Seed of discord: HH vs useless ministers

By Michael B Munyimba

I have been following the recent cat-fights between information minister madam Chushi Kasanda and mama Edith Nawakwi with keen interest.

If these two ladies thought this had been hilarious, we are sorry to say it hasn’t. In fact, I have been prying and prowling with skilled stealth and invisible caution like a legendary leopard preparing to pounce on unsuspecting prey. Yes, of course, I have been wanting to pounce on these two ladies just to pump some ounce of sense even if it could be as little as a grain of sand in their heads. They have been like two high school girls jostling each other over some teenage boyfriend. Yet, Chushi and Nawakwi are no kids, neither are they from the same generation; they are birds from different poles and times. So, seeing the two falling over each other in a bid to unconsciously embarrass themselves in public over an unknown wrangle, one is forced to ask where this whole thing is stemming from.

I have tried to go back to the books of history, trying to see what my memory can excavate regarding these two that could probably help explain the root cause of their conflict, which is now being flared in public domain, but I find none. As earlier indicated, these two are birds from different times and generations. All I know is that Edith was a pretty, intelligent girl with a degree in Economics (Energy) from UNZA, then Imperial College in London, who propelled her way in politics to become the country’s first female finance minister from 1998 to 1999 on president Chiluba’s appointment. True, she was young and vibrant, and vibrant she may still be. What a pretty, intelligent young lady, a delicious “plate” any man would dream to have by his side, the kind you would call beauty with “skopo”; a rare combination indeed.

It was actually Nawakwi who was finance minister when the infamous privatisation of government corporations took place – under her supervision, with HH as an external consultant hired to evaluate the companies and float them on the global market. It wasn’t, and still isn’t (supposed to be) easy to be finance minister at 39 years old, especially when you were female too in a society dominated by male chauvinists. But Edith was a force to reckon with, she was not just any other ordinary young lady to be tossed around. And Chiluba saw that in her, that’s why he gave her that heavy responsibility. She was also the entourage leader of the officials who negotiated for the IMF / World Bank loan deal whose conditions included the deflating of what these funders called a “blotted” civil service which eventually saw over 3,500 civil servants going on voluntary retirement after being promised some substantial, very attractive early retirement service packages. But I will come back to that later, because those retirees still want to know if the IMF/World Bank had secretly directed the government of that time to con those that would volunteer to retire and not pay them their dues as promised, but instead be throwing them crumbs of even as little as K350 in spaces of years until they all died from starvation. Yes, perhaps Edith will one day answer that, because this disease of all governments failing to honour that promise begun during her time – a “disease” that has infected even the present government despite all evidence, court rulings and presidential orders! But let me not go there now, I’m still busy praising Nawakwi for her past work record, she had (and still has) a rich CV and was a good and hardworking, knowledgeable minister.

I also know that Nawakwi and HH were at some point close allies and in very good books with each other in all endeavours; be that political, on principle and at a personal level before HH was even President. It’s again another mystery that today, Nawakwi views anything and everything HH says and or does as repulsive to a point of almost making her want to vomit. That’s some puzzle that may one day drive me to investigate and excavate the reason for the birth of that resentment for each other. Could it then be that it’s this resentment Nawakwi has for HH that aches Chushi Kasanda, prompting her to jump to the defence of her boss with guns blazing, shelling anything with Nawakwi’s name on it? Or could it be that Nawakwi is “slightly” jealous” of young Chushi’s sudden political milestone whom she wants to portray as not having what it takes to be “Minister”, except her looks? Or could it be that Nawakwi only wishes to genuinely conduct checks and balances on government and advice as a veteran, senior politician and experienced ex government official, a stance Kasanda probably refuses to recognise and accept? Olo kapena kuli kudala nkani zinangu zamene sitiziba (or maybe there are some issues we the public don’t know?)

Nawakwi is 64 years old, while Kasanda is 45; there’s almost a 20-year difference between the two, that’s a huge age divide. Is this fight personal or just work related, just based on difference on principle? We hope so, because if it continues, people will be forced to start thinking vintu vinangu (other things as the cause).

Now, the problem I have is not Nawakwi, after all, it’s not Nawakwi who is minister here, it’s Kasanda. You see, as minister, or when you hold certain portfolios in society, you mind how you portray yourself. Mind when and what to say or do certain things. It’s not always that as a leader you must respond to every provocation. Sometimes silence symbolises maturity and wisdom.

Chushi Kasanda should be professional when handling criticism. The post she holds is very sensitive. She should not start making mistakes her predecessor, Dora Siliya was making of running amock at every small thing, telling this one and that one, even shouting at South Africa’s Central Bank governor Tito Mbongeni over a small comment he made regarding the firing of then Bank of Zambia governor Dr Denny Kalylalya; it was so embarrassing.

Which reminds me of the President’s speech last week Thursday, the man almost wept as he solemnly complained that his ministers and permanent secretaries were not doing their work and had concentrated on globetrotting and requesting for subsidised loans to buy huge luxury cars. His desk is always laden with requests from ministers for authority to fly out to carry out funny chores, so that they can be sipping whisky in luxury hotels there but bringing back nothing to show here. And when they are here, they refuse to do the work they were employed to do; they are rude to people they are supposed to serve, they play kings, they come with blotted stomachs full of chips and sausages from their homes, while the people they are mandated to serve wallow in poverty.

Mr President, fire these ministers especially those in sensitive ministries. How can mere ministers be defying your orders, for instance? But that is what they are doing. Look at the issue of voluntary retirees who are not yet paid because their money was stolen within the circles, how many times have you assigned ministers to sort that mess? First it was Doreen Mwamba, did she follow your orders? NO! Now it’s Mulambo Haimbe, is he doing anything? Help me answer that. You gave these people jobs, but it seems they don’t need them. Relieve them and put people who are ready to serve the people and the country, people who know what they are doing. There are a lot of these ministers who are behaving like school boys, put their heads on the block! We shall continue to press on the pedal, until Zambians have the right people in offices, not high school boys and girls!

Ok, naluta, mpaka pa Wednesday futi, salani bwino!

Send comment to: WhatsApp +260 970 769521. Email: munyimbamichael5@gmail.com.

Harry Kalaba writes UK, USA, EU
…to raise concerns about the silence over corruption, tribal cleansing, governance lapses being perpetuated by the UPND administration
Lusaka, Sunday, May 21, 2023 ( Daily Nation Zambia)

HARRY Kalaba has written to foreign missions in Zambia raising concerns about their deliberate silence on a range of corruption, governance lapses and tribal cleansing taking place under the UPND administration.

Mr Kalaba, the president of Citizens First has written to the British High Commission, the American Embassy and the European Union (EU) to raise concerns on their failure to call out the UPND government on the many corruption scandals, governance lapses as well as harassment and persecution of the opposition political leaders.

In separate letters dated 16th May, 2023 addressed to Nicholas Woolley, the British High Commissioner to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, the United States Ambassador to Zambia and Ambassador Jacek Jankowski, the Head of the European Union in Zambia, Mr Kalaba said there were a lot of corruption scandals, governance issues as well as the tribal cleansing being perpetrated over which foreign missions in Zambia were being agnostic about.

Mr Kalaba is citing the ZCCM-IH shares reclassification scandal, the tribal cleansing at the Ministry of Finance, the single-sourcing procurement ills, and the awarding of contracts to companies associated with President Hakainde Hichilema as some of the corruption and governance issues over which the British High Commission, the American Embassy and the EU had elected silence instead of challenging the new dawn government.

He also listed the failure to follow the law in the awarding contracts to private auditing firms to conduct audits in the Zambia Defence and Security Wings and manuevours aimed at the removal of the Auditor General Dr Dick Sichembe, who has since been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

He explained that it had been under President Hichilema and UPND government that the opposition political party leaders had suffered several arrests for no discernable reason other than political harassment and persecution.

“You will agree with me that if countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the European Union elect silence over the many governance vices taking place under the UPND government such as the scandal at ZCCM-IH, the tribal cleansing with particular interest at the Ministry of Finance and the single-sourcing in the procurement process and the awarding of contracts to companies associated with President Hichilema, then you would be creating an impression to Zambians that your interests are with the UPND and not with the citizens of the country,” Mr Kalaba said.

He stated that it was the view of the Citizens First party that the position taken by foreign mission in Zambia not to speak out and condemn the growing corruption and governance lapses was not only a demonstration of biasness by Zambia’s long-standing partners.
Mr Kalaba said deliberate failure by the foreign missions to Zambia to call out and censure the UPND administration on its crusade to divide the country on tribal grounds by promoting nepotism had the potential to cause the opposition political parties in the country seeking alternative voices.

He said Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Zambia including the head of the EU delegation should have voices that represented Zambians as opposed to siding with the party in government.

“As Citizens First, we seek to pursue a Non-Aligned policy that Zambia has maintained from independence and it is against this background that we maintain a position to work with all those partners who seek to support the welfare of our country as well as the citizens,” Mr Kalaba said.

By Mike Chungu

The recent past, Director and Spokesperson at the Ministry of Information and Media, Thabo Kawana, earned a lot of media attention – not for good reasons, but notoriety.

He is reported to have imposed himself on talk show programmes featuring government opponents.
Just when he was appointed, I shared some public concerns. I want to reaffirm my original position in this post.
I felt then and still do now that Mr Kawana really worked hard as propaganda chief at UPND Alliance secretariat.

He deserved a job but not where President Hakainde Hichilema has placed him because he was likely to underperform.
He was simply up against many factors including institutional and personality factors which would make him fail. Two of these relate to the job description as director of information (I doubt about media) and other is spokesmanship.

As director of the information, like many critics, I have little to say because I do know his CV and whether it is relevant to the intricacies of the public information management system required at the Ministry of Information and Media.

We are however aware that this was not a professional, but political appointment, so, President Hichilema had his own expectations and I assume he wanted him to be spokesperson to complement, the Minster of Information and Media, Ms Chushi Kasanda.

Those who are familiar with Mr Kawana from the days of his active participation in civil society to his involvement in mainstream politics, would testify that he is good at public speaking. He is also a fast learner which is good for public policy articulation.

To be a spokesperson at that ministry did not require depth of specialisation like the Bank of Zambia, because he was to operate from the generalist perspective. He only required at least awareness of the macro picture. Which he has. So, why underperformance?

The answer is simple and lies in the lack of role clarity among the three officers with authority as official spokespersons, besides Mr Kawana as the director; there is the Minister herself, Ms Kasanda and the Permanent Secretary, Mr Kennedy Kalunga.

Mr Kawana is very competitive and combative. Given space, he is domineering and inclined towards politicking. The ideal space would have been creating a fulltime job within the Alliance party secretariat with free access

to mainstream and social media space with authority to speak on a wide range of issues except the Presidency.
The minister is soft spoken and so far, has been less-confident in matters that fall within the economic and financial cluster. The Permanent Secretary has failed to assert himself so that his strengths come to the fore.

Unless the three officers undertake the team building and identify individual strengths, and how those strengths are strategically deployed, the “Kawana” disaster will worsen.

– Daily Nation Zambia

IMBOELA BLASTS MATAMBO FOR HARASSING KITWE MAYOR

Lusaka, Sunday, May 21, 2023 ( Daily Nation Zambia)

COPPERBELT Minister Elisha Matambo has come under fire for storming the office of the Kitwe Mayor, Mpasa Mwaya and intimidatingly threatening her with unknown reprisals over her social media posting in which she said; ‘He will resign after the press conference.’

Saboi Imboela, the president of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described as harassment and petty behavior by Mr Matambo who stormed the Kitwe Mayor’s office under the guise of paying a courtesy call.

Ms Imboela said the UPND had become so averse to criticism and divergent views that they were ready to come down and harass citizens who were expressing themselves.

Reacting to the decision by the UPND on the Copperbelt to ban Ms Mwaya from ever welcoming President Hakainde Hichilema or attending any state event where the head of State would be the guest, Ms Imboela said Mr Matambo was practicing uncivil and barbaric kind of politics particularly against an elected woman civic leader.

She said there was nothing wrong for any citizen to demand the resignation of President Hichilema if they felt shortchanged by the head of State who had made mega promises but had hardly fulfilled any of the campaign pledges.

She has called on the women movements to rise and condemn Mr Matambo in the strongest terms possible for harassing Ms Mwaya whose work as a civic leader was never being appreciated on account that she was from the opposition, the Patriotic Front (PF).

Ms Imboela said as a woman leader, leading an opposition political party, she had taken Mr Matambo’s threats against the Kitwe Mayor with great exception and that the UPND should desist from victimizing the female gender in politics.

“It is shocking that Mr Matambo, as a Minister of the Copperbelt could take it upon himself to storm the office of the Kitwe Mayor, Mpasa Mwaya tagging the media along with him. There was no need for such an uncivilised show of political power towards a woman who had done nothing wrong. In her post, the Mayor never mentioned Presdent Hichilema to resign and the UPND and their zealots decided to interpret her post to suit their level of understanding. That in all sense was not a courtesy call but Mr Matambo stormed the office of the Mayor to harass and intimidate her. It is unfortunate, unacceptable and barbaric. It should never happen again,” Ms Imboela said.

She said it was time the UPND understood and accepted that Zambia was a democracy and that citizens shall continue to express themselves even if it was to the displeasure of those in government.

Ms Imboela said had Mr Matambo, as Minister of Copperbelt Province taken time to acquaint himself with the office of the Kitwe Mayor, he would have appreciated her efforts in working with the UPND government in fostering development.

Ms Imboela is commending Ms Mwaya for handling Mr Matambo in the most mature manner without being emotive in responding to the accusations that she had demanded the resignation of President Hichilema.

USA INVESTMENT IN LOBITO CORRIDOR RAIL LINE IS POSITIVE GAME CHANGER – TAYALI

LUSAKA, Sunday 21st May 2023

GOVERNMENT is elated with the remarks by United States of America President Joe Biden at the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) Meeting being held at Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, Japan.

The US President has announced that his country has already mobilized more than $30 billion in investments to date and it is just getting started.

Minister of Transport and Logistics Hon. MUSEBA FRANK TAYALI, MP has described the move by President Biden as real time game changer in the region and Zambia in particular.

Hon. TAYALI adds that the remarks resonate well with the New Dawn Administration’s desire of seeing Zambia unlock its vast business potential along the corridor through the participation of the private sector in creating jobs and economic growth.

The Minister says, the mere mention by the G7 at its annual meeting, clearly demonstrates the high level of importance and confidence the Group has shown in the member states of the Lobito Corridor.

He says the move brings a high sense of confidence to members states of the Lobito Corridor as this is a booster towards investment that will lead to positive impacts across multiple sectors in the region.

And President Biden says his country has already started working with its partners to make this happen adding that in Sub-Saharan Africa, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation is looking to invest in the first railway project on the continent.
He says the United States is supporting the development of the Lobito Corridor with an initial investment in a rail expansion that may become the primary open access transportation infrastructure connecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia with global markets through Angola.

President Biden adds that the PGII is actively pursuing additional opportunities to connect the initial Lobito Corridor investments across the continent, to Tanzania and, ultimately, the Indian Ocean.

“The rail line would extend from the western shores of Angola to the border of the DRC and Zambia, with the goal of ultimately reaching the Indian Ocean, connecting the continent east to west for the first time,” he says.

He says the project would not only quickly promote trade and create jobs but that it will strengthen supply chains, and incentivize investments in agriculture, and promote food security.

And also, that it is going to enable access to clean energy and digital connectivity across the entire region, creating more security, more prosperity, more opportunities for generations to come.

President Biden says that is what his country’s focus on the key economic corridors is all about, investing in near-term solutions that pay long-term dividends.

According to initial investments, under rail Consortium: The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is currently performing due diligence for a potential financing package of $250 million to finance the Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor – an open access rail line from Lobito Port in Angola to the DRC border.

This deal would be the DFC’s first investment in rail on the continent. This project is the first step to connect and develop trading and economic activity from Angola to the DRC, that can help promote greater investments in agriculture, digital infrastructure, and expanded access to electricity.

Issued by:

Original Signed

NDUBI R. MVULA PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

WHEN A FEW OF US BELIEVED ONE DAY MR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA WAS GOING TO BE THE 7TH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA …***

By Stembridge Sikalundu

Indeed many are called but later a few are chosen , it is a fact of life which we must bare as long as we live , what is important is to see progress and delivery of goods and services . It is a difficult time but president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA is on course for the right reasons for this country .

There came a moment when I felt if president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA was going to be killed by the PF regime , all the hopes of my life and the many zambians out there were going to be shattered , especially that most of the life threats were being done in public to the president and the many followers and those of us who were critics of the PF on social media . Supporting president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA and the UPND objectives would be in a double jorpardy if anything happened before the general elections , supporting president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA made us to live in fear, but the courage was necessary to achieve the struggle , we were better off in opposition knowing that president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA was safe and alive , it gave us momentum and strength in our hiding dunes , we gathered more courage , one would imagine loosing the struggle if the life of president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA was going to be cut short at the time zambians had proved him to be the right president of this country beyond 2021 .

When am asked how free iam now after PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA got elected as president of the republic of zambia , I felt I got the 21 st century modern independence from fellow zambians that besieged the country for seven (07) years . My personal expressions were democratically approved and my freedoms and rights were automatically restored.

It took twenty three (23 )years of the UPND party to be in opposition , president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’s journey to the presidency is of the record period of seventeen (17) years , it is important to reflect and introspect on this dream , it took five attempts in seventeen (17) years to reach the top , this is a very emotional journey but a well deserved achievement .

It may have taken seventeen (17) years to become president of the republic of zambia , unprecedented decisions to realign this country have been done in less than one year and ten months in power , in order to raise the diminished hopes that oppressed the improvement of the living standards among zambians , freedoms and rights of people are a recipe to national development , this is what president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has restored . What president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has done is to realign the policy frame work , is use of the visionary concepts to ensure resources of the country are ploughed back to the people , and part of this success is the decentralisation policy .

I salute the zambian people who followed the journey of quest by president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA and the test of the people who supported along this unforgettable experience which earned is the victory to see Mr HAKAINDE HICHILEMA become president of this country , the rest is history because the nation must move forward with a more purposeful agenda , economic transformation , forgiveness ,unity , love and peace . President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has demonstrated that , authority in office of the presidency should not change the core values of our being and existence with others . I have learnt from president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA a lot more of how to coexist . We thank God to have a president that inspires his people from his personality , archievemts and accomplishments , the principle of visionary excellence is a gift from God and to see it and have takes a lot of sacrifices which are painful , than just seeing anyone wanting to become president .

However president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has reterated that any citizen of this country is free to contest the presidency without any regard for ethnicity or marginalisation , no one will go through what he experienced before , under his authority and time we are free zambians . God bless mother Zambia .

I CRY ZAMBIA IS MY BELOVED COUNTRY

Chief Sandwe of the Nsenga Speaking people of Lusangazi district in Eastern Province has praised Government for increasing the white maize buying price to K 280.00 per 50 Kilogram bag in the 2023 crop marketing season from the previous price of K180.00.

The Traditional leader told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS in a telephone interview today that this year’s maize price was excellent and a motivation to most farmers.

The traditional leader however called on the government to be advising farmers in advance which crop to focus on during cultivation which would be bought by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to avoid a situation where farmers focused on a crop that would not be bought.

Chief Sandwe said it was because of the current situation where FRA was not going to buy Soya beans this season when most farmers in his Chiefdom had produced enough of the commodity but had no stable market for it.

He noted that the idea of FRA not to buy Soya beans this season would advantage the briefcase buyers to buy the produce at a very low price, adding that it was better if the agency announced the price for Soya beans despite not buying it.

“The price for maize for this year is excellent and motivating to our farmers but the idea of FRA not announcing the price of soya beans and not buying it this year is demotivating because the briefcase buyers will take advantage of the situation and buy Soya beans at a very low price.

I think the Government must be advising farmers in advance on which crops to focus on to avoid such situations,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Martin Mbewe, a farmer from Village 42 in Riverside area of Lusangazi district called on the government to consider finding an alternative market for Soya beans with a good price.

“The challenge is that most farmers have harvested plenty of Soya beans of which FRA said it will not buy and so, my appeal is that the government should find us another market for Soya beans,’’ he said.

Another farmer, Sarah Phiri, from Village 65 in Ukwimi area explained that a lot of farmers who grew soya beans had plans that after selling the produce, they would use part of the money to buy maize for consumption.

“We had to grow enough Soya beans last rainy season because we had plans to sell it at a good price and buy maize. So, the government must consider our cry,’’ she said.

Liya Mwanza another farmer from Village 62 said she was happy with the K 280-00 per 50 Kilogram bag of maize, adding that, the price of Soya beans must also improve further if farmers were to realize the much-needed profit from their hard earned labour.

Ms Mwanza said most of the maize harvested this year was not promising in the area due to calamities such as floods and farmers relied on Soya beans to give them enough money after selling the crop.

“The price of maize is just okay but the maize from farmers this season is not enough because we had floods and fields were swept away. Our only hope was to sell the Soya beans which performed well so that the money can assist us in buying more maize and other stufF,’’ she said.

The Food Reserve Agency announced the 2023 buying price for two crops produced which are white maize at K 280-00 per 50 Kilogram bag and paddy rice at K 200-00 per 40 Kilogram bag.

IT IS THE DUTY OF THE OPPOSITION TO PROVIDE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN A DEMOCRACY – NAKACINDA

Lusaka….. Saturday, 20 May 2023 (Smart Eagles)

In providing checks and balances we come across information which even if in our judgment is inimical to the interest of the Zambian people, we disseminate because we provide checks and balances, Patriotic Front Chairperson For Information and Publicity has narrated to the Court.

This came to light when defence was opened in the matter Hon Nakacinda is charged with one count of alleged defamation of the President.

Hon Nakacinda said when he comes across information, they speak to it expecting that those in Government would respond and either clarify, confirm or deny if the information received is not correct

It is alleged that Nakacinda on December 13, 2021 at Lusaka, with intent to bring the name of President Hakainde Hichilema into hatred, ridicule and contempt, did cause to be published defamatory matter by word of mouth, where he addressed people at the High Court of Zambia, which was also broadcasted by Muvi television that, “His Excellency President Mr Hakainde Hichilema had begun to summon Judges at his private residence, intimidating and coercing them to frustrate PF legal battles.”

Nakacinda told the court that the people who reported him to the police over defamation of the Republican President, Hakainde Hichilema did not depict the exact statement that he gave in the video.

Nakacinda told Lusaka magistrate, Ireen Wishimanga he issued the alleged statement contained in the video against the President in defence of the country ‘s democracy.

He said that what he communicated was that he had information that the president was intending to begin to summon judges to his community house.

“Just after Mr Hichilema was inaugurated on August 26 2022, as a politician in opposition he felt the need to play his role of providing checks and balances. I needed to symbolically put a gadget that demonstrated that in view of the many promises and pledges that the UPND had made and their responsibility to uphold the rule of law and uphold tenancy of democracy in a multiparty democracy.

“On August 28 2021 I launched an operational binoculars that aid to view if you are viewing something and not be able to catch details of the image, you are trying to see. It has a mechanism to zoom that image closer so that you can see properly . As a symbol you are going to be able to be watching every step, action pronouncement that our colleagues in Government make……….,”he said.

Nakacinda also told the court that in upholding democratic tenets or indeed failure to the promises or pledges made by the new dawn Government it would bring to the fore for the Zambian people to be aware of a lot of issues because they are the final authority.

The matter has since been adjourned to May 31.

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

Reserves drop by $300m in 3 months

The Bank of Zambia – BOZ has disclosed that Zambia’s international forex reserves have dropped by about $300m. Dropping International reserves balances are indicative of expected future stress on the Kwacha as they are seen as a buffer to defend against steep currency depreciation

BOZ Governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya revealed that propping up the Kwacha and various government uses such as debt service coupled with diminished receipts from the mining sector resulted in the net outflow.

Dr. Kalyalya stated that “support to the market, multilateral debt service, and Government uses contributed to the decline in gross international reserves to equivalent to 3.3 months of import cover or US$2.8 billion prospective imports”.

The reserves have dropped at end of March 2023 from US$3.1 billion equivalent to 3.8 months of import cover. US dollar reserves have proved to be a challenge for successive administrations as the traditional source of forex – copper mining which accounts for over 70% of Zambia’s exports is controlled by foreign privately owned companies.

Negotiating with these global mining firms to bank their sales proceeds in Zambian banks or even foreign banks with branches in Zambia has proved futile, resulting in the Kwacha perpetual depreciation trend.

An effort to diversify to gold reserves which could be stockpiled using a state owned company suffered a major setback after the ministry of mines abruptly closed a huge gold find that was seen as a viable alternative.

Kasenseli gold mine of Mwinilunga was closed towards the end of 2021 initially indicated as temporal and that it would take three months to deal with some ‘operational and transitional’ issues but the gold mine has now been closed for over one year.

As it stands, the above 3 months import cover remains within a safe margins by global standards but another quarter of bleeding will result in below 3 months import cover and resultant escalated volatility of the Kwacha.

The Zambian government needs to urgently find ways to claw back forex earnings from the traditional copper exports after awarding of heavy tax incentive. There is need to prioritize and immediately reopen Kasenseli gold mine and re-energize the BOZ gold alternative reserves build up as well as find innovative ways to recapitalize and resume production at Mopani and KCM.

BE CREDIBLE IN YOUR PROVISION OF CHECKS AND BALANCES- MASUMBA URGES OPPOSITION.

By Ludia Phiri(Venus Publishers)

FORMER Patriotic Front (PF) Mufumbwe Member of Parliament Stephen Masumba has called on opposition political parties to be credible in the way they offer checks and balances to the incumbent government.

Mr. Masumba, who is known for his public acrobatics and former deputy minister of youth and sports says politicians must do away with politics that are meant to bring hatred if they are to last in the political space.

Masumba however, added that President Hakainde Hichilema is a man of equity following pronouncements he made at a media briefing at state house yesterday.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Masumba acknowledged that President Hichilema is working on the equal dustribution of wealth without looking at tribal lines.

“I would like to call upon the opposition to cut down on politics of insults and offer credible checks and balances if they are to continue being relevant in politics”. He said.

He further said that politics of insults should be halted adding that such politics are long gone and that should never be embraced by any politician of the 21st century.

He has since reminded members of the opposition that the people of Zambia are no longer interested in politics of discrediting one another but in ideas that will develop the country.

He added that the current head of state is one person that loves competition of ideas and not personal bickerings and that he is focussed on fulfilling his campaign promises he made in during campaigns.

He has further advised those in political space to quit causing a rift between former president Edgar Lungu and President Hakainde Hichilema in order for peace to reign.

Meanwhile, as a former deputy minister of youth and sports, Masumba called on the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga to pay a courtesy call on the minister of youth and sports Elvis Nkandu, whenever he feels aggrieved as that shows professionalism.

By Laura Miti

Accolades abroad discontent at home? This is my view:

To evaluate the HH presidency, one has to divide it into two distinct parts.

1. How is he doing in fixing the vehicle whose engine was almost knocked by the PF?

2. How is he doing on issues that have nothing to do with getting our broken down vehicle back on the road?

Another 2 questions:

3. If he had been handed a runner or at least a car whose issues were 4 punctured tyres and a need for wheel alignment, how would he be doing?

My sense is that, no matter how much we say we do not want to hear this anymore, it is terribly flawed analysis to not face the fact that the difficulties Zambians are facing, and that are taking up a lot of the President’s time, are largely, if not all, the result of the stunning mess PF left behind.

We might as well be coming out of a war: an empty Treasury, a mountain of debt which was mostly stolen by powerholders, the said debt whose repayment takes up so much money it’s a miracle we still have services, a corrupt civil service, historical corruption that people want addressed, absolute lawlessness etc etc ad infinitum.

So, what has this President done about that mess?

There is an astounding return to normalcy, given what a violent, lawless mad house we had become.

We have made progress on debt restructuring talks – slow though they maybe. Impressive is that the restructuring is not being held back by our total financial indiscipline, like it was before. The Zambian government has done an excellent job in getting a handle on our fiscus. There is nothing more required of us. What is delaying the restructuring is no longer in our hands. Our creditors agree with each other on terms.

Next question is what has President Hichilema’s government done on matters not related to mopping a floor flooded by others:

1. Introduced free education.

2. Increased CDF.

3. Overseeing a CDF that is disbursed to all constituencies at the same time😮.

4. Delivered transparent recruitment of teachers and nurses.

5. Introduced a Tantameni that went to Private school.

One that does not steal public resources but still puts money in the economy – NAPSA partial withdraw.

6.The return of meal allowances though that is probably part of question 1.

7. Social cash transfer is being paid to with no drama.

8. For the first time in years, expenditure mirrors the budget appropriated by Parliament – impossible to overstate what a change that is.

8. All information on what is happening in our finances is on the MOF website. ALL of it!

9. Been firm with his caders.

10. Regained Zambia’s international respect.

11. Brought back decorum to the presidency.

What are his weaknesses and failures?

1. Some eyebrow raising appointments.

2. Refusal to fire when he must.

3. Failure to make the Electoral Commission non-political.

4. Last year’s disaster of a farming season on the input front.

5. Wobbly corruption cases.

On the balance of things, this a President whose ahievements thus far, far outweigh his weaknesses. The truth, though, is we citizens are free to be unhappy and expect heaven. It’s a democracy.

What I cannot wrap my head around is that we allow the PF to go from radio station to radio station to whine, probably buying airtime with money stolen from us.

We let them, that did the defecating all over our floor, to lead us in complaining that someone else is not cleaning their piles of excreta which are stinking up citizen nostrils, fast enough.

Come on people!

PF commander Muchemwa got money from Inter City shops, bus owners by force, testifies ex Town Clerk

FORMER Lusaka town clerk Alex Mwansa has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Court that notorious PF commander Francis Muchemwa would harass bus owners at Lusaka’s Inter City Bus Terminus and compel them to pay levies amounting to K20,000 and K50,000.

He said those who could not manage to surrender colossal sums of money to Muchemwa, who worked under the umbrella of PF, were whipped and forced to vacate the bus terminus.

Mwansa, who narrated before chief resident magistrate Davies Chibwili on how the accused terrorised shop and bus owners, said when he assumed office, he was told not to frustrate the dual system of revenue collection in markets and bus stations between the Lusaka City Council and the PF.

“I requested if there was an agreement between the council and the PF branch. I was informed that there was no partnership agreement between the council and the PF. I established that the PF branch had entrenched itself at Inter City Bus Terminus,” Mwansa said.

“On the part of the PF branch, they were collecting from structures, some within the station, outside the station and wheelbarrow pushers, and also new buses introduced to the station would be charged”.

He indicated that in order to maintain order, he proposed for the introduction of a revenue parking management system but members of the PF branch at Inter City objected.

“The idea was to introduce the cashless revenue collection management system where a council cashier and PF branch were not going to handle cash. We reached a stalemate and a meeting was convened at State House chaired by Mulenga Sata, as mayor of Lusaka by then. This was in 2014,” Mwansa explained.

“In attendance were officials from the PF branch namely Mr Gowa, popularly known as Commander 1. There was also Innocent Kalimanshi, the station manager, and Mr Francis Muchemwa. We failed to reach a compromise and the system was frustrated.”

He said Kalimanshi, Gowa, Muchemwa and others were the leaders of a vicious Inter City bus terminus battalion who collected money, on behalf of the party.

“Mr Gowa was Commander One, Muchemwa was three and Kalimanshi was second in command. In 2014, Kalimanshi was expelled from the station and Francis Muchemwa took over as commander two. These three commanders were in charge of security at Inter City, apart from the council security,” Mwansa said.

He told the Court that the PF branch had more powers and overwhelmed the police.

“In terms of employment, we (LCC) would be availed with the list of recommended staff to be employed from the PF party,” Mwansa said.

He contended that revenue collection was not satisfactory during Muchemwa’s reign but after his party was rejected by 2.8 million voters in the August 2021 elections, there was a positive trajectory in revenue collection after the PF branch was shut down.

“The first quarter of 2022, there was much improvement in revenue collection and business environment, in terms of improved sanity,” said Mwansa

At this point, Muchemwa’s lawyer Joseph Chirwa requested that the matter be adjourned to Friday so that he could prepare for cross-examination.

Magistrate Chibwili adjourned the matter to May 19.

The once-feared so-called PF Commander two is facing six counts of possessing suspicious property worth over K12 million, two counts of tax evasion, one count of failing to comply with the provisions of the tax income Act and obtaining money through pecuniary advantages.

By Mwaka Ndawa

Kalemba

Lie about HH meeting with judges was meant to defend democracy – Nakacinda

PF information and publicity chairperson Raphael Nakacinda says his remarks about President Hakainde Hichilema having dark corner meetings with judges was to defend democracy and prevent the country from “reverting to autocracy”.

Nakacinda has been indicted on a repealed law of defamation of the President.

On December 13, 2021 Nakacinda with intent to bring President Hichilema into hatred, ridicule and contempt caused the publication of defamatory matter when he alleged that the Head of State was summoning judges at his residence to coerce them into promoting totalitarian rule.

Opening his defence before magistrate Irene Wishimanga this morning, Nakacinda could to not cast light on his claims against the Head of State but instead chose to go round circles explaining why he always has a binoculars slinging on his neck.

He said after President Hichilema assumed office on August 26, 2021 he launched “Operation Binoculars” to zoom the UPND’s faults in governing the country so that he can censure relevant authorities and they would react to his sentiments.

“In order to offer checks and balances, I needed to symoblycally carry a gadget I was going to watch every step and action our colleagues in government make and that if their actions and steps are inimical to the interest of the Zambian people in so far as upholding the democratic tenets is concerned we would fore to the Zambian people to be aware, as Zambians are the final authority in extending a mandate whenever there is an election,” Nakacinda explained.

“When I come across information I speak to it. I expect those in government to respond by clarifying, confirming or deny if the information is not correct.”

The binoculars-carrying politician claimed that the State and its witnesses among them UPND Kankoyo member of parliament Heartson Mabeta distorted his utterances that the Head of State had begun summoning judges to his home.

“They do not depict what I was saying and the full context of what I was communicating. That is an excerpt of the totality of what I said even then the way it is couched suggests that I was saying that the President has met judges,”Nakacinda clarified.

“The information I was disseminating speaks to the effect that there is intention to start summoning judges for purposes of advancing an agenda to take us back to a one party state.”

He said as a member of the opposition PF he is clothed with the duty to oppose any attempts to go against the decision of many Zambians to introduce a multi-party State in 1990.

“In pronouncing myself on that day, it was in defence of democracy,” said Nakacinda.

He indicated that on December 14, 2021 Himself and former presidential spokesperson Anthony Bwalya featured on Hot FM‘s breakfast show were Bwalya refuted his assertions that the Head of State was meddling in the affairs of the judiciary, as government does not engage in any activities that would compromise the Judiciary or undermine democracy.

“We will not relent as opposition or myself to speak out on issues we deem inimical to the rule of law, the principle of the separation of power between the executive, judiciary and legislature,” said Nakacinda.

At this point the accused’s lawyer Jonas Zimba requested for an adjournment so that he could produce sound bites of Nakacinda’s interview on Hot FM.

Magistrate Wishimanga reluctantly adjourned the matter to May 31 and cautioned the defense against going to court unprepared.

By Mwaka Ndawa

Kalemba

UPND COMMITED TO FIGHT CADRELISM -ANDERSON BANDA

United Party for National Development (UPND) Lusaka Youth Chairperson Anderson Banda says New dawn administration is keen to combat all forms of Negative cadrelism in the country.

Speaking today when he featured on UNZA radio Lusaka star, Banda said that he will not sit and watch markets and bus stations become a war zone like it was in the PF administration.

Banda said that UPND is a party on peace, love and Unity a foundation that has bonded members into a family.

He further added that the party will not allow few individuals and any other youths from the opposition to ruin the peace this country has enjoyed for the past one and half years.

Mr Banda has strongly condemned mushrooming of pockets of cadres taking handouts from people along freedom way.

The Youth Chairperson has appealed to all traders and drivers not to entertain such characters as that will help the trend to grow.

He has called upon law enforcers and the council to up their game and deal with individuals that are standing against presidential order.

“President Hakainde Hichilema has put Zambia on a world map and the achievement made has been necessitated by the restoration of rule of law, upholding of peace and order as well as creating an enabling environment for people to do business. Therefore, as a youth leader, I promise that UPND will not entertain cadres in trading places” said Banda.

Mr Banda said that President Hichilema has set the bar so high for any future president of Zambia and other government leaders.

Meanwhile, Banda has also commended the president Hakainde Hichilema’s good leadership of consistently engaging the media in plight to keep people informed on current affairs.

“President Hichilema is walking the talk because he has so far fulfilled a good Number of promises even before reaching half of his tenure. And it is from this background that the president does not fear media but always engage them to outline the country’s development trajectory, said Banda.

Credit: UPND MEDIA TEAM

HH who ‘secretly talks’ to ECL versus HH, the hired cat that catches Zambian rats: A Summary Reflection on the Presidential Press Briefing for 19th May, 2023

By Dr Chris Zumani Zimba

After closely watching the Press Briefing by our Republican President, HH, l carefully picked the following issues:

1. He repeatedly said Zambians must like him because he is “the good cat that catches rats in the house”;

2. “ You may not like me, but l am the cat that catches the rats; you need me, don’t focus on the color of the cat whether blue, orange, white or black as long as it catches the rats”, he said;

3. To start with, l must commend our President (the cat) for creating time to address Zambians through the media; yes, a good cat must report to its hosts and update them on how many rats it has killed so far👏;

4. At this Press Briefing, our journalists openly confirmed that the Zambian cat talks too much and enjoys traveling in other houses around the village and does less work;

5. To me, this was honest, patriotic and courageous feedback for the Zambian cat to know and take note; free and fair performance appraisal for the hired cat;

6. The hosts and villagers were simply saying the cat is not catching enough rats as expected and the rats are now multiplying and tripling too fast and destroying house treasures and ornaments;

7. If the cat continues to believe that catching 2 or 3 rats per month is good job while the host want a cat that catches 2 to 5 rats per day since the house has thousands of rats, the cat risks eviction soon or later;

8. While the cat was proudly hired by the host to fix the rat problem, the cat must know that it is not the first nor the last to work in this house. Six other cats have worked here;

9. And it is important for cat to know this house has too many rats and previous hired cats 🐈 were killing rats at some supersonic speed. Some previous cats are still celebrated in this house for the job while done in comparison to the new cat;

10. Today, these hosts want the new cat to catch and kill all the rats in the health sector because Zambians are dying from too many rat bites, it’s a true crisis;

11. How many rats has the new hired Zambian cat killed in our hospitals and clinics so far? While the new cat could have employed doctors and nurses, there are no medicines to treat people and save their lives;

12. In the past, Zambians had hired cats who performed tremendously well in the health sector including building hospitals and clinics almost in a every district;

13. In the education sector, the new cat has done very well by killing many known rats such as abolishing school fees and doubling enrollment rates. Here, the new cat has worked very well. Just like decentralization policy is super on point although with some teething problems👌;

14. But the new cat must never celebrate merely visiting UNZA or CBU as any meaningful achievement at his level. The previous cats built UNZA, CBU, Hone, Mulungushi, Levy, Makasa, etc but never boasted in the house. The new cat is not the first one to introduce meal allowances at universities;

15. While the 20% partial NAPSA withdrawal is commendable, our new cat must know that this policy has backfired in South Africa;

16. In SA, there is now more poverty and vulnerability among such people than before as many merely danced the money and now curse the government;

17. While many Zambians want HH and ECL to openly meet, talk and reconcile as well as unity the country, our good cat missed to catch the rat and was talking about their ‘secret talks’ which happened before the birth of Jesus Christ. The hosts want true political reconciliation, dialogue and unity Your Excellency!

18. In this house called Zambia, the hired cat must be reminded that there are thousands and millions of rats waiting for its services; some rats are so big, some so deadly and indeed some are viciously dangerous;

19. In the mining sector, the cat has done zero killings of those big and fat rats. The KCM, Mopani issues and the big rats of tax holidays around mining investors are so annoying to everyone and may force the affected hosts to chase the cat in 2026;

20. Did the new Zambian cat say something on the flying of gay and lesbian flags by EU, US, Sweden, Finland, Germany, etc this week to celebrate homosexual day?

21. If our hired new cat missed this Western offensive and deadly rat, then the Zambian cat is in trouble and its days will be numbered in the house. The hosts want this rat caught and killed at once;

22. Generally, l have an impression that the cat 🐈‍⬛ does not understand the expectations of the hosts although the cat over promised to the hosts during job interviews and when entering the house;

23. So, the cat has forgotten that while it is catching rats, the rate at which it is doing the job is both worrisome and annoying to the hosts based on expectations;

24. Another problem is that, this specific cat seem to be liked and praised more by neighbors in the UK, US and France while being highly criticized by its hosts in Zambia for underperformance;

25. And the survival of the new cat in this house depends on the happiness and appraisal of Zambian hosts and has little or nothing to do with far neighbors overseas;

26. While 2026 seem far, our hired new cat must be reminded that the host is religiously monitoring and evaluating its performance without patience;

27. Next time, our hired cat must be informed that Zambians are not interested in graphs, statistics and mathematical analysis of GDP and inflation rates; that’s not the big rat they want the cat to kill in the house;

28. The main deadly rats the host want to be brutally caught and urgently killed by the cat is high cost of living, looming starvation and hunger, high fuel costs, high ZESCO and water bills, high dollar and Kwacha rates, high prices of mealie meal, maize, fertilizer and less circulation of money in the economy;

29. Our hired cat must know that IMF will not be the only and main solution to our debt crisis and economic malaise, it is a big hole the US and Europeans have made to trap and kill our cat and it’s hosts economically;

30. Therefore, let’s all remind and help our new hired cat to catch the most dangerous and wanted rat; don’t put rat killer poison for now because we have hired a new cat;

31. Look, getting bigger shares in the mines and levying the right taxes on our minerals and underground mining resources must be a policy position our hired cat must prioritize to catch and kill most rates; and

32. Zambians hired this cat to catch and root out these rats each day as they are in thousands and millions in the house. And the cat must know that its hosts called voters are so slippery, highly moody and dangerously unreliable.

Dr Chris ZUMANI Zimba is a Political Scientist, Researcher, Author & Consultant specialized in Comparative Global Governance and Democratic Theories. He holds a PhD, MA, BA and Cert in Political Science. Zimba was President Lungu’s Political Advisor from December 2019 to August 2021.

PF UPSET WITH VICTIMIZATION OF CIVIL SERVANTS

…….. as leader of the opposition in Parliament Brian Mundubile says his party stands ready to defend government employees being victimised…..

Kelvin Sichizya

May 19, 2023 – Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has vowed to defend civil Servants being victimized by UPND cadres

Referring to a recent fracas caused by UPND cares who stormed Lundazi hospital where a Member of Parliament was making a donation to the hospital, where a Medical officer ended up being the victim, Mr. Mundubile said the PF would not tolerate such Cadreism but would ensure it defends such civil Servants at all costs.

The PF Presidential Candidate who is also Mporokoso Cntral Member of Parliament was speaking on Kasama Radio and broadcast on 4 other radio stations in Mpulungu and Mporokoso

He said UPND cadres in the civil service had taken to threatening people and thereby making their lives difficult which he said would not be allowed to continue.

Meanwhile Mr. Mundubile says Zambians should tighten their belts as most of them were likely to face severe hunger following a reduction in the crop production this season

He said the fact that the UPND government was offering K280 for a 50kg bag of maize from K180 last season was an indication that there was insufficient maize in the country.

The opposition leader says late delivery of fertilizer whose quality was also questionable could not assure Zambians of increased production this season

And the former ruling Party is said to be getting set for its convention to elect its Party President soon.

Leader of the opposition in Parliament and one of the Presidential aspirants Brain Mundubile assured party members in Northern Province when he addressed the matter on 4 radio stations on Wednesday night

Mr. Mundubile explained that the PF could not to go ahead with the convention under its current party constitution which was going to defranchise a number of candidates but had decided to amend it.

He said the process had almost been completed and that the convention would be called soon.

He also said the former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu who was being persecuted had infact quit active politics and was waiting to handover to the Party leader who would be elected.