HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEKLY PRESS BRIEFING HELD BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA, HON CORNELIUS MWEETWA

Today, the Minister of Information and Media Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa held his weekly Government-Media engagement to discuss matters of national interest in Livingstone, Southern Province.

Below are the highlights

✅ Government has expressed gratitude to all the women who participated in yesterday’s peaceful and successful celebration which is consistent with the New Dawn Administration stance of upholding order and achieving national peace.

✅The Minister also commended Women from all political parties that participated in the International Women’s Day celebration yesterday.

✅ Government understands how crucial peace is to the harmonious coexistence of stakeholders, citizens, and the advancement of democracy in the nation.

✅ The Minister encouraged everyone to imitate the harmony that was seen during yesterday’s International Women’s Day celebration as the country celebrates Youth Day on 12th March, 2024.

✅ Nonetheless, government is aware that International Women’s Day was observed in the middle of the drought, which is a national disaster. The national disaster is a natural occurrence and not something that is solely human-caused.

✅ Government will in the next few days conduct a maize harvest focus which will inform the nation the extent to which the disaster has damaged what could have been un- precedented bumper harvest.

✅ The Minister observed that government has put in place a number of response measures to mitigate the disaster among them :
1. Re- alignment of the budget and channelling more resources towards humanitarian relief interventions.
2. Commercial farmers to venture into contract farming to produce winter maize.
3. The Defence Forces to upscale the production of maize to mitigate the drought situation
4. Government through the Committee of Ministers on Disaster Management led by the Vice President and through Cabinet agreed to introduce a tax waiver on irrigation equipment that has to be imported in the country immediately.
5. Engaging local and international partners to offer support in whatever form available to provide the needed relief.

✅ The government will target water bodies that are unaffected for irrigation despite claims on social media that irrigation will not be possible due to the drought.

✅ The Government of Republic of Tanzania has officially communicated to Zambian Government of its availability to export maize to Zambia.

✅ The Republic of Uganda has also indicated that it has produced sufficient maize which it is willing and ready to export to the Republic of Zambia.

✅ However, the Minister indicted that the importation of maize from other countries will only happen after the Food Reserve Agency ( FRA) mops up all the locally produced maize to ensure that government’s money rotates within the local economy.

✅ The Minister indicated that, the New Dawn Administration sold the maize from the previous harvest which was in stock because maize has a limited life span.

Energy/Electricity Status
✅ According to current statistics, only 20% of water is being posted into the Kariba Dam for power generation. Therefore, Government is urging households and farmers to adopt alternate power sources like solar electricity.

Forex
✅ The Minister noted that the foreign exchange rate will stabilise when the capacity to produce and export becomes stable.

Good Governance
✅ Mr. Mweetwa said the Transparency International of Zambia (TIZ) study showing that corruption has declined under the New Dawn Administration is accurate.

✅ He has urged people who claim that the TIZ’s statistics on corruption during the New Dawn Administration are untrue to confront the organization, arguing that their claims are based only on vacuous political rhetoric rather than actual data.

Agribusiness
✅ Government has placed a ban on the exportation of feed of any description to whose ingredients emanate from maize

In the next few days, Government through the Ministry of Information and Media, Ministry of Agriculture and Defence wings will be visiting selected FRA maize storages in order to ascertain the current levels of maize stocks in the nation. The team will also visit some areas that have been affected by drought.

✅The Minister has assured the nation that government is working round the clock to ensure that citizens have enough food saying there should be no panic buying of maize.

©️ Ministry of Information and Media – Zambia

It seems we are so gullible as a nation that if self-acclaimed prophets, or papas if you like, hoodwinked us to drink out own urine or indeed jump off atop Findeco House with a promise to go straight to heaven despite being habitual sinners – envious, gluttonous, murderers, adulterers, fornicators, lazy or absolutely pregnant with pride, we’d do so without any qualms!

Why do we say so?

Whenever a Nigerian ‘prophet’ going by a queer name, Seer 1, says he’s going live on his Facebook page to reveal what God has been saying to him about!our country, thousands of us will abandon whatever we were doing and get glued to our gadgets and listen to his instructions. Next, you’ll see folks sharing these live broadcasts or groups gathering in markets, bus stations, bars and offices to discuss the impact of what the ‘man of god’ had said on our nation. What sort of nonsense is this?

When you hear Seer 1 or the likes of other fake prophets such as Amata ‘reveal’ so-called prophecies about our nation, some of it actually bordering on interfering in our internal affairs, you would think it’s all bliss about their country…….they’re enjoying heaven on earth!

Well, to shame the Devil; recently, there was a news item on BBC News Africa about a widespread protest in Nigeria under the banner of the Nigerian Labour Congress, the country’s largest labour movement. The two day protest saw massive crowds choke up the streets of the capital Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and other major cities to register their displeasure over the current economic crisis the country is embroiled in marred by soaring inflation and high cost of living!

“Nigerians can’t eat anymore, Nigerians can’t pay rent, Nigerians can’t pay bus fares!” An emotionally charged lady laments.

A well built man, literally in tears, chips in, “we’ve suffered enough, we’re tired of suffering. The value of our currency has been reduced to nothing, but toilet paper!”

According to BBC, the country is experiencing over 300% increase in the price of essential commodities such as rice, maize meal, millet and eggs. And despite being a top producer of oil in Africa, the price of fuel has been spiralling through the roof tops!

Isn’t this surely a mouthful for the likes of Seer 1? Is it fair for this wannabe prophet to be much concerned about the overpowering stench in his country – endemic corruption, Boko haram, 419 fraud, abductions and kidnappings, dastardly crimes among others other than poking his running nose in the sweet aroma emanating from our beloved country?

Give us a break; our country is still reeling from 7 years of ‘kaponya’ leadership – we were gassed in our homes, our markets were gutted, students were robbed of allowances and bursaries, PF cadres reigned supreme, civil service jobs only went to those with connections to those in power, independent media such as The Post and Prime TV were shut down, investigative journalists such as Sukwa had themselves peed into their mouths, certain regions were starved of development while government jobs were reserved for specific ethnic groupings! What more can we ask for?

Fellow citizens, stop being dumb! Why should you allow a foreigner not only to hypnotise us but decide our destiny as well when his country is literally falling apart?

In our next offering; we talk about waiting for a ‘breakthrough’ at the prayer mountain!

Prince Bill M. Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst

Rejecting Division: Uniting in Support of Hon. Robert Kalimi’s Healing Process

By Mandy Thelma Kasonde Kabanga Mutale

As someone who traces my roots back to Mungwi Kayambi Mission within Malole constituency, I want to share my heartfelt support for Chief Makasa’s recent statement regarding Hon. Robert Kalimi’s recovery. Chief Makasa’s words carry weight because of his deep connection to our community and his genuine concern for its well-being.

In times of difficulty, Chief Makasa’s leadership stands out as a source of wisdom and guidance. His call for us to come together and support Hon. Kalimi during his recovery period is a reflection of his caring nature and his belief in the strength of our community.

With Chief Makasa’s endorsement of Hon. Kalimi’s progress, the residents of Malole constituency, should stand united and show support. Let’s put aside any differences we may have and work together to ensure Hon. Kalimi makes a full recovery and that our constituency continues to grow and thrive.

As a concerned member of our community, I strongly condemn the calls being made to the Speaker of the National Assembly to declare Hon. Robert Kalimi’s seat vacant. Such actions are not only insensitive but also disregard the significant progress Hon. Kalimi has made in his recovery journey.

It is disappointing to witness individuals or groups prioritize political agendas over basic human decency and compassion. Hon. Kalimi’s near-fatal accident was a tragic event, and it is both unfair and unjust to exploit his medical condition for political gain.

Instead of fueling division and discord, we should be rallying behind Hon. Kalimi and supporting him in his recovery process. Let us focus on extending empathy and solidarity to him and his family during this challenging time, rather than engaging in opportunistic maneuvers that serve no constructive purpose.

What happened to us? Zambia was known for only good people who despite their differences in times of crisis they will stand together in one accord? We can still be that people by refraining from further politicizing Hon. Kalimi’s health situation and to demonstrate respect and empathy towards him and his family. It is imperative that we uphold the principles of decency and humanity in our actions and interactions, especially during moments of adversity.

We are a good people and surely despite everyone we can still be good!

In bemba we say “ichili pamunobe lelo mailo chili pali iwee”

For a year I watched my late father struggle in his health after a simple accident at the mine! Many expected him to be retired on health grounds but even his Boss’ then at Mopani didn’t agree instead they gave him chance and his recovered fully and went back to Work and after many years he reached the normal retirement.

Look at where he is coming from and thank God for the tremendous progress he has made so far. Give Hon. Kalimi a break he is getting better and will be back soon.

God has continued to shame you by proving to some of you stone hearted people that what he cannot do does not exist!

• LET US REFLECT ON HOW ZAMBIA GOT TO THE TOP THREE MOST DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD UNDER THE V-DEM REPORT 2024

By Mark Simuuwe

Let us all reflect on this huge achievement of our beloved 🇿🇲 Zambia .

What could be the reasons and what has changed about Zambia’s democracy ? What did the international organization see in Zambia , which is rare in many countries today ? How did we get to the top in two years ? What has HH and his team done ? These questions can be answered in this way :

1. Removal of criminal defamation of the President from Zambian laws has enhanced freedom of expression and has made Zambia’s President the most tolerant leader ;

2. Enactment of Access to Information Bill into Law demonstrates government commitment to being accountable to its own citizens;accountability is one of the beacons of democracy.

3. Free and Fair by-elections devoid of brandishing of guns , machetes , bloodshed , contrary to the case in the PF leadership;

4. Government putting an end to thuggery behavior, contrary to a situation in which citizens could be attacked for merely wearing opposition party regalia under Edgar Lungu’s reign ;

5. Media houses in Zambia are featuring people with dissenting views even more often than the ruling party panelists ;

6. HH’s pronouncements and commitment to ensuring there is a free press in Zambia ;

7. A lack of interference in the media by the state under the UPND New Dawn Administration ;

8. Tolerance to so many critical voices ;

9.Hesitation in applying a seriously oppressive cyber security and cyber crime law in cramping down dissenting views ;

10. Allowing the due process of the law in matters relating to prosecution of the previous government officials appearing in court for various offences;

11. An end to tramped up charges;

12. Removal of the death penalty by the UPND new Dawn administration;

13. Transparency in the procurement Process , thus creating more accountability which is a pillar of a successful democratic dispensation;

14. Openness in debt restructuring discussions which also opens up for accountability;

15. Stoppage to use of police to kill citizens for their rights as was the case under the previous leadership;

16. Running a Balanced cabinet which represents all the regions , contrary to a regional PF cabinet ;

17. A recruitment process into civil service which is representative of the whole country;

18. CDF funding to all regions in the country without discrimination , contrary to what used to be there under ECL and PF leadership ;

19. Fairness in the distribution of resources in general across all regions e.g all provinces to have New Airports this year and we’re all given new Landcruisers per constituency for the police and not what used to happen .

20. President’s commitment to uniting the country at every platform.

21. For the first time , the President is not censoring journalists when it comes to press conference questions – he has allowed the media to quiz him openly .

22. By not arresting all those who persecuted him without any cause , after spending 127 days in prison , HH has demonstrated true statesmanship to the world .

Ends //

8 HOURS LOAD SHEDDING TO CAUSE SERIOUS ECONOMIC FRACTURES – KAMPYONGO

THE sudden implementation of the eight hours load shedding programme shall cause devastating economic fractures particularly on small-scale businesses such as salons, barbershops and wielders unless Government finds means of how it shall mitigate the suffering of citizens, Stephen Kampyongo has said.

Mr Kampyongo, the Opposition Chief Whip says Zambians are waiting for the miracles the UPND had promised while in opposition of abundant electricity and food.

Mr Kampyongo, the Patriotic Front Shiwang’andu Member of Parliament said in an interview that the 8 hours load shedding was likely to cause serious economic stress among Zambians unless Government went into the importation of electricity and sale it to citizens at a subsidised rate as a means of mitigation.

He recalled that while in the opposition, the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema had all the solutions to the electricity challenges the country had faced in 2015 to the extent that they had proposed the construction of canals from Luapula to the Kafue River for power generation.

“Zambia is in trouble. People are waiting to see the miracles they were promised by people they believed were the messiah to their economic challenges. When the PF in government were confronted with a drought in 2015 and 2016, the UPND had brilliant ideas of how such could be managed,” Mr Kampyongo.

“You remember the lecture we got from President Hichilema in opposition about how Dubai, which never receives rain could have electricity throughout the year uninterrupted.

Garry Nkombo, the then chairperson on Energy Committee went as far as suggesting the construction of a canal and diverting rivers to Kafue to boost electricity generation.

So, let the UPND not hide behind their fingers and assume they will not be seen for who they are…liars,” he said.

He said Zambians had not forgotten the promises the UPND made about making electricity abundant but were disappointed that load shedding had returned even after President Hichilema had bragged of having ended load shedding in the first eight months in government.

Mr Kampyongo said the government should have prepared citizens than ambushing them with an eight-hour load shedding schedule at a time when they were being subjected to high cost of living, high cost of fuel and other basic needs.

“What will happen to small businesses with this eight-hour load shedding? This sudden announcement, how are we going to meet the target of producing three million metric tonnes of copper with this duration of load shedding? This will heavily affect the economy. The UPND should have planned about this and the best is that government should import electricity and sell to Zambians at a subsidised rate,” Mr Kampyongo said.

He said government was never in the business of making profit but to serve its citizens, recalling that that the PF while in government imported expensive electricity and sold it to citizens at a subsidized rate.

“As things are, with Indeni killed which was providing fuels for the production of about 100 megawatts through Ndola Energy, what is going to happen to the industry? When in leadership, we should always avoid hypocrisy,” Mr Kampyongo said.

By Chilufya Tayali
I WAS YOUR HERO, WHEN I SPOKE FOR YOU, TODAY, I SPEAK AGAINST YOUR BAD GOVERNANCE, YOU GIVE ME MAXIMUM CHARGES
====================
Kindly ask President Hichilema, or his agents, to disclose how much he paid me for speaking for him when he was arrested for treason.

You can also ask all those that I spoke for how much they gave me. I can mention many, but they know themselves. The point is that I speak out when something is wrong.

I spoke out when things were wrong during BaLungu and they arrested me, but I am sure they now appreciate what I was talking about because they are out of power.

It won’t be long before President Hichilema is out of power and he will appreciate me, for what I am talking about now.

It won’t be long that many of those guys in State House, including Gilbert Phiri, the DPP will yearn for my voice like water in the desert. And I promise you, I will defend you unless you have committed a crime.

I have not committed a crime, I am just telling you the truth and you know it.

Some people accuse me, of speaking for money, but I only wish they would know how I suffer for being the voice of reason, justice and fairness for all.

How I wish that many of you would look at me as a person sacrificing everything, my family and my entire life for the good of the Country. But it’s fine, that’s why it is called #sacrifice.

TAYALI THE PUBLIC LAWYER OF THE PUBLIC COURT OF OPINIONS!!!

EDGAR LUNGU’S UNDERCOVER OPERATIVE CHILUFYA TAYALI THWARTED FROM INFILTRATING THE UPND

It was clear from the onset that Chilufya Tayali was on a mission to infiltrate the UPND power structure as Mr Lungu’s undercover agent.

First, I was very worried that the UPND might fall for his antics. When they didn’t, I knew they were ready to govern.

As a party in power, the most important thing to protect is information. This was chilufya Tayali’s target.

Chilufya Tayali has characteristics of an extortionist (blackmailer). Give him access to classified information, and he will earn a living.

Mr Lungu loves him because of his lack of reasoning power and love for money. Smart politicians leak classified information to him, and he, without consideration, publishes. More often than not, he has published very sensitive information, most of which borders on crime.

This explains why he has so many cases in courts of law. Whenever he is fined, Mr Lungu, who sent probably pays. The case of a 20,000 fine.

Chilufya Tayali lives on gathering information from politicians and, with his loud voice get money from them to speak it out. This is why Mr Lungu loves him. With money, chilufya Tayali can walk through fire. He acts without the benefit of intellect.

Chilufya Tayali is a man who sticks to a man with money like a teak. The only way he would live Mr Lungu is only if the former president was to be bankrupt.

Mr Lungu has once again recalled Chilufya Tayali from his botched assignment for yet another mission.

Mr Lungu is facing resistance to lead UKA due to his poor performance at the 2021 election. Many of the members of this newly formed grouping are of the view that Mr Lungu is unsellable. Therefore, they want a new leader to lead UKA.

But Mr Lungu does not want to rally behind anyone else but himself. This is why Chilufya Tayali has been recalled from his mission of infiltrating the UPND to Lungu’s image building.

UKA members feel Mr Lungu’s defeat by a then opposition leader HH was too wide to be narrowed in 2 years. For this reason, chilufya Tayali has been reassaigned to try and convince UKA members that Mr Lungu actually won the election, but HH stole his votes.

With Mr Emmanuel Mwamba in the figures cookery dept available. Chilufya Tayali’s lack of logic and is driven by money. He has already embarked on this mission. The mission that will make Lungu look useless in the eyes of the public.

How could a then opposition leader manage to rig against a sitting present?

What a stupid narrative! Anyway, this is exactly what PF is good at. They have done this with the same chilufya Tayali for seven years in power. They trust that Mr. Tayali can still turn their fortunes around. Remember this is the guy who lied to Mr Lungu and the entire PF and their surrogates like Mrs Nawakwi that he had evidence of HH stealing a farm in Kalomo. We saw Tayali and the entire PF celebration of the possible conviction of HH before 2021 and in the end Tayali and the PF administration caused the deaths of Joseph and Nsama Nsama.

Mr Lungu, you sent Chilufya Tayali on a mission impossible to try and infiltrate UPND. This next ECZ mission is mission insanity. It will make Mr Lungu lose grip on UKA.

SIKAILE C SIKAILE

STOP THIS REGIONAL IMINGALATO FORTHWITH OF POLITICALLY SILENCING OTHER TRIBES USING THE POLICE

The KUM’MAWA DEVELOPMENT COALITION-KDC strongly condemns the ethnic political harassment, victimization and oppression of non Zambezi ethnic groups using law enforcement agencies by the UPND Government.

Last week, we condemned planned schemes of harassment targeting to arrest the Former President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu and maliciously charge him for attempted coup or treason.

This week, we are greeted with a police call out for Dr. Lungu’s former political advisor, Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba where he is expected at Force Headquarters at 09:00 on Wednesday. We equally hear rumors that Chilufya Tayali is on the most wanted list and so forth.

This is very sad and unfortunate that Easterners seem to have been prioritized for political persecutions and harassment by this government.

We condemn and denounce this development and demand that the UPND government stop this divisive politics.

As KDC, we firmly believe that this is a clear ethnic political scheme aimed at targeting people from regions outside the Zambezi regions such as Northern, Eastern, Luapula and Muchinga Provinces.

We have observed that law enforcement agencies are biased or compromised in the manner they are handling complaints among citizens as they have the “US” versus “THEM” list. Our people from Eastern province seem to belong to the “THEM” list.

As a pressure group, we have further discovered that, Systematically and consistently, there is no known high UPND official or high profiled citizens from the Zambezi region such as Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa or Mr. Mark Simuwe who are being summoned for their divisive, hostile and dangerous political publications, articles, audios and videos while anyone from Eastern or Northern provinces who speak contrary views are cowed out and silenced using police summons and arrests.

In fact, Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, who not only issued regional and tribal sentiments but also offered a bribe to a journalist has never been fired or summoned by any law enforcement agency. It is clear that Hon. Mweetwa or Mark Simuwe belong to the “US” list.

As KDC, we are fade up and disheartened that a significant number of individuals currently involved in court cases and police investigations hail from either the Eastern or Northern regions, namely Luapula, Muchinga, and Northern.

Recent incidents involving former Head of State,
We cannot ignore the fact that individuals from Eastern and Northern regions, including the likes of Kampyongos, Sean Tembos, Mundubiles, Munir Zulus, and many others, are either currently facing court proceedings, ongoing investigations, or are released on police bond or bail.

This unjust Imingalato must cease immediately.

The KUM’MAWA DEVELOPMENT COALITION-KDC also known as UMODZI KUM’MAWA demands an end to this politically motivated harassment of individuals based on their regional background. We call on the law enforcement agencies to act with fairness, integrity, and without bias. Upholding the principles of justice and equality is essential for a democratic society, and every Zambian citizen deserves the right to a fair and impartial legal process. We believe in One Zambia, One Nation.

Issued for and on behalf of KUM’MAWA DEVELOPMENT COALITION-KDC also known as UMODZI KUM’MAWA.

Chanoda Ngwira F
SPOKESPERSON

12 signs showing that HH has intellectual dwarfs for advisors or is the most arrogant Zambian today

By Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba

1. When the Americans reviewed harsher imperialist sanctions against Zimbabwe including President Emerson Mnangagwa, his wife, his Vice President and key government officials this week, only HH took to social media to wickedly congratulate President Joe Biden. No nation has sanctioned America for all the atrocities globally and why should any sober leader praise them today on Zimbabwe? Only an African president with scholarly dwarfed advisors.

2. In the Bible book of Proverbs 16:18, we are guided that “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”. In James 4:6-7,10, the Bible says: But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” …Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

3. When ambassador George Kanyamula Zulu was foolishly pampering him that Bally is a ‘god’ who made rains fall at the Ncwala Traditional Ceremony of the Ngoni People for the first time on 24th February, 2024, HH enjoyed his party cadre’s insults against the Ngoni King, Ngoni ancestors and God in heaven. Shockingly, HH was loudly smiling everywhere like King Nebuchadnezzar at Zulu’s traditional blasphemies.

4. The day he declared the 2024 drought as national disaster, President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) had a golden opportunity to apply humility before God and fellow man by officially apologizing on his previous arrogant comments against ‘Acts of God’, natural occurrences and climate change. That would have been the best thing to do if Bally was humble before God and man.

5. In opposition, HH used to mock God and fellow Zambians that droughts, floods, cholera, hunger, etc were nothing to threaten citizens if they had an intelligent and visionary leader like himself. Bally made PF and President Lungu look idiots in the face of natural disasters with his famous statement: “there is nothing like climate change, it is lack of vision and poor leadership in PF”.

6. HH made every previous leader like a useless fool who is experimenting to rule. Bally projected only himself to be that man with keys to govern better and make Zambians happier regardless of any situation. He cursed ZESCO load-shedding by committing that: “Bally will fix it”. With or without rains, HH committed to put water in Kariba dam and produce more electricity.

7. Ironically, God made it possible for HH to become our leader and ‘Acts of God’ are everywhere in his face. As usual, he runs with total disrespect for citizens he cheated in 2021 that he had abilities and skills to govern smoothly even if faced with droughts, floods, hunger, etc. HH failed to openly admit that he errored in his past statements in the opposition and just apologize to God and man.

8. But our proud president, the most powerful man in Zambia cannot apologize to anyone, not even to God. It’s like he never cheated, insulted or offended God or fellow man previously on topics like drought, cholera, hunger, ZESCO load-shedding, climate change, etc. This speaks volumes about the arrogant heart and haughty character of a president we have in state house today.

9. While in opposition, HH and his MPs cursed national day of prayers, denounced the idea of building a government Christian cathedral and cursed the creation of Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance. In government, UPND Secretary General even insulted the Lusaka Catholic Archbishop, Alick Banda that he was a useless ‘Lucifer’ and the matter is before the court by Sean Tembo. To day, HH does not see any reason to openly apologize to anyone, not even God. HH feels like he is also a god.

10. At the Ncwala traditional ceremony, our president talked about Zambia to remain a unitary state which is agreeable. But intentionally failed to correct or apologize to the Litunga and the Lozi people for denouncing the existence of Barotseland. Since the theme was about national reconciliation, HH’s pride made him miss this rare chance to apologize to the Litunga using king Mpezeni’s national event.

11. In Daniel 4:28-31, the Bible says: “All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you”.

12. Our King Nebuchadnezzar will soon realize that he is making a big mistake to be drinking from the cup of pride and eating from the table of arrogance at Community House like in Daniel 4:28-31. When God visits that Babylon palace called Community House, our Nebuchadnezzar will be made to cry like a wild impala in 2026 if he does not repent and respect the creator of heaven and earth, the only possessor of the universe.

Dr Chris ZUMANI Zimba is a Political Scientist, Researcher, Author & Consultant specialized in Comparative Global Governance and Democratic Theories. He holds a PhD, MA, BA and Cert in Political Science. Zimba was President Lungu’s Political Advisor from December 2019 to August 2021. By philosophical approach, Dr. Zimba is a Pan Africanist as well as Afro-Christian by religion.
Email: chriszumaniZimba.cz@gmail.com

WAS CHRIS ZUMANI WORTH TO BE PRESIDENT LUNGU’S POLITICAL ADVISOR ?

Authored By Mupishi Jones

Chris Zumani usually makes my days,he reminds me of Hambe in Mpali, always unpredictable,acting on impulse!
Chris Zumani was the last political advisor to Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu when he was the President.During the peak of his career,Chris’s carefully crafted political advise constantly offered to President Lungu then,led Mr Lungu to a historical defeat of unprecedented vote difference of over a million votes and still believes he and his boss can come back to power again…….. that’s Chris for you!

My own analysis leads me to conclude that Chris’s political advise to Mr Lungu was based more on cheap propaganda other than facts as they were unfolding on the ground.Mr Lungu’s loss was unprecedented because it has never happened in the political history of this country for a sitting President to lose by over a million votes in an election where the total votes cast were a paltry 4 million,worse still,shared amongst over 10 presidential candidates.

As we were approaching the 2021 general elections,it became apparent that Mr Lungu was losing those elections if he continued in that political trajectory.Whilst almost everyone was reading the writings on the wall,Mr Lungu, with his full time political advisor couldn’t see what everyone was seeing.Even today,Mr Lungu still believes in the same people, the same faces that contributed to his humiliating defeat that he can win the next general elections.

One is left to wonder the quality of political advisors Mr Lungu prefers? What did Mr Lungu saw in Chris to warrant him settle at this young man who’s never held such a senior position either in government or private sector before?

I strongly feel these are the consequences of appointing your advisors who are younger in almost all the categories than yourself.Eventually it turns out the other way, the advisor becomes the advised.
We all have watched Nigerian Igwes and their advisors, always experienced far much older than themselves, with nothing to lose even when the Igwe fires them based on principal.

Its like Mr Lungu picked Zumani in order to neutralize him on those piercing articles he used to criticize him and masked that under the title of political advisor!

Chris was and still is, a young man driven by emotions other than reason.Chris’ experience was in the text book and not from the real world.Its like settling on Chilufya Tayali as your presidential political advisor would you blame Tayali for your loss?

From what Chris consistently writes and posts against the sitting President today, one can tell that the young man has an irresistible impulse to do or say anything without self censure and restraint.

My advice to Chris is that,at his tender age both in politics and years,let him not bring down those bridges because he may need to cross over them tomorrow.

The best this young man can do is to tone down,go underground and reflect.Currently his judgement is impaired.He’s living under the delusion that President Hakainde Hichilema is a one term president.

Let him flip the coin, how is he going to face reality after waking up on 16 August 2026 only to hear that President Hakainde Hichilema has scooped the presidency with another landslide victory?

Can this young man believe it? Unfortunately that’s how some people end up becoming sadists, thinking the whole world is wrong except themselves…. Chris move on young man,
I submit

Mupishi Jones
0977480386

Immediately after the New Dawn Administration swept into power, with a landslide margin following the crucial 2021 general elections, most former PF leaders would fold the proverbial tails between their legs and scamper in different directions. Fearing possible reprisals from the newly elected government; some went into self-imposed exile, others quickly announced their ‘early’ retirement from politics while others went into complete hibernation as they awaited what would follow next.

Well, since we are in Africa not in the West, they obviously anticipated revenge attacks, mass arrests and raids on their properties in search of stolen properties among others. Little did they realise President Hichilema is actually a genuine believer……a perfect example of a church elder in the Seventh Day Church who had no time for revenge unlike some of those that have gone before him, particularly his predecessor who had openly made it clear he would arrest his nemesis immediately after scooping the polls, throw him in prison and toss away the keys!

However, when Hichilema stepped up on the podium in the National Heroes Stadium to give his inauguration speech that day, he’d prove that he’s a unique brand of politician cut from a totally different piece of fabric unlike most of our politicians.

“We will restore the rule of law, general order in our public places and communities, and return our country back to normalcy. Read my lips, no more cadreism from any political party. There is room, there is space for all of you but there is no space for thuggery, no space for violence. It is a new dawn for the country going forward,” he told the boisterous and exuberant crowd that had filled up the stadium to witness his inauguration.

Truth be told, President Hichilema’s decision to depart from the “cho-chise kind of politics” (an eye for an eye or tooth for tooth) and play smart politics as if we’re in the West has somehow emboldened ba Edgar Lungu and his followers and given them ample space to start making unnecessary noise! There’s absolutely nothing that may have motivated ba Lungu to get back into politics other than a desire to exert revenge. What’s he coming back to achieve that he failed to accomplish during his 7 years in power?

Here’s a complete catalogue of UPND’s weaknesses that is actually giving ba Lungu and his followers courage to mercilessly attack and criticise government to the point of inciting people to rise against this particular government:

Failure to strip ba Lungu of his immunity
Before he became President; ba Lungu was a struggling lawyer scrapping a living in Chawama shanty compound. But lo and behold, today he has made himself a fortune; miraculously ‘metamorphosing’ into a very wealthy individual surpassing even Dr. Kenneth Kaunda who was in power for some 27 donkey years! Not even Chiluba who was dragged to court on account of plundering our national resources can be said to have accumulated so much wealth during his 10 years tenure as compared to this once poor man from Chawama. If we are not mistaken, he’s definitely qualifies to wear a crown as of the most indigenous elites in our country today. Apart from those shebeens in Chawama, what other businesses was ba Lungu running prior to moving into State House? Where has his wealthy suddenly come from?

If at all there’s every reason to believe be Lungu betrayed the trust of the people and stole from them, government must stop procrastinating and strip him off of his immunity, immediately! If you want to talk about precedence, it’s already there. Well, Chiluba arrested Kaunda, Mwanawasa stripped Chiluba of his immunity, Sata did the same to Banda. We are waiting with keen interest for government to conclude its investigations so that investigative wings can swiftly move in and arrest ba Lungu for whatever transgressions he might have committed against our people.

Failure to search properties of former leaders
If those collasal amounts, in both foreign and local currencies, that were found secured in the garage of a former radio personality or indeed the cash which was entrusted into the hands of a relative of a wife to one of the leaders, which she ended up ‘chewing’ of course is anything to go by, there’s every reason to believe former ministers, permanent secretaries and other senior government officials had mountains of cash stashed in their homes or farms. If those close to the president can do this, what about those serving at his behest? Think about all those all those impressive fleets of vehicles that have been found abandoned or hidden at some of their properties of our former leaders by the investigative wings?

UPND knew PF was upto no good; immediately the party was dislodged from power, government should have swiftly moved in to conduct thorough clean ups on the properties of such individuals – startling discoveries would have been made! Sadly, we gave these looters ample time to hide or destroy any incriminating evidence and now they can move around with clear consciences.

Failure to change the currency
Since those in government today had a hint former leaders still had lots of money hidden everywhere, one of the first steps government should have taken to beat them at their dirty game was to change our currency. Alas, those who had gone completely mute immediately after the elections have since found their voices and are now going full throttle challenging the government! Why is it so? They still have lots of money to guarantee their freedom – to hire expensive lawyers or bribe their way out of trouble!

Failure to clean up the civil service
There are still a lot of PF members lurking in the corridors of power, some of them occupying sensitive government positions as permanent secretaries, director generals, directors and district education board secretaries etc. These are the ones that are advancing the interests of the opposition by leaking sensitive information or simply throwing in spanners in the operations of government. There’s no doubt that most of these individuals rose to their positions by virtue of being aligned to the former ruling party. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that such individuals wouldn’t want to see the new dawn administration succeed so that they can go back to their thieving and corrupt ways. Government needs to completely overhaul the entire system and get rid of the bad eggs. There are a lot of career serving individuals who deserve such positions and not necessarily cadres!

Failure to extend a carrot to critical voices
Immediately President Sata took over the mantles of power, he swiftly moved in to subdue critical voices that could have given him headaches during his tenure. This saw a number of influential individuals from civil society and investigative scribes from the once influential The Post Newspapers being shunted into the foreign service or indeed government departments.

We have in mind apolitical individuals such as the likes of Linda Kasonde, John Sangwan and Sishuwa Sishuwa; no doubt, some of our finest brains! It doesn’t matter what roles they played or not in removing ba Lungu from power, they shouldn’t have been allowed to remain on the loose. These may be potential trouble makers that may give government headaches.

Failure to form Task Force on Corruption
According to BBC, newly elected Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai has set up a task force to crackdown on corruption and to recover stolen state assets.

His executive order said assets “wrongfully acquired at the expense of the government and people of Liberia” should be returned. Nomba imwe you want to take a soft approach on these criminals!

It would have probably been more beneficial for government to assemble a Task Force on Corruption or better still a Central Bureau of Investigations comprised of individuals with various expertise from different sectors – legal fraternity, intelligence, Zambia Police, National Prosecutions Authority, Financial Intelligence Centre, Zambia Revenue Authority and the Drug Enforcement Commission. These might have done a thorough job of pursuing suspected criminals, securing their convictions and recovering what belongs to the people.

Failure to ‘sansizo’ (motivate) cadres
Take a visit to most of UPND blogs; where are they not complaining? Let’s not fool ourselves…..most of us get into politics to eat! The same way that those that get appointed as ministers or civil servants are quick to claim allowances on top of their lofty salaries is the same way that party cadres want to be somehow “rewarded” for providing services to their party vis a vis defending the party from incessant attacks, explaining the party manifesto and of course, mobilisation. Heading into an election with a cabal of largely demotivated cadres is as good as dispatching soldiers into the battlefield with blank bullets! Of course government is rolling out various empowerment funds but should not expect everyone to appreciate this concept. Think of the call boys in the stations, our mothers breaking stones by the sides of the roads, our grandmothers braving the sun in the markets, our grandfathers working as security guards…… they’ve no time to fulfill all the requirements to access these funds. They just want to eat and move on. Remember to give them “ka sumfing” once in a while.

Failure to have a vibrant media team
The UPND media team in its current form is lethargic, moribund, media shy, inept and highly inefficient! When the opposition and other government critics are seen rushing to every media house discrediting and spewing propaganda against President Hichilema and his government or offloading loads of untruths on social aimed at tarnishing the image of government, the UPND media team shockingly remains in deep slumber! The only moment you tend to get any reaction from them is when the inferno might have already spread out of control and left a trail of damage in its wake. Contrast this with the time of PF in power when Sunday Chanda was at the helm as Media Director with Antonio Mwanza as his deputy…. Before anyone could even open their mouths to criticize government, the duo would be appearing on radio stations or featuring on live TV interviews fending off attacks. As for the social media, they remained vigilant 24/7! What’s stopping the UPND media team from doing the same?

Prince Bill M Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst

PF GOVERNMENT ALLOCATED MUNYAULE MARKET LAND TO DEVELOPER IN 2016 FOR ULTRA-MODERN MARKET CONSTRUCTION; THE SAME PF IN NEW JACKETS(SP) ARE PLAYING PROPAGANDA OVER THE SAME MARKET .

By Mark Simuuwe

We have followed with interest the propaganda happenings by PF members nicknamed themselves, ‘ Socialist Party’ over MUNYAULE Market, and wish to give details about the matter .

In 2016 , the land commonly known as MUNYAULE Market was allocated to a developer to construct an ultra-modern Market by the PF government , today called ‘Socialist Party’ , who now want to pretend to be responsible in the eyes of the grieving marketeers by arm-twisting the media to believing that the developer was given land rights under the UPND government .

It should be pointed out that when it was time to develop the area ,notices were issued to traders and meetings with traders were held with local authorities including the area councilor ; The last notice expired on 29th February , 2024 .

Once the Ultra-modern Market is complete , the developer committed in writing , to prioritize the affected marketeers for trading spaces .

Arising from this development , citizens should know that the local authorities have allocated alternative trading spaces to traders at DH Market , Soweto Market and Simon Mwewa lane Market .

Some Marketeers opted not to relocate to alternative places .

We , therefore, wish to urge citizens and the media not to pick propaganda stories from those in opposition , who deliberately want to pretend not to have details about the background of MUNYAULE market for political aggrandizement.

We are very much aware that , the PF members who include all those in Socialist Party and UKA made this decision, and today want to insult the very citizens they resolved to remove from the area after they allocated the said piece of land to a developer.

They are now shamelessly planting propaganda by cheating citizens that they love them and that is why they kept MUNYAULE market in the state it was , yet they are the ones who decided to allocate the piece of land to the developer.

The only evidence of ownership of land in Zambia is a title deed and so our colleagues allocated the said piece of land in 2016.

We also wish urge the media to do some investigative journalism by doing a search at Ministry of Lands at Deeds and registry office so that the nation can be well-informed on the time the developer was given a piece of land in question.

Further , the media may also engage the Ministry of Local government for official and credible source of information to avoid being caught up in malicious publications from the opposition.

COPPERBELT IS SLOWLY BECOMING A GHOST PROVINCE

….due to low productivity in the mining sector hence the need to unlock KCM, says Clergyman

Kitwe… Friday March 8, 2024 (SMART EAGLES)

Copperbelt is slowly becoming a ghost province due to low productivity levels in the mining sector hence the need to quickly unlock Konkola Copper Mines Plc, says a Kitwe based clergyman.

Pastor Charles Chilenshya of Christ my Life Ministries, says a lot of people are expecting that before 1st April this year, Vedanta Resources would have taken over the full operations of KCM.

Pastor Chilenshya indicated that poverty levels on the Copperbelt are on the increase and that it is imperative that the asset is quickly given back to the investor, Vedanta.

He states that Vedanta has already committed to dismantle the arreas owed to contractors and suppliers by KCM saying lots of jobs are at stake due to huge monies owed to them as they fail to pay their workers.

“The people of the Copperbelt are grappling with many issues due to the non functionality of KCM. We know Mopani Copper Mines also has to be unlocked but Vedanta Resources has been unveiled as the one to run KCM. So far, they have injected over US$25 million to pay salaries and other issues before they even take full control of the asset. But we know that contractors and suppliers have not been given their money as the issues still remains unsolved. The contractors and suppliers have families to support,” he said.

“The mining industry is next to government in terms of employment as they are the second largest employer. The workers can’t feed their families, can’t afford to pay rentals as this has resulted in most of them being on the streets.”

He was confident that as soon as Vedanta takes over full control of KCM, there will be increased economic activities on the Copperbelt and this will help a lot of people to start supporting their families.

Pastor Chilenshya also said once a lot of people have been employed, they will be able to contribute to the national treasury through taxes.

The Clergyman has since appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to expeditiously resolve the remaining legal issue so that KCM would start full operations.

DISCONTENT IS RISING

There is absolutely no doubt that currently, the country is in a state of despair and anxiety, both politically and socio-economically. Our people are living as if they are on death row. They are taking one day at a time, without knowing what tomorrow may bring. It’s a life of uncertainty, helplessness, and desperation for many people.

We would like to point the current UPND government to the increasing discontent with their intolerance, repression, human rights violations, and insensitivity to the plight of the suffering majority.

Their style of governance in a constitutional democracy, abuse of state institutions, heightened human rights and constitutional violations, harsh economic situation, has left multitudes of citizens frustrated and disgruntled, and compelled them to lose confidence in the country’s processes and systems such as law enforcement, judiciary and legislature, and our democratic trajectory in general. And this is not a good sign of what lies ahead for them.

The UPND government must know that the accelerated assault on political opponents and critical voices has exposed their obsession with power and blatant neglect for the people and their aspirations. For them, governance is all about self-preservation, personal glorification, and wealth accumulation.

Evidently, the UPND administration has no respect for our constitution and democracy. And to prove this, one doesn’t have to go far. Just look at how they have destroyed almost all critical institutions of governance, including the once well-regarded Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). The ECZ in its current state is not serving tge interests of the people. We have said it before and we are repeating that at the rate things are going, if sanity does not prevail, for the first time in history, we shall fail to organize and hold successful general elections in 2026.

We have seen the abuse of state institutions and systems in by-elections to propel the UPND’s electoral malpractices, violence, and vote-buying, as well as all sorts of criminalities. Cabinet ministers and district commissioners are committing crimes in these by-elections with impunity as the ECZ, police and other stakeholders continue to turn a blind eye.

This is the kind of democracy that the UPND is pretentiously advancing in this country today, and they expect competing political players to keep quiet and watch. But time will tell. Zambians will resist it. Zambians will fight for their liberties and rights. Zambians will not allow the UPND and its leaders to undermine the significance of democracy as a political process intended to guarantee citizen’s rights and freedoms. Zambians will not allow the UPND government to diminish the inclusive reputation of governance in reflecting the shared desires of the masses.

For now, those in power today can comfort each other by believing their own propaganda, but reality will dawn soon.

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

The twin crises of load shedding & mealie meal shortage will make or break UPND

Editorial(Zambian Business Times)
Well, Zambia’s greatest fear that 2023/2024 would be hit by a devastating drought was finally confirmed by President Hakainde Hichilema – HH last week when he declared a state of national disaster and that Zambia would be asking well wishers for humanitarian help.

We should also however, hasten to mention here that this warning of a severe drought was sounded by both the local, regional and global meteorology experts in the last quarter of 2023 that Zambia was more likely than not, to face drought or El nino.

So let’s not pretend that no warning was sounded. The new dawn government and it’s top officials should take a big share of the blame or responsibility for not initiating timely action then, until it’s now too late for certain cheaper options. Moreover, president HH is on record to have stated that climate change effects should not be used as an excuse for incompetence in dealing with its effects.

We as the Zambian Business Times – ZBT and our local, regional and international network of experts, contributors and sources did our part and even requested ZESCO and the Ministry of Energy to ensure the speedy closure and installation of solar power generation plants as well as called for the government to halt the exports of maize to secure local food security.

See link in April 2023 for ban on maize exports
https://zambianbusinesstimes.com/govt-finally-bans-maize…/

But like most political regimes and their appointees, the UPND new dawn government chose to ignore the ZBT and other critical voices of advise due to mostly vanity, hubris and all sorts of prejudice. This is simply because most of their appointees are not polished and experienced enough to reach the stage of humility required at that level

As for President HH, we are aware that it is not an easy decision for any leader, let alone a politically chosen one that has to go through the brutal contest of popular voting systems to find themselves in this position. We saw even as he announced a national disaster that his body language showed some traces of unease, as the announcement was a confirmation of failure by his regime to overcome challenges that are part of national leadership.

You can argue all you want, but the bitter truth is that this is not the first, nor will it be the last time that Zambia will experience a drought or a national crisis. For those that are much older and more experienced, they will tell you stories of yellow maize in the MMD regime, food riots in the UNIP regime et al.

All regimes, because by their nature manage the governance and administration of peoples lives are tested by debilitating economic crises, pandemics or whatever name you want to ascribe.

The immediate former ruling party – the Patriotic Front (PF) main test was the pandemic and to some large extent, also faced drought and even the Cholera pandemic. These crises led to low voter turn out even in their strong holds because people became more realistic about the ability of their leaders.

These tests have come to all regimes that have taken political leadership in Zambia and there is no other way other than to face them head on. The ruling United Party for National Development – UPND is no exception. Fortunately for Zambians, they will have an opportunity to compare and contrast how UPND deals with these crises and how PF (or whatever form they will take), who are now the main opposition dealt with the crises of their time.

The way HH and the UPND administration handles this drought that has a twin crisis for food and national security on one hand and load shedding and economic decimation on the other, is a litmus test for them and their top team to show leadership and perhaps prove that they can handle these crises better. Their die hard supporters are now also being forced to face up to the reality of their party’s abilities. This will inadvertently affect the voter turn out in their strong holds.

We have always cautioned our political leaders that this is Africa, and this is Zambia in particular. The challenges are unique and the perception and views of its people are informed by the collective culture and history. Zambia’s geopolitical and economic challenges are unique and remain very complex

No matter which foreign experts you engage, be rest assured that their advise is most useful on the technical side of things, on the scientific side of things. But on the cultural and people side, it’s the locals that will count and make the grade. It’s the development that is delivered in the eyes of the locals that will matter in the final verdict.

This is why it’s now a known fact that only Africans can develop African, that only Zambians can develop Zambia. You will be surprised that even the villagers know how to survive these droughts, because it’s not the first time Zambia is experiencing one. So the way you resolve it and their perception are intertwined.

But yes, for the city dwellers who are now in the majority, it’s UPNDs time to show what they are made of. City life is about specialization, don’t expect people to all go into Agriculture, and a solution is needed soonest as the queues for cheaper mealie meal keep growing with more and more people getting frustrated by the day.

This is why we are calling on the Head of State to roll up his sleeves and deal with this deep crisis head on. Some may say micro management has no place, but this may just be the right place we’re it’s required. If you see that ZNS is saying they will deliver 15,000 tons of winter maize when the country consumes 2.4 million tons, then you should know that this needs the head of state involment.

After all, Zambia has a Presidential system, the president in Zambia not only heads the executive arm of government, but has to ratify and sign off the appointment of the Speaker and the Chief Justice, the two other arms of government that should ideally be independent. The position still remains too powerful and hence the buck stopping at plot 1.

So, when a government fails, its the Presidents name and reputation that is tainted or soiled. That’s why we see that even their top appointees from ministers to PS, to DC simply defect and move on to serve in successive regimes. Even secretary generals defect, In a way, the presidency in Zambia remains a lonely and toughest job, which most admire out of limited information.

“The Unseen Threat: Government Regulation of Online Broadcasting Unraveled”

The regulation of online broadcasting by the government poses numerous risks and limitations that far outweigh any perceived benefits. The digital realm, with its endless possibilities and global reach, thrives on the freedom of expression and unrestricted flow of information. Imposing regulations on online broadcasting cripples this fundamental freedom and stifles innovation, hindering the potential for positive societal change.

Firstly, government regulation of online broadcasting infringes upon freedom of speech, a fundamental human right in democratic societies. The internet serves as a platform for diverse voices, providing an avenue for marginalized groups, independent journalists, and citizen journalists to share their perspectives and hold those in power accountable. By subjecting online broadcasting to government oversight, there is a looming threat of censorship, where unpopular opinions or critical voices may be silenced, effectively suppressing democratic discourse.

Moreover, government regulation can impede innovation and hinder the growth of the digital landscape. The digital era has witnessed the emergence of countless innovative platforms, creating new ways for artists, content creators, and entrepreneurs to thrive. Placing regulatory burdens on online broadcasting restricts their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, potentially leading to a less diverse and dynamic digital space. It is essential to foster an environment that encourages experimentation and invention, allowing for the continual development and progress of online broadcasting.

Additionally, governmental regulation introduces a bureaucratic layer that is often slow to adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The internet operates at lightning speed, and regulations that attempt to keep up can quickly become outdated or ineffective. This creates further challenges and potential loopholes, ultimately weakening the intended purpose of regulation. Rather than relying on outdated regulatory frameworks, a better approach is to encourage self-regulation within the industry, ensuring that platforms and content creators exercise responsible practices while preserving their freedom of expression.

Furthermore, online broadcasting regulation can have a chilling effect on freedom of information. Governments, with the power to regulate, may utilize this authority to control the narratives, manipulate the flow of information, or propagate propaganda. By preserving the independence of online broadcasting, we promote transparency, public access to diverse viewpoints, and the dispersal of reliable information. Empowering individuals to utilize critical thinking skills when evaluating broadcasted content is crucial in facilitating an informed citizenry.

In conclusion, government regulation of online broadcasting presents a grave threat to the freedom of expression, innovation, accessibility to diverse perspectives, and the unrestricted flow of information. It is crucial to protect the fundamental rights that underpin the digital realm and foster an environment where online broadcasting can flourish organically. By embracing self-regulation, promoting digital literacy, and encouraging responsible practices within the industry, we can achieve a balance that respects both freedom and accountability.

Tilyenji Mwanza
Media Consultant.

HH, RUTO AND AKUFO ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT IN ECONOMIST MAGAZINE ON THE REFORM OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM

President Hichilema writes…

Fellow citizens,

Presidents Nana Akufo-Addo of the Republic of Ghana, William Samoei Ruto of the Republic of Kenya and myself have issued a joint statement in the ‘Economist’ Magazine, on the need to reform the global financial system that must treat Africa fairly.

We thank the ‘Economist’ Magazine for publishing the statement.

Below is the statement:

The conversation on reforming the global financial architecture has often felt more like Africa against the rest of the world, but the tide is turning. Governments north and south agree that there is something fundamentally wrong with the system and it must be fixed. As the leaders of Ghana, Kenya and Zambia, we have first-hand experience of the precarious financial situation facing many African countries, especially when it comes to debt and development finance. And we are all too familiar with the flaws in the system that is in place to confront these challenges.

The current system needs more than just adjustment—it needs an overhaul. Africa must be at the centre of these reforms, but our criticisms have for too long fallen on deaf ears. Now that the world is beginning to listen, we must go beyond criticism and do what is needed for our economic development and emancipation. Several things are critical to this agenda.

First, African leaders must be bold in promoting their ideas and participating when decisions are being made that affect the continent. The three of us have made it clear that we will not sign on to global regulations and agreements that are not shaped with our input.

We are committed to being a strong voice for Africa. We need to ensure that lower-income countries have sufficient access to concessional finance through the World Bank’s International Development Association (ida).

To that end, Kenya has agreed to host the ida21 conference in April and we are working hard to drive the fundraising for this critical form of finance. Kenya has also agreed to co-lead two bodies to tackle the climate challenge in developing countries. The first, in conjunction with the African Union (au), Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Colombia, the European Commission, France and Spain, looks at opportunities to tax sectors, activities and transactions that could yield billions in climate finance for the countries most affected by climate change, many of which are in Africa. The second is a coalition of experts convened with Colombia, France and Germany, looking at how unsustainable debt is keeping many developing countries from investing in climate and conservation, and what can be done about it, including innovations like “debt-for-nature swaps”: debt relief in exchange for green initiatives.

Second, Africa must look within for solutions. We must invest our borrowing in the continent’s growth, job creation and revenue generation rather than in consumption that will not pay us back in the long run; make sure development projects are high-quality, priced correctly and finished on time; and start looking to each other as major trading partners rather than overseas.

It is time for a serious conversation about the high cost of capital that burdens Africa, which is based on unfair risk premiums and inaccurate valuation of our economies. Many African countries have assets that are not reflected on our balance-sheets. We have to strengthen African institutions, and we expect those strengthened institutions to assist in valuing our economies correctly, working with international financial institutions to get this right.

The three of us recently helped to launch the Africa Club, an alliance of African multilateral financial institutions that will serve as a powerful negotiator on behalf of the continent, co-ordinate with global financial institutions and leverage African countries’ balance-sheets to increase investment and jobs. It is critical that these institutions have the full weight of au member states behind them and the appropriate capital to continue serving Africa’s development. To this end, Ghana has proposed that each African country go beyond its existing paid-in capital and invest a minimum of 30% of its sovereign reserves in African multilateral institutions.

Third, we must bring the world to Africa. We have spent the past few years attending summits in a variety of countries that want to do business with our continent. Now it is time for our fellow world leaders to come to us. In that spirit, Ghana has proposed, and we all support, an annual African Economic Summit involving heads of state and government from around the world. Our hope is that this becomes the fulcrum around which we will deal with our major growth-and-development issues. Kenya will host the first summit in 2025, then Zambia in 2026 and Ghana in 2027.

Finally, we must speak with one voice on our reform agenda. Over the past three years a coalition of African policy institutes, the au, the un, finance ministers and civil society have been working together to define and advocate a collective African agenda for improving the global financial architecture. This coalition has identified key areas for action. They include charting a green growth-and-investment path for the continent; increasing concessional finance; channelling special drawing rights currently held at the imf to African financial institutions so they can be leveraged for development finance; finding a robust solution to the debt crisis, which will require overhauling the Common Framework, a debt-restructuring blueprint introduced by the g20 in 2020; and increasing Africa’s role in global decision-making.

These are ambitious but achievable targets. We have already seen progress, for example in gaining a seat for the au at the g20, making it the g21. It is up to Africa to use that seat wisely and present a clear vision for global reform.

There is a line in scripture: “Faith without works is dead.” You cannot believe in something and do nothing about it. 2024 is the year to move from talk to action, and to insist on a fairer global system that works for Africa. ■

Nana Akufo-Addo is the President of Ghana. William Samoei Ruto is the President of Kenya. Hakainde Hichilema is the President of Zambia.