By Elias Munshya

Isn’t it the case? That the Patriotic Front government tries to insist that President Lungu should be respected because he is the “father of the nation”? Those who advance this theory shove on our throats this grandiose idea that the Head of State deserves respect and deference from the country’s political players. Further, this idea manifests itself in some demand for equal respect for surrogates of the President such as cabinet ministers, or as the case may be – the ministry of religious affairs and national values (I hope I got the name of this useless ministry right). Well, the demand for “respect” goes as deep as the hypocrisy inherent in those who demand this drivel. When times present themselves for either President Lungu, foreign affairs ministry Malanji, or religious affairs minister Sumaili to act as true leaders of our country – they all shudder under a heavy blanket of cowardice, selfishness and I must add, hypocrisy.

Reports were swift to come. A popular Patriotic Front daily tabloid screamed in its headlines. The surrogates of President Lungu known as Raphael Nakacinda shouted on top of his insolent voice – MMD President Nevers Mumba had been arrested in Congo’s Katanga Province. The circumstances under which the country’s former vice-president was arrested remained murky. Some speculated that Dr Mumba went to look for trouble from ba Kongole. Others thought that his being arrested or “restricted” in Lubumbashi was a sign of his irresponsible behaviour. As for Nakacinda, he wasted no time in associating Nevers’ misfortune with some confused theory of being unsuitable to lead the MMD. And then, of course, came the silence. Silence from the so-called father of the nation, and of course, the mother of the nation’s Christian values. Both President Lungu and Rev. Sumaili pretended as if they had not heard the sad news. As for foreign affairs minister Malanji, he could not even send a consular delegation to try and help Dr Mumba. At the same time, he was being investigated and perhaps persecuted by the confused regime in Lubumbashi.

All should condemn the actions of this government. This is not the behaviour of a responsible government. President Lungu and his cabinet showed how petty and shallow they are. By refusing to intervene on behalf of Zambia’s former vice-president, the PF regime showed how selfish and hypocritical they are. The arrest or restriction of a country’s former vice-president by a foreign power, or neighbour, triggers national security concern. This is evident anywhere in the world. Congo DR, or Zimbabwe, or Tanzania, or ba bululu shesu abena Malawi, cannot detain our country’s senior citizen such as a former vice-president and our government remains mute. It cannot be.

We understand that Dr Mumba, through the efforts of his innocence, and the hand of God, has now been released and is in Zambia. He stated that the Zambian government refused to assist him while he was undergoing this ordeal. Of course, as a deeply religious man – he was able to thank God for his freedom and release. But it is quite pathetic and regrettable that in this Christian nation, we could let our former vice-president deal with this ordeal alone.

President Lungu was busy enjoying amanone and gallivanting everywhere in Lusaka, Choma, Monze and other parts of Southern Province while Dr Mumba was facing his ordeal. The foreign minister was busy corrupting new voters in his constituency in Kwacha. The minister of religious affairs and national guidance was nowhere to be seen. In the meantime, – Dr Mumba and his family were enduring an excruciating 72 or is it 90 hours of uncertainty.

Those who claim to leaders of our country must show their leadership during critical and challenging times. This PF government should be the government for all Zambians. Suppose President Lungu and his cronies are unwilling to protect citizens from foreign harassment. In that case, they should resign so that we can replace them with people who will seriously defend our citizens. We refuse this excuse that Dr Mumba should have known better not to travel to Congo DR. It was within his right. However, it was our government’s responsibility to publicly and unambiguously advocate for our citizen who was under the surveillance and persecution of a neighbouring brutal country.

This ordeal makes us have some questions. Did the Zambian government deliberately ignore the pleas of its citizen? Was President Lungu and his government play a role in the illegal detention of our former vice-president in Congo DR. Is this government so petty that it neglected Nevers Mumba simply because he is a talkative opposition leader? How could such a huge issue implicating our national security fly below the radar of our pollical representatives?

I have long lost respect for the PF regime. But this latest stunt has left a very bitterly sour taste in my mouth. This is not the way to lead a country. And the national security implications for this negligent conduct towards our former vice-president will be felt for decades to come. The Patriotic Front government is a petty government comprising impudent kids who pretend to be fathers or mothers of this nation. What a disgrace. May God bless our country and may our citizens live long and healthy. As for the PF pretentious cowards – may they learn to love our country and defend its people.

Elias Munshya can be reached at elias@munshyalaw.com

… says the opposition political party has become too comfortable in the province such that they have held the people hostage.

PF Member of the Central Committee Kebby Mbewe says the people of Southern province should shock UPND and its leader Hakainde Hichilema by voting for PF and President Edgar Lungu in the 2021 General elections.

Speaking when he received defectors in Choma, Mr.Mbewe said the UPND has become too comfortable in Southern province such that they have held the people hostage.
He said the UPND and its leader Hakainde Hichilema think they own the people of Southern province and anyone that does not support their views is viewed as an enemy.

Mr.Mbewe said President Edgar Lungu has done much for the people of southern province interms of development while the elected UPND Members of Parliament have nothing to point at despite receiving the Constituency Development Fund.

” The UPND have sown seeds of fear in the people in Southern province, they have made people believe that the PF and government are bad which is to the contrary, they have made the people here to be angry at the ruling party for nothing, ” Mr.Mbewe said.
“People are even afraid to come and empower Southerners for fear of being harassed by the UPND. The UPND think that when people here are empowered they will seize to support them and this is the reason why they want people to live in perpetual poverty,” He said.
And Mr.Mbewe encouraged the defectors to go out flat out and recruit more members so that the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is retired from politics.

He said the PF and President Edgar Lungu are assured of victory in next year’s elections.
“As PF we have done our homework in all our strongholds and victory is certain for us, so I urge you to go out flat out and bring more members to the PF, we need more votes here in Choma so that HH is sent into politics oblivion, ” Mr. Mbewe said.

” Reject politics of violence here in Southern province. I fail to understand why the UPND are agitated whenever we go to radio stations to try and explain the good things that PF government is doing for the people, all we get are insults and accusing us of all sorts of things,” He said. -Smart Eagles

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has assured all those who have been retired from the public service in the “private interest” of a coterie will retain their jobs next year.

He was addressing members of the clergy, from different denominations, at the UPND secretariat in Lusaka on Monday.

He also laments that the absence of law and order, and segregation in the application of the rule of law, has resulted in many citizens not enjoying normal lives in Zambia.

Hichilema said: “we acknowledge that we are a Christian nation.”

“We should behave and live like Christians. We shouldn’t pronounce that we are a Christian nation for convenience and tomorrow we are hiring thugs to beat other Christians,” Hichilema said. “Then we are not living the Christian life that we profess. I’m talking of violence in our country; it’s our duty to pray against that violence. We should not accept it from any end, especially if that violence is driven by those that are occupying public office.”

He pledged that come next year, “God’s will, courtesy of the people of Zambia, we’ll restore order in this country.”

“Violence will be a thing of the past! You can’t invite victims of violence to say ‘come and stop violence with me.’ But you are the one who is instigating violence and you are occupying public office. Using party cadres to occupy public spaces like markets and bus stations!” Hichilema said, stressing that restoration of law and order is just a few months away. “We shall bring normalcy into our country. I’m aware that churches get attacked by party cadres, even when they are worshipping. It boils down to leadership! This absence of law and order, this segregation in the application of the rule of law, has resulted in us citizens not enjoying our normal lives, be it in church, in school, in a workplace and social spheres.”

He further regretted that police officers have been rendered helpless in the country.

“When they try to intervene, they are retired in national interest. I say before the men and women of God here that all those who have relatives who have been retired in national interest, yet that perception of retirement in national interest actually is retirement in private interest of a few people, all those send a message to them that they are just on leave,” Hichilema said. “We’ll bring them back into their positions. They have a right to employment in the public service.”

He further told the clergy that the UPND was appreciative to them for: “having stood with the UPND, the people of Zambia, when many of our members have gone through traumatic times.”

I FEEL lighter, reacted Harry Kalaba, after refunding K60,434.88 to the State yesterday.

Once he had deposited the amount at the Zanaco Premium House branch in Lusaka, Kalaba, the opposition Democratic Party (DP) president, went to the Ministry of Justice headquarters where he left the cash deposit slip in Attorney General Likando Kalaluka’s office.

He hopes the repaid money will not find itself in the: “same pockets of those who are abusing the resources of this country today.”

Asked how he felt after paying back, Kalaba answered: “well, I feel lighter.”

“I feel lighter because there was no need for us to even have taken this route. The very first time in 2017, when the Constitutional Court ruled that we should pay back, we should have paid back without even going to court,” Kalaba said.

“There was no need of taking this protracted route. Honestly speaking, we should have saved ourselves time and resources – instead of doing what we did. We should have just paid that time.”

He continued: “I hope the monies that I have paid today will be put to good use.”

“I hope it will not go back in the same pockets of those who are abusing the resources of this country today. I hope this money will find itself in Chilubi, in Kaoma, in Nkeyema, to help in the health facilities, so that we can ameliorate the challenges of our people,” he said.

On whether or not his keenness to pay back was indicative of him having enough money, Kalaba countered.

“No! No! No! It’s not even about the money [but] it’s about principle. A good name is better than riches! A mistake was made, even though it was not made by myself,” Kalaba said. “But the courts have ruled [and] it’s the same courts that have managed to keep the DP in existence. It’s the same courts that have ruled that we should pay back. So, where good comes from even evil comes from [there].”

He added that he paid back because he had an inescapable responsibility towards Zambia.

“We need to do good, especially as leaders. People should know that if we undermine our own foundations of democracy, then where are we going?” he noted

Meanwhile, Kalaba reiterated that those who are supporting the issue of the third term of office for President Edgar Lungu must be careful.

“We are now learning it the hard way [by refunding the State]. There will be no third term and so, they should be careful in the way they support it, otherwise they will find themselves in the shoes that we are in today,” cautioned Kalaba.

The Constitutional Court has given the 64 ministers and deputies who remained in office ahead of the 2016 general elections to pay back the monies and allowances they got within 30 days.

THE FAT BROWN ENVELOPE HAS CONFUSED MPEZENI…he has received the latest 4×4 red in colour, charges Ambassador Joe Mwale
By Patson Chilemba

The fat brown envelope and the 4×4 Paramount chief Mpezeni has received has confused him, that’s why he is telling Eastern Province people to vote for Edgar Lungu, says Ambassador Joe Mwale.

But paramount chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province denied receiving any brown envelope from President Lungu, saying the only car he drives is the one he bought from Japan, further telling Amb Mwale to approach him in person if he had any issues to discuss with him.

Speaking with Daily Revelation, Amb Mwale said the Mpezeni easily gets confused with brown envelopes.

“I stand for the truth, whether it may belittle my chief, my own chief, I am not going to say because he is my own chief Mpezeni I must cover him up and so on and let him go scot free. I am not going to do that. I know he has done some wrong things,” Amb Mwale said. “He said some good things one time but now you see with him is this ka brown envelope when he sees that one it confuses him. Somebody was telling me reliably who has seen, who has double checked…said actually I have seen a red latest state of the art 4×4 red in colour which has been given to him recently when Lungu has been going there.”

Amb Mwale, a Ngoni, said he inferred that the Mpezeni recently referred to President Lungu as one who was part of the Ngoni clans because of the envelopes, challenging the paramount chief to mention the specific Ngoni clan Lungu came from.

“That’s why he came up with those statements to say ah no Lungu ni ni wamuchibaya mwasu, ni mwana wamuchibaya tiyeni tivotele Lungu wamene uyu,” Amb Mwale said. “There are many Chibaya’s under Mpezeni, about 10 of them, starting with his own Ephendukeni, then there at Mutenguleni the clan around that under is senior chief Nzamane is called Mutengula, then there is also Mufumbeni…we want to challenge him to say of the 10 Chibayas, these Kraals, in South Africa they call them kraals. I want Mpenzeni to just mention one kraals where Edgar Lungu comes from. So that people know that Lungu is a Ngoni, he’s our Ngoni warrior he is one of us in the Ngoni kingdom.”

Amb Mwale wondered how the Mpezeni could claim President Lungu as part of his clan, when another Senga chief in Petauke had claimed him as his own too.
“So how can he belong to another chibaya in Ngoni area?” Amb Mwale asked. “The fat brown envelope is just an icing on top of this brand new 4×4, it’s an icing. On top of that one another fat brown envelope and that has really confused him. That is his weakness and we know him all. When you show him that he changes the language.”

Amb Mwale said not too long ago, the Mpezeni came up like a true fighter for his people, and people were even praising him after he spoke on behalf of farmers in the Province.
“Not long ago what did he say about Eastern Province? He came up like a fighter and we’re happy with him, praising him that that is what it means to be a king of the Ngoni people when he protested to say no my people are suffering,” Amb Mwale said, “they are good farmers and bla bla bla so their crops after having harvested their crops if they want to go and sell in Malawi, this and that they are being shot at by ZNS and he complained to say no and he was in the right side.”

Amb Mwale said Mpezeni had disowned the real native “wamuchibaya” Ambassador George Zulu, whom he appointed as his induna and “gone to dine with somebody who is foreign in our land.”

Amb Mwale further said he had a dossier on paramount chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people that would shock the whole country if he exposed it.
But asked on the assertions from Mwale that he got confused whenever he received brown envelopes and if he had received a brand new 4×4, the Mpezeni said Amb Mwale himself should point at the same vehicle since he seemed to know more about the matter.

He also said Amb Mwale should approach him directly if he had any issues to address with him, rather than fearing to face him and only discussing matters in the media.

ARCHBISHOP MPUNDU IS CLEARLY OFFSIDE – KAMBA
… says it is regretable that Archbishop Mpundu has taken such a divisive route ahead of the 2021 general elections.

The PF have continued to raise deep concern with the manner Archbishop Emeritus Telesphore Mpundu is induldging in politics that are clearly divisive and quite provocative.

PF Lusaka province Secretary Kennedy Kamba in a statement said the ruling party has repeatedly cautioned and advised Bishop Mpundu to begin to demonstrate sobriety and ‘shepheredness as a parent but it is becoming evident each day that passes or every time he talks politics that he has launched a campaign against President Lungu and the PF.

Mr. Kamba said Archbishop Mpundu in his article published by one of the tabloids claims that the bad taste of the constitution has given President Lungu courage to seek a third term.

He said the comment from the Man of God is in bad taste, unfair, inaccurate and highly provocative.
” We must put the records straight. The Highest Court of the Land, the Consitutional Court had put the issue of President Lungu’s eligibilty to rest when it interpreted the law and aptly stated in its judgement that President Lungu has not yet served two terms,” He said.
“The fact of the matter is that President Lungu is going for a second term and not the third as maliciously being insinuated by Bishop Mpundu and others who are backing the opposition,” He said.

Mr. Kamba said it is regretable that Archbishop Mpundu has taken such a divisive route ahead of the 2021 general elections.
” Today Archbishop Mpundu and his allies are bemoaning the poor state of the Republican Constitution when he belongs to a civil society orgnaisation that kept on decampaigning all the efforts that were made to get rid of Lacunas in our Constitution,” Mr.Kamba said.

“We pleaded with people like Archbishop Mpundu to support Bill 10 so that we can have an effective Republican Constitution that carters for the interest of Zambians but they vehemently rejected Bill 10 which died before it even went to parliament because of negative talk,” He said

“We cannot afford to be a directionless society. We expect people like Archbishop Mpundu to desist from divisive politics and offer solutions. Hating President Lungu and trying to paint him black will not help them or this country,”Mr Kamba adds.
-Smart Eagles

IT IS NOT 9M ELIGIBLE VOTERS FOR 2021 GENERAL ELECTION BUT 8.4M REVEALS ZAMBIA STATICTICS AGENCY.
Zambia will go to polls for the General Elections in August of 2021.
Among the critical factors for conducting an election is data on the population that is eligible to vote as this forms a basis for a voter’s registration process.

Prior to commencement of the voter’s registration exercise, there has been debate on the voter eligibility population in the country.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia put the figure at nine (9) million people as eligible voters while other quarters has have put the figure at 7.2 million. There have also been suggestions that the figure should be higher than 9 million.

From a legal perspective, only the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) has the authority on official statistical matters in the country. This is in line with the Statistics Act no. 13 of 2018, Part II, Section 7(1) and I quote “The Agency is the sole designated entity responsible for the publication of official statistics”.

These statistics include population statistics by age, sex, geographical location such as rural or urban as well as voter eligibility in any year.
(i) The Agency has projected a total population of 17,885,422 people in 2020; and
(ii) Based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing the age structures were,
a. Forty-seven (47) percent of the total population was aged 18 years and above,
b. Fifty-three (53) percent were aged below 18 years.

Eligibility for voting in terms of the age is 18 years and above in Zambia.
In respect of the above, the 47 percent age structure was applied to all projected district populations and *aggregated to come up with an estimate of 8,414,839 eligible voters.*
Zamstat also informs the nation that the Act is very clear on issues of official statistics in the country.

The Act also mandates the Agency to produce statistics, promote understanding and use of official statistics.

Further, the Act requires that any person or organisation planning to undertake collection, processing, storage etc of official statistics through any instrument such as a Survey need to get authorisation from the Agency.

Therefore, all surveys that aim at producing official statistics have to be authorised by the Agency.

It is important that players to acquaint themselves with the New Act as Government aims at developing an integrated National Statistical System.
Issued by the Zambia Statistics Agency
Lusaka

CSO’s PROPOSE 3 DAYS VOTER REGISTRATION EXTENSION
… says an elongated extension will render delivering other activities by ECZ impossible.

A Consortium of Civil Society Organizations has proposed a three day extension to the voter registration.

Addressing journalists in Lusaka YALI president Andrew Ntewewe who spoke on behalf of other CSO’S said an elongated extension will render delivering other activities by the Electoral Commission of Zambia ECZ impossible.

Mr. Ntewewe said there are so many other processes in the electoral cycle which include removing of multiple entries which may be identified, correcting the missing data especially fingerprints, inspection, independent audit and certification of the register.

“With the ending of the normal 30-day phase of voter registration process on 12th December. 2020, the expectation of stakeholders, including ourselves, was that the Electoral Commission of Zambia should extend the process to allow the few that have not registered to vote, this expectation was met when the Commission announced that the extension would be granted starting this Wednesday.,” He said.

“The current registration of 75 percent of eligible voters gives us faith that with a proposed extension of 2 to 3 more days, we capable of capturing the population, among eligible voters, that is active when it comes to voting,” He said.

And Mr. Ntewewe condemned the unbecoming behaviour of some church mother-bodies under the umbrella of the CCMG who, while professing to be neutral monitors, have continued to also take a partisan stance against or in favour of political players.
He said some of the statements issued by this so-called independent monitor of the electoral process show a clear bias.

” Some of their church leaders have already indicated they want to use the debt issue as a campaign tool against the Lungu administration while imploring their colleagues in the opposition to begin to state how they shall deal with the debt when they get into power,” He said .

” Unfortunately, the CCMG is heavily sponsored by foreign political interests to champion this kind of bias against political players while treating it as an independent monitor. The clear preference the CCMG in favour of one political player against another should be the source of concern to everyone who will be participating in the 201 elections,” He said.
The consortium has since called on citizens across the country to defend Zambia’s sovereignty. -Smart Eagles

LUNGU’S LAUGHTER.A DISORDER OF DISSONANCE.
“Every time I hear people say Zambia is not doing fine , I laugh”(President General Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu)

Mr. Lungu’s laughter when people say that things are not okay in Zambia is very true and sincere. Its an emotional disorder that has been perfectly visible through out his presidency. He is alleged to have said, whenever someone say things are not okay in Zambia he responds,”loosen up and take a cup of coffee, Zambia is doing fine.” Until you fairly evaluate his cognitive dissonance, you may unfairly judge him. Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu sees things from an impaired emotional perspective arising from a chronic psychosocial detachment.

This a very rare disorder that manifests in converse emotional reaction. For example, people with this disorder would laugh when someone dies or would cry when everyone is laughing. This is the reason why we find Mr.Lungu reacting in the manner he does over the failing economy and the 8% insult he gave our civil servants as well as defaulting on the loans.To him, the Economy is doing very fine and that’s why we see the unrestrained extravagance in his Government. The GDP is in negative, the dollar rate is at its highest ever, inflation is in hyper mode, loadshedding in the midst of stable rainfall, mealie-meal at over K100, hospitals reduced to prescription centres, families having one erratic meal a day, unemployment shooting through the sky- Mr. Lungu laughs and says,”loosen up and take a cup of coffee, Zambia is doing fine.”

When someone has no vision like he lightly declared, one begins to live in a spontaneous world where anything that happens becomes an achievement. Zambia is a failed state! No rule of law, ballooning armed cadreism, unbridled Corruption, polarised Institutions of Governance with the executive meddling in the Police, ACC, Judiciary etc. This is our Zambia under his failed leadership.

The country borrowed and plundered borrowed money without any moral restraint. All capital projects are quoted at three times higher than global market prices! This is the country where the head of state is telling the citizens to loosen up and take a cup of coffee.

How many families can even afford such luxuries other than the Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs). The billions of dollars in the hands of PEPs were tabulated in the FIC report which he trashed as Mfwiti mfwiti .We all know that those in the Political establishment are cushioned from the Economic sting because everything is free coupled with stealing.

These are the people who can loosen up and take a cup of coffee. How much is a Kilogram of Sugar today? The coffee he is referring to is coming from well managed economies whose citizens have employment and conducive policy support for industrial engagement. We have certain parts of our nation were people solely dependable on wild fruit for their daily survival. Mr. Lungu is sleep walking. So are those that surround him. That’s why they are all insisting that things are ok in Zambia.

How many graduates are loaming the streets today? How many children are able to attend school today? This is the scenario where the head of state is urging citizens to take a sip of coffee and loosen up. Its most unfortunate to have such a level of hate for one’s country. Zambia is an inexhaustibly rich country with visionless day dreamers sabotaging it’s potential. Zambia is doing fine? What exactly constitutes doing fine? What Economic benchmarks are we anchoring our performance on?

Mr.Lungu feels that he has developed Zambia so much that there is no other country doing better than Zambia today. He needs to be waken up and get treatment earlier. There is no way we can survive under this phantasy of leadership.
Sikaile C Sikaile
Good Governance and Human Rights Activist

DO YOU KNOW WHY PRICES ARE GOING UP RAPIDLY?
Many Zambians are wondering what’s going on? Why are prices of goods shooting up uncontrollably?

Let’s try to answer these questions for you in simple terms ;
1: The depreciation of the kwacha is a major factor, Zambia is an import driven economy (which is a very bad thing). We import most of the goods we consume, these goods are imported in dollars, so when the kwacha loses value, prices increase and inflation takes root because the people importing these goods use the exchange rate to set their prices and preserve their revenues.

Even alot of our locally produced goods have alot of imported inputs, especially in agriculture, things that we’re capable of making in Zambia but the government chooses to import.

WHAT IS CAUSING THE KWACHA TO COLLAPSE?

In simple terms its low exports and non productivity in the economy meaning fewer dollars coming into the country, increased imports meaning more dollars leaving the country, excessive government debt, corruption, economic policy instability, tax policy instability and political instability that is forcing foreign investors to pull back and out.

2: Load shedding has been a major contributing factor, it has increased the cost of production and service delivery. Businesses have to use generators to operate half the day and that cost is passed on to consumers.

Load shedding has also reduced productivity so manufacturers have to spread out operational costs over fewer products or sales resulting in higher prices for consumers.
3: High fuel and electricity prices are fuelling this inflation, these essential inputs of production and operations are passed on to the consumer.
4: Excessive government taxes.

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS?

1: A change of government and change of leadership.
2: An IMF Bailout that will help us get lower interest rates and longer debt repayment period to reduce financial stress on the treasury.

3: Austerity measures in government, unnecessary government spending must end. Reduce salaries and perks for senior officials, close some embassies abroad, close some ministries like Religion and Traditional Affairs, merge some ministries,, get rid of DC’S Etc.
4: End Corruption and financial bleeding in government.

5: Restore full production in the mines by finding responsibile investors to improve dollar inflows into the country.
6: Impose tarrifs and bans on import of select goods. This will reduce the outflow of dollars.

7: Embark on a policy of local manufacturing. This will increase exports, reduce imports, stabilize the kwacha and create millions of jobs for Zambian youths.
8: End borrowing, no more loans unless it’s absolutely necessary.
9: End load shedding by investing in coal and solar power plants that are not dependent on rains.

10: Reduce taxes on fuel and electricity. Get rid of the excise duty and remove the middlemen and corruption from the fuel procurement process.
COPYRIGHT @ NDC MEDIA

The Kinshasa Trip
By Dickson Jere
The business proposal we went to present was huge – in the range of USD 2 billion. So, we were advised that “first impression” was everything in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and therefore we needed to arrive with pomp.

My friend chartered a brand new Gulfstream 650 Jet, with five crew members. We were only two passengers, dressed up for the rare occasion of “meeting” then DRC President Joseph Kabila.

On arrival in Kinshasa, we were received by putative high-ranking “officials” with a quarter-guard of the military mounted just outside the plane stairs. We walked past as we got the military salutes to the waiting limousine enroute to the meeting. While in the speeding motorcade, we were told the President was busy and that we will “Rendezvous” at the Hotel Intercontinental for few minutes until we get cleared. Upon arrival at the hotel, we found out that we were accorded about 15 security officers attached to our two-man delegation.
“I am Major. I will be responsible for your security with my team during your stay in Kinshasa,” he said, with very good command of English language.

Major, turned out to be of Zambian descent from Chilenje, but very guarded about his background and on how he found himself in the VIP protection unit in the DRC. He spoke good Nyanja too!

Anyway, the” few minutes” wait became two days – we were marooned at the hotel – although our plan was to depart Kinshasa the same day after the meeting, which was confirmed for 10:00 hours that very day.

It then turned out that the 15-man security had to be fed by us as well as foot their daily allowances of USD 180 with Major at the rate of USD 200.

“The chief will see you soon…” Major kept assuring us, as he walked around the hotel lobby while speaking on his noise walktakie.

At several intervals we were hurriedly moved into our cars enroute to the Presidential palace but no sooner had the cars started revving than we were told to stand down because the “chief” had to deal with an emergency matter that had just come up.
Meanwhile, at the airport, “our” plane was under guard by 5 heavily armed soldiers, the captain informed us. They had to be fed too by us, including their daily allowances.
Day three and no sign of the meeting but just strong assurances that it will take place.
“My friend, we are fucked…. I am running out of cash,” my mate-cum-Client whispered to me. We had to abandon the mission.

The aircraft Bill was running outside his initial budget as we planned for one-day use but now we were on day three with hourly charges plus crew upkeep, which was not on the budget.

My friend has “F” words in his vocabulary especially when upset. And they started coming out! We had to look for clothes and toiletries as we did not carry any luggage.
On day four, we sat on the plane in readiness to fly back to South Africa. As we were about to taxi, the plane was stopped. A presidential aide, whom we both knew, got on board and gave us bear hugs.

“Apologies, the President is not in Kinshasa…,” he said, advising us to fly to Goma if we really wanted to see him. There was miscommunication about our arrival dates, we were told. My friend already forked USD50,000 in South Africa which he paid the “intermediary” who organized our trip and the aborted meeting with the President.
“Next time boss…” my friend answered.

As soon as the powerful aide left the plane, two armed officers entered.
“You have not paid the bill…” one said.
“Which bill?” my friend inquired.

When we landed Kinshasa, we were told, did not pay the allowances for the quarter guard that welcomed us as well as the protocol people who were off-duty but called to receive us at short notice.

USD 25,000 Bill. The plane was stopped on the tarmac just few meters away from the runway. Scores of gun-trotting soldiers surrounded the plane.
(Excerpt from my forthcoming Book). File photo

BY 2021 UPND KABWE CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY ASPIRING MP- HONOURABLE DON MWENDA.
SOME ZAMBIANS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.
Before belonging to the category of those aspiring in political spaces, am a born and bred Zambian citizen who understands that vandalism is a cancer, a drawback to achieving development and I strongly do not condone lawlessness. Am one of those citizens who have had trouble with the men in uniform many times by virtual of being UPND and not PF.

Many are the times that am summoned to present myself before the police and I hasten my steps because am always innocent and I take the law as a serious guidance to order in the country. The police must and should show dignity in their dealings and operations. Where is the professionalism in the police men and women of today? They are soo attracted to political lines and have been supporting our oppressors for far too long just because they are the ruling party. I recall how my president HH was unjustly and criminally bundled by the police from his residence. They went further to vandalize the properties of my president which were worthy millions of kwachas, forcefully dressing him a haggard called treason.

Two days ago I bundled my small and humble financial muscles so that I provide atleast a flood light in kabwe’s Natuseko market were our mothers who are also our breadwinners have been trading from without flood lights and this problem has been prompting them to be knocking off early before it’s too dark and dangerous. Unfortunately PF kaputula ward youth chairman went to distort the functioning of the flood light by vandalising the cables to the detriment of the market operators.

The case was reported to the police but since he is a PF cadre the police have not stepped on the gas to have him apprehended.

What is happening to our country? Where is the ” no one is above the law, notion ” are other people more zambian than others? Why is the law being applied selectively? Where are we going as a country if their is no punishment for lawlessness?

We will not allow our marketeers to suffer because of one politically bankrupt individual. The police should stand by and for the people of Zambia whom they swore to pay allegiance to not politicians.
CIC PRESS TEAM.