The people of Zambia, especially in the areas where local government by-elections were held on Friday, had two choices to make. They had a choice to continue with the past, which is the PF’s politics of tantameni (handouts), or to embrace the UPND’s politics of hard work.
Because Zambians, across the breadth and width of this country, are no longer interested in a leadership whose major preoccupation is throwing crumbles to them while they carry the bigger chunk through corruption, the UPND scored high in Friday’s by-elections – from Mwense to Kalabo; Chilubi to Chikoma; Chingola to Lusangazi; Malole to Mwansabombwe; and Bangweulu to Mkushi. It was a whitewash and a tell-tale of fast-diminishing political fortunes of the PF, not talking about the distant third Socialist Party.
The people who are the beneficiaries of the UPND government’s decentralisation agenda; the devolution of development powers to the local authorities, expanded CDF; free public education; increased and consistent disbursement of Social Cash Transfer; reintroduced student meal allowances; restored rule of law; partial NAPSA benefits access; timely payment of retirees; and improved good governance, have spoken loud and clear.
The results from yesterday’s by-elections, unlike our colleagues in the PF, are to the UPND a time to humbly explore additional avenues of how best we can improve the lot of every Zambian, through bottom to up (horizontal) development approaches, and offering transparent, non-discriminatory and accountable leadership.
This victory is for every member of the UPND and every Zambian who truly believes that the UPND-led New Dawn administration will continue to advance on ensuring that the retrogressive political culture of handouts is relegated to the dustbin of history, only to be replaced by the culture of hard work for collective gain. This is the culture President Hakainde Hichilema wants to entrench in the Zambian society.
For now, let’s pat ourselves on the backs that the ideals for which we voted for the UPND slightly over a year ago, which are to restore the rule of law, reunite the country, and rebuild the country, are beginning to bear fruits and are slowly but surely, reaching every corner of Zambia. As for PF, they are gone.
WHY THE PUBLIC MUST SUPPORT ON-GOING NEGOTIATIONS WITH VEDANTA RESOURCES
One of the first issues I have requested by my followers, to comment on, after my 60 days ban by Facebook, is on the recently announced Vedanta comeback.
As I have stated before several times, on this and other platforms, the decisions by the PF and UPND governments to resolve the issue of shareholders conflict between ZCCM-IH and Vedanta Resources, through liquidation and receivership respectively, is wrong simply because the two processes are illegal.
I say so because the liquidation and receivership as commenced by the PF and UPND governments contravene Section 66, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 82, 83, of the Mines and Minerals Development Act No. 11 of 2015.
Further, liquidation and receivership as done by the two governments for a mining or mineral processing operation offend Section 138 of the Insolvency Act No. 9 of 2017.
Additionally, the two actions do not comply with provisions on the Shareholders Agreement signed by ZCCM-IH, Vedanta Resources and Government in 2004, with respect to conflict resolution between and among shareholders.
Furthermore, several court decisions in Zambia and South Africa since 2019 have been against ZCCM-IH, largely because of the reasons indicated above.
Therefore, if let to be determined in courts to finality, the likelihood is very, very high that ZCCM-IH and Government would compensate Vedanta Resources lots on money from public resources.
Considering that at the time the illegal process was commenced in 2019, KCM used to produce between 170,000 and 180,000 metric tonnes of copper per annum, my modest estimate of compensation to Vedanta Resources would not less than US$3 billion. Such an outcome would automatically increase Zambia’s external debt from US$19 billion to US$21 billion. I think it would be foolish for Zambia to allow such to happen.
So, as I have always indicated since May 2019, the best solution for Zambia is to resolve the impasse through dialogue and out of court settlement. For this reason, I supported and commended the UPND Government when Minister of Mines Honorable Paul Kabuswe announced in July that Government had instructed ZCCM-IH to withdrawal the Vedanta Resources court matters and proceed to out of court settlement.
I therefore hope the that the on-going out-of-court negotiations will be concluded soon so to avoid further depreciation of KCM assets and losses to Zambia.
On whether Vedanta should come back directly or indirectly through a subsidiary, I will deal with this issue on Tuesday when I hold a press briefing specifically address this aspect and touch on conditions proposed for settlement. I will not preempt the press briefing at this point.
Hopefully my analysis on this matter is clear, and makes sense to you my followers. Please feel free to share my thought with your friends.
MAYOR’S WIFE, HAMWEENDA EXCHANGE HARD SLAPS AT GOLF CLUB
United Party for National Development (UPND) Mazabuka Youth Chairperson, Bright Hamweenda, has described his physical confrontation with Namwaka Lilanda, the wife to Mayor Vincent Lilanda, as unfortunate.
The two are said to have exchanged excruciating hard slaps following an altercation at Mazabuka’s Golf Club, Saturday night.
Hamweenda, who exclusively narrated the ordeal to Byta FM’s Joe Pandwe, says he was provoked to react in the manner he did.
“I was at Golf club watching news, so when I was leaving going home, I found the Mayor with the party district Chairperson, Skinner Pasi and I greeted them,” Hamweenda said.
“I later told the Mayor that I wanted to speak with him at the right time because I had some issues I wanted to discuss, and whilst we were talking, his wife came and told the Mayor that she has been advising him not to speak to me because am useless, and she slapped me,” Hamweenda added.
He notes that they were separated by a few people that were around, and he later went to report Namwaka (in chitenge) to the Police for Assault.
Hamweenda, who accuses the Mayor’s wife of having been drunk during the fracas, has denied reports from an online platform suggesting that he is bitter with the Mayor for not awarding him a tender he had applied for.
“Yes I participated on that tender, but I had no interest in it, I have got everything, I was awarded that contract, turned it down on my own,” Hamweenda indicated.
The Youth Chairperson, who says he sustained a painful right ear form the encounter, has since called for dialogue with the Mayor, saying it is not right for his wife to engage in physical confrontations with senior party officials.
“We just need to sit down with the Mayor, he must understand that the route he has taken is not very right as you can’t have a wife to the Mayor fighting people like me, a senior party official,” Hamweenda charged.
And when contacted to give his side of what transpired, Mazabuka Mayor, Vincent Lilanda, expressed regret at what happened.
“It is unfortunate Joe that politics have gone to that level, I never had a conversation with that gentleman, he just started poking me, even my shirt is torn” Lilanda narrated.
“Why my wife ‘pushed’ him is because he was insulting on top of his voice, everyone was there, he insulted my mother and called my wife all sorts of names,” Lilanda explained.
Asked how his wife was fairing after onlookers said that she had fallen to the ground after being slapped by Hamweenda, the Mayor revealed that she has general body pains.
Earlier on in the day, Hamweenda had donated assorted essentials to Mazabuka General Hospital.
This was in a move aimed at supplementing government efforts in improving the provision of health care services to the people.
The assortment compromises of brooms, 200 syringes, 200 injections and other cleaning essentials all valued at over K2,000.
ZAMBIA held local government by-elections on 4th November, 2022 across the country.
The elections were conducted in 9 out of 10 provinces (Southern, Western, Lusaka, Central, Eastern, Copperbelt, Northern, Muchinga and Luapula). It was a mini general election indeed!
The United Party for National Development (UPND) won seats in 8 of the 9 provinces. This was a great achievement indeed by any measure, especially that 7 of the 9 provinces were, just a year ago, Patriotic Front (PF) Party strongholds.
Going by these results, it is clear that UPND has penetrated what were, not long ago, PF strongholds. At this juncture, we doubt highly if PF will ever bounce back to power.
It is very apparent that, by 2026, Zambians will bury the dead PF, a political grouping that left a legacy of corruption and violence. The people of this country are not looking back; they are clearly not going back to the dark days of thieving, mayhem, greed and underdevelopment.
While the opposition political camp continue defaming the President on a daily basis and failing to provide credible checks and balances, President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND remain focused on creating a better Zambia for all (eyes on the ball), as evidenced by increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF); mass recruitment of public workers; free education; restoration of law and order (curbed cadreism); reintroduction of student meal allowances; positive 4 percent economic growth, which the former regime left at negative 2.8% (as at August, 2021); dropped inflation -the list is endless.
Truly, Bally is working! P1 muntu sana, MWAUME! These good deeds by President Hichilema and UPND are what Zambian’s are appreciating in these resounding by-election results, in favour of UPND.
Overall, 24 local government by-elections were held, of these 3 were for Council Chairpersons and 21 for Councilors. Of the 24 by-elections, UPND won 22 including all the 3 Council Chairperson seats, with PF getting only 2, councilor seats. In pool, it is whitewash; in chess, it is checkmate; in politics; it is fimba upoke!
CONGRATULATIONS to the mighty UPND on this great achievement!
N.B: Authored by Ntazana Mutungwa Musukuma (MPA, BA – UNZA), Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Zambia
1. Agriculture Sector – farming inputs not yet delivered as at 6th November despite heavy rains in progress. FISP beneficiaries reduced from more than 3 million to less than 1 million. More than 60 percent of farmers who sold their crops to Government in the last farming season have still not been paid up to now. Farming inputs under FISP will not be delivered to cooperatives but will instead be dropped at the nearest boma. FISP beneficiaries will then have to arrange their own transport for distances as far as 50 kilometers.
2. Mining Sector – Government still has not made a decision on whether to continue the transaction of buying Mopani from Glencore or not. Similarly, Government has still not made a decision of whether to continue with the liquidation of KCM or not. This indecision is costing productivity and jobs in the mining sector. Additionally, Government has decided to engage an international firm called Rothschild at an estimated cost of more than $50 million to provide it with advice on how to proceed with Mopani. Government has further engaged another international firm called Rand Merchant Bank, at an estimated cost of more than $30 million to provide financial advisory services in the search of an equity partner in KCM. Suffice to mention that these advisory services jobs can easily be done by many Zambian firms, all of which were sidelined in preference for foreign firms. You may wish to remember that the FTJ Government entrusted local Zambians including a then young man called Hakainde Hichilema to assist with the privatisation process. If FTJ had not given Hakainde and opportunity to participate in the nation’s privatisation process, more likely than not, Hakainde would have still been living in Kalingalinga compound today. But you fast-forward to this day, and the empowered Hakainde is now President, but instead of empowering other Zambians the way he himself was empowered by FTJ, he prefers to give simple financial advisory services work to Rothschild and Rand Merchant Bank. Indeed, how selfish and unpatriotic of President Hakainde Hichilema. And yet, the tax holidays to the mines continue.
3. Health Sector – still no medicines or consumables. Since this countries independence in 1964, we have always struggled with our health Sector, especially with regard to having medicines consistently. However, the kind of drug shortages we are witnessing today is unprecedented. Unlike previous drug shortages which have been in selected parts of the country at any given time, the current drug shortages are across the entire country, even in military hospitals. And unlike previous drug shortages where it was only the sophisticated drugs that were not in supply, today’s drug shortages are such that even Panadol is not there. Even gloves and syringes are not there. And the worst part of it all is that there does not appear to be any solution in sight. On 24th March 2022, President Hakainde Hichilema stormed the Ministry of Health to express his disappointment over continued drug shortages, and after a meeting and a photoshoot with Health Minister Silvia Masebo, the President promised the Zambian people that going forward, drug shortages will be a thing of the past. Eight months later, drug shortages are even worse and yet just a few days ago, the President was praising Silvia Masebo as a very hardworking Minister at an event at State House. The question is who is fooling who?
4. Education Sector – more than three months since additional teachers were recruited, more than 50 percent of them have not been paid a single salary, and yet they have been deployed. In the first month the Treasury gave the excuse that these other teachers had not provided accurate bank details. But three months down the line, it appears that the Treasury has run out of excuses. These teachers are afraid to speak out publicly for fear of victimization, so they just die inside. The question which the Zambian people must ask is how many times has President Hakainde Hichilema and his Ministers and Permanent Secretaries missed getting paid their monthly salaries? The answer is none. They always get their salaries and travelling allowances on time. So why should they then punish teachers by not paying them for three months? Isn’t that a standard definition of selfishness?
5. Law and Order – The Zambian people largely voted for Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND because they were fed up with the political violence and and lawlessness that prevailed under the PF regime. However, despite President Hakainde Hichilema’s empty verbal assurances, there is increasing political violence perpetrated by UPND, with no action by Lemmy Kajoba and his officers. While visiting NDC leader; Saboi Imboela at Kabwata Police a few days ago, Mr. Jackson Silavwe a leader of a political party called Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ) was attacked by UPND cadres who had travelled all the way from Monze to come and camp at Kabwata Police Station for the sole purpose of attacking anyone who would come to give solidarity to Ms. Saboi Imboela. A day after this incident, Mr. Lovemore Phiri, a journalist at Passme Radio in Petauke was attacked and assaulted by UPND cadres who stormed the radio station because the journalist was taking phone calls from surrounding farmers who were complaining about lack of delivery of farming inputs. This is unprecedented even during the PF regime. And yet the UPND leader who is also Republican President; Mr. Hakainde Hichilema has not condemned these acts of violence among many. Similarly, the Zambia Police who have now become an extension of the UPND Party, have not made any arrests in these assault cases.
6. Indeed, there is no doubt in my mind that President Hakainde Hichilema is a wanna-be dictator. Whether he succeeds to become a fully fledged tinpot dictator or not will be dependent on the ability of the good citizens of this Republic to stand up to his dictatorial ambitions. And like all wannabe dictators, he only cares about his self interests and does not care about the plight of the wider citizenry. That is why Hakainde does not care about leaving out more than 2 million citizens from FISP, or telling those beneficiaries who are fortunate enough to remain on FISP to go and collect their fertilizer more than 50 kilometers away. It is Hakainde’s selfishness that makes him to give $3.2 billion in tax holidays while borrowing $1.4 billion from the IMF, as well as give multimillion dollar advisory services contracts for Mopani and KCM to Rothschild and Rand Merchant Bank while ignoring capable and competent local advisory firms, when he himself was empowered by FTJ and liberated from Kalingalinga compound by allowing him to participate in the privatisation process. If FTJ had contracted Rothschild and RMB to assist with the privatisation process, Hakainde Hichilema would still have been living in Kalingalinga compound today, probably running a chain chibuku outlets, given his alleged entrepreneurial prowess. But despite being empowered himself, he is averse to empowering others. Indeed country men and women, it is our collective duty as bonafide citizens of this Republic to stand up to this selfish bully that we call our Republican President. If he wins and manages to become a fully fledged dictator, then we are all doomed. If the people win, then democracy, rule of law, selflessness and competence may be restored in the management of national affairs. The choice is ours to make.
Justice Lombe Chibesakunda has extolled President Hakainde Hichilema’s political journey saying she greatly admires him and hopes he will deliver on his promises.
She said President Hakainde faced similar experience like her when he entered politics but survived and recorded the “greatest election victory” since 1991 and the celebrations that followed could be likened to 1964 Independence Day.
“I watched the man grow, lose, and be mocked consistently for every failure.,” Justice Chibesakunda writes in her recently released book – The Trodden Path.
“The doubts the public threw toward him and the lies that were hurled were used as ammunition, as he now stands as President, with one of the greatest support Zambian people have ever offered.
Justice Chibesakunda says he admires President Hichilema because she faced similar experiences in her life.
“I look upon this young man with reserved admiration, and hope he achieves what has been promised,” she added.
“I remember as President Hichilema first entered the political arena, and the many questions he faced (similar to my own experience) on the validity of a businessman running for President at such a supposedly young age.”
She was saddened, she writes, that some UPND members had opposed her appointment as Chief Justice on a non legal issue even though she qualified for the job.
“Within the UPND, my respect for many of the members of the party remains, in spite of the hurt of seeing young men and women I had watched grow old fight against my appointment over a non-legal issue,” she writes on page 114 of the 154 paged autobiography.
She insists she was qualified to be the Chief Justice despite her age and allegations that she was the relative of President Michael Sata who had appointed her to the position.
“There was no provision in the Zambian Constitution that forbade a Judge to continue serving after celebrating the 65th birthday. No one came to my defence, which could have been as simple as stating that the average retirement age of sitting Judge is 80 in the US,” she argues.
The Lady Justice expressed shock that the PF did not defend her even though she was appointed by President Sata.
“The pain of feeling alone at this time made it more of a strong challenge, as the Patriotic Front, the party which had nominated my position, refused to defend or speak on my behalf in Parliament or outside. They were mute by visitation of God or whatever reason.”
The book is worthy a read especially for young Zambians. I recommend it!
HON MATAMBO DIRECTS ALL DCs ,DACO, PACO TO GO BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND GIVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION OVER FISP
Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo today addressed all stakeholders in Ndola on the Copperbelt Province and directed all District Commissioners (DCs), District Agricultural Co-ordinators (DACO) and Provincial Agriculture Co-ordinators (PACO) to go back to the people and give the correct information over farmer’s Input Support Program (FISP) . The Coppperbelt Minister gave the directives after addressing many stakeholders that included ordinary farmers, PACO Officials ,DACO, District Commissioners (DC) and other agricultural experts that were drawn from around the province. Hon Matambo was handy and wanted to know what was causing the confusion of misinformation surrounding FISP.
He said the New Dawn Government and President Hakainde Hichilema attaches great importance to agriculture sector as it is one of the corner stone of the Zambian economy and warned those who will try to frustrate government by painting it back that they will have themselves to blame and urged all DCs ,PACO, DACO and Camp Officers to move at supersonic speed to go back to the people and give the correct information of the emotive issue of FISP. The Coppperbet Minister further assured all farmers that 80 % will be given to new cooperatives while 20% will go to the old coorperatives. He also guided that FISP must not be a political and must reach the intended recipients because it is meant to benefit all Zambians. Hon Matambo emphasised that previously some people were sidelined for unknown reasons adding that those who were maginerised must be also given top priority. Meanwhile, Dr. Obvious Kabinda from ministry of Agriculture assured the Minister that all the issues surrounding FISP on the Copperbelt Province will be sorted out as soon as possible . Dr Kabinda stated that the correct information will trick down to the last person in all district of the province.
According to the advance press release from Minister of Agriculture Hon. Reuben Mtolo Zambian government is scheduled to start distribution of fertilizer and other agricultural materials on Tuesday next week across the country. The Minister was accompanied by Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Mr.Augustine Kasongo and several government officials.
LUSAKA Central Lawmaker Honourable Haimbe SC who is also Minister of Justice yesterday morning responded to emergency calls over flooding in Silwizya and Independence wards of the Constituency.
Mr Haimbe and team took time to interact with Constituents and Colleagues from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and Lusaka City Council (LCC) with a view to finding ways and means to deal with the flood problem.
The Lusaka Central Member of Parliament (MP) has vowed to find a permanent solution to the problem of flooding in the Constituency.
Almost each and every rain-season, Zambia’s capital City, Lusaka, faces the problem of flooding, with Lusaka Central, Kanyama, Mandevu and Chawama constituencies being the worst hit.
Whereas some attribute the flooding problem in Lusaka City to lack of or inadequate City Planning and lack of political will to resolve it, others point to the rocky terrain on which Lusaka situates.
Over the years, little or no effort has been put in by past regimes to address the flooding problem in Lusaka City except the putting up of the famous Bombay Drainage, whose construction sadly halted in the previous regime due to possible looting of funds meant for the project, knowing the Patriotic Front (PF) where corruption was concerned. It is, therefore, gratifying to Lusaka City residents in general and Lusaka Central constituents in particular to see commitment from the current Lusaka Central MP towards finding a lasting solution to this problem, which many have described as an ‘annual ceremony’.
We have no doubt that this problem will finally be addressed by the caring United Party for National Development (UPND) under the able and visionary leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema. We wish Honourable Haimbe, President Hichilema and UPND all the best in this vital endeavor aimed at saving the residents from flood resultant challenges, including Cholera outbreak and displacements.
WE HAVE NOT LOCKED UP ANYONE….BUT WE DO CALL CONTINIOUSLY TO FOLLOWUP ON PAYMENTS – ZAMCASH
BIU Capital, a company that offers Zamcash as part of there services has refuted claims by some citizens that they have locked up some of their clients who failed to clear off their loans.
A company source who sort anonymity says the news that has flooded Mark Zuckerberg’s blue application is fake and malicious.
Forgetting about the heat which came with October, social media has been on fire for a couple of days as Zamcash has been trending, of course not for the affordable loans or lack of collateral but for allegedly pestering their clients like Garden-Olympia mosquitoes at night till they pay their loans.
And some netizens took it further by posting on Facebook that the company was working in cohorts with law enforcement officers and had arrested over 2000 people who had defrauded on their loans and were deliberately ignoring to pay their balances.
However, the company source told Kalemba that the purpose of Zamcash has to assist Zambians in accessing finances immediately thy need it.
“Those stories are untrue and very fake.”
“One thing the company can not deny they give an opportunity for their clients to pay back the loans”
“But for those who refuse to pay…. That’s when our team comes in and call them continuously till they pay,” Kalemba source said.
the source said the calls are normal phone calls just like in any other financial institution where the credit team is able to make a call to customers so that they settle their loan.
“For those customers who are bad debtors we constantly call them and I can proudly mention to you they eventually pay.”
“[And] for those who don’t pick we constantly call them but for someone who doesn’t default we don’t even call them,” the source said.
The source further said in some instances, the company does make calls to good customers but only to remind them of the payment.
“The company is hoping this situation will help clients trust their products and services,” said thee company representative.
BY-ELECTION RESULTS NOT FREE AND FAIR, THE VICTORY WAS STOLEN – GBM
…it took the entire President and State House to ‘steal’
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) presidential aspirant Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) says the local government by-election results in yesterday’s polls was not a true reflection of the will of the people.
And Mwamba has warned the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema not to think that Zambians are happy with their system of governance .
Commenting on the results, Mwamba said induced by-elections and a forced or stolen victory does not reflect the will of the people at all in a democracy.
He said President Hichilema was aware of violence and vote buying that characterised the nomination, campaigns and voting processes, which disadvantaged the opposition political parties to campaign freely and PF inclusive.
“I hear Mr. Hichilema is celebrating what he calls victory. This is a stolen victory, it is a forced victory. This is not a victory he should celebrate now. What shocks me is how fast my brother Hichilema forgets. He was in the opposition and such results or undemocratic tactics were implored against him and that is what he is doing too. Such electoral outcomes in a by-election during that time were also recorded and we saw people celebrating. But what happened during a general election is different from the victory they celebrated then,” he said.
Mwamba warned that employing violence, vote buying tactics and blocking other candidates from participating was undemocratic.
He said the ruling party should know that the PF was still strong and will soon shock the UPND ahead of the 2026 general election.
“Local Government by-elections took the entire State House and the entire resource basket from the treasury for the UPND to force what they call now a victory. Even former Presidents never campaigned in local government by-elections because they trusted part structures, unlike the UPND, were the entire State House, Ministers and Vice President go into a local government by-election distributing food and money in order to win,” he said.
He noted that UPND starts and ends with President Hichilema and without him, the party cannot exist.
Mwamba has since urged PF members and Zambians in general to remain steadfast, strong and promote genuine unity in order to keep values of togetherness.
“President Hichilema is UPND and UPND is President Hichilema. This party starts and ends with him. You can see what happened before he went into the campaigns, Zambians have no trust in the UPND. I therefore, implore our members throughout the country to remain strong and support one another. PF is not dead, we are coming back, we shall bounce back. The results are not as bad as you may think. We agree that the results maybe be painful, but at the same time they should make us strong and stand together to face a brutal, violent and dangerous regime,” he said.
And Mwamba has urged President Hichilema to end violence exhibited by well known UPND cadres.
He said among the many reasons Zambians voted out the PF and parties before them were violence, hunger and lack of jobs among Zambians.
Mwamba warned that the rate at which the UPND is moving is headed towards the exit door.
“UPND has no plan, this party has no focus not even an idea about how to end poverty, hunger and unemployment. UPND is fixing everyone starting from farmers, jobless youths, businesses, political opponents and all,” said Mwamba.
PF ACTING PRESIDENT BEMOURNS MASSIVE ELECTORAL IRREGULARITIES
Hon. Given Lubinda Wrote;
Good morning my dear colleagues!
No doubt all of us are in a sense of pain and anxiety at the results of yesterday’s elections. We expected better. However this was not to be. We put in our best but this time around our best was not to be.
I wish to commend all of you for the good efforts you put in.
We witnessed electoral malpractices that we had anticipated such as:
1. Delivering of relief food to polling districts during the campaign period; 2. Rampant intimidation occasioned against our members and supporters alike;
3. Violence inflicted on our members and supporters; 4. Threats issued to voters that they will be removed form government relief programmes such as FISP and SCT in the event of PF winning elections;
5. Arresting of our preferred candidates on nomination day; 6. Preventing our candidates from filing nominations; 7. Open vote buying; 8. Use of pre-marked ballot papers;
9. Use of surrogate NGOs to intimidate our polling agents; 10. Preventing our members from voting by grabbing their voters cards; 11. Forcibly removing of our polling agents from polling stations particularly at time of vote counting; etc etc.
With such malpractices no one should credit the outcome of the elections. They were simply a sham and a blow to democracy. We can not accept them whatsoever.
Nonetheless lest we forget let me remind ourselves that UPND have been using these tactics from their early days in opposition. They have since perfected them. And now with their access to government resources and authority they are destined to make them even more virulent.
We are therefore called upon to be even more resolved and to better their acts by ensuring that we devise impactful strategies that will counter theirs. Letting these malpractices ensue will make us complacent in turning our dear country into a banana republic – a dictatorship. We owe it to future generations to sacrifice a little more than we did in these elections.
Have you watched the award winning Docu-series on Netflix entitled “How to become a Tyrant”?
If you are a history and news junkie like moi, this is a must watch that looks at the lives and unique characteristics of some the most notorious Tyrants that ever walked the earth in recent decades.
The list runs like a thread of gold from the Soviet Union’s Josef Stalin, Libya´s Muammar Ghaddafi, Id Amin ´Dada´ and of course the ´best´ of them all German´s Adolf Hitler.
Narrated by the great Peter Dinklage, the captivating documentary shows that aspiring Tyrants or the world´s ´best of the worst´ despots learn early in their tyrannical life that they need ´absolute power´ to rule because, often they are not the most popular or natural candidates for office. They also resort to heavy handed tactics such as ´crushing´ their enemies into submission or oblivion, sometimes literally to death in order to rule according to the Tyrant ´Playbook´ the docu-series so aptly lays down. Yes, there’s a Play Book. The first Tyrant tactic in the docu-series I am watching is called “Scape Goating.” This has been used since the days of the USSR to the time of Idi Amin down to Hitler, Il Duce and even some biblical figures. Its about blaming someone else for everything you do wrong or fail to correct. Like a broken record, it sounds something like, “But we are in this sad situation because the previous Kingdom was badly run,” or “we are starving because our farmers are incompetent…we will fix it.”
Just what is Scapegoating?
A clever Tyrant, desperate for a ´strong hold´ onto power always finds a fall guy, a person, an institution to blame for the failures, the ills, the poverty, the corruption a society or country faces. It can be a drought or floods, poor harvest just blame it on the scape goat then crucify the bad guy in public. Back in the Union of Soviet and Socialist Republics or (USSR) days, Josef Stalin blamed wealthy farmers whom he derogatory called ´Kulaks ‘for allegedly hoarding Leech crops and causing the death via starvation of almost 4 million citizens. Classic history example is that of Adolf Hitler, a failed unemployed artist from Austria who rose to power by scapegoating Jews as the cause for everything that went wrong in Germany, ran them out of town, jailed thousands and killed millions. He remains by far the best scapegoater. In Africa around 1970, Idi Amin rose high on blood too, much less than Hitlers but blood nevertheless, when he accused Indians brought into Uganda as British slaves to build the railway lines for owning 90 percent of the country´s wealth while indigenous Ugandans wallowed in poverty. The bloodthirst despot rumoured to have been a cannibal sometimes said, “Indians were milking a cow (Uganda) they were not fattening.” He gave them 90 days to get out of town, problem solved. In Libya, Colonel Muammar Ghaddafi weaponised the law like most despots, do, passed a decree that empowered him to grab property (proceeds of crime) of ethnic wealth Italian settlers and expelled them in huge numbers in what was called, ´The Day of Revenge´ or ´Yūm al-Intiqāmi´ in Arabic. Examples of ´Scape Goating´ abound today from Cape to Cairo, Main Street to High Street.
If you look closely in your neighbourhood, ´scape goating´ will stare you right back in your face, whether you have read the Tyrant Playbook or not. I have just completed the first series of this 2021 insightful contemporary history treasure trove. You must too. I will share the next series with you soon on “How to Make a Tyrant” from the Playbook of the world’s greatest despots and dictators. Happy weekend Zambia. Ours is a marvellous country of 365 days of sunshine, even in the scarce rains. Part two coming.
Source: How to Make a Tyrant—Netflix
Amb. AM 05.
How they become Tyrants
Have you watched the award winning Docu-series on Netflix entitled “How to become a Tyrant”?
If you are a history and news junkie like moi, this is a must watch that looks at the lives and unique characteristics of some the most notorious Tyrants that ever walked the earth in recent decades.
The list runs like a thread of gold from the Soviet Union’s Josef Stalin, Libya´s Muammar Ghaddafi, Id Amin ´Dada´ and of course the ´best´ of them all German´s Adolf Hitler.
Narrated by the great Peter Dinklage, the captivating documentary shows that aspiring Tyrants or the world´s ´best of the worst´ despots learn early in their tyrannical life that they need ´absolute power´ to rule because, often they are not the most popular or natural candidates for office. They also resort to heavy handed tactics such as ´crushing´ their enemies into submission or oblivion, sometimes literally to death in order to rule according to the Tyrant ´Playbook´ the docu-series so aptly lays down. Yes, there’s a Play Book. The first Tyrant tactic in the docu-series I am watching is called “Scape Goating.” This has been used since the days of the USSR to the time of Idi Amin down to Hitler, Il Duce and even some biblical figures. Its about blaming someone else for everything you do wrong or fail to correct. Like a broken record, it sounds something like, “But we are in this sad situation because the previous Kingdom was badly run,” or “we are starving because our farmers are incompetent…we will fix it.”
Just what is Scapegoating?
A clever Tyrant, desperate for a ´strong hold´ onto power always finds a fall guy, a person, an institution to blame for the failures, the ills, the poverty, the corruption a society or country faces. It can be a drought or floods, poor harvest just blame it on the scape goat then crucify the bad guy in public. Back in the Union of Soviet and Socialist Republics or (USSR) days, Josef Stalin blamed wealthy farmers whom he derogatory called ´Kulaks ‘for allegedly hoarding Leech crops and causing the death via starvation of almost 4 million citizens. Classic history example is that of Adolf Hitler, a failed unemployed artist from Austria who rose to power by scapegoating Jews as the cause for everything that went wrong in Germany, ran them out of town, jailed thousands and killed millions. He remains by far the best scapegoater. In Africa around 1970, Idi Amin rose high on blood too, much less than Hitlers but blood nevertheless, when he accused Indians brought into Uganda as British slaves to build the railway lines for owning 90 percent of the country´s wealth while indigenous Ugandans wallowed in poverty. The bloodthirst despot rumoured to have been a cannibal sometimes said, “Indians were milking a cow (Uganda) they were not fattening.” He gave them 90 days to get out of town, problem solved. In Libya, Colonel Muammar Ghaddafi weaponised the law like most despots, do, passed a decree that empowered him to grab property (proceeds of crime) of ethnic wealth Italian settlers and expelled them in huge numbers in what was called, ´The Day of Revenge´ or ´Yūm al-Intiqāmi´ in Arabic. Examples of ´Scape Goating´ abound today from Cape to Cairo, Main Street to High Street.
If you look closely in your neighbourhood, ´scape goating´ will stare you right back in your face, whether you have read the Tyrant Playbook or not. I have just completed the first series of this 2021 insightful contemporary history treasure trove. You must too. I will share the next series with you soon on “How to Make a Tyrant” from the Playbook of the world’s greatest despots and dictators. Happy weekend Zambia. Ours is a marvellous country of 365 days of sunshine, even in the scarce rains. Part two coming.
PILATO’S MESSAGE TO HH WHEN HE WAS IN PRISON ON PRISON CHARGES FEW YEARS AGO!
Musician Pilato wrote;
Dear Mr. Hakainde Hichilema,
Sir I hope you find strength in every breath you take during this episode of your life. I am a human being and my humanity is tempted to feel sorry for you. I would have loved to visit you even for a minute and shake hands with you once again but that may not be possible for me to do right now. Sir, if ever you get to read this letter please read it not with your mind but with your heart because this is not a product of my intellect but of my heart. Mr. Hakainde sir, please cherish this period of your life as everything you have dared to stand for is being put to test. I do not feel sorry for you at all but i admire you sir. You are lucky and blessed.
Sir, think about the tallest building, before the last brick was put, the builders first had to dig deeper. Think about the tallest tree sir, before the tree reaches its highest peak it first goes under with the roots. Think about Jesus Christ, before his ressurection he first had to be buried. Everything that has ever gone up has always dwelled under.
Think about the labour ward where our sisters and mothers give birth to life, its the place of pain but the joy that awaits is greater do you notice that the grave has the best flowers than the labour ward? Sir, the prison is such a terrible place, its a place of pain and misery but thats where great minds find inspiration. If Jesus Christ who raised the dead, healed the sick and fed thousands was chained and condemned to death who are we to escape the mediocrity of humanity.
Mr. Hakainde sir, you are in the labour ward of dreams whilst the grave yards are glistening with flowers of comfort and illusions of freedom. While you spend each minute reflecting those outside that prison are losing themselves in pleasure. I do admire you sir, your story shall be told with great detail. Do not lose hope, do not u-turn on your dreams. While it may appear hard and impossible, it is not. There are those who find comfort in calling you the Nelson Mandela, i find that insulting to you for you are not a copy of any other person but your own. Your story is not to become like Mandela but to become the Hakainde Hichilema from a little village in Monze.
Lastly, as difficult this period may be to you and your family, i think its a moment to rejoice. Those who believe in the future can see beyond the smoke.
UPND scoops Lusangazi Town Council Chairmanship UPND- 6,655 PF- 5,669
MKUSHI Final results PF 6267 Upnd 6754 SP 704
UPND LEADS LUSANGAZI BY-ELECTION By Samuel Khwawe The United Party for National Development UPND has taken a lead in the Lusangazi Local Government By-Election. As of this morning the Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ’s provisional results from 61 Polling Stations show UPND candidate, Blackson Tembo has polled 5,603 votes while Nelson Banda of PF has polled 4,809 votes. An independent candidate, Danny Sakala has obtained 551 votes while Socialist Party-SP’s David Muwowo has 454 votes and Pasco Kambani of New Heritage Party has so far obtained 393 ballots cast in his favor. This is out of 73 polling stations.
UPND TAKES OVER MWENSE COUNCIL FROM PF
By Diamond Chitalu
The United Party for National Development (UPND) has scooped the Mwense Town Council Chairperson By-Election.
District Returning Officer Musonda Mumpa has declared Stephen Chikota as dully elected Mwense Town Council Chairperson after obtaining 11, 313 votes in which his closest rival Charles Mwelwa of the Patriotic Front-PF got 10, 987.
Others in the race were Able Mwewa of Socialist Party-SP who obtained 353 votes and 187 ballots for Chigomezyo Mkandawire of Leadership Movement-LM.
471 ballot papers were rejected out of a total 23, 311 votes cast.
Mwense District has a total 55, 015 registered voters.
Mr. Chikota will head the council that has 20 PF councillors and one independent civic leader.
The seat fell vacant after the death of Humphrey Kapapula who was allegedly murdered on September 22, 2022 in a case that is still under investigation by Police.
Miles Sampa Writes: BY-ELECTIONS OVERVIEW
FRIDAY 4th NOVEMBER, 2022
UNANNOUNCED RESULTS: 23:40hrs
DISTRICT COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON
M’kushi (PF leading)
Lusangazi- Msanzala (PF leading)
Mwense (PF leading)
WARD ELECTIONS
Malambo- Mphomwa Ward (UPND win)
Senga Hill -Chela Ward (UPND win)
Lunte-Malaila Ward (UPND win)
Chama South- Lumezi (UPND win)
Chingola -Nchanga- Bupalo Ward (PF win)
Lufwanyama- Kafubu Ward (UPND win)
Serenje – Kabamba Ward
Luano- Mkushi South-Mbanga
Milenge- Mkulo Ward (UPND win)
Mwansabombwe-Mbereshi Ward (UPND win)
Samfya- Bangweulu- Musaba Ward (?)
Nchelenge-Kashikishi Ward (?)
Chifunabuli- Japeshi Ward (UPND win)
Luangwa-Chikomo Ward (UPND win)
Chilubi -Kanana Ward (UPND win)
Chilubi – Bumba Ward (UPND win)
Mungwi- Malole-Fibwe Ward (UPND win)
Mpika -Chishibesonde Ward (PF win)
Gwembe- Bbondo Ward (UPND win)
Gwembe – Chibuwo Ward (UPND win)
Kalabo- Muchatanga Ward (UPND win)
OPINION
Bad News for us (PF) is the Councilor losses in Malole, Chifunabuli, Senga Hill and Chilubi island constituencies in the Northern province. We have however lost the Battle here and not the War.
The good news for us (PF) is the win in the Chingola ward Councillir election. In 2021 general elections we lost about all seats (MPs, Mayor & Councillors) in Chingola district. Its good indication that entire Copperbelt province has started to revert back to the PF. The mood in one constituency of the Copperbelt usually replicates to all other constituencies in the urban side of the Province.
Congratulations to our Councillors that have won tonight and tough luck to those that did not make it.
One Zambia ; One Nation. May PEACE prevail.
Together We Can Miles Bwalya Sampa, MP MBS04.11.2022,11:40pm
UPND SCOOPS KASHIKISHI WARD IN NCHELELENGE CONSTITUENCY OF LUAPULA PROVINCE UPND- 1634 PF- 898
MWENSE BY-ELECTION UPDATE FOR COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON OUT 104 POLLING STATIONS UPND IS LEADING IN 86 POLLING STATIONS WITH 1,338 UPND-8,908 PF- 7,570
UPND on the Copperbelt grabs Kafubu Ward in Lufwanyama. Mr Ackdon Phiri for UPND-413 Mulilima Phenny of PF- 154 votes. Mulongwe Maggie- SP 90 Phiri Jameson LM-22
Cynthia Chanda PF Chair lady in MWENSE writes…. With love , I followed the campaigns for both President HH and Honourable Chishimba Kambwili on their Facebook pages as they did their live streaming. To be honest,you cannot win an election with the message Honourable Kabwili was advancing. PF should rest that man and find people that will give issue based talks when campaigning. Anyway, Democracy has won,Zambia has won! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOVERNING UPND.
OUT OF 21 WARDS PF HAS ONLY MANAGED TO GET TWO WARDS IN CHINGOLA AND MPIKA
3 District Council Chairperson and 21 Ward By-Elections were held today. Details; DISTRICT COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON
AGRICULTURE minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri says he has not failed to run the sector.
Responding to Lubansenshi PF member of parliament Kabwe Chewe who challenged him to facilitate an address by President Hakainde Hichilema to the House over the issues of fertiliser on Tuesday, Mtolo said he would not do that because he had not failed and that the President had confidence in him.
“Madam Speaker each time we come to interact, we listen. Now at every point when I come and I listen, I will adjust and say, ‘this makes a lot of sense. Let us change because we are here for the people, not to punish the people’. Madam Speaker, I would like Dr Chewe to explain what he wants to tell the President because the President has confidence in his ministers. So unless we have failed, unless I have failed, I can ask the President to come and address the nation. I would be a very strange minister who would go and tell the President to say ‘Sir, please the nation wants you to go and talk about fertiliser’,” Mtolo said. “Immediately I have done that, I am saying that I have failed. Come on, it is not like that. I think so far we are working together and trying to develop the agriculture sector. I don’t think I have failed yet, so I would not do that Madam speaker. I am being honest, unless they say what they want to tell the President. I am here. I am the Minister of Agriculture, I have got the mandate and I am capable and I am able and I am ready. Thank you.”
On floor, Chewe said Zambians were seemingly not happy about the management of the agriculture sector particularly with the handling of farming inputs.
“The good people of Zambia have complained that ‘we are not happy as small-scale farmers who have been benefiting from this FISP (Farmer Input Support Programme)’ And for this reason, we brought this matter before this honourable House to find a lasting solution because I believe that government is people. When people speak or complaining, our job as the executive is to listen them. My question is honourable, how ready are you to facilitate the address His Excellency to address the nation and farmers so that people maybe can hear from the President who has been given a mandate to rule this country in terms of the position because we may continue talking about this issue, maybe the President himself could have a different view,” said Chewe. “So that our people whom we represent can also hear the President on how best we can help our people. We are dealing with a very important item which is life and it is anchored on food.”
But Mtolo said there was no way the government could continue sustaining farmers on FISP for 20 years.
“Some farmers have been getting this FISP from 2002 up to today. Honestly wouldn’t they leave room for others? The ones we have set aside are the ones who are complaining so much. This is a policy position Madam Speaker and as a compromise, we said do not isolate all the old farmers. Try to do an 80 per cent new farmers, 20 per cent old farmers so that we do not isolate the old farmers.
Everywhere including Mpika we have said 20 per cent should be old farmers, 80 per cent new farmers. We cannot continue dealing with the same people for more than 20 years. Where is the fairness?” he asked. “Let others benefit. This is free fertiliser. Madam Speaker there will be no hunger because the same number has been given the same quantity of fertiliser as it was last year. Therefore, they will still produce.”
Mtolo urged MPs to discourage fertiliser sharing so that productivity can increase.
“If you are given medicine for Malaria to say take six tablets per day and you start sharing these tablets and sharing with your family, your malaria won’t go and that is what is happening in the field. This issue of sharing fertiliser and just putting a few grains does not do anything to our maize,” he said.
Mtolo said the current number of farmers on the ministry’s register were three million but that the government could only support over one million.
There’s been complaints around the FISP and a chaotic delivery of fertilizer for the current farming season.
Last week agriculture permanent secretary Green Mbozi wrote two fertiliser suppliers over the slow pace or non-delivery of the commodity as at October 25.
Fertiliser Seed and Grain Limited had by October 25, zero delivery FSG was contracted to supply 24,406.65 metric tonnes of urea to Central Province and 8,878 metric tonnes to Lusaka Province by November 30.
Another supplier, Agrizam Investment Limited by October 25, had only supplied 5,866.20 metric tonnes from the expected 29,181.45 metric tonnes of Compound D fertiliser, giving a balance of 23,315.25 metric tonnes. For Urea, Agrizam has only supplied 248 metric tonnes from the expected 29,933.45 metric tonnes, leaving a balance of 28,933.45 metric tonnes.
GEARS Initiative has been monitoring the ongoing by elections in 17 wards and 3 district by-elections being conducted by the Electoral commission of Zambia-ECZ.
The update is based on the reports so far filed by its monitors in the selected wards and districts across the country.
CHIKOMA WARD which has only 3 polling station, in Luangwa district in Lusaka Province recorded the following updates as filed in by our monitor in the ward that at chitope local court polling station vote cast was 100 out of 403 registered voters at around 08:25. At Kalinkumbula polling station, 108 out of 199 registered voters had voted at the time and in Manyenda polling station, 89 vote were cast out 482 registered voters.
CHIKOMA WARD by-election electoral situation is very calm as voters are very free to do their business and only party argents are the only ones following the election process in all the three polling stationns in addition to GEARS Initiative.
However, the ward voter turnout improved by lunchtime with kalinkumbula polling station recording 108 votes cast while the Local Court polling station stood at 159 with Manyenda 162 by 10:28 hrs. The situation still calm in all three polling stations. Voters are still in the line in manyenda polling station but local court and kalinkumbula they are coming in trickles i.e. one at a time
The situation is still calm no anyone is making political noise and all the participating political parties are just roving from one polling station to another without any noise.
However, no Media has been noticed in the ward including Zanis but the party argents from PF, Socialist party and UPND are present in the three polling stations.
By afternoon around 15:00, chikoma Ward’s Chitope local court registered voters 403 vote cast 196 while Kalinkumbula registered voters 199 vote cast 130 with Manyenda registered voters 482 vote cast 276 the situation continued to be still and calm while voters trickle one at the time.
In Mkushi for the Mkushi District Council Chairperson by-election, the turn out of voters is very low as at 10:30 with those who came to vote came in the morning and many voted.
For instance, in Bwacha where they are more than 2000 voters only 621 have voted by midday.
In Mwense where there is also district chairperson by-election, there is low voter turn out prresumably due to serious voter intimidation by political cadres.
For instance, at musonda poling station, some voters were being chased away by cadres on alligations of being from another named neighboring country.
Though having legal documents necessary for them to cast the vote, the cadres intimidated them. However, QUICK police move in to control the situation has calmed the situation.
Another incident in Mwense is where a truckload of mealie meal believed to be for named party was intercepted by cadres from the rival party and has been impounded the security men and women. The mealie meal is believed to have been for distribution to voters as a motivation for them to vote for the owner of the mealie-meal’ s candidate.
In Senga Hill update from our monitor it is being reported that the voter turnout is alsobvery low.
At the three polling stations visited in the morning, low voter turn out was reported esp at Kalila Primary school which has three stations no queue was observed forming at 08:34 and at Senga Hill secondary too electorates were just coming one at a time.
These areas in Senga Hill are semi- cosmopolitan in the district but the turn out is too low perhaps an indication of yesterday’s meetings held by political parties to which attending crowds were very small. Senga Hill has so far not recorded any violence and voting is very peaceful.
Elsewhere in with ward, other poling stations are also reportedly peaceful Characterised by voter apathy.
In Lusangazi district of Eastern Province, where a district chairperson by election also taking place, the area is very peaceful but there ie very low turnup almost in every polling station. By end of morning not more than 20% of registered voters turnout to vote.
However, the fracas at PASME radio in Petauke where a journalist was assaulted by suspected ruling party cadres who where incensed by the program on the distribution of fertiliser in the district had nothing to do with Lusangazi which is an independent DISTRICT.
GEARS Initiative appeals for peace and calm in all the by-election areas further condemning the assaulting of the PASME radio staff and other reported incidents of confrontations.
We implore the Police to swiftly bring to book such individuals violating the presidential call for all citizens to respect the work of the media in Zambia
Issued by
Mcdonald Chipenzi Executive director GEARS Initiative
PF READY TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO KCM, MOPANI – KANG’OMBE
…as he detests reports of Vedanta selling shares to its subsidiary
Lusaka…. Friday, November 4, 2022 (Smart Eagles)
Revelations that Vedanta wants to sale the shares it has in KCM to its subsidiary have worried Kamfinsa Member of Parliament Christopher Kang’ombe.
Hon Kang’ombe said issues surrounding KCM and Mopani have to be handled with transparency.
The lawmaker said during a briefing today that government officials have repeatedly said they would resolve the issues at mines.
He said if government is failing to handle the problems at the mining giant they should take the matter to Parliament.
“So today when we read that Vedanta wants to sell its shares to their subsidiary, meaning they are selling the shares to themselves….And in the process they have given conditions to government to say we are ready to do abcd provided we do not pay the obligations that we are supposed to pay,” he said.
“We are concerned as Patriotic Front because every time we ask in Parliament ‘what is the solution to the problems at KCM? What is the solution to the problems at Mopani? What we are told is that we are going to unlock this resource. We are going to resolve the problems that were left.”
Hon Kang’ombe said he thought the interests of the Zambians were going to be prioritized when government said it was going to resolve the problems at the mining firm.
“Our understanding was that the interest of the Zambians was going to be put first, jobs will be secured, and we will see new activities in the mining sector. But from the revelations today, that we have the motive by the existing shareholder to sale shares to themselves and give conditions which are not favorable….,” he said.
“I think we are concerned that if this is what government is saying to be a solution, then it is alarming because we thought that a solution would be around how do we prevent a problem that Vedanta created. I thought that making progress would be securing jobs for our people, paying of contractors that have provided services, getting a new life into the mine without the conversation of Vedanta.”
Meanwhile, Hon Kang’ombe said PF is ready to provide solutions.
“If government has no solution to KCM, they should bring the matter to Parliament and say here is a ministerial statement, we have failed to sort out this problem, we want a Parliamentary Committee whether it’s on mining or Parastatals Committee, whatever entity to quickly look at this issue and then come up with recommendations,” he said.
“I think the Patriotic Front which has 58 members of parliament is ready to provide a solution. The solution in this case is to ensure that if we are going to renegotiate the stake of KCM with our colleagues I think the conversation should be public. We want a transparent way of dealing with KCM. And the same applies to Mopani.”
MISA Zambia condemns the attacks on PASME Radio station in Petauke District of Eastern Province by suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) Cadres.
The attacks happened in the early hours of today Friday, 4th November, 2022 by suspected UPND cadres who stormed PASME radio and interrupted a live broadcast programme that was discussing farmers preparedness for the 2022/23 farming season.
The cadres who forced their way into the on-air studio beat up Mr Lovemore Phiri, who happens to be a reporter and presenter at the radio station and further, caused damages to the studio equipment, resulting in the radio station going off-air.
As if that was not enough, around 08:15hrs another group of suspected UPND cadres drove into the radio station and chased after Mr. Phiri who had to run away upon seeing the vehicle driving into the radio station premises.
The cadres managed to catch Mr. Phiri in a nearby neighborhood and attacked him physically and threatened to kill him. Mr. Phiri, was rescued by members of the community who ran to the scene.
MISA Zambia is deeply concerned by these acts and calls upon all well-meaning Zambian to condemn them. These acts do not only pause as a threat to media freedom and freedom of expression in the country but are a danger to our democracy. The acts are also an attack to the Head of State who has shown commitment towards the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms of expression and the media.
We wish to express our disappointment with the UPND in Petauke District for beating up an unarmed presenter and causing damage to the radio station which provides people of Petauke with a platform to exercise their democratic right to freedom of expression.
We wish to remind the UPND that media freedom and freedom of expression is a constitutional right that should be enjoyed by every Zambian. The UPND cadres are out of order and their actions should not be tolerated any further.
We further, commend the members of the community for coming to the rescue of Mr. Phiri and ensuring that his life is protected. We call upon all Zambians not to relent but to continue fighting for their democratic right of freedom of expression and for the media to operate in a friendly environment.
We would like to bring this matter to the attention of the Republican President and the UPND leadership to discipline the suspects in question as their actions do not reflect the true reason why Zambians voted for them.
POINTING OUT TRIBAL INCLINED DECISIONS, ACTIONS OF THIS GOVT IS NOT BEING A TRIBALIST
It’s crass dishonest, ignorance and stupidity for anyone to accuse me of tribalism. Firstly, my ethnic, and even racial, composition make it very difficult and unrealistic for me to be a tribalist or a racist. I directly originate and hail from ten ethnicities and four provinces of our country. And indirectly, I have ethnic links with all the provinces of Zambia. This is my fortune or misfortune!
I am a Toka-Leya. There was this Toka-Leya man from Kalomo who went to what is now Nkeyema and married the daughter of the Nkoya chief, Mwene Kahare, and produced a daughter from whom I descend. I am a Mbunda royal from Mwene Kandala in Yuka, Mabumbu and Mwene Mundu in Liumba, Kalabo. My mother’s grandfather, Ndiyoyi who was the Mukulwakashiko of Lewanika, was a descendant of Mulambwa, the tenth Litunga. Ndiyoyi married a Totela woman from Bwina in Mulobezi – so I am Totela. I am Kwangwa from Kakulo in Ikabako. I am Kwamwenyi and Kwamashi from Silayi, Liuwa, Kalabo. All in all, on my mother’s side I originate from seven ethnicities in Western Province and one in Southern Province.
On my father’s side, I’m a Bemba royal from Mwika in Chinsali. The current Chitimukulu is my cousin. My grandmother, my father’s mother, was Bisa from Makumya on her father’s side – and this is where I was connected to Michael Sata.
My grandfather’s mother was white. All Lozi or Luyana royals are Lunda. My relative Sikufele is a Mbunda chief in North Western Province. I also have a relative who is a Nkoya chief in North Western Province. It shouldn’t be forgotten that when the Kaonde came to Solwenji from Congo in 1000 AD they found the Nkoya there – so they mixed and became one people. The Mbunda are the same people with the Chokwe, Luchazi and Luvale. So I have a connection with all the ethnicities of North Western Province.
The connection of the Nkoya with the Ila, Sala, Soli and Lenje is well known and beyond dispute. Even the names are same. Nkomeshya is a Nkoya name. Chiti – the first Chitimukulu – died among the Nsenga in what is now Petauke. And it took a year to take his body to Chinsali for burial. The the Bemba royals and Nsenga people are one with a common history and tight historical bonds. Zwangendaba – the father to the first Mpezeni – is buried in Muchinga Province, Chitimukulu’s land. Our Bemba and Ngoni ancestors exchanged blood to bond their togetherness. How can one with this heritage, and the knowledge of it, be a tribalist?
Secondly, my family – both on my father’s and mother’s side – paid a very high price for the independence and oneness of this country for me to divide it. Not less than fifty per cent of the first cabinet of this country were my relatives on my mother’s and father’s side. How can I fail to be a patriot and fail them?
I have fought against Bemba tribalism, Lozi tribalism, Ngoni or Nsenga or Chewa tribalism! I have fought against racism. And I will continue to do so for the remaining part of my life.
Pointing out tribal inclined decisions and actions of this UPND government of Mr Hakainde Hichilema and denouncing them is not being a tribalist.
Miles Sampa SOME IN GOVERNMENT BENEFITING FROM THE PROLONGED CHAOS AT KCM
By Miles B. Sampa,MP (04.11.2022)
Last month during the Friday Q&A session in Parliament, I asked Her Honour the Vice President Mutale Nalumango “ …when the owners saga at the Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) would be resolved so as to bring back ‘money in circulation’ in the town of Chingola, the Copperbelt Province and Country at large. “
I immediately saw the Mines Minister Hon Paul Kabuswe whisper something to her to equip her with data on the topic.
Part of her response was “ The Government respect the rule of law and we are in talks (with Vedanta). We don’t do thing ‘babazonke’ and just because we don’t announce publicly, it does not mean we doing nothing about it. We actually making progress to ensure ownership of the mine is resolved so life is brought back to Chingola residents whose lives depends on full operations at KCM”.
I actually did not take her answer as a firm position given all that most that been said in her responses hardly come to fruition.
Today I however got a surprise via a leak in one of the newspapers showing actual details of Government negotiations with Vedanta and apparently towards their consent exit or back into running the mine.
The leakage is both good and bad news. Good that the Vice President answer to my question was actually true. Behind the scene, there has been detailed negotiations with Vedanta PLC for some amicable solution.
The bad news in that it’s not normal for details and print copies of what government is discussing with a private company to find its way into public domain or newspapers.
The leakage was definitely made by someone close to the talks in higher ranks of the Government. It’s not hard to deduce that there is so much infighting within the UPND government and some do not want a solution to the KCM saga.
Some in the higher echelon of power want ownership debacles at KCM to prolong so they can continue milking its resources undetected. It is said that white collar thieves thrive better where there is confusion and most of which they support or sponsor.
The reason why City market and Intercity bus station have not been cleansed of cadres is the same reason why KCM ownership saga has prolonged todate. Resolving KCM was one of the UPND main campaign promises but over a year later into power, it’s been wala (zero) results.
The truth is that some big fish 🐟 inside or close to ‘the parte and it’s government’ are ‘swallowing’ from these public revenue sources mentioned (KCM, City market & Intercity bus terminus).
In the case of KCM it’s a South African & a Zambian ‘consultant general’ whose surname is that of the renown late coach of the Zambia 🇿🇲 football team. The two have already found a global briefcase street buyer for KCM so they can make a ‘ka somthing’ or is it a ‘chi something’ for their personal pockets. They are greedy and care less of of the Zambian treasury or ordinary citizens looking up to full KCM operation to resurrect from current high levels poverty.
Sometimes I begin to feel like I am some ‘prophet’ on the UPND Government. About all I have debated and warned inside Parliament since August 2021, most have come to pass.
I warned that 2022 will end and there will be no deal for KCM because there are some within UPND keen to sabortage the process as evidenced by the deliberate leakage today of their top level negotiations with Vedanta PLC.
Its under 2 months before 2022 ends. Kwati nine profeti (my priction will come true as if I am some economic and political prophet).
At this rate, 2022 will end and there will be no ownership deal at KCM due to government and UPND ‘big wigs’ deliberately holding the mine hostage for their stomach advantage.
Meantime in 2023, the Vice President will come back in Parliament for the Q&A session with same “ one KCM,….we are not a chipantepante government. We do things in a methodical and systematic way”. Lol.
We have enough laws to deal with defamers of the President in the absence of Section 69 – Mweetwa
November 3, 2022
Lusaka – UPND Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says President Hakainde Hichilema has become the first Head of State to allow for the repealing of Section 69 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia which outlaws the defamation of the Republican President but has been described by many commentators as being draconian.
Mr Mweetwa said the law is currently an offence with a custodial sentence not exceeding three years upon conviction with a a number of people which includes political figures facing arrests and court appearance for the same.
He said this was the reason why the Head of State has allowed his cabinet to table before parliament the repealing of the said piece of legislation which has widely been condemned with others describing it as undemocratic and archaic.
He however said the repealing of the said law does not give people a leeway to insult and pour ridicule on the Head of State adding that the country and the Penal Code has enough stern laws to protect the Presidency from such vices.
The UPND Spokesperson was speaking during the Hot FM’s Hot Seat programme in Lusaka today.
And Mr Mweetwa says it is not true that UPND cadres have started collecting money from bus stations and marketsas he reiterated the UPND’s position on cadreism in public places.
Mr.Mweetwa who is also Southern Province Minister warned that cadres or anyone interfering with operations of councils in markets and bus stations shall not be left scot free but face the law.
“Those people masquerading as UPND cadres and collecting money in markets will face the wrath of the law, infact some of these people are PF and just changing their skins,” he said.
Mr Mweetwa has meanwhile cautioned the PF members to stop accusing UPND of controlling certain institutions of government such as Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), and the Constitutional Court.
Mr Mweetwa said it is wrong for the PF to claim that government is macromanaging institutions of governance such as courts and ECZ when they recently were boasting that they are still in control of government indirectly
He said the UPND led administration has allowed institutions of governance to operate independent as evidenced by the number of court cases that have gone against the government and in favour of the opposition.
SABOI IMBOELA’S ARREST A CONSEQUENCE OF HER FOUL MOUTH – SICHULA
By Oliver Chisenga
THE arrest and detention of Saboi Imboela is self-inflicted, says National Democratic Congress leader George Sichula.
In a statement, Sichula said Imboela has been charged and arrested in accordance with the law “because of her insolence and vulgarity”.
“We have always counselled that this is an era of civil politics, void of insults and abuses, especially to those in leadership.
A good leader should accept to be led, but it looks like madam Saboi has not come to realisation that President Hakainde Hichilema is a President for all Zambians,” he said.
“At the frauds department of the Zambia Police, she was warned and cautioned for hate speech contrary [to] section 65 of the Cyber security [Act] and later at crime 1 she was warned and cautioned, charged and arrested with criminal libel contrary to Section 191 of the Penal Code. Clearly, as a surrogate of the PF, Saboi has no manner of respect for President Hichilema, and her arrest is a consequence of her foul mouth towards those in authority.”
Sichula urged Imboela to learn from experience, warning that if she does not do this even those she claimed to be leading would one day turn against her and “spew unprintables as she has been doing”.
Meanwhile, Sichula said Imboela has been masquerading as ‘NDC’ president but insisted that she has never been leader of the opposition party.
“I would like to put the record straight: Saboi is not and has never been the leader of the National Democratic Congress. She has been an imposter who has had not respect for the courts of law,” Sichula stated.
“As it stands, Saboi who has been masquerading as leader of our party has impending contempt proceedings, thus cannot by any means be addressed or referred to as ‘president’.”
Sichula warned individuals and institutions “who have continually defied the court” by addressing Saboi as president of the NDC.
“We have noted with concern that certain women organisations have insisted on inviting Saboi to their activities in her so-called capacity as ‘president’. This should come to an end,” said Sichula.
The Court of Appeal recently dismissed an appeal by Imboela, Chishimba Kambwili and Ackson Kaonga who had been cited for contempt by the Ndola High Court for holding a ‘convention’ in Luanshya.
Why Sampa The Great’s Never Forget wasn’t in the Movie Black Panther…
So Marvel recently released the list of music that’s in the movie Black Panther (2) and the omission of Sampa The Great brought a lot of talk and vokamba kamba amongst several Zambians- fans, critics and haters alike. The heated debates, missiles and justifications made for interesting reading.
We all heard the song in the second trailer but why doesn’t it feature? The reason is very simple: the song was sung by Sampa and her friends for her own project(As Above So Below) and not for Black Panther (2).
Here’s the deal, all those songs from the boring Lead single by Rihanna, to Fireboy, Busiswa, Rema etc were specifically done for the movie. In other words, the movie producer approached these musicians and said i want you to sing a song- this will be what you’ll sing about and we will help you write and produce it. It’s our song it’ll feature on Black Panther and we will sell the music. Kinda like how Slap D is approached to do a ZICTA ad or how JK was contracted to sing “Celtel yena takwaba ati watuma yaluka…” examples abound.
Thus, all the music on Black Panther was officially released on 4th November, 2022 in a Black Panther album that’s being sold by Marvel. There are two exceptions one might want to bring up. The first is Rihanna’s song which was released some days ago. Obviously they wanted it to gain traction as the Lead single but it was also written and produced by Ryan Coogler and the Black Panther crew for the movie it wasn’t Rihanna doing her own thing. The other exception is Tems’ song “No Woman No Cry” which is a Ctrl+V of Bob Marley’s song. The song was featured on the first trailer BUT and i repeat BUT it was also done for the movie with the lyrics written by the creative Director of Black Panther.- he says he visited Mexico and some other place to inspire those sounds. According to him “if we used a song in the movie we wanted it to be the entire song and to be connected to the story”
So for Sampa that was her own song, already released on her own album so releasing it and selling it under the Black Panther album would’ve just opened a can of worms and defeated whatever the intention of the producers in releasing music specifically for this. There was no malice in leaving out her song and it’s actually a wonderful coincidence that her music was used in the trailer despite having no deliberate connection to the movie.
Six foreign based players called up while Barbara Banda wont make Columbia clash
Zambia Senior Women National Team coach Bruce Mwape has named a 32-member provisional squad for the two international friendly matches against Columbia on November 12 and 15 in Cali.
Mwape has named number six foreign based players including CFF Zaragoza forward Rachael Nachula and the jet-heeled Rachael Kundananji who is on the books of CFF Madrid with Grace Chanda in Spain.
Others are Margaret Belemu, Misozi Zulu and Hazel Nali who all ply their trade in the Turksih women topflight.
The Cosafa champions will be entering residential camp this weekend after players feature for their respective clubs in the Zambian leagues.
Foreign based players will join directly in Cali where Zambia will be heightening its preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia/New Zealand.
Skipper Barbra Banda is unavailable for the November FIFA Window following pandemic restrictions in China that demand prolonged quarantine.
Shanghai Shengli had allowed Banda to be part of the WAFCON (although she did not play) and Cosafa tournaments before returning to her base.
Banda will however be available for subsequent preparatory matches as the Copper Queens who are in Group C alongside Spain, Japan and Costa Rica step up preparations for the biggest sporting event in the women’s game.
FULL PROVISIONAL LIST
(GOALKEEPERS)
Leticia Lungu (Zesco Girls), Catherine Musonda (Indeni Roses), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Hazel Nali (Fatih Vatan Spor Kalubu-Turkey), Agness Banda (National Assembly)
(DEFENDERS) Esther Banda (BUSA), Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba, Agness Musesa, Esther Siamfuko (all Green Buffaloes), Pauline Zulu (Elite Ladies), Vast Phiri (Zesco Girls), Bertha Imponene (Police Doves), Margaret Belemu (Hakkarigucu Spor-Turkey), Judith Soko (Yasa Girls), Elizabeth Nachivula, Mary Mulenga (both Red Arrows)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Evarine Katongo (ZISD), Ireene Lungu (Green Buffaloes), Susan Banda, Mary Mambwe, Mary Wilombe (all Red Arrows), Avell Chitundu (Zesco Girls), Rhodah Chileshe (Indeni Roses), Eneless Phiri (Police Doves), Misozi Zulu (Hakkarigucu Spor), Siomala Mapepa (Elite Ladies), Grace Chanda (Madrid CFF-Spain)
A MAN of Mtendere who disguised himself as a woman and got a job as a maid has been detained for allegedly attempting to sodomise a 19-year-old man who is his employer’s nephew.
Christopher Mukutindwa, 29, worked as a maid for five months before it was discovered that he was actually male when he was caught trying to molest a teenager.
Mukutindwa is believed to have lured his victim to his room and tried to sodomise him but he managed to overpower him and reported the matter.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga told #Mwebantu in an interview that police received a report of attempted sodomy in which a named employer reported that her maid tried to sodomise her 19-year-old nephew.
“Brief facts are that the maid by the names of Christopher Mukutindwa who has been employed as a maid for five months now called the victim to his room. He then removed the chitenge he was wearing so that he could have carnal knowledge of him and it was at this moment that the victim noticed that the maid was infact a he and he tried to struggle, and sodomize him ,but he managed to overpower him,” he said.
Mr Hamoonga said the suspect has been purporting to be female and worked for them for five months now.
(Mwebantu)
This man has been arrested in Lusaka for disguising himself as a woman while working as a maid for 5 months, during which time he allegedly attempted to sodomise a 19-year-old boy.This man has been arrested in Lusaka for disguising himself as a woman while working as a maid for 5 months, during which time he allegedly attempted to sodomise a 19-year-old boy.This man has been arrested in Lusaka for disguising himself as a woman while working as a maid for 5 months, during which time he allegedly attempted to sodomise a 19-year-old boy.
PF presidential aspirant Emmanuel Mwamba has challenged the UPND to consider enacting a law to fund political parties as opposed to asking where PF candidates are getting money for nominations.
He says he was a seasoned civil servant who could not fail to raise a K200,000.
“Look I have been an ambassador for seven years, I was permanent secretary for five years. I am a person of landed property. I know the economy is hard but K200,000 is something I can afford and I speak for the other candidates and even those that didn’t file,” Mwamba said. “You have a sober clean candidate. Well experienced. Someone who can beat HH clean, that is Emmanuel Mwamba.”
Reacting to calls for PF presidential aspirants be probed for paying K200,000 nomination fees each, Mwamba when he featured on Hot FM breakfast show on Monday said the UPND was the one dragging over legislation on political party funding.
“Political parties are part of democracy of this country. They therefore should be funded. They should disclose their source of funding. There should be a legal framework regulating especially financing for political parties,” he said. “The UPND have been in the forefront refusing that legislation, you can trace it from 2008. Our secretariats can be funded by the state. You can put it pro rata to those that are in parliament for their strength.
There has been a huge debate about political funding and the political parties have not arrived at consensus where people can disclose their sources of funding. Where the state can fund the secretariat or the general conference because that is what democracies do all over the world, that the major stakeholders are political parties. They recognise that political parties are major stakeholders.
They need to be helped and prevent them from being susceptible to illicit financing that may then affect policies. For example, a mine house can fund a candidate and come and sway your policies that may disadvantage the country. Your know tax free policies, incentives, so they have repercussions. That is why we have to deal with the bigger issue, the funding of political parties before you ask individuals where they are getting their money from.” Mwamba said he was a seasoned civil servant who could not fail to raise a K200,000.
“Look I have been an ambassador for seven years, I was permanent secretary for five years. I am a person of landed property. I know the economy is hard but K200,000 is something I can afford and I speak for the other candidates and even those that didn’t file. The K200,000 was commitment. Many people expressed interest, just for sake of interest, so the K200,000 was to serve as commitment to whoever was serious and that is why the eight finally filed in their nominations. And remember this is a period of two months. The notice was August 12, and nominations opened on 1st September,” he said. “We disregard the insults from Hon (Obvious) Mwaliteta. Usually his comments arise from a lot of ignorance. There is no law that regulates political funding in the country. So you can get from well wishers. It does not have to be your personal income. Politicians don’t even use their money, most of their money.”
Asked if the PF party was still pro-poor, Mwamba said the values of the PF was that it was a social democratic party. “We work for the poor. We work for ordinary people and we remain so. We do not lose our values. We don’t favour investors like the UPND does. We remain true to the cause of the Patriotic Front. Even in the central committee, there was a robust debate about the K200,000. As I stated earlier it came from K500,000 to K 200,000,” he said. “You have a sober clean candidate. Well experienced. Someone who can beat HH clean, that is Emmanuel Mwamba. EM8.
Kafue Council Chairperson Buumba Malambo has vowed not to resign from her position no matter the pressure from her ‘enermies’.
Speaking when she addressed scores of UPND cadres who peacefully marched from her house to Kafue Civic Centre to offer solidarity to her, Dr Malambo said the only crime she has committed are the massive initiatives which are meant are meant to uplift the people that voted for her from abject poverty.
Dr Malambo said the only person who has the power to remove her from her office is the president who chose her to stand as Council Chairperson in Kafue.
She thanked the people of Kafue for turning up in large numbers to offer solidarity to her.
“There is no one with K100, 000 000 in Kafue, if I had such amounts of money you would have known. I only lobby for support from companies who mostly offer support to me in material form and this is the mealie meal which I give to people in my district. Those against me should equally use their offices to lobby and lend help to the needy” Dr Malambo said.
And Fred Mwiinga who spoke on behalf of the supporters urged those against the Council Chairperson to respect the 32,000 voters who voted for Dr Malambo.
VICE PRESIDENT MUTALE NALUMANGO AMONG 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL AFRICAN WOMEN
Avance Media announces 2022 100 Most Influential African Women Leading African PR & Rating firm, Avance Media has announced the 4th & 2022 edition of its annual publication of 100 Most Influential African Women to celebrate African women in leadership inspiring the next generation.
The list made up of prominent women represents African women breaking the bias across the world and includes 2 Presidents, 5 Vice Presidents, 5 Prime Ministers, Ministers, Regional CEOs and Founders of both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations.
According to Prince Akpah, MD of Avance Media, the 4th edition of the list features women from a record of 36 African Countries and represents women who are changing the perception of women breaking barriers in their career, business and life pursuits.
Very notable among the influential women are, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde and H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan presidents of Ethiopia and Tanzania respectively, and H.E. Jessica Alupo, H.E. Jewel Taylor H.E. Mariam Chabi Talata, H.E. Mutale Nalumango, H.E. Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, Vice Presidents of Uganda, Liberia, Benin, Zambia and South Sudan respectively.
The list also includes the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Amina J. Mohammed and the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa. The list also features 3 women, Vanessa Nakate, Elizabeth Wathuti and Bogolo Kenewendo who are leading various climate action initiatives across the world, marking the introduction of a Climate Change category to the list. With a record of 36 African countries represented on the list, Nigeria leads with 18 representatives, followed by Kenya (10), Ghana (7), Senegal, (6) and Tanzania (5).
Profiles of the 100 honourees have been published on 100women.avancemedia.org
Below is the official list of Avance Media’s 2022 100 Most Influential African Women list:
1. Dr. Agnes Kalibata || CEO, AGRA 2. Ahunna Eziakonwa || Regional Director for Africa, UNDP 3. Aïda Diarra || Senior Vice-President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Visa 4. Aishah Ahmad || Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria 5. H.E. Aja Fatoumata C.M. Jallow-Tambajang || Former Vice President, The Gambia 6. H.E. Amani Abou-Zeid || Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission 7. H.E. Amina J. Mohammed || Deputy Secretary General, United Nations 8. Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh || Strategic Partnership Lead for Africa, Microsoft 9. Anna Ekeledo || Executive Director, AfriLabs 10. Anne Kansiime || Comedian 11. Anne Muraya || CEO, Deloitte East Africa 12. H.E. Anne Waiguru || Governor, Kirinyaga County 13. Awa Ndiaye Seck || Head of the UN Women Liaison Office to the AU, United Nations 14. Aya Chebbi || Founder, Nala Feminist Collective 15. Ayra Starr || Musician 16. Barbara Gonzalez || CEO, Simba Sporting Club 17. H.E. Bineta Diop || Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, African Union Commission 18. Bogolo Kenewendo || Africa Director & Special Advisor, UN Climate Change High-Level Champions 19. Brenda Mbathi || CEO, GE Africa 20. Caren Wakoli || Executive Director, Emerging Leaders Foundation Africa 21. Rt. Hon Catherine Gotani Hara || Speaker, Malawi National Assembly 22. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba || Youth Envoy, African Union Commission 23. Coumba Dieng Sow || Country Director, FAO Rwanda 24. Debra Mallowah || Vice President, East and Central Africa, Coca-Cola 25. Delphine Traoré || CEO, Allianz Africa 26. Dentaa Amoateng || Founder, GUBA 27. Diariétou Gaye || Vice President (Human Resources), World Bank 28. Diene Keita || Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund 29. Dzene Makhwade-Seboni || CEO, Mascom Wireless 30. Edith Yah Brou || Co-Founder, Akendewa 31. Elizabeth Mrema || Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity 32. Elizabeth Wathuti || Climate Change Activist, Green Generation Initiative 33. H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf || Founder, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center 34. H.E. Elsie S. Kanza || Ambassador to the United States of America and México, Tanzania 35. Eve Bazaiba || Deputy Prime Minister, DRC 36. H.E. Fatima Kyari Mohammed || Permanent Observer of the African Union, United Nations 37. Fatima-Zahra Mansouri || Mayor, Marrakesh 38. Fatoumata Doro || Managing Director, Vlisco Ghana 39. Fatoumata Ndiaye || Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, United Nations 40. Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo || Mauritius Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity 41. Folake Soetan || CEO, Ikeja Electric 42. Françoise Moudouthe || CEO, African Women’s Development Fund 43. Funke Akindele || Actress 44. Giovanie Biha || Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) 45. Graça Machel || Founder, Graca Machel Trust 46. Jamila Mohamed || Managing Editor, Citizen TV 47. H.E. Jessica Alupo || Vice President, Uganda 48. H.E. Jewel Howard-Taylor || Vice President, Liberia 49. Jokate Mwegelo || District Commissioner, Temeke (Tanzania) 50. H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko || Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission 51. Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu || Regional Director for Eastern Africa, IFC 52. Louise Mushikiwabo || Secretary General, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie 53. Lúcia Maria Mendes Gonçalves dos Passos || Vice President, Pan African Parliament 54. Makena Mwobobia || Executive Director, MS-TCDC 55. H.E. Mariam Chabi Talata || Vice President, Republic of Benin 56. Marie Louise Mwange || Coordinator, African Women Leaders Network DRC 57. H.E. Martha Ama A. Pobee || Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations 58. Martha Karua || Politician 59. Martha Koome || Chief Justice, Kenya 60. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti || Africa Regional Director, World Health Organisation 61. H.E. Amb. Minata Samaté Cessouma || Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission 62. H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa || Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission 63. H.E. Mutale Nalumango || Vice President, Zambia 64. Rt. Hon Najla Bouden || Prime Minister, Tunisia 65. Nana Aba Anamoah || General Manager, GhOne TV 66. Nangula Nelulu Uaandja || CEO, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB 67. Nene Maiga || CEO, Orange Botswana 68. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala || Director-General, World Trade Organization 69. Odunayo Eweniyi || Co-founder, PiggyVest 70. Osas Ighodaro || Actress 71. Oulimata Sarr || Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, Senegal 72. Owen Omogiafo || CEO, Transcorp Group 73. Paula Ingabire || Minister of Information and communications technology and Innovation, Rwanda 74. Peace Hyde || Television Producer 75. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka || Chancellor, University of Johannesburg. 76. Senator Dr Rasha Kelej || CEO, Merck Foundation 77. H.E. Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior || Vice President, South Sudan 78. Rt. Hon Robinah Nabbanja || Prime Minister, Uganda 79. Rt. Hon Rose Christiane Raponda || Prime Minister, Gabon 80. Rt. Hon Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila || Prime Minister, Namibia 81. H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde || President, Ethipia 82. H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan || President, Tanzania 83. Sarah Abdelbaky || Sports Journalist, Al-Bayan 84. Sefora Kodjo Kouassi || CEO, SEPHIS Group 85. Sinach || Musician 86. Sophia Bekele || CEO, DotConnectAfrica group 87. Tems || Musician 88. Tiwa Savage || Musician 89. Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng || Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, United Nations 90. Tobi Amusan || Athlete 91. Dr. Tuma Adama Gento- Kamara || Chairperson, Sierra Leone National Revenue Authority 92. Vanessa Nakate || Climate Change Activist 93. Vera Kamtukule || Minister of Labour, Malawi 94. Rt. Hon Victoire Tomegah Dogbé || Prime Minister, Togo 95. Victoria Kwakwa || Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank 96. Winnie Byanyima || Executive Director, UNAIDS 97. Yawa Hansen-Quao || Founder, Leading Ladies Network 98. Yolanda Cuba || Group Vice President Southern and East Africa Region, MTN 99. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr || Mayor, Freetown 100. Yvonne Ike || Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Bank of America
Health Minister Sylvia Masebo Is Innocent – Mbachi Nkwazi
Kitwe Business man Mbachi Nkwazi confirms that Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo is innocent as he discloses how Mcebisi Mlonzi manufactured the narratives to destroy the Minister’s reputation.
About the TFM story, this is how Mlonzi went to meet Kitwe businessman Mbachi Nkwazi, and embarked on a malicious mission to implicate Sylvia Masebo in a Ministry of Health tender.
Mbachi Nkwazi has expressed ignorance on what was happening and what is still happening and he feels he was used by Mcebisi Mlonzi.
Mbachi has disclosed that Mlonzi made him travel to South Africa to meet TFM proprietors. When they reached TFM, he says it puzzled him and couldn’t understand why they were not allowed by the guard at the gate to go in.
Mbachi further discloses that the guard at TFM did not know who Mlonzi was but after a long debate between the guard and Mlonzi they were permitted to go in the premisese.
He narrates that as they walked into TFM, they seemed not to have been known by anyone. He said for him it was not much of a surprise but it was disappointing that Mlonzi also looked like a stranger.
Mbachi said that as they proceeded, Mlonzi was busy showing him things that he uses in his business. He realised that Mlonzi was jittery and very much trying to organise his mind to create stories. What Nkwazi didn’t know at the time was that there was an malicious agenda to destroy Sylvia Masebo’s reputation.
Mbachi highlighted that as they were walking through the administration block, they actually got lost and couldn’t know where they had reached, all he remembers is that they were within the building with the ‘Executive Chairman’ of the TFM company. He also disclosed that at some point, they found themselves in a fancy boardroom filled with white people, but they hardly recognised Mlonzi.
The kitwe business has mentioned that in all the activities, he never got any money from Mlonzi, he said in fact it was Mlonzi who was asking for money on countless occassions. Mbachi complained bitterly that Mlonzi still owes him R100,000. He says he has been recording how much money Mlonzi has been getting as he was made to sign for it.
Mbachi’s storyline puts Masebo out of TFM saga and collaborates with Noel Nkhoma’s submission that he was approached by TFM to fabricate falsehood against Masebo so that she gets removed from her position as Minister of Health by President Hakainde Hichilema.
“… the UPND Government was dismantling PF arrears on fuel, over $500m worth; redirecting resources towards citizens’ programs such as public sector employment, community development via CDF, FREE EDUCATION, dismantling pensions arrears and expanding support to the most vulnerable.”
2nd November, 2022 – Lusaka
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema’s Spokesperson Anthony Bwalya has alerted the general citizenry not to be cheated by the opposition political camp over fuel pricing in the country.
Mr Bwalya said that by August 2021, when oil prices were hovering around $70 per barrel, the PF regime were borrowing around $67m per month to finance their fuel subsidy program.
He urged the citizenry to note that all local borrowing associated with that very expensive, unsustainable subsidy program by the PF was also partly responsible for diverting critical capital away from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as local banks preferred to lend to government rather than to SMEs while any available headroom for banks to lend to SMEs came at a heavy premium of over 28%.
This is why, in part, he says the economy died; that there were zero growth opportunities for SMEs.
The Presidential Spokesperson said that to make the situation worse, the PF regime, rather than taking the money they were collecting at the pump to paying international oil suppliers, they simply squandered the money – hence the $627m UNPAID invoices they left the Nation with.
“Needless to mention, that the PF fuel subsidy program was also costing Zambians jobs in the health and education sectors, Army, Air-force, ZNS, Police; as well as eroding opportunities for local community development,” he said.
Mr Bwalya said that the PF-run fuel subsidy program had simply become unsustainable and counterproductive to the economy – with the country credit profile having failed, no one was willing to lend the PF regime any money, while suppliers were on the verge of withholding supplies.
“We were sitting on a ticking time bomb,” said Mr Bwalya.
He said that the PF were like an irresponsible parent leading a debt funded luxury lifestyle, only to be paid for by his children when he is long dead and gone.
He observed that today, oil prices were around $90 per barrel. A fuel subsidy program similar to what the PF were doing would cost the Nation around $80m per month or approximately $960m per year, if not over $1bn!!!
“President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND have done the difficult but RESPONSIBLE thing: cut subsidies on fuel, cut irresponsible local borrowing and restore our national credit profile – interest rates are now lower than 17%, meaning cheaper access to capital for SMEs and a lower cost of money for individuals,” said Mr Bwalya.
He disclosed that the UPND Government was dismantling PF arrears on fuel, over $500m worth; redirecting resources towards citizens’ programs such as public sector employment, community development via CDF, FREE EDUCATION, dismantling pensions arrears and expanding support to the most vulnerable.
“To top all of this up, macroeconomic stability is back – inflation is at 9.7% from 24% under the PF, Kwacha is stable and performing brilliantly against other currencies, economic growth is back on a positive path at +2% from less than -2%,” said Mr Bwalya.
Adding, “Fellow citizens, you cannot solve the problem around the cost of living without REBUILDING THE ECONOMY – Takwaba, elyo takwakabe ( In Simon Mwewa’s voice),” he said.
Mr Bwalya pointed out that President Hakainde Hichilema was working and citizens, the ones who elected him, would judge him on the strength of actual deliverables come 2026.
“We are facing past and current problems head-on, responsibly paying our way through them, and creating a solid base for future generations to face and solve their own problems,” he said.
The Presidential Spokesperson was speaking in the wake of November’s upward revised fuel-pump price as announced by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), a move which has made some opposition political parties to begin misleading the masses over the administration of fuel and other petroleum products in the country.
This matter brings huge embarrassment to the New Dawn Government.
This is because, in Opposition, President Hakainde Hichilema solemnly pledged that his government will not victimise civil servants and professionals because of their tribal or political affiliations.
To this effect, he commissioned a process to reinstate those professionals he felt were victims of this injustice as soon as he won the August 2021 general elections.
So it has been shocking and embarrassing to witness, for Hichilema’s Government to engage in the very vices that he condemned whilst in Opposition.
He has purged professionals on the flimsy and unfounded allegations that they are members of the Patriotic Front.
Sadly, and through his appointments, he has engaged in gross reverse tribalism! Where officers and professionals from the Northern and Eastern regions of our country have been replaced by persons from the Southern or Zambezi region or by UPND cadres.
So hearing Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa say no civil servants have been retired in national interest is not only surprising but amounts tp wishful thinking on his part!
I think his absence from Cabinet and Lusaka has made him rusty with information or he is deliberately and desperately keen to impress the Master.
This Government has retired so many vibrant professionals in public service, Constitutional and quasi-government institutions on the pretext that they are Patriotic Front cadres.
He probably has not heard about Directors and Assistant Directors in Ministries being fired or being retired in national interest.
He probably has not heard about 38 senior police officers that were recently retired in national interest. 27 of those retired have since sued the State.
Recently, Press Secretaries that served in Embassies abroad and were employed as civil servants had their employment terminated.
Hon. Mweetwa has probably not heard about Prof. Luka Mumba, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia.
Mweetwa has probably not heard about 30 senior managers and engineers that were crudely retired and purged from ZESCO.
Mweetwa has also not heard about the professionals at ZICTA that were purged. He probably has not heard about similar purges going on public institutions and parastatals.
A systematic process to politicise and tribalism the public service is fiercely underway on the pretext that it is being cleansed of Patriotic Front cadres.
A day will come when the One-Zambia-One Nation Motto, will truly be practiced and its virtues will be upheld.
When people will be employed on merit and will retain their jobs because of their Key Performance Indicators than the matter of political party or tribe they belong to.
HH IS TOO CONFLICTED TO EFFICIENTLY, EFFECTIVELY FIGHT CORRUPTION By Fred M’membe, President of the Socialist Party
It’s not possible for Mr Hakainde Hichilema to fight corruption in an efficient, effective and orderly manner because he is highly conflicted.
Mr Hichilema has many business interests through all sorts of fronts and associates that he has not disclosed. And he is continually getting into new ones with all sorts of associates and fronts. These businesses benefit from government business and fiscal policies presided over by Mr Hichilema himself. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to escape corruption if one is so deeply conflicted. This is not a recipe for governing well. This is a recipe for bad governance. It is actually a recipe for corruption.
Instead of protecting the business interests of the people he was elected to serve, Mr Hichilema is protecting his own personal business interests and those of his associates. He is competing with the same businessmen he was elected to help, promote and develop. He is actually in a predatory position.
Let’s not deceive ourselves or allow ourselves to be deceived, there’s no genuine or serious corruption fight Mr Hichilema can engage in. What we are seeing is simply a mock engagement. If he is serious about fighting corruption let him start with the corrupt fertiliser deal involving his associate Jangulo and his Alpha Commodities! Those who really and truly want to fight corruption should start with themselves, their party leaders, cadres and members before touching their opponents.
Solution
We can learn something from the way the Chinese are fighting corruption. A decade ago, in his speech at the 18th CPC National Congress, outgoing Secretary G eneral Hu Jintao mentioned the word “corruption” several times. “If we fail to handle this issue well,” he warned, “it could prove fatal to the party, and even cause the collapse of the party and the fall of the state.” Xi Jinping’s first task after taking over as general secretary of the CPC was to tackle this issue. In his inaugural speech as the party head in 2013, Xi said he was committed to “the fighting of tigers and flies at the same time,” referring to the corruption that had spread from the high echelons down to the grassroots level within the party and the government. The party launched “eight-point” rules for its members in December 2012, to limit practices such as inconsequential meetings and extravagant receptions for official visits, and advocated “diligence and thrift.”
Meanwhile, a year after the launch of the “mass line campaign” by Xi’s administration in June 2013, official meetings were reduced by 25 per cent in comparison to the period before the campaign, 160,000 “phantom staff” were removed from the government payroll, and 2,580 “unnecessary” official building projects were stopped. Over the past decade, from November 2012 to April 2022, nearly 4.4 million cases involving 4.7 million officials were investigated in the fight against corruption. Party members have been investigated. In the first half of this year alone, 24 senior officials were investigated for corruption, and former ministers, provincial governors, and presidents of the biggest state-owned banks have been expelled from the party and given harsh sentences, including life imprisonment.
Hu Jintao’s comments and Xi Jinping’s actions reflected concerns that during the period of high growth after 1978, CPC members grew increasingly detached from the people. During the first months of his presidency, Xi launched the “mass line campaign” to bring the party closer to the grassroots. As part of the “targeted poverty alleviation” campaign launched in 2014, 800,000 party cadres were sent to survey and visit 128,000 villages as part of this project. In 2020, despite the pandemic, China successfully eradicated extreme poverty, contributing to 76 percent of the global reduction in poverty till October 2015. Beyond the party’s self-correction, Xi’s strong words and actions against the corrupt “flies and tigers” contributed to the Chinese people’s confidence in the government. According to a 2020 research paper by Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, the overall satisfaction with the government’s performance was 93.1 per cent in 2016, seeing the most significant growth in the more underdeveloped regions in the countryside. This rise of confidence in rural areas resulted from increased social services, trust in local officials, and the campaign against poverty.
This is how to fight corruption. But this approach is only possible if the key leadership is not conflicted or outrightly corrupt itself.
LUSAKA MAN ADMITS SLEEPING WITH ANOTHER MAN’S WIFE
A 40 year old man of Chawama Township has admitted tasting the sweetness” of another man’s wife on multiple times.
This is in a matter, Patrick Mwale aged 51 of Makeni Township has sued Kangwa Mutale to compensate him for committing adultery with his wife Chanda Munda.
Mwale has narrated to the court that he Caught his wife with Mutale at a lodge where they had gone to enjoy their escapade.
He said what puzzled him was that his wife used to say that Mutale was her regular customer at a Butchery she works from.
Mwale said he became suspicious of Mutale’s advancements towards his wife as he used to call her late at night and they could exchange photos on WhatsApp.
He said after following the couple without their knowledge, the duo went at a lodge in Chawama where he saw them coming out of a room holding hands and smiling.
“After reaching the lodge, I waited for over one hour thirty minutes because I did not immediately locate the room they had booked. I just saw them come out holding each other,” he narrated.
Mwale added the lodge workers confirmed that the couple had been frequenting the lodge as a venue for their “champions league” encounters.
“This man has troubled my family, he calls my wife at awkward hours like 22 hours , and drops her home whenever he feels like and she put him on her whatsapp profile picture for three weeks,” Mwale said.
Without wasting the courts time, Mutale admitted that everything Mwale narrated was true.
In defence, he however expressed ignorance that Mwale’s wife was married as she never mentioned it.
“I knew Brenda Munda last year in November but the relationship became stronger this year in June and as he mentioned, I used to call her and take her home late,” Mutale narrated.
And Chanda Munda admitted that Mutale is her boyfriend and that her husband once found them together at a lodge where he caused a commotion.
” Our marriage ended a long time ago, I just live with him for the sake of the children and the man he has brought to court is not the reason for our marriage breaking down irretrievably, it ended a long time ago,” Muyunda narrated.
She added that Mwale would go for days on pretext that he is going for business as she suspects he is married where he goes.
And Justice Lombe Chibesakunda has adjourned the matter to 4th November to assess the evidence and passing of judgement.
By August 2021 when oil prices were hovering around $70 per barrel, the PF regime were borrowing around $67m per month to finance their fuel subsidy program.
Note that all local borrowing associated with this very expensive, unsustainable subsidy program by the PF, was also partly responsible for diverting critical capital away from our SMEs as g local banks preferred to lend to government than to SMEs, while any available headroom for banks to lend to SMEs came at a heavy premium of over 28%.
This is why, in part, the economy died; there were zero growth opportunities for SMEs.
To make the situation worse, the PF regime, rather than taking the money they were collecting at the pump to paying international oil suppliers, they simply squandered the money – hence the $627m UNPAID invoices they left us with.
Needless to mention, that the PF fuel subsidy program was also costing Zambians jobs in the health and education sectors, Army, Air-force, ZNS, Police; as well as eroding opportunities for local community development.
The PF – run fuel subsidy program had simply become unsustainable and counterproductive to the economy – with our country credit profile having failed, no one was willing to lend the PF regime any money, while suppliers were on the verge of withholding supplies.
We were sitting on a ticking time bomb.
Simply put, the PF were like an irresponsible parent leading a debt funded luxury lifestyle, only to be paid for by his children when he is long dead and gone.
Today, oil prices are around $90 per barrel. A fuel subsidy program similar to what the PF were doing would cost us around $80m per month or approximately $960m per year, if not over $1bn!!!
President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND have done the difficult but RESPONSIBLE thing: cut subsidies on fuel, cut irresponsible local borrowing and restore our national credit profile – interest rates are now lower than 17%, meaning cheaper access to capital for SMEs and a lower cost of money for individuals.
We are dismantling PF arrears on fuel, over $500m worth; we are redirecting resources towards citizens’ programs such as public sector employment, community development via CDF, FREE EDUCATION, dismantling pensions arrears and expanding support to the most vulnerable.
To top all of this up, macroeconomic stability is back – inflation is at 9.7% from 24% under the PF, Kwacha is stable and performing brilliantly against other currencies, economic growth is back on a positive path at +2% from less than -2%.
Fellow citizens, you cannot solve the problem around the cost of living without REBUILDING THE ECONOMY – Takwaba, elyo takwakabe ( In Simon Mwewa’s voice).
The President is working and you fellow citizens, the ones who elected him, will judge him on the strength of actual deliverables come 2026.
We are facing past and current problems head – on, responsibly paying our way through them, and creating a solid base for future generations to face and solve their own problems.
SOCIALIST Party president Fred M’membe says Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s electoral victory over incumbent Jair Bolsonaro will touch all continents.
The 76-year-old politician’s win represents the return of the left into power in Brazil, and concludes a triumphant personal comeback for Lula, after a series of corruption allegations led to his imprisonment for 580 days. The sentences were later annulled by the Supreme Court, clearing his path to run for reelection.
In a message of congratulations following Sunday run-off elections in Brazil, Dr M’membe said Lula’s win would reshape Latin America and alter the balance of forces in the whole world. “We are very delighted with the victory of President Lula, PT (Workers Party) and MST (Landless Workers Movement) over the extreme right wing forces represented by Bolsonaro. It’s a great victory whose ripples will touch all continents. It will help remake, reshape Latin America and alter the balance of forces in the whole world,” said Dr M’membe. “Today is not for many words, it is for celebration, rejoicing. For all that life has delt us, this is a big day, a happy day for us.
Great thanks to President Lula and all who exerted their efforts to make this victory possible. Congratulations dear Comrades!” And President Hakainde Hichilema said he looks forward to “working together and enhance Zambia-Brazil relations”. “Congratulations to Inacio Lula da Silva on being elected President of Brazil,” tweeted President Hichilema. “Looking forward to working together and enhance Zambia-Brazil relations and strengthen the partnership between our two nations.” Lula received more than 60 million votes, the most in Brazilian history, breaking his own record from 2006.
This isn’t a victory of mine or the Workers’ Party… It’s the victory of a democratic movement that formed above political parties, personal interests and ideologies so that democracy came out victorious,” Lula told a cheering crowd of supporters in Sao Paulo on Sunday night.
The President-elect acknowledged that following such a tight race a challenge to his future mandate will be “immense,” and stressed that “it is necessary to rebuild the very soul of this country, recover generosity, solidarity, respect for differences and love for others.”
After a divisive campaign which saw two bitter rivals on opposite sides of the political spectrum go head to head, Lula won 50.9 per cent of the votes.
It was enough to beat Bolsonaro, whose supporters had been confident of victory.
According to BBC, it is a stunning comeback for a politician who could not run in the last presidential election in 2018 because he was in jail and banned from standing for office. He had been found guilty of receiving a bribe from a Brazilian construction firm in return for contracts with Brazil’s state oil company Petrobras.
Lula spent 580 days in jail before his conviction was annulled and he returned to the political fray.
“They tried to bury me alive and here I am,” he said, kicking off his victory speech.
He struck a conciliatory tone, saying he would govern for all Brazilians and not just those who voted for him.
“This country needs peace and unity. This population doesn’t want to fight anymore,” he said. “Starting on January 1, 2023, I will govern for the 215 million Brazilians, not just the ones who voted for me. There are not two Brazils. We are one country, one people, one great nation.
Lula is a leftist former metal worker who ruled Brazil from from 2003-2010. His victory is the latest in a political wave across Latin America, with wins by left-leaning politicians in Argentina, Colombia and Chile.
Lula will take the reins of a country plagued by gross inequality that is still struggling to recover from the pandemic. Approximately 9.6 million people fell under the poverty line between 2019 and 2021, and literacy and school attendance rates have fallen. He will also be faced with a deeply fractured nation and urgent environmental issues, including rampant deforestation in the Amazon.
Have now gathered courage let me speak out if you want expelled me from UPND. I will always stand by my principles. 10:14- The plane carrying the president touched down at Mansa airport.
10:25- The President comes out, looked surprised, went strait to pass near cadres. He instructs his aide to give money to the women who were dancing. 10:30- he goes into VIP holding room, doors closed.
11:40 – the director of ceremony announce to the welcoming audience that the President is now coming out to address them. Surprisingly the President comes out and goes straight to the chopper and off he goes to Chipili.
MY ANALYSIS. The President was well briefed by his Veep about the situation on the ground. The crowd that welcomed the President was too small for a person in that position. For that I feel it was a reason he never wanted to address the crowd.
But I feel out of respect his excellence the President should have addressed us because we made an effort to welcome him. We abandoned our programs just to go and welcome him.
Myself was suppose to go and work on my land in Katangwe but I had to drop that. And our party president decided to ignore us, its not fair.
I feel for my fellow provincial team, especially the acting chair their was nothing he could do. How do you mobilise people with limited funds. He did what he could.
In photo is the budget of how they utilized the money they received. Hopefully we win the by elections in Mwense, otherwise if we lose as UPND we are doomed in the province as it will send a bad message.
Mind you politics is a mind game, its all about perception. Today I agree. I was blaming the wrong person, the SG is innocent of troubles in UPND. Call a spade a spade, Mr. President you are to blame for current happenings in UPND. Sir don’t forget, you are the President of a political party UPND. You can not run government well if your political party is unstable. We need you more than the way Zambian’s need you.
I know others will condemn me for giving open rebuke to the President. But I know my lovely President is a Christian and will understand why have done this.
We commonly think of rebuke as an adverse confrontation, but Proverbs 27:5-6 says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Mr. President I love you and I know you mean well for mother Zambia but just work on those little issues concerned party members are raising. Its out of love for you.
Regards Jack Mwape Mbulo Luapula province Deputy IPS- Media
FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE CLERK ARRESTED FOR STEALING K108, 000.
The Drug Enforcement Commission has arrested through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has arrested Eric Ndhlovu aged 28 a Stores Clerk at the Financial Intelligence Centre for money laundering involving K108,000.
DEC Public Relations Officer Hussein Khan says Ndhlovu, of Lilayi Area in Lusaka has been charged and arrested for Forgery and Uttering False Documents contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
He said that Ndhlovu jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown on dates unknown but between 1st May 2022 and 30th September 2022 forged twelve payment instructions to a known bank, as payments for Staff allowances to himself as a Stores Clerk at the Financial Intelligence Centre and Purchase of various goods from a known supplier
Mr. Khan said Ndhlovu further uttered these forged payment instructions at a known bank where he managed to steal K108, 800 through over the counter cash withdrawals and transfers to his personal bank account.
The suspect is detained in lawful custody and will appear in court soon.
Meanwhile DEC has arrested the Directors of the National Housing Empowerment Fund for money laundering involving K36 Million.
The Commission has jointly charged and arrested Kamphembele Ngulube a male aged 49 years, Margaret Mabingo aged 46 years and Lusuntha Ngulube a male aged 46 years of 168 Acacia Drive Roma Park, Lukasha Flats in Kabulonga and Plot 30029 Twapia Ndola all Directors and Shareholders of NHEF for Obtaining Money by False Pretences contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Mr.Khan said the suspects fraudulently obtained K36 Million from members of the public on the pretext that NHEF had plots for sale in an area called “Riverdale City” situated in Lusaka’s Leopards Hill Area when in fact not.
Mr.Khan said Members of the public paid for these plots believing that they were genuine plots for NHEF.
He said in the course of investigations, the Commission seized 18 motor vehicles and froze several bank accounts.
The suspects are on bond and will appear in court soon.
In another development, the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has arrested an Immigration Officer for theft of Government revenue amounting to over USD $160, 000.
Sibetta Sibetta, a male aged 35 years of Lunzua Road, Kasama Central Town has been charged and arrested for Theft by Public Servant contrary tothe Laws of Zambia.
In another incident, the Commission has jointly charged and arrested a married couple, Aaron Zulu and Christine Msadabwe both of House Ibex Hill in Lusaka for fraudulently obtaining K59 Million from members of the public under the pretext that the said funds would be invested in securities when in fact not.
This is contained in a statement issued by DEC Public Relations Officer Hussein Khan
HOW SEAN TEMBO DEFRAUDED THE GOVERNMENT OF BOTSWANA AND FLED
By Staff Reporter
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean Tembo defrauded the government of Botswana and fled the country it has emerged.
Tembo who is also Chairperson of the UPND Opposition Alliance Media and Finance Committees ended up in the High Court of Botswana for fraudulent data collection when he was engaged to conduct research on the effects of alcohol on youths in neighbouring Botswana.
The government of Botswana through the Ministry of Health and Wellness lost thousands of Pula as a result of Tembo’s falsified “work”.
This has been confirmed in a Judgement obtained from the Registry of the High Court of Botswana under Cause Number CVHGB-002065-14 ruled by Judge M. T. Motswagole.
The Judge ruled that Mr. Sean Tembo’s conduct description of being “dishonest and unprofessional” was too mild as his actual conduct was dishonest and most likely amounted to attempt to obtaining money by false pretences, or stealing by conversion; considering that he received the sum of * P100 000.00 (One hundred thousand Pula) as advance payment for empirical investigation and data collection, which he did not carry out, but instead falsified it. (*Pula 100,000 is approximately K112, 000 Zambian Kwacha)
Judge Motswagole further ruled that it was established during trial that no data collection tools were developed by Mr. Tembo as the questionnaire that he attached to his report claiming that it was a data collection tool he had developed for the purpose, turned out to be a document he uplifted from the World Health Organisation, which had been used elsewhere used for a different purpose.
Page 33 of the judgement also established that even Tembo’s Final Comprehensive Report of the research had the same fraudulent deficiency ; and that Sean Tembo had admitted and conceded during trial that he had only collected data in Gaborone and from one institution in Lobatse; thereby cheating the terms of reference.
Furthermore, the judgement also established that it was irrefutable that Mr. Sean Tembo had received advance payment from the Government of Botswana for the sole purpose of data collection. The judge also ruled that it was indisputable that Sean Tembo did not use the funds he received from the Government of Botswana on their intended purpose; even though Tembo held out his falsified report as if it were genuine and informed by empirical data when in fact not; as it was in fact a falsified document.
Additionally, Judge Motswagole went on to rule that Sean Tembo held out his fraudulent final report as if it were a genuine product of a joint scholarly effort with some named behavioural experts when in fact not; adding that Tembo’s falsified final report was the result of a sole effort by an unqualified person namely Mr. Sean Tembo.(himself). The judge recommended a criminal investigation in the Judgement.
When his fraudulent ways were discovered, hastily closed his “business” and dubious network of activities which he carried out from his office in Gaborone’s Commerce Park, and fled to Zambia in a hurry.
The ruling Zanu-PF party claims that the war cry “faka pressure” by their rival Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa ‘is likely to cause violence ahead of 2023 elections’.
The latest report by Zanu-PF released after their congress claimed that the phrase “faka pressure” that is used by Chamisa at rallies and social media posts had the potential of causing violence, “is also likely to incite violence”.
The party further admitted that people were hungry across the country adding that food aid must be stepped up as “failure to do so will result in people voting with their stomachs”.
The party acknowledged that the opposition was “penetrating Zanu-PF strongholds, particularly rural constituencies” and blamed non-governmental organisations for mobilising supporters on behalf of the opposition.
The report read: “In essence, they are acting as the opposition commissars whose activities complement those of the opposition outfit.”
Zanu-PF said plans by Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) and the Election Resource Centre (ERC) to conduct parallel vote tabulation next year “is a recipe for chaos and mayhem as well as a serious security threat”.
The party also acknowledged that the country’s economy was poor and posed a threat to its survival come election day.
“That scenario had caused much volatility within the economy to the extent of becoming a security threat which consequently had blighted ZANU PF’s chance of a landslide win in the 2023 harmonised elections,” read the report.
CCC deputy spokesperson Gift “Ostallos” Siziba dismissed Zanu-PF’s notion that the “faka pressure” mantra was meant to cause violence.
Instead, Siziba argued that the phrase was meant to strengthen the mobilisation drive.
“I understand that Zanu-PF’s current leadership composition lacks the necessary intellectual class whose role should be able to assist the elite in Zanu-PF in terms of interpreting the signs of the time, articulating strategies and alternative pathways to win the hearts and minds of Zimbabweans,” he said.
“The faka pressure mantra is a watch-word whose intention is to galvanize the people that we must win Zimbabwe for change against all odds, which is against violence, machinations of the regime and challenges. Because that is the mantra for winners, that winners don’t quit.
“It’s a simple watch-word meaning we must fought ahead against the difficulties and well known and documented violence that is executed on us.”
On the issue of the economy, Siziba said the crisis was being caused by the lack of social contract between Zanu-PF and the Zimbabwean people.
“The economy is suffering because it is the politics stupid. Zanu-PF has failed to resolve the economic crisis because it lacks the social contract. Zanu-PF is suffering from legitimacy. The regime is not legitimate.
“When there is no social contract which is the relationship between those who govern and those that are being governed, it means that there is no trust. When there is no trust, there is no confidence. So the economy under Zanu-PF cannot be revived,” Siziba added.
With the foregoing, there is high risk that PF would go to 2026 elections without a presidential candidate if not careful.
The election of who takes over the party must be handled with care to prevent the Kabushi and Kwacha by-elections saga where the PF were knocked out technically.
There are fears even among their membership that some of the candidates wanting to led the party are already appearing before law enforcement agencies.
The challenge PF has is that the new leader will be elected by the General Assembly whose composition we see as Zambian Eye may not factor in what is at play.
It is clear for anyone to see reading at the happenings that the UPND would do anything to prevent a bounce back of the PF into government.
“Ati alebwelela po? Takuli ukubwelela apo aleyikala pesa? Natwikala po. (How is he going to come back? We are already on the seat,” President Hakainde Hichilema strongly stated this recently.
President Hichilema said he was aware of the talk even among Civil Servants of the alebwelela po adding that it was all over for the PF. He called for alligence to his administration.
We foresee the 2026 elections will be the most controversial and tightly contested. It will not be an easy election for both the ruling and opposition.
Currently, the PF feels confident of bouncing back looking at the performance of the UPND so far. They are listening to the voices out there who feel life in terms of costing of living is high than before.
However the Hakainde Hichilema UPND Administration feels they are living to its campaign promises with employment in civil service, free education and no cadrism. They feel confident and seeing no way Zambians would want to be back to the PF.
The dynamics of all this still points at the leadership of the vying political parties. The UPND will use any tactic within its means for a technical knockout than leavs the opponent to the finals – elections.
