MCC approves $355m Compact grant for water, sanitation sector
By Maluba Jere
Sun 25 Mar. 2012, 12:59 CAT
THE Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) board of directors has approved a US$355 million Compact grant to lay the foundation for systemic and lasting change in Lusaka's water, sanitation and drainage sector.
US Embassy in Zambia public affairs officer Priscilla Hernandez in a statement yesterday said the board of directors, chaired by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the identified problems were a critical constraint to a country's economic growth.
Announcing the award, MCC chief executive officer Daniel Yohannes said MMC investments were expected to have a meaningful impact on the lives of more than one million Lusaka residents.
Yohannes said the initiative would improve people's health and economic productivity and help the country reduce poverty on a sustainable basis by enhancing water security.
US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storlla said reliable water sanitation and drainage systems were vital components for sustainable development.
Ambassador Storella said while mostly underground and largely invisible to the casual observer, the initiative would improve the health of Zambians, catalyse growth and continue to reduce poverty.
"I congratulate the people and government of Zambia for becoming one among a select group of countries to gain MCC approval for an MCC compact partnership" said Ambassador Storella.
"For more than two years, the Millennium Challenge Corporation has worked with the Zambian government, specifically the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, to help Zambia meet stringent MCC compact eligibility requirements. Together, we have engaged with multiple stakeholders in intensive negotiation, consultations and project development to achieve the five-year, $355 million Compact agreement with Zambia."
Hernandez stated that through the Compact agreement, the Zambian government would increase Lusaka's overall water supply.
She added that the Compact agreement would also improve the city's sanitation and drainage networks, lower flooding, provide city residents greater access to water, better water supply, sanitation and drainage services.
"The Compact also provides technical assistance to continue and deepen ongoing government-led sector reforms and ensure women and vulnerable populations benefit from project investments. The project also includes drainage infrastructure, health education and hygiene promotion," she stated.
Labels: LUSAKA, MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
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TIZ cautions govt over fight against corruption
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 21 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT
TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) has warned that if the government continues its soft stance on the fight against corruption, the country may drop points needed to qualify for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact assistance for 2012.
Commenting on the MCC’s preview into Round 8 of their country selection which ranks Zambia among countries passing the 2011 Corruption Indicator taking them closer to obtaining more MCC funding for various sectors of the economy, Lifuka said so far the government had shown poor governance on many issues
“Our view is that there is nothing stopping Zambia scoring much higher than the current score above the median. To achieve this, government needs to intensify the fight against corruption and this can be achieved, among others, by consistent and objective actions especially in the legislative reform process, the investigation and prosecution of political corruption cases, regulation of the media and civil society, among others,” Lifuka warned.
“President Banda and his Cabinet, as they bask in this glory of the MCC scorecard for FY2011, should take time to reflect carefully on some of the decisions that they are taking. Decisions like the removal of section 37 of the Anti Corruption Commission Act on illicit enrichment from the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill will not help this country.”
Lifuka said all the above points were considered carefully by the MCC in determining the score for a country.
He contended that Zambia needed to maintain a high score on the Control of Corruption indicator, especially next year if it was to proceed to the signing of a compact agreement with the MCC.
Labels: ACC, MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION, REUBEN LIFUKA, TIZ
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Lubinda doubts Zambia’s future eligibility for MCA funds
Written by George Chellah
Sunday, October 04, 2009 5:00:50 PM
KABWATA PF member of parliament Given Lubinda has expressed doubt on whether Zambia will continue to be eligible for funding from the United States government under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).
Contributing to debate on President Rupiah Banda’s address, Lubinda told Parliament on Friday that under the present situation, the possibility of Zambia remaining eligible for the MCA was a tall order. He mockingly said works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti deserves credit for fighting corruption.
“In the Zambia Daily Mail of 2007, Mulongoti said and I quote, ‘Dr Chiluba was telling lies that government departments had been requested to transfer their insurance policies from the Zambia State Insurance Corporation to Professional Insurance Corporation. Dr Chiluba was found liable of theft of public funds by a London Court and was still appearing in court of other cases and that was evident of how bad his regime was. Millions of dollars were not only misappropriated by government officials but were also stolen by some former leaders who were now masqueradering as angels...’ surely Mulongoti deserves to be put on the list of those who fought corruption,” Lubinda said. “With the demise of [Levy] Mwanawasa and with the turning around of Mulongoti…all of a sudden, a very dynamic Mulongoti has turned around. One wonders whether we shall continue to be eligible on the Millenuim Challenge Account. Will we qualify under ruling justly when we are governing by threats to the fourth estate, the press? Is intimidating the church by calling them genocidal people commensurate with ruling justly? Is intimidating donors like we have seen today in the paper commensurate to ruling justly? Is intimidating NGOs ruling justly?”
He wondered whether Zambia would stay afloat on the Millennium Challenge Account.
“All I can do is to wish my dear friends good luck because theirs is a tall order,” Lubinda said.
However, Lubinda said all was not lost for the Zambian people.
“In this House sit men and women whose goal is to give Zambian people the sense of patriotism. Hope for a One Zambia, One Nation and one law where criminals will be treated as such irrespective of their history,” he said.
He also took time to eulogise the late Solwezi Central MMD member of parliament Benny Tetamashimba and commended him for his forthrightness.
Lubinda who cited the incident when the late Tetamashimba accused him and two others of dual party membership said the incident helped him in his political career.
“It saved me the anguish of campaigning for a presidential candidate who was also a campaign manager for another presidential candidate,” said Lubinda in apparent reference to United Liberal Party (ULP) president Sakwiba Sikota who campaigned for President Rupiah Banda.
He said the late Tetamashimba protested any person he felt was corrupt.
“He surely deserves credit,” said Lubinda.
During the launch of the Millennium Challenge Account-Zambia (MCA-Zambia) at State House recently, US Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth said Zambia’s eligibility to the MCA was dependant on several indicators but the most important one being the fight against corruption.
“Maintaining the high level fight against corruption is paramount to Zambia’s current and continued eligibility. That is one indicator that absolutely has to be met in order to maintain eligibility for MCA,” said Ambassador Booth. “Zambia must adhere to principles of good governance and economic freedom in order to maintain compact eligibility. Compact eligible countries must re-qualify every year. Every year these different indicators are analysed.”
And national co-ordinator for MCA-Zambia Robert Liebenthal said Zambia became eligible in December 2008 when its control of corruption indicators exceeded the median of all low-income countries for the first time.
“Zambia must maintain eligibility by continuing to score above the median for all indicators especially the control of corruption indicators in December 2009 (based on 2008 data) and December 2010 (based on 2009 data),” Liebenthal said. “Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) attaches particular importance to the control of corruption indicator. Zambia could become ineligible if that indicator slips even if all the other indicators are favourable.”
He explained that MCC was established in 2004 by the US government in order to fulfill that government’s pledge at the 2002 UN conference on financing for development to provide greater resources to countries taking greater responsibility for their own development.
“MCC assesses country eligibility based on progress in three broad areas: ruling justly, investing in people and economic freedom,” said Liebenthal.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
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Corruption must be eliminated, says Rupiah
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 2:04:37 PM
CORRUPTION is a scourge that must be eliminated, President Rupiah Banda declared yesterday. Speaking at State House when he met the US government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) delegation, which is in the country to negotiate with the Zambian government on the Compact Assistance Agreement, President Banda expressed his gratitude to the MCC for its support to fight administrative corruption through funding under the threshold project.
"The [threshold] project also strengthened the capacity of the government's Anti Corruption Commission to lead efforts to prevent administrative corruption, to implement the national corruption plan," President Banda said. "I must add here that this is the scourge which we must fight to eliminate. Corruption has the capacity to undo all the progress we have so far gained."
President Banda said he was pleased to note that Zambia's commitment to good governance and its dedication to promoting economic freedom and effort to reduce poverty had been recognised by the MCC.
"Zambia, I understand, is now among the 19 countries in Africa that are eligible for the Millennium Challenge Corporation assistance since December 2008," he said. "I am aware your Excellency that Zambia just completed the threshold agreement worth about US$22.7 million."
President Banda said the fruits of the threshold project had already started to be seen.
"I am sure you have seen that this has already borne fruits through the successful launch of the new Patents and Companies Registration Office (PACRO) customer service centre. Because of that it takes only a day to register a company," President Banda said. "At ZRA the threshold project has reduced the time it takes to register for value added certificate. In addition the capacity to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of border management has been improved.
"I understand your mission this time is to consult with the Zambian government on the development of the compact assistance agreement which will facilitate the provision of a grant through the MCC. I hope and trust that the consultations will not be subject to lengthy consultations of deliberations between the two governments."
President Banda said the government was in a hurry to implement projects that would assist Zambia address some of the country's problems such as infrastructure.
"Such projects would help address the major effects of the global crisis. As you are aware a drop in prices of commodities in particular copper has presented us with serious challenges," said President Banda. "I understand, you asked to me with key economic sector ministries today in order to explain the process of developing a Compact Assistance Agreement."
And MCC deputy vice-president Darius Teter hoped the Compact Assistance Agreement would help Zambia in the time of the global economic crisis.
"Zambia joins a very strong family of MCC partners and we very much look forward to working with all of you to develop a compact that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs and result in real income in people's pockets," Teter said. "We believe strongly in the principle of country ownership; we expect our development partners to take the lead in the development efforts."
He said the MCC would also consult the civil society.
"I do hope that we can satisfy your urgent need for assistance in particular in the time of the current economic crisis in the world," said Teter.
And US Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth said the Compact Assistance Agreement would be very beneficial for Zambia to diversify its economy particularly during the time when the world was experiencing the economic meltdown.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION, RUPIAH BANDA
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