Press statement for immediate release
EXTEND MINING FORENSIC AUDIT TO PRIVATISATION PROGRAMME
As MMD youths, we wish to commend the Patriotic Front Government for launching a forensic audit of the mining industry. We hope that the debate about Zambia’s benefits from the mining industry will find some rest after the audit. The move is commendable as it will help reposition the country’s mining tax regime and help bring out a more predictable and stable taxation environment for the mining industry.
We however wish to take this opportunity to appeal to the Government of the day to extend the forensic audit to the people (s) that were behind the privatization programme in the early 90s.
It is common knowledge that the privatization programme was an agreed upon structural adjustment programme with the full blessings of the World Bank and the IMF. The MMD Government faced a difficult situation but soldiered on and eventually presided over the longest period of economic growth Zambia has ever recorded.
It is also common knowledge that some individuals close to the privatization programme unduly benefitted and amassed huge profits at the expense of Zambians.
Some of these individuals are today well documented to be some of the richest individuals in Zambia.
We are not against Zambians amassing wealth, if anything, we should ecourage every Zambians to aim to create wealth and fight poverty.
What we however strongly disapprove is a small group of people reaping state assets for their personal gains.
The mining forensic audit should not stop at reviewing the production, profits and the cost structures of individuals mining houses in Zambia.
The auditors should go beyond and investigate how some individuals tasked to negotiate better privatization deals for the nation ended up pocketing more money than the state.
If at all the audit reports confirm what we have all being saying, it will be appropriate that criminal prosecution is initiated to ensure that the nation gets to the bottom of the matter.
Zambia may not attain the full benefits from its mineral resources if we fail to establish how those tasked to manage the privatization programme performed.
This exercise should be extended to for the sake of our prosperity.
Issued by: Bowman Lusambo-MMD National Youth Coordinator
04/07/14
Well said Bowman
Bluffing! Think of something progressive!
Well said Lusambo,though i do not like you at all, extend the Audit and see how much Hakaivotela Heka looted.
WE know he sold himself the house in kabulonga for a song , he should have declared interest.
I guess this is a dig aimed at HH and I’m sure it was released to the media with the full blessings of the party president, Dr Nevers Mumba. As a former ruling party, you need to take full responsibility of the whole privatization process. Blaming third parties like IMF and middlemen is irresponsibility of your part. It is common knowledge that you created Zambia Privatisation Agency, led by one Valentine Chitalu. ZPA was supervised and funded by government, and it’s therefore prudent that the former ruling party takes full responsibility of the successes and failure of the whole process.
Yes but the ‘agents ‘ of government in this issue can and should not be protected like ifiwalanda. Think things throu. Infact it is these same agents Chitalu, Hakainde etc who should own up
*Its neither PF nor GRZ….
Jay Jay who was third during the time in reference….. was he part of a corrupt systems, does it mean he is a changed man?
Its neither PF or GRZ funding this Forensic Audit in the mines…why is it that after 50 years after independence we cannot even take the Auditor’s General Report seriously.
Its neither PF nor GRZ. ..
@Kim,
The problem I have is that as a nation we don’t hold people accountable in “real time”. If Valentine Chitalu (former ZPA boss) was to join frontline politics today, you will see rival politicians calling for him to be investigated for alleged plunder and amassing of wealth from privatisation process. The question we should ask ourselves is “why now?”. Was there a cover-up. Isn’t it rather ironic that in one breadth, Lusambo is conveniently calling for privatisation audit, yet on the other hand, he once labelled the government audit on the Canadian embassy as political witch-hunt and persecution of Dr Mumba. It’s the same case with GBM, the moment he resigns his position, that’s when you see him being summoned by police. Can’t we for a change choose to be pro-active as a…
Agreed but better start somewhere than never. You said truth. Ruling politicians will only come after you when they think you are a challenge to their eating. That’s why H H laid low during Chilubas’ time and he was left scot free to enjoy national plunder. Tell you if HH had dared raise his head then he could have been successfully prosecuted. Evidence is/was there!! That’s the silly thing about our politics.
Not possible as the implications of wrong doings with privatization may be too close to the powers that be.
first start with the merzaf housing units before you start going back very far, then the ZDA at the time should follow. why follow an employee instead of the employer? sata was the number three and am sure he knows more than what lusambo knows. lusambo just swallow your pride and acknowledge that some people have a talent of creating wealth than yourself just yapping with jealous and envy at what they have achieved. work hard instead of boot leaking mumba’s boots.
Privatisation gave rise to looting the estate of the State, what the late Lucy Sichone called “grand larceny’ and what the late Levy Mwanawasa called “plunder of national resources”. The issue of privatisation may not be re-opened now. But, mark my words, in 10 years time, the issue will be a hot potato!!!
It’s true some individuals in the name of privatisation,they benefited.Some pipo where even made Board Chairpersons of the companies they privatized for example the Livingstone Intercontinental Hotel.Right now I’ve never head the where abouts of Valentine Chitalu.He was at the helm of ZPA(Zambia Privatisation Agency).This man became very rich.At one time he was Board Chairman of CDC.
@The chosen One-You’re very right.Infact Valentine Chitalu was advised not to join politics,especially viying for Presidency because all that seem forgotten when he was chief at ZPA will surface(come up).Maybe you can gamble as MP,but becoming a president all that you might have done and forgotten,come up.Even if you smoked chamba whilst at school,it all surely comes up.
LUSAMBO BUSHE UKALIPILA? YOU THINK FYA FREE? KU BULAYA SCANDINAVIA, UK, TAKWABA IFYA FREE YOUNG MAN. THAT’S AN EXPENSIVE SERVICE IF YOU DON’T KNOW MWAICE.
The only people who will be snared in the privatization audit will be Northerners. These are Valentine Chitalu, Francis Kaunda and Luke Mwanashinku. The later two were Chairman and Vice on the so called Special Team for Privatization of ZCCM. And to the Bemba PF cadres you will be disappointed to learn that Grant Thornton was never involved in the privatisation of Luanshya Mine. Grant Thornton was only contracted by creditors mainly Zesco and Zanaco to recover more than $20million owed to them by the Indian company that was running the mine.
this why HH aka halenya halenya cried the loudest when ftj died. Surely what bowman is talking about will finish and expose the bantustan enclave man very badly. During privatisation HH had no heart for zambia just like he didnt have one when he fed zambians with aromatic alderhyde and formalderhyde beef thru zambeef to enrich himself. Everything halenya halenya achieves means someone died. He got upnd presidency afte wishing mazoka dead just as he is doing on sata. Got his wealthy thru killing many zambians in the name of privatisation.
Mr Bowman u r a true patriot this issue of privitasation shud b audited and the findings shud b availed to the public.many things have gone wrong in this country only a few individuals have benefited from our God given natural resources.