WYNTER Kabimba has said that the unattainable promises made by the UPND will haunt them now that they are in government.
Kabimba, an ex-justice minister under Michael Sata’s government, is the Rainbow Party general secretary.
He also argues that an International Monetary Fund programme is equivalent to handing over an economy to foreigners.
“The first enemy that the new dawn administration has, created by themselves, are the campaign promises they made to the Zambian people. That is what is going to haunt them throughout the term of office of this administration,” Kabimba said in an interview.
“The campaign promises will haunt them because they are not achievable, in practice. What the new dawn administration has as campaign promises, in my view, are nothing but a dream.”
He said what UPND officials were promising, while in the opposition is a figment of their imagination as to how Zambia should be in an ideal situation.
“They will not translate into something meaningful on the ground. The backlash they are going to face will come from the people in challenging them on their campaign promises,” he said.
“The Minister of Finance Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane says that the IMF package is going to resolve the economic problems that were created by PF. But nowhere in Africa has an IMF package resolved economic problems of a nation?”
Kabimba added that if anything, an IMF problem hurts the ordinary people – the poor – whom it is supposed to save.
“That’s the record of the IMF. And it’s not as if the IMF is coming to Zambia for the first time. It was here during the MMD administration,” he noted.
“In fact, MMD had more goodwill in 1991, than the goodwill that we are seeing during this era of the new dawn administration. MMD had more goodwill from donors, citizens, the international community.”
Kabimba recalled that Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s administration withdrew from the IMF in 1988 but that the MMD administration: “rushed back to the IMF.”
“What happened was the dismantling of the whole parastatal sector, which was a major employer of the ordinary people. Poverty levels escalated under the IMF programme in MMD. Unemployment figures went up under that programme,” Kabimba explained.
“There was a team of IMF ‘experts’ who were based at the Ministry of Finance in Lusaka. They were referred to as the Harvard boys. They actually had offices at the Ministry of Finance to try the help the MMD government to navigate the economy to something that would lead to prosperity.”
He continued, saying: “that’s why Sean Tembo argues, and rightly so, that an IMF programme means you hand over the management of your economy to foreigners i.e. to the IMF.”
“You are no longer in charge of your economy, and that’s what will happen. There is no way that the IMF programme is going to create employment, to reduce poverty because the austerity measures that come with those conditionalities are not intended to alleviate the suffering of the poor of any country,” he noted. “So, they have created their own enemy, under the circumstances.”
Kabimba pointed out that when one listens to Dr Musokotwane, they will hear that: “He is talking about creating employment, which they have promised to the youths, by way of bringing in foreign investors that will come and set up factories. And it is those factories that are going to employ people, and hence solve the youth unemployment. But Zambia has a very small market, in terms of population. That in itself militates against major foreign investments,” Kabimba said.
“Why would somebody want to come and set up a factory in Zambia to make $17 million if he sold his product to every Zambian at $1? Why would he want to set up that factory in Zambia, instead of setting it up in Tanzania which has 45 million people, South Africa which has 55 million, Kenya 48 to 50 million?”
He underscored that Zambia’s population, as a market, is not attractive to any investor who wants to make a profit.
“That’s why you see the Americans, even as they have differences with Chinese, they still can’t afford to do away with China with a population of 1.3 billion,” he said.
“It’s a huge market! If you went and sold a pen to every Chinese at $1, you’ll make $1.3 billion and you walk away.”
About adding value to copper, as per Dr Musokotwane’s intimation on Sunday Interview, Kabimba said: “We have heard that song from MMD time. It’s like the name Phiri in Eastern Province or Patel amongst the Indians, which you find across almost every family. We have that parlance from MMD – value addition. We have seen no technology that can translate into value addition in this country,” noted Kabimba.
“There is nothing new that I have heard from President Hakainde that I have not heard before. So, I’m not moved by words. I want to be moved by action. I bet my last dollar that the new dawn administration has planted its own ilomba.”
I’m not sure myself if an IMF package will be any good for us. Will it help us see bank lending rates come dwn? Will it help us to create more jobs? Will it help us arrest inflation? Will it help us to repair schools and buy desks as many children sit on dusty floor at school? HH a d his Finance minister should listen to all voices. The IMF doesn’t mind imposing austerity on people who hv already seen great suffering already.
#1 I see higher Zesco tariffs, less Fisp subsidies, high fuel prices. I pray to God that I am wrong on all these.
Kabimba mught have lost a large following from Zambians. If you isolate the words and phrases he has used, you would understand he still has some gray matter in him.
Dispel his honest sentiments at your own peril.
IMF comes with austerities. No free fertiliser, reduced civil service, no parastatals, reduced farming inputs, more job redundancies, wage freeze, no social amenities, etc. No human face.
HH has very bad intentions for Zambia unfortunately his followers who are mostly his tribesmen cannot see any danger….the other followers are just bandwagon followers….so Kabimba is correct….called building materials suppliers today and asked them when materials will start going down…they said NEVER….infact they’re increasing prices next week…the US$ is now in short supply….and less kwacha in circulation…now if you add IMF woes….expect NO JOBS FOR THE YOUTHS…it shall end in tears…I already fired 3 youths from my construction project…I can’t afford them
While there might be substance in your contribution, you have laced it with the tribal poison. Why on earth would you would want to tilt your points to tribe in a topic discussing governance and the economy begs an answer. I think you are a tribalist and from my reading of your contributions on this fora that I have had chance to read, you don’t mean well as you come out as a very annoyed sole at the electoral loss of your preferred party.
The problem with these guys is they have taken 10 years of PF mediocre corrupt dysfunctional rule as normal…….it seems that is all they know
Just 3 months of normal leadership, things will stabilise, 6 months we expect citizens to notice the difference……
Most of HEHH campaign promises are doable
In the meantime his party is petitioning over 400 election results, implying that the elections he won by a landslide were not free and fair!
Very gloomy analysis! Perhaps they are unachievable targets. But poverty increased under PF, meal allowances for students were removed under PF! Unprecedented levels of corruption manifested under PF.
New government will fight corruption, nepotism and thievery of state resources. Streamline cost of doing business in Zambia and unlock potential. Of course this will be a gradual process of actualising targets.
The 3 youths I fired became very arrogant and lazy and I warned them not to bring Politics to my construction site but they never listened always shouting “Forward iwe”….Yesterday I told them to go 1 independence Avenue and ask for a gentleman called HH and he will have jobs for them
I we Winter, settle down. HH has made decent promises than your infamous “for lower taxes and more money in your pocket” slogan under PF. I see you guys have been hurt and it is quite understandable. In end days of PF, we noticed a Mr Kabimba that begun patronizing ECL. He was very sure ECL would retain power. You did not expect this level of beating from a man you referred to us being under-five.
Good luck Mr. Kabimba ! Or as most Zambians like saying “Good Lucky Sir” …Hehehehe! Your Math on investments is rather basic and interesting
Please stop quoting failed, bitter politicians.
If not IMF, then who? China? Please!
Unfortunately IMF can’t help you resolve corruption.
IMF conditions are simple, if you are broke and you want to fix your debt, you have to be disciplined and you can’t keep on borrowing and living above your means. Spend on essentials.
It’s basic stuff even at individual level: you owe $10k in credit cards, don’t go get a loan to buy a luxury Ferrari costing $500k.
The disingenuous fact about this debate by these pinheads is that the PF tried in vain to get a similar deal from IMF due to recklessness and corruption.
As for factories and manufacturing, what a misleading comparison. Factories are not necessarily set up in countries where there’s consumers. Most consumers of cheap Chinese goods are in the West and Africa.
Factories are there because of cheap labour.
We have local resources and cheap labour and so yes we can set up factories. And it doesn’t have to be foreigners setting up factories, we (the govt; yourself Winter Kabimba; myself) should and can do it.
The Chinese would lend you at high interest with your land used as collateral; ask you to give contracts to their own state controlled companies; bribe your leaders and sit back while there’s bad governance (while pretending they don’t interfere with internal affairs of your country). Fail to pay back, they pretty much repossess your land and country.
Please you had your chance; you failed and let Bally and his people try something else. As long as they can genuinely fight corruption and bring proper governance, they will succeed.
When Lazy Lungu was sending Felix Mutati and Aunty Dizzy to IMF Hq in Washington to beg for a bail out this guy was quiet …surely what has changed now? We all now know the extent of the problem…that’s the beauty of a democracy even Parties that can not even put one body in Parliament are good at talking.
These deceitful politicians like Wynter he is forgetting that we are in this mess because of the policies of the PF govt he was in 10 years ago …lower taxes yet went on to borrow up unsustainably to their eyeballs; HH’s promises are realistic and a step by step process. This Kabimba was asked t investigate why the price of petrol was high via a commission of inquiry back in 2012 only for him to create a proxy company with some foreigners to steal from the very people he was tasked to help.
Just ignore this snake!!
Winter is speaking out of he’s ass. Suddenly the people who failed to govern are now experts at governance
I came to UNZA under KK. I got a job under MMD and have been employment in my country ever since. What Mr. Winter Kabimba is saying is nothing but the truth. Only those who want to continue to live in denial cannot see sense in what Mr. Kabimba is saying. If a government mortgages a country to the IMF, then citizens must prepare themselves for austerity that comes with IMF conditionalities. Once Dr. Musokotwane, on instigation from HH and his cabinet, signs the letter of intent to engage IMF, then it brings about the surrender of Zambia’s sovereignty to the IMF. IMF will bring more of their staff here to begin their stranglehold of the Zambian economy. They will be calling the shots on every aspects of the Zambian economy, telling HH to open up the economy more, get rid of remaining…
… parastatals, sell off Mopani and take back Konkola to Vendatta, downsize and not rightsize civil service, remove subsidies on fertilisers and let poor Zambians buy the commodity on the open market, increase Zesco tariffs, do away with Social Cash transfer etc. That is the IMF we know and there can be no poverty reduction and prosperity under IMF as we have known it from the 80s under KK. Therefore, there should be no illusions that Zambia will be better under HH with an IMF programme. It will be more misery. KK told us to tighten our belts. Chiluba told us during his massive Pope Square rally to be ready to suffer. Oh boy, did we not suffer under the reign of the IMF in Zambia!
They are used to dysfunctional corrupt leadership as normal……..
That is why normal functioning and duties of a government seems impossible to them……..
Sit down and learn how normal GRZ works
They are used to dys.functional corrupt leadership as normal……..
That is why normal functioning and duties of a government seems impossible to them……..
Sit down and learn how normal GRZ works
They can’t comprehend a normal functioning GRZ
(Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans Honeybee), This person has issue.
We warned them haha. Hh was promising them Europe in Africa. The f00Iish youth fell for it.
Lusaka times you can continue blocking me and moderating me for speaking against hh but I won’t stop. You cannot stop the truth. Censorship under upnd is even worse
The presidential jet will soon be sold according to the promise…
As @Corruption scandals correctly put it “you owe $10k in credit cards, don’t go get a loan to buy a luxury Ferrari costing $500k.”, that was life in PF government, tell us if that was okay? Getting IMF loan requires financial discipline. Zambia ’s incapacity for managing SAP in MMD was, AMONG other things, due “brain drain” (skilled resources in diaspora) and demoralized civil service due to low wages and salaries, corruption, etc. The UPND government has even a great opportunity, as they have a lesson to learn from based on the MMD government and also they can learn from South Asia countries where SAP has worked. It requires proactive leaders, with the country rallying behind, but it’s difficult if you have 16 nonentities bombarding you with low ambition programs and suggesting…
Yes Mr Kabimba those promises are not achievable but we are in better hands then
Previous government.Campaign promises
Are all over the world even if not achievable.
Don’t just look at promises but a wider picture.lastly keeping the old regime would
Be disaster.good luck Bally.
Does Summer Kabimba understand some of the things he talks about? You can’t compare the dynamics of 1990’s to 2020. The conditions have really changed. Fulfilling some of the promises made during campaigns is very simple. There will be transparent and political how this govt is going to run public affairs and nothing will be swept under the carpet and the people will be seeing the results unlike in the past when wrongs were being committed and people got oppressed and had to live in silence enduring hardships. What is coming from the IMF is special drawings rights which every member is entitled to.
Even if Bally doesn’t fulfill his promises in the next 5 years we will still stand by him and support him through and through. The most important thing we wanted was Edgar out of power and made to pay for his wrongs. Every aspiring politician makes promises which they don’t fulfill. Kabimba we know you are hurting. You supported a losing team
The Observe IMF doesn’t play around… they squeeze you with kanyoto.
With regards to the Zambian market, genuine investors would look at the region rather than the Zambian population. A strong manufacturing base in Zambia would be attractive to serious investors only if we maintained good governance and peace. SADC and COMESA are ready markets which combine the populations of the southern and eastern countries. Sometimes you need to let a child playing with fire burn themselves before they realise what they are doing. Unfortunately UPND have sided with scavengers who have promised them the world.
This is exactly what makes the majority of educated fools in Zambia very mediocre. When Kabimba says, “The campaign promises will haunt them because they are not achievable, in practice”, by implied act he means that even if you had voted for him you would have voted in a lier who just wanted to win votes because electoral promises are not attainable. HH has a plan and because he is a unique breed his opponents can’t even imagine how he plans to turnaround the economy because they have no idea. HH needs the support of people and the country. The man has just been ushered in and all you *****s see is someone who will be haunted by his promises, come on Wynter you are useless, I expect you to think better than that. You guys were supporting a criminal organisation masquerading as a…
the observer – The country has already been mortgaged to the Chinks to the tune of $20 billion …they own all your strategic assets and can switch off the country just like that , the bail out IMF would give you is just to keep you afloat!!
Conditionality is a feature of all IMF programs, and its objective is to protect the Fund’s resources by guaranteeing that the program is successful—that is, the borrowing country’s balance of payments improves sufficiently to allow the country to repay the loan.
IMF conditionality tended to be minimal and focused on macroeconomic programs until the early 1980s. The complexity and extent of structural circumstances grew as the Fund became more active in low-income countries and transition economies in the late 1980s and 1990s.
IMF initiatives aimed to address significant structural issues that were deemed to be threatening economic stability and growth potential. In IMF-supported programs, the number of prior actions, performance criteria, and indicative targets expanded in…
When did Kabimba ever make sense or know what is going on around him? What difference do you see between Kabimba and Lungu? Both are useless failed lawyers who wanted to thrive on dictatorship minus logic. If you listen and see sense in Kabimba you probably need a lot of help or school was not your friend.
Can anyone give me even one example of a struggling developing country which made a paradise of its economy by implementing IMF conditionalities to the letter? Perhaps then I will be in a better position to comment on whether it would be appropriate for our government to get an IMF package or not. As I have said, even one example would suffice.
Respect the will of the people, there is time to for hallucination and seriousness. Before the elections Kabimba urged President Lungu to forget about other opposition political parties as the race will be between the PF and two opposition political parties, namely UNIP and the Rainbow party.
“ I hope you realise you will have two opponents, these are your former classmates, UNIP’s Bishop Trevor Mwamba and myself. Forget about the rest and concentrate on us. My prayer is that the President of this country must remain in our class, we must guard this presidency jealously, it must remain in our class in 2021, 2026, and beyond,” he said.
I missed it, his economic turn around, was it all about and around IMF?
What a way to think!
The Devil you know is better than an Angel you’re blank about.
The IMF is the Rich Country’s Club, ponies are the poor and developing countries. IMF package for your economy.
We said it, he has no clue and being clueless means safe havens in lies and theories. Lies that IMF will see us through; Lies about empty coffers. Lies in campaign promises. Liar in chief, who is the fathet of lies?
Past his ‘sell by date’ if you ask me. This is a man who was in government and he does not know the role of the IMF. I keep telling people that Zambia is a MEMBER of the IMF. It pays a subscription every year, so what is that for if it cannot access help from the institution? It is like a person keeps money in the bank but he is being advised not to get a loan from the same bank because strangers will control his house- What nonsense! No one who is healthy goes to a hospital. The IMF is a hospital for sick economies. If Zambia wasn’t made to drink cholera infected water by PF it would not be sick and would not be needing the IMF.
Mr. Winter, is right from his analysis unless one has a tilted mind. Yes, UPND own Ilomba (false Promises) will surely swallow them because they had over committed themselves for the sake of getting power.
The problem with our people or Africans we fail to differentiate between white and black because we are always biased towards black. If one comes with truth will not listen to them but lies (black) will be very quick to agree.
Some of the promises UPND made were lies which don’t need time or space to work to see the results because they are just not attainable goals no matter time given. Free education, FRA bag of maize at 250, Fuel price at K5/ltr, and price of mealie meal to K50.
Politicians lets learn to say the truth we should never use people for personal gratification…
IT IS INDEED TIME FOR REALITY INSTEAD OF DREAMING
ZESCO WILL ALSO BE STOPPED FROM SUPPLYING POWER TO THE MINES AS CEC WILL BE DOING SO TO SATISFY THE GREED OF OF THE VULTURES IN THE SO-“CALLED ALLIANCE PARTNERS WHO ALSO OWN CEC
It is true to that the IMF has never resolved the economic problems of any nation in Africa. Even worldwide, the strong economies like Germany, China and USA have all grown on their own backs. Much as I wish the new government success, I’m afraid that this alliance with the IMF is a recipe for failure.
Musiyeni naye ayeseko mwana wamzanu! Just because you lied your way in and out of power doesn’t mean it will be the same. Sha!
Why is Wynter Kabimba even waisting his precious time advising this tribal regime instead of encouraging them to go fast for IMF so that people can show them the way out soonest! Zambia has never been ruled by such a tribal entity and the sooner they get out the better! The dull youths have already realized that they made a grave mistake voting for Tribalism, and now are saying “we shall vote them out . . . ! ” You didn’t get Kambwili’s advise, but it’s too late now! You have to endure 5 years of Tribalism!
@29 Deja vu
Kikikikiki Tarino Orange and Spaka are looking for employment…if you know anyone hiring please let’s hook them up….i saw Tarino Orange yesterday….he’s looks lost….HH said he misjudged everything now no jobs
This is just Bar talk from Rainbow Pub. ECL dribbled you out of your party just keep quiet.
President HH hasn’t been in office for more than a month, can we shut down politics as usual and let him govern. It will take years to repair damage done by PF thugs. It will take years to restore order and good governance. It is a free country, you are free to debate but one thing to no do is take advice from failed politicians who recycle political parties. Debt itself is not bad, it is only bad if your plan is to borrow to pay civil servants, pay for cars for ministers or useless ventures. But if it is about borrowing to empower ordinary citizens in business, build for the future and invest in ventures that will enable trade and put Zambia on the map, then negotiate the terms and put the funds to good use. Nobody should care what Wynter Kabimba says or Kaiser Zulu, they are old news.
I think it is Winter who is haunted.
@ Saulos You are primitive
When are you going to be civilised???
Zambia is strategically located surrounded with a population of about 200 million people ,so an investor can consider setting up a factory and distributing to other neighboring countries.
IMF may not be the best solution for Zambia in the long term ,hence the need to consider other avenues of raising funds. What we need is a robust investment in soya and maize ,so that we dominate the region with food export. Moreover negotiating even for a big order from China could greatly assist.