Thursday, March 28, 2024

ZAFFICO has not been sold; it’s fake news created by overzealous Opposition-Dora Siliya

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Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dora Siliya
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dora Siliya

Government has reaffirmed that Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) has not been sold.

Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya says assertions that ZAFFICO has been sold are untrue as they are merely schemes by overzealous opposition to create lies to show that the country is being auctioned to the Chinese.

“Government wishes to assure all citizens that it will continue to cooperate with the international community for the development of the country, it will not auction national assets, ” says Ms Siliya.

The Chief Government spokesperson who is also Information and Broadcasting Services minister explains in the same statement that President Edgar Lungu’s administration runs an open and transparent door policy and shall not shy away from informing the nation on key national developments.

“Citizens are urged to treat the latest wave of lies by the opposition with the contempt it deserves, “ says Ms Siliya in the statement.

She further maintained that government emphasises that ZAFFICO has not been sold and Government is not in any negotiations with any investor to sell the company.

The Timber Association, who are major stakeholders in the industry, are further advised to engage the IDC on any matters concerning ZAFFICO.

Last month, the opposition claimed that Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has been sold when to the contrary.

Facts are that the arrangement between ZNBC and Startimes is a business model to form company known as Topstar translating that the broadcaster cannot be sold.

 

Below is the full statement

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON, HON. DORA SILIYA, MP, ON CLAIMS THAT ZAFFICO HAS BEEN SOLD

5th November, 2018

Government wishes to inform the nation that ZAFFICO has not been sold and, like other Zambian parastatals, the timber processing company is still under the Industrial Development Corporation which is a state conglomerate.

This statement has been necessitated because of yet another wave of ‘fake news’ from the opposition that the timber company has been sold to the Chinese. While Government is comforted by the fact that by now citizens are aware of the scheme by the opposition to create lies to show that the country is being auctioned to the Chinese, Government is also aware that a lie repeated several times tends to be believed by some people.

Government wishes to assure all citizens that while it will continue to cooperate with the international community for the development of the country, it will not auction national assets. His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s administration shall not shy away from informing the nation on key national developments because it runs an open and transparent Government.

Therefore, citizens are urged to treat the latest opposition lies with the contempt they deserve. The Timber Association, who are major stakeholders in the industry, are further advised to engage the IDC on any matters concerning ZAFFICO.

Government emphasises that ZAFFICO has not been sold and Government is not in any negotiations with any investor to sell the company.

52 COMMENTS

    • Zimbabwean prophesied that Lungu had signed many secret deals & the Zambian people will revolt when he gets exposed. This is coming to pass.

      Lungu & his PF00Ls better start renovating prisons coz it’ll be their new homes, not Swaziland, Dubai, or Midstream Estate in Centurion.

      – Indeni being sold to AVIC
      – Chimbokaila
      – Jacaranda primary school
      – NRDC
      – DeadNBC
      – Goma Lakes & UNZA front
      – Luburma market
      – Silverest forest (which has entrance to State house tunnel)
      – Chesco
      – Kamwala prison
      – Next is National milling cairo rd
      – Kwacha house
      – Zaffico
      – Chichele lodge
      – RATSA

      Vipuba vinagulisa Ziko ku tu ma Choncholi.

    • Maloza ulibe nzelu. None of the institution you have listed above have been sold. HH is not a politician and he is trying to imitate MC Sata tactics hoping that they will get his tribal butt into statehouse. Cant never

  1. THAT IS ALL YOU ARE GOOD FOR DORA -0= BLAMING EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE STATE ZAMBIA IS IN. ZAFFICO WORKERS DEMONSTRATED AGAINST THE SALE —— SURELY THEY KNOW THE TRUTH. STOP TRYING TO BLAME OPPOSITION FOR EVERYTHING. !!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. I think no one whats to see Zambia getting to this level of intolerance where they are destroying property. On the other hand Government pay attention to the people cry. This is an indication of silent frustrations. Do not blame the other people , come up with polices that are pro-the poor. Reduce Gas/ fuel, every thing will come down hopefully for a poor person to afford a meal. Protect the people’s market or means of small income.

    • Its simple really. Cut the cost of middlemen and buy direct from suppliers. Dont you understand that Zambia has the highest pump price in our region? That is lack of proper planning.

  3. The State has discontinued by way of Nolle Prosqecui the case against two UPND youths namely; Clement Musulwe and his co accused Dickson Mukalangwa.

    The two Namwala youths were charged with aggravated robbery following the release of results presidential election results in Namwala in 2016.
    They have been in Prison for two years now.

    • If you ask me,I would say the current mistrust of Government by its own people is self inflicted.Government has being springing surprise after surprise of policy decisions,the latest being the liquidation of the StarTimes debt on private media stations and the shock on the Chongwe council over the Chinese memorial cemetery.It is easy for anyone to take advantage of Government secretiveness.
      Government PR machinery is fighting emergent fires rather than preparing people’s minds for policy decisions

  4. Most gullible and ignorant Zambians are are being fed on a diet of misinformation by disgruntled politicians. In her budget address, the Minister of Finance actually indicated that there were plans to list ZAFFICO on the Lusaka Stock Exchange. Listing ZAFFICO on LUSE is not the same thing as selling the company to the Chinese. It simply means any Zambian will be free to buy shares in the company and thus become a shareholder in the company. How can any enlightened Zambian oppose such a move?

    • FACTS your thoughts sound good and logical but you and I know that what the Minister is saying is just rhetoric.There is something fishy going on here..the so called ownership by Zambians is all too complicated because the only people who will own those shares are those with big connections up there.This issue of majority Zambians owning shares has never been a success at all.The end result is always different.
      Its just like the story of privatization which the MMD introduced to Zambians way back in 1991.The Motive was good and welcome but the end result has been a total disaster.

    • ichipaso.

      The problem with most Zambians is that they seem not to understand shareholding. I have bought shares from a good number of companies – both local and foreign – through broker. If ZAFFICO is listed, just go to a broker like Pangea Renaissance and buy the shares. Who are these people with ” big connections” you are referring to? I personally have benefited greatly from my shareholding because my broker has been very helpful to me. I notice that my write – up has received a lot of thumbs – down by some bloggers. What is the purpose of all this negativity when someone is just advising you on the virtues of buying shares? Cry my beloved country.

    • FACTS refereeing to Zambians as being gullible and ignorant doesn’t seat well with most Zambians.I personally believe that Most Zambians are well informed and literate.On top of that Zambians are very tolerant and patient.But when their patience runs out all hell breaks loose.Remember MMD vs UNIP in 1991 and PF vs MMD in 2012.So Zambian peoples patience and tolerance must never be mistaken for ignorance or being gullible.
      On the other hand yes I would like to own shares in big firms such as ZAFFICO.But the truth of the matter is that those proposing to enlist ZAFFICO on the stock market are already ten steps ahead of everyone because they obviously have some huge interests in the deal and they will make sure that they get big chunks out of the pie.

  5. Okay fine…Dora says ZAFFICO has not been sold but on the other hand she says plans are under way to enlist the firm on the stock market..I find this very contradicting.So what will it translate to if a group of chinese buy 60% shares in ZAFFICO? and more over why do they want to enlist the firm on the stock market? Is ZAFFICO facing operational problems? Is it a loss making unit? Is it engulfed in debts?
    Can Dora provide some answers please.

  6. It will be maloza. Mirracle for hh to win.

    A vote for hh is vote for gbm. Which Zambia would want GBM to teka Zambia.

    He will be calling everyone. CHi ***la. Including tongas he will be calling them ba fi***la

  7. How about this:
    Reports in various outlets are either fake or they are telling us the truth. Also, it is worrying (if it is true) that this Information Minister made a statement preferring to NOT tell parliament about contraction of debt by government (whatever that means). If this was not said by her then we do have fake news. If she did say it, it is difficult to believe her when she defends certain things…

  8. The countries chief hule has spoken therefore you listen, really……. even if you list ZAFFICO people are very poor including the working class who don’t get paid, how do you then expect them to buy share when people cant even meet their day to day living. It`s called day dreaming you dununa reverse morons….. what I have noticed is that PF and their cadres are just dull

  9. The countries chief hu!e has spoken therefore you listen, really……. even if you list ZAFFICO people are very poor including the working class who don’t get paid, how do you then expect them to buy share when people cant even meet their day to day living. It`s called day dreaming you dununa reverse morons….. what I have noticed is that PF and their cadres are just dull

  10. HH’s mind is corrupted with privatization.Kainde dreams about privatization day and night.This is the major reason why HH wants by all means to be Zambian president(HH wants to come and auction Zambia’s remaining firms like he did with FTJ Chiluba in the 90’s).
    PLEASE ZAMBIANS NEVER VOTE FOR A CHIEF THIEF FOR PRIVATIZATION-HH!!!

  11. I DON’T TRUST THIS PROSTITUTE AND BED WETTER.THEY WERE BUSY MISLEADING RB AND NOW LUNGU.
    THIS IS THE WOMAN WHO WAS PUBLICLY SAYING WHEN PF UNDER SATA FORMS GOVT,PF WILL INTRODUCE GAY MARRIAGE AND INSULTING SATA THAT HE PUTS ON BLACK BOMBASA.AT ONE TIME IN PARLIAMENT,MMD WALKED OUT AND SHE RAISED HER MIDDLE FINGER POINTING WHERE CABINET MINISTERS WERE SEATED.
    TODAY SHE IS ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF THE MAN SHE INSULTED LIKE A SMALL BOY.
    IT IS TRUE PROSTITUTES HAVE GOT NO MORALS AND THIS WOMAN IS JUST SUCH.
    LUNGU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THESE MMD MINISTERS.
    I MISS MCS AND MHSRIP.
    THE MAN HAD HEART FOR THE POOR AND NOT WHAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY.NOW IT IS SANGWAPO NGA TAWIBILE LOBE.
    THE CABINET IS FULL OF KAPONYAS AND YES BWANA MINISTERS.HOW CAN YOU RUN A COUNTRY LIKE THAT.
    AS FOR…

  12. The only person who sold companies for his own benefit, as far as I know is AFROMAN, with a smile like he is chewing very bitter lemons. Fimo ifintu muleikalafye

  13. On the Copperbelt the general belief is that Hichilema is a thief who stole the money he sold companies. They also believe that he is a very stingy tribalist who can’t even buy you mealie mill. Now if HH now instigate riots on CB then that’s a radical shift because few people listen to him. The PF must blame themselves for that and not Hichilema. Bweleni ku bantu

  14. DOES GOVERNMENT HAVE NO CAPACITY TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING WITHOUT BLAMING THE OPPOSITION, OR IS PF SO SCARED OF THEIR OWN SHADOWS THAT TO COME OUT THEY FIRST HAVE TO SHOUT OPPOSITION BEFORE THEY FEEL SAFE TO WALK INTO THE LIGHT. LEARN TO BE FACTUAL THIS ISSUE OF SAYING OPPOSITION EACH TIME YOU MESS YOUR PANTS WON’T TAKE YOU ANY WHERE, JUST LEARN TO BE FACTUAL, IF YOU MESS YOUR PANTS JUST SAY IT HAPPENS NAZINYELA (I HAVE MESSED UP) PERIOD. INSTEAD OF SAYING I HAVE MESSED UP BECAUSE OF THE OPPOSITION.

  15. You are busy fighting HH in your words when your country is being torn apart by a thieving regime. The fact is people want him to come and control this mess. The fact is that no one likes a strong opponent and thats just logical no wonder even when a story does not involve HH he is always brought in a discussion out of fear. What else would you describe it.

    • @ mary
      Give us a break! HH cant control any mess, if at all there is one. All HH want just in case you are in limbo is self actuation. Just take a moment and listen to him very carefully, the chap is a big liar hoping Zambians can make a mistake and you will regret having been born.
      HH talks like a guy after a girl, if this girl doesnt use her brain and analyse the guy, before she knows it she will be pregnant and left in the cold. By the time she realizes, everyone would be saying, “we told you” now see the real world with that child. Ask those that have gone through this, its real and extremely painful.
      We all know why HH and UPND are so desperate, I mean the pain of the loses and disarray in UPND are just too much to bear, but the question is, whose problem is it if people dont…

  16. Fellow Zambians who has bewitched us? What has the Chinese done to start destroying their property? These people have not forced their way into Zambia by themselves, but invited by the government of Zambia. Someone said “When a new saying gets to land of empty people, they lose their heads over it” This exactly the case with our people. Don’t get to the streets to destroy things you have not worked for, in fact you are not destroying china or America but Zambia. Those people have brought development to our nation and have even brought employment cried for. The politicians, who are inciting you, will never give you jobs, but the very people you are rising against. Lazy and empty people always run to the streets.

  17. The reason why there so many uproars in the country is because the govt is doing things independent of the people being governed. The PF govt seems to be taking the people off guard because people dont know the intentions behind decisions being made. PF govt should allow the free flow of information before decisions are made.This will minimize suspicion . I dont understand why PF govt is very secretive. There seems to alot of fear of the unknown.

  18. Sometimes i wonder if we have leaders or dealers in this administration come 2021 am voting for opposition as we are going nowhere with these guys.

  19. We have advised several times that the PF Government has treated HH with kid’s gloves for so long. All what the chap wants to see is Zambia lose its peace and then take centre stage to make some unwarranted press briefing. HH and UPND must realize that silence on the part of PF majority membership is a sign of discipline BUT HH should NOT make a mistake and take this as a sign of weakness.
    Why is HH brooding hatred on the innocent Chinese? Has he just realized that these guys are seriously working with Government to accelerate the much needed development and that he will have nothing to make voters believe him during campaigns?
    My advise again to PF is this, don’t lose focus on what matters, development to the people! That was the campaign promises and lets deliver without getting…

  20. contd
    My advise again to PF is this, don’t lose focus on what matters, development to the people! That was the campaign promises and lets deliver without getting weary. Chinese are everywhere in the world including the mighty US not because of anything but their ability to work. Instead of Zambians taking advantage and learning something from them, you keep heaping blame on them, why? We have had whites in this country yet we lived in extreme poverty, no development of any sort. Zambians should NOT have a short memory. Not too long ago, its was a miracle to have options be it it in infrastructure or whatever, Zambia had no roads, no schools, no hospitals, no modern buildings, surely do we want to continue living like that ? NO! HH and UPND must remember and realize that they are NOT the…

  21. contd
    HH and UPND must remember and realize that they are NOT the alternative government people want to see! The next President of Zambia after ECL in 2026 is not yet known and this message must sink in HH and UPND. Moreover the next President of Zambia wont come from UPND because it is a lost cause, its a curse! Zambians dont tolerate politics of cynicism but politics of hope, politics of true patriotism, politics that outlive an individual’s egoism. Its very sad that this HH can continue inciting people on fabricated lies, what hasnt this chap tried under the sun all in the effort to get to state House? Lets be careful with HH, he is a danger and if PF continues to treat him with kid’s gloves, one day he may cause something everyone will live to regret, be forewarned.

  22. There are various options and capitalization methods apart from listing that Gov can explore Simply by listing , there is a danger of what is being allayed here There a danger of interest groups front ruing trades

    Remember the UK has been this way already in 2011 and earlier when they attempted to go the same way

    There are various forms of management Timber or lumber industries from funds to private public etc but the issue is humanity always

  23. The flow of information in any organization is the key to ending grapevine. Those of you who have been charged with this responsibility have failed the nation. Changing goal posts is yet another problem we are faced with. Today a govt. official will say this, tomorrow another one says that. Keep information flowing, timely, accurately and consistent

  24. You will need to withdraw and learn lessons from the UK Timberland investment story The UK have at least on two unsuccessful attempts tried to privatize the Timber Industry in the late 2011 That has
    not been easy The Government has had to abandoned its proposal of selling off 85 per
    cent stake in the public forests after a similar public outcry The outcry was more so also at
    15% privatization (Equity /Debt ) There are so many ways of addressing the capitalization of the forest or timber or lumber industry

    The moment you list either minority or majority stake 85% or 15% the China forestry Investors will front run the trades and effectively takeover That is known and our…

  25. You will experience the same public out cry as in the UK or US on privatization of forests because by nature these represents livelihood for many Zambians its like the heartland of the country

    We can find other means of recapitalizing this sectors and sustain ably so

  26. Okay i see,listing Zaffico does not mean facilitating the sector to grow and perform whether by ETFs or in equity in the global 300 Billion worthy Investments sector
    There is still room for private and institutional investors who can come and tap n that potential to participate and actualise the trades in the sector apart from taking a stake in Zaffico and infact Zaffico should be the market leader purchasing like Zesco from these IPPs They can raise their own funds in the alternative markets to Zaffico in tree bonds , Fund of Funds, trade forestry Index”, Exchange traded funds and structure timber management organisations alternatively to the heartland Zaffico They will need to be…

  27. investors of long horizon not arbitrageurs or shorterm Zaffico eyeing investors with chinese timber market prospects at the core to log out Zaffico plantations and yielded on years of investing Lets be careful as we are dealing with the Heartlands here and the Common Zambian has often been associated with many years of generationsLet Zaffico continue to lead the industry and as a conduit regulatory institutions in the timber sector to effect positive policy for Gov for those private or institutional timber market participants Encouraging to Plant the tries and tapp in he USD 300 billion Timber Investments global opportunity presented might be better than staking the interests 85% or…

  28. Malinso – Are you ECL’s Naphew? You sound so confident about your Uncle’s 2021 victory. Advise him just to work hard instead of concentrating on 2021. The riots on the copper belt are signs of frustrations people are going through. Recently people from the same towns rioted when the city council was trying to repair water pipes. Some car washers who were drawing water illegally caused the riot. But just how people from the two towns joined what should have been the illegal car cleaners and the council police fight nobody knows. This is a sign of potential explosion. There was no opposition political party then but people rioted. Why? Chimwemwe, Buchi, Chamboli and Kamitondo are known for this. They are the political game changers on the Copper belt. Advise you uncle to quickly address…

  29. They are the political game changers on the Copper belt. Advise you uncle to quickly address their concerns or else 2021?

  30. Every PF supporter is causing HH to have fuelled the riots in Lusaka and copper belt, to people who follow the current affairs of this Land can question the accusers that, if HH was on radio on Sunday , what about the Riot which was in Chati on Friday before the Kitwe one, was it incited by Tayali? in bemba we say Uwawa , tabula kabepesho . Is this a christian nation ? It was late last month you were praying to the Devil for reconciliation, after a week the devil has come to add more fuel on the burning fire. where are you now with your God . the problem is that you ask public workers to retire but you , the politician you don’t want to retire . come on, my foot! when the term ends retire . 1, Nshashe Imfumu anyelele mwitonge . 2, Ichalo, mukunku , tachisalilwa umo . 3, Ngawashanisha…

  31. You can constructively oppose and make Gov listen without rioting and i am sure they have heard because we poised to same interest in Zaffico as the same charecters from the notorious case of Rimbunan Hijau in Papua New Guinea (PNG) that controlled controlled about 40-50% of PNG’s log export trade through the 1990s by means of a Sino-Malaysian cartel involving several clusters of companies, each cluster containing foreign exporters and national,mainly ‘local landowner’, companies (Filer 1998). These companies were connected through mutual shareholdings, overlapping directorships, and shared office facilities. In 1993, PNG’s forest minister complained that Rimbuna Hijau was using its connections to block the implementation of the National…

  32. Forestry Development Guidelines, at the same time as financing a new daily national newspaper to curry public favour. For Filer (1998), this cartel is the main obstacle to ‘rationalisation’ of forest management in PNG. Its the same interests that we may face and i am sure the president has heard

    By nature forests are self sustaining in financing also Yalikosa Sino is very very Intelligent Investor and you need to be up to speed to understand him otherwise you are ones to loose out but its been well received and understood by the President Lungu

  33. Political prostitute! we cant believe anything you say. Integrity is what you do not have mama chisusu. When will you learnt to take responsibility and not always blame others for your PF mess. Look at the state of the country now? do you honestly think Zambians are that naive they cant see what you thugs are up to?

  34. THE OTHER ISSUE PEOPLE WANT GRZ TO LISTEN TO AND RELOCATE TO HISTORICAL SITE OF RELEVANCE IN MPIKA IS THE SILVER REST TAZARA MEMORIAL PARK IT SHOULD BE RELOCATED AND THE PARK DEVELOPMENT AS ACCEPTED BE REVERSED AND RELOCATED TO MPIKA ITS LISTENING GOV FOR THE PEOPLE

    THE MINISTERIAL INTERVIEW FRANKED BY AMBASSADOR HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED WELL IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AS IT APPEARED IMPOSING THE DEVELOPMENT CONTRARY TO THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE THAT IT BE RELOCATED TO MPIKA WHERE ITS MORE RELEVANT IN CHINA ZAMBIA MEMORY

    IT SHOULD RELOCATED TO A RELEVANT SITE IN MPIKA

  35. Dora the explora. Minister of misinformation and broadcasting lies. Your friend Felix has gone next it will be you. They have started purging MMD from their party. What will you say then?

  36. Ati “No, me am mandated to tell lies. You, all of you are mandated to accept my lies. Now admire my bums and vote RB, Sata is gay”

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