A Freedom fighter has advised Zambians to celebrate the country’s 45 years of Independence in peace and harmony.
Dr. Peter Matoka says this is the best way to remember the freedom fighters that lost their lives during the liberation struggle.
Dr. Matoka says Zambia is a Christian nation and therefore citizens must cherish the peace that the country has enjoyed for the past 45 years.
He stated that the colonial rule in Zambia was a period of division and rule where different chiefdoms were played off each other by the colonial government.
Dr. Matoka was speaking when he officiated at Lake Road PTA School to mark 45 years of Independence whose theme is “Celebrating 45 years of Independence in the spirit of reconciliation and good neighborliness”.
Dr. Matoka said it is important for young ones to know what the words in the National Anthem mean because the words contain wisdom.
He disclosed that much of this country’s population was mobilized to mine the minerals with the sole purpose of enriching the colonial power when copper was discovered in the mid 1920s.
Dr. Matoka explained that the state of affairs gave rise to growing racial tension during the colonial era.
Zambia will tomorrow commemorate her 45 years of independence.
[ZANIS]
Wise words Dr. Matoka
…celebrate to the fullest we will. Happy chipolopolo ba Zambia!!!!
I cant celebrate … NO GAS…No anything.This is not independence chose another term to use pliz.. Who cares about as…..???? i am going home from.. With nothing in my pockets.. damn
What is there to celebrate? No food at home, no fuel on my car, and you expect me to celebrate. Let those with reasons to celebrate do so, namely Nyamasoya and his fellow thieves.
AS YOU PREPARE TO LISTEN TO THESE ZAMBIANS, TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING STORY AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF WHAT INDEPENDENCE HAS BROUGHT TO THE ZAMBIAN ORDINARY PERSON…THIS IS YOUR INDEPENDENCE!!!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHAMBISHI COPPER SMELTER
The President is proud to say that Chambeshi copper smelter will employ 600 people. The much talked about 600 people have already been employed and they are getting as little as K540,000 per month inclusive of housing allowance and overtime.
Now if you multiply K 540,000 by 600 employees by 12 months you will find that this company is spending K3, 888,000,000 which is equivalent to $845,000 at the current exchange rate.
The current PAYE threshold is K800, 000 meaning all the 600 employees are not contributing to…
the national treasury.
This company has capacity to produce 150,000 metric tons of copper blister which is worth $900,000,000 at the current copper price of $6,000 per metric ton. So the wage bill is 0.093% of gross income and the government is boasting that we have investors.
Let us challenge the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to tell the nation how much money in tax they have collected from this company so far.
Though the Smelter was commissioned on Monday, 19 October 2009, production started in March this year. And for your information, the copper blister which this smelter is exporting contains 0.4% Gold so each ton of copper exported there is 4kg of Gold worth $92,000 more than the price of a ton of copper.
The question is who is benefiting from this loot?
FELLOW ZAMBIANS IF THESE CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT THEN WE HAVE A DISASTER IN OUR HANDS!! HAPPY 45TH FIMO FIMO ……
Mukulumpi wami Nzambi ayihembi, you came out of politcs with a clean record and has contributed much more greatly through educating other people. Your lot are the real heroes. Hunger and poverty and being a second class citizen in your own country in the long run is not a recipe for peace, advise the current crop to bring about the quality and confidence Zambians had in themselves. Looking back tunasakilili Nzambi for antu adi neyenu.