NORAD Director General Poul Engberg Pederson has observed that Zambia has enough resources although the country is among the less developed nations. Mr. Engberg says Zambia must ensure that resources transform the entire country by changing the mind set over dependency on donor aid.
He was speaking during the Matatantala Rural Integrated Development Enterprise workshop held at the Southern Comfort Motel in Monze today.
He said there was need to avoid aid dependency and corruption on aid in order to harmonize situations that would create an enabling environment where the economic would easily thrive.
Mr. Pederson noted that aid dependency would effectively be addressed with proper and responsible management of local resources. He said that for the country to overcome the challenge of higher poverty levels there must be change in the manner national affairs are managed. He added that dependency on donor aid, coupled with corruption must be avoided at all cost.
Mr. Pederson said this was the surest way to deal with poverty reduction in the country. And former Norwegian ambassador to Zambia Terj Vigtel who is currently head of civil society under NORAD commended traditional leaders for supporting the rural development through initiatives such as Matantala.
Mr. Vigtel said Matantala was able to bring development to the people of chief Chona with support from traditional leaders and stakeholders. He said traditional leaders must take the lead in critically addressing the wrong traditions that were obstructing development in their chiefdoms.
Meanwhile economic advisor Professor Oliver Saasa said during his presentation that Zambia is not poor but the people are poor due to lack of proper management of resources.
Professor Saasa said Zambia as a country has valued resources which have never been recognized as important to its economic development.
He said that poverty levels were very high in the country because the rural areas had been neglected in terms of development through failure by government to evenly allocate resources.
Professor Saasa said that government must ensure that people are able to meet the basic needs if poverty is to be effectively addressed.
He also said that donor dependency was not good for development of the nation adding if aid was to be received it needed to be received and managed within the policy.
The economic consultant said that government must ensure that a transparency and accountability are made priorities in the management of resources.
ZANIS
Zambia is not poor. The first problem in Zambia is that rural areas have been neglected for a long time. A lot of money is spent on developing urban infrastructure. If rural areas had good roads and access to modern energy and proper communications, Zambia will develop quickly because the bulk of nation’s natural resources are in the rural areas. The second problem is that of the mind set. Many Zambians always look to somebody for help even in matters that they can easily deal with themselves. We do not need donor aid after such a long time of independence. No amount of donor funds will develop this country unless we change our mindset. God has given us everything to make this country a great country to live in.
We totally agree with you – problem is political and economic power essential to release the untapped potential as well as manage the resources held in the hands a of few d—-bags. Opposition (though not great either) has failed to unseat or shift the powerplay. So what do we poor citizens do?? (and dont say vote cause we just get dribblled!!)
Whatever we say it will still point to the issue of leadership. Mediocre leadership. That is the MAIN problem.
“He added that dependency on donor aid, coupled with corruption must be avoided at all cost.”
You have spoken well.
what is wrong with us bushe. is it skin or brain.everything zambia has but poor no food on the plates the whole day
Mr Pederson or whatever salutation they use to address you, I lay the blame squarely on you and you fellow donors. You are the ones that have spoiled our politicians. They mistreat us citizens because they will still get donor funds from you. Drop Aid now and stop throwing your hard earned money into this rat hole. Let our politicians recognise that it is the citizens that create wealth and not donors. Then they will create an enabling environment because their money will have to come from my taxes and if they want more money from me they will have to help me produce and export more.
Right now, they don’t care about me. They know their budget will be funded by you. Please can you stop this madness of donor aid and poverty alleviation programs whatever that means
A bullet or a Swiss bank account?
That’s the choice Third World leaders of resource rich countries have been offered since at least post-World War II.The gangster governments(USA,UK), owned in reality by corporations, uses tax payer resources to subvert countries all over the world.
The first line of offense? Loans.
Stating the obvious
Black Africans are interlegent but greediness and selfiness has led us to leave on a white persons interlegence. i have always said to South Africans to somehow be thankful to the white people for what Soth Africa is today dispite their history with them. As black Africans we simply dont work together towards one good goal
It is said money withou brains means nothing
The government we have wants more Aid and want to give Chiluba 8 million Dollars which is government money though his caliming it as personal. So that they can continue to share the money. If you read or heard what Mike Mulongoti was saying on Radio mano a few days ago you will realise that at the moment Zambia is heading no wher. He made a statement saying…as he was telling the post the they should not pretend to love the people of Zambia more than they (him) a politician as in kalilo(thats) where to get there money from.Having people like that shows his not there to serve the people of Zambia for the development of Zambia but to get money for themselves. Zambia is not poor but the leadership makes Zambia poor since they just want to put money in their own pockets, and not for others.
i only have one problem, RB, he is clueless and as a leader lacks the capacity to transform the country. his only abition is to become rich and free his fellow conmenFTJ. we are finished as country under his leadership. kaya!!!
hunger, jelous, selfish, short cuts, are ways of a blackman.
my question is can we do it. look now chinese are geting everything why are we so backward kanshi. 30 years from now what will be left for us? where are our laws to to monitor the activites of these investers. why do we always say direct foregn investment what about local imwe please.
i have cried……..
[The international lending organization is] willed by the big powers which dictate what it should do, … We have never been friends of the IMF and in the future we will never be friends of the IMF.
The motherf0cker is damn right!
We’re missing the point. The governemnt facilitates an infrustrure for development. Where is your Scienctific Research Institute? Not funded. Roads? Unbuilt. Police? Found only at State House. Schools? In a mess. First and foremost, Zambia needs to establish a government. Right now, we have a group of good-for-nothings playing at governing…Yes, Zambia is rich in resources and poverty, but not in governance.
Good afternoon
Wohl gemerkt, Herr Pederson! Indeed, our country is neither poor nor our people helpless, but a combination of negative external & internal factors ranging from slavery (mental & physical), colonialism and economic and racial opression has led to the underdevelopment of our country and continent.
The only thing left is to pray for deliverance from our oppressors – the MMD & UNIP pact
Yes Zambia is not poor that is what we tell our leaders who cannot see it ;; the problem is poor leadership corruption and donnor dependance … all what it takes a nation to be called rich is in Zambia but mind set wallows in poverty ,, we do know this especially us who live in diaspora
The NORAD Director General has rightly stated what every Zambian has known since independence. The problem in Zambia is that when one becomes president or MP or minister, etc…the first thing they think of is to get rich fast, make themselves and their families comfortable through theft, plunder of resources and rampant corruption and nepotism. I totally agree with #6, True PF Cadre, the donors must stop their aid because it goes straight into the pockets of shameless thieving criminals. Time will come when they will face the music because Zambians know who they are.
“He said there was need to avoid aid dependency and corruption on aid in order to harmonize situations that would create an enabling environment where the economic would easily thrive”. Unless we do away with this, then we can not argue that we are not poor. Even straight forward things like getting a passport, ni corruption. The minds are rotten starting with those of the president down to his ministers. All people think about are ways and means of making money everyday.
Nine Chale sorry man but I hate people who still talk about slavery now. Really we should have used it as a positive instead of a negative.One wouldn`t believe a black person would suffer racism from a fellow black person in America where there are decendants of it. It happens even upto today. Put that down to slavery (mental or physical)?
I HAVE KNOWN ALREADY THAT WE ARE NOT POOR NEITHER ARE WE RICH. IT SHUD NOT TAKE A WHITE MAN TO REMIND US OF THE FACT. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT IN AFRICA AND IN ZAMBIA INCLUSIVELY. IT IS A WHITE MAN WHO SHOWED US THAT WE ARE POOR DURING HIS MIGRATION INTO OUR VIRGIN CONTINENT. WE WERE JUST LIVING AS NORMAL AND NOT CARING ABOUT WHAT PERFUMES TO PUT ON, WHAT LABEL OF CARS AND CLOTHES TO USE. WE WERE JUST FINE IN THE STATE OF NATURE. THEN A WHITE MAN CAME IN AND THAT WAS A BEGINING OF OUR PROBLEMS. HE SCANDLISED US, HE STOLE OUR RESOURCES, HE SOLD US, HE COLONISED US AND EVENTUALLY AS IF WHAT W HITE MAN STOLE AND SCANDALISED WAS NOT ENOUGH HE EVEN STARTED TO SELL US AS SLAVES. HE HAD TO SUFFER FOR MANY CENTURIES AS SLAVES AT THE HANDS OF SLAVE TRADERS WHO WERE NOT FROM OUR VIRGIN LAND…..
TODAY A WHITE MAN IS TELLING US THAT WE ARE NOT POOR. WHAT MEASUREMENT IS HE USING? IF HE IS OUR AFRICAN INDEGENOUS MEASURE, WE ARE NOT POOR NEITHER ARE WE RICH; WE ARE WHO WE ARE. BUT IT IS THESE SAME CHAPS LIKE THIS WHITE MAN WHO HAVE SHOWN US THAT WE CAN DO BETTER, WHERE?????GO TO THE VILLAGE TODAY AND MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT BOTHERED. THEY LIVE HAND TO MOUTH AND NEVER WORRY ABOUT POLITICS, THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND ALL THOSE CRAP. I AM NOT RACIST BIT I BUT I DONT LIKE SUCH COMMENTS, NEITHER DO I LIKE PEOPLE OF HIS COLOUR TO TELL US WHEN WE KNOW FOR SURE.
well spoken unfortunately, we have a pathetic and shitty govt rulling us
well spoken unfortunately, we have a pathetic and shitty govt rulling us that has no ambition to develop the country. all they want is to travel the world and abuse tax payers money
LT PUT A BLACK PICTURE WE BLOG ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. THAN THIS CRAP OF DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY. IN ZAMBIA WE CANT BE BLAMED. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MISSED UP. WE SHUD JUST KEEP HANGING IN THERE AND COUNT THE CENTURIES. ITS GOD FOR ALL AND EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. WE ARE NOW LIVING IN THE TIME OF THEORIES IN ZAMBIA DIRECTED BY A WHITEMAN. I WILL NEVER FORGIVE A WHITE MAN FOR THE STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM WHICH DID NOT EVEN WORK AFTER USING IT AS AN EXPERIEMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THE DEMOCRACY EXPERIEMENT HAVE FAILED AFRICA TOO. EVEN COUNTRIES THAT ARE NOT CONSIDRED DEMOCRATIC ARE DOING FAR MUCH BETTER THAN DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES. A WHITE MAN HAS LOST IT TOO. THE BASED THING IS TO LEAVE US ALONE AND THE DARWINIST THEORY WILL LEAD US INTO THE REAL SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.
THE LONDON EYE………U ……………KNOW IT………….SOME WHITE CHAPS STILL BELIEVE WHEN U ARE BLACK U ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH…….YOU HAVE REALLY TO BE GOOD TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. BUT I KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE SAME WHITE CHAPS SOMETIMES I HANG OUT WITH HAVE VERY SHALLOW MIND SET. I TOLD ONE I COME FROM ZAMBIA THE REAL AFRICA SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAS A FRIEND FROM SENEGAL SO WHEN I GO TO AFRICA I SHUD GREET THE FRIEND IN SENEGAL. POOR GEOGRAPHY. ANOTHER ONE ASKED ME WHY I WAS USING HANDS TO EAT MY NSHIMA BECOZ IT WAS NOT HYGENIC. I SAID I HAVE BEEN EATING NHSIMA WITH HANDS SINCE CHILDHOOD AND I HAVE GROWN UP STRONG AND HEALTH. ANOTHER CRAP WONDERED WHY IN AFRICA WE ARE ALWAYS FIGHTING. I SAID THATS THE BAD SIDE OF AFRICA BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF AFRICA IT ROCKS ON OUR OWN WAY.
It is amazing guys that many fail to know why we need to go back to our basics. A number of factors are responsible for our frail socio-economic status.
Our dependency syndrome is as a result of Zambia nursing misconceptions about what wealth is. An analogy goes that if you check how long natural processes run from the beginning of a process to the end, its enough example for our planners to consider such concepts to make our self reliant. Civilizations such as those of the west are advanced in their influence and history of cultural and economic activity coupled with another major influential factor, Population. The Tswana model is our model, from basics such as cattle and rural strategies. Deny it or not, even the voting process is far from effective result without starting from what…
Its a sad sate of affairs in Zambia. Maybe we are rich but riches without senses cannot take you anywhere.
We are just cursed with he likes of Chiluba & Rupiah Banda especilly in this ear where we shud be able to take advanatge of the open Markets. Kaunda did his best, thats why today we still remain peaceful and made headways in Education. Kafupi came and destroyed everything..The good reference of Evil..Our Good Mwanawasa had to die and soon came the Reference Model of corruption & laziness in Rupiah Banda…We are simply cursed and saddled with mediocre…Looking at the Current crop of leaders, only HH stands out..but even him the Trbalism started by Chiluba is hindering him..SATA is the worst ..Jumping into Fire from frying PAN… he solution is just to Split this country into manageable units if we cant unit and find suitable leaders and settle fo mediocres like Rupiah & Sata..
#21, 22, 23, 24, I Write What I Like, Times have changed and the world has moved on. It is sad that you seem bitter with the past and the white man. We are talking about problems brought about by the leadership that affect Zambians today. How is the white man responsible for the mismanagement of the country? If I am not mistaken you are blogging from a white mans country instead of Zambia. I have been in this country where I am blogging from for nearly 20 years and no white man has ever asked me any of the things you claim to have been asked. The worst enemy of the African people is the corrupt black leader not the white man. You are entitled to your views and so am I.
Is available. Human and material resource coupled with government strategy to enhance the basics will undoubtedly change the lives of Zambians. Does some one wonder why most young people feel they haven’t got a career unless they study accountancy? We have killed talent by promoting narrow concepts of career pursuits and we have encouraged young people to pursue careers wrongly with get rich attitudes and little passion for what they want to do. The nation needs support with building and developing human and material resource rather than leaving a cosmetic ideology coated with myopic perspective of get rich quick instead of pursuits of careers passion and individual capability goals . Young people would rather stay at home in Zambia if they cant find an admired career for the simple…
We are our own Problem. these are the major problems in africa
1, Corrupt leadership 2.Regionalism & Tribalism 3. Mediocre Electors/Voters 4. Greedness 5. Lazy 6.Un imaginatite & lack of Creativity … the lsit goes on..all bad things. These are there is ther countries, but in Zambia. the bad things onsitutue over 60%,. With such bad state level even the good ones ened up joing in bad vices to survive…
That is EASY for you to say Mr. White man.wikala ku kabulonga your offices are also in kabulonga,the only places you see are arcades and international airport.so to you zambia is not poor?
They got broke people, poor people, my people, your people.And they won’t change, ever change, can’t change, don’t change.It is science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy, of superstition and deadening of custom and tradition, of vast resources running to waste, or a rich country inhabited by starving poor… Who indeed could afford to ignore science today? At every turn we have to seek its aid… The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science.
Whenever there are in any country uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on. The small landowners are the most precious part of a state.
We the Zambians are to blame we are too self centred every zambian pretends to be doing fine even those with dot.com cars think thats it they’ve made it. Zambians are strange they elect leaders out of sympathy and insult those leaders when they don’t perform. RB was elected because he looked fatherly and showed more remorse when levy died and every one ignored his past performance. Apart from rigging there is a marjority which got convinced. Zambia is rich but the pipo are lazy to even choose good leaders.
The poor are the only consistent altruists; they sell all they have and give it to the rich in the name of pravatization.
we need people like Ghost dog in politics,the brother is deep in thought,a great knowledge monster,plus he is the rtuth,a big shout to all ya fools blogging this day,kiss my black *** am out.
we need people like Ghost dog in politics,the brother is deep in thought,a great knowledge monster,plus he is the truth,a big shout to all ya ****S blogging this day,kiss my black *** am out.
we need people like Ghost dog in politics,the brother is deep in thought,a great knowledge monster,plus he is the rtuth,a big shout to all ya ***** blogging this day,kiss my black ecee am out.
Blacks are amazing! Have you people even bothered to read what this man is talking about? He is 100% right. Yes he lives in Kabulonga alright so what? Some of you are still bitter about slavery! Halarious! Please move on. With the resources we have, we shouldn`t even be arguing the points this man has put across. How do you justify Kafupi Titus Fredrick Jacob Chiluba Mpundu Mukanwa having hundreds of millions of dollars when the majority go without food?
Stop bitter people and why be bitter when you are living in the white man`s land anyway? Why not come back to Zambia like me? You are hypocrites. Enjoying but still whinging.
leadership has failed zambians.how can leaders elected by people defend chilubas aquital.shame,such leaders have created a law that no president should face the law whether a thief or corrupt,no wander RB and chiluba alliance to get tactics to steal in ZAMTEL PRIVATIZATION agenda.soonest i smell big problems in our good peacefull zambia.
Ba Abel Mbewe mulikwi kanshi? First I wont agree with you that the bulk of resources is in the rural areas. These resources are where the people have run to, namely the urban areas. I have just come from the so-called urban area of Zambia, Kitwe Luanshya Mufulira. The infra-structure you are talking about is no longer there. roads dont exist anymore in the Kitwe City centre so the government clearly cant even maintain structures that were once there so how will they make new ones?
The problem is the MIND. It means our African leaders and those who put them in office have something wrong with the minds. Managment is a product of the mind. So is leadership. Mediocre and shalloe thinking is the biggest problem in Africa.
Those blaming White people, colonialism or slavery are not being honest with themselves. No sane person can look at Zambian and honestly say what we see is not our own making.
Even if donors stopped donating, this will not make our leaders to suddenly care about Zambians or use our resources well. Our leaders misuse or steal donor money because they are thieves. A thief steals because he is a thief, not because there’s something to steal.
It’s not about skin colour – look at Obama. It’s the Mindset of African leaders that is wrong.
But HOW can we turn our mindsets right.
We all agree that we have a big problem in our heads. Unless we do this Black Africa may forever remain backward.
By the way, I agree with those saying RSA is where it is because of the white man. Given the same resources, the blacks will have squandered it. Look at Nigeria, the country is so rich but the oil money goes into people’s pockets. Look at DRC, Angola, Zimbabwe.
The man knows what he is talking about. Whites are rarely wrong, i have so many experience. we must commend the man. Thanks
We were liberated by the whites we must accept it, Myself iam getting married to one, its such a relief
RB promised us that if he is elected to power because he has travelled the world he would rule better.because he has seen how developed nations are run;; now what do we see corruption has become his priority all the corrupt characters are his pals starting from vj to ftj
#49 RB is still travelling the world. May be keep waiting. LOL
Stop with all this ‘white man’ whinging. South Africa is one of the most polarized, imbalanced societies in the world. If you choose to only look at the hoarding of national resources by 10% of the population and think that is a good thing, be my guest. If you think living on a reservation to make room for ‘the white man’, please go and be someone’s slave if that makes you happy.
If you want to have a serious discussion about how to make Zambia the best country in the world to live in, let’s have a discussion.
Now for the real discussion. Every year, Zambia is leaving close to 1 billion on the table. I am talking about over $300 million a year that is wasted in procurement and other government waste. Speaking for the year 2004, I am also talking about the mining industry making $2400 million per year profit, and paying only $6 million in taxes. Zambia received $600 million in ‘donor aid’, but if mine profits were effectively taxes at 50%, it would collect $1200 million from the mines alone. Even if all donor aid disappeared, that would still be a gain of $600 million over today’s situation. Together with $300 million from eliminating corruption, that would be a gain of $900 million. Then, there is government waste.
Zambia has 29 ministries, among which are 9 provincial ministries. Why have provincial authorities and provincial ministries? The total number of ministries can be consolidated to 10-12. With a greater emphasis on local government, a lot of MPs functions could be much more efficiently handled by an elected Local Council leader, and we could reduce the number of MPs to one for every district – 72.
There are a lot of UNIP era positions, that have to do with the party maintaining control, and have no accountability other than the appointing authority – they are unelected. Those positions can go.
What I am proposing, is that 50% of national revenues are used to directly fund local councils – that is $550 million, divided over 350 councils of 30,000 people each ,$1.57 million per council, from which they can finance healthcare, education, policing, public utilities, and administration. In rural areas, they could also have a farmers information office. This money must be paid out on a permanent basis, by an independent civil service (for instance the ZRS directly). In other words, no politicians will have a look in.
This would be revolutionary – in a non-violent way. It would ensure basic services to everyone in the country, no matter where they lived, no matter who is in State House, no matter whether they voted for the party in government or not.
This is something that should be demanded by every Zambian citizen, no matter what their party affiliation. How long can people live in hope, that if they vote in someone from their region, ‘development will come’ to their part of the country. No, this is something that should be demanded by every single citizen – basic services, paid for by government tax money – which is the money they themselves pay to the government, whether it is directly through income tax, or from taxes on their mineral resources, the mines.
The people have to stand up against the government and the mining companies, and demand that their resources are used in a way that benefits them.
I think the model I have proposed here would do that in a completely equitable way.
Say whatever you want to say…..Everything in life hangs on LEADERSHIP
No.48.Your comment does not hold substance,what has pigmentation has to do with being wrong or right.Morality has nothing to do whatsoever with one´s skin colour.
YOU BLOGGERS WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DEVELOP ZAMBIA? DON’T JUST BLOG, TELL US WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR YOUR COUNTRY….DON’T JUST SEAT IN THE LUXURY OF OTHER PEOPLES SWEAT. ARE BUILDING IN LUSAKA OR CHIBOMBO? ARE YOU FARMING IN MUNGWI OR SAMFYA? IT’S NOT THE GOVT, BUT PEOPLE AS WHOLE…
China,
” ARE BUILDING IN LUSAKA OR CHIBOMBO? ARE YOU FARMING IN MUNGWI OR SAMFYA? IT’S NOT THE GOVT, BUT PEOPLE AS WHOLE… ”
What would it matter to anyone not in Mungwi or Samfya if we were? Why aren’t people in Mungwi or Samfya farming themselves? And if not, how do we get there?
I think you are see contribution as each and every one of us replacing local people – the way the MMD wants to replace every Zambian business with a foreign business.
Somehow, that would be ‘development’? Tell me if I’m wrong about that.
I want to see local people do for themselves, which is the only sustainable way to go.
So how do we get there? Well one way would be to stop taxing the workers to the max, let them keep their money, and tax the people’s mineral resources.
China ..great point of view,give us an example of what you have personally done.
SCRIPTURE,
” Say whatever you want to say…..Everything in life hangs on LEADERSHIP ”
So how are we going to get the leadership that we need? It isn’t going to materialize out of nowhere. And we know the usual suspects lining up for State House.
Even the best ones don’t get that neoliberalism was a lie. That if you throw open your borders to imported goods, it will somehow stimulate the economy. Yes, you can get cheaper goods, but only at the expense of jobs and increased unemployment. Where has Zambia’s manufacturing sector gone under ‘free trade’?
We need protectionism, and a government that stimulates indigenous business before anyone else, a government that is not afraid to tax the mines to the max. Those resources belong to the people of Zambia, not a foreign…
I dislike it when some people think a white man is some kind of god,this inferiority complex still lingers on the minds of some blogers.
“I WRITE WHAT I LKE AND Mr.K..keep on guys your comments hold substance
I think they are vital lessons to learn for many of us Zambians,from one of the sons of Africa´´in the name of Paul kgame´´
Let us be honest. We were colonised and yes bought for nothing and made to work. Zambia got independence ages ago but to blame a white man after all these years is just plain s t u p i d i t y! People should be asking why the Zambia of yesterday is always bling bling compared to what you get today. Anyone remember township roads being resurfaced? As for South Africa. Yes, they are just going through what we have been through. Thank God some of you are not presidents because you can do a Bob Mugabe or Idi Amin. Blacks are not known for patience are they? Look at at how quickly politicians beome rich in Africa.
#22 and all others who dont want to hear me talk about slavery – maybe you need to take a trip to Goa Island to see for yourselves how my and YOUR ancestors were ruthlessly torn away from their families and their beloved ones, brutally stashed into dark, filthy, dungeons, stashed like sardines onto the slave ships and cargoed to the West as human merchandise to labour in blood, sweat and tears – only to be paid the reward of death, shame and reproach. This is OUR HISTORY and I will never stop talking about this most brutal sub-human atrocity angainst my people…till I’m laid to rest! I will not be like those that live in denial – sorry, but the truth must be spoken. The truth is an offence but it is not a sin.
zambia is not poor, its true. We have all it takes for the country to develop but the problem is that our brains are used to handouts from the same white poeple who tell us we are not poor, because they see the potential of becoming a rich country. Zambia has so much aid givent to it than all other countries around it, but is the poorest. The rich in zambia just mutiply their riches and the poor gets poorer. The reason is simple, there is too much ubung’o. Everybody in the GOVT ia busy with self devolopment before the term ends. Its pathetic to live in such a country. Only God knows what the future holds for us in zambia.
Blame the white man for someone buying hearses instead of an ambulance.
#48 Mushota, Not that I hate white men but I just don’t like the way most of them are always trying to belittle our integrity, thinking that all we know is just what they tell us. Most of them are full of false pride and arrogance. infact, they themselves even admit that they do not have the inner joy and the “coolness” that Black people possess in abundance. This is because their world is centered entirely on materialism.
The White man defines himself by WHAT he calls his own (House, money, cars…).
The Black man defines himself by WHO he calls his own (tribe, family, friends, etc.)
#66 Nine Chale I have Roots (all episodes), Amazing Grace on DVD. Something I sit down and watch atleast 4 times a year. Whinging about it everyday will not take us anywhere. It happened and it hurts yes but that was years ago. Yes it makes you hurt inside but are we going to bury our heads in the sand and not move on? To be honest with you most countries who give us aid even upto now are so racist. I am surprised you come on here with a German flag.
Wanungiya Ngeningeni,
” to blame a white man after all these years is just plain s t u p i d i t y! ”
Who owns the mines now? After the IMF demanded privatisation of the mines, or they would destroy the economy back in 1999, who owns the mines now? And have they ‘brought development’, as Levy Mwanawasa used to say? Are the 58,000 jobs equivalent to the $10 billion in pure profits from the mines that have gone untaxed?
Who do you think will push back when we tax the mines to the max? The black man the white man bought, or the white man?
To imagine that the whites have nothing to do with it when they own the mines and the IMF is stupidity.
SORRY TO FELLOW BLOGGERS WHO MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME BUT I FEEL WE (ZAMBIANS) ARE RIGHTLY POSITIONED TO TALK ABOUT OUR STATUS (RICH OR POOR) AND NOT THIS NORAD FIMO FIMO BCOZ THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY ZAMBIA IS AS IT IS TODAY. ONE OF WHICH IS INBALANCES IN THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS WHERE OUR COMMODITIES ARE REGARDED BY THE NORAD FIMO FIMO AND HIS FRIENDS AS INFERIOR. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY DETERMINE COPPER PRICES ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET WHICH WE SO HIGHLY RELY ON. THEY ALSO DETERMINE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BY TELLING US TO FOCUS ON PRIMARY EDUCATION INSTEAD OF HIGH AND TERTIARY EDUCATION. I MEAN THEY ARE FULL OF TAKING US IN REVERSE AND THEREAFTER APPORTION BLAME ON US. MR O. SASA IS SUPPOSE TO HELP GOVT COME UP WITH WAYS OF CREATING EMPLOYMENT THROU RESEARCH.
mwanida,
I’ll say it again. What Zambia received in ‘aid’ in 2004, $600 million, was given away 4 x over in untaxed mining profits – $2400 million. That year, the mines exported $4000 million in copper and cobalt – minerals that belong to you.
So that is where the money is going, and that is where we need to get it.
The only question is: do we have a government that refuses to take bribes from the mines, and taxes them to the max?
So the real question is – is Poul Engberg Pederson speaking on his own account, or does he have backing and does he understand the situation?
#71 Why don`t we kick them out. Let us shut the doors to Zambia and see how far we can go! How about doing a Bob Mugabe? Like I said thank God some of you are not presidents. Thank God fo Mandela because people like you would have done the opposite.A man jailed for donkeys years comes out of prison with an olive branch! Now that is class!
#71 Why don`t we kick them out. Let us shut the doors to Zambia and see how far we can go! How about doing a Bob Mugabe? Like I said thank God some of you are not presidents. Thank God fo Mandela because people like you would have done the opposite.A man jailed for donkeys years comes out of prison with an olive branch! Now that is c l a s s!
Yaba, pa Zed kuti walwala with national issues. It really hurts to the point where you think God should just end the world today. I dont think the guy is speaking alone here, most of these donors have realised that we are not poor, you know these guys it takes them a long time to say it openly. Finofine mykwai twakulawaya-waya, inshiku shileya.
#70 Wanungiya it’s not like I’m sittting in the ashes and crying about it – I’m just climbing up the mountain and telling it the way it is. As for the German flag, that should not be an issue – just as the British flag you represent, we know that we are all Zambians – and that’s what matters on this site. I have every right to be live and work in Europe because this is where our natural resources are!
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I’m racist, my wife is German and my kids have German citizenship too but I will always call a spade a spade.
Nine Chale sorry to but have been to Germany and I have to say I would never come there again. I was “detained” for having a British driving license until they verified that it was genuine. Yet that is a country you are but still blaming the white skin. I almost called you hypocrite! lol!
REVOLUTION IS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT BECOMES INEVITABLE.
Wanungiya Ngeningeni, ” #71 Why don`t we kick them out. Let us shut the doors to Zambia and see how far we can go! How about doing a Bob Mugabe? ”
He should have kicked the whites out – all of them. That way, they would not have been left behind to sabotage the economy. You cannot beat these people off with a stick. They complain high and low, but do they go to Australia – no. If things are so bad in Zimbabwe, why dont’ they go elsewhere?
The only mistake Robert Mugabe made was that he didn’t prepare the ground. That is the only mistake he made. But he wasn’t wrong about the need to get the land back. Over 70% of arable land was in the hands of 4500 white farmers. 80% of that (56% of all land) was not used at all, and the remaining 24% was used to grow cancer sticks – tobacco.
The problem is accoutability. No one is accoutable in Zambia. If a ministry or GRZ department is underperforming, it is not the head to blame but it is every thing elses fault. The manegers are never accoutable. In developed countries the first to face the axe is the maneger of a underperforming unit. No excuses. Also every ngwee of GRZ manee should be in the public domain. Zambians should know about every ngwee to stop these blood suckers feeding off the blood of my pipo.
In other words, over 80% of arable land in Zimbabwe was kept out of production for food.
99% of the people of Zimbabwe lived on ‘native reserves’.
If you ask to these folk today, they think that was just fine. Imagine having to live on a ‘farm’ like that. In the 21st century. So screw that, and screw them.
Rogue Trader,
” REVOLUTION IS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT BECOMES INEVITABLE. ”
Let’s hope that things do not go that far. I think we need a government that understands that this world economy is in crisis, and that we have to secure our own food supply, energy supply and basically start trading with ourselves, instead of depending on distant markets and donor aid.
The US is the strongest economy, because 80% of their GDP is Americans trading with other Americans.
KC,
” The problem is accoutability. No one is accoutable in Zambia. If a ministry or GRZ department is underperforming, it is not the head to blame but it is every thing elses fault. ”
There is too much discretion vested in the president. There should be panels of fellow professionals doing the appointing in the civil service, ministries, etc., with only top civil servants appointed by the current government.
However, it goes beyond that. There is too much power vested in Central Government. Budgets and powers should be decentralized to the Local Government level. Then, people have more oversight over how the money is spent, money does not get stuck at the ministerial level, and spending becomes service oriented. Plus, local councils are made up of local people, not…
When people get their position from being appointed by a single individual, they pretty much feel free to ignore everyone else – this results in lack of accountability. Like the boss’s relative in a private business.
True…Zambia is not poor, but has POOR leaders. The white man is not a god. When a white politician steals, they steal 10% and leave 90% for the people….when a black politician steals, they steal 90% and leave 10% (if we lucky) for the people. History proves this and that is why the white man views us in the manner in which they do. We have got ourselves to blame…no-one else. Lets accept this and do something about it! MrK…your comments make inetresting reading, but your support of Mugabe’s actions make me wonder!
Like the man that helped carry Jesus’s cross, or the Africans that played with baby Jesus in Egypt when the mother land saved his life; I thank God he created me as a blackman for all his creations are good. So yes slavery and the barbaric whites and Arabs that did it are foul and evil. Also these evil African leaders that were there at independence and hold our people to lower than humain conditions today are to blame. Look at Botswana and the seasyelles they put in place measures to resusitate themselves. Mushota you do not even begin to realize how short you sell yourself. I recon you were born after 85, you do not know blackness in purity, let’s educate one to reach many. Like ants black people made civilsation pyramids south northward. To God be the glory.
Richard Head, ” MrK…your comments make inetresting reading, but your support of Mugabe’s actions make me wonder! ”
No need to wonder. I am in full support of agrarian reform. Lots of leaders in Africa talk about it, or think about it, but only Robert Mugabe did something about it.
The future of agriculture in Africa is in the creation of hundreds of thousands of small scale commercial (organic) farmers per country. And that can only be done when the land is returned to the people. The alternative is continued poverty, unemployment and high food prices, in extreme circumstances famines. And that is unacceptable to me.
More than enough food to feed the people and have at least 2 years of storage has to be the target.
MrK…fortunately arable land does not seem to be a problem in Zambia….howvever the govt does not seem to encourage farming and it does not portray the same glamour as making ones fortune in the urban areas – mainly Lusaka. When our poor people see these politicans in fancy suits, driving fancy cars and getting rich overnight, then they want the same (quite rightly so) and therefore develop the misconception that it can only happen in urban areas. I find it disgraceful when I see large govt motorcades driving past poor women and children smashing rocks in order to make a living. What goes through their minds when they see this or do they turn a blind eye to it? Our politicians and leaders set very poor examples. I’d be interested to know what the wives of these politicians think.
i am suprised at how readly YUO ALL agree to this white man. I believe one of our own has said this already and has gone round the world to put her case for Zambia nad other African nations ….mmmm who mwas that ……Dambiso yes Dambiso she has spelled it out more articulate and eloquent than this man but she was attacked left and right , top and bottom and from all directions. Ba Zambia kwenka ukulabila lukoso ne chikaka sombi uku bomba koku ! mwa katasha !
MrK Wanungiya has asked you very good questions and he has very valid points. You have conviniently not answered questions about Mandela and you are being radical about Robert Mugabe. You sound bitter and frustrated.
MrK. Using Wanungiya`s words, yes thank God people like you are not presidents. One wonders what would have happened if you were.
” One wonders what would have happened if you were. ”
Every single child would be born unionised. 🙂
If you were president!
MrK stop the hate and stop hurting. The world does not need people like you. Pick yourself up and yes move on.
78. Wanungiya Ngeningeni,
” Thank God fo Mandela because people like you would have done the opposite.A man jailed for donkeys years comes out of prison with an olive branch! Now that is c l a s s! ”
And what happened to land reform? Nothing, kicked out into the long grass first to 2014, now ‘indefinetely’. This is what the people of South Africa get for reconciliation? Why should the former elite be allowed to keep the spoils of apartheid? Is it supporting ‘property rights’ to let thiefs keep their loot?
MrK: I somehow find myself agreeing with certain things you are saying. But tactically, Bob Mugabe blundered!!! And, unfortunately, most African leaders lack robust, deep, and well studied strategies to deal with the so called “former colonizers/oppressors.”
Look at the way these colonialists dealt with their former colonies; they removed their “BOMAs” and brought us the IMF, WB, extra, to make sure the world’s ‘Geo-politics/economics’ is always tilted in their favor—-that! my friend, is strategy. DIABOLICAL!? Yes! But it has managed to keep Africa and the the majority of the world in check.
My advice: KEEP THESE FOLKS PRETENTIOUSLY OCCUPIED AND HAPPY WHILE YOU MILK THEM OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND CANNING WAYS—drop the emotions!!!!
Yambayamba,
I would agree with you that Robert Mugabe sequenced his actions incorrectly. However, what he was doing, bringing Zimbabwe to independence and democracy, and returning the land that the people of Zimbabwe had fought over since 1906 (although somehow land has ‘nothing’ to do with the situation in Zimbabwe), are the actions of a nationalist and a hero.
Having said that, he should have first started a massive education campaign, educating hundreds of thousands of commercial farmers and businessmen and women. Then, he should have had alternative financing in place, of the kind that has been negotiated since 2004 with the Chinese. Then, he should have taken over the economy in one swoop.
But he wasn’t wrong in taking back the land.
A few black people are intelligent, the majority are brain dead. You cant blame the white man for the black persons misfortune. Its time blacks got responsible for their state of affairs. This thing of letting whites think for you sucks.
Whatever. Its friday. Time to drink. Let Bob do what he wants.
What has Mugabe or land issues in Zimbabwe and RSA got to do with Zambia. We do not have land problems in Zambia. Please tell us how we should use our land to develop. Owning land is one thing but using it is another. It’s in the use of natural resources like land, water etc where the problem is. And this is what NORAD is talking about. How are we using what we already own?
As for mine ownership, well, we sold mines in 1999. But what about owning new mines. Lumwana was not there in 1999. Why dont we own it, and all new mines?
How about corruption. Who do we blame, apart from ourselves. How about theft, eg stealing donor money ref Kapoko et al. Who do we blame, apart from ourselves. We are simply not managing ourselves nor resources in our hands. Shameful.
” What has Mugabe or land issues in Zimbabwe and RSA got to do with Zambia. ”
Retaliation. Which is a major reason why the politicians are afraid to tax the mines. Zimbabwe was massively retaliated against for effective land redistribution, as well as threatening to nationalize the mines and supporting a fellow head of state against British sponsored ‘rebels’ in the DRC.
Because politicians do not tax the mines, they are literally leaving hundreds of millions of dollars per year on the table. Meanwhile, you have stories like: ” High maternal mortality is a source of shame – Daka ”
High maternal mortality rate, too few doctors and nurses and supplies in hospitals, politicians being flown to South Africa. No taxes from the mines.
Connect those dots.
Dark Matter, ” A few black people are intelligent, the majority are brain dead. ”
As opposed to the brain trusts the British sent to rhodesia? Or who present BBC Radio 5? Or who convinced everyone at their university that you can run an economy without regulation?
There is enough stupidity to go around.