OPPOSITION UPND members of parliament have demanded for an extension of the voter registration exercise.

The exercise, which began on November 9, is expected to close tomorrow.

Lader of the opposition in Parliament and Monze Central member of parliament Jack Mwiimbu spoke on behalf of other lawmakers.

They also said they have evidence that the mobile issuance of national registration cards (NRCs) in Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Eastern and the northern parts of Central Provinces has been ongoing, side by side with the registration of voters.

The members of parliament complained that: “we have evidence to show that in areas like Western Province, NRC officials did not touch more than 50 per cent of the areas that were required to be covered by the mobile teams.”

“In Southern, Central and Lusaka, they covered not more than 60 per cent [of the areas]. And we brought out this particular issue to the attention of the authorities – the Minister of Home Affairs,” Mwiimbu said at a media briefing on the electoral process in Lusaka.

Almost all UPND members of parliament attended the event.

Mwiimbu said the low numbers of people who were given NRCs in Lusaka, Central, Southern, Western provinces was a deliberate ploy by the PF.

He added that an election is not an event but a process.

“For you to register as a voter, you need to be 18 years of age and you need to have an NRC. [But] as a result of non-issuance of NRCs in the areas in the indicated areas, we have thousands of people who were not able to register as voters,” he said.

“It therefore follows that they have been disenfranchised by the government. An NRC is not just for the purpose of elections…. In other areas, we have evidence that mobile issuance of NRCs is taking place in Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Eastern and the northern parts of Central Province.”

He asked: “why is the PF government being discriminatory?”

“What they have done [is that] the issuance of national registration cards is being done side by side with the voters’ cards. NRC officials have gone to voting centres – you get your NRC and then you are registered [and issued] with a voter’s card,” he noted.

“Any genuine Christian is not supposed to be discriminatory. But discrimination is taking place. We would like the Minister of Home Affairs to be responsible and investigate what we are getting – that kids who are not eligible are getting NRCs and voters’ cards.”

Mwiimbu then made a demand.

“Our demand is that because the whole [electoral] process is marred by problems, we call upon the electoral commission to extend the voter registration,” noted Mwiimbu.

“We are demanding, as the representatives of the people, that they must extend the period [of registration].”

Meanwhile, UPND parliamentary whip and Liuwa member of parliament Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane said there must be an audit into the NRC issuance, province by province.

He added that the second phase of national registration cards issuance did not capture as many people as the first phase.

PRESS STATEMENT
12 TH DECEMBER 2020
PF DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF TAKING OVER KCM
Looking at what is happening on the KCM issue, it’s very clear that the PF regime did a very bad job. The issue was rushed there by overlooking the implications of the agreement binding the two parties together. ZCCM IH may have a very genuine grievance against Vedanta of protecting the interest of the Zambian people. But the manner it executed its grievance procedure will most likely be very harmful and costly to the Zambian people. Two wrongs cannot make a right. We therefore wish to advise the PF regime through ZCCM IH to swallow its pride and take a deep reflection on the matter before the Country is plunged into deep financial crisis.

PF should stop misleading Zambians that it has a good case on KCM. If that was the case why did the Court of Appeal stay the winding up process of the mine and referred the matter to the arbitrator in South Africa? We are aware that locally PF does not respect any law, but this madness should not be taken outside its boundaries. PF’s arrogance has led this Country into very deep financial crisis. PF will leave too many problems behind as they leave office next year.

The financial implications that will come as a result of disrespecting the terms on which the mine was sold will not be borne by PF, but ordinary people. If the investor was found wanting on the agreed terms and conditions first, we should also have been the first ones to lodge a complaint before the arbitrator against the investor. When we sold the mine we did so on terms and conditions that we agreed with the buyer. People must stop being irresponsible and careless when carrying out such sensitive duties, don t use emotions.

PF has very serious problems in monitoring the activities on the mines. It’s like when things were going wrong in KCM the whole Government machinery was sleeping. Only to wake up when it was too late and now they want to use draconian methods to cover up their inefficiency. The case of KCM is just one example of how rotten the PF monitoring system is. They say PUMBWE AFWILILE PALYAKWE.
Percy Chanda
UPND – Chairman for Mines and Freedom Fighter

The Law Association of Zambia has warned that it will take legal action against all former ministers and their deputies refusing to pay back the money they illegally received after the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the 2016 general election.

LAZ President Abyudi Shonga says the legal steps will include instituting contempt of court proceedings and taking out appropriate writs of execution against the affected party.

He said in a statement that the ministers do not have an option but to pay back the money within 30 days.

“LAZ has welcomed the Ruling on Assessment by the Registrar of the Constitutional Court handed down on 7th December, 2020 in relation to the case involving the Ministers who illegally stayed in office in 2016. Through the said Ruling, state coffers will be boosted by a sum of about K4.2 million within the next 30 days. However, LAZ is deeply concerned with remarks circulating in the media attributed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Jean Kapata in which the Honourable Minister is quoted as saying that she will not pay back the money as adjudged by the Court,” Mr Shonga said.

“Our concern stems from the fact that decisions emanating from our Courts of law should not, under any circumstances, be ignored or belittled. We do not expect citizens, let alone sitting Cabinet Ministers, to undermine the Judiciary or decisions handed down by courts of law. As LAZ, we wish to remind all the Ministers affected by the Judgment of the Constitutional Court that they do not have an option in the matter, but to abide by the decision of the court and pay back monies ordered to be paid within 30 days from the date of the assessment,” he said.

“LAZ warns all those ordered to pay back the duly assessed sums of money that LAZ will take every legal step possible to ensure that the Judgment of the Court is complied with. These steps will include citing those who undermine the court decision for contempt of court, and taking out appropriate writs of execution.”

Me. Shonga said LAZ will deploy all available options to ensure that every person, regardless of their standing in society, does not demean or undermine the sanctity of decisions of our courts.

“It must be stressed that everyone is duty bound to respect decisions of our courts of law. We therefore, call upon all the Ministers (as they then were) affected by the Constitutional Court’s decision to promptly comply to avoid the adverse consequences of the court’s coercive powers.”

Dear Doc Lungu
STEPPING DOWN CAN BE THE BEST IDEA FOR YOU AND FOR THE COUNTRY
Reason with me sir money is never enough, already you have accumulated a lot of it from the time you were elected into office, stepping down will come with Legacy and so much honour but loosing will come with Mockery and insults the decision is yours, such risks are not good, they sent Mugabe to the grave

I know that you are so much wise and you wouldn’t want to go through what Rupiah Banda went through when leaving office even after he managed to put a lot of money in our pockets, the same can happen to you after constructing all these beutiful roads around the country, hospitals and shopping malls you can be a subject of Mockery next year be smart unless you tell me you are just trying to scare the opposition

At the moment everyone around you can’t face you with the truth, because you provide for them and they are scared you may take away the little you give them, at the winning for you would mean stealing votes which is not good for a leader sir, PF will not die if you hand over to another person all your followers will follow your choice like what happened to Doc Chiluba

Even if you retire today you still have what to eat till the time you die, our resources will take good care of you, in fact even a mansion will be belt for you just imagine what I am saying and u will never think about humiliations of loosing elections, let someone else suffer that loss in your party while you enjoy at your farm watching your favourite movies on a big screen, travel the world, give your family enough time to be with you and exercise more

Immediately when you loose, you will notice that ZNBC will have nothing to do with you, people Like Bowman will even change the names of his twins to Hakainde and Mutinta Lusambo, i am sure you can see how many MMD senior officials you are currently working with, ask yourself how they suddenly changed to be PF, please my leader think about it
Your good heart doesn’t allow you to fire people that are corrupt and suspects inclusive, allow another person with that courage and skill to help u, it’s not everything that you can do for us, you have done your part that’s why we are gifted differently
MY LEADER NEVER PRAY TO GOD TO KILL YOUR ENEMIES BECAUSE YOU MAY END UP LOOSING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
listen to the song below and dedicate it to your enemies click on the link to download
http://zambiantunes.com/uncle-strawberry-ft-chester…/
Yours Truly
Peter Mwango (Uncle Strawberry)

PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU WAS DELIBERATE ABOUT MINISTERS’ ILLEGAL STAY IN OFFICE.
By Anthony Bwalya
The reaffirmation of the judgement of the Constitutional Court directing that all former Ministers who illegally occupied office at the height of a general election in 2016 pay back all such monies and allowances drawn illegally from the treasury, is yet another consolidation of the UPND as the principal guardian of the people’s public interest and welfare.

It was the UPND who vehemently argued against what was the blatant disregard of the Republican Constitution by Mr. Edgar Lungu and his cabinet friends, while the Patriotic Front (PF) played its usual role of criminal conspirator and defended its own.
It was the UPND, through our Secretary General Mr. Stephen Katuka, who took the PF criminal elements to task and approached the Concourt to protect public interest.
But let us be very clear, that it is NOT true, that Mr. Edgar Lungu, incompetent as he might be, was unaware of this illegality at the time.

The President knew exactly what he was playing at, and his actions were a deliberate, premeditated assault and disregard for the supreme law of the land.
Mr. Lungu wanted the extra $500,000 out of the treasury and into PF elections, and the perfect avenue to draw such money was to direct it into the pockets of his Ministers illegally in the form of salaries and allowances.

If President Lungu may wish to play dumb and claim ignorance of the requirement of the law for Ministers to vacate office after the dissolution of Parliament, then he ought to RESIGN forthwith. It means he is not fit to be President if he cannot get right the most basic of decisions and defend the Republican Constitution at whose pleasure he serves.
On the other hand, if Mr. Lungu claims to have followed the advice of the then Attorney General on the issue, then let him come clean and PUBLISH the OFFICIAL LEGAL ADVICE given to him and the government on the matter at the time. If the Attorney General’s advice was faulty, then he is calpable and guilty of PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT and thus needs to be professionally disciplined.

Zambians may wish to recall, that it was Mr. Lungu who signed a bogus guarantee on an illegal $500m LOAN from bogus lenders “ON BEHALF OF ZESCO” in the middle of the 2016 election, a guarantee that was subsequently revoked by former Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe.

And yet again, we have the PF regime under this President wanting to use ZESCO to illegally bring in $2.14bn of campaign financing for purposes of the 2021 general election. Can Mr. Lungu, the PF and ZESCO explain what the urgency is for this money and what the collateral requirements shall be?

This is criminal, and may all those Executives at ZESCO know, that if they will allow themselves to be used as conduits of criminal sabotage against our Zambian Republic, they shall fully be held to account.

Ultimately, every individual who illegally benefitted from the premeditated disobedience of the Republican Constitution is individually liable and must PAY BACK THE MONEY.
#Register2Vote
#changeiscoming

UPND HAS BEEN VICTIM OF STATE SPONSORED VIOLENCE
We are greatly appalled by Mr Edgar Lungu’s escalated buck-passing on matters regarding the rule of law and public order of this nation. This is a clear vindication of our long held view that governance of this country under the PF has completely collapsed and in need of a total overhaul in 2021.

The back and forth flawed interpretation of the constitution that has led the nation and now his own Cabinet ministers into a debt crisis underscores this tragic failure by Mr Lungu to run the public affairs of the State.

To point at Hakainde and the UPND as the instigators of political and community violence when Mr Lungu controls governance institutions is not only a sick joke but a glaring admission of lack of leadership and a ready confirmation of the existence of a power vacuum that ultimately threatens peace and stability in the country. There’s no party that has been subjected to systematic State sponsored violence than the UPND, its leaders and supporters since the PF came to power. These matters are in the public domain and very well documented.

Our party has had it’s youths murdered in cold blood by known PF thugs who still freely roam the streets, terrorising innocent citizens without any intervention from the law enforcement because the PF who are supposed to be the custodians of law and order are the prime beneficiaries of the gravitation of the chaos and crime. Grazia Mutapa, Lawrence Banda, Mapenzi Chibulo, Vespers Shimuzila have all died at the hands of PF instigated violence. Known PF hired thugs attacked and brutalized mourners at Leopards Hill Memorial Park during the burial of a UPND supporter Clance Zulu and no one has been arrested to date.

At a personal level, we have been the target of well calculated incidents of political violence that have sometimes threatened our lives. In the Sesheke parliamentary by-election campaigns, live fire was discharged at our rally, while gallant Police officers who courageously restored order, by apprehending the PF thugs, were promptly retired in the so called national interest.

When conducting a Sun FM live radio interview on the Copperbelt in April 2014, heavily armed PF thugs discharged live fire as they raided the studio. By God’s Grace, we escaped through an opening in the roof.

PF cadres backed by senior District civil servants have carried out sustained terror attacks on various Community Radio stations around the country that have featured our interviews.
Armed PF cadres early this year raided Lusaka Central Police station, the biggest law enforcement facility in the country and assaulted and robbed officers on duty. Only recently in Muchinga Province during by-election campaigns, armed PF cadres mounted illegal roadblocks on public roads and hurled projectiles as we drove by; none of them have been arrested even though they are known to the police.

From the foregoing and many other unmentioned examples, it is succinctly clear that Mr Edgar Lungu and the PF are the instigators and beneficiaries of political and community related violence since the Chawama panga wielding incidents.

As UPND in power in 2021, courtesy of God’s will and the people of Zambia, we will from day one outlaw cadrism and political violence by ensuring law and order reign supreme.
We will allow law enforcement agencies to independently exercise their constitutional obligations to maintain order that will be devoid of political interference. We will not meddle in their professional duties to bring sanity and dignity back to our communities.
Our mothers in public markets and the travelling public in bus stations will no longer be terrorised by PF thugs that harass them and extort their hard earned money as is the current norm under the PF and Mr Edgar Lungu. Zambia shall return to normalcy and respectability once again.

On the commemoration on Human Rights Day, we would like to assure all Zambians that under our leadership, their rights will be fully respected.
HH
#Time4Change

CSO`S AND OPPOSITION ALLIANCE`S DEMAND FOR ECZ CHAIRMAN TO RESIGN ARE UNSUBSTANTIATED – SUNDAY CHANDA
….POLITICISING VOTER REGISTRATION IS UNCALLED FOR
Calls by a consortium of 20 civil society organizations and the alliance of political parties for Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairman Justice Esau Chulu to resign are unsubstantiated, polarized and uncalled for. We have taken note of the developments circulating in and on various media platforms this week to politicize the voter registration exercise and victimize officials mandated to handle the electoral process in this country.
For the benefit of the public, we wish to remind the CSO`s and the alliance of political parties that when President Edgar Lungu appointed Justice Chulu as ECZ chairman in 2015, his appointment was received with overwhelming support.

Among the statements issued at that time were those of GEARS chairperson MacDonald Chipenzi (heading FODEP in 2015) who said: “We are in support of the filling of vacancies because the commission was put in a very awkward position. The expectations on the trio are high because elections require level-headedness and fairness,” We are therefore surprised that today Mr Chipenzi would say Justice Chulu is incompetent to deliver a free and fair election in 2021.

UPND in a statement issued by Charles Kakoma in 2015 said; “it is good that President Lungu has filled the vacancies at ECZ to enable it to start preparations for next year’s tripartite elections. Mr Kakoma said UPND members of Parliament will support the ratification of Mr Justice Chulu’s appointment and the two commissioners because they are credible people.” UPND should tell us what has changed. We find it strange that today the UPND leader should stand up and endorse calls to weaken ECZ through the resignation of its internationally acclaimed chairman without any justification.

Justice Chulu has served at ECZ as commissioner from 2009 until April 2015 when he was appointed chairman. This simply means he has been involved in overseeing 3 presidential elections (2011, 2015 and 2016) all of which were deemed free and fair by local and international organizations including those CSO`s now calling for his resignation.

We must realize that the register ECZ has decided to discard also includes over 1 million deceased voters. It is therefore imperative that in expressing our concerns as stakeholders we do not kill the system or try to hijack the process to create an atmosphere of “a failed electoral process” in the hope of ascending to office illegally.
ISSUED BY:
Sunday Chilufya Chanda
Media Director
Patriotic front Party HQ
Lusaka
10/12/2020

PF Media Director Sunday Chanda says the Opposition Alliance should accept the ruling on President Edgar Lungu’s eligibility the way they accepted the ruling on ministers who remained in office in 2016 when parliament was dissolved.

Mr Chanda said he was disappointed with the hypocrisy exhibited by the opposition when it comes to court judgements.

“We have noted for some time with much disappointment the hypocrisy continuously exhibited by opposition political party leaders over court rulings in this country. The culture these opposition party leaders have developed is one that says “as opposition leaders, we would be above the law and not respect decisions that are seemingly not in our favor and not serving to benefit our causes if we were in power,” he stated.

Mr Chanda stated that the Alliance should accept every court ruling.

“This week, the Constitutional Court made a ruling over a 4-year-old matter concerning the stay of ministers in office in 2016. The court ordered that the persons pay back within 30 days what they earned in that period of overstay in office. This was welcomed with much aplomb and applause by the opposition alliance. There is a sudden reverence of the justice system in Zambia by the alliance. The same alliance which showers discredit in disdain on the very constitutional court for ruling that President Edgar Lungu is eligible to contest the 2021 elections. Why should there be double standards? Why should the alliance be double tongued? This is nothing but outright hypocrisy! Zambians are watching and taking note.
We expect the alliance to respect every court ruling and come to equity when justice is served. The law should and will always be fairly applied in this country,” he stated.

Mr Chanda stated that President Lungu had always stood for independence of the judiciary and as Head of State, he will always support constitutional institutions and their rulings.

“To this effect, he has urged all former and current ministers affected by the court ruling to adhere by it and pay back as demanded. We challenge the alliance to stop the culture of political bias and selective adherence to judicial rulings. Their current approach only shows that they would abrogate the constitution if at all they were elected to office. No one is above the law as our Head of State has clearly demonstrated,” Mr Chanda stated.

ABOUT SHADOW-BOXING: A CASE OF FACELESS ONLINE MEDIA AND THE COWARDS THAT CONTROL THEM
By Sean Tembo – PeP President
1. For almost two years now, we have watched without any reaction the hate, insults and innuendo that have been spewed against us by faceless online media such as Koswe and Zambian Watchdog. We have studied their pattern of insults and hate and tried to correlate them to specific politicians in order to try and ascertain the forces behind such spirited and yet baseless attacks against us. We have never cared about the motive because it is clear that the motive is to make us less appealing in the eyes of potential voters come 2021 general elections by lumping all manner of insults and innuendo on us. But today, we are happy to mention that we have been able to ascertain with reasonable certainty the identity of the forces behind these baseless attacks and insults against us using faceless online media.

2. We have little doubt in our minds that the UPND President Hakainde Hichilema directly or indirectly controls the faceless online media such as Koswe and Zambian Watchdog that have been spewing hate, insults and innuendo against us ever since we left the Opposition Alliance. It appears that HH and his army of social media warriors were grossly heartbroken by our departure from the Opposition Alliance that they have been hell-bent on soiling our good standing and reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public. They have therefore gone on a consistent rampage insulting us, our spouses, family and everyone else that is caught up in the line of fire. But we are not going to take such an onslaught while lying down. We have always fought battles and we are not going to be shy to fight this one.

3. For starters, it is an act of gross cowardice for HH to hide behind faceless online media pages such as Koswe and Zambian Watchdog and launch incessant and unprovoked attacks against us. If the man has any bone to chew with us, he should have the spine to stand up, step forward and confront us face to face and not hide behind faceless online media tabloids such as Koswe and Zambian Watchdog and then proceed to insult us from the comfort of a keyboard.

4. Naturally, people might ask to say what is the basis of believing that HH is the one behind the faceless online media tabloids; Koswe and Zambian Watchdog that have been spewing hate and insults against us? Over the past 12 months, we have painstakingly correlated the content of these faceless online media against the online pages of all other political leaders in the country and we have come to a conclusion, with more than 90 percent certainty that the people who manage Hakainde Hichilema’s pages on Facebook and Twitter are the same ones that manage Koswe and Zambian Watchdog or replicate their online content. For us, a 90 percent probability is good enough to challenge HH and tell him to stop his incessant and unprovoked attacks against us using faceless online media.

5. For us, we don’t believe in shadow-boxing. If we are not happy with the behavior of HH, we will not waste our time by also creating a faceless online media to use to launch attacks against him, no. We don’t have time for such a facade. We will just stand up, step forward, point a finger in his face and tell him to stop the nonsense. So if HH has beef against Sean Tembo, the decent think to do is to tell us in our face so that he can get it off his chest and not engage in shadow-boxing by using faceless online media such as Koswe and Zambian Watchdog. We will always appreciate a man who has a spine and not a coward who hides behind the comfort of a keyboard.
/// END

SET 11.12.2020

By Chibamba Kanyama

WILL ZAMBIA FINALLY CLINCH THE IMF DEAL?
The IMF Director of African Department Abebe Aemro Selassie has indicated the application by Zambia for funding will be assessed soon. This statement has been widely followed globally given Zambia’s debt situation and its recent default on a due payment to Eurobond holders.

I personally know Abebe and consider him to be a down to earth and ethical Ethiopian national who is currently heading a top position at the Fund. As Head of the Department, his recommendations on Zambia will certainly carry a lot of weight within the IMF ranks. However, his assurance to assess the request is no guarantee of a favourable outcome. There are a lot of layers within the governance system of the IMF that are involved in programme approvals. Key departments within the Fund will make their own assessments according to set evaluation benchmarks.

Whatever the case, there is one positive at this stage: The IMF Director for African Department personally made a visit to Lusaka, barely a month after appointing Preya Sharma as Resident Representative, replacing Alfredo Baldini who was recalled in July 2018 (I was heavily bashed for tweeting a Baldini replacement would take a while).

Given the small size of the delegation and (few) number of days spent, it is also clear the visit was an installation mission of the New Mission Chief for Zambia Alex Segura-Ubiego and Sharma as Resident Representative (Mission Chiefs generally install Resident Representatives). The real takeaway, therefore, is that the Zambia-IMF relationship has been restored and at a time when the creditors desperately looked forward to this initial step!

I am very positive the IMF is serious about supporting Zambia. It has in the past months keenly followed the events about Zambia and, as expected of the IMF, its assessment is in part due to possible spillover effects if Zambia’s appeal for help does not receive serious attention. The IMF first received serious request for support from Zambia in May (meaning all earlier pronouncements by Government that it had approached the IMF may just have been intentions).

WILL IMF COME ON BOARD?

The prospects for a Fund programme are summed up in one sentence taken from Abebe’s end of Mission Statement, “We look forward to the presentation of the government’s home- grown economic strategy, and will be assessing in the coming weeks how the IMF could support the authorities’ reform efforts through a possible Fund program.”
This is like writing a letter to your uncle, ‘I have read your request for help and will be looking into it after analysing your intentions to cut down on alcohol, divorce the second wife, send away those many dependents you are keeping.’

I am not very sure I have full details of what the home-grown economic recovery strategy is but I know that in September this year, Government approved the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) whose focus is a move toward economic stabilization; push towards economic recovery and a growth plan aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while diversifying the economy. This seems to be the Zambia Plus that is yet to deliver on fiscal consolidation.

The key issue is the level of government commitment required to attain these benchmarks in order to get the IMF support. Does government possess enough courage to embark on serious stabilization measures just before the 2021 elections given that some of the expectations involve halting infrastructural projects, stopping borrowing, and spending prudently? Or could it be government hopes to secure the program now, negotiate for part financial injection but implement full programme after the elections? If IMF buys into the latter, it would be a wise move but requiring commitment from all political players given the uncertainty of elections.

IT ALL HINGES ON GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT

The IMF team met President Edgar Lungu and probably this gives an indication there is executive commitment to implement what the IMF is looking for. I am personally lobbying for IMF support towards Zambia because the results will eventually be good to every citizen. It is for this reason I support any kind of commitment that Government will make in ensuring we get the IMF on board. My advice to government would be for us to go for a big new medium-term expenditure framework that will change the outlook materially and we can be on a happy road to recovery!

The accident of our births places a demand upon all of us, that when our nation gets in need of our help; we will show up. The time has come for all Zambians to line up in droves and get registered as voters. Doing so goes to show not only our commitment but also our faithfulness to the ideals that will make this nation great.

For the past few weeks, I took a working holiday from my law practice in Calgary, Alberta, to come to Zambia to register as a voter. From the advice of a friend, I was taken to Ngwelele area of Lusaka and lined up with other citizens from the local farms. On that line were Zambians of all tribes, stripes and persuasions. We spoke about the need to register. We debated about the events in our country. We spoke English, Bemba, Nyanja, and Lenje. We all were united by a clear desire to see that our names get included on the voter’s roll.

On that queue, we were all equal – a farm worker, a mother, a youth, and an international lawyer. We all lined up to demand the best first for ourselves, and then for those next to us. A lot has been said about the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). However, what I experienced on that day was just so amazing. The registration officer was compassionate and kind. He was overworked, nevertheless. He was all by himself and was being assisted by a police officer whose duty was not to help register citizens but to provide security. What was happening at the Ngwelele registration centre was typical all over the country – police officers who were initially engaged to protect the registration exercise, did themselves turn into assistants for the registration officers. The process appeared to be excruciating for one person.

The officer had to take your NRC particulars, input the particulars into the computer system. They would then scan your fingers. Not one or two fingers, but all the ten fingers. Then you had to take a picture. A few more steps and it would be time to print your card, and then press it under the plastic cover (some form of lamination, I guess).

Initially, the officer was supposed to work until 18:00 hours. When at 18:00 he noticed that there were tens of citizens lined up to register, he was kind enough to extend the closing time to 19:00, and then to 20:00, and then to 21:00 when my turn came. After I had gotten registered, we exchanged a few pleasantries with the registration officer, took a selfie with him (what would we do without selfies?), and the police officer joined us for the last picture. We were all pleased to have been part of the registration process. Into the dark of the late Lusaka evening, we drove off into the bush. What a day it was.

One of the good things about the current registration process is that one can register to vote at any polling station of their choice. As a Chiwempalan, I wanted to register to vote from there. Given a choice, I chose to be registered to vote from Chiwempala Community Hall just behind Chiwempala Market. At that polling station in August 2021, I will join my fellow Chiwempalans to vote in a new councillor, member of parliament, mayor, as well as President. At the moment, we are just hoping that Parliament will pass the law needed in the delimitation of new constituencies. If that were to happen – Chiwempala and its surrounding areas would become a new constituency. If that happened, I hope Parliament will name that new constituency – Chiwempala Constituency after the name of its famous market. The market where my family has plied its trade and living for decades. My family has worked from Chiwempala market, selling all sorts of things such as salaula, ifitenge, and ifi tumbuwa.

My trip to Zambia took me to several parts of our country. I rented a vehicle and drove to Samfya for the Bangweulu Marathon. I did a 21.1 kilometre run around Samfya and met several of our citizens. There is just something about runners. Early in the morning of November 28, 2020, at around 5:30 am, we gathered to run and off we went. Samfya is beautiful. The ruling party propagandists found an excellent opportunity to educate me on the great works of their leader. Of course, they never mentioned our ballooning debts, uncontrolled deficits, and the falling Kwacha. After about two and a half hours, I completed my run. Sweating and panting. Journalist Godfrey Chikumbi was on hand with his massive camera in my face. With icibe in my nostrils from this 2-hour run, I mumbled a few things. The Luapula Explo team has done amazing things for our ancestral homeland. It is only natural that we support their efforts, and nothing demonstrates our effort than being present in Samfya when the desire to run runs deep. After the run, I got to know that there was another famous runner on the tracks. He did 10 kilometres though running with a cadre of a lot of kampengas. I did not get to meet President Lungu. Who knew that our paths would meet in Samfya of all places?

Excited from the success of the 21.1 Kilometre, I thought it was a great idea to go and have lunch in Milenge. It was an excursion. We made it back to Kasanka-Milenge turn off; and hit the untarred road. The PF government should take some of the borrowed kaloba to tar a highway for our people. If they do not do it, the people of Milenge should find an alternative government to help tar that road. A stretch of about 79 kilometres ended up taking close to 2 hours. When we arrived at Milenge boma, we had lunch at Elnathan lodge. It was going to be a Luapula bream for lunch. The Luapula River that runs just a few metres from Elnathan lodge does not have fish anymore, at least not at Milenge. We chatted with a few civil servants of Milenge – one from home affairs, another from the DEBS office and a newly posted teacher. The assigned teacher is from Lusaka. All these workers are the real heroes of our country – patriots serving the length and breadth of our country.

Our plan to go to the Copperbelt on the same day did not work. Our excursion into Milenge took longer than usual. Once we had crossed the pedicle into Copperbelt, we ended up in Chiwempala. It will be at Chiwempala where, God willing, I will be returning as a voter in 2021. And if the people of Chiwempala want me for more than just a voter; I will be honoured to respond. The accident of our births places a demand upon us. And we must respond.

Elias Munshya can be reached at elias@munshyalaw.com.

PRESS STATEMENT
BY NETO HALWABALA
UPND Southern Province IPS
*10.12.20*
*EDGAR LUNGU HAS NO REGARD TO THE CHIEFS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE*
It is unfortunate that Edgar Lungu has continued to disregard and show arrogance to the Chiefs in Southern Province.

How can he mislead the nation with lies in the presence of Royal Highnesses on our President Hakainde Hichilema and UPND regarding political violence?
And as if this is not enough even giving them mocking assignment to engage HH on ending political violence in the country.

Not too long ago he showed arrogance to a traditional leader here in Southern Province on voter registration but listened and respected the Chiefs in Luapula Province on the same matter.

This action has potential to bring anarchy in the country.
It is a taboo in our culture to cheat a Chief or Chiefs.
Lies Edgar told the Chiefs in Southern Province was a taboo!
And this is why the country is experiencing a total mess of leadership which is always deliberately telling lies to the nation.

Who does not know that PF is a father of political violence in Zambia today?
The whole country knows how HH and UPND members have been savagery attacked by PF thugs under Edgar’s leadership.

He has never ordered the police to arrest his thugs who are terrorising our members wearing UPND regalia in public places and many killed a list is there.
It is shameful and shallow for Edgar to accuse our President Hichilema of failing to stop or condemn violence perpetuated by PF members.

HH is a victim of political violence together with our members.
Mr Lungu is unaware that he is occupying that office which requires as the occupant to be always truthful and exemplary in his conduct.

At times he acts like an ordinary person in Chawama Township chatting with peers in the bar .
Mr Lungu must be sober always with our Royal Highnesses to avoid embarrassing the highest office of our Land.

The police are even failing to arrest PF thugs attacking police station.
What kind of a President is he who has no shame to tell lies?
We cry for our beloved country to have such a leader.

Anyway, Edgar Lungu is in Southern Province for a farewell since next year he will be out of state House.

It is unfortunate that instead of being truthful when he is in Southern Province and regard the interaction with the Chiefs in a proper manner he has to leave a bad name as the lying President.

President Edgar Lungu says political violence in the country can only end when the United Party for National (UPND) opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema and his party commit to the process. President Lungu said political violence in the country is being perpetrated by the UPND.

Responding to a request from six Chiefs in Monze District for peace mediation between the Head of State and Mr Hichilema, President Lungu said he has always remained ready and committed to see violence end.

President Lungu told chiefs Hamusonde, Monze, Choongo, Chona, Mwaanza, and Ufwenuka’s representative that UPND President Hakainde Hichilema is the one perpetrating violence in the country as a recourse to losing general elections.

The President stated that UPND which he belonged to under late President Mazoka was not a violent party until Mr Hichilema took over the party’s leadership. “Under Mazoka, we never had violence. I have condemned the violence. I have not heard my friend HH condemning violence, “said President Lungu, urging the traditional leaders to also advise people to desist from harming each other.

President Lungu who is in Southern Province for a three-day working visit said his administration remains committed to bringing development to the region. He regretted that Southern Province had not received the desired development under past Presidents and that he will continue to work within means to bring development. He said the government will continue to improve the road network through construction of road infrastructure to aid service delivery.

The President assured the Chiefs that the Nickel- Monze Road will be made passable while waiting for funds to upgrade the road to tarmac and that he will make sure that people trying to sabotage government service delivery in the health sector are fired.

The Head of State said he is saddened to learn that there are shortages of drugs in health centres in Monze and he will engage the Minister of Health to assess the situation and ensure that essential drugs are distributed to people who need them.

President Lungu also assured the traditional leaders that the government will look into their complaints of the stoppage of the issuance of National Registration Cards. He explained that the ongoing mobile issuance of NRCs is intended to supplement the normal issuance of NRCs at the Boma.

President Lungu further assured the chiefs that he will engage the Minister of Livestock to ensure that veterinary services and drugs for cattle are made available.

On the repair of dilapidated dams and construction of additional dams, President Lungu said Minister of Water Jonas Chanda was recently in the area to assess the situation and needs.

The President said the government has already engaged the World Bank to help address the issue of dams so that people can have clean safe water for drinking and irrigation.

The President said he remains committed to promoting agricultural production in Southern Province so that the region reclaimed its bread basket status.

He said he has already engaged the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and other stakeholders to explore ways of improving agriculture in the region.

“Agriculture is important for Southern Province Significantly, but yield has been going down. I will engage stakeholders like ZNFU, Ministry of Agriculture to boost agricultural production “, said President Lungu.

President Lungu said it was unfortunate that the area Member of Parliament for Bweengwa has not taken advantage of the K126 Million Constituency Development Fund to finance the construction of police or health posts to meet people’s needs.

The President said he was humbled that people have appreciated his personal efforts of putting up new infrastructure at Bweengwa School. President Lungu financed the construction of new structures at Bweengwa School at a cost of over K1.4 million which led to its upgrade to a Secondary School.

Earlier, Chief Hamusonde had appealed to President Lungu to address the development challenges of the people of Monze. Speaking on behalf of five other chiefs, Chief Hamusonde urged President Lungu to quell political violence in the country by engaging UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.

President Lungu also met and addressed Headmen whom he said play a vital role in the management of chiefdoms as they are custodians of traditional authority and lineage.

And President Lungu has directed Monze District Commissioner Munachongo Muleya to procure bicycles for all headmen in the district to aid their work.

Patriotic Front (PF) Lusaka Provincial secretary Kennedy Kamba has observed with concern the continued tendency by the opposition and some civil society organizations to discredit the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

He has expressed dismay at the systematic machination by the opposition and some civil society organizations, trying by whatever means possible to discredit the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on a daily basis and trying to portray a picture that they are not capable of handling the 2021 general elections.

“This is very dangerous and Zambians must reject attempts to ridicule the ECZ, a professional and autonomous electoral body that is headed by technocrats,” Mr Kamba said in a statement.

He said the country should believe in the electoral body as stakeholders and never involve it in sheer politics.

He said the commissioners and indeed management at ECZ are doing everything possible, working round the clock to ensure that they put up a credible, free and fair general election come 2021, starting with the ongoing voter registration exercise.

“Indeed, the ECZ has a mammoth task and challenges in this regard are inevitable as they are part of every process and part of life.We, therefore, cannot afford as a country to have irresponsible leaders to continue claiming that the electoral body is not ready for the 2021 general elections” Mr Kamba.

He said the opposition UPND and their allies have put up a systematic attack on the ECZ because they know they are losing even in 2021 general elections but they want to shift the blame on the electoral body even when it is clear that its actually the opposition which is not ready to compete with the ruling PF.

He has since advised the opposition to leave the ECZ alone, to let them do their job in peace.

He further said the opposition UPND, Chishimba Kambwili’s NDC and others, know very well that they don’t have numbers and that they are unpopular hence their attempts to declare elections a sham even before a vote is cast.

Mr Kamba said the opposition are scared, and just cry-babies and urged them to leave the ECZ alone and just work hard and stop the blame game.

“Comments from people like Dundumwezi UPND MP Edgar Sing’ombe where he is saying the ECZ is not ready for 2021 general elections must be condemned with the contempt they deserve”he said.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) told the nation that they were targeting to register nine million voters for the 2021 general elections. And when this announcement was made, stakeholders were happy that a lot of voters would be captured. It was a sign of good will from the Commission to enhance the country’s democracy.

However, ECZ spoiled the atmosphere when they again announced that they would abandon the old Voters’ Register to come up with a new one. They also announced that voter registration would be done within a month. This all but sullied what could have been a great moment in the history of our democratic dispensation.

The ECZ route and defiance was the beginning of all the problems we are seeing today. And, with sheer arrogance, ECZ officers dismissed genuine concerns from all stakeholders. Come the start of the registration period on November 9, everything that stakeholders feared emerged.

And today, Dundumwezi UPND member of parliament Edgar Sing’ombe is questioning the Commission’s readiness to conduct next year’s elections. Sing’ombe says, “Here in Nkandazovu, about 400 potential voters have not been captured. In Naluja 200 plus people have not been captured, in Kasukwe the system is on and off. ECZ are not ready for the elections. If they are then they are deliberately disenfranchising the people of Dundumwezi and Southern Province at large.”

These lamentations must be taken seriously. With less than a week to go, ECZ has captured just over 4.3 million voters. It’s either ECZ are not ready for next year’s elections or they are doing this deliberately, in collusion with the PF. From the very beginning, ECZ has never behaved as a referee in our electoral process. Instead, the institution has shown open disdain at concerns from stakeholders. We wonder what magic ECZ will use to reach their targeted nine million voters in the remaining few days, with this chaotic exercise they are conducting. Going by what they have captured, the ECZ’s defiance is about as watertight as a sand castle!

As we have stated before, no one can deny the need for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to build some reasonable levels of consensus on the electoral process.

And when people who are believed to be intelligent start acting unwisely suspicion rises. People start to think that their weaknesses are deliberate and conscious. And are intended to achieve a certain outcome. This is the case with the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

And indeed, the consequences of the apparent inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s approach to voter registration exercise were clearly pointed out by the opposition and other stakeholders.

But they were not ready to listen to anyone else other than their masters in the ruling party and its government. They were actually very arrogant about it – they knew it all.

They were told it won’t be possible for them to register nine million voters in one month. But their response was if they can handle so many voters in one day how can they fail to register nine million in one month?

As things stand today, they have no choice but to extend the voter registration period. They equally have to up their game!

SOCIALIST Party president Fred M’membe says it is difficult for one who has soiled himself to stand up and leave while everyone is watching.

In a statement from his Garden Compound office yesterday, Dr M’membe said without standing up to leave and clean oneself, the mess would not disappear.

“And the humiliation won’t go away. It’s only by standing up to clean oneself that the humiliation disappears, goes away,” Dr M’membe, an economist and veteran journalist said.
“Similarly, politicians who have abused their public offices, who have stolen from their people and have been tyrannical have serious difficulties leaving power. They invariably seek to perpetuate themselves in power. They seek to change constitutions and give themselves more years in power. They are never ready to leave. They try to persuade and convince everyone that only them can govern well, without them there will be chaos in the nation – only them are God chosen to lead.”

Dr M’membe said corrupt and tyrannical politicians work against the nation’s best interests to hold onto power.

He noted that there were two sides to political leadership.

“On the positive side, great political leaders can make a big difference in the nation. They can inspire fellow citizens to share a vision and to work together to achieve great national things,” he said. “On the negative side, there are comforts that come with political leadership roles including higher salaries, respect, and other perks and even possible abuses. So, when someone attains a political leadership role, they are reluctant to give it up.”

He said behaviours of some politicians to hold on to a political leadership role once they have it can seriously undermine national interest and wellbeing.

Dr M’membe said when politicians have a political leadership strategy focused on keeping themselves in power in perpetuity, they limited the development of a new leadership to replace them to avoid being challenged.

“So, political leaders protected their position from the most threatening fellow citizens when they felt they could lose their position. In this case, leaders with a desire to cling onto power would isolate the most talented fellow party members or citizens from everyone else. Those not seeking to cling onto power would allow alternative leadership to develop,” he said. “Politicians who are prone to want to protect their power will engage in behaviours that promote their own interests over those of the nation in cases where their continued hold on power is in jeopardy.”

Dr M’membe said such tendencies were likely to influence even well intentioned political leaders, a tendency they need to overcome to ensure they act in the best interests of their people and country.

Contact : UPND Media Director, Ruth Dante 0976593175/0977780397
Email : info@upndzambia.org
09.12.2020
Press Release
ANOTHER FIVE YEARS FOR WHAT, DORA?
The United Party for National Development (UPND) is startled to learn of embattled Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Dora Siliya clamouring for another five years at the summit of the country’s leadership.

We are left shaken and wondering what the PF has in store for the hunger-stricken people of Zambia that they have failed to do for them during the past decade that they have been in power.

We wonder if Ms Siliya is in her right flame of mind to think that Zambian traders, especially the women will continue trading under the current harsh conditions (City Market, Soweto, Munyaule, Chisokone etc)!

Does Dora want farmers to continue enduring the harsh farming prospects that they have been made to endure for the past 5 farming seasons owing to the high cost of fertiliser; late distribution of farming inputs and continued lack of payment for their produce by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA)?

Ms Siliya must not cheat herself that the people of Zambia are willing to take yet another risk and subject themselves to the harsh life that the PF has subjected them to.
Is Siliya happy that UNZA lecturers haven’t been paid their gratuity and terminal benefits since the Movement for Multi-party Democracy-MMD-era?

Does she want to continue seeing UNZA and CBU students continue being barred from sitting for their exams due to non-payment of tuition fees, a situation already worsened by the scrapping off of student meal-allowances and bursaries?

The women who have continued to give birth on the floor; lack of medicines, including Panado and Coatem that is not readily available at health posts, is that what she wants to see Zambians continue going through?

What of the huge debt mountain in excess of US$27 billion that the PF has contracted in the past 5 years and the failure to pay back the US$45 million Eurobond interests that her Government has failed to foot? Does she want the PF to auction the country and totally rip it of its dwindling resources and economic fortunes?

That stated, may we as UPND warn the wonderful people of Zambia not to fall prey to the Siliya’s lies that the PF would be able to offer better leadership and provide the much-needed jobs, better medical services and better conditions of service when it has failed to do so when the people of Zambia gave them the opportunity.
*UPND MEDIA TEAM*