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SA Govt defends Ramaphosa’s presence at Mnangagwa’s inauguration – it was ‘procedural’

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SA Govt defends Ramaphosa’s presence at Mnangagwa’s inauguration – it was ‘procedural’

SOUTH African International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Candith Mashego-Dlamini has defended President Cyril Ramaphosa’s presence at Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration ceremony this month, telling MPs his attendance was “procedural.”

Mashego-Dlamini was responding on Wednesday to questions from MPs after the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) had briefed the parliamentary international relations committee on its assessment of the outcome of the August elections in Zimbabwe, and South Africa’s role as part of the Southern African Development Community’s Electoral Observation Mission.

“Zimbabwe is a sovereign state and, therefore, if the election commission of Zimbabwe announced the winner of the election, as South Africa and as government, we had to congratulate, because that is their system, that is the system of Zimbabwe.

“So they’ve announced, the President has congratulated the winning president and also attended the inauguration, because it was procedural,” Mashego-Dlamini replied to DA international relations spokesperson Emma Powell.

Powell had questioned Ramaphosa’s “rush to congratulate” Mnangagwa, following the observer mission’s sharply critical assessment of the elections.

Mnangagwa was sworn in on 4 September for a second term, following the disputed elections held on 23 August, and amid a low turnout of invited African leaders.

Of the 16 presidents of the SADC, only three – Ramaphosa, Mozambique’s Filipe Nyusi and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Félix Tshisekedi – bothered to show up at his inauguration ceremony. From the 51 remaining African countries, not one head of state was in attendance, but were represented instead by a retinue of ambassadors and junior ministers.

The low turnout at Mnangagwa’s subdued inauguration suggested that his administration could be headed for further isolation – not only by many Western countries but also by fellow African leaders, Daily Maverick reported.

The SADC’s election observer mission, headed by former Zambian vice-president Nevers Mumba, concluded that the presidential, legislative and local government elections fell short of the requirements of the constitution of Zimbabwe, the country’s Electoral Act and the SADC’s Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

The interim report’s findings included that Zimbabwean authorities had restricted opposition access to the voters’ roll, that the country’s Patriot Act had restricted freedom of expression, and that state media had favoured Zanu-PF in their election coverage.

The findings were collected by 50 observers from nine SADC countries – Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Eswatini and South Africa.

Other election observer missions from the European Union (EU), the Commonwealth, the US’ Carter Centre and the African Union were also critical of the elections. However, the sharp condemnation from Mumba and the normally reticent SADC, of which Zimbabwe is a member, was significant.

South Africa’s Presidency said in a statement that South Africa congratulated the government and people of Zimbabwe on the holding of the elections. Ramaphosa took note of the preliminary election reports by the SADC, the African Union and others, and called on all the Zimbabwean parties to work in unison to sustain peace.

Despite ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula’s remarks about the extreme unlikeliness of fresh polls being held in Zimbabwe and a series of tweets in which he appears to praise Mnangagwa and his party, the ANC has remained silent about its official position on the elections.

On Wednesday, Mashego-Dlamini said South Africa had been honoured to be part of the SADC observer mission to Zimbabwe:

“We have been honoured as South Africa to be part of the collective through participating in the leadership or as observers in the SADC electoral observer mission deployed by the SADC to assist member states to, amongst others, conduct peaceful, free, fair and credible elections. I am pleased that South Africa has also been part of the collective that observed the just-concluded, peaceful harmonised elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe,” she said.

“We were observing and we have learned there are issues that, when there’s an election in South Africa we can contribute and also correct some of the things that we’ve observed in Zimbabwe. So it’s a lesson; observing the election of any other country is not really to demise the legislation and the constitution of that country, but is to learn and do better in your own country,” she added.

In response to questions about how the SADC’s observer mission report will be processed, ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, who took the committee through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s presentation on the elections, said: “The Chair of the observer mission will present the final report to the Chair of the Organ, who will submit the report to the government of Zimbabwe as well and to other stakeholders. Thereafter, the SADC advisory council will engage with the member state regarding the implementations of the recommendations.”

Sanctions against Zimbabwe

Responding to questions from MPs, Mashego-Dlamini blamed sanctions imposed by Western governments for creating Zimbabwe’s economic ills.

“The crisis in Zimbabwe is not really created by the election, it is created by the sanctions against Zimbabwe which have been passed by the EU, the United States and the UK. We can’t really – when we discuss [the] election – say this election has caused the crisis in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is already in crisis in terms of the economy, the job creation and the rest of the issues, just because of the sanctions that they have,” said the deputy minister.

Mashego-Dlamini’s statements come on the back of Ramaphosa’s call to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe, made at the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

“The sanctions that are also being applied against South Africa’s neighbour, Zimbabwe, should also be lifted as they are imposing untold suffering on ordinary Zimbabweans, but also have a collateral negative impact on neighbouring countries as well, such as my own country, South Africa,” he said.

In 2002, the EU imposed targeted financial and travel sanctions on then Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, some of his cronies and Zanu-PF-linked companies, citing human rights violations. Brussels also imposed an arms embargo on Zimbabwe.

But the sanctions have steadily diminished since then, and now only comprise the arms embargo and individual sanctions against the state-owned Zimbabwe Defence Industries, which makes ammunition.

From 2001, the US introduced sanctions targeted at key officials of the Zanu-PF party, which also oblige US administrations to veto any financial support to Zimbabwe from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, among others.

The UK has also maintained limited sanctions against key Zanu-PF individuals.

Powell accused the deputy minister of drawing a “pointed, sharp sword” at some of South Africa’s largest trading partners, and asked her to clarify her statements that the economic crisis in Zimbabwe is not as a result of its political situation but a direct result of sanctions.

“Honourable Powell should not really be making herself a legal person here against the sanctions of Zimbabwe. We are aware that Zimbabwe has got sanctions and that’s it – it’s period. It’s something that is not a secret,” she replied.

GEOPOLITICS: Nigeria President Tinubu breezes…new African air at UNGA earns plaudits- Amb. Anthony Mukwita

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GEOPOLITICS: Nigeria President Tinubu breezes…new African air at UNGA earns plaudits- Amb. Anthony Mukwita

GEOPOLITICS: Nigeria President Tinubu breezes
…new African air at UNGA earns plaudits

By Amb. Anthony Mukwita-23.09.23

“Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

In August 2023, H.E Tinubu assumed office as the new President of the federation of Nigeria, Africa´s most populous nation and largest economy on the continent.

For those interested in geopolitics and continental economy, H.E Tinubu was not a stranger, as a heavy hitter valued at billions of dollars in personal wealth from long years of hard work but then that was just about because there are many billionaires in Nigeria.

Last week, however, the world came to get a sneak peak about the new Nigerian leader as he made his debut entry at the UNGA and attracted good positive vibes at the global club in New York.

As an international relations pundit, I keenly follow what African leaders say at international fora, especially if they are as big as H.E Tinubu because when Nigeria coughs, Africa is likely to catch a cold.

I was impressed to note that even as ´a first timer at the UNGA,´ (not in public life and wealth) President Tinubu came out with guns blazing in international diplomacy when he said below to the UNGA:

FOCUS ON BROKEN PROMISES BY THE CONTINENT/GLOBE

“Many proclamations have been made, yet our troubles (as a people) remain close at hand. Failures in good governance have hindered Africa. But broken promises, unfair treatment, and outright exploitation from abroad have also exacted a heavy toll on our ability to progress,” President Tinubu said.

APPRECIATING THE PAST; LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

President Tinubu, a keen follower of history made the following observations he shared with UNGA colleagues:

“In the aftermath of the Second World War, nations gathered to rebuild their war- torn societies. A new global system was brought in…”

But feels that more needs to be done to establish a greater and better geopolitical world and a ´strong Africa. ´

“What we seek is an equally firm commitment to partnership. We seek enhanced international cooperation with African nations to achieve the 2030 agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.

PRESIDENT TINUBU´S MAJOR TAKES AT UNGA

The newly elected President of Nigeria said, first, “if this year’s theme is to have any impact at all, global institutions, other nations and their private sector actors must see African development as a priority, not just for Africa but in their interests as well.”

“To foster economic growth and investor confidence in Nigeria, I removed the costly and corrupt fuel subsidy while also discarding a noxious exchange rate system in my first days in office. Other growth and job-oriented reforms are in the wings.

“We welcome partnerships with those who do not mind seeing Nigeria and Africa assume larger roles in the global community.

“The question is not whether Nigeria is open for business. The question is how much of the world is truly open to doing business with Nigeria and Africa in an equal, mutually beneficial manner.”

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE VITAL

“We must affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice,” said the President.

REGIONAL CONFLICTS TINUBU SPEAKS AS ECOWAS CHIEF

“Regarding Niger, we are negotiating with the military leaders. As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region.”

He laments, “our entire region is locked in protracted battle against violent extremists. In the turmoil, a dark channel of inhumane commerce has formed. Along the route, everything is for sale. Men, women, and children are seen as chattel.

President Tinubu sincerely hopes, “African nations will improve our economies so that our people do not risk their lives to sweep the floors and streets of other nations.”

SECURING AFRICA´S MINERAL WEALTH VITAL TINUBU

President Tinubu resents Africa´s mineral exploitation and wants, “to secure the continent’s mineral rich areas from pilfering and conflict.”

Concerned that the Congo “have become catacombs of misery and exploitation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered this for decades, despite the strong UN presence there. The world economy owes the DRC much but gives her very little.”

H.E Tinubu says, “the mayhem visited on resource rich areas in Africa does not respect national boundaries. Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, CAR, the list grows.

The problems also knocks Nigeria’s door.”

The President told UNGA he seeks an end to, “this 21st century pillage of the continent’s riches.”

President Tinubu laments, “deaths at home due to climate change, I also lament the grave loss of life in Morocco and Libya. The Nigerian people are with you.”

On a positive note, he observed that in fundamental ways, “nature has been kind to Africa, giving abundant land, resources, and creative and industrious people. Yet, man has too often been unkind to his fellow man and this sad tendency has brought sustained hardship to Africa’s doorstep.”

“As for Africa, we seek to be neither appendage nor patron. We do not wish to replace old shackles with new ones,” the President decreed.

Instead, we hope to walk the rich African soil and live under the magnificent African sky free of the wrongs of the past and clear of their associated encumbrances.

Profoundly he said, “Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.”

President Tinubu´s full speech is available on the UN WEB Tv site and link.

You can access more geopolitical material similar to this from my new book ´China in Africa the Zambia story´ available on Amazon and all local bookstores.

This is my personal reflection of the UN presentation and not by any means an official version

Bob Menendez steps down as US Senate foreign relations chairman after indictment

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Bob Menendez steps down as US Senate foreign relations chairman after indictment

A veteran US senator has temporarily stepped down as head of the chamber’s powerful foreign relations committee as he battles bribery charges.

Justice department prosecutors allege Robert Menendez and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for aid to Egypt’s government.

The couple have denied the charges.

The embattled senator has rejected calls from fellow Democrats back in his home state of New Jersey to resign his seat.

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday that Mr Menendez had decided to step down as chairman of the influential committee “until the matter has been resolved”.

The New York Democrat said his colleague was “a dedicated public servant and is always fighting hard for the people of New Jersey”.

It is not the first time that Mr Menendez, 69, who has served in Congress since 2006, has had to give up the coveted post on the foreign relations panel.

He also stepped down in 2015 after being indicted in New Jersey on charges that he had accepted bribes from a Florida eye doctor. That case ended in a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin, who took over as the committee’s leading Democrat at the time, is expected again to temporarily ascend to fill the vacancy.

Mr Menendez and his spouse, Nadine Arslanian, are accused of accepting bribes of cash, gold, payments towards a home mortgage and a luxury vehicle from three New Jersey businessmen.

Prosecutors allege the pair accepted the money to secretly aid the Egyptian government and to enrich the three men: Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes.

According to the 39-page indictment unsealed on Friday, Mr Menendez’s leadership position and power as a senator enabled such influence-peddling.

The pair each face three criminal counts: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under colour of official right.

In a statement from her lawyers, Mrs Menendez denied any wrongdoing and said she would defend herself in court.

Mr Menendez sought to portray the allegations as politically motivated.

“For years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave,” he said in a lengthy statement.

“Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists.”

“I am confident that this matter will be successfully resolved once all of the facts are presented and my fellow New Jerseyans will see this for what it is,” he added.

But a wave of top Democrats, including at least four members of Congress from New Jersey, called for the lawmaker to resign.

In a statement, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said the allegations were “so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state”.

“Therefore, I am calling for his immediate resignation,” he wrote.

Under New Jersey law, if Mr Menendez resigns from the Senate, the governor would appoint a temporary replacement to serve out the rest of his term.

But any delay between resignation and temporary appointment could pose headaches for Democrats in a Senate they control by a one-seat margin.

The White House, for whom Mr Menendez is a key foreign policy ally, has so far declined to comment.

In a defiant second statement on Friday, Mr Menendez vowed: “I am not going anywhere.”

His indictment comes after a years-long justice department investigation.

In the summer of 2022, federal agents executed search warrants at Mr Menendez’s home and found evidence of the bribery agreements, including over $480,000 (£390,000) in cash, much of which was “stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets and a safe”, prosecutors allege.

Agents said they also found a Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicle paid for by Mr Uribe parked in the garage, as well as $100,000 of gold bars in the home, pictures of which were included in the indictment.- BBC

Burna Boy concert promoter Sedote Nwachukwu flees South Africa

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Burna Boy concert promoter Sedote Nwachukwu flees South Africa

Sedote Nwachukwu, CEO of Ternary Media Group, the entertainment company that was supposed to bring Nigerian superstar Burna Boy to South Africa, has fled the country, with fraud charges stemming from the now cancelled concert still hanging over his head.

Nwachukwu, who was in charge of organising the gig which was set for 23 September, was accused of swindling the prominent entertainment company of R10m.

A case of fraud was opened against Nwachukwu at the Sandton Police Station earlier on during the week by his partner, Gregory Wings.

Speaking to Sowetan Live on Thursday afternoon, Nwachukwu said he was leaving the country on advice from his lawyer.

“I’m at the airport now and about to board my flight back to America. I’m leaving because I’ve been advised to do so by my lawyer,” he said.

Nwachukwu said while the allegations of fraud had been leveled against him, it was Wings that had been pocketing money from ticket sales.

“The event in total sold almost over 20,000 tickets but Greg took 6,000 of the 11,000 tickets sold by Ticketpro. I am being told that he went around selling and distributing them at night clubs and campuses. I haven’t seen him since I’ve set foot here in SA over a week ago,” Nwachukwu said.

The tickets were selling from R500 to nearly R6,000.

“I initially brought Greg on board for this project because I wanted to give him a second chance at life after he served time in prison for fraud. Had I known he would’ve done this to me, I wouldn’t have agreed to do business with him.

“Greg was in charge of invoices and anything related to the paper work of the promotion for this concert. I didn’t know he had plans to do this. I am aware of a case being opened because of the fraudulent acts of my business partner Gregory Wings,” said Nwachukwu.

A few days before, Nwachukwu’s partner, Wings, however revealed that the show had been shelved because of the theft of R10m from the company.

A case of fraud has been opened against Nwachukwu at the Sandton Police Station, Ternary Media Group spokesperson, Kymoni Jackson confirmed.

“He [Nwachukwu] stole R10m; that’s why we had to call it off. He lied to everyone that was part of the event and his investor Gregory Wings.

“We are willing to refund people, however tickets are still valid for the next show. Burna Boy was very excited to come [to SA] but we had to deal with this internal issue of Mr Nwachuku [first]…” said Jackson.

Despite the new revelations, Jackson said Burna Boy would be coming to fulfil his contractual obligations in December.

Boris Johnson’s Zimbabwean nanny ‘sacked’ for having a drink with ex-British PM

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Boris Johnson’s Zimbabwean nanny ‘sacked’ for having a drink with ex-British PM

A nanny claims she was sacked by Boris Johnson’s wife just three days into her job – after joining the ex-PM for a glass of wine.

Theresa Dawes, 59, says Carrie Johnson gave her 15 minutes to pack her bags and leave.

Theresa, from Zimbabwe, says she is owed thousands.

She adds: “It’s been a complete nightmare.”

The glamorous divorcee says the axe fell 36 hours after she enjoyed a single chilled rosé with the ex-PM to “wet the head” of baby Frank Alfred Odysseus.

Carrie was still recovering in hospital – but, says Theresa, dismissed her when she returned home.

She says that after getting the sack, apologetic Boris told her Carrie was “hormonal… it’s out of my control”.

Now Theresa says she is considering legal action to get thousands of pounds she says she is owed for an agreed three-month contract – plus severance pay.

The Johnsons deny Theresa’s claims.

Boris has earned millions from speaking engagements since leaving No10 last year and as an ex-PM is entitled to an annual allowance of £115,000.

Theresa, 59, insisted nothing flirty happened with the ladies’ man – and their conversation didn’t stray beyond the politics of her native Zimbabwe.

She said: “I know he’s had three wives, however many kids. But I’m not interested, he’s not my type. I don’t know if she felt threatened. I don’t know what she was thinking.

“I was looking forward to helping out a family with their new arrival but I got caught in the middle of something else.

“I’d only been there for three days and I didn’t even get to hold the baby. I wish I’d never got involved with them, it’s been a complete nightmare. To be fair, it was quite a nice rosé but it definitely wasn’t worth it.”

Theresa says the only time she could have put a foot wrong was when she met Carrie two weeks earlier and mentioned that a former employer had celebrated Boris’s demise in the Partygate scandal.

But she believes the real reason she got sacked was that Carrie’s mum Josephine witnessed the tipple with Boris.

Mum-of-two Theresa flew almost 8,000 miles from her home in Harare to take up the post at Brightwell Manor, the Johnsons’ mansion in Oxfordshire.

Source – Sunday Mirror

Leave UPND out of your wrangles, Liswaniso tells PF

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Leave UPND out of your wrangles, Liswaniso tells PF

Leave UPND out of your wrangles, Liswaniso tells PF

UPND national youth chairperson Gilbert Liswaniso has urged the wrangle-plagued PF to resolve their problems without involving the ruling party.

Failure to hold an elective convention to replace Edgar Lungu as party president has plunged the party into infighting pitting Miles Sampa against ECL loyalists.

Last Friday, Sampa escorted by multitudes of party supporters, stormed the party headquarters on Panganani Road and declared himself interim president and Secretary General of PF until a convention was held.

But his rivals laughed off Sampa’s declaration, saying he had been hired by the UPND to sow chaos in the party.

They claimed the dozens of supporters who escorted Sampa were in fact, UPND.

Commenting on claims by some PF members, Liswaniso wondered how they would resolve national issues as they claimed if the were failing to resolve a simple issue of internal democracy.

“These are people claiming to be champions of democracy, the issue that has turned them against each other is one related do democracy. They have failed to deal with and yet claim they want to come back and bring democracy,” Liswaniso said, adding,”Isn’t that laughable?”

He said the UPND had restored sanity on the political landscape by ending political violence and cadrerism.

“The system of transporting cadres to inflict harm on opponents is a purely strategy. I am sure you all remember how young people brutalised citizens that did not toll the PF line during their time in power

As UPND, we believe in resolving issues using democratic and peaceful means,” he said.

Liswaniso said he was worried about the wrangles in the PF because his party needed a strong opposition for credible checks and balances.

“As you know the PF is the biggest opposition political party and strength is good for the country because they will provide credible checks and balances. So I urge the PF to be honest with themselves. Let them solve their problems without accusing the UPND or anyone else for that matter,” he urged.

Kalemba

ZTE Chairman to visit Zambia for talks on setting up a smart phone factory

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ZTE Chairman to visit Zambia for talks on setting up a smart phone factory

The Chinese government has announced that the Chairman of one of the World’s leading telecommunications Company ZTE Li Zixue is expected in the country on Monday to begin the implementation process of setting up a smart phone factory in Zambia.

The ZTE Chairman’s visit follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ZTE and the Zambian government at the ZTE Headquarters in the Chinese City of Shenzhen.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Du Xiaohui said China recognises Zambia as an important market for investment especially in the Southern African region.

Ambassador Xiaohui explains that the coming of the ZTE Chairman will officially set the tone for the actual commencement and implementation of the smart phone factory.

The Chinese envoy further stated that China has committed to implementing in earnest some of the signed agreements during the state visit to China by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Meanwhile Ambassador Xiaohui said China remains committed to helping Zambia in her development process.

He said as a way of boosting the country’s development process, the Chinese government will offer Zambia technology, machinery and capital for the various sectors.

Ambassador Xiaohui said as agreed by President Hakainde Hichilema and President Xi Jinping, China will support Zambia in the area of international equity and justice which is an active contributor to regional and global peace and development.

He further announced enhanced collaborations between the two countries in the area of climate change.

The Chinese envoy stated that China will help Zambia with technology in smart agriculture in view of the effects of Climate change.

”Zambia and China will establish a green development strategic partnership and enhance cooperation on environmental protection, combating climate change, green economy and emergency risk response mechanism among others” The Ambassador said.

Ambassador Xiaohui also said that China will support Zambia in the establishment of industries aimed at value addition.

While in China, President Hichilema witnessed the signing of 15 MoU’s between China and Zambia in various sectors of the two countries’ economies

Nalumango challenges lungu to clarify his political position

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Nalumango challenges lungu to clarify his political position

Nalumango challenges lungu to clarify his political position

VICE-PRESIDENT Mutale Nalumango has urged former head of state and PF president, Edgar Lungu to stop playing political games with the Zambians and make his political intentions clear.

Nalumango made this statement in Parliament in response to a question from Zambezi East Member of Parliament Brian Kambita, who pointed out that Lungu has been actively involved in politics despite claiming to have retired.

Nalumango, while not surprised by the question, emphasized that no one can prevent Lungu from participating in politics, but he should communicate his intentions clearly.

She stated, “You mentioned that the former head of state has reentered the political arena? Well, all we can say is that he is a Zambian. However, what sets the former head of state apart is that he held a position that is unique to one individual at a time, and his title implies that he is still of interest to the Zambian people.”

“What the Zambian people need to know is whether we are following the rule of law. Is the former president abiding by the provisions of the law and the constitution? If he wishes to participate in politics, no one can stop him. However, we need to know, is he retired or not? If he is retired, he should make that clear. All we have is a letter stating that he is retired, so it is important for his followers to hear it from him.”

Following his defeat in the 2021 general elections to President Hakainde Hichilema, Lungu initially declared his retirement from active politics.

However, he later reconsidered after encouragement from his close associates, who believed he could regain power amid the rising cost of living.

Lungu has since utilized his 2021 campaign strategies and began the reloaded version of the Alewelelapo project, including the selection of leaders such as the newly appointed party secretary general, Raphael Nakacinda.

Meanwhile, former Kabushi member of parliament Bowman Lusambo, confirmed that Lungu remained in active politics and was still the PF president.

Lusambo stated, “Edgar Lungu, being the president of the party, is politically active. So, you want him to be active again when he is active as the president? He never left politics; he was just on leave.”

However, Nalumango asserted that all of this was speculation, and Lungu’s true status could only be confirmed by his own statement.

“Today, I read in the media that someone declared he is still active. Let’s stick to the facts. Zambia belongs to everyone, so let’s be clear. You can’t be one thing today and another tomorrow. If he has rejoined politics, we haven’t been officially informed. All we hear is from the media,” said Nalumango.

And Matero member of parliament and PF presidential aspirant Milles Sampa last week advised Lungu to stay away from active politics to maintain his stature and the nation’s respect.

By Buumba Mwitumwa

Kalemba

PF HAS AN UPPER HAND IN 2026- LUSAMBO

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PF HAS AN UPPER HAND IN 2026- LUSAMBO

PF HAS AN UPPER HAND IN 2026- LUSAMBO

….says UPND Government has failed to live up to expectations

Lusaka….Friday, September 22, 2023 ( Smart Eagles)

Former Kabushi Lawmaker Hon. Bowman Chilosha Lusambo says he will not stop Politics until he is called former President of Zambia.

Hon Lusambo said for now, the concentration is to ensure that the Zambian people are rescued from the trap of Poverty currently being caused by the New Dawn Administration.

He said Zambia is facing challenges because of poor management by the Government.

Speaking on MUVI TV’s special Interview, Hon Lusambo said there is no way mealie meal can be costing more than K315 and Fuel at K30.

He said the economy on Paper and what is of the ground are totally different things.

Hon Lusambo said this extends to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) under the current Government which is only good in theory and not practical.

“When that caretaker from Kabushi was being interviewed he said he would take development in eight months. He went to mention our projects under the 1.6 million CDF. Where is that same K28.3 million where has it gone in Kabushi because we have not seen anything..,” he said.

Hon Lusambo has also rubbished claims that Zambia is now diplomatically stable with other countries because of President Hakainde Hichilema.

He said Zambia’s relationship with other countries has always been cordial as many Heads of State visited the country.

“President of India came to this country and gave us Ring road….President of TURKEY and other African Presidents came to Zambia for different engagements. So the relationship with other countries has always been cordial,” he said.

Hon Lusambo said a leader should be appreciated by the people and not self-praise.

“You can be a leader working, let the people praise you. Not just praising yourself. A president is praised based on what he does. I have never seen any Zambian being inconvenienced.”

He has noted that failure by the UPND to deliver is because they have been preoccupied with more talk and less work.

He said the Patriotic Front has an upper hand heading into 2026 because the party worked better than their successors as per the views of the people

On the Electricity Consumption, Hon Lusambo has challenged the Minister of Energy to come out in the open and state to the nation that Electricity has been increased quietly.

“They have increased electricity quietly, we challenge the Minister of Energy to come out and say they have increased. The investors are paying less, and the people are paying more,” he said.

Edgar Lungu Must Not Be Allowed His Routine Saturday Morning Jogging Without Police Permit- Chilufya Tayali

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Edgar Lungu Must Not Be Allowed His Routine Saturday Morning Jogging Without Police Permit- Chilufya Tayali

BA-LUNGU SHOULDN’T COURT PROBLEMS FOR HIMSELF THEN CRY VICTIM LATER, THIS IS CLEARLY AGAINST THE PUBLIC ORDER ACT WHICH HE, HIMSELF, WAS DETERMINED TO UPHOLD AGAINST HIS OPPONENTS

By EEP President Chilufya Tayali

Before anyone says anything, let’s ask ourselves, could anyone, opposing PF, especially HH do such a thing when BaLungu was in power?

If HH ever did this, during the tenure of BaLungu, he would have been charged the offence of unlawful drilling contrary to section 66(1)(a) as read with section 21 C and D of the Penal Code.

Those of you who have memory will remember that GBM was arrested for the same offense when he was UPND VEEP, simply because he was surrounded by UPND youths.

If you go under the POA, you will also read that, such a crowd need to notify the police before they take onto public roads singing like a military drill.

But what is most concerning is that President Lungu is not doing this for his physical fitness, but for his political fitness, otherwise he would do it quietly as a retired former head of State.

I am not against President Lungu’s #Alebwelelapo agenda (though I am now opposed to it, read the words intelligently), he has all the rights to do that, but let him do it fairly to all of us, whereby, he stops getting our Taxpayers money as former head of state and play politics like the rest of us.

I will talk about this tomorrow at 20:00hrs.

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

Addressing Zambia Whistleblower’s Questions On BOZ Governor And Economic Performance- Alexander Nkosi

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Addressing Zambia Whistleblower’s Questions On BOZ Governor And Economic Performance- Alexander Nkosi

ADDRESSING ZAMBIA WHISTLEBLOWER’S QUESTIONS ON BOZ GOVERNOR AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE.

By Alexander Nkosi

I just bumped into an article on Zambia Whistleblower questioning the performance of Dr Kalyalya. What did they write and what is my response to points they raised?

1. ZAMBIA WHISTLEBLOWER: They argued that prospects of Zambia’s economic growth seem to be getting dim by the day and they blamed Dr. Kalyalya for this.

RESPONSE: Economic growth is largely driven from the fiscal side managed by Ministry of Finance while the Bank of Zambia manages monetary policy to support fiscal policy measures. Clearly the writer does not fully understand the distinction between the two and the manade of the Bank of Zambia.

2. ZAMBIA WHISTLEBLOWER: They argued that the domestic currency is weak and the exchange rate is unstable. They blamed this on Dr. Kalyalya .

RESPONSE: The Bank of Zambia cannot be blamed for a weak domestic currency and unstable exchange rate. Exchange rate is determined by supply and demand of dollars on the domestic market. Dollars come into the economy through export earnings, remittances and capital inflow. All these are managed under the fiscal policy which falls under the Ministry of Finance. The exchange rate is also affected by the monetary policy being implemented by the USA.

The Banks of Zambia comes in to try and reduce the impact of worse fluctuations and further weakening of domestic currency. However, there is a limit to which monetary policy interventions can successfully manage to reduce this. This largely depends on the pressure points the country is facing. These limitations are also due to the fact that if the Bank of Zambia over applies measures, they would have an adverse effect on the economy worse than what is being addressed. To fully appreciate Central Bank interventions, one needs to understand the pressure points being faced and what the situation would have been in the absence of interventions. Imagine exchange rate of between K22/$ to K26/$ and fluctuating worse than it is? The cost of living and cost of production would be way higher.

3. ZAMBIA WHISTLEBLOWER: Where are the gold reserves we were told can help cushion our ever escalating exchange rate?

RESPONSE: The Bank of Zambia has been actively applying open market operations to ensure the kwacha doesn’t lose much and minimise fluctuations. This is how reserves are used be they in gold or dollar form.

3.ZAMBIA WHISTLEBLOWER: There are no clear guidelines or a roadmap from the Central Bank to show that the effects of the ever increasing fuel prices on the international market will be minimised.

RESPONSE: It is not the mandate of the Bank of Zambia to manage the impact of fuel prices. This again falls on the fiscal side and is mostly done through subsidies. With crude prices increasing to USD90 per barrel last week, Zambia needs around K20 billion per year to bring the price of fuel down to K17 per litre. This is about K1.7 billion per month. Every month Government on average releases about K11 billion. About K8 billion goes to wage bill and debt service (we are still servicing domestic and multilateral debt). The remainder is K3 billion. This is not enough to ensure smooth social service delivery and support economic sectors key to accelerating economic growth. Part of this K3 billion should also ensure smooth running of government, grant aided institutions and all activities in sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, tourism and mining. How then do we spend K1.7 billion from the K3 billion subsidising fuel? Is this feasible?

4.ZAMBIA WHISTLEBLOWER: It was even better for Dr. Kalyalya,’s Curriculum Vitae ( CV) to indicate that he was fired by President Edgar Lungu than to come back and do nothing but watch the economy collapse.

RESPONSE: The author needs to understand the difference between fiscal and monetary policy.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the issues the author raised cannot be blamed on the Central Bank. The author does not fully understand the mandate of the Central Bank and its interaction with the fiscal team at Ministry of Finance.

Having successfully defended the Bank of Zambia, this is not to say Zambia’s problems should be blamed on the fiscal team at Ministry of Finance. Zambia has been facing serious economic challenges that cannot be addressed in 2 years. It will take time, even over 5 years to have some stability and growth. This is because at the heart of all this is the huge debt mountain which stands at USD32.5 billion as of June 2023 if we include interest arrears. Zambia is currently only paying domestic and multilateral debt as it waits to sign MOUs with individual official bilateral creditors and negotiate debt restructuring with commercial creditors. It is not paying all the debt but on a monthly basis it only remains with an average of K3 billion after paying part of the debt and wage bill. Had Zambia been servicing all the debt, all monthly expenditure would have been going to wage bill and debt service. This is what has slowed down recovery because what remains is very little to invest in economic and social sectors. There is no quick solution or short cut. This is why foreign direct investment is needed as well as increased participation of local private sector, though economic challenges also affect the rate at which they invest and grow.

Thank you.

PF MPs CONDEMN HARRASSMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU

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PF MPs CONDEMN HARRASSMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU

OPPOSITION MPs CONDEMN HARRASSMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU.

…….as Leader of Opposition bemoans alleged infiltration of Parliament by the Executive.

Lusaka………FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, 22nd 2023.[Smart Eagles]

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Brian Mundubile has condemned the Harassment of Former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Hon Mundubile said it was disheartening for Government to deny the former President chance to travel to South Africa to seek medical attention.

He said the cancellation of a Church service where he was supposed to attend also speaks to how he has been treated.

“Then they want to come and say there is rule of law. Former President Lungu enjoys the rights and must continue to move and interact freely because he is a citizen of Zambia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hon Mundubile has bemoaned the misplacement of Opposition Members of Parliament in Wrong Committees of Parliament.

He said the move has been necessitated not to allow the opposition to espouse themselves on critical matters.

Hon Mundubile questioned the placing of Lunte Member of Parliament Hon Mutotwe Kafwaya as Chairperson on the Committee of Gender when his expertise are in Accounts.

He said it is clear that the executive wing of Government has now infiltrated Committees of Parliament.

Hon Mundubile said it is unfortunate that accountants and lawyers are now sent to Committees like Youth and Sports and Gender.

He said the shifting of skills shows that there is something the UPND have got to hide.

“It is only criminals who are uncomfortable with the presence of police officers….. We did not expect functions of Parliament to be diluted. They have now infiltrated Parliament. A political party ensures that there is a balance in the members they adopt. We have to manage to distribute our skills that preside in our members. We hopped that certain numbers have been taken to committees where their contribution will be ineffective. When Certain committees cannot ,”he said.

And Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya has implored the Zambian people to provide oversight until the UPND Government is out of Government

Hon Kafwaya said Parliamentarians will now resort to representing the people and not effectively interpreting such reports as that of the Auditor General.

“How can you explain the justification of placing members strong in law in committees other than legal. So I am now saying that you the Zambian people must now be offering oversight for the Zambian people,” he said.

VEDANTA NOT KEY TO ZAMBIA’S DEVELOPMENT – Antonio Mwanza

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VEDANTA NOT KEY TO ZAMBIA’S DEVELOPMENT – Antonio Mwanza

VEDANTA NOT KEY TO ZAMBIA’S DEVELOPMENT – MOURINHO

….as he questions Government measures put in place to compel Vedanta to fulfil its promises

Lusaka… Friday, September 22, 2023 ( Smart Eagles)

The Socialist Party has tasked Government to state measures it has put in place to ensure Vedanta Resources fulfils its commitments as it takes over Konkola Copper Mines.

Among the promises Vedanta made are that it will invest $1 billion dollars towards KCM development and Pay $250 million toward clearing debt owed to contractors and suppliers.

Speaking on Let the People Talk, Party Deputy General Secretary Antonio Mourinho Mwanza said the country must know how Vedanta will dispose off its commitment because it has a history of making fake promises.

“One billion dollars sounds like it is a lot of money but how much money will they make in those five years,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwanza has emphasised that Zambians need to start owning the modes of Production, Capital and Access to Banking and Finance if the Country is to have meaningful development.

Mourinho said Zambia is not going to develop because Vedanta Resources has promised to give handouts as is the case at KCM.

And Mr Mwanza said it is unacceptable for the country to have 48 banks of which only two are Zambian owned.

Mr Mwanza said it is for this reason the Socialist Party will make changes to polices that governs the banking and mining sectors.

He questioned the rationale of giving “tax breaks” to mining giants while collecting full tax from the local businesses.

“If we go to Mandahill, how many of them are Zambian owned shops there – where is a Zambian in the business sector…,” he said.

Mr Mwanza has also explained that the economic structure has to change.

He said the country cannot have a situation where all the big contracts are going to few individuals who are politically connected to the Government

He said there is need to be adding value to all the products the country has in all the sectors.

“If our people have jobs, if they have enough disposable income, they will be able to deal with the Challenges even in the health sector.

“We believe that all of us must participate in the Democratic, social and economic enterprising of the nation. The religious leaders, vendors, unions , all these are important sectors that must be involved….small medium enterprises, the first thing is to ensure that regulation of these group has to be reviewed. We want our SMEs to have access to major contracts,” he said.

I NEVER SAW HON CHITOTELA, FIVE OTHERS AT THE CRIME SCENE – A WITNESS TELLS KAWAMBWA COURT

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I NEVER SAW HON CHITOTELA, FIVE OTHERS AT THE CRIME SCENE – A WITNESS TELLS KAWAMBWA COURT

I NEVER SAW HON CHITOTELA, FIVE OTHERS AT THE CRIME SCENE – A WITNESS TELLS KAWAMBWA COURT

… He says he never saw Hon Chilangwa carrying any weapon at Mulyoni village

Kawambwa District… Friday September 22, 2023 (SMART EAGLES)

A witness has told the Kawambwa Subordinate Court that he never saw Pambashe Member of Parliament Hon Ronald Kaoma Chitotela and five others at the scene of the crime.

Francis Chungu, Kabanse ward Councilor, informed the court that at the scene, among the accused people he only saw was Kawambwa Central Member of Parliament Hon Nickson Chilangwa and Kawambwa Council Chairperson Chifumbe Kalumba.

Mr. Chungu also told the court that he never saw any of the accused persons participating in assaulting people at Mulyoni village near Poosa Primary School.

He said at the scene, he never saw Hon Chitotela, Charity Musantu, Davy Kaniki, Kunda Chitotela and Chabu Chitotela.

Giving a testimony when the matter came up for continuation of defense today, Mr. Chungu narrated before the Kawambwa Subordinate Court that he saw a police officer fire a gun at the crime scene.

He informed the court how he received a phone call from his friend who informed him that a person has been killed and was taken to Poosa Clinic.

“When I reached Kabanda, I received a phone call from Poosa poling station that one person has been killed and the other one was injured. That’s when I called Kalumba Chifumbe (Kawambwa Council Chairperson) then he advised me that I should call the police and I told him I don’t have their numbers. That’s when he sent me two numbers. I called one number and the person who answered introduced himself as CIO and he said the officer in charge was aware and on his way,” he told the court.

“When I reached at Poosa I found one person who was hit in the head was unconscious and the other one was injured on the arm and he was bleeding. From Poosa, I reached a place called Mulyoni village, there was noise from the road which was under construction. I left the motor bike I was using and wanted to see what was happening there. I crossed a ground, I saw a Mahindra vehicle facing the Kawambwa direction. I saw three people in UPND regalia in the vehicle… I decided to hide at a house along the road because I didn’t want them to see me… I was there for a few while to see what was going on… Then I saw a police vehicle blue in color from Kawambwa arriving. This was around 12 to 13hrs.”

He explained that he then saw police officers disembarking from their vehicle and that the people in a Mahindra vehicle wearing UPND regalia were then talking to the police.

He said because he was about 200 to 300 meters away, he was not preview to what they were talking about.

“I saw the police officers disembarking from the vehicle, then those guys who were in a Mahindra wearing UPND regalia they started going towards the police officers. They had weapons like metal rodes and machetes… I could see that they were agurging and because I was at a distance, I didn’t know what they were talking about. At this time, then I saw a white vehicle and a lot of people (mob) coming from Kafwanka village,” he said.

“At the time when those in a Mahindra were arguing with the police, I saw a white vehicle looked like a Hilux and then I didn’t know who were in that vehicle and I saw other people (mob) on foot and were making noise. I saw another vehicle a white land cruiser that came from Kawambwa… It bypassed me and it parked where the police had parked their vehicle. I saw Chifumbe and Chilangwa disembarking from this vehicle… At this time, UPND started going towards where Mr Chilangwa and Chifumbe were.”

He said at that point, he decided to come out from his hiding place which was a house nearby.

“At this time I decided to come out from the house after seeing Chilangwa and Chifumbe. When I reached at the road, I saw a police officer fire a gun in the air and no one ran away… Then he fired another gunshot, that’s how the people in a Mahindra vehicle started running and that’s how the police and the mob started chasing the Mahindra occupants,” he testified.

“After a short while, I saw four people brought who were in a Mahindra. Then I also saw a naked man who the people were calling a ‘witch’… I saw Chilangwa, Chifumbe and a police officer Mr Tembo talking… Then I saw Chilangwa and Chifumbe embarking in the vehicle they came with… That’s how they turned the vehicle and went in the direction of Kawambwa. Then I saw a police vehicle going to Poosa direction… At this point, I started going home.”

He said while there, he never saw Hon Chilangwa carry any weapon to the point he and Mr Chifumbe drove off heading in the Kawambwa direction.

He said after Hon Chilangwa and Mr Chifumbe left, the Police remained on the scene.

He said when he was going home, he looked back and saw smoke coming from where he was coming from.

Meanwhile, over twenty witnesses who voted at Kaka poling station situated at Kaka Primary School, took turns to testify how they found Kunda Chitotela at the poling station working as an election observer.

Others also testified having seeing Hon Chitotela visit the station between 11hrs through to lunch time wearing a Nigerian outfit.

The matter, which was before Magistrate Martin Namushi, has since been adjourned to Monday September 25th, 2023 for continuation of defense.

In this matter, Hon Chitotela and his Kawambwa Central counterpart Hon Chilangwa and five others have been charged with six counts.

Other people accused in this case are Kawambwa Council Chairperson Chifumbe Kalumba, Kunda Chitotela, Chabu Chitotela, Davy Kaniki and Charity Chibwe Musanto.

It is alleged that on August 12, 2021, the two lawmakers and five others while acting together assaulted four UPND members, damaged the windscreen of the Mahindra Bolero motor vehicle valued at K400, 000 a property of the UPND before allegedly setting it ablaze and further threatened violence.

The accused persons are being represented by Counsels Benjamin Mwelwa and Boniface Chiwala.

State Advocates include Counsel Mwala Museta and Counsel Wilson Mwale.

Hon Chilangwa has since remained in custody at Kawambwa Correctional Facility.

Looting Of National Resources Using The Law- Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

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By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
LOOTING OF NATIONAL RESOURCES USING THE LAW

We urge ZCCM-IH to immediately contest this Order and expunge it.

ZCCM-IH (Kansenseli Gold Mine) in Mwinilunga ordered to cease operations and handover licence.

The Lusaka High Court has with immediate effect ordered ZCCM-IH and its subsidiary Zambia Gold Company Limited to transfer license No. 24988-HQ-SEL which forms 90% of the Kasenseli Gold Mine licence No. 26457-HQ-SML to PCB Mining Limited who are the alleged rightful owners.

Delivering judgment on 11th September, 2023, Judge Edward Musona also ordered ZCCM-IH and its subsidiary, servants or agents to cease mining operations and vacate the licence area in the Mwinilunga district and refrain from interfering with License No.24988-HQ-SEL whatsoever.

Zambia Gold Company has also been directed to account for all the mined resource being all the Gold mined on the area covered by the licence No. 24988-HQ-SEL owned by PCB Mining Limited from the date of the binding Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) being June 18, 2020 to the present date.

The Court further ordered costs in favor of PCB Mining Limited to be taxed in default of the agreement and interest paid on the successful claims at the current Bank of Zambia lending rate.

On June 18, 2020, PCB Mining Limited and ZCCM-IH signed a MOA for the exploration and mining of gold in the licensed area.

It was argued that, without following due process, the licence No. 24988-HQ-LEL was erroneously transferred to Zambia Gold Company Limited instead of to Kasenseli Gold Mine contrary to what was agreed in the MOA.

Further, the parties agreed to incorporate a special purpose vehicle (SPV) which in this case is the Kasenseli Gold Mine Limited within 30 days from date of the agreement with shareholding split as follows Zambia Gold Company with 51 percent, Infracore Limited 19percent, Kampoko Resources 12.5percent, PCB Mining 12.5 percent and Chief Chibwika Development Trust with five percent.

Kasenseli Gold Limited was to conduct the exploration works and determine whether the area contained commercial deposit before the commencement of mining in the area.

The MOA also provided that the licence No. 24988-HQ-SEL would be transferred back to PCB Mining Limited in the event that Kasenseli Gold Mine Limited failed to provide a Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) compliant resource within the specified time.

It was agreed that ZCCM-IH would partner PCB Mining and other parties to develop gold mining operations in the licenced area.

“The parties also agreed to enter into a shareholders’ agreement in relation to the SPV that was supposed to start mining operations within 30 days after signing the MOA.

Nonetheless, Zambia Gold Company, which was not a party to the agreement, commenced mining operations on June 24,2020 and the Kasenseli Gold Mine Limited (SPV) was only incorporated on December 9th ,2020, more than 30 days after signing the MOA,” it read in part.

It stated that ZCCM-IH was to reimburse PCB Mining Limited with 75 percent of the verified total Capital expenditure incurred in development of the licence No. 24988-HQ-SEL on receipt of a verified audited expenditure report.

Further, ZCCM-IH was to assign 10 percent of the entire resource on the licence to PCB Mining, as established by joint ore reserves committee (JORC) standards.

“This 10 percent was subject to costs, taxes and fees to the partnership for production. PCB Mining had discretion to sell the mined resource to Zambia Gold Company and the SPV or a third party,” it stated.

PCB Mining claimed that it wrote to Zambia Gold Company on December 15th,2020 requesting the sums of money due to it under the MOA.

“PCB Mining Limited wrote another letter to Zambia Gold Company stating that Wesley Mtchotsa was its representative regarding its interest at the Kasenseli Gold Mine site, thereby needing a gate pass to grant him access to the gold mine site.

In his judgment dated September 11th, 2023, Judge Musona stated that Zambia Gold Company breached the MOA as it failed to perform exactly that which it undertook to perform, especially that it commenced exploration works shortly after signing the MOA.

“From the facts of this case, it is clear that Zambia Gold Company didn’t honor the MOA as regards its promises to PCB Mining. I therefore find that the plaintiff has a valid claim to damages.

“I accordingly award damages to PCB Mining for inconvenience suffered as a result of the breach. Since the claim for damages is not quantified, I order that the learned Deputy Registrar should assess the claim.

“Seeing that the MOA was terminated, I order the immediate transfer of the Kasenseli Gold Mine licence to PCB Mining. I also order that the defendants by themselves, servants or agents or otherwise, cease mining operations and vacate the licence area,”

“ I have gone through the evidence. The correspondence on record do reveal that the Defendants prima facie and in fact operated as a single economic unit.

This could be the reason why a management team was not appointed to act for the 3rd Defendant (Kasenseli Gold Mine Limited). The net result is that the Plaintiff has proved its case and I order interest on the successful claims at the short-term bank deposit rate from the date when the matter was commenced in Court to Judgment and, thereafter, at the current Bank of Zambia lending rate.

Kambwili begins defence in ‘hate speech’ case

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Kambwili begins defence in ‘hate speech’ case

Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) member of the Central Committee, Chishimba Kambwili, has appeared in the Kasama Magistrate Court for commencement of defense in the case in which he is charged with the offence of expressing hatred and ridicule for people based on tribe and place of origin.

Mr Kambwili, 54, of house number 9, Wisteria Avenue, Luanshya, appeared before Kasama Resident Magistrate, Samson Mumba.

Giving his evidence, Mr Kambwili argued that in his address during a radio programme at Radio Mano in Kasama in 2021, did not issue any hate speech against the Tonga people of Southern Province.

He said on the contrary, he was reacting to alleged tribal remarks attributed to the then opposition UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema and party member, Buumba Malambo in a video that went viral on social media.

Mr Kambwili added that his message was also centered on campaigning for the PF in the run up to the 2021 general elections.

“I am extremely shocked that my innocent address to the Zambians during the radio programme can be classified as hate speech and ridicule against the Tonga speaking people,” said Mr Kambwili.

He added that his message during the radio programme was centered on advising people not to tolerate politicians advocating for voting on tribal lines.

Mr Kambwili further questioned the evidence presented by the seven prosecution witnesses before the court alleging that the case seems to be that of political persecution and intimidation.

“The indictment drafters were merely cherry picking items in the recorded programme to suit their motives. As a politician, I have no reason to demean any of the 73 tribes domiciled in the Republic of Zambia,” he added.

However, the state lawyers objected to the move by the defense to play an audio recording in court as evidence because it contained some remarks that needed a Tonga interpreter.

Kasama Resident Magistrate, Samson Mumba ruled that the defense must therefore secure a Tonga interpreter.

Magistrate Mumba has since adjourned the matter to 20th October, 2023 for continued defense.

US Senator Menendez hit with bribery charges over Egypt ties

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US Senator Menendez hit with bribery charges over Egypt ties

US Senator Menendez hit with bribery charges over Egypt ties, reports Reuters

By Luc Cohen, Patricia Zengerle and Andrew Goudsward

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors on Friday charged powerful Senator Bob Menendez and his wife with taking bribes from three New Jersey businessmen, which could complicate Democrats’ efforts to keep their slim majority in the U.S. Senate in next year’s elections.


The U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan said Menendez, 69, accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of cash and gold bars in exchange for using his power and influence as New Jersey’s senior senator to benefit the government of Egypt and interfere with law enforcement probes into the businessmen.


Menendez, the chair of the influential U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has been an important ally to fellow Democrat Joe Biden as the president has sought to reassert U.S. influence on the world stage, rally support for congressional aid to Ukraine and push back against a rising China.


Senate Democratic rules require any member charged with a felony to give up their leadership position, although they can resume their position if found not guilty. Menendez stepped down from his position on the foreign relations committee during a previous corruption probe prosecutors ultimately dropped.


Aides to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The indictment contained an image of gold bars investigators seized from Menendez’s home as well as envelopes stuffed with cash found inside jackets bearing Menendez’s name hanging in his closet. Prosecutors said they found more than $480,000 in cash in his home.
Prosecutors are seeking to have Menendez forfeit assets including his New Jersey home, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz, and about $566,000 in cash, gold bars and funds from a bank account.


“This investigation is very much ongoing,” Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, said at a press conference. “We are not done. And I want to encourage anyone with information to come forward and to come forward quickly.”
Menendez in a statement said prosecutors mischaracterized routine legislative work.


“The excesses of these prosecutors is apparent,” Menendez said. “The facts are not as presented.”
A lawyer for Nadine Menendez, who has been married to the senator since 2020, said she denied wrongdoing and would “vigorously defend” against the allegations in court.


The investigation marks the third time Menendez has been investigated by federal prosecutors, but he has never been convicted.
Menendez has said he plans to seek re-election next year, and an investigation could complicate Democrats’ effort to expand their slim 51-49 seat majority in the 100-member Senate.


BUSINESSMEN ALSO CHARGED
The senator, his wife and the businessmen – Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes – are all expected to appear in Manhattan federal court on Sept. 27 to face charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.
Bob and Nadine Menendez, 56, also each face one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under colour of official right.

Source: Reuters for full story

Thabo Mbeki suggests a Govt of National Unity (GNU) could solve crisis in Zimbabwe like in 2009

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Thabo Mbeki suggests a Govt of National Unity (GNU) could solve crisis in Zimbabwe like in 2009

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has reprimanded Zimbabwean leaders for failing to resolve election disputes telling them to prioritise “what is in the best interest of Zimbabwe”.

Mbeki suggested that a Government of National Unity (GNU) like the one he helped broker in 2009 could solve the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe is in the middle of a political crisis caused by the recently held harmonised general elections.

Incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa emerged as a winner in the controversial plebiscite condemned by key regional and international election observers.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) said the process failed to meet the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa who lost with 44% to Mnangagwa’s 52,6% refused to endorse an election outcome which was marred by massive irregularities.

Mbeki who was a key figure in resolving the 2008 Zimbabwean crisis which saw then President Robert Mugabe unleashing a reign of terror killing opposition supporters after losing the election, believes the GNU played a key role in uniting Zimbabweans.

He likened the current Zimbabwean situation to 2008.

“You remember after the 2008 elections which were very disputed and then the second round of the presidential elections marked by a lot of violence, Zimbabwean parties agreed that the only way to react to that reality was that they form a Government of National Unity,” said Mbeki.

“It was a response to what had happened during the elections. In 2008 when Zimbabweans themselves could see that elections had not produced a winner they got together for five years.

“The leaders of Zimbabwe must act as leaders, what is in the best interest of Zimbabwe? That is how I would have approached it.”

Speaking to SABC on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the SADC preliminary report on Zimbabwe did not invalidate the plebiscite.

“If one looks at that report, it actually says there were challenges; challenges with regards to a number of things that have got to do with the election,” he said.

“Many countries throughout the world have such challenges; the United States is a prime example with regards to the last election.

“They (observers) have said in the report, as I read it, that certain things need to be improved.

“They have not declared the election as invalid, unfree and unfair; they have highlighted certain challenges,” Ramaphosa added.

Public lecture on Zimbabwe that the ANC tried to stop still going ahead in SA

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Public lecture on Zimbabwe that the ANC tried to stop still going ahead in SA

Zimbabwean academic Dr Ibbo Mandaza’s planned public lecture on the state of democracy in Zimbabwe and the region will be held on 28 September at Wits University’s O.R Tambo School of Leadership.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula tried in vain to block the event that was initially supposed to be held on 7 September.

The ANC regards itself as an ally of Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party. Accordingly, Mbalula wanted to stop the lecture from happening because discussions will reflect on the recent disputed harmonised general elections held in Zimbabwe.

The seminar, dubbed “The State of Democracy in the SADC Region: A Reflection on the National Elections of Zimbabwe, was scheduled for September 7.

The Sunday World on Thursday reported that the school’s leadership headed by ANC national executive committee member David Masondo as principal, had questioned whether Mbalula had the authority to direct the programmes of the institution.

In trying to stop the lecture, Mbalula told the school that the ANC leadership was “engaged in a number of delicate engagements regarding the situation in Zimbabwe.”

“We note that the OR Tambo School has advertised a public lecture to be delivered by Ibbo Mandaza on The State of Democracy in the SADC Region: A Reflection on the National Elections of Zimbabwe on Thursday, 7 September 2023 (invitation attached),” Mbalula said.

“The OR Tambo School of Leadership has a proud tradition of promoting vigorous debate within the ranks of the movement. This must be encouraged.

“Whilst we respect the institutional autonomy of the School, it is also true that, in the public mind, domestically and internationally, it is inextricably linked to the ANC.

“Furthermore, the lecture is billed as a collaborative effort between the School and the ANC Johannesburg Region. This clearly constitutes an ANC platform.

“At the moment the leadership of the ANC is engaged in a number of delicate engagements regarding the situation in Zimbabwe. In this context, a public lecture, at this time, on what is clearly an ANC platform, would complicate these initiatives.

“It is in this context that we have requested that the lecture should not proceed on Thursday, 7 September 2023.

“We invite you to engage with us further on the details of these matters, and the possibility of the lecture being held in future, in a different format, and on a different platform.”

Ethiopian Prince Alemayehu’s lock of hair returned after 140 years in UK

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Ethiopian Prince Alemayehu’s lock of hair returned after 140 years in UK

A lock of hair from a young Ethiopian prince, who died over 140 years ago, has been handed over in the UK to representatives from his home country.

In 1868, British soldiers took Prince Alemayehu away after invading the fortress of his father, Emperor Tewodros II, who then killed himself.

The crown prince died aged 18 in 1879 after an unhappy upbringing in Britain.

He was buried at Windsor Castle near London, but recent requests to have his body returned have been turned down.

One of the prince’s descendants, Fasil Minas, expressed hope that the handing over of the prince’s hair could pave the way for his body to go back to Ethiopia.

At a ceremony in London on Thursday evening, Ethiopia’s ambassador to the UK Teferi Melesse took possession of the lock of hair, as well as a number of other artefacts that had been looted from Emperor Tewodros’s Maqdala fortress.

He welcomed their return, saying that they will go back to their rightful place, where they can continue to inspire and educate generations to come.

He said that Ethiopia would continue to press the UK to return more items seized from the fortress.

The prince was taken to London aged just seven, where his status as an orphan elicited the sympathy of Queen Victoria.

She agreed to support him financially and put him under the guardianship of Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy, the man who had accompanied the prince from Ethiopia.

The Scheherazade Foundation, which facilitated the return of the lock of hair, said it had originally been in the possession of Captain Speedy.

Leonie Turner, a descendant of Speedy who handed over the hair in London, told Canadian broadcaster CBC that she had discovered the artefact among her family heirlooms.

“I felt Prince Alemayehu’s hair was a long way from home,” she is quoted as saying.

Alula Pankhurst, a member of Ethiopia’s Heritages Restitution National Committee, told the BBC he welcomed the return of the hair but said this should just be the start.

“The restitution of Ethiopian artefacts looted by the1868 British expedition to Magdala is important for restorative justice and an excellent way to build better relations and collaborations between British and Ethiopian institutions,” he said.

There have long been calls for the return of the prince’s body with a fresh demand from his descendants in May.

But in a statement to the BBC, Buckingham Palace rejected the call, saying exhuming the prince’s remains would disturb the remains of others buried in the catacombs of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

“I Am Broke”: Prophet Walter Magaya’s Ambitious Stadium Project Leaves Him Financially Strained

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“I Am Broke”: Prophet Walter Magaya’s Ambitious Stadium Project Leaves Him Financially Strained

“I Am Broke”: Prophet Walter Magaya’s Ambitious Stadium Project Leaves Him Financially Strained


Renowned prophet and businessman, Prophet Magaya, has revealed that he underestimated the exorbitant costs associated with building the Heart Stadium at his Yadah Hotel Complex in Waterfalls.

This ambitious capital-incentive project has left him virtually broke, forcing him to make significant adjustments in order to sustain the funding for the project.


The Enormous Costs of Walter Magaya’s Heart Stadium Project


Prophet Magaya candidly admitted that the costs involved in constructing the Heart Stadium have far exceeded his initial estimates, leaving him in a financially precarious position.

He stated,

“The costs are huge and right now I can say it has left me as a person who can be called broke.”

Cutting Corners to Sustain Funding

To ensure the continuation of the stadium project, Prophet Magaya has been forced to make difficult decisions and cut back on various aspects of the construction.

He explained,

“You have to adjust just about everything, cutting on a lot of things just to make sure you keep funding such a project.”

This demonstrates the extent to which he is willing to go to see the completion of his vision.

The Drink of Choice in Challenging Times


The financial challenges faced by Prophet Magaya have also affected his personal choices and lifestyle.

Due to the constraints imposed by the stadium project, he revealed that the affordable “freezit” has become his preferred beverage.

“In this heat, because of the challenges, the drink of choice becomes the ‘freezit’ because that is affordable.”

Walter Magaya’s Heart Stadium Project


Recently, it was reported that football enthusiast Prophet Walter Magaya is making significant progress in the construction of a 5,000-seater stadium at his Yadah Hotel in Waterfalls, Harare.

The stadium, which Magaya revealed, will be modeled after the architectural design of Swansea Stadium in England.

Additionally, there are plans to expand the stadium to accommodate 40,000 spectators in the future.

Magaya expressed his vision for the stadium project, stating,

“We are starting with a 5,000-seater facility, but the full capacity when completed is 40,000.”

There is no reason for Britain to rejoin EU – Keir Starmer

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There is no reason for Britain to rejoin EU – Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has said that he does not believe there is a reason to rejoin the European Union. The government criticized him for wanting to undo Brexit.

The Conservative party is using comments made by the leader of the Labour party against him. The Labour leader said that his party does not want to differ from the rules of the bloc.

Sir Keir said that if Labour is in power, the UK will not passively accept rules set by others.

However, he mentioned that this does not imply that there will be a decrease in the requirements for food quality and the rights of workers.

On Saturday, Sir Keir spoke to a group of moderate leaders in Canada and said, “The main problem with the UK being outside of the EU is that they want to do things differently from our EU partners, which causes conflict. ”

“We don’t want to go in different directions, we don’t want to decrease expectations, we don’t want to get rid of rules for protecting the environment, rules for how people are treated at work, rules for food quality, and everything else. ”

We couldn’t tell from the comments if he was referring to the differences in those particular areas only or overall.

His comments were broadcasted live, but first shared by Sky News on Thursday. This led to allegations from Conservative ministers that Sir Keir was altering his position on Brexit.

Michael Gove, who is in charge of housing, said that these actions showed who Keir Starmer truly is and that he wants to bring back the difficulties we faced during the Brexit process.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that it demonstrated that the leader of the Labour Party wants to essentially rejoin the European Union.

A representative from the Labour party disagreed with this and said that the UK will not rejoin the EU in any way. They suggested that Sir Keir only meant his comments about food, environmental, and labor regulations.

When asked about the Tory criticism of what he said during his visit to the London Stock Exchange, Sir Keir told reporters: “I have said many times before that there is no reason to rejoin the EU, which includes both the single market and the customs union. ”

Countries in the EU single market have a lot of similar rules and standards, while countries in the customs union follow the same customs regulations.

MrKeir said: “We won’t accept rules blindly. We will make our own decisions. ” The Parliament will create rules and laws for this country based on what is best for the nation.

However, it doesn’t mean that a Labour government intends to decrease the quality of food or diminish people’s rights at work.

He said it was not unexpected and that Labour has always had the same view on this for many years.

“He also mentioned that this is the government’s policy. ”

Sir Keir, who used to support staying in the EU, tried to convince others to have another vote on whether to leave the EU or not. He did this while being a member of the Labour Party and being in charge of dealing with Brexit during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. However, his campaign was not successful.

Since becoming the leader of the Labour Party, he has been eager to regain the support of people who voted for Brexit. He has been unwilling to talk about the idea of forming stronger connections with the European Union.

However, he has recently expressed doubts about the connection a future Labour government could have with the bloc, stating that his party would strive for a “significantly improved” Brexit trade agreement.

He said the agreement, which Boris Johnson had negotiated and would be reviewed in 2025, was “not good enough” and that he would make it better, but he didn’t explain how.

Labour says it would talk about a new agreement on the movement of animal products, and recently said it wanted a new deal with the EU to stop people crossing the English Channel.

Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has also stated that joining the EU again is not currently being considered.

The party, which strongly opposed Brexit four years ago, now wants to concentrate on issues within the country. They are trying to win over voters who supported leaving the EU, as well as those who wanted to remain.

Famous South Korean Star Suga enlisted in Korean military

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Famous South Korean Star Suga enlisted in Korean military

The famous South Korean celebrity Suga, who is part of the very popular boy band BTS, has announced on social media that he has started doing his required military duty.

The singer, Min Yoon-gi, is the third band member to join the army, after Jin and J-Hope.

“He said online that he will do his duty and come back reliably. ”

Because South Korea is still technically in a state of war with North Korea, all healthy men must join the army before they reach 28 years old.

For a while, there were rumors that the government might let the BTS group members skip their mandatory military service. This was because they had already contributed a lot to their country’s economy by earning billions of dollars. Some people believed that it would be better to let them continue working rather than interrupting their success.

But in October of last year, all seven members declared that they were all planning to join the military, starting with Jin, who is the oldest.

He started working in December 2022 and was sent to a training camp on the front line.

According to South Korea‘s Yonhap news agency, Suga has been declared unfit for regular combat duty and will instead work as a social service agent.

The news outlets said that the star’s different type of work was probably because he had to have surgery on his shoulder in 2020.

Suga wrote a message for his fans on WeVerse.

I made it this far because of you. “He said that the time has arrived,” he wrote.

“Make sure to be cautious of the cold autumn weather. ” Stay well and I look forward to seeing all of you in the year 2025.
Renewing a contract

Suga is going to join the military soon, and we just found out that all seven members of BTS have agreed to stay with their music agency, Big Hit Music.

The company said earlier this week that they hope to have a time when BTS can promote together with everyone in 2025.

At the same time, fans who like the female group Blackpink are expecting similar information.

The group’s contract with YG Entertainment ended earlier this year and there has been no news of them signing a new contract with the company after their world tour ended on September 17th.

The value of YG stocks dropped by 13. 28% on Thursday because South Korean media said that three out of the four members of Blackpink (Jennie, Lisa, and Jisoo) plan to join other music companies, while still being part of Blackpink for six months every year.

YG responded to the reports by saying that Blackpink’s contract renewal has not been confirmed yet and they are talking about it.

What Russia has done to your children is criminal – Biden tells Zelensky

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What Russia has done to your children is criminal – Biden tells Zelensky

US President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia has done very bad things against Ukraine’s children, and he is giving them an extra $325 million to help.

After a meeting with his advisors at the White House, Biden once again shared his opinion with Zelensky that Russia is the main obstacle to peace. He also mentioned reports about Russia moving many Ukrainian children within its own borders.

Biden said on Thursday afternoon that what they did to your children is very wrong and should be considered a crime.

Biden said that Russia can stop this right away.
The new package provides money for Ukraine to buy things that can help them protect themselves against Russia, such as air defense equipment, weapons to use against tanks, and cluster bombs. This is the 47th batch of equipment that the Pentagon is giving to Ukraine since August 2021.

Biden said the new help package will keep Ukraine safe and protect important places like grain silos, hospitals, schools, and power plants. It will also help save lives in Ukraine.

Zelensky spent the day trying to get support at the White House and Capitol. He said the trip was very important because he met with lawmakers and the Biden administration.
His second visit to the US was not as extravagant as his first visit during the war when lawmakers welcomed him eagerly.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy did not ask Zelensky to give a speech to Congress together because he said there wasn’t enough time. Some Republicans are starting to doubt and hesitate about sending millions of dollars to Ukraine because they think Kyiv’s counteroffensive is not progressing quickly enough.

But Biden repeated that the United States will support Ukraine.
When a reporter asked Zelensky if Congress members promised him any money, Biden interrupted and said: ‘I trust that the United States Congress will make good decisions. ‘ There is no other option available.

Zelensky gave a heartfelt speech at the National Archive, where he thanked the Americans. He pointed out the similar beliefs about democracy that Americans and Ukrainians have.

Zelensky said that every person in Ukraine is thankful to America. ‘To you, the people who assist us not out of obligation but because you genuinely care and can’t help but do so. ’

Rupert Murdoch Steps Down as Fox and News Corp. Chairman, Shaking Up Media and Politics

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Rupert Murdoch Steps Down as Fox and News Corp. Chairman, Shaking Up Media and Politics

In a move that has sent shockwaves through both the media and political landscapes, Rupert Murdoch, the influential right-wing media mogul, has announced his retirement as chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corporation. The 92-year-old media titan, known for building and overseeing a global media empire, revealed his decision in a memo to employees on Thursday.

“For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change,” Murdoch stated in his memo. “But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams.”

Rupert Murdoch’s leadership of Fox and News Corporation, the publisher of influential publications like The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, has granted him considerable influence within the Republican Party, a position rivaled by only a few.

This retirement announcement comes at a pivotal moment for the media industry as established entertainment giants grapple with the transformation of traditional television and film, while consumers increasingly turn to streaming services.

Notably, Murdoch’s departure from the helm of his media conglomerates will have far-reaching implications on the political landscape, coinciding with the intensifying 2024 presidential race. Fox News remains entangled in legal battles stemming from its promotion of former President Donald Trump’s unfounded election claims in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

Taking the reins from Rupert Murdoch will be his eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, who already serves as the chief executive of Fox Corporation. Lachlan will assume the role of sole chairman for both companies.

Rupert Murdoch praised Lachlan as “a passionate, principled leader,” indicating that the right-wing editorial stance associated with his media companies is likely to remain intact. In his memo to employees, Murdoch alluded to their shared commitment to freedom and criticism of “self-serving bureaucracies” and “elites” who he believes disdain those outside their social circles.

While Lachlan Murdoch is expected to continue the family’s conservative media legacy, it’s worth noting that he has privately voiced disagreements with former President Trump’s behavior, according to sources. He reportedly expressed concerns about the potential impact on the country should Trump decide to run for office again.

Rupert Murdoch’s career in media began in the 1950s with the acquisition of a small Australian newspaper chain. Over the years, he expanded his media empire to include influential British newspapers, such as The Times and The Sun, before venturing into the United States with the acquisition of newspapers like the New York Post.

One of his most significant purchases was Twentieth Century Fox in 1985, marking his entry into the Hollywood entertainment industry. Murdoch also launched Sky, a UK satellite pay-TV broadcaster, in 1989, and later attempted to dominate the internet with the acquisition of MySpace in 2005, although the latter venture proved unsuccessful.

In 2019, Murdoch sold a substantial portion of his media empire, including Twentieth Century Fox, to Disney in a $71 billion deal. He retained control of News Corp., which includes the Wall Street Journal.

Murdoch’s influence extended to Fox News, which he founded in 1996 as a conservative competitor to CNN. Over the years, Fox News evolved into a dominant force in cable news, although its coverage faced criticism for promoting conspiracy theories, particularly during the Trump era.

The retirement of Rupert Murdoch marks the end of an era in media and politics, and the succession of his son Lachlan will be closely watched as it shapes the future direction of Murdoch-owned media outlets.

Putin suffers double blow as gunfire kills his nuclear and chemical commanders

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Putin suffers double blow as gunfire kills his nuclear and chemical commanders

The leader of Russia’s most important nuclear submarine was shot and killed while driving his truck and being attacked with a lot of gunfire.

Captain Ivan Kovgan, who was 52 years old, was killed by soldiers from Azerbaijan in the area called Nagorno-Karabakh. He had been sent there to help keep peace and was working as the deputy commander for a group of peacekeepers. Captain Kovgan had only been there for two months before he died.

Kovgan worked as second-in-command of Russia’s Navy submarines in the Arctic region.

Four more Russian soldiers died when the car was hit, including Colonel Tagir-Murod from the team that deals with radiation, chemicals, and biological threats.

The soldiers from Azerbaijan who shot someone have been arrested and may be charged with a crime. The leader has also been temporarily relieved of their duties.
The president of the country called Vladimir Putin to say sorry for the attack and promised to give money to the families of the servicemen who were killed.

President Ilham Aliyev said that a detailed investigation will be done to find out what happened, and anyone responsible will be punished accordingly. This was mentioned in a statement from the Kremlin.

Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said that officials from both Baku and Moscow are working together on the investigation and they are asking for people to be patient.

Azerbaijan started a military operation to take control of Nagorno-Karabakh which belongs to them but has been controlled by Armenians for 30 years. At the same time, there was a truck attack.

The countries started fighting over the area in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and had another big fight in 2020 that lasted a few weeks.

Some Russian peace-keepers went to calm down a tense situation as part of an agreement to stop fighting. However, an Azerbaijani military group accidentally shot down a Russian helicopter, causing the death of two pilots.

Yesterday, one of Putin’s very close friends shared a weird video announcing that he is alive and inside the top hospital in the Kremlin.

India accuses Canada of being ‘safe haven for terrorists’

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India accuses Canada of being ‘safe haven for terrorists’

India has accused Canada of providing a safe place for terrorists after Canada stopped issuing visas to its citizens. This comes after Canada blamed India for the killing of a Sikh separatist activist on Canadian land.

India’s spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, told reporters that Canada should be concerned about its reputation after making serious accusations.

He said that if we talk about Canada’s reputation being affected, it is getting known as a country where terrorists, extremists, and organized crime feel safe.

He made comments after India stopped accepting visa applications from Canadians because they believe there are security dangers towards their diplomats in Canada.

“The problem is with promoting violence, lack of action from Canadian authorities, and creating a disruptive environment for our high commission and consulates. This is the reason why we are temporarily stopping the issuance of visas or providing visa services,” Bagchi explained.

The relationship between the two countries got worse this week. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said that India might be responsible for the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. Nijjar was a Sikh separatist activist who was shot by two masked men in Surrey, British Columbia.

India strongly denies the claims and thinks they are ridiculous and have a hidden motive. Bagchi said that Canada hasn’t given any specific evidence to back up the allegations.

India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting released a message to TV channels, requesting them to not provide a platform to individuals who have been accused of serious crimes, like terrorism or being part of banned organizations.

The Indian government has been saying for a while that Canada is not doing enough to handle Sikh separatist extremism. They believe that these extremists want to create a separate place for Sikhs called Khalistan, which would include some parts of India’s Punjab state.

Nijjar strongly supported the idea of creating Khalistan. India sees calls for Khalistan as a serious threat to its national security.

Several groups connected to the concept of Khalistan are labeled as “terrorist organizations” according to India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Nijjar was listed as a UAPA terrorist and in 2020, the Indian National Investigation Agency accused him of trying to influence the Sikh community worldwide to support the creation of ‘Khalistan. ‘

Many Sikh groups in other countries believe that the Indian government is wrongly connecting the movement with terrorism. They intend to keep promoting the peaceful establishment of Khalistan and also raise awareness about the long history of human rights violations faced by the Sikh community in India.

Sikhs used to have their own kingdom in the Punjab region. They have been advocating for the establishment of Khalistan for many years, starting around the time India became independent from British rule in 1947.

When the Partition happened, the former colony was divided quickly based on religion. Muslims were sent to Pakistan and Hindus and Sikhs were sent to India. Punjab, which was a part of this colony, experienced a lot of extreme violence because it was divided in half.

The Sikhs went through a lot of suffering during the violence that happened afterwards, and they felt like they were treated badly in the new country where Hindus were the majority. Because of this, some important leaders started to push for the creation of Khalistan. Over time, there have been fights between the movement’s supporters and the government of India which led to the loss of numerous lives.

In the 1980s, there was a long period of violence in Punjab caused by some Khalistani militants. These militants did many bad things, like killing innocent people, setting off bombs without any specific target, and attacking Hindus. This information was reported by Human Rights Watch.

During counterinsurgency operations, Indian security forces had unlawfully imprisoned, tortured, killed, and made tens of thousands of Sikhs go missing, according to a rights group. The Indian government made laws to fight against rebellions, but these laws allowed for violations of people’s rights and protected the security forces from being held accountable for these violations.

In 1984, the Indian Prime Minister at that time, Indira Gandhi, told the Indian soldiers to forcefully enter the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Golden Temple is the most holy place for Sikhs. This was done to fight against Sikh separatists, which made many Sikhs very angry.

Gandhi was killed by her Sikh bodyguards, which led to more violence. This violence resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs.

A year later, the violence also happened in Canada. Sikh separatists exploded a bomb on an Air India plane that had left from Toronto airport. This tragic event caused the death of all 329 people on board, which included many Canadians of Indian origin.

Today, there is no rebellion in Punjab and experts say that supporters of the Khalistan movement are not very influential in India.

But some Sikhs living in different countries, especially in Canada, Britain, and Australia, still feel sorry for the movement.

Some Sikhs believe in creating a separate country called Khalistan. They want to have regular votes to decide if this should happen and to agree on where this new country would be.

Nijjar’s death was a big surprise and made a lot of Sikhs in Canada very angry. The Sikh community in Canada is very big, with more than 770,000 members, and it is one of the largest Sikh communities outside of India.

The Canadian police have not taken anyone into custody for the murder of Nijjar. In August, the police started looking into three people they thought might be involved in a crime. They also gave a description of a car that might have been used to escape the scene. They asked the public to come forward with any information they had about these things.

PF-aligned Lawyers Abandon Chilufya Tayali

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By The Observer Zambia

“STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE AS PF-ALIGNED LAWYERS ABANDON HIM
First of all, we must put it on record that we take no pleasure in seeing another man being thrown under the bus for simply standing up for themselves and looking out for their own family. Shi Kiya today is stuck between a hard place and a rock for simply growing a pair and saying “enough is enough”! to his perceived puppet masters in green.

It saddens us to see a man go to court to face the prosecutors all alone in cases that were brought about mainly as a result of pushing the agenda for the men in green. Unfortunately, the political landscape at the moment is so uneven that smaller political parties without the financial muscle cannot stand on their own without sucking up to bigger guys.

Unfortunately for the former seminarian, former civil society leader cum family-man and “public lawyer”, a man in his position is incapable of standing for anything; his two cents means nothing to those with financial muscle, its either their way or the high way.

Therefore, unless a financial miracle happens, the likes of shi Kiya will forever epitomize sebana wikute and bumushanina bwali. It’s not a sexy position to be in for a family man and smartly dressed like shi Kiya, but the man has to survive.

With that said, one may be tempted to joyfully sit in the terraces and watch shi Kiya run the full course of this self-inflicted legal tsunami owing to his perceived political inconsistencies. The cases that he is facing today are due to his own verbal diarrhea against those with the instruments of people and the criminal justice system at their disposal. By his own confession, shi Kiya’s strategy has been anchored aligning himself with bigger boys in the opposition political party space such as the those in green and uncle Fred to insulate him against inevitable bad things like court cases and empty pockets.

In view of the foregoing, one is tempted to ask shi Kiya what his plan was when he started throwing political missiles at his allies in green unprovoked. How did he envisage this to pan out? Did he expect PF to lay red carpet for him as he walked those court corridors after speaking ill of them the previous night? Did he expect those expensive lawyers to be leaving their air-conditioned offices to go and provide legal services to him pro-bono? Did he expect the lawyers to continue buying him nshima for him to have the energy to come and castigate their sponsors during his 20:00hrs live broadcast?

On the other hand, there is no love lost between shi Kiya and the outfit in red mainly due to his political-pendulum approach to issues. Despite his apparent reconciliation with Chief Mukuni, which was inconsequential because his cases are criminal in nature so it’s the people against him, shi Kiya cannot be embraced wholeheartedly by those in red.

Further, given his explosive and unpredictable nature, those in red that he has wronged would not want to let him off the leash so easily lest he aims his political bazookas at them again. In-fact, the longer his cases take in court, the better for them because they would have secured a strategic political pit-bull to unleash on their political opponents.

While the latest suggestion by shi Kiya to represent himself in court may sound comical and seem like an act of karma to many, because of his apparent lack of principles, to us this is a serious call for help; the man must be going through a lot. We are pretty sure that when the camera is off after his 20:00hrs live broadcast, she Kiya has some serious sleepless nights.

In conclusion, we are cognizant of the fact that shi Kiya is not the type that takes advice, he is Mr. Smart Mouth, the Alpha and Omega of all political wisdom, but we will hand him this advice anyway. If his title of “the public lawyer” is tempting him to think that he can go and do “chochise” in court and escape the gates of Chombokaila prison, he should abandon those thoughts forthwith. If he goes ahead and attempts to represent himself, he will soon know what they mean by “he who represents himself has a fool for a client”; he will learn the hard way why people spend at least four years in Law School to get an LLB then spend unpredictable time and money at ZIALE before earning themselves the title of “learned collogue”.

Our earnest and brotherly advice to shi Kiya is to eat humble pie, accept the fact that he is alone and lonely, then pray to the court for time to allow him secure some free legal representation from Legal Aid. For now, we can only wish shi Kiya the best of luck as he tries to secure some political grip because he is slowly but surely losing it.

By The Observer Zambia

Miles Sampa Is Again Attempting To Breach The PF Party Secretariat , Nakacinda Appeals To Police

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Miles Sampa Is Again Attempting To Breach The PF Party Secretariat , Nakacinda Appeals To Police

DON’T ALLOW CRIMINAL TRESSPASS, DAMAGE TO PUBLIC PROPERTY, NAKACINDA APPEALS TO POLICE

Friday- 22nd September 2023

The Patriotic Front has appealed to the Zambia Police in Lusaka not to allow criminal trespass and breakdown of public order and peace.

In a letter to the Lusaka Commanding officer, PF Secretary General, Raphael Nakacinda expressed concern that a suspended member, who had recently committed similar breaches, was threatening to repeat the offence.

He identified Matero MP, Miles Sampa as attempting to breach the Party Secretariat situated on Panganani and Lumumba Roads.

He said it had come to his attention that Mr. Sampa had circulated a Notice to hold a public meeting at the Secretariat.

He said this action will be illegal and will pose threats to public peace, property and order.

He appealed to the Police to act on the Party’s complaint.

Below is the letter

22nd September 2023

The Lusaka Commanding Officer
Zambia Police Service
Lusaka

SUBJECT; CRIMINAL TRESSSPASS AND POSSIBLE MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO PARTY AND PUBLIC PROPERTY

It has come to our attention that a member of the Patriotic Front, Hon. Miles Sampa, who is currently suspended, has advertised to the media that he will be hosting a press conference at the Party Secretariat located on Lumumba and Panganani Road.

He has scheduled such an event to take place on Friday 22nd September 2023.

Such an action will be illegal as the said activity has not been planned by the Party and will therefore result in criminal tresspass.

To avoid confusion, violence and damage to public property especially that the premises is based on one of Lusaka busiest road to motorists,it is incumbent that the Police act to maintain public peace and order and precent damage to public property.

Kindly note that the Zambia Police is currently investigating similar charges of criminal trespass and damage to property perpetrated by Mr. Sampa when he stormed the premises last week on Friday, 15th September 2023.

We hope the Police will act upon this complaint with urgency.

Thank you

Hon. Raphael Nakacinda
Secretary General
PATRIOTIC FRONT

Att; Copy of the advertisement and notice by Hon. Miles Sampa to the media.

Miles Sampa should not take the PF Secretariat for granted and mistake our tolerance for weakness –  Lusambo

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Miles Sampa should not take the PF Secretariat for granted and mistake our tolerance for weakness –  Lusambo

UPND CHEAP TALK IRRITATING ZAMBIANS- LUSAMBO

…..as he defends the PF against sponsored elements.

Lusaka…. Friday, September 22, 2023 ( Smart Eagles)

Miles Sampa has been spotted as a “Useless Person” who wants to bring confusion to the Patriotic Front, Hon Bowman Lusambo has said.

Hon Lusambo is the newly appointed PF Party Deputy Chairperson for Mobilisation.

He said he is aware of the comments attributed to Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa that he is the one Sponsoring confusion in the PF.

Hon Lusambo said contrary to his beliefs, Hon Mweetwa has got no capacity to fund and bring confusion to PF.

“We know the activity of the enemy, we know the behaviour of Miles Sampa and his words against our new SG. He has been spotted as a useless Person who wants to bring confusion to the party. Raphael Nakacinda is here to stay as Secretary General. Sampa cannot unseat Nakacinda,” he said.

Alias the bulldozer, Hon Lusambo has also dispelled assertions that the PF is not a democratic party.

He said the Party has changed two Presidents and will soon be going to the Convention.

“We will go as a party at our own time. The Issue of convention is a non starter because the Convention according to our Constitution happens every after five years…,” he said

Hon Lusambo has also stated that the Patriotic Front will not tolerate any indiscipline in the party.

He said it is for this reason that the party has got people being given new positions such as Secretary General and Deputy Chairperson Mobilisation

Hon Lusambo said the Party has also detested Violence which was seen as the main catalyst for its loss in 2021.

He said the UPND must condemn Violence in the similar manner the PF have condemned it.

“If our declaration on condemning violence was political, that young man Miles Sampa would have not entered Secretariat. We are becoming more tolerant. But you should not take our tolerance for weakness. We have to urge the Police that the PF secretariat is out of bounds for confusion. Anyone who goes to that premise, we will treat him like a criminal. In Zambia we can do Citizen arrest and take a responsibility to take him to the police….,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hon Lusambo said the Zambian People are now becoming irritated with the New Dawn Administration.

He said this is why they have been calling for the return of the PF into Government because they have made comparisons.

“The situation then and now are two different situations. The mind of the people then and now are totally different. Today it is the people who are saying the miss the PF and Edgar Lungu. It is the people who wants us back, so we want to answer the call. Because ichalo bantu,” he said.

He said a normal Human being cannot be suffering and not want to go back where he was.

Hon Lusambo said the PF was the pro-poor Government.

“The Party believes in the people in the townships. The UPND are trying to bring up theft allegations which they have failed to substantiate. The PF built schools, ensured that the money we borrowed was put to good use.

“The Zambian people they would rather be with PF under whom they were buying mealie meal at K120. The UPND have borrowed but we haven’t seen where it is going. The PF Borrowed and we used to see development. The UPND is borrowing for consumption. Mealie Meal just needs to come down to K50, so that people in less privileged communities can benefit,” he said.

UPND govt are big thieves chasing small thieves- Fred M’membe

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UPND govt are big thieves chasing small thieves- Fred M’membe

HICHILEMA AND HIS LOOTING REGIME

Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s fight against corruption is a false display marinated in hypocrisy and vengeance.

In all honesty and sincerity, there is absolutely no corruption that Mr Hichilema and his corrupt puppet regime is fighting. They have put up a flawless public facade to disguise the grand corruption that is being committed by their own people in government.

And going by the intelligence gathered so far of the grand corrupt activities currently taking place in government ministries, parastatals, and other public institutions, we can confidently conclude that this UPND government of Mr Hichilema is the most corrupt in the history of our country.

And we feel sorry for those praising and defending it because quite frankly, they’re doing so out of ignorance and blind loyalty. They simply don’t know what is happening and the type of leaders they are risking and wasting their support and time on.

But the day these people they’re lying to and misleading get to know the full extent of what is going on and who is spearheading the stinking grand corruption that is taking place in fertiliser, mining, fuel, maize, and other fields, they will be so upset and shocked.

The amount of white-collar connivance, theft, deceit or concealment that is being committed by people in senior positions of government and their business associates today is staggering and disturbing to watch, and many patriots within the civil service are becoming increasingly concerned and frustrated.

It’s clear that we have heartless people in leadership who have no mercy for the country and it’s citizens who elected them to power. To put it plainly, they are stripping the country of its strategic assets and resources to benefit themselves. They’re behaving as though Zambia is in liquidation.

But they shouldn’t think they’re clever or can play this game for long because this unprecedented level of theft, greed, and self-interest will backfire badly.

Let them continue to delude themselves, posture, and act like they are saints of Christ or God’s perfect gift to this country, but sooner than later, when the smoke and mirrors are all out, that’s when reality will be seen and the truth we have been speaking about will be recognised and the world will know what we have been saying.

Right now they’re overflowing with arrogance and pride, and they are all over the place with lies, deceit, and reckless bravado. But all this won’t last, as they will soon be exposed for who they really are. They can try to hide their true intentions and nature but soon the people will see them for what they are really all about.

We want the people to know that all this talk about values of integrity, transparency and accountability is plain false, pretentious, and ridiculous at the very least. Aba bena niba kabwalala!

As we have said before, yes, corruption must be fought, but not by equally or even more corrupt people. This is a case of a thief chasing another thief.

Certainly, Mr Hichilema and the UPND government are not fighting any corruption. It’s all hypocrisy and vengeance. These are merely big thieves chasing small thieves. And big thieves are known to be more brutal to small thieves. This is what is happening in the country today.

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

NOTHING IS WORKING FOR HICHILEMA; REGIME CHANGE IS COMING FAST – CHANGALA

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NOTHING IS WORKING FOR HICHILEMA; REGIME CHANGE IS COMING FAST – CHANGALA

NOTHING IS WORKING FOR HICHILEMA; REGIME CHANGE IS COMING FAST – CHANGALA

By Fox Reporter- The FOX Newspaper
POLITICAL Activist and Human Rights defender, Brebner Changala says calls for regime change against President Hakainde Hichilema’s regime are too loud to hide and change is coming fast.

In an interview, Changala says the UPND and President Hichilema have shown high levels of incompetence to the extent of abusing the very people who voted for them into power in 2021.

Changala, a once supporter of President Hichilema notes with sadness at the degenerating support of the new dawn administration in the two years it has been in power.

“As we speak today, two years after the UPND came to power after a landslide victory and all signs suggest that this administration cheated itself into power. And it is also the first time since 1990 where we have seen that nearly everybody is complaining about the state of the nation both socially, economically and otherwise. This is a time when nothing is working for the UPND and nothing is working for President Hakainde Hichilema,” he said.

Changala said if elections were to be held today, President Hichilema and the UPND will be kicked out without wasting much of the time because of failure to keep the promise they made in 2021.

“And nothing is working for this country under Mr. Hakainde Fix it Hichilema. And having said that, if elections were held today, President Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND Alliance will lose that election. If election were held today this administration will be kicked out, there is no doubt about that,” he said.

He said Zambians were looking for a leadership that will respond to their needs, respect the rule of law and treat people equally.

Changala said President Hichilema and the UPND have failed to do what they promised as they have gone to do the same things they condemned the PF for.

“Zambians are yearning for change after that great mistake they made in 2021. This administration will be kicked out because it has failed to keep the promise it made to the people of Zambia and they feel cheated now. This administration has shown serious incompetent and this is the first time in every ten people you meet nine are complaining and angry for this regime. These people are waiting for this leadership to vacate and allow another pragmatic leadership to take center stage and govern people like human being in respect. The manner in which we are being governed by the UPND and President Hichilema is unacceptable, the high cost of living is too high, mealie meal prices are too high, fuel prices are too high arrests of opposition leaders is too high incompetence is too high, abuse of State institutions is too high and people are suffering. So those who are saying the UPND and President Hichilema will lose an election are living the reality,” said Changala.

It is not a crime for responsible parents to support their children -Edgar Lungu’s Daughter Chiyeso Lungu

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It is not a crime for responsible parents to support their children -Edgar Lungu’s Daughter Chiyeso Lungu

It is not a crime for responsible parents to support their children – Chiyeso Lungu

LAWYER Chiyeso Lungu says the 2.2268 hectares of land on Lot no. 9390/M in state lodge area which she purchased at K3 million in April 2017 was paid for by her parents Edgar and Esther Lungu.

Chiyeso insists who the properties were legitimately acquired saying and she has no concrete reason to suspect or doubt her parents’ capacity to raise the K3, 000, 000 which they gifted her to buy the property which encompasses a fancy “high -cost house” and four chicken runs.

In this case the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has moved a motion of a non conviction based forfeiture order in the Economic and Financial Crimes Court seeking a relief that Chiyeso’s properties be forfeited to the State.

Among the properties to be seized are two farms with a high-cost house, four chicken runs, Crest lodge and three flats in Lusaka’s State Lodge area, worth K9, 375, 438.62, acquired between 2013 and 2021

DEC senior investigations officer Emmanuel Khondowe on behalf of the DPP argued that the former president’s daughter has assets that are disproportionate to her income neither did she have viable sources of income.

In an Affidavit in opposition to the application for non-conviction based forfeiture order, Chiyeso charged that Khondowe is not a certified bean counter and cannot offer financial analysis as evidence before court.

Chiyeso who bragged about her father’s accomplishment as legal practitioner since he was called to the bar in 1981 and his employment record in PF until he rose to the rank of president on January 25, 2015, said she is being maliciously prosecuted by the State.

She described her graft case as abuse of court process.

“It is not a crime for responsible parents to support their children in the manner my parents have consistently done,” Lungu’s daughter said.

Chiyeso explained that, at the time she was purchasing the first property it was already developed with improvements being referred to as “high-cost house”and the four chicken runs.

She said Khondowe’s failure to differentiate the cost of purchasing and construction of the house is as a result of negligence, innocent mistakes or efforts carefully calculated at misleading the Court.

She said in 2019 she applied to the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection that she be allocated the piece of land which is in front of the first property and on August 20, 2020, she was given an invitation to treat for property no. LUSAK/LN_79093 on a condition that the offer letter would be given upon payment of K5, 638. 68.

Lungu’s daughter said on September 15, 2020 she paid the said amount to the ministry and the commissioner of lands proceeded to issue an offer letter.

“As an officer of this Court practicing law in the firm of Messrs Muyatwa legal practitioners from where I earn a monthly salary, I had full capacity to pay K5, 638. 68,” Chiyeso claimed.

“I have not built any flats on the second property depositions by Khondowe alleging that I have built 3 flats on the second property are either emanating from poor or incoherent investigations or are designed to create misrepresentations before this court.”

She charged that the DPP cannot categorise her property as tainted without the Court making such a determination.

“Both properties are mine and do not form proceeds of crime as they were lawfully purchased with legal and traceable sources of income,” Chiyeso said.

In her skeleton arguments, Chiyeso said under Sections 29 and 31 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act the property can only be grabbed by the State if it is declared tainted and the same can only be done if a crime was committed.

She argued that without evidence that the property was realized through grand corruption, the court cannot make a decision based on conjecture.

“This court is urged to hold that the DPP’s application has failed to outline what offence was committed by Chiyeso in connection with the properties sought to be forfeited to the State and as such the Court’s powers under Section 29 and 31 of the FPOCA cannot be invoked,”said Chiyeso

“Such an application cannot stand premised on feelings but on the facts placed on record.
The DPP brought no piece or trace of evidence pointing to either of the four elements of tainted property as such the standard required by sections 31(1) and 34 of the FPOCA has not been met as such the court is beseeched to dismiss the application with costs to the interested party.”

By Mwaka Ndawa

Kalemba

It’s not PF forcing, it’s people saying twayewa ba PF na Ba Lungu – Bowman Lusambo

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It’s not PF forcing, it’s people saying twayewa ba PF na Ba Lungu – Bowman Lusambo

UPND CHEAP TALK IRRITATING ZAMBIANS- LUSAMBO

…..as he defends the PF against sponsored elements.

Lusaka…. Friday, September 22, 2023 ( Smart Eagles)

Miles Sampa has been spotted as a “Useless Person” who wants to bring confusion to the Patriotic Front, Hon Bowman Lusambo has said.

Hon Lusambo is the newly appointed PF Party Deputy Chairperson for Mobilisation.

He said he is aware of the comments attributed to Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa that he is the one Sponsoring confusion in the PF.

Hon Lusambo said contrary to his beliefs, Hon Mweetwa has got no capacity to fund and bring confusion to PF.

“We know the activity of the enemy, we know the behaviour of Miles Sampa and his words against our new SG. He has been spotted as a useless Person who wants to bring confusion to the party. Raphael Nakacinda is here to stay as Secretary General. Sampa cannot unseat Nakacinda,” he said.

Alias the bulldozer, Hon Lusambo has also dispelled assertions that the PF is not a democratic party.

He said the Party has changed two Presidents and will soon be going to the Convention.

“We will go as a party at our own time. The Issue of convention is a non starter because the Convention according to our Constitution happens every after five years…,” he said

Hon Lusambo has also stated that the Patriotic Front will not tolerate any indiscipline in the party.

He said it is for this reason that the party has got people being given new positions such as Secretary General and Deputy Chairperson Mobilisation

Hon Lusambo said the Party has also detested Violence which was seen as the main catalyst for its loss in 2021.

He said the UPND must condemn Violence in the similar manner the PF have condemned it.

“If our declaration on condemning violence was political, that young man Miles Sampa would have not entered Secretariat. We are becoming more tolerant. But you should not take our tolerance for weakness. We have to urge the Police that the PF secretariat is out of bounds for confusion. Anyone who goes to that premise, we will treat him like a criminal. In Zambia we can do Citizen arrest and take a responsibility to take him to the police….,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hon Lusambo said the Zambian People are now becoming irritated with the New Dawn Administration.

He said this is why they have been calling for the return of the PF into Government because they have made comparisons.

“The situation then and now are two different situations. The mind of the people then and now are totally different. Today it is the people who are saying the miss the PF and Edgar Lungu. It is the people who wants us back, so we want to answer the call. Because ichalo bantu,” he said.

He said a normal Human being cannot be suffering and not want to go back where he was.

Hon Lusambo said the PF was the pro-poor Government.

“The Party believes in the people in the townships. The UPND are trying to bring up theft allegations which they have failed to substantiate. The PF built schools, ensured that the money we borrowed was put to good use.

“The Zambian people they would rather be with PF under whom they were buying mealie meal at K120. The UPND have borrowed but we haven’t seen where it is going. The PF Borrowed and we used to see development. The UPND is borrowing for consumption. Mealie Meal just needs to come down to K50, so that people in less privileged communities can benefit,” he said.

FIRE CHELLAH TUKUTA FOR EMBARRASSING FOREIGN SERVICE

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FIRE CHELLAH TUKUTA FOR EMBARRASSING FOREIGN SERVICE

FIRE CHELLA TUKUTA FOR EMBARRASSING FOREIGN SERVICE

Cabinet Office
P.O. Box 30208
Independence Avenue,
Lusaka, Zambia.

Dear Secretary to Cabinet,

I trust this letter finds you in good health. I understand that the Cabinet Office is the highest administrative authority within the Public Service, responsible for coordinating the effective implementation of Government policies, systems, and procedures, as well as monitoring and evaluating the overall performance of the Public Service to ensure the efficient administration of Government. I am writing to express my concerns and seek clarification regarding the code of conduct that diplomats and attachés to foreign missions should adhere to, as they fall under the Public Service Division of your office.

It is my understanding that this code of conduct outlines the expected norms and behaviors that individuals in such positions should uphold. While I recognize that social media is often perceived as a personal platform, I firmly believe that those representing our country abroad should maintain a certain level of integrity and self-respect.

In this regard, I wish to draw your attention to the behavior of Mr. Chellah Tukuta, one of the attachés at our mission in Brazil. On several occasions, Mr. Tukuta’s actions on social media have been both concerning and disappointing. While it may be argued that he is expressing himself in a personal capacity, I am convinced that his conduct reflects on the office he holds and, by extension, tarnishes our nation’s reputation.

Mr. Tukuta’s actions have included demeaning and disgracing women, and he has frequently conducted himself in a manner that can only be described as childish and derogatory. Furthermore, he has engaged in public disputes with Zambian musicians and citizens who hold differing views, and his comments have even gone so far as to liken a woman to a dog. Such behavior is not only unacceptable but also harmful to our country’s image.

I kindly request your advice and guidance on this matter. If Mr. Tukuta’s actions are found to be in violation of the code of conduct for diplomats and attachés, I strongly recommend that he be recalled from his position to preserve the dignity of the office and safeguard Zambia’s reputation on the international stage.

I am concerned that, despite the ongoing misconduct of Mr. Tukuta, there seems to be a lack of response or concern from the UPND government and the entire Cabinet office. I believe it is crucial that we address this issue promptly and with the seriousness it deserves to maintain our nation’s integrity and uphold the principles of diplomatic decorum.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I eagerly await your response and trust that appropriate action will be taken to address this issue promptly.

Warm regards,

Douglas Leroy Namafente
Concerned Citizen

PF AND SP SHOULD MOCK CITIZENS- Mark Simuuwe

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PF AND SP SHOULD MOCK CITIZENS- Mark Simuuwe

PF AND SP SHOULD MOCK CITIZENS !

By Mark Simuuwe

You created high unemployment under your PF which we are addressing .

Let me address unemployment:

1. under your PF there was employment freeze ( no employment) , in less than a year , we employed over 30,000 teachers – under PF u got replacements for teachers of 1200 and failed to put them on payroll in 2021 .

2. You closed Indeni and sent over 1500 workers home ; UPND reopened Indeni and brought back over 1500 workers .

3. You imposed employment freeze in health ; UPND recruited over 11,000 health workers in less than a year .

4. This year our second year we are recruiting over 3000 health workers and over 4500 teachers and this is just in two years .

5. You liquidated KCM and sent home over 10,000 workers , we are reopening it and bringing back workers

6. You messed up the economy by overborrowing , and we are restructuring the debt ,

Agriculture

7. You closed farm blocks and moved mealie meal from k37 to k280 ; and we have bought 10 milling plants , reopened farm blocks , opened first ever big fertilizer manufacturing plant to produce 300, 000 metric tons of urea per year and 700,000 metric tons of D compound to address mealie meal cost.

8. You moved inflation to over 22% making many supermarkets to close at malls , we bought down inflation to between 9-10.5 %.

9. You pushed GDP to -2.5 % we moved it 5 times up to 3%

10. Further , we have attracted over $3.8pm worth of investment so far .

11. We have also sighed market access agreements with other countries .

This means , in less than 2years UPND has created not less 80,000 jobs across sectors and this includes in the defense , which never happened in 10 years of PF and Socialist party rule .

This is why we are saying when we are sorting out your mess , keep quiet !!!

HARD TIMES AHEAD AS RUSSIA PLACES A BAN ON DIESEL EXPORT AS A BARREL HITS $100 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR

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HARD TIMES AHEAD AS RUSSIA PLACES A BAN ON DIESEL EXPORT AS A BARREL HITS $100 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR

HARD TIMES AHEAD AS RUSSIA PLACES A BAN ON DIESEL EXPORT AS A BARREL HITS $100 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR.

September 21st, 2022

MOSCOW – Russia has barred the export of diesel and petrol as crude oil prices rise towards $100 a barrel, marking a significant escalation that will raise fears Moscow is weaponising oil supplies in retaliation for western sanctions.

Diesel prices in Europe jumped after the announcement on Thursday, rising almost 5 per cent to above $1,010 a tonne. Crude oil prices also reversed earlier losses, with Brent — the international benchmark — rising 1 per cent to $94 a barrel.

Russia is one of the world’s largest suppliers of diesel and a leading producer of crude. Its crude exports have already been trimmed under a deal with Saudi Arabia and the wider Opec+ group, which has contributed to a 30 per cent jump in oil prices since June.

Market participants are concerned that Russia is moving to tighten oil supply at a time when central banks are struggling to get inflation under control, and with crude prices potentially poised to break above $100 a barrel for the first time in 13 months.

“Russia wants to inflict pain on Europe and the US and it looks like they’re now repeating the playbook from gas in the oil market ahead of the winter months — they’re showing that they’re not finished using their power over energy markets,” said Henning Gloystein at Eurasia Group.

The Kremlin said the ban was “temporary” and designed to address rising energy prices in Russia, but gave no timeframe for when the measures would end and carved out only limited exceptions such as its own overseas military bases.

But the timing will raise suspicions in western capitals that President Vladimir Putin is again leveraging Russia’s power over energy markets. Russia’s increased use of natural gas supply cuts to Europe after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year helped to trigger a global energy crisis, stoking inflation and harming industries and consumers around the world.

“Russia said last year the supply cuts in gas were only temporary but continually tightened the noose,” Gloystein said. “With winter approaching, targeting diesel could easily propel oil back above $100 a barrel, with all the uncomfortable ramifications that brings for the world economy.” Diesel is the workhorse fuel of the global economy, playing a crucial role in freight, shipping and aviation. Derivatives of diesel such as heating oil are particularly susceptible to winter price surges. Germany and the north-east of the US are both heavily reliant on the fuel for heating homes. Refined fuel markets are already relatively tight because of rising demand and refinery maintenance over the summer, with pump prices becoming a growing issue for US President Joe Biden and other leaders. Republican candidates for next year’s presidential election have attacked the Biden administration over rising fuel prices, with frontrunner Donald Trump accusing them of neglecting the domestic oil industry. Trump has indicated he will force Ukraine to negotiate with Russia if he becomes president for a second time, raising questions over whether Putin may try to influence next year’s election. Helima Croft at RBC Capital Markets said that, while Moscow may have some short-term domestic supply issues, cutting exports pointed to a desire “to demonstrate the Kremlin’s willingness to weaponise oil supplies”. “Russia still wants to cause chaos, they still want to break the west’s resolve to support Ukraine. [Putin’s] goal seems to be to make it to next year and see the impact on the US presidential election.” The International Energy Agency last year said Russian refiners produced “roughly double the diesel needed to satisfy domestic demand, and typically export half their annual production”.

A winter of discontent looms on petrol station forecourts Russia is the world’s second-largest seaborne exporter of diesel after the US, according to Kpler, a freight data analytics company, and before its invasion of Ukraine was the single biggest diesel exporter to the EU. The EU and US have largely banned imports of Russian refined fuel since February, forcing Moscow to reroute its sales to Turkey and countries in north Africa and Latin America. The G7 advanced economies have also tried to impose a price cap on Russian oil sales, while western countries have increased diesel imports from India and the Middle East. But Russian refined fuel sales, particularly diesel, remain a critical part of oil supplies. In August Russia exported more than 30mn barrels of diesel and gas-oil — a diesel proxy — by sea, according to Kpler. Russia is a smaller exporter of petrol, exporting only 90,000 seaborne barrels a day in August, Kpler added.

Credit: Reuters

Ramaphosa confirms Zim authorities to be summoned By SADC over disputed election

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Ramaphosa confirms Zim authorities to be summoned By SADC over disputed election

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) plans to summon Zimbabwean authorities over the recently held controversial harmonised general elections.

The plebiscite was marred by irregularities leading to many international observers including SADC noting that the election fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Despite the regional body’s observation, Ramaphosa who is known as a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa congratulated his counterpart for winning a disputed election.

South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) also made it clear that it aligns with Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF party.

Despite the relationship between the two revolutionary parties, Ramaphosa has confirmed that contents of the SADC report on Zimbabwe’s election need to be discussed in the presence of Zimbabwean authorities themselves.

“If one looks at that report, it actually says there were challenges; challenges with regards to a number of things that have got to do with the election,” Ramaphosa said on Wednesday while speaking to the SABC on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The South African President further stated that SADC did not dismiss the plebiscite but pointed out areas needing improvements.

“Many countries throughout the world have such challenges; the United States is a prime example with regards to the last election.

“They (observers) have said in the report, as I read it, that certain things need to be improved.

“They have not declared the election as invalid, unfree and unfair; they have highlighted certain challenges.

“What was said by representative of the observer mission still got to discussed in SADC because it’s not a final report,” he said.

“Those are challenges that need to be addressed.

“Well, there is lack of transparency, they (observers) need to come up with the details and I would say, yes, let the details be put forward so that we can deal with them.

“So, we are waiting to receive that report at SADC level so that we can deal with it because if anything, it was an interim report.

“So, once the report is put to the SADC body, we will then debate it and we will also hear representations from Zimbabwe as well as the SADC observer mission.”

Mnangagwa emerged as the winner of a disputed election with 52,6% against opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa’s 44%.

Chamisa has since rejected the results and called for fresh polls supervised by SADC.

President Hichilema Appoints Enock Kavendele As Head Of The SADC Elections Observation Mission Of The Kingdom Of Eswatini

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President Hichilema Appoints Enock Kavendele As Head Of The SADC Elections Observation Mission Of The Kingdom Of Eswatini

PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, CHAIRPERSON OF SADC SEOM APPOINTS ENOCK P. KAVENDELE AS HEAD OF THE SADC ELECTIONS OBSERVATION MISSION OF THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI

……Head of SADC Electoral Observation Mission to Eswatini arrives

His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, and Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation deployed a SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) and appointed H.E. Mr. Enock P. Kavindele, Former Vice President of the Republic of Zambia as the Head of SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM), to the 29th September 2023 General Elections of the Kingdom of Eswatini. The SADC Secretariat, led by His Excellency Mr. Elias Magosi, the SADC Executive Secretary will coordinate the SEOM and facilitate in-country deployment of observers.

The deployment of SEOM is in accordance with Article 3 of the revised Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021), which provides that SADC shall observe all general elections held in its Member States.

H.E. Kavindele arrived today, 21st September 2023 in the Kingdom of Eswatini and undertook a courtesy call on Honourable Lady Howard Mabuza, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Eswatini. He also conducted a consultative engagement with Mr. Manoma Vusie Masango, Senior National Commissioner of the Royal Eswatini Police Service.

On 22nd September 2023, H.E. Kavindele will host an official launch of SEOM in efforts to raise awareness of the key activities for the SEOM which will be deployed to all four (4) Regions of the Kingdom of Eswatini to observe the pre, election, and post-election phases.

For full press release, visit the SADC website on: http://www.sadc.int/latest-news/sadc-electoral-observation-mission-2023-general-elections-kingdom-eswatini

For more information on SADC follow us on these platforms:
Website: http://www.sadc.int
Youtube: @SADCnews
Facebook: @SADC
Twitter: @SADC_News
Linkedin: Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Nicki Minaj’s Husband, Kenneth Petty, Under House Arrest After Threatening Offset

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Nicki Minaj’s Husband, Kenneth Petty, Under House Arrest After Threatening Offset

Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, received a 120-day house arrest order on Wednesday (Sept. 20). A Central District of California court ruled that the 45-year-old violated his probation terms after making threats on social media against Offset.

The videos, which surfaced online last Saturday (Sept. 16), put Petty under scrutiny for his remarks while in the company of another person with a criminal background. Moreover, Minaj’s husband has been on probation since July 2022 following his guilty plea for failing to register as a sex offender in California in 2019.

His criminal history dates back to 1995 when he was convicted for the first-degree attempted rape of a 16-year-old girl in New York and served four years in prison.

In the viral clip, Petty and his entourage were seen outside a New York City hotel where Offset allegedly stayed. “You ngas nervous, man. You boys psy for real. You b**ches is nervous,” he taunted in the video.

Meanwhile, the Migos rapper brushed off Petty’s threats in his social media response. “I am getting off the jet. What these ngas talking about? These ngas broke. We hopping off jets, bch. These ngas standing outside,” he said on Sunday (Sept. 17).

The feud cast a shadow over the already tense relationship between Minaj and Cardi B. Both artists reportedly got into a brawl at Harper’s Bazaar ICONS party during New York Fashion Week in September 2018.

Federal Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald sanctioned Petty’s house arrest, which aimed for closer monitoring and placed limitations on his movement. The news broke after legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff tweeted that the “individual is Offset, Cardi’s husband.”

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