What’s wrong with Zambia? Glencore makes drastic exit.

By Mining Review Africa

The drastic decline of Zambia’s mining sector was never more apparent than it was this week when Glencore announced its exit from the country by selling its stake in Mopani Copper Mines for one meagre US dollar to state-controlled investment vehicle ZCCM Investment Holdings.

The mine has been a cash drain for Glencore due to its operational challenges and high costs, so much so that it had agreed to sell its majority stake in the asset and the repayment of $1.5bn of transaction debt.

Having built a reputation for taxing mining companies to the brink under the administration of President Edgar Lungu, Zambia has naturally fallen out of favour with mining industry players, Glencore has just been adamant enough to call it quits. The question is, will other miners operating in the country follow in these same footsteps?

To date, Mopani has been funded by borrowings from Glencore’s subsidiary Carlisa Investments Corp. and other members of the Glencore group.

On completion, US$1.5 billion of debt will remain owed by Mopani to Glencore group creditors on the following terms:

a. interest under the transaction debt will be capitalised for the first three years after completion, and thereafter will be payable quarterly at LIBOR + 3% (subject to a switch to an equivalent interest rate based on SOFR); and

b. principal outstanding under the transaction debt will be repayable under a dual mechanism whereby:

i. 3% of gross revenue of the Mopani group from 2021-2023 (inclusive), and 10-17.5% of gross revenue of the Mopani group thereafter; and

ii. 33.3% of EBITDA less tax, changes in working capital, capital expenditure, royalty payments and interest and principal (calculated under the first mechanism) payments in respect of transaction debt, is at the end of each quarter required to be paid. Repayment of principal (together with accrued interest) may additionally be required in the event of an occurrence of certain other early prepayment events, including certain change of control events in respect of Mopani.

After completion of the sale, Glencore will retain offtake rights in respect of Mopani’s copper production until the transaction debt has been repaid in full.

As ZCCM is the holder of 10% of the voting rights in Mopani, a subsidiary undertaking of Glencore, the transaction falls within the criteria set out in Listing Rule 11.1.10R.

Accordingly, Glencore has obtained written confirmation from a sponsor that the terms of the transaction are fair and reasonable as far as Glencore shareholders are concerned.

President Edgar Lungu And Hon. Chishimba Kambwili Must Reconcile And Unite In Honour Of The Late Fr. Charles Chilinda.

By Wiseman Tembo.

Lusaka – 22nd January, 2021.

The untimely end of St. Ignitious Catholic Priest’s life, Father Charles Chilinda, here on Earth (MHSRIP) has left the Church and the entire nation broken and devastated because he was not only a spiritual guide but also a unifier. He will be sorely missed especially in this election year.

One sweet and precious memory he has left us with and it keeps on re-playing in our minds is one occasion during the Church service marking the 5th Anniversary of the passing on of the late Republican President Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata where he called President Lungu and Hon. Kambwili to the front and asked them to put aside their differences and reconcile for the sake of the Patriotic Front and the founding President of the Patriotic Front, the Great Micheal Chilufya Sata.

The two (President Lungu and Hon. Kambwili) shook hands and reconciled in front of the congregation in the presence of the former first lady Dr. Christine Kaseba and the congregants. President Edgar Lungu said he had nothing against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader and in return Hon. Kambwili also said he had nothing against the Republican President much to the excitement of the congregants. Many Zambians hoped that that was the beginning of the end of their bitter rivalry.

During the same Church service, Fr. Chilinda told the congregants about how he initiated the Mwanawasa-Sata reconciliation by advising Sata then as an opposition leader to go to State House and have breakfast with President Mwanawasa. After Mwanawasa died, Sata thanked Fr. Chilinda for his advice and told him that he would have been a “guilty man” had he not reconciled with Mwanawasa.

Now that the man that asked EL and CK to reconcile is no more, it is only imperative that the two graduates from the Micheal Sata School of Politics reconcile. They don’t have much time left to reconcile as they may be thinking because no one knows about tomorrow. Simply put, they have no luxury of time to continue playing politics. No one does anyway. The lesson I get from all this is that tomorrow is never guaranteed and what unites us is more powerful and important than what seeks to divide us. There are no differences too serious to be put behind.

Micheal Sata is looking down on them from heaven, and so is Fr. Chilinda. The onus, now, is on them to do the right thing and show each other love. In Church and in front of the congregants they said they never had anything against each other. Their words were very loud and clear now it’s time for their actions to be louder.

About The Author: Mr. Wiseman Tembo is a social and economic issues analyst.

©2021 Eagle One Zambia, Inc.

“AS FOR ME AND MY CHIEFDOM, WE ARE VOTING FOR PRESIDENT LUNGU AND PF IN AUGUST, ” CHIEFTAINESS IKELENGI

Smart Eagles Reporter

Chieftainess Ikelengi of North Western Province has paid glowing tribute to the leadership of President Lungu and the PF government for what she has described as unprecedented development that is taking place in North Western Province, Ikelengi district and her Chiefdom.

Speaking to Smart Eagles this morning, Chieftainess Ikelengi highlighted the development projects that have been done by the PF government under the able leadership of His Excellency Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu in the health, education, agriculture, Energy, communication and community development sectors as well as the road sector.

She said under President Lungu, a district hospital has been built in the area helping to collapse the distances residents have to travel to access health care services.

She said previously, the only health facility that the residents had to rely on was the mission hospital which had not been adequate to cater to the needs of the entire population.

She said under the leadership of President Lungu an ultra modern boarding school was under construction and that this would help the children in the area access quality education.

Furthermore, She said President Lungu had demonstrated the level of premium his government places on the traditional leadership by constructing houses for the Chiefs, herself included.

Chieftainess Ikelengi also expressed joy at the road that is being worked on by a local contractor, Mr Peter Fisher, stating that it has huge economic benefits for the local farmers who have to travel to sell their produce, especially the pineapples which the area is famous for.

She also expressed joy at the communication towers that have enabled the area to access internet services.

She stated that it gave her great joy that Ikelengi is now connected to the national grid.

She said people in her Chiefdom have also been beneficiaries of the social cash transfer from government.

She said when a person goes all out and delivers on their promises, the most logical thing is to repay their kindness with kindness and that she and her Chiefdom would therefore unapologetically and gladly vote for PF and President Lungu come August 2021, on merit.

She said Rome was not built in a day and stated that she has every confidence that if President Lungu can bring the ammount of development he has brought in the period he has been Head of State to the area, then he would do even bigger exploits once given a fresh mandate in 2021.

“Please ensure that the President recieves this message. Tell him that for me, my household and my Chiefdom, we will vote for him in 2021. We have seen with our own eyes that he is very results orientated. Therefore, we assure him of complete support,” she said.

By  Smart Eagles

HH WILL NEVER BE GIVEN CHANCE TO SWINDLE ZAMBIANS AGAIN – KAMBA

… says Zambia could have been a different country by now if HH and his cohorts, the selfish team that undervalued the mining assets at the time of privatisation, appealed to their conscience and tried to be patriotic for once, for their country.

Patriotic Front Lusaka province Secretary Kennedy Kamba says UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema will never be given another chance to swindle Zambians.

In a statement issued to Smart Eagles in Lusaka, Mr.Kamba said Zambia could have been a different country by now if HH and his cohorts, the selfish team that undervalued the mining assets at the time of privatisation, appealed to their conscience and tried to be patriotic for once, for the country.

He said Mr.Hichilema and his team looted the country’s resources with impunity.

“They say once bitten, twice shy. The fact is Hakainde Hichilema caused the suffering of many Zambians when he got the mandate to value the assets of the mines during the privatisation process,” he said.

“The very people that are seeking public office and claiming to be ‘holier than thou’…the very people who are claiming to be smarter than all of us, the Hakainde Hichilema team, is the most crooked! They cannot be trusted and they will never be given chance to kill this country twice!,” he said.

“Hakainde Hichilema has tweeted that ‘ZCCM-IH cannot run a huge mine like Mopani Copper Mines it’s like telling a newly born baby to bath itself. We have serious investors who can run both KCM and Mopani but not ZCCM-IH! Chipantepante anyway fikapa. We will fix this too,” Hichilema tweeted,” Mr.Kamba stated.

Mr. Kamba reminded the UPND leader that Zambians are not gullible like him.

“They know very well that the destiny of this country is in their hands and not entirely in foreign investor concepts,” he said.

“Zambians can run KCM and Mopani Copper Mines without doubt. We have done this before and examples are there. These are our mines and we are tired as a country of being cheated on all the time,” Mr.Kamba said.

And Mr.Kamba said Zambians are proud of President Edgar Lungu because he moves with them, their feelings and their thoughts unlike Hakainde Hichilema who always thinks about selling assets like he did in the late 90s and early 2000.

“A decision has been made and we have competent people, mine experts who are Zambians under ZCCM-IH. This country has patriots who are willing to redeem our mines through investment and mining development to make them viable again,” Mr.Kamba said.

“The Hakainde Hichilemas of this world are rich but our people have suffered under the management of some crooked investors who were at KCM and Mopani.Truly President Lungu is a focused leader. He must be supported by all well meaning Zambians over this decision,” he said.

[By Oliver Chisenga and Ernest Chanda]

LUSAKA mayor Miles Sampa has asked ZCCH-IH board chairman Eric Silwamba to tell the nation who valued Mopani Copper Mines and determined its value to be US $1.5 billion.

And Lusaka Province PF secretary Kennedy Kamba says Zambians are capable of running the mines effectively because they have done it before.

On Tuesday, the government announced a complete takeover of Mopani Copper Mines Plc through ZCCM-IH, after ‘negotiations’ with shareholders.

But Sampa is asking who the advisors to the transaction were.

“That said however, I have ‘asks’ or funsos or kweshons [questions]. This specifically so to ZCCM-IH or indeed the Board Chairman Mr Eric Silwamba and the Mr CEO Mabvuto Chipata. As ZCCM-IH is a public company for all of us Zambians, tiuzyeniko (tell us); Who was the Valuer and determined $1.5BN as the true current market value of Mopani mine,” he asked. “Who was appointed the transaction broker and at what fee (X% of $1.5BN)? Which commercial bank is handling this big transaction and at what fee (X% of $1.5BN)?”

Sampa also asked if anyone needed to declare interest over the transaction, among other questions.

“Where is the deposit or first installment payment going to come from and how much is it (X% of $1.5BN)? Does anyone need to declare interest arising from funsos (questions) 1 to 5 above? I know not and that’s why I am asking,” Sampa said. “Even if not asked now however, abana besu still more bakesa ipusha (our children will still ask) even 25 years from today. So ba Eric Silwamba naba Mabvuto Chipata, twasukeniko or tiyankeniko tuma ‘asks’ above (So Mr Eric Silwamba and Mr Mabvuto Chipata, respond to these questions).”

He however said regaining ownership and control of the mines would stop the national treasury from being arm-twisted by anyone.

Sampa said the takeover was in fact long overdue.

“Apafwile Insofu, nelyashi ibapo lyansofu (the death of an elephant becomes the main topic in a society). Mopani mine is one of our Insofu,” he said.

Sampa recalled that he wrote a lot of articles in the last three years, that current mine owners were neo-imperialists that religiously refused even a meagre 0.1 per cent tax increase to benefit Zambians.

Sampa recalled that when he was deputy finance minister in 2012, a British consultant for one mine in Solwezi told him that if the government did not “play ball” the mines would withhold copper exports and stockpile instead.

He said, indeed, the mines withheld copper just as they had threatened.

“Reversals were made double, including the SIs 33 & 55 that I had designed to keep the Kwacha respected (K have Value) and also curb transfer pricing or evading of tax by the Mines,” said Sampa. “So, on my own behalf, I am very delighted with us Zambians via ZCC-IH owning and determining our own destiny towards our God-given mineral natural resources.”

Meanwhile, Kamba said Zambians can run KCM and Mopani Copper Mines without doubt.

“We have done this before and examples are there. These are our mines and we are tired as a country of being cheated on all the time. A decision has been made and we have competent people, mine experts who are Zambians under ZCCM-IH. This country has patriots who are willing to redeem our mines through investment and mining development to make them viable again,” Kamba said. “President [Edgar] Lungu is today enjoying massive support among miners, their unions, stakeholders and the general citizenry on the Copperbelt and beyond because he is fulfilling the wishes of the people.”

He said it was time to get back what belonged to the people.

“Zambia will be developed by Zambians and not anybody else. For how long is this country going to be arm-twisted, blackmailed over taxes? We have lived at the mercy of investors who were at KCM and Mopani for far too long,” said Kamba.

“It’s time to get back what belongs to Zambians so that we manage it ourselves with our own professionals in mining and its management. The country has more than enough professionals, and with the support of Zambians, this is a best decision President Lungu has made.”

SHI MPUNDU WRITES
LONG WALK TO STARDOM -:THE CASE OF HH!
BY CHATE ‘SHI MPUNDU ‘ MBOLELA – THE LUAPULA BOY.
In 2006 l was at a some joint called Wala along President road in Mansa watching some friends playing pool.A light skinned man in a group of few persons came and joined our company.He introduced himself as Hakainde Hichilema.Soon after he caught our attention. He told us he was running for Republican Presidency and was asking for our vote.He told us he was in Mansa to seek for a vote from the people of Luapula.After a short while he said bye to continue with his program of meeting people along the road.

After he left we started to wonder how some people would have big hearts to the extent of coming this far to just come and say hi to the people of Mansa on the road.It was a direct contrast.While Mwanawasa of MMD and Sata of PF were holdind rallies in Mansa this man was walking along the streets greeting people. He can’t call a rally he knows he won’t pull any crowd.

Life has taught me that there is a thin line between quitting and withdrawing.HH resilience has demonstrated to many the old adage ‘quitters never win and winners never quit.’Despite the victory being stolen from him in 2015 and 2016 elections HH withdrew his claim after the Courts ruled otherwise but has not quit the fight for a better and prosperous Zambia.
Fourteen years down lane l was there to witness a new era unfolding. HH on the same streets of Mansa who not too long ago would walk almost unnoticed today being’ swarmed by bees of people’ on his way to Mwansabombwe for a bye election.This time he can’t walk on foot bcoz the crowd was just overwhelming jostling to have a feel of his hands.
Not even the late Sata at the pick of his glory would pull such attention in MMD and UPND strongholds.This is unprecedented but understandable. HH has stood the test of time.
In any business undertaking and Investment we take good care of the negatives.The more reason why do provision for bad debt in our books. We do insure our investment against losses.If you are in poultry business we vaccinate our chickens against disease outbreak not that we are being negative but being assertive and always staying on the edge fearing you can flip over. Driving defenceivly on the roads fearing the worst can happen anytime.The driver on the car can make a mistake.

While HH is enjoying this popularity there is need to stay awake that managing it to stay afloat is another thing. If we are to continue in this comfort zone up to August 12 we need to stay awake and work when it is still day time.Let us avoid being super dramatic.Let us take time to analyse every criticism regardless of where it is coming from.Even if it is coming from Chilufya Tayali.Let us see if we can get one or two points from the issues raised.

Branding every criticism as being negative is stifling idea flow.If anything friction in the life blood of every organization.

The approach taken by the youths of being outspoken is commendable.
‘A student (youth) world over is fearless and outspoken but do it with respect bearing in mind that the elders were once like you and you will be like them.'(Nelson Mandela UNZA graduation square April 1992).

HH has risen to stadorm yes but the most difficult thing is to keep him at the top.Everywhere you go it is the demand for change.We should manage this momentum prudently.

We should contribute in whatever means possible to manage this popularity. Whether materially,financially or spiritually. We v stood too long in the rain.
The euphoria l saw in Mansa last year should have a full meaning come 12 August this year.
Have a fruitful day.
CIC PRESS TEAM

By Charles Kakoma.

UPND Spokesperson.

THE KWACHA TO GAIN VALUE IMMEDIATELY HH IS SWORN IN – KAKOMA.

Many Zambians have been asking questions about what UPND President Hakainde Hichilema meant when he told the nation during a radio programme recently that the kwacha will immediately appreciate when he becomes President. Some doubting Thomases believe that it is next to impossible for the battered kwacha to immediately pick up when HH becomes President in August this year.

What HH said is not fiction. It is based on sound economics. Here is why.
The first reason why the kwacha will appreciate is because of a market intangible commodity called “CONFIDENCE ” in the economy. Many players in the economy look forward to the type of leadership that will run the economy to make decisions in the foreign exchange market. Based on their EXPECTATIONS, the players in the market can decide to buy or sell foreign currency. If in their assessment of the type of leadership that will drive the economy, they conclude that the economy is going to get worse, they will quickly buy foreign currency in preparation to leave the country or indeed store their hard earned income in a stable and convertible currency such as the United States Dollar. The cumulative high demand for the foreign currency will result in the kwacha depreciating or losing value as supply of foreign currency will be less than demand.

On the other hand, if players in the market assess the new leadership and find that they have the capacity to improve the economy , they will develop CONFIDENCE in the economy. Based on their EXPECTATIONS, they will take it easy and prepare to remain in the country. There will be no need for them to panic and buy foreign currency to leave the country. Some of the investors sit on the fence waiting to see how the elections go before committing themselves to huge investments in the country. The moment they know that the correct leadership has taken over the running of the country , they will develop confidence in the economy and pump huge sums of money in the economy in terms of investment. The cumulative total of their decisions will result in increased supply of foreign currency in the market , resulting in appreciation of the kwacha as the supply of foreign currency will be more than the demand.

It is therefore sound economics to expect the kwacha to immediately appreciate when HH takes over the leadership of this country in August this year because many players in the market are expecting change of leadership and have expressed confidence in the leadership of Hakainde Hichilema.

The second reason why the kwacha will appreciate is tied to the first explanation above. Huge foreign direct investments in the Zambian economy will improve the supply of foreign currency in the market. President Hakainde Hichilema has already demonstrated his ability and commitment to attracting investors to Zambia. During his trip to the USA recently, he managed to secure about $25 billion in investment pledges upon his ascendancy to power. This amount of $25 billion is actually almost equivalent to Zambia’s current total of all the goods and services produced in the economy ( which economists prefer to call the Gross Domestic Product or GDP). The impact of such huge investments in the economy will be to increase the supply of foreign currency in the market. There will be too much foreign currency in the market compared to demand, resulting in the appreciation of the kwacha. Apart from the kwacha appreciating, a lot of employment will be created leading to better standards of living.

The third reason why the kwacha will appreciate is that the leadership of Hakainde Hichilema will embark on massive exports . The production of goods for export will bring in foreign exchange. It is only through the massive export of value added products that the country will ensure sustainable foreign exchange supply. Obviously , the current Patriotic Front regime has also been singing about value addition, diversification and exports. The bottom line is that they have been in power for 10 years and have failed to do it. They have no capacity and no leadership to manage the economy.
The fourth reason and perhaps the most critical in the Zambian situation to strengthen the kwacha is to manage the choking foreign debt.

Currently, most of the foreign exchange being generated by the country is going towards foreign debt repayment. Under such a situation, there is scarcity of foreign currency in the market because demand is more than supply of foreign currency. For as long as the foreign debt is not resolved, the kwacha will continue to depreciate.

To resolve the current foreign debt crisis requires new leadership. The current leadership has lost credibility in the eyes of lenders. They cannot be trusted to restructure the debt or stick to any agreement on debt management.

Part of the solution to resolving the debt crisis and the depreciating kwacha is to change the leadership of the country in this year’s presidential and general election.
President Hakainde Hichilema has already put his cards on the table on how he is going to tackle the debt crisis.

First, he will place a moratorium on debt. This means that there will be no further reckless borrowing. Secondly, he will seek a debt write off from as many lenders as possible. Thirdly, he will restructure the remaining debt by replacing expensive loans with cheap ones. The lenders can only agree to help Zambia if they have confidence in the leadership of the country. The current leadership has failed and will never manage to carry out any of the above actions. No donor will agree to enter into an agreement with the current Patriotic Front regime because they have lost confidence in them. They luck credibility.

In conclusion, the kwacha will stop running mad with the installation of a new leadership in Zambia through the presidential and general elections in August this year . A combination of short term solutions such as the kwacha appreciating upon the change of leadership and long-term solutions such as attracting foreign investors and debt management are the medicines for the kwacha’s madness.

POLICE SAY WOMAN CLAIMING TO HAVE BEEN BEATEN BY HUSBAND WAS DRUNK AND ALLEGEDLY HIT HERSELF AGAINST THE WALL

STATEMENT: There are posts on social media depicting a female adult believed to have been assaulted, who is alleging that she did not receive help from police officers after reporting a case of assault.

What transpired was that police officers at Lesolei police in Ngombe received a complaint from Brian Nalishuwa of Roma Park that his wife was in a drunken state, violent and that she was using abusive language in the presence of their children thereby traumatising them .

This is reported to have occured on 19th January, 2021 at about 22 40 hours in Roma Park.

Police officers followed up the report and picked Andika Nalishuwa who was found in a drunken state and was found with a cut on the forehead which the husband purported that was sustained after hitting herself against the wall of the fence of their house.

Officers wanted to issue Mrs Nalishuwa with a medical report form to be taken to Medical practitioners for them to indicate their findings but Mrs Nalishuwa could not cooperate with the police at the police post and she did refuse to have a medical report form issued to her. She demanded that she be taken back home using a Police vehicle and police officers advised Brian Nalishuwa to look for alternative accommodation for that night.

We are categorically stating that at no point did Mrs Nalishuwa report a matter of Assault to police but that it is her husband who went to seek help from the police.

As to the allegation that police handed the children to the accused person , the husband in this case, the correct position is that the children themselves opted to go with their father and no one forced them to do so, it was out of their own free will.

Police officers are still making follow ups on this matter and there was nothing sinister in the manner the police officers handled this matter as alleged by Mrs Nalishua.

Our resolve as Zambia Police is to serve the people of Zambia with diligence and we have been working tirelessly to protect victims of crime, Gender Based Violence victims inclusive.

In conducting our constitutional mandate, we request that members of the public cooperate with the officers who are there to serve them rather than abusing them or publishing unsubstantiated matters aimed at eroding people’s confidence in the institution.

ESTHER MWAATA KATONGO
ZAMBIA POLICE SPOKESPERSON

By Lubinda Habazoka

Good morning colleagues and especially the youths. Some of us grew up in an era where government owned most enterprises and you should not be lied to it was a wonderful era!

Immediately one completed university and for example they joined the mines, a big house awaited them in Nkana East or any mining areas!

ZCCM at its worst in 1990 made a profit of $180m!!!!

Don’t be lied to that that was a lost era!! It was a golden era. The mistake that made in the 90s was just to sell for scrap our industries!!

A company like Mopani that fetches over a $1bn was sold for less than $50m!!!!

As a country we are not gangsters and can’t grab companies at will unless such companies are violating Zambian laws so it will be costly for us to buy back these companies from those willing to sell!

Trust me colleagues, I have been very passionate about mining since birth because we grew up in the sector!

Everyone who says we can’t run companies as Zambians should never apply for any job in a Zambian company because it’s pointless to give a job to a person that doesn’t believe in their abilities!

I have seen some graduates say we can’t run companies as Zambians. Then what is the purpose of your education? Do you mean as Zambians we are inferior? Do you mean we shouldn’t employ you in Zambia because you are a failure???

I admit that those that were born post Y2K found nothing and never even saw an effective railway system for example. But we need to understand our history very well and believe in our abilities.

When we control our resources, we control our country.

In Zambia we have some “renowned” people that make commentaries on the economy that have never praised any Zambian entity and always side with the foreign mines!! Those are bought people!! They are in the pockets of the exploiter!!! They should not woe you with semi wisdom rhetoric!!! These people are always praising the IMF and other foreign institutions but they have never praised trade kings or Yalelo! They have never praised Mahogany Air! For them, it’s about promoting their imagine to the outside world for the consultancy jobs aimed at looting Zambia to continue!!

Before being looted, they use Zambians to do consultancies to check our weaknesses! We sell this country ourselves!!

You can call us carders or whatever but at the end of the day, we only have one Zambia and we shall stand by it!!!

For our stance over Zambian citizen empowerment, over protecting our image as a country, we are mocked, insulted and sidelined! All sorts of words are said to us but we remain defiant and we shall protect our mineral resources! Bad words can be said but we don’t worry because “Amashiwi ya chipuba, tayakalifya mutima”!

Pessimists are already pushing rhetoric on how we should own Mopani!! They were the first to comment on the deal! Whatsapp was awash with negative comments from them. Yes maybe I personally might be uncomfortable with certain terms of the deal but overall Mopani is back as Nkana and Mufulira divisions of ZCCM IH!

Zambians, we should guard jealously our mineral resources because “umulembwe wachipuba, upwila muli tumfweko”!

God bless you

ZAMBIA’S AMBASSODOR TO ETHIOPIA EMMANUEL MWAMBA ESCAPES DEATH

HE WROTE
Life is a mist, appears for a little time and then vanishes
By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
I woke up on fire!
Literally on fire.
There was smoke! The pungent smoke was suffocating me. I was coughing and chocking!
The smoke must have been smoldering for sometime before the flames came on.
As I was trying to figure out what was happening, the smoke was rising! My pillow was on fire and so was the accompanying bed sheets underneath.
I got the pillow and began to put out the escalating fire.
The mattress, bedsheets and part of the head board were on flames.
The source of the fire appeared to be the phone charger and the phones attached to it. One of my phones was on fire too.

I kept on dowsing the flames, suffocating the fire with the pillow and later with a blanket.
Like it started, the fire went out.
I was left with a smoldering pillow, sheets and a big black hole on my mattress and my bedroom was filled with pungent dark smoke, smelling of burning cotton and rubber.
Phew!
As I picked the phone to probably make a call, the casing was burnt and the phone was hot!
If that smoke had gotten much into me, I probably would have chocked to death even before the flames touched me.
I am a deep sleeper, I don’t know how I woke up to literally help myself to put out the raging fire.
I knelt down and said a prayer. I thanked God for clearly saving my life.
I then called my wife in Lusaka, switched to a video call to let her see the crisis that I had just gone through.
“Open your windows, open your doors” she screamed as she could see I was still in a smoke-filled room, still in a dangerous scenario.

“Drink some water and if possible some milk, and call the workers from the workers compound, let them check if everything is okey” She said, clearly panicking but providing a solution.
“And pray”!
After switching all the gadgets including the TV, I felt I couldn’t sleep in the smoked room.
I checked the time it was 01;30hrs.
THE WEIRDEST DREAM – DEATH
I walked downstairs, to my tv room, and carried a blanket with me.
I settled in the recliner chair and decided to spend the rest of the night in the TV room.
At this stage, I can only refer what followed to be a vivid but lived dream.
In my sleep, I dreamt that I was struggling to breath, and was constantly chocking. I was gasping for air.

I picked my phone but I couldn’t locate the number of my driver who was among the workers in the compound.
I was struggling to breath and my life was clearly ebbing away. I panicked more.
I picked the second phone and went straight to my last dialed numbers.
My driver’s name was not there either!
I kept on struggling to seek help and searching for the number for my driver.
I heard a knock at the door! What a relief, I struggled and lifted myself and rushed to the door.

The door was barricaded by a grill door and I was panicking looking for the keys.
Finally I opened the door.
It was three strange ladies I have never seen before.
“We have come to pick you, to escort you!”, They announced in a business-like manner as we walked back to my TV room.

HORROR
I saw the strangest scene that I have never seen before. I saw myself slumped in the chair, in my pyjamas in a sick and clearly fatal posture.
“Yes you have just died!” said one of the women breaking the shocking news.
She walked me upstairs and we visited some of the rooms of the house.
“There is no one here!”, the women expressed disappointment.
“My family is in Zambia”. I said.
I saw my driver and the guards now rushing to the TV room downstairs.
We came back downstairs and saw the workers crying before the slumped body in the recliner chair and they were frantically trying to help.
The women walked me out of the yard. I protested but somehow I couldn’t stop following them.

I cried out to the Lord Jesus Christ. I was complaining that I couldnt die now, that my family was in Lusaka, my graduation for my Master Degree was coming soon and I had a lot of goals I had lined up to achieve!
Somehow, my prayers or cries were not being answered and the women just ignored me.
I remembered my children, my wife, and my mother and I was pleading that I should be given a chance to see them again.

But these women were determined to walk me and take me away.
We walked further and further away from my home.
I kept on crying, and crying to the Lord, but the crowd was becoming bigger and my voice fainter and buried in the mayhem of the bustling crowd!
After passing through what appeared to be a densely populated compound, the three women said they had another “person” to quickly go and collect!
They handed me to this strangely dressed man, a tall man.
“He will take you. It’s not far”, the women said as they left.
He was mean, talked roughly, with disrespectful and walked in pompous way.
I am not used to being addressed in this manner but clearly I was powerless here!
He walked briskly and I was struggling to catch up with him. He said he needed to take me to his boss quickly.

Soon we entered what appeared to be a dingy, dark place with eerie lightning and a few workers around.
But he said something strange; “Since you like reading newspapers (which I truly do), wait here, catch up on the news on that table, I will fetch you soon.”
He disappeared in the dark pathway going further downstairs.
I decided to walk away. To walk back, to run away!
As I was running away, a man walked up-to me;
” Listen to me, there are many distractions along the way, but walk back where you came from right ahead”.

And this is what I did. I saw people selling trinkets, gifts, gold and other attractive wares.
And there were a lot of beautiful women asking to be accompanied as it appeared that some kind of a street party was going on.
I kept on asking strangers: ” Do you know the Zambian Embassy Residence?” “Where can I find a Christian church?”

I kept on walking and running, fearing that the strange man could be looking for me and would come to fetch me.
I reached at this house along the road and it had three women doing some chores outside their house.

I repeated my question to them.
An elderly woman among them said; ” I know where the Residence is and I know where you can find Jesus Christ!”
“Take me there, please take me there” I pleaded!
They listened to me!
They abandoned what they were doing and began to lead me.
Along the way I saw, among the strange looking crowd a woman that appeared “holy and blameless” walking happily to her destination.

She starkly stood out of the crowd. It was someone I know and we have called her names and have given her bad labels!
I knelt down and apologised to her, for what I have called her in the past, for where we were, I was far dirtier and soiled than her!
We kept on walking and we saw these wide open gates!
It was my residence! I rushed in with so much relief.
I found myself waking up.
But I was extremely cold, my head had slumped in a crooked way on the right side and I noticed it was giving me excruciating neck pain.

My throat was dry, my eyes felt totally dry and both my feet and hands were colder than the rest of my body!
Yet I was covered in a thick blanket and the heater was on.
I stood up to ensure that this new waking up was not part of the dream!
I realized I probably died in that Chair, how would I know?
And my pyjamas had a funny smell! The smell from the smoke from the fire in my bedroom earlier in the night…but the smell of smoke was stronger as if to remind me that the fire, like the dream was also real!

I knelt down, thanked God for sparing my life, for the gift of life and wondering why and how he had given me back the chance at life twice in one night!
When I looked at the time, it was 04;30hrs.
I decided to write this before facts, especially those that came as a “dream” could escape me.
Few have an opportunity to have their lives saved once or twice in one night!
If I had died today where would I have gone to? If you died suddenly today, where will you go?

And I realized that when you think you have so much to achieve, life can be taken away so easily.
“For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” James 4;14
And please pray that in this season of death knocking at our doors, that it does not touch you, or your loved ones or your household.

Let the blood of Jesus Christ be on your door post so that the angel of death passes over your household. Exodus 12; 13-28.
It’s now 05;30hrs, I am going to take a long walk outside the compound, I am not going back to sleep!
I am not even changing these pyjamas smelling of smoke.

1. This deal was somewhat unavoidable given the threats made by Glencore to shut down some of the operations under its care. This would have led to loss of about 13,000 jobs. Given the context of high unemployment levels in the country, the shut down would have had serious economic, social and political consequences.

2. ZCCM IH showed determination to go ahead with this transaction despite strong voices not to proceed. This somewhat demonstrates the company and government itself have better information on the whole deal than the rest of us. We only hope that the country will not come back ten years from now questioning the wisdom of the transaction/negotiation team and advisors. I should add that I saw great leadership over the whole Mopani issue in past one year.

3. The transaction has happened at a time the price of copper is over US$8,000/ tonnes, implying we are in for good returns should this price be sustained for longer periods or even exceed the projected US$10,000/tonne.

4. This is a significant step on the part of government to own strategic assets and the transaction reduces the existing suspicions around transfer pricing as well as private (undeclared) foreign currency remittances from which government would have gained in foreign exchange reserves. The mine under total government ownership will now directly improve the country’s fiscal position albeit in the long term.

5. The real winner in the transaction is Glencore. They wrapped up the deal well. On one hand, this is a leveraged or debt financed deal from which Glencore will start earning interest after a period of time and will also have other gains accruing to it on the principle amount (being US$1.5 billion it has borrowed from itself!) Second, until all outstanding amounts are repaid, Glencore will have control of copper sales through a purchase offtake and this presumed to be at a fixed price of copper. The arrangement is beneficial to government given the huge fluctuations in the copper price.

6. Loosely and to bring the above point home, I liken the deal to an ‘Outgrower Scheme’ where farmers are financed through fertiliser, seed, technical advice and chemicals to grow tobacco. The financier is also the buyer at a fixed price. Both teams are winning but the financier/buyer is the absolute winner and that’s why this whole deal works well for Glencore.

7. It also means Zambia has acquired a new debt worth about US$1.5 billion (take away other costs) for the ownership of Mopani Copper Mines. The consolation is that we will not pay this money from tax revenue. The asset is projected to finance itself. What worries me though is that it all depends on what happens to copper production and the price during the life of this deal. The comparison is an American mortgage which you service over 25 years without having absolute ownership to the property. First, it makes it difficult for you to access fresh capital to recapitalize the building because someone has absolute ownership to it. Second, a lot of things will change before you finish paying and that’s how many American mortgagees have lost property on which they had already serviced a significant portion.

8. I am sure the IMF and other creditors are following this transaction very closely and how it affects the planned programme negotiations. Though government will have a case to explain the debt is not on the treasury but on ZCCM IH, those Washington colleagues read between the lines and they will still bring the number on the government loan book and prove to government that Zambia has moved deeper into debt unsustainably.

9. On the whole, I congratulate government for saving the mine, keeping the jobs, owning the Mopani asset totally and all we can do now is to continue to advise about how to manage this asset and make it more profitable than Glencore did. We can learn from the mistakes of the old ZCCM and build on the previous failures to beef up our national coffers. Let there be no political interference in the operations of this mine. Otherwise, seven years from now, it will be the same old sad story. I wish all the people of Zambia well in this deal. It should be good for the country.

GLENCORE HAS ROBBED ZAMBIA RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES.

By Thabo Kawana

As an ordinary Kitwe resident, news about what transpired today over Mopani is one I want to take cautiously and not prematurely dwelve into celebration. Many questions ring in my mind…is this a sale, is it a take over, is it a win win situation or a good reedance on the part of the investor? Is this a good deal or a bad scandal in the making or already made?

From the onset, I must declare that I am no expert in these matters and no authority at all as I am neither an Economist nor Expert in Mining, therefore my views are pedestrian void of professional input and stand corrected by authorities in this field.

The idea of retaining 100% stake and control in our mines is not only good but, patriotic too. I therefore support such moves if well thought out and implemented. But with what has happened today over MCM, we have retained 100% stake and control of MCM…..or have we? At least thats what we have been told.

Glencore is a known business that chases profits therefore can it dump a performing asset? The answer is NO. We are told Mopani has been making loses in the last 3 years going into 4 this year.

This prompted Glencore to place the mine on care and maintenance with a threat to close it. Knowing Govt wud not allow closure that wud result in wholesale job losses for those working directly and indirectly for the mine, they (Glencore) gave Govt some concessional requests if only to keep the mine going.

They asked Govt to pay them all their VAT refund (impossible) so as to inject the same in re energizing operations and expansion at the mine.

They proposed Human capital optimization to shed off a good percentage of their staff (makes Govt panic) and they succeeded in laying off a good number of employees anyway, a move that has literally turned Mufurila into a ghost town.

After this, Govt engaged with Glencore to buy off their stake in MCM, result of which was announced today as having happened. ZCCM IH now owns Glencore stake in Mopani bringing it’s stake to 100%.

What I now understand as having transpired is that from the look of things, Glencore has pulled a fast one on us and our negotiating team was sleeping (as usual).

Glencore has sold us a loss making asset, dumped their debt on us and this has been done via a book entry transaction (no cash involved).

Not only have they given us an unfair off-taker agreement wr all the copper to be mined by MCM will be sold to them only, essentially making them the actual owners of our copper, they have also included a 3% Gross revenue to be paid to them before tax. Meaning even if we make losses owing to say, low copper prices, zabo zi ngena zo kwana.

In essence, Glencore has employed us to do the donkey work whilst they sit pretty for the next 17 to 20 years.

This is not a good deal, it’s actually no deal at all. It’s a reepoff if u ask me. Clearly Govt has opted for a political social solution that is aimed at keeping jobs for atleast upto election time but after that, this deal can’t hold and all hell will break loose as this is not a sustainable transaction.

Why do I say so? MCM will require a working capital or operational expenses (OPEX) of $300m. Ziza Choka kuti? Minister says they will find another investor, but who will invest without benefit?

I ask so because one invests in order to produce and sell to the best market to retain profit, but that off-taker agreement with Glencore entails you invest to produce and sell to Glencore only and Glencore sells wherever they want at a profit. Meaning you work for Glencore. Who wud pump money into such an arrangement when it’s more profitable to produce elsewhere even in DRC and sale to China for example?

So from the look of things, Glencore has returned control over revenue and we (ZCCM IH) have returned control over cost.

Basically, what has happened here is that, GRZ has borrowed money from Glencore to pay Glencore which will retain the off-taker agreement until the contract sum and debt are liquidated.

It’s like You who is buying a car from me, borrows money to pay for it from my Wife, pays me and I give my Wife the same money to bank in our family account.

But then you now owe my Wife and continue to pay her back at an exorbitant interest rate as high as 90% for years to come.

Given that, I don’t think we have anything to celebrate here on the Copperbelt over this Mopani deal, it’s a fufuveve, teti mfilondolole bwino bwino.

What we have basically achieved as a Nation is increase our debt portfolio by another $1.5bn to almost$2bn if u add interest. At this rate, we must forget about any future IMF bailout because instead of reducing on our debt to attract assistance, we are increasing our debt portfolio.

Mopani was bought from us by Glencore for less than $50m on April 1, 2000. Now I truly believe April 1 is Fool’s day. I feel we have been fooled.

Cry my beloved country, kanshi mwe Lesa these pipo who go to negotiate on behalf of our country, mwaba fumya kwii???? (In Kambwili voice).

Anyway, fili uko tuleya.

Thabo Kawana
Kitwe Resident

By Patson Chilemba
Ruling PF member Colonel Panji Kaunda says Zambian institutions must learn from the firmness of the American institutions if President Edgar Lungu where to lose elections and refuse to concede, they should hold firm against those undemocratic tendencies.

Speaking with Daily Revelation, Col Panji said the world had experienced the best and worst of the United States of America (USA) democracy, where on one hand the sitting President Donald Trump tried to incite a coup (insurrection) against the democratically elected President-elect Joe Biden, but the institutions held firm against him.

Col Panji said the process was conducted democratically in the Democratic Party where Biden defeated 19 other candidates to become the nominee to stand against Republican Trump in the election, saying those he (Biden) had defeated simply buried the hatchet and decided to back him up in the election.

He said Biden even ended up picking one of his harshest critics during the nomination battles in the Democratic Party, Kamala Harris as his running mate, who now Vice-President elect, and will be inaugurated together with him on January 20, 2021.

Col Panji said following the general elections battle between Trump and Biden, the former refused to concede alleging massive voter fraud in most Democratic controlled swing states which decided the elections.

He said Trump was given all the time to litigate his arguments in the courts of law, but he lost close to 60 cases, in courts presided mostly by the same people Trump appointed as judges.

Col Panji said as a last straw, Trump incited his supporters who overran the Congress chambers during the certification of Biden’s election victory, however that failed and Trump was impeached with some members of his own Republican Party participating in the move.
He said Zambia would be holding elections this year, saying should the same situation happen where a “rogue” President lost, the institutions of governance, most of them presidential appointees, should take a leaf from the USA to do the right thing.

“Trump refused to accept the results, becoming more like in African elections where the ruling party tries to do everything to hold on to power. He was allowed to go to the courts, including the Supreme Court where three of the nine judges were his own appointees. In fact six of the nine judges are conservative justices (Republican leaning), but they believe in the law,” Col Panji said. “This is where our courts must take an example from. You can have a rogue President but the institutions must hold firm.”

Col Panji said Zambia will be worse off if they allowed the PF another five years in office, and they must do everything to remove President Lungu and his government from office. He said once the people have done their bid, he expects the institutions of governance, particularly the courts to behave professionally in accordance with the law and people’s aspirations.

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine remains under “house arrest”, his party said on Sunday, after a disputed election returned President Yoweri Museveni to office for a sixth term.

The former ragga singer turned lawmaker came second in the presidential election, and has said the process was marred by widespread fraud and violence.

He has not left his home since he went out to vote in the election on Thursday, and on Friday said he was under “siege” as soldiers and police surrounded his home, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

“Our leader … is effectively under house arrest,” National Unity Platform spokesman Joel Ssenyonyi told a press conference, adding no one was being allowed access.

“His home is not a detention facility. We are very concerned about the state in which he is in, and his wife.”

A Twitter update under Wine’s account, written by an administrator as Uganda remains under an internet blackout for a fifth day, said the couple had “run out of food supplies.”

The party said prominent MP, Francis Zaake, who had been arrested during an attempted visit to Wine’s house on Friday, had been admitted to hospital “badly beaten and brutalised” by security forces.

Ugandan officials have said the soldiers and police were there for Wine’s own security.

– ‘Minority clique’ –

Wine and his NUP have yet to outline their next steps after dismissing the election as a “complete sham”.

“Once again, a minority clique is forcing themselves on the majority of Uganda. That is something that we are going to resist. It is something that we are going to say no to using every avenue provided for within the law,” said Ssenyonyi.

Museveni, 76, has ruled Uganda without pause since seizing control in 1986, when he helped to end years of tyranny under Idi Amin and Milton Obote.

Once hailed for his commitment to good governance, the former rebel leader has crushed any opposition and tweaked the constitution to allow himself to run again and again.

His re-election with 58.6 percent of the vote, to Wine’s 34.8 percent, came after the most violent election campaign in recent years, with the harassment of the opposition, media and deaths of scores of Wine’s supporters.

Wine said there had been ballot-box stuffing, intimidation, and that his party’s agents had been beaten and chased away during the election on Thursday.

However Museveni has said it was the cleanest election in the country’s history.

US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus praised Ugandans on Saturday for voting “despite an environment of intimidation and fear”.

She added that the US was “deeply troubled by the many credible reports of security force violence during the pre-election period and election irregularities during the polls”.

1 of 4

EASTERN Province PF chairman Andrew Lubusha says he will resign if he fails to deliver the entire province to the ruling party in this year’s general elections.

Lubusha says works in the province speak for him, stressing that he has tripled the ruling party’s membership in the area.

In an interview, he said he had proved that youths have the capacity to deliver.

“I can assure that in August, we are not going to produce any independent member of parliament in Eastern Province. We are not going to produce any opposition councillor or independent councillor. I am going to deliver the entire 162 councillors to the Patriotic Front,” he said. “All the 18 members of parliament to the Patriotic Front. And if I fail to beat that target, mark my words, I will resign on moral grounds. If I fail by less than five per cent I will accept, anything below 95 per cent I will resign.”

Lubusha said during the voter registration exercise his team had prepared the party for victory on August 12.

He said the voter turnout in Eastern Province be the highest in Zambia’s election history.

“Look at the numbers that we have registered in the province. I led the voter registration exercise in the entire province and I stand as a very proud provincial chairman to say I registered as third in the country. It is not easy,” Lubusha said. “Even in the voter turnout, I can pledge that the voter turnout in Eastern Province will be like never before. That I can assure you. We are a working team. We are working with my constituencies, provincial team and the party structures at all levels. We had very few branches in Eastern Province but now we have branches everywhere.”

He said PF was not popular before he became provincial chairman.

Lubusha said his leadership had demonstrated that youths have the capacity to deliver.

“My predecessor gave President Edgar Chagwa Lungu 88,000 votes in his homeland. When I took over as provincial chairman in 2016, we multiplied the number of branches. We increased the number of votes for the President from 88,000 to close to 300,000,” he said. “We only had about five councillors but we increased the number from five councillors to 154 councillors. We had no mayor, we had no council chairperson for the Patriotic Front, now all the council chairpersons and mayors are for the Patriotic Front in Eastern Province.”

Lubusha said he had brought unity in the party and that he would deliver 2021 beyond expectations.

He further said once his mandate ends in 2024, he would not recontest.

“So I don’t know the analysis anybody would make. Before I took the leadership of Eastern Province, there was confusion in Eastern Province. There were a lot of factions, we had infights everyday but there is now sanity,” said Lubusha. “We had constituencies that had two committees. When you say Chipata Central committee stand up, you have 48 people standing up; two chairmen standing up but all that is gone. We have brought unity – we have brought order in the province. We have delivered above expectations. I was given a target to deliver when I was appointed as a provincial chairman and I beat that target with almost 50,000 voters.”

PF KABWATA CONSTITUENCY ASPIRING CANDIDATE CLEMENT TEMBO THROWS IN HIS WEIGHT FOR KABWATA SEAT
…. as he urges Kabwata residents to give President Edgar Lungu a landslide victory.
Kabwata, Saturday, January, 2020

Presidential Empowerment Initiative Fund National Cordinator Clement Tembo has thrown his weight into the Kabwata constituency parliamentary seat during the 2021 general elections.

Speaking when he was unveiled as another possible replacement for Hon Given Lubinda at the Kabwata Constituency PF offices, the youthful Clement Tembo assured the people of Kabwata that his first objective when voted into office is to continue lobbying for development in Kabwata constituency.

Mr Tembo assured the people of Kabwata that his desire when voted as a Member of Parliament is to ensure that he delivers the aspirations of the electorates.

And Mr. Tembo emphasised that he will continue working with the already existing Party structures in the constituency to ensure that President Edgar Lungu wins the Presidential elections with a landslide victory.

He also thanked President Lungu for appointing him as National Cordinator of the Presidential Empowerment Initiative Fund stating that this is clear evidence of the trust and faith the head of state has in his abilities to deliver not only for the people of Kabwata but the country at large.

“When you talk of empowerment, President Lungu gave me an opportunity to traverse throughout the country and we have done commendable works which are evident for everyone to see, i can’t fail to run Kabwata,” Mr. Tembo said.

Mr. Tembo further reminded the people of Kabwata that in 2014 even when he was appointed as Presidential Empowerment Initiative Fund National Cordinator, he used his personal resources to construct toilets in Chilenje and clear cabbage at Kabwata market.
“It buffles me when people say Kabwata is the most developed constituency in Lusaka when i got money from my little resources to help the people in the constituency tbrough my community works” Mr. Tembo explained.

He charged that having grown up in Kabwata he remains the right candidate among all those aspiring for the seat on the PF ticket as he understands all the challenges and what people wants.

Mr. Tembo has since urged women and youths not to allow people to impose candidates on them when they know who really can deliver on their aspirations.

” What forces people to stand as Independent candidates is because of some corrupt individuals within our partywho want to impose unpopular candidates on people just because they have been given money,” he said.

He has since appealed to the party leadership in Kabwata constituency to adopt candidates that are popular with the local people.

And PF Kabwata constituency chairman Trevor Ng’andu reiterated that the party will not be sold to the highest bidder but to a credible and popular candidate.

He has since appealed to the people of Kabwata to support who ever will be adopted by the party leadership and turnout in large numbers in order to give President Edgar Lungu a landslide victory. -Smart Eagles

LOCAL government minister Charles Banda says there is no political party in Zambia that has brought development while in government than the Patriotic Front.

And Eastern Province UPND chairperson Johabie Mtonga says the country is now in dirty hands and therefore urged people of Vubwi district to make the right decision in the by-election.

Addressing party members after escorting PF candidate in filing nominations for the Vubwi council chairperson by-election on Thursday, Banda, who is the campaign manager, urged party members not to lose focus but to work hard.

“Nikhulupilira kuti ife tonse tidziwa chomwe tabwelera kuno, chilonda tamasula kale kuja, chomwe chakhalako tsopano nikusakila mankhwala kuti chilonda chipole. Obweletsa mankhwala ndani, PF! Tisakopele yai PF ndiye chipani chachitukuko muno mu Zambia, chikhalire kuchoka independence kufika lomba palibe chipani chinachitako chitukuko monga PF (I trust we all know why we have come here. We have already opened the wound there, what is remaining now is to find medicine so that the wound can be healed. Who is going to bring the medicine? It’s PF! We should not brink or we should not lose focus, PF is the party that is bringing development in Zambia. Since independence up to now, there is no political party that has brought development more than PF),” he said.

Banda said the first time when he went to Vubwi, the area looked deserted but that the place had now changed.

“I brought late president Michael Sata here and he asked whether Vubwi was in Zambia or not. I told him that yes, it is in Zambia and I told him that when you win, you should accord Vubwi district status. As I speak, once the meeting is over there will be nothing like rushing to Chipata but we’ll spend the night here because of the district status which has come with a lot of things. The district status has brought development and it will continue bringing development. These are the messages that you should be telling the people here,” he said.

Banda, who is also Kapoche member of parliament, said the people of Vubwi do not need to go to Chadiza to seek services of a district commissioner or district agricultural coordinator because they now have such officers.

And Mtonga pleaded with the people of Vubwi to make the right decision by voting for Sakala.

“The people of Vubwi are the ones who know the problems of Vubwi. As UPND, we shall work closely with the local people. As UPND, we are not going to impose anything on the people of Vubwi, we shall only do what the people of Vubwi want. This by-election should be violence free,” he said.

Mtonga said the by-election in Vubwi would signal the start of the change process that people are looking for.

“This is just a start, we are now prepared than before. They (PF) defeated us in Kamimba ward in Lumezi district but we learnt a lot of things and we will do the right thing and we are ready. We want to get back our country. This country is now in dirty hands. Please, please people of Vubwi, vote PF out on 4th February and bring UPND, it is you the people of Vubwi who should liberate yourselves from this brutal regime,” he said.

UPND campaign manager Jimmy Chella Mwelwa said his party had adopted Given Sakala, who was a youth with direction.

“Our group (UPND) is made up of focused adults and youths, we are ready to change government and we want to show that the people of Vubwi are ready for that change. What will happen here will be an example of what will happen in August. We want to send HH to State House, we want the people of Vubwi to stop suffering. We have got people here with good results but they can’t afford to go to school. We have got farmers here but they don’t get enough fertiliser, most fertilisers are given to PF cadres, so we want a government which is going to represent the people of Zambia,” Mwelwa said.

Meanwhile, Eastern Province MMD chairperson Yoramu Jere said the former ruling party was going to do scientific campaigns to ensure party candidate Faindani Mbewe wins the seat.

Jere thanked the Electoral Commission of Zambia for handling the nomination in a professional manner.