Yesterday evening we were honoured to address members of the Zambian Diaspora and South African business community in Johannesburg, including representatives from the South African Chamber of Commerce.
We enjoyed meeting many of the audience members in the interactions that followed, and we talked a lot about the various opportunities and challenges that exist in the region currently.
It is clear that there is untapped appetite for investing more into Zambian businesses and sectors, but there is also understandable concern about some of the issues that we are facing such as the power shortages and exchange rate volatility. The point of these forums is not to spread ‘doom and gloom’, but to have an open and honest discussion about how to remove any current barriers to investment and then get things moving. This is the essence of constructive dialogue.
We talked about opportunities in various sectors, notably agriculture, our ambitions for double-digit growth and attracting greater investment into the country. We spoke about the vast opportunity that exists for investment into projects that will help diversify our crop and in areas of value-addition that we are very keen to promote because of the numerous knock-on benefits that come from this area. By adding value locally we can lower pressure on food prices and exchange rate pressure and create additional jobs.
We are always informing our policies based on consultation and again what we are hearing is that more investment can be brought into Zambia but we need to do three things better: 1. Marketing our country and defining the opportunities 2. Providing stable and clear business regulations 3. Sorting out the problems in the energy sector that drive up costs and create added uncertainty. A stable and conducive environment for business is well within our reach if we cut the waste, cut the red tape and the reduce the time and cost of securing various permits.
We would like to thank those who made it to the talk this evening for their time and such a warm welcome. We hope to host you in Lusaka soon where we can move our discussions forward.
Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President
HH is the type of individual we need as President. Not abena Lungu who doesn’t know what GDP is. Unless he’s reading from a prepared speech, I have never heard Lungu talk about things like GDP and other economic indicators. All we hear him say is things like “tribalism”, “I am winning the elections” etc. All the best HH
Faka Pressure!! Now we await the “official” version of events as reported by a noisy cadre shunted in RSA, as an envoy!
Now, Deadend BC………..
BA CHOSEN ONE, HH WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT OF MY BELOVED COUNTRY ZAMBIA NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY TO PAINT HIM WHITE. THIS MAN IS SELF CENTERED AND HE THINK WE OWN HIM SOMETHING AS ZAMBIAN, REMEMBER WHEN WE VOTED FOR LUNGU HE CALLED NAMES AND THAT WE ARE FOOLS JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN’T VOTE FOR HIM. THIS GUY HH CAN BE A DICTATOR IF HE BECAME PRESIDENT
HH was invited to speak at these fora firstly as a leader of the strongest opposition party in Zambia ,secondly as a pragmatic economist and not a Zambian envoy. So he is absolutely right to sell his party to potential donors and members of the Zambian diaspora in SA.
The diaspora actually just hijacked him to address them about the party ‘s ideas for Zambia ‘s future. His main aim of going to SA was to give a talk at the Cape University business forum.
Cape University,thats where the main event was but as a good leader he thought, why not talk to our people scattered all over SA to give them hope that Zambia is not all doom and gloom.
HH is being paid millions to talk at these fora and that’s part of the money he donates to UPND for its smooth running. All his trips to such…
HH is being paid millions to talk at these fora and that’s part of the money he donates to UPND for its smooth running. All his trips to such fora are fully funded by organisations that invite him, unlike Ka Lungu who empties the government coffers to globe trot with a huge entourage for nothing.
Viva UPND and HH team.
Brains, brains, brains. It’s what Zambia needs. HH seems to have a bit of that, I presume.
BUT THIS IS THE A WRONG CHARACTER TO TALK ABOUT ZAMBIAN MINES WHEN HE IS THE ONE WHO PLUNDERED OUR MINES THROUGH FAKE DEALS. HE SHOULD BE THE LAST ONE TO TALK ABOUT THAT PLEASE.
The table arrangement looks. very cheap. Was he addressing Diaspora or watchdog community? just asking.
COPY AND PASTE
Better copy and paste than ducking from an interview. Some people have failed to employ the same “copy and paste” philosophy you’re advocating here. Do you remember the much anticipated BBC interview?
He is a loser. The voters are here sha!
wajimona , you are a liar. The voters are here in Zambia and not where you are boy.
If he is a loser how come your buddies are blocking him from deadnbc etc etc. If he is a loser why is he on your lips every second even when he is lnt mentioned. If he is a loser why do you depend on POA religiously to block him from holding public gatherings? Riddle me that. Remember to check under your bed before you sleep tonight he might be there hahaha
The who have the courage to take down questions and give concrete answers at any forum
He is the only person who can solve zambian problems he z our coming president
Yes with a team that comprises of GBM and bashi Nono he can conquer all of Zambia’s problems!
KALUKULUKU, BEN ONLY GOD CAN SOLVE ZAMBIAS PROBLEMS PLEASE NOT A HUMAN.
Oh my goodness!! This guy is a clown. If you have needed evidence that this guy is no presidential material, there you have it.
How could he have such a huge and imposing UPND banner that puts his party first before Zambia while addressing the International community. I expected him to put a banner of the Zambian flag as an incoming president. But alas , he is under 5 and serial Presidential contender.
I mean it is like Edgar Lungu in France Paris with his Pabwato symbol and PF Boat talking to French investors. I think HH has lost it and this fella is no presidential material period.
International Business communities are not naive and are interested in the country and not the party, please
Absolutely correct. It appears this man is missing the bigger picture. I sincerely hope Zambians do not let him take the presidency, trust me you will suffer!
When I saw the UPND banner i was like WTF is wrong with HH…..
HH is now feeling the heat…he has become so desperate
Anyway August 11…we are retiring him from Politics
2016 vote (PF ) Edgar
I thank you
You have conveniently ignored the fact that he was also addressing “Zambians in diaspora”. These Zambians in South Africa are likely to come and vote in August considering the proximity between the two countries. In one breadth, HH has to market his policies and that of his party to Zambian voters in SA and on the other, he is sending a message to Business Community about the party he represents. So kudos to HH.
@ mmd chief bootlicker
“…International Business communities are not naive and are interested in the country and not the party, please…”
Political parties in UK, France, USA, Germany, Italy and the rest of established democracies are financed by business communities. Have guess why?
Thank you
Better than the guy who goes to ask for investors from Europe to come to Zambia but goes with Mumbi Phiri a party carder at tax payers expense who does not know anything.
@MMD Chief Bootlicker
What a mouthful you are!
I have told you that as we get closer and closer to the poll day, HH will end up in Chainama. What the guy fails to appreciate is that a lot of us have obtained degrees and higher ones (Masters and PHDs) from very reputable universities in the West and US and have presented serious papers to a wider audience than what HH is cheating himself.
They guy goes to talk about the Kwacha’s performance in a country where their currency is even far much more under pressure from the dollar (USD1=SAR17.00) and he doesnt even seem to realise it. When asked as to why major currencies have depreciated against the dollar, he starts blaming it of PF and President Lungu, what a sorry site this man is.
There you are, thats HH for you!
wajimona
People like wajimona are the one who are busy bringing Zambia down because the chap cannot reason properly, he can even go on and vote for a frog and then tomorrow he will be number one begging for K1 in the streets of Lusaka. Please be careful with these beggars, they are just lazy and are disgrace.
You are right Manager Education. During Kaundas time I voted for a frog even on 11/8 I will vote for a frog if it stands. You saw how this country collapsed because you voted for a man whose name I won’t mention.
Go on and vote for HH,you will regret.
HH thats the way to go. PF is panicking. There is only one presidential material in Zambia in the name of HH who is a full Economist as well as a full chartered accountant.
I think you got it wrong. Even his venue looks like he was begging for audiences…..
MMD Chief Bootlicker
Just check your party is breaking in pieces what can you tell us, don’t you know that HH was invited as UPND president not republican president , he went there to present what UPND can do if his party came in power this year in August 2016. no wonder you keep on licking boots because you cannot reason properly there in America where you are, very soon you will be recalled and I personally know you very well. You even failed to buy a property in Zambia from the money you earned abroad, and so what can you tell us , jus keep job there and very soon that job will go.
MMD bootlicker is not in America. Don’t be confused by the flag. He is a Kaponya at intercity bus terminus.
What HH says he will do ECL is already doing. Does HH also agree that cost reflective tariffs are required to attract Investments in Energy sector?
:Pf is thrinking each day that passes. HH is no doubt the incoming president. He is full of vision and wisdom
We want pictures of the audience.
Kilesha wa kasongo muamba, i don’t understand why you pf chaps are crying to see the audience, he was addressing Zambians in the diaspora that include those who belong to pf resident in south Africa, who feel they need change and they went to listen to what he is got to offer to this nation, some of you PFool chaps you even gone further to condemn the set up aof podium , i know you are used to unnecessary expenditures you wanted to see him sitting on the sofa the same way you do for you chagwa,like that meeting at one of the schools in petauke when he was addressing you cadres, townhall meetings in most developed countries are usually held in such a way, am sure you watch primary presidential debates in USA, you will see a similar set up, someone will be upstanding or sit on stool…
We wait to here from this political failure what he is going to say about mining industry in southern Africa because south Africa is threatened with 32000 job loses due to economic slump as reported by BBC.
We the people against the Government of Mmembe for Mmembe and by Mmembe hereby declare that we wont support the Axis of Evil made up of Mmembe, HH and Kabimba. HH signed his political Death by apologizing to a Tax Dodger , A Fraudster and a Champion of Theft using Commercial Banks. We are fed up of Mmembe’s crusade of Hate which he has championed from 1991. When you look today at the Church, LAZ, FODEP, Judiciary, Prosecutions etc , you just shake your head. Enough is enough. We wont allow Mmembe to be any where near State Institutions after August 2016. And For HH, Sampa and Mutati the people hanging on Mmembe , we are Alert as Zambians. You can address the Diaspora with all the Rhetoric. But your alliance with Mmembe and Kabimba speaks volumes about you. Never again are we going to…
Bakolwe you choose to see negative aspects in all that is well. This picture is not complete who knows the Zambian flag was on the other side. Naimwe ba bootlicker I think you are too old for this forum
Soft punches as the ones you are landing here, are not for a championship fight, my friend. You may have to learn a tactic or two from MMD Chief Bootlicker. He lands sizzling ones.
MMD bootlickr, you are too old for this forum. Same applies to Luapula Premier who is 61years.
@MMD Chief Bootlicker
Concur. HH has lost it. He has become bigger than Zambia in his mind. But the character of a President us that he puts his country first, WEARS the flag and is offering his Service to the country and it’s people.
As for his remedy for Zambia
1. He and his supporters create violence and disagreements in Zambia affecting Investor interest.
2. He brings the country down with negativity which always talks down Zambia. I have never heard him say anything good of the last 5 years.
3. WHAT ON EARTH does he mean about adding local value to Gari goods will improve the Exchange Rate? It takes more than that and our exchange rate us also affected by money markets As well As economic performance.
Weak, waffle, gobble gobble, vote PF.
3. WHAT ON EARTH does he mean about adding local value to AGRI goods will improve the Exchange Rate?
@Patriot Abroad
Great comment my dear friend and God Bless you
2016 vote (PF ) Edgar
I thank you
@God Bless you too@ Katondo Boys!
@Patriot Abroad: Just to help you understand simple economics, a farmer sells a 50 Kg of Maize for K75.00 while a the Miller sells a 25Kg bag of Mealie Meal at K90.00. If you export a finished product – e.g Mealie Meal, you will earn more forex than selling raw maize. The more forex you have in your Reserve, the better the exchange rate (Demand/ Supply). This is not rocket science.
A good example is South Africa: All food stuffs you find in the leading South African Supermakerts in Zambia come as processed items and not raw items hence they fetch more.
Never again are we going to allow our Government Institutions to be controlled from Bwinjimfumu Road. May August 11 ,2016 come so that we teach this people a lesson. Starting from Mmembe to those who stole the Privatisation Loot in Luanshya Copper Mines and Lima Bank.
At least when HH opens his mouth he talks about realistic steps that can be taken to steer the economy in the correct direction. In contrast when the incumbent opens his trap, apart from the alcohol fumes escaping nothing sensible comes out.
@Wantashi
This is disingenuous and low even for a UPND supporter. It’s a sign of strength to be able to evaluate your enemy accurately. The danger of always undermining your enemy is that you never see that Left Hook coming. Ding Ding it’s a knockout! Ask Esther Phiri our champ for tips.
HE Lungu is a fine and Mighty Leader. HH is a weak contender for the afore mentioned reasons. Always respect your enemies strengths.
@Patriot Abroad
Lets face the facts, under Lungu there will not be appreciable development for the simple reason he has no ideas to fix the economy. More especially in the present moment when fear of getting booted out of state house is giving him nightmares, focus on the economy is the last thing on his brain. It’s time to hand over power to people who knows what needs to be done to fix our problems, and Lungu is not the man for the job. Lets be honest and accept reality. The interest of the nation is at stake and we should settle only for men and women equal to the task.
@Wantashi
Aaaaah, but whose reality? August, the people decide. I reckon it’s HE a Lungu all the way because the allegations of failure you accord him are those confronting every gov’t currently. In fact there is a real chance of reverting to recession if Markets keep failing.
Good Luck with your Man.
ICUNSU….
Sinkamba Wisdom – HH can not use the Zambian flag at a public forum as he is not a republican president. So the MMD Chief Bootlicker is primitive. Edgar Lungu is the one who can display a Zambian flag because him is a state president
bootlicker don’t mislead people HH is invited there as Business man and UPND president so what’s wrong with him showing the UPND banner don’t compare Edgar to this when Edgar goes to France He is there as Zambian president and using taxpayers money and not PF president so just shut up if you don’t know what ure talking about.
Well well well HH we are happy that you were well received in SA we not how you and your lot went about the business. We wish all the best in your unparralled quest to be head of state and we await you crying foul once again in August. If you ask me 2015 was an opportunity missed and it wont knock twice…the boat has sailed and flight HH2016 will once again crush land….good luck HH
Hehehehehe. Just the stage itself tells a story. Which businesses were there? Tell us, otherwise this is all hearsay.
Ba UPND. Strategy, strategy, strategy! How many times are we going to tell you to change your strategy and get new strategists! Siakalima and co are not doing you any good.
Nothing wrong in showing your party symbols. Follow the current presidential campaign in the states & u will see them every where. PF supporters are dead scared & now throwing everything at HH.
Patriot:
R u seriously saying u do not understand the value addition chain. Just go into Shoprite or other supermarkets & see how much we import in this country.
@Zamani Boza
Don’t debate at cross purpose. You clearly failed to explain HOW adding value to AGRI products will improve Exchange Rate. Is this a given. Is that the only factor that improves Exchange rate?
Don’t give me a lecture and an address to shops on value addition chain. As for adding value to things, HH is much overrated, if he won the election…he won’t be changing the exchange rate for that factor alone.
Which audience was he addressing sure. Looks like it’s likes of gbm tekere mutale Banda who took to audience for fear of embarrassment.
Show us the audience. Hmmmmmmmn you guys that place looks very shabby
Sad to note the same foolish and primitive guys insulting HH, do not understand anything about how protocols run. The Zambian flag cannot be displayed as prominent when HH was invited in other valuable high capacities & as a Political Leader. He is not there as Republican President. What would those of your own dull thinking say if it was displayed? HH was invited due to his wide intellect and as th current big Opposition Leader in Zambia. Please bambi, mwilalemba mulesebanya Zambia. That’s why you cannot and have failed to push any good advise to Edgar, but always insulting and degrading others when your duty should have been to push in your comments to help Edgar think beta to do the right things. Please go to school again and learn more and before you do that, keep quiet. It is…
Wasting your time. If there were not going to be people, would they have invited HH as Guest Speaker to an empty meeting? You are a joker? Ukubula a amano. Nkalani cabe zii and wait, nga tamwatalamona. You will be found fooling and insulting, until the day you rapture.
Photos, go to his Facebook page & check his mobile uploads.
let him even go and give a speach to angels in heaven. the fact is that he will never win an election in our mother zambia . EDGAR LUNGU E PRESIDO WESU TILL 2021
@oobby
That is the pneumonia of Zambian thinking. It hurts us in the end. It’s doing so right now.
The writing is on the wall HH is far much smarter than EL and i know most people`s wished the guy was in PF. The guy made it in the business world even before the privatisation of the mines, That is why his company was picked the evaluate the mines because its was a successes story and people forget about this fact.
This guy is smart, period, Can you imagine if we Zambia had 10 people like HH, we will not even need to go to France and The Vatican to cry for investors because investors will be right there in our country.
I do not even know how we ended up with EL who has never run anything successful, a person who can not even show us his CV, What where the people who voted for him thinking of, Where did this guy EL work when he graduated from UNZA, what has he done in his life. HH…
DO NOT BE MISLED BY SOME IMPOSTERS WHO DONT KNOW HOW GOVT IS RUN IF U THINK SOME GUY WILL BE HIMSELF MINISTER OF FINANCE,COMMENCY ETC ITS THE TEAM ONE MAKES RIGHT NOW MOLIN IS RUNNING MATE,BUT OTHERS ARE SICK,OTHERS ARE MAD,OTHERS ARE THIEVES,IN SHORT ALL BAD EGGS HAVE SHIFTED TO THE SOUTH AND ANYTIME THEY WILL START BREAKING ONE BY ONE.
FOR HIM TOOOOO STING TO GIVE TO THE PARTY HE HAS FAILED TO BUILD NOT EVEN A TOILET IN NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE DISPITE US VOTING FOR HIM FOR SO MANY YEARS. CHIEFS SUPPORT HIM YEAR IN YEAR OUT BUT NOTHING NO PALACE BUILT OR A CAR TO ATLEAST ONE CHIEF. SOUTHERN SAME WHY VOTE FOR HIM NONSES I DONT SEE ANYTHING IN HIM TO MAKE ME CONTINUE VOTING FOR HIM.
The stage looks like a school hall in a South African Township. Is this a Hotel? Where was the meeting? Something is not adding up here?
Which presidential candidate has HH seen travelling the globe to seek for votes? Do they even care anyway? No wonder he can carry the Satanist (UPND) banner in other countries which no one can relate with, Zambia is identified by its NATIONAL FLAG AND NOT A POLITICAL SYMBOL IWE HICHILEMA, stop embarrassing us please, please stop it and NOW!
“We are always informing our policies based on consultation and again what we are hearing is that more investment can be brought into Zambia but we need to do three things better:
1. Marketing our country and defining the opportunities
2. Providing stable and clear business regulations
3. Sorting out the problems in the energy sector that drive up costs and create added uncertainty.
A stable and conducive environment for business is well within our reach if we cut the waste, cut the red tape and the reduce the time and cost of securing various permits” -HH.
Any normal functioning Zambian adult of any political affiliation will agree this is a good and concise summary of the way forward for our Country. I mean normal functioning adult with loved ones:- parents, brothers,…
Cont’d … :- parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, Aunties, Uncles, friends etc.. back in Zambia.
You see these people if HH hosted the national flag the same people would have said look, now he is behaving like he is the current republican president. The guy is very far ahead of kaponyas , HH keep it up.
@Manager Education
We must remember PF is a thug party. Chipantepante, chilandelande, confusion, clueless, stumbling in the dark, vision-less, lunacy, violence defines this evil organisation. To expect them to be coherent and logical in analysing issues is asking too much.
The real Indaba was convened after this address to Zambians in the diaspora so don’t be misled by the background which looks abit shabby.Notwithstanding the state of the venue, the man spoke sense.Come to think of it,if ECL was asked to talk about Zambia’s GDP or GNP or macro/micro economics,he would be blank.
He is a Lawyer not an Economist. He has a Economists to advise him.
Comment:we may talk mountains… but the sky is the limit….wait august…who is holding it
..shall continue..God bless him.
We are proud of you as Zambians.. JEALOUSY DOWN
Wait for your time, we can only have one republican President at time.
Freemasonry…. HH, devil worshipper.
No satanist will rule Zambia in Jesus name.
Show us the audience please.
Seems it was poorly attended that’s why the pictures are showing the two guys only.
Hh is like Ukwa the dreamer just wasting his time ma.ka.ka. We are going to vote for Lungu come august not this use.less tonga idi.ot
Ba Chilema you are just wasting your time and little energy Sir. We the pipo of Zambia already hav a mature leader in Edgar Lungu. We don’t need you. we will embarrass you in august when you lose for the 5th time. Fintu ni Lungu chabe.
We hear Ba Edgar Lungu our head of state went to Rome and France. What did he say in Rome and France? Zambians need to contrast and compare the substance of their presentation to their hosts and Zambians in diaspora. So far we have head and read what HH said what of Lungu who even went earlier than HH.
Lungu has to let Zambians know what he says in these countries that he visits at tax payers expense.