Comments on: Why foreign direct investment not benefiting ordinary Zambians

By: Lynch Mob Misleader

Lynch Mob Misleader — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 08:44:40 +0000

Zambia’s political independence remains a shifting mirage – a nice theory for as long as economic development and economic independence lag behind.

We are cursed with misleaders who still think it is up to investors to develop our country. Favourable investment climate simply equates to ripe for plunder. And we send drunken party cardres to dance at the airport to celebrate our financial illiteracy.

There are numerous models of successful economies (South Korea) whom we can emulate, but no, we prefer to wallow in filth and poverty.

By: David N

David N — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 13:55:41 +0000

In reply to fedup.

…the privatisation exercise. We also made ridiculous concessions to attract investors. The customs and duty tax exemptions should have been restricted to new mines not the ones that were running.

By: David N

David N — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 13:49:02 +0000

In reply to fedup.

@10 Please read the article again. Only this time go slowly and try to muster all your form 2 comprehension skills to understand. The FDI for the mines went into refurbishment or replacement of archaic equipment and implementation of new technology (former ZCCM units) after years of non recapitalisation by GRZ (UNIP) and the opening of new mines – Lumwana and Kalumbila . Sadly, this in part, explains the few or non job creation. This investment was being controlled by the investors to bring the mines up to speed with world copper mines development. How does GRZ/PF come in to misappropriate? The issue is in the way privatisation was conducted. We should have taken our time by putting in sufficient measures to protect the average Zambian instead of the supersonic speed with which we took…

By: Ndanje Khakis

Ndanje Khakis — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 08:08:34 +0000

In reply to Zambian Citizen.

I am glad that some has agreed with my belief. Unip would be in power today if our founding father KK had trust in other members of his party. KK had outlived himself and the best thing was to allow a member with a fresh mind and modern ideas to take over the mantle. With its socialist ideas Unip would have whipped the MMD hands down. As if his 27years in power was not enough the mad decided to presenter politics and ousted his successor the late Kebby Musokotwane.FTJ knew that Unip would win the 1996 election because of the suffering we we were facing after privatization. So he came up with that constitution that blocked KK from standing completely. And sadly the entire Unip decided to boycott that election. Blame it on KK.

By: Zambian Citizen

Zambian Citizen — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 05:52:36 +0000

Great article, Kalima. The problem in Zambia is policy inconsistencies brought about by our political set up. From KK to FTJ or FTJ to Levy, the winner takes all mentality messes up any gains and gives these multinationals a trump card to manipulate the new set of leaders. The two countries mentioned, Botswana and Namibia have a more stable political set up as they have only been governed by same parties since independence (Tanzania is the same too). Not that we should revert to the one party system, but separation of institutions from political systems is urgent.

By: fedup

fedup — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 04:29:23 +0000

ASK THE PF WHERE 16 BILLION DOLLARS HAS DISAPPEARED TO AND YOU WILL THEN FIND OUT WHY FDI DOES NOT BENEFIT ORDINARY ZAMBIANS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: MpunduMoney

MpunduMoney — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 18:19:08 +0000

Well said Ndanje khakis the other problem is that no matter what we do we will achieve nothing because we are still colonised.Our economy is not controlled by us.This practice causes our politicians to sign shoddy deals for political favours such as putting them or keeping them in power.So if HH is put in power they will expect something in return.In all democratic countries when an opposition party losses an election the leader steps down to allow fresh minds to steer the party forward.But in Africa the story is different.The only time we will succeed is when we take the bull by the horn and dictate our own destiny.Nomba kaya umwenso we lack courage and boldness.

By: the voice of reason

the voice of reason — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 17:09:07 +0000

Well said ndanje khakis.perhaps I can add by saying the team of tax lawyers and accountants that these mining companies employ is no much for the not so well paid ZRA tax lawyers. There is need for help of action aid and NGOs like that. Meanwhile ,HH would probably take us back with the mines as its clear he has already actioned us to the highest bidder. All he needs now s power to complete his deals

By: Ndanje Khakis

Ndanje Khakis — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 15:48:12 +0000

In reply to Ndanje Khakis.

Cont’d. ..underhand methods by companies like Glencore.

By: Ndanje Khakis

Ndanje Khakis — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 15:46:31 +0000

@1.2 Please read the article again before you start blaming people like Lungu. Was Lungu in government in 1990? In fact your Upnd has played a major part in what Kalima has written here. In 2001 Anglo wanted Mazoka to win the presidency and when he lost Anglo walked out of KCM without notice. In order to save jobs Levy Mwanawasa gave KCM to Indians who paid only USD25m..money actually realized from the mine itself. In 2015 again Upnd lost and many miners also lost their jobs. Was this just a coincidence? Each time government wants to get something from the mines you and your cronies cry that we’re scaring away investors. Current example is the tax issue between ZRA and KCM where you are stating that the figure by ZRA is fake. I’m glad some European based NGOS are helping us discover…