Mwanawasa signs NCC Bill

1. Nalisa David Lubasi-in China has added “anaza” to Zanglish

2. Citizens, its time to reflect and start thinking of what should included in the new constitution. Dont waste time on Micheal SATA and his failures. Its time to influence the outcome the constitution. You have been crying for it now the NCC is there ascerted by LPM SC before he flow to Swaziland on a holiday.

3. This thing has just taken long and I think I have lost track. So what is supposed to happen? Will there be a conference on the constitution or something like that? Where can we make contributions to drive the process? Any body in the loop update me.

4. All those wishing to contest for any parliamentary seat should at least have a college degree. We tired of having semi-illiterates in parliament.

5. The time to submit contributions to the content of the constitution is PAST. We are now at the stage of enacting the proposed changes into an amended constitution. So exert influence on what gets adopted and what gets ignored.

6. #3 Chanda Phiri Have you heard about the Mungomba CRC? Ask your bro to buy a copy its cost K40 000.00. You are behind my bro we are now today the stage of discussing how should our Constitution look like. The next stage is to choose representives of the NC board you know many cookes spoil the food.

7. We’ll not allow US military bases here – Levy (Post)

   Did some searches and found this…

   “The United States has signed agreements with Ghana, Senegal, Gabon, Namibia, Uganda, and Zambia to allow American aircraft to refuel at local air bases”.

   I will wait for the full story b4 I comment.

8. More on the US Military base issues

   Africa opposes US Command
   31 August – South Africa’s Defence Minister, Mosiuoa Lekota, has said that foreign forces, especially those of the United States’ new African Command (Africom) would not be welcomed to establish themselves on the continent.

   “If there was to be an influx of US forces into one or other of the African countries, that might affect the relations between the sister countries,“ Lekota said.

   “At the interstate defence and security committee meeting held in Dar es Salaam, the SADC defence and security ministers took the position and recommended that sister countries of the region should not agree to host Africom, in particular, to host the US armed forces,” he said, adding that these recommendations were submitted to SADC leaders at a recent summit in Zambia.

   He said the position of SADC was that the US should not be allowed “to come and make a presence and create uncertainty here.”

   Part 1

9. “If there was to be an influx of armed forces into one or other of the African countries that might effect the relations between the sister countries and would not encourage an atmosphere and a sense of security.”

   Lekota said the African Union member states [except Liberia] have also agreed on the SADC stance on the US military deployment in Africa. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf however accepted to host US soldiers in her country. She expressed her government’s readiness to allocate land to host the new American base in Liberia.

   South African Defence Minister said the majority of African states believed that Americans should keep a distance from the country’s military affairs.

   He strongly warned that any African country that go against the continental position on the issue must be ready to face the consequences alone.

   Part 2

10. “I would imagine that any country that wants to go against the decision of the Africa Union would consider what the implications might be where other sister countries may refuse to cooperate with it in other areas other than that particular area.”

    Asked whether the United States had been informed about the opposition, Lekota said the African Union would do that upon taking a decision.

    Part 3

11. ‘President’ Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf should consider stepping down for allowing the US to set up a base in Liberia. Although it was claimed by western media that she was democratically elected, the truth as I see it is that the people of Liberia wanted George Weah to be their President. The majority even voted for him but of course USA (“democracy”) stepped in to make sure that Weah loses so that their puppet Sirleaf can win against the will of the people of Liberia. This is a warning to other African nations not to have women presidents because women are naturally weak. With the level of this woman’s education, one would expect her to be a wiser leader than she is but it just goes to show that there is no amount of western education that can teach one to have wisdom and leadership. This woman wants to turn a piece of Africa into another state of the USA. The African Union must make sure she steps down for the sake of our collective African security.

12. The New Zambia comments about the exclusion of Zambians living abroad from the planned National Constitution Conference (NCC):

    “The Government has responsibility to ensure Zambians abroad were brought into the fold to take part in such crucial issues. Equal responsibility also lie with Zambians abroad who should not wait for Government and other people to ‘remember’ them! Zambians abroad must seize the initiative to define their destiny – unless they gave up being Zambian long time ago! It is for this reason that I fully support what ZASN is trying to do in creating a framework where Zambians abroad can leverage their skills and expertise back home. Our hope surely must be that may be one day an organisation like ZASN can push for such representation in other areas of decision making e.g. voting (which I currently oppose but maybe future technology will overcome my worries).”

    My suggestion is that we create a blog that will be linked to and acceccesd by GRZ.

13. We are in solidarity Levy!The Africom is not in our best interest as Africans.

    WE’LL NOT ALLOW US MILITARY BASES HERE – LEVY

    By Brighton Phiri and Chibaula Silwamba: Friday August 31, 2007 [21:00]
    ]

    PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa yesterday declared that his government would not give the United States of America sanctuary to establish its military base in Zambia.

    Speaking before his departure for Swaziland where he is expected to officially open that country’s International Trade Fair and attend the annual Umhlanga (reed Dance) ceremony, President Mwanawasa said Zambia was not supportive of the US’ intention to establish its Africa Command (Africom) on the continent.

    President Mwanawasa, who is also Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairman, disclosed that none of the SADC countries were interested in the US’ intention to establish its military base in Africa.

    “Each country has sovereignty to decide on that, but we will not as Zambia. We will not give them sanctuary. I think I can speak on behalf of the SADC region, and none of us is interested,” said President Mwanawasa.
    University of Zambia political science lecturer Dr Neo Simutanyi advised the Zambian government and other African countries to resist joining the US Africom.

    Dr Simutanyi said there was no need for African governments to succumb to the United States’ persuasion because the US has never had a good record of peacekeeping.
    “There is no need for Africans to be part of Africom. I support Africans forming their own forces for peace keeping,” Dr Simutanyi said.
    He said the African Union was working on the African force that would keep peace in the continent with the help of the United Nations.

    “Africans are putting up their own initiatives of peace-keeping and that should be appreciated,” said Dr Simutanyi.
    South Africa’s defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota has also declared that Africom should stay out of Africa.

    On Wednesday South Africa’s News24 quoted Lekota as saying: “There’s a certain sense in the countries of our region SADC that if there was to be an influx of armed forces into one or other of the African countries, that might affect the relations between the sister countries, and not encourage an atmosphere, or in a sense, of security.”
    Lekota said Africom was not really a new development, as the US had always had some kind of focus on the African continent.

    “But, the Africom initiative has raised a lot of interest and a lot of attention, because at some point, there is a certain sense that Africa has to avoid the presence of foreign forces on its soil,” Lekota said.

    “Nevertheless, as indeed the SADC adopted position, it is better if they did that from a distance, rather than come and make a presence that creates uncertainty.”
    He said during the interstate defence and security committee meeting held in Tanzania, the SADC defence and security ministers took the position and recommended that sister countries of the region should not agree to host Africom.
    He said the recommendations went to the heads of state of SADC during the recent summit in Lusaka.

    “And that’s the position of SADC,” Lekota said.
    Lekota said as far as he was aware, the majority of the other regions of the continent had also taken that position.

    SADC recently launched the SADC Brigade, which will be a reserve military force.
    The US government says Africom’s major mission was to help Africans achieve their own security, not to extend the scope of the war on terrorism or secure African resources.

    US deputy assistant secretary of defence for African affairs Theresa Whelan said although Africom was new, “the nature of our military engagement on the continent will not change. It will remain primarily focused on conducting theater-security cooperation to build partnership capacities in areas such as peacekeeping, maritime security, border security, counterterrorism skills.”

14. #11 I agree with u, and I just wonder what this lady was up to. We never hear anything and I am sure by the time we hear something she won’t be around town but in he bush fighting

15. You Diasporans saying you are big ATMs where you are in your own ways, here are some business opportunities. Zambians want to see investment in the communication sector. Your failure is an automatic opportunity for foreign business houses to fill in. Make partnerships, do the feasibility studies and take up the challenge.

    STATE ADVERTISES SIX RAILWAY PROJECTS
    By NANCY MWAPE
    GOVERNMENT has advertised six new railway lines for development with a view of private sector participating in the actual construction.
    Transport and Communications permanent secretary, Brigadier general Peter Tembo, said Government intended to involve the private sector in construction of the railway lines through Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) or public private partnership (PPP).
    Railways identified for development included Chipata-Mpika, Nseluka-Mpulungu, Solwezi-Chingola, Solwezi-Lumwana-Bengwela, Mulobezi-Namibia and Kafue-Lions Den.
    In an interview, General Tembo said Government was exploring ways of establishing a railway connection to the west-coast on Benguela in Angola and the private sector had shown interest to construct a railway line from Chingola to Lumwana through Solwezi.
    He said through this Government intended to extend it the Benguela railway line across the Zambia-Angola border.
    He noted that Government had received good response from firms for the Solwezi-Lumwana-Bengwela Railway line and Chipata-Mpika that would connect to Tazara.
    He added that the two lines would avail Zambians the shortest access to the eastern coasts of Nacala and Dar-es-Salaam port.
    He said the remaining four, the ministry was still waiting for feasibility study to be carried out by the private sector.
    “We are looking for people that can build these railways, as a ministry we are looking at the possibility of BOT or PPP,’’ he said.
    General Tembo said all the identified rail-lines were viable and exciting, he cited Chipata-Mpika that would be linking travellers to Mpulungu port and connect them to the great lakes region and Tanzania.
    He said Government hoped that through Chipata-Mpika rail-line, it would enhance access to Nacala deep sea port in Mozambique.
    He said the Nseluka-Mpulungu railway line will reduce transport costs and provide alternative modes of transport to the Great Lakes region thereby increasing trade with that region.
    Government intends through private sector partnership to construct a railway connection on the port of Mpulungu and Tazara at Nseluka.
    He added that the development of the Mulobezi to Namibia would open up access to the Walvis Bay.
    He said the estimated cost for all the railway lines could only be known once the feasibility studies for the lines were completed.

16. #15 just becoz the opportunity exists, doesn’t mean one should dive into it headlong when the conditions are stupid! When the powers that be come to their senses & apply reasonable license fees, only then can one look at such investment.

17. #16 Entrepreneur your is well meant but I dont how you economical knowledge diversify. The fact that an oppportunity is there doesnt garantie you (businessman/woman) to start a business. There are some many factors to consider like Market place, location, political situation, laws and regulations, acceptance competitors, envirnomental challenges, human capital and capital itself more your own vision of the business. Alas what alternatives are there in case of not succeeding with the business. There is just a lot to consider its not like Ba Joze Katemba this is an imerse investment. Once you start you should be focused to achieve the goals.

18. Then foreigners and practical innovative Entrepreneurs of the likes of Professor Chirwa will keep having it all.Seriously risky takers are amassing billions.

    Prof Chirwa pledges K16.4bn investment in technology park
    By Joan Chirwa
    Saturday September 01, 2007 [21:00] Print Article Email Article

    UK-based automotive and aerospace expert Professor Clive Chirwa has pledged an investment of up to two million British Pounds (approximately K16.4 billion) towards the construction of a technology park in Lusaka.

    And Prof Chirwa has advised Zambians to insist on having investors who will create a supply chain within the country.

    During the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ) symposium in Lusaka on Friday, Prof Chirwa said he was in the process of acquiring land in the country where he would put up a technology park.

    “The two million pounds approximately K16.4 billion is my own money and I am just waiting on the response from the President Levy Mwanawasa and the Ministry of Lands on where the piece of land will be allocated,” he said.

    Prof Chirwa, who presented a paper themed ‘Creating National Wealth through Engineering Excellence is the Way Forward for Zambia’, said the Zambian government should put in place policies that would promote job creation among investors.

    Prof Chirwa, who is also editor-in-chief of the International Journal on Crashworthiness, noted that developing the manufacturing sector was a vital route to the creation of employment in the country, considering the high unemployment levels despite having sufficient qualified individuals.
    This year’s EIZ symposium focused on the role of the engineering profession in fostering national development.

    “We have many engineers in Zambia who have got the capability to do things. We need to increase opportunities for our young engineers,” Prof Chirwa said. “The manufacturing sector is the saviour for Zambia. If this sector is developed, our engineers will be able to benefit much because they will be able to work.”

    Prof Chirwa said Zambia urgently requires a policy for re-generation of industry.

    “The problem we have is that we have stuck to a colonial framework for prosperity,” Prof Chirwa said. “Government has not offered us policy to move from there up the ladder. Forty-three years after independence, we are still at the same level. We have only managed to achieve political independence, economically, we are still far behind.”
    Professor Chirwa further said the development of the manufacturing sector could also encourage value addition to locally produced goods.
    “The 21st Century is Africa’s century. Zambia can move towards being one of the richest countries,” Prof Chirwa said. “I propose that every time an investor comes into the country, especially those in the mining sector, government should demand that the particular investor creates companies which can process copper within and not outside. That is when we will see people being employed.”

    He said the government should also create real think tanks like other countries have done to deliver end-user products.

    “Knowledge is extremely important for Zambia to have sustainable development and wealth,” Prof Chirwa said. “That is why we need to create real think tanks to deliver end products. The Japanese have done it and I believe we can also do it.”

    Meanwhile, works and supply minister Kapembwa Simbao said Zambia had sufficient qualified engineers that could turn the country’s economy around.
    Simbao said Zambia had
    its own qualified engineers that could positively contribute towards the development of the country.
    “There is a tendency that anything foreign in this country is superior,” said Simbao. “That should not be the case. We need a strong base in this country where engineers will be able to practice effectively.”

19. #16 Entrepreneur Prof. Chirwa is not a foreigner he is a Zambian who left the country because of frastration and he has been used by other nations in different projects like NASA, Aeroplane industry, Car industry etc. Now he has come back “NEWS” home is the best. Read his interview on the Post Newspaper or refer to one of the archives on this LT blog you will find the story.

20. I know that professor Chirwa is Zambian. What i was trying to say is that since Bauze seems to be seeing unbreakable red tapes without hope of ever getting involved, the Zambian wealth will then remain a preserve of risk takers who in this case are foreigners and our own professor Chirwa.To make matters worse the likes of brother Bauze could forget incase MMD era politicians reign beyond the next 15-20 years.

21. #20 Entrepreneur, I wouldnt term foreigners as risk takers but opportunist with an oppressive mind with no interest of the guests but just to exploit and then go just like their forefathers. Partly Bauze is right when he say conditions of opening opportunities to locals. If Entrepreneur you are in Zambia just go to any lending institution and tell them that you have an idea you want to start making local flights in Zambia but you dont have the capital. The answer you will get is big NO. But if the likes of the Chirwas come with their capital because they can offer security they get the deal and even a loan. Its is the culture that we adopted. I can remember the conditions that surrounded SAP in 1998. Its is very disappointing. If MMD will rule for 27 years as many put it then they must bring a revolution of the economy.

22. I like Professor Chirwa’s brilliant ideas. He’s definitely spot on about building industrial linkages within the domestic economy to create employment and valueadded. With growing agriculture and mining and a stable macro economy its about time to address the real ‘engines’ of growth.
    Prof Chirwa is also right that lack of good sectoral policy has been a letdown in many sectors. Manufacturing was about 35% of our economy when the MMD took office. Now it only 12%. Most resources have gone to trade, services and taxes on imports.

    GBP 2 million is a modest investment but its not a magic bullet. We need basic transport and IT infrastructure that can support and make small scale manufacturing competitive. At the moment we still fall short.

23. There is virtually nothing any one man can do to boast industrial production in any country. This is the work of the government and China, Singapore, Japan, Korea etc have shown this to be true. It would appear its the desparate doldrums the Zambian has found himself that would allow them to be hoodwinked by stupid ‘Malawans” like “Amasengo-masengo Chirwa” that he can do it, achimwene eeeh, muliye malango dithu!

24. # 23,
    Who told you that Professor Chirwa is Malawian?????

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