OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
Dear Mr. President
REF: ITS A ZIGZAK; LIKE A FUFU VEVE AT STATE HOUSE!!,)
Mr president I do not understand what the title of my letter to you means. It is something I can’t explain: but one thing for sure is this is exactly what many of us ordinary Zambians are feeling. Confused and lost. Lost completely, confused a little bit.

Mr president I must start by saying that I am aware this letter won’t reach your eyes but those close to you will read and maybe this time around hint at you the content herein.
Sir, Zambia the country you chose to lead is in a serious crisis. Your people, God’s people who put you in office are complaining. Not only are they complaining but they are suffering as if they are children of a lesser God.

Your excellence when President Sata and the team campaigned in 2011, we voted for your party in the name of ‘Lower taxes, more jobs and more money in our pockets’. Right now the cost of living has risen, people can’t afford three meals anymore. Their is little or no money in our pockets, now we are even made to pay toll fees and yet we never know where the money goes.

The hospitals your government built with our tax money have no medicines. The doctors the ministry of health employed 6 months ago remain unpaid for such a long period of time. These are men and women we expect to take care of our sick brothers and sisters. How Mr President can people who are so demotivated be trusted to take care of the sick?
Mr president the police officers who make route lining when you are traveling out of state house received the last pay rise before president Sata died (MHSRIP). These are men and women in uniform who protect you, your family and your ministers. These men are frustrated to the core your excellence. I know they can’t speak for themselves now but I am afraid for you they may speak during elections next year.

Sir the level of corruption in your government is worrying to a common man. Your fight against corruption is done with nothing but kid’s gloves. Today you say this yet tomorrow you do the opposite. Your minister of health has been found with a case to answer yet he continues staying in office like nothing happened. Even when he was arrested a bond was signed before he was even informed about his arrest and yet a youth activist continues to spend nights in the police cells for simply speaking his mind. I mean: who does that! Is this the way good presidents behave.

Mr President what about the more than 50 people who died during the gassing episode? Shall we just forget about the issue and move on the way we forgot about the 42 fire engines, or the 48 house, or the opening or mulungushi textiles, or maybe we forget like the way you think we have forgotten than your closed the post newspaper and prime television? Should we pretend like nothing happened?

See your excellency, the fact that I can mention these things means we have not forgotten about them. Our memories remain very fresh that your government does not want to do the right things but rather what’s to be registered on the wrong side of history!

Does it bother you Mr. President that slowly you seem to be losing it on the ground or maybe you are not aware that your party the PF has completely lost support on the ground? Or maybe your handlers are still lying to you that things are okay going by the enticing of councilors to resign from opposition to join the mighty PF? Mr president do you want your term (s) in office to be remembered as the time Zambia held the most by elections due to elected officials resigning from opposition to PF?

Okay! Mr. President if you have money to bribe the councilors, how come the government has no money to pay council workers and fire men who have gone for several months without getting a salary? The retired civil servants can’t talk anymore as I can only suspect they are tired of complaining to a government that can’t listen.

Mr President, your advisors are ‘serial killers’ they do not mean well to you, the country and the Zambian people. Together with you, they are killing the future of this country. In fact these people meet in private; public places talking about how they will abandon you next year once you lose power. These mafias who keep on protecting you Mr President won’t be there when times are hard. Because these people eat well and sleep well they will never tell you the truth Mr President.

Anyways I don’t want I rant too much as if it even matters when we talk.
Continue and see what happens next year.

May God bless our peaceful Zambia and may he open your eyes so that you can see beyond your nose.
Sincerely yours
David N Kapoma

By Patson Chilemba

The era of insults and falsehoods is upon us and some feel they are being real champions by insulting the President on his Facebook page, says ruling PF media director Sunday Chanda.

And Chanda has accused the UPND leadership of abducting and confiscating mobile phones from their members of parliament, claiming some of them encountered problems with their own spouses who tried to call them but were unreachable.

Speaking with Daily Revelation, Chanda took issue with Zambians who have been flooding the President’s page, criticising him over the manner he was running affairs, in reaction to the various updates he posts to his Facebook page. Chanda described President Lungu as the most insulted person.

Chanda said the President reads the comments people post on his postings, saying some have abused the space by insulting and defaming the head of state, saying they will be left alone to answer for the charges when the long arm of the law visits them.

“In a mature society like ours if anyone has an issue with their leader the leader will listen and that is an opportunity that citizens ought to embrace. Unfortunately the era of insults and the era of falsehoods and the era of fake news is upon us, and others who feel, well, if they insult the head of state on his page then they are being real champions,” Chanda said. “But when the long arm of the law finds them they will be alone and we have people who are serving for defaming previous presidents.”

Chanda said the media should sensitise the citizenry that they could disagree with the ruling party and it’s leader on issues, by not getting personal.

“Don’t be used by certain politicians because when certain things go wrong you you are young, you have got a career you don’t want to disturb your life by engaging in avoidable offences and crimes,” he said, adding that the youths must continue to speak but must realise that freedom comes with responsibility. “You don’t need to insult Sunday Chanda to hear you.”

On the other hand, Chanda said the fact that PF was a ruling party did not make them immune to criticism, as they must deepen their levels of tolerance.

And Chanda said the UPND members of parliament, Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda), Mukumbuta Mulowa (Senanga) and Teddy Kasonso (Solwezi-West), who have decided to work with the PF on Bill 10, were honourable men who must be allowed to exercise their minds over the bill. He said the buzz word over the last month has been freedom of expression, saying the members of parliament should likewise not be victimized for their freedom of association as they were not breaking any law.

Asked if the PF would embrace the members as it was likely that they would not be re-adopted by their party in 2021, Chanda said the affinity for membership in the PF was very high, describing the three parliamentarians as honourable men elected by the people.

Chanda said UPND members were fatigued with party leader Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership, and that was why elected members were leaving the party.

He accused the UPND leadership of abducting their members of parliament.

“The UPND members of parliament were almost abducted by the party leadership, taken and locked up somewhere and grabbed their phones and we understand some had issues with their wife’s, because their wives tried to phone them and their husbands where unreachable they did not understand what was happening. So you cannot treat adults like children,” Chanda said.

Asked if in the same manner he was saying the UPND should allow their members of parliament to vote with their minds, the PF would allow their own members to do likewise, Chanda said members of parliament had their own minds and should vote according to the wishes of the people who sent them there.

“Our members of parliament consulted with their people,” he said.

And Chanda said he was interested in contesting the Kanchibiya seat in 2021, which is currently held by Martin Malama. He said he stood in the area in 2011 and that he applied in 2016 but the leadership decided otherwise.

Chanda said whether he will stand or not in 2021 was entirely up to the party leadership, but that he would continue to do the work he was doing with the community in the area.

“I am also doing some farming in Kanchibiya constituency,” said Chanda. -Daily Revelation

PATRIOTIC Front deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri says veteran politician Simon Zukas and other senior citizens that have formed an organization to challenge and address governance issues in the country are just job seekers.

In an interview, Phiri said since they were “too old” maybe the celebrated veterans were seeking relevance.

“In that organization, I even saw bashi nono (Bob Sichinga), who is known by my six-year-old grandchild that he left his family to go and live with a concubine in Kaunda Square! Are those the eminent people we are looking up to with that character? We wish them well and May God bless them. Even in a home, if I have seven children, not everybody can be happy, that is the way the world is. If the world was smooth, God himself would not have sent Jesus Christ to come and die for us. For me, I take great exception. I am in this position, that even when I leave, I continue with my life and not look back. When I am given a chance, I should leave things in place, which cannot be destroyed. But the problem we have in this country is that people want to be in positions forever,” Phiri said.

“That mentality for (Kenneth) Kaunda continues and this should be an outcry for young people! That when old people serve, they should give room to the young people to build where they have left. It is such a shame if you look back at the Non-Governmental Organizations, who were making so much noise. When they are given jobs, they shut up! So, for me, I have seen such things happen, I just look at these people as job-seekers or maybe they are too old, they just want to talk because they are missing the recognition, which they were getting when they were in the limelight.”

And Phiri said the ruling party was not threatened by the formation of the organization.

“I do not think anybody is threatened by that group. There are big names in that group, credible people. There is Telesphore Mpundu, Simon Zukas, Dr Sketchley Sacika and others. Nobody can take away what these great men have done for this country. But when you are calling yourself eminent, it is like you have cooked a very nice cake and then you apply faeces to it! Can people eat that? But that combination…we wish them the best. That is why I have said I will never be a political prostitute because I am not a job-seeker. When I retire, I shall continue where I left. And you will never hear me talking because my time would have passed. I want to see young people. This is my time to make headlines and I have been given an opportunity out of the 18 million Zambians to serve as the deputy secretary general for the ruling party. I should make my impact be felt so that even when I go, the positives should contribute to my legacy,” said Phiri.

Zukas and fellow senior citizens launched an organization called Our-Civic-Duty Association (OCIDA), which consists of some senior citizens, among them freedom fighters, a retired senior church leader and some retired senior civil servants, who served in the past governments and the ruling party.

By George Zulu

Police in Chinsali District in Muchinga Province have charged Socialist Party 2021 presidential candidate Fred M’membe with two counts of theft of proceeds of the sale of Post Newspapers Limited.

Confirming the development to The Watch Newspaper, Dr. M’membe says he was summoned last week by police in Chinsali.

He has however, explained that the charges leveled against him of fraud and theft are malicious and meant to tarnish his political image.

The full statement below…

Statement on the allegations of fraud and theft made against me by Mr Lewis Mosho

It is very sad that wild and malicious allegations have once again been made against me.

I was last week summoned by the Police in Chinsali, Muchinga, made to believe that my house which was taken, with no evidence of wrong doing by myself, in my village in Chinsali over a year ago was going to be returned.

However, I was today charged with two counts of theft of proceeds of sale of Post Newspapers Limited property located in Lusaka, sold by the company prior to it going into liquidation.

Those that have brought these charges against me, know very well that I was never involved in the sale of Post Newspapers Limited property and never used proceeds from the same for my personal benefit. These transactions were conducted through banks, thus, records relating to this sale and use of the proceeds are easily available.

These allegations are being brought by people who are stuck in their criminal activities and have thus opted to concoct lies. They have found nothing against me since the liquidation of Post Newspapers Limited and the illegal occupation of my house in Chinsali over a year ago. It is well known that they will not be able to prove these lies. But all this is being done, as the masses of this country are looking for alternative leadership and our party is growing very fast.

With our rising political fortunes, my being smeared with the filth of fraud and theft doesn’t come as a surprise. It was expected. Post Newspapers Limited wasn’t a kantemba, a briefcase company, it was a big company with a professional accounting staff.

It wasn’t possible for any individual person to take that amount of money, let alone for a property sale, without being noticed or traced.

Although I owned almost all the shares in the company, I never treated the assets and liabilities of the company as mine. The finances and assets of Post Newspapers Limited were handled and managed by its accounting staff. And I did not handle the sale of the said property. It was handled by the accounting staff and other responsible managers – and all are still alive.

The payment was made through the bank and so were the disbursements – which I am told were mainly to the Zambia Revenue Authority. All these transactions can be traced from the bank records.

If the police were professional in their dealing with Mr Mosho’s complaint, they would have gone to the bank to check how the money moved from the buyer to Post Newspapers Limited’s bank accounts. And it could also reveal how it was disbursed from that account. But because of clear political pressure that has surrounded the whole liquidation of Post Newspapers Limited police professionalism, objectivity and fairness have been lost.

They know very well that this case is going nowhere but that does not bother them because their intention is not punish wrongdoing but to politically, morally and otherwise humiliate me.

Will they succeed? No. The Zambian people know very well what is going on and cannot be swayed by such malice, lies and calumny.

They are the thieves, not me.

I challenge Mr Mosho to render an audited account of the assets of Post Newspapers Limited he has collected and sold.

However, this will not deter us from fighting the injustice and inequity that is growing in our country. We will continue to mobilise Zambians to fight corruption, greed and injustice.

Issued by Dr Fred M’membe

Mwika Royal Village,

Shiwangandu

Is President Lungu a good leader turned bad? Is he now a dictator?

The passage of the Constitution of Zambia Act 2016 has remained President Edgar Lungu’s major achievement since he took office.

Its clauses reduce presidential powers, enhance accountability and promote rule of law.

However, it is worrying Lungu now wants to reverse these progressive changes.

Has Lungu forgotten his principles and values of that time? Has the power gotten too sweet for him and corrupted his sound judgement of that time?

Read his full speech on the day….

HIS EXCELLENCY MR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

ON THE OCCASSION TO MARK THE PRESIDENTIAL ASSENT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL BILLS
TUESDAY, 5TH JANUARY, 2016
NATIONAL HEROES STADIUM
LUSAKA

YOUR HONOUR, MRS. INONGE MUTUKWA WINA, MP, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA;

· MR. DAVIES CHAMA, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT;
· YOUR LADYSHIP, MRS. IREEN MAMBILIMA, CHIEF JUSTICE;
· HONOURABLE DR. PATRICK MATIBINI, SC, SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY;
· YOUR EXCELLENCY DR. KENNETH DAVID KAUNDA, FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA;
· YOUR EXCELLENCY MR. RUPIAH BWEZANI BANDA, FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA;
· MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT;
· CABINET MINISTERS;
· SECRETARY TO THE CABINET, DR. ROLAND MSISKA;
· DEPUTY MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT;
· JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME AND HIGH COURTS;
· YOUR WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LUSAKA AND OTHER CIVIC LEADERS;
· YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES;
· LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES;
· SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS;
· SERVICE CHIEFS;
· YOUR EXCELLENCIES, HIGH COMMISSIONERS AND AMBASSADORS ACCREDITED TO THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA;
· MEMBERS OF THE PRESS;
· DISTINGUISHED GUESTS;
· LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
We are gathered here today, 5th January, 2016, to mark an important milestone in the constitutional history of our country.

The nation and people of this country will forever remember this day as one that brought us to the shores of giving ourselves a truly people-driven constitution since attaining independence in 1964.

The journey has been long and hard, but the quest by our people to have a constitution that mirrors their collective aspirations and hopes for the country has never wavered.

From one constitutional review commission to another, the people of Zambia spoke loudly and clearly about the kind of constitution they wanted.

At every turn, they remained true, steadfast and consistent in their demands.

Our presence here in the national heroes stadium is a deliberate decision by your government to move the function of my assent from the restricted confines of state house to this place, which offers
An opportunity to many Zambians from all over the country, to witness this historic and unique occasion.

This action is more than symbolic. It is a gesture which underscores the indisputable ownership of the constitution making process by the Zambian people.

The constitution I assent to this landmark day, was passed by parliament elected by the people and entrusted with the sacrosanct mandate of being the custodian of the composite interests of the people of this Great Republic.

Our constitution is the fundamental law of the land meaning that all laws derive their legitimacy and legality from the provisions of this document.

This is the grand norm. This is the most common denominator of our collective aspirations as a people.

This document is too important to be left to lawyers; it is too important to be left to journalists; it is too important to be left to the church alone… it is too important to be left to any single unit of the nation, not even the president!

This document must, as much as possible, speak to the broadest interests of the people. It must reflect and aspire to deliver the greatest assurance to the greatest majority of our people, if not all.

While the constitution guarantees our rights, and safeguards against various abuses, even the best of constitutions cannot ordain prosperity and requisite welfare of all citizens in the absence of individual and collective resolve to foster harmony and development, which requires not only diligence, but a sense of duty and responsibility to our country from all of us.

Because societies evolve and many unforeseen issues come to the fore, appropriate adjustments at appropriate and opportune stages and time are made to constitutions.

Thus even though the structural integrity of the constitution I assent to is beyond doubt, there is and there will always be, a compelling need for adjustments and refinements.

Furthermore, we will have to hold a referendum as resources permit on those aspects of the constitution like the bill of rights which require that process.

The patriotic front as a government of the people and by the people will always ensure that all processes as they relate to the constitution are totally above board and unquestionably transparent.

The patriotic front will continue to vigorously pursue its uniquely transformative development agenda which in the four and half years of its administration has delivered development to the far-flung areas of our country in ways never seen before.

We will continue our mission and crusade more resolutely to render Zambia’s development to levels that represent a meaningful assault on poverty. I have said before, and repeat, it is only wealth that we can share and not poverty.

We must all aspire to this ambition that everyday we must look forward to sharing something with somebody. We must therefore resolve to finish with one process and move to another.
This constitution-making process has cost us far too much. We must close this chapter!

There has been a lot of debate about the enactment of this constitution. Some political parties protested in parliament, by sit-ins for many sessions demanding that a new constitution be passed.
They caused near chaotic scenes in Parliament vowing that they would not allow the 2016 elections to be held under the current constitution, the one we have just amended.

However, when the same constitution they had been demanding was given to them in the same house, where they had been protesting, they again protested by walking out that they did not support the constitution they had been demanding!

Granted politics, is a part of our broader democracy, let us practice them truthfully and responsibly! This document is too important to be left to mere politicking!

We are a peaceful democracy and as we congregate to make collective decisions, politics will always introduce debates between and among us. These debates must produce productive outcomes that bind us and not divide us!

I know that we are all in agreement over the single goal of giving ourselves a new constitution. We are however divided on the means. Nevertheless, the Nation has to move forward.

The choice made to have the constitution adopted in this manner and allow only the bill of rights to be subjected to the referendum avoids the risk of complete failure to enact a new constitution due to the stringent voter threshold requirement that the referendum demands.
Dear Countrymen and Women:

We should not relent on our responsibility to improve our welfare by constantly making for ourselves laws that provide protection for individual rights and provide fair ways of resolving disputes between citizens and the state.

The reduction of presidential powers, achieves the aim of ensuring that power is commonly distributed through subjecting leadership to legal restraint that replaces the rule of men with the rule of law.
I have no qualms about reducing presidential powers because it is not about me, but about all of us today and posterity.
Countrymen and Women,

There comes a time in the life of a nation when the people’s cry on an issue and their sense of betrayal and futility at the hands of those they have entrusted with power must surely come to an end.
This is not easy, I know, because when you assume office, you have the super-abundance of historical reasons, spectacular legal arguments and your own political considerations urging you not to give in to the demands of the people.

But regardless of what is expedient, we as leaders have a duty to respect the will of the people. After all, it is often an inescapable truth that”vox populi, vox dei. “ (the voice of the people is the voice of God.)
It is for this reason that at my inauguration as the sixth president of the republic of Zambia, I publicly committed myself and my presidency to delivering to you my compatriots, a people-driven constitution, your constitution.

And today, on this historic occasion, barely eleven months into office, I, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, have the singular honour and privilege to say that, I am doing just that.

This is important for me;
It is important for all of us, that we create a new politics, a new way of doing things’

When I look across the isle on the floor of parliament, I see hope; I see hope that a new politics is possible!

When I look at extraordinary acts of civic responsibility by the opposition MMD, it gives me hope… it gives me hope that a time comes in the life of a nation when we abandon mechanical politics that always programmes the opposition to see nothing but the opposite.
The bi-partisan consensus that delivered this constitution is, and will always remain an admirable feat that will go down in the annals of history! Many thanks to the leadership of the MMD!
Collectively, this gives us a sense of pride that when you promise, you must feel a sense of duty to deliver on your promise! The MMD promised this constitution, the PF promised this constitution, the UPND promised this constitution.
All the major parties promised a new constitution before the 2016 elections. Others even signed social contracts with civil society groups to this effect.
We must cleanse our politics of the infamous reputation that politics is a dirty game! We must renew people’s trust in politics and not diminish it by promise and policy somersaults!
Before your very eyes,I will assent to the constitutional amendment bill and it will now form part of the constitution of this country.
Countrymen and Women,
At this juncture, let me extend my sincere appreciation for the work done by all those who devoted their time and energy, as well as knowledge and skills, to bring us to this epic moment.
These include members of all the constitutional review commissions and technical committees constituted over the years as well as, those who served on the national constitutional conference, not forgetting you the citizens, through your submissions during the various consultative processes.
Our special thanks go to those who have gone before us. Today, we honour their contribution posthumously.
We remember and honour the memory of Mr. Mainza Mathias Chona, SC who died in 2001. He was Chairperson of the First Constitutional Review Commission of 1972.
In 2009, the cold hand of death also robbed us of our beloved Mr. John Mupanga Mwanakatwe, SC, Chairperson of the Third Constitutional Review Commission of 1993.
In 2014, we also bade farewell to that illustrious son of this country, Mr. Willa Disraeli Mung’omba, who served as chairperson of the fourth constitutional review commission of 2003. May their souls rest in peace.
To those still with us, in particular, professor Patrick Mpanza Mvunga, SC, Chairperson of the Second Constitutional Review Commission of 1991, I say thank you for the service rendered to your country and the people.
These constitutional review commissions were appointed by gallant men who served in the office of president at the time.
Yes, we remember and honour the memory of the founding president of our party the PF, and 5th President of our Republic, His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata who appointed the technical committee which delivered the Draft from which this constitution has been born;
We remember His Excellency Mr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa (MMD) who appointed the Mung’omba Commission and subsequently the National Constitutional Conference (NCC);
We pay tribute to his excellency Dr. Fredrick J.T Chiluba (MMD), who appointed the Mwanakatwe Commission;
The three presidents have passed on, but we honour them for their great contributions to this constitution-making process!
We did not get to the end of the journey with them, but let us agree that they did something!
We say thank you to our founding father, Dr, Kenneth David Kaunda, who started it all with that historic repeal of the one-party constitution in 1990, following the recommendations of the Mvunga Commission!
We thank president Rupiah Bwezani Banda, who, as vice-president then, led the government team in the national constitutional conference and later, as head of state helped the process as well.
Countrymen and women,
Allow me now to thank our members of parliament on both sides of the house for passing this progressive constitutional amendment bill.
Despite the heated debates in the house, you did not betray the will of the people. To the contrary, the bi-partisan consensus that carried the day shows that we are able to achieve unity of purpose and work together to meet our people’s expectations.
Countrymen and women,
In order to fully appreciate the significance of today, it is important to reflect on where we have come from.
Following the dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1963, a new constitution based largely on the Westminster model was designed at independence in 1964.
The constitution that resulted from the negotiations at Lancaster house was conceived in a multi-party political dispensation.
It had an entrenched bill of rights which provided that every person in Zambia, regardless of race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, or sex shall enjoy fundamental rights and freedoms.
Countrymen and women,
You will recall that in 1973, Zambia became a one-party state. The justification was that this was a practical way to prevent ethnic rivalries and promote national unity.
The independence constitution was largely viewed as a colonial vestige. It was, therefore, essential that a home grown constitution be developed to truly reflect the aspirations of the Zambian people.
Thus, in 1969, a referendum was held which gave power to the legislature to amend the constitution.
Consequently, on 30th March, 1972, president Kenneth Kaunda appointed the Chona constitutional review commission.
Countrymen and women,
After 18 years of one-party rule, the people of Zambia demanded change consistent with the “wind of change” that was blowing across the continent. Government accepted the need for reform and amended the 1973 constitution by repealing article 4 to allow for the return to multi-party politics.

Government also announced its intention to make comprehensive amendments to the constitution, and consequently, appointed the Mvunga constitutional review commission.

However, the 1991 constitution that followed the Mvunga commission was perceived as a transitional one to meet the immediate demands of the multi-party system. Thus, on 22nd December, 1993, two years after the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy came to power, government appointed the Mwanakatwe constitutional review commission.
The commission made many recommendations, amongst others, that a presidential candidate must receive 50 percent plus one of the valid votes cast for the candidate to be declared winner among others.
But again, government rejected most of the commission’s recommendations.

Countrymen and women,
This prompted president Levy Mwanawasa, SC to appoint the fourth constitutional review commission, which was chaired by Mr. Willa Mung’omba.

Significantly, the Mung’omba constitutional review commission which in the main sought to super-impose a constituent assembly over parliament. GOVERNMENT Rejected this on account of the constitution of Zambia vesting the legislative power of the republic solely in parliament, among other reasons.

Countrymen and women,
In 2010, the attempt to enact the constitutional amendment bill adopted by the national constitutional conference failed because the bill could not garner the two-thirds parliamentary majority required at second reading.
When the Patriotic Front ascended to power, it undertook to deliver a constitution in accordance with the wishes of the Zambian people.
Thus, on 16th November 2011, the late president, His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, appointed the Technical Committee on drafting the Zambian constitution.

The terms of reference included examining the recommendations of all previous constitutional review commissions in order to ensure that the proposed constitution took into account the views of the people.
On 23rd October, 2014, the government tabled the draft constitution before the national assembly as “an Independence anniversary gift” to the Zambian people.

Countrymen and women,
Among the various issues that you, the people of Zambia demanded and which have been provided for in the constitution amendment bill, include the election of a president with over 50 per cent of the valid votes cast and the provision of a running mate to a presidential candidate.
The bill also provides for the establishment of the constitutional court and the court of appeal, the implementation of a devolved system of government and the general strengthening of accountability among the various organs of the state.

There have also been persistent calls for dual citizenship, especially from our citizens in the diaspora. This has now been provided for.

Countrymen and women,
The constitution amendment bill has also removed the uncertainty associated with the date of elections.
It provides that the general elections shall be held on the second Thursday of August in an election year.
In the same vein, Zambians would know in advance who the successor would be, should the office of the Republican President fall vacant for one reason or another.

Further, from today onwards, the parentage clause, which discriminated against some of our citizens when it came to aspiring to the highest office in the land, has been removed.

Countrymen and women,
In my inaugural address to the 5th session of the 11th national assembly, I indicated that we had chosen the parliamentary route in order to enhance chances of our country having a constitution in the most cost-effective manner.

This route also enabled us to pass all progressive clauses such as the fifty plus one, the presidential running mate, the date of general elections and dual citizenship without having to subject them to a referendum, whose outcome could not be guaranteed.

Countrymen and women,
This is a watershed moment. The impact of this constitution amendment bill is that it will enhance political stability which is a prerequisite for attracting increased levels of investment and improving the business environment in general.

Further, Zambia will enhance her credentials as a truly democratic state governed by the rule of law. I am greatly humbled for the honour to have facilitated this process.
Let me, however, caution that there will be issues, which are going to emerge as we implement some of the provisions of the amended constitution.

In this regard, this process remains work in progress, requiring full appreciation of the costs involved as well as the institutional arrangements to be put in place and their effectiveness.

Countrymen and women,
As I conclude, I want to appeal to all citizens to embrace this momentous day in the history of our beloved country.
Collectively, we are embarking on a new era in the governance of our country. I, therefore, implore each one of you to take time to reflect on the contents of this progressive document that i am about to sign. Please read it!

It is also my earnest prayer that this amendment to the constitution will indeed serve as an instrument of national unity and social cohesion because its contents are a true reflection of the aspirations of the wider section of our society.

However, I am alive to the fact that in every process, including the constitution-making process, it is not possible to accommodate the views of every stakeholder.

Countrymen and women,
In seven months time, we will once again be heading to the polls to elect political leaders that will steer this country to further prosperity.
I reiterate my call for maximum restraint from acts of violence in our campaigns in order to ensure free and fair elections. Let us all continue to embrace the spirit of national unity.

All these achievements would not have been possible without the contributions of the people in general. To you all, I say thank you.
It is my inescapable duty to deliver my profound thanks to the Patient, Resilient and Tolerant people of this Great Republic. Thank you, thank you Zambia, thank you to all of you!

As we proceed towards elections on 11th august 2016, I implore all citizens and political players in particular to abide by civil means of engagement with one another. Differences and hiccups will occur but must not be seized upon by enemies of a free society.

We are a nation of tolerance which abhors extremism in all its forms;
We are a nation of peaceful co-existence, which celebrates diversity of opinion across various facets of life;

We are a nation of democracy which celebrates choice as a virtue not a point of enmity; a nation of harmony united in peaceful commerce;
This nation, Zambia, is a nation of order because we believe stability is the precursor to economic development;

Over the years, we have demonstrated that we are a winning nation, united in a collectively belief that a free society is a sum total of the different interests group, both state and non-state actors!
We are a nation of faith, well guided by our long-cherished motto of one Zambia, one nation!

We are, a Christian nation, built on the bedrock of love!

God bless Zambia!
God bless you all!
I thank you for your attention

RENOWNED musician and civil rights activist Chama Fumba popularly known as Pilato says artistes will not be bribed by a K30 million youth empowerment scheme that has been approved by President Edgar Lungu.

And Pilato says if he and his team who protested in the bush last Monday are grandfathers, then Sports Minister Emmanuel Mulenga is the “grandest of them all”.

In an interview, Pilato observed that President Lungu was trying to silence artistes by giving them money.

“The artistes in Zambia do not need K30 million. They might need more, they might need less. Why are they giving artistes money instead of young people in this country? How is that money going to benefit the artistes today and tomorrow? How does that respond to the young people’s calls for a fight against corruption? How does that respond to young people’s calls for human rights? What problem are they trying to address? Just because we had musicians in the protest does not mean that this is a call for musicians to be given money, no. The young people will not be bribed by K30 million. We have bigger problems and that money is not even enough. That money could be used to create opportunities for every young person, it can be used to structure the industry. Why do they want to bribe the artistes? Because they are vocal? The President must be able to respond to the calls of the young people,” Pilato said.

“We already know which artistes will receive that money. The K30 million is a good thing but then it is misplaced and it is a bribe. The President is trying to silence the artistes thinking that once they are bribed, no one will be able to speak. But the cries of the young people are way beyond and bigger than just artistes. Even if they give that money to artistes, the young people will still want to be addressed.”

And Pilato said the youths that Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya has been meeting are from the ruling party and do not represent the views of the general youth populace.

“The president asking ministers to respond to the challenges of young people today is just a PR (Public Relations) stance. If this is when the President is directing his ministers or his government to respond to the young people’s needs, then what has his government been doing all this time? What have they been working on? If, for seven years, they have not done that, what have they been doing? We are not asking for popcorn statements but we are asking them to respond to their own proposals in their own manifesto. They said they will create 500, 000 jobs but instead, they have taken away more than 500, 000 jobs from people. They said they will give us more money in our pockets but now they have taken away money from our pockets. They said lower taxes but now we have got higher taxes. What is it that they are telling us?” Pilato asked.

He said all the problems raised by the youths are not new to government.

“It must be understood that the youths are not in any way conveying new problems. The challenges of the young people today are what made the same young people vote for the PF because when the PF was campaigning, they were telling the young people about their problems and they promised that once voted to power, they were going to deal with those challenges. They promised that they were going to fight the MMD corruption and deal with the issues that the MMD was voted against. The PF has been in power for seven years now. What have they done with those promises?” Pilato wondered.

“The problems that we are saying now are not new problems. The PF told us about dealing with the Chinese mistreatment of Zambians, we were told about the abuse of workers in these companies. The police brutality is not new. The young people are not in any way inventing new challenges but the problem is that the PF has not addressed the problems that the young people have been calling for.”

Asked why he and his team were not part of the team of youths who met Siliya on Wednesday and Thursday, he said the minister was only meeting youths that came from the PF structures.

“I wasn’t invited and I don’t think anyone that attended the protest was invited. You must understand that when the Patriotic Front Government says they are speaking to the youths or they have solutions for the youths or a package for the youths, it’s not the general youths. It’s the youths from their party structures, those that they know, and those that they work with,” Pilato added.

And commenting on sentiments by Siliya that some youth representatives who were part of the Monday bush protests were said to be grandfathers, Pilato said: “If the youth representatives are grandfathers, the Minister of Sports should be the grandest of them all. What does she (Siliya) say about him?”

Meanwhile, when asked to react on police threats that they are contemplating arresting those who protested in the bush because that was also a public place, he said he will await their action.

“We await or their call. We are very law-abiding citizens. If they feel we broke the law, we await their action. Otherwise, we are still in Zambia and if they feel so, they will obviously reach out to us,” said Pilato.

RAINBOW Party leader Wynter Kabimba says Bill 10 is not dead but has only been deferred to a later date for debate.

And Kabimba says supporting Bill 10 is not a treasonable act because even those doing so have the interest of Zambians at heart.

Meanwhile, Kabimba says Zambia is undemocratic because leaders do not have the heart to accept divergent views.

Speaking when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk, Friday, Kabimba said Bill 10 was still alive.

“Is Bill 10 dead? Not as far as I know. The last we heard about Bill 10 from the honorable Minister of Justice is that the bill has been deferred and the Speaker cautioned the Minister of Justice that can you make sure that the debate comes back to the floor of the House quickly before this bill lapses because we are running out of time. So Bill 10 is not dead,” Kabimba said.

And Kabimba said if it was proven that the majority Zambians did not support Bill 10, he would “shut up”..

“Now let me tell you this, if we conducted a poll today and it is proven that the majority of Zambians say they don’t like Bill 10, I will shut up. If those that are saying they are against Bill 10 could prove in a scientific manner, using a poll for example, even a sample that they are in majority, I would shut up. The problem that I have, like he said, why are you shoving it down Zambians’ throats, no, he should say why are you shoving it down my throat because he has no evidence that he is representing the majority of the Zambian people. What I have disagreed to is people saying I have been bought, that’s what I disagree with. I object to that kind of characterization. I have seen on social media, they even put an amount, ‘you received K3 million’, I don’t know who was there when I was receiving that money. That’s how they try to alarm people. I remember somebody saying on social media after I featured on ZNBC, saying just tell us how much you have been paid, nonsense! If you don’t have an argument, keep quiet. Stop characterizing me and characterizing others,” he said.

In response to a question on whether there are two Bills, Kabimba said the recent Gazette notice was simply amendments to the Bill.

“There is only one Bill 10 which was gazetted in June last year and then now what you have are amendments to that Bill 10. So amendments in themselves are not a bill, so there are two things, the Bill 10 and amendments to Bill 10,” he said.

And Kabimba said supporting Bill 10 was not betrayal.

“And in debating Bill 10, there is no need for us to debate as if we were at war, we are not at war, yes maybe we are at war of ideas but we are not taking out guns. We can’t debate this with this inherent spirit of hate between those that are for or against. We are all Zambians and we have a right to hold different views. I disagree with the notion that the people that are speaking against the bill are the ones speaking on behalf Zambians, that’s not right, all of us are speaking on behalf of the Zambian people. All of us in one way or the other represent the Zambian people. I disagree with those that are against Bill 10 when they say that those of us that are supporting Bill 10 are betraying the Zambian people. There is no treasonable act here, we are not committing any treason. We just happen to hold a different view,” he said.

“We also realize and are conscious of the fact that this Bill 10 has divided our society, it has divided families; it has divided friends. I have got some of my friends who are on the other side, they oppose Bill 10 and I am on the other side but we are still friends. I have got some of my family members that are anti Bill 10 and I am pro Bill 10 but they are still my brothers and sisters. So that is how it should be in a democracy, we can’t all think the same and that’s why we fought the one party state.”

Meanwhile, Kabimba said Zambia was far from being democratic.

“My appeal is that if you really are a democrat and you believe in democracy, your views shall not always prevail. Other people’s views shall prevail over yours, that’s the only way we can build democracy. Democracy is for strong men and women, it’s not for the faint hearted. How many times do we face adversity in life, how many times do we face defeat in life and we have to accept it? How many times have we lost loved ones and we still recover from that pain and move on? So if you are going to act like a spoilt child in a democracy, you shall always remain disappointed. A spilt child who wants to cry for chocolate in the middle of the bush where there is no shop, democracy means the views of others, however unreasonable they may sound to you shall prevail and you just have to accommodate that pain, that’s what democracy it all about. We are not democrats, even those that purport to be leaders in this country are far away from being leaders because we are undemocratic,” said Kabimba.

“There is nothing about the nation, each of us wants to score against the other. So we’ve become embroiled in these technical arguments, legal actions, interpretation of the law, interpretation of the bill which is not yet law, alarming of those who can’t read and write, creating an environment that Zambia is on fire when there is nothing like that.”

[By Gregory Kaputula]

Socialism, a term coined in the 1820s, originated as a reaction to individualism. In place of individualism, earliest writers proclaimed an organic conception of society, stressing ideals such as brotherhood, community, and social solidarity.

Socialism is based on the idea that the vast resources of society must be used to meet people’s needs and expectations. This means that if citizens are hungry, the state must feed them; if citizens are homeless, the state must build them houses; if citizens are sick, the best medical care and facilities must be provided. The same goes for education and other public goods like roads, water and security.

Interestingly, just like there is no blueprint for life, there is no blueprint for what a socialist society should look like. Different generations and societies determine their own way of living. In recent years, a number of Zambian commentators have proclaimed that socialism is dead as an ideal. I wish they were right, but their obituary is premature. Socialism as an ideal is actually thriving. Reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. There are millions of socialist supporters in Zambia and the world.

A manifesto is a public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives. It is a written statement that highlights the beliefs, aims, and policies of an organisation, especially a political party. Something that is manifest is easy to perceive or recognise, and a manifesto is a statement in which someone makes his or her intentions or views easy for people to ascertain. Perhaps the most famous statement of this sort is the Communist Manifesto, written in 1848 by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to outline the platform of the Communist League.

And, as though to prove doubting Thomases and reports of the death of socialism in Zambia wrong, the Socialist Party successfully launched its 2021 – 2026 manifesto on 17th June, 2020 at its Garden Compound offices in Lusaka. In setting the tone of the manifesto launch, the Socialist Party’s presidential candidate, Fred M’membe stated that it is a manifesto of revolutionary change. A manifesto that will bring fundamental changes to Zambians and their lives. It is a manifesto premised and anchored on justice, equity and peace.

In their 2021 -2026 Socialist Party manifesto booklet, they write; “We are a party of the humble, by the humble for the humble. We are a party devoted to the humble, the poor; to fighting against abuse, injustice, and the degradation of human beings. This manifesto demonstrates the tragedy the humble masses, the untainted, ordinary people – students, nurses, clinical officers, doctors, peasant farmers, small business people, maids, security guards, cleaners, garden ‘boys’, drivers, teachers, farm labourers, agriculture extension officers, police officers, soldiers and security personnel, construction workers, fisherfolk, preachers, civil servants and other public workers, retirees, the unemployed and many others. Many will find this manifesto an exact portrait of the distressing difficulties they each face today.”

The Socialist Party in their 2021 – 2026 election manifesto is promising the following:
1. Equity in access to education: The Socialist Party in government is promising to provide compulsory, quality, free education from nursery school to Grade 12. College and university education will be free for all Zambians. There will be no fees; uniforms, books, pens, pencils and school meals will be provided. The socialist government is promising to provide state of- the-art 21st century education. Computers, science laboratories, and quality teaching aids will pave a way for a science-based curriculum. Under the socialist government, everyone will be provided with an opportunity to learn, to read and write. The literacy campaign started by the party in June 2018 in Lusaka will be extended to cover the whole country. Illiteracy will be completely eradicated within 10 years.

2. Universal healthcare for all: In order to achieve universal health coverage, the Socialist Party is saying it will; (i) invest 20 per cent of the national budget in the health sector and give Zambians the modern, well-resourced, services they need for the 21st century; (ii) expand primary healthcare to include social care and mental health; (iii) tackle the social-economic determinants of health (housing, water, sanitation, clean energy, air pollution, alcohol and substance abuse, traffic accidents and sedentary lifestyles), and thereby reduce over 30 per cent of the current disease burden; (iv) grow the pharmaceutical industry in Zambia to ensure patients get fast access to all the drugs covered under the Essential Drugs List; (v) expand sexual health services, especially HIV services, which will include reducing the rates of undiagnosed and late-diagnosed HIV, ending the stigma of HIV in society, and promoting the increased availability of testing and treatment; (vi) invest in health and care workforce. The long-term goal is for the Zambian health system to have the best-trained staff in Africa, ready to deal with both communicable and non- communicable diseases, and to provide services to the rest of the world.

3. Dignified housing, safe drinking water and sanitation for all: When in power, the Socialist Party is promising to restructure town and country planning to favour construction of houses for the masses. The cost of building materials will be reduced. Construction skills will be taught to all those intending to build their houses. The party is promising to construct 50,000 low-cost houses every year from savings to be made from MPs’ and presidential allowances, trips, and taxes on their salaries and benefits. The Party is saying good governance begins with the ones entrusted to lead, so it will lead by example.
When in government, the party is saying it will have to drastically increase the supply of fresh water. This will entail investment in the reuse of water for multiple purposes, efficient methods of harvesting rainwater, better extraction of groundwater, and conservation. Special attention will also be paid to the safety and quality of the water distribution system, education, and hand washing, as well as chlorination. The Socialist Party is promising to adopt the four principal recommendations set out in the first ever World Health Organisation guidelines on sanitation and health; (a) Sanitation interventions will ensure entire communities have access to toilets that safely contain excreta. (b) Each sanitation system will undergo local health risk assessments to protect individuals and communities from exposure to excreta, whether from unsafe toilets, leaking storage or inadequate treatment. (c) Sanitation will be integrated into regular local government-led planning and service provision to avert the higher costs associated with retrofitting sanitation, and to ensure sustainability. (d) The health sector will invest more and play a coordinating role in sanitation planning to protect public health.

4. Adequate food for all: Today, Zambia is the fourth hungriest country in the world after Chad, the Central African Republic and Madagascar. When in power, the Socialist Party is promising to draw up plans that will meet people’s needs for basic foodstuffs as much as possible and as soon as possible. Key aspects of this plan will be the following; (i) Production of healthy food for all (ii) Adoption of agroecology (iii) Adoption of mechanisation that is compatible with nature and rural labour (iv) Adoption of cooperative agribusiness (v) Agricultural education and (vi) Peasants and the people in rural areas as keepers of the collective goods of nature.

5. Dignity for the working class: The Socialist Party is promising that it will ; (i) give all workers equal rights, regardless of their employment status, so that working conditions are not driven down; (ii) legislate to encourage sectoral collective bargaining; (iii) guarantee trade unions a right to access workplaces, so union representatives can speak to members and potential members; (iv) raise the minimum wage to the level of the living wage for all workers aged 18 and over; (v) enforce all workers’ rights to trade union representation at work; (vi) strengthen protections for women against unfair redundancy – because no one should be penalised for having children; (vii) institute gender pay auditing so that all workers have fair access to employment and promotion opportunities and are treated fairly at work, and; (viii) abide by and enforce the global labour standards of the International Labour Organisation conventions. (To be continued)

The author is a social commentator and law student. Send comment to: gregory.kaputula @gmail.com/EC/SM

A letter to the world from Malawi: We did it without your help

By now, I am confident that you have heard the good news from Malawi. I will just emphasize and confirm that it’s true: We, the people of Malawi, now have a new leader, and his name is Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.

Our journey has not been easy. We fought tirelessly and with resilience to get to where we are. Kicking the outgoing president, Peter Mutharika and his cronies, was not an easy thing.

When we went to the polls last year on May 21, the election was marred by so many irregularities. Our fearless opposition leaders then led by the President elect and Vice President Saulos Chilima challenged what the African Union, SADC and even European observers described as a “free and fair election”.

These untruthful reports weighed heavily on us since they hugely misrepresented and undermined the tragedy that the 2019 presidential election was. That is when we realized that perhaps foreign observer missions are useless. They are tourists who fill our hotels, drink coffee, sleep with our women, drink Malawi Gin, eat our Chambo (Tilapia) or go sightseeing to our beautiful lake, then pull out report templates from their computers, where they substitute Senegal or whatever country’s name for Malawi, leaving the rest of the report’s wording intact.

We are grateful to our very independent military and the judiciary. Throughout the demonstrations that took Malawians months of protests in streets, the military actively provided security cover that deterred the police force from unleashing hell on us. The police was captured by the ruling party and were doing everything in the interest of the party than the rule of law.

And after months of hearing the case and examining evidence brought before the constitutional court, a panel of five Judges unanimously nullified the elections and ordered a fresh one to take place within 150 days, and that is what we achieved on June 23, 2020.

The process was not an easy one. We were fighting not on plain ground, but against certified crooks and a mafia network, which had grabbed Malawi by the balls.

The people who took to the streets to demand justice were led by our vibrant civil society organization that champions human rights issues and good governance. The leaders of this organization remained fortified in the cause despite surviving attempts on their lives and property. They chose to stand with the people for the sake of their liberation and it has finally paid off. The world watched.

We, as a nation, do not claim an entitlement of world intervention, but we know that the global village has a vested interest in a democracy that also resides in our nation. Whilst we do our part to take care of the democracy, we believe the rest of the world had a duty too towards it. Lest we forget, they are the ones who forced democracy on us.

Today, our terrain is full of joy and satisfaction as people are standing glad and proud that they finally kicked out the despotic regime which tried to force itself on us through a rigging scheme. Now we have set up, in Malawi, a government of the people led by President elect Lazarus Chakwera and Vice President Saulos Chilima. We now invite you back to see how we will progress.

I will continue to write to you of our progress.

With love, from Malawi

Kelvin Sulugwe

– kelvinsulugwe.com

The UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT has maintained that parliament should not make a mistake of retabling the dead constitutional amendment Bill 10 of 2019 as the party will be left with no choice but to seek legal redress through the courts of law.

The party has further revealed that the Patriotic Front’s interest in Bill 10 lies in the repealing of Article 52 (4) of the current Republican constitution as amended in 2016 which empowers citizens to challenge the nomination of a presidential candidate.

Addressing the media this morning at the Party secretariat, UPND deputy national spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says by his own confession, Chief Government parliamentary whip Brian Mundubile yesterday agreed that Bill 10 elapsed on June 4th,2020 in accordance with procedures and practice of parliament on the lifespan of Bills.

Mr. Mweetwa said the fact that the Bill died twenty days before the Standing Orders Committee decided to defer it to another day is indisputable while what is in dispute is whether the Standing Orders Committee has the jurisdiction to defer a dead Bill to another day.

“What is in dispute is the question on whether the parliamentary Standing Orders Committee operated within its ambits to extend the life of a bill whose life expired 20 days before. What is a fact is that the committee can only give life to a Bill which still has life left in it. This is the position of the UPND legally and procedurally. There is no law which allows the Standing Orders Committee to resurrect any dead Bill”, he said.

Mr. Mweetwa added that the UPND would have no option but to seek legal action and seek interpretation on the provisions of the law surrounding the issue should the PF and Parliament opt to bring the bill back on the order paper as announced by Justice Minister Given Lubinda on the floor of the house.

He said the party was consoled at the fact that it had a legal avenue as well as the numbers necessary to block any further transactions of the dead Bill adding that the bill could only be brought as a fresh constitutional Bill six months after its lapse.

The UPND agreed with the Speaker of the National Assembly that there is something wrong with Bill 10 which is it’s rejection and added that it is wrong to use an Act of God as an excuse for the committee not sitting to defer the bill within its lifespan.

Mr. Mweetwa who is also Choma Central MP accused the PF of having concentrated on looking for members of parliament to garner enough numbers for them to realise that the bill was lapsing.

“Not all is however lost for the PF as there is time to present a new bill to Parliament under a different name and had the opportunity to consult with stakeholders and masses. That can only be after six months and maybe only maybe can we support the amendments”, he said.

The UPND deputy National spokesperson further revealed that the PF interest on Bill 10 is to tamper with Article 52 which provided for challenging the nomination of a presidential candidate by a citizen.

“The PF is scared that President Edgar Lungu’s candidature is likely to be challenged using Article 52(4) of the current constitution hence wanting to repeal the said article using section 12 of Bill 10.The issues in bill10 such as the return of deputy ministers, coalition government, dissolution of parliament were not part of the original plan. These were deliberately introduced to create a ploy to cause confusion. The PF should deal with issues that affect the governance of this country and not those that are political in nature. The PF should not attempt to remove the rights of the people in the constitution to challenge any illegalities” he said.

He said the UPND and it’s members of parliament as well as some independent parliamentarians had seen through the PF lies and machinations which they shall not allow as they are deceptive and aimed at sustaining their stay in power.

THE UPND in Eastern Province says it abandoned a radio programme at Valley FM in Nyimba which was to feature party leader Hakainde Hichilema on Friday night due to threats and harassment by Patriotic Front youths.

But Eastern Province PF information and publicity secretary William Phiri says UPND is like a cry baby that wants to seek attention.

Provincial UPND deputy information and publicity secretary Malan Zimba said Hichilema’s radio Explorer programme on Thursday night was done amid threats and harassment by PF youths.

“What happened is that the PF cadres came to radio Explorer wanting to attack us but they failed because our youths were in large numbers. They [PF cadres] followed us at the lodge and they partially damaged our car but we survived it although the windows got damaged. On Friday morning, the PF cadres were searching for us but by then we had already left going to Nyimba,” Zimba narrated.

Zimba said the PF cadres even blocked the road to ensure that the UPND delegation does not pass.

“Our provincial vice-chairperson, who is the owner of the lodge which we had booked, was summoned by the police in connection with the radio programme. But you don’t need a police permit to hold a radio programme,” he said.

Zimba said going by what transpired in Petauke, his team decided to abandon the Nyimba programme which was scheduled for Friday night.

“Again the PF were planning to harm us in Nyimba so we just decided to abandon the programme. We concluded that ‘if we go ahead with this programme, these PF cadres would either kill us or burn the radio station. We abandoned that programme and we had to use the bush roads to bypass Petauke to get to Chipata. By the time we were in Nyimba, PF cadres from Petauke and Nyimba regrouped and started looking for us all over,” he said.

Zimba said he was disappointed with the behaviour of PF cadres adding that every Zambian had freedom of expression.

Hichilema’s programmes were done via phone from Lusaka but the local UPND teams normally stream the programmes on Facebook and other platforms.

But Phiri said he was in Petauke on Thursday and that there was no violence.

“I don’t know what the UPND are talking about. I was in Petauke myself together with my colleagues and there was no any violence. I think the UPND just want attention. As a province, we have issued a statement concerning violence. We’ve warned our youths sternly that anyone who will engage in violence is not going to be protected by the party.

There is no sacred cow for any youth who is unrepentant towards violence. The President is on record that he is not going to condone and he is not going to protect anyone involved in violence,” he said.

Phiri said he was surprised that UPND were crying foul over Hichilema’s programme.

“There was no violence, as the PF provincial team, we were in Petauke and we were with the youths because we were mobilising on the ground. For UPND to say they have abandoned their Nyimba programme, I think they are trying to seek attention but that’s not the way they should be doing things. They are behaving like a cry baby which wants attention,” he said.

Phiri said PF had given UPND an equal platform to do their activities in the province.

“For UPND to accuse us of all sorts of things is not fair,” said Phiri.

LESSONS FROM MALAWI: YOU LOSE OUT A LOT WHEN YOU REFUSE TO LEARN, YOU GAIN WHEN YOU ACCEPT TO LEARN. POWER ALWAYS LIES WITH THE PEOPLE

By Alexander Nkosi (Development Economist, alexnkosi2006@yahoo.com)

It happened so fast. Ministers, cadres and all the people around the former President were hoping this was just a bad nightmare. They told him that people loved him so much. They told him it is impossible to lose an election. They told him he had the best strategy, power of incumbency and all institutions were with him. They told him what he was doing is exactly what the people wanted and all those who were speaking out where paid to do so by the opposition. They told him under his leadership the country had recorded unprecedented development.

When time comes, there is nothing much anyone can do about it, that is just how power is. The same people that gave you the power can take it away from you. You can have so many people making noise on social media comforting you and talking about development they dont even understand, at the end of the day what matters is whether people are better off under your leadership. They will sing about how bad the opposition every day just to ensure they keep their positions and show false loyalty to you. All those who advise you qre seen to be working with your rivals.

You can have so many complete and incomplete schools and universities but education is more than structures, it should be quality and affordable, it should lead lead to a better economy with jobs and thriving industries. You can have so many complete and incomplete health facilities but there is more to health than these structures. You can have so many complete and incomplete roads but you can only appreciate them if transport costs are low and industries are thriving. Anything that leaves debt levels unsustainable and throws the economy into a downward spiral is not development. You basically degenerate into a state where underperformance across sectors is seen as the new ormal. All those complaining about economic hardships are seen as lazy.

You basically reach a point where you trust your strategies more than the need to get voters to trust you. There is no better strategy to win elections than addressing the needs of the people. Your political rivals know the mistakes they made in the previous elections and will do their best to address them. You can visit all regions every week with cameras launching projects and meeting traditional leaders but your opponents won’t just sit and wait for the eleventh hours, they also have a special way of sending 29,560 people deep into key regions of the country unnoticed breaking barriers. Your own people will facilitate this process without knowing what is going on. They always have a way of can quietly. They will keep you busy in the city on social and mass media without knowing they too have a way clever way of doing things.

It is a game of chase, I do not underestimate the power of creativity. I have conducted surveys in some of the most dangerous places in Africa: Gorongosa region (home to Renamo), Eastern Congo DR and South Sudan. This experience taught me important lessons on how to mobilise communities and inspire behaviour change on topics that are so hard and deep rooted into cultural fabrics of these communities. Community mobilisation is evolving at a fast rate and people have developed clever ways of penetrating communities: invisible methods of mobilising a visible community, visible methods of mobilising an invisible community and invisible methods of mobilising an invisible community.

Other African leaders have a lot to learn from the Malawian experience. There is no better way to prepare for an election that addressing the needs of the people. If you cannot learn from Malawi and other countries, others will learn from you.

Thank you.🙏

THE Patriotic Front in Lusaka says the ruling party is strongly embedded in the hearts of Zambians and does not need the likes of NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili to win the 2021 elections.

In statement, Lusaka Province PF secretary Kennedy Kamba the party was ready to face and defeat Kambwili and his alliance partners in the UPND.

“We want to state clearly that we don’t need Kambwili to win elections. The PF is very much ready to face him and his alliance partner, Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND.” Kamba stated.

“We know very well and as stated before, that the alliance between Hichilema and Kambwili is just a ‘marriage of convenience’ for two frustrated politicians. The two share nothing in terms of political ideology but common frustrations. They have already failed to understand each other before and there is nothing new they are bringing tp the fore.” Kamba added.

He said it was just a matter of time before the UPND/NDC alliance crumbled.

“They are all power hungry. The PF will go into 2021 general elections as a united force that enjoys the genuine support of citizens, the people that have seen the determination to transform the country through tangible and feasible developments that have been delivered to the people across Zambia,” he said.

Kamba insisted that “the PF is very strong in the hearts of Zambians that it cannot rely or be desperate to have Chishimba Kambwili inilts camp to win 2021 elections.”

He advised Kambwili to concetrate on his court cases and his alliance with the UPND leader instead of dragging President Edgar Lungu’s name in his problems.

“It is very unfortunate that indeed kambwili always wants to play to the gallery, attempting by whatever means possible to change the narrative and blame President Lungu for his court appearances and the cases he is facing before the courts of law,” Kamba said.

“You cannot play hero for being in court. The court found Kambwili with cases to answer and he must be answering those cases so that he clears himself rather than dragging the name of President Lungu in those cases,” he added.

He President Lungu had absolutely nothing to do with Kambwili’s court cases.

“Kambwili is in court alone because he crossed paths with the law and he must prove Innocense there rather than pointing finqers at an innocent man.”

Kamba said President Lungu’s name should not be dragged into court issues for nothing.

“This blame game from Kambwilli must come to an end. It is the courts of law that will determine whether Kambwili goes to jail or not. It’s not President Lungu’s business,”said Kamba.

By Kasebamashila Kaseba

HOW PF IS USING CARROT AND STICK, BLACKMAIL, CORRUPTION AND TRIBALISM ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BILL 10

PF has argued that the Constitutional amendent bill number 10 of 2019 has a lot of benefits to citizens that only unprogressives and obstructionists like UPND MPs etc may not want to see succeed.

PF needed and got consensus and support of UPND in 2015 to pass the 2015 Constitutional amendment.

Well, it seems PF was not just unthankful and did not pay for the UPND support but also insulted the support for conflict than consensus.

Instead, PF wants the same consensus support for 2019 Constitutional amendment through conflict or coercion or blackmail.

It seems PF has hired or bribed its cadres or smaller opposition party members or NGOs to coerce or bully or blackmail or corrupt UPND MPs into submission or support of Bill 10 than for PF or EL to negotiate UPND and HH for support.

How can it be that EL cannot phone or meet HH to negotiate or bargain for bipartisan parliamentary support than chose support of Rev Dan Pule, Rev Peter Chanda and Spuki Mulemwa or Prof Geoffrey Lungwangwa as individuals?

In MMD, PF working with junior and expelled or National Secretary Raphael Nakachinda in defiance of the court judgement that dissolved the Mutati faction.

In the end, Nakachinda is in defiance of Mutati himself. He (and Mutati) is even his word or vow that he would quit politics if he lost the court case.

Now, how is it possible for PF to write, debate and amend the constitution for the full benefit of other unparliamentary Zambians such as a Christians for re-declaration of Zambia as Christian nation in the preamble more of Christian, the women, youth, and disabled except benefit the UPND member of parliaments?

How shall others enjoy benefits in some indefinite future of the Act when others are enjoying definite present of the Bill?

Otherwise, PF has indefinitely postponed the Bill of Rights amendments, the Political Parties Bill and Public Order Act amendment that would have benefited the UPND itself for consensus and bipartisan support and more citizens.

Lastly, apart from the mentioned and unmentioned benefits to others, PF has refused to name benefits to the UPND as it last mocked its MPs for voting against themselves out of deputy minister positions and the disqualification by grade 12 equivalent certificates.

1. Capacity to create Employment

There are currently 120, 000 Zambians and 17000 non Zambians in foreign countries that are comfortably raising families from the entrepreneurship God gifts and skill of President HH. When you add to these figures indirect jobs and dependants, we are talking about 500, 000 people employed by President HH. On the contrary, Mr Edgar Lungu only has maids, garden boys and some 10 casino attendants, working for him. This means President HH has the potential to create massive employment opportunities for youths if voted into power.

2. Morality and responsibility

President HH belongs to different education faculties such as the Economics Association of Zambia. In all his life he has never been penalised for any wrong doing or misconduct. On the contrary, Mr Edgar Lungu was removed and suspended by the Law Association of Zambia Laz, for stealing money for a widow in his profession as a lawyer.

3. Drug Abuse and Alcoholism.

President HH doesnt smoke nor abuse drugs. On the contrary, Mr Edgar Lungu favours alcoholism and he is a well known partaker of strong substances. The Bible in Proverbs 34 Vs 4 warns against rulers taking to wine because it can make them to forget the law.

4. Principle-less-ness

President HH sits on a very high moral value and commands high public respect and regard. On the contrary, Mr Edgar Lungu has a compromised moral standing due to his worship and association with criminals such as jerabos and the likes of Findlay and Fishman and Zingman.

5. Nationality

Whereas President HH is an indigenous Zambian with correctly traceable roots, Mr Edgar Lungu is a national of questionable nationality, questionable origin, and questionable background.

6. Fighting spirit

President HH is a well known personal fighter for all his achievements. Forget the useless and dust bin privatisation propaganda and fake information. On the contrary, Mr Edgar Lungu is a chancer, ordained by an out-of-mind ailing Michael. He rode on an inherited popularity whereas President HH has belt his own popularity.

7. Cattle

Whereas Mr Edgar Lungu doesn’t know how to keep even three Chickens, President HH is a good Shepherd looking after 200, 000 cattle.
8. National Food Basket

President HH supplies 80% of national beef, polony and milk requirements thereby contributing to good national nutrition affordability. On the contrary Mr Edgar Lungu doesn’t produce even a single Kg of meat or a milliliter of milk or a single milligram of polony.

*9. International connections and acclaim* .

The IMF and the world bank and the entire western world has 100% trust and confidence in President HH when it comes to prudence, transparency and fiscal accountability. On the other hand, DFID and all western funders have despised Mr Edgar Lungu for lack of Prudence, lack of transparency and lack of accountability.

*10. Mwanawasa plumb line measure*

While President HH resembles Late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa in character and hate for corruption, Mr Edgar Lungu is a protector of corrupt elements and ensures they go to court and appears before ACC with national flags on government vehicles.
Do you have any more comparisons? Please add!!
James Kasanda Musendeka Lukuku, RPP President

KNOWN for her fluent Chewa dialect, Zowa Ngwira is a popular actress in her role as Tionenji on Zambezi Magic’s captivating Zambian drama series, Mpali.

Tionenji is a typical village girl who, as a child, was abandoned by her mother (Shupiwe) and ended up being raised by her grandmother.

The straight-talking Tionenji who later re-joins her mother in the city does not believe in holding back, but simply cuts the chase when expressing herself. It is this stance that makes her role on her first television drama so riveting.

Tionenji now wants to acquaint herself with city life. She is materialistic and believes that marriage is the only way to get out of poverty. A chat with the 23-year-old actress reveals that there are similarities between Zowa and the character – fondly referred to as Tio, which she plays in Mpali. Zowa describes herself as a very honest person, just as Tionenji is.

Zowa is a rising star in the Zambian movie industry. And, even though her arrival on the scene automatically saw her shoot to local stardom owing to her acting exploits, Mpali is Zowa’s first professional production.

“I did acting all the way from primary to high school and I did succeed in it. Yes, Mpali is my introduction onto the Zambian scene, but not acting in general. I did a lot of drama and arts in school,” she says.

“My mum saw an audition call for Zambezi Magic and she encouraged me to go for it. That is how I got selected and started the process. I was able to have a view of what Tio needs to be like as a result of the great directors we have,” she says. “But as time goes by, more interesting characteristics of Tio are beginning to show up.”

Zowa never, however, believed that she would be selected for the role.

“I did not think I would get the role, as many suggestions were pouring in as to who Shupiwe’s daughter should be. Many of my competitors were experienced actors and were so awesome on the scene. I was absolutely not confident,” she recalls.

She explains further that she has since been able to grow into her character, adding that each delivery builds on the overall character of Tionenji.

“Being on television has given me a lot of exposure. I have met people and interacted with people who I never thought I would. Getting to mingle with other actors that I admired from afar is a great impact that Mpali has had on me. It’s been amazing meeting fans and just enjoying all the support,” Zowa says.

Many fans would probably be wondering what Zowa used to do before she joined the Mpali set.
With an outright display of beauty and brains, the soft-spoken Zowa is a student at the University of Lusaka where she is studying Purchasing and Supply. And, unlike the razor-sharp Chewa speaking Tio, Zowa is a fluent speaker of English.

“I lived in Malawi for about one to two years, that’s where I learnt it (Chewa). English has been a language I speak every day with family and friends,” Zowa explains further.

“People always want to call me Tionenji when they meet me. They get so surprised that I speak English fluently. That’s one of the comments I get the most. I love taking pictures and meeting my fans. I appreciate them so much.”

In Mpali, Tionenji is in a relationship with Moses, young brother to the farm manager, Jairos.

Zowa is however coy on the subject of her own relationship.

“That part of my life is strictly off bounds for the media. I like to keep my love life extra private,’’ she says gently.

Asked what she would be doing if she had not been introduced to acting, Zowa says she would be focusing on school, just as she is now.

“But if the opportunity came my way, I would still get into acting. Acting is not a hobby or an extracurricular activity, it’s a full-time job that needs hard work and commitment,” Zowa emphasises.

“It’s wonderful being able to explore all the different people I can be,” Zowa says.

Zowa also reveals that she loves to sing at church, reading as well as spending time with her family and friends. Her advice to would-be actors is: “Follow pages of media houses as they usually post for audition calls. Let them try to attend auditions and give it all they have.”

A devout Christian, Zowa is a member of Praise Christian Centre in Lusaka’s PHI area. She says Zambezi Magic is living up to its mission to tell the Zambian and consequently African story, stating further that the channel is doing a great job.

Zowa, who is one of the many Zambians that have used Zambezi Magic’s innovation, says it is a great platform to amplify one’s acting talent and abilities.

“Yes, I definitely feel that they display a diverse story of what happens in a polygamous marriage. All the characters displayed are possible outcomes of any African situation. They are doing a great job. Zambezi Magic is a great platform for many talented Zambians,” says Zowa.

“I feel we need to explore more into Zambian storytelling and really dive into the true Zambian experience. So far, we are heading the right way. Mpali has great directors who take their time to ensure that you are comfortable in the role and are able to display your full potential. It takes a lot of support from all the crew and fellow cast members. There is a lot of help rendered to new actors like me to ensure we do our best.”

(Lamentation of unemployed teacher)
Let me register my complaint to whoever it may concern.
To start with, 99% of us who did teaching are regretting to have gone for such a course where you spend 3 or 5 years in college and then spend the rest of our life time waiting for deployment.

It is indeed disappointing and disgracing that our parents took us to college and they have to continue taking care of us even after taking us to school because “there is no employment for teachers”.

There are more than 30 thousand teacher in the streets struggling to ain a leaving and waiting for unknown years of deployment.
But schools are badly stroke by shortage of teachers. “What went wrong”?

More than 90% of those and us who did teaching regret to have done this course.
Our breathing space was private schools but they are now shattered and to be opened on a date which only God knows.

Most private schools have very big space and good infrastructure some are even better than some government schools but do not yet have examination classes due to the fact that they want to start from grassroots and nature their own for exams. But where are they?? Shattered off course.
The questions which most of us and them must ask are:

1* ” How are those teachers who depend on private schools surviving Since March when schools where closed?

2* ” when did the government lastly deploy a good number of teachers?”
3* ” is the country going to have people going for teaching courses in the next 2 years to come?”
4* Is is not shameful to train people and keep them for 100 years and forever waiting for deployment?

5* why not opening international market for teachers if they are too many in Zambia?
6* How do our parents feel after taking us to school then we wait for deployment not until we get old and die without having been legally and formally employed?

As an employed teachers am hereby saying: please BA Minister of general education with the well tabulated and chronological points above, look into this address us and register our concerns to the offices above.

We paid the TCZ fees as you directed us to do and we thought things will OK when you register, we developed some hope but landing in hopeless. Things are getting worse than ever.
In conclusion, let me congratulate our colleagues who are in service and shout out that:
“ala yalikaba kuno kunse”

Most of these bus conductors, drivers, garden boys, security guards street vendors and some barrow pushers if you only hear him or her speaking good ENGLISH ask them what course they did it’s definitely
“TEACHING”.

LUSAKA – 26/06/20

The UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT has maintained that parliament should not make a mistake of retabling the dead constitutional amendment Bill 10 of 2019 as the party will be left with no choice but to seek legal redress through the courts of law.

The party has further revealed that the Patriotic Front’s interest in Bill 10 lies in the repealing of Article 52 (4) of the current Republican constitution as amended in 2016 which empowers citizens to challenge the nomination of a presidential candidate.

Addressing the media this morning at the Party secretariat,UPND deputy national spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says by his own confession, Chief Government parliamentary whip Brian Mundubile yesterday agreed that Bill 10 elapsed on June 4th,2020 in accordance with procedures and practice of parliament on the lifespan of Bills.

Mr. Mweetwa said the fact that the Bill died twenty days before the Standing Orders Committee decided to defer it to another day is indisputable while what is in dispute is whether the Standing Orders Committee has the jurisdiction to defer a dead Bill to another day.

“What is in dispute is the question on whether the parliamentary Standing Orders Committee operated within its ambits to extend the life of a bill whose life expired 20 days before. What is a fact is that the committee can only give life to a Bill which still has life left in it.This is the position of the UPND legally and proceduraly. There is no law which allows the Standing Orders Committee to resurrect any dead Bill”,he said.

Mr. Mweetwa added that the UPND would have no option but to seek legal action and seek interpretation on the provisions of the law surrounding the issue should the PF and Parliament opt to bring the bill back on the order paper as announced by Justice Minister Given Lubinda on the floor of the house.

He said the party was consoled at the fact that it had a legal avenue as well as the numbers necessary to block any further transactions of the dead Bill adding that the bill could only be brought as a fresh constitutional Bill six months after its lapse.

The UPND agreed with the Speaker of the National Assembly that there is something wrong with Bill 10 which is it’s rejection and added that it is wrong to use an Act of God as an excuse for the committee not sitting to defer the bill within its lifespan.

Mr. Mweetwa who is also Choma Central MP accused the PF of having concentrated on looking for members of parliament to garner enough numbers for them to realise that the bill was lapsing.

“Not all is however lost for the PF as there is time to present a new bill to Parliament under a different name and had the opportunity to consult with stakeholders and masses. That can only be after six months and maybe only maybe can we support the amendments”,he said.

The UPND deputy National spokesperson further revealed that the PF interest on Bill 10 is to tamper with Article 52 which provided for challenging the nomination of a presidential candidate by a citizen.

“The PF is scared that President Edgar Lungu’s candidature is likely to be challenged using Article 52(4) of the current constitution hence wanting to repeal the said article using section 12 of Bill 10.The issues in bill10 such as the return of deputy ministers, coalition government, dissolution of parliament were not part of the original plan. These were deliberately introduced to create a ploy to cause confusion. The PF should deal with issues that affect the governance of this country and not those that are political in nature.The PF should not attempt to remove the rights of the people in the constitution to challenge any illegalities” he said.

He said the UPND and it’s members of parliament as well as some independent parliamentarians had seen through the PF lies and machinations which they shall not allow as they are deceptive and aimed at sustaining their stay in power.

Source: UPND MEDIA TEAM

CATHOLICS say the Association of Catholic Parliamentarians is an illegal organisation that is not registered in the Church records.

Recently, justice minister Given Lubinda and his livestock counterpart Nkandu Luo, under the name of the association, attacked Catholic Bishops for opposing the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 10 of 2019.

But the Zambia National Council for the Catholic Laity (ZNCCL) said there was no record of such an association in the Catholic books.

The ZNCCL has since asked the two ministers to apologise to the Church.

“…While we appreciate the reforms that have been witnessed over time since the Second Vatican Council of Bishops (1962-1965), the laity have emerged as a greater source of leadership in various aspects of the Church’s life. However, we have noted with disappointment the ‘so-called’ Association of Catholic Parliamentarians outburst and the accusations leveled against the [Zambia] Conference [of Catholic Bishops] on Bill No. 10 of 2019 by accusing the Conference of not consulting the organization,’’ national chairperson Clement Chinama said in a statement dated June 24 and released yesterday. “First and foremost, we wish to make it clear that for any organization of the laity or association to fully exist and operate under the name of ‘Catholic Organisation’ it has to be sanctioned by ZCCB and be affiliated to ZNCCL. Unfortunately, our office has no records of the so-called Catholic Parliamentarians and there is no approval of its establishment anywhere…If you are really Catholics with a conscience which is alive, you need to apologise and seek reconciliation with the Church and God. Your action was aimed at nothing, but on intent of outing the Conference in ridicule and tarnish its admirable image both at regional and international levels respectively.”

Chinama stated further that it was also wrong for Lubinda and Luo to accuse the Bishops of not having read Bill 10 when in fact they did.

He stated that Bishops read and understood the bill, and that the laity fully supported their statement.

“We the laity in Zambia under the umbrella body of the Zambia National Council for the Catholic Laity (ZNCCL) wishes to strongly support the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops’ position on various national issues in Zambia and particularly the recent press statement the Conference issued on 9th June 2020 which contained a number of issues affecting the general citizenry and among them peace building and reconciliation efforts, human rights abuse, erosion of traditional, religious and moral values of our society…” stated Chinama. “ZNCCL is happy to note that whenever the Conference speaks about something of national interest, it is done within its jurisdictions guided by its values, faith, unity, justice, integrity, love and service, commitment and solidarity.”

LUNGU’S DAY OF REPENTENCE NEAR BUT IT WILL BE ROUGH.

The people of the republic of Malawi, and its institutions have spoken and demonstrated that power belongs to citizens.

“They have shown that no matter how corrupt and brutal a sitting government can be, if citizens says enough is enough, it is just like that”.

The people of Malawi have set an example to many African countries and a big inspiration.
I hope we Zambians have learnt something from a nation that we expected nothing but failure.

Every one in Malawi took it personal to ensure that no manipulation of elections results anymore.The judiciary and security wings also did their part to ensure that the constitution of Malawi is respected and they all earned their world integrity and respect.

There comes a time when citizens cannot even care about a gun, and this is what we saw in Malawi. Congratulations to the new president of Malawi Dr Chakwera and his vice president.

May I also congratulate the outgoing president Mr Peter Mutharika for conceading defeat and respecting Malawians voices through the ballot.

Next person to repent on the southern Africa is president Edgar Lungu though his repentance will be painful. Zambians are tired with Lungu’s leadership of injustices.

Upon sensing defeat, Edgar Lungu and his minions are trying to impose bill 10 on us citizens. But, I can bet with Lungu and all his surrogates that it is too late. No amount of rigging will save Lungu from being kicked out by Zambians next year. The only bad thing about Lungu and PF exit is that they have first dug prisons holes for themselves that will be difficult for them to get out.

When Zambians have kept on asking Lungu and PF to tell the nation who the ritual killers who terrorised our nation in 2015, 2016 are, the people who burnt our markets in 2017, the gassers in 2020, the owner 50 plus miracle houses and other scandalous activities, Edgar Lungu has responded to all these queries by imposing bill 10 whose purpose to make him and all PF leaders escape prisons for stealing our resources.

The Lungu’s legacy will be corruption, tribalism, political violence and abuse of public institutions such as the police, Electoral commission of Zambia and the judiciary.

Today, Lungu is the champion of tribalism,corruption, police brutality and political violence and all these are pure signs of nothing good but a wicked leader.

He No longer cares about the cry of Zambians. When people complains, he threatens to break their bones using the police just like we saw on Monday when youths attempted to protest against his corrupt government and taking away of our freedom of expression.

Today even this article after state house and OP reads it they will find me with a case to answer.

But Lungu’s brutal, cruel and corrupt leadership can be traced in the Bible;

In Jeremiah 23:1-4
T Bible says, Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.

And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

The verse goes on to say and I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.

And in proverb 29 vs 2 the Bible says; When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

God will punish Edgar Lungu and PF more than they wish to manipulate our constitution just to secure their illegal stay in power against the will of Zambians. All PF leaders upon losing power they will be the most poorest citizens and this is why I’m advising them to repent and leave power next year in peace.

Sikaile Sikaile

Good Governance and Human Rights Activist

GREGORY Chifire says the arrest of health minister Chitalu Chilufya is neither surprising nor inspiring in the fight against corruption because Zambians already know what will come out of this case.

And Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia has asked President Edgar Lungu to relieve Dr Chilufya from his duties to allow smooth investigation without intimidations.

Chifire, who is Southern African Network Against Corruption (SANAC) director, said it was an open secret that Dr Chilufya’s case would result in either a nolle prosequi or a suspicious acquittal.

He said the Anti-Corruption Commission has been turned into a ‘River Jordan’ that cleanses politicians of their modern day leprosy called corruption.

“The arrest of Dr Chilufya is simply an act designed to cleanse him of all corruption charges. If Zambians think that there will be anything positive that will come from this arrest, they better start thinking again,” Chifire said, in a statement.

He said Dr Chilufya and his boss, President Lungu, have no iota of shame.

He said President Lungu and Dr Chilufya’s conscience were seared with a hot iron.

Chifire said any sensible human being was expected to resign when charged with a criminal offence but unfortunately it was not so with PF leaders.

He said Zambians should not be fooled as the arrest of ministers like Dr Chilufya was a mere public relations stunt brewed and fermented at State House because President Lungu was the master brewer of corruption.

“[It’s] like all of them are born from one parent. They thrive in criminality. State House has been turned into a brewery for corruption. All the people connected to State House are drunk with corruption. That is why there is no single individual in the PF who does not pride in corruption. In fact, the closer one is to the master brewer, the more drunk they become in corruption,” he said.

Chifire said every right thinking Zambian had cause to worry for the country.

“The other day it was [then housing and infrastructure minister Ronald] Chitotela, yesterday [Wednesday] it was [former President Lungu’s press aide] Amos Chanda, today it is Chilufya. And we don’t know who it will be tomorrow,” he said. “All of them close associates of Lungu. The interpretation of this scenario is left to anyone. The Bible has never been wrong. Two people can never walk together unless they agree.”

Chifire said President Lungu was going to do everything possible to protect his bedfellows.

He said the man would use institutions of government to cleanse Dr Chilufya like he had done with Chitotela and others.

“It’s a group of people that have no shame or honour. Actually, a man who is involved in stealing is not worthy of honour. It is a pity that ACC still refers to Chitalu as honourable. A thief can never be and will never be honourable, unless among fellow thieves. A thief is a criminal. He belongs to jail. Chilufya and all his fellows don’t belong among us. They belong to jail. It is a pity that while the rights of the citizens have been suspended, the rights of criminals are still being enhanced,” Chifire said.

He noted that in the PF government, a criminal had more rights than innocent citizens.

Chifire said criminals were actually invited to the dinner table because the one in charge of determining invitations was their fellow.

“Zambians know that Chitalu Chilufya will continue serving as minister. But I must remind him that there are six days for a thief, but one day for the master. Your day is coming. In Zambia, real criminals are set free while those with minor offences are put in jail,” said Chifire. “Look at Chellah Tukuta. He is supposed to be out at home, but instead it is Chilufya and his fellows enjoying freedom after stealing millions from Zambians.”

Dr Chilufya was on Wednesday arrested by the ACC and charged with four counts of being found in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

He was arrested in accordance with section 71 (1) of the forfeiture of proceeds crimes act number 19 of 2010.

Dr Chilufya was however quickly released on bond in his own recognizance and is expected to appear in court on July 9, 2020.

But Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia president Jerome Kanyika said Dr Chilufya’s arrest showed President Lungu means business in fighting corruption.

He noted that Dr Chilufya’s arrest comes after the President challenged the ACC to step up its work.

“This also vindicates the whistleblowers who have been exposing the unprofessional conduct of the Minister of Health, which has dented the name of the President,” he said.

Kanyika said the ACC should not end on investigating the properties in the Dr Chilufya case but go further to investigate the procurement of drugs in the Ministry of Health which had resulted in serious drug shortages due to lack of involvement of right professionals, the pharmacists in the tendering and procurement process.

He said shortages owing to alleged corruption in the procurement process had been denying poor Zambians access to drugs.

Kanyika urged the ACC to also investigate the recently employment process at Ministry of Health which resulted in pharmacists and pharmacy technologists not being part of the recruitment while the presidential directive was to employ 3,400 health workers.

“We further ask the President to relieve the Minister from his duties to allow smooth investigation without intimidation,” said Kanyika.

THE Patriotic Front has insisted that the Constitution Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 is still alive despite the lapse of time.

Ruling party chief whip Brian Mundubile told journalists in Lusaka yesterday that it was legal to put the Bill on the order paper.

On Wednesday, Justice minister Given Lubinda asked for deferring of Bill 10 of 2019 to a later date of the current session without citing reasons.

But UPND members of parliament said time lapse had automatically killed Bill 10, according to parliamentary procedures.

But Mundubile said Standing Orders Committee to which the leader of the opposition Jack Mwiimbu was a member had power to change rules.

He said the Standing Orders Committees derives its powers from the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Order 2016, which in turn derive their authority from the Constitution of Zambia.

He said Standing Orders Committee regulates its own procedure and makes standing orders for the conduct of its business in the house.

“You may wish to know that there is no express provision in the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders 2016 which governs the time within which a Bill must be considered at any one stage of enactment. Nonetheless, the National Assembly Manner of Putting the Question and Procedural Notes Handbook, which forms part of the procedures and practices of the House, states, at page 11, as follows: ‘NB (a) If a Bill is deferred for six months, it is killed’,” Mundubile said.

“In short, a Bill that has been deferred for six months lapses in terms of parliamentary practice and procedures. In this case, the Bill lapsed on Thursday, 4th June 2020, having been deferred on 4th December 2019. However, at the time it lapsed, the House was on recess. And had it not been for the premature adjournment in the February-March meeting, the Second Reading Stage could have been probably concluded one way or another.”

He said the Standing Orders Committee met on Wednesday June 24, 2020 to consider the request by the Minister of Justice to defer further consideration of the Bill to a date not later than the last day of the meeting.

“Following deliberations by the Standing Orders Committees, it was resolved to extend the life of the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 to a date no later than the last day of the meeting,” said Mundubile.

Asked to state if the Standing Orders Committee was not illegally holding a meeting on the already expired Bill, Mundubile insisted that the committee had powers to changes rules.

He said despite the refusal by other parliamentarians to support Bill 10, he was confident that it would go through.