We need attractive investment policy, says RB

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda says Zambia needs an attractive investment policy to entice and retain foreign investors. He says because of an increasingly competitive investment environment in the world, Zambia needs an attractive investment policy.
He was speaking May 20 in Livingstone at the 6th ZIBAC conference under the theme, “The Global Economic Crisis: Zambia’s Response to growth and Competitiveness”.

The ZIBAC theme, he says, is a clear challenge and there is need to respond to the global financial crisis so that the country does not just mitigate the effects of the crisis but position itself to move forward as the economic crisis begins to clear and normalcy returns to the global economy.

The president says new approaches to partnerships, joint ventures and business strategies should be considered to increase the size and scale of investment, which includes the public private partnership (PPP). He assured the private sector and the cooperating partners that his administration would continue to attach strong political will and commitment to private sector development.

“We will continue to appreciate all the support we have received from our cooperating partners to implement the next phase of the private sector development programme. One big lesson is the need to move faster in implementing programmes and the reforms we have agreed upon. We need to monitor effectively the implementation of reforms and programmes,” Banda said and was aware that the private sector is concerned about the approval of the recommendations on the business licensing reforms. He assured the business community that Government has worked tirelessly to ensure the report was finalised and all the consultative meetings held.

“The report will soon be presented to cabinet for consideration. Government has to further accelerate the implementation of reform policies and programmes. Through this forum, I want to get an appreciation of how we can move quicker in implementing the resolutions that have been agreed upon,” he said.

Further, the president said Government has put in place a framework for monitoring the implementation of all agreed policies, programmes and projects on a monthly basis. He said this will ensure that any bottlenecks in the exercise will be identified and addressed on a timely basis.

“Zambia has to compete in the global economy. This means that our industries must produce goods and services that can compete within Zambia and with the rest of the world. To do this we need to create a conducive business environment and a favourable investment climate,” the President said.

The response to the global economic crisis, he said, should be to ensure that there is adequate safety net to protect the vulnerable in the society to moderate the suffering of the people who lose jobs, like the case in the mining sector.

“We should ensure that we maintain food security through promotion and prioritising measures to support the continued growth of the agricultural sector. Infrastructure should equally be kept in focus to allow the country place itself on a stronger footing once the recovery begins to take shape,” Banda said.

He said Government is experiencing a reduction in its domestic revenue collections and that this is not only a wake-up call to implement resolutions made at many forums such as the ZIBAC, indaba, the North-South Corridor but also a call to diversify the economy away from copper production.

And Zambia International Business Advisory Council (ZIBAC) chairperson, Lord Simon Cairns, says he was a little aggressive when two years ago he took a swipe at the slow implementation process of the resolutions of previous gatherings. But he is now impressed that the atmosphere in Zambia is rather different as regards the implementation of resolutions of ZIBAC meetings.
"There is now increased political will to work with the private sector in the implementation of resolutions. When you allow the private sector to do what it has to do, it creates sense in the economy. I have a great sense that there is much more for Zambia to do in the region,” Lord Cairns said.

He said the global crisis is largely in all the G8 countries while China and India’s economies will continue to grow throughout the next few years. He said Government has to be a provider of social goods that allows civil society to be looked after as well as allow the private sector do what they are supposed to do and believed there is more convergence now by all players than before, adding that there is great understanding on diversification.

“Zambia is a great country and can do more and has a number of great advantages. Everyone is talking about the right things and the question is just getting them to happen,” he said.

Danish ambassador to Zambia Harry Molenaar says donors’ primary purpose is to assist the Zambian government to reduce poverty. He said this can happen when there is more productivity and competitive businesses. However, Molenaar aid this requires a sound policy environment for the private sector to operate.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Felix Mutati said there has been some progress made since the last meeting in 2007.

“The output of this process will be implementation, implementation, implementation. Two key issues are what must we do to move the process of reducing the cost of doing business in particular here in Livingstone the tourist city,” he said.

Mutati said Government intends to convert all licensing under one umbrella known as the one-stop-shop. He said the other issue is that of bringing down the fee for the international getaway before the end of August 2009.

South endorses RB for 2011 elections

As Patriotic Front declares his candidature for the 2011 elections the MMD in Southern Province has now endorsed President Rupiah Banda as the party’s sole candidate for the presidential elections. MMD Southern Province chairperson, Solomon Muzyamba said in Livingstone May 19 that the province had decided that Banda should lead the party into the 2011 elections.

Speaking when he welcomed the president, Muzyamba said the party had started reorganising itself from branch level in preparation for 2011 polls.

The president is in Livingstone to officially open a three-day sixth Zambia International Business Advisory Council (Zibac) which started May 19. He said he was grateful for the confidence shown in him and happy that the province had resolved to ensure he stood for the presidency in 2011. He appreciated the support the party in the province continued to show to his leadership and he was also praying that God granted him the ability and wisdom to perform and to maintain the strength up to 2011 for him to be able to stand.

Receiving the president at Livingstone Airport were Lands Minister Peter Daka, Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati, Mines and Minerals Development minister Maxwell Mwale, Labour and Social Security Austin Liato and several permanent secretaries. The president was accompanied by Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane.

RB appoints committee to oversee Pretroleum exploration

President Rupiah Banda May 19 announced the appointment of seven members of the Petroleum Committee, which would be responsible for formulating policies relating to the exploration, development and production of petroleum in Zambia. He has appointed four Cabinet Ministers as members of the Petroleum Committee in line with the provisions of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 2008. Among its functions the committee would also approve the oil and gas exploration, production and award licenses to would-be investors.

Appointed to the Petroleum Committee are Maxwell Mwale, MP, Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Chairperson), Kenneth Konga, MP, Minister of Energy and Water Development – (Vice Chairperson), Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, Minister of Finance and National Planning (Member) and Felix Mutati MP, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Member).
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Others are Dr. Caleb Fundanga, Governor of the Bank of Zambia (Member), Andrew Kamanga, Energy Consultant (Member) and Guy Phiri, Engen Petroleum Zambia Limited (Member)

Speak to State, Church advises Opposition

CATHOLIC Church Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio in Zambia, Nicola Girasoli, says opposition political parties and civil society organisations should not shun dialogue with Government to iron out differences and promote unity.

Archbishop Girasoli said dialogue entails looking to the future and not to be restrained by the past. He said this in Lusaka April 25 at a reception held at his residence to mark the fourth anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI.

“True dialogue means to look forward and not to be restrained by the past. Zambia needs to look forward. This concretely means that Government and opposition parties, as well as the civil society have to do their best to remove all kinds of prejudices,” he said.

Archbishop Nicola said Zambians should always encourage dialogue in whatever form to develop the culture of sharing knowledge.

“That is why every initiative to dialogue should be welcomed. Today, I humbly appeal to the opposition, to civil society groups and churches to never shun dialogue with Government and public institutions,” he said.

Archbishop Girasoli said the church and Government have one common purpose of serving the people although in different ways. He said different points of view are an enrichment for democracy and that the best way to overcome differences and strengthen unity among people is through dialogue.

The Archbishop said only a stable political climate can foster economic growth and socio-cultural development.

“This also means to acknowledge or to admit a mistake is never a sign of weakness, but always a sign of democracy and maturity,” he said.

He commended President Banda’s Government for committing itself to poverty reduction and the fight against corruption. He said Government should continue putting measures in place to achieve a more visible fight against corruption and enhanced poverty reduction as the best way to promote equitable development in the country.

He said the aim of the Catholic Church and other denominations is to always be the voice for the voiceless, the poorest, homeless, sick and to support those who have lost hope for a better future. He said the church will always remain a prophetic voice.

Archbishop Girasoli said politics should always belong to politicians and generally to society. He said in social issues, churches should be the guardian of human rights and avoid any kind of involvement in partisan political debates.

“Churches are called to promote, to protect and to defend human dignity. We all know that human rights are not negotiable. We can negotiate everything except human rights,” he said.

Archbishop Girasoli said the Vatican has continued to enjoy cordial relations with Zambia and that all institutional personalities at various levels in the country have continued to acknowledge the support the Catholic Church offers to Zambians, irrespective of their religious affiliation.

He said the Catholic Church is well known for its contribution to the socio-economic needs of society as demonstrated by the growing number of hospitals, clinics, hospices and schools, including the newly established Zambian Catholic University in Kalulushi.

And Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Felix Mutati said Government will remain committed to its promise of fighting poverty.

“I want to assure you that Government remains committed to this pledge. We are working towards making health and education facilities more accessible to as many Zambians as possible,” he said.

Mr Mutati said Government looks forward to continued cooperation with the Catholic Church in vital areas of development, especially poverty eradication.

The minister said the commitment of Pope Benedict XVI to the service of humankind is admirable.

Mr Mutati said through the Catholic Church, Government sees the Pope’s messages of hope reaching out to the poor, less privileged, sick and other vulnerable people in society.

He said Government appreciates the Catholic Church’s contribution to education and health through construction of schools and health institutions in Zambia.