By Mwansa Chalwe Snr

Zambia’s economic recovery program is based on an IMF deal and the restructuring of the country’s $17.3 billion debt. There is no question that Zambia’s debt restructuring talks are not going on as well as was expected. The deal has been delayed, and the target of 2022 year end for the signing of the non-legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Zambia and the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) members, has been missed. And already, the delay is affecting the country’s currency. The Kwacha has been depreciating against the dollar almost every day for two months now. And it is at its weakest in nearly a year as talks drag on with no end in sight.

There is already some finger pointing between the West and China. Their rivalry is on public display, which is not beneficial to Zambia at all. Both the US Secretary of Treasury and the World Bank President have blamed China for the delay in the talks.

During her recent visit to Zambia, the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged Zambia’s creditors to work quickly to restructure the country’s debts, and accused China of obstructing the deal.

“It’s critically important to address it right away,” Yellen told the Press in Lusaka. “It’s taken far too long already to resolve this matter. I am encouraged that progress may become possible shortly. I know that the Chinese have been a barrier to concluding the negotiations.”

The Head of the World Bank, David Malpass, was in agreement with Janet Yellen. He also accused China of delaying Zambia’s restructuring, and asked them to stop making unfeasible demands.

“China is asking lots of questions in the Creditors’ Committees, and that causes delays, that strings out the process,” He said in an interview with Bloomberg News. “It’s important for them to be focused on getting to an actual debt restructuring where the burden can be lightened for Zambia.”

The Chinese Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia, on the other hand, has accused Washington of meddling in the restructuring talks of a Sovereign State and in the process risking the success of the talks.

“The biggest contribution that the U.S. can make to the debt issues outside the country is to act on responsible monetary policies, cope with its own debt problem, and stop sabotaging other sovereign countries’ active efforts to solve their debt issues ,” The Embassy Statement said. “For Zambia’s debt related to China, China has been active in co-chairing Zambia’s Official Creditor’s Committee under the G20 Common Framework and working hard with other parties to seek a sustainable solution in line with the principle of common actions and fair burden-sharing. China’s efforts have made some positive progress. We look forward to U.S.’s constructive role in the process.”

The reality on the ground is that Zambia’s debt restructuring talks with creditors are very complex. In order to understand why there are delays, one requires some knowledge of the variables at play.

WHAT ZAMBIA DEBT RESTRUCTURING ENTAILS

The pandemic increased the risks of emerging economies defaulting on their debt, and so the G20 devised the “Common Framework for Debt Treatment” in 2020 which included China so that it could participate in international debt-relief negotiations. Zambia was the first country to apply for the Common Framework Program in February, 2021.And after clinching $1.3billion deal with IMF in December, 2021, the IMF asked bilateral and private lenders of Zambia to restructure its debt.

In simple terms, as part of the debt restructuring process, Zambia is asking bi-lateral and commercial lenders to consider the following: cancel US$8.4 billion between 2022 and 2025 as per IMF recommendation, extend repayment periods, get rid of penalties on arrears and reduce in interest.

WHY IS ZAMBIA’S DEBT RESTRUCTRURING DEAL DELAYED?

Zambia’s first Official Creditors Committee (OCC) meeting was in June, 2022 with China and France as Co-Chairs, but progress of the talks since then, has been very slow, and the end of year (2022) target for signing an MOU was missed.

The number one factor which has contributed to the delay of the deal, is that Zambia borrowed from a multiplicity of lenders which makes the deal complex and difficult to come to some agreement. The portfolio of lenders according to the Ministry of finance include the following: official bilateral creditors (15 percent), multilateral (11.5 percent), Eurobond investors (11.7 percent), non-bonded commercial lenders (11.4 percent) and Chinese commercial and state-owned lenders (about 30%). In the 5 years from 2012 to 2016, Zambia contracted 72 loans worth $9.6 billion, with $3 billion Euro-bonds. The others were with the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, Banks in India, South Africa, the Arab World, Bank of China, Chinese Exim bank, Chinese development bank.

The second factor is that China is new to international debt restructuring, and so it has been on a learning curve, whereas the Paris Club of Official bilateral creditors has taken years to develop their debt relief processes. Zambia’s debt restructuring negotiations have challenged the Chinese lending model. China is not in the habit of cancelling concession or commercial loans but prefers lengthening repayment periods and varying interest rates but the G20 Common Framework demands haircuts.

The third factor for the delay is the fact that Zambia’s debt restructuring negotiations have far reaching implications for the many players involved, and to be affected. Zambia is the first applicant to the Common Framework, which means that it could be used as a template for future debt restructuring. The consequences of whatever comes out of the Zambia restructuring talks, makes it bigger than just a single country deal. China in particular, is concerned that after lending an estimated hundreds of billions to African countries – $125 Billion between 2006 to 2016- in the last two decades, she does not want to set a precedent where it will face numerous demands to cancel debts.

There is another important factor that is being underplayed in the debate and analysis of the reasons for the delay in concluding the deal. The delay in the negotiations is mainly influenced by the stealth economic and diplomatic “war” that is going on between China and the West, which this Author wrote about two years ago. It is only the naïve, who don’t understand 21st Century geo-politics, who can think that China’s current behaviour at the OCC restructuring talks is not influenced by Zambia’s perceived change of foreign policy. The overarching reason for the delay of the deal, is the geo-political and economic rivalry between the West and China, with China flexing its muscles to delay.

As for the nature of the deal, what has clearly come out from observing the restructuring talks from a distance, is that, the deal that is likely to emerge is not what the IMF, World Bank and the Parish Club originally envisaged, nor what Zambia and the public expected. The expectation was a deal on similar lines like the 2000s Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and the Multilateral Debt Relief (MDR) programmes from which Zambia benefited. It is very apparent from the available information that China has had its way in the Zambian restructuring talks with other OCC members. China has always insisted on bilateral negotiations with debtor countries instead of participating in multilateral restructuring efforts. Zambia will, therefore, have to bilaterally negotiate with China for any binding restructuring deal, rather than the one imposed by the Bretton Woods institutions and the Paris Club. The current talks will not result in any binding agreement. The process that has been agreed upon in principle, is that Zambia and the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) will sign a legally non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which will set out the key parameters of Zambia’s debt restructuring terms. Thereafter, Zambia will start bilateral negotiations with each of the official creditors for restructuring deals, while concurrently negotiating with private sector creditors as well.

HOW ZAMBIA CAN FAST TRACK DEBT DEAL

At the moment, the signing of the MOU is pending due to some seemingly inexplicable delaying tactics and changing of goal posts by China, through some unfeasible demands. And if the MOU is to be signed before the end of March, 2023 (first quarter), when the next review of Zambia’s IMF programme is due, then Zambia would need to immediately directly engage China at the highest level.

The majority of experts on Zambia-China relations argue that the most effective strategy to speed up Zambia’s debt restructuring deal is an urgent face to face meeting between President Hakainde Hichilema and President Xi Jin Ping. The Zambian President’s State Visit to China and a meeting with President Xi, is the single most important act that can unlock Zambia’s debt restructuring deal. The visit will remove the current wrong perception that Zambia has abandoned our forefathers’ tried and tested foreign policy of non-alignment. Zambians should not be naïve to think that the IMF, World Bank and the USA will deliver the debt restructuring deal on their own in good time.

The purpose of the visit should be anchored and couched in the recalibration of Zambia and China’s relationship following the change of leadership in Zambia. The suggested meeting should be about the pursuit of common interests which can help Zambia solve its economic problems and accelerate its economic growth through better utilization of the huge Chinese market and Zambia’s huge agriculture and natural resource potential. As part of the recalibration process, China could be asked to help Zambia with its fight against corruption and strategies to mitigate adverse effects of climate change. China could then be asked for help with the elephant in the room – the Common Framework and Debt Restructuring deal. READ MORE:http://www.lusakatimes.com/2021/07/27/zambia-china-economic-ties-need-recalibration/

It is very apparent that some of the demands that China has been making at the debt restructuring talks are part of the West – China rivalry, in which Zambia is a mere pawn. Among the key demands that China is making are the following: One, Beijing wants multilateral development banks like IMF and World Bank to take losses in the restructuring process ; two, China is requesting Zambia’s local currency debt held by foreigners to be included in the deal, but experts say reworking the local debt is not feasible. Zambia has to lobby China to drop these impossible demands.

The recent experience of Australia in dealing with China, has demonstrated the power of face to face meetings. Zambia can learn from it. The meeting between the new Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the side-lines of the G20 meeting in Indonesia, resulted in the start of the process of unlocking the $20 billion Chinese trade sanctions. China imposed export sanctions on Australian exports of coal, wine, beef, seafood, barley which cost Australia $13 billion a year and loss of jobs and tax revenue. Bilateral relations soured after Australian’s former Prime Minister Scott Morrison demanded an independent investigations on origins of the pandemic in 2020; and the same year, China imposed crippling sanctions on Australia.

US COOPERATION AND NOT CONFRONTATION

The second strategy that should be used to ensure the restructuring deal is sped up, involves the United States of America. If indeed the USA wants to help Zambia, they should adopt a strategy of cooperation with China and not confrontation. China under President Xi Jinping, is now a more assertive and coercive country. China is now an economic super power, who cannot easily be bullied and pushed around. It demands respect commensurate with its economic, diplomatic, political, technological and military power in international affairs. It is, therefore, in the best interests of the Zambian restructuring deal, if the USA adopted a non-confrontation and diplomatic approach in dealing with China.

There has been some disquiet in some Zambian circles about the apparent impression and perception that has been created, that Zambia has impliedly outsourced lobbying for the debt deal with China to USA and Institutions like IMF and World Bank. The Zambia China Friendship Association in a rare statement, expressed its concern about the USA’s apparent meddling in Zambia – China relationship.
“Zambia is a sovereign state which does not need another government to speak for it, particularly where China is concerned. In case, some people have forgotten, the relationship between China and Zambia has a long history of mutual solidarity which successive Zambian leaders, including the New Dawn Administration of President Hakainde Hichilema, have acknowledged. If it is felt that there is a glitch in resolving the debt restructuring issue, there is nothing stopping the Zambian authorities to engage their Chinese counterparts at the highest level to smoothen the path. We are confident that the Zambian government is well aware of this option and we would be surprised if they are not utilizing it,” The Zambia China Friendship Association (ZCFA) said in a Statement by Dr. Fredrick Mutesa.

CHINA’S ECONOMIC POWER

In order to put Chinese economic power in context, it is important to note that China has billions worth of trade and investment relationship with countries in Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. China, for example, is Australia’s biggest trading Partner. It accounts for 32 per cent of Australian exports which amounts to $153.2 billion; Japan with $296.9 billion; India with $77.7 billion, Brazil with $67.7 billion; German with $256.7 billion trade volume. In terms of its financial muscle, China’s two major policy banks: China Development Bank (CDB) and the China Exim Bank (China Exim) are among the major development finance institutions in the world, and have made China become the largest source of official development finance in the World. The China Development Bank has a balance sheet of more than US$2.4 trillion as at the end of 2017. China has lent the World USD2.2 trillion which is 14 per cent of its GDP. These numbers gives China huge leverage on most countries in their decision making process and creates a certain level of dependence due to the volumes that China generates. The U.S cannot compete with the aforementioned numbers.

CONCLUSION

There is empirical evidence to support the assertion that Zambia’s relationship with the USA and China is not an either or situation. Zambia needs both countries.

“Zambia’s economic relationship with both China and the U.S. is not zero-sum, as both countries make meaningful contributions to Zambia’s economic growth. Zambia has to leverage its relations with the two economic powers in order to achieve synergy,” Major Mubita Oliver Mubita wrote in his Masters of Military Art and Science degree thesis, for the Faculty of the US Army Command and General Staff College.

The Zambia -USA relationship is anchored on improvement of health, education, economic development and democratic governance for the people of Zambia, whereas that with China’s has been based on trade partnership, source of investments and development finance for infrastructure development.

The consequences of failure of the debt restructuring deal, are too ghastly to contemplate. The economic recovery and the Presidency of HH largely depend on its success. If the talks fail, Zambia will struggle to pay its debt, unable to free up resources for social spending (health, education and poverty programs); and unable to attract investors, finance to help improve the economy. There will be higher youth unemployment, increased poverty levels and a higher risk of political instability.

The Zambian government needs to act now, by taking necessary steps that are required to consummate the deal. The time for depending on the West for this deal to is long gone. The answer to finalizing the restructuring of Zambia’s debt lies in the East. Timing and urgency is of essence.

The writer is a Chartered Accountant, Author and an independent financial commentator and analyst. He is also an Op-Ed Contributor to the Hong Kong based, South China Morning Post (SCMP) and Author of: “China-West Battleground in Africa: Debt Ridden Zambia”, which is available on Amazon.com (Contact: pmchalwe@gmail.com).

STUDENT LEADERS SPEAK AGAINST TRIBALISM

STUDENT Union leaders from the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Evelyn Hone College stood as one and spoke in unison to urge political leaders to desist from promoting tribalism and other activities that will divide the national and hinder national development.

The student leaders have also disclosed plans of developing a national movement in order to curb tribalism and and threats to the nations unity.

UNZA Student Union vice president Evelyn Mkandawire said youths are concerned about the divisive nature likely to disrupt the country’s “One Zambia, one nation motto”

She further called on youths to join the anti-tribalism movement and become action oriented to work with leaders on best ways to develop the country rather than “criticising and support things that will not move this country forward.”

Evelyn Hone College President Reagan Mpundu said there are political leaders that are trying to take advantage of the transfer of Former Presidential spokesperson Anthony to Tanzania as deputy high commissioner by insinuating that he was transferred due to his tribe so that they can gain political milage.

“We will in the next few days petition the head of state over the need for law to be strengthened against those who preach tribalism,” Mpundu added.

And UNZASU academic minister Josephat Nyirongo said if their is political instability in the country, young people are more vulnerable to political instability, hence leaders should play clean politics so that the youths could also emulate them.

Nyirongo therefore urged the public to reject and condemn any political leader that wants to sow the seed of division.

Meanwhile UNZASU information minister Sydney Mushili urged Government to intensify and work around the clock to curb their past and present corruption.

And UNZASU minister of finance Ndanji Mfula commended Government for providing and open civil space where youths can air out their views and for the opportunities they have provided this far.

HH HAS INSTRUCTED POLICE TO LOCK ME UP – KAMBWILI

Opposition PF presidential candidate Chishimba Kambwili has accused President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) of having instructed the Police to lock him up.

And Kambwili has revealed that President Hichilema has called him twice threatening him of being arrested.

Kambwili in a live address this evening on his Facebook page monitored by Zambian Eye said the police were looking for him today.

He said the police has a call out for him but didn’t find him at home for him to report at the Police Headquarters tomorrow.

Kambwili said President Hichilema is now using the police to intimidate his political opponent. He said the police are under instructions to arrest him and keep him in custody without taking him to court just like Chilufya Tayali.

The PF Vocal leader says President Hichilema is accusing him of promoting tribalism. He revealed that President Hichilema telephones him Friday night but he missed his call. He explained that President Hichilema then left a message on his phone that he hopes he knows that promoting tribalism is a crime.

Kambwili explained that he then telephoned President Hichilema challenged him to explain on his allegations in a telephone call that last for 45 minutes. He said President Hichilema referred to Simon Mwewa’s video where he was accusing Kambwili of promoting tribalism.

He said he explained to President Hichilema that he had actually condemned the people that were chanting tribal remarks when they visited his house. He challenged the President to watch the footage.

Kambwili said at the end President Hichilema agreed that it was a misunderstanding. This was after President Hichilema also brought the run upto 2021 elections campaign where he accused Kambwili of having campaigning against voting for a Tonga person for the presidency.

He said he explained that what he was campaigning against was the voting pattern of the people of Southern province.

Kambwili he was today surprised that the Police were after him saying it was clear they were under instructions from President Hichilema.

He said the first time President Hichilema telephoned him and threatened that he would in problems he may fail to come out over his stance on AFRICOM.

Kambwili said it is clear President Hichilema was trying to intimidate him. He vowed to never to stop talking and dared the police to arrest him.

He said he had been arrested over 16 times and at one time jailed for 18 days. He said he was ready to meet Hichilema in court.

Zambian Eye,

HH, Musokotwane, IMF and the West: fooling poor Zambians as they organise the foreign plunder of our country and its people

By Azwell Banda

When he was in Davos at the World Economic Forum where he was representing President Hakainde Hichilema, our Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane gushed with self-importance and satisfaction at the fact that Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, would be visiting Zambia.

Musokotwane made it very clear that the very busy IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva would not waste time visiting Zambia if Zambia was “not doing the right thing”. Musokotwane said high profile personalities would continue to visit Zambia because, once again, Zambia has progressive and bright prospects for cooperation and economic transformation. We have since hosted Kristalina Georgieva and of course US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen. These are indeed two of some of the very powerful women in the world today. Both are extremely important to the global capitalist finance system. They share the responsibility of ensuring the global financial system is stable, healthy, and that nation states, banks, money and profit mongers all behave in ways that sustain private accumulation of money and wealth, especially for US big corporations.

Situmbeko Musokotwane is therefore right in a sort of perverted sick sense: Hakainde Hichilema, Musokotwane and the UPND government, for the first time in the history of Zambia, are openly for, and advance the interests of banks, money and profit mongers above all else. They are doing everything they can to make Zambia “attractive” to foreign money, something they share in common with Janet Yellen and Kristalina Georgieva. They are doing “the right thing”.

Unashamedly and in the presence of the media, Musokotwane perfectly explained the essence of the UPND “economic policy” when he was welcoming US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen:

“It is our wish that investors come. I want to appeal to you that in the manner of cooperation, what I am saying means that we reduce gradually, the issue of begging and giving, and promote the issue of investment, self-reliance and so forth. So we hope we can convince the American corporations and American investors to look at the positive strides that are being made in this country to come and take advantage of the profit opportunities,” Musokotwane said. “We want companies that come here to make profits because if they do not make profits, they cannot sustain jobs, they cannot pay taxes, they cannot be useful to us. So, tell them out there that in Zambia there are opportunities for making big money and then they must pay some tax. The amount of money they will make in profits exceeds the taxes they will have to pay.”

Musokotwane, feeling very proud of himself, obviously. There were a few chuckles at this blunt appeal for foreign money to come and loot and plunder us. As I watched this extremely humiliating performance by Situmbeko Musokotwane in front of an individual responsible for the world’s largest and most rapacious armed capitalist economy and state on earth, I cringed inside myself at the naivety of the grovelling and self-ingratiating quality of the performance by our Minister of Finance and National Planning. Janet Yellen knows the history of US slavery, the struggle to nearly exterminate native Americans, the American Civil War, US colonialism and how inevitably the racist US capitalist class grew to produce some of the world’s most cunning, ruthless, exploitative capitalists and oligarchies who have sustained the US as the world’s economic and military nuclear supper power.

True American rapacious capitalists do not need a petty lecture from Zambia conveyed to them through Janet Yellen, to decide whether Zambia was ripe for their financial invasion! Besides, Janet Yellen, the US Embassy, USAID office in Zambia, US AFRICOM Office, the IMF and World Bank and the bevy of US spies and their friends in Zambia know far more about Zambia than Situmbeko Musokotwane ever will, actually!

We have been here before, like a lonely aging male or female prostitute out in the cold night of Lusaka streets in June, hoping that a sex buyer will see the prostitute’s offerings and choose him or her, in a street clogged with other younger, more attractive prostitutes. All the while, the prostitute is fully aware how precarious, dangerous, unpredictable and thoroughly unreliable the trade of prostitution is. There are bad and good days, mostly bad, these days. The children and other dependents at home depend absolutely on the fortuitous whims of those who pay for, and consume, the services of prostitutes to eat, have a place to sleep and hopefully children continue going to school too.

In this day and age, as major world geopolitical and economic changes take place, amidst the most obvious signs of the terminal collapse of the global capitalist system as we have known it, no sane politician in any government can rely on phantom, fictitious foreign “investors” especially from the US, to pull an impoverished country such as Zambia is, out of its poverty, and to develop it. HH, Musokotwane and the UPND leadership are completely out of sync with the global economic and political tectonic shifts currently under way. Done, Musokotwane sat back in his chair, quite exhausted, but happy he had done a great job, and listened to the very brief response from Janet Yellen!

Both HH and Musokotwane lamented and begged these two very powerful women to get the stalled Zambian debt restructuring process “unlocked” and concluded expeditiously, as this was holding back the expected influx of foreign money for private profits, into Zambia. Hakainde Hichilema moaned that the delays in concluding the debt negotiation processes threaten to undo the “stabilisation” work his government has secured so far. Both HH and Musokotwane know and made it very clear to these two powerful women in the world of global capitalism that Zambia has done everything it was supposed to do, and was now waiting for others to do their bits.

Both powerful women made inconsequential noises to get our creditors to move a little bit fast, and get done what needs to be done, for Zambia to get the debt relief it is begging for, by punishing poor Zambians with severe austerity measures.

The bitter truth is no one on earth today can command our complex composition of creditors to quickly take a haircut and lose some of their anticipated massive profits on the money Zambia borrowed, and set another precedence that a poor country can somehow, under the supervision of the IMF, escape paying its full debt, that easily. Again the naivety, all round, of such an assumption is breath taking, especially in the current problematic global economic and political environment. This explains why Zambia is almost alone on this chaotic debt restructuring “programme”. Many countries are watching us, and hoping to learn vital lessons from our very green and naïve politicians, in the UPND government.

A pathetic effort was made to humanise the IMF, sanitise it, and distort Zambia’s relationship to the IMF and our history with it, especially by Hakainde Hichilema and Kristalina Georgieva herself. In classic lying HH form, Hakainde strained himself to persuade Zambia that it is a misconception to think that the IMF is a difficult organisation, that it does not help countries to succeed, that the IMF is actually not a “foreign” organisation, that it is not an entity owned by certain people. This man deserves an Olympic Gold Medal for distorting reality, for lying! HH says we own the IMF. He says the IMF is our creation. The IMF works for us. Unbelievable! HH lives on another planet, as yet undiscovered.

Zambia has an insignificant share in the IMF, around 0.22 per cent, which means its votes virtually count for nothing, which is why it is none other than the current General Secretary of the UN who has called for reforming the IMF and other global financial organisations similar to it, because they are controlled by a few powerful countries to the great detriment of consciously impoverished and underdeveloped countries such as Zambia. The US in fact has effectively the power of veto on all major decisions of both the IMF and World Bank.

But it is the deliberate ignoring, distortion and sanitisation of our history with the IMF which perfectly confirms whose interests HH and his UPND government are serving: global money mongers and private profiteers, and therefore the IMF which regulates their financial conduct! The IMF is also responsible for our historic poverty levels. This evidence is all over the internet.

Zambians who care to know and truly love Zambia must ask whether they want to continue to pretend that in HH and the UPND we have a genuine Zambian government!

Comments to: banda.azwell@gmail.com.

K180 PER 25KG BAG OF ROLLER MEAL IS NOT CHEAP
….very soon, we will be told to start using bicycles because fuel is expensive – PF
Lusaka, Tuesday, January 31, 2023 ( Smart Eagles )
Soon we will be told by the UPND Government to start using bicycles because fuel is expensive, Patriotic Front Acting President Given Lubinda has said.

Hon Lubinda said this in reaction to the Vice President’s statement encouraging Zambians to start eating roller meal because it is more affordable than Breakfast Mealie Meal.
He said the New Dawn Government must stop playing with the Minds of the Zambian people who would want to see a drop in the prices of the commodities.

Hon Lubinda said Roller Meal is still expensive as it was K110 as at August, 2021 but has skyrocketed to K180.
He has described the response as a Simplistic approach of the UPND government to the vexing challenges of the ever-increasing cost of living.

“Vice president Mutale Nalumango has told us that those of us who cannot afford the price of breakfast mealie meal should resort to eating roller meal because it is cheaper adding that by the way it is also more nutritious, This is the simplistic approach of the upnd government to the vexing challenges of the ever-increasing cost of living.

“As at august 2021 the average cost of a bag of breakfast mealie meal was k 135 and that of a bag of roller meal was k110. As of today, breakfast is selling at k 240 per bag whereas roller meal is selling at k 180,” he says.

He said as far as the new dawn regime is concerned, the fact that people cannot afford the cost of electricity then they should shift to charcoal for cooking and paraffin lanterns – (koloboyi) – for lighting.

Hon Lubinda said it would not be surprising for the current Government to encourage people to consult diviners and bush doctors because people cannot afford to buy medicine.

‘‘This unfortunately is what we have ended up with when Zambians voted for people who claimed to be angels. We have fixers who have turned out to be mixers – dribblers who have no clue about governance. These are the same people who have told us that they are increasing commodity prices so that they can come and reduce them late,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Hon Lubinda said while Zambians are being subjected to wallowing poverty, President Hakainde has decided that he shall work from outside Zambia and only be in Zambia when he is transiting from one country to the other.

“He will only be in Zambia to change suitcases. Since being elected 17 months ago he has made 31 foreign trips and has only attracted 2.5 billion dollars we are told by one of his advisors. This is almost two trips per month. He is the one who promised that he was to run a frugal government yet only 7 foreign heads of state have made bilateral state visits to Zambia.. ,” he said.

LEND ME ZAMBIA FOR 3 MONTHS AS HEAD OF STATE

….and I would do wonders – Lusambo

Lusaka, Tuesday, January 31, 2023 ( Smart Eagles )

Banking on his massive ministerial successes, former Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces Minister Hon. Bowman Chilosha Lusambo has implored President Hakainde Hichilema to lend him three months as the Head of State.

Hon Lusambo is optimistic that in the three months that he has asked for, he would do wonders for majority citizens.

The former Minister boasted of his managerial skills when president Edgar Lungu appointed him as Copperbelt Minister and eventually Lusaka Province Minister.

His call on the Head of State to lend him three months follows the escalated cost of living, which is contrary to what President Hichilema promised the citizens prior to the 2021 general elections.

The majority Zambians who bought the campaign promises premised on fixing the economy are now living in abject poverty.

The President seems to be doubling the things that he condemned in the PF as seem from the many foreign trips that he has so far done with little economic bearing.

Due to his love for self-praise and less actions, some stakeholders have insinuated that the “methodical” President Hichilema would have made a good lecturer.

And Hon Lusambo made a call in question when he featured on 5FM’s “Burning Issues” program today.

“So ndefwayako ba President ba Hakainde banjashimeko Ichalo for three months. Three months ukunjashimako Ichalo as President. Nga babwela three months bakesa njeba ati Bowman twalilila, nauchishungulusha Ichalo, bonse imwe kuti muletota fye. President Lungu gave me Copperbelt Province, the heart of the economy of this country when it was very critical. I went there, I turned the province around. The boss came, he looked at me and laughed. He brought me here in Lusaka,” he said.

“Ba Chief Justice, Irene Mambalilima (the late) called me and said Bowman, I was very excited when I heard that you have been transferred into Lusaka, I was jumping. I knew that Lusaka will now change. I told her that I would try. We turned Lusaka around. Zambia is about Lusaka and Copperbelt.”

Meanwhile, Hon Lusambo indicated that due to the fact that he managed Copperbelt and Lusaka Province which he said were key provinces in the country’s development, he cannot fail to take care of the country.

“If I managed Lusaka and Copperbelt I can’t fail to run this country, bufi sana. Ubufi ubukulu sana. These two provinces are critical to the governance system of this country. I managed. That is why ba president Edgar Changwa Lungu balinsunga for five years. Ba president Edgar Lungu balentuma ine ku China, nabanandi. Kabiyeni, kasambilileniko nafimbi. Twabwela, twaisa mukuchita implement,” he said.

“2021 or 2022, we were supposed to be in #Russia because the Russian Federal Government invited Lusaka Province and other to go to Russia. The cooperative program that you are seeing was initiated by Russia. It will never work in Zambia unless we train our people and we can only train them from Russia. Even Kaunda copied this concept from Russia.”

Kamwendo Munjila- When the important trip comes along, no one appreciates it

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

President Hakainde Hichilema has undertaken over 30 trips in 16 months.

Just in January 2023 alone, President Hichilema took trips to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Luanda, Angola, and Dakar, Senegal.

He was just fresh from returning from the USA-African Leadership Summit hosted by President Joe Biden and held in Washington USA.

The trouble with taking every trip that you are invited to and fail to delegate is, when the trip of importance that the President can’t miss comes along, no one will appreciate or understand its significance or importance.

He just appears to be a Kamwendo Munjila!

President Hichilema is the Incoming Chairperson of the SADC Organ and he will be taking over from South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.

Namibia is hosting the Extraordinary SADC Organ Troika Summit.

The gathering started with a meeting of senior government officials, and was followed by ministers.

The Organs’ Incoming Chairperson and Outgoing Chairperson are expected to present their reports at the summit

There are secuirty concerns in Eastern DRC/Rwanda, and continued insecurities in Cabo Delgado in Northern Mozambique.

Further political tensions are rising in Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Madagascar and the DRC which countries have elections due this year.

The region is also facing storms, droughts and floods and has affected food security and energy security and many countries are facing the worst period of electricity load-shedding that may threaten economic and industrial growth.

Therefore an emergency summit has been called to discuss issues relating to politics and the security situation in the region.

King Mswati III has delegated the trip. In his place will be the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, who will deliver a report on the security situation in Eswatini.

The SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation was established in 2001 as an Institution responsible for promoting peace and security in the regionIt is managed on a Troika basis and is coordinated at the level of Summit, consisting of a Chairperson.

SADC is a Regional Economic Community comprising 17 member states in Southern Africa.

CONCLUSION

As Incoming Troika Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security,this is meeting Zambia and President Hichilema must attend.

But becuase he has previously undertaken trips that he should have skipped or delegated, few appreciate his frequent foreign visits, especially with an economy in dire straits and a people facing the highest cost of living witnessed so far.

Should Tribe Be The Talk Whenever Someone From The Northern Block Gets Fired Or Redeployed To Somewhere Else?

By Mwiba E. Mwiba

A Good Governance and Disability Rights Activist

SHOULD TRIBE BE THE TALK WHENEVER SOMEONE FROM THE NORTHERN BLOCK GETS FIRED OR REDEPLOYED TO SOMEWHERE ELSE?

It is really sad that most politicians in Zambia have for a long time been using the notion of tribe to advance their political agenda. What makes it even more sad is that these political leaders are very much aware of how tribalism can be deadly to a society, but they decide to have it as a tool to advance their political interests.

It is a well known fact of how the immediate past government, the Patriotic Front, sidelined other ethnic groups in the appointment of ministers, permanent secretaries and other senior government officials.

Even then, when the Patriotic Front was in government, its senior government officials peddled lies of the dangers that would come with the ushering in of the United Party for National Development into government. They de-campaigned the main opposition political party on tribal lines, without considering how so much unfair they were in their political appointments, where over 90% of government appointments were drawn from the northern block.

Against all odds, the United Party for National Development was ushered into office by the Zambian people. This brought in some fresh air never experienced in the country’s political space in a decade of the PF being in government. Among them was that ministers, permanent secretaries, commissioners and other senior government officials appointed were drawn from across the ten provinces of the Republic of Zambia.

The foregoing assertion is going to be substantiated with some practical example of those who were appointed in different government institutions. This is because a well balanced appointment of cabinet ministers is there for every Zambian citizen to see and judge for themselves.

When the Republican President, Hakainde HICHILEMA appointed Gilbert phiri as Director General of the Anti-corruption Commission, before being appointed as Director of Public Prosecution, none of these opposition political party leaders congratulated him on his appointment.

When Mary Chirwa was appointed Director of the Financial Intelligence Centre before being appointed Director General of the Drug Enforcement Commission, they were quiet. None of them commended the President for having recognised Mary Chirwa’s hard-working character through that appointment. Instead they tried to bring her down through propaganda.

When Dingani Banda was appointed as Commissioner General of the Zambia Revenue Authority, none of the opposition political leaders congratulated him for his well deserved appointment.

Patrick Kangwa was recently appointed as Secretary to Cabinet. This was a man who worked with the former government, the Patriotic Front. Even then, the Republican President overlooked that and decided to work with him. None of those accusing the government of being tribal have so far congratulated the highly experienced man for his well deserved appointment.

When Chileshe Kangwa and Chama Fumba, alias Pilato, were appointed as Permanent Secretaries for the Ministry of Sports and Arts, in spite of the two men’s vast experience in the arts industry, the people who today are labeling this government being tribal could not congratulate them for their deserved appointment. They were quiet.

When Moses Jere was appointed as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, they were quiet, not even one congratulated him.

When Elias Munshya, who is Ushi, was appointed as High Commissioner to Australia they were quiet. This is one man with a very rich curriculum vitae. None of them congratulated him for his well deserved appointment.

The foregoing examples and many others not mentioned did not attract any positive comment from the opposition political parties.

So now the question is, should the talk only be there when someone from the southern block is appointed or when someone from the northern block is redeployed or demoted?

Should the talk only be there when someone from the northern block is being investigated by the Law Enforcement Agencies for corrupt practices? This already shows how tribal those advancing this narrative are.

We really feel for the youth, the future leaders of this country because very few of today’s politicians are worthy drawing inspiration from. Very few of them have the interest of this country in their hearts.

We would like to state, in conclusion, that the opposition political parties should offer credible checks and balances to the government. They should desist from spreading information meant to divide the people of this country. We encourage them to move beyond tribal lines in their politics, as this is not adding value to the country’s political space. If this will help, let them take a break from active politics so that they can go and have an introspection of themselves. Let them go and reflect the kind of Zambia they would want to leave behind for their children. Maybe that quiet moment will help them come back as inspiring figures to the young men and women of this country.

MINISTER, ZESCO BOARD CHAIR DIFFER – as Energy expert calls on President Hichilema to discipline Minister of Energy Peter Kapala and Zesco Board Chairperson Vickson Ncube

Energy expert Victor Hazemba has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to discipline Minister of Energy Peter Kapala and Zesco board chairman, Vickson Ncube for presenting contradictory statements over load shedding.

Mr Hazemba said it is worrisome that on one hand, Mr Kapala was insisting that President Hichilema was not misled on the status of load shedding and on the other, Mr Ncube had vicariously apologized to the nation for misleading the Head of State.

He said in an interview that the continued confusion in the energy sector was embarrassing to the Head of State and the new dawn government.

Mr Hazemba said President Hichilema should take action against Mr Kapala and Mr Ncube for misleading him over the energy deficit.
He warned that failure by Mr Hichilema to take action against Mr Kapala and Mr Ncube would result in Zambians losing confidence in the new dawn administration and make it difficult for citizens to believe any future government assurances.

Speaking when he featured on Hot FM radio recently, Mr Kapala is reported as having said it is unfortunate that Mr Ncube decided to apologise to Zambians and President Hakainde Hichilema over load shedding because the head of State was given accurate information about the load shedding the country has been experiencing.

Mr Kapala said President Hichilema was not misled over the status of electricity deficit the country was experiencing and that the head of State’s assurance to Zambians that load shedding had ended was based on accurate electricity generation capacity.

“The President (Hichilema) was not misled and he was told the facts that the country produces over 3000 megawatts but 80 percent of this is hydro generated. This means that we depend on water. It is unfortunate that the Zesco board chairman (Victor Ncube) apologized because the President was not misled. He (President Hichilema) was given correct information on which he had based his assurance to Zambians that load shedding had ended,” Mr Kapala said.
He said President Hichilema was not misled over the status of electricity deficit the country was experiencing and that the head of State’s assurance to Zambians that load shedding had ended was based on accurate electricity generation capacity.

The Minister explained that at the time President Hichilema was informing the nation that load shedding was a thing of the past, the country had enough electricity and was even exporting its surplus but natural factors could not have been foreseen by the head of State or technocrats.

Mr Kapala said that unlike the apology from ZESCO board chairperson Vickson Ncube who apologised and took the blame for the current woes, the president was given the true picture that the country had the capacity to produce more power than it consumed.

He explained that natural factors such as the limitation of the amount of hydrology get into the Kariba Dam could not be predicted whose resultant effect a sudden electricity deficit was leading to load shedding. He said that indeed all things being equal, the country was not supposed to experience load shedding because it had the capacity to produce more than what was needed.

Mr Kapala insisted that Mr Ncube’s statement that President Hichilema was misled was inaccurate.

And Mr Kapala has announced that the load shedding hours are expected to be reduced further to average six hours and shall be implemented in the intervals of three hours every 24 hours.

The Minister said that he expected the load shedding hours to reduce to six hours in the next couple weeks in a bid to enhance the country’s productivity.

He said that Zambia would be importing power from Mozambique and that the money had already been paid for about 100 megawatts of electricity.Mr Kapala said that the hours would be divided into three hour intervals in order to lessen the burden on the Zambian population.

Daily Nation

The Analysis: Vice President Nalumango missed the point
…its not about roller meal and breakfast it’s about the cost says Amb. Mukwita
From KBN TV
Mrs Mutale Nalumango, the honourable vice President of Zambia missed the point when she said Zambians could escape the ever rising of the stable food 90 percent of Zambians feed on called mealie meal which is basically ground maize said Ambassador Anthony Mukwita.
“The point is not even a choice between roller meal and breakfast but whether Zambian can actually afford the mealie meal which her government said would be reduced to K50 as opposed to the current K200 and rising. People have no money to buy either breakfast or roller meal as per election promise,” said the media expert and international relations expert.

Speaking on The Analysis hosted by the ever-green Henry Wiseman Zulu that airs live every Sunday on KBN TV at 20:30, Ambassador Mukwita reflected that the vice President continues to issue outlandish statements that makes her boss President Hichilema look bad, even when he is a good man, perhaps she should stop making uniformed public statements.

He cited an example of Mrs Nalumango saying, “prices should rise before they can drop” and the fact that she admitted the government through the central bank were hedging the kwacha against major foreign currencies such as the dollar artificially.
When the former ruling party left office after an election defeat in August 2021, the Zambian kwacha was trading at K15 to a dollar and has now dropped to K19, against the promises of the new Dawn government.

Ambassador Mukwita gave a cross reference to the French revolution of the 1700´s where the Queen of France then Maria Antoinette was so oblivious to the plague ridden country by advising hungry French people to eat cake in the absence of bread.
He said those that love Zambia shall continue to remind the government of the day that they should live up to the promises they made ahead of the elections instead of burying their heads in the sand.

“The current government have a stellar opportunity to make Zambia a better place based in the history of failure from the UNIP, MMD and PF,” said Ambassador Mukwita, “there is no need to re write the will.”
The Ambassador, a published author who has studied international relations at Masters degree level and professional communications added that the current government must not mistake objective criticism for hate.

“We advise because we love the country and the leadership and want them to succeed because their success is our collective victory lap, those that praise the President amidst adversity and failed promises hate him,” said Ambassador Mukwita.
Mr Mukwita has just completed penning a book entitled the rise of China in Africa, a Zambian story that hits the shelves in Zambia and Amazon in February.

The full link of the live interview hosted by Wiseman Henry Zulu is available on the link below for your critical analysis:

Source: KBN TV live

IT SEEMS KAMBWILI IS THE ARCHITECT OF ANTI-TONGA PRESIDENT CRUSADE

…as Kalaba publicly shows his naked support for tribalism.

By Aswell Kazembe Mwalimu

FINALLY, kwati nyela wa ba nyela (seemingly the architect general) of the anti-Tonga president crusade has shown his ugly head after hiding behind the mischievous empty storm-raiser Chilufya Tayali.

And Citizens First President, Harry Kalaba has jumped on board showing the nation his naked support for tribalism without shame.

Clearly, Kalaba has lost his big head!

But each time Chishimba Kambwili and Kalaba try to be like the late distinguished politician, Michael Sata, they get it totally wrong!

In their attempts to be like him, the two spineless tribalists have had their poisonous tongue dig on Sata’s grave like a hot knife in a fresh wound!

But, good Zambians won’t let Kambwili and Kalaba, or anybody else disturb the restored spirit of One Zambia One Nation under the UPND Alliance Government.

Politically, Kambwili and Kalaba are both a complete write-off because of their cockroach-like political games.

Their survival plan is spreading cheap tribal talk driven by hate!

Ubuloshifye ubutuntulu (pure evil motives)!

Both Kabwili and Kalaba take pleasure in championing the anti-Tonga president crusade which is nothing but a Patriotic Front financed agenda.

They have made tribalism an ideology of survival!

The spirit and mind behind One Zambia One Nation didn’t elevate any tribe over the other.

But, in their foolish pride, Kambwili and Kalaba would like their region to be the land with a superior political voice in Zambian politics.

Mwalitipwa imwe babili, cha wanna nga ta mwafyelwe (you are a cursed lot, you two; wish you were never born).

The people of Zambia have not forgotten how, at one time, Kambwili abused late Sata’s memorial service by pushing his presidential ambition to head the former ruling party.

There was a hired gang of thugs that displayed a banner in support of Kambwili’s candidature as PF president at Sata’s memorial.

And typical of Kambwili, it cannot be a mere coincidence that, again, a hired gang of thugs went to his residence to sing anti-Tonga songs without his knowledge.

The cockroach-like political games is what makes Kambwili tick.

If only the size of the body would translate into big brains; bonse nga tatulanda (we could have all been silenced)!

As for Kalaba, it’s very unfortunate that he has completely failed to make a grade as an opposition leader.

Instead of over rating himself, the best he must do is retire from politics mu mutende (peacefully).

We the people of Zambia have just come from a Government of thieves and corrupt individuals to which Kambwili and Kalaba belonged; just yesterday!

The two must therefore, step aside and allow the people of Zambia to experience a new life under a new Government run by a wise and caring leadership!

Kambwili and Kalaba’s hate driven tribal talk will never change the trajectory set out by men and women of substance under the UPND Alliance Government.

AKM

Checkmate 29/01/2023

akmwalimu2000@yahoo.co.uk

By Veronica Mwale

Lufwanyama-29th January,2023

PF CONSTITUENCY CHAIRMAN IN LUFWANYAMA LEADS HUNDREDS TO JOIN UPND…AS HON MATAMBO CONTINUES PARTY MOBILISATION

Lufwanyama Patriotic Front Constituency (PF) Chairman has resigned and led hundreds other defectors to join the
United Party For National Development (UPND).

Emmanuel Silwimba said he has resigned from PF because the party is dead and lacking direction and does not want to be left behind without participating in the party for national development under the pragmatism of President Hakainde Hichilema.

” We have come and we want to be part of the agenda of developing our beautiful country.” He said amid jubilation.
Mr Silwimba added that President Hakainde Hichilema and UPND government mean well for the people of Zambia and urged others to dump PF because there is nothing any more.

He outlined some of the major achievements by the UPND government such as free education policy, increased Constituency Development Fund, stabilized economy among others.

Another defector Mr Bruce mweemba who has re-joined the UPND party after he went and stood as independent candidate saying he regretted the move but ready to work and grow the party for the betterment of the country.
Others who rejoined the UPND party includes former UPND MP Leonard Fungulwe, council chairperson Kennedy kazeza and former district commissioner Miniver Mutesa.

The resignation of PF Constituency Chairman and hundreds others according to many political commentators spoken to closes the chapter for a former ruling party.

And Copperbelt Province UPND Chairman Hon.Elisha Matambo welcomed the move taken by hundreds of defectors from PF and other political parties to join the ruling party calling it as progressive.

Those who joined were drawn from various political party, and those who left the party for different reasons including the ones who were supporting independent candidates

Hon Matambo was speaking in Lufwanyama District under Chieftainess Shimukunana when he met party officials to re-invigorate efforts for party mobilisations starting with the branches and wards.

Hon Matambo who doubles as Copperbelt Minister and UPND Copperbelt Chairman stated that the party is one big family and every one is welcome to come and contribute for the common goal to developing Zambia.
Hon Matambo thanked those joining for the first time and those who are joining for the second time calling the decisions as best they have ever made because UPND is a big mansion to accommodate everyone.
“Welcome every one for making this decision and you are starting on the equal footing with all members because we want to walk side by side.” He said.
The UPND Copperbelt Province strongman urged all party officials in Lufwanyama District to continue mobilising the party and never go to sleep going forward as woo more members.

Hon Matambo has assured the Lufwanyama residents that road networks and mobile network in lambaland are on the cards further assuring them of better days because President Hakainde Hichilema is on top of things .
On fertilizer, Hon. Matambo explained to the people that the contractors who were contracted by the previous government never supplied any thing but air.. ” They supplied nothing hence delaying the process.Go and explain to the people in the branches and wards.” Hon Matambo told the party officials.

He further said going forward the delayment in fertilizer distribution will never happen and soon the government will start distribution fertilizer for the next farming season.

Hon Matambo is on the party mobilisation drive of the Copperbelt Province starting from branches ,wards and was accompanied by Copperbelt Province Vice Chairman for administration Mr Jestopher Kolala Copperbelt Youth Chairman Wallen Hinyama and several others.

CIC PRESS

HH HAS BEEN WINNING ELECTIONS BUT THOSE COUNTING WERE ANNOUNCING ANOTHER WINNER – KAWANA

Thabo Kawana who serves as Director at Ministry of Information and Media has penned down the following long article.

In the article Kawana who is a Civil Servant and no longer holding a political portfolio predicts a second term for President Hichilema.

Kawana also claims that for five terms Hichilema contested the elections, he won but those who were counting announced another winner.

In his Sunday reflection article, Kawana says God will always keep the door open despite people trying to keep it closed.

MY SUNDAY REFLECTIONS. JOHN CHAPTER 20 VERSE 26. “CLOSED DOORS CAN’T KEEP YOU OUT”.

I woke up today and whilst reading my Bible, I came across John 20:26 and it had me thinking.

The Bible says the Disciples where afraid of how people treated Jesus, how they resented him and how they falsely accused him and crucified him. The Disciples locked themselves and made sure the door was closed shut and locked, they made sure nobody would come in as they thought the authorities then would come for them after crucifying Jesus.

But suddenly Jesus appeared before them and was amongst them, he didn’t have to knock nor force the door open or kick it down. He appeared before them despite the door been shut, well locked and sealed..

God at that point was showing them that despite man closing all the doors, God can come through for you without knocking or asking for permission because God is the key to every Door, you can’t keep God out.

It reminded me of how people (authorities then) made sure HH was never to be Republican President. They arrested him severally, they resented him and accused him of treason. They thru him into various police cells and prisons, they even locked him up in Zambia’s most toughest and unbreakable prison (Mukobeko maximum prison).

At every election, they let him participate but somehow stole his votes. Instead of votes counted determining the winner, it was the people (their own) counting the votes that determined who won and naturally, they won.

But at a point when they thought they had done it all and ensured HH would not win, they teargased him and prevented him from campaigning, from meeting the people and from appearing on media. Most media houses that dared feature HH or even carried his voice got attacked and burnt down.

They made sure the people became afraid to associate or mention HH. They had closed the door on him, never to be Republican President, even stated that “a Tonga will one day be President in Zambia but not the current contender” (HH then). They even vowed to arrest him, lock him up and throw away the key after the elections having accused him falsely over privatisation.

What they didn’t realize is that God didn’t need their permission, didn’t need to knock and that God would come thru the very doors they shut and locked out HH. They thought the people where afraid and would be on their side for safety after having terrorised them with beatings, gasings, killings, arrests and intimidation using cadres, police and soldiers.

They counted and depended on their own measures to be enough to keep HH out, what they didn’t count on and realize was that the “Voice of the People, is the voice of God” (Vox Populi, vox dei).

Fast forward, today President HH is Republican President, Commander in Chief of all the armed forces and instead of him seeking revenge, he has kept the cadres orderly and in check against metting out violence on all citizens including the very people that used cadres to met out violence on President HH in opposition. He has reformed the Police from a force to a service in reality for all and today the very people that sent Police to lock up President HH in opposition then, can freely protest, insult and walk in and out of police stations without been detained despite been arrested via police bonds. President HH is fighting back the evil unleashed on him but only this time,with love.

So even today as President HH is in office, they continue to hate him, resent him and falsely accuse him. They are speaking with so much anger and trying hard to rally people around their anger for loss at elections using hate speech, tribal talk and false accusations of failure. They are trying to shut the doors again and keep President HH out of the next elections by whipping people’s emotions into hating and resenting him hoping he shall lose the next elections and go down in history as a one term President.

Well, I have news for you folks. The very God that defeated you and came through the doors you closed on President HH in opposition then, shall come through and see President HH fulfill his vision for this country at the close of his 10 years in Office. The doors you are closing now will only achieve in keeping you out instead, God is not yet done with President HH, no Sir. God is only but beginning.

Remember: Man can never close a door that God opens just as Man can never open a door that God closes.

Happy Sunday to you all.

Thabo Kawana.

HOW PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA WAS DUPED BY THE IMF

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1. On 2nd September 2021, barely 8 days after being sworn in as Zambia’s 7th President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema announced that he was going to obtain a bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and put the country on an IMF program. At this point, President Hakainde Hichilema had not even constituted his cabinet. This important economic matter was essentially a one-man decision that was devoid of any cabinet scrutiny or debate.

2. In the days that followed, we challenged the President to explain to the nation the necessity and expected benefits of an IMF bailout program, especially given the fact that our economic prospects appeared stable at the time. Our biggest export earner; copper was trading at about $10,000 per metric tonne, our gross foreign reserves were the highest in since independence at about $3 billion, the exchange rate was around K15 per dollar, the price of breakfast mealie meal was around K120 etcetera.

3. President Hakainde Hichilema did not respond to our challenge of why we needed to put the country on an IMF program, but a day later he appointed his first Minister; the Minister of Finance. Hon. Situmbeko Musokotwane’s first order of business was to explain and justify the IMF bailout program. His main argument was that the program was necessary as it would allow the country to obtain debt relief. When we pressed him about the specifics of Government’s targeted debt relief and how the IMF would deliver it to us, he never gave a solid explanation but only ducked and dived.

4. You see, when you talk about debt relief you are essentially asking your creditors to give you more flexible terms of payment. This is either by increasing the payment period so that your repayment instalments can be smaller or giving you a repayment holiday of say a year or two so that you can have space to reorganize your finances or something to that effect. Ideally, debt relief makes sense if you have not yet defaulted, so that you do not default. However, at the time that President Hakainde Hichilema and his one-man cabinet were taking the route of an IMF program to achieve debt relief, the country had already defaulted to it’s creditors.

5. Additionally, our considered view at the time, which is still our position today is that the IMF was a wrong vehicle to use to achieve debt relief or indeed debt cancellation. We say so because of the structure of our $12 billion or so foreign debt at the time. Most of it was commercial debt owed to institutions as opposed to sovereign debt owed to Governments. In fact, out of the $12 billion, the largest sovereign debt of about $6.6 billion was owed to China. It is extremely difficult to re-negotiate commercial debt, but sovereign debt can be negotiated because you can appeal to the moral guilt of the creditor nation. But in the case of China, the approach really matters and a pro-western vehicle like the IMF cannot work when it comes to negotiating with China.

6. We advised President Hakainde Hichilema at the time that we are likely to succeed with debt relief and possibly even debt cancellation if we engaged the individual creditors directly instead of us using the IMF vehicle. When we were contracting this debt, we engaged our creditors directly and it is only respectful that now that we have problems paying back, we must engage them directly again to explain to them and to ask them how they can assist us. Most of our bilateral creditors feel disrespected if not outrightly insulted that instead of engaging them directly regarding debt relief, we are asking the IMF to do it for us. But of course, President Hakainde Hichilema and his one-man cabinet at the time, dismissed our advice with contempt.

7. Fast-forward to 15 months later and here we are in 2023. According to the Minister of Finance, Government has implemented all the IMF conditionalities, most of which have had a harsh effect on the Zambian people. They cut the amount of fertilizer allocated under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to the extent that 12 farmers were sharing one bag of fertilizer in medas. They cut the medicine grant to health facilities to the extent that more than 90 percent of the medicines and consumables needed by patients have to be bought over the counter by patients themselves in private pharmacies. They have increased electricity tariffs for connection and meter separation by more than 1,000 percent. They have increased fuel pump prices by more than 70 percent in the past 6 months, with reviews on every last day of the month. They have exported electricity while loadsheding the nation, with dire consequences on our economy.

8. However, despite Government having implemented all these harsh IMF conditionalities, most of which l consider senseless, the IMF is unable to deliver it’s side of the deal. They are unable to deliver the promised debt relief. In the past few weeks prior to the visit by the IMF Managing Director and US Treasury Secretary, the Minister of Finance was crying everyday in the media. The tune of his cries was the same; “we have implemented the IMF conditionalities as instructed, can the IMF now deliver the debt relief please”. These cries kept getting louder and louder everyday, and l suppose the IMF decided to come quickly to calm some nerves, hence the high-powered delegation of not only the IMF MD but also the US Treasury Secretary. They even decided to open an IMF Office here in Lusaka, which, truth be told is just a one-room with a receptionist.

9. Anyway, during a town-hall meeting at the University of Zambia, the IMF Managing Director said it was up to the individual creditors to deliver debt relief to Zambia, but added that the fact that we have defaulted on our debt repayments will make debt relief difficult to achieve. She also asked China to get on board and give us debt relief. Actually, this town-hall meeting was more revealing than the usual closed door meetings that the IMF normally holds with the Ministry of Finance. Some of the take-homes from the IMF MD’s statement is that the IMF is divorcing itself from the responsibility of delivering debt relief to Zambia by saying that it is up to individual creditors to deliver debt relief to Zambia. Secondly, the IMF is now trying to give excuses of why it has failed to deliver debt relief, by saying that the country’s default makes debt relief difficult to achieve. How can that be when President Hakainde Hichilema signed the IMF Program Agreement at a time when the country was already in default, so our default is not a new development which the IMF can use as an excuse for not delivering the promised debt relief. Thirdly, instead of the IMF engaging China in a nice diplomatic manner, they are shouting at China. This resulted in the Chinese Embassy in Lusaka issuing a statement which basically summarized who the IMF really are in not so many words; “meddlers without solutions”.

10. What next? You might ask. Well, as things stand, it is evident that President Hakainde Hichilema was hoodwinked into believing that the IMF can deliver debt relief to us, when in fact not. All that the IMF ever wanted was to stick us with another loan so that they can control us like oxen on a plough. In fact l questioned the Minister of Finance at one point, how additional borrowing from the IMF can be part of the solution to our over-indebtedness? He never gave me a straight answer. It is like pouring petrol on a house that is on fire, as a way of extinguishing it. It just doesn’t make sense. But let us not lose sight of the question what next? Well, if l was President Hakainde Hichilema l would simply lick my wounds and accept the fact that the IMF pulled a fast one on us. I would then immediately get on the plane to Beijing, China and apologize to President Xi Jinping for not having visited him earlier and then proceed to ask him how he can help us with debt relief and possibly debt cancellation. It is worth noting that just a few weeks ago, China wrote off more than $1 billion debt to Ethiopian. Once our single largest creditor gives us debt relief, then our other creditors will most likely follow suit. As for the IMF, well, they are like that uncle in the family who talks alot but never delivers. You just have to watch them talk, nod your head absentmindedly, sip your tea and forget about them.

///END

SET 29.01.2023 l Email: SET2026@pepzm.org

THE “CATTLE ECONOMIST” HAS FAILED AND NOW COMFORTING HIMSELF WITH MERE FIGURES, CHARGES NAWAKWI … when every Zambian is impacted with skyrocketing prices

The “cattle economist” has failed and is comforting himself with mere inflation figures and dancing kalele when every Zambian is feeling the impact of skyrocketing prices, FDD leader Edith Nawakwi has charged.

Speaking with Daily Revelation, Nawakwi said there was nothing to be excited about the reduced inflation figure of 9.4 percent because Zambians were still feeling the impact of real prices in terms of high mealie meal prices, the weakening Kwacha which she said will increase the cost of imports and subsequently increase prices of goods on the local market, among other effects.

“These are cattle economists. So they don’t understand the pricing structure in an economy. When someone says inflation has come down to 9.4 percent, meaning if you have K100, the real value of that K100 is K90.6. Now take that K90.6 to National Milling to buy mealie meal, how many K90.6 Kwachas are you going to need to buy a bag of mealie meal costing K200?” Nawakwi asked. “Inflation is just a figure for monetarists like (Finance minister) Situmbeko Musokotwane and my cattle economist, my young brother Hakainde, for their audience in Washington. When you are looking for roofing nuts in town you understand that what they are talking about is nonsense.”

Nawakwi said the real questions Zambians must ask themselves was about the real prices of goods and services, saying if prices in the economy have increased by “10 fold” it doesn’t matter what the inflation figure is.

She wondered what has happened on the President’s promise that the price of beef would reduce as he was going to reduce the price of dipping for animals.

She further said that since the President came into office, the price of diesel had increased from around K16 to around K26, with petrol increasing from K17 to K24, and that while the President claimed that fertilizer prices had skyrocketed because of the Ukraine war, the same commodity just across the Zambian border in Tanzania was cheaper.

“Those figures they use and start dancing kalele is just rubbish. Every Zambian has felt skyrocketing prices and Hakainde has no solution. You can know that the economy is biting too hard that UPND can’t even clear State House surroundings. State House is now Chibolya. That’s indication that the cost of living is high,” Nawakwi said.

She said she was watching a video where Tanzanian President Hassan is rolling out a programme targeting youths to harvest around 68,000 10 hectares lots, but that when President Hichilema walked into office here he was “too excited” that he created CDF without understanding the… http://dailyrevelationzambia.com/the-cattle-economist-has-failed-and-now-comforting-himself-with-mere-figures-charges-nawakwi-when-every-zambian-is-impacted-with-skyrocketing-prices/

KABUSWE IS A CORRUPT FORMER PAUPER I CAN FINISH IN 24 HOURS, CHARGES KAMBWILI … but Kabuswe tells CK not to seek power using tribe

PF presidential aspirant Chshimba Kambwili says Mines minister Paul Kabuswe is a corrupt former pauper, who thinks he will shield himself from being fired for engaging in alleged corruption on account of his tribe, warning that he has a lot of data about his activities at the Black Mountain and from the mining companies

And Kambwili said he does not think anyone will be appointed to replace demoted Anthony Bwalya because Clayson Hamasaka was already appointed to fill that position a long time ago as Media Director at State House.

But Mines minister Paul Kabuswe charged that Kambwili paid people who marched to his house yesterday, saying he should not think that he was the only Bemba in politics.

Reacting to Kabuswe who told him not to seek power by using tribe, Kambwili said he was neither a regionalist nor a tribalist, saying if Kabuswe paid attention to how he addressed the people who marched to his residence when they were singing that “wanina pa Ng’ombe”, he told them that tribal politics have no space in Zambian politics and that he even castigated them for singing that.

He said he told them that all the tribes must unite, saying Kabuswe must just keep his job as “he was not even UPND” because he joined them at the 11th hour and therefore he would want to issue statements to please his “masters.”

He said he had told the whole world that in his nucleus family, three of his siblings were married to Tongas and therefore he does not practice tribal politics.

“And let Kabuswe know that that Kabuswe doesn’t even have power at Ministry of Mines. They have created what they are calling as Mining Advisory Committee which makes decision. That is a moribund minister and he’s just a corrupt chap who is getting a lot of corruption from mining companies and soon or later he will be locked up. So if he wants to cover up his illegal activities like the money that he has eaten from the Black Mountain, let him keep accusing others of being tribalists,” Kambwili said to Daily Revelation media. “Me I am as clean as Dr Kaunda’s handkerchief. My record in politics anybody can see it. But Kabuswe was just a pauper but look at how much money he’s got today. So tell him to keep his corruption because he is destined for jail. Tell him that you are destined for jail and you are trying to cover up the illegal activities that you are doing in the Ministry of Mines. And if you live in glass houses don’t throw stones, because if I decide to take on that Kabuswe he will not last 24 hours before he is fired.”

On the demotion for Anthony Bwalya from being presidential spokesperson to now serve as deputy High Commissioner in Tanzania, Kambwili said he could not comment on that demotion because he was not aware of the circumstances leading up to that, except the speculation, saying when one makes a decision without giving a reason for that decision, space for speculation was inevitably opened up.

He said people on social media were saying that he had been demoted because of his tribe, something he said he did not subscribe to.

“But looking at the circumstances surrounding the young man, the young man was disowned a long time ago. I have never seen a President who travels without his press aide, without his spokesperson. But the young man Bwalya, the President started leaving him a long time ago. You only see him seeing off the President and receiving the President. I have never seen such in my whole life (laughs) where the presidential spokesperson is left,” Kambwili said.

He also said he did not think that anyone will be appointed to replace Bwalya because Clayson Hamasaka was already appointed a long time ago as Media Director at State House.

“He was already replaced by Hamazoka. Is it Hamazoka or Hamasaka? Yes, there is nobody who is going to replace him. They already brought Hamasaka as Director of media at State House which position has never existed from independence,” said Kambwili. “But like I’ve said I cannot tentatively say he was relieved of his duties or transferred because of his tribe because only the President knows why he demoted him. And in this country people must never use the tribe for anything else … And if Kabuswe is going.. http://dailyrevelationzambia.com/kabuswe-is-a-corrupt-former-pauper-i-can-finish-in-24-hours-charges-kambwili-but-kabuswe-tells-ck-not-to-seek-power-using-tribe/

ZAMBIANS ARE LOOKING UPTO PATRIOTIC FRONT FOR ALTERNATIVE LEADERSHIP

AS LUBINDA CALLS FOR DISCIPLINE IN THE PARTY

Lusaka- Saturday, 28th January 2023

Patriotic Front Acting President Hon. Given Lubinda has said Zambians are looking to the Patriotic Front to help resolve the deep-seated economic and social challenges that had gripped the nation.

He has bemoaned the fact that the country was facing escalating high cost of living due to the rise in prices of essential goods and services.

He has warned that Government’s failure to properly implement the Farmer-in put Support Programme (FISP) has theteatened national food secuirity.

He said the New Dawn Government was failing to resolve the challenges of the country and was using the Patriotic Front as a scapegoat for its failures.

He said the failure by Government to meaningfully engage China and other creditors has disrupted the debt restructuring programme thereby rendering the 2023 National Budget ineffective.

He has also expressed concern at the numerous presidential trips that President Hakainde Hichilema has undertaken despite the serious economic crisis faced by the country.

He said most of the meetings can be undertaken by Ambassadors and Ministers.

And Hon. Lubinda has called for discipline and unity in the party.

Delivering his Chairman’s Report to the Central Committee held in Lusaka, Hon. Lubinda emphasised that discipline was required for the party to stand united and move as a force of change for the benefit of the country.

And the Central Committee considered concerns raised against Matero Member of Parliament and Member of the Central Committee, Hon. Miles Sampa over his remarks attributed to him when he held a press conference on 28th January 2023.

This followed concerns raised by members of the Central Committee and the general membership of the party.

The Central Committee has since referred the matter to the Acting President for resolution.

Meanwhile the Central Committee has received the working document of the party Constitution and has given itself 30 days for consideration and possible adoption before circulation to the general membership before it can be tabled before the Extra-Ordinary Conference for ratification.

And Acting Secretary General Hon Nixon Chilangwa gave an update of the audit of membership exercise currently underway.

The Central Committee had ratified sub-committees on Energy, Local Government and Housing, Industry, Commerce and Community Development.

Further the Central Committee was informed by the Acting Secretary General that a disciplinary action against Hon. Robert Chabinga, Member of Parliament for Mafinga Constituency over disparaging remarks and conduct against the party had commenced.

The Central Committee received the report and the matter has been referred to the Dicsiplinary Committee for further action.

Issued by;

Hon. Raphael Nakacinda
Chairman for Information and Publicity

PATRIOTIC FRONT

By CIC

SHUTUP: VERY UNGRATEFUL AND SHAMELESS TRIBALISTS

Here is a closer look at the New Dawn Administration at Ministry of Health Admin staff:

MINISTRY OF HEALTH 2023

1.Sylvia Tembo – Minister

2 Lackson Kasonka- PS

3.Vivian Chikoti – Director HR

4.Alex Makupe – Director clinical care

5.Barabina Mporokoso- Director audit

6. Angel Mubanga- Director TB program

7. Mwale – Dead of dpt pharmacy

8. Clare Tembo- Nursing director

9. Sera Musonda – Information director

10. Dr Mwanza – Quality assurance

11. Dr Tina chisenga- Public health

12. Mbuta – Policy

13 Mbalamweshi – Director finance

14 Chabuka- Head of procurement

15. Mwanza – Head of debt infrastructure

16. Kalangwa – Acting health promotion director

Then an irresponsible politician says HH is a tribalist.

NB: A Lozi PS was removed from the Ministry of Mines but these tribalists never said even a word now that another has actually been redeployed, they are all over. Before you accuse HH of not giving you jobs, just walk into these government offices and ask for their names but we can tell you that even the official language is no longer English except what PF thieves left.

Edgar Lungu and his PF left a cancer and HH has a lot of work to really equate all citizens of this country otherwise, others will continue being treated as second class citizens.

We will now be publishing names of all those in key departments of government. Perhaps things are not moving because of tribalists encouraging others not to push HH’S vision.

This country belongs to all the people from all the 10 provinces. See less