By Maiko Zulu
ZAMBIA NOW NEEDS A NEW CROP OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

The other day I was listening to Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa’s radio interview with prominent journalist Kwangu Liwewe where he brought out the critical issue of how President Hakainde Hichilema has systematically or methodically silenced a number of critical voices in the area of activism, advocacy for good governance, public accountability and human rights defence by offering them lucrative appointments in institutions controlled by the system. Others have been offered opportunities that have softened their stance on a number of issues of national interest. Nothing wrong with the move. Having been in opposition for years, HH knows the power of certain independent voices and the importance of having them in his pocket.

I was reminded of an incident not so long ago when I reached out to one colleague asking him if we could take an interest into the issue of the alleged impending stripping of assets and closure of Zambia’s oldest newspaper and national archive the Times of Zambia, a situation which will likely see a number of workers being laid off. The response from my colleague was a complete opposite of how he and all of us would react only a few months ago under the PF regime. My colleague was more concious now if bering labelled an ‘activist for hire’ than he was of standing for the plight of fellow citizens when in fact we were given worse labels before and still advocated for that which we thought was just. Anyway, events that unfolded in later days only went to comfim our suspicion that indeed,some of our friends have transitioned.

The fact is that every change of regime makes for subsequent change in all other spaces and It is therefore necessary for the Human Rights Defence space to give a rebirth to citizens who will fill the gaps left by those who have transitioned. There is need for individuals who will not tie activism to soliciting for funding as a basis for championing for good governance to begin to take up the space once again. While it is necessary to have funded institutions everywhere, they must never be the sole determinants of critical social movements. Public accountability must be embedded in every citizen especially the youth and it must be everyone’s duty to be the nation’s gate keepers.

#TheRevolutionWontBeTelevised

EVERY CHILD HAS A STORY – DR JOBBICKS KALUMBA, FORMER EDUCATION PS

…”I had no girlfriend because of my status “

“I come from a family of six, the last born in the family. I was born on 24th October, 1964. So, I’ll be celebrating my 57th [birthday]. Guys, maybe it will be your first time to hear my story. I was going to Luwingu Secondary School for my secondary education,” Dr Kalumba says.

“I had only two trousers, two shorts, one pair of shoes, one pair of stockings, one blanket. In those years, we didn’t have mattresses. We were using bunkers. So that one blanket I had, I was using it in two ways; you spread on the bed and then the other flip of the blanket I covered myself. That was life! One Sunday morning, it was 7th March, as I was waking up from that bunker bed, [I] checked on the bed and saw a louse on the bed. I said okay, that’s how life is.”

He recalls that during the rainy season, water used to sip inside this damaged shoe and that the stockings were producing a bad scent.

Dr Kalumba says he used to sit at the back of the classroom.

“I had no girlfriend because of my status! One tablet of soap – Ebuoy – and then a bottle of Vaseline! Those items kept me going for five years. I wrote my Form V examinations on a borrowed shirt because my uniform had become torn,” he says.

“So my friend helped me with a shirt which I used during the time of my examinations. Whenever school closed, because I had no transport money from home, I used to go to Mr Njobvu who was my geography teacher and that motivated me to train as a geography teacher. I worked in his garden and then he could give me some transport money to take me back home to Mbala where I come from.”

The former permanent secretary for Ministry of Education adds that whenever he reached home, his mother and him used to carry paraffin (kerosene) on their heads to go and sell to the fishermen at Lake Tanganyika.

Dr Kalumba says the distance between his village and the lake is 45 kilometres.

“So, that was really something that was difficult for me. When my mother was somehow tired alone, carrying paraffin to the lake, there was and still there is a very big tree which had a curved shape. So, she would offload her katundu (luggage) and then put it on that log and then she was resting,” Dr Kalumba explains, to a silent audience.

“After resting, she would bend below the log and then the load would fall on her head and she went to sell the merchandise to the lake, just to raise money for me to go to school. That’s why, guys, when you talked about free Education, to some of us who have gone through that scenario we understand the pain that our children go through – those who are coming from poverty-stricken homes. But education remains their hope for tomorrow.”

He narrates that last year when he went to Mbala, the first thing that he did was to go and check whether the tree where his mother used to rest at is still there.

Dr Kalumba says he “fortunately” found the tree and sat there, remembering his days of suffering.

“Rolling back the curtains of memory to see where God is getting me from, where I was and where I am today, I said let me give glory to God. But again some tears had to flow down from my eyes because when I began my job as a primary school teacher, a month later my mother passed away,” he narrates.

“So, when I look at what God has done in my life, I say if my mother was around today it would be a different story. So, it’s true that every child has a story. Education is the foundation of this country. For us in the Ministry of Education, education is the foundation and the footing of this nation and every institution that is supporting the learning of the children, in whatever form, needs support and recommendation.”

The entry and exit of James Ndambo

…the dilemma of a Zambian philanthropist

Amb. Anthony Mukwita wrote:

As a scholar, published author and diplomat, the story of James Ndambo, to me myself personally, provides a great case study of one of the reasons African nations fail to succeed, Ambassador Anthony Mukwita.

In July this year, I wrote a missive on James Ndambo, a Gauteng based Zambian businessman who had stolen the headlines on all conventional and online media in Zambia and beyond back then.

As a diplomat and published author, I always, if I have knowledge, I feel others do not possess, try to share it in order to remove often scurrilous rumour and speculation off the desk, for those interested to read.

The Ndambo frenzy was one such topic I took keen interest in, as I have previously widely written about the Electric Vehicle phenomenon or the scourge of cancer and how Zambia could be a leader in conquering the silent killer.

Because I was lucky to have personal knowledge of the humble businessman from way back in the early 90´s, the picture was easy to paint and when I did voila, eyes opened for many.

Unravelling James Ndambo, the philanthropist.

In one day, the legend of Ndambo was cracked wide open and the story I called, “The inspiration of James Ndambo” hit a total 260, 000 and was shared more than hundred thousand times across social media from my Facebook page. More than a quarter of a million people reached in one day.

In Zambia presently, no newspaper sells more than 30,000 copies a day due to a combination of factors ranging from high cost of living to cash scarcity, as Zambians decide to buy either a loaf of bread or a tabloid newspaper they can read online.

Did James Ndambo give Zambia hope when he hit the scene?

Ndambo was an ´overnight success´ and his star then was on the rise in Zambia, the reason for the Ndambo thirst, I have no scientific answer to it.
But a pundit colleague told me, “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is ´King´ while in the absence of water, people will drink sand.”

The pundit said, “I will explain to you later, but my basic premise is that people respond to someone or something in reaction to the state of affairs affecting them such as high costs of food, lack of opportunity etc at the particular time.”

She told me many Zambians reacted to voting out Super Ken in 1991 for a political rookie called FTJ because they just wanted change from the same old (27 years of KK) oppressive system of UNIP.
Americans voted out Donald Trump and opted for ´Uncle´ Joe Biden because Trump pushed the envelope to extremes where women he didn’t like were called fat and ugly, immigrants were called rapists and drug dealers while white supremacists such as the ´Proud Boys´ were celebrated by his administration.

So, what did the Ndambomania mean?

The Ndambo frenzy therefore was a real knee jerk reaction by many Zambians to the status quo (many exoerienced), a year after polls when they realised that fuel prices would continue rising after removal of subsidies and fertiliser prices would not drop.

It is a natural human behaviour for people to start looking for alternative leadership when things don’t work, Ndambo, albeit he held his hand to his chest and voiced that he was NOT the Alternative would always remain a threat to other power brokers because of the love from the masses.

Especially if there can only be one proverbial bull in the Kraal.

Remember everyone loves you until you become ´Competition. ´
Zambians saw him as an alternative according to analysts.

What did Ndambo bring to the table?

From one moment of despair, Ndambo became a shining light on the much needed
• Education Scholarships for young girls and women local and abroad
• Prospects of greener pastures
• Beauty pageants were redefined because even women who were not ´beautiful´ and not young (16) contested and won brand new Mercedes Benz and BMW cars and cash including huge passenger buses for their communities such as the one Ms Dora Siliya the former Petauke legislator won for her hometown
The list of ´goodwill hunting´ from this philanthropist through his charity initiative “My Home Town” in Choma village, southern Zambia became an overnight success, he was willing to spread his love and wealth all over the country.

Under normal circumstances in my view as a former Ambassador, former CEO, and published author, if someone came up with a working formular for poverty reduction, it must be embraced.
But alas the walls Ndambo built his charity story on came tumbling down, they didn’t even make a sound!

Between the period of July and now, the Ndambo house went mute, and the gift stopped giving, the lights went out.

We will probably never know why because we are not privy to the inside story.

The Flight of James Ndambo

What we know for sure is that James Ndambo had reached into his deep pockets and selflessly decided to help empower Zambians with plans to uplift themselves out of the chronic poverty rut experienced by many today.

His sincere attempt failed flat on its face or was systematically curtailed, so he packed his bags of charity and generosity and took it far away from Zambia to the west African nation of Ghana, a country whose GDP or total national wealth is about US$ 78 billion according to official stats, as Zambia trails at a measly US$20 billion. ´Santa ain´t coming home this Christmas´.

James Ndambo´s story is not much different from that of the biblical Joseph sold into slavery by his jealous brothers but emerges later through the grace of God as a “Don” in wealthy Egypt miles away from home.

Joseph in Egypt was a rich man of means in charge of food when his brothers needed only meagre supplies of grain to survive in their famished homeland.

As a scholar, published author and diplomat, the story of James Ndambo, to me myself personally, provides a great case study of one of the reasons African nations fail to succeed but until the day I can write an exhaustive thesis on this, my two ngwee ends here.

Ghana, however, in my conclusion has a lot to gain from this Zambian born Samaritan, Ghana´s gain, Zambia´s loss. Blessed is the hand that giveth than the one that taketh.

I am also certain that God will continue blessing James Ndambo as he continues to uplift many from poverty just because he can when he could have chattered a private jet to Ibiza.

Oh, snap James Ndambo already owns several luxurious private jets, he doesn’t need to charter one.

But will he return to Zambia one day?

Amb. AM 12.12.22

File picture Mr James Ndambo and Amb. Anthony Mukwita in Choma in July on the side-lines of the now defunct MHT charity project.

HON. GARRY NKOMBO SHOULD NOT STOP PEOPLE FROM QUESTIONING HH’S HOUSE UPGRADES- HH’S MONEY REMAINS NOTHING BUT A RUMOUR

12/12/2022

As National Democratic Congress, NDC, we wish to put it on record that the current upgrades and road construction leading to President HH’s house should be examined and stopped if he is using state money to do so. Our designated State house along Independence Avenue has the security features to accommodate a head of state, but we are now being told that security and even a police post being built are allegedly among the big costs that Community House is gobbling to make it a house worth that of a Republican President.

Over the past few years, we have known and seen wealthy Zambians that have gone as far as sponsor road constructions leading to their homes. There is still a Bulaya road existing now due to the works Mr. K. Bulaya did on the road. Whether the money was his or from proceeds of crime as some people will be quick to mention, the fact is that the money to do the road was taken from his personal money and he could have chosen to do anything with it, but he chose to construct a road that also benefited people that lived near him or used that road.

We have been told for years that President Hakainde Hichilema is a wealthy man. Of course we have not seen that money whether in theory or practice, it is just a rumour. To me, this is what the UPND and President HH have used for decades to practically get away with murder. President HH does not have charities or businesses which we can point at as being engaged in corporate social responsibilities or charity works that we can see that the money really exists. At the very most, we hear that President HH is a Director or shareholder in many companies and what percentage he has in those companies only devil knows.

By the same token, PRESIDENT HH has benefited more from the UPND financially, than the UPND has benefited from him. But because he has the pleasure and luck to lead a party full of praise singers that only jump and praise things that are told to them instead of applying logic, he continues to benefit more than he is giving in or out. People laughed at HH that he lost elections 5 times, but to him UPND has always been a business more than a political party. Before and during elections, many donors would give UPND loads of cash, money which is not even controlled by the Secretariat, but the President. So election in and election out, the UPND leadership got millions of money from donors. Sometimes that money would find itself in party programmes and sometimes it would find itself in other activities that the party leadership saw fit.

President HH further refused to publicly declare his assets. If you get on the Internet right now, you will find the monetary figures of what each millionaire or billionaire in Africa or worldwide is estimated to have. It should not be a secret. But we are told that HH is the richest man in the country and yet we do not know what he is worth. Therefore, for hon. Garry Nkombo to tell us that it is demeaning to question where the money to construct and upgrade the private residency of the President is coming from, is actually an insult to our collective intelligence as a people. He says that President HH is self sustaining. REALLY? Well, why did he not do all that work while he was still in opposition, since we are told that he is very rich. As NDC, we feel that President HH’s wealth is nothing but a rumour that is normally used to gain pecuniary advantage, and people are hoodwinked into believing that he has so much money and cannot be interested in using public resources, and yet the opposite is true.

This is a man they are further telling us that he is not drawing his salary and yet if that were true we would probably see him donate it to charity or his own party for party activities. Just the other time, one of the UPND officials was buried in a sack cloth in Siavonga and today the UPND members almost failed to bury their colleague in Kitwe until hon. Malanji donated a bus to help ferry mourners. All that in a party with a very wealthy President who is not getting his salary. Maybe he should turn his salary into a funeral fund that should be used to give UPND members decent burials.

Sadly, the rich man with short or penguin hands, once again lives to his true nature of not sharing whatever he has, whether much or little, but expects the public to judge him on the premises that he has too much money to ever think of getting money from the Zambians. Those are lies that the UPND and its members can feed on, for some of us, we can and will not base our analysis on things that we cannot see, but restrict ourselves to what we can see. And what we see is zero HH money for any project or charity works, but so much public funds now finding itself to even make Community House more comfortable and habitable for a head of state, and yet we are being told to look away as all this is happening.

Issued by;

Saboi Imboela

President- NDC

Harry Kalaba has no moral and legal legitimacy to call for early elections – Mweetwa

December 13th, 2022

CHOMA – UPND Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has challenged opposition Citizens First president Harry Kalaba to reorganize himself and seek audience with his Malawian extravagant Prophet Shepherd Bushiri for misleading him.

Mr. Mweetwa said President Kalaba must find out why he lost the August 2021 Presidential elections when his prophet assured him that he would win instead of calling for unjustified early elections.

He says it is shocking to hear Harry Kalaba calling for early elections claiming that President Hichilema has failed to govern the country as he wondered where the opposition derives his moral legitimacy to make such an assertion.

“The man stood for elections in 2021 and failed lamentably despite being lied to by his prophet that he stood greater chances of winning the elections. His party did not produce any Member of Parliament, Mayor or Council Chairman. He doesn’t even have a councilor and today he wants to rise on top of the mountain to call for early elections. My advice to him is sela tubombeko. We have the people’s mandate and we are delivering,” he said.

Mr. Mweetwa who is also Choma Central Member of Parliament and Southern Province Minister said the opposition leader is playing politics of poverty as he is pretending not to know the amount of progress that President Hichilema and the UPND have achieved in the last 18 months.

He further revealed that the party has resolved to float President Hakainde Hichilema as its Presidential candidate in the 2026 General elections because he has proven to be a reliable and action oriented leader whose works are speaking for themselves.

“This is the president who has gone for one year four months without a salary, a President whose financial prudence remains unmatched. This is the President who has told his cabinet and ministers that no one is going to drive a brand new vehicle before attending to challenges of the people,” he said.

And Mr. Mweetwa has cautioned the UPND leadership to stop having a mentality that Southern province is a UPND stronghold, saying it was only a stronghold when the party was in opposition adding that the PF lost elections because they took for granted that they had strongholds and relented on campaigns.

The party Spokesperson who was speaking when he received defectors from the PF in Choma today called on members to have a spirit of accommodating new members by forgiving and loving those that are defecting to the ruling UPND.

(C) THE FALCON

K10.8 BILLION RELEASED FOR VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTAL, DEBT-SERVICE AND OPERATIONAL PROGRAMMES

Finance and National Planning Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, says the Government is pleased with the positive performance trajectory of the 2022 budget, which has seen the sustained financing of social sectors, installation of over 41, 000 new employees on the public service payroll, and meeting of several budget obligations for the current year.

He was speaking in reference to the November, 2022 budget expenditure whereby K10.8 billion was released to finance public service delivery.

Of the total amount, K2.9 billion was spent on debt service (domestic and external) and other liabilities and K3.3 billion was released towards the public service wage bill. Releases to transfers, subsidies and social benefits amounted to K2.9 billion.

With regard to subsidies, the Government released K1.7 billion towards 2022/2023 season Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). We are confident that the logistical challenges of the past few weeks have been overcome and that all the remaining beneficiaries are now receiving their input supplies.

In the month under review, the Government also released K867.3 million for implementation of various developmental programmes and general operations.

K775.8 million went towards capital expenditure of which K478.6 million went to road infrastructure, K65.1 million for strategic fuel depots and the balance of K232.1 million went towards other infrastructure projects, sanitation inclusive.

A sum of K867.3 million was released by the Government to facilitate service delivery under various state institutions. Under this aspect, notable expenditure items included:

1)
K315.6 million for general operations in Ministries, Provinces and Agencies (MPA’s);

2)
K100 million to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit;

3)
K84.9 million to the Skills Development Fund; and,

4)
K28 million for various statutory by-elections.

Of the K2.9 billion which was released under the transfers (K1.2 billion) and subsidies (K1.7 billion) component:

1)
K605 million went to the community projects components under the Constituency Development Fund;

2)
K147.4 million was targeted for operations of Grant Aided Institutions under various Ministries;

3)
K111.6 million was for the Local Government Equalization Fund;

4)
K99.8 million for operations of public universities; and,

5)
K224.1 million went to the Zambia Revenue Authority to support operations and resource mobilisation.

Furthermore, in line with the Government’s commitment to reduce indebtedness, a sum of K2.7 billion was released towards the payment of both domestic debt and external debt owed to multilaterals. The Treasury also released K257.6 million for dismantling of arrears owed to suppliers of goods & services in order to help unlock liquidity and turn the wheels of the economy through SME’s.

We now take this opportunity to reiterate the call by the Minister of Finance and National Planning for Ministries, Provinces and Agencies to ensure that funds are absorbed and utilised on budgeted programmes – in a timely, efficient and effective manner in order to achieve the Government’s set transformational objectives outlined in the National Budget.

The Minister of Finance and National Planning will host a Symposium on the 2022 Budget and Economic Affairs Performance Review, on Thursday, 5th January, 2023.

HATRED TOWARDS GENEROUS PEOPLE IN ZAMBIA IRKS THE BULLDOZER

…as he donates k100,000 to St. Margaret UCZ Choir in Munali

Lusaka, Sunday, December 11, 2022 (Smart Eagles)

Whilst some people expected the Bulldozer to quit charity works following the loss of his seat in Kabushi Constituency, former Lusaka Province Minister Hon. Bowman Chilosha Lusambo has continued putting smiles on the faces of Zambians with his generous gestures.

Earlier today as he graced the launch of the album for the choir at the United Church of Zambia, St Margret Congregation in Lusaka’s Munali Constituency, Hon Lusambo gifted the choir with K100,000 meant to buy a bus.

The former Lawmaker says he will never stop giving because giving is a blessing.

“It’s only in Zambia where I have seen generous givers arrested. This shocks me a lot. We are being told that there is power in giving, there are blessings in giving. They found me giving in Kwacha and they were like this one gives generously, we should remove him (as the area MP),” he said.

“So I said I will never stop giving; better they kick me out of Parliament but I will be giving. Because there is nothing in Parliament. But there are blessings in giving. So if giving is a crime, I will be getting arrested every day.”

And the former Lusaka Province Minister called on the church to pray for former President Edgar Lungu as he is the only surviving former Head of State.

“At the moment we only have one former President. Have you ever seen us taking the elderly to those places they use to accommodate the elderly? We keep them in our homes. Every country or every institution has what they call memory,” he said.

“We keep the elderly in our homes so that we know where the country is coming from, where we are and where we are going. So we should be praying for former President Edgar Lungu. All the former presidents are gone; he is the only one we are remaining with.”

Hon Lusambo also called on the church to pray for current leaders.

He says when those that have Christ in them lead people are happy but when those that don’t have lead people cry.

“This country is for everyone. It isn’t for President Hakainde, it isn’t for politicians, it’s for everyone. Politicians are just few. This country is in your hands. You’re the ones who give politicians power,” he said.

“Today if you think that what you see in Peter isn’t pleasant, you’re the ones to decide no this is not why we gave you power. So let us pray for leaders. If they are leading us well, let’s pray for them, if they are not, let us pray for them so that they change and start leading us in a good manner.”

Meanwhile, Hon Lusambo has implored Zambians to spread love during this festive season.

He has said Christians should live in a manner that reflects Jesus Christ’s image.

“Festive season is the time for showing love. Jesus Christ was born to unify the world. Things are not going well in the country, people in church are supposed to stand in prayer so that things go well in the country,” he said.

“This is why you hear that homosexuality has come… people in church should pray so that he rescues us from this evil because Zambia is a Christian nation. We need to live a Christ like life. When you have food and your neighbor doesn’t have and you’re locking yourself up with your family then where is your Christianity?”

HH PLOTTING UPND DOWNFALL

…taking us back to a Zambia we don’t want – Sishuwa

By Ernest Chanda

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is taking us back to a Zambia we do not want and digging his political grave, charges University of Zambia lecturer Sishuwa Sishuwa.

He argues that “by promoting tribalism in public appointments, ignoring and possibly participating in corruption, mismanaging a poor economy, arresting critics, undermining democratic institutions, and delaying institutional reform, President Hakainde Hichilema is taking us back to a Zambia we do not want and digging his political grave”.

Commenting on good governance activist Brebner Changala’s observations that President Hichilema was copying former president Edgar Lungu’s tribal agenda, Dr Sishuwa said he cannot understand why the Head of State is doing the same things Zambians opposed under the PF.

“Changala says Hichilema is copying Lungu’s tribalism. Hichilema is not copying; he is practicing his own tribalism with Lozis, Tongas and those from North Western Province being the biggest beneficiaries. Have you observed that many of the people who do not see tribalism in the appointments that Hichilema is making to key public offices (security, constitutional, boards, etc) are mostly those of us who hail from Western, Southern, and North Western provinces? Have you wondered why? We did not oppose Lungu’s tribalism so that Hichilema could initiate his own. We want an inclusive Zambia, where no one region dominates appointments to public office,” he said.

“One key criticism of Lungu’s rule was that he marginalised Zambians from Southern, Western and North Western provinces, regions that have historically voted for Hichilema. Most of Lungu’s ministers, for instance, were either from the Chewa-speaking Eastern province or from one of three Bemba-speaking provinces. This preference was also seen clearly in the top leadership positions of the police, army, air force, national service, and office of the president. Hichilema promised to do things differently if elected but has barely delivered.”

Dr Sishuwa said while President Hichilema’s Cabinet “is relatively representative of Zambia’s 10 provinces”, areas that historically voted for PF are grossly underrepresented while most ministers are from ethnic groups that have typically formed the core of the President’s base.

“The key ministries (home affairs, defence, finance, justice, education, local government and many more), the leadership positions of all the five security services, the leadership of the justice system, and most permanent secretaries in the civil service are all held by people from the region that has traditionally voted for Hichilema,” he noted.

“Added to this are most of the appointments to the diplomatic service, boards, State House, and more recently the Electoral Commission of Zambia. There has been a near complete reversal whereby yesterday’s victors have become today’s victims and vice versa. Among other things, this adds to the risk of a vicious cycle whereby each new leader continues this trend and makes it more likely that the next election will be driven by ethnic rather than policy considerations.”

Dr Sishuwa said another disappointing feature of Hichilema’s presidency has been in the area of institutional democratic reform.

“I am aware that Hichilema is soon to travel to the US for the democracy summit where Joe Biden is set to recognise him as one of the good leaders in Africa committed to promoting democracy and human rights. This premature recognition has little to do with Hichilema’s record on these issues, which is poor. It has more to do with Biden’s desperate attempt to counter what the US sees as the growing illiberal influences of China and Russia in Africa. After a year in office, Hichilema’s administration is yet to repeal laws that undermine human rights or enact legislation that strengthens accountable democratic governance. Yes, democracy and human rights were seriously eroded under Lungu, but the repressive legislation that enabled his authoritarian tendencies remains on the statutes. Indeed, Hichilema is now shamelessly presiding over the use of laws such as defamation of the president, which effectively criminalises criticism of the President, and the cyber security Act to arrest his critics and political opponents,” he noted.

“Even the notorious public order Act also remains intact. Hichilema’s pledge to pass a law on access to information has seen a similar lack of progress. Like many governments before it, the current one has also now dragged its feet on passing an Act – or even producing a draft bill – that would make government more transparent and corruption easier to observe. This procrastination is symptomatic of the new dawn administration’s lack of willingness to make structural changes that would strengthen accountable governance. As a result, Zambian institutions remain as susceptible to manipulation now as they were under Lungu. While in opposition, Hichilema promised wide democratic reforms. Now in office, his administration has recognised the advantage of leaving laws that restrict the opposition in place.”

And Dr Sishuwa says the biggest opposition that the UPND faces is an alert and politically engaged citizenry and not an organised political party.

“All considered, the President of Zambia is working hard to be voted out of office by promoting tribalism in public appointments, ignoring and possibly participating in corruption, mismanaging a poor economy, arresting critics, undermining democratic institutions and delaying institutional reform. I think many Zambians are now beginning to wake up to the ugly reality that Hichilema may not be what we thought he was. In a sense, Hichilema is Edgar Lungu with a better international PR (public relations). As did Lungu, the current President is taking us back to a Zambia we do not want and appears determined to unite Zambians against his leadership and plot the UPND’s downfall,” argued Dr Sishuwa.

“I get a sense that having been elected with a popular mandate, Hichilema thinks there is no credible opposition to unseat him. In my view, the biggest opposition that he faces is an alert and politically engaged citizenry, not an organised party. The latter will rise organically and should be the least of his concerns. What Hichilema must fear most is already in place: the voter. Discontent will not wait until there is an effective opposition party to harvest it. The voter in Zambia, unlike elsewhere, has taken over the traditional role of the opposition.”

Billionaire and Philanthropist James Ndambo has shutdown his charity organisation called My Home Town in his home country – Zambia, reports Asa Manda.

Ndambo a renowned International Business Mogue based in South Africa with companies spread accross Africa, Europe, Middile East and South America has decided to close down My Home Town, a charity whose umbrella he has been doing some charity work for 25 years.

“With a heavy heart 25 years after the idea was founded in Choma -Zambia, I inform you all that MHT has suspended all of its operations in Zambia with immediate effect except for those projects that are already work in progress,” MHT dissolved Board Chairperson Clever Ndambo announced to members in a message seen by Zambian Eye.

“Most of us are aware of the environment that My Home Town (MHT) found itself in after the June/July 2022 beauty pageant events in Choma -Zambia. Sadly, what happened after the Choma events has made the operations of MHT very difficult; Socially, Morally, Emotionally and Financially.”

“Most of us are aware of the environment that My Home Town (MHT) found itself in after the June/July 2022 beauty pageant events in Choma -Zambia. Sadly, what happened after the Choma events has made the operations of MHT very difficult; Socially, Morally, Emotionally and Financially,” Ndambo told members adding that the Board he led had since been dissolved.

He explained that this means that, henceforth the organisation’s Managing Director Gilbert Siachaya and support team will oversee the winding up of operations and all running projects which will include refunding of all paid up members their membership fees and the honoring of all outstanding liabilities MHT might have. He however said MHT has an obligation to the winners of the Miss My Home Town Beauty Pageant contest till their term ends on July the 2nd, 2023. He said this shall be respected both in Zambia and internationally.

“Regarding MHT sponsored Students pursuing studies at various Universities [Kenya, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Zambia, DRC, Australia, England, United States of America, Canada , St. Vincent, and South Africa], the scholarships will continue till graduation, only new intakes will be suspended. The same goes for Patients who are receiving medical care in and out of Zambia in India and South Africa, these will also continue but new requests will not be onboarded. Beneficiaries of existing Elementary and High School education Scholarships within Zambia will also continue except for new applicants,” Ndambo said.

Ndambo said he was aware that the decision will be disappointing to members and sympathisers who had seen light in their lives by being part of MHT.

“I am aware that many will be disappointed as MHT gave all of us hope for the future and above all, the feeling and strong belief in oneness as MHT members and among our sympathizers. Let us continue praying for the rebirth of this great idea in which ever form it may take; Every Individual carries a Gift/Potential, starting from our own family homes, our next-door neighbors, our communities, our towns, our provinces, and our country at large, help identify and unlock such POTENTIAL for the benefit of our shared existence,” he told members.

James Ndambo who is the Chairman of Africa Union Holdings Group financed MHT which run a number of developmental projects in Zambia especially in his home town of Choma 290 kilometres South of the capital Lusaka.

Among other projects MHT has refurblished the Choma Central Police Station, bought the Police Vehicles, Tarred and put state of art lights to the Road from Shampande township to Choma Secondary School, The Organisation provided Houses to floods Victims in Mbabala constituency, north of Choma town.

In June/July James Ndambo visited Zambia for about 10 days to launch to handover a number of projects and graced the Miss MHT Beauty Pageant, the biggest and most expensive event which attracted about 3000 Guests across the world.

Three days after the event Government through Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) raided the Africa Union Holdings premises in Lusaka grabbed Vehicles which MHT had bought to transport its VIP Guests and the three which were won by the Models. DEC said they were investigating but weeks later returned the vehicles.

Insiders also say a number of things happened which included transferring of some Officers in the Police including the Provincial Commander.-Zambian Eye

PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO SEE THROUGH HH’s NO ACTION TALK, IT ‘LL BE DIFFICULT IN 2026 – MAIKO ZULU

By Correspondent

SOCIAL Justice and Human Rights Defender Maiko Zulu says he does not foresee a situation where President Hakainde Hichilema will win with a landslide in the 2026 General Elections.

Zulu says the economic hardships prevailing in the country have angered Zambians to the extent of regretting voting for the UPND and President Hichilema.

He says small scale farmers across the country largely voted for President Hichilema because they thought he could improve agriculture in the country.

However, with the current happenings in the agriculture sector, political pundits and Governance Activists say unless the status quo change, they do not see farmers casting votes in favour of the UPND Administration and President Hichilema in the 2026 General Elections.

Speaking in an interview, Zulu said slowly, people are beginning to see through President Hichilema’s talks without action nature.

“Our politics are very simplistic. Our political cautiousness as a country is very low. That is why politicians are able to lie to you during campaigns and for four years they will do nothing… In the last year before elections, they will start doing things that will make you think that they have been working. So, that is what I see things happening (in 2026). But obviously, if people begin to think based on issues at hand. I don’t think the votes of Hakainde Hichilema will be as many in the 2026 elections as they were in the last elections,” he said, adding: “Obviously people are beginning to see through his (President Hichilema’s) political rhetorics, through his unfulfilled campaign promises and the talk without action nature.”

When reminded that President Hichilema has been voted the best African Politician by United Kingdom based African Media Agency (AMA), Zulu said there is nothing to dance about that because ordinary Zambian are grappling with hunger and are the ones that voted and not AMA.

“It depends also by who (has voted for him). You can say he is a best African President but ask an ordinary person in Zambia if they have food under the best African President. Ask the majority of the youth on the streets if they have jobs under the best African President,” he charged.

Zulu added: We saw the Kwacha being the best currency but what did it translate to? More poverty for the people, cost of meali-meal are already going up…our meali-meal in 10 Miles (Mungule area in Chibombo District) has gone up by K5 in the last week. So, it is easy to say that someone is the best here and there but results must be seen on the ordinary person’s table. You and me, if we are employed, we must see an improvement in our salaries. So, for me I don’t see that as something we must be dancing about,” he said.

MY HOMETOWN GONE,WHERE WILL CHOMA LEAN ON ?

…..Who will wipe the tears of the orphans and the vulnerable in our land ?🤔

Mastone Moonze.

My hometown Zambia has decided to stop operating in Zambia after some business allies of Mr James Ndambo felt uncomfortable to the recent investigations of suspected money laundering by the Zambian government through it’s investigative wings were conducted.

The Non government organization was founded in Zambia twenty five years ago before other countries in the world established their own but chaired by Mr Ndambo.

It’s main aim was to improve the lives of people through nertworking and creating connections globally but be able to develop villages of origin .It is a membership based organization that has been helping many Zambians in so many ways.

My Home town Zambia has been supporting many people with complicated ailments by buying air tickets for them to be evacuated to countries where they have better facilities for treatment.

Before the Zambian government commenced it’s investigations this year ,My Home town Zambia embarked on township roads upgrading in Choma district,a gesture that excited the local authorities.

The first ever world class street lights were installed in Choma’s Shampande Compound together with a beautiful road from Shampande to Mr Ndambo’s farm near Choma secondary school which was constructed at cost of 24 million Kwacha.

Mr Ndambo’s organization recently refurbished Choma Police station,donated three Hilux vehicles and one quantum bus for the security wing of the land .

He personally offered to pay for the training of police officers that are interested to further their study in digital money laundering investigations.

It was this generosity that prompted Southern Province minister Mr Cornelius Mweetwa to request for the rehabilitation of the road leading to Choma General Hospital,and Mr Ndambo could not hesitate but gave in to the minister’s request.

The organization further pledged to put up a maternity ward at the Choma Police station and work on three more roads within Shampande Compound.

The organization also empowered villagers in Choma rural with hummer mills ,cattle,solar power and houses.

When Choma experienced floods that destroyed people’s houses in Mbabala township ,it’s Mr Ndambo and his organisation that donated prefabricated homes at a cost of two million.

Certainly,the shutting down of My home town Zambia will surely affect many citizens ,not only in Choma but the entire Africa, because we still have people that are in international schools due to Mr Ndambo’s support.

Now that the organization is shut down in Zambia,where will the poor people of Choma lean on ? Who will wipe their tears Incase another disaster of floods visits them during the rain season😢

FRENCH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY READY TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT ZAMBIA

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate Release
Paris-Sunday December 11,2022

France’s largest development financial institution, has proposed the creation of a special purpose vehicle to allow for financial support to Zambia on a private legal basis.

The French Development Agency (AFD) said it is, however, ready to finance the private sector in Zambia through PROPACO, a private sector development arm of the group.

This came to light when Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu held a meeting with a team from AFD in Paris.

Zambia’s Ambassador to France Dr Christine Kaseba Sata had requested AFD to consider financial support to Zambia through PROPACO.

AFD is however optimistic that the debt situation will soon be resolved as there is will and commitment by the creditors to restructure Zambia’s debt so that financial support through the public sector can resume.

AFD Deputy Director Africa Development Beatrice Lederle is confident that the debt negotiations under the Paris club forum will be resolved so that the Agency can develop an ambitious economic plan for Zambia.

Ms Lederle said AFD is totally aligned with the vision of president Hakainde Hichilema and saluted the achievements scored by the government so far.

“We want to congratulate you for the IMF programme which was recently approved by the board and sincerely wish the negotiations under the Paris club forum will go forward at a quick pace to develop an ambitious economic and environmental program ”, said Ms Lederle

And Mr Nzovu thanked France for the support and commitment towards economic transformation in Zambia to ensure debt sustainability.

He said once the debt is restructured, there will be more foreign direct investment which will contribute to the growth of the economy.

Meanwhile Naig Cozannet from the forestry section said PROPACO will support the forestry sector in Zambia and a feasibility study has started in collaboration with Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation to have a full inventory of the plantation undertaken.

AFD Group has been present in Zambia since 2012 and has been active in supporting Zambia’s road infrastructure development, expansion of access to electricity and water as well as renewable energy development.

Issued by:
Naomi Ng’andu Mweemba
First Secretary Press
Zambian Embassy
Paris

BENEFICIARIES OF SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER SCHEME COMMEND GOVERNMENT FOR TIMELY DISBURSEMENTS

President Hakainde Hichilema recently announced that the New Dawn Government had released money for Social Cash Transfer Scheme and Food Security Pack Programme to ensure the government safeguards people’s livelihoods as a nation’s humanity is judged by how it takes care of its vulnerable citizens.

Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Permanent Secretary, Ms. Angela Kawandami led “Community of Practice for Cash Transfers in Africa” conference delegates on a field visit to beneficiaries of the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Programme in Kazungula District.

The purpose of the visit was to help delegates who comprised social welfare workers from different African countries, to familiarise themselves with Zambia’s implementation of the Social Cash Transfer Programmes, and how it is transforming lives in the province, and the country in general.

Ms. Kawandami who led the Kazungula team appreciated how beneficiaries have changed their lives by venturing in various income generating activities.

About 6,350 beneficiaries in Kazungula district are currently on the programme with government targeting to increase that number owing to the positive impact the programme has had since 2003.

85-year beneficiary with disability, Ms. Musekwe Munkombwe who lives alone, told the delegates that she has managed to renovate her house and was able sustain her livelihood through the funds she receives from the SCT programme through the help of her granddaughter.

Ms. Munkombwe testified and expressed gratitude on the effectiveness of the programme, with a call to government to continue on the positive trajectory of the life -changing programme.

“Since I am old and barely walk, my granddaughter collects the money on my behalf and I do not face any challenges all at all,” She said.

Another beneficiary Fenny Siamazomba, who is a widow and mother of four, shared with the delegates how she has managed to start up a small business from the SCT funds to take care of her children.

“I was enrolled on the SCT programme in 2017, the funds I receive from the programme have enabled me to build a house and invest in a grocery business. My children have a roof over their head and food to eat,” Ms. Siamazombe said.

(C)THE FALCON

HUNGER LOOMING NEXT YEAR – MANGANI
…if UPND does not distribute fertiliser to all parts of the country

By Correspondent
FORMER Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani has warned that hunger will strike next year if the UPND administration does not distribute fertilisers to all parts of the country in the next three weeks.

Mangani has therefore warned Zambians to brace themselves for serious hunger.

Speaking in an interview, Mangani says failure by the Government to distribute fertiliser in the next coming weeks, will plunge the country into hunger situations.

“Unfortunately, if this is not well handled in the next two to three weeks, we should brace ourselves for hunger next year because there will be shortage of food,” the former Home Affairs Minister predicted.

Mangani said it is sad that when the UPND formed Government, they changed the procurement process hence, the delay in the delivery of fertiliser.

According to Mangani, it is illogical for the party that forms government to change everything including good things that were put in place by previous Governments.

” The UPND pronouncements on farming were good and inspiring to farmers. The only challenge I see is that when there is a change of Government. You don’t change everything. You have to have continuity. To try to change everything, you will have gaps like the one we are witnessing now. The all procurement process was disturbed and in the process, the fertiliser distribution has delayed in most parts of Eastern Province,” he said.

He said there is a very big outcry in Eastern Province like many other parts of Zambia because of delays by the UPND Government to deliver fertiliser on time.

Mangani said while some farmers have began receiving fertiliser, the quantity is not enough as they have to share the commodity.

He said it would have been imperative if Government forewarned the farmers that they were going to be sharing fertiliser.

” They could have forewarned farmers that we are cutting the packs of fertiliser, please prepare yourselves. Unlike now where at the eleventh hour, they have to look for money, they have to look for food which is in short supply. There is a lot of panic on the part of farmers,” he charged.

FRANCE INVITES ZAMBIA’S MINISTERS TO AN INVESTMENT MEETING

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate Release
Paris-Sunday December 11,2022

France has invited Zambia’s Ministers of Commerce, Tourism and Agriculture for a meeting to explore investment opportunities and possible areas of collaboration in Zambia.

French Minister of State for Development, Francophone and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou said the visit ideally should be held early next year to afford the concerned ministers an opportunity to engage with the private sector in France to invest in Zambia before the presidential visit.

Ms Zacharopoulou said this when she hosted Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu at her office in Paris.

She said there is a need to invest in Zambia and give the country the much needed visibility on the international scene.

Ms Zacharopoulou said Zambia has so much potential in the tourism sector which can greatly contribute to the growth of the economy and create jobs.

She further said that France was ready to support Zambia in sustainable forest management aimed at protecting biodiversity and preserving the forest.

Ms Zacharopoulou took note of Zamba’s strides in protecting its natural resources and assured the minister that France was ready to support the country in sustainable forest management.

Ms Zacharopoulou further assured her counterpart of France’s continued mobilisation of European donors to support developing countries inclusive of Zambia.

She also said the solution to the debt restructuring programme will be found and it will be a success story.

At the same meeting, Zambia’s Ambassador to France Dr Christine Kaseba Sata thanked Ms Zacharopoulou for conveying President Hakainde Hichilema’s message to his counterpart Emmanuel Macron on the need for a speedy resolution to the debt restructuring programme.

And Mr Nzovu commended France for its renewed interest in transforming Zambia’s economy through debt restructuring programmes and climate financing.

Issued by:
Naomi Ng’andu Mweemba
First Secretary Press
Zambia Embassy
Paris

Be ready to resign – GBM challenges HH
…remember what you promised about hunger in the country and your fitness to govern?
10.12.2022

Aspiring candidate for the position of president of the Patriotic Front, PF, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, GBM, has challenged President Hakainde Hichilema to resign in the face of acute hunger currently underway in several parts of the country owing to what he calls poor leadership.

Mr. Mwamba has reminded President Hichilema of his own words once posted on his Twitter page in which he said, “If a person were to die of hunger under my Presidency, I would seriously evaluate whether I am fit to continue leading the nation. This is deeply troubling, and I can’t contain my displeasure”.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC, “Over 1.35 million Zambians (10% of the analyzed population) are experiencing severe food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 Crisis) between July and September 2022, due to high food prices and climatic shocks. This population requires urgent humanitarian action to reduce food gaps, protect and restore livelihoods, and prevent acute malnutrition”.

The former Kasama Constituency lawmaker says Mr. Hichilema was especially voted for by the very population that now faces acute hunger and whose lives hang in the balance. Mr. Mwamba says this population believed Mr. Hichilema had the capacity to protect them from hunger and the death that might result from there.

The former Defense Minister says it is now clear that President Hichilema does not have the leadership he claimed to have to protect the vulnerable parts of the Zambian population. Instead, Mr. Bwalya says the President duped the Zambian voter by promising them what they wanted to hear.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Mr. Hichilema was only attracted to public office for the title ‘president’ and not really to serve”, Mr. Mwamba says. He adds, “Since he is evidently trapped in an office whose challenges he did not bargain for, he simply needs to resign when he still has a bit of dignity to walk away with”.

Commentators fear that the food security situation in the country will get worse especially in view of the chaotic distribution of farming inputs that has characterized the 2022/2023 farming season.

Claiming to clean up the system, President Hichilema has fumbled his way around an obscure agricultural policy which has left analysts wondering whether the President really knows what he is doing.

ISSUED BY GEOFFREY BWALYA MWAMBA, GBM
CHAIRMAN FOR MOBILIZATION IN THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT
ASPIRING CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT OF THE PF

Uku ukunina umuti kumabula – Hon. Chitotela tells Government
….Human Rights cannot be determined by you and me alone NO it requires every Zambian to vote….
Parliament News, 10th December, 2022
Pambashe Member of Parliament Hon. Ronald Kaoma Chitotela has urged the New Dawn Government to deal with the Criminal procedure amendment Bill brought to the House carefully by allowing the Zambian Citizens to have a say in the amendments of the supreme laws of our land.

Speaking when he debated the Criminal procedure code (amendment) bill that was being read for the second time, Hon. Chitotela begun by quoting for members on the right of the speaker part 3 12 (1) of the constitution which deals with the protection of Human Rights to be specific number 12.

“Madam Speaker In 2016 General election we the people of Zambia decided to go to vote and Zambians called for the amendment of the constitution and because part number three calls for the general participation of the Zambian people we called for a Referendum and this was to allow the Zambians have a direct say on what they wished to be contained in the constitution and part 3 12
“A person shall not be deprived of his life intentionally except in executional sentence of a court in respect of criminal offense under the law enforce in Zambia of which he/she has been convicted of”
In view of the above mentioned, The Former cabinet Minister said the offenses that subject somebody to be executed are prescribed in the proposed bill that the Minister of Justice is bring to the House seeking amendment.

“But where I have a problem with this is that we want to deal with a child and then we leave the father. When H.E addressed the Zambian people and promised to deal with the matter of not executing Zambians as form of punishment and Minister of justice on several occasions he stood and said we need to contentious matters in the constitution so that once we amend these clauses it will be easier for us to deal with the subsidiary legislation. I have a problem with supporting this by amending the parliamentary legislations without dealt with the constitution”

He stated that such moves with bring more confusion as “we may have Zambians who tomorrow can go to the constitutional court and require the interpretation of this constitutional provision because our constitution has provided for death penalty although the cases are not listed in the constitution but in the sub legislation? Now we want to deal with the sub legislation and leave the subject matter in the constitution? In bemba we say “ukunina umuti kumabula” meaning you are doing things upside down.

The Pambashe lawmaker said he expected the Minister or Government to call all stakeholders to share their views.
“Minister you can’t bring an act of parliament to amend and then leave out the principle law in the constitution”
“Let’s deal with the subject matter and have the day of the people, this a route we tried as Patriotic Front then Government because we wanted to do things correctly we went with the constitution and we understood that this provision requires a referendum we went to the Zambian people but unfortunately it did not pass”

He advised the Minister to consider withdrawing this provision and deal with constitution it will be easier for the house to amend the sub legislation.

“YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT HUMAN RIGHTS CAN NOT BE DETERMINED BY THIS HOUSE THIS REQUIRES A SAY FROM EVERY ZAMBIAN VOTE , THATS WHY IT MUST BE AMENDED BY A REFERENDUM ACCORDING TO PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS COUNTRY! it’s requires my mother in Pambashe to vote weather she agrees with the thinking of Government or not”
In his Conclusion, Hon. Chitotela said the defamation of the President proposal is a good proposal but the office of the President ought to be protected and respected.

“African governance transcends from the Chiefdom and we know how kings and chiefs are treated in our chiefdoms were we are coming from, this is not to take away the peoples liberties, Opinions to criticize their leaders but we must also bare in mind that certain positions come with certain responsibilities”.

I HAD AN AFFAIR WITH THSALA MUANA- VJ

FUN FACT

Did you know that veteran politician, Vernon Mwaanga, once dated that very beautiful Congolese songbird, Tshala Muana, and could have married her [in the 1980s] if he did not back out of the relationship?

For details, follow the excerpt below from

(Conversations with Memorable Personalities)

Amos Malupenga:

What epitaph would you like on your tombstone?

Vernon Mwaanga:

Well, whoever delivers the eulogy when my hour comes, I hope over and above whatever I have achieved or whatever negative I may have registered in life at least one thing should reflect on my tombstone that I did my best to serve my country and my people. That alone will give me satisfaction even when I am lying six feet below.

I did my best for my country and my people when it mattered most and no man is capable of exceeding his best. One of my satisfying achievements was to get Zambian soldiers involved in the United Nations peace keeping operations starting in Mozambique, Rwanda, Angola and now Sierra Leone.

President Chiluba and my Cabinet colleagues embraced this concept and so did the service chiefs – Nobby Simbeye, Ronnie Shikapwasha, Funjika and Xavier Chungu who gave their full support before I approached Kofi Annan who was then in charge of peace keeping at the UN headquarters in New York.

But one thing that intrigue me about the country is the attempt by people who don’t even know me to edit my history. They don’t have to like me but it would be a travesty to even remotely attempt to edit my history.

I have often said that men without a past cannot be used as a reliable guide to the future. Notwithstanding the current difficulties the country is going through, we should not lose ourselves as a people. We must turn self-doubt into self-belief. Any country at war with itself cannot develop no matter how great or noble its plans maybe. Consensus building and dialogue are an indispensable component of governance and development.

Amos Malupenga:

Finally, are you not going to talk about the issue of Tshala Muana being your lover. A lot was said about this, what is the truth?

Vernon Mwaanga:

Well, I must confess the answer I am going to give will probably break a few hearts. But in the interest of truth and integrity, I can say that I did have an affair with Tshala Muana. I first met her in Paris in the 80s and I was introduced to her by a mutual friend of ours who is a prominent business man in France.

As we moved near to elections’ time, Tshala Muana was invited to come here in 1991. She was supposed to assist us in MMD to raise some funds. She came here twice as you can remember.
Her visit caused controversy because there were close friends of mine who wanted to get involved with Tshala Muana but she said she was having an affair with me and she wouldn’t want to double cross me with other persons.

My friends took it badly and started scandalizing me over Tshala Muana. My relationship didn’t develop to the extent where she wanted it to be. She essentially wanted to get married to me but I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want the relationship to drift perilously towards marriage. I was content with maintaining the relationship where it was and I thought it was an appropriate level.
Such is human experience. I was single at the time and I was entitled to go for gold. But things didn’t work the way she wanted them to be. And it ended there.

Amos Malupenga:

And that issue was discussed in Cabinet?

Vernon Mwaanga:

Yes, the issue was discussed very informally and I remember my failed colleagues raising the issue with malice in Cabinet. They raised it by way of compliant. They said there are people, meaning I, who are having an affair with a singer.
Instead of being transparent enough and admit that they wanted this singer, they chose to scandalize me.

Men are entitled to try but when they are rebuffed, I don’t think they should scandalize other men who succeed, which is not right.

Amos Malupenga:

Thank you for your time and your forthright answers.

Vernon Mwaanga:

Thank you very much but these guys really tried to scandalize me after they tried their luck and bit the dust.

(An excerpt from Conversations with Memorable Personalities)

Pictures Below:

(RIGHT): Vernon Mwaanga

(LEFT): Tshala Muana