PRESS STATEMENT: On Mr Tutwa Ngulube’s Threats Against News Diggers

The Free Press Initiative (FPI) Zambia is deeply concerned and saddened by manoeuvres being employed by lawyer Tutwa Ngulube, acting on behalf of his clients Honeybee Pharmacy and Human Rights Observers, to drag a state institution into his personal agenda against the News Diggers Newspapers.

We know that Mr Ngulube is legal counsel for Honeybee Pharmacy of Kamwala which has unresolved issues with the Zambian government over a contract worth $17 million for the supply of health kits to the Ministry of Health, most of which turned out to be defective, risking the lives of millions of our people. It is on this background that Mr Ngulube has now written NAPSA, a state institution, demanding details of the newspaper’s accounts at the Authority. Prior to this, Mr Ngulube wrote a letter to the newspaper demanding a retraction of the earlier story News Diggers wrote that brought out details of the questionable granting of the $17 million supply contract to Honeybee, a pharmacy in Kamwala.

In response to Mr Ngulube’s request, NAPSA has written a letter to News Diggers demanding documentation relating to its contributions prior to an inspection on the newspaper’s books of accounts. This is not a problem. There is nothing wrong with NAPSA writing any institution to demand details of their statutory contributions on behalf of the employees. And we think that the newspaper in this case would have no problems furnishing NAPSA with the requested details. But what we see as a problem is an individual here trying so hard to prove a point and maintain his relevance to Honeybee by abusing a state institution. If there was no wrongdoing on the part of Honeybee in the execution of the Health Kit supply contract, we expect the learned counsel to keep his cool until the current investigations instituted in the matter by the Anti-Corruption Commission are concluded.

We urge Mr Ngulube to allow state institutions to carry out their mandates without any interference or undue influence and further ask him to respect freedom of the press which we expect him to hold dear as a lawyer of many years of practice. His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has on different fora openly spoken about the need for independent press and press freedom, and we expect Mr Ngulube to adhere to that, especially that he is a lawmaker who also holds a high position in Parliament as Deputy Chief Whip.

News Diggers Newspapers should be commended for their investigative journalism because without them, we would not have known about the defective medicines, gloves and condoms supplied to the government by Honeybee Pharmacy. It was because of the work which News Diggers did which led to Honeybee’s appearance before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, in which these issues were addressed.

What Mr Ngulube is individually doing is an attempt to curtail the freedom of the press and intimidate independent media houses, which FPI denounces in the strongest terms.

Issued by
Joan Chirwa
FPI -Founder

January 27, 2021

RELYING on a non-existent court judgment will see a ruling party for the first time in the history of the world without a presidential candidate, says Olis Mizi.

Mizi, who is director at Drivers on the Highway, said there is no doubt President Edgar Lungu is one of the best lawyers the country has ever had.

“Truth be told, Levy Mwanawasa was able to follow the Constitution to the letter and interpret it accordingly unlike President Edgar Chagwa Lungu who has failed to come to the defence of the republican Constitution. The failure by President Lungu to protect and defend the Constitution would have seen him impeached. President Edgar Lungu allowed PF cabinet ministers to remain in office despite the dissolution of parliament. The matter went to Court and PF cabinet ministers were ordered to pay back. The rest is history,” Mizi said in a statement. “When the 2016 elections were petitioned, President Lungu did not hand over power to the Speaker of the National assembly as per republican Constitution. This is an impeachable offence. To date nothing has happened. We all know that, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has twice been elected and twice sworn in as per republican Constitution but he is still insisting that he is eligible to stand again against the republican Constitution which only allow a person to be elected twice like President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has been elected twice and sworn in twice.”

He stated that there was no room for a third term for President Lungu.

“Again truth be told here there’s no room for third term under the republican Constitution and no Zambian court has ruled that President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is eligible to stand in the 2021 general elections. Relying on the non-existent court judgment will see a ruling party for the first time in the history of the world without a presidential candidate,” Mizi stated. “The best the PF could do now before the 12th of August 2021 elections is to look for another presidential candidate before it’s too late and swallow the pride and arrogance that President Edgar Chagwa Lungu will stand for the third time. After all PF is not short of leaders to take over from ECL who has served two terms.”

He stated that it was the duty of Zambians to defend the Constitution.

“It’s the duty of every Zambian regardless of one’s affiliation or status to stand up and defend the republican Constitution from manipulation and mutilation to accommodate one individual in the name of the President,” stated Mizi.

HIGHVIE Hamududu says any mob can win political power, even without clear policies.

Hamududu, an economist, is the president of the Party of National Unity and Progress (PNUP).

The opposition party, then called the Party of National Unity (PNU), was first launched in May 2017 in Lusaka.

However, the party has now been re-launched and is called the PNUP.

At a media briefing at Mika Hotel in Kabulonga, Lusaka on Monday, Hamududu explained that his party from best practices and lessons learnt elsewhere was of the firm conviction that nations were developed by superior, clear, consistent and predictable policies.

He said such policies ought to be driven by an appropriate leadership team that provided the appropriate and commensurate political will and general guidance.

He noted that Zambians did not need anything from politicians but the right policy leadership.

“The government system has more qualified people than all the politicians. When you win and go into power, the people don’t need anything from you. Simply the right policy leadership and a team that speaks the same language,” Hamududu said. “You can’t just grab power…By the way, winning power is very easy. You can even grab power as a mob. [But] when you get power, you don’t know what to do, because you never did the homework. The homework is about the policy framework.”

Hamududu pledged that the PNUP, in government, would not let down Zambians in that regard.

“We are not fighting for power [but] we are offering the right policy framework. Any mob can get power!” Hamududu said.

He pointed out that it was very evident that Zambia was in a state far from what it should be.

Hamududu said the country was faced with all manner of challenges which had become deep-seated over a passage of time, and worsened in the recent past.

“These challenges range from the low growth of our economy, high unemployment, high poverty levels, growing inequalities, environmental degradation, to mention but a few,” Hamududu, a former Bweengwa UPND member of parliament, noted.

He said the saddest part was that the state of affairs in Zambia obtained amidst great opportunities and high resource endowment.

Hamududu said that such a gloomy picture could not be allowed to continue.

“The country’s forthcoming general elections present an opportunity for introspection. This election should not be business as usual, as the current situation requires very clear reform proposals, if our country has to register real and sustainable progress,” he explained. “Let the forthcoming elections be about our people, and not about us politicians, by giving unto themselves a fresh start. These elections must be about the people, and not about us politicians.”

Hamududu asserted that when political choices are increased, “you increase the outcome.”

“It’s like in business; the more the competition, the better the products. In the political arena we need to raise the bar on the competition, including the array of choices,” he said. “As the Party of National Unity and Progress, we join the 2021 election race from today.”

Hamududu said the PNUP had come to propose a clear roadmap for redressing the challenges and problems that Zambia faces.

“We promise to endeavour to do the best a political party can possibly do on pragmatic policy supremacy, clarity, consistency and predictability, informed by evidence and best lessons learnt at home and abroad,” pledged Hamududu.

PNUP secretary general Kasote Singogo was present at the event, among other party officials.

NSAMA AND KAUNDA WERE MURDERED OVER CHILUFYA TAYALI’S BUNCH OF BLANK A4 PAPERS
The Lusaka High Court yesterday dismissed with costs, a case in which some citizens sued the UPND President Hakainde Hichilema over the ownership of the farm in Kalomo which he acquired over 15 years ago.

The unfortunate thing is that while this matter was actively in court, some overzealous character in the name of PF surrogate Chilufya Tayali addressed a highly publicised press briefing which was strangely given live coverage on the State broadcaster ZNBC and other radio stations.

While carrying a bunch of blank A4 papers, an excited Tayali presented what he claimed was evidence that Mr. Hichilema had grabbed somebody’s land in Kalomo and was reporting him to the police and other law enforcement agencies.

Obviously under pressure from the politicians such as Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo, police summoned the UPND leader Mr. Hichilema for questioning over the same land.

We really sympathise with the police under Kampyongo because if due diligence and proper investigation had been conducted, they would not have bothered listening to a bogus claim of a hungry and misguided individual like Tayali, by summoning the UPND leader over a none issue.

In any case, we are aware that typical of African politics, the UPND leader Mr. Hichilema has been subject of intense scrutiny and underground investigations by all previous Republican Presidents from the time he joined active politics.

Surely, if more organised and intellectually gifted Presidents such as late Levy Mwanawasa and others could not have found anything worthy incriminating and arresting Mr. Hichilema, what makes these bunch of Katondo street politicians like Kampyongo think they can find anything against our President?

In their fear for strong political competition, panic, and sheer recklessness, Kampyongo forced police to summon the UPND leader Mr. Hichilema for questioning at Police Headquarters over phony claims by Tayali.

And in their political naivety, they surely thought the leader of the biggest political party in the country who is viewed as the ultimate saviour for millions of the economically distressed Zambians, would go unaccompanied to a police that has applied brutality against him in the past?

Had the entire government machinery not been misled by the mischief of Tayali, who instigated Kampyongo and Inspector General of the Police Kakoma Kanganja to summon Mr. Hichilema over a none issue, two innocent citizens Nsama Nsama Chipyoka and Joseph Kaunda would not have been gunned down in cold blood by trigger happy police officers.
Today the entire country is grieving over the reckless decision by Tayali, Kampyongo and Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja under the command of Mr. Edgar Lungu.
Innocent citizens ended up losing their lives over a matter that was before the courts of law, which the PF regime would have merely waited for its conclusion.

Where is Chilufya Tayali now with his bunch of printed A4 papers containing what he claimed was evidence against Mr. Hichilema?
Obvious Mwaliteta
*Lusaka Province UPND Chairperson*

PF SHOULD APOLOGISE FOR LYING THAT THERE WAS NO HUNGER IN ZAMBIAN – UPND
We take note of the remarks by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ms. Dora Siliya who is also the Chief Government Spokesperson who told people in her Petauke Constituency that PF could not develop the area because resources were diverted towards fighting hunger in some parts of the country.

To us in the UPND, this is exactly what we mean when we say PF leaders are hypocrites, bunch of liers who are always bent on fooling the intelligence of Zambians.
When the UPND leadership, through our party President Hakainde Hichilema, raised alarm on the hunger situation due to draught in some parts of the country during the 2017/2018 farming season, these bunch of liers refuted and ridiculed us claiming there was no hunger in the country.

In fact, PF members called for the arrest of our party President Mr. Hichilema when he declared hunger a national disaster and appealed for relief food from local, regional and international bodies, because to the PF, there was no hunger in the country.
We even remember how these bloody thirst PF vampires were deploying heavily armed police officers to block Mr. Hichilema and other well wishers who were trying to donate mealie meal and other food stuffs to the starving communities, because there was no hunger in the country.

Yet today, these same shameless PF liers, such as Ms. Siliya, can go round the country telling citizens that they could not develop their constituencies because there was hunger in the country.

Can these PF crooks for once keep their immorality inside their party away from the rest of the country.

As Information and Broadcasting Minister and Chief Government Spokesperson, Ms. Siliya was among those who vehemently denied there was hunger in the country and today she is admitting that PF could not develop the country because of hunger in the country.

As citizens, we demand for an apology from the PF regime, particularly to our party President Mr. Hichilema, for humiliating him over something they are admitting now.
Ultimately, that’s the more reason for the people of Zambia to change and put a credible and consistency leadership of the UPND under the visionary leader Mr. Hichilema.
LEVY NGOMA
UPND – Chairperson for AGRICULTURE FOOD AND WATER DEVELOPMENT

By Moses T Haaketa

Fellow UPND members around the country and those in the diaspora…please this time around, let us be careful with WHO we elect into UPND NMC and Top leadership..

Don’t exchange your UPND General Assembly vote with useless commodities, money or fake promises..made by selfish individuals who want opportunities to themselves and will not want others to have opportunities…who want happiness to themselves and will not want others to have joy.

We need Leadership that will be serious in addressing concerns, needs of members and beyond, leadership that is approachable and has an open door policy in accommodating different ideas, views and opinions of others.

– Leaders who are willing to be servants of the people and not bosses
– Leaders who are willing to be led and not to lead.
– Leaders who are willing to listen not to shut their ears…
– Leaders who care more of others and not caring for himself.
– Leaders who are willing to share with other and not keeping to himself
– Leaders willing to listen & promptly respond to concerns, needs & not those who keep silent when members are inquiring.
– Leaders who create opportunities & not chance takers or opportunist who wait for opportunities to come to them.
– Leaders who will come out of his/her vehicle talk to you and not those who will prefer to talk to you with their vehicle window half open

We are going into government and UPND need leadership to take the party and it’s people forward and not camouflaged or individuals that disguise themselves as leaders, this time around they should just forget.

And when embers or any other individual that, if they step at UPND Secretariat should feel comfortable and welcomed with assurance that his/her predicaments will be listened to and an attempt will be made to resolve it….leaders that will respond to calls of members- tried and tested individuals that will not ignore in responding to a short messages (sms) when an ordinary member seeks help.

Fellow UPND members, this is a moment or should l say- a second chance given to you by our Lord God,

A moment we should reflect and look deep direct into individual’s heart that is pursuing your vote and not his/her face nor his/her wealth or monetary value (money) one has… the face and money are used as a tool to disguise themselves…

Be careful with recycled politicians, why should UPND still use recycled politicians when in UPND itself has a lot of intellectuals, educated and intelligent young individuals that have wealth of ideas to change the economic crisis the country is facing..

Our President Mr Hakainda Hichilema (Bally) needs assistance to turn Zambia around from the mess these Pf thugs have put the country into….those who should assist him will come direct from the pool of leadership you will elect from this incoming UPND convention/General Assembly…that is why l say be careful with individuals who are camouflaged, pretenders those who are just looking for power (to be ministers).

Don’t exchange your UPND General Assembly vote with useless commodities, money or fake promises..made by selfish individuals who want opportunities to themselves and will not want others to have the same opportunity.

For years now, you saw them all and individually you know who they are…….VOTE WISELY

Your UPND General Assembly vote is your only weapon or tool to choose individuals who you think will best work with you and the government.

By Moses T Haaketa
UPND member in South Africa.

OPEN LETTER TO THE UPND ELECTIVE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DELEGATES

Dear UPND Elective General Assembly Delegates

I write to you ahead of the United Party for National Development (UPND) elective General Assembly, scheduled for 14 February 2021, to remind you of your solemn duty as people selected to represent your voting precinct at the elective General Assembly.

It is your duty to elect leaders with a clear understanding of the party’s liberal philosophy. That means leaders who will ensure that the party does not deviate from its distinctive purpose, values, priorities, practices, and projections aimed at promoting a system suitable for the cultivation of free human beings by empowering them with knowledge and skills supported by a stronger sense of values, ethics, and civic engagement to develop themselves and others.

As delegates, it is your duty to elect competent leaders because development is not a matter of chance, but rather of the ability to do the job successfully.

This entails electing party leaders with sufficient knowledge, skills, information, and intellectual capacity to implement the manifesto and the pre-election promises, and in doing so, to translate the UPND vision into action.

This is not an easy task; therefore, a need exists for leaders able to perform their roles efficiently.

You are honoured to be delegates because you have the power to elect leaders who are in touch with the masses. Elect leaders who are able to appear in public and on the media, rather than hermits who rule in a silent, untransparent, and isolated way from within the party’s palaces.

If truth be told, it is high time the party is led by people who are outgoing, sociable, assertive, and gregarious, to be able to attract more people to the party.

Vote wisely for principled men and women who do not change their beliefs as the wind blows but who are able to push the party agenda, despite obstacles.

There is no other time than now, when the party needs leaders who are focused, hard-working, self-disciplined, conscientious in achieving their party duties.

The people you represent at the assembly want you to elect leaders who can set the tone for fighting political corruption including bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, tribalism, patronage, influence peddling, graft, and embezzlement. Therefore, elect people to reward the party by being reliable, predictable, and trustworthy in the eyes of voters.

The UPND deserves leaders with whom the citizens will truly identify. These leaders must know how to lead with confidence and must be ready to take head-on the political challenges of our time.

The ball is in your court. Elect leaders who will shape the challenges the country is facing beyond the UNPD campaign agenda, and who will ultimately design the future of our great nation.

Delegates, elect people who are decisive to keep everyone in the party moving forward, and on-task with motivation while also being adaptable to our fast-changing political situation.

Make the people whom you will be representing at the convention proud by electing leaders with a positive mental attitude. Being in the opposition is tough; hence, the party needs leaders who know how to manage party members during trying moments. These are leaders able to understand that negativity exists in any political party but who will nevertheless make a choice not to foster it but rather to inspire optimism among party members.

It will be a missed opportunity if, as delegates, you do not elect solution-oriented leaders. To be a party in opposition comes with its own set of challenges, which makes it imperative to have leaders who are focused on solutions.

People do not want leaders who blame others when they are faced with problems. They want leaders able to concentrate on the task at hand and to do what is required to keep the party moving forward.

Honourable delegates, there is nothing that pleases citizens more than having responsible leaders able to carry out party tasks and to account for party failures and mistakes in order to pull them through the most uncertain times.

Remember, people deserve leaders who are in touch with the masses. They want leaders who will allow them to speak up and will listen to to what they think. Therefore, elect leaders who understand the importance of engagement and of contributing to the party without being side-lined.

The assembly should give the party humble leaders. Here I mean leaders willing to be human, to interact with the people at grassroots level, not only with their minds but also with their hearts. This is one of the sure ways of winning the support of the masses.

The hour has come for leaders who are political communicators. These leaders must be open in promoting the party’s connection with the citizens by using different modes of interaction including persuasion, sharing times of sorrow, and a mutual ethos.

The party needs courageous leaders who will not allow their fear of consequences to prevent them from doing the right thing. It is time for purposeful leaders who are prepared to sacrifice their lives for the party and for the country as whole.

The UPND is a haven of talented leaders. Delegates should therefore vote for role model leaders. These are leaders who understand that if they want to influence their members, they first have to seek for it in themselves and then set the example through the things they say and do for the citizens to emulate them.

The question, however, is: Will the delegates seize this golden opportunity to elect the desired leaders?

If they do, I contend that the party and the country will move forward. If the opportunity is missed, the party’s relevance to our society is at stake.

Sincerely,
Sara Imutowana Yeta II

Mundawanga Lion Escapes Again:
This is not the kind of news we all expect, but guys Mundawanga is very old and National Parks just took over management few years ago and I must say DNPW is doing its best so far.

Most of the animal enclosures there look okay but these few experiences have proven that actually we need to do a complete overhaul of the place starting with the enclosures for the lions which pose a huge risk to human life. The wires fences are now weak and corroded at the bottom.

Mundawanga is very important to all of us and we must all help it grow and flourish at the same time maintaining safety to both human and animal life. Remember most of the places which offer game viewing are not very affordable for that small child from that compound hence Mundawanga remains very important as an education centre for wildlife.
Going forward in consideration of the unfolding events all the lions will be secured in what are called night rooms which are very safe built with concrete so that Management can redo all the lion fences. I know some of you are saying just close it but if we do that will be the last time that child in kuku compound saw a lion.

Fortunately funds have already been secured for this complete overhaul and hopefully this will be done in the soonest possible time so that people can go and learn about wildlife.
On a very sad note we have lost a lion! Many people have tagged me to check why I didnt tranquilize it like before? The truth is I actually darted it but it was in a very excited state and since the medicine takes about 5 to 10 minutes to work it was in that short period of time that it managed to jump the fence charged at me almost killing me because it came very close. It was at this time that my boss who was on standby put it down by shooting it.
So the life of the lion was indeed a concern but the decision was made to kill it because human life was at risk.

With these few words I want to assure the public that the lions will be put in safe night rooms and Mundawanga will soon get good secure fences.
I also would like to thank and salute my boss Mr. Andrew Chomba Eldred for saving my life from the lion attack this morning. I am grateful Sir🙏
Below is the photo of the man who saved my life this morning.

By Smart Eagles

PF KABWATA ASPIRANTS DANNY YENGA, CLEMENT TEMBO MEET
…as Kabwata Constituency chairman Trevor Ng’andu urges the two candidates to support the incumbent lawmaker and avoid bitter exchange of words.

Two aspiring candidates for Kabwata constituency have been guided on how to conduct their campaign ahead of the adoption process.

At a media briefing addressed by Kabwata constituency chairman Trevor Ng’andu, the two candidates namely; Daniel Yenga and Clement Tembo, have been told to conduct their campaigns in a manner that will not destabilize the party in the constituency.
He said of late, the two camps have been involved in bitter exchange of words through their various social media platforms.

Mr. Ng’andu said the trend must come to an end for the purpose of uniting the party.
He said the two candidates should instead support the incumbent member of parliament Hon. Given Lubinda until his tenure of office comes to an end.

“The two camps have had a bad working relationship and I am here by directing that this must come to an end. In Kabwata we will not allow character assasination and no candidate will be allowed to destroy the party,” Mr. Ng’andu said.

“Hon.Lubinda has done so much for Kabwata and he needs to be respected and we will not allow blood shed in Kabwata. I am also directing the youth chairman for Kabwata to ensure security is provided to the two aspiring candidates,” he said.

And Mr.Ng’andu clarified that the unveiling of Mr.Danny Yenga and Clement Tembo by the constituency leadership was not an endorsement because there is already an incumbent member of parliament.

Meanwhile, the two aspiring promised to conduct their campaigns in a manner that will not destroy the party.
Mr. Danny Yenga thanked President Lungu for allowing aspiring candidates to market themselves in constituencies ahead of the adoption process.

“I want to thank President Lungu for allowing candidates to market themselves in constituencies and we shall adhere to the guidelines provided by the party and President Lungu. We shall also refrain from fighting and use of bad language and also respecting the incumbents,” Mr. Yenga said.

And Mr. Clement Tembo said the aspiration to become member of parliament should not result in blood shed.
“In our aspiration to become members of parliament we should not shed blood and this is not the time to fight but to ensure that President Lungu wins the August elections. I also want to say that we need to pull down the branding of vehicles until the adoption process is done,” Mr. Tembo said.

By CIC Editors.

CIC EDITORIAL ANALYSIS

TAKE PRESIDENT LUNGU VERY SERIOUS HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT 2021 ELECTIONS WHERE RIGGED LONG TIME AGO ON MOBILE NRC ISSUANCE AS WELL AS VOTER REGISTRATION.

Actually they say jokes are health to stimulate happiness in the wake of anguish and dilemma.
Of all people that you can joke around and get back to normal make no mistake president Lungu is NOT one of them. He means exactly what he says ignore him at your own peril.

President Edgar Lungu has come under fire over his revelations that whosoever is hallucinating about change in 2021 is joking because they (THEY) will not hand over power even if he goes up to 2026 because still there would be still unfinished work.

As grave as this sounds it shouldn’t shock people who where quiet and did nothing other than talking instead of aggressively prevent discarding of voter register of 2016, very suspicious NRC mobile issuance and very scandalous voter registration these are basis where president Lungu is drawing his strength and courage from and nothing else he knows their homework is done already.

They will allow to lose some seats here and there but losing power will take more than elections which they are already controlling.

The biggest opponent of the people now it’s not a president Edgar Lungu but a system that has been compromised already. It’s up to the system to allow self destruction of the once a respected sovereignty state to save one hell stubborn individual in the names of President Edgar Lungu. We repeat it’s the systems duty to choose between the people and one person’s selfish interest because surely there is nothing magical that the opposition will do and get away with.

President Edgar Lungu has been preparing to jail alkaline the opposition figures standing in his way from the day he became president 2021 mobilization strategy was on and the strategy required resources, time, practice, and many more things it was a great investment it has surely paid off.

Why doesn’t HH move around the country ? Because if he moves people may get to know him in fury hence look at him as the best alternative. Grounding or confining HH from moving is one successful story of PF strategy in making sure that UPND is weaker and weaker countrywide certain structures can’t operate well without their leader it’s a well known fact for every administration of the organization. You can’t sale what people can’t see nobody will buy it no matter the excuse. The government has no problem with Harry Kalaba moving, Dr Nevers Mumba, Dr CK and many presidents but HH MUST NOT MOVE.

It’s interesting to think UPND will manage to trot the UPND President around the country in 50 days of 106 plus district’s if moving just one journey one requires 7 days notice to the police to give a permit it was part of the strategy.

But who should make HH move ? It’s himself because the better or safer days will never come and surely it will never get any easier unfortunately talking of the risks of danger it’s exactly what PF politics has been degenerated into. There is no amount of excuse HH has to move even if it means keeping the state busy with cases and scandals they are well prepared for that and that will be the biggest weapon to defeat PF but if he can’t move then everything is fine with PF.

The 2021 strategy required money and today 2021 from 2016 PF have more money than government itself. Make no mistake thinking that in general elections things will be different from by elections hey it was part of the strategy to practice how to do it.

The 2021 strategy also required practice of what is to be done in the general elections and it worked all the working and winning formulas for PF will be deployed just like in by elections make no mistake to think it will be different nop, where they lost they have learnt and where they won they have improved on the tactics.

And finally they needed time because nothing heals without time it was a strategy.

PF are well equiped and they know who their opponents are both strengths and weaknesses. Certain individual members of UPND are feared threats to PF than the entire party which is marked very soft, understanding, always quiet and rushing to court. To refine that those fearful threats within UPND will be kept very busy with courts, jailed, killed, injured or compromised in PFS interests it’s part of the strategy.

So when you hear president Lungu saying he is going beyond 2026 he knows exactly what he is talking about but most importantly he feels there is no one strong and courageous enough to face him.

CIC PRESS TEAM

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1.Every well-meaning Zambian is agreeable that things are very bad right now. The economy is crumbling with companies closing operations almost every day. The prices for goods and services are increasing on a weekly basis. There is a total breakdown in the rule of law whereby ruling party cadres are more powerful than the Police or the Military. Corruption in all its forms has reached unprecedented levels. In other words, President Edgar Lungu has failed to properly lead this nation and 12th of August presents an opportunity to the Zambian people to withdraw their mandate and replace Mr Lungu with someone else. Someone who can turnaround our economy. Someone who can bring back the rule of law and respect for institutions. Someone who can stamp out corruption. But who is that someone?

2.A number of people that l have spoken to see Mr Hakainde Hichilema (HH) as the person who has the most potential to remove President Lungu from the presidency, come 12th of August this year. And l agree completely. There is no question about it. In as much as there are a number of vibrant aspiring leaders that have mushroomed in the past five years or so, there is no question that political support takes time to trickle down across the nation and form the necessary critical mass needed to unseat a ruling party. On the other hand, HH has been leading his UPND for the past 15 years now, which gives him an upper hand in this year’s race. Of course, that is not to say that anyone else has no chance. We all have a chance, it’s only that HH has a greater chance by virtue of his prolonged stay in the political arena.

3.But what kind of administration would an HH presidency be and how different would it be from the current PF administration under Mr Lungu? Let us narrow it down to specific aspects of governance. Firstly, we all know that the biggest emergency that we have as a country right now is to turnaround our economy. This consists of generating enough money to repay our huge loans that we are currently saddled up with, increasing our economic productivity so that we can turn the page from the current recession and record positive growth in our gross domestic product (GDP). When our GDP grows, it means that individual enterprises in the economy are growing, which then means that employment opportunities are also expanding because enterprises need manpower whenever they’re expanding their operations. Turning around our economy will also require a huge reduction in corrupt activities so that the public money which is currently ending up in the pockets of individuals can end up in the national treasury. The question then is; what is HH’s plan for turning around our ailing economy, should the Zambian people give him a mandate to be Republican President after 12th August? Well, based on what he has shared with the public so far, HH believes that the best way to turnaround our ailing economy is to get a loan from the International Monitory Fund (IMF) and also go on an IMF programme.

4.Personally, l have been on record publicly disagreeing with Mr Hichilema regarding his proposal to get an IMF loan and put this country on an IMF programme as a way of turning around our ailing economy. Because of my public disagreements with HH on this matter and a few other matters, some of his supporters have been accusing me of attacking their president. But there is a huge difference between attacking someone and disagreeing with someone on a matter of national interest. I wish to make it categorically clear that l have never attacked Mr Hichilema. I merely disagree with him on specific issues of national interest. However, the feeling that l get from his members and supporters is that whatever plans for this nation that HH shares with the public from time to time, should never be questioned by anyone. And yet, should HH become President after 12th August, and should he implement his plans for turning around our economy, every citizen will be affected. So if l will be personally affected by the plans that HH intends to implement for this country, then why shouldn’t l be allowed to publicly disagree with such plans? Why should my public disagreement be deemed to be attack?

5.The public may wish to remember that the main reason why we are in this economic quagmire in the first place is because the ruling PF refused to listen to advice from any quarters from the world go. When we told them to stop borrowing too much, the laughed at us. When we told them to reign in their cadres and respect the rule of law, the scoffed at us. When we advised them to avoid haphazard economic policies, the accused us of attacking them. The end result is that we have this economy that is on the blink of collapse, with a major debt default already under our belt and the majority of our citizens in deeper poverty than they were in 2011. All because the PF has been an arrogant Government that has been unwilling to listen to anyone else. So when l see the same levels of arrogance in Mr Hichilema, l genuinely doubt whether his Government would be any different from current PF Government. Would it be a case of jumping from the frying pan to the fire?

6.The public may also wish to note that Mr Hichilema’s plan of borrowing from the IMF as a solution to turnaround our economy is exactly the same as that of the PF administration. From the time that Mutati was Minister of Finance, the PF tried to borrow US$1.6 billion from the IMF, which was subsequently revised to US$1.8 billion, then more recently l understand they submitted an application for US$2.4 billion to the IMF. HH proposes to borrow about US$3 billion from the IMF, should he become President. My argument against HH’s proposed IMF route is that if this country’s biggest problem at the moment is over-borrowing, then how can the solution be additional borrowing? So far, HH has not answered my question and my view is that he has opted to adopt the generic IMF solution because he is unable to think outside the box. In other words, HH’s competence is no better than that of the current PF Government. If the good citizens of this Republic are not careful, they shall be jumping from a rotten Government to another rotten Government. Whenever an opportunity for change presents itself, it should always be seen as an opportunity to improve. Change is meaningless if it does not bring about improvement.

7.But others may argue, and rightly so for that matter, to say what is Sean Tembo’s economic turnaround plan, since am pouring cold water on HH’s IMF route, which also happens to the PF’s current plan? Well, should the Zambian people be gracious enough to make me Republican President on 12th August this year, our plan for turning around our ailing economy is already well documented in the PeP Alternative Economic Recovery Plan (AERP) which will be unveiled on 18th February 2021. The PeP plan does not involve any additional borrowing, unlike the UPND and PF plans. To the contrary, our economic turnaround plan is premised on five critical actions; number one, sealing off all tax and non-tax revenue leakages so that every single Ngwee which the Government is entitled to ends up in the national treasury and not in the pocket of any individual. Secondly, reducing corruption in the public procurement process by at least 90 percent, so that Government gets value for every Ngwee spent. Thirdly, hiring only properly qualified and experienced personnel in all decision-making positions based only on competence and without regard to tribe, region, gender, political affiliation or physical appearance, so as to significantly enhance the quality of decisions at all levels of Government. Number four; developing and implementing stable economic policies that will create a conducive environment for private enterprises to thrive and prosper, thereby creating the much needed jobs. Last but not least; empowering citizens to engage in entrepreneurial activities at all levels of the economic value-chain, by extending affordable financing solutions and mentorship services.

8.I genuinely do not believe that an IMF package has the potential to turnaround our economic fortunes as a nation, even if we were to implement it to the letter. The biggest disadvantage of an IMF package is that you essentially relinquish autonomy and sovereignty in terms of your ability to formulate your own social-economic policies as a nation. Decisions about our country’s development will be made by a Board of Directors sitting in Washington D.C. How can such people sitting so far away surely understand the needs of our people, even if they really wanted to act in good faith? It can’t. Those of you who were old enough at that time surely remember how the IMF’s Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) ravaged this country in the 1990s. Why should we have to go through that all over again? I wish to submit that this country will never develop for as long as we, the citizens of this Republic continue to hold the mistaken belief that a citizen of another country would have Zambia’s best interests at heart and would assist us to develop. The only people that can develop this nation is ourselves; Zambians. Not the IMF. Not the World Bank. Not the AfDB. Not SADC. Not anyone but ourselves. And it should begin with a belief in ourselves that we can do it. Therefore, any individual who does not believe in the ability of Zambians to develop Zambia has no business aspiring to lead this nation.

By Veronica Mwale cic private reporter

Copperbelt – Kalulushi

KEBBY MBEWE IS AN UNDERAGE THINKER ~ Banda Sakanya.

PF member of central committee Kebby Mbewe has said HH must publicly apologise to Zambians for saying they are incapable of running the mines.
Mbewe says it will be very difficult for HH to face miners on the Copperbelt.

Mbewe’s thinking does not much that of a Member of Central Committee and that is why he qualifies to be an underage thinker.

~Taking over MCM is a not problem but the problem is, does PF regime has the capacity to run the mine if it has failed to Zambia Railways, ZAMPOST, Mulungushi Textiles and other many companies?

~ Can Mbewe inform the nation terms and conditions entered into with GLENCORE.

~ why is the same GLENCORE you have bought off continue selling copper on your behalf?

After sensing loss of popularity on the Copperbelt, PF regime made an irrational and a terrible miscalculation by forcing MCM to take over its operations as the company was heading to a care and maintenance situation.
Apt MCM has duped PF regime which will sweat blood to mine and pay off GLENCORE to a tune of $1.5b

If Kebby Mbewe was a mature thinker, he should have asked himself a simple question to why should the company that has been bought off continue operational of the mines and continue to sell copper on behalf of the buyer?

THIS IS HOW PF REGIME HAS MISFIRED ON MCM DEAL.

GLENCORE agreed to sell off the mine to PF regime at $1.2b, but does PF have that much to pay of GLENCORE at once? the answer is no.

To pay off GLENCORE, PF has agreed to mine copper which is the most expensive part GLENCORE decided to put the mine on care and maintenance, PF will give Copper to GLENCORE to sell at London Metal Exchange.

Copper is trading at $7 900 per tonne

GLENCORE will sell and get $5 400 per tonne and PF ZCCM-IH will get $2 300

PF ZCCM -IH will pay workers, contractors, and do the cost of production out of the $2 300 per tonne for over 10 years to finish off the $1.5b debt.

GLENCORE on the other hand will just be watching and waiting to sell the copper to take out its share.

Challenging HH over the MCM deal is a sign of HH phobia.

Zambians are now aware that the whole MCM deal is not about saving jobs but about cleansing PF’s loss of popularity on the Copperbelt as evidenced by the challenge it’s putting up against HH.

Let Mbewe get it in is underage mind that in no way can HH apologise because the deal is meant to benefit PF cadres and its surrogates and the truth is PF regime has no capacity to run the mines because it has failed to run ZAMPOST, Mulungushi Textiles and Zambia Railways.

WE HEAR THAT PRESIDENT CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI IS GOING BACK TO PATRIOTIC FRONT.

George Sichula
NDC Copperbelt Province Chairman

There is a very strong rumour that President CK is going back to the PF. Oh yes a very strong rumour! This rumour is coming from the PF camps because that is what they all desire most. Actually its a very serious matter of discussion for them. I personally enjoy their political analysis especially in this election year. We all know that in 2015 and 2016, President CK had his own Chopper to campaign for President Lungu to see him win. The PF does not only remember bad times with CK, they also remember good times. President CK worked his lungs out to gun votes/numbers for the PF, and guess what happened to him? He remained with horns in his hands and the bull was taken by other people for slaughter. Today they want him back because politics is about numbers. As things stand, no one can dispute the fact that President CK is a good orator and a factor in the politics of today. Infact one of the best politicians Zambia has ever produced.

I honestly admire the intelligence of the PF membership. Their sensitivity is so strong that they have calculated and discerned that winning a 2021 election without CK will be a myth. Hence, peddling a lie that CK is planning to rejoin the PF when in the actual sense we all know that the PF Government has been using court cases to wanting to remote control and demonise him. This is in a quest to destroy and destabilise the Alliance and the NDC but we remain more united.You do not need a certificate from school to know that the 2021 elections will be the easiest to win above 60% without a rerun if the Alliance is well packaged. As the NDC, we have confidence in President CK. He is a man of integrity, and he stands behind his words to support them. As a Party we do understand what the PF have made him go through. The PF are fully aware of his strength and popularity on the ground. They fear CK even when he is sleeping. In bemba we say”Imbwa taibosa ichafwa” a dog can never bark at a dead thing. I can not dispute the fact that if they got him, there could be a shift politically, underate President CK at your own peril, but God forbid! Going back to the PF is like people running away from a building that has caught fire and one goes in like a fire fighter with a fire extinguisher to quench the fire.

Ichamuninike echikamwikisha is our slogan for this year as NDC ( What took him up will bring him down). President CK helped President Lungu to win elections and this time he must help him to loose.

It is sad to hear PF senior leaders preach about reconciliation in an election year. see how impure their thoughts are. What a shame! All these years you have been eating corrupt money alone and you want to start using people to campaign for you. What a reconciliation! We are watching you closely. Meanwhile continue day dreaming about CK.

There Was a Method, and a Reason for the Shooting and Killing of Nsama and Jo
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By Hon. Mainda Simataa | 23.01.21 | Lsk
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It is exactly one month after two innocent Zambian citizens were killed in cold blood by Zambia Police mercenaries acting on the orders of top PF politicians. It should be clear, that the shootings were not random, and neither were the bullets stray, no. The copper bullets hit their mark dead-on target, they sent a very clear message across -don’t dare us!

Stray bullets? Random shots? No. They were directed at people, and there was a method and reason for the chasing and shooting to death of Nsama and Joseph.

It’s the PF. It’s Lungu. It’s Kampyongo. It’s all of them – the whole brood of vipers and their insatiable blood-lust to hold onto power beyond August 12 at all costs thorough targeted attacks, beatings, break-ins, into offices and homes, and even petrol-bombing of opposition members. Remember the savage assault of Chermain Musonda and co in Kafue?

This is the 2021 script, not its unintended consequences. The modus operandi is this: you have to send a very strong message to the UPND and their would-be supporters. These chaps thinking of demonstrating once we steal the August elections the Ugandan way, have to know that protesting will cost them theirs lives.

The 2021 directives given to Police command under Kanganja and his new trigger-happy Deputy, Charity Katanga, is this: “These chaps have to fear death by stray bullets and deadly Police Force. Kill as many as possibly before the elections so that the lesson sinks deeper early enough. By the time they mobilize for real protests, there will be no one foolish enough to risk their life – the citizens will be mortified and paralized with fear. ”

These are the kill orders. But this is a slippery road, and Kampyongo and his team have a difficult gamble here. Zambians will surely respond in the only language PF appears to understand – mass uprisings, and often times, when the economy crumbles, and poverty reaches a tipping point, the poor and the oppressed find power and relief in death, than living under the yoke of a blood thirsty dictator on the rise like Lungu.
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The author of this article is a Political Strategist and UPND aspiring councillor for Kamwala Ward 5 in Lusaka, Zambia. He also writes for tabloids like The African Observor in Kampala Uganda, and the RICT African Bureau.

EASTERN Province minister Makebi Zulu says the Vubwi council chairperson by-election is not a contest but an endorsement of the PF because of the many developments it has done in the district.

But Vubwi district UPND chairperson Charles Nyoka says PF should not dream that it can win the Vubwi by-election.

In an interview, Zulu who is also Malambo member of parliament said the people of Vubwi have every reason to vote for the PF in next month’s by-election.

“The people of Vubwi have every reason to vote for PF. Firstly Vubwi was not a district until the Patriotic Front came into power and with the declaration of Vubwi as a district has come with a lot of benefits,” he said. “They have a district administration; district hospital and they have a post office. The road network is being improved. Of course we have been working on the township roads and we have been working on the Chipata/Vubwi road – we have supplied the necessary farming inputs that they need in Vubwi and we have provided the Social Cash Transfer.”

Zulu said the government has invested greatly in Vubwi.

“The people of Vubwi can see what exactly we have done. So it is not a contest for us, it is an endorsement of the many developments that the people of Vubwi have seen. So this whole election for us it’s just a process of endorsements,” he said. “We are not contesting against other parties. The other parties are escorting us – all are being witnesses to the endorsement by the people of Vubwi for the good work that we are doing as government.”

Zulu said the PF would always preach peace in its campaigns.

“Eastern Province is not known for violence because we are a family and we believe that whoever is standing on different party tickets are related to us in the community,” he said. “So we do not necessarily have to fight, we do not necessarily need to be violent in our approach because we believe in the ballot and the ballot is going to say who has won. Obviously, PF is going to take the day.”

PF has adopted Vincent Mwale, UPND has fielded Given Sakala and Faindani Mbewe is standing on MMD ticket.

And Nyoka said going by what is obtaining on the ground, UPND would scoop the by-election.

“Let the PF continue dreaming. There is nothing that PF has done here. If PF is dreaming that they will get this seat come 4th February, then their dream is wrong. UPND will scoop this seat. The PF has failed and the people have rejected them,” said Nyoka. “Right now, we are in Manota and the people are saying no to PF. In Sindemisale people are saying no to PF, in Zozwe people are saying no to PF. Things are not okay in Vubwi. This is simple Vubwi but with great ideas. There has been a lot of intimidation from the PF here but people are determined to vote out PF. This will be a litmus test.”

FLASHBACK

EDGAR LUNGU IS WASTEFUL AND UNDISCIPLINED PRESIDENT MOTHER ZAMBIA EVER HAD – ANTONIO MWANZA

The decision by President Edgar Lungu to ferry the entire Executive Arm of Government and hordes of PF cadres to Heroes Stadium on Tuesday at a huge public cost just to sign the Constitution Amendment Bill epitomises how wasteful and fiscally undisciplined President Edgar Lungu is.

How can a President who is presiding over a falling economy compounded with a ballooning fiscal and account deficit, a depreciating Kwacha and escalating inflation, a widening trade deficit and growing debt burden decide to waste millions of taxpayers’ money just to append a signature to a PF/MMD Constitution? Why should all Executive Government operations come to a stand-still just for Mr Lungu to perform a 30 second stint of signing an Amended Bill? How callous and reckless will Mr Lungu ever be? Former FDD spokesman asked.

First it must be put clearly that Government will spend millions paying allowances to Deputy Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Ministers, the President and all other Constitution Office Holders who will attend the ceremony. Don’t forget the millions of Kwachas that will be wasted on fuel, security, food and other logistics. Surely we have other urgent priority areas were we can prudently use these collosal sums of money we are wasting on pomp and splendour.

It is clear that the President doesn’t care about saving. He doesn’t care about prudency. He knows nothing about frugality. Edgar Lungu only cares about his political survival. He wants to use the signing of a piecemeal amended Constitution to gain political mileage.
The Constitution Bill Edgar Lungu will be signing on Tuesday is not a people driven Constitution but a PF/MMD doctored Constitution. The people’s submissions were raped and adulterated.

The fundamental clauses that would have guaranteed development and good governance were removed: The Bill of Rights which would have guaranteed economic, social, political and cultural rights of citizens; The Mixed-Member Proportional Representation which could have enhanced the representation of women and youth in Parliament; Provincial Assemblies which could have ensured Decentralisation and devolution of both economic and political power; Appointment of Cabinet outside Parliament which was meant to ensure Separation of Powers and improved service delivery have all been deleted from the Constitution Bill.

What President Lungu will be assenting to on Tuesday is nothing but a shell and betrayal of the people’s submissions. However, President Lungu and his minions are trying so hard to hoodwink some gullible individuals into believing that Mr Lungu has delivered a people-driven constitution. What a farcade!

And it’s not only the enormous amounts of money that will be wasted on Tuesday but numerous man-hours. Instead of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, the President and all other senior government officials spending time in their offices attending to needs of the masses they will all be out there at Heroes Stadium attending to drama and comedy. What a waste!

THIS SHALLOW THINKING SHOULD END FORTHWITH

While in Chama district, the President Edgar Lungu tried to explain how his members rebuke him for taking development to Southern, western, Northwestern and other areas that did not vote for him. This is total nonsense more especially when said by a Republican President. It is such thinking in a head of state that convinces me that, come 12 August, 2021 he must go.

How can a President talk about areas not having voted for him? In these areas he was talking about in Chama, did he the president get zero vote? Or is he confusing himself to think we have an electoral college system as in USA?
Mr President no part in this country voted for you in 2016.

If you are serious in developing who voted for you. Then, I would say take all the development to Mr Chavula of Uganda. He is the one who made certain parts of the country as having voted for you. But, that is besides the point. As a president you are not a president only for people that voted for you. Further, you should have also known that a polling station at presidential election is the whole country. Every vote you get at any polling station counts and adds to the grand total. Your lead is only confirmed after the national grand total is determined. Imagine for once Mr Lungu, if all all those 200s and 1000s you were getting in those provinces were zeros, would you have been president today? You should also make it sink in your mind and that of your minions that all regions, or provinces contribute towards taxes that you’re now regionalizing when it comes to its usage. It is an insult to Zambians for you as a president to listen to such stupidity of which region deserves this and that, where is the love you keep preaching on your social platforms, if this is what runs through your mind? Those are tax payers moneys and not your personal resources, you are just a simple employee, employed by all the ten provinces of Zambia.

With that statement of not taking development to areas that did not vote for us. I now understand that we really have a bigger problem. We need decentralization forthwith and equal share of national cake.

This one party mentality will destroy us one day. In fact, I now understand why roads such Sesheke/Livingstone, Lusaka/Mongu and Kaoma/Kasempa, Solwezi are not being worked on. Yes, they didn’t vote for us.Moreover, With that statement Mr president, you have helped to exonerate members of Parliament in those constituencies. Your development agenda is based on patronage. Without which your members will resist allowing you take development to areas that did not vote for you.

Why should development be payment for votes? Now we understand why corruption levels are unprecedented in our country under your reign. The measure you give, is the measure you take. Those with money and affiliated to PF will buy contracts and we the poor, to see development we must vote for you right. Everything comes at a price in this country.

To be honest Mr president, in these places you were talking about in Chama, people voted for you and others against you. Similarly, even in those areas you say voted for you, others voted against you. Even in Lundazi where you miraculously score more than the total vote cast, still others voted against you. So for once, in your final days, try to be President of Zambia and not President for those who voted for you. Abash a president of those that voted for him. Abash colonial mentality. Abash one party mentality. Abash the party and it’s government. We are in the 21st Century think like someone who went to school you’re in charge of a country not your back yard.

Sikaile Sikaile

Good Governance and Human Rights Activist