The Centre for Elections and Governance (CEG) Zambia has added its voice in supporting the decision to sale 75 percent shares in the state-owned Zambia Telecommunications Company (ZAMTEL).
CEG Trustee Gershom Musonda says the move is the only way to save the ailing firm from total collapse.
He has observed that most parastatals and other statutory bodies in the country are riddled with financial mismanagement, corruption and lack of innovation.
Mr. Musonda, in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, said this has led to perpetual losses and loss of government grants.
He noted that parastatals only served the public well in the first few years following the nationalization of private companies in the early 1970s during the One Party State.
Mr. Musonda said this is because they created more jobs and industries, especially in the rural areas and helped address social problems like unemployment, poverty and rural-urban migration.
Mr. Musonda however observed that parastatals had their own problems as inefficiency and corruption crept-in.
He said this resulted in loss of state funds as government continued to fund a chain of loss-making parastatals.
Mr. Musonda said in this modern era, partnerships are helping attract additional resources to improve infrastructure, technology and skills of employees, thereby turning companies round and making them competitive.
He stressed that governments can no longer afford to continue subsidizing these companies and other non-profit making Statutory Bodies.
Mr. Musonda said the role of government is to facilitate economic activity by creating a conducive environment for business to flourish leading to more jobs and wealth being created, reduction in poverty and widening of the tax base.
“Like a surgical doctor, government needs to carry out and extensive operation on the sick company of ZAMTEL, cut it open and allow private capital and initiative to go in. Later, ZAMTEL’s wounds from this operation will heal and get the company back on track and in better shape,” he said
Mr. Musonda said those opposing the sale of ZAMTEL should instead be demanding for proper use of the funds to be realized from this transaction and ensuring the affected ZAMTEL workers are not left in the cold.
He maintained that government should remain a facilitator of economic development and let the private sector drive the national economy forward.
ZANIS
For Attention Of: Director – ZIS; IG – Police (mobile, paramilitary & regular); Commenders: Zambia Army, ZAF & ZNS; Directors: ACC & DEC.
Please seek audience with President Rupiah Banda soonest than later regarding sell of ZAMTEL and how it will affect your operations once sold. It is not helping this country by your keeping quiet and pretending that all is well. Its not too late for you to advise/and advice RP. I rest my case.
” He noted that parastatals only served the public well in the first few years following the nationalization of private companies in the early 1970s during the One Party State. ”
Wouldn’t it be ironic, if ZAMTEL was taken over by a Chinese parastatal?
The private sector is not more efficient or less corrupt than the public sector.
The crucial difference is regulation. Without regulation, you are going to have more corruption, monopolies, etc. With regulation, you can have perfectly functioning parastatals, including ZAMTEL. No more cousins appointed to management positions.
Let’s privatise ZNBC as well
Yaaaba…This ZAMTEL issue just won’t come to an end.Maybe GRZ should just keep the company so that we can discuss important and immediate issues like poverty alleviation,HIV-AIDS etc.
Naalema nayo ZAMTEL imwe……………………
Mutupeko fye umuchanga wesu tubwelele ku mushi
Say all you want, the bottom line is that we the Zambians lack discipline in genral. Why should it take a foreigner to come and administer us inorder to run a company effieciently? We are the same people doing the same job under the leadership of a foreigner or Zambian. Shame upon us for showing exemplary work habits to foreigners and not Zambians. The failures being experienced by ZAMTEL and others should be blamed on us as Zambians for not following the already established operational guidelines. It all biols down to lack of discipline on our part. I know for sure that most of the managers are very well educated to read and understand english. The spirit of team work must be encouraged for these companies to survive and pay people well based on performance.
Those who don’t meet the established performance goals, must be let go since they are not contributing positively to the growth of the company. If we don’t put to practice this idea, the company will continue to operate the same way and will not move forward.
Such comments like Mr Musonda “… stressed that governments can no longer afford to continue subsidizing these companies and other non-profit making Statutory Bodies” lack technical knowhow backing including risks involved in selling ZAMTEL which are simply boradering on selling the Sovereignty or Birthright of Zambia as a Nation.
To the MMD GRZ, please do what you have to do, but I will wait for the UPND-PF PACT to come and reverse the 75% shares sell/sale.
Be blessed all.
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Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with with horses? and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
On another note, it is gratifying that while ZAMTEL is making losses, here in Stuttgart Germany all landline allow free of charge calls if one is calling within — which Nine chale can confirm. All this is due to good management practices which have eluded ZAMTEL due to MMD GRZ interference probably.
Be blessed all.
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Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with with horses? and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
Mr Gershom Musonda has resurfaced. Long time indeed no see.