THE MAST
COMMENT FOR AUGUST 4, 2023

Finally Hakainde has woken up!

It is often said actions speak louder than words or trust must be earned. For those in public office, feedback is critical if they’re to successfully manage citizens’ expectations and rightfully attend to their needs.

This is why interaction is essential. Why? Because one of the most important aspects of being a human being is interacting with others. Man is a social being, and we can’t stay alone anywhere. The art of interacting with others helps us to be friendly with others and empathise with them. Many times, we think about what to say and how to say it.

However, if we have grown up among friends and relatives, these tactics are instilled in us automatically. Social interaction includes how we interact with others, to act and how to react. In our everyday lives, we meet many people, and if we know how to handle our social relationships, we are definitely successful in our lives.

In leadership, having direct access with the led is crucial. This is why we encourage Hakainde Hichilema to spend a fair amount of time in the communities at home than in the presidential jet and lands afar or navigating between Community House and State House!
Addressing a joint Evelyn Hone College and NIPA interactive forum to celebrate

the UPND’s two years in government on Thursday, President Hichilema said, “I’m missing you. I’m missing the people of Zambia because when you are put into the presidency you have so many hangers about, around you and you can’t mix freely. And from today, this week, I have told myself, we have restructured the debt, we are reconstructing the economy. We have cleaned up the image of Zambia in the eyes of the international community.

We are now a worthy member of the league of nations. If you travelled before elections, you arrived at the airport they looked at your passport, Zambia, they said hmmm that country! Now when you travel, they look at your passport, they say ah, from Zambia come in, come in. That is worth a lot. Image, credibility. Now that we are pulling these in the right place, and we inherited an economy which was growing minus 2.8 per cent…and we have been able to bottom up, while we continue to push that side, this friend of yours wants to come out and reach out to communities like NIPA and Evelyn Hone a lot more. That’s why I said I’m missing the people.

I want my colleagues in government to allow me time to have interactions like this so I can learn what is on the ground and how we can intervene together with my colleagues in government: local, central, quasi – parastatals, because we work for you. If we don’t have this interaction sometimes we miss certain things. I accept. We are now going to spend a fair amount of time in the communities so I can see with my own eyes, I can hear with my ears, I can relate to what I read and take it to my colleagues in Cabinet that can we deal with these issues. Is that not a good idea? So when I told you I’m missing you, you were quiet. I’m missing you. I’m missing you for that interaction.”
He is right. He has missed a lot of things. We have been consistent in informing him that the situation on the ground is not rosy. We have always alerted him about the high poverty levels and skyrocketing prices of essential commodities. But he seemed to have rubbished us as mere negative energy until he visited Mandevu Constituency. There he came face-to-face with reality. Maybe that interaction and the evident brutal reaction from people was the wakeup call he needed. His administration has for two years been distant from the masses. We hope his handlers now realise that things are not as they paint them. The 2.8 million, at this rate, cannot be sustained. This new dawn must now come down to earth and listen more. Address the plight of people. Lessen boardroom presentations and this league of nations talk. Deal with mealie meal prices, address fuel prices, and look at the liquidity side of the economy.

There is still time for Hakainde to reconnect with the people who put him where he is today. We applaud him for waking up and realising that he has all along allowed himself to be surrounded by hangers about as he puts it. And these hangers about can be brutal sometimes because they make sure they keep you away from reality while they enjoy from their interactions with you. And in your quest to please them, you detach yourself from the masses and the promises you made to them. And because these hangers about are always with you, the only problems you begin to attend to are theirs and those of their close allies. Actually, this is called state capture. You may not be aware of this as President, but with your excitement you invite it upon yourself and swim in it. You stop looking beyond your nose. Eventually, people begin to complain and you close your ears because you have convinced yourself that you have done the best for them when in fact not.
This is the situation Hakainde has been in for the last two years. He convinced himself that he was the best thing – President – that has ever happened to Zambia. That he has the best brains which do not need input from anyone else. And that he scored a first all the time. It’s like whatever the other six presidents did for this country is nothing compared to what Hakainde imagined he has done in two years. Yes, it is allowed to dream.

Nevertheless, self-deception can only go to a certain extent. At some point reality has to dawn. And this reality has dawned on Hakainde, especially after the reception he had in Mandevu Constituency. It showed him that while he was praising himself for doing nothing good for the people, the same people were busy despising and cursing him as prices of essential commodities kept rising. He also realised that even his praise singers no longer have enough energy to do that because they also suffer the same economic hardships. Majority praise singers’ economic state is actually a common destiny – hardship, squalor and swimming in the sea of joblessness! It’s hopeless.

We hope that he will not close his eyes and ears again and wait for the 2026 campaigns. And we hope that from now on, Hakainde and his team will devise their own programme instead of depending on the IMF prescribed ‘poison’ that is still chocking Zambians. We are yet to see how far this prescription takes this country.

Why use flawed laws to punish people, wonders Andyford Mayele Banda

President Edgar Lungu and family… Disclaimer: I have never ever met H.E. ECL on one on one basis for personal discussion. I have never ever met former first lady Esther Lungu in my life. I don’t have any personal relationship with any member of the family. I have never been a member of PF and never worked with them.

I have a little note though and these are my earnest feelings. Former first lady Madam Esther Lungu has been formally charged and arrested on among others counts the notorious theft of Motor Vehicle.

I can’t imagine what’s going on in the Lungu family. A wife, a woman is the pillar of the house. The question is did she really steal the vehicle or the flawed laws are being used for imingalato? Look people empathy is important. No one should be exempted from the law. But our laws are flawed in most cases and in politics these laws are being used to punish people. Why would Madam Esther Lungu stage a robbery to steal a car when her husband a former President is entitled to vehicles for the rest of his life? This is the same things I have said before, we are not different from the colonialists or apartheid regime leaders who created laws to punish people.

Now I am not saying these laws have been created now. But why behave like everyone using flawed laws to punish people? No, this is not right. Charge her with other things not theft of motor vehicle. No people. No this is not right. Esther Lungu despite whatever the Lungu family has done right or wrong has been our mother.

The only close association she has to politics is supporting her husband. No people. I am so touched that a former first lady like a reserved mother like Esther Lungu can be subjected to sleeping in cells on things that could have been discussed and resolved. Look why can’t we learn from the past that power is not permanent. Why is it that almost everyone who comes to power thinks that they can do as they wish?

OVER 500 NEW MEMBERS JOIN UPND ,CITING CDF AND FREE EDUCATION POLICY AS A MOTIVATION FACTOR

MAMBWE- The United Party for National Development in Mambwe District yesterday, witnessed a boost in its membership when more than five hundred new members from different wards joined the party citing Community Development Fund and Free Education policy as motivation factors.

While UPND members sang and danced to celebrate the boost in their membership, the new members coming from different backgrounds expressed their happiness and commitment to support UPND because its policies ,such as CDF has changed the face of their community while ,they termed free education policy as a household policy.

Ms Joyce Phiri, former PF member told the Falcon , that CDF made her and others change their allegiance to UPND because for the first time, their voices matters as they together discuss which projects to undertake to make their constituency a better place to live.

‘ Go to our Council, you will find the earth moving equipments bought using our CDF because we want our roads done before the onset of the rains, this has never happened, we used to wait for Lusaka people or wait for campaigns to ask for such things.” said Ms Phiri.

Mrs Chibwe who is in her late fifties, said the free education policy has touched her household because all her four children can now access education and this has given her hope that they will have a brighter future.

“ My children are all in school without creating a financial burden, I was struggling but now, I feel relieved , free education has touched my household including my brother and sisters they are so happy for me, “ said Ms Chibwe.

Mr Imenda in his welcoming remarks thanked the new members for supporting UPND because of it’s good policies aimed at making life better.

He appealed to the new members to participate in all party programmes because UPND was working towards empowering communities and creating opportunities for personal growth and community development.

Meanwhile Mr Imenda said he was happy of the efforts made in the implementation of the CDF projects but appealed to the Council to ensure that they work on the roads reported to be impassible during the rain season.

“ One of the Chiefs we visited said he was concerned about roads because they are impassable during rain season, you have shown us the earth moving equipment purchased, work on the roads before the onset of the rains.” Said Mr Imenda.

Credit: UPND MEDIA TEAM

NGOCC ENGAGES FAZ OVER SEXUAL HARASMENT CASES WITHIN COPPER QUEENS

The Non-governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) convened a crucial meeting at Football House with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to address the alarming allegations of sexual harassment surrounding female football players.

The discussion extended beyond harassment, encompassing a broad spectrum of issues affecting women in football.

The meeting held on Tuesday, aimed to foster collaboration between the two organizations to protect and promote the rights of women and girls in the sports industry.

This gathering was prompted by recurring reports of sexual harassment involving Zambian female footballers, particularly during the recently concluded Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.

The NGOCC delegation included Patricia MMubanga, President of the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), along with Whitney Mulobela, OB Coordinator for Communication, Advocacy, and Networking, and Samuel C.C Mwanakatwe, Programs Officer and Knowledge Management.

However, during the meeting, Anne Mbewe Anamela, Executive Director of NGOCC, stressed the importance of creating a safe environment where female athletes can openly voice their challenges within the organization. She emphasized the need to break the culture of silence, particularly among women and girls, who may fear embarrassment or victim-blaming.

In response, FAZ’s Head of Administration, Colonel Andrew Siame, pointed out the structural changes FAZ has implemented to support women in football. He highlighted the creation of positions, such as the National Women’s Coordinator, specifically dedicated to addressing the welfare of women in football.

Beyond sexual harassment, both organizations discussed how sports, especially football, can play a role in combating gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. Grace Sinkamba, NGOCC Board Chairperson, emphasized the importance of eliminating GBV to ensure that female national team selections are based on merit rather than submission to harassment.

Siame expressed FAZ’s commitment to improving women’s football welfare and its willingness to collaborate with NGOCC and the broader women’s movement to integrate gender equality into football.

While the meeting aimed to address the issue of sexual harassment and promote awareness against GBV in football, it also provided an opportunity for NGOCC to congratulate the women’s National Team for their outstanding performance on the global stage, representing Zambia with pride.

Kalemba

UPND AND PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S FAILURES ACCUMULATING AT A FASTER SPEED

By Venus N Msyani
UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema’s failures have accumulated to the point it is no longer easy to agree on which one is the biggest

Zambians are debating as UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema’s failures continue to accumulate. The pile has reached a point where it is no longer easy to agree on which failure is the biggest.

To some, monthly fuel price adjustment is the new dawn administration’s biggest failure. To others, the high cost of living, while others think drifting away from promises is the biggest failure.

Many other failures make the debate even more interesting. Failure to move to State House is on a list. President Hakainde Hichilema is hesitating to move to State House.

He commutes from his private home in New Kasama to State House every day, which has added a burden on the government budget. Currently, Zambia is in bad shape economically. Every dollar is needed. Hichilema refusal to move to State House means instead of the country saving the whole dollar, it spends some cents on Hichilema’s commute.

Failure to lead by example in the fight against corruption is another big one. To date, Hichilema has not publicly declared assets and liabilities. To many, this overshadows all other failures.

The fight against corruption is Hichilema’s top agenda. He started with full force, but now he has softened. Every time he tries to be tough in the fight, it reminds people of his failure to publicly declare assets.

Another failure that cannot be ignored is waiting to be reminded to act on laws suffocating Zambia’s democracy. The Public Order Act is as bad as the Defamation of the President law was, but still here. Hichilema appears to be waiting to be reminded to act on it.

He is busy holding rallies in Lusaka and around the country in the name of commissioning and launching development projects, while the opposition is being denied a permit to gather. It cannot be concluded the president is not aware it is a threat to the country’s democracy.

Afraid Zambians will have to go through the same struggle they went through on the Defamation of the President law for the Public Order Act to go. Some may disagree, but very true. If it were not the voice of the people, the Defamation of the President law would still be here.

The arrest and detention procedure is another Hichilema administration’s biggest failures. People continue to spend more than 48 hours in police custody, which is against the law. The same was happening under the previous government. Under the new dawn administration, it has reached a different level.

People are being arrested in abduction style. Police pick suspects up and take them to unknown places. Family and friends have to search for a picked suspect in different police locations until they find him or her. People without families and friends to search for them may be disappearing just like that.
Recently the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) party leader Sean Tembo was arrested for hate speech. It took about 24 hours for the family and friends to locate where he was being kept.

All these failures make it no longer easy for Zambians to agree on which one is the biggest failure. And the point is, if President Hichilema has failed he should step down.

HH’S UTTERANCES ARE NOT PRESIDENTIAL!

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

The recent remarks characterizing the speech of the Republican President nowadays are not only inappropriate but do not befit the Head of State who is the Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces.

Those surrounding the Head of State must quickly sit him down and urgently admonish him to be mindful of what he utters to the public because of the detrimental effects and irreversible consequences that goes with every statement issued. We have always mentioned that anything said by the Republican President becomes a policy and must be implemented by the Law Enforcement Agencies.

Every statement issued by the seating Head of State carries an intonation of seriousness and no one must take such lightly. No wonder the Head of State must always be sober minded and should avoid succumbing to emotions. More importantly, the President must be reminded that he is the Father of the Nation and everyone looks up to him. The Head of State must therefore have a big heart and should be willing to accommodate any situation.

Yesterday during the public rally held in Kanyama Compound, President Hakainde Hichilema loosely challenged the immediate past Head of State Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu not to dare him at all! In his bulky outburst he intimated the following sentiments; –

(1) Since the PF is busy regrouping, he will make sure that he incampacitate them and cramp them down using all possible means at his disposal.

(2) The former President will never ascend back into power.

(3) There is literally no vacancy left for the Office of President in this Country.

(4) The previous administration killed Lawrence Banda and others.

(5) Allowing the previous Government getting back into power is as good as reintroducing anarchy, violence, illegalities and irrational killings in the Country.

(6) President Hakainde Hichilema will now use unknown techniques in order to finish off the opposition.

(7) If possible the entire UPND Government will go for the throat of the former Head of State.

(😎 The general behaviour of the opposition can be described as Foolishness and Absurd.

(9) That the President is aware about those with intentions of conducting a coup d’etat in the Country.

The above utterances, statements and expressions were mentioned by His Excellency the Republican President himself using a local languages. (Nyanja & Bemba). Undeniably, the language used by the President does not befit the decorum of the Office he occupies. Such expressions undoubtedly amount to Hate Speech and qualify to be categorized as defamatory, malicious, derogatory, sarcastic, humiliating, contemptuous, unwholesome and demeaning.

It is not only unheard-of from the seating Head of State sounding vulgar and provocative against the former President and the opposition at large. From the foregoing, we can conclusively say that the Republican President has already instructed the Zambia Police Command to ensure that the former first lady Madam Esther Lungu is implicated and make sure that the sixth President is connected to some wrongdoing. As we are documenting this article the former first lady is scheduled to appear before the Zambia Police Station in Ibex at 10 hours today.

It is also possible concluding that the Law Enforcement Agencies are acting under the strict instructions from the Commander In Chief himself and it is extremely difficult detaching the President in all Court cases going on involving his political contenders.

In conclusion, we wish to express our displeasure and sadness for the manifestations of bitterness, irrationalities and the extent of irritation being echoed by President Hakainde Hichilema. No one must trivialize such utterances for they boarder on the National Security, Wellbeing of the nation, Peace, Harmony and Tranquility of the Nation.

MPNVP – WE ARE THE ANCHOR OF NATIONAL VALUES AND PRINCIPLES!

HICHILEMA’S NO PLAN ON HIGH PRICES OF MEALIE MEAL WORRYING – MSONI

By Fox Reporter
ALL Peoples Congress leader Nasson Msoni he is worried about President Hakainde Hichilema’s failure to give an outright plan on how he will reduce mealie meal prices and make them affordable for Zambians.

Msoni says what is more worrying is his hunger to address the available and affordability of mealie meal in neighbouring countries rather than Zambia.

The APC president, further, says what is more disturbing and shocking is President Hichilema’s appetite to blame others rather than taking responsibility.

“Mr.Hichilema’s rantings on the high cost of mealie meal is worrying. He should be the last person to cast aspersions or accuse other people of being responsible for the high cost of mealie meal in the Country,” he said.

Msoni says, “His lies are striking and a serious source of concern for all of us. It is Mr Hichilema himself who told us that he was exporting Maize to Kenya, Tanzania and now to Congo DRC. He told us that the contract was for $15 million dollars. This consignment is obviously huge and is bound to cause all kinds of distortions on the local market.”

He said counsel to President Hichilema over what he calls reckless selling of maize to other country was not heeded to.

Msoni says hunger and high cost of food in the country was chocking and most Zambians are going to bed on an empty stomach.

“We had counseled him on the dangers of recklessly exporting the mealie meal and the Maize. As usual he didn’t heed to our counsel. The high cost of mealie meal has nothing to do with the previous government but everything to do with his greediness and the shameless pursuit for profits at the expense of the suffering majority Zambians,” he said.

Msoni has since asked President Hichilema to resign.

“The only thing for Mr Hichilema to do if he has failed is to resign. What he promised Zambians has clearly not materialized.”

(Kaunda Square residents queuing for ZNS mealie meal selling at 180)
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THE OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT OF THE KONKOLA COPPER MINE INVESTMENT STANDOFF

Lusaka… Wednesday September 6, 2023

The Inter-Africa Governance Network (AFRINET) welcomes the handing over of Konkola Copper Mine to Vedanta Resources Limited by the Government of the Republic of Zambia making the long anticipated resolution of the Government – Vedanta standoff that protracted since the takeover of the mine by the previous administration of the Patriotic Front in 2019.

AFRINET, a dialogue platform in the Social, Economic and Political governance arena of public life is extremely pleased that the standoff has been brought to a logical finality in the interest of optimum production at the mine.

In this regard AFRINET commends both the Government administration of President Hakainde HICHILEMA and the collective management of
Vedanta Resources Limited for the decision to resolve the standoff through an out of Court settlement, the decision has saved time and resources on both parties.

As such, going forward both the Government and Vedanta Resources Limited have learnt some lessons regards the need for mutual dialogue because out of this standoff none of the parties has benefited, on the contrary both have undeniably lost revenue.

As AFRINET we are confident and expectant of the positive impact on both the Copperbelt and national economy the commitment of Vedanta Resources Limited to its investment expansion through the capitalisation of Konkola Copper
Mine to the tune of US$ 1 Billion over a stretch of one year, US$ 220 Million payment owed to contractors and suppliers, 20% salary
increment to the employees across the board, the retention of 10,000 direct workers and the US$ 20 Million annual expenditure on Corporate Social Responsibility.

Lastly and more importantly, we commend the Mines Unions of Zambia, Mines Suppliers and Contractors Associations and other relevant stakeholders for holding the patience of the affected workers and the communities Konkola Copper Mine is operating and further urge them to collaborate in the quick return of Konkola Copper Mine to optimum productivity.

Furthermore, AFRINET implores the relevant stakeholders to exercise some patience, flexibility and Industrial harmony towards the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mine Investment Holding and Vedanta Resources Limited as they collaborate in the actualization of their individual commitment and obligation in returning Konkola Copper Mine to full production.

MAURICE MALAMBO
EXECUCTIVE DIRECTOR

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN ZIMBABWE WANT NEVERS MUMBA INVESTIGATED BY SADC

By Correspondent
THE SADC Electoral Observation Mission needs to be true to its parentage as an instrument to promote democracy, cohesion, peace and security; not to be a willing regime change tool.

SADC must immediately investigate the conduct of the head of its election observer mission to Zimbabwe, Dr. Nevers Mumba, for attempting to aid illegal regime change in the country through fomenting a civil uprising in the wake of the just ended harmonised elections, a local civic organisation in Zimbabwe has said.

In a letter to SADC chairperson, Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, the Civic Society and Churches Joint Forum (CSCJF) said Dr. Mumba’s conduct in presenting a flawed preliminary report on the August 23 elections was a “threat to regional security”.

The letter has also copied to all SADC Heads of State, including President Hakainde Hichilema.

“Your Excellency, in our view, it is pertinent for SADC to reflect on this recent SEOM (SADC Electoral Observation Mission) experience in view of its implications on regional security,” said CSCJF in the letter signed by its national chairperson Reverend Anglistone Sibanda and another official, Abigale Mupambi.

“If at all possible, we recommend that the report should be reviewed by objective and luminary regional statesmen. While Zimbabwe has remained peaceful and averted the possible catastrophic consequences of Dr. Mumba’s actions, other SADC countries that will hold elections in the future may not be as fortunate. The SEOM needs to be true to its parentage as an instrument to promote democracy, cohesion, peace and security; not to be a willing regime change tool.

“We further recommend, Your Excellency, that Dr. Mumba’s activities be subjected to an independent SADC investigation because they cannot be swept under the carpet in view of the instability they could have caused within Zimbabwe and the region.”

Such censure, said CSCJF, was required to ensure that future heads of SEOM stick to their code of conduct and “do not aid the bidding of hostile external regime change proponents”.

The civic organisation said regional citizens appreciate the role of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to foster peace and stability in the region.

NKOMESHA DEMANDS 25 MILLION KWACHA IN COMPENSATION FROM GOVT

SENIOR Chieftainess Nkomesha Mukamabo II of the Soli people in Chongwe has sued the State demanding that soldiers who forcefully encroached on her land surrender it back.

The traditional leader further seeks an order that the affected families who were on the land be compensated for loss of their Houses and Property in the sum of K20, 000, 000.

Further, the chief seeks damages for Stress, Mental Anguish and Inconvenience worth K5million plus Interest and Costs.

In a statement of claim before the Lusaka High Court, the Chieftainess is the first plaintiff while Moses Manjeleka and Chuma Mwanza are second and their plainitffs who have sued the Attorney General and an unknown persons as first and second respondents.

The chief submits that the Attorney General has been sued as a Legal Representative acting on behalf of the State.

She submits that unknown persons have constantly been going to her village.

“Sometime in June, 2023 the Plaintiff’s Headman Mwalukanga within the Busoli Chiefdom was visited by Two Motor Vehicles full of Soldiers and they asked to be given some land where they could train in preparation for their Peace Keeping outreach program and the said training program was scheduled to last for two Weeks and were given permission accordingly,” the document reads.

She says however, that the Plaintiff’s dismay, the soldiers refused to leave continued training and consequently started placing beacons and demarcating the land for Construction of Household Units and other Projects.

“As if the above is not enough, the soldiers brought in the graders into the area and also began to displace and demolish the resident’s houses without any Court Order whatsoever.

“They have deployed soldiers who have surrounded the said area with guns in an attempt to scare the local residents and grab the land by force through illegal means,” the document reads.

The Chief complains that the soldiers act is illegal and an affront to the Principals of Natural Justice in that they do not have a right to summarily enter the Plaintiffs and forcely grab Land under the guise that they were using same for training.

“Over 15 Houses have so far been demolished by the said Soldiers and have instructed unknown persons to Construct Houses on the said Land without any due regard to the established Laws in this Jurisdiction.

“Despite a demand Letter served on their Legal Representative the Defendant have continued to evict, demolish and build on the said Land. The plaintiff now prays that for an order that the said Military personnel (Soldiers) unconditionally surrender back Possession of forcefully encroached Land to the Plaintiff”.

(Credit:- Mwebantu)

“Those with eyes, let them ‘eye’ “.

By Patrick Chinamasa ZANU-PF Treasure

“For those who don’t know the late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, let me fill you in about him. During his tenure of office as Zambian President, he became the darling of Western countries and, cheered on by these sanctions-imposing countries, became very hostile towards Zimbabwe and ZANUPF. He went further than mere rhetoric and, working in cahoots with Tony Blair, had agreed to a Tony Blair proposal to use Zambia as a base for British Military Forces to launch a military offensive against Zimbabwe with a view to reversing the land redistribution program and effecting regime change.

Zimbabwe picked up the intelligence about the hostile intentions of Blair and Mwanawasa. As SADC Chairman in 2008, Mwanawasa convened an Emergency SADC Summit on Zimbabwe in Lusaka with the intent to rally other SADC leaders to the view that a military intervention in Zimbabwe to remove ZANUPF from power was inevitable. Mwanawasa invited Tsvangirai to the Summit. As Zimbabwe, we objected to the attendance of an opposition leader at a Summit of Heads of State. Our objection fell on deaf ears. President Mugabe decided to boycott the Summit and instead dispatched a four Minister delegation to the SADC Lusaka Heads of States Summit to engage Mwanawasa and dissuade him from the path to plunge Zimbabwe and the region into an Armageddon. I led the delegation to the Lusaka Summit.

To beef up and bolster the strength of the delegation, President Mugabe sent President ED Mnangagwa (then Speaker of the National Assembly) to join the delegation. The Emergency Summit started around 3 pm on Saturday, 12 April 2008, and went on nonstop into and throughout the night until it adjourned on Sunday, 13 July 2008, around 6 am. Cde Mnangagwa’s inclusion in the delegation was a masterstroke. It saved the day solely because he was personally known to Mwanawasa. I assumed then (which I have not verified) that Cde Mnangagwa and Mwanawasa were either classmates or contemporaries at the Law School at the University of Zambia. Mwanawasa’s venom and hostility were evident and palpable, but in the early hours of Sunday, while not yielding his ground, Mwanawasa was purely out of respect for Cde Mnangagwa, beginning to treat the delegation with a modicum of civility.

The Lusaka Emergency SADC summit was inconclusive, and Mwanawasa made it known that he was taking the matter to the AU Summit to be held at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. Mwanawasa suffered a stroke, and that put an end to the regime change agenda as a SADC-initiated project at the behest of Tony Blair. Rev. Nevers Mumba is making a spirited attempt to take the regime change agenda from where Mwanawasa left it. Like Mwanawasa before him, he will not succeed in his evil intent. He does not know what mettle Zimbabweans are made of.

Mumba is a complete disgrace and an embarrassment to the region and the African Continent as a whole. It was very unwise and unpolitic for President Hichilema as Head of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security to appoint Mumba, a lackey of imperialism and neocolonialism with a known regime change background (against ZANUPF), to come and observe Zimbabwe’s Harmonised Elections. President Hichilema did, wittingly or unwittingly through Mumba’s appointment, stoke the fires of Western-inspired regime change in Zimbabwe and will live to regret it. President Hichilema’s previous known political association with Chamisa creates unwholesome perceptions about his intentions towards Zimbabwe and ZANUPF.

Those who have eyes, let them “eye,” and those who have ears, let them “ear.” Nokuti hatigoni kurega kutaura zvatakaona nezvotakanzwa.”

source: Zambia Eagle

NO TEN YEARS FOR PRESIDENT HICHILEMA – TELESPHORE MPUNDU

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema should end the egotism of mocking Zambians by demanding that he should be graced with 10 years to govern the country when he has disappointingly failed to deliver on any of his promises that made citizens vote for him in 2021, Emeritus Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu has said.

Archbishop Mpundu, the retired Catholic cleric says Zambians would have no existent reason to re-elect President Hichilema if he is not going to deliver on what he had promised in his first five-year term.

Archbishop Mpundu who is chairperson of the Our Civic Duty Association (OCiDA) said in an interview that Zambians had heard enough promises from President Hichilema and all they were interested in was to see him deliver.

He said President Hichilema should stop thinking Zambians were gullible whom he could take advantage of by continuing making promises of a better life when Zambians had been condemned to excruciating economic miseries as a result of the poor policies that were being pursued.

The former Catholic prelate wondered how President Hichilema could have the audacity of asking for an extension of his presidency beyond 2026 when the signs so far were pointing to the fact that he had failed to meet the expectations of Zambians.

“So, he is asking for ten years for what? No, no, no…tell him we shall not be taken for granted. We have heard that many times before and we shall only believe him when we see him delivering. We are tired of his promises. You tell him that we are now like Thomas in the Bible who failed to believe Jesus had resurrected until he touched his wounds. Zambians are hungry now and it is reckless to ask them to postpone their suffering until after 10 years. He has failed to deliver in two years and he wants us to believe he will deliver in the next three years. No, no no,” Archbishop Mpundu said.

He said President Hichilema should stop making promises he knew he would never keep because the head of State risked annoying Zambians and agitating for resentment against himself.

Archbishop Mpundu said for now, President Hichilema should attempt to make his promises to Europe of the United States of America where he stood a better chance of being believed because Zambians had already seen through his (President Hichilema) rhetoric.

“Let him not fool us that he understands our problems because he does not. Sorry, we are not going to allow him to continue telling lies. The problems we are having are his creation and if he claims that he is also having problems, he should blame himself because he has failed. His problems are his own creation. So, sorry, we are not ready to continue being taken advantage of. Let him just deliver because we are tired,” Archbishop Mpundu said.

(Credit:- Daily Nation)

Lungu promises Given Lubinda running mate position

FORMER president Edgar Lungu has promised makeshift PF leader Given Lubinda the position of running mate in the 2026 presidential elections.

The former Head of State has also promised prominent Lusaka lawyer Makebi Zulu the post of Speaker of the National Assembly once he is voted back to power, according to sources within his circle.

After being rejected by close to three million voters in 2021, Lungu is bubbling with confidence, believing the current high meal mealie prices are working in his political favour.

To increase the prospects of returning to State House in 2026, Lungu has now resolved to install an “Alebwelelapo-friendly” leadership in within the PF.

Sources privy to the schemes say Lungu has identified binoculars-carrying Raphael Nakacinda as the most influential proponent of his come back agenda and has since directed Lubinda to announce him as PF Secretary General.

Further, the sources said former minister of works and supply Sylvia Chalikosa was being line up as PF deputy Secretary General while Chitambo member of parliament Mutale Chanda would replace Stephen Kampyongo as opposition chief whip.

Lungu has also directed Lubinda to remove Mporokoso member parliament Brian Mundubile from his parliamentary post as leader of the opposition and replace him with his Kawambwa counterpart Nickson Chilangwa.

According to the sources, this is because Mundubile who they say is working closely with Shiwang’andu lawmaker, Kampyongo is a threat to Lungu’s political come back.

As for running mate, the sources say Lungu had initially identified counsel Zulu but later settled for Lubinda for tribal balancing.

The sources said should Lungu return to power, he has promised to make Zulu Speaker of the National Assembly.

Since losing power two years ago, the PF has remained without s president while a convention to elect one has been postponed several times.

After the loss in 2021, Lungu had initially given up on politics but his close associates got him to change his mind after convincing him that he was still popular and that he would easily beat President Hakainde Hichilema in an election.

Since then, Lungu has been scheming his return to the helm of the PF and eventually contesting the presidency in 2026.

Lungu became president of Zambia in 2015 and ruled for seven years.

Kalemba

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

Government Exporting Maize and Mealie-meal to the Great Lakes Region
Minister of Defence Hon.Ambrose Lwiji Lufuma informed the nation that Government had received an upfront payment of $15million towards a $50million export mealie-meal deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC). He also informed the country that the Government had received similar requests from other countries in the sub-region.

And in his statement to Parliament delivered on 7th June 2023, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Mtolo Phiri stated that the Crop Forecast Results for 2022/2023 Agricultural Season and the 2023/2024 Crop Marketing arrangement, the number of small and medium scale farming households that planted various crops increased ( despite false assertions by President Hichilema) has increased to 2,534,311 from 1,756,340, recorded in the 2021/2022 agricultural season.

He also stated that from 1st May, 2023, the total carryover stocks held by farmers, millers, grain traders and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) was 450,891 metric tonnes with expected production of 3,261,686 metric making the total stocks of maize available in this marketing season to 3,712,576 metric tonnes.

To this extent, he claims that the country has recorded a maize surplus of 470,379 metric tonnes.
The food balance sheet further indicates that the total maize required for a projected population of 20.4
million for both human and industrial consumption and other commitments is about 3,242,197 metric tonnes. Overall, the country has a surplus of 209,722 metric tonnes of maize equivalent.

He emphasised that the nation is, therefore, assured that the country will remain food secure in the foreseeable future for as long as vices such as smuggling are managed.
These figures given by Mtolo have been syrongly disputed by various experts and stakeholders and the maize grain availability is more dire than stated.

PROMOTING FOOD INSECURITY

Despite repeated government assurances, the State has been in the forefront of undermining food security. Government has embarked on wanton export of national strategic maize grain reserves depleting stocks from a dedicated 6months reserves to one-month supply.
With the shortage of maize in the country and high mealie-meal prices, one would expect Government to be serious about food security than perpetrate its insecurity.

Rest be assured that the next farming season will recorded poor yield because of the failure to conclude the tender regarding purchase, supply and distribution of Urea (top dressing) fertiliser and the anticipated El Nino weather phenomenon.

ZUMANI PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO TERRORISM CHARGES

FORMER president Edgar Lungu’s political advisor Zumani Zimba has denied orchestrating chemical terrorism which was experienced by the populace early months of 2020.

Zimba who is said to be the brains behind the gassing of homes, schools and work premises which the citizenry was subjected to in the PF regime is accused of aiding terrorism acts..

He is jointly charged with Given Phiri, 37, a businessman of an unknown house number in Lusaka’s Misisi compound, Marlone Banda a, 36, a businessman of plot number 811 in 12 Miles area and Portipher Gwai, 44 a male nurse, of plot number 194/17 Mtendere compound in Lusaka, who are facing charges of possessing and procuring terrorism articles.

In count one it is alleged that Phiri and Banda between February 22, 2020 and February 23, 2020 whilst acting together in Petauke Eastern Province possessed one bottle of of 250ml Halothane, one bottle of 350ml DEEP 600and one bottle of 250ml Forane Isoflurand BP articles for purposes connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism or proliferation.

In the second count it is alleged that Gwai between February 1, 2020 and February 22, 2020 procured one bottle of 250ml Halothane, one bottle of 350ml DEEP 600 and one bottle of 250ml Forane Isoflurand BP articles for purposes connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism or proliferation.

It is alleged in the third count that Zimba between February 1, 2020 and February 22, 2020, helped Phiri and Banda to execute acts there were harmful to human lives in Petauke district eastern province .

When inhaled by humans, Halothane causes the temporal loss of sensation.

Appearing before High Court judge Koreen Mwenda, Zimba and his accomplices pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following plea Zimba’s lawyer Benjamin Mwelwa made an application for constitutional bail but before he could give reasons, judge Mwenda guided him to make a formal application by filing in the application and not an oral submission.

Judge Mwenda adjourned the matter to September 7 for commencement of trial.

During the first months of 2020, cases of gassing were first reported in Chingola, on the Copperbelt Province and the acts of terror spread across the country, with people being gassed in homes and schools.

Many were forced to go to bed armed with all sorts of weapons that they would use to pounce on any terrorist who planned to disturb their sleep.

Anxiety gripped the citizenry owing to the torment they were subjected to, as anyone was suspected of being a guerrilla.

Cases of mob killings increased, as people descended on whoever they suspected could be behind the acts of gassing.

Statistics of the people who died as a result of gassing were not given, as only those of people who died at the hands of the mob were recorded.

Among those who were killed by the mob is former Ministry of Local Government permanent secretary Timothy Hakuyu in Munyumbwe area of Gwembe district Southern Province, on February 20, 2020, on suspicions that he belonged to the terror group.

The PF claimed the gassing incidents were acts of sabotage by the UPND.

By Mwaka Ndawa

Kalemba

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HIGH MEALIE MEAL PRICES – HICHILEMA TELLS KANYAMA RESIDENTS

Thank you very much, people of Kanyama.

We are grateful for your continued support. Your appreciation towards our efforts in setting our country’s economic path on the right trajectory means a lot.

Your call on us to keep working towards the reduction of the cost of living is cardinal.

It is for this reason that we have intensified talks regarding the much needed fair pricing for mealie meal.

In the short term, we have intensified monitoring of those who could be smuggling our mealie meal and maize into other countries. We will stop this, and as this is being done, we have called on Millers to charge a fair price on mealie meal.

In the long run, we are calling on each citizen to take keen interest in farming and also support our policy that a farmer must be paid well for their maize in order for them to be motivated to grow more and subsequently mealie meal prices will drop.

We are in this together, and we must all get involved.

However, to colleagues that think, we are timid by being kind and that they can break the laws and entertain thoughts of illegal take over of government including undemocratic coup d’état, our only word is that; We are coming for you and we will not allow you to make Zambians start running around as is the case in some places.

Once more. Thank you, people of Kanyama, for voting for us, and yes, as the Hakainde Hichilema family, we will sink a borehole in each of the wards in Lusaka District and challenge all those that can to join us in this initiative. Water is life.

Thank you, and thank you.

God bless our country.

Hakainde Hichilema
President of the Republic of Zambia.