Mazabuka central member of Parliament (MP) Garry Nkombo (UPND) has urged the Government to ensure that the money owed to Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel) by various individuals and institutions is paid back before it is privatised.
Contributing to a debate on the estimates of revenue expenditure for the ministry of Communications and Transport on Wednesday, Mr Nkombo said while it was prudent to find an equity partner in Zamtel, there was need to ensure that it was sold in an attractive manner.
Mr Nkombo said if all the money owed to Zamtel was cleared the company could have more value to attract more and credible investors.
“It is only prudent that you sell Zamtel in a more attractive form than was the case with the mines,” he said.
Communications and Transport Minister Dora Siliya said Zamtel as of December last year was owed K749 billion and that the figure had continued to increase.
Responding to Mr Nkombo’s concern, Ms Siliya said it was for the same reason that the Government had started the valuation of Zamtel so that it could have correct data before it was partially privatised.
She told the House that the valuation process of Zamtel, which began in January 2009, was progressing smoothly and that the initial report was presented to the ministry and other stakeholders.
Ms Siliya said she would soon take a combined memorandum from the ministries of Commerce, Trade and Industry and Finance and National Planning to Cabinet regarding the valuation.
“The valuation report will assist the Government make a decision on the future of Zamtel, I did inform the House that as of December 2008, the Zamtel debt stood at K749 billion and it continues to increase,” she said.
Contributing to the same debate, Chasefu MP, Chifumu Banda (FDD) said the Communications and Transport ministry had a demotivated workforce, which led to some workers leaking highly confidential documents to the public.
Mr Banda urged Ms Siliya to consider transferring some members of staff to other ministries.
He attributed the poor performance by some parastatals under her ministry to the frequent changes of chief executive officers and misplacement of managers to run the vital companies.
He urged Ms Siliya to ensure that managers employed to run parastatals had qualifications which met the requirements of the job.
Chiengi MP Katele Kalumba in his contribution urged the ministry of Communications and Transport to speed up the liberalisation of the international gateway as a means of developing the sector.
Dr Kalumba said fears that liberalising the international gateway could pose a security risk were baseless.
Mbabala MP Emmanuel Hachipuka (UPND) said there was need for the Government to reorganise the ministry of Communications and Transport and parastatals under it.
Mr Hachipuka urged all the ministers to support Ms Siliya, saying the operations at her ministry required support from all ministries.
[Times of Zambia]
We are tired of this, please. let’s get serious!
Duplicate comment detected; it looks as though you’ve already said that!
since zamtel is owed that much, can we know who exactly is owing this company. it will be found that actually most govt departments are the culprits and so most of the PS shud be suspended and be brot to the buk
You are right! Infact the Ministry of transport is the #1 culprit. If Zamtel was only owed by the private sector, Dora could have mentioned that straightaway!
GRZ AND PLOT 1.OBVIOUSLY OWE THE MOST THE 7BILLION AND THE BALANCE BY COMPANIES…
Certainly Gary.But looking @ the creditors of the said company its unlikely,it will be sold for a song like the Copper Mines
Same stories everyday. I think we are seriously in trouble.
Now that`s a lot of nkongole (£95 million is a lot of money I am afraid). I think naishupafye kwati.
Prepare for hard times ahead.
RB and Dora are not interested in such, all they want is money. We are headed for doom
Shani man? Awe iliko tough kwati we.
Bwanji imwe baba?
That is why we need Kenny Ngondo as presido saka la wunga!!
President kenwright Ngondo…..
I dont even know what to say…. The things we say are always falling on fat and deaf ears! I can already sense madilu pali Zamtel.
Leadership is preoccupied with fashion at the expense of development. Bayamba kuvala ma sagging suits manje!
The Author of the book, “Things fall apart” must have had a vision about Zambia when coining the title to his book. Things have definately fallen apart. The dogs have gone to the country!
A country with a lot of resources has been ruined by mismanagement. Even when companies are privatized, the costs are higher that the results in the long run!! Zambeziland should be introduced as a topic worldwide. Especially in schools of economics. Too much theory (bla bla bla) and no signs of proper management. I am tired.
“Mazabuka central member of Parliament (MP) Garry Nkombo (UPND) has urged the Government to ensure that the money owed to Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel) by various individuals and institutions is paid back before it is privatised.”
While the GRZ must ensure that all the debt is repaid to ZAMTEL, let the GRZ itself pay the money for bills it has towards ZAMTEL.
Let us not apply double standards here.
On Mr Chifumu Banda having uttered “He urged Ms Siliya to ensure that managers employed to run parastatals had qualifications which met the requirements of the job.”
This is only true. Zambia does not need uneducated people to run parastatal. Zambia does not need the Undereducate to run it.
Zambia only needs formally schooled people with a minimum of an UNDERGRAUATE Degree to aspire for MP and Zambian President offices. To this end, I urge all tribalist to desist from their evil act and concentrate on voting for a Zambia who can deliver because of his/her qualifications.
You guys make me very sick to an extent where i wonder whether the problem is the skin under which we hide. Is Zamtel really beyond redemption?This Company saw MTN and Zain grown in its eyes. I mean Zamtel used to carry there Traffic. IMF and World Bank were busy advocating for its privatisation.Do you really understand the rate,motive and the greed of the Bazungus. The question is where has zamtel lost it technologically. Bwana in telecoms there is money, I mean real money. I don’t really buy the stories from Dora and the odds. What then will we be capable of running as Zambians;Messy political parties? We proved that we very bad managers leaving everything for the Bazungus. What a…
Hon.Gary is modern and right.But fellow patriots do you know that Zamtel is owed millions of US$ by Zain and MTN bamene mukonda.These are the biggest culprits by not paying for using the Zamtel International Gateway money in excess of $25 million dollars.Everytime one makes an international call from these networks Zamtel is supposed to be paid but receives nothing.The more you recharge on these networks the more you kill Zamtel.Be patriotic,throw that SIM card and save your own.