LETTERS - Leadership, FDI, Independence
Leaders without a visionBy Saka Sokontwe, Lusaka
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
What do you think is the most difficult challenge facing Zambia 43 years after getting its independence?
The most critical problem facing Zambia today is the leadership vacuum that grew from the time MMD came into power.
It is during the MMD era that our beloved country has become like a ship whose captain cannot safely bring it to the shore and to make matters worse, the captain has engaged the services of pilots who do not know the local waters well.
I firmly believe that most of the problems we are experiencing rise and fall on leadership.
The invaluable expertise of a leader in any country, group or organisation more than anything else will determine its success or failure.
The impact of leadership is seen even in ancient Israel, where all was well with the nation when they had a good leader. When they had a bad leader, things went wrong for everyone.
The conclusion is that Zambia has been put in a quagmire by people who aspire for leadership without a vision on how best to serve this great nation.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33348
Mining investors
By Mwenya M
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
Zambians of goodwill need to support the government's efforts to renegotiate the mining contracts in Zambia. For too long these investors have been getting away with huge profits in their pockets. It is time to get substantial revenue from these corporations.
As if that were not bad enough, these mining investors do not even respect Zambia's labour and environmental standards.
Investment is not a licence to steal and exploit other people. Zambia must welcome only responsible investors who pay a fair tax to the government and are able to promote social development in communities.
As for the government, you were not truthful enough to tell the people of Zambia the cost of selling the mines.
The people sacrificed social and economic benefits to allow MMD to sell the mines to foreigners. You have a chance now to set the record straight and let the mineral wealth be of benefit to Zambians.
Profits from the mineral wealth are not benefiting Zambians but investors who cannot even enlist on the Lusaka Stock Exchange. Why are these investors not giving back to Zambia's economy?
Today, a Vedanta University is being constructed in Orissa, eastern India, and will host a 1600 bed medical teaching hospital and several world-class faculty schools; with a $1 billion donation from an affiliated “foundation” of Vedanta Mining Investments. This is a largest-ever single donation to a university.
Why not invest in the same manner in Zambia where the funds are coming from? Soon our graduates will be replaced by Vedanta University graduate professionals in the mining sector, hence increasing the unempolyment levels. Let's renegotiate to get a fair deal on the mining sector.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33310
Chinese investment
By Isaac Makashini USA
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:01]
It is not surprising that once again the issue of Chinese investors in Zambia has come to the fore over the last few days.
Despite all the political calisthenics that Michael Sata is known for, I think one thing he has been consistent on is to keep his axe sharp to bring down the rising forest of Chinese monopoly in the Zambian economy.
Whether for good or ill motives, no politician has blown the whistle more loudly than Sata has done to expose the numerous fouls committed by our economic partners from the Far East.
Before we dismiss Sata’s concerns as the rantings of a man selfishly wanting to cash in on this volatile matter, we must pause and ask ourselves whether there is no merit in some of the issues which he has persistently raised.
It is not a secret that the Chinese investors’ treatment of our local people in these industries is inhuman, to say the least. Even the government has admitted this.
While we need Chinese investment in our country, we must not give a deaf ear to the serious labour miscarriages our “all-weather friend” has continued to commit with impunity.
I think we need to sit down and ask ourselves what cumulative benefits for the future of our country we are reaping from this one-legged economic partnership with China.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33344
Self-reliance
By Mwanza Mathias, UNZA
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
I hereby commend The Post for its relentless fight towards good governance and better life for every Zambian. We have heard the saying "Life begins at forty." Going by this saying, Zambia would be said to be 3 years old. Alas, 43 years after independence, Zambia is no longer a youth. It’s sad Zambia can only pride in past glory of once having had one of the strongest economies in Africa. Where did we go wrong?
Independence is about freedom. Freedom entails being self-sufficient, self-reliant and having direction.
Freedom is about being able to make choices in your best interest as a nation and thus being responsible for those choices. Peace is sustainable. Freedom is about every citizen being able to voice out and be heard. The feeling of partnership creates the spirit of responsibility in every citizen.
Our freedom fighters had the role of seeing us liberated and our role and challenge is to sustain the unity, peace and realisation the vision of our forefathers, who foresaw a self-sufficient Zambia with social, academic, religious and economic freedom.
As we celebrate, let’s revisit our policies such as mining agreements and investment policies, where most Zambians will be able to set up enterprises and employee fellow Zambians, where Zambia's potential of becoming a manufacturing nation is realised, putting to use its vast natural resources and realising its role among great exporting African nations, hence reducing poverty levels.
We may have diverse political, religious and ethnic interests but we are one Zambia and one nation above everything else. Even a good, sustainable constitution is possible when we all forego individual interests and put Zambia first. Happy 43rd independence anniversary Zambia and God bless!
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33347
Improve drainage systems
By John Milimo, Lusaka
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
As we approach the rainy reason, let us not forget that we have a problem of drainage systems in many parts of our country. Before it is too late, let us start doing something constructive in order to improve our drainage systems.
As we all know, our government is very slow in answering people's requests.
Let us therefore start doing something in our small little ways to improve our drainage systems, because it is we that will suffer unnecessary floods, which are likely to lead to the out-break of water-borne diseases like cholera.
To protect ourselves from such diseases and unnecessary inconveniences, let us therefore attend to our drainage systems adequately.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33308
Bush's remarks on Fidel
By Prince Bill M. Kaping’a Kitwe
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
Cuban leader Fidel Castro has been away from the public eye since July, 2006. This is the day that he officially transferred power to his younger brother Raul Castro, who is also that country’s defence minister.
This was precipitated by Castro’s ill-health. In apparent reference to this, United States President George W. Bush rumbled in his recent address to Cuban dissidents in Miami, and I quote: “The long rule of cruel dictator Castro is nearing its end!” This comes hot on the heels of similar remarks he made earlier before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a move that prompted Cuban foreign minister Felipe Perez Rogue to walk out in protest.
Isn’t the current US President a devout born-again Christian or so we are told? But contrary to the norms and ethics of Christianity, Bush’s heart seems to be so pregnant with immense hatred for one Fidel Castro that his belief and earnest prayer is seemingly that the rightful place for Fidel is the grave. What sort of Christian is Bush?
According to the Bible that I know and read, vengeance belongs to the Lord our God alone.
The same Bible further teaches us to “Love your enemies, do good to them, lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35) Where does Bush’s mercifulness stand as the Bible clearly commands? Why should he be pronouncing doom on Fidel for whatever reasons if he is indeed a true Christian?
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33309
Too much freedom
By Gabby GP,Kabwe
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
As Zambia celebrates its 43 years of independence, we need to ask ourselves serious questions about our past, present and future.
We may boast of 43 years of political independence, yet we are nowhere close to economic independence.
I may sound rhetorical that part of that independence is locked up in part three of our Constitution called the Bill of Rights, it’s locked up with our leaders that hog decision-making positions and jobs that would otherwise be handed down to the young and vibrant generation for continuity and fresh ideas.
It’s locked up in our ability to make some bold decisions such as simply revising the mineral rights currently at play in our mining sector.
Conversely, too much independence has seen our underage youth start hanging out in clubs and nightclubs, and nobody seems to care. Our future hangs in the balance as young people not only need the recognition due to them but also a firm policy and monitoring system that keeps them away from self-destruction.
If this independence commemoration were to carry meaning, somebody must be silent no more; somebody must cry out and spare not, before our nation goes to the dogs.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33313
Leadership
By Dr Henry Ilunga Kasongo Mongu
Tuesday October 30, 2007 [03:00]
Leadership is defined as the qualities and skills of a good leader; and those qualities are respect for others, humility, moderation of language, honesty, integrity, selflessness, transparency and accountability.
Anyone who aspires to a leadership position must have these qualities. It is for this reason that I agree with Father Bwalya who stated in the Sunday Post of October 28 that Sata’s action raises a lot questions , and he insisted that the Zambian public should not take such conduct lightly, especially that it concerns a man who has attempted to occupy the highest office in our land.
However, I do not agree that it is the responsibility of the public to make their leaders accountable as Father Bwalya wants us to believe; politicians and other leaders must be honest, responsible, transparent and accountable by virtue of their position.
The onus of the public lies in the power they have when choosing or voting for their leaders. They should not vote for non-performers or people who are selfish, unpatriotic and not accountable.
Coming back to the case of Sata, we hope that the Patriotic Front leadership will humbly explain to the Zambian people the nature of the dealings it has with Taiwan.
Sata and Dr Guy Scott should also explain why Sata lied in his attempt to obtain money from the Taiwanese government, and why such a big amount as 50,000 dollars was to be deposited in Sata’s personal account. Are they (Sata and Guy) trying to say PF has no account, and all the money it receives from local and international friends comes through Sata’s account? Not doing so would be a serious blow to Zambia’s growing multipartism and to the Patriotic Front as a party.
The silence from the people of Zambia on Sata’s scam does not mean they condone his activities; it is on the contrary a display of maturity, wisdom and strength.
There is an African proverb which suggests that a man who, after seeing a naked mad person on the street, decides - out of pity and sympathy - to cover the mad man’s nakedness should first secure his own wrapper; otherwise he may cause a shame of himself if it falls off while he struggles with the lunatic, making passers-by mistake him to be mad too.
The silence of the Zambian people means a meditation on the country’s type of leadership, in this case PF, and a sober preparation for 2011, when the people of Zambia will vote wisely. They will vote for a leader - not a trickster.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=33340
Let's dialogue on NCC
By Charles Chunda Ngosa
Wednesday October 31, 2007 [03:00]
The most reasonable thing we can do is to put our heads together as far as the National Constitutional Conference is concerned and agree upon resolving anomalies our country is besieged with.
We are quarrelling as Zambians but other nations are busy sweeping money away from our country at an alarming rate. As Zambians, let's come together and make our economy fool-proof. We are just a laughing stock in the eyes of the international community.
Our country is one of the richest nations with a semi-developed infrastructure. Zambians are intelligent people who can be anything in the world.
The problem is we are not objective, focused and foresighted but are busy crying that we are poor.
Changing the party is not a solution to the problem of abject poverty and others but a good mindset is. Zambia needs attitude revolution.
Running up and down going to different nations to discuss investors is not a solution of wanting leadership. If one is to win confidence of the people, he/she should stay around with the people he/she claims to love, highlight their problems and offer solutions.
Foreigners who have come to Zambia cannot outwit us and go on doing things the way they like.
Labels: INDEPENDENCE, LEADERSHIP, LETTERS
posted by MrK @ 9:18 AM
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