Thursday, March 28, 2024

Proposal Presented by Engineers to President Lungu on how to transform Zambia

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From Left to Right: George Sitali,Professor.Stephen Simukanga,President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Professor Clive Chirwa at Chichele Presidential Lodge in Mfuwe on Thursday,February 5,2015. The Engineering Institution of Zambia (E.I.Z.) presented a National Transformation Strategy to indutrialise Zambia. PICTURE BY SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE
From Left to Right: George Sitali,Professor.Stephen Simukanga,President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Professor Clive Chirwa at Chichele Presidential Lodge in Mfuwe on Thursday,February 5,2015. The Engineering Institution of Zambia (E.I.Z.) presented a National Transformation Strategy to indutrialise Zambia. PICTURE BY SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE

The Zambia Institute of Engineers has presented a proposal on how Zambia can become a middle income country dubbed “National Transformation Strategy for Zambia from 2015 to 2040.”

Zambia Institute of Engineers chairperson Bernard Chiwala, who presented the proposal on behalf of the engineers, said there was need to consider mechanisation in the agriculture sector, value addition especially in the mining sector and industrialisation as areas that can lead the country to being classified as middle income.

Mr. Chiwala noted that if fully mechanised, the agriculture sector can improve household security and agro exports which he said could in the long run reduce the cost of production by 40.5 percent thereby increasing profits.

He stated that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which all the 150 constituencies in the country receive, could be used for the requirements in the sector.

He further pointed out that the road sector was also vital to the development of the country and proposed that government should reintroduce road levy.

Mr. Chiwala said the revenue collected through the road levy should not be under the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) but should be put in a separate account and be spent on improving the road sector.

He stressed the need to maximize value addition to emeralds, copper, coal and the Mukula tree saying the country was not deriving enough benefits from it natural resources.

And President Lungu has assured the engineers that he would present their proposal in a full cabinet meeting.

He said iron ore can be used to improve industrialization in the country.

The ZIE proposed to President Lungu that a Ministry of National Planning and Development under the Office of the President should be established to plan effectively for the development of the country.

56 COMMENTS

  1. The ZIE proposed to President Lungu that a Ministry of National Planning and Development under the Office of the President should be established to plan effectively for the development of the country.

    HOW ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING? ISNT IT THE SAME JOB THEY DO……..WE DONT NEED ANOTHER MINISTRY BUT NEW BRAINS IN THESE MINISTRIES……..EVEN IF YOU ESTABLISHED A NEW MINISTRY AND PUT CHIKWANDA THERE AS THE MINISTER INCOMPETENCE WOULD PREVAIL STILL

    • I’ve got a good feeling about EL.

      For some reason, I feel he’s motivated to genuinely transform Zambia into a decent place (and economy) resembling RSA.

      I really like him.

      Thanks
      BB 2015

    • Engineer Sosala Chitimukulu should be involved too.
      Clive Chirwa is back… all whom didn’t get along with Sata are now friends of Lungu.
      EL betrayed Sata by cheating the PF that he has no vision, except Sata’s .

    • What is Chirwa doing there? Is he not suppose to be in court? Chirwa was not in good books with Sata so where is Lungu-Sata legacy? Short memory Lungu.

    • AS I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SAYING, PLEASE MR EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU RE-INSTATE PROF CLIVE CHIRWA TO ZRL TO TRANSFORM THE RAIL TRANSPORT SECTOR IN ZAMBIA. ATTANGA WILL NEVER TRANSFORM THE RAIL TRANSPORT AS IT WASN’T HIS DREAM. IT WAS AND STILL IS PROF CHIRWAS DREAM TO TRANSFORM AND MODERNIZE THE RAIL TRANSPORT SYSTEM. THE PLANS CHIRWA LAID DOWN FOR TRANSFORMING THE RAIL SYSTEM ARE WORKABLE AND VERY FEASIBLE. MODERN AND DEPENDABLE RAIL TRANSPORT WILL TRANSFORM THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR OF ZAMBIA. IT WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE LARGELY TO THE GROWTH OF TOURISM, ETC.

    • GREAT IDEA!
      Unfortunately, unless Zambia has a new Constitution, where Ministers / Officials, are appointed on merit, & longer Party appointees/ cadres, who look after their bellies, & try hard to appease ” The Big Man”, we will always be under – developed, & in this position for years to come.
      Lets not forget, since UNIP days, we’ve had great proposals similar to these.
      Imagine a new ministry is created to put the above plan in place, then Willie Nsanda, or Big Kambwili are appointed in charge of this department. We all know what the outcome will be.
      Similar to the inept management @ Sports ministry, where Big K was responsible for the recurring delays dispatching our football team, but this was accepted as the norm.
      ZAMBIA IS DEAD WITHOUT A NEW CONSTITUTION!!!

    • RE-INTRODUCTION OF ROAD LEVY IS STUP1D BECAUSE TOLL ROADS CAN RAISE A LOT OF MONEY ALREADY. JUST CONSTRUCT MORE TOLL ROADS.

    • This proposal sounds more like one coming from a general entrepreneur than from an engineer. Engineers should be more on advising the country what type of technology will be suitable for the Zambian industry in line with the capacities of local experts, in the same line what technological transfers would work for Zambia. Engineers you need to show leadership in innovation and creativity so we can sort out the issue of hemorrhaging foreign exchange, while benefiting from exporting more through innovation. Your current talk, engineers, is for business managers, no wonder everyone is parading themselves for state jobs. Zambians we are lacking originality in the way we solve problems. Engineering is all about solving problems through innovation and not buying and selling approach.

    • Chirwa is a conman and should not be allowed anywhere near the corridors of money until he is exornerated by the Courts.
      Attepting to use your own company without declaring an interest is a criminal offence, never mind that your comapany has never traded before and you just happen to be the CEO of your target client.
      There is no excuse of “being intelligent or Proffessor this and crashworthness that”. If it is against the Law, it is against the Law.
      To me there is no difference between Chirwa and Masumba only that Chirwa has better qualifications than Masumba.
      They both attempted to obtain percuniary advantage and one of them succeded while the other failed – because of an alert board. Zambians ended up vilifying the board and not the thief.

    • Zambia is already a middle income country with a capita income over $1195. Zambia’s per capita income is currently $1810. If these guys are not even aware of this basic information how can anyone take them seriously?

  2. Academicians and their theories!!!! In 1991 that is how the MMD was misled to embark on reckless privatisation, structural adjustment programme, free market economy, etc, etc. Ama theories!!!

    • Someone came up with a theory that we do away with UBZ and ask the private individuals to buy buses. Was it a useless theory?

    • I hope you went to university.Every thing you dumb use was conceptualized before it magically became a reality.Smart phones were not a reality but now they are , thanks to an imaginative geek.You sir are a reason why africa is a consumer and not an inverter????

    • @Patriot..

      This subject appears to be above your head. Sorry, this takes years at school and university to comprehend and contribute to. Theories and models are part and parcel of brain storming, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the various components of human development. Just as only medically trained persons (Doctors and Nurses) are allowed to provide health services at a hospital, we need experts (engineers, economists, business experts, sociologists) to brain storm on the development challenges Zambia faces and engage high authorities. We need all the expertise right now. Of even more critical importance is, at what point are all these ideas to become part of the GRZ decision-making process?f Cabinet will need to provide the guidelines for implementation.

    • What’s wrong with theory? Advanced nations know how to benefit from theory. They create a nice balance between theoreticians and craftsmen so that these complement each other. One drives the other.

  3. why didn’t they propose all this to the previous regimes? they know that Lungu is a push over, especialy chirwa is so crook when it comes to fake proposals

    • Now we have a President who can listen to scientists. For once we have to do away with you face bloggers just good at talking. We need hard science thought to change the way we do things.

      Some of you were condemning Chirwa when he talked of underground train, speed train and yet these are the ideas of the 21st century. Poverty is not eladicated by growing crops only but putting in place modern infrastructure to support industrial development.

      Next we need to hear more for solar farms, nuclear power stations so that we do away with these blackouts. Power supply should be continuous.

      VIVA ECL please transform Zambia.

    • Being approachable to you is being a push over. Being open to ideas and suggestions means you’re a push over to you because you don’t what a leader is. Dictatorship is what you think leadership is because that’s what you’re used to. A true leader listens and takes advice from people who are experts in different fields and works this in line with his own vision. My way or the highway is a fo0ls way and leads to disaster.

  4. Criticism without offering solutions is useless. The proposal by the gentlemen is good. What can’t suggest improvements rather than outrightly shoot it down? Sober up baba

    • Zambia under mwanawasa and magande created the ministry of National plan and Sata removed National planning and left Finance only.This is what we call Chimbwi no plan.Lungu has an opportunity to correct this scenario.We need industrial Revolution ,so we can add value to Natural resources,to do this we need a good constitution,Well Educated Human resource and above all God fearing leaders,not drunkards and thieves.

  5. Criticism without offering solutions is not only malicious but also useless. The proposal by the gentlemen is good. Why can’t you suggest improvements rather than out-rightly shoot it down? Sober up baba

  6. It would appear that our learned friends had not been aware that Zambia is supposed to be in the middle income catergory in 2030 and not 2040 as they are proposing. The idea is good and should be supported by all.

  7. I am really ashamed to be an engineer in Zambia. useless, baseless and hopeless proposals! Throw them in the rubbish bin. Such trash don’t belong to cabinet table. Job seekers!

  8. Point of correction – Sata’s relationship with Clive was never bad, its the accusations by people who never liked Clive who made their relationship appear sour. Remember Edgar was very close to Sata and he knows what the true position Sata had on issues like Mr Chirwa’s case. Remember what Honorable Lubinda said recently. He asked Mr Sata why he was being treated badly and the response from Mr Sata was its your friends. We all know who was doing all these things to pave his way for presidency. A good leader accommodates the views of others then sits down to analyse what is workable.

  9. Who is this Guy called Basila?
    I think you very useless in your talk and if you dont have any thing to say please napapata stay away from Zambia. Or Bring up your PROPOSALS then which you think are workable. Please dont just thru stones other planners. Show your own plans for this country you foolish.
    Did you look at your President HiaHiach, Who started throwing bad words on EL, who was just in office less than a week.. And you chaps you say that is Politics. Go away with your foolish politics fighting.
    All what am saying let El garther ideals from very Qualified people,even from you ka guy, as long as you a very plan to develop this country, bring it in on, and just keep on blaming blaming you fools.

  10. Even my daughter could have made those proposals.

    I am an Engineer and scientist but I guess those proposals are too general. They don’t have the engineering component (numbers). Even grade 9 students would have proposed that at an inter-house debate.

    You cant have motherhood statements and call that a proposal. If I was the President, I would have told them to apologize for wasting my time.

  11. Surely are these proposals an engineer worth his salt should be putting forward; mechanisation of the agricultural sector…African Business magazine did a research about this and contributors were Agricultural scientists and journalists.
    You would expect something more revolutional or more innovative from this lot but not our engineers it’s about pushing their CVs.

  12. If this is all that’s contained in their proposals, I must say these are so shallow indeed. I thought they would come up with concrete proposals. I, however, commend HEEL for giving them audience but I would put them through the shredder soon as they’ve left.

  13. I am not seeing any proposal from this. These are just general statements that everyone can think of. Industrialisation, value addition, mechanisation! How is this a proposal, who has never heard of this? Let us see the blue print including all the costing and funding proposals otherwise this is useless.

  14. There is always a time for things to take a paradigm shift. Now things are taking a different angle and this is what is confusing many because of being used to seeing things done as always.

  15. There is time for HH to go and make his won submission on how to auction Zambia. Please go and ECL will offer you a cup of mabisi

  16. Our Engineers need to appreciate that devevlopment will only take place when a conducive constitutional order is put in place. This immutable truth will not yield to any engineering calculation. The sooner our colleagues add their voices to the many professionals calling for a new constitution the sooner Zambia shall develop. Unfortunately , and disappointingly, unlike LAZ and other professionals which are chaired by comparatively independent persons, the EIZ President is an employee of Gvt who can ill afford to be candid in his observations with Gvt. Clive Chirwa is still appearing in court, Simukanga is a UNZA employee. Hardly the sort of group which could criticise Gvt or demand a new constitution. Poor engineers.

  17. …This is the worst proposal and a waste of time to this effect. Why?

    1) Create another Ministry when one is already there if not two…Ministry of finance and economic planning coupled with Commerce trade and industry

    2)Road Levy when you already have RDA

    These are mad engineers. Lungu must be very careful. Clive Chirwa was discarded by SATA and the PF, but now he is back.

    Emmanuel Mwam and Hapunda were fired in national interest, now they are back.

    SATA refused to travel unnecessarily, Lungu says that he will travel more often.

    He is digging his own grave…I tell his collegues in PF cant talk now, but watch the space, they will finish him very soon. They are boiling, they are bitter!!

    • Lungu is young and vibrant. Let him travel and rebuild relationships that were broken with our African alies. Also Ghana is sending their president here. Ghana another great African Democratic success story by the way. Still I watch president Lungu closely. Let his minions let Judge Mabilima work undaunted.

  18. Great, the proposals sound good. We know paperwork backed these. If engineers are coming up with such great thoughts, where are our economists, statisticians and other technocrats. Hopefully not just watching the Africa cup.

  19. A BATCH OF CRIMINALS LOBBING FOR JOBS. ANYWAY

    KAILI EDGAR HAS NO VISION AND IS USING SATA’S REJECTS LIKE MWAMBA,CHIRWA, AND HAPUNDA

  20. Edgar, get Clive Chirwa back to ZRL if we want our transport sector obey transformed. Antanga will never transform ZRL. We also need new train coaches & not old refurbished ones

  21. …..EIZ, another useless, spineless and toothless organisation…most junior engineers were looking up to them to police the infiltration of unscrupulous fake engineers who have invaded our country/industries but choose to look the other way and heap all the blame on immigration officers…..while the proposals they presented to the president are welcome, they may not be as important as suggestions on how to sieve the ‘imported’ labour because this has a direct and immediate benefit to our ever swelling indigenous engineering labour reservoir…….

  22. ….by the way, National Teachers Union bragged and congratulated KK for ascending to the throne back then in 1964 as one of their own, our very on kaponyas/call boys in bus stations were elevated to ‘office of the president’ during FTJ as the president was one of their own, LAZ did the same with LPM….the economists applauded RB in the same manner….policemen and the ordinary ‘poor’ citizens, villagers also aligned themselves to MCS as one their own….just last week LAZ were at it again….economist may be at it again if HH ever gets his luck…..the challenge remains with EIZ to produce their own…….

    • Who? eh!, eh!, eh!, eh! eh!.

      These no.

      These are spent fuels. After collapsing ZCCM, KCM and now you want them to collapse the entire ministry and Zambia?

      Eh!

  23. We have no engineers in Zambia, busy praising and worshipping foreign innovations. Cases of shoddy road works supervised by engineers. Engineers without ethics seeking contracts from govt? Innovate , or stagnant or die – that where we are headed. No one profession can be more important than others. What is needed is a blend of the best minds from all disciplines! EL is being confused by the job seekers!

  24. Job seekers period! Hope Vodka Lungu is able to see beyond this rhetoric.
    By the way, is it not this same Chiwala who was preaching about Link Zambia to Sata? Let him update the nation how far and progress he has made on that program before he diverts our attention elsewhere

    Zambians forget too easily

  25. Mechanisation in the agriculture sector, value addition especially in the mining sector & industrialisation. I don’t see how Zambian farmers who have failed to utilise free fertiliser since independence on a lima, will manage mechanised agriculture (supposedly given free by govt as they are still peasants). Value addition and industrialisation by who if our “pencil” engineers just look forward to govt jobs & debating politics in hotel bars over alcohol bought from bribes from Chinese contractors

  26. From the foregoing comments, it is easy to see how negative Zambians can be. You should criticise only after you get the full information of what was presented.

  27. The problem is we are having “abakuchikwakwa” with fake economic theories leading Zambia.Give Milupi the Engineer 5 years in state house & you will see the difference.

  28. Zambia Institute of Engineers (ZIE) is following in the steps of Zambian Educationists (ZE) who by starting the Zambia Open University, challenged the government of the day to open more Universities in the country. The calibre of our teachers/lectures keeps improving.

    More professionals should come together to offer alternative ways of developing the country.

    From the many positive contributions by you bloggers, Zambians are well-exposed and capable of turning their country from donor dependence to self supporting.

  29. Am personally impressed with the ideas of the engineers though I would say sometimes its hard to even think of it that we do have qualified engineers in Zambia. They should be on the center stage of our country’s developmental issues.

    Am impressed so far with everyone’s comments and arguments…it shows how willing and interested we are in our national issues.

  30. The problem is not a shortage of good ideas, but greed and a lack of political will and competence to implement them.

    Batoka gorge was designed in 1972 and Zambia is still short of electricity.

    We used to export power and now we cannot even afford the repairs to Kariba!

    This is just gross incompetence and stupidity on the previous Government that grabbed the RDA and put it in Satas bedroom.

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