By Thomas Ngala

As he shares his experience following the sexual abuse he faced at a tender age, rapper Rodney Chilufya Kanyanse popularly known as Kanizi says he would have taken his life if it wasn’t for God.

After the horrible experience, the rapper says the “problem with what happens is that when boys or girls are exposed to sex at an early age, you might also expose some diseases to them.”

The M Beats Generation signed artiste implores parents to keep a close eye on children as he says even uncles can sexually abuse a boy child.

“So I would have to encourage parents, because as for me, no one knew until just recently. So it doesn’t matter whether it’s a girl child or boy child but you have to ensure that you know who they are surrounded with. You need to know where they go with their uncles, because even uncles can sexually abuse a boy child,” he said.

“The culture is what makes it impossible for parents to have conversations around sex. So as a boy child or as a girl child you start learning, experimenting on your own for you to learn. And we all know how experiments turn out. Sometimes it doesn’t work, sometimes it’s in your favor. Some people get sick of the STDs or HIV on their first sexual attempt.”

The abuse the rapper faced affected him badly because he was exposed to sex at a time he ought to only be focusing on toys, playing with kids of his age and school.

The effects of the abuse led to him having a bad social life as he isolated himself from people he was supposed to be close to.

Sadly, when asked if he and his cousin who perpetrated the abuse have now reconciled, Kanizi told Daily Star in an exclusive interview that he had not talked to his cousin for a while.

He said “there is no relationship between me and my cousin” adding that he never wanted to talk to her because he doesn’t want to start remembering the said incidences.

The brilliant rapper indicated that he has on a number of occasions had suicidal thoughts but he has been overcoming the thoughts by training his mind to be strong and by praying.

Commenting on whether he was optimistic that the thoughts would go away or not, he emotionally said “I don’t think so, I don’t think they will ever go away, only God knows.

“It’s like what they say about Adam and Eve that when they ate that fruit, they had knowledge now, they were aware that they were naked. So I was affected badly because my focus now was shifting. I would be in class and still be thinking about that thing, I would look at someone and think about that thing,” he said.

Credit – Daily Star

By Oliver Chisenga

THE UPND is not learning from the bad habits of PF, says party national youth chairman Gilbert Liswaniso.

In a statement after featuring on Millennium Radio, Liswaniso said the ruling party campaigned and won elections on the premise of getting rid of bad habits embedded in society by those it took over from.

He warned that the UPND must not embrace bad habits of the PF that had former president Edgar Lungu booed at Heroes Stadium as he handed over the instruments of power to President Hakainde Hichilema last year.
“As a party, we are learning that embracing bad habits can cost you people-power.

Therefore, we have learnt to not learn and embrace bad things. UPND, the people’s party, must not embrace bad habits of the PF.

The habits that had former president, Mr Edgar Lungu booed in Heroes Stadium, or we would also be booed by the people. But one thing I am certain of is that we won’t be booed in that fashion.

We shall deliver beyond people’s expectations. We have a selfless leader in charge of national affairs,” Liswaniso said. “As young politicians of today, we must learn how to live together in harmony.

Whether or not our political ideals differ, our common ground must always be peace. Young people of UPND are not learning bad things from our predecessors. We will not entertain that.”

He said wherever he goes, his emphasis is that citizens must not fight each other.
“We must deal and fight poverty together with those in opposition.

The opposition also should speak about the plight of the people so that the government can listen and work on those issues. Not insults. This won’t be tolerated.

The rule of law is in active mode for the first time in history,” Liswaniso said.
He urged the opposition to dwell on developmental issues instead of disparaging the Head of State.

“To you our friends in opposition, bring out issues on the ground, where there’s no water, where there’s no road, bring out those issues. Not what we’re seeing today where to them, giving checks and balances is amounting to insulting the President,” Liswaniso said.

“We would like to remind those who think are still under a lawless regime [that] we are not living in a country of lawlessness. We are no longer with that habit of freely insulting leaders as it used to be.

We won’t allow you to insult President Hakainde Hichilema on tribal lines. The law will follow you vigorously. The rule of law has come.”

He said Zambia is no longer in an era where an opposition figure is treated like they were not a citizen as was the case when President Hichilema was in opposition.

“We are all Zambians. To my fellow members of the ruling UPND, we must not become lazy because we won elections. People will put others.

We must continue as a party to respect our colleagues in opposition so that Zambia’s democracy ceases to exist only on paper.

People must feel and must be able to touch the democracy being promoted by His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema.

Back in the day, no opposition would have a programme on radio without being attacked or that radio station being vandalised,” Liswaniso said.

He noted that “a few people are not happy” that President Hakainde said no to cadres illegally collecting money from markets and that he had embraced the rule of law.

“When we campaigned against cadres in markets, some members thought it was a joke. Some of our members thought we would take over from the wrongs of robbing from the council, from the markets, from the poor, from the bus drivers

A few are not happy because Hakainde said no to getting money from markets, and that he has embraced the rule of law.

We give our leader Kudos for his love for Zambia,” said Liswaniso.

• The Mast

A British father-of-two has dumped his wife after falling in love with a 22-year-old Ukrainian refugee who came to live with them to escape the war in her country.

According to Mail Online, Tony Garnett, 29, and his partner Lorna, 28, took in Sofiia Karkadym at the start of May, but just 10 days later their seemingly-happy marriage packed up when he ran away with the refugee.

The security guard, who lives in Bradford disclosed that he has fallen in love with the 22-year-old and wants to spend the rest of his life with her.

Sofiia, who fled the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, said she ‘fancied’ Tony as soon as she saw him and that the pair are living their very own ‘love story.’

On the pain this will cause Lorna, Tony said he has ‘discovered a connection with Sofiia like I’ve never had before’, adding that they ‘know this is right’.

The family had taken Sofiia in an effort to do their bit to help Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, with Tony telling The Sun he ‘wanted to do the right thing’ and that she was the first person to get in touch on a Facebook page where he offered to house a refugee.

Sofiia, who works as an IT manager, flew into Manchester on May 4, after waiting for weeks in Berlin for her UK visa to be approved.

Tony said he and Sofiia quickly developed a connection and also claimed that his six-year-old and three-year-old daughters were pretty cool with her except for his partner of 10 years.

According to the father of two, who speaks Slovakian, he would communicate with his future lover while she spoke Ukrainian, as the two languages are mutually intelligible.

‘We were getting on brilliantly but at that time it was no more than that — although I can see why Lorna started to feel jealous and resentful of her,’ Tony said.

As the days passed Sofiia would join Tony at the gym and they would talk in his car, while at home they grew physically closer.

‘At home I realised we were finding excuses to touch and brush against each other, it was very flirtatious but nothing more than that happened at that stage,’ he said.

‘Although it was fairly innocent it was causing arguments. I can understand that. When I got in at night Sofiia would be the one who had made a meal for me to try.’

As the pair got closer and closer, Lorna became ‘very jealous’ Tony says, and began to question why Sofiia was following him around all the time.

‘The atmosphere was getting really bad and Sofiia told me she didn’t know whether she could continue to live with us under these circumstances,’ he said.

‘Lorna was never that enthusiastic about having a refugee in our home because it meant the girls had to move into one room.’

Things came to a head after an explosive row between the women left Sofiia in tears and saying she no longer felt like she could no longer live in the same house as Lorna.

Tony said ‘something inside me clicked’ and he told Lorna ‘If she’s going, I’m going’.

The pair then packed their bags and moved in with Tony’s mum and dad, although they are looking at properties to move into.

After their relationship of 10 years ended in the space of just 10 days, Tony says he feels bad and that Lorna is not to blame.

‘I am so sorry for what Lorna is going through, this was not her fault and it was not about anything she did wrong.’

‘We never set out to do this, it wasn’t planned and we didn’t mean to hurt anyone.’

DICKSON JERE WRITES;

His Ways, Not Ours

I was due to speak in Church today in Matero but I am indisposed. Be that as it may, I had prepared some talking notes, which I share here. My message is anchored on Isaiah 55:8, which reads:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” so said the Lord.

Suddenly, Michael Sata fell ill and collapsed.

He needed urgent evacuation and treatment outside Zambia in order for his life to be saved. President Levy Mwanawasa – his biggest nemesis – heard of the unfortunate event.

Instead of celebrating, Mwanawasa ordered government to evacuate Sata to South Africa. That action saved his life!

Now, what made Mwanawasa take such action? To help his political enemy…

Many proffer different reasons. But for us, believers, we will always say our “ways are not his ways” and that God used Mwanawasa to deliver a message to all of us. “Love thy neighbor…” including your enemies!
Mwanawasa was being used as a vessel of God…

When Sata returned from South Africa, he went to see President Mwanawasa at State House to say “thank you” for the gesture of saving his life.

Listen, once again, to what the two said in that briefing, which I was fortunate to have attended as a journalist. Mwanawasa clearly stated that Sata had been making his life difficult. But when he heard that Sata had collapsed, something hit Mwanawasa.

“I just realized how much I needed him around,” Mwanawasa said in reference to Sata.

Why would you need your enemy around? One making your life difficult?

Listen attentively to what Sata also said in that briefing (I have attached the video for ease of reference).

Mwanawasa died few months later. And Sata, three years after Mwanawasa’s death, he was elected President of Zambia. “Our thoughts are not his thoughts…”

“I just realized how much I needed him around,” Mwanawasa said this in 2008 and Sata became President in 2011.

Sometimes God uses our enemies to take us to our promised land! As elder Chibamba F. Kanyama says, a bad boss can be a blessing in disguise! He is pushing you out of employment so that you can start business…or move to a better company.

Never feel ashamed to make peace with your perceived enemies…blessings come in different ways!
Amen

The Trouble With the Fight Against Corruption

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

When he was sworn-in on 2nd January 2002, he said his preoccupation would be to unite the country and help build the economy.

It was a close call.

Levy Mwanawasa had just won the 2001 elections by a measly 29.15% with his party the MMD grabbing 69 parliamentary seats, while his closest rival, Anderson Mazoka polled 27.20% with UPND winning 49 seats.

Others were Gen. Christon Tembo who polled 13.17% with the FDD picking 14 seats and Tilyenji Kaunda at 10.12% with UNIP picking 13 seats and Heritage President Geoffrey Miyanda, 8.09% with 4 seats.

B. Y. Mwila’s party – Zambia Republican Party and Micheal Sata’s Patriotic Front party each obtained a seat ( Chongwe and Lupososhi constituencies).

The results were disputed and the legitimacy of Mwanawasa as President was cast in doubt.

Mwanawasa needed a quick fix.

The criminal case of “Chiluba is a Thief” case had gone sour and selected details of a secret intelligence account, the ZAMTROP, were made public.

First, Mwanawasa said he was not going to pursue his predecessor, Frederick Chiluba. He said the media reports of corruption linking his predecessor will be fought in a professional way using law enforcement agencies…

It wasn’t!

Before long, Mwanawasa was leading the fight and screaming “plunderers” everywhere! At airports, at press conferences, in official speeches, at every event, the story of “plunderers” became a mantra.

With the narrative against “plunderers” established, Chiluba’s close associates; Katele Kalumba (Former Finance Minister), Donald Chanda (State House Economic Advisor and INDENI Board Chairperson), Samuel Musonda (ZNCB-MD) and Richard Sakala( Press Aide and PHI Board Chairperson) suffered the brunt of an urgent need to punish someone, to satiate and satisfy the public calling for the blood of “plunderers”!

But sooner or later, it would be Chiluba himself.

The trouble was that Chiluba was among those that founded the MMD in 1990. He had picked Mwanawasa from relative obscurity to the position of Vice President.

Even after his resignation in July 1994 as Republican Vice President and when Mwanawasa went into retirement after the 1996 failed attempt to unseat Chiluba, he was the one that was hand-picked as the successor to Chiluba in the 2001 election.

Besides, Chiluba had laid the advantages of incumbency, resources and infrastructure to ensure that Mwanawasa’s election was successful.

FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION GOES SOUTH

With the public whipped into hostility against Chiluba and his “tandem of thieves,” Mwanawasa however, grew increasingly impatient with lack of political successes in the corruption cases.

He moved to lift the Constitutional Immunity of his predecessor and laid sensational charges before Parliament, cataloguing cases of the alleged “plunder of national resources”.

Shortly after Parliament lifted the immunity from prosecution of Chiluba, his lawyers were at Court obtaining a court order injucting the action, seeking judicial and questioning the constitutionality of Parliament’s decision.

When the Police turned up at Chiluba’s residence to search and probably arrest him, they were met and stopped by a Court Order.

Following this development, lackeys and surrogates of Mwanawasa accused Chiluba of controlling or buying the Judiciary!

Finally, when the cases against Chiluba came before court, they bore no resemblance to the sensational charges on which Chiluba’s immunity was lifted.

Mwanawasa formed “The Taskforce On Corruption” to speed up the legal process against Chiluba and former government officials.

He also selected a few Magistrates to speedily handle the cases.

This had ramifications within the Judiciary.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mukelebai Mukelebai was the first victim of these illegalities and he was forced out of office after what appeared to be a sham of a Tribunal in 2004.

The Tribunal cleared Mukelebai who was defended by former Legal Affairs Minister and renowned lawyer, Vincent Malambo SC, of all charges of wrong doing. However, the Tribunal recommended for Mukelebai’s retirement as the relationship with the Executive ( Mwanawasa) had allegedly broken down irretrievably.

And while Mwanawasa hung his political fortunes on the fight against corruption, his political base was being eaten away.

In 2002, Chiluba had joined forces with Michael Sata.

The Patriotic Front was growing out of every MMD section, branch, constituency and Provincial structures.

Mwanawasa’s 2001 political stronghold was systematically being swept away from him.

While Mwanawasa took glory with glowing and repeated reports on ZNBC, and while his growing heroism graced newspapers, the voters from his base held another view….

When the election was conducted in 2006, Mwanawasa however won the election with a vote of 42.9% by obtaining new political base and support from Eastern, North-Western, Central and Western Provinces.

The Patriotic Front became the largest Opposition party with Michael Sata polling 29.3% and taking urban areas in Lusaka, Copoerbelt, and Luapula and Northern provinces. The PF displaced the UPND as the largest Opposition party.

By 2008, after the demise of Mwanawasa, realizing the perils of “the fight against corruption”, Rupiah Banda embarked on a process to reconcile Chiluba back to the MMD and to a place of a Statesman.

The Taskforce on Corruption was disbanded.

This new relationship of Chiluba with Rupiah Banda unsettled Sata, who had benefited immensely from the political relationship with Chiluba.

Sata fought back and turned the guns on both Rupiah Banda and Chiluba. He became the face of the fight against corruption, constantly warning the country of the emerging alliance of the corrupt!

Although Banda restored the economic fortunes of the country, the development appeared not to be good enough to win him the 2011 elections.

Despite the environment favouring Rupiah Banda, the exchange rate being stable, inflation rate at a single-digit, economic growth occuring at unprecedented levels, foreign reserves standing at $4.5billion, food prices and cost of living being fair, the Opposition leader found a niche in his campaign-“the fight against corruption”.

Sata also exploited the fatigue that had risen against the twenty-year rule of the MMD.

Sata won the 2011 Elections. The good state of the economy was not enough to save Banda.

The double-edged sword of the fight against corruption played a key role!

ABOUT EMPOWERING THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1. Over the past 58 years of our independence, the issue of economic empowerment for our citizens has been on the lips of each of the seven presidents that Zambia has had so far. However, it has hardly materialized. The Zambian people remain economic orphans in their own country. Up to this day, the concept of a successful Zambian is one with a big job position, lives in mayadi, drives a big car and buries their relatives at memorial park. In other words, we are literally economic spectators. The wealth of Zambia is in the hands of foreigners. Different industries are dominated by different groups of foreigners; South Africans, Chinese, Indians, Lebanese, etcetera dominate and run our economy. The only industry dominated by Zambians is street vending!!

2. This is in total contrast to our neighboring countries. The Tanzanian economy for instance is in the hands of Tanzanians. The only dollar billionaire in the country; Mohammed Dewji is an indigenous Tanzanian. Similarly, for all countries in the region, their wealth is in the hands of the indigenous people. Arguably the richest family in Botswana; the Magang family is indigenous. In South Africa, despite a history of apartheid, the wealth still circulates among the citizens of that country; white, Indian, black and colored. Even in Zimbabwe here, Strive Masiyiwa is an indigenous citizen and dollar billionaire. Additionally, the economy is in the hands of the Zimbabwean people. Between individual citizens and the Zimbabwean Government, they run more than 80 percent of all the mines, including diamond and gold mines.

3. Here in Zambia we boast of democracy and yet we have nothing to show for it economically. We are destitutes in our own country. Our so-called big businessmen in the country depend on foreigners to give them a contract in the mines or a sub-contract for construction. Instead of it being the other way round, whereby foreigners depend on Zambians to give them a sub-contract. Our most educated citizens depend on foreign multi-national corporations to be given a job as MD or CEO, and when that happens, we are over-the-moon celebrating that as success. Our idea of success has been reduced to trifles. We have a poverty mentality.

4. If we are going to successfully empower our citizens and allow them to take full charge of the economy in the next few decades, we need a paradigm shift in the way we think and do things. Our citizens need to be inculcated with an entrepreneurial mindset from the word go. Not everyone can be employed, but everyone can start a business. In fact, almost each and every Zambian has tried to run one business or the other in their lifetime. The majority have failed completely, a few have stagnated, and even fewer have succeeded. Of course there are various obstacles to running a business, but perhaps the biggest is lack of capital. The salaries in the economy are generally nominal and for most people, it is hand to mouth. This means that there are no savings to talk about. Most financial institutions are only willing to give salary-backed loans. If one has no job and no salary, the chances of getting a loan are almost nil. For starters, financial institutions will ask for onerous KYC requirements, as if you are applying to join the CIA as a spy.

5. Yet, as a nation, we have huge economic potential in almost all sectors of the economy. What then should be done to truly economically empower our citizens, regardless of their education level or employment status? Some people think that when they invite a few Zambians to attend an EU-Zambia Business Forum, then they have empowered the citizens! No. That is simplistic thinking. What empowerment can one really derive from long speeches by a few elite individuals? What about that Zambian from Marapodi, or Kalikiliki or Misisi compound who does not even have transport money to jump on a bus to come and attend your EU-Zambia Business Forum at Mulungushi. How do you intend to empower him or her?

6. Personally l have never believed in charity. I see charity as a bottomless pit and a catalyst for greater poverty. I believe that everyone must carry their own weight. That apart from children and the elderly, everyone else must work for their livelihood. However, l also strongly believe that every citizen deserves a fair chance to succeed in life. Just a fair chance. If they decide to waste that chance, then it’s their fault. But everyone deserves a fair chance, regardless or their education level or social status. So the question then becomes; how can the Government facilitate that each and every citizen is given a fair chance to succeed in life. People talk about Government creating opportunities for citizens to exploit. That is well and good. But opportunities generally favor those who are already empowered. But what about those citizens who are at zero? No education, no money, no food, no hope. How can every citizen be economically empowered including the vulnerable in our society?

7. I strongly believe that the State must give a small share of the national wealth to each and every adult citizen as an interest free loan, at one point or the other. Of course the finer details can be polished along the way, but here is what l have in mind: there are about 18 million Zambians in the country at the moment, of which about 10 million are above the age of 21. Each citizen can be extended an interest free loan of say K50,000 to be repaid within 12 months. That would cost the treasury approximately K50 billion. The 2022 national budget was K173 billion. So this citizen empowerment expenditure would have constituted only 28.9 percent of the 2022 national budget. The qualifying criteria would be just a valid NRC and perhaps confirmation of residence by the Ward Development Committee. Even if the 10 million eligible citizens are not funded in one fiscal year, that would still be fine.

8. Of course those who are already well-to-do will decline the K50,000 interest-free loan, since it would be pocket change to them. But it would make a huge difference in the lives of most citizens, including farmers. Of course with such a loan facility available to every citizen, other social assistance programs such as Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and Social Cash Transfer (SCT) would have to be cancelled. Peasant farmers would have to buy their farming inputs using the K50,000 loan. The elderly can invest the K50,000 in treasury bills or other investments and get a return of about 15 to 20 percent per annum. That would amount to about K10,000 or about K800 per month, which is far much better than the K150 per month which Government currently pays under SCT.

9. Naturally, there would be some huge defaults in paying back this K50,000 interest free loan per citizen, and that’s why the treasury should budget this as an expenditure so that if people pay back, it would be a bonus for the treasury. However, there are some measures that can be put in place to improve the recoverability of these loans. For instance, citizens can be told that those who repay the K50,000 loan will qualify for K100,000 a year later. This would be a big incentive. Additionally, for those who default, Government can recover it directly from their bank accounts in collaboration with financial institutions, or from their mobile money accounts in collaboration with MNOs. Ultimately, if properly managed and devoid of corruption, the bad debts would be less than 20 percent, largely from those who might have met their demise.

10. There are various benefits that would arise from such an interest-free loan programme. Firstly, it would spur demand in the economy because people would have purchasing power. Therefore, it would drive economic growth. The risk of demand-pull inflation would be low because this capital injection would largely be in the informal sector. Most of the inflation in the informal sector is cost-push and not demand pull. For instance, Bana Mwape in Chamboli will not increase the price of her fritters simply because of high demand such that everything that she made was sold within one hour, she’ll just make more. The only thing that will compel Bana Mwape to increase prices is if the cost of cooking oil or flour or transport to town has gone up (cost-push inflation). The other key benefit that would arise from such a program is that Government would have an opportunity to wean off its dependents under FISP and SCT, as they would now be self-sustainable. But most importantly, every citizen would have been given a fair chance to make something out of their life. Those who waste the opportunity and revert back to abject poverty can no longer blame their fate on losing parents at a young age, or not being able to go to school, or being born in the remote part of the country or on lack of empowerment from the Government or any of the other excuses people generally give for their adverse economic circumstances. The poor would have only one thing to blame: their laziness. This would be true economic empowerment, not the simplistic notion of inviting citizens to attend an EU-Zambia Business Forum at Mulungushi.

///END

SET 22.05.2022

MMD MEMBERS DEMAND CONVENTION …give NEC 48 hours to convene, declare office of president vacant

By Oliver Chisenga
MMD members on the Copperbelt alleged that party leader Nevers Mumba’s mandate will come to an end next Wednesday and have demanded a national convention.

But Mumba says he has only served for six years, yet the party constitution mandates him to serve two five-year terms.
Ndola MMD district chairman Hamson Chisenga accused Mumba of attempting to subvert the party constitution and gave the national executive committee 48 hours to convene a meeting to declare the office of MMD president vacant.

“On behalf of the Copperbelt Province members of this great party the MMD and the defenders of democracy, we are calling upon the leadership at NEC (National Executive Committee) not to go to sleep. They should wake up and defend the party constitution which Dr Nevers Mumba is attempting to rape with impunity,” he said. “We are in total agreement with the statement that was issued by Mr S. M. Nkonde, Serenje MMD district secretary to the party leadership who raised pertinent issues concerning the tenure of office for the party president as enshrined in our MMD constitution. Article 40(1) states and I quote, ‘the president of the party SHALL hold office for two (2) terms of five years each and SHALL not be eligible for re-election’.”
Chisenga urged the NEC to save the MMD from sliding into oblivion, saying Mumba had served two terms in office as stated in the party’s constitution.

“It is for this reason we urge the National Executive Committee to wake up from slumber and save the party from going into total oblivion as we remind them that the mandate for Dr Nevers Mumba will come to an end on 25th May, 2022 as per his own argument that he was elected in May 2012. Therefore, Dr Nevers Mumba has clocked 10 years in office as stated in our MMD constitution in Article 40 (1),” Chisenga said. “We give the NEC a maximum of 48 hours to convene an emergency NEC meeting to declare the vacancy in the office of the president and invoke Article 14(1) (2) of the party constitution which states that, ‘(1) A regular convention of the party shall be held every five years. (2) The convention shall be summoned by the National Executive Committee one month prior to its meeting failure to which the provincial executive committees must proceed to petition NEC through the office of the national secretary to call for an extraordinary convention as per Article 15(1) which states that, ‘The National Executive Committee may on its own initiative, or at the request of at least one third of the provincial executive committees convene an extraordinary meeting of the convention.”
Chisenga called for general amnesty of all party members serving suspensions.

“In the same vein, MMD is known to have been established on the values of co-existence and unity in diversity. It is in this spirit that we call upon the leadership of our great party at NEC to call for amnesty so that all members that were perceived to have erred or were seen to be in bad standing with the party, to be unconditionally pardoned so that the party can hold an all-inclusive regular national convention,” said Chisenga.

He was flanked by the party’s Chifubu Constituency chairman Fortunatus Mutale.
And when contacted for comment, Mumba said the same group that fought him previously has started again.
“It is the same ex-Rupiah [Banda] group. I have clocked six and half years. Will ask VP [vice-president Reuben] Samboh to respond if he thinks it is necessary. Please call him. I am out of the country,” said Mumba.

Leader focus: Micheal Sata

Zambia has been blessed to have had 7 presidents wit four political parties having shared stewardship.

Micheal Sata was the 5th president and his party, the Patriotic front was the thirdy political party to save Zambia. We have deliberately used the word “save” as we believe that Sata ascended to the presidency to save, not to rule.

Micheal Sata will always have a special place in Zambia’s history. He helped to strengthen our democracy by defeating the MMD, the once feared political party.

Unlike other presidents, other than Kaunda, Sata’s background could not place him to become a president. He had the simplest background of any modern democratic leader in the world. Most democratical leaders today have a well streamlined background which gives them advantage. In Britain as an example, all its leaders have had to have gone to either Oxford or Cambridge university. Zambia is also following the same path that only persons who have been to two of the top universities can become a president. Both Mr. Hakainde Hichilema and his predecessor are UNZA graduates. one of the major reasons that top universities are likely to dominate the presidency is due to the upper class political circles who only feels comfortable to be led by one of theirs.

In writing about Micheal Sata, we believe that no one really knew the mind of the PF late leader other than his spokesperson, George Chellah. What we are writing is mere perception of the person we saw, heard speak and read what others wrote about him.

Sata was born before Zambia existed, when native people in the land today called Zambia were second class citizens in their own land. The man took up every opportunity that came his way that he found himself working as a police officer. As the job entails, policemen works under strict instruction. There are suggestions that Sata may have actually worked against his own people. But this is history now and history is full of wrongs. In history, they even killed Jesus who came to save them. They celebrated king Solomon whose behaviour did not conform to good leadership ethics.

It’s impossible to write about Sata on Facebook in a readable and acceptable article. It will be difficulty to describe his deep voice, his work ethics and how he improved the health sector in the 90s in one article. So, we turn to one of his achievement.

Sata’a major achievement was the establishment of the Micheal Chilufya Sata Copperbelt university school of medicine. Despite the country gaining independence in 1964, it only had one medical school which used to produce less than 100 doctors a year. The CBU medical school has changed the game that today, Zambia has a surplus trainee medical doctors. Sata also gave licences to several private sectors to set up universities that today, Zambia has more than four medical schools in the country.

There are several achievements Sata recorded. There is a debate currently as to who should be credited for the Lusaka flyover bridges. Some say that the flyover bridges was Sata’s signature project whilst others credit Mr. Edgar Lungu.

Sata also had weaknesses that he set the country on a path to fail. Economically, his government made basic errors including over contracting debts, changing the currency and the introduction of poorly researched SI units. This is a topic of another day though.

In conclusion, Sata helped to grow our democracy. The man had a heart for the people. He hated corruption that when his son was accused of corruption, he symbolically asked the ACC to investigate him. When RB needed Sata’s help, Sata rendered the help unconditionally. He was a liked figure both locally and internationally. When Richard Sakala defamed him, Sata sued Richard Sakala in his personal capacity than closing down his newspaper. He was full of wisdom and knew Zambia’s history better than any politician. He had a good vision for the country though his vision was poorly implemented. The country will always remember its leaders, good or bad, they will always be remembered.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

UPND members’ frustrations, lamentations are justified

BATUKE Imenda, the UPND secretary general, says the party has not forgotten its members but is studying President Hakainde Hichilema’s methodical way of doing things.

“My reaction to what has been said is as follows: You have heard yourselves where they have come from with this party. They strayed along the way. The best way is to see how we can reconcile and move on. What we can all learn from this is that no individual is bigger than the party. It is a clear indication that you are stronger together,” said Imenda while welcoming back Charles Kakoma and Captain Cosmas Moono amidst misgivings from the rank and file of the ruling party. “They are welcome because their background in the party is strong. These were there when it was unfashionable to associate with UPND. If they were weak, there would not be any UPND to form government today. We know how they sacrificed. Today when I’m criticised for bringing in people like them, I keep quiet. They don’t know where the party came from. Today if we said we were not going to allow anyone to come to the party…If they say that we should not recruit new members, they should tell us the new ways of recruiting new members to the party. If you know a formula of receiving more members, we are more than willing to bring in new members to join the party. We are still studying the President’s methodical ways of dealing with things. Many people want to join and everyone is coming to ask when they will be given jobs. We understand the frustration. But do not use that for what you have sacrificed for. We appreciate that. Some comments are so negative. More destructive than the PF itself; than [Raphael] Nakacinda. Frustration should not be there…”

It is good that Batuke has noted the frustrations within the UPND. Majority UPND members are talking and their lamentations are too audible to be ignored. The party promised huge to both its members, sympathisers, and the populace. That things have not changed for the better, improved, in the shortest possible period is creating disharmony to many people. The biting economy is also hitting the UPND faithful hard. The high cost of living has not spared those who toiled for the UPND save the few that have been rewarded with appointments to government positions. But what is frustrating many is that newcomers, supposedly PF aligned, are the ones eating the cake! That loyal UPND members have been sidelined – they are ku wire. And Hakainde’s methodical way of doing things has indeed created unease in his own party! There’s some sense of alienation!

But these frustrations are all over – beyond the UPND. There’s anxiety in the nation. Zambians are asking what happened to the change they ushered into office 10 months ago? Why are they being fixed and not the economy? Where is the low cost of doing business, cheap fuel, cheaper mealie meal, jobs? For how long will the UPND government’s teething problems last?

And why isn’t Hakainde forthright with his members and the general citizenry as he used to be? What is the plan – agenda for the country? When will the pain end? Even the CDF issue, there’s just confusion – some circus!
And what Batuke considers heavy, destructive, criticism within the UPND could actually be fears among his members that their government has lost bearings – direction. The light on promises is getting dimmer!

PUNGWAMANIA

By Miles B. Sampa,MP
Chairman of APNAC (Africa Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption)

May 21st, 2022

Not sure which small chicken the big eagle from the sky intends to strike on but I have read this script or watched this baskop (movie) before. Seems our politics has a tendency to repeat itself.

2012 President Michael Sata-MCS (MHRIEP) was pushed by sycophants close to his office to ‘sort out’ not only some political opponents, but also some in the Judiciary that were seen to have been ‘bad seeds’ for one reason or another, real or perceived. MCS clenched his mighty fist and invited Judge Chikopa from Malawi to come and head a tribunal to ‘clean’ the justice system.

Turned out to be a big miscalculation made instantly and the tribunal hardly took off. It was interlocutary or preliminary submissions one after another before judge Chikopa tribunal could hear even one case. Soon there was injunctions upon injunctions against the tribunal and Judge Chikopa himself much to the annoyance of MCS and his inner circle. Then events over took events and mwine filimu (main actor) became ill and the rest is history.

10 years later we seem to have part 2 of the same movie now code named ‘Pungwa tasakamana’. The main Actor, inner circle but this time included in the annoyance with events out of the judiciary are the ‘praise & worship’ acappela singers. The corruption suspects and those in the judiciary percieved to be shielding them will be ‘sorted out by the pungwa’.

They will not see the mighty eagle land from the sky to lift them out of their comfort zones and take them above clouds (police cells or prison). The pungwa may actually have already landed on one political opponent uplifted from Lusaka through the skies to the prisons of Lukulu on the boarders of Angola. The Bird is that powerful and fact remains undisputed from past nest holders.

Yes all those suspected to have stolen from public coffers or were masters of corruption should be prosecuted without fear or favour. Those found guilty should be jailed actually so as to deter those in the current and future governments from engaging in the same vice at the expense of saving the majority poor and vulnerable in our society.

It is true that corruption in public service offices cannot be fought with kids gloves. Actually in some Asian countries, it is punishable by life or capital sentences.

Let’s however learn from history and not allow the corruption fight repeat itself in the negative way at the expense of majority well meaning Zambians and all arms of its government wings namely the Executve, Judiciary and Legislature.

Unlike ‘Mpali ‘on pay channel dstv, ‘pungwa tasakamana’ soap is showing free on ZNBC and I like many Zambians, are watching with keen interest to see how and if the eagle will capture the small chicks.

Ultimately Corruption must be defeated in Zambia and so far so bad since Independence in 1964.

MBS21.05.2022

Dear Mr President,

RE: THE HELSB BURSARY LOANS DEDUCTIONS RESTRUCURE CAMPAIGN

Mr President, Hakainde Hichilema, we would like to once again congratulate you on your victory over the general elections which took place exactly 9 months and 10 days ago. We would like to remind you that many students and graduates alike voted for you based on the promises you were making during campaigns, which you said you were going to deliver immediately you got elected. We would like to find out Mr President, isn’t 9 months and 10 days immediately enough?

We appreciate the assistance rendered by the government to poor students who otherwise may not manage the costs associated with tertiary education. We are happy to pay back so that other people can also benefit in the same vain. But graduates having to pay back twice the loan they accumulated is too exorbitant to say the least. Loan deductions which sometimes go beyond 60% of a beneficiary’s basic salary is inconsiderate and draconian for many graduates to bear.

Most of us come from poor backgrounds and are breadwinners in our families. Paying taxes, fending for our families and at the same time servicing exorbitant loans for ten years when the cost of living is becoming higher by the day has been unbearable. When you were in opposition you sympathized with bursary loans beneficiaries, we would like to entertain the thought that you haven’t forgotten about your campaign promises sir.

Mr President we would like you to know that we will keep on campaigning and we are willing and ready to go to any lengths until you restructure the loan and bursary scheme. The UPND government needs to deliver on the following campaign promises:-

1. Suspend the loan deductions until the economy stabilizes
2. Reduce loan deductions to 2.5% of a beneficiary’s basic salary.
3. Scrape off the interest rate on the loans.

We organized a lone protest which took place on 18th May, 2022. We also filed in our petition to the ministry of Education concerning our campaign on the same material day. We are giving the ministry of education 14 days to respond to our petition after which if nothing happens, we will stage a protest we have framed “THE LONG WALK TO STATE HOUSE.”

David Chishimba
HELSB Bursary Loans Restructure Campaign Coordinator

BOWMAN LUSAMBO ‘S PR MAN WRITES A DAMAGE CONTROL ARTICLE MEANT TO DECEIVE HH THAT LUSAMBO HAS CHANGED WHEN IN FACT NOT

BOWMAN LUSAMBO TURNS NEW PAGE IN POLITICS; APOLOGIES AND SEEKS FORGIVENESS FOR ANY INJURIOUS WORDS USED AGAINST PRESIDENT HH

“Over the last few months, we have engaged in heightened criticism of President Hakainde Hichilema’s New Dawn administration.

Understandably so, our criticism has been premised on the strong understanding that the UPND over promised during election campaigns. Our heavy handed approach to our politics has been driven by a clear conviction that Zambia deserves better and can and should be better.

The UPND received a resounding mandate from the Zambian people on 12th August 2021, that victory gave them an opportunity to preside over our national affairs for five years. Taking full recognisance that the UPND still has well over four years to govern, we wish to announce that our approach to politics will now change. We will allow our colleagues to enjoy and fully execute their mandate. We will engage in matters that only go to develop the nation. We will not dwell on name calling, character assassination and tribal divisiveness. Our approach henceforth shall be civil, fortified on facts and delivered with the full sincerity on the need for nation building.

As we do so, we will not take our eyes off our collective resolve to develop this country. We will voice out when need arises. We will point issues that we do not agree with but the central theme of our message will be development.

Our primary focus will now be on serving the people of Kabushi. With the new CDF model, we believe, working together with our people in Kabushic we can deliver sustainable solutions to the problems that continue to plaque us in our Constituency.

It is evident that President Hichilema and his government have inflicted pain on me and my family, we forgive him wholeheartedly and we don’t hold any grudges. In the same token, we know that some of our actions and words may have injured the Head of State and the First Family, from the deepest part of our hearts, we apologize and seek his forgiveness. We wish to turn a new page in our approach to politics and our first point of call is for us to make peace with all those we may wronged in our previous manner of conducting politics.

We remain resolved to support President Hichilema’s fight against corruption. We believe this fight is noble and intended to help develop Zambia. If there are any resources that belong to Zambia that may have been looted, they should be recovered and rechanneled for the benefit of all.
We also strongly believe that this fight should be conducted in a just, fair and humane manner.

We will support this government to deliver to the Zambian people as they promised because if the UPND delivers, Zambia wins.”

Hon. Bowman C. Lusambo, M.P

Kabushi Constituency

BREAKING THE SILENCE.

Let me take this opportunity to remind UPND and PF that Zambia does not belong to you alone are you listening. Imwe ba UPND you are only 2.8million that is if all those who voted for you are your members and imwe ba PF you are only 1.8 million again it depends on whether all those that voted for you are your members.
This means the two of you combined you are only 4.8 million compared to the rest of us who are neither UPND nor PF and in number we are 13.4 million Zambians.

Every time you are doing your politics just remember this fact because your actions and inactions in the recent past are not inspiring at all. You are risking the peace of this country by creating so much tention with your excitement.
Today we can not even say or do anything let alone even having fun to ourselves ninshi you label us to either be UPND or PF, muiceme sana imwe babili twamitamba sana.

Imwe ba PF you need to know that HH is the president and the sooner you realize that the better. You should accord him the necessary respect as head of state because he’s not just a UPND president but our Republican President who deserves to be respected at all times. Watch your language towards him(You should stop complaining when you land yourselves into trouble because of your mouth).

Imwe naimwe ba UPND can you for once remember that you are now in power and in charge and start acting so. This excitement of treating others who have opposing view like criminals to an extent of bundling them in vans taking them to places unknown is irresponsible its not correct. Can you for once start acting right muleumfwa. Zambia has a very healthy democracy and we have worked so hard and invested so much to have the peace we have today. If you think we can allow you destroy this democracy mubepelefye we will defend it with our lives.One day chimo chikafwa uko kwine mulebatwala u will see how this country will erupt.

Imwe ba PF you had your chance to rule this country and let your friends ba UPND also try their best to see what they have under their sleeves. You must realise that some of the problem the UPND are dealing with today, its you who messed up so lekeni abanenu bateke in peace, meaning that start doing your checks and balances responsibly. But imwe ba UPND stop minding the PF fix your eyes on the ball and start attending to problems affecting the people which is why you were elected because people knew the mess PF left and they believed you could fix things. Can you for once focus. Stop talking and concentrate on working.

Let me further remind you ba UPND that you need to start listening more. Open your eyes and listen to what people are saying especially those complaining that things are not ok on the ground. There’s too much hunger in the communities ala abantu bane balechula because there are no economics activities for people to fall back on and when people complain it doesn’t mean they hate you. They just want you to know that there’s need for you to quickly find solutions to these challenges as opposed to antagonising anyone who says anything against you.
Ba PF naimwe u need to keep quiet for God sake, you had a chance to leave things better if only you were listening to what we used to tell you and today you want to act like you are messiers Can you for once sit down and if you have anything to contribute, that which you think you should have done, advise your friends in power soberly.

Imwe ba PF if you know you didn’t participate in illegalities(plundering of our resources) and u are accused, just go and have your day in court and prove your innocence and stop crying foul and claiming persecution as if you are the first ones to have been taken to court but if you know your hands are dirty just be prepared because umulandu taubola.

Imwe naimwe ba UPND can you be serious with this corruption fight and dont be excited with social media likes. A person is innocent until proven guilty act silently and dont pronounce people guilty by mere suspicions. Can the ACC put its house in order and let them work independently without due pressure thats why they are so in a hurry to please you and in the end they are being turned into laughing stocks. Let me also remind you ba UPND that the same fire your friends ba PF are passing through, you will one day pass through if you think your actions are not being watched. Just because the system is with you today doesnt mean it will always be on your side. Dont just sing on top of your voice against corruption but you are also busy doing corrupt activities tukesa mikaka you will see.
Ba ACC as you pursue those who are suspect to have been involved in corruption in the past dont forget to check that these in power are also acting right and when you find them please pounce on them to send a signal that your work wont be selective.

Imwe ba Youth have you seen how these your people are taking us for granted but you are also clapping. PF is disrespecting the president you are clapping. UPND using the police are using ancient means to silence their opponents you are again clapping.let me remind you that if things dont work out under bq UPND you are next ba youth so can you also get serious start analysing issues with objectivity and start getting ready for leadeship.

The church and civil society organization where are you naimwe kanshi. Are you not seeing that at the rate we are moving this country can slip into trouble?? Don’t you foresee tribal uprising because of the acts and inactions happening right now?? Do you want to come and talk when we have a problem.Foreign elements like gayism is now rampant in this country and its not like you are not seeing but i wonder why you are simply watching.
Can you for once try and sit president HH and Former president Lungu down and let the two help to calm the country down and start working on reconciliation.

Let me end by restating that we have watched you ba PF naba UPND for too long. Zambia does not belong to you alone start acting responsibly.

ICHEMENI BANE TWAMYUMFWA SANA IF YOU ARE HURT BY WHAT I HAVE SAID COME HOME.

BINWELL MPUNDU
NKANA MP
UMWINA NKANA

“WE ARE FINALLY OVER THE ELECTION LOSS SHOCK,” CHILANGWA

…We are getting more United and reorganised by the day…

Smart Eagles. Sat, May 21

The PF says it has finally moved past the shock of losing elections in last years polls and has made significant headways in it’s rebranding process .

Speaking on the Round Table Talk Friday evening , Patriotic Front Secretary General Hon. Nickson Chilangwa stated that the election loss had hit the party hard and the aftermath which they have been dealing with such as election petitions made it even harder to quickly settle back into normalcy.

“After losing the elections we have had to deal with petitions . 200 of our councillors seats were petitioned. 58 out of our 60 Parliamentary seats were petitioned and 20 of our council chairperson seats were petitioned ,” he said

He said the party had also undergone self cleansing where the few that had joined the party for self aggrandizement and not for the love of the party had left ,going back to where they had come . He said the PF was stronger now because it had all its genuine members intact .

” Those who joined us for personal benefits have gone back to their parties and we now have our members who genuinely love the party . There are those who are in politics for benefits and those always want to move from party to party . They can’t survive in an opposition party he said .

And Chilangwa stated that the PF had a huge opportunity at a come back unlike other political parties like UNIP and MMD which had come and Permanently gone . He did PF had been in opposition for 10 years and was well conversant with opposition politics which gave it an upper hand to survive being in the opposition and make a come back .

He said the most important thing that the PF now needed was unity of purpose and to put aside sibling rivalry so that once a new President was elected at the General conference, everyone would rally around that President .

Chilangwa has since indicated that a definitive decision about wether the General conference which is proposed for June will take place will depend upon the report from the Committee tasked to organise the Conference on whether enough funds have been raised to go ahead with the program in June or postpone it to another date .

“THE PRESIDENT MUST GET RID OF HIS ANGER ISSUES AND FOCUS ON LEADING THE NATION ,” CHILANGWA

…His bitterness is slowing him down in executing his mandate…

Smart Eagles, Fri. May 20th.

Patriotic Front Secretary General Hon. Nickson Chilangwa has advised President Hichilema to focus his energies on emancipating the people of Zambia from poverty stating that is the reason they voted him into office in the first place .

Chilangwa said he and his collegues in the PF and indeed the nation at large have been taken aback by the Presidents anger against his political opponents which is clearly derailing him from focusing on important issues of governance.

He said the Press Conference that the Head of State held not so long ago exposed the Presidents deep rooted anger because instead of talking about the economy, he focused on speaking about his political opponents and lost an opportunity to give direction to the many issues that are affecting the ordinary Zambians .

Chilangwa said this on the Round Table Talk this evening .

” Am shocked at the levels of anger being exhibited by the President . During the Press Conference, he expressed so much anger . He is President now . He won the elections . Mr President release that hate in order for you to lead this nation properly.” He said

” We need you to have a clear and focused mind as you run the affairs of this nation . Yes you were arrested . But that is now history. Shake it off . Let it go . Focus on leading ,” he added .

He gave an example of how late President Sata forgave all those that had wronged him, scanderlised him and mocked him when he was in opposition.

“President Sata said if I start to focus on persuing those that hurt me , what time will I have to lead this nation . That’s what a leader should do . Focus on his mandate which is to provide leadership , ” Chilangwa said .

And Chilangwa says there is no genuine fight against corruption that the New dawn administration is engaging in and has described the constant persuing of the PF Members by the ACC and other law enforcement agencies and investigative wings as pure persecution.

He expressed disappointment at how the ACC was seizing properties of PF leaders without following proper procedure. He also wondered why it was impossible in the eyes of the new government for people who had served as Ministers in the previous regime and had worked for many years and owned businesses to own property genuinely.

” We are not opposed to the ACC doing their investigations and asking relevant quetions where genuine need be . But what we are seeing now is nothing but persecution. It is not a genuine fight against corruption at all,” he said .

Hon. Chilangwa who is also Member of Parliament for Kwambwa constituency in luapula Province has since vowed that the PF will not be intimidated and that it will continue to provide checks and balances stating it is a duty they owe to the Zambian people .

WE ARE STILL INCHARGE OF LUSAMBO’S PROPERTY – ACC

The Anti-Corruption Commission is still in control of the properties of former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo situated in Chamba Valley by way of the Restriction Notice which is in force.

Lusaka Resident Magistrate Albert Mwaba yesterday set aside the Warrant of Seizure on Lusambo’s properties on account that it is an abuse of court process as there was a Restriction Notice which was already in place on the same properties.

Section 60 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission provides that:

“The Director-General may, by written notice to a person who is the subject of an investigation in respect of an offence alleged or suspected to have been committed under this Act, or against whom a prosecution for an offence has been instituted, direct that such person shall not dispose of, or otherwise deal with, any property specified in such notice without the consent of the Director-General.”

In addition, the Act under Section 60 (5) states that:
“A person aggrieved with the directive of the Director-General issued under subsection (1) may apply to the High Court for an order to reverse or vary the directive.”

The Restriction Notice is therefore still in force as there has been no decision of any competent court to reverse or vary it.

Further, the Commission is dissatisfied with the ruling of the Court to set aside the Warrant of Seizure as provided under the Anti-Corruption Act no. 3 of 2012 subsection 58(1) which provides for the seizure of properties under investigation.

The Commission is currently studying the decision of the Court and is contemplating on exercising its right of appeal to challenge the setting aside of the Warrant of Seizure.

The Commission notes that, while it respects the decision of the Court, there is no legal requirement for the Commission to cancel a Restriction Notice before a Warrant of Seizure can be obtained. The two actions can be enforced without any repercussions to the other as they each serve different purposes. The provisions under Section 58(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act states:

“Where in the course of an investigation into an offence under this Act, an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that any movable or immovable property is derived or acquired from corrupt practices, is the subject matter of an offence or is evidence relating to an offence, the officer shall, with a warrant, seize the property.“

The Commission believes that it is on firm ground on the actions it is taking in its quest to investigate and prosecute matters relating to the corrupt acquisition of property.

QUEEN K. CHIBWE (Mrs.)
COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON

EU FLYING GAY FLAGS UNACCEPTABLE-PF

18th May, 2022.

H.E. Jacek Jankowski,
Head of Delegation,
European Union,
LUSAKA.

Your Excellency,

RE: FLYING OF FLAGS IN SUPPORT OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER AND INTERSEX (LGBTQI) AGENDA.

The attention of the Patriotic Front (PF) party has been drawn to the action that has been taken by the twenty seven member states of the European Union in Zambia to fly their Flags at their embassies in support and commitment of LGBTQI rights under the caption “LGBTQI are human rights – always and everywhere”.

Our Party has considered this action and made consultation with various stakeholders on the implication of this action on the relationship between the embassies and the Republic of Zambia as the host nation.

As a party that is the immediate past government of the Republic of Zambia, we find ourselves with the duty to register our deep concern and displeasure with the stance that has been taken by yourselves as Diplomats to openly support the agenda that you very well know does not have support from any section of our society. We find your actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine the sovereignty of our Nation having regard to the fact that your esteemed offices represent the Sovereign relationship between our respective countries.

I hasten to remind you that the actions of the Embassies, by which you describe the LGBTQI agenda as “human right”, does not have the support of the Bill of Rights as currently enshrined in our Republican Constitution. The actions that you seek to support are actually crimes under our local legislations. Even at the level of International Law, which regulates the relationships between our respective countries, the actions by your Embassies are a serious abrogation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic Relations, 1961, and other Treaties that entreat Diplomatic Missions to respect the laws, regulations and even traditions and cultures of host nations. We would therefore, request that in future, you kindly desist from pushing the agenda that encourages citizens to commit crimes.

By copy of our letter, we are bringing our protest to the attention of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice, with the expectation that the line Ministry will deliver a Note Verbal to your Embassies stating our position as the Republic of Zambia on this clearly unacceptable and objectionable stance taken by your Diplomatic Missions. We are without doubt that the communication from the line Ministry will be consistent with our position as advised in our present communication.

Yours faithfully,

Given Lubinda
ACTING PARTY PRESIDENT
Patriotic Front

cc: The Secretary General – Patriotic Front
cc: Minister of Foreign Affairs
cc Minister of Justice
cc: Member States of the European Union
cc: The Human Rights Commission
cc: The Church Mother Bodies
cc: Media Houses

18th May, 2022.

The Ambassador,
Finnish Embassy,
LUSAKA.

Your Excellency,

RE: FLYING OF FLAGS IN SUPPORT OF LGBT AGENDA.

The attention of the Patriotic Front (PF) party has been drawn to the action that has been taken by the Swedish and Finnish Embassies to fly their National Flags in support and commitment of LGBT rights under the caption “LGBT are human rights – always and everywhere”.

Our Party has considered this action and made consultation with various stakeholders on the implication of this action on the relationship between the two embassies and the Republic of Zambia as the host nation.

As the party that is the immediate past government of the Republic of Zambia, we find ourselves with the duty to register our deep concern and displeasure with the stance that has been taken by yourselves as Diplomats to openly support the agenda that you very well know does not have support from any section of our society. We find your actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine the sovereignty of our Nation having regard to the fact that your esteemed offices represent the Sovereign relationship between our respective countries.

I hasten to remind you that the actions of the two Embassies, by which you describe the LGBT agenda as “human right”, does not have the support of the Bill of Rights as currently enshrined in our Republican Constitution. The actions that you seek to support are actually crimes under our local legislations. Even at the level of International Law, which regulates the relationships between our respective countries, the actions by the two Embassies are a serious abrogation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic Relations, 1961, and other Treaties that entreat Diplomatic Missions to respect the laws, regulations and even traditions and cultures of host nations. We would therefore, request that in future, you kindly desist from pushing the agenda that encourages citizens to committee crimes.

By copy of our letter, we are bringing our protest to the attention of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice, with the expectation that the line Ministry will deliver a Note Verbal to both the Swedish and Finnish Embassies stating our position as the Republic of Zambia on this clearly unacceptable and objectionable stance taken by the two Diplomatic Missions. We are without doubt that the communication from the line Ministry will be consistent with our position as advised in our present communication.

Yours faithfully,

Given Lubinda
ACTING PARTY PRESIDENT
Patriotic Front

cc: The Secretary General – Patriotic Front
cc: Minister of Foreign Affairs
cc Minister of Justice
cc: The Human Rights Commission
cc: The Church Mother Bodies
cc: Media Houses

By Pilato

The fight against corruption that does not lead to convictions is nothing but a mockery to the people of Zambia. The anti corruption commission should sober up and take responsibility. We will not blame the suspects, we will not blame the judiciary and we will not blame ourselves. The ACC in its current form can easily be described as practical jokers not deserving our respect.
A professional entity cannot operate on social media drama and rumors the way ACC is doing. We remember how they called for a media briefing and announced that a certain ward councilor had bought a commercial bank for K300million. They abused our trust. We believed them and got excited that they had caught this thief. My uncle ba MWEWA Chitambala believed them and went running with the story and he was sued by one ward councilor ONLY for ACC to come back without shame to say they had wrong information. Why should we trust them again.

Mr. Chitotela didn’t force anyone at ACC to sign any document, they entered into an agreement willingly and knowingly based on what? Why do they want to appear to be fighting corruption now by arresting and harassing the same person they sat down with and entered into an agreement with? Do they think that we are stupid? If you signed a deal with Mr Chitotela in 2019, what were the facts that influenced your commission to do so? Why are you arresting him now for the same suspicions? Yes the fight against corruption is one that needs everyone’s support, but what did uncle Simon MWEWA get for believing and supporting the ACC? We can’t expect the judges to provide the facts just to convict Mr Chitotela, it is you ba ACC to do so and when you fail to provide facts, then what is your job? The anti corruption commission in Zambia is letting us the people down. Our confidence levels are at the lowest. Mr. Chitotela may not be our favorite guy but it is clear that ACC did wash him clean therefore instead of wasting our time, resources and attention, leave the man alone. You destroyed the case yourselves. We know most of our judges are corrupt and highly compromised but on this issue, they are not to blame.

The same can be said about the Kabushi guy. Who is the ACC legal advisor? Which constitution are they using to effect these Asset seizures? Are they doing so deliberately to frustrate the fight against corruption?
If you have no capacity to investigate thoroughly declare that publicly instead of wasting our time and resources.

My appeal to the incoming ACC chairperson and Director General is to start by investigating these incompetences by ACC itself. My brother Munir Zulu did make serious allegations against ACC officials, we didn’t believe him but now we are beginning to believe that the ACC officials are highly and dangerously compromised. The new Chairperson SC Musa Mwenye and Mr Gilbert Phiri please we need to know who is frustrating this fight against corruption.

For now ACC should just close as we wait for parliament to ratify the new Director and Chairperson. ACC is not an entertainment organization so they should stop competing with Shi Mumbi and do the actual work for once.

Mundubile promises to be a pro-poor PF president

OPPOSITION PF presidential aspirant Brian Mundubile says his manifesto will cater for the interests of the poor.

Speaking to Kalemba’s programme dubbed Chat Online and hosted by Mwiza Zulu, Mundubile, who is Mporokoso PF member of parliament and leader of the opposition in Parliament, said his party had departed from its initial vision of serving the poor in society.

He believes such a departure largely contributed to the downfall of the PF in the August 12, 2021 polls.

Mundubile said the PF is not dead and that his goal, if elected as party president, is to revive the initial vision, which is to put the interests of the poor first.

He said assisting the poor comes naturely for him.

Mundubile also noted that he usually helps people off camera and that was why the public may not be aware of his generosity.

Mundubile added that the PF failure to control cadreism marked its downfall.

He said if he becomes the PF president, he will completely eradicate cadreism.

He promised to establish the causes of cadreism and noted that people that have nothing to do but need to survive tend to engage into cadreism.

He reiterated that if he is the president, solutions to such lawlessness will be found as a study will be conducted, based on facts and that solutions will be implemented.

Meanwhile, Mundubile commented on Kabushi PF member of parliament Bowman Lusambo’s frequent arrests, saying that the former Lusaka Province minister is harassed because he has been persistent in wanting to know the conditionalities attached to the International Monetary fund (IMF) programme.

He said there are no charges that Lusambo is facing, except for him being frank and fearless.

He noted that Lusambo recently wrote to the IMF to explain the conditions surrounding the IMF package.

Mundubile also said President Hakainde Hichilema has not healed.

He said the President ought to forego bitterness by forgetting about all his old persecutions.

By Mwiche Nalwimba

Kalemba

Teaching Service Commission of Zambia (TSCZ) chairperson, Daphne Chimuka says the commission will soon decongest teachers from schools in Lusaka district to some rural schools.

Ms. Chimuka stated that this exercise is expected to increase the number of teachers in some rural schools which have been noted to have a deficit despite the current recruitment of teachers.

She said the commission wants to ensure that schools in both urban and rural areas have adequate teachers to enable school going children to access quality education.

Ms. Chimuka said this when she addressed head teachers from various zones during a meeting held at Chongwe Secondary school in Chongwe district.

She implored the head teachers to welcome teachers who will soon be deployed to their respective schools and embrace the ideas they may present to improve education services offered to school going children.

“Most of the teachers you will receive at your schools are young and have stayed for years without working. Some of them will come with new innovative ideas because they are young. Do not intimidate them but instead embrace these ideas to see how best they can contribute towards improving the quality of education your schools are giving to children,” Ms. Chimuka said.

Ms. Chimuka said head teachers should set good examples for the new teachers by being professional and upholding the set standards of the country’s teaching practice.

She urged the head teachers to induct the new teachers to work in line with the existing systems of the education sector and ensure that they are not indisciplined as they carry out their duties.

Ms. Chimuka also encouraged school authorities to lobby for construction of teacher’s houses through the constituency development fund (CDF) from their communities to accommodate newly recruited teachers.

“Engage your communities and request that they consider constructing houses for the new teachers using some of the funds allocated to their wards under CDF,” she said.

She further assured all teaching staff and head teachers working in the country’s public schools who have not been confirmed despite working for many years that the commission and ministry of education are making efforts to ensure that teaching staff are confirmed immediately after probation.

Speaking during the same event, Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) Director for inspections, Fred Mwale called on head teachers and teachers to acquaint themselves with the legal framework and regulations which guide the teaching fraternity in the county.

Dr. Mwale stated that the guidelines have been established to foster professionalism among teachers.

He urged teachers across the country to take advantage of the online platform created by the council to process their applications for their practicing licenses.

And Chongwe Secondary school Head teacher, David Phiri who gave a vote of thanks assured TSCZ and TCZ that head teachers in Chongwe are ready to work with the new teachers who will be deployed to their schools adding that they will give them the necessary support.

Mr. Phiri said no teacher will be intimidated on the basis of tribe as the school heads in the district have proved to be professional in the manner in which they execute their duties.

DEFENCE LAWYERS IN SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER CASE INFORM THE COURT ABOUT ACC’s INTERFERENCE WITH A WITNESS AS THEY CLOSE THEIR EVIDENCE

Defence in the case before Magistrate Kaunda Sakuwanda at Ndola in which former Postmaster Master General McPherson Chanda and former ZamPost Director of Finance Best Mwaichi and former Director of Operations Isaac Kamwimba closed yesterday Wednesday 18th May, 2022 with a witness from ABSA Bank Abraham Sichilyango and Isaac Kamwimba as the last defence witnesses as the Court was informed that former ZamPost Corporation Secretary Mulawo Mwaba could not testify following a visit by the Anti – Corruption Commission (ACC).

Defence Counsel Chimuka Maggubwi submitted to the Court that Former ZamPost Corporation Secretary Mulawo Mwaba who had been served with a court subpoena to testify as a witness for the accused persons could not give his testimony as the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) had proceeded to visit him and extract a written statement from him after he received the court subpoena which act amounted to interfering with the witness and had left the impression that the witness had been intimidated.

Submitting under oath Mwaba said; “your honour I may not state the exact dates but in the days after I was served with the court subpoena, I received a phone call from an ACC officer whom I informed that I had received a subpoena from the Court and, therefore, I advised him to consult with the lawyers at ACC whether it was appropriate for them to call and meet with me since I was under a subpoena from Court. A few days later, I received a call from ACC in which I was advised that a final decision had been made to visit me and take a statement from me. Two ACC officers subsequently visited me and obtained a written statement ”.

Following Mwaba’s submission Defence Counsel Chimuka Maggubwi submitted to the Court that since it was clear that the act of visiting a defence witness who was under a Court subpoena by the ACC amounted to interfering with the witness, Mwaba could not testify and the Defence was closing its defence. In response State prosecutor Daniel Ngwira submitted to the Court that the Prosecution was applying to the Court to summon “witnesses in reply” under Section 210 of the Penal Code to provide a rebuttal to the earlier testimony of the accused persons that the decision to place Social Cash Transfer funds into fixed deposits pending receipt of schedules from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services was a management decision taken at a meeting.

Defence Counsels Cholwe Matibini and Chimuka Magubbwi however objected to the application on grounds that the defence witnesses had not introduced any new issues since the allegation that the decision to place social cash transfer funds into fixed deposits was made by the accused in their individual capacities had been made by a prosecution witness earlier. As such, in their testimony the accused were merely responding to earlier allegations by some prosecution witnesses. The Defence Counsels further submitted that under Section 210 of Penal Code the prosecution was further required to show that the matter for which they seek to call “witnesses in reply” could not have been reasonably foreseen despite exercising due diligence on their part.

The Defence argued that since the allegation that the three accused persons had carried out the decisions in their individual capacities had been central to the prosecution’s argument, they could have exercised diligence by bringing in witnesses from the former Board and Management of ZamPost to distance the Corporation from the decisions made. Consequently, the Defence argued that what the Prosecution was trying to do was to merely patch – up holes in their case against the accused and if the Court allowed them to do so, it would be an injustice to the accused as it would give the prosecution a “second bite on the cherry”.

The Court set 26th May, 2022 to deliver the ruling on whether or not to allow the prosecution to re – open its evidence by calling in new witnesses to provide rebuttal after the Defence closed its evidence yesterday.