Thursday 28 August 2014

Buried Treasure


The Zambian Economist has a good article this week about the difficulties Zambia’s Mining Policy is facing especially in regard to taxation. The Mines Minister has promised an enabling environment for mining investors to sustain their operations by revisiting taxation. First Quantum Mining has recently announced it was holding back from investing $1 billion in Zambia. Two weeks ago there had been a suggestion that mining taxes would have to go up to cover a deficit in Government spending. For Zambia it is a case of once bitten twice shy and keeping her distance from the World Bank/IMF Structural Adjustment Programmes. This announcement led to the usual barrage of self-interested, special pleading from the Chamber of Mines that a variable profit tax is the same as the windfall tax………… Higher taxation will put the mines out of business ………..etc, etc.

 

So it was a surprise to hear that the GRZ will refund in stages US$600m in VAT to mining companies. This had been withheld as the companies had failed to provide a transparent paper trail to the end-user of zero-rated copper exports. The money to pay for this will come from the recently acquired US$1 billion Eurobond, US$700m of which is apparently still sitting at the Bank of Zambia.

 

Another paper called PV Zambia Report - Copper Colonialism makes the point that politicians and newspapers here as elsewhere in the world often portray multinational company investment in our countries, as some sort of benevolent, altruistic, loss-making job creation-scheme. This of course could not be further from the truth.

 

Extractive industries come to take advantage of low taxes and neo-liberal policies which allow them to ruthlessly exploit natural resources, leaving behind corruption and environmental and social degradation which their minimal tax contributions and so-called social responsibility programmes do not come close to covering. Sub-Saharan Africa is a 'global net creditor', contributing billions of dollars to the world economy each year. This comes from 'cash flight' in owed taxes, mispricing, overestimating costs and under reporting production. Sub-Saharan Africa and other places we know well, are not the burden on the rest of the world we are made to believe. This misuse and exploitation of natural resources is plain and simple extractivism. It is not investment, aid or charity.

 

Zambia's copper is a finite resource with economists suggesting that it will be exhausted anywhere between 2020 and 2100. This is highly unlikely, and merely shows how companies and financiers manipulate figures to create investor confidence, enable speculation or to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt.

 

What is true is that there is limited window of opportunity to reverse the trend of losing rather than gaining from this precious resource, making it last, or planning for an economy without it.

At present Zambia produces 1/16 of the world’s copper. It is the eighth largest producer in the world. Copper provides 75% of our export revenue but only 2% of domestic revenue! The world price is $7 300.00 per tonne and in 2012 Zambia produced just short of 1 million tones.

 

Is this resource benefitting the people of Zambia under multi-national company management? If not, how can the Zambian people and the Government gain the maximum benefit from this enormously valuable national asset? There are no simple answers, but instead these are crucial questions to address and consider. Missing information is needed to enable informed debate to help Zambians decide what steps to take. Accurate information could contribute to developing a 'critical consciousness' in Zambia, which examines and creates new models of development, that will serve people's needs. Critical consciousness is necessary to prevent Zambians from being short-changed by neo-liberal rhetoric, which represent little or no change from the old extractivist regime, backed by the same interests.

 

Finally, Zambia is not served well by its NGO culture, this also should be critically re-examined. NGOs employ around 37 500 people in Zambia compared with 75 000 in mining. Many NGOs are out of touch, living and working in gated compounds, driving 4x4s, but declaring anywhere East or West of the line of rail as the bush! They are in receipt of foreign donor aid funding and so are accountable to the donors and not the people they are supposed to serve. They deliver top –down projects that were planned in Head Office to communities and that bring no significant lasting change as they are generally unconcerned with local priorities or needs. In fact ironically they often use, suppress or co-opt existing grassroots movements instead of nurturing them.  They spent most of their time doing surveys, holding workshops, gathering evidence with no follow-up. They seem more concerned with ticking the right boxes so as to get the next tranche of funding. 

 

The notion of 'civil society' should be expanded to include community groups, marginal trade unions and people's movements. The growth of these bodies, which are at the heart of true democracy, should be encouraged and valued. Mass movements are important to secure people’s rights, as workers and as citizens, to change politics and policies and bring into being a culture of questioning and activism. At community level Zambians can learn from successful examples of social movements in India, North Africa, Latin America, Europe and elsewhere, and begin a bottom-up process of redefining 'progress' and 'development' as concepts which will truly serve Zambia's people.

Monday 18 August 2014

THEN AND NOW:

GENERAL MISSIONARY CONFERENCES OF NORTHERN RHODESIA 1914-1944


After reporting on the latest UCZ International Partners Forum and this year being the 100th anniversary of a first meeting, I thought it might be interesting to look at how in the past, Churches regularly met to discuss, cooperate and tackle mutual problems.

 

The ecumenical roots of the United Church of Zambia can be traced back to this meeting and the formation of the General Missionary Conference of Northern Rhodesia which first convened 100 years ago in 1914 in Livingstone.

 

Below is a table of their meetings between 1914 and 1944. In 1945 the GMC’s place was taken by the Christian Council of Northern Rhodesia which in turn at Independence became the Christian Council of Zambia, to which the UCZ belongs

 

CONFERENCE
VENUE
YEAR
PRESIDENT
 
1st GMC
Livingstone
1914
Rev E W Smith
Primitive Methodist
 
2nd
Livingstone
1919
Rev A Jalla
PEMS
 
3rd
Kafue
1922
Rt Rev Alston May UMCA
 
4th
Kafue
1924
Rev Malcolm Moffat CofS
 
5th
Livingstone
1927
Rev CP Pauw
DRCM
 
6th
Broken Hill (Kabwe)
1931
Rev S D Gray
WMMS
 
7th
Ndola
1935
Rt Rev A May
UMCA
 
8th
Lusaka
1939
Rev H J Barnes
LMS
 
9th
Chalimbana
1944
Rev H J Barnes
LMS
 

 

Prior to the formation of the GMC there had been much informal cooperation amongst Missions in the areas of fellowship, hospitality, linguistics, medical, maternity and dental treatment amongst themselves. Health, education and social justice were even then national matters and areas of ecumenical cooperation. The divisions of denominationalism were more keenly felt back home in Europe or North America than at work here in the mission field.  The 1910 Edinburgh World Conference did much, by starting to repudiate sectarian division and demonstrating the inner and essential unity of the Church.

 

 

The objects of the GMC were to provide:

*cooperation and fellowship in the areas of evangelization,

*public sensitization on Mission and

*oversight of the interests of the indigenous people.

 

The denominations represented were;
Paris Evangelical Mission Society (French Protestant)

London Missionary Society (Congregationalist)

Church of Scotland

Reformed Church

South African Baptist Mission society

Seventh Day Adventist Mission

Brethren in Christ Church

Universities Mission to Central Africa (Anglican)

South Africa General Mission (Evangelical)

The Salvation Army

Bible Class Mission

Pilgrim Holiness Church

United Missions in the Copperbelt (LMS, CofS, UMCA, MMS, SABM & USCL)

 

The main business at the 1914 meeting, at which only the Paris Mission, Methodists, Anglicans, Mennonites and Wesleyans were present, was the need to have a common national curriculum and for regular government subsidies for mission schools.

 

CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF NORTHERN RHODESIA 1945 -1963

 

70 years ago in 1944 the General Conference met for the last time. Of the 16 Mission Societies at work in the country, 14 were present, the Roman Catholics were not authorized to attend and the Church of Christ sent their apologies. The agenda covered post-war education, agriculture, relations with Colonial authorities, Churches in mining areas, youth ministry, health, African literature and moral and social questions regarding the returning military. It was agreed to form a Christian Council of Northern Rhodesia, similar to other countries, uniting all the Churches and replacing the GCM with it. This new body would also collaborate with the Councils of Central and Southern Africa especially Nyasaland. A provisional Council was made responsible for preparing its organization and its constitution.

 

It held its inaugural meeting at Mindolo and held bi-annual meetings till 1963

 

COUNCIL MEETING
VENUE
YEAR
PRESIDING
1
Mindolo
1945
Pres: Rev  E G Nightingale
Sec: Rev A J Cross
2
Livingstone
1947
G R Suckling
Rev G Hewitt
3
Mufulira
1949
Rt Rev R Selby-Taylor
Rev G Hewitt
4
Lusaka
1951
Rev G Fraser
Rev B T Foster
5
Kitwe
1953
Rev G Hewitt
P S Walton
6
Chikankata
1955
Rev G Hewitt
PA Musgrove
7
Lusaka
1957
Rev M Temple
Rev E Matthews
8
Mindolo
1959
Rev E Nightingale
Rev M Temple
9
Mindolo
1961
Rt Rev O Wilkinson
Rev E Nightingale
10
Mindolo
1963
Dr A Thuma
Rev E Nightingale

 

In 1964 the 11th meeting in Mindolo changed its name to the Christian Council of Zambia with Rev Safeli Chileshe as President and Rev Philip Kazhila as Secretary. The CCZ membership consists of 21 Protestant Churches and 15 Church related bodies. Its name was later changed to the Council of Churches in Zambia. There is another ecumenical body the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia and the Catholics have their Episcopal Conference of Zambia. All three bodies try to work together where they can.

 

Rev Suzanne Matale presently serves as the General Secretary for The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) It is the official ecumenical umbrella organisation for most mainline Christian churches. CCZ seeks to promote cooperation and fellowship between Christian churches and organizations in the nation. It serves to strengthen Christian unity and to promote social justice, peace and development. For example at the moment, with other bodies it is involved in the constitutional review process, gender, poverty and other social issues. Its ministry is promoting human dignity to member churches, organizations, and to the people of Zambia by facilitation, advocacy, capacity-building, and networking to the glory of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The CCZ has a website which is presently being updated http://www.ccz.org.zm

Friday 1 August 2014

UCZ INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS CONSULTATION MEETING - KABWE 17 &18 JULY 2014


Under this year’s theme “Seeking the Church Transformed through Prudent Stewardship” the United Church of Zambia met with international partners involved with UCZ Projects for a two-day Conference on 17 & 18 July at the Diakonia Centre in Kabwe. This was a follow-up to a previous meeting held in July 2011 and was a mid-term review of the Strategic Plan as part of the mutual commitment of walking together. It was an opportunity for presentation dialogue feedback and reflection.

 

Participants included representatives from the Geneva Church, Church of Scotland, United Reformed Church, US Board of Trustees, World Renew, Gossner Mission and Council for World Mission. Representing the UCZ were the Synod Executive and Heads of Departments and Institutions with the Presbytery Bishops, also attending were representatives from the Trustees, Strategic Plan Technical, Golden Jubilee, Synod Construction, World Partnership and Fundraising Committees

 

After worship and a devotion led by Rev S Silishebo, reminding us of our blessings and the meaning of Jubilee, the meeting opened with a welcome by the Synod Bishop Rev M Mulumbwa followed by an address by the General Secretary, Rev Dr Peggy Mulambya Kabonde, to the delegates who were mixed and seated around 6 different tables.

 

The meeting was ably moderated by Ms Omega Bula and the first plenary session opened with a panel presentation on the Context for Mission. Rev Mary Mpingu spoke on the impact of poverty on rural ministry and the Church’s response to poverty alleviation through Skill Centres and Microfinance. Despite the challenges there were successes.

 

She was followed by Mrs Yeta who, from a woman’s perspective, shared their vision for the Church. She noted that there were no female Bishops at the moment in the UCZ and there was still an obvious lack of female representation in other Church leadership positions. Foreign ownership of land and the inability of women to be given land in their own right was a matter of concern. Malnourishment, unsafe drinking water, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, poor employment opportunities were all factors affecting women that the Church could help with.

 

Friday Ngoma talked about the challenges and opportunities for Youth and Young Adult Ministries. It is a confusing time of generational culture clashes: ITC v writing or preaching v Facebook. In the Church many youth are attracted to charismatic pentecostalism, - other areas of concern for young people were HIV/AIDS, GBV, lack of educational opportunities, early marriages, teen-pregnancies and chronic poverty. He suggested a refocusing of resources to Youth Ministry to reconcile, mentor and disciple the young so they too may be equipped and sent out.

 

At the end of each session there was a time to question and reflect on what we heard and to consider what God was saying to us.

 


After lunch we heard from Dr Alex Simwanza and Mr Ngande Mwanajiti who highlighted the progress being made with the implementation of the Strategic Plan.  

The meeting was highly gratified to see signs of greater financial stability through debt reduction and increased income. The restructuring had also led to greater managerial and organizational effectiveness. This would be further reinforced with the advent of missional congregations. This should also lead to more meaningful participation and greater accountability with better communication so that it was not just top-down but also bottom-up so that the grassroots had the opportunity to feedback. Better utilization of church land was another priority and advocating for and speaking out on social justice issues.     

 

After supper to end the first day we joined with Music Ministry Kabwe for a time of praise and worship, from the Busokololo Church Choir at All Saints Congregation. They have recently produced an excellent DVD called Samaria.

 

On Friday morning we again started with praise and prayer. The first session was a financial analysis of the Church over the same period, highlighting salient features and was presented by Mr I Kangwa Financial Secretary and Mr C Katongo the Internal Auditor. It explained the accounting and budgetary control systems now in operation and undertook a financial performance analysis looking at income and expenditure, assets and liabilities, ending with investments and cash flow projections. This led to a discussion concerning ethical investment and a recommendation that the UCZ only invest in tax-compliant and socially-responsible companies. 

 

The next stage discussed the Key Action Points arising from the reports and presentations. The areas the meeting wished to affirm and strengthen leading to an Action Improvement Plan for future direction were:

 

*Development of the missional congregation

*Advocacy –Local and National

*Address social injustices and their causes

*Ethical investments

*Communication Flow

*Improved Church Statistics

*Training of Clergy & Ministry Formation

*Youth Ministry

*Migrant and Transhumance Ministry

*Improved Social Services (Health & Education)

*Empowering women, the poor and marginalized

* Church land utilization – Title deeds

* Sustainability of Misprol Projects

 

Wolfgang Pfeiffer then spoke on behalf of the Gossner Mission explaining the history of their link with the UCZ and their emphasis on Community Development and Social Justice and focusing on self-help and agriculture to improve living standards and promote poverty alleviation amongst the poor and vulnerable.

 

The final session linked this all to the Golden Jubilee. It is proposed that there will be events starting on 15th  January 2015 with Seminars and an exhibition at the Mulunguishi Government Complex. On the 16th  January there will be a Service at Mindolo commemorating the 1965 Union Service and using the same Order of Service. The climax to these events will be a national celebration at the Gabon Heroes Stadium held on 18th January. International partners and their representatives would be most welcome to part of this programme.

 

Our closing worship included Holy Communion. It was a useful time together, learning in what practical ways the UCZ is being transformed by prudent stewardship - a journey on which we are all travelling and an on-going process.