PRESIDENT HICHILEMA AND OTHERS DID MEET MILINGO, NAKACINDA MAINTAINS

…as the Operation Binoculars Founder is looking forward to hear whether the President, Veep and others will swear affidavits to their claims

LUSAKA, Saturday, April 23, 2022 (SMART EAGLES)

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) party Member of the Central Committee in Charge of Information and Publicity Hon Raphael Nakacinda has said the Zambian people are eager to hear whether President Hakainde Hichilema, Vice-president Mutale Nalumango and others are going to swear an affidavit to dispute in court that they never met KCM Provisional Liquidator Milingo Lungu to reach a settlement that gave him immunity from further prosecution in his alleged corruption case.

This comes after President Hichilema through a Facebook posting on his page disputed the allegations that he met with Mr. Lungu to negotiate on his corruption case involving KCM.

But Hon Nakacinda said for Mr. Lungu, all the documents are in court through sworn evidence that he did infact meet with the President Hichilema, Mrs W.K Nalumango, State House Principal Private Secretary Bradford Machila, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General.

It was recently disclosed that Mr. Lungu did infact meet with the above mentioned persons in a case that later resulted into a nolle prosequi by Director of Public Prosecutions Lilian Siyunyi but the former KCM Provisional Liquidator was re-arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) suggesting a violation of the earlier agreement when he met with the President and others.

And appearing on the Round Table Talk show, Friday night, Hon Nakacinda said the Operation Binoculars had zoomed that the meeting to reach a settlement was indeed held last year in October.

“After we zoomed from last year October, we gave President Hichilema an opportunity to demonstrate whether he means well and if what he is doing is in the interest of the Zambian people, that is why we did not criticize him,” Hon Nakacinda said.

Arising from the development, Hon Nakacinda has noted that the UPND purported fight against corruption is marred with a lot of jealous against the PF and those who are perceived to be affiliated to the party.

The former Minister of Water Development and Sanitation has charged that the UPND are capitalizing on the poverty mentality of most Zambians to push the purported corruption agenda as many Zambians can rarely imagine a fellow black having a lot of money acquired genuinely.

“Are you telling me that HH is the only wise man in this country who tells us that he has the money that he has because he seized opportunities?

“Is he the only one who has eyes for these opportunities and the rest of us are just useless who cannot think? This is laughable!” Hon Nakacinda said.

He said the days of mandatory explanation of one’s wealth in Zambia is long gone thanks to the MMD for liberalising the economy to give equal chances to all Zambians with ideas to make money and wealth without discrimination.

“That is how my elder brother from Namwala who confessed of having a very poor upbringing can now be counted among the richest people,” Hon Nakacinda added. “The question that has made him very bitter from the Zambian people is how he managed to make so much money and wealth through the privatisation process yet no body seized any of his properties from him.”

He has wondered what standard the UPND is now using today to grab properties from PF officials like Hon Bowman Lusambo even without the law enforcement agencies completing investigations.

And Hon Nakacinda said records are there that shows that Mr. Lungu in his capacity as Provisional Liquidator for KCM was entitled to 10 per cent of the $1.2 billion dollars generated during his tenure yet the UPND are branding the Money he legally paid himself as corruption and are pursuing him for amounts less than a million kwacha.

Hon Nakacinda has since advised President Hichilema to conduct himself like a typical Head of State who is supposed to wish prosperity for his citizens and stop trying to gain approval from people by any means possible even through wrong channels.

By Edwin Mbulo in Senanga

ZESCO managing director Victor Mapani says he found the power utility with a debt of US $2.7 billion.

Meanwhile, Zesco workers say change is “sweet” stressing that, “we now know a mark of a true leader in our MD just like we do in President Hakainde Hichilema.”

Responding to a Mast press query, Mapani, who replaced Victor Mundende, said when he took over in December 2021, Zesco had a backlog of 67,000 customers awaiting power connection from as far back as 2016.

“[I] found a debt of about $2.7 billion. We have a maintenance backlog of the distribution system for the past four years (over 85,000 poles needing replacement) lines and transformers. This has created a pressure as there were no materials procured and the money was not there demanding $108 million dollars,” he said.

Mapani, an engineer, said in the medium to long term, he desires to be able to “proudly, efficiently deliver electricity and other energy services to all Zesco’s customers prudently, leave Zesco financially stable and ensure customer satisfaction”.

“That is our style,” he said. “…Firstly, I do this with a team of leaders together with me. I selected a new team. So, it’s team work because Team Work Works (TWW). Working as a team, everyone achieves more.”

Mapani added that he deals with thorny issues head one irrespective of “what, who is or are behind them”.

“I apply the ETF formula which is Equity, Fairness and Transparency (EFT) and prudence as well as ensuring that Effectiveness, Efficiency are applied by all for all processes to attain Excellency (EEE),” he said.

Mapani indicated that he would be available for media interviews next month.

Workers, who sought anonymity, said past poor governance of Zesco had annoyed Mapani.
The sources said Mapani has combined the managing of Southern and Western provinces under one system known as South-West Region to be under one regional manager to save costs.

“The manager director is a down to earth man. He has refused all the fuss and splendour associated with our past MD. He sometimes drives himself and has reduced the huge entourages,” the source said. “During a meeting with Zesco workers when he came for the Kuomboka traditional ceremony, he was surprised that some casual workers in Mongu have been working for over 15 years and were actually laying power lines as linemen. He said this was inhuman and ordered that they be employed and trained as they risked being electrocuted.”

The source added that Mapani also ordered that a 4×4 Land Cruiser be given to Senanga for operations as workers there worked late hours using a non-4×4 vehicle sometimes starting as early as 04:30 hours up to about 23 to 24:00 hours.
“Strangely this revelation in the meeting came from a security guard,” the sources disclosed.
Another source noted that Mapani also directed that vehicles be given to Mazabuka and Choma area managers saying the revenues generated from the areas was so high for the officers not to have vehicles.

“I can tell you that revenue from Choma and Mazabuka can pay all of us in Zesco. So our directors should not think that Zesco is in Lusaka or Lusaka is Zesco,” the source said. “Change is sweet because we now know a mark of true leader in our MD just like we do in President Hakainde Hichilema. He (Mapani) is a great man committed to making Zesco relevant to the public.”

The source, beaming with pride, added that Mapani had also directed that all Zesco vehicles apart from operations, generation and security, be parked at least by 16:30 hrs.

In December 2021, Zesco magazine quoted IDC head corporate communication Namakau Mukelabai saying Mapani has extensive experience in the energy sector having worked in various power utilities and quasi-government institutions in Zambia and abroad.
“The IDC and the Zesco board are confident Engineer Mapani will execute his role diligently and undertake key reforms that will make Zesco a profitable enterprise,” said Mukelabai. 

Former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has revealed how President Hakainde Hichilema personally instructed the Anti-Corruption Commission to have him detained over the Easter holidays.

Reacting to ACC Spokesperson Queen Chibwe who said Mr Lusambo has been elusive, the Kabushi MP said he had been aware of the plot by the ACC to detain him for a longer period without a charge.

In an interview, Mr Lusambo stated he has never been elusive and has always presented himself to ACC or any investigative agencies for interrogation whenever called upon.

He has since charged that the move to place the ACC, Drug Enforcement Commission and the Financial Intelligence Centre at State House has compromised the fight against corruption.

Mr Lusambo stated that President Hichilema instructed ACC Acting Director-General Silumesi Muchula to ensure that he was put behind bars at Chimbokaila for the entire duration of Easter.

He said President Hichilema was agitated following a lone protest to UK Minister for Africa Vicky Ford on the deteriorating human rights situation in Zambia and instructed the ACC to have him detained without charge.

Mr Lusambo said he became aware of the manoeuvres by the ACC to circumvent the law and inconvenience him during Easter after receiving information from people close to Mr Muchula.

“President Hichilema wanted me to be taken to Chimbokaila for seven days right into Easter. The ACC led by Silumesi swung into action on the pretext that they are revoking my Bond issued after the initial arrest, I am not sure why Silumesi would insist on revoking my Bond when the matter is now in court and the Magistrate has now converted that Bond into Bail and even extended it?”

He added, “On Wednesday, April 13th 2022 between 10:30 Hours and 11:30 Hours, on a long phone call which I was able to access, Silumesi revealed details of the entire operation to throw me to Chimbokaila for no apparent reason. He told my friends that it was President Hichilema who instructed them to have me detained over Easter because the President was agitated that Bowman is causing so much noise, especially after the Vicky Ford protest.

“These people wanted to revoke a non-existent Bond as a way of caging me. That Bond was converted into Bail the day I appeared before Magistrate Hamaundu. On the same phone call, Silumesi claims I am interfering with Witnesses when they have never availed any list of Witnesses to court, so how am I going to guess that out of 18 million Zambians, this one and that one are ACC witnesses?”

Mr Lusambo warned the ACC Acting Director-General not to abuse his office by carrying out unlawful instructions.

“Silumesi knows that what the President asked him to do was illegal, even his officers that camped at my house the entire Wednesday last week looking for me told me that they didn’t agree with the entire operation because the allegations of witness tempering were bogus and that even the entire case was weak. I challenge him to deny if he never spoke to someone on Wednesday last week and confirmed that it was HH who wanted to lock me up,” he said.

“In that phone call, Silumesi was telling my colleagues that this whole operation was supervised by State House and that even the people who were looking for Bowman were OP Officers and not ACC officers but how can he as Acting D.G allow his unit to be so infuriated. I heard him claiming that they were so sure they would get me on the same Wednesday before close of day as they were closing in my location because they were monitoring all my phone calls. Silumesi was boosting that once they get me, it would please President Hichilema.”

He added, “My lawyers were in constant touch with the ACC. They asked them to avail the reasons they wanted me at their offices so that they could prepare my response but Silumesi was dodgy because all he wanted to have access to me so that he could carry out the orders to look me up to seven days at Chimbokaila hoping they would break me.”

Mr Lusambo further accused the ACC of moving in to seize his residence after they failed to arrest him.

“This was just a reaction. Even though Queen Chibwe knows that the house they claim to have seized is not part of the charges in court, they tried to attach that house on the court papers on two occasions but they always remove it because they know I built it using my personal funds even before I became a Minister. The issue of seizing my house only came up after they failed to locate me. They need to be professional and sincere about their work, carrying out illegal instructions won’t help them.”

The Kabushi MP has since appealed to the international community to take keen interest in the manner the UPND administration is going about the fight against corruption.

“What we have here is not the fight against corruption, we have a President hell bent on crushing his perceived political rivals on the pretext of fighting corruption and the international community and Diplomats serving here in Zambia should take notice of this before we breed a full-blown dictator,” he said.

UPND REMAINS A CONFUSED POLITICAL PARTY WITHOUT DIRECTION – MOURINHO

….says it is unthinkable that amidst the various challenges the country is facing, Cabinet has only sat Six (6) times in the last 8 months!

LUSAKA, Friday, April 22, 2022 (SMART EAGLES)

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) party Media Director Antonio Mourinho Mwanza says he can never join the ruling UPND even when given an opportunity to serve.

This follows minor setbacks by the opposition PF which has seen few of its individuals jumping ship and joining the ruling party.

Mr Mwanza said his role is to ensure that government is held accountable until it delivers.

“Those that are defecting are exercising their constitutional rights to belong to any Political party. I have two primary goals. To hold this government accountable on what they do and what they do not do as well as to make sure that the Patriotic Front emerges stronger in 2026 than what it was in 2021,” he said.

And Mr Mwanza has described the ruling UPND as a “Confused” Political Party without direction.

He said the UPND is a political party where one does not know what Government position is.

He said this can be seen from different statements that come from the UPND leadership on topical issues.

“There are too many statements coming from different officials. On the issue of fuel, President Hichilema said they removed subsidies in order to provide for free education, his Vice President said they removed subsidies because they have to increase in order to reduce.

“The Minister of Finance said there are no fuel subsidies, Minister for Southern Province Cornelius Mweetwa said they removed subsidies because it was one of the conditionality given by IMF, Minister of Energy Peter Kapala said there are no subsidies but tax waivers and the Chief Government Spokesperson Chushi Kasanda said the increment of fuel was due to Russia Ukraine war,” he said.

Mr Mwanza said the truth of the matter is that subsidies were removed in 2013 during the reign of the late President Micheal Sata.

He said what is there are tax incentives on fuel which the current government is planning to remove in June this year.

Mr Mwanza said that companies risk closing after June because the cost of doing business will be high.

He added that it is ironic that amidst the various challenges the country is facing, Cabinet has only sat Six (6) times in over 279 days.

“President Edgar Lungu and the PF Government cared for the people of Zambia and introduced Tax waivers on Fuel. The Ministry of Finance and energy have said they will not renew this tax waiver by June. There will be more problems in Zambia because the cost of doing business will be high,” he said.

By McDonald Chipenzi

Reading through social media that some people are now challenging the powers and jurisdiction of the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC) to HEAR and DETERMINE THE ALLEGATIONS lodged AGAINST THE Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) makes very sad readings and invokes questions. Which law premises such challenges.

Firstly, it is important to be clear that a person qualifies to be appointed to the office of the DPP if that person is qualified to be appointed as a judge (Art 180(2)(a). In essence, the DPP is a judge and is subject to all conditions of service and disciplinary procedures applicable to and on a judge.

Therefore, the removal of the DPP from the Office is on the same grounds and procedure as applied to a judge (Art 182(3). Art 144 guides that the removal of a judge may be initiated by the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC) or by a complaint made to the Judicial Complaints Commission, based on the grounds specified in Article 143.

Art 143 specifies the grounds on which a judge or DPP can be removed as mental or physical disability, incompetence, gross misconduct and bankruptcy. Art 144 guides further that the JCC shall, where it decides that a prima facie case has been established against a judge, submit a report to the President which the President must act upon it within 7 days by suspending a judge.

After the suspension, the JCC is given 30 days to hear the grounds specified in the charge sheet against a judge or/and DPP and make recommendations either that the allegations are unsubstantiated or substantiated. If the charge (s)/allegation(s) are substantiated, the JCC recommends to the President for the immediate removal of the DPP/Judge from office.

If not substantiated, the JCC recommends for the judge’s immediate revocation of his/her suspension.
The Constitution further defines a Judicial officer in Art 266 to mean *a magistrate, local court magistrate, registrar and such officers as prescribed.

Art 236 establishes the JCC and spells out its functions among them enforce the code of conduct for judges and judicial officers; ensure that judges and judicial officers are accountable to the people for the performance of their functions

Other functions are to receive complaints against a judge [who includes the DPP] or judicial officer, as prescribed; hear complaints against a judge or judicial officer, as prescribed; make recommendations to the appropriate institutions or authority for action, among other functions.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the JCC is constitutionally and legally mandated to hear and determine all allegations against a judge or the DPP. These powers of the JCC are not only limited to the enforcement of the code of conduct for judges and judicial officers, no but as outlined above.

Therefore, it is strange to read that some people are questioning the loci standi of the JCC to hear and determine the fate of the DPP based on allegations against her/him.

I submit

BRACE YOURSELVES FOR HARD TIMES – PF

….the UPND Government has zero plans of how to reduce the cost of living reechoes Mourinho.

LUSAKA, Friday, April 22, 2022 (SMART EAGLES)

THE Patriotic Front party has charged that the current government does not have a plan to reduce the cost of living.

Speaking on Phoenix FM’s ‘Let the People Talk’ radio programme, PF Media Director Antonio Mwanza said the Zambian people should brace themselves for hard times once the current regime removes tax waivers on Fuel in June.

Mr Mwanza said this is because the prices of commodities are expected to skyrocket owing to the sharp increase in fuel prices in the mentioned month.

And the Media Director has questioned the rationale behind the New Dawn Government’s decision to grant tax holidays to Mines which are making super profits while seeking an IMF bailout package which is lower than the amount it could have made from taxing the mines.

“The current Government has given tax holidays to the mines that are making super profits when the price of Copper are at a record high of 11,000 $. They give tax breaks to the wealth foreign employers. They give $1.6:billion dollars tax free to the mines but they are going to the IMF to ask for $1.4 Billion,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwanza said the UPND Administration should stop boasting that it has provided free education when the prices of Commodities remain high.

He said Parents now spend more than they were paying just on transport and buying food; a situation that needs urgent attention.

“Our friends are claiming that they are providing free education but the parents are spending more to send their children to school. Prices of Commodities have doubled in the New Dawn Administration,” he said.

Mr Mwanza has since urged the Government to find ways and means that will help lower the Cost of doing business.

He said this would be key in promoting employment creation in the private sector.

“This Government is saying it wants to create jobs when the cost of doing business remains high,” he stated

STATE HOUSE!

Their way of handling serious matters!

By Chanoda F Ngwira

We are here today, yesterday day we weren’t here obviously for obvious reasons. They say when bees are calm in the beehive, let them be, no wise man will deliberately get near and provoke them because at that point, they may just wake the sleeping and calm bees which can obviously affect many if not carefully handled.

The Milingo Lungu saga has exposed certain things that the public may not have been preview to. The public was not aware of some of the documents flying around however someone deliberately out of arrogance and drunkeness with power, decided to do what they did, dated the media and addressed the people of Zambia in their usual style, refuted some allegations and indeed even warned some section of staff around the Presidency. Wow!

Where are we today, documents started flying around to prove those that came out strongly to discuss this matter which in my view was not going to be where it is today. Followed is a presser which in my opinion was nothing but an event of drama with much noticeable shame attached to it. It has provoked some citizens and known members of the club, it has brought about thess people rising against the State and those bestowed with power. Citizens are now questioning the highest office on issues surrounding the agreement and immunities given to Mr Milingo Lungu, a man who was quiet in the first place. Though cadres are seemingly standing firm without shame to blame it on the DPP…

The lawyers have handed in a very strong affidavit at our courts, they say what happened is this and that. Names have been mentioned, not simple names, but big names, names that we can simply say is the Presidency. The petitioner in this case Mr Milingo Lungu has vehemently said he knows who he met, his lawyers have even further said that they can prove that before the courts of law, they say they stand firm of what Mr Milingo Lungu has said.

As the matter was seemingly getting watered down following some other events, we are greeted this morning by a another alert involving the Head of State himself who has said will actually use the influence of the holiday hangover of watching his animals and interacting with his family over the Easter holiday to refute the claims that someone met someone among many things. He has actually stated on his page that he never met anyone or gave anyone immunities as alleged. Maybe his His interactions with animals and his people during Easter seems to have destructed him from reading the agreement signed between the state through the office of DPP and Mr Milingo Lungu. He is clearly telling us that he is disassociating himself from the office of the DPP which is part of the state.

What then shall we system? We seem to have amartures at the highest and respected office in this country, we have had serious scandals allegedly to have associated with State House, issues of the leaked audio, issues of DPP and the like. All this is happening now and seems it will not end here.

My worry is, just like State House refuted issues of agreements and immunities and later binding evidence came out, what if these people have serious proof that indeed meetings and those attending it really happened and were present therein? What will happen to the Presidency? The President and those involved? What if there were recordings to that effect? Will this affect the petitioner or indeed those in the defense mode? Was silence on the matter going to be something to go by? Could we have reached here if this matter was done with honest between the parties and both honouring their pledge without provoking each other?

I am candidly worried, I am basically paturbed at the unfolding of issues around what we are reading on social media and some sections of the media both print and otherwise. This is simply appalling and if not handled well, we shall remain a shell of shame and embarrassment as a country. We are a laughing figure as a nation in the region and beyond. I feel State House and the State have not proffesionallly handled these matters well, I see carelessness and lack of tact and seriousness by those deployed at State House and Government.

What can I say? Nothing at all, I can only speculate, I just pray that these issues as alluded to above will not land us in a situation of shame. Anyway let’s wait for the presser by the Head of State on Monday while we are waiting for the reaction and undoubted response from the petitioner himself and his lawyers who seem to be standing on firm grounds on this matter.

LORD HELP US!

(Reuters) – China has committed to joining Zambia’s creditor committee, International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday, amid complaints from Zambia’s finance minister about delays to its debt restructuring.

People’s Bank of China governor Yi Gang said that China intended to co-chair the committee, two sources with knowledge of the International Monetary and Finance Committee meeting told Reuters.

Zambia became the first pandemic-era default in 2020 and is buckling under a debt burden of almost $32 billion, around 120% of GDP.

“We were very pleased to hear from Governor Yi Gang… a very specific commitment to join the creditor committee on Zambia and work expeditiously for debt resolution,” said Georgieva at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings.

She added that he had also committed to the Common Framework debt restructuring process, launched by the Group of 20 (G20) leading economies in 2020 in response to the pandemic.

Zambia’s finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said at public events on Thursday that the debt restructuring process had “stalled” and that the Zambian team had “come here to complain”.

An IMF spokesperson said that they did not have any more details of Yi’s statement, noting that it was at a closed door meeting.

“This augurs well, for coordination, in resolving debt for various African countries,” Zimbabwe’s finance minister Mthuli Ncube tweeted of the Chinese position.

At the International Monetary and Financial Committee, the Governor from China, announced that China will now join creditors for Zambia, in order to resolve that country’s debt situation. This augurs well, for coordination, in resolving debt for various African countries pic.twitter.com/7lrNqknqkV

— Prof. Mthuli Ncube (@MthuliNcube) April 21, 2022

Ethiopia and Chad also signed up to the Common Framework more than a year ago and have yet to receive debt relief.

“China is a very significant lender to many of these low-income countries, and China needs to participate, along with the Paris Club and private creditors,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said at a press conference before Georgieva’s.

“I’ve called on China to specifically for example participate right away in a meeting for Zambia, that wishes to undergo debt restructuring. And I am hopeful that China will agree to play a more constructive role.”

China and Chinese entities held $5.78 billion of Zambia’s debt at the end of 2021, according to the most recent Zambian government data.

-Reuters

HAS MAURICE JANGULO BECOME THE NEW DAWN’S RASPUTIN?.

By John Phiri

That every throne attracts its own rogue is exemplified by how long myths and truths have persisted about one Grigory Rasputin since the days of Russian Emperor Nichholas II.

According to Albinko Hasic, writing in a publication in 2016, the life and death of Grigory Rasputin is shrouded in mythology, as a mystic healer, political saboteur and renegade monk.

What is relevant to this discussion is that Rasputin wormed his way into the household of Tsar Nicholas II by promising, largely via Tsarina Alexandra, that he could cure their sick son of hemophilia.

He proceeded to use his new position to attract to himself many dubious benefits, resulting in many believing that he had the Russian royal court spellbound by some special powers.

The amount of press that Alfa Commodities owner Maurice Jangulo is getting, and the government’s failure to explain why he was given a fertiliser contract worth $50 million and paid immediately, without open tender, is beginning to suggest he has a strange hold on the New Dawn government, especially as regards his near mythical qualifications as Zambia’s fertiliser supremo now seemingly destined to hog the lucrative government fertiliser supply contracts space.

Like Rasputin promised Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra a cure for their son, Jangulo is reported to have assured President Hakainde Hichilema and the Ministry of Agriculture that he had capacity to end the immediate fertiliser supply problems plaguing Southern Province, and thereafter ensure steady, efficient supply countrywide.

To kick off his fertiliser supply coup, it is understood he “recommended” the single sourcing of a private company, known as MVC Consultants, to conduct a forensic audit of the government fertiliser supply contracts of the past decade, and especially the last contracts given by the previous government, zeroing in on the Fertiliser Support Programme for 2021/2022 season.

So far there the government has given no credible information to prove there was a transparent process to engage this firm to do the audit.

But there is a letter by Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Green Mbozi to all Provincial Agricultural Coordinators to give MVC Consultants unfettered access to the data they sought.

‘’…This serves to inform you that the Ministry has engaged MVC Consultants to help with monitoring of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) programme implementation for the 2021/2022 season.

The consultants are currently in the field in all provinces following up the implementation of FISP. You are all being urged to support the consultants’ activities as they carry out their work.

Please urgently communicate the contents of this minute to all districts under your charge.’’ ’’ read the letter in part dated December 3, 2021 and signed by Mbozi

This is the audit that Socialist Party President Fred M’membe said was manipulated by Jangulo to point accusing fingers at all the other major fertiliser suppliers of greater capacity than his own Alfa Commodities.

That some of them were found not to have completed delivery of their consignments was used to “blacklist” all of them, including those that had delivered on their contracts, and still have not been paid in full for their work.

By this hatchet job Jangulo is said to be angling to position himself to be installed as the chief fertiliser supplier to the government, despite the miniscule capacity of his company Alfa Commodities.

Testimony of this is the fact that Alfa Commoditoes has struggled to supply the 37, 000 tonnes contracted for Southern PRovince, and resorted to buying the commodity from some of the same “discredited” competitors.

Some of this fertiliser supplied by Alfa Commodities has been found to be substandard and underweight.

M’membe and others have asked the government to explain this matter but the Ministry of Agriculture has remained silent.

Part if the explanation sought is why Alfa Commoddities has been allowed to supply fertiliser to the government at $1,407 while the competitors the audit sought to discredit supplied at $1,000.

The failure of government to explain these facts has now led to speculation that Jangulo is now the power in the Ministry of Agriculture, and is running the fertiliser power axis running from Alfa Commodities, Permanent Secretary Mbozi (said to have also been recommended by Jangulo) and State House.

The sooner the government comes out with credible explanations about this contract, the better for all concerned.

Otherwise speculation and innuendo regarding the power of Jangulo will continue to grow, much like Rasputin in the Russian royal court.

Because of his constant presence in the royal court, whispers grew that Rasputin was acting as a puppet master over the royal couple, wielding great power as an adviser, helping in appointing his own church ministers and other public officials.

If Jangulo and Mbozi both once worked together in high profile agribusiness operations would you blame those suggesting that the former recommended to latter for his current job, which is critical in processing the much sought after fertiliser contracts?

A minor point in this saga may be the actual timing of the signing of the contract between the government and Alfa Commodities, a point being canvassed to give the New Dawn government a minor escape route.

But this would be minor indeed, considering that in the only explanation Minister of Agriculture has given thus far, he stated categorically that the government decided to give a contract to Alfa to supply 37,000 tonnes.

Rasputin’s behavior and influence came to symbolize everything negative in Russian politics and society at the time.

Just like Rasputin, Jangulo, much like Kaizar Zulu in the Patriotic Front government, is emerging as a symbol of the kind of dealings that give Zambian governments a negative portrayal and a bad name.

Much like the tale of his murder, the aftermath of Rasputin’s death has been mythologized over the years.

According to legend, after Rasputin’s poisoned and shot body was thrown into the ice-cold river, he was fished out by a group of passersby, who found that he was still alive when they dragged his body to the shore of the river.

However, the truth is that after Rasputin’s already deceased corpse was thrown into the Malaya Nevka River, it took days for the police to find the body because the water had already frozen in the sub-zero Russian winter.

Jangulo too, is coming back from some kind of business death or failure. He was at the helm of what should have become Africa’s largest fertiliser supply company called Nyiombo.

Details of the plunder of that firm, the birth of Zambezi Airlines, and the eventual demise of both, is one whose facts are the subject of a different discussion.

ends.

ABOUT THE WRITTER.

John Phiri is former Editor Inchief at Times of Zambia.

President HH Press Conference Monday

By Nkonkomalimba Kapumpe

-Show concern and appreciation of what the Zambians are going through. Cost of living and doing Business. This is very important in the introduction to soften even the most extreme critics.This must be carefully crafted to not look like you are taking blame or just blaming PF. A show of responsibility and care is the target.

– Briefly in very simple terms explain the steps being taken. E.g. Employment, Business, Local Debt, Business not only for UPND but Zambians and improvements.

– DPP issue? This is very tricky. If he is not ready to go after the DPP in full. Let Him support the office of the DPP and state that it’s an independent office. And let him state that in democracy and our justice system we do not agree on certain approaches but we endeavour to have the corrupt prosecuted.

He can simply say the state will continue to engage citizens that are corrupting in the recovery of assets. Mentioning Milingo should be avoided ..you wait for the question and answer. Did you meet him yes over KCM updates ..then explain the importance of KCM to the nation and why regular engagement is important.

– IMF update, there is enough ammunition now. Waste a lot of time here. You even ask friendly journalist to concerate here. It’s better to be attacked on solutions you are offering.

– Police, you mention or recommend a few changes to the police to respond faster to community, more training for police officers in respect to human rights and professionalism. And to show Zambians that you know every detail ..you mention they stop getting involved in collections kaloba. Mention also the recent kidnapings condeming it and end by encouraging the police to bring to book the criminals.

– And if he really wants to sink in, let him reshuffle some people or fire some. It’s should not be very brutal but firm and kind.

Expected Trick questions

– High food prices
– Milingo Meeting
– Foreign Affairs gift Bag

Let “your” journalist ask the tough questions in the manner you want. And let them take half of the time. If a journalist asks a non challenging question spend alot of time there.

If the President can achieve to show care and concern about Zambians then he is back on track. The press conference should brief so that the messege you want out is not lost in a lot of words and other stories.

I think the above issues will even tackle other concerns. You concerate on the person holding the stick and not the stick; then he won’t pick another stick.

Nkonkomalimba Kapumpe self appointed Presidental advisor.

President Hakainde Hichilema has been declared Freeman of Namwala Town.

The declaration was made by Namwala Town Council during an Extra Ordinary Full Council Meeting which was held at Naminwe Ranch in Namwala on Wednesday, 20th April, 2022.

Namwala Town Council Chairperson, Mr. Abel Moonga said that Namwala Town Council during its Third Full Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 19th April, 2022 in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre, resolved to declare Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia and son of Namwala as Freeman of the Town.

Mr. Moonga says that this declaration was in pursuant of the provision of the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019 Section 30(1), which states that “A Town Council may admit to the status of honorary freeman of the town a person of distinction who has rendered eminent service to the town”.

The Council Chairperson said that the works being noted were:

1. That President Hichilema had helped a lot of vulnerable members of the community, some with agricultural equipment and oxen, others sponsorships to schools and with assistance to pay their medical bills.
2. That the President Hichilema had been involved in the construction of health posts and schools.
3. That President Hichilema was incarcerated as an opposition leader on behalf of the Community in Namwala and Zambia.

President Hichilema said that Namwala was the first town to honour him with the status of Freeman of the Town in Zambia. He expressed his gratitude at the decision taken by Namwala Town Council said that this was a pleasant surprise as he had taken only some days off to rest, and never expected to be honoured in such a manner.

Mr. Hichilema said that he had taken a few days off to rest and never expected this was a pleasant surprise and never expected this, as he had only taken a few days off to rest in Namwala and that he really never expected this, as he had only taken a few days off to rest in Namwala.

The President said that he would work together with Namwala Town Council and the other 115 councils in the country to uplift the living standards of the people. President Hichilema said one of the measures government had taken was to ensure that all children, whether poor or orphaned, had access to free education. He also said that increasing CDF allocation from K1.6 million to K25.7 million was another initiative of Government to take the money to the local people in the constituencies so that they could make their own decisions on the development priorities and be able to support those decisions using CDF.

The President said that this was the first time since independence that a government had been able to deliver so much money and more importantly had allowed local people to decide who deserved a bursary in their communities.

Mr. Hichilema said since Namwala had honoured him with the status of Freeman of the Town, he expected the district to take the lead in using CDF properly. He emphasised that CDF was not for Councillors, MPs, Ministers or the President, but that CDF belonged to the people, who expected to be provided with clean water, health service facilities and desks for their children who were sitting on the floor.

President Hichilema said that as leaders, they were put in office to work for the people, to unite the people and not to divide, to include and not to exclude. Mr. Hichilema said that he would not allow lawlessness under the UPND government and that no one would be marginalised or victimised.

The President urged everyone to develop the Zambia by utilising the abundant natural resources that this country was blessed with.

Issued by:
Nchimunya Lukubi
Public Relations Officer

Africa Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC) Zambia Chapter notes with sadness two unfortunate and embarrassing incidents that have occurred in our country lately.

These Include:

• The suspicious images which went viral on social media where the Foreign Affairs Minister Stanley Kakubo was seen in the company of some Chinese nationals at unknown location.

• The revelations by a Mr. Milingo Lungu, through court documents, that he met State officials as well as President Hakainde Hichilema and others who allegedly offered him immunity over cases he stood charged.

These two incidents are disturbing to APNAC.
First, we have taken note of the Chinese flag on one vehicle present on the pictures which went viral on social media.

To our understanding, the Ambassador accredited to Zambia by the People’s Republic of China has not yet submitted credentials to President Hakainde Hichilema. To this effect, we reasonably believe that the use of the Chinese flag on the vehicle in question is highly suspicious and abrogates diplomatic etiquette in all senses. Although the Foreign Affairs Minister Stanley Kakubo has offered an explanation to that effect, we as APNAC remain very suspicious and want a proper explanation from Government of who really was using the Chinese Ambassador’s vehicle on that day and we equally challenge the Chinese embassy to disclose who was using that vehicle in the absence of the substantive ambassador?

Secondly, it is unheard of for a government to offer immunity to persons who face criminal charges before court. Just like many people and organisation, APNAC is very disappointed that the Minister of Justice Mulambo Haimbe failed to address the issue alleged by Mr. Milingo Lungu in its conclusive terms. The Minister of Justice went to divert people’s attention by pushing an agenda that we have now believed is a political project of the United Party for National Development (UPND) government to hound out the Director of Public Prosecution from office.

It is very clear now that this administration has no intention of fighting corruption in its literal meaning and sense. These allegations made by Mr. Milingo Lungu are too serious that one expected government to say something on whether or not there was a meeting between the President with his team and Mr. Lungu. We are very disappointed with this administration for demonstrating that they can interfere with judicial system in order to achieve their desired agenda.

We are now convinced that even their calls for the DPP to leave office are motivated by their appetite to ensure that any form of corruption which involves them, is never prosecuted.
Hon Munir Zulu MP
Signed
APNAC S.G

I’M READY TO SPOSOR PRAISE SINGER CHOMBA FOR LECTURES IN MPIKA- MPIKA MP FRANCIS KAPYANGA

Mpika Member of Parliament Francis Kapyanga says he is prepared to sponsor “Praise Singer” Jackson Chomba for leadership lectures in Mpika district.

“Am very ready to sponsor him to come to Mpika and tour Mpika with me so that he can have a clear picture of who Kapyanga is on the ground. In my constituency Jack can’t even win any seat. He needs to come and learn from one of my Councillors on how to work and how to remain mature as a leader,” he tells Chete FM news.

In the latest reaction to the UPND Councillor who has shrugged off the “failure” tag, Mr Kapyanga has wondered how a person of Mr Chomba’s caliber was elected.

“Am very shocked that Jack Chomba [is] actually serving in the position of Councillor. You know Jack Chomba is someone that I know and no one would actually expect him to have been elected. I want to advise my brother that let work speak for him and not those stunts he is making,” says Mr Kapyanga.

“Jack will never speak against anything, he’s one of the praise singers that are well-known even on social media. How will he leave his role of praise singing and put on a different jacket of speaking for the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Chomba who is Old Fife Ward Councillor he’s disappointed that a lawmaker has taken the stance of dividing efforts to work in unity.

“Let him go and repair those streetlights in Mpika in that dual carriageway not coming here, talking about what is happening here in Nakonde. That nonsense! The time of politicking is long gone, this is time to provide service to the people.”

The feud springs from the statement Mr Kapyanga made on Tuesday night on radio that opposition Ward Councillors will perform better than the ruling because they can speak out.

“Some of them acquired those positions through dubious means, that much we know and some of the leaders that contested, they were just buying adoption letters. I cannot get lectures from Kapyanga. He is too young and he’s got a lot g way to go as far as leadership is concerned,” he claims.

THE VINDICTIVENESS OF UPND GOVT. HAS LED THEM TO START EXHUMING DEAD BODIES ON THE PRETEXT THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE BURIED – NAKACINDA.

…says the New Dawn administration is obsessed with vilifying, abusing and humiliating anyone associated with the former ruling party.

Thursday, April 21, 2022 (Smart Eagles)

The Patriotic Front says the New Dawn administration is so obsessed in wanting to vilify, abuse and humiliate Citizens just because they were associated with the former ruling Party(PF).

Speaking when he featured on Hot FM’s Hot Seat Radio Programme, PF Information and Publicity Chairperson Raphael Nakacinda expressed sadness that the vindictiveness of the ruling party has now led them to start exhuming dead bodies on the Pretext that millions of dollars were buried as opposed to a dead person.

Mr Nakacinda has since questioned the real motive behind the exhuming of the late Suzyo Nyika’s body in Lundazi when state agencies and health authorities declared him dead.

“We had state agents close to 100 police officers and about 100 prisoners went to exhume the body of Suzyo Nyika in a Village in Lundazi under the Pretext that he faked his death and that the all burial ceremony was meant to hoodwink the mourners and that the burial ceremony was that of a million of dollars,” he said.

Hon Nakacinda said that contrary to what was peddled, it was found that indeed a body twas buried and not millions of dollars.

“To what extent are our friends in the ruling party wiling to go on this journey of vindictiveness to a point that even the dead are not spared contrary to our Christian values and culture,” he said.

Mr Nakacinda said he is meant to believe that there are unreasonable instructions been given from the highest office of the land.

He said this makes people who do not have courage in doing what they believe in do.

“We have a problem, from the day these law enforcement agencies were taken to state House under gazette notice 1123 of 2021 where ACC, DEC ,POLICE and OP were taken to state House,” he stated.

Community house/statehouse debate – is this a real issue now?

The demand by some section of the citizenry that president HH must move to statehouse has gained so much momentum. I have been wondering whether this is an issue we should spend so much time on as a country or not. To start with, statehouse, also called plot one, is meant to be the official residence of the republican president. Being plot 1 of the land, it is expected that it would provide the residence of the highest standard, in terms of comfort and safety, on the land. The head of state obviously deserves this kind of comfort and safety.

Does the current statehouse provide this kind of environment? Most unlikely. I say so because president RB is on record for complaining about the state of statehouse and actually made some significant moves to construct new statehouse. President sata had some hard times moving to statehouse as he is on record for complaining about the state of statehouse. I also understand that President lungu barely lived in nkwazi house as he spent most of his presidency at state lodge. This should not be surprising considering that statehouse was constructed in the more than 60 years ago and the level of maintenance of the 1st house does not appear to match the level of deterioration. President HH has opted to continue staying at his community house because statehouse as confirmed by previous heads of state is no longer able to serve its purpose – provide the highest standard of safety and comfort to the first family. It appears community house is currently serving that purpose very well. Infact, now that we have a president who has a home providing the level of safety and comfort statehouse was supposed to offer, the country has an opportunity to use this time to either refurbish or complete overhaul the current nkwazi house just like RB wanted to do 10 years ago.

Does the country have resources to build a new statehouse now? Izt a priority? The real question before us now should not be whether HH should move to statehouse or not but whether the state should commit resources now to build a new statehouse. Brebner changala in his article agrees that statehouse is dilapidated but still insists that the president should move to statehouse and live like the Zambian people he chose to serve. Moving to statehouse and living like ordinary Zambians in the same sentence is oxymoronic. A president living in a dilapidated house contradicts the very essence statehouse was founded. Statehouse is supposed to be the country’s first house and has never been meant to provide an environment similar to people that voted for the president. Statehouse has always provided the best facilities in terms of comfort and safety to the head of state unless things have changed under HH. To demand that president HH moves in statehouse in its current state is highly hypocritical and unreasonable. As a matter of fact, what the president HH has done should actually be highly commendable. Instead of committing resources to build new statehouse or overhaul statehouse now and maybe demand that the state provides alternative accommodation during this period, HH has offered his community house to provide shelter to the 1st family for free. We should just accept that the country currently has no habitable house for the president and therefore should have been paying for alternative place to provide safe and comfortable residence for the head of State. By living in his community house, HH has done the exact contrast to what the former head of state has done, who despite having own residence, has opted to make the state foot his accommodation bills simply because he is entitled to a presidential retirement home even when he has his own.

The freedom of speech we are enjoying now, thanks to president HH, should be applied to provide proper checks and balances not this issue we have been on for months now. CDF is being released and we would do well to get involved so that there is transparency and accountability in the application of those resources. In the meantime , regarding statehouse, we can use the next five years of HH’s presidency to build and fully renovate statehouse to make it habitable again. This way we would not put so much stress on the already stressed treasury thanks to the pf regime.

Concerned citizen

PF TO CONTEST ALL SEIZURES OF ITS VEHICLES & PROPERTIES

21st April, 2022 – Lusaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has issued a Gazette Notice No. 604 dated 4th April, 2022 notifying named parties to claim 71 motor vehicles that the Commission has impounded failure to which the said vehicles will be forfeited to the state.

We wish to inform our members and the general public that we are carefully studying the list of the impounded motor vehicles and we shall vehemently contest all seizures of vehicles and any other properties that legitimately belong to the Patriotic Front.

It is important to note that the Law is very clear: no person, institution or authority has a legal right to question a political party to disclose its source of funding,thus we find the action of the Anti- Corruption Commission of Zambia and other investigative wings of Government to continue questioning and harassing members of the Patriotic Front with regards to the funding of the Patriotic Front to be utterly unconstitutional and absolutely ultra-vires.

It is equally strange that out of all the registered political parties in Zambia, only the Patriotic Front is being illegally questioned about its source of campaign funding. Further, only the Patriotic Front is having its properties being confiscated. We wonder why no UPND or any other political party’s vehicles are being impounded as we have not seen any disclosure of how they acquired their vehicles. This is purely a witch-hunt and a gross misapplication of the law.

Honestly, how can anyone think that a Party as big as the Patriotic Front; a Party that has been in existence for more than 20 years; a Party that has been in power for 10 years cannot afford to own a vehicle or a property? What kind of warped thinking is that?

The UPND is using state institutions and abusing state power to try to wipe out the Patriotic Front from Zambia’s political space. They are using and abusing ACC, DEC and other related Government institutions to cripple financially and materially cripple the Patriotic Front and to label and paint the entire party as a criminal and corrupt organisation.

However, we will not cow down or falter in our efforts to pursue justice and reclaim what rightfully belongs to us.

We have a solemn duty to protect and defend democracy and the rule of law and we will do anything within our powers, legally so, to defend and protect the Party and ourselves from this wanton abuse of state power.

Instead of wasting taxpayers’ money and wasting man-hours of the innocent employees at DEC, ACC, Zambia Police and others, the UPND must concentrate on giving honest answers to the Zambian people concerning the Kakubo, Milingo scandals among many others.

This Government of dealers are using the so called fake fight against corruption to try to distract the Zambian people from holding them accountable for their failure to deal with the many economic challenges Zambians are facing under their failed leadership. We challenge the UPND to concentrate on delivering the many promises they made to the people of Zambia and to stop using the Patriotic Front as a cover up for their failures.

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

The failure by President Hakainde Hichilema and his family to move to State House will cost ZESCO over K1 million as the financially crippled power unity now has to build a new dedicated power unit to feed Community House with uninterrupted power supply.

An assessment by experts from the security and defence wings recommended that Community House be fed from an independent and dedicated power line to avoid supply disconnections that have occurred in the New Kasama area in the recent past.

The experts stated that President Hichilema and his family cannot be exposed to power cuts as it raises the chances of security breaches.

ZESCO has now been tasked to construct a new dedicated feeder line from the nearest Sub Station in the Lusaka MFEZ to suspend it Community House to guarantee 24/7 supply.

A team of senior Engineers constituted for this assignment recently travelled to ZESCO Israel to shop for materials required to undertake the project.

“The instruction is that Community House be fed separately to avoid the First Family going without power, unfortunately, power cuts are inevitable due to several factors and Community House has suffered a few of such in recent past prompting this action to be fed independently but this is coming at a huge cost,” a source from ZESCO Head office revealed.

He added, “We have a number of Sub Stations servicing Lusaka Division but what is going to happen is that we will build a mini station next to the residence so that we don’t subject the President and his family to the risks that happen when we tap from the main stations for mass distribution, what we are building his a single line just to service Community House like the way State House itself is serviced.”

The source said State House was built and connected to a dedicated line that also services Arakan Barracks and the University Teaching Hospital for security reasons.

“It should be appreciated that there is a reason State House sits where it does today. The City Planners considered a number of factors including the security of the First Family and ZESCO had to build infrastructure dedicated to service State House, in the history of that residence, one can count the number of times power has been cut because of that dedicated installation,” he said.

He added, “The First Family could have their reasons for staying put but the Head of State must consider that as a Corporation, we are now spending on projects that were not even budgeted for, this organisation is bleeding financially and we cannot continue spending money that is not even there.”

The source also wondered why huge amounts of money is being spent on a private property.

“As far as we know, Community House is a private property. As ZESCO, we are now spending public resources building power infrastructure to service it 24/7. What will happen when President Hichilema leaves office? Are we going to decommission the infrastructure at Community House?”

The source also disclosed that currently, there is a team of dedicated Engineers on standby at Kabwata Office 24/7 to respond to any emergencies arising from Community House.

“Before this new infrastructure is set up, we have had to keep a good number of Engineers on standby to respond to anything that might come from Community House and these people have to be paid allowances on top of their salaries, it’s a huge cost to the Corporation and should not be allowed to continue,” the source said.

SOURCE: Lusaka Times

I know the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) plans to arrest me once I avail myself for what they term as tempering with witnesses that I am not even aware of because they have not been called by the courts of law but I am ready for them, former Lusaka province minister, Bowman Lusambo has said.

The ACC said yesterday during a first quarter press briefing said that they have engaged Mr. Lusambo’s lawyers as he had been elusive to avail himself for questioning on other allegations leveled against him.

But Mr. Lusambo who was still out of the country told the Daily Nation in an interview that he was not scared of whatever plans the ACC had laid for him because the witnesses they alleged he tampered with were not known.

Mr. Lusambo said he has never failed to avail himself before the ACC and would not do so this time around because he was ready to defend himself.

Mr. Lusambo said he was not shaken by the said fresh allegations because his biggest allegation was the seizure of his house on accusations that it was built from proceeds of crime.

“The biggest allegation was my house which the ACC seized in absentia. Which other allegations can they fail to tell the nation, they just want to silence political heavy weights like me but there is no one who can silence me, that is not how you deal with Bowman Lusambo,’’ he said.

ACC spokesperson, Queen Chibwe said Mr. Lusambo has been elusive so the commission was making efforts through his lawyers to ensure that he avails himself for questioning.

And Ms. Chibwe has refuted media reports that Mr Lusambo was still occupying his seized house in Lusaka’s Chamber Valley.

She said the reports were not true because Mr Lusambo has had no access to the properties from the time they were seized.

Ms. Chibwe said the implications of the seizure notice served on Mr. Lusambo was that the ACC has taken total control of all the properties until investigations are concluded.

She warned that if Mr Lusambo sneaked into his house, he would be committing an offence and would face the consequences.

“We would like to emphasise that the particular property is now in hands of the ACC and we have placed police officers to man and safeguard them and so no one shall be allowed to enter the promises until investigations are concluded,” she said.

Ms Chibwe also dismissed reports that the ACC sent officers to South Africa in an effort to seize properties suspected to be linked to Mr. Lusambo.

She said the reports are a total fabrication intended to mislead the public and bring the name of the ACC into disrepute.

And Ms Chibwe disclosed that the animals at Mr. Lusambo’ house are unhealthy and would be relocated to a more suitable environment.

She said they were working with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife which examined the wild animals and found that they were unhealthy and needed to be relocated.

“The wild animals include seven Impalas, two Axis Deer, two zebras, two puku and two water bucks,” Ms Chibwe said.

President of the World Bank David Malpass has accused China of delaying the debt restructuring process for Zambia.

And Mr. Malpaas has called for a new process for restructuring debt burdens for developing nations amid concerns about a lack of transparency over how much they owe to China.

Mr. Malpass said on Bloomberg Television’s Surveillance Tuesday that it is important for China to get on board for Zambia’s debt talks to move forward.

He said it is in China’s interests to have an improved system, given the prominence of their lending, and noted that Beijing is interested in participating.

“But the system has been one where — that has allowed transparency to go down and down.”

“In many cases, there are non-disclosure clauses in the debt contracts that leave it unclear” that payments are being made “often times to China,” Mr. Malpass said.

“The devil is in the details.”

Mr. Malpass noted that China remains outside of the Paris Club, the main institution where debt-restructuring talks occur.

The Group of 20 is making “some progress” in trying to broaden that out, he said.

G-20 finance chiefs were scheduled to meet later Wednesday.

Among the issues Malpass listed was some countries delaying addressing debt problems until a point of crisis, such as — in the case of Sri Lanka — the need to pay for food.

There’s also an imbalance between what the poorest countries are expected to pay — some $35 billion of debt service this year alone — versus the fresh foreign-aid flows that are coming in, Malpass said.

Among the issues discussed at the Wednesday IMFC session was a call for China to convene a creditors’ committee for Zambia.

“That would be a very helpful step” given how Zambia stopped paying creditors about a year ago, but lacks any pathway to debt resolution now, Mr. Malpass said.

“The world needs to have a resolution process for debt that’s more robust than we have right now and starts earlier,.”

“There really needs to be a change,” he said. “The world was set up under the old debt composition, where China wasn’t a big player,” he said.

The International Monetary and Financial Committee, the main steering panel of the IMF’s member countries, “heavily” discussed the subject of debt resolution at a session on Wednesday morning, Mr. Malpass said.

The meeting is one of a slew that are part of the spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund this week in Washington.

“It’s not all transparent as far as what the amounts are” that are owed to China, Mr. Malpass said.

As far as official, government-to-government lending goes — a category that excludes categories such as private-sector bank credit — China now makes up 65% of the total, Mr. Malpass said.

The World Bank chief said “we’re working to avoid” the circumstance where assistance being sent to developing nations simply gets onpassed to China in the form of debt servicing.