Following the article, I received an avalanche of feedbacks from readers within the country mainly condemning me for what they termed biased reporting.
Most of the contributors seemed to have been too emotional to even observe that the article was not written by me but by a guest writer. They offloaded all their tirades on a wrong target.
One of such reactions reads:
“James
Your article today understates two reasons why toll roads are monopolistic within the boundaries of Zambia. 1. There are no alternative roads north, south, east, or west. 2. All charges will be passed onto consumers. This is tax by the backdoor.
The experience in other countries suggest revenue raised is not spent on roads when run by the state as funds are diverted to other uses and roads.
Let's not be naïve. Toll charges at internal points will be bad for Zambians. Toll charges at borders have a tenuous link to road maintenance and more about taxation revenue.
Tolls like subsidies will cost ordinary Zambians. Your analysis is weak lacking real numbers and international comparisons.
You cannot conclude that qualitative benefits 'far outweigh' without numbers. We know for example that 60 per cent of tax revenue is spent on consumption.
The lack of alternative roads weighs against the imposition of tolls. Twenty-six tolls will push up inflation.
“This is biased reporting. Again,” ends the concerned resident who sent the message through his
Blackberry® SmartPhone on MTN Zambia.
If I was the author of the original article, I would have given this reader an “A” for churning out a good critic whose only flaws were prejudice and wrong target.
As they say: “do not kill the messenger for the bad message.” In this case I was the messenger since the article by Mr Hatembo Jr was carried on my column.
For two or more other articles, I would be found culpable of some ethical or other offence if I attempted to reproduce them but all I can say is that people should argue with the facts or issues not with the authors.
“I READ with keen interest the article headlined ‘Why Zambia needs toll gates’ by James Muyanwa in the Times of Zambia of Wednesday October 30, 2013.
Toll gate in Nigeria
Another reader contributing through a letter to the editor writes:
Indeed toll gates may be one sustainable way of road infrastructure improvements. However, I find it strange that James seems to have taken a political stand in the way he went on justifying the necessity of toll gates.
By this, I mean his inclination to political overtones rather than coming out with a balanced intellectual exposition.
For all purposes and intent, James ignored the reality that over-taxation and double taxation seem to be the only available options for revenue generation each time the Government treasury runs
out of money.
He allegedly failed to bring out the reasons or justification that the Government gave to the people of Zambia for introducing the fuel levy are the same that James is now advancing on the need for toll gate fees.
Has the road infrastructure throughout the country been developed to expectations as advanced by the Government 22 years ago?
The answer is simple road infrastructure development remained far-fetched as if fuel levy was abandoned many years ago.
It seems James does not see this to be double taxation in view of the fuel levy.
He has not told the public what concrete mechanisms and measures have now been introduced to ensure that every ngwee that is collected from the toll gate will directly get into the road fund.
Bornwell Siakanomba Policy development consultant
“LUSAKA” ended the consultant.
However, like other readers, Mr Siakanomba is aiming at a wrong target and if he had taken time to relook at the article in question he could found out that on that day I merely provided a forum for Mr Hatembo Jr to air his views to which, as a Zambian, he is entitled.
As a columnist, I am aware, though, that there are always two sides to any policy, the merits and demerits but if a reader chooses to champion one side, like Mr Siankanomba and other readers did, they are entitled to do that.
My duty, however, as a journalists is to balance the views of the two opposing parties and I have done just that by using the views of Mr Siankanomba and others to counter Mr Hatembo Jr’s.
What is important is that the target and the real issue should not be lost; otherwise we will be fishing in the dark.
For comments/other contributions call: 0955431442, 0977246099 or
email: jmuyanwa@gmail.com.
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