News, Media and Opinions

No Need for Further Media Regulation

Administrator — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:50:00 GMT

I write in response to a recent *Times of Zambia* article in which Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha is quoted as having said that the government will go ahead and regulate the media ifpractitioners decide not to come up with self-regulation after the six-month ultimatum it has imposed on them.

I have found it hard to understand why Ronnie Shikapwasha, George Kunda and other Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) leaders have continued to advocate for additional legislation designed to regulate the media. There is really no need for the kind of legislation which the government is contemplating. What the government needs to do is to operationalize the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) in order for the broadcasting media to be regulated by an independent body, and to enact the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill and make it possible for journalists to access information that is vital to both the media and members of the public.

Passage of legislation relating to freedom of information and the operationalization of the IBA would, accordingly, be accompanied by rules and regulations by which media institutions would be expected to operate.Among the functions of the IBA, for example, would be to promote broadcasting standards and codes of ethics and practice.

Besides, existing laws and regulations provide the necessary checks and limitations on the operations of media institutions in the country. The *Penal Code* (introduced in 1931 and amended in 1990), for example, defines the following as criminal offences: sedition and defamation (Chapter 191),defamation of the President (Chapter 69), and defamation of foreign princes and the publication of false news that incites fear or violence or damages the national security of the country (Chapter 67).

Other pieces of legislation which provide additional regulation of media operations in Zambia include the following: the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Act (1987), National Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Act(2002), Theatres and Cinematography Exhibition Act (1929), Criminal Procedure Code Act (1933), Radio Communications Act (1994), Printed Publications Act(1994), Information and Communications Technologies Act (2009), and Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (2009 ).

Moreover, the existence of the seemingly politically correct Media Council Of Zambia (MECOZ) established in 2004 provides another reason why legislation sought by the government is irrelevant. As affirmed in its constitution, MECOZ’s role is to function as a voluntary self-regulatory body for journalists, and through which members of the public can submit their complaints and grievances against the media. MECOZ has also formulated a code of ethics to assist journalists to defend the principles of freedom of the press and information.

So, the mere fact that countries like Zimbabwe, Kenya and Botswana have pieces of legislation specifically designed to regulate the operations of the media is not a good enough reason to introduce such legislation in Zambia.

If comrade Shikapwasha and his fellow MMD leaders are really serious about introducing legislation designed to regulate the media in spite of what I have discussed above, then they should spearhead the drafting of a regulatory framework for media self-regulation. This should be an obvious expectation considering the fact that the ruling party and its government“own” and control the largest segment of the news media in Zambia which are operated nationwide.

Although ZANIS, ZNBC, *Times of Zambia *and the *Zambia Daily Mail* are on the mailing list for this comment, there is no doubt in my mind that Shikapwasha, Kunda and other MMD leaders will not have the opportunity toread it due to the fact that these public media institutions on which they depend for their news are not permitted to cover stories that are not in defence or praise of the MMD, President Banda and/or his administration.

Henry Kyambalesa

ZNBC Goes Live Globally

Zambian Author — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:19:00 GMT

Africast Global Media Inc. is proud to announce that Zambians in the Diaspora can now watch ZNBC-TV live online. Africast Global Media Inc and ZNBC TV have concluded tests and now satisfied are ready to serve Zambians living outside Zambia home programmming LIVE and Direct from Lusaka from ZNBC-TV. This has been made possible by the great team at ZNBC-TV led by the DG Mr. Joseph Salasini,Mr.Kangwa,Mr.Mwanza etal Click on the link below to watch your favorite ZNBC Programmes. http://216.139.229.184:7007/live_tv_zm

Duncan Mushala abandons family

Civility — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:10:24 GMT

Duncan Kakulekelo Mushala has been married for thirty years and has had 6 children. He has put his wife in so much emotional turmoil that she has slipped in and out of major depression. He has vowed to make her life miserable because he is the bread winner and can pretty much do anything. She has especially suffered over the last decade from mental, emotional, and physical abuse that Duncan Mushala has inflicted on her. Duncan Mushala was married to a widow from the Lusaka Airport area - secretly - and preyed on her. He started working for TAVETA and secretly does a woman he works with, Christine. She is a widow too (What are these widows thinking). He has money and so these desperate shanty compound women are easy target (the 1st wife lived in some school hostels while Christine live in dumpy Chilenje area). He wants to move his adulterous lovie into his matrimonial home and chase away his children and wife. What a low life!

Personally, I have no problem with divorce when it is absolutely called for, as in this case. But I differ with men that want to destitute their partners by hiding behind the antiquated local courts. Local courts in Zambia, as you might know, are governed by customary law in family matters. This means that the woman has no say in the decision for property sharing and the man can do what ever he please because they 'court' is behind him. Truly a recipe for disaster and backwardness.

If Duncan Mushala wants a divorce, let him leave the matrimonial home and go to chilenje. But no, Christine wants to leave in Kabulonga with her brutes and litter and she will push for this. The sad thing is, Duncan Mushala is a graduate of UNZA. Wow! I wonder how a moron like him has got so far, but then again, it people like Duncan Mushala that have caused the regression of civility.

Please join me in calling for any end to this unethical, inhumane way of treating women. The courts should make an exam of people like Duncan Muishala and make sure that he leave the house for his childish whims. Women in Zambia need all of us to join hands and require the equality of all, especially in matters of divorce.

The TEVETA management should also see to it that such unethical conduct and treatment of women and dissolution of all that is not good by people like Duncan Mushala do not go unnoticed. Also, women like Christine should be ashamed that they would conjure up such schemes to ruin the lives of another family. Remember Christine, if he treated his wife of Thirty years like this, imagine how he will treat you as you and your litter. Remember that!

Ex-PCC Now Turns into Mulungushi University

Zambian Author — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:21:02 GMT

President Mwanawasa has said the National College for Management and Development Studies in Kabwe has been turned into the third public university which will admit its first students next January.

Send free SMS in Zambia

Zambian Author — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:18:03 GMT

Send free SMS in Zambia by visiting http://www.sms.co.zm/

Times of Zambia

Zambian Author — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:04:05 GMT

honestly, as a student, i don't now what to do. is the government being serious about education or football&the NCC? people need to understand the frustration of the lecturers, workers and the students. I'm being held hostage, YES, hostage, by my government and lecturers. i come here, and they wont teach.when we go, they still continue as usual doing their research and private jobs.NCC can find money to pay consultants, why not pay our lecturers? cant the government go to the stock exchange and get a bond to clear off UNZA? some people have come from sesheke, luapula, and have no money to go back in search of a brighter future.please government, pay these people.and they wonder how PF wins. lets ave some priorities. also lecturers, don't use us as hostages, we are your children. we are innocent, in fact we pay our fees to pay you.so lets not use one another.if we have a class boycott, u want to close the institution.do we always have to stone cars or burn tires?must we parade ourselves on MUVI TV to get an audience? cant we peacefully resolve our differences. government???????must i erect football posts on the great east road and play UNZA social to get sponsors from companies. find a solution. infact, read this and put pen to paper and sign sum checks!!!!!

Since Rupiah Banda came into power

Zambian Author — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:46:32 GMT

Since Rupiah Banda became the president of Zambia:

1. Salaries of Mps, cabinet ministers and himself where increased

2. Over 300 miners or more have lost there jobs (Kansanshi Mine to axe 298 jobs)

3.Unza & CBU tuition fees have been increased

4. for the first time in about five years Zambia has a no Bumper harvest

5.The price of mealie has sored

6. The kwacha has depreciated

7. Inflation is 19%

8.He has invited Plunderers back Eg Xavier is back Chilu Free

Zambians, this is just the begining of the worst to come i can bet on that

Zambia To Become Africa’s Largest Producer Of Cane Sugar

Administrator — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:27:25 GMT

President Mwanawasa yesterday launched the Nakambala sugarcane expansion project estimated to cost US$200 million. President Mwanawasa said the expansion project had put Zambia in the league of the major sugar producers in the world.

“It is good that Zambia will not only be known by its production of copper but sugar as well,” he said.

The project would expand the country’s sugar exports mainly to the European Union.

PRESIDENT BANDA UNVEILS NEW CABINET

Zambian Author — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:02:00 GMT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday unveiled his new cabinet in which Justice minister, George Kunda retained his position and was given additional responsibilities as Republican Vice-President.

The President reappointed the commanders of the Zambia Army, Isaac Chisuzi, Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Samuel Mapara and Zambia National Service (ZNS) Raphael Chisheta.

Police Inspector-General (IG) Ephraim Mateyo has been retired awaiting a diplomatic posting and Commissioner of police Francis Kabonde was appointed in acting capacity.

At his first press conference since his election as President, Mr Banda dropped Finance minister, Ng’andu Magande, Local Government and Housing minister, Sylvia Masebo, Presidential Affairs minister, Cecil Holmes, Agriculture minister, Ben Kapita.

Former economic advisor to the President, Situmbeko Musokotwane is new Finance minister and former National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) managing director, Chileshe Kapwepwe is deputy minister and nominated member of parliament (MP).

“There is need to maintain the momentum of growth and I think Dr Musotwane has the experience as former advisor to the President, secretary to the treasury, IMF advisor and former Bank of Zambia deputy governor,” he said.

Former Local Government and Housing deputy minister, Bennie Tetamashimba has been elevated to cabinet in the same ministry and would be assisted by former Health deputy minister, Lwipa Puma and former Luapula province minister, Crispin Musosha.

Former Sports minister, Gabriel Namulambe is the new presidential affairs minister and former Information and Broadcasting Service minister, Vernon Mwaanga has been appointed the chief whip in parliament.

Mr Banda has moved former Health minister, Brian Chituwo to the ministry of Agriculture and retained Albert Mulonga and Daniel Kalenga as deputy ministers.

The other Former Agriculture minister, Sarah Sayifwanda has been moved to Gender Affairs and would be assisted by former Science, Technology and Vocational Training deputy minister, Lucy Changwe.

North-Western province minister, Kenneth Chipungu is the new Sports minister. Mr Banda reappointed Angela Cifire sports deputy minister together with Kitwe medical practitioner, Chris Kalila who has been nominated to parliament.

Former Tourism minister, Michael Kaingu has been moved to Community development and would be assisted deputy ministers, John Chinyanta and Friday Malwa.

Former Labour minister, Ronald Mukuma is the new Lands minister and the deputy Nasim Hamir retained the same position.

In the ministry of Mines, the President elevated deputy minister, Maxwell Mwale to full cabinet minister and retained Boniface Nkhata as deputy minister.

Ministers of Defence, Goerge Mpombo, Foreign Affairs, Kabinga Pande, Energy, Kenneth Konga, Commerce, Trade and Industry, Felix Mutati, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Peter Daka, Communications and Transport minister, Dora Siliya and Education, Geofrey Lungwangwa retained the posts.

Communications and Transport minister, Mubika Mubika, Foreign Affairs deputy minister, Fashion Phiri and Home Affairs deputy minister Misheck Bonshe were also reappointed in the same portfolios.

Former Information and Broadcasting Services deputy minister, David Phiri was transferred to Home Affairs and his former Local Government and Housing counterpart, Eustarkio Kazonga to Defence.

Mr Konga’s deputy, Gladys Lundwe was also retained in the same ministry and would work with former Northern province minister, Lameck Chibombamilimo who was also given the position of deputy minister there.

Former Finance deputy minister, Jonas Shakafuswa has been moved to Science and Education deputy minister, Clement Sinyinda shifted to Commerce, Trade and Industry in the same capacities.

Former Information and Broadcasting Services minister, Mike Mulongoti is new Works and Supply minister and would be assisted by Mundia Ndalamei who would continue as deputy minister.

Former Home Affairs minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha is new Information and Broadcasting Services minister and former Defence deputy minister, Elijah Muchima would be the deputy.

Former Mines minister, Kalombo Mwansa was appointed Home Affairs minister.

Kapembwa Simbao, the former Works and Supply minister is new Health minister and the deputy is Mwendoi Akakandelwa.

Former Community Development minister, Catherine Namugala has moved to Tourism with Vera Chiluba and Mubita Mwangala as deputy ministers.

At provincial minister level, the only changes involved the appointment of MMD founder member Boniface Kawimbe as Luapula minister, transfer of Charles Shawa from Eastern to Northern province and appointment of Joseph Mulyata as North-Western minister.

News Agencies in Zambia

Administrator — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:07:00 GMT

There are two main news agencies in Zambia. They are:

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC)

Editor: Mr Henry Ngilazi
Telephone Number : 260-97-7-779396

Physical Address: Mass Media Complex Alick Nkhata Road Lusaka Zambia
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 50015 Lusaka Zambia
Phone: 260-1-251983
Fax: 260-1-251983

Zambia News Agency (ZANA)

Editor-In-Chief: Villie Lombanya
Telephone Number: 260-1-252338

Principal Editor: Lewis Mwanangombe
Telephone Number: 260-1-252131

News Editors: Rosemary Katamba and Rose Nyanga
Telephone Number: 260-1-251240

Technical Officer: Joel Chipungu
Telephone Number: 260-1-251931

Physical Address: Mass Media Complex Second Floor Alick Nkhata Road Lusaka
Mailing Address: P.O Box 30007, Lusaka Zambia.
E-mail: zana@zamnet.zm
Fax: 260-1-251631

Barclays Bank Zambia secures 31 million USD investment bond

Zambian Author — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:33:00 GMT

Barclays Bank Zambia has secured a 125 billion kwacha (over 31 million U.S. dollars) investment bond from the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Luxembourg for lending to productive sectors of the economy of Zambia, Times of Zambia reported Thursday. Briefing journalists at the Barclays Bank head office in Lusaka Wednesday, managing director Zafar Masud said the development was set to capture the attention of international investors to the booming Zambian market.

Moving to Zambia

Zambian Author — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:02:04 GMT

We'd like to move to Zambia - either possibly to start a business, buy a business or run your lodge or bar for you. We are "people" people, and have made a total success of our pub in SA, we want to see and live in the "real Africa"! Any offers or info would be highly appreciated!

KCM 2008

Administrator — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:24:25 GMT

We received the following message from Claude.

KCM 2008: Will the Zambian people be plundered again?

We will tell you about the troubles of a charitable organization whose goal is to help your region (with tens of millions of $).

The capital of KCM (Konkola Copper Mines) is divided between various owners as follows:

-51% VEDANTA, an Indian corporation

-28.4% ZCI (Zambia Copper Investment), a legal entity from Bermuda

-20.6 % ZCCM-IH (88% of which is owned by the GRZ Gvt of the Republic of Zambia)

The Indian corporation VEDANTA bought 51% of KCM stock in November for a mere US$48m ($23m for ZCI, and $23m for KCM); back then, this sale came under fire and was described as an outrageous pillaging of Zambian resources.

VEDANTA currently holds a call option on the 28.4 % of KCM still owned by ZCI.

On Thursday, January 17, 2008, Rothschild banking, who had to assess its value as it stood in August 2005 (although the evaluation came out in 2008) came up with the figure of US$213.85m for the above mentioned 28.4%, thus evaluating KCM at US$750m. Vedanta can either accept or refuse to go on with the call, but ZCI cannot refuse to sell.

Why call this a new plunder committed against the people of Zambia?

At first sight, it might seem irrelevant to evoke Zambians since ZCI is based in Bermuda. In addition, most journalists and politicians in Zambia routinely refer to ZCI as exclusively foreign interests.

In 2003, the Anglo-American Company owned half of ZCI when it decided to part with ZCM. At that point, it transferred its stock to a Zambian foundation and to the Trust of Employees of KCM. In the annual report of ZCI for the end of 2002, available online at the following address:

http://www.zci.lu/annual_report_2002.pdf,

one can read (pp 1-2) :

"As a consequence of this restructuring, your company is now owned 47.7% by public shareholders, 44.3% by the CDF (Copperbelt Development Foundation) and 8% by the ESOT (KCM Employee Share Ownership Trust)."

"The Copperbelt Development Foundation (CDF), whose objectives are, inter alia, to promote diversification of the economy of the Copperbelt Province of Zambia and to promote the social development, relieve poverty and contribute to the provision of health, education and other social services in the Copperbelt Province and Mumbwa District of the Central Province of Zambia, (…)"

Public shareholders are shares on stock exchange, in Paris and Johannesburg, most of them possessed by small’s shareholders

Between 2005 and 2006, ESOT distributed its stock to KCM employees, so that today, the latter must control 8% of ZCI. As a result, ZCI is mainly owned (44.3+8=52.3%) by interests in Zambia. And we’re not talking wealthy Zambians who took advantage of KCM’s rise and thus of that of ZCI, but on the contrary low-income workers, thanks to the action of The Copperbelt Development Foundation.

When it was created, the CDF receive only few cash ($1.5million in September 2002), and many ZCI stock. Consequently, the foundation will be able to conduct its charity work only when KCM distributes money. But Vedanta, which controls KCM, hardly ever gave anything, in spite of the huge benefits it made almost overnight.

Let’s now come to the plunder.

All the surveys, all the evaluations conducted by various financial audit agencies are way above this figure. For instance, for the year 2005, Morgan Stanley, in a survey about Vedanta dated December 15, 2005, evaluates the 51% of KCM as US$1,321m, which makes KCM US$2,590m worth, far above the US$750m proposed by Rothschild. Other subsequent assessments are even higher. When the evaluation came out, Lehman Brothers, a financial analyst, immediately concluded that it was a bargain because KCM was worth at least twice this amount.

Vedanta acquired KCM in November 2004. Between the end of December, 2004 and the end of September, 2007, the share of the benefits one can safely attribute to 28.4% of ZCI (and that has remained so far undistributed) reaches more thanUS$144m.

(In ZCI financial reports, we found: in December 31, 2004: "Investment in associated companies 61,282" and KCM is the only one investment in associated companies of ZCI, and in September 30, 2007 (the last report): the line "Investment in associated companies" disappear, but the line "Assets classified as held for sale 205,398" appear, and the difference between the 2 lines = 205.398 - 61.282 = US$144.116m and represent the "Dividends not received").

So, Vedanta will pay only US$213.15m for shares with dividends not received attached of US$144.116m? So the real price will only become 213.15-144.116= US$69.034m for Vedanta. About the amount of profit for one year of exploitation of the mine!

And ZCI has a current account with KCM of $ 47.5 million, the form of deferred shares (see VEDANTA 2007 Annual REPORT, p. 95 of the report (97/140), "Non-equity minority interests are represented by the deferred shares in KCM held by ZCI of $ 47.5 million and ZCCM of $ 11.9 million."). It seems that this sum will also be acquired at Vedanta if the transaction takes place, so the real price will only become 69.034-47.5= $ 21.534 millions for Vedanta!

Today, in January 2008, the price at which Vedanta may purchase the 28.4% of KCM is set at August 2005, but between August 2005 and January 2008 the price of the shares of Vedanta on the London Stock Exchange was multiplied by 4 or 5.

Conclusion:

Finally, in January 2008, for 28.4% of KCM, the largest copper mine in the world, the jewel of the Copperbelt, it will cost only $ 21.5 million to Vedanta.

And if ZCI is dissolved following this, the Foundation will receive only about $ 100 million for carrying out charitable and development of the the Copperbelt Province and Mumbwa District of the Central Province of Zambia (although it should be at least three to five times higher, and that if Vedanta had distributed the money earned since 2004, The Foundation has already reached over $ 60 million without selling KCM shares!)

This is plunder.

This is highway robbery.

ZCI being held in majority by Zambian interests, it is the Zambian people who, once again, are being deprived of retribution for their natural resources by a powerful foreigner.

The ambition of the Foundation was, as quoted above, to « promote social development, relieve poverty and contribute to the provision of health, education and other social services » ; this ambition has been thwarted, and it is not the wealthiest Zambians who will suffer from this plunder, but the poorest , the most needy, those precisely targeted by the Foundation. Meanwhile an Indian billionaire is getting richer and richer.

Will this state of affairs continue and will journalists, politicians and GRZ look the other way? Or will the GRZ step in to stop the plunder?

Who runs ZCI?

ZCI has four directors (Directors). Two of them, including the Chairman who has a casting vote, are also directors of the CDF. So those are the leaders of the CDF who run ZCI.

Mr Tom KAMWENDO is the Chairman of the CDF and ZCI.

In the Annual Report of ZCI of 2007 (http://www.zci.lu/ZCI 20print%% 20final% 202007v2.pdf), on page 4, there are:

Thomas Kamwendo

Thomas Kamwendo was born on 14 May 1958 in Mpika Zambia. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering obtained from Brighton Polytechnic in the United Kingdom in 1983.

He has more than 20 years experience in the Zambian mining industry having started his professional career as an engineer in what is today KCM’s Nchanga Division. He has been CEO of three engineering companies and is currently managing Partner of his own multidisciplinary consulting firm. He has served on the boards of directors of several companies and is also current chairman of two development financing institutions, and is chairman of the Copperbelt Development Foundation.

He served on a Presidential Commission of Enquiry into university education in Zambia. He has previously chaired the Environmental Council of Zambia and was, until December 2005, President of the Engineering Institution of Zambia.

Who owns ZCI?

In the 2004 Annual Report of ZCI (http://www.zci.lu/2004%20ZCI%20Final%20v2.pdf), on page 11 are:

Non-public shareholders

Copperbelt Development Foundation 55,932,533 shares (44.3%)

Trustees of the KCM Employee Share Ownership Trust 10,095,789 shares (8.0%)

In the 2007 Annual Report of ZCI (http://www.zci.lu/ZCI%20print%20final%202007v2.pdf), on page 6, is:

Non-public shareholders

Copperbelt Development Foundation 55,932,533 shares (44.3%)

Trustees of the KCM Employee Share Ownership Trust 637,152 shares (0.5%)

Clearly, the interests of Zambia are in the majority in ZCI and that the Employee Trust has distributed the bulk of the shares directly to the employees themselves, i.e. directly to Zambian people.

Who runs the Foundation?

The following organizations appoint 5 administrators:

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, also known as The World Bank (www.worldbank.org/ibrd)

The International Council on Mining and Metals (http://www.icmm.com)

The United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) (www.dfid.gov.uk)

The African Development Bank (http://www.afdb.org)

The Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ)

The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA)

In 2002, Mr. Barrie Ireton was appointed by DFID, Mr. David Rodier by ICMM, and Mr. Tom Kamwendo was the President of the EIZ.

Vedanta Resources

Vedanta Resources is an Indian-based mining and metals company that listed in London in December 2003. It has copper smelting and refining operations in India, integrated copper mining and smelting operations in Zambia, integrated zinc mining and smelting operations in India, and bauxite mining, alumina smelting and aluminium smelting operations, also in India. The company has significant organic growth in all three of its base metal divisions, and aims to become a million ton per annum producer in copper, zinc and aluminium. The company is 54% owned by the Agarwal family.

Official website: http://www.vedantaresources.com/default.htm

Unofficial website (press articles about the dark side of Vedanta)

http://www.indiaresource.org/issues/globalization/2004/sterlite.html

http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=vedanta&sp-a=sp1002c867&sp-p=all&sp-f=ISO-8859-1

Armenian gvt accuses Vedanta to steal gold (February 2007) http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2007/02/974F86DD-A45D-4703-A91A-B20A773B709C.ASP

Chinese Mining Firm May Buy Stake in Vedanta (November 2007) http://www.rttnews.com/sp/Quickfactsnew.asp?date=11/23/2007&item=12

What are the different assessments made by KCM offices of the international financial analyses?

Year 2005:

In September 2005, Jean-Pierre Rozan, former Chairman of ZCI, the proposed amount of $ 1.2 billion for 28.4% of ZCI, or more than $ 4 billion for KCM, but refuses Vedanta.

On 15 December 2005, Morgan Stanley assesses 51% of KCM at $ 1,321 m, 2,590 m $ KCM

Year 2006:

On Jan. 19, 2006, Morgan Stanley assesses 51% of KCM at $ 1,057 m, 2,073 m $ KCM

The 08 February 2006, JPMorgan evaluates 51% of KCM to 636 million dollars, or $ 1,247 m for KCM.

On March 30, 2006, Morgan Stanley assesses 51% of KCM at $ 1,535 m, 3,010 m $ KCM

On May 19, 2006, Morgan Stanley assesses 51% of KCM at $ 2,107 m, 4,131 m $ KCM

On 01 June 2006, Morgan Stanley assesses 51% of KCM at $ 1,387 m, 2,720 m $ KCM

On 05 October 2006, Morgan Stanley assesses 51% of KCM at $ 1,937 m, 3,798 m $ KCM

Year 2007:

On 06 March 2007, JPMorgan evaluates 51% of KCM at $ 1,418 m, 2,780 m $ KCM.

We can send you a copy of these studies if you wish.

ZCDefense, Association of Minority Shareholders ZCI and ZCCM.

zcdefens@zcdefense.com

www.zcdefense.com

The Size and Functions of the Zambian Government

Administrator — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:52:00 GMT

We received the following from Henry Kyambalesa.

My Fellow Zambians,

I wish to share with you my views concerning the size and functions of the Zambian government following President Rupiah Banda's announcement of his bloated 22-member Cabinet, many of the portfolios having 2 Deputy Ministerial sinecures. These portfolios are as follows:

Minister of Justice;
Minister of Defence;
Minister of Finance and National Planning;
Minister of Home Affairs;
Minister of Health;
Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives;
Minister of Local Government and Housing;
Minister of Gender and Development;
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry;
Minister of Communication and Transport;
Minister of Community Development and Social Services;
Minister of Education;
Minister of Energy and Water Development;
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services;
Minister of Labour and Social Security;
Minister of Lands;
Minister of Mines and Mineral Development;
Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training;
Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development;
Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources; and
Minister of Works and Supply.

I believe a radical and fundamental reduction in the size of a national government is the only viable means by which a country can save public resources and ultimately pay off a good portion of the national debt, reduce taxes and interest rates to stimulate its national economy and job creation, improve infrastructure in both urban and rural areas, enhance safety and security in local communities, and provide adequately for the needs of education, public health, civil servants, and civil service retirees.

Tanzi and Schuknecht (1998:20), on the basis of a series of empirical studies, have, for instance, found that "countries with 'small' governments can provide essential services and minimum social safety nets while avoiding the disincentive effects caused by high taxes and large-scale redistribution on growth, employment, and welfare."

Government Size versus Economic Growth

The size of a country's government can have a significant effect on the level of its economic growth. As Barro, Gwartney and others, Smith, and the World Bank have found, there is a correlation between an expansion in the size of a government (reflected by an increase in its expenditures) and a decline in private investment and economic growth.

Gwartney and others, in a study designed to examine the impact of an expansion in the size of a country's government on economic growth, have, for example, found that:

An excessively large national government can have a negative effect on economic growth. Grossman, among other researchers, has found a similar correlation in his study of the U.S. government: "there [is] … indeed a negative relationship between growth in government and the rate of economic growth."
As a government grows in size, it crowds out investment, leads to a decline in productivity growth and contributes to a slowdown in the growth rate of its real gross domestic product (GDP). Similarly, Smith has found that "economies with large public sectors grow more slowly and suffer high rates of unemployment than those where this is not the case."
An increase of 10 percentage points in government expenditure as a share of a country's GDP is associated with a decline of approximately 1 percentage point in the growth rate of real GDP. Barro has also found that a 1 percentage point rise in the share of government consumption in GDP is associated with a 0.14 percentage point retardation in the rate of growth of real GDP per head of population. Folster and Henrekson have found a similar correlation. And
From 1980 to 1995, the world's 5 fastest-growing economies—that is, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong—had total government xpenditures averaging 20.1% of GDP, and was less than half the average of ECD countries.

Similarly, a study focused on the growth of public expenditure in industrial contries between 1870 and 1996, Tanzi and Schuknecht have found that countries with relatively small governments can perform "as well or even better than their counterparts with relatively big governments." In Middleton's words, a "smaller, better-focused government is better able to deliver than is big government."

Peden and Bradley, using U.S. data for the period 1949-85 to examine the effect of the size of government on economic output and productivity, have also concluded that the "level of government activity in the economy has a negative effect on both the economic base and the economic growth rate growth."

In all, as a government grows in size and more and more resources are allocated by political rather than market forces, economic growth, as Gwartney and others (1998:3) have found, wanes and eventually becomes negative partly because the higher taxes and/or additional borrowing required to finance government expenditures exert a negative effect on the economy.

Core Functions of Government

A small government cannot promote economic growth unless governmental institutions and agencies can adequately perform their core functions (Gwartney, 1998:5)—including the following: protection of property rights and civil liberties; providing for public safety, security and infrastructure; enforcing business and other forms of contracts among individuals and/or institutions; inducing commercial and industrial
activities; and facilitating the provision of quality education, training and health care.

Let us consider a few other prescriptions of the functions of government cited in the literature.

1) Amoako (2004) has cited the following as important functions which the
"capable state" ought to perform: guaranteeing peace and security, providing
and enabling political and legal environment for economic growth, and
promoting equitable distribution of the fruits of economic growth.

2) Anderson (1989:19-23) has identified the following as essential
functions of government:

(a) Provision of economic infrastructure, including the basic
institutions, rules and arrangements needed in the operation of a modern
economic system;

(b) Provision of public goods and services, including national defense and
security, roads and bridges, sewage disposal facilities, and traffic control
systems;

(c) Resolution of group conflicts in pursuance of justice, public order
and political stability;

(d) Maintenance of competition between and among economic units;

(e) Protection of the fragile natural environment against degradation and
wasteful use;

(f) Provision for minimum access by citizens to economic
outputs—including social security, unemployment compensation, food and
housing assistance, and medical care; and

(g) Stabilization of the national economy by means of monetary and fiscal
policies.

3) Hart (1996a and 1996b) has tendered a general and perhaps more useful
description of what should be among the most basic of the functions of a
country's government:

"Governments should be restricted to functions which, by their nature, are
necessary monopolies in which competitive private enterprise cannot operate
efficiently and in the national interest…. [It is] … determined that private
monopolies are antisocial … [although] there are some functions in which
monopolies are necessary for efficiency. It would be impracticable, for
example, to have numerous competitive reticulated services for the supply of
water, gas and electricity, etc."

In retrospect, defining the core functions of government should be the
crucial first step toward responsible governing, because delivering public
services efficiently and effectively is hardly significant unless a
country's government knows clearly what it is supposed to deliver and why
(Evergreen Freedom Foundation, 2003).

In this endeavour, Zambia needs to consider the prospect of creating a
smaller executive arm of the government consisting of the following 10
Cabinet portfolios:

1) *Education, Training and Sport*: To be directly responsible for
advising and representing the Republican president on matters and issues
relating to the following: general and tertiary education; vocational
training; the training of teachers; adult literacy programs; sporting
programs in all Government-funded educational and training
institutions; and matters concerning remuneration for educators,
trainers and researchers.

2) *Public Health and Sanitation*: To be directly responsible for advising
and representing the Republican president on matters and issues
relating to medical care, medical research, child health and development,
family planning, disease control and prevention, food safety (local and
imported foodstuff), drug safety (local and imported medicines), safety of
herbal medicines, public health education, public health inspections, and
remuneration for public health personnel.

3) *Agriculture and Food Security*: To be directly responsible for
advising and representing the Republican president on matters and issues
pertaining to agricultural development, long-term food security,
agricultural incentives, agribusinesses, agricultural research centers,
irrigation schemes, and the food requirements of unemployed citizens and
disadvantaged children.

4) *Finance and Revenue*: To be directly responsible for advising and
representing the Republican president on financial matters and monetary
issues; the stock market, national debt management and external debt
resolution; management of government-owned enterprises; and revenue
generation through taxation, customs and excise duties, service fees or
charges, and postal services.

5) *Commerce and Industry*: To be directly responsible for advising and
representing the Republican president on matters and issues concerning
trade and industrialization, tourism, mining, business and investment
promotion, imports and exports, trade relations, registration of foreign
companies, and research and development (R&D) support to local
manufacturers.

6) *Defence and Security*: To be directly responsible for advising and
representing the Republican president on matters and issues concerning the
following: national defence and security (including matters and issues
relating to the training, equipment, remuneration for defence and
security personnel); and fire-arm control and registration.

7) *Works, Supply and Transport*: To be directly responsible for advising
and representing the Republican president on matters and issues relating
to the following: utilization and management of nationally owned pieces
of land; provision and maintenance of vital infrastructure nationwide,
including an efficient and inter-modal network of ground and air
transportation; development of "malleable" stretches of the Kafue,
Zambezi, Luangwa, and other sizable perennial rivers for water
transportation; and procurement and distribution of government
supplies; and construction, renovation and maintenance of government
facilities and properties.

8) *Justice and Immigration*: To be directly responsible for advising and
representing the Republican president on legal matters, the protection of
citizens' rights and freedoms, legal aid, title deeds, national
registration, passports and immigration, citizenship and
naturalization, work permits, treaties and agreements with other
countries, intellectual property rights, and remuneration for judicial
personnel and support staff.

9) *Culture and Community Services*: To be directly responsible for
advising and representing the Republican president on issues and matters
relating to the following: preservation of our national treasures
(including national monuments, museums, historical sites, and cherished
cultural and family values); promotion of traditional music and
culture-related crafts; national emergencies; national unity and
patriotism; religious harmony; national ceremonies and festivals; the
operations of civil police and prisons; and issues relating to women,
children, disabled citizens, and retirees and the aged.

10) *Foreign Affairs*: To be directly responsible for advising and
representing the Republican president on issues and matters concerning
foreign political relations; consular affairs and services; profiles of
foreign countries; services and vital information to Zambians in, or
travelling to, foreign countries; and publicizing of Zambian society
abroad.

The Executive branch of the national government should be complemented by
the work of several autonomous government agencies, as provided for in
the Republican constitution, including the following: the Zambia Revenue
Authority; Anti-Corruption Commission; Electoral Commission of Zambia;
Environmental Council of Zambia, Human Rights Commission; Central Supply and
Tender Board; Drug Enforcement Agency; Zambia Development Agency; and the
National Science and Technology Council.

Such agencies need to be administered by a lean ensemble of technocrats.

By and large, civil servants in government ministries that would be
abolished or merged would need to be encouraged to seek early retirement
with full benefits. Professional and skilled civil servants should be
re-deployed in the new government ministries and agencies.

For example, professional and skilled civil servants in the current
ministries of Science and Technology and Sports and Youth Development would
be re-deployed in the contemplated Ministry of Education, Training and
Sport. Those in the ministries of Mines and Mineral Development and Tourism,
Environment and Natural Resources should be re-deployed in the new Ministry
of Commerce and Industry. And so forth.

The government would need to make an earnest effort to take good care of
each and every civil servant who would be affected by the contemplated
changes in the size and functions of the executive branch of our national
government.

A lot of money, buildings, automobiles and other assets would be saved by
cutting the number of Cabinet-level portfolios by half, abolition of the
position of Deputy Minister, abolition of the position of District
Commissioner, and cutting the size of the foreign service.

*Henry Kyambalesa*

-------------------------------------------

*Bibliography*

Amoako, KingsleyY., "Amoako's Africa Diary: Why Good Governance Is Vital,"
http://www.amoako.typepad.com/<https://email.regis.edu/OWA/redir.aspx?C=53b78c76b9dc4fcfa979ebccbee60a9c&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.amoako.typepad.com%2f>,
February 2004.

Anderson, James E., "Government and the Economy: What is Fundamental?" in
Samuels, Warren J., editor, *Fundamentals of the Economic Role of Government
* (Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1989).

Barro, Robert J., *Determinants of Economic Growth: A Cross Section
Empirical Study*, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Evergreen Freedom Foundation, "Determining Government's Core Functions,"
http://www.effwa.org/<https://email.regis.edu/OWA/redir.aspx?C=53b78c76b9dc4fcfa979ebccbee60a9c&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.effwa.org%2f>,
January 2003.

Folster, Stefan and Henrekson, Magnus, "Growth Effects of Government
Expenditure and Taxation in Rich Countries," *European Economic Review
45*(2001).

Grossman, Philip, "Government and Economic Growth: A Non-Linear
Relationship," *Public Choice 56* (1988): 193-200.

Gwartney, James *et al*, "The Size and Functions of Government and Economic
Growth," http://www.house.gov/jec/<https://email.regis.edu/OWA/redir.aspx?C=53b78c76b9dc4fcfa979ebccbee60a9c&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.house.gov%2fjec%2f>,
April 1998.

Hart, Graham, "The True Functions of Government," Geologist Education
Association, Inc. of Western Australia,
http://www.multiline.com.au/<https://email.regis.edu/OWA/redir.aspx?C=53b78c76b9dc4fcfa979ebccbee60a9c&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.multiline.com.au%2f>,
October 19, 1996a.

______, "Restrictions of Government Functions is Essential for a Free and
Prosperous Society," Georgist Education Association, Inc. of Western
Australia, http://www.multiline.com.au/<https://email.regis.edu/OWA/redir.aspx?C=53b78c76b9dc4fcfa979ebccbee60a9c&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.multiline.com.au%2f>,
1996b.

Middleton, Roger, "Book Reviews: Public Spending in the 20th Century: A
Global Perspective" by Tanzi, Vito and Schuknecht, Ludger:
http://www.eh.net/<https://email.regis.edu/OWA/redir.aspx?C=53b78c76b9dc4fcfa979ebccbee60a9c&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.eh.net%2f>,
October 2000.

Peden, Edgar and Bradley, Michael, "Government Size, Productivity, and
Economic Growth: The Post-War Experience," *Public Choice 61 *(1989):
229-45.

Smith, David, "The Effects of Public Spending and Taxes on Economic Growth,"
http://www.iea.org.uk/files/<https://email.regis.edu/OWA/redir.aspx?C=53b78c76b9dc4fcfa979ebccbee60a9c&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.iea.org.uk%2ffiles%2f>,
May 19, 2004.

Tanzi, Vito and Ludger Schuknecht, "Can Small Governments Secure Economic
and Social Well-Being?" in Grubel, Herbert, editor, *How to Use the Fiscal
Surplus: What Is the Optimal Size of Government?* (Vancouver, BC: The Frazer
Institute, 1998).

______, *Public Spending in the 20th Century: A Global
Perspective*(Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press,
2000).

Tanzi, V. and Schuknecht, L., "Countries with Big Governments Run Risk of
Slower Growth," *IMF Survey*, February 19, 1996.

World Bank, The, *Global Monitoring Report [2004]: Policies and Actions for
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals and Related
Outcomes*(Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2004).

______, *Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?* (Washington, DC: The World
Bank, 2000).

Africa's Stolen Biodiversity - Patenting Life

Administrator — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 19:18:00 GMT

It is said that justice denied somewhere is justice denied everywhere. Taking a closer look at the world economy, it is frightening to see that just as politicians and economists manipulate and abuse the poor people's rights in the South, the same is happening to the innocent people in the North. These citizens pay huge sums of money through tax payments on medicine and food and other products to enrich the giant Northern pharmaceuticals and agriculture companies. The same companies go to Africa and take Africa's knowledge on local herbs, plants, livestock germ, seeds. Etc. Trademark and patent it monopolising Africa's indigenous knowledge and resources, hindering the Africans access to the same resources. Africa is rich in useful products for mankind such as -Medicinal drugs, Agricultural products, Pest control products, Food and food supplements and Cosmetics, etc. But these are not for the Africans.

Ironically, the world's giant pharmaceuticals, and agriculture companies dominating both the medicine and agri-business sue each other and all other small companies to court when they 've returned home from Africa. A hundred companies can end up patenting one plant and call the act lawful ending up dragging each other to court in their own countries. Thus, 100 companies can patent 1 tree all claiming their rights and who came to the tree first. Should pharmaceuticals, and agriculture companies be taking each other to court when they have stolen the seeds, the plants and the trees (indigenous people's resources) from Africa? Do they forget that all this they took without asking the Africans and other continents of the South?

When reading history on the subject of slavery and colonialism we are always reminded about Christopher Columbus' words when he arrived in America and saw how the Indians lived. He remarked: "They.brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things.They willingly traded everything they owned. They do not bear arms. They would make fine servants.with fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want". The same acts prevail today.

Biodiversity is Africa's richest asset. But the knowledge the African people posses is now used by Scientist in the advanced nations turning Africa's plants, and herbal knowledge into medicine. Africa is losing billions of dollars from its stolen biodiversity. Corporations from the advanced nations; companies and individuals steal Africa's indigenous knowledge of local resources, without giving it a thought.

Moreover, even if the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, found in 183 countries acknowledges the sovereignty of countries when it comes to genetic and biological resources, no firms or individuals from the North have lived according to the UN Convention as these laws lack the law against theft. Thus, Africa's resources are left open to bio exploitation. In other words the laws created in the advanced nations qualifies the overdeveloped nations to get patent laws designed to exploit Africa.

The process is simple; African herbalists and individuals are identified and interviewed in Africa's local communities. The Africans tell how plants and herbs are collected from soil, mountains, bushes, forests, gardens, farms Etc. Which time of season and year the plants, herbs and seeds are available and much more. Data is recorded by the vivitors and entered into computers for analysis. Imagine this, if a country like Madagascar has species of about 10,000 plants of which 80% are endemic what more with each country in Africa? To add to that 90% of Madagascar's forests have been destroyed because of the North fighting for its life saving plants. Two of the country's famous plants the Rosy Periwinkle, generates $100 million annually for Eli Lily. But Madagascar receives nothing in return. Africa's biodiversity is being wiped out. Also through tourism, western agriculture systems, religion, wrong harvesting patterns, and global piracy, to name just a few.

Tourism - has been and is one of Africa's nature's biggest destroyers. Example trees like the Canthium Glabriflorumis hare disappearing from the continent because they are used for carving handcrafts and artworks for tourists' souvenir. The Western and European agriculture system did not and does not suit Africa. The changing patterns in the agriculture systems have not only led to the disappearing of plants but have also led to gene engineering of the plants and patenting these plants

Most of Africa's plants have also been destroyed because of beliefs and religion. Christianity has been one of the greatest destroyers of Africa's herbs, plants, and its seeds. Africans used to have medicinal plants planted around their homes so that it was easy to get access to them. Some of the plants were used to chase away evil spirits. But all this was done away and destroyed as Christianity invaded the continent. In this way most of Africa's life giving plants have disappeared from the continent. Also the modern type of harvesting lack Africa's traditional system of carefully choosing from its biodiversity growth, which sustained all life in African fields. It also allowed a plant to survive while bad weather or insects could destroy another. Still the African farmer had something to eat. Biodiversity fought pests, and insects could eat the plant they liked and looked away from the one they did not like. But if one looks at Africa today from 1999 alone Africa imports more than this estimated market value of insect services pollination - US $ 117 billion per year, for soil fertility - US $ 17 trillion per year, and predation and parasitism - US $ 417 billion per year. Destruction of the environment and biodiversity in Africa is occurring at an alarming speed due to genetic engineered pressure from the advanced nations inorder to put patent on all life. Globalisation has caused the USA and Europe's pharmaceuticals and agricultures giant industries to increasingly demand Africa's seeds, herbs, trees, livestock germ etc.

This is another reason Africa is fed with food subsides from the USA and European giant agribusinesses, to kill the traditional seed in order to destroy the last biodiversity found on the continent. Destruction of biodiversity loss of a vast wealth of useful species of Seeds, Plants, Microorganisms, Arthropods, and other animals, all sources lead to useful products for mankind. But with the rapid destruction of biodiversity in Africa, India, and everywhere else in the world there is urgent need for the world citizen to react on patenting life. This is not a process of a systematic search or development or commercialisation and so on. This is a simple way of treating life with respect and not as a commodity. Instead of planting global hate through manipulative chemical economies let us plant global compassion which will produce a new understanding and meaning to life, giving it back its biodiversity which evolves biological species over millions of years before all is lost forever.

Furthermore, Africans are forced to give away their indigenous knowledge and plants that have been passed on the last 1000 years. Africans pay dearly for allowing the advanced nations' pharmaceutical and agriculture companies access to its resources. The pharmaceutical and agriculture companies take and patent Africa's resources never allowing the Africans access to the medicine. To add to that the Africans get nothing out of these deals. The Africans have knowledge to plants that can cure, skin disorder diseases, sores, colic, take way, confusion, anxiety, pain, depression and plants that can promote concentration. Most of these plants like the Bourbon also known as the Geranium is used in depression drugs all over the world today, but Africa gets nothing out of these deals.

Talking about depression: The Scientists from the University of Newcastle, Australia examined the impact of the materialistic approach to life. And found that materialistic people were more likely to suffer depression and anger. They were also vulnerable to being conformist. The scientists found out that this kind of people were less likely to be satisfied with their life or even be interested in the environment. One doctors said: "While the possession of conspicuous goods may be equated with success, happiness and seen as a goal in itself, it is associated neither with global life satisfaction and psychological health, nor with a love of life or concern for the environment." The report continued that materialistic people judged success and failure on the basis of personal possessions. Furthermore that materialistic people saw social recognition as important, supporting the notion that materialism is largely based on social comparisons. How can it be possible that the North who have made most industries blossom through the IFI continue to treat the South the same way through piracy, abuse, manipulation, negligence, plunder and insults suffer depression from having so much?

Another example on patenting life: The Hoodia Cactus is a plant that grows in the Kalahari Desert, the home to the San people. The Kalahari Desert stretches from Botswana, Namibia to South Africa. The San people have chewed the cactus for 1000 years. The plant has medicinal properties and starves off hunger enabling the San hunters to walk long miles. The San people have more than 300 classes of botanists. But a UK company which was also asked by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial research (CSIR) took the indigenous people's knowledge, changed the name Hoodia Cactus to Phytopharm and patented the plant P57 as an appetite suppressing ingredient. The Hoodia Cactus (Phytopharm) made a lot of sales in the slimming diet department 1998 that the CSIR sold the right to licence the drug to Pfizer, USA's giant pharmaceutical company. The revenue of these pills skyrocketed into millions of dollars. The collaborators went happily to the banks while the San people the owners of the disappearing plant and the owners of the indigenous knowledge got nothing as their debt rose.

The San people discovered this and sued all parties in involved. They agreed in paying 8% by helping to build "schools and a few clinics". But also Dr Marthinus Horak head of the CSIR argued that he did not know that the San people were still a living people. He stated. "I always believed that these Bushmen (The San people) had died out and I am sorry to hear that they feel hard done by. I am delighted that they are still around and have a recognisable community. The ownership of medicinal plants is extremely complex, but I have always believed that this type of knowledge is the most valuable asset of indigenous tribes. Instead of weaving baskets and taking tourists around, royal payments from medicines could transform prospects."

Another example the Uvaria Klaineri: Also called the mystery plant was taken out of Africa and patented. The Pharmaceutical multinationals owning it today still continue to deny affordable H.I.V. and A.I.D.S. drugs to Africa. The biotech giant like Aventis have managed to access and patent new drugs from African plant life. Venturing into Gabon, the Aventis emerged with a US patent (#6,579,903, 17 June 2003) on compounds taken from a small-known vine called Uvaria klaineri. According to Aventis' patent, the plant produces chemicals that inhibit cell growth. It is Aventis' hope to capitalise on the plant as to develop new cancer drugs that interfere with the growth of tumours.

Many different Uvaria species are used in traditional medicine in West, Central, and East Africa. In Gambia, the Uvaria chamae bark and leaves are used to treat stomachaches, bronchitis, and fevers. In Sierra Leone and Ethiopia, the fruit of Uvaria species are important bush foods. In many African countries, Uvaria medicines are used to treat jaundice and malaria. In Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia the Uvaria are used to treat both people and livestock. The Canadian group ETCGROUP also wrote about the Mystery Plant: "With so many traditional uses, it comes as no surprise that in the past decade several Uvaria species have been the subjects of interest of industry researchers. In 1997, for example, a small US company patented compounds from U. bevistipitata, a species found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, drawing allegations of biopiracy.

According to Aventis submissions to WIPO, it will apply for patents in a total of 105 countries, including Gabon and other African countries." On December 21.2002 in an article titled: "Biopiracy", the New Africa wrote: "If the WTO is the mother of all chicanery, then TRIP is the son" The TRIP work hand in hand with WIPO who also train innocent world citizens to become pirates that use their Ph Ds to steal, and kill in the South. Ironically WIPO and TRIP have a very few citizens from the advanced nations working for them. They educate and continue to train and give certificates to the people of the South so that it becomes easy for these people to rob their own countries' knowledge and resources. In this sense one can say that a degree and PhD for an African is like having a gun in hand to steal and rob the fellow African.

Another good example: On April 9th 2001 South Africa's IPS/Anthony Stoppard wrote:" South Africa has sold the rights to develop new strains of flowers from the country's many unique plants to a private international company - at a time when scientists have warned that global warming is threatening many of these species with extinction in their natural habitat." The report continued that South Africa's National Botanical Institute (NBI) had sold to the USA based Ball Horticultural Company the rights to develop the country's plants for sale on international markets, in return for royalties. But it is told that though the deal was signed 3 years ago they haven't received any royalties, except for the $125,000 grant to start the project. According to NBI Central Executive Officer Brian Huntley, the agreement only allowed Ball Horticultural Company access to 25 species a year for five years, of 125 of South Africa's 22,000 indigenous plants.

Have you been wondering how one can steal livestock germ? Here is a good example; Let us take Zambia on how livestock germ was is stolen. Zambia has the Tuli and the Baron cow. The cattle have an excellent beef quality and high fertility. It also has high resistance to environmental stress. But in 1987 some Australians known as the Boran and Tuli Producers Consortium in conjunction with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) collected Zambia's Tuli and Boran cattle embryos from Zambia and Zimbabwe and flew them to the Cocos Islands in Costa Rica. In 1988 they planted these embryos in their surrogated cattle and, in 1990 the new calves called the " Aussies" landed in Australia. When the second breed of the Boran and Tuli embryo was going to sell in 1994 in Australia, the price for each embryo was AS$5, 500. Which would have been KW19, 117,005.00 in Zambia. But Zambia and Zimbabwe got nothing out the Tuli and Boran embryo deal. The Canadian group ETCGROUP say that Zambia and Zimbabwe should have received 5% of the Boran and Tuli commercial gain, or $40 million dollars each year. Amazingly enough Zambia's debt is doubling by day. And there are many other similar cases in Zambia.
I could go with examples but those who want to understand what has been patented you can visit the US patent office online. Take your time and think, here Roses have been patented, mangoes and all kinds of fruits and vegetables.

The Case of the African stolen biodiversity raises a lot of questions. The West and the Europeans call Africa's plants and seeds " poorly documented plants" thus these plants are patented. And how, why, and from whom do corporate firms acquire these plants? Was the collection and transfer permitted and if so, by whom, and did the agreement, if any, fulfil obligations under the convention on Biological Diversity? Have the knowledge and resources of traditional communities in Gabon or other countries been used? Has the patent been approved by traditional communities and Africa's governments? Aren't these cases of biopiracy?

If some plants cannot be patented, can specific genes copied from Africa's seeds variety be the subjects of patents? The answer is no. If the seed, which is the most important reason corporate firms the IFI (WTO+WB+IMF) through the TRIP and WIPO, need to patent why should they have it when it has belonged to Africa's farmers and people for the last 1000 years? How can a seed that is genetically engineered be patented? Who has allowed that these acts be practised? These rules have been put up by the IFI to keep taking what belongs to the African continent.

They know that it is easy to steal from Africa because the Africans have been denied of a true education and true information and the right to write their own history. So, when the IFI have invaded and destroyed Africa through gene banks and patents, will Africans benefit from their stolen properties? No. All medicines and creations collected and created from Africa's knowledge, trees, herbs, seeds, plants, livestock germ, leave Africa forever never to return as the pirates apply monopoly on each resource. Thus even if the H.I.V. and A.I.D.S. vaccine may come from Africa's Shea tree or the Uvaria and many other exploited life giving trees in Africa, the IFI through the WTO will continue denying Africans the right to their own resources as they always have.

In the process the IFI will keep building orphanages, charity organisations through many other organisation and people, for the African children whose parents die from lack of human rights. Can the IFI learn from slavery, colonial, or the today's (protectionism) protected globalised economy? It is told that the great slave trade ended in 1885, and colonialism in 1960. 75 years passed. So when are we going to start talking about getting rid of protectionism is it another 75 years from now in 2035? Then we ought to start talking about it to give our children a better future. The North must learn from Africa's slavery and colonial error. The African leaders must put their acts together and put up patent offices which shall help create laws that will protect Africa Indigenous knowledge and its biodiversity.

Resources:

Vandana Shiva. Biopiracy: The plunder of Nature and Knowledge, Green Books 1998.
Integrating Intellectual Property Rights and Development Policy, Report of the commission on intellectual Property Rights, London, September 2002.
The Canadian group ETCGROUP

US elections & zambia

Zambian Author — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:39:16 GMT

Okay this is the first time im ever writing on a blog so i just want to apologise if anything i say offends or if my writing is not cosure. But whatever. for what i am saying to make any sense to the people that arent going to read this. I have to give a mini biography, before you click to check your facebook chiilout it wont be a freaking hollywood biopic. My name of course is unimportant. Im a student in the states at a college somewhere in the northwestern fringes of ohio wood county to be exact. Im at fourth year which is what they call a senior here. Anyhu let me get to the point. Why should we care that Barack Obama is coming to power in the states its not like him or McCain winning is going to make a difference on the lives of people in the central african republic of zambia.

Mfuwe

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2004 20:01:00 GMT

He lumbered out of the state lodge, staggered towards the massive wooden chair that had been made ready for him, and fell backwards into it. His dishevelled safari suit was unbuttoned, and his huge belly hung over his trousers. In front of him sat all the assembled animals of Mfuwe, waiting for the Great Elephant Muwelewele to begin his Christmas Message.

'Distinguished elephants, honourable hippos, mischievous monkeys, parasitic politicians, bureaucratic buffaloes, and other anonymous animals,' he began, 'I have just returned from one of my very brief visits to Lusaka, in order to be with you at this time of celebration. My message to you is that the last year has been a resounding economic success, and Mfuwe has never been more prosperous!'

'Ee ee eeyee,' squealed the monkeys, dancing around in circles, and waggling their bottoms, each painted with a picture of the Great Elephant.

'When I was elected,' continued Muwelewele, 'I promised that only those constituencies that voted for me would see development. That is why Mfuwe is the only constituency that has seen development.'

'Iwe wakhonza!' shouted the crowd.

'All the humans in the rest of this country refused to vote for me, so they have had no share in our marvellous development!'

'Chabwino!' shouted the crowd.

'It was only you, my friends from the game park, who went out there and brought in twenty-nine percent of the vote. The snakes of the Shushushu slithered into the ballot boxes and stuffed them with votes. The horrible hyenas were our trusted party cadres who chased away the opposition voters. Our reliable rhinos moved the polling stations to unknown places in the forest. And our merry monkeys played hide and seek with the voters cards!'

'Hurray!' laughed the crowd. 'The law of the jungle!'

'So now the MMD is the Movement for Mfuwe Development. All my development programmes are located in Mfuwe, and all my appointments have been from amongst you. The previous government would not put you in government, saying you were just monkeys and crocodiles, who shouldn't be given the vote.'

'Chamanyazi!'

'But I have changed all that. I have nominated hippos to parliament, and made them my ministers! I have appointed jackals as my district administrators, and put the long-fingered baboons in charge of the treasury. I have put the knock-kneed giraffe in charge of agriculture, the hungry crocodile in charge of child welfare, and the red-lipped snake in charge of legal reform. And best of all, the pythons are now fully employed, squeezing the taxpayers!'

'One family one government!' cheered the crowd. 'One hippo one minister!'

'Our beloved Mfuwe,' said Muwelewele solemnly, 'is now a state within the state. We control everything in the rest of the country. Everything is now run for our benefit. I am pleased to report that the past year has been the best ever. Just as the others are becoming thinner, so we in the game park are becoming fatter. As hospitals fall down in the rest of the country, so we are building veterinary clinics all over Mfuwe.'

'Wehwehweh!' squeeled the baboons, running up to the Great Elephant and showing him their big red bottoms.

'I am truly overwhelmed by this show of affection,' said the Great Muwelewele, holding his handkerchief to his nose.

'Education is another of our great success stories,' continued Muwelewele.

'The heartless humans built schools and universities for themselves, but provided absolutely nothing for the animals in Mfuwe. We are now reversing this situation. By closing these schools we now have the funds to send our monkeys abroad to Harvard. They are studying for MBAs, degrees in Manipulating Budget Allocations.

'Just as employment is falling rapidly amongst the humans, so it is increasing rapidly here in Mfuwe. Just as factories are closing in the remainder of the country, so they are increasing here. I have declared Mfuwe a tax-free zone, and our new manufacturing industry will soon be exporting directly to South Africa. A new bridge across the Luangwa is already under construction for this purpose.'

'Our Saviour,' shouted the crowd. 'A new Saviour is born! A New Deal! A New Direction! Let's roast a few street kids, and have a real feast!'The jumbo glided to a halt at Lusaka International Airport. Out came the Great Leader Muwelewele, lumbering down the steps like an elephant. A reporter managed to thrust a microphone in front of him.

'Your Divine Majesty, how did you enjoy your holiday in Mfuwe?'

'What!' exploded the Great Leader, his face turning purple with rage. 'I was not on holiday! This was a very busy working trip, to look at current economic developments in Mfuwe, which has been privatised. Shoprite has already bought the place, and they are busy putting in an abattoir and meat processing factory. We are already building the bridge across the Luangwa, for direct export of game meat to South Africa!'

*

3wagons — Fri, 23 May 2008 05:33:21 GMT

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