One of my favorite economists Daron Acemoglu writes in Esquire on the importance of creating institutions that generate the right incentives for development. Unusually for Acemoglu the article appears somewhat simplistic by playing down historic forces (e.g. colonial influence) and role of culture. Its equally vague on just how we... [view entry]

An update to Mining Reflections : Proposition One, with new tax data as provided in a recent EAZ public debate presentation by Dr Mpande (UNZA, School of Mines). This shows conclusively that the mining revenue is in effect negative given the vast domestic VAT rebate (or the friendly term "exemption")... [view entry]

I recently read an article entitled “Government Urges Local Scientists to Be More Competitive” which appeared on Lusaka Times (LT) of December 2, 2009. In the article, Science and Technology Minister Gabriel Namulambe was reported as having toured government-funded projects at the Technology Development Advisory Unit (TDAU) at the University... [view entry]

Proposition 3: The plight of our mining workers is deplorableProposition One acknowledged that Zambia as a whole has seen little benefit from its vast mineral wealth. Proposition Two demonstrated that the picture looks worse when we focus on mining communities. We learnt that the overall impact on these mining towns... [view entry]

First report of the Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services for the fourth session of the tenth national assembly appointed on 25th September 2009. Appendix 1 on how the Government controlled media covered 2008 elections is a must read! Also some interesting perspectives on local radio and a welcome recommendation... [view entry]

Something for World Aids Day - an interesting DfID initiative that is using hairdressers to tackle HIV in Zimbabwe. At the end of the clip the narrator points to a significant reduction in HIV in Zimbabwe over the last six years (24% down to 14%). Surely other more obvious factors... [view entry]

First report of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Labour and labour for the fourth session of the tenth national assembly appointed on thursday, 24th september 2009. Nothing out of the ordinary, aside from some strong language on the need to unbundle ZESCO - something we have previously discussed (e.g... [view entry]

Another win for another Southern African political party that has ruled for decades. [view entry]

Ministerial Statement made to Parliament on 27th November, 2009 by the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP on Public Private Partnerships.Ministerial Statementn on Public Private Partnerships [view entry]

A useful update report on the main World Bank projects in Zambia. [view entry]