Below is Dr Vernon Mwaanga’s statement in full:

WHETHER WE ARE IN GOVERNMENT OR IN OPPOSITION, THE MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF DEMOCRACY SHOULD REMAIN EXACTLY THE SAME

STATEMENT BY DR VERNON J MWAANGA GOEZ. 7TH AUGUST, 2O22.

Our country has gone through a number of governance phases since independence in 1964. We had multi-party from 1964 to 1973, when we then had a socialist one party system, which lasted the next 18 years, when we reverted to multi-party system. Each of these systems was called a democracy. The one party socialist system subsequently became unpopular with a great majority of our people, because it failed to put food on the tables of a great majority of our people. We even experienced ugly food riots which started on the Copperbelt.

The country went through a dark period. Our mothers spent hours on end, queuing for mealie meal, cooking oil, bath soap, sugar, washing powder etc. Fanta, Coca-Cola, Sprite had disappeared and poor alternatives had hit the market in the name of Tip Top, Tarino and Quench. When in 1991 the people of Zambia, overwhelmingly voted for change , the MMD took over a country which was riddled with domestic and external debt. Nearly 80% of the national economy was under State control, including the mines. The people of Zambia developed a culture of fearing their leaders , instead the leaders fearing their masters- the people who elected them. The people were afraid to tell their leaders what was going wrong in the country, for fear of retribution. Citizens should not fear their leaders. They should fully respect their leaders and leaders must earn this respect, through their words and deeds.

When UPND was voted into power in August, 2021, they did not expect to find the debt burden obtaining and the general government mess. It will not be easy to clean-up the mess they found. Key areas of milking government, was largely through faulty tender procedures for fertiliser and fuel procurement. Care must be taken to avoid mistakes of the past. Fertiliser under the Fertiliser Input Supply Programme (FISP) , enables small scale farmers to produce the bulk of the food consumed by our citizens. Fertiliser supply in good time and distribution to the rural most parts of Zambia is critical. Local companies with the capacity to supply and distribute, must not be ignored at the expense of local companies, even if it invokes the old adage which says that ” the devil you know, is better than the angel you don’t know”. Politics is a commitment to serve the country and people. Politics is not for people who want to make money. President Hakainde Hichilema, has set very high standards of anti-corruption and those under him must follow or be relieved of their government duties. UPND was nationally elected to make a difference from PF and President Hakainde Hichilema defeated the incumbent President by a Whooping margin of one million votes, something never done before. There will always be critics, even after implementation of a number of key election promises like free education, ending cadrerism, paying retirees, recruiting over 30,000 teachers and 11,000 health personnel among others. People are now free to criticise the government and the President. Those who are misguided seem to think that the democracy reintroduced by the New Dawn Government, has no limits. Even in the oldest democracies, there are limits in the form of laws which must be observed without exception by all citizens. Demoracy is not price neutral and carries citizen’s rights as well as responsibilities. Both must be given equal emphasis.

Most importantly, we should remember that our belief in democracy must always be consistent. We should avoid believing in democracy only when we are in opposition, but forget its importance when we are or were a ruling party. This important warning applies to all political parties, and they are well advised to heed this call.

Whether we are in government or in opposition – the meaning and importance of democracy should remain the same.

Lusaka
7th August, 2022

Mr. SHEBO NALISHEBO APPOINTED AS ALTERNATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNDER THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (AfDB) GROUP 1 CONSTITUENCY

WHO IS Mr. SHEBO NALISHEBO?

Mr. SHEBO NALISHEBO, a Zambian national, is an independent consultant in Statistics and Public Finance and currently serves on the board of the Bank of Zambia. He has over 20 years of experience in economic and social statistics, econometrics and public finance.

From 2001 to 2012, he worked at Zambia Statistics Agency where he was responsible for computing gross domestic product and led Zambia’s first economic census used to benchmark and rebase the national accounts.

From 2012 to 2019, he worked at the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, where he headed the public finance unit and led several research works on Zambia’s public debt, budget and expenditure analyses and tax policy.

He has conducted research and policy analyses for government institutions (incl. Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health) and international organizations (incl. UNICEF, UNECA, UNCTAD, World Bank, WFP and GIZ).

Works include public expenditure reviews for social protection and education, statistical measurement of illicit financial flows, strengthening capacity in tax reforms and ex-ante tax policy impact analysis, public debt audits, as well as an algorithm to develop an income assessment tool to on-board self-employed clients on the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Mr. NALISHEBO holds a Master of Science degree in Statistics from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Zambia. He also holds post-graduate qualifications in national accounts from InWEnt, Germany and Official Economic Statistics from United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific, Japan.

Mr. SHEBO NALISHEBO APPOINTED AS ALTERNATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNDER THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (AfDB) GROUP 1 CONSTITUENCY

The Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr. SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE, MP, has congratulated SHEBO NALISHEBO on his deserved appointment as an Alternate Executive Director for the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group 1 Constituency for the period 1st August, 2022, to 31st July, 2025.

Dr. Musokotwane says “the New Dawn Administration will continue to support #Zambians who have requisite qualifications and experience to take up assignments, employment and leadership opportunities in regional and international organizations such as the African Development Bank.”

The Minister has thanked the #AfDB for considering a Zambian national for the role and attests that “Mr. NALISHEBO has unique talents which will add value to the work of the Bank through the AfDB Group 1 Constituency.”

The appointment was communicated to Mr. NALISHEBO by AfDB Africa Group 1 Constituency Executive Director, GERARD BUSSIER; who is responsible for Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius and Zambia. Mr. BUSSIER congratulated him for the appointment and explained that he (Mr. NALISHEBO) will among other tasks, be required to attend Board meetings and Annual Meetings of the Bank.

Although Mr. NALISHEBO will not be based at the AfDB Headquarters in #Abidjan, Ivory Coast, he shall be expected to perform responsibilities assigned by the Board, through the Executive Director to ensure that the Bank’s policies, directives and guidelines are properly implemented and, as a Government representative, to raise the issues with the AfDB, through the Executive Director, on the Bank’s work in the Constituency.

In his portfolio, Mr. NALISHEBO will also be required to direct enquiries or issues needing appropriate consideration from member countries to the Africa Group 1 #Constituency Executive Directorate, for necessary action by the Bank. The position of Alternate Executive Director is a strategic position in the Bank’s efforts to contribute to the economic development and social progress of member countries.

Issue by:

(Original Copy Signed)

MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING

WHO IS Mr. SHEBO NALISHEBO?

Mr. SHEBO NALISHEBO, a Zambian national, is an independent consultant in Statistics and Public Finance and currently serves on the board of the Bank of Zambia. He has over 20 years of experience in economic and social statistics, econometrics and public finance.

From 2001 to 2012, he worked at Zambia Statistics Agency where he was responsible for computing gross domestic product and led Zambia’s first economic census used to benchmark and rebase the national accounts.

From 2012 to 2019, he worked at the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, where he headed the public finance unit and led several research works on Zambia’s public debt, budget and expenditure analyses and tax policy.

He has conducted research and policy analyses for government institutions (incl. Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health) and international organizations (incl. UNICEF, UNECA, UNCTAD, World Bank, WFP and GIZ).

Works include public expenditure reviews for social protection and education, statistical measurement of illicit financial flows, strengthening capacity in tax reforms and ex-ante tax policy impact analysis, public debt audits, as well as an algorithm to develop an income assessment tool to on-board self-employed clients on the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Mr. NALISHEBO holds a Master of Science degree in Statistics from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Zambia. He also holds post-graduate qualifications in national accounts from InWEnt, Germany and Official Economic Statistics from United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific, Japan.

FC Barcelona have had one of the best transfer windows football fans have ever seen. Despite the massive financial debt and the uncertainty at the club, the Blaugrana have managed to sign Bayern Munich and Polish goal machine Robert Lewandowski, Leeds winger Raphinha and Sevilla defender Jules Koundé.

Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie have also joined the club on free transfers. While Chelsea left wing-back Marcos Alonso is next in line to join the Catalonia club. The club also renewed the contract of Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto. The club have in total spend around £150m in the ongoing transfer window. While the abolition shown by the club and the money spent may bring a smile to the fan’s faces.

But the club have had to active three economic levers, meaning the club have sold 15% stake in their LaLiga TV rights. BLM, the company that manages the club’s official merchandise, such as shirts, mugs, pens, scarves, etc. The sale of 49.9% of BLM was also approved. Barca have also sold 10% of their television rights to Sixth Street in June in a deal worth €267m.

Despite the club’s economic levers. The club have been banned to register any new signings until they reduce their financial outgoings. Reports suggest that La Liga have rejected the club’s bid to register new signings as they are still a €150m gap in the finances. Not only the new signings but Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto also cant be registered as both the players signed the new contract after their initial contracts had expired.

4th economic lever

Star midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been linked with Manchester United all summer and the red devils have even agreed on a fee close to €85m with the Blaugrana. But the Dutch midfielder has shown no interest in relocating. On top of that, the midfielder is owed £17m in wages by the Spanish club. Barcelona will need to pay the owed wages before moving the midfielder on.

The club have also set a deadline for Martin Braithwaite and Samuel Umtiti to find a move away from the club. Or the club are ready to terminate both the player’s contracts. Barcelona have also reportedly asked star duo Gerard Piqué and Sergio Busquets to take another pay cut in order to balance the financial situation.

The club will need to activate a 4th economic lever, in order to register the new players. But the club are racing against time as the La Liga campaign kicks off on 12th August. The club need to register the players before that.

Beyonce is arguably one of the most influential female musicians in the world. Her influence cuts across music and entrepreneurship. Forbes names her the 76th most powerful woman in the world and the 7th most powerful Black woman.

She first rose to fame as the lead singer in the girl-group Destiny’s Child but has now become a larger-than-life icon. Together with her husband Jay-Z, they have a net worth of $2 billion. However, Beyonce has a personal net worth of $400 million, according to Forbes.

Beyonce, just like her billionaire husband, has built a career and wealth in and outside the studio. She and her husband have jointly invested in a number of businesses, including the ones she is the sole investor.

Beyonce introduced the House of Dereon which had contemporary women’s fashion line. The fashion line primarily made sportswear, denim with fur, handbags and footwear.

In 2015, she established an on-demand meal delivery service which was based on vegan food culture called 22 Days Nutrition.

Beyonce also launched her own fragrance line called Beyonce Heat. According to a Forbes report, she earned 400 million dollars from the product.

Perhaps, the most important business is the music streaming service Tidal. According to reports, a chunk of her money comes from Tidal.

Aside from her businesses, Beyonce also makes money from other sources like endorsement deals and posting on social media. She emerged as one of the two highest-paid Black celebrities on Instagram.

In 2019, Beyonce signed a 60 million dollar contract with Netflix which then streamed her Coachella performance. What is more, she has also appeared as the face of brands like Giorgio Armani to launching Tommy Hilfiger’s fragrance called Truestar.

She also has a partnership with Adidas. The music icon further has a streaming music service and has served as a spokesmodel for L’Oreal. She also promotes Pepsi and is into film production. She recently announced that she was investing in a hemp farm to obtain her own CBD.

Recently, Beyonce and her husband purchased the world’s most expensive car, “The Boat Tail,” built by Rolls-Royce. They reportedly bought the custom-built luxury car for an estimated $28 million.

The car is said to be a rare collector’s item with only three in existence. Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor, described The Boat Tail as the company’s “most ambitious project yet.”

POOR TIME MANAGEMENT IS THE WORST FORM OF INDISCIPLINE.

If you read this post and you dont know how to manage time,am sorry to put it in your face that you are the most indicipline human being.

The culture of poor time management has become so bad that the disciplined people are punished for keeping time while the indisciplined ones are celebrated.
A meeting is expected to start at 8hrs and all those disciplined persons who arrives on time are punished by being made to wait until the indisciplined ones comes and when these indisciplined ones arrives for a meeting they are immediately rewarded by starting the meetingvas soon as they take their sits.

You invite me to grace your function starting at 14hrs and you keep me waiting for you for 2 hrs.The question is do you think I’m that stranded that i dont have things to do but to wait for you??

You are invited to grace a function and you keep people waiting for you for an hour,like seriously you now think you are a god who has to be waited for the same way we have been waiting for God?

Let me tell you friends ,if you elect a leader who cant keep time and always keeps you waiting for him,then he or she is too bossy and thinks you are less important and you have to wait for him/her because he or she is more important than you.

When you have a boyfriend who doesnt keep time, my dear sister just know that he thinks you are less important to him and you can wait for him while he attends to very important things and people after all the thinks you cant do without him so have no choice but to wait for the most important person in your life (him).
Bro when your woman keeps you waiting ,then she values you less that she can keep you hunging as she attends to very important things like make ups and cleaning her hair or wanting to look good.You can wait for her brother after all you are useless without her because shes a goddes and everyone worships her .

Let me say this friends and I’m very sorry that i sound harsh today but what defines a person is how they manage their time period …..You know what sort of a person you are dealing with just by how they manage their time.If at your first meeting he or she comes late then you are doomed unless he or she gives a very good excuse and traffic congestion is not one of the good excuse because then he or she can not properly time the traffic.

Have you observed how people from developed countries manage time?and you still wondering why we are less developed ??Well its our indiscipline that has made us not to develope.

So let me put it to you that if you are always late for appointments,for meetings for functions sir or madam you are a very indisciplined human being and i have no appology to make to you and let me tell you that you should stop thinking you are more important than the people you keep waiting for okay.
Just who do you think you are to be comparing yourself to God that we should wait for God’s coming and we should also be waiting for you..

Useless people likes to comfort themsleves by saying a boss is never late,fuseke iwe you are just an indisciplined fella who cant manage himself well thats why he or she cant even manage time.
You cant continue giving excuses of having so much to attend to .Do you know how many things God attends to yet he has not missed a second of supplying you with the air you breath.
Even if you have 10 programs on your itinerary you still can be in time for all the programs for as long as you choose to be disciplined.

So let us start practicing to manage our time today ,if you going to church at 9hrs wake up at 7 and press your clothes withing 30 minutes ,then take 20 minutes to bath if you are a crocodile like me from luapula,then take the next 20 minutes to dress up and leave 40 minutes to walk to drive to your church.make sure you are seate in church 5 munutes before church starts and offer a good prayer to God .

Happy sunday to you and may God bless the disciplined people to remain disciplined and may he help those who are indisciplined to change their ways today.

BINWELL MPUNDU
NKANA MP
UMWINA NKANA

A fireman called to tackle an inferno discovered his family were among the 10 dead as he tackled the flames.

The fire started Friday morning, August 5, and Harold Baker arrived at the house in Nescopeck, Pennsylvania, US, where he found his son, daughter, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, three grandchildren and two other relatives, dead.

Pennsylvania State Police has confirmed the names of six of the victims, but not yet the youngest who are understood to be children aged just five, six and seven.

The tragedy is now being treated by the authorities as suspicious with a criminal investigation launched into what sparked the fire at around 2.30am local time (6.30am GMT) on Friday morning.

Nescopeck Volunteer Fire Company firefighter, Harold said his kids were at their aunt and uncle’s house for a swim.

Bereaved Harold told local media: “When we turned the corner up here on Dewey [Street] I knew right away what house it was just by looking down the street.

“I was on the first engine, and when we pulled up, the whole place was fully involved. We tried to get in to them.

Fireman called to tackle fire only to find out the 10 victims are his family

“The kids that were there and my two kids were just visiting their aunt and uncle.

“Those were the ones who own the house. They were there visiting and going into the pool and all that.”

Once the fire had been brought under control, police sent sniffer dogs into the destroyed building to help retrieve the bodies.

Three adults managed to escape to safety.

Initial evidence suggests flames started to roar from the building’s porch.

Victims have been identified by police as Dale Baker, 19, Star Baker, 22, David Daubert Sr, 79, Shannon Daubert, 42, Laura Daubert, 47, and Marian Slusser, 54.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf wrote on Twitter: “Frances and I are heartbroken after seven adults and three children lost their lives in a house fire today in Luzerne County. Our prayers are with their loved ones.

“Thank you to the many first responders who rushed to the scene.”

Eastern Province recorded over 1,400 pregnancies among girls aged below fifteen from January 2021 to mid-year of 2022.

This is according to Eastern Province HIV and AIDS Coordinating Advisor, Emmanuel Chama.

Mr Chama has said that a total of 922 girls under the age of 15 fell pregnant in 2021 while 491 girls were pregnant between January and June this year.

He said in 2021 Katete recorded the highest number of teenage pregnancies, with 144 girls falling pregnant while in the first half of 2022, Lumezi was in the lead with 66 pregnant girls below the age of 15.

“I am sad to report to you some of the challenges we have with regards to adolescents’ health. We are concerned that the age category has dropped to below 15, which is defilement by law,” he said.

He further expressed worry that these cases are mostly not reported to the police.

Mr Chama elaborated that statistics this year Lumezi is in the lead with 66 cases, followed by Katete with 46, Lusangazi 45, Petauke 42, Sinda 42 while Vubwi is the lowest with 2 cases.

“In 2021, Katete topped with 144 cases, followed by Chama district with 108, Petauke with 101 and the lowest was Vubwi with 23,” he said.

The Province HIV and AIDS Coordinator appealed to parents to report cases to the police so that a measure to curtail similar behaviour is achieved when the process of the law is followed.

Meanwhile, Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Beauty Phiri has described the statistics as a shocker.

She said it is a very disappointing route that children are being curtailed from their normal lives due to the greed in society.

“The lives of these children are being destroyed. More needs to be done by all stakeholders, including the police, parents and traditional leaders, among others to ensure that these cases are curtailed,” she said.

A total number of 1,413 girls under the age of 15 are reported to have fallen pregnant in Eastern province between January 2021 and June 2022.

Copperbelt-based Catholic Priest Fr. Augustine Mwewa has charged that the fight against corruption under the United Party for National Development (UPND) led Government is selective and defective.

Fr. Mwewa of St. Ignatius Parish in Tug Argan, Ndola said government wings such as Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) are not investigating fresh cases linked to UPND Ministers and technocrats.

He observed that ACC and DEC are mute on corruption allegations levelled against some UPND government officials.

Fr. Mwewa said investigative wings are receiving instructions from the State House on whom to investigate or arrest.

He said the crusade against corruption under the New Dawn Government is flawed.

“We have seen the fight against corruption under the new Government. The fight against corruption was even there under PF especially when we had ba Sata. Ba Lungu at one point lost the fight against corruption especially since some political cadres seemed to have more power and I think this is what cost them to lose power. The current fight against corruption has its own weaknesses. The fight against corruption is selective. I stand to be challenged. We have a minister who has had his own wife appointed Ku Zesco Limited. When are we going to investigate that? That appointment has not been denounced,” Fr. Mwewa said.

“As we are fighting corruption let us be professional and your conscience will tell you, you are investigating me because you have been sent by the President. Your conscience must prick you. The selective fight against corruption or any other abuse should stop. It must stop.”

“We have the political advisor to the President and a permanent secretary trying to come in the open to say the President sent them to destroy Democratic Party and they have managed to destroy the party for Harry Kalaba. That is fighting democracy and nothing has been done. We have seen people declaring their assets, they are not being investigated. If we can investigate 15 flats when I compare the amount of money I can spend on 15 flats and then people declaring 100 plus million and all those dollars or thousands in their accounts. When are we going to investigate them? So you can tell DEC, ACC are receiving instructions from the State House on whom to investigate. The Presidential Spokesman (Anthony Bwalya) was on Diamond TV and when he was asked why they had not arrested people accused of corruption in the new government; he refused to say I am not a police officer. But is he an economist because he had earlier tackled economic issues in the same interview? So he was playing double standards. We see questionable acts within UPND they are not being followed, they are not being investigated but these others are being followed. Those are the defects in the fight against corruption,” Fr. Mwewa said.

He said even the recently conducted recruitment of teachers and health workers was marred with corruption despite the presence of ACC officers on the recruitment panel.

Fr. Mwewa said he has information that some government officials were bringing names of people to recruit without the following procedure.

He emphasised that the recruitment of government workers is good but transparency was needed in the process.

“Another area, we have seen our youths being recruited and still being asked to pay a lot of money. People are looking for jobs because they have no money and yet you are demanding money from them. Was the teacher recruitment really transparent? Despite them promising us that ACC and what will be part of the recruitment, corruption is still rampant. Corruption is still happening in the recruitment of government workers. Yes the recruitment of government workers is good but we need to be assured that things will be done as transparently as possible and we want ACC and DEC to come out on these matters. This is why I propose that the President should stop appointing Directors for these institutions like ACC and DEC,” Fr. Mwewa added.

Inflation not in tandem with economic variables on ground, argues Sichinga

By Kombe Mataka

FORMER commerce minister Robert Sichinga has strongly questioned the monthly inflation statistics being churned out by Zambia Statistics Agency.

He says they do not appear to be in tandem with the economic variables on the ground.
On debt, he says “you know there is ego to be massaged… If we had the President going to China it would have been completely different. It would have been much easier to sort out that creditor’s issue.”

Dr Sichinga said when he appeared on Hot FM’s beyond the Headlines programme on Wednesday evening that all the prices of commodities and services had been going up throughout and that it was difficult to understand the argument by the ZamStats indicating that inflation had dropped.

“What we are seeing at the moment is the expenditure that was made last year under the PF is impacting what is happening now. In order regularise the situation and bring back to normality you would have to take money out of the system meaning that people do not have the liquidity, the money to spend. It means there is not enough money. It has got a negative effect to the extent that you don’t have liquidity. If I cannot pay you because I am owing you money, what happens to you? You can’t pay the other guy. If you can’t pay the other people what happens? There is no expenditure. There is no multiplier effect. Also you would expect it to reduce prices. In our case prices have gone up. Fuel has gone up and because of the ripple effect of that fuel into the economy, you cannot say the prices have come down. Hardly. All the prices have been going up throughout and this is why my argument has been you cannot expect that the prices will drop therefore you say inflation dropped because when prices are going up inflation is a reflection of the rising prices. You cannot say the prices are coming down. It is not mathematically possible,” Dr Sichinga said. “Let us take the value of fuel just as an example. It was at K17 in August last year. What is the price now? K23 now. Last week it was K26. So when a price goes up like that, at K26, in other words its gone up by K10 (from K17). That is a very high percentage. You cannot then have a reduction in inflation. It is not possible. How do you have a reduction in the inflation rate when fuel is hitting the entire economy and I have just used that as example? So over the months your graph which reflects changes in your pricing is going to go upwards not lower. In this case when you say inflation has come down to a single digit, it means the graph is no longer going up. It has come down from a higher figure to a lower figure. Now how does it come to a lower figure when the fuel has gone up from a lower figure?”

Dr Sichinga said in his 50 years of doing business, it was not possible to record single digit inflation under the prevailing economic variables.
“As far as I am concerned, it is an unrealistic claim. You would have to be doing something else. I have just given an example. I am talking about fuel. This has impacted so many other items. If you go in the market, talk to people and ask them, ‘do you have cash to do this?’ Consumers are having difficulties meeting their obligations and when that happens it means you have got prices people cannot afford. So there is no way that you can talk about a lowering of inflation to single digit figures. So that particular manoeuvre for me, based on my knowledge, experience, is not possible. However, you should invite those that claim that this is possible, I am talking about our friends from central statistics, let them come and explain how they achieved that,” he said.

Dr Sichinga also said the monthly review of fuel was disruptive as it made it difficult for businesspeople to plan.
Asked if the appreciation of the kwacha would cushion the impact of the monthly review of fuel prices, Dr Sichinga called for honest.
“There is no strengthening of the currency. Let us be honest about it. It is good to want it to strengthen. It is good for the country if the price was genuinely lower,” he said. “The issue that is taking place is not because of the performance of the Zambian economy. It is because the US dollar has weakened against other currencies in general. We are beneficiaries of it. It is not because we are producing more. It is not because of the prudent management on our side. It is not because our exchange rate has been favourable because it has been at K17 (to a dollar) until just now. It is today that it dropped to K15. No currency drops at that rate because of good management. It does not happen like that. It is because there is a specific incidence that has taken place in the marketplace globally. We appreciate that we are going to benefit from this exchange rate difference which is favourable to Zambia.”

Dr Sichinga said it was important to aim for a favourable exchange rate based on production.
“I hope my friends in the UPND will not think that they are being bashed, no. All I am saying is we need to be realistic in terms of the effect. If we don’t do that we will not have identified the problem that we need to address,” he said.
Dr Sichinga advised the government to get on a homegrown economic recovery programme with focus on restoring resources from the mining sector.

“We can now develop a homegrown economic plan because right now there is no recovery plan other than the one that was done by the PF, which is the 2020-2023 revival of the economy. That is what we have,” he noted. “We cannot drive a recovery programme without resources. Therefore, we have an opportunity to do that not to give it to Anglo American, no! That for me is a no go area. They were here before. All they are interested in is what they will get from the mines just like Glencore. Just like Vedanta.”
On debt, Dr Sichinga said whether “you like it or not China is an issue you cannot ignore”.

“Our biggest debt, of the US $21 billion that was being owed to the creditors, we are told that US $10 billion of that is with China. Shouldn’t that be the first call? Shouldn’t you deal with that first? And start looking at the small ones?” asked Dr Sichinga. “You know there is ego to be massaged… If we had the President going to China it would have been completely different. It would have been much easier to sort out that creditor’s issue.”

WEAK, STRONG OR STABLE KWACHA?

By Miles B. Sampa, MP

“Increasing in order to reduce” thats the mantra on the fuel prices. I guess on the exchange rate it’s “reducing in order to reduce”.

The current strengthening of the Kwacha last six months from 17 to circa 15.5 is indeed superdupa news for our importers. The recent new Copper investments, Nickel investments and progress on the long awaited IMF loan has indeed enhanced confidence in the Kwacha and become bullish.

I am brave enough to strike on any topic seemingly going wrong with the current government but equally not too condescending to ignore any aspect of the economy that is making progress. The Kwacha is definitely doing some wonders on the monetary arena of the Country.

However and not to be a party spoiler to those ululating on the strengthening Kwacha, I have a small reminder. The flip side to a very strong Kwacha is that it’s not user friendly for the export based companies as it erodes their earnings from abroad. This more so to the Mines that are a blood line for our Treasury. Currently they must be posting huge exchange loses from their projected Copper export sales.

Current levels of around 15 is about as much as it should go down so as to balance an equilibrium that is good for both importers and exporters. Otherwise in the nearest future jobs being created by importers will simultaneously be subtracted by job losses in the export industry due to a very strong Kwacha.

Incidentally and as it is some odd tradition in the Zambian economy, huge appreciation of Kwacha does not lead to reduction in prices (DSTV & Talk Time) while a slight depreciation of the Kwacha guarantees increases in prices (fuel, cars).

The key point is that a fast depreciating or fast appreciating currency in any Country is not good for business.

It’s a stable and predictable Kwacha that both Importers and exporters desire. Industry, Commerce and the trading sector of Zambia should be able to have a good idea of what the Kwacha rate will be tomorrow and after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

If currency is stable banks can even quote fixed forward rates or options so importers and exporters can plan or hedge their business costs and sales respectively.

Key words here are Importers, Exporters, Kwacha, Rates, Stable and Predictable.

Together We Can
MBS05.08.2022

5th August 2022

The embattled boss of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Ms Mary Chirwa aka Mary Banana, recently embroiled in a series of viral hard-core pornographic videos shall not be punished or censured by President Hakainde Hichilema says Thabo Kawana, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Information in a radio interview.

Kawana sparked a bitter debate Friday when asked pointedly by Radio Phoenix interviewer Chimweka Chileshe what government would do regarding the alleged indiscretion Ms Chirwa in the pornographic videos that has kept Zambian tongues wagging for more than a week now given her position as a law enforcer.

“You want my position on that (porn) the government position is that she (Chirwa) is not going anywhere,” Kawana arrogantly told Chileshe, “lots of people especially in PF (Patriotic Front) want her fired. The position is that we have heard you but she (Mary) is not going to be fired.”

Ever since a series of pornographic videos featuring a naked woman with a striking resemblance of Ms Chirwa surfaced on social media, calls for her to resign have reached a crescendo with government staying silent until today´s bombshell interview and subsequent revelation that has shocked many.

Kawana who arrogantly dodged and ducked questions from a tenacious Chileshe suggested that the person that must be punished instead of Chirwa is the person that filmed and distributed the dirty video.
He expressed ignorance of the existence of the video.

But the interviewer kept his cool, even under open intimidation and arrogance from Kawana saying the DEC Chirwa heads is responsible for among other things ´policing´ pornography so therefore how can she be entrusted with the duty to police pornography when she is a star in a series of porn videos.

In the past, social media personality Iris Kaingu went to court and later jail for being in the exact same position as Chirwa now aka Mary Banana.

President Edgar Lungu during his tenure took less than 12 hours to sack then Education Minister David Mabumba, accidentally caught in a position similar to Mary Banana.

The police on the other hand have not moved an inch to arrest or prove the identity of the woman in the video believed to be Ms Chirwa.
Observers state that in her current form, Chirwa has no moral right to remain the office of the head of DEC given the obscene material linked to her. This is a developing story.

Ostensibly, the civil society that was overly vocal under President Edgar Lungu have remained silent, including the diplomatic community.

SOURCE: Radio Phoenix, Let the People Talk.

KWACHA-LESS BONANZA; THE CASE OF BEING FOREWARNED

By Veteran Journalist GEORGE CHOMBA

Listening to former Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji boast about retaining Kwacha Parliamentary seat without campaigning reminds some of us of the English fantasy story of the race between the Rabbit and the Tortoise.

For the uninterested in politics and are unaware of what has happened to the man popularly known as Bonanza, Mr Malanji is no longer a law maker, or simply Kwacha-less of the constituency.

The Constitutional Court has upheld the High Court ruling that Mr Malanji lacks a Grade 12 certificate, which is one of the qualifications required to contest a Parliamentary election.

But like in the aftermath of High Court ruling, the former Kwacha law maker has maintained that he possesses the academic qualification and he is assured of being picked as the candidate on the Patriotic Front ticket.

This therefore brings to the fore debate on how the bench arrived at its judgement of Mr Malanji lacking the vital document.
And the controversial debate is not about to end soon as the date of final judgement will be on the appointed day of filing nomination papers within the coming 90 days.

If Mr Malanji will finally make it on the ballot paper, then students of law and other political stakeholders will forever have a laugh at the majority verdict in court without falling in the ditch of contempt of court.

But as stated, the warning shots are about Mr Malanji taking for granted the English fantasy story of the Rabbit and the Tortoise.
For the uninitiated, one day the Rabbit and the Tortoise decided to race from the chosen starting point to the finish line.
The boastful Rabbit ran very fast leaving the Tortoise far behind.

The Rabbit knew that the Tortoise was a slow walker and decided to rest under a tree and complete the race later.
The resting resulted into the sleep which produced a race result in favour of the slow walking Tortoise.
Indeed, Mr Malanji is not known Bonanza for nothing and he boasts of having the support of the electorate in Kwacha such that he will not need even a poster. `

The Zambians electoral process allows Mr Malanji or any other contestant to campaign as they wise as long as thry are within the law.
But not too long ago, former President Edgar Lungu was boasting in the August 2021 general election that he would hand over power to himself because the unprecedented infrastructure planted by the Patriotic Front had already campaigned for him.
The rest is history as the Tortoise in the name of the UPND is now commissioning the unprecedented infrastructure project much to the displeasure of the Patriotic Front.

Moreover, the UPND as the ruling party appears to be curving themselves a record of implementing that which the PF considered unimportant when it is important to the electorate.

Time will tell whether Mr Malanji will retain Kwacha without campaigning.

STRONG, POWERFUL MEN DON’T BEAT THEIR WIVES – ECL

Former president Edgar Lungu has detested gender based violence.

The former president said men who are strong and powerful do not beat their wives.

He said called for behavioural and attitude change among all Zambians.

The former Head of State stressed the need for Zambians to become more responsible as he assured that his Foundation will remain a partner in the fight against early child marriages and gender-based violence.

Dr Lungu said this on Thursday when the Edgar Lungu Foundation (ELF) donated assorted items to orphans and vulnerable children of Ubuntu Royal Community School in Chibombo District.

“I am a Champion and will remain a Champion against early child marriages. Strong and powerful men don’t beat their wives,” he pointed out.

Former president Lungu has also implored Zambians to go back to traditional way of living in which communities took responsibility in raising orphaned and vulnerable children.

He said there is need for Zambians to work with government and all stakeholders in creating a conducive environment aimed at making the lives of the citizens better.

Meanwhile, the former Head of State said bemoaned the rising number of orphaned and vulnerable children.

He also bemoaned the increased deaths of young people of productive age due to HIV/AIDs, excessive intake of alcohol, gender-based violence and malnutrition due to changing climatic condition.

And Chieftainess Mungule applauded former president Lungu for his focus of transforming lives and promoting peace in Africa through his Foundation.

Chieftainess Mungule thanked the Edgar Lungu Foundation for uplifting the lives of rural children, youth and women.

The traditional leader said meaningful development of rural areas can only come about if all stakeholders work together for the benefit of society.

She has since invited President Hakainde Hichilema to visit and collaborate with stakeholders to change the lives of orphaned, vulnerable and afflicted children in her chiefdom.

Among the items the former President donated include technical teaching staff, teaching aides, chairs, footballs and uniforms for the learners including a feeding programme to cover the rest of the year 2022.

The Edgar Lungu Foundation will also restock the Ubuntu Poultry project with village chickens and feed aimed at enhancing the sustainability programme of the school.

LAMECK BANDA JOINS SERIE A LECCE FC

By Miles B. Sampa, MP (05.08.2022)

Agent Nir Karin has done it again for Zambia and for the first time, a Zambian player will play in the Italian Seria A league.

21 years old Lameck Banda has signed a 4 years contract at estimated fee of $2M with Lecce FC
that has just been promoted to Seria A league after ending as Champions last season in the Seria B (Division 2)

Karin discovered Lameck out of Zambian MTN league where he played for ZESCO FC and Buildcon FC where he was nursed into a football player as a young boy.

His first club international professional stint has been with Macebi Peterk FC in the Israel league that Karin uses as a springboard into the top class European leagues.

Lameck Is a deadly right and left winger that tormented defenders in the Isreal premier league scoring 8 goals last season to earn him eyes of Lecce FC (pronounced LetSe).
He has scored 4 goals for the Zambia 🇿🇲 nation team (Chipolopolo).

Lecce FC is renown for their best ever soccer product and Italian International player of many years Antonio Conte. He is now coaching Tottenham FC and was the head at Chelsea FC when they won the premier league some 4 years ago.

Congratulation Karin and congratulations Sonny Lameck Banda. We can watch Zambian players in both the English and Italian top notch leagues.

Over the weekend Boba crew met Karin and agreed an MOU to identify out of Matero Constituency (can be from anywhere in Zambia outside Matero) and connect the extra good players to him. He would then assess for possible contracts into European leagues like he has just done to Lameck Banda.

Lameck will be vying with rival player from likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli, Legge and Jose Mourinho coached Roma FC.

Some of African Players in the past that enjoyed success in the Italian top league are George Weah (AC Milan), Abedi Pele (Torino), Samuel Eto (Inter), Mo Salah (Fiorentina), Mark Fish (Lazio) and Phil Masinga (Bari FC)

Thank you Karin🙏🏽 and Goodluck Sonny Lameck 🙌🏿

MBS05.08.2022

Despite winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup and earning a whooping £180,000, Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed he still lives with his parents and helps with chores at home.

Aged 23, Trent Alexander-Arnold has developed into one of Europe’s elite right-backs, and is arguably the best in the world at his position.

According to the player, being around family has helped him remain level-headed, knowing fully well many athletes in his position might prefer spending their wealth on cars, houses or entertainment.

He says the habits he learns helps keep his life “clean and healthy.”

“I always think young players rush things,” he told CNN Senior Sport Analyst Darren Lewis.

“You start getting paid some money and young players always think the first thing is to move out, get a new car, stuff like that.

“And then the environment is just not the same. You’re living at home. You’ve got your parents to keep you in line and make sure things are clean and tidy, the dishes aren’t stacking up and you’re going home to a nice, clean environment and things like that.

“Whereas living at home (on your own), breakfast and dinner, you just think: ‘I’ll do that later.’ And then you come in from training and then you’re just not in a clean, nice environment. So I’ve never felt a rush to leave home. I’ve always had the right messages.

“I’ve just always enjoyed having family around me. And they’ve kept my feet on the ground and pushed me to the levels that I’ve got so far. So I don’t think there’s any rush for me to make a decision.”

In his 161 appearances in the Premier League, he’s scored 10 goals, provided 45 assists and has a remarkable record of winning 114 games and only losing 19 times.

But despite that record, such has been the brilliance of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool’s trophy winning has been halted.

Speaking about rivalry between Liverpool and Everton/Manchester United, he said;

“I think, historically, there’s always going to be that tension and the rivalries with Everton and with United. But I think right now, it’s for different reasons. I think there’s always going to be a dislike with Liverpool and Everton and Man United,” he said.

“It’s always going to be that no matter where either team finishes in the league, whenever it’s going on, there are always very heated games and both fans really want to win it the most. But I think for different reasons, now, Man City is the biggest game of season, the best team in England, one of, if not the, best team in the world as well.

“And, of course, they’re the team that set the pace, set the benchmark for the rest of the league. Four leagues in five years is something that not many teams can say we’ve done. So it’s difficult for us to look past them and look for anywhere else as motivation. Our motivation is if we stay in and around City, then over the last four or five years, you’re in a good place.”
Season finale

FALSEHOODS DISMISSED: AM NOT APPOINTED CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER AT ECZ

First let me thank you all that congratulated me through phone calls, WhatsApps, facebook and text massages for an appointment for a position of the CEO at ECZ that has NEVER been given to me.

Thank you for your confidence, trust, hope and help, relevance you have deposited in me such as position which i have not taken for granted.

Just for records as people like Max Chongu and his Manyinga Brother Daniel Bukali can start smoking fwaka yacika Lunda and Luvale respectively for unknown reasons and spread falsehoods in their intoxicated state kikki.

There has been widespread rumours that i have been appointed new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) at the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).I have not been APPOINTED CEO at ECZ

This is all falsehoods and must be DISMISSED with the contempt these falsehoods deserve.

For the sake of those who dont know how the CEO is recruited and appointed, this position is not a presidential appointed position.

It is a civil service appointment and the employment procedures in the civil service apply through the Commission.

The electoral Act guides that the Commission (ECZ) appoints Electoral officers to assist the CEO buttressed by the provisions of the Electoral commission of Zambia (ECZ) Act that empowers the Commission, as it may determine, appoint such other staff and officers of the Commission as are necessary for the purposes of this Act.

Section 9 (1) of Electoral Commission of Zambia No. 25 as amended by Act No 5 of 2019 guides that there SHALL be a CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER of the Commission who SHALL be APPOINTED by the Commission

The Chief Electoral Officer SHALL be the chief executive officer of the Commission, and subject to the general and specific directions of the Commission.

The Act prescribes the statutory duties and functions of the CEO as thus; the CEO shall be responsible for the daily administration and management of the Commission; be an ex-officio member of the Commission; and exercise the functions conferred upon the CEO by, or under, this Act.

*As can be seen, CEO at ECZ is a recruitee and appointee of the Commission and subservient to the direction, authority and control of the Commission.

It is the Commission through the Commissioners manages and conducts the elections and not the CEO while the CEO is responsible for the daily administration and management of the Commission.

As for as i know there has been no public advert for the vacant position of the CEO from ECZ or the Civil Service Commission.

Regrettably, the Commission has not yet been given Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson by the President to undertake such a task of the recruitment and appointment of the CEO.

There are only three ordinary Commissioners currently at the ECZ out of the required number of five (5) full-time Commissioners.

So for those who burn with strong to desire to see me at the ECZ, please hold your patience. It is not yet time and once any appointment comes, it will be public knowledge.

As of now, am firmly the Executive director of the Mighty well lubricated GEARS Initiative Zambia and also Chairperson for the Council of NGOs in Zambia.

Therefore, the rumors, speculations, innuendoes and congratulations are all false. Time not yet come for those congratulations.

I submit

McDonald Chipenzi

Nullification of Malanji’s seat unfair and senseless
By Diggers Editor

THE nullification of Honourable Joe Malanji’s election as Kwacha member of parliament is senseless and unfair in many ways. In the English language, there is a naughty expression which states that “The law is an ass”. When we look at the circumstances surrounding the nullification of Honourable Malanji’s seat, it is appropriate to say that in this case, the law has indeed proved to be an ass. Apart from being an affront to justice, this development, in the manner that it has occurred, presents a dilemma on the institution of Electoral Commission of Zambia and exposes serious flaws in its management of elections and the adoption process.

Honourable Malanji is not our darling. There are several areas where we have differences of opinion. In fact, we consider him a criminal suspect because there are a number of financial transactions his companies are involved in which he has not succeeded to explain. It is this newspaper that published the “Turkey Money Heist” headline where we alleged that Honourable Malanji, while serving as Foreign Affairs Minister, flew to Turkey with the Presidential challenger jet to collect money believed to have been sent to the Zambian Mission for purchasing an embassy building in that country. Not long after our story was published, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) jointly charged and arrested Malanji and former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba for influencing the transfer of K154,201,197 to the Zambian mission in Turkey without following the law on Supplementary Expenditure as provided by Article 203 of the Zambian Constitution Act No. 2 of 2016.

Our point is that we are not Honourable Malanji’s praise singers or fanatics. But when the law is applied unfairly on him, we need to stand up and condemn the justice system for circumventing the delivery of justice. If Honourable Malanji’s election was nullified on grounds that he was involved in vote-buying (corruption), violence or any other related malpractice, we would not be saying what we are saying about his removal from parliament. But we have a problem with the way in which he has been treated.

According to the law as prescribed under Article 70(1)(d) of the Constitution, the minimum academic qualifications for a person wishing to contest the position of member of parliament is a grade twelve (12) Certificate. In order for that certificate to be considered valid, the Examinations Council of Zambia Director will write a letter to the Director at the Electoral Commission of Zambia, attesting to the fact that the applicant’s grade 12 certificate has been reviewed and confirmed to be legitimate. The Examinations Council will indicate the name, surname, National Registration Card and Examination number of the applicant to help the Electoral Commission in ascertaining that the individual applying to be on the ballot is the same person whose credentials have been certified.

When we read the ruling in Honourable Malanji’s case, especially from the dissenting position held by Justice Mungeni Mulenga, we see a problem that has been swept under the carpet. Justice Mulenga contends that the petitioner did not prove to the high standard the allegations that Honourable Malanji did not possess a grade 12 certificate. Justice Justice Mulenga did not agree with the high court’s decision to transfer the burden of proof to Mr Malanji when the petitioner was the one with the duty to prove his allegations. She said that in the case of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) which was the second respondent, and was expected to tender the documents (grade 12 school certificate) which Honourable Malanji had used to file his nomination, it was unfortunate that this was not done.

This is what we mean when we say that the Electoral Commission of Zambia has sacrificed Honourable Malanji for its own incompetence. It is clear to us that the Commission found itself in an awkward position and was not able to adduce the much needed document because had it been found to be valid, Honourable Malanji’s election would have been upheld, but at the same time, had it been found to be invalid, they would have found themselves guilty of admitting an unqualified candidate.

Our opinion is that an election petition based on qualification credentials should not be a matter for the winning candidate but the institutions charged with the responsibility of scrutinising and validating qualifications. It must be made clear in the law that once the Examinations Council and the Electoral Commission has endorsed your qualifications, you cannot be challenged after elections, otherwise the process of validating qualifications is useless.

It is expected that if the Electoral Commission has examined the documents supporting your qualification to contest the parliamentary seat, or indeed any other position, and validates those documents, then you are allowed to contest elections. If contesting elections after the Commission has validated your qualifications can be against the law, then the law is in fact, a big ass.

What this nullification of election does is that it confirms that the Electoral Commission of Zambia is a porous institution which takes instructions from politicians. It has confirmed that the Commission bends towards the demands of political candidates who have some form of power – political or financial. This is an embarrassing development to the Commission and our brothers and sisters who work there must not walk tall after this. They should be ashamed that they failed to do their job and they have used the court process to punish someone else for their incompetence.

In our view, it is only fair that Honourable Malanji recontests the seat in Kwacha, and wins the election. We say this because the nullification of his election was a waste of time and public resources. This will be a by-election which could have been avoided if the Commission did its job. This would have been avoided if those appointed to manage elections were firm and operated autonomously. Shame on ECZ!

Basketball star Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years imprisonment after jury finds her guilty of smuggling cannabis pen
On Thursday, August 4, a Russian court found WNBA player Brittney Griner guilty of bringing illegal narcotics into the country and sentenced her to nine years in prison.

Since her detention more than five months ago at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, where customs authorities allegedly found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage, the two-time Olympian and Phoenix Mercury player has been imprisoned abroad. She was charged with purposefully bringing drugs into the nation, where it is prohibited to consume marijuana either for medical or recreational purposes.

Griner pleaded guilty in July to possessing the substance but has also maintained that she did not mean to break the law, telling authorities that she mistakenly put the cannisters in her suitcase as she rushed to pack for her return to Russia, where she plays for the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball team during the WNBA’s offseason.

Griner’s lawyer, Maria Blagovolin, also noted that Griner was prescribed medical cannabis two years ago to treat severe chronic pain and presented a doctor’s note in court as proof. Blagovolin last month also provided a series of tests the American athlete received as part of an anti-doping check, none of which turned up any banned substances in her system.

The court “found the defendant guilty” of smuggling and possessing “a significant amount of narcotics”, judge Anna Sotnikova told a court in the town of Khimki just outside Moscow. The player was also fined one million rubles ($16,300).

Basketball star Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years imprisonment after jury finds her guilty of smuggling cannabis pen

US President Joe Biden was quick to condemn the verdict, calling it “unacceptable” and renewing his calls for the player’s release

“We will continue to use every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible,” he said, referring to another American imprisoned in Russia on an espionage conviction.

Basketball star Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years imprisonment after jury finds her guilty of smuggling cannabis pen
Sotnikova had said on Thursday that Griner committed the crime “deliberately”. But Griner had testified during the trial it was a mistake.

Since her arrest, Griner’s relatives, teammates and supporters have been calling on the US government to put its full weight behind the case to push for her release.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star, was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on February 17, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine, when she entered the country with vape canisters containing cannabis oil.

“I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never intended to break Russian law,” Griner said through a translator while standing in the metal cage reserved for defendants in Russian courtrooms. She apologised to her family, teammates, and her spouse

Griner’s lawyers said they plan on appealing the verdict, accusing the court of ignoring the evidence presented by the defence.

“Taking into account the amount of the substance – not to mention the defects of the expertise – and the plea, the verdict is absolutely unreasonable,” her defence team said in a statement.