Zambia Insights

ZAMTEL REPORT.

2012-01-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

31 October 2011 Strictly Confidential Page 1 of 114

REPORT TO H.E THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA MR. MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE SALE OF ZAMTEL CHAIRED BY HON. SEBASTION ZULU S.C. MINISTER OF JUSTICE 31 October 2011 Strictly Confidential

Page 2 of 114

INDEX
1. Minister’s Report
2. Recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry
3. Summary of Technical Committee Key Findings
4. Report of the Technical Committee inquiring into the sale of 75% of GRZ shareholding in Zamtel
5. Appendix I -Sequence and timeline of events
6. Appendix II - List of documents perused by the Technical Committee
7. Appendix III - List of people interviewed by the Technical Committee
8. Appendix IV - List of oral submissions made to the Commission of Inquiry
9. Appendix V - Transcripts of oral submissions made to the Commission of Inquiry
10. Appendix VI - List of written submissions made to the Commission of Inquiry
11. Appendix VII - Written submissions made to the Commission of Inquiry
31 October 2011 Strictly Confidential Page 3 of 114
Recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry
1. Zamtel
1.1 The immediate termination of all Agreements relating to the sale of Zamtel to LAP GreennN and the immediate return of 100% of Zamtel to the people of Zambia for the following reasons:
i. LAP GreenN failed ALL the 3 mandatory prequalification criteria rendering this transaction null and void ab initio;
ii. The price at which Zamtel was sold clearly shows that the company was grossly undervalued and GRZ paid more than it received;
iii. In effect, GRZ paid LAP GreenN to receive a gift of 75% of Zamtel;
iv. The ZDA negotiating team was not independent as required by Law and did not negotiate in the best interests of the Zambian Nation resulting in Zambia receiving the same amount of cash equivalent to the amount paid to a single consultant for its sale of the whole of Zamtel.
1.2 The immediate termination of LAP GreenN appointed and seconded directors and management for the following reasons:
i. As a natural consequence of 1.1 above;
ii. In order to ensure compliance with the UN sanctions on LAP.
1.3 The immediate reconstitution of the board of Zamtel for the following reasons:
i. In order to ensure compliance with the UN sanctions on LAP;
ii. In order to reflect the recommended new shareholding.
1.4 A thorough and comprehensive audit of Zamtel post privatization.
2. Zesco Optical Fibre
Immediate termination of the IRU between Zamtel and Zesco and return of control and ownership of the optical fibre to Zesco for the following reasons:
i. It was illegal;
ii. It was signed by Zesco under extreme duress;
iii. It was not in the interests of Zesco and was solely designed to benefit LAP GreenN at the expense of the Zambian people.
3. Zambia Development Agency
i. The ZDA senior management must be held fully responsible and culpable for the grossly negligent and cavalier manner in which they conducted and "oversaw" the sale of Zamtel.
31 October 2011 Strictly Confidential Page 4 of 114
ii. ZDA should immediately account for and render the balance of GRZ proceeds received for the privatization of Zamtel and must immediately transfer the same to GRZ.
iii. ZDA must forthwith focus on monitoring post privatization a provided in the ZDA Act.
4. RP Capital Group
i. That a civil lawsuit be immediately instituted to recover the excess fees paid to RP Capital;
ii. RP Capital, its affiliates and its employees must be immediately barred from conducting business in Zambia;
iii. A civil lawsuit be immediately instituted against RP Capital and Simmons and Simmons for professional misconduct / negligence in qualifying LAP GreenN in spite of LAP GreenN failing ALL the 3 mandatory prequalification criteria.
5. Other
5.1. A review of all the legislative changes made to accommodate the Zamtel transaction at the expense of the Zambian tax player such as:
i. Reduction of mobile license fees;
ii. International gateway fees;
iii. PSTN exclusivity license;
iv. Barring of a fourth mobile operator.
The Zamtel sale was a clear case of economic sabotage which pervaded and compromised key GRZ institutions to the extent that GRZ decisions and policy were being managed by a foreign consultant. The full extent and continuing effect of these actions can only be determined if a full scale and thorough comprehensive forensic audit of the Zamtel privatization process is instituted.
Internal RP Capital documents project the value of Zamtel in 2015 being in excess of US5 Billion, the benefit of which the Zambian people would not have enjoyed. 31 October 2011 Strictly Confidential Page 5 of 114
SUMMARY OF TECHNICAL COMMITTEE KEY FINDINGS
1. ENGAGEMENT OF RP CAPITAL PARTNERS CAYMAN ISLANDS
1.1. The engagement of RP Capital Partners Cayman Islands for the valuation of the assets of Zamtel, by way of a MoU signed and executed by the Ministry of Communications and Transport and the Zambia Development Agency, on the 22nd of December 2008 was totally irregular.
1.2. The single-sourcing selection of RP Capital Partners Cayman Islands was single-handedly driven by the Minister of Communications and Transport against the express advice of her ministry officials and that of both the Solicitor General and the Attorney General.
1.3. We also note that the ZDA Board, at a Board Meeting held on 26th December 2008, expressed great disquiet at the attempt to have the ZDA Board essentially rubber-stamp a MoU that was fundamentally flawed, non-transparent and one that did not follow laid-down procedures. In addition, the Board noted that a due diligence exercise to establish the credentials of, and the persons behind RP Capital Partners had not been undertaken.
1.4. We also note, from the Zamtel Audited Accounts for 31st March 2009, that Zamtel had, in the past, engaged world-renowned international experts in the field of telecommunications open market assets valuation (i.e. Experts engaged by Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation in 1997). This is an example of the caliber of consultants that would be expected to undertake the valuation of Zamtel’s assets.
1.5. We further note, that it was an essential pre-requisite for Cabinet approval of the partial sale of Zamtel, that Cabinet be availed of an accurate, professionally conducted valuation of the Zamtel assets. A proper valuation of the Zamtel assets did not take place.
2. ENGAGEMENT OF RP CAPITAL AS TRANSACTION ADVISORS
2.1. RP Capital Advisors were engaged by the Zambia Development Agency to act as Transaction Advisors for the Zamtel Sale.
2.2. The basis for ZDA’s decision to single-source RP Capital Advisors as Transaction Advisors was based on ZDA management’s satisfaction with the work that had already been completed by RP Capital affiliates in respect of the "valuation" of the Zamtel assets.
2.3. We note as per 1.5 above, that a proper valuation of the Zamtel assets did not take place under the MoU. Even under the Agreement appointing RP Capital as
31 October 2011 Strictly Confidential Page 6 of 114
Transaction Advisors, no mention is made of RP Capital Advisors conducting a valuation exercise of the Zamtel fixed assets.
2.4. We also note that no due diligence in respect of the suitability of RP Capital Advisors (capacity and capability, previous experience, etc.) was ever conducted by ZDA when they elected to single-source RP Capital Advisors.
2.5. This Committee hereby places on record that the engagement of RP Capital Partners by ZDA, was extremely hasty, did not follow normal tender procedures and may have been under duress. Each of the above, renders the engagement illegal.
3. VALUATION OF ZAMTEL ASSETS/BUSINESS
3.1. As has been stated in 1. above, a detailed, professional valuation of Zamtel assets never took place. The only "valuation" that this Committee was availed, is the one contained in RP Capital Advisors’ final report. This "valuation" is not a professionally conducted assets valuation, but essentially a desktop paper exercise that make numerous assumptions.
3.2. The value of Zamtel’s fixed assets as contained in the summary report by RP Capital Advisors dated 22nd July 2009 and presented to Cabinet is US$ 38 million.
3.3. We further note from the Audited Zamtel Accounts dated 31st March 2009, that the book value of Zamtel’s fixed assets only (property, plant and equipment) was approximately US$ 81 million (K 412,072,000,000). This is however, the book value and not the market value of Zamtel’s fixed assets which would be expected to be considerably higher than the book value.
3.4. This Committee finds it difficult to understand how RP Capital Advisors could arrive at a value of Zamtel’s fixed assets of US$ 38 Million in the absence of conducting a thorough, detailed and professional valuation of Zamtel’s fixed assets.
4. ZAMTEL SALE
4.1. The Cabinet decision to endorse and authorize the partial sale of Zamtel shares took place at the Cabinet Meeting of the 23rd July 2009. The Cabinet decision was based on a five page Project Zamtel: Cabinet Summary report provided by RP Capital Advisors. This report is a summary of the 316 page final report produced by RP Capital Advisors. Both of these documents are dated the 22nd of July 2009.
4.2. This Committee finds it totally inconceivable that the Cabinet and any of its sub-committees, officials and advisors could have read, digested, analyzed
31 October 2011 Strictly Confidential Page 7 of 114
and drawn meaningful conclusions from the voluminous report within a period of less than 24 hours.
4.3. We repeat 3.2 above, and state that in making its decision to proceed with the partial privatization of Zamtel, Cabinet did not have a proper value for Zamtel’s fixed assets, as the fixed assets value presented in the RP Capital Advisors summary is only US$ 38 million.
4.4. LAP GreenN failed all three of the mandatory prequalification criteria and ought to have been disqualified in the preliminary stage.
4.5. The negotiating team appointed by ZDA was not independent.
4.6. The negotiating process gave away more than it gained.
5. ZESCO OPTICAL FIBRE NETWORK
5.1. A Joint Technical Committee comprising Zamtel and Zesco staff was set up under the auspices of the Communications Authority in July 2008 on the understanding that the two parties would seek to rationalize and harmonise their optical fibre network roll-out and expansion plans, based on mutually beneficial and agreed commercial terms.
5.2. Contrary to the above, on the 28th October 2009 the Zesco Board were informed by the Board Chairman that the Ministry of Finance, as principal shareholder, was directing Zesco to cede their optical fibre network to Zamtel and to cease all commercial operations on their optical fibre networks.
5.3. Immense pressure was exerted on the Zesco Managing Director to sign an Indefeasible Right of Use Agreement (IRU). Named individuals threatened him with the loss of his job and accused him of dragging his feet and holding up the process.
5.4. Revenue sharing under the IRU is 80% Zamtel and 20% Zesco; provisions of the IRU will apply to all existing and future optical fibre networks to be rolled out by Zesco.
5.5. The Zesco MD whilst on an official trip to Egypt, was forced into signing the single signature page of the IRU Agreement under extreme duress and thereafter faxing it back to Zambia on the 17th of December 2009.
5.6. The Zamtel board retrospectively approved the IRU in a board meeting held on the 24th of December 2009.
The Zesco Board passed a retrospective board resolution at a Board Meeting held on the 28th January 2010 authorizing Zesco to sign the IRU Agreement which had, in fact, already been signed by Zesco on the 17th December 2009 and the Zesco MD’s contract of employment was terminated. 31 October 2011 Strictly Confidential Page 8 of 114
5.7. This Committee believes that in expropriating the Zesco optical fibre network assets and handing them over to the soon to be privatized Zamtel, GRZ acted in bad faith. GRZ was in effect purloining valuable assets from a 100% government owned company and giving them away – free of charge – to a company that they would soon only own 25% of! We believe that this was done with the express intention of making the soon to be privatized Zamtel, a more attractive proposition to potential buyers, and did not take into account that Zesco had made a considerable investment (approx. US$ 20 million) into their optical fibre network and were operating it on a very profitable basis.
6. FINAL PURCHASE PRICE OF ZAMTEL
6.1. The final purchase price for a 75% shareholding in Zamtel by LAP Green Networks (LGN) was US$ 257 million and is broken down as follows:
ZAMTEL STAFF PENSIONS LIABILITY: US$ 20,000,000
CHINESE BANK LOANS: US$ 32,700,000
ZAMTEL WORKERS REDUNDANCIES: US$ 97,700,000
LAPGREEN NETWORKS EQUITY INVESTMENT: US$ 64,000,000
GRZ PROCEEDS: US$ 42,600,000
TOTAL PAID BY LAP GREEN N: US$ 257,000,000
From the information provided by ZDA Chief Accountant, the proceeds due to GRZ have, to date, been disbursed as follows; Expenditure Breakdown of Govt Proceeds of
$42,600,000
RP Capital Advisors
$12,689,759.03
Net Cash GRZ Proceeds to date (MoFNP)
$15,000,000.00
Legal Fees
$702,296.33
Zamtel Staff Incentives
$85,926.59
ZDA/Zamtel Staff Incentives and Overtime
$307,462.73
ZDA Negotiating Team
$65,797.25
Zamtel Staff Training
$192,907.51
Adverts
$87,468.98
Grant Thornton Consultants – Financial
$94,859.14
ZDA (Zamtel sale) Assets
$46,388.08
Bank Charges
$8,304.28
Other Zamtel Related Payments
$19,473.60
Total Disbursed
$29,300,643.52

Today's Post Editorial Is It In Order.

2012-01-16T04:50:00.000-08:00

Is The Post In Order On the Editorial Below?

‘Reforms in the Judiciary' By The Post Mon 16 Jan. 2012, 14:00 CAT

WE would like to commend James Banda, president of the Law Association of Zambia, and his entire executive, for the courageous and honest position they have taken on the state of our Judiciary.Things must be called by their right names. This does not mean that we are speaking with hate, nor harshly about anyone. We should analyse, censure, criticise seriously all these things. It requires little intelligence - if a little is all one has - to realise that something has gone badly wrong with our Judiciary; things are not the way they should be. There is need for urgent reforms in our Judiciary. But as the Law Association of Zambia has correctly observed, no reforms can be meaningfully implemented with the current leadership of the Judiciary in place. We have for some time consistently questioned the integrity and capacity of the current leadership of our Judiciary. If one thought we had a personal issue with Chief Justice Ernest Sakala and some of his friends, then we are not the only ones because the entire Law Association of Zambia is with us. Things are out of control. There is something seriously wrong with the leadership of our Judiciary. And the buck stops at justice Sakala. The current leadership of the judiciary is not interested in meaningful or serious reforms of the institution. Justice Sakala doesn't seem to see that the Judiciary has much more bigger problems than funding or budgetary allocations. And it seems he doesn't like to hear anyone raising the issue of the integrity of our judiciary. We understand his sensitivities over this issue because he has single-handedly destroyed the integrity of our Judiciary. Justice Sakala has defended everything that is wrong about our Judiciary. He has exhibited a very high level of sensitivity and intolerance to criticism. But Zambians cannot stop talking about his destruction of this very important institution of our state. There are so many questionable decisions that have been carried out with his blessings and clear collusion. We challenge justice Sakala to take us on so that we can show everything wrong that he has done; we can show where his hand has been in all these wrong things that have come out of our Judiciary. Some of our judges, who are very close to justice Sakala, are not fit to be on our bench - they are criminals fit to be in prison. But they are protected and have been promoted because they have been doing wrong things on his behalf. We support the suggestion by the Law Association of Zambia to critically and systematically review some cases and judgments to determine whether or not the issues of capacity and competence arise. In some of these cases, it would be discovered that it is not even the issue of competence and capacity but of criminality. And justice Sakala knows all these things. He has not been promoting justice but injustice. Some of our best judges have been marginalised because they are not part of his league. Only those he is able to use or rather abuse have had it easy. There is a limit to how far one can run such an important public institution as if it is a personal kantemba. We agree with the conclusion of the Law Association of Zambia "that the Judiciary needs a new momentum and a breath of fresh air to carry the reforms which we will be suggesting forward. We are of the view that the current leadership of the Judiciary would find it difficult to embrace and carryout the reforms we will be proposing. Judicial reform invariably includes filling the Judiciary with forward-thinking, credible, competent judges and magistrates with integrity operating under clear and transparent rules without impunity and with secure tenure. The rules and laws of appointments and removal should be clear and not subject to manipulation by the Executive. To us, this is what judicial reform to a large extent entails". We support the demand by the Law Association of Zambia that "judges should not serve on contracts as this is inconsistent with judicial independence more so that the terms of those contracts are not known to the public". Justice Sakala, the Chief Justice of our Republic, is serving on a contract given to him single-handedly by Rupiah Banda. It is not difficult to see why justice Sakala's conduct was so much tilted in favour of Rupiah; why he could not even shake hands in church with then opposition leader Michael Sata. But the same justice Sakala today feels honoured to shake hands with Michael. Using his own words we ask: "Since when?" It's clear that justice Sakala has destroyed whatever independence our Judiciary had together with its integrity. There is no need for his contract to continue. We have no time to lose. We are a nation in a hurry to advance in so many ways. There is no need to wait until his contract finishes sometime after the middle of this year. And even just as a matter of personal integrity, justice Sakala should resign on his own, should realise that his time is over because he misbehaved and mismanaged things. There will not be room for impunity in this country anymore from anyone. As the Law Association of Zambia has aptly put it, "Whilst we are strong proponents of strong judicial independence, we are equally stronger proponents of judicial accountability. Judicial independence and judicial accountability are not inconsistent and can therefore co-exist. The Judiciary should not be ungovernable and elitist or untouchable. The old days of respectful deference and fearful silence have gone forever." This reminds us of the behaviour of our intelligence services before 2001. It became a conduit for stealing public funds in the belief that nobody would ever get to the bottom of what they were doing or question their thefts of public funds because intelligence expenses could not be questioned. There are some judges who think they can do anything, including using judgments to enrich themselves or to gain favours or promotions from politicians, thinking nobody will ever question what they have done. This will not continue to be so. We know what they did over the Chiluba acquittal. We also know what they did over the London High Court judgment registration. One day, justice Sakala and those working under him will have to answer for these things. The constitutional protection that our judges enjoy was not meant to be used in that way. It was meant to protect them from legitimate errors of judgment not from political connivance to evade the course of justice. We hope, from the position taken by the Law Association of Zambia, Michael's government will realise that there is something seriously wrong with our Judiciary that calls for immediate remedies in whichever way it is possible. Any unnecessary delay will cause more damage to the integrity of our Judiciary. We are not only calling for justice Sakala to go but on all those who have deliberately done wrong things because they too will be pursued without respite.

2012-01-13T02:29:00.001-08:00

By Field Ruwe They call the Third World the lazy man’s purview; the sluggishly slothful and languorous prefecture. In this realm people are sleepy, dreamy, torpid, lethargic, and therefore indigent—totally penniless, needy, destitute, poverty-stricken, disfavored, and impoverished. In this demes...ne, as they call it, there are hardly any discoveries, inventions, and innovations. Africa is the trailblazer. Some still call it “the dark continent” for the light that flickers under the tunnel is not that of hope, but an approaching train. And because countless keep waiting in the way of the train, millions die and many more remain decapitated by the day.“It’s amazing how you all sit there and watch yourselves die,” the man next to me said. “Get up and do something about it.”Brawny, fully bald-headed, with intense, steely eyes, he was as cold as they come. When I first discovered I was going to spend my New Year’s Eve next to him on a non-stop JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Boston I was angst-ridden. I associate marble-shaven Caucasians with iconoclastic skin-heads, most of who are racist.“My name is Walter,” he extended his hand as soon as I settled in my seat. I told him mine with a precautious smile.“Where are you from?” he asked.“Zambia.” “Zambia!” he exclaimed, “Kaunda’s country.” “Yes,” I said, “Now Sata’s.” “But of course,” he responded. “You just elected King Cobra as your president.”My face lit up at the mention of Sata’s moniker. Walter smiled, and in those cold eyes I saw an amenable fellow, one of those American highbrows who shuttle between Africa and the U.S.“I spent three years in Zambia in the 1980s,” he continued. “I wined and dined with Luke Mwananshiku, Willa Mungomba, Dr. Siteke Mwale, and many other highly intelligent Zambians.” He lowered his voice. “I was part of the IMF group that came to rip you guys off.” He smirked. “Your government put me in a million dollar mansion overlooking a shanty called Kalingalinga. From my patio I saw it all—the rich and the poor, the ailing, the dead, and the healthy.” “Are you still with the IMF?” I asked.“I have since moved to yet another group with similar intentions. In the next few months my colleagues and I will be in Lusaka to hypnotize the cobra. I work for the broker that has acquired a chunk of your debt. Your government owes not the World Bank, but us millions of dollars. We’ll be in Lusaka to offer your president a couple of millions and fly back with a check twenty times greater.” “No, you won’t,” I said. “King Cobra is incorruptible. He is …”He was laughing. “Says who? Give me an African president, just one, who has not fallen for the carrot and stick.”Quett Masire’s name popped up.“Oh, him, well, we never got to him because he turned down the IMF and the World Bank. It was perhaps the smartest thing for him to do.”At midnight we were airborne. The captain wished us a happy 2012 and urged us to watch the fireworks across Los Angeles.“Isn’t that beautiful,” Walter said looking down. From my middle seat, I took a glance and nodded admirably.“That’s white man’s country,” he said. “We came here on Mayflower and turned Indian land into a paradise and now the most powerful nation on earth. We discovered the bulb, and built this aircraft to fly us to pleasure resorts like Lake Zambia.”I grinned. “There is no Lake Zambia.”He curled his lips into a smug smile. “That’s what we call your country. You guys are as stagnant as the water in the lake. We come in with our large boats and fish your minerals and your wildlife and leave morsels—crumbs. That’s your staple food, crumbs. That corn-meal you eat, that’s crumbs, the small Tilapia fish you call Kapenta is crumbs. We the Bwanas (whites) take the cat fish. I am the Bwana and you are the Muntu. I get what I want and you get what you deserve, crumbs. That’s what lazy people get—Zambians, Africans, the entire Third World.”The smile vanished from my face.“I see you are getting pissed off,” Walter said and lowered his voice. “You are thinking this Bwana is a racist. That’s how most Zambians respond when I tell them the truth. They go ballistic. Okay. Let’s for a moment put our skin pigmentations, this black and white crap, aside. Tell me, my friend, what is the difference between you and me?” “There’s no difference.” “Absolutely none,” he exclaimed. “Scientists in the Human Genome Project have proved that. It took them thirteen years to determine the complete sequence of the three billion DNA subunits. After they were all done it was clear that 99.9% nucleotide bases were exactly the same in you and me. We are the same people. All white, Asian, Latino, and black people on this aircraft are the same.”I gladly nodded.“And yet I feel superior,” he smiled fatalistically. “Every white person on this plane feels superior to a black person. The white guy who picks up garbage, the homeless white trash on drugs, feels superior to you no matter his status or education. I can pick up a nincompoop from the New York streets, clean him up, and take him to Lusaka and you all be crowding around him chanting muzungu, muzungu and yet he’s a riffraff. Tell me why my angry friend.”For a moment I was wordless.“Please don’t blame it on slavery like the African Americans do, or colonialism, or some psychological impact or some kind of stigmatization. And don’t give me the brainwash poppycock. Give me a better answer.”I was thinking. He continued. “Excuse what I am about to say. Please do not take offense.”I felt a slap of blood rush to my head and prepared for the worst.“You my friend flying with me and all your kind are lazy,” he said. “When you rest your head on the pillow you don’t dream big. You and other so-called African intellectuals are damn lazy, each one of you. It is you, and not those poor starving people, who is the reason Africa is in such a deplorable state.” “That’s not a nice thing to say,” I protested. He was implacable. “Oh yes it is and I will say it again, you are lazy. Poor and uneducated Africans are the most hardworking people on earth. I saw them in the Lusaka markets and on the street selling merchandise. I saw them in villages toiling away. I saw women on Kafue Road crushing stones for sell and I wept. I said to myself where are the Zambian intellectuals? Are the Zambian engineers so imperceptive they cannot invent a simple stone crusher, or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after thirty-seven years of independence your university school of engineering has not produced a scientist or an engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the school there for?”I held my breath.“Do you know where I found your intellectuals? They were in bars quaffing. They were at the Lusaka Golf Club, Lusaka Central Club, Lusaka Playhouse, and Lusaka Flying Club. I saw with my own eyes a bunch of alcoholic graduates. Zambian intellectuals work from eight to five and spend the evening drinking. We don’t. We reserve the evening for brainstorming.”He looked me in the eye.“And you flying to Boston and all of you Zambians in the Diaspora are just as lazy and apathetic to your country. You don’t care about your country and yet your very own parents, brothers and sisters are in Mtendere, Chawama, and in villages, all of them living in squalor. Many have died or are dying of neglect by you. They are dying of AIDS because you cannot come up with your own cure. You are here calling yourselves graduates, researchers and scientists and are fast at articulating your credentials once asked—oh, I have a PhD in this and that—PhD my foot!”I was deflated.“Wake up you all!” he exclaimed, attracting the attention of nearby passengers. “You should be busy lifting ideas, formulae, recipes, and diagrams from American manufacturing factories and sending them to your own factories. All those research findings and dissertation papers you compile should be your country’s treasure. Why do you think the Asians are a force to reckon with? They stole our ideas and turned them into their own. Look at Japan, China, India, just look at them.”He paused. “The Bwana has spoken,” he said and grinned. “As long as you are dependent on my plane, I shall feel superior and you my friend shall remain inferior, how about that? The Chinese, Japanese, Indians, even Latinos are a notch better. You Africans are at the bottom of the totem pole.”He tempered his voice. “Get over this white skin syndrome and begin to feel confident. Become innovative and make your own stuff for god’s sake.”At 8 a.m. the plane touched down at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Walter reached for my hand.“I know I was too strong, but I don’t give it a damn. I have been to Zambia and have seen too much poverty.” He pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled something. “Here, read this. It was written by a friend.”He had written only the title: “Lords of Poverty.”Thunderstruck, I had a sinking feeling. I watched Walter walk through the airport doors to a waiting car. He had left a huge dust devil twirling in my mind, stirring up sad memories of home. I could see Zambia’s literati—the cognoscente, intelligentsia, academics, highbrows, and scholars in the places he had mentioned guzzling and talking irrelevancies. I remembered some who have since passed—how they got the highest grades in mathematics and the sciences and attained the highest education on the planet. They had been to Harvard, Oxford, Yale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), only to leave us with not a single invention or discovery. I knew some by name and drunk with them at the Lusaka Playhouse and Central Sports. Walter is right. It is true that since independence we have failed to nurture creativity and collective orientations. We as a nation lack a workhorse mentality and behave like 13 million civil servants dependent on a government pay cheque. We believe that development is generated 8-to-5 behind a desk wearing a tie with our degrees hanging on the wall. Such a working environment does not offer the opportunity for fellowship, the excitement of competition, and the spectacle of innovative rituals. But the intelligentsia is not solely, or even mainly, to blame. The larger failure is due to political circumstances over which they have had little control. The past governments failed to create an environment of possibility that fosters camaraderie, rewards innovative ideas and encourages resilience. KK, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, and Banda embraced orthodox ideas and therefore failed to offer many opportunities for drawing outside the line. I believe King Cobra’s reset has been cast in the same faculties as those of his predecessors. If today I told him that we can build our own car, he would throw me out.“Naupena? Fuma apa.” (Are you mad? Get out of here) Knowing well that King Cobra will not embody innovation at Walter’s level let’s begin to look for a technologically active-positive leader who can succeed him after a term or two. That way we can make our own stone crushers, water filters, water pumps, razor blades, and harvesters. Let’s dream big and make tractors, cars, and planes, or, like Walter said, forever remain inferior. A fundamental transformation of our country from what is essentially non-innovative to a strategic superior African country requires a bold risk-taking educated leader with a triumphalist attitude and we have one in YOU. Don’t be highly strung and feel insulted by Walter. Take a moment and think about our country. Our journey from 1964 has been marked by tears. It has been an emotionally overwhelming experience. Each one of us has lost a loved one to poverty, hunger, and disease. The number of graves is catching up with the population. It’s time to change our political culture. It’s time for Zambian intellectuals to cultivate an active-positive progressive movement that will change our lives forever. Don’t be afraid or dispirited, rise to the challenge and salvage the remaining few of your beloved ones. Field Ruwe is a US-based Zambian media practitioner and author. He is a PhD candidate with a B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism, and an M.A. in History

Guesthouses, Motels and Hostels

2011-12-27T00:10:00.000-08:00

GUESTHOUSES, MOTELS AND HOSTELS
LUSAKA
ANDREWS MOTELKafue RdTel: 272532 Fax: 274798 andmotel@zam tel.zm
ANINA'S
LODGETel/fax:
01-279045Cell: 096-597657aninaslodge2000@yahoo.com
BARN MOTELGreat East RdTel:1-213163,
260-1-214002barnmotel@zamtel.zm
BELEVEDERE HOSTELTel: 263079Tel: 250006 enquiries@hostelszambia.com
BLUE CREST
GUESTHOUSEHse# 15 Sable Rd.Tel: 01
260536Fax:260536
CHA
CHACHA BACKPACKERS LODGE161 Mulombwa Close.Tel/Fax: 222257info@chachachasafaris.com
CHITA LODGE25 Chakeluka Rd Olympia Parkchita@zamnet.zm
COMFORT
ZONEoff the Kafue road Cell: 097812393Tel: 272610Fax :
225617czone@coppernet.zm
CRESTA GOLFVIEW HOTELOn Great East Rd, 10 minutes from the
airport
DREAM VALLEY PARK & LODGEIbex HillTele/fax :
260-1-260175info@dreamvalleylodge.com
EUREKA CAMPING & CHALETSKafue Rd 10kms south of
LusakaTel: 272351Fax: 225491eurekacamp.zm@gmail.com
Forest Inn 63km from Kapiri Mposhi on Great North
Rd.Tel/Fax: +260 21 5353003Cell: +260 966343600forestinn@iawayafrica.com
Guest House LeRose
143 J Close,
Avondale
Telephone
(211) 284948
lerose@zamtel.zm

JULS GUESTHOUSEPlot 5508 Lusiwasi Rd, (off Libala Rd), Kalundu.Tel:
292979 / 293972Fax: 291246juls.travel@travelport.co.zm
KAINGO GUEST
HOUSETel: 01 263231Fax:01 263231 .
La Consolata Lodge
Tel: +260 21 129 0856
Fax: +260 21 129 5567
laconsolata@zamnet.zm
LECHWE LODGETel: (032) 30128Fax:704803kflechwe@zamnet.zm
LONGACRES HOSTEL01 250087 / 250006enquiries@hostelszambia.com
MARGARETS GUEST HOUSETel: 01 295356
MASIYE DRIVE-IN
MOTELLumumba
road,Cell: 0966597657masiyedriveinmotel@yahoo.com
MOUNT SINAI GUESTHOUSE mtsinaiguesthouse@hotmail.com

MUMANA PLEASURE RESORT10446 Great East RoadTel: 260 1 291860/3Fax: 260 1
291863mumana@zamnet.zm
MWIZA
LODGEPlot No 9708 Chudleigh,Tel: 260 1 290352 / 293084Fax:
260 1 292553Mobile: 260 97 770709mwizalodge@zamtel.zm
OF EARTH AND HEAVEN
B&BLeopards Hill RdCell: 00260 977844680 and 00260
9784446Tel : 00260 211 263919mfrost@iconnect.zm
REED MAT LODGEReserve Rd, ChudleighTel:
293426Cell: 097 854768 info@reedmatlodge.com
PRE-CEM
MOTELKabwe RdTel:243613/243314
PIONEER CAMPING AND CHALETSFrom Lusaka: 2.5 kms past airport
turnoff going east on the Great East RdTel: 096-4327002pioneer@bushmail.net
Ungweru Lodge & Peggy LodgeTel
+260-211-282-337Cell +260-977-766-182E-mail: info@ungwerulodge.com
VINEYARD GUEST
HOUSEPlot 6610, Mumana Rd, Olympia Ext.Tel:260 1 292361 /
291204 vineyard6610@yahoo.com
VILLA LODGE
GARDENSTel: 260875Cell: 784956villa@coppernet.zm
WAYSIDE BED & BREAKFAST Tel: 273439Fax:274444wayside@coppernet.zm
YWCANational rd, LusakaTel: 252726 / 263630ywca@zamnet.zm
ZAMCOM GUESTHOUSE,Tel: 251811Fax:254826
ZAM-EARTH
LODGETelefax:294680
WASINGO INNTel-1-284854 info@wasingo.com CHISAMBA
FRINGILLA GUEST HOUSE 01 233885fringill@zamnet.zm
PROTEA
SAFARI LODGE704600/704601/3 704800chisamba@zamnet.zm KABWE
KABWE LODGE 05 224297enquiries@hostelszambia.com
MASIYE
MOTEL Tel:
223221 KAPIRI
MPOSHE
UNITY
MOTELMain RdTel:
271350 KITWE
BLUE GATES
GUEST HOUSEChinkuni Cresent Tel:02 226606
EAGLE GUEST HOUSE22 Frazer Cres. RiversideTel. +260 2 229748 / 230761
/ 230777Fax. 230153 / 230557 Cell 096 784895 / 780319 / 780320eagle@zamnet.zm
LeRose Guest House
4939 Chitambo
Road, Riverside
Telephone (212)
227360
Mobile
0955786674
lerosekit@zamtel.zm

LOTHIAN HOUSETel: 02 222889enquiries@hostelszambia.com
MUKWA LODGETel: (212) 224266 / 224277mukwa@zamsat.net
SHERBOURNE
FARM LODGETel: 260 2 222168Fax:226477shebo@zamnet.zm
THE TOWN HOUSE LODGETel: 0212 221855
Cell: 0966826810 /
0955 826210
townhouse@coppernet.zm
THE HOUSE
OF JASMINPlot 4650 Buyantanshi RdTel: 215124Fax:
211142.
LUANSHYA
BALUBA
RIVER MOTELTel: 511324/034/5Fax:511215
CHOLWA
GUEST HOUSE3 Cholwa CloseLuanshyaTel: 510821Cell:
096907479 Fax:511591lenganji@aol.com
LOWDEN
LODGETel: 02 511324 511034 / 511035lowden@zamnet.zm
MUFULIRA
MASIYE
MOTELTel: 411460 .
NDOLA
CHIKUMBI MOTELTel: 610117
HENRY MAKULU HOSTELYemte Rd, NdolaTel:
611900/612261Fax: 02 610149enquiries@hostelszambia.com
KATUBA GUEST HOUSE4 Mwabombeni RoadNorthrise,
NdolaTel: (0212) 671341 / 616165,Cell: (097) 8450245misundu11@zamtel.zm

KASEMPA
Selah
GuesthouseKasempa, Boma097-7324004

CHIPATA
CHIPATA
COUNCIL GUESTHOUSETel:21288
CHIPATA
GUESTHOUSETel: 22287 /22311
CHIPATA
MOTELTel: 22340 /
22484
CRYSTAL
SPRINGS MOTELTel: 21154
LUANGWA HOUSETel: 062 21223enquiries@hostelszambia.com
KATUTA
LODGETel: 21318
MAMA
RULASCell: 260 ( 0) 97
768021mamarula@iwayafrica.com

KATETE
NEW MPANGWE
MOTELTel:52311 .
LUNDAZI
LUNDAZI
CASTLE MOTELTel: 80173 .
PETAUKE
NYIKA MOTELMain RdTel: 71002 .
SINDA
SINDA MOTEL Tel:
56160/43 KAWAMBWA
PILU’S MOTELTel: 960063 .
MANSA
BUNDA
INNTel:
821245
CHUKWUMA
GUESTHOUSEMansaTel: 02-821560Cell: 097-794643chukwuma@zamtel.zm
MANSA
BATTERIES GUESTHOUSEKabundu Mission RdTel:
821685
MANSA
LODGETel: 02 821302enquiries@hostelszambia.com
MANSA
MOTELMain RdTel: 821606.
NCHELENJE
LAKE MWERU
WATER TRANSPORT GUESTHOUSE Tel: 972064
SAMFYA
LAKE
BANGWEULU WATER TRANSPORT GUESTHOUSETel: 830111 KAFUE
RIVER MOTELTel: 311309 MKUSHI
FOREST
INNTel/Fax: 362188forestin@zamtel.zm
SWEETWATER GUESTHOUSETel: 05 362271/362245sweetwtr@zamtel.zm KASAMA
KASAMA
LODGE enquiries@hostelszambia.com
THORNTREE
GUEST HOUSETel/fax: 4 221615kansato@zamnet.zm
SERENJE
SIGA SIGA
RESTHOUSE Tel: 382362
LUNGA
LUSWISHI
CHAMAFUMBU
CAMP (Self Catering) Tel: 227027/ 236054Fax: 223747 .
SOLWEZI
CHANGA CHANGA
MOTELTel: 821572
SOLWEZI COUNCIL
MOTELTel: 821427
ZAMBEZI
ZAMBEZI MOTELMain RdTel:
371123 .
CHIRUNDU
GWABI LODGETel:250772515072gwabi@zamnet.zm
NYAMBADWE MOTELChirundu BorderTel: 515088 / 515084
CHOMA
KOZO LODGETel: +3 220347/ 220062Fax:
002603220347Cell:0026097468975kozo@coppernet.zm
MAZUKU LODGEChomaTel:032-20225:Cell:097-760756760756@zm.celtelplus.com
MAMBUSHI
CHALETS Tel:20021Fax: 20054 gwemsaf@zamnet.zm
KALUNDU MOTELLivingstone RdTel:
20028 .
LIVINGSTONE / VICTORIA FALLS
CHANTERS LODGE &
RESTAURANTLukulu Cresent(off Obote Avenue)+260 (0) 3 323412
or+260 (0) 3 323850richard@chanters-livingstone.com
CHAPPA CLASSIC LODGE & TOURSTel:+260 3
322065Cell: +260 977796710 / 955882969chapaclassiclodge@zamnet.zm
ELITE APARTMENTSTel: +260-213-320262Mobile: +260 978 170
155Mobile: +260 955 170 155elite@zamnet.zm
FAWLTY TOWERSInternational
BackpackersMosi-o Tunya RdTel: 323432ahorizon@zamnet.zm

GUEST
MATE LODGE Phone: 03 323 939 guestmatelodge@zamnet.zm

KWESU
GUEST VILLAGE+260 977 7844763+260 977
596733+260 21 3 327073kwesu@zamtel.zm
JOLLY
BOYSPlot
559 Makambo WayTelefax: 324229jboys@zamnet.zm

LIMBO
LODGElot no: 205/206 Lusaka Road Tel: +260-3-322096Fax:
+260-3-322096Cel: +260-97-7881567limbolodge@zamnet.zm
LISELI
GUEST LODGENkwame Nkrumah Road 102Tel: + 260 3 321058Cell: + 26
097 7106349 or + 26 097 9494003liseligl@yahoo.com
Little Paradise Hotel
Livingstone
Backpackers 216 Mosi o Tunya RdTel: (+) 260 3 32 34 32ahorizon@zamnet.zm
Lubamutu Guest House
Maramba River
LodgeMosi o Tunya RdTel: 324189 / 324106Fax:
324266maramba@zamnet.zm
NGOLIDE
LODGEMosi-o-tunya rd, LivingstoneTel: 321091/2 Fax:
321113ngolide@zamnet.zm
JUNGLE JUNCTIONBovu Island on the upper
ZambeziTelefax:+ 260 3 324127jungle@zamnet.zm
Nkhwazi Guest
HouseAirport Rd, LivingstoneTel 03 322570nkhwaziguest@yahoo.co.uk
THE STONE GUEST HOUSETel:/Fax
+260-3-320985
Cell:
+260-97859852
manager@stoneguesthouse.com

SUNBIRD
GUESTHOUSE Tel:
+260-13-320550Cell:
+260-955-795293 sunbirdguest@yahoo.co.uk
THE WANE GUEST LODGETel: 03-324058Cell:
097-881536info@waneguestlodge.com

THE WATERFRONT
ADVENTURE VILLAGETel: 32060zaminfo@safpar.com
ZIG ZAG BED
& BREAKFASTLivingstoneTel
++260 3 322814 zigzag@microlink.zm

MAZABUKA
MAZABUKA MOTELTel: 30284 .
SIAVONGA
EAGLES
RESTTel:
511168eagles@zamnet .zm
KARIBA NORTH
BANK GUEST
HOUSETel: 511192 / 7
LAKE SIDE
MOTEL Tel: 511148SIANSOWA
LWIIMBO LWA
ZAMBEZI SAFARIS Lake KaribaTel: +260 99 493980siansowa@iwayafrica.com KAOMA
VIANNEY
CHESHIRE GUESTHOUSE & CHALETS07) 360 235 or after 17.00h.: (07) 360
040. MONGU
MONGU
LODGETel: 221501enquiries@hostelszambia.com

SIR MWANAWINA
III MOTELTel: 221485 .
MONZE
MONZE MOTELTel/fax: 50089
TRUCKERS GUEST
HOUSE

Hotels In Zambia

2011-12-26T23:15:00.000-08:00

In an effort to do our bit for Zambia we are going to focus on giving information on various business. We will start with tourisim and from time to time we will give an indepth view of various services offered. Below is a list of Hotels

Lusaka and
surrounds

8 REEDBUCK HOTELBoutique
Hotel Kabulonga
Tel: + 260 211 264 788Cell: + 260 96 674 0004
Email: info@tribehotels.co.zm

CHAMINUKA LODGEPrivate Game Reserve
Tel: 01 233303/4Fax: 01 233305
chaminuk@aol.com

DREAM VALLEY PARK & LODGE
Family Resort.
Ibex HillTele
/fax : 260-1-260175
dreamvalley@uudial.zm

FRINGILLA GUESTHOUSE50kms north Lusaka
Tel: 01 233885
fringill@zamnet.zm

FAIRVIEW HOTEL
Central Lusaka
Church Rd
Tel: 212954
fairview@zamnet.zm

GARDEN HOUSE HOTEL
Just outside town,
Mongu Rd
Tel: 233004/3Fax: 251734
gardengroup@zamtel.zm

GOLDEN BRIDGE HOTEL
Great East Rd, close to town.
Tel: +260 211 239333 / 239888Fax: +260 211 227222
bedwin@goldenbridgezambia.com

CHRISMAR HOTEL
Suburban Los Angeles Boulevard
Tel: 253036Fax: 253036
chrismar@zamnet.zm.

INTER- CONTINENTAL HOTEL
Haille Selassie Ave.
Tel:250000/250600Fax:251880
lusaka@interconti.com.zm

JJB COUNTRY LODGE
Cell: 0955394096 / 0966394096
jjbcountrylodge@morningstarhotels.com

KAFUE ROAD GARDEN HOTEL
Just outside
TownTel:274646Fax:252779
gardengroup@zamtel.zm

La Consolata Lodge
Tel: +260 21 129 0856
Fax: +260 21 129 5567
laconsolata@zamnet.zm

LECHWE LODGE
Private Game farm 45 mins south of
Lusaka
Tel:222083/84/73,Fax: 222684
kflechwe@zamnet.zm

LILAYI LODGE
Private Game Farm 10 minutes south of LusakaTel:
228682/3,Fax: 222906
lilayi@zamnet.zm

LUSAKA HOTEL Downtown
Cairo RdTel: 229049,Fax: 225726
lushotel@zamnet.zm

MULUNGUSHI VILLAGE
Suburban Hotel Complex
Tel (+260 1) 291416 / 292629Fax: (+260 1) 290830
mvc@zamnet.zm

MWIZA LODGE
Executive House in Suburbs toward airport
Tel: 260 1 290352 / 293084Fax: 260 1 292553Mobile: 260 97 770709
mwizalodge@zamtel.zm

NDEKE HOTEL
Off Los Angeles Blvd. Suburban
centra
lTel:251734Fax: 252779
gardengroup@zamtel.zm

PROTEA HOTEL CAIRO RD
Cairo Rd, LusakaTel: +260 211 238 360Fax: +260 211 238 317
reservations@phcairoroad.co.zm
Protea Hotel Lusaka
Arcades Mall, Great East Rd
Tel: +260 211 254664
reservations@phlusaka.co.zm

SOUTHERN SUN RIDGEWAY LUSAKA
Church Rd,
Ridgeway,Tel: 251666Fax: 253529
res@southernsun.co.zm

TAJ PAMODZI
HOTELChurch Rd/Addis Ababacentral suburbsTel:
254455Fax: 250995
pamodzi@zamnet.zm

CHISAMBA

IBIS GARDENS HOTELTel
0211 - 213764/66Fax: 0211-214736
ibis@zamnet.zm

PLOUGHMANS ARMS HOTELMain
Rd.Tel 10430

Protea Hotel Safari Lodge
Private Game Reserve, Chisamba
Tel: +260 211 212 843Fax: +260 211 212 853
reservations@phsafarilodge.co.zm

KABWE

TUSKERS HOTEL Tel: (0215) 222076 - 7, 222498Fax: (0215)
222076
tuskers@zamnet.zm

KABWE LODGE
Telefax: 05 224297

ZAMBEZI SOURCE LODGE
Tel: 05 - 223256, 222597Fax 05 - 224020

Southern Zambia

CHIRUNDU
NAMBADWE MOTEL
GWABI LODGETel:
250772gwabi@zamnet.zm

KANYEMBA LODGETel:
252779

CHOMA

CHOMA HOTEL
Box 630805, ChomaTel: 20189

KOZO LODGE
ChomaTelefax: +260 21 3225347Mobile: +260 97
7761966kozo@kozolodge.co.zm

MAMBUSHI CHALETS
Gwembe
SafarisTel:20021Fax: 20054
gwemsaf@zamnet.zm
KALOMO

Bulo Bwangu Guest House
KALOMO
HOTELTel: 65188

Sika lodge
MAZABUKA

MAZABUKA GARDEN HOTELTel:
251734

LIVINGSTONEand VICTORIA FALLS

BUSHFRONT LODGE
LivingstoneTel: 03 322446Fax: 03 321248
nyala@zamnet.zm

BUSHBUCK RIVER LODGELiyoyelo Farm just outside the
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, 16km upstream from FallsTel: (+260) 3
322769.Cell: 097 755429Cell: 097 846164
nomad@microlink.zm

David Livingstone Safari Lodge
Telephone: +260 213 324601Fax: +260 213 324615
Email: lodge@dlslandspa.com

ISLANDS OF SIANKABA
LivingstoneTel/Fax (+260) 3 324490Cell (+260) 97 779
1241siankaba@zamnet.zm
NATURAL MYSTIC LODGE

NGOLIDE LODGE
LivingstoneTel: 3 321091/2 Fax: 3
321113Cell: 00 263 11 406712
ngolide@zamnet.zm

MUTEMWA CAMP
Upper Zambezi50 km from the border at Katima
MuliloTel: +27 (0)11 888 2431Fax: +27 (0)11 888 5798
mutemwa.lodge@mweb.co.za

PROTEA HOTEL LIVINGSTONE
Mosi-Oa-Tunya Road,
LivingstoneTel: +260 213 324 630Fax: +260 213 324 640
reservations@phlivingstone.co.zm

STANLEY
SAFARI LODGE
SANCTUARY SUSSI & CHUMATel +27 11 438
4650Fax: +27 86 218 1482southernafrica@sanctuaryretreats.com

TAITA FALCON LODGETel+260 213 321850
(office)Tel: +260 213 327046 (lodge)
taita-falcon@microlink.zm

THE LIVINGSTONE SAFARI LODGETel:
+260-95 832168Tel:+260-977 403882
livingstone-lodge@microlink.zm

THE RIVER CLUB
THE ROYAL LIVINGSTONE
Sun International S.A.Tel:
2711 780-7878Fax: 2711 780-7061
fitres@sunint.co.za
THORNTREE RIVER LODGE

TOKA LEYA
TONGABEZI LODGETel: 03 324450Cell: 097 7771488
reservations@tongabezi.com

WASAWANGE LODGETel: 260-332-4066,Fax:
260-332-4067
waslodge@zamnet.zm

WATERBERRY ZAMBEZI LODGE

ZAMBEZI RIVER TREE LODGE
Chundukwa Adventure TrailsTel: 324452Fax: 324006
chunduka@zamnet.zm

ZAMBEZI ROYAL CHUNDU LODGETel:
321772Johannesburg:(2711)Tel: 9533224
lodge@royalchundu.com

ZAMBEZI SUNSun International S.A.Tel: 2711 780-7878Fax:
2711 780-7061
fitres@sunint.co.za

MONZE

MONZE
HOTELTel: 50089

SIAVONGA

EAGLES REST CHALETSTel/fax: 01 511168eagles@zamnet.zm
KARIBA NORTH BANK GUESTHOUSETel: 511197

LAKE
KARIBA INN Tel:
511269/249Fax: 511188Tel: 01 253768Fax: 01 252518
info@karibainns.com

LEISURE BAY LODGE
Tel: 01 511135/6 orLusaka:
01 252779

LAKE SAFARI LODGE
Tel: 511148 / 511024 / 511200Fax: 511029
info@lake-safari.com

MANCHINCHI BAY LODGE
Tel: 511299/399

SANDY BAY BEACH LODGETel: 511353
L AKE KARIBA

CHETE
ISLAND LODGE
Tel: 260-32-324413, 321122, 321210
westisl@id.co.zw

CHIKANKA ISLAND CAMPS

Gwembe SafarisTel:20021Fax: 20054
gwemsaf@zamnet.zm

Kariba Bush Club
+260 (0)97 7493980
siansowa@iwayafrica.com

The Copperbelt
CHINGOLA
Protea
Hotel Chingola
Kabundi Road,
Chingola
Tel: +260 212 312 81Fax: +260 212 313 510
reservations@phchingola.co.zm

LIMA HOTEL
Tel: 311894

MUSUNSHYA HOTEL
Tel: 312105 / 311

HIBISCUS GUESTHOUSE

NCHANGA HOTEL
Kabundi Rd
Tel: 313332

KITWE

EDINBURGH HOTEL
Tel:222444Fax: 225036

KAMUNGA HOTELTel: 214119

MUKWA LODGETel: (212) 224266 / 224277
mukwa@zamsat.net

THE TOWN HOUSE LODGE
Tel: 0212 221855
Cell: 0966826810 /
0955 826210
townhouse@coppernet.zm

LUANSHA

LOWDEN LODGE
On Kitwe - Luansha Rd
Tel: (260)2 -2511324/ 511034/035 Fax: 511215

MPONGWE

KAFUE LODGE
Tel: 02 - 311 642, 311
722Fax: 02 - 312 552voychin@zamnet.zm

MUFULIRA
MUFULIRA HOTEL

Tel: 411220 .

NDOLA

KAFUE LODGE LTD(self catering - Ndola
Rural)
Tel: 02 311642 /
722
Fax: 02 312552voychin@zamnet.zm

MUKUBA HOTEL
Tel: 260-2-651000/2/3Fax: 260-2-651007/651012
mukhotel@zamtel.zm

NAZININA HOTEL
Vitanda St.
Tel: 610425/6Fax:
614476

NEW AMBASSADOR HOTEL
newambassadorhotel@yahoo.com

Eastern Zambia
CHIPATA
Protea Hotel
ChipataGreat East Road,
Tel: +260 216 222 905 Fax: +260 216 222 909
reservations@phchipata.co.zm

NYIMBA

KACHOLOLA HOTEL
Tel:
74133

Western Zambia

SOLWEZI

SAKATANGO HOTEL
Tel: 821224

MONGU
LYAMBAYI HOTEL
Tel: 221138Fax: 221138

NGULU HOTEL
Tel: 221028/221258Fax: 221286

SIR MWANAWINA MOTEL
Tel: 22148Fax: 221856

Northern Zambia

KASAMA

KASAMA HOTEL
Main Rd
Tel: 221188

KWACHA RELAX HOTEL
Tel:221124

MBALA

ARMS HOTEL
Tel: 450585

NEW GRASSHOPPER INN
Tel: 450589

MKUSHI

FOREST INN
Tel/Fax: 362188
r.shenton@zamnet.zm

MPIKA

CRESTED CRANE HOTEL
Tel: 370694

MUTINONDO WILDERNESS CAMP
2mwl@bushmail.net

MPULUNGU

KALAMBO LODGE
Tel: 235382 Lusaka,Fax: 235381
MISHEMBETel: 04 221615.

NDOLE BAY LODGETel:
+260 (0)2 711150Cell: cell +260 966780 196

NKUPI LODGE
Tel: 455166
TANGANYIKA LODGE
Tel: 224248,Fax: 224265

SHIWA NGANDU

KAPISHYA HOT SPRINGS SHIWA
NG'ANDUShiwa Ng'andu Estate
Tel: 01 228682Fax: 222906
reservations@zamsaf.co.zm

Seeing The Importance Of The Post Editorial of 25 December 2011 We Share It With You

2011-12-25T23:15:00.000-08:00

IT will take us a very long time to move the great majority of our people out of
poverty if we do not drastically improve the way we manage our country's limited
resources.As Tony Cotter, the Irish Ambassador to Zambia, has advised,
we need to improve and strengthen our public financial and management
procurement systems to ensure accountability, efficiency, effectiveness and
orderliness.We need to make the best use of whatever financial resources
we are generating locally and whatever we are given by others through grants or
loans. We have the potential to develop. But potential has to be efficiently and
effectively exploited to be of value. Having the potential is one thing and
being able to develop out of that potential is another.Potential is not
development. We should not cheat ourselves that simply because we have all these
minerals and other natural resources, then we are rich. But here we are with all
our rivers full of water throughout the year and passing near our major towns.
But our taps are dry.Most of our people still live without efficient
water supply. They have to draw water from wells. This is simply because we are
not able to exploit the water resources of our country for the benefit of our
people.We are not able to pump water from these rivers into our homes.
In the abundance of water, the great majority of our people still don't have
access to clean running water. And this is one of the Millennium Development
Goals that we should be achieving by 2015.When you have little, you use
it efficiently to survive. You cannot afford to be wasteful when you don't have
much. Sometimes we behave like we have too many resources, like we live in a
rich country. Look at our government expenditure! In many respects, it is higher
than that of many rich countries.Our public officers travel in more
expensive luxurious cabins than their counterparts in rich countries. They also
stay in more expensive hotels than people of similar rank from rich countries.
Our public officers also receive much higher travel allowances which they don't
have to account for than their counterparts in rich countries.For
instance, our public officers are driven in more expensive automobiles than
their counterparts in India. Yet India is far much more a richer country than
Zambia. They even manufacture automobiles and have got transnational companies
that own expensive international automotive brands.But Indian ministers
and other government officials drive very small cars. If one wants an expensive
automobile, there is no need to push it on the taxpayer. One should buy it for
himself and the taxpayer should only meet thenecessary expenses, and not the
extravagance, of our public servants. Our costs of running government are simply
too high. There is too much wastage and too many unjustified
allowances.Our public servants have gone to the extent of holding
routine meetings far away from their stations in expensive hotels or lodges just
to earn allowances. Meetings that can be held in their boardrooms in Lusaka are
taken to the expensive hotels of Livingstone. Why should this be so? Why this
extravagance? Why this wastage?Our government procurement system needs
urgent review because we are paying far more than we should pay for goods and
services to the government. Those who do business with government are really
cashing in.We have departments in the same ministry acquiring stationery
at totally different prices. Why should this be so? There are too many middlemen
doing business with government who are simply buying things from South Africa,
Dubai or China and reselling them to government at exorbitant prices.We
cannot claim to know how best the government procurement system should be
arranged. But it is not difficult for us to know when things are being done
totally the wrong way. People are simply ripping off government. We have public
servants running small tuntembas under names of relatives and they use these to
do business with government at wild mark-ups.Even the practice of
producing two or three or so proforma invoices is useless because those in
charge of procurement just stage-manage the process, they manipulate things and
in the end, the business goes to them or those whom they benefit something from.
Goods or services that should cost the government amillion kwacha end up
costing the government millions more.Why should we be so wasteful when
even those with far much greater resources do not waste them this way? In fact,
the rich countries are more thrift, more accountable when it comes to public
expenditure. They don't waste public money the way we do. They don't fail to
account for public funds they way our public officers do and get away with
it.Look at the size of delegations we send to handle meetings abroad!
Instead ofgoing for the minimum, we always tend to go for the maximum
delegation allowed. Why? Is it simply because of allowances? And look at the
behaviour of our public officers at such conferences or meetings.Some of
them would only be coming back to the hotels from shopping when others are
coming out of the conference sessions. The only part of the conferences they
don't miss are dinners and other evening entertainment. We have even senior
officers who travel abroad to attend seminars, workshops or conferences that
should be attended by very low officers, by clerks.And when they get
there and find that it's a gathering for clerks, they simply resort to shopping
and other entertainment. This is how the taxpayers' money of this poor country
is being wasted.It is very difficult to understand why our government
should be buying such expensive automobiles. Every other expensive car you see
in town belongs to the government. What is the justification for this
extravagance, excessive love for luxurious automobiles? If there is proper
justification, we will understand. There are certain luxurious cars that are
needed for diplomatic assignments.We have no argument with this. We also
have officers who upon transfer to another town are accommodated in hotels for
very long periods. This is unnecessary expenditure.To all this, add the
retirement benefits given by the Chiluba regime to all sorts of people. Every
former president has to be built a house! Every former speaker has to be built a
house! Every former this and that has to be given this and that! Why should this
be so?Don't they know where banks are to go and get a mortgage? A man
becomes president at 70 or so and after being president for three years, he
loses an election and is forced into political retirement and the taxpayer
should build him a house! For what? What was he doing and where was he living
for 70 years?Why can't he go back where he came from? Why didn't he
build a house for himself? Of course, there are exceptions to everything. And
the exception to this would be the first leaders of our country like comrade
Kenneth Kaunda who had no opportunity to do anything else in their lives. They
entered the independence struggle at a very early age and stayed in public
service for the most effective years of their lives without giving themselves
any undue material advantage.These deserve the taxpayers' support and it
is justifiable for them to be given appropriate retirement homes. Why should
someone build Rupiah Banda a house with all that he could build for himself in
less than three years? This is a waste of taxpayers' money that needs urgent
review.We are not against anyone living well. And in saying this, we are
not against any individual. We are simply saying that this system of rewarding
our public servants is beyond the ability or capacity of our taxpayers. And let
us find a more justifiable way, a more meaningful way to remunerate those who
serve us. And let us find the best way to keep government expenditure under
control.Let us find a way to combat waste and practice strict economy,
that is the policy of building up our country through diligence and frugality.
We must pay special attention to economy.The principle of diligence and
frugality should be observed in everything. Thrift should be the guiding
principle in our government expenditure and waste should be a serious
crime.A dangerous tendency has shown itself of late among many of our
political leaders and other key public officers -an unwillingness to share the
joys and hardships of the masses, a concern for personal gain and luxurious
living.This needs to be stopped if we may harbor any hope of getting the
great majority of our people out of poverty.

Looking Forward To 2012

2011-12-25T22:54:00.000-08:00

2011 saw the making of slow steps towards the much needed economic recovery, but we are far from achieving our goals. Our youths remain jobless and without businesses, our women still need more empowerment and the regions of Zambia that are not Lusaka are lagging behind the capital city in recovery.Zambians need to focus on bread and butter issues in 2012. The Economy! The Economy! The Economy!

THE ROUTE TO POWER OF MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA IN ZAMBIAN POLITICS OF 2011 AND BEFORE

2011-09-20T04:37:00.000-07:00

The 2011 general elections in Zambia have an interesting twist to it. It is a battle between two veteran politicians of the historical politics of the country. More or less like a fight to return to the past politics with a firm handed leader in control.

If Mr Michael Sata wins this election he will have achieved what very few politicians have achieved in snatching away a popular revolutionary change designed and implement through a new breed of youthful politicians and returning the political complexion to that of the then unpopular past.

He would also have brought back into play the nationalistic type of politics that young generation of the 1991 political technocrats replaced with a semblance of a socioeconomic and neo-imperialistic corporate type. At his age it will be quite a feat for him to run the country with a comprehensive and modern style of corporate governance. In comparison to preferring his last executive leader, he probably will be more nostalgic in pursuing the styles of his former UNIP leader Dr Kenneth Kaunda who still remains a respected political figure in African politics of struggling against Western dominance.

The beginning of his fight to take back power from the MMD started through his shrewd, cunning, populist and opportunist manoeuvrings that saw him shift floors to join the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) just before it won the elections in 1991,literally . As a skilled leadership servant, he worked his way to the heart of the then President Fredrick Titus Chiluba possibly via tribal and loyalist sentiments. This relationship apparently destroyed the original inner- circle of the founding members of the MMD creating Chiluba to single-handedly with the advice of Sata, to side-line the founding members of the MMD that included Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika, Sikota Wina, Derrick Chitala , Kabunda Kayongo, Inonge Lewanika, Godfrey Miyanda,Dipark Patel and a host of many others including Guy Scott. This was his beginning of the political destruction of the change that the MMD brought in the country through the " The Ruling Tribe" elite. Chiluba was not clever to sense that. He was too power blinded and too unwise to figure out this plan and its progression. Chiluba, unwittingly, put his trust in a man that had been very close to a great man of African politics that had lost power.

Sata then consolidated himself in the power circles by playing the loyal servant to the next new powerful man in the politics of the country : Fredrick Titus Chiluba. He was elevated to cabinet ministerial positions where he served with such vigour and authority to not only impress, but to also engrave a name for himself in the modern politics of the country. His work always showed results and left landmarks that he could later claim as his own personal legacy.

In his apparent last attempt to completely win over Chiluba so that he may be a very powerful force in the MMD he played a part in attempting to convince Chiluba that he could run the country for the third term. Chiluba was made unpopular by this attempt at political engineering. Sata was left unscathed though some people recognized his role in this attempt at a constitutional breach. It left him slightly bruised, though.

Chiluba’s attempt to run for the third term further divided the MMD to Sata’s great advantage. Whether Sata planned this strategy for the destruction of the MMD it is an issue for speculation and debate, but it worked well to continue his path in destroying the most powerful political party in the country. MMD was destroyed by tribal factions, technocratic alliances, political differences, corruption and a complete loss of focus. It was only kept intact because it was in government. Most founding members had either left, been side-lined, disillusioned, defected, formed their own political parties or placed in obscurity through the political schemes of Michael Sata. Chiluba was the puppet and Sata was the seasoned master that convincingly played servant. Chiluba was too power complacent and too playful to notice all his manipulations.

After Chiluba had completed his term and Sata side-lined by the new no- nonsense head –of – state, Levy Mwanawasa, Sata had to re-group and start his second phase of his power assuming strategies. He had done the part of destroying the MMD well and this was confirmed when Chiluba was pursued and had arrested on corruption and theft of funds charges by the government of Levy Patrick Mwanawasa. Michael Sata was thrown in the wilderness, but was not out.His strategy was slowly gaining momentum, nevertheless…It had entered its phase of open activity that had a clear objective.

Michael Chilufya Sata now set out on his task to openly confront the weakened MMD. He formed a political party with commercial farmer Guy Scott- a former founding member of the MMD. The party was named the PATRIOTIC FRONT a derivative from the countries that grouped to fight apartheid and the Rhodesian government in Southern Africa in the 1970s.

He used an almost similar technique in winning his way to the hearts of his followers by manipulating his way with promises, quoting his self-made legacy and a constant change in his policy statements to play along with the grassroots mind-set that he was so experienced in organizing and working with.

He later lost two elections, but his popularity nonetheless was slowly rising and gaining momentum…..

In 2010, Sata’s Patriotic Front attempted to join forces with another political party, The UNITED PARTY for NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (UPND) to form a formidable electoral front meant to oust the MMD through the ballot box in 2011. The PACT collapsed. It is widely believed that that PACT collapsed mainly because of Sata’s insistence to be the presidential candidate of the intended coalition force….

In the 2010-11 period the MMD had a president that was people insensitive and had poor public relations skills, was deemed to be openly corrupt, nepotistic and lacked charisma. The MMD president further created enemies within the party causing defections of key big-wigs in that party who directly joined Sata’s party. This worked to Michael’s Sata’s great advantage who capitalized on this double weakness of this party. A weakness that he had created and that was now blossoming…..

Sata knows the power that lays in political leverage and applies it . He, however, retains one political characteristic: He is a non-democrat, a dictator and largely believes in himself as evidenced by the way he single handedly runs the party by avoiding internal party elections at a recent party convention. He does not believe and is even suspicious of modern technology, especially IT. He rarely quotes any socio-economic terminologies in his speeches. He speaks the ordinary language that any average person understands or misunderstands. He is able to listen to the people and speak their language whilst retaining an ungentlemanly or confrontational demeanor to his opponents. His character appeals largely to a tired and frustrated populace.

The question that will be the elephant in the room will be, “ If Sata wins the 2011 elections, will he ever give back the seat without fighting with all his might for a third-term or even perpetual term in office?”……………

One thing that will remain a certain is that no Zambian political history books will be written without the inclusion of this name: Michael Chilufya Sata also known as , “ The King Cobra.”

POSSIBLE PATRIOTIC FRONT CANDIDATES IN THE SEPTEMBER GENERAL ELECTIONS

2011-08-05T01:05:00.000-07:00

Part PF Candidates leaked to Zambia Insights

LUSAKA

Chawama – Edgar Lungu (lawyer)

Kabwata – Given Lubinda (incumbent)

Kanyama- Col Gerry Chanda (incumbent)

Munali- Prof Nkandu Luo

Lusaka Central- Guy Scott (incumbent may change)

Mandevu – Jean Kapata (incumbent)

Matero- Miles Sampa (ex banker)

Chilanga – on hold

Chongwe – Silvia Masebo (incumbent)

Luangwa – Pastor Gent

Kafue – Mr Mwaliteta (former Mayor)

COPPERBELT

Nchanga – Wilbur Simuusa (incumbent)

Chingola – Dr Katema (incumbent)

Chililabombwe – Esther Banda (incumbent)

Wusakile – Mr Musukwa (ex MUZ chairman)

Chimwemwe – Mwenya Musenge (ex Nkana MP. Nsanda did no re-apply)

Nkana – Laxon Kazabu (former Kitwe Mayor)

Bwana Mkubwa – Emmanuel Chenda

Kwacha – Bonny Mutale

Kalulushi – Edmond Mbulu (ex-MUZ vice Chairman)

Chifubu – Susan Kawandami

Ndola Central- Fackson Shamenda (ex ZCTU President)

Kabushi – Elizabeth Kazunga

Lufwanyama-Rev Chimena

Kafulafuta – Patrick Mwanawasa

Masaiti – Steady Mwale

Roan- Chishimba Kambwili

Multinational Corporations:The New Colonizers in Africa

2011-08-02T04:44:00.001-07:00

Multinational Corporations:The New Colonizers in Africa

Before the end of the first colonialism African nations were properties of their colonial masters who did what they could to rape the continent of whatever resource they deem good for the development of their counties and citizens in Europe. Out of nowhere and without any consultation with the people in the continent the Europeans met and divided the continent amongst themselves in what has been termed the scramble for Africa.

Through the scramble France, Britain, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Italy all went on a looting spree raping Africa of her resources without putting any of the proceeds back for the development of the continent.

When US President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Gambia on January 13th 1943 he was so appalled by the conditions of Gambians so much so that he made this lamentation,

"It's the most horrible thing I have ever seen in my life..... The natives are five thousand years back of us....The British have been there for two hundred years - for every dollar that the British have put into Gambia, they have taken out ten. It's just plain exploitation of those people".

"I must tell Churchill what I found out about his British Gambia today". "This morning, at about eight-thirty, we drove through Bathurst to the airfield." "The natives were just getting to work. In rags…glum-looking.…They told us the natives would look happier around noontime, when the sun should have burned off the dew and the chill. I was told the prevailing wages for these men was one and nine. One shilling nine pence. Less than fifty cents." "An hour?" Elliott asked. "A day! Fifty cents a day! Besides which, they’re given a half-cup of rice. Dirt. Disease. Very high mortality rate. I asked. Life expectancy—you’d never guess what it is. Twenty-six years. Those people are treated worse than the livestock. Their cattle live longer!" US President Franklin D. Roosevelt 1943. Source: The American Heritage.

And the exploitation was not peculiar to only Gambia. Gold Coast (now Ghana), Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Zaire (now DRC), Namibia, South Africa, Congo and Angola all suffered from the same colonial exploitation and underinvestment.

For almost three hundred years the Europeans who were supposedly devout Christians and civilised, irresponsibly looted Africa’s resources and made slaves of the natives without developing the colonies. When the local population protested against the exploitation without a reciprocal investment they were brutally crashed as happened in Congo (now DRC) where King Leopold II of Belgium looted the resources, made slaves, and killed close to ten million of the Congolese.

In 1904 to 1907 the Germans led by Gen. Lotha Von Trotha also committed their first genocide of the 20th Century by killing 90% of the Herero and the Namaqua people of South West Africa (now Namibia) when the people protested against the exploitation of their resources. And the sad stories of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Namibia, Kenya and Angola where people were denied access to land, citizenship and basic rights and had to take up arms before they were granted independence are in many history books.

We know how Nelson Mandela (now a hero in Europe) and a number of freedom fighters endured long prison sentences, torture, exile and deaths in the hands of their devout Christians and civilised European colonisers. The prevailling idea in Europe was that through the scramble for Africa they had bought Africa and had power to do as they wish hence the rape, torture, genocide and the mass killings. While Europeans became richer Africans became poorer.

For example with the loot of Congo’s resources, enslavement, amputations of hands and 10 million deaths, Brussels which now doubles as the capital of the European Union and Belgium was built. When they were given their ‘freedom’ the independent fathers inherited nothing more than empty treasuries. They realised that after more than 300 hundred years of colonial rule their colonial masters have left them with nothing, no money and no infrastructure. This bad situation and their eagerness to improve the lives of their peoples forced them to turn to the IMF and World Bank for assistance and when they went lo and behold the colonial masters were there waiting for them.

The colonisers used their majority votes to dictate to the Bank and IMF on how these former colonies should be helped. (Of the 185 members that make up the IMF, six colonial masters and their allies made up of the United States, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Italy control 42% of the votes). The colonial masters dictated to the IMF and the Bank that for Africans to be helped, they must open their economies to allow European corporations in. This underscores the numerous conditionalities that are associated with loans from these institutions. The conditionalities are nothing more than a smokescreen designed to ensure that Europeans never loose their grip on the resources of the colonies. Some of the conditionalities include instituting secrets memorandums of agreement, subsidies to foreign corporations and massive tax concessions (such as income tax, usage fees, property tax) -the primary source of revenue for "export-oriented" developing countries.

The sad thing is that Africans thought independence would give them respite to develop but this was never to be as the colonial masters used their corporations and intelligence services to deliver vengeance against the people: encouraging and financing civil wars; unashamedly polluting rivers, wells and the soil through their oil and mineral activities; understating their profits and falsifying profit documents; undervaluing their goods, smuggling and theft; false invoicing and non-payment of taxes; kickback to public officials and bribery; over pricing of projects; providing save havens for the looted funds; promoting the sale of guns; overthrowing African leaders; supporting dictatorships; and assassinating those who disagree with them. We know those who instigated the overthrow of Dr. Nkrumah and the tragic assassination of Patrice Lumumba.And we know the support the West gave Mobutu and other tyrants in Africa.In addition to these, the corporations who were forced onto Africa by IMF the Bank, US and Europe have been implicated in a number of cases for corrupting African leaders and stealing trillions of dollars worth of resources.

Global Financial Integrity says, "$900-billion is secreted each year from underdeveloped economies, with an estimated $11.5 trillion currently stashed in havens. More than one quarter of these hubs belong to the UK, while Switzerland washes one-third of global capital flight". Out of this $900b that is secreted away yearly $150b comes from Africa.

"The idea that Switzerland has a clean economy is a joke; it is a dirt-driven economy," says Richard Murphy, director of Tax Research LLP. The Swiss Bankers Association claims that four-fifths of the nation supports banking secrecy, which reveals a society deeply embedded in a culture of impunity and exploitation.

The fact is that those who steal must find a way to hide their loot and Switzerland provide the ideal environment for such crimes to take place. And it is not Switzerland alone that does not have a clean economy. Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg can all be described as vampires.

In an article by Khadija Sharife entitled Capital Flight: Gingerbread Havens, Cannibalised Economies she wrote: "The IMF and World Bank tax policies towards the developing world is very lethal especially where the poor are now caught in tax brackets, courtesy of the IMF and World Bank’s structural adjustment programmes (SAP), instituting policies ranging from tax holidays to the privatisation of state services, carving out huge slices of natural capital at corporate auctions. Africa has collectively lost more than $600-billion in capital flight, excluding other mechanisms of flight such as ecological debt (globally estimated at a potential $1.8-trillion per annum), the cost of liberalised trade (just under $300-billion)". Source:http://www.greenleft.au. Thus with the support and collusion of IMF and the Bank these corporations are paying close to nothing for the resources they take from Africa.

Africa has been labelled the world’s most corrupt region because multinational internal mispricing makes up 60% of capital outflow, with corporations declaring profits in tax havens, as opposed to the country of performance. Corporations declare about 40% of their profits in African countries where they operate and siphon the rest into their save havens accounts in order to avoid paying tax which could be used to eradicate poverty. And this is not the end of the corruption and the day light robbery story.

We know how Elf operated as an arm of the French state supporting dictators, looting the resources and establishing flush fund which was used to bribe African leaders so they will look the other way while Elf loot Africa’s oil and gas.

Nicholas Shaxson, author of Poisoned Wells, wrote of the subject: "Magistrates discovered the money from Elf’s African operations supplied bribes to support French commercial, military and diplomatic goals around the world. In exchange, French troops protected compliant African dictators." This explains why there are so many corrupt dictators in French-Speaking Africa than anywhere in Africa. Omar Bongo, Eyadema, Mobutu, Lansana Conte, Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Blaise Campore, Sassou Nguesso and Iddriss Deby are some of the compliant leaders who were or have been protected by France.

And what happened to the non-compliant African leaders? Your guess is mine. Please find time to read more about Bob Denard, a French who made a career as a mercenary overthrowing African leaders. French author Jean Guisner says: "Denard did nothing that was contrary to French interests - and he allegedly acted in close cooperation with French Intelligence Services".

In the Elf corruption case Andre Tarallo the real boss of Elf-Afrique' "Told the court in June 2003 that annual cash transfers totalling about £10m were made to Omar Bongo, Gabon's president, while other huge sums were paid to leaders in Angola, Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville. The multi-million dollar payments were partly paid to ensure the African leaders' continued allegiance to France. In return for protection and sweeteners from Elf's coffers, France used Gabon as a base for military and espionage activities in West Africa". Source: Guardian, Nov. 2003.

The real deal is that Elf, Shell BP and their counterparts in Europe and America pay bribes to African leaders to induce them to look the other way while they plunder the resources. Ask any Gabonese or Congolese whether they have benefited from the oil and diamonds and the answer will be a big no. What is so tragic is that the people know they have oil, diamonds and see these companies processing them everyday yet do not know where it goes, who buys them and where the proceeds go.

In UK former Prime Minister Tony Blair was accused of selling a device with an ageing technology to Tanzania. "The UK sold a useless air traffic control system to Tanzania in 2001 in a scandalous and squalid deal, the House of Commons was told." Clare Short an MP said, "The deal was useless and hostile to the interests of Tanzania". She said, "Barclays Bank had colluded with the government by loaning Tanzania the money, but lying to the World Bank about the type and size of the loan." Ms Short said "Tanzania could have paid much less for the same equipment which cost them £28m". Shadow international development secretary Andrew Mitchell said "BAE had used ageing technology and said the system was not adequate and too expensive." Source: BBCNEWS, Wednesday, 31 January 2007.

And it all happened after they had bought Tanzania officials to look the other way while a device with an ageing technology was sold to the country. BAE colluded with Tony Blair and Barclays Bank to sell a useless commodity at exorbitant price to Tanzania. This is nothing but a continuation of the contempt and impunity in which Europeans have treated Africa before, during and after colonialism. BAE is indirectly saying that Africans do not deserve the latest technology even if they pay cat throat price. It is also a message to Africans that they must develop their own technology and not rely on the generosity of others.

It is no secrete that Shell Oil Company colluded with the corrupt Abacha regime to steal oil, pollute the rivers, wells, creeks and soil and render millions of famers and fishermen in the Niger Delta jobless. Shell "admitted that it inadvertently fed conflict, poverty and corruption through its oil activities in the country. Nigeria contributes to about 10% of Shell's global production and is home to some of its most promising reserves, yet the country is steeped in poverty and conflict". Source: bbcnews 18 June 2004. So Shell in addition to stealing Nigeria’s oil and polluting rivers, wells and soils also promote corruption, poverty and conflict.

In DRC about five million people have died in a war whose motive is to satisfy the West insatiable appetite for high quality but low price cell phones, laptop computers, play-stations, jewels, diamond and coltan. And who cares about five million deaths in Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin, New York or Washington anyway? Why has the DRC war not ended? Who supplies the rebels their arms and for what and who buys the minerals they mine illegally? Why have Uganda and Rwanda forces crossed several times into DRC? And whose agenda are they pursuing? A report by the UN says it all.

The panel calls for financial restrictions to be levied on 54 individuals and 29 companies it said are involved in the plunder, including four Belgian diamond companies and the Belgian company George Forrest, which is partnered with the U.S.-based OM Group. The individuals named include Rwandan army Chief of Staff James Kabarebe, Congolese Minister of the Presidency Augustin Katumba Mwanke, Ugandan army Chief of Staff James Kazini and Zimbabwean Parliament Speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa, BBC Online reports (Oct. 21, 2002).

The report also accused 85 South African, European and U.S. multinational corporations – including Anglo American, Barclays Bank, Bayer, De Beers and Cabot Corporation of violating the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's ethical guidelines on conflict zones.

The guidelines they were accused of violating relate to arming Rwanda, Uganda and Congolese rebels and profiting from their illegal looting of Congo’s minerals as the following excerpt shows: "Despite the recent withdrawal of most foreign forces, the exploitation of Congo's resources continues, the report says, with elite networks and criminal groups tied to the military forces of Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe benefiting from micro-conflicts in the D.R.C." "The elite networks derive financial benefit through a variety of criminal activities, including theft, embezzlement, diversion of public funds, undervaluation of goods, smuggling, false invoicing, non-payment of taxes, kickback to public officials and bribery," and added that such pillaging is responsible for much of the death and malnutrition in eastern D.R.C." Source:http://www.unwire.org.

And so while millions die in Africa with the complicity of the corporations, Europe and North American citizens with all their hypocrisy enjoy lavish holidays. And when Africans try to reach Europe the citizens say rain in on them, Europe is full no more immigrants. Where do the queens and kings in Europe get the diamonds and gold that they use to show off? Is it not from the blood diamonds from Congo, Sierra Leone and conflict zones in Africa that are smuggled out and sold in Brussels, Zurich, London and New York?

And this is not their only crime. We know how Halliburton established $180m flush fund and bought Nigeria officials to secure a $10b oil contract. We know Acre International of Canada paid $260,000 to secure $8b dam contract in Lesotho. We know Swiss, British, German and French economies and banking institutions have made fortunes by providing save havens for funds looted by Sani Abacha, Mobutu, Omar Bongo, Lansana Conte, Arap Moi and the rest of the dictators in Africa. And it is no secrete Belgium is angry with DRC government for inviting China into the country because they are privy to and beneficiary of all the day light robberies going on in the resource rich but economically impoverished country.

Africans know that these corporations are making fortunes but see no benefits from these fortunes. Ghanaians know gold and diamond are being mined at Obuasi and Akwatia but they do not know where it goes, who buys them and where the proceeds go and the same is true of the oil in Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, Algeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea and as for DRC a nation with one-third of world’s natural resources the little I say the better.

This corruption and day light robbery is what has been polished as globalisation which Europe, America, IMF and the Bank want Africa and the third world to join. My question is whose globalisation? Is it the globalisation that only those with blue eyes enjoy or what? If the answer is no then the IMF and the Bank should explain why the world is divided between the "whites haves and the coloured have-nots". Is this not the second colonialism dressed as globalisation?

Dr. Susan Hawley says it all: "Multinational corporations’ corrupt practices affect the South (i.e. Africa, Asia and Latin America) in many ways. They undermine development and exacerbate inequality and poverty. They disadvantage smaller domestic firms and transfer money that could be put towards poverty eradication into the hands of the rich. They distort decision-making in favour of projects that benefit the few rather than the many. They also increase debt that benefit the company, not the country; bypass local democratic processes; damage the environment; circumvent legislation; and promote weapons sales. Bribes put up the prices of projects. When these projects are paid for with money borrowed internationally, bribery adds to a country's external debt. Ordinary people end up paying this back through cuts in spending on health, education and public services. Often they also have to pay by shouldering the long-term burdens of projects that do not benefit them and which they never requested". Source: The Corner House, June 2000.

And in all these, the Western media have kept silence. They have not raise a voice against what their governments, intelligence services, corporations and businessmen are doing to Africans. They prefer instead to criticise China for courting the same African leaders Euro-Americans have been protecting for decades. A clear hypocrisy isn’t it? These are the same criticisms King Leopold II levelled against the Arabs who were competing with him for resources and slaves in Congo and we know what Leopold, the 19th century Hitler did in DRC in the name of Christianity and civilisation.

The meaning of their criticism is that with China as a fierce competitor, Africans now have a choice not to go to the World Bank and IMF for conditional loans. They also have a choice to either give their resources to Chinese companies or European and American cartels. It may be the beginning of the end of colonialism, slavery, instabilities, dictatorships, corruption and all the ills that Europeans and Americans have been exporting to Africa. It may be the beginning where Africa’s resources will be bought and payment made to the people and a new chapter that will usher in Africa’s development and close the poverty gap from five thousand years to perhaps one-hundred as observed by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

By Lord Aikins Adusei

The Author is a Political Activist and Anti-Corruption Campaigner.

Where are Africa's Political Role Models?

2011-08-02T04:41:00.000-07:00

Where are Africa's Political Role Models?

Since Abraham Lincoln became the role model for President Barack Obama, I wonder which African politician President Obama could have picked as a role model if he had run as a candidate in any African country. Currently there are about 53 presidents and prime ministers whose countries form the Africa Union. It should therefore not be difficult to find role models among such a large contingent of leaders.

A google search for possible role model candidates led to Mobutu Sese Seku, Sani Abacha, Iddi Amin Dada, Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, Samuel Doe of Liberia, Charles Taylor, Emperor Jean-Bedel Bokassa of Central Africa, Ibrahim Babangida, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Lansana Conte of Guinea, Museveni- Uganda, Milton Obote of Uganda, Bakili Muluzi, Laurent Kabila, Kwame Nkrumah, Jerry John Rawlings, Blaise Campore, Arap Moi, Hosni Mubarak, Omar Al Bashir, Gaddafi, Omar Bongo, Obiang Nguema, Sassou Nguesso, Eduardo dos Santos, Francois Bozize of Central Africa, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, Iddriss Deby of Chad, Valentine Strasser of Sierra Leone, Mwai Kibaki, Mengistu Haile Mariam and Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia.

After a careful examination and analysis of their record President Obama may find it difficult to settle for any of the above. The reason is that almost all of them have been accused of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars belonging to their poor countries. Again all of them have demonstrated poor leadership, political immaturity, are insensitive to the plight of the people and have shown no understanding of issues affecting the people including fighting poverty.

Additionally, nearly all of them established one party dictatorship; killed, imprisoned or exiled their opponents; aggressively destroyed press freedom, freedom of speech and association; banned their opponents from contesting elections; kept their people in perpetual poverty while living opulence and extravagant lifestyles.

Furthermore, virtually all of them were or are dictators who have committed human rights abuses against their countrymen including murder, torture and force imprisonment.

Besides, almost all of them were or are military or rebel leaders who illegally ceased power through the barrel of the gun and subjected their people to inhuman treatment including torture, extrajudicial killings and murder. Those who came to power through the ballot box have become anti-democrats and the International Criminal Court is seeking to put a number of them on trial for human right abuses and war crimes.

Moreover, a good number of them have spent decades in power and are unwilling to relinquish it despite their huge failures seen in the form of poverty, diseases, homelessness and wars. Example Omar Bongo of Gabon has ruled for 42 years, Gaddafi of Libya 39 years; Dos Santos and Sassou Nguesso 30 years each; Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea and Robert Mugabe 28 years each, Hosni Mubarak 27 years, Paul Biya of Cameroon 26 years, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda 23 years, Omar Al Bashir of Sudan 20 years, Iddriss Derby of Chad 18 years, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia 14 years.

What is more, despite years in office none has been able to build a successful economy for their people. Despite receiving hundreds of billions of dollars in loans and grants from the IMF, the World Bank, USA, Japan, China and European nations; and also receiving trillions of dollars in revenue from oil, gas, gold, diamond, timber, copper, coltan not a single one of them was able or has been able to put their economies on the level equal to that of the Asia Tigers or even the smallest economy in the European Union. Out of the 53 countries making the Africa Union only one was invited to take part in the G20 Summit that ended in April 2009. Their failure to eradicate poverty has prompted questions as to whether Africans can ever build a prosperous society devoid of abject poverty, blatant official corruption, mismanagement and tyrannical rule.

The Who is Who of Africa's corruption ranking feature Mobutu at the top. He is followed closely by Sani Abacha of Nigeria, Omar Bongo, Eyadema, Hosni Mubarak, Denis Sassou Nguesso, Eduardo Dos Santos, Obiang Nguema, Lansana Conte, Arap Moi, Gaddafi, Ibrahim Babangida of Nigeria, Blaise Campore of Burkina Faso, Museveni of Uganda, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, Charles Taylor of Liberia, Iddriss Deby of Chad, Bakili Muluzi -Malawi, Frederick Chiluba of Zambia, Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and Jacob Zuma of South Africa. There are many whose corruption status has not yet been determined. Among them are Joseph Kabila, Paul Kagame, Robert Mugabe, Kenneth Kaunda, Francois Bozize, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia and a host of others.

Corruption, malfeasance, tyranny, mismanagement, nepotism, cronyism, human rights abuse, incompetence and media censorship run through almost all the countries in Africa.

Ghana became the first territory south of the Sahara to gain independence in 1957. In 1966 the army ousted Nkrumah who had ushered in a one party state and was on his way to become a dictator. Nkrumah introduced the Prevention Detention Act in which his political opponents were arrested, tortured and imprisoned without trial. Others were murdered and those who had the chance to flee sought asylum in foreign countries. One coup in 1979 and a second one in 1981 brought Jerry Rawlings to power who spared no effort to annihilate his perceived opponents. He ruled till 1992 when he changed his military uniform into civilian and ruled for another 8 years. Jerry Rawlings, the longest ruling tyrant in Ghana killed all the former heads of state by firing squad leaving only Dr. Limann who lived a miserable life till his death. His administration was largely corrupt and marred by nepotism. He is discredited for sowing the seed of tribal animosities in the country especially between the Akans and the Ewes. In 2000 after 19 years in power and under pressure from the West and the people, Rawlings unwillingly handed over power to an opposition government when his party the National Democratic Congress lost the elections to the New Patriotic Party. The Fourth Republican Constitution drawn up by his regime has a lot of clauses that make him unanswerable to the abuses committed during his regime.

Since independence in 1960 Gabon had known only two leaders. Leone Mba who was elected president in 1961 and ruled till his death in 1967 and was succeeded by Omar Bongo who has since ruled the oil rich but socially and economically impoverished nation for 42 years. He is widely seen as one of the wealthiest and most corrupt rulers in the world. Bongo was a subject of French police investigation that uncovered that he owned at least 33 luxury properties. In February 2009 his nine bank accounts were frozen by a French court. He was implicated in the trial of former Elf Aquitaine executives for accepting bribes to the tune of $40m annually in exchange for oil concessions. A US Senate report of 1997 accused him of spending $100m annually mainly from his Gabon coffers. A US Senate inquiry in 1999 revealed that the giant Citibank held private accounts for Bongo who transferred US$100 million, into it. French News Papers including Le Monde have uncovered about 59 properties owned by him and his family including one bought in 2007 at the cost of 18.8 million Euros. He was sued by Transparency International for stealing Gabon's resources.

Jomo Kenyatta became Kenya's leader at independence in 1963 and ruled till 1978. As usual Kenyatta's Kenya Africa National Union (KANU) was made the only official political party which controlled Kenya for four decades. Kenyatta was replaced by Daniel Arap Moi who also ruled till 2002. Moi's 24 year reign was a dictatorship marred by official corruption and nepotism. He was accused in a report by Kroll International of having banked £1b in foreign banks. He and his family are known to own several properties in Britain and Australia among others. He avoided prosecution for corruption in 2003. Mwai Kibaki who succeeded Moi in 2002 faced a re-election battle which was marred by violence. He has been accused of sheltering Moi and his cronies and not doing enough to fight corruption which cost Kenya at least $1b a year.

Since independence in 1958 Guinea has known only two leaders Sekou Toure who ruled from independence till his death in 1984 and Lansana Conte who seized power in a coup in the year Sekou Toure died. Conte ruled from1984 till his death in 2008. He is seen as one thee most corrupt leaders ever to have ruled an African state. He has been accused of pocketing 70% of all revenues coming from the sale of bauxite in Guinea. A dictator for a quarter of a century he can only be remembered for bringing poverty, misery, deprivation and cronyism to Guinea. After his death army officers led by Capt. Moussa Camara have also seized power and there is little sign that the poverty stricken country will ever taste democracy.

The presidency of Equatorial Guinea has been dominated by two men from the same family since independence from Spain in 1968. Mr Obiang Nguema the current president overthrew his uncle, President Francisco Nguema, in 1979, had him tried and executed. Since taking power Obiang Nguema has presided over a corrupt government. He has curtailed rights and freedoms of his people; allows no opposing views and has dealt mercilessly with the media. Human rights abuses in his fiefdom are widespread and head of the opposition is in exile. Many of the 600,000 inhabitants of his country live in poverty despite billions of dollars of revenue from oil. He and five other corrupt leaders were sued by Transparency International over allegations of corruption and embezzlement.

In Uganda after independence in 1962 and short period of democratic governance the country became a hot bed for coups and counter coups that saw Milton Obote toppled twice; Iddi Amin becoming life president; invasion by Tanzania and a civil war that brought Colonel Yoweri Museveni into power in 1986. Museveni has since ruled till today, he has been in power for 23 years. Like many of his contemporaries his government is very popular in promoting corruption, nepotism and cronyism. Museveni's government is nothing more than an oligarchy. In Uganda Museveni is the president; his wife Janet Keinembabazi Kataha Museveni is the First Lady, MP and a Minister; his son Major Muhoozi Kainerugaba is an army commander of his elite group and a possible successor of Museveni. Museveni's younger brother, Caleb Akandwanaho, is senior presidential advisor on defence. His daughter Natasha Karugire is private secretary to the president. He has vehemently resisted all calls to introduce democratic reforms in Uganda.

In Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda ruled from 1964 the year of independence till 1991 a total of 27 years. He embarked on one party rule that barred opposition parties from actively engaging in politics. Despite being a major copper producer, Zambia under Kaunda's watch slipped from being a potential economic power house into one of the poorest countries in the world. He was accused of corruption by Chiluba's government and spent a few time in jail. His major contribution was to the independence struggles of South Africa and Zimbabwe but he is most remembered for failing to use the huge mineral wealth to better the lot of Zambians. His successor Fredrick Chiluba is battling corruption allegations and parliament has voted to remove his immunity. A High Court in Britain ruled in 2007 that Chiluba and four of his aides conspired to rob Zambia $46m. The elections that brought Rupiah Banda, the current president into power were decried by the opposition as not free and fair.

In South Africa after the brutal regime of the apartheid government came to an end, Nelson Mandela took over and successfully handed power to Mbeki after just one term in office. However, Mbeki was forced out office in September 2008 after a bitter power struggle with Zuma. Mbeki refused to embark on campaign to curb the menace of HIV/AIDS which killed several people under his watch. Crimes of all categories have increased and it seems the nation is slowly joining the rest of the continent as a poor developing country. Jacob Zuma who is likely to become President is embroiled in corruption allegations and a rape case against him was dismissed by the court. His reputation has been badly damaged by rape and corruption charges brought against him.

In Tanzania, Julius Nyerere ruled as the sole leader of the country from independence in 1962 till his retirement in 1985. Under his leadership all political parties were outlawed except the Party of the Revolution which happened to be his party. His social and economic programmes (ujamaa) were a total failure he is however credited for deposing Iddi Amin. Since he left office the country has chalked a lot of successes in the field of democracy and governance and the economy is showing signs of growth. Ex-President Benjamin Mkapa who became president in 1995 successfully transferred power to Jakaya Kikwete in 2005 after 10 years as head of government.

Burkina Faso formerly Upper Volta got her independence from France in 1960. Six years later the army as it has always been were in power. A series of coups in the 1980s saw Thomas Sankara taking over power in 1983 but he too was ousted in 1987 by Blaise Campore who was a close. Campore has since ruled the country as his personal fiefdom he has been in power for 22 years. He is one of the Corrupt Five who were sued by Transparency International for having amassed wealth at the expense his poor people majority of whom live on a dollar a day in this semi-arid country.

In Tunisia, Ben Ali has changed the constitution of the country in order to run for third term in office.

In Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika has won a third term after using the rubber stamp parliament to change the constitution of the state. He has been battling fundamentalists who were denied election victory in the 1990s.

In Togo, after the assassination of the country's first elected president in 1963, Gnassingbe Eyadema took power in a bloodless coup in 1967 and ruled till his death in February, 2005 after 38 years as head of state. His son Faure Gnassingbe was quickly installed as president by the army but international outcry resulted in an election in April 2005 which the army said Faure won 66%.

Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Libya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Chad the norm has been corruption, mismanagement, election violence, torture, dictatorship, murder, imprisonment of political opponents and the use of security forces against the people.

In Africa and the rest of the world the names Mobutu Sese Seku, Sani Abacha, Omar Bongo, Denis Nguesso and Dos Santos are synonymous to blatant corruption, nepotism, cronyism, murder, incompetence and mismanagement. The word Kleptocracy was first coined to describe the nature of Mobutu's government which was nothing but a government of thieves.

However despite the negativities there are some few shining examples.

Botswana, Africa's most successful economy is also the continent's only true democratic country where multi-party democracy has been in place since independence in 1966. It is the least corrupt country in Africa and has a good human rights record. It is the only country in the continent where the leaders have used revenue from the natural resources mostly diamond to benefit the people. It is the world's largest producer of diamonds and the trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation. The current president Seretse Khama Ian Khama came to power in 2008.

Gaining her independence from South Africa in 1990, Namibia has joined the community of democratic nations after Sam Nujoma handed over power to his chosen nominee Hifikepunye Pohamba, after three terms as president. Like Botswana the leadership of Namibia are using revenue from diamond to improve the wellbeing of the people. In Benin an independent candidate won the presidency and in Liberia Johnson Sirleaf, a woman has become president the first in history of the continent.

Nelson Mandela is the only ex-president to have willingly stepped down as president after just one term in office. He is a Nobel Peace Laureate, a statesman, a freedom fighter and a hero not only in South Africa but also around the world. He has a monument erected in his honour by the government of Britain. Another respected personality in Africa is Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu who is also a Nobel Peace Laureate, a Statesman, peace activist and powerful anti apartheid campaigner.

The last of the possible role models is Kofi Annan, a former UN Secretary General who has recently being playing a leading role as a peace mediator and a critique of political corruption and anti-democratic governance in Africa. Since Tutu and Annan are not politicians and therefore are out of the political equation, Obama will have no choice but to scream with the question, “Where are Africa's political role models?”

By Lord Aikins Adusei
Political Activist and Anti-Corruption Campaigner

2011-08-02T02:52:00.000-07:00

It is so sad that at a time when neighbouring South Africa is commissioning a billion Rands electric train as part of the service provision for their people, our youths are commissioning insults and exchanging personal bitterness as a prelude to a major general election.
Zambia is a beautiful country even without any national infrastructural development and today our major crisis is LEADERSHIP.

To date, we have no single human person in Zambia that can stand up and say he/she is a youth leader because he was chosen by the YOUTH. None!
Today, we have no single youth that safely proclaim that he/she knows exactly what he has been sent by the YOUTH to achieve for the COUNTRY.
Today, we have not a single youth leader that can claim that he/she knows that Zambia needs to be turned round in great specifics that can even earn that youth respect and applause from all its people.
Today, we have no clear youth leader that have the data and information on how best Zambia's development and wealth creation problems can be sorted out.
Today, we have no single youth leader that is openly disgusted by the mediocrity that reigns in the service provision by the powers that have been delegated.
Why is it so? Do the YOUTH even question that status? Because it suits the power hungry politicians that youth only remain as their tool or a step ladder to political employment. Incidentally, Zambian politicians have more priviledges and remunerations if in power hence their fight for power. It is rarely out of a calling to serve the country.

What we have to day is a YOUTH that appears to be a mere tool for petty politicking that has a dead or dangerous future for the country.
What we have is a boiling pot of divided youths that place their hopes on some failed experimental programs and leaderships.
What we have is a youth that has abdicated all responsibility to the past heroes instead of seeking to take charge and correct, improve or develop on our fore-father's aspirations.
What we have today is a youth that is angry and yet cannot direct the anger to the appropriate target.
What we have today is a youth that is losing hope and entertaining that as a positive power.
What we have today is a crumbling future....

The youth must unite and face the reality that Zambia is theirs. That Zambia has stopped and that it is just asking to move forward.
Political parties and personalities will come and go,but Zambia will remain.The future will judge the past and sometimes such future can be harsh and painful if not well prepared for....
My earnest and sincere appeal is that our YOUTH respect each other, the country for that is the ultimate inheritance that some past youths died for and did not enjoy the FRUITS OF THEIR STRUGGLE from enslavement and dominance.....

Voters Beware: Your Next President Is About to Lie to You

2011-07-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

The following article relates to the US presidential campaigns. In light of the forthcoming elections in Zambia, this could serve as a cautionary note to Zambians who will be voting on September 20, 2011.

The dirty secret of presidential campaigns is that those crafting the candidate’s public pledges are usually not those who will be in charge of policy if victorious. As a consequence, voters who take to heart promises made between now and November 6, 2012, are likely to be disappointed – even (or rather: especially) if their candidate wins.

Just ask those who voted for President Obama. As a candidate, Senator Barack Obama repeatedly told Democratic primary voters that if elected he’d close the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The base is still open today.

His predecessor, George W. Bush, was no different. In 2000, as a candidate, Governor Bush repeatedly promised Jewish and evangelical audiences that: “As soon as I take office I will begin the process of moving the U.S. ambassador to the city Israel has chosen as its capital,” – Jerusalem. He didn’t do that. Instead, every six months of his eight years in the White House, he utilized a waiver allowing him to postpone the Congressionally-mandated move. The U.S. embassy is today still in Tel Aviv.

Our two most recent presidents are no different from their predecessors. Indeed a close look shows a litany of broken campaign promises stretching throughout U.S. history.

Zambian election set for Sept. 20

2011-07-28T02:29:00.000-07:00

Zambian President Rupiah Banda dissolved parliament on Thursday and set September 20 as the date for new elections in Africa's biggest copper producer.

"I've consulted with the Electoral Commission of Zambia and I am informed that most of the logistics for holding the elections are now in place," Banda said in a speech broadcast on state media.

Banda's Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) is expected to win the election on the back of the southern African country's strong economic growth and the recent collapse of an alliance between the two main opposition parties.

Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata, a gruff populist who has been fiercely critical of Asian investment in the mining sector, gave Banda a close run. Read more...

2011 MMD PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES

2011-07-21T03:30:00.000-07:00

Austin Liato (Kaoma Central), Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda), Michael Kaingu (Mwandi), Catherine Namugala (Isoka East), Kabinga Pande (Kasempa), Maxwell Mwale (Malambo), Dora Siliya (Petauke Central), Dr Brian Chituwo (Mumbwa), Gabriel Namulambe (Mpongwe), Kenneth Chipungu (Rufunsa), Joseph Mulyata (Mongu Central), Albert Mulonga (Lupososhi), Elijah Muchima (Mwinilunga West), Richard Mwapela (Kalabo Central) and Mundia Ndalamei (Sikongo) Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, ( Liuwa seat) George Kunda (Muchinga, Serenje) Mutale Nalumango (Kaputa) Mkhondo Lungu(Lundazi)
Ronnie Shikapwasha ( Keembe) Eustarckio Kazonga (Vubwi), Peter Daka (Msanzala), Bradford Machila (Kafue), Felix Mutati (Lunte), Kenneth Konga (Chavuma), Kapembwa Simbao (Senga Hill) and Sarah Sayifwanda (Zambezi East).
Isaac Banda (Lumezi), Angela Cifire (Luangeni), Simon Kachimba (Luanshya), Mwansa Mbulakulima (Chembe), John Chinyanta (Mambilima), Given Mungomba (Mpulungu), Brian Sikazwe (Chimbamilonga), Daniel Kalenga (Kabompo West), Richard Taima (Solwezi East), Mwendoi Akakandelwa (Mangango), Mubika Mubika (Sinjembela), Moses Muteteka (Chisamba), David Phiri (Mkaika), Michael Mabenga (Mulobezi), Allan Mbewe (Chadiza) and Dr Chrisopher Kalila (Lukulu East).

Rosaria Fundanga (Chilubi), Charles Mututwa (Senanga Central), Trymore Mweenda (Chikankata), Dr Patrick Chikusu (Katuba), Dr Victor Mukonka (Monze Central), Noah Siasimuna (Siavonga), Muti Beyani (Sinazongwe), Laiveni Apuleni (Mbabala), Dr Canisius Banda (Mandevu), Daniel Chisala (Luapula), Japhen Mwakalombe (Chongwe), Chileshe Kapwepwe (Chinsali), Humphrey Musonda (Malole), Danny Chisanga (Mpika Central) and Sunday Chanda ( Kanchibiya).
Godfrey Pende (Bwacha), Jane Chileshe (Kabwe Central), Lawrence Zimba (Kapiri-Mposhi), Musonda Mutale (Mkushi South), Bornwell Matawe (Mwembsehi), Professor Luke Kanyomeka (Nangoma), Mushili Malama (Chitambo), Maxwell Kabanda (Serenje), Trudy Ngâ€™andu (Chililabombwe), Christon Mwape (Nchanga), Spartan Msowoya (Kalulushi), Ronald Manenga (Chimwemwe), Itayi Chinkuli (Kamfinsa), Joseph Malanji (Kwacha), Divo Katete (Nkana) and Goodward Mulubwa (Roan).
Shadreck Musozya (Kankoyo), Evans Chibanda (Mufulira), E Chishiba (Kafulafuta), Anne Chungu (Lufwanyama), Michael Katambo (Masaiti), Kelvin Chaume (Bwana Mkubwa), Frank Ngâ€™ambi (Chifubu), Rapson Kopulande (Kabushi), Emmanuel Mulenga (Ndola Central), Darious Mumba (Chama North), George Lungu (Chama South), Mtolo Phiri (Chipata Central), Victoria Kalima (Kasenengwa), Yotamu Banda (Chasefu), Dr Chisha Bulangeti (Pambashe), Dr Chitalu Chilufya (Mansa Central) , Jonathan Kapungwe (Chipili), M Mpampi (Chiengi), and Sunday Maluba (Mwansabombwe) Sylvester Chimfwembe (Bangweulu), Chileya Kapekele (Chifunabuli), Daniel Chisala (Luapula), Donald Chilufya (Chawama), Yohane Mwanza (Kanyama), Muhabi Lungu (Lusaka Central), Bernard Mpundu (Lukashya), George Mwamba (Lubansenshi), Mwalimu Simfukwe (Mbala), M Songolo (Mfuwe), Brian Mundubile (Mporokoso), Danny Chingimbu (Kabompo East), Stephen Masumba (Mufumbwe), Newton Samakayi (Mwinilunga East), Lucky Mulusa (Solwezi Central), Prisca Pulu (Zambezi West), Joshua Simuyandi (Pemba), Chisangano Malungo (Gwembe), Sebastian Hambokoma (Dundumwezi), and Sikaduli Munsaka (Kalomo Central).

Siachona Simalonga (Choma), Jelasi Sikonda (Katombora), Lloyd Jembo (Mapatizya), Lukulo Katombola (Livingstone), Bevin Mweene (Magoye), Maxwell Mwiinga (Mazabuka Central), Bbuku Tsibu (Bweengwa), Isabel Nanja (Moomba), David Diangamo (Itezhi-Tezhi), Misheck Mutelo (Lukulu West), Mwangala Mahopo (Luena), Catherine Akayomboka (Nalolo) and Frank Kufakwandi (Sesheke).

Elizabeth Molobeka (Kawambwa), Besa Chimbaka (Bahati), Dr Jacob Chongo (Mwense), Dr Peter Machungwa (Kabwata), Faustina Sinyangwe (Matero), Marjory Mwape (Munali), Major Celestino Chibamba (Shiwangandu) MP Josephine Limata (Luampa)

Ben Mwila (Nchelenge) Levy Ngoma (Sinda) Patrick Ngoma (Feira)Keith Mukata ( Chilanga) Nicholas Banda (Kapoche) Sydney Chisanga (Mkushi North), Vincent Mwale (Chipangali), Whiteson Banda (Milanzi), Forrie Tembo (Nyimba), Paul Sichamba (Isoka West), Clever Silavwe (Nakonde), and Humphrey Mwanza (Solwezi West).
Deferred adoptions are for Kasama Central and Kantanshi constituencies.

A Note All Aspiring Presidential Candidates Of Zambia.

2011-07-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

Note to all aspiring presidential candidates The way forward for Zambia is to Reduce corporate tax to 20%, Income tax 15% and VAT 10%

It is paramount that we reduce government expenditure, cut cost on travel, vehicles and fuel, telephones, size of govt and politiking. Yes, you'll have revenue loss initially, but you'll be setting and creating a Real Boom for the future. Most corporates will relocate their HQs to Zambia boosting employment for many of nationals. People will have real money to save and invest (curbing corruption) and goods and services will be affordable creating a very attractive economic environment. No need for special incentives. We should not live and believe that government's (GRZ) over blown expenditure is normal and should be acceptable. Most of revenue goes to consumption. How much does GRZ spend on travel, fuel, communication, entertainment, workshops etc? What is the size of cabinet, is it necessary? Do we need Distict Commissioners? These are the questions you should be asking. Let's think of running govt the same way one would run a profitable geared company. Costs cost cost, as at now we bleed kwachas as if there's no tomorrow.

Lets make a simple comparison of what our priorities are as at present. The cost of a FULL HOUSE TOYOTA VX IS USD160,000= the cost of a modern incubator is USD80,000= the cost of the new COMPUTERLINKED TB DETECTION MACHINE from Germany is USD13,000= landed and cleared ITS PRIORITISATION. None of the manifesto's says they going put a MORITORIAM on PERSONAL TO HOLDER VEHICLES and buy all the necesaary health and education equipment ITS NOT A QUESTION OF SUSTAINABILITY ITS A QUESTION OF SERIOUS BOTTOM UP DEVELOPMENT PLANNING. The challenge is to learn NOT TO ENSLAVE AND INDEBT FUTURE UNBORN GENERATIONS at the EXPENSE OF ALREADY BLOATED STOMACHS.

THE "RULED" ZAMBIANS

2011-07-13T02:07:00.000-07:00

The painful struggle that the Zambian people have to go through is to live with a perpetual hope of a change that will bring them a basic living that provides them with the basic comforts of a modern society almost fifty years after their independence from foreign rulers.

What makes a Zambian survive the squalor and the day-to-day disappointments in service delivery that he is confronted with is an escape into a hope that a single person or political party would come and address these service delivery inadequacies. They subconsciously almost discount themselves from this change and only feel their participation in it is when they cast their ballot after each five-year term.

A Zambian, especially in urban areas, seeks refuge in a mere hope whilst at the same time the happenings around him provide the opposite.

Evidently, there is a general feeling to exaggerate this hope. People are systematically made to fail to interrogate and demand for the basic services that a government should provide solely because the leadership made or makes it almost impossible for the people to have a clear channel to confront real issues that challenge them daily.
The local government system where the grass root could provide such an avenue is practically dead and if it exists is corrupt, irrelevant , unprofessional,is neglected or be-riddled with incompetence and partisan complacency.

Because Zambians do not have clear channels to directly and emphatically influence national development, they spend most of their time in misdirected petty "political " debates which usually take the form of discussion provoked by newspapers or tabloids that, most of the time, seek out mere statements from political leaders about irrelevant matters that have absolutely nothing to do with national development. This in a sense provides them with apparent entertainment and a sense of euphoria and nothing else.

This lack of proper interrogation that puts leadership to task creates a political system that is moribund and almost unaccountable to its own people. In turn, this leaves the country with very poor service delivery systems. The real politics revolve around perpetual electioneering in a five-year mandatory ruling term. Only a few projects that are donated or supervised by foreign donors are the only achievements.

As already alluded to, this scenario is mainly caused by a deliberately unstructured democratic system.

Unless there is a deliberate system or systems that acknowledges that people need services, Zambia will remain a poor country due to a poor and unprofessional leadership that cannot deliver to their people within a given mandate of rule.
It therefore also translates that the leadership have a questionable mandate to rule the country because they are not so accountable to their own constituencies.

The basic question is therefore who are they ruling for and how are they able to account to whoever they are supposedly ruling?

The Traditional Ceremonies of the different tribes of Zambia

2011-07-12T05:01:00.000-07:00

TRIBES OF ZAMBIA

CENTRAL PROVINCE
CHIEF DISTRICT TRIBE CEREMONY   MONTH
Bisa/Swaka/Lala ChiefsMkushiBisa/Swaka/LalaInchibwela September
Snr Chief MukuniChibombo LenjeKulamba Kubwealo October
Chiefs Mumba and Kaindu Mumbwa Kaonde Musaka/Jikubi Septembe
Chief Chibuluma Mumbwa Kaonde/Lla Likumbi Lyamalumbe October

COPPERBELT PROVINCE
CHIEF   DISTRICT TRIBE CEREMONY   MONTH
Snr Chief Mushili Masaiti Lamba Chabalankata November
Chief Machiya Mpongwe Lamba Chitentamo/Nsengele November

EASTERN PROVINCE
CHIEF   DISTRICT TRIBE CEREMONY   MONTH
Par. Chief Mpezeni Chipata Ngoni N'cwala Februrary
Par. Chief Gawa Undi Katete Chewa Kulamba August
Snr. Chief Kalindawalo Petauke Nsenge Tuwimba October
Snr. Chief Nsefu Mambwe Kunda Malaila October
Snr. Chief Kambombo Chama Tumbuka Kwenje October

LUAPULA PROVINCE
CHIEF   DISTRICT TRIBE CEREMONY   MONTH
Snr. Chief Mwewa Samfya Ng'umbo Kwanga October
Snr. Chief Mununga Chienge Shila Mabilla October
Snr. Chief Mwata Kazembe Kawambwa Lunda Mutomboko July
Snr. Chief Puta Chienge Bwile Bwile September
Snr. Chief Mushota Kawamba Chishinga Chishinga Malaila October
Chief Matanda Mansa Ushi Chibuka October
Chief Mabumba Mansa Ushi Makumba August

LUSAKA PROVINCE
CHIEF   DISTRICT TRIBE CEREMONY   MONTH
Snr. Chief Mburuma Luangwa Nsenga-Luzi Mbambala November
Chief Bunda Bunda Chinyunyu Soli Chibwela Kumushi November
Chieftainess Chiawa Kafue Goba Kailala September
Chief Mabumba Mansa Ushi Makumba August

NORTHERN PROVINCE
CHIEF   DISTRICT TRIBE CEREMONY   MONTH
Para. Chief Chitimukulu Mungwi Bemba Ukusefya Pa Ng'wena August
Snr. Chief Kopa Mpika Bisa Chinamanongo September
Snr. Chief Chunga Luwingu Bemba Mukulu Pembe August
Snr. Chief Muyombe Isoka Tumbuka Vikamkanimba September
Chieftaness Nawaitwika Nakonde Namwanga Mulasa September
Chief Nabwalya Mpika Bisa Bisa Malaila September
Snr. Chief Kafwimbi Isoka NNamwanga Ng'ondo November
Chief Mwenechifungwe Isoka Mfungwe Chambo Chalutanga September
Chief Chiwanangala Chilubi Island Bisa Chisaka Chalubombo September
Mambwe/Lungu Chiefs Mbala Mambwe/Lungu Mutomolo June
Chief Mabumba Mansa Ushi Makumba August

N/WESTERN PROVINCE
CHIEF   DISTRICT TRIBE CEREMONY   MONTH
Snr. Chief Kanongesha Mwinilunga Lunda Chisemwa Cha Lunda August
Snr. Chief Kasempa Kasempa Kaonde Nsomo June
Snr. Chief Kalilele Solwezi Kaonde Kupupa July
Snr. Chief Ishindi Zambezi Lunda Lunda Lubanza August
Snr. Chief Sikufele Kabompo Mbunda Lukwakwa October
Snr. Chief Mushima Mufumbwe Kaonde Makundu August
Chief Mabumba Mansa Ushi Makumba August

SOUTHERN PROVINCE
CHIEF   DISTRICT TRIBE CEREMONY   MONTH
Chief Mabumba Mansa Ushi Makumba August

WESTERN PROVINCE
CHIEF   DISTRICT TRIBE CEREMONY   MONTH
Snr. Chief Kalunga Kabompo Luchazi Chivweka June
Chief Chiyengele Kabompo Mbunda Mbunda Liyoyelo July
Chief Kapijimpanga Solwezi Kaonde Kunyanta Ntanda July
Chief Chizera Mufumbwe Kaonde Ntongo September
Chief Matebo Solwezi Lamba Kuvuluka Kishakulu September
Chief Makumbi Solwezi Kaonde Kufukwila May
Chief Mumena Solwezi Kaonde Lubinda Ntongo August
Chief Mukuni Livingstone Toka Leya Lwindi January
Chief Monze Monze Tonga Lwindi Gonde July
Chief Chikanta Kalomo Tonga Chungu October
Chief Musokotwane Kalomo Toka Leya Lukuni Luzwa Buuka August
Chief Mutondo
Chief Siachitema Kalomo Tonga Maanzi Aabila Lwiindi October
Litunga Lamboela Senanga Lozi Kuomboka Nalolo May
Chieftainess Mboanjikana Kalabo Lozi Kuomboka Libonda May
Chiefs Mutondo and Kahare Kaoma Nkoya Kazanga July

Zambia Corrupt Or Not?

2011-07-12T04:08:00.000-07:00

African nations such as Zambia are often seen as grossly corrupt. Yet it is corporate tax "avoidance" on the part of mining companies that costs the nation hundreds of millions annually, while lining the pockets of middle-men in countries such as Switzerland. And the much-lauded Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) may help - rather than hinder, this reality.

Zambia recently became the 26th country to publish the EITI report, disclosing payments from mining companies for the year 2008. The EITI standard is meant to "facilitate transparency" by assessing net discrepencies between resource rents, for example: royalties and taxes, remitted by multinationals and received by governments.

The primary intention of the EITI report, backed by many of the world's major extractive or resource-seeking multinationals including Shell, Chevron, Vale, BHP Billiton, Anglo-American and others, is to eliminate corruption by shining a light on the flow of revenue. Describing companies as "complicit" in corruption limited to the criminogenic environments in which they are required to operate, the EITI system claims that reduced reputational risk is a tremendous upside for foreign investors and corporate entities.

Elilminating corruption?

Currently, Zambia is one of twenty-four EITI candidate countries, of which more than half are African, including Tanzania, Gabon, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, and Burkina Faso - among others. Already, five of eleven EITI "compliant" nations are African - many of them surprising choices - think Nigeria, Niger, and Liberia.

According to Clare Short, head of the EITI system and former British secretary of state for international development, a ministry created under then-Prime Minister Tony Blair - who announced the initiative in 2002 as a joint project of the UK and the World Bank - once a country joins EITI, all companies operating within the "host" country must make full disclosures.

The logic goes that, so long as there is disclosure of cash payments within national boundaries, transparency will act as a natural sanction - diminishing the potential for, and realisation of, corruption.

It is a logic that appears to bank on political or "demand-side" corruption, chiefly innate to the developing country's character - with corporations simply "going along" with the system - a kind of "when in Rome" response.

But the EITI theory is vastly different from the reality and has more to do with corporate and "first world" country supply-side corruption. Zambia's first report, for instance, revealed that mining companies remitted $463 million in payments to the government in 2008. The EITI report claims "significant discrepencies" noting a net total of "unresolved discrepencies" of $66 million.

In that same year - 2008, much of Zambia's exported copper, almost half of which was earmarked for Switzerland, never arrived at its destination - disappearing into thin air. Moreover, the pricing structure for Swiss copper - remarkably similar to Zambia's exported copper - was six times higher than the funds Zambia received, facilitating a potential loss of some $11.4bn. This is especially interesting when taking into account that Zambia's entire GDP for 2008 was $14.3bn.

Glencore's lucrative policies

This type of corporate corruption - known as transfer mispricing, made headlines recently when a leaked report authored by Grant Thornton at the request of the Zambia Revenue Agency (ZRA) unpacked how the Glencore-controlled lucrative Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) - a company which declared no profits, was cheating the country's tax base of copper revenue.

The auditors disclosed that MCM tried "resisting the pilot audit at every stage", rendering them unable to access crucial data in many instances. MCM's chief executive, Emmanuel Mutati, claimed that the audit was not accurate, precisely because data was inaccurate. Yet Glencore, the world's largest commodity trader, controlling 50 per cent of the global copper market, is confident that MCM will be "exonerated".

In all probability, Glencore will be saying that transfer pricing is perfectly legal and central to trade. But the nature of "arms-length transfer pricing" within the current deregulated global financial architecture, enables multinationals (conducting as much as 60 per cent of global trade within - rather than between - corporations) to "self-regulate" pricing.

So, though pricing, in theory, is determined according to "market values", in reality, the "corporate veil" facilitates tremendous mispricing when subsidiaries of the same company trade with one another - the means through which Glencore allegedly purchased grade +1 copper well below market prices, with MCM allegedly preferring - all too often, the lowest price offered by a Glencore subsidiary, described by the audit as an act likely for buyers, not sellers, who would experience diminished profits.

Glencore International AG, based in Switzerland, the world's leading secrecy jurisdiction, handpicked by Glencore founder and notorious commodity trader Marc Rich, further enables the company to take further advantage of little or no taxation.

Tax havens such as Switzerland are essential to resource-seeking corporations operating in Africa: more than 85 per cent of asset portfolios for sub-Saharan Africa passes through tax havens. In Zambia, MCM's structure - like that of Vedanta and others, keenly utilises tax havens as vehicles for shell companies able to access legal and financial opacity tools including banking secrecy, thin capitalisation, little or no taxation, zero disclosure of company accounts, use of nominees, and - best of all - high-level client confidentiality, all of which is entirely legal.

Mining and tax havens

Thus, however illicit, by outsourcing the commercialised sovereignty of tax havens, transfer mispricing, when realised through tax avoidance, is legal within select jurisdictions. The financial geography of MCM is located almost entirely in tax havens: though a Zambian company, it is 73 per cent owned by Carlisa Investments (a British Virgin Islands company, 82 per cent owned by Bermuda-based Glencore Finance, which is 100 per cent owned by Glencore International AG). MCM's mining partner, holding 18 per cent of Carlisa, is another mining entity active globally and in Zambia - First Quantum.

And while the extractive industry is being promoted rather aggressively as the primary vehicle to kickstart Zambia's real economy, mining companies generate just 2.2 per cent of revenue collected by Zambian authorities, with the bigger percentage of tax derived from withheld taxes paid by workers. The result? Just 4.4 per cent of actual taxes remitted from the already minute sum paid by mining houses comprises corporate tax. This is a particularly nifty boutique tax product called Total Tax Contribution, created by auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, which helps corporations avoid taxation.

Zambia's government acknowledged that the country missed cashing in on the 2004-2008 commodity boom, when copper prices more than tripled. But companies like MCM don't have to pay the new royalty rates of three per cent - as 20 year stability clauses from secretive development agreements issued soon after privatisation provided the company with arguably the world's lowest royalty rate at 0.6 per cent. This agreement will remain in force until the year 2020. Worse still, had these agreements not been leaked, it would never have come to light that corporate tax rates were effectively zero, thanks to deferments and royalties.

MCM is the largest copper mining operation in Zambia - and Glencore certainly stands to benefit from locking down the copper market, not simply because copper underwires the modern world, but also because it is fundamental to renewable energy. In fact, shortages are estimated to drive up the price of copper from it current historic high at $9,000 per tonne, to that of about $11,000 by 2013, elevated in large parts by the demands of emerging nations such as China, the world's largest consumer.

Solutions to company operations

Thus, catching revenue leakage through EITI - off the mark by billions - is impossible because it does not focus on what multinationals ought to have paid, only what they have paid, and it never investigates the means through which corporations were able to circumvent taxation.

There are several reasons for this: EITI allows inconsistent standards, limited to national boundaries, despite the international nature of multinational economic activity. And the EITI system, for instance, provides national governments with choices that fragment the legitimacy and accuracy of conclusions - even insofar as they attempt to track cash payments, including whether reporting is mandatory, whether auditing is required, what should be published and the accounting policies used, materiality levels, et cetera.

Aggregated templates used by multinationals - and even the EITI system, prevent scrutiny, for example, of where problems are arising, where they are replicated, how they are realised - whether it has been identified, if problems are being sorted out, and how. The EITI system would easily allow another subsidiary of the same mining company, based in another jurisdiction, to make a corrupt payment to a politician in Zambia. It would allow a company within Zambia, created for shell purposes, to be paid for "services rendered", diminishing tax. Thin capitalisaton would allow for one subsidiary of the same parent company to make high interest loans to the host country subsidiary, diminishing taxable profits. The possibilities are endless - and often utilised.

Of course, there are many solutions, namely that of corporate country-by-country reporting (CbC), created by Richard Murphy, a founder of the Tax Justice Network. This would involve real natural sanctions prohibiting companies from artificially using tax havens (by disclosing the lack of substantial economic activities in these jurisdictions) while also limiting the scope of transfer mispricing.

Elements of CbC include the names of each country in which the multinational operates; the names of all companies trading in each country in which the company operates; the financial performance in each country in which it operates; sales between third parties and other group companies; purchases split between third parties and intra-group transactions; labour costs and employee numbers; financing costs; pre-tax profits; deferred taxation liabilities for the country at the start and close of each accounting period; the actual payments to the government; the tax charge for the split between current and deferred tax and so on.

It is a method inspired by a system already in place in the US. Certainly, critics will claim that transfer mispricing is always possible, but the difference between CbC and EITI, is that with the former, it is exceedingly difficult, whereas with the latter, it is highly probable.

World Bank's push

So why does the EITI allow for so many potential faultlines, vacuums and opt-outs? Like Chile, Zambia historically was one of the world's leading copper producers, extracting and exporting some 700,000 tonnes annually during its "golden peak". Currently, Zambia has hit the 800,000 mark, pegged to exploit more than 1 million tonnes per annum in the next year or so.

Way back when Zambia's copper industry was being privatised, the World Bank pushed for the lowest possible tax and royalty rates, providing companies with the type of secretive development agreements mentioned above. The Bank claimed that the limited intervention of the Zambian government rendered the process the most successful in the region.

Describing Zambia's new system imposed by the "arm-twisting of the World Bank", a 1996 New York Times piece stated: "All exchange controls, tariff barriers and food subsidies have been dropped in the shock-treatment switch-over to rampant capitalism … Virtually everything the state owned is for sale."

For African citizens, the World Bank, perceived as the source of devastating structural adjustment programmes created conditions still haunting countries like Zambia. Until mid-1995, the Bank itself refused to acknowledge the "C-word" - corruption, claiming such to be political and beyond the Bank's mandate.

This was despite the reality that 60 per cent of every dollar provided in external loans left the continent through illicit flight.

It has yet to factor illicit flight in accounting models. Had this been done, sub-Saharan Africa would be unpacked as a global net creditor - as the Bank itself disclosed in a report many years back.

As Treasure Islands author Nick Shaxson reveals in his book, though looted wealth is transformed to private wealth, the empty hole in the public purse is transformed to a public debt. He cites the example of Africans "bearing" the public debts by describing the case of a pretty Angolan girl, forced to bear an infection rotting a hole the size of a golfball in her cheek, because she could not access public healthcare.

Meanwhile, EITI's other backer, the UK, is host to more than half of the world's tax havens: three as British Crown Dependencies (such as Jersey - the corporate hub from which Glencore recently launched an IPO), seven as British Overseas Territories (including world famous hubs such as the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, and Bermuda - where Zambia's multinationals have incorporated and maintained subsidiary entities), and 21 as members of the Commonwealth.

The City of London, a ring-fenced financial district, is one of the world's leading tax havens, previously described by the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as "head office" to some of the world's major tax havens.

Put simply, whether or not we choose to acknowledge it, these actors - including the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) - comprising the world's most powerful nations and its leading donors, may be seen as benefitting from the impoverishment of African regions.

Capital losses

Each year, Africa loses a minimum of $148bn - almost four times the sum of foreign aid it receives, to capital flight - of which 60 per cent is due to corporate mispricing. Clearly, the solution toward enabling African countries to recover their lost revenue and become economically independent, is to block revenue leakages, rather than provide further loans and grants characterised by conditionalities that undermine development.

Yet, even as 60 per cent of non-grant revenue is generated by resource rents, constituting a main source of income for African nations, many of them "rent-seeking" and dependent on resources for their tax base, the OECD has not implemented CbC, preferring the "arms-length system" created by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) - itself operating from a tax haven, founded and financed by the world's leading accounting firms - such as PwC - and all of whom compete with another to create the best tax avoidance products for corporations.

Nick Shaxson said this to me in a recent email:

The role of the OECD is particularly strange in this respect. It jealously guards some of the main mechanisms and models for transparency and information exchange with respect to international financial flows, and with respect to international tax. And yet these models all, in important ways, significantly disadvantage developing countries.

It is a disadvantage, locked into the EITI system, designed to present an illusion of accountability where none exists.

So, while EITI may be good news for the companies involved in Zambia, casting them in a clean light, the same cannot really be said for the country's citizens who are being shortchanged.

Short recently claimed that the EITI model, still evolving, would be complemented by such measures. But intimated along with this statement is the notion that EITI itself will not lead this charge. So much for transparency.

Khadija Sharife is a journalist and visiting scholar at the Center for Civil Society (CCS) based in South Africa, and a contributor to the Tax Justice Network. She is the Southern Africa correspondent for The Africa Report magazine, assistant editor of the Harvard "World Poverty and Human Rights" journal and author of "Tax Us If You Can Africa"

The New Logo And Slogan

2011-07-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

The New logo and slogan of the national tourist board was launched with all the hype with attendance of Congolese artist Fally

Some controversy was doing the rounds as people debated the new logo and slogan. This is would be understandable seeing that the last logo and slogan was with us from the 1970's so change did not come easy. However after settling it seems both the logo and the slogan is warming to the people.

People are now awaiting an aggressive marketing campaign both internationally and locally.

We from Zambia Insights have embraced and welcomed the re-branding and hope that it will now build on the already growing to

Old Man Maxwell Mututwa Has Died.

2011-07-10T04:46:00.000-07:00

Former Barotse Royal establishment Prime Minister Ngambela Maxwell Mututwa has died.

The 92 year old man who was recently arrested following the riots In Mongu died last night.

Mututwa an influential voice in the politics of the Barotseland seen by most in the western province as a father figure.

The cause of death is not yet known.

Bo Mututwa who was arrested after the riots in Mongu was the first to be released after an outcry from the people considering his age and illness. While under arrest he was hospitalised but later discharged before he was finally released from prison.

Before his passing he had asked government to accord him a full explanation as to the circumstances leading to his arrest.

From us at Zambia Insights we convey our condolences to the family, the people of Western province and the Nation at large.

Saki Goes MMD?

2011-07-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

Rumour has it that ULP president Sakwiba Sikota has tabled an application to contest the Livingstone parliamentary election on the MMD ticket. The story seemed to be circulating and doing the various media rounds.

Hon Sakwiba Sikota was quoted as stating that he would not contest the parliamentary elections stating "at the level I have reached I should be contesting national politics" It is however not clear if he has abandoned his own ship of United Liberal Party as he made no reference to this when speaking to QFM.

Efforts to try and reach Hon. Sikota were futile as he did not answer his phone.

ZP or Buju Slag Yapa Zed

2011-07-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

ZP (Zambia Police) slang

This is Nyanjaslang that has been passed on from Generation to Generation in the Military and Police Service Training Academies. All service men and women who join the Force usually ‘Graduate’ from the academies with at least full knowledge of “Police Jargon” incorporated into Nyanja as well as its distinct accent. This is evident when one speaks to or hears Police/Military personnel conversing. This also makes it easy to identify them even when in plain clothes from the manner in which they speak.Also ,Members of the public or civilians humorously refer the initials 'Z.P' in Nyanjaas "Zabwino Palibe" (Nothing Good),due to the manner in which the Police 'Man Handle' Suspects/convicts during custodial situations.

Anso
Again/In fact/(may be used as question tag) - Wabwela Anso?/si ndiwe anso?
Boma
Refers to Zambian Government.
Bwana
(used to show respect) alternative for 'Boss'
Contravening
Any Traffic offence.
Choncho
isn’t it?/Fast: - si choncho ati ndiwe una tundila ku galimoto ya Boma?/Ubwele choncho ku station otherwise nima mbama chabe uka fika.
Galimoto
Motor Vehicle.
Hotel Luanda
Kabwata Police Station Jail/Cells.
Inde
As you wish:e.g. Captain:Uyende anso ku Lilayi naba silikali ba tatu mu lete mpolyo mpolyo,Junior Officer:(Salutes)Inde Mwami!
Ku Chimwa/ku lakwa
To be Guilty: e.g. wa chimwa iwe,uza kamba ku sogolo.
Ma Wenge
Handcuffs
Mwami
(used to show respect) Cop/High Ranked Officer.
Mu Silikali/Ba Silikali
May refer to a Soldier or Policeman.
Mpolyo Mpolyo
Gun/AK 47 Rifle.
Longa
Arrested/locked up. Literately the act a suspect of being thrown into a Police Van.
Remind
Literally 'Remand' - Pre-charge detention.
'Uza kamba ku sogolo'
ZP Miranda Rights – "You will speak when you get to the Police Station". This is synonymous with the English Miranda rights; “You have the Right to Remain Silent” the phrase is usually used during custodial situations at the point of arrest.
Z.P
Zabwino Palibe.(Ain't Nothing Nice)

[edit]ZP - Police/Military slang Language Mix

This kind of language(*Relatively Unheard of*) is a mixture of the native Zambian languageNyanja with common ZP(Zambia Police) Phrases.It is made up of mating zp Phrases with Nyanja words producing a recipe that confuses people who know little of ZP slang words/Phrases. Below is a comparison of two sentences with same meaning one in native Nyanja and the other being the ZP/NyanjaMix.[The language is spoken with an accent just as the Zambian Police Service officers do].

Native : Boi,ine manje na yambapo ku yenda bond.
ZP - MIX : Boi,ise naku chaya Gillete ku bond.

[edit]

Other Zambian Terms or Phrases

2011-07-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

Other Terms/Phrases

Kwendo mu Tank
stepping on it/or driving at high speeds/driving off.

e.g.:Pamene wenzo tuma phone nenze kwendo mu Tank mu Cairo Road.

Kwendo mu Njila
Going/One who is always on the move/the act of leaving

Gillette
leaving /act of running away[The term originated from the Sports show “Gillette World Sport Special” as a result of its association with sporting activities such as races/running/sprinting,it was adopted as a term to mean running away and later on to mean leaving/going]

e.g.:Mu Boys ana chaya Gillette baka pokola/Na chaya Gillette.

Mau lendo
leaving/trip e.g.:Ali mau lendo pamene tikamba so.

Shot
steal/leave/throw e.g.: Bani chaya shot cellphone/Na chaya shot ku bond boi/Banamu chaya shot malegeni ku matako.

Yenza
steal e.g. Bani Yenzela cellphone baka ponya mu station.

Lusaka
To get conned/steal – "bani chaya Lusaka ma tyre ya motoka"/"Ma boys bamu Katondo bani chaya Lusaka phone yamene na gulisa".

Kitwe
To get fucked in the ass.

Zambian Brand Name Generalisation

2011-07-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

Brand Name Generalisation

Around the world, common brand names are used to identify products in their category,e.g. Sellotape for clear adhesive tape or Panado for any Pain killer Tablets and as a result of popular usage, this eventually becomes their Generic name(noun) which is a process called Genercide.^[1].Brand names as a result of this have literally lost their status as ‘Brand Names’ in their relevant categories.

Honda
Any Motorbike/literally Honda is the default Noun for motorbike.
Boom
Despite ‘Dynamo’ being popular back in the days. Any Detergent Paste is called ‘Boom’ by default which is a local popular soap brand.
Shake-Shake
literally any opaque Beer.
Cobra
Literally any Floor Polish product.
Colgate
Literally any toothpaste product
Panado
Any Pain killer tablet.
Surf
Any Washing Powder product.
Salad
Literally any Cooking Oil Product.
Target
Literally any insecticide spray.
Vaseline
Literally any Petroleum jelly product.