33 Comments to “Hello world!”

1. 

   Kanswe says:

   January 16, 2007 at 6:55 pm

   I found this site using a google search. Whoever the founder is, I think the preamble is good and many people will know about it eventually. You need more work before it can be a great blog otherwise nice start.

   1
2. 

   Nell says:

   January 16, 2007 at 8:08 pm

   I hope you will be able to maintain this site properly unlike what we have seen on one site which has had a huge porn invasion. GOOD LUCK.

   Having said that, I see that the boss has launched the Fifth national Development Plan and Vision 2030. Does anybody out there know how if these two documents are available on the internet?

   Second recently the IMF were asked to suggest changes to our tax system. Does anybody know if they are the same suspects us used to produce FNDP and Vision 2030 ?

   2
3. 

   Angel says:

   January 17, 2007 at 12:01 am

   BRM,

   Thanks for venturing into provision of a new and better blog for Zambians, especially those out there in the diaspora. However, can we dare to dream that you will maintain quality and discipline on this blog unlike other blogs that have been refered to by Nell? I definitely hope this blog will represent our country’s finest in thought and erudition and not degenerate into the all-familiar exchanges of insults and other unprintables.

   Thanks for your effort.

   3
4. 

   brainsplus says:

   January 17, 2007 at 9:38 pm

   Nell,
   … thanks a trillion for your comment; I assure you that this site will prevail when it comes to letting such unconscionable vices take hold of the Zambian franchise. A lot of smart people are writing the other site off because of allowing porn over there, around here no such things will prevail …

   I don’t know if we actually have copies of those documents on the Internet yet … if we do I am very sure some one will let us know, thanks a trillion once more.

   Angel,
   … the philosophy of anything in this world is the “why” it gets to be done. The Zambian Chronicle’s philosophy is just what you wrote and I quote, “… definitely hope this blog will represent our country’s finest in thought and erudition and not degenerate into the all-familiar exchanges of insults and other unprintables.”

   There is nothing better than looking for best in every one of us and bringing it out there for the benefit of all humanity. Ronald Reagan once said and I quote, “… I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there’s purpose and worth to each and every life …” I don’t think I have all the answers to making the Chronicle the best place but there are smarter people around we can always call on to make it happen, I believe you are one of them, thanks a trillion.

   4
5. 

   Nell says:

   January 18, 2007 at 11:18 pm

   Quote:

   “We can only address poverty if we create wealth. We won’t have another round of debt cancellation.”

   This is a quote taken from an interview The Governor of the Bank of Zambia (Caleb Fundanga) had with the BBC in June 2006.

   QUESTION

   My question is addressed to those that have had opportunity to read the FNDP. Does the FNDP adequately address the issue of wealth creation in Zambia?

   5
6. 

   Nell says:

   January 19, 2007 at 3:25 pm

   Have you ever wondered why Sata seems to make the head lines and drive people and in particular LPM crazy. Well it’s something to do with the fight against terror post 911.

   Levy declared a war on corruption but forgot to tell the nation that he was also fighting terrorism in Zambia in the form of PF leader Sata.

   It turns out the acronym for SATA is

   Socially Acceptable Terrorist Acts

   Have a fun weekend pipo

   6
7. 

   brainsplus says:

   January 19, 2007 at 7:40 pm

   Nell,
   … you are funny, I don’t think Bashi Chilufya will take that acronym lightly … but as for the FNDP, I would appreciate if you could post a copy online for all to comment. There real fundamentals that cannot be ignored if we have to talk about wealth creation. There can never be wealth creation in the absence of employment creation enabling facets unless of course through nationalized plunder programs such as communism – we now are in a capitalistic epoch and we are not going back. The MMD have such a bad record when it comes to job creation; where as we had 66% formal employment in 1990 a year prior to their taking over the Zambian Enterprise from UNIP, we now have a parity 4.7% formal employment as a whole 16 years after the effect … thanks a trillion.

   (above figures and statistics are verifiable from CSO)

   Kanswe,
   … I am sorry, I forget to include you in my first response … yeah, you are right about this site needing a lot of work, and we are going to do just that. Rome was not built in a day and things like this take a lot of energy and work … thanks a trillion for being the first commentator about our work here on the Zambian Chronicle. You will be surprised to see that our blog stats so far are as follows and you are part of the program in just one week of our existence;

   Blog Stats
   Total Views: 312
   Best Day Ever: 127
   Views today: 19

   Again, thanks a trillion.

   7
8. 

   Nell says:

   January 19, 2007 at 8:52 pm

   Brainsplus

   I too am looking for this document (FNDP)including the MMD manifesto.

   The MMD website does not function. The PF website as of this whole week does not function and hadn’t bben updated since just before the September election. i guess we just have to keep on looking.

   As for Bashi Chilufya, I am a bit worried about him at the moment. He needs to pick and choose which battles he is going to fight and stay the course. He appears distracted by any manner of missile SCUD, PATRIOT or EXCOCERT and he feels he has to comment on each point.

   My hope would have been that by now Bashi Chilufya would have gathered his troops together and formulate strategies to counter the MMD and provide intelligent and effective opposition while at the same time reaching out to the rural population.

   At the moment someone in MMD has realised that it’s easier to sit back and keep quiet but start picking at how undemocratic the PF structure is and it’s only a matter of time and that will be a pity because the old man does come up with some thought provoking issues but as I said you can’t comment on everything. If you have watched WWE (World Wrestling Entertainmen) sometimes you will have as many as ten people in the ring but the guys know which guy he is going to pick on and eventually order is established.
   Enough of the talk. Enjoy the weekend as it fast approaches…

   8
9. 

   brainsplus says:

   January 22, 2007 at 8:16 pm

   Nell,
   … it is indeed true that they have realized just that. However, it won’t be long before someone else gets to understand that they have arterial motives when it comes to taking the interests of the Zambian Enterprise at heart. The loud cry of many nationals is nothing but an even playing field but what we keep seeing is the rule of the connected, the privileged and the powerful. The main reason Bashi Chilufya seems to even have the traction he seems to have is because he sounds nationalist and to many he seems to be the only one with their interest at heart … you and I know he is not the best CEO for the enterprise but few understand that.

   Until such a time that we have some one with a nationalistic message with the proper technical know-how, some one with a passion to make the difference for the nation, we will wallow in poverty with politically correct statements that can’t even carry a tune in any bucket meanwhile every one will carry on, circling the wagon with no end in sight. Ronald Reagan once said, “ … You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.”

   Bashi Chilufya is at least trying to change the status quo and kudos to him for that, he is trying to preserve this for our children’s children however dismal his efforts may seem and that’s why he seems to have the kind of pull he seems to have even if he may not be best man for the enterprise … I think that we continue to have a chance at making the difference but severely choose to ignore the fundamentals of what it takes … thanks a trillion.

   9
10. 

    Austin says:

    January 24, 2007 at 6:15 pm

    brainsplus,
    It is good for Zambians to have another place they can visit and share ideas. I personally think it will take long before most people start using this site. At least there is no porn gabage here unlike ZOL.

    10
11. 

    Nell says:

    January 26, 2007 at 4:47 pm

    The following appeared in the Mining Weekly

    Arbitrator appointed in ZCI, Vendanta dispute
    An arbitrator has been appointed to oversee proceedings between Zambia Copper Investments (ZCI) and Indian mining company Vendanta Resources, ZCI said on Wednesday.
    In a statement released with the Zambian copper-cobalt miner’s interim financial results on Wednesday, ZCI chairperson Thomas Kamwendo told shareholders that preparations for the arbitration proceedings were continuing, with arbitration expected to be heard during the middle of the year.
    The dispute revolves around a 28,4% stake in Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) owned by ZCI, over which Vendanta has a call option.
    The two companies are disputing issues relating to the interpretation of the option agreement and the appointment of the independent investment bank cannot be finalised and the valuation process cannot progress until the dispute is resolved. ZCI eventually issued a notice of arbitration to Vedanta.
    In the meantime, however, agreement had been reached on the terms of engagement of the independent bank that will undertake the valuation, Kamwendo said on Wednesday.
    Once the ruling is received, the independent bank’s terms of engagement will be finalised and it will be able to undertake its valuation of the KCM stake held by ZCI.
    Kamwendo also reported that ZCI received its first dividend payment “in many years from KCM” in November last year.
    “The amount of $1,6-million received by the company may be lower than the board and shareholders would have hoped, but it is an extremely encouraging sign of the effects of current copper price levels on the profitability of KCM and by extension, ZCI,” he commented.
    The company posted a net profit of $44,9-million for the six months ended September 2006, which reflected an improvement from the $38,5-million published for the 15-month period ended March 2006.
    “The positive effect of high copper prices continues to be felt, but the directors’ concerns relating to low production levels at KCM remain largely unresolved,” Kamwendo indicated.

    Comments

    ZCI hold the former Angolo American shared in KCM on behalf of the people of Zambia and as such our local press and MP’s ought to take a keen interest in this issue otherwise we will find that decisions have been made and it’s too late for you and I to do anything about.
    Here we are debating ZANACO when the dirty deed has already been done and is unlikely ever to be reversed.

    Brainsplus, what do you think shikulu ?

    11
12. 

    brainsplus says:

    January 26, 2007 at 7:15 pm

    Austin,
    … great you came around to visit with us, and thanks for your comment. You never know, it may not take as much time as you think. You will be surprised to see our blog stats so far for individuals that have already checked the site out!!! On the porno stuff, it ain’t welcome here, we want every one to be able to log on, including children, so they can read what Zambian adults are deliberating on … thanks a trillion.

    Nell,
    … great comments on ZCI, please post the link from the “Mining Weekly” for me to read the whole article before I comment on it. I also wanted to let you know that you have the most posts (articles posted) on Zambian Chronicle so far … kudos to you!!! We have a lot of traffic but I know that some people are kind of scared to jump on the band wagon and you were the second here and are still going strong. We appreciate your courage and enthusiasm … don’t forget about the link, nor sooner I read the whole thing, than I will be responding to your comment, once again … thanks a trillion.

    12
13. 

    Nell says:

    January 27, 2007 at 7:01 am

    Brainsplus

    It maybe easier for you and others if you go onto Google and type in Zambia Copper Investments and click on google news then you will have a lot of refeence material.

    I hope that is helpful to all.

    Have a good weekend gents.

    13
14. 

    brainsplus says:

    January 27, 2007 at 10:50 pm

    Nell,
    … you are right, I actually found the article on http://www.miningweekly.co.za/min/news/breaking/?show=100499 and thanks for the lead. According to the article, at issue is the dispute revolving around a 28.4% stake in Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) owned by Zambia Copper Investments, over which Vendanta has a call option. The underpinning point is the “CALL OPTION” which Vendanta has a legal right to.

    In simple terms this is an agreement that gives an investor in this case Vendanta, the right (but not the obligation) to buy a stock, bond, commodity, or any other financial instrument at a specified price within a specific time period. It may help us to further understand that a call option gives you the right to “call in” (buy) an asset. You profit on a call when the underlying asset increases in price.

    In the case of Zambia Copper Investments Limited which by the way is a Bermudian registered public company, nothing really technically belongs to the Zambian people because this company is publicly traded there and the real owners are the stockholders and not the Zambian government and or its people, the catch 22 is here. It is very likely that the Indian managed Vendanta had this planed all along and included the “call option” in the contract and were ready to exercise as soon as the venture’s value surged.

    It is yet another irrepairable blunder the MMD legacy will leave us with and should the arbitrator rule in Vendanta’s favor, the Zambian people come in empty handed. If the arbitrator rules in ZCI’s favor, still the Zambian people have lost because they actually lost when Zambia Copper Investments decided to be a publicly traded company offshore – that’s what I meant by catch 22. Zambia lost when the contract with a “call option” was signed but it lost before that when ZCI became a publicly traded company in Bermuda instead of being fully traded at LuSE with the participation of the Zambian people as sole stockholders – once beaten twice shy … thanks a trillion.

    14
15. 

    Nell says:

    January 28, 2007 at 11:56 pm

    Lighten up guys. Here is a story I posted on the other site which you may or may not find funny.

    Last Saturday the President caused panic when he cancelled his travel arrangements to Ethiopia causing people to speculate that he’d suffered yet another stroke.

    Those of you who are familiar with Zambia’s history will know that this is nothing unusual for Zambia to be without a President for a couple of hours.

    Kenneth Kaunda once stepped down as President in protest over the drinking habits of Zambians and that was dubbed as “The Night Without A President.” I believe it was one Sikota Wina who managed to convince Kaunda to re-think his decision but I’ll leave historians to correct me on that. I have doubts if Levy will be moved by all of us taking to drink, after all it never worked for Kaunda and he went on to rule for 30 years,

    So what happened in the three hours Levy went missing and caused panic? Did he go jogging in the grounds of State House? Did he over sleep from the night before? Or was it a last minute encounter with? Never mind I won’t even go there!

    Honestly we will never know unless one VJ Mwaanga comes up with some good story. It is times like this I miss Lupando Mwape. He was such a good storyteller and really stretched the imagination.

    For now, the President is fine…!

    On a more serious note this issue of the government not wanting to prosecute KCM makes sad reading. What does the law say? After all just to quote our President, “OURS IS A GOVERNMENT OF LAWS AND NOT MEN”

    So if indeed we have a government of laws then perhaps we should challenge the government and bring some pressure to bear on them to live up to their own standard of being a government of laws and not men.

    15
16. 

    Hikaumba says:

    January 31, 2007 at 5:51 pm

    Nell,
    you can’t have a government of laws when the party has unwritten rules some where, go figure.

    16
17. 

    Kanswe says:

    February 1, 2007 at 4:49 pm

    Fellas,
    Does any one know anything about the new tax regime. How is it different? How will it affect us? Just wondering

    17
18. 

    Austin says:

    February 1, 2007 at 9:22 pm

    brainsplus,
    is there a way some one can get to this site by just typing in zambian crhonicle, that might help with publicity. otherwise it is proving to be a good site,thanks

    18
19. 

    brainsplus says:

    February 2, 2007 at 6:15 pm

    Austin,
    … yes sir, starting next month or by the mid of next month you should be able to log in directly by just going to http://www.zambianchronicle.com. This site will be migrated there, in fact we have already registered that domain name as our trademark too. Kindly bear with us, we are doing everything we can to make sure you find us with the greatest of ease in all aspects, we know this is a market driven enterprise and your feedback is highly appreciated … thanks a trillion.

    19
20. 

    Nell says:

    February 5, 2007 at 3:36 pm

    Hi everybody

    Does anybody know if the Mr. President website has finally been closed down or not ?

    20
21. 

    brainsplus says:

    February 5, 2007 at 6:44 pm

    Nell,
    … my good friend Chanda Chisala is one of the most dynamic Zambian Smarts I know. I believe they have not closed down the site but are trying to migrate it to a better server and tighten things around. It used to be a free-for-all kind of site and that leaves a lot of room for abuse and irresponsibility. Their site is free to post anything through Zambian Chronicle to let their patrons what is going on during the transition … thanks a trillion.

    21
22. 

    Nell says:

    February 5, 2007 at 8:39 pm

    Brainsplus

    I start burning up when you call me “hell” and not Nell but I’ll take it as a typing error, after all they do say that we all make mistakes.

    Tell me things seem pretty slow here. How are we going to get things moving i.e. more participation? It’s like people take a look and decide nahh.. nothing happening here.

    Lots of things happening that we could all be atlking about like

    - Floods in Zambia good for the kariba but what about the rest of us?

    - Why the Chinese President couldn’t go to the Copperbelt?

    Should I go on …?

    22
23. 

    Nell says:

    February 5, 2007 at 9:50 pm

    Every time Chinese investment is mentioned a figure of 10,000 jobs created by this investment is always mentioned. Does anybody know where this figure comes from?

    We are also being told that the new $200 million copper smelter which is the centerpiece of an Economic and Trade Co-operation Zone will create 50,000 new jobs by 2020.

    This is a BIG figure and one wonders whether it is realistic or not. You are looking at some thing like five big Nchanga Divisions. Are we going back to the stone age ?

    If these figures are to be believed how prepared are we for the demands of technical skills in the form of Technicians, Technologists, Engineers and other professions. I know we have a lot of ba Chibombe bombe but we need to look at the bigger picture or will we be creating jobs for the Chinese technocrats.

    I’d like to encourage some discussion about this. What do you think ladies and gents ?

    23
24. 

    Nell says:

    February 6, 2007 at 7:40 pm

    Hello

    Anybody out there ?

    24
25. 

    brainsplus says:

    February 6, 2007 at 7:55 pm

    Nell,
    … I am so sorry buddy; I did not even realize that I had actually called you that – since been corrected. Any how concerning your inquiry on how we can increase traffic around here … there are several ways we can do and the best is word of mouth, secondly emailing all those individuals in our address books we think might be interested in what we are doing around here and thirdly advertise the site through local media, you would be surprised how much a billboard ad in the middle of Lusaka with the following would do …

    Zambian Chronicle
    Where Smart Zambians Online Meet & Chat …

    Also, most people are not bold enough to type in their email address and the like. We like it that way because only serious individuals need to take part in our discussions. Other than that you will be pleased to know that a lot of people visit our site but they just don’t post their comments. We are less than a month old but we have had 1,438 visits but only 35 posts.

    When I posted “DISSENTION IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM” series on the Zambia Online website, do you realize that over 12,000 people read those but only 5 responded to them … funny but true. So my dear friend we are on the right track. Email all your friends and lets meet around here …

    Very soon we all will be able to find this site by simply going to http://www.zambianchronicle.com. We will also have video links, you will be able to chat with others live online, and you will also be able to have video conferences for a fee, courtesy of the Zambian Chronicle. We have a lot of work cut out for us and excellence is our motto … thanks a trillion.

    25
26. 

    Kevin says:

    February 11, 2007 at 7:53 pm

    This is an excellent site, I think it might grow pretty well. Nell, is right you may want to do a little more than what you suggested to increase traffic.

    26
27. 

    Simon Mfula says:

    February 19, 2007 at 6:43 pm

    As far as i know Zambia will never be the same .The country is working out formulars through many professional,nongovernment organisations and the politicians to eradicate poverty and lay foundation for big and long lasting investments.
    Some time back the national budget was by the government without much consultaion from all stake holders.

    27
28. 

    brainsplus says:

    February 20, 2007 at 12:08 am

    Simon,
    … outstanding observations. All budgetary processes involve a large number of individuals and I am glad that all now understand the importance of stake holder involvement … thanks a trillion

    28
29. 

    Nell says:

    February 20, 2007 at 11:13 pm

    Simon
    Looking at recent events over the IMF budget proposals would you say that that was stakeholder involvement or was it a question of the POST bring it to the attention of the Zambian people of what was in the offering ?

    I may have got the events wrong but I still need to be convinced that there is meaningful consultation of all stake holders.

    29
30. 

    Kevin says:

    February 21, 2007 at 6:05 pm

    The problem is really not consultation if you asked me. I think it has to do with having consulted but doing nothing about the information gathered after those consultations. I rest my case.

    30
31. 

    brainsplus says:

    February 21, 2007 at 6:59 pm

    Nell & Kevin,
    … you got that right guys. We need to understand further that through the tortoise, complex, carefully orchestrated and highly regulated processes such as those involved in budgetary practices, we always have to deal with proper public policy for any thing to materialize, I could have put it better than either of you did … thanks a trillion

    31
32. 

    max says:

    March 19, 2007 at 11:43 am

    how can you fight CORRUPTION at lands when the ACC is not involved and you put the OP fight it. how possible is this

    32
33. 

    brainsplus says:

    March 20, 2007 at 4:42 am

    Max,
    … interestly, you are fight it right here by simply sensitizing the world to those issues of corruption at lands. Keep on fighting and your fight will eventually bear fruit … thanks a trillion

    33

1 Trackbacks/Pingbacks

1. Mike 24 07 07

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

CAPTCHA Code