Sataphobia
As we were celebrating our 49th independence anniversary, I kept wondering whether the country is suffering from Sata-phobia – an exaggerated or illogical fear of president Sata’s leadership, or from Satamnesia – the illness of forgetting or ignoring acts of incompetence in the Sata administration.

Phobia is highly illogical. As a child, I had a face to face encounter with the cobra—the real cobra. I had gone picking wild-fruits (amasuku) in the forest in Matanda, Mansa, with my twin brother. Since I was ahead of him, I sported the cobra first, as it tried to strike at me. All I remember is that I was immobilized for a while before running for my life. Since then, I developed ophidiophobia – the extreme fear of snakes to an extent that today, I can hardly look at a snake whether alive, dead or fake. Well, that’s what phobia is all about—it’s illogical. As for my twin brother, he jokes about the experience.

Recently, I have been wondering whether President Sata’s critics have developed Sataphobia–after all, who does not fear a “Cobra.” But honestly, to describe his opponents as Sataphobic is to develop Satamnesia. The president does not know what he wants and what it means to govern. Since coming to power, his job is to fire one crony, and replace with another—thereby stifling policies at many levels. The truth is that governing through trial and error will not help our nation’s credibility in international circles. It is clear that our president lacks vision and direction.

Discipline and Ethical leadership

Moreover, the president lacks discipline and ethical leadership. How on earth can he treat his cabinet ministers like fools; how does he expect the world and ordinary Zambians to respect them if he treats them like garbage? Perhaps we are the ones who respect his cabinet, but the president knows too well that it is full of fools! That aside, does he really understand the implications of shaming his vice-president, ministers, and other senior officials on national security and foreign policy? His lack of judgment makes me so afraid—either his ministers belong to Chainama or our president does!

Clearly, President Sata does not understand the demands of the office he holds; he does not understand that embarrassing his officials in public shows how unprincipled and uncultured he has become. I know that some people see nothing wrong with his actions but so far, only desperate people can accept appointments to serve under his failed leadership. So, why is Guy Scott still his vice-president–the man cannot act as president; and he can’t represent him without being shamed. I guess he is just trying to recover some of the money he wasted to help King Cobra get to plot One — thereafter he will resign.

Satamnesia

But those who suffer from Satamnesia puzzle me the most. They overlook that 90 days are long gone; they forget that Sata used the independent media and especially Radio Phoenix and other privately owned radio stations across the nation to organize his party, and he supported workers’ strikes. They are unable to remember that he called Levy Mwanawasa and Rupiya Banda so many names, but now arrests those who question him. They overlook that the president can hardly differentiate between being a comedian and dealing with diplomatic issues. It’s not long ago that Sata brought ridicule on Zambia in his role in the Zimbabwe situation in Angola; it’s not long ago that he insulted President George Bush; it’s not long ago that he made embarrassing diplomatic “war remarks”— claiming that Zambia will host war refugees should Malawi–Tanzania go to war over boundary disputes.

Victims of Satamnesia are easy to spot– they disregard the fact that the president has no idea as to how to bring order in his own party; that he can hardly speak without being abusive and acts on impulse like a toddler! They ignore the fact that Sata lacks ethical judgment at many levels–making Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe saints. Equally, they believe with President Sata that the only way to fight corruption in Zambia is to have Rowan Wirriams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury–the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion to send missionaries to Zambia. I can go on and on, but it does not matter if one suffers from Satamnesia–facts evaporate like mist.

Frankly, if President Sata gets another term, I will mourn for mother Zambia; more so for countless selfishless individuals who died for our independence. I will mourn for Simon Kapwepwe, Harry Nkumbula, Lawrence Katilungu, Bishop Elias Mutale, Dean Mungomba and countless women who believed that mother Zambia deserves better.

Please let us put our tribal differences aside and work to save Zambia from President Sata–we did it to Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba, and not so long ago, to Rupiya Banda. Unless one suffers from Satamnesia, President Sata is taking mother Zambia to 1973 and worse still, back to colonial rule! As for those who are said to be Sataphobic, you are not alone; your fears are logical and justified.

By Rev.Kapya John Kaoma

There has been a debate in Zambia as to whether we are ready to have toll gates or not. Some corners of society are for the argument that Zambia does not have the capacity to build such infrastructure.

Firstly, Zambians need to understand what a toll gate is, how a toll gate is built and how it operates. Secondly, to the average Zambian, having to pay for a service that is generally perceived to be free seems to be an absurd thing. Why should one pay for a road when they want to move from one place to another. To understand this one needs to know what a toll road is;

“this is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll (a fee) for use.”

To build roads costs billions of kwacha. Toll gates are necessary as the money raised from this will be used to maintain the roads and assist us in meeting the demands of social services, which are important for the growth of our country. Toll roads will accelerate the availability of initial funding for construction, compared to traditional tax based funding. Toll roads therefore will reduce the total net cost to the economy, ensuring greater opportunities for prosperity and growth.

Advantages of toll roads

Procurement and dedication of funds

Toll road schemes are more costly for road users than obtaining funds through taxation or a fuel levy, but the funds can be obtained much sooner. Toll roads enable the public sector to contract the private sector for the construction, operation and maintenance of the road for a period of 25 to 30 years. It is in short a self-generating form of income, the Government of the Republic of Zambia will play a moderating role and just ensure the laws are adhered to and roads are safe.

It is a funny thing to see a president launching road projects because that should be left to the Ministry or Department tasked with that. So if we have self-sustaining road mechanisms our dear President can concentrate on far important issues. The President is a human being and there is too much pressure in leading a country so this will lessen some of the pressure in the case of Zambia where we make a big deal of our President launching road projects, for example, the Link Zambia projects. I have never heard of President Jacob Zuma (South Africa) or King Mohammed VI (Morocco) commissioning a road. Why? Simple! This is because the mechanisms in place are developed to such an extent that a road maintaince programme runs itself without the president’s hand.

Improved road

The road is usually upgraded and expanded before it is tolled. This expansion provides increased capacity and thus reduced congestion. The upgrade of a road generally also improves the safety and decreases accidents. Expansion of roads such as the Great North and Great East Roads in this regard would be a good thing.

Tolls also act as a form of congestion charge. It rations the use of the road to those with the highest need to travel. This reduces unnecessary trips and congestion.

Job creation and gross domestic product (GDP)

Gross Domestic Product is defined as the total value of all final goods and services produced in the country. GDP is an indicator of welfare, and an increase in GDP could lead to a better life for a country’s population. Toll roads can significantly increase GDP over the lifetime of the project. A toll road project leads to direct (constructors, builders, architects) and indirect (toll road attendants, ambulance services at toll points, casual workers) job creation. Direct jobs are created in the construction, operation and maintenance of the road and indirect job creation is stimulated through the increased business and commercial opportunities following the development. We so need job creation in Zambia as the population is ever increasing.

Encourage the use of public transport

Government will make revenue if they are to invest in the public sector like a modern train service and bus service because people will use them to avoid unnecessary toll fees. This is a spill-over effect of toll gates.

Other major advantages of toll roads relates to funding, road condition and job creation. Funds can be procured more readily and are dedicated towards road improvement and maintenance. The roads condition is improved in terms of safety and capacity, which leads to safer and shorter travel times. Jobs are created in the construction, operation and maintenance of the road, as well as due to economic growth stimulated by the project.

Disadvantages of Toll roads

The disadvantages of toll roads are mostly related to user reactions. An increased load might be imposed on the alternative routes due to traffic diversion. Public transport will not be advanced, since toll roads encourage public vehicle use.

It has been revealed that society generally reacts negatively towards toll roads in the first few years after implementation. This is because the public finds it difficult to pay for things which were originally provided for free. Tolling is experienced as a sudden real expense, while the savings in running costs, services and saved time are not immediately notable. As soon as users get used to the tolls and realise the benefits, their attitudes will improve drastically.

The advantages far out-weigh the disadvantages so it tells us something.

FAQs

Why do I pay taxes and now also tolls?

When we pay taxes these monies are used for the service which government renders to us all. Taxes are used to pay for these services, whether we make use of all of them or not. Tolls on the other hand, will pay only a portion of road that we use in other words it is a user fee. Toll fees are used directly on the road, which is a benefit to the motorist.Taxes will not be used to fund a toll road and therefore this will reduce the tax obligation of the individual.

Why do we have to pay tolls on an existing road, which was paid for out of taxes?

Road performance depends on how, what and when maintenance is performed. Roads deteriorate over time due to environmental influences such as weather, ultra violet radiation, overloading etc. Tolls are not levied on the value of the current asset (road), but only on the initial and future improvements, including operations and maintenance. Monies derived from taxes are used on other, non-toll-roads, including city streets.

What will the toll fees used for?

The tolls collected on a specific road will be used to, inter alia, and repay the loans obtained to finance the building, upgrading or improvement of the road. In addition, it provides a dedicated on-going revenue stream, which enables the road to be adequately maintained and improved, independent of tax based revenues.

What do I get from using a toll road?

Toll roads are built and maintained to the highest possible standards. Therefore you are ensured of a smooth ride, saving you on the running costs of your vehicle and saving you time. Improved security ensures you a safe and pleasant journey. Tolls ensure that funding is available much sooner, for adding highway capacity at the right time thereby relieving congestion, reducing losses in time and productivity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Zambians should understand four realities about the transportation infrastructure situation facing us.

1. The time for continuous expansion of the capacity of road networks is reaching saturation point and new ways of managing traffic and infrastructure should be identified and implemented.
2. Public funds are not enough to sustain or maintain roads at the current or anticipated future levels based on the prevailing interest to expand traffic and the road network.
3. Borrowing to build and operate a heavily subsidized transportation infrastructure is not sustainable.
4. The rapid expansion of cars on our roads is simply unsustainable and becoming a strain on economic and social development.

Zambians should actually learn from other countries such as South Africa and Morocco (these were for the most part recently built) which have some of the best roads not only in Africa but the world over. Even our cash-strapped southern neighbor, Zimbabwe is implementing toll gates on major high ways. This is an indication of how successful toll gates can be given the fact that they are correctly implemented. The important thing to understand about toll gates is that, all we are interested in is seeing a good road network bearing good road markings which is a serious cause of accidents in Zambia, good signage, good road shoulders, safety precautions on roads and many other things that qualify for a good road. If a road is sold to a private or public contractor, they have to deliver this and if they fail the road is sold to the next available buyer simple as that.

By Edwin M Hatembo junior.