Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Evelyn Hone College
University of Zambia political science lecturer Dr Alex Ngoma has called on authorities at Evelyn Hone College in Lusaka to remove the statue of Sir Evelyn Hone at the college.
Sir Evelyn Hone was the last Governor of Northern Rhodesia from 1959 until Zambia’s independence in 1964 and died in September 1979 but his statue his still standing on college grounds.
Dr Ngoma said time has come for Zambia to remove all the statutes of colonialists in the country.
He said Zambia has been independent for over 50 years and that there is no need to keep statues of colonial leaders.
Dr Ngoma said management at Evelyn Hone College should emulate their counterparts at Cape Town University who removed the statue of British colonists Cecil Rhodes.
He said the removal of Sir Rhodes statue is justified because South Africa is no longer under colonial rule.
Wynter Kabimba
Rainbow Party President Wynter Kabimba has charged that the ruling PF is broke and its coffers are dry.
Mr Kabimba who is former PF Secretary General said the party is now broke because all financiers have stopped funding the party.
He said the financiers have cut funding to the PF because the party does not inspire confidence.
Mr Kabimba said he managed to mobilise financial resources for the PF when he served as Secretary General because a lot of organisations believed in the ideals and values of the PF then.
He was commenting on demands by PF youths in Lusaka led by former Chairman Benjamin Siwela for Mr Kabimba to account for the funds he allegedly mismanaged during his reign as Secretary General.
Mr Kabimba said the PF find ways of raising its resources than engaging in witch-hunt over the lack of funds in the party.
He revealed that the PF had a two tier bank signatory system with late President Michael Sata and himself being in tier A while party Treasurer Emmanuel Chenda and Matero MP Miles Sampa were signatories in tier B.
Mr Kabimba said the party youths asking about the financial status of the party should instead forward their queries to Mr Chenda and Mr Sampa.
‘One of the four signatories Michael Sata died, am no longer with the party but Mr Chenda and Mr Sampa are still there, they should ask them,’ he said.
When the PF Government introduced the new mining tax regime in the 2015 national budget, we cautioned against the move. We warned them that the failure to properly consult industry could end up doing more harm than good if the end result was mine closures and job losses.
In developing tax administration reform for the mining sector the first consideration must always be what policy will ultimately deliver the greatest benefit to the Zambian people. In this case the greatest benefit will come from those policies that increase jobs and opportunities for Zambian businesses, as well as revenues collected by Government that can then be invested in education and healthcare.
With these objectives clearly in mind proper consultation is needed to develop effective policies that complement the Government’s broader approach to economic management. This was clearly lacking in the case of the rise in royalty rates announced in the 2015 budget and has since led to one major investor publicly stating their intention to withdraw. This is an investor who currently contributes US$45 million in revenues each year, and perhaps more importantly is responsible for hundreds and even thousands of employees who have their own dependents, as well as employees hired by subcontractors who service the mine. If the increased royalty rate leads to mine closure and delays of planned investment then it will actually have an impact of reducing total revenues and the number of jobs. A situation in which no one benefits.
Increasing royalty rates in this case was not a sensible approach and is negatively impacting investment prospects. This is because no two mines have the same cost structure of production even if they had the same level of production or revenues. If you take an example of two mines, both open cast, and they produce 10 metric tons a year. From a revenue perspective under the current regime both are taxed US$12,220 i.e. 20% of 10 metric tons at a price of US$6,110 a ton. However, Mine A spends US$2,340 to produce a ton of copper and Mine B spends US$4,670 to produce a ton. This means Mine A will make gross profit of US$25,480 and Mine B gross profit of US$2,180. While the Chamber of Mines issued an early warning of the likely result of this policy the Government chose to press on regardless and now finds itself in a panic once again.
In any case the focus on increasing royalty rates is misdirected as the problem we have faced with revenues to date are largely due to collection of what is owed. The solution is not to increase the tax but rather to ensure that all taxes owed are properly recorded and collected, and that further investment is also facilitated so that revenues and jobs can both increase, and not one at the expense of the other. What use is increasing the level of tax if we are not properly collecting the existing amount? Government can also help secure greater benefits for Zambians through supporting local businesses to participate in the industry and both drive and benefit from economic growth. Job creation and stimulation of local economies and enterprises are activities that can directly benefit the people. Their benefit should not be undervalued.
Unfortunately the PF have been too arrogant and rigid to listen to differing points of view, as they have also been with farmers, nurses and teachers who have all struggled to have their voices heard under a Government that shows little interest in consultation. As the PF Government has failed to establish a wider vision of what they are aiming for, policy development has too often been left to the personal whims of ministers and State House operatives, hence all the uncertainty and U-turns which stunt economic growth and delay the delivery of benefits to the Zambian people. President Lungu has already displayed a worrying reliance on issuing directives; making manoeuvres that would cause any serious investor to question the consistency of policies and reliability of a Government.
Here is our proposal and advice to Edgar Lungu and the PF government:
(i) Before you meddle with the taxation system make sure you are collecting what is owed under the current system
(ii) Consult widely and be transparent in developing policy, also ensuring that ministers and State House are in agreement over a policy before it is announced to avoid U-turns only a few weeks later
(iii) Remember that policy consistency is essential for industry growth and industry growth will naturally deliver greater revenues, as well as creating much needed jobs and opportunities for local businesses which directly benefit the Zambian people.
A lot has been said about the six University of Zambia students who staged a demonstration over the high rate of unemployment in this country. To begin with, I would like to express my utmost relief at such brevity. Indeed it is about time that youths protested peacefully in order send a strong message to our leaders. Do not be intimidated. It’s your right and it’s legal.
While many are hitting the airwaves and social media to talk about this issue, I was thinking about the six million Zambians who are jobless, underemployed and underpaid. As it stands, Zambia’s formal sector employs less than one million people out of the working age population of over seven million people. That’s a six million shortfall. Why are we not talking about this group?
Looking for employment or starting a business in Zambia is an absolute nightmare. I have treaded on that path of unemployment and even traded on the streets of hopelessness in Lusaka. It’s exhausting, expensive and dehumanizing. This is why I totally support the students. Their experiences now resonate very well with me. It’s not very long ago when I landed in Lusaka, equipped with my American education and looking forward to contribute to this country that I love so much. Unfortunately, foreigners were offered jobs even when I had better education and work experience. In addition, contracts were awarded to foreigners and subsequently frustrating my efforts to do business.
The idea therefore, of saying graduates should not wait for government to provide jobs is easier said than done. To start a business in Zambia is not a joke. Needless to say, one needs the money to do so. The other options available such as banks, Youth Development Fund and the Citizen’s Economic Empowerment Fund are marred with corruption and nepotism. Only MMD officials and their relatives accessed the government related funds during the time I was applying for one. I remember an official from CEEC suggesting that I appeal my case through the Minister and Commerce or the MMD Secretariat. Sadly, that’s how things work in Zambia and the six million jobseekers face these obstacles on a daily basis.
Zambia’s labor force is growing extremely fast while the labor market is registering minimal or near zero growth. It is estimated that 100,000 prospects of employees are added to the labor force every year creating a huge deficit. What exactly is the current government’s plan to ensure that the six million people together with the six graduates are given a chance in life to earn a living? The Patriotic Front Government promised that they will create one million jobs by 2016. Going by their numbers (200,000 per year), they should have created close to 800,000 now.
Like I have suggested before, this government can create jobs in various ways. Part of the heavily borrowed money could have used to revamp dying industries around the country. Here is part of the article I wrote February, 2013:
1. Create local industries and put restrictions on importing competing products. I strongly believe that real jobs can be created if industries such as clothing factories in Livingstone can be revived. Meanwhile, impose tariffs and quotas on all imported clothing. Ban Salaula. Yes some marginal jobs are created through Salaula but have no long time benefits to the economy. We need to start encouraging entrepreneurship through having corresponding legislation. To encourage many Zambians to get involved in business, similar strategies can be adopted in other industries.
2. Agriculture, agriculture and more agriculture. This cannot be over-emphasized. There is clearly no plan by the administration on how they will create 550,000 jobs in agriculture in the next five years with their no-plan budget. Here are a few points the government can pick up. Firstly, just like above, the government needs to revive the dead or dying food production industries like Mwinilunga Canning Factory. Similar industries for processing fish in Western Province, beef in Southern Province, beans in North-Western Province, groundnuts in Eastern Province, tomatoes in Central Province and so on. This will create real jobs that will employ local people in these areas. In a similar fashion, restrict the importation of certain foodstuffs so that we can promote our own. This will mean that government has to proactively go out there and look for real partners who are going to work with local people.
3. Youth Empowerment. Zambian youths need to be empowered with firstly knowledge and skills. Introduce skills training as early as grade five. By the time they are grade twelve, we will have young people who will invent a nshima-making gadget. It is then that it makes sense to fund their projects using the Youth Empowerment Fund or Citizens Economic Empowerment Fund. In addition, can we have a law that will require every new investor to have a Zambian partner before investing in Zambia? If an Australian mining company discovers gold in Mtenguleni Village I should sure receive royalties by virtue of my heritage.
Unemployment is no doubt the number one problem that is facing Zambia today. For this reason, leaders need to devote themselves one hundred percent to this cause. Unfortunately, many African leaders are not motivated enough to tackle this problem because it lessens their grip on power and the ability to manipulate the largely poor population. The more poorer and less educated the population is, the more rich and powerful they become.
President Lungu in Lunzua Power Station Control Room
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said the Patriotic Front (PF) will deliver on its promises because it is a party that ‘walks the talk’.
Mr Lungu said too many people were positioning themselves to be leaders but the PF was a party that delivered on promises in its manifesto and those made during January’s presidential campaigns.
The President was speaking when he addressed people that had gathered to witness the commissioning of the Lunzua power project in Mpulungu on Thursday.
“Making promises is one thing, seeing those promises through is another and fulfilling the promises is a challenge to many but am glad that the PF is delivering,” he said.
Mr Lungu said that was the sort of leadership that late president Michael Sata bestowed on him.
He told the gathering that as the PF seeks a new mandate next year, people will consider what the party had achieved so far.
He said there were people that kept criticising him because they were merely bent on making him look bad.
President Lungu urged PF members and Zambians to ignore those people that spent their time attacking him and focus on promoting the party’s achievements.
Zambians should instead spend their time working and not listening to those that talk too much.
Meanwhile, president Lungu has said that his Government will continue to borrow and spend money to bring development to people in various parts of the country.
President Lungu on Thursday commissioned the US$52 million Lunzua power project in Mpulungu to supply electricity to the area.
President Lungu said, when he addressed people in Mpulungu on Thursday that it was not a waste of money if it was going towards development that would benefit the people.
Mr Lungu said he had no problems with borrowing money to bring development to the people both in rural and urban parts of Zambia.
“I will not borrow to buy me a suit but I will borrow to develop Zambia,” President Lungu said.
He said Government’s aim is to improve the living standards of people anywhere in Zambia regardless of whether they are in Mpulungu or Lusaka.
President Lungu said he was overjoyed to see the Lunzua hydro power project completed.
The Lunzua hydro power project is a Zesco and Government project worth $52 million on Lunzua River in Mpulungu which involved decommissioning the existing 0.75 megawatts plant and upgrading it to 14.8 megawatts.
President Lungu urged Zesco to ensure that the plant first served the villages, clinics and schools in the area.
He said Zesco should provide rural Zambians with affordable power and with the help of Government, take electricity to all rural areas.
Zesco acting managing director Victor Mundende said the commissioned power plant will serve Mbala, Mpulungu and Kasama.
Mr Mundende said the project is part of the power plants upgrade in the Northern circuit to increase power by 100 megawatts.
Senior Chief Zombe said he was grateful to Government for the power plant.
The representative of the plant construction company, China National Electrical Company, Wu dong Mei, said she was looking forward to future projects in Zambia.
VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina has directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to handle the ongoing sale of maize with caution and to ensure that strategic reserves are not diminished.
The Vice-President has also directed the stock monitoring committee to meet regularly to provide updates on the levels of food stocks in the country.
Mrs Wina said this at a press briefing yesterday on the food security in light of poor rainfall in some parts of the country this season.
“Because of prolonged dry spells mostly in the southern half of the country being most affected, maize fields have wilted due to severe moisture deficit,” Mrs Wina said.
She, however, assured that Government is fully aware of the prevailing situation and that she chaired an emergency meeting on Wednesday for selected Government ministries and institutions.
The Vice-President said an indepth assessment is being undertaken in 48 districts to determine the impact of dry spells experienced during the rainy season.
She said the meeting discussed the implications of the situation at hand and the measures being undertaken in the short to medium term while awaiting the results from the in-depth assessment.
“As an interim measure whilst awaiting the results of the 2015 national assessment, food assistance of 50 metric tonnes has been provided to each of the severely affected districts which are mostly in Western and North-Western Provinces,” Mrs Wina said.
She said Government is doing everything possible to mitigate the impacts of the prolonged dry spells.
Mrs Wina also called on opposition political parties, non-governmental organisations, religious leaders and other stakeholders to work with Government in ensuring food security.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President Steven Kampyongo said in an interview that it is not only Zambia affected by drought.
Mr Kampyongo said that this is not a Zambian problem but a regional one.
FILE: Anne Sinyangwe (C) and State House Principal Private Secretary Francis Chalabesa shortly before the swearing-in-ceremony at Zambia’s Ambassador to Russia Solomon Mbuzi at State House on 6th June 2014
SOUTHERN Province permanent secretary Annie Sinyangwe has pleaded not guilty to illegally awarding a procurement contract worth over K80,000.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) last week arrested Sinyangwe for alleged willful failure to comply with applicable procedure relating to procurement involving a K89,253.44 contract.
Sinyangwe, 48, of plot number sub G/16520 off Kasama Road near G-Green, Lilayi, was arrested over the alleged awarding of a contract for paving of Cabinet office car park to Moonstone Investments Limited.
Sinyangwe is charged with one count of willful failure to comply with applicable procedure relating to procurement.
She is said to have awarded the contract when she was permanent secretary at Cabinet Office in charge of administration.
When the matter came up for plea yesterday, Ms Sinyangwe said she understood the charge but denied having committed the offence.
“I understand the charge your honour but I deny it,” she told Lusaka magistrate Lameck Mwale.
Mr Mwale entered a plea of not guilty and adjourned the case to May 8 this year for mention and May 28 for commencement of trial.
It is alleged that Sinyangwe on unknown dates but between January 1, 2012 and August 31, 2012 in Lusaka, being a person whose functions as permanent secretary administration at Cabinet Office involved in the administration and management of public revenue or property, willfully failed to comply with the law and applicable procedure relating to procurement when she awarded a contract for paving of Cabinet Office car park.
The transaction is prejudicial to the interest of Cabinet Office, a public body under the government.
GOVERNMENT will introduce a loan scheme for students in higher learning institutions before the end of this year to reduce dependence on public financing for operations, Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Michael Kaingu has said.
Dr Kaingu told a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Government’s new approach to finance higher education is premised on the need to establish a mechanism for learners to pay back the loans upon completion of their studies.
“There has been wide expectation from school- leavers that Government will automatically provide bursaries and living allowances, which has largely caused student protests. But the increase in the demand for higher education will not allow us to sponsor all students and that is the main reason why we want to establish this loan,” Dr Kaingu said.
The minister said Government wants to establish a sustainable way of sponsoring students that will compel them to pay back the money.
He said his ministry is working with all stakeholders in the design and implementation of the new approach toward a sustainable and equitable financing system, which will result in the production of professionals who will contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
“My ministry is determined to ensure the development of the higher education sector in Zambia through the establishment and operation of both public and private higher education institutions,” Dr Kaingu said.
He also dispelled speculations that Government will not sponsor first year students at the Copperbelt University (CBU).
The Zambia National Students Union has welcomed Government’s move to introduce a loan scheme for students.
ZANASU president Humphrey Mwenya, who is also COBUSU president, said the loan scheme has always been there but that Government has not been able to recover the money from students after completion of their studies.
“Government should come up with mechanisms to take back the money so that it can be used to help other students. I also appeal to the bursaries committee to release the names of students who have applied for bursaries on time so that CBU resumes classes on time,” Mr Mwenya said.
THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has awarded contracts to three companies to redesign and construct the Chingola-Solwezi and Chingola-Chililabombwe highways.
RDA director and chief executive officer Kanyuka Mumba said on Wednesday that the three contractors will move on site this month.
He said the Chingola-Solwezi road will be redesigned into a dual carriageway continuing from the Kitwe-Chingola road, which has been upgraded into a dual carriageway.
Mr Mumba also said RDA has decided to redesign the Chingola-Chililabombwe road into a dual carriageway to ease traffic congestion between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking during a public meeting on Wednesday, Mr Mumba said RDA is ashamed of the state of the Solwezi-Chingola road.
“We don’t take pride looking at that road. We are going to take action as RDA and you will see action being done around April,” Mr Mumba said.
He also said the Chingola-Solwezi road has deteriorated fast due to heavy traffic leading to and from the mines.
Meanwhile, Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga said Government is not happy with the state of some roads.
He is particularly unhappy about the state of Chingola-Solwezi road.
“This is why we lost elections in North-Western Province because of that road, so as Government we are looking forward to completing that road,” Mr Mukanga said.
A Ndola based Herbalist, has appealed to government’s support in herbal medicine and research in the treatment of different ailments.
Mr. Howard Maila a teacher at Kabwata Primary school in Ndola rural disclosed this to ZANIS in an interview in Ndola yesterday that this is because traditional research should be promoted if the country was to excel internationally.
“I want to take this opportunity and appeal to the Republican President to help us (herbalists) carry out fragment efficacy tests in our discoveries, especially in my Anti HIV and AIDS formulation product.
“ There is need to have our own institution of higher learning especially a university where we can also do our own research freely.
“ This will allow us to discover more drugs which would even help in curing diseases which medical Doctors have failed,” he said.
Mr. Maila who is the founder of the Mailacin wonders, also urged Zambian researchers to take keen interest in new discoveries as a way of helping the country sort out the current economic hick ups.
He further said that Zambian researchers have developed what he termed as dependency syndrome ( a situation of relying on already discovered products).
“Our local researchers should take keen interest in herbs so that they discover more not just depending on other products discovered by other individuals.
“ I don’t know why we have developed this dependency syndrome on already finished products.
“Our country has now become a dumping site for different types of toxic drugs, this is because we don’t research further. The other thing is our local researchers are very expensive and by so doing, they are not contributing anything to our economy,” he said.
The Ndola scientist said his remedy can cure different types of diseases if given chance to prove himself adding that he since cured about 40 people who were suffering from both Cervical cancer and Kidney failure.
MUSICIAN Wesley Chibambo popularly known as ‘Dandy Crazy’, has sued a fellow musician for allegedly claiming he initiated him into Satanism.
Mr Chibambo has also filed an injunction against Andrew Sunga popularly known as ‘Sunga man’, restraining him from publishing defamatory materials.
According to a statement of claim in the Kitwe High court, Mr Chibambo said Mr Sunga falsely and maliciously spoke and published a video that circulated on social media that he initiated him into Satanism.
Mr Chibambo said the words in their natural and ordinary meaning in the video caption meant that the plaintiff was an evil, satanic, dissolute and profligate character.
He said the words further meant that he was unfit to associate with respectable persons and that the video also meant that, as a musician, his music had the propensity to cast spells and demons on his fans and clients.
Mr Chibambo said the words in the video greatly injured his credit, character and reputation and that it had brought hatred, ridicule, contempt and had deprived him of fame.
He said because of the same video, fans and business partners had stopped inviting him to perform at functions and ceased to be friendly with him.
Mr Chibambo said the words and the video were clearly calculated to disparage him in his music artistry and business.
He has asked the court to award him special damages for loss of earnings from his weekly musical performances at K20, 000 per week with effect from April 1 this year.
Amos Malupenga
Government has directed the Northwestern Province Accounts Control Office to ensure no civil servant engages in business with government to avoid flouting the public procurement Act.
Northwestern province Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga says he’s concerned that companies owned by civil servants have become main suppliers of goods and services with the provincial administration and government departments in the province, a situation he said was unacceptable.
He warned that he will not take kindly any officer found flouting financial and Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) provisions which has been a repeated audit query in the last two audit reports of 2012 and 2013.
ZANIS reports that the Permanent Secretary was speaking in Solwezi today when he opened the first quarter meeting of the Provincial Development Coordinating Committee (PDCC).
He said no officer should feel victimized when disciplinary action is taken against them because he expects civil servants who are sub warrant holders to familiarize themselves and adhere to the financial regulations and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority Act to protect public resources.
And Mr Malupenga disclosed that provincial administration has introduced a system where all departments wanting to do capital projects in the preceding year will have to submit project proposals that will be scrutinized before included in the provincial budget.
He said this has been done to ensure transparency and fairness to all sectors so that money is not allocated to the same projects while others remain unattended to.
