“TUTWA’S DEFINING PUBLIC POLICY IS HIS DEFENCE OF BILL 10 THAT WOULD HAVE KILLED DEMOCRACY”
“WHEN CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI DIES, IT WILL BE DISHONEST TO SPEAK ABOUT HIM WITHOUT MENTIONING HIS DANGEROUS AND UNAPOLOGETIC TRIBALISM”
Now that the country has enjoyed venting about an article I did not and could never pen, let me repeat my true sentiments on Tutwa.
Tutwa’s defining public legacy is his defence of a Bill 10 that would have all but killed Zambia, as a democracy.
When Chishimba Kambwili dies, it will be dishonest to speak about him without mentioning his dangerous and unapologetic tribalism.
When HH joins his ancestors, surely an honest country will discuss the privatisation controversy.
How can a whole nation agree with itself that once its leaders die, history is silenced or rewritten?
Unfortunately, if ever one finds themselves in a position where their actions affect the nation, that part of them is owned by that nation not their family. In the same vein, their private life is owned by their family and no one should go there.
No amount of screaming or use of foul language changes the fact that our ability to erase history, our reluctance to candidly interrogate defining moments in our past, together with an honest appraisal of the protagonists, is a flaw in our national character. It is how we allow people who should be nowhere near public life to reimagine themselves and get multiple chances to harm the nation.
The whole – don’t talk about the past – narrative. That’s so mushy brained.
So, again, it does not matter how shrill we become, what eye popping insults we freely dispense – the fact remains that it is crazy to try to divorce Tutwa from a campaign he was the proud the face of. How can it be an insult to him to state what he believed?
What, dear God, will we put in our museums and archives for posterity when we are so scared to discuss shared difficult but monumental history and those who were a part of it?
The ruling party UPND today held a National Management Committee (NMC) meeting which was chaired by President Hakainde Hichilema (HH).
NMC is the highest organ of the UPND.
President Hichilema confirmed in a Facebook post below saying he retaliated the position that the party must continue to mobilize its own resources.
We held a National Management Committee (NMC) meeting of our party senior leadership today. We deliberated on a number of issues aimed at strengthening the party through peaceful coexistence at all levels of our organisation.
Everyone is committed to discipline and accountability in the party and on the need for continued mobilisation at all levels.
We reiterated our resolve to have the party mobilise it’s own resources as public and party resources can never be comingled.
We shall continue engaging our party structures at all levels to ensure that we live up to the expectations of the citizens from a UPND led government.
Hakainde Hichilema President of the Republic of Zambia and UPND Party President
Zambia is not a personal to holder, it is a sovereign state hence there is no monopoly of wisdom and knowledge it calls for concerted efforts to govern in order to develop this great nation and not a one man show or a business entity aiming to make profits.
It’s been a year, and some months now Mr. President and you have confirmed that one year is enough to make progress and threatening those in the system to have them replaced, citing that they are frustrating the process.
One thing you must understand is that, the moment you took the orth of office you told the country that you have inherited an empty coffer. Hence, the big question which begs an answer. How many international trips have you under taken so far and at what cost? With a view that you are marketing Zambia as if Zambia is a new country which is not known, yet the country has been in existence for 58 years now.
While the country is still grappling with so many challenges, for one year now without progress to uplift the social welfare and living standards at list in one year we would have seen some improvements in some of the areas below;
-Health sector, where there is no Medicine and the situation is getting worse every day. -The high cost of living. -Agriculture sector farmers are not getting enough farming inputs starting from last years farming season. -Energy sector were we have been slapped on our faces with high fuel price and electricity tariffs also pending road-shading which claimed to finish in one year. -The highly pronounced 25.7 million CDF which has no effect on the ground.
Looking at, the above hardships, your excellence how do you expect the system to respond because those people in the system are not immune to the hardships above? Or maybe those in the system are the ones influencing the monthly fuel pump price hiking and high price of farming inputs and other commodities on the market?
Introduction of free education and making desks in schools also employment of civil servants it’s a good thing but does not mean you have given the Zambians all what it takes for us to survive. Moreover when you talk about free education I could roughly say 80% of the people in urban setups are taking their children to private schools meaning they are not beneficiaries hence high cost of living is affecting everyone.
What we need is to revamp the private sector which is the major employer because it plays a major role to build the economy unlike what you have done to give tax holidays to mining firms because whatever little we used to realize it was important to the growth of our country’s economy.
Hence blaming and holding those in the system accountable that the system is not responding it simply shows that you are lacking what it takes to take this country to higher, highest. And the question is, why can’t Zambians hold you accountable as well? Because you are the CEO of this great nation mother Zambia to me its like you are the one who’s failing the system your excellence. I submit..🙏🙏
Political Analysts Weigh In On Mutale Nalumango’s Performance In Parliament
By KBN Reporter
“To see the vice president saying she doesn’t have information before parliament on crucial national issues means there’s gap and a broken link in government between the President and his vice.” Pastor Kennedy Mambwe.
Scores of Zambians are concerned at ´the level of ignorance´ the vice president of Zambia Mrs Mutale Nalumango continues to exhibit in parliament during question-and-answer sessions, ´The Analysis´ has observed.
On the weekly Sunday live programme featuring Ambassador Anthony Mukwita, Pastor Kennedy Mambwe, and host Wiseman Zulu, it was observed that it is getting increasingly sad to watch the vice President waffle and baffle without confidence in the house, when asked questions regarding national issues, especially given her recent responses to the pending sale of the state-owned Presidential jet and offloading of shares in Kansanshi copper mines that belong to all Zambians.
This was her response, “I have just learnt about the issues you have raised from the screaming headlines myself, we shall come back with a full ministerial statement,” Mrs WK Nalumango said in parliament in response to PF House opposition leader Brian Mundubile last Friday.
This prompted Pastor Mambwe on the weekly debut KBN TV program to say in recent reference to President Hichilema´s statement frustrations on how his government is working that, “at the top we (UPND government) are speaking the right thing, but we lose in the middle´. His vice president (Mrs Nalumango) of the party and the republic can’t give the right information in parliament she is number two and yet the Presidents number two says ´even I just learn things in the media through screaming headlines´. She wants a ministerial statement (to answer questions she must ordinarily know) and yet she is vice president. If she doesn’t have the information as vice President, it’s a serious concern.”
Pastor Mambwe said, “To see the vice president saying she doesn’t have information before parliament means there’s gap and a broken link in government.”
Conversely, Ambassador Mukwita on the same programme said, “I was very sad twice this week when the vice President couldn’t answer questions from opposition house leader Brian Mundubile about state assets being lined up for sale without express approval of elected members of parliament as espoused by hon. Mundubile.”
He added that, “It was painful to watch the potential President saying she knew nothing about an issue that must have been discussed in cabinet. She also failed to answer questions on possible artificial manipulation of the currency, it was dreadful to watch Mrs Nalumango fail to answer but she confirmed that government is offloading money on the open market to keep the currency markets stable.”
The Ambassador asked, “How come several times on question time she (Mrs Nalumango) doesn’t have answers to questions regarding various national issues.”
But Pastor Mambwe came to the vice presidents defence saying maybe, “The VP is not well briefed by her media team sadly, there seems to be no link between State House and Cabinet, her office. It’s probably not her problem her communication team doesn’t care.”
A media expert, Pastor Mambwe said it is sad, “to expose the Mrs Nalumango to ignorance in parliament every week. If the vice president doesn’t know about salient decisions ´being made, there’s a disconnect. Maybe the President has his own exclusive team that doesn’t include the VP.” The full transcript is available on the KBN TV Facebook page and DSTV 279.
LOAD-SHEDDING: WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH BETWEEN ZESCO AND MINISTER KAPALA?
5th December, 2022
Last week Friday, the Minister of Energy Hon Peter KAPALA issued a ministerial statement informing the nation that the country will start experiencing load-shedding of up to 6 hours per day starting 15th December, 2022 due to LOW WATER LEVELS at the Kariba Dam. The minister said the water at Kariba dam will not be sufficient for power generation beyond mid-December 2022.
But ZESCO says there will be no load-shedding in Zambia on account of the said low water levels at the Kariba Dam due to the country’s already existing generation capacity that can provide consistent power to customers. ZESCO Limited Board Chairperson Mr Vickson N’cube on November 2nd, 2022 assured the nation that ZESCO is not worried about the situation because the country no longer relies on Kariba dam alone and has the cushion of of 750MW of power from Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station.
Here are some questions that need honest answers from Government;
1. Who is really telling the truth between Zesco Board Chair, N’cube and Minister of Energy, Hon Kapala, looking at the acutely contradictory statements that the two have issued?
2. What is the real cause of the coming load-shedding; is it the low water levels at Kariba or is it because of the fact that ZESCO is EXPORTING power hence the power deficit we are about to start experiencing?
3. Can Government come out clean and tell the nation the truth about how much power ZESCO is exporting, how much money is ZESCO making and what are they using the money for?
Load-shedding will negatively impact businesses, weaken the economy further and worsen poverty levels.
It is imprudent and immoral for Government to be starving its own people of electricity (which is a crucial component of production) at the behest of foreigners all because a few individuals in power are minting gold from the deals ZESCO has signed with foreign entities.
Government must stop exporting power before first satisfying the local market. Our people can’t be sacrificing for foreigners and a few individuals making money from power export deals at ZESCO.
Issued by; Antonio Mwanza Media Director Patriotic Front
IN 1995, ROTHSCHILD WHEN GIVING TECHNICAL ADVISE SAID THE LIFESPAN OF ALL MINES IN ZAMBIA WILL END BY 2015-2020, THEY ARE BACK AGAIN
Rothschild Carnage Reloaded
By Ngobola Cengelo Muyembe
Let us go back in time and look at what happened during the privatization of our mines. Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) was sold in 1998 for a total price of US$627million, which was divided into 7 sections which included, the Konkola Copper mine was $25million, Kansanshi Mine was $28million, Luanshya mine was $35million, Chibuluma mine was $20million and others.
Some Rothschild experts told lies at the time that the life of the mine was only 20 years but 25 years down the line, some very bad Zambians were duped of $1.1Billion worth of copper over the same mine to people that bought it for half the price!
24 years ago, the price of our copper had dropped from $2,300/ton in 1997 to about $1,500/ton in 1998 and remained at that level till 2003. These same experts told lies that the Government of Zambia was subsidizing the mines by approximately $ 1 million per day and that this was too expensive to run the mines just so that they could justify the looting.
No one ever did an operation audit independent of these people that were prospecting to buy the mines to verify these figures, but the alarm caused by their reports was enough for those tasked to sell the mines to get into overdrive with the sale. They scorched the Earth with their lies.
The carnage caused in the mines and the subsequent destruction of our assets that came with it was caused by NM Rothschild & Sons and Clifford Chance because it was their ZCCM Privatization Plan that was used to destroy the Copperbelt.
So, it was shocking to learn that ZCCM-IH which was seeking a financial adviser to restructure Mopani and help find a new external investor for the mining complex, settled for the same people that gave us wrong advice.
These are the same people whose report in 1998 told you that the mine was worthless and in 25 years (2023) the copper will be finished, now they have to come back and will give us Paid advice over a mine we have already lost $1.1 billion to their thieving relatives at Glencore, that we can make money up to 2030?
What is going on here?
#i_wish_i_had_more_time_to_write
…where you laud people because of where they come from – Changala
By Ernest Chanda
BREBNER Changala has expressed worry about President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent appointments at the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) board, describing it as corruption in a way.
Recently, President Hichilema appointed lawyers Mwangala Zaloumis and Ali Simwinga as chairperson and vice respectively, subject to ratification by the National Assembly.
The President also appointed journalist and good governance activist MacDonald Chipenzi as commissioner.
But Changala, a good governance activist, feels that President Hichilema is copying his predecessor Edgar Lungu’s partisan and tribal appointments.
“My appeal to Mr Hakainde Hichilema is look at Zambia holistically. Look at Zambia in totality. Remove whatever feelings that you have for your kith and kin, and depart from the agenda of the tribal chaos that Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu left. After all, that was part of the reason why he was removed from office,” Changala told The Mast. “And it is extremely worrisome that he must copy the way and agenda of his predecessor where you laud people because of where they come from. It’s a danger that can cause instability in the nation. Look at the structure that you have created in the Executive, especially the appointments to constitutional offices and under quasi-government institutions. Look at them and take a breath and sincerely evaluate your conduct as to whether you have been doing things partisanly or in national interest.”
He said the act is a complete shift from the known tradition of appointing judges who are deemed to be non-partisan.
“The appointment of Mwangala Zaloumis and MacDonald Chipenzi to the ECZ is a shift, much of betrayal. A serious challenge to an independent electoral body. For a long time now the Electoral Commission of Zambia has been headed by a judge or a retired judge. Somebody who has not been synonymous with partisan politics. They might have picked a side that they consciously support but is not known to the electorate and the general public,” he explained. “We have had judge Bobby Bwalya, we have had judge Florence Mumba, we have had judge Irene Mambilima – may her soul rest in peace, and we have had judge Esau Chulu. I am not saying they did not have an opinion on national matters that could have politically allowed them to have a feeling or belief either in UNIP, MMD, or indeed UPND.”
Changala reminded President Hichilema how he refused to accept ECZ results when in opposition, but only accepted the time he won last year.
He said during that time President Hichilema never provided any evidence about accusations he made on the ECZ.
“But what is seriously concerning is that we have Mr Hakainde Hichilema who was the leader of the UPND for 16 years of the 23 years that UPND has been in existence. 16 years of that UPND life belongs to Mr Hakainde’s leadership. And out of 16 years, Mr Hakainde stood for president five times and he lost. And in these five times, Mr Hakainde never accepted the electoral results by the ECZ; whether under judge Florence, whether under Irene Mambilima, and to some extent under Esau Chulu,” he said. “The only election result that he accepted is when he won. That he accepted. Now, denying or refusing election results five times; his argument was that the ECZ was partisan. That the ECZ was bought. That the ECZ was corrupt without a singular presentation of evidence. Without proving on how judge Florence Mumba was incompetent or partisan, how judge Mambilima was incompetent or partisan.’’
He said people expected President Hichilema to make justifiable appointments looking at the long period he spent in opposition.
Changala wondered why President Hichilema could not pick an ECZ chairperson from among the retired and serving judges in the country.
“One would have thought that having been in opposition for 16 years, having understood the electoral differences and challenges he was going to do much better. But for him to stubbornly think that it’s courage to go in his own backyard and appoint people that are sympathetic to his party and to his personal cause is being disingenuous. And that is corruption in itself,” he said. “Having been in opposition for 16 years, he should have done things differently as we have always urged him. At the time he removed judge Esau Chulu in the last two months, there’s a judge of the Supreme Court – judge [Charles] Kajimanga retired from the Supreme Court. He (President Hichilema) could have gone for any judge that is either serving or indeed in retirement. Somebody who is coming to ECZ without any known linkage to the ruling party or indeed any other political party.’’
Changala further accused President Hichilema of having an agenda to create chaos instead of consensus.
“What we’re now seeing is that Mr Hakainde has an agenda which he is not mentioning in character. He has an agenda to create controversy where there’s supposed to be consensus. Out of 18 million Zambians one would wonder as to why he can only look in one direction, and that direction is only UPND,” said Changala. “If he does not revoke these appointments I can assure you, and I’m not a prophet, I can assure you that there’ll be no peaceful elections in this country because if God willing UPND from nowhere starts to win any elections at every turn, people will have every reason to suspect that there’s malpractices which are engineered by the Executive.”
Lungu, Hichilema are political twins who belong to the same social class; its time they unite!
By Azwell Banda,
As the rotten, racist, colonial, capitalist and imperialist British ruling class would say, Hakainde Hichilema and Edgar Chagwa Lungu are birds of the same feathers, they must flock together, they must unite.
HH and ECL share the same interests, personalities, characters, love for money and above all, love for dictatorial political power! They belong to the same social class: they are members of Zambia’s very tiny UNZA educated parasitic capitalist class. Both need government to grow and to sustain their wealth.
Many well-meaning and sensible Zambians have noted that Hakainde Hichilema, just under one year in office, is exhibiting all the key negative and dictatorial tendencies and practices very much associated with Edgar Chagwa Lungu when he was our president. These Zambians have not failed to notice that just like Edgar Lungu, Hakainde has moved swiftly, upon assuming the presidency of Zambia, to consolidate his political power by among other things, appointing a cabinet and advisors among whom none can tell him the truth, especially concerning how the majority of Zambians are experiencing his presidency.
As all politics of patronage, nepotism, lies, corruption and dictatorship goal, both Lungu and Hichilema have very loyal tribal, regional, professional, academic, business and very militant and violent youth support groups. Both assumed office with the ample cooperation and assistance from these groups. It has been observed that until Hakainde mastered the Zambian dark arts of political violence and entrenched them in his party, he languished in the opposition wilderness for 16 years.
Imbedded at the operational nerve centre and heart of the UPND, is William Banda, a man whose behaviour in 2012 was perfectly described by then PF chief government spokesperson and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Kennedy Sakeni as “cruel, barbaric and unacceptable”. Even Michael Chilufya Sata was shocked at the violent behaviour of William Banda. At the time, William Banda had brutalised a journalist. As MMD Lusaka Province chairman, soon after it became clear the PF had won elections in 2011, suspected PF thugs looted and burnt William Banda’s property at his guest house in Bauleni, Lusaka, in retaliation for their suffering at his hands. Tellingly, among some of the items found at his property were bullets. Today, William Banda continues as special advisor to HH, is employed at State House, and is UPND chair for “Special duties”.
The PF did not need a past master at political violence, its foundations are steeped in violence, as Edgar Chagwa Lungu himself so amply demonstrated by the methods he used to wrestle the leadership of the PF when Michael Sata died, and eventually became president of Zambia. Zambia watched in horror as Guy Scott and others were brutally dealt with, and eventually side-lined, in the PF, as Lungu ascended to the PF throne. Lungu’s presidency was to be a seven-year period of pure hell unleashed on Zambians by PF thugs, with the full participation of the Zambia Police. Any simple examination of the elements that came together to enable HH to win elections in August last year cannot leave out the maturity of the UPND into a full blown violent political party. Today, peace loving Zambians desirous of an end to our violent politics have observed with growing alarm at how the UPND has consistently deployed violence in all the by-elections since they formed government.
Our Catholic bishops are the latest to add their protesting voice to the rising party cadre violence, barely a year of the UPND government. In their recent statement, they say: “It is saddening to note that political cadres are slowly on the increase in market places and bus stations and have continued invading and harassing media houses and personnel. Further, they have continued to create havoc during by-elections. We demand that this trend be checked and arrested forthwith.” Political parties such as the Socialist Party (SP) have to think very hard about how they can continue to meaningfully pretend to participate in elections, if violence and its use are essential and necessary, to winning elections.
Civil society organisations observing especially the latest round of by-elections have documented the use of money to buy votes, by both the UPND and the PF. In a bizarre admission, the PF has publicly acknowledged that part of the reason they have not done well in the recent by-elections is that they campaigned without money! Both the UPND and PF buy votes. Decent Zambians suffering from the illusory hope of cleaning our elections of the influence of money have a lot of thinking and work to do: the UPND is a Siamese twin of the PF, in this regard.
An abiding memory and experience, especially as the August 2021 elections approached, were the extremely cruel and insensitive scenes of PF thugs brandishing bricks of kwachas. In a country in which the majority live lives crushed by grotesque, humiliating and painful politically induced chronic poverty, nothing can be more insensitive and insulting than to be reminded that you are poor because you are not politically connected, when those who are so connected brandish and flout their clearly ill-gotten wealth. In an ocean of poverty, if you are rich, it is wise to respect poverty by not offending the poor by flouting wealth they actually suspect you stole from them.
In an extremely revealing and equally bizarre moment, Hakainde has announced for Zambians and all the world to know that he forked out £58,000 to pay for his last born son’s Master’s degree in the UK. This is upwards of K1 million. Without any trace of irony, in the same meeting, Hakainde Hichilema said: “Education essentially is a human right. I dare say so, number one. Number two, if it is a human right and best equaliser, it is critical to any sector of the economy. Let us make it universal. Let us make it available to all our children.”
Well, HH is the President of Zambia. Let the Zambian government folk out similar amounts of money to all Zambian children for their education if HH actually understands and believes the cynical and vacuous words he uttered. Truth be told, like the PF thugs who were flouting and brandishing their ill-gotten wealth, HH cannot but find a way to boast about his wealth too! The jury, however, is still out, regarding how Mr Hakainde Hichilema amassed, and continues to amass, his wealth.
Perceptive people will have not failed to note the sharp contrast between what HH said and what Global Partnership for Education chairman Jakaya Kikwete also said at the same event. Jakaya Kikwete, former president of Tanzania, said “the world is facing an unprecedented education crisis, which is more pronounced in the developing world.” Besides unequal access to digital educational resources, the unprecedented crisis in education in the “developing world” such as Zambia is also caused by politicians like HH who grotesquely and usually criminally too, amass vast fortunes from poor countries’ natural resources through government policies and programmes that make such criminal opportunities available to a few politically and economically connected individuals. Africa is yet to find a way to effectively deal with such looters and plunderers of its people and wealth.
It is in the matter of corruption and using government to accumulate personal wealth, sustain and grow it, that the most glaring Siamese twins features of HH and ECL emerge most boldly! Because ECL was relatively quiet poor when he ventured into politics and when he became President, it is easy to fail to notice the similarities, between these political twins, in their fights for “corruption”. Only a Siamese twin of ECL would not have prioritised dealing with ECL immediately after winning elections and becoming President of Zambia. HH and the UPND have a mountain of recorded “evidence” of ECL’s “corruption” they alleged he was involved in, when they were in opposition. Now that they are in government, surely much of this evidence has been augmented by what they did not know? Why is ECL still a free man, more than a year after being evicted from State House by voters, for, among other things, his “legendary” corruption?
We have seen, instead, a ruthless and focused fight to disrupt the PF feeding schemes from government and replace them with UPND “old and new friendly forces”. Mines, construction, tourism, supply of fertilisers and seeds, medicines and other health essentials are the key battle fields in which these social and political twins are waging wars, for control. The casualties, of course, of these wars, are working class and poor Zambians, especially those in our rural areas.
It is true that unless these two, HH and ECL, class and political twins, negotiate how they will jointly loot and plunder Zambia, make peace, kiss each other and unite, they are driving Zambia towards an unavoidable civil war. Nothing stops them from making peace now, other than their sources of external funding, tribal, religious and family affiliations. Zambia does not need the current aggravations between these two class twins.
IMMIGRATION IN CHIRUNDU APPREHENDS TEN (10) ETHIOPIANS FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY AND UNLAWFUL STAY
The Chirundu Immigration Office, on 30th November 2022, apprehended ten (10) male Ethiopian nationals for illegal entry and unlawful stay. A Joint team of Immigration and Police Officers conducted an operation in the early hours of 30th November 2022 following information from a concerned member of the public that an unnamed person or persons planned to smuggle some Ethiopians into Zimbabwe across the Zambezi River. The Ethiopians were found hidden in some drainages in Singwini Compound within Chirundu District. It is believed that they had been waiting for the said smugglers to assist them in crossing into Zimbabwe using canoes. They have since been transferred to the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office for further immigration formalities.
In a related development, the Kasumbalesa Immigration Office, in the early hours of 28th November 2022, apprehended Twenty-Six (26) persons for various immigration offences. This was during a routine clean-up operation conducted within the Kasumbalesa Market Area. Those apprehended were nineteen (19) Congolese, six (06) Tanzanians, and one (01) Zimbabwean. The Chirundu and Kasumbalesa incidents bring the number of persons apprehended between 25th November and 1st December 2022 to One Hundred and Ninety-Four (194).
Meanwhile, the Katete Immigration Office, on 30th November 2022, secured the convictions of Eighteen (18) Ethiopian nationals for the offence of illegal entry. Sixteen (16) were each sentenced to pay a fine of K 1,000 or, in default, four months simple imprisonment, while two (2) were fined K 1,500 or, in default, 12 months simple imprisonment. The eighteen convicts were among the Twenty-Six (26) Ethiopians apprehended on 27th October 2022 as they hid in a nearby bush in Katete District, following a tip-off from members of the public. The other thirteen (13) were handed over to the Katete Immigration Office after Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Officers intercepted them on 26th October 2022 before the Reuben Kamanga Toll Plaza aboard a Toyota Spacio Registration Number ALG4991. The other eight (😎, all juveniles, were absolutely discharged by the Court because of their age. Meanwhile, the Toyota Spacio Registration Number ALG4991, used by some Ethiopians, was forfeited to the state. The Katete Court outcome brings the number of convictions secured by the Department between 25th November and 1st December 2022 to One Hundred and Thirteen (113).
The Department of Immigration, on 25th November 2022, removed Nineteen (19) Ethiopians after serving prison sentences for offences of illegal entry and unlawful stay. They were apprehended in various parts of the country, predominantly Eastern, Muchinga, and Central Provinces, where they were convicted and served prison sentences before being transferred to Lusaka for removal. They left Zambia for Ethiopia, their country of origin, aboard an Ethiopian Airline Flight via Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. The latest removals bring the total number of Ethiopians removed between 8th September and 1st December 2022 to Eight Hundred and Thirteen (813). It also brings the number of illegal immigrants of different nationalities removed between 25th November and 1st December 2022 to Eighty-Five (85).
The Department has continued intercepting illegal migrants from the Horn of Africa who, with the assistance of traffickers and smugglers, continue to undertake dangerous journeys in search of greener pastures. We wish to discourage anyone planning to embark on such a journey from doing so. Such trips make migrants vulnerable and susceptible to abuse by traffickers and smugglers and take a severe toll on their mental and physical health, which often leads to a tragic end. The launch of Zambia’s first-ever Migration Policy and the National Policy on Human Trafficking and Smuggling of migrants is timely as their full implementation will significantly help mitigate the adverse effects of migration.
Namati H. Nshinka (Mr) PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER 255282/0977718155/pro@zambiaimmigration.gov.zm
LET US MOURN CDE TUTWA IN DIGNITY. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO EXHIBIT SENTIMENTS OF HATRED EVEN IN DEATH
Each human being has friends who are closer and able to know abit much about that person but not all of about him or her.
There are those who claim to know somebody from a distant and yet they know nothing apart from hearsays, innuendos and speculations.
This is the type of people who are good at propaganda and carriers of misinformation about a person.
Most politicians don’t know each other but will speak and claim to know each other well yet not.
This is why one politician clearly started that he did not one of his erstwhile vice-president of the party and republic even when they were in the same party for years on account that they were not drinkmates.
Because of their frequent meetings at political meetings, events and boardrooms some of them is a passport enough to claim comprehensive knowledge about the other..
In life, even your so called closest friends, wives, husbands, relatives and children may not know you better than you know yourself.
They may only know a fraction and most times outdated knowledge of you.
This is why even in the Bible, Jesus, out of the 12 disciples he ate with, walked with and did all kinds of things together while on earth, four (4) (Mark, Luke, Matthew & John) who wrote about Jesus’ account on earth during their time, did with varying accounts of his life, works and death on earth, his resurrection and ascension to heaven.
No wonder at one time Jesus rebuked his own disciples: how long am I going to be with you…
No one told the whole truth about Jesus’ life, works, death etc and what about us who are never with our friends all the time.
The chances of describing people of who they are and are not is high because each one keeps his/her own inner secret, what we see and hear are just clouds.
We just have limited knowledge of each other and so let us always be mindful of this fact.
My feel is, let us mourn our colleague, TUTWA, WITH SOME LEVEL OF DIGNITY AS WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HIM IS JUST 1/100.
LET US PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND OUR DISAGREEMENTS ON various issuses on abeyance as HIS SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDUCT WHILE HE LIVED, WE MAY NOT HAVE A FULL ACCOUNT OF IT.
He has children, relatives, brothers, parents and spouse who may get injured forever and never to forgive those demeaning him in death when they did fail to do so when he was alive.
HE IS LIFELESS NOW TO DEFEND HIMSELF AND NO FRIEND HAS THE WHOLE TRUTH TO DEFEND HIM ACCEPT HIMSELF.
SO LET US NOT TORMENT THE MAN IN DEATH, LET HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.
LET US NOT SOW SEEDS OF HATRED IN HIS CHILDREN AGAINST THOSE SPEAKING EVIL OF THEIR LATE FATHER BUT SEEDS OF LOVE FOR MANKIND AND HUMANITY.
It’s an Intended Sale of Kansanshi Shares and Requires Parliamentary Approval
By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
I have noted a response from Government insisting that no sale of 20% Shares held by ZCCM-IH in Kansanshi has(or will) taken place.
It is clear that the shares are being sold.
● Act of conversion of the shares from dividend shares to royalty payments.
● Transaction Announcement provides details of the sale of these shares.
● Conditions being attached to the deal such as the dropping of criminal charges against First Quantum Minerals Directors, and to fund the transaction through VAT Refund owed by ZRA to Kansanshi, requires wider consensus and approval process beyond the shareholders and board members.
● Article 210 which provides for Public Procurement and Disposal of State Assets, states that any sale, transfer or disposal of major State assets requires parliamentary approval signified by a two-thirds majority vote.
HON. CHUSHI KASANDA’S STATEMENT ON ZCCM-IH SHARES IN KANSANSHI
Government wishes to inform the public that ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has not sold its shares in Kansanshi Mining Plc contrary to the misinformation that has proliferated surounding the new agreement between ZCCM-IH and First Quantum Minerals (FQM) over the management of Kansanshi Mining Plc (Kansanshi).
Under the terms of the deal announced on Thursday, 1st December, 2022, ZCCM-IH will receive a 3.1% royalty payment from the revenue of Kansanshi, which is operated by First Quantum Minerals (FQM). This royalty is estimated to be in the region of USD $50-70 million per year, depending on the gross value of metal products, mostly copper and gold, sold or otherwise extracted at Kansanshi.
This arrangement is valid for the entire life of the mine and follows extended discussions between ZCCM-IH and FQM over the past three years. It replaces the previous dividend-based model and is expected to provide up to twice the revenue to ZCCM-IH compared to the previous arrangement.
The advantage of this arrangement for ZCCM-H is that the royalty will be paid out so long as Kansanshi is operational, creating a more predictable and consistent revenue stream that ZCCM-H can use to raise financing and follow its ambitious investment strategy.
Dividends, by contrast, would only be paid out when the mine makes a profit. They are also paid out at the discretion of the mine’s Board of Directors.
ZCCM-IH will continue to hold its shares in Kansanshi and also continue to be represented on the Board of Kansanshi in order to ensure full visibility and transparency regarding the mine’s operations. ZCCM-IH will also continue to have pre-emptive rights in respect of Kansanshi.
This increased and more consistent revenue stream will allow ZCCM-IH to effectively plan for the future, enabling it pursue an ambitious investment strategy that will create jobs and promote growth in the country’s economy.
Govenment advises citizens to remain vigilant and ignore misinformation which claims that ZCCM-IH is abandoning its stake in Kansanshi.
This is simply a new arrangement that provides a more beneficial revenue stream while still maintaining ZCCM-IH’s ownership in Kansanshi, oversight of operations, and exposure to its future growth, including the $1.25 Billion Kansanshi expansion which was approved earlier this year.
This arrangement provides a win-win opportunity for both ZCCM-IH and Kansanshi. This is in line with the Government’s vision of promoting sustainable investment in the mining sector.
Hon. Chushi Kasanda, MP MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
Obituary | The Death Of A Politician Who Stood For The Truth, A Reputable Lawyer And A Businessman.
…Tutwa Sandani Ngulube was a force to reckon with to many young people and emerging politicians in the country.
By Mpandashalo Mwewa.
Lusaka – 4th December, 2022.
Former Kabwe Central Member of Parliament, Hon. Tutwa Ngulube, has not died. He has shown us how to live!
My personal encounter with him was that of urging me to use my career to promote justice by investigating cases and share the truth, a very difficult task because the truth goes against the court of public opinion.
I obliged because we don’t go into journalism to be popular. It is our job to seek the truth and share it with the general public to help it make informed decisions.
It’s this same truth that puts constant pressure on our leaders, forcing them to give us answers in situations where we have raised pertinent issues of national interest requiring their input.
He helped me to see through the lies surrounding the political persecution of one his clients, cases I thoroughly investigated and reported on, cases that have made me expose the growing trend in Zambia of eliminating political opponents through the Illusion Of Truth!
Mr. Ngulube, who is suspected to have suffered a heart attack, passed on at the Specialised Heart Hospital near the Kenneth Kaunda international airport.
His driver and ADC, a Mr. Chibanga Kalumbi, narrated that his Boss called him about lunch time on Friday to pick him up from his home in Lusaka for the hospital as he was not feeling well.
He drove him to the hospital and stayed by his bed side until about 10pm. On Saturday morning, Hon. Ngulube called him about 6am to pick him up as he was likely to be discharged. But upon arrival an hour or so later, the driver, instead, found his condition seemingly taken a downturn.
In the next hour or so, the ADC found himself witnessing Doctors trying hard to keep him alive and later trying to resuscitate him.
Confirming the development to Journalists in Lusaka on Saturday morning, acting Patriotic Front President, Given Lubinda, described the death of Mr. Ngulube as a huge loss to the party and his friends.
Mr. Lubinda said the Patriotic Front was scheduled to have a meeting on Saturday morning, but after being informed about the death of Mr. Ngulube, the party decided to cancel the meeting in honour of Mr. Ngulube who was described as the party’s dear friend, a good lawyer and hard-working colleague.
Hon. Lubinda said the funeral proceedings would take place in Kabwe at his family residence and all the members of the PF Central Committee would be travelling to Kabwe to join the family in mourning the gallant friend of the party, Mr. Ngulube.
Tutwa Ngulube was born on 12th April, 1979 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka from Onesmus Sandani Ngulube and Miriam Tivwale Mtonga Ngulube.
He did his primary education at Woodlands A primary school and went to Choma secondary school as a boarder where he completed his secondary education in 1997.
He got married to Glendah Sokontwe Ngulube and together they had five children.
In 1999, he enrolled at the University of Zambia (UNZA) and graduated in 2004 with Bachelors Degree in law. In 2002 while studying at UNZA, Tutwa started working for Legal Resources Foundation.
After graduating as a law student in 2004, the foundation sponsored him at Zambia Institute of Advance Legal Education (ZIALE). He came back in 2007 and was admitted to the bar to practice law as a legal practitioner.
Between 2005 and 2007, Tutwa enrolled at the American University in Cairo Egypt for a short course in Human Rights.
While working with Legal Resources Foundation, he had a privilege of working with nongovernmental organizations among them Women in Law Southern Africa (WILSA) and Women in Law Development Africa (WILDAF).
Working with WILSA and WILDAF gave him an opportunity of training paralegals and offering Human Rights courses.
In 2006, Legal Resources Foundation transferred him to Kabwe to be in charge of the Kabwe office where he took over from Abram Mwansa who is now Solicitor General.
Tutwa Ngulube’s political career started when he was a law student at UNZA having served as a Law Association secretary general. He also vied for UNZA student Union vice president.
It was during this time that he joined the Forum for Development and Democracy (FDD) under the leadership of Lieutenant General, Christon Tembo and Major Richard Kachingwe.
Coming from a humble background, Tutwa decided to join politics to offer a service and add colour to politics by being himself.
He noticed that most of the elected leaders always abandoned their people and failed to criticize leadership by running away from the truth.
Tutwa was one of the most influential youths of Kabwata who managed to elect Major Richard Kachingwe as the first FDD MP for Kabwata constituency.
He and his colleagues, among them, Antonio Mwanza who is currently PF Media deputy director, worked very hard as UNZA students during the time FDD swept almost all the parliamentary seats in Lusaka.
At that time, Tutwa and his colleagues, despite being students, were very instrumental in politics.
In 2004 Tutwa joined the Patriotic Front (PF) when the FDD lost direction after the death of its founder, General Tembo, and worked very closely with the late President Michael Chilufya Sata.
When the late President, Mr. Sata, decided to stand in 2006, Tutwa and his colleagues managed to garner a lot of support and votes for Mr. Sata and the PF party.
When Mr. Sata contested in the Presidential by-elections in 2008, Tutwa and his friends were very confident he Mr. Sata would actually win the elections but he went on to narrowly lose the election.
Tutwa had an opportunity to represent Mr. Sata when he came face to face with the courts of law as leader of the strongest opposition political part at the time. As one of the people that worked closely with Mr. Sata, Tutwa knew the late President to be a very honest man who inspired him and his colleagues in politics.
Mr. Sata’s honesty gave Tutwa a lot of courage and its this boldness that made him speak the truth. In some cases, his honesty has made him come in conflict his own party, the PF.
One can comfortably state that he enjoyed the opportunity of being a PF member, the party that had given him a rare privilege of representing the people of Kabwe Central constituency in Parliament.
A politician who stood for the truth, a reputable lawyer and a businessman, Tutwa Sandani Ngulube was a force to reckon with to many young people and emerging politicians in the country.
May the soul of this advocate for justice rest in peace!
Matero Papa parades uniformed soldier, makes him admit to adultery
A MATERO-based Pentecostal Papa has taken his practice to a whole new level which has seen him parading a uniformed Zambia Army sergeant before a packed church and leading him to confess of adultery.
Standing with his wife before a cheering congregation, rolling cameras and guided by John Nyumdwe, owner of Miracle Impact Church who performs under the stage name Senior Prophet Bishop John General, the unidentified soldier led bare his adulterous ways, saying he had “assassinated” six women besides his matrimonial spouse.
In a five minute video that has made rounds on social media, the soldier shocked the Bishop after saying he had six mistresses at the same time.
The preacher wondered as the congregation cheered in amusement, how the hardworking officer was able to have time to rest while handling over seven women inclusive of his wife.
The officer revealed that he had six children of which Bishop John concluded that each children was from the six women.
The preacher then instructed the Sergeant’s wife to forgive the husband as she responded “Amen naba kululukila (I have forgiven him).”
The couple was then told to get close to each as the preacher instructed them to kiss each and only stop kissing at his signal.
After making the couple forgive each other, one for cheating and the other for attempting to leave, the officer and wife gave the church congregation a reason to forget about their worries as they watched a real life Telemundo telenovela Kiss.
Bishop John then asked how the officer felt after the kiss but he was still shocked from the electrifying kiss that he hesitated in giving an answer.
Recently, the ‘man of God’ whose accent suggests he maybe a country mate of Kings Malembe Malembe had his application to cite the chief passport and citizenship officer for contempt of court over the refusal to renew his passport, among other allegations.
However the High court dismmised the case stating the grounds on which he filled could not stand.
GOVERNMENT CLAIMS ZCCM-IH SHARES OF KANSANSHI HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD
Government wishes to inform the public that ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has not sold its shares in Kansanshi Mining Plc contrary to the misinformation that has proliferated surounding the new agreement between ZCCM-IH and First Quantum Minerals (FQM) over the management of Kansanshi Mining Plc (Kansanshi).
Under the terms of the deal announced on Thursday, 1st December, 2022, ZCCM-IH will receive a 3.1% royalty payment from the revenue of Kansanshi, which is operated by First Quantum Minerals (FQM). This royalty is estimated to be in the region of USD $50-70 million per year, depending on the gross value of metal products, mostly copper and gold, sold or otherwise extracted at Kansanshi.
This arrangement is valid for the entire life of the mine and follows extended discussions between ZCCM-IH and FQM over the past three years. It replaces the previous dividend-based model and is expected to provide up to twice the revenue to ZCCM-IH compared to the previous arrangement.
The advantage of this arrangement for ZCCM-H is that the royalty will be paid out so long as Kansanshi is operational, creating a more predictable and consistent revenue stream that ZCCM-H can use to raise financing and follow its ambitious investment strategy.
Dividends, by contrast, would only be paid out when the mine makes a profit. They are also paid out at the discretion of the mine’s Board of Directors.
ZCCM-IH will continue to hold its shares in Kansanshi and also continue to be represented on the Board of Kansanshi in order to ensure full visibility and transparency regarding the mine’s operations. ZCCM-IH will also continue to have pre-emptive rights in respect of Kansanshi.
This increased and more consistent revenue stream will allow ZCCM-IH to effectively plan for the future, enabling it pursue an ambitious investment strategy that will create jobs and promote growth in the country’s economy.
Govenment advises citizens to remain vigilant and ignore misinformation which claims that ZCCM-IH is abandoning its stake in Kansanshi. This is simply a new arrangement that provides a more beneficial revenue stream while still maintaining ZCCM-IH’s ownership in Kansanshi, oversight of operations, and exposure to its future growth, including the $1.25 Billion Kansanshi expansion which was approved earlier this year. This arrangement provides a win-win opportunity for both ZCCM-IH and Kansanshi. This is in line with the Government’s vision of promoting sustainable investment in the mining sector.
Hon. Chushi Kasanda, MP MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
DAUGHTER OF GHANA CAPTAIN COLLAPSES AFTER HEARTBREAKING MISS BY HER DAD AGAINST URUGUAY
🇬🇭 Black Stars captain, Andre Dede Ayew went from the stadium 🏟 straight to the hospital to see his daughter who collapsed when he missed the penalty against Uruguay. It was quite scary but thankfully, she’s doing fine.
now.
Ghana captain Andre Ayew was struck with double agony following his painful penalty miss against Uruguay.
Ayew’s penalty miss inadvertently contributed to Ghana’s group stage elimination after losing 2-0 to the South American nation. He also had to rush to the hospital after one of his daughters collapsed following his missed opportunity.
Maha Ayew, daughter of Ghana captain Andre Ayew, reportedly collapsed after his father missed a crucial penalty against Uruguay on Friday, December 2. Ghana was presented with an opportunity to break the game’s deadlock via the penalty spot in the make-or-break tie, however, skipper Andre Ayew saw his effort saved by goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
Ayew’s missed opportunity proved pivotal in determining the destiny of the much-talked-about fixture as the Black Stars failed to shine thereafter, subsequently losing 2-0 to Uruguay. Andre Ayew had to rush to the hospital after his daughter collapsed following his penalty miss.
Predictably Ayew, who scored Ghana’s first goal at the 2022 World Cup, was lampooned by most Ghanaian fans, blaming him for the country’s painful exit from the Mundial.
However, it appears the Al Sadd forward’s penalty miss did not only affect the general public but also caused near-mayhem in his nuclear family.
According to Rahman Osman, Ayew’s second daughter, Maha Ayew collapsed after his dad missed from 12 yards. He further implored the Ghanaian football caucus to be sober-minded with their criticisms of the 32-year-old attacker, who has been greeted with the sad news of his daughter’s collapse.
Andre Ayew breaks silence after penalty miss Black Stars captain Andre Ayew says he is disappointed with his penalty miss against Uruguay but looks forward to a bright future with the national team.
Ayew had the chance to give Ghana the lead after the Black Stars won a penalty 17 minutes into the game.
Ayew’s penalty miss is no fluke, stats show Ghana are ‘cursed’ when it comes to Uruguay. However, the 32-year-old’s poor penalty was saved by Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet. Ghana sets unwanted penalty record.
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ghana have set an unwanted record in Qatar during their final group game encounter against Uruguay on Friday afternoon.
The Black Stars were booted out of the Mundial following their 2-0 defeat to the Sky Blue. The four-time African champions had the chance to take the lead in the game Sergio Rochet was judged to have brought down Mohammed Kudus in the box.
43 YEAR OLD FORMER KABWE CENTRAL MP TUTWA NGULUBE DIES.
Renowned PF Member, Lusaka and Kabwe lawyer, Hon. Tutwa Ngulube has died.
Tutwa Ngulube was also former Kabwe Central Constituency Member of Parliament during the period 2016-2021.
Tutwa was born on 12th April, 1979 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka from Onesmus Sandani Ngulube and Miriam Tivwale Mtonga Ngulube.
He did his primary education at Woodlands A primary school and went to a Choma secondary school as a boarder where he completed his secondary education in 1997.
Tutwa is married to Glendah Sokontwe Ngulube and together have five beautiful children.
In 1999, he enrolled at the University of Zambia (UNZA) and graduated in 2004 with bachelor’s degree in law.
In 2002 while studying at UNZA, Tutwa started working for Legal Resources Foundation.
After graduating as a law student in 2004, the foundation sponsored him to Zambia Institute of Advance Legal Education (ZIALE).
He came back in 2007 and was admitted to the bar to practice law as a legal practitioner.
Between 2005 and 2007, Tutwa enrolled at the American University in Cairo Egypt for a short course in Human Rights.
While working with Legal Resources Foundation, Tutwa had a privilege of working with nongovernmental organizations among them Women in Law Southern Africa (WILSA) and Women in Law Development Africa (WILDAF).
Working with WILSA and WILDAF gave Tutwa an opportunity of training paralegals and offering Human Rights courses.
In 2006, Legal Resources Foundation transferred him to Kabwe to be in charge of the Kabwe office where he took over from Abram Mwansa who is now solistor general.
Tutwa Ngulube’s political career started when he was a law student at UNZA having served as a Law Association secretary general. He also vied for UNZA student Union vice president.
It was during this time that he joined the Forum for Development and Democracy (FDD) under the leadership of Lieutenant General, Christon Tembo and Major Richard Kachingwe.
Coming from a humble background, Tutwa decided to join politics to offer a service and add color to politics by being himself.
He noticed that most of the elected leaders always abandoned their people and failed to criticize leadership by running away from the truth.
Tutwa was one of the most influential youths of Kabwata who managed to elect Major Richard Kachingwe as the first FDD MP for Kabwata constituency.
He and his colleagues among them Antonio Mwanza who is currently PF media deputy director worked very hard as UNZA students during the time FDD swept almost all the parliamentary seats in Lusaka.
At that time, Tutwa and his colleagues despite being students were very instrumental in politics.
In 2004 Tutwa joined the Patriotic Front (PF) when the FDD lost director after the death of its founder General Tembo and worked very closely with the late President Michael Chilufya Sata.
At this time he had already graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law from UNZA.
When the late President Mr Sata decided to stand in 2006, Tutwa and his colleagues managed to gunner a lot of support and votes for Mr Sata and the PF party.
And when Mr Sata contested in the Presidential by-elections in 2008, Tutwa and his friends were very confident he “Mr Sata” would actually win the elections.
Tutwa had an opportunity to represent Mr Sata as a lawyer when he came face to face with the courts of law as leader of the strongest opposition political part at the time.
As one of the people that worked closely with Mr Sata, Tutwa knew the late President to be a very honest man who inspired him and his colleagues in politics.
Mr Sata’s honest gave Tutwa a lot of courage and its this boldness that makes him speak the truth. In some cases his honesty has made him come in conflict his own party, the PF.
At this time he had already graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law from UNZA.
When the late President Mr Sata decided to stand in 2006, Tutwa and his colleagues managed to gunner a lot of support and votes for Mr Sata and the PF party.
And when Mr Sata contested in the Presidential by-elections in 2008, Tutwa and his friends were very confident he “Mr Sata” would actually win the elections.
Tutwa had an opportunity to represent Mr Sata as a lawyer when he came face to face with the courts of law as leader of the strongest opposition political part at the time.
As one of the people that worked closely with Mr Sata, Tutwa knew the late President to be a very honest man who inspired him and his colleagues in politics.
Mr Sata’s honest gave Tutwa a lot of courage and its this boldness that makes him speak the truth. In some cases his honesty has made him come in conflict his own party, the PF.
H enjoyed an opportunity of being a PF member, the party that has given him a privilege of representing the people of Kabwe Central constituency in Parliament.
A politician who stood for the truth, reputable lawyer and a businessman, Tutwa Sandani Ngulube was a force to reckon with to many young people and emerging politicians in the country.
LOAD-SHEDDING TO LAST UP TO FOUR MONTHS AT THE MOST, SAYS KAPALA
By Mabvuto Mtonga
Energy minister Peter Kapala says the load management of ZESCO power that will kick in on December 15 as a result of reduced water levels in the shared Lake Kariba is estimated to only last four months.
Delivering a ministerial statement on the reduced water levels at Lake Kariba in Parliament on Friday, Kapala said the government is nonetheless instituting measures to reduce the impact from the forthcoming six-hour load-shedding of ZESCO power necessitated by reduced water levels in the Kariba Dam, and as directed by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA).
“I wish to thank you for this opportunity to give a Ministerial Statement on the hydrology situation at the Kariba Dam, and more importantly, the measures we are undertaking to mitigate the impact on low power generation threat,” Kapala said. “During the year 2022, the Lake’s water level has been decreasing steadily on account of low inflows from the mainstream Zambezi River and its tributaries.”
Furthermore, Kapala said the situation has been worsened due to the overutilization of water for sustained power generation which has resulted in low water levels at Lake Kariba.
“As of 28th November 2022, the Kariba lake water levels stood at 476.09m above sea level, representing only 4.12%of usable water storage for power generation.The low water level situation in the Lake Kariba threatens the power generation for both the Kariba North Bank Hydropower station (Zambian side) and Kariba South Bank Hydropower station (Zimbabwean side),” he announced. “It is projected that if the current power generation and subsequent water utilization continues, the remaining water for power generation at the Kariba complex, also referred to as live storage,will not be sufficient for power generation beyond mid-December 2022.”
Therefore, Kapala said, the government will take measures to address the situation.
“We anticipate that based on the water levels, this will translate into a load management regime starting on 15th December 2022 of up to a maximum of six (6) hours daily until the water levels improve,” said Kapala. “Against this background, there is need to implement measures aimed at rationing the water in the lake in order to avoid a complete shutdown of electricity generation activities at the Kariba Complex.The proposed measures will be phased and revisited from time to time over the next four (4) months in order to ensure security of electricity supply and mitigate the impact on the economy.”
A United States government official says Africa is more critical now than ever in shaping international rules and collective action as continental solutions will be needed to address current and future world problems.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S and Foreign Commercial Service, Department of Commerce, Arun Venkataraman, said Africa is recording growth among the youth population, entrepreneur class.
Mr. Venkataraman said the discovery of reserves of rare earth minerals critical for the green energy transition and the regional integration are all key reasons for this growth.
He said this during a digital press briefing on the upcoming US Africa Leaders’ Summit to take place in Washington from 13th to 15 December 2022 and will be hosted by President Joe Biden.
The Assistant Secretary, who was flanked by, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa, Department of Commerce Camille Richardson, said the U.S. Department of Commerce, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Corporate Council on Africa, are pleased to be hosting the U.S.-Africa Business Forum as a part of the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit on December 14th.
“The U.S.-Africa Business Forum is intended to support the trade and investment components of the administration’s strategy towards U.S – Sub-Saharan Africa, which focuses on partnering with the public and private sectors to address challenges and drive the future of our commercial relationship,” he said during the virtual briefing.
Mr Venkataraman further stated that the private sector plays a critical role in driving the broader relationship between the United States and African countries.
“The U.S.-Africa Business Forum will bring together key players from the United States and African governments and private sectors to build partnerships that will increasingly be a vital source for solutions to shared challenges going forward,” the official intimated.
Mr Venkataraman highlighted that the role of the U.S. Government is to work with African governments to create commercially enabling environments in which two-way trade and investment can flourish.
Mr Venkataraman also disclosed that the U.S.-Africa Business Forum will convene Heads of State and business leaders from key sectors to advance solutions in a number of critical areas of mutual interest.
The high-level business meeting will among other things address issues of the future of trade and investment partnership, energy and infrastructure finance, agribusiness and digital economy.
And Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa, Department of Commerce, Camille Richardson, emphasised that the U.S.-Africa Business Forum is a high priority for the US government as it wants the meeting to succeed.
Ms Richardson said Africa has a dynamic environment and is an attractive place for doing business as more U.S. companies are taking notice of these.
She pointed out that even though one of the largest barriers to trade and investment between US and African countries is the lack of physical infrastructure, the Biden administration’s top focus will ensure that opportunities for collaboration in such areas are strengthened.
Ms Richardson also explained that the foreign policy of the United States had changed with emphasis on now partnering with Africa more.
“It is not just about trade and aid. It is really about building a partnership and having a starting point for those conversations about how do we work together to meet the goals of Africa’s industrialisation agenda in 2063, how do we get more small companies and more medium-sized companies doing business together as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement is implemented over time? It is really about focusing on the U.S. Government resources to support the private sector, which is really the driver of transformation, of change, of trade, of being very forward-leaning,” she stated.
And in responding to media queries, Ms Richardson, disclosed that 42 Heads of State from Africa have confirmed attending this year’s U.S. – Africa Leaders’ Summit in December and more than 300 companies from both continents will participate.
The last U.S.-Africa Business Forum, which is part of the high-level meeting during the U.S.-African Leaders Summit, was held in 2016 and was hosted by then former President, Barack Obama in Washington DC.
This year, President Biden has invited 49 African Heads of State and the Head of the AU to Washington for a three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders’ summit to highlight how the U.S. and African nations are strengthening partnerships and advance shared priorities
Highlights of the three-day agenda include a series of forums on the African and Diaspora Young Leaders forum; a civil society forum; a peace, security, and governance forum on the first day.
This will be followed by the U.S.-Africa Business Forum on day two and the third day is the Leaders Day where President Biden is expected to meet Heads of State and heads of delegation from the continent involved.
Zambia’s ambassador to Turkey William Sikazwe presents letters of credence
Press Statement For Immediate Release
His Excellency Lt. Gen. William Maipambe Sikazwe (Rtd) presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Zambia to the Republic of Türkiye, at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
During the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Sikazwe thanked the President of Türkiye and the Government for the existing warm bilateral relations between Zambia and Türkiye.
Lt. Gen. Sikazwe expressed the need to strengthen the already existing bilateral relations between Zambia and Türkiye by enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as health, manufacturing, agriculture, aviation, tourism and education, among others.
The Ambassador informed President Erdoğan that the President of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema had identified Türkiye as one of the key development partners adding that Zambia had a lot to learn from Türkiye’s economic progress.
Lt. Gen. Sikazwe also conveyed Zambia’s message of condolences on the death and injuries caused by a terrorist attack which happened at Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul on 13th November, 2022. The Ambassador said the Government of the Republic of Zambia condemned the atrocious act of terrorism and expressed Zambia’s solidarity with the Government and the people of Türkiye.
And President Erdoğan assured Zambia of his country’s support aimed at increasing trade volume between Zambia and Türkiye. President Erdoğan said there was need to increase trade volumes from the current US$34.4 billion to US$100 billion by the end of 2023.
He said this could be realized upon the implementation of the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation.
Following a request by the Zambian envoy for the Turkish authorities to consider resuming direct flights to Lusaka by Turkish Airlines, the Turkish President announced that flights into Lusaka would resume by March 2023.
President Erdoğan also recalled the good memories and hospitality accorded to him when he visited Zambia in July 2018.
Issued by Pamela Nkeete – Ng’andu First Secretary – Press Ankara, Türkiye 02.12.2022
PEOPLE ARE SAYING “BALEYA ABA BANTU MU 2026” SAYS ELVIS, A PROMINENT RADIO CALLER
…as Greyford Monde bemoans the closure of businesses under the New Dawn Administration due to the high cost of living
Lusaka, Friday, December 2, 2022 (Smart Eagles)
If there is a party, in Zambia’s history, that has lost popularity in one year, it is the UPND because they over promised during Campaigns, a concerned Citizen and prominent Radio Caller Elvis has said.
Elvis said this when he phoned in on Radio Phoenix ‘Let the People Talk’ programme which featured Patriotic Front Presidential Hopeful Greyford Monde.
Elvis said individual farmers were promised 8 bags of fertilizer and a reduced price of the commodity, but the current scenario indicates that the opposite has happened.
He said the promise to reduce fertilizer to K250 has not come to fruition as the commodity is now fetching at over K1200.
He said the President further Hoodwinked the Zambian people about reducing the price of Fuel just for the sake of politics.
“When the President was In the opposition, he was telling the people that the PF was stealing three kwacha, we are going to remove the cartels, the Price of fuel is very expensive in Zambia, we shall make sure that it comes to K12, didn’t he know when he was saying these things that there are market forces driving the price of fuel, didn’t he know that Zambia does not produce fuel, today Fuel is K27 from K17,” he lamented.
Elvis said in as much as it is commendable that the current administration has employed Nurses and Teachers, they must be reminded that it is the duty for every government to employ Civil servants.
He said the Government should be reminded that when those employed are hit with a high cost of living, things are bound to go sour.
Elvis said “Today, people are so angry that they are saying that 2026 baleya aba Bantu.”
Meanwhile, Hon Greyford Monde said it is unfortunate that Zambia has the most expensive fuel in the region.
He said it would have been Prudent to leave the fuel prices stable and review only when there is need.
And Hon Monde added that the monthly fuel review is not doing well compared to the System the previous Government had which worked well.
“The Consumers are the ones complaining that this is not working. Where is the UPND learning what they are doing, you can change bit to decide to make such radical changes which are impacting lives of the people , it is not correct. The fuel that was 17 is now almost fetching K29….,” he said.
Hon Monde said what is surprising is that the UPND without their imaginary cartels which were allegedly there in the fuel supply Chain, they have failed to reduce the price of the commodities as promised.
“With cartels not involved, then they say they do not want to take responsibility, that’s failure. There is no country in this world that does not subsidise its citizens,” he said.
He said most people have closed their businesses because the cost of living is now high.
And Hon Monde has noted that it is wrong to pay for the real value of the product if the citizens are complaining.
“If Government is saying this is the real value of fuel, why can’t government come and say the real value of a teacher given the price of fuel ,given the prices of fertilizer and cooking oil , given that put together, what is the real value of a person working for 30 days, jt would be beyond K20,000. If you dont give people K20,000 how do you expect them to live. If they want to apply that, let them also apply that in real terms and pay people…..,” he said.
AT the rate things are moving, Zambia may experience famine because the UPND government is failing to find solutions to alleviate poverty coupled with the erratic distribution of agricultural inputs is threatening food security in the country,’’ Mwenya Musenge has said
Mr Musenge said poverty levels among the majority Zambians in various communities have continued to escalate with government turning a deaf ear to the cries of the people, but was instead concentrating on silencing those reminding government of its campaign promises
In an interview, Mr Musenge said the UPND has no plan of alleviating poverty and promoting food security and this was why it was coming up with cooperatives which had failed to work from the time of UNIP
“The Cooperatives which the UPND or the New Dawn administration were preaching about have been attempted on several occasions by successive governments starting with UNIP and very little or nothing was achieved. The levels of poverty among the majority Zambians have continued to escalate.
Yes, poverty has continued to worsen in communities and the government is failing to find solutions to poverty alleviation and, to make matters worse, he erratic distribution of agricultural inputs is threatening food security in the country. We may experience famine,’’ Mr Musenge said.
Mr Musenge advised the UPND government not to blame the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) or the climatic conditions for its failure to set the stage for poverty alleviation and food security by not distributing agricultural inputs on time.
He said it was shameful that the UPND which bragged to be well-versed in agricultural issues could fail to distribute agricultural inputs on time, reducing farmer to sharing fertiliser in buckets and Medas.
Last week, more than 50 farmers in Katoka Mema area and other parts of Kamfinsa constituency in Kitwe said they could not live on ‘Free Education’ alone and needed food for survival and it was imperative that agricultural inputs were delivered on time for the sake of food security.
Jennipher Chilombo, a 59 year old farmer of Minsaka area said the new dawn failure to deliver agricultural inputs on time is not only an abrogation of its campaign promises, but also an act which may threaten food security
Chilombo said the UPND which promised to be giving one farmer 12 bags of fertiliser, had not only failed to deliver inputs on time , but was subjecting Cooperatives of 50 people to share 12 bags of fertiliser with two 10 kilogrammes of seeds
“If the Minister of Agriculture and his government have a conscious, they would have resigned after this agricultural inputs scandal. This is a scandal and a right thinking person cannot defend it. Wherever you go, people are cursing this government for its lies, especially on agricultural inputs
“People, farmers in particular are saying they cannot live on free education only, they need food to survive. Food comes with a proper plan of food security by delivering agricultural inputs on time. Failure to deliver agricultural inputs on time threatens food security,’’ Ms Chilombo said
On 1 December it was announced that ZCCM-IH has agreed with First Quantum Minerals of Canada(FQM) to sell its 20% shareholding(on behalf of Zambians) in Kansanshi Mining Plc(KMP) to FQM.
FQM holds 80% shares in KMP through its wholly owned subsidiary, Kansanshi Holdings Ltd(KHL).
Let us cut to the chase, Let us look at the numbers……..
1. ZCCM-IH will get US$195m in a special dividend declaration.
2. ZCCM-IH will get a 20% share of the unpaid VAT refunds(less 20% of any VAT claim vosts incurred).
3. As at 30 June 2022 ZRA owed KMP US$442m and K433m in unpaid VAT refunds. From VAT refunds ZCCM-IH will get US$88.4m and K86.6m(US$5m).
4. ZCCM-IH will be issued (at closing) a loan note of US$685m for dividends declared on ZCCM-IH’s Class A shares.
5. ZCCM-IH(at closing) will have the right to receive quartely royalty payments of 3.1% of gross value metal sales revenue over life of mine(LOM).
6. As at 31 December 2021 KMP LOM was 23years, everything being equal it should be 22years as at 31 December 2022.
So how much will ZCCM-IH earn over 22 years in royalties?
7. In 2021 KMP’s metal sales revenue was US$1.539bn, if that is discounted at 10%, thats NPV of US$128m over 22 years.
8. From my calculation ZCCM-IH will receive a total of US$223m as a compensation for the sale of 20% shares. Do not include the VAT returns of US$93.4m because that is ZCCM-IH’s money already.
9. For US$223m so why didn’t ZCCM-IH just ask for full payment at the close of the deal? Why receive compensation over time, 22 years for that matter? They want it to look like they(ZCCM-IH) have not sold the shares in KMP.
10. They even hoodwink you(Ba Zambia) into thinking that you(Ba Zambia)are still part of the KMP ownership after the transaction by appointing 2 directors with voting rights, for what? In a company which is 100% owned by them!
11. Now here is how you catch a monkey, for US$223m you owe it you give it a credit card of US$685m. In the end he ends up owing you.
A RESPONSE TO HON. SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE, MINISTER OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING
Friday 2nd December, 2022
In today’s edition of the News Diggers newspapers, Finance and National Planning Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane is quoted as having said that the UPND Government is depending on the private sector to create meaningful jobs that will reduce poverty levels.
One just don’t know what to make of the Minister’s statement looking at the fact that the policies and actions that the Minister and his Government are pursuing are criminally anti-private sector growth. This Government has destroyed the private sector, damaged businesses, choked Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) and pushed thousands of our people out of business and jobs.
The latest official data from Government itself and the USAID indicate that SMEs make the largest contribution to both the national gross domestic product and to employment numbers to Zambia’s economy. The report further indicates that despite this contribution the majority of Zambian SMEs are in dire financial stress.
Latest statistics from the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) shows that SMEs account for 97% of all businesses in Zambia contributing 70% to the country’s GDP and more importantly contributing 88% of all the jobs in Zambia.
As things stand, a lot of businesses in this country are going through a very tough time; most people are struggling to just make ends meet; youth unemployment is at all time high; poverty levels have worsened; there is very little money in circulation; the cost of living has escalated beyond the reach of the majority and frankly speaking, the economy has collapsed.
How then can Hon Musokotwane expect the private sector to help create jobs when;
1. This Government has refused to pay suppliers and contractors colossal sums of money that they owe them.
2. Cost of doing business continue to rise due to escalating costs of fuel, water, electricity, transport, storage, rentals, land etc.
3. Government is crowding out the private sector with its excessive borrowing and failure to service the loans; Government is borrowing in excess of 6 Billion KWACHA from the local market on a monthly basis; money it is failing to payback.
4. Access to financing is extremely limited and expensive due to cumbersome collateral demands and high interest rates that banks are charging. Worse still, access to markets especially foreign markets is very difficult due to high costs of transport, storage, high taxes, stiff competition among others.
5. All the major businesses are being given to foreigners at the exclusion of indigenous Zambians and local business firms. As if that is not bad enough, huge foreign companies such as mining conglomerates (who are externalising the mega profits they are minting) are being given tax holidays and tax incentives while local and indigenous companies are denied the same and they are instead slapped with ZRA penalties, fines and high taxes.
6. Major pieces of legislation such as the Securities Bill and other statutory instruments are being imposed on the people without sufficient consultations with key stakeholders all because those in power are driven by insatiable appetite to introduce legislation that suits and furthers their immoral desires to siphon millions from government and the people.
This is purely the case of saying the opposite of what one is doing. If Musokotwane and the UPND indeed want to help the private sector thrive, create jobs and end poverty then they must address the issues we have highlighted above; anything less than this is just hypocrisy, lies and the usual motivation speaking that this Government has become known for.
Issued by;
Antonio Mwanza
Media Director
Patriotic Front
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has failed to produce evidence to back its allegations against former defense Minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba .
This is in a matter where the state has charged Mr. Mwamba for money laundering, conflict of interest and being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime involving US$ 2 million and K20 million.
And when the matter came up for continued trial in the Lusaka Magistrate Court on Wednesday, November 30th, 2022, DEC Assistant Investigations Officer Mugala Kombe, 35, failed to back his claims that Mr. Mwamba abused his authority as Minister by allegedly facilitating the award of contracts to Curzon Global Limited Hong Kong in 2013.
Despite admitting that he was investigating Mr. Mwamba on the alleged offense, Mugala could not produce any evidence relating to the charge.
Mr. Mugala was also at variant with his earlier statement that he warned and cautioned the accused on all the charges relating to money laundering when the action was done by assistant Superintendent Sapaulu.
The witness could also not state the nature or line of business Curzon Global Limited Hong Kong nor its physical address and year of establishment.
During cross examination, Mugala also denied knowing whether Curzon Global Limited had any interests with the accused.
It was also heard during the proceedings that the investigator did not investigate anything about Curzon Global Hong Kong, a company Mr. Mwamba is alleged to have interests in.
Mugala was also at pains to explain his knowledge on the contents of the Cabinet Handbook that defines code of conduct for Ministers.
It was further revealed that Mugala had contact with an official from Ministry of Finance, a Mr. Kajoba, who advised that there was a Judgement in favour of Curzon Global Limited Hong Kong against the Zambian Government and also the instructions from the Attorney General to settle what is based on the judgement.
But Mugala expressed ignorance on the validity of the judgement and as to whether it has been set aside or not.
And when asked if he agreed that all the payments made under the Judgements were valid and legitimate, he responded in the negative.
“I Don’t Know.” He told the Court.
Meanwhile, on the abuse of authority charge, Mr Mugala stated that Investigations were conducted, where it was concluded that there was a predicate offence of conflict of interest, which led him to charge GBM for being in possession of alleged proceeds of crime.
But when asked how he came up with the charge If he did not investigate the case of conflict of interest, Mugala said investigations were conducted as a team.
“Your Honour the investigations were conducted as a team, in this case my colleagues from ACC for conflict of interest then I proceeded to charge Mr GBM for possession of Proceeds of crime,” He said.
It was further noted that Mugala acted on the assumption that ACC was right in their investigations when charging GBM on alleged Abuse of Authority.
UPND cadres illegally allocating plots in Chipata’s Dam View area
By Christopher Miti
SOME residents of Chipata’s Dam View area have asked Eastern Province administration, police, and the council to stop UPND cadres from demarcating and allocating themselves plots on Zambia Railways land. And Eastern Province UPND youth chairperson Lyson Nyirenda says the party will not support illegalities. Theresa Banda, a resident, said cadres were sharing plots on the land that belongs to Zambia Railways and the part reserved for a road. “Our plots here in Dam View were given about 12 years ago, the council has never bothered to give us a road. Now because of the failure of the council to make the road, the cadres have come in and started sharing plots,” she said. “From what the cadres are explaining, they came with surveyors from the council to check on the same land. After that the cadres have started demarcating land here.”
Banda said residents have reported the matter to the UPND provincial leadership who went to the area on Saturday. “Both provincial chairperson Johabie Mtonga and provincial youth chairperson Lyson Nyirenda came to have an on-the-spot check. We are not very satisfied with what they said but we expect them to stop this act. We voted for UPND in order to see change in some of these illegal acts. So we are appealing to the UPND to address this issue,” said Banda. “Even the PF failed to get this land because it belongs to Zambia Railways.” Another resident, Yakobe Phiri, appealed to the council to put up a proper road in the area. “We acquired plots in Dam View area and we expected the council to put up a road here. We paid service charge for the road but nothing is being done. Now because of that inertia by the council to service the area, cadres have been taking advantage trying to share the road reserve which also happens to be Zambia Railways land because it is just adjacent to the Chipata/Mchinji rail line,” he said. “Sometime back before the change of government, PF cadres had moved in and shared the same land but once we lodged a complaint there was very swift and decisive action which was taken by provincial permanent secretary.” Phiri said the people are shocked that UPND cadres are the ones that have moved in. “A report was made to the relevant authorities and the provincial leadership of the UPND but it appears there is some kind of inertia and indecision because there is no clear-cut decision which is coming from them on land which they know clearly belongs to Zambia Railways,” said Phiri. “So, this is so disappointing because this matter was also reported to police but they did not act. So this is a refusal to look into the issue of criminal trespass.” And when contacted, provincial chairperson Johabie Mtonga said he is still investigating the matter while provincial youth chairperson Lyson Nyirenda said the party does not support illegalities. “We are not in support of illegalities. We always advise our members to do that right thing. We advised our members to go to the council and apply,” said Nyirenda. “This is the advice that we gave them when we went to the affected area. We are an orderly political party and we must stick to this.”
LOAD-SHEDDING IS UNPLEASANT BUT IT WILL NOT LAST FOR LONG
Lusaka, 02.12.22:
The announcement by Energy Minister, Hon. Peter Kapala on the floor of the National Assembly on Friday morning, that a six-hour load-shedding of ZESCO power will kick in mid-month as a result of reduced water levels in Lake Kariba, is certainly unpleasant news.
As we choose to stand side by side with the Zambian people, who will bear the biggest consequence of this latest load management regime, that comes as a directive from the Zambezi River Authority to the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, we want to commend the government for being transparent about this issue.
Transparency is one of the characteristics of good governance, and indeed we in the UPND, are gratified that the New Dawn administration is living up to the values and principles as enshrined in our party’s realigned Manifesto, upon which the UPND’s socio-economic program is anchored.
From the onset, and even before he assumed office, President Hakainde Hichilema has been emphatic on the need to delegate the problem of load-shedding to the annals of history. True to his word, over the last 12 months of the UPND being in power, load-shedding of ZESCO power has reduced drastically. President Hichilema has lived up to his campaign promises thus far.
In this case, we are confident that the manner in which this government has managed the national electricity grid so far, makes us easily believe Hon. Kapala’s assurance that this load management decision will be constantly reviewed over a period of four months.
An unavoidable reality as it may be, we are also confident of the alternative measures that the government is putting in place to mitigate the impact of this load-shedding. In short, no Zambian will be asked to go and urinate in Lake Kariba in order to increase the water levels.
That said, we urge all Zambians of good will to endure by complying with the load management advisories from ZESCO so that this latest load-shedding doesn’t persist beyond the estimated four months. This will be achieved by resorting to other energy alternatives such as solar power. With the ravages of climate change, we should never completely ignore the ever-lurking reality of load-shedding of hydro-electric power.
SWAZILAND GOES IN AN INTERNAL CIVIL WAR AS COUNTRY’S DEFENSE FORCES AIMS GUNS AT EACH OTHER.
Ntfonjeni Soldiers were reportedly killed, others injured as members of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) invaded Zibonele MfelaNgubu Army Camp in the Northern Hhohho on Tuesday night. Reached for comments,the Commander of the Solidarity Forces confirmed the attack and the killing of King Mswati’s soldiers.
Ntfonjeni is an elite special forces wing that is supposed to be the last line of King Mswati’s defence but turned against him however a compromised defense unity mounted the defense line to the royal palace.
“We are engaged in an ongoing operation that is exclusively targeting Mswati’s soldiers, who have been on the streets the past weeks brutalizing our people in a manner never witnessed before.This is, over and above that, we have always been aware that the army is among those who played a very major destructive role in the massacre of our people last year. Now that we have brought some resemblance or discipline on the police,we are now on a campaign to do same with soldiers and the OSSU is also on our horizon. We will continue to attack them with the intention of doing what they are doing to our civilians, which is killing them,” said the Commander of the Solidarity Forces. Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo, the Army Spokesperson said she was in a meeting and asked this journalist to send a message. “Morning Dlamini, I am in a meeting, you can text,” she said. A questionnaire was then sent to the Army Spokesperson, however, she responded briefly, saying the questionnaire has been noted. “Your questionnaire is noted,” said the Army Spokesperson. Information in CIC’s possession based in South Africa suggests that the Solidarity Forces arrived at around 8pm on Tuesday and began monitoring the soldiers who were sitting inside a tent.
In an audio recording sent to CIC journalist by one of the Solidarity Forces members who was part of the operation, a hail of bullets were subsequently fired at the Army Camp.
Upon firing the hail of bullets at the tent, one of the Solidarity Forces members is heard shouting at the soldiers saying, “fus….ki, phumani bo-g…(sensitive language withheld)”, the shooting lasted for about two(2) minutes. It has been disclosed that there were five(5) soldiers within the tent. Even though the Commander of the Solidarity Forces confirmed that other members of the military died on the spot, it could not be ascertained if all of them were killed. Eswatini is in the midst of a political unrest after King Mswati unleashed his soldiers and the police to shoot and kill dozens of civilians, merely for demanding democracy hence his own forces rising against him.
CIC will give you Live updates as drama unfolds in the landlocked country within South Africa.
What is Your Government’s Position on the Barotse Land Agreement secede – Kampyongo ask Vice President Madam Mutale W.K Nalumango
Today in Parliament
Shiwang’andu Member of Parliament Hon. Stephen Kampyongo today asked Vice President Madam Mutale Nalumango a very sensitive but important question on what is the New Dawns position over the barotse land secede move that has resurfaced following a letter from the leaders of Linyungandambo, a Lozi self-determination advocacy group that circulated in social media.
Hon. Kampyongo further stated that according to the establishment as penned down in the letter to the President it seemed the New Dawn Government had an agreement with on how the barotse land secede from Zambia will be dealt with.
A few days ago, the leaders of Linyungandambo, a Lozi self-determination advocacy group, published a letter dated 20 November, 2022, addressed to President Hakainde Hichilema, in which they seek a permanent solution to the abrogation of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. In the letter they purport to accept the abrogation of the Agreement and seek to secede from Zambia.
This development is not new. In March 2012, for example, the Barotseland National Council (BNC), the highest decision-making body in the traditional Barotseland government, unanimously voted to secede from Zambia. The decision was premised on the fact that the Zambian government had unilaterally abrogated the Barotseland Agreement 1964 under which Barotseland agreed to proceed to Independence as part of Zambia.
The BNC took the view that the abrogation of the Barotseland Agreement by the Zambian government entitled it to repudiate its own obligations under the Agreement and freed it to pursue the course of self-determination. In the words of the BNC, “The people of Barotseland shall exercise their right to revert Barotseland to its original status as a sovereign nation, so that the people of Barotseland shall determine their political, cultural, social and economic development.” The BNC resolutions are, however, very clear that the decision to cede were premised on the Zambian government’s failure to honour its obligations under the Barotseland agreement. Honoring the agreement would presumably settle the dispute.
This seems to be the desire and secession is only to be resorted to in the instance that limited self-determination is not forthcoming. In a letter to President Chiluba in 1994, for example, Litunga Ilute Yeta emphatically states: “We are not seceding and we shall not secede from Zambia. However, we feel that government should respect and honour the terms and conditions of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.”
However, in her response Vice President Mutale Nalumango said social media is full of things and that the New Dawn Government is studying the matter.
“The issue that there was a letter circulating I believe it’s social media? Where it was circulating Social media is full of things..as to which promises were made I don’t think I would stand and give an answer to that, I know that people have made promises including our late President Sata he made a promise to deal with it, we are also studying this, we are a new government we want to study but one thing that we are today is that we are a united country we are one Zambia one Nation that is what we are as a country today lol nothing has changed and if anything will change I have said it is under study, I Thankyou Madam Speaker”
I’ll not sell my soul, apologise and withdraw the truth – Mundubile
By Kombe Chimpinde Mataka
PARLIAMENT was on Tuesday charged when it considered estimates of expenditure for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as members of parliament took turns in stripping each other through their debates concerning the fight against corruption. During the heated debated, Mporokoso PF member of parliament Brian Mundubile told second deputy Speaker that “I will not sell my soul. I will not apologise and withdraw the truth I as leader of opposition, member of parliament for Mporokoso, elected to come hear and speak the truth”.
The chairperson of the committee on supply and estimates, Moses Moyo had a rough time maintaining order as MPs butted each other’s debates through points of order. Tempers had already flared up after the House earlier electronically voted to pass the Ministry of Health budget when the opposition expressed reservations against it.
Debate on the ACC commenced with a policy statement by leader of government business in House Vice-President Mutale Nalumango who announced that the ACC had only secured eight convictions in the year 2021. Leader of the opposition in the House Brian Mundubile, who led the debate, said the ACC was not paying attention to current corruption but the wrongs committed under the previous regime.
“I was talking about meticulous and methodical corruption in government and I was bringing to the attention of the Anti-Corruption Commission, not to narrow the subject (corruption). Anti-Corruption Commission, you must be suspicious. A bill is brought to parliament, committees recommend against it and a minister is adamant on the floor. So when I talk about policy, legislation and administration, those are some of the things that we are referring to,” Mundubile said. “Mr chairperson, we must also look at appointments. When appointments are made in such a way that you could by-pass controls, because of patronage, that is the beginning of corruption. There must be controls in institutions. The moment you see certain appointments, it already shows you the direction the government is going to take. No wonder Mr chairperson you have instances where a top government leader is seen with a heavy baggage carrying heavy calendars and a report is made and that is at the end of the year, those calenders given at the end of the year! Somebody takes interest and takes a video of that particular transaction and when it is sent, the Head of State simply makes a call. Are you sure we are committed to the fight against corruption? What does that do to the institution that is fighting corruption?”
Moyo, the second deputy Speaker, however cautioned Mundubile that standing orders 65 and 66 prohibited members of parliament to refer to the Head of State in the context he had done, before he allowed Mundubile to proceed with his debate.
“Leaders who are meant to fight or lead the fight against corruption simply go to the media and say ‘I called the minister and he said there was nothing in there’. That is the end of that particular case. Is that the way we are going to fight corruption? Right now the debate on the floor is the shortage of drugs. Anti-Corruption Commission, you may wish to know that the delay in the procurement of drugs is because somebody somewhere seated would like to single source friendly companies to supply drugs at the expense of poor Zambians who are suffering out there and dying every day due to lack of drugs. You have money, you have a budget approved and yet drugs are not procured because somebody would like to single source companies that are friendly too them,” he said. “The UPND is the only party which believes in two modes of procurement. Single sourcing and limited bidding. ACC we want to call upon you, can you take a schedule of the procurement that has happened the last 12 months and find out how these procurements have been done. No wonder we have leaders who are awarding themselves contracts in audit of defence forces. Anti-Corruption Commission take interest.”
Mundubile said ACC ought to look at why ministers were not declaring interest in contracts where they clearly had an interest. “And every day we see you running around making statements when the real corruption is right behind you,” he said. “The fight against corruption must be real starting from the top.”
Mundubile said it was “a notorious fact” that the contract offered to Alpha Commodities amounting to US $50 million was single sourced. “The contract of a $100 million, of procurement of health posts was single sourced. It is in public domain,” he said. Following a point of order from the government, Moyo said single sourcing and limited bidding were all legal means provided for procuring of public goods and services.
“What is of context is you have alleged that government officials are involved. Can you substantiate that?” asked chairperson. In response, Mundubile said the shareholders of Grant Thornton are top leaders of the UPND. “That is the evidence and Grant Thornton was single sourced to do audits in the defence forces,” he argued. But Moyo said Mundubille should withdraw his statement, if he wanted to continue debating. “Mr speaker, I will be unfair to the Zambian people just because some members are uncomfortable with the facts. I will not sell my soul. I will not apologise and withdraw the truth I as leader of opposition, member of parliament for Mporokoso, elected to come hear and speak the truth,” Mundubile said.
“Let us not trivialise the decorum of the House. Why are we trivialising the decorum of the House? If we are going to call every debate, every junk …it’s not in dispute. Minister of Youth and Sports paid for a plane that never arrived. They paid colossal sums of money for a plane that never arrived. That is the corruption that we are talking about. We have a situation on the Copperbelt, Mopani and KCM, the UPND when in opposition, said they had plans for these two mines. Mr Speaker, I was on the Copperbelt a few days ago. I could not help, I amlost broke down, to look at the suffering of the people on the Copperbelt because of these two mines and already manoeuvres coming out are that decisions that are being made concerning these mines may not be as transparent. ACC, I want you to take interest.” Rising on a point of order, water development minister Mike Mposha claimed that Mundubile was misleading the country by claiming that a plane chattered by the Ministry of Sports and paid for had not been used.
Mwinilunga UPND member of parliament Newton Samakayi said President Hakainde Hichilema was serious about the fight against corruption. “The President needs the support of all us in this House and the support of generally the people out there because the people would want the officers and politicians that have been put in these officers to prudently manage their resources,” he said. Samakayi also called for a bill to do with a lifestyle audit.
“And they (opposition) refused. The former vice-president (Inonge Wina) stood here and vehemently opposed to bring the bill on lifestyle audit. We want to urge Anti-Corruption Commission that you must initiate the lifestyle audit so that the Minister of Justice could bring this bill to this House. There are no games about fighting corruption. It doesn’t matter whether you are on the left of the Speaker or right of the Speaker, we should all support,” he said.
“There is no need for politicians and state actors to fill in forms to declare their properties and liabilities and to go and file with the judges, there is no system. If I report today that my net worth is K9 million, five years later or three years later I am at K25 or K30 million there is no system to check how have I moved from K9 million to K30 or K35 million. There is no system. So that law on declaration of assets is moribund as far as I am concerned because there are no mechanisms to check how people are accumulating wealth. And that is why we are advocating that the lifestyle audit bill must come here. I know you are quiet. All of you are quiet. Those who have gone and those who are there now you are quiet on the audit bill. It has to come here. It is in the interest of the public that this bill must come to the House so that we pass it.”
Samakayi said whether in opposition or the ruling party, those engaging in corruption must not be supported as the vice was deterring development.
“Whether you did it 10 years ago or two years ago when you were in PF or doing it in UPND, you have to account,” said Samakayi. Nalolo PNUP member of parliament Imanga Wamunyima said the eight convictions recorded by ACC in 2021 as highlighted in the policy statement was worrying.
Bweengwa UPND member of parliament Michelo Kasauta rattled the members on the left when he said criminals were present even the House.
“We are tired of sitting with criminals even in in this House. We are not happy. We want all the people who are corrupt to go to jail,” Kasauta said. “The moment we do that you are going to see that people will start running away from stealing Zambian people’s money. If you see people standing, just know they are guilty. We want the guilty to go to jail. We don’t want them to keep enjoying money which they stole from the Zambian people.”
But rising on a point of order Lunte PF member of parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya challenged Kasauta to stop misleading the ACC that they should first begin fighting corruption in the past before coming to the present.
“Do you begin sweeping the house from the bedroom even when there is faecal matter on the veranda? You jump faecal matter and go to the bedroom? Faecal matter such as the one $100 million …” asked Kafwaya. Chama South PF member of parliament Davison Mung’andu said the trend of prosecuting officers only going for people after they have left office was an act of promoting corruption by the ACC.
Kawambwa PF member parliament Nickson Chilangwa drew the House and ACC to the issue of ministers that are allegedly living in their private homes yet drawing housing allowance from the government. “It is unacceptable, Anti-Corruption Commission must be asked to investigate. How is it that Community House security has been enhanced, under which vote? That must investigated,” urged Chilangwa.
Meanwhile, local government minister Gary Nkombo said corruption fight was not an easy one because crooks were usually lethal but assured that prosecution would be done based on evidence.
“If today I soil myself in the office that I run as many soiled themselves when they were collecting government contracts and they are seated in here as I am talking, we just cancelled, chairperson, all these contracts because they started playing games saying ‘we have broken through’. We cancelled all of them. So let us see how they got these contracts and we will invite them to the ACC,” said Nkombo.
Mutinta’s departure should not be made a big storm – Mweetwa
By Kombe Chimpinde Mataka
UPND party spokesperson Cornelious Mweetwa says Mutinta Mazoka’s departure should not be made a big storm. Daughter of UPND founding president Anderson Kambela Mazoka, Mutinta has resigned from the UPND without citing reasons. She however thanked those that she had worked with in the party.
Mweetwa told The Mast that if they were reasons why Mutinta has resigned from the ruling party she would give them to the public herself. “She has not given reasons. I got aware of her resignation more than three weeks ago and it is not something new so it should be understood that notwithstanding that she is the daughter of the founding president, she is just a member like any other member who enjoys her full rights of her discretion, of her freedoms of association. And therefore she might have something that she wants to do wherein her continued association with the UPND may not be in the interest of that other thing that she wants to do.
We don’t think we should give much room to speculation,” Mweetwa said. “She is just enjoying her freedom of association. People voted for her on account of the Mazoka name. It is a very respected name. It has a very special place in the life history of our party. But as an individual, she has choices to make.” He added that “the mother continues to serve the people of Zambia as a member of parliament on the UPND ticket”.
“So her departure should not be made a big storm. No, not at all. It has to be understood that many people in the UPND have left the party. She is not the first one to leave the party. At least not less than three founder vice-presidents of the UPND have left the party before,” he noted. “But the party continued because a party is an idea which was started by founders. Its life is a going concern carried by those who are carrying the idea today. So let us not create appetite for assumption and antagonism.”
Mweetwa said Mutinta had been in the UPND for a long time. “She had been in the UPND for as long time. How many people knew she was in the UPND for instance other than now she is leaving and of course carrying a respected name of the founder president as Anderson Mazoka’s daughter, no one knew?” said Mweetwa.
UPND GOVERNMENT IS CORRUPT, INCOMPETENT AND A DANGER TO THE STABILITY OF THE COUNTRY – KATEKA
By Correspondent Reporter
THE New Heritage Party (NHP) says the UPND government is corrupt, incompetent and a danger to the stabiity of the nation.
Party president Chishala Kateka says the incompetency has been exhibited by the contradictory positions made by government officials in the manner they are running the farmer input support programme.
“Unfortunately, as usual, this Government is trying to ” spin” the confusion as a side effect of the fight against corruption. We have seen and heard the same strange rhetoric in the health sector where ‘the fight against corruption’ has been given as the reason that there is no medicine in hospitals. All this would have been funny, if it was not for the fact that , already this UPND government is turning out to be the most corrupt and incompetent in the country’s history especially with hunger being no laughing matter, for the already suffering masses,” noted Kateka.
Sh3 described the UPND as an amature administration which was quoting failure in its attempt to fix what it has destroyed in 8t first time in government.
“The truth of the matter however, is that this amateur UPND government has failed at first attempt to administer the important affairs of state, instead their stay in government so far has been characterised by bungling of routine processes of purchasing and supplying of medicines for the hospitals , and an abysmal failure to provide adequate fertilizer and other farming inputs on time. This is obviously largely due to massive corruption and nepotism in the so called New Dawn administration modus oparendi,” she said.
Kateka said the current state of affairs is very concerning to many Zambians, because without stability in the health and agriculture, sectors, other percieved gains, like free education, become cosmetic.
“… because a child needs to be well fed and healthy when going to school. Additionally, productivity in general will be negatively impacted, with a high risk of a rise in crime and public disorder.
We are not merely politicking but our prayer is that Government will take heed and manage the way that service delivery in the Agriculture and Health sectors is being delivered so that it is not compromised and resulting in the lives of Zambians being negatively impacted. Currently, the quality of life of the less affluent Zambians has dropped drastically.”
Kateka has since appealled to the UPND to be honest with their leadership about the prevailing situation and the hardships.
“…that they, like all ordinary Zambians, are experiencing due to this existing national crisis and stop singing false praises to President Hakainde Hichilema who, himself, recently admitted in Eastern Province, to having failed in just his first year in power.”
Mr HH & Mr Haimbe, voluntary retirees unpaid historic debt a dangerous decampaign for you
By Michael B Munyimba
It is yet to be established whether the unjust pain and suffering that justice minister Mulambo Haimbe is inflicting on the voluntary retirees/seperatees is by his own volition, or is in alliance with the highest office on the land.
The voluntary retirees whose benefits have strangely been withheld (or stolen) for over 23 years, have reached a sad, breaking point – that is for those that are even lucky to still be alive through years of unbearable travesties that come with being cash-strapped in a bad economy. What is strange about this sad story is that President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) is on record of having issued a direct order, first to community development minister Doreen Mwamba early this year, and later to justice minister Haimbe to urgently workout the amount due and pay them out.
The President first gave this directive publicly at the Kabwata by-election in February this year in Lusaka and it became the sweetest melody the retirees had heard in close to two and half decades. And their relief and assurance was knowing that words and directives from the Head of State carried a seal of authority that could not be questioned, challenged, denied or delayed. And in the weeks that followed, minister Doreen Mwamba assured the desperate retirees that their monies would soon hit their accounts. But that was not to be, more weeks and months trickled by – and nothing was happening. And when the minister eventually defied her own final vow to pay them by July 31st, it was the last stroll, they matched to New Kasama where the group representatives met with the Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, the President’s political advisor and the justice minister Haimbe, who now took up the mantle, promising to correct the problem and pay them ASAP.
All was discussed amicably, apart from one concern raised by the minister, who pleaded that the money due be reduced to a manageable amount as it had accumulated so much interest and other emoluments, such that each one of these 3,500 ex-civil servants was now owed an average K9 million, a tenth of the national budget! These voluntary retirees understood and slashed the figure down by over half. Besides, they were willing and ready to accept anything substantial, looking at the many years of endurance without any source of livelihood. But when the newly suggested figure was presented to the minister, he told them it was still too much for government to manage. That’s when they suggested that government comes up with its own amount. And that was the end of the story and beginning of a new kind of horrific nightmare. Since those July meetings, there has not just been silence from the minister or any official, but defiance, dejection, and total refusal of the minister to meet these suffering men and women.
These are gallant men and women who diligently served the civil service and nation at large, men and women who voluntarily gave up their jobs in the nation’s interest when in MMD era. IMF gave government a condition to downsize its civil service if the country was to benefit from an economic growth programme that involved several countries in the region, such as Lesotho, Namibia and others; with the World Bank and other collaborating partners being among the funders to pay off all those that would volunteer to surrender their jobs. These are Zambian citizens, respectable fathers and mothers with dependents. They are not outcasts or animals, neither are they kids or prisoners. Several have died from depression over the years when they failed to sustain their families due to lack of financial resources, families and marriages have broken. These are men who have waited five governments to receive their hard earned dues, they are not begging for money they did not earn or work for, it’s their money they seek. Is that too much to ask?
One would have thought that with this issue in the hands of one whose portfolio and title is JUSTICE itself, bwana Haimbe would be in the frontline of the battle to ensure that these dear Zambians get what is rightfully and legally theirs, not to alter his title to be “injustice” minister. Haimbe has suddenly and automatically updated and upgraded his CV to masquerade as the most hard-hearted and most frowned at office-bearer to at least 3,500 Zambians, an attribute and legacy I wouldn’t want on my life’s history. Haimbe has adamantly refused any audience with the retirees who have vehemently tried everything within their power to seek an explanation from him on why they are not getting their money. But what does our injustice minister do if he doesn’t lock himself in his office and instruct his secretary to tell the silent protesters that he has no interest or intention of meeting them now or ever? He orders security guys, policemen to scatter them out of his office yard. How sad!
I can go on and on talking about Haimbe and minister Doreen Mwamba’s uncalled for behaviour, except that there’s one important question lingering on people’s mind whose answer could exonerate and vindicate both of them. If the President had truly instructed these two ministers to pay up these guys, why then have they not instituted or executed that command? Wouldn’t that be deemed gross misconduct and insubordination of the highest order of the land attracting instant expulsion or dismissal? Why then is the President silent on the matter? The President is aware of what is happening; the protests by these retirees at the Ministry of Justice and at State House. Only two possible answers come to mind. One answer is that these ministers are just brave, defiant, selfish, heartless, barbaric men and women whose interest is not to serve the Zambian ordinary people but themselves. Ministers get over K50,000 p/m, plus K2,000 sitting allowance in parliament every day, plus fuel, travel and other allowances.
At the end of each month, ministers pocket probably K120,000. Most lads in that wage bracket in Africa don’t know how impwa, ulumanda, soya pieces and katapa, all without oil, salt, tomatoe or onion look or taste. They live in a Disney world of sausages, grilled pork and roasted beef, spaghetti and rice, coffee with eggs and bacon every day that they don’t even exhaust each meal time. They surrender the remains to their healthy looking German shepherd dogs that also merely sniff and perk on a chunk or two, before leaving the rest to house boys, gatemen and cleaners. These guys drive expensive luxury automobiles only seen in latest cinemas with their offices, in which they do nothing, laden with laptops, fridges and stereos, offices where they just drink tea and dose, doing practically nothing for the people who put them in office. And when they enter parliament, they are either dozing or talking sheer rubbish when they open their frighteningly large mouths.
If this is the type of ministers that were mandated to look into the plight of voluntary retirees, then we have a big problem, such people can’t have a heart human enough to care for us the weak financially.
In closing, and that is if the President is aware of this and is deliberately silent over the issue, let me give this advice; first, the President should know that paying these guys their dues will positively impact on the economy. Think of the number of people that will be employed from the small businesses each of these guys will start and how the marketeers will have more customers. If 2026 comes and these guys are not paid, it automatically means UPND will have 3,500 villains, members defecting, including their children, relatives, friends and neighbours. Calculate, how many those can be? All those votes lost! Don’t decampaign yourselves!
Two weeks ago, Chama South member of parliament Davison Mung’andu asked the Minister of Justice if government truly owed these guys, to which he answered affirmatively, stating that there is indeed a historic debt that needs to be settled and all parliamentarians consented and ordered that government must pay these people. Surprisingly, our new Secretary to Cabinet presented a letter full of legal jargon stating that government had paid everyone in full.
If any major sums of funds were released, they should question those lawyers who represented these people, some of whom have bought luxury estates outside the country such as in Dubai. We call upon opposition parties to question government on this matter, or else as far as journalists like me are concerned, tamwalale until this matter is resolved and these guys get their loot. We don’t want to start writing letters to embassies of countries which produced the money to pay these guys, this money didn’t come from the Zambian treasury. Pay them, or we shall roll in the mud together bwana Presido. Till next Wednesday, I sign off!
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PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson Anthony Bwalya says President Hakainde Hichilema has no business talking about what PF did or did not do because it is gone and dead.
Featuring on QFM breakfast show with DJ Showstar, Bwalya said the UPND administration had already reduced inflation rate from 24 to nine per cent and increased allocation of funds to constituencies from a paltry K1.6 million to K25.7 million to unlock the economy. “The President has no business with the PF. The PF are gone, they are dead. The President has no business with that. This is why I said, as we have a conversation around the cost of living, let us just have a conversation in context. In taking responsibility, we have driven down inflation from 24 per cent to nine per cent. That is incredible. When even the most developed countries in the world are struggling with containing with inflation, Zambia has contained inflation to single digits. That is progress,” Bwalya said. He said the government had resumed the regular payments of salaries which had not been the case.
“At the same time when we are coming from a history where government was failing not only to pay wages for those on payroll, getting on board critical public service workers so that we can enhance the way that government delivers basic services to its people whether it is education, whether it is health care. We have reinstated that ability for government to be able to pay wages. This is why now we are employing people. I always make the argument that look, don’t think that colleagues in the PF were stupid. If they had the opportunity, if they had the opportunity to increase CDF to K28.3 million, they could have done it,” Bwalya said. “They could have done it except they dismantled the economy. They eroded their ability to do these things. So even if they wanted to do it they couldn’t do it because they had no ability in rebuilding the economy and making the substantive macroeconomic progress that we have made.” He said the government now had the ability to employ teachers and health workers.
“Other than giving constituencies 1.6 million per annum which was selectively issued, we are going to give you currently 25.7 million – now we are proposing K28.3 [million]. Ask Sunday Chanda who is in Kanchibya, Sunday is not a UPND member of parliament. Kanchibya is not traditionally a UPND stronghold but they have been given the money because the people of Kanchibya are Zambians and the President is the President for all Zambians so the money has gone to Kanchibya,” said Bwalya.
Three years after losing control of Konkola Copper mines (KCM), Indian investor Vedanta Resources Ltd is attempting to force the new Zambian government to hand back the mining asset through stage managed public opinion even though the matter is due for arbitration in January 2023.
KCM was placed under provisional liquidation in 2019 after the previous Zambian government alleged that the company had lied about expansion plans and paid too little tax. KCM denied any wrongdoing.
The company has been making offers with sweeteners to compel the new government to revert ownership of the mining giant to them
Vedanta in December 2021 offered that it was ready to invest about $1.5 billion in reviving KCM and making it a world-class asset, while warning that the mothballed operations are on the verge of collapse. They also offered to pay suppliers outstanding invoices and also make a one off payment of K2,500 to each employee across the board. However, the company’s history on being economical with truth on promised investments did not inspire confidence and government looked at the offer with a pinch of salt.
That not with standing the government in an act of utmost good faith, earlier this year, agreed to end legal action against billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta. As President Hakainde Hichilema sought to revive mining output in the southern African country which is seeking to attract investment to one of the world’s biggest copper producers by repairing damaged relationships with mining companies inherited from the previous government.
Though January 7, 2023 was set as date for arbitration, a few months ago the mining towns of Chingola and Chililabmbwe experienced peaceful demonstrations by supposed unemployed youths demanding that government hand back the mine to Vedanta, arguing that the investor’s return would reduce chronic unemployment and revamp the local economy.
The organized, articulate and clearly well fed youths made it seem like without Vedanta it was all doom and gloom for residents of the two towns. No doubt, these were not spontaneous but concerted demonstrations funded by the investor.
The first protest seemingly having not yielded the desired effect Vedanta have now turned to the local church leadership, in this deeply religious country, which was declared a Christian nation in 1991.
This week, a sizeable delegation of preachers travelled to the capital Lusaka and held a press conference echoing earlier protesters calls for the mine to be handed back citing the unbearable suffering of local communities. In essence, this was a little more than a rented mob whose transport, room, board and allowances had beer taken care of by Vedanta.
Surprisingly, the churchmen and women had chosen to travel to Lusaka to air their concerns when the area Member of Parliament for one of the effected towns, Chililabombwe, is mines minister Paul Kabuswe. Instead of engaging the minster on their own turf, the members of the clergy saw it fit to put government on the spot in an attempt to embarrass government into handing the mine back to Vedanta.
They also cast aspersions on the ruling UPND’s sincerity on pledges made to create and sustain employment while they where in opposition.
The new government acknowledges that any solution at KCM has to include Vedanta, which remains a 80%-shareholder in the operation with the government’s Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment holdings holding the other 20%.
Rebooting production at KCM is central to Zambia’s ambitions to raise annual copper output to about 3 million tons by the end of the decade, from about 800,000 currently.
President Hichilema has said his government will seek to end “excessive litigation” in mining after former President Edgar Lungu’s administration took an increasingly aggressive stance with the industry.
The president’s investment drive received a boost in August after First Quantum Minerals Ltd lunched a $1.25 billion project to expand its Kansanshi copper mine in North Western Province.
Clearly, the Zambian government is determined to follow the due process of the law but the investor is in a hurry to reclaim the asset which they abused over the years by creating a false crisis through paid agents.
Dr. Chris Patricks is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Sciences and Director of the Centre for Mediation in Africa. He also publishes on multilingualism in higher education and journalism studies. He is a former award-winning journalist._
FORTY prizes of the 2022 Ngoma Awards are up for grabs as Zambian music artiste Elton Mulenga popularly known as Yomaps dominates the musical category of the nominees.
Yo Maps has been nominated on three categories under music which includes the most outstanding male musician, album of the year (Commando) and song of the year ( Mr Romantic).
He is up against music greats, T- Bwoy, Jay Cash among others.
In the female music category the most outstanding musician has been enlisted as Violet Kafula, Bombshell, Towela and the Liseli Sisters.
The Ngoma Awards are definitely back and will be held at the Music Club in Lusaka’s East Park Mall tomorrow.
The awards ceremony will be turning from a slumber of over three years which was caused by the pandemic.
And this time around creatives that will win the awards should brace themselves for lumpsum payday as the Minister of Youths Sports and Arts Elvis Nkandu announced that over One Million Kwacha has gone into the hosting of the event.
Nkandu disclosed that each award will be coming with a cash accompaniment of K20,000 as a minimum.
Meanwhile, renowned actors of Zambia’s drama series and telenovelas are going toe to toe in in the competition as the country awaits with anticipation who is going to emerge victorious as the weekend is fast approaching.
Three Mpali actors have been nominated as the Most outstanding television series actors comprising of Cosmas Ngandwe, Joel Sakala, Mutale Monde and also Emmanuel Musonda.
In the ladies category of the same awards, Laiza Phiri, Mwaka Mugala (Zuba) Change Chintelelwe and Mercy Banda both of Chokolo.
In the most outstanding television series, Mpali, Chokolo, Nkani (the story) and Agness Mulimbika have been nominated.
While comedians, Mark Ziligone and Tom Njobvu have been nominated under the most outstanding sketch comedians along side Godfrey Mwape, Lottie Tondolo Siame, inspector Pamela.
Other categories at the 2022 Ngoma awards ceremony includes, writers stage theater, community theatre awards, traditional music and dance, creative writing, media arts Awards and Visual arts and crafts awards.
FUEL PRICES INCREMENT REASON ENOUGH FOR BALLY TO RESIGN
…he has failed to fulfil his promises – Nakacinda
Lusaka…. Thursday December 1, 2022 (Smart Eagles)
PF Chairperson for Information and Publicity Raphael Nakacinda has said the increase in the fuel prices is reason enough for President Hakainde Hichilema to resign.
Speaking when he featured on Hot FM’s Red Hot Seat today, Hon Nakacinda said President Hichilema and his administration would have apologized by now if they were people with honour.
He lamented that UPND made fake promises concerning fuel prices.
“If they were men and women of honour, by now we would have seen people apologizing. The promise that Mr Hakainde and the UPND made, they actually presented to the people some kind of calculations that would guarantee that fuel would sell at least K12 per liter.”
“But from the time that the UPND got into government, the opposite has been happening. From K12 to, in the beginning at K21, later on there was a bit of a reduction because there was a by election in Kabwata, then it increased to 23/25, getting almost to K27 now.”
Hon Nakacinda said blaming the increase in the prices of fuel on the pandemic in China is an invalid reason.
The PF MCC said it is not only on issues surrounding fuel prices.
“But what is amazing is that the President, with all this happening, clearly in contrast with what he promised, he still has the courage to walk out of his house, he takes the podium, picks a microphone and begin to lecture Zambians as though everything is just okay, and wanting to even talk to Zambians as though we don’t think and can’t analyze issues on our own,” he said.
“This fuel increase, from the time UPND got into government is reason enough for a man of conscious, in this case Mr Hakainde Hichilema to tender in his resignation because he has failed to deliver what he promised. But it is not the only promise he has failed to deliver. Look at the disaster in the agriculture sector in relation to FISP, the distribution of the farming inputs, it’s a disaster. I sympathize with the Minister of Agriculture who is being pushed around…”
ACC OFFICER EXONERATES GBM FROM CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Lusaka, Thursday, December 1, 2022
An Investigations officer from the Anti Corruption Commission ACC ‘struggled’ to justify the arrest of former Minister of Defence Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, alias GBM, on conflict of interest charges.
This is when the matter in which Hon Mwamba is facing charges of conflict of interest and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime came up for Continuation of trial yesterday.
Masautso Mwale, 38, told the court that the Joint Investigative Team where he had been attached was in receipt of alleged abuse of Office and Conflict of interest against GBM, in the manner he allegedly facilitated for the awards of various Government contracts to Curzon Global Limited Hong Kong, a company he is alleged to had interest but failed to declare it.
But when asked by Defence Lawyers during cross examination who raised the complaint, the ACC investigations Officer said he does not know who the complainant was both in the Abuse of Authority and Conflict of Interests Charges before arresting him.
Mwale also said he is aware that the ACC had investigated GBM before on a similar Complaint but did not know if the matter was concluded.
Mwale said investigations continued and intended recipients of the supplies from Curzon Global Limited were visited.
It was established that Curzon Global Hong Kong Limited was awarded three contracts to supply goods to the Zambia Air Force and five contracts to Supply different items to the Zambia Army.
The ACC Investigations Officer however conceded that Article 28 sub section 2 of the ACC Act being relied on relates to the members of the Procurement committee and does not cover everyone in Government.
After being asked if Mr Mwamba was a member of the Procurement Committee, he responded in the negative.
And when asked where the conflict of interest was if GBM was not part of the ministerial procurement committee awarding the contracts, Mwale responded that there was no conflict of interest.
Mwale further failed to aduce evidence before the courts to show that GBM influenced the awarding of the contracts.
He however agreed that payment was done to Curzon Global Limited by the Zambian Government for the goods delivered.
And when asked to show the court documents that Government was not happy with the contract, he denied that he did not have.
The Matter has since been adjourned to 1st of February, 2023 for continued trial.
I HAVE NEVER PARTICIPATED IN ELECTIONS AND LOST – MILES SAMPA
…adds that UPND will become the first party to rule for only one term because of its broken promises
Lusaka, Thursday, December 1, 2022 (Smart Eagles)
I have never participated in any elections and lost, If you see me stand, just know I am winning, Patriotic Front Presidential Hopeful Miles Sampa has said.
Hon Sampa said this in relation to what is giving him confidence that he will win the Party Presidency and eventually lead the party to victory in 2026.
“I do not intend to start losing in my old age, if you see me stand just know that I am winning. It is by God’s grace because it is God who chooses,” Hon Sampa said.
He was reacting to questions from callers when he featured on the burning issue Radio Programme on 5FM today.
Mr Sampa was also bubbling with confidence that the PF will be the first former ruling Party to bounce back into power.
He said history will subsequently be made for the UPND as they will become the first party to rule for only one term because of the broken promises.
“Those saying that the party will never come back must know that we are now dealing with Millenials who do not care about tribe or History, they vote according to how they feel that you treat them. They did it in 2021, they will do it in 2026,” he said.
And Hon Sampa said he is not banking on his relation with late former Head of State Micheal Chilufya Sata to vie for the party Presidency.
“NO, I do not wish to use the relation with late President Micheal Sata. I’m doing it for the people of PF and I can do it for the party from win the elections,” he said.
“I did a lot of Consultations on all major grassroots in all the districts. I also consulted those at the top level, they are many, and the ones I believe are key would not mind If I take over except for one or two,” he said.
Mr Sampa who is also Matero Constituency Member of Parliament said even if he was not to be selected as president, the one who will be in charge must give the Party Hope of Victory in 2026.
Meanwhile, Hon Sampa has described the appointment of Mcdonald Chipenzi at Electoral Commission of Zambia as a commissioner as a wrong appointment.
He said the UPND is doing the opposite of the campaign promises that they will not appoint cadres in parastatals and sensitive institutions such as the ECZ.
And Hon Sampa has charged that there are cracks in the Ruling party as evidenced by the resignation of Mutinta Mazoka, the daughter to the founding President of the party.
He said this is the beginning of problems in the ruling party as the majority are not happy with what is happening especially on the appointments where the Youths have been sidelined.
During the Programme, one of the callers defended the UPND Government that they are doing a great job but when he was challenged to point out the good works being done by Government, he failed to mention any thing and continued with his misdirected praise.
Iris Kaingu shares her authentic self in exclusive Zambezi Magic special, Life Through Iris
IF you think you have seen all there is to see when it comes to the one and only Iris Kaingu, think again.
Next month, Zambezi Magic premieres Life Through Iris – an exclusive, all access, no hold barred docuseries into the life of one of the country’s most famous and polarizing celebrities.
The weekly five-part special premieres on Sunday 25 December at 20h00, and it is Iris speaking her truth and showing her most vulnerable self and answering the question: just who is the woman behind the salacious headlines?
Since the socialite, social media star and businesswoman shot to fame (or some would say, infamy) in 2012, her name has been on everyone’s lips and fingertips. Although she’s given interviews in the past, the Zambezi Magic special is Iris as you have never seen her before.
“As a channel we’re eager to premiere Life Through Iris, which is another production that shows Zambezi Magic pushing the envelope when it comes to the stories we tell. To create as intimate and honest show as this one, featuring one of Zambia’s most famous names, is remarkable and rare – it’s the perfect Sunday night primetime show,” says Mrs Leah Kooma, Managing Director, MultiChoice Zambia.
“Our viewers are versatile and have discerning taste, and reality shows are among a favourite on the channel. We look forward to the audience reception to the special,” she said.
Using exclusive footage filmed years go as well as new material, Life Through Iris is something of a then-versus-now, as we follow Iris’s journey from the past five years until today. Told candidly through said footage as well as through honest and anecdotal interviews with Iris, her family and her friends, we watch as she speaks for herself after years of being defined through the lens of others.
The episodes feature everything from her everyday life to her unapologetic public persona: we follow Iris on a family holiday, watch as she navigates the treacherous road that is dating, and the challenges fame presents in her platonic, professional and romantic relationships.
Iris Kaingu is more than the headlines and salacious tabloid gossip – and she wants you to have a front row seat to her life.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Chikankata Constituency Coordinator, Daniel Bweupe, says the ruling party will not entertain any reports of theft of farming inputs among its members.
Mr Bweupe says as the inputs being distributed under the Farmer Input Support Programme ( FISP ) is aimed at improving food security at household level for vulnerable communities, the ruling party will not condone any reports of theft of the commodity among its members.
He further warned those behind the diverting of a truck carrying the inputs for Chikankata district of Southern province that they will face the wrath of the law if found wanting.
ZANIS reports that in an interview in Chikankata on Thursday, Mr. Bweupe added that the new dawn government, under the able leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema is focused at uplifting living standards of ordinary citizens by ensuring that inputs get distributed to the beneficiaries , promptly.
“ We will not allow any cases of theft surrounding stealing of any sort otherwise the long arm of the law will visit whoever is found wanting,” he said.
He for this reason advised the Zambia police service in the area to investigate reports of a track that was reportedly carrying the inputs meant for Chikankata district but impounded in Siavonga.
Meanwhile, Farmers in Sinazongwe District , Southern province have expressed concern over the slow pace of input distribution under the Farmer Input Support Programme ( FISP ).
kalizyabasimbi Co-operative Treasurer Steadwell Syamunyanga says the agriculture department in the area is slow in disbursing the inputs to the farmers.
Mr. Syamunyanga states that a number of co-operative members are forced to spend their nights around the offices waiting to be attended to by the officers.
ZANIS reports that speaking in an interview in Sinazongwe on Wednesday, the kalizyabasimbi Co-operative Treasurer said the pace at which the process was moving had further affected them .
Mr. Syamunyanga has since called on the office of the District Commissioner to intervene and ensure that the process is expedited so that beneficiaries could be served on time.
“ They ( the farmers ) are forced to wait for the inputs because they are not done with their land preparations. They are worried in case of poor rainfall patterns associated with the valley, “ he said.
However, Acting District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO) Valentine Kilubi clarified that the process was delayed a bit due to change in modalities of implementing the FISP.
The farmer beneficiaries that all modalities were in place and the flagging off of the distribution exercise would be done tomorrow Thursday December 1st,2022, Mr.kilubi assured.
The District has received inputs to be distributed to over 3500 smallholder farmer beneficiaries in Sinazongwe District.
The number of beneficiaries had been increased from 3287 last 2021-2022 farming season to 3500 this 2022-2023 season.
So far 525 metric tons of D compound, 525 metric tons of urea, 35 metric tons of maize seed, soya beans and groundnuts seed had been delivered to the District for the distribution to the farmers.
