Mr. Sinkamba has said it is extremely disheartening that in the last three decades, the Japanese people have suffered from some of the worst natural disasters of the 21st century.
“Your Excellency, we are alive to the fact that in 2011, more than 20,000 people were killed or went missing during the Fukushima disaster, when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan, triggering a tsunami and nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Your Government said the total cost of the damage caused by the tsunami could reach 25 trillion yen which at the time was equivalent to U.S. $309 billion,” he said.
“Furthermore Your Excellency, we are also saddened that last month, flooding and landslides killed about 200 people in country’s deadliest natural disaster since Fukushima Quake and Tsunami. As if that is not enough, we understand that last week, at least 65 people died of heatstroke while more than 22,000 people were hospitalized,” said Mr. Sinkamba.
“We are troubled by the fact that Japan has gone through many years of natural disasters which include tsunamis, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, cyclones, and volcanic eruptions all of which have adversely affecting your economy, development, and social life.
Two out of the five most expensive natural disasters in recent history have occurred in Japan. With climate change unrelenting, it would be wiser to consider all alternative on the table,” he added.
“Despite enduring devastating natural disasters, the people of Japan have always been on our side in times of need since our independence in 1964. In life, there must come a time to say ‘thank you’ to someone who has always been there for you. Please accept my invitation, and I confident the Zambian people will warmly welcome you,” he said.
Geographically, Zambia is two times larger than Japan. But in terms of population, Japan’s population is more than 9 times larger than that of Zambia. The population of Zambia in 2018 is estimated to be 16.7 million while Japan’s population stands at 127.1 million.
However, Japan’s population has been steadily decreasing in recent years. In the last four years, for example, the population of Japan has decreased by about 700,000 from 127.9 million in 2015 to 121.1 million at present.
At present, the biggest problems that Japan faces include natural disasters, sinking economy, radiation, aging society, and sinking birthrate. The reason for Japan’s growing aging population is because of high life expectancy. In 2016, life expectancy in Japan was 85 years. Since Japan’s overall population is shrinking due to low fertility rates, the aging population is rapidly increasing.
The fertility rate is below the replacement level though government encourages having more children now. There is a lack of younger, working people.
In contrast, Zambia has an inverted pyramid age formation whereby more than 65 per cent of the population is youthful and unemployed. The life expectancy is at 62 years.
“The geographical, demographical, and economical parameters, coupled with the frequency of natural disasters in Japan, makes Zambia a perfect match for mutual social and economic development of the two peoples. We know that the Japanese people enjoy swimming. We have adequate land and water bodies in Mpulungu, Mbala and other areas around Lake Tanganyika for ideal for settlement and industrial development,” Mr. Sinkamba concluded.
Very simplicitic thinking and approach to serious issues Sir. When kids and there coach where trapped in the caves in Thailand your simple suggestion was if you where Lungu could’ve just sent miners from Chililabombwe to go get them out.
It’s all the more reason why we are in this deplorable status as a nation because of such simplicitic approach to serious issues even in how we borrow money. While you offer a simple solution to the Japanes to just move to Zambia so that Zambians may freely and lazily benefit from hardworking Japanes immigrants the Japanes are seriously researching and building structures to stand earthquakes and other disasters. You see the difference?
@John Kondolo, I disagree with your simplistic view. I think that Mr. Sinkamba is a critical thinker. Critical thinking is quite compatible with his thinking “out-of-the-box”, always challenging consensus and pursuing less popular approaches. If anything, critical thinking is an essential part of choosing creativity because we need critical thinking in leadership to evaluate and improve reative ideas. Mr. Sinkamba has shown he has the ability to think clearly and rationally about what to do to make a difference. He is not shy to express himself on what he believes in. He has the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking. Whether it be his marijuana industrialization agenda or labelling maize a poor man’s crop, he has shown that he is an intelligent person. Mr. Sinkamba…
@Kondolo continued: Mr. Sinkamba logically connects ideas and he is able to identify, construct and evaluate arguments. From various commentaries he makes on issues, one can clearly see that he detects inconsistencies in reasoning and he applies his mind to offer solutions to problems systematically. I think he has a unique gift of identifying relevant and important of ideas and justify his beliefs. Put simply, I think he has what it takes to be President of the Republic……If the idea of marijuana industrialization and now, the Japanese clusters he is proposing are implemented, this country can never be the same……
Japan is considered as one of the most innovative economies in the world. What Sinkamba has proposed is doable. Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) has developed industrial clusters (major companies, related research institutions, main sectors, etc.) in various sectors (mainly Automobiles and Transport Equipment, Aircraft, Food manufacturing, ICT, Electronics, Life Sciences, Environment and Energy, Service, Tourism) which are dotted around the world, one of which is EU-Japan cluster cooperation which is well established since 2008. It is a pity we have people like Kondolo who think so simplisticly that solutions to the nation’s economic and social quamire will come like manna from heaven. Learn to think outside the box!
You know , proposing serious ideas for the country worthy of disection requires a sixth sense of the prevailing politico socio economic geopolitic of the country……as for just yapping even grade 12s can just yap….
@Kondolo: In short, Industrial Clusters, Global Competitiveness and New Policy Initiatives: This is what Mr. Sinkamba is talking about
This is a brilliant thinking from baba Sinkamba. However there is a need to consult stakeholders in order to get a more engaging response from the Japanese govt. Japan has been a true all weather friend and we as recipients of so much aid should begin to help those who helped us, countries such as Japan, Norway, Sweden, UK, Ireland, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Russia, USA etc we must return a good act with a good act even if it means donating wild animals from our game parks or something within our resources it is still a gesture of goodwill.
I beg to differ with you – infact every serious political player in Zambia needs to lobby our economic partners to invest in industries and just giving money to Ngos. What is wrong with Sinkamba requesting Japan to build a oil refinery in chipangali or a semiconductor plant in serenje? This is what creates employment for the masses.
It is a free society. For God’s sake, let Sinkamba voice out. We want to in the near future look back in retrospect and check on these same guys to analyse their utterances in search for a leader to elect after ECL and failure double h.
poor and stu**pid Africans, always wanting things to be done for you! why do you always want other people to come and development your country (or invest to create employment for you)? why cant you do it yourselves? You wants Chinese people to come and built roads/ bridges for you while your able boded men sit back and enjoy the MOSI? Whats is wrong with you? These countries, Japan, China or the other tiger nations did not develop by them inviting the Westerners to come first and invest in their country. They developed by thier Governments investing in their people (sending their people to westerns schools; like japan sent thousands to German schools to learn the auto industries and the Chinese flooded US Engineering/Science schools) and then went back to set up industries, like the…
From begging Turkey to pay our debts to begging Japan for industrial productivity since we’ve failed to run our Zamtel, Zambia Airways, mines and Zamrail ?
Last time he suggested that Lazy Lungu sends KCM Engineers to Thailand to assist with the rescue operation of the boys…without thinking that cave diving and logistics is a specialist job that needed British Cave Divers with 20 years experience to undertake this mission.
Now he is literally begging to Japan…the question he should ask himself is what is it for Japan and why should they have industrial clusters in landlocked “high business costs” Zambia as opposed to Kenya and Tanzania who have ports?
How I wish people could read before displaying their ignorance and prejudices. This man has “applied intelligence”. He is his own man. Independent mind
Ati
” the man has applied intelligence ”
You are the same people applauding toll gates as genius……hehehe…
What Sinkamba doesn’t understand is that Japanese are very reserved people, despite their big hearts and culture of honesty and hardword, they don’t pollute their identity easily. You can never be a Japanese if you weren’t born one. I doubt if any Japanese would be willing to relocate. Anyway congrats for thinking differently, Hichilema can learn something from you
What he doesn’t understand is that Japan is an import based economy …why should we always look to jump on someone else’s tail coat, what is that IDC there for?
@4.1: Jay Jay: What are you talking about? Japan an import based economy? My foot! Japan is the 4th largest export economy in the world. In 2016, Japan exported $688billion and imported $575billion, resulting in a positive trade balance of $113billion. In 2016 the GDP of Japan was $4.95 Trillion and its GDP per capita was $42,300. We need to tap into these economic benefits. I appluade Mr. Sinkamba for thinking outside the box. He has a well researched point in this regard
*Correction meant export based economy
The approach may be simplistic but you have got to admire the initiative and what goes on in his mind. He is thinking global.
2026 vote Peter Sinkamba for President
I would expect such reasoning from grade 12 students if asked to explore ways to develop Zambia….
Enoch kavindele, when he was an MP, suggested that Zambia locates an area where we could build a ” village ” for British retirees who could enjoy and spend their pensions in ‘ Zambia in the sun”. That was over 35 years ago. At the time, i thought a plausible idea, but today, after reading Kondolo’s comment above ( #1), i retract.
Its better than having a leader with no vision but song and dance.
…….and a begging bowel and a bible in his back pocket, that I agree…
Sinkamba’s idea is NOT different from PF’s and UPND’s approach of looking to FOREIGNERS ONLY as the ones to develop Zambia!!Even Kavindele’s idea referred to by @8 Rhapsody sounds plausible as language and certain cultural barriers would not have been so immense if we had British settlers in our midst!! As @ 4 Ayattola has put it, the Japenese may be REACHING OUT to the world but they are a CONSERVATIVE ISLAND people who would wish to maintain their racial purity and culture!! What we need as Zambia and as Africans is a realization that to do business, and grow our economies we have to FOCUS ON BUSINESS and less on social interactions with those we are doing business with!! Foreigners exploit us bcoz we mix business with social relations when dealing with them!!
I disagree with your thinking. There is no country in the world which has developed without foreigners. It has now been proven by scientists that Europeans are an evolution of African migrants or wanderers. Americans are largely European migrants or wanderers. The American economy is dominated by foreign investors and so is the EU economy. The success of the Chinese economy is due to foreign technology and resources. The success of the Japanese economy is due to foreign trade……so, in short, global business is dependent on foreign relationships. We are one global village….period. Dont be cheated that the Zambian economy can prosper by cutting all foreign relationships..
@10.1 Ze Biggy, REAL DEVELOPMENT STARTS WITH VALUING IDEAS, CONTRIBUTION FROM OUR (YOUR) OWN PEOPLE, all the countries and continents you have mentioned , first developed THEIR OWN INDUSTRIES before looking to the outside for additional progress!! The Chinese you have mentioned have ensured that foreign investors partner with locals and transfer technology and skills!! Which Foreigners have dominated the American economy when the AMERICANS FEAR OR STOP TAKEOVERS OF THEIR FIRMS EVEN BY THEIR EUROPEAN ALLIES?? We are all for foreign relationships that create mutual benefit, that is WE SHOULD TREAT BUSINESS AS BUSINESS and HUMANITARIAN HELP as such!! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE JAPANESE DELEGATIONS come to ZAMBIA and HOW MUCH HAVE THEY INVESTED? WHAT ARE THEIR REASONS FOR THEIR SLOW TAKE UP OF…
@10.2 zambiasours: What are you talking about? Be coherent in your arguments. Mr. Sinkamba is making a case for setting up of Japanese driven industrial clusters in Northern Zambia, just like Japan has done eslewhere in the world, say EU, India. Issues of techonolgy transfer, skills development, are packaged in industrial clusters….why is Trump imposing high tarrifs if the American economy is not dominated by foreign trade, and trade deficits? Stop yapping if you are clueless on the subject matter. Silence is golden
@ 10.3 Ze Biggy, I differ with you bcoz your statement at 10.1:”The American economy is dominated by foreign investors and so is the EU economy” tends to suggest that Industries and services in the US and Europe are dominated by foreign investors- which is NOT TRUE!! These parts of the world have MORE THAN ENOUGH OF THEIR OWN INVESTORS IN BOTH PRODUCTION AND SERVICES SECTORS!! Trumps is imposing tariffs to protect his own investors so that they keep investing at home rather than going out to China or elsewhere!! My point is if you want the Japanese or indeed anybody to INVEST IN INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS, SELL THEM A WORKABLE BUSINESS CASE and NOT the fear of Sunamis and Earthworks as there are many other countries which don’t experience these disasters,better choices BUT LACK SOME OF OUR…
@10.4 zambiasours: You must be very dull. You dont know that though the United States and Japan are the two largest national economies in the world, however, the United States is the world’s largest deficit and debtor country? You dont know that Japan is the world’s largest surplus and creditor country? You dont know that there are 5 countries who do not have any external debt:Macau; British Virgin Islands; Brunei; Liechtenstein; and Palau and none of them is an EU country? Put simply, all EU countries and the US depend on foreign debt for economic survival……muleikala fye ngatwamishibe ifintu. Tondolo musuma!
@10.5 Ze biggy I can see YOUR knowledge is VERY CONFUSED!! Sinkamba is talking about investment in industries and your start citing examples of investment in financial instruments!! Japanese being the largest lenders to US does not make them the major owners of US manufacturing and service industries!! China also has a big portion of US Bonds but they don’t control the US’ industry and Services base!!For your own information China has already surpassed Japan as the 2nd largest economy!! NOT ALL EU Countries depend on foreign debt to survive but as a result of trade, they all have some debt stock but with enough reserves for their survival!! YOU CAN”T attract Japanese investment on the reasons Sinkamba has given as those reasons have no business in them!!Please UNLEARN YOURSELF on some…
I have failed to understand, what is Sinkamba talking about? please help me
Only slow-witted persons cannot understand what Sinkamba has put across
You don’t know anything about Japanese culture and life…..japs can not live where there is disorder and corruption like the Chinese ….
@Zambia in the Sun: I totally agree with you
Great concerns and proposal by Sinkamba! Actually, as opposed to always asking for AID through JICA, its better to ask for help in form of Industrial Development!
The Chinese are very manipulative and cant be trusted! Look at the so many scholarships from Japan to the Zambian People as an example
@Chilungu Musaba: I totally agree with you
What he is proposing is no different to asking for aid if you look at from the the Japanese point of view…Zambia has little to offer to them if they do a SWOT or PEST analysis….don’t confuse Japs to Chinese, that small country conquered the whole of Asia including China.
@Spaka like lilo. How on earth you connect me with “You are the same people applauding toll gates as genius……hehehe…” is beyond me. All your comments seem to be out of sync with rational reasoning. Don’t make noise improve your arguments
@Muyangana….I agree with you. Spaka needs to improve on coherent reasoning. Even comment 12.1 “You don’t know anything about Japanese culture and life…..japs can not live where there is disorder and corruption like the Chinese …” is incoherent. According to Transparency International Japan was the world’s 18th least corrupt nation in a survey of corruption in 180 countries in 2008. It ranked 25th in 1999.China is the 77 least corrupt nation out of 175 countries, according to the 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International…..so much as China is more corrupt, Japan is not the best afterall
Muyangana Munyengana
I apologise for confusing you with one of the PF rats who were applauding toll gates as genius when someone suggested erecting one on a new road…
Ze Biggy
You can not compare the corruption and total disregard an average Chinese has for laws , morals and the environment of other countries they invade….a Chinese will thrive in a corruption infested swamp while a Japanese would rather stay in their Japan….
@Spaka like lilo: In the Corruption Perception Index for 2017, India was ranked at the 81st place which is worse than China. Yet, Japanese companies are keen to work with their Indian counterparts in the two mega industrial corridors and in the development of manufacturing clusters in South, according to Japanese External Trade Organisation. Japanese companies have begun to work on two manufacturing clusters in Gujarat and Rajasthan partnering Indian companies. So, what are you waffling about on China, Japan, corruption and industrial clusters proposed by Mr. sinkamba?
Ze Biggy
You are too shallow to understand anything……a clue as to why the japs would chose to invest industrial clusters in India as opposed to any African country is technical education of the masses…you think you just plant industrial clusters where there are full of technically unskilled loafers ? FYI India is software and computer driven society of village and Scholl leavers …
@ Spaka like lilo: You must be dull hence your incohenece in your arguments. I one breath you argue “Chinese will thrive in a corruption infested swamp while a Japanese would rather stay in their Japan”. I another breath you argue “japs would chose to invest industrial clusters in India as opposed to any African country is technical education of the masses.”And in another breath you argue “India is software and computer driven society of village and school leavers …”You must be a scatter brain……..as incoherent as Donald Trump. Just shup up if you are ignorant of a subject matter. Tondolo musuma…
Tunnel vision….badala….
The ways of the the world, badala , dictate that numbers of a countries total population , level of technical skill , how deep corruption permiates into society and government , potential GDP , cost of doing bussiness , are looked at closely and iam afraid Zambia does not look like a place for clean bussiness…..sorry badala….especially with PF.
Mr. Sinkamba is definitely a very wise man, if he was to rule this country, am now convinced that Zambia will not be suffering in poverty, and in debts that we are now asking a new president to pay for us. I can safely describe this man as solution oriented. we need him
@10.2 zambiasours: What are you talking about? Be coherent in your arguments. Mr. Sinkamba is making a case for setting up of Japanese driven industrial clusters in Northern Zambia, just like Japan has done eslewhere in the world, say EU, India. Issues of techonolgy transfer, skills development, are packaged in industrial clusters….why is Trump imposing high tarrifs if the American economy is not dominated by foreign trade, and trade deficits? Stop yapping if you are clueless on the subject matter. Silence is golden!
Main reasons why Japan would not consider moving industrial clusters to Zambia
—poor technical skill base of the workforce.
—too expensive doing bussiness in Zambia.
—-when industrial clusters are looked at , the local market is considered first for demand, zambia has too small a population unlike India or China…
@Mzambian wazamani & Jay Jay: understand the big picture not being so simplistic. Zambia Imports from Japan in 2017 amounted to US$129.13 Million, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. The Imports from Japan included cars (brand new and used), railway spares, chemicals etc. Congo DRC spends about 4.55 billion yen to import cars, motorcycles, medicine, synthetic fiber, tire, rice, etc from China. What is wrong to manufacture these in Zambia through the clusters? We have a massive steel factory in Kafue which can supply steel requirements to spec. Instead of exporting the steel to South Africa, why not use it here for the same purposes?
Most people easily identify those who smoke vegatbles insteady of eating them. They offer perculiar solutions, the thinking is also perculiar. Such a descision needs parliamentary approval and even a refrendum. Our brother sits in his corner and makes such request to Japan and not even to the Govt. of the day. Unless I have missed something this request is firstlt old and secondly an outright lack of regard for hierachy.
@18 Kelvin D Mulanga: Do expose your ignorance. Who told you that every investment in Zambia needs parliamentary or referendum approval? Which referendum or parliament approved the Chinese clusters (colonies) in Kitwe, Lusaka and chongwe? Little knowledge or what? Muleikalafye. Tondolo musuma.
Much better than politics of insults. Sinkamba is displaying his relevance to the nation and not merely thirsty for public office.
Every relevant economy has thrived on immensely partnering with myriads other economies.
Even if our people were hard working, they would still need such strategic partnerships to produce significant results in our economy.
Singapore asked major foreign companies to build their plants and infrastructure on their soil and give jobs to their people. This both made industrial good more affordable for the people and modernised the outlook of the nation. Within one generation they have moved from a poor country to a major economy owing to this, and other factors.
I totally agree with Mr Sinkamba.I have been following his debates and contributions to national issues,honestly i have been impressed with his objectivity. You never hear him politic but all you hear him is articulate issues from a well informed perspective.i wonder why people want to critise him for his opinion.The man is a patriot period.He is selling Zambia,not pf or his party,he is taking advantage of Japan’s current situation and see’s it as an opportunity to enhance Zambia’s investment climate. He is not doing it as others are with China and other multi national vultures.I think.its Time Zambians start taking time to listern to some of these leaders ,let switch off from emotionalism politics of populist to politcs of development…
He is proving to be a more mature leader on face value than pieces from the General.
I would welcome Japanese people any day. They are honourable and hard working people.
They would never sell us plastic rice or counterfeit goods.
Great thinking from Green Party
After smoking a joint of blue mountain kush, sinkamba starts to unthink himself. He thinks the Japanese would love to runaway from their homeland because of earthquakes. How dare you sinkamba disrespecting the land of the rising sun. What is so special about your landlocked sh!thole. Just because there are wild fires in California, you want Americans to run to Zambia.
If he is off the hard smoke he thinks better than HH.
@Sharon: Uhhhhhhhhhhhh. Makes little bit of sense.
Perhaps your argument should been “whether he has had a hard smoke or not he definatiely thinks better than HH..”
That would have made more sense
@ Zambia in the Sun #1.2 and the rest of “learned” and well “educated” simpletons
Can you PLEASE consider obstacles to every single CRAP idea coming from Mr. Sinkamba:
1. On the subject of cultivating and exporting cannabis to the US$ 40 billion “market”:
(a) Transport of cannabis across international borders is against mandatory provisions of at least two UN Conventions of which Zambia is not just signatory but it has ratified the same;
(b) Which Country will legalize import of cannabis in to its territory in the face of UN Conventions? and
(c) What about banking regulations governing international trade?
2. On the issue of “miners from Chililabombwe”, it just show your non existing knowledge on every subject. Your way of thinking its equivalent to the average…
… village !diot.
3. Why should Japan even consider your rant? Because Zambia has highly “educated” labour? Independent Judiciary? Exemplary rule of law? Stable fiscal policies? Great medical facilities? Exemplary tax enforcement and compliance? Visionary political ruling party? Stable balance of trade? Allergy to endemic corruption?……………..
Forums for the exchange and sharing of ideas remain unchanged and include Japan-Africa Forum, Japan-Zambia Forum, Japanese Embassy in Lusaka, JAICA, Zambia Investment Development Agency and private companies. It is shocking to address a foreign head of state or government in a direct and joking manner. The conduct of diplomacy is the preserve of MOFA. Good intentions are not good enough.
@26: Dr. Makasa Kasonde. It shouldnt shock you that an opposition leader has addresses a foreign head of state of government. Long gone is the era when foreign relations were a preserve of the ministry of foreign affairs. That is colonial mentality. Modern politics promotes mutual co-existence. Opposition leaders now attend AU, UN, EU and other multilateral and bilateral meetings. Early this month, for example, opposition leader Raila Odinga travelled and met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held talks on trade, and the cooperation between the two countries. Mr Raila Odinga, was received in India officially by Kenya’s High Commissioner, who celebrated what he said was a beneficial relationship between India and Kenya.
most of the comments here have been ideological and technical which to me tells me the man has provoked everyone,s thinking unlike everyday useless subjects we see here.
khawn: I agree with you. No doubt about it, the issue is thought-provoking