RB’s LAST WORDS BEFORE HE DIED

MY LAST GIFT TO YOU
My People,
I never knew that I will have to say this one day. Because when I was given a chance to lead you, I proved to be a dissapointment to you and my party. I made several mistakes in my few years of being your father. And as things stand, I remain a President with the shortest reign on power in Zambia.

When you chose Sata over me, I cried. I cried because I did everything possible to show you that I meant well. I cried because despite all my hard works and efforts, I still failed to win your hearts.

Then I thought I was just destined to fail. But little did I know that God was preserving me to one day stand for peace, the peace you are all now enjoying today.

It’s true, I was never perfect after I left state house. I made political blunders that weakened my MMD. It is was as good as selling my party to the PF of the young man Dr. Edgar Lungu.

In as much as this was a great political injustice to President Mumba, now I understand that what was meant for evil, God turned it around for good.

God brought me close to Dr. Lungu so that when it was time for the 7th President to take over, I would be there to calm his nerves down.

I have made many mistakes in my personal and political lives. But today even as sleep in the mortuary, surrounded by this cold and defeaning loneliness, Iam happy.

God used me to give you peace so that you can continue to lay peacefully next to your wives and wake up to see your children grow.

At a time I was seconds from my grave, over powered by cancer, every organ in me paining, I spoke peace in the ears of ECL and HH. Crushed and overwhelmed by pain, I still pleaded and pleaded. And in the end you saw ECL and HH taking pictures together.

After realising that you are now safe, I told my God that time to go has come. Because I have left you my people the greatest gift of peace. Through me, your Nyama Soya, God gave you the best gift ever- peace.

I will not say much because its not me but history that will have to reveal how God almighty used me, a failed leader at best, to secure the future of mother Zambia, in my last days on earth.
Best at heart,
President for all Zambia
Rupiah Bwezani Banda

SOURCE: Zambian Eye

POSTPONEMENT OF THE BY-ELECTIONS DUE TO DEATH OF FORMER HEAD OF STATE HAS NO LEGAL STANDING.

Unless proven to the contrary, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)’s decision to postpone the nominations and by-election dates for the set of by-elections scheduled for April 7, 2021 has no legal foundation.

I tried to read the statement issued by ECZ to see whether i would find an citation of the law, regulation or rule that gives it power to postpone the nomination and election once set, i have found none.

Article 57 of the Constitution governs the by-elections in Zambia and clause 3 mandates the ECZ that, by regulation, shall set the place, where, and the date and time when, a by-election is to be held

This, the ECZ did religiously and nomination and by-election dates were set for the three local government by-elections.

The challenge is ECZ has not cited the law, rule and regulation used to postpone the nomination and election dates for the Mongu District chairperson and the other two local government by-elections scheduled for March 15 and April 7 respectively.

ECZ’s postponement of the three by-elections due to the death of the former president, Rupiah Bwezani Banda, has seems to have no backing of the law, rule or regulation but mere application of emotions by the Commission.

For avoidance of doubt, Section 57 of the electoral process Act No. 35 of 2016 advises that the Commission MAY postpone the polling day of a by-election if it is satisfied that

(a) the postponement is necessary for ensuring a free and fair election; and
(b) the polling day for the election shall fall within the period required by the Postponement of by-election.

In as much as “b” is respected, there are no compeling reasons to prove that the nominations and the by-elections would have not been free and fair due to the national mouring being observed to necessitate a postponement.

What would.have affected the free and fair election if the nominations and the by-elections were held as scheduled?

Didnt the Commission already set a precedence last year when it did not suspsend campaigns and the campaigns continued during the mourning period of the founding president Kenneth David Kaunda?

Weren’t the polititical parties on their own volition suspend the campaigns in honor of the founding president Kenneth David Kaunda who died in june at the hilt of the campaigns?

Where has this new realisation and decision come from of postponing an already set nomination and by-elections dates?

Is death of the former president or observance of a National Mourning one of the reasons ECZ can use to postpone nominations or election date?

Ironically, the nominations which were due today were three days away to the burial date and more than three weeks to the set election date?

The only law that mandates the ECZ to shift dates for election nominations and electiion itself is in Article 52(6) on account of death, disqualification and resignation of duly nominated candidate.

And also section 56 of the electoral process Act specifically for a polling station when conditions are not good for free and fair election at that particular station.

ECZ is setting a very bad precedent that will create serious challenges in future management of elections.

ELECTONS are about laws and not emotions.

McDonald Chipenzi
GEARS Initiative

15/03/2022

DON’T ignore Edgar Lungu as he is now the only surviving former Head of State for consultations on a number of issues affecting the country, the church has urged President Hakainde Hichilema.

Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) and BIGOCA said now was the time for President Hichilema to fully utilise Mr. Lungu for the benefit of the nation as he was the only surviving former Head of State after the death of fourth republican president, Rupiah Banda.

CCZ general secretary, Emmanuel Chikoya said in an interview that the office of the former president should not be downplayed because it was strategic in fostering continued development and the death of Mr Banda creates the atmosphere for sustained peace between Mr. Hichilema and Mr. Lungu.

Fr. Chikoya also said Mr. Lungu should look beyond all the differences he might have had with President Hichilema and begin to work as a statesman who would be available to offer advice and engage in works that are beyond the scenes.

He said on the other hand, President Hichilema should ensure that he was not carried away with being the head of State to an extent that he becomes impervious to advice.

Fr. Chikoya said Zambians were eager to see President Hichilema and Mr. Lungu exchanging ideas and interacting and that don’t necessarily have to be in the public space.

“For example, what will the first lady Ms Mutinta Hichilema lose in reaching out and interacting to former first lady, Ms Esther Lungu nothing, they will gain more. What then will the President lose if he did reach out and interact with Mr. Lungu? Nothing,” he said.

Meanwhile, BIGOCA general overseer, Archbishop Peter Ndhlovu said if President Hichilema wanted to succeed as republican President, he should take out pride and learn to consult with his predecessor, Mr. Lungu.

Archbishop Ndhlovu said the head of State should forget the political difference he might have with Mr. Lungu because in politics, there are no permanent enemies.

He said President Hichilema needed to make a decision to help him in and out of office and in the office there are people who have gone before him that he needed to consult and could only do that if he takes Mr. Lungu as a brother and statesman.

Archbishop Ndhlovu urged the two to forget about hatred and learn to forgive each other for whatever wrong they did to one another.

“The time has come and the reality is there, the man we looked up to is gone, now President Hichilema has no option but to look to Mr. Lungu and Mr. Lungu must also look up to HH and the two should work as brothers for peace to prevail in this, Archbishop Ndhlovu said.- Daily Nation

Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate Courts has sentenced a 28-year-old Livingstone man to one-year imprisonment for breaking into his elder sister’s house and stealing a safe containing K 21,000

Before Magistrate Edward Banda was Peter Chiinda of Highlandss compound in Livingstone, who was visiting his sister in Kapiri Mposhi when he committed the offence and was indicted on one count of theft contrary to Section 272 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Chiinda, on 2nd March, 2022, broke into his sister’s bedroom and stole a safe in it was K 21,000 cash, academic certificates and a Passport the property of Mercy Chiinda, 48, the complainant in this matter from Riverside compound in Kapiri Mposhi.

According to written facts in the matter, on the said day, Mercy Chiinda secured her bedroom and went for work but upon returning home around 18:00 hours discovered that the safe where she keeps money and personal documents had gone missing.

The complainant reported the matter to police having in mind the visiting brother from Livingstone, who had remained home at that time, as a prime suspect.

And upon being interrogated by police Chiinda admitted to have stolen the safe which he later forcibly opened to steal the money from it.

Chiinda further disclosed that he discarded the safe into a shallow well at a home in Riverside compound but police could not retrieve the safe as the well was too deep.

However, police managed to recover only K 9,400 from Chiinda upon which he was formally charged for the subject offence and arrested.

Chiinda pleaded guilty as charged.

In mitigation Chiinda asked his sister for forgiveness and the court to exercise maximum leniency on him as he was keeping two young children orphaned by his other sister.

But in passing judgement, Magistrate Banda wondered why Chiinda decided to steal from his sister instead of protecting her from thieves.

“Why would you do that to your sister? You are supposed to protect her instead. And the rest of the money where did you take it? In future, be your sisters protector because money is so hard to come by nowadays. She had plans to use that money but you have put her in a bad situation now,” Magistrate Banda said.

Magistrate Banda then condemned Chiinda to a one year imprisonment with hard labour sentence and ordered that the K 9,400 recovered money be returned to the owner forthwith.

A bride has revealed how she found out on Facebook that her wedding was canceled rather than face to face or on phone despite spending a huge sum on paying for the venue ..

Jade White a 29-year-old, from Atherton, Greater Manchester, says she booked the Park Hall Hotel in Charnock Richard after searching the country for the perfect location for her wedding.

Car saleswoman Jade and mechanic Adam, who are parents to children Lola, four, and Joel, nine months, first booked their wedding in 2018, for a date in July 2020.

The couple were desperate to tie the knot to celebrate their relationship so she could take Adam’s surname – and have the same name as their children.

But then the pandemic hit in 2020, forcing her to reschedule twice before she was dealt a final blow in February 2021 when she went on Facebook.

The mum-of-two looked on the venue’s Facebook page and spotted posts announcing the hotel had shut and weddings were cancelled.

Jade says she even picked a dress to match the style of the hotel.

She says she made attempts to speak to the management of the event center, but weeks later, she has not gotten any response.

She says she and fiancé Adam Flitcroft, 30, have no idea if they will get her £4,250 reimbursed .

Jade says: ‘Apparently it shut its doors – I didn’t hear a thing until I went on the hotel’s Facebook page.’

“The worst thing is that everything for the wedding was ready to go – the outfits and rings were bought, the cake was ordered, the decorations were purchased, and the invitations were sent.

‘Adam and I travelled all around the country to find the perfect venue and it had been booked for four years – we even took out a loan to cover the costs,’ says Jade.

‘When I found out, I was absolutely devastated. Who knows if we’ll ever get our money back – and I have no idea how to tell all our guests that there’s no wedding after all.’

‘As soon as we stepped foot into that hotel four years ago, we knew it was the one.

‘I looked at my mum and we both cried because it felt so special and we had searched everywhere to find the perfect venue.’

They had juggled booking the wedding alongside a pricey house move as well as recently becoming first-time parents to daughter Lola.

To cover the wedding costs, buy a pricey house and also take care if new born daughter Lola they had to take out a £10,000 loan.

‘My first reaction was just to burst into tears,’ she says of her reaction when she heard the venue would be unavailable.

‘I was crying too much to even tell Adam what had happened – my dad had to ring him and tell him.’

‘I need to accept it’s cancelled and move on but that’s hard to do when its our money on the line and we might lose it,’ says Jade.

Three British former special forces soldiers are feared to have been killed in a Russian airstrike near the Polish border.

More than 30 Russian cruise missiles targeted the Yavoriv base yesterday, killing as many as 180 people.

The trio were not part of the foreign legion fighting unit being trained at the base six miles from the border, sources told The Mirror.

Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for Russia’s ministry of defence, said the base was struck by ‘long-range, high-precision’ weapons because it was hosting ‘foreign mercenaries and a large shipment of foreign weapons’.

He added: ‘The destruction of foreign mercenaries who arrived on the territory of Ukraine will continue.’

Konashenkov said up to 180 people had been killed in the strike, though Ukraine initially said 35 people died and another 134 were wounded.

But a source told The Mirror today: ‘There were many more killed within the site than has been claimed and bodies are still being found. ‘I do not believe the three British ex-military personnel would have known anything about it, fortunately.

‘This is extremely sensitive as there are believed to be no serving British military personnel inside Ukraine as politically that would be extremely controversial.’

Bombs fell on the base early Sunday morning, with witnesses saying many of the foreign recruits were sleeping when the strike was carried out.

According to Mail Online, British military veterans at the base who survived the attack described hearing the sound of incoming engines before several large blasts destroyed one building, damaged another, and sprayed shell fragments through the air. It is thought the base was hit by Russian cruise missiles as opposed to fighter jets.

James, a former British artillery soldier identified only by his first name, told Buzzfeed of hearing the sound of incoming missiles as he was in bed, saying: ‘I just lied there and thought: I’m going to die.’

‘A couple of buildings got hit… One they decimated and there was one that was on fire. And then there was just frag[mentation] everywhere. And a crater… in the middle of camp.’

On Monday, a Russian airstrike on the capital Kyiv killed at least two people and wounded others as it blew up and set light to an apartment building.

A town councilor for Brovary, east of Kyiv, was also killed in fighting there as shells fell on the towns of Irpin, Bucha, and Hostomel.

Ukrainian officials said two more people died and seven were injured after Russian forces struck an airplane factory in Kyiv, sparking a large fire.

POSTPONEMENT OF BY-ELECTIONS FOR MONGU DISTRICT AND TWO (2) LOCAL GOVERNMENT WARDS

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the Electoral Commission of Zambia has postponed the holding of nominations and polls for the Mongu District Mayoral by-election in Western Province and two (2) Local Government Ward by-elections in Lukutu Ward of Luwingu Town Council in Northern Province and Katimba Ward of Monze Town Council in Southern Province.

The Commission has since prescribed Tuesday 22nd March 2022 as nomination day. Polls will take place on Thursday 14th April, 2022 from 06:00hrs to 18:00hrs.

The postponement has been necessitated by the death of Zambia’s 4th Republican President Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda which has resulted into the observance of the national mourning.

The Commission had earlier prescribed Tuesday 15th March 2022 and Thursday 7th April, 2022 as dates of nominations and polls respectively for the three by-elections.

In view of this, the Commission wishes to advise all aspiring candidates, political parties and stakeholders to take note of the new dates and prepare accordingly.

The schedule of other electoral activities such as accreditation of political parties/candidate representatives, Civil Society Organisations and the Media shall be advised in due course.

POSTPONEMENT OF BY-ELECTIONS FOR MONGU DISTRICT AND TWO (2) LOCAL GOVERNMENT WARDS

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the Electoral Commission of Zambia has postponed the holding of nominations and polls for the Mongu District Mayoral by-election in Western Province and two (2) Local Government Ward by-elections in Lukutu Ward of Luwingu Town Council in Northern Province and Katimba Ward of Monze Town Council in Southern Province.

The Commission has since prescribed Tuesday 22nd March 2022 as nomination day. Polls will take place on Thursday 14th April, 2022 from 06:00hrs to 18:00hrs.

The postponement has been necessitated by the death of Zambia’s 4th Republican President Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda which has resulted into the observance of the national mourning.

The Commission had earlier prescribed Tuesday 15th March 2022 and Thursday 7th April, 2022 as dates of nominations and polls respectively for the three by-elections.

In view of this, the Commission wishes to advise all aspiring candidates, political parties and stakeholders to take note of the new dates and prepare accordingly.

The schedule of other electoral activities such as accreditation of political parties/candidate representatives, Civil Society Organisations and the Media shall be advised in due course.

THE BOY WHO STOLE MPEZENI’S CAR KEYS PLEADS GUILTY, AWAITS SENTENCING
…”I DON’T KNOW WHAT WENT TO MY MIND, I WAS DRUNK WHEN I GOT THE KEYS”, he tells Court!

By Christopher Miti

AN 18-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to stealing motor vehicle keys worth K500 from paramount chief Mpezeni’s vehicle.

The juvenile of Nsolo village in Mpezeni’s area and a pupil of Nyanje Day Secondary School, also pleaded guilty to another charge of theft where he is alleged to have stolen a torch and a pair of shoes.

The stolen car keys were from the chief’s Chevrolet, registration number AJB 3091.
He is alleged to have stolen the keys at the time the paramount chief was about to embark on a procession from Ephendukeni palace to Laweni to mark the start of the activities for the Nc’wala traditional ceremony which reached its climax on February 26.
In the second count, particulars of the offence were that Jere, on 24 February, 2022 stole one torch and one pair of shoes, altogether valued at K2,221.00, the property of Pinael Banda.

He pleaded guilty to both counts but told the court that he had no intention of depriving the traditional leader of the motor vehicle keys.
When asked by magistrate Moses Phiri why he stole the keys, the boy said he did not know what came to his mind.

“I was nerved (drunk) when I went to Ephendukeni palace before the chief’s procession to Laweni. I carried my clothes because I was clad in animal skin, so I put my clothes in one of the vehicles which was at the palace. When we were starting off to Laweni, I went into the vehicle to get my clothes, but I don’t know what went to mind to get the car keys,” explained the boy. “I had no intention of getting the keys permanently and this is the reason why I handed them back to the chief before the matter was reported to police.”

Magistrate Phiri asked him to produce a birth record, birth certificate or the National Registration Card for the court to know his real age.

The matter was adjourned to Tuesday, March 15, for presentation of written facts by senior public prosecutor Jeff Mwanabeene.

I’VE SURRENDERED EVERY DIFFICULTY AND SUFFERING TO JESUS, SAYS MURDER-ACCUSED MUMBI PHIRI
…narrates how police ‘lied’ that they were priests when they went to her house to pick her up

INCACERATED former PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri says she has surrendered every difficulty and suffering to Jesus Christ.

Ms Phiri was talking to PF acting president, Given Lubinda, when he visited her at the Kaoma Correctional facility where she is in custody while awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecution in a matter she has been jointly charged with murder.

Ms Phiri has been charged with Shebby Chilekwa, a PF member accused of shooting Lawrence Banda, in 2019 during by-election campaigns in Kaoma.

The following is as narrated by Ms Phiri to Mr Lubinda:

“For me as a Catholic have entered Lent in a special way, so it has to be prayers and surrendering to God.
And for me I think it is going to be the proper Lent when I am doing this whole heartedly just to pray to God.
And that day, you know I was cooking. I was outside and my ka niece was pa gate.
So when the police came, they said we are priests. Can you imagine! We are priests, we have come to visit.
Then the child opened the gate and they entered through the kitchen. They came straight indoors where I was. Then I looked and I remembered two faces.
Then they said, we want you to escort us to the police. Then I saw they had papers and I asked what are those papers for? Then they said they are search warrants. I asked them, do you want to search, then they said no since we have found you.”
Then I said I can’t follow you, let me speak to my lawyer, that is how I called the lawyer, then Zimba (Jonas) since he was in Kabwe said he will find us there.

Then that is how we walked. They said we have to go to Kaoma, then I asked in the evening? And they said yes.
So that is how they took me, but the children organised very first. We started off, and they followed. I think they followed after an hour.

Now they were changing the number plates so the children got confused, the number plates they saw when we were at the force headquarters was switched. So they (children) came and passed us.

Then I saw this vehicle flying …then I said those are my children. So that is how the police also got scared because paja pongenela pa Kaoma paja pamene pasilila tarmac, and you can imagine they didn’t know in the night. They were flying so they called them, you have left us, we are just behind.

That is how they followed us, they slowed down and followed us, and we arrived at 04:30 and they took me to the police station. First, we came here (Kaoma Correctional Facility) and charged me then they took me to the police station.

And the children stayed. They were there for three days until they took me to …and moved me here (Kaoma Correctional Facility).”
Credit: Daily Nation

By Dickson Jere

11:45 am on March 11, 2022.
I stood by his bedside. He looked directly into my eyes.
“Dickson, God bless you…” he said and repeated the words twice.
It turned out that these were actually the last words to me which were preceded with a very brief conversation with the man who meant so much to me. His Excellency, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, 4th President of the Republic of Zambia, died few hours later on that day. I had the occasion to serve him as his spokesman and Special Assistant at State House. Thereafter, I served him in an informal and undescript role until his last hour on earth!
What a privilege…

He was my President, then father, mentor and above all, best friend of all seasons. Our call records can attest to this – late night long calls – just to talk about nothing but everything. He trusted me. I was his confidante on many issues. He took me in as his own. Even after we left State House, he still relied on my advice and assistance in many ways. Whenever he was meeting high profile personalities, he sought my presence. But in return, I also tapped his invaluable wisdom and experience on every occasion!
“Dickson knows how to record important meetings,” he would always say. And I have been on his side in many important meetings, which earned me a moniker in his family as “Dickson Jere-Banda”. The climax was the post August 2021 elections and the transition meetings in which President Banda hosted and tasked me to coordinate involving five Presidents. When the pictures of President Edgar Lungu and President Hakainde Hichilema “shaking hands” went out and was followed by jubilation in the country, I felt so happy.
I hugged President Banda for a while… it will remain one of the most significant assignments after his presidency!

March 7, 2022. I visited him in hospital. That day we had planned to have lunch with footballer Frederic Kanoute who was visiting Zambia. I mentioned that the lunch date had been rescheduled to the following day to enable him recuperate. I knew it won’t happen given the circumstances. But the following day, I found two missed calls.
“Dickson, what time are you bringing Kanoute for lunch…I am waiting for you,” he said on telephone. But then, he was still in hospital and unwell yet he remembered that lunch date. He always put assignments above self and sometimes to the detriment of his own health. Especially football! He fen set up a mini pitch at his house where upcoming players practiced under his watch every Thursday before treating them to sumptuous lunch.

Oh my! The man was meticulous to the core. Whenever he hosted VIPs, he personally made sure everything was in order. The seating arrangements, protocols and the program. Even when he was not around, he telephoned to go through the “What do list” for the event. He was unbeatable on that score! He taught me how to place rivalries in meetings and where the host should always sit to ease tension.

On 10th March 2022, just a day before he succumbed to cancer, he was in good spirit. He was in his chair enjoying a breeze and the serenity of his surroundings. We talked. And then we had a prayer session before he was joined by President Hakainde Hichilema later that day.
Before I could retire, with Father Charley Thomas whom I had taken, President Banda thanked me for serving him diligently. He also thanked his personal physician Dr Shailen Desai who was part of the State House staff and remained treating him ever since.
“Dickson has been there for me through thick and thin…,” he told Fr Thomas of the Anglican Church.
He was upbeat that day. Fighting on…
“I am planning 3,000 trees. You should get some and plant at your farm,” he told me.

The bugle call has been sounded! It is the Last Post…the Commander is gone!
I can never remember a day I broke down like on that fateful day…
Farewell thy well RB – my boss and best friend!
It is well…

By Godfrey Chitalu
SINCE I write what I like, my humble view is that our country will never have any other “Father of the Nation” apart from our late revered founder: Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda.

We all know that despite pretensions here and there, only one person befits this honorific title. It is an oral route that has not even been constitutionally consummated. If we wanted post fatherhood fathers, we missed an opportunity to constitutionally codify this needless paternalism.

Apart from KK who we all knew as the “Father of the Nation” none of our other deceased presidents – Frederick Chiluba, Levy Mwanawasa, Michael Sata and now Rupiah Banda (MHSRIP) would have condoned this patriarchal behavior. Do we want to posthumously bestow them titles they never carved and craved?

For us who were older enough in the first republic, at least we remember the unanimity in calling KK “Father of the Nation” What has changed now to start assuming that there are other fathers of the nation? As we remain with the last two in the leadership hierarchy – Edgar Lungu and Hakainde Hichilema, let us spare them sly innuendos by letting bygones be bygones.
Can any of our present leaders claim any post-colonial roles in our independence? The short answer is no! None I contend is even interested in this storm in a teacup. This recognition jamboree on behalf of uninterested parties is a discomforting cul-de-sac going nowhere.

It is enough to rule a country and be recognized as such! The led should not be at the forefront of stirring an unnecessary discourse on who qualifies to be the “Father of the Nation”

To say this debate is futile is an understatement. We know that there will never be any official recognition of this hollow-sounding title in the foreseeable future. Like the founding father of Greek Philosophy was hugely pessimistic about democracy, I don’t find any merits in an entire nation debating founding fathers!

By the way, I also don’t like the debate about how to pronounce the word “demise” – we learn through mistakes kaili but don’t blame the journalists!

The author is a social commentator who writes for pleasure.

For reactions and feedback call: 0977466284| 0963013760, Email: goddychitty@gmail.com (@goddychitty) Twitter|Facebook)

PRESS STATEMENT

14 TH MARCH 2022

PF’S FOREIGN POLICY WAS ANCHORED ON HARASSING FOREIGN DIGINITARIES

There is nothing sensible that PF can tell the world about its foreign policy. The PF regime embarrassed this country when it chased away foreign dignitaries all in the name of Zambia being a sovereign state. There was tension in the country after PF stole the 2016 general elections and the subsequent incarceration of President HH on a trumped up charge of treason.

The Commonwealth sent its Secretary General and later Professor Ibrahim Gambari to bring the two parties together and dialogue. What did PF do? It chased away both dignitaries and declared that there was not going be any dialogue. Shamelessly, these are now the same people trying to fool the world on the issue of Ukraine. We have from time to time told PF to have some sense of shame. Unfortunately FINKULA they don’t listen.

We are not surprised to hear some senior PF officials condemn the UPND administration for voting in the manner it did at the UN General Assembly. In the eyes of all peace loving Zambians, the UPND administration never did anything wrong by voting in manner it did. We strongly advise PF to stop trivializing what is taking place in Ukraine and keep Zambians away from its politics of bloodshed. PF cannot be moved by what is happening in Ukraine because the regime killed its own people using bombs, guns, pangas and chemical weapons.PF used gorilla war tactics to burn markets throughout the Country. Extra judicial killings of innocent citizens like that of the late public prosecutor and Kaunda was the order of the day under the PF regime.

PF was just shedding crocodile tears over what is happening in Ukraine. Their main aim was to put the UPND administration on the spot for political mileage by making UPND look as a very irresponsible Government. It’s in fact PF that was very irresponsible by running a Government of criminas. Surprisingly the PF regime is still claiming to be very innocent. Please Ba PF, we are tired of your bad manners, Twanaka naimwe. Give Zambians a break from your wickedness; you are destroying future generation, stop celebrating criminality.

Percy Chanda

UPND – Chairman for Mines and Freedom Fighter

Kanye West claims to have received texts from Pete Davidson boasting about his relationship with Kim Kardashian.

“It’s gone too far at this point.” Please, God, help me. The rapper said in an Instagram video posted on Sunday that his partner was texting him, antagonizing him and bragging about being in bed with my wife.

“I pondered it for a year and a half in public. “She’s not my wife, she doesn’t have the last name,” I’ve been told.

“Now he’s texting me, talking and bragging about how he’s in bed with my wife,” West continued.

“Well, who’s minding my children if he’s texting me, bragging about being in bed with my wife?” he said.

West, 44, addressed his current divorce battle with Kardashian, 41, in another segment of the film. Earlier last month, a judge pronounced the two legally single.

“And I didn’t think this was my wife anymore legally since I hired a lawyer to finalize the divorce.” “Every time I do anything nice, something unpleasant comes along with it,” he explained.

“I go retrieve the laptop from [Kardashian’s ex] Ray J, and she starts joking about divorce,” she says. I go get the lawyer changed so we can finally get the divorce done, and somehow I’m the stalker.”

On Sunday, comedian Dave Sirus, who has worked with Davidson as a guest writer on “SNL” and “The King of Staten Island,” added fuel to the fire by posting screenshots of Davidson and West’s alleged text chats on Instagram.

He captioned his post, “A message from Pete.”

Page Six has reached out to Kardashian and Davidson’s representatives for comment.

West’s recent social media posts came just days after Kardashian made her relationship with Davidson, 28, official on Instagram. After the reality star headlined “Saturday Night Live” in October 2021, the two became friends.

They were later seen holding hands on a ride at Knott’s Scary Farm, and haven’t taken their phones off since.

Meanwhile, in several since-deleted social media posts, as well as the lyrics and music videos for his song “Eazy” with The Game, West has been critical of the relationship.

“[Pete] is in the middle of many big film projects and wants to keep very focused on his work and the great things occurring in his life,” a source previously told Page Six about Davidson’s response to West’s insults.

ZAMBIA’S FOUNDING FATHERS VS STATESMANSHIP VS FATHER OF THE NATION

By Francis Chipili

…..how does one assume the status of “FATHER OF THE NATION”?

Who are the founding fathers of Zambia?

In the quest for political independence a number of oppressed Northern Rhodesia citizens – now Zambia, played various critical roles in the struggle for political social and economic independence.

These men and and women launched a highly spirited war for colonial independence from Great Britain, each one of them brought to the table unique strengths in strategy, physical as well as mental stamina, war tactics etc.

It was was the combined determination and resolve of these gallant men and women that yielded the the freedom and independence we enjoy and sometimes abuse today.

Among the notable of the many men and women who played various roles in Zambia’s independence but not limited to; are Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwanga Nkumbula, Sikota wina, Kenneth David Kaunda, Grey Zulu among many freedom fighters.

Notable names of Zambian women who played various critical roles in the struggle for political and social independence but not limited to are mama Julia Mulenga Chikamoneka- paraded herself half naked during a visit by Britain’s Secretary of State, mama Betty Kaunda, mama Chibesa Kankasa, princess Nakatindi Yeta Nganga, Mary Fulano, among many others unsung heroes.

It’s very clear that no single individual can be said to have played the only important role as all of our freedom fighters gave in their best for our freedom.

So how do we name one individual as father or mother of nation? How can Zambia’s historians help the nation in identifying the Father of the nation?

We must be able to distinguish between father, founding fathers and women of the nation from other statesmen and women who the people of Zambia have given mandate to Superintendent over the affairs of Zambia.

Should we assume that, Father of the nation is the title we shall confer on the longest surviving former Republican President?

In countries such as the United States of America, they have a list of notable founding fathers as well as a well defined father of the nation – George Washington.

Their list of founding fathers has remain flexible over the years depending on political pressures and ideological prejudices, while maintaining George Washington as their founding father.

I want to believe that having served as Republican President automatically qualifies the former President to join the list of Statesmen and not an automatic qualification for Father of the nation which must be firmly permanent.

Perhaps it’s time Zambia reviewed her history to determine who truly the Father of nation of Zambia is.

Francis Chipili
Business and Political Analyst

By Mwaba Mutale

TRUTH IS VERY IMPORTANT

I think people think we are mad or vengeful or just way way out of order. I agree we are all Zambians and we must forgive. But I’ve never heard anyone ask for forgiveness for these misdeeds. This man was treated like an animal and a criminal. If he was vengeful people would be in jail now but they are roaming free. Bena Emmanuel Mwamba even have the courage to dare him.. Yet he has left everyone go about their business.. Ask people like Romeo Lileko Kangombe who were bundled in police vans and taken to Chinsali from Sesheke accused of kidnapping a police officer. Ask them about Edgar Lungu and his friends. Yet today PF and UPND mingle freely.

If there was a formal apology, it would be awesome and good. Remember some people said when I win I will throw HH to rot in jail. Don’t let us pull up those stories.. Let’s not pretend like nothing happened and please fellow citizens be careful what you support. Innocent people died in PF times. Civil servants were fired and kicked out of government houses over night and left in the cold. People in the police and army were retired in National interest some just for having ‘suspicious names’ or coming from a certain region. Today you wana school us about one Zambia one Nation. Where were you when Edgar Lungu was busy abusing the public order act? Where were you whe Bowman and Kampyongo became semi gods.

Please bane…… let’s be truthful and factual and don’t bring in the we are mourning story. Imagine the government invited foreigners to a state funeral and kicked out their own just because they had opposing views. Please 🙏🏽 guys. Let’s all relax, these wounds are still fresh in the hearts of many who were wounded by the PF and Lungu’s brutal dictatorial regime…

The truth is Edgar Lungu was a good man, very good. But only to his friends, family, business associates and those who agreed with him…

I’ve never heard any apology from anyone in PF. Have you???

Why Zambia Commemorates Youth Day in March

Ever asked yourself why Zambia commemorates its Youth Day on 12 March and not 12 August which is the United Nations International Youth Day?

In 1962, at the height of the struggle for Independence, the leadership of KK led UNIP was mostly at loggerheads with the Harry Mwanga Nkhumbula led ZANC.

So since the two groups rarely saw each other eye to eye and wud clash each time they met, our then colonial masters always hatched plans around eliminating the leaders and operatives of each of these groupings and later blame them to killing each other while justifying their continued rule claiming we are savages and not ready for self rule.

That fateful year of 1962, Harry Mwanga Nkhumbula was in Katanga (DRC) visiting his colleague Maurice Kaulongombe then Katanga leader.

And Kenneth Kaunda and Company were in Kitwe for mobilization. The colonial masters saw an opportunity to strike KK and Company and later blame Nkhumbula who was coming from DRC via Mukambo (Mufurila) thru Kitwe back to Choma.

The plan was hatched in Ndola to attack the Kaunda’s who wr housed at Mr Mutemba’s residence in Chimwemwe opposite Mindolo Police Station on the Kitwe Chingola rd. As they hatched the plan, one of the native (Zambian) cleaners eavesdropped on the plan and alerted the Youth after knocking of at 17.

The plan was to be implemented in the wee hours of the following morning. So at 18hrs, the Youth led by abena Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda (ABC) and others walked from Ndola to Kitwe and arrived around midnight wr they alerted and evacuated the Unip leadership of KK and Co from the Mutemba residence.

And according to plan, the colonial forces besieged the Chimwemwe house at 03am and petrol bombed it and sprayed bullets to ensure not a soul occupying the place lived. Luckily, the house was unoccupied as everyone was already evacuated by the Youth.

Came day break, KK and Company were to hold a public rally in Chimwemwe where they were to among other things, expose the colonial masters.

Sensing embarrassment, the colonial regime decided to evoke the infamous POA and unleashed the entire Kamfisa Para Military Mobile Unit to contain and disrupt the Chimwemwe rally which was to be…. The mother of all rallies.

Determined to protect their leadership and allow for the public rally to take place, the Youth went into town and caused serious havoc wr they disrupted normal business and put stones, rocks and dust bins onto the roads.

This diverted the attention of police from going to Chimwemwe and instead went into town centre wr they ran battles with the Youth.

Unfortunately, all our Youth had wr stones as weapons while the colonial police opened live ammunition killing our Youth in their numbers.

They killed them, but still in their numbers the kept fighting and dying.

Meanwhile, at the Chimwemwe rally, KK announced that the rally was taking place at the sacrifice of young pipo who wr bn killed in town just so they cud hold the rally. KK announced and promised at the rally that, should independence come, that day, 12th of March will b remembered and commemorated as YOUTH DAY.

Hence at the Unip Central Committee meeting held at kwacha house in 1966 (Two years after independence) it was decreed that 12th of March be a public holiday and remembered as Youth Day.

Further, a statue was erected in the middle of Kitwe CBD known as the “Chi Muposa Amabwe” (stone thrower) that remains so to date depicting the day the Youth fought with nothing but stones against gun bullets.

Today we remember, thank and salute the gallant Youth of 1962. Living and posthumously, pipo like Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda who was later to become the first Native MP for Chimwemwe Constituency and Minister of Finance, State House Chief of Staff among many other portfolios he held in his service to the Nation of Zambia.

People like Mundia Sipalo, Omello Mumba, Justin Kangwa, Chandwe Musonda and many others too numerous to mention.

Without them sacrificing including their lives, we would not be here today.

So I ask, how dare you shan such an important day, how dare you take to drinking, insulting and engaging in acts of violence on such an important day, who do u think you are?

They played their part and fought for political independence, it is time for you the Youth of 2020 to play your part too and fight for economic freedom by getting as much education as you can, where ever it is and where ever you are.

Happy youth day

I HAD reached a point where I felt like quitting, where I got a lot of bad comments; a lot of bad energy from people who hated the character I play in Mpali, says Hellena Kaumba who plays the role of Chola in the celebrated local drama series that airs on Zambezi Magic.

Hellena’s career didn’t kick off after signing the deal with A List Media which resulted into her getting a role of Chola in Mpali, her career dates as far back as 2015 while she was in school. While in school, the Christmas baby born in 1997 scooped best actress award in the NASAZ competition three times at national level. The first one was in 2015, second in 2016 and the last one was in 2018.

Despite her massive talent, her father was seemingly not in support of her directing all her energies into the acting career. He just wanted his daughter to study hard and get good grades. But the passion for acting couldn’t let Hellena get her father’s advice. She resorted to sneaking out of the house and do the acting behind her father’s back.

Hellena was first on TV when she and her team mates upgraded a named school play into a feature film and it aired on Zambezi Magic.

Afterwards, she went to the Copperbelt and did another project called ‘Pay Back’; from there she got herself a contract with Wycliff Mwamba. She did City on Fire season two, a drama series that aired on Zambezi Magic. It was after then that she got herself a contract with A List Media and she took up the role for Chola in the arguably biggest and most lovable Zambia’s drama series. Mpali is what resulted into Hellena being a household name; her biggest dream is to be in Hollywood.

For those wondering who Chola, the character Hellena plays in Mpali is like, Chola is a problematic “baby mama” to Nguzu’s ‘notorious’ son Hambe. She likes causing trouble at the old man’s plantation mostly by picking fights with Hambe and his wife Chibale.
Commenting on the same character, Hellena said she has found herself in situations before where people thought she is Chola, the bad girl in real life.
Hellena who also disclosed that she loved to be on set with Hambe, however clarified that Chola has nothing to do with who she is in real life.

“Chola has nothing to do with who I am, it’s just a character that I play and I try to portray it as real as possible; but no, I can’t say Helena is like that. And it’s good being on set with Hambe, he is a good friend, he is a very good character; I enjoy being on set with him,’’ Hellena explains. ‘’We communicate well, we understand each other better and that makes it easy for him and I to execute those characters. He is respectful. I have found myself in situations where people think yes, I’m Chola, I’m the bad girl in real life. But no, I’m not and I can’t manage to explain to everybody. A lot of people say Chola is annoying, Chola is too loud…I just don’t let that get to me because people don’t just understand and believe that I execute the role very well for me to be getting on people’s nerves like that.”
Hellena also revealed that because of the same character, she at once reached a quitting point.

“I had reached a point where I felt like quitting, where I got a lot of bad comments, a lot of bad energy from people where they just hated the character and I was like ‘okay, why am I doing this’? It used to bring me down,’’ says Hellena. ‘’It was so demoralising, I lost my self-esteem; I just reached a quitting point. But through the help of God, I pulled through and I told myself that let me just do what I love to do.”

By SIMON MUNTEMBA

NOBLE as President Hakainde Hichilema’s statement to Parliament may sound, it is at variance with the reality on the ground, leader of the opposition in parliament, Brian Mundubile, has said.

Mr Mundubile, who is also PF Mporokoso Member of Parliament, said he would not be excited by President Hichilema’s speech to parliament on the progress made in the application of national values and principles because what he said and what was happening out there was totally different.

He said in an interview that contrary to what the President told Parliament that his administration respected the rule of law and that people were given police bonds and bail unlike in the past, PF members were detained for pro-longed days for bondable offences.

“The President has told us before that nobody will be kept for more than 48 hours for bondable offences in police cells, but what have you seen? People are going in for over seven days or even 11 days with no tangible explanation,” Mr Mundubile said.

Mr Mundubile said that he was disappointed that President Hichilema did not condemn the pro-longed detention and torture of citizens suspected to have committed offences.

He also said contrary to Mr Hichilema’s speech that his government wanted to bring to an end unnecessary by-elections, UPND members have gone further to petition the High Court ruling to the Constitutional Court over the PF seats.

“We must migrate and graduate from a level where a Head of State comes with a good statement on the floor of the house when what is happening out there is different. We will not get excited with mere pronouncements by the President when he said that he wants to do away with by-elections when his members have petitioned almost all PF seats.

“In some cases, his members (UPND) have even gone further in some cases to even petition the High Court ruling to the Constitutional Court. So when you try to reconcile the two, his speech in Parliament and what is happening out there is totally different,” Mr Mundubile said.

Asked how much he would rate the President speech, Mr Mundubile said “ I will be exaggerating if I went beyond 4 out of 10”.

Mr Mundubile said the President should have updated the nation on the progress made in upholding values and principles other than expressing intent.

He however pledged to support government to address lacunas in the constitution but emphasized that the process of constitutional reforms should carry out a countrywide consultation so that every Zambian had an input in the amendment and not just a few elites.

Nkana MP, Binwell Mpundu said President Hichilema’s speech was encouraging and timely as it addressed issues affecting the nation.

“I think the President has ably addressed some of the ills that have affected the country namely corruption, mental health and early marriages. I think that the national address today has come at a critical time when, we as a nation begin to reflect and ask ourselves as to whether we are headed in the right direction or not as far as our national values and principles are concerned,” Mr Mpundu said.

He however said the fight against corruption must not be one sided.

Human Rights Commission Commissioner, Reverend Agness Phiri said President Hichilema has set a tone on how best the country should address the many challenges being faced.

Reverend Phiri also said the President was spot on when he called for Zambians to embrace hard work as that would see the country develop.

POLICE SEIZE KCM OFFICES IN LUSAKA AND CHINGOLA

Lusaka- 12th March 2022

Police Officers have seized and surrounded offices of Konkola Copper Mines.

Both offices in Lusaka and Chingola were surrounded by the Police at 12hrs.

A check at KCM offices on Thabo Mbeki revealed that the communication amongst officers, exposed that the decision was being driven and enforced by State House.

Later both State House Special Assistant for Legal Affairs, Christopher Mundia and Deputy Inspector General of Police based at State House, Fanwell Siandenge visited the KCM offices to ensure that take over was completed.

This is despite the directives and order of the court that places Milingo Lungu as Provisional Liquidator of KCM.

On Friday, KCM and lawyers for Milingo Lungu issued the following statement;

MILINGO LUNGU REMAINS KCM PROVISONAL LIQUIDATOR- LAWYERS, KCM

Lusaka-11th March 2022

Lawyers to Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Provisional Liquidator, Makebi Zulu Advocates, have dismissed assertions that Mr. Milingo Lungu is no longer the Provisional Liquidator.

In a letter dated 11th March 2022 written to the Administrator General and Official Receiver, Natasha Nsanta Kalimukwa, Makebi Zulu Advocates, stated that her office does not posses such authority and her action stands in contempt of court proceedings under Cause No 2019/HP/0761.

And KCM has stated that Mr. Milingo Lungu remains Provisional Liquidator as his position was appointed by the Court of Law.

KCM has called on all stakeholders to support Mr. Milingo and to remain calm until further orders from the Courts of Laws.

Below is the official statement made by the Provisional Liquidator of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Mr Milingo Lungu;

MR. MILINGO REMAINS PROVISONAL LIQUIDATOR-KCM

Lusaka-11th March 2022

We wish to advise that the Provisional Liquidator of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Mr. Milingo Lungu remains Provisional Liquidator.

The announcement made by the Administrator General and Official Receiver is outside the law and outside the authority reposed in such office.

We wish to emphasize that the Administrator General has no powers to suspend the operation of the court order, court directives or court decions.

This is because nowhere in Section 69 of the Corporate Insolvency Act No. 9 of 2017 or any other law is the Administrator General given powers to suspend a Liquidator appointed by the Courts of Law.

As the court proceedings under Cause No. 2019/HP/0761 shows, this action by the Office of the Administrator General stands in Contempt of Court because the Order states that;

“It is hereby ordered that Milingo Lungu of Messrs Lungu Simwanza and Company be and is appointed to act as Provisional Liquidator of the Respondent Company until the conclusion of the hearing of this Petition or further order”

And Mr. Milingo Lungu’s lawyers, Makebi Zulu Advocates, have advised that Mr. Milingo Lungu remains Provisional Liquidator until the Court directs otherwise.

We wish to advise all stakeholders remains and continue to support the work of KCM and the Provisional Liquidator until further orders of court.

Please be advised accordingly.

Milingo Lungu
Provisional Liquidator.

The Vacancy Left by RB Must be Filled Urgently

Former Zambia’s President, Rupiah Banda (RB), passed away at his home in Lusaka last evening, 11 March 2022. The cause of death is cancer.

He was 85. RB had a long and illustrious career in public service, including as President, Vice President, Foreign Minister, Ambassador in three missions (Cairo, Washington and New York/UN), MP for Munali, District Governor and parastatal CEO.

He was a trained Economist, who studied in Ethiopia and Sweden, and a diplomat who served at very high levels during the turbulent years of international relations and frictions in Southern Africa, particularly in Angola, Namibia, Rhodesia and RSA. His depth of knowledge of diplomacy and width of networks amongst important players on the global arena was remarkable.

Back home his statecraft, communication prowess, administrative skills, governance experience, conflict resolution techniques, wisdom, humility, tolerance of diverse views, teamwork and grasp of economic management were recognized as rare strengths. Under his reign, governance looked simple because almost all fundamentals were firmly under control: GDP was growing, inflation was in single digits and dropping, debt was under control, exchange rate was impressive, industrial output (esp the mines) was on the upward trajectory, exports were on the rise, press freedoms were respected and opposition parties were given space to operate. His formula for governance was very basic: he picked the best and brightest and made them his advisors, Ministers and Permanent Secretaries, then allowed them to work.

The departures of KK and RB in a short period have created a big gap, on the bench of elders of the nation, which needs to be filled urgently. Our society functions better when there are such moral voices that watch over what we do and in times of crises they can render a hand, apply their wisdom, utilize their moral authority and exert their experience to influence society to return to normalcy.

The period prior, during and after the general election last year was one such time when our society stood on the verge of disintegrating into chaos, including the possibility of getting engulfed into a civil war.

President RB spoke before elections asking the nation to observe peace and requesting politicians to respect the will of the people.

After elections, the country was tense, the army were deployed and were armed, the pressure on ECL from his militant supporters was intense, the anxiety in HH and the impatience in the battle-ready UPND supporters had risen to explosive levels. Both PF and UPND had militias, some of them armed.

The police had lost all moral authority and/or professional independence or capacity to maintain law and order RB made an important judgement and summoned his entire weight of experience as a diplomat to resolve the standoff.

He calculated well that only ECL and HH were capable of resolving this matter by sitting and discussing. To pile the moral pressure on the two, he requested that other statesmen, including former President of Tanzania and former President of Sierra Leone be present. Within hours, the nation was watching pictures of ECL and HH laughing and exchanging jokes.

A catastrophe had been averted. That’s the power of wisdom and the significance of elders.

That leadership is not spontaneous. Someone must rise over a period of time and be accepted by the nation.

When KK died last winter, RB quickly assumed the unofficial moral position of Father of the Nation.

The qualifications for that job are simple but not simplistic: one must not be a divisive figure, one must be wise, one must be elderly.

The question now is who takes over that position? Zambia is never short of good and wise elders. All they need to realize and do, like RB quickly did, is to refrain from being divisive and petty. It’s a pity that among our elders are some whose health is slowly failing with age. That nonetheless, as happened with RB, shouldn’t deter them from filling the vacancies left by KK and RB as the moral compass of the nation, the force for unity and the benchmark for patriotism. The candidates are many.

However, a little work and a learning curve are needed before they can fill the big shoes shoes left by our fallen heroes, KK and RB. The candidates are many: ECL, VJ, ABC, Archbishop Mpundu, King Lubosi Imwiko, Dr Nevous Mumba, Bishop Joe Imakando, Inonge Wina, Guy Scott, General Kingsley Chinkuli, General Peter Zuze, Patrick Chisanga, Justice Silungwe, Justice Ngulube, Sketchily Sacika, Leslie Mbula …. can individually and collectively help to provide the wisdom and leadership the country requires to unite and build a more prosperous and peaceful Zambia where, unlike today, the future will always be better than the past.

As for ECL, his growth is needed much more than any of the elders above. Another similar or worse standoff is possible in 2026 or earlier.

He has a moral obligation to participate in resolving it, not fueling it. His immediate task is to earn the trust and confidence of the 58% of the population that were against him up to August. The formula is that he should rebrand into a national leader that thinks, talks and does things that are beneficial to all Zambians. It starts by small things such as he should desist from hosting such divisive visitors like Lusambo or Kambwili before cameras.

The Bible says, show me your friends and I will show you your future. ECL should start us better friends. As part of rebranding, at every important national commemoration or event, ECL should issue a statement befitting of a statesman. In times of disasters, he should take time to visit victims.

On all important national or international issues (Ukraine, Climate Change, rising suicide rates, impending drought…) his office should issue a statesmanlike position rich in moral content. On his part, President HH must help ECL to rebrand and transition into the new role of a statesman. All he needs to do is to respect him in a practical and visible way; he can be asked to represent the Head of State or Zambia on any local or international assignment. He can also name something significant (a new barrack, bridge school…) after ECL. It might look insignificant; however, it’s important for the sake of tradition, stability and national unity that elders, among whom ECL is one of the prefects, are taken on board when leadership over the country is exercised. During his reign, ECL managed to destroy so much and harm so many people.

However, rehabilitating and rebranding him is not about ECL, it’s about the country. He should be prepared to play a role to ensure that no more damage is done to Zambia and no harm is done to innocent Zambians again.

On a personal level, I was once invited to be on state visit to Zimbabwe during which; President RB was to officially open the 2009 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.

His host, President Robert Mugabe delivered one of his trademark speeches to a parked audience in the main arena. It was one of the best speeches I heard from Uncle Bob. When RB was called to give his keynote speech, against all our fears, he did not disappoint; just after the salutations in English, RB pushed away the written speech and spent the next few minutes delivering a speech in Ndebele.

The whole audience was upstanding and clapping. That was the highlight of the visit. As you might remember, during the reign of LP Mwanawasa, he had publicly issued a statement against Uncle Bob and his land reforms.

That statement had jeopardized relations with our southern neighbor. Thanks to RB, he normalized the relationship using very simple tactics of diplomacy and knowledge of cultural sensitivities. He understood Zimbabwe very well because he was born in Gwanda, in Matebeleland and lived there as a child. I always had respect for RB, his knowledge of international relations and skills in conflict resolution. I will miss him.

My condolences to Mrs Thandiwe Banda, President HH, the Banda family, FAZ President, MMD President, the Zambian people and Africa at large on the passing of a liberation icon, a football administrator, a distinguished politician, a respected pan-Africanist and a statesman of international repute.

May the soul of our beloved Rupiah Bwezani Banda rest in eternal peace.

12th March, 2022

The Central Committee of the Patriotic Front met this morning to deliberate on a number of matters.

The meeting was chaired by the Party’s Acting President, Hon. Given Lubinda.

The Central Committee wishes to convey its sincere condolences to the former First Lady, Mrs. Thandiwe Banda and the Banda family on the demise of His Excellency, Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

We join the nation in mourning this gallant son of the soil and we pay particular tribute for his long years of service to the nation and humanity.

We wish to appeal to all Zambians to mourn and celebrate the life of President Rupiah Banda in a dignified manner.

May the soul of our former Head of State rest in peace.

Among the many issues that were discussed at length, the following are some of the resolutions of the Central Committee:

APPOINTMENTS

The Central Committee has ratified the following appointments:

1. National Youth Chairperson

Hon. Christopher Kan’gombe, MP has been appointed Member of Central Committee and has further been appointed PF National Youth Chairperson.

2. National Women’s Chairperson

Hon. Mulenga Kampamba, MP has been appointed PF National Chairperson for Women.

3. National Chairperson- Elections

Hon. Remember Chanda Mutale, MP has been appointed Member of Central Committee and has further been appointed National Chairperson in charge of Elections.

4. Community Development

Hon. Elizabeth Phiri has been appointed National Chairperson for Community Development.

5. National Security

Captain Walusiku Lyambela (Rtd) has been appointed National Chairperson in charge of Party Security.

6. GENERAL CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Central Committee has appointed a seven-man committee to spearhead the organisation and planning of the forthcoming party’s Extra Ordinary General Conference.

The committee is comprising the following members:

1. Hon. Davies Chama
2. Hon. Raphael Nakachinda
3. Hon. Sylvia Chalikosa
4. Hon. Remember Chanda Mutale
5. Hon. Anthony Kasandwe
6. Hon. Syachaye Madyenkuku
7. Hon. Godfridah Sumaili

The Planning Committee shall be headed by Hon. Davies Chama.

The Central Committee has ratified the names of the following as PF Lusaka Province Committee on interim basis:

CHAIRMAN
Hon. Christopher Shakafuswa, MP

VICE CHAIRMAN
Hon. Japhen Mwakalombe

SECRETARY
Sam Zulu

VICE SECRETARY
Clement Tembo

TREASURER
Stanford Kayame

VICE TREASURER
Mary Nampungwe

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Hon. Tasila Lungu Mwansa, MP

VICE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Stanley Chumya

WOMEN’S LEAGUE
CHAIRLADY
Her Worship the Mayor Chilando Chitangala

VICE CHAIRLADY
Timeke Chirwa

SECRETARY
Councillor Annie Chinyanta

VICE SECRETARY
Hon. Maria Langa

TREASURER
Minyoi Nalukui

VICE TREASURER
Febby Nalishebo

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Grace Ngulube

VICE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Grace Mpondamali

YOUTH LEAGUE

CHAIRMAN
Kelvin Kaunda

VICE CHAIRMAN
Nalishebo Sinyama

SECRETARY
Mulenga Kayula

VICE SECRETARY
James Mwale

TREASURER
Mubanga Chimfwembe

VICE TREASURER
Thelma Hamalambo

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Jonas Luputa

VICE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Theresa Shido Sikaili

6. Mr. Kennedy Kamba, former Chairman for Lusaka Province has been appointed Member of the Central Committee of the Patriotic Front.

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW PROCESS

We are surprised that the UPND which has a notorious history of boycotting and subverting previous national constitution review processes is today asking Zambians to support its ill-fated National Constitutional Review Process.

The UPND, in opposition worked round the clock to frustrate every effort aimed at constitutional review or judicial reforms that were initiated by the previous administrations. In 2008, the UPND sabotaged the National Constitutional Conference by boycotting the Vote in Parliament.
In 2021, they boycotted the National Dialogue Forum. In 2016 the UPND fought the Referendum to expand the Bill of Rights.

Further, we are very concerned that the UPND regime has sidelined almost all other stakeholders in its proposed Constitutional Review Process. Going by the official communication from the Ministry of Justice, only 9 stakeholders have been engaged, namely:
UPND
PF
ZCID
Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops
Council of Churches in Zambia
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia National Youth Development Council
The Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities and
Deans of various Law Schools within and outside Zambia.

Numerous other stakeholders such as Labour Movements, Civil Society Organisations, LAZ, Student Unions, Industry Players, relevant Government Ministries, other faith-based organisations, other political parties have all been left out.

Why is UPND in a hurry to change the Constitution which they have been defending all their time in opposition? Is it because they want to abolish the Presidenial Term Limit so that President Hakainde Hichilema is imposed on the people of Zambia as a life President in the same manner they have imposed him as life President for UPND?; Is it because they want to legalise same-sex relations and same-sex marriage to please their foreign financiers; or is it because they want to legalise polygamy? Why exactly is President Hichilema and UPND in so much a hurry to change our Republican Constitution?

We want to put it on record that the Patriotic Front will not entertain any Constitutional Reforms that are aimed at legalising acts that go against the order of nature or our culture as Zambians.

Further, we will not support any constitutional review process that does not meet or surpass the standard or bar that was set by the National Dialogue Act and the subsequent National Dialogue Forum of 2021.

The Patriotic Front, in Government had a vastly consultative, inclusive, transparent and accountable constitutional review process that included the enactment of an Act of Parliament to ensure that the content of the constitution were protected from manipulation or distortion from any quarter, be it, the Executive, the Judiciary or indeed the Legislative Arm of Government. Further the Patriotic Front Administration ensured that over 400 organisations and individuals participated in the National Dialogue Forum; this ensured that the process was both representative and inclusive of all Zambians.

We therefore beseech President Hakainde Hichilema and his government to engage ALL stakeholders and enact a law that should guide the process of the proposed Constitutional Reforms to ensure that the constitution review process is inclusive, transparent and accountable to the people of Zambia.

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

RESOLUTIONS OF THE PF CENTRAL COMMITTEE

12th March, 2022

The Central Committee of the Patriotic Front met this morning to deliberate on a number of matters.

The meeting was chaired by the Party’s Acting President, Hon. Given Lubinda.

The Central Committee wishes to convey its sincere condolences to the former First Lady, Mrs. Thandiwe Banda and the Banda family on the demise of His Excellency, Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

We join the nation in mourning this gallant son of the soil and we pay particular tribute for his long years of service to the nation and humanity.

We wish to appeal to all Zambians to mourn and celebrate the life of President Rupiah Banda in a dignified manner.

May the soul of our former Head of State rest in peace.

Among the many issues that were discussed at length, the following are some of the resolutions of the Central Committee:

APPOINTMENTS

The Central Committee has ratified the following appointments:

1. National Youth Chairperson

Hon. Christopher Kan’gombe, MP has been appointed Member of Central Committee and has further been appointed PF National Youth Chairperson.

2. National Women’s Chairperson

Hon. Mulenga Kampamba, MP has been appointed PF National Chairperson for Women.

3. National Chairperson- Elections

Hon. Remember Chanda Mutale, MP has been appointed Member of Central Committee and has further been appointed National Chairperson in charge of Elections.

4. Community Development

Hon. Elizabeth Phiri has been appointed National Chairperson for Community Development.

5. National Security

Captain Walusiku Lyambela (Rtd) has been appointed National Chairperson in charge of Party Security.

6. GENERAL CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Central Committee has appointed a seven-man committee to spearhead the organisation and planning of the forthcoming party’s Extra Ordinary General Conference.

The committee is comprising the following members:

1. Hon. Davies Chama
2. Hon. Raphael Nakachinda
3. Hon. Sylvia Chalikosa
4. Hon. Remember Chanda Mutale
5. Hon. Anthony Kasandwe
6. Hon. Syachaye Madyenkuku
7. Hon. Godfridah Sumaili

The Planning Committee shall be headed by Hon. Davies Chama.

The Central Committee has ratified the names of the following as PF Lusaka Province Committee on interim basis:

CHAIRMAN
Hon. Christopher Shakafuswa, MP

VICE CHAIRMAN
Hon. Japhen Mwakalombe

SECRETARY
Sam Zulu

VICE SECRETARY
Clement Tembo

TREASURER
Stanford Kayame

VICE TREASURER
Mary Nampungwe

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Hon. Tasila Lungu Mwansa, MP

VICE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Stanley Chumya

WOMEN’S LEAGUE
CHAIRLADY
Her Worship the Mayor Chilando Chitangala

VICE CHAIRLADY
Timeke Chirwa

SECRETARY
Councillor Annie Chinyanta

VICE SECRETARY
Hon. Maria Langa

TREASURER
Minyoi Nalukui

VICE TREASURER
Febby Nalishebo

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Grace Ngulube

VICE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Grace Mpondamali

YOUTH LEAGUE

CHAIRMAN
Kelvin Kaunda

VICE CHAIRMAN
Nalishebo Sinyama

SECRETARY
Mulenga Kayula

VICE SECRETARY
James Mwale

TREASURER
Mubanga Chimfwembe

VICE TREASURER
Thelma Hamalambo

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Jonas Luputa

VICE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Theresa Shido Sikaili

6. Mr. Kennedy Kamba, former Chairman for Lusaka Province has been appointed Member of the Central Committee of the Patriotic Front.

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW PROCESS

We are surprised that the UPND which has a notorious history of boycotting and subverting previous national constitution review processes is today asking Zambians to support its ill-fated National Constitutional Review Process.

The UPND, in opposition worked round the clock to frustrate every effort aimed at constitutional review or judicial reforms that were initiated by the previous administrations. In 2008, the UPND sabotaged the National Constitutional Conference by boycotting the Vote in Parliament.
In 2021, they boycotted the National Dialogue Forum. In 2016 the UPND fought the Referendum to expand the Bill of Rights.

Further, we are very concerned that the UPND regime has sidelined almost all other stakeholders in its proposed Constitutional Review Process. Going by the official communication from the Ministry of Justice, only 9 stakeholders have been engaged, namely:
UPND
PF
ZCID
Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops
Council of Churches in Zambia
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia National Youth Development Council
The Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities and
Deans of various Law Schools within and outside Zambia.

Numerous other stakeholders such as Labour Movements, Civil Society Organisations, LAZ, Student Unions, Industry Players, relevant Government Ministries, other faith-based organisations, other political parties have all been left out.

Why is UPND in a hurry to change the Constitution which they have been defending all their time in opposition? Is it because they want to abolish the Presidenial Term Limit so that President Hakainde Hichilema is imposed on the people of Zambia as a life President in the same manner they have imposed him as life President for UPND?; Is it because they want to legalise same-sex relations and same-sex marriage to please their foreign financiers; or is it because they want to legalise polygamy? Why exactly is President Hichilema and UPND in so much a hurry to change our Republican Constitution?

We want to put it on record that the Patriotic Front will not entertain any Constitutional Reforms that are aimed at legalising acts that go against the order of nature or our culture as Zambians.

Further, we will not support any constitutional review process that does not meet or surpass the standard or bar that was set by the National Dialogue Act and the subsequent National Dialogue Forum of 2021.

The Patriotic Front, in Government had a vastly consultative, inclusive, transparent and accountable constitutional review process that included the enactment of an Act of Parliament to ensure that the content of the constitution were protected from manipulation or distortion from any quarter, be it, the Executive, the Judiciary or indeed the Legislative Arm of Government. Further the Patriotic Front Administration ensured that over 400 organisations and individuals participated in the National Dialogue Forum; this ensured that the process was both representative and inclusive of all Zambians.

We therefore beseech President Hakainde Hichilema and his government to engage ALL stakeholders and enact a law that should guide the process of the proposed Constitutional Reforms to ensure that the constitution review process is inclusive, transparent and accountable to the people of Zambia.

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

12th March, 2022

The Central Committee of the Patriotic Front met this morning to deliberate on a number of matters.

The meeting was chaired by the Party’s Acting President, Hon. Given Lubinda.

The Central Committee wishes to convey its sincere condolences to the former First Lady, Mrs. Thandiwe Banda and the Banda family on the demise of His Excellency, Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

We join the nation in mourning this gallant son of the soil and we pay particular tribute for his long years of service to the nation and humanity.

We wish to appeal to all Zambians to mourn and celebrate the life of President Rupiah Banda in a dignified manner.

May the soul of our former Head of State rest in peace.

Among the many issues that were discussed at length, the following are some of the resolutions of the Central Committee:

APPOINTMENTS

The Central Committee has ratified the following appointments:

1. National Youth Chairperson

Hon. Christopher Kan’gombe, MP has been appointed Member of Central Committee and has further been appointed PF National Youth Chairperson.

2. National Women’s Chairperson

Hon. Mulenga Kampamba, MP has been appointed PF National Chairperson for Women.

3. National Chairperson- Elections

Hon. Remember Chanda Mutale, MP has been appointed Member of Central Committee and has further been appointed National Chairperson in charge of Elections.

4. Community Development

Hon. Elizabeth Phiri has been appointed National Chairperson for Community Development.

5. National Security

Captain Walusiku Lyambela (Rtd) has been appointed National Chairperson in charge of Party Security.

6. GENERAL CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Central Committee has appointed a seven-man committee to spearhead the organisation and planning of the forthcoming party’s Extra Ordinary General Conference.

The committee is comprising the following members:

1. Hon. Davies Chama
2. Hon. Raphael Nakachinda
3. Hon. Sylvia Chalikosa
4. Hon. Remember Chanda Mutale
5. Hon. Anthony Kasandwe
6. Hon. Syachaye Madyenkuku
7. Hon. Godfridah Sumaili

The Planning Committee shall be headed by Hon. Davies Chama.

The Central Committee has ratified the names of the following as PF Lusaka Province Committee on interim basis:

CHAIRMAN
Hon. Christopher Shakafuswa, MP

VICE CHAIRMAN
Hon. Japhen Mwakalombe

SECRETARY
Sam Zulu

VICE SECRETARY
Clement Tembo

TREASURER
Stanford Kayame

VICE TREASURER
Mary Nampungwe

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Hon. Tasila Lungu Mwansa, MP

VICE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Stanley Chumya

WOMEN’S LEAGUE
CHAIRLADY
Her Worship the Mayor Chilando Chitangala

VICE CHAIRLADY
Timeke Chirwa

SECRETARY
Councillor Annie Chinyanta

VICE SECRETARY
Hon. Maria Langa

TREASURER
Minyoi Nalukui

VICE TREASURER
Febby Nalishebo

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Grace Ngulube

VICE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Grace Mpondamali

YOUTH LEAGUE

CHAIRMAN
Kelvin Kaunda

VICE CHAIRMAN
Nalishebo Sinyama

SECRETARY
Mulenga Kayula

VICE SECRETARY
James Mwale

TREASURER
Mubanga Chimfwembe

VICE TREASURER
Thelma Hamalambo

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Jonas Luputa

VICE INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Theresa Shido Sikaili

6. Mr. Kennedy Kamba, former Chairman for Lusaka Province has been appointed Member of the Central Committee of the Patriotic Front.

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW PROCESS

We are surprised that the UPND which has a notorious history of boycotting and subverting previous national constitution review processes is today asking Zambians to support its ill-fated National Constitutional Review Process.

The UPND, in opposition worked round the clock to frustrate every effort aimed at constitutional review or judicial reforms that were initiated by the previous administrations. In 2008, the UPND sabotaged the National Constitutional Conference by boycotting the Vote in Parliament.
In 2021, they boycotted the National Dialogue Forum. In 2016 the UPND fought the Referendum to expand the Bill of Rights.

Further, we are very concerned that the UPND regime has sidelined almost all other stakeholders in its proposed Constitutional Review Process. Going by the official communication from the Ministry of Justice, only 9 stakeholders have been engaged, namely:
UPND
PF
ZCID
Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops
Council of Churches in Zambia
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia National Youth Development Council
The Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities and
Deans of various Law Schools within and outside Zambia.

Numerous other stakeholders such as Labour Movements, Civil Society Organisations, LAZ, Student Unions, Industry Players, relevant Government Ministries, other faith-based organisations, other political parties have all been left out.

Why is UPND in a hurry to change the Constitution which they have been defending all their time in opposition? Is it because they want to abolish the Presidenial Term Limit so that President Hakainde Hichilema is imposed on the people of Zambia as a life President in the same manner they have imposed him as life President for UPND?; Is it because they want to legalise same-sex relations and same-sex marriage to please their foreign financiers; or is it because they want to legalise polygamy? Why exactly is President Hichilema and UPND in so much a hurry to change our Republican Constitution?

We want to put it on record that the Patriotic Front will not entertain any Constitutional Reforms that are aimed at legalising acts that go against the order of nature or our culture as Zambians.

Further, we will not support any constitutional review process that does not meet or surpass the standard or bar that was set by the National Dialogue Act and the subsequent National Dialogue Forum of 2021.

The Patriotic Front, in Government had a vastly consultative, inclusive, transparent and accountable constitutional review process that included the enactment of an Act of Parliament to ensure that the content of the constitution were protected from manipulation or distortion from any quarter, be it, the Executive, the Judiciary or indeed the Legislative Arm of Government. Further the Patriotic Front Administration ensured that over 400 organisations and individuals participated in the National Dialogue Forum; this ensured that the process was both representative and inclusive of all Zambians.

We therefore beseech President Hakainde Hichilema and his government to engage ALL stakeholders and enact a law that should guide the process of the proposed Constitutional Reforms to ensure that the constitution review process is inclusive, transparent and accountable to the people of Zambia.

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

His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani BANDA born on the 19th February 1937, in Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia), will prove to be sui generis

I have never written a eulogy but, the passing of the Fourth Republican President, Rupiah Bwezani BANDA is sui generis. I first met President Banda when he was a visitor to my parents’ home as he and my late dad were friends.

In 1975 when my father was chargé d’affaires setting up the opening of the Zambian foreign mission in, Paris, France. Late Rupiah Banda, “the then Zambian foreign minister on one of his many visits to our home decided after dinner to teach us the latest American dance craze; the bump”. He took his time to teach two teenagers (my brother NGOMBALA and I) the dance move. He was no doubt a socialite.

I submit that there are compelling reasons why Late President BANDA should be considered sui generis. There will never be another as his case is singularly distinctive.

Not only was Late President Rupiah Banda the Fourth Republican President of Zambia, but he was also the head of the Namibian Government when he was Chairman of the United Nations Council for Namibia. He therefore at one time or other led two different nations.

I have interacted with all the Zambian Republican Presidents in the Zambian Courts where I have either represented them or acted against them. This has given me a universal view of all the persons who have led our nation.

The manner in which President BANDA conducted himself whilst president and in his retirement, should serve as an example to other African leaders as to how they are to behave and conduct themselves.

One of the challenges we have in Africa is the tendency for those in power to resist peaceful change of power. President BANDA stepped down as president of Zambia in 2011 following a very close election defeat and is internationally hailed as an icon of African democracy for peacefully handing over the presidency to the opposition. This is something that should be highlighted to all present and future African leaders.

Since leaving office, he was invited by several international organizations and groups to offer advice and support on democracy and good governance.

To a packed house at Boston University on 2nd April 2012, President Rupiah Banda made a strong defense for democracy as the African Presidential Center’s new President-in-Residence. In his opening salvo, he said, “For democracy to flourish there must be a continuing stream of individuals of integrity and ideas with promise. There must be room for a new generation of leaders to rise to solve the next generation of problems. If democracy is going to be secure in countries like Zambia, if development is going to take root; old leaders can’t cling to power or attempt to consolidate it at all costs.”

His life is testimony to these words.

He was true to his words.

The manner in which His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda conducted himself after the close 2011 Zambia Presidential Election is a good example of a leader gracefully handing overpower. This handover was all the more remarkable when you take into account the highly charged election and the threats which were being made against His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda and his immediate family.

In spite of the threats made to him, His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda brought down the political temperature by not only quickly conceding defeat but also going further to agree to publicly physically hand over the instruments of power before a highly charged and hostile crowd at the swearing-in ceremony of his successor. This selfless act significantly brought down the political temperature.

Some elements were however still desirous of unfairly humiliating His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda by bringing malicious false criminal charges against him. During the trial, His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda would travel in and out of the country and never sought to seek asylum anywhere as he felt that democracy required that his innocence be established by the Zambian Courts.

The Zambian Courts found that the charges against His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda had no basis at all and consequently dismissed the case at the very early stage by finding him with no case to answer. The court went as far as saying there was no need to even put President Banda on his defense.

During this wrongful trial, His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda showed no bitterness and instead maintained the dignity of the office of former President by attending all national state celebrations and functions clearly showing that he held no animosity towards his false accusers. As one of the lawyers who represented him at his trial I can confirm that throughout the process he kept on emphasizing that his trial would help Zambians have faith in the Judicial system and need to maintain respect of the court processes.

After his acquittal President Banda said in a post-ruling interview with journalists stated that his case should serve as a lesson to all Zambians not to retaliate to hatred with hatred and advised, “Having been a leader of this country, I just want to ask everybody to please take this matter as a lesson to us Zambians that hatred can make you do bad things and, therefore, you do not respond to hatred with hatred…….Zambia should repair the hatred character if the country is to attain any meaningful development.”

He went on to call for love and peace, adding “It is only through love, peace, and forgiveness that the country will prosper.” This is consistent with the speech he gave when he left office.

The Zambian High Court subsequently found that the removal of his immunity was wrongly done and re-instated his immunity.

The Fourth Zambian Republican President was sui generis as he not only led Zambia but also because he is the only African leader who superintended two different territories as he was elected President of Council for Namibia in 1974.

His Excellency Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda oversaw the smooth transition of Namibia into a democratic state when he was Chairman of the United Nations Council for Namibia and also Zambian foreign minister. Prior to the delicate and sophisticated diplomatic skills that His Excellency Rupiah Banda exhibited, Namibia was in the midst of a deadly and intense liberation struggle.

The South West Africa People’s Organisation, officially known as SWAPO Party of Namibia, was an independence movement in Namibia that fought against the racist regime supported by the then Apartheid South African government. In 23 years of fighting beginning in 1966 between the SWAPO and the SADF, thousands of fatal casualties were reported.

SWAPO found that President Banda, inspite of the high racial tensions the liberation struggle had created (such as the horror of the Kassinga massacre at a Namibian refugee camp in Angola on May 4, 1978) managed to bring down the tensions to such an extent that we did not witness the flight of the whites as was seen when Southern Rhodesia gained independence and became Zimbabwe.

The manner in which President Banda handled the transition was to serve as an example that Nelson Mandela would emulate when the African National Congress in South Africa took over from the Apartheid white regime.

President Rupiah Banda served as Chairman of the United Nations Institute for Namibia and played a critical role in training, not only the future Namibian civil service but also, future Namibian political leaders such as President Geingob and former Speaker of the National Assembly Chitendero amongst many others. As a result there has been stability and a decent culture of democracy from the governing party in Namibia ever since the country achieved independence in 1990. This culture was planted and nurtured by Late President Banda.

His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda was also, since peacefully handing over power in 2011, active on the International scene in that he was election observer to numerous African elections such as:-

In November 2011 he led the JIMMY CARTER FOUNDATION ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION to The Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In May 2012 he led a ELECTORAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA (EISA) election observer mission to Lesotho

In 2012/2013 he led the JIMMY CARTER FOUNDATION ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION to Kenya.

In 2013 he led the JIMMY CARTER FOUNDATION ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION to Sierra Leone.

President Rupiah Banda was in such high demand that he had to excuse himself from a request by the Commonwealth for him to lead the observer mission to the presidential elections in Ghana as the polls were coming around the same time as the Sierra Leone assignment.

Earlier, the African Union requested President Banda to observe the parliamentary elections in Libya but, due to prior engagements, he could not go.

His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda was in 2011 invited by Boston University in the United States of America to lecture in democracy as the Eighth President-in-Residence at Boston University’s African Presidential Center.

As the Eighth President-in-Residence at Boston University’s African Presidential Center, former President Rupiah Banda followed such notables as former Zambian President Kenneth David Kaunda, former president of Botswana Quett Ketumile Joni Masire, former president of Cape Verde Antonio Monteiro, and Mo Ibrahim prize-winner former president of Botswana Festus Gontebanye Mogae.

This is testimony of the people mentioned in the same breath as President Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

In November 2012 Boston University recognized the important experience he could impart to the upcoming leaders by asking him to give lectures in Ghana as part of the BOSTON UNIVERSITY program.

After the Ghana lectures he went in the same manner to Tanzania to lecture on good governmence and democracy at Mwalimu Nyerere’s Mlimani campus.

In February 2013 he delivered a keynote lecture under the ELECTORAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA (EISA) program

In recognition of his academic and intellectual abilities and prowess as shown in the paragraphs above, His Excellency Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda was invited and appointed as Chancellor of Cavendish University.

In 2017 he was appointed as co-chair of the panel of the PANEL OF EMINENT PERSONS PANEL OF THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BANK (FORMERLY PTA BANK UNDER COMESA)

In 2018 he led the mediation mission to Kenya in the aftermath of the post elections violence where his participation was key in leading to the formation of a government of national unity and gave rise to the now famous household name “The March 9th Handshake”. The handshake brought together Uhuru Kenyatta, and Raila Odinga, two national leaders who put their differences aside to serve Kenyans.

I was an election observer in the Kenyan Elections of 2007 that were followed by such widespread violence that our observer mission was escorted to the airport under heavy military escort upon departure. I therefore understand how deep the divisions and ill-will run in Kenyan society prior to “The March 9th Handshake”. This makes the delicate work done by His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda of bringing the then mortal political enemies in Kenya together for the greater interest and good of Kenya really stand out.

Club de Madrid World Leadership Alliance (WLA – Club de Madrid) which aims to bring change for institutional and leadership strengthening, development and the wellbeing of citizens, recognized His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda and in their citation of him said, “As President, Rupiah Banda has dedicated himself to improving Zambia’s economy, ensuring security, stability and prosperity for all Zambians. He has worked especially to improve healthcare and education, to increase agricultural production and to secure and increase the number of jobs in Zambia, particularly for people living in rural areas.”

In addition the Club de Madrid said of His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda, “Zambia’s abiding interest in the liberation of the region meant that its Foreign Minister was among the key figures in the diplomacy and events that eventually led to the emancipation of the region. As such, Banda is known by, and has interacted extensively with, many of the leaders of the region today.

He also served as President of the UN Council on Namibia which was effectively the government of Namibia while the matter of South Africa’s disputed mandate over the territory was resolved.”

The full citation from the Club de Madrid is to be published in my next post.

His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda also managed the unfortunate transition from the loss of a sitting president (Late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa) through death when he ably oversaw the healing of the country and coming to terms with the loss of a leader. As a result of how he managed the transition there was economic and political stability in spite of the loss. The example he set helped the country to deal with the unfortunate repeat of circumstances when a few years later his successor, His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata also died whilst in office.

When President Mwanawasa died I was due to travel the following day to Denver Colorado for ten days on the invitation of the National Democratic Institute to attend the Democratic Party’s convention and adoption of Senator Obama as Democratic Party nominee. I went to see President Banda at Government House and asked him if I should still go ahead. He urged me to go ahead and assured me that the burial would not have taken place and hence I would be back in time. Upon this encouragement I went to Colorado and indeed was back on time.

His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda showed his humility and tolerance when the police had arrested and successfully prosecuted a Ndola man, Darius Mukuka, who had insulted him. All this happened without His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda’s knowledge. I was present when the President read in the newspaper that a man was jailed for having insulted him in a bar. He was furious! Furious, not that he had been insulted in a bar but, because as he asked, “Why should someone be sent to jail for insulting me? If he can’t insult me, who else will he insult?”.

He then exercised his Constitutional power to grant clemency and ordered the Darius Mukuka’s immediate release from jail. He went further and issued a directive to the police that people should never be arrested for such an offense.

I also remember during his presidency that a number of Barotse activists were arrested on a non bailable charge and upon hearing that there were some very elderly and a few juveniles amongst the arrested, His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda exercised his Constitutional power of clemency again and ordered the release of all the elderly and juveniles that had been arrested on those charges.

The role and positive influence of His Excellency President (Chairman UN Council on Namibia) Rupiah Banda has been recognized by organizations such as:-

1. ELECTORAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA (EISA)
2. BOSTON UNIVERSITY
3. JIMMY CARTER FOUNDATION
4. COMESA
5. CLUB DE MADRID WORLD LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE
6. THE AFRICAN UNION
7. THE UNITED NATIONS

These are but a sampling of a few reasons why His Excellency President (Chairman UN Council on Namibia) Rupiah Bwezani Banda was able to dissipate the tension that was building up between the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development supporters after the 11th August 2021 elections. It was looking as if Zambia was headed towards a catastrophe like the American January 6th 2021 Capital Hill mayhem in Washington that rocked the USA.

Behind the scenes President Banda called upon his years of diplomatic skills to spring a beautiful surprise for Zambia, Africa and the world.

On 16th August 2021 then Republican President Edgar Lungu met with President elect Hakainde Hichilema at former president Rupiah Banda’s residence. Fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda managed to replicate “The March 9th Handshake” of Kenya by engineering the “16th August elbow bump” between outgoing and incoming Presidents Lungu and Hakainde.

I am certainly not mistaken that our Fourth Republican President is akin to no other Zambian President and His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda will prove to be sui generis.

Chiluba would have died in handcuffs without Rupiah Banda

RB wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t without sin. Actually, there isn’t anyone without sin, save the unborn baby. But he was wiser. He had God’s given wisdom.

When Levy Mwanawasa, won the 2001 elections with Chiluba’s hand at every pollong station, he decided to turn against his predecessor. Chiluba was charged with corruption charges. This was a party war declared on the second president. For the next 7 years, chiluba was on bail. He was been investigated with lawyers getting as much as $10m in legal fees. This was a little embarrassment to the young Zambian country.

Whilst presidents are always to blame for the failures, Chiluba’s failures were grossly over exaggerated to justify persecuting him. He was accused of having stolen millions of dollars. But upto now, the state have failed to show the millions he stole. They have only shown the millions lawyers were paid. I have personally met Chiluba’s daughter in Croydon. They live in an average house with her our neighbouring country born husband. They are poor like Stella Sata who is hustling to make a living.

This is now the last part, so, Chiluba was persecuted for several years. When RB became a president, he did what any wise person would do. I know this is highly contested. Zambians we love drama. We love to see people prosecuted. For us, that’s drama. As we have stated before, prosecution of fianancial crimes is an expensive hobby. Even Britain fails to prosecute some financial crimes.

So, RB discontinued the cases against Chiluba. He simply stopped funding the prosecution of Chiluba which weakened the case and Chiluba walked to freedom again. His dignity was restored. He once had an image in the public. He even became unpaid pastor. Just like KK, he had repented. Chiluba died in June 2011, a few months before Micheal Sata, the underrated politician of the time won the elections. He died as a free man. Thanks to RB.

For the first time in the history of our country, the former president has not been persecuted. He has even now been accorded the title of statesman. RB, your spirit of peace will always dwell among us.