By Chanda K. Chishimba
Often times Zambians have grappled with the problem of lack of job opportunities, shrinkage of industries in the post- SAP implementation era, lack of drugs in hospitals, low education standards, and a general low life standard. Many of these issues have led to the erosion of confidence in the government. Hopes of a better life grow fainter each day. In my view there is so much that our government can do to stimulate economic activity which in turn would lead to the creation of jobs and improve the living standards of its people.
1. Government needs to make a sacrifice on the way it spends resources of the state. Cut down the size of government by eliminating the position of Deputy Minister. I don’t see what D/Ms do which cannot be done by a Minister. It would be more prudent and cost effective to strengthen the office of the PS and other Ministry Directors. These are the professionals who run Ministries. Further, we need to let the Ministers and other government officials pay their own cell phone bills. The bills are a drain on government resources. There is no concrete proof that all cell phone calls they make are for government business. The amount of money saved from these adjustments can be redirected to improving infrastructure such as schools and roads. This would lead to the creation of new jobs. And then the issue of hundreds of government officials, the police, army, and air-force seeing off or receiving the President whenever he travels outside the country is quite ridiculous. This takes away the valuable man-hours that these individuals would have put into their work if they had not gone to the airport to perform a function less important than the one for which our people might benefit.
2. Government should seriously consider the issue of Chiefs owning so much land. This land can be used to create new industries, which would in turn create jobs for the Chiefs’ subjects. As a matter of fact, it would be important to stick a clause in the agreements with the new companies, that the Chief should be paid a certain amount as royalty. This royalty is what will sustain the Palaces and make the Chiefs less beggars than what they are today. This move would eliminate the chiefs’ participation in politics and improve their standing in the eyes of their subjects. The current practice where a chief owns thousands of hectares of land is just plain right retrogressive and a barrier to expansion and development. We all fully understand the importance of chiefs in our heritage, but this is the 21st Century and the role of chiefs must be upgraded to economic and social development participants.
3. Government can also implement a radical shift in the way duty and taxes in border towns are spent. It would serve our people well if government can allow every border town to keep 45% of revenue from duty and taxes in that town or even province. This is the money which can be used to improve schools, build hospitals, build roads and create new industries and jobs. This measure would also ensure that people will start to move back to rural areas where they can find employment, thus, relieving the urban towns of much of the currently suppressed carrying capacity. Our rural towns will experience development never seen before. The practice of all revenue eventually ending up at the central treasury has failed because the funds almost always are diverted to less essential activities.
4. I would also propose legislation that would enable Zambians manage a portion of their individual retirement funds. Enforce legislation that would create Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). As employees earn income, a certain percentage should be saved in an IRA and people can determine their own investment choices. With the Lusaka Stock Exchange now providing most people with investment alternatives, this would be a sure way to create wealth, lessen the burden in retirement, and leave children with an inheritance. The current system where NAPSA manages retirement funds for the people is subject to so many bottlenecks. No wonder people never get their pension funds after years of hard work
The path to economic development is not easy. Sacrifices must be made by both the governed and those with the mandate to govern. It is not enough to sit back and ask the citizens of Zambia to tighten their belts when those in power cannot embrace the same. We need to be steadfast in our endeavors to improve the livelihoods of our people. These challenges have been tackled successfully in many parts of the world, and Zambia should not be an exception.
AM I THE FIRST OR WHAT??????
No.1
ah ah! Mimi you beat me to it … will keep vigil for next opportunity.
YA YA AM STILL FRUSTRATED ABOUT CHUNGU’S ISSUE… SO NO COMMENT ON THIS ONE….
#1 Ok, but Bamudala please spare the women why parading them dancing for you when going out or arriving from some where.
Dont worry, you will have relief some people are just telling on themselves now, can’t run and have failed to hide in these cases… XC’s is another one by Ian Flemming, wonder what the title is … return of the matrix??
this man has raised very serious issues. shame on no.1 up to no.6. little brains!!!
” lack of job opportunities, shrinkage of industries in the post- SAP implementation era, lack of drugs in hospitals, low education standards, and a general low life standard. ”
Those are ALL connected in the ideology of neoliberal economics, which is all about reducing government services and increasing opportunities for foreign corporations, including more opportunities to screw over Zambian workers. The way to end it is to turn toward demand side economics – works projects, infrastructure, agriculture, job protection, a more than living and enforced minimum wage to create demand for goods and services.
Hi guys, howz de evning going on
Can someone post the MMD Campaign promises(Manifesto) they used for the Oct 2008 elections.We need to start monitoring and evaluating them regularly so that in 2011 they do not mislead the electorate again.In fact the same needs to be done for all the MP’s, we need to start monitoring and evaluating their campaign promises regularly,no more misleading of Zambian citizens in 2011.The Global economic crisis is not an excuse,we need to see them putting in measures to make it manageable like other performing countries are doing.Zambians can never be misled again.Those campaign promises were developed during the signs of the Global crisis.They knew what they were saying.No excuses now or in 2011
THESE WOMEN SINGING, DOES IT MEAN THERE HUSBANDS ARE ALSO THERE SINGING, I CANT IMAGINE MY SELF HAVING A WIFE WHO IS ALWAYS RUNNING TO THE AIRPORT TO SING CARELESSLY WHEN EVER THE SO CALLED PRESIDENT IS LEAVING OR COMING INTO THE COUNTRY. GET A LIFE WOMAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL OR SELL VEGETABLES AT CITY MARKET.
No. 7 you are so full of anger cant even see lightheartedness in other people’s creativity. Life should not be defined by only what your eyes see, the world will pass you while you watch trying to look out for the seriousness of everything.
No. 7, Bring it on boring wife, lover boy is waiting….
10. New Zambia
” No excuses now or in 2011 ”
We either a demand side economics oriente government in the MMD, or a united opposition in 2011. There is no excuse for the PF or UPND not to unite. If the UPND is the problem, the party deserves to disappear. At the same time, the PF needs to clearly have a successor to the highly admirable Michael Sata. In other words, we need a permanent two-party system. Let politicians have their factions and rise through either party. However, the present disposition is a recipe for permanent one party government.
On the other hand, …
The biggining of confusion in Upnd. Now just wait and see what wil happen.Me when i talk you say am tribal.just wait and see how Upnd goes into oblivion.
On the other hand, if the MMD come up with policies that are so popular that the people can’t wait to vote for them, they deserve to in power as long as they want.
It has to be all about the people.
Is there a way this can become a permanent thread? Which would be great.
I READ SENSE IN CHANDA K CHISHIMBA ANALYSIS. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND ASK THE GOVT TO SCRAP OFF POSITIONS WHICH ARE NOT OFF USE TO THE RUNNING OF THE MINISTRY E.G. D/MINISTERS. THESE GUYS ARE CREATING JOBS FOR THEMSELVES.
Imwe bantu, ni chani kansi. You are just showing how dull you are by not intelligently discussing the above article.There are suggestions in the article which can help our country move forward. Mukamkamba chabe vamene vilibe na nchito. Sha
Not many solutions being offered here. Alot of complaints, no solutions though.
Please allow dual citizenship in Zambia. Many Zambians abroad are willing to offer brilliant ideas in the public sector.
And you know for you Upnd to expell kahenya. It means there are so many problems which when you hear,you will realise what kind of a political party upnd is! The end has come for upnd.bwafya kano kaletambako fye!
Issue # 4 ba Chanda besu.
NAPSA is still very much okay. What you need to do is to look at your disposable income as to whether you can take it for IRA. Can you try to visit some Insurance companies as they do have such products. Plan as to how much you want to have in 5 years from now. Then on a monthly basis you save a certain amount towards what you want to achieve. If your goal is to have K30m after it means therefore that on a monthly basis you need to take to your insurance company k500,000. This requires discipline.
So NAPSA is just okay. The people managing it are the ones who have failed to deliver hard earned income to the owners.
My comment at #19 was referring to the forum, not to the article. The article has fantastic ideas. The most intriguing of which is to allow towns to keep their revenue. That is brilliant.
This land can be used to create new industries, which would in turn create jobs for the Chiefs’ subjects.
There are ways in which chiefs can be included in economic development. If they directly benefited from economic activity BY THEIR SUBJECTS in their areas, they would have an incentive to see their people do well. We could have a situation where any Zambian citizen who pays a tax to a chief is exempt from taxes on income and profit. Chiefs could then reinvest money in their areas. Pay 25% of (let’s call it) a Royal Tax pays no other federal taxes. These are business that do not exist yet, so the state would not miss out.
#23 Jim, that is why the guy suggests that people manage a certain amount of their money. This will ensure that they act responsibly during their working years. I think the guy has brilliant ideas
In my opinion one of the best articles to ever come out of LT. Good and interesting proposals. I agree largely with most of the suggestions. I wonder if they is sufficient enabling political will and enviroment for considering such,. Otherwise good ideas.
I was home for the month of May, and there is certainly a lack of solutions being floated. Some of the ideas on this forum are pretty good, I’m not sure how we can implement some of these? Maybe a new coalition of serious-minded individuals can be created based on our overseas experiences.
Decentralisation
Right now, too much money never seems to leave the ministries. If healthcare, policing, education and utilities were decentralised to local government level, there would be more precision in hiring teachers, doctors and other first line service delivery personnel, instead of spending money on politicy studies and central government bureaucracy. I’m not saying local councils are perfect, but they are closer to the people. They should be democratically elected, so people can choose the most energetic and competent leadership.
How about devolving 50% of national revenues ($1bn) to local government?
This is a very interesting article. Can more people reflect on how revenue can be increased and invested in development. Great article and observation Ba Chishimba! Thank you.
WHY ONLY FOUR SUGGESTIONS LT
27. Artful Dodger,
” I wonder if they is sufficient enabling political will and enviroment for considering such, ”
There is an article in The Times (times/co/zm),
STATE INVITES OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES
By Times Reporter
THE Government has asked opposition political parties and other stakeholders to come up with suggestions on how best to address the escalating food prices for the benefit of Zambians.
So I let’s make the most of this opportunity.
Iwe Spektacter, are you the real Spactator or you are just a gong,a because the Spactator i know,his contributions are full of Substance.
With regards to the food situation, I would like to see the state start supporting medium scale (100 hectare) commercial organic farming. This would create an agricultural industry that is 100% sustainable for centuries to come. Farms that size would create multiple income streams for the farmer, generate a middle class lifestyle for the farmer and his family, and quite a few farworkers creating rural markets for goods and services, lead to wealth accumulation by management (farmers) who have the knowledge to start new businesses, create rural businesses, and generate surpluses for manufacturing.
The diversification inherent to these 100ha farms (think 25 hectare patches of maize, sorghum, casava, livestock, etc.) will prevent crop diseases sweeping across large monoculture farms. 100ha creates more than enough space for the farmer’s children to start spin-off businesses like greenhouses, intensive dairy farming, poultry, agroforestry, etc.
Having these farms be organic, ensures they will improve the quality of the land for future generations and can procure most of their inputs from within the farm and don’t need to depend on the chemical industry. In other words, they would be self-sustaining, irrespective of the state of the national or global economy.
Selfsustaining is the key word. Instead of globalisation, we need to create many local markets which can survive external economic shocks.
#16 I agree with you until we as Zambians realize that we have the power to keep our leaders on their feet to perform, every party will have a loophole to mislead the Zambian people.We need to be so empowered that whichever party comes into power should know that they can never take Zambian’s for granted coz we know our civic rights.let’s not focus too much on fighting about parties but on empowering all Zambian Citizens.I agree with you we do need two major parties and if we can have a law of preventing politicians jumping from one party to the next.Lastly we also need a law to prevent politicians giving handouts during campaigns and also providing sudden development during these campaign
MAMBALA !!!! BANDA !!!! FCUK IWE !!!!!!
37. New Zambia
” We need to be so empowered that whichever party comes into power should know that they can never take Zambian’s for granted coz we know our civic rights. ”
I think a lot can be done by decentralizing power and budgets to local government. For one, they are much closer to the people. We could put it into law that local council leaders must live in their council – that probably wouldn’t even be necessary – unlike MPs, who can be imposed by national parties and might show up once every 5 years. Also the geographic distance to the capital and parliament would not be an issue.
THIS IDEA OF WOMEN DANCING FOR A PRESIDENT IN ZAMBIA ONLY TELLS YOU THAT THERE’S NOTHING TO DO IN ZAMBIA. BY THE WAY, ARE THOSE WOMEN WHO DANCE FOR THE PRESIDENT OR MINISTER MARRIED AT ALL? IF THEY ARE DO THEY DANCE FOR THEIR HUSBAND WHENEVER THEY COME FROM WORK? IS IT A JOB ANYWAY? IF IT IS, HOW MUCH DO THEY GET PAID? IS THE JOB DESCRIPTION SIMILAR TO ESCORT GIRLS? SOMEONE PLS THROW SOME LIGHT.
#40. Peter, nice comment. It would make sense if the women dancers are from a dance groupo, but the way the current situation is it leaves much to be desired.
You know the dude wrote some serious issues and all, but who will listen. u know the way these people in government are. just because they are old and all so they still have that mentality that abache(young men and women) just talk to much and dont knw wat they are saying. its high time the government gives abache a chance to come up with ideas that will make the country better. “time for fresh brains, away with outdated minds” let them just become advisers.
Zambia sometimes can be disappointing, you ‘elect’ an old man as President who has never done anything good in the many years he was in gov’t. Then you let the same man appoint friends who also haven”t done anything major despite been in gov’t for many years like VJ. Then like that is not enough, you let him start making appointments that don’t make sense like Dora Siliya. See how Dora wants to sell Zamtel, ati its operating at a loss, this is pure nonsense. Very soon, Zambia will be privitised, that is what MMD wants to do, sell off Zambia and nothing will come of it for the local people.
Ba Shi Master,
That what your mother has been doing from KK’s days to Mwanawasa.You think the gruddas you were buying chibuku with at UNZA use to come from her descent jobos.No ways my friend!
# 43,
Form your own party and show us your ways other than converting yourself into another chatterbox.
#peter thats true. This concerns me a lot, imagine rb was leaving at 6:30 am and the ladies were already at the airport to shake their bodies and open their lips for him. Looking at the distance to the airport, it means these women woke up at o4:00 am, and those who are married left their husbands asleep. Does it mean those ladies have nothing to do on planet earth with all those ophans at zed. Do not accept to be used like this.
# 37,
You are in the USA the heart of democracy.Why not learn one thing from here.America has more than 15 third parties but the political market place negates them on the ballot to two party system.There is no statutory regulation that only two should reign as you dream.That would be be an infringement of people’s right of association.
Chomba # 46,
Us in PF we use to hire buses to dance for Chiluba and Regina on every medical check up trip they made during our love affair when my President Pledged to pardon all you call plunders and guarantee Chungu’s return.Its a sign of respect for our leaders.My own mother is in the PF dancing troop.Every time President Sata or Guy scott are traveling or returning mum dances.So what is your problem? Just bring your mother on board.
#Chewe it seems you are so woried about upnd. Everywhere people quarrel even in a smallest unit such as a family it happens the same and what matters is the way people respond to them. Mind you upnd just like pf was formed and funded by Mazoka and his death left a vacum, thats why there is a time of expansion, fall and picking up pieces to rise. This is common in life. The end of sata would mean the end of pf. Even if they fail they can just join our mighty mmd and that will be the end of pf. But those guys are principled and I think they are comfortable in the opposition. Mind you sp has received massive investment in the opposition rule.
#48 Chapi. My mother is a very respectable woman and she cannot shake her body for someone else apart from my dad. The politician wants to use people when they are comfortable.
#47 that is a suggestion i put forward. For a start we can begin with two major parties until Zambian’s are empowered and know their rights then let anyone feel free to form their own party. What we need to do now is try to avoid vote splitting that allows wrong and incompetent people to rule. That’s just my opinion Zambian’s are free to accept it or reject it that’s why we are debating on this forum.
Sh’t Zed sh’t minds sh’t pipo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NAPSA is a metaphor of bad management.Its apparent that the Zambian economy, in general can never be resilient to the current financial turmoil.The issue hightlighted by chanda says it all.
The saving culture in Zambia need to be restructure if the introduction of the lusaka stock exchange is to benefit the ordinary Zambia.
The recent again enjoyed by Zambian in the first quarter improved custmers sentiments.However, the elections have exacerbated the poor economic condition,therefore the government should incorperate ideas raised by chanda.
With confidence affected by the financial turbulence and a decline in term of trade now under way,more cautious behaviour is inevitable.
All things considered, this is an excellent article. We must try the ideas presented before rejecting them. I wished there was a system in place for us to vote on new ideas for rejection or adoption.
iwe “super loaf” mind!! zed nor its people aint wat u think they are. that just shows how immature u are. just because u aint in zed dont mean u are better of. all zed needs is good minds and we will be back on the road. we are all equal but just lack the OPPORTUNITY others have. period. “ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION”
ah guys, let us plan a more strategical plan in preparation for 2011 election. let those who want to stand come out in the open so that, we will are able to filter them sooner. They should send their manifestos for marketing to Zambians in diaspora….
We will discuss those plans before we sell them.
I fully agree with the author of the above artcle on the key issues that are vital to develop Zambia. I wonder if any of our govt officials why they are in govt except to enrich themselves at the expense of the tax payers. Chiefs who the largest land ownners do not know what valuble resource they have. Land is a huge investiment. Many blogger here are off topic I also wonder why we many of you cannot stick to the discussion.
Here we go again Zed !
sell the counrty, be part of china or even owned by bill gates, maybe we can move forward
Article author, mwana come on lets be realistic its either you live in hte U.S or you have lived somewhere in the west. Dude some of the things you propose are good and could be achieved but i disagree with you on one major thing IRA’s in zambia can not work with our current economic situation. We have a hand to mouth situation in zambia, its hard to save and its harder to prosper as a regular worker. I urge you to visit industrial workers if you’re home and if not i urge you to go visit zambia soon to see what is possible and impossible…..Theories arte good but we need pragmatists with simple plans.
What wonderful topic? i just hope what ever we talk about on your blog is brought to the attention odf the policy makers. how do we get involved in policy making process? these are important issues/
wats all this thing bout votin splittin?why does it seem to affect the opposition more than it does to the rullin guys?when votes split ey split from both parties but it seems as if the opposition are at loss at the end of the day…whos to blame for dat??thats ma e4
policies gvts make determine how things gonna run in da country…but its like our african leaders like copyin anyin the west do apart from payin people the way people are paid in da west..systems in africa differ by far to those in da west so if u impose a policy used by sweden on zambia how would that go?very soon u will hear our president askin for aid to help put up a metro in zambia as part of development!
#60 Ben, that is the mentality defeating any reasonable ability to try out new ideas. It is not a question of one saving 100% of what they earn. A little amount saved today in the stock market goes a long way in the future. Remember, companies pay dividends, if reinvested, returns from such an investment can be meaningful.Lets learn to espouse ideas and not just shoot down anything other people come up with. No person can claim a monopoly on ideas. Chanda has shown us what he thinks, show us your side too. I bet you, you are just a self-centred individual who cannot even see beyond your nose
Hahaha,ala kwena muli ama issues mu Upnd! Hey, HH was gven 900 cattle for Campaign purposes.But looking at i have just read in the post.Its like the money grew feathers and flew away.That one is a privitisation man.Hey where are the cattle?
Looking at what i have just read in the post,its like the money from cattle sales which was meant for campaigns grew feathers and flew away.HH bwafya!
Kahenya reviews, he is expelled from the Upnd.hey wonders shall never end .
Good article. I agree with most of the points raised by the author. However, I don’t think the introduction of self-managed IRAs would be very effective. NAPSA contributions amount to 10% of one’s salary (5% contribution by employee matched by employer) and have an upper limit which is quite low. As a result NAPSA funds received upon retirement are often minimal. The bulk of the funds received upon retirement are the retirement benefits from employers. In the case of civil servants, it takes many years for retirees to receive their benefits. This has led to many retirees dying in poverty while they await their benefits.
#68 cont’d.
In the private sector, many companies no longer employ workers on a permanent basis. A number of such companies offer two year contracts which they renew on expiry. This is a ploy to avoid making retirement contributions as required for permanent and pensionable employees. Other companies have gone as far as only employing casual workers to avoid making NAPSA contributuions.
A lot needs to be done to tackle the issue of poverty after retirement.
#22 I LIKE YOUR COMENT OVER NAPSA CONTRIBUTION ADIVICE ME AM A CIVILIAN WORKER UNDER ONE OF THE DEFENCE MINITRIES AND YOUR SALARIES ARE JUST TO LOW AS AT NOW AM GETING ALMOST NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND FROM THE SAME SALARY I PAY RENTALS, EDUCATION FOR MY CHILDREN, EATING BATHIGN CLOTHING AND LOAN DEDUCTION FROM THE SAME SALARY AND AM THE BREAD WINNER PLEASE ADIVICE……….
I ‘n I cunt overstand why we even bother advising dem fuls. Dem never listen before. Where are the magicians (mfwiti) to bewicth some sense in our leaders?
This is a well thought out article, productivity in Zambia is at 25% whilst consumption at 75%, Surely why should we be wasting so much money on cellphones for so called constitutional officers and politicians when our hospitals have no drugs!
Good article. Beats me really to note that the much talked about economic boom is not trickling down to the average Zambian. Public medical facilities are nothing to write home about. Average people’s living conditions are critical. The public education sector desires much room for improvement and the provision of safe water to the average Zambian is something that is just talked about in workshops and filed for future reference. No tangible action taken.
Unless politicians are loosely using the word ‘economic boom’ otherwise the results are yet to be seen. All this is mere cosmetics.
Why do African presidents still insist on women dancing for them when they go out of the country? This is ludicrous. The man only went for a few hours to be met at the airport by a bunch of hypocrites.
Good article. I like the bit about man hours. Couldn`t agree more with you Chanda.
But then again it is Africa. Nothing will change mate. No wonder we still have road blocks.
YABAA BAMWINE. THATS NO GOOD SOLUTION, PLIZ MY FELLOW COUNTRY MEN AND WOMEN.THE PROBLEM LIES IN GOVERNMENT WE HAD A CHANCE TO WIPOUT ALL THOSE CORUPT GUYS IN GOVERNMENT.HOW MANY STOOD FOR CHANGE? FEW, AND YOU PIPO WHO DIDNT VOTE WANT CHANGE,IT ALL LIES IN THE NEW PARTY AND NEW GOVERNMENT!!!!!! SATA AND PF FOR CHANGE. PEACE AND LOVE
Chief hold too much land and power over the land to an extent where they exchange part of the land intended for development for gifts and money.Iam sure our constitution is silent on this pressing issue of land.To foster development in rural areas chiefdoms should only be the custodian of the land for the republic.
I ‘n I have solution to alla dem problems. Make we legalize de ganja and puff it all day. Bomboclat pan DEC.
MR CHISHIMBA, THANX FOR THE WISE ARTICLE BUT YOU SEE, THIS SO CALLED GOVT IS SO SELFISH THAT IT CANT EVEN LISTEN TO SUCH. MOREOVER BAMWINE WANTS TO FULFIL HIS PROMISES TO THOSE WHO HELPED HIM RIG THE ELECTIONS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FULFIL THE PROMISES HE WAS BUSY MAKING TO THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA.THIS COUNTRY HAS THE CAPACITY TO SUSTAIN ITSELF THE POWER LIES WITHIN IT BUT OUR LEADERS ARE TOO SELFISH.WHY HAVE MORE THAN ONE MINISTER IN LET ALONE TWO IN JUST A SINGLE MINISTRY AND YET THEY CONTRIBUTE NOTHING DISPITE PAYING HUGE SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES.GOD WILL PUNISH YOU PEOPLE FOR STEALING FROM THE COUNTRY.
I wonder why LT prefers to publish useless cmments likes(no.1,am the first ,on top) leaving serious comments from genuine pipo.
Wise article. I think what GRZ has failed to also do, is motivating the people to have a positive attitude towards our country. People always feel cheated by the top GRZ who seem not to offer any energising ideas even when they they pretent to know something. By the way, why not disband, things like office of the president and come up with a less exipensive unit???. That thing just serves one person???. Look at the building they have for doing the country hram. Instead of doing the right job, there were bussy with Zamtrop???
I guess the UNIP culture is so deeply intenched and “kissing up” is the only way folks know how. Zambia’s biggest problem is capacity. NAPSA has tried to spread funds into almost all possible investment vehicles in the economy so has ZSIC. But guys you have to recognise that these are state institutions so Min of Fin regulates where they put the money since they are public institutions.#8 Mr K – you are so right and this makes Zambians workers and not drivers on the Economy. Banks in my last visit (I saw) are trying to move their funds into folks that my have the ability to repay, but with the inpending shrink…how long will these guys be able to repay if they lose their jobs?
It is such huge but really confused structures that always drains the economy of Zed. Strengthen sections like ACC, remove deput ministers and further strengthen Ps offices.
Call on Responsible and capable citizens such as jarges, university lectures, and other credible people to advise the president sometimes.
The main aim of GRZ is not to think on behalf of the people but to facilitate the ideas peoplel come up with and help implement them using the peoples money. The problem, always GRZ wants to think on behalf of the people and they dont know that even the money they use come from the same people. Please learn to litsen and you will never go wrong
# 43
I AGREE WITH YOU YOU CANT EXPECT TO RUN A COMPANY AND GET MONEY AT WHATEVER TIME AND NO ONE SHOULD QUESTION YOU ON HOW MUCH YOU ARE TAKING JUST BECAUSE IT IS STATE OWNED. WHEN IT IS CAMPAGN PERIOD YOU KEEP ON GETTING MONEY DO YOU THINK THE MONEY IS GOING BACK IN A/CS.WHO AUDITS ZAMTELS A/C FROM PAMWAMBA ?
All these hings like NAPSA, will just sort themselves out once the GRZ can mobilize people to think and advize GRZ. Ears are there to be used for litsening. We have very sharp people…..
The LPM shine and change in doing things is sipping back into govt. Politics of patronage are coming back. Doubt me read the paper. MMD dissolve Luapula executive (then where is democracy in an executive that was elected?) UNDP Executive Sec fired (Chap was selling off to his fellow NW in hope they would him a post in MMD (Teta style). After messing up in the party by running his mouth Teta says he will want to step down from the party position. The Chap has no sense of disicpline! How many times was he told to shut up!! These are the chaps that are leading Zed political culture but lack the insight in that what you say at that lead is percieved as policy.
Apart from scrapping the post of deputy minister may i also suggest that ministers must not be appointed from Parliament. Cabinent ministers should be from outside Parliament and then parliament can really provide checks and balances to the executive. For instance, if the MPs were not eligible for cabinet posting that would stem MPs jumping from one party to other( imagine the cost savings for doing away with by elections caused by job seekers). Not to mention issues of accountability to the electorate, which at the moment is to the appointing authrority.
You know honestly we the Zambian people can manage ourselves if it were not for the politicians who want to keep us forever poor.
Matworld-Nice guy,Sorry i had knocked off when you were asking for an apology from me. My brother i have time and again that i like Zambians very much thus why even my chick is Zambian but my stance on the characteristics of Zambians still stand and i will never apologise for that truth. Thanx
Gov Palin unwrote her political career with her notion that running your mouth like the “Plumber” is the way to get to the top…And thought the American public did not know what was sense and Non sense. Well…wina ana lila!!! all the back to where she can see Russia!!! Thinking Gendermatics will get her to the WH.CIAO # you have a point there…
Chanda.K.Chishimba, yuor article is fantastic. Please take it up to the higher authorities because it is not suppose to end just from here. You are one in a million postive thinkers in Zed. Excellent my brother
Haa
Kwati Ninkoko
MM #19 decentralization is something that has been tried for a while since KK. Problem is what happens when chaps are given power. Yr second suggestion about coalitions and dual Citizenship? I am sorry but are you serious about these suggestions? dual citizenship is like having a wife at home and telling your girlfriend you are comitted to the children your having with her (when you have no capcity to support them both). Coalition is more in the same lines…trying to fight from outside the boxing ring.
Task force on corruption has only recoverd 19 billion since 2002.
how much have they spent during the same period?
The way forward maybe what Ciao #82 and global view #86 is suggestion could work. Let the experts run and the elected chaps to the “body checks”.
Good article,Please give it to the President and the Parliament. 99% members of Parliament are sleeping in Parliament and getting paid at tax payer’s expense.Zambians need a petition drive to collect 5 million signature on these issues.
1.No cell phone for govt officials 2.No govt vehicles after 5pm or to be used for personal purpose 3.No free electricity and water for all Govt employees from Cabinet to Janitor 4. No housing allowance from Cabinet to Janitor 5.No medical treatment abroad or South Africa for all from President to Janitor ( They can go abroad or South Africa with their own individual policy) 5.No allowances for working out of town from President to Janitor.
Its like this site is just used for the usual Zambia way, talk and yet do nothing. Talking industry. Come and participate fully in the economy.
bonse tulibantu #92 so what are you suggestion we become like Nigeria where looting is a way of life? Nigeria economy could be better just from Oil revenues but each for himself and God for us all culture is killing them.
Zambia is not a poor Country, It is a mismanaged Country. I ask all caring Zambians in Zambia and all over the world to take charge and help Zambia be the Best.
RB said he will creat 4,000 jobs, Zambians where are these jobs? it has been over one month since he took the office.
ZAMBIA IS NOT POOR BUT MISMANAGED WE HIRED THESE POLITICIANS WE SHOULD ALSO FIRE THESE POLITICIANS BY IMPREACHING THEM FOR NOT KEEPING THEIR PROMISES.
#75 Bashi B – Voter apathy = voter confidence in the candidates. Look at what Happen in the US. There were more voter in this election because they had confidence that the candidate will live up to his campiagn promise. McCain was just doing politics as usual.
#95 BFT this site is not all about talk. We are helping in building Zed, I have a business in Zambia and 85% of the Zambians abroad they bring a huge liquidity in the Zambian economy monthly the cash they wire to their family and friends, No President of Politicians has thanked or talked about it,Look at Mexico their President and leaders are out of darkness they thank all their citizens working in Canada and the US.
Where are u Zambians?
Zedvoice #97 & #98. How do you plan on starting the impeachment process? Your notion that 4000jobs will be created after a month of coming into office is another….idea, even Obama speaks of creating 2million jobs but this wont happen in the first month of office. There has to be some credibility in what we say…Kudos the author of the article…Thanks for your insight ladies and gents…as they say you can never kill a lose with one finger…one zed one nation
Great job Zedvoice #100!!! Sadly Mexico and Brazil are good examples of the “wire kutandiza kumuzi” and the immigration figures will show that the Mexicans are still coming and the Brazilians are now going. Why? Because of the growth policies of Brazil. It does not make sense for them to be here when the ROI is higher in Brazil and they have created businesses that will continue to grow because of good govt policy. Mexico is like Nigeria…and no matter how NFTA helps Mexico as long govt doesnt help its people the people will try and help themselves. Hence my comment about Mr K #8 (he raised a good point). But please keep it up brother…on the “wire kutandiza kumuzi” with the network
K. Chishimba,thats a brilliant article i wont take that away from you indeed they are a lot of positions in government that are rather of noo essence and should be gottn ride of,like the idea of having two deputy ministers @ one minstry.Is it just me or is the whole idea of having chiefs outdated,we are now living in a modern era and these are things that we need to get ride of.Alot of tax payers money goes into maintaining these chiefs.This is why we will never get ride of tribalism.I mean look at what is happening at the newly constructed Lumwana mine,chiefs in that area are only recommending their own tribal mates for the jobs for the less qualidied individuals at the mine.
#87 Rashid Jones.Thanks bro,let me not crucify you again on this issue,you know very well why you can not apologise,and I think you have some reasons why you said that Zambians are sleepy and Ignorant.But don’t you think that not all Zambians are like that?Anyway Bro sorry to bother you.Stay blessed
Good article Chanda K. Chishimba. Measured, well thought and written.
Civil service is too top-heavy which is probably why it is difficult to improve conditions of civil servants.
There is need for some serious stramlining at the top.
Excuse my typo on 106. Should read “need for some serious streamlining at the top.”
Good Article.
Just be care with actual numbers. How much money do we save by cutting size of govt and taking away their cell phones. Can that money be enough to build schools.
Those dancing queens and others in the picture, are they paid by MMD? Do they run their own business that they willingly leave to satisfy their political hobby. May be they love politics and dancing, like football funs in Europe who always travel with the team, even to foreign lands.
Any chief holding back development is a shame. In Mongu, shoprite has not been allowed to operate a supermarket. Some chiefs actively invite industries.
Chiefs alone can only do little to facilitate investment in their areas. You need a Govt offer incentives such as tax breaks etc. Local councils can also help since they levy companies. Chiefs, Councils and Govt need to work together, each contributing their lot.
In Zambia, what we need first is to seriously & massively invest in agriculture, which is a mass employer. Agriculture has potential to create thousands of new jobs within a few years. Let us grow a lot of cash crops for export. Agriculture naturally gives birth to manufacturing and processing industries. We have enough land. Let us subsidize agriculture like the rest of the world.
Walanda mudala 109 108.
I SAY THE BOMA SHOULD BUY THOSE FAT CATS’S CHEAPER CARS…ITS AMAZING WHAT $40,000 WORTH OF BENZ CAN DO TO SAY U.T.H…AND THOSE CATS LOVE FANCY CARS….FURTHER…LETS RUN THAT ZED LIKE A BUSINESS..WITH REAL BUSINESSMEN MAKING MONEY..WE CAN FOR NOW COMPROMISE ON EDUCATON LEVELS…HOW DO YOU EXPECT A FARMER..SOYA MAN..TO SERIOUSLY DO ANYTHING UP THERE..ZAMBIA ISNT A CHIPATA FARM…OR A NOT SO SUCCESSFULL ADVOCATE..REST IN PEACE TO RUN THE SHOW…CHOSE YOUR LEADERS WISELY…BUT AS USUAL WE ZEDS ARE ALL TALK….
I would like to suggest that the government comes up with a think tank on economic issues. President Mwanawasa had his but the propblem was that it was not home grown. We have so many talented people: economists, accouuntants, engineer, etc. Lets use them
#70. I may not adequately provide the solution to your investment problem it requires me sitting down with you, while I look at your figures. Well, currently the best investment with a higher return are the stocks as someone alluded to earlier.
– Plan as to how much you should have at retirement.
– Then say buy 100 shares every month (1200 in a year)
– Shares appreciate in value. So do not sell them when the value goes up. (Don’t be a speculator; you will lose money in fees paid to brokers.
– Investment requires patience.
– You do not need a lot of money to invest. Start with what you are able to put aside every month. (Shares at K1,000. each and 100 of them will make K100,000)
77. Jah Man,
” I ‘n I have solution to alla dem problems. Make we legalize de ganja and puff it all day. Bomboclat pan DEC. ”
Not a bad idea – legalizing hemp, that is. It is relatively drought resistant, it doesn’t need much fertlizer, it crowds out weed so it doesn’t need any herbicides and very few pesticides, and I think the yield per hectare is about $400. Literally thousands of products can be made from it’s fibers and seeds. Hemp fiber is a huge competitor for cotton – so clothes, cloth, rope, etc. can all be made from it.
#70
I think that is something you can manage. Why can’t you start this month?
– Discipline is the key to your SECURED FUTURE.
Should you want further help, I will be arriving in Zambia on the 10th (2 weeks) and should you want my assistance I will be more than pleased to assist at no cost. Just give me your contacts and if you are Lusaka based that can be easy.
#113 Jim, you are right on the spot. Investing is not just about waiting to accumulate millions. The very little that you put away especially in the stock market has a tendency to grow.Imagine if you cut down on spending money on beer for instance, or any other non-essential social activity, and invetsed that money, your return would be substantial. If you started to save today for your 1 month old baby, lets say K10,000 every month, the amount available to your child in their college years would be enough to even give that child a start in life.
#68 & 69
If companies are employing people on casual basis just to avoid NAPSA, for how long are those people employed? Where a person has been in employment for even just a week, the law demands that the employing company must remit NAPSA for the period they have worked.
There is no escape BWANA! The problem is the enforcement of the law. Even when people like you are aware, you are failing to report such thieves.
37. New Zambia
” We need to be so empowered that whichever party comes into power should know that they can never take Zambian’s for granted coz we know our civic rights. let’s not focus too much on fighting about parties but on empowering all Zambian Citizens. ”
You are completely right, there has to be permanent development, irrespective of where in the country someone lives or who is in power in Lusaka. One way of doing that i think is to put much greater emphasis on local government. Let’s devolve 50% of the national revenues ($1bn) directly to local government and put them in charge of education, policing, utilities and healthcare. Decentralisation could be key.
#116 Thumbs up and keep it coming
#117. A company can employ casual workers for up to six months before they start making NAPSA contributions.
Government needs to realise that unnecessary restrictive legislation frustrates economic development. If taxes were lowered, license and other statutory fees were made affordable, more people would engage in trade and grow the labour market thereby widening the tax base. Punitive import duties throttle the capacity of businesses to develop. Government would raise more money from a wider tax base than from charging exorbitant taxes on the few companies and individuals with the means to bring in imports. When more more people start earning an income, trade increases resulting in the economy growing. People with disposable income are the market that we forever moan about.