INVESTORS WILL REMAIN IN ZAMBIA REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS 2011 ELECTION (PACT OR MMD)

Every election is about change. But so far the MMD has always been using this saying that under PF or PACT, the investors in Zambia will go away. The fact is no investor will run away as long as there money to make and labor to do the work. Period!! Investors will remain regardless of who wins in 2011. Therefore, both MMD and PACT must just offer how best to deal with investors. These guys are in Zambia to make money.

No presidential candidate should run for office to maintain the status quo or implement someone’s agenda. It is important that each candidate in this presidential election articulate their issues, policies and plans for Zambia .

Zambia is confronted with several challenges that demand bold and effective leadership. We need to reform government institutions to increase transparency and accountability especially in government public service performance especially in education and health. We need to reform the fight on corruption by making anti-corruption agencies receive mandate to investigate and prosecute corruption cases from parliament and not just from State House.

We face an energy crisis from lack of reliable sources of oil and ageing oil refineries. The government must see energy as a national security issue, build strategic oil reserves and offer affordable oil prices to businesses and consumers. On the long time, the next president must explore energy alternatives from coal and natural gas. Bargaining money for oil from private banks and frequent Zesco load shedding make Zambia vulnerable.

Past economic results is not a guarantee for another good future performance. People want opportunities to make a better living. Milking the past as true measure of tomorrow is a cheap political tactic. The next president must offer a clear vision and policies for Zambia . We can not just implement projects or release money for development during election time.

Zambia needs a strong president that will deal foreign investors; demand a fair pay of taxes and make sure Zambia ’s labor and environmental laws are followed. No party has a monopoly on investor confidence; as long as there is money to be made in Zambia , investors will stay regardless of who is the president or party in government. So MMD must stop this fear that under UPND/PF government, investors will go. The fact is they will not.

We need a new deal on the mining sector. In addition to fair tax contribution, Zambia must demand that all mining investors start to bank their millions of profits with local banks in Zambia , not with out of the country banks.

The next president must champion an agricultural revolution in Zambia by investing and creating incentives to engage in farming. Zambia ’s agriculture can create millions of jobs, reduce food prices and contribute to the economic growth. We need to move from political slogans that offer no real solutions for safe roads and build rail ways.

These above challenges are Zambian issues, not regional that requires strong leadership from the next president, cabinet and parliament. The people of Zambia can not harvest a different good economic result if the same bad policies done by the same government repeat the same failed agenda.

Government can not do everything but it can create opportunities for Zambians. This election is about choosing a leader who will fight for Zambians and create opportunities.