Zambia Tourism (CNN Report)

ZRA Commission Report

Cabinet at its sitting on Wednesday 25th January, 2012 accepted without reservations the report on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of Zambia Revenue Authority. Cabinet has reversed fraudulent procurements regarding Zambia Revenue Authority related contracts with Bradwell International, and Cargo Scan. Cabinet has also directed the reversal of the concession of the borders namely; Kasumbalesa, Nakonde, Jimbe, Kipushi, Mwami and Chanida and the reversal of tax concession offered to Varum Beverages Limited, the promoters of the Pepsi Zambia Project. The Ministerial Statement and ZRA Commission Report is embedded below.

A Market for Lemons

Justice Permanent Secretary Patricia Jere has observed that lawyers are shunning the opportunity because "of the huge work load and lack of incentives...lawyers shunned to work as magistrates in preference to private practice which was more lucrative...vacancies had not been filled because there were no magistrates on the market". Poor incentives are certainly part of the problem, but it still leaves us with an incomplete picture. I would suggest that there at least additional observations to be made. 

The first is that a large part of the problem is poor reputation. The politicisation of the judiciary and general rampant corruption has forced many legal minds who are sincere in their duties to avoid working for the government. Being a magistrate goes far beyond simply doing a job, its about public service. When the public sector becomes tainted it becomes difficult to attract people. 

A more serious problem Ms Jere would do well to consider is the poor quality of remaining  magistrates. The poor reputation of the judiciary does not just prevent people from joining, but also leads to the exit of good magistrates and attraction of poor ones (those who can't make it as lawyers and are too corrupt). This is a classic market for lemons, with only the bad eggs left. Good wages alone wont fix this problem. What it needs is improvement in the professional standards, strong leadership at the top of judiciary and greater commitment to rooting out corrupt magistrates.  

Public Notice

ZAMBIA INSTITUTE FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA

PRESENTS A PUBLIC DISCUSSION FORUM

TOPIC “Should the Zambian Government Invest in Railways”


DATE: Thursday, 26th January 2012

VENUE: Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Club Lounge

TIME: 18:00 – 20:00 Hours

Presenter: Mr. Alan Whiteworth- Technical Advisor, Zambia Institute for
Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR)

Discussants: Mr. Nelson Nyangu – Director Planning, Ministry of Transport
& Communications
Mr. Trevor Simumba – International Business Consultant

Moderator : Mr. Emmaunel Hachipuka –Former Chairperson of the Public
Accounts Committee (PAC) of the
National Assembly of Zambia.

ENTRY IS FREE, FREE, FREE!

THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND MEDIA ARE ALL INVITED.

For Details: Contact ZIPAR, Tel: 252566, OR 0977967996
E-mail: info@zipar.org.zm

eazambia@iconnect.zm

A Portrait of Poverty, 2nd Edition

"No one has ever assisted me neither my relatives nor the church where I congregate, my life has always been one of pain and strife"

Ms Albertina Mwewa on her life living as one of the blind beggars on the streets of Lusaka. Nancy Handabile's insightful piece Blind and Surving on the Streets chronicles her daily challenges. Her story is one in which poverty reinforces poverty - from birth to the grave. Ms Mwewa was born in a poor family of six in Samfya. When she was three, she suffered blindness. Due to her blindness she never went to school and instead got married at a very tender age to a fellow blind man with whom she had seven children. She has lost four children due to poverty and general illnesses which has compounded her sorrow in life. As if that is not enough trouble to add to her list of woes, Ms Mwewa is facing the odds of life all alone having divorced her polygamous husband who went and married another woman with sight. So now she is stuck on the streets begging to pay rent and children to support.

Related Post : 

A Portrait of Poverty