Patriots for Economic Progress (PEP) President Sean Tembo – PeP says the disintegration and subsequent “death” of the opposition alliance is because UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is a selfish and politically weak politician.

He says Mr Hichilema and his followers have been advancing that every other opposition political party must agree with them and work in concert with them, failure to which, such a political party is a surrogate of the ruling PF.

But he says such moves constitute political blackmail.

“ Mr Hichilema postulates that all opposition political parties must unite in order to remove a ruling party and that it is irresponsible and unpatriotic for us in the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) to seek our own identity by standing on our own, but the question that l wish to pose to Mr Hichilema is; did he, together with his UPND unite with PF in 2011 to kick out the MMD Government of the day?” he asked.

Mr Tembo has also complained that Mr Hichilema has a habit of using political partners to advance his UPND agenda adding that Mr Hichilema is a politically weak person and he knows it deep down his heart that he does not possess the mental strength and ability necessary to kick out the PF.

“Mr Hichilema is not just a weak guy, he is also a selfish guy, he is not willing to give away even a single constituency or ward in return for the support of people like myself. He wants it all to himself,” he said.

Mr Tembo has further charged that Mr Hichilema’s political career to succeed and for him to enter State House, Mr Hichilema will need the support and assistance of strong political players.

However, he says those strong political players will be unlikely to offer their support for free because of Mr Hichilema’s inborn selfishness.

The PF critic has also brought to the fore that Mr Hichilema has never helped in any way, especially on courts cases against the PF but only want support for his UPND agenda.

“Being politically weak and yet selfish and crooked, Mr Hichilema feels that he is entitled to Sean Tembo’s political support. How dare you sir! Just like Sata and his then PF fought and beat MMD, you sir need to fight and beat PF by yourself. We at PeP shall also seek to fight and beat PF by ourselves. It is each man for himself and God for us all”, he said.

The outspoken Tembo has also gone for opposition NDC leader Chishimba , describing him as a politically naïve person.

He said Mr Kambwili should be dreaming if he thinks Mr Hichilema will give him a position of running mate.

“Even politically naive people like embattled Chishimba Kambwili who think that Mr Hichilema will make him his running mate will soon bite the dust. Now, these two attributes of being politically weak and yet selfish puts Mr Hichilema in a catch 22 situation… and today, you feel that you’re entitled to our support as you seek to fight the Electoral Commission of Zambia on very flimsy matters? Well, you sir can go to hell,” Mr Tembo said.

Tembo who withdrew his party from the alliance has told off HH saying he should go to hell.He said this in an article below:

ABOUT POLITICAL BLACKMAIL: A CASE OF DEFACTO ALLIANCES

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1. There is this narrative which UPND President Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his followers have been advancing; that every other opposition political must agree with them and work in concert with them, failure to which such a political party is a surrogate of the ruling Patriotic Front political party. I want to categorically state that we do not agree with such a narrative as it constitutes political blackmail by seeking to create a defacto alliance in favour of the UPND. Mr Hichilema further postulates that all opposition political parties must unite in order to remove a ruling party and that it is irresponsible and unpatriotic for us in the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) to seek our own identity by standing on our own. But the question that l wish to pose to Mr Hichilema is; did he, together with his UPND unite with PF in 2011 to kick out the MMD Government of the day? Or did Mr Hichilema and his UPND advance their own agenda in 2011 in the same way that PeP is seeking to advance its own agenda in 2021?

2. As Patriots for Economic Progress, we are not averse to political alliances. In fact, we strongly believe in the need for political alliances as a vehicle for growth of our party as well as for the ultimate benefit of the Zambian people. However, any alliance must be mutually beneficial to all parties. An alliance should not just benefit one political. Each party should make some sacrifices, which constitutes an investment into the alliance, in order to make an alliance work. When we joined the Opposition Alliance with 13 other political parties about 2 years ago, those were our expectations. At that time, we were willing to make certain critical sacrifices such as forfeiting to stand as a presidential candidate in 2021 so as to rally behind Mr. Hichilema’s candidature, and also work hard to push the Opposition Alliance agenda in the public domain as well as help mobilize financial resources for the Opposition Alliance project. I was both the Chairman of the Media Affairs Committee as well as the Chairman of the Finance Committee for the Opposition Alliance and l worked tirelessly in both roles. As Chairman of the Finance Committee and within a period of a week, l was instrumental in organizing the Opposition Alliance end of year Fundraising Dinner at Intercontinental Hotel in December 2018, at which we raised more than K1 million for the Alliance. As Chairman of the Media Affairs Committee, l was instrumental in galavanting from one Media house to another to advance the Opposition Alliance, all at the expense of the PeP agenda. Anyone who understands politics will tell you that Media and Finance are the backbone of any successful political movement. And l handled both of these critical roles with impeccable diligence and competence. But after investing all this effort and sacrifices, Mr Hichilema was not willing to allocate some constituencies and wards for PeP to solely contest in in 2021, as part of the Opposition Alliance package. He point blankly told us that since UPND is more popular than PeP, the best he can offer is for our candidates to contest on the UPND ticket! To us, this amounted to dissolving our party and joining the UPND, which was contrary to our understanding and expectation from the Opposition Alliance. So l told Mr Hichilema that l will be withdrawing my party from his Alliance, and so we left.

File: When all was well, Sata (l) with UPND Hichilema sharing the same platform. Photo: Post
3. However, it is evident that Mr Hichilema expected myself and PeP to continue advancing the UPND agenda even though PeP was no longer in an alliance with his party. Our view is that in the absence of a political alliance, there is no compulsion by any party to advance another party’s interests. The concept that the opposition must, by default, unite to kick out a ruling party is inherently flawed and is not shared by even Mr Hakainde Hichilema himself, because he clearly did not unite with PF in 2011 to kick out the then MMD Government. To the contrary, Mr Hichilema walked away from the PF-UPND pact. Sata and his PF solely beat MMD and kicked them out of office. But since today it benefits Mr Hichilema, he wants to advance a narrative that PeP has a duty and responsibility to help him kick out PF and that if we do not do that, then we are surrogates of PF. And yet, he is not willing to sacrifice a single constituency or ward in return for our support.

4. My view is that Mr Hichilema is a politically weak guy and he knows it deep down his heart that he does not posses the mental strength and prowess necessary to kick out a shrewd and brutal ruling party like PF. He knows that he needs the support of people like myself. But Mr Hichilema is not just a weak guy, he is also a selfish guy. He is not willing to give away even a single constituency or ward in return for the support of people like myself. He wants it all to himself. He wants us to rally behind him for free and escort him to State House. Even politically naive people like embattled Chishimba Kambwili who think that Mr Hichilema will make him his running mate will soon bite the dust. Now, these two attributes of being politically weak and yet selfish puts Mr Hichilema in a catch 22 situation. For his political career to succeed and for him to enter State House, Mr Hichilema will need the support and assistance of strong political players. However, those strong political players will be unlikely to offer their support pro bono. They will want some form of power sharing of sorts, which Mr Hichilema, by virtue of his inherent selfishness will be unable to grant. Just like he was unwilling to allow any alliance member to contest even a single seat in 2021, and wanted everyone to be under the umbrella of his faltering UPND party.

5. But being politically weak and selfish and not the only handicap for Mr. Hichilema. He also has an inflated sense of being smart. He falsely believes that he can outwit his political allies. But his attempts to outwit his political allies are so shallow that they usually border on crookedness.

For example, in 2016, Mr Hichilema allegedly entered into an alliance with three other political parties. The leaders of these three political parties were allegedly requested not to file as presidential candidates and in return, Mr Hichilema and his UPND would support the candidature of their MPs in selected constituencies. For sure, these three political leaders kept their end of the bargain and did not file as presidential candidates. They in fact are said to have gone on the presidential campaign trail with Mr Hichilema. However, when time came for Mr Hichilema to keep his end of the bargain, he decided to allow his party to file candidates in all constituencies including those he had allegedly promised to reserve for his allies. His then allies told me that Mr Hichilema’s excuse was that he had been overruled by his party, the UPND and that there was nothing he could do about it. In my view, such alleged conduct on the part of Mr. Hichilema does not amount to outsmarting his political allies, but amounts to being crooked.

6. And today, despite being politically weak and yet selfish and crooked, Mr Hichilema feels that he is entitled to Sean Tembo’s political support. How dare you sir! Just like Sata and his then PF fought and beat MMD, you sir need to fight and beat PF by yourself. We at PeP shall also seek to fight and beat PF by ourselves. It is each man for himself and God for us all. In fact, you sir and your UPND have never supported us in any way, shape or form in our fight against the PF. We have challenged the PF and it’s Government in four cases in court (all of which we won by the way) and you sir never allocated us any of your lawyers among your large army of lawyers, and neither did you contribute a single Ngwee for our legal fees. We undertook 13 successful protests against the $42 million fire tender scandal and you sir never sent a single one of your UPND members to come and give us solidarity. While we were being attacked by Paul Moonga and his thugs along Cairo Road, you sir were lying on your couch at your home busy tweeting.

And today, you feel that you are entitled to our support as you seek to fight the Electoral Commission of Zambia on very flimsy matters? Well, you sir can go to hell. SET 03.10.20204,112People Reached300Engagements.

Hamwiinde Munamunungu writes…

WHO BEWITCHED AFRICAN LEADERS?

We had our share from our President, Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba, when in his early days in power yawned in a State House swivel chair how “sweet power” was. He said this in a State House televised Press Conference. We thought he was joking but he meant it as we witnessed years later.

As years advanced he pushed for a Third Term in office and all of us were surprised. He organized it as being the work of the Party ( MMD) as he remained in the background. There was a gentleman in the forefront actively helping out in the name of Michael Chilufya Sata, as National Secretary of the MMD. He mobilized aggressively and we were only saved by the belt which missed a notch in his dynamism.

The climax of the war was when my former Commander, Lt Gen Christon Tembo, then as VEEP of the Republic joined ranks with the Anti Third Term elements. FTJ was a civilian and Christon was a soldier who studied and applied the famous Ten principles of War in Military Studies and he won.

From this stand point Zambians know and understand the political concept of a Third Term. So when the PF talks about and pursues this Third Term concept Zambians know the direction.

Recently another soldier Gen Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria warned his West African leaders to stick to their constitutional term limits. This was in the wake of the bids by the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattra and that of Alpha Conde of Guinea. Both of these guys were due this time around to go but because “ power is sweet” they want to extend their stay. Both are advanced in age and in their 80s. Buhari too studied the famous Ten principles of War and soon these guys will remember him.

What therefore is the reason to go beyond the constitutional term limits? A friend asked me why this was so common amongst the African leadership. He cited Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s recent change of the Constitution just to ensure he stands.

In reply I suggested that it could be that through that” power is sweet concept “some leaders abused power excessively and dipped deep into the national treasury. They saw prison if they went out and therefore thought that the best was to stay in power till death. Secondly it appears this is another DNA in built mechanism for Africans.

One would think that ECL, as a lawyer is well placed not to pursue such dreams through the eyes of Bill 10. Legal experts have said that under the current constitution, he does not qualify because he has held office twice. It appears many would jump in to challenge his application lodged somewhere in July 2021.

It would appear that the Zambians are ready to change guards around this time next year. They are looking at the new platoon commander to take charge by 13 August 2021. In 1991 the people were fed up with Kaunda and UNIP. In 2001 it’s was FTJ people didn’t want as President. In 2011 it was the MMD that people didn’t want but could have tolerated RB if he had won.

Today both the PF and its leader(s) are not wanted. It doesn’t matter how much money will be on display, or the number of voters to be registered and to vote. The pain caused and passed through is unbearable. Some people feel the pain just by mentioning the word PF or whenever they hear that “ Dununa Reverse song”.
Time to reflect is now and the people’s anger is written on every face even amongst the so called PF cadres.

USING STATE HOUSE GROUNDS TO FIGHT A POLITICAL OPPONENT

Yesterday, Patriotic Front (PF) cadres, disguised as students, youths and leaders of civil society organisations, matched to State House, without Zambia Police hindrances, to present a petition to President Edgar Lungu for him to appoint a commission of inquiry into the privatization of state-owned companies in the 1990s.

In response, Mr Lungu said he would soon appoint the said inquiry to put the privatization matter to rest and subject those who allegedly abused the process to justice.

He added that it was clear that some people allegedly took advantage of the process to loot, plunder and enrich themselves.

Was I surprised by yesterday’s charade?

No, I wasn’t.

I had already read the entire script.

Yesterday’s petition came just days after Mr Lungu had told a PF campaign rally in Luapula Province that he might consider heeding the demands of the “Zambian people” to appoint a commission of inquiry to probe the privatization process.

I had found Mr Lungu’s statement very interesting.

The only question I have for him is: Which people?

Yes, which people have asked him to appoint a commission of inquiry targeted at his arch political opponent Hakainde Hichilema?

To the politically naïve, it is, indeed, the Zambian people pressuring Mr Lungu to appoint a probe team to put to rest unanswered questions about the privatization process.

Chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya recently told us that government was closely following “the reaction by the citizens” to allegations that Mr Hichilema allegedly never declared interest in the sale of some public assets.

Who are these “citizens” and what do they stand for?

Here is another unanswered question.

Where did this privatization debate emanate from?
Did it really begin with Forum for Democracy and Development president Edith Nawakwi?

Let’s go down memory lane to check how this game has been unfolding.

DECEMBER 26, 2018
President Lungu’s spokesperson Amos Chanda begins the debate by calling for a judge-led inquiry into the privatization of state owned companies.

“Unlike Mr Hichilema who sold the companies to friends or relatives and himself, President Lungu’s participation was confined to being chairman in the sale of Zambia Cold Storage Limited to foreigners.

“President Lungu did not sell the Keembe storage to himself, relatives or friends.”

*******************************************************
As presidential spokesperson, Chanda uttered these words on behalf of President Lungu. *******************************************************

DECEMBER 26, 2018
Patriotic Front media director Sunday Chanda says the following:

“Compare and contrast with all the sales in which the UPND president was involved. They are all tainted with criminality.”
*************************************************

DECEMBER 26, 2018
PF media committee member Chanoda Ngwira tells ZNBC that he welcomes the State House suggestion that there should be a judge-led inquiry into the privatization of companies.

Ngwira adds that the inquiry will not be a political witch-hunt but merely give an opportunity for a named opposition politician to tell Zambians his side of the story.
************************************************

DECEMBER 27, 2018
PF-aligned Zambian DNA spokesperson Spuki Mulemwa tells ZNBC he welcomes calls by State House for an inquiry into the privatization of parastatal companies
********************************************************
27 AUGUST, 2020
A supposed PF-backed Edith Nawakwi goes on radio to re-launch PF accusations against Hichilema.
****************************************************
A few days later, PF-inclined Young African Leaders Initiative calls on Mr Lungu to appoint a commission of inquiry into the privatization process.
****************************************************

1 SEPTEMBER, 2020
PF member of the central committee and chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya issues a statement saying the government finds Hichilema’s alleged conduct in the privatization process, if true, to be “a clear case of corrupt practices, bordering on non-declaration of interest in winning a bid”.

“Government is, therefore, studying the matter and is following closely the reaction by the citizens who are the true owners of the property in question.

“The nation will at an appropriate time be informed on the steps that government will take should it become necessary to act on behalf of the citizens of Zambia.”

4 SEPTEMBER, 2020
Siliya tweets that government is surprised by “unfounded” allegations by Hichilema that government and the PF party want to imprison and/or kill him.

“That is a cheap attempt as usual to invoke sympathy. Zambians are simply asking him to account for his wealth and his role in privatization”.
*******************************************************

1 OCTOBER, 2020
PF-aligned students and youths match to State House to present a petition to PF and Zambian President Lungu to appoint a commission of inquiry into the privatization programme.

Mr Lungu says he will appoint the commission of inquiry as he has already received numerous representations from “people” across all walks of life.

Now, you can see the “people” Mr Lungu has been referring to; user-friendly characters with the sole aim of ensuring that Hichilema does not appear on the ballot next year.

In essence, it is not the “people” but Mr Lungu and his PF party who are victimizing Mr Hichilema.

Why should we be wasting our very meagre resources on a compromised commission of inquiry with a pre-determined outcome?

Are we a serious country?

Just look at our priorities. When it is not privatization, it is Bill 10.

When it is not Bill 10, it is something that does not help our country in any way.

Really?

Is this all that we deserved from Mr Lungu?

Why is he so scared of Mr Hichilema that he can go all the way to find ways of forcing a conviction and prevent him from running for the presidency of this country?

Do genuine Zambian citizens conduct themselves in the manner Mr Lungu is doing?

Yesterday, he even bragged that the Inquiries Act gives him the latitude to appoint a commission of inquiry without consulting anyone.

Why should he abuse the Zambian law to fight his political opponents?

In the past, Mr Lungu has used the law to fix people he has had differences with.

This is what retired Supreme Court for Zambia judge Philip Musonda refers to as lawfare.

In an academic paper titled “Lawfare: Undermining constitutional democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the post-colonial state”, Dr Musonda defines lawfare as “a form of war consisting of the legal system against an enemy, like damaging or delegitimizing them, tying up their time or winning a public relations victory”.

Dr Musonda adds: “Don’t use the law to victimize your political enemies and “eliminate the opposition from the political scene”.

Mr Lungu has had the notoriety of using lawfare to fight people he perceives as his enemies.

Let me demonstrate.

When President Michael Sata died in October 2014, The Post newspaper made it clear they were not going to support Mr Lungu’s candidature for either PF presidential candidate or, indeed, Zambian president.

Mr Lungu had learnt a lesson.

Come the 2016 elections, Mr Lungu made it a point to have The Post newspaper closed before the country went to vote lest they swayed the thinking of the electorate.

How did he do it?

He used a state institution, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), to settle his political scores with Post Newspapers proprietor Fred M’membe over unpaid taxes.

Even after M’membe had taken the matter to the Tax Tribunal which ruled that The Post continue to run and pay the debt in installments, the ZRA ignored the ruling and went ahead to close the newspaper in accordance with Mr Lungu’s wish.

That was not the only matter in which Mr Lungu had used a state institution to fight personal battles.

In 2015, Mr Lungu had had personal issues with Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito and wanted him dismissed.

Since Nchito had security of tenure, Mr Lungu had to use lawfare to get rid of his enemy.

He appointed a tribunal to probe and establish a case against Nchito so that he could dismiss him.

The tribunal comprised three former chief justices led by Justice Annel Silungwe.

But two of the former chief justices on the tribunal- Ernest Sakala and Mathew Ngulube- were conflicted.

When Nchito asked Sakala and Ngulube to recuse themselves as they had had personal differences with him, they refused to do so.

In the end, they delivered a report in accordance with Mr Lungu’s wish which recommended Nchito’s dismissal.

How differently will Mr Lungu’s commission of inquiry against Mr Hichilema be?

State House should be an honourable place that belongs to all of us and not one for fixing perceived enemies or blocking political opponents from seeking public office.

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LUSAKA — 3rd October 2020.

*WE ARE GEARED FOR THE PROTESTS – LISWANISO, KABWITA TELL KAPESO*

“AS long as we follow the laid down procedure, it is our constitutional right to assemble and protest against anyone who wants to disturb the peace Zambia has been enjoying since independence,” United Party for National Development Deputy National Youth Chairman Gilbert Liswaniso has told the Zambia Police Command.

Reacting to Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations Bonny Kapeso’s intimation that police are reluctant to allow the planned countrywide protests, Mr Liswaniso said it is every Zambian’s responsibility to safeguard prevailing peace in the country by stopping those scheming to disenfranchise citizens from voting.

This was at a consultative meeting called by the Zambia Police as a follow-up to the UPND and the National Democratic Congress notice to the Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja on the planned countrywide protests against Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson Judge Essau Chulu and his Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano.

Mr Kapeso’s suggestion that the petition be taken to the two named individuals was also shotdown by Mr Liswaniso and NDC’s National Youth Chairman who noted that it was not the police’s role to suggest how the opposition should engage other stakeholders in the electoral process.

Mr Kapeso told the two youth leaders that the Zambia Police wanted to be impartial by being servants of the people as the country heads to the presidential and general elections next year.

He said the police command was willing to engage all stakeholders to clear any misunderstandings.

However, Mr Kapeso sought to arm twist the youth leaders by warning that police would unleash their newly acquired arsenal as a last resort if the two parties do not come to an agreement on the way forward.

Mr Liswaniso, however, told the command that the newly acquired war equipment by the police will not deter the Zambian youths in standing up for their birth and constitutional rights.

“We are pleading with our youths to follow the laid down procedures but they are willing to go on the streets without involving you. We see youths from the ruling party protesting on the streets without notifying the police and they have now started storming the police stations and beating our officers there. It is important we reach an equitable agreement the youths will understand, otherwise they will see us as sale outs,” said Mr Liswaniso.

Mr Kabwita said the youths of Zambia want to safeguard the peace the country has enjoyed since independence hence their decision to stand up against Judge Chulu and Mr Nshindano’s maneuvers to disenfranchise citizens in taking part in the electoral process of the country.

And UPND Lusaka District Youth Chairman Archritius Mwanakayaya earlier today delivered a police notification on the planned protests in Lusaka.

The opposition political parties plan to demonstrate what they termed as the “undemocratic and illegal decision by ECZ to discard the 2016 Voter’s register in preference for a completely new one.

The demonstration is also aimed at pushing for the resignation of the ECZ Judge Chulu as well as Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano for incompetence.

Addressing the media, Mr Mwanakayaya said Mr Chulu and Mr Nshindano are a danger to the country’s peace and its survival and wondered what mechanism the two hope to use to capture the targetted 9 million voters when the registration of the voters for 2011, 2015 and 2016 took a number of months to capture.

*(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM*

By Patson Chilemba

Ruling PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri has not taken kindly assertions that the ruling PF used ‘surrogate organisations’ to call for the institution of a commission of inquiry into the privatisation process which happened over two decades ago.

Forum for Development and Democracy (FDD) leader Edith Nawakwi, under whose wings the privatisation process was carried out as finance minister, has been accusing Hichilema of having benefited himself during the process, allegations the government has bought into, and yesterday YALI presented a petition to President Lungu, which he used to announce the institution of a commission of inquiry to look into the matter.

Speaking with Daily Revelation in a recent interview, Phiri said she would not give a position on the matter, claiming the PF was not behind the move.

“Already you have heard some people are claiming that Edith Nawakwi was given something or whatever, they are claiming she has been paid for her to start speaking like that. But I haven’t heard anybody tell us how much Mr Hichilema was paid by the same PF for him to start talking about Nawakwi, because it’s him who started,” Phiri said. “He went to a TV programme which was hosted by pastor Chiluba, it’s pastor Chiluba who asked him, that’s where Mr Hakainde Hichilema said Nawakwi was sleeping. What Honourable Nawakwi said on Hot FM was simply responding to what Mr Hakainde Hichilema said. So how can anybody claim that PF paid Edith Nawakwi when she was busy responding?”

Phiri claimed that it was the people who were calling for the inquiry.

“Have you heard anybody because even from the government spokesperson she hasn’t called for that. It’s the people. Is YALI part of government? In fact they are the ones who have even petitioned. Is YALI part of PF?” she asked.

But asked on charges that the organisations pushing for the move were mere ‘surrogates’ the party was using to seemingly legitimise their action as a non-partisan undertaking, Phiri responded: “Is Linda Kasonde UPND surrogate? Is Laura Miti, she is surrogate of UPND? Those are NGOs. Is McDonald Chipenzi a surrogate of UPND?”

Phiri continued.

“I am asking, has YALI agreed that they are our surrogates? YALI was in existence even before PF came to power. That’s a very strong youth movement, which has been in existence even before PF formed government so you can’t call them that…is Brian Changala a surrogate of UPND?” Phiri said. “Even me I can’t tell who a surrogate to PF is. I can’t because nobody has come out to say me I am a surrogate of who.”

Asked on ruling PF member Colonel Panji Kaunda’s statement questioning why President Lungu is revisiting a matter that happened decades ago, when there is a fresh criminal case committed by his own daughter, Tasila, as confirmed by the Ministry of Lands and Environmental Protection, Phiri refused to be drawn into commenting specifically on the matter, instead diverting to questioning Col Panji’s membership in the party.

“And where did Colonel Panji Kaunda resign to become a PF member? I am asking you when did he resign from UNIP to become a PF member. Where did Bob Sichinga resign from UPND to become member? Did you see him reign to join us?” Phiri asked, but was reminded that these were people who campaigned for the PF prior to winning power and served in the PF government as ministers. “Look me I am PF, I am a known PF member, if I don’t come out to resign publicly, because everybody knows that I am PF, if I am given a job, let’s say if ZRP or any other party wins…that doesn’t make me a ZRP member. Yes.”

Phiri said the procedure in politics was that if one had decided to support a political party, they should first announce their resignation from the previous party.

“It’s not PF which is pushing for that, it’s the citizens of the Republic of Zambia, is Green Party president also being called our surrogate? Is Sean Tembo who was in an alliance with HH, they were together, has he now changed because he has spoken his feelings to be our surrogate,” asked Phiri. -Daily Revelation

It’s nonsensical for newly weds to use contraception – Chilufya Tayali

IT’S nonsensical for people who have just gotten married to talk about contraception, Chilufya Tayali has said.

The Economic and Equity Party (EEP) president says immediately after marriage, couples should be talking of boosters in terms of “bedroom jobs and fertility.”

Commenting on pictures of President Edgar Lungu’s daughter Tasila and husband Patrick interacting with animals apparently on their honeymoon, Tayali said “honeymoon is not just about playing with animals.”

“It’s time to get busy and strengthen the marriage, the two families of the man and woman, grow wealth and secure the future generations,” Tayali added.

He said if his party came into power, it would ban contraceptive advertisements running in the media, because Zambia’s population was too small for the “big and rich Country we have.”

“Look at me, when I got my first wife, from Rwanda, I wasted no time to cause her crave for fresh fish and our first born is now 17 years doing University. I allowed her to breathe for her body to get back in shape and I brought in the second one. Had we continued with our marriage, we would have been counting 5 by now,” he said.

“I am now with Tsega and we are just over a year of our marriage and Kiya is 4 months. We will allow her to grow and let my wife get back in shape as she gets a job, because she is a full time qualified accountant, then…..you can guess,” Tayali added.

He said much as he was separated from his first wife, their relationship will last forever, because of children.

“Diplomatic ties with Rwanda are also naturally sealed, especially when I will be President. No matter how my wife may not like Zambia because it is under developed, she has no choice to renounce the Country or me, because her first born child is Zambian,” he said.

“Our diplomatic relationship with Ethiopia is naturally stronger and we will work with them to realise my United States of Africa which was started by great leaders like Col. Gaddafi, killed by the Westerners who are killing our unborn children using contraceptives and abortions, then Kwame Nkhruma the great Panafricanist,” he added.

Tayali said when he comes to rule, it will not be business as usual.

“Getting back to Patrick and Tasila, as well as other new couples, don’t waste time playing, that is for those who are not married. When you get married it is time to make babies. Of course I am aware of those who may not be able to have children (biologically) in their marriage, but that is because they are selfish otherwise they would still have children. They are so many orphans why should you stay alone in the pretext that you can’t conceive. Go get children from the orphanages and be parents,” he said.

Tayali said for Zambia to develop, “we need numbers.”

“Zambia’s economy will not grow exponentially, unless our population increases. There is no big economic without people to grow it, which is why EEP starts with fundamentals of “FAMILY MUST COME FIRST!”.

He said under his administration, families and reproduction will be highly encouraged but those who adopt children will get more incentives, because he did not want children to be without parents as that was not African.

“So, Patrick and Tasila, those lions should turn into children sooner than later,” Tayali demanded.

©Kalemba

WHO PAID FOR BOWMAN LUSAMBO’S DRIVEWAY? ASKS MITI

Civil society activist and Alliance for Community Action (ACA) Director Laura Miti has asked whether Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo used his own money to tar his driveway. If he did, Miti has questioned how he acquired such wealth.

“The long driveway to Minister of Lusaka Bowman Lusambo’s house is nicely tarred. Here is the question – did he use his own money for what is no mean expense or he got the company doing roads in the area to use public money, equipment and time on it?” Miti writes.

“If he did it himself, he is super wealthy. Where did he get that kind of money? How much tax has he paid on his millions?” she continues.

“If he used public money – well that is not only criminal but highly immoral, in a country in which millions of rural people cry for a simple grader on their roads. That tar to Mr Lusambo’s mansion could change millions of lives cut off by impassable roads every year. So, let us hope Mr Lusambo’s miraculous personal millions paid for that driveway,” Miti concludes

Lusambo’s wealth has previously come under scrutiny by civil society in relation to various cash and food donations, as well as his lifestyle. The minister has claimed that there’s no money for him to steal in his office and that he started driving a Benz before his political career.

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has previously urged the ACC to take interest in significant donations being made by government officials despite the economic crisis.

Reacting to the call Lusambo was quoted as stating, “Why should they investigate me for giving nshima to people? Is that a crime? They should come and ask me, they know where my office is. I am government representative number one in Lusaka Province and I have a fixed aboard. If TIZ wants to ask me, let them come and ask me from my office. When you go into the newspaper to start parroting and making noise, that is being a coward! I don’t like dealing with cowards. If they want to find out something from me, let them come. Why should they go to a newspaper? Why are they scared to face me and speaking from their armpits? When I was donating millions of kwacha in Kabushi constituency, they were quiet. Now that I am in a government office, then I can’t do what I am supposed to do? That is not fair! I have donated millions before I was a member of parliament, before I was a minister, not these K2 you are seeing. I expected TIZ to come and ask me then, not these nonsense they are trying to say. Let them man up and come and ask me.”

“They want ACC to start investigating people, who are donating mealie meal and relish and ask where it is coming from? That is cheap! Don’t bring the office of ACC and other investigating wings into disrepute. Let us respect those offices. And if you are saying, ‘ACC should investigate’ they should investigate all Zambians. You have seen taxi drivers, civil servants, managing directors in parastatal companies; you have seen journalists driving and building houses. Are you telling me you want ACC to investigate the entire country? Are you telling me that because I am a minister in government I am not supposed to do any extra activities because I am a minister in government?” he continued.

ABOUT POLITICAL BLACKMAIL BY HH: A CASE OF DEFACTO ALLIANCES

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1. There is this narrative which UPND President Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his followers have been advancing; that every other opposition political must agree with them and work in concert with them, failure to which such a political party is a surrogate of the ruling Patriotic Front political party. I want to categorically state that we do not agree with such a narrative as it constitutes political blackmail by seeking to create a defacto alliance in favour of the UPND. Mr Hichilema further postulates that all opposition political parties must unite in order to remove a ruling party and that it is irresponsible and unpatriotic for us in the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) to seek our own identity by standing on our own. But the question that l wish to pose to Mr Hichilema is; did he, together with his UPND unite with PF in 2011 to kick out the MMD Government of the day? Or did Mr Hichilema and his UPND advance their own agenda in 2011 in the same way that PeP is seeking to advance its own agenda in 2021?

2. As Patriots for Economic Progress, we are not averse to political alliances. In fact, we strongly believe in the need for political alliances as a vehicle for growth of our party as well as for the ultimate benefit of the Zambian people. However, any alliance must be mutually beneficial to all parties. An alliance should not just benefit one political. Each party should make some sacrifices, which constitutes an investment into the alliance, in order to make an alliance work. When we joined the Opposition Alliance with 13 other political parties about 2 years ago, those were our expectations. At that time, we were willing to make certain critical sacrifices such as forfeiting to stand as a presidential candidate in 2021 so as to rally behind Mr Hichilema’s candidature, and also work hard to push the Opposition Alliance agenda in the public domain as well as help mobilize financial resources for the Opposition Alliance project. I was both the Chairman of the Media Affairs Committee as well as the Chairman of the Finance Committee for the Opposition Alliance and l worked tirelessly in both roles. As Chairman of the Finance Committee and within a period of a week, l was instrumental in organizing the Opposition Alliance end of year Fundraising Dinner at Intercontinental Hotel in December 2018, at which we raised more than K1 million for the Alliance. As Chairman of the Media Affairs Committee, l was instrumental in galavanting from one Media house to another to advance the Opposition Alliance, all at the expense of the PeP agenda. Anyone who understands politics will tell you that Media and Finance are the backbone of any successful political movement. And l handled both of these critical roles with impeccable diligence and competence. But after investing all this effort and sacrifices, Mr Hichilema was not willing to allocate some constituencies and wards for PeP to solely contest in in 2021, as part of the Opposition Alliance package. He point blankly told us that since UPND is more popular than PeP, the best he can offer is for our candidates to contest on the UPND ticket! To us, this amounted to dissolving our party and joining the UPND, which was contrary to our understanding and expectation from the Opposition Alliance. So l told Mr Hichilema that l will be withdrawing my party from his Alliance, and so we left.

3. However, it is evident that Mr Hichilema expected myself and PeP to continue advancing the UPND agenda even though PeP was no longer in an alliance with his party. Our view is that in the absence of a political alliance, there is no compulsion by any party to advance another party’s interests. The concept that the opposition must, by default, unite to kick out a ruling party is inherently flawed and is not shared by even Mr Hakainde Hichilema himself, because he clearly did not unite with PF in 2011 to kick out the then MMD Government. To the contrary, Mr Hichilema walked away from the PF-UPND pact. Sata and his PF solely beat MMD and kicked them out of office. But since today it benefits Mr Hichilema, he wants to advance a narrative that PeP has a duty and responsibility to help him kick out PF and that if we do not do that, then we are surrogates of PF. And yet, he is not willing to sacrifice a single constituency or ward in return for our support.

4. My view is that Mr Hichilema is a politically weak guy and he knows it deep down his heart that he does not posses the mental strength and prowess necessary to kick out a shrewd and brutal ruling party like PF. He knows that he needs the support of people like myself. But Mr Hichilema is not just a weak guy, he is also a selfish guy. He is not willing to give away even a single constituency or ward in return for the support of people like myself. He wants it all to himself. He wants us to rally behind him for free and escort him to State House. Even politically naive people like embattled Chishimba Kambwili who think that Mr Hichilema will make him his running mate will soon bite the dust. Now, these two attributes of being politically weak and yet selfish puts Mr Hichilema in a catch 22 situation. For his political career to succeed and for him to enter State House, Mr Hichilema will need the support and assistance of strong political players. However, those strong political players will be unlikely to offer their support pro bono. They will want some form of power sharing of sorts, which Mr Hichilema, by virtue of his inherent selfishness will be unable to grant. Just like he was unwilling to allow any alliance member to contest even a single seat in 2021, and wanted everyone to be under the umbrella of his faltering UPND party.

5. But being politically weak and selfish and not the only handicap for Mr Hichilema. He also has an inflated sense of being smart. He falsely believes that he can outwit his political allies. But his attempts to outwit his political allies are so shallow that they usually border on crookedness. For example, in 2016, Mr Hichilema allegedly entered into an alliance with three other political parties. The leaders of these three political parties were allegedly requested not to file as presidential candidates and in return, Mr Hichilema and his UPND would support the candidature of their MPs in selected constituencies. For sure, these three political leaders kept their end of the bargain and did not file as presidential candidates. They in fact are said to have gone on the presidential campaign trail with Mr Hichilema. However, when time came for Mr Hichilema to keep his end of the bargain, he decided to allow his party to file candidates in all constituencies including those he had allegedly promised to reserve for his allies. His then allies told me that Mr Hichilema’s excuse was that he had been overruled by his party, the UPND and that there was nothing he could do about it. In my view, such alleged conduct on the part of Mr Hichilema does not amount to outsmarting his political allies, but amounts to being crooked.

6. And today, despite being politically weak and yet selfish and crooked, Mr Hichilema feels that he is entitled to Sean Tembo’s political support. How dare you sir! Just like Sata and his then PF fought and beat MMD, you sir need to fight and beat PF by yourself. We at PeP shall also seek to fight and beat PF by ourselves. It is each man for himself and God for us all. In fact, you sir and your UPND have never supported us in any way, shape or form in our fight against the PF. We have challenged the PF and it’s Government in four cases in court (all of which we won by the way) and you sir never allocated us any of your lawyers among your large army of lawyers, and neither did you contribute a single Ngwee for our legal fees. We undertook 13 successful protests against the $42 million fire tender scandal and you sir never sent a single one of your UPND members to come and give us solidarity. While we were being attacked by Paul Moonga and his thugs along Cairo Road, you sir were lying on your couch at your home busy tweeting. And today, you feel that you are entitled to our support as you seek to fight the Electoral Commission of Zambia on very flimsy matters? Well, you sir can go to hell.

///END

SET 03.10.2020

PROTESTS AGAINST ECZ SET FOR OCTOBER 8

…As Lusaka UPND youths successfully notify police of their planned peaceful demonstration against Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) leadership, online voter registration.

United Party for National Development (UPND) Lusaka District youths have fired shots towards their plans to hold a peaceful demonstration against what they described as “undemocratic and illegal decision by the Election Comission of Zambia (ECZ) to delete the 2016 Voter’s register in preference for a new one”.

According to the youths, the march is also aimed at calling for the resignation of ECZ Chairperson, Esau Chulu as well as the electoral body’s Chief Electoral Officer, Patrick Nshindano, describing the two as incompetent and admant in the execution of their duties, a situation they believe had the potential to bring about civil unrest in the country.

Addressing the media shortly after delivering a notification letter to Lusaka Central Police Station this morning, Lusaka District Youth Chairperson Archritius Mwanakayaya made it clear that the notification was in line with Part 3 of the Republican Constitution.

Mwanakayaya accused Mr Chulu and Mr Nshindano of being a danger to the country’s peace and survival and wondered what mechanism the ECZ would use to capture the targetted 9 million voters when the registration of voters in 2011, 2015 and 2016 took a number of years to compile.

He explained that the illegal decision would defranchise several eligible voters in the forthcoming 2021 tripartite elections.

“This activity, slated for 8th October, 2020, will commence from Lusaka’s Main Post Office on Cairo Road to the Electoral Commission of Zambia Headquarters between 09:00 hours and 11:00 hours,” Mr. Mwanakayaya said.

The UPND youths, who have assured of an incident free procession, have also pledged to provide 1, 000 marshals.

Speaking later, Lusaka Province Youth Chairperson Anderson Banda stated that the youths had decided to take the route of demonstrating after all channels of calling for the ECZ to consider maintaining the 2016 Voter’s roll had proved futile.

“We have tried all avenues and all means of communication to ECZ, but we have failed. It is now clear that the ECZ is doing things their own way. We saw how the country almost plunged into a civil war after the 2016 general elections,” Lamented Mwanakayaya.

He added that that all the seven Districts in Lusaka Province had successfully notified the police over the intended demonstration.

Mr Banda also wondered why the Police allowed hired youths to march to State House yesterday to present a petition to President Edgar Lungu over the privatization saga without a police permit.

“Luangwa, Rufunsa, Chongwe, Kafue and Chilanga districts have also successfully notified the police of a planned demonstration over the same” He said.

By Mwape Musonda cic Private Reporter.

NORTHERN~Chilubi.

ECZ HOLDS SUCCESSFUL STAKEHOLDERS MEETING WITH FOUR PARTICIPATING POLITICAL PARTIES IN CHILUBI BY ELECTIONS.

Tempers flared between the two rival parties namely the UPND and PF on the debate on dates submission to hold campaigns to avoid clashes during campaigns.
Both UPND and PF kept on blaming each other over who doesn’t follow the rules and regulations of electoral code.

PF submitted through Mr Benny Kabwela that the campaigns be given a day to each political party per ward to which UPND disagreed that doing so will disadvantage other political parties who may not be well equipped logistically as Chilubi District is so vast with 22 wards with less than 19 days to go submitted by UPND’s Edward Makayi.
UPND also submitted that they need more time even if it’s not there to ensure that far areas that require long hours to reach such as swampy wards takes close to 3 days with boats to reach are factored under special timely circumstances submitted by Risto Mushembe of UPND.

In countering the submission PF objected saying that the swampy wards are accessible by speed boats which can take only 5 hours to reach and it’s not the duty of ECZ or the meeting at hand to discuss wether or not UPND or any opposition parties are ready for the by elections or not. Submitted by Chilubi PF MP Hon Mulenga Fube that he knows opposition MPs who have proper landcruisers and other vehicles why not bring them in the campaigns, he said the essence of competing in an election is a game of competition which anyone going into the game must check their capacity.

Chilubi District UPND chairperson Mr Mwakwa objected that PF has booked all the boats non of the opposition will be able to travel because the only mode of transportation is prebooked in advance by PF hence knocking other colleagues out even if it means crossing the lake Post boat has been booked for PF only and how can opposition bring their mode of transportation on the Island, he submitted further that it so happened in the parliamentary by elections where no boat was available for hire by anyone as PF booked everything a scenario that has repeated itself.

In countering proposals further Mr John Kasongo of PF agreed to the motion of having a day allocatef to a certain political party saying the similar strategy worked perfectly in Lukashya Constituency China ward where all political parties benefitted.

UPND’s Edward Makayi stood in objection telling Mr Kasongo that actually in Lukashya Constituency of Chiba ward he is a witness and victim of how PF attacked the campaign venue of UPND in China ward when the timetable showed that it was UPND’s day yet vehicles where damaged and people injured that the report is right there in Kasama as no PF cadre was brought to book hence calling Hon Fube and Mr Kasongo liars. Makayi’s submission did not seat well with PF leadership who through ECZ requested that he withdraws the word liar to which he maintained his words without apologies because it’s something that should not occur in Chilubi by elections.
Makayi further addressed ECZ and the Zambia Police representatives for assurances of their professionalism ahead of Chilubi by elections because PF are on record disturbing UPND and using their reaction to be arrested. He submitted further that having a stakeholders meeting is one thing but respecting electoral code of conduct is another thing because PF never respects ECZ neither do police take any action citing the example of a PF cadre in Kasama smashing a car in full presence of the police. He begged them saying that Chilubi looks like the last election on the calendar hence the need to behave like normal human beings for once.

Zambia Police representatives led by the Chilubi Island station officer on behalf of the officer in charge responded to the submission by UPND’s Makayi that his office in Chilubi is totally different from other places law brakers will face the law.

UPND’s Risto Mushembe also submitted that it’s not a secret that among the four political parties only PF stood advantage of the other four because they have access to coffers a statement he was requested by ECZ to withdraw and he did.
Mr Mushembe said that it’s not possible to traverse 5 wards in one day because the areas are so vast and communication challenge is to huge but PF through Mr Tute Lewis said that discussing strategies how a political party will handle the logistical movements or campaigns should be entirely a private matter but the time is not there candidates are supposed to sale themselves how they do it it’s up to them or better still plant people in all the wards where candidates can’t reach.

Mwewa Dominic from PAC submitted that indeed time was of essence hence the need to make progress but asked ECZ if those allocated time frames their president Mr Andford Banda was welcome to Chilubi and ECZ agreed that all political parties will have their SGs communicated too.

The stakeholders settled on the mathematical division of 22 wards by 4 political parties in 20 days which they arrived at 5 and hence the timetable was produced.

Lawyers abandon Kambwili again

CHISHIMBA Kambwili has been abndoned by lawyers again.

Last February, the NDC leader was ditched by his lawyers Keith Mweemba, Gilbert Phiri and Christopher Mundia in a case he is charged with forgery, uttering a false document and giving false information in relation to the registration of Mwamona Engineering Technical Services.

And today, it came to light that the legal team representing the former Roan Constituency PF member of parliarment had ditched him again.

In these matters Kambwili is charged with contempt of court for allegedly tampering with evidence at Patents and Companies Registration Agency in relation to the qregistration of Mwamona engineering and technical services which is a subject matter in an active case before Magistrate Simusamba.

Kambwili is also facing a charge of defamation of the President for questioning President Edgar Lungu’s Association with Lusaka businesman Valden Findlay whom he accused of being a drug dealer.

Joseph Akfumba of MAK partners who represented Kambwili told Magistrate Nsunge Chanda and Felix Kaoma that the former’s lawyers Keith Mweemba, Gilbert Phiri and Christopher Mundia backed out on representing the accused last night.

Submitting before magistrate Chanda in the contempt case Akfumba sought an adjournment indicating that he needed to study the matter as Kambwili’s lawyers had withdrawn their legal services on Thursday evening.

“Your honor other lawyers withdrew last night hence we had no option but to look for another Counsel at the eleventh hour,” Akafumba said. “looking at this situation it’s difficult for us to proceed as I will need enough time to go through the documents of this matter, am kindly asking for an adjournement and am kindly asking if the court can avail certain notes in regards to this matter.”

Magistrate Chanda directed that the matter ought to be concluded as she noted that Kambwili was equally tired of appearing before court and adjourned the matter to October 26.

And when Kambwili’s case was called before Magistrate Kaoma Akafumba reiterated his earlier submissions before Magistrate Chanda and requested for an adjournment.

But magistrate Kaoma in his ruling said he was displeased with the conduct of Kambwili’s previous lawyers as their failure to inform him of their decision to withdraw representation was disrespectful to the court.

” The application for an adjournment is granted but I would like to express my disappointment in the conduct of defense counsel for failing to appear before court and state their position. Atleast they should have come to excuse themselves from this matter. Even this morning they (Previous lawyers) would have sent a note or sent a representative,” Magistrate Kaoma said.” This is lack of professional etiquette and courtesy. Had they informed the court in advance we would be upholding our orders otherwise the legal profession will end up like other professions where people will be doing whatever they want.”

Magistrate Kaoma reluctantly adjourned the matter to November 10.

Kalemba

THE LEGACY OF PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU- 49 WAYS TO SET UP A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

HE IS THE ONLY PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF ZAMBIA TO BORROW $18billion dollars….HE ACTS WHEN IT SUITES HIM……

1- Zoom, within 24 hours arrested
2- Prime TV, within 2 days GONE
3- Post, within 3 days GONE
4- Mukula, ndwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
5- K6m per IVECO ambulance, Ndwiiiiiiiiiii
6- Fire engines, $42m Ndwiiiiiiii

7- Forest 37, Ndwiiiiiiiiii
8- Dr Chitalu estates Ndwiiiiiii
9- 48 Houses Ndwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
10- Gassers, Ndwiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
11- Eswatini Golf estate, Ndwiiiiiiii

12- Valdin Findlay in state house & drugs Ndwii
13- Why is Bill 10 Urgent, Ndwiiiiiiiii
14-Y attack Judiciary if decision not 4 U, Ndwiii
15- Buy $138m Jet wen we r broke, Ndwiiiiiiiiii
18- You took $150m to swiss bank in 2018 Ndwiii
19-Where are solar powered hammermills, Ndwiii

20- Will you stand for 3rd term in 2021. NAYO Ndwiiiiiiiiii
21-ZNBC largely owned by Chinese Ndwiiiiii
22- You swindled Wend kanyanta as a lawyer Ndwi
23- U sold Horizon sch land to Chinese, Ndwiiiii
24- U sold NRDC land to AVIC Int.Ndwiiiiiiiiii

25- U made Chinese Police & reversed Ndwiiiiii
27- Kariba full, loadshedding 15hrs, Ndwiiiiiiiii
28- Chanda Kasolo fired for saying truth, Ndwiii
29- U want 2 print money n fired BOZ Gov
31- U blamed God for loadshedding, Ndwiiiiiiii

32- U said u ll create 500 000 jobs in 2018 Ndwi
34- Kampyongo says Teachers must join security
35- HH traffic offence made TREASON Ndwiiii
36- Chased opposition in Chilubi, Ndwiiiiiiiiiiii
37- LAZ suspended U in 2010 for theft?. Ndwiiiiii
38- Arch. Mpundu called U party of thieves, Ndwi
39- UR quiet wen cadres insult opposition Ndwii
40- Kwacha ichisungu BALYA kuli dollar Ndwiiii

41- More money in da pockets Ndwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
42- Synohydro cause of loadshedding Ndwiii
43- UR Executive, Judiciary Legislature Ndwiiiii
44- U say UTH is equipped, Y U GO SA,

48- U name buildings after U & ur WIFE Ndwiiiiiii
49- Voter register has been erased, Ndwiiiii

Meanwhile set up a commission of inquiry for your rival who you fear so much, YES LETS DO IT…..

Press release.

Contact: UPND Chair person for Economics and Finance Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane
0977269793/0977780397

Email: info@upndzambia

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MYSTERIOUS 48 HOUSES.

A news report has come to my attention which alleges that a man who is a suspect in the ownership of the 48
mysterious houses, a Mr Charles Loyana, is my nephew. The news report further alleges that while being interviewed on Radio Phoenix on 29 September 2020, I had difficulties in answering questions from a caller who insisted on knowing from me how Mr Loyona, a mere civil servant, earned enough income to build the 48 houses.

I wish to state categorically that I have no relationship whatsoever, whether by blood, marriage, friendship
or any other social connection with Mr Loyana or anyone else who is allegedly connected to those 48 houses.
I don’t know Mr Loyana, I have never met him and I don’t even know what he looks like.

Regarding the allegation that I had difficulties on a radio interview to explain how Mr Loyona earned income big
enough to build 48 houses, this is yet another cheap lie. Many people who listened to my interview on Radio
Phoenix on the 29th of September 2020 will agree that no person called during the entire interview to ask me
about the 48 houses.

Meanwhile the recording of the entire interview may be obtained from Radio Phoenix..

I wish to urge those who did not tune in to listen to the recording so that they get a proper perspective as to why
we are experiencing the current economic problems such as the loss of value of the Kwacha which were the
issues under discussion.

The vile and malicious insinuation that Mr Loyana is related to me is a PF creation. It first emerged in Parliament
months ago when the PF member of Parliament for Chitambo, one Remember Mutale, made a wild accusation
that Loyana is my nephew. Because parliamentary rules prohibit lies, I reported him to the Privileges Committee
of Parliament which deals, among others, with disciplinary cases involving MPs.Mr Mutale was ordered to prove
his accusation at a hearing. For the purpose of the hearing, he was at liberty to bring as many witnesses as he
wanted.

He lamentably failed to prove his allegation because it was based on lies. Arising from his failure, he was found to have breached Parliamentary rules. For this, he was admonished by the Speaker in front of all MPs and he was made to apologise to me, which he did.

In conclusion, the story that Mr. Loyana who is allegedly connected to the 48 houses, is my nephew, is totally
false, vile and malicious, and only fit for the garbage.

In the meantime, Zambians await the conclusions from
the many investigative agencies in the country to find out the owner of those 48 houses and bring him/her and
their accomplices, no matter their status or connections in society, to book.

Surely, this is not a complex matter
as ownership of property in Zambia is on public records and can be easily verified at the Ministry of Lands.

For Immediate Release

ECZ CANCELLATION OF MEETING WITH POLITICAL PARTIES WORRISOME – KAMBWILI

30th September 2020

This afternoon the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party President Dr Chishimba Kambwili was supposed to attend a meeting called by the ZCID and the Electoral Commission of Zambia in regards to the Online Voter Registration.

But the meeting was called off at an eleventh hour.

Dr Kambwili was supposed to attend this meeting with NDC Vice President Rikki Josephs Akafumba, NDC Secretary General Bridget Atanga and Edward Mumbi NDC member of central committee, who is also Dr Kambwili’s Presidential spokesperson.

The duo who gathered at Dr Chishimba Kambwili’s residence by 13:00hrs were equally shocked that the meeting was canceled.

Dr Kambwili had this to say; Today is a very sad day, extremely sad day in the preparations of the 2021 general elections.

Yesterday the ECZ communicated to all political parties that they were going to meet stakeholders so that we can discuss the issue surrounding the online voter registration and the issue of doing away with the old voters register, all of us political parties were ready, I personally received a number of calls from fellow Presidents and Secretary General’s encouraging all of us to attend this important meeting, Dr Kambwili said.

The NDC leader further said NDC do understand that they are stakeholders and they must speak on behalf of the people of Zambia but unfortunately the ECZ communicated to all political parties at the eleventh hour that the meeting has been cancelled, and the reasons given was that this matter could not be discussed because there is a court case going on in which the UPND and some NGO’s have challenged the ECZ over these same issues of online voter registration and of cause the doing away with the old voters register.

Country men and women, should it only be sub judice when it favours the opposition, when it favours the ECZ or it favours the ruling government is not sub judice.

When there was the issue of Bill 10 the UPND did alude to the fact that we cannot continue considering bill number 10 because there is a matter before court, but the Patriotic Front through its lawyers and parliament refused totally and went ahead and considered bill 10 despite the fact that the matter was in court and it was tantamount to sub judice.

In my case when I was removed from parliament as Roan member of parliament, my case was in court, but the speaker went ahead and declared my seat vacant despite the fact that the matter was in court, so when government is involved it’s not sub judice unless the opposition is involved.

And if the ECZ are saying we cannot have a meeting to discuss the issue of the electoral process because the matter is in court then they should stop the online voter registration because it’s also sub judice, why should it be good for them to go ahead and continue the voter which is a bone of contention and refuse to meet the stakeholders on pretence that it’s sub judice, I don’t know we’re this country is going, said the NDC leader.

Today could have been an opportunity for all of us to be heard and obviously resolve the issues surrounding the online voter registration, but somebody somewhere has engineered that this meeting should not go on.

Almost all the opposition political party President’s I spoke to were ready to attend this meeting and these issues could have been resolved in an amicably way. But I think they are trying to play hide and seek so that they can convince those who have gone to court to withdraw the case and at the end of it they don’t resolve the issues, this is not good for Zambia, please Mr Esau Chulu, My dear brother Patrick Nshindano respect the views of the Zambian people, for once do the right thing, surely you want to go down in history as the people who set the country on fire, issues of elections are very sensitive.

I am glad that President Edgar Lungu came out openly to state that he does not also support the doing away of the old voters register, we welcome that President Lungu and this is the way it should be, surely if you are coming out like that, who would want to oppose you or attack you, well-done Mr President , but you can go further than that by engaging the ECZ to tell them to announce that the old register will still be valid.

You cannot capture 9 million people in 30 days it’s practically impossible and this is our cry and the law is very clear on continuous voter registration, it says they shall be continuous voter registration, why do you want to bring your own law and cancel the old register.

Today we have missed an opportunity yet again in this country to seat round the table and discuss as Zambians.

Dr Kambwili has since appealed to the ECZ that it’s not too late but call for this meeting tomorrow.

And all stakeholders holders including NGO’s and Churches should be part of this meeting. But if you have refused to hold this meeting then stop the online voter registration so that it’s 50/50, Kambwili said.

Issued by: Kirby Kaoma Musonda NDC Deputy Media Director
+260977566326

THE UPND has submitted that the Electoral Commission of Zambia has exceeded its mandate by suddenly coming up with the online pre-voter registration without the sanction of the law.

In this matter, UPND deputy secretary general Gertrude Imenda, on behalf of the party, has sued ECZ and the Attorney General seeking a declaration that the decision of the commission to launch and host the online voter registration platform even if as a “test run” on its website eczovr.org and commence their online voter registration on the said platform was sudden and without lawful authority.

The UPND wants the court to quash the decision by ECZ to limit the voter registration exercise to 30 days, which is scheduled to commence on October 28, 2020.

The party wants a declaration that the prescribed protocols for voter registration on the ECZ website were ultra vires section 8 (2)(3), section 15 and section 125 of the Electoral Process Act number 35 of 2016 as read with regulations 11 and 12 on the Electoral (registration of voters) regulations of 1973 amended by statutory instrument number 62 of 2005.

It wants a declaration that ECZ acted unreasonably, irrationally and /or with a hidden ulterior motive at the behest of an invisible hand in announcing the 30 days cut off time for the voter registration scheduled to commence on October 18, 2020.

When the matter came up for hearing of the substantive application for judicial review before justice Mwila Chiatabo, UPND lawyer Marshal Muchende said the ECZ on September 21, 2020 launched the impugned voter registration and has called it an online pre-voter registration, which is being hosted on its website.

He said the online pre-voter registration launched by ECZ as an integral part of voter registration was not supported by law or any regulations that have been made by ECZ.

“The guiding regulations to be followed by ECZ in so far as protocol for voter registration is concerned is none other that Statutory Instrument no.38 of 2010 and regulations promulgated there under,” Muchende said.

“Under Section 125 of the Electoral Process Act, ECZ has no power or whatsoever to come up with the online pre-registration protocol unless and until ECZ by Statutory Instrument makes regulations supporting the same.”

Muchende said it was correct in this modern age where technology has advanced and in which the internet has provided convenient and faster ways of achieving ECZ’s mandate on voter registration, but there was a caveat prohibiting the ECZ to jump the gun and come up with online voter registration protocols without following the dictates of its governing laws (Section 125 of the Electoral Process Act).

He urged the court not to aide illegality no matter how ECZ tries to justify it.

“It would have been simple for ECZ to start by making regulations through an SI allowing for the online voter registration exercise but they ignored section 125 of the Electoral Process Act no. 35 of 2016 at their own peril and the court must quash their decision,” Muchende said.

“ECZ lamentably and gravely failed to give effect to section 125 of the Electoral Process Act no.35 of 2016 by arbitrarily coming up with the online pre-voter registration exercise, quash it my lord.”

Muchende noted that there had been no continuous voter registration similar to the registration of national registration cards, which was continuous.

He submitted that the cut off dates in which to conduct voter registration had been misconstrued by ECZ to mean that they could prescribe the starting and end date of voter registration.

Muchende said ECZ had not given effect to the law that governs it (section 7 and 20 of the Electoral Process Act no.35 of 2016) and that even assuming the UPND’s interpretation was wrong, the 30 days registration of voters in a penultimate year of elections was so unreasonable and in defiance of logic that no reasonable person would arrive at such a decision.

He said the cut off period was aimed at disenfranchising many eligible voters, which would create speculation and conjuncture.

“Quash the decision by ECZ to commence the voter registration exercise on October 28, and end it on November 30, 2020 because it offends section 7 and 20 of the Electoral Process Act and in defiance of logic to give 30 days for a new democratic country to register voters in a penultimate year of elections,” Muchende said

“The illegality surrounding the decision of ECZ to discard the current voter register and the decision to commence a fresh registration of voters targeting 9 million eligible voters is illegal, it offends section 7. The process is illegal and you (judge Chitabo) have the power to stop it. The court should interpret the law and guide ECZ accordingly as prescribed by law unlike what it is doing.”

Lawyer representing ECZ Bob Musenga submitted that Section 19 of the Electoral Process Act mandates the chief electoral officer to accordingly certify the voters register for purposes of the 2021 general elections after attending to objections if any as stipulated under section 17 of the electoral process Act.

Musenga said the law had deliberately and elaborately made provisions for a voter registration process and grievance address and such a clearly documented process cannot be a subject matter of judicial review.

He claimed that UPND wants to stop ECZ from exercising its mandate as the party had evidently failed to demonstrate any illegality or rationality on the part of ECZ.
He added that the Electoral Process Act and regulations had provided adequate redress avenues for persons who may be aggrieved with the voter registration process.

Musenga prayed that the UPND’s application be dismissed with costs.

Solicitor General Abraham Mwansa said the online pre-voter registration initiative would lessen the time eligible voters may spend at registration centres.
He said it was a notorious fact that not each and every eligible voter would have access to the internet in order for them to pre-register otherwise many eligible voters would have to do it physically at registration centres.

Mwansa claimed that the online pre-online voter registration was a way of securing voter registration.

“Online pre-registration of voters is nothing but a booking in advance and not registration of a voter in terms of the law. Where the law provides for continuous registration, it also provides for cut off periods under section 20 and 28(1)(7) of the Electoral Process Act no.35 of 2016,” said Mwansa.

“The registration of voters is not the only function of ECZ. Among other activities, ECZ will have to prepare a provisional register, make corrections, attend to objections within the stipulated period of time which is 90 days as well as attend to nominations, voter education and many other functions. Providing for the cut off period is a necessary evil.”

Hearing continues on October 1.

LUSAKA, Wednesday, September 30, 2020 (SMART EAGLES)

THERE IS A DELIBERATE ploy by the opposition UPND to discredit the integrity of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) so as to cause doubt and disrupt the electoral process, Deputy Media Director for the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) Antonio Mourinho Mwanza has said.

And Mwanza has explained that there is no online voter registration currently taking place ahead of the 2021 general elections.

Speaking when he featured on the Wednesday edition of the Lusaka Star Radio Magazine on UNZA Radio, Mwanza said the opposition was preparing for nothing but a loss in 2021.

“The opposition UPND have launched a campaign to discredit the integrity of the ECZ and they are doing this in order to bring doubt and confusion with regards to the electoral process and democratic credentials that we have as a nation,” said Mwanza.

“There is no online Voter Registration that ECZ is conducting. What ECZ is doing is pre-voter registration and NOT voter registration. The online-voter pre-registration is l not a final registration. All those who will pre-register online will be required to visit a physical registration centre to submit their biometrics (portrait, signature, finger/thumb prints), have their details verified and obtain a voters card.”

The PF Deputy Media Director said the opposition party was trying to plant seeds of discort and plant fertile grounds to dispute the 2021 election results.

He also said the opposition UPND has been crying and accusing ECZ of rigging elections from 2001, adding that the opposition party was headed for another loss in the upcoming general elections.

“All this is a very calculated move by the opposition but they are preparing for another loss. From 2001 upto 2021, the UPND will continue claiming that elections are rigged but what is important is that if you have proof of your allegations, that is why we have the Courts of Law where you can go and petition if you have evidence that elections have been rigged,” said Mwanza.

Mwanza further challenged the opposition to take part and participate in all meetings called by ECZ with various political parties and stakeholders.

He said there was no reason for anybody to go out and discredit the ECZ than just trying to justify a loss then blame it on ECZ when the election body had always invited all political party players for engagements on matters of concern.

“For example, we have Bill 10 which is trying to cure the issue of the Public Order Act, the issue of ECZ and the judiciary and if anybody cares about the autonomy and Independence of ECZ, they have an opportunity to support Bill 10 so that they can also change, revise and amend the electoral process,” he said.

“But those who boycott Bill 10 are simply saying that they are also happy with the Electoral Process Act the way it is, they are happy with the Public Order Act the way it is and they are happy with the way the Judiciary is.”

Meanwhile, Mwanza said there was no online voter registration as perceived by some sections of society and that the only registration taking place was a pre-online voter registration exercise whose purpose was to reduce the time people spend when doing the physical voter registration exercise.

He added that all those who would have done the pre-online voter registration would still be required to visit a voter registration center for verification and other requirements.

“The voter registration will require that all of us go to a voter registration Center and do the physical registration where they need to take your portrait, thumb print and signature. The only thing that this pre-online voter registration exercise is doing is that it reduces the time spent on the process so that when you go to the actual voter registration center, you would have already submitted some of your details and spend less time there.”

Mwanza added that nobody would be disadvantaged including those without Smart Phones or related Gadgets as everyone would still be required to visit a Center to complete the process before obtaining a voter’s card.

…says democracy entails that during elections, there must be a leveled playing field that enables equal participation of competitors that must result in a free and fair election.

Lusaka … Wednesday,September, 30,2020 (Smart Eagles)

PF Lusaka Province Secretary Kennedy Kamba says the ruling party supports the Electoral Commission of Zambia on the new voter’s roll.

In a statement, Mr. Kamba, said democracy entails that during elections, there must be a leveled playing field that enables equal participation of competitors that must result in a free and fair election.

He said PF is not shocked that the UPND and their allies such as the NDC are up against the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), attempting to reject the idea of reviewing and updating the voter’s register.

“We support the ECZ because this is the way it should be. The voter’s roll must be reviewed and updated to suit the current situation in most parts of the country,” Mr. Kamba said.

“We all know that life being what it is, alot has happened over the years, people have died, people have shifted and geographical settlements and setups have changed over the years.”

Mr. Kamba said in order to eliminate all manner of doubt, anormalies in the voter’s register must be dealt with to warrant a free, fair and credible elections.

“Electoral malpractices must be stopped and it starts with the review of the voter’s register. We must make sure that majority of those on the voter’s roll are at least alive and in the locality. Those who are deceased must be removed to clear the register and eliminate all manner of doubt when it comes to suspicions of manipulation of the register” Mr. Kamba said.

“We know that the UPND and company is so worried about the voter’s Roll in places like Dundumwezi, where we feel there were alot of anormalies that guranteed them sweeping victories over PF in those areas. Those are areas where we cannot even verify numbers.”

Mr .Kamba said things have changed, people have shifted, others have died and we cannot go into 2021 with a register that is clogged with anomalies.

“We appeal to the UPND, their allies and all political parties to demonstrate sobriety over this issue. This is for the benefit of all stakeholders and that’s why we support the ECZ over this stance.”

#SmartEagles2020.

Zambia Eagle Editorial

30th September 2020

THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY MUST ACT ON ZAMBIA NOW AND NOT TOMORROW.

The Diplomatic Community in Lusaka have a special advantage to witness a disaster unfolding right before their eyes, which generations long after they leave this country will be amazed at how they let it happen, without intervention. How will it feel 20 years down the line that Ambassador or High Commissioner so and so, from this or that country, occupied a front row seat as the Zambian government prepared to sink a once prosperous and vibrant country into the doldrums of history?

Signals that President Edgar Lungu and his cohorts are about to mutilate an entire election by manipulating institutions of governance to their advantage, is succinctly clear. Zambians are confused and tramautized because historically successive Zambian governments have superintendented peace and hope on the people, than the current regime that is ironically displaying weapons of war on citizens as a prelude to law and order. To expect Zambians to hit the streets demonstrating under this repressive atmosphere may be far fetched, but does that prevent a well meaning and alert Diplomatic Corps from acting to salvage the situation? Where is their collective political will?

Zambian credentials are impeccable in the region and beyond. The country was once a cradle of hospitability that offered solace and hope for people fleeing from dictatorship and genocide. This former reputation is exactly why the International community must not fold their arms and watch a government preparing to murder its own citizens, by use of a militarized police, just to stay in power. Surely they can rescue a country that once rescued refugees and the outcasts.

Is this too much to ask from a country that once suffered relentless bombings and incursions from racist forces that once surrounded it’s neighbourhood, because of its cherished values for freedom for the oppressed on account of skin colour? Thousands of Zambians perished from liberation wars while others still die from unexploded ordnances that still litter the Zambian forests.

The Diplomatic community must guarantee a free and fair election by pressuring President Edgar Lungu to adhere to the constitutional requirements. The Electoral Commission of Zambia must hold fast to the interests of all stakeholders and not only the ruling party. The old voters’ roll must not be decimated but new voters incorporated into its records. President Edgar Lungu must immediately demilitarize the civil Police and assure citizens that he will not use it to violate their liberties.

The Diplomatic community must encourage South Africa which has the greatest stake in Zambia’s economy to pressure Lungu to allow democracy to flourish. It’s to the best interest of South Africa to ensure their investment in Zambia does not go up in flames if peace is compromised, but most importantly to reciprocate to the people of Zambia that stood with them when it was not politically correct to do that. This is no longer a political matter associated to one or two political organisation, this is a matter for survival for Zambia as a unitary state. The Diplomatic community must act now and not tomorrow.

BELOW IS A REPORT WE HAVE SUBMITTED TO UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REGARDING THE CRISIS ZAMBIA IS FACING

REF: REPORTING THE GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA FOR PLANNING WAR AND VIOLENCE AGAINST ZAMBIANS AHEAD OF 2021 GENERAL ELECTIONS.

There are clear signs that the Zambian government is preparing to fight a war(going by it’s large scale armament of the domestic security units and party cadres). Without an internal threat, one can rightly connect the dots in the establishment’s consistent narrative at all levels to retain power at all costs.
The imminent defeat in in the upcoming Elections in view of the failed Economy is driving the PF government of Edgar Chagwa Lungu into terrorism campaign frenzy in order to retain power using the military option. Massive military displays have been staged publicly backed by calculated authoritative threats from senior government officials.

Zambia faces no external threats from its neighbours in the SADC Region and beyond. The procurement of heavy military armaments for the Armed Forces and the militarization of the civil Police is therefore a source of great concern to the general public, the opposition parties, activists and civil society in Zambia.
Irrefutable evidence of infiltration and enlistment of political adherents within the Police ranks is documented.The dilution of professionalism with caderism is a definite recipe for anarchy and blood bath within the foreseeable run up to the 2021 General Elections.

The government’s apparent willingness to showcase these weapons on fancy military parades appears to be a statement, of a show of force and that it intends to use them on its civilian populations. This undoubtedly result in an escalation of human rights violations and suppression of independent voices and more attacks and closures of private and independent media organisations.

Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo and Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja have on several occasions publicly issued threats to deal with what they term as ‘trouble makers’ ahead of the 2021 elections. They said this when they commissioned and showcased a large fleet of armoured vehicles at a police parade in Lusaka recently.

When he met a group of pastors at State House shortly afterwards, President Edgar Lungu urged them to pray for the loser of the 2021 elections so that he doesn’t deal with him. With this kind of statement and with a display of military weapons that have been deployed to the civil Police, it appears President Edgar Lungu has already determined the outcome of the 2021 election and is unwilling to allow the democratic process determine the outcome.
These can neither be isolated nor spontaneous statements. They are extract statement from a well documented scheme to retain power against the will of the people.

On several occasions, he has vowed never to hand over power to anyone even if loses the election. President Lungu has threatened to arrest Hichilema on an alleged privatisation of government owned companies and properties that took place more than 25 years, under an Act of parliament. The privatisation exercise was superintendented by Zambia’s international lenders and cooperating partners IMF, the World Bank and the Paris Club while Hichilema was a consultant hired by a financial firm Coopers and Lybrand.

The superfluous and unproven accusation began to surface when he expressed ambitions to seek the office of the Zambian presidency. Hichilema was not invited in his personal capacity but as an evaluator like hundreds of others experts. Remarkably President Lungu, a lawyer was equally hired in exactly the same capacity as a consultant in the privatisation process

SHUTTING DOWN OF PROMINENT PRIVATE MEDIA HOUSES

The Patriotic Front ( PF) government has continued shutting down private media houses and terrorising individual journalists that have been exposing their corruption, violence and theft of public resources. One of the TV station they successfully shut down is the prime TV largely that had a viewership of millions of citizens. The PF government under President Edgar Lungu has also shut down the biggest print media newspaper ‘The Post’ for its critical reporting and exposing these schemes. All these efforts are aimed at stifling divergence and suffocating the democratic air passage.

NO JUSTICE

The judiciary in Zambia as well as the Zambia Police and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) have been compromised and no longer operate within the confines of the constitution of Zambia but in the interest of the ruling party. The separation of powers between the three arms of government have been hijacked by President Edgar Lungu. At a rally in North Western Zambia, Lungu warned to deal with any judge that would rule in the way of the Kenyan courts that nullified the presidential elections and declared that Zambia was not Kenya. Subsequent judgement have been publicly questioned as not being meritorious following such statements from the head of state.

The compromise of key public institutions has a potential of bringing trouble in the country if the international community fails to send a signal of disapproval to the Zambian authorities. There is still a rare but fast closing window of opportunity for the International Community to decisively stop another bloody stain on the face of Africa.

GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN

The PF government under Mr Edgar Lungu have persistently been inciting and sponsoring ethnic hate with intention to cause certain tribes rise against each other. Selective Victimization and premature retiring of civil servants from certain tribes is public evidence for anyone to see. The people behind these acts of violence which we believe has the potential to cause bloodshed in the nation and further increase human rights violations include,

Mr Edgar C. Lungu – President of Zambia, Ms Inonge Wina – Vice President, Davies Mwila – PF Secretary General, Mumbi Phiri – Deputy Secretary General, Steven Kampyongo – Home Affairs Minister, Davis Chama – Defense Minister, Mr Bizwell Mutale – PF Mobilization official, Mr Chanda Nyela – PF Mobilization official, Kennedy Kamba-PF official, Francis Muchemwa – PF official, Tutwa Ngulube – Member of Parliament, Jean Kapata, Nkandu Luo, Yamfwa Mukanga, Dora Siliya,Christopher Yaluma, Given Lubinda, Bowman Lusambo, – Cabinet Ministers. Mr Esau Chulu – Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairman,Patrick Nshindano,- Electoral Commission of Zambia C.E.O,Patrick Matibini,- speaker of the national assembly, Born Kapeso,- deputy IG, Likando Kalaluka,- Attorney General,Ms Ireen Mambilima – Chief Justice, Kakoma Kanganja – Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kaizer Zulu – advisor to the President.

ARMING THEIR CADRES

The Patriotic Front ( PF) government have armed their political cadres with an assortment of military grade automatic weapons including uniforms. This has exposed opposition leaders and members of the public to great risk. These political cadres have been unleashed on PF’s political opponents and other critical voices but are not arrested when they carry out these attacks.

MISMANAGEMENT OF 2021 ELECTIONS

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has come up with a mechanism to desefranchise voters from opposition strong holds under instructions by the PF government. This matter has the potential to cause chaos if not properly handled by government.

It is therefore, in the interest of the Zambian citizenry that as an Activist for good governance and Human rights, I call upon the international community to intervene in this case, in order to protect civilians and opposition leaders whose lives are under serious threat. We further call for the immediate suspension of any financial aid to the government of Zambia for undermining democracy, good governance,human rights and high levels of corruption which has greatly affected millions of Zambians.

If the International community continues to bankroll the Zambian government through debt forgiveness and other funding, all these will be channelled into activities that undermine democracy and the rule of law. The resources will be used by government to fund ruling party political militias that may result in genocide in the not too distant future.
Zambia has collapsed below the democratic and governance benchmarks.

Your quick response to this emergency will be highly appreciated.

CC: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL
CC: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
CC: ALL HIGH COMMISSIONERS AND EMBASSADORS ACCREDITED TO ZAMBIA
CC: SADC AND EUROPEAN UNION
CC: TRADITIONAL LEADERS IN ZAMBIA
CC: CATHOLIC CHURCH AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS
CC: LAZ

The author is Sikaile C.Sikaile a Human Rights and Good Governance Activist for Zambia
Contact :Sikailesikaile2030gmail.com

By TIMES CORRESPONDENT
‘IT was not easy ……..but it was worth it. I reached a point where I started thinking that what if both of us died here in India, who will
keep our three children! But I drew my strength in prayer and my favourite verse 1 John 3:16……. I did it for him and the children!’

These were some of the scary thoughts that gripped the mind of a Lusaka woman, Mulenga Mowa, a teacher, who donated her kidney early
this year to save the life of her husband.
It all downed on her that her husband needed a kidney transplant when the couple was told that both kidneys were damaged.

This was during the couple’s visit to Coptic Hospital mid last year.
Mulenga described this day as a dark cloud. It was an emotional day for both of us.
“As for me, I thought this was the end of me seeing my husband Benjamin Mowa, and at some point I visualised myself as a widow,” she
said.

Mulenga said when she and her husband received the sad news that doctors could not do anything about her husband’s condition, her
in-laws where both visiting at the couple’s home.
Mulenga said it was very difficult for her and her husband, Benjamin, to break the scaring news.

Eventually, the couple mastered some strength and broke the news.
It was an poignant experience for Mulenga and the visitors who cried as though Benjamin had died.

“I encouraged him to get prepared so we could go to University Teaching Hospital (UTH) where we could get a second opinion.
“Doctors there also confirmed that his kidneys were both damaged…I said OOOOH NO,” Mulenga said.

The confirmation by the doctors brought more fear in her eyes of losing her husband.
But the counsel and explanations by doctors on the possibilities of a kidney transplant put a smile of her face gave her strength.

She recalled that Benjamin’s brother and his cousin got involved to help.
But they could not match up to what was required.
At the time, Mulenga gave it a thought and got convinced that she could donate her kidney to Benjamin.

She said he was her husband and father of her children and time had come for her to put her wedding vows into practice “for better, for
worse!”

Bravely, Mulenga told her Benjamin that they should go back to UTH.
She said she wanted the doctors to test her kidneys and if she was a match, she would be his donor! – timesepaper

pictures:Benjamin Mowa, his wife Mulenga and their children and Benjamin Mowa with his wife Mulenga..

GOOD governance activist Sikaile Sikaile says President Edgar Lungu should be told that his involvement in the privatisation of Cold Storage Limited has ‘produced’ widows.

He says the President should not go about “singing the privatisation song” when his own name is tainted.

Sikaile told The Mast on Saturday that the privatisation issue should be extended to everybody who was involved.

“It doesn’t matter what role one played; if this PF government wants to know the truth about privatisation, questions must be asked to everyone. This should not be made like HH’s [UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema] baby,” he said. “You can’t continue to say, ‘HH privatised this and that’ but you decide to permanently go silent on Edgar Lungu’s role in the privatisation of Cold Storage Zambia. Lungu was fully part of the privatisation of that company and so he must also explain the role he played.”

Sikaile asked: “why should a man like Lungu who was fully involved in privatisation turn into [a] hero today and start accusing others?

“I watched him at a political rally in Mwansabombwe and Lukashya recently where he was addressing people and coming out like an angel on privatisation. Lungu shouldn’t continue thriving on a few people’s ignorance, especially in our rural parts, and start selling pure lies about privatisation.”

He noted that next time President Lungu opens his mouth to talk anything concerning privatisation, “he must be quickly reminded that ‘boss, first tell us about what you did in the privatisation of Cold Storage.’”

Sikaile said Hichilema had been asked to give an account of his role in privatisation and that he did so.

“[But] who has ever heard Lungu say anything about his role in privatising Cold Storage? The man is ever quiet and the only time you hear him raise a voice is when he is accusing HH of having made some Zambians suffer, through unemployment due to privatisation. But my question today is ‘was Cold Storage not a company that had workers?’ If people who worked for InterContinental Hotel – Livingstone died due to unemployment, what happened to those who worked for Cold Storage Limited?” Sikaile asked. “How did they survive the harsh reality of unemployment? What does Lungu think about people who had relatives who worked for Cold Storage?”

He added that President Lungu “cannot fool every citizen with this privatisation song” that he has produced.

“He is the main composer of this privatisation song and he has a long list of backing vocalists. But let him tell us the role he played in the privatisation of Cold Storage Limited,” Sikaile insisted. “There are also widows today, whose husbands, the breadwinners, worked for Cold Storage and I’m actually in touch with three families in Chazanga area in Lusaka. Two families are in Chazanga and another widowed old woman is being kept by a granddaughter near Chilenje hospital in Lusaka. So, Lungu should not play smart about this privatisation song.”

He pointed out that asking President Lungu to speak out on the privatisation of Cold Storage Limited could not be regarded as unfair.

“His name is tainted and it’s just that he is shameless; otherwise he should never ever be in a position to point an accusing finger at anybody on privatisation,” Sikaile noted. “So what I’m pleading with Lungu is that let him direct his backing vocalists on the privatisation song to reduce the volume. Demanding that Lungu explains his role in the privatisation of Cold Storage Limited is not at all being unfair. So let him explain, unlike dancing around at rallies as if his privatisation of Cold Storage Limited has not produced widows.”

He said President Lungu’s hypocrisy “was too much”.

“So, for the commission of inquiry that he intends to set up on privatisation, we can only hope that he has enough to tell Zambians about what he knows about the privatisation of Cold Storage,” said Sikaile. “But even before that commission, let [President] Lungu open his mouth and tell us about anything to do with Cold Storage. We have had too much of his hypocrisy!”