Happy New Year 2011

We thank all our esteemed site visitors and readership a great and Prosperous 2011. We look forward to your support in the New Year. God Bless you all in a mighty way.

The Lusaka Gossip

A "Wonder" that Is Zambia

When I reflect on the behaviour and the attitudes of politicians and the people of Zambia regarding corruption, I get incredibly disappointed and angry at our failure to take decisive action at the misdeeds and misconducts of Zambian leadership. I believe that their negative attitudes can be attributed to their knowledge that Zambians lack capacity and resolve to fight against injustice and corruption concertedly in a manner that would send a message that the people of Zambian are tired of all the hoopla that goes on in the nation. What is wrong with this picture? It is clear that the majority of us are afraid of confronting the system and getting embroiled in skirmishes and running battles with the illegitimate government and its institutions that perpetuate injustices. As a people, fear will never get us anywhere, and politicians will forever continue to ride on our backs.

Are we just cowards that cannot fight their fight to change the way the Government is run? Are we blind to the wrongs committed? Or is it that we are backward in our understanding or simply fail to appreciate that we deserve better leadership and systems that could serve the nation in an upright manner? Whatever the case may be, I find it disconcerting that, year after year, nothing changes in terms of improved leadership but we continue to retrogress to the era of the First Republic when we feared the state machinery were constantly snooping on us. It is amazing and at best a wonder why we predispose ourselves at the mercy of politicians that think only of themselves and their immediate family interests. In their minds, they must view us as collateral so much that we only become remotely useful or assets when they seek re-election. Are we ever going to change this perception?

It is also amazing how we fail to follow through issues that affect us to the extent that we are quick to put the issues behind us even in situations where a particular has hardly been resolved. A perfect example concerns corruption cases involving several leaders and civil servants that have betrayed the trust that the people of Zambia vested in them by misappropriating public funds. It is a wonder, too, why we seem to hold in esteem thieves, leaders and individual civil servants, that have robbed the poor thus denying them a decent existence. At worst, it is disgusting that such thieves can even brag and regard themselves as rich and successful when they know all too well that their "wealth" was illegally obtained.

Time is overdue for us to start engaging the system aggressively to foster uprightness. Thieves regardless of their level and status in our society, must not be tolerated or entertained. It is hign time that we started viewing Zambia as a  basket in which we all share common interest in what goes on and it's ultimate success. If we fail to realize that and also fail to adopt an aggressive approach to addressing aggravating Zambian issues, it will be hard, if not impossible, to achieve meaningful development where the interest of the people will be considered as paramount.

Africa: Painting a Façade of Democracy

While many parts of the world espouse open and unfettered democracies, where the people have the liberty to play an active part in shaping their destinies, Africa is forever riding a tide and roller coaster of vote manipulation and literary headed nowhere. Many countries in Africa are increasingly bringing scorn upon the continent whose politics are viewed as being far from open and independent. A case in point relates to questionable elections results in a number  of  African countries; namely Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In these countries, elections were a sham and results contested largely because incumbent presidents were believed to have had manipulated votes to rob their opponent of deserved victory. These scenarios are all too common in Africa that it is a foregone conclusion that any presidential election is rigged even before the date. Like Zambia, Ivory Coast is also another African country that has become notorious for vote rigging where a losing incumbent has the audacity to declare himself as a winner.

One wonders why African leaders shamelessly see fit to engage in the despicable act of cheating at the polls. It is clear that "free and fair" does not feature in the minds of many a African leaders. As a matter of fact they are not bothered by lack of credibility. Take the case of Ivory Coast in which the country's Constitutional Council, led by Paul Yao N'Dre, invalidated earlier results by the Electoral Commission that named the former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara, the winner. What makes incumbent African presidents have the insatiable desire to manipulate the votes? Is it by virtue of the understanding that the citizenry are impotent and cannot do anything? Do they fear that the law would catch up with them over their misdeeds while they were in office if they accepted defeat and stepped down? Do they fear what they only know they have done that the people don't know about? Why are African leaders devoid  of a sense of shame? Using underhanded methods to gain or stay in power is retrogressive to Africa's fragile democracies. At worst this repugnant behaviour will lead to more strife in Africa. What we call democracy in Africa is a mere façade inasmuch as the will of the people is contemptuously derided by selfish, greedy and power hungry politicians that choose to usurp power to perpetuate the rule.

Veteran Politician Sikota Wina weighs in on the Barotseland Agreement

One cannot blame some politicians that may may have a desire to take advantage of misguided sentiments arising from a few disgruntled elements that hail from Western Province. We all understand that politics is about seizing opportunities that irresponsible citizens present to constituencies. The majority of politicians enjoy taking advantage of such situations for purposes of not only achieving political mileage but also votes. One begins to wonder of what value the education of some of our colleagues in the Diaspora that are championing this senseless notion of Western Province's secession from Zambia.

The people agitating for secession of Western Province are just knuckleheads and selfish imps. The Zambian constitution provides for every citizen regardless of tribe,origin, creed and religious orientation to express their views freely and aspire for the highest office in the land without let or hindrance. However, some of our fellow learned Zambians living in the comfort of the diaspora are unjustifiably working to foment terrorism in Zambia. Education becomes meaningless and irrelevant if such individuals cannot use their education to carefully study the Barotse Agreement to better apply the knowledge in a wise and beneficial manner for one and all. Selfishness has that ugly the tendency to blind people from reality. Also, it is imperative that these people, forthwith, stop pandering to violent interests.

Suffice to say that it is gratifying to have our Veteran Politician Sikota Wina step in to share his knowledge, understanding and historical perspective of the Barotseland Agreement. Many Zambians have taken time to study the Barotseland Agreement in the form it was at the time of signing in London on May 8, 1964. Former President Kaunda and Sir Mwanawina Lewanika III appended their signatures to the agreement. The Agreement states that "Whereas it was the wish of the Goovernment of Northern Rhodesia and that of Litunga of Barotseland, his council and the chiefs and people of Barotseland and Northern Rhodesia, should proceed to independence as one country and that its entire people should be one nation".  The Agreement was written in no ambiguous terms for any level-headed person to understand. We applaud Veteran Politician Sikota Wina for weighing in on the issue to render his understanding of the Agreement. He has stated that the Agreement makes continuous reference to Barotseland as a integral part of the Republic of Zambia.

It is our hope that disgruntled miscreants living in the United States and other parts of the dispora will not continue to use their selfishness interests to foment chaos for the peace loving Zambians of Western Province and the rest of Zambia. Failure to understand the whole context of the Barotseland Agreement can be a recipe for chaos. It is inexcusable and repugnant for a learned person to fail tunderstand and interpret a clearly formulated Agreement.

Growing Desire for Secession from Zambia

The tendency to want to breakaway from Zambia has been long coming and is not in the least surprising. The whole misguided notion that the British signed an agreement with Lewanika for the country to attain independence from Britain is absurd inasmuch as the British did not own Zambia. Zambia belonged to Zambians and for one person to think that the colonialists had the right to give power to one selfish individual is ridiculous and stupid. It is totally insane for some individuals from Western province to continue to harbour those far-fetched notions that Britain gave them a right to, at a later stage, start advocating for a separate independent state. 


It must be clear from the outset that Zambia and Zambians existed long before the British came to colonize us. It can be seen that the driving motivation to the call for secession is the deep rooted tribal characteristic that we all too familiar with.  Some of the individuals advocating and writing for secession are living in America and maybe in the United Kingdom and is a cowardly act. The recent write-up was merely academic with the intent to incite those that do not think outside those tribal boxes. This adventure by our learned colleague is a very dangerous one. It is likely to turnout into a disaster which will negatively impact innocent Zambians living in Western province and other provinces of Zambia. 


We all know about the desire for these people to have a country in which only one language will be recognized and other non-language speakers shall be called makwerekwere. What sort of freedom of expression have this or these individuals been  denied in Zambia? Is it freedom to have a one-language nation? We are aware that the majority from the province do not share these late silly ideas and neither do they want to be manipulated by individuals who think they are fighting for their freedom when living comfortably in Europe and America. It is not their immediate family members who will be caught up in the cross-fire but ordinary Zambian citizens.


Many of us have wonderful, educated friends that hail from Western province and will be a sad reality if their counterparts continued to push for the unacceptable secession. This development will be a relationship and game changer at the same time. How then will we deal with our friends knowing that their own are advocating for violence and separation? Developments like this dictate that we all make conscious choices about how to deal with such unfortunate selfishness from a handful of people. The spectre of civil as advocated for by our learned friend will unnecessarily introduce elements of suspicion such that innocent Zambians from Western province will be viewed as potential troublemakers or terrorists and terrorists have to be dealt with a sledge hammer.


Secessionist must take this as a timely warning that Zambia will not entertain their ill-conceived idea and deal with the situation with kid gloves. If they want a country of their own, let them go to Britain and have the British give them a piece of the UK. Zambia is a unitary state and we will not allow selfishness to bring chaos to the nation.

Lynch the Chinese that Shot Zambians in Sinazongwe

Zambians are ever so hospitable toward foreigners irrespective of their race and origin. The hospitality almost amounts to insanity when one considers the manner in which they tend to prostrate themselves just to please a foreigner to make them feel good about them as a people. It is true that the Zambian hospitality is not a make-believe type, it's true, and it's real. Therefore, foreigners coming to Zambia for tourism and business must therefore learn to appreciate Zambia's hospitality and that nowhere on the continent of Africa are they accorded the kind of respect and hospitality as in Zambia by Zambians.

Events of last week that took place at a Chinese-Owned mine in Sinazongwe, in Southern Province of Zambia were utterly unfortunate and repugnant and must not be allowed to happen again. Those two Chinese Managers that shot twelve Zambians acted with impunity and in total disregard of the laws of the land. However, one is made to think that they took the law in their own hands because they probably understand and assume that the legal system in Zambia is broken down and a far-cry. If this was their assumption and premise, they may have also drawn from recent miscarriage and travesty of justice in Zambia when innocent Zambians were wrongly sentenced while the criminals escaped Scot-free on account of  interference from some quarters.

The shooting of innocent Zambians was not the first at Chinese run mines in the country. The first of such incidents happened in the recent past at a Chinese mine in Copperbelt and no one knows if Zambian authorities ever took legal action against the Chinese that fired shots. The action of the Chinese managers  may be attributed to the Zambian leadership tendency to support foreign investors regardless of their wrong-doing. Their investment in Zambia is a symbiotic one. Therefore, the Chinese investors must not use their investments to hold the nation and its people to ransom. Laws of the land governing employment matters, if any, must be respected and followed to the letter.

If the law in the country is spineless or totally ineffective and does not and will not serve the interest of Zambians, then Zambians must start to act in self-defense against foreigners such as the Chinese mine Managers who are repeatedly displaying their propensity to act as hooligans. One wonders how long the perceived peace-loving  Zambians will continue in this manner in the face of unwarranted aggression from the Chinese. Zambians who do not appear to have the leadership and the law on their side will have no choice but resort to taking the law in their own hands against Chinese hooliganism. Zambians can no longer continue acting nice against Chinese hooligans or any other investors who come to the country to reap from Zambia's natural wealth.

High Fuel Prices in Zambia

The media on Saturday, September 18, 2010 reported Zambia had evened out fuel prices to spark rural growth. The idea was to make fuel prices "uniform" across the country with the view to spur development in the remote parts of the country. The pronouncement generated interest and curiosity from various people as to how the statement would play out and translate into tangible investment projects. However, the impression created by the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) that the price of fuel had been rendered uniform is in itself deceptive and a lie.

The purpose of this write-up is to show that people in Zambia pay fuel prices at the pump that are nothing but shameful and horrendously rip-off. For the purpose of illustrating this, the prices of fuel in Zambia will be compared with those obtaining in the US economy that largely relies on world market crude oil price. Against this backdrop, it will suffice to mention that the two countries use two different units of measuring liquids. In Zambia, like many African countries, a litre is used as the unit of measure for liquid merchandise while gallon is the unit of choice in the United States. Having said that and for the purpose of elucidating the relationship between the two units, one gallon is equivalent to 3.785 litres. However, the conversion may vary slightly depending upon the source of conversion factors one uses.
 

September 20, 2010 Fuel Prices at Akron, Pennsylvania (US)-
Picture Courtesy of Lusaka Gossip

In the US, as of September 13, 2010, gasoline (unleaded regular) prices in the East Coast to the West Coast ranged from US$2.536 per gallon to $3.026 per gallon. In terms of litres, the price of gasoline translates to US$0.67 per litre (or ZMK3,316.57 per litre) to US$0.80 per litre (ZMK3,957.38 per litre). Similarly, the price of diesel in the East Coast to the West Coast ranged from US$2.887 per gallon (ZMK3,775.60 per litre) to US$3.142 per gallon (ZMK4,109.09 per litre). Zambian consumers have recently been subjected to two unjustifiable fuel price increases within a short space of time. The upward adjustment have been relentless with due regard to the poverty level in the country. For instance, in January 2010, with the blind-blessing of the ERB, the price of fuel rose by 15 percent followed four months later by another increase in May by an almost comparable 13 percent.

With the new upward adjustment of the price of fuel, regular and diesel fuels are now costing ZMK7,639 per liter and ZMK6,999 respectively. In US dollar terms and on a one gallon basis, the Zambian consumer is now paying US$5.84 per gallon and US$5.35 per gallon for regular and diesel respectively. As you can see from the forgoing discussion, fuel consumers in Zambia are paying more than double the price paid by their counterparts in the United States. Tanking the above illustration into account, the price of unleaded regular should be costing ZMK4,000 and not a crazy price of ZMK7,639 per litre as the case is now. Similarly, the price of diesel should be much lower than the new exaggerated price.

Fuel pricing in Zambia casts a lot of doubt on the kind of economics employed and the competence of those responsible for determining fuel prices. Pricing in Zambia has always defied economic and mathematical logic and pricing trends in most industrial countries where the price of fuel at the pump is largely affected by dynamics of world crude oil prices and not mere price fixes as the case appears to be in Zambia. Although market forces are not perfect in themselves, one would still expect that prices of fuel to depend on the behaviour of world markets. Sadly and unfortunately, fuel pricing in Zambia seems lack economic sense to the extent that energy consumers remain perpetually subject to high prices that have no basis and justification and the mercy of the ERB. Even when the price of crude oil on the world market falls appreciably, the benefit is never passed on to the Zambian consumer. The ERB and other players turn a blind-eye oblivious of the fall in crude oil prices but extremely quick at increasing the fuel price as soon as crude oil edges a little higher.

In the light of the foregoing, it is bizarre to think that rural development can meaningfully be vitalized when the price of energy is prohibitive as illustrated above. Energy is a critical component in the stimulation of development and Zambia's rural development is not immune to it and cannot be achieved by deception but by real intervention strategies such as providing incentives to prospective companies seeking to set up industries or businesses that would ultimately add value to rural areas. What is needed to stimulate rural development is a realistic, purposeful well targeted policy and focused policy. Therefore, mere political statements intended to hoodwink the masses will not by themselves address the problem of lack of public interest to invest in rural areas.

Zambian Government Spent K12.7 billion on Specialized Foreign Treatment

Twelve point seven billion Zambian Kwacha, at current  dollar exchange rate, translates into US$2.54 million. For a small and poorly managed economy as Zambia, the amount spent in 2009 is substantial and if well appropriated to the health sector, unfathomable improvements to our health sector could be achieved.

It is such a shame that plural politics came with huge downside with it such as mismanagement, financial impropriety and abuse of office. A parallel can be drawn between UNIP and MMD leadership inasmuch as management of public funds is concerned. While MMD leadership chooses to spend hard-earned dollars on rushing sick MMD party politicians to countries such as the UK, South Africa and India etc for specialized treatment, UNIP had a sense of compunction to have its leaders including Super Ken treated at the UTH.

What is baffling to the majority of Zambians is the myopic tendencies and belief that sick politicians will receive miracle treatment  when treated in the mentioned technologically better-off countries. While it is true that these countries medically better equipped, it is important to understand why they have technology. Simply put, these countries have invested time and financial resources to attain the levels of development that they have. This goes without saying that Zambia can make sensible advancement in the field of medical technology by making purposeful investment in the health sector. Therefore, the ZMK12.7 billion the government spent on getting its politicians treated in foreign countries did not add value to our health sector but contributed to bettering health institutions of the mentioned foreign countries. If there were visionary planning in place, the government could have invested the US$2.54 million on acquiring advanced medical equipment for the UTH. The government could put a purposeful programme could be in place such that a similar or equal amount could be annually invested in the health sector over a period of five years. This approach will help raise the level of medical technology at the UTH.

It is important to appreciate that improvements in the health sector must be coupled with measures to address the well-being of medical professionals. A large number of Zambians doctors are now based in foreign countries where their knowledge and experiences are valued most. The lack/or the absence of attractive conditions of service has caused serious brain drain in Zambia to extent that the doctor to patient ratio was at a appalling low of 12 doctors per 100,000 patients by 2006. The health sector is in serious need of investment if the leadership can commitment itself to ensure sector is adequately equipped. Therefore, flying politicians to foreign countries for specialized treatment will not help Zambia in the least. Such actions by the leadership are extremely detrimental to the development of Zambia's health sector.

RB as Sole Candidate????

Here we go again! RB is the sole candidate? Wow...is it MMD, is at it again. It sounds like all the MMD manoeuvres are being borrowed from the old UNIP trickery archives that kept super Ken on the throne for almost three decades. At this time and era, how can a civilized or uncivilized society allow one person to intimidate and manipulate the Party and its entire membership that he, alone, is the right person to run this country, a country that boasts of many educated citizens. No one can argue that UNIP is back in power, albeit through the back door. We don't expect politics to be any different now especially that the man at the helm is a staunch UNIPist. It's not surprising that he has even allowed back his "brother" William Banda, from their UNIP days, to act silly and be a public nuisance once again.


On RB's sole candidature, it is alleged that the provincial executive committee (PEC) petitioned the national executive committee to adopt RB as the sole candidate. Certainly, one does not expect very much or even a little from PEC, let alone from NEC. Look at the composition of PEC and NEC and you will understand the problem. It's a wonder what they have seen or see in that leadership that has failed to deliver on its promises since coming to power after the demise of Levy. One explanation may be the level of corruption in the system that makes each one of them feel that they owe support to RB so that, in return, he can shield them from prosecution over some the scandals they are inextricably wedged. There is definitely no sense or sensibility in the way they want to impose RB on the masses once again. We trust that the Almighty will listen to the cries and prayers of progressive Zambians to keep this man out of politics.

Congratulations to Zambia BlogTalk Radio!

On the occasion of the Zambia Blogtalk Radio's first anniversary, which falls on Sunday, May 16, 2010, in the cut-throat airwaves scenario, The Lusaka Gossip has the liberty to wish the awesome Zambia Blogtalk Radio team a Happy One Year Anniversary and urges the team to continue delivering competitive programming that has made their show a cut above the crowded airwaves and a must tune-in every Saturday for the multitude of Zambians and other nationalities all over the world. To Nathan Nkhama, Titus Natala and Rodger Chali, The Lusaka Gossip urges you to keep up with your indomitable spirit to continue conveying news and programs without fear and without malice to one and all. Cheers!

Zambia Blogtalk Radio Celebrates first Anniversary!

By Patson Musumali

Introduction

This is a radio that is taking the world by storm; Zambia Blogtalk Radio aired its first internet radio waves to the Zambians at home and in Diaspora on May 16th, 2009. This unique digital Radio station, versatile and global, has since then not tarried to serve the Zambians at home and abroad. The radio has a freedom passage associated with the internet and so one can say another era of freedom has been born.

Background

Zambia Blogtalk Radio was pioneered by four gallant Zambians ; Rodger Chali (Alberta, Canada), Operations Director; Nathan Nkhama (Dallas, Texas), Executive Director; Titus Natala (St. Paul, Minnesota), Communications Director; and Beston Chitala (Akron, Pennsylvania). Listening to these Zambian men with the passion to positively engage this great nation of a cheerful people, they have harnessed the limitless and distance free abilities of the internet to inform, educate and to affirmatively transform the image of Zambia. This radio show, which airs its programmes from both Canada and the USA, is a look forward to every Saturday. It requires versatility and cooperation between people and bandwidths to ensure smooth running and as such has proved very coordinating and informatively useful between Zambians in the Diaspora and their homeland.

Dashboard Freedom

Unstoppable is this freedom and innovation of news through fibre optics seems to be the new way of guaranteeing hundreds of thousands of Zambians and sympathisers globally, at home and in the Diaspora, the freedom of expression to dawn this era of personal and collaborative liberties on which many nations have built their growth. As long as one has a phone or computer, they can make every effort to take part in the discussions within up to the peripherals of the Radio Station and before the dashboard manager-call waiting. What of the new technology? Voice over Internet Protocol, (VOIP) with so many varieties of free phones over the internet, Skype, VOIP, TESCO internet phone-UK, etc these phones are free from PC to PC and on phones to some countries including the USA one of the two bases of this radio show. What press freedom is better than this for Zambia? The freedom to be free is even broadened as callers have an absolute choice to make what they think known to global listeners on Zambia Blogtalk Radio and say how they feel about what’s going on in their country and making positive comparisons. Even just to make a contribution in discussions within the freedoms and comfort of their homes.

The Path and fame

ZBTR has sampled a variety of agendas and Zambian topics ranging from sport (golf ) with Madalitso Muthiya, (soccer) with Dennis and Ponga Liwewe and others, to politics, including other significant Zambian portfolios such as First republican President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Minister of Finance, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, BOZ Governor, Dr Caleb Fundanga, ZDA Chief, Mr Andrew Chipwende, FAZ Chief, Kalusha Bwalya and Celebrity Broadcasters such as Frank Mutubila, Maureen Nkandu and many others. The significance of this radio show is, obviously, its ability to free discussants from the psychologically inhibiting physical presence, eliminating the dynamics of body language and consequently affording a genuine focus on ‘issues rather than tissues’.

Highlights and Collaboration

Zambia Blogtalk Radio partnered with the Zambia Diaspora Connect to air an e-conference on ‘identity and skills’ and ‘Doing business in Zambia’ in October 2009. This successful conference continued on Google groups and as a result has brought synergies including an agenda in the African Diaspora Forum in the World Bank attended by Chasaya Sichilima. The radio has also embarked on linking experts to discuss solutions to Zambian Challenges through summits which have become popular in bringing experts together and offer them a liberal forum to share ideas on challenges facing Zambia. A ZDC/ZBTR initiated Education Summit, was held on the 16th of January 2010. The aim was to feature organisations in the United Kingdom interested in empowerment through education and other related positive life changing strategies through public and private partnerships. Another was a Health Summit featuring medical doctors from both urban and rural districts in Zambia and provided a liberal forum for doctors to interact and share progressive ideas. An Energy Summit also brought together energy experts to share ideas in the midst of an executive of a successful company called Grameen IT-Mr Islam. ZBTR has the capacity to connect resource personnel from their office phones or mobile phones to the show all over the globe. Despite inhibiting international call costs and which means some countries may find it costly to call, ZBTR has called participants from Zambia, Europe and Asia to enable them participate in the radio shows. The role of ZBTR in positively engaging the Zambian people cannot be over emphasised. Visit us also at www.zambiablogtalkradio.com to learn more about our past shows.

As a mouthpiece for citizens in the Diaspora

ZBTR has become a Zambian Diasporan citizen’s mouth piece as evidenced from the recent shows. Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, in her capacity as Zambian Ambassador to the USA, gave an opportunity to the Zambians living in the USA to ask her questions on various issues affecting them whilst in the Diaspora. Dr. Nevers Mumba too, in his capacity as Zambian ambassador to Canada and some Caribbean Archipelago Islands, spoke to the Zambians in the Diaspora on ZBTR. An opportunity to speak to the citizens in those lands was availed and well received. Zambians had an opportunity to clarify a lot of issues through these programs that are being referred to as Ambassadors’ Forum.

Ms. Mwangala Zaloumis, the chairperson of the National Constitution Commission (NCC), had an opportunity to speak to the Zambians in the Diaspora via Zambia Blogtalk Radio. Issues such as dual citizenship and a broader representation on the constitution from members of the Diaspora were discussed.

Motivation and the future of Zambia Blogtalk Radio

The motivation behind the sustenance of ZBTR has been purely the love for Zambia the motherland which has throughout its twelve months of existence been funded by the personal resources of its founding members. In the words of the ZBTR Executive Director, “Every generation has its own ‘struggle’. With the growing Zambian Diaspora community, we face a unique struggle and ZBTR is the voice of that struggle.”

Election campaign Violence in Zambia

Once again we are awakened to the sad realities of crude Zambian politics which are characterized by violence and untruthfulness on the part of those vying for political office. A perfect example is the pre-election campaigns taking place in Mufumbwe that have been marred by violence unbefitting for the ocassion, time and era.

In Zambian politics, the powers that be are always pregnant with evil intentions to intimidate and distabilize the opposition especially when it is all too clear that the opposition is holding sway in the electioon campaigns. With the security aparatus on the side of government, the ruling party is trying by all means to orchestrate violence in order to scare away opposition supporters from campaigning freely. If the Government and its party are popular as they claim to be, we would like to see the the police clamp down the violence that is perpetrated by illiterate MMD cadres. One sometimes wonders whether there is any difference between those instigating their cadres to commit violence and the cadres themselves. As a matter of fact, many in the current ruling leadership were party cadres before they became office bearers and it is therefore easy to understand that their mindsets are not different from those of their cadres.

It is about that the Zambian leadership started to condemn violence in the strongest terms and direct the currently partial policemen to be impartial. The Zambian police need more training to understand the need to be proactive in carrying out their duties without aligning themselves with the ruling party.

Dart Container Corporation of Pennsylvania to Commemorate Earth Day at its Leola Plant

This year Earth Day falls on April 22, 2010. However, for the convenience of Lancaster community Dart will commemorate the Earth day on Saturday, April 17, 2010. In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the day will be observed by various environmental conscious organizations. Dart Container Corporation in Lancaster is aggressively pursuing and promoting environmental consciousness and awareness.

Dart Container Corporation of Pennsylvania is the leading manufacturer of plastic and foam products for the food service industry. Products such as foam cups and plates are widely used at popular fast food service places such as McDonald, and Dunkin’ Donut just to name a few.

Dart owns two drop-off locations, one in Lancaster at its Pitney Road site and the other at its Leola plant. There is also a growing number of companies that have started dropping off truckloads of used foam at the Leola plant for recycling. The end product of the recycling process is a densified material that finds its use as raw material in the manufacture of video cassettes, picture frames and office trays.

Several invitations have been sent out to stakeholders and the community to come and be a part of Earth Day activities. A lot of activities are planned for the occasion such as plant tours, video show of the company history and its environmental efforts, two trucks will be onsite to help the local community bring their waste paper to be shredded for free. There will also be refreshments for all those who will attend the Earth Day occasion.

For more information on Dart’s recycling program visit: www.dart.biz

Zambia's Globe-trotting Leaders

When a leader has no clue what he is supposed to do in his position, he must try very hard to find ways and means of creating an impression that he or she is doing their job. Most intelligent Zambians understand that their leader is all-out to want to be seen to be doing something. Fortunately, this guy has achieved a status of an accomplished professional globe-trotter. Every Zambian knows that he was born in Zimbabwe of Zimbabwean parents. It's not surprising that he feels he is an alien to Zambia and thus would rather spend more time, maybe even one week in China, a couple of days here and elsewhere and so on and so forth until the year comes to a close while he is in the air on flight. But Zambians cannot be fooled forever and every dog has its day and indeed the day for Zambians is slowly coming when they will say stay out wherever you are Mr. foreign-based president.

Appalling Lusaka City Roads and Sidewalks

Some sidewalks in Lusaka town centre have deteriorated so much that it is appallingly and a shame. When you factor in the dismal and poor quality of shops and buildings in the Central Business District (CBD), you get the impression that you have landed in a characteristicallly tired, old and abandoned town. This picture is notonly common to Lusaka but in many parts of the country.

Zambia is a country that has never been at war for the council to use as a scapegoat and shroud for it's failure to maintain road infrastrucure in the CBD. One of the sidewalks in deplorable state is found along the notoriously famous Katondo street between Chachacha road and Freedom Way. One wonders just how long it is going to take the City Council to realize that the walkways are in such a begging state for them to start addressing the problem.

Roads in residential areas are even in much worse state. It is even a wonder how private cars and public transport plies along these bad roads. Most of the roads don't even give a visitor any clue that  they were once paved. It is understandable that the City has no capacity let alone equipment to undertake road repairs to professional standard and quality that is taken for granted in developed and some developing countries. This is where the private sector comes in. But the private sector must be well equipped and be able to perform road and sidewalk construction professionally and with integrity. Unfortunately these qualities are rare in Zambia. Road projects must be done so that the roads and sidewalks so constructed can last upto 50 years or beyond. However, this is not the case. Roads that were recently constructed during the Second Republic already have pot holes. One example is Lumumba road in Lusaka. What is the cause of this? Causes are public knowledge!

Is This Zambia's International Airport?

Visiting Zambia after eight years of absence left me unspired about the prospects of future infrastructure development in the country. I had been hearing about some interesting developments in the country and in my mind thought that the much-talked about development projects in Lusaka had been extended to the re-development of Lusaka International Airport. I sat on the left side of the plane by the window. As the British Airways plane was almost touching the runway to land, the airport came into full view. The view was depressing to realize that nothing significant had been done to uplift the image of the airport all the eight years I had been out of the country. However, some cosmetic developments have been done at the airport's main parkinglot. The parkinglot now has a ticket booth where every motorist must to stop to be robbed of their money because there is nothing worth paying for. It's almost laughable to see another rather  silly addition in which the sides of the walkway are covered with shoulder-high blue hard plastic paneling and with a roof of a similar colour. This arrangement runs the full stretch to the edge of the right of way separating the beginning of the walkway from the front of the airport terminal.

The main airport terminal remains the same. If there had been no aeroplane parked, one wouldn't even think this was an airport. The arrival walkway as you enter airport terminal is less inspiring too. You can see it was added as an afterthought that was not rendered any serious thinking. One wonders whatever is wrong with this picture. Zambian leaders are extensively travelled but they have no inclimnation to learn how other countries in the region and other developed ones have managed to put up quality airports. The Zambian airport looks no more than a train station or simply half of a shopping mall. How long will it take for Zambia to modernize the airport? It is long overdue!

Do They Care about Lusaka Floods and the people Affected

Flooding in many parts of the country has been commonplace for decades. It has become a yearly ritual that the poor have to go through whether they like it or not. The mostly poor areas find themselves at the receiving end every time the country experiences heavy rains. This problem does not affect the leadership and if they are not affected at all, why should they care? Of course, they must be seen to care not only by exhibiting their usual lipservice but also through deeds. It is very long overdue and government has to come up with ways of addressing floods for good. It is such a mockery to see the councils put up drainage that is easily filled by a "teaspoonful of water".

Politicians must care and they must be made to care inasmuchas they were put in there current positions by the same people affected by the floods year-after-year. The relationship between leaders and the electrorate must be mutually beneficial. While the leaders benefit financially through their positions, the electrorate must also see benefits by way of developmental projects in their areas. Flood mitigation projects such as adequate drainage infrastructure will in a sense make them feel that their area MPs and other leaders care for their lot.

Luapula don't be fooled by promise of a Vice President

You will all recall that the people of Western Province were promised by RB that he would appoint a North Westerner as Vice President if they voted for him. We all know that he never honoured his promise and it's all history. His promise was essentially empty and designed to get votes. The problem in Zambia is that we either don't care about politicians taking us for rides or we simply have very short memory. We hope that the people in Luapula province learnt something from the empty promises made to hoodwink their Western Province counterparts. Zambians must not waste their time listening to politicians who have failed to deliver on their promises and their mandate to develop the country. It is sad and unfortunate to have politicians continue to run for office for personal aggrandizement and ease of access to public funds.

Cabinet to table NCC allowances

What will tabling the allowances of NCC members achieve? The majority of the NCC members are government officials with vested interest in the approval of allowances. What this manoeuvrings is is that it amounts to a mockery of the Zambian people especially those living way below the poverty datum line. When will this insatiable desire to rob public funds stop? It is all too clear that the current crop of leadership lacks developmental focus and complete inability to priorities the development of the country. The leadership seems to be racing against time considering that 2011 is just around the corner and therefore sees the urgency to amass wealth now under current corrupt system. Zambia's roads in many residential areas in Zambia are far from being acceptable and it is a wonder how area MPs even have the audacity to crave for their gratuity. At the rate the country's public funds are being misused or let's say misappropriated, there is no hope that residential infrastructure, especially roads, will ever be repaired to the level that was common during the First Republic. A recent of photo of a road linking Lumumba road with Luanshya road is a perfect example of how roads have deteriorated in Lusaka.The ZMK5 billion that NCC members are hankering for can be used to repair roads to benefit the masses as opposed to funneling the money into the pockets of the undeserving few.

Zambia accepts Altimo's Zamtel bid

The Zambia Privatization Agency (ZDA) has accepted a new and fourth bid from Russian telecommunications operator Altimo for pre-qualification in the process to privatise Zambia Telecommunication Limited (Zamtel). The first three bids were received from India's BSNL, Lap Green Networks of Libya and Unitel of Angola on 23 December 2009. The fourth bid from Altimo was received five minutes after the submission deadline of 15:00hrs. Because it was received after the deadline, the ZDA did not open the submission, and indicated that it would call a board meeting to decide whether or not to accept the submission from Altimo. Altimo had sent its submission on time but it arrived at the ZDA five minutes after the submission deadline due to logistical reasons. The ZDA Board at a special meeting held on 30 December 2009 resolved to accept the submission from Altimo on grounds that it was received before the other bids were opened and that no evaluation of the other three bids had been undertaken. He added that the Altimo bid would be included in the assessment of bids because this round of bid was only indicative and not binding and that consequently ZDA would open the Altimo bid. Shortlisted companies and consortia will be invited to the next stage of the privatisation of Zamtel. They will be invited to conduct further due diligence on Zamtel, and will be asked to submit a binding bid for a majority equity stake in the company. The next phase of Zamtel privatisation and details on the indicative bids received will be announced on 11 January.