President Rupiah Banda has warned that he will not hesitate to sack all ministers and those trying to frustrate his Government.
President Banda said he had tried his best to keep stability in the Government and the Movement for Multi Party Democracy since the death of his predecessor Dr. Levy Mwanawasa.
The President said he was human and that if people pushed him beyond a certain point he would not hesitate but deal with all those that were frustrating his works.
The president said the Zambian economy was currently doing very well with Foreign Reserves currently standing at US$1.8 billion an amount which has never been recorded before.
He noted that at one time Zambia’s foreign reserves stood at US$1.3 billion but now the reserves have gone up.
Mr. Banda who was speaking at celebrations to mark the Silver Jubilee of the Zambia National Marketeers Association in Kitwe today, said as the Economy continues to register growth, money would start getting into the pockets of an average Zambian.
The President said all those that were calling for Change or die Zambia at a time when the economy was growing and jobs being created were confused persons.[quote]
And President Banda has said no well balanced person can give out over K1.2 billion to an individual
He charged that he was not a mad person who can just give out Government resources at will.
The said a lot of people were not happy with his style of leadership because they had found out that he was not an easy person to work with.
The President further said there was need for Zambians to remain calm and not listen to eccentric people who wanted to put the country on of Fire.
The President cautioned Zambians against involving themselves in acts that may bring chaos in the Country as no one was going to take care of their Children if they started killing each other.
The President also disputed media reports that he had spent over K1 billion in Western Province saying it was not possible for him to have spent such colossal sums of money in two days.
“They are no shops in Liuwa were could I have spent all this money, this is insane, “said President Banda.
ZANIS
RB stop intimidating pipo for fear of been challenged about your own leadership conducts, mind you your fight against corruption is below par and has alot to be desired. come 2011
Yes should “suck” all his ministers!! Ha ha ha
The incoherency in his statements speaks volume about this man. He is willing to throw the country in chaos by firing the entire cabinet because he is difficulty to work with. Does not make any sense. It seems everything is about him. power has really got to him. He should also stop sucking other men’s dicks.
It is possible to spend K1 billion on such a trip. Traveling by air, security detail, bookings of a large entourage it is possible.
Ba RB mulampapusha,u choose 2 attend some rubbish ZANAMA meeting wen there’re more important issues u can attend 2.Nway fire them ministers and make the PACT strong.
yes RB fire yo ministers & make the Pact@strong.
I hope he is not confusing “UNRULY” to people/ministers having a “DIFFERENT OPINION” from his on issues of national significance. Very, very big difference indeed!
Surely, if there are ministers frustrating his development agenda, they need to go. But be careful Mr. President, do not surround yourself with the “YES, YES, BWANA, YES” sort of bootlickers only. Such characters will only make you believe in “virtual reality” than the “real” conditions obtaining on the ground.
Do not be afraid of some intellectual rigor or constructive debate coming from your subordinates. Differing opinions are a grinding stone for good leadership. And suggestions on how to improve ways of doing the “people’s business” can come from anybody—-enlightened societies call that…
Last paragraph in #7 should read…….
“….Do not be afraid of some intellectual rigor or constructive debate coming from your subordinates. Differing opinions are a grinding stone for good leadership. And suggestions on how to improve ways of doing the “people’s business” can come from anybody—-enlightened societies call that Democracy.”
RB is drunk with power which soon will elude him. Let him know that come 2011 he is going out from plot 1. A president who is all egoistic. Ala mambala uyu.!!!!
i think Sata is very happy
Where are the Zambian Reporters They should be asking the President about the $5.9 million dollars pay to Roger Chongwe,
Leading by threats is not democratic it is dictatorship.
ladies and gentlemen I am sorry to be a bit ignorant but can someone shed light on the $1.3 billion foreign reserves that Zambia has. Is this liquid cash of this is tied into something? If this this is Zambian money why should we be celebrating a £15 million grant for UTH when we can sort ourselves with these reserves.
#13 your guess is as good as mine. Why do we then borrow if we have reserves? What is the logic? Someone educate my ignorant ass
Goodevening
Going by the figures and the confidence he has expressed with regard to the economy, one would be forced to believe that it is fine for RB to ward off all oppostion and calls of change with threats of dismissal. He however seems to overlook the fact that power belongs to the people – it is the people who feel the pinch and as long as the masses are not benefiting from the alleged positive economic development, they will still call for change.
# Amayama, that’s a good question and it wouldnt suprise me to find out that apart from RB and those loyal to him, no one really knows the answer.
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This man is childish. Let him sack all his ministers. What is he going to do next, appoint Kafupi to his cabinet?
It is long overdue Mr. President. You are the president of Zambia. I for one would not want to consider your tenure as wasted years. I am keen and hoping you succesed. Get them out shallow and inconsequential beings. I am particularly waiting for you to dismiss Namulambe. As a Zambian I feel injured by a person who feels their opinion is the opinion of a tribe. I doubt very much the well meaning Lambas out there would want to tow such a stupid path.Oh no this one should be flushed out with stones. Fire him and ask the chiefs in the Lamba land to give you an alternative person they are more than capable to do that. We need to send the message out there that such will not be entertained in Zambia.Yes we have always known about tribal balancing but not in this Namulambe stupid manner.
meet people face the truth and facts
There is absolutely no need to change government in Zambia just for sake of “giving other tribes a chance”. Everyone knows that Zambia ranks high in the premier league of jealous and that is the only reason Rupiah seems to be under attack. The macroeconomic fundamentals such as good reserves, low interest rates and a largely restive population do not necessitate for change of government. This is not 1991 where Zambia had no reserves, donor funding suspended, people queuing for essential commodities with 80% of the economy under Government control. It will be derelictions of duty for Mr Rupiah Banda even thinking of handing over power in early general elections. While many countries are reeling in debt and on the brink of bankruptcy, Zambia has reserves of us$1.7 Billion. Nateye Malume!!
HH and the Pact have exhibited too much ignorance recently. They were quoted today as denigrating the 40 Zambians who went to Denmark to attend the climate conference. The Carbon Market is right now becoming a major cost driver for businesses in Europe. Government was right to facilitate and support our citizens who went to Denmark. What this means is that businesses across the board, including Universities, have to buy carbon certificates for the emissions they are releasing into the atmosphere. If this is the kind of Ignorance HH is bringing to the table, even the media houses quoting him have a lot about the global economy. The insatiable appetite for power is making the Pact to misfire on core issues. This is why they can lie to gullible masses that they will reduce taxes.
#23 Osalila you are quite ignorant. How can you defend sending 40 people to a climate conference for such a poor country like Zambia. For one we can’t afford it and two, these people should be back in Zambia doing real work for Zambians. Do we really have 40 experts on climate change in Zambia? This is MMD’s culture of spending tax payers money recklessly. We have real environmental issues that these people have failed to solve such as the garbage that has been piling up on our streets. By the way there is nothing to boast about when it comes to $1.7 billion. This is not a reflection of hard work on the part of the government. We are constantly being supported by donor countries. Can you imagine where this country would be without the crumbs from the west?
He issued the same threats when Zuma as here and we all know these were irected at Namulmbe. Well, let him fire the Lambas and watch them leave his cabinet in multitudes precipitating an exodus of biblical proportions that will wrench his useless administration. Sometime one holds their breath in fear of the next stupid thing this f.o.o.l is going to regurgitate in public. His last administration reshuffle was the worst tribal move any sane head of state could play and he thinks Namulambe is tribal. No wonder, for him spening money is all about buying things in shops, the act of travelling everyday everywhere in helicopters and jet planes burning expensive fuel and sleeping in expensive hotels doe not count as spending. Silly Gwanda baboon!
Its not that R’n’B is difficult to work with, NO!, its his useless style of leadership which even his own ministers have come to distaste. He does not inspire confidence! This man seemingly has a lot of inconsistencies, is incoherent and generally lacks direction or vision for the country. Such blind and visionless leaders should not lead a country given that we are in hurry to develop. This ZANAMA trip was just cheap gimmic mearnt to gain him political mileage. I liked the sound warning by ZANAMA, it was mearnt especially for R’n’B. Why doesnt he address then real issues at the mines? Or Visit MUZ! This man will lead and crush the country into a ditch. HH is right. How much money was spent to ferry all the security and govt officials to Mongu, Kalabo aand Liuwa?
……..How much was spent on allowances for all that security, fuel for the 3 planes and accommodation and food for all that security, party cadres and govt officials? It could well be above 1billion, HH was even modest, in my opinion, with his estimate! How much did he dish out in brown envelopes to those cadres? Dont dare to blindly deny what you have not clearly thought through. Its parthetic! You are better off keeping quiet and hope the storm passes quietly! Can carbinet office reveal how much was spent? We would see who would be vindicated!
It is all because of Mwanawasa’s toils that we have those reserves, everybody knows that.
So if a president visits parts of the country he is elected to govern he is criticised.Will HH just stay at State House if ever he is elected ? IWill he never ever use bodyguards? If he goes abroad in the interest of the country he is criticised. Good economic news about the country such as the refurbishment of the mine in Luanshya and the expansion of the sugar estate in Nakambala are ignored or not believed and yet Sata’s 90 day miracle is seen as achievable! I cant wait for 2011 to come because I am now thinking ‘lekeni Sata ateke’, because that is the level of leadership you ungrateful Zambians deserve.
#28 Mwanawasa could have ensured that Zambia got more money from its copper if he had changed the tax regime earlier. He let the Chiluba saga go on forever. He was a good president but he also had his faults including nepotism and the same tribalism that RB is criticised for. He also liked gallavanting about and that is why he even died abroad which gave Maureen the chance to hide her ill gotten gains. Lets not look at his period of governance through rose tinted spectacles simply because he is with the ancestors. In addition, many feel that the stole the election in 2001 from Mazoka under dubious circumstances.
Holdings of foreign currency held by a government. A substantial foreign reserve of consistently stable currencies, such as a reserve currency like the dollar or the Euro, can dampen the effect of inflation or of a currency crisis. Also called currency reserve, forex reserve. Currency kept in reserve by a government for the paying of international debts.
A foreign currency held by central banks and other major financial institutions as a means to pay off international debt obligations, or to influence their domestic exchange rate.
What is the this US$1.8Billion you keep preaching about, when it just for guaranteeing more debt! This shows how shallow the man is. #23 please if you live aboud spare the grief, we are votin enmasse to remove this useless regime. Change is inevitable.
#31 Zebron Nakadoli Samson
How does a country obtain these same reserves?
A reserve currency (or anchor currency) is a currency which is held in significant quantities by many governments and institutions as part of their foreign exchange reserves. It also tends to be the international pricing currency for products traded on a global market, such as oil, gold, etc.
This permits the issuing country to purchase the commodities at a marginally lower rate than other nations, which must exchange their currency with each purchase and pay a transaction cost. (For major currencies, this transaction cost is negligible with respect to the price of the commodity.) It also permits the government issuing the currency to borrow money at a better rate, as there will always be a larger market for that currency than others.
It is not unsual for Zambia to hold foreign reserves, and later on boast about it! This is cheap politicking. If you do a simple research, and find out how much other countries with comparable GDP have in their reserves you will definately be shocked. This is mere politicking. Let the guy get down to serious business – work! And grow these reserve to 50 OR EVEN 200 billion, then we colud be talking! tHIS RESERVE IS JUST FOR also permiting the Zambia issuing the currency to borrow money at a better rate, as there will always be a larger market for that currency than others.
The foreign exchange market (currency, forex, or FX) trades currencies. It lets banks and other institutions easily buy and sell currencies. The purpose of the foreign exchange market is to help international trade and investment. A foreign exchange market helps businesses convert one currency to another. For example, it permits a U.S. business to import European goods and pay Euros, even though the business’s income is in U.S. dollars.In a typical foreign exchange transaction a party purchases a quantity of one currency by paying a quantity of another currency. The modern foreign exchange market started forming during the 1970s when countries gradually switched to floating exchange rates from the previous exchange rate regime, which remained fixed as per the Bretton Woods system.
The figures speak for themselves.
Increased reserves from USD $1.3 Billion to USD $1.8 Billion. Construction industry growing in the double digits. Projected 6.3% GDP growth with the former BOZ gov forecasting close to 7% or more GDP growth for 2010. Inflation at close to 11% and reducing and is projected to go into the single digits with the overnight wholesale rate being introduced in 2010 to help control inflation and reduce interest rates. Interest rates reducing and projected to reduce even further, trade surpluses and investment pledges in excess of over at least $200 million from various countries, stable currency and growing sectors like Agriculture and Construction.
Who can deny that the economy has not grown under RB. If you deny, give us your indisputable figures.
Which ministers is Mr. Rupiah Banda going to fire? He needs them more than they actually need him. This is a lame duck president who has has support in one province- Eastern province.
Presidents worldover appoint minister. If they feel the ministers are frustrating presidents effort he is within his duty to issue warnings of dismisal. Why are making so much noise over 1bn. RB has said he did not spend that much. even if he did that money is still circulating in western province boosting its economy. Dont be nagative all the time. ZANAMA is a important player in the economy. RB was right to grace that occassion. This economy has to be built by SMEs and ZANAMA members. Go RB go!
Yes you will be on a chopping board everday, watchout for someone with a sharp knife you are gone.
So people have been pushing him but he will only react when pushed beyond a certain point? Next stop Europe! Climate change. Watch this space.
Sata and HH are dictators just like RB what a mess, these guys are recycled politicians where is real new blood, Who is running for President in 2011?
This President is foolish what does he mean there are no shops in western province to spend that kind of money that is demeaning to my cousins in that place let him say that about ILA land, you spent that money on the three planes and fuel for all the transport you and your people used, food ,were you slept etc… can you not think? Change is coming like it or not you and your young wife are going back into retirement were you belong.
my problem with RB is lies lies lies.. all the time.. At levy peak, dec07 /jan08 reserves hit $2.1 billion.. levy went to egypt and didn’t make t ack leaving $1.9 billion. this chap an the others depleted this to $900misslion. and improved metal prices an reopened mines have seen ths improve.. nothing to do with RB. even then.. isnt this measure just EXPORTS-IMPORTS??? which have nothing to do with RB or musokotwane…. clown. even this $2billion is peanuts!!! we need to talk 10-20 billion.. and RB is a man for the past.. the future is ours.. we’ll take us there without his stubborness
Thandiwe is not leading a good example of our pretty women in Zambia to the out side world she needs a complete make over before she travels out side Zambia this is not fair to the great nation of Zambia let her go back to the farm with her big Dadie…
and CHOMA has been in a blackout for 3 days now.. The heart of our food basket has no power and he goes the opposite way to do politic and a marketeer function.. instead of commissioning new markets to ease access he enjoys playing
Zambia borrowed $650m in May this year from the IMF under the Special Drawing Rights facility. Alot of African countries like Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria ,Mozambique etc were also availed this facility. It was one way of helping poor countries to boost their dwindling reserves and tidy themselves up during the financial crisis. Its a pity that Zambians have memories of a microwave oven that is why Zambian leaders keep on sprouting nonsense. RB knows full well that not many people will remember this small detail.
What is this National Reserve of 1.8m which can only be seen on paper. RB stop theories! This is what is shooting you down. You talk about things that ordinary Zambians cannot see. Show us tangible things. Theories should be used to attain reality.
Firing Ministers will not help you Mr. President. Just deliver to the Zambian people. You should also live by what you say. Your stance on corruption by word of your mouth is very good; your actions/deeds show your support for corruption. Who doesn’t know your stance on Chiluba’s corruption scandles, Dora Siliya abuse of office and authority, Zamtel sale scandle, your involvement in the purchase of GMO maize and oil and many more. ACTIONS SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS.
You planted the seed of tribalism during your presidential campaigns in…
If Rupiah Banda has stolen any money or government property, please avail the evidence to the Press otherwise what we have at the most are bare – faced lies and pandering to lunatic mobs. What we have is the anger and jealous that he refused to stand down and let the bantubotatwe continue ruling. Why should he be voted out in 2011? Give me credible reasons because so far the economic indicators are showing reserves of US$1.7 Billion and major foreign investment as shown in Mazabuka which are creating a wider taxation base for our revenue authorities. Tenders for oil exploration have been opened and our investment in the future of Zambia looks good. Why vote him and MMD out only to bring in Willie Nsanda and the likes. I don’t understand this nonsense that the PACT will reduce taxes?
Am amaze that people talk of HH as if he is the savior. He and Sata are just like Chiluba. We had high expectations in 1991. Chiluba brought paradise to only a few. So to all the PACT lunatic- wake and smell the coffee. Sata is a socialist(UNIPIST) at heart he will nationalise companies again. All managers will be PF card carrying members. HH has different philosophy. Please ask for a copy of PF constitution. c for yourselves that the PACT wont save us. if you are jobless you will still be jobless in PACT.
He himself is indisciplined. let him fire himself first of all
Last kicks of a dying horse!
Just fire them ., what are you waiting for? RB fire them , we are waiting please.
Well, its him who should first stop being unruly before h can direct his ministers to fall in line. He should stop calling people “vimasilu” or that every time he thinks of a certain known politician, Satan comes to his mind too, or the sad one of “ama politics akunya” from an entire head of state. Banda is a joke, a sad one for that matter.
Mr Banda’s critics on this blog have failed to deliver a single punch on the man. I have asked repeatedly on this blog for those people accusing him to give us one example where Mr Banda has stolen or abused his position. What we have are innuendoes and bare faced lies from people who seem to be waging a tribal war against the Presidency. They must be reminded that perpetrators of tribal wars have ended up at courts in Arusha, Nuremburg or the Hague and tried for crimes against humanity. The President is a patient man and that virtue comes with the fact that he is farmer.
So Rb has enough cash to dish out to his relation. He can afford to pay out $5.9 Million to his Kin