Mining Tax

Do you know that so far only one mine pays tax?

Kanseshi is the only tax payer? The rest has received so much tax holiday from the government it will take a very long time to get anything from them. Remember the 1billion kwacha? That came from only one mine!

So how come they don't pay taxes? Why would people call for windfall taxes when there is not even taxes being paid. The whole middle-income country status is meaningless as the money if sent out to the money owners without even paying taxes!

We need to make these people pay. Better yet, if the government was interested in the country, it would have put in place legislation to make these mines bring the money into the country and then take profits. Right now, money coming back after sells is just to pay suppliers and workers. MMD and Rupiah Banda have sold the country for a song! We need to make them pay and vote in a government that will clean this up. Right now, the only possible choice is PF. I have turned to support them as I have seen this is the only way we will move them from power through the vote. Lets make sure or else we will only have a chance like our brothers in Tunisia, Egypt or Libya! HH and the rest are just vote spoilers!

Voters Decaying Memory

'Voters place more weight on recent events than distant events from the past' - Nordhaus

This was under the political business cycle.

So what does it mean for us? We need to look at the whole election campign right from where it started. Lets put everything in the pot before we vote.

1. MMD has been around for a long time – about 20years! In that 20 years, what have they done for the country? Why have they tarred the roads in your area now? And if you live in an area with a lot of bad roads, it will be roads that lead to the polling station. And that is what you should always remember, they have had money in all the 20 years. What happened to the money in the 19years they have been in power??? If they can do these roads now, they must have had a lot of money for themselves in the past 19years. So as you walk down the road to vote – remember only one thing, that road could have been done a long time ago. And done better, not this hurry job as a result of desparation! With a thin layer of tar to blanket the dusk which you have endured all these years. Some of the roads being worked on, was last done by Kaunda!!!
   
   
2. Desparation of this kind means something is terribly wrong and they don't want someone to come and uncover it as they surely will be arrested. Lets give them that very thing they fear – prison! Lets make sure they are unsettled from the plans of hiding things before it is too late. Remember how things end up being covered and people found innocent after our courts and yet the British court found them guilty! All acts carried out by one George Kunda. Hunting on one end and freeing on the other. He must be made to pay also as he protect the thieves who he at one time chased in all ways. Chiluba was free in Zambian courts after Mwanawasa died! But was guilty in London court! What a mockery of justice! So now we must use our power to ensure that they pay as the desparate must have something to hide.
   
   
3. Zambia is slowly being turned into the “Banda Enterprise”. Sons and daughters being found in all deals and in so many illegal things in the country. Zambia is bigger than any of the people in the Banda family both small and big. Its time for the people to speak. I know we have been given 10 possible choices with 9 alternatives to this “Enterprise”. But when you think about seriously, it only leaves 2 alternatives. HH with UPND and Sata with PF. I have not seen anything different from the UPND camp. Thats why even when they defect, they go back to MMD. So I have only one choice in that area. Moreover, I think it is funny that UPND people have never wanted change all this time since Mazoka died. He wanted change, but then all that remains either wants to side with MMD based on their own belief or they pretend to back the majority of the people. I don't believe there is anything Sata has done which would warranty all the State media and people to attack him like that! They lied about him supporting gays! They tried to arrest him for US $25,000.00 and yet they come and say he had received US $ 45,000,000.00!!!! They say they are democratic and he is a dictator! But MMD had people running away that they are “undemocratic” ways in the party. Including Mulongoti! UPND has the same, but none from PF. It even had MPs running and protect by the “speaker” as rebel MPs! So who is the evil bunch! They even insulted the catholic church which has more social responsibility and only second to Government itself under non-profit status. Did they apologise? NO! They instead paid someone, a catholic, to be insulting his own church!!! That takes away my vote as a catholic no matter what road they paint with tar!!!
   
   
4. RB stood on a sympathy vote. And used Mwanawasa to win the people's hearts. The moment he came into power, he insulted every strength he got from Mwanawasa and even fought with the son. He un-did Mwanawasa's fights so fast we are still wondering who ever got arrested for corruption. Even the flats opposite ZESCO were given back to Chiluba and now are being fought for by the family. Zamtel was sold using under hand and under-feet methods to a family being fought my the world and the rebels of Libya! What nonsense is this to be voted back into power? Whoever thought it would be like that? I was one of the few. Now my first blog is so blocked I had to open another one. myzambian.blogspot.com has what I thought then which is the same today with just a serious direction now – Vote for PF and Sata!! I know he can work. And I'm one of the few who know, that 90% of the bad things you know about him, came from MMD and its supporters! Can you expect anything good from them about an opponent? He built MEZAF flats in Chilenje, they will never say so! He built the fountains on both Kafue round-about and Kabwe-round about, did they credit that! Even the fly-over bridge at ZESCO! What have they done? I will give you an example. At Chainama hospital, there was a poster of Mwanawasa and the Lusaka General hospital. When he died, it was quickly replaced with RB's face! In Kabwata, along Dr. Aggrey road and the road coming from the market, there is a 12x3m banner about “your government working and tarring roads”. Whoever votes for them based on that road is a fool! That road was untarred for a long time. Not even patched since Kaunda left. They don't need to broadcast what they are supposed to do! Who would respect a father who reminds his children that “I have paid your school fees, so I'm your best Dad!” You have paid my school fees because you are my Dad! Even my late Dad would never talk about that!
   
   
5. The law of spliting votes. From the lot standing. Voting on MMD means you are stuck in the vicious circle of poverty and mind you they need to make you dance for all that they have paid to bribe you. ZRA has not even collected the money they used to buy those vehicles for campign. And yes, it means you want more and more corruption in this country.
   Voting for the 'others' who are not among the three (3) RB, HH and Sata means you are so ignorant, you can't stand home and you waste your vote and time standing to vote! So either stop reading this blog as your vote is not even worth talking about. Now of the three (3), I have explained why voting for RB confirms your desire for poverty, backwardness, corruption and failure to appreciate development, your lack of reason hence my dying effort to educate the little that is still in you that can make Zambia better by you changing to vote for another and not MMD. Voting for HH has two possible sides. You want change but are scared to move on so you just either vote for something similar to MMD or MMD itself. You miss the important aspects. You can't honest expect HH to rule? Not now? Not in 10years. He can't even organise his party!!! This is not business running, its a country. Your decision to switch to either change, or maintain MMD is in two ways. You voting for HH and RB results in the same! MMD wins and we go back to our usual poverty, shame, laughing stock of the region and so on. Maybe you are used to this! Because if you can vote for someone coming out third (3^rd)! Your vote must mean nothing to you! You voting for Sata results in an upgrade! You make Sata win, and you win! The country wins! RB loses, Corruption losses! His sons are hambled! The MMD's waste of resources and selling of the country assets is checked and development wins! If you want HH to win, he has time to see how development is forced and he can then take a smooth ride like I have always expected!
   
   
6. So UPND splitting of votes can only be checked as outlined above. May you think positively and make Zambia better!!!

What have we done?!

I hate to see things get nasty like they usually do! We have an excuse of a constitution which was made by MMD. Now I believe anything at this point should be done in the interest of the nation. 

Sometimes, we do a good job. Most of the times, we have questions which cannot be answered. In most of these times, the people appointed to uphold the law - merely choose what they want to uphold!

Kaunda was found state-less at a critical time. I believe whoever was involved not only deserves to say to the Zambian people, but also needs to ask for forgiveness from Kaunda himself. So now since we setup that silly presendence, we need to do what is right at any given time. The people to uphold the law, need to do it in a way that will not only be fair, but also fair at the most prompt time. So is RB a true Zambian under the law to stand and be president? If he is not, he needs to avoid prison and the people connected to him too! Its that simple under the law. But the people we have “upholding” the law seem to be playing tricks with life and the nation. All these will be held responsible at one time or the other, more so if there is problems related to this status quo we have enjoyed all these years.

We need to take things that come like this serious always. Regardless of who brings it, because a lot more people are interested in that. I have no interest or regard of Kawimba as a person I should allow to do something good. But if there is any doubt whatsoever about the qualification of RB to be president. That issue should be handled and exhausted before people pack bags and move on. Its just the law. So a lawyer should respect that. A judge should make sure it is followed. Thats all!

So now, is RB qualified? Did he rule illegally? Those are questions that this case should have addressed but it didn't! Will it make it legal if he wins and they push their way with this? Will it stop people forcing their way to the streets if it calls for that? God save us! We need to be serious when such matters are important in maintaining sanity in the country. What have we done?

How can we remedy this issue? Those are questions that need to be asked. Its sad that after UNIP died politically, what they did in their end times is exactly what is happening now! MMD has become totally violent. They have taken over bustops with flags just like times of the 'mushanga sellers' and UNIP 'youths'! William Banda not concerned about the goodness of this country but hes own survival has been unleashed on the people. So what happens to him if an opposition party takes over? I hope they don't deport him. He should be cage so tightly his skin should be brushing the bars! He should be made to pay for the violence he brought into the country and the people that encouraged him should also he right beside and behind him.

Road Works

MMD has come out with a real good show of what they could have done in the past 20years. I mean look at it this way. Each people complained that money is being misused! And we saw no maintenance of roads, buildings or any infrastructure. In 2011, without approval of parliament, they have started road works with no idea of the source of funds! Some say banks as far as ABSA in South Africa, UBA and even Standard Charttered bank here locally. But that is not an issue, it can only be known when they lose the elections and investigations carried out after all, that is public money which all of us Zambians will pay for or have paid for. No single donor has come out. Besides all the illegality of the issue, my concern is the works that have come out! 

If they have access to such money, which they are keeping secretly, what have they been having in the last 20years!!! How many roads could have been built by now? How many hospitals? How much was spent in bribes, oversea trips, personal misuse, etc! Thats is the only issue I have with the works. I think doing a cheap job after wasting alot of money should lead to people being punished. And yes, I know some of you have benefited from all these corrupt acts. I want you found and locked up if you did anything illegal - full stop. 

No single road was maintained in 20 years, and some of you have been fooled to even vote for MMD. Be practical and at least think with your brains. There is something fishy that would lead to road construction without parliament approval. More over, they said money was given to opposition MPs of these areas like Kabwata! If a government would give money to MPs for road works, do you think they would let him be witout being locked up for theft! How do people make such silly statements and no one follows them up? How does a government operate like that? Did they send the money to his bank account? Did they give him cash? 

Then the worst thing happened! They claimed PF received $45million from some Asian country. And some people believed it! Surely how can such money come into the country? They wanted to arrest and lock up Sata for $25,000.00!! Imagine if it was $1million! Now imagine $45million! I laughed at the foolishness of people believing that! Interestings, even educated people! Which bank would have half of Zambian's budget. How much would a dollar cost? Even governement only receives such money after 6 months for its budget operations! I would actually would vote for anyone who has half the money for the whole country's budget! Ni ma half!!!! 

How many roads would they donate? Which MMD took 20years to come and cheat voters over! I would like to see how people react to this cheap political buy out. For me its done and dusted! I'm voting for the opposition! I will make that logically as I now have done and can come out and say, I wouldn't vote for MMD for obvious reasons:

1. They have done alot of harm to the country by even proving that in one year you can do some many roads, but did not do so for the 20years they were in power. Someone took that money and spent it. I want him found and locked up. IF he died throught their planning. He must be sent a letter to the grave to present on judgement day!
   
   
2. They have cheapen me by thinking they can steal my vote so cheaply with a thin layer of a road. I don't even have a car to drive on! I want electricity the whole day and night for me to study and bring food to my future family - they have denied me that!
   
   
3. They have brought a culture of dishonest and stealing both at home and at work. Back in Kaunda's days, someone who steals was locked up. Nowadays they steal and buy new cars which are cleared without paying taxes through ministries!
   
   
4. I'm ashamed to live in a country which is starving but signing that we are peaceful so just shut-up! Angola was at war, so was Mozambique! But these are now far more advanced than Zambia! We dream of going to live in these countries and not the other way!
   
   
5. They have turned institutions into president's pocket keepers! ZNBC is a waste of my money! I actually demand that people responsible should be locked are stealing public resources through supporting MMD!
   
   
6. I look forward to a developed society, the reasons we changed UNIP is the same things that MMD is doing and bringing! I want a change of that.
   
   
7. MMD is violent and pretends that other people are violent! Who attacks people? Who attacks reporters? Who puts up flags on all bus stops in Lusaka and chases anyone who shows support for opposition? Is this the democracy we wanted? Is this the leadership we wanted???!!!
   
   
8. I want a society good enough for my children! I can't live in Canada forever! Home is home, so home should be better! And it can only be without MMD!

Why HH Should not Stand in 2011

I love the man and expected him to be different from Zambian politicians like Mazoka was. Unfortunately, he has ended up being a mere third placed loser all the time! So what happened to this man?

I realized this was a case of one being so over-shadowed by issues which don't matter and a failure to see his time will come later. You can't shoot thieves with clean clothes! You need a full time packed gun. Then clean up the mess with a clean cloth - to say it in dramatic terms.

I love the comparison he always make with Obama, but seriously, Obama did not stand up and start saying we want people who are young to rule and the rest retire. He cam out with substance! That is the mere difference. Not I was one year old when this one started politics!

Here is the simple magic wand he should have used – logic! He can't beat Sata on any day. Maybe after this election he can beat him. But he stands to make sure if he doesn't win, at least Sata wont win. Seems a good idea to him. However, he misses the simplest logic in the arrangement. Hes standing and turning the tables does not go well with the people. This is because, that standing frustrates the people's desires and wishes.

I once told someone that HH will not rule, not because people hate him, but because he works against the people. HH has no right (like anyone else) to determine what people want! His desire should basically be (like all politicians) to offer himself to us, not determine who we should choose. This has been a big problem in Zambia. People stand and want to show people what the other person is, not what goodness they offer! Seriously!

People know what Sata did or did not know. MMD has politics of undressing every little dirt in a house. So for Sata to stand in elections and come out “second” means the people like him, regardless of what his age is, what he did in 1962, what work in did in 1978, etc! These are facts of life which people know about him. So it really does not work in HH's favour to tell us or remind us of the age or year Sata was born!

If HH wanted to rule this country, he can simply follow the easy steps and not make it impossible for him to rule.

1. He should work with the people not against the people. If he withdrew from this race and fielded MPs, “in order to ensure MMD goes out of power”. Do you think he will fail to win the next election? Honestly by my own judgement, Sata cannot withdraw from an election to give chance to someone who lost to him. Can HH give Miyanda the chance? That simple logic is what led to the failure of the pact! The one simple thing which would have ensured HH and Sata in government. To me, they simply needed to look at this and make a binding contract to have HH as vice president for the whole 5years. That is how people work to ensure removal of a government. But HH thought he should over take Sata and stand. Sad news, he stands, he comes out third again, and loses popularity with the people. He even eliminates his own chances of taking power in the next elections. Typical Zambian politician. Look at Nevers Mumba – once regarded as the “next president”. He killed his party to be vice president and then got himself fired. Now he is a political begger! The same can be of HH.
   
   
2. If the people want Sata and he does not want to be president, he can stand aside and wait. Unlike all these politicians, he can be a president for the next 15years if he wants. But he makes appear that he only has this chance! No wonder people get frustrated with him. He has followers yes! But he does not have all the people. Collectively with Sata, they have the people. But they have fallen to the tricks of MMD of divide and rule. Thats the problem.
   
   
3. He has taken the blame for the failure of the pact. So he can do better by standing out. Surely people say Sata is arrogant and so on. When the pact died. HH was on the streets condemning Sata and the pppt on the failure. They on the other hand said, it is still working. We just have disagreements! Who seriously appeared mature! The people totally look at it and say he wanted power! Thats why the pact failed. Pppt came out of that with a clean slate.
   
   
4. He should stand out of the noise. If people of the same grade are arguing, do you join them or stand out to show maturity and uniqueness? He has jumped in and has become part of the noise. For example, if he stands aside and later says, “People you want a leader, here I am”! For next elections, why would I not vote for him? Now he knows what he is talking about, but has no means of selling it! You can't talk economics! You can talk politics. Sata is talking politics, HH is an elite economist! Who would pull people to his side? Be honest to yourself!
   
   
5. He should not think he lost because he is Tonga! Mazoka was Tonga, we all voted for him. Why? The answer to that will tell HH why he has not won an election up to now. And if not careful, will not win any.
   
   
6. He should put interest of the country first and not his! Regardless of the ideas he has. People know and have seen Sata work. So if they want him to rule, there's something they have seen in him which they want. Be it a chance to stop MMD with a serious and tough person. A chance to lock up all those who messed the country up, a chance to give them a thorough re-adjustment in the country – whatever! They want him! So HH in having interest of the country, he should trust the people to make a choice and a better one at that by staying away!
   
   
7. Age aint nothing but a number! HH should never think he will only be productive when he is young. I'm sure his Bachelor degree economics is further less of substance than his later works. Thats what it means. His work now, will be less than what the country will need him for. I follow all his talks and he should not think Kaunda did better things when he was young and in the early days of his rule. Kaunda gave the Zambians one thing no other president has ever done – FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. That was at the end of his rule. When he was over 60years! When we see Kaunda, we want to shake his hand not because of what he did in 1969, but because he was a states man in the last days. Do you think he would have failed to rig the elections? But he knew it benefits no one if he rigs and wins and yet the people lose. Thats why Chiluba never even came close to half the man Kaunda was. Can HH give us that?
   
   
8. See himself as a hero! He will win by withdrawing. But him standing 4 elections and coming out third is not good for his record. He should be above that. Obama did not stand in three elections before he won – if that will help his comparison with him.

The day he will put these in his decisions, he will be a wiser man. And a president for sure. The day he will stand to win, not “even if I don't win I will ensure Sata wont win”. Seriously, you can't tell me we should vote for a man who grades himself as a “spoilure” just to make sure some else does not win!!! Be practical and principled for people to consider you worth of the seat.

If this election is lost for the people, regardless of you winning, someone will be a candidate to win 2016. So far you are the only candidate, but what you do between now and then, determines your chances. May God bless us all!!