PILGRIM

ON BACK TO REALITY:

[The curious case of Zambian Political standings today]

Fellow Pilgrim, it has really taken long from the last time I did my political analysis.
I have been watching from the terraces the political dynamics in the Country,but today, it has dawned on me to say just a little bit on the happenings in the political realm.
Note: Kindly allow me to speak only on 3 relevant Political Parties today.
1- The Ruling Upnd .
2- The Opposition PF.
3- The Opposition Sp.

1- On the Ruling Upnd.

• I must confess that from the time I started understanding Politics this is the first time I’m seeing a week Ruling Political Party. Wether members of the Party agree with me or not, this is just the Truth and it shall remain so.

Why do I say so?

1] The Ruling Upnd Party and it’s Leadership has been totally sidelined from Governance. Ministers who are in Cabinet have also distanced themselves from the Party as if it’s not the same Party that put them where they are today.

• President Hakainde Hichilema has paralyzed the Party by distancing it from Governance. He has given more Power to the Civil Service while ignoring the fact that the Upnd should be the one leading the Government.
• The Party and it’s Government term is not what is happening under the Upnd.
  In as much as we appreciate the fact that Cadreism should not be condoned in the Country we should also not forget that we have a Political System in Zambia which forms Government. And let us not forget that Political Activism is a backbone of every Political Party.
• The Upnd Party has made it’s members to be the Weakest Politicians in the Country today. If a Upnd National member can be treated as a nobody by the Civil Service, what of a Ward or Branch Chairman?
  Today, it is not fashionable to belong to the Ruling Party because it is the most weak Party.
• It is high time that President HH realizes that his being Repubican President is through a Political Party Called Upnd. Zambian Governance is through a Political System.
  2] Upnd Media Team is also one of the weakest of all time. I don’t remember the last time we heard even just a single Statement from the so called Media Team. Most of us don’t even know who the Media Director is. Citizens are getting information direct from the President’s Facebook page as if it’s a Mulyookela Party. Some information is coming from Praise Singers who can’t even prove their information when tasked to do so..
  -The Chief Government Spokesperson is equally a miscalculation. She has only said 12 words from the time she was appointed. Sometimes you may even wonder why Bally is keeping her there such an incompetent Lady.
  What the Upnd members are not aware is the fact that Opposition Politics is far much easier as compared to Ruling Party Politics? It is hard and more difficult to be in the Ruling compared to being in the Opposition.
  -The Upnd SG is equally in his own World, little does he know that it’s dangerous to run a Ruling Political Party without Defections. When a Ruling Party stops attracting new members then that should Worry the Party Leadership. Ruling Parties must always be attractive.
  Finally on the Upnd.
  I’m not going to talk about the Failures and archivements of the Upnd lead Government today.
  That’s a topic for another day, but they must stop the blame game thing because it is hammering 🔨 them more.

2- On the Opposition PF:

-The Opposition PF needs serious humbleness and Rebranding. It is a Party that if managed properly can get back to Power in 2026 especially looking at what is happening on the ground today.

• What ever is happening under the Upnd lead Government today is a total opposite of what Citizens expected when Voting for them. PF doesn’t need the Rebranding of those Chaps being Paraded as Presidential Candidates.
  I.e
  -How can CK of all the people be on the Presidential Candidates list?
  Steven Kampyoongo with his Fire 🔥 Tenders? Gbm with his instability? Chitalu Chilufya of all the people honestly with his ambulances?
  IF truly Ndambo was to join the Opposition PF then he’s a game Changer and the rest should forget. Him or some brands like Emmanuel Mwamba and Dr Canisius Banda can help change the face.

3- On the SP:

• Fred has never been considered as a good person for Zambian Leadership ever since. Every Citizen knows this fact.
  Today, his Party has become the most attractive Political Party in the Country because of Socialism.
  -All Political Parties that thrive on Socialism do Prosper. MMD under the late Frederick Chiluba began as a Capitalist which nearly costed its hold on Power until it changed to Socialism.
  Involving Citizens in Governance is the only way one can survive.
  This is what is costing the Upnd today, it is not only Upnd Members who are being sidelined but Citizens at large. President HH is a Capitalist and this is why he will Govern for one Term if Not Careful.
  -Zambia belongs to Zambians 🇿🇲 and they must be part of the Governance period!
• What we should all bear in mind is the fact that Fred Membe and his SP are likely to break the record of being the first Political Party to have Formed Government in its second General Election attempt. under Democratic Governance in the Country Zambia.
• Take note that as things stand, it is the most attractive Political Party in the Country today.

Note: To all those Political parties that are not mentioned here must start dissolving and re aligning themselves to the 3 mentioned Political Parties rather than wasting their time.

Aluta Continua!

By Charles Chikoko Malembeka.

Zambia’s official creditors are expected to offer it financial assurances by the end of July, paving the way for the first debt restructuring under a G20 framework set up during the height of the pandemic, two sources briefed on the matter said.

Zambia would be the first of three countries that have requested debt relief under the Common Framework agreed by the Group of 20 major economies and the Paris Club of official creditors to move forward in what has been a very slow process.

The creditor committees of Zambia, Chad and Ethiopia are all due to meet this month amid growing pressure to accelerate the debt restructuring process.

No firm date has been set for a meeting of Zambia’s creditor committee, but sources briefed on the matter said they expected the African country to secure financial assurances by the end of the month, and said private sector creditors were cooperating.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has sent food and energy prices surging higher, exacerbating debt problems already plaguing 60% of low-income countries and now threatening a growing number of middle-income countries.

The Common Framework was set up in October 2020 to head off another major debt crisis, but progress has been slowed by the reluctance of China – now the world’s biggest sovereign creditor – and private sector creditors to participate, which has dissuaded other countries from seeking debt relief.

Experts say movement on Zambia could help spur more interest among heavily indebted countries, especially given the growing risk of a global recession, higher interest rates and continued outflows of capital from emerging market economies.

Improvements to the Common Framework will be a key topic at next week’s meeting of G20 finance officials in Indonesia, but Zambia’s case is unlikely to be resolved before that meeting, the sources said.

IMF and World Bank officials have been blunt about the failings of the Common Framework.

They are pushing for finance officials of the G20 major economies to apply more pressure on China and private sector creditors to participate.

Zambian Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said last week the country’s economy would be highly compromised without external support.

A Paris Club source said earlier this week that the group of wealthy creditor nations was working on providing financing assurances to the IMF that could unlock funds for Zambia.

“We hope that that can be done before the end of July,” the source added.

PRAY FOR NATIONAL LEADERS BOTH IN OPPOSITION AND GOVERNMENT, LUSAMBO URGES THE CHURCH

….as Ndola’s Reverend Alice Bwale notes the need to celebrate the lives of leaders while they are still alive

Lusaka…. Sunday, July 10, 2022 (Smart Eagles)

Kabushi Lawmaker Hon. Bowman Chilosha Lusambo has donated his July Salary to a Church in his constituency.

This is part of The Bulldozer’s continued goodwill to assist and work with all the churches in Kabushi Constituency.

And Speaking when he attended a Church Service today at Saints Of praise Ministries Worship Sanctuary where he made the donation, Hon Lusambo said the gift is meant for the purchase of Musical Instruments.

“Obviously we have seen what is needed in this Church things you can be assisted with…….Ine Nalitemwa ukushana sana, Salary yandi iya this month twalamishitila ifilimba so that Nga twaisa kuno nakabili, tulefwaya tukese chibondola. Very soon the musical instruments will come,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hon Lusambo has urged the Church to pray for both ruling and opposition leaders to find a lasting solution to the economic challenges faced in the country.

He said unity is needed among all stakeholders to help reduce the poverty levels in Zambia.

“I feel bad when I walk in the constituency and see people complaining about the high cost of living,” he said.

During the service, Hon Lusambo also preached a message of unity to the congregants.

He said there is need to embrace everyone regardless of their political affiliation or tribal grouping.

“When we go out there we won’t be identified by tribe, but we will be identified as Zambians. I love my country and I will contribute to the development of this country because I am Zambian,” he said.

And Saints Of praise Ministries Worship Sanctuary Reverend Alice Bwale noted the need to celebrate the lives of leaders while they are still alive.

She has since commended Hon Lusambo for the good works he is doing in his Constituency.

SmartEagles2022

Is DEC DG Mary Chirwa being used to settle political scores with ECL family?

Editorial
When other countries disrespect our current and former leaders, no one should complain because we ourselves are the first ones to disrespect them. The current happenings were the Drug Enforcement Commission – DEC Director General Mary Chirwa can issue and circulate on social media a public call out to the former First Lady Esther Lungu just goes to show how undignified our politics in Zambia have become.

In a normal and functional society, current and former leaders especially those that ascend to the highest executive role of the Presidency should be accorded the due dignity and respect. In circumstances were there are suspected transgressions, investigations should be done, concrete evidence collected and were the case is considered water tight, that’s when a public arrest should be made.

Moreover, the DEC DG would have conducted the interview with the former First Lady in a more dignified manner without circulating the summons on social media. Our constitution guarantees that suspects are treated as innocent until proven guilty by a competent court. Only a guilty judgment from the courts can confirm if the former First Lady had indeed committed an offense. The public summon of madam Esther Lungu can only be described as cruel and meant to embarrass and humiliate her and the ECL family even before a full court judgment on the matter is obtained.

We know that because our country today is heavily opinionated and divided on political lines, some of our uninitiated citizens will blindly support any action done to embarrass the former first family of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu – ECL, in publicly summoning his wife and the former First Lady Esther Lungu, because it may in the short term seem to further the interest of the current President Hakainde Hichilema and his family.

But we are here as the Zambian Business Times – ZBT to tell you the blatant and bitter truth that these actions by DEC DG Mary Chirwa are only setting another demeaning political precedence for First Ladies which will only go to haunt the current First Lady Mutinta Hichilema and those that come after her in future. Those who have served in high and significant offices will tell you that it’s impossible not to make decisions or take actions that in future end up being misconstrued as unacceptable. This is one of the reasons why Presidents world over and even the Zambian President enjoys legal immunity.

These same people who today are calling for and endorsing demeaning treatment of the former First Lady Esther Lungu even before the court conviction is secured will be the same ones that will be calling for the public humiliation of the current First Lady Mutinta Hichilema when her time is up. Is this the precedence we want to uphold?

Leaders make and take decisions with limited information, and at times based on the trust of their advisors, ministers and state House officials. Do you think HH personally knows all these people he has appointed? Even the reports that are done such as the fit and proper tests are vetted by aides some of whom have interests in the appointments. It’s therefore naive to think that HH’s decisions and actions will always be above par as they are also a people process and people make mistakes.

This advise we are giving is not meant to defend the ECL family or prop up the HH current presidency, No. it’s for the good of our beloved country Zambia and its long term interests and dignity. Today it’s former First Lady Esther Lungu who is being embarrassed and summoned by DEC, we are afraid that tomorrow it will be Mutinta Hichilema to face the same music.

We want to end by quoting Boris Johnson – a once all powerful prime minister of the UK who stated on his inevitable resignation speech yesterday ( 7 July 2022) that “ no one is remotely indispensable in politics”. It’s therefore incumbent that as a nation, we start to mature and act in the way that there is dignity and fair treatment for all before the law. Respect for former leaders should be accorded whether we personally like them or not because we want that head of state position to attract the best sons and daughters of this country to serve.

This also goes to political appointees that include Ministers, Foreign office holders, DEC Director General etc, these are indeed powerful positions but the occupants only enjoy the power when serving in those offices. These powers are temporal. Immediately one is relieved of the job or there is a change of government, that power is lost, and at most times for ever. It is therefore a known maxim that we all remember that we do unto others what we would like others to do into us.- Zambian Business Times

GDP and Low-Income Country
Status …

KCM pays supliers $2m out of $200m it owes, we clap!

Do we have a problem with numeracy and literacy in Zambia? Probably yes, we have a little problem with reading figures, interpreting them and using them as a basis for informed decision making. A day or two ago, Zambian blogs exploded into exaltation over an announcement that KCM would allocate $2 million towards clearing arrears to suppliers of goods and services.

The problem here was that the majority failed to read and interpret the value of $2 million relative to the size of KCM, the typical costs of goods and services required by KCM or the volume of debt that KCM owes to contractors and suppliers.

A person who understands figures should have questioned whether the statement from KCM has a typing error because $2 million in the context of a large mine in debt like KCM is a joke. That amount is insufficient to buy just one large excavator (Bucyrus RH400 or Hitachi EX8000) or just one large dump truck (Komatsu 980 or CAT 797F), not even a second-hand one.

A few days ago, Zambians again awoke to a “rude shock” that World Bank had downgraded the country to a Low-income country. Was it really a shock? I don’t think so. It’s only a shock because we in Zambia don’t like to pay attention to figures and to interpret them. To be frank, Zambia just concluded the 7NDP for 2017-2021 in which we did not meet even a single goal and are far behind schedule on almost every milestone LPM planned when his administration adopted Vision 2030, about 15 years ago.

The criteria used to grade economies uses a multiplicity of parameters, including the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Put in simplest definition, GDP is the monetary value of goods and services in a certain country in a given period. Put differently, it is the sum of what every company or person produces. When mines, farms, factories, banks … produce more goods or services, and make more money, the GDP of Zambia grows. When the opposite happens, the GDP shrinks.

If we have been paying attention to performance of key industries, and key sectors of the economy, lately, we must not be surprised that our GDP is not growing. Here in Ndola, Indeni, Tazama and Ndola Lime (aka Limestone Resources) have been on care and maintenance, hence producing nothing and consequently adding nothing to GDP.

In Kitwe and Muf, Mopani has been producing at 50% or less of capacity; meaning also that its major contractors and suppliers are operating at diminished capacity.

In Chililabombwe and Chingola, KCM has been operating in the last 3 years at less than a third of capacity. In Kalulushi, Chibuluma Mine and Chambishi Metals have been on care and maintenance for a long time.

As regards the Copperbelt-based cement plants (Dangote, Chilanga Ndola and ZPC), they have been operating at diminished throughputs due to lack of demand because the construction sector is in recession the past 3 years.

Elsewhere, we have heard that Tazara and ZRL are carrying almost nothing and are barely surviving to the next paycheck. In agriculture, the same story is prevailing: maize output is down on last year; sugar production went slightly down at Zambia Sugar in 2021. In construction, we know what is happening that GRZ abandoned most projects due to lack of money while in tourism the pandemic ravaged occupancy rates in many lodges and hotels in the past years as workshops and travel were often cancelled or restricted.

All the above malaise put together and measured resulted in the shrinkage of the economy, as indicated by the negative growth recorded in 2020 to 2021. Since the GDP is expressed in USD, the deteriorating exchange rate also contributed to an arithmetic shrinking of the Zambian GDP or economy. By and large, the collapse of the Zambian economy was a result of poor stewardship by a bad ichipani leadership, which was clueless on how to manage an economy: bad policies inhibited outputs in the mines, catalyzed confusion in construction, caused stagnation in manufacturing, pushed many companies into care and maintenance and ruined agriculture.

We the citizens also carry the blame: unions and cadres influenced GRZ to commit suicide in Mopani, KCM and Chambishi Metals. We were celebrating when ichipani was pouring poison in the river and now we are complaining that piped water is causing diarrhea!

Folks, there is nothing shocking about Zambia being downgraded to a lower-income economy. That’s just the reflection of our economy which is in distress. We can reverse that by kickstarting the economy. The mines, the factories, the railways and the farms need to start working again. We should also begin to pay attention to numbers, especially to trends and correlations between cause and effect; we need to start asking questions about numbers. For example, have our mining policies (mineral royalty tax, import duty on concentrates from DRC imposed by Hon Mwanakatwe, liquidation of KCM, nationalization of Mopani…) improved the mining sector, in terms of outputs, and contributed much to GDP? What volumes of goods are Tazara and ZRL carrying and why? What volumes are our factories (NCZ, Indeni, Ndola Lime) actually producing and why? What are our state farms (ZNS and ZCS) producing in numbers and how does that compare to the costs and investment in them? How are the recipients of CEEC loans fairing relative to money they received? What are the efficiencies on various empowerment schemes (fuel tankers for youths, FISP, musicians, Black Mountain…)?

I also notice a worrying trend in my professional family, the engineers. We are in a hurry to start roofing a house where the foundation and walls are not yet done. When we have analyzed where we are not doing fine, let’s start by correcting those first before we begin new things. Before thinking of new electric bullet trains, let’s first ensure that we have capacity to run Tazara. Before thinking of mechanizing and automating new farms, let’s ensure that ZNS and ZCS farms are running productively and profitably; before focusing on installation of smart meters, let’s ensure that piped water is available to all households; before focusing on production of electric car batteries, let us first ensure that we have explored and found where we will get cobalt and nickel in Zambia. We can’t just be building castles in the air without first understanding the problems at hand, including the financial and feasibility considerations. Yes, all the buzzwords (STEM, environmentally-friendly, smart grids, IoT, big data, electric vehicles…) are nice, but just words if you are a country that can only afford $2 million to run the accounts payable department of a large mine.

They say, if you can’t measure, you can’t control. Let’s start measuring and reading numbers. We should grow and measure GDP using numbers, not feelings and guesswork. Our teachers and our leadership need to play their role to ensure that citizens go beyond just reading numbers; they need to start synthesizing, analyzing and evaluating their meanings in order to effectively apply them to function in the 21st century where lack of numeracy and lack of literacy are a handicap.

Just observing loudly …

Members of the Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia ( BTOAZ ) on the Copperbelt have rejected the draft regulation on online taxi operators. BTOAZ Ndola branch chairman, Zihno Latife says the government should first curb piracy before regulating the statutory instrument.

Mr Latife warns that his members will convert to black number plates should the law be implemented as it will mean encouraging piracy and that the move is not welcome on the Copperbelt.

He said during a stakeholder consultative meeting organised by the road transport and safety agency -RTSA in Ndola today that piracy should be curbed first before regulating online taxi operators.

Recently Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali during a parliamentary sitting indicated that government is not against online taxi services.

Mr Tayali consequently ordered the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to call online taxi service owners for a meeting in order to chart the best way forward.

Responding to a question from PF Kantanshi member of parliament Anthony Mumba, who wanted to find out whether the government was aware that compelling online car-hailing services to register with the Road Transport and Safety Agency ( RTSA).

And BTOAZ national chairperson, Sydney Chewe said that although the online taxi business is a welcome innovation, his association feels relevant stakeholders should be consulted.

Mr. Chewe maintains that the matter should that be addressed first is the issue of piracy which his association and other law abiding operators have grappled with rather for long now.

He suggests the ministry of transport and logistics should call for an all-inclusive stakeholder meeting that critical issues will be explained.

“We have got too main issues, you cannot bring this law when you don’t want to talk about piracy. This is not sitting well with, we pay taxes and have been partners of development,” he said.

Mr. Chewe, who later walked out of the meeting, pulling all his members and some private taxi operators said the ministry is encouraging illegality.

He said unless the ministry of transport comes up with a policy that will protect his association and other legal operators, there will be no progress on the matter.

Mr. Chewe said it is the desire of the Bus and taxi drivers and owners that the online taxi operators comply with the existing law and not to have their own piece of regulation.

In his opening remarks, RTSA Chief Executive Officer Alinani Msisya said the agency is developing a statutory instrument to provide for a legal framework on operations of online taxi services in Zambia.

Mr. Msisya said Zambia like many other countries around the world is grappling with the advent of ‘online ride-hailing operations in the transport industry.

He said online ride-hailing operations although seemingly a new phenomenon in Zambia, has been in existence in other parts of the world for some time now.

The red robe that Boxing legend, Muhammad Ali entered the ring with, wrapped with white trim for his “Fight of the Century” with Joe Frazier on the evening of March 8, 1971, inside a celebrity-packed Madison Square Garden, is now up for auction.

After Ali’s loss in a 15-round decision, the robe disappeared from his wardrobe permanently but 51 years later, it’s now being put in a Heritage Auctions event featuring more than 1,600 Ali items from his early career as Cassius Clay through his metamorphosis into “The Greatest.”

The opening bid is exactly $100,000 but the fabric is expected to end up selling for at least £800,000.

Ali may have died in June 2016, but his legacy still clearly lives on to this day.

“The robe is really iconic when you realize he lost the fight,” said collection owner Troy Kinunen, whose first buy was a vintage Ali fight poster in 1988 before amassing the unprecedented array of memorabilia available at the July 21-23 auction.

“Guys can get dejected,” he continued. “The robe represents the story of Ali’s comeback, his motivation to fight Frazier two more times and defeat George Foreman and regain the world championship.”

Other highlights of the collection assembled across 30 years include the signed mouthpiece Ali wore during that 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” victory over Foreman, an embroidered prayer cap gifted to the fighter before the “Thrilla in Manila” rematch with Frazier, and posters from all but one of Ali’s 61 professional fights.

The first Ali-Frazier match was so big that Frank Sinatra took his place as a ringside photographer and among the crowd of 20,455 were Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen and Diana Ross.

Ali, after the loss, suggested his choice of the red robe with his name in white lettering had something to do with his defeat and returned to his standard black and white outfit. The rare piece of ring attire was later autographed by Ali, who never wore it again.

“It’s the crown jewel of the collection,” said Kinunen. “It’s just very special.”

As are many of the lots from collection launched with Kinunen’s acquisition 34 years ago of a poster from Ali’s Nov. 14, 1966, fight with Cleveland Williams at the Astrodome.

“I had a sense of who Muhammad Ali was,” said Kinunen, 52, who was just a kid during Ali’s heyday. “I started researching and reading biographies on him. I had some VHS tapes and became introduced to him. And the more I learned, the more fascinated I became with his story.”

Kinunan says he recalls snapping up whatever he could when a cache of Ali memorabilia was auctioned off, but now says it’s time for him to sell.

“I have so much respect for the man and his legacy, but I’m not the proper caretaker,” he said. “I’m really happy with discussing this. I love sharing this. Let the other fans have their chance.”

UNZA DON DEFENDS TASILA LUNGU

By Ruth Choolwe

9th July, 2022 – Lusaka

SOCIAL Policy Lecturer at the University of Zambia (UNZA) Mr Ntazana Musukuma Mutungwa has defended Honourable Tasila Lungu who has come under attack for stating that the on-going free education policy has resulted into poor-quality education.

“I agree with Honourable Tasila Lungu. We can’t have 200 pupils in a classroom, with many seated on the floor. The free-education policy is indeed a mockery to those intended to benefit from it and an embarrassment to the country. Overcrowding pupils in class in the name of free education not only overloads the teacher with work and deprives pupils of the much needed attention from the teacher but also poses a health hazard to all teachers and pupils such as airborne diseases including the pandemic and TB. Those in national leadership can do better,” said Mutungwa.

He observed that there was need to build more schools, recruit more teachers and procure more learning materials if such a policy is to bear fruit.

“You can’t have a successful social policy program without the required inputs. Let Government build more schools, recruit more teachers and procure more learning materials. With the current shortage of teachers, space and materials required for effective teaching and learning in public schools, implementation of this otherwise well-intended social policy program becomes problematic and most likely barren,” he said.

He further has a message for those saying poor quality free education is better than no education at all.

“The problem with settling for less is that it becomes a norm with time. Let all of us as a people of this country never settle for less but endeavor to pursue the best outcomes, impacts and outputs. That’s how societies develop,” said Mutungwa.

He castigated those attacking Honourable Tasila Lungu and maliciously bringing in her father Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the former President of Zambia.

“Honourable Tasila Lungu is a different person from Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. You can’t associate the two where views on national matters are concerned just because the relationship between them is that of father and daughter. They are different people. Tasila has a right to express herself freely and independently on national matters. Morevever, as an opposition MP, she has an important duty of providing checks and balances to the Government. This is the point that many are missing,” said Mutungwa.

He also reminded Tasila’s critics that the daughter to the former President was not in Government during her father’s reign but merely an elected Councilor.

“Tasila served as a Councilor for Nkholoma Ward I in Chawama Constituency but not in Central Government proper and she delivered in her Ward where she constructed a football field, police post, empowered many local youth and women groups as well as individuals and so on. No wonder the people of Chawama later elected her as their area MP and already she has upgraded Chawama School to accommodate higher-grade learners among other achievements. She makes it on her as opposed to riding on her father’s high status in society. Therefore, avoid attributing her father’s perceived shortfalls to Tasila, who wasn’t even part of central government,” advised Mutungwa.

He further bemoaned the lack of seriousness to socio-economic policies in the country.

“World Bank has just relegated Zambia to the poor-country bracket and this is happening after governing ourselves for almost 58 years since 1964 when the country attained Independence. On the other hand, we have pupils crowding in a single classrom with literally nowhere to seat. This tells you the country’s socio-economic policies are failing,” he said.

“Those in power must pull their socks. The country should be seen developing, not retrogressing. There is need for hard-work not only to fulfill the numerous campaign promises that were made to the Zambian people in 2021 but also enhance the deteriorating living standards of the majority of our people,” said Mutungwa.

The UNZA Lecturer further bemoaned the high cost of living in the country correlating it with exacerbated poverty among the people.

“The high cost of living in the country where basic food basket is approaching K10, 000 for a family of five per month with many on megre salaries and wages leads millions into absolute poverty. The primary responsibility of Government anywhere in the world is to look after its citizens. A moment you see cost of living skyrocketing and the majority weak members of society being dragged into abject poverty, decode that those in power have failed,” said Mutungwa.

IT’S NONSENSICAL FOR MP’S TO CHAMPION CALLS OF SALARY INCREMENT AMIDST HIGH COST OF LIVING AFFECTING ZAMBIANS.

Members of Parliament need not to be reminded that, they are in Parliament to serve the people and not to enrich themselves.

One of the greatest attributes of a good leader is to put the interest of the people or organization you represent first before personal interests.

Therefore it’s NONSENSICAL for our MP’S regardless of their political affiliation to be championing calls for SALARY and ALLOWANCE increment when majority citizens ( voters ) are wallowing in abject poverty or living slightly above the poverty line.

Government today is struggling to employ 11,200 health workers and 30,000 teachers as a result of the already suffocated treasury and yet we have MP’S advocating for salary/allowance increment.

I expect our MP’S to focus on how they will eradicate high levels of unemployment and scarcity of business opportunities among the YOUTHS in their respective constituencies than talking about increasing their salaries and allowances.

We have retirees who are homeless struggling to cope with life as a result of government failure to settle their benefits due to chocked treasury yet the so called representatives want salary and allowance increment.

The civil service movement that happen to be the driving force behind the steering wheels of our economy have had their salaries stagnant despite the price of commodities and services skyrocketing as a result of high cost of living yet people failing to enact laws and policies that will change the economic landscape of our country to favour ZAMBIANS are the ones calling for salary increment because of screaming yeah yeah yeah in Parliament or sprinkling white powder on other political leaders during state funerals.

Today foreign investment is exploiting our resources due to weaker laws and failure by our law makers to repel some of them yet our MP’S have impetus to call for salary increment.

It’s absurd that Members of Parliament want to use Parliament as a ladder to enrich themselves through hefty salaries and allowances at the expense of majority citizens subjected to high cost of living.

Let me put it on record that if our Members of Parliament are desperate for hefty salaries and riches then let them quit politics get back to school and get a high paying job or venture into private business.

Let me also make mention that am not speaking using political microphone based on which political Party i belong to, but am speaking as a concerned citizen that wants the best for our people.

Calls by Members of Parliament to increase their salaries and allowances are not only misplaced but a clear demonstration that we have representatives before Parliament that are selfish and only interested in their personal agendas.

I beseech President Hakainde Hichilema to intensify calls for austerity measures among political players and senior government officials as one way of sympathizing with the Zambian citizens amidst high cost of living.

YOUNG KING COBRA

2031

Leave Tuntembas Alone, Who Do You Wish to Impress?

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

Zambia will host the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 4th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union from 14th to 17th July 2022.

In anticipation of the thousands of guests that will descend on the City, Zambian authorities have gone on rampage destroying tuntembas and doing last minute clean up of the City.

Please note that the Africa Union is about Africans and dedicated to the lifting of the ordinary lives of peasants, small-holder farmers, small and medium enterprises.

Infact most of Africa’s big businesses and multinationals that leaders clamour to impress and give tax and other incentives, are owned by foreigners from Europe, Asia and the USA while our people face constant harassment, eviction and confiscation of their goods!

Big businesses are easily given land, water, electricity and security in economic zones while the Police run battles with traders, vendors and marketeers!

If the Africa Union is about an ordinary African, why is it that Zambian authorities appear ashamed of its micro and small businesses as shown by the haste wanton destruction and demolishing of their stands and booths!

Who do we wish to impress?

This is a meeting of Africans who understand the struggle of an ordinary African, and is not a meeting of multi-nationals or Europeans.

Those booths authorities are destroying, in the name of making the City look clean, were purchased at great cost and mean livelihoods.

I have been to many African countries and those booths and street market stands are common-place and are part of an accepted struggle and thriving economy.

The chaos and dirt of the Lusaka City cannot be resolved in the next few days as this requires a consolidated plan and investment.

Therefore to make micro and small businesses suffer the temerity of the chaos of many years is unacceptable.

Where is the Minister of Small Businesses to speak for his members?

HH withdraws his law suit against State

By Mwaka Ndawa

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has dropped the law suit against the State before the Lusaka High Court in which he was demanding compensation for false imprisonment on allegations that he committed treason together with his aides.

The Head of State has rescinded his decision to have the proceedings in relation to his claims adjourned sine die and later prosecute his case when he leaves office, but instead proposed that it be terminated.

This is according to a consent entered into between President Hichilema’s lawyer Zevyanji Sinkala of Messrs ZS Legal Practitioners, on his behalf and the office of the Attorney General.

“By consent of the parties through their respective advocates it is hereby by ordered that: the application for an order to stay proceedings in respect of President Hichilema filed into Court on January 7, 2022 be and is hereby withdrawn; President Hichilema wholly discontinues of this action against the State and each party shall bear its own costs,” read the consent order signed by judge Pixie Yangailo.

In 2017, President Hichilema who was in opposition then and five of his employees were accused of endangering the life of his predecessor Edgar Lungu when his convoy allegedly failed to give way to the presidential motorcade on the Mongu-Limulunga road during the Kuomboka traditional ceremony which was held in April the same year.

President Hichilema, Hamusonde Hamaleka, Pretorius Haloba, Wallace Chakawa, Laston Mulilanduba and Muleya Hachinda were seeking an order that the Lusaka High Court compels the State to award them damages equivalent in value to the money and personal belongings lost when they were apprehended at Community House in new Kasama.

President Hichilema was personally seeking remuneration for the money he lost and property that was looted, damaged and destroyed at his home five years ago during the unlawful operation to arrest him on April 10 and 11, 2017.

The Head of State contended that the police officers, notable among them Mpazi Mbita, Arthur Shonga, Martin Musambachime and Aubrey Hamwene who raided his home without a warrant and justification, extensively damaged and destroyed various fixtures, fittings and furniture.

He said the police officers ransacked his house and stole his money, food, clothes, beddings and other household items in disregard of the law, his dignity and that of the family.

President Hichilema had contended that some police officers wantonly defecated and urinated on his beddings in his house.
President Hichilema and others said their prosecution and the unsanitary and inhuman conditions they were subjected to during their detention subjected them to humiliation and disgrace as well as brought them into ridicule and contempt both in Zambia and internationally.
The plaintiffs said particulars of malice were that the treason charge lacked overt acts as it was not thoroughly investigated.
They stated that the admission by the State that the charge of treason was bad at law while insisting to prosecute them was malicious, an abuse of the criminal justice process and injurious on their dignity.
However, the State by way of consent has undertaken to compensate the President’s employees for malicious prosecution and the matter is pending assessment of the damages to be awarded before a registrar of the High Court.

MCPHERSON CHANDA AND TWO OTHERS FILE NOTICE OF APPEAL

Former Post Master General MacPherson Chanda and two others have filed a notice of appeal against the conviction and sentencing to two years imprisonment for 13 counts of theft by public servant by the Ndola Magistrate Court.

In her ruling, Magistrate Kaunda Sakwanda found Chanda, Former Finance Director Best Mwaiche and Isaac Kamwimba guilty, giving the three an option of a fine amounting to K350 million.

Lawyers to the trio have stated that they do not agree with the reasoning of the magistrate and have appealed. They are contesting that the magistrate misdirected herself in the law and in fact.

The magistrate erred both in fact and law when she convicted them over diversion of funds when the said funds never left the Zampost accounts and the practice to move funds between two organizational accounts was continued by Chanda’s successors who strangely are not before any courts if at all there was anything wrong with it.

And speaking on behalf of former Zampost retirees, Sylvester Mwamba said Chanda was being persecuted and not prosecuted.

“The court has sent to prison a man who never stole a single ngwee from ZAMPOST but someone who brought about innovation and worked hard to ensure us retirees got our money after waiting for years. Some of our friends died before receiving their dues until Chanda came in. You cannot take politics away from this case. How does the magistrate convict people for stealing money which never left the organization. In the interest of justice, let a different and fair court reverse this injustice”, he said.

Another ZAMPOST employee who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization said the judgement was a sham and it was sad that the media, both public and private decided to create a false impression that there was corruption and theft by the three when infact not.

“This is a sad day in the history of justice in Zambia. How do you say the three unlawfully diverted social cash transfer (SCT) funds amounting to K335, 108,834 without authority when the money moved from one ZAMPOST account to another. The money never left the organization contrary to the impression being created out there. There are no elements of theft in this matter. As a matter of fact even the management which took over from Mr Chanda continued with the same practice and how come they are not before the courts of law? The system has exerted pressure to arrive at this notorious judgement in order to justify the so-called fight against corruption. Any fair and sensible judge will overturn this ruling and the three gentlemen will have the last laugh”, he said.

The case was before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court Magistrate Kaunda Sakwanda.

MY FELLOW ZAMBIAN YOUTHS, LETS FIGHT POVERTY THROUGH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. MULEKUTIKA?

Let this practical sentence be your favorite song in this New Dawn Government “small business fights poverty!” Supershine University taught me to be a practical Servant focusing on developing solutions that society needs.

Please, Start Your Own Small Business Wherever You Are With Your Gift, Talent, Ability Or Profession.

Register Your Business Name With The Registrar of Companies Which Is Responsible For Business Registrations In Zambia Popularly Knows Patent And Companies Registration Agency (PACRA).

My fellow Youths get this fact; It’s an essential step to register your business for safety and security reasons before official operations commence. Be it a local business or an international business; registration should be taken as a core value for any investor in the process of starting a business in Zambia. And our New Dawn Government has been emphasising day in day out that Youth economic empowerment is tied to the future of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mostly those Youths that have registered their businesses will be accessing the funds from CDF and other financial support opportunities. Guys, lets act fast in order to be a part of this life changing youth empowerment programmes. Mulekutika?

Ba Zulu listen, Please! don’t fear the name Company or a registered business! A company is just a voluntary business association of two or more people formed to make profits. A business is a legal entity separate from its members and is incorporated for a lawful purpose. In Zambia, a company/business is registered under the Companies Act No.10 of 2017. Mulekutika Ba Zulu?

You can register a local company either as a public or private company. A private company can either be;

1. Limited by shares
2. Limited by guarantee
   3.Unlimited companies

My fellow Youths, The following are some of the small businesses i have been encouraging people to start and i normally expose them to those that require small or no monetary capital. You can register whichever you are passionate about:

1) Farming

2) Electronics shop

3) Tailoring

4) Baking

5) Grocery

6) Making Home Juice

7) Investing Your Money

8) Second Hand Clothes

9) Cleaning

10) Firewood

11) Peanut Butter Production

12) DJ-ing

13) Coaching Sports Teams

14) Cosmetic Sales

15) Livestock Rearing

16) Tree Planting

17) Financial Planning

18) Career Coach

19) Licensed Product Distribution

20) Officiating Recreational Sports Games

21) Selling Handmade Clothing and Garments

22) Accounting and Bookkeeping

23) Yard Work

24) Buying and Selling Cars

25) Craft

26) Tour Guide

27) Teaching Music

28) Computer Training

29) Leaflet distributing

30) Clothing Boutique

31) Brand Ambassador

32) Removing Junk

33) Real Estate Agency

34) Personal Assistant

35) Motivation

36) Build Fashion blog

37) Knitting

38) Popcorn Making

39) Jewelry

40) Pool Cleaning and Maintenance

41) Event Planning

42) Car Washing

43) Building and Developing Website

44) Import and Export

45) Wedding Planning

46) Entertainment System

47) Building Apartments

48) Modeling

59) Translation

50) Caregiving

51) Life Coaching

52) Storage

53) Dry Cleaning

54) Carpet Cleaning

55) Building YouTube Channel

56) Berber Shop

57) Speaking and Presentation Coaching

58) Logo Designing

59) Personal Fitness Training

60) Sports Equipments

61) Data Analysis

62) Restaurant

63) Painting

64) African Polon

65) Sewing

66) Freelance Writing

67) Sports Coaching and Training

68) Baby Sitting

69) Fruit and Vegetable

70) Repairing Bicycles

71) Bricklaying

72) Welding

73) Shoe Repairing

74) Refurbishing Used Electronics

75) Carpet Installation

76) Irrigation

77) Printing and Photocopying

78) Brewing Soft Drinks

79) Publicity

80) Supplying Balloons

81) Promoting Events

82) Consulting Firm

83) E-commerce

84) Chef for Hire

85) Catering

86) College Counseling

87) Hairdressing Solon

88) Window Washing

99) Recycling

90) Waste Management

91) Gardening

92) Event Venue

93) Building Maintenance

94) Decorating

95) Mechanic

96) Music Production

97) Renting Your Car

98) Selling Scrap Metals

99) Pest Control

100) Landscaping

101) Marketing

102) Senior Citizen Assistance

103) Tax Preparation

104) Writing Family History

105) Commission

106) Buchery

107) Making Furniture

108) Drone For Hire

109) Photography

110) Dance Instructor

111) Fence Installation

112) Repairing Computer and Mobile Phone

113) Delivering Items

114) Mobile Makeup

115) Daycare

116) Making Ice

117) Rent Out Your Space

118) Video Production

119) Sports Viewing Centre

120) Plumbing

121) Beauty Centre

122) Electric

123) Editing

124) Security

125) Graphic Designing

126) Transportation

127) Carpentry and Joinery

There are millions of Small Businesses in this world just be inttentional to pray God to show you. Remember always that all good opportunities come from God the Creator of all things. Ask and it shall be given to you.

I always believe that through “Small Business Empowerment – SBE,” we will continue fighting poverty and the various effects poverty has on communities and individuals.

NB: My fellow Youths, Its important to start small businesses because they help to solve problems we have in our lives and communities. Lets do it NOW!

• Start Your Small Business
• Build Passive Income
• Be The SolutionIn In The Society
• Be A Contributor In The Society
• Be A Producer Not A Consumer
• Together We Can Finish Poverty

Small Business Fights Poverty✅

Ubepalo – through your own small business, please! remember to be a blessing to others especially to that struggling child, youth and parent to the glory of God. Be kind and helpful.

Written by:
Lazarous Mankel Chongo,
God’s Missionary To The Nations,
Call/Tex/WhatsApp +260967321432
Kabwe, Zambia

FREE EDUCATION, A MOCKERY- HON. TASILA LUNGU-MWANSA

…200 pupils in one class, others sit on the floor.

Lusaka- Friday, 8 July, 2022

Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) lawmakers have sustained checks and balances on the governance of the country by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) and have noted cross-cutting governance shortcomings.

Speaking Friday during a weekly ‘meet the media’ briefing at Parliament, Chawama lawmaker, Tasila Lungu questioned the credibility of the much touted free education.

Although the motive had been good as a way of encouraging more children to attain free education it is now devoid of basic tenets of hygiene because of various shortcomings.

Congested classrooms, in some instances about 200 children crowded in one classroom, some squatting on the floor, with unhygienic environment has characterized the learners, raising questions on the quality of education being imparted.

Some schools lack various basic hygienic requirements, fueling concerns of the safety of the learners against hazards including the pandemic which is being fought against.

Lawmaker Tasila Lungu – Mwansa noted that it would be important for the Government to revisit the free education that is reigning at the moment and ensure all learners at various institutions but called for an urgent review of the situation.

The situation, she contended has left many children likely to fail to comprehend because of the high ratio of pupil against the teacher while ensuring that adequate furniture and sanitary requirements were redressed.

“We have noted that the free education that is in place is not quality at all because in most schools there are about 200 pupils crowded in one classroom, with some sitting or squatting on the floor and may lack hygienic conditions and we cannot call that quality education,” she said.

“I call upon the Government to ensure that while education is free education, there be quality as well for all the learners,”

Godwin Mwila, the Mufulira central lawmaker lamented the high cost of living induced on Zambians caused by the high cost of commodity prices.

He contends that while inflation is claimed to be in single digit, it was not tallying with the people’s aspirations, contrasting the arguments being advanced by leaders in Government that claim the cost of living was affordable now than before.

The lawmaker challenged the Government to correlate the people’s living conditions in Zambia now hyped by the Russia-Ukraine conflict which has affected global economies yet leaders were claiming Zambia was an exception.

He challenged the media to investigate the claims by the Government against what is obtaining on the ground based on people’s livelihoods.

“It’s strange that while the cost of living among various households is too much to cope, its amazing that our Government sees Zambia as an exception and yet the US and other developed countries they are complaining at the high cost of commodities and other food substances,”

Chinsali lawmaker, Kalalwe Mukosa questioned the logic behind the Government’s decision to appoint six privately owned audit firms to do an audit of the country’s domestic public debt stating that the office of the Auditor General has a directorate whose main responsibility is to undertake audits relating to public debt both domestic and foreign.

“The Auditor General’s office has a directorate known as Debt and Investment’ whose main responsibility is to undertake such tasks but we are wondering why the ministry of finance opted for private auditing firms to do such a job,” Mukosa, a chartered accountant wondered.

“As Zambians we would like to know the rationale used to arrive at such a decision and how much this exercise will cost government,”

The Lawmaker, who is also a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at Parliament further wondered whether the reports will to be submitted to parliament for scrutiny by the PAC, budget committee and other interested groups to verify the findings for onward debate on the floor of the house.

Feira lawmaker, Emmanuel Tembo lamented the escalating costs of ferrying people suspected to have committed various crimes to different areas away from their jurisdiction.

He argues that such laws was detrimental to democracy and a cost of the country’s treasury, arguing an estimated K2.5 million has been goggled through such avoidable decisions, which he said should be discouraged to defray costs.

Bahati lawmaker, Leevan Chibombwe questions the renewal of the Bulk Power Supply Agreement between Zesco and Copperbelt Energy Corporation yet it was fraught with several concerns during an earlier agreement.

He demanded a full disclosure of the agreement by Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to allow the people understanding the mismatch involved in the selling and procurement of power for onward transmission to the mines.

(Credit: Geoffrey Kapembwa)

THE $33.7M FTJ UNIVERSITY

The FTJ University Project

In July 2017, Government signed a contract with a Chinese Parastatal giant, China Energy Engineering Group Hunan Electric Power Design Institute for an export credit Finance of the FTJ University.

This was after the fourth iteration approval meant to rescope the project.

After this the Contract price jumped from $157 million to $225 million.

The Contract signed between the Mi istry of Education and China Energy Engineering Group Hunan Electric Power Design, was for the design and build of the University.

“Whereas the Employer desires that the works known as Design and Build of FTJ Chiluba University should be executed by the Contractor and the Contractor has agreed to execute and complete these works and to remedy any defects therein in the sum of $225 million”, reads the contract.

THE $33.7MILLION ADVANCE PAYMENT

The Contract provided for the payment of advance payment of 15% of the $225 million.

15% of $225million amounts to $33.7million.

The Contract provides that the Advance Payment was for the Design and Mobilisation of the project.

“The Employer shall make an advance payment as an interest-free loan for mobilisation and design when the contractor submits a guarantee”

DESIGN

The design involved architectural designs, with engineers:
structural, electrical, and mechanical with the Quantity Surveyor costing the entire project.

MOBILISATION

Mobilization involved for the contractor to move on site, set up temporal site offices, canteen toilets, store rooms, boundary fences, boreholes, water tanks, etc.

As stated, the advance payment of $33.7m was to provide for the designs and mobilisation as shown by the Interim Payment Certificate (IPC) No. 1 and was not for the construction of the University.

This was later amended to cater for the Itumpa University.

Infact for the works done by the contractor at the site as shown in the Interim Payment Certificate No.2 (IPC) and widely shown on Prime TV video amounts to only $58,000.

The IPC for the works issued on 19th September 2018 remains unpaid.

The works seen at sight have not been paid for.

The Project was to be financed by Export Bank of China while Zambia was obkiged to pay the 15% counter-part funding.

In 2020, due to the debt burden and debt distress the country was facing, the university project suffered a set back when Government abandoned all projects that were below 80% completion.

Further all piped funding and credits to Zambia were cancelled.

The FTJ Chiluba University and Itumpa University in Northern Province awaits Government pursuit of the export credit loan to complete the projects.

The Contractor’s mobilisation assets remain on site although doors, windows, pumps and other utilities have been vandalized or stolen.

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has recorded an above-target revenue performance in the first half of the year 2022 after collecting a net tax outturn of K48, 307.9 million against the period target of K46, 203.9 million, thereby registering a surplus of K2, 104.0 million or 4.6 percent.

ZRA Commissioner General Dingani Banda has said, cumulatively, the Authority collected K56, 407.9 million in gross taxes during the first half of 2022, while the refunds stood at K8, 100.0 million.

Mr. Banda says the recorded surplus was largely attributed to the strong performance of direct taxes which was driven by sustained high copper prices on the global market during the period under review.

During the second quarter of 2022, the Authority also surpassed the revenue target by collecting K29, 956.9 million in gross taxes and refunded K4, 050.0 million. The net collections thus stood at K25, 906.9 million against the quarter target of K25, 146.3 million, thereby recording a surplus of K760.6 million or 3.0 percent.

“Gross collections during the second quarter of 2022 increased by 10.6 percent in nominal terms when compared to the corresponding quarter in 2021, while net collections in the first half of 2022 increased by 24.2 percent relative to the same period in 2021. The total refunds in first half of 2022 at K8,100.0 million increased by 57.4 percent compared to K5,146.7 million refunded during the corresponding period in 2021”, Mr. Banda said.

In terms of industry performance, the top three contributors (accounting for 63.3%) to gross revenue collections during the first half of 2022 were Mining and Quarrying, Wholesale and retail trade and Manufacturing sectors, which accounted for 43.0 percent, 11.8 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively, of the total gross collections.

The Authority has also issued the Executive Tax Bulletin for the second quarter of 2022 and can be accessed on the ZRA website www.zra.org.zm.

The excellent revenue performance has also been enhanced by sustained implementation of key strategies as enshrined in ZRA’s Corporate Plan. Some of the strategies include extensive use of data and intelligence to unearth unpaid taxes, use of technology to simplify tax processes, taxpayer engagements and education, customer support programmes; which have led to improved voluntary compliance and tax base expansion which is aimed at on-boarding taxpayers previously not paying taxes.

Other strategies include enhanced active surveillance and enforcement operations which have been reinforced by collaboration with other government agencies in the fight against economic crimes such as smuggling and other forms of tax evasion.

The improved staff productivity and high-performance culture has also enhanced revenue collection. This follows the continuous implementation of a robust internal performance management culture by the Authority.

The Commissioner General has urged ZRA staff to continue improving performance in all aspects while meeting the expectations of all our stakeholders as stipulated in the 2022-2024 Corporate Strategic Plan.

“Once again, I salute you all for your consistent dedication to duty which is underscored by this favourable revenue outturn amidst external challenges such as rising oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the continued subliminal effects of the pandemic”, Mr. Banda said.

“Management, through the Governing Board, is committed to providing a conducive working environment and progressively addressing all matters affecting staff welfare. Finally, let us remember to always live the ZRA core values of Taxpayer focus, Integrity, Professionalism, Innovation and Networking”, Mr. Banda added.

LET THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF OUR PEOPLE DETERMINE WHETHER THE ECONOMY IS IMPROVING OR NOT

….the problem with those in government today is that they take pride in seeking so much glory says Dr Fred M’membe

Lusaka…. Thursday, July 7, 2022 (Smart Eagles)

What matters really is not what leaders say, it’s not what those in government are claiming to have done, it’s not what we in the opposition are saying they haven’t done, Dr Fred M’membe has said as he believes that what matters really is what the people feel is happening to their lives.

Leader of the fastest growing opposition Socialist Party (SP) said those in government made the best promises of a better life for Zambians.

Dr M’membe said UPND promised Zambians heaven on earth. He however wondered if the New Dawn Administration has delivered even purgatory today adding that Zambians are the best judges.

The opposition leader said this when he featured on Hot FM’s Hot Seat today.

“Our people went to vote on the 12th of August last year to have a better life, to change their material conditions, to live better and in peace. That is what they voted for. They looked at the promises that were being made in that direction. Those in government today made the best promises of a better life for our people. They promised them heaven, literally heaven on earth,” he said.

“We don’t know if they have delivered even purgatory today, our people are the best judges. Ask the common man today, the common woman today…….in our compounds, in our villages, in our townships if their lives have improved.”

Meanwhile, Dr M’membe lamented that things are not okay in the country.

He said the measure of what has happened in the country should be looked at from the position of people’s living conditions.

“What we are getting every day is despair, anxiety. Things are not going well. They are facing more challenges than they faced and the prices are showing that. The prices of the basic things we used to buy before the elections have gone up. I don’t know anything that has gone down. But he earnings of our people, the salaries of our people, the wages of our people have not gone up to match those increasing prices,” he said.

“Yes, our leaders are quick to claim victory. Inflation has gone down to single digit, and so on we should celebrate. But prices are going up. So really the measure of what has happened in our country, good or bad should be look at from the position of our people’s living conditions. If they have improved, let’s go to Game Stores and buy a trampoline and celebrate. If they have not let’s tighten our belts and see how a better future can be built.”