WITNESS ELLEN MIBENGE CONFIRMS THAT SHE HAS HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE HOUSE MEDIA DIRECTOR CLAYSON HAMASAKA FOR OVER 8 YEARS

By Daily Nation Zambia reporter

A UPND cadre by the name of Ellen Mibenge has confirmed that she has had a relationship with State House Media Director for 8 years from the time she decided to be a member of the UPND. Mibenge was testifying in the matter in which National Democratic Congress President Saboi Imboela was appearing in court for defamation of Clayson Hamasaka.

The witness testified that on 9th September 2022, she was browsing on her phone and being an ardent follower of the Saboi Imboela- SI page, she came across posts that disturbed her. Mibenge who ably memorised the 3 postings she referred to said that the first one was ‘If you think there is no corruption in UPND, go to ghostly Hamasaka’s farm, which has been developed in the last few months that they have been in power, thieves.’

She said another post read that ‘his farm is being developed by the Chinese, this is the character I said had booked permanent rooms at hotels where he is taking women from UPND that are looking for jobs, to sleep with them.’ She mentioned that the last one was ‘Hamasaka was caught red handed by his wife committing chigololo. And currently their marriage is on the rocks.’

The Prosecutor asked the witness how the postings made her feel, but the Magistrate reminded him that she was a witness of fact and her feelings were of no relevance to the case. ‘ It’s not about her, it’s about facts,’ the magistrate said. The witness said that immediately she read the postings on the Saboi Imboela- SI page, she called a Hamasaka that she knows.

Asked by defence Counsel, how many Hamasakas she knows out of 20 million Zambians, the witness said she only knows one Hamasaka. She was further asked if any of the quotes she read mentioned Clayson Hamasaka or simply Hamasaka, but the witness said that it was only Hamasaka and not Clayson Hamasaka that was mentioned.

Asked whether she had a relationship with Hamasaka, the witness answered to the affirmative. ‘Do your confirm that you have a relationship with Clayson Hamasaka?’ Asked counsel Jonas Chirwa, ‘Yes I confirm that I do.’ Answered Ellen Mibenge.

The NDC President was represented by James Tembo from Makebi Zulu Advocates, Jonas Chirwa from Ferd Jere and Company, and Benjamin Mwelwa of Messrs Linus E. Eyaa and Partners.

(Credit: Daily Nation Zambia)

Former Patriotic Front (PF) Luanshya Member of Parliament Steve Chungu has charged that President Hakainde Hichilema does not have a good cabinet that meets the aspirations of the Zambian people.

Mr. Chungu, the former Government Chief Whip, said most of the cabinet ministers and their portfolios in the New Dawn government are under performing.

He said some people believe President Hichilema has made ministers lack political track record and experience.

“I don’t know the members of the cabinet. I don’t know the Ministers. I don’t remember seeing them when I served as Member of Parliament during my time in Parliament. I can’t remember seeing any of those guys, knowing where they are coming from. I do not know them. There is no political track record, apart from Honourable Elijah Muchima (Lands Minister), Honourable Garry Nkombo (Local Government Minister), Honourable Douglas Siakalima (Education Minister), Honourable Cornelius Mweetwa (Southern Province Minister) those are the people are worked with in my ten year term as Member of Parliament. Just a few of them, the rest of them I don’t know. I am just also getting this information from the Zambian people that they are very disappointed with the team under President Hakainde Hichilema. His cabinet is not performing according to the expectations of the people because many of our sectors, many of the ministries they have put up, like the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises; I don’t know why it is there and what it is doing,” Mr. Chungu said.

He questioned the performance of Energy Minister Peter Kapala and his Infrastructure colleague Charles Milupi.

“There is another ministry called Green Economy, I don’t know what it is doing. I don’t know what it has done in the last one year, five months. There is nothing to talk about. Provincial Ministers, I think the only one I have heard of having his name on the ground, talking about things that are making sense is Cornelius Mweetwa for Southern Province, Credo Nanjuwa from Central Province. The other ministers are mute. There is nothing coming from them. So President Hichilema does not have a good team. He does not have a good team. Look at the Energy Minister (Peter Kapala), the Minister of Infrastructure (Charles Milupi), when he came in we heard a lot that we will do this and that. He was all over the country checking on roads, condemning this and that, they (PF) should have done better but it’s now seventeen months but nothing has happened. Even the Ndola-Lusaka Road they promised that it will be worked on but as we speak the contractor is not on site,” Mr. Chungu said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chungu said if President Hichilema was a tough leader he would have fired Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri for mishandling the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

Late distribution of inputs characterised the 2022 FISP with President Hichilema acknowledging that the programme was not implemented well this season.

“Zambia will be much worse than in 2022 and I can give you reasons as to why. Our crop production will be very bad in this country. Going by the FISP programme that was mishandled. By now if it was those tough Presidents, the man under the Ministry of Agriculture (Reuben Mtolo Phiri) could have lost his job because first and foremost the Zambian people had complained over the manner in which they were procuring fertiliser. They floated tenders for fertiliser procurement but cancelled them but engaged other people and bought the fertiliser at a much higher price. Fertiliser under the PF was $1000 per tonne. In the 2021 season they went and bought fertiliser at $1,400 per tonne and continued rising these figures and we were also being told to say they have saved $3,000,000 under the FISP programme. How possible is that? Because they have bought fertiliser at a much higher price. Yes they have saved because they did not give fertiliser to all beneficiaries . They reduced the number of beneficiaries. Is that something they can be proud of and say they have managed to save money? You punish people and then go in public to say we have saved money,” Mr. Chungu said.

By Dr Lubinda Haabazoka

Why it’s difficult for us to create wealth

I have written a lot of articles on why it’s difficult to create wealth in Zambia and if ever we shall produce the first billionaire. I think it’s very important that we continue talking about this topic because it pains to see us struggle when other people are doing really good.

The following are the things we should take note and improve on:

– In Zambia we frown upon wealth. We seem to be allergic to rich people. Trust me, the fact that one is poor doesn’t guarantee that you will be in heaven! The parable in the bible about talents simply teaches that God wants us to live a rich life. The first barrier to creating wealth is to understand that being poor is very not healthy!

– Wealth doesn’t come by luck! It’s very rare that one is rich by luck! You need to put in the hard work! History has confirmed that those that have won lotteries have blown their money in a short period! So wealth comes as a result of hard work!

– Laziness. Am sorry colleagues but in Zambia we are very lazy! We don’t want to work hard for the money! We think money will simply flow like rain. To be rich, one needs to multitask and do away with habits like watching soccer all week when friends are busy hustling. If you ask businessmen and women, they put in more effort than even ordinary employees! Once your day should ends at 01:00 and begins at 06:00, just know that you are now working!

– Jealous. It’s very difficult to succeed in our society because the levels of jealous is super high! The mistake we made was during primary when people would pass number 1 or 2 and pupils were grouped from group 1 to group 3 depending on performance. This has really damaged our thinking to a level where we think one’s success can hinder our own success since there can only be 1 number 1. Our jealous is so escalated that we kill other people’s businesses sometimes even without knowing that we are doing bad! Let’s change our hearts!

– Patience. Zambians have no patience. We think that a business can generate money overnight. It can even take 10 years to build an empire! An average business won’t give you money in the first three years. Many of us quit immediately! I have observed how a company on the Copperbelt called Z-Mart has grown. That takes a lot of patience and hard work. Amongst the black Zambians, such is very rare to find.

– Partnerships. it’s very difficult to do partnerships in Zambia because we are very suspicious of each other! Your friend buys a car immediately you think it’s from stolen money or it’s from your mutual business. You forget that when you were watching football, your friend was busy working!

– Handouts. In Zambia we believe in handouts. No one can give you money that will propel you into richness! Not even a salary can make you rich. A salary is a source of capital for your business! If you have no ambitions of joining the top 1%, please work and do your thing. That’s also ok.

– Taxes. Zambia has since the 90s experienced high economic and administrative barriers to doing business. It’s very difficult in Zambia to do busy whilst complying with all rules!!! Government should get a single licensor for everything. You can’t take 5 different cheques every month to various government departments when the same money benefits one government. If government can’t trust itself, what about citizens?

– Focus. Zambians no longer have focus. Over the weekend vloggers we’re arguing about the size of the behinds 10,000 comments. An article about wealth creation 5 comments. You are essentially what you spend time on. If you spend time on social media drama, you will never progress! Use socio media to educate others or to advertise your produce.

– Remember just because you are struggling today doesn’t mean you will be rich in the future.

– Self pity. Avoid feeling pity for yourself. The fact that you were born and orphan or not from a well to do family doesn’t mean than you can’t make it. First education equalises then the rest is up to you! If you have no education, you even have a higher chance of succeeding because you will be more of a risk taker. Educated people have too much information that make them risk averse and as such they are comfortable just in jobs!!!

– Also remember that Zambians are good at complaining and hiding their true financial status. It’s not everyone who is broke. You will be shocked the kind of high lives people live in Zambia. Such people never even post this on socio media!!! So ran your race and create your own wealth. Don’t be comfortable that everyone is broke!

Thanks 😊

Current load-shedding is not drought or weather induced, it’s economical

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

We should be very clear. The current load-shedding is just an economic decision and management issue and has nothing to do with the current weather pattern or drought.

Water levels in Kariba Lake are known and anticipated in advance hence the Zambia River Authority (ZRA) determining and allocating the amount of water usage to each power station per year to ZESCO and Zimbabwe Power Company.

The maintainance schedule for Independent Power Producers like Maamba Collieries Power Station is submitted in advance and period of maintainance is well-known to ZESCO for planning purposes.

This load-shedding has nothing to do with drought or weather factors. Zambia last experienced drought in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

2021 and 2022 have not been affected by any drought. We had bumper crops across the country during the same period and seasonal rainfall was above normal. The weather focus for 2023 remains that Zambia will not experience drought.

The annual rainfall in Zambia averages between 700 mm in the south and 1,400 mm in the north. Check the graph attached which shows that Zambia has received above normal rainfall in 2021 and 2022.

On 23rd December, 2022 Energy Regulation Board announced approval of fresh power exports to Namibia (180 megawatts), Zimbabwe (100 megawatts) and Bostwana (70 megawatts).

This followed signed agreements between ZESCO and regional power utilities made in April 2022 to export the excess power of 1,100 megawatts.

This is in addition to traditional power exports made to Malawi, Tanzania, DRC and the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP).

We must be very clear again that Kariba Dam is no longer a big factor as the country is producing sufficient power from other power stations.

Zambia’s peak demand is 2,300 megawatts. Installed capacity is 3,456 megawatts. Power Exports is over 440 to 1,100 megawatts.

The current water levels in Kariba was induced by management’s decision to uprate the machines at Kariba North Bank and Kariba North Extension, despite the allocated water levels to meet urgent power exports…a poor planning activity.

And the newly constituted taskforce to look at energy inneficiency is such a disappointment. You mean they spent the whole weekend planning and visiting power stations only to come up with a puzzle wether 6+6 is equal to 12 or 6!

We must state that the current load-shedding is a result of poor management, poor planning and insatiable appetite to raise money even at the expense of the welfare of citizens.

Stop load-shedding.

Stop exports.

Zambia has enough power.

HAIMBE IS RIGHT THAT WE WILL BOUNCE BACK IN 2026 – PF

….except his fears are unfounded!

Lusaka, Monday, January 9, 2023 (Smart Eagles)

JUSTICE Minister Mulambo Haimbe has claimed that should the Patriotic Front (PF) bounce back into power in 2026, there is a possibility that the death penalty law would be brought back into the Statute books.

Hon Haimbe believes there is a possibility that the PF could reclaim the leadership of the country but is worried that the death penalty which he claims to be abolished could be brought back.

Meanwhile, the PF has stated that Haimbe’s fears are unfounded because the same law which he claims to be abolished still exist in part 3 of the Constitution and can only be amended by way of a referendum as was proposed by the former ruling party.

PF Chairperson for Information and Publicity Hon Raphael Nakacinda says Haimbe is however accurate when he acknowledges that the PF will bounce back in 2026.

“Mr Haimbe, whilst he is accurate in his submission that PF will bounce back in 2026, his fears are unfounded, suggesting that PF will come reverse some of these amendments that were made. First of all, it must be understood that there is nothing to reverse because there is nothing they have achieved,” he said.

“The death penalty is still on the statutes. The only way we can amend and remove the death penalty is by way of referendum, which referendum we had proposed as Patriotic Front because we understood that the only way to enhance human rights is by way of amending Part 3 of the Constitution and that amendment comes by way of a referendum.”

Hon Nakacinda lectured the Justice Minister that an Amendment of a subsidiary law amounts really to having done nothing because in the Republican Constitution, the death penalty still remains.

He reminded the UPND that they are the ones who shot down the referendum that was proposed by the PF to iron out the issue in question.

“We can only ask the UPND not to worry, the brutality they have subjected PF members to, the tribalism they have introduced in this country, the Partisan consideration, whether it is those who are in office as civil servants working in government, they are being victimized to be PF, that attitude will not be tolerated under a rebranded Patriotic Front,” he said.

“When we come back in power in 2026, we are going to carry through all the positive things that will have achieved if there will be any. We will not victimize any Zambian on the basis of their affiliation. For us, our approach will be anchored on the principle of One Zambia One Nation.”

And Nakacinda assured Haimbe that the PF will come back into government with a totally different approach.

“PF, and all those that either sympathize or belong to other political parties will be looked at first of all as Zambians before we start considering partisan issues,” he said.

“We are coming back into government with a totally different approach, patriotism will be the anchor word, nationalism will be the anchor word and national unity will be the anchor word and prosperity is what we will be aiming for.”

WE NEVER PROCURED LEAKED CONDOMS WHEN I WAS HEALTH MINISTER – Dr Chitalu Chilufya

…. Reveals that the HoneyBee scam is a creation of tenderpreneures, individuals who were so scared of the legacy that was created in the health sector

Lusaka—Monday January 9th 2023

Smart Eagles

The HoneyBee scam is a creation of individuals and tenderpreneures who were so scared of the legacy we created in the Ministry of health, PF Presidential Candidate Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has said.

The former Health Minister revealed that the “HoneyBee” lie was a scam of the century adding that the President Edgar Lungu led administration never procured leaked condoms and expired drugs.

Dr. Chilufya who is also Mansa Central lawmaker warned that science should not be sacrificed for political expedience.

He said this when he featured on Diamond TV’s “COSTA” last night.

“So I want to put the record straight. Zambia’s procurement system can never allow the procurement of expired drugs. I challenge you Costa today to show me evidence now of any drugs that were procured and were expired. Check in any regulatory institutions and I tell you that you will find none,” he said.

“Local and external, no expired drugs… bring on the table here evidence from the WHO accredited laboratory of any evidence of leaking condoms. And I will tell you that there have been none. So these are the politics that we need to detoxify in this country. Let’s not sacrifice science at the altar of politics, just for political expedience. And the media has a critical role to play.”

Dr Chilufya said the procurement in question was done to ensure that there was no stock out of medicines in the country.

He stressed the need for those still alleging that the drugs in question were expired to put evidence on the table.

The lawmaker detested the screaming of defamatory statements in the HoneyBee scam without attaching evidence to the matter.

“I will tell you that if you analyze all the events that led to that procurement, you will only conclude that government worked to avoid a stock out of medicines. That is similar to what we are seeing today. What we are seeing today, which is a very grave situation, stock out of medicines in all public health facilities is a recipe for increased mortality deaths of Zambia,” he said.

“I will not accept that we use the HoneyBee scam as a decoy in the current mismanagement of the health sector. It’s important that if we claim that these drugs were expired, we put evidence on the table. We cannot just scream defamatory statements without backing evidence. And I want to emphasize this, there was no procurement leaking condoms and expired drugs under the ministry of health in my time as minister of health or under the PF cabinet.”

HH SAYS HE IS NOT PLEASED WITH HOW ZAMBEZI RIVER AUTHORITY IS MANAGING KARIBA DAM

President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA says he is not pleased with the manner the Zambezi River Authority-ZRA- is managing the Kariba Dam which is shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe.

President HICHILEMA says technology exists which can predict weather conditions and prepare stakeholders of any imminent situations that may affect things like power generation.

He says ZRA should up its game and ensure that it provides consistent and accurate information to both countries on the status of the Dam and the Zambezi River.

The President says he will call his Zimbabwean counterpart EMMERSON MUNANGAGWA to engage him on the matter.

President HICHILEMA says old guidelines affecting the effective operations of ZRA should be amended.

The President has also called for speedy completion of repair works at the Dam’s plunge pool.

He says if the works are not done in good time and the Dam collapses, about 3- point- 5 million people downstream risk losing their lives due to floods which can be caused by the runoff water.

President HICHILEMA said this in Siavonga when he met officials from Zesco and Zambezi River Authority.

After the meeting, the President undertook an on the spot check of the water levels and the condition of the Dam.

Meanwhile, Zesco has disclosed that it is now only generating 2-hundred and -50 Mega Watts of power at the Kariba North Bank Power Plant.

Zesco Director Power Generation WESLEY LWIINDI says this is out of an installed generation capacity of 1-thousand and -80 Mega Watts of Power.

Mr. LWIINDI says the power plant is only using 2-generators which are also not running at full capacity.

He says this is out of 6-generator units which have a capacity to produce 1-hundred and -80 Mega Watts of electricity each.

And ZRA Chief Executive Officer MUNYARADZI MUNODAWAFA says the energy situation is likely to get better at the end of January or mid February once the good rainfall pattern being experienced at the source of the Zambezi River in North Western Province cont
nues.

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA DIRECTS ZESCO TO SPLIT 12 HOURS LOAD SHEDDING INTO SIX-HOURLY SCHEDULE

January 8th, 2022

Republican President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has directed the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) to consider splitting the 12 hours of load shedding per area into a six-hourly schedule, so that they can maintain their operations.

President Hichilema says splitting the 12 hours of load shedding per area into a six-hourly schedule will also help mitigate the impact on small businesses.

“In order to mitigate the impact on small businesses, we have directed ZESCO to consider splitting the 12 hours of load shedding per area into a six-hourly schedule, so that they can maintain their operations”.

Speaking today when he undertook site visits to Maamba Collieries and Kariba ZESCO power plants to fully appreciate the extent of the country’s electricity generation capacities which have subsequently led to load shedding, President Hichilema said it is imperative to protect small businesses.

At Maamba Power station, President Hichilema
urged management to speed up the maintenance processes so that they can resume normal operations within the shortest possible time. The President advised management at the power station to consider carrying out maintenance works in a manner that do not impede normal power generation on the national grid.

At Kariba Dam, President Hichilema expressed concern on how the systems and processes have been neglected to the point where there was no proper monitoring, evaluation, and sharing, of critical information by different stakeholders at the right time.

Since Kariba Dam is a shared asset between Zambia and Zimbabwe, run by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), President Hichilema said government would engage their counterpart in Zimbabwe to ensure optimization and effective use of the reservoir.

President Hichilema said the New Dawn Government will not shy away from taking responsibility where challenges are being faced, as that is key to addressing them.

The 2021-2026 UPND Party Manifesto on energy clearly seeks to minimize transmission and distribution losses and enhance the overall reliability of the electricity network.

(C)THE FALCON

By Edward Roy Makayi

BFLOW vs CHELLAH TUKUTA.
Mozishian vs Cadre .

Unfortunately I stand with Chellah Tukuta. I may not be a fan of his way of doing things but on this Logic fight vs Political fight Chellah Tukuta takes the day. Bflow is a coward .

You don’t approach a logic discussion with political gloves and when you are bruised by political response you threaten to sue. Bflow should be a man enough to either switch to a logic discussion over loadshedding or put on his political attire and face the cadre in the arena game no courts. Some of us are also interested in this fight invited or not we are coming in to support Chellah Tukuta.

Loadshedding is a complex matter that requires logical approach because the UPND government under HH is making long term investment that will benefit everyone. Bflow is one person I know to be of sobber mindset and sound judgement on critical matters alas his level of ignorance towards loadshedding something he is aware of for a long time has alarmed me badly.

It will hurt small scale businesses such as Barber men, saloons or restaurants yes but thats how it is certain painful decisions have to be made for the bigger picture. Those who want electricity simply because they want to watch Manchester United vs Newcasttle should please sit down and keep quiet.

Dear Bflow even if we put you and your Obama you will still need logic sense to think before acting. Sometimes stay in your lanes mwebantu not everything is worthy embarrasing yourself on. Me who has an idea what is going on, am in this engineering field, I have fought this monster called Loadshedding at an academic level not political check my records I know whats going on am failing to speak because am proud HH is on the right track doing the best compared to other past presidents with regards to loadshedding. So who is Bflow trying to impress here with his political rhetorics? Put on political gloves and attire my dear we face you head on don’t be a coward running to court. You started this fight have guts to finish it.. Chellah is a cadre as you put it knowing that background should give you an idea what to expect when you go political on issues that are non political. So bring it on tag me as well we finish you.

Edward Roy Makayi

+260950646445 or +260978646445.

Miles Sampa

I OFFER K100, 000 TO ANYONE THAT CAN TESTIFY THAT MR JAMES NDAMBO HAS EVER MET ECL.
Injustice on one Zambian is Injustice on all Zambians.

By Miles B. Sampa, MP (06.01.2023)

Friday 6th January 2023 marked the end of my first sensitization tour of Southern Province aimed to greet friends and relatives ahead of the PF general conference in March this year. I did get to post a few messages during my tour of the province, but it is imperative that I make a summary of my experiences.

The purpose of my tour was however somewhat overshadowed by MHT matters because many people in the entire province randomly approached me stating that they are angry at the handling of the organization by those in power in the wake of the July 2022 beauty pageant. Both members and sympathizers claim MHT was in existence predating the formation of UPND. They are wondering why UPND should consider themselves as the only righteous political party to be the first ever to see wrongs in the MHT movement. Upon acquiring power to govern the nation last year, suddenly the UPND got lenses to see wrongs in the MHT members and its activities and yet when they were in opposition, they mingled freely with the same people and their events.

Real or imagined, there is a groundswell of anger among many citizens over the mistreatment of the MHT and its leaders. This anger is not only confined to Southern Province alone but all the others 9 provinces of Zambia. In fact, many people spoken to feel that they let the organization down by standing aside and letting Government wantonly do as it pleased against MHT. It was not until concerned citizens mainly from Lusaka, Copperbelt and Northern provinces came out guns blazing via social media in support of MHT than now the owners in Southern province have also started to voice out.

It has now dawned solidly on all MHT members in Southern Province that being the direct beneficiaries, they should have been in the fore front of defending the truth that they know about their organization. They are best to testify that MHT has never been a political movement and interacted with all citizens regardless of their personal political affiliations be it belonging to the ruling or opposition parties. MHT is apolitical and only interested in activities that helps the well-being of communities.

Meantime the Police in Choma are unable to attend to criminal cases like murder and armed robberies due to lack of adequate transport when Four (4) vehicles MHT donated to them in July last year are parked at a private farm rejected loudly by the UPND government. This is under the suspicion that there is PF involvement in MHT activities simply because Hon Tasila Lungu and two other longtime friends of the organization attended the beauty pageant in Choma last year.

I do know that years back Hon Tasila was approached by MHT to extend her USA Charity shoes donations to Southern Province as it had been excluded prior to that. Consequently and following the MHA plea, she did infact donate hundreds of shoes from her USA charity contacts. Was it logical to expect MHT to dump their ubuntu affiliation with her simply because her father and party she belongs to had lost power?
In any case, at the event she and her husband sat in the back of the audience with ordinary guests while all front rows were reserved by MHT for the UPND ministers and officials as would be expected of honoring the Government of the day.

Surprisingly however and while the UPND have rejected the MHT vehicles donation to the police in Choma, the same people are busy cruising their vehicles on the roads constructed and well-lit by MHT.
“” If ever the term ‘Double Standards’ was a political party. “”

I as a former Southern Province minister in the Sata administration, I can also attest to the fact that we understood the MHT organization as being a partner with government in community development. Other than the MHT, as Minister I reached out to all be it those closely linked (real or perceived) to the then opposition UPND but all in the spirit of development for ordinary majority in the province. I freely interacted with likes of Chief Mukuni much to the annoyance of my then PS madam Inutu Suba who would have other programmes set for me at the times would meet the Chief. Others claimed the Chief was a business associate in the Royal Livingstone hotel and as a PF provincial Minister it was wrong for me to host him in my ministerial office then located in Livingstone. I understood very well ‘fatherly’ roles of my office need to be non partisan in dealing with all people of the province. I actually reciprocated his visit with my own to his palace.

Childish allegations therefore against the MHT founder and accomplished international businessman Mr James Ndambo that he was a supporter of PF are so shameful. More so with this claim coming from people who have known the founder for as long as MHT has existed. They have actually know him before they even joined politics and that his businesses was progressing constantly through the terms of all previous Presidents namely KK, FTJ, LPM, RB, MCS & ECL.

The allegation against MHT and Mr James Ndambo are so shameful to the extent that inspite of my limited campaign resources, Iam prepared to put at stake a K100,000 for anyone who can disagree with this article and prove to me with evidence that the founder of MHT Mr James Ndambo has ever met former PF & former Republican president ECL before, during and after his reign in office.

Upon arrival in Lusaka yesterday, I had a chance to interact with a young lady who recently graduated in London sponsored by MHT for 4 solid years and happens to be an ardent MHT member herself.
“So what did your MHT education sponsorship in London cover? “ I asked.
“Everything; tuition, books, accommodation, meals, air travel holidays back to Zambia twice a year, pocket money etc etc. “
she responded cheerfully.
She is busy trying to preserve the international image of the organization so that more students can benefit like she did.

It’s easy to deduce that several people in the current leadership also benefited from MHT via similar school fees relief programs, medical costs relief programs and funding of their small-scale businesses etc.
I will respect them for now and not mention their names. I might however choose name & shame them one day if they continue to deny in the Judas Iscariot fashion, their not so long ago links or financial support from MHT or Mr James Ndambo.

On my finished tour of Southern Province I also got to pick up that to demonstrate how ingenious the teachings of MHT ethos (self-reliance), a group of concerned youths have fund raised to hold a solidarity fellowship this weekend in Choma. I hope the police there won’t suddenly get to drive on the MHT tarmac roads to destabilize their event. Some people may have seen T-shirts marked “We still need my Hometown in Zambia” which are now selling like hot cakes in Lusaka and other places “ [photos inserted].

CONCLUSION
In God’s wisdom and in the event that the PF members and the Zambian people give me a chance to lead them, one of my first deliverables will be to entice MHT and any others who may have suffered a similar fate at the hands of our ‘people fixing government’,…back to where they left off and assist my administration in national community development agendas.

This would help the government stem off some of the heat that comes with social issues affecting the daily lives of many citizens. It’s a fallacy to think Government alone can do it all in uplifting lives of it’s citizens. World over, good governments create an enabling environment for both business and NGO communities so they in turn help the leadership meet their manifestos and promises to citizens like creating jobs and empowerment.

One great lesson I have taken from this tour about MHT is that inspite of all the noise, positive or negative talks and writes ups about the MHT founder James Ndambo, he and his Ubuntu NGO have remained calm and resolute on their cause. Despite all their activities being on ice in Zambia, they still running but focused in other African countries where they are being embraced with both arms. Last month MHT was officially launched at a colorful ceremony in Ghana and I am aware some ordinary citizens in Zimbabwe are making efforts to locate Mr Ndambo so he can launch MHT in their country as well.

I cannot imagine one of our own undergoing the humiliating unnecessary Investigations instituted around his name and his private businesses both here at home and engineered abroad. We are aware that a deliberate campaign was instituted using official institutions to bring Mr James Ndambo down to his knees financially overseas. Inspite of all this, he however has made no comment and if that doesn’t get the leadership thinking, then they better think again particulary if these desperate harsh measures against him fail to bring him down to his knees financially as eagerly anticipated. It’s a wrongly calculated scheme by his perpetrators.

I am simply defending what’s right and it’s my nature to do so be it for the likes of Mr James Ndambo or another ordinary resident of Navutika compound in Chipata Eastern province where I am off to for my next leg of visiting friends & relatives. Zikomo 🙏🏾

“If we won’t fight injustice wherever we see it, then we are not safe from suffering injustice ourselves.” ― Peter Hitchens.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

MBS07.01.202

EXPERT TIPS GOVT ON RESOLVING ENERGY CRISIS

____as he says the biggest bottlenecks Zambians face is the non cost reflective tariff in the country

8th January, 2023

By Hermity Hachilonde

AN Energy Expert, Johnston Chikwanda says Zambia continues to face an energy crisis because of the non cost reflective tariff in the energy sector.

And Mr. Chikwanda says successive Governments have ignored expert evidence on the challenges in the energy sector hence the continued deficit of energy in the country.

Contributing to the ongoing debate on load-shedding, Dr. Chikwanda said the solution for the current energy crisis lies in addressing the tariff equation.

He says as opposed to focusing on solar energy, the energy crisis could be addressed by cleaner thermal energy using coal.

Zambia has traditionally been reliant on hydroelectric power, but the Kariba dam has not been adequately maintained for decades, and variable rainfall in recent years often reduces the hydroelectric generation capacity.

And it would be prudent for you to know that Zambia is potentially self-sufficient in sources of electricity, coal, biomass and renewable energy.

The only energy source where the country is not self-sufficient is petroleum energy.

And Dr. Chikwanda who have sat on several Task Forces in Zambia on Energy including the 2017 ZESCO reforms reiterated that one of the issue that the GOVERNMENT of the Republic of Zambia did not act upon was to attain cost reflective tariff which he affirmed that it is at the nexus of the challenge in the country.

Dr. Chikwanda says experts further recommended that the single buyer model must be changed to multiple buyer model so that ZESCO Limited can be spared from being the only off taker of expensive Independent Power Producer -IPP- and that was ignored as well.

He revealed that experts suggested that it must be made easy for other players in the industry to access transmission lines saying when they are competing for a big client with ZESCO/Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc (CEC.zm) and if they want to use their transmission network challenge can arise.

Dr. Chikwanda says he has been part and parcel of formulating sector laws such as the electricity Act of 2019 and Energy Regulation Act of 2019 and input in the Rural Electrification Authority -REA- Bill.

The energy Expert says he has contributed alot of recommendations many of them quietly and others as part of teams and regrettably reports gather dust somewhere.

And the Energy Expert has warned that as long as this is not resolved, there is no Task Force that can solve challenges at hand in a significant way.

Dr. Chikwanda who could not hide the frustrations regarding energy crisis in Zambia stressed the need for those in leadership to face the public with reality if they don’t want to go through this ever again.

“A few years ago, ZDA recorded billions of dollars of investment pledges in the energy sector which could not be actualized because of the Tarriff. I hear there are again billions of investment pledges at ZDA for the energy sector. Until the tariff is ok these investments may not be actualized unless its to sell to Zesco who will in turn sell at a loss.”

“IPP power is very expensive because it is sold at actual price. IPPs have almost broken Zescos backbone with expensive power which is later sold at a loss.”

“To hit the nail on the head until we solve the tariff challenge at hand, we will be at this mountain for a while.”

“Like what Lucky said on this platform we have to pin our hopes not just on Hydro but on more thermal (coal). The western world just has to bear with us on coal. There is now cleaner coal technology. This solar thing to drive industrial development we still have some long time.” Dr. Chikwanda said.

HOLDING A BULL BY ITS HORN: HAKAINDE MUST FIX IT

The issue of low water levels cannot hold anymore, Hakainde Hichilema then in opposition said at the hight of a serious energy crisis, loadsheeding.

Hakainde then came out that he had solution to the problem in the absence of low water level at the generation point at Lake Kariba.

Zambians believed his story that the issue of low water level could no longer hold. That the issue was lack of leadership in PF which himself had.

He is today on the driving seat brought in to fix that which the previous administration failed.

The problem is still the same, low water levels at Kariba.

Hakainde and his team are not fixing what they promised. They have joined the same song, low water levels at the generating point.

This is serious about our political leadership in Zambia.

How are we going to take politicians serious? What is the current investment the UPND has put in energy to avert this problem?

As Head of State now on the driving seat, Hakainde has been entrusted with authority that he so much wanted “to fix the problems” Zambia has as he promised.

What is he doing to fix that which he promised?

Do we have a solution to this problem other than waiting for the rains to fill the Kariba dam? What has happened to the solution Hakainde had promised while in opposition?

Kapala the man at Energy whom the UPND Praise Singers are calling for his blood, that Hakainde must show the exit door has announced a reduction on the amount of power being exported to the neighbouring countries.

The Energy Minister has not stated the amount of reduction and what that will entail to the current loadsheeding the country is experiencing.

What is the meaning of this? Is this just one of those many stories, lies to deceive people? Why not being truthful and categorical?

The explanation by these people leaves more questions than answers. The Hichilema administration must avoid taking a path where people lose confidence in it’s government.

Apart from the so called Energy document that is being drafted by Experts, we have not been told what this Government, the New Dawn is doing to again end the loadsheeding we were told had been resolved in May 2022.

This is bringing in more distrust and hopelessness to a struggling population which thought had resolved their economic problems by sending the “thieves, Cadres” packing through an overwhelming election in 2021.

Zambians were looking for nothing but the solutions as promised. Something better than PF era. It is a betrayal that 14 months later we are being told about the PF being the cause of all our problems.

UPND, or Hakainde must do the correct thing, fix that which he promised would do or get back to the people apologize and tell them the complexity of the issues. Keeping quiet and hiding behind PF failures will not do.

To be honest, we at Zambian Eye don’t believe that Hakainde is a lair, a deceiver as it is coming out now. He may have his own weakness but he is not a crook. He may not have known the reality of running government and complexity involved. But now that he knows, he must come out and face the people.

Hakainde has only two years six months to deliver on his promises. Anything done in the last year will be counted as electioneering. The situation on the ground is not good Banene. Things so far done are not enough to save you in 2026. You have no time.

Zambian Eye

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

Comedy of Errors-Ukusensela ilyo kawa

In November 2022, the Zambezi River Authority informed both Zambia and Zimbabwe that Zimbabwe Power Company(ZPC) and ZESCO had utilized the allocated water for the year and the dam’s usable storage for power generation stood at only 4.6%.

So it became clearly inevitable that power generation at Kariba Dam will be adversely affected.

Zambia produces 1,080 megawatts at its North Bank Power Stations and ZImbabwe produces 1,050 megawatts at the South Bank Power Stations.

Knocking off so much power from our national capacity was going to adversely affect both our national use and our power exports.

Akabangilile, kaumine ipulu!

I wonder why at this stage in November 2022 Government did not;

1. Plan for immediate suspension of power exports.

2. Form a multi-task and multi-sectoral team to handle efficient use of power and associated issues.

3. Help plan for both independent power producers; Ndola Energy (110 megawatts) and Maamba Collieries (300 megawatts) that use heavy fuels and coal respectively, to help forestall the impending power deficit.

4. Engage citizens and walk with them on the inevitability of load-shedding schedule to be effected by December or January.

But by two weeks ago, at his Press conference held on 20th December, 2022, President Hakainde Hichilema was boasting and insisting that citizens would not be loadshedded and power exports would not be halted.

This is despite an earlier official announcement on 2nd December 2022, by his Minister of Energy, Hon. Peter Kapala to Parliament that ZESCO would begin six-hour load-shedding on 15th December 2022.

So the hasty decisions that were made on Friday and Saturday and the concerns around Maamba Collieries Power Station have come too late in the day.

Further a visit to Kariba Lake is not the solution. Kariba is not the only source of power generation.

Of the 3,456 installed capacity, Kariba Power Stations produces only 1,080 megawatts.

A stitch in time saves nine!

HH TURNS TO PRIVATE INVESTORS FOR ENERGY CRISIS SOLUTION

President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) says his administration will remove impediments that prevents private investors in Energy generation and supply.

Zambia is facing a serious energy crisis due to low water levels at the generating point in Lake Kariba which has resulted in 12 hours of power cuts everyday.

Hichilema in opposition had promised that he would fix the energy problem saying the low water level was just an excuse for the then PF administration.

14 months of his presidency, the problem is still there and no solution so far though in May 2022 he had told the Nation that he had fixed the energy power outage problem.

But it now looks the problem is far from being resolved as President Hichilema after a meeting with his Energy Taskforce this afternoon, he is talking of inviting the private sector.

This is what President Hichilema posted on his Facebook this evening monitored by Zambian Eye after their meeting today:

Fellow citizens,

We met with energy sector stakeholders this afternoon to discuss the issues surrounding load shedding, the Kariba Dam, and the water body’s unique problems. We acknowledged the fact that the dam is managed as a common resource owned by two countries and therefore its utilization is a bilateral matter that requires further harmonization.

The challenges of load shedding affords us an opportunity to provide a long term resolution to a matter that has dogged our country for 50 years. We acknowledge these problems and will not shy away from finding lasting solutions.

In the meeting we reiterated our view that independent power producers should come on board and that any law that impedes this process should be dealt with urgently.

We directed that ways be explored to cushion the impact of load shedding on small businesses, the farming community, millers, and ordinary citizens by expediting the process of bringing private power facilities onto the power grid to mitigate the power shortage.

Tomorrow, Sunday 8th January 2023, we will visit Kariba North Bank and Maamba for an on-site inspection, after which we will reconvene on Monday to review progress.

Hakainde Hichilema
President of the Republic of Zambia

COPPER: The dilemma of an underpaid, overworked Zambian trucker

…following the disappearance of copper valued at K1,4 million

LUSAKA, 7th Jan. 2023

One of the most captivating contemporary stories in recent days in my view has been that of a truck driver that did a Houdini with a copper laden truck valued at US$80,000 or K1,4 million (of copper minus the truck) in our national currency according to verified media reports.

Initially I almost dismissed it as ´just another theft story´ but then I said, wait a minute, there is always a flip side to a coin, if you go around looking for it, that’s what I did, bearing in mind that crime must never be justified.

The first question I asked was, ´how much do truck drivers earn in Zambia per month as a wage´? ´What kind of conditions do they work under driving invaluable goods from the heart of the Congo via Zambia, all the way to Durban or Dar es Salaam, or even from Ndola or Kitwe to Walvis Bay in Namibia?

My research findings as you can probably guess where alarmingly miserable; I found out that a truck driver carrying a tonne of coper valued at US$6,600/tonne today only earns K980 for the lowest and about K2800 for the highest. Criminal!
What came to my mind then was the adage, “if you pay pea nuts, you get monkeys´” or garbage in garbage out.

Can you imagine trucking a 30-tonne truck full of copper or cobalt worth millions of kwacha, risking your life for US$160 per month.

I am not a businessman I am an academician, author, and diplomat so I can’t for the life of me tell what goes on, in the mind of a businessman, that entrusts a hungry and broke driver to transport goods worth millions of dollars or billions of kwachas.

Back in the day as an editor, this is a story I would assign a hard-nosed reporter to do a “day in a life of trucker,” but also, I would get the labour department to find out why they cannot come up with a minimum wage for essential workers that risk their lives across the board. What’s good for the goose must be good for the gander.

They could be nurses, soldiers’ cops etc because you cannot entrust your safety in the hands of an angry cop, security guard or chef. It’s a recipe for disaster, as in the story of the Zambian currently on the run with pay-dirt.

How many other essential workers in Zambia are underpaid?

Just food for thought folks as we enter the new year. God bless you!

Amb. Anthony Mukwita. 07.01.23.

Leadership in President HH

I find so much comfort in the Leadership of His Excellence President Hakainde Hichilema and his team especially in difficult times.

When President HH saw that the distribution of farming inputs was in shambles he didn’t run away instead he went to the depot to appreciate the Situation himself and apologised to the farmers with a promise of the improved system come next farming season, in the previous regime they would not take responsibility or apologise to the people arrogance was beyond reach in Edgar Lungu administration.

Secondly right now we are faced with a huge crises of power shortages, again President HH has come to understand the situation and is currently making some frantic moves to fix the problem not temporary but permanently. The President to this effect has heard the call from the public to cut power export. He has responded in affirmative to the call from the citizens by cutting power export yet in the previous regime they used to deny exporting power anywhere even when they did, when we had the same crises they lied to Zambians that they wanted to import power spending hundreds of millions of dollars the fact though still remain that the said imported power didn’t reach Zambia. As concerned citizens we still have few questions over the same “imported”power who was paid those millions of dollars? Who paid it?

When we had the same crises under the previous regime through the government spokesperson then Mr Chishimba Kambwili PF government was very disrespectful to citizens to the tune of telling us all to go and urinate in the Kariba dam if we wanted power.

With the fact that we gave President HH and his team 5 years lets see if by the end of their five year term they won’t end the problem of Loadshedding and that of delays in farming inputs distribution. Leadership is about acknowledging your shortfalls and attend to them accordingly Leadership with arrogance is a dead one

Honest Mweemba

Good Governance Activist

I AM CERTAIN OF WINNING THE PF PRESIDENCY
…but if I lose, I will support the winner – GBM
Lusaka, Saturday, January 7, 2023 ( Smart Eagles )
Despite being optimistic that he will scoop the party top job, PF presidential hopeful Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba – GBM has said he will still stay in the party even if he loses.

Hon Mwamba said “maybe” one-day people will appreciate his contribution to the party.
Supporters and general membership of the party have been hoping that the party remains united after the convention.
For some sections of society, division in the PF is invincible after the convention.
Nine political heavyweights have so far expressed their interest in taking up the PF presidency.
So far, they have all spoken the same language of love and unity regarding what happens after the convention.
Speaking when he featured on Hot FM’s live program yesterday, Hon Mwamba said he will support whoever will win.
“If I don’t make it, I will stay in PF. I have told you the background of PF and what I personally did for PF. So why should I think of going elsewhere if I don’t make it? I will stay in PF. Maybe someday people will realize how important I was at a particular time when they so much needed me,” he said.

“So in short I am staying. If I don’t make it, I will support whoever will be picked by the majority…
If you had a chance to talk to your younger self, what would you say?”
He is optimistic of scooping the party presidency based on his contribution to the party.
Hon Mwamba says despite not being the founder member of the party, he has been helping the party financially.

And Hon Mwamba said he is certain he will emerge victorious in the said race because of the good works he has done in the party.
“I have been in PF not from its inception but a few years after his inception. I was there the time MMD wanted to fabricate stories so that the late president Michael Stata shouldn’t feature on the ballot paper, I was there. I helped to finance the PF, in its opposition. I am sure that is not debatable, who doesn’t know that? PF one day will write the history about the formation of its party, my name will always be there,” he said.

“For PF to form government it’s because I helped so much. The secretariat was at my premises while in opposition. PF went into government out of my premises. Michael Chilufya Sata went into State House with a silver Land Cruiser which I bought him.”

Generation Capacity in Zambia by ZESCO and Others

Total -3,634.43 megawatts.

Peak Demand- 2,330 megawatts.

Power Exports- 440 megawatts.

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

● HYDRO

1. Kafue Gorge – 990 megawatts.

2. Kafue Gorge Lower-600 (750).

3. Kariba North Bank -720 megawatts.

4. Kariba Northbank Extension -360 megawatts.

5. Victoria Falls- 108 megawatts.

6. Lunzua River- 14.8 megawatts.

7. Lusiwasi -12 megawatts.

8. Lusiwasi Upper- 15 megawatts.

9. Chishimba Falls- 15 megawatts.

10. Musonda Falls- 10 megawatts.

11. Shiwangandu- 1 megawatts.

12. Itezhi-tezhi Power Corporation- 120 megawatts.

13. Ikelengi ( Zengamina Ltd)-0.7 megawatts.

14. Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company-Mulungushi-30.8 megawatts.

15. Lunsemfwa – 23.2 megawatts.

TOTAL Hydro-2,702.50 megawatts

● COAL

16. Maamba Collaries Power Plant-300 megawatts.

17. Dangote Cement -Dangote Thermal Plant- 30 megawatts.

TOTAL COAL-330 megawatts.

● DIESEL GENERATORS

18. Copperbelt Energy Corporation, Luano-40 megawatts.

19. Bancroft-20 megawatts.

20. Kankoyo -10 megawatts.

21. Maclaren -10 megawatts.

22. ZESCO – Shangombo -1.60 megawatts
23. Lundazi -1.75 megawatts
24. Chama-1.45 megawatts

●HEAVY FUELS

25. Ndola Energy Company -110 megawatts.

SOLAR

26. Rural Electrification Authority- Samfya – 0.06 megawatts.

27. CEC, Kitwe-1.0 megawatts.

28.Muhanya Solar Limited, Sinda-0.03.

29.Ngonye Power Ltd, Lusaka Multi-facility Zone-34 megawatts.

30. Bangweulu Power Company, Lusaka Multi-facility Zone- 54 megawatt.

31. Solera Power, Luangwa Bridge-0.01 megawatts.

32. Standard Microgrid, Kafue-0.02 megawatts.

33.Mugurameno, Chirundu-0.01 megawatts
TOTAL Solar -89.13 megawatts.

● GRAND TOTAL- 3,634.43 megawatts.

NOTE: Ndola Energy (110 megawatts is off due to lack of heavy fuels since INDENI closed) and Maamba Collieries Power Station (300 megawatts closed for routine maintainance).

LET US BE GENEROUS – GBM
….God blesses us in order to bless others!
Lusaka, Friday, January 6, 2023 ( Smart Eagles )
Patriotic Front – PF Presidential candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba – GBM has said God blesses people so that they can share the blessings with those in need.

Hon Mwamba has called on citizens to be generous.
Meanwhile, the potential PF president said he would love to be remembered for his generosity.
He said this when he featured on Hot FM today.

“When I die, I want to be remembered as a generous person and also kind, and also a unifier, not only in the family but also outside the family. Because at the end of the day we are greater family. We are one, this is how God created us. So we should not only look after our families but also the extended ones,” he said.

“Let us look after those that are not able to feed themselves. I find sometimes when I am driving around aa vulnerable person on the street begging for money and somebody at a bar drinking, instead of just giving a K50 to that person. Let us be generous, let us be kind. You know why God gives us? He gives us so that we can also give those that cannot afford.”
Asked what he would tell “his younger self,” Hon Mwamba said “I think I would tell myself that I should have worked harder when I was young.

Hon Mwamba said has always been working hard be he wished he worked harder when he was young.
“You only work hard when you are young, not when you are old. When you are getting into the 60s it’s time to retire. Let us work hard when we are young. Let us make as much money as possible so that when you start getting older, you start to have medical bills that need a lot of money…,” he said.

“When you get old you will realize that none of your siblings are able to look after you because they also have their own interests now, they also have their own families to look after. So better secure your life when you are young.”

By CIC

TAKE BLAME FOR ZAMBIA’S POWER WOES, MUUNDA TELLS OFF PF

..commends President Hichilema for Energy Efficiency Strategy.

LUSAKA task force chairman, Morgan Muunda has taken a swipe at the former ruling party for failing to put futuristic power outage preventive measures in place.

He argued that had the previous regime not bankrolled its party cadres on the ZESCO payroll, the power utility company couldn’t have lost much of its income meant for maintenance, expansion and repair of the Kariba power generation facility.

He observed that it was the wanton, reckless misuse of income from the company as well as the subsequent failure to reform ZESCO that has led to Zambians being subjected to intermittent power blackouts.

And Muunda has commended President Hakainde Hichilema for formulating an Energy Efficiency Strategy through the Ministry of Energy aimed at expediting the process for investors to develop independent power producers.

He also stressed that instead of taking to social media and climbing anthill summits to denounce the Hakainde-led New Dawn administration for the 12-hours long loadshedding currently being experienced in the country, Muunda said it was only prudent that the leaders of the former ruling party did self introspection and soul searching over the matter.

He said that it was failure on their part to swiftly embark on a robust shift from over-dependence on hydro electricity to other sources of energy such as thermal, solar and wind that has led to the current situation.

He further observed that the failure by the PF during its 10 years-long stay in power to harness the huge coal availability in the country for thermal power generation and later its (PF) inability to tap into the abundant sunshine to salvage the solar potential of Zambia could be blamed for the current power mallaise.

Muunda said that it was regrettable that the people responsible for the numerous economic woes that has plunged majority Zambian citizens were the loudest when it comes to pointing figures at the UPND-led government over a number of economic rigidities that President Hichilema is working on unlocking.

Yesterday, President Hichilema expressed concern at the disruptions caused by the on-going loadshedding which he said has affected various economic sectors, small scale businesses, vital installations, households and ordinary people.

CIC PRESS TEAM