State, EAZ, union condemn Sata

1. If it was not the government owing zamtel Billions of kwacha,zamtel would have been running just fine with a lot of profits,infact it could have been the best telecoms company in the southern region with the use of the Mwembeshi Earth Station,,,with RP capital running the show,i would definately support Sata 100%,what more with the firing of the zesco board chairman over the optical fiber which was meant to be part of the deal…there’s no transparency in this whole issue

2. Who is Mwilola Imakando and Oliver Saasa anyway? These are people who cannot earn a living without relying on tax payers. They have been hired by RB to be issuing fun statements. In any case which Zamtel investors anyway? if they are genuine investors why cant they build there own telecom company like Zain and MTN ? The message is clear, we shall renationalize Zamtel. Mwilola Imakando and Oliver Saasa you dont represent any nobody, you are just job/contracts seekers from RB`s government becoz you are not savvy enough to compete on the market. Sata represents a larger section of the Zambian people.

3. Re-nationalizing ZAMTEL would be one of the biggest economic blunders of the decade.

4. This is not sounding good comoning from King Cobra. By the rule on the thumb in economics all struggling industries have to be privatised to make them viable. As to whether the privatisation is carried out in an honest manner that is another issue to be scrutinised – but we can’t outrightly condemn privatisation.

   I only know of socialist countries like my Cuba & China where the Governments had to renationalise most of the private enterprise though they too have started reversing this stance. Sata then should be a good friend of China because his policies are communist like China and not capitalist like Taiwan.

5. Well, the government only has itself to blame and on this one, for a change, I concur with Satanyoko. Banda’s sons and Dora Siliya went to great lengths to sale this state company to their friends and I am sure they received huge kick backs for doing so. In as much as Banda could prevail over the gutless judge Phillip Musonda to get his fellow Kumawa Dora off the hook and quickly re-appoint her to cabinet, we the people have the last say because when we boot him out of power next year, ZAMTEL will have to be re-nationalized and I would even go further than Sata, whoever buys it should not be given their money back. All the bidders should therefore just wait till after the elections to deal with a new administration. In the meantime, the govt should pay back all it owes ZAMTEL.

6. # 2 Dawa, I guess if you spent a big portion of your life at the PF training ground called Kulima Tower, you indeed should be forgiven for not knowing who Imakando and Prof Sasaa are. My friend, these are some of the best economic brains that Zambia has to offer and these men are genuine articles and even the intelligence in a single strand of hair on their heads cannot be compared to the whole PF combined including yourself. Unless you lived under a rock you surely can’t utter such words to these true sons of our the soil, the best economics minds in Zambia. Ask any Zambian Rhodes Scholar who Prof Saasa is before you embarrass yourself further on this blog

7. #2 I dont know about Mwilola Imakando, but Oliver Saasa is a well known and respected economist,you can look up his profile on google or on the EAZ archives, he is a damn good economist believe me

8. Nationalisation is no longer a preserve of communist countries alone because Obama nationalised a number of Banks and car companies to stop them from sinking. In China, state owned companies are not the evil that failed economists would like to make you believe they are because if anything, it is the Chinese state owned banks like Bank of Construction and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China that have over the last 30 years fueled this country’s unprecedented economic growth. Therefore, regardless of the colour of the cat, capitalist, communist or god knows what to call the system in Zambia, it does not matter as long as it can catch mice.

9. It is really interesting how he looks at all these issues. He needs to talk to people with the knowledge first before saying anything on such matters of global importatnce.

10. Imakando and group,you can say whatever you want to say but when SATA comes into power he will have his own way of running business.
    Come 2011 you should get used to that you good for nothing job seekers.

11. The notion that the state is not supposed to be invloved in business is flawed and the recent economic downturn that saw stunning collapses of major private MNCs shows that good business ecumen is not the preserve of the private sector. China has a benevolent dictatorship for sure, see, now it has the three largest banks in the world, measured by market capitalization. This is a stunning change, and yet another indicator of China’s rapid emergence as a global economic power, albeit centrally planned. Only three years ago, China did not have a single bank among the world’s top 20. Now it has the top three and four of the top ten. There you go, lecture us about communism’s ills and the prowess of capitalism.

12. #9 I am afraid I have to comment – Your blogging language seems more dictatorial than democratic. Zambia is becoming more democratic now – people should air their views how they feel and look at issues.

13. #9 Kim, I bet you are just waiting on the sidelines with your army of Kaponyas to come into power and rob the national Treasury that the MMD has worked so hard to build..and you call that running the business your own way. It will never happen Zambians both in rural and urban areas are just too smart to allow such. Just get used to the fact that Sata will never be Zambia president

14. There was hullaballoo when ZANACO was earmarked for privatisation. today, ZANACO is an encouraging success story. There is nothing wrong in privatising Zamtel as it is the only way to make it viable. Otherwise the only worry could be whether the privatisation process would be carried out in a transparent manner. Let us learn to analyse and see issues beyond political partisan lines for once. And for the record, Professor Oliver Saasa is NOT a politician but a qualified and respected Economist.

15. The whole Zamtel issue was not handeld well from the begining I can smell a rat here, I would go by what Mr Sata has to say. Most of the privatised companies were actuly doing well before being sold the example is KCM but it had to be sold again for reasons best known to MMD. Am sure there will be a big NICHEKELEKO IN THIS ONE. On the other hand why are they scared that Sata will chase the infestors??????? if they are sure that they will return the presidential seat meaning RB will be back on in 2011.

16. #7 I tend to agree with your analysis but I still see no reason why an industry that is struggling to survive (depending mainly on my PAYE) be renationalised.

    This is like saying renationalising the copper mines in Zambia back to ZCCM – that would be a terrible disaster. The truth of the matter is that Goverment doesn’t have technical expertise to effectively run these entities as parastatal – The other wrong side of the coin is: this also gives chance to fraudulent Govts to siphon all the little remaining resources generated by these industries.

17. Having said all the above, I doubt Sata is the type of person we would like to have run our economy because being from kwa-Mporokoso, the nearest comparable he has for an economy is Zaire Katanga, where there is none. Even though nationalising ZAMTEL in order to do a clean tender that does not smell of Dora’s pu**y everywhere will be the right thing to do, Sata’s privatisation record with his friend Chiluba is what brought Zambia to its knees. He should simply not be ushered into power otherwise Zambia is doomed. Either the education clause or age limit should be inserted to fix him, a bit of his own medicine he administered to Buchiya is well in order.

18. I’d like to be the first to wish everyone here “HAPPY NEW DECADE!”

    My mind is a bit weary of analysing Zambian politics at the momment, so I’ll just read your comments today…

19. just looking at sata’s mouth on the picture tells you what kind of vocabulary escapes from those lips

20. #17 Happy New Year to you too, God Bless.

21. # what makes him a damn good economist? Because he is a professor? thats crap…all he has is economic theories. For me I would even listern to GBM than to Oliver Saasa. I watched an interview last night where Frank Mutubila asked Prof Lungwangwa ( Minister of transport & Comms) why the govt didn’t take over the debt from Zamtel and outsource a management team to run Zamtel. We have seen the big capitalist countries do that in order to avoid private companies from being bankrupt. The man didn’t have a good answer…in the end after mumbling alot of stuff he says there is no money for that and anyway thats just another way of looking at things but govt settled for selling.

22. Sata’s remarks are a scare to future investment stability. Socialism and capitalism are on two extremes. With such sentiments….ya..ya..ya…Pact ili muchibe. State dreams of being president yaps bla…bla..bla… HH works up and says…once elected bla…bla..bla.. Twalumba

23. I am alive to the fact Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema have formed a political pact. I realise Mr Sata is saying “the PF in government will reverse the decision to privatise Zamtel when he is elected as President in 2011”. What is the position now, is it Mr Sata standing or Mr Hichilema. I think this issue should be clarified once and for all.

24. #6 comment # 19 is for you.

25. Nine Chile, do we start counting from Zero or One, The decade will start in 2011, this is the last year of this current decade, like the new new millennium started in 2001 not 2000. This is my opinion, anyway!!

26. Am i the only one who finds Nine Chale comments, boring. Tryin to paint a picture of a good man, and above all tasteless?. Be real ba Chale, are you after an award? despicable

    Back to the Topic, Sata can win the election, but he needs to surround himself with people who are more prudent to the affairs of the country, and have more common sense. I want to vote for them when the time comes, but his judgement and some utterances are questionable. Let HH be the president of the pact, make ba sata a life president. period

27. Looks like some individuals are born sick upstairs. They should instead be condemning the sale of ZAMTEL and the manner in which the sale is being conducted and also should not forget the hot issue of the ZESCO Fibre Optic – re Konga vs Zyambo. Wakeup Zambians something fishy is going on!!

    Lastly, may 2010 be a year filled with blessings and opportunities/partnerships for you in the opposition, your families, and friends!

    Time to open that can of booze now. Cheers!!

28. Looks like some individuals are born sick upstairs. They should instead be condemning the sale of ZAMTEL and the manner in which the sale is being conducted and also should not forget the hot issue of the ZESCO Fibre Optic – re Konga vs Zyambo. Wakeup Zambians something fishy is going on!!

    Lastly, may 2010 be a year filled with blessings and opportunities/partnerships for you in the opposition, your families, and friends!

    Time to open that cane of booze now. Cheers!!

29. Looks like some individuals are born sick upstairs. They should instead be condemning the sale of ZAMTEL and the manner in which the sale is being conducted and also should not forget the hot issue of the ZESCO Fibre Optic – re Konga vs Zyambo. Wakeup Zambians something fishy is going on!!

    Lastly, may 2010 be a year filled with blessings and opportunities/partnerships for you in the opposition, your families, and friends!

    Cheers!!

30. The issue at hand is that process of selling ZAMTEL stunk of untruthfulness and corruption right fro the start! I magine if we had not privatised ZCCM and innstead recapitalised, automated and diversified that economic giant! We could have expanded and listed ZCCM on LME, JSE, NYSE and turned into an Investment power house as far as exploration, extraction and exportation of Copper and its many by products is concerned! Equally, ZAMTEL can remain a parastatal but turned in a professional profit making asset through manpower development and capitalision/modernisation! Instead it would be ZAMTEL bidding to buy into similar corporations in Malawi, Burundi, Rwanda, Angola, Mozambique and any other markets. We can learn from African parastatals like KOBIL for starters!

31. The normative theories justifying privatization as a direction for public policy draw their inspiration from several different visions of a good society that Zambia is not. By far the most influential is the vision grounded in laissez-faire individualism and free-market economics that promises greater efficiency, a smaller government, and more individual choice. A second vision, rooted in a more socially minded conservative tradition, promises a return of power to communities through a greater reliance in social provision on families and other largely nonprofit institutions. Privatization, in this view, means devolution of power from the state to ostensibly nonpolitical and noncommercial forms of human association.
    In practice though, the meaning of privatization depends on a nation’s…

32. position in the world economy. In developed countries like Japan or the US, it is easy to treat privatization purely as a question of domestic policy. But where the likely buyers are foreign, as in the case of a poor third World country like Zambia, privatization of state-owned enterprises often means denationalization, a transfer of control to foreigners. Since state ownership often originally came about in an act of national self-assertion, privatization appears to be a retreat in the face of international pressure. In that sense, national memory, especially to the likes of Sata whom Sir Roy Welensky treated like chattels, colors the meaning of privatization with fear and hostility. In addition, it is the prevalence of hefty kick backs and the opaque realm within which the ruling…

33. oligarchy conducts privatization that leaves most of the citizenry deeply distrustful of the process.
    Ultimately, one form of privatization does entail another, that as we move ZAMTEL into the private sector, we move from the realm of the open and visible into a domain that is more closed to scrutiny and access. In the process, and it’s a fact that neither Sata, Banda or Dora have a clue about the consequences, we are likely to narrow our involvements, interests, and vision of a good well informed society endowed with resources to grow the economy like China. Either way, Zambia is f.u.c.k.e.d.

34. LT has been compromised and is now echoing state run media. what a shame

35. I think most Zambians say “issue/s” quite a lot and this is clearly a prelude to either a narrow vocubulary or they are just unintelligent party cadres visiting this site to regurgitate the verbature of their masters. You should listen to Shikapwasha and Mlongoti, neither of them can finish a sentence without saying the word “issues”. If language in an inhibiting factor to begin with, I wonder how Zambians are going to contend with a bigger problem called the economy. “Lekeni nomba lunye lwakwa Noah Satanyoko ebele!”

36. Where as Saasa is a good academician i have a feeling his theories are limited in scope, unsustainable and small scale. The Prof never seems to have the good of the people at heart. Can he tell us which of his ideas in the Fifth National Development Plan are realistic and have been attained! Practicality of ideas is what we are looking for because Zambia will not thrive on borrowed theories! Most Zambian Companies were at their best when they were run by the Governement. Privatisation may work now in the West but this comes after centuries of nationalisation and the western governments making sure that their citizens are socially and ecomomically empowered and that they are better able to stand on their own! China is only now begining to consider privatisation!!

37. # 32 Kandinsky – I salute you and completely agree with you. We cannot climb the tree from the branches. Democracies and economies we see in the West today are centuries old and Zambia will never turn itself into the US or Sweden overnight by copying their systems. Our nearest workable example is China and that is where I will put my bet. The only thing we have to do is make sure embezzlement of state funds is swiftly punishable by capital punishment. This deterrent, together with benovelent economic and political policies is what sparked the economic revolutions in the Far East Tigers and China and what could easily work here. For example, Dora, Chiluba etc are now supposed to be with Tetamashimba. Period.

38. Sata’s threats to re-nationalize Zamtel have nothing to do with communism, socialism or capitalism or whatever ism. Sata’s rationale is based on the flawed and controversial process that RB and his minions have employed on disposing of the telecomms company. The best anyone, especially those in government, can do is to revisit the whole process. I am particularly disappointed with Mwilolalolafye Imakando who should know better. Go on Sata, Go on Pact. We are behind you.

39. #23 Romantic Mink you’re perfectly right! There was no year 0 so the first decade started with the year 1 AD, the second decade with the year 11, the third decade with the year 21, and so on.
    In that case, this decade dnd century which started on January 1, 2001 will end December 31, 2010 and 3000 respectively. In that sense, I wish you a revised Happy New Year and thanks for correcting me again….

40. The whole process was rotten. It should be cancelled by the new administration and let Dora and Banda give back the kick backs they received. It is behaviour like this that killed Penza, once he was out of power, he could not deliver on his commitments for which he had already been paid. The only thing left was to pay the ultimate price, his life itself. I will not be suprised to hear the same fate befalling Banda’s sons and Dora after the 2011 polls when Kansundila is kicked out of the Mercedes Benz S class armoured guard pullman state limousine and all the monkeys finally joyously make a triumphant return home from their Mundawanga garden of exile.

41. For you all who are condemining Sata, do you know that the companies which are buying our companies especially the Chinese are government owned? Simply put, Sata is saying that if those governments can successifully run business and even buy over seas concerns why cant Zambia do it? On democracy, this has nothing to do with how old the country is : it has to do with the mentality of the people of that particular place. You have Ethiopia which is older than the USA, but its run by blood thirsty hounds. In simple terms we here in Zambia are not capable.

42. The whole thing smell pork and these people who are behind this are all corrupt people espercialy the so called economist who are being paid by Rb and them. To me sata is right that deal need to be called off and done in right way and not sell 75 percent for security reasons

43. #18 Genius thanks, well wishes & God bless you too! ..hoping to see the hidden half of your beautiful face in 2010…LOL!

    As for Sata’s remarks on Zamtel, I think he reflects the feelings of the masses, so to criticise him is like critcising the people. We shouldn’t just take the government’s view of things on privatisation..they usually just follow what the economists say. The boat might be not very properly balanced on the waters but come 2010 it might just turn into a battleship…. I’m out for lunch.

44. For you all who are condemining Sata, do you know that the companies which are buying our companies especially the Chinese are government owned? Simply put, Sata is saying that if those governments can successifully run business and even buy over seas concerns why cant Zambia do it? On democracy, this has nothing to do with how old the country is : it has to do with the mentality of the people of that particular place. You have Ethiopia which is older than the USA, but its run by blood thirsty hounds. In simple terms we here in Zambia are not capable of doing any thing right so we go begging for brains overseas.

45. Sata knows what he is talking about. Zamtel´s problem has been created by the government failure to settle what they owe the company. Zamtel can stand on its own provided someone streamlines the system. How can a company with 2000 vehicles consuming the coast of running the company on every day basis survive? Zamtel is the Mobile phone company provider with the biggest coast of production as it has the largest number of employees and Company vehicle which consume huge amounts of money causing failure to run the company. The worst is the direct influence of the government into the affairs of the company. I personally support Sata because Zamtel has benefited Rupiah family in its privatization. Henry Banda the son to Rupiah is the one who sourced RP capital with an interest.

46. Just today the American government has put over 3 billion dollars ino the financial company GMAC increasing its stake to over 52%. Zambia needs to have the different types of ownership if it has to have the kind of wealth creation that is going to lift people out of poverty. Investors are not charities and are not investing because they love Zambia but the potential to make money, what is appropriate is that investment decisions are based on prevailing factors and those making the decisions are not only thinking about their own pockets but that of the country as a whole. These companies were created at great cost to the taxpayer and should not be sold for a song.
    Only yesterday the Angolan state owned oil company has invested in Iraq oil wells, Zambia needs to learn from other countries.

47. Bashi Chilufya Sata would be the worst tragedy to befall our country if indeed he were to win the elections in 2011.There is just nothing in his record to indicate otherwise. This includes, economic policy, human rights and even leadership style. But of course Zambians are free to elect a disaster for Preident if they wish. They area a sovereign people. Even the Germans elected Hitler and have had to spend the rest of the century resenting their action of 1936. As to the question of Zamtel, Mr. Sata may find that he won’t have the money to pay the new owners of Zamtel the Millions to buy it back. The opportunity cost will just be unjustifiable. For now let him politic for the audience of the extremist fringe in Zambia that has evolved because of the propagandist reporting style of the…

48. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!! may the lords blessings be upon you and may the light keep on shining on every path you tread…to the Moslems Insh Alah!!
    –Nine chale,you always greet everyone before any post,big up Dude,nuff repsect,

49. Learned Professor Atta Mills has not nationalised Ghana Telecomms but has asked for a renegotiation only. This is what a good leader can do. With the little learned former shanter, there is nothing in that ugly head apart from noise due to emptness. Makaka iwe!!!

50. Where will the money come from to re-nationalise Zamtel? Will he also re-nationalise the other industries he sold off with Chiluba?

51. LOL. Sata will only become president of Zambia if the PACT works. But will it work?

    In this interview with reuters, he speaks like PF is running Zambia. But what about UPND’s views on Zamtel?

    Besides Sata is familia with privatisation, having being FTJ’s henchman for 10 years when most of sate companies were privatised. Surely he supported the “No sacred cow” mantra. After all he supported the 3rd Term bid for FTJ. Further, Sata is MMD at core, he only left because FTJ anointed Mwansawasa as successor. There was no ideological dispute, and at no time did Sata question MMD policies. Therefore it is possible that sata is only politicking – he will not re-nationalise Zamtel.

    Lastly, Sata and HH should be speaking the same language, if the PACT hopes to win 2011 national…

52. Additionally, the decision surely should be based on the situation he will find on the ground if he is elected. If the privatisation of Zamtel is successful like we have seen with ZANACO how would he justify the re-nationalisation of the company?

53. Is your learnt prof Saasa who denied that Zambian Kwacha is not the weakiest currency in southern African even in Africa. Being learnt does not make you intelligent sometimes makes damn stupid.

54. 1991 Kaunda refuses to repeal article 4 of the Repulican Consititution and all Unip Cadres dance all night singing ba Matipa (Multiparty Democracy) balala, Kaunda mulilo. After somethins Kaunda under pressure consents to repeal article 4 and Unip cadres again dance all night ba Matipa balala, Kaunda mulilo uwaikatako apya…..it is all Deja Vu, have a safe, happy and prosperous 2010 all especially Nine Chale Ba Moze.etc

55. The Zambian culture of today is being assaulted along the same lines that Caesar and Hitler used long ago, and Zambians are falling prey to such tactics in growing numbers with every passing hour. We are truly a divided people, who agree or disagree along party, ethnic, racial and religious lines.The truth is, there is no right or left. There is only right and wrong.
    The party bosses and ardent followers would have you believe otherwise. They would have you believe that right is whatever particular party they belong to, and wrong is the political opposition.
    Instead, both parties funnel into the same end result: total control.The end result is the same, regardless of who is President.The problem is, both teams are full of scandalous figures who are so busy selling you and me.

56. Prosperity in 2010 to yall…

    Deja Vu,you take words out of my mouth, but i would like to say we are capable of running large organisations. We just need to change our idology.
    @Sebuloni #28 to 30, well said.
    Our comrads in Angola are just recovering from years of civil war, but here they come bibing to take over ZAMTEL. Shame on us, years of peace, what do we have to show for it?! We have to CHANGE!!!

57. Although I support MMD, I do not support the sale of ZAMTEL. This is one thing that will make vote for PF/UPND pact in 2011. You cannot have all communication service providers being run by private hands. This is serous! Something better can be done to save ZAMTEL than selling it. It is the gov that has made ZAMTEL bankrupt. Come on MMD chaps wake up. Why are failing to face reality. Definately I will support Mr. Sata to renationalise ZAMTEL. Those buying should be awake to this fact. It will happen. And there is no doubt that MMD is out gov come 2011. It doesnt matter wha magic they use. This is an early warning to those Buyers of ZAMTEL. Take this risk and be prepared of reversal sale.

58. Comical Sata is a bundle of embarasment to the nation.

59. Comical Sata is a bundle of embarrassment to the nation.

60. Smoothcriminal

    Based on Prof Saasa’s educational background it would be unfair to call him an economist. However, through his vast contribution in research the general public respects him as such. As a trained economist I do respect him opinions through more is expected from a professor of economics.

61. ” Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) president, Mwilola Imakando and National Union of Communication Workers (NUCW) general secretary, Clement Kasonde criticised Mr Sata and said his statements had the potential to scare away investors. ”

    Good. At least they won’t be around to rob the country blind. What have ‘foreign investors’ done for Zambia so far. They have taken billions of dollars out of the country without sharing in the proceeds or paying taxes. So if we can avoid more of the same, I am all for them being scared off.

62. Mr. MMD Chief Bootlicker says- indeed you are MMD bootlicker, this is 21st Century, you do not measure smartness of somebody only by number of academic degrees they have but how much they have been able to change the world using the degress they have i.e. thru their inventions and innovations.Tell me Mr. what inventions has Professor Oliver Saasa off-loaded on the market? Zero! If indeed your professor was great why is he not running a company like professor Chirwa in the UK? Its in Zambia where you determine greatness of people becoz they have spent 30 years teaching in a university and that is why we a bunch of incompetent chaps running institutions with no results becoz the focus is on academic papers and not their capability to perform or change the nation. Bootliker wake up!

63. Prediction: During the 2011 campaigns Sata will deny that he ever said that he will re-nationalise Zamtel. please mark these words

64. # 62 Dawa please stop commenting on people you know very little about! Professor Saasa is running his own consulting firm called Premier Consulting. Your Professor Chirwa is still teaching in Lancashire at the Bolton Institute.

65. In this age, information security is the best way to control national data and if Zed has no such power to control communication and data facilities in the country then we are a doomed nation. In my opinion, the sell of Zamtel is a good as saying “We are a worthless nation with no values come take what you can at a minimum cost”as in an open source data hub. Take this senario for instance,as Zamtel is the ultimate controller once sold, all comms in/out of Zed, including from plot 1will be controlled by would be investors. Now the underlying factor is that the coms security of the nation will be greatly compromised to the extent of becoming open targets for even terrorist activities because your so called investor will be interested in ‘profits’ with little or no regard to you or me…

66. Who ever controls comms controls your ability to communicate, wake up pipo

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