PRESS STATEMENT ON THE PARTICIPATION BY MR. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA IN THE SWAKOPMUND INTERNATIONAL TRADE EXPO IN NAMIBIA

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wishes to inform the Nation that Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia will participate in the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAiTEX) scheduled for 12th to 15th October, 2022 in Swakopmund, Namibia.

President Hichilema will be hosted by His Excellency Dr. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia. The President will deliver a keynote address at the Expo on Wednesday 12th October 2022.

On the margins of the Expo, the President is scheduled to attend the Zambia-Namibia Business Seminar where he is expected to deliver a keynote statement. The President is also expected to engage with both potential investors and partners to advance efforts to re-establish Zambia as an investment destination of choice and set out the Government’s vision for a resilient and sustainable economy that delivers benefits for all Zambians.

The Swakopmund International Trade Expo is an annual international event organized under the auspices of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and it attracts several investors.
This year’s Expo has been convened under the theme: “Towards a Shared Economic Vision – Our Shared Destiny” and will host exhibitors from the mining, finance, tourism, energy, transport, medical, education, fisheries, logistics, commercial and retail services, and construction, among others.

About eight (08) Zambian companies are expected to participate in the Expo. The Zambian Government’s participation at the event is part of ongoing efforts to revitalize the economy through the creation of a more conducive, enabling policy environment for business and entrepreneurship; the identification of new opportunities; commodity diversification, and deepening local involvement among other strategies.

The President’s high level meetings with strategic partners will provide opportunities for marketing Zambia’s investment potential, and creating synergies that will accrue benefits to the Zambian people.

The President has always underscored the need for increased intra-African trade and collaboration for countries in the southern African region and the continent at large to ensure the fulfillment of common development aspirations. The President has also continued to emphasise the importance of maintaining peace and security as a prerequisite to sustainable development.

To this end, President Hichilema’s engagements are expected to, among other things, reinforce existing strong bilateral relations with Namibia and further strengthen partnerships for greater cooperation in the quest to foster economic development and prosperity for the mutual benefit of both countries.

President Hichilema is expected to return to Zambia immediately after his engagements.

Hon. Stanley K. Kakubo, M.P
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
LUSAKA 🇿🇲

11th October, 2022

URGENT

11th October, 2022

On 24th August, 2022 the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) issued a circular to the effect that those whose elections in Kabushi and Kwacha constituencies were nullified would not be allowed to contest the elections.

Our candidates went and filed their nominations which were rejected by the returning officer and we proceeded to court. The elections were stayed by the High Court and the stay is still in force.

Today ECZ has issued a statement that they will proceed with the elections in the two constituencies.

We find the decision of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to proceed with the by-elections in Kabushi and Kwacha constituencies without first awaiting the outcome of the court processes, an abrogation of the Constitution and gross contempt of court.

This is the very behaviour by the ECZ that caused the current legal impasse that the country is experiencing over the Kabushi and Kwacha by-elections. The behaviour of ECZ is not only illegal but extremely reckless and irresponsible and is a recipe for serious public discordant.

It is now clear to the Zambian people that the ECZ has no desire whatsoever to allow the people of Kwacha and Kabushi to have a free and fair election and vote for candidates of their choice.

ECZ and the public are fully aware that the issues of the by-elections in Kabushi and Kwacha are subject of active court processes to which the ECZ itself is part to. There are currently three court processes concerning the Kwacha and Kabushi by-elections;

1. The High Court gave a specific order, ordering ECZ to stay the elections in Kwacha and Kabushi.

2. The Court of Appeal ordered a stay of the delivery of the judgment of the High Court pending determination of the appeal filed by the Attorney General and the ECZ itself and

3. There are proceedings in the Constitution Court on the interpretation of the 90 day period set by the Constitution concerning the period of holding of by-elections.

ECZ and the public may wish to be reminded that the Court of Appeal has ruled, suspending the running of the days until it makes its ruling on the matter.

Clearly ECZ is working on the instructions of the UPND to disenfranchise Hon Bowman Lusambo, Hon Joseph Malanji and the Patriotic Front from participating in the Kabushi and Kwacha by-elections.

Zambians must brace themselves for a complete degeneration of Constitutionslim and the total breakdown of the rule of law as the UPND gets more and more desperate to resuscitate its fading popularity.

We wish to inform our members and the nation at large, that the Patriotic Front has instructed its lawyers to commence appropriate legal action against ECZ including citing the ECZ commissioners for contempt of court in their individual capacities.

I thank you

Issued by;
Hon Nickson Chilangwa, MP
Acting Secretary-General
Patriotic Front

His Excellency Dr. Elias Munshya, High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia to Australia presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency Hon. David Hurley (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

During the ceremony in Canberra, the Governor-General stated that Australia stands ready to strengthen its bilateral relationship with Zambia to improve the livelihood of its citizens.

The Governor-General stated that Australia looked forward to strengthening its economic diplomacy with Zambia.

For his part Dr. Munshya noted that the Zambian Government looked forward to growing its relations with Australia in various sectors.

The High Commissioner conveyed the most cordial greetings and best wishes to the Governor-General from Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia.

The presentation of the Letters of Credence was preceded by a private meeting. This is according to a press statement issued by
Mr. Charles Mucholo, First Secretary Press at the High Commission of Zambia in Australia.

📷 Courtesy of the Zambian Mission in Australia

WE ALL HAVE A DUTY TO SUPPORT THE POLICE IN THEIR DUTIES

By Miles B. Sampa, MP(10.10.2022)

As I exit this topic of the 13 girls rescused, we all should be thankful they were found alive. The worst could have easily been the case.

Next is to state that as MP, my major role is to speak for the voiceless in my constituency and when need be, nation at large. This abduction case is unprecedented in our history and instead of apportioning blame on anyone, we should unite as a nation so as to establish the truth and nothing but the truth. This so to then help ensure measures are put in place to prevent this ordeal from occurring again in any district or constituency of Zambia.

At least I don’t wish it to ever happen in Matero and understanding why and how it occurred a stone throw away, is one step in preventing it from happening in our homestead.

So this is not about pointing fingers at the Zambia Police, IG or entire Government. This is about complementing them to find preventative solutions. We see it time and again in the USA when rogue youths shoot and kill innocents kids at a nursery or primary school. Partisan politics is put aside and everyone instantly hold hands to console families and deal with the problem.

What we seeing here is those in authority being defense and gaging us even inside Parliament in the name of ‘active investigations’.

The abductors were not asking the girls which party they belonged to and neither where those that played a role in rescuing the girls. It’s one of those ‘ you abduct one of the Zambian girls, then you have abducted all of our daughters and sisters’.

I know the risks around talking or discussing such matters and been victims of it before. Those who make a living on cooking propaganda are quick to slander ‘why is he seemingly interested. He is tryin to cover himself. He was one of them’. Lol. In our ‘modern’ status quo some most gullible even proceed to believe such propaganda.

This article will however not discuss circumstances and fate of the 13 victims as their case is apparently “still under active police investigations “.
When and if the Police make their final report on the matter, then may comment accordingly.

Away from the girls, here is what I now understand may have happened on that day based on listening to those that state or claim were on site. So the Zambia Police had zeroed in on the exact area where the girls where being held hostage. This I guess from abductors phone signal out of ZICTA. The abductors who were about to capture another victim that arrived at their location after duping her.

The captive opened the gate in ‘business as usual’ mode but noticed the girl at the gate had hint of police decoy. He banged the gate and run inside the yard to the abducted girls house. It was a rented house in one area of the wall fence away from the landlord house who was also a single and relatively young man.

The abductor ran into the house to grab his treasured items and can imagine a phone and wallet. He then bolted by jumping the wall fence for his safety. The abducted girls then sensed trouble for the abductors and instant opportunity for their freedom.

They followed abductor actions dashing to the wall fence to jump out as well. Most managed and ran to nearby houses screaming for help.

They stated some girls were still inside and need to be helped out. A few boys encountered rashed back into the captive yard to rescue the ones that had remained. It was two pregnant girls and one heavily so. Attempts to help them out through by now open gate were futile as one the heavily pregnant girls insisted to exit by jumping via the wall as well. She cried and opposed using the gate route as in her mind it may have lead to her death given thats where the abductors would arrrive from.

Once all girls were all out of the danger yard, the community the gave them water and also phones to make calls to their mothers or relatives. In the same period the C5 rapid response Police unity arrived.

The Police and residents of the area should both be commended. Nowhere in the World does the Police work effectively without community participation. Police work is made easier if neighbours of law breakers volunteer information. This is a given fact and Zambia actually once hard a very solid neighborhood watch programme.

Emmasdale and Makeni areas were well known for their solid neighborhood watch programmes. They arrested criminals by the time the Police would arrive be it a few second later. I gather it was abolished after some began to abuse the same neighborhood watch errands to commit crimes.

That said we still need to enhance solid partnership between the Police and communities. The two are symbiotic and heavily depends on each other to meet their aspirations. We should desist from vilifying those that assisted the police towards, during and after in the rescue of the girls. We should actually make them heroes so as to encourage residents of our communities to be vigilante in helping neighbours raised by criminals.

This will encourage residents to wake up quickly in the middle of the night and out of their houses to help each time they hear late night compound shouts of ‘ kawalala kuno’( there is a thief in our yard).

ZP has always had operational challenges time immemorial but a united comminty, can still help them curb usual and these latest strange unZambian crimes.

Well done everyone one that acted brave to get the girls rescued. Every incident is a lesson for us to help better future security for all citizens.

As for the rewards, it will not be released to anyone until Police investigations are officially completed and hopefully sooner. We don’t wish used as scapegoat and cited for interfering in the ‘police active investigations’.

As for anyone telling me to shut up, it’s exercise in futility as that also my ‘talanta’ (calling) to speak for those unable to even when they have acted in heroic manner and no one is noticing their effort. Happy to give them a platform to be noticed by those that voluntarily wish to reward them.

The topic is not and should not be a them (in government) and us matter. It’s a matter for all of us to deal with. It’s a matter for the safety of all Zambians and more so the girl child.

Stoping us the public or the rescued girls from speaking out will not do. Openness and even some apology if need be is what will heal the nation out of this unprecedented ordeal.

Being defensive just goes to accelerate the anger from citizens especially all of us parents of girls.

Let’s face the problem to and unite to resolve the puzzle and ultimately curb such crime from ever occurring in Zambia.

Together We Can
MBS10.10.2022

It’s a tragedy!

By Oscar Chavula

My last night into early this morning was spent at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, a close friend of mine had an emergency and they were rushed there.

I was greeted by fresh blood strewn along the floor from the entrance right through to the consultation rooms on your right. Initially, I thought an accident patient had just been brought in and the clean up of the floor would soon follow. Once I was there close to an hour I got concerned how we were side stepping or jumping over fresh blood as we walked from the entrance through to the corridor a distance of slightly close to 25 metres.

Eventually, I took it upon myself to ask for the blood to be cleaned off the floor! The Medical personnel didn’t look bothered at all. So I asked the guard to get someone to attend to it urgently. It took a while to get done by a gentleman who looked sleepy, lethargic and unbothered, he just run the mop over the floor and off he went… What kind of people are we really, how and when did it become a normal sight to have blood on the floor for hours.

LMUTH is a new hospital on paper, a dirty hospital it is in reality… Whoever is contracted to clean the hospital is doing a terrible job of it, the floor is stained (ukukowela) as if they clean it with dirty water. You would think it will take years before we would see such sharp decline (Hell NO…) It has taken less than 18 months.

An expensive gift (China to Zambia) been looked after badly…

The service was pathetic but that’s the story for another day. Just observing the happenings at this Hospital my heart was deeply troubled.

They cry for jobs at every turn, even toy-toying to get a chance at serving patients only to get employed then the mockery and rudeness starts… doing things with no care or sense of urgency!

#howdidwegetthisbad

President Hakainde Hichilema has warned newly recruited civil servants declining to report in rural stations that Government will not hesitate to replace them with others waiting to be employed.

The President said Zambians in all parts of the country be it rural deserve to receive health and education services like those in urban areas.

Mr Hichilema noted with concern the high number of reported incidences were teachers and health workers deployed in rural areas are requesting to be redirected to institutions in urban areas.

He said lack of accommodation should not be given as an excuse for refusing to work in rural areas as Government was doing everything possible to improve housing for civil servants serving in rural communities.

The President has since announced Government intention to recruit extension officers under the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock respectively with the directive that those to be recruited should serve where they are sent.

Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema has committed to unifying the country in order to actualize the goals of the visionary leaders who fought for Zambia’s independence.

The President says his administration is determined to honouring the peace efforts of the fallen heroes who risked their lives meeting under the Samu Lya Moomba tree in Monze strategizing on delivering the country from colonial rule.

The President was speaking in Monze yesterday when he graced the Samu lya Moomba traditional ceremony of Tonga – Ila people of Chief Choongo in Southern province.

President Hichilema has since pledged to maintain the unifying spirit of the event which the country’s fore fathers recognized as a pre – requisite to national development.

The Head of State highlighted government’s commitment to implement projects aimed at bettering the lives of the Zambians as envisioned by the country’s freedom fighters.

Mr Hichilema has since assured the people of Monze that government will complete the construction of the Monze – Niko road whose works have stalled over the years.

And speaking earlier, Chief Choongo who spoke through a representative, appealed to government to consider constructing a university in Monze that will be biased towards livestock and agricultural trainings.

He said livestock farming is main economic activity for the people of Monze and Southern province as a whole hence the need to have a university in the region.

Meanwhile Southern Province Minister, Cornelius Mweetwa has commended President Hakainde Hichilema for becoming the first President to recognize the role Samu lya Moomba played in the country’s political history.

And Minister of Tourism, Ronald Sikumba said his ministry will continue marketing the ceremony domestically and internationally.

By Godfrey Chitalu

A gathering in See Car Zay of educated police officers was underway. Named after a renowned linguist, a whole platoon of Mphombozi was reviewing a rescue mission for a woman abducted six months ago. Their plan was to apportion blame on the previous uneducated officers called Kapasos for their cadre mentality.

“Gentlemen” although the gathering had female officers, “we have to put a stop to these abductions” said a huge figure of a man named Car Jobber, who had carved a career chasing cars. The entire See Car Zay camp was home to traffic officers, whose irises were inseparable from cars and money.

To help solve this mystery we have invited Zee International Company for Tracking Activities (ZICTA), he shouted nonchalantly while handing over to a zee TV official. “As long as the abductors use smart phones, their days are numbered, the bespectacled official thundered. The next speaker, a highly decorated officer insisted that since the last TV thief wore a green shirt, the team should concentrate on anything green. Hooray! Eureka!

Just then a phone rung from Car Lala saying they had found the abductors. What ensured at See Car Zay was chaotic! Where is ray to shine our way? What about Zero Breaking News Corporation? Do we have enough tear gas? Nanga full well. The scene in slow motion segued to the final lap as gun totting officers scrambled to board dozens of armored vehicles.

On arrival, the swat team was pleasantly surprised to find a slim teenager mistakenly paraded as commander. He had pinned one red and not green shirted abductor while being accosted for an interview by fearless Costa! Like Costa he picked words with finesse, knew the geography of the area and triumphantly said he was unfazed when the other abductors vanished in thin air. When asked about the abducted young woman, he corrected the Mphombozi by saying it was actually a dozen plus one.

After ransacking the entire crime scene, the jigsaw puzzle was unraveled. It looked like the search party concentrated on cyber-crimes and smart phones when abductors were using Nokia 33 phones hidden in a casket. Now the feared disciplinary committee is pushing the heroic youngster to start training ba Mphombozi, who wasted their time shooting videos and taking selfies at the crime scene! Police have responded by saying Robby is an impostor.
The author is a social commentator who writes for pleasure
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RESOLUTIONS OF THE PF CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Sunday 9th October, 2022

The Central Committee of the Patriotic Front (PF) met yesterday to deliberate on a number of issues of concern to the Party and the nation.

The official opening of the meeting was graced by six opposition party presidents who encouraged the Patriotic Front to be resolved as the main opposition political party in the country and save the nation from the current crises the country is battling with, ranging from the high cost of living, rising youth unemployment, chronic lack of liquidity in the economy, the total break down of the rule of law, wanton abuse of state institutions by the ruling party, the deep moral decay that has given rise to cases of homosexuality, sodomy and a general rise in crimes as evidenced by the rising cases of serious crimes such as murder and abductions.

The Central Committee made a number of resolutions which include but not limited to the following;

1. APPOINTMENTS

The Central Committee has ratified the appointments of the following individuals as Members of the Central Committee (MCC) of the Patriotic Front;

a) Madam Mpasa MWAYA, Kitwe Mayor
b) Madam Theresa KOLALA, Kasama Mayor
c) Mr Patrick CHISHALA, Kabwe Mayor

2. ADOPTIONS

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has prescribed Friday 4th November, 2022 as the date on which to hold by-elections for three (3) Council Chairperson and 18 Ward Councillor by-elections.

In view of the above, the Central Committee has adopted the following individuals to contest as Council Chairperson candidates on the Patriotic Front Party ticket;

a) MKUSHI
The Central Committee has adopted Mr. MABVUTO NYIRENDA as the PF candidate for the Mkushi Council Chairperson by-election.

Hon Geofrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) has been appointed campaign manager and he shall be deputised by Hon Godfridah Sumaili, Hon Sydney Mushanga, MP and Mr Billy Sichamba.

b) LUSANGAZI
The Central Committee has adopted Mr. PATRICK BANDA as the PF candidate for the Lusangazi Council Chairperson by-election.

Hon Richard Musukwa has been appointed campaign manager and shall be deputised by Hon Elias Daka (Eliboma), MP, Hon Masauso Tembo (Kazungula), MP and Hon Brenda Nyirenda, MP.

c) MWENSE
The Central Committee has adopted Mr. CHARLES MWELWA as the PF candidate for the Mwense Council Chairperson by-election.

Hon Davies Mwila has been appointed campaign manager and shall be deputised by Hon Ronald Chitotela, MP, Hon David Mabumba, MP and Hon Jean Chisenga, MP.

We are calling upon all our structures, members and sympathisers to fully campaign and support our candidates in the upcoming by-elections.

I thank you.

Issued by;
Hon Nickson Chilangwa, MP, MCC, AIH
Acting Secretary General
Patriotic Front

Ministry of community development takes in 13 rescued girls

The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services have taken over the welfare of the survivors of abduction following the completion of their medical examinations.

The 13 young ladies who were rescued from the abductors last week had been undergoing medical check ups in Lusaka to ascertain their health statuses and establish the extent of their sexual exploitation and abuse.

The victims aged between 17 and 28 are currently in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare who have provided a place of safety as mandated in the provisions of the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act No.1 of 2011 and Anti-Human Trafficking Act No. 11 of 2008.

Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Doreen Mwamba has disclosed through a statement that the traumatic experience of the abductions has huge psychological effects on the mental health of the survivors, hence the need to subject the young ladies to a trauma and psychosocial therapy in a place of safety as part of the healing process.

“The Case Management processes which will be carried out by the social workers from the ministry alongside other professional psychologists from Chainama Hospital, will focus on psychological wellness and general welfare on case-by-case basis” Mwamba has said.

She has further said that the families of the survivors have since been informed of the planned interventions, and Government has requested for more time with the survivors before they are eventually reintegrated into their families.

She also disclosed that the families that travelled from other towns outside Lusaka to see their daughters will be provided with support by the ministry through the Lusaka District Social Welfare Office until the survivors are discharged from the Place of Safety.

“The families will also undergo counselling to ensure that they are in good state of mind to provide care and support to their daughters.The planned interventions require concerted efforts with various stakeholders and the Ministry is working closely with Gender Division as well as Non-Governmental Organisations to ensure that all supplies are provided to the survivors in order to safeguard their stay in the Place of Safety” Mwamba has emphasized.

She has assured that the ministry will keep the general public informed of the next steps of rehabilitation as the girls journey on the road to recovery.

Mwamba has also appealed to the media and the general public to desist from any publication of the identity or personal information of the survivors to avoid further victimization and traumatization of the young ladies.

Kalemba

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE- A VEXING PROBLEM IN NEW DAWN

By Chibamba Kanyama

-Inexperience – Interferennce – Micromanagement-

In past four weeks, two Chairpersons of public sector boards separately told me they planned to step down. They had serious concerns about the invisible hand that interfered in their work. They feared their continued stay as directors of the respective institutions compromised their ability to professionally provide oversight. They accepted to be part of the respective boards believing that the new government was serious about professionalizing governance systems in the public sector.

I advised strongly against stepping down. The new Government was still in a transitional stage with a lot of things still falling in their rightful place. If the motivation to resign was purely on ethical grounds, I encouraged them to resign. However, if the reason for resigning was purely because of bad governance practices and procedures, it was easy to fix concerns with time.

As British politician Baroness Lynda Chalker once said, ‘‘Corporate Governance does not exist in a vacuum. It is profoundly influenced by the political and economic environment of each country.’ It is, therefore, expected there will be teething problems for the new government as it seeks to stabilize the governance systems in the public sector.

To its credit, the new government has, to some extent, done its best to bring on board quite well qualified individuals to oversee the performance of the public sector as independent directors. This is in line with the party manifesto that states in part on corporate governance, “In light of rising cases of abuse of office in both the private and public sectors, a key focus of our effort will be legislation aimed at improving the corporate governance environment in the country. This will include strengthening qualifications for directors and board appointments, insolvency laws (qualification and appointment of practitioners) to guard against recent cases of blatant abuse of the process by political players.’

In the past year, there has been a significant roll out of training programmes on corporate governance for newly installed directors in the public sector. As a corporate governance practitioner myself, I felt hugely motivated offering mentorship to these men and women on the belief the political environment was well set to support good governance practices in the public sector.

Unfortunately, I am beginning to be anxious about the level of seriousness that the New Dawn Government attaches to corporate governance. I am equally concerned some of those we have trained and capacitated as directors are still confused about their roles and responsibilities on the respective boards. Three issues are of concern:

INEXPERIENCED DIRECTORS

Not everyone appointed to these boards has basic appreciable competence and stamina to execute functions of director at board level. Parastatals, statutory bodies and other government agencies anchor the success of the country. Most of these institutions define the success of the private sector. A well governed Energy Regulation Board, Zambia Environmental Management Agency, National Roads Fund Agency or any other institution reflects in how the private sector efficiently does its own business.

You cannot, therefore, afford to appoint individuals without any track record of leadership and management at a reasonably high level to these boards. Ministers should look beyond friends in appointing directors. It is accepted any government that comes to power would have had individuals that may need to be compensated for their contribution. That compensation can be in any other areas but not on boards.

There is need to search deeply in the market to find individuals who are better qualified to perform the function of director. The moment you have individuals without an iota of leadership acumen in the public sector, problems emerge, and they need to be addressed.

POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

There are indications the invisible hand is still alive in the governance of public bodies. The debate along governance technocrats lately has been whether the government in power shouild completely maintain a hands-off approach on the performance of public entities soon after appointing the board of directors. The position by some of my colleagues is that ‘government input’ is necessary. I have no problems with that if input is given under acceptable governance procedures and processes.

Procedurally, government input is given to the organization through the board of directors and this happens in two ways. First, government usually has representation on these boards. The reason is to facilitate for government (shareholder) input. Second, the annual general meetings exist for this government input.

My concern is that some government officials are ignoring this, giving instructions directly to management. In one case, the Chief Executive Officer carried out a serious activity without board approval. When approached by the Board, he replied the directive was given by the minister. This should never be allowed in the New Board. It frustrates Board members.

MICROMANAGEMENT

It is not only the Ministers or other government authorities causing tension in governance systems of public entities. I have also come to realize some directors do not know their boundaries.

It is a pity some Board chairpersons have turned themselves into operatives, executors of their own directives, demanding more in terms of personal compensation from the institutions than they are expected to. This is the reason public sector boards are beset with challenges despite induction programmes facilitated for them.

Anything that borders on micromanagement is a serious compromise to acceptable corporate governance standards. We can surely do better than this under the New Dawn Government. Apparently, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, the Finance and National Planning Minister, plans to address dysfunctional governance systems in State Owned Enterprises as per the 2023 National Budget.

PERSONALITY PROFILE OF THE WEEK

SENIOR COUNSEL MAKEBI ZULU.

Former Malambo MP
Former Minister Eastern Province.

The path to success for Makebi Zulu was not a rosy one . It was one which involved determination, dedication, sacrifice hard work and resilience.

He was born on the 25th of December 1981.

Raised in a Christian home with a Pastor for a father, he grew up with deep rooted values of humility, integrity and hard work.

He did his Primary School Education at Lusaka Boys from 1989 to 1995, then proceeded to Munali High School for his Secondary School Education.

Coming from a humble background in Lusakas Kaunda Square compound, Makebi Zulu sold freeters and Ice blocks among other things to raise money to pay for his school fees.

Those that went to school with him at Munali Secondary School testify that they never would have guessed that the ever smiling, ever smart and bubbly young man doubled as a trader to enable him pay for his education.

In 2001, Makebi Zulu made it to the University of Zambia were he would study for and graduate with a degree in Law four years later.

In Jan – Feb of 2004, Makebi Zulu interned at the Legal resources Foundation in Livingstone.

Upon Completion of his Bachelor’s Degree In Law at the University of Zambia, he then worked at the Ministry of Justice from April 2006 to December 2007.

In 2007, he graduated from the Prestigious Zambia institute of Legal Education ZIALE .

He then worked for the Legal Aid board as Legal Aid Counsel from Jan 2008 to December 2009.

His duties included rendering Legal advise to Clients, drafting legal documents , representing clients in litigation in the Magistrate Court, High Court as well as the Industrial Relations Court and any other tribunal or dispute resolution committee.

In January 2010, Hon Zulu joined Ferd Jere and Company Advocates as an Advocate. His duties and responsibilities included, litigation , Corporate Advisory, Acquisition and Mergers , Banking and Finance Law Advisory.

In 2013 Hon. Makebi Zulu Opened his private law Practice , Makebi Zulu Advocates.

At this point, the Son of a Pastor who had once nurtured ambitions of being a Pastor himself when growing up, descided to look for a platform that would enable him to serve humanity. He descided to Join politics and vyed for the Malambo parliamentary sit in the eastern Province during the August 2016 General elections were he emerged victorious as Malambo Contuency Law Maker.

The then Republican President of Zambia . Edgar Chagwa Lungu would then appoint him to the position of Provincial Minister for Eastern Province.

Hon. Makebi Zulu would then dedicate 5 years to serving the people of Malambo .

In 2021 , he went back to his Law Practice after not retaining the Malambo seat .

Mr Zulu is Married with Children .

He is fluent in French and during his free time which isn’t often, he loves reading, watching soccer, playing golf and swimming.

They say destiny is for those that are bold enough to achieve it. Hon. Makebi Zulu is living proof of that adage

A young man who has beaten tough odds to be were he is today. Indeed he is a role model. One worth emulating.

SUSPENDED Director of Public Prosecution Lillian Siyunyi has named Ackson Sejani, Senior Chief Mukuni’s wife Veronica Munakasale Mukuni, Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti as some of the prominent Zambians for whom she had entered nolle prosequi.

Ms Siyunyi has rubbished assertions that she is aligned to the Patriotic Front (PF) declaring that she has never been a member of the former ruling party nor belonged to any political party in her entire professional career.

She complained that it was malicious that she was being aligned to the PF, a political party she has never associated herself with as she was but a professional civil servant throughout her career as a prosecutor.

Ms Siyunyi has challenged those accusing her of having worked with the PF to have the courage to disclose the number of nolle prosequis she had given to the former ruling party and the governing UPND so that Zambians compare who had the most of the nolles.

Reacting to leaked documents in which she is said to have proffered immunity to Mr Amos Chanda, the former State House press aide, Ms Siyunyi said there were many prominent citizens who had been offered immunity from prosecution after they were arraigned before the courts.

Ms Siyunyi who has been suspended by President Hakainde Hichilema and is now appearing before the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC) over an array of accusations from the governing UPND, opposition MMD and other interest groups denied ever having been bought a motor vehicle by Mr Ronald Chitotela.

“I have never been a member of PF. I should not be aligned to any political party, not even PF. The PF found me. I was deputy to Chalwe Muchenga. The UPND found me and I have never belonged to any political party in my entire professional career. I want to challenge those that are accusing me of being PF disclose the number of nolles given to the PF and those that were given to the UPND and we will see who had the most of it. Mr Ackson Sejani, the wife to senior chief Mukuni was given a nolle. They are talking about Amos Chanda who was PF and want to align me with the former ruling party, that is malicious,” Ms Siyunyi said.

Ms Siyunyi said it was shocking that she was being aligned to the PF when the UPND while in opposition used to praise and glorify her that she was a professional DPP.

She said it was a concoction of lies that that Mr Chitotela, the PF Pambashe Member of Parliament purchased a motor for as an inducement for her to enter a nolle prosequi for him.

She also named President Hakainde Hichilema as one of the citizens who were sitting on a nolle prosequi because she had never been selective in the performance of her duties.

Ms Siyunyi said other senior UPND members like Mr Ackson Sejani and even Senior Chief Mukuni’s wife were other notable individuals that were handed nolle prosequi.

Ms Siyunyi stated that very few PF members had ever received favourable judgements by virtue of being familiar with her and that it was disheartening that the governing party was maliciously aligning her to a political party.

Ms Siyunyi said those accusing her should have the courage and decency of exhibiting proof that she executed immunity for Mr Chanda as it was with former Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Liquidator Milingo Lungu.- Daily Nation

A CHAT WITH MADAM EDITH NAWAKWI ON LOCAL ENTERPRISES AND POVERTY REDUCTION

By Alexander Nkosi

After reading the submission made by madam Edith Nawakwi on- dismantling of domestic arrears, supporting local enterprises and poverty reduction- my response is as follows:

1. DISMANTLING DOMESTIC ARREARS
The past 10 years domestic arrears have been building reaching K48.1 billion at the end of 2021. If we include outstanding ZESCO bills and fuel arrears, the figure was K79.9 billion. What this means is that we were accruing more arrears than we were dismantling. What is the current situation? In just 6 months of 2022, the stock of domestic arrears has started going down. Domestic arrears excluding ZESCO bills and fuel have reduced from K48.1 billion at the end of 2021 to K44 billion by June 2022.

Domestic arrears including ZESCO bills and fuel have also gone down from K79.9 billion at the end of 2021 to K76.4 billion at the end of June 2022. This is a good indicator because we have halted the increase and now working on bringing it down. It should also be noted that the allocation to dismantling of domestic arrears has increased from K2.8 billion in 2021 to K6.8 billion in 2023.

2. SUPPORTING LOCAL ENTERPRISES
I will highlight six initiatives government is implementing to support local enterprises:

Initiative One: Government has put the private sector at the centre of its economic rebuilding agenda. This requires that the private sector as a key partner is involved in the formulation and review of policies aimed at improvement the business and economic environment. The public private dialogue forum will help achieve this.

Initiative Two: Local entrepreneurs are at different stages . At the very basic level, small businesses and entrepreneurs at constituency level will be empowered through increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation which in essence is meant to stimulate economic activities at local level. People might be facing challenges in accessing CDF but this does not take away from the merits of the initiative.

In CDF there is a component of community projects which will be done by local SMEs, this will help them grow so that they can compete for bigger projects. There is also a component of economic empowerment for community groups. All these are meant to uplift entreprises at grassroot level.

Initiative Three: Entrepreneurs whose business ventures are bigger than what is being offered under CDF can access funds under the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission where K397 million has been allocated in 2023 in addition to the K350 million allocated in 2022. This comes with training, business mentorship and market linkages across 7 entreprises being promoted. An additional K50 million has being allocated to support small scale mining.

Initiative Four: The fourth initiative is for those entrepreneurs that have outgrown empowerment funds and can deal directly with commercial banks. Government has cut down on domestic borrowing by K8.9 billion, a move which will trigger a reduction in interest rates and allow the private sector to borrow and invest. The World Bank and USAID are supporting government through trade facilitation projects aimed at promoting exports. Government has further stepped up economic diplomacy targeting joint ventures between local and foreign firms.

Initiative Five: Government spending has actually gone up. While the total budget has gone down from K173 billion in 2022 to K167.3 billion in 2023, this is largely due to a K33.1 billion reduction in external debt service. Spending on economic affairs, education, health, social protection, housing and community amenities, recreation, culture and religion- increased both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the total budget. There is also an increase in domestic debt service and dismantling of domestic arreas. This spending is good for the economy, it helps put money into the economy to support economic activities.

Initiative Six: A stable macroeconomic environment is key to the success of local entreprises. Inflation is way lower than it was in 2021 and kwacha has not only appreciated but stabilised around K15 to K16 per dollar. The price of fuel is high but there is no government that can address all problems at once. From January to August 2022, government lost about K11 billion from zero rating of VAT and suspension of excise and customs duty on fuel.

3. POVERTY REDUCTION
With regards to poverty reduction, about 70% of Zambians are employed in the agriculture sector and it is the source of income for most of the people in rural areas. Therefore any poverty reduction strategy should be designed such that it addresses constraints being faced in the agriculture sector. It should address low productivity and profitability.

Over the years we have focused so much on inputs neglecting agriculture extension which should essentially help farmers plan, implement and market their produce better. To this effect government has increased the agriculture budget to K11.2 billion, with the FISP budget increasing to K9.1 billion in 2023 from K5.3 billion in 2022.

To improve agriculture extension, in 2023 government has allocated K790 million. This will help in recruiting extension officers and supporting them with kits, tablets and transport and rehabilitating facilities.Government has also accessed USD300 million from World Bank to support farm block development and irrigation. This, coupled with increased CDF and social protection budgets will help bring down poverty levels.

No country can achieve everything in a single year, we are definitely making the right investments.

Thank you.

Copperbelt-based UPND member and business executive Mellbin Simangolwa has advised President Hakainde Hichilema not to allow the Patriotic Front (PF) to stand in his vision of making Zambia a more prosperous nation.

Mr. Simangolwa said the PF have a hidden agenda to discredit and distract President Hichilema and his New Dawn Government from it’s vision.

He said President Hichilema must remain focused on national development because the PF is dead regardless of it’s propaganda against the UPND regime.

Mr. Simangolwa said under the leadership of President Hichilema, Zambia has seen positive development such as the appreciation of the kwacha, good leadership and job creation.

“Just like the devil after defeat, PF is moving like roaring lion in it’s deception and propaganda. President Hakainde Hichilema must remain focused on national development because love it or hate PF dead.From the time United Party for National Development (UPND) formed government under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, we have seen positive development in our country. Our currency, the kwacha has become world’s best performing currency and moved from 10th to 4th strongest currency in Africa. This is not magic but evidence of good leadership.After years of financial mismanagement and over borrowing by the previous regime, President Hakainde Hichilema and his team have managed to restructure the debt and this has allowed more money to go towards social spending. As result of this, we have seen the introduction of free education, massive employments, payment of redundant TAZARA and Indeni workers, Payment of retirees, increased beneficiaries of social cash transfer and reintroduction of students meal allowances among many other things,”Mr. Simangolwa said.

He said many Zambians are appreciating the efforts of President Hichilema and his New Dawn government.

“Reintroduction of meal allowances for our students in public institutions mean parents and guardians can now save a lot money and at the same time we are saving our female students from being exploited in exchange for food. This is what a good leader does not buying a private jet when there’s no money for education.These positive achievements are being appreciated by majority of our citizens and the defeated enemy is not happy. These achievements in just year has exposed that the 10years of Patriotic Front (PF) reign was wasted time for the country. Instead of apologizing and appreciating President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND, the PF has embarked on well calculated propaganda aimed at discrediting the good works of government. A scheme which will end in shame,” he said.

Mr. Simangolwa charged people should not expect anything good to come from the Patriotic Front just like nothing came out of their 10 year rule.

“Shamelessly, PF is spreading a list of people who have been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Commission. This is the same people that arrested Hakainde Hichilema more than 17 times before we can add other people like Obvious Mwaliteta who spent long time in prison not this summoning where people are released on bond before the interrogations even starts. The PF has also failed to mention that as much as many people have been summoned, we have not lost any life like the case of Nsama and Joseph Kaunda.In any case we don’t expect anything good to come from the Patriotic Front just like nothing came out of the their 10 years in power. This is the reason why we are advising our President Hakainde Hichilema to concentrate on delivering development and ignore distractions from a dead snake,” he said.

Mr. Simangolwa stated Zambians should continue supporting President Hichilema saying better days are coming.

“The people of Zambia and the global community is appreciating the good leadership of President Hichilema. The bitterness, Jealous and the pain of losing power is evident even in the forming foundations that they never thought when they had power.Let all we meaning Zambians let us continue supporting President Hakainde Hichilema. We have better days ahead. God bless you all,”Mr. Simangolwa added.

But Leadership Movement(LM) President Richard Silumbe says it is sad that the UPND administration has continued to pursue what he termed as colonial policies.

Dr Silumbe refused to recognise the UPND administration as a capitalist Government because it has continued to follow colonial policies.

“This is why as Leadership Movement, we are saying that the ‘New Dawn’ Administration has continued to pursue policies of colonialism and not policies of capitalism. They call themselves capitalist but we do not believe that they are capitalists. They are colonised…they are behaving like a colonised Government,” he said.

Dr Silumbe said a capitalist Government ensures that it engages in production to raise funds for the people.

” What we are seeing in the ‘New Dawn’ Government, whilst we have all these natural resources, they are going for loans and if you look at their budget, most of it is funded from external resources,” the opposition leader regretted.

He added: “They are getting loans from the International Monetary Fund(IMF) and the World Bank and using semantics to cover up for these loans…soft loans or hard loans but it comes to one thing, they are loans. When that loan is used for consumption purposes as it is in this budget, where will the money come from to settle the debt?”

Dr Silumbe insists that Zambians are not benefiting from the natural resources the country is endowed with.

“Every minute that passes, one track leaves the country loaded with copper yet the money paid for that copper is in externalised accounts. What comes into the country is money only meant to pay workers. We are not getting anything…the idea of continuing to give these foreign investors tax holidays is detrimental to the development of our country and detrimental to the development of the future generation. Remember, this copper is a wasting asset… It continues going out of the country but we are not getting anything in return,” he said.

Political | Analysis: Eliminating Political Opponents Through The Illusion Of Truth – Part I.

Lusaka – 25th January, 2021.

Repetition makes a fact seem more true, regardless of whether it is or not. Understanding this effect can help you avoid falling for propaganda. “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth”, is a law of propaganda. Among psychologists this is known as the “illusion of truth” effect. If repetition was the only thing that influenced what we believed, we’d be in trouble, but it isn’t.

Our minds are prey to the illusion of truth effect because our instinct is to use short-cuts in judging how plausible something is. Often this works but it can be misleading. In this narrative, I labour to explain how the general public is deliberately made to ignore the political rivalry variable to the corruption allegations equation in arriving at a guilty verdict in the court of public opinion.

In the case of Barnabas vs Jesus, the court of public opinion was not moved by the truth and that is how falsehood momentarily defeated the truth but surprisingly enough, not even people in a Christian Nation have taken time to learn from that judgment. The illusion of truth is not inevitable. When armed with knowledge, we can resist it. Let’s seek after knowledge.

In Zambia, today, we rarely take time to question the validity of negative statements we come across involving public figures so it’s easier for politicians to use corruption allegations to get rid of their political opponents instead of engaging in competitive debates at the level of developmental ideas. This article seeks to lay foundation to further articles I shall present on why Zambians must this time be smarter ahead of the 2021 general elections.

I have been gathering data to present our followers, who seek after the truth, with a very special report that should give us a gleam reality of politics of deception in which corruption is used, often times involving a cartel of the press, planted whistle blowers, CSOs and prominent civil servants to ensure that whatever is presented is made to appear as credible as it could ever be.

Allow me to take you a little bit back to the issue of political persecution in the corruption case of former President Frederick Chiluba vs the People of Zambia. What was believed to be a water tight case has since proved only to have been a malicious political fight initiated by enemies of Chiluba and supported by the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

President Levy Mwanawasa addressed Parliament and presented a series of allegations that former president Chiluba had committed offences against the state while in office. Five days later, Parliament had hastily passed a resolution lifting Mr. Chiluba’s immunity against prosecution. There was jubilation in the country.

Chiluba’s enemies had done all they could to destroy his name in the court of public opinion dubbing his case the ‘Chiluba’s matrix of plunder’. Parliament’s move was largely a response to rising protests over the government’s failure to act against the high-level corruption allegations levelled against the former Head of State.

Hundreds of demonstrators marched the streets of Lusaka, chanting and waving anti-Chiluba messages and swarmed the Parliament premises ahead of the special hearing.

“Chiluba is worse than HIV/AIDS”, one angry placard proclaimed. “Chiluba is a devil incarnate”, charged another. Several others carried similar but strong and moving messages. One can just wonder what was going on in the mind of the late President at the time. But as it was in the case of Barnabas vs Jesus, once hatred has been established, noone wants to hear any defence of the guilty one.

Mwanawasa alleged that millions of dollars, including US $20.5m earmarked for arms purchases, were diverted from public coffers for the personal benefit of the former President, his family and associates. It was further alleged that over US $7m was diverted from the HIPC funds to a dubious arms deal with Katebe Katoto, alias Raphel Soliano, a Congolese rebel leader in the DRC. With all these and many more, and that they were coming from the Head of State himself, Chiluba was guilty in the court of public opinion.

Surprisingly, when the matter went to court, all the prominent allegations especially the arms purchases and the diversion of HIPC funds proved to be unfounded and dropped off and Chiluba found himself facing a possibility of a jail term over a paltry US $500,000 from the multitude of millions that necessitated the removal of his immunity by Parliament. By the nation was coming to grips with the truth.

In 2007, the prosecution tried to save face by taking Chiluba’s case to a hired British judge, Peter Smith, who ordered Chiluba to pay back US $58 million to compensate for money he was suspected of stealing while he was in office. Chiluba just laughed it off. The prosecution knew that the judgement, technically, could not even be registered in Zambia. Two years later, however, Lusaka Magistrate Jones Chinyama said the prosecution team had failed to prove the case against Chiluba.

“I find that the accused is not guilty on all counts,” Chinyama said.

“Those who thought I am a thief should know now that that I am innocent. As a Christian Nation, we do not steal but the devil will accuse you of stealing,” Chiluba told a news conference after the verdict was handed down.

Chiluba’s innocence came after the political motives of the cartel against him had already been achieved. So to avoid similar situations where political enemies can achieve their short term political objectives through the elusion of truth, President Edgar Lungu has often refused to take decisions based on the court of public opinion. So what has changed in the case of the former Minister of Health, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya? We shall soon find out.

Join me in the next part as I look at the recent case of the missing ARVs at Medical Stores in which it was alleged by enemies of the former Minister of Health that he was behind the theft and, consequently, had put the lives of Zambians at risk through drug shortages. Investigations by the external, conflict of interest free and objective Global Fund sponsored forensic audit revealed astonishing results.

The illusion of truth is not inevitable, when armed with knowledge, we can resist it.

Mpandashalo Evans Mwewa.
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