Zambia stay put for another month on the FIFA rankings released today by the games governing body in Zurich.
Chipolopolo stand still in 74th place in the World well into May 8 when the next rankings are announced.
Zambia are also unmoved on the CAF rankings in 16th place.
Meanwhile, the top ten African nations on the CAF rankings are Cote d’Ivoire (21), Egypt (24), Algeria (25), Ghana (38), Cape Verde (42), Nigeria (45), Tunisia (49), Cameroon (50), Guinea (51) and Mali (59).
Zambia Under-17 national team coach Chris Kaunda is cheered by the team’s invitation for next month’s Moscow Youth Championship in Russia.
Kaunda’s squad that been invited for the youth football tournament in the Russian capital Moscow to take place from 13-18 May.
The team is preparing for the 2015 CAF Under-17 Cup qualifiers to be played in July.
Kaunda said the Moscow tournament will help Zambia to prepare for the July qualifiers against Botswana.
“The invitation has come at the right time. I am grateful to the Zambian and the Russian Governments and their cooperation with FAZ,” he said.
Kaunda added:”It is going to help us prepare for the Africa Cupqualifier as we are going to play Botswana in July.”
He has since announced a 24-member Under-17 squad that regroups in Lusaka on Sunday.
President Sata has said the notable increase in Foreign Direct Investment [FDI] inflows reflects continued investor confidence in the Zambian economy and stronger investments profitability prospects.
This follows UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s claim that the PF Government is implementing poor socio-economic policies, which in turn have adversely affected investor confidence.
President Sata wondered what investment statistics the UPND leader was using to come up with such an erroneous and simplistic evaluation of the country’s general economic performance.
“…for someone who claims to be an economic manager, we expected Mr. Hichilema to show his economic management competence by engaging the public with proof as opposed to his usual pedestrian arguments about the investor confidence in the economy,” the Head of State said.
“Let me remind him that maintaining a positive investment climate for current and potential investors is an important component of this Government’s economic growth strategy. This is evidenced by the increased actualised investment and Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) both of which reached the highest in 2013.
“Actualised investment for 2013 is valued at over US$1.8 Billion, whilst actualised investment inflows in 2012 were valued at US$1.7 Billion, from US$1.1 Billion actualised in 2011. It is important to note that investments into Zambia have continued to grow on account of the prudent macro-economic management by Government.”
The President said as of December 2013 NTEs were valued at over US$3.5 Billion whilst for the period 2012 NTEs increased to over US$2.8 Billion compared to US$1.8 Billion in 2011.
“NTEs increased mainly on account of higher earnings from the export of copper wire, burley tobacco, cane sugar, fresh flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, electricity, petroleum products, cement and lime, and electric cables,” President Sata said.
President Sata said the Government’s focus for 2014 will be to: achieve real GDP growth of above 7%; attain end year inflation of no more than 6.5%; increase international reserves to cover 3 months of imports; and containing the overall budget deficit to no more than 6.6% of GDP.
The Head of State said Government will continue to finance high priority capital projects including the provision of infrastructure in the new districts, water and sanitation, health, electricity, education, rail and road infrastructure and thereby build an economy that benefits all.
Issued by:
GEORGE CHELLAH
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
A new report commissioned by the Chamber of Mines of Zambia has revealed that the Zambian Government collected K23, 126 million in 2013 from the four major mining companies.The four mining firms surveyed were Konkola Copper Mines, Mopani, Kansanshi and Lumwana Mines.
The study titled Enhancing mining contribution to the Zambian economy and society was undertaken by the International Council on Mining and Metals between March 2013 and November 2013.
The report also shows Zambia is now one of the countries with the highest contributions to tax revenue from mining which now stands at 32 percent of total tax revenue which has increased dramatically from 16 percent in 2008.
It shows that the mining sector also accounts for 86 percent of Foreign Direct Investment and 80 percent of exports.
The report however shows that there is uncertainty about the data on the total level of production in the country and the sector’s contributions to national income (GDP).
“Several international data sources suggest that the official Bank of Zambia figures overstate production levels. With regard to GDP contribution of the sector, the 2013 official data, which is in the process of being revised, understates the GDP contribution of mining. The unofficial estimate from the Zambian toolkit application that the sector contributes at least 12 percent it is less than 3 percent in constant prices and around 8 percent in the current prices,” the report read.
The report was launched in Lusaka Thursday by Vice President Guy Scott and attended by Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma, ICMM Deputy President Aidan Davy and Chamber of Mines President Emmanuel Mutati.
On employment contribution, the report found that the four mining companies employed 56,300 people in 2012.
“Almost all of these workers (98-99 percent) were Zambian. Expatriate employment was lower than in other mineral producing countries except from Chile. For every job created directly by the mines, between two and four additional jobs are created in Zambia through indirect and induced employment linkages which amounts to an additional 110,000 to 220,000 jobs”
The report said mines also contribute towards human capital development through investments in skills training and support to trade schools.
It says in 2012, the four mines spent over US$ 5 million on training.
The report also highlighted the procurement challenges that face the Zambian mining sector.
It shows that the four mining companies spend US$ 3 billion on goods and services each year, of which US$ 1.6 billion is on services and US$ 1.4 billion on goods.
“While almost all services are procured from Zambian businesses and provided by Zambian nationals, very few of the goods procured are manufactured in Zambia. Procurement data shows that the majority of goods are procured from Zambian businesses but most are supplied by local agents or subsidiaries of foreign companies that import goods from elsewhere.”
On social investment, the report demonstrates that the four mining firms spent just under US$70 million in social investment in 2012.
“This is between 10 and 16 percent of pretax profits for Copperbelt mining companies, while North Western Province companies’ social investment is in line with other country case studies as a percentage of pretax profits,” it says.
The report also states that the competitive position of the Zambian mining industry is fragile with recent policy changes having put pressure on high cost, low productivity parts of the industry.
It says stability in policy environment and consistent application of a regulatory regime will improve the attraction of Zambia for investment.
“A systematic assessment of the adhoc policy measures that have been introduced in Zambia since 2008 could be a first step both in stabilizing and policy environment and in assessing which measures are damaging the competitiveness of the industry without degenerating significant benefits for government.”
Police in the Copperbelt armed with guns and teargas canisters yesterday harassed Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President, Edith Nawakwi and disrupted her Party meeting.
This happened around 16:00hrs when Police officers from Kansenshi Police Station were phoned by some PF officials that President Nawakwi was having a meeting with FDD officials at the FDD Ndola Secretariat at 14 Chinika Street in Kanseshi.
About 10 police officers from Kansenshi Police Station moved in and demanded that Ms. Nawakwi who was at the time addressing the FDD Party officials from the four Constituencies of Ndola stop the meeting and accompany them to Kansenshi Police Station for questioning.
At this time FDD Spokesperson, Antonio Mwanza approached the police officers and queried why the police wanted Ms. Nawakwi to go with them to the police. Mr. Mwanza was told that President Nawakwi had breached the Public Order Act since she had not asked for permission from the Police to hold the said meeting.
Mr. Mwanza told the police that there was no need for them to get permission from the police since they were having an indoor meeting. “Look here Sir, the Public Order Act does not state that we have to get permission from the police to hold a meeting. It simply states that we have to notify you when we want to hold a public procession. This is an indoor meeting here at our Party office, why should we notify the police that we are having a meeting at our office? We have the fundamental constitutional right to peaceably assemble.” Mr. Mwanza told the officers.
However, the police did not budge, they told Mr. Mwanza to tell Ms. Nawakwi to stop the meeting and follow them to the police station. “Listen, Mr. Mwanza just tell her to stop what she is doing and follow us to the station. If she doesn’t we will have to use force to make her obey” the officer who was leading the group said.
Meanwhile President Nawakwi ignored the Police and continued addressing her Party officials. At this time the Police directly confronted Ms. Nawakwi, “Madam, can you please call off this meeting and accompany us to the station” the officer told Ms. Nawakwi.
Ms. Nawakwi however, refused to follow the order saying, “Why should I stop the meeting? What crime have I committed? Who sent you? These are our Party premises and I have every right to address my Party officials here at our Secretariat. Go back and tell the one who sent you that she has refused to obey my command. Kabiye kamwebe uyo wine ukutumine ati nakana to follow your silly orders. This is my country and I won’t allow anyone to intimidate me. You are supposed to serve us and not intimidate us. You the Police are actually trespassing in our private property.”
At this time the Police tried to reason with Mr. Antonio Mwanza to plead with President Edith Nawakwi to stop the meeting and follow them to the Police but Mr. Mwanza told the Police that they were supposed to leave the FDD Secretariat as they were causing confusion by disrupting a peaceful meeting.
Meanwhile the FDD officials started singing Pro-Nawakwi and anti-police songs. Realizing that he was not making any progress the officer in charge of the operation called for reinforcement. Within a few minutes police officers from Ndola Central Police in company of Officer-In-Charge a Ms. Chisenga arrived at the FDD Secretariat armed with guns and teargas canisters.
Meanwhile some PF cadres and officials converged at the FDD Secretariat demanding that they cease Ms. Nawakwi for holding what they termed a dark corner meeting. But the FDD youths confronted them challenging them to leave their premises. Realizing that they were outnumbered the PF members backed off.
After realsing that they were outnumbered and that Ms. Edith Nawakwi remained uncompromised the officers were left with no choice but to let President Nawakwi finish addressing her Party officials, while they watched helplessly. After the meeting ended Nawakwi asked the Officer-In-Charge, Ms. Chisenga to join her in the FDD office.
Ms. Chisenga in the company of her fellow officers went inside and met with Nawakwi and some FDD officials. Ms. Nawakwi explained to the Police that she was dismayed by the conduct of the police.
“I am totally dismayed by your uncalled for behavior. How could you honestly disrupt a peaceful indoor meeting like this one? This is our Party Secretariat and surely you don’t expect us to be notifying the police every time we meet here. These are our offices. I know that you are under pressure but what has disappointed me more is that you, officers of the law can stoop so low to start getting orders from PF Officials and PF cadres. You are supposed to be professional men and women and not stooges for PF.”
However, Ms. Chisenga did not take kindly to President Nawakwi’s sentiments and stormed out of the office saying she could not discuss anything with Ms. Nawakwi; her juniors who were visibly shocked by her bolting out of the meeting followed her. Ms. Nawakwi and her members from Lusaka were the last to leave the premises.
Edith Nawakwi is in the Copperbelt where she is mobilizing FDD in readiness for the 2016 general elections
Police in Nsama district in Northern province have arrested a 46 year old man of Munwa village for alleged Sodomy of a 13 year old boy of the same areas.
The incident happened when the boy went to the suspect’s house to look for his friend on April 2, 2014.
Members of the community have identified the suspect as Musonda Sakalani whom they said descended on the boy at his house.
The incident happened when the victim went to look for his friend and at this point Sakalani asked the boy to enter his house and look for his friend.
When the victim entered the house the suspect descended on him before he penetrated him.
The suspect was found in the act by his neighbour who reported him to the Community Crime and Prevention Unit (CCPU) and was later surrendered to the police.
And members of the community have commended police for their quick response in the matter.
Sakalani will appear in court soon.
MMD President Nevers Mumba on Wednesday successfully toured Chinsali the Provincial Capital of Muchinga Province despite attempts by PF cadres to disrupt his tour.
Dr Mumba who started the tour by paying a courtesy call to the Police Commissioner Bony Kapeso went into a meeting with the provincial leadership led by the chairperson Francis Bowa.
Addressing the members after a closed door meeting, Dr Mumba who spoke in Bemba said there is need for the people of Muchinga Province to put the Province and Chinsali in particular on the map as a birth place for the freedom that the country is enjoying today.
He said Chinsali is not only a birth place for First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Simon Kapwepwe but a place where the fight for the independence of the nation started hence the need for the people to be proud of the history.
[pullquote]Chachacha started in Chinsali and this is a place where freedom fighters used to have dark corner meetings to plan for our liberation[/pullquote]
“What has brought as here today is explain the significance of this Province to this country. Chachacha started in Chinsali and this is a place where freedom fighters used to have dark corner meetings to plan for our liberation,” he said.
He further urged the people not to be cowered with people insinuating that Bembas should not rule the country because of the way President Sata’s poor leadership style.
“People should not judge all Bemba using the same yardstick they use to Judge President Sata. I do not insult people in public, I’m different from President Sata.”
Dr Mumba also accused President Sata of fabricating lies about him in Chinsali to an extent that he forced some named Chiefs from the Province to denounce him.
He wondered why President Sata has continued to fight the truth about his (Dr Mumba) origins which he said cannot be changed.
He said people of Muchinga should be proud to have their own son leading a strong opposition party and urged them to support him so that other provinces can follow suit.
And Dr Mumba called on party members in the province to go down to the grass roots and ensure that the party is organized in preparation for the 2016 elections which he said the MMD would win due to the failed promises of the PF.
Meanwhile, Dr Mumba has described the ploy by the PF in Chinsali who tried to disrupt his meetings as shameful.The PF cadres led by the young brother to Sports Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga, identified as Sharpi Mulenga tried to disrupt the meeting but quick action from the police stopped the cadres before a fight could ensue between the two camps.
Dr Mumba said the PF cadres had demonstrated their ignorance of democracy and that their actions are indications of how scared the PF were due to their failure to deliver on their promises.
“When you fail to fulfill what you promised that is the reaction, if the PF were comfortable, organized and credible party they would not be intimidating political opponents,” he observed.
He further said Zambians are not interested in politics of violence but the development of the country.
The opposition leader later visited Chinsali District and Lubwa Mission Hospital before visiting his mother’s grave site at the mission.
Dr Mumba also visited the widow of former freedom icon Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe as well as the grave site of her husband late husband.
A state witness on tuesday exonerated former president Rupiah Banda when he testified that Zambia did not lose a single cent in the Nigerian oil purported deal because government did not procure nor was any money paid to the Nigerian government for the deal.
Charles Mulenga, acting director at the Ministry of Energy and Water Development shocked the Lusaka Magistrate Court when he testified that he did not know of any deal between the Zambian government and the Republic of Nigeria involving the importation of crude oil.
Mulenga also shocked the Magistrate court when he testified that he was summoned by the Government Joint Investigative Team (GJIT) for questioning over the oil deal more than two years after the case against president Banda had been on the stand in the same case.
Mulenga said he was not aware that the Zambian government had purchased and paid for the said oil from the Nigerian government adding he was not even aware that the Zambian government had lost money in the said deal.
Mulenga was testifying in a matter in which former President Rupiah Banda, 75, of 3 Plot 2759 off Leopards Hill Road in Lusaka is charged with one count of abuse of authority of office.President Banda is alleged to have procured a US$2.5 million Nigerian government-to-government oil contract in the name of the Republic of Zambia which former president is alleging was meant to benefit himself and his family.Mulenga testified that he was not aware of any contract between the Zambian government and SARB, a Nigerian oil company and that he was not aware whether there was any transaction took place between president Banda and the Nigerian oil company.
In cross examination, Mulenga testified: “I am not aware that Zambia purchased crude oil from Nigeria. I am not aware that any money was budgeted for by the government to procure crude oil from the Nigerian government. My Lord, I do not know of any deal of oil involving president Banda or the Zambian government with the republic of Nigeria. In fact I am not aware that there is a committee at the Ministry of Energy specifically dealing with issues of oil,” Mulenga who is acting director at the Ministry of Energy testified much to the shock of the prosecution team.
Mulenga becomes one of a number of witnesses to have testified against the State with the first having been a Nigerian tycoon Akpan Ekpene who had admitted that former president Banda had no hand whatsoever in the oil deal and did not solicit for any money from the Nigerian government.
Ekpene testified that his company had since entered into negotiations with the Patriotic Front (PF) government which in his last testimony said the oil deal had been taken over by the current government.
And another state witness, Friday Tembo who is the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Senior investigations officer said there was no deal signed between the Zambian government and the republic of Nigeria.
Tembo said the said oil purported to have been purchased from Nigeria never arrived in Zambia and that there were no proceeds received by government if the said oil was ever sold.
But Tembo testified that although he was aware that there was no oil that came into Zambia, he was of the belief that president Banda had committed an offence of abuse of office when he allegedly involved his son Henry in the deal. The matter has been adjourned to Tuesday next week.
[Daily Nation]
British recording artist and songwriter , Emeli Sande, is in the country attending a Gender Based Violence workshop with Oxfam .
Emeli Sande ,who’s father is Zambian , is know for her hit singles such as “Next to me” , “Wonder” among others .
Emeli Sande in Rufunsa
Emeli sande with Abel Chungu
Emeli Sande with Mag44
Emeli Sande with Pompi
BY KAPA187
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections (JCTR) says Government’s continued borrowing is a source of concern.
Commenting on government’s issuance of a second sovereign bond on the international capital market amounting to US$1 billion, JCTR Director Fr Leonard Chiti said it is worrying and at the same time scary that government has gone ahead to issue a second sovereign bond before it even pays back the first $750 million Eurobond.
Fr. Chiti said Zambians are not against borrowing but that what they are against is irresponsible borrowing.
He said the country runs the risk of falling back into the debt trap at the level government is borrowing.
He added that much as government has outlined where the money will go, it should also find other means of funding those sectors instead of resorting to borrowing.
Fr. Chiti said government should also ascertain whether the country is in a position to acquire more debts and be able to pay back.
Fr. Chiti has further urged the government to be transparent in their borrowing and make sure that what is being borrowed is used for the intended purposes.
[QFM]
POLICE in Kasama have arrested three people following a clash between supporters of former Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba and civil rights activist Kelvin Sampa that left some with minor injuries.
Mr Mwamba’s supporters in more than 20 vehicles went round the central business district honking and said they would issue a statement to voice their apparent displeasure over Mr Sampa’s charity work in Kasama.
The group claimed the donations were not in good faith and were actually an undercover campaign for the Kasama Central parliamentary seat an accusation Mr Sampa vehemently denied.
Mr Sampa who has for some time now been working with the underprivileged in Kasama and making monetary and material donations to various causes denied campaigning for political office.
“My coming here to work has nothing political attached to it. I have worked in other areas of the country and have never experienced what I have gone through here today,” he said shortly after leaving the police station.
The confrontation between the two groups came to a head after Mr Mwamba’s supporters allegedly blocked Mr Sampa’s motorcade which was on its way to Chilubula Mission.
Occupants of a grey Toyota Prado that was part of Mr Sampa’s entourage where slapped by a growing mob as police officers forcibly directed the driver of the car to go to the police station.
A spokesperson of the pro-Mwamba group Jack Simutenda, however, gave a different version of events alleging Mr Sampa’s group attacked his first.
“We wanted to go to the police so they could allow us to ask what Mr Sampa is doing going round Kasama donating staff with his branded cars. Is he campaigning? We want to know,” Mr Mwamba’s supporters screamed at the police station.
Police clad in full riot gear rushed in to prevent the situation from deteriorating into a full scale riot as members of the public scampered for safety away from the commotion.
In the aftermath of the confusion, Mr Sampa said in an interview that he met Mr Mwamba, whom he referred to as his elder brother, at a funeral in Lusaka where the latter encouraged him to continue with his spirit of helping the underprivileged.
“Am surprised that today, people claiming to be supporters of Mr Mwamba could block my motorcade and cause such havoc as witnessed today. I have come to help the needy in an area I hail from. This is my home. For him (Mr Mwamba) to encourage me to continue with my work then just see his supporters do what they did today is like someone eating their own vomit,” Mr Sampa said.
He also denied challenging Mr Mwamba for his parliamentary seat. “I can contest for public office if the people want me but I want to make it clear that I have challenged my brother GBM politically
.
“How can I contest a seat which is not vacant?” he added.
He however, vowed to continue with his work with the community and no form of intimidation would prevent him from working with the vulnerable. “If helping the needy is wrong then I am 110 per cent in the wrong.”
Deputy police chief Milner Muyambango said he would issue a comprehensive statement when his officers had wrapped up the report.
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi has challenged the PF Ministers to prove their usefulness as she came face to face with the deplorable state of the sewer system and impassable roads in Ndola’s Main Masala’s township.
A visibly moved Nawakwi challenged the PF Ministers to show cause why they should continue drawing hefty allowances from the national treasury when they have lamentably failed to address the pressing issues of hunger, poverty and disease and service delivery which the people have continued to endure.
“Surely, how can we let our people live in such pathetic conditions fifty years after independence. How can people be living in such homes where feacal matter is spewing all over their yards? One wonders whether we have a government or not. These PF Ministers and MPs only care about their stomachs. This should come to an end.”
President Nawakwi is in the Copperbelt to mobilise her Party in readiness for the 2016 elections. Ms Nawakwi who last weekend officiated at the FDD sponsored Edith Nawakwi Youth Soccer Tournament in Kabushi Constituency has been touring the Copperbelt meeting Party officials and the local people.
SPORTS Minister Chishimba Kambwili has assured that Zambia will be ready for the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) inspecting team in July despite construction works stalling at Mongu and Livingstone stadia.
Zambia is in the race to host the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals together with Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Gabon, Guinea and Algeria.
A CAF inspectorate team is set to begin examining the soccer infrastructure with Ivory Coast this month before dating Zambia in July.
The Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola and the Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka are the only visible structures available ahead of Zambia’s AFCON bid while two other stadia in Mongu and Livingstone are yet to be built.
But Kambwili said in an interview yesterday said that Zambia was geared for the CAF inspectors despite the slow progress on the construction of the Mongu and Livingstone stadia that are expected to host some AFCON games should Zambia win the bid.
The Minister said the Ministry of Finance will finance the construction of the Mongu Stadium which has stalled owing to inadequate funding.
“We are very prepared for the CAF inspectors, in fact on Monday I had a meeting with the Minister of Finance where we discussed the construction of the Mongu Stadium and he directed the Permanent Secretary in charge of budgeting to fund the construction of the stadium.
On the part of Government, we are very committed to ensuring that the stadia that we put in the bid are constructed and we are confident that we will win the bid,” he said.
Kambwili said the Government would further allocate resources for the Livingstone Stadium in the 2015 national budget.
Voting to select the host countries for the 2019 and 2021 AFCON tournaments will be done during a CAF Executive Committee meeting in September this year.
Meanwhile, Kambwili, who also features on Ndola’s SUN FM Radio programme, said the Government was partly to blame for the low maintenance of the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
He said the Government was currently giving the stadium management K80, 000 as monthly grant which was too little to carry out the maintenance works on the facility.
“I apologise to the people of Zambia that the government is partly to blame for the poor management of the facility because management has been under funded and my ministry did a club memo requesting for increased funding to Levy stadium.
The stadium management should also be blamed because they hold various functions and they cannot fail to take care of the facility. As a ministry, we are not going to condone vandalism at either Levy or Heroes National stadia,” he said.
And Kambwili hinted that K200, 000 in the 2015 national budget was earmarked for the refurbishment of the Mpatamatu Stadium in Luanshya.
He said the move was the spirit of promoting sports across the country.
SIX people died on the spot when a Lusaka-bound bus they were travelling in overturned on the Solwezi-Mwinilunga road yesterday.
The Jitotwe bus had 25 people on board and 14, including the driver were injured, most of them seriously.
The accident happened around 07:00 hours at Kanzala, about 180kms from Mwinilunga and 110 km from Solwezi.
The deceased include Mwinilunga district police officer commanding Christopher Jinungo’s wife and his niece.
Mr Jinungo was also on board but survived the accident.
A reporter who went to the scene found hundreds of onlookers watching helplessly as police officers from both the divisional headquarters and Mwinilunga Police Station struggled to retrieve bodies trapped in the wreckage.
Quick response rescue teams from Barrick Lumwana and Kalumbila Trident mines that included specialised doctors were called to help retrieve the bodies and treat the injured.
The six bodies were taken to Mwinilunga District Hospital mortuary.
The driver of the bus, Brian Phiri, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Solwezi General Hospital. The 13 injured passengers were rushed to Mwinilunga District Hospital.
One of the survivors, Ngosa Mwaba, who was the bus conductor said in an interview at the scene that the accident happened after the driver failed to negotiate a curve and the bus careered off the road and rammed into an anthill.
“You know it was raining. Then as we approached the bridge, because of this curve, the driver wanted to apply brakes and failed to negotiate. That is when it overturned, hitting into an anthill on the right side,” Mr Mwaba said.
Meanwhile, Solwezi district commissioner Crispin Likando said at the scene in company of several other Government officers that some road accidents on the Solwezi-Mwinilunga road are because of lack of road signs.
He said Government is concerned about the number of people dying in road traffic accidents.
By Hjoe Moono
A Zambian economy freed from huge debts; growing strongly and spreading prosperity to all our people would seem to be the ideal and realistic vision of any responsible government. To free from debt, rather than further indebt a nation is the aim of all known responsible governments world over. However, it seems recently that there are exceptions, perhaps only one exception: Zambia. A country until recently growing strongly and steadily with low debt levels, has u-turned into a country with a distorted economic future, high budget deficits and now escalating domestic and foreign debt.
We have stated before, and let it be stated again, firstly, that we have problems in our nation, economic problems, and that our economic problems were not visited on this country by some cruel act of God or forced onto us by nature. No. These are man-made problems created by the PF and imposed on us.
Let us further state, and you would agree, that the government of the day has forsaken the people of Zambia. It has forsaken its mandate to govern and improve the lives of people. Instead, it has gone astray, and made our lives worse off than we were before.
Biggest Mistake? Excessive Borrowing. Too much Nkongole!
We all borrow. But no one would borrow without regard to responsibility of accountability and ability to pay.
[pullquote]Our leaders are celebrating an illusion, for they do not seem to have a clue of the implications of excessive borrowing in the face of compromised fiscal credibility and a poor and volatile exchange rate, coupled with dwindling foreign exchange reserves. [/pullquote]
We are aware of the recent celebrations regarding the new nkongole which is making Zambia a Highly Indebted and Poor Country. Yes, let us face it, we are not yet a rich country, no. But we are a highly indebted country, yes, and our leaders are celebrating at this. What a shame indeed!
Borrowing too much is the cause of Zambia’s problems, not the solution. The PF government has borrowed and continues to borrow too much money. This is creating problems for you and I now, and for our children and theirs in the future when these debts are called in, and pay day is due.
Our leaders think you can borrow without regard to ability to pay, and spend carelessly without regard for the serious needs of the country, and all this done on the premise that more money will be made from ‘somewhere’, without telling you, my brothers and sisters, that it is you to pay for all this nkongole when they are long gone.
The PF is creating probably the worst debt crisis in our history since independence 50 years ago. And all this has been done in a space of just less than three years.
A few of us here today, and many others out there have spoken against this seemingly insatiable appetite to borrow without regard to ability to pay. We have all seen the consequences of excessive debts before, so let us continue to warn against such, let us campaign against sentencing our future to a yoke of excessive debt and poverty.
While we may be putting our reputation on the line by opposing these excessive and careless governance matters currently being perpetuated and while we may be ridiculed for it, we will be proved right, and “Deo Vindici”- God Will Vindicate Us! It is therefore our duty and responsibility to speak against gluttony and carelessness in governance matters that affect us all.
That the recently issued $1 billion Eurobond was issued at an interest yield higher than the initial $750 of 2012 tells us something: That we are now viewed more risky to lend to as a country than before, and thus we now have to pay a higher price for any debt we contract. This should be a matter of concern for all.
With a huge budget deficit, and a compromised fiscal credibility, our leaders are celebrating an illusion, for they do not seem to have a clue of the implications of excessive borrowing in the face of compromised fiscal credibility and a poor and volatile exchange rate, coupled with dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
But one would ask, don’t they surely know? Is greed seriously this blinding in governance that regard for the nation’s future can be auctioned with such little ease?
Free advice to our governance, nothing is more fatal for an economy as highly indebted as ours than further debt accumulation and corresponding rise in interest rates and inflation and a rising fiscal deficit.
Our capacity to generate revenues from the ZRA is below capacity, is there a miracle therefore being ‘cooked’ by the PF that will prepare our economy to face the trials and tribulations that are being created by the excessive debt?
Fiscal credibility is an important yet not some abstract concept: It keeps families going, it keeps children in school and allows then to aim and prepare for a good future.
Fiscal stability keeps firms in business, and keeps people in their jobs. Our nation’s fiscal stability is heavily compromised. One can only imagine that our governance system is out of sync with its responsibilities.
[pullquote]The nation needs its president to address it, not through face book, please that is for teenagers seeking attention. National matters must be addressed head on.[/pullquote]
Zambia is on strange tides indeed. We now live in an age and era of fiscal governance irresponsibility. Irresponsibility in government entails a lack of control of public finances, an excessive exposure of the country to external international money markets through the issuance of Eurobonds even when the domestic currency is heavily depreciated, furthermore even when the ZRA has inadequate capacity to legitimately collect sufficient taxes to fuel governance and development programmes.
This indeed, is gross irresponsibility on the part of governance, and the citizenry may do well to prepare for a pending disaster ahead of us.
Let us beware, that singing and melodically praising the PF’s populist rhetoric will not help our economy. We the Zambian people should demand of three things from the PF with regards the direction of our economy, these:
1. Resolve: that they will deal with the debts and reshape our state to live within our means.
2. Determination: that we shall see clearly what government policy is in place to keep interest rates low, and get credit flowing and ability to pay back the huge acquired nkongole.
3. Confidence: that there are real and tangle measures that will get the economy moving and create jobs, real and tangible jobs for the people.
In conclusion, on the kwacha, let me state that the only trick to getting the kwacha on tract lies in it being addressed by the head of state. We all saw how the kwacha reverted to strength when the nation was addressed by Hon Chikwanda, MP (Nominated), Minister of Finance. We can only postulate that if the nation is addressed by His Excellency MCS, the kwacha may benefit from his strength and resolve and probably be consistently the strongest performing currency.
The nation needs its president to address it, not through face book, please that is for teenagers seeking attention. National matters must be addressed head on.
© Lusaka Times
