Ms Siliya, who is Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, was reacting to reports in Africa Confidential claiming China had proposed to take over Kenneth Kaunda International Airport should the Zambian government fail to repay the huge foreign debt on time.
She said China had no such intentions and that the reports in Africa Confidential should therefore be dismissed.
Ms Siliya also dismissed reports that Government wanted to sell public assets such as the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and that it had started talks with a Chinese firm to take over the running of ZESC0.
“Government’s position is that all stories relating to the sale or takeover of public assets such as ZNBC, KKIA and ZESCO by China are false. ZNBC digital migration and KKIA projects are not even complete yet. How then can one refer to a loan default in view of grace periods?” she wondered.
Ms Siliya said ZESCO was a strategic institution that could not be sold to a foreign firm and that any such decision would have to be made by Cabinet.
She however said so far, there has not been any Cabinet decision to sell ZNBC or ZESCO
And Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa has said that Zesco is not up for sale and that it has not been discussed anywhere in the government circles.
Clarifying speculations that are reported on social media and following a malicious article by African Correspondence suggesting so, Mr Nkhuwa said he wanted to put the erroneous claims by putting it straight and simple:
“In my ministry, I am in charge of Zesco and there has been no correspondence and no one has come here to see us to buy Zesco.”
He said Zesco is a strategic company to the republic of Zambia and thus government handles it carefully, adding that government led by President Lungu is a very responsible government and will not do things in a haphazard manner.
Just like the old song said, “INKONGOLE SHILALETA UMU SEBANYA”
Chakolwa took his begging bowl to china! Let’s hope the NKOGOLE has not channelled into the pockets of senior government officals.
Ba Chompyani or Sompyani, I don’t recall name so well, bet his wife pa njuka, playing cards, and lost. The guy grabbed wife, maybe house too. Those days we had Local Courts, which declared that “inkonkole ni nkongole, and ubeja kubenja, winner can claim anything”.
Chompyani’s son, my friend lived with his grandmother in our village, struggled so hard to change his name because he couldn’t stand his father’s behavior.
I can’t stand PF, I can’t.
They are still denying selling ZNBC to Chinese firm Star Times over a $25 million debt.
Why is the signage at KKIA in Chinese?
It’s an open secret that Zesco is bankrupt due to recruiting grade-9 drop-out PF cadres, importation of expensive emergency power from Mozambique firm Electricidade de Moçambique ($53m) & Chinese loans for Kariba & Kafue gorge upgrades.
VIPUBA va gulisa ziko ku tu ma Chinese
Just like we ask Kambwili where fuel for K5 is, so we shall also query you madam Siliya when we go to Wang Zhou International Airport formerly KKIA.
Sri Lanka, Struggling With Debt, Hands a Major Port to China – read this article on today’s NY Times
Sri Lanka, Struggling With Debt, Hands a Major Port to China – NY Times
17 Dec 2017 – Struggling to pay its debt to Chinese firms, the nation of Sri Lanka formally handed over the strategic port of Hambantota to China on a 99-year lease last week, in a deal that government critics have said threatens the country’s sovereignty.
In recent years, China has shored up its presence in the Indian Ocean, investing billions of dollars to build port facilities and plan maritime trade routes as part of its “One Belt, One Road” initiative to help increase its market reach.
Along the way, smaller countries like Sri Lanka have found themselves owing debts they cannot pay. Sri Lanka owes more than $8 billion to state-controlled Chinese firms, officials say.
Sri Lankan politicians said the…
These ministers responding here Dora and this Mathew never even went to China….Lazy Lungu should be responding to this questions that’s what we pay him for not to travel and campaign.
These assets will not be surrendered unless you payback the loans simple as that…
Why does Animo Farm speculates on all positives trying to turn them into negatives? Unpatriotic Farm interested to rule but tribal.
Just like the old song, “It will never win!”
Lazy bum illiterate tribal hooligan bully son of a polygamist father who never taught him toilet training pooping in public Hagain.
And the all world knows, so Zambia has officially joined the list of the countries abused economically by rich nations.
They are not selling zesco but it will be grabbed.
Zambia is defaulting on it’s loans with China and now China is set to take over the national power utility ZESCO. lusakatimes.com
The respected Africa Confidential has revealed that talks are underway for a Chinese company to takeover power utility ZESCO.
And Africa Confidential has warned that Zambia risks losing its sovereignty to China as that country will seize national assets once government defaults on loans.. Gov’t slaves.
Too much fake news and alternative facts. Some people will chose to believe a lie even when the truth is evident.
Good words, Chale. To them everytime its politics. They laugh at our govt’s genuine efforts to improve our living standards and offer useless ideas on social media
Fake News from Hatribes Dept of UPND Mapatizya Formula Chronic Losers!
Social media has messed up alot of Zambians, seems like these days people cant think independently, do research and analize issues at hand and take time to know the truth, but they choose to believe everything they see on social media.
Especially Galu Watchers in Zambia watching from Monze Utd Football Club.
Remember seeng the bull dozers starting work on the original runway, my step father was the Director of Civil Aviation back in the early 60’s when the airport was built. What happened to the original airport, is it still there? Used to be a flying club I think. Also, what happened to the large copper slab of rock that used to be in the main hall of the KK airport as you entered the airport? Thanks
Ross, the Old Airport and Runway are still in use today. The Flying Club is also still there as well. The Large Rock containing Copper Ore from Chambeshi Mine is still in the Main Entrance to the Old Airport…. not much has changed!
Can’t our Minister be more reassuring by giving remarks backed with some logic based on strategies put in place by government to assure us that what people are saying can not possibly happen? It is not enough just to deny. Anybody can do that.
How much assurance do you need? Just because some politically opposed people make unsubstantiated remarks then the ministers should dance to their tunes?
Anyone can post useless remarks on social media and only a gullible minister will put a lot of time to such ingenious schemes to alarm the the nation
So you should concentrate on the ones accusing our govt of incompetence to give you proof or substantiate their claims.
There is no smoke without fire,hopefully it won’t turn out to be true
China will punish Zambian people because the Zambian government is not responsible enough and the Zambian people are so weak to hold its government responsible .
We are now used to hear fabricated stories by our opposition party leaders. Its quite difficult to tell whether what they are saying is true or not because more often than not, these stories turns out to be false. Maybe these are the politics of 21st century where politicians becomes Sangomas of doom. Too much negativity and all they talk about are just bad things. Even a dull student is able to get 40% in an exam but our politicians do not recognise a single effort of their counterpart and that’s where I question their integrity and motive behind their critics.
The problem we have now is that the Government’s attention is being diverted to rebutting fake news everyday isntead of working on important issues that will uplift the standard of living of the citizens. Africa does not need opposition politics otherwise we continue with Cholera and typhoid.
I don’t see any problem with the contractor taking over this airport as a PPP. In the Watchdog, Hon Mwanakatwe has told us that it was going to be more advantageous if the airport was done under the PPP arrangement as arranged by RB, save for Sata who cancelled the contract. Thus, it is OK that this airport is taken over. It will reduce the burden on Zambians.
Unpatriotic Party for National Downfall. Kwena you are disgusting. The comments from your sympathizers are pathetic. Guys this won’t win HH any election. Your negativity is making it more difficult for him.
NOT even the CABINET has the powers to sell ZESCO, AIRPORTS,ZNBC or/ and the RIVERS. We want to be consulted through the ballot and the answer shall be capital NO. Go to KALINGALINGA and see for yourself how much suffering is experienced to get there through the alternative route.
Loans from China can be defaulted with no consequences. How many times has the Tazara loan been defaulted with no usury? And that loan has more current value than the combined recent debt which they could capitalise on if indeed they are what naysayers portray them to be. China lives by its Confucious principles and its ascent has made the World so much a better place.
Wasn’t it China that made the cell phone affordable? Isn’t it the Chinese traders that have made housing affordable by selling fittings so cheaply compared to what our Emirates flying brothers and sisters were charging so that they ride Range Rovers without even paying their due taxes? Those condemning Chinese and our links with it are quite ignorant and have sold their souls to the Western devils.
Chi Dora bazakumanga chinyochobe .let’s wait for a new gvmnt
ask VICTOR MUNDENDE HE KNOWS BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE HE WHY WAS HE AT CHINA AFRICA FORUM ..FOCAC MEETING ..CHECK IT OUT
we are still enjoying with zambian government but do not sell any public assets as you have mention them.