This happened when the president, who was accompanied by his host King Mswati III, were taken on a conducted tour of local and international pavilions after he officially opened the international trade fair at Mavuso trade centre grounds.
Mr Mwanawasa and his delegation opted to visit the Swaziland national housing
authority pavilion while King Mswati III proceeded to visit the Taiwanese pavilion.
However, the president was later joined by the King to continue touring the rest of
the pavilions.
Swaziland is among some five countries in Africa that have developed bilateral ties
with Taiwan.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Mpande, told Zambian journalists here, that
President Mwanawasa’s move is consistent with Zambia’s principle on the ‘One China’
policy that does not recognise Taiwan as a sovereign independent state.
Over 6, 000 people yesterday attended the official opening of the 2007 international
trade fair which was officially opened by President Mwanawasa.
Earlier in his address, King Mswati said issues of trade competitiveness posed a
challenge to both Zambia and Swaziland, as the two countries are land locked.
He said both countries face many challenges in international trade given the fact
that they are geographically far from major international markets such as those in
Asia, Europe and America.
Mr Mwanawasa is on a five day state visit to the mountainous kingdom of Swaziland.
Was it manned by Mr Sata?
I commend Levy for the bold move, Taiwan in a province of China and only illiterate foolslike Sata would consider it as a nation.
Very childish indeed
U
that was very immature and embarrasing for a head of state to exhibit such behavior in a foregn country. does he have advisers, or he just doen’t listen to them?
# 5,
How i wish you understood Diplomacy and international politics without necessarily vesting yourself in the Foreign policy of the Presidency.
The Taiwanese Exhibitors were honoured Guests of the Royal Swazi Government. Our President and his entourage should not play Zambian Politics in Swaziland, but respect the wishes and choice of the Swazi Government in such matters.Given that President Mwanawasa was in Swaziland as a Guest, he needed to demonstrate humility and avoid embarrassing his Host through actions that send the message that Swaziland is politically immoral or incorrect in hosting Taiwan.In any case, Exhibitors at International Trade Fair are not Governments but companies and business enterprises from every corner of the world interested only in international trade and commerce. What’s wrong with Zambia learning from and taking advantage of Taiwanese high-tech industry? Let’s not mix Politics with Trade at the expense of our development. We may not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan but let’s do trade with the people of Taiwan, after all we are saying that they are an integral part of China. So, what are we shuning?
Iwe chi Mwanawasa ulesha ifima politics fyabupuba pa Zed. 1st lady ulechipompamo sense ci boss cesu. Surely, how could you do that? And this job hunters here are supporting! You come and collect my computer because it was made in Taiwan. Filya fine twaku dabwa pa Zed efyo baleku dabwa napa Swazi. Just come back. Tell me Levy, what are going to do if you see Taiwans on the table set for your meal? That is the same way you run away from PF and SATA! Mr. levy change your behaviour. What a states man!
Ba Alex Chilufya(70),
Consider taking 1 class from each of the following academic course to understand the rationale behind Levy’s action in Swaz: International Relations and public policy, Comparative politics of Countries and the Presidents’ foreign policies like FACT put it in # 6.You will also be helped if you found time to read “Power and Principles in American Foreign policy” by Thomas M. Magstadt.Look through the conduct of consecutive American Presidents on issues bordering on National policy. Look way through the Presidency of Reagan, Bush senior in Japan to his son W at some international conference to Chirac.
Surely you have issues to learn in Diplomacy and public affairs. On those values Levy was absolutely with our national stand. Here at home do your comparative politics on KK and Government foreign relations based on their policies during the liberation movement days.
Gentlemen and ladies! Are we at war with Taiwan? There a lot products that are being sold in our shops that are clearly labeled MADE IN TAIWAN. Alex Chilufya #7 I agree with you.
Its not the china issue here.Levy is still cross with some taiwanese guys bankrolling opposition parties like PF.And the taiwan did not help by pressing for support of a state “Taiwan” by using PF instead.Its just foreign policy issues.
it shows how insane chuchu is. The man needs medication
Zambians are among the most difficult people to please.Taiwan have been funding an opposition party and therefore their “recognition” is not in the ruling parties interest.If LPM was the twit some of the contributors feel he is….he would have banned any trade with Taiwan.Appreciate the fact that he hasn’t taken such drastic action leaving the business community to make their own choices.But as the leader of the ruling party his actions are justified.
#8, what brand is your computer? Compaq? Toshiba? I can tell you off the cuff that its either a US or Japanese brand. There are no Taiwanese brand computers yet, so if your issue is technology, why NOT talk about JP or US?
By the way IBM is now a chinese brand.
It is sad Mr Max Nkole is trying hard to save face by re-arresting Regina Chiluba. This is a major problem of Zambia today where favouritism and personal vendettas seem to reign in the Government. Ba Nkole please tell us Why Ryan Chitoba and Jacob Koyi are not before the courts? Simply favouritisms have kept these two from the courts.
Nkole should instead dismiss the incompetent Christopher Mundia who comments on cases in the Press of the people he is prosecuting in Court.
He is justified & the explanation z satisfactory,sometyms i wonder y some bloggers here think they r very intelligent than LPM.Is this another hate site
Wanzelu (16),
Education + experience + wisdom =objectivity and freedom from self obliterating hatred. I put my foot down Levy’s actions were absolutely right.From that i can tell the man acted on sound and smart foreign policy advisory. Smart people would make some research on foreign policy of nations and learn from history. There are many scenarios to learn from if we became resourceful researchers. As we take our kids in libraries, occasionally investing some hour or so will teach us a lot.Subscribing to the Foreign Affairs Magazine as a way of keeping ourselves abreast with Global politics is very progressive.
lets hear from our PF cadres too. I love to hear how they try to create some hype about Taiwan! Go on guys!
With the due respect, Levy should have passes thru the Taiwans’ stand. Wise men will always advise that there is a betterv way of doing things and i think the way Levy acted was not right, meaning it was wrong! Political enemies and differences should never be permanaet and should never manifaste at such places like shows, funerals or other social intercourse gathering one can think of. Levy be sorry, Sata was not at the stand.
Ba Chalo Chanda
What is this “social intercourse gathering manifaste” of yours?
I quote “should never manifaste at such places like shows, funerals or other social intercourse gathering one can think of.” End quote from # 19
You fools, Taiwan has been sponsering that thug in PF and Mwanawasa did the right thing. Anyone sponsering anarchy in our country should be shunned and if a foreigner deported. Congrats to mwanawakwi..I score you a 100 on this one.
How could that be? What about the Swazi people wo invited them? Were they not thinking of that? was it going to mean anything if he had been there for a minute?
#21 HK.Just make your biased points without insulting nobody.We`ve enjoyed an insult free blog for a while and we want to keep it that way.
Chapi (23),
Your hasty comments to # 21 and tolerance to Mboloziee # 12 worries me. Is that evidence of some moral gaps in your heart????
I quote him “it shows how insane chuchu is. The man needs medication”
And you expect a clean blog? Good lucky.
Who is sponsering the PF leader?Is it Tawainese government or the President. People,we should learn to
be mature.What Chuchu has done is disgusty.No normal person can side with this corrupt behaviour.Just take it that the Swazi’s president did this in our country, what could be the reaction of you the same person supporting chuchu?Stop supporting illogical moves if we are to move forward please!!!!
#24 Mbozi should equaly be ashamed of himself.
Chapi, you are right. People should agree or dissagree with Mawanawasa’s actions without insulting those who believe differently. I am neither a PF or MMD cadre. However, it was not wrong for Sata to seek support from the Taiwanese. Levy seeks his support from China. Taiwan has not sown instability in Malawi or in Swaziland.As a guest of the Swazi king,Levy was wrong in not passing through the Taiwanese stand. KK made similar mistakes by mixing politics with trade. As a result, Zambia is 100 times behind South Korea economically when the economies of both countries were at par in 1964. We use Taiwanese goods like Acer computers, but we can’t visit their stand.
#5 Zambian sed: “I commend Levy for the bold move, Taiwan in a province of China and only illiterate foolslike Sata would consider it as a nation.”
Well, don’t forget the rest of the African nations that have a degree of identification of Taiwan – including having them invited to their trade fair – were you as a nation were a guest as well. You have to include Swaziland as “illiterate foolslike Sata” as well. Well done for your analytical viewpoint!
you guys are very behind.thats why we have kept calling an airstrip, “lusaka international airport”.
#27 you are right. He was a guest to the Swazi King. Dose it mean that the Swazi King toured the stand without the official guest? He should have not officiated at the fair because of the Taiwanese, because on the other hand he had addressed the taiwanese during the opening. So why not visit their stand?
Imwe bonse musupota ci Chuchu nimwe bopusa, maka maka iwe ci #21, #28 you are the masters fool.
guy_wapa_zed, Is America illiterate for recognising Taiwan? Is Malawi and Swaziland illiterate for recognising Taiwan as an economical power? Swaziland as a small nation is able to manufuture fridges which they are able to export to Zambia? Yet we who call ourelves literate are not evan able to make simple stoves so that the majority of our people should not depend on using charcol for cooking. Whether Taiwan is a provice off China or a nation has nothing to do with trade which is the issue here. China does not agree with America and Australia and many other countries politically. Yet, China has been able to recognise the role of trading with nations which she does not agree with politically. Zambia is a sovereign nation and yet China intimidates nations like Zambia not to recognise Taiwan if they want to do business with her. It is time our African nations should wise up economically otherwise we will continue to lag behind other developing nations.
Wow! I never knew I was “the masters fool”. Thanks for pointing me straight #31.
Visionary #32. I was using a small tool called “sarcasm”.
I cannot disagree with your analysis here.
It is very well versed.
The Zambian government has really exhibited immaturity towards the China/Taiwan issue. This fight is a family issue and Zambia should stay away by all means. Yet again Levy has missed the point by flip flopping. If Zambia is a sovereign State why does he get carried away with this Chinese propaganda. Levy recently hosted the Djibouti present who is in the similar situation of a break away from Somalia. Zambia must be above such politics of block thinking that is misleading Africa.
Chapi, I have no apologies, only fools would back a province of China and ignore the benefits of backing china in this new world order.
Visionary, America has an agenda and uses renegade states like Taiwan for their won Agenda. I guess you have forgoten they supported Savimb and Renamo. What aboout the Iraq war.
Chiluba being a puppet of the west, had at one time wanted to sway our nation towards supporting Taiwan and we crushed him and went with our all season friend in China.
Thanks guy_wapa_zed. I like your humility to accept or see other people’s meaningful opinion as shown above. In my home, I have always used a mac computer since 1990. My children & wife have an HP, Toshiba & Acer (Taiwanese) laptops. Two weeks ago, I also started to use the Acer lapton on top of my imac. Now Iam benefiting more in my knowlege & experience of using mac & none mac computers. I have used this personal experience to show that our nation stands to gain by recognising China & also enjoying business opportunities with Taiwan which she does not recognise as a nation.In fact, Chines & Taiwaneses business people are doing business with each other. There’s some political contact among some Taiwanese opposition (ruling party)with China too. America does not agree with Iran, yet Iranian oil is being used in America.
Levy should indeed have refused to go and open the Swazi show since Taiwanese were going to be there. Leaving the King to tour the stand alone was embarasing
I disagree with Zambia’s official stance on the China/Taiwan issue. Levy’s actions were petty and childish.
Swaziland is indeed in a pathetic values. Somethings they do are horrendous to say the least.Look at this King of theirs “King Mswati is expected to pick a wife from among the participating girls in line with the Swazi tradition.
The girl to be picked will be the King Mswati III’s
13th wife since he ascended to the throne in 1986 at
the age of 18.
I believe some of Levy’s pants are made in Taiwan
I believe a lot of things in the Mwanawasa household are made in Taiwan. Probably his bulb holders, the locks on the main gate, his umbrellas… must I continue?
HK, I don’t agree with everything that America does. I also don’t agree with everything that China does including the persecution of Christians although this has nothing to do with the issue of our disscusion.I used America as an example to answer the issue of illiteracy. Americas support for Savimbi & Mobuto did not work. But their support for the South Koreans & Taiwanese has brough economical fruit. Some of my fellow Zambians who are against what America does are actually in America which according to your rationale is a fool for supporting Taiwan. I & those who share my kind of view point on the issue that we are debating are not saying that Zambia should recognise Taiwane’s self quest for independence. We are saying that let’s leave politics to the realm of politics & business to the realm of business. It would have been okay for Levy not to visit a Taiwanese stand if they had exibited in Zambia. But for him to do so in Swaziland as an officiating guest of the king was wrong.
Simple and period, Mwanawasa sent a statement to Taiwan that, they are not welcome to interfere into Zambian Politics by funding oposition. Message well delivered and impact felt by al those who do not agree with Chuchu..
Taiwan is now looking for friends after falling from being a darling of the west. The US/Europe used to favor Taiwan over China in the past, this has been reversed of late, and thats how Taiwan is looking for friends from poor countries such as ours. Taiwanese ruling party leaders ‘all’ face corruption charges in their own courts, its a banana republic…….at least in the view of many.
Levy has exhibited high level of immaturity.Those Taiwannese were just being hosted by Mswati and so as such he should have respected his host.The differences he has with Tawain is none of Mswati’s business.Chuchu’s behaviour can be likened to a situation where divorce has occurred, where if Chuchu’s sister is the one who has been divorced, then the whole clan of the husband will be hated for that.This is being petty for a person in charge of SADC.What does this show to the outisde masses?Its gross stupidty coupled with myopia and unreasonablessness.People get support from anywhere but that will have no bearing on economical dimension.SA during apartheid era, USA,UK were in the forefront to condemn it but behind back door curtains economical functionaries were at their realm, so imwe bamuntu kufita kutumpa sana what Chuchu did to Mswati.He is an irresponsible leader not fit to head SADC.Chuchu please grow up, you are now behaving like Munkombwe who has no direction
Acer Shows Why We’re Hot On Asia
By Martin Hutchinson
Director of Global Investing Research
Gateway Inc. (NYSE: GTW), the PC retailer, was worth $27 billion in 1999. Now Taiwan PC-maker Acer Inc. is buying it for $710 million. That shows that even in the consumer-oriented PC business, U.S. distribution capabilities are trumped by Asian manufacturing skills and high-tech know-how. It’s a lesson likely to be repeated elsewhere.
The worldwide PC market is highly competitive and hasn’t been particularly profitable for its participants. It is dominated by two manufacturers, Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) and Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL), which between them have 52% of the U.S. market, while even the third place entrant, China’s Lenovo Group Ltd. (OTC: LNVGY), formerly the IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) PC division, has struggled. Gateway, which subcontracted manufacturing elsewhere, and Packard-Bell have both been declining factors in the industry in recent years. PC sales margins have been slashed as Internet sales have come to be more important in the PC market, so it’s not surprising that Gateway is worth only 3% of its 1999 value.
Acer, on the other hand, is a success story that is rapidly gaining importance in the world PC market. It was the fourth-largest PC manufacturer worldwide; but with the Gateway acquisition, it will move past Lenovo to become the clear No. 3. Its sales volume in 2006 was $7 billion, six times its sales volume five years earlier, while operating profit was $200 million, eight times its level five years earlier. The shares are trading in Taipei at about 15 times earnings. As well as buying Gateway, Acer intends to exercise the option that Gateway holds to buy Packard-Bell, which…
VISIONARY.I`ve enjoyed reading your arguments on this topic and I must say that I applaud your intellect,depth and knowledge that you`ve exibited and that`s the reason I support your logic and points 100%.Most of the arguments in favour of LPM have just been based on loyalty and not logic.
You people supporting LPM’s move in Swaziland are simply exhibiting self-defensive tendencies and blindness of the unkown.LPM should have separated politics from business.It is not the Taiwanese business people fighting for the recognition of their state/province as an independent country. Secondly, whatever donations the businesses have made to Sata, at least he has not used those funds to cause untold anarchy in the country.If I may ask, what good is it for our country to accept Chinese businesses when all they do is exploit our workers.Let us learn to be economically practical with our own resources. We cannot meddle in their affairs.If economic ties with Taiwan bring us the much needed development, I do not see any reason why we should not deall with them.Forget about politics.America has economic ties with both Taiwan and China. As a matter fact, China is the largest creditor of American Government Bonds.Has China ever raised eyebrows about US’s links with Taiwan? NO!Think LPM
Lets not even waste time, Chuchu errored!! Are you aware that even though Taiwan and Hong Kong are Provinces of China they have there own currencies and control their economies ?. Given this, they have to promote their economies anyway possible. Infact Swaziland invited them to exhibit, and Chuchu was suppossed to respect that.
do we have competent psychotherapists at UTH or UNZA who can examine our President so he can stop embarrasing us on the international level?
Bushe ba Pulezidenti mwalishiba ukuti amelika your puppet puller recognises Taiwan? In any case mwe mabeggars such as Zambia cannot choose your friends. If Taiwan is ready to bankroll you you just dance ba pulezidenti! KK was a good statesman becoz he could have dealt with the Swazi situation differently
We have a sick president pa zed becoz it is not the first time we are being embarrased at international level by this chainama case president called Chuchu.
Thanks Chapi.Sometime back, I read that the Chinese are going to build Dag stadium in Ndola as a gift to Zambia. I’m not sure whether it will really be free or not. Is this then the reason why Levy feels Zambia has no need to deal with Taiwanese? One day MMD will be an opposition party just like the once mighty & one & oly UNIP is a weak opposition today. Are supporters of Levy’s actions in Swazi going to tell us that once MMD will become an opposition, they should not get in touch with their Chinese friends? If Zambia is becoming democratic, we should not expect our opposition parties to only look to China for help. We need the Chinese too. But we need to be careful with these guys. I hear that there are over 20000 Chines in Lska. If this is true, then in 20 years time, they will be more than the Indians. I have seen how these guys have taken over certain areas in Australia. EG, Box Hill & Footscray etc in Melbourne are more Chinese now. They do business with the motive to take over.
One thing about the Chinese is that they are putting their money where their mouths are !! As i pointed out in contribution 13….LPM has not stopped anybody trading with the Taiwanese.It is political expediency that he HAD to snub their pavillion unless he wanted to put Chinese investment(current and planned) at risk.Nobody else is looking to invest in Zambia at comparable levels so any politician would choose his friends carefully.The moment GRZ begins to discourage Taiwanese investment is the moment my support for LPM’s actions end…..but as at now.. it is business as usual!! Don’t forget even the Taiwanese know it is merely a political gimmick of no consequence..they are used to such behaviour everywhere they go ! The Taiwanese are not “bovvered” so let us not panic, throwing around criticism better reserved for more important issues !!
#55
Kabili ku bring ama important issues… Ba Levy ?
I think the biggest component missing in LPMs handling of issues is wisdom. He also seam to luck understanding of issues. In his simple way of looking at a complex question of taiwan and chaina he belives visiting a shop in cairo road owned by a taiwanese is infact equivalent to having diplomatic ties with taiwan. Look at how LPM has landed himself un necessary criticisms over very simple issues as family planing. LPM should have even used that opportunity to separate people, business from politics. Taiwanese business people should be welcome to invest in Zambia. business should have no recourse on politics. Besides the man was a guest. How do you visit somene and tell them i cant eat with these other guests because they are from Taiwan. Ladies and gentleman we have a big problem at plot one.
#57 is my posting
Hk ulichipuba tawakwata amano, be wise you chap!!!!!!!
That was very immature of Mr mwanawasa.
Anonymouse, You have reasoned well in 57. I like what you have said that a guest does not have the right to tell his host that I don’t want to eat together with your other invited guests. The original Pundity, thanks too for your opinion although I subscribe to a different opinion on the Levy-Taiwanese stand issue. I don’t think that if Levy had visited the Taiwanese stand, he would have put the projects which the Chinese are involved in Zambia (current or future) at risk. Chinese intimidation to other developing nations is on recognising Taiwan as a sovereign nation and not on visiting a Taiwanese business stand in a foreign nation. Levy had embaressed his host. It should have been better for him not to accept the invitation to go and open the trade fair. (Ithink Mugabe should have been invited to go and open the fair- ). Yes, we can go to another topic if re fined with this topic.
#61 Moment Visionary how financing of the opposition that the Tawainese tried have you forgotten the meeting MC Sata had with them in Malawi. Dont over security issues pipo dont take the things easy there is a lot at steck. Its unfortunate that it happened in a foreign country. I want to hear you guys what you have to say for Levy refusing his daughter to take part on the reed dance. Imagine if King Swati III had intentions of get her for a wife how would have been. Levy is a human like any of others and he has a right to say yes or no. He has a right to choose his friends but not hos enemies. Business is something else even Mandela himself sold arms during his tenure of office.
I was in Swaziland with Chuchu during the official opening of the international trade fair at Mavuso trade centre where he (Chuchu) spent more time watching naked virgins dancing. Every moment I looked at him the lips were slightly apart and the Adam Apple was frequently moving up and down signifying that he was salivating too much and he was not even blinking. In a nut shell he looked obtuse and fuzi. To make matter worse he shunned away from the Taiwanese pavilion. Honestly pipo, it would be foolish of anyone to stop talking to a friend just coz he talks to his foe or the person he doesn’t talk to. So abena Chuchu was supposed to put aside his personal disparities aside and put the name of Zed first. The scenario looked like chuchu was a kinder garden kid refusing to go to school when King Mswati III proceeded to visit the Taiwanese pavilion leaving Chuchu behind. Then there was a rumour that spread that; the actor of the movie “The last King of Scotland†was with King Mswati III hence, there was pandemonium in the centre as pipo started shouting “Amin, Amin, Field Marshal Dada Idi Aminâ€.
Keep tune ba Joze na Kuku are still alive. OFF AIR NOW