VETERAN Politician and diplomat, Dr. Vernon Mwaanga has advised Zambians to realise that the economic challenges the country was facing were global and not unique to Zambia.
Dr. Mwaanga said it was not just the Zambian Kwacha that has depreciated against major international currencies but several other countries in Africa and other continents have had their money affected by the current economic trends.
“Zambia is facing challenges like any other country due to the slowing down of the economy in China which has become a major player in international economics. And because of the globalisation of the world, in which we live, everywhere you go on the continent and elsewhere, you will find that it’s the same situation. It’s not just Zambia; these things are not just exclusive to Zambia. African currencies are getting a bashing where ever you go,” Dr Mwaanga said.
He pointed out that he, however, was optimistic that African economies whose growth rates have been revised downwards, will always rebound, partly because the continent still had a lot of natural resources which the rest of the world was after.
Dr. Mwaanga noted that the level of investment into Zambia was high such that everything found in developed economies such as South Africa could be obtained even from Zambia.
Dr. Mwaanga was speaking during a meeting with diplomatic staff at the High Commission of Zambia in Pretoria and some executive committee members of the Zambia South Africa Business Council (ZSABC). Dr. Mwaanga, former diplomat Ms. Chilufya Kapwepwe, Historian Professor Yizenge Chondoloka and First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’s son, Kaweche are in Pretoria to make presentations at a seminar organised by Freedom Park on the role Zambia played in the liberation of Southern Africa.
And Dr. Mwaanga said Zambia’s participation in the liberation struggle was driven by the country’s conviction that it would not be free until other African countries gained their independence as well. He said Zambia was not looking at being rewarded by those countries that it assisted. He was quick to point out that it was up to individual countries to identify Zambia’s role and recognise it in the manner they deemed appropriate.
Dr. Mwaanga narrated his experience as a diplomat from the time he took up his appointment at the age of 20 years as deputy head at Zambia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York until he moved to Russia as head of Mission.
He disclosed that he signed the agreement that abolished the requirement for Zambians to hold visas when travelling to South Africa with then South African Foreign Minister, Pik Botha.
Ms. Kapwepwe said she was asked by Freedom Park to organise Zambians who could tell the story about Zambia’s role in the liberation struggle so that it could be documented.
And Mr. Kaunda (Kaweche), who will represent his father at the seminar, took the opportunity to dispel what he described as a long-held myth suggesting that the Kaunda and Kapwepwe families have been at loggerheads from pre-independence times.
“I want to correct this myth that has been there for a long time that the Kaunda family and the Kapwepwes don’t get along. It is not true. The two families come a long way back and we have always been supportive of each other,” Mr. Kaunda said while gesturing at Ms. Kapwepwe who nodded to affirm the remarks.
Emmanuel Mwamba with all his short comings does work. He can be funny at times with his propagandas but when it comes to work he is a serious guy. Love him or hate him, he does work. I worked with him in two provinces and he was focussed.
Simple docile minds are easily duped. ..
At least they are participating in dialogue. The rest of you hide behind your computers.
Ba VJ gave all his body to his sugar daddy, pedophile son Mainga.
be careful with drug dealers!!!! Lusaka times please!!! Emmanuel Mwamba ati His Excellency,,, since when?…. does it now mean that Chagwa and Emmanuel are at par!!!
@Nubian Princess you are so petty! Talk about substance- such as ba James Buga! And on a lighter note, Hildah Malama please slow down so you may make less typo errors!
Sometimes I wonder, what is that Emmanuel Mwamba looking for, to extent of paying for his pictures to be published.
As RB would put it, ”Ya mu nyokola njala” VJ.
Zambia economic challenges have been compounded with the PF govt. unnecessary expenditure. For example the bloated cabinet, unnecessary travels, hiring of a plane, unnecessary by-election i.e. Lubansenshi etc. And to add on these miseries we have Eurobonds.
I think it’s futile to offer an analysis on VJ statement. The man has lost it. Period !!
What a misrepresentation of facts Dr Mwaanga!
The economic problems Zambia is going through are purely a result of mismanagement brought about by one leader who claimed to balance brains but didn’t seem to have one himself.
Large scale developmental projects awash with kickbacks and contracts awarded to a selected few friends. A bloated cabinet and a never ending habit of creating new ones. Creating new districts whilst neglecting the existing underdeveloped ones. Moving capital cities with no economically justifiable reason. The list is too long.
The level of investment is high? its the level of importation that’s high. Thats why you are able to buy
EET SUM MOR! Wisdom is the resistance to comment on issues you have no competence. Talk about the liberation struggle or diplomacy.
@james buga, you have expressed things very well.
Good luck to Zambia.
@ James bunga:
I didnt know that in Zambia we have people that are intelligent like you. I like the way you have outlined issues. If Zambia had 80% of people that analyses issues like you, we could have been somewhere by this time; may be at the level of South Africa. Than God for men like you.
Meant to say: Thank God for men like you james bunga.
@Pretty and @ Hildah Malama (Medical Doctor) Thank you for your very kind words I am truly humbled.
On point James. If half the Zambians would think like you and open their eyes, Lungu and his tandem of thieves would not be dragging our country to the depths of destruction like they are doing.
Sadly enough they have incorporated religion into the equation to take advantage by posing as Christians knowing full well that majority of Zambians are Christians and will fall for their tactic. Zambians are even blind to the level of corruption their president is involved in. They are even saying Lungu is God sent.
What James is stating is simply the “The chickens have come home to roost”…we have posted countless of times over years about this selfsame misappropriations, recklessness and borrowings from when old man “deadwood” Sata was in power to this dull lazy empty tin Edgar now in State House.
We ourselves us the utterly docile Zambians are partly to blame as we tolerate this environment of no accountability and no transparency, no checks and balances…how do you let a President get away with not addressing the nation on important issues.
The Zambian political vetranes somwtimes puzzles me. After receiving some bribes from the corrupt people in government, they are quick to sell their principles,. Surely, whom can Venon Mwaanga cheat? Who doesnt know that the Zambian Kwacha is the world’s worst performing currency?
Venon Mwaanga should not foool Zambians, we know that the economic hardship of our country has been compounded by the vision less leadership of President Lungu. May the day of 11th November when the useless president was born never be remembered.
EDGAR LUNGU IS THE MOST USELESS PRESIDENT IN THE WORLD.
Dr. Mwaanga, please be advised that the problem that Zambians are experiencing today are not all that global but are 80% caused by the useless president that Zambia has. The truth is that if the current president was Mwanawasa (MHSRIP) or Micheal Sata (MHSRIP) or better still HH, things were not going to be the same. Zambians were not going to be suffering like this.
Zambia is really unfortunate because of the visionless and cursed president that it has.
Breaking News:
ZAMBIAN YOUTHS NICK NAME MR. CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI AS MR Its GLOBAL Kambwili.
Chishimba Kambwili the Information Minister has now won the title of “MR. GLOBAL MAN” because of associating all failures of President Lungu and the Patriotic Front since the sad demise of President sata to Global. Since he he became minister, Mr. Kambwili has been attributing all PF failures to global crises.
For Mr. the Mr.global, any failure by the PF government is due to global.
.
I find Emmanuel Mwamba very creative,energetic and willing to contrubte positively to Zambia.. A good statement from VJ by the way
Fwaka
doobo
It is total incompetence and nothing else!!!!!!!!!!
Some of who describe PF government has being government of failure do not have a qualification to boost about the economic melt down has affected every country unless you coming from pluto you can say it is failure by PF.
@ Some of you: Before you join the list of those cheating innocent Zambians that the suffering we are going through are global, just share with us which other economy on planet earth has inflation rise to 14.3% with one month and which currency has depreciated like our currency. It hurts when the so-called literate Zambians are blinded by cadreism even when things are visible for anyone to see. Example- compared to our neighbour Botswana currency: BWP1.00 = 70 ngwee in August 2015, today BWP1.00 = K1.30. Which global problem is facing Zambia and not Botswana apart from good sound economic management!
I don’t believe what this Mr Kaunda is saying about the late fire brand and freedom fighter; the late Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe. Kaunda poisoned Kapwepwe no doubt all because of power. The fellow came from Nyasaland as a toddler yer, was looked after by the Kapwepwe family like their own. Today surely the Kaundas can claim as being one family? Come on guys, check out your history.
Who cares whether or not the Kaunda and Kapwepwe families are at each others’ throats? Those are family feuds which should not concern us. It folly of this character to go to South Africa to only tell the whole world nothing of substance. Useless talk just like Mwaanga’s flawed analysis of the current Zambian economic crisis.
@pretty,@ buga u guys re liabilities to UPND.How can u deliberately attribute or apportion blame to PF on issues that even grade 7 understand well? So this yapping is called “checks & balances” in Southern Province.U re not attracting members to your Southern Province Party in this way. VJ has been there before u were even in your diaper!
..VJ’s been where! What economic crisis has he ever managed?
Fake HH we read between the lines and not you who takes every word from another fellow man as gospel truth without critical thinking. Use google and you discover that Vernon is lying through his teeth, other currencies are appreciating while the kwacha is depreciating. Ask Vernom why IMF is not visiting everyone else. PF strongholds are hit hard the most and I wonder how you going to convince them to sign up for five more years of that mess, when they have options. Tell lungu he is wasting his opportunity Zambians are very unforgiving once you mess up, they will get rid of you forever.
VJ, sit down somewhere please!!! You have outlived your political usefulness….understand?
There goes another old man who has led all his life based on deceit. He must have been paid to lie! Can he give an example of another country that has had continuous elections that have been deliberately induced? Zambians should just ignore this senile old man completely. We do not need his wrong advice!
In Zambia i ve lost my confidence in those so-called veteran politicians like Vernon Mwanga, Daniel Munkombwe and the likes for their failures as well.can someone sure come up with such a statement despite serving in government from the age of 20 years till now with much experience and witnessed a no record compared to the current situation we are going through.
The Dr is associating current depreciation with China economic slowdown lol. Ever heared of US fed rate hike muna? mono economy,fiscal policies,,austerity measures,Germany consumer data and it’s impact on the copper price,inconsistent policies.food for thought.have just listed and not said anything because I am also blank.
Mwaanga…so many wives, girlfriends and children all over the place…useless man without any principles, he now wants to teach us about economics? Have we nothing better to do than to listen to this m o r o n ?
Well said VJ. This is how all of us should look at our situation. We have been a relatively weaker economy over the years and there is no way we could have survived the global crisis. Unfortunately the economic turmoil is happening during PF’s time. It could have happened any other time. The guys in power need the support of everyone. We are all affected after all. The solution is not to jump out of the boat into the waters infested with crocodiles and hippos. That could be very costly. Let us be more concerned with how the current and similar future situations will be cushioned. Complaining won’t help. Only takes away our precious time.
VJ is too corrupt old man. Each time government oils him he changes posts. Zambia’s problems have come about mainly by mis-management, corruption and greedy of our political and economic leaders. Ba Chagwa is so corrupt even by blood to steer Zambia into meaningful development. He doesn’t care for anyone except himself and his family. Mediocre leadership so self centered and spend free styles ve killed Zambia’s fortunes.
I fail to understand the so called Zambian veterans.Instead of talking of political liberation he pokes his nose in something he he has no experience.Since when did he became an economist lol
HH is a useless masonist only fit to be a ward chairman in Neganega,Southern province.Kabwalala wa privatization.
ZAMBIA IS A MAIDEN COUNTRY WITH A SMALL POPULATION. WHY THEN SHOULD WE HAVE SUCH A BLOATED CABINET, WITH DEPUTY MINISTERS AS WE ARE SEEING IT IN THIS PF LUNGU GOVERNMENT? ON THE OTHER HAND LOOK AT THE MIGHTY NIGERIA WITH ABOUT 200 MILLION PEOPLE, BUT WITH ONLY 36 CABINET MINISTERS. IS LUNGU REALLY SERIOUS IN WANTING TO INJECT NEW ENERGIZED LIFE INTO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR ECONOMY? I TELL YOU ZAMBIANS, LUNGU HAS COME ONLY TO STEAL AND MAKE HIMSELF AND COHORTS AROUND HIM RICH WITHIN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME.
@TRUTH, I concur with you and wish to add that Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa. Furthermore, the President of Nigeria, General Buhari, has not yet appointed his cabinet (several months after he was elected president) because he is looking for credible men and women to be part of his government. This is unlike in Zambia where even thieves and corrupt people can be appointed to hold ministerial positions. Do you really expect such people to drive the country forward? Never.
VENON MWAANGA HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNPRINCIPLED. HOW CAN HE SAY LUNGU IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC DOLDRUMS THAT ZAMBIA IS EXPERIENCING TODAY? THIS PF STARTED PLUNDERING OUR ECONOMY IMMEDIATELY IMMEDIATELY THEY REALISED THAT SATA WAS SICK. THEY THEN INTENSIFIED THE LOOTING WHEN THEY HEARD THAT SATA WAS DEAD. DURING SATA’S FUNERAL PERIOD, PF PRIVATIZED COLOSSAL SUMS OF MONEY FROM THE NATIONAL TREASURY. ALL THESE WERE DENTS CREATED ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR ECONOMY AND OUR CURRENCY. AFTER SATA’S FUNERAL AND DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, THE LOOTING REACHED ITS CLIMAX AND OUR ECONOMY WAS FINALLY SUFFOCATED. THIS IS THE PLAIN TRUTH AS TO WHY OUR COUNTRY’S ECONOMY HAS COLLAPSED TO THIS EXTENT. RIGHT NOW THE COUNTRY IS POOR BUT SOME PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN PF ARE VERY RICH DUE…
Vernon Johnson Mwanga the self confessed drug trafficker has an opinion that will get him money from every ruling party. He is a political tick that has been feeding off every government since independence. Whoever takes this person seriously amazes me.
I am quite disappointed with uncle VJ (I didn’t even know he has a PHD signed and sealed). People like him should rather remain quite. We all know that globally there is economic turbulence, but some countries, African countries for that matter (Botswana, Namibia, Kenya etc.) are managing the situation well so that their citizenry are cushioned from the shocks by deliberately constructing and implementing measures to calm the storm so to say. Prudent spending when times are hard is a virtue that must be applied. We do understand that globally things are tough, but where do we stand in the line? Come on guys lets be serious for once, Zambia does not only belong to us but to future generations as well. Here is a simple analogue, when times are hard even at household level you adjust…
Either VJ does not travel or do business with other countries. If u tabulate the value currencies of the main economies in Africa versus the Dollar, yes you will find that most them have lost their value. This loss by the way has been because of a stronger dollar in recent times & not the performance of their these economies. The kwacha is way above in terms of loses (over 80%). Not long ago the Kwacha which was about 0.55 to a Rand & it is now 1 to 1. Obviously he was invited to put spin on the whole occasion. Zambians now leave in global village & you can not lie to them anymore.
The one very serious sin VJ has committed is to appear on the same forum with people perceived to be PF and to issue a statement that is not critical of the PF government. On this website, and as far as UPND diehard bloggers here are concerned, this is the political equivalent of mortal sin.