The PF government will renationalise ZAMTEL-Michael Sata

1. They just need to rethink marketing strategies. It will be great if they dont privatise it tho

2. This man SATAN is indeed toxic and sick in the heard. I can’t believe he is saying this in this age and time. Who are his advisors if he has any? Zambians really ought to be aware of such toxic leaders. He has probably less than 10 years to live and he want to destroy what the MMD government has worked so hard to create for the last 18 years or so and that is trust and respect of private property rights.

   I find it hard that there even people on this blog supporting this man. What would stop such a person to come into power and change the constitution so that he rules the country for life. This man has no respect for the laws of the land and does not deserve to be anywhere near the corridors of power. This man will take us 120 years backward!!

3. Ilishilu at it again, Nishi when will we see the madness in this man kanshi, pantu if you cant see it now, nishi you are cut from the same cloth. Someone should curb that loud mouth of his, how will anyone think of investing in our country with such unfriendly statements, no one would want to invest in a country that is volatile like this. Ilishilu iyi, chishinka, umuchinese alilanda bwino, it is indeed a unique politician of a rare breed!!!

4. #2 Mr. Bootlicker, come down and concentrate on the contents of the article instead of rushing to insult Mr. Sata. He has the right to air his views on Zamtel, whether or not you like them. People have their reasons for supporting this man and you may of course disagree with them but you have no right to disregard them just because you dont see eye to eye with them.
   Note that Mr. Sata argues that If the government paid all the Zamtel bills, Zamtel would not be bankrupt today, so in other words, the man is saying that his government will make sure that it pays its bills. Anythiing wrong with that?

5. Please stop calling Sata names, he is just expressing his views in this way not because he is against privatisation as such but because of the seemingly underhand methods in which these shady deals are being organised. The country is being mortgaged systematically as we watch helplessly. It’s one scandal after another day in and day out and those behind all this seem to be in a hurry and resort to shortcuts to get what they want. Sata is just issuing a timely warning.

6. #2 you have given him less than 10 yrs to live so why are you scared that he would rule forever. Dont contradictr yourself man.
   Privatisation of Zamtel per se isnt a bad idea but the way it is being done. And yes, if the government paid off all it owes Zamtel it could get back to its old profitable way without needing privatisation.
   Mind you, there are certain strategic institutions that can not be privatised just like that!

7. He is saying PF not PF-UPND is the pact still intact ?

8. Zambians are sometimes their own worst enemies. People get so excited with words. The word INVESTOR seems like the miracle word. Investment is necessary for a country to develop, no sane person will argue with that, but that investment can be local, foreign and even from government resources. You just have to look at China, most of its investment has been locally generated and its about time we started encouraging local investment and giving the same kind of investment incentives to local and Zambian owned businesses. Invest in education, in your people, invest in building confidence among Zambians, within and outside the country. Create tax policies that result in a win win situation for the investor and for Zambians. Let us not forget, investors are in it for profit, and not charity.

9. Nine Chale..well said,this is the kind of thinking that we young Zambians need in order to pave a progressive future for mother Zambia.Keep up your mature blogging.We zambian must learn to be tolerant and be willing to agree to disagree whilst we keep spirit brotherhood.

10. ” Zambia: The PF government will renationalise ZAMTEL-Michael Sata ”

    Excellent. No one has been able to forward a single reason why ZAMTEL should be privatised. On the mines, the nation has lost billions in profits and taxes because of privatisation.

    Privatisation has become an excuse for not governing. And absurdly, Zambia is now privatising state owned companies so they can be managed by state owned companies from other countries?

    What has to happen is this: there has to be a clear separation between the government (President, cabinet, MPs, cadres) and the state (civil service, parastatals). There should be a separation between government and the party in government.

    Hiring and promotion in the civil service should be based on merit – exams, panels. That’s the way…

11. i now believe that certain Zambians are sick in their heads like sata.The whole world is talking about liberalization of the economy and some one says he will nationalize Zamtel.The impact will be big for Zambia.The donas will loose confidence in Zambian economy and no one will risk investing in a country where one is talking about nationalization.Please we dont hate sata it is what he says.The man is very dull in terms of governing the country.

12. Sata is right, zamtel should be planning to buy shares in other neighbouring telecom companies by now. mmd has crippled that company, they always get money for compaigns from zamtel and zesco. such things dont happen in developed countries. they caused the bankrupcy that zamtel is experiencing to day. zamtel need competitors, that wil make them have better customer service and improve their strategic planning. monopoly does not improve business performance. zamtel, zesco, zisc and zanaco must stay. sata is very right on that issue. even tthe economic slavery and the economic scramble for africa is true just as Sata stated on voice of america. how can a country with 70% unemployment be giving work permits to foreigners just to be digging holes for construction. zambians can do that.

13. MrK, well noted and said, people forget a lot of these Chinese are either government owned or are companies in which the state owns large stakes. The world over, even in the so called capitalist countries you have a lot of companies in which governments do hold shares. Zambia needs to explore the leading economies rather than myopic view and fallacy that seems to portray private companies as being utopian. A lot of the economic meltdown in western countries have been due to these private companies. Well managed state companies, run free from political interference can be as succesful as those that are privately owned. We need both, otherwise you will never have the economic freedom that you deserve as a country.

14. #9 Abash butt-kissing. Sata is a nut, period.

15. how can south african government be buying shares in our national companies if for real is not good to have nation companies. chines companies are national up until to day. dont forget china is a communist country. south africa is still operating air line and bus services. for zambia it was not profitable. please compare with other countries before you talk. so many shallow minded guys on the political field.

16. Once the government decides to start developing the country, there are lots of ways it can finance it internally. For instance, local roads can be built from state money, and the money can be recovered through a temporary road tax. By the time it was repayed, it would be non-inflationary. No need for foreign investment.

17. This guy will take us backwards if he becomes President. We are now reaching out for the phase of growth and stability and is still thinking about structural reform. If I were a foreign investor looking at Zed I would fear nationalization of my assets based on such views as Mr Sata’s. I would instead place my funds with the fast growing countries likes Mozambique and Uganda.

18. This utopia is only for a ‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’ hoping to re-nationalize private enterprises from his grave yard.Forgive him he has no clue of what characterizes corporatocracy in the Globalization. Bye bye to utopia.

19. Zambia challenger praises Mugabe

    Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata praised the policies of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe on Thursday as he voted.He hinted he would follow similar land reform policies to Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

    “What Robert Mugabe has done is sensible,” a grinning Sata (69) told reporters as he cast his vote in Lusaka after polls opened across the Southern African country.

    “He hasn’t roasted any white persons. He has just taken back what belongs to them [Zimbabweans].”

20. Mwanawasa has been forced on the defensive by Sata’s repeated attacks, which have painted him as a sell-out to foreigners, particularly Western donors and Chinese companies expanding their interests in Zambia’s vast copper mines.Sata said he rejected notions that Mugabe was mistaken to have seized white-owned commercial farms to give to landless blacks, a policy many economists say has helped drive once-prosperous Zimbabwe to its knees.

21. “Mugabe hasn’t done anything wrong. It is the imperialists, the capitalist roaders who say he is a villain,” Sata said. “The people of Zimbabwe are not suffering. They are much happier.”

22. The president, who leads the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy, urged Zambians in a televised address late on Wednesday to reject what he has called Sata’s “sugar coated promises”.

    “Our current quest for economic emancipation is being supported by other friendly countries,” he said. “If we are to alienate ourselves from these sister countries, our quest will take longer to achieve if not [end up] futile.”

23. Repeatedly Sata said and i quote: “Mugabe hasn’t done anything wrong. It is the imperialists, the capitalist roaders who say he is a villain,” Sata said. “The people of Zimbabwe are not suffering. They are much happier.”

24. Repeatedly Sata said and i quote:

    “Mugabe hasn’t done anything wrong. It is the imperialists, the capitalist roaders who say he is a villain,” Sata said. “The people of Zimbabwe are not suffering. They are much happier.”

25. He is a ‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’

26. ChiMMD Patriot #18-24go to hell. When are you going to think for yourself and pasting other people’s thoughts and opinions? MMD steals through Privatization. I fully agree with Sata. If the capitalist U.S. government still protects banks and car industries from being taken over by foreign companies, how about Zambia? Patriot, go to hell and rot. Zambians should protect certain industries and your MMD thinking only benefits you and your corrupt friends. We have sold so much, it is time to manage our own.

27. 17 Fifty Ngwee, ” If I were a foreign investor looking at Zed I would fear nationalization of my assets ”

    Good. Why should Zambia be foreign owned? Let them own Mozambique and Uganda, if that is what their people want. However I guarantee you, the people will not be asked for their opinion. Museveni is in the pockets of the West, is interfering in the DRC and is being influenced by American evangelicals. Right now they are selling off the Ugandan people’s land with their new Land Bill.

28. here in the west companies are being nationalised, but in poor zambia every thing is being sold to be vandalised by the the so called investers . selling off our nation what we ramainn truely zambian?

29. Any parastatal being privatised through dubious RB Banda’s under-hand corrupt practices should be re-nationalised on change of government in 2011.- PERIOD.

30. dont worry VJ will stop sata from winning and zambia will go forward with little or slow development..VJ IS A BIG BOY

31. This ‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’ and his Utopia,Utopia, Utopia, Utopia of re-nationalizing Zambia from his tombstone is not worth our time.His lack of thinking is driven by the utopia that all Zambians and the free world are subservient to his kaponyalism.Ma rubbish in the pipe dream of illusions.

32. Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata praised the policies of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe on Thursday as he voted.He hinted he would follow similar land reform policies to Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe.“What Robert Mugabe has done is sensible,” a grinning Sata (69) told reporters as he cast his vote in Lusaka after polls opened across the Southern African country.“He hasn’t roasted any white persons. He has just taken back what belongs to them [Zimbabweans].”“Mugabe hasn’t done anything wrong. It is the imperialists, the capitalist roaders who say he is a villain,” Sata said. “The people of Zimbabwe are not suffering. They are much happier.”

33. MrK:
    Look around you and open your eyes to the world as it is today.

    This is the story for Zambia. We are poor and need high economic growth to give Zedians jobs, incomes in their pockets and tax revenue for GRZ. High growth ultimately comes from high investment. Investment comes from savings, but Zambian savings are too low to meet this high investment requirement. SAVING-INVESTMENT GAP. Thus
    (i) Encourage local Zambian investment (also convert some of your real savings such as stored milisi to mbuzi into deposits so that another Zambian can borrow. As a borrower I can’t borrow a Mbuzi if I need to buy plough)
    (ii) bridge the gap using foreign savings hence FDI.

34. Patriot. Stop copying and pasting. Just make your point.

35. Nzambi ayihembi,

    ” Well managed state companies, run free from political interference can be as succesful as those that are privately owned. ”

    Most successful economies have state and private ownership. The state should own those things that are prerequisites for doing business so that everyone can have equal access to them – infrastructure, utilities, etc. There should be regulation against monopoly formation, for consumer protection, pollution, etc. Beyond that, a highly private sector with lots of competition should provide goods and services.

    If we are going to move forward, we have to have policies that raise incomes from $1,- per day. If all policies were directed at that, we can grow in a way that is meaningful to the average citizen –

36. unlike the top-heavy development of today, that only benefits a tiny section of society and the economy.

    The whole world is letting go of neoliberalism (deregulation, privatisation and free corporate markets) and so should we. Mainly because the idea has never worked, even though it was tried over and over (the bank crisis of 1907, the roaring twenties/crash of 1929/great depression of 1920-1932, the roaring ’80s/crash of ’87 and recession from 1980-1992). No country has ever developed through ‘free trade’. The Asian Tigers all practiced protectionism and were nationalistic in their approach.

    This is why Asian developement left African development in the dust over the last 20 years. They have no foreign owned economies, Africa does.

37. This debate seems to be endless but time for me to go.
    I wish you all a peaceful Christmas Eve and a Merry Christmas!

38. Fifty Ngwee says:
    December 24, 2009 at 8:21 pmMrK:

    ” Look around you and open your eyes to the world as it is today. This is the story for Zambia. We are poor and need high economic growth to give Zedians jobs, incomes in their pockets and tax revenue for GRZ. ”

    When you say ‘we are poor’, you mean the people are poor. The country is exporting $4 billion in copper, cobalt and other minerals every year, of which $2.4 billion is pure profits, that we can somehow afford not to tax or take a share of. So how poor are we? We also waste hundreds of millions of dollars in central government procurement. So again, how poor are we?

39. ” High growth ultimately comes from high investment. Investment comes from savings, but Zambian savings are too low to meet this high investment requirement. SAVING-INVESTMENT GAP. ”

    I completely disagree. High growth comes from making the proper policy decisions. Like if we taxed the mines $1.2 billion a year, there would be hundreds of millions available for re-investment in agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing, without burdoning the Kwacha and causing inflation. As long as you invest in productive enterprises, inflation is not a problem.

    If they created a framework that would separate the civil service and political classes, a lot of things become possible.

40. For instance, instead of attracting FDI and letting them keep everything they earn, the state could buy processing companies, and keep the profits themselves. Or pay profits out to workers as bonuses.

    We don’t need FDI at any cost, and we don’t need to give away the economy to develop it. Asia has proven that very effectively.

    What you are talking about I think is FDI as a shortcut to development. Import existing businesses wholesale for the appearance of development. However those businesses are still foreign owned, and without regulation, all the money they earn will not go to reinvestment in Zambia.

    That is why no one has any money. Not taxing the mines, not building up economic sectors in a way that ensures re-investment in the country.

41. Baiche mulebuloga bwino. Dont insult abafyashi ba Sata. We the majority of Zambians are saying DONT PRIVATISE ZAMTEL. What reason you have to privatise it, we are not interested. Just empower VJ and Shikapwasha so that they leave politics and concetrate on developing Zambia through their businesses. Offload shares to Zambians.

42. We are in a mature democracy were every dog’s barking is given space and audience of its own breed kind.Over demonstrating that these dreamers are some academic exercises in futility would be stifling democracy too much.The re-nationalization utopia driven by a Party constitution that put a prerequisite on Zambians to be certified and vetted PF admitted insulting cadre first to enter the public service or parastatal jobs has neither space nor opportunity to see its evil communist miserable face. We can just assure Zambians and the Global partners in unbreakable covenant that Zambia will never ever slide in irresponsible hands of communes.They can hallucinate but that is it.

43. MrK

    You make very interesting statements. Most are convincing even though some are wrong. Firstly, it is an economic fact that countries that have higher investment rates over the decade are more advanced. This is a stylized fact of the emergence of national economies since the Industrial revolution in Europe. You need savings to be transformed to investment. Yes one way is through appropriate policies.

44. After all is said and done, what is the way forward for month Zed?

45. MrK says “instead of attracting FDI and letting them keep everything they earn, the state could buy processing companies, and keep the profits themselves. Or pay profits out to workers as bonuses”
    MrK look at Dr Kaunda’s speech of April 1968 at Mulungushi and you shall see your point in there. Similarly, at the time the arguments for government take-over where convincing. Zambia had gain political independence but economy was run by foreigners. The state took over and controlled nearly 80% of the economy. The result was mismanagement, red tape, corruption, low investment and low output. This was the case for most state-owned enterprises of which ZCCM and ZAMTEL were no exception. The argument was made in the 90’s – wealth is only created by the private sector govt should provide…

46. Fifty Ngwee,

    ” Firstly, it is an economic fact that countries that have higher investment rates over the decade are more advanced. ”

    But is that correlation or causation. To know that, we have to look at how they actually developed. And they developed through protectionism, protecting infant industries, import restrictions on products produced locally, etc. In the US, the founding fathers thought that 20% foreign ownership of banks was too much, and a danger to national sovereignty. Zambia has banks that are 100% foreign owned.

    ” You need savings to be transformed to investment. ”

    Unless you have copper mines, cobalt mines, gemstone mines… 🙂

47. Fifty Ngwee,

    ” Firstly, it is an economic fact that countries that have higher investment rates over the decade are more advanced. ”

    But is that correlation or causation. To know that, we have to look at how they actually developed. And they developed through protectionism, protecting infant industries, import restrictions on products produced locally, etc. In the US, the founding fathers thought that 20% foreign ownership of banks was too much, and a danger to national sovereignty. Zambia has banks that are 100% foreign owned.

48. ” You need savings to be transformed to investment. ”

    Unless you have copper mines, cobalt mines, gemstone mines… 🙂

    The Zambian economy is very rich, but there is too much leakage of capital abroad through foreign ownership of the mines and no regulation about reinvestment of profits, no payment of taxes, etc.

49. MrK, How I wish we had so many brains, compassion and outlook like yours. I can never understand the lack of knowhow, logic and intelligence in some of our fellow countrymen.
    These people sell themselves so short, and probably so greedy that the bigger picture does not matter to them as long as they are ok. Some of us advocate for economic freedom for all because we know it is possible and you can create a standard of living that is acceptable for the majority of your people. The die hard capitalist throughout history looked after their own pockets and that is what matters. To use an extreme example it was private capital that was the source of slavery.
    If you love Zambia ensure the investment is beneficial to Zambia and the investor. Why hate your own so much?

50. MrK, government should provide infrastructure as you mentioned earlier. But note that such infrastructure can only be realized if profits are made by the private sector and taxes are paid.

    Allow me to agree with you however on wasteful government procurement and the need to insulate the civil servant from the distorting influence of politics and the politician.

    I strongly encourage you to look at the experience of Zed when it comes to State-vs-foreign ownership. Start from the 1930’s when Bwana Mukubwa mine started operations under a welcoming colonial regime and how the suspicions grew as independence became imminent. Study the performance in the 70’s and 80’s and the lost opportunity to allow the growth of the Zambian business community. They should have bought the parastals.

51. When we nationalized the strategy should have been to allow and orderly transfer of ownership to the growing number of Zambians who would gain the capacity to run the economy. Recall, that only few Zambians had capacity in 1970. Even Zanaco which opened in that year had to depend on the muzungu skills.
    Instead, ideology prevented this important transfer and by 1991 we had no middle class or strong business community. The parastal losses were effectively drowning budget and Boma could not invest in new roads or hospitals.

    Now that we transferred to foreign hands instead of local hands, the process of creating a strong class of Zambia has to take longer.

    While I support privatization of ZAMTEL, I would prefer that sale to Zambians who will run it better.

52. Fifty Ngwee,

    ” The result was mismanagement, red tape, corruption, low investment and low output. This was the case for most state-owned enterprises of which ZCCM and ZAMTEL were no exception. The argument was made in the 90’s – wealth is only created by the private sector govt should provide… ”

    What is needed, is a constitution that separates the powers of state. As long as ministries can get away with not paying their bills, or the party in government can appoint cadres and others who only excel in loyalty to management positions, there are going to be problems. However, the constitution can prevent that.

53. The private sector however, is limited in what it can do, because it needs to make a profit, and there are other agendas at issue, that do not evolve around the interests of the Zambian people. So if people can’t afford to pay, they go without service. This is not the way to develop any country, it is the way to restrict access to the economy to those who are already rich.

54. We are all PATRIOTS for Zambia and not to any one person or party, please change your name to what you are patriot to. Veteran, what a term veteran of the past, history, set in ones way, No body living in the 21st century would use such a term for themselves. As for your writings , your use big words that half the time dont fit properly into your sentences. You might impress other people but not all of us. Yes you have an agenda that you work up to, but why not work to the agenda of the person in kanyama, in muzoka, who cant go be taken to South Africa if ill. Why cant we work for all and not the few, your skills will be better used for all our people, pleasedo have compassion for the majority of Zambians not only for the apamwamba,( that itself is disgusting because we are all Gods people

55. Just nationalise Zamtel if Dora succeeds! I support Sata, no wonder the Russian company saw sense.

56. #51 I may be a layman in economics but when you bring up he failure of the nationalisation of the mines, at the same time zambia had sanctions, copper price plummeted and so there are other factors that led to demise of copper industry at the time…given the nationalisation was not well thought out.

57. MrK the private sector is limited indeed. Thus, government should come in, but only when it is a public good or a quasi-public good.

    ZAMTEL should be sold on LUSE so we all have chance of buying into it and determining the direction telecommunication should go in our beloved Zambia.

    Happy holidays to all. I’m out

58. Nzambi ayihembi,

    ” Some of us advocate for economic freedom for all because we know it is possible and you can create a standard of living that is acceptable for the majority of your people. ”

    And it is the only way forward. The MMD often says they want to make the country attractive to foreign investors. The problem is that it will never be attractive to foreign investors until it is attractive to Zambian businesses and consumers and Zambian investors. Where else are they going to get supplies, fuel, an educated workforce, customers, etc? That is why foreign businesses end up importing all their supplies, fuel, and exporting their goods. And why the cost of living remains high.

59. Other bidders pulled out when they did a due deligence. they realised that, the assest is toxic if bought under the corruption of Rupiah Banda regime. Only foolish investors would go ahead with the aquisition in this confusion and profiteering of RB.. RB is losing elections and Zamtel new owner investiment will be in Jeopardy

60. Sata if you went to school first before you started smoking chamba you would have been better off…

61. # 2 You’re MMD

62. You get a lot of knowhow, understanding, subject knowledge and experience of economic, political and how modern democratic economies work across he world that you wonder why we are where we are?
    Brains work best in an independent environment and the availability of resources, we are not putting those resources into place. Development and productivity involves use of knowledge and actually doing the job, not in all instances but my experience of working in the Uk as a production Manager has involved seeing a millionnaire owner of a company being on a production line packing to get the goods out.
    Uk students have to work in pubs, restaurants and shops to help finance part of their studies apart from student loans, what that does is create a work ethic.Politicians? no business experience??

63. Nationalization, renationalization, and words of the sort, have very negative connotations that makes any knowledgeable person (either by sitting in a classroom somewhere or through experience) shudder with fear. Anyone who lived through the madness of the UNIP economic experiments of the 60s, 70s, and 80s should be very very weary when they hear “NATINALIZATION!”

    Why do you suppose the govt owes ZAMTEL such a colossal amount? Partly because ZAMTEL is govt run, hence govt feels no pressure or need to settle their bills. The very problem Sata is pointing out. Most likely, Sata is among the culprits in this given the number of years he has been in govt.

    Why don’t we emphasize public-private partnerships that make sense and are beneficial to Zambians than NATIONALIZATION?!

64. # 10 excellent. The mines are an exllent example. On privatization every one was thinking it will be like in other countries. The poor Zambian miner just watches hopelesly at selected groups enjoying the benefits of his sweat. It is worse than in Zccm time. At list we can look at some furniture tha ZCCM gave out to motivate the staff. That was wonderfull.

65. Yesssssssss the message is clear! Let chi dictator Chi-Gaddaffi get the message, we will grab ZAMTEL from your company.

66. MMD Chief Bootlicker- you are sick! No wonder this country is crawling like you who doesn’t see anything wrong with NATIONALISATION. America is just about to nationalise its medical care! Britain has already nationalised 18 companies this year alone! Canada has the best dairy industry in the world because the government guaranties the price of a pint of milk from the farmer! In Zambia you (MMD) have nearly sold all companies and the buyers have used your money to pay your government. eg. ZNCB was sold to a Dutch company who has raised twice the amount of the purchase price on the Lusaka Stock Exchange- NOT LONDON STOCKE EXCHANGE! I have no time for you or your brethren in MMD! The hour is still at one O’clock! That’s the problem! Anyway, here is a simple analysis of the UK economy:

67. Nationalisation and Privatisation: The UK Experience
    • state ownership vs private ownership
    • nationalised industries are owned by the state but run (typically) as public corporations
    • privatisation does not have to mean complete private ownership of an entire industry -BT (government retained 49.8% of shares) -Jaguar Cars (sold from British Leyland)
    -Railtrack and train operating companies (franchisees)
    -Market forces in Health and Education sectors
    • 1979: nationalised industries 9% UK GDP and 7.3% employment
    • 2003: nationalised industries 2% UK GDP and 1.5% employment
    Reasons for Nationalisation
    • political
    – intolerable concentration of power over resources; Clause 4 and economic co-ordination
    • post-war reconstruction -investment and reorganisation
    •…

68. – intolerable concentration of power over resources; Clause 4 and economic co-ordination
    • post-war reconstruction
    -investment and reorganisation
    • public interest
    – commercial considerations; cross-subsidisation
    – liquidation; prestige, strategic, employment
    • externalities
    – social costs and benefits
    • improved industrial climate
    -feeling of co-ownership; no real
    evidence
    • redistribution of wealth
    -inegalitarian; Russian Revolution
    • monopoly power and ‘natural’ monopolies
    -excessive profits; regulation
    Reasons for Privatisation
    • an inherent dislike of public ownership
    • belief in ‘supply-side’ economics and the power of competition
    Where do these efficiency gains come from?
    – consumer demand (improve service or face liquidation)
    – internal…

69. – internal efficiency (organisational culture e.g. shirking)
    – trade union attitude (work practices & corporate efficiency)
    -(wage demands and manning levels)
    – stock market (takeover threat) (shareholder dis-satisfaction) (payment schemes)(prestige)
    • increasing share ownership (1981: 7%, 1996: 22%)
    • reduce the PSBR
    – laissez faire attitude
    – link between PSBR and money supply (monetarist approach)
    • financial constraints
    -privatisation increases financial freedom
    – Whitehall approval on £20m projects
    – remove financial constraints?
    • diversification (near political-impossibility)
    The Case Against Privatisation
    • all those reasons for nationalisation (externalities: full social costs)
    • is efficiency necessarily improved?(liberalisation versus privatisation)

70. • selling off the family silver: and cheaply!
    – loss of future income streams
    In economics:
    ‘True’ Value =
    A0 + E(?0) + E(?1) + E(?2) + … E(?n)
    – low price of share issues

    FINALLY, in Zambia we have sold the family silver if you want put your email here- the way I challenged you was going to win in Kasama and you said you dont bet do you remember me? I rest my case!

71. Models Ichi chipuba chesu chisata need to learn from instead failed marxicism:

    No laws would be passed to nationalize foreign assets in Ghana – Vice President

    Vice President John Mahama on Friday assured the international business community about government’s commitment to protect their investments, declaring that no laws would be passed to nationalize such assets.

    He said investors should harbour “no fears” about their financial outlays in Ghana, as a cornerstone of the Mills’ administration was to showcase Ghana as an ideal destination for business in the West African sub-region.

72. I grew up in Kitwe, (in first Mindolo, then Parklands, then Nkana West and finally Parklands! My father gave us a good life! Unfortunately, like many other people, they did not prepare for entrenchment! In Japan, I have never heard of entrenchment! You simply cannot entrench some because even his grandfather worked for the same company- how do you then retrench someone who had dedicated his life to ZCCM!
    You my man are a joker like your MMD! Dont worry you are going! Im talking to one of your Ministers right now and he says he is joing us by 10/01.10- watch this space! you fool!

73. Meeting with a Chinese business delegation at the Castle, Osu, Vice President Mahama referred to Ghana’s investment code that details incentive packages aimed at guaranteeing a good return for investors in some critical sectors of the Ghanaian economy and asked them to take advantage of it.

    The delegation which was led by Mr Wei Zhang, Vice-Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), is under the aegis of Sino-ECOWAS Commission Trade forum, aimed at promoting trade between Chinese entrepreneurs and their West African counterparts.

74. The forum, which began in September 2008, attempts to link Chinese investors with their West African counterparts in line with the ECOWAS Commission’s policy of promoting macro-economic stability in West African economies.

    Vice President Mahama said, although Ghana and China had cooperated well at the governmental level, this had been lacking among their business communities and called for a reversal of the situation.

    He named the on-going construction of the Bui Hydro Dam and the reconstruction of the Ofankor-Nsawam road into a dual carriageway as among the many projects the Chinese government had funded in promoting the relation between the two countries.

75. Vice President Mahama called for an effective partnership between the Chinese private sector and Ghanaian entrepreneurs in the area of agro-processing, textile manufacturing and the steel industry.

    He cited government’s policy on free zones that allows foreign investors to produce and export goods at preferential rates as among incentives government was offering the private sector to enable them have a stake in the Ghanaian economy.

    He expressed the readiness of government to collaborate with CCPIT to produce bauxite in Ghana as that falls in line with the aspiration of government to build an integrated alumina industry in the country.

76. Other areas of cooperation that the Vice President underlined included the energy sector, considering the fact that Ghana want to ensure sufficient energy to enhance accelerated industrial development.

    He said 16 potential hydro sites, capable of producing 60 megawatts of electricity each have been earmarked for construction and called for partnership in those areas.

    Mr Wei Zhang described Ghana as ideal place of investment and promised the commitment of the Chinese government to offer the necessary support in expanding Ghana’s economy in the rail, agriculture and mineral sectors.

77. Professor Lambert N’galadjo Bamba, ECOWAS Commissioner in-charge of Macro-Economic Policy, commended Ghana for her political strides, but urged the government to replicate its democratic successes on the macro-economic terrain.

78. Thats Mr Sata’s headless chicken economics for you. did he get angry and throw the mic when he made this statement?

79. Ba Jeilta nishinga ba kamwakanyako kwi dilu ili? Twebeniko pantu mwa moneka uku kalipa sana pa fyo ba Sata balandile. Well it is Zambia.Pact kamoni.

80. MB,

    Ukusabaila tamwapusana with a ‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’.

    Since where did Zambian ministers become drivers of Presidential elections?

81. Sata will never bring hope for zambians because he just smells dictatorship. The same Sata was blaming and misleading the masses when Mwanawasa and Magande sold 49% shares of Zanaco leaving 51% in the hands of zambians. Zanaco was a successful move which now sata himself is saying was good and is now praising Magande for that. This man Sata can talk even without reasoning first due to his lack of economic understanding. Anyway, do not blame him he is a grade 6 and at the same time was a railway sweeper. Atleast we now have a bank with majority shares owned by zambians and only bank to introduce Bill master where you can pay all your bills using a mobile phone or using the internet. Us in MMD are moving forward with this mentally retarded sata.

82. This man is just a noise maker, him and Chiluba privatised all companies which were doing fine in zambia without any interest for zambians, what can he tell us now that can make us change our minds to have trust in him. Only a full can trust Sata. We have not yet forgotten the suffering we went through under this satanic man and his regime even to a point of wanting to break the constitution for the third term just to satisfy his ambitions. Shame on him this man will never rule the nation because his past will always haunt him. The more we see hime the more we remember his past deeds.

83. Gentlemen calling opposition leaders names and insults will lead to response to those who don’t support MMD. There are some of you here who talk all sorts of crap but will never even lead 5 people in your lives. Probably even your families will never follow you in anything you say. So, who should we regard as ishilu? You or Sata? I have heard some i.d.i.o.ts here on LT complain of how Sata treated them at MoH. Yes, Sata treats lazy basta-ds that way. You want to be lazy? Yes, do it at yo peril. When Sata was at MoLG, he introduced public nuisance law, but imwe bambwa who want ukunyela munshila cried. Who cam we consider ishilu? You who want to poop on roads or the one who wants to stop your crazy lifestyles? Sata works hard. Only lazy basta-ds say ill of him.

84. There is no basta-d here that cites the bad that Sata has done apart from just calling him names. If Sata has been bad, do recall your parents asking for him to run every district as governor when he was governor of Lusaka? You want theory? Sata will not work with theorists and if you are one, you will always say bad about him. You a full of a president right now who has spent 95% of his term on tour. Sata will turn around this sick man’s deeds. The wife to Banda is a Ghost. Who in their right mind would support such crime infested dealer nation? Banda has overturned all that was done in the Chiluba and Mwanawasa govt. Banda has been out of Zambia more than KK, Chiluba and Mwanawasa combined. Only a pea brain would fall for what he does. Anyway, we have a lot of brainless myopia guys…

85. Let those that have anything substantive say or talk about Sata. If yours is just to insult him, then we should know that you don’t hate Sata, but those that raised you because even with their education (if they have any) could not achieve what he has achieved. He is a leader of great talent to an extent jealousy of your parental failures cause you insult and call him names. If you think Sata is not of value, don’t waste time, put yourselves or parents in leadership. Some of you cannot even keep dogs because you either cannot afford or dogs will see no leadership in you. Please put up or shut up. Sata has a following, and whenever you insult him, be reminded that you are insulting even those that follow him. Probably your own parents do so.

86. Kalos2020,

    Keep hallucinating for Sata even when you know that its a figment condoned to legitimize democracy only.Which country, people, institutions, ballot boxes or civilized world would risk a strategic country as Zambia to slide in the hands of a retarded rare breed? Get ready that he will cry again but find no world solidarity in SADC or the civilized world.He will riot naked and play martyrdom which we will deny him not.Together with you go to hell we will never gamble with our country.

87. Protecting your own industry is not Marxism. All over the world, where people have brains, they protect their industries. Ba Kuku, do you how that America will not allow a foreign company to buy companies like Locke Heed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and other companies in the Aerospace business? Is that Marxism? Please read. Don’t come here and espouse things you don’t know. In those companies you cannot even work there unless you are a citizen. Not even your green card or work permit would allow you to work for such industries. Please research before you get excited. Just because some other corruot nation is doing it does not make it right. It is you in fact who ukusabaila. READ please. Don’t just pick up stories from TV and think you found the answer, No, do some research.

88. I really don’t know who is a rare breed between you or Sata. Sata is a leader that is supported by Taiwan, Taiwan is supported by USA/Britain. Sata was invited by Harvard University, why not your Globetrotter Banda? You are the one hallucinating thinking the world supports Banda even after what he did with the FTJ case. Are you saying Great Britain is amused by that crap? How about the withdrawal of donations to Zambia after the MoH saga? Now we know who is hallucinating on LT.

89. We’ll re nationalise Zamtel. Mark my words. Rupiya’s governemnt is taking the country to the dogs. Lupiya wants tyo give Zamtel to Gaddafi. Shame on MMD

90. Do you think any one sane would be supportive of Banda after knowing who he has aligned with? Mugabe, Muamar Gaddafi ( the lockerbee bomber), Zuma the HIV/AIDS doctor. That my friend is what we call hallucination. Why do you think Banda has no value in the West? They know he is corrupt and adds no value to human life. So, whenever you attack Sata, you should bear in mind that Banda is worse scam of the earth. Only other scams would support such failed scam bug in the name of Banda.

91. Some of you have called Sata a Kaponya but will never live in your lives close to his life. He is a Kaponya who is rich and has a following. Some of you have lived in the animal farm lifestyles and sees a former police officer surpassing your short lived glory feel disheartening hence the perpetual insults on the man whose support stretches throughout all corners of that impoverished and savaged destroyed nation. Sata has not been the issue to some of you, but our jealousy of seeing a former police officer and poor guy become on top. We have had LT bloggers here like Maestro whose theme was to attack Sata everyday because of tribe, where is Maestro, after his short lived stint in the West, got to Zambia, he cannot even afford internet of probably even a computer to post his venom.

92. You have called Sata that he is insane because he stopped you ukunyela, ukusundila and littering all over town. Mwanya you will not do it again as you are doing because your crazy money hungery child molester Banda is never home to see what is going on. Kasama and Solwezi people have see how Banda has failed and said NO to his lunacy. It is sad that some of you abroad you cannot see what they see. Ask yourself, how did Rupiah Banda’s son’s name show up on Teta’s will? The man is corrupt as hell even the devil does not even know where to keep him in hell.

93. I still recall Sata ooozing with confidence like this during the last elections thinking he was winning only to be pipped at the finish line by no other than Kanitundila. We all know he has a suspect heart and to avoid disappointment, I will refrain from such kind of pronouncements if I were him. On the other side, I think the manner in which ZAMTEL is being privatised is very suspect and it is incumbent on the next government to cancel this privatisation and restart the process altogether without the stinking smell of Dora’s rotten fingers everywhere.

94. Banda brought that Cayman Island to evaluate Zamtel. They got more more than the value of Zamtel itself. Come on, who is stealing here? How did this Cayman Island get to Zambia? Check its registration, this company the location it purports to hold its address has more than 5000 companies at that location and never have anyone seen a car or even a person linger around that place. Banda must be castrated for all he has done to our beautiful and great nation Zambia. What sane african would have a 5 year child at his age? Guys, This man has taken you for a ride and some myopic pea brains like him will go and dance at the airport for him.

95. re-nationalization of ZAMTEL is something that should not be considered. There are many inefficiencies in nationalized companies. We must look at the success of the private sector for this evidence. Lets compare the POST to the Dailymail and which newspaper enjoys a higher volume of sales. How about MUVI TV and ZNBC and which one brings about better entertainment. How about Lusaka Times and Times of Zambia online and which one is more innovative in its services.

    In short, there is no incentive to run things better in a nationalized company. What incentive do they have? if they make profits, they are all taken by govt and if they make losses, they are re-capitalized by govt.

96. The fact is competition brings about more innovative ways of bringing about a service. Lets look back at the POST and when they used to charge a fee for their online news. Then comes in Lusaka Times and Zambian Watchdog to bring about breaking news for free. The POST which pretty much enjoyed Oligopoly power had to restructure its online news model to begin providing news for free which everyone reads today. This is the way the market can bring about cheaper goods and services. The private sector also brings about innovation. Just look at the way Lusaka Times updates their website constantly bringing about a much cleaner and glossy, professional web pages leaving competitors trying to find ways of competing with Lusaka Times.

97. That is just a way in which the private sector can innovate new ways in which it can serve the customers better and keep them coming because it is through this innovation that we see services and goods become cheaper and much more efficient.

    When Cell Z first came into the scene, they run their marketing campaign based on the SMS service that other cellphone providers never offered. This caused them to panic and immediately offer SMS services with ZAIN (then CELTEL) introducing the SMS service.

    When it was announced that MTN is buying then TELECEL, ZAIN was working on introducing and upgrading its internet services. These are ways in which the private sector tries to win the competition.

98. The fact is competition brings about more innovative ways of bringing about a service. Lets look back at the POST and when they used to charge a fee for their online news. Then comes in Lusaka Times and its competitor to bring about breaking news for free. The POST which pretty much enjoyed Oligopoly power had to restructure its online news model to begin providing news for free which everyone reads today. This is the way the market can bring about cheaper goods and services. The private sector also brings about innovation. Just look at the way Lusaka Times updates their website constantly bringing about a much cleaner and glossy, professional web pages leaving competitors trying to find ways of competing with Lusaka Times.

99. We also see how this competitive urge has worked with the successful privatization of ZANACO. ZANACO has been running efficiently and has grown to about 30% and has also seen it introduce new services like the Xapit Debit cards which enable people to carry out simple transactions at low costs, reduce on shoe leather costs and reduce on bulky cash transactions. It also provides people with an incentive to keep their money in the banks which will increase the Banks ability to administer more loans at a lower interest rate.

    If ZANACO has been so successful why must we deny ZAMTEL a chance to be successful? It is better to privatize a company and tax it rather than nationalize a company and subsidize it.

100. “The PF government will renationalise ZAMTEL”-Michael Sata

     Not PACT Government ka,HH you hearr this?

     “The PF government will renationalise ZAMTEL”

     Not PACT Government ka,HH you hearr this?

     “The PF government will”

     Not PACT Government ka,HH you hearr this?

     “The PF government”

     Not PACT Government ka,HH you hearr this?

     Ati PACT PACT, PACT.Can this fragile time boom just about to implode be called a winning PACT? Good lucky!

101. “The PF government will renationalise ZAMTEL”-Michael Sata

     Not PACT Government ka,HH you hear this?

     “The PF government will renationalise ZAMTEL”

     Not PACT Government ka,HH you hear this?

     “The PF government will”

     Not PACT Government ka,HH you hear this?

     “The PF government”

     Not PACT Government ka,HH you hear this?

     Ati PACT PACT, PACT.Can this fragile time boom just about to implode be called a winning PACT? Good lucky!

102. In once scenario, the govt is earning revenue whereas in the other scenario, they are losing revenue.

     ZAMTEL has a chance to provide efficient telecommunication services to the people of Zambia. One thing we must know is ZAMTEL being a monopoly can achieve economy of scale which will enable it to provide more services at a much lower cost and a much lower price.

     A profitable ZAMTEL will also add to tax revenue as the company will be paying taxes. A profitable ZAMTEL will also provide more innovative, efficient and cheaper telecommunication services because of economy of scale.

     This is why everyone must support the privatization of ZAMTEL. We have seen successes in the private sector with the biggest success story being ZANACO. We have enough evidence that privatization works.

103. Finally, Mr. Sata must realize that the protection of property rights is essential in any growing economy. A govt that respects and protects the property rights of the private sector is a govt that looks out for the economy. What we must realize is that property can be turned into capital and can be transferred from one owner to another.

     An efficient property rights system is essentially good for the economy.

     It is shocking that Mr. Sata cannot respect property rights as is evidenced from this statement. This will surely chase away investors more especially if you add on his anti-China statements. Mr. Sata must stop making such reckless statements.

104. Mwe bantu. Sata akonabula icalo ici.This natural born COMEDIAN never ceases to amaze me..a dreamer…..a dictator..

105. # 103, can you expand on your statement. Let us know how and why? I don’t subscribe to people who just want to say something and when asked why, they say I don’t. That is being daft. It is like finding you on a protest line and when asked why, you say because everyone is protesting. So, again can you tell us how and why he is going to destroy the nation he has stood and protected for all his life.

106. The MMD government has privatized companies since it took power in 1991. What have we gotten from the privatization? Can anybody tell me? We sold our largest asset (copper) and we are begging for some of the cut from the cash flowing from record copper prices? Zamtel, Zesco, Zambia railways, former Zambia airways, ZANACO, Tazara are strategic industries and should not be sold. ZAMTEL sits on the best delivery mechanism for broadband internet DSL (copper wire).

107. Just nationalise Zamtel if these guys become bigheaded and as promised do not compansate the buyer. Why can’t MMD build their own industries for sale? FTJ sold houses he did not build, mines are gone! What profit has mines brought? This question is for Veteran, bootlicker, and this Ngoni lady Mrs T. Stevens!

108. guys hav respect for the next president. i am just wondering if at all we are serious pa zed. 1st of all the zamtel sale has failed to attract renowned names in telecom. how can we sale such an asset to a company from Libya and Angola? who are these chaps? it is like a zamtel of Angola/Libya buying our zamtel. this is nonse. ZDA has failed to atract good investors, let this process be called off. as Mr Sata has said let the GRZ pay all its full debts. the zamtel problem is a cash flow one and not profitability.
     and you bloggers dont bring your silly comments on this forum if you can not argue from a professional point of view. this forum was not created for such petty coments and insults

109. Kalos2020….whats the difference between Sata and Banda?..zambia needs someone who is up to speed with current global economical and political status…off course not HH, the man has No stamina, Sata is a dictator by birth and nature,, so No…Banda is not his own man: big weaknes but for now while we are looking for better options…it not the best option but just for now,,,
     Imagine a world where Sata is president and also minister of finance…imagine! its possible is sata is elected…the media can be shut down…thats is micheal. sata..uneducated thug from the street how can do anything from building a new state house all together to employing PF cadre as army generals…thinks beyond he’s sweet talks

110. SATA IS RIGHT!! – The sale of Zamtel must be reviewed after elections because it has been conducted without public participation. This govt has bulldozed its decisions on the Zambian people and therefore lacks ligitimacy in its actions. Privitization is not a bad thing in itself but the manner in which it is done is crucial. This govt must realise that it needs to change the manner it runs matters which affect every Zambian who have seen many companies stolen from them by selfish politicians. The correct way to solve Zamtels’s problems should have involved public participation. You will be amazed how much common people are knowlegable and insightful about such things!

111. The MMD still have chance if only Rupiah Banda is not the Presido Cndidate. RB for MMD, then we vote for Sata, Things cant get any worse..finito.. Rupiah is the liability which will make Sata win, hate him or like him

112. So, why cant we have a vision where GRZ makes Zamtel profitable (by paying its bills on time and disengaging in political interference)? Why cant Zambian parastatal companies go and invest in foreign lands? I would be very proud if Zamtel bought off this Angolan or Libyan or ZANACO (as it were) went to buy off some Banks in Malawi or Zim Zim……….. So far, what do we have to show from this Privatization? Employment with slave wages??/ Bulushiit……..

113. The manner in which zamtel saga is hundled even fool can smell corruption about it and you can not sell 75percent in a company like zamtel for the seek of national security. Not only that the company which are bid are national owned, if they did manage there company well why can we do it. China it self most companies are national owned and they are doing better. If we can let zamtel managed indepently with no gov interfirence and being paid what it owes just like Sata said it will do better

114. Jinx Popo, ” So, why cant we have a vision where GRZ makes Zamtel profitable (by paying its bills on time and disengaging in political interference)? ”

     That can be done through constitutional reform.

     The constitution should state how civil service hiring and promotions should be made, penalties for non-payment of bills by the government, etc.

     In other words, the constitution should really spell out how the state is supposed to work, and give protections to the civil service and parastatals. Right now, it basically only addresses the duties of the president, citizenship – basically stuff that is important for central government politicians. (Surprise.)

115. ….And he expects us to vote PF…what a no brainer

116. #72, MB, I don’t know if you have ever been here (Japan) or were you get your sources from but there is entrenchment too here. Wenye wako.

117. Real issues are now coming out. Abash dinosaur age economics. Obviously there is chaos in the pact. There is no way economists in UPND would accept backwardness. Nationalizing companies & PF cadres for executives as per PF constitution? How different is this from UNIP? Nationalized companies are dysfunctional. We know this from Africa’s experience. In defense of Sata, some talk of Obama’s salvage plans involving America’s private companies! The more real issues come to the fore, the more unpalatable this PF pact think.

118. Banda is the worst president zambia has ever had. whether we like it or not Sata’s views or concernes are geniune and quality. The man is naturely intelligent thats why most people like him despite having minimal education background. Those who to vote dull people but with degrees are free but the they will live to regret.

119. #113, MrK:

     If the constitution was meant to accomplish all that you have stated then what the hell is the parliament/legislature for? What else do you want included in the constitution, the entire penal code? Do you really want to legislate through the constitution? Wow, God have mercy!!!

120. Hmmm people why insulting SATA while you know that what he has said is very correct? Look at this
     1. The evaluator of ZAMTEL was corruptly single sourced by Dora and RB’s son

     2. Dora was fund to have breached the constitution over single sourcing of the evaluator

     3. The evaluator was corruptly paid more than is stipulated

     4. Gonvernment has kept away the evaluated value of ZAMTEL from Zambians..meaning there is something corrupt they are hiding in this sale.

     NOW AS ZAMBIANS WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS CRRUPT SALE OF ZAMTELBY RB AND HIS MINIONS ? Sata says he will start the process afresh. Is this not what a well meaning Zambian can do? Please leave the man alone, it shows that his fuulishness is wiser than your wisdom period.

121. Is he also going to reopen Superloaf so that the government can continue baking bread?

122. #119, Kambongolo:

     There is nothing “fresh” about what Sata said. If anything, his is a road map to UNIP era style of economics. And we all know how well that worked out for us.

     If the process of selling off ZAMTEL was flawed, go after the people who defrauded or manipulated the process, and not the basic idea of offloading govt assets that have been a huge drain on our public coffers.

     You can not keep running a company on govt subsides in this day and age and expect that company to turn its fortunes to the benefit of everybody. It is simply stupid and ridiculous for any intelligent person to think that. Why are we acting like we have never tried this “NATIONALIZATION” nonsense before?!

123. Gentlemen, gentlemen and ladies. This Zamtel the uneducate sata wants to keep in GRZ has been losing millions of dollars every year. Only for the purpose of selling it have the books been cooked for this financial yr. Zambia remains one of the most expencive places for phone calls and ICT in general because of Zamtels stranglehold on the only gateway. Instead of spearheading the development of ICT, zamtel has been holding us back, for example, fiber optic installation follows the routes of copper wire installations to houses, but this Zamtel has not layed no routes for the past 20 yrs despite being the only incumbant fixed line installer, hence fiber installations have to start from scratch. Thier fiber project is a flop. only 3 countries in africa controll the gateway.

124. In Zambian mature democracy, ukusabaila is a protected virtue. Akusabaileni for Zambian registered voters its forward with RB in 2011.We will never gamble and risk with deranged thug or indeed start reversing national progress by rewarding illiteracy.

125. Its like nowadays every dreamer and political failure that MMD denies favors and the many appointments automatically becomes a tabloid availed electoral fortune telling expert in their own world of illusions. Here is Madyenkhuku with his Tonga only for president decree that ruined Mazoka’s once strong UPND. Bates Mushala and his rejected call for a honorable legacy that never were of his murderous terrorist late brothers Simbwende and Adamson Mushala.Why should the Zambian Government honor and reward Mushala for killing all the Kaonde at his hand? Isn’t that madness that Sata is pledging to uphold with medals?

126. As that is not enough here is Patricia Mulasikwanda who struggled to win her own parliamentary seat until MMD strategists came to rescue her to get a seat in parliament, she is suddenly posturing as an electoral expert.The question is why didn’t see that Levy could not have pulled up any election without selfless MMD strategists in in his historic 2001 29% win and 2006 was served by RB unparalleled political sway that delivered a landslide Eastern vote?

127. All Prepare to eat your own bitter words. MMD and its dedicated loyalists is bigger than any individual barking out of ignorance out of bitterness in the wilderness.Since when did these bitter heads become MMD shakers and movers at any level? The worst election ever in the history of MMD was in 2001 when savvy and genius political machine late Anderson Mazoka was in the ring and MMD suffered mass defections of real political giants.This was the time MMD faced a real and clear threat not the current noise making wafflers.

128. As voting patriots we selflessly delivered a Government and the Presidency to a patient Levy who could hardly outer a word but only stammer his name from rally to rally.He was unsellable patient straight from bed.In 2006, he was a stroke bed ridden patient for 6 months who could hardly campaign but we voters retained his Presidency.

     RB is blessed to be an able bodied seasoned incumbent politician.Just prepare your hearts for another MMD landslide this time around.MMD will never ever lose to Sata or HH under our watch.be forewarned that the ruling MMD will sweep clear 2011 maybe in 2016 should opportunities be mismanaged. wittingly.

129. PF and Sata to posthumously honor late heinous terrorists brothers Simbwende and Adamson Mushala with GOEZ medals

     On Saturday in the PF central committee met in Lusaka and Michael Sata said Bates Mushala the young brother to the fallen terrorists must be be accepted in PF ranks to stir North Western party Membership.Mr Sata said he would post posthumously honor and bestow the GOEZ medal on his late brothers a decade old request from Bates consecutive MMD administrations have been trashing.

130. Bates Mushala was nominated MMD provincial Chairman for 13 months but when MMD realized he was ineffective, unsellable to the unforgiving people over the Mushala’s murderous years, MMD dropped him from leadership. He remained a dormant ordinary member for the last 8 years with his rejected call for a honorable legacy that never were of his murderous late brothers Simbwende and Adamson Mushala.

131. Why should the Zambian Government honor and reward the two monstrous terrorists Mushala for killing all the Kaondes at his hand when Alice Lenshina remains a disgraced monster? Isn’t that madness that Sata is pledging to uphold the terrorists monsters’ legacy with medals?

     Zambia lost citizens and members of the defense forces in purging the Mushalas, why the GOEZ honor pledges Sata?

132. Ba Observer, are you observing what you are posting? Bro you are speaking from both sides of your mouth. At one point you say PF is honoring a terrorist’s brother in the name of Mushala but in the next you mention the same brother being in MMD for 18 months. What is up with that? So MMD honored him first with a leadership position and PF doing it seem wrong to you but it was right for MMD to have done the same? Well, we do seem to judge people according to the party they are in. They are angels when MMD but evil when in other parties. Man, get organized. Probably you also need to find out the Mushala history and the relationship he had with KK and other Northwestern Province leaders that led to his going rogue. Probably he was one who saw the evils of one party state b4 we all did.

133. If indeed the comments attributed to Sata on re-nationalising Zamtel are true then I understand why some people in Kanyama constituency and many other PF strongholds are still using pit latrines. We have a politician who knows nothing about global economics and depends on lunatic, gullible masses for support. Zambia’s Income per capita is somewhere around US$850. Even countries like china with massive financial reserves have not broken the barrier of US$12,000 income per capita. For Zambia to reach a US$15,000 per capita or more requires complex organisation of industrial productivity. As a country we can’t initiate this industrial revolution with politicians like Sata who want to chase way major investors like the Chinese. The Chinese have loaned US$9 billion to the Angolan…

134. Sometimes being an armchair critic can be fascinating, but facts cannot never be dissuaded from those that have known it. By the way, trying to campaign for or against anyone on this blog is a wash. The issue being discussed in Zamtel and the evils attached to the haste and corrupt way Banda is trying to do it. People of Zambia, not only those in PF UPND Pact or any other small party is against the deal, but those in MMD. Why does Banda want to go ahead even after seeing what has happened to the mines and ZCCM? Why sell at this point? Banda is not up to good. I ask yesterday how the came up with the Cayman Island company that operates at a four roomed company but has 5000 companies registered with that address and not even a soul show up there. Banda is a criminal.

135. And in MMD strongholds they have plumbing? People please, PF has never been in office and you want them to institute development. Ala ebushilu beba ubu. If you have to blame anyone it is MMD. Do you guys use both sides of your brains or they other sides are snowed on that they have stopped functioning? You are forgetting that you have a President who goes around deciding what development must be done according to areas he decides and orders his MoF to find money. So, trying to blame Sata or PF is utter nonsense and will never wash with level minded people who have eyes and ears to hear. Keep dreaming bbambo. What does per capita got to do with Kanyama? How many people in Zambia even know what their per capita is? What is per capita in Kanyama alone?

136. Probably I should say stop dancing around, you will probably see were the problem lies. Obviously it is not in Sata’s PF or HH’s UPND as both are just like you and me. They have no control of govt projects and how MMD spend money. If we did as a nation, probably Banda would not be spending his time on the planes and Hotels but trying to solve our national problems. Instead hi is creating more problems. Given choice, I would not be part of Zambia at this moment but I have no choice considering that my umberical cord still lies in Zambian soil. That is why I debate this issues with passion.

137. As it were in 2001, 2006 and 2008 so shall it.Every devoted and relevantly engaged patriotic Zambian with MMD membership knows that ‘Banda is our final candidate’ and will deliver on this task and vow.We pay allegiance to the flag, the country and MMD’s collective choice for continuity with RB.Gambling with retarded unpatriotics based on their hallucinations is treasonous.

     Those who doubt our collective resolve are free to go because they are irrelevant in the our campaign trail of 2011.We need only a core of clearly screened and vetted loyal patriots and not flyers by night surrogates for the 2011 victory over-drive.We will deliver and obliterate everyone.From the convention through 2011, we will move with an electrified loyal membership into victory.

     The game is on!

138. If Zamtel was a private company, it would have been liquidated a long time ago. I don’t understand why a company saddled with billions of debt is still standing. Zamtel needs new owners who can collect overdue debt both from Government and private subscribers. Beyond that, the company needs to modernise so that provision of simple services like a fixed landlines or broadband internet services are available on request. By now, Zamtel should have a launched a satellite so that they provide proper services. # 134 needs to know that those companies will register in localities like Cayman, Luxembourg because these places have relaxed banking laws. Major insurance companies are registered in the Bermuda because of favourable laws. So there is nothing strange about Cayman Islands.

139. Kalos2020,

     I don’t think you are worth engaging considering that you failing to intelligently debate other than insulting.I’m no closer to insulting culture because i was brought up in a highly conservative moralist home which believe insulting is a symbol of deficiency and subnormality of a defeated mind.i believe in smart and civil dialectical discourses.Secondly you are failing to comprehend what you read.Mushala was dropped from MMD immediately he brought up the issue of honoring his late terrorist brothers.But here is Sata pledging that his Presidency is going to honor the Mushalas with decorations of the GOEZ posthumously as a condition of rejected Bates to be PF member in NW.How come you are failing to understand simple stmts.

140. Tell me were I have insulted you. You feel to debate issues but fall for the nonsensical word of being insulted. Probably you don’t know what I mean by you speaking from both sides of your mouth. It is not an insult. I duly observed that Mushala was in MMD and now in PF, that to you is an insult. Probably you are asking for some. Keep your nonsensical rants, you will get some soon. If you cannot debate or the kitchen is getting too hot, get out.

141. “Tell me were I have insulted” Quote

     Can you really ask this question when your blogging evolves around spewing insults on RB and the first lady as you come from uncultured family? What has the first lady and RB’s bedroom life got to do with politics that you should be insulting them needlessly?

142. Observer, are you reading what you are writing? You are in fact the one using uncoofed language here. You were brought up in a conservative family, were do you think others were brought up? Probably answering that question would tell you who is uncivilized and has mental and intellectual challenges. Please, you diverted from the Zamtel debate and you call that conservative family morals by failing to discuss the issue at hand. When people try to bring you back on track, they are the ones who have challenges. Probably you need a mirror to help you see how a lost sheep you are.

143. When Thandiwe stole MoE funds as a Ghost Worker, does she deserve my respect? Dear, a criminal is criminal regardless of sex or where they reside. More over you call her a lady. I really how a thief can be called a lady.

144. You think that when you are tolerated to keep blogging, LT has lost Honcho control? Its just maturity extending a reformation opportunity to you.What is behind your insulting attitude is the illusion that Lusaka Times created itself and can be abused.Blogs have people with brains behind them.They are opened to the public for contructive discourses and not exposing your demonic fall off to the insulting demons.Try to start your own blog and see if descent pundits will join you there.Just enjoy LT free of charge when you can.

145. When Banda himself is engaging in ifisapo, calling Sata all sorts of names, what makes you think he deserved better from the people? Get real. Observer, go back to #127, you used the word barking. Those are the words from unprovoked conservative moralist family values. Sorry dear, you can run but you cannot hide.

146. Can you respond to Thandiwe’s theft. You are just dancing around or behaving like a chicken without a head. Stick to ypur point and discuss issues. You are the conservative here.

147. #144, I did not know that you pay for blogging. How much are you paying yourself? Probably you should think it the other way. who will ever come to your blog if not Banda and Thandiwe only? Sorry, if you cannot ascertain that you are one heck of a lost soul than Banda your hero himself.

148. Observer, I have gone for Church service, please take advantage as this is the only time you can espouse your rotten nonsense. I will be back.

149. You two guys Kalos and Observer are both in the States, just get a gun… The first to see the enemy will be lucky, I hope Kalos will see Observer first.

150. 119 Yambayamba,

     ” If the constitution was meant to accomplish all that you have stated then what the hell is the parliament/legislature for? What else do you want included in the constitution, the entire penal code? Do you really want to legislate through the constitution? ”

     The constitution, as the highest law in the land, should spell out the working of the state. Putting it in the constitution raises the bar at which politicians can change basic protections for the state – protections that we all have seen are sorely lacking.

     The constitution is not outside of the realm of parliament, it is voted on by MPs, and can be amended by MPs, just not with a simple majority.

151. What we have now, is that a party comes in, and can easily change any act of parliament. So if they want to steal the state’s assets, they can simply strike any acts that exist, and steal at their hearts content. A 67% requirement for passing amendments means that not only the ruling party can agree, but a substantial part of the opposition must agree as well.

     The constitutions and a greater separation of the powers of state spelled out in it is the surest way to protect the independence of the civil service, and the professionalism of parastatal companies.

     Also, I don’t quite understand your extreme reaction to having the constitution state more than the role of the president and who is a citizen, which is pretty much what it boils down to now.

152. In the US constitution, the press is specifically protected. The same should hold true for the civil service, parastatal companies, local government. As it is, there are too many repetitions of “shall be such as may be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament” in the constitution.

     There are basic things that should remain the same, no matter which party is in government. And the independence of the civil service is one of them.

153. We are going to be using the US$ very soon at this rate. Sata = disater.

154. Former Mayor Nakazwe was fired from PF because she did not take in the demos against the privatisation of ZANACO. The demos were centred on the premises that the new ZANACO would close rural branches, retrench many pipo, etc. Two years later, have those fears come to pass? Well, in my opinion, ZANACO is now safer and more effective, which is what we need in a bank.

     What will it profit me, to have a public entity, whose beneficiaries are Sata and his cronies. Mr Sata, we have not forgotten how you were withdrawing money in trunks to dishout to MMD cadres. That can only be posible with a public bank, not barclays, stanchart, stanbic etc. So you desire to have a public Zamtel is to enable you continue abusing it.

     Nationalise it when you are elected??? My foot, good luck

155. Privatisation is not bad, But the way it is done matters most.If well investigated RB and his children have benefited alot from the sale of ZAMTEL,this in itself is immoral.My suggestion is that Instead of selling ZAMTEL,Foreign companies should have been allowed to come in and compete with Zamtel,just like in Mining instead of privatising our already developed mines,new mines should have opened as it is today. NKana and Nchanga should have remained with Gvt to reduce even the Tax burden currently on a few working Zambians which the same ministers and Politicians are misusing.

156. some of You guys are blind or have dementa, GRZ failed to run the mines, has failed to run Zamtel, is failing to run ZESCO, they are just maneging UTH because of donar funding. Only being run as a business with profit as the main goal, not as a GRZ social organisation will those bodies survive.
     Sata is a deraged thug who seems high on some thing. PF-UNDP have members in parliment, yet thier areas have no miningfull development Sata can show. Just give RB a chance.

157. Ba Africa 650, tampali efo banchekeleko, ichilenkalipa, chakweba atti aba bonse abaiche pa blog tabalemona atti umuntu wesu uyu Chilufya Michael Sata ni potential robert mugabe. Umuntu umutuntulu teti alande ifi Chilufya alandile. Thats why ine ndemyeba ukutila uyu Chilufya lishilu, baiche mukalila iyi blog mwatemwa iffi tamwakaimone after 2011, umuntu wandi ulya ake chisala, muka shinikisha!!

158. Global Fund freezes Zambia aid over corruption concern
     Page last updated at 12:57 GMT, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 13:57 UK
     E-mail this to a friend Printable version The suspension will be a big blow to a country that is dependent on aid More than $300m (£200m) of health funding to Zambia is being suspended by the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

     It said it was concerned about alleged corruption in connection with one or more grants to the health ministry.

     The Global Fund said it would continue paying for life-saving treatments.

     It is not the first time Zambia has lost aid amid corruption claims: Sweden and the Netherlands stopped health aid and the EU halted road-building funds.

     “The national authorities have failed thus far to provide assurances of…

159. Bloggers please stop using abusive language. We all have the right like others,so your opinions matters like any other any opinion.

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