By Sara Imutowana Yeta II

ESSAU CHULU IS A THREAT TO PEACE

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) under Esau Chulu has no capacity to manage free and fair elections in 2021.

Keep in mind that it is Chulu in 2016 who announced cooked results for Lundazi constituency where Lungu was given 29, 979 and Hichilema 4, 975 that is 34, 954 for these two only minus results for other candidates. Yet the total number of valid votes cast was 29, 741.

This means that Lungu alone got more votes than the valid number of votes.

This disgrace is only possible under unethical and incompetent leadership.

Unashamedly, Chulu changed the numbers and gave Lungu 21, 979 and Hichilema 4,975.

Therefore, about 8000 votes were removed from Lungu’s total for Lundazi constituency.

There were also disputed votes from several places such as Chingola and Mandevu.

It was under Chulu’s nose that Samuel Chavula was seen several times entering the computer verification room collecting provisional results.

Chavula was confronted and found with an ECZ host official accreditation card which he was using to enter the restricted area.

He was arrested and upon interrogation he confessed that he was given the official accreditation by ECZ.

Chavula was supervised by then ECZ Head of Information Technology (IT) Brown Kasaro who admitted having facilitated for Chavula’s accreditation on Priscilla Mulenga Isaac’s order.

A few months ago, former Patriotic Front (PF) deputy elections chairperson Kelvin Fube Bwalya told the nation that Chavula was a PF agent hired to manipulate elections results.

All these electoral misdemeanours happened because Chulu has a dead sense of what is right and wrong in his electoral duties.

He also lacks integrity to adhere to electoral rules.

Therefore, to expect free and fair elections next year managed by Chulu who lacks integrity and conscience is insane.

Albert Einstein said that insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.

Is this not exactly what we want to do next year; go to the polls chaired by a morally broke person and expect credible elections results?

In simple terms, the 2016 elections were disputed because of the weaknesses in the electoral process with Chulu as a key player.

Chulu supposed to make ECZ a standard feature promoting free and fair elections but has made the commission synonymous to elections marred by fraud and incompetence.

If what happened in 2016 will happen again next year, we are likely to have anarchy in this country. We will kick the shit out of electoral fraudsters.

Already, there reports that Chulu is doing some underground work to ensure that the opposition does not win the 2021 elections.

It is also reported that Lungu will not hand over power even if he loses the elections.

This does come as a surprise because in 2016 he refused to step aside for the Speaker of the National Assembly in the face of a petition challenging his election as president.

Wisdom holds that when unpleasant things are said about someone or something, there is a good reason for it because there is no smoke without fire.

If we want free and fair elections, we should demand for good electoral practices.

The first thing we need to do is to establish an independent and impartial electoral commission. A commission able to act as a referee during elections. This is one sure way of making the commission’s independence and impartiality to enhance citizen’s confidence in the process.

We need an electoral commission able to act in a transparent manner and engage with all actors involved in elections.

Let us also put in place measures to ensure that non-partisan domestic and foreign election observers provide impartial assessment of the electoral process.

We do not want a situation where international elections observers prematurely announce that elections are free and fair when there is abundant evidence of electoral fraud.

We therefore demand for credibility from the international elections observers in assessing the legitimacy of the elections.

It is important that State media provides balanced coverage of all candidates and parties.

Countrymen and women, we need civil society to be active in issues ranging from voter education to the promotion of election dialogue and initiatives to defuse conflicts.

The current civil society groups leave much to be desired.

We have seen in the past the police failing to carry out their responsibility to maintain public order during by-elections.

There is need for the police to remain neutral by upholding and enforcing the law, creating a safe and secure electoral environment for all people regardless of their political affiliation.

During by-elections it has also become a common happening where Lungu interferes with opposition leaders’ campaign programmes by visiting places they are scheduled to visit.

We need a situation in which competing political parties and candidates show willingness to conduct themselves peacefully and fairly. Lungu must set a tone of tolerance, respect and co-existence for the elections process.

Without genuine electoral reforms, it will be difficult to set the stage for elections next year that are inclusive, transparent and accountable to citizens.

It will also be difficult for people to have confidence in the election process and

My thoughts on developing the Technology sector

Fellow citizens,

I asked young citizens which alternative sectors they hope the UPND will develop aside from manufacturing, agriculture etc. as part of our agenda to diversify the economy. They responded overwhelmingly in support of technology. Here are some of my thoughts on the sector and I would like your input so we can be collaborative in its development.

When I think of technology, I think of innovation, an enabler of efficiency and what solves complex problems. Historically, we have seen the creation of numerous technological innovations that have added value to humanity.

Young people working out of garages in silicon valley and other parts of the world have created technologies that have transformed how we communicate, how we work and how we go about our daily lives.

When I think of social media platforms, applications, business software, communications tools and many other innovations, I think of the extraordinary minds of young people. I ask myself, what enables these young people to create such innovations?

The answer to this question lies in the ecosystem. They are supported by innovation hubs that catalyse development. Silicon valley is an example of an ecosystem that drives innovation. Such an ecosystem needs the following:

1. Access to finance
2. Support infrastructure i.e. affordable high speed internet, reliable energy etc.
3. Access to hardware
4. IT support
5. Government adoption of ICT solutions
6. Technical assistance
7. Favourable regulations
8. Fiscal incentives

This is what will incentivise developers to create ICT products and innovations.

Zambia is beginning to get on the path towards developing the sector. I know of innovation hubs such as Bongohive and home grown tech solutions such as ulendo, Zpos, among others. What they need is policy that stimulates the growth of the sector as noted above.

The UPND government will play a part in ensuring that our private sector investment institution will invest in research and development, risk capital and aid the scaling up of these innovations. We will also ensure that local developers are given an opportunity to supply GRZ under preferential conditions.

I challenge Zambian tech entrepreneurs to polish up your ideas and advise Bally on what you need in order to get started or grow your initiative to a level of its highest potential.

These are my initial thoughts on the matter, I’d like to hear yours.

HH

INAUGURAL SPEECH BY MR LEVY PATRICK MWANAWASA S.C. PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA ON WEDNESDAY, 2nd JANUARY, 2002
—
“I have now been sworn in as President, if anybody transgresses the law, I will ensure the law visits them.

“If stone throwing continues, then I’m not the President. Governance of this country will continue to be of laws rather than men. Those agitating violence are putting Zambia in jeopardy. Zambia has been peaceful since independence and let it remain that way.”
—
DR Frederick J. T Chiluba, immediate past President of the Repub¬lic of Zambia, Dr Ken¬neth D. Kaunda First President of the Repub¬lic of Zambia.

Representatives of foreign Heads of State and Government.

My Lord the Chief Justice.

My Lords the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Court.

Speaker of the National Assembly.

Newly elected members of Parliament.

Distinguished invited guests.

Fellow countrymen and women.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I feel extremely honoured and humbled by the enor¬mous responsibility bestowed upon me today to lead Zambia as President of the Republic in the next 5 years.

I am more touched because of this place where we are today. It is befitting that I take oath of office here on the steps of the Supreme Court of Zambia, as we have always done, to reflect the dignity with which we hold our judiciary as a mirror of the national spirit. The presence of you the Heads of State and of your Lordships the distinguished judges, underscores the importance of the job the nation has given me.

I promise as I have sworn to do my best in this task for the good of Zambia.

I am here today because it is the will of the Zambian people. I say thank you very much for voting for me.

I extend special thanks to Dr F.J.T. Chiluba who has steered this country for the past 10 years in peace and tranquility. We have had a peaceful and successful election. I would like him to be available from time to time to play a positive role in the affairs of this country.

Let me at this juncture as well extend an invitation to Dr K.D. Kaunda, the founding father of our nation, to make himself available when need arises to advise me and the new administration. Dr Kaunda and Dr Chiluba as our only ex-Presidents de¬serve our respect and honour and must be consulted when it is necessary to seek their counsel.

I also wish to extend my very sincere thanks to my party, the MMD – especially the members of NEC who bestowed on me, the honour to be the party’s presidential candidate. Their efforts and support have made it pos¬sible for me to be here today. To all the ranks and file of our party, I say continue to work hard – the task to build on the laid foundation starts today.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has done a tremendous job to conduct these elections so successfully. I commend them for a job well done under very trying circumstances. I look forward to receive your suggestions, if any, of how we can improve our electoral process to achieve greater efficiency. We need to build and strengthen our young democracy on the experiences we have leant.

I thank all the election monitors for their excellent performance in observing the elections and helping us per¬fect our organisational skills. I particularly want to recognise the excellencies Gen¬eral Abdulsalami Abubakar former president of the Fed¬eral Republic of Nigeria. Mr Nicephore Soglo, former president of Benin and Judge Joseph Warioba, a former primer of the Republic of Tanzania. I also recognise the presence of the SADC Electoral Commission Fo¬rum led by Honourable Mademe Motsamai, Speaker of the National Assembly of Lesotho.

I am honoured by the pres¬ence here of Heads of State of friendly countries in the region. l am grateful for their profound expression of soli¬darity with the people of Zambia. I want to assure you your excellencies of our full¬est support.

Your excellencies, fellow citizens:

You are all aware of the great honour bestowed on our country in July 2001 when the African Heads of State and Government placed upon us the chairmanship of the Organisation of African Unity. I wish to pledge to do my best to en¬sure that the mandate en-trusted to our country, namely to facilitate and manage the transformation pro¬cess from the OAU into the African Union is fulfilled.

To our colleagues in the region I wish to assure you that my administration will administration will continue to pursue the policy of peace, friendship and good neighborliness. We shall respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial in-tegrity of all our neighbours. In this regard, we shall not allow our territory to be used by, nor shall we support, any group seeking to overthrow a government through unconstitutional means, in any of our neighbouring countries. In turn, we expect all our neighbours to treat and relate to us in a similar manner, where differences occur on any issue between Zam¬bia and another country, we shall have recourse to the available regional and bilateral mechanism in order to resolve those differences amicably.

Ever since Zambia gained independence, she has been involved in the search for peace in the region, in Africa and, indeed, in the entire world. This we have done based on the conviction that peace is indivisible and, therefore, that any threat to peace anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere. I wish to assure all our neighbours and all our brothers and sisters in Africa, as well as the rest of the international community, that during my administration, Zambia will continue to play an active role in the search for peace in the various conflict areas of our region, the continent and the world.

We shall respect all international and bilateral agreements signed by the outgo¬ing government and proudly take our position in the international community.

Our public service in all its various sectors, the Civil Service, the Police Service, the Armed Forces and all other wings of Central and Local Government have contributed enormously to the success of these elections. I say thank you very much for a job well-done.

To the non-governmental organisations, local and for¬eign, I say thank you for your commitment to Zam¬bia. Please continue to do whatever is possible to make Zambia a better place for all.

On my part, in the new deal I have been talking about as I went around the country, I promise you coun¬trymen and women of Zam-bia that:

1. I shall be your servant to work, promote and ad¬vance the interests of Zam¬bia and Zambians in all aspects of our national life.

2. I shall expect the men and women of the New Deal administration to be honest, committed and loyal to the interests of Zambia and its people.

3. If there is any conflict of interest, Zambian inter¬ests will always prevail. I shall expect the new administration to understand this.

4. We intend to implement the programmes in our mani¬festo, and emphasise the new change which will be a more human-centered process, by this we mean we will focus on the Zambian people as both the End and the Means of development. These programmes, as reflected in our manifesto, will be all-embracing focusing on hu¬man development.

In The New Deal, agriculture shall be at the centre stage of our economic development policy.

Agricultural programmes will aim at ensuring food security in both rural and urban areas, and in creating employment, we have to give a new look at agriculture since copper cannot be re¬tied upon to be a continuing engine of development and employment.

We aim to boost or encourage investment both foreign and local, individually or foreign capital in partner¬ship with local capital. All these will be designed to establish factories and plants and we will offer suitable incentives to those to be located in rural or export processing zones, particularly those using local raw materials which are in abundant supply. That way, we will be creating employment and putting money in the pock¬ets of our people.

To us, the policies of economic growth, fiscal policy, and monetary policies are merely means to achieve the fundamentals of improving the quality of life and welfare of the Zambian people.

It means, in other words, that we will strive to enable as many of our people as possible wherever they are to access goods and services to satisfy their basic needs.

Some people might think that this is an impossible task. But what is it then that we want for the Zambians? Why go to all these efforts to have elections if not for the betterment of our people’s lives?

It is my declared intention to ensure that our people are at least able to have the mini-mum standards of living meaning that there should be enough food for families, better housing and essential services such as clean wa-ter, sanitation, public trans¬port, education and health services.

Therefore, ensure that our job creation efforts take into account the need to include the women, the disabled and the youth. We shall also strive to create opportuni¬ties for retrenchees to lead productive lives and contrib¬ute to national development.

I am aware, fellow citizens, of the suffering that retirees go through as a re¬sult of delays in paying them their pension benefits. In seeking these benefits, retir¬ees are not asking for favours: They are asking for what is rightfully theirs. It is therefore, our obligation as Government, to ensure that their dues are paid on time. My administration will pay urgent attention to this mat¬ter, with a view to finding the quickest and most efficient means of paying pension benefits.

As we went around the country and listened to the people and the business com¬munity, it was obvious that the current tax regime has placed a heavy burden on the people and the business sector. It is, therefore, the intention of my Government to consult extensively with all stakeholders with a view to establishing a tax regime that facilitates rather than hinders local productivity.

Let us from now on dedicate ourselves to hard work in the interest of this nation. Ministers, members of Par¬liament and other leaders in society – let us work to discourage the “culture of hand outs”. Like other nations we must develop using our own efforts and not rely on “hand outs.”

We wish to appeal to all leaders of various organisations that the world today is a tough and difficult one. There is nothing for nothing. No one will have so much money that it can be handed out freely to all and sundry. Please do not misunderstand our intentions. All of us should first of all work hard, produce and try to be self-reliant.

We should use the little resources available for national development and reconstruction.

These elections have come and gone. Many lessons have been learnt. It is my sincere hope that as Zambians we shall all bury our differences and march forward together. This is not the end of the world. There is now a job to be done for the people. Other elections will come in the future.

To my colleagues who aspired for this position, I salute you and respect you for the good fight we had. Now, the nation needs your positive contribution because we all want a better life for our people. The constituency you were addressing is the same one I was addressing. The people of Zambia you were referring to are the same people of Zambia I was addressing. I appeal to you – search your hearts and discover what you can do to bring about prosperity and advancement to Zambia and not harm it.

I once again solemnly and humbly accept the honour to serve as President of the Republic of Zambia. I promise to be President for all the people, whether you voted for me or not, whether you voted for MMD or not, whether you did not vote or did not even register as a voter, I am President for all of you, the people of Zambia.

Countrymen and women, and your excellencies:

I want to conclude my ad¬dress by repeating my mission statement since this will be the principle which will guide me as I serve our people:

“I will provide continuity with change. In the interest of our nation Zambia and the common good, sacrificing all and expecting little in return, I wholeheartedly commit myself with God’s help and guidance to serve Zambia and Zambians to the best of my ability with loyalty, honour and integrity, with all my heart and strength, with love and justice, with consideration and compassion, with commitment and dedication and in collaboration with stakeholders, women and men of goodwill, to give fresh hope to our people, to create opportunities for all and bring honour, dignity and prosperity to our country through honest, self¬less hard work above and beyond the normal call of duty.”

I pray for your support and cooperation in this task. I also pray for all of you.

Long live Zambian democracy.

God bless Zambia.

I thank you.

By Kamuti Muyambela

United Party for National Development (UPND) Councillor for Nangweshi ward in Sioma district Muka Sililo has swallowed his own vomit, accuses Garry Nkombo of forcing him to rescind his decision.`

Sililo who initially resigned from UPND as councillor – was last week paraded at UPND Press briefing presided by Mazabuka member of Parliament Garry Nkombo, where he announced rescinding his decision to resign from the party.

Sililo accused the Patriotic Front of buying him and many other UPND councillors who have resigned from the party.

But in the latest turn of events, Sililo, who again happened to have been paraded on the camera by unknown individuals denounced Nkombo for forcing him to rescind his earlier decision.

He said he still stands by his first decision as having resigned from UPND.

Sililo explained that Nkombo forced him to rescind the decision against his will.

“I Muka Sililo, former councillor for Nangweshi ward in Sioma district wish to inform the nation that I have not rescinded the decision to resign, to ditch the UPND. Fellow Zambians, I want to tell you that Mazabuka MP Mr Garry Nkombo is sad. He forced me against my will to denounce against PF that it was buying councillors when in fact not,” Sililo said.

He said the decision to resign from UPND was arrived at after personal reflection, as well as consultations with his family.

He defended the PF against accusations from UPND that the ruling party was buying off its councillors to resign.

“First and foremost, I never received any money from PF. Councillors are resigning from UPND because they have finally realised that UPND have nothing to offer. Therefore, I made the decision to resign out of my own realisation, on my own, with my family’s consultation. I have moved on and I am happy with my decision,” said Sililo who had difficulties even reading his own letter.

Efforts to get to Mazabuka law maker Nkombo failed as he could not be reached by press time.

Of late, opposition UPND have seen unprecedented resignations by its councillors across the country. The opposition is accusing the ruling PF of buying off its councillors – which PF has vehemently denied. It has also been observed by many Zambians that the UPND has failed to consolidate its strongholds, thereby creating deep political cracks upon which both ruling PF and other opposition parties are currently capitalising. Political pundits have also argued that should UPND continue at the current political trajectory, chances of getting power from PF in 2021 general elections are extremely low. – daily revelation

1. Let us say it is Monday, 16th August 2021 and, after a few days of speculation and consternation across the nation, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) finally appears on national television to announce the presidential results for the just ended tripartite elections.

1. Well, first things first, in terms of transitional arrangements, l would ensure the transition from the PF administration to a PeP administration is as smooth as possible.

1. In terms of my cabinet, l have always been a strong believer that Ministers need to be appointed from outside Parliament, for more reasons than one. Under the current dispensation, a cabinet minister spends very little time formulating, implementing and monitoring policies in their respective ministries.

1. When it comes to my advisors such as Political, Economic, Legal etcetera, l intend to appoint well seasoned individuals who do not only have a rich curriculum vitae, but have been widely exposed.

1. As President of this Republic, l will get rid of some of the practices and protocols that l believe are retrogressive. For example, l will try by all means to avoid going by road from State House to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport because this brings half of Lusaka City to a standstill as roads have to be closed.

1. In terms of personal habits that the opposition PF and UPND might want to attack me on, l want to declare in advance that l have a sweet tooth for game meat and l like to do the hunting myself.

Alot has been talked about regarding this subject following a spate of resignations and withdrawals of resignations letters by some UPND Councilors in Western and Southern Province respectively.

In as much as the withdrawal of the resignations from these councilors is morally right as it saves the country, the Commission and other electoral stakeholders the much needed resources such as money, time and energy and mateials to engage in a by-election, there is no law, currently, that support a withdraw of a resignation letter or decision once put in writing to relevant authorities, from them.

Many people have inquiried from me whether the law, as it stands today, allows a resignee to rescind his/her decision once made and submitted to the relevant authorities.

My honest response is that the Constitution does only allow a resignee to tender his/her resignation letter, in writing within 30 days, to the Mayor/Chairperson and the Town Clerk or Council Secretary is mandated by law to, within 7 days, in writing, inform the Commission of the existence of the vacancy.

Just like in the case of the Speaker of the National Assembly, his/her role is to inform the Commission, in writing within 7 days, of the existence of a vacancy in the National Assembly for the purposes of the Commission to set up a date, time and place to fill in the vacancy within 90 days of its due in accordance with the law.

The Commission does not wait for the possibility of a resignee to change his/her mind and or rescind his/her decision to resign for it to set the dates for holding of such a by-election or does the Commission engage in negotiations with the resignees.

The mandate of the Commission (Art 57(2) and (3) is to fill in the communicated vacancies to it by the Speaker and or the Council through the Town Clerk or Council Secretary (Art 158), period while the Speaker and/or Mayors/Council Chairpersons’ roles are to receive the resignations (Art 157(2b) pass them on to the Town Clerks or Council Secretaries whose mandates are inform the Commission within 7 days of the existence of a vacancy in the National Assembly and or the Council.

There is no such law/clause/section in Zambia, either in the Constitution or in the electoral laws that gives power to the Commission or the Mayor/Council Chairperson or Town Clerk/Council Secretary to accept or reject a withdraw of a resignation letter or decision from the resignee submitted in writing but the law mandates that that vacancy be filled within 90 days of its due, period.

However, only resignations made verbally like it was made by the Kanyama ward 10 UPND councilor during the mayoral by-election held about 2 years ago in Lusaka or those resignation letters that don’t reach the Commission, can be ignored or can’t be filled up meaning there were no resignations.

But the guidance from the Commission that resignnees can still change their mind and rescind their resignations within the 30 days notification period has created not only a constitution debate but further confusions in the electoral process and has cretaed the casualisation of these resignations .

This is because one day, the Commision will find itself receiving a withdrawal letter at a time it least expects or in a state of indecision as resignees do a “resign and withdrawal and resign again tricks” on it as is the case with Nangweshi ward councilor in Sioma Constituency of Western Province.

With this confusion already emerging and without a legal challenge yet from stakeholders against the Commission’s guidance that resignees can rescind their decisions within the 30 days notification period, it is a “wait and see” how this guidance outside the law will perform.

I submit!

McDonald Chipenzi, Electoral Expert.

Former Nangweshi Ward Councillor Muuka Sililo Refutes Reports That He Has Rescinded His Resignation

He wrote :

I, Muuka Sililo, former councillor for Nangweshi ward in Sioma district wish to inform the nation that l have not rescinded

my decision to resign and and ditch the UPND.

Fellow Zambians, I want to tell you that Mr. Gary Nkombo is a thug. He forced me against my will to denounce the PF. First and foremost, I never received any money from the PF. I made the decision out of my own and on my own volition with my family. I have moved on and I am happy. The threats from UPND will not deter me from the decision I made. Honestly speaking, how can i continue working with a party whose perpetual leader in futility Hakainde Hichilima is now branding all councillors to be vitumbuwa? HH has never told us how to deliver our campaign promises other than refusing to work with the PF government.

How can HH insult our mothers who strain to make ends meet by selling vegetables? Now he is calling all Councillors to be Vitumbuwa and vegetables. I am live to the fact that he has blinded all MP3 who he calls they are his door mats but me as Muuka Sililo will not succumb to that. I have my own independent mind and I have made my decision. I will also ensure that l decampaign the UPND in Nagweshi ward. Enough is enough. UPND is not going anywhere. UPND should not even claim that Western province is their strong hold. It is wishful thinking and we shall show them. How can HH even dissolve the committee led by Mr. Musangu and thinks he will have it easy?

Anyway, let me inform you that I was pushed against the wall. Garry Nkombo threatened to kill me if I did not succumb to his wishes. He told me to say I was going k50,000 by PF when in fact not. I made my own decision. I wish to let you know that I will now meet the PF and work with them. 80 country men and women, I maintain my decision that l have resigned. No turning back. HH used to lie to us that President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu was a very bad person. But let me tell you, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is very good man and will win the next elections. The arrogance of HH is his own enemy and he will not win any election. We are many of us. Others are still coming. Western province is now a strong hold for PF and UPND should be real to themselves. They live in denial. I am no a UPND councillor and I want to urge the Electoral Commission of Zambia to set the dates for elections.

By Mukosha Funga
POLICE on Wednesday officially arrested and charged fellow officers and some PF officials, including the ruling party’s North Western Province chairperson Jackson Kungo, in connection with the theft of gold in Mwinilunga valued at over K24.7 million.

According to police sources in Mwinilunga, the five police officers and nine PF officials are expected to appear in the Mwinilunga Magistrates’ Court on May 22, 2020.

The theft of gold ore is alleged to have occurred between March 19th and March 21st 2020.

According to the sources, Assistant Commissioner of Police James Banda, was arrested for the offences of disobedience to lawful orders contrary to Sec 127 CAP 87.

“Banda, Sydney Musefwe, Martin Choonga, Chief Inspector Silver Kansongi and D/inspector Micheal Chizyabwa Nzala have been jointly arrested for the offences of destroying evidence and theft by public servant contrary to section 111, 272 CAP 87 respectively while Jackson Kungo, Christopher Mutalenu, Humphrey Katoka, Kenneth Kawatu, William Juma Zulu, Timothy Mulusa, Majory Sikwenya, Charity Kaswenda and Catherine Mukuma have all been jointly arrested for the offence of theft contrary to sec 272 CAP 87.

By press time, the suspects were asked to organise two traceable sureties to sign police bonds for them.

Investigations into the scam were instituted after President Edgar Lungu fired North-Western Province police commissioner Hudson Namachila saying the command in that area had failed to secure gold reserves.

Almost immediately, PF Secretary General Davies Mwila suspended Kungo, “pending investigations in his alleged involvement in illegal gold mining activities in the province”.

The PF secretariat also sent a team of their officials to carry out their own investigations led by Brian Mundubile.

Members of the public, however, have raised eyebrows at the move by the ruling party, wondering why the investigation was not left to the Anti Corruption Commission.

Other sources have told News Diggers that some other senior government officials, at ministerial level, have been implicated in the theft, but were being covered up.

“That is why you see that while all these officers have been arrested, including Banda who was in charge of criminals investigations in North Western Province, have been arrested, but the provincial Commissioner Hudson Namachila has not been touched. You should ask those in Lusaka at the Headquarters to tell the kind of investigation they carried and how it left out those who were in charge of operations,” said the sources.

Two United Party for National Development (UPND) councillors have exposed a scheme in which the PF has gone on rampage buying off UPND councillors.

This came to light Friday afternoon when Nseluka ward councillor, Kizito Hamusenku of Monze, Southern province and Lyamba Imbuwa of Namengo ward in Western province made an expose in which they narrated how they were forced to resign from the UPND to join the PF.

In making the expose, Mr Imbuwa stated that he received a strange phone call on the 5th of this month, from an unknown phone number while in Chipata, Eastern province and that he was shocked to learn that reknowned Zambian artist, Spuki Mulemwa had been sent to buy him off to the PF.

He stated that upon reaching Mongu, he was bundled into a cab that took him to a named Lodge where he was offered K30, 000 after which he was asked to resign from the UPND to join the PF.

“I received a phone call on 5th May from an unknown number while I was in Chipata, Eastern province where I had gone to see my father asking me when I would return back to Mongu. When I went back to Mongu, I met a man who introduced himself as Mulemwa. After meeting him, he took me to a named hotel where he produced some documents in which I was to append my signature that I had ditched the UPND to join the PF,” he said.

He said that he was told that his ward had remained poor because of belonging to the opposition after he enquired why he was made to sign a resignation letter against his will.

“When I asked them why they had taken me to a place without my will to ask me to resign, they told me that my ward had remained underdeveloped because I was from the opposition. When I signed the letter, they gave me K30, 000. After I woke up the following morning, I decided to visit the Mayor’s office whom I asked to help me take back the money,” he narrated.

And welcoming back the two at the party Secretariat, this afternoon, UPND Elections Chairman Mr Garry Nkombo charged that the continuous misbehaviour and misconduct of buying opposition councillors was worrisome.

Mr Nkombo, has since called on the remaining 6 councillors who had resigned to emulate their counterparts and save the Zambian people from unnecessary by-elections and political violence.

Mr Nkombo also warned the councillors who are being bought that the UPND would, once in Government, revoke their employment.

“We are aware that most of the councillors that are being bought are being employed in the civil service We know of a Mr Musa Mukaniwa from Western province who has been sent to Northwestern province and employed as a fire fighter. We also know of Kalaluka Mubika who has been sent to Chingola and employed as a fire engine driver,” he said.

Yesterday, Nangwenya area councillor, Sililo Muuka of Sioma district decided to rescind his earlier decision and rejoined the party.

Mr Nkombo has since called on all UPND councillors to remain stead fast and persevere during the remaining one year, stating that better things were on the way.

*(c) UPND MEDIA TEAM*

By Agness Changala-Katongo

New Generation Party leader Peter Chanda, has testified that he does not know the source of the Presidential Empowerment Fund.

And NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili has applied to refer the case where he is accused of defaming President Edgar Lungu to the High Court for Constitutional reference of not more than six questions.

This is in a case before Magistrate Felix Kaoma, where Kambwili is charged with defamation of the President for questioning President Lungu’s association with Lusaka businessman Valden Findlay.

Chanda who was refered to as a PF surrogate by the defence, at the last hearing is the complainant in this case.

When the case came up for continued cross examination, Mweemba led Chanda who is on stand into continued cross examination.

Asked about the Presidential Empowerment Fund source of funds that Kambwili talked about, Chanda said he did not know where the money came from.

“I don’t know the source of the Presidential Empowerment Fund. Yes it’s not even in the budget. Correct, National Assembly did not approve of this amount,” he said.

He however, said he was aware that President Lungu had cooperating partners.

Asked if it was in the yellow book, Chanda said he was not aware whether it was in the yellow book or not.

Later, Mweemba read a sentence to Chanda which read, “Those are allegations but very serious allegations and you can’t run away from it as a country.”

Based on the above sentence, Chanda was asked to state if the President’s name was mentioned.

In response, he said the name of the President was mentioned in the indictment.

But Mweemba insisted on him answering the question and Chanda said,” Yes the the President’s name was mentioned.”

After magiatate Kaoma guided him to respond to questions as they were put to him, he concded and said, “on this sentence the President’s name is not mentioned.”

He said in his compliant, he did not talk about the money from the Presidential Empowerment Fund but drugs.

Chanda said he took the complaint to court so that Kambwili could prove his allegations against President Lungu.

“So that Chishimba Kambwili can explain if it is true or not,” Chanda said.

Asked if it was not him to prove the allegation he levelled against Kambwili, Chanda went mute for some seconds.

When he was asked to give the answer, he said he was thinking about what he had been asked.

At this point, the defence abondoned the cross examination and applied to refer the matter to the High Court for Constitutional determination.

Mweemba possed several questions to Chanda but he did not get the desired responses.

The development forced him to inform magistrate Kaoma that he would be making an application.

But magiatate Kaoma ordered Mweemba to continue with cross examination by asking matters that were related to the case.

He threatened to give the time frame in which the cross examination should be concluded if Mweemba proceeded in the manner he did.

Magistrate Kaoma said at the pace Mweemba was moving, the case would take years to be concluded.

But Mweemba proceeded with the application.

He said the defence wanted the case refered to the High Court to answer already prepared questions.

The defence lawyer, said the application was anchored on Article 28 (2) 8 of Constitution of Zambia.

“The Constitutional questions we are referring to the High Court for determination of those questions of the Constitutional nature. The questions the High Court will need to answer are anchored on the provisio of the Bill of Rights. Not in the Constitutional Court but the High Court. Simply say these questions have never been adjudicated upon in this country,” Mweemba said.

Another defence lawyer Gilbert Phiri said for good order and ease of reference for the court, it would better for the defence to be allowed to file written submissions and arguments.

But the prosecution through Jonas Zimba objected to the application and said cross examination must proceed.

Zimba urged magsirate Kaoma to dismiss the application as it lacked merit.

Another prosecution lawyer Emmanuel Mwansa said there were no matters which had risen to enable the court refer the case to the High Court.

Mwansa said whatever issues Kambwili had intended to raise could have been done ealier, either in the morning before continued cross examination or before he took plea.

He said magistrate Kaoma had already guided and the matter should proceed that way.

“Finally, where this court has given guidinace as to how the matter should proceed, there should not be any reference to the High Court. It was a mere guidinace,” Mwansa said. “Based on those points, the application should be refused.”

Magistrate Kaoma said he would not allow the defence to reply to the prosecution even though it was procedure, but would proceed into rendering his ruling on the application.

Magistrate Kaoma allowed Kambwili’s application, saying denying him would be prejudicial.

He has since asked the defence to file their written submissions of the application by May 15 and the prosecution to file their response by May 22.

Magiatate Kaoma said he would render his ruling on May 27.

Magistrate Kaoma said in the event of the ruling, whichever way it goes, the parties should be ready to proceed.

– DR

Why Herbal Medicine is usually Harmful

Dr Teddy Andrew Mulenga writes: My quarrels with Herbal Medicine!

I was born in a village and i appreciate that my Mum did give me herbs to treat the various ailments I may have had.

And I survived!But perhaps this is the greatest miracle to have occurred in my life! Fast forward to 1988-1989, when l was a young Dr at Arthur Davidson‘s Children’s Hospital( Kwa Engwe) in Ndola.

This hospital is next to a sprawling shanty compound called Chipulukusu .So when ever a child got sick, the first port of call with our people was the herbalists.

I remember one herb they used for diarrhoea which at the time killed more children than i could count!Sometimes the tally of deaths in a single day could be as high as 8!

The medicine was called Chimamba, it was given orally and thru the rectum , by sitting the child in a bowl of the liquid form of the herb.

This herb was lethal, children presented with encephalopathy( brain dysfunction), renal shut down, kidney shut down. Others presented with paralytic ileus (intestinal obstruction).

All who took it ended up dead, and funny thing the mothers never stopped using it!. I found a similar drug when I went to work in Botswana in 1992.

Similar drug with similar devastating effects, they called it Monepenepe.

I tell you this was an atomic bomb as well. Our cries to mothers this time again went unheeded.

Yes most medicines are made from plants. but then they have to be processed, active substance identified, mode of action studied, side effects studied, effectiveness studied, anti dotes if any mentioned, dosages calculated..None of this is done by our herbalists.

Taking herbs becomes a risky business.

I stand here and announce that there is no such thing as a Traditional Engineer, there cannot be a Traditional Doctor!A|l medicine is the same, it needs knowledge, its either you know or you don’t.

Don’t argue, you were not there!

By Antonio Mourinho Mwanza,

People may pretend and say whatever they want to appear morally upright or politically correct but the truth remains that no one can ignore the potent role that tribe and region play in African politics.

To ignore or pretend otherwise is to be hypocritical to the realities that we face as Africans.

While tribe and region are important demographics in elections and campaigns, tribalism and regionalism are dangerous sentiments that needs to be fought with everything we got.

The world over, demographics such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, education, age play very crucial roles in politics, campaigns and elections and it would be naive and lackadaisical for anyone to ignore this reality.

In the Middle East, Religion plays a central role in Middle Eastern Politics. Most (if not all) Middle Eastern countries make sure that their constitutions, laws and education curricula comply with the religious norms dominant in each society, this has sometimes fuelled sectarian divisions and conflict, like what is currently happening in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Yemen and Lebanon, let alone the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict which has a prominent religious aspect to it.

More than a decade after America elected its first black president, fears of worsening racial tensions are are on the rise with the growing emergence of white supremacism. A poll in February from the Pew Research Centre, a think-tank, found that 58% of Americans think race relations are “generally bad” and 45% believe it has become more acceptable to express racist views since Donald Trump was elected president.

The exit polls by various researchers show divisions across racial and educational groups, too. As was the case in the 2016 presidential election, white men voted Republican by a wide margin (60% to 39%) while white women were divided (49% favored the Democratic candidate; as many supported the Republican). Blacks voted overwhelmingly (90%) for the Democratic candidate, including comparable shares of black men (88%) and black women (92%).

As we edge closer to the 2021 elections we expect to see desperate political shenanigans resort to tribal and regional sentiments to woo and hoodwink voters.

What we should guard against is the dangerous animalistic instinct of some baseless individuals to try to divide and take advantage of us using tribalism and regionalism for their political expediency.

We must summon our moral and intellectual authority and fight tribalism and regionalism with everything we have got for the unity, peace and prosperity of our nation.

One Zambia, One Nation.

Stay Home. Mask Up. Observe Social Distancing. Wash and Sanitize Your Hands Regularly.

The Author is Ruling Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Media Director, at Patriotic Front Headquarters.

By Agness Changala-Katongo

The PF has become its own opposition, dismissed Lusaka Provincial Women vice chairlady a has charged.

And Banda says those who are celebrating her dismissal, are fighting a losing battle.

PF secretary General Davies Mwila this morning revoked the appointment of Banda as vice chairlady with immediate effect, citing her alleged continued misconduct contrary to the expected behavior in jurisdiction of duty as Provincial vice chair lady.

Mwila also ordered Banda to surrender all party materials to the Provincial chairman or his office without fail.

And reacting to her dismissal with Daily Revelation, Banda said instead of uniting the party as one family, the PF members were fighting themselves.

“Within our party, the goodness is mu Zambia tatukwete (there is no) opposition. The opposition is within ourselves. Yes, instead of uniting the party together as one family, we are trying to fight each other,” Banda said.

Asked if she was given an opportunity to be heard before the decision was made, Banda responded in the negative.

“Nothing my dear, that’s why I am saying we are fighting each other within the party but it’s fine. These are politics. Whatever they have done to me doesn’t mater, I still remain Charity Katongo Banda and a powerful PF founder member and very powerful. With or without a position, I am powerful,” Banda said.

She said if the party thought she had something wrong, she should have been allowed to exculpate herself.

“I should be given a chance to exculpate myself, not so? Which misconduct is the party referring to? They would have mentioned which misconduct. Someone needs to exculpate herself or himself,” Banda said.

The former Lusaka Provincial vice chairlady said she was very happy with her dismissal as it showed that she was not a nonentity.

“When people are attacking you with things you don’t know, you just have to receive it,” she said.” And that’s when you become more stronger. I don’t know anything.You know that letter doesn’t tell anything. I don’t know whatever they are talking about. I don’t know, I don’t know,” she said.

Banda said no one would manage to break her, saying she would remain a strong PF member and support President Edgar Lungu.

“Awe tapali nefyonjishibe mwaiche wandi (I know nothing my young one) . Elo tabakankwanishe (they won’t manage me). Mind you, I am a founder member of PF, ine shakatalantante (Iwill never be shaken) futi shakabomfye chifukushi (I will never allow anger to control me), I will still remain PF and I will support my President positively,” she said

Banda said they knew each other in the party adding that they even know who means well for President Lungu and those that were there to attack him.

“We know each other in PF my dear we know who means well for the President. We know who are there to attack the President, me I am seasoned politician and with or without a position, I stand firm, very strong. I stand for my party and everything is normal,” Banda said.

Meanwhile, Banda said those who thought they were going to break her were wasting their time.

“The problem is that I am a very straight foward person and I will do the right thing at the right time. I am a politician but I am very God fearing person. Those who think they are going to break me are just wasting their time,” she said.

Banda added that the scheme to put her in bad light started two weeks ago, saying she had been on social media on trumped up things that people were making against her.

“But don’t worry, I am very strong. PF yena takuli ukanfumya nangu ukanchimfya (No one will remove me From PF or defeat me),” Banda said. “Because when people start getting into your private life, just because they want to make propaganda and think they are finishing you, that means I am powerful.”

She said the decision to revoke her appointment had not moved her not even a bit.

Banda said she was comfortable because there was nothing she knew she had done to deserve the dismissal.

By Sara Imutowana Yeta II

I do not hate President Edgar Lungu, but I hate his visionless leadership style because it is not leadership at all.

His visionless leadership has destroyed the economy and people’s livelihood or means of securing the basic needs of life.

Almost every day, I get a call, or message, or email from relatives asking for financial support to meet their basic needs such as food, shelter, education, healthcare, and transport.

Even people that I never thought would contact me for help are affected.

When I ask them why they are not able to meet their basic needs, their response is the same, that the economy is bad therefore difficult to make a living.

I never used to have endless financial support requests during Sata, Banda, Mwanawasa, Chiluba and Kaunda’s regime.

The question is, why now?

The answer is easy, Lungu has destroyed the conditions that allowed people to use their capabilities to secure the necessities of life.

He has also destroyed people’s ability of self-reliance turning them into perpetual beggars or panhandlers unable to engage in rewarding economic activities to meet their basic necessities without needing other people to help them.

Every month, I emit half of my salary to people who were once able to meet their own basic needs before Lungu came into power.

This is one of the reasons I hate Lungu’s visionless leadership.

Therefore, when I tell people that Lungu is a useless president, my call is based on how I am indirectly and agonisingly affected by his visionless leadership.

It is not because I do not want to share the proceeds of my hard work, but helping people who have been foolishly put into a livelihood predicament by a visionless president.

Why should I be the remedy to the effects of visionless leadership?

He has stripped people of hope and dignity, and if we do not act now on this situation there is a danger that poverty will also strip people of their humanity.

It rubs me the wrong way to wake up every morning to the fact that we have a visionless president not benefiting the country in any way but pushing people into the abyss of poverty and turning them into beggars.

In all conscience, Lungu is of no purpose to the country and incapable of functioning as president.

He has nothing to offer and a liability to the country.

In 2015, when he said that he has no vision of his own but will follow and be led by the will of his party, he was telling us the truth that he was ill-prepared and unfit to lead as president.

This is how visionless leaders behave. They embrace a populist approach to cover their incompetence and uselessness.

He is the most pathetic president we have had with sight but no vision.

He is therefore not worth to be counted upon to lead the country to any better conditions and ways to have socio-economic development.

He lacks the required combination of in-depth understanding and profound desire to provide value to the country.

To make things worse, he lacks self-confidence and wisdom to take charge and show what the country needs and what must be done to develop.

His lack of vision is freely displayed through his infinite weaknesses.

It is lack of vision that he cannot acquire knowledge and skills required to be an effective president.

As a result, he has no capacity to understand not only the current situation, and the situation he found the country, but identifying what the country should be, and how to get the country into the desired situation.

Having relations call me every day for support is the most painful aspect of having Lungu as president.

His leadership is nothing to write home about because he has put the country into a dire economic situation.

When Lungu leaves office, he will be the most troubled and lonely former president for destroying poor people’s livelihood.

He is not going to enjoy his retirement for failing to create a vision to drive him to care more, do more, sacrifice more, and understand more than others the plight of the poor masses.

He has not only failed to motivate the public but his cadres as well.

There is nothing for his cadres to be proud of and adopt from him as theirs.

Besides, there is also nothing for them to commit and work hard on to achieve.

He has put a dent on the presidency and the primary reason for national leadership.

Never, and never again, should we allow a visionless leader to lead the country to enrich just a few and push the rest of the population into systematic and tragic poverty.

We must demand that our next president explains his vision fully, why it is essential, his goals, course of action, and plans, and how his vision will make the country more relevant and sustainable into the future.

We need a president with convincing passion and clear vision that can bring hope and help to the people.

A president able to inspire us all to act with purpose, and work toward a common goal and contribute to moving the country forward.

UPND deputy secretary general – political affairs Patrick Mucheleka says it is an absurdity that the northern circuit that PF politicians want to portray as their foothold is pervasively poor.

He notes that except for few emergent infrastructures in Muchinga Province’s headquarters, Chinsali, Luapula and Northern Provinces are embarrassingly underdeveloped.

Meanwhile, Mucheleka says if he was not above tribal politics, he could have easily joined the “PF looting machine.”

He was reacting to continued tribal politicking by many officials in the PF rank and file.

Mucheleka said poverty was so entrenched in the northern circuit and that the people who had ‘created’ that environment were those from the northern circuit because: “they have stolen from the people.”

He argued that there was nothing to show in the northern bloc provinces but that since those in the PF knew that a general election was nigh, “they are going to the northern circuit to endear themselves by trying to mislead our people.”

“Go to Kasama and the entire Northern Province, go to Muchinga, go to Luapula; three quarters of the ministers and permanent secretaries in the last 10 years are all from Muchinga, Northern and Luapula provinces. But does that not prompt you to ask a question how poverty in those provinces is so pervasive when these fellows who are in charge of the system come from there?” Mucheleka wondered in an interview. “Lishina fye ati iyo tuleteka (it’s just by name that we are ruling). Iyo tatulefwaya umu Tonga (no! We don’t want a Tonga). [But] what have you done for your people?”

He said apart from the period that Margaret Mwanakatwe was finance minister, the rest (Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda, Felix Mutati and Dr Bwalya Ng’andu) who have been in charge of that ministry, during the PF reign, were Bembas.

“Have they even put up one single industry for our people in the northern circuit to get jobs? Nothing! The money they have acquired has just been put in New Kasama in Lusaka. They have created New Kasama to ensure that they have nothing to do with Kasama in Northern Province,” he noted. “These ministers and permanent secretaries from the northern circuit have taken their money in New Kasama where they are building mansions for themselves and their children.”

Mucheleka challenged Bemba politicians in the PF government to point even at their own personal property benefiting northerners.

“I want to challenge the Bemba politicians, Bwalya Ng’andu, Mutati, Alexander Chikwanda, [Christopher] Yaluma, to tell us what property they have put up in Northern Province,” he said.

“If you go to Kasama where my mother comes from, I have a commercial property there. Go to Luwingu where my father comes from, I have property there. If you go to Mucheleka village in Luwingu where you (this reporter) have been to, we have a family farm.”

Mucheleka pointed out that if he did not have passion for the people of Northern Province, “I could not have put up any property there.”

“The only thing I could have done was to probably join the PF looting machine. I could have done that very easily! I would have also been looting. But at whose expense? At the expense of our people from the northern circuit!” he explained. “This is why I have made a serious undertaking that I will stand in solidarity with the poor people in all the provinces of Zambia.”

Mucheleka further stressed that he had never identified himself with any tribe.

He explained that he was not only a full-time politician but also a professional development worker.

“I’m a civil rights activist! I’m perhaps one of the few Zambians who are specialised at masters’ degree level in rural development. I consciously chose that field – rural development economics – because I felt that I needed to contribute to uplifting the wellbeing of our people in the rural areas,” Mucheleka said.

“This is why even when I was a lecturer at the University of Zambia…I didn’t sprung-up from the streets like some politicians in the PF. I’m a professional who has taught at this country’s highest learning institution – the University of Zambia. I was teaching senior students in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Development Studies, where I was a lecturer in agriculture and rural development, and social research methods. So, how can I be talking about tribe?”

Mucheleka added that he worked for Caritas where the social teachings of the Catholic are that one had to transform people’s lives, “in line with what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, wants for all of us.”

“This is why I can’t talk about tribe. My engraving within Caritas taught me how to respect and uplift the wellbeing of human beings, especially the underprivileged, without looking at tribe,” Mucheleka said.

“I have been to many parts of this continent, many parts of this globe in search of peace. I have been to Cambodia to try and bring about peace. I have been to Sierra Leone in search of peace-building. Talk about Liberia and the story of Charles Tailor; I have been there in search of peace that arises as a result of ethnic reasons.”

He added: “I have been to Kigali, Rwanda on missions of peace-building during my illustrious career in the civil society.”

“So, how can I come home and identify myself with a single tribe and that there is one tribe which is more superior than the other? How can I identify myself with tribal politics? I have been able to transcend above tribal politics,” Mucheleka noted. “It’s a paradox that there are those who are preaching about Bemba superiority, whatever that means. But you will find that the poorest of the poor in this country, even in the last 10 years, are actually in Northern, Luapula and Muchinga provinces.”

Mucheleka underscored his challenge that Bemba politicians ought to point at just one mega development project which they have done in Northern and Luapula provinces.

“In Muchinga Province you may find a few double storey buildings which suddenly sprung up when [Michael] Sata divided Northern Province to create Muchinga Province,” he said.

“Chinsali, the provincial capital for Muchinga Province, at least you can now find two universities – Robert Kapasa Makasa and Paul Mushindo, the new provincial administration, the Muchinga Province Police Division headquarters and the new Chinsali hospital. But go to Northern Province where aba Bemba nkonko (distinctive Bembas) are found, nothing has been done.”

Mucheleka further asked commerce minister Yaluma, who recently was in his constituency talking about tribalism, to tell Zambians what he had in that constituency, Malole.

“What is in Kasama Central and Lukashya constituencies, for instance? What developmental projects have they taken there and who is employed?” Mucheleka asked.

“So, why should people continue listening to their tribal stupidity? They claimed that they would build Kasama Central Hospital, Kasama University, Kasama ultra-modern Stadium. But there is nothing there. They are feeling the pressure and that’s why they are now going round frightening northerners about tribalism.”

Meanwhile, Mucheleka indicated that it was upsetting that Bembas had a paramount chief Chitimukulu, who wants to quarrel with everyone.

“He wants to pick a fight with Jack Kalala, James Lukuku, Joe Mwale, and George Zulu. At least if he can pick a fight with me because I’m his nephew – perhaps one day I may take over from him because my mother is a princess,” said Mucheleka.

The World Bank says China-based Liaoning-EFACEC Electrical Equipment Company Limited (LEEEC) would be ineligible to participate in Bank-funded projects for 20 months due to fraudulent practices in connection with a project in Zambia.

The project is a US$ 210 million project consisting of the rehabilitation of the 132kV and 88kV transmission network in Lusaka Area and rehabilitation of the 33kV and 11kV distribution network in Lusaka Area and technical assistance and project supervision.

The debarment is part of a settlement agreement under which the company acknowledges responsibility for failing to disclose a conflict of interest and other “sanctionable practices”, and agrees to carry out remedial actions.

The case involves the Lusaka Transmission and Distribution Rehabilitation Project in Zambia, which was designed to increase the capacity and improve the reliability of the electricity transmission and distribution system in Lusaka, Zambia.

According to the facts of the case, LEEEC failed to disclose a conflict of interest and misrepresented its past contract experience to meet the requirements of a contract under the project, which is a fraudulent practice.

The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of debarment in light of the company’s cooperation and voluntary remedial actions.

As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreement, the company commits to developing an integrity compliance program consistent with the principles set out in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines.

The company also commits to continue to fully cooperate with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.

The debarment of LEEEC qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks (MDBs) under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.

This is according to a statement released by the World Bank in Washington today.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the African Development Bank Group has announced the debarment of Sinotec Company Limited, an energy solutions company registered in China, for a period of 36 months for engaging in fraudulent practices.

The announcement, which was made on 20 April 2020, is pursuant to a decision by the Bank’s Sanctions Appeals Board.

An investigation conducted by the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption established that Sinotec Company Limited misrepresented its experience, the value and dates of its reference contracts and its relationship with other bidders while participating in three Bank-financed tenders under the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydropower Project in Rwanda, the Uganda Rural Electricity Access Project, and the Last Mile Connectivity Project in Kenya.

At the expiry of the debarment period, Sinotec Company Limited will only be eligible to participate in Bank-financed projects on the condition that it implements an integrity compliance programme consistent with the Bank’s guidelines

GEOFFREY Mwamba Bwalya yesterday told UPND deputy spokesperson that ‘I am willing to come back and eat with you’ when they met in Monze after a court case.

Mwamba, a former UPND vice-president and Major Richard Kachingwe were in Monze for the case of the People Vs Bilden Shaloba.

The case that had come up for commencement of trial before magistrate Lear Kabalata failed to take off as the State applied for an adjournment in order to amend the charge.

The defence did not object to the application but placed on record concern over such adjournments bordering on inefficiencies and incompetence of the State, which should not operate to the detriment of the accused.

Shaloba’s counsel, Cornelius Mweetwa complained that the accused’s rights had been severely hampered by such adjournments.

Magistrate Kabalata granted the application and adjourned the matter to June 22, 2020.

However, political drama ensued outside court as Mwamba and UPND cadres exchanged political pleasantries with chants of forward and pabwato.

Mwamba flashed the PF fist as both parties appeared to be enjoying their meeting at court.

UPND cadres were overheard telling Mwamba that “we want you to come back, why have you decided to join a party which you know is finished and is going to exit come 2021?”

But Mwamba enticed the UPND youths telling them that, “We are one people” and asked all the youths present saying “mwe baice natuleya”.

Mwamba left for Nzango Lodge, 300 metres away from the court premises escorted by a horde of PF cadres flashing the PF fist [symbol] and the UPND flashing their forward symbol.

Once at Nzango, police only allowed PF supporters inside the lodge where they were addressed by Mwamba and Maj Kachingwe.

In his address, Maj Kachingwe urged PF cadres in Monze to work extra hard to campaign for the PF.

He cited himself as a living example of how painful it is to lose power.

“I am a living testimony of what it feels to lose power. I was in MMD under Rupiah Banda when we lost power to PF. It is a very painful experience,” Maj Kachingwe told the PF cadres. “I wouldn’t want to go through that again, that’s the reason why I am urging you to work extra hard because power can be lost easily.”

As he was addressing them, Mweetwa entered the conference room and straightaway went to exchange cordialities with Mwamba and Maj Kachingwe.

Mweetwa then addressed the PF cadres, urging them to emulate the cordial relationship that leaders of political parties enjoyed despite their different political ideas.

“You supporters of political parties or cadres, you should emulate what we leaders do. You can see I am with my elder brother here who is a former vice-president of the UPND. I have been with him in Parliament. Though elderly to me, we always related as friends. Even when I was in Kasama, he took me to his home and introduced me to his family,” Mweetwa told the PF cadres. “I still cherish those memories. We are one people, so do not engage yourselves in acts of division and violence while we, leaders, continue to enjoy our relationships as friends. You should emulate what we do; we differ on the platform but on the ground we are one people. We are committed to ensuring that we live as truly ‘One Zambia, One nation’.”

Mwetwa told the PF cadres that his party cherished a united, peaceful country and that was the reason he followed them after he saw them brandishing symbols at each other.

He told them that he approached them as a politician and not a lawyer to give them assurance that Monze was not for UPND or PF but for all Zambians regardless of political affiliation.

“Everyone is welcome to Monze, this is your home, this is your place, feel free and please continue to address your supporters without any sense of insecurity because we are peaceful people and I wish you safe passage back to Lusaka as I remain quarantined in Choma,” Mweetwa told Mwamba and Maj Kachingwe.

In response, Mwamba told Mweetwa how grateful he was that the opposition official had gone to join them at the lodge.

“I would like to state that we are one people, indeed we are One Zambia, One Nation. I would like to tell you that I am willing to come back and eat with you,” he said much to the delight of the cadres. “We have to continue to work together maka maka iwe ka Mweetwa iwe. Even when we were in PF and you were in UPND in parliament, we have been watching you, so I am willing to come back and eat with you, we are one people. And it is true that Monze does not belong to one political party but to all of us and we are free here, the same way if you come to Kasama or Mpulungu you will also be free because we are Zambians. This is how it should be.”

Mwamba resigned from UPND and rejoined PF last year where he has been made deputy mobilisation chairperson.

Recently, commerce minister Christopher Yaluma claimed that, “Mwebantu imwe mwebenda (you people who travel) ako kene mufwele kukanwa akalembelwe ati PF (that same PF-branded face-mask you are wearing) teti upite mu Southern Province naufwala kukanwa bakakuma (you can’t pass through Southern Province wearing that; they will beat you). Bakakuma bakakufumya namu bus tawakaninemo (they will beat you up and not even allow you to get on a bus). Takwaba ukulumbula ishiwi ilya PF nangu party imbi, FDD, ishili iyakulya (there is no mentioning of the PF or any other party, for that matter, like the FDD, which is not from there). Aba abantu baishibana fye bekabeka (these people just know themselves). Tabafwaya (they don’t want)!”

By David Zulu

There have been frolicking attempts by the PF, some of them a little desperate and a little ignorant, to define the vernacular Bally persona, that the Zambian youths have twinned the UPND President Hakainde Hichilema. Some have sought the expertise of various dictionaries, from renown World University and other scholarly institutions.

PF must understand that you can’t zero down a signature to a character, neither can you lock up an idea in a police jail. A concept has feathers and wings and cannot be restricted by borders or walls. Bally is not a name of a person which you can scroll through on Google or dictionary books, Bally is a fast approaching ideology and belief and value systems.

As a matter of fact it is a fast paced youth revolution of a section of citizens left behind by the PF’s greed and corruption. It’s a constituency left stranded by the PF gravy train. In the PF there are no Bally youths, there are thugs and violent criminals high on the opium of corruption and patronage.

Bally is an idea of a young toddler, of his father being an accomplished warrior with broad shoulders and big strong arms. A toy drops on the floor into a dozen pieces. Out of child innocence of absolute faith, the boy picks up the pieces, looks up to the towering figure of his father, and with unsophisticated simplicity says, “Bally, fix it!” These are the Bally constituents, these are the Zambian youths on the march waving the Bally banner.

And PF have tried to provide a rational and literal meaning of the term Bally, it’s not working and it won’t work. As a matter of fact the youth now feel that their territory is being encrouched and violated by this attempt by the PF. They are tired of their existence being defined by the PF’s methods, through the eyes of corruption, patronage and violence, that has robbed them of a future, and they are fighting back to defend their turf and their culture.

Bally is not a name, it is a rallying cry to a war against the PF corruption, intolerance and dictatorship by a rebelling youth population that’s been accused, abused,cheated and robbed by the PF’s ideology of more money, more jobs, and more empowerment of youth that never came.

It was a ticking time, bomb and it’s exploding right in their faces, and the biggest mistake they will make is narrow their view of Bally to HH. It’s an impending vote revolution and the youth have picked HH as their General.