APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED, GARY MUST RESIGN

27th April, 2022 – Lusaka

We refuse to accept the half-hearted apology that Gary Nkombo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development has rendered to the woman whom he abused yesterday by forcing her and her children to drink Kachasu against their will. It is clear that Gary has been forced to apologise out of public outrage and not because he is remorseful for his sadistic behaviour against the poor woman and her children.

To begin with, the headquarters of Kachasu brewing is Kaleya, in Mazabuka, were Gary happens to be the Member of Parliament. Why is Gary failing to enforce the law in his own Constituency but is quick to harass our poor women in Garden compound? This is the hypocrisy that we have been talking about.

What Gary did yesterday is criminal and is punishable by law. According to Articles 15 and 18 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia, subjecting a person to inhumane or degrading treatment is a criminal offence. Further, Section 231 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia states that:
“Any person who unlawfully, and with intent to injure or annoy another, causes any poison or noxious thing to be administered to, or taken by any person, and thereby endangers his life, or does him some grievous harm, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding fourteen years”

As a Minister, it is the duty and responsibility of Gary to protect the poor and the weak, especially women and children against any form of abuse or ill-treatment. Instead of destroying the source of livelihood for our poor mothers brewing Kachasu, the UPND Government should engage them and offer alternative sources of income generating activities.

It is unfortunate that the UPND Government is proving to be a Government of the rich for the rich; it only cares and protects the interests of the rich and foreign business entities like foreign owned mining companies. These people do not care about the poor, they do not care about ordinary Zambians, they only care about themselves, their rich friends and foreign business entities, no wonder Gary has the audacity to demolish make-shift structures of the poor in Mandevu and other compounds but he conveniently ignores the same illegalities when committed by the affluent in our society.

While we welcome the statement from the Human Rights Commission, condemning the vile behaviour of Mr. Nkombo, it far falls short of the expectations of the Zambian people. The Commission should not just end at issuing statements of condemnation; they must take appropriate legal action against the minister to make him an example to others that such wanton abuse of human rights shall not be condoned.

It is worrying that women’s and children’s lobby groups have opted to remain mute while senior government officials are freely abusing poor women and children in the full glare of the media. What is wrong with our civil society organisations; why have they opted to remain quiet in the face of such gross abuse and violation of the rights of vulnerable members of our society?

What Gary did by asking the poor woman to choose between being locked up by the Police or to drink kachasu looks like it is the normal character of the UPND; and if we deeply analyse that sad episode, UPND is getting used to having scandal after scandal and they think it is normal. In the last 8 months, they have committed more scandals than all the previous Governments put together.

We know that President Hakainde Hichilema has no spine to fire Gary as evidenced by his failure to act against Minister of Pens and Calendars, Minister of Fertilizer, Minister of Misinformation, Minister of ZESCO poles, Minister of Black Mountain, Minister of Milingo/DPP Immunity as well as his State House staff. However, in the interest of justice and in order to preserve humanity and curb the excesses of the UPND leaders, Gary Nkombo must resign without any further delay.

In May, 2014 the PF Government carried out a raid in Chibolya and arrested several people who were in possession of illicit drugs but we did not force any of the culprits to consume the drugs because we have respect for the law and respect for human rights.

As a Party, the Patriotic Front is not interested in playing politics with this matter, it is not a political matter but purely a human rights issue. However, if Gary does not step down on his own, we will be left with no choice but to escalate the matter further.

Issued by
Hon Nickson Chilangwa, MP, MCC, AIH
Acting Secretary General
Patriotic Front

IS GARRY NKOMBO THE NEW DAWN BOWMAN LUSAMBO?
By Robson Maamba
Watching news last night was heart breaking to see the whole lot of Minister of Local Government and Rural Development not only destroying people’s only source of livelihood but also forcing a poor mother and her children drinking Kachasu in front of the cameras. The action of making children take kachasu because the parents deal in it is unacceptable and shameful. We may not support kachasu brewing for both moral and health reasons but what Honourable Garry Nkombo did is not honourable and must be condemned to the strongest terms by all well-meaning Zambians.

There’s something called public policy, laws are made to further the public interest so the government should not be aloof to the realities that its citizens face on a daily basis. Poverty is real and in this country it’s on a massive scale. “Illegal businesses” are a source of livelihood for many of the people, for instance if Honourable Garry Nkombo was a Minister when some of us where in school and took that action taken in Garden Compound yesterday, we would have never attained an education because it was funded through the same so called illicit business of brewing Kachasu in Chawama Compound.

The government needs to take a pragmatic approach in dealing with this issue, they need to be sensitive to the plight of the poor citizens. We do not condone illegalities, but laws do not operate in vacuum. Laws are made for the people as such the plight of the poor needs to be addressed. ITS NOT IN PUBLIC INTEREST TO DESTROY LIVILIHOODS WITHOUT OFFERING A SOLUTION……..

Honourable Garry Nkombo is dealing with the symptoms and not addressing the problem, we all agree that no one would brew KACHASU if they had a viable and accessible alternative. The real issue government needs to tackle is poverty and once poverty is dealt with some of these things won’t even be here to be discussed.

Honourable Nkombo’s show of “power” is like ‘STITCHING THE ANUS IN ORDER TO CURE DIARRHEA’. One would also wonder why hasn’t our dear Minister exerted the same energy in his own Constituency, Kaleya to be specific which in my view is the Headquarters of Kachasu brewing popularly known as MAUREEN MUKIYA? Could it be that he fears to lose votes in 2026? This could be nothing but hypocrisy of the highest order.

Zambian’s memories are still fresh on how much Uncle Garry Nkombo spoke with so much vigour on how he will demolish illegal structures in the infamous FOREST 27, what have we seen so far, justice is only for the poor Kachasu brewers of Garden Compound and those who built illegal structures along Kasangula Road. Is there hope for the poor in the NEW DAWN if the worthy are not touched but only those who are trying hard to bring bread and butter on the table?

During the presser on Monday the President urged Zambians not to report corruption on Social Media platforms but call Toll Free lines that shall be launched, where should we report Ministers who misconduct themselves like what Garry Nkombo did in Garden Compound yesterday?

Awe nangu tapasoswa ba Garry what you did yesterday was inhuman for someone bearing the title of a Honourable, so you were envious of Boman Lusambo when he was going round the streets of Lusaka whipping Nightspot patrons? This is not what we expected from the New Dawn Government the video of your action in Garden Compound will haunt you in the like manner the Ministry of Justice video of retirees haunted the Patriotic Front!

Minister of Local Government, Gary Nkombo has received widespread condemnation for forcing a woman and her children to the illicit local brew called Kachasu.

This follows the widely circulated video in which the Minister forced children to drink a locally brewed beer commonly known as Kachasu, as punishment on their mother for engaging in illegal brewing of the local beer.

Mr Nkombo yesterday raided the townships and destroyed litres of Kachusu that were being brewed at the time and alleged that the drink was responsible for destroying many lives.

Leading the condemnation was now Human rights Laura Miti who said that forcing a mother and her children to drink the Kachasu she brews made her heart weep.

Ms Miti acknowledged that the country has a frightening crisis of alcohol and drug abuse in the townships, and it is one that is consuming youth and women, especially and badly it needs emergency attention, and added that that attention, however, is not raids and abuse of brewers.

Mr Miti told the Minister that the substance abuse in Zambia’s communities is a symptom of the deep poverty, high unemployment and attendant hunger in the country, just as the numbers of vendors on our streets are.

“The answer is not to abuse a poor woman on camera. Humiliate her in a way you would never do to the children of the rich, who gather every weekend in fancy homes in leafy suburbs to drown their privilege, in underage binge drinking of expensive liquor and abuse of drugs,” she wrote.

Ms Miti said that the only reason that the woman was bullied and humiliated by the Minister is that she is poor and faceless and that, in this Zambia, that means she is not a full human being.

Ms Miti urged the Minister to invite these communities to discuss the crisis consuming them.

“Gather women, youth, civil society actors, church leaders, some Kachasu brewers in a community hall to come up with structural answers. Small changes like refusal to sell the brew to the 10-year olds we see totally plastered.

“If you do not know how to talk to communities, other than through a campaign microphone, invite civil society. We will facilitate it for you. You will be amazed at what you will achieve.

“Believe me, the poor can think. They can address their problems, given the respect and space, ” she concluded

Joining the condemnation is the group calling itself Advocacy for National Development and Democracy (ANDD) which has called on Local Government Minister, Garry Nkombo to resign on moral grounds.

ANDD executive director, Samuel Banda is shocked and disheartened that Mr Nkombo can go to such lengths to mistreat the mother and her children in such an inhumane manner.

He has since called on President Hakainde Hichilema to take action against the Minister with immediate effect if he will not resign on his own on moral grounds.

“Yes that could be an illegal business of brewing the illicit beer, but such treatment and embarrassment to the family are uncalled for and unwarranted” Mr Banda has observed.

He said that the government’s role is to empower citizens and not incapacitate them as was observed yesterday adding that a sober approach while looking for solutions is what the Minister should have done.

He has condemned the behaviour, with a call from all stakeholders such as the church, civil society organisations and all well-meaning citizens to equally call for justice on the matter.

“This is not about politics, but about moral obligation especially on sensitive matters that border on the welfare of the poor. Let us be sober-minded and condemn a wrong when it occurs” Mr Banda has said.

By Rev Reuben Samboh
Vice President political
MMD

SUMMARY OF PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S PRESS ENGAGEMENT!
===================

1. A scan through social media commentary reveals that the PF Stewarts are upset with him and all they do is to poke into everything he says, while the UPND Stewart’s are hot on praises no matter what.

It’s best to stick it out and listen for yourself.

2. The president highlighted a number of strides that his government has taken, which include efforts in the fight against corruption, realignment of policy in citizens empowerment and investments. This was quite major in my view and makes you want to go and take a plunge into the opportunities.

3. He highlighted a number of steps his government has taken, in alleviating the high cost of living that is being borne by the citizens. Clearly, on this one, the president is a firm believer is social engineering as a means to achieving results. He frowns upon tactical posturing at the expense of doing real surgical work. In other words, given a choice between science and art, he prefers science.

I think his personality fits this style, not the other.

4. The president also let the nation know how he was brought up and the values that were ingrained in him. He let us know who he is and that at nearly 60years of age, no one should try to change his world view. He is him, and what he is, has helped him be where he is and he trusts the path. He can not let go of his trusted ancient paths.

I think, I would do the same.

5. The president today let us know his feelings on issues and where he stands on them.

He let us know that there are some pieces of the law that he does not agree with, but they are the law and since he swore to uphold the law, so be it.

He let us know how he feels about Nakachinda’s rants and how unacceptable they are. But he will let the law deal with that.

He let us know how he feels about Hon Nickson Chilangwa’s “bupuba bone wemwine, nalikwebele nina mubwato, wanina pang’ombe” song and other commentary. He considers them base.

He let us know where he stands on the DPP. She is on her own.

And on the Milingo Lungu issue, he is clear that Milingo was a hindrance to moving onto KCM with commercial solutions. So he need to somehow, one way or the other, be removed. The bottom line is that he is no longer in the way. How it happened is not so important.

He let us know his thoughts on the previous government. That they are the destroyers and he does not wish for them to come back to government.

The president allowed us to see that he sometimes feels hurt when those who mistreated him, suddenly act as though it was just fine.

The president also spoke directly to his party once again about them not transforming themselves into the new thugs. He wont stand for them.

In my view, the president is allowed to hold a personal opinion on anything.

6. The president let us know that, there is a whole lot of things going on behind the scenes.

No one who is alleged to have stolen from the Zambian people should assume that they are safe now. The long arm of the law is at work.

He also let us know that no one will be fired, not his aides, government workers or his minister of foreign affairs as he has full confidence in them all. After all he is in touch with them

He also let us know that cabinet is at work on many fronts.

It’s a good thing I think.

7. The president let us know that he is consulting other presidents on very substantive actions that have helped their countries.

President Kagame did not come here just, to view the falls and walk behind Leopards. He came to impart some wisdom.

President Tshisekedi is coming in a few days to concluding a strategic agreements for securing maximum benefits for the mineral endowments.

Another president in the region, has been widely consulted on how to fight corruption and recover stolen assets. The president is pondering this consul.

He is also watching the Botswana model very closely.

Well, the scriptures are clear, “in a multitude of counsel, there is wisdom”

8. The media were so on point with their questions and really tried to go into the crevices of the addresses to get the president talking. Its hard to point at one who did not rise to the occasion.

Amb Frank Mutubila, Oliver Chisenga, Digindaba, chifunda, the ladies… you all impressed.

Anthony Bwalya as always, you are a good anchor of programs.

All in all, it was a relaxed engagement .

I thank you all

HAKAINDE
AND HIS TIRADE
[Combative, Overbearing and Diversionary, Emotional]

The air in the country was pregnant with expectation.

It left many disappointment, without hope and further lost.

The delivery will have to wait. For now, citizens remain FIXED.

It also left many shocked, worried and a tad scared.

Seeking solace/a balm, citizens were traumatised instead.

It didn’t start on time, another promise NOT kept.

His opening statement revealed a lot. Hakainde confessed to IGNORANCE. He told the nation that, before the 2021 elections, he didn’t know the FULL extent of the problem that he was promising to FIX.

Now, that reflects poorly on his judgment and capacity to read challenges.

You see, when you don’t know the PROBLEM fully then you cannot PROPERLY prepare to solve it.

So here we are now, a tad stuck.

By his own admission, as if seeking consolation, Hakainde said that the work he is doing was difficult. It has always been, you see, even before he was born.

Petrol will be about K12 per litre.
Fertiliser K250 maximum.
A 25kg bag of mealie meal will cost about K50.
The Kwacha will stabilise by 14:00 hours after inauguration.
The presidential jet will be sold.
K1500 will be given to all public service workers across the board.
Immediately you vote us in, we will lower the cost of living.

These are some of the promises Hakainde made. And he has kept NONE.

ZERO.

Yesterday, patently incensed by a citizen, Hakainde said that lies are illegal. He said that lies kill. And added that, liars must pay/be punished.

Now, so armed with this M and E tool, citizens will apply this same standard to Hakainde himself.

Looking at the timeline he himself set for his unkept promises, a cogent argument can be made that Hakainde LIED; despite his having been raised not to lie as he told us.

Using SYLLOGISTIC thinking as an instrument of inference, below is what Hakainde’s words really mean.

The premise is that HAKAINDE LIED to the citizens.

It follows then that Hakainde committed an illegality. By doing this, Hakainde may have killed some citizens. And Hakainde must pay.

See?

Clearly, Hakainde is a HURT man.

His own emotional recital of the litany of infractions committed against him when he was in opposition clearly illustrated this truth.

And by his own admission, it is not his own heart but the LAW which is restraining him from inflicting suffering on some citizens. This was chilling.

Remember his reference to a neighbouring country that has gone rogue?

He said that if he had a way he could put suspects away in jail for a long period of time for purposes of solely obtaining CONFESSIONS from them [legal torture].

Hakainde is HURT.

Hakainde feels badly maligned, as if the country has singled him out for scorn and ridicule, as if a labouring saviour carrying years of the burdens of pain and shame of a subjugated minority.

Hakainde requires HEALING.
Fast.

The spirit that issued forth from him yesterday and pervaded the conference is not the required foundation for governance. It was laden with bile.

Raphael NAKACHINDA, whilst in police hands, before trial, was found guilty by Hakainde.

Bowman LUSAMBO, openly demeaningly referred to as a die-hard cadre who was incapable of buying an economy ticket a few years ago, also before trial, was found guilty by Hakainde.

Ultra vires, a political licence to harass these citizens was so issued.

What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Is this the naming and shaming you promised us in your address to parliament on Principles and National Values?

Angry, he was so openly CONTEMPTUOUS of Zambia’s judicial system, citizens and the courts, Hakainde.

Though Hakainde crucified Nakachinda and Lusambo, he chose to free, without professional investigation, KABUSWE, KAKUBO and many others, who his own supporters in thr UPND call CORRUPT.

Double-speak?
Double-standards?

Passionately, one of his supporters said: ‘Whoever thinks Kakubo left with a calendar and pen is HIMSELF corrupt.’

And this is what Hakainde thinks, and says he established through a chat with the accused minister.

A cabinet minister buying premix in a suit, alone with no aide, on a holiday, in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador at a troubled private Chinese company? Mmmmm! Really, Mr President?

These are indeed foreign/alien affairs!

Reminds one of the ‘mfwiti, mfwiti’ days. Now GONE with the wind/citizens.

His speech was punctuated with loosening of associations, pressure of speech and over-valued ideas. The lettered know what this means.

His reference to local businesses as ‘WE are the local businesses’ was suspicious. It reeked of CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

His ducking questions by journalists who only asked on behalf of the people such as the ‘Kagame and mining tax concessions’ question preferring to answer them in private was unconvincing and subtracted from his INTEGRITY.

Journalists should do better next time. Their questions omitted many the people wanted answered. For instance, there was no question on the brewing ‘NKANDHLA scandal’ in Zambia.

You see, just as Chitonga is the official language of Zambia’s Southern province, the official language for Lusaka province is Chinyanja, Mr President. Not IciBemba or Luvale. Be at peace with that, sir. Tread CAREFULLY there.

Ask the Tongas themselves, they find it strange and uncomfortable to openly use their language on the Copperbelt. Perfectly normal.

The elephant in the room was the COST OF LIVING, which your own Laura MITI admitted is killing citizens.

But people’s hearts sunk when asked, what your immediate measures were to cushion them, you glossed over this serious matter by saying you had given them free education and that you were fighting inflation. When you said this, the people’s hunger worsened and their pain and disillusionment hit an all-time low.

Ask them. They would give you back your free education in a minute if you offered them a low cost of living/affordable food in return!

A poll today shows that you did not offer solutions to them. The people remain with NO CLEAR REDEMPTIVE DIRECTION, are still lost and unhappy.

Your response on the Milingo LUNGU scandal left egg on your face.

Did you or did you not meet Milingo LUNGU? That was the question. Your Justice Minister had earlier informed the nation that you did not. Your answer? ‘Is it wrong to meet anyone?’ Then you went on to lamely and unnecessarily talk about tables and their edges. Perhaps explains why the conference unnecessarily lasted hours on end.

Citizens will now wait for the courts to hear the TRUTH. Your long-winded response created more questions. The saga continues. It is Milingo’s word Vs yours.

Your emphasis on ZAMBIANS FIRST for econonic freedom was impressive.

Don’t stop to bore your cabinet ministers with this mantra. It is our ONLY redemption song.

Yes, that CADASTER move is commendable. Just don’t give those mining licences to yourself.

Empower the citizens that presently live in abject poverty.

Let Zambians’ absolute ownership or through shares of nickel, cobalt, emerald, diamond, copper and gold mines increase. Yes, including manganese.

I was happy to hear you repeat what I SAY all the time. The truth. That DRC and Zambia are the two richest countries on the continent of Africa.

MERELY as an example, Zambia is richer than France, sir. Enough of the British

I was,also happy to note that that your respect for the China has improved. By your own admission yesterday, you infotmed the nation that you are, with the required seriousness, talking with this economic elephant. It further shows that you are listening to citizens.

Thr US owes China 1.1 trillion US Dollars. Zambia, it is only 6 billion. You see, we can even get more of their less expensive money and finish installing the remaining turbines at Kafue Gorge so that our dream of becoming a net energy exporter is realised.

Be STRATEGIC but remain non-aligned.

Your CLOSING REMARKS were the best words you have ever spoken as Republican President. Retain that attitude.

Your admission that you will only do your part, to the best of your ability, your PETITIONING GOD for more KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM was so exrmplary it made my eyes water, and watching you on TV alone, these words, without thinking, caused me to clap my hands for you.

I see that you have a cold.

I felt like giving you a prescription but I remembered your words that my writing it would constitute conflict of interest.

Nonetheless, your gurgling a mixture of coarse salt and tumeric in hot water will help. Further, chew slices of fresh ginger afterwards and wash it down with lemon juice. You will heal. Trust me.

As healers/pilgrims, we mean well, we only act on behalf of God. We are His vessels. Trust us.

You are public, and we love you. That is why we criticise you.

Your repeated sniffing shows that you are only human, Hakainde.

Yes, just do your part.
You are not the first Republican President and you will not be the last.

Remain humble, my man.

And leave vengeance to God.

I wish you a quick recovery.

No dirty deals please.
No more lies.
And Godspeed!

Dr Canisius BANDA
Development Activist

The Press Conference, a Failed Delivery

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

When I saw the Minister of Health go live on Facebook at the launch of the Oral Polio Vaccination at the same time as the President’s Press Conference, I knew no one would be fired.

In the past, a presidential press conference brought the country to a standstill and Ministers and other officials stood in trepidation fearing a possible reshuffle or dismissal.

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S PRESS CONFERENCE

It’s been eight months. The New Dawn Government started on shaky note, and now things seem to have gone south.

A presser like the one on Monday could have given the President an opportunity to click on a restart button….as events of last week were a peek view of what has gone wrong in the last few months.

But this turned out to be probably one of the least impactful and dreary press conferences that President Hakainde Hichilema has ever held.

The name-calling and derogatory labels uttered by the President put many people off as seen by social-media commentators.

Calling private citizens lunatics, a clique of thieves, crooks, and showing a highly disrespectful, contemptuous and scornful attitude towards one’s Opponents was clearly demeaning for a President.

Warning Bowman Lusambo over his wealth was petty.

“Someone saying to me $150,000 is nothing to me. Well a few years ago, you were a die-hard cadre. Where did you get the money from. The law is closing in”. He said.

Mr. President, Lusambo became an MP, and a Minister. He rose from nothing to something…like you did!

To start with, no one has been convicted in a court of law yet, to earn such expletive names as thieves.

ON MILINGO LUNGU

The Milingo Saga was the trigger, and the reason the Press Conference was called as earlier disclosed by the Minister of Justice, Mulambo Haimbe.

But on the matter of former KCM Liquidator, Milingo Lungu, the President chose to posture an evasive demeanor which pointed to his credibility or lack of it on the matter.

He avoided to answer direct questions which are in the minds of people. Did he meet Milingo?

He was circuitous and but finally admitted to the meeting as a by-the-way issue when it was actually the main issue.

ON KAKUBO, MACHILA,MUNDIA AND OTHERS

The President chose the simplistic answers given to him and assumed his officials were telling him the truth, despite the seemingly contradictory evidence.

On the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he conveniently ignored the presence of the Ambassador’s vehicle at the Sinoma plant during the Minister’s visit to allegedly buy cement.

He chose to believe the diary, calendar and pen story.

He then dwelt on and blamed social-media lies as the cause of the crisis.

He literally praised and summoned the cyber laws that he had labeled as undemocratic and draconian whilst in Opposition.

It shows that he is being either; extremely naive, disingenuous or he is part of the debacle.

In the end, no one has been held accountable.

Except for the DPP where their entire gun arsenals are pointed at.

Zambians will await the details of the court process in response to Milingo’s stated and sworn facts, as that matter will not go away.

IMMUNITY & THE DPP

The President claimed that there was no one that could grant immunity from prosecution including himself.

For starters, heads of state enjoy constitutional immunity.

Others that enjoy immunity or indemnity from prosecutions include accused persons that accept to be witnesses that choose to cooperate and testify.

There are other provisions were indemnity against prosecution is given to persons if they meet the terms and conditions as provided for under the Plea Negotiations and Agreements Act of 2010.

The ACC Act of 2012 also provides for immunity from prosecution as given to Faith Musonda in the K65 million saga.

The President also has powers to grant absolute pardons to convicted persons.

All these are forms of immunity.

EMOTIONS & SELF PRAISE

The emotional display seen at the press conference, one sensed the President still harbours anger and bitterness in the manner he was treated whilst he was in Opposition.

He repeatedly said he would not use state power to revenge but spent a considerable amount of time discussing persons like Patriotic Front Member of the Central Committee, Raphael Mangani Nakacinda who has been arrested numerous times, and coincidentally was earlier picked up by a battalion of Police officers and locked up.

He also disregarded the law by constantly talking about matters that are in court.

But it is the self-praise by the President that has been elevated to worrying levels, almost to delusional levels.

ON LIES

“In my household we don’t allow lies, lies can kill, we don’t lie,lies are illegal, the law will be enforced against liars” President Hichilema said.

My Answer; ” Look who is talking”.

THE ECONOMY

In the end, it’s the state of the economy, which is the greatest crisis facing Zambians that suffered in this press conference.

It received little attention and no tangible measures were demonstrated to arrest the rising cost of living.

The President made reference to China joining the IMF driven Creditors’ Forum, the 41,200 recruited teachers and health workers and the proposed measures to unlock wealth from the mines.

CONCLUSION

After raising so much expectations, after last week’s rot, after the dire economic crisis facing the country, the press conference was an anticlimax, delivering hot air.

HICHILEMA’S PRESS CONFERENCE

Lunte PF member of Parliament and former Minister of Transport and Communication Mutotwe Kafwaya writes:

PRESS CONFERENCE. Today 25.04.22.

MY THOUGHTS

The President started well – talked about unity, respect and learning from the elderly, cherishing them. Then he referred to TRANSPERENCY & SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

Who was the greatest servant leader? JESUS CHRIST our example.

After his good introduction, the rest of the speech was ever poor – in my view. It was full of self praise and in many cases personal and contradictory.

The President thinks of himself as a decent one. That is self righteousness. He thinks of his team as being great and doing great. No sir, you’re judging yourself.

() at a presidential level, calling out names in the manner he did was rather LOW;

• Nakachinda
• Lubinda
• Chilangwa
• Milingo
  NO, not at presidential level, that level is too high. I thought after nine months in office it would be different. The Chanda Kabwe, Samuel Mukupa stuff must have been left behind. It is now looking like a habit.

() the president advised against social media propaganda. But found it hard to mention Koswe and the Watchdog . WHERE ARE THEY DOMICILED?

() the president spoke of how orderly the country has become under his leadership. HE COULD NOT MENTION NEW CASES OF ABDUCTIONS. Even though he spent so much time talking about arrests, corruption and rule of law.

The president expected Hon Lubinda to give him bond. THIS SHOCKED ME, much like many other things he spoke about TODAY. How did he expect a police bond to be given by a minister? Later on one not responsible for Homs Affairs?

Mr. President has delivered on POLITICAL CADERS INFLUENCE IN BUS STOPS AND MARKETS. No one can argue about that. But on most things he boasts about, he needs to be more detailed.

() Just a reminder, a court directive to bring SHEBY CHILEKWA before a doctor at UTH was ignored by police. That isn’t rule of law Mr. President. Further, it has been so many days if not months since Chilekwa and Mumbi were apprehended and locked up, they aren’t yet going to court – so those days you mention sir, do not apply to everyone.

() Look how he misrepresented Nakachinda’s statement and Chilangwa’s song. UBUTUTU is about not knowing, in others words ignorance. It is not foolishness as you put today sir. And surely no one knows everything.

() I hear Hon Chilangwa’s song. Nalikwebele ati sonine mubwato wanina pangombe. (I told to come into the boat but you went on a cow) how could this be misunderstood to mean the president is a cow?

IN ONE OF MY POSTS, I requested the presidential team to be offering him good advice. On this press conference, you’ve let me down again colleagues.

Did any body observe that THE PRESIDENT TOOK 55 minutes talking about CORRUPTION, ARRESTS and related matters but took LESS THAN 20 minutes talking about the economy. QUESTION where is his greatest passion? And in the entire economic session no mention of high food and commodity prices. Only to say fuel has been increased less in Zambia than other countries.

The president requested the NATION to compare the first nine months of UPND and the last nine months of PF. No sir, that is comparing apples with guavas. Start and end aren’t comparable. Remember three of those nine months in PF was about general elections.

Your Excellency, just to refresh your memory, when KK died, you were neither a president nor a former president. You were an opposition political party leader. To compare you, then to President Lungu now is impossible.

I end by stating, I wasn’t IMPRESSED.

Mutotwe KAFWAYA, MP

PF and the tribal card

By now it should be clear to all that it would be illogical, any more, to expect PF leaders not to express tribal sentiments.

The PF secretariat is sitting on a report that says one of the major reasons the party lost the 2021 elections was tribal campaigning. The PF had hoped that their heightened tribal campaigns would marginalise the UPND presidential candidate and consequently help them clinch re-election. But to their rude shock, they lost the election and in an embarrassing fashion for that matter.

But even with that humiliating lose and their own postmortem report, the PF have ploughed on with their ethic politics. During the Kabwata bye-election campaigns, the PF repeatedly insinuated that the UPND candidate, Andrew Tayengwa, was a Zimbabwean. This is despite Tayengwa and his mother being Zambians by birth. On the final day of that campaign, Chishimba Kambwili came out openly and asked the people of Kabwata ‘not to vote for a Zimbabwean.’

A few weeks following their bitter lose in Kabwata, PF acting SG Nickson Chilangwa mocked UPND voters in the 2021 elections as having voted pa ng’ombe (a cow), a derogatory remark clearly referenced to the Tonga people and like tribes. Yesterday their MCC for information & publicity Raphael Nakachinda called the people of Bweengwa and Tongas in general as abatutu (village bumpkins).

One may wonder why PF leaders can’t divorce themselves from tribal sentiments and hate speech given the clear message that majority of Zambian people despise this behaviour. The answer is simple if the saying ‘We get the leaders we deserve’ holds true. In short, like followers, like leaders. This would mean that the core of the PF base has elements who enjoy politics of tribal supremacy and dominance.

So when Kambwili, Nakachinda, Chilangwa, Luo or somebody else makes tribal utterances, they are simply playing to their political base. The political speak for such behaviour is ‘throwing red meat’ or ‘making a dog whistle’. In short, the PF have enough people, at its very core, who enjoy this manner of behaviour.

One must look no further than how key PF members are clamouring over Nakachinda and falling all over each other to attend to him following his arrest. A man they should be chastising for his divisive and shameful behaviour. Not the PF. To them Raphael Nakachinda is a hero.

Zambia Blog

President Hakainde Hichilema has called his fierce critic and Patriotic Front (PF) member of the Central Committee Raphael Nakacinda a lunatic.

President Hichilema has charged that Mr. Nakacinda was spreading hate speech that can put the nation on fire. The Head of State predicted that Mr. Nakacinda may get beaten for issuing statements bordering on tribal. Mr. Nakacinda was recently quoted in the media issuing tribal remarks against the Tongas. President Hichilema said Mr. Nakacinda’s tribal remarks are injuring many people.

“Lying is lying by any means. It must be stopped. It is illegal. It can inflame a country. I can tell you what Nakacinda is trying to do. Nakacinda want to pit one section of Zambians against another. That is what he wants to do. That is what he wants to do but we should not allow him to do that. We shouldn’t. If we fall in his trap then we are like him, I am not like him, you should not be like him. That is why he is trying to do what they did before the elections. ‘Oh a Tonga will never rule’. It is not a Tonga we want, it is a citizen we want who will work for the people of Zambia,” he said.

“Now what he wants is for people to rise, I have listened to an audio of someone called him, called Nakacinda and this guy says I am from Bweengwa, why are you insulting us from Bwengwa? Now, I am sure you can read what is going on in the minds of people. One day they will find him and attack him. We should not allow that to happen those who are injured to calm down. He is a lunatic trying to destroy a country. He is just a lunatic; we are bigger than that so Jonah (Journalist) let’s talk away from the press conference,” President Hichilema remarked.

Meanwhile, Police have arrested Mr. Nakacinda in connection with a complaint from Bruce Kanema against him on allegations that he promoted hate speech against the Tonga speaking people.

“Police have apprehended Raphael Nakachinda aged 43.This is in connection to a matter where we received a complaint from Bruce Kanema against him on allegations that he promoted hate speech against the Tonga speaking people and is further alleged to have defamed the Republican President in a video that has been widely circulated. Two dockets of the case have since been opened,” Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed in a media statement.

Meanwhile, PF acting Secretary General Nickson Chilangwa has condemned the arrest of Mr. Nakacinda, whom police have transferred from Kafue where he was picked to Solwezi.

“The arrest of Hon. Raphael Nakacinda for merely expressing himself is an assault on Zambia’s democracy and a wanton abuse of power by Mr. Hakainde Hichilema and his Government.This draconian abuse of power must be condemned by all well meaning Zambians who love and cherish our hard-fought democracy. Since coming into office, the UPND have been using the police and other law enforcement agencies to silence all opposing voices. They want to turn this country into a one-party dictatorship were all Zambians must be turned into praise singers for Mr. Hichilema,” Mr. Chilangwa stated.

“It is ironic that such intolerant behaviour is coming from a man who spent all his time insulting and demeaning heads of state while in opposition.We are calling upon the Church, Civil Society Organisations, Human Rights Groups as well as regional and international governance bodies to take this government to task before Zambia is lost into total dictatorship,” he said.

President Hakainde Hichilema has refused to fire Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kakubo over allegations that he was involved in acts of bribery during his visit to Sinoma Cement recently.

Some people have called for the dismissal of Mr. Kakubo who was pictured receiving a bag from an unidentified Chinese national at Sinoma Cement in Lusaka almost two weeks ago.

At the time of the incident that went viral on social media, Mr Kakubo clarified that he visited Sinoma as a private citizen with a view to ordering some pockets of cement and they gave him a branded calendar and a pen as a souvenir.

At a press conference in Lusaka on Monday, President Hichilema said he had not found Mr. Kakubo guilty after hearing from him.

The Head of State said Mr. Kakubo has assured him that he never got any bribe from Sinoma Cement.

President Hichilema said if there are people with more information linking the minister to bribery, they must report to law enforcement agencies.

“I was questioned when I was away for a few days. I took four days off from your house. While I was away there was an issue with the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Stanley Kakubo). That the Minister of Foreign Affairs got a bribe from Sinoma Cement. I was away. I called the Minister of Finance… Minister of Foreign Affairs sorry . I got in touch with him. What is this I have heard? The first thing I did was not to read what was on social media and continue reading. Was to get in touch with the minister himself. Minister have you seen what is mix, pre-mix. I said continue, continue. He explained. He said he got an envelope with a calendar and a diary inside,” President Hichilema said.

“Maybe he should not have done that (accepting an envelope with a calendar and a diary). It is him talking to him. I said what were you carrying in that envelope? Because it is my duty, I am the supervisor to the vice president, in case you are not aware. I am the supervisor to the ministers. I am the direct supervisor I have to ask and I asked on behalf of the people of Zambia. And he gave me the answer and he said perhaps Mr. President I should not have taken a calendar and a diary. ‘I didn’t get paid anything’. What else am I supposed to do? I must fire him? No. If anyone knows an answer better than he gave me, follow the law. Let’s take the process but on your behalf I took the opportunity to ask him because we are clear none of us should take any bribe for anything. It is very clear but that includes none of you as citizens as you. If anyone has more information let us know because we are accountable to you but you said he got money to bring that hotline or tip somebody,” President Hichilema said.

When the Kakubo-Sinoma incident was fresh, former Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kabala said that it’s unprecedented for a Minister of Foreign Affairs to interact with an ambassador outside his office alone saying it is beneath his office.

In a post reacting to Mr Kakubo’s explanation, Mr Kalaba said that the minister should give a better explanation than the one he has given, wondering how was the Minister buying cement on a holiday and why should a company give a calendar to the Minister in mid-April.

Mr Kalaba also wondered why the Ambassador meet the Minister when he was doing private errands, before adding that he himself was minister of foreign affairs for 4 years, never did he meet Ambassadors privately outside his office, and that even when he met them at foreign affairs, it was in the presence of officials.

“And by the way, Calendars are never delivered in suitcases,” concluded Mr Kalaba’s statement

President Hakainde Hichilema has disclosed plans to bring Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) back to full production.

Speaking during a media briefing at State House yesterday, President Hichilema stated that government is determined to bring Mopani back to life.

Mr Hichilema however described the revival of KCM as complicated citing the appointment of Provisional Liquidator Milingo Lungu by the previous administration adding that such a situation should never have taken place.

He however stressed that no court processes will stop the government from resolving the matter.

He said the government will use the Public-Private Dialogue Forum for Development to address issues concerning the two mining firms.

“In this Public-Private Dialogue Forum for development, we are putting KCM and Mopani as workstreams. We have already been putting in a lot of measures. That’s why you hear the noise on the liquidator at KCM because he was sitting in the way of resolving the KCM problems. The rest I won’t say much but KCM, Mopani, to unlock them. Mopani we are very close,” he said.

Mr Hichilema also said that Kasenseli Gold Mine and First Quantum Minerals are additional mines whose issues will be resolved through the Public-Private Dialogue Forum for development.

“We are putting First Quantum in there (in the workstream) because we have to unlock the 1.5 billion dollar investment in there. We have to unlock Kasenseli,” he said.

The President further dismissed some social media reports suggesting that government wants to hand back KCM to Vedanta Resources, stating that such reports are falsehoods

He said once the mines are back in operation, the people on the Copperbelt and Zambians at large will benefit.

Mr Hichilema explained that the mines will bring revenue into the country as well as foreign exchange and vowed that his administration will never allow illegal mining in the country.

He admitted that it was a mistake for the government to allow illegal mining in Mumbwa where three people died in a mining accident in February this year.

Mr Hichilema also encouraged small scale miners to apply for licenses so that they can mine in a legitimate way.

“This government made a mistake to allow illegal mining to continue in Mumbwa until people died. I accept that mistake on behalf of the government. We should not encourage that to happen anymore. Get your license, that’s why we have shut the license office cadastral at mines to reorganize it for the people of Zambia so that licenses are given to the Zambian licenses,” he said.

Mopani is currently on care and maintenance while KCM is in liquidation.

HH DISAPPOINTING

By Choolwe Muzyamba

The HH we saw today is different from the HH who spoke to us on 15th Aug 2021, and that is concerning.

Given the increasing desperation and rise in poverty, HH had an opportunity to instill confidence, a sense of unity and hope in the country. He could have done so with a clear step-by-step content-rich vision of how to get out of this ‘sinking ship’. What we saw however was a very angry and unaccountable president, obsessed with self-praise and his own ego, full of excuses and one who is out there to ‘bite’ his PERSONAL enemies.

He defended and exonerated his minister widely thought to have been captured collecting a bribe, and HH did so without any formal investigation, just a phone call between the two of them was enough. HH is also championing arrest of those who insult him by using colonial undemocratic laws that stifle free speech in what is supposed to be a democratic country.

Half of the speech was about his personal enemies who he wants arrested because they insulted him or lied about him.. instead of outlining a plan to END the suffering of our poor.. Mwanawasa was ‘cabbage’ and RB ‘nyamasoya’.. they just laughed with all of us but never threatened no one.. “I am stake, not cabbage” Mwanawasa retorted. Either you are democrat or you are not!!!

Everything going wrong is Lungu’s fault, Ukraine, Nakachinda or anything or anyone in close proximate he can lay blame on. Like kids, he is reminding us daily of how bad Lungu was. He is insulting our collective intelligence here.

He must outline solutions and if he has failed to do so, let him tell us. Na caala badaala amu twambile weh!!!!

The only good thing out of this is that we do not have the PF thugs in power, but again that is not HH’s achievement, it is the people’s achievement and any donkey could have been better than those thugs. Being better than PF is not an achievement sir!! Don’t even brag about it!!

Your inaugural speech was measured, uniting, sober and hope-instilling. We miss that HH, not this one who spoke today. This was a sad, angry, self-praising, content-lacking and hopeless speech. This is worrying

Hon. Bowman Lusambo
Don’t reduce Zambia to a cattle ranch

President Hakainde Hichilema spent many hours addressing the nation through a press conference which, when it ended, it should not even have started. The many hours of listening to his deep voice did not amount to the substance or the lack of. President Hichilema spent lots of time ranting and venting on irrelevancies. In whole that mumble jumble, he made serious allegations against my person which I wish to respond to now.

He alleges that as a Die Hard leader, I was too broke to even pay for an economy class ticket. As Member of Parliament for Kabushi, what concerns me is not what the President said in this instance but what he did not say. I wish to inform him that, I, Bowman Chilosha Lusambo started travelling the world long before I entered politics, since he pays a lot of attention to what I do and say, let him go and check the records at Home Affairs, the Passport Office will help on that mission.

Anyone who follows politics in Zambia and the region knows how proud I am over this part of my life story. The same way he is proud of having been a Kachema or a Danker-boy, I am equally proud of having started my politics from ground up. Through the same Die Hard Movement, I was able to run a youth revolution which negotiated for youths to sit at the table of national leadership. My track record in political leadership is impeccable while his is littered with deep holes of untraceable acquisition of wealth. My level of political understanding cannot be compared to President Hichilema’s. If it weren’t for a great soil of the soil Anderson Kambela Mazoka founding the UPND, no one would even have heard about the man.

Listening to President Hichilema, one can easily see that the man harbors deep-seated hatred for me and several other Zambians who do not agree with his style of leadership. Like he said, if he had a way, he would throw all of us in jail without trial for many years. Luckily, Zambia is a modern society that does not function like the Hichilema household. Our criminal justice system prescribes that I am innocent until a competent court of law proves otherwise beyond any reasonable doubt. If we are going to do anything to our justice system is to improve on it and not to take it back to the Stone Age era when people’s right and liberties were taken away with no recourse. President Hichilema will not be allowed to be the jury, the Judge and Executioner because he wants to be the only man with wealth in Zambia.

This is a man who wants to mutilate the constitution just so that he could inflict the same pain he suffers from childhood on others. Granted, he may have had a rough childhood but he shouldn’t be allowed to use victimhood to run State House. He needs to mature into a real leader, a Statesman and not a cry baby we saw today.

I wish to remind him that he should not expect all of us to love him, life has never operated like that. The same way some people don’t like my bald head, others don’t like his thick Afro. If he is looking for love, let him get it from Mutinta. My job and that of my brothers and sisters in the opposition is to offer checks and balances to his administration, he shouldn’t expect praises from us, he already has plenty praise singers for that task. His job is to deliver on the many promises he gave to the Zambian people and we will not allow him to tell us how we can offer those checks and balances.

In conclusion, watching the man today, I saw a man reaching out for help. He is drowning in his own misery. He accuses Hon. Raphael Nakacinda of tribalism and yet he spends 80% of the time making tribal talks with serious hate undertones. To cure his narcissism, President Hichilema needs to look himself in the mirror and ask himself what he sees.