MBABALA UPND member of parliament Ephraim Belemu has asked the ruling PF to tell the nation what happened with their youths sent for training in Sudan.

Belemu said on May 6, 2012, Zambia was greeted by a rather bizarre and worrying story in the Post Newspaper quoting the then PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba to the effect that the PF had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sudanese Socialist Party under the leadership of dictator Omar Al Bashir to take Zambian youths to train in Sudan in unspecified disciplines.

He said according to Kabimba, the cooperation was to also work on “external forces.”

Belemu recalled that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was even arrested when he raised alarm about that MoU. Hichilema had accused the PF of training a militia group in Sudan.

“To date, the PF has not disclosed the contents of this MoU. Further, as far as the public is concerned, the PF have not renounced or severed this relationship despite citizens raising concerns; or if they have done, can they make it public,” Belemu noted. “At the time of this MoU Al Bashir had already been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for mass murder and gross abuse of human rights. He was behind a self-styled Sudanese outfit called Janjaweed. Janjaweed terrorised Darfur and South Sudan (which is predominantly black and Christian). South Sudan would eventually opt to be a separate state in 2005.”

Belemu, in a statement yesterday, said with the current happenings in the country, “it’s high time citizens got details of this MoU between the PF/Sudanese Socialist party of Al Bashir who is currently in The Hague facing criminal charges against humanity”.

“PF must answer, among others, the following questions: What were the contents of this MoU and can it be made public? How many Zambian youths were trained in Sudan and in what fields/skills of study?” asked Belemu. “How many of these youths are back in Zambia and what jobs are they doing at the moment? Why has the PF been reluctant/refusing/neglecting to renounce or sever this MoU and its relationship with Al Bashir? What was the motivation of sending Zambian youths to train in Sudan when the record of Al Bashar was well known?”

IRATE Kafulafuta residents on Saturday booed and insulted their member of parliament Joseph Kabamba forcing him to abandon his speech at a funeral in chief Chiwala’s area.

But Kabamba said “it was just some cousinship at play” during the funeral by some drunk young boys.

This all happened at a funeral for a PF branch chairman Zelani Kazembe on Saturday.

When the MP arrived, immediately people saw him, they picked up stones, heckled and insulted him.

He was forced to curtail his speech midstream and escorted away by two party cadres before official the end of programme.

“The man was accused of not coming to the constituency from the time he was voted as MP. The roads are bad and it was his first time to appear at a funeral. He is not popular here and not wanted by the people,” a source said.

But Kabamba when contacted said he was not chased out of the funeral.

He explained that it was just a few drunk boys who wanted to cause confusion because of being drunk.

“I went to attend the funeral for our branch member. Our colleague who died was a Muslim. It was just some cousinship. Now these young boys who had powder, even the Muslims found it very difficult to contain the situation. Even when I was called to speak, the boys where making noise. I can just say some young boys who were drunk,” Kabamba explained.

“These boys did not give respect to the funeral procession. Adults were even very disappointed with the behaviour of the young people. A lot of people are so disappointed with the boys. So it is not true that I was chased, no!”

He said the problem of beer drinking needs a collective approach.

“This is a collective situation which needs everyone. It is not only the MP, chief, but all the stakeholders to come up with an approach to ensure that whenever, we gather, we discourage the abuse of beer drinking. We need to ensure that we find a way to teach the young people to stop beer,” said Kabamba. “So right now as we talk I am going to Church, where I was invited and I will talk about the dangers of beer drinking and encourage the Church to do the same.”

By Stembridge Sikalundu‎

NOW THAT FACTS ABOUT GASSING IS A FAILED PROJECT LET THE PF LEADERSHIP PLACE THEMSELVES ON DEFENCE …

The people of Zambia should not relax and begin their usual lives without a serious reflection of what has been happening in the country, people have lost lives, others continue living with trauma .This has never happened in the history of this country, let’s all focus on the genesis of gassing and the earlier accusations, we thank God the truth always has its way of coming out. Where are the propagandists, who thought they are clever than God.

Zambians should wonder how the office of the president, the police, and other investigative wings failed in their duties to break the silence to inform the nation on the true facts that some PF leaders were behind the planing and gassing of people, information was being distorted deliberately to override the minds of people, fortunately God being on the side of people , the truth is some PF members were proved to be Terrorist cordinators with no human conscious at all . Could it be the reason why the nation was left guessing who was behind these organised crimes.

The PF members were the first to point single fingers at the innocent political rivals, little did they realise the many fingers folded were directive at them, this is the worst political strategy ever to be used by greedy selfish individuals on its fellow citizens ,no one can doubt the extent of this organised crimes , it was initially suspected that those cought were being released after hours, and this was the birthday of justice mobs .it was disturbing to see many arrests that were being done involved prominent senior PF members that came in the spot light. Who else could be behind these crimes?.

The president pledged a bounty of ZMK 250 thousand while his media director, province minister, deputy mobilisation official and a minister in charge on the affairs of the country, were giving misdirected statements suggesting the largest opposition political party was the one involved, how did they engage some members of the ruling party?, how could these people close to president Lungu know without him having this information , these circumstances created an eye attractive view for people to critically analyse what was going on ,to this day president Lungu remains adamant and has kept his volume further lower.

The number of PF members that have been apprehended and interrogated without information coming from govt is sufficient to stop speculations , this reminds all of us how other regimes in other countries have been organising crimes to disturbalise their nation’s to extend their stay in power, unfortunately in Zambia it isn’t the right game to story .it is very disappointing for president Lungu because he can never move with his head high, let’s imagine what the children in schools went through, at the hands of these planned crimes because of political power, it was interesting to listen from govt how gassing stopped being associated to politics, after the plan was failing , indeed Zambia is a Christian nation, every evil force , be it with the leaders they can never stand to haunt the people of Zambia long enough .

These are cases which are supposed to be presented to the international court of arbitration, Zambians should not doubt to remove this heartless govt which has no mercy for humanity, they cried with us yet they knew what they were doing to harm us ,the 2021elections is the point opportunity to vote out a terrorist party and usher a new govt for the people ,the need to repair this country from this distraction done in everything that was established as foundation, means the nation should start all over again. I would like to congratulate Zambians who couraged to ensure they defended themselves from these gassing attacks even when govt was falling to defend us, we are not docile that is the same determination required to defend our votes in 2021, God bless mother Zambia.

I CRY ZAMBIA MY BELOVED COUNTRY

By Field Ruwe EdD

Where is the Commander-in-Chief?

Zambia is no longer the same heart of a country that was. It has taken the ineptitude of an accidental commander-in-chief to expose one of the most peaceful countries on earth to gas, the most inhumane weapon of mass destruction synonymous with Syria, and to the most gruesome and barbaric South African necklacing, the extrajudicial summary execution and torture carried out by forcing a tyre doused in gasoline around a victim’s chest and setting him on fire.

Let me, the writer, observe a moment of silence for those who have perished in the most horrific attacks unprecedented in Zambian history. In taciturnity, I hear the voices of outraged, horrified, and dumbfounded Zambians asking: How have we allowed this to happen on Zambian soil? What has become of Zambians? What’s going on? Who’s behind this? Are we safe? Where is President Edgar Lungu? No one is more responsible for the gassing and necklacing than Lungu, who is the commander-in-chief. He is the reason the attacks of the past weeks have claimed fifty lives.

Article 91(1) of the Zambian constitution states that “There shall be a President of the Republic who shall be the Head of the State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.” This constitutional clause, perhaps the most substantial of the presidential duties, has morphed into the very vital responsibility of the president as first responder and chief protector in a national crisis. For President Lungu to let gassing and necklacing, both crimes against humanity, to rear their ugly heads in Zambia is to abdicate the duties of a commander-in-chief.

Screams of agony beyond compare

Gassing and necklacing are the worst acts of terrorism to find their way to Zambia. It is difficult to fathom President Lungu, cabinet ministers, members of parliament, members of the PF party, Hichilema Hakainde, members of his political party, leaders and members of other political parties, and indeed all Zambians, standing around a fellow Zambian, watching him scream in agony, some filming him, taking pictures, cheering, while the boiling tar of a tyre around his neck melts and sears his skin, roasts his flesh, pops his eyes, cooks his brain and heart, and chars his body beyond recognition. Shame on us!

In the same vein, imagine for a moment gassed victims, their spouses, children, your own relatives, sprawled on the floor twitching, convulsing, and foaming from the mouth, their respiratory muscles paralyzed, their lungs producing pulmonary edema, all dying a slow death. That’s what is happening to gassing victims. That’s what gas, the silent fatal killer does. In the hands of ignorant political cadres, gas can cause destruction on a larger scale than conventional weapons. Diffused even in smallest amounts, toxic fumes not only kill in large numbers, but leave tangible long-term impacts upon not only the target, but also those in the vicinity. Consequently, innocent people suffer life-lasting health problems, and babies are born with birth defects.

Not surprising, the recent gassing and necklacing attacks have instilled a foreboding sense of fright and paranoia in Zambians of all ages. The catastrophe has pushed many to the limits of their psychological stress and tolerance. With politics at the core, and an election in sight, the commander-in-chief has failed to recognize the health and psychological impact, gassing and necklacing is having on Zambians, young and old. He can’t see how instant mob justice and toxic gasses have struck a blow to the people’s sense of security, and traumatized a good number. He is the paranoid inglorious commander-in-chief who treats a horrific crisis as a threat to his presidency, succumbs to innuendos, and fails to make the preservation of life as a paramount concern. In the process, he has failed to manage the crisis, and to pay homage to lives that have been lost in the past weeks.

Kenneth Kaunda Master of Crisis Management

Let me, at this juncture evoke the name of Kenneth Kaunda because in my view, he remains the best commander-in-chief and most assertive crisis manager. At his best, KK handled crises, some exceedingly dangerous, as if he was genetically designed to preside over armistice. When Zambia lost 89 miners in the 1970 Mufulira disaster, within hours of the news, Kaunda flew to the scene and watched as rescue teams worked to reach the trapped miners 3,000 feet underground. In all the tragedies and crises, including the Kanyama disaster, KK dashed to the scene waving his white handkerchief and consoling the bereaved and shedding a genuine tear. That’s a commander-in-chief at his best. The difference between KK and Lungu, is what makes the latter a maladroit leader, poor crisis manager, and a pathetic commander-in-chief.
But again it should not come as a surprise. Lungu is generally a lackadaisical president. The truth is that he does not know how to handle a crisis of this magnitude. He is his own worst enemy in a crisis. By character, he crosses the bridge when he comes to it. In turbulent times he treats the first signs of smoke with complacency, and watches from the comfort of his office as it degenerates into an inferno. It is only after fire has consumed a better portion of the country that he raises alarm. It can be stated that since Lungu assumed power he has been caught in a crisis-after-crisis web. Cataclysms tell the story of Lungu’s country: struggling economy, corruption, divisiveness, load shedding, and now chemical spraying of killer gases on fellow humans, and mobs taking the law in their hands, and burning fellow humans with impunity.

Surrounded by wrong people

There have been several calls for the commander-in-chief to address public fear and concern directly on radio and television. The fact that he has not, reflects poorly on Lungu’s press aide Isaac Chipampe, who by now should have lost his job. He is the reason Inspector General of Police, Kakoma Kanganja has become the “commander-in-chief” of the crisis. Unfortunately, all Kanganja can do is to assure the public that his officers are doing their best to apprehend the perpetrators. He can’t, for instance, inform people about their personal vulnerabilities and guarantee them safety. That is the responsibility of the president. It is his duty to ensure assurances of a return to normalcy are relayed to the public in a timely and accurate manner.

The absence of the commander-in-chief on television and radio, has turned the ruling party into the engine escalating the crisis. PFs most dangerous and notorious cadres, Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo, PF Media Director Sunday Chanda, and State House Aide Kaizer Zulu are chiming in and turning crimes against humanity into propaganda for their selfish gain and the commander-in-chief is helping them. They are not only preaching hate, they are mobilizing it and in the process implicating their own party. Without evidence, heartless Chanda and Lusambo are shrouded in their usual nonsensical and venomous rhetoric, using the crisis for a much more dangerous purpose: to replace logic with paranoia. They are inciting mob justice by dangerously accusing political opponents without irrefutable substantiation. By doing so, they are accessories to crimes against humanity.

State House neurotic aide Kaizer Zulu, the chap who exudes contempt, is also weaponizing fake news that others can employ to harass and attack their opponents. The sycophant Zulu, who delights in the crisis, has resorted to making regular comments on some online media outlets that cheapen the office of the president. To imagine the president is surrounded by tawdry aides working at his behest is hard to understand. Again, this shows Lungu’s lack of vision and poor sense of priorities.

Crimes against humanity

This is no time to play political games. No one in the ruling party should come to the defense of President Lungu. He is wrong—very wrong. Similarly, UPND leader Hichilema Hakainde and other opposition leaders should not become architects, inciters, or support such senseless egregious acts of terrorism. The consequences are dire. The Rome Statute (1998) empowers the Internal Court to investigate, and, where warranted, prosecute and try individuals if the country concerned does not, cannot or is unwilling to do so. This might occur here in Zambia where proceedings are unduly delayed or are intended to shield individuals from their criminal responsibility. Under the Rome Statute, no one, including the president, is exempt from prosecution because of his or her position held at the time the crimes were committed.

The appalling gassing and necklacing attacks that have occurred in the past weeks have forever tarnished Lungu’s legacy and tossed him in the bottom rung of Zambian presidents. Edgar Lungu shall forever be remembered as the inglorious commander-in-chief who was crushed by events that proved too powerful for his own weak leadership and moved the country inexorably into one of the most dreadful and traumatic crises in history. The gassing attacks and necklacing taking place in Zambia are his waterloo.
In conclusion, let me also address all those who love this beautiful country. Politics aside, we must save ourselves and the country or perish. Gassing and necklacing are such serious acts of terrorism that must not find ground in Zambia. We are better than this.

Author is a US-based Zambian multicultural scholar practitioner and author. He holds a Doctor of Education degree from Northeastern University, Boston Massachusetts, U.S.

When we saw certain people taking pics with President at State House, some of us cried why the President was being exposed to alleged criminal elements or questionable charaters. I was rebuked of jealousy and envy, so I checked myself and refrained from futher comment just in case my brother’s were right.

This is barely three years on,I hear one of them has committed the worst kind of crimes against Zambians.

Now that association will injure the President though it was just for a day and few camera clicks. The PF have been so careless with such protocols and did not understand the repercussions or the importance; first any pic with the President at State House is endorsement of the character by the President. Secondly the youths start to think that’s the character to adopt… at State House we should be seeing youths excelling in school, banking, legitimate businesses etc . Those who either introduce or introduced the President to questionable characters should be fired.

I with only a debt failed to post a picture with a certain important man, because I figured in future when possibly sued I may embarrass his office. Those are the standards we should have. The interigty of the presidency sends alot of signals and should be carefully watched and guarded.

I am glad the PF mobilisation team have come up with what they are calling National Values and principles (NVP). Finally we have an intelligent person in PF, this will automatically reward their members who are there to serve, are honest, respectful, hardworking and intelligent. The PF causal approach has degraded morals and principle of governance. It has made bad vices to be acceptable in society and those who practice them to be hero worshiped. The villains are powerful and have became heroes, so every youth in PF and beyond PF think that becoming a fool with money is the way to go..

We are grateful finally we have a genius in PF mobilisation, I wish I knew who came up with such a plan. Let’s go back to the values of our forefathers where respect was mandatory for one another, honesty and service a badge on our chests, intelligence and patriotism as the hallmark. Even if we fail to attain them we should pursue such values

Nkonkomalimba Kapumpe

Member of Parliament Raphael Nakacinda says the current meetings being held were some people are opposing the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 is a paid for regime change agenda.

Speaking this morning during the Patriotic Front Interactive Forum, Mr. Nakacinda says some organisations, a clique of lawyers and others were pushing a regime change agenda in the name of ‘Constitution’ concerns.

Mr. Nakacinda who is also Select Committee appointed to Scrutinize the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019 Chairperson, says it is hypocrisy for the opposition and some individual Lawyers like Mr. John Sangwa and Ms. Linda Kasonde to claim that the current amendments proposed are bad and the Bill 10 should be rejected.

“The voices that were fighting the Constitution process in 2016 today have turned around and are telling us the 2016 Constitution is the best. Madam Linda Kasonde who were among those campaigning against the Constitution process in 2016 today she is the one saying the 2016 is the best” he says.

He adds that “today, John Sangwa wants to project himself as the embodiment of the Law in this country just because he went to UK and inherited some accent … and today wants to be an embodiment of the law. What he said in 2016 was that the Constitution was a disaster but today he is telling us that it is the best.”

Mr. Nakacinda says it is not about the Constitution but about a regime change agenda were some individuals have been paid to speak as they are doing today discrediting the current Bill 10.

“The UPND is on record proposing the reintroduction of Deputy Minister, but today who is signing the loudest saying the country doesn’t need deputy Minister? it’s the UPND. They also demanded for the 50%+1, but what has changed for them to reject this.

“The Siavonga Resolutions were left in the hands of the UPND led by the Lawyer who now wants to contest for MP for some constituency in Lusaka. But all of us as participants appended our signatures on that document because we had all agreed on the resolutions,” he says.

Mr. Nakacinda says it is shocking that they have now turned away and rejecting resolutions that they were party of.

He adds that the amendments under the Bill 10 are holistic as they were agreed on by all political parties and other stakeholders in the country and should be supported by all progressive Members of Parliament and the general citizenry.

“As Select Committee Chair, I am very confident that when it comes to considering that Bill, there are patriotic MPs both sides; from ruling as well as the opposition be it the MMD, UPND, FDD and Independent that will do Zambia proud”.

And on tribalism, the MMD nominated Member of Parliament says tribalism has no place in the country.

He notes that the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) and its leader, Hakainde Hichilema, have no moral right to lecture Zambians on the vice as they are the ones that hold the tag.

Mr. Nakachinda says there is no way the UPND can stand to condemn tribalism as they are tagged as such especially its leader, Hakainde Hichilema.

The nominated Member of Parliament says if the UPND is to be considered a national party, Hakainde Hichilema should consider stepping down for someone who will be neutral.

“At one rally, the late Munkombwe, MHSRIP, endorsed HH and saying it was time for a Tonga in HH to be President. And Hichilema seemed to be agreeable to it and started what we call in Tonga as kuyabila. HH should have rejected that if he was not in support of the action. HH today has not moral authority to talk about ending the vice because it is in him,” says Mr. Nakacinda.

Asked on internal MMD party matters, Mr. Nakacinda says the Court is yet to make a decision on a matter before it in contestation with the Nevers Mumba camp.

““The matters over MMD have not been exhausted. We have appealed and that appeal is still active in Court. So let him (Nevers Mumba) be patient for the Court to conclude,” he says.

Mr. Nakacinda however says it is arrogance for Nevers Mumba to write to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Republican President Edgar Lungu questioning his continued stay in Parliament as MMD nominated MP.

He says no one should question the Presidents prerogative as it is only the President who decides who he should work with,” he adds.

“Nevers Mumba is knocking wanting to work with the PF. The good thing is that the Bible says ‘In my father’s house there are many rooms’. Just be honest and say naine ndefwaya ukwingila. You can come we work together,” he notes as the crowd burst into laughter.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nakacinda also asked the Media to help the country by being more professional in reporting especially on the recent happenings of gassing.

“Politicians should not use you with their money for you to be unprofessional or side with the wrongs being peddled. Be professional and bring out the truth so that the country is well informed,” he said.

The Nominated MP has since called for national unity and embracing of peace if the country is to progres

By Diggers Editor

In 2011 before the PF formed government, the exchange rate was around K7,000 to a dollar (K7 rebased). External total debt was at US$3.5 billion. The PF went to the people of Zambia and said “the country’s economy is in a mess; vote for us, we can fix this”. They put reducing the exchange rate, external debt, lowering taxes and putting more money into people’s pockets on their campaign agenda.

By committing to do this, the PF signed a social contract with the voters, the people of Zambia. This is the reason why the citizens of this country moved en masse to vote out the MMD government of Rupiah Banda on September 20, 2011.

We are here not to insult the Patriotic Front but to remind them that statistics don’t lie. The people of Zambia know how much the price of mealie meal was before PF formed government, they know what the exchange rate was, they know where the external debt stood.

Now, the PF wants to be re-elected in 2021. We are saying, there is no problem with that wish. They have every right to seek a fresh mandate to continue governing. But we are asking them to join us as we look at the issues, the statistics and records of what they have done since they formed government.

You people set your own deliverables and targets to meet, not once but three times. In 2011, in 2015 and in 2016. If we consider Mr Rupiah Banda as a benchmark, how do you rate yourselves against that? Whatever economic crisis we had with the MMD government, you promised that you would do better. So the people gave you an opportunity in 2011, 2015 and 2016. You have been in power for nine years so far. What is your achievement?

Don’t tell us about the roads; those don’t have a direct impact on a university graduate who has no use for his or her degree because there are no jobs in the industries. If you point at the roads, we will also remind you that the roads are from borrowed money, an accumulation of which has brought us to the US$11.2 billion external debt.

If a parent buys shoes for a school-going child for the first time using borrowed money, that cannot be called an achievement, you cannot brag about that. It’s different if you generated income from other means of production. These roads which are still being built have not been paid for, future generations will find us still struggling to clear these loans. Can that be cause for celebration? We don’t think so.

So, without the roads, the question remains unanswered: what has the PF done in nine years to deserve a fresh mandate for ruling this country? We are asking the PF again, why do you want another five years in power?

After 20 years of power, Zambians kicked out MMD because PF convinced them that things would be far better. Are we better at $11.2 billion external debt level? Are imports cheaper at an exchange rate of K15 to a dollar? Are citizens happy with the current inflation rate? Do the youths have more money in their pockets?

To us, this is failure to honour a social contract for governance. Now the Mines Minister likes giving this example when talking about a mining investor called Vedanta Resources whom the government has chased for failing to honour promises. Honourable Musukwa says the company has lost its social contract because they kept making false promises about injecting capital.

How different is the PF from the investor whom they chased from Konkola Copper Mines? To us, Vedanta is actually excusable because that is a private entity. If Vedanta failed, as Minister Musukwa claims, then they failed because government failed to supervise and monitor their activities. If there was a degeneration of production, government allowed it! You can’t turn around and act as if the mine was operating in Congo. If they were not paying taxes, where were you?

Whatever their shortcomings, investors need the protection of government. You cannot be in the forefront of inciting the public to say ‘this company has breached the operating social contract and as such, they will be harmed if they come back’, who told you that? Which miner in Chingola or Chililabombwe said “we want to kill investors who have aggrieved us?” If an investor has done wrong, you take them to court and if found wanting, you can punish them appropriately. But you cannot engage in threats and extra judicial activities.

We are saying to PF that unlike Vedanta, you got elected by the people of Zambia, you are not a private company free to do as you please. You asked for the votes from people and they gave you the mandate to rule, now the people have the right to ask you for a performance appraisal.

Don’t point fingers at investors, you have failed the people of Zambia by lying and stealing from them, you have lost the social contract to govern.

By Agness Changala-Katongo

Constitutional lawyer and State Counsel John Sangwa has insisted that President Edgar Lungu does not qualify to contest elections for the third time as the Constitution clearly bars him from doing so.

And Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) general secretary Father Emmanuel Chikoya says Zambia’s democracy is in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and something should be done about it before it is lost.

Meanwhile, Electoral Commission of Zambia director (ECZ) Patrick Nshindando has disclosed that corporation partners so far approached to help fund political parties to travel to Dubai to monitor the printing of ballot paper have refused to help.

Speaking during a News Diggers organized discussion forum under the theme ‘political violence and the state of democracy’ which featured him, Fr Chikoya and Nshindando, Sangwa said it will be interesting to see how the Electoral Commission of Zambia would handle President Lungu’s nomination papers, because the Constitution was very clear that he did not qualify for a third term.

Sangwa said what would be of interest is to see how Nshindando and Collegues at the ECZ would respond to this when President Lungu goes to file in his nomination papers as they had a right to reject them.
“What will be of interest is what Mr Nshindando and his colleagues will do when hopefully President Lungu files his papers. We will see what they are going to do because they have the right to reject the nomination papers so will see what they are going to do,” he said.

He said the Constitution does not talk about the number of years one has served but the number of times they are elected.

“I know people have various views but here is my view. You see when you read the language of the Constitution, it is very clear. The bottom line is this, President Lungu does not qualify to stand for elections in 2021. The issue is as simple as that,” Sangwa said. “It is the number of times you get elected.”

He said according to the Constitution, one was elected twice and they are done.

“The Constitution only expects you to get to contest or being elected twice. Once you have been elected twice, that’s it. You are done and that is still the position of the law,” Sangwa said. “They have totally missed it.

By Aaron Chansa (A personal piece)

INTRODUCTION

Between 1972 and 1990,during the dreaded UNIP one Party rule, only the labour movement,the Church and Students spoke for the Zambian people.Trade Unions remained steadfast and fearless as watch- dogs of the interests of their members and interests of all Zambians.Today,the story is totally different.

HISTORY OF TRADE UNIONISM AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT IN ZAMBIA

By whatever measure, Copperbelt miners played critical roles in the introduction of African trade unionism in Northern Rhodesia,the nation we now call Zambia.The first Union by Africans started on the Copperbelt in 1949.It was called African Mine Workers Union( UMU) and its leader was Lawrence katilungu.History insists that Katilungu had exceptional leadership qualities , superior organizational abilities and unique negotiating skills.Despite his very humble educational background, Lawrence Katilungu had tremendous self – confidence and tantalising charisma.This made it easy for him to mobilise and make the AMU( now Mine Workers Union of Zambia-MUZ) very powerful.Whenever Katilungu spoke,we are told,the whole government shook.

In 1950,AMU and other Unions federated to form the Trade Union Congress(TUC).As expected,Katilungu was elected president of TUZ.As President of TUZ, Katilungu smartly guarded the independence of the labour movement from politics.This too,I must specially note,was one of his achievements as a Union leader .

After ZAMBIA got independence on 24th October,1964,the UNIP Government supported formation of one umbrella body for all trade Unions in Zambia.Through an Act of Parliament of 1965,the Zambia Congress of trade Unions (ZCTU) was born.The birth of ZCTU cemented the vital space of the labour movement in a brand new country ; a country that had no idea of where it was heading in terms of politics and industrial relations.

In 1975,after the ZCTU scathingly attacked UNIP policies and programs,KK forcefully reminded union leaders that the UNIP party was more supreme than any institution in the country.This reaction from Kaunda shocked all Unions and workers in Zambia.I must admit that I am also not sure what the President meant in warning the labour movement.Very shocking warning indeed.Dont forget that at this time ,it was ,,”Party and Its Government( PIG)” syndrome.Kaunda and UNIP were almighty.

F.T.J AS LEADER OF THE LABOUR MOVEMENT IN ZAMBIA

In 1974, Frederick Jacob Titus Mpundu Chiluba was elected as ZCTU Chairman General ( President now), against a very powerful MUZ president,David Mwila.Analysts of trade unionism in Zambia have revealed that the prime sponsors of Chiluba,s candidature for ZCTU presidency were Newstead Zimba and Chitalu Sampa.Before bagging the ZCTU presidency,Chiluba had been President of National Union of Building Engineers and General Workers( NUBEGW).As president of ZCTU,Chiluba displayed rare courage ,charisma and eloquence that saw him become a national spokesman for Zambian workers and a national hero.This heroism ,as fate would have,helped him to become Zambian,s Second President.

In 1981,miners on the Copperbelt went on vicious strikes and this forced KK to ban strikes in the country.Chiluba and Zimba were arrested and detained for three months without trial.Later, Chiluba was invited to accept a very lucrative Government job but he refused.He chose to remain ZCTU President until he was overwhelmingly voted as Republican President in 1991.

TRADE UNIONISM AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT IN ZAMBIA AFTER 1991

Until 1993,ZCTU was the sole umbrella organization of all trade Unions in Zambia.The law was then changed to allow for Unions to form as many federations as possible.Zambia ratified ILO convention no.87,guaranteeing Zambian employees the right to form or join a Union of choice.This gave birth to the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia ( FFTUZ).The formation of FFTUZ,I recall, brought untold divisions and disunity within the labour movement in our Country.There was a clear tug of war between the ZCTU and the FFTUZ.At one time ,ZCTU supported the breaking away of SESTUZ and the Technical and Trades Lecturers Union(TTLU) from ZNUT.In a similar fashion ,the Bankers Union of Zambia and the Zambia Revenue Workers Union were splinter Unions from Zambia United Financial and Allied Workers Union ( ZUFIAWU).Some of use expected more damage in the labour movement,owing to the spirit of liberalism that had set base in the labour movement.

Even when the labour movement was getting weaker because of splinting and massive divisions,the country still boasted of some great Unionists such as Leonard Hikaumba,Joyce Nonde,Japhet Monde,Yotam Mtayachalo and Roy Mwaba.I vividly remember how Hikaumba and Madam Nonde fearlessly spoke for Zambian workers .At one time ,during labour day,Mr Hikaumba,then ZCTU President, openly differed with Republican President, Levy Mwanawasa over labour issues .That time,one would say that Wokers in Zambia had some hope for better conditions of work because of a fearless labour movement.

Many years later,Zambia saw the formation of dozens of Unions and another federation called Congress of Trade Unions in Zambia( COTUZ).We have seen many Unions breaking away from mainstream Unions while others have disaffiliated from the ZCTU.Infighting in Unions,deep rooted divisions and very weak alliances have characterised the labour movement in Zambia ,in recent years.

The mushroom of splinter Unions after 1990 has brought many difficulties in the way these organizations are operating.Today,many Zambians have given up on trade Unions.Zambians are saying that union leaders have stopped representing interests of members but are representing individual interests.Personally,I totally agree with millions of Zambians who are saying the labour movement in Zambia is dead.

On 24th December,2018,then Labour Commissioner,Chanda Kaziya,revealed that Union leaders were living lavishly ,and that most Trade Unions were not representing their members.Mr Kaziya stressed that there was no justification in Union leaders getting 1000% more money than the workers they were representing.He gave an example of one Union leader who was earning more than K51,000 per month.The former Labour was very correct ,and I think that this kind of abuse must be arrested now and not tomorrow.

CONCLUSION

My honest view is that when you have a poralised and divided labour movement in a country as poor as Zambia ,then industrial disharmony sets in.You are courting trouble for the workers.You are warmly inviting the state to take advantage of the situation and run with all the privileges of being the “big guy” in industrial relations.The good news is that the law allows workers in Zambia to resign from their Unions if they are not happy with their organization.And since the labour movement in Zambia is dead,by all standards ,members of Unions must use their right to leave the unions and use the saved money to buy other important items.

The views expressed in the article above are personal and do not represent any organization.

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SPEAKER of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini has ruled that the three UPND members of parliament who walked out of the House before Bill 10 could be restored, were not out of order, despite participating in the National Dialogue Forum.

On December 3, 2019, Zambezi East UPND member of parliament Brian Kambita, his Lukulu East and Kapiri-Mposhi counterparts Christopher Kalila and Stanley Kakubo, respectively, walked out of the House out on First Deputy Speaker Catherine Namugala in disagreement to the motion.

This was right before Deputy Speaker Namugala asked the remaining members of parliament whether or not they agreed to the motion, which was still resolved in the affirmative via a simple majority.

But on December 4, 2019, as MPs were debating head number 52 relating to the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, Deputy Chief Whip and Kabwe Central PF member of parliament Tutwa Ngulube rose on a point of order, asking the Speaker to determine whether or not his colleagues, who had walked out of the House the previous day were in order.

“Thank you, Sir, for allowing me to rise on this important point of order affecting the affairs of this nation. The people of Zambia are aware that there is a very important process that this House is mandated to undertake and that is to approve the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill Number 10. Mr Chairperson, we are aware that more than 16 UPND members of parliament participated at the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) and earned allowances at the expense of the people of Zambia. As a House, we are elected to pass laws. Sir, throughout the process, these 16 members of parliament earned allowances, some for more than 12 days and others for more than 17 days. I believe that the people of Zambia elected all of us to pass laws and not to do politics. Sir, when the Committee was appointed to scrutinize the Bill that came from NDF, again, five members of UPND sat on the Committee and earned allowances. Mr Chairperson, we are aware that if an individual is a member of a Committee, they cannot vote against their own Bill, they cannot walkout or even protest against their own Bill. Sir, are the following members of parliament in order not to refund the people of Zambia the money they earned on the pretext that they were helping the government or the people of Zambia to pass the Constitution?” asked Ngulube.

“Mr Chairperson, were the following members of parliament in order to have walked out of parliament yesterday when their report was supposed to be tabled: Mr B. Kambita, MP; Dr C.K. Kalila, MP, and Mr S.K. Kakubo, MP. They were actually five, but honourable Kasonso and honourable Prof Lungwangwa decided to do the correct thing by sitting in the House, while three of them decided to go against the standing orders. These were members of the Select Committee, where they in order? I will now read the list of the members of parliament that participated at the NDF to come up of with the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill Number 10. These are as follows: Mr R. Bulaya, MP; Mr L. Fungulwe, MP; Mr S. Kakukubo, MP; Dr. C. Kalila, MP; Ms. C. Kasanda, MP; Mr. T. Kasonso, MP; Ms. P. Kucheka, MP; Mr D.M. Kundoti, MP; Mr. Liefu, MP; Mr V. Lumayi, MP; Mr. M. Mubeka, MP; Mr M. Mukumbuta, MP; Ms. S. Bulyata, MP; Mr. S. Mutaba, MP; Mr C. Nanjuwa, MP; and M. Ndalameyi, MP.”

In his immediate response, Second Deputy Speaker Mwimba Malama, sitting as Chairperson of the Committee of Supply, reserved his ruling to enable an investigation in the matter to be conducted.

And delivering the final ruling after the investigations, Dr Matibini ruled that the affected MPs did not have to refund government for the allowances they drew during the NDF because they participated in the entire Forum.

“Honourable members, the point of order by Mr T. S. Ngulube raises the following issues: firstly, whether members of the UPND, who were part of the National Dialogue Forum, were in order not to refund the government the money they earned as a result of the their participation in the NDF, and two, whether it was in order for the three members of the Committee tasked to consider the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill Number 10 of 2019 to walk out of the Assembly when the report was supposed to be tabled in the House. I wish to confirm that all the members mentioned in Honourable T.S. Ngulube MP’s point of order, except for Dr. C.K. Kalila, MP, attended the NDF. Honourable members, as to whether members of the UPND, who attended the NDF, should refund government the money, which they earned as a result of their attendance, you may wish to note that the basis of paying members was their attendance at the NDF as provided by law. In this vein, there is, therefore, no basis upon which UPND members, who attended the NDF, should refund the money because they walked out on the motion to restore the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill Number 10 of 2019 was being considered,” Speaker Matibini ruled.

“Honourable members from the outset, let me state that the question that was before the House on the material day and time was whether the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill Number 10 of 2019, which lapsed as a result of the prolongation of the National Assembly on August 2, 2019, could be restored on the order paper. In this regard, contrary to Honourable T.S. Ngulube’s assertion in his point of order, the House was not considering the report of the Parliamentary Committee appointed to scrutinize the Bill. Thus, the question whether or not it was in order for the members to vote against their report by walking out did not even arise.”

And ruling on whether or not the three MPs were out of order to have walked out of the House, the Speaker ruled that the lawmakers’ walkout was a means through which they could express their displeasure on an issue affecting the House or the governance of the country.

“As regards a member walking out of the House, I have previously ruled on various occasions that a boycott or a walkout is a conventional means through which a member of parliament can express his or her displeasure on an issue affecting the House or the governance of the country. Honourable members, in view of the foregoing, the members of the UPND, who walked out when the House was considering the motion to restore the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill Number 10 of 2019 on the order paper, were, albeit inexplicably so, expressing their displeasure or disagreement to the restoration to the Bill on the order paper. Therefore, the three members of the Select Committee, who walked out during the consideration of the motion to restore the Bill on the order where not out of order. I thank you,” ruled Speaker amidst a rapturous cheer from UPND MPs present in the House.

By Staff Reporter

Bayport Financial Services has introduced the DDACC system to recover money owed to the institution by civil servants, in view of government’s failure to remit workers deduction since mid-2019.

And Bayport is closing several branches across the country, including the Kariba Branch along Cha Cha Cha road, whose last operating day is tomorrow, in an effort to make their operations lean and centralised in light of the harsh economic climate.

Well placed sources in the institutions told Daily Revelation that the company decided to introduce the Direct Debit and Credit Clearing (DDACC) system, where money meant for the financial institution is deducted directly by banks from the civil servants bank account where they receive their pay.

The sources said the financial institution had over 100,000 customers working for the government, and was owed close to K400 million at the last time of checking, saying the lack of government remittances has had a negative impact on its operations.

The sources said as part of an effort to make the institution’s operations lean and centralised, 69 workers had recently gone on voluntary separation, while some branches will be closed, including the one on Cha Cha Cha road.

“Mainly it’s the workers who have served for a long time that have gone on voluntary separation, because even if they had not opted for voluntary separation, management would have come up with compulsory separation, because they really want to make the operations lean,” the sources said.

Government owes Bayport and other financial institutions millions of Kwachas for failing to remit monies it has been deducting from civil servants that got loan facilities from financial institutions.

The Civil Servants and Allied Workers of Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) has pleaded with the government to release monies deducted from its members and remit it to banks and financial institutions among them, Bayport Financial Services where they acquired loans.
Speaking with Daily Revelation recently, union president Davy Chiyobe disclosed that because of the government’s failure to remit money deducted from its members, some of them had been referred to the Credit Bureau and blacklisted.

He said when the union learnt of government’s failure to remit loan deductions for its members to banks and financial institutions last year, they wrote to then Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe but she failed to address the matter.

“We wanted the minister to show direction but she lamentably failed. She never responded. We tried calling her nothing. No appointment. She lamentably failed,” he complained.
The union urged the government to start remitting the money as this would enable them to access loans which they could not do without.-Daily Revelations

By Patson Chilemba

The fact that ruling PF officials are admitting that party members use the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to settle political scores shows how rotten PF has become, says party member Colonel Panji Kaunda.

Speaking with Daily Revelation on the attacks on the ACC by PF Lusaka Province secretary Kennedy Kamba that the commission must be disbanded for being used by party members to settle political scores against each other, and by the opposition to settle scores against ruling party members, Col Panji said if the commission had a problem, then it was emanating from the PF as a party, who had not given it the autonomy to operate independently.

He said the ACC had the right to investigate cases that were brought before them, be it from the ruling or opposition members as long as there were elements worth investigating in the matters brought before them. Col Panji said in the UNIP days there used to be what was called as the leadership code to put a curb on public officials so that they refrained from stealing while in public office.

“It shows how rotten we have become as a party that we are using the ACC to settle scores. It seems that if we agree with what Kamba is saying, we will be doing exactly what MMD did when they destroyed the apparatus such as leadership code and CITAD,” Col Panji said. “It doesn’t mean that every case taken to ACC must end up in conviction. The ACC is mandated to investigate corruption.”

Col Panji said PF leaders must not fear being investigated by ACC and other investigate wings, saying they were actually going against their own manifesto with their attacks, as they were supposed to be in the forefront strengthening and encouraging investigate wings.

“We as a party should give backing to the ACC. We must encourage them if necessary to even investigate the President. As far as I am concerned ACC should investigate as long as citizens take cases to them. If we are fighting for positions in the party and taking matters to ACC, it is us to stop that and not the ACC,” he said.

Speaking with Daily Revelation, ruling PF Lusaka provincial secretary Kennedy Kamba said the ACC must be disbanded because it has failed to serve the wider interests of the Zambian people, as it has allowed itself to be used by politicians to fight their political battles. He said politicians in the ruling party were using the ACC to fight their own enemies, while those in the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) were also using the Commission to fight members of the ruling party.
“I don’t want to mince my words, they should be disbanded because it (ACC) has been turned like a tool which is being used by politicians to fight political opponents. It is happening in the opposition and it is happening in the ruling party,” Kamba said “This is why I believe and I will continue saying that this ACC must be disbanded because it is not acting on its own, it’s being used as a tool to fight or to bring down other political enemies against each other, be it opposition or the ruling party.”

And Col Panji said information minister Dora Siliya should stop encouraging murder for saying that police should shoot to kill, saying there was nothing in the police training manual that said they must shoot to kill people. He said the only time a police officer could use a firearm was when their life was in danger, and that even then they should only shoot to maim and not to kill.

“Dora Siliya is advocating for murder. You can’t kill someone. It is definitely wring. In most countries police officers don’t even have guns,” said Col Panji. -Daily Revelations