Zambia’s copper resources have not made the country rich. Virtually all Zambia’s copper mines are owned by corporations. In the last ten years, they’ve extracted copper worth $29 billion but Zambia is still ranked one of the twenty poorest countries in the world.
So why hasn’t copper wealth reduced poverty in Zambia? Once again it comes down to the issue of tax, or in Zambia’s case, tax avoidance and the use of tax havens.
Tax avoidance by corporations costs poor countries and estimated $160 billion a year, almost double what they receive in international aid. That’s enough to save the lives of 350,000 children aged five or under every year.
For every $1 given in aid to a poor country, $10 drains out. Vital money that could help a poor country pay for healthcare, schools, pensions and infrastructure. Money that would make them less reliant on aid.
You are the mugu
I am a the master!
…….pretty much says it all about Africa. Don’t be hopeful. That would be idiocy.
This is one of the best documentaries I’ve seen. It might be because i’m Zambian. A more internal problem that has not been showcased may be that most Zambians are also quite ignorant. They only seem to care about themselves, a type of corruption in my opinion. take notice of the reaction of the Mopani director (Mr. Mutati). He was too afraid to speak. That is one of the biggest set backs in tackling corrupt activities. People that have a slight advantage in changing things are too afraid to cooperate.
On a brighter note, I’m glad that this documentary has come about. it is nice and factual.
As Mr. Scott pointed out towards the end, its only a matter of time. Zambians are getting educated, with time the good will come about. Thanks a lot for this wonderful documentary.
Hundreds of billions in aid have been pumped into Africa, and corruption, chaos and savagery is still the order of the day.
Time to cut off all aid and let Mother Nature whittle down Freaka’s eight hundred million to something more manageable, like eight million.
Those guys at Glencore deserve a huge cooper rod shoved right up their asses and straight out of their mouths…..then put over a bbq spit to be roasted just enough where they’re still alive, then fed to a pack of wild dogs.