“STOP INTERFERING WITH JUDICIAL PROCESSES,” NAKACINDA TELLS HH

.as DPP is cited for contempt in Milingo Lungu matter..

PF Information and Publicity Chairperson Raphael Nakacinda says it is a shame that President Hichilema and his UPND have continued to have blatant disregard for an important arm of government such as the judiciary to the extent of appointing a DPP who is clearly compromised and now bringing the office of the DPP into disrepute.

He said the manner the DPP handled the Milingo Lungu matter, a matter which is before the courts of law, resulting in him being cited for contempt is reflective of how the important office of DPP has been turned into a mockery.

” This is the first time we have a DPP appearing for contempt which is a criminal charge when he is supposed to protect procedure as mandated by Law,” Nakacinda said.

” President Hichilema has had no regard for the Judiciary even when he was in opposition. He always belittled the judiciary whether verbally or in action and this is the same attitude he has brought now that he is President. The attitude of bullying them,” he said.

” If it is his DPP , Gilbert Phiri, when UPND was in opposition, he ran articles insulting the Judiciary during the time HH was undergoing contempt proceedings which saw him suspended for 6 months ..this is the man who is DPP today, ” Nakacinda said.

He emphasised that President Hichilema begin to give the Judiciary space to operate as an independent arm of government without undue interference from the Executive as is stipulated by the doctrine of Separation of Powers .

He urged the Judiciary to rise to the occasion and redeem themselves .

“An example is the Kabushi and Kwacha by-elections which caused them absolute embarrassment, ” he said.

Nakacinda said this during a program on Millenium TV last evening.

Meanwhile Nakacinda has announced that PF is undertaking reforms to its Constitution as it prepares to go to a general conference later in the year.

Nakacinda said the PF Constitution in its current form has several lacunae which must be addressed so that the election process is free and fair and gives a fair opportunity for the party to elect a leader who will inspire confidence in the membership and the general public.

” We are going to take the process to all stakeholders as part of the process of rebranding . We will prioritize institutionalising the party and move it away from the big man syndrome. So as much as going for an elective conference is important, we want to do it properly so that the Party comes first and not individuals,” he said.

#Smarteagles2023

The United Party for National Development – UPND Energy Chairperson Charles Kaisala says Zambia is a member of the Southern Power Pool, this is why it is exporting electricity in order to help other countries that are in a crisis.

Mr Kaisala said that it is a norm for members of the Southern Power Pool with excess electricity to extend help to those facing a crisis.
He however noted that the UPND government understands the energy sector and it is working on reducing loadshedding in the country.

“Loadsheding is a supply and demand kind of situation, where we have a high demand and the supply or generation capacity has been impaired because of the low water levels at the Kariba Dam,” he said

Mr Kaisala said that basically to not lose the entire national grid through tripping or losing the wall, load management is done where certain points and to avoid going into a catastrophic situation where the entire grid is lost.

“When you lose the whole grid it will take you about a week to restore it because you just cant switch on like any other situation, there are processes that go on at the power station when operating these machines,” he said

“The situation we are in, is not a normal situation, it is because the water levels have dropped beyond reasonable doubt, if you go to Kariba Dam right now, there is an island in the Dam which means that the water levels are very low, our colleagues across in Zimbabwe there are even in a more situation,” he said

“The situation we are in right now from the independent power producers we have Mamba Collories, they supply the national grid with 300 megawatts of power that is coal-powered, and thye had a scheduled maintenance of one machine, the machines ther are two because they generate power at 150 megawatts each, of which they have taken out that machine because maintainencce is very cardinal, and you cant be handling these machines without maintainence because they will just give us and then lose the whole power station,” he added

Mr Kaisala mentioned that when the UPND took over office they had a lot of challenges in both the electricity and petroleum sector and based on thier manifesto which they drive their policy on energy, adding that their manifesto looks at creating conditions for the provision of safe, reliable, eficient, cost-reflective and environmentally appropriate energy services to all sectors on the sustainable basis, he mmentioned that this statement summarises there policy on the energy sector.

He stated that on the electricity sub sector, with ZESCO being the main player, the UPND Government came up with policies especially on the energy mix as the country is heavily dependent on hydro generation concentrated on the Southern part of the country, where there are power stations on the Zambezi river and the Kafue river.

He added that over the years, there has been some challenges on both the Zambezi river and Kafue river, which has led to having challenges with the generation capacity from these power stations because of the climate change effects, where the rainfall patterns have gone from normal to abnormal, which has necessitated to having terminal load shedding in the country.

“As a Party we came up with a policy direction of having generation mix that is in the way power is generated not concentrating on hydro but also have other forms of energy such as solar, wind, biomass etc,” he said

Meanwhile, Mr Kasaila mentioned that in the petroleum sector there were two ways to get the product, one thorugh Indeni in Ndola and also through the oil marketing companies which bring in finished products, when the UPND took office Indeni was not operational since 2020, as a Party they took an option of immediate solution on Indeni by having the model changed to that of an oil marketing company to enable Indeni to continue being relevant in the petroleum market in the country, the process has been initiated and its on going.

Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Technical Services Joel Kamoko has said schools should find means of teaching computer science without relying solely on ZESCO power.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of a 1×3 classroom block and a playpark at Twalubuka Community School in Ndola, Copperbelt, Mr. Kamoko said lack of Zesco power should not be an excuse for not teaching computer sciences in schools.

He said schools should find alternatives to Zesco power in a bid to ensure that pupils learn computer sciences.

“Ba Kateka balefwaya waterborne toilets in schools. So Provincial Education Officer (Copperbelt) I want to find water borne toilets here and it should be solar powered. We don’t want to quarrel with Zesco and that will make life even for you easy to put up IT and they (pupils) can learn. And by the way there are things we can learn offline. I do not want to discuss technical details in public. It is not impossible to learn computers. You do not always need Zesco and we should move away from that excuse. Because if our children don’t learn those computers when they finish Grade 7 they will still look uneducated. So they have to learn computers. The teachers themselves need to have a laptop as a matter of urgency rather than get a loan to buy a Christmas gift,” Mr. Kamoko said.

ZESCO Limited has started a rotational load-shedding exercise due to a planned generator outage at the Maamba Coal Thermal Power Plant for routine maintenance and low water levels at the Kariba reservoir.

According to a statement from the ZESCO Corporate Affairs department, the low water levels at Kariba Dam have resulted in a reduction of generation at the 1080 MW power station facility to below 400 MW.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kamoko has challenged the business community in Zambia to partner with the Government in the provision of quality education.

He also praised Airtel Zambia Limited for funding the construction of a 1×3 classroom block and a playpark at Twalubuka Community School in Ndola, Copperbelt.

“As you may be aware, the new dawn government attaches great importance to educating the Zambian child and that commitment has been demonstrated through the implementation of the free education policy. This policy has accorded the children of Zambia an opportunity to fulfill their potential and develop their abilities. With increased enrolments in schools, there is an amplified need for infrastructure development to reduce overcrowding in schools. Thus, the unwavering support from Airtel Zambia and Zambia open community schools is timely. I am happy that the ministry of education takes pride in working and cooperating with civil society organizations such as zocs as they help to complement government efforts in improving the quality of education in the country. As a ministry, we have witnessed zocs work in the country for over three decades. To this end, my ministry of education and zocs renewed and signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (mou) last year, which guides the relationship that sits between the two institutions,” Mr. Kamoko said.

“I wish to stress that human capacity and skills development are key in our country; however, that can only be attained if government and cooperating partners work together and invest in education. We need educated Zambians to develop Zambia. I would like to congratulate you all on the official handover of this classroom block and a play-park. May this day mark the beginning of a new era in education in this community and may it inspire more initiatives to improve the process of teaching and learning. These children are our future and investing in their education is investing in the future. May these classrooms be filled with learning and a continued focus on improved education outcomes, and may god bless all who teach and learn at Twalubuka community school now and in the future,” he said.

Zambia is facing an unprecedented energy crisis, with power cuts lasting up to 12 hours a day and a rapidly growing population putting increased strain on the country’s infrastructure. In the face of this crisis, economist Dr. Lubinda Haabazoka is calling for the exploration of nuclear power as a solution.

“Load shedding has its own huge negative effects on both households and businesses,” said Dr. Haabazoka. “Not only does it increase the cost of doing business and living, it also limits people’s ability to not only do business but also construct their livelihoods.”

Dr. Haabazoka pointed out that while Zambia’s electricity generation capacity has increased from 1,800 megawatts in 2010 to 3,200 megawatts in 2021, actual generation is dependent on the amount of water in the country’s rivers. Poor rainfall patterns in recent years have had a negative impact on economic growth, with power cuts forcing companies to reduce production and the country spending more on power imports.

“If our population was 12 million in 2012, our population has almost doubled to close to 20 million people in 2021! This huge growth in population means we need more infrastructure to support the population and power is one of them,” said Dr. Haabazoka.

“The 1,800 megawatts power generation capacity was left by Kenneth Kaunda who last built power generating capacity in 1977. That capacity was to support a population of 3 million people.”

Given the limitations of hydroelectric power, Dr. Haabazoka is calling on the government and the people of Zambia to consider alternative energy sources. “We can’t just wait for God to give us water to generate electricity,” he said.

“We need to use the intelligence God granted us to diversify our energy sources. Europe once started preaching green energy and they are now paying for that this winter! That rhetoric should not consume Zambia.”

Dr. Haabazoka argued that the use of peaceful nuclear power could help to create a stable base load and sustain the country’s growing population.

“We need to proceed on the path of seeking peaceful nuclear power in order to sustain our growing population and region at large,” he said. “Ask any sober engineer and they will tell you that the maximum we can harness in terms of hydroelectric power is not more than 5,000 megawatts. Our rivers are drying. We are cutting down trees at an alarming rate! We are careless hence no rainfall.”

The economist also called on the government to utilize the expertise of those who have worked on the nuclear energy project in the past.

“There is a program that the government started on nuclear energy,” he said.

“How far is this project? People with institutional memory on this project have since been scattered around. I was one of the people that worked on the Turnkey of the research reactor! No one has ever come to ask me about the project in 3 years! That’s how this country gets it wrong! The late Msiska had done quite a lot for us to diversify into nuclear! People he worked with are still there! Let’s just do the right thing. We shall end up a disaster in the future when it’s too late.”

AFRICA’S AUTHORITARIAN ‘BIG MEN’ DETERMINE THE LAW

By Isaac Mwanza

“Our present rulers in Africa are in every sense late-flowering medieval monarchs…”
~ Chinua Achebe, Nigerian author in Anthills of the Savannah

INTRODUCTION

This fourth and last in series of these articles is intended to show that legislation in Zambia, and indeed the rest of the African countries, continues to be dictated by Africa’s post-independence authoritarian leaders. While giving kudos to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema for his personal decision to repeal the law of defamation of the President, it is the view of the author that the journey to decriminalise defamation of the head of state, is far from over.

IS PRESIDENT HICHILEMA AN AUTHORITARIAN LEADER?

Authoritarian leadership, also known as autocratic, is a management style in which an individual has total decision-making power and absolute control over his subordinates and the institutions of state. When we say a President is an authoritarian leader, we simply mean that such a President makes decisions on national policies, procedures or law with little or no input from his or her members in Cabinet or other supporting institutions, and has absolute control over positions that his or her members of parliament take in the House.

It is safe to say that most, if not all, African leaders wear this jacket of authoritarian leadership and we are beginning to see this authorise streak developing in western countries, too, in the so-called free democracies where dissenting voices are labelled as anti-democratic. Those who question the leader’s choices, even on internal matters, are labelled as aiding those who are falsely labelled as enemies of democracy simply because they demand their right to be consulted before actions are taken, or policies are announced in their name. Such authoritarian attitudes are being claimed to be in the interests of “the people” even when the people are denied their right to be consulted on matters affecting their daily lives.

This author believes that our country, Zambia, has arrived at that point where unilateral decisions are claimed to have been taken “for the people of Zambia” without any consultation, not even through their elected representatives in Parliament. Information on new bilateral or multilateral agreements are not shared with the people in whose name such arrangements are claimed to have been made.

During a meeting hosted for the elites by the President at State House on Wednesday, 28th December, 2022, President Hichilema made interesting self-praise remarks which were meant to earn him some applause from his invited delegates. The remarks alone describe the authoritarian leadership Zambia is likely to witness in the President’s first term of office where he admitted that he is in a hurry to make substantial law reforms. President Hichilema told his cheering audience:

“…the removal of the criminal defamation of the President is equally important. I must confess here this is one decision that I carried and overruled Cabinet (applause) because many were unhappy about it. They said because the President is being insulted every day. And after all, secondly this is an old law. Even in other countries, Presidents are protected… the victim must actually reflect and solve the problem. This is where I am standing (applause). We are very delighted that we have taken away the criminal defamation of the President.”

We must face the reality that Zambia will continue to be hobbled by “Big Man” politics, the all-wise Father-Knows-Best whose decisions everybody must praise, regardless of the consequences or implications. President Hichilema has become one of Africa’s “Big Men” whose power and pretensions to power, border on the imperial.

The President’s supporters have mounted a robust campaign, moving from one door of private business to another, demanding that his official photograph is mandatorily displayed in a place of honour regardless of the fact private premises are not required to display the President’s Portrait, but may do so as a matter of choice. Others of his supporters have taken to social media, especially video clips, portraying themselves as the defenders of the President’s honour and policies and threatening to do physical harm to any person or organisation which may be seen to oppose the President’s views, policies or programs.

Notably, the President has made no effort to directly confront and stop his supporters from such unacceptable behaviour, or to condemn these supporters directly. Meanwhile, the President’s foreign supporters in the west praise him as a beacon of hope for democracy in Africa.

Africa’s present-day “medieval monarchs” rule with few checks and balances from courts and legislatures. In simple terms, they control the level of checks and balances which can be offered to the leadership. In Zambia, the President has a strong hand in the deciding as to who leads both the Judiciary and Legislature and, to an extent, what laws must pass or fail.

In 2019, after a night of voting in the House of Commons to further delay the Brexit date, British Labour MP Barry Sheerman accused senior Tories of being the undead, ‘we all had a late-night last night’ but Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay was a ‘zombie secretary with zombie ministers’. Caution: Such a word as zombie cannot be used on the floor of our rigid National Assembly to refer to a Minister or an MP as a zombie or zombies. A simple remainder that everyone in the National Assembly of Zambia was old enough to shave pubic hair attracted suspension of an MP from the House. That is the Zambian Parliament we have carried over into 2023.

The President appoints the head of the judiciary, as well as those who serve as Judges of the superior courts; he appoints all members who sit on the Service Commissions, Judicial Complaints Commissions, Director of Public Prosecutions as well as heads of investigative wings, giving the President plenty of leeway in deciding who gets to be removed from office if they don’t sing the same hymn. Here in Zambia, we have recently witnessed the arbitrary and unilateral removal of the Director of Public Prosecutions from office without following the constitutionally-stipulated procedure, in true strongman style.

Our latter-day “medieval monarchs” in Africa have usurped the traditional authority of African tribal chiefs and welded it to the power of the modern state. The extent to which President Hichilema did and will overrule his Cabinet on key legislative reforms is frightening. In the corridors of power, some whispers are getting ever louder, that the executive wants the Constitution amended in piecemeal to allow his Chief Justice take control over the Constitutional Court, and that may explain why he has not yet appointed the Judge President of that important Court.

It is also being said, in somewhat loud whispers, that the President wants the ten-year tenure for his Chief Justice to be removed from the Constitution so that there is no limit as to the length of term of office for the Chief Justice. They want him to save limitless against the very wishes of the people who agreed to limit the term of office for the Chief Justice to ten years.

All this sounds suspiciously like preparation for constitutional changes to allow the removal of constitutionally fixed term limits to allow constitutional office holders who are restricted by term limits to serve as long as they have control of the vital and necessary levers of power.

We have recently witnessed this in Ivory Coast where, the Ivorian President is now serving an unconstitutional third term when his chosen successor died suddenly just before the election. Instead of calling for fresh nominations, the President appointed himself as the new candidate and, with the acquiescence of his constitutional court, took up an unconstitutional third term which his western supporters claimed, was necessary to avoid chaos in the country.

CRIMINAL DEFAMATION OF THE PRESIDENT – THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS

The repeal of Section 69 of the Penal Code, does not effectively abolish the law that penalises people who were previously charged with the crime of defamation of the President. This is so because the Penal Code continues to make defamation an offence under Sections 191 and 192 of the Code, which reads:

“[Defamation]
191. Any person who, by print, writing, painting, effigy, or by any means otherwise than solely by gestures, spoken words, or other sounds, unlawfully publishes any defamatory matter concerning another person, with intent to defame that other person, is guilty of the misdemeanour termed “libel”.

[Definition of defamatory matter]
192. Defamatory matter is matter likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or likely to damage any person in his profession or trade by an injury to his reputation. It is immaterial whether at the time of the publication of the defamatory matter the person concerning whom such matter is published is living or dead:

Provided that no prosecution for the publication of defamatory matter concerning a dead person shall be instituted without the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

In fact, a citizen or any other person in Zambia, can be criminally charged under Section 71 of the Penal Code for defaming a foreign prince, potentate, ambassador or other foreign dignitary with intent to disturb peace and friendship between Zambia and the country to which such prince, potentate, ambassador or dignitary belongs. The defamation of foreign princes is punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or with a fine or with both.

As you may clearly see from the Penal Code, criminal defamation still exists. It may actually be too early for certain sections of society to celebrate, in the mistaken belief that criminal defamation has been abolished as is being alleged. This work is far from being finished until Parliament goes back to the drawing board and repeals these provisions from the law. The very reason why past Presidents did not repeal Section 69 in isolation, was that it would not really end criminal defamation, in practice, of the President. People can still be charged under these latter provisions that still exist in the same Penal Code.

CONCLUSION

The nation must remain alert to what is happening among our three arms of government. One does not really need to care much with what happens between the Executive and our Parliament because, in principle, the Executive has a full grip on our Legislature. But this must never be allowed to be so with the Judiciary, the last institution in our defence of the Constitution and our rights as citizens. In my previous articles, it has been shown that the death penalty in Zambia still remains constitutional until the time we shall either amend the constitution or repeal and replace it with a new one. Finally, it has been demonstrated that criminal defamation still exists in our statutes, and therefore a person who defames the President, can be charged for criminal defamation in Zambia under Sections 191 and 192 of the Penal Code.

This author thinks that we celebrated too soon.

I’M HAPPY WE DELIVERED – MUNDUBILE
…as he implores Hon Masebo to equip and open Chikosa mini hospital in his Constituency
Mporokoso…. Friday January 6, 2023 (Smart Eagles)
Patriotic Front (PF) presidential hopeful Hon Brian Mundubile has implored the UPND government to complete all the projects that were started by the PF regime.

The Mporokoso Member of Parliament said Zambia would be happy to see the UPND government continuing to work on such projects.
Hon Mundubile also called on the Minister of Health Hon. Sylvia Masebo to quickly equip a Chikosa mini hospital in his Constituency which was constructed by the PF government to help the locals to have easy access to quality healthcare.
The lawmaker disclosed that he has recieved calls from the locals who were wondering why the hospital was not operational despite the fact that construction is complete.

He said this when he visited the facility yesterday.
“It’s one of the health facilities that we developed and constructed under the PF government. You remember that under the PF, it was a policy that within five kilometres of every settlement, you have a health post,” he said.

“And in this case there were four categories, if not two. We had health posts, we had mini hospitals like this one, we had district hospitals which is much bigger and of course other referrals. Here in Mporokoso we recieved the first four health posts plus a mini hospital. And of course under CDF we will be able to construct two or three others to be able to cover all areas.”

Hon Mundubile said he is happy that the PF delivered on its promises regarding the health sector in his Constituency.
“I think as the area Member of Parliament I’m very happy that we delivered on our promises, one of them being this particular mini hospital and other health posts that I referred to earlier. I also want to appeal to he new dawn government that development is not an event but a process so that whatever projects that we started, please take them up and complete them so that we can continue to deliver to the Zambian people,” he said.

“And obviously even the Zambian people can be happy that the new dawn was able to continue from where the PF left. What sometimes is disturbing is to have projects half way and they abandon such projects. So this one is complete, its just a call on the Minister to equip it with staff and other equipment that is required.”

Power Exports in relation to Loadshedding

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

In the last ten years, Government made remarkable investment in the energy sector and increased the country’s generation capacity from 1,600 megawatts in 2011 to 3,456 megawatts in 2021.
For the first time, and as a result of this, Zambia has dedicated surplus power as its peak demand is about 2,300 megawatts while its generation capacity is 3,456 megawatts.

New power stations were built and small ones were upgraded.

For example Lunzuwa Power Station in Mpulungu was upgraded from 0.75 to 15 megawatts and Chishimba and Musonda Power Stations were also upgraded to 15 and 10 megawatts.

Further almost the entire electricity infrastructure such as transmission, distribution lines and substations were upgraded.

ZESCO AND IPP GENERATION CAPACITY

Both ZESCO, in partnership or with Independent power producers are generating 3,456 megawatts.

Below is the breakdown of power generation.

1. Kafue Gorge -990 megawatts.

2. Kariba North Bank- 720 megawatts.

3. Victoria Falls- 108 megawatts.

4. Small Hydros (Chishimba, Lunzuwa, Musonda, Chinsali,) -57.8 megawatts.

INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS OR PARTNERSHIPS

1. Kafue North Bank Extension-360 megawatts.

2. Kafue Gorge Lower-600 megawatts (750 megawatts).

3. Maamba Collieries Ltd- 300 megawatts.

4. Ndola Energy Company- 105 megawatts.

5. Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company-56 megawatts.

6. Itezhi-Itezhi Power Company -120 megawatts.

7. Ngonye and Bangweulu Solar Companies-76 megawatts

EXPORTS

ZESCO has bilateral and contractual obligations and is exporting electricity to;

1. DRC’s Société National d’Électricité (SNEL) 70 megawatts and ZESCO earned $70.94million in 2021.

2. Nampower, Namibia-180 megawatts( $500million-$50million a year for 10 years).

3. LV-20 megawatts.

4. Zimbabwe Power Corporation-100 megawatts ( five year deal).

5. Bostwana Power Corporation-80 megawatts.

Total Exports 440 megawatts.

More is also sold through the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP).

CHALLENGES

Because of low water levels in Kariba Lake, generation at the South Bank stations have dropped from 1,080 megawatts to about 660 megawatts.

Further IPP Power stations such as Ndola Energy (off because of lack of heavy fuels from INDENI) and Maamba Collieries (service and rehabilitation works) are down.

Both Bangweulu and Ngonye Solar farms have lower production because of solar irradiation due to rainy cloud cover during this season.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Despite the challenges seen above, Zambians may not be loadshedded..

Loadshedding Zambians is but a mere choice.

ZESCO may be encouraged to invoke clauses in their export contracts and agreements and restore until them after March 2023.

And Government may need to know that as soon as INDENI was shut, it knocked out Ndola Energy Company which uses heavy fuels, residues of INDENI production. Ndola Energy produces 105 megawatts from the national installed capacity .

The energy mix in solar and coal present the biggest opportunity for Zambia as long as ZESCO is not forced to enter into unfair Power Purchase Agreements that makes it subsidize Independent Power Producers (IPP) as is the case now, where-by ZESCO buys power expensively but sells it cheaply to consumers and the IPP mint millions of paper profits.

Zambia holds over 80million coal reserves (270 years of use) and despite the green and climate change demands to shut “dirty energy” power stations, we can look at this potential for the energy security of the country.

PERFORMANCE OF NEW DAWN MINISTERS SO FAR

04/01/2023

CABINET MINISTERS

1.Hon.Silvia Masebo- Health

On face value and looking at her likeable personality ,it is easier to think that the Minister has done well in her portfolio.But a visit to any public health facility in Zambia condemns Hon.Masebo .The situation in terms of medicines is worse than she found the Ministry.She has performed below 10% and must be taken to a less sensitive Ministry or allowed to work as MP only .By keeping her in charge of health amidst this acute shortage of medicines ,the President is sending a dangerous signal to the Zambian people.

2.Hon.Elvis Nkandu …Youth and Sports

The Minister is one of those few Ministers making an impressive mark .From the activities at his Ministry and those in the field,it is safe to conclude that ,Nkandu is doing his best .He is always in touch ,is reasonably visible and knows when to engage stakeholders .He is a Minister who is now treating all sports Associations and sports disciplines fairly .With Pilato and Kangwa Chileshe on his side ,Hon.Nkandu is poised to change the face of sports in Zambia.The Minister scores 76%.

3.Hon.Garry Nkombo- Local Government

With his past versatility and eloquence in Parliament ,Zambians expected alot from Hon.Nkonbo .But his running of local Government, especially the CDF component,is shambolic.He has not brought anything new to the face of local authorities and most towns and cities today are still very dirty .He is a Minister who is neither here nor there .The Minister,s performance is at 18%.

4.Hon.Chushi Kasanda … Information

When she was appointed,she made terrible mistakes but we all gave her chance to settle down.After one year and some months,she is still the same raw Government PR.She has not brought anything new to the media landscape and Zambians have not seen any intentions of her working on the Access to Information Bill or bringing beneficial reforms to state media .In terms of being Chief Government Spokesperson,the President has no choice but to find someone else.The Minister scores 16 %.

5.Hon.Ambrose Lufuma – Defense

Though it is very difficult to nicely judge his performance because of the nature of his ministry,it is safe for me to assert that ,the Minister carries himself well and represents Government honourably.But the Minister is not showing any plans of making defense wings more economically productive and useful.He scores 47%.

6.Frank Tayali- Transport

It is very difficult to see any any ideas and reforms which the Minister has brought or plans to bring to the Transport and Logistics sectors .It is therefore easy to agree with most people who wonder why this Minister is at that Ministry.He scores 23% .

7.Hon.Reuben Mtolo Phiri – Agriculture

If failure was a person ,it would be this Minister .His Ministry is in a mess and if the President is not part of this confusion in agriculture,then Hon. Phiri must not be in that seat next month.

8.Hon.Stanley Kakubo – Foreign Affairs

He is cool and soft spoken . Though he has allowed alot of cadres into foreign service ,the face of Zambia abroad is very good now .Zambia is now regarded highly among the community of nations .He scores 65% and must stay in that potifolio.

9.Hon.Alias Mubanga- Small and Medium Enterprises

When you visit this Ministry,there is almost nothing happening in this Ministry.It is now difficult to comprehend why the President created this Ministry.It is either the President fires this Minister or abolishes the Ministry.The Minister scores 8%

10.Doreen Mwamba -Community Development

While she has failed to remove and take care of street kinds in Zambia ,she looks determined to put in place policies and programs to take care of the vulnerable people in Society.She is friendly to the media and responds quickly to the needs of communities .She scores 55%

11.Hon .Jack Mwiimbu – Home Affairs

Though he is less toxic as compared to Hon.Stephen Kampyongo ,the Minister has not improved much the face of the police and the Correctional facilities.The two institutions have remained essentially the same in terms of operations.Alot was expected from Hon.Mwiimbu but it appears the man was never meant for the Ministry of Home Affairs.He scores 25 % .

12.Hon Douglas Siakalima – Education .

The Minister has superintended over the reintroduction of free education, recruitment of 30,496 teachers ,launch of curriculum reforms and abolishion of the 100% automatic progression from grade 7 to grade 8 .Despite acute shortages of desks , overcrowding in classes , accommodation crisis for teachers and lack of upgrades for teachers,Hon.Siakalima has done well in his seat.He scores 62%

13.Hon.Chairle Milupi – Infrastructure Development

The Minister is just present by name but nothing is happening in his Ministry.He started with alot of zeal but it appears the New Dawn Administration has no cash for infrastructure development .If that is the case ,it is better the President abolishes this Ministry ,for now .He scores 10% .

14.Hon.Brenda Tembatamba – Labour and Social security

The Minister is by far better than her predecessor,Madam Joyce Nonde .She is noticeably visible and is trying to attend to some gaps in the labour landscape of our country.But generally,she has not still induced the much needed vigour to give the Ministry a good image and new lease of life .The Ministry remains one of the most rebuked Ministries in Zambia .Very few people have confidence and respect for this Ministry.She scores 30%

15.Hon. Peter Kapala – Energy

So far this Minister has failed the people .We have not seen any plans to diversify the energy sources,no plans to reform ZESCO and the ERB.He scores 7%

16.Hon.Mokozo Chikote – Livestock and Fisheries

Very few citizens know about this Minister and the Ministry.He is invisible.It would be shocking if there is anything this Minister is doing .

17.Hon.Chipoka Mulenga – Commerce

The Minister is reasonably visible but he fails to walk his talk.Right now,most citizens and their businesses are failing to do tick .There is no liquidity in the economy and the trading/ commerce environment is still dangerous for indigenous Zambians .He scores 29%

18.Hon.Paul Kabuswe – Mines

So far ,most of his talks have ended at just being talks.The Mining sector is still sick and it appears this Minister intends to surrender the sector to foreign interests .It is not clear wether the Minister has plans to allow Government and Zambians to own mines.He is too Pro- west and totally against nationalism.He scores 7 %

19.Hon.Collins Nzovu- Green Economy and Environment

Again,it is extremely difficult to see why the President created this Ministry.There is nothing happening at this Ministry.The best thing to do by the President is to abolish this Ministry.It is just a cost to the Treasury.

20.Hon.Mike Mposha- Water Development

The Minister is here and there but his presence is not meaningful enough for citizens to appreciate.Sanitary conditions in most compounds are still bad and access to clean water still remains a huge challenge.The Minister has never shared his plans of solving these challenges .He scores 25 %

21.Hon.Rodney Sikumba – Tourism ….

I personally had a lot of confidence in this man with regards to tourism .But if i said that he is doing anything in that sector ,I would be lying.We have not seeing anything innovative from him .He is a huge disappointment and the President should begin to search for his replacement..

22.Hon.Felix Mutati – Technology

The Minister is very visible but just that .He talks alot but just that .Until we begin to see results ,he shall remain a failed project .He scores 28% .

23.Hon . Elijah Muchima – Lands

Most people expected him to bring about efficiency and effectiveness at the Ministry but he has terribly failed .He has even failed to deal with forest 27.He has since gone into hibernation.He scores 10%

24.Hon.Situmbeko Musokotwane – Finance

He is experienced and calm .He has managed to pay retiries,recruited teachers and other public service workers .He has also managed to reverse the economic negativity and improved the inflation of the country from 24% to 9% . However,he has failed to reduce the cost of fuel , fertilizer and generally has failed to reduce the cost of life in Zambia .He scores 50% .

25.Hon.Mulambo Haimbe – Justice

He has not yet provided a road map for legal reforms and citizens are now lost about the intention of this Minister over amendments to the Public Order Act and the Republican Constitution.The Minister has avoided to discuss these important issues .He is also a big let down.He scores 8%

PROVINCIAL MINISTERS

Apart from Hon . Cornelius Mweetwa ,Hon.Kapelwa Mbangweta and Hon.Credo Nanjuwa,the other 8 Provincial Ministers are totally invisible and incapable of running Provinces .The President should seriously think of replacing them.

CONCLUSION

From the analysis above ,it is clear that majority members of the President,s cabinet have failed to tick ,to make marks .If the President will not act now ,the damage to his political and administrative imagine will permanently be colossal.

Authored by: Dr Patrick Mwanza ,Lusaka

I SYMPATHIZE WITH HH, PEOPLE WILL INSULT HIM WITHOUT FEAR – FORMER PF SG MWILA

FORMER PF secretary general Davies Mwila says the UPND government will regret abolishing the criminal defamation of the President law looking at its performance.

Commenting on remarks by UPND Lusaka Province Chairman Obvious Mwaliteta in which he urged the opposition to desist from abusing the abolishment of the said law, Mwila said the move had left the President “naked” as anyone could insult him without fear.

“That statement from Mwaliteta, he must understand that removing the law of the defamation of the President means you are leaving the President naked, anyone can talk about the President without any fear, without any restriction, that’s what it means. So honourable Mwaliteta should be ready for anything, removing that law means opening a Pandora’s box to anyone. So it might look good but it’s not good to the President, but good to the people of Zambia. So that law, I can tell you it’s bad for Hakainde Hichilema because even small children will be able to insult him. The police will have no obligation to arrest anyone. So they have to prepare for big insults from the people and not only that, Hakainde Hichilema with the way he is performing, he is not performing well and he is going to regret removing that law of defamation,” he said.

Mwila said he was against the abolishment of the criminal defamation of the President law because the Head of State needed to be respected.

“Personally, I’m against that because presidency is an institution and people must have respect for the President. We can criticise him but we can’t go and insult him to an extent that you treat him like an ordinary person. A President is a President, so we expect that all Zambians must respect him. Yes, we may be excited today but tomorrow it will be a bad law. Including the death penalty, yes you may be happy that they have abolished the death penalty but people will start killing [each] other because they will know that when they are taken to court no one will be killed,” he said.

“So, that’s why you’ve seen [that in] South Africa it’s worse off in terms of violence, killing people because they know that there’s no death penalty. So even the law of defamation the President, [they] might be excited but tomorrow, I can tell you… Look at the way it was before abolishment, the way Hakainde was being insulted, what about if you remove the law, it will be worse? These others yes, but not President. President is President, if you can’t protect the President then you can’t protect the country, that is my view”.

He insisted that the UPND would regret abolishing the law.

“The UPND should not be excited that they have abolished the law of defamation no! It will haunt them because they will be embarrassed. President Hakainde will be insulted like I don’t know. There will be chaos and with the coming of social media, I sympathise with him. People can celebrate but I can’t be happy because another President will come after Hakainde Hichilema and they will also be insulted. I can tell you they will regret, just give them six months they will regret,” said Mwila

(News Diggers)

HICHILEMA MUST APOLOGISE TO ZAMBIANS OVER FAILED CAMPAIGN PROMISES – MUSENGE

Mwenya Musenge says just because ZNBC board member Dante Saunders is able to throw some leftover foods in his dustbin from his appointment does not mean that every person in Zambia is enjoying life, saying President Hakainde Hichilema must simply apologise to Zambians for the failed campaign promises.

In an interview, Musenge, who is also former Chimwemwe member of parliament, has recounted that similar sentiments were used by the MMD government to an extent that “Zambians should tighten their belts and the people bought into that idea” but what followed was privatisation of parastatal companies, which never improved the lives of majority Zambians.

He said that Saunders should stop asking Zambians to endure the pain because that is annoying the electorate.

“Ba Dante Saunders is our elder brother and we respect him. However, he should be reminded that people are suffering, and they are stressed. The fact that he is enjoying the money and entitlements that come with his appointment he is able to throw some leftover foods in the dust bin does not mean that every person in Zambia is leading a comfortable life. He should not be telling people to be sleeping on an empty stomach,” Musenge said. “If you remember very well, when the MMD came into power they told the Zambian people to tighten their belts. But what followed was a disaster. They embarked on the privatisation of parastatal companies. And those are in the current government benefited a lot from the privatisation exercise through the management buyer arrangement. While the initial objective of privatisation was that foreign investors should be encouraged to venture into the running of companies in Zambia, the people that were in the forefront of giving technical advice at that time benefited more. Therefore, I would urge all Zambians not to buy into this idea of enduring the pain.”

Musenge said that the UPND lied to the Zambian people in order to ascend to power, saying it is only prudent that President Hichilema apologises to the Zambian people for failing to honour his campaign promises… http://dailyrevelationzambia.com/hichilema-must-apologise-to-zambians-over-failed-campaign-promises-musenge/

GUIDELINES AND WAY FORWARD REGARDING EMOLUMENTS MANAGEMENT IN STATE ORGANS AND STATE INSTITUTIONS

The Emoluments Commission, today announced guidelines and way forward regarding emoluments management in State organs and State institutions.

This follows the appointment of the members of the Emoluments Commission by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, in accordance with Section 6 of the Emoluments Commission Act, 2022. In the interim, State organs and State institutions are guided as follows:

a) To renew expiring contracts on existing salaries and conditions of service and within approved institutional budgets while awaiting rationalisation and harmonisation by the Emoluments Commission;

b) To recruit on expanded structures while taking into account factors outlined in Section 20(1), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and Section 20(2) of the Emoluments Commission Act;

c) To embark on staff replacements and/or promotions according to the existing salaries and conditions of service;

d) To issue short-term contracts or temporal engagements in accordance with approved institutional plans and existing emoluments for part time employees until further notice by the Commission;

e) To honour obligations for contractual agreements that have come to an end such as payment of gratuity and other related dues for staff;

f) Institutions that have already embarked on negotiations on salaries and conditions of service, should proceed to conclude and finalise the negotiations taking into account the principle of affordability and sustainability and submit the collective agreement to the Emoluments Commission before registering with the Labour Commissioner;

g) Institutions that have not yet commenced negotiations on salaries and conditions of service, should obtain parameters from the Emoluments Commission within which negotiations should be conducted; and

h) With regards to review of salaries and conditions of service, institutions should submit proposals to the Emoluments Commission for consideration in accordance with Section 20 (1) and (2) of the Emoluments Commission Act, 2022.

The Emoluments Commission is an independent institution that seeks to introduce and entrench rationality, harmony and equity across existing widely divergent Pay Policies subsisting across the public sector spectrum.

George Chomba

TELL HH THAT LIES HAVE SHORT LEGS

…by voting for PF candidate in the forthcoming councilor by elections

Lusaka…. Wednesday January 4, 2023 (Smart Eagles)

President Hakainde Hichilema should ask for forgiveness from the Zambians, he should go back to the people and say I thought talking and working are the same thing, Hon Brian Mundubile has said.

The PF presidential hopeful said Zambians are Christians who can accept the President’s apology as long as he owns up and apologizes.

The Mporokoso Lawmaker stressed the need for the Head of State to also apologize to former president Edgar Lungu who he heavily criticized prior to 2021 elections.

He said Zambians are fed up with the UPND.

Hon Mundubile was speaking when he drummed up support for Kashikishi ward PF candidate Aston Chansa in Nsama district, Northern Province.

“When work becomes too tough give it to the people who can work, move from the steering we put someone else. You love PF because of the way we looked after you when we were in government… after realizing that Zambians have seen through their lies, they have resorted to stealing votes. Zambians are fed up with UPND,” he said

“We know that the only way UPND can win is through violence, they have been stealing votes using violence.”

Hon Mundubile, who reminded the residents that PF is a pro-poor party said UPND has shown that they can’t work for the poor.

He tipped Zambians that UPND will not reduce the price of mealie meal and fertilizer.

“When we say Power belongs to the People we know that some people may not understand what we are saying. The power to install leaders is in your hands, your voters card holds that power. Now what is shocking is that you find that in some places some of you people are complaining that fertilizer and mealie meal prices are high but when voting you agree with how government is running the affairs of the country by voting for UPND,” he said.

“Use your vote to tell UPND and HH that because you lied about mealie meal, fuel, fertilizer and lack of medicines in hospitals we are not voting for you. Unless you’re buying mealie at k50 fertilizer at k250 and you have medicine in hospital then you can vote for UPND candidate. Even if you’re UPND vote for a PF candidate to send a message that you’re not happy with the many unfulfilled promises.”

And Hon Mundubile advised the candidate to not be like President Hichilema who promised a lot of things to the Zambians which he has failed to achieve.

Meanwhile, Mr Chansa said he will work with the PF leadership in bringing development to Kashikishi ward.

ELECTRICITY LOAD SHEDDING WILL COST THE UPND POLITICALLY

ByFrancis Chipili, Business and Political Analyst

WHERE HAS ZAMBIA’S SURPLUS POWER EVAPORATED TO!!

Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO) was established under the defunct ZIMCO in 1970, with the purpose of construction of electricity infrastructure managing and supplying electricity to residential, industrial as well as other commercial users.

Availability of power – electricity is critical to the social economic advancement of any country.

Electricity is a major component of the means of production for industries and commercial entities.

The availability of electricity in communities has yielded great social economic mobility for enterprising citizens who ventures in metal works such as welding and fabrication. Others have ventured in wood works making doors, cabinets, and other timber products, including timber processing that is utilized in both commercial and residential construction.

Other unemployed but enterprising citizens have ventured into various agricultural production including crop production, chicken rearing etc.

Hair Salons and Barbershops have been a source of employment for many unemployed youths.

All the above economic activities can only be effectively be undertaken , if there is reliable supply of electricity.

Research presentations by many interest groups reveals that load shedding even if it’s done for less than twenty four (24) hours. Any load shedding of four (4) and more hours leads to reduced national productivity, citizen’s hardships and can collapse the economy.

Cuts International, International Growth Center and World Journal of Research and Review are among the many published interests groups that have presented their findings on the social economic impact of load shedding in Zambia, all points to negative social economic impact on both industrial, commercial and residential users of electricity.

The previous administration (Patriotic Front) worked with various stakeholders and ensured that Zambia expanded it’s electricity generation capabilities.

President Hakainde Hichilema is on record of promising the Zambian people that electricity load shedding is the thing of the past — what has changed? Not too long ago Zambia had surplus generated electricity due to the expanded generation capabilities.

Based on what electricity experts have written and advised it’s practically impossible for Zambia to experience load shedding even with the recently experienced erratic rain fall in many parts of the country.

Load shedding will negatively impact both in the short, medium and long term national productivity.

Reduced national productivity will result in higher inflation, high cost of living as well as increased rate of unemployment.

The informal sectors will immediately be negatively impacted as it lacks economic shock absorbers.

Majority of the informal sector players survives on hand to mouth. The informal sector is the lifeline of the majority of the people who have failed to get formal employment.

The UPND administration must realize that any of it’s economic stabilization it has been talking about will be immediately wiped out if electricity load shedding continues.

All post pandemic economic gains will be immediately be wiped out in all sectors of the economy.

Zambia must reevaluate her position on electricity exports to regional markets.

The UPND administration will pay dearly if it doesn’t immediately stop load shedding.

The UPND administration has only a two years window to deliver to the already agitated Zambian people.

WE WILL SHOCK UPND IN 2026- GBM

…..says the narrative here at home that a former ruling Party cannot retain power will be changed

Lusaka, Wednesday, January 4, 2023 ( Smart Eagles )

Patriotic Front (PF) party Presidential candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba – GBM says the narrative in Zambia that a former ruling party cannot retain power will be changed in 2026.

Hon Mwamba said the PF will shock the UPND by bouncing back into power.

Speaking when he appeared on United Voice Radio programme, Hon Mwamba said the Zambian people are fed up with the lies that has characterised the UPND stay in power.

He has since urged politicians to desist from assuming power through lies.

He said President Hakainde Hichilema must now do less talking and start being action oriented.

The PF potential President stated that the UPND has performed below par when their primises are measured against the results.

“The people were promised heaven on earth, but what is happening is the opposite. They are talking about free Education but the cost of living has gone up. Things are now more expensive than they were. The free education has not achieved its intended goal,” he said.

Asked if he regrets leaving the UPND, Hon Mwamba said he would have been the first person to resign from the Party out of principal due to too many unfulfilled promises.

On the issue of Cardrerism, the Former Defence Minister said the vice is still rife and has not been dealt with as boasted by the President.

Meanwhile, Hon Mwamba has allayed fears that the Party will disintegrate after the convention once a new leader is selected.

Hon Mwamba said the PF is United and focused as evidenced by lack of movements by the big wigs from the party.

“The PF is more United, no one is leaving, they have not left to join other parties. This implies that the party knows what it is doing….I am one of those who vowed to stay in PF even if I do not get the Presidency. We shall support the candidate that will be picked on that particular day. I am mature now, I have seen PF grow from nothing, until now,” he said.

In another development, Hon Mwamba has advised Government against selecting suppliers on partisan lines.

He said suppliers who supplied medicine and other commodities under PF must not be shunned and labelled as cadres.

He said the People who supplied various commodities under PF are not party supporters but merely conducted business with Government.

“There are no medicines in clinics and hospitals. Why should we wait for three years in order for results to be seen under the new dawn Government, they need to come up with a game plan to ensure that medicines are in hospitals and they must provide services to the people,” he said.

DPP TO FACE MILINGO IN CONCOURT FOR CONTEMPT

By New Dawn Reporter
FORMER Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) provisional liquidator, Milingo Lungu has dragged the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Gilbert Phiri to the Constitutional Court for revoking his immunity before the matter is determined by the Courts of law.

Milingo says the DPP has usurped the authority of the Constitutional Court by revoking his immunity agreement when the matter was still in court pending determination.

He said the acts by Phiri as DPP are meant to interfere with and frustrate the Court proceedings in a matter in which he (Milingo) is challenging the decision to prosecute him after entering in an agreement with the DPP not to prosecute him.

Milingo stated that after Phiri’s swearing in ceremony as DPP at State House on December, 20th, 2022, he revoked the immunity agreement entered into being the decision not to prosecute him.

“The act and words of the alleged contemnor purportedly reviewing and revoking the immunity agreement entered into between the applicant (Milingo Lungu) and the Director of the Public Prosecution which is the subject of determination in the petition and cross petition pending before this Honourable Court (Constitutional Court) is an act, intentionally, calculated to directly interfere with and frustrate the proceedings pending before this honourable Court by rendering the matter nugatory and an academic exercise and thus is prejudicing the eventual outcome of the proceedings,” submitted in the documents filed before the Constitutional Court.

He said the act and words by Phiri of reviewing and revoking the immunity agreement which is the subject of consideration before the Constitutional Court is well calculated to undermine the authority of the Court by usurping its power.

“…this Court is calculated to undermine the authority of the Court by usurping the Court’s power to consider and pronounce itself on the immunity agreement. The act and words of reviewing and revoking the immunity agreement which is the subject of consideration before the court is an action calculated to obstruct or divert the course of justice,” he stated.

On 20th December, 2022, Phiri was sworn in as Director of Public Prosecution following his appointment and ratification by the National Assembly of Zambia, and on 22nd December, 2022, during a press briefing, he announced that he had reviewed and decided to revoke the immunity agreement granted to Milingo being a decision not to initiate or institute and continue criminal proceedings.

According to Phiri, his decision was arrived at on account of the public outcry.

Milingo entered into an immunity agreement with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) not to prosecute him for acts done or omissions made in the course of performing his duties as Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) provisional liquidator, in March, 2022.

He said after entering into the agreement with the DPP, on 7th April, 2022, he was re-arrested, charged and taken to the Lusaka Magistrates Court on matters that were subject of the nolle prosequi entered in conformity with the immunity.

Milingo stated that on April, 19th, 2022, he challenged his re-arrest and consequential commencement of criminal proceedings which was in breach of the immunity agreement as it was an abuse of Court process according to the law.

He said on 26th April, 2022, the State also filed a cross petition seeking the Court to declare the immunity agreement entered into between the DPP and himself (Milingo) as illegal and unconstitutional.

According to Milingo, before the Court could determine the matter to its conclusion, Phiri has decided to revoke the immunity which is a subject of the matter before the Constitutional Court.

“The Constitutional Court set the 6th December, 2022 for commencement of the trial of both the petition and cross petition. The issues that fall for determination {in the petition} before the Court are, whether the Director of Public Prosecution has power to enter into an immunity, indemnity agreement not to prosecute and if so, whether the Director of Public Prosecution can commence or maintain criminal proceedings against the applicant (Milingo Lungu) in breach of the immunity, indemnity or non-prosecution agreement?” he stated in the documents filed before the Constitutional Court.

DPP GILBERT PHIRI FACES JAIL

…for contempt of court after he revoked the Immunity Agreement from prosecution of Milingo Lungu, attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Lusaka, Wednesday, January 4, 2023 ( Daily Nation Zambia )

GILBERT Phiri, the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) could be committed to prison for illegally revoking the immunity from prosecution granted to Milingo Lungu, the former Provisional Liquidator of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and attempting to obstruct the course of justice.

Soon after being sworn in, Mr Phiri as the new DPP moved to revoke the Immunity Agreement granted to Mr Lungu on the basis that there was a public outcry.

Mr Lungu has now sued Mr Phiri for contempt of court on grounds that the DPP revoked his Immunity Agreement when the matter was at the time a subject of consideration of the Constitutional Court.

In his notice of motion for an order for committal, Mr Milingo has argued that Mr Phiri’s action was calculated to directly interfere with and frustrate the Constitutional Court proceedings.

Mr Lungu has argued that Mr Phiri’s decision to revoke his Immunity Agreement was meant to render the proceedings in the Constitutional Court nugatory and academic thereby prejudicing the outcome of the proceedings.

He submitted that the revocation of his Immunity Agreement was also meant to undermine the authority of the Court by usurping its powers to consider and pronounce itself on the Immunity Agreement.

Mr Milingo argued that Mr Phiri’s action was equally calculated to obstruct the course of justice and should therefore be committed to prison if found guilty of the offence of contempt.

Mr Lungu submitted thus: “On the 22nd, December, 2022, Mr Gilbert Phiri announced in a press conference that he had reviewed and revoked the Immunity Agreement granted to the applicant on account of a public outcry. The act and the words of reviewing and revoking the Immunity Agreement which is a subject of consideration before this court is an action calculated to directly interfere and frustrate the proceedings by rendering the matter nugatory and an academic exercise and thereby prejudicing the outcome of the proceedings,” Mr Lungu submitted.

Mr Lungu submitted that during the swearing in of Mr Phiri, President Hakainde Hichilema issued an instruction to the new DPP to proceed to handle the issue involving the Immunity Agreement of the applicant.

He stated that President Hichilema in his instructions went on to say as follows: “…so many cases having been stalled in that office, illegal immunities have been given in that office, we know you will do your best and you have the support of the government to do what is right…”

“That in addition to the above, the President during the press conference of 20th December, 2022 in responding to a question from a journalist stated as follows; …that we have appointed a new Director of Public Prosecution and you will soon see movements in the cases concerning KCM and the Liquidator there,” Mr Lungu submitted.

Mr Lungu submitted that the acts by Mr Phiri were therefore contemptuous and that he had reason to believe that the DPP was in contempt of court.
He stated that the actions by Mr Phiri were calculated to lower the authority of the court and to defeat the ends of justice. See less
— Daily Nation

PRIORITIZE THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE BEFORE EXPORTING ELECTRICITY – GBM
….says going for more than 12 hours without power will kill a lot of businesses in the already stressed economy
Lusaka, Wednesday, January 4, 2023 ( Smart Eagles )

The Government must prioritise the Zambian people with electrity before considering exports amid the prolonged periods of Loadshedding, Patriotic Front (PF) party Presidential Candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba – GBM has said.

Hon Mwamba feels there is enough Power to carter for the Zambians once the Government cuts the exports.
He said the 13 hours of loadshedding which the people are now being subjected to will kill businesses in various sectors.
“How do you say you are a barber that’s how you survive, how can you stay for 13 hours and say you will work at 21 when power is restored. Are you going to have customers at that time,” he said..

Hon Mwamba said there would be loss of production, a situation he says will affect a lot of industries.
He said people voted for UPND so that they can deliver which has turned out to be the opposite.

“Who put you in power, that is the question he should ask himself. If it is the people of Zambia, why shouldn’t he make them happy. Please the Zambian people first before pleasing other countries by stopping exports of Electricity,” he said.

And the PF potential leaderhas wondered why the Head of State said there will no longer be loadshedding because the UPND had ended it within one year of their stay in Office.

He said the trend where the President says one thing and the opposite happens shows that he does not have a good team of advisors.
“Does it mean he did not consult ZESCO staff ? They should have done that and planned , that means they are Chimbwi no Plan and they didn’t expect the loadshedding. Why did the President in his wisdom tell the nation that there is no loadshedding and that there would be no loadshedding. We all did not expect this because there is enough power or else they could have cut the exports,” Hon Mwamba stated.

BALLY NOT WALKING WITH THE PEOPLE ON DEATH PENALTY

By Isaac Mwanza

“To lead people, walk behind them!” – Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher

INTRODUCTION

Ever since the Zambian President H.E Hakainde Hichilema took the wheel of power of the United Party for National Development (UPND) in 2006, he had successfully carved out a national image that he would be a leader who would listen and walk with the people when it came to making decisions that affect the nation. In several instances, he claimed key decisions that affect the Constitution cannot be made by Members of Parliament (MPs) as they do not possess the requisite capacity to make independent decisions because they are controlled by political parties

In this third series, I argue that the so-called decision to ‘abolish’ the death penalty in Zambia, was not a decision of the people of Zambia but reflects the personal will and desire of President Hichilema and his Members of Parliament because Zambians have repeatedly expressed themselves on the death penalty through every constitutional review commission. Even after such a proclamation that death penalty has been “abolished,” I also show in detail that the death penalty remains constitutional in Zambia.

THE PEOPLES VOICE ON THE DEATH PENALTY

On Wednesday, 28th December, 2022 during the luncheon hosted for the elites by the President at State House to celebrate what he called “the abolishment of the death penalty from the laws of Zambia, President Hichilema said to the applauding audience:

“Thank you to the citizens of Zambia for allowing us (UPND administration) to do what we have done for humanity: to remove the death penalty from our laws. I remember people saying no, you can’t do that without a constitutional amendment. Many did not even read our laws, including the Constitution… credit the people of Zambia for doing what is right.”

President Hichilema went on to question why Presidents before him, two of whom were top notch lawyers, could not summon the courage to abolish the death penalty. Mr. Hichilema may not have noticed, but the Presidents who preceded him, had a different leadership style, which was consensus-based. Past Presidents before President Hichilema, all had a leadership style of not wanting to impose their personal will, interests and desires when it came to such sensitive matters as the death penalty. Leaders only truly lead when they fully understand the people and what motivates them, and that knowledge only comes with time, consultation and observation.

The death penalty is certainly an emotive and highly controversial moral subject in Zambia which should not be decided on the basis of personal wishes and beliefs of one person or a few men and women in Parliament. While the death penalty has existed for thousands of years, lone voices have been increasing, calling for reforms and, later, for outright abolition of the death penalty. This discussion has been going on from the 1980s in Zambia. Historical records presented by Minister of Justice Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, S.C., indicate that the most common crime for which the death penalty has been imposed in Zambia is murder.

Zambia inherited the death penalty from the colonial era and successive Constitutions and constitutional amendments, have not succeeded in garnering enough support to abolish it. Until around 2003, there had been no formal or organised debate around the subject of the death penalty. Whenever Zambia has undertaken a constitution review process, one of the terms of reference in the last five processes has been to examine and recommend on the desirability of the retaining death penalty in our laws.

The conclusion of the consultation processes has led to an undeniable conclusion which all our previous Presidents respected: the death penalty should be retained on our laws, and the laws of Zambia include the Constitution itself. That has been the position of the majority of Zambians whenever the people were invited to state their position.

For example, the 1991 Mvunga Constitution Review Commission, after considering the views expressed by the people, concluded that the subject of abolition of the death penalty posed fundamental questions and that there should be further national debate to ascertain the national consensus. Again in 1996, both the Mwanakatwe Constitution Review Commission and the people could not reach consensus on the abolition of the death penalty. The Commission recommended the retention of capital punishment.

The Mung’omba Constitution Commission’s tour was apparently the first national opportunity for detailed debate on the subject of the death penalty in Zambia, and results showed disparities in views or opinions between urban and rural populations, with rural Zambians being hesitant to abolish the death sentence. The final resolution of the National Constitutional Conference, was to retain the death penalty and conduct more and further consultations.

More recently, Zambians unanimously made their position clear during a consultative process organized by former Chief Justice Mr. Annel Silungwe’s Constitution Review Technical Committee with 9 provinces favouring the retention of the death penalty while 1 province said death penalty was contrary to the Declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation. The Report of the Technical Committee stated on page 72:

“The views in support of re-drafting the clause were that there was need to present the provision in a manner that would enable the country to abolish the death penalty without going through the referendum should the need arise. It was observed that although the majority of the people currently supported the death penalty, a time might come when the death penalty would not be deemed necessary. It proposed that the details in the Article should be best placed under an Act of Parliament so that the Article would be limited to providing the right to life.”

As can be seen, the majority of the Zambian people, have over the years, supported retention of the death penalty, and that has been the reason why all past Presidents have been constrained in taking steps leading to the abolition of the death penalty both in law and practice. Our Presidents have simply maintained a policy of not signing the documents required for carrying out the sentence. In my humble view, Zambians don’t own any credit in the repeal of the provisions that had mandated the courts to impose the death penalty on capital offenders. The majority actually supported the retention of the death penalty.

DEATH PENALTY STILL RECOGNISED BY ZAMBIAN CONSTITUTION

In most countries such as New Papua Guinea where the Legislature successfully passed legislation to abolish the death penalty, death penalty had been a statutory matter and not one protected by a constitution. However, when the Constitution protects the imposition of death penalty by a court through inferior laws which Parliament later enacts such as a Penal Code, repealing a part or entire provisions of the inferior law does not abolish the death penalty.

The announcement by President Hichilema that Zambia has thus abolished the death penalty only plays to the minds of excited stakeholders who may not be aware that the death penalty in Zambia is a constitutional matter. What President Hichilema’s administration has done, in actual sense, is that they have repealed provisions of an inferior law that compelled judges to impose the death penalty. However, the Constitution remains intact in its recognition of the death penalty in Zambia.

Our country’s Constitution is Bible-like or is like the biblical “Word.” It is the Constitution that creates every law that exists today. Just as amending some rules in the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the 1849 Present Truth publication by the Seventh Day Adventist cannot amend the Bible, so neither can an amendment to the Penal Code change the validity or effect of constitutional provisions.

This is because ‘in the beginning was the word, and the word was with the People, and the word was the Constitution. It was with People in the beginning. Through it all laws were made; and without it no law was made that has been made.’

And so, Part III of the Zambia Constitution guarantees the right to life but the Constitution itself expressly permits death penalty, as provided under Article 12(1) if it is in “execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law in force in Zambia of which he has been convicted.” Further, Article 97 (2) of the Constitution states that “a person who is sentenced to death may request the President, either directly or through a representative, for a pardon or commutation of the sentence.”

In an attempt to circumvent these constitutional provisions or make them invalid or moot, the new dawn administration hurriedly passed an amendment to the Penal Code which replaced death penalty with life imprisonment for offences categorised as capital offences. Essentially, the administration mistakenly sought to invalidate the above constitutional provisions using an inferior law, and thus proclaimed that death penalty has been abolished.

But if President Hichilema had dared to consult widely and beyond those who will tell him what he wants to hear, he would have been advised that you cannot invalidate or make moot what is provided in the Constitution using subsidiary or inferior legislation. The provisions in the Constitution remain untampered for enforcement at some other time when it becomes necessary.

The implication of the amendments done by Parliament then is that Judges, for the time being, will not impose death penalty for any offence until when Parliament, using the same simple majority, provide in an law categories of offences which would attract the death penalty. It would have been different if the Constitution, as the supreme law of the land, had no provision that allowed the death penalty.

The death penalty remains constitutional and on the supreme law of Zambia, it is intact for any offences which Parliament may come to define in future. The death penalty has not been abolished as celebrated by the elites during the luncheon. What was being celebrated was the repeal of provisions that provided for offences which attracted the death penalty, the same death penalty which the Constitution continues to authorise until the people agree to repeal the provision through the referendum.

CONCLUSION

President Hichilema and his administration deserve kudos and must own the credit for removing the penalty of death from the Penal Code, an inferior law, for offences of murder, aggravated robbery and treason. However, as can be seen, all consultations done with the Zambian people showed that the people wanted the death penalty retained on our statutes. So, the people cannot take the credit for the repeal of that provision which was done without consultation with the people, and which change was rejected by the National Constitutional Conference. In short, the President and his administration have neither walked behind or with the people on the question of the death penalty. They are walking ahead of the people.

The death penalty in Zambia has not been abolished. It remains intact in the Constitution. It is the penalties for those offences that attracted death penalty that have been repealed and replaced. The death penalty remains constitutional to the extent that, in future, when Parliament decides to come up with offences whose sanction will be death penalty, the death penalty will still be constitutional.

NDOLA-LUSAKA DUAL CARRIAGEWAY PROJECT – WHY ARE WE ABUSING NAPSA FUNDS TO FUND GRZ INFRASTUCTURE PROJECTS?
By Shalala Oliver Sepiso

When I started writing about NAPSA reforms and why cabinet was too slow in helping get the new NAPSA law over the line to meet one of President Hakainde Hichilema’s campaign promises, I got calls from senior people who thought I was fighting government. I told them I was instead protecting the nation’s interests and also ensuring that my president doesn’t fail or is not seen to be failing. I am not in any way claiming credit for the NAPSA reforms but I am one of those who highlighted the issue.

When I wrote about the need to either reform or remove from the scene the useless and incompetent Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Zambia, my colleague Ngobola Cengelo Muyembe and others attacked me for being a stooge for capital and to an extent foreign interests even though I have been asking for a local alternative to IDC. I have always spoke for Zambia and always worked for Zambian companies or Zambian capital. Never for foreigners.

When I spoke about the ills of Indo Zambia Bank, the directors from that bank called me and said I was not telling the truth. However, days and weeks later, a lot has changed in Indo Zambia Bank. I will tell you about that soon. So the writing I do, though I know can get me attacked, is for the good of the country especially that I am a UPND and HH Praise Singer, more than 100% of the time.

But it is the Ndola-Lusaka Dual carriageway project which I have been writing about for the longest time and that is where we have not seen progress. The worst party about this project is that all the information coming out is that we are on the wrong path. RDA, PPP Council and Ministry of Infrastructure all seem hell-bent on giving it to the Chinese through AVIC even though their bid was inferior, did not meet compliance and has arrogantly disrespected the government during negotiations. Of course we know the role that China plays in our debt restructuring but do we have to sell our birthright over this deal? No. We need to negotiate the best possible deal. If not let us walk away and do this road ourselves. You will thank me later.

I have issues with this project and no one should accuse me of fighting Hon Charles Milupi or the PPP Council or anyone who is working on this project. I want to understand why we Zambians think it is ok for us to continue to abuse NAPSA and Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) funds to fund GRZ infrastructure projects?

I also want to understand why we are ok with handing over millions of money that come from the toll-gates on this road even before the Chinese invest a coin in the project.

We have to remember that President Hakainde Hichilema’s ten year stay in office will have a legacy made around two projects and two projects only: The Solwezi to Sesheke Dual-Carriageway and the Katoka Gorge Hydropower Dam project. These two projects are game changers. Batoka will banish loadshedding for good and will give Zambia a huge advantage when it comes to exports of power to Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe and South Africa. This will strengthen the Kwacha while bringing in the needed forex. The road will not only speed up movement and economic activities along the line of rail but will also open up business for many enterprises including suppliers, contractors, financers etc. This can only mean a bigger and better economic and improvement of the Human Development Index score for Zambia.

So why should anyone allow the Ministry of Infrastructure, RDA and PPP Council to mess the legacy of both president HH and the UPND by not taking these serious issues into consideration?

NAPSA should not be used in financing this road. Where NAPSA has to be used to fund because we have no choice and NAPSA has to invest to raise funds for pensioners, NAPSA needs to be an equity partner in the project and not just a lender to AVIC. Why should AVIC come into Zambia build a road using our money which it already found in Zambia and then externalise all profits while also stopping National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) and the Treasury from getting the money they have always gotten from the toll-gates on this road? And remember this is the most lucrative road in Zambia!

For your information, NFRA already borrowed funds from NAPSA for building the existing toll-gates and roads and hasn’t had it easy to pay back to NAPSA. NRFA is already unable to cope with what it already owes Napsa on Road funding! NRFA has been paying NAPSA every month except there is a government-driven agenda to renegotiate the facility and make it easier for NRFA. So there is already proof that roads are not totally profitable for investment.

For us Zambians to see that the Ministry of Infrastructure, PPP Council and RDA are working, we need to see them luring Foreign Direct Investment into this project. Instead we are seeing these entities taking study tours of other countries to learn how PPP projects are being done. What we need are not those trips but solutions. Using NAPSA funds is robbing pensioners.

The ideal situation should have been where AVIC was signed up to start building their own toll gates on roads which they upgrade or start themselves. This would leave RDA and NRFA to enjoy their sweat. And so the most painful things about this project is that we shall handover an existing road – a brown field and going concern – to a foreign entity and they will start making money the moment we sign even before they mobilise. As things are it looks like they will take over the whole Lusaka to Kasumbalesa stretch and mint from the toll gates even before they do any works on the proposed dual-carriage way.

Guess what? NRFA makes more than K100 million per month on this road. Do we want the Zambian treasury to lose this to the Chinese contractor who is bringing in no foreign direct investment? This is manna from heaven for the contractor, who has even refused to do the road in full within the first ten years. Had they agreed to do the road within the first two years, I would feel better about handing over Zambia’s best performing road to a foreign entity, who will walk in with papers but will go away with trunks and trunks of cash accumulated over 25 years of the concession.

What is wrong with us Zambians kanshi? Who bewitched us?

When this happens, the National Road Fund Agency will be a weaker and diminished government entity. Surely we want our citizens working for NRFA to lose jobs? It is a fact that toll collectors will have to be paid redundancy packages and lose their jobs. And we know that in the end fewer toll collectors will be employed by AVIC. Those who won’t be taken on by AVIC will lose their jobs for good and there is nothing we can do about that. And we know that AVIC will have their own pricing structure for tolls which will be much higher since they want to make huge profits. Will the citizens love this as the legacy for UPND and the president?

Information I have is that since I last wrote on this project, the scope of the road project has been reduced and mobilisation will be in March this year. I hope we won’t lose so much in quality and quantity to satisfy the Chinese. Can we for us trust ourselves and do this road if we have to use Zambian money?

ZAMBIANS FEEL CHEATED BY UPND GOVT – MSONI
…as he urges President Hichilema to be honest in his dealings with the public

By Correspondent
ZAMBIANS are angry with the UPND leadership and it’s time for President Hakainde Hichilema begun to be honest with the citizens, All Peoples Congress (APC) leader Nason Msoni has charged.

Msoni a former UPND-Alliance partner, has observed that President Hichilema and his government are not being honest with the people of Zambia over their dealings.

He said citizens feel cheated that government has bamboozled them on the question of loadshedding.

“The national wide blackout experienced yesterday is unprecedented and is outright criminal conduct.This is not what citizens had bargained for in pursuing a regime change,” he said.

Msoni who dumped the UPND – Alliance after being betrayed said the UPND leadership should stop playing what he described as dirty games.

He said the UPND should stop selling power to South Africa, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in its power export agreement to mines in those countries and feed Zambia who are now experiencing total blackouts for over 20 hours in a day.

“We urge government to desist from playing dirty as citizens prepay for the services to the utility company. This means that citizens are in essence paying the utility company in advance and expect to receive a good service and value for their money. We think that it is exercising poor judgment on the part of government to deprive electricity from their own citizens in order to make profits by selling power to neighbouring countries,” he said.

He adds, “Government should consider the fate of the sole traders who desperately depend on electricity to make ends meet. We implore and urge government to be honest in its dealings with citizens when carrying out a program. When government promises six (6) hours of loadshedding it must be six hours and not 12 hours or 20 hours,” said Msoni.

He said it is therefore, impossible for citizens not to feel cheated by the behaviour and conduct of the government on the question of loadshedding.

PEOPLE DON’T HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME BECAUSE THEY WERE UNEMPLOYED – IMENDA
…as she says PF will never come back into power, it will never happen.

PEOPLE don’t have disposable income because they were not employed, but this will change since we are now employing, says UPND deputy secretary general Gertrude Imenda.

And Imenda says opposition members are envying President Hakainde Hichilema and his government because of what has been achieved so far.

In an interview, Imenda admitted that commodity prices had remained high, but was quick to mention that they could have been higher had inflation not been reduced.

“Yes commodity prices [are high] and the reason is because this is beyond our control. It is the external shock. The commodity prices are not driven internally but externally. It is a worldwide phenomenon. Fuel prices on the world market have gone up because of the Russian war. The whole world is suffering [from] this shock and our government is not spared. So we are looking at ways of addressing the problem. In Britain, inflation is at 44 percent. A superpower if you like, even them [they] cannot control and yet Britain produces oil. They cannot be spared from this worldwide phenomenon,” she said.

“So if we can empower people to have disposable income, then they will be able to afford these commodity prices. At the moment, people do not even have disposable income because they were not employed, now we are employing and they will have money in their pockets. Even then, these commodity prices, if you have noticed, they have remained high but they could have been higher if the inflation rate had not been brought down. At the time we took over, was mealie meal at K100? No. It has remained at K150. It has not gone up or down”.

Imenda said the PF should continue thinking that Zambians would re-elect them, which she said would never happen.

“So when they are saying we should start packing because of these commodity prices, all other things have improved. We will improve on other things like the issues of fertiliser and distribution of inputs. So they know, they are pretending. Let the opposition not bury their heads in the sand. Deep down in their hearts, they are envying President Hakainde and the UPND government. What President Hakainde has achieved so far, they have not achieved it,” she said.

“Let us wait, we are in 2023 and the economy is already growing. I don’t know why the PF thinks that Zambians have not seen. You think Zambians can go back to PF? You think Zambians have forgotten and can bring PF back? No! Let them continue romanticising and thinking that will happen. That can never happen. As we are addressing these minor challenges hovering, when the policies start bearing results, people will be empowered”.

Meanwhile, Imenda said government was looking at alternative means to address load shedding.

“What are those things that we promised the people which we have not fulfilled at all? What we promised and what we have fulfilled so far, I think what we have fulfilled so far is more than what is remaining. So it would be nice to know what we have not fulfilled. Load shedding has not even yet started. We have not yet loadshedded because we are looking at alternatives. But we have not started load shedding so let’s not even talk about load shedding because it has not taken place yet. We cannot create water levels but we are looking at alternative means of addressing the problem. Instead of just looking at load shedding, we are looking at alternative means,” said Imenda before Zesco announced that it would commence load shedding today.

Credit: News Diggers

THE DIMINISHING ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN ZAMBIA’S DEMOCRACY

By Melicious Chongo

Voice, accountability and transparency are crucial for the survival of every democracy.

They are the quiteessence for the survival of democracy. Democracy thrives on them; they’re the building blocks of every meaningful democracy. And this is where the role of civil society comes in.

They represent the voice of the masses. Their voice is essential for providing checks and balances, for calling our leaders to account for their actions. And only this way transparency is enhanced.

Thus, it is a source of concern that the last 18 months have seen the asphyxiation of the voice of civil society. Civil society has been totally squeezed, and cannot breathe. Very few, if none at all, are breathing.

Everyone instead has joined in the symphony of praise singing. It’s either they have all joined the caravan of praise singing or they have become the silencers of the voice of truth themselves. Laura Miti is gone, Gilbert Phiri is gone, Mwangala Zaloumis is gone, McDonald Chipenzi is gone, and Chama Fumba, aka Pilato, is gone!

However, what is even more worrying is the manner in which the silencing is happening. The diminished role of civil society in Zambia’s democracy today cannot be said to be a haphazard process. It is a deliberate and well calculated move.

In my view, there are three to four forces driving up the suppression of the voice of civil society. First, there’s what I’m calling the external elite, that is, U S and the West. Second is the failure on the part of our leaders to separate government from party politics.

Government is seen as an extension of the party and as a personal to holder property. This tendency partly also accounts for the creation of elitism/caderism. And this is what happens when voice and accountability goes in a society.

The third force/reason is the greed among our leaders. Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi, a Copperbelt University lecturer once charged that today “politics has unfortunately come to be seen as the fastest track to economic self-advancement, not the means for serving the nation’’.

And fourth, the failure among our leaders to understand their role in the management of public affairs.

But the two, the external elites and domestic leadership’s failure to understand their role very often combine with very desastrous results on the affairs of the country.

On one hand, when the external elite – in this case, U S and the West – want to give you aid and invest in your country, it is common for them to place conditions.

Among them these may include silencing the voice of civil society, and the unions. On another hand, when you have weak local elite (leadership) that is amenable to the demands of the external elites, they’ll submit.

So it is not hard to see what is happening here. The new dawn government is in a hurry to play to the needs of the West, so they have no option but to play politics of appeasement and sell their souls to the West at the expense of demostic democracy and the economy.

They’re playing double standards: they’re canningly silencing the voice of civil society and thereby killing democracy while at the same time preaching democracy.

You cannot claim to restore democracy and the credibility of the nation while at the same time killing the same building blocks of democracy, such as voice, plurality, and accountability.

You cannot be said to be accountable and transparent while at the same time stifle the same voice that calls you to account. But this is what Hakainde Hichilema (HH) and the new dawn government have done in the last 18 months in office.

However, this is happening for a purpose. The weaker the civil society the better for them because when everyone else is silent, then it is right time for them to steal. Thus, an environment of silence is indeed a recipe for corruption.

To put it in a different way, infrastructures of silence are infrastructures of corruption. So let’s not cheat ourselves, just as in the previous administration, corruption is still very much going on even with the current administration. Only the modalities have changed. Now it is happening in a slow shrewed way in the name of “restoring democracy!”

Hence, HH’s claim of restoring democracy is but just merely politically correct language, which otherwise is empty and full of contradictions in fact!

Unlike the PF who chose infrastructures of cadreism as their vehicle for stealing the nation, silencing the voice of civil society, and being politically correct is his chosen modality for stealing the nation.

It is his chosen way of fooling the nation into believing that they’re clean and “those” are the ones who are stealing! Therefore, infrastructures of cadreism, infrastructures of silence, infrastructures of being politically correct, and politics of appeasement are just the same. They are all different vehicles towards the same destination: stealing the nation/corruption.

True democracy cannot be said to be restored and to thrive untill we learn to allow all talents their full expression in a society. Every part of the society has its purpose to serve. Left to itself, the government cannot fully exist and function.

No one has the monopoly of wisdom. This is the more reason why we need the civil society to provide a voice, and checks and balances. It compliments and completes government in its deficiencies. Civil society helps prevent government’s excesses.

Once civil society is gone or silenced, that is the moment government itself goes into excesses. It is the beginning of moral decay within government. Sadly, this is the path we have seen the new dawn government has taken.

They have chosen to play the nice guy for U S and the West, and to kill the local democracy. Let civil society breathe, then democracy will breathe. And the best way to unlock rigidity is to let civil society breathe.

Voice, accountability, transparency, and respect for other views can only rain in a democracy if all other actors are given their space to operate. They restore confidence and trust in institutions and leaders.

Plurality is the essence of democracy. Since assuming office, HH has paraded himself as a saviour of Zambia’s democracy, one who’s come to restore trust and confidence in institutions.

But it is my view that there can be no better way of restoring trust and confidence in institutions than by allowing the voice of civil society to grow even stronger, rather than stifle it. It is not only contradictory but also dangerous and hypocritical to endeavor to restore trust and confidence in the international affairs while you destroy the same in the domestic affairs.

But this is what HH and the new dawn government have successfully done so far! And slowly but sadly the voice of civil society is diminishing, and before long Zambia will have to pay a heavy price for this.

The author is an International Relations scholar. Send comment to: +260 979-54903.

File Photo Courtesy of Action Aid.