LUNGU AND HIS PF CLIQUE MUST BE REMORSEFUL- KANEMA

…..As he condemns the former republican president Mr Edgar Lungu for referring hypocrisy to Government efforts to unity the country.

19/03/2022

UPND North Western province Youth Chairperson Mr Bruce Kanema has condemned the remarks made by the former president Mr Edgar Lungu yesterday at the Embassy park after the burial service of the late president Rupiah Banda.

Mr Bruce kanema has condemned the hypocrisy statement issued by former president ECL in which he said it’s high time that president Lungu must have a unifying language and avoid divisive language which the late president RB spoke against.

Mr Kanema also stated that the remarks made by the acting PF president Given Lubinda in which he challenged the Government to arrest those who stole Government resources instead of telling them to surrender which he said was a mockery to the Government of the republic of Zambia.

He stated that these statements means both the former president Edgar Lungu and his clique member Mr Given Lubinda are not remorseful for the wrong things they did and they eventually do not appreciate the methodical way of handling national matters by the UPND New Dawn Government.

Mr kanema has called on the Government to up their fight against corruption and recovery of what was stolen with full force because the clique is now on it’s way to continue fooling Zambians and sound relevant to the public.

He has challenged all the Government investigative wings to take seriously the spirit of fighting corrupt without using kids cloves and waiting for instructions but doing what the law demands.

He emphasized that His Exellence president HH must be helped by all well meaning Zambians to achieve his good vision for the benefits of every citizen of this country regardless of their political, social or economic status in society.

He stated that the clique are back and are speaking louder because the assets which they have managed to hide the stolen assets including unregistered motor vehicles which are now back on the streets without fear or shame.

Mr Bruce Kanema has challenged the former president Mr Edgar Lungu to avoid using divisive language when the country is healing from total division on political and regional lines which was spearhead by the PF regime under his leadership.

(C) THE FALCON

Critical Shortage of drugs in hospitals and Clinics, Who Will Pay for the Lives Lost?

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

The fact is no longer in contest.

There is an established critical shortage of medicines and medical supplies in hospitals, Clinics and health centres in Zambia in the last six months.

The number of loss of lives attributed directly to this sad development is yet to be made public.

This is because, during this period, the Ministry of Health has not bought any medicines, has refused to pay previous suppliers, has abolished the Procurement Unit and is in the process of picking “new” suppliers.

The portfolio Minister, Hon Sylvia Masebo proceeded to abolish all boards and management of sub-sector entities involved in the regulatory and distribution of drugs.

Further it is extremely surprising to hear Hon. Masebo, in her Ministerial Statement in Parliament, express ignorant shock that Hospitals have not taken the initiative to buy medicines and medical supplies using administrative and operational funds that the Ministry has disbursed!

She even dares to accuse hospital administrators of having masters elsewhere ( PF) other than the current Government!

This statement alone is a scandal on its own!

Does she expect Hospitals to utilise administrative and operational funds, to buy medicines?

Does she expect Administrators to take quotations from the streets and buy medicines from there?

Does she know how public funds are utilized? Has she read the Auditor General’s Reports?

Is her request for such an initiative even legal in Zambia?

Her last stay at a Ministry ( Ministry of Tourism) in 2012 ended in tears as she was arrested and arraigned before the court of law for abuse of office and interfering in the procurement process as a Minister…guess nothing has changed in her outlook.

Has she heard of ZAMRA?

The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority is the Statutory Body established under an Act of Parliament; the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No. 3 of 2013 to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, storage distribution, supply, sale and use of medicines and allied substances.

Has the Minister heard about Medical Stores Limited (MSL) now transformed as the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), an autonomous government agency established under the companies act with the express objective of furnishing to the nation good quality drugs and various medical equipment and supplies?

Over the years, the Ministry of Health, its development and cooperating assistance partners have invested substantial amounts of money in the public-sector drug procurement and distribution system.

Zambia has a well-functioning supply chain for essential medicines.

Zambia has a three-tier system with storage of medicines and medical supplies at each level (Storage at National Distribution Center, District Health Office and Health Facility).

Government constructed regional hubs in line with Government’s decentralization policy, across the country.

By criminalizing all companies that supply medicines and medical supplies, by firing all Permanent Secretaries, by dissolving all boards at ZAMMSA and ZAMRA, and by abolishing the procurement unit, Masebo is trying to re-invent the wheel and not cleaning up.

What Masebo and her technical staff are currently doing is to dismantle a heavily invested in, well-established and well-functioning system built over the years.

Clearly this wayward gamble by Masebo has cost many dear lives as a result of lack of medicines at hospitals, clinics and health centres in the last six months.

Who will pay for the loss of these lives?

Isn’t life sacred with the New Dawn Government?

THANK YOU ZAMBIA!

By Dickson Jere

What a great send off for President Rupiah Banda! He must be wearing his trademark smile and happy in the matter Zambia mourned him. Very dignified – as he wished – and the unity that brought everyone on board.

A very big “Thank You” to President Hakainde Hichilema for making sure that the oldboy was given a benefiting funeral. Logistics and other support was in place and the President took personal interest in making sure that the process was smooth. He made sure no-one was harassed or stopped from mourning and attending the funeral – exactly what RB would have wanted. Thank you President!

Political parties and their choirs took turns in singing in harmony – including the nearly defunct MMD showed up, dressed in RB regalia! What a beautiful sight it was…

Leaders from different backgrounds sat together in church and talked the way RB would have wished for his funeral. While everyone is focused on the politicians, for me, it was seeing Paramount Chief Mpezeni and Paramount Chief Gawa Undi together. I shed a tear. That was what RB had always wanted – to bring these two together – and he did it in death! RB a “reconciliator” even in his death. The two Chiefs even inspected th grave together and later laid wreaths together. That was the highest point of that funeral for me – RB during and after his presidency wanted unity between Ngoni and Chewa speaking people. He was both and once asked to be cut in half if these two groups were not united.

Thank you the defence and security for giving your 4th Commander In-Chief the benefiting funeral. The 21 gun salute and guard of honor was on point! The fly past was done meticulously!

To the family, we salute you for showing unity and morning RB in a dignified manner. Even though sorrowful, we also rejoiced and celebrated his life in style – everyone had a story to tell about RB and how he impacted on them. We had problems at Church yesterday to accommodate everyone as RB children – Blacks, Indians, Greeks, Whites, Jews – all showed up from various parts of the world. They wanted to sit on the family side and nowhere else.
Go well President of all Zambians. Yours was life well lived.
It is well!

Former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, has praised Zambians for demonstrating solidarity during the funeral and burial of late fourth President Rupiah Banda at Embassy Park yesterday.

Mr. Chissano said the great multitudes of Zambians that attended the funeral church service yesterday was symbolising a spirit of solidarity and unity among themselves.

He has since urged the Zambian people to keep solidarity in their hearts in order to realise economic development in the country.

He was speaking before departure at Kenneth Kaunda international Airport this afternoon.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Chissano attended the funeral church service of late Mr. Banda, who died on March 11, 2022.

Mr Chisano further urged Zambians to emulate the iconic leader who preached peace.

“The one Zambia one nation motto was repeated at both church service and Embassy Park where a spirit of solidarity and unity was demonstrated. I hope this solidarity will be kept forever in the country,” he said.

He said he was impressed with the spirit of oneness, unity and solidarity, adding that he was honoured to attend the funeral and represent his country, Mozambique.

The former President of Mozambique, who left at exactly 16:00 hours, said Zambia should forever keep the solidarity and peace the country has been enjoying.

He was seen off by staff from the Mozambique embassy in Zambia.

Yesterday the late fourth republican president Rupiah Banda, who died on Friday 11th March 2022,was put to rest at the presidential burial site at the Embassy Park in Lusaka.

A sombre mood characterised the occasion which was led by President Hakainde Hichilema, first lady Mutinta, former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, various dignitaries, paramount chiefs Mpezeni of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province and Kalonga Gawa Undi of the Chewe people of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

Chief Mbelwa of Malawi and other traditional leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique also attended the burial of the late Mr. Banda.

Before the burial commenced, paramount chiefs Mpezeni and Kalonga Gawa Undi were asked to inspect the grave and later members of the clergy led by Council of Churches in Zambia Secretary General Emmanuel Chikoya were made to bless the grave.

The Zambia Army accorded the late former commander-in-chief a 21 gun salute while the Zambia Airforce did a fly-past as the casket was been lowered into the grave.

Canon Thomas, the Dean and Vicar General of the Anglican Diocese, led committal of the grave before the engineers from the defense force closed the grave with a tomb stone which was unveiled by the late president Banda’s grandchildren.

Children of the late president were the first to lay their wreaths followed by President Hichilema and first lady Mutinta, the former first lady and widow of Mr. Banda did not lay a wreath due to her faith.

In a vote of thanks, niece to the late President, Dorika Banda, thanked government and the people of Zambia for the support during the time of sickness and death of the former president.

Ms. Banda said former president Banda died a happy man knowing that the country, which he loved, was always at peace.

In his closing prayer, Bishop of Chipata Diocese, George Lungu, quoted from Romans 8 verse 39 and said nothing can separate people from the love of God.

Others that attended the burial ceremony included Speaker of the National Assembly, Chief Justice, members of the diplomatic corp, current and former Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Members of Parliament among others.

SINDA DISTRICT COMMISSIONER (DC) MR DAVID TEMBO WRITES:

Dear Family and Friends, always remember that life is a journey.

Allow me to share the untold story of a man in the picture,in order to encourage someone who thinks suicide is the solution.

Having been born from a retired civil servant in the Kaunda days at cabinet office(George Lamecks Tembo)alive, and uneducated nsenga mother but full of wisdom,love for all and family unifier(Mary Maria Zulu Tembo)late, I learnt my human surviving skills at an early age.

Being the 4th born out of eight(8), five(5)ladies and three ( 3) gents and the only person to have reached university levels. Life has not been an ice cream kind of journey.

I have been a street kid before(beggar),a bus conductor/inexperienced driver,a street business person(tamanga),a school drop out at some point,a failure,a laughingstock,despised and humiliated,I have been appointed and disappointed before,fired and hired,promoted and demoted,sidelined,rejected and ejected,accused and justified,persecuted and betrayed,uncounted in matters of importance and all bad things you would think of people go through to have depression.In all these experiences,I have seen God and one thing I can publicly confess is that our surviving Father only provided God to our lives and that’s all we had.

Because of the Almighty God we were given, today we are reaping the fruits of trusting in him.God re-wrote my name by redefining me.He gave me a new name,
connected me to the right people/destiny helpers and today,no one would tell that we had gone through tough situations because Jesus picked, washed, ironed and exposed us to his glory for the manifestation of his goodness.

Kindly know that you don’t just become without being combed.

To cut the long testimony short.Out of what you are going through don’t think of taking your life because that’s the worst cawardice idea.Learn something out of that situation and ask God to guide you through.

Life is more important than what you are going through.That situation is just but temporal which will come to an end soon but when you take your life, the end destination is hell and there it will be forever in pain.You are not the first one to be there,someone passed through that before and they conquered.

Thank you,May God heal and deliver you in Jesus Christ name.

Happy Sabbath 👏🏻

Sinda_District_Commissioner

David Tembo

I always wanted to marry a highly educated woman.
I have changed my mind.

I was late for my flight to Eldoret. I knew that if the traffic at Mombasa road didn’t easen up, I would miss my flight and that wouldn’t have gone well with the client I was meeting in Eldoret. To cut the long story, I got to Wilson Airport just in time for the departure. I serve a living God, what did you expect… 🙂

After the usual airport formalities and tiring safety protocols, the air bus soon tore its massive body into the air and soon we were 34,000 ft above sea levels.

Seated next to me was a lady.

This one was fire on ice. Annoyingly cute with a graceful height. Her skin tone was refreshingly sapple and her eyes were snow white and soul searching. I did summersulting calculations and boom! I had less that 1 hour 15 minutes to win this power girl. GAME LIVE!
Being the Socrates that I am, I knew I wasn’t basic. So instead of asking her random stuff like what she does for a living and what her favorite color was, I asked if we could play a small game.

Her name was Nancy.

Nancy mentioned that she was tired and politely rejected my offer to a game. She also mentioned that all she wanted was to take a nap as she was having a connecting flight from Eldoret to Kisumu. Upon politely regecting my request to a game, cute Nancy then rolled over to the window to catch a few winks.
Again, being the Socrates that I am, I insisted. I told Nancy that the game was simple yet fun.
I told her that in the game, I was to ask her a question. If she didn’t know the answer, she’d pay me 1K. And Vice versa.

Again, Nancy declined and tried to get some sleep.

Feeling agitated and my manly ego terribly bruised, I told her that if she didn’t know the answer, she’d pay me the 1K. But if I didn’t know the answer, I would pay her 15K.

This caught Nancy’s attention 😉 🙂.
Look at the lengths we go to get a cute woman’s attention. It’s important to note that I knew I would answer all her questions. I knew that anything she would ask would be simple. I was good with challenges and riddles, so the 15K was a bait to get this cute person to be interested. That’s all.

Nancy realized that I was the persistent type and knowing too well that there was no end to this torment unless she played, she agreed to the game.
I shot the first question.
‘Nancy, what’s the distance between the moon and the earth surface?’
My cute crush didn’t say any word. She reached her purse and pulled out a new 1K note and handed it over to me. Damn! Boychild winning at first half.

I looked at her deep blue eyes and with a suggestive wink, I whispered.. `Your turn dear’
Nancy adjusted her explosive feminine gait. She looked at me deeply into the eyes, breathed in slowly and threw her question.
‘Socrates sir, now that you seem to know everything. What goes up a hill with 3 legs and comes down with 4 legs?’

Jesus!

I pulled out my laptop and dived into the internet. No response! I reached out to all sites that have responses to riddles. Nothing! Frustrated, I posted the riddle on whatsapp status, no reply! I tried a few friends I thought knew a thing or two about this and that. ZERO!
After one hour of traumatizing research, I woke Nancy up from her flight slumber, took 15K from my briefcase and handed it to her.
Suprisingly, Nancy says a hurried ‘thank you so much’ and goes to continue with her sleep.

Feeling a little bit disoriented and shocked, I wake up Nancy and meekly asks her what the answer to her question was.
Without a word, this woman reached out to her bag, removed a 1K note, handed it over to me and went back to sleep!

Wait..

She too didn’t know the answer?

Damn!

Written by Socrates

LABOUR COMMISSIONER CONDEMNS JUBA TRANSPORT LIMITED

LUSAKA, 18th March, 2020… The Labour Commissioner, Givens Muntengwa has appealed to the public to exercise patience as investigations for the death of Juba Transport Limited employee are on going.

Mr.Muntengwa noted that the public should not look at the Ministry to be unconcerned and heartless in relation to the death of Juba transport driver but rather it is equally dismayed with the transporter’s conduct regarding the repatriation of the body of the deceased person.

“The Ministry is in receipt of the sad and disheartening incident that happened in Mozambique where a driver of Juba transport was hit by a vehicle and subsequently died.The question to be asked is where was Juba transport if indeed they were concerned with the death of their employee, the Commissioner questioned”

Mr.Muntengwa clarified that the employee died while on duty and was trying to secure a safe transit of the goods for the benefit of the company adding that the company was expected to have risen above the dark margins to ensure that the departed employee was mourned in diginity and respect.

He said that the Ministry was aware of the fact that the social media was awash with comments condemning the Ministry especially that the body of the deceased was transported at the behest of his friends who mobilised themselves and travelled to Mozambique.

In this regard, Mr.Muntengwa disclosed that the ministry commiserates with the family of the deceased and that the Ministry engaged Juba transport to find out exactly what transpired.

He noted that so far, the position of the company is slightly different from what was circulating on Social media but what could not be denied is that employees were equally complaining of other issues which makes the company an incorrigible employer.

” Even outside of the realm of this incident, there are reports of Juba transport failing to deal with matters that should have ordinarily have been dealt without our involvement, Commissioner said.”

Mr.Muntengwa further noted that the Ministry would also be reaching out to the gallant friends who repariated the body so that accurate information can be gathered on this matter so as to send a strong signal should Juba be found wanting.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner expressed the Ministry’s displeasure with sector unions for their failure to issue an statement on the matter when ordinarily its the unions’ responsibility to condemn such behaviour as the one that was exbited byJuba transport.

He guided that the Ministry would issue a comprehensive statement once accurate information is collected on the matter.

Issued by:
Godfrida Chanda-Chisala
Public Relations Officer
*MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY

.

THE AUTOCRATIC AND SEXIST UPND HAS TAKEN US BACK TO THE ERA OF WOMEN BEING SEEN AND NOT HEARD

THE UPND is a very autocratic and sexist party and one only has to look at its structures at all levels, Cabinet and other appointees to prove what I am talking about.

Our first lady, Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema, always looks stunning. And if UPND respected women, we would be hearing her speak by now. It is now six months and she has not yet chosen a charity of her choice. She has not yet spoken a word, at least to us as her children. Being invited to one or two events is not enough, her office needs to be functional as the first lady office always is.

There is a reason why I keep insisting on her office being active and to choose a charity of her choice. Zambian businesses are not so giving as we see in other countries. In Zambia, companies give to charity only with the hope of getting more business in return. So if the First Lady’s office becomes active and she chooses to work with vulnerable women or children, many businesses will partner with her just so that they get close ro power. They will give to the women and children programmes more than they would if any organisation or person approached them. In fact, she would not even have to approach them, they would go to her. So we need that office to be as active as her predecessors’ for the sake of the vulnerable people that she will decide to help.

Sadly, the UPND have taken us back to the old era where they used to say that a woman should be seen and not heard. So we see her, but we do not hear her. I’m sure no one is happier than the UPND in this time and era where people have to wear marks, because it also looks like it is a sign for one to shut up. They are intolerant and lack respect for women as we see in their party, right here on Facebook and sadly it goes into Cabinet and all other areas.
We shall continue to hope for a better day and time for women under the UPND. But when we see that the first lady and their own female leaders are not given space and platforms to merely speak and work. They just show up at events. When we see how they allow and ignore their cadres who insult women day in and day out, I shudder to think what they plan for us women in the secrecy of their offices.
Saboi Imboela
President- NDC

By Hon. Bowman Lusambo

Hypocrites and their skewed versions

The Holy Bible in James 1:22-24 is very instructive. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

Attempts by some people to concoct numerous versions from President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s Embassy Park interview was going to be laughable if it weren’t serious.

A horde of fully grown individuals with supposedly functional faculties are purposely failing to understand, in the truest sense of the word, President Lungu’s advice to Zambians.

How does a leader who reminds the nation to be genuine in its quest for love and unity become bitter? How can a leader who reminds all of us to practice what we preach be labeled unforgiving?

President Lungu made a general call for all of us to practice what we preach, even the Holy book commands us so. President Lungu was not in anyway targeting his counsel at anyone least of all President Hakainde Hichilema.

If there is anything that President Banda’s funeral has managed to achieve is to remind all of us on the genuine need to love one another as President Banda demonstrated during his long life. Therefore, a comment during an interview to reinforce the exact values that President Banda espouses should not attract ridicule and insults unless we all want to behave like fully grown ostriches.

On any other day, what President Lungu said could have been said by anyone including President Hichilema himself. The mood, time and location was ideal for such a statement. We should as Zambians stop the habit of demonizing thoughts and ideas coming from people we may not like. President Lungu has suffered high grade persecution since leaving office. The people who worked and served him have all been harassed, victimized and some tortured.

As the world focused on President Banda’s funeral, President Lungu’s close associates Samuel Mukupa and Hibeene Mwiinga’s properties were sealed off and surrounded by armed officers. In the glare of the cameras, President Hichilema can put up an act but some of us know the kind of person he is and we will not fall for such acts.

President Lungu’s statement was apt, the reaction seen so far only goes to confirm that he touched a raw nerve.

Interestingly, for a nation that espouses democratic values, our ability to condemn everything including thoughts from our perceived enemies is a huge deficiency on our part.

As Christians, we should by all means practice what we preach, on and off camera.

Fellow citizens,

Today the 18th March 2022, we have put to rest former President Rupiah Bwezani Banda. There are no perfect words to describe him. He was a hero of the liberation struggle, an astute and strategic diplomat, a great statesman, and a pacifist.

The character of the life he led might be summed up in a few words: sincere, he was earnest, he was loyal to his nation, a loving husband to his wife and a devoted father to his children. He was a man with a big heart, a great sense of duty and a great deal of patriotism.

President Rupiah Bwezani Banda was a life that burned so that others’ paths were lit. He gave energy, commitment and inspiration to the nation. Even as we mourn President Rupiah Bwezani Banda, we are comforted by the thought that we were privileged to have met and known him. This value and other shared values he upheld, we will forever cherish. His legacy will never be forgotten by the Nation, nor separated from us.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

(Romans:8:38 – 39)

President Rupiah Bwezani Banda fought a good fight for which the Nation is forever grateful. We will never forget him.

The one and sure way we can honour RB is to continue living in peace, love and unity that characterized this ceremony. This is the only way we will hand over a sustainable country to future generations and this is the Zambia we envisioned.

We end by quoting a great 18th century English poet Laurence Binyon with the poem entitled ‘For the fallen’.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them”.

Farewell Pan Africanist, Farewell Pacifist, Farewell Freedom Fighter, Farewell Statesman and indeed Farewell Mr. President.

May His Soul Rest In Peace.

God bless you fellow citizens, God bless Africa, and May He bless the Republic of Zambia.

Hakainde Hichilema,
President of the Republic of Zambia.

HALT OPERATIONS AT BLACK MOUNTAIN – EIZ

The Engineering Institution of Zambia says no operations should be allowed at the base of the dump of the black mountain.

EIZ president Abel Ng’andu said mining should be done with a top-to-down approach.

This is according to a statement issued to the media Friday morning.

“The EIZ also has the responsibility of “advising government on matters relating to the engineering profession”, and “to investigate and monitor national emergencies or disasters or any other matters of public concern caused by, or likely to be caused by, an engineering product or service and recommend appropriate preventive, rehabilitative or other measures”. The Institution would like to commend the Government of the Republic of Zambia for empowering the locals in conducting mining activities and is hoping that more members are supported,” said Ng’andu.

” The Institution has however noticed with great concern that the stakeholders conducting activities on site are not following safe mining methods. In August 2018, the EIZ constituted a team of experts to investigate the mining operations at the Black Mountain and make recommendations on safer and controlled mining practices at the site. A comprehensive technical report on safe mining of the slag dump was made and can be accessed from EIZ.”

He said EIZ has maintained that no operations should be conducted on the dumpsite.

” In line with the afore-mentioned, the EIZ would like to maintain its recommendations that were submitted in a detailed report as follows; No operations should be allowed at the base of the Dump and mining should be done with a top-to- down approach; e.g. excavate down with 5m benches, with safe distance from pit edge, then push material over edge until safe slope is attained.”

” No mix of artisanal and mechanised mining should be allowed, and Safety Hazard Protocol concerning mobile equipment to be implemented as well as other relevant Lifesaving and Fatal Hazard Protocols relevant to open pit operations. Apart from securing the mine area and installing appropriate signage, and marking of unsafe areas, slope movement needs to be monitored on a daily/per shift basis. Key relevant personnel from Mine Management, Safety Officers and Geotechnical staff need to be frequently consulted to ensure a streamlined and safe operation with relevant accountabilities,” he said.

Ng’andu said the Apportionment of the current Dump resource should be based on “tonnage” and not based on physical area so that unsafe areas are avoided, but at the same time, ensuring that equivalent extraction of the apportionment/entitlement is still achieved.

” We would like to call upon the stakeholders involved in the mining operations to ensure the above recommendations are followed to avoid loss of life. Government has presented an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurship of or and should be done in a safe manner,” he said.

Police in Kitwe fought running battles with chrome pickers who attempted to force their way in the slag dump commonly known as the black mountain following a ban.
Credit: Daily Star

Senegalese-American singer Akon has denied claims in a suit by a former business partner that the futuristic city he is building in his country Senegal could be a Ponzi scheme, Vibe reports.

A legal document by Devyne Stephens, who has worked with Akon and other celebrities like Jay-Z and Destiny’s Child, asked the Manhattan Supreme Court judge last week to freeze the singer’s assets in New York until a judgment is reached in the $4 million lawsuit Stephens filed against Akon in 2021. Akon allegedly still owes Stephens this amount from a prior legal settlement, according to a report by Page Six.

Stephens argues that the court must freeze the musician’s assets to enable him to get his money if the judgment goes in his favor. Citing the findings of retired federal Special Agent Scot Thomasson, Stephen’s lawyer Jeffrey Movit alleges that Akon is behind some shady deals, including his $6 billion Wakanda-inspired city in Senegal scheduled to run on his “Akoin” cryptocurrency.

Akon City and Akoin show “many of the trademark characteristics (known as ‘red flags’) of fraudulent business ventures such as Ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes. Therefore, it is likely that Akon City and Akoin are part of a fraudulent money-raising scheme,” Thomasson claims in his affidavit.

Meanwhile, a representative of the “Lonely” singer has denied Stephens’ accusations of Akon City likely being a scam.

“Mr. Stephens’ allegations about Akon City and Akon’s business ventures are not based on any evidence”, the rep said in a statement to Page Six. “They are nothing but innuendo and speculation, made by someone who had a claim against Akon dismissed.”

“Akon is proud of the efforts he is undertaking to create opportunities for his homeland in Senegal,” the statement added.

Born Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, the musician had earlier shared his plans of building the city in 2018, describing it as “a real-life Wakanda” in reference to the Afro-futuristic city in Marvel’s movie, Black Panther. He also said the city will similarly use the AKoin cryptocurrency.

The site for the Senegal project is in the village of Mbodiene. And the time Face2Face Africa reported this story in 2020, the “Locked Up” singer said he had been able to acquire one-third of the $6 billion needed for it.

Akon also said he hoped the project would create jobs for locals in the West African nation as well as serve as a “home back home” for Black Americans and other people in the diaspora who are being racially discriminated against.

“The system back home treats them unfairly in so many different ways that you can never imagine. And they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way,” he told the Associated Press. “So if you’re coming from America or Europe or elsewhere in the diaspora and you feel that you want to visit Africa, we want Senegal to be your first stop.”

By Isaac Mwanza

Health Minister Sylvia Masebo has accused some suppliers of medicines and medical supplies whose contracts were cancelled of mounting a strong propaganda against government with regards to drug supply.

I fully agree with Minister Masebo and she must know by now that Zambians don’t pay attention to facts. We prefer rumour and innuendo, it’s more exciting, somehow.

Masebo must stand tall and firm otherwise she will go the same way former Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya did when the cartel of suppliers started fighting him and his staff over award of contract to Honeybee.

The power of the cartel lies in the manner they manage institutions and public perceptions with their propaganda. The so-called scandals are fostered by a clique of pharmaceutical business people with their civil service acolytes who profit from these tenders for drugs and supplies from the ministry of health. The Public Accounts Committee has become a good accomplice in championing the lines by the cartel.

If a tender is awarded to anyone outside the cartel, they mount a campaign accusing a minister of having a personal interest, or the selected supplier not having the resources or the experience, or of supplying sub-standard items which are a threat to safety and health etc. This is true in almost all sectors of government.

If Masebo does not manage this propaganda well, it will soon be the public up in arms against her and this New Deal administration. The cartel will ensure the public begin to accuse President Hichilema as weak to deal with the Health Minister and her officials. Matters of health are so dear among our people that public perception will go against the entire New Deal administration.

Look at how long the so-called Honeybee saga has taken long to resolve. Honeybee’s contract, just like all other contracts for supply of medical supplies, clearly provide for tests by independent laboratories where a dispute arises on the quality of medical supplies. Why do you think the government has not been keen to take those so called expired drugs and leaking condoms to other WHO accredited laboratories for independent tests?

It is now a year since the Honeybee saga erupted and over 6 months from time the New Dawn Administration took over power. Why has the issue of expired drugs and leaking condoms not been subjected to a third independent tests by a WHO accredited laboratories?

Of course, some people have been arrested over the Honeybee contract but not allegations that Honeybee supplied expired drugs or leaking condoms. They were arrested for the manner in which some contract was terminated and the procedures used in awarding Honeybee. The arrests have nothing to do with expired drugs and leaking condoms.

So I challenge Minister Masebo to put the question of allegedly expired drugs and leaking condoms to an end by subjecting the batch of drugs and leaking condoms to an independent test by a WHO accredited laboratory and later brief the nation about the results. If indeed it is found that Honeybee supplied expired drugs and leaking condoms, let the government prosecute them.

Masebo will soon discover that the cartel of suppliers doing propaganda against her Ministry is the same cartel that could have been responsible for propaganda against the Honeybee supply. The worst is that if she does not manage this propaganda well, it will be the President name and the entire administration that will be brought into public odium and disrepute.

ZESCO CANCELS THE OVER K30 MILLION TENDER TO PURCHASE BRAND NEW LUXURY VEHICLES FOR NEW DIRECTORS

Cash strapped state power utility ZESCO has canceled the tender to spend over K30 million on brand new luxury vehicles for new Directors.

In a post on the company Facebook page, the company did not state the reason for the cancellation after there has been a public outrage.

Cash strapped state power utility ZESCO was planning to spend in excess of K30 million to procure 25 brand new luxury vehicles for its new Directors.

According to tender No. 029/202, ZESCO was inviting Bids from firms that can supply one Toyota Landcruiser VX L300, nine Toyota Prado VXL, 14 Toyota Prado TXL, and one Ford Everest.

ZESCO recently fired all its Directors in a major purge intended to get rid of anyone associated with the reign of former Managing Director Victor Mundende.

New Managing Director Victor Mapani has already assembled a team of new Directors seen to be loyal to him and President Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr. Mapani has also unveiled a ZESCO corporate structure, abolishing some Divisions and introducing several new Directorates.

ZESCO is now in the process of paying off its former Directors and around 60 Engineers who have lost their jobs since the new dawn government came into office.

The pay-out to dismissed employees is believed to be in excess of K25 billion.

A ZESCO insider revealed that the move to procure the vehicles is meant to satisfy the requirements of the Conditions of Service for the new Directors who are entitled to a brand new person to holder vehicle of choice.

Quotations obtained from Toyota Zambia showed that the Toyota Prado TXL and the Ford Everest were the cheapest costing around US$88,800 while the most expensive was the Landcruiser VX L300 which fetches around US$ 150,000.

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA IS NOT A POLICEMAN TO BE ORDERING ARRESTS, IT’S ABUSE OF OFFICE

18th March, 2022 – Lusaka

Anthony Bwalya, President Hakainde Sammy Hichilema’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations says the President is failing to arrest and prosecute alleged corruption thieves because he does not want to abuse his powers.

Anthony was reacting to Patriotic Front Acting President, Hon. Given Lubinda’s remarks that President Hichilema must stop begging the corrupt to return what they allegedly stole but should simply follow the culprits and secure convictions.

1. Anthony must be taught that it is not the job of the President to arrest and prosecute people; that is the preserve of the Police, the Investigative Wings and the Courts of Law.
2. Anthony must know that Abuse of Authority is a crime and it is quite hideous for him to be intimating that the President could actually abuse his powers to arrest people.
3. Anthony should know that Zambia is a functional democracy governed by laws not men and abuse of power is a serious crime punishable by law.
4. Clearly Anthony Bwalya doesn’t understand the duties and functions of his office. He thinks he is a politician and spokesman of the UPND Alliance. He needs induction lessons to fully appreciate his new role. He doesn’t realise that he is no longer a UPND cadre but a civil servant on government pay roll and must therefore stop acting and behaving like a UPND cadre at the Party Secretariat.
5. It is not the job of Anthony to be spewing propaganda; it is not his job to be reacting to everything and everyone. Let him leave politics to politicians. Let him concentrate on executing his duties as a civil servant.
6. Anthony is not the first person to be Presidential Press Aide and he surely won’t be the last; let him learn from his many predecessors how to carry himself in that position.
7. The job of a Presidential Spokesperson tekubwata-bwata fye; it’s not about going to the media everyday for the sake of appearing in the news; you must learn which things to respond to and which issues to ignore.
8. A presidential spokesman must communicate issues in a mature and informative manner devoid of pettiness and emotions.
9. The Office of President has a special decorum and those who work in the presidium of the Presidency must weigh their words and actions because whatever they say or do is a direct reflection on the Presidency; they are a mirror image of the man at the helm of Government.
10. We want to reiterate Hon. Lubinda’s position; Zambia has sufficient laws and government agencies to arrest, prosecute and convict criminals, there’s absolutely no need to be begging anyone to return what they stole.

Issued by
Antonio Mourinho Mwanza
PF Media Director

HH THE BEST MAN TO LEAD ZAMBIA – KHAMA

WHEN President Hakainde Hichilema led both local and foreign distinguished dignitaries to pay their last respect to Zambia’s fourth president, Rupiah Bwezani Banda, little did he know that the spotlight of admiration wouldn’t miss him.

Former president of Botswana, Ian Khama in his eulogy to late Dr Banda described Mr Hichilema as the best man to lead Zambia during such difficult times.

Mr Khama who is a son to the founding president of the Republic of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama called on the people of Zambia to be patient because they hired the best man for the job.

“You HH, you are the best man during these challenging times to lead your nation Zambia through this. I hope the people of Zambia will be patient, whilst you steer your country and people through this difficult period which is not of your making. Because your own plans that you had for this country have been negatively affected by the pandemic, and now, by a senseless invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” said Mr Khama.

Coincidentally, Mr Khama was the fourth president of Botswana and so was late Dr Banda, fourth president of Zambia.

Mr Khama was a democratically elected president and served the people of Botswana from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2018,

And in his address, Mr Hichilema stated that the demise of Dr Banda had left the nation heartbroken as his death came barely a year after Zambia lost the founding father and liberation hero, President Dr Kenneth David Kaunda.

THE FALCON NEWS

16th March, 2022,

President Hakainde Hichilema,
Nkwazi House,
State House-Plot 1,
Independence Avenue,
Lusaka,
Zambia.

Dear Sir,

RE: COUNTRY-WIDE DEMONSTRATION AGAINST LACK OF MEDICINES IN GOVERNENT HOSPITALS

Your exellency Mr. President are you aware that many poor Zambian citizens who can’t afford buying their own medicines in pharmacies are dying as essential medicines run out of govenment Hospitals countrywide?

Mr. President why have medicines not been bought when Government allocated K13. 9 Billion for Health Sector in the 2022 National budget?

Health Sector budgetary allocation was increased by 44% in comparison to K9. 7 Billion in 2021 yet just 3 months into the 2022 Budget year government hospitals have run out of essential medicines, what is going on Mr President?

It has never happed this bad so early and it is very worrying. It now explains why last month government distributed the condemned Honey Bee drugs and claimed it was an accident. Please be honest on this serious matter and stop politicking over it.

The day before yesterday, a very sick Zambian citizen and taxpayer was turned away at Matero Clinic to go and look for her own medicine and would have died had it not been for a good samaritan who helped. Unless you dont have a patient in hospital or you have alot of money, you are likely going to waste money going to the Hospital and expect to be treated.

This level of lack of seriousness is worrying, it is a serious demonstration of a very uncaring government.

For the sake of the lives of poor Zambian people, find some medicines. Health care is everything, it shouldn’t be reduced to a previlge for the rich. Zambia is for us all, even the poorest among us.

If this does not improve in 7 days, the Economic Freedom Fighters-EFF party will fill the streets of Zambia with demonstrations till you take responsibility and save the lives of poor citizens.

Find attached a prescription of self buying drugs from the named Hospital to a Zambian Citizen.

Your expedient intervention is of essence.
‘Wherever we want to go our feet shall take us there.’
Yours for the nation,

Kasonde Mwenda C
Economic Freedom Fighters-EFF- President

(In exercise of the right to reply)

Gunston Chola seeking attention, job

…Hon. Lunbinda, Hon. Chilangwa were ejected from Nc’wala in the name of the President

By Edwin Lifwekelo

OUR attention has been drawn to an article under the headline ‘Chilangwa, Lubinda: a toady which blew itself up trying to imitate a buffalo’ written by Gunston Chola on page 5 of the Thursday, March 17, 2022 edition of the Mast.

Mr Chola, a former journalist, politician and diplomat, used very offensive language in reference to the Patriotic Front (PF) Acting party president, Hon. Given Lubinda, and our acting secretary general, Hon. Nickson Chilangwa, over their announcement that they had been ordered to leave the venue of this year’s Nc’wala ceremony on February 26, 2022 on President Hakainde Hichilema’s orders.

We maintain that State House police could not have behaved in the manner they did without orders from above. They were acting in the name of the President, and no amount of damage control or malicious propaganda by desperate job seekers like the old man Gunston Chola will change the truth.

Zambians are not fools. They know what exactly happened at Nc’wala ceremony. Hon. Lubinda and Hon. Chilangwa are seasoned politicians with many years of service as very senior government officials who understand protocol and sitting arrangements at such functions better than Chola.

It was therefore unnecessary for him to bore readers with a lengthy lecture on what he believes should happen during such functions. We are surprised how he wandered away from the issue and maliciously dragged the former President, His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, into his emotional and hate-laden article in his shameful desperation to endear himself with the United Party for National Development (UPND) government and President Hichilema.

The question old man Chola and his sponsors have failed to, and must answer, is how would Hon, Lubinda and Hon. Chilangwa who were seated peacefully and conversing happily with fellow invited guests have endangered the President’s life? How would they have caused confusion?

Chola and his sponsors claim that the issue could have quietly been sorted out with the organisers and State House security, and the other guests would not even have heard about it.

Was he there? Did he see how civil and reasonable the PF leaders tried to be and how adamant and arrogant the police officer, Mr D Mwanza from State House, and his cronies were?

In his rambling article Chola used very disrespectful adjectives to belittle Hon. Lubinda and Hon. Chilangwa whose selfless service to the nation, especially to their constituencies remain indelible in the annals of Zambia’s political history. He should reflect on the path of self-destruction he has embarked on. It is not too late for our senior citizen to retrace his steps.

We will not waste space and readers’ time to start explaining again how the scheme to embarrass the PF leadership was executed. Was the farce not condemned by the Nkhosi ya na Nkhosi, Paramount Chief Mpezeni, himself when he heard about it?

However, we sympathise with Chola. We understand that things may not be rosy for him and he is trying hard to endear himself with the lamentably failed UPND regime for favours.

We are aware that he retired as deputy managing director of the Times of Zambia, after which he became member of Parliament for Chitambo in Serenje on the MMD ticket and was appointed deputy minister in the Levy Mwanawasa administration. After failing to win adoption again he was sent into Foreign Service. He was later recalled from Brazil, which he seems to still be sulking about.

Chola was fortunate to have more than three handsome separation packages but we don’t know what he did with the hefty benefits. That is not our business. We are, however, aware that he is now eking a living as a preacher man. As a ‘servant of God’ we expect him to preach peace and reconciliation instead of spewing hatred in his desperate bid to get the UPND’s attention.

His articles lately are embarrassing for a veteran journalist and former diplomat. Maybe he has been promised a reward by the incompetent and clueless New Doom regime for penning such toxic articles whose aim is inciting public hate and vengeance against the PF and its leaders, and singing praises for President Hichilema. He has turned himself into a senior member of the shameless praise singers. But we wonder what job the UPND will give him at his advanced age.

We also advise Chola to moderate the length of his articles. No one has the time to read an article that fills a whole page of a newspaper. It reflects dearth of skill.

The author is the Deputy Media Director of the PF party.

DRUG PRICE MATRIX CONFUSES GOVT

By Kombe Mataka

MINISTRY of Health permanent secretary in-charge of technical services Lackson Kasonka says the pricing matrix of drugs by suppliers has left the ministry confused.

In an interview, Professor Kasonka said the ministry was wondering what the legitimate prices in the market for many drugs are, as drug suppliers quote commercial entities at a lower price compared to the one government was being quoted at.

“You know, the President has been talking about the elements of price, quality and delivery. We want to understand exactly what is the real price of mostly used medicines because the previous government…I don’t like to keep mentioning the previous regime,” he told The Mast.

“The thing is that prices for drugs were being inflated for selfish reasons such that some medicines like Panadol that is supposed to cost little costs so much. When you ask suppliers why the quotation to government for the same quantity, type and quality is different for one to a commercial entity, they say ‘it is because you, government, take long to pay when we supply you. You usually pay after two to three months while the commercial outlets pay us immediately. So, there is inflation calculation. So, it has left us very confused.”

Prof Kasonka said that this why ZAMMSA had first gone out to make the necessary consultations.

“So, these are the consultations we have been doing. Someone like Jerome (Kanyika) may not understand. They may think we are getting quotations so that we buy from Egypt. In any case, you don’t even have to travel to get quotations,” Prof Kasonka explained.

“Ever since I became PS, I have never travelled anywhere, except Kabwe. We can do a lot of things virtually. So, you see, people who don’t think, who have their own intentions can mislead you. You heard [acting] Secretary to the Cabinet [Patrick Kangwa] said no permanent secretary should travel. So, it’s not true. No one has travelled to Egypt.”

He added that it would be irresponsible of him to just get anything that was floated without understanding the price matrix.

Prof Kasonka said the government would continue making consultations so that it was not exploited.

“In the consultative process, we have been saying ‘we are new and we want to understand’. Government in fact buys it more cheaply than the commercial outlets because this is medicine for the public. So, in doing so, we have gone now to try to understand, ‘is the cost of medicine in Zambia the same as the price in India or SA’,” Prof Kasonka said. “So, it is about market comparison so that we understand. I would be an irresponsible official to procure any medicine which is floated on me. So, it is from there that Jerome may not understand this consultation.”

And Prof Kasonka attributed the delay in procuring medicines to ensuring there were no loopholes of corruption in the process.

“This is why this has taken long. We need to get to the bottom of why government’s drug budget is so high. This is why we found so much debt left by our predecessors,” explained Prof Kasonka.

“Currently some medicines are being inflated for selfish reasons such that medicines like Panadol that is supposed to cost little costs so much. The cost of procurement of medicine in pharmacies apparently is cheaper than that of government. They sell the medicine to Vijay and other pharmacies, for instance, cheaply. This is what we want to correct.”

People Think I overtalk About God

I fear nothing – Chirwa

By Kombe Mataka

SOMETIMES people think I over talk about God, says Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) director general Mary Chirwa.

“I have survived because I believe in God 101 per cent. I fear nothing in anything and everything that I do,” she says.

Speaking ahead of the 2021/2022 awards slated for May that were founded in honour of her fearless and courageous leadership while she served at Financial Intelligence Centre executive director, Chirwa said it was not easy to work in a ‘man’s’ world.

“Sometimes people think I over talk about God in my life. Some people tell me ‘you it’s always about God. Just tell us the real thing’. The thing is it is not easy being a woman and working in an environment where it’s like it’s a man’s world but at the end of the day when you embrace excellence in anything you do, there is nothing like I am a woman or this,” she said.

“I almost lost my job because for so many months no one even bothered to check whether my contract was reviewed or not but I didn’t care. What was the right thing to do at that particular time? What is illegal, you must expose it. So, for me whether you’re a lady, others have found their way up by sleeping with men and so forth, if you do not know God then you will succumb to such things. Yes, we (women) will always be looked at as weaker vessels because I believe we have this inner strength. If you live your purpose, there is nothing that you are going to fear really.”

Chirwa said she was always proud of the candidates that scooped the prize from the award attached to her name and works.

“I think it is a blessing because if you see the essence of that Award is to appreciate courageous and fearless leadership. I feel that leadership is for every stage and level in life, and from an individual you must lead yourself first before you can lead others,” she said.

“This is an Award that was created in 2019 and every year it is awarded to those who prove themselves to be courageous in their line of work as long as you stick to doing the right thing.”

Chirwa said she feared no one when it comes to uncovering wrongdoing.

She however said it has not been easy for her in trying to do the best in the course of duty.
“When you talk about courage in adversity usually it is because of circumstances around us. I have survived because I believe in God 101 per cent. I fear nothing in anything and everything that I do. So, regardless of the field, I will exhibit the same Mary,” she said.

“The Award has brought gratitude to what God has made me and how he has protected me throughout my work. Of course, working in my space has not been easy. I have been in this realm of financial investigations for more than 25 years and even when I was a junior officer, I would still face threats but I think I am resolved from the word go. And I will do the right thing for the betterment of the Zambian person who doesn’t have an opportunity to sit in my seat.”
And Chirwa said she has now settled in her new role at DEC, acknowledging that it is a huge task.

“In terms of the mandate they are both two independent institutions but DEC is a much bigger assignment. And I think it came at the right time because God wants me to fulfill something. DEC has a structure of 1,800 employees currently. The mandate is wider for DEC but DEC goes into investigations and preparations of dockets for matters to be presented before [National Prosecution Authority] NPA in readiness for the courts of law; it is two institutions in one,” Chirwa added.

“It superintendents over two pieces of legislation. The narcotic and psychotropic substance Act which deals with drug and substance abuse, and then you have the money laundering Act which looks at financial crimes. So, these are two things that the country is looking at. These are one of the major issues that we are looking at. You have heard that there are a lot of suicide cases. You have seen junkies on the roads, so it is a big responsibility for me but I am able.”

Introduced in 2019, The Mary Chirwa Award for Courageous Name, was designed to recognise women who have a proven record of courageous leadership in a field related to one or more of the Sustainable Development Goal(s). The winner is awarded US $5,000 for their cause and is invited to a ceremony at the Peace Palace, in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Former Attorney General Likando Kalaluka has joined Arbitra International, one of London’s leading services providers to independent arbitrators.

Mr. Kalaluka, who served as Zambia’s chief legal adviser from 2015 to 2021, was also an ex officio member of the Cabinet appointed by former President Edgar Lungu.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the African Arbitration Association, Mr. Kalaluka has represented Zambia in civil, commercial and constitutional proceedings in Zambia’s superior courts, as well as domestic and international arbitration proceedings.

In April 2015, he was conferred with the rank and dignity of State Counsel on becoming one of the youngest Attorney Generals.

Whilst he served as Attorney General, his work as leader of the Zambian Bar saw him approve and advise on domestic and international commercial and investment agreements, treaties or conventions which the government of Zambia entered into.

Since leaving office after Zambia’s elections in 2021, he has been appointed as a member of the Beijing Arbitration Commission/Beijing International Arbitration Centre’s panel of arbitrators.

The move to Arbitra makes Mr. Kalaluka the second African arbitrator to join the firm, with Dentons’ Juvenalis Ngowi, who practices in Tanzania, having joined in October 2021.

Arbitra’s Chief Executive, Owen Lawrence, said, “I am delighted to welcome Likando to Arbitra. His move further deepens our foundations in Africa. It will enhance our offering to corporates looking to resolve their commercial disputes within Africa, benefiting from his local knowledge and deep government experience.”

“I see this move helping businesses and states to independently resolve their disputes neutrally, legally, effectively, and efficiently,” added Lawrence.

“As a senior African lawyer with sound arbitration experience, I see Likando, alongside Juvenalis, as one of a new wave of African arbitrators who will gain prominence in the international market as we grow this side of the business.”

Mr. Kalaluka said he was delighted to join Arbitra, which offers clients a perfect platform to choose the arbitrators best able to resolve their disputes.

“As Attorney General, I routinely advised the Zambian Government on dispute resolution and dispute avoidance; Arbitra allows me to further my interest in resolving such disputes on the international stage, building on its location in London and Washington, DC, two of the leading global centres for dispute resolution,” he commented.

Mr. Kalaluka, who will combine his practice as an arbitrator alongside practising at his firm, Likando Kalaluka & Co, has first-hand experience in high-value, complex arbitrations under the ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL and PCA rules relating to energy, mining, infrastructure development, health, human rights, public procurement and intellectual property, the latter a long-term interest of his.

During his tenure as Attorney General, he represented Zambia in investor-state arbitration under ICSID rules arising out of mining rights over a disputed development agreement, which tested Zambian mineral royalty and VAT laws, as well as its Mines and Mineral Development Act.

He also appeared in PCA proceedings, including a dispute worth over $50 million, which raised complex issues of public procurement, sale of goods, breach and termination of a contract, as well as in high-value ICC energy proceedings worth $400 million.

South African legal firm Mbuyisa Moleele and its UK counterpart Leigh Day have filed further evidence in the Johannesburg High Court in an attempt to convince it that Anglo American SA should face a class action case in South Africa for lead poisoning that took place in Kabwe.

The contamination allegedly occurred at a now-defunct Kabwe mine, and the two firms are arguing Anglo American SA, which provided technical and other services to it, knew about the poisoning at the time.

Lawyers accuse Anglo American of being the mine’s operator for the period when it produced two-thirds of its lead, the company denies it ever owned the assets.

Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines operated the Kabwe mine for 20 years after it was nationalized until it was closed.

“Anglo’s attempt to blame its successor, ZCCM, for the present lead contamination does not stack up,” the legal firms said in an emailed statement.

“It is contradictory for Anglo to argue, on the one hand, that elevated soil and blood lead levels are not due to the mine and, on the other hand, to accuse ZCCM of ‘recklessness and neglect’ over its handling of the mining operations and failure to clean-up.”

Anglo American said it isn’t responsible for the current situation.

The operator was Zambia Broken Hill Development Company and while it provided services, it “at no stage owned or operated the mine,” the company said in an emailed response to questions.

Mbuyisa Moleele and Leigh Day first filed the suit in 2020 on behalf of a group they estimate of more than 100,000 people in Kabwe.

A hearing on whether the class action proceeds is expected later this year, the firms said.

The lawyers said blood lead levels there have caused cognitive impairment in a large proportion of the population and are higher than the levels of residents in Flint, Michigan, where a more than $600 million settlement was reached with people who suffered from lead poisoning.

“ZCCM’s own records show that there was a significant deterioration of operating standards under its ownership post 1974 –- with the collapse and eventual removal of the critical air pollution control devices -– and that the period post-1989 most likely represents the worst period of lead pollution,” Anglo American said.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin has reportedly fired one of its top generals as the country’s invasion of Ukraine continues to suffer major losses.

General Roman Gavrilov, 45, the deputy chief of Vladimir Putin’s Rosgvardia force – or National Guard – was detained amid claims he had ‘leaked information’ and ‘squandered’ much-needed fuel.

News of his arrest by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) was reported by three trusted sources, according to investigative news website Bellingcat.

But the real reason for his alleged sacking remains unclear – while a Russian official has since denied he was let go.

One source said he was fired over alleged leaks of military intel which ‘led to loss of life’, while two others said he was cuffed for ‘wasteful squandering of fuel.’

Gavrilov became deputy chief of the National Guard last June, according to the unit’s website, after serving 10 years in the country’s Federal Guard Service. But since entering Ukraine, his Rosgvardia force has suffered significant losses of life in the face of Ukrainian resolve.

According to ura.ru, Russian State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein denied that Gavrilov was arrested, writing on Telegram: ‘Absolutely fake. I just talked to General Gavrilov myself.’

Last week Oleksiy Danilov, head of Ukraine’s security council, said ‘around eight’ Russian commanders had been fired since the start of the conflict as Moscow scrambled to change strategy after its attempted ‘shock and awe’ blitz fell flat.

Putin was also said to be infuriated with commanders of the FSB security service – which he used to run – for handing him intelligence suggesting that Ukraine was weak, riddled with neo-Nazi groups, and would give up easily if attacked.

Philip Ingram, a security expert, and former senior British intelligence officer, told The Times that Putin was obviously ‘very angry’ and was blaming his intelligence agencies.

‘He blames them for seeding him the advice that led to the poor decision-making in Ukraine,’ he said.

That poor decision-making has led to Russia suffering much higher casualties than it expected in its attack.

Saudi Arabia has carried out its 100th execution for the year after four people were put to death on Thursday, according to an AFP tally based on official statements.

The latest executions reported by the official Saudi Press Agency come amid fresh condemnation of the kingdom’s human rights record after 81 people were put to death in a single day last week.

Saudi Arabia carries out its 100th execution of the year as four more prisoners are put to death

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s execution of 81 people in one day – on various charges, including terrorism-related offences – exceeded the total of 69 killed in the whole of 2021.

Human Rights Watch said it was ‘highly unlikely’ that the 81 men received fair trials, calling it a ‘brutal show of its autocratic rule’.

More than half of them, 41, belonged to the kingdom’s Shiite Muslim minority ‘who have long suffered systemic discrimination and violence by the government’, the New York-based rights group said.

Saudi Arabia said the men, who included seven Yemenis and one Syrian, belonged either to the Islamic State group, Al-Qaeda, Yemen’s Huthi rebels or ‘other terrorist organisations’.

These are the faces of 31 out of 81 men executed by Saudi Arabia in a single day at the weekend.

Half of those put to death were from the country’s Shia minority region which has seen anti-government demonstrations since the Arab Spring swept through the region in 2011.

Saturday’s mass execution was said by the Riyadh authorities to involve foreign terrorists and people convicted of ‘murdering innocent men, women and children’.

Others killed included prisoners accused of holding ‘deviant beliefs’.

These 31 men were put to death as the result of a bloody clampdown on Shi’ite Muslims from the eastern Qatif region which has historically been a flashpoint between locals and the Sunni-dominated government.

Asaad Makki Al Shub’bar Ali, 37, was arrested while driving his wife to the school where she worked and accused of participating in demonstrations and chanting political slogans as well as being in possession of a picture of a human rights campaigner and joining a terrorist organisation.

According to the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR), his torture included ‘beatings with hands, legs, whips, wire and other instruments throughout his body and face with a focus on the lower back since the investigator knew that he had a back vertebrae injury, as well as beatings in sensitive areas of his body’.

Another executed was Mohammed al-Shakhouri, 27, who was tortured and kept in solitary confinement. Relatives had no contact with him for six months, according to ESOHR.