The Copperbelt Provincial Office says there is need for more information on the Chambishi Multi Facility Economic Zone (M-phase project), if the local people were to understand what the project was all about.
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Jennipher Musonda said there was need for more information on the project to be availed to the people
for them to understand it.
The Permanent Secretary said this would also enable her office to take up the issues and explain competently to the people.
She said this yesterday when the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs which had gone to Chambishi to assess M phase project, paid a courtesy call on her at her office.
Mrs Musonda said she was impressed that the Committee had made an effort to check on the project to gather information about it.
And speaking earlier, Committee Chairperson Given Lubinda said that there was need for the managers of the M-Phase project to build closer relationship with the community.
He pointed out that the Committee observed that there was so much investment in Chambishi that needed to be exploited to develop the area.
Mr. Lubinda has since urged managers of the M-Phase project which kicked off a few months ago to share information with major stakeholders and the people on the ground, because its success depended on them.
The Committee was expected to hold a meeting with management of Non Ferros Africa Mining Company (NFC), the company spearheading the project but could not because the General Manager Tao Xianghu and his deputy Zan Baossen were out of the country.
Chambishi on the Copperbelt has been earmarked for an economic zone and the project is expected to culminate into diverse investment.
ZANIS/ZANIS/EZ/CMM/CLM/
This is true. If information is availed the following the following situation can never happen. True Companion Company would have known where to look for land for their project.
“THE Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) has turned down an application for the establishment of a steel bar production plant in Lusaka by True Companion Steel Company, the council has, however, approved 12 other projects”.
This business undertaking is cardinal to the construction industry…
…How can it be turned away just like that. Why can’t ECZ provide information on where to establish new projects in order not to waste investors’ time, hence losing govt revenue through such idiocity.
Dont take life 4 granted. Explain what “Multi Facility Economic Zone” means to the general public. Its a pity that even highly placed authorities do not know it.
WHo is going to explain what the Multi-Facility Economic Zone is about when the whole deal was signed by LPM and Mutati whose motives were not focused on the welfare of all Zambians but their bank accounts? How many Zambians were in any TV programme at ZNBC to explain what the model for Chambeshi was about? What criteria wqas explained to have been used for Zambians to participate as active participants other than wheel-barrow pushers?
I thought a “Multi Facility Economic Zone” is kind of a large shopping mall. Some clarity please!
SINCE WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NO.3 PLEASE ELABORATE HOW LPM AND MUTATI MOTIVES WERE NOT FOCUSED ON THE WELFARE OF ALL ZAMBIANS BUT THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS….WHAT DO YOU KNOW THAT WE DONT
Multi Facility Economic Zone is more like NAFTA zones between the US and mexico, read ZDA policy documents.
#6 It appears, like all of us, you don’t know. Otherwise, please explain in plain English what these things are.
Multi facility economic zones are geographical areas designated for international business development with no Tarrifs and Quotas applied. Goods can be brought in, and re-exported from these areas tax free. This is the basic definition of MFEZs but offcource they come in different forms. One key thing for Zambia is that they have t be careful considering the fat that we a re a land locked country, these facilities work better when located near a sea port, a busy international airport or awell built international road gateway. In Zambia, we first need to put in place good infrastructure in the form of infotmation transfer systems, good roads, reliable electricity supply, and good managers…
MFEZ’s are areas where investors ensure that local laws and regulations do not apply. In these zones, research finds that employees are made to work under the most unsafe or inhuman conditions because of the absence of any legal enforcements. This is why they are called sweatshops. For the MMD with their ignorant LPM to think that MFEZ’s will make Zambia a better place for our poeple is a waste of time. This is really exposing their ignorance and inability to read the already widely circulated reading materials on this topic.
With all due respect #9, I think you are being unreasonable to shoot down the idea of setting up MFEZs in Zambia even before it takes off. You being a development specialist should know that these facilities can be a tool for sustainable economic activity if they are a carefully planned and executed without much political interfearance. Look at the Mecquiladoras of Mexico wich are more like EPZs, they have been a huge success and have contributed to Mexico’s export earnings as a share of GDP. So, give them a chance and offer ideas of how to make them succeed if you are indeed a development specialist.
Hello #10,
Are you saying that you have seen evidence of careful planning by this GRZ? In what sector has the careful planning been done? I do not want to give chance to ignoramuses to kill my nation when I know that they are ignorant. Do you want to give chance to a thug you know can rape your kid? You must be reasonable and make up your mind based on what is THERE RIGHT now on the ground. You have just had people killed on a terrible bus accident at Nyimba. You have had fish die in the Kafue river. You have had our companies sold off for nothing, what more chance do you want the wrong doers to have? More damage?
Good Roads, Clean water, good houses, good primary schools, good secondary schools, good colleges, good universities, etc. The list goes on. These things do not come about from heaven. They coma about from a serious government with people well-educated with a goal to serve. Right now most people in our GRZ are running other things on the side of their GRZ employment. This is why there is huge corruption. We cannot have good roads when UNZA does not have a decent programme on Highway Engineering as a major! We also cannot have decent electricity supplies if ZESCO are poorly run because the appointed is unfit other than being related to LPM! We must place the needs of Zambia way above the rest
So #11, what do you propose we do to move our economy forward? Frankly, I personally don’t like people who criticise and condemn without offering alternative ideas. So, please, offer your alternatives since you are presenting yourself as a development specialist
#13,
1. First we must pass a law for freedom to access information.
2. Publicize all on-going investment deliberations, so that no citizen is left in dark as the true nature of deals agreed upon and signed.
3. Publicize and employ Zambians that can be responsible to co-ordiante information on developments in each investment activity. Get rid of the secrecy that is currently practised. Advertise all public jobs so that all citizens can understand that employment done is on merit.
4. Ensure that documents are made availabel in the public domain so that any citizen can read about the direction of things being done.
5. All companies doing business based on our nationally owned resource
..resources must publish their monthly operations reports so that we can see exactly where progress is being made or not.
6. All companies doing business in Zambia must first advertise and employ Zambians before hiring any foreigner. Employment offices must be set up in all districts with databases on all Zambians looking for work.
7. All unemployed Zambians MUST register with employment offices in all districts of Zambia with their CVs.
8. All qualified Zambians for jobs that are occupied by foreigners will be encouraged to see redress from the employer of the foreigner.
Finaaly, Always think of Zambia first and not your tribe of political party!! Mwanva??
Multi Facility Economic Zones are quite a good idea.
The thing that concerns me the most is if LABOR LAWS will be explained and understood.
Anywayz. In any business you there are two things that concern the business the most. That is the level of investment and income. These two things are put on the same graph.
On one axis you have investment and on the other axis you have income. The line that is formed when these things are put together however is not a straight line but a curve because there is a limit to the amount of return a business will get given the certain amount of investment. Meaning, you cannot expect to keep on investing and getting greater income all the time.
cont…
It reaches the point where the level of investment that one puts in does not bring in greater income. Which is why it is a curve rather than a straight line.
Now this curve depends on income and investment. However curve diminishes from the income going to taxes. Meaning if the taxes are high, the income and investment curve will be smaller so to say because most of the money is going to taxes. Now these TAX FREE ZONES insure that the income and investment curve will be at maximum excluding exogenous (outside) factors.
For goods and services to be produced. One needs labor. Without the right labor, goods and services cannot be produced. Labor is a form of investment.
cont…
Govt will earn taxes however because the person getting paid will still be obliged to pay taxes. So govt will earn revenue because the business will take advantage of the tax free incentive and hire its maximum amount of labor and this labor will be subject to pay taxes.
For any economy to work, it must ensure low interest rates and low taxes as well as good infrastructure etc. This will make it easier for business owners to do business in the country hence more investment in the country. Now in Southern Africa, there other countries that the same investors could go to since Southern Africa wants foreign investment. A good country which these investors can invest in heavily is SA
cont…
Due to its working economy and the upcoming world cup.
I can understand why govt is dishing out these MFEZ. Simply because govt wants foreign investment and for it to get it, it must offer something South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Botswana, etc is not offering.
As of now, it is too early to tell what will be the outcome of the MFEZ. All we can do is wait and see what will come out of it. Before you get into a fight, you have to know the kind of person you’re fighting.
#9. Development specialist
I think that statement of yours is not fact but rather your opinion. You cannot prove what you’re saying because no companies have started working in the MFEZ yet.
One thing you have to understand is just because two things colorate (excuse the spelling) does not mean one causes the other.
Here is an example, if i meet a very beautiful girl with blond hair and blue eyes does not mean all girls with blond hair and blue eyes are beautiful.
Can you actually prove what you’re saying. Which company functioning in the MFEZ in Zambia has neglected local laws and regulations. You are just being critical without facts. Present the facts first.
#8 Thank you for your definition. I have heard that similar areas exist in Kenya. The main complaint there is that only foreign businesses are allowed to take advantage of them. #9’s assertion that companies operating in these areas ignore local laws is not entirely untrue. These companies avoid paying taxes. Like the PS says, we need more info. If this is just a way of avoiding taxes without any benefits accruing to the people of Chambishi, then people need to know. Otherwise the government is sowing the seeds of unrest. Already Zambian graduates, technicians and craftsmen are sidelined by the Chinese.
#15 How workable is your idea of setting up Employment offices in all districts with databases on all Zambians looking for work? Who is going to employ these people, how do know whether a particular is in employment, is interested in a certain job etc? Your suggestion is very difficult to implement. Can you give me an example of where you have seen such a system work?
Ba Development specialist, you sound genius. I hope you aint running mad namasomo. Amano afululisha.
Whilst i appreciate the contributions Development specialist is making, can i just advise him also that he needs to bring out issues of contention rather insinuations.tribal politics should not be encouraged In Z it simply stinks and is a let down.If any one knows any one who was appointed on tribal grounds please bring it out and we will scrutinise and hammer
If Mutati and LPM signed the Chambishi facility agreement without approval of us Zambians then we need to bring out why this facility is not gopod for Zambians.These are the issues we need to discuss and they are very educative to all.What is wrong with the facility.As for infrastructure, we need it facility or no facility
Hello All:
It is very simple to facilitate at least two or three computers with employment databases in each district. I do not understand why you are not able to understand this simple solution to gather data of all our citizens who are being left out from being employed even when they are qualified. I could do it for free for one district if we had a decent government in place. You see, for a professional like me to come in and work, I need to be convinced that the big picture of our country is on the right track. We cannot be setting up systems on one side to ensure that all citizens have a chance for a better life, but on the other, our own leaders are busy negotiating with
..foreigners on how to expolit the loopholes in our country’s legal setup so that not even the Environmental council or anybody can touch them. This kind of a set up is not progressive.
The system (computerized database) would work in such a way that any vacancy in any foreign owned company would be submitted to each district employment office. The required personnel attributes would be run through the database, and all those citizens whose qualifications and experience matche the needs, would be produced and contacts would be made within 24 hours so that the qualified guys get to the district’s employment office to get official letters of introduction to present to the foreign companies
that they meet the requirements to be employed.
All this would be done long before any expatriates are hired. for this to work, we would need enforcement mechanisms. We would need a guy in statehouse with a strong nationalistic sense and not hunger for pocket empowerment for himself and his plunderous associates like Mutati, Bulaya, Chungu, etc.
The beauty of having such a database would be that our institutions of learning would streamline their training programmes at all levels to meet the anticipated needs of the industry.
I know for example that in June next year, we will see the scandalous take-off of uranium mining in Zed. And yet, up to now, we have not heard anything from our smoothtalking GRZ on institutions that will be responsible for ensuring that all uranium mining guidelines are followed to the letter as per the specs from the IAEA! In terms of employing Zambians, there is a need for the GRZ to be smarter than the foreigners coming into Zed to invest if we are to be winners. We are now in a situation where the tail
(Investors) are wagging the dog (GRZ) so powerfully that even our LPM appears to be stuck with no ideas as to what to do to ensure that our nation comes out on top. But ofcourse his major problem is that due to the fact that he has never won any presidential election genuinely, he seriously lacks self confidence and does not trust anyone other than his relatives.
On Uranium mining, ikt is clear to me that the GRZ is really ignorant on what the start of this activity will mean to Zambia in thousands of years to come! Trouble is that they (GRZ people) are blinded by numbers – price of Uranium per pound! Sad as these top guys in GRZ are already rich men and do not need to destroy Zambia’s
environment for pieces of silver from Uranium sales!
We are essentially stuck because we allowed the fraudulent election of 2001 proceed with thievess at the top as per Chiluba’s script.
#26. Development specialist
Where is the employment office going to get its funding from??
Who is going to run it?? Will it be private run or govt run??
Will employers be required to pay some sort of bill to the employment office??
Lastly, what assurance do you have that it will not be subject to corruption, tribalism, nepotism, and racism???
Hello 32:
1. If the GRZ is serious about unemployment problems in Zambia and it has the ministry of labour and social welfare, what stops it from setting up Employment centres in each district fully networked across Zambia like our ZRA’s, but under Ministry of Labour?
2. Why are you so brainwashed to believe that all private organizations are efficient? The Ministry of Labour if properly staffed should be able to do this especially if we have a leadership in Statehouse that is well educated (not LPM please) full of nationalistic aims to improve the lot for Zambians. The current MMD leadership is completely brainwashed and cannot improve the livelihoods of Zambians via policy change ..
and implementation.
3. All citizens MUST freely register with the Employment Offices in any district. It does not matter where they do this as the system is totally networked, a vacany in Kasempa will attract any citizen from any district’s computer. SInce the Database is centralized, any district will have access to it. This will mean that ZAMTEL gets jacked up to ensure that the bandwidth for data communications is better than what is there now. All citizens will have to understand that it would be CRIMINAL to provide false data to the Employment Database, punishable by 5 years in prison with hard labour!!
4. The Database would also be linked to the National Database, where our citizens would all be registered. Once born every kid gets onto the database. This would enhance service delivery..housing stats, medical stats, educational stats, etc. All these require a GRZ with a great guy in State House to ensure that all Systems are properly designed to deliver to all citizens of Zambia.
5. The system would NOT be subject to corruption since all data would have been verified and all citizens that have registered would be providing truthful data about themselves. Remember, false info would lead any one registrering to prison.
This syetm would kill employment based on tribal affliations, or ..
Nepotistic practices as done by LPM.
BUT this system, like all systems, require public debate before implementation, so that all citizens are on the same page. I know that in Zambia, systems are introduced even before anyone is made to understand what things are all about! This is one of the main reasons that systems fail. Our privatization for example has NOT been fully debated. Since the vast majority of people are overwhelmed by propaganda about its benefits which in most cases are false, we have ended up with our GRZ essentially getting rid of the whole country, tying up future governments into useless entities that will be dependant on foreign alms and charity. Most of us did not go
to school to become beggers like we see now in Zambia!
I find the current regime criminal and completely worthy Mukobeko for all poor agreemenst that they have signed secretly which will further enslave our future kids and their kids!
Finally, I see need to change the current organization for governance.
We need to keep the presidency in Lusaka, where all the provincial governments will report on progress in all areas of their responsibilities. Right now the provincial minister is just a glirified thug. We need to get brained people to be provincial ministers. Water, housing, electricity, roads, clinics, primary schools, agriculture, etc would be the preserve of the provincial government. The Central government would look after foreign affairs, defence, serious crimes, industries worthy USD10m and above (initially) international trade, Provincial Major Hospitals, Major roads, National airports, National lakes,
national rivers, environment, heavy industries, Universities, telecommunications, social security, museums, tourism, national police, employment and labour, Finance,etc
I should not bore you with mpore details as it is possible that you think these things are not feasible!
Development Specialist
I have to say, i like your idea but i believe in a different system.
If it where up to me in the case of lets say the mines, what i would have done is divide up the mines, give them to private own small and medium Zambian owned entities and let the FREE MARKET take its course. Meaning, let them be subject to supply and demand.
In the case of the employment databases, i would disagree on that one because anyone can easily hack into the system and change data, also if govt does not like you, they can change the data and throw you in jail.
cont…
What i would do however, instead of databases, make them agencies and let the FREE MARKET take its course. Of course this would require that they are private owned.
Just like the Uranium mines, i would do just that, divide up the land, give them to small and medium sized mining companies and let the FREE MARKET take its course.
I do not think we should have only one fertilizer supplier (NCZ), they should be more companies and they should compete in the FREE MARKET. If anything, NCZ, ZAMTEL, ZESCO should put at least 60% of there stock on the LUSE. More of those kind of companies should be set up and well you know the rest (FREE MARKET).
CONT…
Socialism was the worst thing that ever happened to Zambia. If you look in the Southern African region, most of the countries that where/are successful have taken the role of the FREE MARKET. Just look at Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe (before Mugabe). Also you have to look at the other countries in the world that have developed on the basis of the free market like Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, etc. Also look at countries that are developing because of the free market, Russia, Poland, etc. The FREE MARKET is what i believe in. I do not believe too much power should be given to the very few in govt ( Socialism). I believe there should be very little govt involvement in the economy
Hello Crazy_Zambian:
I am disaapointed! You really think that the Free Market is a pancea to all our things? You are really wrong. Like I said, too many of our people have been brain washed by the free marketeers. The truth is that the best nations to live in are those where the free market has been well regulated. You need to travel to Norway, Canada, etc. The US is such a poor place to live in that most residents unless those very rich, are really miserable. I was there and I know what I am talking about. I have seen employment offices in Canada, all run by the Federal government. People check for jobs when they go to collect their unemployment checks at social security offices. You ..
cont….
For example, we have heard people say “they should be toll roads and train transport systems in Lusaka”, what they should know is for example the subway system in Tokyo is owned by private companies. Probably govt just put up the rails but private companies put the electric trains and stuff. Govt’s job should be restricted to infrastructure development, monetary and fiscal policy and also politics (i.e good foreign relations with other countries). Toll roads are also owned by private companies and are some of the best roads in the world. If it where up to me, 60% of TAZARA would have been put on the LUSE.
THE FREE MARKET works. All govt has to do is ensure that it continues to work.
They can do this by good fiscal and monetary policy and also infrastructure development together with good politics. The rest should be subject to the laws of Supply and Demand in the FREE MARKET.
have made a simple problem of getting our citizens into jobs very complicated by leaving the critical tasks to the free marketeers! I guess this is why Zambia will never develop given such blindness to systems that work and deliver.
Namibia is great I was there last year for a 2 week holiday. They have systems that deliver. If a vacancy occurs in any firm or government office, this vacancy will NOT be filled until a citizen is found! This is a practice that they have and it works fine for them.
The environment in Namibia is excellent compared to Hong Kong or China. Pollution has been left unchecked in China and this is why they have the worst health problems due to their using the state
Development Specialist
The FREE MARKET also works in terms of employment databases.
Check “Workopolis” , ” working [dot] com” , “find a job canada [dot] com”
On these websites, employers post job offers and people looking for employment look at the info for the job and send a resume (CV).
Now you might ask, how do the websites make there money, through advertisers like coca-cola advertising on there websites.
The beauty of the free market is it’ll offer quality because people will always go to the best. The better website/database will get more people visiting the site which will mean more employers posting job offers there meaning more advertisers.
The FREE MARKET at its best.
as a free marketeer. In the US, we were not allowed to drink from the taps where ever we went. Again this is because the free marketeers have been allowed to do anything at the expense of the people.
In Canada, things are different. I love their model and it has great social approaches that are worthy emulating. Free market policy must not be seen as an answer to our tribulations. It is ONE of the MANY other policy initiatives that need to be embraced. Clearing the table of all options and leaving the free market option as the only one is unwise and shows how poorly informed and ignorant we are.
The problems of ZAMTEL, NCZ, etc are not as a result of ownership, but of poor management. Why not advertise for proper schooled people with experience to take charge of these entities? I know many guys with excellent MBAs, MSc, that have excellent technical experience that can turn around any company. I also know that before employing anybody into these jobs, we need to redefine the strategic goals and objectives that these new management personnel need to achieve in order to be rewarded with gratuity after say, a 3 year contract.
In zambia, we appear to be employing people based on what we secretly agree upon among those in power and the relatives they employ!
cont…
Govt’s job in the situation is proper communication infrastructure, i.e fiber optic communication cables that enable broadband internet. Thats it, govt has done its job.
The rest works in the free market as internet companies will use this infrastructure to bring about the best internet connection at the best price. The free market will also drop prices in this situation. And it will also offer high quality as internet companies will want more customers and the best way to do this is to offer quality and competitive prices.
Then the internet companies will pop up with there websites etc etc.
Beauty of the FREE MARKET.
Development Specialist
“The problems of ZAMTEL, NCZ, etc are not as a result of ownership, but of poor management.”
I am going to explain to you how the free market would have solves this problem.
Free market would have meant more companies popping up in the same or familiar fields. This would mean they would compete for clients. In order to win clients, they would either offer high quality or cheaper services depending on the audience they are targeting.
If the problems of ZESCO, NCZ, ZAMTEL are to do with efficiency, then we must address the factors that have led to these companies to be inefficient.
As far as I recall my physics, efficiency formula had only to do with the rate of doing work. So we need to address those factors. This is why I said that it has to do with the quality of people that we have employed. If we employ illiterate people, they will belive in propaganda the free marketeering is the best thing since breakfast! And yet we all know that we need a mix! Not all the babies in our homes are girls, or boys only. We have a mix, and we need to approach development issues with an open, examining mind!
Internet things are small things.. chicken feed.
I suspect there is a mix in postings. Some of the ideas I wrote are appearing under the Crazy Zambian. I guess I gotta stop as I do not like being edited like I failed grade one.
cont…
Now in the Free Market, the companies objective is to win the most clients because this will mean more revenue for the company. If the company offers poor services, they’ll lose there clients to other companies in the same or similar fields. So if you have NCZ and Copperbelt Chemicals of Zambia (Example) . If NCZ offers poor fertilizer, consumers will shift to CCZ.
In order for the company to stay in business and not lose clients/consumers, it’ll need to hire the best labor so as to produce the highest quality of its product. So the free market would have solved the issue of labor in the sense that the best labor will be hired because they are trying to get the best product.
Development specialist
There is nothing wrong with your database idea. All i think is that the Free Market should work in such a plan. Thats all.
I believe in very little govt involvement in economic issues.
Govt involvement means giving govt more power than it is supposed to have. I also believe in the free flow of labor which is why i am not all that opposed to FDI. The USA also developed through the free flow of labor. The free flow of labor ensures that the best labor comes into the country. If there is no one qualified amongst the locals, better bring in someone who is qualified to do the job.
I also believe in separate but connected provinces in Zambia.
What i mean by this is the President controls the whole nation, but each province must be ruled by someone.
There should be 2 tax systems. Govt tax and provincial tax.
Govt tax would be the fixed tax rate for the whole country and it should be low. So govt tax would be 5% but provincial tax for Lusaka could be 8% and the provincial tax in Southern Province could be 5% depending on there economy. Citizens will be obliged to pay both.
Provinces should set there own rules and laws but the laws must be approved in parliament. So if the CB wants to set its drinking age to 21, they should do so.
Provinces must report there economic progress.
Meaning economic progress will be measured first on a provincial level, then it’ll be averaged up on a national level. So the Economy of Lusaka province would have an unemployment rate of 8% and Western Province 20%.
The leaders of the provinces are answerable to the president.
Any decision by govt involving the spending and borrowing of money must be discussed in parliament.
This is what i believe in.
Development specialist has a wealthy of knowledge and ideas a lot of us can benefit from.However i need to ask him to pin point some of your accusations on LPM as a person and provide credable issues and we can join you in analysing the issues.As i have noted before if there are any evidence of LPM appointing people in positions they are not supposed to then it is wrong and Dev Specialist can help us in exposing some of them.Sometimes you get peolple who dont believe that one from another tribe can be a leader thats why i dont condone criticism without substance for argument
Good morning All:
Take a look at most appointments in the GRZ bt LPM, you will find that they are based on tribe or relations to those in office.
We have two full cabinet ministers of Agriculture! Why? Because the sick one is from LPM’s area!
I do not trust LPM because of his stealing of elections in 2001. His election was only made legitimate by the corrupted justice system.
I find the childish faith in free markets by the MMD completely devoid of well researched foundation. The US was one of the most rigid countries when it came to public services. This is how they established all those universities and colleges, not mentioning hospitals, roads, post offices, etc.
Why is it that since 1991, the nation has not established not even ONE credible national institution that we can all be proud of? Have you seen ZNBC? Their channel is only available to Lusaka subscribers and yet all other regional nations can be watched on DSTV thus ensuring that watchers can learn about their countries. Zambia appears to be chained to a secrecy mentality. All documents to do with the future direction of the country in all areas of development are not available to our population. Agreements on economic agreements with foreigners are treated as if they are a personal preserve and the public are as ignorant about these things as if they are not yet born! This is nonsense.
We cannot be as stupid as we seem to be by praising free market policies and yet deny the very critical tools necessary to make free markets work..quality education, free access to information, to our people! We cannot develop as a nation when only a small minority of our population can afford to become speculators on the LuSE due to the widespread poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. We cannot deal with unemployment if the fate of the vast majority of our people is left to the whims of free markets as some of our misguided or poorly informed citizens believe. These guys see whitemen and they swallow all the rubbish because of having a GRZ with people that are unfulfilled intellectually.
We all know that half baked ideas will not ensure food at our people’s dining table. We have had such people as Chiluba who had never worked in real capitalist nation like the US and yet their beliefs were more extreme than what one would find in the US. In the US, regulations are in place to combat the extremes of the free markets that people have been praising here. This is why Enron guys were jailed. You must understand that there is no compeletely clean free markets. In the US, one has to read about the firms that are in Iraq to understand the way greed can overwhelm decency. I do not want Zambia to become a jungle with unregulated free markeers running amock! But I realize that ..
my views are too little, too late given the amount of human trafficking going on, poor transport policies where our people are dying in tens at a go due to these policies based on unregulated free markets! I also realize that when I was growing up, we could drink tap water anywhere in Zambia but these days, people, leaders included see glory in bottled water. I guess they have not heard of the chemicals that have been discovered as being produced by those water bottles they stick to their mouths with pleasure!!
Zambia, like any other nation can only become a better nation when there is a crdible leadership at the top. We have many lawyers with LPM, but the state of our legal health is really rotten. This shows that there is no drive among LPM and his followers to go an extra mile to improve Zambia. They do not hunger to see our kids coming from schools with smiles on their faces. Instead, they seem to take pleasure to see mothers with babies on their backs selling tomatoes at 10pm along the shop corridors! If mothers are on the street at this time of the day, who is ensuring that the kids at home are not being raped or abused sexually by neighbours or mentally unstable MMD members?
Zim firm enters Zambian market
By Stanslous Ngosa
A ZIMBABWEAN protective clothing manufacturing firm has opened a branch in Ndola to meet the increased demand for protective clothing arising from heightened mining activities in Zambia.
Central Protective Clothing Ndola branch manager, Jeremiah Patiska said the company decided to open a branch in Zambia because of the huge orders received from Zambian mining companies.
Speaking in an interview in Ndola, Mr Patiska said the company was working out a scheme with the major mining companies for the supply of the product to be accompanied with free education on the use of the clothing.
Good Morning Crazy Zambian:
The clothing industry is one of the entities that was killed by the MMD. Now you understand why I keep stating that they have serious mental handicaps as leaders!!
We are now in a situation where we took ten steps forward under KK, and under the MMD, we took ten steps back. Now we are entering the stage where the clothing sector was alive in Zambia! Why all these wasted years?
I hope that you are not celebrating!! If you are, it just shows that life for you started during the days of the MMD after they had destroyed everything. What they could not destroy, they enamed so that citizens forget their performance history! Part of the brainwashing of citizens
If The MFEZ is a great thing, why are its documentation secret and all designs are being masterminded by China with LPM now and then travelling to China or Chambeshi to look at their models?
Why must we have faith and confidence in a physical thing that we have not even sent to our UNZA’s Engineering departments, or to Zambia Bureau of Standards to have a feel on the standards that the Chinese are bringing or adopting for entities being constructed in Zambia?
Why are our lawyers this secretive if these areas are in the best interest of Zambia? Why are citizens of Zambia being referred to some dubious websites under ZDA when we all know that bandwidth to access the internet is only
available in some selected areas of Zambia. It is also folly that our government has NOT improved the distribution of public documents. The Times of Zambia and Daily Mail are manned by disguised illiterates. This is why there is no investigative reporting and no indepth analysis of issues. The Post is not good enough as they do not have people that are smart enough to deal with issues of environmental degradation, science and technology. To most people in Zambia, technology is only cars and computers. I notice that there is no indepth discussion of issues of water delivery, fire services, clinics and hospitals. Food storage is left to FRA and yet we all know FRA is incompetent and unable to
deal with all foodstuffs grown in Zambia. To FRA, only Maize is food! I find these fellows not worthy any public office. Their problem is compounded by the ignorant ministers and the president. Putting on smart suits, attaining legal titles while entertaining enslavement policies for our majority of our citizens shows poverty of their minds as leaders.
#68,69 I agree with what you are saying and your suggestions have a lot pf potential for success if Zambia if implemented.we need to diversify in Z if we are to succeed as a nation.Heavy reliance of copper is not just right.Heavy reliance on maize is also not right.In Nigeria for example they have maize,yam,cassava rice and plantain(bananas) and depending on weather and seasons they fall on whatever they can easily access.Now i dont agree with copy cats but certyainly there are lessons to be learnt here and we can do it our own way somehow.Maize in Zambia is a very expensive crop to grow and heavily depends on weather conditions.See what happens when there is a drought.
Zim firm enters Zambian market
By Stanslous Ngosa
A ZIMBABWEAN protective clothing manufacturing firm has opened a branch in Ndola to meet the increased demand for protective clothing arising from heightened mining activities in Zambia.
Central Protective Clothing Ndola branch manager, Jeremiah Patiska said the company decided to open a branch in Zambia because of the huge orders received from Zambian mining companies.
Speaking in an interview in Ndola, Mr Patiska said the company was working out a scheme with the major mining companies for the supply of the product to be accompanied with free education on the use of the clothing
“We have come to Zambia because of the high demand for protective clothing coming from mining companies and other manufacturing industries,” he said.
Mr Patiska said coming to Zambia was one way of giving more to the local market, considering the high cost of importing the products from Zimbabwe.
The company would be officially launched at this year’s Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) next month.
Mr Patiska said because of the growth in the mining, construction and manufacturing sectors, the company would consider opening more branches in Zambia.
The branch offices are situated on Kabelenga Avenue while the show room is at the ZITF show grounds.
Central Protective Clothing produces overalls, work suits, dustcoats, kitchen suits and PVC gloves.
Other products include leather gloves, safety shoes, Gumboots and safari wear.
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Source: Times of Zambia
Comment:
There was once a post on mining activities in Zambia.
I remember telling people that those people claiming to not be benefiting from mining activities can make the situation that they also benefit.
I remember telling people that you can start companies supplying mines with protective gear, air conditioning, catering, etc.
I was ridiculed for my statement. Now here is a ZIMBABWEAN company doing the exact same thing that i suggested and was ridiculed for. Zambians really want to develop huh!!!
Development Specialist
“We are now in a situation where we took ten steps forward under KK, and under the MMD, we took ten steps back”
Are you crazy. KK destroyed this country with his communist policies. The only place where i can respect KK is on free education otherwise most of the problems we see today stem from the policies of KK. It is not the MMD’s fault that mining companies and other govt owned entities where making losses. The only feasible decision which was right in my view was the selling of these entities.
Infact if it was me, i would have just thrown all stock on the LUSE and let shareholders as well as members of the board deal with these failing companies.
cont..
deal with the companies in a free market economy.
I seem to remember you saying something about ENRON. What you seem to have left out is that ENRON was a public limited company and by law (yes even here in Zambia) if a company is a public limited entity, it is supposed to provide data on its activities as well as financial records and various other deals it makes so that SHAREHOLDERS can make a good decision as to weather buy stock in this company or sell it. ENRON is not owned by govt. They just put there stock on the stock exchange for the general public to buy.
Crazy but surely by now you know that Zed dons are merely armchair critics. The Zim boys are not the only ones, so many foreigners are making a successful living in Zed – its no wonder that GDP is at 7% but Zambians cant feel its impact. The Chinese are cooking and serving nshima with village chicken in Soweto Market for crying out loud…
If a company is a PRIVATE Limited company, it is not obliged to make its dealings and financial records public. I as a business owner should not be forced to make my financial records public because my business is a private legal entity and what i do in my company is my business (as long as it’s legal) and no one should force me to make my PRIVATE records public because they are mine.
You seem to support KK. Let me tell you everything that is wrong with KK’s policies. He supported communism. Why should I who borrowed money from the bank, worked hard to start my business, why should govt who put nothing in my business own 60%. Tell me. That was just a barrier for would be business owners
cont…
Zambia at the time had plenty of business owners from all walks of life. It was probably one of the most integrated countries in Africa in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Business owners ranged from Indian to white to Chinese but the communist policies scared everyone away.
You mentioned something about Bad management in companies like NCZ and Zamtel. I explained to you that in a FREE MARKET, you get competition and surely if you do not want to lose clients, you’ll pick the best people to run the company so as to not lose the company and not to lose your clients. Why do you think AIRBUS changed its CEO’s 3 times in 1 yr. Because they where trying to get the best management.
cont…
You keep on sticking to your racist beliefs thinking that all investors are out to get you. You even went as far as to think TOYOTA JAPAN was after your copper when TOYOTA clearly made it clear that the plants will be in Zambia, the parts manufactured in ZAMBIA using ZAMBIAN copper.
If they wanted your copper, they would have invested in mining.
It is just clear investors are seeing something Zambians are not seeing.
A Zimbabwean firm, here doing the exact same thing i told people on this blog to do. I told them, if you think it is a negative, turn it into a positive. But NO!!! And here is a Zimbabwean Firm doing just that.
Tell me, what is so bad about the FREE MARKET??????
76,79,80 Your assertions are painful to digest but they are true unfortunately.We Zambians also still have a problem of supporting and trusting anything foreign at the expense of Zambians.A Zambian motorist stopped in Zimbabwe would suffer the same way as if he is stopped in Zambia.But a Zimbabwean stopped in Zambia by cops would easily be let off.We are more cruel to our own people than to foregners.Already you find some Zambians supporting Swaziland or Togo at the expense of their own national team.We need to get together and form companies to develop ouw nation and the gvt should support Zambians with such ideas.I remember a south african supermarket being given rebate on all imports.
Why not give the same conditions to Zambian investors?No one can develop Zambia but our selves.Foregn investorsd can only help and teach us but we must take up the challenge.GVT must encourage this by setting aside soft loans to Zambians to enter the local industries arena