Comments on Zambian Economist: A Market for Lemons

I am sure we can assemble a team to undertake such...

2012-01-26T20:44:50.581Z

I am sure we can assemble a team to undertake such a review if demand if the Government was willing

Hi Rolf, Like with anything, it is the lack of f...

2012-01-26T15:15:51.790Z

Hi Rolf,

Like with anything, it is the lack of funding. Not only does this shift the tax (and levy/copay/etc) burden onto the middle class, it is keeping lending rates in the mid-twenties and keeps the state borrowing from the private sector.

Every year, the state is losing at least $3 billion in profits from mining because of privatisation. Because of the 'developmant agreements', it even loses about $1.5 billion in taxes on the mining industry, including $300 million at ZCCM-IH because of uncollectable and undeterminable mine industry 'profits'.

The PF has said no to a collectable tax like the Windfall Tax, at least for now.

That is at the core of everything - poor quality education, poor roads, lack of investment in infrastructure (97% of agriculture depends on rainfall), lack of investment in human resources at the local council level.

Money makes money, and the government is still unwilling to collect it's share.

Indeed, ordinary Zambians are struggling to find j...

2012-01-26T05:50:50.898Z

Indeed, ordinary Zambians are struggling to find justice- I am getting heart-rending stories every day from the magistrates courts. Is the underlying cause that so few students pass their LLB exams (8/100 this year I am told)? With so few lawyers, their prices have sky-rocketed beyond what most people can afford- some even say its a conspiracy.
The whole justice system requires serious review but who would perform the task convincingly?