Thabo Kawana writes;

IT’S NICE TO BE A PROUD ZAMBIAN AGAIN

This morning I woke up hopeful, thankful and inspired.

The one thing late President Chiluba did and will forever be grateful to him for was to take this Nation and placed it at the Bossom of God by declaring it a Christian Nation. Because from that moment onwards, I believe God has never turned his back on us as a Nation. MHSRIEP 🙏🏾

Yes God has let us have our way here and there by granting us our hearts desires when we voted in wrong men and women that almost destroyed our Nation beyond redemption by damaging the very foundation upon which our Nation is built, Unity in diversity and hard work.

As is stated in our National Anthem (Land of work and joy in unity). All this was threatened by the very people we voluntarily elected into office.

In desperation, we ran to God to seek God’s face and answers as to why our foundation was breaking apart. Only to find it was God himself shaking our new foundation to get our attention and let us know we were building on a new wrong foundation.

A foundation of getting anything and everything through connection (who you know in Govt), corruption, violence, bribery and outright theft of public funds (the people’s money).

Just when it seemed like the Nation was gone and all hope was lost, God raised a new generation of Youth to reclaim his Nation (God’s time is always the best). It is this new generation of Youth that said enough was enough and rose to the occasion and in their millions, they voted in a new leadership.

Today, there is peace. The Youth can apply for jobs without any connections, without bribing anyone and from the comfort of their Districts without migrating to Lusaka.

They can wear any regalia at any time without being harassed and the boots on the feet of so called commanders have disappeared together with the commanders and the military attires we grew accustomed to.

Today the world is opening up to us once more, the very people we owe money who had earlier refused to give us chance have come back and say we can pay later. Integrity and credibility has returned to our Nation and what was believed to be the evil IMF is on our side as angelic IMF to help us and not punish us further.

I am inspired by this leadership, the love with which they are running our Nation, the honesty, the encouragement for hard work and the steadfastness in sincerity.

I am encouraged and convinced that we have now been set on the right trajectory towards economic recovery and that God is in control with a leadership that God himself has ordained (when good men and women govern, the Nation rejoices).

I remain thankful to God for President HH, for Minister Musokotwane and the rest of the men and women in and out of Cabinet that not only mean well for our country but, also share in the vision of HH.

It now remains my duty to play my part in the positive transformation of our country and ask myself this question every night before I go to sleep “what have I done today to make my country a better place than it was yesterday?”

I challenge all of us to ask ourselves this very question every night, and as we give different answers every night, the end result will be a better Zambia for all of us.

A Zambia we all want.

Happy Sunday fellow Zambians, it’s a nice feeling to be a proud Zambian again 🙏🏾

WORLD BANK STATEMENT

World Bank Welcomes the Common Framework Statement by Zambia’s Creditors

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2022

The World Bank Group welcomes the Statement of the Creditor Committee for Zambia that was issued today under the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI. The statement describes the Creditor Committee’s commitment to provide long-term debt relief that matches the Zambian authorities’ ambitious fiscal and structural reforms.

The World Bank urges the Creditor Committee to reach a quick agreement on the specifics of deep debt relief for Zambia that is consistent with the upper-credit-tranche program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the joint World Bank-IMF Debt Sustainability Assessment. The World Bank expects commercial creditors to promptly agree on a comparable debt treatment for Zambia that would achieve debt sustainability over the medium term. A common discount rate should be utilized in measuring the debt relief provided by bilateral and commercial creditors to ensure comparability of treatment.

In 2021, Zambia’s per capita income declined to $1,040 and the country was re-classified as low-income for the first time since 2011. This follows several years of decline in Zambia’s GNI per capita, starting with $1,440 in 2018. With the economy further weakened by the pandemic, 60 percent of the Zambian population lived on less than $1.90 a day in 2021. Without a timely debt resolution, this trend will continue to wipe out the development gains that Zambia achieved in the past two decades.

“I very much welcome today’s announcement as an important step toward reducing Zambia’s debt,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass. “Significant debt relief is needed to secure long-term debt sustainability and attract the investment necessary for growth and poverty reduction. I urge official bilateral and private sector creditors to participate on comparable terms, granting Zambia a substantial net-present-value reduction in debt.”

The World Bank provides large net positive flows to Zambia to boost sustainable growth and poverty reduction. Through 2032, the World Bank plans to support Zambia with new financing of over US$2 billion in the form of concessional loans. This includes financing for investment projects in agriculture, education, energy, health, and social safety nets as well as policy-based lending in support of the structural reforms that the Government of Zambia is implementing. These programs would add to the over US$520 million in fresh financing committed by the World Bank to Zambia in the last fiscal year.

The World Bank is working closely with the IMF, the G20, and the Creditor Committee to support the Common Framework process as a path to long-term debt sustainability. Restoring macroeconomic and debt sustainability, strengthening governance, and promoting private-sector-led inclusive growth are critical areas of our work with the Zambian government. The World Bank is determined to support the Common Framework and the Zambian authorities in these endeavors.

Contacts:

In Washington: Marcela Sanchez-Bender, +1-202-473-5863, msanchezbender@worldbankgroup.org

In Zambia: Carlyn Hambuba, +260-211-373-218, chambuba@worldbank.org

TAYALI IS LIKE A HIRED DOG OF THE WIND

The Candidates’ Comment -2

Chilufya Tayali is suddenly all over today calling for Mary Chirwa, the Director General of the Drug Enforcement Commission to resign from her position. Chilufya has joined PF in calling Mary to resign over obscene videos which have been cooked, fabricated to malign her and dent her reputation.

In some of his barking, Chilufya goes further to call on the Police to arrest Mary.

It has been widely acknowledged by majority people that those videos are fabricated.However, although there is no authentication of the videos to prove that it is indeed Mary in them, the former ruling party, the Patriotic Front has gone into high gear saying it is Mary who is in those videos. And since PF has no credibility in the eyes of many Zambians to sway opinion and influence perception, they have hired a few elements, mercenaries to help them mount pressure on Mary and make enough noise in hopes that she will resign or she will be fired.

It cannot be overemphasized that it is in the best interest of a clique of corrupt elements in this country who served under the PF administration to see Mary leave that office.They do not want Mary at DEC because this is someone who documented their crooked, corrupt activities while she was Director General at the Financial Intelligence Centre. Many of these thieves are before court today or are being investigated for the very crimes which Mary documented while she was at FIC. If Mary leaves DEC, these thieves will win. If Mary stays at DEC these crooks will go to prison. It is a matter of life and death. This is why; they have now hired all sorts of noise makers, political tsetse flies to help them magnify calls for Mary to leave DEC.

But look at the caliber of elements they have hired. They have hired elements like Chilufya Tayali. We all know that Chilufya stands for no scruples other than his own stomach needs.Like stated before, Chilufya is our friend and dear to us. But we choose to put this friendship aside where morality is concerned.We choose to be on the right side of history regardless of how one is a friend to us.Chilufya is today questioning Mary’s morality not because she is immoral in anyway but because he has been paid to do so. But for how long will Chilufya survive vetting on political handouts? For how long will he survive on these crumbs? Will those crumbs he is being paid make him sustain his family? There is no doubt that Chilufya is a hired mercenary to mount pressure on Mary for her to resign regardless that those videos have not been authenticated. It is sad that Chilufya has allowed himself to be like a hired dog of the wind which has no permanent position. We say this because Chilufya has no permanent beliefs. His perception of things changes based on the money put in his pockets. If you tell Chilufya that we live in Congo and if you put money in his pocket, he will log into his facebook account and champion that false notion. The guy does not have principles. He is like a pendulum which swings to any direction based on the blow of the wind.

The truth is that those videos were fabricated. The truth is that they were fabricated by people that want to use the whole issue to force Mary out of her position so that they can escape prison for their corruption, their crookedness, their banditry. We dare say – and we believe many here and abroad agree with us that – the former ruling party is a number one culprit in this whole thing. They are the ones pushing for Mary to go, to leave or to be fired.

We want to turn to the people to make their own conclusions. Why does the PpF want Mary out? How come those videos only came out the very day when former first lady was being interviewed at DEC by Mary over the fifteen flats? Why is it that all useful idiots of the PF are the only ones who are calling for Mary to leave? We believe many Zambians will make their conclusion. Our conclusion, and is that the moment Mary leaves that office; thieves will not go to prison.

FAILURE IS FAILURE TO RISE UP AFTER FALLING –MWATA KAZEMBE

……assures PF MPs that they can still be effective in Parliament despite the numbers

Lusaka…. Saturday, July 30, 2022 (Smart Eagles)

His Royal Highness Mwata Kazembe has counselled the opposition Patriotic Front that failure is “failure” to rise up after falling.

The traditional leader told PF MPs that they should not be discouraged because of numbers in Parliament.

He said that the lawmakers and the entire PF have a duty to make the current administration accountable.

“Failure is failure to rise up after falling. You have a big responsibility,” he said.

“You might be a minority…..even your friends were once a minority in Parliament, how did they defeat Bill 10?”

Chief Kazembe said there’s need for the country to move forward.

He told the PF that their loss is a lesson although a bitter one.

The Chief said this when senior PF members and MPs paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Mwansabombwe district, Luapula Province today.

Amongst those that visited him is Raphael Nakacinda who implored the traditional leader to help champion unity in the country.

Hon Nakacinda, who is the PF Chairperson for Information and Publicity said PF remains committed to providing checks and balances to the new dawn administration.

“From the time we left power, this is the first time we are coming more or less officially with the MPs and former ministers. We thought that taking advantage of the ceremony to assure you that we in the opposition we continue to provide the necessary services to this nation in ensuring that we provide checks and balances to those in power objectively,” he said.

“….and also using experience when we were in government to see whether we can guide them. Your Royal Highness, personally, this is the second time I am found in a situation where there is a change of government.”

THE VIDEOGATE

By Miles B. Sampa, MP

If the viral videos are not authentic and impersonated, then that would be a defamation case and good news to some extent because then it would be a fiction story on a woman that like all other women, needs to be respected by all means necessary.

On the other hand if the videos are authentic and viewed as what it is, then there is a major problem somewhere in our society. Whoever may have received, forwarded and essentially published, that person is amongst the World’s modern cyber mercenaries.

No person, no matter how may be hated by some deserve their privacy eroded in such a manner. It’s inhuman and barbaric mentality to set out to embarrass not only an adult but one that may be a mother and sister to some.

Comparison is being made on past events of a similar video of a male leader and his consequences.
Some also stating the current leaked video is for a private individual who is employed to lead an institution based on her CV contents namely education and professional experience.

An elected leader can be said to have lost their privacy the moment they filed in their nominations and got elected. The current case in question is however not so much of a private matter because the DEC in question is not a private but a public institution. It also happens to be the office mandated by our laws to prosecute not only those that steal or abuse our public resources but also prosecute those amongst our citizens that intentional or unintentionally end up producing a pornographic video.

We may have to amend the law actually and restrict it to when one produces a porn video of another person. What one decides to do with their own body should be non of any other person’s business.

Our society should not be setting bad precedents that will encourage mischief, blackmail and betrayal amongst citizens that may have been in a legal personal bond at some point. We however should also not set a bad precedent that will depict the nation as having two set of laws. One applicable to those in compounds or lower end of our society and another for the well to do or in higher job positions. Our laws should be blind and applicable to all regardless of status.

What we have ladies and ‘jentlimen’ is a national conundrum at this point in time. A person seen by some to be doing a good job in curbing past and present corruption but who clearly may have a case to answer on matters of her private bedroom. Whoever she intrusted the video with betrayed her big time. Big lesson to all women (and men) that think it’s being cool to ‘fondle’ and take video of own naked bodies.

Heard of equally embarrassing cases of aunties or uncles wrongly posting their nude pics or nude videos onto extended family WhatsApp groups full of nieces, nephews and grand children. Another pastor or their wife accidentally posted on their church WhatsApp group. lol.

Unfortunately on the current alleged DEC case is one we cannot have a cake and eat it. One end has to give. Given DEC is a public institution and its reputation need to remain intact, she may have to be managed (voluntary resignation) out but still continue to run DEC remotely via consultancy. It’s very legal actually and guarantees a win win for all the citizens glued to this topic.

MBS30.07.2022

Bowman Lusambo Will Win Kabushi By-Election……..Unless

Dear Editor, Kindly publish my analysis

The Constitutional Court has delivered a ruling to the effect that Bowman Lusambo’s election as MP for Kabushi was neither free nor fair and consequently is invalid. The Concort was hearing an appeal from High Court which had nullified the election. The grounds for nullification are that Lusambo had engaged in multiple practices that breached electoral and other laws.

What’s important to note is that Lusambo was vying for position of legislator or maker of laws. It sounds like Putin vying for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Like most compatriots, I too get worried with entrusting lawless citizens, like Bowman, with the responsibility to make laws in our country. My bigger worry however, is with the PF and the electorate of Kabushi. His party says Bowman is eligible to recontest the Kabushi seat and they are willing to readopt him. Opinion polls in Kabushi also suggest that Bowman is likely to win back the seat with probably a bigger margin.

It looks like democracy and morality are on a collision course in both PF and Kabushi. The onus is now on UPND to resolve some dilemmas and apply common sense. If they adopt the losing candidate from 2021, they will lose the election again. However, if they fail to adopt him, they risk losing the support of some party faithful in Kabushi, who fought the petition battles. Zambian politics are interesting. Kabushi politics are probably more interesting. Kabushi Constituency is one of the smallest in Zambia by surface area, but probably the largest and in the Copperbelt by population. It comprises Main Masala, Mine Masala, Kabushi, KX, Lubuto and Skyways.

These are primarily former council and mine townships that are predominantly habited by retirees, unemployed adults or informal sector youths. People like Lusambo are role models and behaviours like his are SOPs of how that society functions.

It will be interesting to see how UPND will read the radar and strategize to win Kabushi. It’s also worth remembering that HH beat ECL in all the constituencies in Copperbelt, but Kabushi. It’s too early to write off Lusambo in Kabushi. The surest way to make him lose is to find a clause in the law which complicates his participation in the elections. …but I guess his lawyers will fight that.

SM

Zesco to deploy EV charging stations in many towns – Mapani
By Fanny Kalonda
ZESCO Limited says electric cars will put Zambia on the map in terms of reducing carbon emissions if the use is accelerated.
Speaking at the ongoing 94th Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka yesterday, Zesco managing director Victor Mapani said the company will deploy charging stations in many cities and towns to charge to vehicles in instances of long distances.

“In this country, basically, the future is here. We want to move away from using fossil fuels to drive us around to use electricity. This is an example because it’s a BMW, it can be indeed any car. It has a battery, and all you need to do is have that battery charged. Now, where do you charge that battery from? We have indicated already as you can see, these are the charges. They come in different shapes, sizes, and also ratings. Once you park your car, just plug it in and the car will start charging. Once you just charge you can drive,” he explained. “Particularly this vehicle is 150 kilometres on a full charge, but that is if you are doing a maximum speed of 120 [kilometres per hour]. So what it means is that after moving about 150 kilometres, obviously you will need to recharge the vehicle. So as Zesco, our innovation is to deploy charging stations in so many cities and towns so that you’ll be able to charge every time that you get to a point…And our idea is to take this further. We would like to have these chargers mounted and installed in most of the public places. Safe places like malls, offices for specific requirements for may be government officers, governmental officials.”

Mapani said the future “is here, as Zesco we would like to take a lead in ensuring we start mounting chargers wherever and where need is”. “What is very interesting is the cost of energy that you use in an electric car and the cost of energy use in a fossil fuel car. The difference is about six times. Six times cheaper to drive an electric car,” he said. “One of the biggest things about an electric charger is for example, Zambia, our electricity is almost 90 per cent hydro which is clean energy. So it means we’ll be using clean energy to power houses and to drive our cars. We are going to be put somewhere on the map in terms of reducing the carbon print if we accelerate the use of electric cars. Each car will come with its domestic charger which will be using the normal socket in your house, charging in about 12 hours. So this is a good innovation. And I think it’s a good thing for Zambians. Now the appetite on how fast Zambians want to move, will be driven by how well we put up this case to them.”

Mapani said in Zesco’s case, “we do believe that this is the future and the challenge that people have now is where do we charge our cars when we travel”.

“You do have a domestic charger. That charge can take you 150 kilometres. So for example, if you’re within Lusaka, you can buy your own car now and start using. You can do your movements into town to office and back to business points and back without any problems. The challenge is when you take your long trips. That’s why I now want to ensure that along the way we plant the electric vehicle chargers for usage,” he said. “What we also want to happen is that at your home you’re using exactly the same amount, the rate of pay is the same domestic tariff. But these will be commercial. They’ll charge faster. They are more robust.”

And Mapani also launched a smart house mobile application to control the home appliances usage when someone is not there.
“The Smart House basically brings technology into your town. What we mean by that is that you’ll be able to control the usage of power in your house while you are away from your home. So basically anybody with an Android phone from as far back as 2014 editions up to now, Android phone, you can actually access a smart house application and the Smart House application is an internally developed project by Zesco engineers who have actually sat down, put their thoughts together. The idea is to ensure that you have control of power in your house. You can reduce the wastage. We drive around you see people living lights on you can just check on your phone on site to switch off the lights or fix them,” said Mapani. “Further, you can also decide when to switch on your gadgets. For example, you decide when you switch on your geyser. You can also switch on your gadgets like television, lights in the house, microwave. This will be sitting right in your hand.”

ADDRESSING CONCERNS RAISED BY MR. TREVOR SIMUMBA IN HIS ANALYSIS OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET

By Alexander Nkosi

The supplementary budget presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance has raised a lot of debate. Like many analysts, Mr. Trevor Simumba shared an article questioning whether the supplementary budget was driven by a fiscal surplus and also shared his views on monetary and fiscal policy management.

I agree with him that there is no fiscal surplus as explained in my article, the supplementary budget is mainly financed through reallocation of money from debt service due to external debt service suspension and this alone is K19.7 billion out of the K22.36 billion. The rest of the K2.969 billion is from dividends, carry-over from 2021 and grants. However, I don’t agree with his monetary and fiscal policy assessment and I will discuss this in five parts.

1) PRINTING MONEY FOR SALARIES?

Mr. Simumba argues that the Zambian government has targeted to borrow K6.6 billion every month. He further argues that with about 2/3 understated subscriptions they will start printing money in order to pay salaries.

To put this discussion into context it is important to give a breakdown of how Zambia intends to raise revenue in 2022 and where government securities come in. According to the 2022 budget presented to Parliament last year, government targeted to raise and spend K173 billion. The breakdown of how this money will be raised is as follows:

(i) Domestic revenue – K98.9 billion. This will be raised through taxes, fees, fines, charges and levies on insurance, tourism and skills development.

(ii) Domestic borrowing – K24.5 billion. This will be raised through issuing government securities (bonds and treasury bills).

(iii) External borrowing – K47.8 billion. This is broken down into program loans at K39.3 billion and Project loans at K8.5 billion. Note that as explained by the Minister of Finance this is mainly through disbursement of loans for ongoing programs and projects and less of new loans for new projects.

(iv) External Grants – K1.8 billion. These are grants from donors for budget support.

Clearly the sources of revenue for government are different as itemised above. However, in his analysis Mr. Simumba lumped domestic and foreign borrowing together and came up with a monthly average of K6.6 billion. While this monthly average, which is actually not even accurate, includes both domestic and foreign borrowing, he then only picked the performance of government securities on the domestic market and concluded government might be forced into printing money to pay salaries.

The target for domestic borrowing where the issue of performance of government securities on the domestic market comes in is K24.5 billion. This gives us an average of K2 billion per month. This is only domestic borrowing, what about domestic revenue which includes taxes, fees, fines, charges and levies specified above? Aren’t these sufficient to cover salaries now that external debt service has been suspended? According to ZRA, tax revenue has already surpassed mid-year target. It is also important to note that even if government does not meet its target for domestic borrowing, it can use part of the SDR to support the budget. Currently there is no risk of printing money to cover salaries.

Let me provide more details on 2022 budget performance with a focus on the revenue side. In the first half of 2022, government has raised K48.3 billion against a target of K46.2 billion from taxes, registering a surplus of K2.1 billion. In terms of domestic and external financing, in the first 5 months of 2022, government raised K6.6 billion borrowed from the domestic market through the issuance of government securities, K6.3 billion from the IMF Special Drawing Rights Allocation, K3.6 billion in form of disbursements for foreign financed projects and K426 million from the World Bank. A total K1.3 billion against a target of K759 million was received from coorporating partners as grants. We are already closing in on our annual target of K1.8 billion for external grants. On external borrowing which is mainly disbursement of loans for on-going programs and projects, government has taken a cautious approach in the first half of the year as these programs and projects were being reviewed.

Domestic revenue is above mid-year target, foreign grants are above mid-year target. Domestic borrowing has been low and SDR has been utilised to cover that gap. Despite using part of the SDR, our reserves increased to USD3 billion. Even before we bring in domestic borrowing, we are collecting enough domestic revenue and because of external debt service suspension, this is enough to pay salaries, why would we resort to printing money? If our situation was as bad as Mr. Simumba puts it and salaries are threatened, we wouldn’t be allocating K4.7 billion to FISP and K6.5 billion to dismantling of domestic arrears in the supplementary budget, we would be focusing on securing salaries. We actually wouldn’t even be recruiting over 40,000 teachers and health workers.

2) A CLOSE LOOK AT MONETARY POLICY

Mr. Simumba argues that we have squeezed money supply out of the economy to push for lower inflation and currency appreciation at the expense of the real economy.

The New Dawn Government took over at a time the economy was coming out of negative growth experienced in 2020. Growth in 2021 was slow but inflation was high around 24%. Kwacha had depreciated from an average of K9/ dollar in 2017 to an average of K21/ dollar in 2021. Much as we needed to stimulate economic activities, the situation we were in was very tricky for monetary policy because an increase in money supply would have worsened inflation and further hurt the kwacha. High inflation negatively affects the same production we would be attempting to promote through increased money supply. It should also be noted that Zambia is import dependent not just for consumption but also for key inputs in production like machinery, agriculture inputs, fuel etc. So the Bank of Zambia works closely with the fiscal team at Ministry of Finance to carefully analyse dynamics before arriving at a monetary policy decision. The monetary policy team does not work in isolation.

3) IS BOZ HURTING EXPORTS BY STRENGTHENING KWACHA?

Mr. Simumba argues that BOZ has manipulated the currency to hurt exports and the figures are showing.

The argument here is that a weak kwacha makes Zambian products cheaper and increases exports. While this could be true for a country like China that has a highly advanced production capacity and wants to make its products competitive, for Zambia what we need right now is a strong kwacha so that we can import inputs and machinery cheaply which we need to use to produce more for export. So we are not yet at a stage where a weak kwacha would encourage exports because we have to increase production first.

4) MACROECONOMIC STABILITY AND STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION?

Mr. Simumba argues that what Zambia needs is structural transformation and not manipulating the currency and inflation.

My view is that structural transformation is basically attaining high production and productivity through technological advancement. This is a long process and is not detached from macroeconomic economic stability as Mr. Simumba puts it. We need to create a stable macroeconomic environment to support structural transformation, otherwise it won’t work if kwacha depreciates to K30/ dollar and inflation goes beyond 30%. To increase production and productivity we need to import advanced machinery and other key things needed in production, how do we do it if kwacha is weak? In 2021 you needed double the amount of money to import a farm implement or food processing machine compared to 2017, how do you increase production under such circumstances? Today people are complaining that they cannot afford fertiliser, imagine if kwacha depreciates to K30/ dollar, how many people would afford it? Hence, much as we need structural transformation which I strongly support, it is important to ensure a stable macroeconomic environment to support this process and this is what the monetary and fiscal teams are doing. We are basically striking a delicate balance given our economic predicament. As we progress into the year, we can see that there is an attempt by government to increase spending as seen by allocations made in the supplementary budget and this is informed by dynamics at play.

In the long term, we want a strong kwacha driven by a strong export base but in the short term we need to use monetary policy instruments to ensure we have a strong and stable currency as this is key to supporting this same growth which will ensure long term kwacha stability.

BIGGEST NEWS EVENT OF THE MONTH:

ENTERPRISE NICKEL – GAME ON!,

ZAMBIA POISED TO TAKE THE LEAD IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE REVOLUTION ON THE CONTINENT

ZAMBIA officially began its journey to becoming a key player in the new global electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem this week as President Hakainde Hichilema launched the Enterprise nickel mine in Kalumbila.

Once up and running, First Quantum Minerals’ mine will be the largest producer of the strategic metal in Africa. Nickel, like lithium, cobalt, and copper, is an essential component in the batteries essential for the new era of ‘green’ vehicles.

Designed to process 4 million tonnes of ore and produce around 28,000 tonnes of nickel per year, Enterprise will provide an estimated 700 permanent jobs while making Zambia the largest nickel producer on the continent and the 10th largest producer of the highly sought-after mineral in the world.

“I would like to thank First Quantum for the decision to invest $1.35bn in the expansion of Kansanshi…and to raise additional capital for Enterprise,” said President Hichilema at the ground breaking ceremony for the mine.

“This investment, $1.3bn, will deliver direct and indirect jobs, somewhere in the region of 18,000; and in this country, colleagues, one job supports 10 other members of the family in the house or extended. So if you do your numbers correctly, 18,000 by 10, it’s 180,000 people benefitting. That is where the value sits. So thank you First Quantum,” he added.

“This project will contribute to raising treasury income that we as a prudent government, part of which income we will use to buy a desk for a child who is sitting on the floor today, munokumvwa mwane?

“This [nickel] is the future of our country, to a large extent. This is where this country must go and they must explore these resources sustainably and deliver value for our people,” he said.

“And we are fortunate as a country to host a fair share of these minerals. But if they stay in the ground, we don’t arrange projects like these, we don’t unlock projects like these we will not be able to play our part in keeping our world cleaner and reduce the environmental damage whose consequences we know very well,” he continued.

It was less than three months ago that FQM announced the company’s US$100 million investment into the project at this year’s Mining Indaba, where President Hichilema welcomed the investment and reaffirmed his desire to see more partnerships like this that would turn Zambia into a hub for development and secure the country’s place in the electric vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem.

The nickel processing plant, which was completed in 2016 and given environmental approval, has sat on care and maintenance awaiting favourable market conditions since then.

Now, with the global push for a green energy transition, rising demand for metals like nickel that are integral to the shift, and a new, favourable mining regime, the timing is just right for the nickel operation to finally be fired up.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, FQM CEO Tristan Pascall said: “If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that stability is paramount. As key players in an industry where geopolitical security is so important, the hard work that Zambia has put into protecting that peace and stability does not go unnoticed. Zambia certainly is a prime investment destination for us.

“With over a quarter century of experience under our belt, we appreciate the importance of working hand-in-hand with stakeholders and aligning with government mandates. Soon to become our third operation here, Enterprise project is in our books, a vote of confidence from – and for – the Zambian government and the Zambian people. It is a vote of confidence in our continued transparency, responsibility, and operational excellence.”

“We have been ready to make such an investment for a long time but have been waiting for the conditions to be right, both in terms of the country’s mining policy and the global mineral market.”

President Hichilema, who on multiple occasions has referred to himself as the country’s Chief Marketing Officer, has made leveraging Zambia’s advantageous business environment to grow and diversify the mining industry a number one priority.

“The new administration’s assurance of a more stable, transparent investment environment that will be intolerant to corruption and governed by environmental, social and governance best practices was the nudge of encouragement we needed for this new project,” said FQM Zambia Country Manager General Kingsley Chinkuli.

With the opening of this new operation, the President has secured more jobs, more income, and more opportunities for locals to benefit from local procurement spend and corporate social investment.

This leap to secure Zambia’s stake in the EV battery market will not only shift the country’s economic dependence from copper but will also unlock fresh opportunities for business and innovation in the nickel value chain.

(CREDIT: Langmead & Baker Ltd)

Sir Alex Ferguson is back on board at Manchester United after the club’s chief executive Richard Arnold turned to the legendary Old Trafford boss for advice.

Arnold has set up a think-tank involving Ferguson, former CEO David Gill, iconic United captain Bryan Robson and current football director John Murtough so he can draw on their experience on all aspects of the club.

It will give Ferguson more influence at Old Trafford than at any time since he stepped down as manager nearly a decade ago.

Tuesday’s lunch meeting at Carrington – which coincided with Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the training ground for talks – is understood to be the first in a series of regular meetings involving the five men.

Although Ferguson and Gill have remained on United’s football board as non-executive directors since leaving their jobs in 2013, it has been seen as a largely symbolic gesture with former United chief executive Ed Woodward choosing to do things his way.

Sportsmail revealed in November that Ferguson would welcome the opportunity to have more input at United after only being consulted on a handful of occasions by then manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Now 80-years-old, and having recovered from a life-threatening brain haemorrhage in 2018, the Scot can no longer play an active role at United.

But Arnold, who succeeded Woodward in February, has recognised the importance of tapping into Ferguson’s vast football knowledge having lifted an unprecedented 38 trophies during his 26-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford.

Gill played a key part in that success during his 16-year spell at United, including a decade as chief executive, but he too has been a peripheral figure at the club in recent years despite his standing in the game.

Gill, 64, sits on UEFA’s executive committee and is also treasurer of European football’s governing body, as well as chairman of both the finance committee and compensation committee.

Robson is revered as a United legend and also works as an ambassador for the club, like Ferguson.

It’s understood the three men will advise Arnold on a wide range of issues which include the redevelopment of Old Trafford and Carrington, and the club’s relationship with its fans.

It will inevitably involve football matters as well, although they will be careful not to tread on Murtough’s toes.

Ferguson spoke to Ronaldo when the player and his agent held talks with Arnold on Tuesday, but it is understood to have been a brief chat when the player approached his old manager.

Club sources insist their encounter was a coincidence because Ferguson’s lunch meeting had been in the diary for some time.

However, it’s understood that the venue may have been switched to Carrington so Arnold could meet with Ronaldo and Mendes.

And having Ferguson – who persuaded Ronaldo to stay for an extra year at United in 2008 – in the building would have been another smart move by Arnold.

KCM DEMANDS FOR MORE THAN 59 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS FROM MILINGO LUNGU ILLEGALLY OBTAINED

LUSAKA – 29.07.22

Former KCM provisional liquidator Milingo Lungu has been asked to pay back more than 59 million United States dollars within 3 business days being money he illegally paid himself during the period he served as the provisional liquidator for mining giant KCM.

This is according to a letter of demand issued by Malambo and Company as well as Musa Dudhia and Company representing KCM provisional liquidator Celine Nair addressed to Lusenga Mulongoti Advocates acting as lawyers for Mr Milingo Lungu.

According to the letter of claim deposited in the civil jurisdiction of the Lusaka High Court,KCM limited (in liquidation) as the plaintif has sued Mr Milingo Lungu as the first defendant and Lungu Simwanza and Company as the 2nd defendant.

Mr. Lungu in his capacity as the provisional liquidator without permission of the court or Committee of inspectors did transfer surface rights of Lot number 694/M to Mimbula Minerals Limited at a cost of 20 million United States dollars.

The former provisional liquidator is further alleged in the letter of claim to have without authority of the Court or Committee of inspectors transfered surface rights to subdivision P1 of farm number 1452 and farm number 928 to Sensele enterprises limited at the cost of two hundred thousand United States dollars contrary to legal advise that the transfer would adversely affect the operations of KCM.

He is further said to have paid a total of $ 29,154,319.44 as legal fees to Lungu Simwanza and Company when no such services were rendered to the plaintif while several suppliers introduced to the plaintif by the 1st defendant were paid with no corresponding services and goods rendered.

Ms Nair in her capacity as the acting receiver and official provisional liquidator has since demanded that the 1st and 2nd defendants refund the $ 59,336,903 and $ 29,154,319.44 respectively being the money obtained illegally and without corresponding services to the plaintif.

He is further said to have restructured the plaintif Company into KCM smelter Company Limited and Konkola Mineral Resources without the authority of the Court or Committee of inspections leading to the declaration of 5,558 workers redundant.

The letter of claim further indicates that the provisional liquidator without authority and in total disregard for the order of preference provided in the corporate Insolvency Act paid redundancy benefits in full to all the 5,558 employees in the total sum of $ 103,766,949 instead of $ 6,588,119 as preferential claim leading to financial stress on the plaintif.

“Kindly be advised that if you fail to comply with our legal demands,we have instructions to seek recourse available under law without further notice to your client”, read the letter of demand.

OFFICE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS CONSTITUTIONAL, OPEN IT-AMB. MWAMBA

Hichilema must fund Edgar Lungu´s office
…of the sixth President as soon as possible says Amb. Mwamba

29th July 2022

The office of the sixth President of Zambia Edgar Lungu must immediately be fully funded by the government of President Hakainde Hichilema as prescribed by the constitution of Zambia says PF Member of the Central Committee, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba.

Mr Mwamba, the former Ambassador of Zambia to the African Union said withholding the funds for the office of the former President Lungu is illegal and shows ´levels of contempt towards the statesman´ who wilfully conceded defeat in a poll almost a year ago.
President Lungu´s office has not been funded for almost one year now, therefore limiting the number of activities he can engage in locally and abroad in the absence of a coordinated office, a spokesman and administration staff like his predecessors, no explanation has been proffered by President Hichilema.

“President Lungu is a statesman, and you must remember that he is the sole living former head of state of Zambia and therefore needs to be treated as such, not as a favour but as a legal requirement,” said Ambassador Mwamba.

The PF presidential aspirant was speaking on Radio Phoenix programme Let the People Talk on Friday following the confusion that arose during the interrogation of former first Lady Esther Lungu earlier on Tuesday.

“Its very sad to have witnessed cadres from the ruling party hit and shake and stone the vehicle carrying the former President and his wife just within miles of police presence it was a real shame and must never be repeated and I challenge the ruling party to condemn the unlawful disrespectful and contemptuous actions,” said Ambassador Mwamba.

Away from President Lungu and the former first lady that is being probed for owning “only” 15 apartments, Ambassador Mwamba also called Inspector General of police Lemmy Kajoba and Speaker of the house Nelly Mutti to take off their “partisan robes” and act in a fair manner as they execute their duties.

“It’s a fact that both IG Kajoba and Speaker Mutti are both senior members of the UPND ruling party, but the opposition days are over as they now hold constitution office they must discard their political carder robes and act fairly in the course of their work,” said Ambassador Mwamba.

Ambassador Mwamba also wondered and mused at the fact that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Ms Lillian Siyuni is currently undergoing prosecution and persecution while the DEC boss alleged to be on nude videos remains protected by the state and has not refuted images circulating on social media linking her to alleged pornography.

The nude videos have taken Zambia by storm with activists such as Chilufya Tayali openly challenging Ms Chirwa to openly decant the porn videos, resign and face prosecution.

The Presidents spokesman Anthony Bwalya has, however, poured scorn on the fact that President Hichilema has stayed mute on his DEC Tzarina´s alleged misconduct and involvement in “obscene” material production because he is “busy” trying to create jobs.
Mr Mwamba said as an opposition, the PF would continue holding the Hichilema government to account despite open attempts to shut down anyone that is vocal in the PF including the former President Edgar Lungu.

The former Ambassador concluded with a clarion call to Mr Hichilema to treat his predecessor with the respect he deserves as a former head of state because whatever he does today shall come to haunt him under another leader once he leaves office if he doesn’t break the jinx now.

PRESSS STATEMENT

29 TH JULY 2022

ZAMBIANS MUST SUPPORT INVESTIGATIVE WINGS AS THEY FACE COUNTER ATTACKS

UPND promised to fight corruption to the bitter end knowing that corruption will fight back viciously. Wedging a war against any corrupt regime is not a simple thing. When these people were stealing they knew what they were doing and they adequately prepared themselves. What Zambians must understand is that our Investigative wings are fighting criminals with a lot of money and can do anything to buy their freedom, these are not common criminals. They are ready to frame anyone with anything including obscene materials, they will stop at nothing. They have planted sympathizers all over. We therefore urge Zambians to support DEC, ACC and the POLICE as they face counter attacks from these corrupt elements.

When President HH issued instructions not to detain any PF thieves, a lot of people misunderstood him but that was one way of knowing all those that plundered the Country. If you lock up thieves you won’t know all their colleagues. The best way is to give them freedom and as you pick them one by one they will expose themselves by way of offering solidarity and escorting each other. Can you imagine that since the fight against corruption started it’s the same faces that appear to escort fellow suspects? They do this as a way of showing solidarity and sympathy to one another.

Thieves look for sympathy from fellow thieves. But at the same time they forget that they are exposing themselves. They say birds of the same feathers flock together. This is not possible if you scare them by locking them up. The darkest hour is that before dawn and the closer you are to get honey the more bee stings you will encounter.

Bees can be very vicious especially if you go for the Queen bee. For some people to go to the length of framing others with obscene materials means that the heat is becoming unbearable for them. DEC, ACC and the POLICE must not lose focus. Don’t expect sympathy from the same people you are sending to jail. To the contrary they are now sweating blood, can’t you see how some people all of a sudden have lost weight and look malnourished. Keep it up your efforts are bearing fruits.

Percy Chanda

UPND – Chairman for Mines and Freedom Fighter

THERE IS NO BUDGET SURPLUS AS STATED BY STATE HOUSE

By Dr Lubinda Haabazoka

Debate about the supplementary budget

I have followed closely the debate currently going on about the K22bn supplementary budget. Kudos to Mr Trevor Simumba and Mr Trevor Hambayi for taking a lead in making sure the state and the population are on the same page. I am also very happy that ST has also moved in to add to his views!

In fact Both Trevors and the ST are talking about the same thing that there is no budget surplus. All government is doing is doing a budget variation as certain unexpected revenue came in and certain activities have been shelved in favor of other expenses that government want to undertake but we’re not budget for.

The misunderstanding probably came from an earlier post from government that mentioned of a surplus.

A budget is a wish list of planned revenue and expenditure for a fiscal year. Now not all planned revenue comes in and not all expenditure is incurred. Some revenue even comes from sources no one expected and as such, governments will in the middle of the year go to parliament to ask for a supplementary budget for additional spending.

In this case, government didn’t expect dividends from BoZ for the year 2021 but these monies have come in. Government also had planned to repay certain debt in 2022 but because foreign debt service was suspended in 2020 and it still hasn’t resumed, government wishes to use this money for something else.

Government also has additional things they want to spend money on to a tune of K22bn and that’s why they have gone to parliament to increase the allocation. My brothers Trevor and Trevor in their argument are worried that why increase expenditure instead of keeping expenditure low? I also argue that certain monies that government didn’t expect can go towards current expenditure instead of borrowing since even our treasury bills remain undersubscribed.

The debate is whether their is budget surplus or not? The answer is NO. You can’t have a budget surplus when you have arrears on certain things. The minister of finance said teacher recruitment will come from IMF funds and the package is not there yet but the expense is going to be incurred. Then also what government planned to borrow is not coming because of treasury bill under subscription.

Economic development is a complex thing and not a two day marathon. The global economy has since 2016 been facing turbulences. Zambia has had droughts since 2015!The pandemic from 2020. Certain industries were shut! The USA is now in recession and Europe is about to slip into it because “when America sneezes, Europe catches a cold”. We need to thank technocrats, politicians and even consultants that have kept our country afloat! Companies bigger than the Country Zambia have collapsed in these trying times but we remain afloat!

We shall face tougher times going forward as fertiliser and energy costs increase and the global appetite for raw materials fade amid struggling western economies. So instead of focusing on UPND vs PF rhetoric, why can’t we unite as a country and prepare for what is about to come? Unless we can see it? Unless it’s Normal to see America pass price controls on essential goods through the “inflation control Act”. Unless it’s normal to see copper prices in two weeks fall from $10,000 to $7,000!

Those days, I couldn’t write these things because I had direct access. Now the access is scanty so sorry if it looks as if we are advising in the media.

Special sorry also goes to my fellow citizens who without reading just go and insult people.

This country belongs to all of us and as such, there is nothing like going on leave from national matters. When people are not allowed to talk, you won’t know what they are thinking and it will be very difficult to govern because you won’t know people’s expectations.

Otherwise healthy debate fellow economists. And have a lovely weekend country men and women.

ZNBC, PRIME TV WILL CAUSE WAR IN ZAMBIA, PRESIDENT HICHILEMA MUST ENSURE THEY STOP INFLAMATORY DOCUMENTARIES

WITHDRAW THOSE TOXIC DOCUMENTARIES
…UPND inflaming ethnic hate, regional rivalry.

THE Patriotic Front is appalled and alarmed by the malicious and dangerous documentaries the UPND has again started airing on ZNBC TV and Prime TV which are aimed at whipping up ethnic hatred and regionalism.

We are worried that President Hakainde Hichilema could unleash such a hate campaign against his predecessor and his administration while pretending to promote national unity.

It’s the first time in the history of this country we are seeing such desperation and insecurity from a sitting head of State, where he unleashes mercenaries at his opponents and perceived enemies.

Zambians must reject this dangerous adventurism by this excited regime. Let them pause for a moment and imagine if our late founding father, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, and Nelson Mandela had unleashed such hate-mongering documentaries against their erstwhile oppressors.
Where would Zambia and South Africa have been today?

It is cheap and base propaganda to depict Hakainde Hichilema as a victim of political persecution while deliberately ignoring the man’s highly provocative behaviour and open disrespect towards incumbent presidents, the late Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, and Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu whom he called all sorts of derogatory names without suffering any consequences while he was in opposition.
Many times his utterances and actions bordered on criminality but nothing happened to him.

It’s laughable that even his incarceration for 127 days triggered by his mischievous behaviour in Mongu where he directly challenged and endangered the safety of a sitting head of State is being shamelessly laundered as persecution. How cheap!

Wasn’t Mr Hichilema warned by independent observers, including respected foreign media personalities, that in other countries he would not have survived the consequences of such hot-headed adventurism?

When the UPND started showing the documentaries on the two media outlets a few months ago our deputy chairman for information and publicity, Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba, expressed alarm and warned of the dangerous consequences of peddling such hate against one group of citizens and a certain region.

This abuse of ZNBC, a government owned media outlet, and the UPND-inclined Prime TV is a dangerous trajectory which could lead to ghastly consequences if not stopped immediately.

It is disappointing that the two media houses could offer themselves to be used as tools of division and regional hatred.
What is the difference between the toxic hate-laden TV documentaries the Hichilema-led UPND regime is using to set one region against another and one ethnic group against another and what the late Chanda Chimba was airing against Mr Sata and Dr Fred M’membe before the 2011 general elections?

What will happen if others start showing counter-documentaries showing the atrocities visited upon hapless Zambians by the violent UPND in the past?

We urge the UPND, Mr Hichilema and their foreign media advisors who are behind this nonsense at State House and UPND Secretariat to pause and think about the bloody Mapatizya Formula, the ethic displacement of Northerners and Easterners by UPND in Namwala, the brutal and cold-blooded murders of Jackson Kungo in Solwezi and a youth in Kanyama, the maiming of defenceless citizens in Mufumbwe and many other atrocities.

If all these atrocities are documented and aired on TV of what benefit will they be to the nation?
The UPND documentaries must stop immediately. We warn ZNBC and Prime TV to refrain from serving as platforms for fanning ethnic rivalry and hate by a despatate regime which has failed to rule the country and is now bent on annihilating the opposition.

Should they continue airing such toxic content the PF reserves the right to use all legal avenues available to halt them and hold all the individuals who are behind them accountable.

Issued by:
EDWIN LIFWEKELO
PF Deputy Media Director.

BOKANI SOKO, FORMER AGRICULTURE PS WARNED AND CAUTIONED FOR CORRUPTION.

Lusaka.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has warned and cautioned former Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Songowayo Zyambo and Neria Investments Limited Director Bokani Soko on alleged corrupt practices in a case of unsupplied fertilizer worth over 131 Million United States Dollars.

The Commission has also recorded a warn and caution statement from two directors of Honey Bee Pharmacy Limited for alleged forgery and uttering of false documents.

Songowayo Zyambo, 56 of Sub-Division A of Lot 2336M New Kasama Lusaka, while a Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and responsible for the management and administration of public funds, did make a payment from the public revenue for goods not supplied in full when he signed a letter of confirmation to Zambia National Commercial Bank on the 8th of April 2021 stating that Neria Investments Limited had delivered 100% of D-Compound and Urea fertilizer according to the requirements of the contract number MOA/FISP/G/1/2020, when it had not done so.

Neria Investments Limited was contracted by the government of the Republic of Zambia to supply 75,380.70 metric tonnes of D-compound and 59,619.30 metric tonnes of Urea at a contract price of United States Dollars one hundred and thirty-one million, one hundred and forty-two thousand six hundred and eighty-two sixty-five cents (US$ 131, 142,682.65).

Other officers in the Ministry of Agriculture from whom warn and caution statements have been recorded include Grey Mwale of plot 43304, Chifwema Area in Chongwe, a former Principal Agricultural Economist and Emmanuel Kabwe, of plot 13512, Off Kasama Road, Chalala, a Principal Accountant.

The Commission has also recorded warn and caution statements from four directors at Neria Investments Limited. Statements were recorded from Bokani Soko, of 146 Mukuba Complex, Chudleigh in Lusaka, Justin Mutaa Katanekwa of house number 11965, Chelstone, Mohamed Zuneid Ismail Yousuf and Nadeem Yousuf both of Makeni in Lusaka.

In 2021, the four directors acting for and on behalf of Neria Investment, by false pretenses and with intent to defraud, did obtain money in the sum of United States Dollars one hundred and thirty one million, one hundred and forty two thousand six hundred and eighty two sixty five cents (US$ 131, 142,682.65) having falsely represented that 75,380.70 metric tonnes of D-Compound and 59619.30 metric tonnes of Urea were supplied and delivered at the Ministry of Agriculture when in fact not.

In another development, the Commission has warned and cautioned two directors of Honey Bee Pharmacy for alleged forgery and uttering of false documents.

In 2019, Abdurrauf Abdurahim Motala, 41 of house number 107 Umodzi Highway in Chipata and Zakir H. Motala, 42, of ZKH Investments Limited of Petauke, forged and made documents namely, an undated recommendation letter from Adra Malani, an undated recommendation letter from Gauteng Health and an Audit Financial Statement for Honey Bee Pharmacy which they later uttered or presented to the Ministry of Health as part of the tender documents for the supply and delivery of health kits.

In August 2019, the government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Health awarded a contract to Honey Bee Pharmacy to supply a total of 22,500 health kits to health centers countrywide at a contract sum of $17,000,000.00.

ACC Spokesperson Queen Chibwe said Investigations have established that by the end of 2021, only 5,000 health kits had been supplied.

Mrs. Chibwe said it has also been established that Honey Bee Pharmacy was in-fact a walking pharmacy in Lusaka’s Kamwala area.

ON PUPPETS and their STRINGS
[A Comment from.Guardians of ZAMBIA]

By Dr Canisius Banda

‘…it is not that we don’t want to service the debt, it is just that the creditors have said: “Don’t pay for now”‘ Zambia’s finance minister Situmbeko MUSOKOTWANE is said to have said explaining the need for a ‘supplementary budget.’

First, when a creditor places your repayment on hold, Mr Situmbeko MUSOKOTWANE, sir, that in itself constitutes DEBT RELIEF,. It is a form of debt relief.

In essence, what this means is that the creditors have extended a financial subsidy to Zambia.

Therefore, the ttrending headline in Zambia today should not have been that the ‘DEC Goes Bananas’ but that ‘Zambia Receives Interim Debt Relief.’

Second, what is in it for the creditors to offer Zambia this relief?

What profit are they making through this action of theirs?

Therefore, Zambia’s finance minister Situmbeko MUSOKOTWANE must now explain ito the nation n detail the conditions set by the creditors for this repayment delay – for how long will it last, what fiscal conditionalities are we to follow, what is its cost, when are we expected to restart the servicing, is this a leverage ftool or our political management by them, what are its full implications, etc.

Hahahahaha!
Ati they have told us that ‘don’t pay for now’.
Really? Just like that?

Where is the CREDITORS COMMITTEE”s letter on this? Show us.

And by allowing us to increase government expenditure by, for instance by our ongoing worsening of the PE to GDP ratio, without a corresponding increase in our net national income, these creditors may actually be luring us deeper into the debt trap.

For example, ceteris paribus, just a sudden restart/recall of the repayments will see our fiscal space critically suffocating.

Is this an imperial ruse?
MUSOKOTWANE, tell us.

Mwebantu, are we really in control?

In the end, what we really need as a country is SOVEREIGN DEBT MANAGEMENT, NOT chifundo.

Zambia is NOT insolvent.
A wise liquidation [financial translation] of our resources is all we need.

Over time, Zambia can pay back whatever it owes. And still remain with much more.

Manje we have reduced ourselves to a BEGGAR STATE, always grovelling.

Tulo.

PILGRIM

‘Retrain’ the new teachers – Kaingu

FORMER education minister Michael Kaingu has proposed a refresher course in teaching methodology for recruited teachers before they are deployed.

He argues that most of recruited teachers had for many engaged in so many other jobs and errands.

“Some were councillors, beekeepers, fishermen, chicken keepers etc for many years,” Dr Kaingu noted. “I propose that an on line course in teaching methodology be introduced for the 30,000 teachers.”

He asks the question, “what is the quality of the recruited teachers?”

Dr Kaingu noted that so much has been said about the recruitment of over 30,000 teachers. “I won’t stop to congratulate the new dawn government for this unprecedented performance. Now let’s look at the quality of the recruited teachers. Are the teachers recruited because they can teach or remember how to teach or they are recruited because they did a teaching course? To teach, one should have done a teaching methodology. In fact, any one can teach his subject of expertise if he has done a teaching methodology. Teaching methodology must be practiced. To be a good teacher, you must practice your teaching methodology. The best teacher is the one recruited immediately after graduating from the college while the teaching methodology is still fresh in his or her mind,” Dr Kaingu told The Mast. “We are told that some of these teachers were on the streets for five years, others even more! They were engaged in so many other jobs and errands. Some were councillors, beekeepers, fishermen, chicken keepers etc for many years. It’s obvious that many have forgotten the teaching methodology. We are sending them to teach! What will be the quality of their work? What will be the quality of the learners or pupils coming out of these teachers’ classes? Wouldn’t it be better for us to give these teachers a refresher course, at least, in teaching methodology before sending them out there? The fundamental reason for recruiting these teachers is to improve the learners’ understanding of the subjects not to fill the classrooms. If the idea is to have many people going back to school, then let’s us just have education camps.”

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been spotted having a good time with his new flame, just days after divorcing his wife of 13 years.

According to Mail Online, the German coach has been in Sardinia with his new Brazilian girlfriend, Natalie Max, enjoying his holiday before the resumption for the new season.

The 48-year-old, who had been married to journalist Sissi Tuchel for 13 years, was granted a divorce by a judge at London’s High Court just last week.

The Blues boss was seen with 35-year-old Ms Max on a boat at the Mediterranean Island where they were seen holding hands and laughing as they swam in the sea. He made the trip with the business owner during a short break between his team’s tour of the United States which ended on Sunday and a friendly with Italian side Udinese tomorrow.

The pair, both of whom have two daughters, are staying in a villa which costs £20,000 a night, the Sun reports.

One holidaymaker told the paper: ‘They looked very much in love. At one stage Natalie ran her hand round the back of his neck and leaned in for a kiss.

‘They went swimming, chilled on the beach, lunched in the hotel’s restaurant and got a boat to the island of Caprera.’

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund manager was granted a divorce by Mr Justice Mostyn at the High Court in London on Wednesday, July 20, after he was satisfied there was no way of salvaging the marraige.

Mrs Tuchel had filed for divorce at the end of March, citing irreconcilable differences, with one source telling the Mail on Sunday that they had tried to avoid splitting but ‘in the end there was no other way.’

They added that it was ‘very sad and now it is all about making sure their daughters are the top priority’.

Mrs Tuchel had moved to Britain last August seven months after her husband had come to the UK after being given the Chelsea job.

He had initially stayed in a hotel in Cobham, Surrey, near to the club’s training ground.

The Chelsea boss, who is reportedly paid £7million a year, is believed to have reached a settlement with his former wife.

SUCCESSFUL HEALTH WORKERS APPLICANTS PER PROVINCE

DIVISION 1 & II (1&2)

1. Central Province- Applicants = 7,642

Successful applicants = 1028

2. Copperbelt- 13873 applicants

Successful applicants= 1,289

3. Eastern Province- 3,824

Successful applicants= 1007

4. Luapula- 9,538

Successful applicants = 971

5. Lusaka – 14,812

Successful applicants= 976

6. Muchinga- 1,619

Successful applicants=717

7. Northern- 7,058

Successful applicants= 900

8. North -Western – 4,805

Successful applicants= 930

9. Southern Province- 9,093

Successful applicants=1,274

10. Western province- 3,542

Successful applicants= 1,178

Total application= *70,126*

Successful applicants total = *10,270*

DIVISION III (3) APPLICANTS

1. Central Province- Applicants= 7,803

Successful applicants= 93

2. Copperbelt applicants= 10,624

Successful applicants= 85

3. Eastern Province applicants= 6897

Successful applicants=95

4. Lusaka applicants= 16294

Successful applicants=111

5. Luapula applicants= 5280

Successful applicants=93

6. Muchinga applicants= 5,158

Successful applicants= 93

7. North-western applicants= 6,664

Successful applicants= 110

8. Northern applicants= 4,616

Successful applicants= 102

9. Southern applicants= 4,176
Successful applicants= 101

10. Western applicants= 5996

Successful applicants= 121

Total application= *73,520*

Successful applicants total= *1006*

*16 Successful health workers people with disabilities*

MORALLY BANKRUPT: Fire Mary Chirwa

By Nkonkomalimba Kapumpe

We all saw she is the one!

President HH, you are only as strong as your weakest link. You are not helping yourself and the nation by surrounding yourself with questionable characters, it will back fire one day and in a big way.

If anyone is telling you to keep her, it’s either they are naive or they don’t love you. Do you really want to fight corruption? The english say “put your money where your mouth”. You are now scared of what she will say when fired? Because such characters now can’t be trusted.

Ba Fred Mmembe ndabo ati cruel, she took those videos by herself and this is not a personal matter but the office she holds. Ati she will commit suicide..even my friend commit sucide because of the economy last week, we buried him yesterday. Do you see complain about bene Iris sir? It’s the office we are interested in.

SHE IS NOT THE ONE

An eyewitness is a person who has firsthand knowledge of an event from seeing the event. We have all seen the video. When you are in the court docket, they ask you to the point at the defendant or accused. You can’t tell me that we did not see Mary chirwa in that porn video, I have see her with own eyes ati uyo. Unless she produces an identical twin sister.

ITS A CRIME

Under Section 102 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions ACT transmission or receiving of pornography is prohibited. A person who commits an offence under the provisions of the said ACT is liable upon conviction to a fine of K36 Million or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or both. So she commited an offence whether the law is fair or not.

Clause 56 Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act 2021

56. (1) A person shall not produce or participate in the production of pornography using a computer system.

(2) A person convicted of an offence under subsection (1) is liable, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both. She committed a crime according to the laws she is supposed to uphold.

SHE HAS COMPROMISED THE OFFICE

Now we have a person that is supposed be upholding the law breaking the law. When there are porn issues, it’s DEC that must bring the matter before court; but what moral right does DEC have to arrest someone when they are in the forefront breaking the law. She is compromised and cannot act objectively. What if there are more videos and thats the reason the corruption fight has not taken off smoothly like I would want to?

This is the same person that was at the sensitive Financial intelligence center, this might be a major breach even to national security. People might be blackmailing or blackmailed her. So we can’t take this lightly. She must be suspended and investigated.

If she can do such a video and leak to the public, how can we trust her with sensitive information of the nation. She is reckless, not prudent and careless. I can go on and on. If this video was produced by the DPP Lillian Sinyunyi, the UPND could have been in the streets protest today, but i think they have no moral compass.

WE DESERVE BETTER

We deserve to hold those in sensitive institutions of Goverance to be of noble character, despite our inclination or affiliations to political parties. We cant reduce this to PF and UPND, she messed up so bench her. She is not the only qualified Zambian that can investigate people. What is wrong is wrong.

If the President fails to fire, he should never mention that he upholds the law. He would have eroded any credibility in the justice system. Nothing that will come out of DEC will be considered credible if you keep her sir and its encouraging unlawless in Goverment . We don’t hate her, even us have done worse but if caught we must be fired. Even if she was my sister, wife or daughter I would have told you to fire her, it’s about the office and upholding the law.

Last cousin stop threatening those circulating the video, but first arrest the produce of the video. You also can’t identity her?

Nkonkomalimba Kapumpe