ECONOMISTS have given mixed reactions to Government’s proposal to partially privatise Zamtel in an effort to make the telecommunications company viable.
While some of the experts suggest that there be an outright privatisation of the company, others are agreeing with Government that there be a partial privatisation.
They, however, all agree that the company could be viable and that recapitalisation could revive it and turn it into a self-sustaining firm.
Minister of Transport and Communication, Dora Siliya, said last week that Government was considering privatising Zamtel to make it viable.
Ms Siliya said Government had no money to continue subsiding Zamtel’s operations.
The Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) has welcomed Government move to find an equity partner for Zamtel to make it more viable.
ZACCI chairman, Justin Chisulo, said in an interview yesterday that an equity partner for Zamtel was the best option for Government.
Mr Chisulo said the company was a viable institution but it required excellence in land phone services. He said land phone services should be broadened.
He said the company should also broaden its communication services through the optic fibre network project currently being undertaken.
“Zamtel can either be scrapped or find somebody else to revamp it,” he said.
He said an equity partner would also have to look at the staffing levels at the company.
An economist, Mr Andrew Kamanga, said the continued financial constraints at Zamtel have prompted the proposal.
“Whenever such happens, it is incumbent upon the shareholders to find the required capital,” Mr Kamanga said.
He said Government should consider a public-private partnership rather than total privatisation.
Mr Kamanga said the communication industry has been competitive and Zamtel should reposition itself to survive.
“This may entail increasing tariffs to meet the costs,” Mr Kamanga said.
A business analyst, Chibamba Kanyama, said the telecommunications industry had become more competitive and highly lucrative.
Mr Kanyama said Zamtel could be profitable under its current ownership.
He said Zamtel needed total recapitalisation, and setting up of new technology network for both landlines and mobile network.
Mr Kanyama said Zamtel has been subdued by other telecommunication players on the local market because it was not being re-capitalised.
“With failure by the Government to re-capitalise it, there is need to give Zamtel to a new player,” he said.
He said once the new player takes over Zamtel, there should be no interface between the balance sheets for landlines and mobile services.
Mr Kanyama has also appealed to the Government to pay back all the debts owed to Zamtel to make it more viable.
He said once the new player takes over, Government should give it a number of years before it could start getting dividends from it.
He said the new owners should be given time to recover what would have been spent over the liabilities of the company
[Daily mail]
Nambala one
And nambala two too :d/
…even nambala three:)>-
OK naleka nomba:)
Nine Chale what is happening bro?
Viva Nine Chale wansekesha:)>-
Nine Chale et la…Goodmorning!!!
I see you agree with everything including Chibamba the opportunist?
:o**==
Good morning bloggers…just having some fun! Don’t get offended.
#8 That’s a good one.Proudly Zedian :)>-
Ok..at least Makumucha has denied….I am just wondering why he is denying? :-w
Kwamba Musa!! Shani Mudalaa!!! Or is Uli?
#8 & 10! :d
OMG!!! there more of these little folks…Boy are we going to have fun….I see you point # 8^:)^
Government should come up with a plan on how to dismantle the debt it owes ZAMTEL which will grealy assist in the capitalisation of the company and improve the chances of getting a serious strategic equity partner (SEP). In terms of how to proceed with the privatisation which in my opinion should be partial, the option of having a consortium of zambians to partner with the foreign SEPl should be considered. Another option is to offload the money owed to Zamtel to the Zambia Empowerment which would be given to the Zambian consortium to partner with SEP. At the end of the day, Govt should have a significantly role in the direct management of the ZAMTEL.
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED ROLE IN THE DIRECT MANAGEMENT OF ZAMTEL
I agree but the consortium of Zambians will need capital, which they might have to borrow from the banks. How many banks do we have that are indigenious? And know that they might be borrowing from foriegn banks, wont the foriegn banks offer favorable term to their nationals. As you know even DBZ has alot foriegn capital injection.
LOLO…Question how much debt are we talking about? And Yes I agree with partial privatization cause MTN & Zain are only interested in the international gateway. Like Zesco with the capital injection of IFC & Co should Zesco default then KNB could end up in foriegn hands.
LT yo new features are making it difcult to blog from our mobile phones
The problem with privatisation in Zambia is that the local currency is too weak to compete and draw in huge profits on the international market. As a result, the investors begin to face existential problems and are usually forced to close business.
Before I comment, it is interesting to note that in this article Mr. Chibamba Kanyama is no longer referred to as an Economist but as a Business Analyst, I guess news got to him when some people especially bloggers on this site said he (kanyama) was not qualified enough to be referred to as an Economist!
Zamtel is a strategic asset, perhaps one of the most important national assets which will only increase in value as Zambia and others become more dependant on telecomms technology for business, education, government and information age communication. Zamtel should not be privated AT ALL .[-x Not even a partially.
i think way 4ward is to de link cellz from the main zamtel then it can compete head on with zain and mtn, at present it is not growing coz its the cash cow being milked to sustain the vast un profitable ‘zamtel’
after that, the land line zamtel can be privatised, so that the new equity partner can bring in new ideas in this declining industry. I suggest a privatisation mode similar to the way the zanaco one was done:x
I don’t think Zamtel is ‘un profitable’, I am of the opinion that it is the people running Zamtel that don’t know how to make a profit or make Zamtel profitable. When you have a company where politicians have direct influence and the Human Resource is filled with individuals that are appointed into certain positions because they are related to politicians and not on merit, one can not expect such companies to grow because we have the wrong human resource in key positions. The truth of the matter is that there are big corporations behind the scenes that are after Zamtel’s super infrastructure and they have found a willing partner to give it to them cheap (current gov’t of RB and gang).
:)>-[-(
What ZAMTEL needs is to b commercialised. over the years, government has not shown the political will to go that route so partial privatisation is the next best option. Another viable option would be to float it on the stock exchange. I just hope we are not in for another Rabobank fiasco.:)>-
Zambians do you ever learn? what has privatization do to improve our country. The problem is that people think that when something does not work the solution is to sell it. It shows what type of character and substance we are made of. Just give ZAMTEL a good manager and government should start paying back the billions or is it trillions it owes the company. Look at the British the Americans they have their national airline and what do we have. They own the railways and telecommunications. These are examples of DEVELOPED countries. PLEASE put back the head of our first head of state on our currency. i stand to be corrected but I have not head of a currency without the head of a states man. J
25 cont – Just imagine we have eagles, lions even porcupine. It is shameful. If someone takes over and makes profits why can’t we do the same? PLEASE DO NOT SALE BUT CHANGE MANAGEMENT.
iwe chi LT,where are my comments
Zambia we have wrong people almost in every position from President to the Janitor.Zambia is not poor but mismanaged.Surprised that Mr.Kamanga is talking about raising the tariff Zambia is one of the most expensive place in terms of telecommunication
It is not possible to privatise Zamtel bane, where will MMD get the money for compaigns:-?
#26 you are correct,the problem in Zed is greed that is why you turn yr assets to other nationalities
Zamtel like ZESCO makes so much money. Dont we know that Zamtel owns all the telecom system in Zed, and all other rent from it? ZAMTEL makes money, and the issue is not about management,:o but MMD who keeps on depening their hands in all parastatals for compaigning funds and survival of their cadres at conventionals:d
:d the nxt thing we will hear is th@ we hav sold the country and the people hav been privatised so lets share the money and nw its each one for himself..hahaha.pa zed ni zee…VIVA RB.
RB,should also consider to privatise our brothers and sisters in the rural areas so that MMD should not claim to be popular in the rural areas.pa bwatoooooooooooooooo.
Francis kabondo,careful zambia police is in line nxt for privatisation,scotland yard seems to be leading in the biding process..hahaha..ya pa zed!
#19 thums-up:)>- man, in UK, a local economist has just been condemning the govt for selling off almost everything to private investors. Now, it is chaos, government cannot strongly control the operations of those individual investors to meet the directives of green house reduction? What next, we tell them to close up operations or what, what happens to the economy if most of these chaps left for the US market, global crunch, etc. Ultimately, the disision is to just allow them operate, but at the expense of the ghg directive disrespect. Right now UK has been sued by the EU environmental commission for companies that are doing nothing about their ghg:-w
Number 25, who says having a national airline is an indication it belongs to the government? BA is not owned by the Brit Gov. Research! Zamtel should be unbundled and let Celz stand on its own, and what will remain should concentrate on the core business of providing Internet, Telephone and other communication channels.
Zamtel has been failed by GRZ and now you have people running Gov who can’t even tell us how many jobs they will lose during this current financial and economic metltdown and how Zambia is preparing herself and how we will recover and how many jobs will be created on recovery. huh?
Ha ha ha ha haaaaaaa!#33 Ba mwisho you have made my day.This tells me some thing.Iam not the only one who is tired with MMD.I think we need great thinkers like you in society.How do you think like that.Tulefwaikwa amatembelo.
The Vic-falls is up for privatization, i knew this was coming. we are done…. :((
I cannot believe that so many Zambians are empty headed. Just look at this thread and see how shallow the thinking is. No wonder the political leadership is C class! It is a reflection of the citizenry! 🙁
**==
I agree with No. 22.And to add salt to the injury, it is the work culture and attitude of us zambians wanting to just receive the salary at the end of the month and putting in very little. :-t
:o:((kwena mu zed ya shupa mwe………why is that everytime we fail to run something we always want to sell it to other nationalities..shame ba government
Take it easy,look at ZCCM,and other former big companies in Zed.How much has the gov accounted for those fund they sold the companies?and those guys today cannot even repair one road in Chingola where l used to live.lt’s shame on the gov,look at Chambishi smelter shame on the gov,look at the prices of food shame on the gov,look at the people’s lives they all look like the’re suffering from HIV and aids shame on you gov,shame on you FTJ,your hand picked late Levy and RB the lier and viva KK.DON’T SELL ZAMTEL just the change the management Zamtel can support it self if the people in Management learn to put the company resources in right places and not in the pockets.
the long and short of it is that zamtel uses 1950 technology.
Boring today,,, no news hey 🙁
Ask the British Gov why they have never completely privatized BT? these institutes are critical for national development :d/
No. 16 ZAMTEL is a viable business entity part of the reason for its problems is its mismanagement. Thus, with a creative consortium of zambians it is very possible to raise finance. Infact by now we should have had as empowermnet policy to require Strategic equity partner to have to pair with a local consortium. ZAMTEL is an easy business problem to sort…its capital probably technology may not even be an issue.
[-(
Hello everyone.
Running strategic parastatals by the family tree is the problem. Each government wants loyal supporters to be rewarded by DG positions at the expense of experienced staff. The staff at the lower levels also do not do the entities credit, as , another blogger has pointed out, they just wait for a salary at the end of the month. Restructuring with qualified personnel is key. I am tired of trying to get info on fibre optic connectivity for the organisation I work for, from disinterested staff.
Mafela ba samwa na tuma emotional expressions. Posting them even where they don’t mean anything. Look at # 21!
Zamtel should be partially privatised so that MMD or which ever party is in power does not abuse its resources. It shd have a new team of senior managers to direct its operations. A thorough management audit of the firm shd be done to determine the potential and attitudes of all its staff. Employees who are stuck in their ways and cannot change should be fired. Infrastructure shd be upgraded where necessary. New knowledge, skills and attitudes brought in and everyone taken through a Total Quality Management program. They shd stop digging up places to instal optic fibre and just lease from ZESCO who already have one in place. Govt shd find David Venn and offer him a two-year contract.
i see LT yas gone smiley!!! 😐
You are right on #52. ZAMTEL should concentrate on mordenizindg and expanding the network. Distribution and other services can be privatized. A similar approach can be done for ZESCO. There is too much fat both at ZAMTEL and ZESCO at their corporate offices who we can do without. Politics of apeasement and ukawalala is hindering such developments.
PF [-(
UPND 8-|
MMD 😕
CDP- The Citizens Democratic Party :)>-
Be someone who knows about it;
Type as ONE WORD
|the citizens democratic party “dot” com|
Read their solutions to Zambia’s problems and contribute and critique on their forum.
What is our problem here in Zambia, we call ourselves a learned country but surely we even fail to run not even one state owned company profitably. Let us stop politicians from running down companies. They are fond of appointing incompetent relatives as managing directors. They also like to saddle these companies with bill of political parties in power at the expense of investment and recapitalising the same companies. When are we going to learn that governments even in liberalised economies do run businesses. We are yet to recover from companies that ran down when privitised and here we are doing the same about zamtel.
8-x
#56 Zed1: Nice to know that there is someone else who knows about The Citizens Democratic Party!
its amazing why the Zambian government does not move with the times in Telecoms. Zamtel could easily rake in cash with technologies such as VoIP , Cheap IP radios, softswitches, fibre optics and Gigabit Ethernet. Yet we still have a single international gateway, use Copper everywhere and do not have a single datacentre in Zambia… Its embarassing!
There can be one solution that has shown to work before:
Zamtel keeps 51% and control(Government).
Sell out 49% on this model:
33% to the employed. Even those who washes the floor.
12% to Zambian investors
2% to the constellation with the most sustainable concept for Zamtel trough a official concept competition.
That is a win win deal. The employed will have a personal interest in the growth of the company, the Zambian ownership is maintained trough Zambian investors and the best “bid” for a long term profitable strategy will run and execute their winner concept, being above the board for a 3 or 5 years contract.
A turnaround operation of a large corporation like Zam
(Continued) A turnaround operation of a large corporation like Zamtel could have immediate positive results, as the should rater own lika a half of something that can become very profitable, rather than all of a not well performing.
Its been done before, and just look to South Africa, and one shall find that having employees as owners as well as employees, seems to have a magical effect that just makes that change needed.
Its a win win deal for the nation and population
😮
When shall we learn,selling zantel can be okey but consider NATIONAL SECURITY FIRST. SOME NATIONAL ASSERTS ARE VITAL TO BE IN GOVT HANDS THAT PRIVATE PLIZ JUST FOR SECURITY REASONS.SPARE ZAMTEL.
#64; Thats not much of a problem. Government can have access to any installation 24/7 when need be.
Imwe ba LT,fumyenipo utu mwabikapo.Nine Chale boyi wa chisamwa lelo! #1,#2 and #3.
#61 Atle. You ae thinking in the right direction. Let’s hope the Zambian leadership and all Zamtel workers get to read what you have said. Your proposal is a workable solution which all must seriously consider. Zamtel has well trained technicians who are being underutilized or being retired prematurely and yet they are able to work or train new entrants in the profession. What a waste of the human resource. Most important though is to keep government inteference away from Zamtel’s operations. Further to this, the government must pay promptly for phone service(s) from Zamtel.
To some of you emotional leaders and economists, ZAMTEL is a National Security Company and so we can not afford to sell/sale it.Tell me, what measures are you going to put to protect leakages of State security information should you sell/sale ZAMTEL? For your own information the ZAF communication system is dependent on the ZAMTEL LINKS. How then shall the other important sectors of the security wings operate in an event that you sell/sale ZAMTEL?
Can we please stop joking and give Zamtel a good Manager. Maybe for a change,appoint president Hakainde Hichilema as Zamtel MD so that he can show us how profits can be generated in a State owned company before we entrust him with the whole Zambia.
privatising the govt owned telecomms company should be handled with extreme care lest the exercise turns into another plunder case of national resources. the question to be addressed is ‘who utlimately benefits from this privatisation?’
be mindful of excessive foreign control and ownership
hey people – the model the west has been using is crumbling down and govenments are nationalising their strategic industries. Why should Zamtel be sold?? All we need is a jacked-up management team and some leadership from government
Aweee!! Hakainde got enough of our parastatals. Mufuna muushe twenzelele?
#69. zamtel privatisation, good points there. Some of us have a personal experience with Zamtel.Ask any working or former Zamtel technical workers, you have to sign Zamtel documents as a form of swearing at a Court of Law before you start work as a Zamtel employer that you will not review State Secrets.Zamtel too much of a sensitive company to be placed in foreigners’ hands or control. I would rather you sell/sale ZESCO than ZAMTEL if all goes to the worst.
Just appoint president HH to lead Zamtel as soon as possible for I am now worried with such news from home. I will try to come and do things right for Zambians as Zambian President in 2016 if you continue failing, by God’s grace.
do you agree with the following statement? ““The goal of privatisation, stated simply is to increase the role of the private sector in the economy, thereby promoting the more efficient use of resources…. Alternatively, privatisation can be viewed as putting more resources at the disposal of the private sector, thereby promoting efficiency and growth”
#72 continued.
I know president Hakainde Hichilema has the interest of the Nation at heart and will probably agree to help out just like Ng’andu Magande has offered to help those that are struggling with our Zambian economy in this face of the global financial crises.
There is every reason to be proud when we as Zambians will achieve than for our great Nation to lose event the little that currently serves and from the past has been serving as pants.
Let us be serious GRZ, it is “One Zambia, One Nation” and so let us utilise those that have successfully suceeded even if they are Tonga Bulls. We have nothing to lose as a Country Zambia under such an arrangement.
:xLT give us another story
#73 it is unfrotunate that people can fail to articulate such an important topic – surely if this is the attitude then i can see zambia remaining in the 17th century while struggling to understand the dictates of this century…
Only Jesus can save Zambia
University and college students have threatened to disrupt Jamhuri Day celebrations should the Government fail to zero-rate prices of food.Further, the students have given conditions for President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to meet, failing which they threatened to hold nationwide protests beginning February 28, next year.Speaking yesterday at a Press conference in Nairobi, student leaders from public and private institutions said the skyrocketing food prices affected their learning.”The Government should zero-rate prices of food and other essential commodities to ease the suffering of Kenyans. Should they fail to do this, we as the youth of Kenya will join the National Civil So
. Should they fail to do this, we as the youth of Kenya will join the National Civil Society Congress in peaceful demonstrations on December 12,” said Mr Dann Mwangi, the chairperson of the Student Organisation of University of Nairobi.Their demands include a call for all MPs and holders of constitutional offices to pay taxes. They told Kibaki and Raila to fully implement the Waki Report.To that regard, they demand that crucial Bills, which would help realise the Waki recommendations, be passed by Parliament before the House goes on recess.”The Waki Report should be implemented in full and Kibaki and Raila must immediately and publicly endorse and sign a memorandum of understanding establish
contd, mechanisms of actualising the Waki recommendations,” said Mr Chanasa Ababa, the chairman of Jomo Kenyatta University Student Organisation. Source eastandard.net
It’s important for all citizens to understand their rights and keep the Governments in check. As for Privatization of Zamtel, let Competent Strategic Zambians manage these companies and you will see how things will turn around . “Persimistics see difficulties in every opportunity while Opportunists see Opportunities in ever difficulty.” Churchhill
“Persimistics see difficulties in every opportunity while Opportunists see Opportunities in every difficulty.” Churchhill
MAESTRO I salute you for your comments. I,ve gone thru all the comments and you are the only one who has touched this part which is quite sensitive.The previous National leadership could not prevatise the company for Security reasons.ZAMTEL is one company through which most of our Top State Secrets are channelled. The sale of ZAMTEL will put Zambia on a danger position in terms of security.As a State we shall expose ourselves HACKERS, Satelite and Electronic Intelligence shushuz.By the time we realise we shall be finished and will not even enjoy the perceived profits.
MAESTRO I salute you for your comment. You are the only one who has touched this most sensitive part, NATIONAL SECURITY. The previous National leadership couldnt privatise ZAMTEL for that reason. All the TOP State secrets are channelled thru ZAMTEL if it is privately owned the State will fall a vicim to Satelite and Electronic Intelligence HACKERS.
#83. MANCHILD, thanks my fellow Zambian Citizen. You know what, it pains me whenever I see that Zamtel is not managed well. In fact, having had a personal experience there exposed me on how serious that company must be handled. This must not be a matter of emotions. Some of us have been privileged, by God’s grace, to study technical courses and also management one and hence we apply all that must be considered before procuring or selling anything. Zamtel must, I repeat MUST, NEVER be sold. Just give it to president Hakainde Hichilema and will be able to weigh how he will handle this National Security company. With time, we can have an opinion, on how HH can run the Country affairs.
“Without viable opposition parties, you can’t have democracy. Our only fear is that the people of Zambia are denied good services. Look at the mines, jobs are being shedded off. This is a national crisis, which requires a non-partisan approach. We need to sit down together to see how we can deal with this issue, how we can support the mining industry which is beginning to go down. We need to put our heads together irrespective of political parties and see how we can help our people to keep their jobs, how we can help the mining companies to begin booming,” said Hichilema.Source: maravi. blogspot .c om/ 2008/ 12/ upnd- members- ask- hh- to- call- for. ht ml
Words of a wise man for Zambians
I dont understand how ZAMTEL can be making losses. From the way I understand it, ZAMTEL like ZESCO are cash cows. We are talking about big government owned monopolies here.
What needs to happen is restructuring of the company. Let Cell-Z and Zamtel Online stand on their own and then Zamtel should be split into two companies. Zamtel which provides landline services and Zamtel which is responsible for providing cables and the like needed for internet/telephone/fax services. The other companies (Cell-Z, celtel, MTN, Zamtel online, zamnet, coppernet, etc) will then rent the use of the cables and 8-> problem solved.
Just my view anyway.
However if privatisation is the way to go, then please consider the LUSAKA STOCK EXCHANGE.
I know privatizing Zamtel would be a good thing for sustainability, but is there any body looking at the national security aspect? How much control will govt retain in the partial privatization?
How about plan “B” which would be having a national backbone (fiber optic)a national grid that would link towns and lease service to small companies like Zain Telecel etc. This way would enable competitiveness and initiative in these companies.
The same initiative should apply to Zesco, having one Company on the national grid leasing energy to small companies who in turn provide services to consumers. We will competitiveness and initiative in technology
#88,Free-Market-Capitalist,
Shani boi, are you planing to buy shares in Zamtel? Seriously Zamtel and ZESCO have been a thorn in the flesh for quite a long time now. One wonders why lasting solutions have not been found by now. Or is it because someone is interested in maintaining the mess to benefit a few individulas (Strategic mismanagement). **==
#90. Biggie Jim
Ati how boi.
I wouldn’t mind buying shares in ZAMTEL. On ZAMTEL and ZESCO I don’t know because these companies are supposed to be cash cows.
It must be management.
How can a country develop when they fail to manage a Kantemba. Zamtel and Zesco are struggling and operating on a loss and huge debts.
A foccussed government should be able to manage huge firms and help to distribute income in the county.
🙁
#91,Free-Market-Capitlst,
Last time when we were on this blog, you made a prediction that it is possible that one day we may go into some business arrangemet. I believe it is possible. We need to keep that idea burning and get in touch privately one of these fine days.
#93. Biggie Jim
Sure. I will try to keep in touch.
:-c hello, zamtel sucks,cellz sucks, all if ma cell kapani chopeti all the time zambia go backwards. whats wrong with our country.
Dear Disillusioned Zambian; don’t be led to believe that Zambia has any tangible “Security Concerns” which pose a threat to the sovereignity of our nation. Step away from these silly disillusions of grandeur. Our problems are basic,; poverty, AIDS, miseducation etc. Countries with a sovereignity to protect have something tangible to protect. If Zambia was to be taken over it requires a few billion dollars which many individuals have. That has not happened yet. Let’s empower our ppl first. Stop believing in nonsencsical things. Goddamn!
Be someone who knows about it; don’t be the one who does not know.
Type as ONE WORD
|the citizens democratic party “dot” com|
Read their solutions to Zambia’s problems and contribute and critique on their forum.
50. Anonymous
” Running strategic parastatals by the family tree is the problem. Each government wants loyal supporters to be rewarded by DG positions at the expense of experienced staff. ”
Maybe there should be a constitutional amendment that relatives of prominent politicians should not be allowed to serve in management positions of parastatals?
Me thinks this is a tired argument.
Fact: Zamtel needs a private investment and indeed a certain amount of private ownership.
Fact: Govt needs to have some sort of stake in Zamtels operations for security perposes.
Chapwa
Citine ifyo mumfwa bwino
# 82 New Zambian, To the pessimist, the proverbial glass is half empty; To the optimist, the glass is half full; To the engineer, the glass is simply twice as big as it should be!
Zamtel is an engineering company afflicted by severe hypertrophy. I can only hope that we can all recognise our(yes our) ills and have our “glasses” sized correctly.
Anonymous #39 Walanda…New Zambia seems to want to give us an insight about Kenya….Is Zamtel Kenyan? :-\”:-?:-w
New Zambia start your own title topic so that we can contribute about Kibaki….and before Odinga starts a regional war with his lack of diplomacy….
Back to Zamtel….so the issue is that Zcel is profitable and the debt it has be d is political debt? Landlines are a stoneage business line and therefore a loss driver? Floatation or Recapitalization?…Ba Chinali Inc …Propound kali???? Ti funa kunvela
One wonders what type of economists Zambia has. They are supposed to be in the forefront planning how to create and manage the wealth Zambia has. Why don’t they advocate for local investors to manage part of Zamtel . Haven’t these Economists learnt from the sale of the mines, i wonder what type of advice they gave in 2001. We also need competent Economists to advise us correctly . They are supposed to be advocating for Systems in place which will make our economy function. An economy that is dynamic and cannot be manipulated by Politicians or anyone because there are checks and balances in place.
Free Market # 91 careful…once the international gateway is liberalized the playing field becomes even and the abnormal profits of ZCell will turn. Zcell will have to deal with the govt debt as ZSIC and ZESCO have had to live with. Your investment in Zamtel may not be so pretty.
# 102 what i want to bring across are the rights Kenyans are realizing they have and are bring their leaders to accountability. it’s not about Kibaki and Odinga , it’s about Kenyans. My prayer is one day day we Zambians may realize the power that we have over our politicians when we come to realize our rights. It’s not even about political parties it is about the people. Even this Zamtel issue if all Zambins knew their rights we wouldn’t even be talking about privatization because the culprits would have be brought to book. Our resourses would be managed properly because they would be checks and balances from the people. Zambians let’s wake up.
New Zambia if you knew anything about Zambia you will note that the issue with the parastatals is political intervention. Read the article and Note Mr Kamanga’s suggestion. Folks have dispelled Chibamba’s notion on the issue because he is not competent to comment.If you knew any about the privization process from 1991 you would know that these companies were trenched and Zamtel and Zanaco were pushed further because they were thought to be vaiable as they were. But the landline market changed, Zamtel did little to restructure itself earilier. Hence being in the state it has become.
#106 my question is why should we always look to foreign investors to solve the mismanagement and incompetency problems.Why can’t the Government just admit that they have failed and ask help from Zambians on the way forward and allow competent Zambians to manage the various Parastatals.That’s why even these foreign investors look down on Zambians.I remember in 2004 i saw an advert in the SA employment guide where one of these Zambian privatised mine was looking for an employee and they stated they wanted Expatriates only, what do they take Zambians for.Now we are hearing of a lodge where they are saying it’s for whites only, is this the path we want to go.Shame on us Zambians.Jesus save us
New Zambia # 105 Zambians are a step ahead of Kenya and the transition from one party to multi party is pretty good. Kenya’s history is the issue they are dealing with The change from colonialism to capitalism, when tridionally all tribes are socialist. Their biggest hurdle now is tribalism that in Kenya, Bwana KK killed that by One Zed One Nation. Sadly RB may have reinforce that one by forgetting as he has rewarded the “boys” or provinces that helped him win to Zambia and Not Zambia as a whole which knows no tribe cause they are one.
Correct me if I am wrong but ref to #102 the issues that seem to come out the blog, there may others.
Well the step forward is top place a cap. Bring the issue to the MPs so that the labor law can be revisited. But RB send a wrong singal when the first country he visits is Nigeria. Look, they were the first chaps he saw was it just before the elections or just after?….fishy….But After Anglo pulled out LPM showed Zambia that he was a man. Sadly capital capacity is something we dont have cause it we did we would not have borrowed for Kariba North Bank ZCCM would not have been privitized. and when Anglo pulled out we would have just bought back our interest we sold to them and run it our selves. Step one is create Zambian wealth.
cont…This is only done by what Chisali Inc says in #96. India and China is doing this by encouraging local enterpreuers (spelling)and creating any enabling enviroment. Promote small scale farmers. Buy their produce with the mineral taxes when the market price falls below a certain level. if these guys see that there is money in farming they will invest more into their business.Market should not be their worry. FRA/the ag auction should worry about this on the farmers behalf.. Look if we listen to chaps like Kavindele as he wants to rant on about failure of FRA we would go any where. Lets admit maize was sold to Zim and we now have a short fall.
Instead of raising salaries of leaders let them show us that the care by postponing the increase so that thta money can be used to import more maize and the price of uga can come down.
#108 you are correct about tribalism in kenya.We shouldn’t even laugh at them because sadly enough this is the path that Zambia is headed to.Especially when you look at the Elections we have just had and the comments on this blog it’s very sad indeed.Hat’s off to KK he did a commendable job,but sadly enough politicians are taking advantage of Zambians and are introducing this strategy.That’s what happened in Kenya,they took advantage of the people to enrich themselves but thank God Kenyans are realizing their rights and do not want to be used anymore My prayer is that Zambians may know their rights and stop putting their hope in parties but should vote on merit and demand accountability.
I don’t support the idea. we can run it – the only problem is having wrong and greedy pipo in sensitive institutions.
what about the emerald mines. Are we sure the government cannot own a mine and utilise the resources from them? Who are benefiting from these mines?
we have money that is why the NCC wants to go beyond 2010.
#113 Tondwe: Lets be serious. Corruption is everywhere. Even Koffi Annan fell prey to it. The emerald mine…just ask Mr Findley. The country at large was not benefiting. Tell me if you can find one chap who when you place him or her to run Zamtel he will collect from GRZ all the bills that they owe on and as they fall due. Zesco has a brilliant payment system but they keep talking about rising tariffs to cover their costs but the unofficial reports are that “Ze biggies” fund their org from there. There is theory and reality!!!
The economist can only make suggestions and sometimes those suggestions can be quite harsh…aka mealie meal riots of the 1990s.
Leasdership is vision….
The government has driven Zamtel into debt, if they paid their bills and didn’t use it for their own personal funding,the company would be making profits.They have driven the company into a corner and unless they stop milking zamtel privatisation is inevitable, GRZ NEVER FAILS TO DISSAPOINT!u can rely on them for that!
Action Man # 60. Fiber optic cables were laid around Lusaka as far as the 1995, half the guys who have internet will call you using VoIP. Chaps are quite ahead in Zed. What they need is Politicans like Obama who have advisors like Penny Pritzker, Finance Chair and David Axelrod, partner in AKP&D Message & Media, strategist. I am just wondering how Sata is managing, since HH is now being accused of stealing cows by TK.
Guys i want to ask how far is Xavia Chungu’s case is he still arrested? and what about his return has it got something with RB? if so God deliver us from RB the corrupt president :d/
117…LOL!!! As god is my witness…lets wait and see!!!
After all where is FHK and yet Kabwe is trying to prove he is innocent. FHK is at home after being granted bail. What is the message? Zina ni bantu?
I n I keeep weeping for my country :((:((
All these issues can be addressed trough a “regime” that gives no privileges due to contacts, family or tribalism.
If once looks a comment 61 & 62, the solution is right there.
Its a Go Go Zambia win-win deal.
Only a person 100% dedicated to do such a job can succeed. That person will be the most beloved and at the same time the most hated.
Cause dealing with such a mismanaged corporation, means that once needs to take the gloves of and go all in.
Jah Man #119 we noh need noh tears, just plenty ah ears and brendren like you fi bung down dem babylon incarnate pon we modaland. Seen?
Ze Mule the issue of RSA are you talking about the cell phone provider liecence or telkom? Cause I strongly think the privatization plan for Zamtel was done a while ago but this issue now is Mwembeshi….MTN & Zain either want their own gateway or buy into Mwembeshi.
**==[-o<:((:((:((:((=((
Awe ba LOL #122 twasn’ me that mentioned the RSA issues, please redirect your question. I have no facts about that I can only speculate
😮
Read the coment on #68 and stop joking. Ladies n gentlemen stop joking time is not with us. Are you saying a black man can’t think? We know why Zam Airways collapsed, we also know why we have a hunger situation in the country.
In the definition of economics we have 3 prominent words; resourse, scarcity and choice. The poverty of the knowledge of these words is what is in Zamtel Mgt and Govt. Save Zamtel and Govt from Malnutrition of economics and you will forget about privatising Zamtel.
Greetings to dem brendrens No. 119 Jah Man n No. 121 Ze Mule, Jah guide
Abena kasama ninshi imwe uko tabulacha? kutweba nga namuchinja ama time zones.
Zambians must have majority shares.
#126 and who is the guardian of choice?
:):):((8-|:-w:-?/:)**===:)
Bushe security eli kwisa. God help us. **==**==
Privatisation is the only option for Zamtel if it is to be liberated from the economical woes it is confronted with.Given good management and ideal business plateform the company could once more be viable and favourably compete with other companies which have come on board. Truely there is no reason for Zamtel to be wallowing in problems. Please save the pride of its workers and the company.
That thing should not be sold cheaply and Majority shares should go to Zambians.
For the country’s security reasons, Zamtel should not be privatised but instead, new investment in the telecom sector should be encouraged and supported by the government. Take an example of the British Telecom (BT), it is still in the government hands but other companies have been allowed to operate side by side BT.
:-w:d/[-(
Imwe ba LT,can you remove this article now.we want something new.And dont also forget to remove these new features of yours we dont need.There are just bringing complications!
Privatisation is not the answer. Zamtel needs to run like business. Commercialisation so that you have people in management that have business acumen.
Zanaco has been partially privatised but staff welfare is not concern for Rabo.Despite workers being able to meet targets for the
Bonus might not be paid, interest on staff loans has gone, no comutation and salary advances are also had to get.Pension contributions by the employer is to be reduced. Nothing for the worker!!!!!
Zamtel may be another victim if not properly handled.
LT,ninshi tamukwete news nomba? Chinjeniko ninshi kanshi!
Hey LT,you are becoming boring now.one topic for two days why?fumyenipo ichi.
Let Govt institutions pay what they owe ZAMTEL and then change the entire management team and replacing it with competent people.Only then will Zamtel get on its feet.Privatization has to be handled with extreme care coz we all saw what happened to other privatized companies.
Hey LT,have seen even people have stopped sending comments bring something new. Tamukwete news
Iwe LT,posako amano.
Chewe..patience iwe…Ni yako website?
:d/
It is somehow ingrained in our heads that privitization is a solution to any government owned entity that is going down. The amazing thing is no one even asks questions about what the problem is and the sources of those problems. Zamtel makes money every minute, but that money is in the form of a promise by customer to pay. As long as the customers to pay, the bottom line suffers. And eventually the bottom line falls off and suddenly, they are in a big hole.
You guys crying about national Security please tell me isn’t AT&T private, BT, Cable and Wireless, Intelsat, France Telecom, KPN, Deutsche Telekom are all private, this does not mean they are not secure. Where is it written that private companies cannot keep state secrets ? Our presidents use Satphones provided by Inmarsat a private company. BAe produces weaponry like the Typhonn fighter plane and keeps secrets. It is private. So does Thales in France. So how come these private entities who are attractive targets for all manner of bad guys keep secrets ? Let us improve our thinking and move from the Stone Age.
Thoose states you are talking about mr anonymous, have given up their sovereignty a long time a go. Zambia has not. You mix up things so badly its tempting to tempting to call it pure crap.
Both AT&T and Intelsat can not be compared to Zamtel. They never were owned by a sovereign state as Zambia.
So why are you telling lies to the Zambian public?
Trying act important misusing “big names”. Insulting a nation by assuming its still in the stone age…
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