PRESS STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON THE DECISIONS MADE BY CABINET AT THE 15TH CABINET MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, 5TH SEPTEMBER, 2023.

The President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, called for the 15th Cabinet Meeting in the Year 2023, on Tuesday, 5th September, 2023, at State House, where the Draft 2024 Budget was deliberated on including other policy issues.

Cabinet made the following decisions:

1. The 2024 National Budget:

Cabinet approved the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure (The National Budget) for the Year 2024.

The 2024 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure have been prepared in accordance with The Budget Policy Concept Paper on the 2024-2026 Medium Term Budget Plan which was approved by Cabinet at its 11th Meeting held on 12th July, 2023.

The Minister of Finance and National Planning is expected to present the 2024 National Budget in the National Assembly on Friday, 29th September, 2023, in line with Article 202 (1) of the Constitution of Zambia.

2. Declaration of Critical Minerals as Strategic Minerals for Zambia’s Development.

Cabinet approved the declaration of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, tin, graphite, coltan, manganese, nickel, Rare Earth Elements (REEs), gold, sugilite, emeralds, diamonds and other minerals which Government may deem as strategic minerals essential in accelerating Zambia’s development.

The declaration of critical minerals, as strategic, will result in the formulation of the strategy on critical minerals which will stimulate Government and private sector participation in unlocking investments in the mineral value chain, thereby translating in the creation of more jobs as well as enhanced exploitation of the critical minerals to contribute significantly to the national treasury and to the country’s development.
3. Opening of Missions Abroad:

(a) Opening of a Resident Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

During the Meeting, Cabinet also deliberated on matters of foreign relations. One of the issues approved by Cabinet was the Opening of a Resident Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in order to enhance bilateral relations and promote economic and political cooperation between Zambia and the UAE.

The United Arab Emirates, is a federation of seven Emirates. The constituent emirates are Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. Each emirate is governed by an absolute monarch who jointly form the Federal Supreme Council. One of the monarchs is selected as the President of the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE’s oil reserves are the seventh-largest in the world, while its natural gas reserves are the world’s seventeenth-largest. The UAE’s economy is the most diversified in the Gulf Cooperation Council, with its most populous city of Dubai emerging into a centre for international trade and transport.

The United Arab Emirates estabilished Diplomatic Relations with Zambia in 1982. The two countries have since continued to enjoy warm and cordial relations that have created a platform for strengthened economic and political relations. Currently, Zambia’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt is also accredited to the United Arab Emirates.

Zambian Foreign Policy of 2014, whose main focus is Economic Diplomacy, provides a unique platform for which Zambia could explore the possibility of concluding bilaterial agreements in a quest to solidify and strengthen the two countries’ bilaterial relations with emphasis on economic sectors, through the opening of a Resident Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

(b) Opening of a Resident Embassy in Doha, State of Qatar.

Cabinet also approved the opening of another Resident Embassy in Doha, State of Qatar so as to enhance bilateral relations and promote political and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Republic of Zambia and the State of Qatar enjoy warm and cordial relations. The two countries have maintained diplomatic relations since they were established. Currently, Zambia’s Ambassador in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is accredited to the Qatar on non-residential basis. The Zambian Government desires to consolidate relations with the State of Qatar through enhancing cooperation in various economic sectors.

The economy of Qatar is one of the greatest in the world, based on GDP per capita, ranking among the top richest countries. Petrochemicals and fertilizers supply make up a large portion of the industrial base, along with steel and other construction materials. It has the world’s third largest natural gas reserves, making it one of the world’s largest exporters of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and also has the largest gas fields with its oil and gas reserves accounting for over 60 percent of its GDP.

Therefore, with a Resident Embassy in Qatar, the Zambian Government has a lot to benefit from economic ties with the State of Qatar.

4. Hosting of the 19th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform.

Cabinet, in line with its policy direction that Zambia should host as many international Conferences and Meetings, as a way to boost tourism, approved the hosting of the 19th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform (CAADP-PP), to be held from 1st to 3rd November, 2023.

Zambia is repositioning itself to be a breadbasket of the region and meet the domestic and regional demand for food. The country has also embarked on diversifying its agricultural production. Therefore, hosting the 19th CAADP-PP is important as it will provide Member States and other stakeholders with an opportunity to engage with one another as well as to share best African practices and leadership that have the potential to engender inclusive economic growth, benefit smallholder farmers, boost food production and end hunger across the African Continent.

Hon. Chushi Kasanda, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON

13th September, 2023

186 SQUATTERS EVICTED FROM PANJI’S FARM

At least 186 squatters have lost their houses during an eviction exercise at Panji Kaunda’s farm in Vubwi District of Eastern province.

The squatters were removed from 31 houses during a crackdown by police in Mchocho village of Chief Pembamoyo following a court order.

ZANIS reports that the squatters are now appealing to the Government to intervene since they have nowhere to go.

Headman Mchocho, Allan Phiri, noted with sadness that the affected families are now spending nights in the cold following the eviction.

He said the families have been occupants of the said area for more than 98 years hence considering the land as their own.

“Panji Kaunda only bought the farm, which only extended to Sindabwankho and not our village in 1986, we were here before him,” said Headman Mchocho.

Mr Phiri who acknowledged being served with notice of eviction on a number of occasions accused negotiators of not doing justice to the land dispute adding that they had been discriminated against considering their poverty status.

He has since called on well-wishers to come to the aid of the evicted families through legal representation as they decide to take the matter to the courts of law.

“We are poor people asking for help from well-wishers, people are afraid of Panji because he is a high commissioner,” he said.

The headman said the villagers were not given due representation throughout the court process leading to the torching and demolition of their houses.

“We were only given the court order and not summoned to court to give our side of the story on the matter,” he said.

However, according to Colonel Panji Kaunda, efforts to amicably resolve the land wrangles between him and the people who had encroached on his farm have failed despite engaging them on several occasions.

“There are about ten families that have been squatting on my farm for a long time. I followed all the processes, at first, I reached out to these people so that we could address this issue but they were adamant. These are people who have villages but they strayed to my farm. At last, I engaged the office of the permanent secretary Eastern Province so that these people can be engaged. But again, they were adamant to move. Even in this same court order to remove the people it was delayed because we thought the people could move on their own but they couldn’t,” he said.

Colonel Kaunda, who is Zambia’s High Commissioner to Malawi recounted that only one family occupied the land at the time he purchased it but the number of occupants has since been growing.

“There was only one couple when I was buying the farm but the people came later. All efforts to resolve this issue failed and the court is the last option,” he said.

Colonel (Rtd) further encouraged complainants to seek legal redress if they felt aggrieved by the eviction.

This is however not an isolated case for Vubwi District as the area has in the recent past witnessed an eviction of families from Lossaco Farms and, in a separate incident, alleged threats of another eviction of more than 3,000 people from D98 farms.

ZANIS

TELL US THE AREAS WHERE THE COST OF LIVING HAS REDUCED WITH K34 WE ALSO WANT TO GO THERE.

Hon Saili Mavegie Phiri shares…

Unfortunately so much has been said about Lungu returning back into politics no one is understanding why Lungu seems not wanting to give up on politics.

There has been consistent persecution and mockery of Lungu’s family and Friends by the current govt. They are forgetting the human side of Edger Lungu. He has people he feels like he can fight for. His people are being arrested everyday on political hate . Whatever is happening in the country right now has the potential to cause confusion in the country, When this topic is brought to public attention, praise singers will always respond in relation to how HH was arrested when he was opposition, But my question when are we going to heal?

Chikanga Mandela who stayed 27 years in prison forgave colonial masters, what more President HH who stayed there for 127 days? Why is he not forgiving and making peace? What we need is peace, stop fighting each other, At this point Zambian politics are becoming more scary. As it stands Lungu is willing to take a bullet for his people who have been loyal to him since the time he left power. You maybe thinking that when Lungu lost power then he lost everyone from the look of things Lungu still has a good % of sympathisers who wouldn’t want him to be hurt in any way.

Don’t say that when he returns back into politics he will regret, he may regret or not regret. Any plot against him may lead to so much tension amongst people of different political parties. If UPND was performing according to people’s expectations, any move against ECL would be justifiable but as it stands UPND has done nothing to justify any action that it might use to justify their actions against the former president.

Truth is that even if ECL was to decide to come back to politics today nothing would happen to him. There is literally nothing that would justify the current govt to keep doing whatever they are doing against its opposition .If we were to rate UPND’s performance, we would say it’s a govt that has succeeded to use the employment of teachers and nurses to gain political mileage otherwise rest vinasilila muma campaigns. It’s fun to see how UPND govt is performing better on Facebook than it is performing on the ground Lol

Some weeks ago we saw posts on Facebook showing the commencement of the LUSAKA NDOLA dual carriageway, there is nothing happening anywhere. UPND sometimes behaves like a social media Govt. They enjoy Facebook likes than reality. It is behaving like our social media celebrities who are living a fake life on social media at the same time sleeping hungry in their homes.

HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’S VISION FOR ZAMBIA’S CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND TAKES INSPIRATION FROM CHINESE PRESIDENT’S RURAL TRANSFORMATION

President Hakainde Hichilema embarked on a transformative journey to Fuzhou, the capital city of China’s Fujian Province, drawing inspiration from the remarkable success story of Xiaqi Village’s poverty alleviation. The village, once marginalized and impoverished, witnessed a dramatic turnaround during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tenure as the governor of Fujian Province from 1999 to 2002.

Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, Xiaqi Village became a shining example of targeted intervention and resource mobilization, lifting its residents out of poverty and transforming it into a modernized community.

The transformation extended beyond economic improvements, as the village’s education system also received a substantial boost, resulting in the production of university graduates contributing positively to the nation.

President Hichilema expressed his deep admiration for these accomplishments, drawing parallels with his vision for Zambia’s Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

During his visit, he highlighted the commitment to eradicating poverty in Zambia through the enhanced CDF, which decentralizes resource allocation to empower communities across the nation.

“Zambia’s citizens, regardless of their backgrounds, parentage, or language, will have equal opportunities to pursue their aspirations,” President Hichilema reiterated during the guided tour. He emphasized that discrimination has no place in their vision, as they strive to address the challenges faced by all citizens.

Hakainde Hichilema’s visit to Xiaqi Village serves as a testament to his determination to replicate the success of targeted interventions and poverty alleviation witnessed in China’s rural communities, fostering hope and prosperity for Zambia’s rural population. The enhanced CDF, he believes, will be a powerful tool in achieving this ambitious goal, uniting the nation in the pursuit of a brighter future for all Zambians.

ZRA RECOVERS OVER K10.6M IN TAXES

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has recovered over K10 million which the Government has earlier lost through tax evasion by four companies in Kitwe.

In its quest to crack down on tax evasion on the Copperbelt, ZRA instituted criminal proceedings against several companies namely: Eagles Eye Transformation Limited and its Director Lifen Tang aka Linda, Taurus Mineral Resources Limited and its Director Lifen Tang aka Linda, Mineral Junxion and Transport (Z) Limited and its Director Xing Tang and Focus on Equipment Limited and its Director Xing Tang.

The said companies and Directors were prosecuted on charges of false statement and returns and of evasion of taxation contrary to sections 43 and 44 of the Value Added Tax Act Chapter 331 of the Laws of Zambia before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court sitting on circuit in Kitwe.

Facts of the cases are that Eagles Eye Transformation Limited, Taurus Mineral Resources Limited, Mineral Junxion and Transport (Z) Limited and Focus on Equipment Limited and the Directors Lifen Tang popularly known as Linda and Xing Tang on dates unknown but between 1st January 2020 and 31st August 2022 in Kitwe, provided Tax Invoices to Zambia Revenue Authority purporting to show that Eagles Eye Transformation Limited, Taurus Mineral Resources Limited, Mineral Junxion and Transport (Z) Limited and Focus on Equipment Limited had purchased taxable goods from other companies based on the Copperbelt which was false, thereby defrauding the Government of the Republic of Zambia of revenue.

Further, that in the same period and jurisdiction the said companies and their Directors fraudulently recovered Value Added Tax and interest amount of K10.6 million by providing false returns that taxable supplies were made to Eagles Eye Transformation Limited, Taurus Mineral Resources Limited, Mineral Junxion and Transport (Z) Limited and Focus on Equipment Limited by several Copperbelt based companies when in fact not.

The actions of these companies caused loss of revenue to the Government of the Republic of Zambia in taxes and interest amount of K10.6 million.

The accused Companies and Directors entered into Plea Agreements with the State (Zambia Revenue Authority) on conditions that; the accused companies pay back to the State the evaded taxes and interest; that the cost of prosecuting the cases incurred by the State in the sum of K1.2 million be refunded; that the Company Directors plead guilty to all the charges levelled against the companies and upon satisfaction of all the terms and conditions the State would withdraw the charges against the Directors, respectively.

When the matters came up before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court the State informed the Court that all the terms and conditions of the Plea Agreements had been satisfied by the accused persons, that is payment of the evaded taxes and interest in the sum of K10.6 million and refund of the cost of prosecution in the sum of K1.2 million bringing the total sum paid to the State to K11.8 million. The State proceeded to withdraw the charges against the Directors.

The Directors Lifen Tang aka Linda and Xing Tang pleaded guilty on behalf of the companies as company representatives on all the charges of false returns and statements and evasion of taxation levelled against their companies.

In sentencing the convicted companies, the Court indicated that it was going to exercise maximum leniency because the convicted companies had paid back to the State all the taxes that were invaded and also refunded to the State the cost incurred in prosecuting the cases. The Court sentenced the convicted companies to pay fines in the sum of K35,200 which fines have since been paid.

The Zambia Revenue Authority would like to sternly warn all taxpayers that any taxpayer found wanting will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent permissible by law. The citizens are encouraged to pay their fair share of taxes as Zambia will only develop if we all paid our taxes

JACK MWIIMBU HAS NO POLITICAL WILL ON REFUGEES SAYS ACHBISHOP MPUNDU

…says from the moment of his Episcopal ordination on 17th December, 1972, to his retirement, he has dedicated his life to aiding “the least of the brothers and sisters of Jesus” who sought refuge in Zambia.

Lusaka, September 13, 2023 (Smart Eagles)

The failure by Minister of Home Affairs Jack Mwiimbu to discharge his mandate to naturalize refugees who qualify for Zambian citizenship is reflection of a lack of political will and missed opportunity to conclusively address the refugee issue through existing legal channels says emeritus Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu.

In a statement released today, Archbishop Mpundu said the process to naturalise refugees began when the previous regime enacted the Refugees Act in 2017 and received substantial funding from the international community, with the intention of locally integrating them into our communities but has continued to stall.

“It deeply concerns me that the current Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, has not taken steps in the last two years to invoke Section 49 of the Refugees Act, 2017,” he said.

Archbishop Mpundu says Zambia must show greater concern for the legal status and well-being of the approximately 17,305 former refugees and their children who have lived in Zambia for over two decades, and yet, they are denied citizenship.

While commending President Hakainde Hichilema for approving a national refugee policy, Archbishop Mpundu observed that immigration authorities continue to wantonly incarcerate refugees, depriving them of the opportunity to engage in income-generating activities for self-sustainability and the chance to seek quality medical care.

And Archbishop Mpundu has cautioned President Hichilema regarding any reckless decisions regarding the repatriation of refugees to Rwanda instead of Geneva on the genocide that happened in 1994.

“While I acknowledge the concerns raised by President Paul Kagame, we must recognize that individuals accused of committing genocide were tried in the Arusha Court on Rwandan genocide, a process completed with Zambia’s cooperation,” he said

Zambia currently hosts 89,100 refugees with 17,305 refugees being at the verge of being stateless by virtue of the cessation clause declared in 2013

By Miles Sampa

Lol kuti waseka…

MY RESPONSE TO HON GIVEN LUBINDA WHO ACCUSED ME YESTERDAY OF BEING MILES AWAY FROM DESTROYING PF

1) So says a man who was the PF Presidential ticket campaign manager for the 2021 general elections when same PF lost power by close to 1M votes. Unprecedented for a ruling party in Zambia or Africa to lose by such a margin.

2) So says the man who has held the PF hostage last 2 years masquerading as the Acting President when the PF constitution has no such position. So says a man under whose advertisement directive, I amongst other paid to his controlled PF account K200,000 ($10,000) for party Presidential elections that have not taken place close to 2 years now, says a man whose illegal reign at the top has led to massive defections to other political parties of key members of the PF namely Paul Moonga,Antonia Mwanza, Father Bwalya, Kelvin Kaunda, Geofrey Lungwangwa etc etc,

3) So says a man that has not produced financial statements for the party and all income & expenditures are a secret, says a man who is facing a contempt of court case under High Court Judge Katenekwa for defying the injunction restraining him and Nakachinda from stoping me enjoying my party rights or defaming me until case is disposed off. Also continues to make illegal appointments despite the restraining order not to perform those duties. A man who risks a bench warrant and same as he misled Hon Nixon Chilangwa on conduct over matters in court and might end up same direction.

4) So says a man that the PF founder Michale Sata (MHRSIEP) once called treacherous and fired him as Foreign Affairs Minister and was about to expel him out of his party PF and was me amongst others that begged Sata to rescind the decision.

5) So says a man who has sold in 2022 a piece of land in prime area of Lusaka and same land had a title deed in the name of PF meant for the construction of a new party headquarters. Him with Nakachinda and others agreed and sold to a known Chinese man at $1M cash and to date those funds have not been accounted for to the party general membership. Partly why he and Nakachinda have been avoiding the over due mandatory gathering of PF grassroots members called general conference to being postponed close to 10 times last one year each time they have set a date.
When I take over PF, this land transactions I intend to audit and get prosecuted anyone found wanting so people learn not to eat assets or money for political parties.

6) So says a man who was found with a corruption case to answer 2 days ago involving thousand of US dollars when was Agriculture or Justice Minister and should have resigned yesterday from his illegal position in PF so as not to put the name of the PF in disrepute.

7) So says a man the grassroot of PF accuse of being selfish and stingy despite all the benefits PF gave him as Minister.

8 ) So says a man I beat with huge votes by far in the 2014 extra ordinary general conference in Kabwe to replace Sata after he died.

9) So says a man who since being imposed on the illegal position as Acting President of PF, has only found it fit to suspend one out of 10 presidential candidates and one out of millions of members of the PF and on both fronts his name is Miles Sampa. He has not found it fit to discipline anyone else. It’s just Miles Sampa he loves or hates so much and had to suspend him while has ignored acting on anyone one else. Guess except Miles all membership behave well 110% during his illegal tenor that is coming to an end very very soon.

10) So says a man been there for him both in his good or bad times last 15 years since was introduced to me by Sata but has now agreed to be hired and used as my political mercenary by know PF hijackers like Nakachinda whose only political success story is destroying political parties while milking cash and resources from former republican Presidents. The Nakachinda led hijackers of PF have their days numbers aswell. It shall be liberated from their greedy jaws.

* So between him and me; who is already miles away after destroying PF and now holding it hostage to make sure it’s buried completely and then form own party after pointing fingers or blame everyone except himself and Nakachinda 🤔

A case of pointing a finger at someone while the big thumb points back at own self.

Sad to have to respond to a man I loved (still do love) so much but what to do if he is throwing dirty falsehood mud at me as ordered to him by the hijackers of PF.
I should have listened to Sata. Abakulu tabapusa akabe. MHSRIEP.

Anyways tubomba na Lesa and will triumph regardless of the several hired Goliath towards me😊😍

MBS13.08.2023

PF will make history by bouncing back to power – Nakacinda

NEWLY-announced PF Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda says his party will make history by being the first Zambian political party to bounce back to power after defeat.

In a statement after assuming the role of Secretary General of the former ruling party, Nakacinda called on party members to remain resolute and ignore detractors.

“…we are definitely yet to make history by being the first political party in our country to bounce back to power as a renewed, reformed, rebranded and tested revolutionary force for our people,” Nakacinda stated.

He thanked party leadership and members for his appointment as Secretary General saying they had shown unity in the last two years.

“By extension, may I also express my appreciation to the entire nation , friends and those beyond our borders who have shown their support for our cause. We are truly stronger together, and your belief in our mission inspires us daily, he stated.

Nakacinda urged for continued hard work in the party.

“Remember, I can’t do this alone, but together, we are an unstoppable force for positive change. Let’s continue to work hand in hand for the betterment of our nation,” he said.

“At an appropriate time, we shall engage the general public through a presser to unveil the specific marching orders from our party leadership on our tour of duty as Sectretary General. Both our long term and short term deliverable goals,” he added.

Nakacinda’s installation as PF Secretary General is a strategic move by former president Edgar Lungu who sees him a as critical component in his scheme to return to the helm of the party in readiness to contest the 2026 presidency.

Using his henchmen, Lungu is working to ensure the PF does not hold an elective general conference to choose a new leader and has been successful thus this far.

After losing elections in 2021, Lungu wrote to Cabinet saying he had retired from active politics.

However, Lungu has u-turned on his decision to quit politics after his associates convinced him that the prevailing high mealie meal prices would work in his favour if he contested the presidency.

By Buumba Mwitumwa

Kalemba

Lungu’s comeback schemes will end in tears – Miles Sampa

FORMER president Edgar Lungu’s schemes to return to active politics will end in tears, PF Matero member of parliament Miles Sampa has warned.

Sampa who is along seven other candidates aspiring for the PF presidency made the remarks in reaction to PF’s newly-installed chairman for mobilisation Bowman Lusambo’s claims that Lungu was the party’s president and that no time did he leave active politics.

After losing power in 2021, Lungu announced his retirement from active politics and relinquished the PF presidency.

However, the former president has secretly reversed his decision after his associates convinced him that he stood a high chance of winning the 2026 presidential elections given the prevailing high mealie meal prices.

Lungu is now working to prevent the PF from electing a new president as he schemes his return to helm of the party.

But speaking to Kalemba in an interview, Sampa advised Lungu to give up attempts of returning to active politics as those pushing for the agenda will become fewer when the consequences of former presidents returning back into active politics visit him.

According to Sampa Lungu and his advisors are nothing more than a clique of bad students of political history whose agenda shall end in tears.

“They are just bad students of political history. It will end in tears. It’s the same clique of master hijackers that failed to re-stall the then former MMD and former republican President Rupiah Banda (MHSRIP). They should have learnt that Zambians don’t accept come backs at that level. They never learnt and hopefully this time they will learn once and for all,” said Sampa.

The former Lusaka Mayor further advised Lungu to instead imitate the good examples of his fellow former leaders such as, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Olusegan Obasanjo of Nigeria who are currently enjoying their former presidents’ status because they had remained neutral in politics.

Sampa added that he is only against Lungu being misled back into active politics because he loved him as his brother and former republican President.

“I love him as my brother and former republican President and that’s why I am against him being mislead back into active politics. He stands more dignity to keep around his name and legacy if maintains status of former President. This pushing him will become fewer and fewer when the consequences of former Presidents returning back into active politics visit him. Examples are over stating from KK, FTJ, RB, Jacob Zuma, Donald Trump etc,” said Sampa.

Further, Sampa challenged c Lusambo to show proof that Lungu never retired as PF president given that, the Courts have a letter written and signed by him on August 28, 2021, which was submitted to show that he retired as party President.

“I challenge him to show proof that the former PF and republican President ECL never retired from PF given the Courts have a letter submitted to show that he retired via a letter he written and signed by on the 28th of August, 2021. The case is active under High court Judge Katenekwa by the way and so ba Lusambo is also now flirting with contempt of court,” said Sampa.

By Buumba Mwitumwa

Kalemba

NAKACINDA’S APPOINTMENT LEGAL-LAURA MITI

The battle for control of the PF, that is currently playing out in the public arena, is most intriguing, when approached from an interrogation of the party constitution.

As legal and constitutional matters contribute to fun brain cell exercises at the ACA, we decided to read up on who is right in the raging argument. Think of this as an unoffical fact check.

So, the question is – does Acting PF President, Given Lubinda, have the right to appoint Raphael Nakachinda as party Secretary General? This will be tackled as a constitutional, rather than a political question.

Let’s analyse the party constitution.

The first Article of interest is Article 53, which reads as follows: (I’m paraphrasing the legalese to straight forward English)

(1) If the President resigns or is removed from office, the Secretary General will act as President until the new President is elected, in line with constitutional provisions.

(2) If the both the President and the SG are absent, the President (which one🤷🏽‍♀️) will choose one Member of the Central Committee to perform the functions of the President until the President or SG resume duties. (This is one of many not-thought-through provisions in the PF constitution.)

Forgetting that contradiction, let us, at this point, accept that Mr Lubinda, as soon as he became Acting President, assumed the full powers of the Presidency. There is no caveat in the PF Constitution. The Acting President performs all constitutional presidential powers.

Now, let’s read what those functions are.

Article 61
The President of the Party shall (I will only list the significant ones.)

b) Create offices in the Party.

g) Empower any member of the Party to exercise any powers or specified functions for, and on behalf of, the Party or the Central Committee.

j) Take a decision or an action which, in his opinion, is in the best interest of the development or security of the party.

k) Appoint a Member of the Central Committee to act as SG of the Party, in the absence of the substantive holder. (Remember that Article 51 gives the President the power to appoint the substantive SG anyway.)

The simple conclusions after all that are that:

1. The PF Constitution says whoever is appointed to Act as President, has full powers of the presidency. There are no claw back clauses.

2. Mr Lubinda is the Acting President.

3. Mr Lubinda has the power to appoint the SG.

4. Mr Nakachinda is therefore constitutionally appointed as SG.

It, unfortunately, does not end there. It gets all muddy🤦🏾‍♀️.

Turning all the above on its head, is that Mr Lubinda was not appointed by the President of the Party, as the PF Constitution demands, but rather by the Central Committee.

According to a Cabinet Office letter, written in January 2022, in response to a citizen query, President Lungu resigned as Party President on 28 August 2021.

The point of that is that, after August 2021, no one had the constitutional power to appoint a PF President.

The Lubinda Presidency is therefore illegitimate, as it happened in December 2021. The result of that is all Mr Lubinda’s actions, as Acting President, such as the currently debated appointment of “SG” Nakachinda, are null and void.

By the way, even the appointment of Nickson Chilangwa as Deputy Secretary General, done by EL in September 2021, after his (EL’s) resignation, is constitutionally null and void.

The overall conclusion is that there is A-Grade constitutional confusion in the PF. To achieve sanity, the party needs to amend its constitution and go to a congress.

´Stop the Cover up´ Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba tells journalists
…as they fail to show pictures of private Presidential jet

From Radio Phoenix—12.09.23 ( Smart Eagles)

Opposition pundit Emmanuel Mwamba has cautioned Zambian journalists to avoid ´covering up´ some alleged ´sins´ of President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration following government´s decision to fly to China in a private luxury jet on a visit.

Ambassador Mwamba urged journalists to ask ´uncomfortable questions like ´why President Hichilema or government hired a private expensive luxury jet to China on his current trip when Zambia owns two Presidential jets? ´

Mr Mwamba said the action appeared wrong in many Zambian circles, political and civil society because the President has been ´left right and centre´ complained about having inherited empty coffers from the previous PF administration the former Ambassador represents.

“I am shocked that despite having camera´s we got no single pictures of the expensive hired jet from Zambian media we only got the pictures from foreign media in China so this is a cover up Zambian journalists are actively participating in it and this is not the first time Zambia is hiring a plane when we have two already,” Ambassador Mwamba said.

Zambia has a Challenger and Gulf Stream inherited for the Office of the President from the previous administration, but President Hichilema has shown reluctance to use them as he has shown resentment to live in State House.

Mr Mwamba also ripped into Mr Hichilema´s trip to China that commenced on Sunday saying it lacked the colour and texture of the much-anticipated State Visit Zambians have been hoping the President could hold with colleague H.E Xi Jinping
Mr Mwamba said although the China trip was significant symbolically, it meant little in terms of ´mending ‘diplomatic relations between Zambia exacerbated by the fact that President Hichilema has made but one trip to Beijing out of 50 foreign trips abroad so far, mostly to the west.

The former top-ranking diplomat of Zambia to South Africa and the AU said had Mr Hichilema headed east earlier in his first five years, he would have managed to secure a debt cancellation from the second largest economy on the globe instead of crumbs.

He was speaking live on ´Let the People Talk´ a widely followed radio programme on Radio Phoenix in Lusaka on Tuesday where he also repeated condemnation of President Hichilema´s decision to grant AFRICOM, the US military office in Lusaka rejected by six of his predecessors in the past.
Ambassador Mwamba also zeroed in on the ´sky rocketing´ high cost of living that has pushed prices of commodities such as the staple maize meal and fuel.

He accused President Hichilema of being a populist politician who got in office making fake promises to Zambians he knew he would never keep.
Mr Mwamba also cautioned President that the upgrades he is making allegedly on taxpayers’ money would come to haunt him when out of office, as they did in similar circumstances in South Africa regarding President Jacob Zuma in what is now known as the ´Nkandla` saga.
🎥 CGTN

THEY ARE SCARED OF MUNIR ZULU- HON MUNDUBILE.

………..says it seems the Police IG is now more powerful than the President.

Lusaka………………Tuesday, September 12, 2023 [SMART EAGLES]

LEADER of Opposition in Parliament Hon Brian Mundubile has charged that the Inspector General of Police has now become ‘more powerful’ than the President.

Hon Mundubile said this is because whatever the Republican President says, it is always disregarded by the Police Command.

He said the President has been clear that that when a suspect is arrested, they must be able to be given Bond within a period of 48 Hours.

“President Hakainde Hichilema promised to govern the country by the rule of law. What is bad is that the IG does not listen to the President. The IG disregards what the president says…..,” he said.

Hon Mundubile was speaking when he led a team of Opposition Members of Parliament to offer Solidarity to Lumezi Lawmaker Munir Zulu who is currently detained after being charged with Sedition over the remarks made that the President was going to dissolve Parliament last Friday.

Hon Mundubile said it is surprising that Hon Zulu had to spend a night in police cells despite meeting all bond conditions.

“What we expected was that he was going to be released on bond as early as yesterday. We wish to place it on record that we continue to be disappointed in the manner the President is governing the country. It is not necessary all the time arresting those who speak against you. In his address he talked about Civility and Co-existence. Country has seen that what the President says is the opposite of what happens. Zambia is now in a police state and the Police can do anything they want to Citizens,” he said.

He said the powers that be are scared of the fearless nature of Munir Zulu because he was going to highlight the illegal compensations being given to the UPND Cadres among other things.

In expressing his displeasure, Opposition Whip Stephen Kampyongo said Hon Munir Zulu should have been charged and released yesterday because it is a bondable offence.

Hon Kampyongo has asked the Inspector General of Police to do the right thing and release Munir Zulu.

Meanwhile, Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya said there is need to treat all Zambians in a fair manner.

He said if Hon Zulu heard something and shared with the public, the correct thing was to either refute or accept the statement based on the outcomes.

And Chilubi MP Hon Mulenga Fube said they are arresting people anyhow to divert attention from the escalating fuel prices.

Meanwhile, Mufulira Central lawmaker Hon Golden Mwila said “since when did it become a crime to tell the people to prepare themselves to vote. This is very sad, what happened to the freedom of expression. We have freedom of expression but not freedom after expression”.

PRESS STATEMENT

13TH September 2023

IT’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR MR LUNGU TO EAT WITH BOTH HANDS

Former President Mr. Lungu should come out with clean hands on his bid to come back to active politics.

The Republican Constitution is very clear on how a former President should conduct himself. His behavior of eating with both hands also known as double tobela is unconstitutional. Mr. Lungu should not continue pretending that he is not involved in active politics because his actions and utterances are to the contrary. Or is he just funning trouble for himself?

One thing is very clear, UPND is not afraid of Mr. Lungu contesting the 2026 general elections as a Presidential candidate. He must just come out in the open now so that we can take him on as a political opponent. We have dealt with him before and we know his profile, which includes a heap of weaknesses. In fact he will be the weakest candidate on the ballot paper.

Even he himself knows that he is a very weak candidate that’s why he is hiding in Churches in order to ambush the Zambian people. We therefore challenge him to be bold enough and declare that he will take on President HH. We know he is dead scared of doing that because within a week of making that declaration he will not just be sorry but a finished man.

Some opposition Leader complained about President HH mentioning names in public of people PF killed, we hear you. Are you suggesting that instead we bring you the actual orphans and widows so that you can see for your selves what you did? If this is your wish, who are we to say no, after all these people were killed in cold blood by PF regime.

Or do you want us to perform ICHIKONDO or ICHITALEME? The orphans and widows will be Mr. Lungu’s campaign managers. By the way where is Mr. Lungu’s Presidential barber man and what took him to where ever he is today? Was he cutting Mr. Lungu’s hair with blood stained hands? Don’t complain, people have to know what you did when you were PAMUPANDO.

Albert Malama

UPND – Acting Chairman for Mines

LET ECL VISIT EVERY CHURCH OF HIS WISH IN ZAMBIA AND CONFESS HIS SINS ON BEHALF OF THE PF PARTY PEOPLE’S …***

By Stembridge Sikalundu

Again the need to thank the UPND govt under president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA who has demonstrated that people in Zambia including ECL need to exercise their rights and freedoms , many UPND members are unsettled with ECL visiting the markets , attending traditional ceremonies and indeed going to various churches in the country because he denied HH to attend funerals , attend church services and visiting to all parts of the country , the difference is how we want our country to be governed in moving forward . We must accept that ECL is former president and all the liberties under his jurisdiction must be accorded to him , we must be very careful with how we look at things in this country , ECL is just human and he is not ready to rest any time soon , the foundation he hoped to establish is null and void , the statement ECL made informing the nation that he is not available for the next election , is always compromised by his followers who are sending wild statements about the hidden party agenda to use ECL’s influence to misguide his position as former president to save the PF party from disintergrating , is this ploy good for ECL ? ,if he is ready to share himself into two workable pieces , one role for the party and the other one as former president , in this case one thing is likely to suffer , I may not wish to talk about what would happen to the PF party because i may be seen to speculate , on the side of the former president’s instituitionnal values and prominence , ECL is on his own because he is not ready to accept the use of protocol and conduct of the former president’s office , a choice of route and abandonment to the core of significance and status position, because of failure to realign personal thoughts with reality checks , ECL has chosen everything in his way .

What is fundamental about ECL’s position is that whatever he says and what he is doing , the PF party is being represented and ECL is leading as president., behind ECL there is use of his influence to raise a political agenda which is very visible but hidden , ECL may not be actively be participating in politics ,but from that following behind him , they prefer that PF bounced to power and remove the UPND from govt by any means , which includes ECL being available for the PF party now , some people may have asked on which side ECL is and how zambians should regard and account for him , this is a big question which is associated to the confusion which surrounds what ECL is doing in the name of former president of this nation or not . There are issues which need clarity but that can’t happen now because politics is a dirty game when political ideas are dirty . There is nothing wrong for ECL to help the PF party rebuild it’s image using ECL’s position and movements to all parts of the country . We can borrow instincts from ourselves to know that ECL can not be in support of the UPND govt in anything he is doing as former president but to raise hopes that PF is still alive , he may not or will be the candidate for the PF party because he remains party president and the PF party is not ready for the party conference to elect a new leader .

I have always said it is inevitable to speak about ECL because he is former president and his influence can either bring peace or confusion in the country , in the history of peace and unity ,politics can be a danger if matters arising are not handled properly , ECL was supposed to be considered a repenting person because of the PF party he headed as president , zambians were killed in this country while ECL watched without a word from his office of presidency , many will recall that when there was a by election in kaoma , ECL pleaded for peace among the kaoma chiefs and assured that zambians were one ,and for the sake of having leaders in various elective positions ,it was inevitable to have elections in the area which were supposed to be peaceful and fair , unfortunately in the PF camp carders went with guns and shot LAWRENCE BANDA in cold blood , he is not the only one who lost his life ,a lot of citizens lost properties , some were left disabled due to attacks using matchetes , women ,children the elderly and the families became victims to this ruthless aggression , intercity bus terminal was used as a point of aggressive orders , loading of machetes , hiring of private buses and ferrying thugs to go and brutslise innocent citizens , the same markets ECL is visiting today were considered revenue areas for the PF thungs that were taxing bus stations and markets , ECL allowed all these illegal deals in govt and everywhere in the country sides .

I totally accept and consciously agree that ECL must be at the churches for prayers and seek forgiveness and not to keep the PF image behind his desires using the church ,we are not judging him ,but he must be very careful with the message he is bearing as he communicates in these places , ECL should have been more christian when he was president because of the atrocities his govt committed , when ECL is seen everywhere and telling people he is only praying to his God , I would have loved him say his confession to God is in line with all those whose toes he stepped on who are God’s children ,including children and the widows whose bread winners that lost their lives for supporting the opposition ,it may not have been ECL’s wish but as long as his followers committed these sins it was on his behalf . Let us not fail to see beyond ourselves , something is not going right in the country , and if ECL can’t see it , if the govt can’t see it and if all zambians can’t see it ,I choose to be alone to say something on the sides of things are not better but suspicious and politically inviting to know what’s going on in zambia between issues . God bless mother Zambia.

I CRY ZAMBIA IS MY BELOVED COUNTRY

Zambian, USA soldiers sharpen skills together

ZAMBIA and the United States of America (USA) have maintained strong military ties based on shared democratic ideals and active military engagements.

In order to train alongside Zambian Special Forces in diverse combat missions, the American Special Forces Operation Detachment Alpha 3235 oversaw a seven-week Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) at the Special Forces Training School in Mbala.

The two nations’ close ties and shared commitment to security cooperation in the areas of force management, modernisation and professional military training for the Zambia Defence Force were underscored by this exchange of military expertise.

The US Special Forces team worked with members of the Zambia Special Forces Training School, 1 Commando, and 48 Marine Units to smoothen their special operations and methods between the two countries.

Special Forces Group Commander, Brigadier General Charles Swana who applauded the participants for their performance and high standards during the exercises and training said the purpose of the training was to promote military knowledge exchange.

And the US Detachment Commander, Captain Cody Brown said the Zambian Special Forces are professional, tough and are always committed to duty as displayed during the seven-week training.

Capt Brown asserted that they are capable of offensive actions, airborne, waterborne, and land operations, as well as special reconnaissance and surveillance in hostile environments.

Among the lessons covered include combat marksmanship, law of armed conflicts, bilateral operations, small unit tactics and maritime operations.

Others were specialisation in skills training, close quarter battle, heavy weapons, counter improvised explosive devices, urban movement, urban reconnaissance, personal security, paramedics, combat diving and navigation.

Credit: Zambia Army Facebook page