FOLLOWING investigations into the procurement of 39 motor vehicles during the 2021 campaigns, the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) of Directors has terminated the contract of its Chief Executive Officer, Priscilla Bwembya.

In a memorandum addressed to the workers, the Board of Directors said the termination of employment for Mrs Bwembya comes after disciplinary hearing on charges levelled against her.

“Please be informed that following disciplinary hearing by Workers Compensation Board of Directors on charges leveled against Mrs Bwembya, the Board has terminated her services with effect from July 21st, this year,” reads the memo in parts.

In June this year, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) released 30 vehicles belonging to WCFCB which were deemed to be proceeds of crime.

In a media statement issued, DEC public relations officer, Mathias Kamanga said it was alleged that a fleet of motor vehicles had been procured fraudulently and that the motor vehicles were being used for campaigns by a named political party during the run-up to the August 12, 2021 general elections.

“Investigations were instituted into the allegations which led to the seizure of 39 motor vehicles. Investigations have since been concluded and the following are the findings, The Commission has established that the purchase of the said motor vehicles was done in accordance with the provisions of the law. As such, the said motor vehicles cannot be deemed to be proceeds of crime in accordance with the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001 as read with the Amendment Act No. 44 of 2010,” he said.

Mr Kamanga said regarding the use of the motor vehicles for campaigns, the Commission however, established that out of the 39 vehicles, nine were suspected to have been used for this purpose as they had been released to a certain Ministry for some “survey” assignment.

“The Commission has therefore released the 30 motor vehicles to WCFCB whilst the nine will be handed over to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to conduct further investigations in the matter. This is because the offences suspected to have been committed with the nine vehicles border more on abuse of authority of office contrary to the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act,” he said.

Reality TV star, Todd Chrisley has recounted how he became a “slave” to money and material things before he was found guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion.

Speaking during the most recent episode of his podcast, “Chrisley Confessions,” the 53-year-old reality TV star said he allowed fame get to his head, which pushed him into making some questionable decisions.

He said;

“I got lost when I couldn’t tell the difference in my self-worth and my net worth.

“And the bigger my net worth became, the less I focused on my self-worth because everything was being built around that net worth. Around stuff.”

He further disclosed that because he wanted “to keep up with everyone” around him, he began purchasing “all these cars and all these houses.”

He said;

“You become a slave to the things that you thought were going to bring you peace. So I got lost in that and for my whole life because I think I was too ignorant — and when I use the word ignorant [I mean] I [didn’t] know that I understood how to differentiate self-worth and net worth.”

The Chrisley patriarch noted that in time he “finally realized” that his priorities were out of whack with what he really wanted.

He added;

“I finally realized that I wasn’t competing with everyone else around me, I was competing with me because my self-worth is low.

“And I think that God is showing me through so many things that he’s doing every day that I’m worthy. [He’s saying], ‘I’ve got you, son, I’ve got you in my right hand. I’ve got you right where I want you because your eyes are focused on me and you’re not taking them off of me.’”

The TV personality further explained that thanks to that realization and continued faith in God, he and Julie have gotten to a very zen place despite their legal woes.

He said;

“I’m willing to share what I have gotten from my therapy.

“It’s taught me that I’m not with myself. That I’m with my Lord and Savoir. That I’m with God who’s by my side 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“It’s taught me that I’m doing nothing by myself to where before I did everything on my own.”

On how his marriage has been affected with the recent stress, Chrisley said;

“I said in my perspective it has drawn me closer to my wife. I feel like my marriage for me personally, internally, is the strongest that I’ve ever felt that it’s ever been — that’s for me, that’s how I feel.

“I feel like for the first time in my life, in my marriage, I feel like my marriage is feeding a part of me that I didn’t even know was starving. I feel like I understand you from a different level [more] than I ever have before and I feel like that you have opened up more since all of this than you have the entire time that we’ve been in our marriage.”

Back in June, TMZ reported that Julie and Todd, who also has two children, Lindsie, 32, and Kyle, 30, with his ex-wife, Teresa Terry, were found guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion.

Prosecutors claimed that the couple submitted fake documents to banks when applying for loans. Julie also allegedly submitted false credit reports and bank statements when trying to rent a house in California.

During the initial trial, Todd’s former business partner, Mark Braddock, testified against him and claimed that they were intimate for about a year in the early 2000s.

The duo pleaded not guilty, but on June 7, they were convicted on all counts. Additionally, Julie, 49, was also charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of obstruction of justice after previously being accused of creating a fake credit report to rent a home. The pair’s sentencing hearing is set for October.

Beyonce is facing heat online from disability advocates after using an albeist slur in one of her songs.

After six years of waiting, Beyonce? dropped her seventh studio album Renaissance on Friday, July 29 and the album has received critical acclaim climbing to number one in over 100 countries over the weekend.

The hit maker is now facing some backlash over some lyrics in the song “Heated” causing her to change the lyrics.

Track number 11 on the album, includes the word sp**, offending some of her fans and listeners of the album.

In the four-minute-long song “Heated”, which was co-written by Canadian rapper Drake, Beyoncé sings the lyrics;

“Spazzin’ on that ass, spaz on that ass.” Though the word was ostensibly used in a colloquial way to mean going crazy or wild, “spaz” — which is derived from “spastic” — has a history of being used as a slur for those with disabilities, especially cerebral palsy.

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy, a disability that affects movement and coordination.

The lyrics inspired a thought piece by disability advocate Hannah Diviney, for The Guardian and disability support network Hireup, in which she wrote: “Beyoncé’s commitment to storytelling musically and visually is unparalleled, as is her power to have the world paying attention to the narratives, struggles and nuanced lived experience of being a Black woman.… But that doesn’t excuse her use of ableist language.”

A representative for Beyoncé has confirmed to Variety that the lyrics will be replaced. They have also stated the lyrics were not intended in a “harmful way.”

The short statement by Beyonce reads: “The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced.”

Beyoncé is not the first artist to alter her lyrics in recent months.

Three-time Grammy winner Lizzo, removed the same word from her song “Grrrls” from her fourth studio album, “Special” where she sang ” Do you see this s*? I’m a sp.”

Lizzo changed the lyrics to “Do you see this s***? Hold me back.”

Announcing the change, Lizzo took to her social media accounts to address her fans.

She said: “It’s been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song ‘Grrrls.’ Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote the derogatory language. As a fat Black woman in America, I’ve had many hurtful words used against me, so I understand the power words can have (whether intentionally, or in my case, unintentionally). I’m proud to say there’s a new version of “Grrrls” with a lyric change. This is the result of me listening and taking action. As an influential artist, I’m dedicated to being part of the change I’ve been waiting to see in the world. Xoxo, Lizzo”?????

By Chimwemwe Mwanza

Our propensity to weaponise and politicise even the most miniscule of issues is legendary. Just how videos of a supposed high value female in nudes has captivated national discourse to the extent that some have labeled this a constitutional crisis baffles the mind.

Whatever the motive in leaking this video, its distributors have achieved a key outcome – which is to impugn and cast aspersions on the character of the actress in the salacious production. By extention, Mary Chirwa’s credibility as the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) head honcho, is in tatters and so is her suitability to lead the new government’s anti-graft crusade. In short, she is damaged goods.

No mincing words here, the inference herein is that DEC which is at the center of prosecuting several financial crimes allegedly committed by the previous dispensation is led by a sex charity and morally compromised individual. The gauntlet thrown at her to refute the allegation that she is the actress and producer of the video further lends credence to a much bigger sinister plot in play.

Chirwa has ignored this bait and instead opted to stay silent but silence is also an answer – though not a reassuring one when it comes to sex. She is either the starring in the video or not, can’t have it both ways. What are her options then? Does she hunker down and wait for the storm to subside or should she continue to hide under the pretext that people will eventually come to accept that this is a doctored video?

Whatever her choice, she is in a pickle and has little choice but to nip this speculation in the bud. At best she needs to show contrition and apologise for this poor error in judgement. It is not as though its murder she has committed but is entwined in a crime of passion. On reflection, US tele-vangelist, Jimmy Swaggart’s fall from grace reminds us that humans are fallible and Isaiah 53 verse 6 further reinforces this view. It reads: “All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us turning our own separate ways; and the lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Encouragingly, she has the Presidency in her corner – critical for her support and rehabilitation. More commendable, the President has shown leadership by dismissing this as a sideshow aimed at distracting the serious works of the DEC. After all, don’t we all agree that sex is pleasurable – a fantasy which we all enjoy. Except that this one somewhat escaped the confines of privacy, aren’t such visuals intended to stimulate by stirring our minds into overdrive?

Patriarchy rearing its head
Unsurprising but disappointingly so, it is concerning that it is the male species that is leading the mob to lynch Chirwa at the altar of political expediency. And herein lies a challenge, such ingrained patriarchal tendencies pose the biggest threat to achieving gender parity in the work place, advancing female career development and in the process inhibiting socio-economic development.

The anguish extended to Chirwa is largely the product of a structured but flawed moral construct that suggests that men’s mistakes have less moral impact on society compared to mistakes committed by women. Put simply, men have set up a moral code and standard to which women ought to subscribe to hence arguments like ‘ubuchende bwamwaume tabu toba in’ganda kano ubwamwanakashi.’ This is what is at play here.

Even more embarrassing is the utterance by Godfridah Sumaili – the former Minister for Religious Affairs calling for the person in the video to be prosecuted. Sumaili knows too very well who the actress in the video is and for her, she is aiming a cheap political shot at the current government through a crudely stitched innuendo. The inference here being ‘Moneni sure abaleteka ichalo.’ Put differently, would the former Minister have reacted in this manner – say if this video was created by someone close to her?

This is extremely troubling coming from a Reverend who spent a sizeable tenure of her stint in office laying fertile grounds for politicization of the church. It is during her tenure that we saw the emergence of Christian groups openly siding with political parties. This the person that today is parading herself as a high priestess of moral correctness. So much for forgiveness. Even then, you have to forgive Sumaili for such bigotry, Chirwa is such a stunner.

Brick by brick, we need to consciously start dismantling the centuries old foundations of sexism laid by ancient Greek philosophers, Aristotle, Plato and Hippocrates among others and premised on the notion that the male is superior by nature and the female considered inferior is created to serve man. Whatever this means, tuli mu 2022 mwebantu.

The author is an avid reader of political history and philosophy. He is currently exploring options of launching a patented bi-monthly column aimed at further enhancing our political, economic, and social discourse. He only supports Liverpool naba Kabwe Warriors, chapwa. For feedback contact him on kwachaone@gmail.com

THEY WERE “NO EMPTY COFFERS” UPND EVER ENHERITED -MUNDUBILE

……. as the leader of the opposition in Parliament says HH has made 20 International Trips so far

Kelvin Sichizya in Kasama

July 31, 2022 – Kasama – Leader of the opposition in Parliament Brain Mundubile has said at no time did President Haakainde Hichilema and his UPND government find empty coffers in government when they took over power or else the President was not going to manage to make even the first trip he undertook to attend the UN General Assembly in New Yolk

And Mr. Mundubile has said President Hichilema would not have commissioned any project so far in the 10 months his UPND government has been in power had the PF and Edgar Chagwa Lungu not planned and commenced construction of projects such as the Kafue Bulk Water, the Fruit Processing Plant in Western Province, Mulungushi International Conference and the soon to be commissioning Kafulafuta Dam and said “African Traditions demand that you recognize your predecessor” like ECL and the PF.

Speaking on a LIVE phone-in programme on Kasama radio Sunday evening, Mr. Mundubile who is Mporokoso Central Member of Parliament and PF Presidential hopeful said the UPND castigated the former ruling PF over debts without explaining to Zambians how such debts are now the results of the same projects the New Dawn government is now commissioning

He said the stability of power supply in Zambia was far ahead of South Africa which has a stronger economy and that load shedding in SA is now a daily occurance because the former PF government prepared the country very well by investing heavily in power generation adding “Zambia was under exssessive load shedding before that”

The leader of the opposition said President Hichilema has so far made 20 International Trips and is able to boast of recruiting 30,000 plus Teachers and Health workers because the PF government planned for the creation of such jobs by embarking on an expansion programme of classroom space as well as constructing hospitals, Mini-hospitals and Health posts

And speaking on the many Presidential trips, Mr. Mundubile wondered why the President would land four (4) planes in a Ward like LUKUTU in Luwingu to campaign for 1000 votes.

The opposition leader also said people were suspicious with the 100million US Dollar or K1. 6 billion granted to a foreign company to construct hospitals in UNPD strongholds and the removal Mineral Royalty Tax because owners of such companies were their own supporters.

Mr. Mundubile has said there was need for the ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION to undergo specialized training to deal with sofiscated corruption.

“The PF started the Early Childhood Education which was the beginning of job creation and introduced free Education from Grade 1 to 7 with reduced fees for Grade 8 to 12”,Mr. Mundubile emphasized.

He said “that was public resources at play” adding “whatever government comes in and takes over”* would only do so to continue with the government and said PF left several *New Secondary Schools and health facilities which included 650 health posts across the country where these newly recruited teacher and health personnel are going to be posted to.

And Mr. Mundubile says the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was essentially decentralization and noted that the decision by government through the Local Government Ministry to want to procure vehicles for Constituencies was a form of dicatorship* and was not in the spirit of decentralization and was not backed by law.

Meanwhile, the Mporokoso Central lawmaker has advised government to ensure it protects this year’s food produced in the country because, he says, “there is a very big risk our maize is being transported across borders”.

STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

31st July, 2022

KABUSHI CONSTITUENCY READY FOR THE BYE- ELECTION – HON. MINISTER MATAMBO

The United Party for National Development (UPND) Copperbelt Province has welcomed the nullification of the Kabushi Constituency seat by the Constitutional Court paving way for a bye election within 90 days.

UPND Copperbelt Provincial Chairperson Hon Elisha Matambo has declared UPND ready for the bye election. He said the Party will win the seat with a large margin and give the people of Kabushi the rightful Member of Parliament.

The Provincial Chairperson said this during a well attended mobilization meeting held at Green Point Lodge in Lubuto, Kabushi Constituency.

Hon Matambo has paid tribute to the UPND 2021 candidate, Constituency and District executive for successfully petitioning the Kabushi for gross electoral malpractices.

The Provincial Chairperson inspected all the structures and gave strict instructions to ensure more members are recruited.

Hon Matambo recounted how the people of Kabushi especially UPND members were tormented and brutalized by the PF regime using the notorious NATO Forces just to win the seat. He warned the PF and whoever will represent their Party as a candidate that corruption, violence and underhand method will not be torelated in the forthcoming bye election.

Hon Matambo has tipped the Party in Kabushi to use the many achievements scored by the New Dawn government in few months of being in office as the mobilization message. ” Go and tell the people of Kabushi that Government has employed more than 40,000 teachers and health workers, that Government is empowering people through Co-operatives using CDF loans and grants, tell them that we have reduced inflation to a single digit and many other things, ” Hon Matambo said to the jubilation of the fully packed hall.

Hon Matambo also instructed all Party structures to embark on a peaceful campaign in line with the New Dawn government policy and instead champion issue based Politics. He reminded the people that PF and it’s violent tribal stogges are gone forever.

The Provincial Chairperson was accompanied by several party officials from the Provincial, District and Constituency executive.

Issued by //

(C) CB UPND MEDIA TEAM

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE VISIT TO THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA BY MR. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wishes to inform the Nation that Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia will undertake a State Visit to the United Republic of Tanzania on 2nd to 3rd August, 2022, at the invitation of Her Excellency Ms. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

This Visit is highly significant as Tanzania remains a strategic partner as a link for transportation in the southern region for both freight and passengers through the eastern African seaport of Dar-es-Salaam. To this end, during the Visit, President Hichilema and President Hassan will hold bilateral talks where discussions will focus on areas of mutual interest aimed at enhancing trade, investment and infrastructure development, among others.

The two leaders are expected to engage on matters pertaining to the Tanzania Zambia Railways (TAZARA), primarily operational issues including revamping and capitalization of the company.The Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) Pipelines Limited, and the Nakonde-Tunduma One Stop Border Post (OSBP) will also be an area of discussion and focus.

President Hichilema is thus scheduled to tour the Dar-es-Salaam Port, Dar-es-Salaam Standard Main Gauge Railway Station, TAZAMA Pipelines Limited and TAZARA.

President Hichilema and President Hassan will also preside over the signing of Memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of Defence and Tourism.

Zambia and Tanzania share strong historical bilateral relations and a common boundary, and the two countries actively cooperate in social, political and economic areas within the framework of the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation.

President Hichilema has continued to emphasise the need for Zambia to strengthen ties with its neighbouring countries through increased cooperation for mutual benefit of the people.

The President is of the firm belief that increased collaboration through trade and investment and beneficial joint ventures at regional and continental levels will provide the necessary building blocks and opportunities that are crucial to ensuring improved livelihoods and integral economic transformation. Therefore, it is hoped that President Hichilema’s visit to Tanzania will provide for the firming of the longstanding ties between the two sister countries and unlock the much needed economic opportunities that will yield tangible benefits to the people of Zambia.

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

Hon. Stanley. K. Kakubo, MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation
Lusaka 🇿🇲
1st August, 2022

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF IN ZAMBIAN POLITICS: The case of Harry Kalaba

By Miles B. Sampa, MP

The resignation of my brother President Harry Kalaba about a week ago from his own party Democratic Party (DP) reminds me of me in 2016 .

Towards and after the Kabwe general conference debacle, my brother Harry was amongst those in the forefront calling me and Guy Scott all mother of abusive words. I ended up forming my own party and called it the Democratic Front (DF) as to say PF was ‘not Democratic’.

DF took off on a supersonic trajectory and well received within and outside PF. Influential seniors and youths were joining us on a daily basis. After I invested in so much money and my goodwill, suddenly the office bearers were making headlines denouncing and ‘expelling’ me. Even those I woke up while they were snoring (no lulenda lulepona) to come join us got bought off.

It was trips to and from the court on a weekly basis to claim ownership of a party ‘ I launched’ or brought to the public attention.

Despite me getting some of the best Lawyers in town namely Keith Mweemba and Gilbert Phiri to regain full control of my party DF, the invisible hand was too strong. The then Solicitor General Abraham Mwansa found himself in the case claiming DF sounded like PF and it should be deregistered. The then Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila actually did get the DF deregistered. Probably only party in the history of Zambian politics to have been deregistered within a month of being launched.

Close associates became witnesses against me and all preliminary Court Judgment on DF tended to be against me. Just as Harry has done, I then declared ‘ I am forming another party’ and called it United Democratic Front- UDF). Big mistake. It was daily trips to the registrar of societies and with same response “ we still doing due dilligency on the party office bearers you proposed”.

The inner circle even coined ‘ Miles is not a factor ‘ line but I kept wondering why they were spending too much money, time and energy to obliterate me from exercising my Democratic right to participate in elections via a club of my choice.

Running out of time and from ‘ichifukushi’ of why my own brothers and sisters were abusing me, I opted to stay out of the elections and backed the then opposition UPND namely Tom Michello for Matero constituency and HH for President. The rest is history.

Essentially the then system movers and shakers (Harry inclusive) stopped me from having my name on the ballot in the 2016 elections.

As soon as ‘Internal’ wrangles started in DP after the 2021 general elections, I posted on Harry’s page that I hoped he would not end up as I did on 2016. He posted back “thank you my brother”. Well my hope was hopeless. He has replicated my path. The only difference is I never got any of my female party officials imply ‘things’ against me or other male top leaders. Incidentally the current DP leader Judith Kabemba (a sister in politics) was briefly associated with my party DF (UDF) and indirectly so was the current Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Hon Mulenga Chipoka from the ‘alliance’ we had at the time with NAREP and its then leader Elias Chipimo.

Regardless, I wish my brother Harry well as he visits the registrar of societies to register another of his ‘own’ party. I failed to get one when I needed it most in 2016. The Home Affairs Minister (Davis Mwila) then just did not allow it. Hopefully Hon Jack Mwiimbu will be different end get you party papers processed and avail you the certificate.

It’s not karma. Just not being selfish with a story that have now come to witness twice and upcoming politicians can learn a thing or two.

Incidentally I was also the first to resign from the ECL government (reasons stated at the time ) and a year or two later Harry became the second to resign. First to have a party I registered deregistered and hope Harry won’t be the second. He is a brother from the ‘Sata school of politics’ and I continue to wish him well. I however hope that is as far as fate will replicate his political disposition to mine because It’s not one I would wish on anyone human.

It’s been rather odd and very rough. Kwali ukukosa. As the saying goes..no situation is permanent.

What can I say to my brother Harry other than…”onalebo Koseni”

MBS01.08.2022

By Kasebamashila Kaseba

WHO IS WHO IS ESTHER LUNGU IS ESTHER NYAWA IS ESTHER TEMBO IS ESTHER PHIRI BORN IN 1956 AND 1957 AND 1961?

WHEN Drug Enforcenent Commission (DEC) at the start of July seized a Ms Esther Nyawa Tembo’s 15 flats, in State Lodge, Lusaka, it was not immediately known to be the well-known immediate former First Lady better known as Esther Nyawa Lungu.

In short, Nyawa was taken as Esther Lungu’s maiden name not Tembo.

That version of Nyawa being maiden name is partly backed even by Anthony Mukwita’s biography of EL, “Against All Odd – Zambia’s President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s Rough Journey to State House” (2017) who also confusingly has both Nyawa and Phiri without or instead of Tembo.

Mukwita’s book has a chapter, “Edgar in The Eyes of ‘Queen’ Esther”.

“Esther Nyawa Lungu, First Lady of the Republic of Zambia, was born on 2 June, 1957 to parents, Island and Agnes Phiri. Mrs Lungu is a woman well known for her good deeds. Notable have been her attempts to uplift the livelihoods of girls and vulnerable women. Also, in such acts as simply mourning with and otherwise showing solidarity with ordinary Zambians in trying times.” (Page 93)

Mrs EL was also recently re-known, from her University of Zambia degree qualification, as Esther Nyawa Tembo, with Tembo considered as the maiden surname without Phiri.

That is, Esther Lungu is Esther Tembo, the owner of the 15 flats meaning Tembo is supposed to be her personal names on her national registration card.

In other words, Mrs EL, as the former mother of the nation, as a person is unknown as her husband also of different identity versions of parents or birthdays or birth places or chiefs etc depending on who one talks to or reads.

For example, apart from multiple personal names or identity, there are also about three birth dates online of the wife like husband.

For another example there are no proper records of EL graduation and wedding and divorces and records of children, as say Mandela, KK, LPM, Obama, HH etc.

Fellow lawyers, Mandela, LPM divorced twice and once respectively as public records.

For one thing, education, marriage and divorce or land or property etc may not just have functions or events but also certificates or records or photographs or even media personality profiles.

Mrs EL’s marriage is said to be thirty something years without definite details like wedding and divorce of Ms Dorothy Machanda (mother of Tasila Lungu) cousin of Mike Mulongoti.

Mrs EL told Zambia Daily Mail they first met at Legal Aid.

He was a lawyer there and she was a client.

Ireene Mambilima was in charge Legal Aid.

Otherwise, it seems everything, from personal identity to nationality to wealth to assumption of PF and Zambian presidencies to marriages to divorces to retirement about EL, is mired in secrecy and mystery and controversy.

That is because of lack of transparency and accountability.

That is how HH too, like EL, cannot fight corruption for lack of transparency and accountability.

The First Lady registered and founded Esther Lungu Foundation Trust (ELFT) in December 2015 combining both foundation and trust and the Office of the First Lady she assumed in January 2015!

In other words, the first investigation (alongside whether or not it is Mary Chirwa in the video) after identity or identity fraud or clearance or declaration could have been the audit of the books of the First Lady and of the Foundation Trust.

Mrs EL publicly dedicated herself and the ELFT or fundraised for the poor or underprivileged when the flats are neither for the poor nor the women nor the ELFT.

Is the ELFT since liquidated by expiration of her tenure or is still is operational?

As First Lady and ELFT seemed to overreach or interfere with work of government ministers perhaps more than any other predecessor first ladies.

For example, she once extravagantly or controversially traveled to the U.S to receive second hand fire tenders for the councills than receive them in Lusaka, Zambia and when the Lusaka mayor had also been in the U.S.

Perhaps, she is also controversially the first former First Lady to build her husband or family or herself 15 flats when she and her husband are entitled to a retirement house built by the State.

Otherwise, Mrs EL as First Lady should have been home making for marriages or teaching family values more than house building for her husband.

Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) trends reports reported corruption or suspicious investments in properties, 48 ‘mushroom’ houses.

There was already FIC trends report that captured terrorism financing followed by the mention of EL in Rwandan court of terrorism financing.

That is, beyond names and corruption allegations, confusion shall remain with the ELs for long time.

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA HAS DELIVERED ON PROMISE OF DEBT RE-STRUCTURING – MWEETWA
LUSAKA – JULY 31, 2022
UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says President Hakainde Hichilema has delivered on his pre-election pledge of debt re-structuring.
Mr Mweetwa, who is Southern Province minister, updated journalists in Lusaka today on the progress being made on debt re-structuring and Zambia’s nearing attainment of an IMF economic package.

He said President Hichilema came to power mainly on two promises, amongst many.
Mr Mweetwa said those electoral promises are restoration of the rule of law and economic recovery and economic transformation.
He said restoration of rule or law, under the new dawn administration, has resulted into a conducive and peaceful Zambia where business is being conducted to support economic activity.

Mr Mweetwa recalled that on the frontier of economic transformation, President Hichilema anchored his electoral promises on debt re-structuring.

He explained that debt re-structuring sees to it that there is headroom for a better national balance sheet outlook.
“At the time President Hichilema took over in August 2021, Zambia was defaulting on its international and local debt repayment obligations,” Mr Mweetwa said.

“Zambia owes its international debtors about US$19 billion and its local debtors more than US$3 billion. Put together, Zambia’s international and local debt stands at about US$22 billion to US$23 billion.”

Mr Mweetwa added that the implication of Zambia’s indebtedness is that per annum, the country is expected to meet its debt obligations to the tune of K42 billion.

“In dollar terms, Zambia’s obligation to debt repayment per annum is standing at US$2.6 billion. With this kind of choking and unsustainable debt, it was very self-evident that economy would not go anywhere because when you look at Zambia’s debt portfolio, it matches, if not slightly above, Zambia’s GDP (gross domestic product) – which is about US$22 billion,” he explained.

“You cannot borrow more than your asset endowment! But Zambia got to this stage because of recklessness of over-borrowing.”
Mr Mweetwa noted that President Hichilema has walked the talk and has engaged Zambia’s official creditors, thereby making the country’s official creditors to announce finance assurances to Zambia.

“This means that the IMF will get Zambia’s request for an economic bailout to be tabled before the IMF shareholders for approval, to a tune of US$1.4 billion,” Mr Mweetwa said.

“As a party in government, this is a milestone and we take this occasion to thank Zambia’s official creditors for coming to this position of giving finance assurances to Zambia, which has created headroom for Zambia’s economy and financial standing.”
He further indicated that the money which the IMF would give to Zambia, at a remarkably low interest, would be invested in critical sectors like energy, agriculture, education, health.

“These four sectors drive the economic engine of a country,” Mr Mweetwa said.
“The electoral promise that the President made of debt re-structuring, that has been delivered. So, those who are saying nothing is happening in Zambia, that HH is not delivering on his election promises, this is your answer; HH committed to debt re-structuring as the first step towards economic recovery for economic transformation and he has delivered.”

Meanwhile, the minister said figures in opposition political parties who have been lying to the nation that the new dawn government was failing to recruit teachers and health workers because of the non-availability of an IMF bailout should apologise for misinforming the nation.
“If they don’t, citizens should write them off as cheap political propagandists. The present politics does not require propaganda but one to work with facts,” Mr Mweetwa said.

He stressed that Zambia’s economy is now in safe hands, especially that there is no pilferage of public resources.
“President HH has fulfilled his electoral promise of debt re-structuring. So, we ask citizens to go back to their checklist and tick which promise was made and which one has been fulfilled,” said Mr Mweetwa.
(C) THE FALCON

PROTECT CHIRWA

…a victim of PF corruption lords fighting back – Kalala

By Ernest Chanda
JACK Kalala has charged that those being ursued for corruption in the PF are the ones fighting back by scheming against DEC director general Mary Chirwa’s removal.

Recently, four different video clips of about five minutes each imaged on social media of a woman masturbating and fondling her private parts on what seemed like different occasions in which people allege it was Chirwa.

It is not clear where these were recorded by the subject or by someone else secretly.

And Kalala, a former special assistant for policy implementation and monitoring in the Levy Mwanawasa administration, notes that corrupt people never go down without a fight.

“It is apparent, from the statement coming from the PF surrogates calling upon Ms Mary Chirwa to resign, that Mary Chirwa, the DEC director general, is indeed a victim of the PF corruption lords fighting back to defend themselves. Her uncompromising and tenacious aggression against corruption has unsettled them. It has made them spending sleepless nights. She has proved to be a thorn in the flesh giving them excruciating mental pain and agony,” he charged in a statement. “In their fight to defend themselves, they have made Mary Chirwa their prime target. They came up with a despicable scheme to break and destroy her in order to neutralise her efforts to fight corruption, and instill fear in other people engaged in the fight against the scourge.”

Kalala said corrupt people would even kill to survive, hence the use of several dirty tactics which include blackmail.

Citing Italian mafias, he urged those fighting corruption to intensify the fight.

“Corrupt people are cruel and vicious. They will even kill to protect themselves against those fighting corruption and other related vices. The mafia in Italy is a good example,” Kalala said. “The people engaged in the fight against the scourge should know this very well. They should bear in mind that the criminals of corruption would not sit idle and allow being defeated without a fight. The corruption lords will fiercely fight back and will even kill for their survival. They are evil, cruel, vicious and dangerous.”

He warned that corruption lords have paid their surrogates to seek Chirwa’s removal from the DEC.

“After executing their heinous scheme, the lords of corruption have now unleashed their paid degenerate surrogates to call for the resignation of Mary Chirwa. These will come up with all sorts of moral claims to justify their malicious claims and to camouflage their hidden devilish motive,” Kalala said. “They are nothing but agents of the devil and should be totally ignored and treated with disgusting contempt they deserve as their evil activities are detrimental to national interests. They should be considered as enemies of the country, the socio-economic development and the common good.”

Kalala called for Chirwa’s protection, adding that all other citizens should support her.

He also called for the arrest of those who circulated the videos.

“Ms Mary Chirwa, being a victim of the evil schemes of enemies of good governance and the well-being of our nation, deserves protection and our moral support. All good citizens should – out of love for our beautiful country – stand up to give moral support to Mary Chirwa. She deserves our moral support as a gallant soldier of the fight against corruption in our society,” he said. “All well-meaning citizens have a national and moral duty to stand by our gallant and fearless soldier. The leadership should stand by her and give her moral support. They should also undertake to do whatever it takes to bring to book the perpetrators of the hideous plot to destroy her reputation, integrity and character. They want to break her spirit and mental strength. The perpetrators of the senseless and grim conspiracy against Mary Chirwa are dangerous enemies of our society and national values. They should firmly be dealt with.”

Kalala reminded government that the corrupt have regrouped and are using the same loot to fight back.

“The criminals who looted our national coffers to enrich themselves and build mansions for themselves have regrouped to fight back in self-defence. They want to defeat the just and well-meaning fight against corruption. They are using their ill-gotten moneys to fight back,” he added. “They have lots of money and it would be a perilous misjudgment for the new dawn government to underrate them. These people are heartless, dangerous and ruthless. The inhumane, cruel treatment they made President HH (Hakainde Hichilema) to go through when they arrested him for no reason, the criminal gassing of citizens for ulterior political motives, and the killing of innocent and harmless citizens in cold blood are a reflection of the depth of their barbaric, cruelty and heartlessness.”

Kalala called on the public to reject PF’s frustration of the fight against corruption.

He also called for courage among those involved in fighting the scourge.

“The nation should not allow looters of national resources to undermine the well-intended fight against corruption. The people on the frontline to fight the scourge should be motivated, inspired and protected against the heinous plots of the lords of corruption and their surrogates,” he noted. “Without strong people to fight the scourge, institutions will be weak and the fight against corruption will be compromised and rendered to be an academic exercise.”

And Kalala urged the new dawn administration to “prosecute the fight against corruption robustly”.

He said corruption should not be given room to blossom in the nation.

“The new dawn government should prosecute the fight against corruption robustly and with the seriousness it deserves. To handle it with kiddy gloves and treat it with indifference is tantamount to providing the best and fertile breeding ground for corruption to thrive and grow,” Kalala stressed. “Corruption should not be given room to bloom and deepen its roots. Integrity, transparency and the fight against corruption should be the strong foundation on which we should build our nation. We should make them part of our fundamental values and culture.”

And Kalala bemoaned the weakness displayed so far by investigative wings in fighting corruption.

“Our Inspector General of Police and members of his command team are weak, making looters to take advantage of their weakness to grow wings. The IG and his team should pull up their socks. They should not expect the President to give them orders for them to act because that is not his style of leadership,” he said. “The police should investigate the gassing incident, the burning of the markets and the killing of innocent people perceived to be members of the opposition. The perpetrators of these crimes should be brought to book. The rule of law does not leave any wrong doing to go unpunished. Fighting crime should not be considered as persecution as some people tend to claim but prosecution of wrongdoers.”

Kalala encouraged President Hichilema and his team to fight on.

He said those who become instant millionaires upon entering public service should be questioned.

“The President and his new dawn government should not relent in the fight against corruption. The people of Zambia want their looted money to be recovered. They want their money in the custody of government to be protected and used for the intended purposes,” said Kalala. “Those who become instant millionaires upon entering government should be made to account for their instant wealth. The rule of law and good governance demand just that we need more steam in the fight against corruption.”

On recently, PF deputy spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba said anyone can be victim of social media.

He said the alleged Mary Chirwa videos, “is a constitutional matter. Issues of ethics and morals are in the Constitution. The President is compelled by the Constitution. When there is a grave allegation like this the President needs to act.”

Mwamba, who vehemently denied any PF involvement in the circulation of the pornographic videos, said the coincidence between the emergence of the videos and the questioning of former first lady Esther Lungu by the Drug Enforcement Commission did not matter.

“We have nothing to do with the video. All of us know how difficult it is to manipulate a video and even if you did as soon as you do some reverse applications, it will show you that this is a manipulated process. For us this is a serious matter. It does not matter when it occurred. Whether it is now, 2017, if it came out two weeks from now – for us we saw it. This is a constitutional matter. Issues of ethics and morals are in the Constitution. The President is compelled by the Constitution,” said Mwamba.

Bowman a ‘front-end loader’ who authored his downfall – Kazabu

By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone

BOWMAN Lusambo authored his own downfall, says former Nkana member of parliament Luxon Kazabu.

And Kazabu, who served as livestock and fisheries deputy minister in the Michael Sata administration, has advised Harry Kalaba to join the ruling UPND saying there is a lot of space for his ideas.

Commenting on the Constitutional Court’s upholding of the High Court nullification of Lusambo’s election as Kabushi PF member of parliament, Kazabu mocked the now former parliamentarian that: “He is now a front-end loader and not a bulldozer’’.

“The law has prevailed. Whatever Bowman Lusambo is going through, he authored it himself. He literally authored his own downfall. When people say time will tell that is what they exactly mean. Time is the best judge,” he said. “He for quite some time thought he was the greatest. But out of his own wrong doings that is it. He has lost the seat. It was actually expected. I would have been surprised if the Constitutional Court ruling was going to be otherwise.”

Kazabu noted that “PF leaders have continued to be confrontational and arrogant instead of taking a step backward and reflect on their past wrongs”.

“They have become confrontational and combative. But people are able to compare how we were governed under PF and how we are being governed under the UPND,” he said.

Kazabu advised the talkative PF leaders to emulate some of their fellow members who have opted to be silent.

“You can’t afford to continue being arrogant through and through. For example, why go against a supplementary budget which will be funded from local resources? I would have had a quarrel with the government if they were going to borrow,” he said.

On former Democratic Party leader Kalaba who quit the party recently, Kazabu advised him against forming another party because the country already has too many.

He said Kalaba can join any of the already existing political parties.

“He can either go back to his old party, the PF, or join the Socialist Party. But for now, the only choice is the ruling party. And I think there is a lot of space for his ideas to add value to the republic of Zambia. But I can’t take away his rights to form a political party,” said Kazabu.

President Mr Hakainde Hichilema has assured the people of Luapula Province that government will address the low power supply the province experiences, currently.

President Hichilema says as part of plans to address the issue , government will ensure that it works on the Kalungwishi hydro power project.

The Republican President said this in Mwansabombwe yesterday when he graced this year’s Mutomboko Traditional Ceremony of the Lunda people of Mwansabombwe District.

“We promised to address the energy crisis seven months after we are elected, and we said we will do so through alternative sources,

“ We remain committed to that, and part of the this solution here in Luapula we will work on 300 Megawatts Kalungwishi hydro power plant,” the President revealed.

The new dawn government wants the public to take advantage of the available resources, said Mr Hichilema adding that his administration will do its part to ensure opportunities are available for people to take up.

Among these opportunities is the vast mining potential in the region where entrepreneurs can venture into away from depending on fishing.

“The country is endowed with resources which we want our people to take advantage of and here, we want our people to venture into mining.

“Our forefathers fought wars, now our war is against poverty so that we ensure that our children have jobs and we will ensure that we create various opportunities since that is what you elected us for,” he said.

Mr Hichilema said government is not in competition with chiefs but wants to work in partnership to ensure development to the people.

“Chiefs serve the people government also serves the people, there is no need for competition since we serve the same people, what we need is to complement each other in bringing development to the people,” he said.

Mr Hichilema has since called on chiefs to work with government and ensure that they monitor government projects.

Among these is for chiefs to monitor and ensure that there are desks in schools in their chiefdoms.

On Chief’s wellbeing , President Hichilema stated that his administration wants to maintain the dignity of traditional leaders by providing decent housing for chiefs.

“I am aware some chiefs stay in undignified houses, have no water, we want to ensure such are addressed among our chiefs,” he said.

He said that traditional leaders and government have a duty to protect children from child marriages adding that to curtail the vice, it is important that children are given time to attend school so that.

Earlier Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba disclosed that the Ministry is in the process of building traditional museums throughout the country.

Mr. Sikumba revealed that the move is aimed at showcasing the country’s tradition throughout the year.

“Government is committed to ensuring that traditions are preserved, this is the ministry wants to ensure that it build museums all over the country for people to have access to through the yea,” he said.

And Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda speaking people of Mwansabomvwe Town has hailed government for actualizing its campaign pledge for free education.

Speaking through Mutomboko Midlands Organising Committee Chairman Robbam Mwaba, the Mwata Kazembe said more children are now in schools.

The Mutomboko Traditional Ceremony, saw thousands of people from within and outside Zambia watch spectacular ceremony.

Jennifer Lopez’s first husband, Ojani Noa has expressed his doubt over the singer’s marriage to Ben Affleck

With three failed marriages behind her already, Ojani Noa, 48, claims his ex-wife “loves being in love” but loses interest after the passion in her marriages fizzle.

In addition to being married four times, Lopez, 53, has been engaged six times.

Noa congratulated the couple but said her recent nuptials with Ben Affleck brought back old memories.

‘I wish her and Ben the best, but I’m not convinced it will last,’ Ojani told Daily Mail. ‘Jen loves being in love but she’s been engaged six times. Ben is husband number four. I was husband number one and she told me I was the love of her life. When we lay in bed on our wedding night, she said we would be together for ever.’

‘We were together romantically for two years but friends for nearly a decade,’ he says, sitting in the lobby of a Miami hotel a 45-minute drive from the home in South Miami he shares with his two dogs.

‘There were many times I felt like Mr Cinderella,’ he admits. ‘She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. In the beginning, I had no idea who she was.

‘We fell in love when she was already famous. But during our marriage she became a megastar. For years it was too painful to talk about. I wanted to lie low and live my life. But when I saw she got married to Ben, who is a good guy, the feelings came flooding back.’

He adds: ‘There has been so much written about Jen and I, especially in the past couple of weeks, most of it wrong. I want people to know the real story.’

Ojani, now a personal trainer, met J Lo in 1996 when she walked into Gloria Estefan’s Cuban restaurant on Miami’s famous Ocean Drive. Then 22, he had arrived in the US illegally seven years earlier after making 90-mile journey from Cuba to Florida with six friends on a 6ft long inflatable boat. ‘It was a miracle we survived the crossing,’ he says.

J-Lo and Ojani split in 1998 and the singer went on to publicly date P. Diddy shortly after their divorce was finalised. Ojani received a reported $50,000 in the settlement and the couple remained close.

She went on to marry Cris Judd in 2001 and Latin music star Marc Anthony three years later.

J-Lo and Ben Affleck, were previously engaged in the early 2000s – tied the knot in an intimate Las Vegas wedding earlier this month.

WHY DIDN’T THE CONCOURT DISQUALIFY BOWMAN LUSAMBO DESPITE FINDING HIM GUILTY OF ELECTORAL CORRUPTION, VIOLENCE, FRAUD…?

This is the question many are asking now hence the varying argument that he was eligible to recontest from some people including myself while others arguing to the contrary.

In my view, the Court was limited in law regarding the options to choose on such a matters because the law guides it on what to do.

Unlike in the Presidential Election petition, under this type of petition, the ConCourt is awarded with three options to choose from when arriving at its decision.

These are: DECLARE the election of President-Elect valid; NULLIFY the Election; and DISQUALIFY a candidate, [Art 101(6) & Art 103(3 of the Constitution of Zambia].

On the other hand, the Electoral Process Act section 99 prescribes that a relief to any Election petition for mayoral, ward and parliamentary brought under this section will be a) declaration that the election was VOID; and b) a Declaration that any candidate was DULY ELECTED.

From this view point, the High Court and Concourt had no madate to import the disqualification clause on Bowman Lusambo but stuck to the guidance in the law of either nullifying or validating the election and the former happened.

This makes Bowman Lusambo eligible to recontest his Kabushi Seat without any problem at first instance and will be declared by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as duly nominated.

This DULY NOMINATION declaration by the ECZ is what will trigger the invocation of the provisions of Art 52 (6) which will be patiently awaiting Bowman Lusambo as he does his nominations.

Above clause gives any person the right to challenge before the court the nomination of any candidate within 7 days of the close of nominations and the ConCourt is to hear the case within 21 days of its lodgement.

The success of this challenge against Bowman is very high esp availing the election petition ruling as proven evidence of Bowman’s being found guilty of participating in Electoral violence, corruption, FRAUD and other malpractice using his NATO forces.

This is so because corruption and malpractice committed by a candidate are reasons for invoking the provisions of clause 6 of Article 52 of the Constitution.

The ConCourt is most likely, not going to miss its decision against Lusambo, but to DISQUALIFY him from the Kabushi parliamentary by-election for proven CORRUPTION and Malpractice.

If this happens (disqualification), the ECZ will cancel the by-election, set a new date for fresh filing of nominations by eligible candidates and the by-election shall be held within 30 days of the filing of the fresh nominations.

In the filing of fresh nominations, Bowman Lusambo will not be eligible to do so as he would be found guilty of corruption and Malpractice and disqualified for election under Article 72(2)(b).

In addition, Article 52(6) will have to be summoned that empowers a court to disqualify a candidate for corruption, or malpractice after the close of nominations and before the election date.

With the possible disqualification of Bowman Lusambo ahead, Article 72(4) will be called upon which will make Lusambo not eligible to contest any election or hold public office during the term of this parliament (2021-2026)

To this end, the advice to Bowman Lusambo is to STAY AWAY from recontesting the Kabushi parliamentary by-election as he will be disqualified without doubt but wait for 2026 to start afresh his Political life.

I submit

McDonald Chipenzi

The opposition PF is planning to write to international human rights bodies such as Amnesty International to highlight the plight of its former Secretary General Mumbi Phiri.

Mrs Phiri has spent close to six months at Mongu Remand Prison without trial.

She faces a murder charge which is not bailable.
Information has emerged that her case is yet to be cause listed which implies that she will be held without trial for a much prolonged period.

The PF says Mrs Phiri’s continued stay in prison without facing trial is unfair and an abuse of her human rights.

Former PF Secretary General Davies Mwila revealed in an interview that the party is resolved to have Mrs Phiri’s matter be heard globally.

“This people came in and told the world that they will respect human rights and the rule of law. We want the whole world to know that they are infact throwing political opponents in jail without trial. We will soon be writing to organisations like Amnesty International so that they can intervene in this gross human rights abuse that is going on in Zambia,” Mr Mwila said.

Mr. Phiri said the PF is now demanding that Mrs Phiri be released immediately unconditionally or be taken to court.

He added, “There is no justification for keeping Hon. Phiri in prison for this long without presenting her before a Judge. It’s immoral and unfair. If they know they have no evidence, let them release her immediately.

However, Minister of Justice Mulambo Haimbe has dispelled assertions that the delays to have Patriotic Front (PF)’s Deputy Secretary Mumbi Phiri’s matter come before the courts of law is mere vindictiveness on the part of government.

Mr. Haimbe says government has nothing to do with the judicial process adding that everything happening to the detained PF leader was within the law .

The minister in an interview last evening maintained that no one should assert that the official was being punished.

The law is very clear on procedures regarding such cases related to murder and thus it is important to understand the process.

“This matter has become topical but it is important to understand what is happening,’’ he said.

Mr. Haimbe said the country had different types of offences some of which were bailable and non- bailable.

He said the matter which the embattled PF Deputy Secretary General is facing is a capital offence which cannot be bailed.

He cited treason, murder and aggravated robbery as some of the offences that fall within this category.

Mrs. Phiri stands charged with a non bailable offence of murder contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code; chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Mr. Haimbe stated that according to his understanding, Mrs. Mumbi is charged with a capital offence and in places like Kaoma, there could probably be a number of similar cases.

For anyone who is facing a non bailable offence to appear before the High Court, there is a process that is followed called “Cause Listing.”’

“ The judiciary has a system where it lists cases and it follows that accordingly unless there were compelling circumstances no one can skip the queue,’’ he intoned.

Mr. Haimbe stated whenever one is committed to the high court, that offender has to wait for their turn and she has to wait for her turn when the case comes up for hearing.

“Mrs. Phiri found others who were waiting for trial and that she has to wait for her case to come up,” he stated.

Mr. Haimbe wondered why there should be complaints when President Hakainde Hichilema in 2017 had to wait for 127 days in prison for a case of treason before he could be heard.

“Much as one does not like the idea of waiting for that long, the criminal justice system does not look at faces but is the way it is,” he explained.

Nkosi responds to Mwamba

Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba Wrote; “IMF will never be a solution to the challenges our country faces. No country has developed on an IMF Programme. EM8”

In Response, Alexander Nkosi Wrote;

DISCUSSING IMF DEAL AND DEBT RESTRUCTURING WITH AMBASSADOR EMMANUEL MWAMBA

By Alexander Nkosi

Following the statement issued on July 30 by the Creditor Committee for Zambia under the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI, Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued a statement welcoming this move by the Official Creditor Committee for Zambia.

In response to the statement from IMF, Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba argued that IMF will never be a solution to the challenges our country faces.

My reaction to Ambassador Mwamba’s statement is that we do not seek an IMF deal and debt restructuring as an end but as a means to unlocking opportunities that will allow us to invest in home grown solutions that will help stimulate key economic sectors that include: agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism and energy. What we seek from IMF and debt restructuring is breathing space which is key to the success of home grown solutions.

To put this into context, at the end of 2021- external debt was USD 12.9 billion, domestic debt was K189.7 billion and domestic arrears were K46.9 billion. Out of a domestic revenue of K98.9 billion, K78.6 billion was allocated to debt service. When we add the civil service wage bill, the entire domestic revenue is exhausted. Given this scenario, it is very difficult to implement home grown solutions without addressing our huge debt and without access to cheap and flexible loans. A huge component of our budget is still financed through borrowing. Some critics argue that reversing the decision made by government to make mineral royalties tax deductible (added as a cost when calculating Corporate Income Tax) would help us increase domestic revenue, clear debt and finance the budget without borrowing. This is not true, making mineral royalties tax deductible only resulted in a loss of K3.2 billion (US188 million). This is only 4.3% of our fiscal deficit and 4.1% of our total allocation to debt service.

Critics of the IMF program fear that before we get the deal, we will be asked to remove education subsidies, agriculture subsidies and implement an employment freeze. What is happening right now is that at a time we are close to getting the IMF deal: government has just recruited over 40,000 teachers and health workers in a single year; FISP which is being transformed into a Comprehensive Agriculture Support Program (CASP) has been doubled to K10 billion (close to 100% increase from last year); free education has been extended to secondary school, bursaries introduced for boarding secondary schools and an increase in tertiary education scholarships.

Why is an IMF program important for Zambia? The benefits of an IMF program are not limited to the USD1.34 billion loan under the extended credit facility. These benefits include:

1) Debt restructuring: From the statements issued by the Official Creditor Committee and IMF, it is clear to see that the IMF program and debt restructuring are linked. Why do we need debt restructuring? Currently, about 75% of domestic revenue is taken up by debt service. Debt service allocations keep growing every year and very soon the figure might surpass domestic revenue. The logic here is simple, if we reach a situation where all the money we raise through taxes, charges and fees is taken up by debt, it means that we have to borrow to pay salaries and support economic and social sectors. This worsens the debt stock and it further implies that in the coming years, more has to be allocated to debt service. This leaves less for economic and social sectors, interest rates go up and private sector performance goes down. As a result of this, domestic revenue dwindles. Debt restructuring will release resources so that we can invest is supporting agriculture, local participation in mining, manufacturing, tourism and energy. It will further reduce the pressure for domestic borrowing by government thereby reducing interest rates and allowing the private sector to borrow to grow their businesses.

A good example of the benefits of debt restructuring is what has happened after external debt service suspension, the concepts are different but the benefits in terms of releasing resources to economic and social sectors are similar. What has happened after external debt suspension is that pressure to borrow has not only reduced but we have also reallocated K19.7 billion from external debt service to critical areas like agriculture and dismantling of domestic arrears. Whereas in 2021 we allocated K5.6 billion on FISP, because of external debt service suspension, in 2022 we have increased this to K10 billion (K5.3 billion initially budgeted for and K4.7 billion in the supplementary budget). In 2021 we allocated K2.7 billion to dismantling of domestic arrears but because of external debt service suspension, we have increased this to K9.7 billion (K3.1 billion initially budgeted for and K6.6 billion in the supplementary budget). This is a clear demonstration of the positive impact of reduced annual debt service outlays.

2) USD1.34 billion loan under the extended credit facility: We are heavily dependent on the mines for forex and every time we spend on debt service, buying fuel, fertiliser and other imports- we lose a lot of dollars and since we have limited sources of forex, we end up with balance of payment problems and kwacha also depreciates. We need the USD1.34 billion to support this as we diversify and grow our export base. This comes at very low interest rates and a long period of repayment unlike mopping the domestic market for dollars, leaving the kwacha tumbling and resulting in an increase in the price of key imports like fertiliser, fuel and other inputs in production.

In our context, IMF program and debt restructuring are like an egg and chicken. On one hand the IMF staff level agreement and an independent debt sustainability assessment conducted by IMF and World Bank have been key in debt restructuring discussions, on the other hand the USD1.34 billion IMF loan will only help our economy if debt is restructured. In the absence of debt restructuring it will all be swallowed into the deep pit of economic problems.

3) Access to concessional borrowing: Related to point (2) is access to more concessional borrowing that come with being on an IMF program. Zambia will still need to borrow even after debt restructuring. However, instead of heavy borrowing on the domestic market and international commercial markets, we will have increased access to concessional borrowing. A simple example is that If we borrow USD1 billion at 20% to be repaid in 3 years in equal instalments, we will be paying USD400 million per year. Imagine if we have 5 similar loans? We will end up paying USD2 billion per year. Now imagine if the USD1 billion is a concessional loan at 1.5% interest over 10 years? We will be paying USD102 million per year. If we have 5 such loans, we will be paying USD510 million instead of USD2 billion. This will allow us to invest in growing the economy and supporting social sectors without being chocked.

After reaching the staff level agreement, the World Bank has pledged USD959 million to support economic recovery. USD294 million has already been committed while USD665 million was approved last week. African Development Bank has also pledged over USD500 million to support economic recovery under the African Development Fund. In just the first six months of 2022, we are almost surpassing our annual target for grants, the level of confidence is very high.

4) Attracting investments: Both foreign and local investers need a stable and predictable economic environment. When we are on an IMF program, investers will be assured of a stable and predictable policy environment. Government will borrow less from the domestic marketing thereby encouraging increased local investments. FDI will also increase. FQM has committed to invest USD1.35 billion in expansion and nickel project, and more firms are investing in exploration. Zambeef is investing USD100 million expanding its current investments. More investments will come in as we get into 2023.

In conclusion, it is important to understand that there are many benefits to the IMF deal and debt restructuring. It would be good to hear tangible alternative proposals from Ambassador Mwamba. How do we deal with our debt? How do we deal with huge debt service outlays? How do we deal with the fiscal deficit? How can the private sector flourish if we still borrow heavily from the domestic market? How do local businesses that need to import capital equipment and inputs flourish if our currency is left to depreciate beyond K24/ dollar? How do we provide the required support and infrastructure to economic sectors if 75% of domestic revenue goes to debt service? It would be good for Ambassador Mwamba to share feasible alternatives with quantified targets.

Thank you.

Lubinda happy with Bowman’s seat loss

By Mwaka Ndawa

GIVEN Lubinda says the Patriotic Front will put up a splendid show in the Kabushi parliamentary by-election.

He says the Constitutional Court judgment to nullify the election of Bowman Lusambo as Kabushi PF member of parliament is a God sent opportunity to test whether the ground is still the same as it was on August 12, 2021.

“We live to fight another day. You win some, you lose others. As the party we respect the sanctity of the judiciary. And we still hold firm the position that the judiciary in Zambia is still autonomous which makes decisions based on facts and based on law. We accept the judgment that has been handed down by the ConCourt and we don’t bemoan anything,” Lubinda, the acting PF president, said. “We are just delighted that some of the grounds on which the seat was nullified [by the High Court] have been disqualified by the ConCourt. We are also happy that this has come. And I’m not being sarcastic but saying it in truth. We should have been very happy had we retained the seat. Nonetheless we are also happy that we are being given an opportunity to test the ground. One year after we lost the elections, an opportunity has been given to us by God for us to go and test whether the ground is still the same as it was on the 12th of August 2021. This is a God sent. And I have been speaking to the people from Kabushi some of whom came to escort their member of parliament. And all of them are enthused, they are feeling energetic and are ready to hit the ground running.”

He called on PF members to set their eyes on the ball.

“All of us now must cast our eyes on Kabushi. Let’s go to Kabushi and ask people of Kabushi whether indeed they’re satisfied with what they have been given by the UPND over the last 11 months. This is the time for the people of Kabushi to answer the question whether this is what they expected when the people of Zambia voted on the 12th of August 2021. We are resolved to continue to mobilise. We are resolved to continue to regroup. And we are resolved to go and put up a splendid show in Kabushi,” he said. “I want to appeal to the leadership on the Copperbelt. My dear friends here is an opportunity for you to prove that the Patriotic Front is still strong and is getting stronger by the day as we prepare for 2026. So we will take this as a golden opportunity and we thank the court for the judgment they passed down today.”

On who will contest, Lubinda said it is a decision to be decided by Lusambo and the party.

“There are many others out there who may wish to contest. And as acting president I cannot preempt anything. We have to wait and see whether Bowman will apply and whether there are others who will apply. The good thing I can say is that the judgment did not bar Lusambo from recontesting,” noted Lubinda. “As far as the judgment is concerned Lusambo is eligible to recontest. But I cannot say whether he is going to recontest or not. I have not spoken to him over the matter. But obviously if he reapplies, the party will consider him together with all the others who have put their names up. And naturally Lusambo being the person who was holding the seat would be given one or two points ahead of the rest. But for now let’s leave it for the party to decide.”

IMF AND THE ZAMBIAN ECONOMY – THE FUTURE WE NEED

By Kellys Kaunda

Like many other modern nations, Zambia’s economic diplomacy is dominated by the usual suspects – the IMF, the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, the G20, to mention the most prominent. Each of these interact with us on and in various issues (directly and indirectly) that include debt, financial and development matters.

The extent to which we deal with these institutions depends largely on the domestic policies we pursue. How much each of them gets involved in our national affairs depends on the results of the policies we have pursued. If we want to limit the extent of their involvement in our domestic policies, we need to address the factors that make their involvement necessary in the first place.

For instance, if we do not want the IMF to get involved in our domestic affairs, we need to address those policies we adopt that make necessary their invitation into our domestic policy space in the first place. It is possible. After all, the IMF, like a fire brigade, is normally called in to help put out fires started by domestic policy makers. Whether a house catches fire or not largely depends on members of the household.

It is basically the desire to improve the quality of life that nations borrow and unfortunately get into financial trouble often. Sometimes this is so because anticipated revenue from known sources do not materialize thus failing to meet debt obligations; sometimes a nation’s leadership does not really know how much they ought to be borrowing; sometimes the normal human conflict over what policy works and what does not work results in pursuing policies that lead nations into debt traps; sometimes decision makers are dominated by corrupt elements that pursue deals that land nations in debt; etc.

To embark on debt sustainability or a semblance of it, Zambia must engage the political economy of debt starting by teasing out every detail that constitutes its structure. In the spirit of transparency and democracy, share with the public and allow the marketplace of ideas to flow with perspectives that must be systematically interrogated for their potential contribution to a homegrown debt solution.

It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Finance has shared with the public the projects that will be continued; those that shall be restricted and funded differently and that shall be cancelled and why. Beyond this, let’s begin to share how Zambia may avoid unsustainable debt going forward.

This broader policy approach is intended to tap beyond official government economic tzars into the knowledge, experience and expertise that is scattered within the Zambian population. If the current leadership is really committed to a sustainable solution, one that will survive them, let them pursue a non-partisan approach and listen to all and sundry.

Solutions to Zambia’s challenges lie within the Zambians themselves.