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Libya vows to fight for Zamtel

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Libya will do all it can to protect its 75 percent stake in Zamtel, the fixed-line telecoms firm in Zambia, whose government announced plans last week to seize Libya’s stake in the firm, Libyan Foreign Minister Ashour bin Khayyal said on Monday.

“The Zambian government has taken a unilateral action by nationalising this company,” Khayyal said, adding he had spoken to his Zambian counterpart about the issue at the African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital.

Zambia dissolved the board of Zamtel and appointed a new acting CEO last Tuesday, a day after announcing plans to seize 75 percent of the firm from Libya’s LAP Green Networks.

The previous Zambian government had sold the 75 percent stake to LAP Green Networks for $257 million in 2010.

Libya made major investments in Africa during Muammar Gaddafi’s rule, some of them managed by the $65 billion Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) through a $5 billion fund known as Libyan African Investment Portfolio.

LAP, a telecom company operating in six African countries, was one of these investments.

Khayyal said Libya’s ruling National Transitional Council would review such investments. “We will keep what (investment) is successful, and we will review what is facing difficulty or is a failure,” he told Reuters on the sidelines of the summit.

He said Libya would send a delegation to Zambia to discuss the Zamtel issue in one or two weeks.

“Definitely this money is Libyan money, and owned by the Libyan people. We will exercise all our efforts to protect this money,” Khayyal said

[Reuters]

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

62 COMMENTS

  1. THAT IS STUPIDITY OF LAP GREEN AND RB AT ITS BEST! THEY ARE EVEN BOASTING TO SAY THEY WILL KEEP SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENTS. DIDN’T RUPHIYA B AND HIS DORA THINK THAT AT ONE ZAMTEL WOULD BE MANAGEABLE? LOOK AT THE WAY A FOREIGN COUNTRY IS VOWING TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS ORIGINALLY NOT ITS! AND YOU LAP GREEN YOU ARE JUST A DROP OF WATER IN THE OCEAN DON’T THINK YOU WILL SUCCEED, ZAMTEL IS FOR ZAMBIA AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE. I FEEL LIKE STRANGLING RB, DORA AND THEIR LAP GREEN.

  2. THAT IS STUPIDITY OF LAP GREEN AND RB AT ITS BEST! THEY ARE EVEN BOASTING TO SAY THEY WILL KEEP SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENTS. DIDN’T RUPHIYA B AND HIS DORA THINK THAT AT ONE ZAMTEL WOULD BE MANAGEABLE? LOOK AT THE WAY A FOREIGN COUNTRY IS VOWING TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS ORIGINALLY NOT ITS! AND YOU LAP GREEN YOU ARE JUST A DROP OF WATER IN THE OCEAN DON’T THINK YOU WILL SUCCEED, ZAMTEL IS FOR ZAMBIA AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE. I FEEL LIKE STRANGLING RB, DORA AND THEIR LAP GREEN. ..

  5. RB didnt know what he was doing, he gave away the pride of zambia, now see how other nations value property ., but to the crooked zambian it means nothing if he can only steal

  6. Ata bane … namuleyo ko naka $257 (dora) kenu. I wasn’t sure about the take-over but with what’s now coming out of libya, I’m happy WE DID!!

  7. of the $257 initial purchase price of Zamtel,only $15 million was paid..we shall subtract the equivalent of the Zamtel assets they have
    disposed off n give them back sum change.

  8. These fools have the guts to says Zamtel is theirs. Did they pay all the money? Did they start Zamtel? Foolish Lybians. Let them fight each other. In Zambia, we say Zamtel is ours and we will win any fight.

  9. All of you seem to miss a point, they have a legal right to fight for what they bought. Just wait, they’ll go to the international court and Zed will pay through the nose. Govt should have consulted widely before grabbing in such a primitive manner. Much as we all opposed the sale of Zamtel, getting it back was not going to be as simple as grabbing. We really need to be well informed as Zambians, most bloggers here have no analytical minds. All 8 comments above show ignorance of Financial transactions.

  10. #9 so the international court will not check whether or not there were irregularities in the sell? The money involved in this transaction is very little. If we are asked to compensate lap green, how much do you think it will be? $500m? This will still be nothing compared to what Zamtel is worth. We will find a proper buyer and refund LAP green Even Lap Green are prepared to pay a good price for Zamtel. But again #9 u think u re sharper than 8 pipo about

  11. @#9 ba Mercy awe ifyo tefyo nangu mwalibelenga ama numbers! The bottom line fact is RB & his team sold Zamtel Corruptly,LAP Green bought Zamtel Corruptly. Weather international court or Zambian Court. ZAMTEL IS OURS! It belongs to Zambians! Chapwa!

  16. Most of you commenting have no legal background. Number 9 is very right. I’m not in support of lap green but the truth is they have a right to fight for it. From their point of view, they will argue that they won the bid which  was overseen by a zambian institution. They entered into a contract with the zambian government. You cannot reverse something like that in todays legal world without ramifications. Law is law. No two ways about it. They have grabbed it without considering the law. It would have been a different case if this had been done through the courts but honestly, zambia is yet to pay alot of money to the libyans which will be way to much for grabbing zamtel. either way, its a lose lose situation  for our nation. How sad. the zambian gvt does not stand a chance in the IC

    • WHo doesn’t know that? Who Doesnt know that Lap green will seek to recover something? Bottom line is. Zambians DO NOT WANT ZAMTEL in private ownership.. full stop.. its the people’s pride and will remain GRZ trophy. That what Zambians want. to hell with your profitability ability to pay bills stroy.. Zambians, the poor masses, not you UPND supporters, voted to have ZAMTEL back in GOVERNEMENT owbership on behalf of the people.. What ever the cost will be, its worth it.. Our pride , our ability come first.. If this was America, Most people like you @16 Rubbish and @9 Mercy would have been taken out by the CIA. Country first

  17. ZAMTEL is ours, RB can go to Libya for all I care. He is worth nothing to Zambia, and has made our country worse. Let them take RB instead of ZAMTEL.

  18. and one thing you shouldnt forget, the zambians are being told one side of the story. We are dealing with an issue which had a pre-determined outcome. We all knew what the outcome was going to be due to public pressure coming from the nationals. We were not told exactly what corrupt practices where involved in the process of evaluation and conclusion of the sale. The courts havent had a say on it and the fact that batako was acquitted just makes the situation worse. Apparently, zamtel was the second best deal in africa so mukose guys. Iyi yalaba bad  

  19. Ba Mercy that was uncouth of you to come out like that.Amano ububi…as much as you can disagree with their level of understanding things ,it still doesn`t give you the right to insult their intelligence in such a fashion.We are ready to fight tooth and nail for Zamtel.We are ready to support and fight for what we think is right for Zambia.

  21. #18 Rubbish is talking sense. In the courts of law, PF Govt may not have a case to grab Zamtel. Govt can grab anything, even the mines. But at what cost?

  22. after all rupiah, dora, and musokotwane with their accomplices will pay back whatever they got from this deal, with interest if you want. that deal was theirs and not zambians cos we opposed it from the onset. the world over is privy to this nonsense of a deal. so what is the problem here?

  23. That money belongs to Gaddafi and the Jamahiriyia of Libya. The NTC should not steal anymore money for their terrorist agenda’s. They already stole the money from the Central Bank, then resigned and fled. They are thieves. I do not know much about Zambia but that money was for the plans of a Unified Africa in which Gaddafi invisioned. The money shall not be touched until Libya is once again stable and green. (Free)

  24. If ZAMTEL is taken by the government, then it is the end of this company. “wake up” Zamtel had no capacity to manage and this will be very very bad decision. I just hope it stays with lap green. if not then it is UNIP Days all over again.

  25. @18 Rubbish and @9 Mercy.. People like you, non Zambians, who JUST DONT GET IT and make me sick. Nobody is interested in the so called financial / operational performance of zamtel or how collosal the compensation or refund is like to be, how it would make you bird brains sad etc. You’s completely missed the point of WHAT ZAMBIANS want and the very reason MMD lost. ZAMBIANS WANT ZAMTEL OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY GRZ ON BEHALF OF ITS PEOPLE & NO ONE ELSE.. FINITO! You are both talking trash. The majority decision rules. RB and his minions decision was a MINORITY one, now overruled by the majority. Its called democracy suck it up and be a man. All the capitalis economic analysis of claiming better operational performance under PRIVATE vs PUBLIC ownership is IRRELEVANT. NOBODY CARES.

  26. @SAN 24…. WHat do you mean by “if ZAMTEL is taken by governemnt”?? You behaving like a delusional boy that still cant believe your ex-girlfriend dumped you and moved on !!!.. get back to reality.. ZAMTEL was taken over a week ago and is being run by GRZ. Your Hans Paulsen & Adnan are roaming the streets.. We run t he company successfully for over 40 years until stolen from us 2years ago and have got it back.. There is no way LAPGREEN was clean when they were the ones with the cash paying GRZ officials, starting from RB to commit crime in their illegal conduct to force the sale through again strong public rebuke and sentiment.. At law THEY ARE as guity as it can be deduced that they connived with the 1st defendants to perpetrate crime must be co-accused in this case.

  27. To @24 San/ @9Mercy/ @18 Rubbish & Others.. Perfect posting by a CHI on ZWD.. read think understand and learn……..”ZAMTEL IS A SECURITY FACILITY, BEYOND HAVING ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE COUNTRY. IT WAS A FRAUDLENT AND TOTALLY UNPATRIOTIC MOVE TO SELL IT, AGAINST ALL ADVISE. IT IS IN ZAMBIA’S BEST NATIONAL INTEREST TO REPOSSESS IT. FRAUDLENTLY SIGNED CONTRACTS ARE NULL AND VOID. KABILA HAD TO TERMINATE, WITHOUT COMPENSATION, FRAUDLENTLY-SIGNED MINING CONTRACTS BY THE CROOK AND THIEF MOBUTO IN THE DRC. YOU YOUNG ZAMBIANS MUST BE MORE PATRIOTIC AND MOVE BEYOND TRIBE AND POLITICAL PARTIES. I THINK YOU MUST ALL GO FOR MILITARY TRAINING AT NATIONAL SERVICE AS WE DID SO YOU CAN HAVE THE FEEL OF PATRIOTISM. SUPPORT YOUR COUNTRY, THE MONEY STOLEN IS FOR EACH ONE OF YOU……

  28. Digga, how come then, if the company was run
    succesfully, Zamtel were unable to pay workers on time. You should wake up. You communist thug?

  29. To @24 San, @9Mercy, @18 Rubbish & Others.. Perfect posting by a CHI on The dog.. read think understand and learn……..”ZAMTEL IS A SECURITY FACILITY, BEYOND HAVING ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE COUNTRY. IT WAS A FRAUDLENT AND TOTALLY UNPATRIOTIC MOVE TO SELL IT, AGAINST ALL ADVISE. IT IS IN ZAMBIA’S BEST NATIONAL INTEREST TO REPOSSESS IT. FRAUDLENTLY SIGNED CONTRACTS ARE NULL AND VOID. KABILA HAD TO TERMINATE, WITHOUT COMPENSATION, FRAUDLENTLY-SIGNED MINING CONTRACTS BY THE CROOK AND THIEF MOBUTO IN THE DRC. YOU YOUNG ZAMBIANS MUST BE MORE PATRIOTIC AND MOVE BEYOND TRIBE AND POLITICAL PARTIES. I THINK YOU MUST ALL GO FOR MILITARY TRAINING AT NATIONAL SERVICE AS WE DID SO YOU CAN HAVE THE FEEL OF PATRIOTISM. SUPPORT YOUR COUNTRY, THE MONEY STOLEN IS FOR EACH ONE OF YOU……

  30. @ 27 San… When did ZAMTEL EVER FAIL TO PAY ITS WORKERS IN ITS ENTIRE HISTORY… In fact let me tell you.. That under LAPGREEN salaries were erratic.. people were being paid 10 days after the set pay date of the 25th of each month.. this is FACT.. from the inside.. Cashflow and cashflow mangement under LAP was a distaster. You must go to Zed, talk to people from the inside to knw what really was going on.. not the ignorant yapping I see.

  31. @24 San, @9Mercy, @18 Rubbish & Others. A perfect posting by a CHI on another site. Read, think, understand & learn. ZAMTEL IS A SECURITY FACILITY, BEYOND HAVING ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE COUNTRY. IT WAS A FRAUDLENT AND TOTALLY UNPATRIOTIC MOVE TO SELL IT, AGAINST ALL ADVISE. IT IS IN ZAMBIA’S BEST NATIONAL INTEREST TO REPOSSESS IT. FRAUDLENTLY SIGNED CONTRACTS ARE NULL AND VOID. KABILA HAD TO TERMINATE, WITHOUT COMPENSATION, FRAUDLENTLY-SIGNED MINING CONTRACTS BY THE CROOK AND THIEF MOBUTO IN THE DRC. YOU YOUNG ZAMBIANS MUST BE MORE PATRIOTIC AND MOVE BEYOND TRIBE AND POLITICAL PARTIES. I THINK YOU MUST ALL GO FOR MILITARY TRAINING AT NATIONAL SERVICE AS WE DID SO YOU CAN HAVE THE FEEL OF PATRIOTISM. SUPPORT YOUR COUNTRY, THE MONEY STOLEN IS FOR EACH ONE OF YOU

  32. Zamtel then, was slow in bringing new services, where as, Celtel back then was always ahead in terms of new services. That is why the subscribtion was falling and the company nearly collapse. What i forsee if Zamtel goes back to parastatal is the same old Zamtel.

  33. @ 29 San.. I think you are talking about CELL ZED LTD. the cellular SUBSIDIARY company of the FIXED line operator ZAMTEL. Cell Zed was build and started around 2001-2004. CELTEL was built by Dr. Mupanga Mwanakatwe and started operation in 1996/97 and hit critical mass by the time CELZED was just starting. CELZED did quite well agains the background of intense operatos like MTN / ZAIN who didnt compete with anyone when they set up shop. Yes. The network national coverage was a challenge and signal would go as you traveeled different places, but they were building new cell sites and MTN and ZAIN were also doing… Mixing the Fixed line operator, ZAMTEL, its mobile service Subs, CELLZED and ZESCO’s fibre optic line in one corrupt sale I cant stomach. Why didnt they sell CELZED only?

  34. I would like to know just how many Zambian people benefited in real terms from Zamtel? How many poor Zambians have a land line in their home? How much did Zamtel contribute to the national coffers, how well were their workers paid and were they paid a regular salary on time before “the corrupt sale” when we talk of Zamtel belonging to Zambians – lets remember that politicians sold Zamtel allegedly for the benefit of Zambians and the repossession is being done in the name of the Zambians,from where I stand, I do not see how the Zambians come in – except to be used in rhetoric by politicians as they go about their usual business.

  35. Digga, that is ignorance at its worst. How on earth can you place the financial  performance of a company to what illiterate people like you want? people like you do not understand the ramifications of such blunders. These blunders will cost the nation. You cannnot place ignorance and pride over the perfromance of a company. really? you do not understand anything about investments and the mordern world of economics. On top of that, you have no legal background. zambians are yet to experience the worst suffering in history because of your so called pride and ignorance. The pride of keeping a company that failed to run in the hands of the government. Its like a bad investment. why keep something that cannot run on its own.

  36. Look at the millions the libyans pumped into zamtel, Over a thousand more subscribers, Fiber optic internet, employment, payment of salaries on time. Zamtel was operating way better in the hands of libyans. you overlooked all these factors for pride. Are you serious? All you are saying is zambians want it back, what belongs to zamabians belongs to zambians. Bring out constructive arguments.Please, go to uni and learn something.and this is not the usa, this is zambia.

  37. Rubbish is indeed rubbish. Zamtel is ours and was bought for a song and we have corrected was corruptly done to our Zamtel.

  39. MUCH CAN BE SAID HERE AND THERE BUT I HAVE ONE ADVICE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR LEADERS. “KNOW WHICH COUNTRIES TO DEAL WITH OTHERWISE YOU WILL PUT OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY IN VERY GRAVE DANGER FROM OUTSIDERS.” THIS SHOULD ALSO TEACH US THAT BEING PRESIDENT MEANS ONE JUST DOES THINGS WITHOUT LISTENING. WHETHER ZAMTEL WAS FALLING AND FAILING IS NOT THE BIG ISSUE BUT HOW THINGS WERE DONE. HOW MANY PEOPLE TALKED AGAINST THE MOVE TO SELL ZAMTEL RB COULD NOT LISTEN. MMD IS TO BLAME. 

  40. Guys who cares about the toothless international court. Pffff to all you guys above who think you are intelligent. If Libya do win in the international court so what just default on the payment or don’t even waste money going to the silly court as it has no power to enforce any of its rulings. And UN cannot impose sanctions on Zambia over such a simple issue. So Libya should just Zip it and put Zamtel down as a bad debt.

  41. IT WAS SAD FOR ME WHEN ZAMTEL WAS SOLD BECAUSE I AM A ZAMTEL FAMILY. MY LATE HUSBAND LOVED THIS COMPANY AND BUILT WITH OTHER WORKERS IN ZAMTEL. I MARRIED HIM WHEN IT WAS PTC ,PTC LTD THEN ZAMTEL AND WAS ONE OF BEST ENGINEERS IN ZAMTEL AND I KNOW ZAMTEL BETTER TO BE GIVEN AWAY LIKE THAT IT WAS OPENNING THE DOORS OF YOUR BEDROOM TO EVERYONE PASSING ON THE STREET TO SEE. AM HAPPY PF GOVT HAS LISTENED TO THE CRY OF ZAMBIANS. MY LATE HUSBAND WORKED AND WAS COMMITED TO HIS WORK EVEN FROM HIS SICK BED WAS ABLE TO SOLVE PROMBLES AT MWEMBESHI. AM PROUD OF HIS WORK AND THE WORKMATE HE TAUGHT I KNOW WHAT AM TALKING ABOUT 19YEARS OF SERVICE IS NOT A JOKE, I MISS HIM BUT AM HAPPY ZAMTEL IS BACK TO US. EVEN WHEN CELTEL AND MTN WAS FORMED I STOPPED HIM TO GO AND JOIN THEM. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.

  42. @42 Namakando …. God bless you and your family.. Your husband was indeed a galant patriot and soldier of this land that ensured the whole country kept running communication wise (Military, commercial, domestic, security, antiterrorism and counter intelligence purposes) for nearly 20 years. May the good lord look over him.. The vision and desires of people like your husband will never be lost. Traitors in Government and leadership, the black sheep, will never succeed in any attempt to destroy the future, belief and spirit of the Zambian. Never.

  44. They paid money and it’s all what libya wants , it doesn’t matter who sold it to them the point is zed govt did so rb or no rb just give them back their money and u will have peace , don’t forget libya is Arab country so be ready for jets on top of ur zamtel building

  45. “Libya will do all it can to protect its 75 percent stake in Zamtel”, these people are fanatics. Zambia is headed for really big trouble.

    • What would you do if were the president of this country?? Giving back Zamtel to Zambians is the best thing that a wise leader can do. Don’t forget that Zamtel host security gateways.

    • To the all leftists, what would you do if were the president of this country??

      Giving back Zamtel to Zambians is the best thing that a wise leader can do. Don’t forget that Zamtel hosts this countries security gateways. I would advise the Gov to check if all security features are in mint conditions, if possible replace all security features. Its very possible that Libya has full security knowledge of this country and that’s our WEAKNESS!!!

  47. To all the leftists, what would you do if were the president of this country??

    Giving back Zamtel to Zambians is the best thing that a wise leader can do. Don’t forget that Zamtel hosts this countries security gateways.
    I would advise the Gov to check if all security features are in mint conditions, if possible replace all security features. Its very possible that Libya has full security knowledge of this country and that’s our WEAKNESS!!!

  48. ZAMTEL BELONGS TO THE ZAMBIANS PERIOD. Did lap green care when it sent those young technian out in the streets? As i always depended Zamtel at my work place i will not be like judas who betrayed Jesus. Zamtel is our. To all the judas shame on you.Zamtel is not all about phones wake up. My Remmy who work even when was sick. WHAT IS MONEY COMPARED TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY?

  49. LIBYAN BUYING OF ZAMTEL IS NOT A PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM IS THE WAY THE BOUGHT IT (CORRUPTLY).

    RB AND NDLA HIS DAUGHTER ARE CORRUPT
    SO LIBYA CAN NOT SAY WILL FIGHT.FIGHT FOR WHAT!!!!!!THATS WHY RB HAS GONE TO LIBYA GET OUT

  50. The greedy of RB and Dora has putus in troule with the fanatics arabs. Are we going to manage the suicide bombers? RB,see your greedy whereit’s taking us. Better the libyans come and disclose how much they paid Rupiah and Siliya,the truth will set us free.

  51. Arabs `s money is untouchable my brothers and sister libyans will show us i hope they will take RB and Dora into Libyan alone keekkekekeke i smell gaddiff coming to zed 

  52. So much emotional talks here with little or NO analyisis at all.
    If we agree that the posts here on this thread represent the average Zambian, then that may explain why we have a government such as the PF-governement which does not display any organisation at all. Anyone says and does whatever he wishes. One says we are getting rid of street vending next week, another says we were voted in power to allow the street vendors so they can have more money in their pockets.
    One says health workers salaries have been increased by 100% and they are free to get car loans, another says I was just thinking about it.
    very difficult to see where they are coming from, where they are and where they are going, if at all they are moving.

  53. FOR EFFICIENCY’S SAKE MAYBE LAP GREEN SHOULD RETAIN ABOUT 49% SHARES IN ZAMTEL COZ THERE IS A TENDENCY OF BEING COMPLACENT IN MOST WHOLLY ZAMBIAN OWNED COMPANIES THEREBY DISCOURAGING INNOVATION,LETS NOT FORGET THIS IS THE SAME COMPANY WHICH WAS HARDLY MAKING ANY PROFITS BEFORE BEING SOLD AND RESTRUCTURED.

  54. To put the telephone company under foreigners is a danger to national security. Leaking of secret information/data can not be controlled :(

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