Lozi People In Cabinet and HH

It’s not tribalism, I plead for your indulgence to listen/Read with an open mind. Despite the many Lozi people in prominent political Govt positions from Speaker of the National Assembly to Finance the Minister, we have not seen anyone defending HH against the Barotseland Nationalist publicly. He has been attacked mercilessly by this group and many Lozi people, with some even calling for secession. And this thing keeps on escalating but Lozi people in senior political position in UPND are quiet.

Why are they not speaking to their people? Does this mean they are sympathetic to the call of Barotseland establishment for secession? Where is the Speaker of the National assembly Nelly Mutti ,Where is the Minister of Finance Musokotwane, why is the UPND provincial elders in Western province not saying anything? Where are the MPs? Where is the Minister of infrastructure Milupi? And sensitive offices in security that I can’t mention on social media out of respect. This quiet diplomacy is just no longer working.

The Lozi have some good key positions in Government. We excuse the Lozi civil servants because they can’t get involved in such matters, and slightly excuse those working at State house because it will be seen like HH has sent them and cause more confusion. Where are the Lozi elders and leaders in political offices to defend their leader?

When the Kola foundation issued a statement that was against Government; Bembas lead by Kabuswe in Government including MPs came out to disown the group behind the letter. When the Umodzi Kum’mawa was first announced, we saw easterners including the Deputy Speaker, MPs and UPND Eastern province denounce the organization through a press conference.

Even Luapula United was condemned by people from Luapula in Government and politics. If you look at the above three organizations, they were not really calling for something sinister compared to what the Barotseland Nationalist is calling for.

Elo if it’s opposition political rally ati “we will crush you”, people just practicing their democratic rights.

I remember even RB was treated the same by some of the people in Government today, when he faced the same challenges with western province that lead to killing of people. If they had spoken out, am sure the issue would not have escalated to extremes or the way it’s escalate now.

MMD lost the Presidential elections by 100,000 votes that was attributed to declining numbers Western province. Ladies and Gentlemen for a lack of a better term, you can’t be eating and dining on the same table with HH and yet can’t defend him. You have to make your stand known. You are scared of political and spiritual consequences? It’s now unethical, cowardly, unZambian and a betrayal to remain quiet.

And Peter was asked “You also were with Jesus of Galilee?” And he denied him.

Nkonkomalimba Kapumpe

THE 24 MILLION KWACHA ISSUED IN GRANTS, LOANS & SKILLS IN CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY IS A RECORD BREAKER – NKOMBO.

LUSAKA CITY COUNCIL

PRESS STATEMENT
(For Immediate Release)

18th April, 2024

Local Government and Rural Development Minister Hon. Garry Nkombo has hailed President Hakainde Hichilema for equitably sharing the nation’s wealth through the unpreceded increment of the Constituency Development Fund – CDF.

Hon. Nkombo has disclosed that Chawama Constituency alone, has in the last three years received a total of 24 million Kwacha in skills training, loans and grants, a figure he said would have been disbursed in 15 years had the CDF allocation remained at the initial 1.6 million Kwacha per constituency.

‘’President Hakainde Hichilema is determined to continue with the increments in CDF so that each constituency and our people can fill the impact of these funds regardless of political party affiliation” remarked Hon. Nkombo.

The minister said that the new dawn government is walking the talk by ensuring that tangible development is brought closer to the people, and this can be seen through the speedy decentralization agenda.

The minister made these remarks during the handover of the 2024 grants and skills CDF disbursements where a tune of Two Million, Two Hundred & Thirty Thousand Kwacha (K2, 230, 000.00) was issued to 108 Cooperatives with a total sum of Seven Hundred, Six Hundred & Thirty -Five Thousand, Four Hundred Sixteen Kwacha (7, 635, 416 .00) handed to 815 skills training.

Others who received a share of the 2024 CDF funds included 70 boarding school students who received Two Hundred Forty-One Thousand, One Hundred Fifty Kwacha, Nine Ngwee (K 241 .150. 09).

Those present at the event included Lusaka District Commissioner Ms. Rosa Zulu, Chawama Ward 2 Councillor Jawara Karma, Councillor Davies Chembo from Nkoloma ward and Councillor Ponsilio Phiri from John Howard ward 3.

Others also at the handover event were Lilayi Ward 4 Councillor Bright Mafuta and CDF Chairperson Mr. Reuben Nkandu.

Issued By: Dorothy Phiri
Public Relations Officer
Lusaka City Council

WE NEED A SINCERE NATIONAL DIALOGUE, THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL

Today, our country is bedeviled with a lot of difficulties; ranging from the economy, politics and social issues.

There is an intensifying crisis of governance, rule of law, democracy and social cohesion in Zambia under Mr Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND.

The sharp rise in repression, ethnic bigotry, grand corruption, tribalism and many other vices has left a dark spot on the unity, patriotism, and democracy of our country. The truth is, things are no longer the same anymore. This country is deeply divided. It is in unfathomable problems. Political competitors, private citizens, and other critical voices are degraded and brutalized through unseen repression, and hardship without any tolerance and restraint.

It is no longer a secret that Mr Hichilema has set this country on a risky path of destruction. The thoughtless manner in which this administration has been circumventing the law and abusing state institutions is a clear testimony of the illegitimate intentions of this administration.

Mr Hichilema and the UPND have literally incapacitated the rule of law and constitutional order in the country, and are going about their daily business with impunity, without oversight or regard for the ethical, cultural, political and economic consequences of their actions.

They have been unashamed with their systematic destruction of state institutions with the single resolve of reigning with fear and terror. But what is the end game? For how long will they be on this path before the citizens push back? What type of country do they think will be built and developed on the back of repression, tribalism, corruption, and so on and so forth?

Mr Hichilma needs to know that a leadership that reigns with force, fear, and terror, and is devoid of consent and understanding of the citizens, ends up in grief. This country has come a long way to come and self-destruct in such a manner. There is need for stakeholders – the Church, political parties, civil society, traditional leaders, among many others – to find a clear path that can strengthen and repair relationships, nurture a deep sense of political and cultural or ethnic harmony as well as achieve consensus on critical economic, governance, development and democracy problems.

We need a sincere National Dialogue on Values, Governance, and Constitutionalism, Human Rights, Reconciliation, the Economy, Social Cohesion, and many more. We need to begin to find collective solutions to these problems.

Things are not going well. Let us avert any future and worse crises now. There is a need to build social cohesion and trust before the 2026 general elections.

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

Engage private millers, ECL advises HH

…to resolve the crisis of the mealie meal shortage and competitive pricing to cure the endless queues Zambians are being subjected to access the staple food

By NATION REPORTER
FORMER President Edgar Lungu has advised the UPND government to consider engaging private millers who have over the years worked with successive governments in managing the mealie meal market if the current crisis of Zambians queuing for the staple food has to be resolved.

And former President Lungu has said the Zambia National Service (ZNS) was never meant to take over the production and trading in the mealie meal market but the project was merely meant to supplement the private sector.

Commenting for the first time on the continued scarcity of the ZNS Eagle mealie meal which Zambians are now queuing and stampeding for, former President Lungu said ZNS had never had the capacity whatsoever to produce and meet the demand of the country’s staple food.
He said during his tenure as President, there were regular meetings with the private millers and grain traders to discuss how best to manage the mealie meal industry and that the private sector had always provided the best solutions.

Former President Lungu said under his administration, there was never a time when the country had a shortage of mealie meal and that because of the relationship government had with the private sector, the prices of mealie meal were always stable and affordable to citizens.

“When late President Michael Sata warned that we should never bring people into government who should do job on training, he meant every word. Zambians elected a leader who is learning how to govern but unfortunately, he is a slow learner. Even the few people that he listens to are also new and slow learners and this is the price we are paying for inexperience,” former President Lungu said.

“The ZNS was intended to supplement the efforts of the private milling sector and never meant to take over the market. Truth be told, ZNS has no capacity whatsoever to produce mealie meal and meet national demand.

Government should consider engaging private millers who have from time immemorial worked with successive governments to resolve the mealie meal crisis. Zambians are now being subjected to queuing for staple food in this day and era…it is unacceptable and should never have been allowed,” he said.
He recalled that the ZNS milling progeramme was mooted by the PF government whose original blueprint was not to take over the milling business market, warning that things could get worse than what was currently obtaining.
“It is a no brainer that the PF mooted the programme but ZNS was never designed to stifle the private sector. For me, it is not a surprise that we are where we are with citizens queuing up for mealie meal.

Even Dr Webster Chabe, the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Pastor has told him (President Hakainde Hichilema) to wake up because there is a real crisis of hunger in rural communities where this ZNS Eagle mealie meal is not distributed. I hope he will listen,” former President Lungu said.
Ends.

Daily Nation

PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA WILL ATTEND KUOMBOKA BECAUSE HE IS A CITIZEN OF ZAMBIA.

April 17th, 2024

The Litunga of the Barotseland has invited the Chitimukulu of the Bemba Royal Establishment as Guest of Honour at the 2024 Kuomboka Traditional ceremony of the lozi people of western province in a reciprocal gesture.

This follows the Litunga’s gracing of the 2023 Kusefya Pa Ngw’ena traditional Ceremony of the Bemba Speaking People.

This is in line with a recent government position and call on traditional leaders to hold traditional ceremonies devoid of political undertones but as platforms of cultural and traditional promotions and development.

We therefore find it strange that politicians are making a mileage out of President Hakainde Hichilema announced intentions to attend the Kuomboka Traditional ceremony this weekend.

What is wrong with President Hichilema attending the ceremony in his capacity as a citizen of this country and a subject of both chiefs to attend the ceremony in his capacity as a citizen? Why do we want to politicize even social events?

We wish to advise the opposition not to taint traditional ceremonies with their smear campaigns but allow the traditional authorities manage them without undue political pressure.

Zambia is built on a strong traditional and cultural foundation which has kept us together and fostered our national peace and unity in diversity.

The UPND respects and cherishes the role the traditional leadership have played and continue to play in fostering that national unity and we urge them to continue providing direction to all including the political sphere.

We therefore wish to state here in no uncertain terms that President Hakainde Hichilema reserves the right to visit any part of this country and participate in any activities both of political and traditional nature provided they foster national unity and economic development.

His intended visit to the Barotseland and subsequently the Kuomboka Traditional ceremony comes at the backdrop of him being a citizen of this country and a subject of traditional values and norms.

Let us not politicize the ceremony but allow everyone to participate without undue pressure.

Issued by:
Cheelo Katambo
Deputy Media Director – UPND

PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA DROUGHT DISASTER RESPONSE PACE NOT INSPIRING

Lusaka… Thursday April 18, 2024

The effects of El Hino as a result of global warming during the 2023/ 2024 rain season did not occur as a surprise.

The international weather monitoring agencies with state of the art equipment and technology on weather had shared valuable information and or data.

Proactive nations with level headed leadership began to prepare and put in place response measures to insulate their people and countries from adverse effects.

The discussions on global warming is not a new phenomenal, countries, academicians, researchers, environmentalists and many other international organizations such as the United Nations, World Health Organization, FAO, over two decades ago, have been raising alarm on the negative effects of global warming resulting from human’s poor stewardship of the God created environment.

In the response to the drought in Zambia the President Mr Hakainde Hichilema declared the situation as a nation disaster.

Ordinarily such a declaration could have gone in details to provide the response measures that government had drafted to minimize the negative impact on the people’s social economic well-being.

Unfortunately all President Hakainde Hichilema did was the usual rhetorical pronouncements saying no Zambian will starve or die of hunger.

Why did the President assure the nation when he didn’t have the monetary resources to provide relief to the citizens!!!

This is not the first time Zambia is faced with drought, previous Presidents ably responded with the urgency the situation required.

Up to now President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration has not offered any relief to the starving citizens except for social media lip services.

President Hakainde Hichilema must quickly come to real terms with the hunger and social economic hardships that the people are facing.

He must provide escalated solutions.

Hunger Zambians will not wait for the President’s international begging bowl to fill, when the country has so many and or endured with God given mineral and natural wealth to tap into in response for a rainy day.

President Hakainde Hichilema must work at the pace that a condition declared a national disaster requires instead of placing Zambian citizens at the back of the international begging nations line.

The people requires immediate solutions not rhetoric and or lamentations from the President.

Francis Chipili
Business and Political Analyst

On Tuesday, the first seven people to decide if Donald Trump broke the law by paying hush money were chosen. Lawyers asked them questions about their social media, politics, and personal lives to make sure they can be fair to Trump.

The people chosen for the panel are an IT worker, an English teacher, a nurse who works with cancer patients, a salesperson, a software engineer, and two lawyers.

Eleven more people need to promise to tell the truth before the trial can start next week. It is the first trial of a former president. This is a crucial time for Trump. He has been trying to delay his court cases until after the November election and says that he is being treated unfairly by the justice system for political reasons.

The trial is making Trump’s legal problems the focus of his close election race against President Joe Biden. This is the first of four cases against Trump that will go to trial. It might be the only one where a decision is made before people vote for the Republican presidential nominee.

The careful process happening in a Manhattan courtroom shows how hard it is to find fair judges for the controversial defendant in the city where he built his real estate empire before becoming president in 2016. However, picking the jury happened faster than expected on Tuesday afternoon. It was supposed to start again on Thursday.

After leaving the courthouse, Trump stopped in the hallway to talk to reporters about the case. He said Judge Juan Merchan was rushing the trial. He says he didn’t do anything wrong.

Trump said that we will keep fighting against this judge. He tried to have the judge removed from the case, but he was not successful.

Later on Tuesday, Trump went to a store in Harlem. Someone asked him what he thought about the people who were deciding his case. He said it was too soon to know for sure, and we will have to wait and see what happens.

In the past two days, lots of possible jurors were let go because they said they couldn’t be fair or because they had other plans. Trump’s lawyers questioned a few people about their social media posts, and one person was let go because of a post from 2017 that said “Lock him up. ”

Some potential jurors told the judge that they thought they could make a fair decision in the case, regardless of their opinions about Trump or his policies as president.

Trump watched in the courtroom while potential jurors, whose names are only known to the prosecutors, Trump, and their legal teams, talked about their lives and opinions of him. The judge scolded Trump for talking loudly and using big hand gestures while the judge asked a lady about a post on social media.

“I didn’t understand what he was saying, but I could hear his voice and he was using his hands to communicate. ” “He was talking to the jury,” Merchan said. I won’t put up with that. I won’t allow anyone to scare the jurors in this courtroom.

Lawyer Joshua Steinglass challenged Trump’s reputation directly, telling potential jurors that they didn’t have to be completely unaware of recent events. They just needed to be open-minded.

This situation is not about your own political beliefs. It’s not about judging President Trump or trying to see who you will vote for in November. We are not concerned. This is about whether the man did something against the law.

Trump says he didn’t do the bad things he’s accused of. They say he lied about his business records to hide embarrassing stories about his sex life during his 2016 campaign.

The trial is going to go on for six weeks or longer. Some people in the jury might have plans for Memorial Day and after that.

A man was let go because he was worried he couldn’t be fair. He thought his past and job might make him automatically favor certain people.

“I’m not sure I can be fair,” another person told the judge. “I will give it a shot. ” “But I’m not completely sure I can be fair. ” She was also fired.

A person picked for the jury said they think Trump is interesting and that he always makes people feel strongly when he enters a room.

Another woman said she doesn’t like what Trump does and gets annoyed with him sometimes. However, she promised to be fair and unbiased. She told the defence lawyer that she would do her best to make a fair decision if she was chosen for the jury.

“I couldn’t sleep last night because I was thinking about if I could do that,” she said.

Trump smiled and nodded big when one person said he read two of the former president’s books, “The Art of the Deal” and “How to Get Rich. ” The man, who said some of his wife’s family members work for the Republican Party, said he didn’t think there was anything that would stop him from looking at the case fairly.

“He said that everyone should follow the law. ”

The charges are about Trump’s company paying $130,000 to his lawyer, Michael Cohen. He gave money to stop Stormy Daniels from telling everyone about her time with Trump. Trump said that the meeting never happened.

Prosecutors say that the money given to Cohen was recorded as legal fees, but it wasn’t true. The prosecutors said the money was part of a plan to hide harmful information.

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

·
GOLD SCANDAL-Officially helping the criminals

…the scandal in the handling of the scandal…

1. On 13th August 2023, a Whistle-Blower lifted the lid on the on-going multi-million dollar crime occuring on the Apron of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

2. The matter was so hot that despite the investigations on-going, we were treated to three major press conferences in a space of two days, one by Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Paul Kabuswe who claimed it was a small matter of iron, tin and alumunium and warned politicians not to alarm the nation.

DEC finally confirmed the major scandal announcing that it had detained 11 people, confiscated $5.7million, including guns and an executive aircraft.

Finally President Hakainde Hichilema came on to allay fears that he could be shielding State House officials allegedly involved in the brewing international scandal.

3. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Jack Mwiimbu also responded to demands of MPs and issued a Ministerial Statement.

He said the following items were found and seized from the aircraft:
(a)
US$5,697,700;
(b)
602 bars of purported gold weighing about 127.28 kg:
(c)
four bars of gold, weighing 1,414.17 g, authenticated by the relevant authorities;
(d)
five pistols and eleven pistol magazines;
(e)
126 rounds of ammunition; and
(f)
one drilling machine

He stated that based on the findings, law enforcement agencies decided to charge five
Egyptians and six Zambians with espionage on the premise that they accessed the air-side, which
is a restricted area, for purposes that were prejudicial to safety and interest of the Republic of
Zambia, contrary to Section 3 (a) of the State Security Act, Cap. 111 of the Laws of Zambia.

He also stated that on the other hand, the four crew members of the Global Express jet were cleared and released from
custody and were allowed to return to their different countries.

He also confirmed that on Friday, 1st September, 2023, the DPP, Gilbert Phiri, entered a nolle prosequi in respect of the five Egyptians and one Zambian national, while the rest were committed to the High Court.

4. They hard tried to hide the crime. It became clear that a cover-up was underway anyway.

Of all the powerful people involved, undue attention was shifted and focus to a Lusaka businessman and goldsmith, Alex Kasanda. The media were carried in tow to search his house and courtrooms making him the centre of the transaction.

5.Soon the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Gilbert Phiri discharged six key figures in the scandal following the Nolle Prosquei. Phiri ordered the relase of the five Egyptians; Walid Botros, Mounir Awad, Mohamed Gooda , Yasser ABDELGHAFOR and Michael Botros.

The Zambian suspect who also walked to freedom is Chartered Accountant and Chairperson of the Bene Mukuni Traditional Ceremony, Mulungu Oswald Diangamo.

6. Shortly after that,the Egyptians were given permission to leave the country.

7. It wasn’t long before the plane and the money followed them.

8. On Friday, 12th April, 2024 we received reports that the plane, which was under legal seizure and forfeiture ptocess was hurriedly being prepared for departure. And during the evening, the plane taxied and took off!

The Bombardier Global Express, BD-T7-700-1A10 (T-WSS) aircract belongs to IBIS Air (PTY) Ltd and World Aviation Sinai Int’l Ltd.

9. Under our laws this was tainted property and that’s why DEC, ZRA and Law Enforcement Agencies routinely seizes not only the contraband but vessels or vehicles involbed in the crimes.

10. The Drug Enforcement Commission and the DPP claim that since there was an application by representatives of IBIS Air and others before the Lusaka High Court under the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crimes Act of 2010, Section 12, where third party can lay claim, the authorities decided to oblige and release the aircraft under a Consent Judgement.

11. Why a Consent Judgement? Why didn’t the DPP defend the seizure and forfeiture in court? Why enter into this Consent Agreement? To whose benefit and interest are we serving if such a high value property, valued in excess of $20million can be released without even the pretence of a court hearing?

12. They said everyone would face the law but they released the Egyptians, they said no assets involved in the crime will be released, but the plane has been released..they say $5.7million has been forfeited to the State….just wait, it’s a matter of time….meanwhile the poor Zambians in the case will be sacrificed…

EDGAR LUNGU’S ELIGIBILITY CASE MOVES TO JUNE

From the Concourt , Lusaka Zambia.

The matter in which a Lusaka resident sought to establish whether Edgar Lungu, the sixth President of Zambia qualified to stand in the 2021 elections has been pushed forward to the June session of the Constitution Court said Makebi Zulu, the sixth President’s lawyer.

Counsel Zulu also expressed concern at the fact that President Lungu´s ´eligibility case´ has been heard five times already by the same court returning with the same conclusion—he was constitutionally eligible to run for re-election in the last poll.

“Today we raised preliminary issues to the effect that this is fifth time the eligibility case of the sixth President is being heard by the same court,” said Zulu.

According to official court records, President Lungu´s case has been once taken to the Concourt by Reverend Dan Pule, Bampi Kalasa, Legal Resources Foundation sued and Sishuwa Sishuwa jointly with the Chapter One foundation.

“This time around one Michelo Chizombo sued (President Lungu) claiming the same issues of eligibility raised in previous matters yet again,” said counsel Zulu.
“Today we raised preliminary issues to say that the matter has already been dealt with,” said Zulu.

After so much drama, heavily armed police and UNZA students believed to have been bused to the Supreme Court premises in Lusaka where the court is housed, however, the case failed to take off on a logistical glitch of lack of electricity and font size of court papers filed in defence of President Lungu.

“Because of load shedding (poor light) we couldn’t proceed today. We will be back in June session of concourt life,” said lawyer Makebi Zulu outside the court grounds in an address to the media.

The sixth President was escorted to court by top party stalwarts that include vice president Given Lubinda, leader of the opposition in parliament Hon. Brian Mundubile, Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda, former Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji and Ms. Mumbi Phiri.

President Lungu´s case has the potential of setting into motion a series of legal impasses crushing because if he is declared to have not qualified to run in 2021, every appointment he made could be illegal, including that of the constitutional court judges according to legal experts.

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
Why are we begging 🥣?

1. You had adequate national maize stock reserves, you exported it.

2. FISP has always been a savior, you engaged in disruptive and corrupt behaviour, bangled the distribution of farming inputs, three years in a roll.

3. You continously engaged in wasteful expenditure such undertaking 67 unnecessary international trips.

5. You delibetately gave away revenue from the mining sector and the annual revenue has dropped from $1.1billion in 2019 ,2020 and 2021,to a paltry $250million a year.

6. Even opportunities such as the sale of Mopani Copper Mines which has earned ridiculous and scandalous transaction fees of $15.7million to Rothschild &Co and Baker McKenzie, is so bad that no money is coming into the Treasury. The $620million price for the 51% Mopani Copper Mine shares is a mere investment pledge into the capital projects and operation capital for the mine, investment that should be separate from the share sale price.

7. In July 2023, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network( FEWS NET) warned of the impending El Niño weather phenomenon and impending food insecurity that would affect Southern Africa in 2024. You kept on exporting the maize.

In November 2023, FEWS-NET again warned of the severe dry spells that would occur in January and February 2025, what did you do with this information? You didn’t advise the farmers and even scaled up the export of maize.

Awe teti muchinchile lilya kawa!

7. Even when you have been warned that six million people may be affected by the famine, your priorities and focus remain in fighting and decimating the Opposition, abusing human rights, closing the democratic and media space and continously engaging in wasteful expenditure.

When we remind you of what ought to be national priorities, you accuse us of politicizing matters.

Chinjeni!

Stop begging, deal with the crisis.

Mweetwa Threatens KBNTV over toilets

…asks IBA to probe the private station, raises fear…

17.04.24

Ministerial briefing

Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa has issued a veiled threat against privately owned media house KBNTV whom he has accused of peddling propaganda and politics instead of real news during a press conference at his office.

Mweetwa also signalled the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), the media regulator of Zambia to investigate the content of media houses like KBNTV run by Pastor Kennedy Mambwe.

“Let´s be of good use when disseminating information to the public by channelling out good information to the public and not to be used as purveyors of lies and misinformation,” said an angry Mweetwa.

“I recently witnessed with gross horror and consternation a TV station KBNTV hosting a discussion on the President (Hichilema) of the republic of Zambia commissioning one toilet in Kitwe and opening phone lines allowing unsuspecting citizens to make comments on an uninformed basis and creating a caption that the diaspora is disappointed with the President,” said Mweetwa.

Mweetwa said he expected KBNTV and other media to investigate stories before going for discussion programmes on air and allegedly mislead Zambians through ´misinformation´.

Then came the ominous warning from Mweetwa to KBNTV, “as the Minister in charge I don’t want to be checking whether IBA is following up the content that some of our media outlets are feeding the nation in line with the provisions of the IBA Act of 2002 that sets out the conditions media houses must follow particularly with content.”

Mweetwa said, “the public must not be misinformed by some media houses who are doing partisan politics because the President wasn’t launching one toilet.”

Relations between Mweetwa and KNTV hit an all-time low recently when the widely followed TV station exposed the Minister when he tried to cover his tracks for admitting that government was responsible for fanning disunity in the previous administration of President Lungu and fanning tribalism to win elections.

In a ´hot off the mic´ with senior journalist Innocent Phiri recently, Mweetwa is heard asking KBNTV´s Phiri (IP) to clean his mess promising to pay him in return of ´cleaning up´ following the after math that saw Socialist Party President Dr Fred M´membe to report Mweetwa to police.

“You are my friend and ´ambassador´ you need to help me out on this (fanning tribalism), and I will pay you through friendship,” Mweetwa promised Phiri.

Dr M´membe´s complaint against Mweetwa filed in February to police has not been attended to yet while repeated calls by the SP leader have gone largely unanswered.

During the press conference, however, Mweetwa, the chief spokesman of government did not complain about the Times of Zambia, Daily Mail or ZNBC that openly cheer for the government without apology and is deemed as bias by commentators of media.

Analysts fear that Mweetwa´s call for the IBA to check the content of KBNTV could be a step towards a punitive measure in a country where the democratic space has been reported to be shrinking since August 2021.

Recently his permanent secretary during an appearance on KBNTV also accused the station of being ´sympathetic´ to the opposition led United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) without evidence, although the station always hosts government officials.

It is unclear how the IBA will react to the ‘instruction´ given to them by Mweetwa to investigate KBNTV matters.

The Ministers’ veiled threat is contained in the video clip here attached:

DR CHABE’S ADVICE TO HH TIMELY

…Brian Mundubile is advising President Hichilema never to consider the SDA Copperbelt Conference president as an enemy of the UPND after openly telling the head of State that he will soon be history.

Lusaka – Wednesday, 17 April 2024.

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema should begin looking at Dr Webster Chabe, the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Copperbelt Conference president as a messiah who has delivered the most difficult message against the one-party State, but for unity and national development on behalf of Zambians who are going through the worst economic hardships ever, Brain Mundubile has said.

Mr Mundubile, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament says President Hichilema should start looking at Dr Chabe, the Catholic Church, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and many other stakeholders who have spoken out on how bad things had become under the UPND as brothers who should be embraced.

Mr Mundubile, the Patriotic Front (PF) Mporokoso Member of Parliament said in an interview yesterday that what Dr Chabe told President Hichilema last week during his sermon was that the Catholic Church, OCiDA, LAZ, HRC and many others had been talking about and that it was time President Hichilema began looking at his praise singers with suspicion.

“We want to encourage Dr Webster Chabe, the SDA Pastor to continue speaking for the people and reminding President Hichilema that he will not be in that office forever. Indeed, soon and very soon, he will be history. It is our hope that President Hichilema will look at Dr Chabe as a true brother and not as a political enemy and should look at his praise singers, those who tell him theing are alright when in fact not with suspicion,” Mr Mundubile said.

“What Dr Chabe told President Hichilema and his government is what the Catholic Church has been saying. This is what LAZ, the Human Rights Commission, it is what OCida has been saying. President Hichilema should begin looking at Dr Chabe as a messiah who has delivered the most difficult message under very difficult circumstances,” he said.

He said it would be wise for President Hichilema and the UPND to look at Dr Chabe as a friend of the head of State and the ruling party.

Mr Mundubile stated that Dr Chabe was courageous enough to deliver a message on behalf of Zambians because the SDA Pastor wanted President Hichilema to receive first-hand information about the suffering of the people and the impending famine.

“Dr Chabe was also quick to ask President Hichilema what it was that he would be remembered for. President Hichilema should begin working on his legacy. I am happy that he did not segregate in his preaching and acknowledged that governments before the UPND had each left something to be remembered for.”

Former President Edgar Lungu will be remembered for championing various economic infrastructure, including modern international airports, roads, flyover bridges, the 650 health posts across the country and the more than 1, 000 classrooms.

Former President Lungu ended load shedding. President Rupiah Banda will be remembered for Formula One and a healthy economy.

What is it that President Hichilema will be remembered for? What Dr Chabe did is what all the Church leaders should be doing…speaking on behalf of the suffering citizens and not pleasing those in power,” Mr Mundubile asked.

And Mr Mundubile said Zambians were not prepared to go back to the one-party State and they shall frown and fight any attempts by the UPND to revert the country into a dictatorship.

“What we have, even when we claim that we are a constitutional democracy are memories of the one-party State. In Zambia today, under President Hichilema, Zambians are being denied their right to freedom of assembly and association, citizens are being stop from participating in elections, they are being detained without trial and for no reason at all, there is torture and extra-judicial killings. This is akin to one party state, Mr Mundubile said.

(Credit: Daily Nation Zambia)

Dear B Flow Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba

Listen to the true Active Citizen!

THE TRUTH HAS STARTED COMING-OUT
$24MILLION HAS BEEN RECOVERED

Law Enforcement Agencies have agreed with Milingo Lungu to forfeit his rights to claim the $24m in fees that he is supposed to be paid from the liquidation of KCM….
MILINGO LUNGU: $24M FACTS AND FICTION

BACKGROUND

In 2021, when UPND won the elections, Government sought to remove the court appointed liquidator at KCM, Mr. Milingo Lungu. However, Government did not have the legal mandate or powers to remove a Court appointed Liquidator. The Law enforcement agencies then started investigations and charged Mr Milingo Lungu with the theft of K4.4m from KCM and the being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime and seized a house worth over $750,000 which was believed to have been bought from the K4.4m taken from KCM without authority.

POLITRICKS

In a case that looked like it was straight out of a Jefferey Archer novel on Political mingalato, the DPP offered Milingo Lungu immunity from prosecution in exchange for relinquishing his role as Provisional liquidator of KCM. The deal was supposedly offered by State House and was a way of getting the liquidator out of the way. Were the charges genuine or bogus and used as a bargaining chip for the him to relinquish his role? We will never know, there was a public outcry that saw the DPP removed from her office without giving her side of the story (She has asked the court to lift her oath of secrecy so she could tell it all, the court denied the request)

FACTS

Under pressure from the public, the LEAs re-opened the case and re-arrested him over the same charges. The immunity was lifted.
So instead of prosecuting him for the crimes of theft of K4.4m and being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime, the LEAs again entered into a consent Judgement for Milingo Lungu to forfeit his rights to the $24m in fees that he is supposed to be paid from the liquidation of KCM. He did not forfeit the $24m, but the right to claim

By Chanda Hamukale!

JAPANESE BUSINESS CORPORATION EAGER TO INVEST IN ZAMBIA

Press Statement For Immediate Release

Tokyo, 17th April 2024

The Japanese government has pledged an investment of $1.5 billion United States Dollars to support investment by Japanese companies to boost Zambia’s mining sector.

Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Mr. Saito Ken says the Japanese business corporation is eager to invest in the country’s mining industry.

He said this during a bilateral meeting held earlier at the METI Offices in Tokyo.

And METI Vice Minister Mr. Taku Ishii reaffirmed the pledge during the Japan Zambia Investment Seminar in Tokyo today organised by the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

He said his government seeks support from the Zambian government once the investment becomes materialised and hopes to conclude the investment agreement as soon as possible.

“I have heard from the former Minister that His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema has high hopes for Japan to use its capital and technology to create value addition and jobs for the young generation in your country. Our country shares the same sentiment. We aim to build a win-win relationship that will create jobs in your country not only through mine development, but also through the creation of supply chains for smelting and processing, human resource development, and technical cooperation”, he said.

Mr. Ishii also explained that cooperation in the exploration field is also progressing between JOGMEC and the Zambian Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources arising from the Memorandum of Association signed between the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development and JOGMEC.

“We have already provided training in satellite exploration techniques to 159 government officials of your country through JOGMEC, and will continue to promote exploration and technical cooperation in a wider area, he added.

He explained that through such efforts, the Japanese government would like to support the establishment of a supply chain for important minerals by the public and private sectors of both countries and the further strengthening of business relations between the two countries.

Speaking at the same event, Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Mr. Paul Kabuswe stated that to enhance the beneficial cooperation in mineral exploration and mining, government is proposing collaboration and investment with Japan in areas such as continued cooperation and support in geological mapping of the country so that the geological mapping coverage is increased from the current 56.36% which ultimately is expected to increase investment in the exploration and mining sector.

Mr. Kabuswe also proposed continued cooperation and support in geochemical and geophysical mapping of the country which supplements geological mapping/exploration and ultimately increase investment in the exploration and mining sector.

He further sought continued cooperation and support in building capacity at the geological survey department in the area of geosciences particularly in new and advanced technology of geological, geophysical, and geochemical mapping among others.

Mr. Kabuswe expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for the long-standing relationship as the two countries celebrate 60 years of bilateral relations this year.

And JOGMEC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Ichiro Takahara said his organisation is committed to enhancing investment to Zambia especially in the mining sector.

Issued by Faith Nabeene Chilube
First Secretary Press and Public Relations
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia
Tokyo, Japan

EU HANDS OVER ELECTION REPORT

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation Mulambo Haimbe says the government will continue to seek European Union (EU) support in various electoral reforms.

Mr Haimbe says the EU has had a long-standing relationship with Zambia regarding the electoral observer missions which date back to 2001.

Speaking when the EU delegation handed over a final report of the EU election follow up mission, Mr Haimbe, who is also Minister of Justice, charged that there is a need for electoral reforms and cooperation with the EU before the 2026 elections.

ZANIS reports that Mr Haimbe has also emphasised the need to put in place electoral reforms by mid- 2025 in order to address various electoral issues in Zambia.

He thanked the EU for its continued support in the electoral observer mission in Zambia and looks forward to continued cooperation on key priorities areas.

And European Union Ambassador to Zambia Karolina Stasiak disclosed that the report being presented started in January 2024 and was spearheaded by Maria Elena, a member of the European Parliament.

Ms Stasiak said the report is independently done by experts conforming to international standards and does not represent the views of the delegation of the European Union.

Ms Stasiak said she had the opportunity to meet with a number of stakeholders such as the electoral commission, political parties including President Hakainde Hichilema to take stock of the implementation of the recommendations that the EU observation mission formulated in 2021.

She indicated that the report will be handed over to different stakeholders in Zambia and others that Ms. Arena met to discuss the progress made in electoral reforms, and what needs to be done before the 2026 elections to enhance the electoral process in the long term.

She said the report notes the progress in the adoption of the Access to Information Act and removal of the criminal defamation of the President from the penal code.

Ms Stasiak has commended the efforts that the government has made in other fields to adopt long term strategic reforms.

ATTORNEY GENERAL CLARIFIES MOPANI COPPER MINES (MCM Plc) TRANSACTION

In case you missed it, the Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, SC says Government followed the laid down procedure in the transaction involving the Partnership and Investment Agreement between ZCCM-IH and Delta Mining, a subsidiary of International Resources Holdings Limited (IRH), to capitalize and revive the troubled Mopani Copper Mines Plc. Article 210 of the Constitution which requires the approval of the National Assembly by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of Parliament was not violated.

Below are highlights from the Statement;

✅ The transaction involving Mopani Copper Mines PLC is not covered under Article 210 of the Constitution. Therefore, there is no need to subject it to the approval of the National Assembly as prescribed under the said Article.

✅The correct position of the law is that Article 210 of the Constitution applies in cases involving the sale, transfer, or disposal of a “Major State Asset” which for purposes of the said Article includes a parastatal and equity held by Government.

✅Mopani Copper Mines PLC (“Mopani”) is neither a parastatal nor is it a Company in which Government has equity.

✅Mopani is a Company incorporated under the Companies Act which is a separate legal entity from Government and transactions involving its issued shares are governed by the Regulatory Framework covered by the said Act.

✅ Government did not have any shares or equity in Mopani prior to the transaction and it is only through this transaction that Mopani issued and Government subscribed to 1 Special share in Mopani which will allow for Government to have a seat on the Board and be involved in the decisions of Mopani going forward.

✅The transaction has restored the position that existed post the privatization process when Government held a special share which expired in 2015.

✅The transaction by Mopani, involving Delta Mining, a subsidiary of International Resources Holdings Limited (IRH), was in conformity with all the regulatory requirements including the corporate governance procedures which included the holding of Extraordinary Meetings to seek the approval of the shareholders for the transaction involving USD1.1 billion investment by International Resources Holdings RSC Limited (“IRH”) through its wholly owned subsidiary, Delta Mining Limited (“Delta”) for a 51% interest in Mopani Copper Mines PLC (“Mopani”).

Eligibility Case Update;Concourt hearing, for the third time, Lungu’s eligibility case

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

It started like a ridiculous joke since this matter has been dealt with comprehensively in the past, by the Constitutional Court.

This was until ZNBC began to give the case undue coverage and inserting regular interviews from Justice Minister, Mulambo Haimbe.

It became clear that a serious political project was in the air to probably bar former President, Edgar Lungu’s future presidential prospect using the very supposedly sacred institution that gave him the nod, twice, to contest the Presidency.

A Lusaka resident Michelo Chizombe has petitioned the Constitutional Court to revisit its earlier rulings and declarations that Zambia’s Sixth President was eligible to contest the 2021 elections.

Michelo contended that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) contravened the Republican constitution when it accepted Edgar Lungu’s nomination papers and included him on the ballot.

He further sought a declaration that the respondent (Edgar Lungu) was not eligible to contest a presidential election under the current Constitution as read with the now repealed 1991 Constitution (as amended).

Attorney-General, Mulilo Kabesha, supported the Petition and also contended that article 106 of Act no. 2 of 2016 Constitution did not have retrospective effect.

Kabesha stated that Article 106(3) was a Constitutional prohibition and limitation clause , therefore, it also prevailed over the substance of article 106 (6), to the extent that its provisions conflict with article 106(3).

He therefore urged the Constitutional Court to set aside its earlier judgements which declared the ex-President eligible to contest future elections having reportedly served twice in office.

The Constitutional Court is a court of first and last stance instance on matters of the constitution hence calling it to revisit its previous decisions, has been viewed as a clear attempt to bring the court into mockery and its integrity may lie in tatters portraying it as a court that yields to State House and Executive pressure.

In December 2018, the full bench of the Court declared that President Lungu was eligible to contest the forthcoming 2021 presidential election.

The Constitutional Court also ruled that Lungu did not serve full term between 2015 and 2016, a move that made him eligible to contest the 2021 polls.

Again in 2021,the Constitutional Court dismissed yet another petition questioning Lungu’s eligibility by UPND Katuba Member of Parliament Bampi Kapalasa and UPND Member Joseph Busenga, on the grounds that the matter was already determined in the Dan Pule case earlier decided in 2018.

The matter comes up on Thursday, 17th April 2024 before the full bench of the Court.

Edgar Lungu’s lawyers have raised a preliminary issue arguing that the matter is “res judicata” meaning that a matter that has been adjudicated upon by a competent court may therefore not be pursued any further by the same parties.

By Sishuwa Sishuwa

Lungu and the $24 million payment

I commend the government for recovering – through an out of court settlement – $24 million from former Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) provisional liquidator Milingo Lungu. However, I do have several questions about this deal.

First, how much did Milingo Lungu take out of KCM altogether from which the $24m has been recovered? If there has never been a full audit to establish how much money he got from the company he was appointed to liquidate, can the government explain why. The sum of $24m may look like a lot of money, but if it has been taken out of $300m, for instance, it is peanuts. There are credible reports that Milingo Lungu was found with $60m in various banks within Zambia alone. How has this amount come down to $24m? Where is the $36m difference? Can the government explain, please.

Second, since the Hichilema administration simply replaced Milingo Lungu with its own provisional liquidator, Celine Meena Nair, how do we establish with certainty that Nair did not extract similarly huge sums of money from KCM the same way her predecessor was doing? Yes, KCM has since been handed back to Vedanta Resources Ltd, but Nair had hitherto served as KCM provisional liquidator for nearly two years, having been appointed to the role on 9 May 2022. Nothing structurally – in terms of the weaknesses that enabled Milingo Lungu to extract such large sums of money from KCM – had fundamentally changed during her tenure. How much was the substitute liquidator being paid? What were her terms of engagement? Can the government publish the contract she was given? Or are we to wait until after a change of government before we establish the possible plunder that may have occurred under the substitute liquidator?

Third, what is the fate of the senior government officials that Milingo Lungu had named in court – in a matter that has since been discontinued to pave the way for this out of court settlement – as those with whom he had cut a deal in exchange for immunity from criminal prosecution? In April 2022, Milingo Lungu told the Constitutional Court that he had evidence of how he cut a deal to stop his prosecution with key State actors namely Principal Private Secretary to the President Bradford Machila, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, Solicitor General Marshal Muchende, Director of Public Prosecutions Lillian Fulata Siyunyi, Special Assistant to the President for Legal Affairs Christopher Mundia and Administrator General and Official Receiver Natasha Kalimukwa.

Was this $24m deal cut to prevent Milingo Lungu from presenting this evidence – reported to be recordings of his meetings with the named State officials – before court to protect the implicated officers? And who presided over this latest deal? If it was the Attorney General’s chambers, was the government not short-changed – assuming Milingo Lungu had more money than the amount forfeited – given that Kabesha and Muchende had both been named as among the officers who had cut an earlier deal with him in exchange for immunity from prosecution? If this deal with Milingo Lungu was, as reported, done by Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Director General Nason Banda, can Banda swear that $24m is all the money they found on the former KCM provisional liquidator? And did the naming of State House and government officials who were involved in the earlier deal have a bearing on this settlement? In other words, how much pressure was exerted or put on Banda, if any, to agree to this deal considering the powerful positions of the people that were named by Milingo Lungu as the architects of his immunity deal and who may have had much to lose if the court case had gone to an open trial?

Fourth, what exactly are the terms of the government’s out of court settlement with Milingo Lungu? Can the alleged consent agreement be published in the name of transparency and public interest so that Zambians – in whose name the deal was supposedly cut – may find answers to some of the questions that arise from the deal? For example, what did the State pledge to Milingo Lungu in return for the latter agreeing to forfeit this money that had he had all along claimed was lawfully earned as part of the contract he had signed with KCM? Did Milingo Lungu agree to surrender this money without admitting criminality? If he has been allowed to walk away without a formal record of criminal conviction, what stops Milingo Lungu from being appointed as provisional liquidator of another state entity in future? If he has admitted criminality, what next? Will he go to prison? Or are we seeing the creation of a two-tier justice system in Zambia: one where VIP criminals get away with the plunder of public resources, provided they pay back a portion of the loot, and another where ordinary Zambians are sent to prison for misdemeanours such as stealing a chicken or a bag of mealie meal?

Fifth, did the government ask Milingo Lungu to declare all his assets? If he has not been asked to do so, why? If he has, where can the public find this evidence? It is said that Milingo Lungu is a wealthy man. The public deserves to know if this is true, and, if it is, how this wealth was acquired, whether it was legitimately earned, and if he became wealthy after or before he became KCM provisional liquidator. And while we are here, when will President Hichilema and his presidential aides publish their assets and declarations? There are credible reports of a very senior official in the presidency who recently secretly opened three bank accounts for their children and wife in the UK, and two other officials who did the same in South Africa. There is nothing wrong with opening offshore accounts, provided the money that is ending in these accounts is earned from legitimate income and the concerned public officials can explain how they earned it – when the time comes! For now, all that we need from President Hichilema, his aides, and other public officials, is for them to publicly declare their assets and liabilities. That is all. Can they please do this if they have nothing to hide? This kind of transparency is very important to the fight against corruption. Tasila Lungu, who served as a councillor under the Patriotic Front, has been made to account for differences between her actual income and declared assets when the father was in office, but this is only possible because she declared her assets, which were also published. How are we going to know if President Hichilema and his aides are looting public funds – directly or indirectly as enablers – when they have not publicly declared their assets and liabilities?