By Charles Kabwita

The National Democratic Congress, NDC, is saddened by the UPND leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema’s desperation to send the former vice president of the NDC, Mr. Joseph Akafumba, to try and destroy the party.

Mr. Akafumba has, among many things, called on NDC members to stand on the UPND ticket, clearly against what the party has been telling its members. The NDC will be fielding candidates at all levels in the 2021 elections and has urged its members to ignore the calls by Mr. Akafumba with the contempt that they deserve.

‘This destruction of the party will not work because Akafumba is only one person. We appointed him to act as vice president as we waited for the Congress, so where did he get the powers to expel our leader and do all the things he’s doing now?’ Asked NDC National Youth Chairman Mr. Charles Kabwita.

‘And for madam Bridget Atanga, her work was just based at the farm where she stays. She does not even know where the Provincial Chairman for Lusaka lives. She lives in Lusaka but never had time to inspect the structures of NDC. We merely kept her on the basis that we wanted to incorporate men and women. Mrs. Atanga challenge me, which by election did you ever attend in the NDC since the time you were appointed as deputy SG and subsequently SG? Mr Akafumba, even just in Lusaka where you live, you do not know where the ward Chairman lives,’ Mr Kabwita said.

Mr. Kabwita challenged the former NDC vice president to mention the names of the ward chairmen where he lived. He explained that to claim that Mr Akafumba could sustain the NDC and make the so called UPND Alliance succeed was a political dream that would never come to reality.

‘HH is so desperate that he first of all started destroying NAREP. I think Mr. Charles Nyirenda can attest to this. After that, he then used Akafumba to try and destroy NDC. It will not work. And if HH can have these kinds of evil plans against fellow opposition parties when he is in opposition I shudder to think what he would do to opposition parties in the country once he’s given state power’ stressed Kabwita.

Mr. Kabwita also regretted that the campaign of tribalism that Mr. Akafumba had started would just work against him. He explained that if people would take stoke of the people that had risen against Dr. Chishimba Kambwili, led by Akafumba and Atanga, an unfortunate pattern would be established.

I would like to commend the youths of the NDC for the bold decision that they have taken to side with the party and it’s leader. This is how it should be. Nonentities always want to be heard, but who can Akafumba address? He normally has 35 people watching countrywide when he has a press conference. Akafumba today is known by a few people because of CK and NDC, who knew about him before this? What political plan or strategy can Akafumba offload.

We held a by election in Roan and other places, Akafumba was no where to be seen, because the man is politically impotent. He does not even know what it takes for one to be vice president. Whatever setbacks we have faced, it should not worry the leadership and membership of the party. It’s a temporal set back. It shall come to pass and the owners of the NDC will be known.

If you have noticed, Mr Akafumba wants to destroy, Dr. Kambwili wants to safeguard. So who is the real owner of the NDC? Food for thought.

Mr. Kabwita further explained that the NDC had a Lozi vice president, Tonga SG, Lozi Spokesperson, Lozi Chairperson for Education and Lozi Chairperson for Tourism, among many others, and to claim that Dr. Kambwili was tribal was very malicious and laughable. He said that the deliberate plan to spread falsehoods to try and destroy Dr Kambwili and the NDC showed that HH and Mr Akafumba did not mean well for the politics and well being of the nation. He urged people to open their eyes, observe what was going on and judge for themselves.

Charles Kabwita

PRESS STATEMENT

29 TH MARCH 2021

OUR FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS; KICK OUT THE ENTIRE PF

Zambia is a very rich Country and with a very small population. It’s therefore extremely embarrassing to have a very poor citizenry. It’s unforgivable that majority Zambians under PF cannot afford three meals a day, send their children to school and cannot access quality medical services due to corruption resulting in Zambians being exposed to expired drugs. Zambians are suffering due to poor and corrupt PF leadership.

Therefore it will be suicidal for anyone to spare PF because you were given a bicycle, chicken, goat, meale meal or money. For any meaningful change never leave any PF candidate behind. We have a duty and responsibility to kick out the entire PF leadership. There is nothing like sparing a humble or relative thief. A thief is a thief .The entire PF must go. The future of this County is in our hands, we all need to vote responsibly for HH and UPND.

We must all focus on reclaiming our Country from the wrong hands of PF. This issue of saying TWALI IDUNUNA after voting wrongly should not arise this year. Your vote must deliver a better Zambia otherwise we all perish. You must realize that PF is giving you all sorts of things because of your vote, not because they care for you. Once you vote for PF that will be the end of the relationship. No more handouts from PF or the so called empowerment. Simply do a water melon on them. Receive and chew whatever they give you but vote for HH and UPND to deliver Zambia from poor and corrupt PF leadership.

PF is desperate of winning this year’s elections because of what they have done to you and this Country and also to continue with their criminal activities. Since when did you see a thief or indeed any criminal being too kind to his victims? On the other hand you have HH and UPND willing to save you from this cruel PF leadership. The future of this Country is in our hands through that vote. Your choice is between life and death. We have done it before, even this year we are going to do it together. HH and his team are ready to give you a better Zambia.

Percy Chanda

UPND – Chairman for Mines and Freedom Fighter

LOW TURN OUT OF ASPIRANTS IN UPND ENOUGH SIGNAL OF THEIR EMINENT DEFEAT

By Marvin Chanda Mberi

The recent extension of the dates to receive the application for adoption in the long serving opposition UPND might be a calculated move to brush shoulders with the electoral stakeholders and in the long run discredit the outcome of the polls.

We say so because by their very nature UPND is so predictable to seek public sympathy in an event they realize that the reality is not in their way.

We say so having in mind how the UPND shunned the sensitization of their members on the acquisition of National Registration Cards (NRC) yet later they brought biased claims of being disenfranchised.

They disregarded that issuance of NRCs is a continuous process which is done in every district yet the UPND paid willful blindness with a view to create a misrepresentation that the process was not fairly done.

Beside that they have shunned other important National issues among them the 2016 failed referendum, the Constitution of Zambia Bill no. 10 of 2019 with a view to create a vacuum in society which they would use as a tool to politicking.

The recent revelations that there has been low turnout in the applications for adoption cannot be attributed to the Examination Council of Zambia in certifying the Grade 12 certificates.

We wonder why other political parties have not complained of any hurdles in the confirmatory process of their Grade 12 certificates.

This is the lame excuse aimed at accusing the state institutions of disadvantaging them.

It is clearly attributed to the fact that the UPND is no longer a politically attractive political party and has lost faith as the alternative on policy matters.

It no longer the viable and vibrant as it has taken despondency over objectivity as it used to be during the tenure of late Anderson Mazoka as party president.

While it is in their interest to postpone the adoption process, they should bear in mind that the election date is a constitutionally appointed one and it would be irrational to create discontent by forcing electoral stakeholders to dance to their tune.

While it is permissible that a multiparty democracy accommodates the different political interests, it is not permissible for the process to be done at the mercy of one political party.

It is inconceivable that the UPND leadership would extend their internal processes and expect the national programs such as the ECZ schedule to be at their convenience.

Our earnest appeal is that they should constantly be reminded that the election date is 12th August, 2021 therefore it would be unrealistically tenable to request the extension of processes such as the dates appointed and designated as nomination dates as well as the dates to submit the list of adopted candidates.

We cannot be surprised in an event the electoral body rejected their request to adjust the nomination on the basis of the issue of obtaining grade 12 certificates for their candidates.

The low turnout in the UPND adoption is s signal to their rank and file to brace for the imminent defeat but they want to find an excuse to deceive unsuspecting audience that they are likely to be robbed of victory

WHEN PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU WAS NOT ADOPTED FOR THE CHAWAMA SEAT, HE DIDN’T LEAVE PF OUT OF FRUSTRATION, HE WAITED FOR HIS TIME. IF HE HAD LEFT, HE COULDN’T HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT TODAY✍️

Sunday motivation by Lubinda Habazoka.

God has a plan for each and everyone of us. Man cannot alter another man’s fate! Sometimes a door can be closed in front of your face by evil people. Don’t despair. That is God showing you the direction to your real destiny.

The Current President of Tanzania had no idea she would have almost a full term as President of Tanzania without going through the difficult CCM primaries. She was chosen running mate and the rest is history.

Who knew President RB would be President? He didn’t have to form a political party, didn’t have to campaign for many years. What Mwanawasa did was to only call him from the farm. Mwanawasa himself was called at midnight and told he was going to be President. President Edgar Lungu was not adopted for the Chawama. He waited. Had he left the PF in frustration to go and stand as independent or joined MMD, he would never have been President today.

The same applies even in our lives. Life has setbacks. Never be discouraged. I believe that each person was born for greatness. It just depends on what level in society we plan to occupy. It starts just in childhood. How we are determined at school. The choices we make in life etc.

Zambia unfortunately has a lot of haters. The more potential a person shows, the more haters they have. Because of that, a lot of people’s destinies are destroyed by people that have nothing to show for in life. But God always reverses things. Today you are the manager and Tommorrow the managed becomes the manager. We should never forget this fact so let’s treat everyone as our potential manager!!!

People ask that with all the educated people this country have why don’t we progress? The answer is simple. We don’t utilize talent. We frustrate talent until talent goes to serve other countries. We don’t know how to utilize human resource. Bosses in our companies hate energetic and innovate youngsters and love the status quo. Energy and innovation is mistaken for ambition to replace the boss. When companies don’t perform we always have a scapegoat. Blame it on government. The reason why foreign companies perform in Zambia is that they have a different work culture! They have targets! All

That matters for them is the ability of an individual to meet their targets. In Zambian institutions, they will even downplay the achievements of an employee lol. Pretend that those achievements don’t exist. So when staff is demotivated they go and blame it on the exchange rate forgetting they need to produce so as to create the exchange rate because they are part of the bigger economy.

It really feels sad to look at the potential for growth that is being suppressed in this country. Much of the failures of the country can be attributed to work related politics. I have seen projects fail because of egos and politics amongst staff. The more petty the people, the more the failures. It’s very easy to be drawn in that pettiness because if that’s the order of the day, you get caught up in it.

Therefore professionals need to remember that they are professionals. We don’t go to create friendships in companies. We go to deliver for the shareholders, stakeholders and other interested people!!!

If we just raise above pettiness and also go back to discover our purpose in life, we can succeed.

The other side of the Cyber Space as President Edgar Lungu signs new law

…a diplomats personal perspective

By Amb. Anthony Mukwita

27th March 2021, BERLIN

When President Edgar Lungu signed the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes bill into law on 23rd March 2021, reactions from citizens and interest groups were mixed.
Some liked it others hated it, albeit, it had gone full circle in parliament before reaching the President’s desk for his signature.
As a diplomat and published author, every time there´s a new development in my beautiful country Zambia, I study it to prepare myself for questions from colleagues in need of the ´bare bones´ of the development at one point or another.

WHAT IS A CYBER CRIME?

Laws are often penned to correct or prevent a wrong, so firstly I sought to know what constitutes a cyber-crime the new law seeks to cure or prevent, I found a few below:
Among the top are Hate Speech, peddling Child Pornography that could permanently harm our children, Identity Theft, this is when someone steals your identity and use it to commit a crime, Malware, which is when your computers safety is compromised with the aim of stealing your valuable information.

Others are Phishing, Cryptojacking, Cyber Espionage or even slandering and libelling others under the veil of the internet or cyber space, the most common crime in Zambia especially since the rise of the use of the internet on platforms such as Facebook or chat groups.
In Zambia, cyber bulling has become a buzz word that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth but I will concentrate on the economic side of things and skirt away from the political side of things.

A study I read states that ostensibly, “hundreds of millions of cyber attacks occur in Africa annually with up to billions of dollars schemed by offenders that go largely undetected and unpunished” either because of lack laws or tech inabilities by governments.

*ZAMBIA LOOSES BILLIONS OF KWACHA VIA THE INTERNET*

This is something rarely told in public because of the sensitivity of the banking sector, but Zambian commercial banks have not been left unscathed.
According to a 2016 cyber-attacks study, “Zambia lost up to US$4 million, almost K100 million, in a year about six years ago at the hands of cyber criminals that hacked bank records with the help of local and international cartels according to one study.”
Other African countries such as Ivory Coast recorded about 1,409 cyber-attack complaints in courts in one year recently but the numbers seem to be dropping due to new laws with cash losses of about 8.9 million euros, billions of CFA.

*AFRICA THE HAVEN OF CYBER CRIMINALS*

Another study says, “Africa has become a nest of cybercriminals of all kinds. For instance, those who specialise in the “419” scam, named after article 419 in Nigerian criminal law, that penalises fraud and specifies the fines and other penalties for this sort of crime.”
The same study says close to home South Africa is worst affected because, “70 percent of South Africans have been hit by a cyber-crime, which is 50 percent of the world average.”
Zambia is among economies more exposed to cyber crimes than any other economies in the world, especially the rich west and Asia and it remains more vulnerable in the absence of laws stipulating punishment.
South African companies lost more than US$500 million dollars in 2014 alone.
ENTER THE ZAMBIAN MOBILE MONEY SECTOR
The rise in mobile banking popularly known as Airtel of MTN money has increases the threat of cyber-crimes says the study.

*THE PROS AND CONS OF THE NEW LAW*

Given the aforementioned scenario, it appears to me that the new law signed by President Lungu is necessary to punish and prevent those that nilly willy commit crimes online behind the veil of the internet.
I have no doubt that parents want their innocent children protected from perverts and peodofiles masquerading as Ice Cream salesmen online while every person with a bank account wants to ensure their money is safe and accounts are protected by the law.
I have no doubt that everyone wants to enjoy their integrity and not be opened to ridicule on Facebook by people spewing hate, insults and contempt, often without cause under the cover of cyber space, I must know I have been a target.
President Lungu ought to be commended for bravely signing the law (like he did when he signed the 50 percent plus one in 2016) that is expected to spike down the peddling of hate speech and insults that became a daily order in Zambia.

*IS THE CYBER LAW OPEN TO ABUSE?*

Concerns abound that the cyber law could be abused, just like any law and the answer is if there´s no vigilance, which Zambia isn’t short of, any law is open to abuse.
We are lucky to have a lawyer for a President whom I know would have cancelled out any abuse red flags before inking the law.
It’s also important to note that this law is not cast in stone like the laws of Moses but is open to amendments if found to be excessive.
Historically whenever a new law is introduced, reactions are mixed, which is normal in a democracy.

*THE FEAR CREEPETH ON THE BACK OF THE LAW*

Evidently, however, those fond of insulting and calling others names under the guise of the internet resent the new cyber law.
In conclusion, President Lungu who once said, “a stitch in time saves nine,” because a plan is better than no plan.
Don’t forget that some of the crimes committed online result into death like the 2013 Westgate attack at a mall in Nairobi Kenya were terrorists killed 68 people and injured 200.
I got additional readings for this essay from a paper entitled “Cyber Crimes in Africa 2016” and the new Zambian cyber law 2021, which is available to the public on only.

Anthony Mukwita is the Ambassador of Zambia to Germany. This personal essay was inspired by the recent enactment of the Cyber Security law of Zambia by President Edgar Lungu on 23rd March 2021.

SUSPECTED ABDUCTORS OF HATEMBOS STILL DETAINED

It is almost two months since Pheluna Hatembo and her brother disappeared, now her cerebral palsy afflicted 35-year-old daughter is ill, vomiting blood and pus.

The daughter, Nasilele Nyambe, was yesterday escorted to the Choma General Hospital by her elder sister Abigail who pleaded with abductors to release their mother.

The last they saw their mother was when she was bundled to Lusaka where she signed a statement condemning her lawyers for indicating an intention to appeal against a ruling that dispossessed them of their 200 hectare farm to Mr. Hakainde Hichililema.The family have since disputed the “withdrawal” of the appeal, stating that they had sat and decided to appeal against the High Court judgment.

“The disappearance of our mother has sent my already sick young sister into depression and caused her to fall into a more serious condition requiring frequent hospital visits.” first born Abigail revealed yesterday.

“From the time our mother disappeared, my sister’s condition has worsened and needs frequent hospital visits, which is very costly for me because I have no stable income.
Speaking from Choma General Hospital where she had taken her sick sister, Abigail said the family has not seen their mother for a long time and now fear for the worst.

“We haven’t seen our mother from the time she left and so I have been suffering alone taking care of my disabled sister. At the moment, we are at the hospital for urgent medical checkup because she has been vomiting pus,” said Abigail.

She explained that her sister now in her mid-30s, was struck by cerebral malaria at the age of three, which left her disabled.
“My sister can’t walk or eat so I have brought her for urgent medical checkup at Choma General Hospital because the condition has worsened since our mother disapeared,” she said.
Abigail also revealed that from the time their mother Pheluna left she has not been communicating with them to find out about the condition of the sick daughter and wondered what has happened to their parent.

“My sister doesn’t sleep meaning she is always awake and so it means I have to also be alert at all times because I’m the only one remaining to look after her,” she said.

Abigail called on well-wishers to come to the aid of the family and assist her sister get proper medical health care.

Pheluna and her brother Milton have been missing after they appeared in a video denouncing their own court case in which they had sued Mr Hichilema over the acquisition of their farm.

When the matter was ruled against the Hatembo because of the lapse of time, the duo were allegedly brought to Lusaka to denounce the case and further refuse to appeal the matter
More recently, their brothers, Cosmas and Emmerson Hatembo complained that they had not seen their siblings and travelled to Choma to hold a funeral for the missing duo.

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28/03/2021

SUNDAY CHANDA DON’T DEFEND CRIMINALITY, KAMPAMBA SHOULD BE FIRED IF LUNGU CARES FOR ZAMBIA

We find the press statement issued yesterday by PF media director Mr. Sunday Chanda, trying to defend minister Mulenga Kampamba for insults in an audio going round on social media to be nonsensical and foolish. Sunday, is not a police officer, let ZICTA and Zambia police do the investigation if PF claims Mulenga Kampamba is not the one who was yelling such insults. What type of human beings are PF who don’t take responsibility? Here are the offences Mulenga Kampamba committed soon after the President signed the much publicised bill which they thought will function on 12th August, to just interfere with Parallel Vote Tabulation.Sec 69 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act says: A person who using a computer system intentionally initiates any electronic communication, with the intent to coerce,intimidate, harass, or cause emotional distress to a person commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a periodnot exceeding five years, or to both.

65. A person who, using a computer system, knowingly without lawful excuse, uses hate speech commits an offence and is liable,
on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or to both.Oh I have started to love this law. Police Officers please there are the section of law that you must inquire into on Honourable Kampamba’s case.By her and the PF media team circulating another video on her Facebook page and the PF official page. She has just implicated a person who has never been a leader accusing her of having issued those insults two years ago. Please Honourable, listening to your insults I thought you were smart enough that the person you are trying to implicate is not a prophet neither is she a political leader.I say so because there was no way she could have claimed to have built a clinic, roads etc in Kalulushi two years ago when the clinic is a most recent one. Looking at the person claiming to have done that and this in the audio, and the one in a video there is no collaration or similarities.

Sunday Chanda too, has tried to be smart by defending his Honorable Minister forgetting he and the women implicated have just broken the law and Sec 55 of the Act and it says: (1) A person who aids, abets, counsels, procures, incites, or solicits another person to commit or conspires to commit anyoffence under this Act, commits an offence and is liable, onconviction, to the penalty specified for that offence.Actually, the defences that have instituted only confirms one thing, the minister did commit the offence. Secondly, PF should be ashamed to have a member affiliated to them issuing such insults and the entire media team in PF gives a coverage to her to claim she is the one who insulted and not Hon Mulenga.

The goodness with offences committed electronically is, you can’t destroy the evidence the moment you press that button evidence remains in the space forever.Mr Lungu Sir, show us that this law was created to protect all Zambians be in opposition or in Government. Some of us we have been receiving death threats from PF agents for simply questioning your failed leadership sir. We hope all these characters will be brought to book. It is also on record that you president Edgar Lungu has also been a culprits of cyber bullying. For example on unknown dates but between 2016 and 2020 you have been warning of going to crush HH like a tone bricks. Hope you haven’t forgotten your Excellency because mulandu suwola.

We know PF especially Mr Lungu must be very ashamed that, the same day he signed the cyber bill into law his own minister becomes a first casualty. She must enter the Guinness book of records, the first person to have broken the law five minutes after it was signed.
Police Officers we doubted your ability to enforce this law, now you have a chance to prove us wrong.We may hear that the police has no complainant. The most exciting part of this law is Sec 69 just needs a person who was emotionally distressed by the minister’s insults that all, and I was emotionally distressed. So, after posting this write up I hope all the 18 million Zambians who are Christians in a Christian Nation and were emotionally distressed like myself should go to the police and report too.This is a learning process for Lungu and PF government. You cannot be rushing pieces of legistlation to curtail or target your opponent when you are the one behind all kinds of criminal activities.

Of late we have seen some PF officials publishing ponographic materials one of them being a minister Sichalwe, Mabumba and many others. Sunday Chanda, what has Lungu done to discipline such characters? Please stop displaying foolishness to our nation. Zambia deserves better than this rubbish going on.

I’m calling on president Lungu to walk the talk by firing Mulenga Kampamba for disgracing a public office. PF leaders, with insults of that nature it is not knew but, it is their culture together with their cadres. We have heard all kinds of insults by PF cadres like those who were insulting Kambwili’s mother. HH has been insulted by PF cadres and leaders connected to Edgar Lungu and nothing has been done. PF you are a disgrace to our nation.

I will maintain my words that if truly Mr Lungu is a president of Zambia, Kampamba Mulenga should be fired immediately for such insults.
The damage control they tried to do only went as far as confirming the guilty are afraid. Sunday Chanda may just be considered to be an obstruction to cyber inspectors or all those names in the Act. Rush to sign a law and you will crush. Mr Lungu will never learn, it’s now twice beaten. First was his constitution which has barred him from contesting. And his cyber law, his own minister is the first casualty. Show us law is blind.

Issued by
SIKAILE C SIKAILE
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST FOR ZAMBIA AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

CIC PRESS TEAM

JACK Kalala says the suffering of the Zambian people does not bother President Edgar Lungu and is never discussed in the PF Cabinet meeting.

Responding to President Lungu’s claim that people are living well, Kalala said the “regrettable statement” demonstrates that the President and his ministers are totally oblivious of the sad reality prevailing in the country.

He said President Lungu’s utterances go to show that the people’s hard life is not on the PF government’s menu.

“When commissioning one of the humps being heaped on some of the Lusaka roads, President Lungu is reported to have claimed that there’s money in the economy and people are living well. Of course President Lungu, his ministers and their surrogates are living well and opulently,” Kalala noted. “They have everything they need in life. They think everyone else in the country is living like them. Regrettably, it is not the case. People are suffering. The cost of living is extremely high. People are struggling to survive and there are no jobs and other opportunities for them.”

He said the Head of State does not give a damn as long as he is eating and living well.

Kalala lamented that President Lungu does not care when people are going hungry as long as his stomach is full and the next meals are granted.

“He does not care that there are no medicines and other requisites in hospitals as long as his health is taken care of. He does not care that many youths are roaming the streets without jobs; their welfare does not concern him. Instead, he uses them as tools of brutality against his political opponents,” he said.

Kalala noted that because the State provides everything for him, President Lungu has become insensitive to the needs of the people.

He said when President Lungu is reminded that people are suffering and hurting, he gets upset instead of becoming concerned.

Kalala insisted that President Lungu is a wrong person to be a national leader.

“He has no heart for the people. Their suffering means nothing to him. Of late President Lungu has been making statements showing that he has no concern for the socio-economic plight of the citizens. The majority of Zambians, especially those in urban areas, can hardly afford a decent meal a day. The cost of living is extremely high. The inflation has increased to more than 22 per cent; the kwacha has depreciated to K23 to one dollar. Prices of goods have skyrocketed. These and other factors have negatively impacted on the quality of life,” Kalala said. “The hospitals have no basic medicines, equipment and other requisites; people are dying in large numbers of treatable diseases. Many people are jobless and without means of survival. It is inconsiderate and insensitive for the President to make claims implying that all is well in the country.”

He said Zambia is a country of abundant resources but paradoxically its citizens are very poor because of inept and unscrupulous leaders like President Lungu and his surrogates.

Kalala said instead of working to develop the country for the common good and to improve the standard of living of citizens, greedy leaders have worked to enrich themselves and to fatten their bank accounts.

“With impunity they openly claim that they steal to live better tomorrow. They even have the audacity to go about flaunting bundles of money with impunity where millions are struggling to survive and can hardly afford basic needs in their homes,” he said.

Kalala lamented that millions of young people have finished school but are aimlessly roaming the streets without jobs.

He also noted that highly qualified young people have resorted to doing casual menial jobs with some of them turning themselves into street vendors to barely earn a living because the President and his cohort of ministers have failed to create an enabling environment for job creation.

“These young people cannot fulfil their life dreams and cannot contribute to the socio-economic development of their country because the PF leaders have failed to provide effective leadership. Zambia is suffering from a leadership crisis,” said Kalala.

By CIC Editors.

(SPIT IT OUT: LET IT OUT)

INNOCENT KALIMANSHI AT THE EDGE

A Story by Edward Roy Makayi.

They call him PF National Commander, America 1, Ebenezer 1, bleacher etc but his real names are Innocent Kalimanshi a Zambian with a Green national registration card. Most of all a politician and very active political player in the ruling Patriotic Front.

Innocent Kalimanshi came on a scene way back and his political story traces from many things. Today I feel compelled to write about him because what seems to be funny and politics can actually consume someone.

When I watched the video of him crying for help from judges, courts and so on most of all he called on Zambians to listen and pay attention to what is going on to him. The police are allegedly looking for him and he made it very clear that how can he the oppressee be summoned to police when the oppressors are free as he says his camp was attacked, his youths attacked, properties damaged etc.

I have been an ardent follower of Innocent Kalimanshi life his comic but jovial videos ranging from fun, to Gospel Ebenezer drama that went viral and nicknamed him as such. Whether Innocent Kalimanshi dreams of traveling to America or not it’s a story for another day but what makes him choose America in his comic jovial style is the art of the strength America is known as a super power of the world. He prides himself as a super power to the American status hence the title “American”.

Of all the videos of Innocent Kalimanshi daring or speaking his mind out the latest one seems to be a call from a drowning man at the deed heart of the ocean calling for help as he seems to have been tied to a very heavy rock and he can’t swim anymore. Innocent Kalimanshi is asking for help and if we don’t pay attention we would just wake up one day to catastrophic news of his death and the country will live on like no mans business. He has often spoken openly about his enemies who are after him right there in PF.

Where is the police? Where is the president, where are the leaders in PF? Is this about Innocent Kalimanshi or there is something Zambians should know what is going on in PF?.

The truth is that PF is the most disorganized political party in Zambia ever and Innocent Kalimanshi is just one person who has exposed the inner ills within the party. He has been suspended and disowned by the party Secretary General and he is in Court with Home Affairs Minister Hon Stephen Kampyongo over defamation.

Mainly if we talk politics every political party has internal issues just like in UPND, NDC or any different party such differences are normal but when someone is calling for help in the manner Kalimanshi is doing it tells you that the gravity of the problem is bigger and beyond politics.

How did he find himself in that situation?.

This is a person many will say has been a pillar of strength among PF cadres. He openly say that he single handedly paid for his soldiers to make sure that the current president was made the presidential candidate in Kabwe. We don’t know how to prove this but it’s in public domain what he says I don’t think he can lie but I also believe that his way of expressing himself could cost him but is it in the manner that it’s happening?.

To some extent I am a victim of PF violence and unfair treatment. I reacted the same way to Hon Stephen Kampyongo when he came to attack the UPND camp in Kasama and when I insulted him and reacted viciously I was warned that the police are looking for me. I openly said the police can not look for me for anything before arresting the oppressor first who happens to be Hon Stephen Kampyongo. I took responsibility for everything I said without any apologies to make because you can’t unfairly provoke someone and later on send the police to him I told him am just getting started even if he takes me to court I can even insult him right there in front of the judges to send a message to other leaders to behave themselves if they want respect from youths especially cadres because certain cadres like me I know my rights but certainly no one has the right to endanger me and later on use the police over my reaction the violence is eminent to date those who followed my outbursts in Kasama I fully take responsibility for saying what I said because a grown up man called a leader and a cabinet Minister can not behave the way Hon Kampyongo behaved and expect respect. I mean he brought cadres at night to attack our camp the cadres ransacked our foodstuffs, beat and injured people properties where damaged and stolen so honestly speaking no matter how good you are how would you react when the whole Home affairs Minister the boss of the police is the one in the forefront perpetrating violence like a common thug where can you run for help?

I don’t know the gravity of Innocent Kalimanshi situation but he seems to be feeling the same wrath from the people he has.

You may think youths in Zambia or politics is a dirty game but this goes to tell you that leadership in Zambia especially from the ruling side has been a challenge. We will keep monitoring the affairs of Innocent Kalimanshi though the man is suffocating it’s just a matter of time they will get him. Will he be arrested? Killed or what?. Innocent Kalimanshi may be a PF cadre but he is a Zambian, a husband and a father to 12 children and when a Zambian asks for help we should render it. How he found himself in that situation is exactly what the system designed for youths instead of helping youths to be skilled and be part of governance you instead use them as tools of violence this is exactly what the situation of Kalimanshi brings and it will not end on Kalimanshi. In other countries that’s how rebels are formed one day I will be vindicated to my 2019 words of having reckless leaders. Imagine he had his own soldiers that helped president Lungu to be adopted he funded those soldiers because president Lungu had no money today his soldiers where attacked like how did youths in Zambia started having their own soldiers? When I ask where Zambia Army is to take keen interest of this trend of PF cadres and their soldiers issue they should be listening here we are. More popcorns please.

Written by Edward Roy Makayi

Edited by CIC Editorial section.

CIC PRESS TEAM

By SmartEagles

Opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has already conceded defeat in the August 12 general elections, PF Deputy Media Director Antonio Mwanza has charged.

Reacting to a long winding press statement which the UPND leader released yesterday, Mr. Mwanza said it was unfortunate that Mr. Hichilema went into a frenzy condemning the people of Southern Province and ECZ for not assisting him acquire the numbers to help him defeat President Lungu in the August 12 polls.

Mr. Mwanza further stated that the PF is happy that reality has finally dawned on Mr. Hichilema that he has no capacity to unseat President Lungu from power.

“In his confused media article, Mr. Hichilema makes wild claims that the people of Southern Province,Western and North Western Province will not be allowed to vote,” Mr. Mwanza stated.

He has wondered where the UPND leader got the information that the people from his perceived strongholds will not be allowed to vote for reasons he has failed to explain.

“Reality has finally dawned on SAMMY that he has neither numbers nor national appeal to win the the August elections and he has resorted to blaming anyone except himself for his eminent loss,” he said.

The PF Deputy Media Director has noted with concern that Mr. Hichilema has gone on rampage condemning the innocent people of Southern Province, ECZ and even blaming President Lungu for his own disorganization, regional and tribal politics.

Mr. Mwanza charged the UPND leader is in a weak and desperate position adding that he is trying by all means to prepare the minds of his supporters and donors way in advance to be ready for the impeding defeat.

“Everything in his press statement is nothing but a litany of excuses to justify his sixth loss,” Mr. Mwanza said.

“As usual SAMMY does not take responsibility for his own failures, he is blaming the police, ECZ and pa last he will even blame the Pop for his own failures; that is not leadership, true leaders are humble and magnanimous enough to accept their own shortcomings and take responsibility for their own failures,” he said.

Mr. Mwanza charged that Zambians do not owe Mr. Hichilema the presidency hence he should stop blaming them for his own failures.

“How can you surely convince Zambians that you can effectively run government when you have failed to come up with a manifesto for 15 years; that is MANYENGWE,” Mr. Mwanza said.

And Mr. Mwanza explained that the new voters register is on the insistence of Mr. Hichilema himself who had been crying since 2016 that there was need for a new voter’s register as he claimed the old one was doctored among other claims.

“The ECZ as per its tradition and practice has allowed all stakeholders including SAMMY to scrutinize, verify and audit the voter register,” Mr. Mwanza stated.

He stressed that the voters register is not a classified document but a public document which anyone can access.

The PF Deputy Media Director has since advised Mr. Hichilema to stop patronizing, belittling and holding hostage the people Southern saying that they are not his children or property at his farm.

Mr. Mwanza charged that the UPND leader should learn to respect the inherent and Constitutional right of the people of Southern Province to choose any leader of their choice.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mwanza has said that the ECZ has conducted itself in a credible, transparent and inclusive manner saying the entire electoral process has been transparent, inclusive and accountable to all the stakeholders including Mr. Hichilema.

He stated that no decision has been made by ECZ without the consultations of stakeholders.

“So to accuse the ECZ of bias is unfair, baseless, unpatriotic and to put it plainly, simply childish,” Mr. Mwanza said.

And Mr. Mwanza has charged that it is not the job of ECZ to help people win elections.

He stated that politicians have to win their own elections by influencing people to support them with their party Manifestos.

WE FIND it extremely shocking and insulting to hear President Edgar Lungu boasting that Zambian people are living well at a time when our citizens are struggling to put food on the table, says UPND secretary general Batuke Imenda.

While opening the Munali flyover on Wednesday, President Lungu said while people say Zambia’s economy is not booming, there are activities which indicate that there is money in the economy and that people are living well.

But Imenda yesterday wondered in which country President Lungu and his Patriotic Front supporters live for them to be blind to the daily toils of the people.

“Is it not laughable that the whole Head of State can measure the people’s standard of living in the country by the congestion he sees on Lusaka roads? It appears that from where Mr Lungu stands, Zambia begins and ends in Lusaka, hence the construction of fly-over bridges whose sub-contracted jobs have been given to PF members,” Imenda said in a statement. “These PF members are the ones flashing millions of kwacha, building mansions and buying expensive cars to drive on the expensive roads constructed from borrowed money. From this narrow perspective of rich PF members, Mr Lungu has the audacity to insult the Zambian people by saying they are all living well! If the Zambian people were enjoying, as Mr Lungu would like to make us believe, would he be demeaning the hardworking miners of this country by lending them Edgar Lungu-branded mealie-meal towards elections?”

Imenda said President Lungu’s desperate action to become ‘Father Christmas’ to the suffering miners was admission enough that his government had not done enough to ensure people afford to put food on their tables without depending on borrowed PF mealie-meal.

“If Mr Lungu were so caring for the miners, why has he not given them the mealie-meal for free?

Why should the money be deducted from the meagre salaries of these miners who cannot even afford to pay school fees for their children because of a depressed economy made worse by the PF’s appetite for borrowing?” Imenda asked. “As the United Party for National Development (UPND), we want to challenge Mr Lungu to visit the Copperbelt a day after the miners get paid and monitor how frequently people visit automated teller machines -ATMs. The people have no money in their accounts. Are these the people Mr Lungu is saying are living well?”

Imenda said President Lungu and the PF were detached from reality and “this is reason enough for the Zambian people to remove this insensitive administration from office come August 12”.

He said Zambia deserves a more caring team of leaders that know the suffering they were going through and will not pretend that they were living well.

“This is where we, as the UPND and president Hakainde Hichilema, come in as an alternative to an insensitive regime whose measure of the Zambian people’s worth is by the millions lining the pockets of a few PF members,” he said.

However, Imenda said the UPND were alive to the fact that not all PF members were enjoying from the loot that had been restricted to a select few who were close to the corridors of power.

He said President Lungu’s statement had even upset his own PF members who were not benefitting from the money being amassed by a few PF members.

“We appeal to these orphaned PF members to look no further; hope and help is on the way. The UPND will not discriminate when it comes to the sharing of the national cake because Zambia belongs to all of us regardless of political party affiliation, ethnicity, race or religion,” Imenda said. “Part of the reason Mr Lungu has seen congestion on Lusaka roads is that the national cake has not been evenly distributed, forcing the marginalised citizens to flood the national capital in search of various services. Instead of spending money to procure drugs for health facilities in the various parts of the country, the PF regime has focused on putting up over-inflated infrastructure. As a result, the people who cannot access quality healthcare outside Lusaka have to travel long distances in search of life-saving drugs, leading to congestion on Lusaka roads.”

Imenda said it was shocking that President Lungu interprets the congestion as a sign of Zambians living well.

“We urge the Zambian people to vote wisely because retaining this blind PF regime would lead to irreparable disaster,” warned Imenda.

Health Minister Jonas Chanda was on Tuesday left sweating after he miserably lost the vote in the race to be re-adopted to stand as Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament on the PF ticket.

According to the score sheet obtained from the Constituency Executive Commitee, Dr Chanda lost the vote to his main rival Warren Chisha Mwambazi after the incumbent only managed to get four votes out to the 20 available.

This saw Dr Chanda go into a frenzy and confiscated the score sheet and forced the Acting Constituency Chairman a Mr. Chitalima to go into hiding in an attempt to disrupt the process and nullify the vote.

It is believed that Dr Chanda wants to manipulate the final outcome of the vote which is expected to be communicated to the District Commitee on Wednesday for onward transmission to the Provincial Committee and later to the National Secretariat.

By close of business on Tuesday, the whereabouts of Mr Chitalima and Secretary Justo Bwalya, Chairlady Evelyn Tembo and Youth Treasurer Chibukisho Bwalya remained unknown.

But Dr Chanda says he was forced to step in and intervene because the vote was irregular.

He has accused his main rival Warren Chisha Mwambazi of bribing the entire Constituency Executive Commitee into voting for him.

Dr Chanda has alleged that Mr. Mwambazi gave out K10,000 each to 12 members of the Constituency Executive and also paid for their accommadation at Fatmols Lodge in Ndola for him to be favoured for adoption.

“As PF Provincial Vice Chairman, as well as serving Member of Parliament for Bwana Mkubwa Constituency and Minister of Health, I’m aware that such corrupt behavior is contrary to regulations for the Party’s adoption process, I submit,” Dr. Chanda said.

Dr Chanda wants the District Executive Commitee to nullify the outcome of the Constituency vote and block the interviews for all aspiring candidates in Bwana Mkubwa set for Wednesday from taking place.

According to new adoption guidelines in the PF, candidates will be picked strictly by the lower structures by way of recommendation which will be communicated to superior organs of the party.

Meanwhile in Kabushi, incumbent Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo comfortably won the primary election beating his challengers Edward Ndalama and Tony Mwape.

Mr Lusambo who is also Lusaka Province Minister got 20 votes with Mr Ndalama and Mr Mwape both receiving zero votes.

The PF is expected to announce the final list of adopted candidates on 17th of May in readiness for the August 12th polls.

HON. GIVEN LUBINDA: THE BEST ZAMBIAN MP EVER.

By Miles B. Sampa

March 26, 2021

It was 2005 at a PF rally in Kabwe I first spoke to him. Cheerfully and respectfully he spoke to me as I approcahed him after the rally to congratulate him for his eloquent speech before the rally main speaker Miles Sampa.

“This kalad that sounds like a muzungu is so courteous and had to stop to listen to me a young man and a nobody to his political status and fame” I thought as I drove from the Kabwe rally.

In 2011 he was the PF MP cadidate for Kabwata, while President Lungu was a candidate for Chawama and I was the MP candidate for Matero. I was the rookie amongst all the 7 PF MP candidates for Lusaka District.

Hon. Lubinda became my default mentor taking me on Radio and TV interviews to appear with him. We campaigned as a team in the City and on the last weekend before elections, we undertook a long Drive show covering all City Constituencies from Munali to Mandevu, Matero, Lusaka Central, Kanyama, Chawama and Kabwata in that order. It took about entire day as we buzzed the Dont Kubeba song on loud sound systems on top of each candidate campaign trucks.

Not surprising Lusaka District got total pa total combined PF Presidential results and effectively PF defeated MMD out of Statehouse.

Todate Hon Lubinda not only is my mentor but also my ‘friend’, lunchmate and live band dancemate. Where I have done well politically, its because I took his advice. Where I have messed up (many times so), it’s because I either did not consult him or did not take his advice.

Given is a good man loved by many and in majority (80%) but as always with humans, there is a few (less than 20%) that choose to be his Thomases and Escariots.

From 2001 he won as Kabwata MP under the UPND ticket beating both MMD (Richard Kachingwe) and PF (Mulenga Sata) candidates, the Constituency has been on a transformation trajectory. Hitherto, Chilenje, Libala and Kabwata was well known for for iron (redish) looking gravel or dirty roads. Kamwala was full of Rocks all over. Nyumba Yanga and Chalala was a bush and hide out for thieves.

There where no roads connecting to Chawama or Lilayi. One has to drive on about the only two tarred roads (Chilimbulu and Burma) into CBD town to Kafue road inorder to get to Lilayi.

Today, the Constituency has the Tokyo way from which several tarred roads will lead motorists into Chawama and Lilayi. My favourite road is one that goes past G-Greens Pub & Grill. I am not sure why😊.

In his last 20 years as area MP, the bush on the southend of Kabwata has dissappered and replaced with state of the art mansions and mini malls owned by various Zambians.

In the 2006 general elections he rejected gestures from the ruling MMD and stood on the Opposition PF ticket. He won landslide beating then MMD’s Godfrey Bwalya Mwamba. In 2011 the mighty MMD pitted Lubinda with a former Minister and defector MP from opposition PF Dr Peter Machungwa.

I feared for Given and myself standing in Matero against another PF MP defector to MMD Mrs Faustina Sinyangwe.

My fears were however put to rest when during his first campaign rally in Kabwata he invited all of us MP candidates in the City. I then heard him shout in the mic while he laughed.. ” Peter Machungwa nizamudya mubisi”. I gained confidence thereon and indeed Peter Machungwa and Faustina Sinyangwe ” Tina badya babisi”.

In 2016 he won again on the PF ticket but come 2021 and despite majority residents calling for him to stand again, he has voluntarily chosen not to stand.

Essentially opted to leave the seat for a new broom and most importantly, while everyone is clapping for him.

For me, Hon Given Lubinda is the epitome of who and what an MP is all about. Principled, Adorable, Eloquent, Procedural, Reliable and above all, love for humankind.

He is the best MP that Zambia has ever had. Kabwata will never be the same without him. We can only wish him the very best in his endeavours and life after Kabwata Constituency.

You have run your race Sir Hon Given Akakelwa Lubinda. Zambia and posterity will always be grateful to your splendid output for the beautiful people of Kabwata constituency. God bless you.

MBS
Mayor of Lusaka
March 26, 2021

ABOUT POLITICS OF BLACKMAIL: A CASE OF FAILURE TO COMPETE

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1. There is no question that for the past 10 years or so, our politics here in Zambia has been dominated by only two political parties being the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) led by President Lungu and the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) led by Mr Hakainde Hichilema. In fact, in the last general elections of 2016, these two parties accounted for about 98% of the total votes at presidential level. Now, if you asked me, l do not think that’s good for democracy to have the entire political terrain hijacked by only two political parties with the rest of us falling on the sides as nonentities. But this is a situation that arose by default due to MMD’s rapid meltdown after they lost power in 2011, thanks to Bashikulu Ba Sata who made sure that the former ruling party was completely dissipated in no time. This left former MMD members with no option but to join either PF or UPND thereby creating a defacto two-party state.

2. Now, between the last general elections and today, several political parties have mushroomed including our own Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP). As to what kind of impact these new parties will have on the political terrain is something that remains to be seen. But one fact is undeniable; if any of the new parties is going to grow into a potent third force, they have to grab members from both the two dominating political parties being PF and UPND. In my considered view, it is difficult if not impossible to substantively grow a new political movement by only grabbing votes from one of the two existing large parties.

3. But how does a new political party grab members from existing political parties? Well, different political party leaders will have different answers to that question. But my answer is that you can only achieve that by out-competing your opponents in terms of having better solutions to national problems and offering yourselves as a better package. Speaking of which, that is exactly what we in the Patriots for Economic Progress have been doing. From our inception on 5th October 2016, we have sought to demonstrate to the Zambian people that we better understand Zambia’s social, economic and political problems and that we have better solutions to these national challenges and that the only way that Zambia can prosper is by ushering us into office so that we can better manage the affairs of the nation. We have been doing this using several different ways including developing and presenting our PeP Alternative National Budgets for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and more recently for 2021. We have also developed and presented the PeP Alternative National Development Plan as well as more recently a PeP Alternative Economic Recovery Plan which outlines how we intend to turnaround the ailing Zambian economy onto a path of sustainability and prosperity from the current doldrums of poverty, squalor and debt-default. All our political activities since the word go have been designed to convince the Zambian people that we are a better political movement than either the PF or the UPND, with the sole purpose of seeking to grab votes from both these two political parties that have dominated Zambian politics for the past 10 years or so.

4. With regard to the UPND, we have been competing with them by challenging their proposed solutions to Zambia’s economic meltdown such as the IMF loan that Mr Hichilema says he intends to get as a first step to kickstarting the economy. We have told Mr Hichilema in no uncertain terms that his proposed economic solution is shallow and unlikely to bring about any positive turnaround to our economy because his reasoning that getting an IMF loan at low interest to pay off existing external debt is deeply flawed as an IMF loan cannot be used to refinance a country’s existing loan portfolio. We have also told Mr Hichilema that one of Zambia’s biggest economic problems at the moment is over-borrowing. And even my 6-year old daughter, Seanice knows that if your problem is over-borrowing, the solution to that problem cannot be additional borrowing as Mr Hakainde Hichilema is proposing to the Zambian people. Apart from his flawed economic solution for Zambia, we have also told the UPND leader that his party is just as incompetent as the ruling PF because UPND-run local authorities are just as dilapidated as PF-run ones, with huge amounts of salary arrears despite their huge revenue generating potential such as rates, billboards, personal levy, licensing fees, parking fees etcetera. Therefore, given that UPND has failed to show any signs of competence in any small way at local authority level, it is unlikely that they would suddenly become competent should they be entrusted with managing the affairs of the nation. That is our argument. We have also told the Zambian people that if a competent, corruption-free Government is what they really want, then UPND is not the solution, PeP and Sean Tembo are.

5. Our expectation has been that the UPND in general and Mr Hakainde Hichilema in particular will jump to the defense of their proposed economic turnaround model. We expected Mr Hichilema to explain to not only ourselves but to the nation at large how he will convince the 123 member nations of the International Monetary Fund to amend the Governing Principles of the IMF so as to allow an IMF loan to a country like Zambia to be used to refinance the country’s commercial debt such as Eurobond. Even if Mr Hichilema by some magic managed to achieve such a feat, the IMF is unlikely to give Zambia anything more than US$3 billion. So how then can a loan disbursement of US$3 billion be used to refinance the existing external debt portfolio which stands at about US$12 billion? Or maybe he would refinance 25% only and continue to service the other 75% of our external debt? But the way he simplistically puts it is in my view solely intended to hoodwink desperate Zambians who really need a positive turnaround to our economy.

6. But instead of defending his simplistic and shallow proposed economic solutions for Zambia, Mr Hichilema and some of his minions in the print media have taken to attacking us. They seem to want to peddle a false narrative that an opposition political party such as PeP should not compete with a fellow opposition such as UPND. What nonsense! We have two dominating political parties who almost equally account for a combined 98% of the total votes in the nation and you are telling us that we should grow our market share by only competing with one of them and not both? Forgive my French, but that’s absolute nonsense. I want to put it on record, once and for all, that as PeP and as Sean Tembo, we will always compete with any and all political parties in the manner and fashion that we see fit. Others call it attacking but l prefer to call it competing. When we say Mr Hichilema’s proposed economic turnaround plan of getting an IMF loan is shallow and simplistic, surely we are not attacking him. We are merely challenging him and his response should be to add some meat to his plan so that perhaps we and other Zambians can understand it better, because in its current form it does not carry water. But what does he do instead? He accuses us of attacking him. If we wanted to attack Mr Hichilema, our focus would not have been on his proposed economic solutions for Zambia, no. Neither would we have been talking about the poor performance of UPND-controlled local authorities. We would not have been challenging Mr Hichilema on any of these substantive matters of national interest. Instead, we would have been asking Mr Hakainde Hichilema why, as Negotiating Chairman he sold the Mosiotunya Hotel in Livingstone to a company in which he was a Director? He might argue that he was not a shareholder, but he was a Director and that amounts to a conflict of interest, and there is no record of him declaring interest, so he broke the law and he betrayed the nation after the nation entrusted him to serve it in that small capacity as Negotiating Chairman during privatization. If l wanted to attack Mr Hichilema, that is what l would have been concentrating on. I would have used my forensic auditing expertise to build a very solid case against him which he would not escape from even with his bus-load of lawyers. But that’s not our focus because we prefer to play civilized politics. That’s the reason why we only focus on issues of the economy and competence to run the affairs of the nation. Because we believe that those are the issue that the Zambian people want us to talk about. Those are the issues that matter to our citizens.

7. But the UPND and its leader should not push their luck too far by seeking to blackmail us into not challenging them by peddling a false narrative that an opposition political party should not challenge a fellow opposition party. Well, the hypocrisy in this narrative is appalling. Didn’t UPND itself refuse to work with the then main opposition PF to kick out the then MMD government in 2011? So chiwamila galu kuluma mbuzi? The only way that political parties would not challenge one another is if they are in an alliance or some form of electoral pact. May it be known by all men and women that the Patriots for Economic Progress is not in an alliance with any political party. Therefore, we can challenge and even attack any political party in the manner and fashion that we see fit, as and when we want. It is unreasonable for the UPND leader to expect not to be challenged by us. It is like he wants to get the benefits of an alliance without being in an alliance. No, that is not the way it works bwana. If you want the juice, you need to squeeze the orange.

/// END

SET 27.03.2021

Cell: 0971195870

TAKE the PF ku wire on 12th of August because they have put you ku wire for the last seven, 10 years, UPND leader has told young Zambians.

Hichilema says he has no paranoia of any sort.

On Tuesday, Hichilema addressed a media briefing at his residence in Lusaka where he intimated that the current regime was scheming to eliminate him from the presidential race by resorting to kill him.

Asked if he made such an inkling on merely being paranoid, when he featured on Hot FM’s Hot Seat programme yesterday, Hichilema responded: No! No! No! Facts are there.”

“There are attempts by the PF top echelon, using cadres who we should change their name into thugs, to eliminate us,” Hichilema said.

“I have been arrested 15 times. Is it that paranoia? Was I not arrested for treason, a crime I did not commit? Is it that paranoia? Sesheke by-election; was I not hunted to be killed? Is that paranoia? No. Fact!”

He continued: “was I not called to the police headquarters – not a police station – on the 23rd of December 2020 and people were killed?”

“Those bullets were meant for me. Is that paranoia? No! Where is Nsama Nsama today? Killed in cold blood! Where is Joseph Kaunda? Killed! Who was called at the police? Was it Nsama Nsama? Was it Joseph Kaunda? It was me,” Hichilema said. “So many people were injured and you saw the footage. People who were peaceful, exercising their constitutional right while armless and harmless, were shot at. Is that paranoia? No! 21 of our members are still ‘detained’ for crimes they did not commit. Is that paranoia? No! This is not paranoia but disorder driven by a government killing machine, abduction machine.”

He further asserted that Zambians were hell-bent on voting out the “incompetent” PF.

“And they will do it in a free, fair and credible election. Imisepela (youths) take the PF ku wire on 12 of August, because they have put you ku wire for the last seven, 10 years. That’s it! The people will win,” Hichilema said.

He also indicated that the UPND would be launching its 2021–2026 manifesto in the next two weeks.

“But the implementation plan is already there. Have you ever seen a political party or a presidency seeking office with clear intent like us?” he said. “Zambians deserve a different approach because the old approach has not worked. Remember people have been saying HH has never been a councillor, he has never been an MP [But] we don’t want the experience of MPs of corruption.”

Meanwhile, Hichilema noted that bona fide opposition parties must concern themselves about the welfare of the people.

“We want to redeem the people of Zambia; we want to go into office to serve them, and not to steal from them,” said Hichilema, further criticising the current political violence, “which is drifting into community violence.”

“We’ll restore law and order and no citizen will be allowed to be attacked at bus stops, in markets, by party cadres.”

DON’T fool Zambians, National Democratic Congress interim president Josephs Akafumba has told President Edgar Lungu.

The Mineworkers Union of Zambia and National Union of Miners and Allied Workers have been ‘offered’ ‘ECL Miners Empowerment breakfast mealie-meal at K50 per 25 kilogramme.

According to a memo dated March 19, the mealie-meal will come from the milling company called Shimaini Investment Limited, trading as MUZ Milling Company.

All miners need to do is provide a latest pay slip and mine identity card for verification that they belong to the two unions.

The memo, signed by Shimaini Investment Limited acting managing director Charles Chileshe, stated that members may obtain additional bags under the current credit scheme subject to K400 limitation where applicable.

But reacting to the development, Akafumba wondered how long this will last.

“What about the police men and women? How about the retirees, teachers and other men and women in uniform? How about the civil servants, teachers, council workers and the poor villagers in Western, Eastern, Southern and other provinces? Mr Chagwa Lungu, please stop fooling us. Stop fooling Zambians,” Akafumba, a lawyer and former justice permanent secretary, said. “I challenge you to go into Shoprite or any other shop here in Lusaka, Livingstone or Chipata and tell Zambians how much a five-litre container of cooking oil is going for and how much it was in the PF under Michael Sata. It is now over K230 instead of K30 or K40. How much is bread? So please don’t fool Zambians with this ‘ECL Miners Empowerment’ mealie meal at K50.”

He however, advised the miners to get the mealie-meal, saying they will not see it again after August 12 if the PF wins.

Akafumba said President Lungu is supposed to find lasting solutions to problems being faced by all Zambians with regards the high cost of living.

“Your attempts to bribe miners with K50 worth of mealie-meal will not resuscitate your lost image on the Copperbelt. It is too late and your attempts are not sustainable because you are targeting August and thereafter you will abandon the miners. So to the miners I say get the mealie-meal and eat it, because after August we will bring in more lasting solutions for all Zambians under the UPND Alliance led by Hakainde Hichilema,” said Akafumba. “Our target is to make Zambians smile again. Imagine your sister who is in Chipata or Lusaka; what are they eating for one ECL to give you mealie-meal at K50.”

RADICAL Revolutionary Party president Vincent Chaile has petitioned the Constitutional Court seeking a declaration that the nomination fees announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) are null and void.

In a petition filed in the Constitutional Court, Chaile further seeks an order of injunction to restrain the ECZ from proceeding with the hosting or holding of the general elections until the final determination of this matter.

The petitioner also seeks other reliefs as the court might deem fit and that the ECZ be ordered to pay costs of and incidental to the petition.

Chaile stated that he was set to participate in the forthcoming general elections in August 2021.
He stated that that ECZ on July 16, 2020 issued a statement proposing an increment in nomination fees.

Chaile stated that ECZ proposed to revise upwards nomination fees for all the candidates for the forthcoming elections.

The proposed nomination fees were male presidential candidates K150,000 from K60,000 while female presidential candidates and persons with disabilities K120,000 from K60,000.

Male parliamentary candidates were required to pay K25,000 from K7,500 with female candidates, youth and persons with disabilities were to pay K20,000 from K7,500.

For mayors, male candidates were to pay KK25,000 from K7,500 with female candidates, youth and persons with disabilities paying K20,000 from K7,500, among others.

The fees were later revised for the 2021 general elections with male presidential expected to pay K95,000, females K75,000 and K60,000 for youth and persons living with disabilities. Parliamentary male candidates would pay K15,000, females K13,500 while the youth and persons with disabilities will pay K10,000. Mayoral male K15,000, K13,500 for females while the youth and persons with disabilities expected to pay K10,000.

Chaile stated that ECZ and other stakeholders held various meetings where they raised concerns that the proposed fees were too high and meant to deter the poor people from participating in the leadership of the country.

He complained that ECZ’s announcement of nomination fees at will and at any time in meetings or at press conferences was a direct infringement on the right to participate in an election.

He stated that elections were not for a profit venture but a fundamental part of the democratic process in which citizens easily participate.

Chaile wondered why political parties were invited to such meetings if they could not hear out their concerns.

“I verily believe that the respondent elected to ignore the concerns raised by the petitioner and other stakeholders and thus excluding the youths and underprivileged but visionary adults from participating in politics,” stated Chaile.