NAWAKWI TRYING TO USE THE HATEMBOS TO WIPE OFF HER K88 MILLION DBZ DEBT – MWEETWA

LUSAKA – 02/05/21

Opposition Forum for Democracy and Development President Edith Nawakwi is using the Hatembos as a bait to clear the Eighty Eight million kwacha debt owed to the Development Bank of Zambia,says UPND National Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa.

Mr Mweetwa says the party is in receipt of information that the opposition leader has entered an unholy pact with the PF of insulting and issuing desperaging remarks against UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to avoid paying the huge debt.

He challenged Ms Nawakwi to dispute the reports of her failing to settle the almost 90 million kwacha debt owed to DBZ with the bank on the verge of grabbing some of her properties to recover the money.

“Everyone has been wondering why madam Nawakwi has been making all manner of attacks against the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.But now my desk is in receipt of information and very authentic that she has entered into a pact with the PF to do so as a way of saving herself from paying the huge 88 million kwacha debt she owes DBZ.She is left with no choice but becoming the PF’s vuvuzela in order to be shielded from the legal action against her by DBZ for defaulting.We pity her but we shall not allow her to continue along that trajectory,” Mr Mweetwa said.

He further revealed that the party has recieved petitions from the Mazuba family from whom President Hakainde Hichilema bought the Kalomo Farm and are now demanding to speak out on the matter.

“You might be aware that HH did not buy that farm from the Hatembo family but from the Mazuba family who have since petitioned the UPND to allow them take part in settling the circus which they said was being taken advantage of. They have asked me to communicate to madam Nawakwi to respect the dead. They told me that if their father was alive, the issue of the said farm would not have arisen. I insist that politicians needs to begin giving credence to politics,” he said.

The outspoken UPND Mouthpiece also questioned the decision by the PF to engage the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit as a frontline rigging conduit through the distribution of 10kg bags of mealie-meal to retirees from whom NRCs and Voters cards are grabbed as he challenged the DMMU to deny the allegations.

Mr Mweetwa was speaking at a media briefing this morning.

(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM

“No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.” – Plato.

Lusaka – 2nd May, 2021.

Edith Nawakwi recently said, “It takes courage to speak up when something is unfair, unjust, or wrong. Most of us fear criticism. However, it’s important that we speak up for ourselves, but even more important is that we speak out for those who cannot. James 4:17 reminds us that to, ‘Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it’.”

Those who follow my writeups now understand that I am a staunch advocate for education reforms and a new governance system that must prioritize development over political hegemony. Why education reforms? It’s because an average Zambian is receiving training instead of education.

The colonial education system on which the current system is based had an in-built slant that helped create a mindset of blind loyalty rather than open minds to new ways of independent and critical thinking. Its purpose was not to educate a person to understand the objective limits to the advancement of individual and collective welfare, but to train a person to accept and even administer the limits in an ‘efficient’ manner.

A lot of people, despite having their own brain cells, would rather keep them frozen for future use. They are content to memorise facts of life as said or written by their earthly gods. They can’t question anything. In the case of Edith Nawakwi’s accusations, since she is speaking about something that is against their little god, they have locked their minds to any sense of rational thought process. How is Nawakwi talking nonsense when she asks the nation about how a dead person can sign a mortgage, a clear case of fraud?

Strictly speaking, political parties are being part of our social economic problems rather than being part of the much needed solutions. Power is the main objective of political parties, not as an instrument to achieve goals of general interest, but as an end in itself for the political élite. Political parties are managed as ‘cartels’, more about their leadership than being parts of the society, more concerned about their survival and reproduction than about the production of socially relevant achievements.

It is not a surprise, therefore, that we have started looking at them as part of the problem rather than being part of the solution. For instance, in whose interest would halting political violence be? If it’s in the interest of society, then don’t expect party leadership to intervene. This is the real account of the much publicised populist Western political system. Political parties are no longer capable of intercepting and representing needs and demands. It’s all about political hegemony.

This is why we are wasting our meagre resources on elections selling dreams or emotions with no real connection with the harsh reality of the scarce economic resources and viable political options. For Zambia to develop, we need to exit from this political system as it is conceived and structured by the West and implement a partyless development oriented governance system. Our narrative ought be development and not hero worshipping.

In 2019, I shared an article in which I reminded the nation that those calling Paul Kagame’s Rwanda authoritarian have no discipline to live and appreciate Rwanda’s house rules, just like an indisciplined child sees a right parent authoritarian. Even Lucipher rose against what he termed an authoritarian God. He wanted his own roof not that God was bad.

Similarly, the opposition leaders in Zambia today are not in politics to fight Edgar Lungu because he is not able to provide for an ordinary child in rural Zambia but because, like in the case of satan, they want Edgar Lungu’s seat. Regime change for the sake of it is their priority. I wondered then and I still do whether one can seriously believe Hon. Harry Kalaba resigned because of corruption in the Patriotic Front when he could single handedly allow mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park against the professional advice of ZEMA and several other competent institutions or that Mr. Hichilema believed himself when he was calling the then Defense Minister GBM a corrupt man only to appoint him VP as soon as he left the Patriotic Front government.

Let’s open our minds and see the world as it really is, not what we are being made to believe by those who need our votes. Aren’t we all looking up to China and for the right reasons? No one is discussing the authoritarian China it ought to be but the future we can all relate to, where technology breeds solutions. But I keep posing this question, why are we borrowing money from this country that makes money out of our raw materials such as mukula and copper? Well, China put its house in order first just like a responsible husband and father will not give chance to his wife and children to recognize another man outside of his home as their source of livelihood. Allow me to quote Paul Kagame…

“We need to mobilise the right mindsets, rather than more funding. After all, in Africa, we have everything we need, in real terms. Whatever is lacking, we have the means to acquire. And yet we remain mentally married to the idea that nothing can get moving, without external finance. We are even begging for things we already have. That is absolutely a failure of mindset.”

Decisions have to be made, some of them too bitter to our liking but we must accept that the current political system was designed by a thinking mind to yoke Africa with perpetual poverty. Let’s put our house in order as well by seriously considering our own governance system that must prioritize development over political power. Why should we spend more time and resources on elections than on issues that literally bring food to the table? As we campaign, how many people are conscious of the plight of those in our health facilities that have no medical supplies or children in rural Zambia that will never see the inside of a classroom?

It’s just that we have been brainwashed into thinking we know what we are doing but we are not any different from a happy mad man sitting on a rubbish dump. We have reduced ourselves to fighting each other for seats on a destinationless train and everyone is OK with it. The current regional multiparty political system cannot bring development to Zambia. We need a well thought out NO party participatory democracy which can prioritize education, agriculture, technology, and all that matters to attain first world status. We need to rethink our political system if it’s development we need.

Minerals, agricultural products, oil, you name it, is all present in Africa. The world, literally, runs on the produce of Africa, yet on the ground people starve, live on assistance from rich nations, endure war and corruption and, worse off, Africans hardly even use any of the things they produce. Take, for instance, the cocoa and chocolate industries. Even though Africa produces 75 percent of all the cocoa in the world, the continent gets only 2 percent of the $100 billion revenue from the chocolate industry. How much does our debt ridden Zambia get from the tens of billions of dollars of its copper exports annually?

Paul Kagame remains my hero not because I support suppression of dissenting views as he is portrayed but because I care more about wealth creation for Africa’s future generations and that is what is doing in Rwanda while we promote anarchy in Zambia, even opposing the Cybersecurity Bill because we understand our political campaigns are based on deception. Call it brutality but out of the same condemned brutality, came the cash Africa is borrowing from China after being made broke by western democracies. We are a special kind of intelligent people. Let’s respect our diverse political views but place the needs of Zambia before those of our political leaders.

Mpandashalo Evans Mwewa
WhatsApp: +260 977 430702

©2021 Eagle One Zambia, Inc.
Journalism for social change

EDITH Nawakwi should not push her luck too far, we have had enough of her nonsense now, says Copperbelt UPND youth chairman Daniel Kamengo.

Kamengo said UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was a brand that is attractive to the Zambian people.

He said this at a media briefing in Kitwe at the UPND office.

“For the past two weeks, we have given madam Nawakwi enough time to hang herself and she has done that. There is no political leader in Zambia who has taken a political party to such a level,” Kamengo said. “Every time they here of Hakainde Hichilema then they feel the pressure. If Hakainde is not a force why should they always want to fight Hakainde? If there is a man who has managed to unite a party in the opposition, what if he is elected [Republican] president?”

He said Nawakwi and her friends should perish the thought of having Hichilema arrested.

“Let me tell this Nawakwi and her friends to perish their thoughts of any attempts to arrest Hakainde Hichilema. Anyone who wants to play with Hakainde Hichilema is an enemy of the peace of Zambia. Hakainde Hichilema is a free man who qualifies to stand for elections. Shame on that one who is not eligible to contest and stand for elections. We are ready to protect you. What happened last time, will never happen again,” said Kamengo. “We can move from Copperbelt and face anyone in Lusaka. So stop this nonsense. If it hurts you, let it continue. For you Nawakwi get this message that if you continue… and on this one we are not joking. We will now face you head on. So be prepared now if you want to continue this nonsense of attacking Hakainde Hichilema with your baseless attacks.”

And provincial deputy youth chairman Kangwa Kamando said the continued rantings of Nawakwi should not be left unanswered.

Kamando said all the hired guns who want to attack Hichilema should be prepared for Copperbelt youths.

“What is shocking is the continued attacks on Hichilema that are baseless. We have seen this before where Mumbi Phiri once said that Hakainde will be locked like a rat and it came to pass. But let me put it on record now that the time of abusing Hakainde Hichilema is gone,” said Kamando. “Hakainde Hichilema has put Nawakwi ku wire but she has failed to accept the status quo. What kind of a person is Nawakwi? The Hakainde of yesteryear is long gone. If you want to play with fire arrest him and see what the Copperbelt will do. You have pushed us enough where we can’t even campaign but listening to baseless noise from Nawakwi. This woman is pushing us so far!”

HICHILEMA A POLITICAL SCHOOL OF RESILIENCE

Life does not come with a roadmap. This explains why all people experience twists and turns that drain their resolve to pursue their aspirations.

Hakainde Hichilema’s political journey is characterised with tribulations that are intentionally designed by his political nemeses to drain his aspiration to serve the country as republican president.

His enemies are using all sorts of baboonic strategies including State repression to achieve their goal. They sink so low to an extent of blaming him for coupled human and natural problems the country is facing.

He is now falsely accused of abducting the Hatembos that are running away from Edith Nawakwi a morally debased hired gun being abused by the party in power.

Hichilema has been unlawfully arrested, for more than fifteen times, in order to break down his magnanimous dream for a better country.

In the midst of State sponsored adversary, to the surprise of his tormentors, Hichilema has continued moving toward his vision for a better country earning the trust and admiration of many people.

His political adversaries are hurt that despite their wicked manoeuvres against him they have not managed to squash his aspiration to serve the people of Zambia.

They know that he has a reservoir of strength to cope with political persecution and to carry him through without falling apart hence their resolution that the only way to stop him is to arrest or kill him.

Hichilema, fittingly, exists in a time when our country needs a resilient opposition leader better able to handle the adversity of the sitting ruffian regime; the right man at the right time in the right place.

We have a lot to learn from Hichilema’s political school of resilience that despite varying degrees of political tribulations he has remained at ease and focused.

There are many times his followers have been on the verge of losing hope because of persistent political ordeals machinated against him. However, he has demonstrated that falling into despair because of political persecution is not his style of leadership therefore ever ready to face political persecution head-on.

His skills and strengths to cope and recover from political tribulations is a hallmark of good leadership.

This does not mean that Hichilema experiences less political grief, or anxiety than other people when victimised. It means that he has learnt to tap into healthy coping skills to handle political persecution in ways that foster strength, making him grow from strength to strength.

Without a reservoir of resilience, he would have given up his political aspiration a long time ago especially that he has nothing to gain in seeking public office.

He has not allowed political persecution to drive him to destructive behaviours or give up: a kind of a leader this country needs after 12th August, 2021; a leader who does not see life through rose-coloured lenses but understands that life is full of challenges therefore able to tackle problems facing the country head-on, overcome adversity, and move the country forward.

Hichilema’s ability to remain resilient in the face of tribulation that seems utterly unimaginable, and his ability to marshal strength to not just survive but to soldier ahead like a commando, is a clear indicator that he has leadership qualities needed to deal with the current socio-economic disaster.

On 12th August, let us vote for a leader who is unflappable in the face of tribulations, a leader with an internal locus of control, and a leader who is a cool fighter.

Leading academics from around the world have signed a Statement of Solidarity in support of Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa against what they term as unfounded charges of sedition.

The academics who mostly have a history with the University of Zambia have written a strong letter in support of Dr. Sichuwa Sishuwa.

This follows a move by Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba’s decision to report Dr Sishuwa to the police for sedition following his recent article in the Mail & Guardian.

They have since called for the charges to be immediately and permanently dropped.

“We, the undersigned, as prominent academics across Zambia, Africa and the wider world, are deeply alarmed at credible reports that the University of Zambia (UNZA) historian, Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa, is to be charged with sedition, as the result of an opinion piece he published in the Mail and Guardian (South Africa), on 22 March 2021.”

“As historians and social scientists who have studied and published in and about Zambia for many decades, we are extremely concerned that the threat of sedition charges is being used to silence the legitimate expression of belief by one of the country’s most prominent early-career scholars. Dr Sishuwa, who has published outstanding and prize-winning research articles in the world’s most prominent African studies journals, is drawing on his research expertise to bring to public attention his concerns about the current direction of Zambian political life.”

“Far from inciting popular rebellion (as the term ‘sedition’ implies), he seeks to address the underlying causes of societal tension as a way to reduce it. We believe it is both his right and his patriotic duty to bring such concerns into the public eye.”

The academic stated that Article 20 of the Constitution of Zambia guarantees Dr Sishuwa and all other Zambians freedom of expression, that is to say freedom to hold opinions, receive ideas and impart or communicate ideas and information without interference.

“As citizens and longstanding friends of Zambia, who have documented the country’s prominent historical role in the political liberation of southern Africa, and its pioneering role in constitutional democratisation, we are worried about the proposed use of an authoritarian tool such as the charge of sedition, and call for any consideration of such charges to be immediately and permanently dropped.”

“We are further alarmed at the issuance by the University of Zambia of a statement dated 27 April 2021, disassociating the university from its employee Dr Sishuwa. This misleading statement suggests Dr Sishuwa is not currently employed by the university, when in fact he is, as is normal for academic researchers, simply on temporary research leave from it. Indeed, as recently as December last year, UNZA publicly celebrated the achievements of Dr Sishuwa.”

They said, “All of us have worked at or with colleagues from UNZA, long a prominent university that has, since independence, been a centre of intellectual freedom, often in difficult circumstances. We wholly reject the allegation that Dr Sishuwa is pursuing a ‘personal agenda’ and call on the university to guarantee Dr Sishuwa’s continued employment and his right to academic freedom.”

Signatories:

Professor David M. Anderson, Professor of African History, University of Warwick

Professor Kate Baldwin, Associate Professor of Political Science, Yale University

Dr Nicole Beardsworth, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Pretoria

Professor Michael Bratton, Emeritus Professor of Government, Michigan State University

Professor Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy, University of Birmingham

Dr Grieve Chelwa, Postdoctoral Fellow, The New School

Dr Boniface Dulani, Senior Lecturer in Political Science, University of Malawi

Professor Samuel Hickey, Professor of Politics and Development, University of Manchester

Professor Alan Hirsch, Emeritus Professor of Public Governance, University of Cape Town

Professor Faizel Ismail, Professor of Public Governance, University of Cape Town

Dr Walima Kalusa, Senior Lecturer in African History, University of eSwatini, and former Head of the Department of History, University of Zambia

Professor Chammah J. Kaunda, Assistant Professor of World Christianity and Mission Studies, Yonsei University

Professor Miles Larmer, Professor of African History, University of Oxford

Professor Adrienne LeBas, Associate Professor of Government, American University

Professor Robert Mattes, Professor of Political Science, University of Strathclyde

Dr Duncan Money, Researcher, African Studies Centre, University of Leiden

Dr Patience Mususa, Senior Researcher, Nordic Africa Institute

Professor Manenga Ndulo, Professor of Economics, University of Zambia

Professor Muna Ndulo, Professor of Law, Cornell University

Professor Lise Rakner, Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Bergen

Professor Brian Raftopoulos, Research Fellow, University of the Free State

Dr Sara Rich Dorman, Senior Lecturer in African Politics, University of Edinburgh

Professor Chris Saunders, Emeritus Professor of Historical Studies, University of Cape Town

Professor Jeremy Seekings, Professor of Political Studies and Sociology, University of Cape Town

Dr Neo Simutanyi, retired Senior Lecturer in Political Science, University of Zambia and Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue

Dr Morris Szeftel, Senior Lecturer Emeritus, Political & International Studies, University of Leeds

Professor Blessing-Miles Tendi, Associate Professor in African Politics, University of Oxford

Professor Nicolas van de Walle, Professor of Government, Cornell University

Dr Michael Wahman, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University

Zambia-Angola inks $5billion pipe-line deal
…that will reduce fuel prices in Zambia and create jobs says Amb. Lawrence Chalungumana

30th April 2021 LUANDA

Zambia and Angola have penned a $5billion deal to build a pipeline that shall pave way for the erection of a pipeline that shall supply finished petroleum products from oil rich Angola to Zambia said the Ambassador of Zambia to Angola H.E Lawrence Chalungumana.
Mr Chalungumana said the milestone agreement to jumpstart the project was signed in the Angolan capital Luanda on 29th April bringing to an end a more than 10 year old complex negotiation process that shall lead to cheaper fuel for Zambia.
“I must start by thanking President Edgar Lungu for allowing Energy Minister Hon Mathew Nkhuwa for coming to Luanda to sign this agreement with his Angolan counterpart Hon Diamantino Azevedo to start this long overdue project that will make fuel cheaper in Zambia,” said Ambassador Chalungumana in a statement issued by the embassy.

The facts of the agreement in a nutshell are that the petroleum pipeline will be developed by the private sector with state-owned petroleum Angolan company SANANGOL and the Zambia state company Industrial Development Corporation or IDC Zambia Ltd being strategic equity partners.

“The Zambian Government was represented by Hon Mathew Nkhuwa while the Angolan Government was represented by Hon Diamantino Pedro Azevedo in this productive deal,” said Ambassador Chalungumana.

Once completed, Angola/Zambia multi product petroleum pipeline will transport petrol, diesel, kerosene and gas.

Ambassador Chalungumana said, “Hon Nkhuwa hailed the occasion as a major milestone towards establishing a framework for the construction of the petroleum pipeline by the private sector. The pipeline project will cost about US$5 billion and two state companies will be strategic equity partners, SONANGOL from Angola and IDC from Zambia.”
Angola´s Minister Diamantino said “the construction of the petroleum pipeline to Zambia is part of the Angola’s strategic plan in the petroleum sector.”

EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THE PLAN

Currently the Angolan Government is developing a 100,000 barrels per day refinery in Cabinda, a 100,000 barrels per day refinery in Soyo, a 200,000 barrels per day in Lobito and is increasing the refinery capacity of the already existing refinery in Luanda by 3 times.
A combination of these projects will transform Angola into a surplus refined petroleum producer hence need for the pipeline to transport the fuel products to Zambia and the region.

Ambassador Chalungumana said “the process involved complex negotiations for over 10 years and the deal signed today is a legacy project given that the last pipeline was built in 1969 by KK’s government between Zambia and Tanzania.”

He hailed “the good leadership of President Lungu for providing foresighted leadership in the accomplishment of this major milestone. The project is likely to be commissioned in 2025 as it involves complex Engineering solutions.”
Hundreds of jobs are expected to be created for many Zambians and Angolans according to H.E Chalungumana, as President Lungu targets poverty reduction.

Others who attended the ceremony include HE Xavier Francisco Azevedo Angolan Ambassador to Zambia and the Gasper Martins CEO of SONANGOL and Mr Wamulume Kalabo the CEO of BBLR the project promoters.

STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE EMBASSY OF ZAMBIA IN ANGOLA.

By Duncan Larry Jr.
Failures of UPND that MUST be addressed:

1. UPND as a political party needs to be seen to be spear heading and implementing peaceful and legal vote protection and related processes protection strategies, the public has been supporting UPND with votes in the 2001, 2015 and 2016 elections which UPND claimed they won but failed to protect therefore wasting the public’s time and efforts.

2. The self entitlement is what has caused UPND to be extremely lazy, extremely sleepy, extremely naive, extremely boring to the extent that there has been no proper vote protection or protection of related processes, or grass root mobilization and forming of structures in all constituencies and wards, simply leading to a lot of deception.

4. If UPND continues failing a third alternative will rise up and UPND will be remembered as a party that was extremely sleepy, extremely naive, extremely lazy that failed to protect the votes and the related processes, and failed to form structures in all constituencies and wards.

5. UPND must allegedly never fall into the traps or using the alleged tribal propaganda as an excuse but the reason is extremely laziness, extremely sleepiness, extremely naiveness.
7. Why didn’t UPND form and maintain structures in all constituencies and wards after 2001, before 2006, before 2008, before 2011 and before 2015. If UPND continues failing to protect votes and the related processes, and failing to form and maintain structures in all constituencies a third alternative will arise to stand up for Zambia in an alleged hostile environment.

8. Welcoming everyone with no proper scrutiny in the name of numbers and even giving them positions where some end up being elected but later resign and leave the party, after failing to form and maintain structures in all constituencies and wards.

9. Failing to empower loyal audited UPND members and loyal audited UPND youths with positions and vote protection and vote related processes protections.
10. Failing to create a very strong campaign team of paid and volunteer skilled and political strategists like in developed countries.

11. Partnering with candidates based upon poor judgement after failing to form and maintain structures in all constituencies and wards.

12. UPND should change their deceptive self entitlement approach of economic fixers and instead be seen to fix everything in Zambia including being politically strategic in a hostile environment. There are a lot of economic competent zambians in the country who may not be political strategists, so the UPND deception should stop of only being economic fixers they must balance it with political strategy in an alleged very hostile environment. They do not want to be remembered as an extremely lazy, extremely sleepy, extremely naive party.
13. How was it possible for one party to allegedly win the bye elections if they were allowed complaining in a meeting that their party has failed to mobilize a. Did the people who were allegedly ferried from other places also vote, b. did the voters registers match with the people who were voting, were they all counted and were the UPND members available during the vote tallying and vote verification c. What about the UPND members who were imprisoned, what were the impacts.d. What of guns in a polling station e.What of distribution of relief food f. How possible is it that some polling stations had zero votes, are there no UPND members, no UPND structures in those areas. g. Which candidate was more popular on the ground . h. UPND need to seriously introspect. I. Why didn’t UPND see what MMD saw, it had to take MMD to speak out and yet UPND was busy congratulating. UPND is extremely lazy, extremely weak in vote protection and the related processes. What would have happened if MMD did not participate, such issues were not going to be known.

14. How UPND was caught unawares concerning the unauthorized man in the computer room, missing/ unsigned forms, violence during vote tallying etc shows that they don’t understand who and what they are fighting against. This and other unqualitative things just proves that UPND doesn’t know and understand what they are up against and they are not equal to the task peacefully and legally.

16. UPND needs to pull up their socks peacefully and legally instead of only relying on pictures and videos of large crowds, press statements, Facebook posts, slogans, complaints and jokes
17. No plans for Allegedly ensuring that polling agents are not violently chased out from polling stations

18. No plans Ensuring that your Bally can campaign in the same location with the humble one
19. No plans of Ensuring that ballots are not printed in Dubai against stakeholders requests
20. No plans of Ensuring that ballots are not intercepted during transportation and no Bally supporter challenging them is jailed for trumped up charges

21. No plans of Ensuring that voter registration is 100% quality
22. No plans of Ensuring that all polling stations have your representatives, CCMG reported that in 2015 and 2016 not all polling stations had your representatives
23. No plans of Ensuring that the speaker acts during election petitions
24. No plans of Ensuring that constitutional court finalizes everything during 14 days.
25. No plans of Ensuring that voters are not bribed.

26. No plans of Ensuring that campaigns and grassroots mobilizations are free from intimidation and violence including police intimidation and brutality by using peaceful and legal pressure.

27. No plans of Ensuring that unauthorized people are not in the vote tallying server room etc.
28. No plans of Ensuring that tribalism propaganda is prosecuted by the law because the law is clear.

29. No plans ofAddressing freemasonary propaganda, privatization propaganda and wickedness shall not enter 2021 branding, Prophecy brandings .
30. No plans of Ensuring that your supporters and sympathizers are able to vote without intimidation and violence.

31. No plans of Ensuring that all your votes are counted and protected including vote protection way before elections, during elections and after elections.
32. No plans of Ensuring that bill 10 does not become law even in future because rational Zambians have rejected it.

33. No plans of Ensuring that all vote tally totals are signed by all polling agents and displayed outside the polling station
34. No plans of Ensuring that allegedly no one is locked up in a room performing unqualitative tasks

35. No plans of Addressing propaganda through sponsored opposition parties or those without genuineness for the country . You have a lot of work to do, 90% should be addressing these issues and 10% for your Bally slogans.

36. No plans of Ensuring that your elected officials are not bought.
37. No plans of Strong grassroots mobilizations and forming and strengthening structures in all wards and constituencies.

38. Alleged corruption in adoption of some candidates before the 2016 elections and during the 2020 convention.

39. Address alleged Un qualitative new voter register with un qualitative numbers in eastern, Muchinga, Luapula and northern provinces peacefully and legally and camp their with human rights local and international organizations during campaigns . Address alleged voter suppression in Copperbelt, north western, western and southern provinces.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is when good men do nothing.

UPND LEADERS ARE JUST CONFUSED, DIRECTIONLESS – MCC KAMBA
… says innocent Zambians in UPND should see through the petty, fantasized and frustrated politics being exhibited by Hakainde Hichilema.
Lusaka … Thursday, April , 29, 2021 [Smart Eagles]
Lusaka province PF chairman Kennedy Kamba says UPND leaders are confused and directionless.
Mr. Kamba who is also PF Member of the Central Committee said all innocent Zambians remaining in UPND should see through the petty, fantasized and frustrated politics being exhibited by Hakainde Hichilema.

” WE appeal to innocent Zambians that have remained in the UPND to see through the petty, fantasised and frustrated politics being exhibited by their leader Hakainde Hichilema, Cornelius Mweetwa their spokesperson and others,” MCC Kamba said.

” We expect the innocent members of the UPND, those who truly cherish the power of democracy, to leave the party or advocate for change of leadership because it is evident that they are being led by confused, directionless and bitter leaders who know very well that they have already lost the forthcoming general elections to PF and President Edgar Lungu, hence the strange behaviour,” he said.

Mr.Kamba said in a democratic dispensation like Zambia, where the citizenry are demanding quality leadership at all levels and where the bar for politics has been raised, the country cannot afford to have UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his spokesperson putting up weird and unacceptable claims as a way of gaining political mileage.

” Hakainde Hichilema is claiming that the PF government is trying to stop him from contesting elections with all sorts of accusations on innocent people, while Cornelius Mweetwa is busy ranting, with weird and ridiculous claims, first that the PF offered him K6million to defect from the UPND and now that the PF is using satanic money,” MCC Kamba said.

” All the right thinking members of the public and all those in the political space know very well that these accusations are nothing but petty and disgraceful kind of politics,” he said.
And Mr. Kamba said Zambians today are able to tell who is more associated with Satanism if indeed the UPND believes in that.

He said it is the UPND that started campaigning for gay rights and attempted to push for such evil legislations adding that the PF has demonstrated its values and love for God and its people by upholding Christian Values.

” We are Christians and whatever we do in the PF is aimed at serving God’s people. President Lungu and the PF have put up programmes to empower children of God in this country, even Churches are benefiting because that’s what we are commanded and expected to do as leaders,” MCC Kamba said.

” It is an obligation of the Government to empower people. Empowerment programmes of the cannot be Satanism and the PF is nowhere near any such evil acts. It is those who are familiar with Satanism who can make such ridiculous allegations and we expect Mweetwa to explain to the nation more about Satanism acts and were they are being done,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kamba said the PF has Christian values embedded in its works and Zambians are able to see.

” What has the UPND done to tell the nation that they are indeed Men and Women of God? Tribalism, hatred, regionalism, selfishness is their typical character,” MCC Kamba said.
” How many former vice-presidents of the UPND have run away from their party because of tribalism? That’s what they should explain to Zambians otherwise they have ridiculed themselves to Zambians beyond redemption and that’s why they have kept on losing elections and they will lose again come August,” adds MCC Kamba.
#SmartEagles2021.

SIKAILE SIKAILE WRITES
ZAMBIAN POLITICS AND THE STUPID TALK OF MAJORITY AND MINORITY TRIBES
We all stand and denounce Munir Zulu and his claim of ever ruling Zambia as they are the majority tribe.We have all denounced the talk by this Patriotic Front politician. However, in as much as I agree with the condemnation of the student, we should have also apportioned some blame to the author of the book Munir Zulu is reading.Maybe, we have forgotten how Paramount Chief Chitimukulu first used the same sentiments that Munir Zulu has just duplicated. The Chief was on radio in his area telling his people the exact words used by Munir Zulu.

Zambians please, let’s wake-up and condemn such divisive sentiments that can lead the country to a rise of extremism and insurgency.

It is such talks that make me wonder why certain decisions are taken against the so called minority tribes. First, the minority tribes are the ones being retired in National interest where as the majority tribes are appointed to lead strategic government institutions.
To talk is okay but, when you start acting according to your talk then people get concerned. For instance, a person from so called majority tribes leads an assault on a police station, assaults police officers on duty and steals money from the evidence room, a proper case of aggravated robbery. Instead of taking him to Mukobeko, his charge is amended and fined a K150.00. Where as the one from so called minority tribes assaults two police officers, he is given two years suspended sentence and fined K10,000.00.
This actually confirms that the reason the so called majority tribes are in key positions is not a coincident but design. So they are used to perpetuate the majority tribes in leadership no matter how pathetic they are at leadership. I wonder sometimes when I see certain decisions at high levels of justice. Like what happened in the petition hearing, which was not heard. Was it coincidental or by design as propagated by Chief Chitimukulu and his student Munir Zulu? For the first time a court refused to secure evidence of ballot boxes citing lack of space, like really?

My message to all the people of Zambia is please, let’s stop this madness. This talk only benefits politicians and their families and not common men and women.Maybe too much ZNBC is the reason we are still hosting people who talk about tribes. Owners of radio and TV stations should not tolerate such primitive thinking individuals like Munir Zulu. If we watch international news, we would have noticed what is happening in Mozambique and the insurgency rising in that country.

If you follow what is happening there, no radio or television station would have hosted people talking about superiority and inferiority.Because when you look at the people behind the insurgency in Mozambique they are the minority Islamic who feel cheated in the way Allah is worshiped in that country. Please, let’s all watch modern trends leading to civil Strife and unrest.Maybe for once we will be fair to one another and start looking at ourselves as Zambians and blacks in order to protect ourselves from what other countries are experiencing.
To hell with the talk of minority and majority tribes in Zambia because some of us we are in intermarriages. We are all one, we hustle together, we thrive together and strive together.

Yes, majority could have been ruling but, what is it that their tribes benefit from their leadership apart from just leading in a number of registered voters? We all must see and take note, divide and rule is a dangerous method in this modern world. We are one. And this has been well taken care of by Edgar Lungu who on several occasions has uttered same remarks as his cadres and ministers. But with those who has questionable nationality can do anything. For us Zambians, let us guard our nation please.

One Zambia, one Nation. Proud and free. Therefore, all criminals propagating tribal war should be arrested.This is why we need a serious law that will cage those who incites tribal war. Given a chance to decide on the length of such crime I would propose life imprisonment with had labour for disgruntled characters like MunirZulu who is practicing Kaponya politics.
Sikaile sikaile
Good Governance and Human Rights Activist for Zambia and Amnesty International
BY CIC PRESS TEAM

ISAAC MWANZA WANTS SESHEKE CONSTITUENCY SEAT DECLARED VACANT

Lusaka-Thursday,29th April 2021

Governance activist, Isaac Mwanza has petitioned the Constitutional Court to declare the Sesheke Constituency seat vacant following the criminal conviction of Romeo Kangombe.

This follows the criminal conviction of the area Member of Parliament, Romeo Kangombe.

Mwanza contends that the conviction and sentencing to imprisonment with hard labour for 12months of Kangombe for abduction and assault of two policemen, required that the seat be declared vacant.

Mwanza contends that although Kangombe is serving the sentence as suspended for two years, remains a convict and serving imprisonment from outside.

He said the seat became vacant under the terms of Article 72, 2(b) and 70 (f).

He stated that although Kangombe was serving a suspended sentence for two years, he was still serving imprisonment from outside and was convicted under a written law factors that nullify a seat.

He said the Ruling of the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Patrick Matibini following a Point of Order from Kabwe Central Constituency MP, Tutwa Ngulube, made on 13th April 2021 therefore was ultravires to the provisions of the Constitution and should be declared null and void.

Mwanza states that any payments made to Kangombe so far must therefore be recovered and subsequently, he is not entitled to the payment of any gratuity.

IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF ZAMBIA 2021/CCZ/0018
HOLDEN AT LUSAKA
AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL REGISTRY
(CONSTITUTIONAL JURISDICTION)

IN THE MATTER OF ARTICLES 1(5), 2 AND 128(3)(b)(c) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ZAMBIA, CHAPTER 1 OF THE LAWS OF ZAMBIA

IN THE MATTER OF CONTRAVENTION OF ARTICLE 72(2)(😎 AS READ TOGETHER WITH ARTICLE 70(2)(F) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ZAMBIA, CHAPTER 1 OF THE LAWS OF ZAMBIA

IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 4 AND 7 OF THE MINISTERIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY OFFICES (EMOULUMENTS) ACT, CHAPTER 262 OF THE LAWS OF ZAMBIA

AND IN THE MATTER OF: A DECISION BY SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DATED FRIDAY 16TH APRIL 2021 ON THE STATUS OF MR ROMEO KANG’OMBE, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR SESHEKE CONSTITUENCY FOLLOWING HIS CONVICTION AND SENTENCE TO IMPRISONMENT BY THE CHINSALI MAGISTRATES’ COURT.

BETWEEN
ISAAC MWANZA PETITIONER

AND

ATTORNEY GENERAL 1ST RESPONDENT
ROMEO KANG’OMBE 2ND RESPONDENT

PETITION
PURSUANT TO ORDER IV RULE 1 OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULES 2016

The Constitutional Court.
The Petition of ISAAC MWANZA of Plot No. 52 – 22, Off Antelope Drive, Barlastone Park, Lusaka in the Lusaka Province of the Republic of Zambia, P.O. Box 330102, Email: isaacmwanza14@gmail.com SHOWS THAT:

1. Your petitioner is a Zambian Citizen and registered voter at Madzimawe School in Kasenengwa District of the Eastern Province in the Republic of Zambia.

2. The 1st Respondent is the Chief Legal Advisor to the Government of the Republic of Zambia and is cited pursuant to Article 177 (5) of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia and Section 12 of the State Proceedings Act, Chapter 71 of the State Proceedings Act.

3. The 2nd Respondent is a Member of Parliament for Sesheke Constituency who was convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour on charges for assault and abduction of two police officers, the execution of which has been suspended over a period of 2 years.

4. On 13th April, 2021, Honourable Tutwa S. Ngulube, Deputy Government Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Kabwe Central Parliamentary Constituency raised a Point of Order against the continued occupation of office by 2nd Respondent as Member of Parliament who was sentence to 12 months imprisonment.

5. On 13th April, 2021, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Dr. Patrick Matibini, MP made a ruling to the effect that the 2nd Respondent, although convicted and sentenced to imprisonment (albeit the sentence has been suspended), is not serving a term of imprisonment.

6. Of interest to this petition is the provision of Article 70(2)(f) of the Constitution of Zambia as read together with Article 72(2)(b). These reads:

Article 72(2)(b)
The office of Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member becomes disqualified for election in accordance with Article 70;

Article 70(2)(f)
A person is disqualified from being elected as a Member of Parliament if that person is serving a sentence of imprisonment for an offence under a written law

7. Your Petitioner shall aver at trial that a sentence of imprisonment referred to in Article 70 is a sentence of imprisonment served in or outside prison, at the discretion of the court.

8. Your Petitioner shall also aver at trial that Article 70 requires an MP who is serving a sentence, either from prison or outside prison to vacate a seat in the National Assembly.

9. On 24th August, 1991, a new Constitution of Zambia was adopted and the same has been amended twice, that is, in 1996 by Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 18 of 1996 and in 2016 by Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) No. 2 of 2016

10. Prior to recent amendments the Constitution of Zambia, 1991, Article 65 of the Constitution of Zambia, 1991 enacted provisions which excluded one from vacating the office of a Member of the National Assembly or being barred to serve a member of the National Assembly where one was under a suspended sentence.

11. The amendments done to the Constitution have totally repealed provisions of Article 65(6) of the Constitution of Zambia, 1991 and Article 68(😎 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 18 of 1996.

12. A member of Parliament who is serving a sentence of imprisonment is not entitled to payment of any salary under Section 7 of the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Emoluments) Act.

13. A Member of the National Assembly is only entitled to payment of gratuity if the member served continuously during any period between the date of the dissolution of Parliament and the date of the commencement of the first session of the new Parliament only.

14. Your petitioner shall aver at trial that the 2nd Respondent is serving a sentence or spending a period of time observing the judgment of the court and that his continued stay in Parliament is a breach of the Constitution.

15. Article 70(2) (f) of the Constitution of Zambia entails that the 2nd Respondent who is serving a prison sentence, even if such sentence is suspended by the court for any period of time, is not only disqualified from being elected as a Member of Parliament but must have his office declared vacant.

16. Your Petitioner shall aver at trial that further to Paragraphs 12 to 15, the 1st Respondent should in in breach of the Constitution by allowing the 2nd Respondent to continue drawing salaries and other benefits from the date when the 2nd Respondent was sentenced and begun observing the sentence of the court.

SUBSTANTIVE RELIEFS SOUGHT BY THE PETITIONER

17. Now your Petitioner, therefore, prays that he be granted the following remedies:

i. A Declaration and Order that the Sesheke Constituency Parliamentary seat became vacant from Monday, 12th April, 2021 when Mr. Romeo Kang’ombe, Member of Parliament for Sesheke Parliamentary Constituency, was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour, which sentence he is observing from outside prison for the duration of 2 years.
ii. A declaration that the decision of the Speaker dated 16th April, 2021 is ultra vires the Constitution, null and void.
iii. An order of mandamus directed at and compelling the 1st Respondent, Minister of Finance and the Clerk of the National Assembly to recover, in full, from the 2nd Respondent any monies paid from 12th April, 2021.
iv. An Order that the 2nd Respondent is not entitled to any payment of gratuity as, by 12th April, 2021, he had not served continuously during any period between the date of the dissolution of Parliament and the date of the commencement of the first session of the new Parliament.
v. An order that costs for the petition be borne by the Respondents to this cause; and
vi. Any other reliefs the Court may deem necessary.

And Your Humble Petitioner shall forever pray.

Dated this…………………………………………day of…………………………………………2021

The petition was drawn and taken out by:
PETITIONER
Isaac Mwanza
Plot No. 52-22
Barlastone Park
P.O. Box 330102
Lusaka,10101
Zambia
Email: isaacmwanza14@gmail.com
PETITIONER

IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF ZAMBIA 2021/CCZ/0018
HOLDEN AT LUSAKA
AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL REGISTRY
(CONSTITUTIONAL JURISDICTION)

IN THE MATTER OF ARTICLES 1(5), 2 AND 128(3)(b)(c) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ZAMBIA, CHAPTER 1 OF THE LAWS OF ZAMBIA

IN THE MATTER OF CONTRAVENTION OF ARTICLE 72(2)(😎 AS READ TOGETHER WITH ARTICLE 70(2)(F) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ZAMBIA, CHAPTER 1 OF THE LAWS OF ZAMBIA

IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 4 AND 7 OF THE MINISTERIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY OFFICES (EMOULUMENTS) ACT, CHAPTER 262 OF THE LAWS OF ZAMBIA

AND IN THE MATTER OF: A DECISION BY SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DATED FRIDAY 16TH APRIL 2021 ON THE STATUS OF MR ROMEO KANG’OMBE, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR SESHEKE CONSTITUENCY FOLLOWING HIS CONVICTION AND SENTENCE TO IMPRISONMENT BY THE CHINSALI MAGISTRATES’ COURT.

BETWEEN
ISAAC MWANZA PETITIONER

AND

ATTORNEY GENERAL 1ST RESPONDENT
ROMEO KANG’OMBE 2ND RESPONDENT

Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has told Parliament yesterday that suspects in the alleged abduction of the two members of the Hatembo family in Kalomo district of Southern province were detained for over 48 hours by the Zambia Police.

Mr. Kampyongo explained to parliament that this was because the suspects were apprehended on different days following the significance of the offence, adding that some suspects went missing at the time of arrest.

He further explained to the house that the Zambia Police Service received a report of an alleged offense of abduction involving Pheluna and Milton Hatembo by a relative of Choma district.

“A relative of the victims reported the matter at Zambia Police Service headquarters in Lusaka. Considering the gravity of the offense, the Zambia police immediately instituted investigations and arrested the suspects on 23 March 2021,” he explained.

Mr. Kampyongo told parliament that the four accused suspects were formally apprehended by the police and charged with an offense of abduction, contrary to section 253 and 256 of the penal code Act cap 187 of the laws of Zambia.

He was responding to a question which was asked by Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu, who wanted to know why the Zambia police service wantonly detained Mr. Fines Malambo, Mr. Ackson Sejani, Mr. Javen Simooloka and Mr. Vincent Lilanda for over 30 days before taking them to court.

Mr. Kampyongo told parliament that the arrest of the suspects by the police was done within the confines of the laws in line with the constitutional Act number 87 of the Penal Code. The Act provides for the police to conduct investigations on any suspect.

“Section 56 states that a person who kidnaps or abducts with intent to cause that person to be secretly or wrongfully confined is guilty of a felony offense and imprisonment for seven years,” he said.

He further told parliament that on Thursday, April 22, 2021 the four accused persons were taken to court in Choma for plea and were released on bail.

The Minister told parliament that last year, one of the Hatembo family members complained to the police that a named politician fraudulently acquired their property on farm 1924 in Kalomo district.

Pheluna and Milton Hatembo disclosed that the family was allegedly battered by unknown people on 14th February 2021, a move that made the family to abandon their homes and seek refuge in a secure location as they fear their lives may be at risk.

PUT ON OVERDRIVE, THE DAYS HAVE DRAWN NIGH

We would like to urge our members countrywide to remain focused and work extra hard as the elections day draw nearer. We must not get distracted by enemies of progress who do not want to see this country move forward. This is the time to be in real love with Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND.

Just the like the devil, PF knows that they are remaining with few days to destruction. They have hired shameless money lovers to distract the country from focusing on important matters. When the country is busy looking for solutions to the high cost of living, the weakening of Kwacha, high unemployment levels and bad governance; the PF and its surrogates want the country to focus simple family matters like the case of the Hatembos. All UPND members must focus on selling the party manifesto and avoid being drawn into cheap by cheap and failed politicians.

Hakainde Hichilema will be the next President of Zambia whether haters love it or hate it. God does not need permission from anyone to bless his children. The jealous and hatred of King Saul did not stop David from becoming King. No amount of hatred will stop Hakainde Hichilema. No weapon formed against Hakainde Hichilema shall prosper.

Fellow citizens, our country is bleeding. Our country is dying and only you and I can save it by ushering in a new leadership with a clear vision of restoring our nation to the days of Glory. It is possible to redeem our nation and reduce poverty levels. It’s possible to make the Kwacha competitive against major currencies and reduce the cost of living. It’s possible to stop corruption and provide free education for our children. It’s possible to make Zambia a continent food basket, all we need is a serious and mature type of leadership. A leader that will not waste time on fighting it’s people but instead work with everyone. We should be ashamed as a nation to be reduced to discussing simple personal farm matters, this is how much the PF has embarrassed this nation. When other countries like Rwanda are putting up manufacturing plants for cars and other advanced equipments, Zambia is busy discuss a farm transaction which has no benefit to the country.

Get on the ground and campaign. Tell the the people that UPND will never waste time and resources fighting political enemies but will always endeavor to improve the lives of people regardless of political affiliation, tribe or Creed.

God bless and protect you and our country.

Romeo Kangombe
Deputy National Mobilisation chairman/sesheke MP

SENIOR Chief Mukuni will be held accountable if anything happens to Home Affairs Minister, Stephen Kampyongo following his “careless” threats, chiefs in Muchinga Province have warned.

The chiefs also ordered Senior Chief Mukuni of the Toka-Leya people of Southern Province to retract the threats and apologise to the nation for being “careless.”

This follows Senior Chief Mukuni’s threats on the life of Mr. Kampyongo after police arrested one of his wives, Veronica in connection with the disappearance of the Hatembo siblings.

Chief Luchembe of the Bemba people said it was saddening as a traditional leader that Senior Chief Mukuni issued a dangerous threat on Mr. Kampyongo who was only carrying out his mandate as Home Affairs minister.

He said in an interview that Senior Chief Mukuni was being careless for issuing such a dangerous threat that could also come out badly for him as a traditional leader.

“It was very careless for him to issue such threats, by threatening that young man’s life, he was threatening himself, if anything bad happens to him, he will be blamed,” he said

Chief Luchembe reminded Senior Chief Mukuni that it was not Mr. Kampyongo who arrested Queen Mukuni but the law which had been put in place by Zambians had caught up with her.

He said Senior Chief Mukuni would do well to always remember that no one, including the chiefs, was above the law and God and that he was only human besides being a traditional leader.

“As a traditional leader he should respect the law and lead by example and should control his subjects so that they too follow the law,” he said.

And Chief Chikwanda urged Senior Chief Mukuni to exercise self-restraint, a virtue expected of a traditional leader.

Chief. Chikwanda also urged Senior Chief Mukuni not to be quick to react to situations but patiently weigh a matter that he is faced with as doing so would be damaging to him as a traditional leader.

He regretted the fact that Senior Chief Mukuni despite being a traditional leader issued such threats on the minister without giving it a second thought.

“It’s sad that Senior Chief Mukuni issued such threats on Mr Kampyongo because he is not alone, he has a family and if anything bad happens to him there would be chaos in the nation,” Chief Chikwanda said. -Daily Nation

By Pilato

Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Mr Emmanuel Mwamba, has asked the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kakoma Kanganja, to arrest political analyst and commentator Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa for SEDITION after Dr Sishuwa sued him in the Lusaka High Court for defamation.

Sedition is a serious offence that refers to the act of inciting revolt or violence against the government with the goal of overthrowing it. Those arrested on a charge of sedition cannot be granted bail and the punishment is a seven-year prison sentence.

I thought I should provide a chronology of events to help anyone interested understand how we have got here.

19 March 2021

News Diggers newspaper published an article written by Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa titled ‘This is why Zambia may burn after the August election’. In it, Dr Sishuwa discusses the erosion of democracy and lack of freedoms in Zambia ahead of the elections, and the poverty. He also warned that “If Zambia descends into large-scale political unrest after the 12 August general elections, there are three major factors that would have driven the country to that outcome. These include the public’s increasing lack of trust in (and outright contempt for) formal institutions — such as the judiciary, the Electoral Commission of Zambia and the police — as arbiters of the contest between those who wield state power and those seeking to acquire it.

“A second factor is that this is a high-stakes election, featuring two ruthless groups of political elites. One wants to perpetuate its stay in power to continue accumulating resources and to escape possible prosecution and imprisonment; the other seeks to win power to prevent a crushing end to its members’ political careers. Leaders and supporters of both groups see the August election as a matter of life and death and are likely to rebel violently against an outcome that does not favour them — particularly if the electoral process lacks credibility.

“What has emboldened these two factors is the third: the incriminating silence of international, mainly Western, institutions and actors who once spoke out against human rights violations and murderous attacks on democracy, thus exercising some kind of leverage on the actions of the political elites in power. “

Dr Sishuwa went on to mention 15 factors that have left Zambia on the edge such as mass poverty, violent party cadres, mass unemployment and inequalities, a politicised police service, and the fact that the government has ‘stockpiled weapons to kill potential protesters in the event of a flawed election outcome’. He then provided possible solutions for averting the situation. Below is the link to the article.

http://diggers.news/guest-diggers/2021/03/19/this-is-why-zambia-may-burn-after-the-august-election/

20 March 2021

Lusaka Times published on their website the same article written by Dr Sishuwa. Read the article on the link below.

This is why Zambia may burn after the August election

22 March 2021

News Diggers newspaper published a response from Mr John Nyawali, a concerned parent, former spokesperson of the Drug Enforcement Commission and currently a public sector employee working in the office of the Vice President of Zambia. In it, My Nyawali disagreed with Dr Sishuwa’s views and stated that the state of democracy in Zambia was not as portrayed in the article. Mr Nyawali accused Dr Sishuwa of fanning the flames of violence and said Dr Sishuwa’s warning about potential unrest shall not come to pass because Zambians are peaceful people and institutions of democracy are working just fine. Although the article was published in the print edition of the newspaper on 22 March 2021, it was only uploaded online on 26 March 2021. Below is the link to the online version.

http://diggers.news/guest-diggers/2021/03/26/prediction-of-political-turmoil-a-response-to-dr-sishuwa/

On the same day, two other newspapers, The Mast in Zambia and The Mail & Guardian in South Africa, published Dr Sishuwa’s article. Here are the links:

This is why Zambia may burn after the August election

Zambia may burn after the August elections. Here’s how to prevent this

29 March 2021.

Mr Emmanuel Mwamba, Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, responded specifically to the Mail & Guardian version of Dr Sishuwa’s article. In an article published on his Facebook page, Lusaka Times, Smart Eagles and other online media outlets, Mr Mwamba stated in his response that Dr Sishuwa was attempting to scandalise Zambia, harm its reputation and impose a false alarming international narrative. Mr Mwamba then alleged that Dr Sishuwa’s article published in the Mail & Guardian was a paid for propaganda piece and he could even guess who had paid for it. Below is the link to Mr Mwamba’s article.

Sishuwa is Wrong, Zambia Will Remain Peaceful and Prosperous Beyond August 2021

1 April 2021

The Mast newspaper published extracts from a letter that Dr Sishuwa had written to Mr Mwamba on 29 March 2021. In the story, Dr Sishuwa stated that neither he nor the Mail & Guardian newspaper received any payment from anyone for publishing the article. He then requested Mr Mwamba to either retract within 48 hours what he termed as the Ambassador’s ‘defamatory and false’ claims and apologise, or face legal action. Read further on the link below:

Retract your lies or else, Sishuwa warns Ambassador Mwamba

6 April 2021

Lusaka Times published Dr Sishuwa’s response to Mr Nyawali. After thanking Mr Nyawali for responding, Dr Sishuwa rejected the accusation that he was advocating violence. Dr Sishuwa said in the article: “I wrote to alert Zambians to the possible consequences of the trajectory the country has embarked upon, to help identify the drivers of that possible danger ahead, and to suggest some effective solutions. In other words, I am not the message. I am the messenger. I am a carrier of the knowledge of the possible consequences of a flawed election. I am not the cause of the current movement towards civil unrest in Zambia, post the 12 August election. I hate violence, which is why I am, in fact, alerting the nation to the point that any country that follows the trajectory Zambia has embarked upon may end up in grief, great grief, if nothing is done to arrest the key drivers of potential post-election violence, as elaborated in my article…

“I am merely illustrating how our behaviour is leading us to that outcome. Alerting the country to this progression does not amount, even in the remotest sense, to fanning the flames. To the contrary, I am doing everything possible to prevent us from arriving at a situation where unrest becomes inevitable. Please stop shooting the messenger, deal with the message.” The full response is on the link below.

Don’t shoot the messenger, deal with the message. A response to John Nyawali

21 and 22 April 2021

Several newspapers including the Zambia Daily Mail, News Diggers and Daily Nation published stories stating that Dr Sishuwa has sued Mr Mwamba in the Lusaka High Court for defamation. See the link below.

http://diggers.news/courts/2021/04/21/sishuwa-sues-emmanuel-mwamba-for-defamation/

26 April 2021

Mr Mwamba circulated on his Facebook page a letter dated 26 April 2021 that he wrote to the Inspector General of Zambia Police in which he asked Mr Kakoma Kanganja to arrest Dr Sishuwa for sedition over the Mail & Guardian article. The same letter was published on Mwebantu, Lusaka Times, Zambian Observer, Zambian Watchdog and several other online outlets. Below are the links.

AMB. MWAMBA REPORTS SISHUWA SISHUWA TO POLICE FOR SEDITION

So, there you have it, Ladies and Gentlemen. That is how we have got here.

By Pilato

415 FOREIGNERS ACQUIRED LAND AND OBTAINED TITLE DEEDS IN ZAMBIA FROM 2014 TO 2019 SAYS LANDS MINISTER.

Lands and Natural Resources Minister Hon Jean Kapata says a total of 415 foreigners acquired land and obtained title deeds in Zambia from 2014 to 2019. Responding to a question in Parliament, Friday, by Chipili independent member of parliament Jewis Chabi who asked how many foreign nationals acquired land and obtained title deeds countrywide from 2014 to 2019, Kapata said 415. She further disclosed that the acquisition of land by foreign nationals had in some cases disadvantaged local people. “The number of foreign nationals who have acquired land and obtained title has to some larger extent disadvantaged the ability for local people to own land ” she said.

Zambia like every other nation, has symbols of national sovereignty.
While the national flag and the national anthem stand out as symbols of national sovereignty, land, too, is among the emblems.
It is, therefore, worrisome, the rate at which foreigners in Zambia are acquiring land, in fact huge parcels for that matter.

Foreigners are owning land when most citizens have nothing to point at as their share of the national endowement.

Worse still, some multinational corporations have been displacing local people from fertile land to barren land.

We are not averse to investments and development with the aid of foreign support, but a line must be drawn on who owns what.

This is what has led to land becoming an emotive issue especially that an ever-increasing number of citizens is beginning to appreciate the value of land.

Foreigners cannot be blamed for helping themselves to land in Zambia. They are often within the law when acquiring land and since they have the financial muscle, who can blame them for getting huge tracts of this natural resource?.

The challenge is in the adequacy of guidelines.
With land on high demand due to citizens and foreigners interested in participating in economic activities in the country, it has become necessary to revisit regulations governing land ownership.
There is need to strike a balance between the country’s need for foreign investment in land and the needs of the citizens.

Government’s decision to launch the Land Policy is, therefore, most opportune. This will be the first time the country will have a national land policy.

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapata told Parliament yesterday that Government will not regulate the selling of land by Zambians but will lease land to foreigners and regulate it. Perfect.

Ms Kapata acknowledged that it is very difficult to control the sale of land, just as it is unfair to stop a Zambian to sell their land.

Much as putting up such a law would seem unfair, there certainly is nothing unfair about Zambians saying that the land is “ours”.
The land may be leased to the foreigners and this should be good enough for them to do their business.

The land policy scheduled for tabling before dissolution of Parliament next month is evidently well thought out. It makes a lot of sense and should have come earlier.
It is expected that this policy will be fully accepted by all Zambians because it is for their own good, and for the good of future generations.

Of course those Zambians that already have large tracts of land have the right to sell all or part of it, but now this has to be to Zambians. This form of wealth must remain in the hands of Zambians.

There are some Zambian landlords who could argue or lament that most Zambians do not have the financial muscle to buy land at the prices foreigners offer.

This may be true, but it is also true that it is senseless to virtually give away land. That is why there is a provision in the policy for leasing the land to foreigners.

We do not have to look far to see the adverse effects of selling land to foreigners. In some chiefdoms, some traditional leaders have sold of large portions of their land to foreigners. Some of their subjects have done the same. For seemingly good cash, they have let foreigners own their traditional land.

Many locals in such situations hardly have anything to show for the ‘good money’ they were paid for the priceless land.

Some of them have even become workers for these foreigners and can only nostalgically look at the land they once called their own. Such are situations the policy will or should address.
This is why this policy must come into effect quickly before more land is surrendered.
Zambians should also appreciate the value of land not only by the price value, but more by what they can do on it while they own it.

The same reasons that foreigners are buying it should drive Zambians into doing the same. Be it for agriculture development or manufacturing, surely, Zambians have the capacity to be their own developers and employers.
Land is for Zambians.

CIC PRESS TEAM