EUROPEAN Union (EU) head of delegation in Zambia Gilles Hervio says the continental body will by July this year release between US$85 million and US$100 million for the repair of Kariba Dam.
Mr Hervio said he personally travelled to Brussels to push the EU to fund the project.
“Kariba Dam is a potential disaster and I travelled to Brussels and by June or July, money will be released. We are studying it and no decision has been made yet but the amount involved could be between US$85 million and US$100 million,” Mr Hervio said.
He also dismissed reports suggesting that the EU plans to cut aid to countries which have enacted laws banning homosexuality.
Mr Hervio said the EU delegation in Zambia is concentrating on major issues such as congestion in prisons and defilement.
He said the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons are just a part of the bigger picture.
“Certainly we will not make such a decision of cutting aid to Zambia based on the rights of LGBT. I have heard reports that after the summit, the EU will cut down aid,” Mr Hervio said.
Mr Hervio said the EU is focusing on issues to do with trade and investment.
The envoy said it is not good to have a public debate on LGBT in the media.
“There is a lot of sensitivity on the issue of LGBT even in Europe itself. That is why it is difficult to speak through the media. The best way is to speak to these people directly,” Mr Hervio said.
He said he is impressed that Zambian politicians have stayed out of the talk on homosexuality.
“It is not useful to make noise in a society that does not accept persons who are LGBT. That is why we try to be careful. It is an internal issue,” Mr Hervio said.
Meanwhile, Mr Hervio complained that it is difficult to interact with ministers in Zambia on matters of cooperation.
“The EU wants to be useful to Zambia but most times it is very difficult to meet even a permanent secretary,” Mr Hervio said.
What the EU shld do is let them find people who can work on the dam and pay them at the end i. Otherwise half of the money will be stolen and the remaining half half of it again will go to by election and erection, our ministers too much uhule and half of the half that will remain a company without the know how of project will be single sourced which inturn will outsource a china Co. …
What the EU shld do is let them find people who can work on the dam and pay them at the end i. Otherwise half of the money will be stolen and the remaining half half of it again will go to by election and erection, our ministers too much uhule and half of the half that will remain a company without the know how of project will be single sourced which inturn will outsource a china Co.
What the EU shld do is let them find people who can work on the dam and pay them at the end i. Otherwise half of the money will be stolen and the remaining half half of it again will go to by election and erection, our ministers too much uhule n half of the half that will remain a company without the know how of project will be single sourced which inturn will outsource a china Co.
This is interesting. Just this week the Zim and Zambian govt issued a joint statement to the effect that the dam is well and sound, and now the EU’s envoy says its a disaster in waiting. Given PF’s economy on truth, I am inclined to believe the EU official.
The official’s concern that its difficult to interact with Zambian ministers and PSs is another interesting point to note. I am thinking, could it be attributed to capacity on our ministers part, fear to say something that could result in a ‘red card’ from their boss, or are our ministers just at sea without any idea of what they are doing in those fancy offices
@wise up. The last one. The very last one. Although since we are landlocked I wonder what sea they are floating around on.
PF ministers are confused:
“But on Tuesday Zambia’s Mines and Energy minister Christopher Yaluma rushed to Zimbawbwe where he said the dam is stable.
“There is clearly no need for alarm. We had been monitoring the performance of the dam. I don’t know the source of what has been suggested in the Zambian media.”
Confused? I think that is an understatement! More like mentally retarded!
This is just an excuse to beg for more money! After wasting the cash they found in 2011 on Satas salary increases, his wifes gift, by-elections, Commissions of Inquiry that are not even looked at, and a bloated governent to buy votes in Parliament, the PF have finally bankrupted Zambia.
And now they need MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS!
The engineers who know what they are talking about say there is NOTHING WRONG with Kariba dam!
And you say the West can take their money to hell. We will live with our African culture. Now imagine what would happen if all the donors refused to be part of this disaster in waiting. Would your morals save you? Africans start realising you live in a global village and there is no way in hell you can survive on your own.
@ZedOne, History has shown that China is an alternative. So you don’t have to sell your soul and children’s souls to the devil. We have a moral compass.
We africans are the architect of our own problems.
The sequence of these events raises questions. It appears there is more to this matter than meets the eye.
1. On Sat 22 March Zambian Govt Finance minister Chikwanda said Engineers have advised that there is an eminent collapse of the Dam if it is not repaired within three years.
2. . On Tue 25 March the two Govts said Kariba Dam is stable.
3. Today 28 March EU says Kariba Dam is a potential disaster and hence fast-tracking the release of funds to help repair it.
As a Zambian citizen, hence stakeholder, what am I supposed to believe? Is it a case of poor Public Relations? Is it a case of trying to avoid EU funding due to conditions tied to it i.e. forcing the two Govts to legalise homosexuality? Is it fear by the west that giant China will step in unconditionally? Whats…
Contd…….Whats going on??
I believe the EU officail,Zambia and Zimbabwe are all the same,atase!
How do you trust eu, you think they want to help sorry , they have hidden agenda , cant give money for nothing look at ukraine now is headed for chaos in just a few months
@Cactus. So the aid from China is wholesome? I don’t think so. No country gives aid with no strings attached. China may not give a rat’s ass about human rights but it sure abuses labor laws, pays slave wages and a lot we don’t know about that goes on behind closed doors with our govt. And stop giving the devil undue credit. No one is selling their souls.
May be HE IS LGBT I do not know
The last one. The very last one. Although since we are landlocked I wonder what sea they are floating around on.
@wise up. The last one. The very last one. Although since we are landlocked I wonder what sea they are floating around on.