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Studio Ken’s Statement/video On The Interview With Miss Mutale Mwanza

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Studio Ken’s Statement/video On The Interview With Miss Mutale Mwanza

STUDIO KEN’S STATEMENT/VIDEO ON THE INTERVIEW WITH MISS MUTALE MWANZA

Following the interview with Ms. Mutale Mwanza on Studio Ken and the subsequent feedback, we are compelled to address some misconceptions and messages being advanced.

Find here a summary of events in the run up to the production.

  1. Ms Mwanza (who I was meeting for the first time on the day of the interview) willingly responded to the request to feature on the program. She AGREED VOLUNTARILY and I have evidence to this effect. The objective of the interview was to offer her a platform to clarify some perceptions people have against her persona. She was afforded sufficient latitude to share her story.

And against my journalistic ethics, almost all the questions that Ms Mwanza was asked were sent to her a day prior to the interview. Allegations of “prostitution” and her enduring accusations of being a “gold digger” were presented to her in clear terms and as if there was any offence, she was at liberty to indicate so. All this was done to afford her an opportunity to prepare adequately and if she so wished, withdraw from the interview altogether. She is the only guest since Studio Ken’s inception to have enjoyed this privilege.

  1. Shortly before the interview commenced, Ms Mwanza was again reminded of the questions and she had no objections. When the interview started and was getting heated, I asked for the cameras to be switched off though the sound equipment was left running. While people and Ms Mwanza now say she was attacked in the interview in her own house, during that interval, Ms Mwanza burst into laughter saying some of the things she was saying on camera were a joke hence the interview proceeding thereafter.
  2. Part of the verbal arrangement with Ms Mwanza and Studio Ken was that she previews both the promo and the interview before they were released to the public though there was a proviso that she was not to control or dictate the content. However, when the promo was edited, she demanded that it should not be shared to the public because she didn’t like the way she looked. We allowed her to edit the promo to enhance picture quality and it’s her version which was eventually released to the public.
  3. Further, when the interview was being edited, she called and made two more demands requiring certain parts be removed from the final edit completely. Again, her wish was granted. When she was asked what else she wanted removed, she indicated nothing more.
  4. As a result of the above subsequent demands which were fully met (against the original arrangement and journalistic ethics), Studio Ken did not want to lose further control of the content. Therefore, the edited interview was shared with the public without her previewing. Suffice to state that efforts were still made to explain this position but she was unreachable.

It has now occurred to me that while I engaged Ms Mwanza on a purely journalistic interview, her suggestion to me for her own ratings and controversy which I objected to seems unfortunately to be the driver in this post production occurrence.

In conclusion, it is NOT and will never be Studio Ken’s policy to treat interviewees different based on their gender as the narrative seems to be developing. Different people are asked different questions depending on what’s topical about them in order for them to offer clarity and share their story.

It must be noted that any topic discussed in an interview is unique to the guest and would not produce the same theme, format, response or conclusion irrespective of how the subjects maybe related.

Attached is an audio excerpt of the conversation during the time cameras were off as part of setting the record straight.

I thank you all.

Source: Kennedy Gondwe

There Was Indiscipline In Monze And Everybody Supported That – Police

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There Was Indiscipline In Monze And Everybody Supported That – Police

By Merlyn Mwanza

There was indiscipline in Monze and everybody supported that, says police service spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo.

And Katongo has condemned retaliatory threats from the PF against UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, on the Copperbelt and other areas, following the incident in Monze

Featuring on One Love Radio on 104.1 FM this morning, Katongo repeatedly referred to the incident in Monze where President Edgar Lungu was recently booed, whenever callers asked her on the violence and unruliness from the PF cadres, saying the indiscipline was coming from both the ruling party and UPND.

“There was indiscipline in Monze and everybody supported…they were even commenting on social media,” Katongo said during a radio programme monitored by Daily Revelation.

She dismissed assertions that the recent statement from Inspector General of police Kakoma Kanganja, that it would not be business as usual, was aimed at the opposition, saying the people who protested at police stations and those who were recently arrested in Muchinga were from the PF.

One of the callers asked Katongo why the police allowed PF cadres at the courts during Health minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya’s appearance, and wondering whether PF cadres were being given permits to march as they wished, but Katongo kept on telling the caller to “talk about Monze also.”

“Talk about Monze also, talk about Monze also,” Katongo spoke over the caller.

In responding to his questions, Katongo said it was unusual to find police officers manning the gates at the courts, but that there will now be police officers there during high profile cases.

She wondered if the people who gathered in huge numbers in Monze obtained a police permit to do so, saying the news could have been everywhere had it been the PF doing that.

“I have asked you deliberately talk about that act there (Monze), was it in order…chiwamila galu kuluma mbuzi,” Katongo said, adding that they were trying to magnify the acts being done by the others but failing to condemn their own wrongs. “It’s not even everywhere in social media.”

In apparent reaction to Lusaka Province minister Bowman Lusambo, who is heard in one of the videos saying that the cadres who were beaten in Mufulira were not PF cadres and that the game had just started, Katongo condemned such utterances coming from a leader, saying followers would take such as an instruction to do as they pleased.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” Katongo said, saying no one should be stopped from going to any area of the country.

Katongo said what happened in Monze could not have been spontaneous, as the President was also in Mazabuka and such a thing never happened.

“There could be people who organised it,” she said.

People have argued that attempts to arrest the people who booed the President were unconstitutional as they were simply expressing their views and there was no crime in booing someone, Katongo said the police charged people according to subsidiary laws as the conduct in Monze was likely to cause a breach of peace.

“We will charge you according to subsidiary laws,” Katongo said.

She said these acts of unruliness were just being heard from PF and UPND cadres.

“Have you ever heard that cadres from FDD or cadres from Tayali’s party?” asked Katongo.

‘I DON’T LOOK AT THE VEEP AS A WOMAN, BUT AS A LEADER’– MWEETWA

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‘I DON’T LOOK AT THE VEEP AS A WOMAN, BUT AS A LEADER’– MWEETWA


Mweetwa: “…there should be no people who must feel too old or holding a position too big that when they tell lies, they cannot be reminded. Those peope don’t exist in the world I live in..!”


Choma Central Member of Parliament says there is no reason to drag issues of age and gender into his statement on Vice President, Inonge Wina’s remarks linking the gassing incidents to the opposition.

Cornelius Mweetwa also says he is ready to apologise to the National Assembly and Wina on the condition that she says sorry for misleading the national that the opposition was behind the terror.


Mweetwa was responding to Fisheries and Livestock Minister, Professor Nkandu Luo who accused him of disrespecting Wina as an elder and a woman in politics.


This is in reference to his remarks directed at Wina that it was “shameful” and “shallow” of her to accuse the opposition of influencing regime change using the recent gassing incidents.
“…if somebody feels too old that they want that even if they tell lies, we must keep quiet… Well. There are places where they can be found. Go home, go home, go to the village… There are people all over in the village here who, who are living peacefully, but if you come into public life and you want respect when you are lying to a nation, you should create new rules that should bar people from reminding you that you are lying about gassing..,” Mweetwa said during a press briefing in Choma this morning.
Mweetwa on Friday, declined to apologize for his words at the ruling Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Patrick Matibini, arguing that he was within his constitutional right of freedom of expression.


The lawmaker charges that he does not take Wina as a woman, but as a leader who should not mislead the nation on a sensitive matter as the gassing incident.


“To try and position her owner the Vice president as woman in this discourse is a misnomer. I as Chairperson for the Zambian Men’s Parliamentary Network on Gender Equality at Parliament, look at her owner the Vice president not as a woman. I look at her as a leader,” he added.


During a briefing this morning, Mweetwa charged that being old and a woman does not give the VEEP the right to mislead the nation and he vows not to relent speaking.
Mweetwa has also accused Luo of discriminating against young people when he refers to him as a young man who should not voice out on lies.


“By looking at me as a young man and asking me to shut up. Stopping to point out the truth and standing for truth. Is now in itself discriminatory and segregative against the young people in Zambia that they can talk… This is the reason why when the youths of this country try to talk about about corruption. They are called DISGRUNTLED,” he added.


The speaker of the national assembly has ruled that Mweetwa apologises for what he termed as an attack on the Vice President’s character with his remarks.

Journalistically, there is nothing wrong with The Mutale Mwanza interview

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Journalistically, there is nothing wrong with The Mutale Mwanza interview

By Augustine Mukoka

Journalistically, there is nothing wrong with The Mutale Mwanza interview

  • EMMANUEL Mayuka
  • Clifford Mulenga
  • Miles Sampa
  • Mbototo (Newton Mainza)
  • Pilato (Chama Fumba)
  • B’flow (Brian Bwembya)

Are among the guests to have featured on Studio Ken, a Youtube channel by Kennedy Gondwe. They have not hard it easy.

For instance, the assumption in our society is that anyone spotting dreadlocks is a dagga (chamba) smoker.

Mbototo was put through this otherwise uncomfortable question. He answered without much ado.

Mayuka was subjected to as tough a series of questions as Clifford on events in the Chipolopolo camp some eight years ago.
And Pilato answered albeit philosophically some good questions he’s not traditionally asked on a day-to-day basis.

Come to B’flow. Everything that was in public domain was put to him including suspicion he pocketed from State House so that he could auction the youth movement.

And the Lusaka Mayor – Miles Sampa. Having known Miles Sampa for over 15 years now, I have never read or seen an interview revealing some intimate details about his life.

He has been accused of a lot of stuff in the wake of Ruth Mbandu’s (MHSRIP) death including allegations he was the mastermind of the misfortune.

It was on Studio Ken we heard his first response on the issue. The takeaway is he now has learned to stay away from criminal investigations as they are best left in the hands of the police. And he never committed the crime he is accused of.

For the first time, we heard Miles reveal he has five children with five different women he refers to as ‘baby mamas’. Many have had their own interpretation. He also was asked if he was ‘mad’, a narrative we are accustomed as it is repeatedly advanced by critics.

Then came the Mutale Mwanza interview a subject of so much reaction some of which is directed at Kennedy personally.

First, there’s no question about Kennedy’s credentials as a journalist. Top notch if I am to state the obvious. We all are entitled to our own interpretation of how the interview panned out.

I must declare bias. Kennedy is a big brother I always say I never had. He is a very good friend. We have had very candid conversation, like on many other issues, post the Mutale Mwanza interview.

It is an opportunity from which we can learn. Ultimately, there’s nothing journalistically wrong with the package.

Both the interviewer and interviewee accounted for their part pretty well. The biggest talk point has been asking Mutale whether she is a “prostitute” or not.

It’s not the first time Mutale Mwanza was hearing this question.
There’s an audio in which she attempts to address these allegations with a Mr. Nonde. She was so graphic that she asked Mr. Nonde a question out of this world.

There is also a time when she addressed female genitalia on radio. Mutale was as graphic as a reproductive health class can be.

I have listened to her interviews. She is blunt. Asks her sources
tough questions and takes them on where need arise. We all applaud her for her bravery.

Listen to how she has taken on Dandy Krazy, Bowman Lusambo and others. So, if she can take on others in her interviews, why should she be treated with kid gloves when on the other side of the microphone?

Mutale had an opportunity to address some of the issues about what society perceives successful women. Crying victim or shooting the messenger does not help dispel the norms society subjects women to. It in fact makes worse their case.

Our society, unfortunate as it maybe, takes issue with a philandering woman much more than it would with a man.

The more reason we hear, ‘ubucende bwa maume, tabu onaula inganda’ to justify this archaic line of argument. The narrative a man has five children with five women weighs different in the court of public opinion if a similar case applies to a woman.

And so, asking a man if he is a prostitute in a candid interview will have little consequence to gender activists than doing so if it was a woman.

As a journalist, you mirror society. And sometimes the happenings in society can be very uncomfortable. They still have to be addressed whatever the cost.

In the interview, Mutale had an opportunity to dispel the rumors which are rife in our society. She should have justified her uniqueness and what she brings to the media industry.

As opposed to playing into the journalists’ questions, she should have explained her side in clear and concise terms. This was a very good opportunity to dispel the rumors and share her vision, path and journey with the public and fans. Nothing more, nothing less.

She struck me as an intelligent young lady, genuinely hard working with two jobs. Her oratory is equally smooth and there’s no doubt she will get want she wants with a bit of polishing of herself along the way.

To hear Antonio Mwanza rubbish the interview and question it as silly is the highest form of pretense a public figure can display.
But again, we have to understand that Antonio is trying to jump on the virality of the interview to make some political capital. That’s what politician do, anyway.

But that should not be done at the expense of the journalism profession. If Antonio gets away with feeble questions and thinks he can make the best of any journalist, he should count himself lucky.

There’s no record Antonio has gone to a journalism school; neither a record that he is an expert or a lecturer of journalism to attempt to lecturer journalists what a “silly” and a so called good question should be. If masters of the journalism trade such as Edem Djokotoe, Prof. Sam Phiri and comrade Kenneth Makungo take issue, journalists must listen.

If political ‘prostitutes’ take issue or find an opportunity to play to the gallery, journalists must protect the tenets that govern their profession.

By Augustine Mukoka

Lungu’s life wasn’t at risk in Monze, says Katuka

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Lungu’s life wasn’t at risk in Monze, says Katuka

[By Chambwa Moonga and Oliver Chisenga]

UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka says raising of a party symbol and shouting a party slogan to a Republican President does not amount to violence.

He was reacting to chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya’s statement on Wednesday that the UPND was the most violent party in Zambia’s history.

The statement by Siliya, the information minister, was necessitated by the ‘booing’ of President Edgar Lungu in Monze on July 4 this year.

“Dora Siliya said the UPND is the most violent party since independence. I want to dispel that; we cannot be labeled [as] the most violent because this violence was brought by the PF,” Katuka told journalists at the UPND secretariat in Lusaka on Friday.

“The first time that a panga was used on another person was under the leadership of Mr Michael Sata. Now the law has changed and a panga is called a dangerous weapon. Initially, it was a farm tool.”

He said what happened in Monze, to him, was nothing worth talking about.

“Booing a President is nothing. It is a way people show their displeasure to the manner of how certain things are done. Every leader has been booed at one time or another,” he argued.

“I was booed as a member of parliament but it was not an issue. People were sending a message when they behaved in that manner.”
Katuka recalled that at the instigation of violent and armed PF cadres, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema had to escape via the rooftop at Sun FM Radio in Ndola in April 2014.

“PF cadres went to that radio programme with guns…. Chishimba Kambwili was almost attacked in Kabwe when he featured on a radio programme. President Hakainde, at Moba Hotel in Kitwe, was attacked by PF cadres brandishing guns. That was a risk to his life,” Katuka said.

He said he did not see any risk to Lungu’s life in Monze.

“It was just people flashing their party symbol and people shouting their party slogan, which had completely nothing to do with being disrespectful. The problem in African leadership is that we want too much respect, which is not necessary,” he said, adding that the PF wanted to create an issue out of nothing.

“PF is the most violent party this country has ever seen. I’m privileged to have been around before independence, at independence and up to now. I have seen the colonial government, I have seen the UNIP government, I have seen the MMD government and I have seen the PF government. I can safely say that the PF is the most violent party.”

He also remembered: “how we scampered at Hotel Intercontinental when we went for that Bill 10 debate in February this year.”

“They just brought in cadres from Intercity [Bus Terminus] and we all scampered. That to them is not violence! Violence to them is only when a President is booed! Let’s respect each other; Lungu’s life is as important as HH’s and as important as my life,” said Katuka.

Meanwhile, UPND Copperbelt secretary Howard Kamwandi says his provincial leadership is amazed with the way President Lungu has reacted to his booing by some Monze residents.

In a statement, Kamwandi said as a leader, President Lungu had a duty to protect the rights of people to protest and express themselves.

He said he had noted the tendency of government leader’s desire only to hear and tolerate voices of their praise singers

“We are amazed with the way Edgar Lungu has reacted to his booing by some Monze residents. As a leader, it is the duty of Lungu to protect the right of people to protest and express themselves. But what we have seen with this government is a systematic crackdown on dissenting voices. The only voices they want to hear are of their praise singers. Anyone speaking a different language, they fall on them like a tonne of bricks,” Kamwandi said.

Kamwandi reminded President Lungu that Zambia was still a democracy, though not practiced, hence citizens had the right to express themselves in various ways, including booing him.

He said what transpired in Monze was a way of expressing their displeasure with his government and his governance style.

“We want to remind Edgar Lungu that Zambia is still a democracy (at least on paper). And as such, citizens have the right to express themselves as they did in Monze, which is a way of expressing their displeasure with his government; his style of governance. It is common knowledge that Lungu’s government has failed this country. His government is nothing short of a kleptocracy,” he said.

Kamwandi noted that corruption was the PF’s way of doing things and the bedrock of the regime.

He lamented that the cost of living for Zambians has continued to rise beyond what the ordinary man can afford.

“Did he expect the people of Monze or indeed anywhere else in the country to clap for him for destroying their livelihoods, for putting them, their children and children’s children in debt? No! They were showing him they are not happy with his leadership, his corruption, his Kleptocracy. What Lungu should have done after being booed is to look at himself, look at what he’s not doing right. He should have concerned himself with righting his wrongs,” Kamwandi said.

He added that by going into high gear denouncing those that booed him, it shows that President Lungu was not willing to change.

He said President Lungu’s reaction to the Monze booing shows that he is just in the Presidency to serve himself and does not care what the people think or say about his governance.

“We have seen also comments in the media to the effect that UPND president Hakainde Hichilema should have condemned the people who booed Lungu. First of all, what wrong did those people do? They have a democratic right to express themselves. Lungu’s government has exhibited political intolerance. How many people have been killed, maimed or assaulted for trying to express themselves via protests? Only those that sing his praises or protesting against his (perceived) enemies are actually allowed to protest,” Kamwandi said.

Kamwandi said the PF have sowed division across the country.

He further condemned insinuations that UPND president Hichilema would be mistreated when he travels to the Copperbelt as it has become a no go area for him.

“That’s laughable. As Copperbelt residents, we would like to warn those trying to divide our country that it is them that will be unwelcome to this province. Zambia is for everyone and no one has the right to bar anyone else from any part of our motherland. Let this government get it from us, that the only hope people on the Copperbelt have is the promise of president Hakainde Hichilema taking over the reins of government,” he said.

Kamwandi reminded the PF that people on the Copperbelt have lost jobs because of President Lungu’s inconsistent mining policy.

He said if there was any place where the effects of President Lungu’s bad governance were more evident it was the Copperbelt.

“Families are not only failing to take their children to higher learning institutions but also failing to provide two, not three, decent meals in a day. Despite all the doom and gloom on the Copperbelt, HH is the only bright spot that we are looking forward to in 2021 and therefore anyone who touches him should be prepared to fight all the people of the Copperbelt,” warned Kamwandi.

United States Reflections On Violations Of People’s Freedoms Should Not Be Taken Lightly – Maiko Zulu

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United States Reflections On Violations Of People’s Freedoms Should Not Be Taken Lightly – Maiko Zulu

By Maiko Zulu

UNITED STATES REFLECTIONS ON VIOLATIONS OF PEOPLE’S FREEDOMS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

The reflections of United States Charge d’ Affaires to Zambia David Young on Freedom of Expression and general degradation of democracy in Zambia highlight the trauma that many Zambians go through at the hand of the militarised government of President Lungu.

Unlike the post 1991when under Fredrick Chiluba when Zambia was the flag carrier of democracy and media freedoms on the continent, today the country is a complete shadow of its former self with media houses opting not to report on anything that might be perceived as anti-establishment just to safeguard their broadcasting licence.

People’s freedoms to freely express themselves on governance issues or to hold free protests are constantly threatened by the selective application of the Public Order Act by the ruling party controlled Police Service.

This morning we woke up to yet another dose of sponsored anarchy when suspected political party thugs caused mayhem at a named graveyard. This follows recent open attacks on media houses hosting opposition politicians. We are back in dictatorial days when one had to look around before expressing their views and therefore the remarks by the United States envoy should be viewed as a clear sign of oppressive governance. There is degradation of law and order. There is no freedom if politicians are going to create ‘No-Go’ areas for other citizens.

The solution to all these unfortunate occurrences lie largely in the hand of our leader President Edgar Lungu. The President is not only leader of the entire nation but also leader of one of the parties that are at the forefront of the violence and political intolerance that is being witnessed in the country. I sincerely believe that if President Lungu was not capitalising on the anarchy unfolding, then he has the power to stop it.

Today Zambians are afraid, scared to death in their own country because political hooligans have taken over the streets and even the Courts of Law. However, no one should take the peaceful citizens for granted because once your life is threatened then you have no choice but to protect it by any means necessary. We only have one Zambia so let us not allow anyone to set it on fire because of the desire to either stay in power or get into power.

TheRevolutionWontBeTelevised

Sean Tembo goes for Lungu, HH

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Sean Tembo goes for Lungu, HH

PATRIOTS for Economic Progress leader Sean Tembo says there is no question that Zambia has underperformed over the past 56 years or since independence.

In a statement, Tembo stated with regret that after attaining self-rule on October 24, 1964, instead of building on the economic strides that had been made by colonial masters, the country regressed instead.

He noted that Zambia’s per capita income today was approximately 1/13th of what it was at the time of gaining independence.

“The meaning of this is that today, Zambians are 13 times worse off than they were on 24th October 1964. Does that mean that we Zambians are incapable of governing ourselves? Should we beg Britain to recolonise us so that our economic fortunes can be restored to pre-1964 levels? What is wrong with us? Why are we unable to properly govern ourselves? Is it the black pigment of our skin? Is it the shape of our heads? Or perhaps the accent of our speech? Really, what is it?” Tembo asked.

He said there were several underlying reasons why Zambia had not been able to make economic progress, prominent of all reasons being the fact that the country had been choosing less-than-optimal leaders.

“Yes, our past presidents and current President did and has done what they could within their capacity. However, the problem has been that they never had much capacity. They were not the best of what was available,” Tembo said.

He said instead of choosing an optimal leader, at every juncture, Zambians chose to satisfice.

“And this is exactly what l wish to address in this submission. Why have we failed to pick a Winston Churchill or a Franklin D. Roosevelt among us? Someone who can turnaround our national fortunes enough so that even if we were to subsequently have less-than-optimal leaders, our upward trajectory would not be reversed,” he said.

The PeP leader said Zambians have been too assuming in their selection of leaders and have consistently failed to ask hard questions to people that aspire to lead the nation.

Tembo said with the foregoing, the end result has been that the country have always ended up with leaders that appeared great while in opposition but turned out to be totally completely disastrous once they were ushered into office.

“When l was visiting my wife’s home village called Mutitima, deep down in chief Mporokoso of Mporokoso district of Northern Province at the beginning of this year, my grandfather-in-law told me a proverb which I did not understand, but going by the expression on his face, I could tell that it was an important proverb which l needed to get translated as soon as possible. The old man said ‘Ici kwanka bacimwena ku mampalanya’. Upon quizzing my wife later that evening about the meaning of this proverb, she explained to me that it loosely means that you can tell the character of a person by their behaviour,” he said.

Tembo said the country was where it is today, having regressed its per capita income 13 times since independence, because of citizens’ failure to see the telltale signs of poor leadership.

“Take the current President for example. Before Mr Lungu became President of this Republic, it was reported that he was disbarred as a practicing attorney because he misappropriated a client’s money. Put in a layman’s language, President Lungu stole money of a client. That is a fact. It does not matter whether one loves or hates President Lungu, the fact is that he stole money of a client, while practicing as an attorney. However, as a nation, we decided to bury our heads in the sand, much against the Bemba saying that l came across while in Mutitima Village of chief Mporokoso that ‘icikwanka bacimwena ku mampalanya’. We saw the telltale signs of lack of accountability in Mr Lungu, and yet we decided to still proceed and make him President of this Republic,” he said.

Tembo noted with shock that the country is stunned that President has failed to account for public resources, given his background.

Further, Tembo recalled that when he and his government decided to spend $40 million of taxpayers’ money to buy grandmotherly-looking fire tenders, the nation was again shocked.

“But why are we shocked when we saw the telltale signs from the beginning? Did we expect Mr Lungu to have a sudden change of character and stop ‘ukutola indalama ishabene?’ Ati ‘nachitola fye’,” he said with regret.

“We have an individual that some people think is a saviour of this country, an individual whom some people think can liberate us from the current mismanagement, corruption and looting of the Patriotic Front Party and its government. But the question is; who is this individual and what is his character? Are there any telltale signs of crookedness in this individual, the way it was with some of our past leaders? Are we ignoring those telltale signs and assuming that this time around ‘icikwanka tatwachimonene ku mampalanya’?”

The PeP leader said he has never believed the story peddled by the ruling Patriotic Front that this individual sold the country’s mines at a song to foreigners during privatisation, thereby enriching himself and impoverishing the country.

He, however, said he believed that the decision of selling the mines was a decision made by the then Frederick Chiluba administration and that the said individual was nothing other than an implementer of a government decision and therefore the individual had to be absorbed of all blame related to the privatisation of ZCCM assets.

“In other words, I believe that the PF and its government have been engaging in cheap politicking on this matter,” Tembo said.

He, however, said amidst all this wailing by the PF against the said individual (UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema), there were a few things that were factual.

“For example, it is a matter of fact that this individual bought a house from one of the parastatals that he was appointed as a liquidator in Kabulonga, and proceeded to live in this house for a prolonged period of time until he decided to shift to his current abode. That is a fact. It does not matter whether one loves or hates this individual, that fact will remain just that: a fact. Now, I want to make clear at this juncture that I am a PACRA duly accredited insolvency practitioner myself, in accordance with the Corporate Insolvency Act No. 9 of 2017, just like I have been for the past 16 years. Of course, before the Corporate Insolvency Act No. 9 of 2017 which restricts insolvency practitioners to practicing Auditors and Lawyers, every Peter and Robert could be an insolvency practitioner and that is how this individual found himself as a Liquidator for the bank in question. Anyway, I know for a fact that when a company appoints a liquidator, that individual takes charge of all the decisions of that company,” Tembo said.

In other words, Tembo said both the board of directors and the management of a company that has been placed under liquidation were suspended and all decisions related to the winding up of such a company were made by the appointed liquidator.

He said the import of the scenario under consideration, where the said individual was the liquidator of a parastatal bank and he proceeded to sell one of the bank’s assets, a house in this case, to himself was that he was effectively the seller and the buyer of the said house.

Tembo noted that a liquidator was supposed to always act in the best interests of the company under liquidation.

“Now, you do not need to be a corporate governance expert to realise that this was a clear case of fraud that happened here. It is my strong belief that a person who would make a better president of this Republic is someone who, when faced with a predicament of whether to put the interests of the nation or his own personal interests first, will decide to do the right thing and put the interests of the nation first,” he said.

Further, Tembo noted that the said individual was presented with this scenario, but instead of putting the interests of the nation first by selling the parastatal assets in question in an arm’s length transaction with an independent buyer and thereby fetch the highest possible price for the said house, he decided to put his personal interests above those of the nation and decided to sell the parastatal house to himself.

“Now, I am not saying that simply because this individual behaved in such a crooked manner several years ago then he still has such a crooked streak where, if made President, would put his own personal interests above the interests of the nation. No. There is a possibility that this individual has since reformed and his actions in yesteryears can be attributed to youthful exuberance. But again, why take the chance? If an individual is crooked in small things then the chances that he will be crooked in bigger things are very high. Remember how we ignored Mr Lungu’s theft of his client’s money, and how we thought it would not affect his accountability of our public financial resources, and how we have proved ourselves wrong,” Tembo said.

The PeP leader further said the country was desperately in need of a savior to redeem its citizens from the current poor leadership of the PF.

However, Tembo insinuated that Hichilema was by far not that saviour.

He urged Zambians to search somewhere else for a saviour.

“And I say that out of my deep undying love for this nation, the nation of my forefathers and the nation of my born and unborn children. “ici kupempula bacimwena ku mampalanya”,” said Tembo.

Chilufya must be dropped, demands – KBF

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Chilufya must be dropped, demands – KBF

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Kelvin Bwalya Fube says some people in the PF leadership are backward.

And Fube says President Edgar Lungu, who has been trying to be political, should suspend or drop health minister Chitalu Chilufya.

In an interview on Hot FM’s Hot Seat programme on Thursday, Fube, who is popularly referred to as KBF, bemoaned the low quality of current members of parliament.

“Half those people in Parliament, sorry to say, some of them don’t even know how to read. I am sorry to insult some of them but I know it’s a fact. You remember before 2016 my old man ba Sata said, “my MPs are useless”, and some of them are back there, the same useless people…let’s be serious,” Fube said.

“I am not moved because someone holds a position. I am moved because the quality of discourse that I am going to have with somebody, the quality of interaction that I am going to have with somebody, the mindset is what I am interested in. Some of these people have come here and told you that I am number one bootlicker; you want to hear that from a minister? Just be real…is that the quality we are talking about? If you are a bootlicker, keep it in your mind, we don’t want to hear it, pretend you can think. There is a saying that when a fool keeps quiet, even the wise men think he is wise but when you speak…hallelujah! Some of us love thinking but for some people thinking is painful.”

And Fube, who is also an accomplished attorney, said Dr Chilufya must be dropped.

“I don’t believe that my brother Chishimba Kambwili was given that opportunity, I don’t think my sister Emerine Kabanshi was given that opportunity. So, why [are] Chitotela and Chitalu Chilufya being given that privilege? These are double standards,” he said.

“Be principled and be equal to everybody. Don’t show that you are discriminating in your leadership, that’s what I see here; there is a problem. The President is being selective. With the greatest respect to my brother, my learned colleague, President of this country, he has been selective on that score, it’s wrong. Be presidential and political; drop him and if you need him bring him back.”

Fube said allowing Dr Chilufya to be in office amid corruption charges intimidates law enforcement officers.
Meanwhile, Fube warned that when a government begins to annoy the youths and they begin to think and feel they have no option but to go to the bush then that regime is digging its own grave.

He mocked the PF government that the youths who were denied a permit to stage a peaceful protest beat the police to their own game when their activity took place in the bush and was viewed by millions of people.

“Let me give some advice to my young brother the Minister of Home Affairs, honourable [Stephen] Kampyongo, there is no need to abuse state machinery. You have the police in full force driving up and down the streets of Lusaka as if there are riots going on, there is no need. When you begin to annoy the youths and they begin to think and feel they have no option but to go to the bush, you are digging your own graves and the grave of your political party,” said Fube.

“The youths talk to each other on social media and that’s how they were able to beat you at your own game. You went in town, parading motor vehicles, armored vehicles, dressed combats, looking so foolish but the youths were dancing somewhere else and had 300,000 people watching them on Facebook. How foolish can you be! You can have a virtual rally in this day and age. That is why some of these people in the PF leadership are backward, they think it’s’ those old days. Teku Shiwang’andu kuno iyo (This is not Shiwangándu). Let’s start changing our system of approach and if you don’t know what to do ask, some of us are ready to educate you. I am not trying to insult my young brother Kampyongo here, I am just advising but he should change his tactics. His language has become confrontational, his language has become aggressive, even to his fellow members.”

Perusing the 2021-2026 revolutionary Socialist Party manifesto

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Perusing the 2021-2026 revolutionary Socialist Party manifesto

(continued from last week)

By Gregory Kaputula

  1. Governance: Good governance and authentic democracy are possible only in a state that has rule of law, and on the basis of a correct conception of the human being. They have to be built on the basis of justice and moral values, and have to look to the common good. They demand a correct understanding of the dignity and rights of the person. When in government, the Socialist Party is offering to: (i) emphasise democratic constitutionalism as ultimately, the foundation by which a society, through the clash and compromise of ideas, institutions, and individuals, reaches, however imperfectly, for truth; (ii) promote coalition building as the essence of democratic action. Coalition building teaches interest groups to negotiate with others, to compromise, and to work within the constitutional system.

The Socialist Party, when in government, is promising to see to it that all people constantly bear in mind that theirs is a poor country. To reduce costs, State House will be an office and not a residence. The president, vice-president, and cabinet ministers, will take care of their homes from their salaries. Cabinet positions will be reduced through amalgamation. Some ministries will become departments. Under local government, the Socialist Party believes in devolving power to local communities. The socialist government is promising to allocate extra funding to local government. They will also review and reform council tax and business rates, and consider new options to ensure local government has sustainable funding for the long term.

The Socialist Party, when in government, is also promising to improve efficiency and accountability of public oversight institutions – the National Assembly, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Drug Enforcement Commission, the Financial Intelligence Centre and the Public Protector – through capacity building and increased funding. Everything possible will be done to ensure that these institutions perform their oversight roles independently, efficiently, and effectively. And given the importance of a credible free press to both development and democracy, the Socialist Party is promising to remove all constraints on press freedom, and create a more favourable financial, economic and political environment for the media to survive and prosper.

  1. Programme for securing peace: The primary duty of any government is to protect and defend its citizens. The Socialist Party is promising to change the defence and security doctrine of the country. The best-defended country is one where every citizen is a warrior – ready to defend territory, property and life. Defence is too great an assignment to be left in the hands of an ill-equipped army with an inappropriate doctrine. Under its programme for securing peace, the party is promising the following: (i) ensure that our armed forces are properly equipped and resourced to respond to wide-ranging security challenges; (ii) the socialist government will commit to effective UN peacekeeping, especially within the context of Pan African peace-keeping missions; (iii) commit to a procurement process that supports job creation and the growth of the Zambian defence manufacturing industry; (iv) ensure entry borders are kept safe by immigration and Zambia Revenue Authority officers through cooperation and the collective border decision making of each security unit; (v) depoliticise the police by retraining officers to ensure that effective public safety becomes a priority through safe policing, and; (vi) establish an anti-white collar crime unit to fight economic crimes, such as drugs-related offences and corruption.

The party is promising to champion conflict resolution and dialogue, negotiated settlements and peacekeeping missions. The socialist government will ensure that there is no political violence perpetrated by cadres or law enforcement agencies. Peace will become the order of the day. The Socialist Party government will provide jobs and end poverty. This will reduce anger, stress and (structural) violence.

As we discuss the Socialist Party manifesto, we should also take interest in the importance of social contracts. NGOs, politicians and citizens have a pivotal role to play in raising awareness in electorates about making politicians accountable to their campaign promises. Electorates have a role in making politicians accountable by making politicians sign social contracts against their promises. Malcom X once said; “Anytime you throw your weight behind a political party that controls two – thirds of the government, and that party can’t keep the promise that it made to you during election time, and you‘re dumb enough to walk around continuing to identify yourself with that party, you’re not only a chump, but you‘re a traitor to your race.”

On August 12, 2021 Zambians will have a chance to cast their vote and choose their next president, members of parliament, mayors or council chairpersons and councillors. This manifesto sets out how the Socialist Party will transform Zambia when voted into office from 2021 to 2026. Indeed, in a society anchored on the values of equity, honesty, humility and solidarity, this manifesto is more than capable of bringing about Justice, Equity and Peace. It is a manifesto of the humble, by the humble for the humble.

I cannot wait to peruse more 2021-2026 election manifestos by other political parties in Zambia.

The author is a development activist, law student and a social commentator. Send comment to: gregory. kaputula @gmail.com

Petauke PF ask police to give way to them to restore respect for Lungu

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Petauke PF ask police to give way to them to restore respect for Lungu

[By Richard Luo in Petauke]

PETAUKE District PF chairperson Braston Mwansa has called on the UPND and its leadership to have respect for President Edgar Lungu.

Speaking after a peaceful protest on Friday against the booing of President Lungu by Monze residents, Mwansa said UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was not worthy being Republican president.

“Please, Hakainde, you are not eligible to be the president for 2021, even your MPs are not eligible to be the MPs for they shun progressive discussions in Parliament. They are just wasting money for people who voted for them. Hakainde, sit down with your people, we don’t want this nonsense (booing) otherwise you are going to create war…” he said.

Mwansa advised President Lungu to concentrate on taking development to his strongholds because other areas people fail to appreciate his love for them.

“My President, people of Southern Province don’t appreciate. Even if you buy them an aeroplane or put them on your back, they don’t appreciate and they will never appreciate,” Mwansa said.

“Mr President, concentrate on your strongholds. You have tried your level best vavuta and we are tired kunvela matusi (hearing insults) from Southern Province. The President was once blocked in Mongu, we had a by-election, they used juju by sending bees to attack our members and now the President goes to check on the delivered development, they start insulting him! What do you want you people? Come 2021 president Edgar Lungu wapita wampiti…” Mwansa said.

He also asked the youths to be prepared to defend the President at all cost and further asked the police to pave way for PF cadres to work to restore the respect for President Lungu.

“Youths, let’s be prepared so that we see where this battle we have started will take us. HH wants to bring war where there is no war, so please police officers, we beg you, at this period give us a chance for my children to work…” asked Mwansa.

PF provincial mobilisation member Rahab Zulu said it pains to see their child Lungu being insulted while on duty “for things that benefit the critics”.

She said from now onwards, Hichilema should not be allowed in Eastern Province.

“We are at pains that our child, Edgar Lungu, who is also the national president whom we sent to deliver development is being insulted and treated like a useless person in Southern Province. We are not happy and as Easterners, catibaba (it pains us) hence starting from today here in Eastern Province Hakainde tumufuna lini (we don’t want him) and he will not hold a meeting here in Eastern Province,” said Zulu.

A youth Grey Daka known as King Bobota has promised never to allow Hakainde to enter Eastern Province.
Daka warned that if Hichilema forces himself to go to Eastern Province, he would remain in the province while his chopper would return alone to Lusaka.

“As a commander of youths in Eastern Province, we shall not allow Hakainde to enter this region. We have tolerated him enough, this time, no,” Daka said.

Another youth Luka Banda known as Luka Wire said Eastern, including Petauke, was President Lungu’s quarantine area where no opposition was allowed.

“This is a no go area for Hakainde. The soldiers of Edgar Lungu in Eastern Province are not happy with what HH and his people did. Hakainde will not enter Petauke unless he goes and apologises to the President for what his people did. Here in Petauke it’s Edgar Lungu’s quarantine area. We don’t want Hakainde’s foot here,” Banda said.

The protesting PF members started from government guesthouse via the Catholic Church, the central business district and back to the council chamber.

As they marched, the PF cadres blocked the main road while motorists and other road users gave way.

Why Over Suddenly Division Among Lozis – Asks President Edgar Lungu

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Why Over Suddenly Division Among Lozis – Asks President Edgar Lungu

WHY OVER SUDDENLY DIVISION AMONG LOZIS – ASKS PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU

By Lubinda Namukolo

President Edgar Lungu this morning held a meeting with the traditional leaders in Luampa district of Barotseland.

The Chiefs in attendance were acting chief mwenetente, chief Afumba, chief kanguya, chief siwalongo.

President lungu told the Chiefs to clearly state their problems in their Chiefdoms.

However, all chiefs first complained that the rebel Mbunda group headed by Kaoma district commissioner Kennedy Liale Mubanga and rebel nkoya group headed by Webby Mulubisha is invading their areas because people are declaring themselves as Chiefs.

The Chiefs also disclosed that the district only has the four recognised Chiefs by the his majesty the King of Barotseland and Kuta. Chiefs also said they wanted to proper road network and proper building infrastructures in the area. The complained of the Luampa – Mulobezi road and the fair by the government to put up some network towers in most wards which is making it very difficult for the local people to access phone network.

The Chiefs also asked the president to intervene in the on going traditional wrangles in the chiefdoms.

However, Chiefs told president lungu for the development the have received through the new clinics and primary school.

President Edgar lungu further disclosed that it’s not a secret hat everyone knows and even himself he know that since time immemorial the 38 tribes found in Barotseland have lived in harmony and peace under the leadership of the Litunga and BRE Kuta.

Now he is surprised at the tend of this new thing called new Royal Establishments which are keep on popping up and rebelling the Litunga. He thinks maybe it’s because of this monthly K15,000 they give Chiefs. He knows there is a big problems between self imposed Chiefs in nkoya and mbunda who are inciting the people to turn against the Litunga and BRE Kuta.

President lungu said he is going to bring back the normal route of enthronement and recognition through passing the right procedure under the old and only authority which is the BRE. He assured the Chiefs that once his government amends the constitution through a Bill 10 everything will be the thing of the past.

Only President Lungu Is Trusted By Zambians, Not HH – Lusambo

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Only President Lungu Is Trusted By Zambians, Not HH – Lusambo

Only President Lungu Is Trusted By Zambians, Not HH – Lusambo

Kabushi PF Member of Parliament and Lusaka Province Minister Mr Bowman Lusambo has said the only person who is trusted by Zambians to lead the country is President Edgar Lungu because of his track record.

Mr Lusambo said when he featured on Ndola’s Sun FM radio that opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema cannot make a good president as he is only good at business, adding that going to the University of Zambia and getting a degree cannot make one a President.

“So HH can’t come to us and lie. He is good in business, he can keep cows, chickens, goats, he is good in that. Not in politics. Hakainde can’t be a President, he is just good at criticising Presidents. We only have a good President in Edgar Lungu. For me, President Lungu has given me a status, so when am moving to South Africa, Dubai, they give me respect,” Mr Lusambo said.

He said Mr Hichilema is too dirty to be in politics.

“I can assure you that no one can move me. Your duty is just to go back to the farm and take care of the cows. Where we have reached with Edgar Lungu is at the highest. We can’t give this country to Hakainde Hichilema. We will continue to tell the people what Edgar Lungu has done. I have no regard for Hakainde Hichilema. So I will continue to decampaign him from now on up to 2021 when we retire him. The captain Edgar Lungu has told us to relax as we have just faced turbulences,” Mr Lusambo said.

He further told Lusaka Lawyer Kelvin Bwalya Fube, once a member of the PF, to start looking for clients to defend.

“KBF has run out of clients, that is why he is talking nonsense. Just go to court and defend the clients, in politics we crush. Just speak English. We can’t judge the intelligence of someone because of your English. So ba KBF, what are you ba mudala? Just give respect to Edgar Lungu,” Mr Lusambo said.

The significant role of kola nuts among the Igbo people

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The significant role of kola nuts among the Igbo people

For literature students in Africa’s secondary schools, Chinua Achebe’s account of breaking kola in the novel Things Fall Apart was an eye opener. He noted among the Igbo in Southeastern Nigeria, kola occupied such a significant place that it is said “he who brings kola brings life.”

The Igbo people believe the kola tree was the first on earth and therefore its fruit being the first on earth.

The kola nut is given as a symbol of hospitality, friendship and respect; and is presented to guests at important social events such as weddings, funerals, and infant naming ceremonies. Curiously enough, it’s the Yorubas in western Nigeria who plant them in large quantities for sale.

When visiting an Igbo at home, you are sure to be welcome with “onye wetere oji, wetere udo”, which means “he who brings kola, brings peace.”

“Kola with three cotyledons is called ọjị ike, ọjị ikenga, that is, kola of the valiant. Only warriors or brave men and consecrated or ordained persons are permitted to consume this kola… Kola with four cotyledons is called “ọjị udo na ngọzi”, that is, “kola of peace and blessing”. It is the normal kola. The number four is very sacred among the lgbo people.

Kola with five cotyledons is ọjị ụbara mmadụ, ọmụmụ na ụkwụọma symbolizes increase in procreation, protection and good luck. Kola with six cotyledons indicates communion with the ancestors, that is, “ọjị ndi mmụo na ndi mmadụ jiri gbaa ndụ”. The smallest part or cotyledon is not eaten but is thrown away for the ancestors to eat. In like manner, kola with one cotyledon is not eaten by man, that means that it is not broken during ceremonies because it belongs to the ancestors, an attitude reminiscent of the direct link between the living and the dead in Igboland. Kola with seven cotyledons is a sign of good omen, it symbolizes prosperity. However it is rarely seen or broken.”

When a host fails to serve Ọjị (kola) at a social gathering, there must be a valid reason for the failure. The kola nut is presented on a saucer, preferably a wooden platter prepared and kept for the sole purpose of presenting kola nut. A host first takes a nut and puts it to his lips, thus signifying that it is about to be offered in good faith. This symbolic gesture absolves him from malice. The dish is, thereupon, passed to the visitor.

But the kola nut cannot be broken without the saying of prayers or incantations by the chieftain or eldest in the gathering. This has given rise to the proverb “He who brings kola brings life”, because in the kola nut prayers, the elder also requests for peace, long life and protection from all ill fortune. The breaking of kola occasionally comes along with palm wine, peanut butter and garden eggs.

The kola is broken with a knife or both hands and shared with guests, however, women are barred from breaking ceremonial kola. They are also forbidden from either planting, climbing or plucking as the kola tree is regarded as a male. Denying women the right to break Igbo ceremonial kola is more of social order as women break the Igbo kola when they gather in their usual cultural groupings where no man has a say.

PF planning to introduce State of emergency to postpone 2021 elections- NDC

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PF planning to introduce State of emergency to postpone 2021 elections- NDC

The NDC Lusaka Province, says it has taken time to study the Monze incident where alleged opposition members allegedly discredited the republican president Edgar Lungu.

The party says its findings have established that the critics were not opposition members but ordinary citizens that merely expressed their disappointment with the PF failure to lift the indefinite ban on livestock movements in Southern Province.

The NDC through its Provincial chairperson, Kennedy Siyanda, said members of the public who depend on buying and selling livestock have been grossly inconvenienced by this indefinite ban on livestock movement under the guise of combatting foot and mouth disease.

Up to now the Minister of Livestock Professor Nkandu Luo has failed to give residents assurances on the progress of containing the disease and also lifting the indefinite ban.

“Our investigations have also established that the PF has overreacted because Monze Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition in the House Jack Mwiimbu has been instrumental in paralyzing the infamous Bill 10.

“Mwiimbu further angered the PF by refusing to accompany President Lungu to commission some houses for Zambia Correctional Officers.

“While our counterparts were exercising their democratic right, the PF has capitalized on the situation by speeding up their hidden agenda of banning the movements of the major opposition leader in their so-called strongholds,” he said.

He added that the party’s concern is that the opposition will ignore this warning thereby creating potential for a clash between the greens and the reds.

“The greens as usual have deliberately created this arrangement as they want to avert these clashes by postponing the holding of the 2021 Elections.

“The greens will lobby for a State of Emergency claiming that the environment is not conducive to hold free and fair elections. PF cadres will then shower President Lungu with praises for protecting the lives of citizens.

“Fellow citizens, the real reason for the planned indefinite postponement of these Elections, is to prolong the stay of President Lungu in power,” he added.

Siyanda further claimed that PF has realized that it has lost popularity as it cannot win the 2021 Elections and will therefore use every opportunity to cling on to power.

“The PF is fully aware that citizens are not happy with the Lungu administration because of several factors including killing innocent citizens by gassing them in their homes.

“You will agree with us that the Electoral Commission of Zambia [ECZ] recently shortened the voter registration exercise from 90 to 30 days with a view to undermining the opposition.

“Secondly, the ECZ without the consensus of other players is talking about giving prisoners the right to vote. Before the opposition has agreed, the Commissioner General of the Zambia Correctional Services Dr. Chisela announces that he will not allow the opposition to campaign in prisons,” he went on.

He added that all these actions by the ECZ are all meant to annoy the opposition so that they react in a hostile manner and allow the PF to sneak in the State of Emergency.

“As NDC we are able to see through all these schemes and therefore would like to advise President Lungu that Zambia is our country and therefore he must uphold the republican Constitution and allow for the holding of free and fair 2021 Elections.

“After all, President Lungu, you don’t qualify to run in 2021, we therefore advise you to hand-over the reins of power at part level, during the forthcoming PF Convention.

“Zambians, we have warned you. 2021 is just around the corner. Vote wisely!” He said.

State House will deal with false postings on Lungu’s page internally – State House

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State House will deal with false postings on Lungu’s page internally – State House

SPECIAL Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe says State House will deal with the false postings on President Edgar Lungu’s Facebook page internally.

In the past few months, President Lungu’s Facebook page has been publishing false photographs showing progress on developmental project under the Patriotic Front government, when in fact the images were from other countries, downloaded from the internet.

On March 3, 2020 President Lungu posted a photograph of workers in a sugarcane field with the caption that read: “I strongly believe that the private sector plays an important role in employment creation and driving innovation and inclusive development. To the private sector, join me as we jointly continue to work hard to positively transform Zambia now, and for generations to come. #BuildingZambia Together.”

But according to facts, the image was not from Zambia but from India published by a news outlet called Swarajya in November 2018 (http://swarajyamag.com/insta/india-to-become-sugar-bowl-of-the-world-expected-to-topple-brazil-as-worlds-largest-sugar-producer).

On July 4, 2020, President Lungu posted a modernised fish farm with a caption: “As I have previously said on this platform and elsewhere; my Government is not pursuing an ad-hoc development strategy, but we are implementing a people-centred Development Agenda… In view of the above, my Government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock approved seven hundred and thirty-six (736) aquaculture business loan applications from Zambian citizens countrywide as at May 2020, valued at 118.3 Million Zambian Kwacha. This is in addition to the twelve (12) fish hatcheries and nurseries in all 10 provinces, which were approved in 2019 collectively valued at 20.7 Million Zambian Kwacha. I am passionate about developing a viable aquaculture subsector in Zambia because; it will create 4,366.”

Facts, however, reveals that this picture which was put on President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s page on 4th July was again merely downloaded from the Internet by his media team. The image originated from Israel and it first surfaced on the Internet on December 26, 2010. It was was first posted by ISREAL21c, An American online magazine focused on technological and scientific advances made by Isreal researchers). The picture was lifted from an article titled “Raising fish in a desert” (http://www.israel21c.org/raising-fish-in-the-desert/).

Fact checking results further revealed that the other image was first uploaded on 30th August 2018 by IBAN Aquafish Solutions and Consultancy Limited in shanghai China.

Much recently it was re-posted on 2nd July 2020 by the same page IBAN in a public group called University Of Guyana Faculty of Agriculture & Forestry as an advert to advertise fish farming consultancy.( Apparently these guys also used the exact picture from Israel which we had earlier investigated)

On Tuesday this week, President Lungu posted photographs of road rehabilitation works, claiming they were new images of ongoing road works on the Kafue-Mazabuka Road in Southern province.

“I am impressed with the progress report on the Kafue-Mazabuka Road earmarked for completion by October 2020. My Government was called all sorts of names because this road had been in a deplorable state for the many years. We listened and committed to work on it,” President Lungu stated

But the photo President Lungu used was an old reused images which had been published by various publications in Nigeria, Malawi and the United State of America from as far back as 2017.

After netizens fack-checked the images and proved them false, President Lungu removed the and issued a correction saying the image was erroneously attached.

“Yesterday (Tue), a wrong photo was erroneously attached together with the message below. Find the correct RDA images for the Kafue-Mazabuka Road works. Thank you,” Lungu stated.

In an interview yesterday, Chipampe, a former managing director of the state-owned Zambia Daily Mail said State House had noted the discrepancies.

Asked why there has been so much misinformation on the President’s page, Chipampe said the issue was internal and would be dealt with administratively.

“I think those are internal issues which we cannot discuss in public. The questions you have raised are all internal which will be dealt with administratively. You have published the story I have seen it and so I have given you a comment that it will be dealt with administratively,” said Chipampe. -ND

Lungu’s fake postings can form impeachment grounds – Sean Tembo

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Lungu’s fake postings can form impeachment grounds – Sean Tembo

PATRIOTS for Economic Progress (PeP) president Sean Tembo says President Edgar Lungu has been deliberately lying to garner undue support for himself.

Commenting on the recent scandal where President Lungu posted pictures of road works in Nigeria claiming the works were those being done on the Kafue-Mazabuka road, Tembo said the act was a ground for impeachment, which the opposition should look into.

Tembo said it had become regrettable that President Lungu could mislead masses by getting pictures from the internet and purport the development was happening in Zambia.

“We have noted with deep regret the continued habit by the Republican President Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu to post fake pictures on his Facebook page and claim that they represent developmental projects that him and his PF government have implemented in Zambia, when in fact these pictures are just downloaded from the internet and represent development projects in other countries,” Tembo charged. “Firstly, it was the fake pictures about the Kafue-Mazabuka road and then it was a fake picture about fish farming, then it was a fake picture about harvesting sugarcane, all within a very short space of time. It is likely that more fake pictures posted by President Lungu will soon be unearthed.”

He said posting one fake picture might be excusable as it could be attributed to human error.

“However, President Lungu has posted more than one fake picture within a space of a week. This amounts to a systematic attempt to mislead and hoodwink the Zambian people. On this basis, there is no doubt in our minds that President Lungu deliberately planned and executed this ploy in order to garner undue support and praise from the Zambian people that his government has brought development to this country, when in actual fact his PF government has only brought poverty, misery, corruption and political violence to this nation,” he said. “We strongly believe that such fraudulent conduct by a serving Republican President could form grounds for impeachment in other democracies around the world. In the interest of preserving our democracy and enhancing accountability and the rule of law, we wish to call upon opposition members of parliament to consider tabling a motion to constitute a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the extent of President Lungu’s culpability in this fraudulent scam of posting fake photos and claiming that they represent developmental projects in Zambia, when in fact not.”

Tembo advised that, “Upon completion of its investigations, should such a Parliamentary Select Committee find a prima facie case of fraud by President Lungu, then a motion for his impeachment should be tabled on the floor of Parliament. As citizens of this Republic, we deserve to be led by a person of sound moral standing and integrity. Posting fake pictures of alleged developmental projects is conduct of a person whose moral standing and integrity is questionable. Zambians deserve better.”

Restricting HH movement retrogressive, dangerous to national security – Nevers Mumba

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Restricting HH movement retrogressive, dangerous to national security – Nevers Mumba

MMD president Nevers Mumba says the call from the PF to restrict the movement of UPND into the northern part of the country is not only retrogressive but dangerous to the security of the nation.

Mumba says Zambia cannot be held at ransom by political parties that seek to divide the nation.

Mumba said the UPND and PF must transition from old to new politics.

He said the news coming out of Monze was deeply disturbing.

“It is disturbing because it diminishes who we are as a people. The news that alleged UPND members booed President Edgar Lungu is regrettable. The New Hope MMD believes in plural politics and the respect of divergent views. We however do not believe in the disrespect of the Presidency as an institution which belongs to the Zambian people,” he said.

Mumba said the booing of President Lungu was most unfortunate as it sowed a seed which shall germinate in future administrations.

“We must respect the presidency regardless of who currently holds the office. Opposition leaders are the government in waiting. What we sow now, we shall reap when we occupy that seat,” he said. “Zambians will recall that when the late Mr Michael Sata was in opposition, he shunned all national events. When he became president, he started writing letters to the opposition asking us to attend national day celebrations. This is not only a cycle that is retrogressive, but one which must not be repeated.”

Mumba said MMD had also noted with great disappointment that the call from the PF to restrict the movement of UPND into the northern part of the country was not only retrogressive but dangerous to the security of the nation.

Mumba said Zambia cannot be held at ransom by political parties that seek to divide the nation.

He said UPND should immediately condemn the Monze act and PF should also retract their statements and threats of no-go areas for the UPND.

Mumba said they should have just condemned or censured the UPND.

“No one has any legal right to stop a Zambian from campaigning in any part of the country. The New Hope MMD under my leadership, shall offer Zambians a leadership that respects the rule of law and politics of morality and integrity,” said Mumba. “Today, the New Hope MMD stands as the bridge from destructive and ancient politics of controversy to politics of dignity, unity and self-respect.”

PF cadres’ conduct at court was rubbish, next time nkaba fumya amolu – Kapeso

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PF cadres’ conduct at court was rubbish, next time nkaba fumya amolu – Kapeso

DEPUTY Inspector General of Police in charge of operations Bonny Kapeso has condemned the behavior of PF cadres who disrupted court proceedings when they went to show solidarity to corruption-accused Health Minister Dr Chitaulu Chilufya.

And Kapeso says the country will become ungovernable if cadres continue threatening people against going to certain areas.

Meanwhile, Kapeso has warned UPND members to grow up and respect authority, saying that next time they boo the Head of State, police will take action.

Speaking on a Millenium Radio programme dubbed “Law and the People”, Thursday, Kapeso described PF cadres’ conduct at the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court as rubbish.

He warned that he would personally break their legs the next time that case is called.

“I shudder to think really, do these cadres want to be police officers? Us we should go in the villages where we came from? Some of us came from the villages, do they want me to go to the village where I should become a DIG or do they want me to be in Zambia, Lusaka to direct operations? Do they want the Inspector General of Police to go back to Mwinilunga and then start working from there and then they take over the country as party police officers? This is rubbish! I don’t think we should entertain this kind of a sense. It is unacceptable, it brings problems and that is why I am saying if exactly that is the way they will think that police officers are powerless, 2021, Zambia will be ungovernable,” Kapeso said.

“Next adjournment, I will be there as DIG operations, let me see any political cadre come nkaba fumya amolu (I break their legs). Loud and clear, without fear! I will be there personally as DIG operations. We’ll need to bring sanity in this country. There is no one who is above the law. There is no where where the law says ‘yes, cadres must do whatever they want’, no my friend, I am paid to arrest. Even if I disable you, I will be paid for disabling you. I will follow it up with Nelson Phiri, Commissioner in charge of Lusaka when that case is coming up again [and] I will be there with my team, [the] crack squad.”

He said the cadres were de-campaigning the ruling party.

“I can assure [you] that, the way we have started, there is nothing that stops us from inviting the leadership of the PF. The way they are saying that at court, I am aware I read the story on social media when honourable Dr Chilufya went to court but I didn’t know the circumstances that even the court proceedings could not go ahead because of caderism. I mean, what nonsense is that? Who is in charge of security? Let them apply to go to Lilayi Paramilitary if they want to wear our uniforms. That is why I am saying there is nothing that stops us from calling the leadership of the PF because if they begin to send a message like that, what about their colleagues in the opposition?” Kapeso asked.

“We have to treat people in the same way, not differently. If a cadre from PF misbehaves, he or she must be arrested! If it is to whip them, we must whip them in the knees. If they don’t accept, they must be arrested. I have heard the President mention this, challenging the police, ‘me I am the President of the Republic of Zambia, do you expect me to come and tell you when to arrest and where to arrest?’ This is a lesson we know that if they have behaved like this, are we going to continue to allow them to behave like this? In fact, they are de-campaigning themselves as a political party because they have no respect for the police.”

Kapeso said Dr Chilufya had been given a chance to exonerate himself and there was no need to cause commotion at court.

“How do they want Dr Chilufya to be exonerated? How do you want your candidate to be exonerated? Because this is the opportunity that he has been given so that both for and against stories can be given, the evidence can be given in court. He is given a chance to say what he has and inside the courts, it is like a mortuary, they ‘say silence in court’. Maybe some of the boys that the PF are using are simply brainless because you can’t go to the court and ensure that the magistrate sitting trying to see the case against your client, against your Minister, against your candidate, they want to say ‘yes sir we want to hear what happened and what did not happen’, then you say ‘no no’ in a court of law, making noise,” he said.

And Kapeso said the country will be ungovernable if politicians continue to threaten people not to move to certain parts of the country.

“If we allowed that language to infiltrate the entire country, Zambia will be ungovernable. If we allowed that political language to be the order of the day, that people would not allow politicians in their own spectrums, in their own colours, in their own shades, they can’t go to one particular place, my challenge is that I want to throw this to their leadership, how do they want their people to behave? You shouldn’t leave this to the police, police cannot regulate the political conduct of party cadres because these party cadres have someone who they look up to,” Kapeso said.

Meanwhile, Kapeso warned that next time UPND cadres booed the President, police would take action because authority needs to be respected.

“Don’t ever equate the movement of a Republican President to a political party president. Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu calls for a capital P, President of the Republic of Zambia. Other political leaders tuma small p, tu nono (it’s written with a small p). Ni chairman fye (That is just the same as chairman) of that political party but we should ensure that Lesa nga ali ku suminishe ati uka teka (if God has set that one day you will be President), you don’t need to become so violent, you don’t need to become so disrespectful to authority. Because even God, he expects you to respect authority. How can you be arguing sure? We voted in 2016, next year it is 2021 people are still talking politics about leadership? You can’t behave like that. Let us grow up! You are the people that provoke the police because of this undue behaviour. We are warning them that next time they do that, anything that will happen they should not blame the police because we are warning them in advance here,” said Kapeso.-ND

LETTER TO MYSELF: The Paradox Of Caring For Others Especially Church Mates More Than Your Own Relatives – Pastor Choolwe

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LETTER TO MYSELF: The Paradox Of Caring For Others Especially Church Mates More Than Your Own Relatives – Pastor Choolwe

LETTER TO MYSELF – 11TH JULY 2020

Dear Pastor (Dr) Choolwe

REF : THE PARADOX OF CARING FOR OTHERS ESPECIALLY CHURCH MATES MORE THAN YOUR OWN RELATIVES

Allow me to address you as Pastor, Doctor, President and Founder of Gospel Envoys Church, Managing Consultant of Success Practitioners, Executive Director in the John Maxwell team etc………. congratulations but let me take you back to when you were just CHOOLWE.

My dear Choolwe, remember your relatives. Before any of your big titles came, they slept in grass thatched houses with you, braved the winter around the fire in the villages with you, ate chimbala with you, carried your sorrows and joys with you. They walked with you in Namaloba, chilombo, mulamatila, kalumwange, kashambana, longe, namilangi, TBZ, Luena and all places which probably less than quarter of your network today even knows. Choolwe remember the days of the rail single quarters in Livingstone, Dambwa Central, Kashitu, Dambwa North etc.

But today check yourself. Especially now that you are a Christian and very committed at church and doing fairly well in other areas. Choolwe where are they? Are they still part of your life? I mean WHERE ARE YOUR RELATIVES.

Choolwe there is one tendency among some Christians which you must check yourself and see where you stand. Remember this is a letter to yourself.

Choolwe have you noticed that for some Christians it is easy to help a person at church than a relative? I don’t know why it is so Choolwe. But many can give a lot of money to a church mate but some can’t even produce the same to help their own brother, sister, or mother.

Choolwe it is not true that all the giving people do at church is towards the work of God. A lot of it happens among themselves also and that is beautiful but it is not enough if your own relatives are suffering. Strangely many call helping those at church the work of God but I wonder who said helping your own brothers and sisters is not.

Choolwe you really need to check your heart. You may think you are being spiritual by helping church people more than your relatives but WHAT DOES THE BIBLE ACTUALLY SAY?

Choolwe you will tremble to hear that failing to care for your relatives makes you worse than a none believer. In fact when you do so the Bible says you have denied the faith. Choolwe if we judge your Christianity today by how you treat your relatives are you still standing or you have denied the faith? Choolwe you may say what do you mean am I in still in the faith. Choolwe see the scripture below:

“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” – 1 Timothy 5:8

After pondering on these thoughts I realized that helping those at church more than my relatives does not make me more of a Christian. I actually need to help both or I deny the faith. But if you checked very well Choolwe it is very easy to neglect the very relatives you grew up with and feel you pleasing more to God by helping those at church.

Choolwe check yourself and do the right thing. By the way I am not talking about sacred giving such as tithe, offerings etc vs relatives as that would be equating family to God. Choolwe you know what I mean. That help beyond these sacred GIVINGS. And by the way helping relatives is not really sowing to the flesh. It only becomes a problem when you totally neglect God himself in your material dealings in preference for family.

I Choolwe then returned under the sun and concluded that true Christianity WILL NEVER ABANDON YOUR RELATIVES. In fact your Christian conduct towards them will win them more.

Choolwe this post is for you to act on not to write good English.

Happy weekend Pastor sir, happy weekend Doc, Happy Weekend Managing Consultant, Happy weekend John Maxwell Certified Expert. …….. Sorry but ask yourself again if your relatives were interviewed about you today would they confidently say HAPPY WEEKEND OUR BROTHER AND FAMILY MEMBER?

KBF threatens to destroy PF if leaders fail to reason

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KBF threatens to destroy PF if leaders fail to reason

I LOVE this party a lot but if they want us to destroy the party, we can destroy it, says 2021 presidential aspirant Kelvin Fube Bwalya (KBF).

And KBF says PF officials are overreacting to the Monze incident because booing the Head of State is not a crime but an expression of anger or displeasure.

Speaking when he featured on Hot FM’s Hot Seat programme, Thursday, KBF said he had not accepted his expulsion from the Patriotic Front because the current central committee was illegitimate.

KBF also insisted that he was vying for the PF presidency because there is a vacancy since President Lungu’s term as party president expired in 2019.

“Iyi expulsion yabufibi naliikana (this expulsion is fake, I won’t accept it). But if we don’t agree with what I am saying and they (PF members) force me to go to court, we will be embarrassing the party. These are things we can discuss in-house. My expulsion letter was signed by the central committee which I think has no jurisdiction to expel me, they have no power to do what they did. And doing what they did, they are basically breaking the PF constitution and they are breaking the law as it were. The PF constitution is very clear as to how someone becomes a member of the central committee; a member of the central committee is elected at the general conference. The last time we had a general conference was in 2011 when the late President Sata was alive. From that time, we’ve never had a general conference. So the central committee doesn’t have a mandate to expel me. There is no central committee in the PF technically,” KBF said.

KBF said he was giving PF time to think before he could take action, threatening that he would destroy the party if that’s what the members wanted.

“Going to court is going to be more embarrassing for the party, so I have been giving them time to think. Have you ever seen an ordinary member being served an expulsion letter by the secretary general of the party? She (Mumbi Phiri) calls me a nonentity but she dares to come to my office to serve me a letter. She knows who I am in this party. She knows what I am capable of doing. So she mustn’t play, she knows exactly what I can do. I don’t want a fight, I want us to think and resolve this matter properly. I am giving them time to think, I am giving them time to reason…I have been putting money in this party, I have been putting energy and time into this party, do they pay me? They don’t! What have I gained from PF? Not one government contract, not one piece of corruption, not one appointment I can say is worth naming. So as far as I am concerned, I have been building something for them. But they don’t seem to understand that this party has got a foundation and if they’ve failed to lead, they should leave. I love this party a lot. But if they want us to destroy the party, we can destroy it, not because I want to but because they don’t want us to reason,” KBF said.

KBF insisted that the reason he was vying for the PF presidency was because there was a vacancy in the party for that position.

“I don’t need to be a delegate to stand as president of the PF. Anyone in the party can stand. And the reason we put this is because we knew we would have people like the current administration who would want to confuse things, we are trying to avoid that. They think they’ve got things under control; my name is KBF…I am saying that as far as I am concerned, I am a [presidential] candidate, I don’t need to be a delegate to be a candidate, that’s the law. But I know the reason why there is acrimony towards me is because I stand by the party constitution, I stand by the truth and I cannot be easily corrupted, I am principled. When I was announcing my intention to run for Presidency in April last year, I was announcing because there was a vacancy in the party for the presidential position. People ask me ‘but why are you challenging ba Lungu’, there is no challenge, there is a vacancy. How do you challenge when there is a vacancy? I am vying for that position because there is a vacancy and I want to bring a different brand of leaders to the party. Leadership change is inevitable and no one is challenging ba Lungu because he’s not eligible. Ba Lungu to me is not a factor to me, why do you keep on talking about him? I don’t even understand that,” KBF said.

“I am running for President! I don’t need permission from anybody to stand. It is my democratic right, I am going to exercise it and I shall fight to exercise it. Nobody has the right to stop me from standing in this country. I have made Presidents, what can stop me from myself a President?”

Meanwhile, KBF said PF was overreacting to the Monze booing incident.

“Booing the President is an expression of your will, you are trying to show that you are not happy about something. Booing by itself is not an insult, but it is trying to convey a message to somebody that I am not happy about something. I remember I saw a clip of honourable Jack Mwiimbu and Gary Nkombo, they were complaining about certain acts that were done in their so-called strongholds before the presidential visit, the pulling down of UPND flags, defacing of some of their campaign regalia and so on. So you don’t expect when you annoy people like that to go in and they begin clapping for you, no. They were reacting because they were angered by something. And for me, I expected the President to go in there, commission the houses for the police and come out and be Presidential about it. All this talk of HH cannot go to this part of the country, we are overreacting. We are one Zambia one nation. So my advice both to the UPND and PF cadres is calm down, this country belongs to every Zambian and every Zambian has got the right to speak his mind, conduct his business without you interfering with his space,” KBF said

Asked by callers if he was willing to work with UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, KBF dismissed that possibility.

“HH is my brother, we were together at the University, I know the guy and I know how he thinks. But here is history, he had Canisius Banda as his vice-president, where is he? He had GBM as his vice-president, he’s now talking to my brother Chishimba Kambwili, I don’t know what they’ve agreed. We even had a pact when president Sata was alive but the problem with HH is that he doesn’t like anyone to be on top of him. But for me, whoever wants to rule me must prove that he is better than me. Those people who have left HH and those he chased, I have spoken to them and they have told me why. Those who want to work with HH should start from the position of zero, he’s been president of that party for almost 15 years and I salute him. But that doesn’t mean he’s better than some of us in thinking. The only thing I can salute HH for is that he has more money than me. But money is not leadership, leadership is about character and the ability you have to serve a nation,” said KBF.

I CAN’T APOLOGISE…it’s like asking me to stop breathing – Mweetwa

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I CAN’T APOLOGISE…it’s like asking me to stop breathing – Mweetwa

[By Ernest Chanda and Chambwa Moonga]

CHOMA Central UPND member of parliament Cornelius Mweetwa has refused to apologise to Vice-President Inonge Wina over remarks in which he is alleged to have attacked her persona during a television programme.

The UPND deputy spokesperson has asked why “a liar” in Vice-President Wina should be let scot-free in Parliament, while he is told to apologise for pointing out her lies.

In February this year, Mweetwa appeared on a Lusaka-based Diamond Television programme dubbed Costa, on which he remarked that it was “shameful and shallow” for Vice-president Wina to insinuate that gassers could be agitating for regime change.

In the same month, lands minister Jean Kapata raised a point of order in Parliament against Mweetwa on the alleged remarks.

But National Assembly Speaker Patrick Matibini only delivered the ruling yesterday.

In his ruling, Dr Matibini said: “In view of the foregoing, I find Mr C Mweetwa, MP, to have been out of order and in breach of parliamentary privilege and in contempt of the House. In view of the foregoing, I’ve decided to admonish him in accordance with Section 28(1)(b) of the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act CAP 12 of the Laws of Zambia.”

“I’ll now address you Mr C Mweetwa, MP. Mr C Mweetwa, MP, your description of her honour the Vice-President as shallow and shameful amounted to a personal attack on her honour the Vice-President. This is because the words ‘shallow and shameful’ were deposed to describe her honour the Vice-President. And in view of the position she holds as Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia and leader of government business in the House, your description of her in those terms were demeaning and highly disrespectful,” Dr Matibini said. “As a long serving member in this august House, it is most unfortunate that you conducted yourself in a manner you did. And your misconduct has the potential of lowering the integrity and decorum of this House. As an honourable member, your conduct should be above reproach both in and outside the House. The House is in this regard extremely displeased with your conduct. I expect that in future you abide by the rules of the House and avoid such misconduct. A repetition of such misconduct will definitely attract a stiffer penalty. You may proceed to tender your apology.”

When Mweetwa stood, he said: “Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for inviting me to this House, I was last here in March. And thank you, Mr Speaker, for asking me to come and apologise for the statement I made in reference to a statement made by her honour the Vice-President in what I believe was in furtherance of my enjoyment of my freedom of speech as entrenched in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of Zambia. Mr Speaker, asking me to apologise is like asking me to stop breathing. I made it abundantly clear to your commit that I….”

Dr Matibini interrupted Mweetwa and ordered him to take a seat.

After being reminded by the Speaker that he was not the first one to be asked to apologise, Mweetwa still refused.

“Mr Speaker, the person who should apologise is the Vice-President for misleading the nation that we the opposition were committing gassing,” he said, as he was again ordered to sit.

“Take a seat. Is it your position that you’ve refused to apologise?” Dr Matibinis asked.

In response, Mweetwa said, “I can’t apologise for enjoying my freedom of speech; not me, Mr Speaker. This is the reason why we continue in this House…No way, no way! Punish me for what I have done wrong, not for no wrong thing.”

“Take your seat. It’s a very simple question that I have posed to you. Either you apologise or you don’t, and then we proceed. We can’t spend the rest of our time on this. Either you accept to apologise or you refuse, it’s as simple. You don’t have to offer an explanation,” Dr Matibini guided.

In response, Mweetwa said, “Mr Speaker, I communicated to management yesterday (Wednesday) that I can’t apologise for no wrong thing.”

“So, you have refused?” asked Dr Matibini.

Mweetwa responsed, “I am not apologising.”

“Take a seat, take a seat. So, for the record, Honourable C Mweetwa, member of parliament for Choma Central, has refused to apologise to Her Honour the Vice-President. We proceed,” said Dr Matibini.

And after Vice-President Wina was called upon to indicate the business of the day, Mweetwa and some other UPND members of parliament walked out of the House.

Later, Dr Matibini told members of parliament that what the House witnessed was not the end of the matter.

And addressing the media at the party secretariat, Mweetwa said he would not allow anybody to begin to “urinate” on him, in terms of violating his rights.

He said the Vice-President, and given the esteem of her office, was not in order to mislead the House, the nation and the world at large, because the issue of gassing was not child’s play.

“It is a matter for which citizens across the country spent sleepless nights and many lives were lost. And to attribute that to the opposition, we needed to respond in the manner befitting,” Mweetwa said.

He explained that his refusal to apologise in Parliament was not “an act of impunity, arrogance, defiance or whatever or trying to demean the House.”

“That is not the idea. I refused to apologise because when Parliament wrote to myself to exculpate myself on allegedly attacking the persona of the Vice-President, I expressly [responded] that I was making reference to the statement that she made and not to her persona,” Mweetwa said. “Therefore, I found it at variance with my principles to apologise for something I believed I was not wrong about. I’m aware that Parliament has rules and regulations that govern the conduct of business and that members who violate certain rules such as to bring the House into ridicule, there is certain punishment.”

He noted that he was ready to be punished for his innocence than to enjoy his freedom by apologising for no wrongdoing.

“That way we’ll be promoting lawlessness; we’ll be creating a monster in the institution of Parliament, that a member of parliament has to apologise even when they haven’t done anything wrong,” Mweetwa said. “I would like the nation to recall that this is the same Vice-President, together with her cohorts in the PF, who told the nation that the opposition were behind the gutting of markets.”

He underscored that he could not surrender his constitutional oath to defend the Constitution.

Mweetwa noted that he swore before Mr Speaker to defend, uphold and promote the Constitution.

He cited Article 88 (2) which says a citizen may comment on a deliberation, statement or decision of the National Assembly.

“I was appearing on Diamond TV as the UPND deputy spokesperson, but most importantly as a citizen and therefore enjoy the right to comment on whatever happens on the floor of the House,” Mweetwa said. “If we continue to agree to do wrong things in order to buy our peace, we’ll be doing a lot of damage to ourselves and the future because we’ll be setting dangerous precedents.”

Mweetwa stressed that he preferred to be punished for defending the Constitution, “than get my freedom by abrogating the Constitution.”

“I’m willing to serve any punishment, for that matter,” he said.

Mweetwa said he would seek legal advice on his position.

“Based on that advice, it shall inform my position on this matter going forward,” he said. “My action were purely driven by the realisation that in terms of Article 88 (2), a citizen has a right to comment on the deliberation or resolution of the National Assembly. Therefore, I found it fit to reject to apologise.”

Mweetwa insisted that Vice-President Wina should apologise because “she is the one who lied to the nation that the opposition were behind gassing.”

He pointed out that misinforming the nation on the floor of the House was not allowed.

“So, how is it that a liar is let to go scot-free and me who is saying these type of lies is shameful and shallow I must apologise? What kangaroo manner of administration is this? How?” Mweetwa wondered. “For now, using my own understanding of the law, I believe that the Vice-President needs to apologise to the nation for lying that the opposition were behind the gassing. She fervently and manifestly knew as a result of her disposition that the opposition had nothing to do with the gassing.”

Mweetwa further indicated that his refusal to apologise in Parliament was a personal action, and not the UPND’s.

“It is me as a citizen and as a representative of the people of Choma Central on the floor of the House. I did not consult the UPND leadership on this [and] I did not even consult the leadership of the UPND in Parliament,” he said.

Mweetwa said “when I feel so much oppressed, I have to react in a manner that depicts the level of frustration.”

“The last space I will allow anybody is to begin to urinate on me, in terms of violating my rights. I’ll not accept that. I’m ready to pay whatever price! I heard what some ministers said when I was leaving [the Chamber]. Some were making comments that ‘no, he should just apologise, otherwise the consequences will be ghastly.’ Ghastly to who?” Mweetwa asked. “Do they think I should have been in the position I am, fighting for the voiceless if I was not willing to pay any price? They are mistaken! I’m not like some people who went to Parliament to as a job, to make money. I have other things I can do in life.”

He said he went to Parliament to fearlessly speak for the people.

“We have so many cowards in Zambia [but] once you try and touch my rights, to amputate the enjoyment of my human rights, you are crossing the red line and it doesn’t matter who is involved; I’ll stand up and say no to this,” explained Mweetwa. “We can’t allow this country to be transformed from being a democratic country into a country of apologies. Someone lies on the floor of the House and I say this is not befitting this high office and I’m asked to apologise! Ask somebody else; no me!”

In February this year, on a special interview programme on Prime TV, government spokesperson Dora Siliya said there was no excuse for politics in the gassing incidents as the matter was driven by criminality, unlike politics.

Why did a Zulu king invite a delegation of Europeans to a meeting only to kill 100 of them?

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Why did a Zulu king invite a delegation of Europeans to a meeting only to kill 100 of them?

Why did a Zulu king invite a delegation of Europeans to a meeting only to kill 100 of them?

The Piet Retief massacre carries for South Africans the sort of weight of sentiments national histories tend to have, particularly because of the politics of race in that country.

The problem is not that historians recount the story differently. However, the issue seems to be a combination of propriety, property and affinity to heritage.

In 1837, a section of the Voortrekkers tried to settle in what is now the KwaZulu-Natal area. The Voortrekkers, or pathfinders, were the Boers who embarked on what is known as the Great Trek from the Cape Colony under British control into the interior of Southern Africa in the 1830s.

One of the Voortrekker groups, led by a man called Piet Retief, tried to come into an agreement with the Zulu king, Dingane ka Senzangakhona, or King Dingane for short. Retief, in spite of warnings about the danger, hoped to convince Dingane into ceding some portions of Zulu land to the Boers for permanent settlement.

The area Retief wanted is the Tugela-Umzimvubu region. Dingane was indeed willing to give away that region but on condition that Retief was able to recover and return a significant number of cattle stolen by a rebel chief, Sikonyela.

Historians generally agree that Retief did return to Dingane with some cattle. For what it’s worth, Dingane seemed like a man pleased by what Retief was able to come back with.

According to records taken down by Retief’s secretary, Jan Gerritze Bantjes, Dingane and the Boer leader both signed a deed that ceded the lands to the Boers. Each party also had three witnesses to the February 6, 1838 agreement.

In what seemed like the commemoration of the significance of the agreement, Dingane invited Retief, Retief’s family, and some Boers to an occasion. But when all had been gathered, Dingane ordered his soldiers to capture and kill all the Boers present.

The captured were taken to Kwa-Matiwane, a hillside, and were clubbed to death. Retief is believed to have been the last Boer killed on that day with the Zulu keeping him alive to see all his kin die.

Some 100 Boers were killed on that day and their bodies were left on the hillside to be scavenged by vultures, much in the fashion that Dingane is known to have treated the carcasses of their enemies.

Why would a king agree to cede away land, invite the other party to a celebration only to kill them? A number of theories abound.

One of these theories is that Dingane saw the Boers as invaders especially because, in his correspondence with the king, Retief sent letters that revealed that the people of Mthwakazi Kingdom in the Transvaal region (now Matebeleland) were sacked by Boers.

The revelation of the sacking of the Mthwakazi is read by some historians as a veiled threat from Retief.

Another theory suggests that Dingane was actually not pleased with the number of cattle Retief returned. Some think that Dingane believed Retief kept some of the cattle, beasts symbolizing wealth for the Zulu, for himself.

After the massacre, Dingane waged guerrilla attacks on other Voortrekker camps in the same year. Months later, the Boers responded at Blood River in a battle that decisively crushed the Zulu.

We don’t believe in violence, but will defend ourselves if attacked- HH

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We don’t believe in violence, but will defend ourselves if attacked- HH

An ugly scene recently reared its head, when suspected PF thugs attempted to disrupt a radio interview featuring UPND President Hakainde Hichilema at Mufulira’s Mafken radio station.

The attackers had surrounded the radio station were only repelled by other citizens which were joined by police.

Some of the alleged PF thugs are reportedly admitted to hospital nursing injuries after the public disturbances.

Meanwhile, the Mufulira District Commissioner (PF), Mike Manda has blamed the UPND for causing the trouble.

“It was reported that UPND president Hakainde Hichilema had sneaked into Mufulira with his members who came from out and within Mufulira to have a live radio interview. He was driven in a Toyota vvti.

“Upon arrival in Mufulira, Hichilema, in the company of his district leadership, was taken to one the offices at ZSIC building in the CBD and received a live Radio interview by a Mufken FM staff.

“During the interview , known and unknown upnd cadres who had earlier stationed one of their members on the rooftop of ZSICC building, without being noticed by the police,” he alleged.

“The upnd cadre was seen giving signals to the others members who were hiding. They came out of their hiding and started attacking anyone seen around the area. Among those attacked is a Zambian National who just arrived from the USA. He came to visit his relatives in Chibolya.

“The UPND members were brought to the area in a Canter light truck and a bus belonging to a kankoyo upnd losing candidate in 2016.

“The affected citizens were attacked using teaser guns, slaps, short buttons and stones. A report at Zambia Police station which is very close to the scene yielded no results as the police officers only came to the area later in the day after the attack,” he went on.

He claimed that Hichilema was later driven to unknown residence in eastley where he is believed to have met his Mufulira district leadership.

Mike Manda has since demanded for an explanation from the police officers as to why they did not rush to the scene when the whole incidence was reported to be taking place so that citizens could be protected.

” I will not allow this unruly behavior to take place in the district. Our Republican President, HE DR ECL believes in peace and all Zambians regardless of their political affiliation must emulate the President. Zambia is country of laws, and I expect police officers to enforce the law without segregation.

“The whole incidence took place very near to the police station and we have police officers at Zesco and the banks just close to ZSICC building. It is therefore unacceptable that the police failed to handle the situation so that law and order is maintained, thereby citizens lives could be safeguarded”. Manda Said.

He urged the Police to investigate the matter and arrest all upnd members involved in the brutal attack on innocent members of the public.

However, Hichilema said that as a party they do not believe in violence but will defend themselves if attacked. He has since praised the state police in the manner the force handled the situation,

“I am grateful for the professionalism of the Police in Mufulira who came to protect our colleagues in the studio. A special thank you to the citizens of Mufulira who also defended the station from violent PF thugs. I love you all,” he said.

Apparently, this is not the first time, PF youths have been known for trying to disrupt Hichilema’s appearances and radio interviews.

KBF IS A JOKE!

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KBF IS A JOKE!

By Coillard Muvwema

It is laughable for KBF to think he is better than HH to lead the country.

KBF must swallow his pride , no wonder PF has failed to trust a man with slippery behavior ,despite all his night acts with the court that gave advantage to ECL.
His character I can’t trust, and am sure many Zambians too.

Out of his bad deeds Zambians today are suffering; then he want to appear to be more intelligent today? No sir ,” KBF we are not dull as you may think. We know the role you played to make ECL the president. And by achieving that act of signing papers with court officers at night doesn’t constitute you being intelligent .To be civil with you,it was just a cleverly act ,if not crookedness.”

Today you might be clever because you were not caught ; you will be in all streets priding yourself to be more intelligent than any one, more better than HH. We don’t care. You can even go on zesco power pole line we care not ,for HH ‘s leadership is not built on altar of crookedness. All his years of being in opposition he has not betrayed Zambians. This gives us hope and trust on him ,that he can deliver. And we are not blind to the capabilities he has to stop the bleeding economy.

If KBF you think your are more cleverer and have the needed leadership qualities form your own party ,and we see how you grow it .
Running political party especially under the cruel leadership of PF is not a joke.

How many times HH has been arrested? How many of his supporters killed in cold blood?
So ,for me KBF is filled with a spirit of ingratitude, jealous and he’s unthankful character who can not see the contributions of Hakainde Hichilema in the Zambian politics.
KBF is just a character obsessed with power to lead the country . Whose conduct to achieve this power is hinge on cosmetic and illusion theories ,that premises pomposity as bedrock of his action towards the desired goal.

We will not bow down to KBF. we don’t worship his night acts with judges whose benefits are temporal and earthwards only.
We have chosen to take straight path ,no matter how long it takes. We have chosen hope over fear.

By Coillard Muvwema.

HH WILL NOT RESPOND TO ANY INSULTS, TRIBAL OR HATE SPEECH

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HH WILL NOT RESPOND TO ANY INSULTS, TRIBAL OR HATE SPEECH

PRESS STATEMENT

11 Juluy 2020

HH WILL NOT RESPOND TO ANY INSULTS, TRIBAL OR HATE SPEECH.

As we draw near 2021 elections there will be too many people insulting and abusing HH verbally. As UPND we want to state that HH will never respond to any toxic statements, allegations and insults coming from anyone. The aim of such people is to derail HH and UPND. HH and the UPND are busy finding solutions to the many challenges Zambians are facing now. HH cannot betray Zambians for the confidence they have shown in him by engaging in petty tribal politics. HH is above tribal politics. HH and the UPND will remain focused until the Zambian people are liberated from the high poverty levels.

We know where this bitterness for HH is coming from. HH and the UPND have gained so much popularity over time and this is causing sleepless nights for PF and its surrogates. People of Zambia are holding PF responsible for the misery they are going through and have since resolved to kick out the entire PF regime. PF is trying to clean itself by dragging HH in their vomit. We are not going to risk the name of HH to be used by responding to failures.

At one time two villages were at loggerheads, it happened that one village had a very sick Chief. The medicinal tree was in the other village; however, instead of asking for help they started insulting the other village. This culminated into throwing all sorts of things at each other across the river. In anger the village that had the medicinal tree threw a branch at the other village. This brought the war to an end, the warmonger village got what they wanted. Quickly, they prepared the medicine which brought their dying Chief back to life.

This is what PF wants from HH. PF knows too well that HH and the UPND have the votes, deliberately they are starting a war with HH in order to heal their ailing Party. PF wants HH and UPND to throw votes at them in anger. PF knows too well that Zambians are fed up with them. How come people who openly insult HH are not condemned for such barbaric behavior. We understand that FULWE PAKUFWA ELYO APASA UMULILO.

Percy Chanda

UPND – Chairman for Mines and Freedom Fighter

HOW FLAVIA MUSAKANYA REFUSED TO BE BRIBED

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HOW FLAVIA MUSAKANYA REFUSED TO BE BRIBED

HOW FLAVIA MUSAKANYA REFUSED TO BE BRIBED

By Kennedy Limwanya

I must admit that I’m not among the lucky ones who were privileged to have known Mrs Flavia Musonda Musakanya at close range.

The closest I ever did was during the days I was a waiter at Oasis Restaurant in Lusaka 27 years ago.

Mrs Musakanya and her husband, former Bank of Zambia governor Valentine Shula Musakanya were frequent guests at the restaurant.

So, my privilege was that I could serve their table whenever they came for lunch.

There was a special table that was reserved for the couple, retired senior police officer Mwenda Muyunda, former Finance minister John Mwanakatwe and co-owner of Oasis Restaurant Morris Attala.

Many a time, even the Musakanyas’ son, Shula, would join them.

It always felt special when assigned to serve this table of emminent personalities.

Mr Musakanya, who had been Zambia’s first indigenous Secretary to the Cabinet after attaining political independence in 1964, would often crack jokes as he and the others enjoyed their lunch.

I could tell from a distance that the Musakanyas’ were very close.

Mr Musakanya, oftentimes, addressed his wife as Flavia or bana Shula.

By the way, Mr Musakanya is one of the people who were tried in the aftermath of the 1980 abortive coup which had sought to overthrow President Kenneth Kaunda.

After being convicted, Mr Musakanya, who also served as nominated member of Parliament and minister of state for education, was sentenced to death.

He won the case on appeal and was released in 1985, but that was after having served close to five years in prison.

He died in 1994.

Twenty-six years after her husband’s death, Mrs Musakanya, too, has gone to join her better half.

She died in Lusaka on July, 5, 2020 at the age of 83.

From the messages I have read from those who knew her well, I can tell that Mrs Musakanya, who will be put to rest today, had a strong character.

In his book, The Depths of My Footprints, former Finance minister Ng’andu Magande gives reference to Mrs Musakanya.

He narrates how, in 1991, she was involved in having him appointed by President Frederick Chiluba as Zambia National Commercial Bank managing director.

What kind of person was she?

“I had known her while at MCTI [Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry] . . . as a resilient and enterprising business lady,” writes Mr Magande in the book that was published in August 2018.

Here, again, is something more which most people may not be aware of.

This has earned my respect for Mrs Musakanya.

It is an incident that is told in an article written by American author and journalist Helen Epstein which appeared in the New York Review of Books in December 2014.

Under the headline “Colossal Corruption in Africa”, Epstein writes about how notorious chief executive officer of the London-based conglomerate Lonrho, Tiny Rowland, once tried to bribe Mrs Musakanya.

During the 1960s, while other British businessmen were fleeing black-ruled African countries, Rowland’s Lonrho was buying up their mines, farms, and manufacturing plants.

Epstein explains Rowland’s story based on information she got from Zambian businessman Andrew Sardanis who had briefly worked for Lonrho.

She writes as follows:
***When Sardanis arrived at Lonrho in 1971, its chief accountant handed him the records of the company’s African holdings. Right away, Sardanis realized something was amiss. Some Lonrho companies had no books at all; others were recording assets he knew they didn’t have.

There were also a series of line items known as “investments in people”—bribes, mainly to African strongmen and the people around them.

Six months after joining Lonrho, Sardanis submitted his resignation in disgust. He quit just in time. Later that summer, a South African stockbroker initiated criminal proceedings against Lonrho for misleading shareholders about the value of a copper mine in what was then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Lonrho was also exporting copper from that mine in violation of UN sanctions against the white supremacist Ian Smith regime. Several members of Lonrho’s board of directors were beginning to ask questions about the “investments in people.”

One of the people Rowland invested in was Flavia Musakanya, wife of the governor of the Bank of Zambia. Shortly after the South African stockbroker launched his lawsuit, Rowland paid for Mrs. Musakanya’s medical treatment at a London hospital. When she was feeling better, he arranged for a chauffeur to drive her to Asprey, the Bond Street department store that among much else supplies jewelry and other accessories to the royal family. “I can’t afford this,” she told the chauffeur. “Don’t worry, just choose what you want,” she says he replied. “It will all be taken care of.” She chose to go back to the hotel, where the chauffeur presented her with an envelope stuffed with British banknotes. This she also refused. Years later she told Tom Bower, Rowland’s biographer, “Our relationship with Tiny was never quite the same again.”

Rowland wanted Flavia to agree that his problems in South Africa were the result of his anti-apartheid, pro-African nationalist views.

They don’t come like Mrs Musakanya anymore.

May her soul rest in peace.

Picture 1. Mrs Flavia Musakanya

Picture 2. Mr Valentine Musakanya

ACC STARTS INVESTIGATING MAGISTRATE SIMUSAMBA

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ACC STARTS INVESTIGATING MAGISTRATE SIMUSAMBA

By Patson Chilemba and Agness Changala-Katongo

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an inquiry into the matter where NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili has reported magistrate David Simusamba for allegedly attempting to extort him of K360,000 in order to acquit him.

And Kambwili has applied for leave to commence judicial review proceedings in the Lusaka High Court against magistrate Simusamba’s refusal to recuse himself from presiding over a case, where he is charged with forgery, uttering a false document and giving false information to a public officer.

The ACC told Daily Revelation that they were looking into Kambwili’s complaint.

“Regarding the matter where National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Chishimba Kambwili has reported Magistrate David Simusamba for allegedly attempting to extort him of K360,000 in order to acquit him on the forgery case he is facing before him (Magistrate Simusamba), I wish to inform you that the Commission is conducting an enquiry into the matter,” stated ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono.

And Kambwili says he wants a declaration that the decision that magistrate Simusamba’s refusal to recuse himself from presiding over the said case before him, is unlawful and irrational.

In this matter, Kambwili has cited the Attorney General Likando Kalaluka and ex-parte the principle resident magistrate, Simusamba, stating that it has been difficult for his lawyers to perform their duties effectively as the court room was always poisoned with outbursts of anger and threats from the presiding magistrate towards him and his lawyers.

He is seeking an order of prohibition, prohibiting magistrate Simusamba from continuing to preside upon his case and an order directing him to recuse himself forthwith and to surrender the case record to the chief resident magistrate for re-allocation to another magistrate.

The NDC leader is of the view that if leave was granted, a direction that such grant should operate as a stay of magistrate Simusamba’s decisions and the proceedings until determination of the application or until the court orders otherwise.

According to an affidavit verifying facts filed in the Lusaka High Court, Kambwili submitted that he was currently facing criminal charges in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for the alleged offences of forgery, uttering false document and giving false information to a public officer.

He stated that the said matter was being presided over by magistrate Simusamba.

Kambwili stated that on March 20, this year, he made an application asking magistrate Simusamba to recuse himself by way of notice of motion and its accompanying Affidavit in Support.

He submitted that his application was premised on the fact that on December 17, 2019, he wrote to the Chief Justice complaining of the manner in which magistrate Simusamba was handling the matter. (His attitude towards him and his lawyers and attempts by the magistrate to extort money from him in exchange for an acquittal).

He stated that before responding to him, the Chief Justice asked the presiding magistrate to tell his side of the story.

Kambwili stated that among other things, magistrate Simusamba, in his letter to the Chief Justice, stated that it was in fact Kambwili who had been offering to bribe him from the time the matter was commenced in the year 2018 and that at some point he had offered to buy him a car so as to influence his decision in the matter.

“The presiding magistrate’s accusations came to me with a sense of shock and I commenced an action for defamation in the High Court against the presiding magistrate and this matter is still active. At the same time, I wrote to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) complaining against the presiding magistrate,” Kambwili stated.

He further stated that in his ruling on the application for recusal, magistrate Simusamba acknowledged the existence of his complaint against him to the Chief Justice.

He added that despite having acknowledged the existence of said facts, magistrate Simusamba declined to recuse himself asserting that Kambwili had created circumstances which necessitated the application for recusal.

According to Kambwili, Simusamba ruled that, “therefore, that I could not use the circumstances allegedly created by myself to ask the Honourable Court to recuse itself as the same issues were already before competent authorities,” Kambwili stated.

He stated that in view of magistrate Simusamba’s ruling on his application for recusal, he made an application asking the presiding magistrate to refer the matter to the High Court for determination of whether his Constitutional right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial court was not being infringed.

Kambwili added that in declining the application, the presiding magistrate ruled that there was no Constitutional issue in the proceedings before him.

He further stated that the matter had since proceeded before magistrate Simusamba and that he had forced him to open his defence and start calling witnesses.
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Jada Pinkett Smith Confirms Relationship With August Alsina While Separated From Will Smith

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Jada Pinkett Smith Confirms Relationship With August Alsina While Separated From Will Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith is bring herself to the Table.

After August Alsina claimed that he had an affair with the actress, she is speaking out for the first time about their relationship on her Facebook Watch show “Red Table Talk.” In her candid sit-down with Will Smith, Jada admitted that she and August were in a romantic relationship during her temporary separation from her husband.

“This is a very personal journey that became very public,” said Jada while addressing the headlines.

It was widely reported that Jada denied her relationship with August, but she said those weren’t her words. “Somebody made a statement for me that wasn’t a statement I made that went cray-cray,” she said. “At the end of the day, I don’t like how this came to be. That doesn’t matter. It’s all love, honestly.”

Will also confirmed that he did not release any statement. “We were purposely not saying anything,” he said.

Jada revealed that she and August “started a friendship” about four, four-and-a-half years ago. “We actually became really, really good friends. And it all started with him just needing some help, me wanting to help his health, his mental state,” she said.

Added Will, “When Aug first came around, he was really sick and the outpouring for him from our family was initially about his health.”

The couple was going through “very difficult times” and “broke up” during that period. “I was done with your ass,” said Will. “We decided we were going to separate for a period of time and you go figure out how to make yourself happy and I’ll figure out how to make myself happy. I really felt that we could be over.”

It was during that time that Jada and August became close in what Jada describes as an “entanglement.” August claims that Will gave his “blessing” to the relationship. “I could actually see how he would perceive it as permission because we were separated amicably and I also think he wanted to make it clear that he’s not a homewrecker, which he’s not,” said Jada.

When pressed to describe their “entanglement,” Jada confirmed it was a “relationship.” “I was in a lot of pain and I was very broken. In that process of that relationship, I definitely realized that you can’t find happiness outside of yourself and luckily you and I were going through a process of healing in a much different manner.”

Will asked his wife what she was looking for in the relationship. “I just wanted to feel good,” she said. “It had been so long since I felt good.”

Jada said she wouldn’t describe the relationship as a “transgression” and learned a lot about herself. “I learned so much about myself and was really able to confront a lot of emotional immaturity, emotional insecurity, and I was really able to do some really deep healing.”

August stopped communicating with Jada after she went back to Will and has not spoken to her since. But she and Will are able to laugh about it now. “It happened so long ago,” said Jada. “This all seemed very strange, but I’m grateful for the journey you and I had together.”

There was a point when Will was unsure if he would speak to Jada again, but they were able to find “unconditional love.” “We never, ever, ever thought that we would make it back,” she said.

After 25 years together, they have realized their relationship can withstand anything. “We ride together, we die together. Bad marriage for life,” they said before laughing and fist bumping.

Watch the full interview below.

Egregious disregard for the rule of law: The Case of Dr. Chitalu Chilufya – HH

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Egregious disregard for the rule of law: The Case of Dr. Chitalu Chilufya – HH

Egregious disregard for the rule of law: The Case of Dr. Chitalu Chilufya

Yesterday, as Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya went to attend court in a matter where he is alleged to have engaged in corrupt practices, we were in shock by the level of disrespect of the Judiciary. He was flanked by literally hundreds of cadres and so-called sympathisers that overwhelmed the court premises. Their presence was domineering and designed to intimidate the courts, dissuading them from carrying out their noble constitutional mandate.

The sheer arrogance of Dr. Chilufya and those around him sent a clear message to the justice system that the PF are above the law. They essentially carried the day by leaving the presiding magistrate no choice but to adjourn the matter on account of the malignant presence of cadres in the courtroom. It was indeed a sad day for the Judiciary and an example of the breakdown of the rule of law in our country, under a corrupt and visionless PF leadership.

A man in Dr. Chilufya’s position is supposed humble himself under the circumstances and allow an unhindered due process. Numerous allegations of corruption under his Ministry have been made in addition to what he is being charged for. We recently heard of a large amount of money, approximately $17 Million US dollars, being paid to a non-existent company called “Honeybee” then later clarified to be an individual. This transpires while millions of Zambians are unable to access essential medication, leading to avoidable loss of lives. The young people of our country are in need of jobs while PF officials are allocated huge contracts in a questionable manner as evidenced by recent voice recordings of the practice. We still do not know who owns the 48 houses, as well the 49 properties noted in the last FIC report.

We call on well-meaning Zambians and most importantly, the Judiciary, to condemn this demonstration of impunity.

When our time comes, we shall strengthen the separation of powers, of the three arms of government, and ensure judicial independence. The rule of law will be restored, and we would send a strong message of our stance against corruption by ordering a sitting Minister under investigation to step down until the final determination of the matter.

HH

Letter To The Chairman Of The African Union On The Constitutional Heists In Zambia

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Letter To The Chairman Of The African Union On The Constitutional Heists In Zambia

LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AFRICAN UNION ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL HEISTS IN ZAMBIA

July 10, 2020

His Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairman of the African Union
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

Your Excellency,

I write to keep you in the loop on issues that have dominated the Republic of Zambia in the last months and that have the potential to destabilise the peace and unity of this country.

I also write to remind you of your solemn duty to the elegant people of Africa.

Your Excellency, the Zambian President Edgar Lungu, the country’s sixth elected leader, currently serving his second five-year term, is supposed to leave office in 2021 under the rules of the Zambian Constitution.

He is not eligible to stand for election again because he has already been elected and held the office of President of Zambia twice.

Your Excellency, that is what the law says.

His third-term bid is causing significant deterioration in the stability of Zambia.

On behalf of an organisation mandated, among other things, to foster democracy, I am asking you to engage Lungu urgently on his third-term bid phenomenon.

As things stand, the organisation you are chairing is drawing criticism from the people of Zambia that it is failing to serve the interests of the masses.

Lungu’s attempts to cling to power presents the African Union with a prime opportunity to save itself from the many times it has let down the people of Africa when they have cried for help to make their leaders uphold the rule of law.

It is your duty, Your Excellency, to deter constitutional coups and to support the democratic alternation of power.

Your silence on third-termism is deafening, to say the least.

Your organisation is supposed to be at the forefront in standing up against unconstitutional alterations and holding onto power, as first pronounced in the Lome Declaration, formalised in the African Union Constitutive Act, and further elaborated upon in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

Your Excellency, I am a University lecturer but I do not need to lecture you on the legal and policy instruments of the African Union that deal with undemocratic and unconstitutional tendencies of governance.

The instruments of the African Union give you the mandate to take action to counter coups and other types of unlawful and undemocratic power heists.

The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance also prohibits any amendment or revision of the Constitution or legal instruments because that is an infringement of the principles of democratic change of government.

To the disappointment of many Zambians, the African Union is not invoking this prohibition, despite being aware of Lungu’s open bid for a third-term.

Your Excellency, you have remained largely silent in the face of the constitutional coup happening in Zambia under your nose.

May I remind you that what Lungu is doing here is against the African Union Charter, as it defiles Constitutionalism, rule of law, good governance, democracy, and the Charter on Values and Principles of peace and unity.

He is pushing Bill 10 down the throats of people to make amendments to the Constitution in order to avoid term limits and accountability.

What is further disappointing is that, while the African Union calls us to follow established procedures for constitutional amendment and to ensure full citizen participation in the process, you seem to have opted to engage in quiet diplomacy on the matter.

I am not writing from without because we have seen how the Constitution was raped in many countries including Gambia, Togo, Egypt, and Uganda, where undemocratic constitutional amendments were made to pave the way for selfish leaders to run again until death.

You have not rejected or otherwise condemned the constitutional coups in these countries.

That is my main worry, and the reason I am appealing to the African Union under your leadership to condemn Lungu’s third-term bid and the proposed constitutional amendments through Bill 10.

Your speaking out against Lungu’s political manoeuvres will be well within the African Union framework against unconstitutional and undemocratic leadership tendencies, supported by the Zambian Constitution.

Censuring Lungu is not enough. He must face serious consequences for promoting an agenda likely to destabilise Zambia and the entire African region.

This is the right time for the African Union to move from lip service on constitutionalism, and to address Lungu who is hell bent to alter the Constitution in order to retain power.

Lungu’s effort to undermine constitutionalism and to consolidate his grip on power, even when he has nothing to offer, must be condemned as evil and followed by austere consequences.

Or else, it would seem that the African Union is favouring Lungu, not the Charter on Values and Principles, or the poor masses.

In the past, you have lost many golden opportunities to enforce your own norms.

What Lungu wants to do clearly runs contrary to the spirit of the African Charter and the letter of the Zambian Constitution, but gives you a golden opportunity to call a spade a spade.

Please, call Lungu to an ‘insaka’ and reject Bill 10 and his third-term bid as a constitutional trickery initiative infringing on the principles, and contrary to the established norms of constitutional change.

Your Excellency, stand with the people of Zambia in drawing the line and make it clear that Lungu’s Bill 10 and his third-term bid are not acceptable.

In line with the values of subsidiarity, I also appeal to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to draw on continental normative charters to put pressure on Lungu to drop his third-term bid and his scheme to doctor the Constitution through Bill 10.

A rejection of Lungu’s plans would redeem the African Union of its appalling record of standing on the side-lines as sitting presidents crush the principles of democratic alternation of power and constitutionalism.

Talking to Lungu will also ensure that the increasingly unstable situation in Zambia does not deteriorate further.

It is also high time that the African Union amends the Democracy Charter to prohibit the third-term phenomenon openly.

I look forward to continued dialogue with you and wish you an urgent and successful ‘insaka’ with Lungu.

Sincerely,

Sara Imutowana Yeta II (PhD, PhD)
Cc: Office of the President, Zambia
Cc: SADC
Cc: United Nations

Booing Lungu not an insult – KBF

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Booing Lungu not an insult – KBF

KELVIN Fube Bwalya says his expulsion letter from the ruling PF was signed by a central committee which has no mandate to do so.

Bwalya, known as KBF, also says Bill 10 is a waste of time, resources and has hidden agendas.

Meanwhile Bwalya says jeering a president is an expression of the peoples’ will and there is nothing wrong about it.

Featuring on Hot FM’s Hot seat yesterday, Bwalya said the PF had no central committee as the one masquerading to be in place has no jurisdiction.

“The expulsion letter was delivered one year late, that’s my first reaction and of course I had been expecting it. The serious part of it is that the letter was signed by the central committee which I think has no jurisdiction to expel me, they have no power to do what they did and in doing what they did they are basically breaking the PF constitution and breaking the law as it were,” he said.

Bwalya said the PF constitution was very clear on how one becomes a member of the central committee and none of those, except the three whom the President is allowed to appoint, met the barometer to sit in the committee.

“A member of the central committee is elected at the general conference every five years. The last time we had a general conference was in 2011 when the late president [Michael] Sata was alive running up to his election but since then we have never had a general conference. They don’t have a mandate to expel me, no they don’t. There is no central committee, technically. In article 51, it specifies on how the central committee is elected, how many members of the central committee should exist at any given time in the PF,” he said. “There should be 30 members of the central committee, 25 of these must be elected at the general conference. The President has power to appoint three members of the central committee, I repeat, three, not more than three. You and I know how many people have been appointed as members of the central committee by this current President, flouting the PF constitution.”

Bwalya recalled that when he was deputy chairman of elections, after the 2016 general elections he told the party that the mandate of the central committee had finished therefore they should move to hold elections but they did not listen to his advice.

He said owing to his advice to stick to the constitution, he was called a rebel.

“Today they are nominating and appointing people into the central committee. The people who are supposed to be expelling me have no mandate. If we are going to count, if the President is allowed to appoint three members of the central committee, let’s allow him the Secretary general, the deputy Secretary general and name another person…the rest of them who are they? Where are they from, how have they come in?” Bwalya asked. “There has been no general conference. I was saying to the PF and I am still saying now, let’s follow the law. This is a party in power and we must lead by example. We must not do things willy-nilly, no. We are the party in power and we must follow our own constitution first of all and then follow the Republican Constitution. If we are not following our Republican Constitution and party constitution, are we fit to govern?”

He said he has not decided to form his own political party because gentlemen don’t run away from problems but stick around to fight.

Bwalya warned that going to court would be more embarrassing for the PF but that he has been giving the ruling party time to think.

He said while he was an ordinary member of the PF, he should not be underrated.

“Have you ever seen an ordinary member of the party being served an expulsion letter by the deputy secretary general of the party? She calls me a nonentity but she dares to come to my office to deliver a letter, the deputy secretary general serving an ordinary member! She knows who I am in this party, she knows what I am capable of doing so she must not play, she knows exactly what I can do. I don’t want a fight, I want us to think and resolve this matter properly. I am giving them time to think, I am giving them time to reason,” Bwalya said.

He said the PF does not pay him but he has been putting time and energy into the activities of the party as a dedicated member.

Bwalya said he had not benefitted anything from the PF, “no government contract, not one piece of corruption and no appointment worth naming” but that he has been building the party.

And Bwalya insisted that Bill 10 was laced with an agenda that was not well for Zambians.

“Bill 10 with the greatest people that want it is a waste of time, a waste of resources, a waste of focus and waste of energy. Right now we have more serious pertinent problems to attend to than Bill 10. Bill 10 has got hidden agendas and the agendas are not noble and are not good for the Zambian people in the current form. It should not even visit parliament, let it die,” he said.

Bwalya said anyone who has read Bill 10 would understand the agenda being feared.

“Very recently my young brother Brian Mundubile, chairperson legal in the PF said that they must get rid of article 52 because it will block Ba Lungu from standing. Now if that is not an innuendo telling you something then you must be blind. Why do they want article 52 removed, why do they want that particular article removed? It’s because it’s very clear what it is bound to happen and it is in tandem with the PF constitution,” he said. “When you read on the qualification of the President, one of the qualification for the president of PF once elected is that he must qualify to stand in the Republican Constitution clauses. He must qualify, he must be a Zambian, he must be above 35, elected at a conference or convention but he must also qualify in the Republican Constitution. But now the Republican Constitution as you know, is flying in the teeth of a certain candidate. So they want article 52 removed so that you are only able to challenge after his election. There are lots of things in Bill 10 but I have only given you one. An innuendo which they want to bring, hidden but I can’t allow that. I will not be part of an illegality.”

Bwalya said the current Constitution was good enough and there was no need to change it.

“It’s a waste of time, it’s a smokescreen, and it’s for small minds. We don’t need this right now, the resources being spent on Bill 10 can be spent creating jobs for the youths. Let’s be serious. There can be anarchy in this country if we are not careful because people who think they will not be allowed to do certain things will go on the streets,” he said. “Let us be normal and reasonable, we have a functioning Constitution, there is nothing urgent about amending the current Constitution, so why are we in a rush?”

Meanwhile, Bwalya said history would guide many that booing a president is an expression of one’s will in trying to show individuality and unhappiness.

“The President was booed, I was at the university when we pelted, booed and scorned Kaunda with eggs, banana peels, and so on, as he was coming to watch a football match but he still watched the football match. Magnanimously, he sat and watched that game, shook hands of each players and kicked the ball to start the game like nothing had happened. That is leadership,” he said. “Booing a President is an expression of your will. You are trying to show that you are an individual, a person who is not happy about something. Booing by itself is not an insult but it is trying to convey a message to somebody that I am not happy about something.”

Bwalya noted that prior to President Lungu’s booing, UPND members of parliament Gary Nkombo and Jack Mwiimbu complained of the pulling down of their flags and defacing of their party president Hakainde Hichilema billboards, thus one did not expect people who were angered in such a manner to be clapping.

Bwalya said the people of Monze were reacting because they were angered by something but he expected President Lungu to merely do his business in the area and be presidential about the scene.

Parliament asks High Court to dismiss Mwiimbu’s Bill 10 challenge

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Parliament asks High Court to dismiss Mwiimbu’s Bill 10 challenge

DEPUTY Clerk of the National Assembly Cecilia Sikatele has argued that here is no express provision in the National Assembly Standing orders of 2016, which governs the time within which a Bill must be considered at any stage of enactment.

Sikatele charged that the issues raised by Leader of the opposition, Jack Mwimbu, and the subsequent reliefs sought were wrongly before the Lusaka High Court because they raise matters of a Constitutional nature.
She said the High Court was incompetent to hear and determine the issues raised by Mwimbu therefore the case should be dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

Mwimbu, who is Monze Central member of parliament, has applied for leave in the Lusaka High Court to challenge the decision of the Speaker of the National Assembly to allow the restoration to the order paper for consideration of Constitutional (Amendment) Bill No.10 of 2029.

Mwimbu wants an order of certiorari to quash Speaker Dr Patrick Matibini’s decision to allow the deferment of the proceedings relating to (Amendment) Bill No.10 of 2019 to a date yet to be advised within the fourth session of twelfth assembly.

Mwimbu is seeking an order of mandamus directing the Speaker of the National Assembly to discontinue any or further debate or other proceedings relating to Bill No. 10.

He also wants a declaration that Dr Matibini’s decision is invalid, null and void and of no effect and an order that all proceedings in the National Assembly relating to the Bill be stayed until after the determination of the matter or further order of the court.

Mwimbu is seeking reliefs on grounds that Dr Matibini’s decision was unreasonable and irrational without justifiable reason following the lapse of the Bill on June 4, 2020 and is not amenable to further consideration, debate or process in Parliament.

He further stated that the decision was wrong at law as the National Assembly failed to follow laid down procedure when it resumed sitting relating to Bill No. 10 of 2019 and deferred proceedings to a date yet to be advised but within the current session of the National Assembly despite the fact that it was killed upon its lapsing on June 4.

Mwimbu said the decision was procedurally improper, illegal and null and void.

But in an affidavit in opposition to the applicant’s affidavit verifying facts relied on for leave to apply for judicial review, Sikatele, who explained the background of the Bill up to the current stage, explained that on June 23, 2020 the office of the clerk received a request from Minister of Justice Given Lubinda to defer consideration of the Bill to a later date within the current meeting.

“Upon receipt of the Minister’s request, the standing orders’ committee convened a meeting on June 24, 2020 to consider the request by the Minister of Justice to defer further the consideration of the Bill to a date not later than the last day of the current meeting,” Sikatele explained.

She stated that after the deliberations, the committee resolved to extend the life of the Bill to a date not later than the last date of the current meeting.

She stated that when the Bill came up for second reading, on June 24, 2020, Chipata Central member of parliament Moses Mawere completed his debate and Lubinda thereafter requested that the Bill be deferred to a later date and the Speaker allowed it.

Sikatele stated that as a result of the decision of the Standing Order’s Committee, Mwimbu commenced the action.

Sikatele stated that the standing order’s committee which was the highest decision making body of the National Assembly was charged with the responsibility of considering proposals for the management of procedures and practices of the National Assembly.

She stated that the standing orders’ committee derives its powers from the National Assembly of Zambia, Standing orders 2016 which in turn derives its authority from the Constitution.

Sikatele stated that the deliberations of the standing orders’ committee on Mr Lubinda’s request were guided by the National Assembly of Zambia standing order of 2016.

“There is no express provision in the National Assembly Standing orders of 2016 which governs the time within which a Bill must be considered at any stage of enactment,” said Sikatele.

“This matter raises a question relating to the procedures of the National Assembly governed by the Constitution. The Constitutional Court is a proper court to be seized with this matter. Based on the foregoing, this matter ought to be dismissed for want of jurisdiction.”

YOU CAN’T FIX IT…entire system inherently corrupt, needs uprooting– M’membe

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YOU CAN’T FIX IT…entire system inherently corrupt, needs uprooting– M’membe

DR FRED M’membe has stressed that the current capitalist system in Zambia needs to be uprooted for it is inherently corrupt.

The Socialist Party 2021 presidential candidate also says principally, “we are not against alliances” but that there must be a common agenda being pursued.

He was speaking on a programme dubbed Public Forum on Sun FM radio in Lusaka on Wednesday morning.

Dr M’membe decried capitalism as an inherently corrupt system.

He said if one wanted a peaceful society, a society full of justice and equity, “you’ll just need to uproot this whole system because it’s inherently corrupt, unjust, unfair.”

“Corruption degrades the human being [and] we can’t do a compromise over that. We shouldn’t lose hope and start to improvise. Every capitalist society is corrupt; what differs is just the degree of corruption,” Dr M’membe said. “Even the individuals we are today very critical of a product of this inherently corrupt, rotten system. Garbage in, garbage out; that’s the rule. This country today is inherently corrupt and it is not only the politician who is in government today who is corrupt. No!”

He indicated that today, the family, the Church and the traditional leadership system were all corrupt.

“The entire system is corrupt,” Dr M’membe stressed.

Dr M’membe explained that socialism was about the respect for the sacredness of life.

He said one could not claim to respect the sacredness of life if they did not provide the things that made life sacred.

“You deprive a human being of the things that make his or her life sacred; can you claim to respect the sacredness of life? No! A human being needs dignity – the dignity that comes from having a solid roof over your head. The dignity that comes from having reasonable access to water, the dignity that comes from having reasonable sanitation where you can have the privacy of going to the toilet,” he explained.

“If you respect the sacredness of life, you’ll ensure that there is adequate food supply for every human being on this earth. This is what God wanted us to be; to live in dignity.”

Dr M’membe said under capitalism, a few individuals have taken everything.

“They have literally taken all the land and privatised it. No one ever received a title deed from God that ‘my son or my daughter, you have been very good to me; here is land and it’s yours alone.’ Socialism is about dignified life, it’s about creating a more just, fair, humane society and it’s our collective duty to create such a society,” he noted. “Capitalism does not respect the sacredness of life. It respects profit. This is the system that took human beings as slaves. Transported them as cargo to the Americas!”

He added that capitalism thrived on subjugation.

Dr M’membe pointed out that capitalism corrupted one’s mind.

“[It] unleashes a level of consumerism where products become more important than the sacredness of life. Classical slavery, under capitalism, might have ended. But there is still another form of slavery – the perpetual subjugation and degradation of people,” he said, adding that people ought to struggle for a better world. “The injustice that we are subjecting human beings to today is not very different from the classical slavery. Capitalism cannot survive without exploitation of human beings and nature.”

Dr M’membe also responded to a listener who sent a text message asking about the Socialist Party’s views on political alliances.

“There is so much talk about alliances. Are we against alliances? No! As a matter of principle, we are not against alliances. But alliances must be of people sharing a common aim. There must be a common denominator,” Dr M’membe clarified.

“There must be something that you want to achieve together. [There must be something] that is congruent to all your activities, your beliefs. Those who share common beliefs, aims, programmes should unite and achieve their goals together.”

He continued: “all socialists should come together and pursue a common objective because they have got a common agenda”.

“To say a socialist party should have an alliance with a capitalist party, is trying to mix sugar with salt. They all are tasty things but they don’t go together,” he noted. “There are some people who think all what this country needs is fixing… It’s not easy for the Socialist Party to go into an alliance with people who want to fix things. We are revolutionaries; we are here to change everything upside down.”

Dr M’membe argued that the current society, from a socialist standpoint, was not sustainable.

“It is this same order that they want to fix that is breeding corruption, unemployment, hunger, violence. You can’t fix it!” said Dr M’membe.

South Sudan: Diplomat Urinates During Live Panel Discussion

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South Sudan: Diplomat Urinates During Live Panel Discussion

A South Sudanese diplomat in the United States sparked an online uproar when he was seen urinating during a live Facebook political discussion.

Panelists were discussing the appointment of a governor for Upper Nile state on Friday when Gordon Buay, South Sudan’s deputy ambassador to the U.S., was seen walking to the bathroom wearing only a shirt and relieving himself, in full view of all other panelists.

The video went viral, with many social media users calling on Buay to step down.

Some commentators accused Buay of being intoxicated during the panel discussion, noting that he was shouting at other panelists.

While some of the panelists appeared shocked to see Buay relieve himself, a few smiled and laughed.

The video was removed from Youtube on Saturday afternoon but a clip was shared widely on social media minutes after organizers removed the original video. Buay posted a message on his Facebook page urging people not to believe what he called a “fake video.”

Buay did not respond to numerous attempts by VOA’s South Sudan in Focus to reach him for comment. South Sudanese government officials have also declined to comment.

Buay’s behavior tarnished the image of South Sudan and immediate disciplinary action should be taken against the top diplomat, said political analyst James Okuk of the Center for Strategic Studies in Juba.

“Such kind of behavior in line with diplomatic ethics has not happened anywhere in the history of international relations. So it is really shameful and is tainting the image of South Sudan and it should not be taken lightly in Juba,” Okuk told South Sudan in Focus.

Okuk, a former diplomat to Khartoum and Brazil, said diplomats should always be sensitive about how they present themselves to the public.

“Pretending to defend the government while naked and also trying to talk in a chaotic manner when he is drunk and then going to the toilet to pee without switching off the camera of the phone and coming back to defend saying there was nothing wrong.

“Something just really must be done,” Okuk said.

Okuk said Buay should be recalled and investigated.

Shortly after Buay urinated, moderator Peter Keny ended the discussion, following a heated argument between Buay and other panelists.

“Thank you so much, brother, I really appreciate the time and I thank you, ambassador. South Sudanese that is your ambassador Gordon Buay, let us end the show, thank you so much, God bless you,” said the moderator.

Ambassador Buay was among 43 diplomats who were recalled and returned to Juba in February. In March, South Sudan’s Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs, Ambassador Mayen Dut Wol, wrote a letter canceling Buay’s recall.

Zimbabwe Asks Kenya to Expel Mugabe-Era Minister Jonathan Moyo

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Zimbabwe Asks Kenya to Expel Mugabe-Era Minister Jonathan Moyo

Zimbabwe has asked Kenya to expel a Mugabe-era Cabinet Minister amid claims that that he is organising mass protests against the southern African country’s government.

Prosecutors have approached Kenya seeking the extradition of Jonathan Moyo, who fled during the 2017 coup that saw Robert Mugabe toppled from power and Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa installed as Zimbabwe’s president.

Prof Moyo, a former Higher Education Minister, was charged with fraud involving over $400,000 in public funds, but he argues that the case is politically motivated.

PROPEL GRACE TO POWER

Mr Moyo is believed to have been the brains behind G40, which was a faction within the ruling Zanu-PF party that was scheming to propel Grace Mugabe to take over power from her husband, at the expense of then VP Mnangagwa.

Now, a top Zanu PF party official has said that Zimbabwe wants Mr Moyo expelled to stop him from mobilising against President Mnangagwa’s government.

“We take note and welcome the prosecutor general’s efforts for the extradition of Professor Jonathan Moyo from Kenya as he is the figment of the external demonisation of our leadership and extorting mass uprising in the country,” said Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu.

However, Zimbabwe and Kenya do not have an extradition treaty, but Harare says there is a provision for the two countries to facilitate the politician’s return to face criminal charges.

Mr Moyo claims that there has been an assassination attempt against him even after he fled to Kenya.

However, government spokesperson Ndabaningi Mangwana said President Mnangagwa had no intentions to kill the former minister.

“Zimbabwe does not assassinate people,” he said.

“We have a lot of faith in our criminal justice system and we believe everyone should have their day in court, (Prof) Jonathan Moyo included,” he added.

SHADY PAST

The former minister has a controversial past, both in his home country and Kenya.

In Kenya, Mr Moyo once worked for an international NGO in Nairobi in the 1990s which he was accused of defrauding of thousands of dollars.

He was implicated in a corruption scandal involving about $6 million (about Sh620 million) while he was the programme director in Nairobi for the US-based charity organisation, Ford Foundation.

The money was meant for a Nairobi-based NGO, the Series on Alternative Research in East Africa Trust, which was founded by political scientist Mutahi Ngunyi.

Kenyan officials have previously denied habouring Mr Moyo.

Read the original article on Nation.

Amber Heard ‘defecated in Johnny Depp’s bed’ after he was two hours late for her birthday party

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Amber Heard ‘defecated in Johnny Depp’s bed’ after he was two hours late for her birthday party

Johnny Depp threw a phone at Amber Heard and called her ‘Amber Turd’ after she allegedly defecated in their bed after a blazing row on her 30th birthday party in which he threw a champagne bottle at her, a court heard today.

The 57-year-old actor is being cross-examined by The Sun’s lawyer on the fourth day of his libel trial at the High Court in London, where he is facing questions about alleged assault against his ex-wife in LA in 2016.

The court was shown a photograph of Heard’s bruised face after she claims Depp hurled a phone at his face as they argued over the so-called ‘defecation incident’ a month after the Hollywood legend decided to divorce his wife over the soiling of their bed.

The actor told the court he believes that Heard, 34, was responsible for the defecation but under questioning admitted that it could have been her ‘crass’ trans activist friend iO Tillet Wright.

He arrived at Heard’s birthday party on April 21, 2016 around two hours late after receiving some bad news about his financial affairs from his accountants and smoking cannabis to relieve his stress.

The Hollywood legend admitted that he went to bed to read a book after Heard’s guests had gone and started arguing with her about his behaviour.

As the confrontation escalated, Heard claims that her ex-husband threw a magnum champagne bottle at her and shoved her to the floor several times before leaving a note reading ‘Happy F***ing Birthday’.

Depp claims that Heard had been ‘drinking heavily’ and attacked him while he was reading in bed, punching him in the face four times before he grabbed her arms to stop her.

He says the next day Heard or one of her friends ‘defecated’ in their marital bed, and he believes Heard was responsible after she later told the building manager that it was ‘just a harmless prank’ – at which point Depp ‘resolved’ to divorce her.

He denied that their small dog could have been responsible for the faeces, but admitted that Wright could have been responsible and he could not be certain it was Heard. The actor also admitted laughing about the faeces the day after the incident and making ‘Amber Turd’ jokes.

A month later he came to collect his things from their LA apartment after deciding to divorce Heard over the defecation incident and another row began, during which Heard claims he threw the phone but Depp claims he did not touch her.

Depp is suing The Sun for libel after it labelled him a ‘wife beater’. He called the accusation ‘utter falsity’ and ‘fraudulent’ and has claimed Heard abused him throughout their marriage.

President Lungu’s Apology Is Fake, He Intended To Deceive The Nation

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President Lungu’s Apology Is Fake, He Intended To Deceive The Nation

PRESIDENT LUNGU’S APOLOGY IS FAKE, HE INTENDED TO DECEIVE THE NATION.

Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s apology over a mix up of road construction photos his media team purported to have been of the Mazabuka-Kafue road when infact they were cropped from that of a Nigerian page is very insincere and should not be accepted by any sound reasoning Zambian.

Firstly, the President is made aware of everything posted on his page so there is no excuse for ignorance on his part for the photos. If he claims ignorance of what is posted then we might as well assume that he is unaware of what goes on around, a case of his office being on auto pilot which is unacceptable since it’s the highest office in the land.

Secondly, it is not even a week that he passed through the same road enroute to Monze where he was booed as he went to commission houses for the Zambia prisons service so he is aware of its actual state and can tell easily from the photos whether it’s the same road or a different one.

Thirdly, the photos he later uploaded as being the correct ones are old and were posted by the Road Development Agency and his PF page Smart Eagles last month on the 3rd and 4th of June respectively so there is nothing new to post about since the state seems unchanged.

As it is Edgar Lungu and his colleagues are acting like an impotent man who publishes a photo of a known pregnant woman claiming it is his when not and later apologizes saying he made a mistake.

There is no way that photo of a Nigerian road would have found itself in the files of the presidential media team if not deliberately cropped and filed to purposely deceive the masses that the man is working and worth a vote again in 2021.

With many more photos from his page now being scrutinized and most found to be cropped from other sources, i agree Seer1 really took away his “Do As I Say” power to make the president and those around him not to reason well and i call upon the self styled prophet to reduce the dosage of confusion amongst the PF members.

Seer1 Bwesha Umutima🤣🤣.

#HakaindeHichilema #Bally #UPND #Forward #2021.

Happy Friday.

Mbanga Irvine, Ilukui.
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
United States of America.

THE BOOED PRESIDENT

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THE BOOED PRESIDENT

THE BOOED PRESIDENT.

By Greenwell Nyirenda.

On 10th December 2013, I was seated on the terraces of nearly 95,000 – capacity FNB Stadium filled to its maximum. The stadium which is located at Nasrec, bordering the Soweto area of Johannesburg received hundreds of thousands of South Africans from all the Provinces, thousands from Southern Africa and Africa and a hundreds from overseas including the 90 head of states among them USA President Barack Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and including our Zambian Vice President Guy Scott.


We had reached the stadium at around 06;30 a.m. , despite that we came many miles away, from Waterkloof area of Pretoria, Elarduspark to be specific using inner roads avoiding bigger roads like R-21 and other vast freeways which were closed to accommodate dignitaries and the Funeral convoy carrying the casket of Nelson Mandela


Well vuvuzela reverberations echoed boostele and morale across the stadium which was largely clad in green, gold and black – the ANC colors. It was ecstatic. Kirk Franklyn, Mafikozolo and other musical performers were rolling it on a large stage.


The extra-large Screen kept on showing which VIP ‘trooped’ in at what time. It was like the UN general Assembly. And crowds kept going wild, boisterous, loud and jubilant as they show the screens showed the Rev Jesse Jackson, Raul Castrol, Mama Graca and Winnie, Former Presidents of SA and especially on two kenyas – ‘Uhuru and Barack’, well one is half Kenyan and other VIPS.


But when the host President Jacob G Zuma entered the stadium, the whole stadium grinned and jeered him. Embarrassing! I felt it. Zuma was booed when the screens showed him arriving with his two wives, Bongi Ngema and Thobeka Madiba, and twice again when he was introduced by program director Cyril Ramaphosa, his Vice then.


On 16 June 2017, President Zuma was again booed as he addressed an official Youth Day rally in Ventersdorp in North West. It said a group of students chanted “Zuma must fall”.


Well Zuma later went on and faced more embarrassing moments especially when he would be ridiculed and unpalatables hurled against him – not taking away any of the all the allegations, I believed the bullying and booing was never appropriate.
But in a way, he nattily never bothered and went on. He would never issue a threat, him his surrogates or followers.

CHINGOLA, THE FORMER PF STRONGHOLD

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CHINGOLA, THE FORMER PF STRONGHOLD

CHINGOLA, THE FORMER PF STRONGHOLD

If there’s one town on the Copperbelt where the PF will fall badly in 2021, it’s in Chingola.
The outcome there will be far worse than what you saw in Roan Constituency last year.

As a reminder, in 2016, PF only got 51% of the vote in Chingola, as opposed to 70% in Roan.
The people of Chingola were the first to rebel against ECL, they were far ahead of the rest of urban Zambia in delivering a vote of no confidence in Lungu as far back as 2016.

In Roan, PF’S support dropped from 70% in 2016 to only 38% in 2019.

So what will happen in Chingola?

KCM has over 13,000 employees, who in return have thousands upon thousands of dependents.
The KCM provisional liquidator Milingo Lungu is probably the most hated man in town. He has turned KCM into a PF department, where PF politics have turned the company from a professional organization to a government ministry.

The employees of KCM don’t like this behavior and the backlash will be seen at the ballot.
The employees also feel threatened about their future, they don’t know if they will receive their benefits with the way the company is being mismanaged and they know that if ECL was to come back to power the company will be handed over to Chinese.
And no one at KCM wants to work under the Chinese.
The PF has tried to resuscitate their fortunes with cosmetic road works but it’s too little, too late.

In 2021 the PF will probably get less than 35% of the vote in Chingola.
Similar trends will also emerge in towns like Chililabombwe, Chambishi, Kitwe, Kalulushi and Mufulira.
These mining towns all vote the same in general elections since time immemorial.
Roan was just the start, it will spread like a wild fire in 2021.

If there’s one town on the Copperbelt where the PF will fall badly in 2021, it’s in Chingola.
The outcome there will be far worse than what you saw in Roan Constituency last year.

As a reminder, in 2016, PF only got 51% of the vote in Chingola, as opposed to 70% in Roan.
The people of Chingola were the first to rebel against ECL, they were far ahead of the rest of urban Zambia in delivering a vote of no confidence in Lungu as far back as 2016.

In Roan, PF’S support dropped from 70% in 2016 to only 38% in 2019.

So what will happen in Chingola?

KCM has over 13,000 employees, who in return have thousands upon thousands of dependents.
The KCM provisional liquidator Milingo Lungu is probably the most hated man in town. He has turned KCM into a PF department, where PF politics have turned the company from a professional organization to a government ministry.

The employees of KCM don’t like this behavior and the backlash will be seen at the ballot.
The employees also feel threatened about their future, they don’t know if they will receive their benefits with the way the company is being mismanaged and they know that if ECL was to come back to power the company will be handed over to Chinese.
And no one at KCM wants to work under the Chinese.
The PF has tried to resuscitate their fortunes with cosmetic road works but it’s too little, too late.

In 2021 the PF will probably get less than 35% of the vote in Chingola.
Similar trends will also emerge in towns like Chililabombwe, Chambishi, Kitwe, Kalulushi and Mufulira.
These mining towns all vote the same in general elections since time immemorial.
Roan was just the start, it will spread like a wild fire in 2021.

Chellah Tukuta Appears Before Ndola Court

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Chellah Tukuta Appears Before Ndola Court

Chellah Tukuta Appears Before Ndola Court For Mention

Photographer Chellah Tukuta who is facing several counts of criminal libel in Lusaka and Ndola has appeared before Ndola magistrate Misozi Banda for mention.

Chellah, 34, charged with three counts at the magistrate court and one count which needs the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)’s consent for it to proceed to trial.

In count one, Chellah is charged with publishing defamatory matter concerning Khalif Abdullah.

It is alleged that on May 26, 2020, Chellah published defamatory matter concerning Mr Abdullah on Facebook in which he said “Khalif, your time to leave Zambia has come you chi criminal”.

In count two, he is charged with publishing defamatory matter concerning Mr Adbullah where it is alleged that on June 9, 2020, he did publish defamatory matter concerning Mr Abdullah in form of a Facebook post in which he said the latter and Energy Regulation Board director Langiwe Lungu should “stop arm-twisting the Government over fuel, you are the reason fuel is still expensive when it supposed to be cheap. Thieves.”

In count three, he is charged with threatening violence with allegations being that on 12th June, he threatened violence to the property of Khalif Motors Zambia Limited in which he said “Khalif, if you don’t leave Zambia, we shall burn your trucks”.

In count four, Chellah is charged with expressing or showing hatred for persons because of place of origin.

It is alleged that on 26th May, 2020, Chellah published writing on his Facebook page expressing or showing hatred, ridicule and contempt for Mr Abdullah because of his place of origin.

When the matter came up for plea last month, Chellah pleaded not guilty to the three counts and was granted a K5, 000 bail in his own recognizance with two working sureties of Ndola in the like sum.

Magistrate Banda had adjourned the matter to July 10 for mention in the case awaiting the DPP’s consent and July 15 for trial in the three matters for which he pleaded not guilty.

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