By Philos Zambianos ([email protected])

I do not agree with the idea that corruption is the root of the evils in Zambia. Corruption is just a by product of the bad economy which itself stems from the bad policies of government who obviously do not have a clue what they are doing, other than enrich themselves while preaching to the masses that they have their best interests at heart. Corruption follows a bad economy not the other way round. Zambia had a much smaller corruption problem at independence than now.

Corruption (especially the petty one) flourishes the most in poor countries. If you look at Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, it is always dominated by poor countries, with Zambia being among the most corrupt countries. The last 2008 index puts Zambia in the same range of ranking as Nigeria, Mauritania, Niger and Nepal, countries well know for their corruption.

(see http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2008)

The only way you can significantly reduce corruption is by adopting policies that favour high economic growth which in turn creates wealth that keeps people busy rather than soliciting for bribes. If you make it easy for people to do business, everyone including civil servants will be able to engage in meaningful economic activities that will make them tons of cash.

Secondly, you need to take away the power of politicians in economic activities. As long as government has power to arbitrarily set rules governing how business is conducted, set import taxes or create endless operational rules, corruption will always be there. Various business lobbies can pay people in government to push their agenda. This is why many nations for example restrict access to their markets or impose tariffs on certain imported goods. Their politicians are bought off or otherwise influenced by lobby groups representing businesses. If the government did not have the power over such matters, corruption would be reduced.

Thirdly, kill red tape. For example, to operate a hotel in Zambia requires more than fifteen different licenses that can take many months to get (even up to a year). How can you kill corruption with so many regulations like that? There are too many procedures and there is opportunity for corruption at every stage. Even simply registering a company can take several days when it should really be a one day affair.

Another important factor in truly fighting corruption is using computer and communications technologies to make government processes faster, more efficient and transparent. For example, the Patents, Companies and Societies Registration offices can have an online database of all organisations in Zambia including contact details, directors, trustees, annual reports, etc. If there is a government tender going on, it is easier to investigate possible corruption by checking from this database whether the directors of a company that wins the tender are related to the minister or permanent secretary at the government department (of course the tender itself should have been published online with the winners mentioned).

An unintended positive consequence of using computer technologies is that government saves more money especially with the internet. Imagine how much money Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) spends printing tax return documents every month and the wasted labour inputting all the data collected from tax returns. Why can’t they put a system to do tax returns on the ZRA website? Tax payers can simply file their returns online and walk to any bank and deposit the money owed to ZRA. Imagine the speed, efficiency, convenience and costs saved for both tax collector and tax payer.

Of course I am realistic enough to know that these things I have mentioned (and this is not an exhaustive list) will probably never be implemented by the Zambian government. But if our leaders implemented such policies, they would benefit tremendously as there would be endless business opportunities arising from the higher economic activity. They would not need to solicit bribes or depend on foreign aid as there would be so many opportunities for them to make honest money. Even if there would be a remnant of corrupt politicians, they would certainly remain a minority and would be caught more easily since the police and the press would be better financed in a prosperous nation.

So perhaps I should follow the Christians and start praying for God to send us a Messiah president who understands these things and is willing to throw away decades of wrong policies since independence. A person that can observe how other countries became wealthy from poverty and learn from them. A person who can boldly take a new revolutionary approach to economics rather than keep doing the same old “tried and tested” nonsense that landed Zambia in the mess it currently is in.

A president who for once is able to do the right thing.

MMD national secretary, Katele Kalumba has reiterated that MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga was not forced to hand over the acting party presidency to President Banda.

He has advised members to desist from issuing statements on the matter until the National Executive Committee meets.

“As national secretary, I would like to advise members to desist from making statements on the issue of acting party president until the NEC meets on February 7, 2009 as earlier announced,” Dr Kalumba said.

In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Kalumba said his statement that Mr Mabenga had voluntarily handed over the position of acting party presidency was made after discussions between Mr Mabenga and President Banda and that it was not based on duress.

“My statement was clear that Mr Mabenga voluntarily offered President Banda the position of acting party president and Mr Banda was humbled by the offer and willingly accepted, subject to ratification by the NEC,” Dr Kalumba said.

He said anyone suggesting that Mr Mabenga was forced to hand over the position or that Mr Banda was already acting party president was misrepresenting the statement he issued.

Dr Kalumba said procedure was that NEC would meet and the proposal for President Banda to be ratified as acting MMD presidency would be presented at the meeting for endorsement or rejection.

He said that this did not mean that Mr Banda would be MMD president but that he would be acting party president.

Dr Kalumba said this was because there was no provisions in the MMD constitution for the NEC to elect a party president.

He said an administrative precedent had been set when President Mwanawasa sought the support of former President Dr Chiluba, former MMD Vice-President Enoch Kavindele and former party national chairman, Chitalu Sampa for him to be allowed to act as party president.
He said Dr Mwanawasa was never elected as acting MMD president but was elected president at the MMD national convention.

Dr Kalumba was reacting to party spokesperson, Benny Tetamashimba’s sentiments that there had been perceptions, mostly bordering on lies and misinformation, that Mr Banda had forced Mr Mabenga out.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training Jonas Shakafuswa has advised people calling for disciplinary action against him to use other means of sorting out differences instead of alleged intimidation and threats.

Mr Shakafuswa, who is Katuba member of Parliament, said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
“Things are better sorted out through other means other than intimidation,” Mr Shakafuswa said.

He said Dr Kalumba deserved respect and that it was unfortunate that some MMD officials allegedly did not respect him.

Mr Shakafuswa maintained that Mr Banda was leader for all and not just a few individuals.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Mr Ngwenya said a single currency would help reduce the cost of doing business on the continent.

Mr Ngwenya told ZANIS in an interview, today, that a single currency could also promote cross border trade and investment necessary for economic growth on the continent.

The Comesa Secretary General said the currency would ensure that prices of commodities will be easily compared in the region.

He emphasized that if European Countries have been successful in having a single currency, the Euro,nothing will stop African countries from doing the same.

Mr Ngwenya also acknowledged plans to form United States of Africa saying it a thoughtful idea adding that the only challenge that exists is how to form the continental Union.

He said that African countries will definitely benefit from this. He later noted that if Africa speaks with one voice it will be stronger.

He stated that African countries might be moving at a different economic development pace but what is important is that they are moving toward the same direction.

He said that the time is now for those countries who want to integrate to do so and that they should not wait for other countries.

He urged the countries who are sitting on the racing chair to continue and those who are not to be compelled to sit on that chair and race with others.

ZANIS/CMC/MM/ENDS/MM

About 300 Reform Party,RP, members led by the Party’s Former Chairman for elections and strategic Planning, John Ziba, have defected to the United Party for National Development,UPND.

Mr. Ziba said the Opposition UPND was the only Party in the country that would offer meaningful leadership.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Ziba said the RP members decided to join the UPND because it was the only party with a vision to develop the country.

Mr. Ziba accused the ruling MMD of failing to meet the expectations of people of Zambia.

In welcoming the defectors UPND President, Hakainde Hichilema, said the UPND was now growing its membership in readiness to form the next government after 2011.

The UPND President challenged President Rupiah Banda to implement programmes that focus at reducing poverty levels in the country.

He has since called upon Zambians to condemn tribal politics and instead promote unit in order to achieve the required development in the country.

And Mr Hichilema said he will soon hold a meeting with President Rupiah Banda over the global financial crisis.

Mr. Hichilema said the UNPD wrote to President Banda to give ideas to government on how to address the global financial crisis.

He said President Banda replied that he was willing to hold talks with the opposition leader when he returns from the African Union Summit in Ethiopia.

He said there is need for the opposition to demonstrate maturity in handling national issues by sharing ideas with the government.

ZANIS/AJN/ISS/SJK

Libyan President Colonel Muhammad Gaddafi has vowed to pursue his vision of a United States of Africa.

Addressing the 12th Session of the Assembly of the African Union last night in his inaugural address as the new chairman of the African Union, Col. Gaddafi said he would continue to push African countries work towards the achievement of the United States of Africa.

Col Gaddafi, who was elected during closed doors session at a summit in Ethiopia, however, conceded that African leaders were not near to a settlement on the issue.

The chairmanship of the African Union is a rotating position held by heads of state for one year. It is a position heads of state can use to wield influence over the continent’s politics.

Col. Gaddafi takes over from Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete.

The 12th Summit of the African Union on the Union Government resolved to transform the African Commission of the African Union into the Africa Union Authority.

The new entity has been given a mandate and definition of duties and responsibilities to guide the AU members states on the process of ultimately forming a Union Government being referred to as the United States of Africa.

African Union member countries however remain sovereign states as the have not relinquished any authority.

The process towards the formation of the Union government has followed decisive steps. On January 2005 the 4th AU summit in Abuja, Nigeria, after reviewing the proposal of creating certain ministerial portfolios for the union, the leaders decided to set up a committee of seven heads of state under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda to examine the proposal in all its ramifications.

In July 2005 the 5th AU summit held in Sirte, Libya affirmed that the ultimate goal of the union is full political and economic integration leading to the United States of Africa after reviewing the report submitted by the committee, in which it recommended that there was need to work towards the formation of a union government for the continent.

In July 2006 a committee of seven African heads of state submitted a report to the AU summit. The report, named the “Study on an African Union Government towards the United States of Africa”, outlines a roadmap of forming the United States of Africa by 2015 in three phases.

In November 2006 the AU Executive Council concluded that “All member states accept the United States of Africa as a common and desirable goal, but differences exist over the modalities and time frame for achieving this goal and the appropriate pace of integration.”

In July 2007 AU summit met in Accra , Ghana to debate the plan for an African union government.

The United States of Africa is a name sometimes given to one version of the possible future unification of Africa as a national and sovereign federation of states similar in formation to the United States of America.

The idea has been spearheaded by Libyan leader Maummar al-Gaddafi who is eager for a Union Government with other African leaders calling for a gradual process towards the formation of the United States of Africa.

ZANIS/ENDS/AM/SJK/MKM