President Levy Mwanawasa has observed that the provision of quality health care to Zambians has not been entirely successful.
Dr. Mwanawasa said it was important that while Zambians were seriously working towards economic development, they should enjoy good health at a cost they can afford.
President Mwanawasa said this at State House today when Indian businessmen paid a courtesy call on him.
The President said he was impressed with the initiative by the Indian Business delegation of setting up a centre of excellence surgery to be called ‘Lifeline Hospital’ in Lusaka.
Dr. Mwanawasa told the delegation that for some time, Zambia has enjoyed medical services and other facilities from India saying he hoped the Hospital to be established by the Indian delegation will not take long to be completed.
He advised the Indian delegation to enter into partnership with the Zambian people who he said have the skill but just lack capital.
He said by doing so the two countries would fully benefit from the projects embarked on.
The President said Zambia has reached a stage where it can now make big leap forwards in her economy.
He invited investors from all around the globe to make profits in Zambia saying he was pleased that the Indian businessmen responded to the call to come and look at investment opportunities.
Indian High Commissioner to Zambia River Wallang said Zambia is an attractive business partner saying he has high expectation from the Indian businessmen who have responded to the invitation to come and invest in Zambia.
Mr. Wallang said investment from the Indian Businessmen will bring direct investment and thereby promoting India-Zambia businesses.
And delegation Spokesperson Raj Kumar revealed that his team will today sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health to set up a high technology surgery at the cost of US$15 to US$20 million.
Mr. Kumar said the hospital to be called ‘ Life Line Hospital’ would be built in Lusaka near the UN buildings and that it will be built in two phases.
He revealed that work will start as soon as all documentations are done saying his team will ensure it employs local people so that their capacity is built.
The delegation was accompanied by Zambia’s High Commissioner to Indian Simasiku Walubita.
Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande, Health Minister Dr. Brian Chituwo, Education Minister Prof. Geoffrey Lungwangwa and Mines Minister Dr. Kalombo Mwansa were among senior government officials who attended the meeting.
Others were Transport and Communication Minister Sera Sayifwanda, Commerce and Trade Minister Felix Mutati and Information and Broadcasting Minister Mike Mulongoti.
You see this indians are claver. They saw how Zambian leaders were sent to south africa for medical treatment and they think they can have a grip. Thats great thinkin ba mwenye i hope they will think of constractin a hydro power station. Who knowz there innnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
Pazedi ni popwalala. Ayigwililapo Mwenye yaka hospital. This should be an awakening call to the government in empowering local investers.Sometimes conditions to local investers are stiffer than foreign invetsers. I hope there will be no five years tax free for this hospital and all the coming indian investment. And we are going to see how many Zambians are going to be employed in that hospital. We dont want nurses from India, we have alot of our own nurses who are better than Indian nurses. We dont want a hospital cleaner to come from India.
I can never aplaud such kind of Info. It is a shameful when foreigners are given more room in investments that Zambians can also do. How many Zambians have invested in India? Will this investment be for the rich few or for the masses also? They say he who owns the flute controls the tune. What has happened at Sino Zam? Viva Zambian empowerment Viva!
This is what you zambians call ‘free market’ at work. As you can see the president only hints at the indians working with zambians and not as a precondition of investing in the country. We have so many qualified Zambian doctors educated locally and abroad but we lose them to other countries because of poor working conditions. As much as we need investment, we do not want it at the expense of the local workforce. I see that govt advocates that we get a private health system which only the rich can afford while the majority(99%) go without any adequate health cover. Only in Zambia can a foreigner get treated better than a local person. You see in govt, you see it everywhere.Apartheid bad?
PLEASE…
State House is not a cheap place…(Atleast it shouldnt be) lets respect it … It doesent mean every merchant should visit my Good President!
Zambia is not that small… Lets not diminish our value, pride and prestige… yaba but for the 5-1 loss…
#3 what do you mean foreigners are given more investment space than locals? Who is stopping you from investing in Zambia? To get FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)surely Zed has to put incentives, why do we africans assume people need to invest coz we are poor.Thats not the case.FDI comes to make money but also create infrastrature and employment, now thats what zambia needs and cannot create on itself.We have not oil guys, yankees will never come to zambia.Asia has the fast growing economies at present, can’t we learn from them?
And guys, Indians, chinese are the only investors who can come to zed.Lets be realistic.The norm of an investor is a white ma should be changed.A black man can be an investor, asian most likely now coz their economies are growing faster than britain , usa, germany , etc.These economies are resource hungry, and where can they get the resources, Africa.There investment cmoes with alot of problems, but if we have good empowering polices, all is well.Not the US FDI that cmoes with conditions on who to talk to, be-friend, etc.
All I can see is expoitation by the Indians coming again. A short while ago, we heard management at Pamodzi hotel wanted to reduce the salaries of employees. Zambians we never learn, we mean all our inteligent specialised surgeons can not come up with a proper clinic and source funds from the many finance houses. USD 20 m is not too much money if syndicated borrowing is used, but the problem with us Zambians is greed and not willing to work together.Each one would rather have a funny clinic.Now indian doctors are coming to take money in our faces. Government should do something rather than welcome every Jim and Jack. The USD 20 m the indians will use shall be borrowed of course from someone.
Let’s wait and see what will come of the Indian investment without being too negative. Perhaps, the history of Indian investment in Zambia which is rather shoddy I might add, is the reason for our peoples suspicions. I also agree that Levy and his Govt need to create a more conducive environment for local entrepreneurship. If my colleagues & I got up today and planned to set up such a venture, we would’nt be able to get project financing or let alone that piece of prime land near the UN buildings! Levy, charity begins @ home, not outside!
In addition, fat Levy should pump some more money into UTH and stop sending medical tourists to Morningside in Jhb. Super Ken used to use the presidential wing @ UTH for all his check-ups but fat Levy would rather fly to London for simple check-ups. How can u surely build capacity locally if you don’t have confidence in your own systems. It’s like a father eating eating at restaurants ignoring the meals cooked from his own kitchen? Chi Levy uchinje
#10 It cant change bcoz it is sick from top to bottom + chipumputu + ilenda!!! Oyoo mayo twafya!!!!
what i see here is all arm chair critics. on one hand Zambia wants to develop and begging for FDI. Zambia has been crying for investments for years because there is no local capacity to take on such projects. Either u put up with this or shut up!!! First you Zambians complained about America and the West generally then you complained about the chinese and now you want to complain about the Indians. As i see it i think you guys want investement from Mars or a non entity like that. Get real we live in a global world were investment is seen as profit and follows places and coutries that offer good ‘climates’.
Investment is great if done properly.Yes we want people to come and invest but not through exploitation of the local people. I don’t consider it investment if I start competing with chinaman to sell salaula.That is a govt policy directly harming its people. Investment must be of mutual benefit to both parties.We all know that this hospital, going by location, is not for the majority of zambians who can barely afford a meal let alone health-care. This is about making a quick profit with govt protection and blessing – Govts now work for the good of business and not people. Company makes alot of money then govt is good?Tell it minimum-wage slaves.
investment if done for health from developing country, is going to be very supportive and beneficial . the local people have to come forward with their other plans of similar dimension if they have so.the new start will give birth to many new projects and benefit the various segments of society.
i am sure our own people abroad will come forwerd and join together for new such project and help people to enjoy goodhealth and promote for prosperity of homeland