 2.9 per cent of GDP on the army at the time of the statistics.
In the SADC region, Zimbabwe spends 3.8 per cent, Namibia allocates 3.7 percent; Botswana spends 3.3 per cent, Lesotho spends 2.6 per cent; South Africa spends 1.7 per cent and Mozambique is at 0.8 per cent. Zimbabwe ranks 18th in the world, Namibia 19th, Botswana 23rd, Lesotho 29th, South Africa 43rd and Mozambique is positioned 54th.
In the 2011/2012 budget estimates, Swaziland’s Ministry of Defence was allocated a head total of E623 219 583 of which E523 571 352 was specifically for activity 12 (Defence).
These statistics have not yet been put in account for the CIA website.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent US Government agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers.
Civil servants say it’s a tragedy
MBABANE – Civil servants say Swaziland’s expenditure on the army is a tragedy and want the retirement age for soldiers reduced to 50.
Vincent Dlamini, who is Secretary General for the National Public Servants and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), feels that government made a blunder by increasing the retirement age to 60 for soldiers.
"We asked government as to why it was keeping soldiers for another 10 years because that adds to the number of civil servants. Physically, what can a soldier do at 60 years? The country is not at war so there is no need to spend 4.7 per cent of GDP on the army. Government is complaining about the huge wage bill but is keeping more people in the army," Dlamini said.
...no comment, Percy cites national security
MBABANE – Government says it cannot comment on issues of the army because they border on national security.
Government Press Secretary Percy Simelane said security matters were not open to the public.
"I cannot comment on the army’s budget because it is a security matter. Security matters are not as open to the public as other issues. We don’t comment on issues of the army. We don’t normally discuss them for security reasons," Simelane said.
Last week, Premier Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini said the army needed to be well taken care of so that the nation could have peaceful nights and not having to look over their shoulders because of security threats.
He said an army ensured that a country lived in peace.
SADC Military expenditure rankings according to CIA
Rank Country % of GDP Date of info
1. Swaziland 4.7 2006
2. Zimbabwe 3.8 2006
3. Namibia 3.7 2006
4. Angola 3.6 2009
5. Botswana 3.3 2006
6. Lesotho 2.6 2006
7. Zambia 1.8 2005
8. South Africa 1.7 2006
9. Malawi 1.3 2006
10. Madagascar 1.0 2006
11. Mozambique 0.8 2006
World top 20 countries on military expenditure according to CIA
Rank Country % of GDP Date of Info
1. Oman 11.4 2005
2. Qatar 10 2005
2. Saudi Arabia 10 2005
3. Jordan 8.6 2006
3. Iraq 8.6 2006
4. Israel 7.3 2006
5. Yemen 6.6 2006
6. Eritrea 6.3 2006
7. Macedonia 6 2005
8. Syria 5.9 2005
8. Burundi 5.9 2006
9. Mauritania 5.5 2006
9. Maldives 5.5 2005
10. Turkey 5.3 2005
10. Kuwait 5.3 2006
11. Morocco 5.0 2003
12. Singapore 4.9 2005
13. Swaziland 4.7 2006
14. Bahrain 4.5 2006
14. Bosnia 4.5 2005
15. Greece 4.3 2005
16. United States 4.06 2005
17. Russia 3.9 2005
17. Libya 3.9 2005
18. Zimbabwe 3.8 2006
18. Cyprus 3,8 2005
18. Cuba 3.8 2006
18. Djibouti 3.8 2006
19. Namibia 3.7 2006
20. Angola 3.6 2009
We have second smallest army in the SADC region
MBABANE - Despite the reportedly high expenditure, available statistics reflect that Swaziland has the second smallest army in the SADC region after the Kingdom of Lesotho.
According to the internet accessible Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook, Swaziland is reported to have an army of over 3 000 soldiers, while Lesotho has 2 000; South Africa has 62 082; Zimbabwe has 29 000; Zambia 15 100; Mozambique 11 200; and Namibia has 9 200 soldiers.
The army spokesperson Khanya Dlamini referred any queries to government.
The latest expenditure on the army is an allocation of E64 million to be provided through the supplementary budget tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Majozi Sithole last week.
On Wednesday, the International Monetary Fund welcomed the supplementary budget for its inclusion of downward revisions in revenue projections and cuts in capital expenditures for goods and services "while regularising earlier budgetary overruns in defence expenditures."
Labels: ARMED FORCES, CIA, HYPOCRISY, SWAZILAND
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COMMENT - More like - we will be helping the police with their inquiries. :)
We shall provide checks and balances to the PF - Kunda
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 02 Oct. 2011, 16:10 CAT
WE shall provide checks and balances to the PF government and ensure Zambia does not become a one-party state, says immediate past vice-president George Kunda. In an exclusive interview yesterday, Kunda, who was re-elected Muchinga member of parliament in Central Province, confirmed he would be in the National Assembly as a backbencher.
"We shall continue to work for the people of Muchinga and provide checks and balances; this is a democracy. Of course we don't want a situation where we have a one-party state; I believe even you want us to have a strong opposition," Kunda said. "Speaking for the people of Muchinga Constituency, we shall participate effectively in the political dispensation. When I go to Parliament, we shall provide the necessary checks and balances and effectively for that matter."
Asked about the MMD's loss and relegation from ruling party to opposition, Kunda said he was a junior official in the party hence could not comment on such an issue.
"Ask the national secretary. I don't want to break protocol, I am just a national trustee; I don't have any position of that high to start issuing such statements," said Kunda.
Luanshya-born Kunda, 55, first came to Parliament in 2002 when then president Levy Mwanawasa nominated him as member of parliament and appointed him justice minister and Attorney General.
After Mwanawasa's death in 2008, his successor Banda elevated lawyer Kunda to become vice-president while maintaining his portfolio as justice minister.
Kunda served as vice-president to Banda from 2008 until over a week ago when the latter lost the presidential elections.
Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, HYPOCRISY, PF
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Blair met Gaddafi before Lockerbie bomber was freed
Tuesday, 20 September 2011 02:00
LONDON - Tony Blair's spokesman confirmed on Sunday that the former British prime minister had visited Muammar Gaddafi in Libya in the months before the Lockerbie bomber was freed from jail, but insisted there was no impropriety in the contacts.
The Sunday Telegraph said it had found letters and e-mails which showed Blair, who left office in 2007, had visited Gaddafi in June 2008 and April 2009, once using the then Libyan leader's jets and bringing along an American billionaire.
The paper said Blair, prime minister for 10 years until 2007, had made no mention of the trips on his websites.
Blair's visits came ahead of the release from Scottish prison of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, a Libyan who was convicted of the 1988 bombing of a US-bound airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people.
At the time of Blair's visits, Tripoli was threatening to cut business links with Britain if Megrahi, a former Libyan agent, was not released, the Telegraph added.
Blair's spokesman said the trips were not a secret, and there had been nothing untoward about them.
"The subjects of the conversations during Mr Blair's occasional visits was primarily Africa, as Libya was for a time head of the African Union; but also the Middle East and how Libya should reform and open up," his spokesman said. "Of course the Libyans, as they always did, raised Megrahi. Mr Blair explained, as he always did, in office and out of it, that it was not a decision for the UK government but for the Scottish Executive."
Megrahi was freed by Scottish authorities, which operate a criminal justice system independent of London, on compassionate grounds in August 2009 after doctors said he had terminal cancer and had just three months to live.
The move angered the US government and relatives of the 189 Americans killed in the bombing. Megrahi is still alive more than two years later. Blair's successor, Gordon Brown, has always said London was not involved in the Scottish decision.
"These new meetings between Mr Blair and Gaddafi are disturbing, and details of what was discussed should now be made public," Pam Dix, whose brother was one of those killed, told the Telegraph.
"I am astonished Tony Blair continued to have meetings like this out of office."
Some US politicians have accused Britain of allowing trade interests to take precedence over justice in the release of Megrahi. The Scottish authorities have repeatedly denied this.
The correspondence found by Telegraph said Blair had been accompanied on one trip by Tim Collins, a US billionaire financier and friend of the former prime minister. Blair's spokesman confirmed this but said no business deals had ever been discussed.
"Tony Blair has never had any role, either formal or informal, paid or unpaid, with the Libyan Investment Authority or the Government of Libya and he has no commercial relationship with any Libyan company or entity," he said. - Reuters.
Labels: HYPOCRISY, LIBYA, MUAMMAR AL-GADDAFI, NEOCOLONIALISM, TONY BLAIR
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SUNDAY MAIL EDITORIAL COMMENT:Major Ray warfare tactics in disarray
Saturday, 30 July 2011 22:58 Opinion
Mr Ray was part of America’s genocidal army that committed unspeakable atrocities in Vietnam. If you ever doubted that the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West are an act of war, ask yourself why the United States has deployed a soldier as its ambassador here.
Charles Aaron Ray is a chap who cut his aggressive teeth in the US Army, attaining the rank of major. Forget the cheap lie that this man is a “retired” soldier. Major Ray is still an active agent of the military-industrial complex that rules America. Much like President Barack Obama — who is facing financial Armageddon as you read this — Major Ray is the white master’s convenient tool, described by Professor Jonathan Moyo as Washington’s Uncle Tom in Harare.
Ambassador Ray is struggling in Harare. He is having to work overtime to keep his discredited imperialist agenda alive. His information warfare tactics are in utter disarray. After all, winning the hearts and minds of fiercely independent Zimbabweans is not as easy as dropping napalm bombs on innocent Vietnamese villagers. This is Zimbabwe.
On Thursday, Mr Ray left all sane persons shaking their heads in disbelief when he told a Southern African Political Economy Series (Sapes) dialogue on the future of US-Zimbabwe relations that his government does not support any Zimbabwean political party. He said Washington does not care who wins the election in Zimbabwe as long as the polls are a “legitimate, non-violent and credible electoral contest”.
Really? Since when? Every man and his dog know that the US has been channelling money to the MDC and non-governmental organisations to effect illegal regime change in Zimbabwe.
And for good measure, we today publish, in our In-Depth section, a list detailing some of the regime-change projects funded by Washington. Zimbabweans are not fooled, Mr Ambassador.
We know, of course, that the ambassador is a habitual writer of fiction. But to claim that the US does not favour any political party in Zimbabwe is to take fiction to astonishing heights.
When Ray was sworn in as ambassador on October 20 2009, the US State Department lauded his “political and military skill-set”. This would enable him “to handle American relations with one of Africa’s most contentious regimes”. Even at that early stage, it was clear that regime-change was the only game in town.
Mr Ray presented his diplomatic credentials to President Robert Mugabe at State House on December 9 2009.
Zimbabweans, obviously misled by his black skin, assumed that this man would work hard with others in mending the tattered US-Zimbabwe relations. It was a futile hope. US shenanigans in this country have increased and expanded in ways that are yet to be fully revealed.
Labels: CHARLES RAY, HYPOCRISY, NEOCOLONIALISM
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There is no corruption in Zambia, says Rupiah
By Fridah Nkonde in Ndola
Tue 05 July 2011, 04:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said there is no corruption in Zambia. During a presidential luncheon at Mukuba Hotel on Saturday, President Banda said Zambians should not listen to people who say there’s corruption in the country.
“Let’s not listen to doom speakers who say that there is corruption in the country. I feel the enthusiasm of the people when it comes to the movement of the country forward,” he said.
President Banda urged the people to prove those that were saying that there will be problems in Zambia after elections wrong. He said he saw in every Zambian the desire to get out of poverty.
“…because as I go round opening up institutions, I feel that Zambians are ready to take up the fight against poverty. I thank all who have revolutionised to make Zambia a less poor country. Zambian people are strong enough and have confidence in themselves,” he said.
He said he was hoping that Ndola could be transformed by having good roads, a good show ground and a beautiful airport.
“Use your vote to decide who will be your councillor, member of parliament and president. Let’s vote for right leaders because we know them,” said President Banda.
Labels: CORRUPTION, HYPOCRISY, LYING, RUPIAH BANDA
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COMMENT - " We don't want to see a new colonialism in Africa," Clinton said in Lusaka. " Well how about getting rid of the old colonialism first? How about ending neocolonialism. Raw materials in Africa should only be sold to the state at an uninflated cost only, and sold by the state at international market prices.
Interpreting Clinton’s ‘new colonialism’
Saturday, 25 June 2011 02:00
By Isaac Odoom
Recently Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, embarked on an official African trip that took her to Zambia, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
In a press conference in Lusaka, Clinton is reported to have warned her host continent about ‘new colonialism' in Africa from external actors and investors interested only in extracting Africa's natural resources.
"We saw that during colonial times, it is easy to come in, take out natural resources, pay off leaders and leave. . . We don't want to see a new colonialism in Africa," Clinton said in Lusaka.
"When people come to Africa to make investments, we want them to do well but also want them to do good. . . We don't want them to undermine good governance in Africa," she said.
Clinton did not mention China by name, but as her officials later confirmed to reporters, she wanted to stress that African countries should beware of the Chinese and hold their investors to high standards.
Thus, the US is concerned that China's foreign assistance and investment practices in Africa have not always been consistent with generally accepted international norms of transparency and good governance.
Clinton's remark on Chinese ‘new colonialism' and her offer of the United States as the best partner to help African countries improve themselves will receive diverse reactions among different observers, including African and Chinese leaders and investors.
Rightly or wrongly, for some (African) sceptics, Clinton's remark is hypocritical; as a Western policy maker she lacks the moral right to make such comments about other external actors, considering US and European foreign practices and policy priorities in Africa over the years.
Chinese leaders may fume over her comments, which seem to imply that China is not investing for the long run, or is only interested in narrowly investing in African elites.
Chinese officials may claim that their multiple visits to countries across Africa over the past five decades, the numerous infrastructure projects and business investments in multiple sectors of African economies, suggest a much longer, deeper, and broader set of interests than Clinton appears to acknowledge.
Whichever way one chooses to interpret Clinton's comments her bold advice to African leaders is impressive. In fact her concern about Africa's political and economic governance is commendable.
However, many observers of Africa's international relations would wish she had shown the same concern about other external actors' foreign policy practices including US foreign assistance and investment practices in Africa.
One is tempted to ask: Why is the US so concerned about the role of China in Africa? Is China the only ‘bad guy' in town?
Aren't some Western actors complicit of the same activities in Africa? (Deborah Brautigam addresses these questions in her book, ‘The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa'.)
Obviously, there is plenty to criticise in China's practices in Africa and human rights record at home and in Africa, and plenty of room for improvement as Chinese leaders take uncertain and inconsistent steps toward being a responsible partner with Africans.
But in my view Clinton's remarks need to be placed within the broader context of the evolving narrative/discourse on China's rise on the global stage, in particular its increasing engagement with African countries, in the past decade.
Certainly, Africa-China relations are multifaceted and complex.
However, in the growing narrative among many observers, including some academics and western policy makers, there has been a tendency to reduce China-Africa policies to either ‘China is the worst' or ‘China is the best.'
With such a reductionist approach, some important questions are not receiving much attention and more importantly the ‘real' intentions of some of these commentators are obscured.
For example, Chinese leaders and the press seek to present an all-rosy picture of China-Africa relations, based on friendship and mutual benefit.
And, while some African journalists and local business owners are much more sceptical, some African leaders have a positive view about the benefits of embracing China.
More importantly, in line with Clinton's remark in Lusaka, much of the commentary emanating from Western media and policy makers on China's engagements in Africa has been dismissive.
China has been described as a ‘rogue donor' offering ‘toxic aid' to Africans. In one of the WikiLeaks cables released late last year US Ambassador Johnnie Carson described China as ‘a very aggressive and pernicious economic competitor. . . (with) no morals' in Africa.
Is this really the whole picture of China's engagements in Africa?
As some have suggested, in the waves of hasty conclusions and (sometimes) show of ignorance on the real Chinese impact in Africa, some if not most of Western policy makers' accounts of the aggressive expansion of Chinese interests into African countries and societies and their collaboration with local autocratic elites and despots have a hypocritical taste or at least bear traces of amnesia. . .
One therefore is tempted to wonder, if the concern expressed is actually not more about Western interests than about the welfare of the African people, given that what we witness today is anything but new with regard to its forms and effects'.
This is not to suggest that one cannot criticise certain practices and strategies of the Chinese in Africa simply because the remarks come from a Western actor.
But it does suggest that the legitimacy of the critique itself may well depend on the underlying interests of those criticising.
It is not realistic to assume that Chinese foreign policy and development aid is interest-driven whereas in general, the critique of these practices is not.
Granted that the overall objective of such criticisms must be the well-being of the African people, the self-legitimisation of such discourse through the ‘we care about Africans' rhetoric cannot be a credible motive for
opposition to Chinese practices in Africa.
The historical experience, that humanitarian concerns are highlighted by the West when it is strategically most opportune, determines the credibility of many official voices now articulating their concerns about the possible impact of ‘new' actors in Africa, particularly China.
Clinton rightly recognised that "China's foreign assistance and investment practices in Africa have not always been consistent with generally accepted international norms of transparency and good governance".
Indeed, China has a lot to do to rationalise and improve upon its multi-faceted engagements with African countries, but so too does the US (and other Western actors, including multinational banks and oil companies).
Aren't countries with poor records on democracy and governance - Egypt and Ethiopia - beneficiaries of US aid in Africa over the years?
Is it not the case that energy security concerns sometimes trump good governance in relations between the US government and Equatorial Guinea?
Is this consistent with generally accepted international norms of good governance?
It could be said that the strategic goals and interests of China differ little from other external actors readily open to African countries than Clinton will have us believe.
A deeper and careful analysis of China's relations with African countries may reveal that China is ‘doing' politics or ‘development' in a seemingly ‘similar' yet unexpectedly ‘different' way.
Over-fixation on the "Chinese exceptionalism" as a way of legitimising one's strategic interests and objectives in Africa is not the way to go.
Such warnings will be more credible to Africans if the US and other external actors get their records straight.
Otherwise, such remarks may not only get some observers fuming over the underlying interests of those criticising, but it may also embolden China.
That said, Africans should be under no illusions about Chinese (US or EU) goals in their countries.
The Chinese, like any other external actor, act in a ‘realist', ie self-interest manner.
But precisely because China acts in an interest-oriented manner and, for historical reasons, cannot apply the same ‘salvation rhetoric' and strategies as the West does to legitimise their ‘intervention' in Africa, there is incredible potential for a great partnership between the Chinese and Africans.
Africans must unlock this potential. Africa cannot afford to allow China-Africa relations to be on China's (or anybody's) terms. It has to be on our terms.
We need not wait to be warned or lectured by some self-interested actor somewhere before we act.
China is real.
It's time to ask what is Africa doing about China, not what is China not doing, or doing in Africa. - Pambazuka News.
Labels: CHINESE, HILLARY CLINTON, HYPOCRISY, NEOCOLONIALISM
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COMMENT - Message to the dull brained and sleepy minister - there already are high levels of poverty in the country. You stated that there would be no change in poverty levels for another 30 years, following the MMD's neoliberal policies. And you seemed very contented with that idea. Minister Musokotwane cannot chastise the opposition for having policies that would 'cause high levels of poverty', when
he is on record saying: " And Dr Musokotwane said it might take over 30 years for Zambia, which is this month celebrating 46 years of Independence, to accomplish meaningful poverty reduction. "
Musokotwane cautions Zambians over PF
TIME PUBLISHED - Thursday, June 16, 2011, 8:40 am
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has warned Zambians that they would grapple with huge supplementary budgets if they voted for opposition parties such as Patriotic Front (PF) that had promised to give cash to the people and undertake development projects within 90 days.
Dr. Musokotwane said such parties would leave chaos in the country because they would mismanage the economy and
cause high levels of poverty since there was no example of a place where such promises had been fulfilled anywhere in the world.
The minister said this in Parliament on Tuesday evening after Kabwata PF Member of Parliament (MP) Given Lubinda submitted that the K1.4 trillion supplementary budget the Government was asking for showed lack of control and was contrary to the promise the Government made in 2003 not to overspend by more than two per cent of the budget.
This was when the House debated the Supplementary Appropriation Bill for 2009.
Mr. Lubinda said the K1.4 trillion represented about eight per cent of the national Budget and called on the minister to assemble measures that would curb over-expenditure by permanent secretaries.
But Dr Musokotwane said Mr Lubinda debated from a point of ignorance because the supplementary budget resulted from the global economic crisis when the buying power of the Zambian people went down and affected the taxation system because of uncertainty about their jobs.
The minister said as such, the Government had to spend more to cushion the impact of the crisis and also protect Zambians from losing their jobs.
He also told the House that the lack of controls had resulted from the failure by the opposition MPs to support the Constitution Amendment Bill that sought to implement the draft Constitution where progressive provisions on controlling budgets were contained.
Dr. Musokotwane said instead of supporting the progressive law, the opposition MPs from the PF walked out of the House and wondered why they were not steadfast on national matters.
He also told the House that the lack of controls had resulted from the failure by the opposition MPs to support the Constitution Amendment Bill that sought to implement the draft Constitution where progressive provisions on controlling budgets were contained
He challenged Mr Lubinda to ask if he did not understand matters and also explained that the United States of America, China and other developed countries spent more to stem losses of economic activity.
Dr. Musokotwane told the House that economics were not just about figures on how one spent more but were about explaining contexts which Mr Lubinda failed to do when he accused Government of overspending.
Bweengwa MP Highvie Hamududu urged the Government to provide a ceiling of supplementary expenditure beyond which controlling officers should not exceed.
He challenged Mr Lubinda to ask if he did not understand matters and also explained that the United States of America, China and other developed countries spent more to stem losses of economic activity.
And Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande said the Government was in the process of training officials working at Zambian missions abroad to improve their skills in promoting the country’s economic and political interests internationally.
Mr. Pande said the embassies had a lot of work for Zambia, resulting in the Zambia Development Agency approving US$2.4 billion by September last year and $7.6 billion from the Asian market between 2007 and 2010.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Labels: HIGHVIE HAMUDUDU, HYPOCRISY, KABINGA PANDE, MMD, NEOLIBERALISM, POVERTY, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE
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PM blasts West over sanctions
Saturday, 07 May 2011 23:32 Local News
By Victoria Ruzvidzo in CAPE TOWN, South Africa
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has lambasted the West for maintaining sanctions on Zimbabwe, describing them as a huge impediment to progress.
Although this is a dramatic shift from his previous stance where he chose to describe the sanctions as “restrictive measures”, analysts said he is seeking to influence regional opinion in his party’s favour ahead of the Sadc summit where Zimbabwe’s political situation is scheduled for discussion.
Responding to questions from journalists at the just-ended World Economic Forum on Africa meeting here, PM Tsvangirai said during negotiations on the Global Political Agreement it was agreed that sanctions needed to be removed. Mr Tsvangirai’s remarks came as the media onslaught on Zimbabwe moved a gear up at the end of the meeting.
“They (sanctions) are an impediment. We don’t want them and I certainly believe that they should be removed,” he said. Zimbabwe has been hamstrung by sanctions imposed by the West, with the worst hit being the ordinary Zimbabwean. The MDC, headed by Mr Tsvangirai, has in the past campaigned for the introduction and renewal of sanctions.
Recently, the European Union and its allies strengthened their stranglehold on Zimbabwe while also targeting individuals believed to be pro-Government.
In yet another sommersault, Mr Tsvangirai also dispelled reports that security personnel had taken over the running of the country as reported by some sections of the private media and the international Press.
“The Zimbabwean army and other security personnel uphold the Constitution. The security establishment is not there to subvert civilian authority,” he said.
The media here, particularly from Britain, sought to hype-up the situation in Zimbabwe, insinuating, during Press conferences, that Zimbabwe would soon be another Cote d’Ivoire.
“There is no basis for a repeat of the Ivory Coast. It’s a disaster. I don’t believe it can happen in Zimbabwe. There is no basis for it,” said the MDC-T leader.
On elections, Mr Tsvangirai said he believed that they would not be held this year as Zimbabwe was not yet ready for them.
Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Charles Ray, on Wednesday regurgitated his country’s rhetoric by downplaying the biting effects of sanctions on ordinary Zimbabweans, choosing instead to spell out a new strategy by his government to spread propaganda to Zimbabweans through new media such as the Internet.
Ambassador Ray also said the US embassy would continue to support pirate radios and online editions which are anti-Zimbabwe and neo-imperialistic in scope. Responding to questions posed by Gweru-based journalists during belated World Press Freedom Day commemorations held in the city, Ambassador Ray maintained that the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe were “targeted” derisively referring to the Government initiated Anti-Sanctions Campaign as a mere “waste of time”.
When asked to explain the effects of the so-called “targeted sanctions” on scholarship programmes, lines of credit and the balance of payments support, Ambassador Ray was evasive and could only say: “I have heard every journalist present is asking about the effects of the ‘targeted’ sanctions on Zimbabwe.”
Labels: CHARLES RAY, HYPOCRISY, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
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COMMENT - The West can't ban Zimbabwean journalists and then complain about press freedom in Zimbabwe, or anywhere else. And why do they call the Zimbabwean government's press secretary 'President Robert Mugabe's press secretary'? I guess they call him President Robert Mugabe now, which is a step up from 'Mugabe'. Anyway...
Zimbabwe threatens ban on western journalists
by Deutsche Presse-Agentur
05/05/2011 00:00:00
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe's press secretary has threatened to reinstate a ban on Western journalists visiting Zimbabwe. The threat was "retaliation" for Zimbabwean state media journalists being refused entry to Europe, the official Herald newspaper reported.
"(Zimbabwean) journalists are being targeted to stop them from the lawful gathering of news outside Zimbabwe," George Charamba was quoted as saying. "This is seriously an attack on the media."
His comments came after Reuben Barwe, chief correspondent of the country's only television network, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), was refused entry to Italy to accompany Mugabe to the Vatican for the beatification of former pope John Paul II.
A power-sharing agreement reached between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in 2009 saw the relaxation of draconian media controls.
Three independent newspapers have been allowed to go to press and the ban on foreign journalists was almost totally lifted. But journalists have continued to be arrested on charges of undermining Mugabe's authority, while Mugabe's Zanu PF party has staunchly refused to sanction new radio and television stations.
Barwe is one of six state media journalists, along with nearly 200 other members of Mugabe's inner circle, who are the subject of sanctions which prevent them from visiting Europe among other things.
Paris-based press watchdog Reporters Without Borders this week named Mugabe a media "predator," writing that it was "thanks to its president that Zimbabwes privately-owned print media are constantly harassed and that the state-owned ZBC has a monopoly of radio and TV broadcasting."
"Mugabe has no problem with the arbitrary arrests and harassment to which most of the country's journalists are exposed," the report added.
[So the answer is to put travel restrictions on members of the Zimbabwean press? How does that support press freedom? - MrK]
Last week, unidentified intruders broke into the offices of the independent NewsDay newspaper and stole editor Brian Mangwende's computer and hard drives.
The incident came days after the newspaper had reported that army commander and Mugabe loyalist Lieutenant General Constantine Chiwenga had had to be flown to China for urgent medical treatment.
Labels: GEORGE CHARAMBA, HYPOCRISY, PRESS FREEDOM
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COMMENT - HEADLINE: IMF/World Bank Links Unrest To Austerity Induced 'IMF RIOTS'. Oh they didn't say that. It's 'lack of accountability'. From national leadership, not lack of accountability of the IMF and World Bank, of course.
World Bank links unrest to lack of accountability
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 11 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT
WORLD Bank president Robert Zoellick says the crisis engulfing Middle East and North Africa shows that stability of any country can only be guaranteed
if the government is more accountable to the people. Zoellick said that greater citizen participation and better governance were crucial for economic development.
He said World Bank had since been urging governments to publish information, enact Freedom of Information Acts, open up their budget and procurement processes, build independent audit functions, and sponsor reforms of justice systems.
Zoellick said the Bank would not only promote institutional reforms but also look into providing more support for civil society as a way of making government more accountable to people.
“Our message to our clients, whatever their political system, is that you cannot have successful development without good governance and without the participation of your citizens,” Zoellick said in a policy address before the World Bank’s Spring Meetings.
“We will not lend directly to finance budgets in countries that do not publish their budgets or, in exceptional cases, at least commit to publish their budgets within twelve months.”
Zoellick said issues such as corruption, gender and transparency were in the past not mentioned at the World Bank because they were seen as too political.
“But over the last 20 years, each had become recognised as crucial for successful development and are now part of the Banks policy portfolio,” he said.
“Likewise, citizen participation and good governance are recognised today as must haves for economic success. Some of that may be what we think of as politics, but most of it is also what we know is good economics; most of it is what we know is good for fighting corruption; most of it is what we know is good for inclusive and sustainable development.”
Zoellick said the World Bank was currently working with civil society and project beneficiaries in over half of its new operations.
“But good governance will not happen without the active participation of citizens, especially in the Middle East and North Africa where modernisation had only been partially successful and institutions were sclerotic,” said Zoellick.
“Institutions, however reformed, needed citizens to keep them accountable. An important role here should be played by civil society. But in much of the developing world, including the Middle East and North Africa, civil society was still in its infancy.”
Labels: HYPOCRISY, IMF, ROBERT ZOELLICK, World Bank
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COMMENT - Well CEO Mutati, it's time to start paying taxes.
Govt should plough back tax benefits - Mopani CEO
By Mutale Kapekele in Kitwe
Sun 03 Apr. 2011, 04:04 CAT
THE government should plough back tax benefits into local communities, says Mopani Copper Mines chief executive officer Emmanuel Mutati. Mutati said this on Friday when UN resident coordinator Kanni Wignaraja called on him at his office during her familiarisation tour of Central and Copperbelt provinces.
Mutati said although the company had not declared any dividend, it was a loyal tax payer, adding that the Zambia Revenue Authority could attest to the fact that the company was up to date with tax payments.
Early this year, an audit report for the mine revealed inconsistencies and irregularities in production figures that Mopani submits to ZRA for tax administration.
“We have not declared a dividend because we have had to re-invest to improve our production capability. That investment will extend the mine's life by another 25 years and this is more tangible than declaring a dividend because it will ensure employment to the locals during that time,” Mutati said.
“We would like to see the government ploughing back some tax benefits into the communities within which the mines operate. The people must see tangible benefits for the nation's minerals because they belong to them.”
He said Mopani had to double its workforce in the past six years from 10,000 to 20,000 which he described as having direct benefits to the local community.
Mutati also said the biggest challenge that the mining sector was facing was under capitalisation and the nature of ore bodies which made it difficult to mechanise, leading to lower productivity compared to mines in other countries like Sweden and those in South America.
He also said it was difficult for the mines to diversify into the manufacturing industry as the country had no facilities for improving mining products with the exception of Zamefa, the only local company that buys copper.
“Would like to see the multi-facility economic zones getting into manufacturing and supplying the mines products such as bolts and nuts which we always import,” Mutati said. “We would like to spread more money locally.”
He also mentioned that the mining sector had a serious shortage of skilled manpower.
“The industry is short of surveyors and ventilation officers because there are no facilities to train for diploma and certificate courses,” said Mutati.
Labels: CORRUPTION, HYPOCRISY, MOPANI, TAX EVASION
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