We live to learn, says apologetic Max Chongu

PF supporter Max Chongu says he is sorry for the irritation that he may have caused to Zambians when his party was in power.

Chongu, who calls himself a businessman, became synonymous with all things negative under the dark days of the PF misrule.

In April 2018, Chongu sank to the lowest ebb and was seen wearing a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church Dorcus Mothers’ esteemed uniform, while holding a bottle of something that certainly intoxicates.

His wearing of the church’s uniform was a protest against the SDA Church because of a video that aired on Prime TV where an uniformed Dorcas mother ‘accused’ former president Edgar Lungu of being a drunkard.

In August last year, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), seized three motor vehicles from Chongu and to this day, the Commission continues to enjoy watching those stationary automobiles.

One wonders the mode of transport that the erstwhile PF die hard Chongu used to reach Muvi TV studios on Nangwenya road in Kalingalinga township.

On the Muvi TV special interview, Chongu, who wore a suit and was speaking decent English – unlike those boss ni boss singers who once exalted Bowman Lusambo – said people live to learn and is now seeking forgiveness from those he may have injured, knowingly or unknowingly.

“To be honest, when we lost an election, I had time to reflect and I was the first person to apologise to the people of Zambia. We live to learn! When you are exposed to certain things that you never had, of course, you’ll behave in a certain way which will irritate a lot of people. But one of the greatest attributes of Christianity is to forgive and love one another,” Chongu said.

“And I did apologise and it went viral; I apologised to everyone I offended. But for the sake of this being the first TV interview after we lost an election, I want to apologise to the people of Zambia for the things that I could have done wrong knowingly or unknowingly. I hope each and every person that was offended will find that soft spot in their heart to forgive me.”

Chongu has since cautioned UPND youths not to fall into the evil ditch where PF youths found themselves, where they specialised mostly in recording and circulating audios with offensive words with the ability to permanently retire one’s eardrum.

He emphasised that UPND youths should not start to insult the party leadership by way of sending audios.

“In politics it’s very important to allow people to freely speak their mind. But when you suppress them, intimidate them, they will keep quiet and the next reality will be one million difference, in terms of votes,” he said.

Chongu did not forget to pile praise on President Hakainde Hichilema for being an educated and successful businessman.

“The President should remember that he got much support from social media. He should never turn his back on social media and what people are saying on social media. In Nigeria they say that a river that forgets its source easily dries up,” Chongu advised.

He, however, said not everyone who was in the PF is bad and wasteful.

Kalemba

MABETA’S THREATS ON NEWS DIGGERS! NONSENSICAL

Saturday, February 12, 2022 – The Free Press Initiative (FPI) Zambia is appalled by the senseless utterances and threats on News Diggers! by UPND Kankoyo Member of Parliament Heartson Mabeta.

On Wednesday, February 9, 2022, Mr Mabeta made a very disturbing posting on his official Facebook page where he said News Diggers! will be closed the way The Post was closed. It is not surprising that we have leaders like Mr Mabeta in UPND who are ready to go out of line in defending wrongs and along the way discarding the promises made that their party will defend press freedom.

From his statement, it is clear that he’s among many functional illiterates who have deliberately chosen to ignore the good promises made by President Hakainde Hichilema that no media house will ever be threatened but given maximum space to practice independent journalism. Or should we take it that his statement is party position since no condemnation has been made so far?

The Post closure was and is still a very sad story that left deep wounds among the affected employees while others have died as a result.

So to find a leader like Mr Mabeta taking pleasure in threatening to close down another media organisation the way The Post was closed is inhumane and a way of killing a free and critical press in our country.

Zambia needs independent media to keep government in check.

We, therefore, urge Mr Mabeta to keep his mouth shut and his hands off the media and channel his energy to his political career, more so that he’s a novice in politics.

As for UPND secretary general Mr Batuke Imenda, who denied his own words, we appeal to him to own up and begin to apply caution in future when addressing sensitive matters so that he doesn’t accuse the media of quoting him out of context.

Meanwhile, the FPI has been following activities surrounding Lumezi Member of Parliament Mr Munir Zulu.
We urge Mr Zulu to leave The Mast to operate freely. His ranting against the newspaper and journalist Oliver Chisenga is uncalled for. As a lawmaker, he must by now fully understand the important role of the media in a democracy. If he does not, the FPI is ready to offer those lessons to him and his colleague Mr Mabeta whose behavior and attitude towards press is not so honorable.

FPI demands that this trend of harrassing and victimizing journalists by politicians ends forthwith. The media as a forth estate should be allowed to work independently, freely and professionally.

We advise these politicians to always remember that whether in opposition or in the ruling party, they need an independent and free media that will tell things as they are.

Issued by

Ms Joan Chirwa

Founder – FPI Zambia
No. 1 Chinunda Road, Woodlands, Lusaka Zambia
Contact No: +260 211 355449 | 0954 723936 Email: programs@fpizambia.org

Kanye West has been doing some questionable things lately but that isn’t stopping him from dealing in multi-million dollar transactions. Recently, Kaye spoke about rejecting $100M at his Netflix documentary premiere.

In an Instagram video posted by designer Tracey Mills, Kanye revealed he rejected $100m from Apple for his Donda album. Ye made a point of the whole event not being about money but about an artist’s power and respect towards his craft. He has also put out the term “Black Future Month” to inspire and promote Black ownership.

On February 11, Kanye West took the stage at the screening of the Netflix documentary Jeen Yuhs. It is a Kanye Trilogy speaking about his ambitions for the legacy of the film, Black Future Month and the importance of the Black community to remain connected. Ye was accompanied by DaBaby and directors Clarence ‘Coodie’ Simmons and Chike Ozah at the screening.

“Out here in Hollywood a lot of times, I got my man DaBaby right here, people try to cancel us and we all run away from each other… we not talking to each other, not communicating, and that’s why on Black Future Month we stood up and said, ‘We got to stand next to each other and we ain’t gonna let each other go when someone brings up one mistake that someone did.”

Kanye has been taking every aspect of his life into his own hands by controlling and managing it by himself. Last month he even demanded Netflix to open up the edit bay and allow him to be at the helm of the sequencing of the film. Ye also seemingly suggested the narration of the documentary should be handled by Drake.

“I got offered $100 million by Larry Jackson to put DONDA on Apple, but I ain’t never got a meeting with Tim Cook. So it ain’t about the money, it’s about our power and out respect collectively. So I be saying stuff that people try to remind me in Black History Month that people got killed for. But this is Black Future Month.”

In other news, Kanye has been involved deeply in Kim Kardashian’s life which has done no good for them. Apart from unnecessary drama and attention from the world, Kanye can do no right by meddling in Kim’s personal life. However, both are doing great on the work front and we would appreciate it if that reflected in their personal lives too.

Chilufya Tayali

NO MATTER HOW TALKATIVE THEY MAYBE, BRIAN MUNDUBILE BEATS ALL THE OTHER PF PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS – IS THE BEST ZAMBIA CAN EVER HAVE

I like Brian Mundubile because he knows the pain of suffering, which is why he is so helpful. He has a Big heart that no leader among those we have can beat.

He is also reasonable, he doesn’t talk carelessly, he is uniting other than divisive. He is straightforward, unlike some of these manipulators and crooks. Clearly is best that PF need to change face.

Below is an article I stumbled upon on social media, believed to have been written by Mundubile himself.

“I rarely talk about myself but for the sake of a youth that is struggling let me encourage you to continue working hard and trusting God for both your spiritual, physical, social economic growth.

I started as a young boy from Muombo village of Mporokoso very poor, no shoes, no mattress and food itself was a challenge but I Kept the faith.

Fast forward, I did my school partly at UNZA and ZCAS that was way back, then I started running a company with my friend some 25 years ago. God gave us an opportunity in timber business. We started in Kaoma. From there, we opened a construction company 20 years ago called Build Trust Construction Company. With discipline and hard work, the company grew to employing over 300 workers including whites.

I remember my partner and I going to check on some works in Itezhi Tezhi and the security workers at the site couldn’t let us in because to them we were just simple guys and the company had serious white guys as expert engineers until we called to be ushered in and to their surprise the white people were saluting to us then the boys realised we were the owners.

15 years ago we had contracts to a tune of K2bn. We competed with Chinese firms. Our equipment then was second to none not even AVIC could compete with us. To date, most of the Chinese companies hire equipment from the company where I am now chairman.

We have done so many roads of bituminous standard from Chipata, Sinda, Northern, Lusaka, Western Province even the recent Lusaka Zambezi Road and Katimamulilo roads very competitive bids against the Chinese that my company has managed to do. But, of course, you will never see me there because I am focusing on serving you the beautiful people of our country.

I have never bought a single car for myself from the time I became MP, never. I never came without shoes into politics, I spend more on politics than the salary I get as an MP, you can check around if you so wish.

My point is, it’s possible to be a successful business man when you are focused, forget about what people say, be focused and be disciplined, read and expand your knowledge base to improve on quality delivery. I never stay without pursuing some course, that’s how I did my law to Masters, passed Ziale and am still studying different courses despite my busy schedule.

So to government, give opportunities to the youths and create a conducive environment for everyone of the youths, give them licences to do mining in Luapula and other areas not blocking youths from the Sujilite mineral recently found in Mansa. Please let’s not be selfish. Let Zambians be in charge of their God given wealth. They, too, can be rich and employ anyone. The opportunity we had, was construction then but now it’s no longer as attractive as it was hence the need to focus on what is “trending” in business.

You can make it, it’s motivation for you. Sometimes I laugh when people talk about things they don’t know and the danger is most youths instead of getting motivated tend to call everyone a thief and corrupt because of a few corrupt people including some politicians. I bought my first GX cars way back before MPs started using them.

The point is, you the youths should learn from some people not just Mundubile but many others .

God uplift your soul, may you find grace to excel. Enjoy your Sunday!”

About The Author: Mr. Brian Muntayalwa Mundubile is the area Member of Parliament for Mporokoso and leader of the Opposition.

I’M SORRY

…for injury caused to UPND – Kakoma

LONG time UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma says he is sorry for the injury that he caused to the party prior to the August 12, 2021 elections.

In an interview yesterday, Kakoma, who ditched the UPND on April 24 for the then ruling PF, pleaded with Zambians and UPND symphathisers to move on now that time for elections is over.

“I have gone through the comments especially on my Facebook page, and others on Mwebantu. Majority of them, in my estimation, are saying I have made a good decision to leave the PF. Of course, some are still angry about my defection from UPND but we should get over it as a country. I understand the anger,” he said.

On Thursday, Kakoma announced his resignation from the PF central committee and subsequently renounced his party membership.

But this has attracted sharp criticism on various social media platforms from both UPND sympathisers and independent stakeholders, with some describing him as a sellout.

“I understand the anger and I’m sorry for the injury that I could have caused to my colleagues by my decision to leave the UPND. Leaving the UPND was not an easy decision. It was painful but I still went with it,” he said.

“Sometimes in life you have to take difficult decisions. At that time, after the convention in UPND, there were a lot of things happening which caused frustrations in some of us. I was not the only one who was frustrated. A number of people were frustrated. Others even went to stand as independent candidates and so on. All those were frustrations arising from that process but, of course, things could have been done differently. But it happened that way and it is now water under the bridge.”

And Kakoma said he was amazed by President Hakainde Hichilema’s magnanimity even after he left the party.

“When he won, we spoke. I called to congratulate him, and of course, he was magnanimous to answer my call. I also appreciated that he could answer my call. I know there are people that have done worse things to him and he has forgiven them, including those that incarcerated him in Mukobeko [Maximum Prison],” he said.

“When he came out, many people thought he would revenge. Of course, beyond politics they are families. I know some people are saying I said bad things about HH or insulted him when I was leaving which, to the best of my recollection, I did not. I did not. Not even under my high frustrations and emotions.”

Kakoma said he did not believe that the fight against corruption was personal.
He said if people wronged society the law called for their punishment.

“…And even this fight against corruption which he (President Hichilema) has started, I don’t think he is trying to get at people. By coincidence, some people are getting caught in the net. I think there are certain things in the fight against corruption. If people do something wrong, you will end up being questioned,” he said.

“The question is basically to find out if you did something wrong or not, or whether you committed an offence or not. So, in that sense, he is not wrong to pursue that line of fighting corruption and criminality in this country. If they caught the people that were gassing, for instance, I would be happy that those people are arrested and prosecuted.”

Kakoma said in such circumstances, there would be no need of accusing President Hichilema of taking revenge on anyone.

“But are we going to blame HH to say ‘why is he arresting gassers?’ Is he trying to revenge? In that event I will support that he continues doing the correct thing,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kakoma said he and his wife Ruth were on Friday woken to a video taken last year and has gone viral where she was chanting PF slogans prior to last year’s elections.

“Yeah, she came to me in the morning to tell me that ‘there is a page on Facebook where a video of her was trending and that it had 14,000 views; it’s not a laughing matter’. That is what is trending but it is not a case of 30 pieces of silver. The things that were being roasted in the video are from a piggery farm which I acquired a long time before I joined PF – while I was in the opposition,” Kakoma explained.

“So, she just went to the farm and got something and started roasting. So, the aspect of 30 pieces of silver is neither here nor there. People thought we were given a lot of money and that we were bought. People said I was given 12 billion when I left the UPND. But if you give someone that kind of money, you can even see a change in their lifestyle. We will just accept them and grow a thick skin. I know that if by any chance I joined UPND again, people will say I have come to eat again with UPND.”

And asked if he resigned to avoid being caught up in the fight against corruption embarked on by the UPND government, Kakoma said he never had a position in the PF government.

“Yes, I joined PF, I think I was just in the ruling party for three to two months. And I never held any government position in the PF. So I cannot fear about abuse of office. I never had that opportunity to serve, so that cannot be the reason why I resigned,” said Kakoma as he laughed.

“A political party is like a club and even the membership and recruitment are based on rules and regulations. If the majority of people in that club feel that you are welcome, then you can comfortably go and join them. If they reject you, you cannot impose yourself. Otherwise, you’ll find it difficult to function. So, acceptability becomes a serious criterion in deciding whether to join or not.”

Chilufya Tayali

CUT THE CRAP, A PERSON WAS KILLED AND THIS GUY IS A MURDER SUSPECT, EVEN IF HE USED TO CUT PRESIDENT LUNGU’S HAIR

This is where some of you don’t seem to understand me, since I support President Lungu, I should support all the crap even what is unreasonable or wrong, or unjust.

This guy may have been a barbarman for President Lungu but he is a murder suspect like any other suspect, yet you want to create a scenario like he is being persecuted for his association with President Lungu.

Actually, if you were clever, you would have even been de-associating this guy from the job he did for President Lungu, as a Barbarman, and his other activities, unless you want to suggest that he was more than a Barbarman and PresidentLungu knows something.

With this ECL machinery you are throwing behind him, you are just implicating the Former President in the event that facts point to him (Chilekwa).

Don’t think the police are foolish to pick him and charge President Lungu’s bodyguard with hiding a wanted suspect.

Yes, the court ruled that he (Chilekwa) should be taken to UTH but by the time the ruling was being made, they guy was on his way to Kaoma where the crime happened.

Later on the Attorney General made an application to stay that execution of taking the guy to UTH because he was in Kaoma and had been taken to the Govt hospital there.

Surely, is UTH the only hospital where suspects like Chilekwa can be attended to? Is it medical attention you want or you are just playing politics at the expense of justice for Lawrence Banda.

I will not support the calculated schemes to frustrate or jeopardise justice when a person was shot down in cold blood.

If you cried for justice for Kungo, whose case is in court with UPND cadres arrested, why should you play politics and cry persecution in the case of Lawrence Banda.

By the way, you (Some PF members) should be ashamed quoting President Hichilema’s words that he will rule by following the law, let others quote him (HH), while you cover yourself in shame for the many times you abused the law to fix your opponents, including me.

If Chilekwa so needed medical attention, I know the police will not deny him, so back off and let them (Police) give us facts on who and how Lawrence Banda was killed just like we follow the trial of Kungo.

TAYALI THE PUBLIC LAWYER OF THE PUBLIC COURT OF OPINIONS!

MOST ZAMBIANS DO NOT WANT TO CARE ABOUT HOW BAROTSELAND BECAME PART OF ZAMBIA-DR SONDASHI
Constitutional lawyer Dr Ludwig Sondashi dedicated chapter 8 of his autobiography on the subject of Barotseland. Below is an extract.

TRUTH is not an easy road: CHAPTER 8 – The Barotseland Agreement, page 55, Dr. Ludwig S. Sondashi.
The Barotseland Agreement is one of the simplest matters one can resolve. Unfortunately, it appears to me that all the Presidents of Zambia, and other stakeholders, including commentators who have attempted to find a solution to this sensitive subject, have done so with bias or without understanding of the genesis of the problem. I tend to think that most of the people just do not want to care about how Barotseland became part of Zambia. We need to approach this problem with caution, with an open mind and with a sense of honesty.

Why are we painting a bad picture of the Lozis by carelessly stating that they want to secede from Zambia as if Barotseland was a province of Northern Rhodesia before independence like Northern Province or Central Province? Even writers have attempted to comment on the self determination of the Lozi people without qualification. They have given the impression that Barotseland is just as equal as North-Western Province or Eastern Province. In other words, everyone has been trying to mislead the people of Zambia in reducing the status and identity of that region to that of other resident provinces.

What the secessionists in Barotseland are agitating for, is Barotseland to pull out of Zambia by ending the Barotseland Agreement that was entered into on 18 May 1964, by the Litunga of Barotseland, Sir Mwanawina Lewanika the III, and Kenneth Kaunda, then Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia. It was done on behalf of their respective peoples of Barotseland and Northern Rhodesia respectively. This Agreement was witnessed by Duncan Sandys in his capacity as Principal Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and for Colonies.

Everybody in Zambia referred to these opposition members as secessionists. For a lack of a better word, I would not refer to them as such. This is because of the manner under which Barotseland became part of Zambia. It was by agreement and not by coercion. It is trite law in the law of contract that an agreement or contract can be terminated by bringing it to an end by any of the parties. I know that a question can be posed as to who is qualified to bring an agreement to an end. In terms of the Barotseland issue, let it not be forgotten, the Litunga and his Council hold the power under this Agreement for and on behalf of his people of Barotseland. I therefore regard those agitations by some people in Barotseland against the continued stay of Barotseland into Zambia as internal affairs, intended to raise public opinion and influence the Litunga and his council to terminate the Agreement. It is from this understanding which made me caution the former President Rupiah Banda in my letter to him dated 18th February 2011, that he should consider releasing those people who were arrested for treason in the Barotseland saga immediately, adding that I did not think that the agitation of the Lozi nationals amounted to treason. That, in my view, I did not see a successful prosecution of those so called secessionists or activists. In other words, I stated that every person or group of persons had a right to self-determination.

This principle of post-World War times was understood to mean that people have a right to constitute themselves into an independent state and determine their own government, provided certain things were present. In regards to the Barotseland, I had already confirmed that the test was even easier than this. It was an independent state before and it came into Zambia by an Agreement. Therefore, it can leave Zambia anytime as it wishes, and the authority to terminate this Agreement lies in Litunga and his Council.

After the Zambian government had consolidated itself in power, Kaunda took the decision to limit the powers of the Barotseland customary local authority. In 1965, Kaunda moved swiftly by introducing legislation, namely the 1965 Local Government Act, which limited the powers of the Litunga and his Council, by simply applying the provisions of that legislation to Western Province, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other written law. The problem that any constitutional lawyer faced in this matter was the abrogating of the powers conferred on Litunga and his Council by paragraph 4 of the 1964 Barotseland Agreement by Zambian government arbitrarily and unilaterally. It did not matter whether this usurpation of these powers was done by Constitutional means or any Act of Parliament. It should be understood, that Barotseland became part of Zambia by Agreement which the Litunga Mwanawina Lewanika entered into with Zambia freely, on behalf of his people of Barotseland. Lewanika was very articulate and ensured that Barotseland reserved a lot of powers to themselves and that any changes to the Barotseland Agreement ought to be approved by the Litunga and his Council on behalf of the people of Barotseland.

It is upon this that – the independence constitution of Zambia did take into account the provisions of the Barotseland Agreement. In this case, the Barotseland Agreement was superior, even to the constitution of Zambia. It followed that it could not be changed adversely or unilaterally even by the constitution or any Act of Parliament without concurrent consent of The Litunga and his Council. The abolishing of the powers, privileges and rights of the Litunga and his Council and of the people of Barotseland, is unconstitutional, unlawful, and illegal and an unacceptable act internationally.

When I state these, it is not because I am personally interested in seeing that Barotseland secedes from Zambia. I am equally one of those who would prefer for Barotseland to be part of us, because there is strength in numbers. I am not only a lawyer, but I am also a constitutional lawyer who is able to analyse this matter according to what the constitutional law dictates, and raising issues of breach of these fundamental principles.

It is for this reason that my Party, Forum for Democratic Alternatives’ manifesto on the Barotseland question, was that if my party had formed government, we should encourage dialogue between the people of Barotseland and the Zambian government. In this case, the Litunga and the Council shall be recognised as the mouth piece of the Barotseland question. When it is clear that there is division and a clear conflict between the Litunga and his Council and the people of Barotseland as was the case then, the government of Zambia will support and sponsor a referendum to allow all the people of Barotseland to vote for or against the secession of Barotseland from Zambia. This is because I believe that the Litunga and his Council represent the people of Barotseland in these matters. But where the Litunga and his Council agree that Barotseland should secede from Zambia that decision was going to be implemented by my government.
Note: The Barotse National Council resolved to accept the termination of the Agreement in March 2012.

Dr. Ludwig Sondashi (Bachelor of Laws LLB, Masters of Law LLM and PhD in Philosophy in Law acquired at Warwick University, England) who has dedicated chapter 8 of his latest autobiography titled ‘TRUTH is an easy road’ on the subject of the defunct Barotseland Agreement of 1964.

Tom Mtine celebrates 96th Birthday

Alderman Mtine on Friday, 11th February, 2022 celebrated his 96th Birthday at his residence in Northrise, Ndola.

Who is Tom Mtine?

Tom Mtine is one of Zambia’s earliest known millionaires.

Mr. Mtine used to manage 53 local companies in the 1950s as chairman of the Lonrho Group.

Mr. Mtine was also the first chairman of Zambia Airways.

He was first black mayor of Ndola around 1965-66 and the first black African to run the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) after independence.

He is an honorary member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Mr. Mtine was awarded by FIFA during the global football governing body at the centenary celebration in 2004 for his contribution to the game in Zambia.

What did Mr. Mtine say on his 96th Birthday?

Speaking when journalists from the Ndola Press Association visited him, Mr. Mtine cited perseverance, sacrifice and humility as key to long life.

“To do anything good you have to persevere. And persevering is not a joke. When you persevere you meet a lot of people and there you have to go forward,” Mr. Mtine told journalists with a smile.

“In our language we say, uzicepesa osati matukutuku ntawi zonse,” he said.

“Look, life we have got to realise that we have got to look at ourselves. Stop this stop that. Stop drinking; the door will open for you. Now, having sacrificed a lot of things, you go forward,” Mr. Mtine said.

As a youth, Mr Mtine worked for the government before moving into the private sector and later on rising to manage a group of companies.

After obtaining a Cambridge certificate, Mr Mtine learnt bookkeeping besides learning how to manage co-operative societies in Lusaka.

After managing cooperatives in Lusaka such as Chalimbana Teachers Training College, he got a transfer to Ndola at the start of the 1950s.

He worked in Ndola, Kitwe, Chingola, Luanshya and Mufulira.

After leaving the public sector, Mr. Mtine joined the Ndola Bazaar Limited where he was employed as a bookkeeper.

He later moved to another company and with his background of accounting and salesmanship which meant travelling a lot.

Mr. Mtine landed a job at Heinrich Syndicate as a public relations officer.

While at Heinrich Syndicate, Mr Mtine was among the staff that moved to Lonrho Group after its acquisition and as luck could be, at the new company that bought off Heinrich Syndicate, he earned himself an executive position.

He was first managing director at Lonrho and thereafter he became chairman as he was in charge of many companies within the Lonrho Group.

In the past, Mr Mtine has been recalling the time he was special envoy of then President Kenneth Kaunda to South Africa where he went to deliver a classified letter in a secret way for the release of incarcerated freedom fighter Nelson Mandela in the 1980s.

“It was not easy, it was a risk. I had to put that letter at the back of my head to pass through Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was more frightening than South Africa. The letter was folded, placed in the collar at the back of my shirt and it was to be handed to state security officers in South Africa,” he told the Zambia Daily-mail in the 2016 interview.

(Compiled by Radio Icengelo’s Valentine Mukuka with added information from the Zambia Daily-Mail Library)

-Picture from Ndola Press Association-

PREPARE FOR A YOUTH REVOLUTION IN 2026,HH IS A FAILED PROJECT

President Hakainde Hichilema is failing to plan development what then is his JOB? Why did the UPND wait for 5 months to elapse before they could Launch CDF guidelines late because now they are remaining with only 50 days to do everything and submit a compiled list of approved projects or else the K25.7 Million cannot be released as guided by the Law in the Constituency Development Fund Act No. 11 of 2018 of the Laws of Zambia mandates that:
15(1) a Committee shall submit to the Minister a proposed project list and the estimated costs of the proposed projects before the end of the month of March in each year in the prescribed manner and form to ensure timely release of funds.

Technically this money cannot be released before the following processes are done:

1.Advertise and call for project proposals,

2.Institute tender processes to receive bids which doesn’t take less than 2 months by Law,

3.Receive, analyse and approve all CDF project proposals across the country per Constituency,

4.Advertise and engage consultants,

5. Compile project cost estimates and prepare BOQs,
6. Get statutoral approvals from bodies such as ZEMA (EIAS which take not less that a month by law),
7. Local government approvals for drawing for construction projects from planning departments which take not less that 3 months by law.

It is because of lack of dedication to work why our country is messed up. We advised the President to move to state house and get serious with work but we hear he gets to work by mid day as he wastes time in traffic, we told him to sit and work but he chose to be flying out of the country not less than two times per month. Now he has lost precious time and the country will suffer unless he breaks the law and do illegal short cuts because governance matters have timelines enshrine in Law.

Because of UPND POOR Planning and lack of foresight , the year 2022 is technically a wasted year concerning the K25.7 Million CDF fund no wonder they are now resorting to illegal schemes to just steal the money because the Law does not allow for investment of CDF money if it is not utilized according to the Constituency Development Fund Act No. 11 of 2018 of the Laws of Zambia 8(2): A local authority shall retain unutilised funds in the constituency account and investments shall not be permitted elsewhere..’

It is a pity our President HH is failing even to plan, he as himself to blame for being a failed project so early, we therefore advise the Youth to prepare for a Youth Revolution in 2026, HH is a failed Project as 2026 is a wasted year already. A Economic Freedom Fighters-EFF we will make sure that the President HH learns to respect the Law because no one is above the Law.

Wherever we want to go, our feet shall take us there.

Thank you and May God Bless Zambia.

Kasonde Mwenda C
Economic Freedom Fighters-EFF President

A WASTED PRESIDENCY: THE CASE OF HAKAINDE HICHILEMA

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

Good morning fellow citizens ✌️✌️

1. When Hakainde Hichilema first announced that his Government will follow up all cases of corruption and political violence dating as far back as 2015, we gave him one warning; that his pursuit for justice should be done in a fair and equitable manner and that it should be devoid of malice and vengeance.

2. We further warned Hichilema that if his pursuit for justice is laced with malice and vengeance, it will lose credibility and support in the eyes of the people of Zambia. Apart from a few loudmouths on both sides of the political divide, the majority of Zambians are not affiliated to any political party and just want the best for their country. These majority non-partisan citizens also have a strong sense of fairness and justice. They definitely cannot support a President who authorizes the torture of suspects in the name of pursuing delayed justice. It is these majority non-partisan and often quiet citizens which Hakainde Hichilema should be worried about.

3. So far we have seen cases of people who have had their property and bank accounts seized by law enforcement agencies for months, including Findley and Maxwell Chongu and yet they have not been charged with any crime or taken to court. We have seen cases such as that of Malanji who was arrested and not taken to court and then blackmailed to give the police certain documents as a precondition for police bond!! When you charge a suspect, you either give them police bond or you take them to court so that they can have the opportunity of applying for bail. You do not indefinitely detain them and them blackmail them to give you certain self-incriminating information or documents. Such Gestapo tactics have no room in a democratic nation such as Zambia.

4. And now we have the cases of Chisanga Chanda and Shabby Chilekwa; former President Lungu’s ADC and Barberman, who were evidently tortured and denied medical attention. It took a High Court order to compel the police to take Chilekwa to UTH in the presence of his lawyers, for medical attention. And even then, the entire Attorney General was opposing the application before court on the basis of a technicality that there was a typographical error in Chilekwa’s affidavit presented before court!! Such conduct reflects the AG as a lowlife. Just a word of advice to the AG, some of these messy cases, try not to attend to them personally. Just send one of your boys. As a senior Government official you need to exude respectability and integrity. That is how your predecessors managed to leave that office with their integrity intact, such that some of them could even be considered for the position of Chief Justice.

5. With the recent clear cases of torture of suspects, Hichilema’s otherwise genuine pursuit for delayed justice has suffered a serious credibility problem and is now perceived as a Spanish Inquisition. It is laced with too much malice and vengeance. This is exactly what we warned him against, a few months ago. Instead of pursuing justice, he is settling personal vendettas. Indeed, Hichilema’s presidency is slowly but surely turning out to be a wasted presidency. What a shame for mother Zambia.

/// END

SET 12.02.2022

Maxwell Chongu Is trying by all means to please President Hakainde Hichilema just to have his impounded vehicles back.

Chanda John Chimba Writes……….

Former PF CADER Maxwell Chongu today appeared on Muvi TV assignment program, he talked about many things but a few things caught my ears and I will not sleep without commenting on these interesting issues.

1. Maxwell Chongu, before august 12 elections was A die hard supporter of Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the PF, he gave himself a nice name “PF Die Hard to that effect, but today he has said he doesn’t belong to any political party.

2. Maxwel Chongu has all of the sudden began to Praise President Hakainde Hichilema, a man he has never supported, a man he has mocked a few years ago by wearing an SDA Docus mother uniform.

3. President Lungu’s name is all of the sudden off Maxwel Chongu’s mouth. He did not mention him or even thank him for anything.

4. Maxwell Chongu has called the immediate former DEC boss as an unprofessional man, praising the new DEC boss madam Mary Chirwa to be hard working and a good woman, we all know he is doing all this so that maybe he can have his three impounded cars back which DEC seized as they suspected them to be proceeds of crime.

5. Max has lied that he has never been to state house before under the PF regime. What a stupid lie. 😅

Max has a Democratic right to support any President of his choice but for him to praise a man he has never supported and for him to have glue on his mouth to not even mention a man under whose reign his life changed is so disheartening.

A few Facts are;

1. Maxwel Chongu applied under the PF to stand in Kafue constituency, he was not picked but backed the Person who was picked amd pledged total loyalty to ECL.

2. Max became a millionaire in 2020. We will speak about how he got rich later on.
.

We learn lessons from this, max is a true definition of loyalty to the throne and not the occupant. I will be very shocked if his nonsense is tolerated yet again won’t be shocked to hear he has defected to the UPND.

Anyway. He is a family man he has to survive. Check pictures for connection to what I have written.

Goodnight. S

UPND IS FAILING, DESPONDENCY HAS RISEN – CHANGALA

CIVIL Rights activist Brebner Changala says sadly, the UPND is failing to communicate policy and government plans to the people of Zambia and therefore, despondency has risen among many of its supporters and those that voted for it.

In an interview, Changala said if UPND was in a country where the use of proper scientific ratings is applied to measure its’ performance, the New Dawn government has dropped down from 80 percent to 36 percent.

He said there is no sector of the society and economy which is not complaining because the UPND is not doing anything to address pressing issues people are rising.

“They are failing to communicate with the general populace and the despondency has risen. If it is in a country where they use poll ratings, I think by now the UPND poll rating could have dropped from 80 percent to somewhere around 36 percent, a huge drop where proper scientific rating is done.

There is no sector of our society where people are not mourning or complaining because its either the UPND is not doing anything and if they are doing anything it is only privy to them,” Changala said.

Changala, an ardent supporter of the UPND noted with sadness that the UPND has failed to communicate with the electorates, forcing people like party Secretary General Batuke Imenda to start issuing sensitive statements which are injurious to the general populace.
He said what is making it more heartbreaking, is that the party want to talk as if it is politics as usual, warning that if the UPND is not careful it will soon burn its own hands.

“There is no communication between the people and the elected government, there is breakdown in communication and this is where you find people like Imenda from the UPND secretariat are coming in to fill in the gap in a very dangerous way because they lack government information and policy, that is the privy of the executive and the party want to talk as if it is politics as usual and if they are not careful they will burn their hands,” he said.
Changala said despondency has also crept in, and it’s there for everyone to see including those in the executive.

He said what is more disturbing, the executive has become a moribund which cannot explain what was going on to address pressing issues, unless the President does.

“Despondency is there for everyone to see including members of the executive but we are faced with a situation where the executive is totally moribund in-terms of communication. Where the President doesn’t talk nobody talks that is dangerous and that is extremely dangerous that is where we are now and we find yourself,” said Changala.

He cited the recently made statement by Imenda where he was quoted as having said the UPND did not sign any contract with anyone that when it forms government, they will be given jobs.

“Secretary General of the UPND is becoming a loose cannon, a loose cannon but as a leader it is very dangerous many times to issue statements off cuff especially those statement which are not well thought out and yet are extremely sensitive to the intended purpose….UPND came to power with the message of hope and good governance, it came to power on the shoulders of the youth, and majority unemployed youths. It is the dented balance that they must ride,” Changala said.

And Changala has warned that the UPND leadership must know that unemployed youths need jobs and serious assurances from Government on how those job opportunities will be created.

He warned that failure to create jobs for youths is a time bomb which needs urgent attention now.

Changala said leaders such as Imenda must always thrive to constantly give hope to the unemployed youths and find ways on how to navigate through such calamities rather than being provocative to the situation.

“The youths need employment and they need serious assurances from government on how about those job opportunities will come about. What are the measurers short and long term that have been put in place to give hope to many many unemployed youths of our country who are nothing but a time bomb. And when somebody is in leadership is like Mr. Imenda is, this is a matter he must constantly attend to as he navigates to find the ultimate solution to find an equal balance to the beleaguered youths who are the shoulders on which the UPND is standing on,” he said.

Changala warned that arrogancy will not take the UPND anywhere.

“And to arrogantly make a statement under knowingly or unknowingly, that no contract was signed with anybody that we shall give them employment or jobs when we form government that is the highest mark of arrogance and irresponsible utterances. He has a duty in the midst of adverse problems to show leadership and create confidence in the youths and members of society in general. I do not know under what circumstances did he lower his guards those words which are injurious to the general membership. The UPND will find itself in cast in 2022, the UPND has been in power for barely five to six months and in the last six months there have been high expectation from the people of Zambia on what they are going to do for them. Now the UPND hasn’t got the communication tools, they might have tools but they don’t know how to use them,” he said.

(Credit: The New Dawn Newspaper)

How alcohol destroyed the life of one of Zambia’s best Journalist.

JOURNALISM profession has it’s own risks, certainly not alcohol. But veteran scribe Aston Kuseka would tell you that had he not been addicted to alcohol during his time in the newsroom, he would today be a very successful journalist.

Mr Kuseka,54, is a well known among his contemporaries as a good writer who penned stories in the 90s. But owning to the love for beer, he ruined his life to the point where even those who know him are slowly forgetting about him ever having stepped into the newsroom.

Mr Kuseka’s love for beer had been his way of life throughout his entire career path as a journalist.

His love for beer started when he was in Grade Four in Mufulira on the copperbelt.He had a friend in the neighborhood whose father was an alcoholic.

On a daily basis Mr Kuseka would escort his friend to buy “Chibuku” beer at some taverns. For he and his friend thought was a routine they enjoyed because it offered them an opportunity to have sips at the opaque beer on the way back.But little did they know that they were slowly getting used to alcohol.They later started buying beers on their own and drank it secretly.

When he went to high school, the behaviour got worse and he would dodge classes to go and drink beer.Fortunately, he passed his Grade 12 examinations.

When his father retired and went to settle in Mansa, he left him with his uncle and aunties.

Mr Kuseka managed to enroll at Evelyn Hone College where he studied journalism in 1990.
While in college his drinking habit worsened but since he was naturally intelligent he cleared.

In 1995 he applied for a job at ZANIS and he was offered a job but each time he got paid he would go straight to drink and abscond work.

He later resigned in frustration from the government media house where he worked with six of his friends from college who had greatly excelled at the time.

After a few months, he went to a private newspaper called The Sun.
But while at The Sun his drinking habit became unbearable as he could not do anything without taking alcohol.Whenever he was sent to cover functions where there was alcohol, Mr Kuseka would go for hard staff like Vodka, whiskey and forget about the assignment, not to talk of writing a story.
He could not manage to present news ideas in the newsroom and whenever he was scolded by his supervisors he thought they hated him. Because he was a good writer at the time, it was easy for him to find employment.

He was given a Job at The Chronicle newspaper. After sometime, because of his attitude, he fired himself.

Finally he decided to go to a government newspaper, Times of Zambia. At Times of Zambia Mr Kuseka did well and managed to get to the position of senior reporter and at times could act as a Chief reporter.

Despite working hard and being a good writer, he was the most warned reporter.Bosses at Times of Zambia were so understanding and gave him more chances but he did not change.

Mr Kuseka completely failed to control himself as he already had an addiction.
While at Times of Zambia, he would wake up in the morning and go straight to his bottle. He would buy whisky black, which looked like Coca Cola and he would drink it in the office and whenever he went out for assignment.

During his days as a journalist Mr Kuseka was compelled to use a pen to write stories but he could never hold a pen when he was sober.
As always, he thought his supervisors hated him and one morning he decided not to report for work and he never stepped his foot at the company premises again.

After a year he got a job at Radio Phoenix in Lusaka but his work was hampered by alcohol and he resigned.

He got another job at 5fm where he was one of the founder members of the radio station, but he failed and joined Fidelity Labour consultancy, a company he could not perform and he left.

After he resigned from Fidelity Mr Kuseka became a destitute. He would hide each time he met some of his colleagues in the media because he was no longer at the same level with them.His only friend was beer.
He could not go back to his family. He decided to start staying at Lusaka Inter city bus terminus.

For one year and some months he slept in buses or just beside buses.
The following morning he would wake up and carry a plastic bag containing his only shirt and shorts. He begged for food to survive.

When Mr Kuseka lost too much weight
and feared for his health he decided to go back to his parents in Mansa.His parents received him with open arms.

Mr Kuseka stopped drinking beer after realizing that all his friends were doing fine when he had nothing.He said people considered him useless and a failure.

Mr Kuseka was in 2009 offered a job at Mansa Municipal Council as a public relations officer.
Everything was well with him in the beginning and his bosses commended him.
But he will never forget a day when he got his salary. On his way to the office he passed through a market where he found people drinking and decided to join them forgetting that he had reformed.

He got drunk and he could not stand or walk.
He had a serious program he was organizing at
work. The then Town clerk started calling him.
One of the guys he was with picked up the Town clerk’s call and informed him about his condition and he went to pick him up. The following day, he was fired.

Mr Kuseka now regrets his actions and having wasted time as a journalist.

“I see almost all my colleagues I worked with and friends in the media on TV and some whom I meet they are doing so well. They have their companies while others are bosses at various companies.I wasted my time. I am now in the hands of God. My parents look after me now together with my brothers who also help with finances.

” My love was beer. I was just drinking beer. I was dreaming beer. I could not date a girl and at my age I have no children and no wife.Now that I have found myself I want to marry and start a family, ” he said.

He now has an organization called Zamba Alco Crusade” to sensitise people on the dangers of alcohol and it’s consequences.

US President Joe Biden urged Americans to leave Ukraine immediately, as his top diplomat said Friday that a Russian invasion could come “any time” — including during the Winter Olympics, which end in nine days.

With Moscow continuing to amass tens of thousands of troops on the Ukraine border, and talks to avoid war making little headway, Biden issued a stark warning for US citizens to get out.

“American citizens should leave, should leave now,” Biden told NBC News. “We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. This is a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.”

On the other side of the world in Melbourne, his Secretary of State Antony Blinken huddled with Asia-Pacific allies, stressing that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be days, or even hours away from launching a war in continental Europe.

“We’re in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear that includes during the Olympics,” Blinken said, brushing aside suggestions that the veteran Russian leader would wait until the Beijing Games end on February 20 to avoid upstaging his Chinese allies.

“Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation,” Blinken said.

– Live-fire drills –

Observers have described the gathering of Russian forces on three of Ukraine’s flanks as the largest show of force since the Soviet Army marched on Berlin at the end of World War II.

Some US estimates put the number of Russian soldiers at 130,000, grouped in dozens of combat brigades.

On Thursday, Russia rolled its tanks across Belarus for live-fire drills. Washington has said that around 30,000 soldiers were involved, coming from locations that included Russia’s Far East.

Russia has also sent six warships through the Bosphorus for naval drills on the Black Sea and the neighboring Sea of Azov.

Kyiv condemned their presence as an “unprecedented” attempt to cut off Ukraine from both seas.

Kyiv has launched its own military drills expected to mirror Russia’s games, but officials have said little about them out of apparent fear of escalating tensions.

– ‘Difficult talks’ –

With the drumbeat of war growing louder, the already intense push by European leaders to find a diplomatic solution gained a new sense of urgency.

Russia is seeking written guarantees that NATO will withdraw its presence from eastern Europe and never expand into Ukraine.

The United States and its European allies have officially rejected Russia’s demands.

“Difficult talks” between German, Russian, Ukrainian and French representatives broke late Thursday, with the quartet agreeing to meet again in March.

Blinken insisted that the United States “would strongly prefer to resolve the differences” with Russia “through diplomacy”.

“We’ve made every possible effort to engage Russia,” he said.

“But at the same time, we’ve been very clear in building deterrence and building defense and making it clear to Russia that if it chooses the path of renewed aggression, it will face massive consequences.”

In Moscow, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss reported receiving promises from her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that the Kremlin had no plans to invade Ukraine.

“We need to see those words followed up by actions,” she told reporters after the talks.

But Lavrov said he was “disappointed” by the talks, saying the military drills and the movement of troops across Russia’s own territory had spurred “incomprehensible alarm and quite strong emotions from our British counterparts and other Western representatives”.

Earlier in the week, French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Moscow and Kyiv, before briefing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about progress in Berlin.

Scholz himself will travel to Kyiv and Moscow in the coming days for separate meetings with leaders — including his first in-person meeting with Putin.

“Russia should not underestimate our unity and determination as a partner in the EU and as an ally in NATO,” Scholz said. AFP

PRESS RELEASE

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA. 10th February 2022.

KANGALUWI MINE IN LOWER ZAMBEZI WILL BE RUN BY ZAMBIANS FOR ZAMBIANS

Mwembeshi Resources Limited intends to invest massively in the Kangaluwi Mine in Lower Zambezi for the benefit of Zambians.
The impression being given by those opposed to the mine venture, is that the mine is owned by foreigners and the whole venture is meant to see capital flight. However, some of the major shareholders in mine are Zambians. In fact, the business model, mine design and operations of the mine are all tailored to favour Zambian interests as well as to ensure environmental protection and entrenching sustainability in our operations.

Mwembeshi Resources Limited Managing Director, and one of the major shareholders, Stephen Mulenga Mikalile, is not a front for foreign interests. Mr. Mikalile has been running successful businesses in Zambia and abroad and his investments have built enough capacity for him to run portfolios such as mines.

Inevitably, the Zambian shareholders of Mwembeshi Resources are working in partnerships with some foreign shareholders. This is normal in a global world and, more so, in an industry like mining, which is
usually an international undertaking.

Partnering with foreign businesses is strategic. It ensures that the right technology and skills are brought to Kangaluwi Mine. These will in turn ensure that the mining is efficient, effective, adheres to all guidelines given by ZEMA, and ultimately supports and protects the wildlife and the environment. In addition, we will employ other self-regulating mechanisms and techniques to ensure sustainability of our operations.

Further, to ensure that more ordinary Zambians are involved in the mine, Mwembeshi Resources Limited has intentions of offering some of its shares through the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) at an appropriate time.
Mwembeshi Resources Limited intends to demonstrate empowerment of Zambians in employment and contracting. The mine intends to segment employment and service contracting areas to ensure that that certain lines of work and service provision are a preserve of Zambians. This will contribute to
growing Zambian businesses. In a cascaded fashion, the Zambian allocation shall be broken down with some components for employment and service provision being ring-fenced for local people from Rufunsa and Luangwa Districts.

Additionally, the Company will have a responsive, inclusive and tailor-made Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, that will ensure that benefits from the mine accrue to local communities as well as to needy sub-populations within Zambia. The programming of the robust CSR will be led by the various local community stakeholders such as the traditional leaders, civic leaders,
religious groups and local civil society organisations.

Lastly, Mwembeshi Resources Limited intends to support the work of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) through supporting the employment of game scouts and acquisition of appropriate vehicles. It is our considered view that strengthening the patrol programme through a well￾defined partnership will greatly help in reducing poaching in the National Park and in the Game Management Area (GMA). As part of our security policy, working in partnership with DNPW, our mine security personnel will be trained in anti-poaching techniques to ensure that the National Park security is enhanced. The added security will also reduce illegal mining by various entities that legally and
illegally access the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Issued by:

Shalala Oliver Sepiso
Communications and Corporate Affairs Manager
Mwembeshi Resources Limited

ACC SEARCHED EVERYWHERE

…short of pushing their heads in my pit latrines – Mukupa

By Kombe Mataka

FORMER PF chairman Samuel Mukupa says Anti-Corruption Commission officers searched all things at his Mporokoso farm short of pushing their heads in pit latrines.

He says there is a serious perception that members of the former ruling party amassed a lot of wealth and are hiding stacks of money in various areas.

Narrating the search conducted at his Mporokoso farm on Tuesday by the Anti-Corruption Commission officers, Mukupa, a former Road Development Agency (RDA) board chairman, said the ACC should consider technology that would detect hidden money or property.

He said the ACC search encompassed every area of his property including the chicken run.

“When I asked them what they were looking for, for some reason, they thought I was just some kind of a nuisance. I told them kuti mwa nsendela icishimba (you may get my charm) because they were not being specific about their search. The paper did not suggest that they were looking for corruption,” he said.

“They searched literally everything including pump houses. They were short of pushing their heads in the pit latrines. They told workers to give them their phones. They went through everything meticulously, short of simply saying they were even counting my wife’s pants.”

Mukupa said there was a perception that those who belong to PF had amassed boxes of money which they were lifting on their heads and vehicles from the Central Bank of Zambia.

“They are looking for stashes of money that they imagine everyone from PF got. They are searching everywhere to find it,” he said.

“Why doesn’t ACC just find a helicopter to do an aerial view everywhere so that they could find these vehicles that were used for campaigns? If possible, ACC could also do reconnaissance in terms of radio movements to detect where the dollars and monies are hidden and buried.”

Mukupa said he hoped the investigative officers were not following him because of a position he held as Road Development Agency (RDA) chairman.

“I was just patient with them until they finished. I did not know what they were looking for. I can safely say the people who searched were four. In their company were five armed police officers. Then there were three or four vehicles outside,” he said.

“When they finished, they asked me to register my complaint if I have any over the search but I laughed and told them ‘if my complaint is against you, why should I report to you and not an independent wing?’”

Mukupa said he felt harassed because the ACC officers did not tell him what they were searching for.

“I am being harassed because first and foremost, I was not told why property which I acquired years ago was being searched. They searched literally everywhere, leaving no stone unturned. I would want to think this is why people make conclusions that the ongoing investigations are a scheme to get at everyone linked to PF. Because many of us in the PF where I belong, many of the PF members have been searched,” said Mukupa.

“The search was done at my farm. You know, I am a villager. You cannot take the village out of me. When I retired, I left the house I was renting in Lusaka and moved back here where I have a big piece of land. I am not like you people that fight over small pieces of land in Lusaka because you want to remain in town. I have owned this land over many years. I got into politics before some of you were born. I was the first member of parliament for Chimbamilonga [during the MMD government]. So the initial search warrant had a date stamp for the Mporokoso Magistrate but it had a date indicating 4th February 2022. So I told them ‘if it is 4th then it should be presumed that you have already done a search’. So they went and changed the warrant showing that it had nothing to do with Mporokoso Magistrate. It could have been something that was manufactured.”

Source: The Mast

THE REPORTS OF TORTURE AND TORTURE CHAMBERS ARE SERIOUS!

PeP STATEMENT No.6 ISSUED ON FRIDAY, 11th FEBRUARY 2022: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1. As Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) we are shocked by revelations that former President Edgar Lungu’s Barberman Mr Shabby Chilekwa was tortured by the Zambia Police whilst he was in their custody. We are further alarmed by the statement from Zambia Police Service Spokesperson Mr Rae Hamoonga that Police will not comment on the torture of Mr Shabby Chilekwa and that they will leave it to the Human Rights Commission to issue a comment. Additionally, we are perplexed with the impunity exhibited by the Zambia Police in refusing to adhere to a High Court order issued by Judge Bowa for Mr Shabby Chilekwa to be presented before Court yesterday at 16hrs, and instead decided to transport him to Kaoma, ostensibly in order to hide the clear signs of torture which are said to be visible on his body.

2. As Patriots for Economic Progress, we wish to challenge President Hakainde Hichilema to honestly tell the nation whether it is his Government’s policy to re-introduce torture of suspects who are in Police custody. If President Hichilema tells us that his Government has not adopted a policy of torturing suspects who are in custody, then we demand that all the Police and Intelligence Officers who were involved in the torture of Mr Shabby Chilekwa be interdicted from duty and prosecuted accordingly.

3. If it is President Hakainde Hichilema’s position that his Government has decided to re-introduce the torture of suspects who are in custody, just like they recently introduced a shoot-to-kill policy for suspects, then the President needs to inform the nation which other adverse policies his Government intends to re-introduce. Does he also intend to re-introduce assassination of political opponents and critics? Does President Hichilema also intend to re-introduce mysterious disappearances of citizens who challenge him? It is important for the President to inform us of all the adverse security protocols which he intends to introduce so that we can prepare ourselves accordingly.

4. As Patriots for Economic Progress we also bemoan the loud silence exhibited by foreign missions to Zambia including the American Embassy, British High Commission, European Delegation etcetera, in the face of these blatant human rights violations. Our regret further extends to once renowned defenders of human rights in Zambia such as Laura Miti, Pilato, Pamela Chisanga, Linda Kasonde etcetera who are now sheepishly quiet in the face of gross human rights violations by President Hakainde Hichilema and his new dawn administration.

5. As Patriots for Economic Progress, we however wish to commend the Catholic Church in general and Archbishop Alick Banda in particular for having the fortitude of mind to raise concern about gross human rights violations by President Hichilema’s administration, especially at a time when the majority of religious and traditional leaders are tripping all over themselves in showering Hakainde Hichilema with unwarranted praises in an effort to seek personal favors from him.

6. As Patriots for Economic Progress, we wish to put it on record and assure the people of this great nation that, as a political party, we shall always stand firm and challenge the Government of the day on any abuse of authority or violations of human rights, regardless of whether we like the victims or not. This we shall do at any expense whatsoever, even if we ourselves become targets of President Hakainde Hichilema’s harassment and persecution. That is because the democratic virtues of this Republic far outweigh any individual considerations, and therefore no expense should be spared in protecting these democratic virtues.

Thank You and May God Bless the Good Citizens of the Republic of Zambia and Our Ailing Nation.

YOURS SINCERELY

SEAN E. TEMBO (SET)
PARTY PRESIDENT
PATRIOTS FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS (PeP

Political | Analysis: Who Must Pay For The Honeybee Political Scandal And Restore Dr. Chilufya’s Name?

…as Zambia witnesses, yet again, another case of eliminating political opponents through the illusion of truth.

Lusaka – 11th February, 2022.

Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth, is a law of propaganda that psychologists refer to as the “illusion of truth” effect. Understanding this effect can help you avoid falling for propaganda.

Former Minister of Health, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, has repeatedly urged the new dawn government to investigate the expired drugs scandal stating that, “…we cannot sacrifice science at the altar of politics.”

Dr. Chilufya recently said that there were three forces in government which were engaged in a battle of thrones fighting to get an upper hand. He said a cartel of politicians, rival businessmen and strategically positioned civil servants defiled science and falsified reports to dent political threats.

“We must endeavour never to manipulate oversight institutions in order to settle scores with perceived political enemies. Let’s not defile science. Let’s not falsify reports just to inflame the nation,” Dr. Chilufya said.

And the dexterous former Minister of Health explained that government has got a budget to dispose off drugs that are no longer in use because of new molecules. He said because of this, some people ignorantly described such drugs as expired.

“If for example there’s evidence that a new drug will reduce HIV viral load in a month while the old drugs would attain that in 12 months, we transition patients to the new regimen. So, every year there’s a budget line to dispose off drugs that are out of use; some of which may have expired out on disuse. We don’t distribute or dispense these expired molecules. Instead, we incinerate them,” said Dr. Chilufya.

He said the narrative was systematically unleashed to the public through compliant media and sustained, ‘unfortunately, with certain individuals in public institutions under their payroll’.

“So, today I go on record that we never procured drugs that were expired, neither did we ever procure condoms that were leaking. We did not, whatsoever, subject Zambians to drugs or condoms that were expired or leaking respectively. I am a trained and certified medical doctor and I would never put the lives of Zambians at risk by providing them with drugs that are expired,” Dr. Chilufya emphasised.

“And it is shameful that cartels of senior civil
servants with selected politicians and businessmen colluded to create this narrative just in order to tar my image in the conscious of the public and push me into political oblivion as battles of thrones ravaged the party. That is unacceptable. We have the obligation to future generations. We cannot defile science in order to serve our immediate personal interests!”

He said the truth was the victim but that it could not be suppressed forever, saying it was time for the truth to come out. Dr. Chilufya said it was important to ensure that officers put in offices clad in constitutional immunity were not manipulated and should discharge their duties honestly.

The former Minister of Health has emphasised that it was important for politicians from the previous administration and the current one to uphold honest discourse in the health sector that must remain apolitical.

And today, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba wrote on his Facebook wall, “It was a big scandal, leaking condoms, expired drugs, rotten medicines! Now two years later, the Zambia Medicines and Medical Suppliers has released the same consignment of drugs, imported by Honeybee Pharmaceuticals for eventual use in hospitals, clinics and health centres, that the regulatory authority had impounded and quarantined. This is the medicine they had alleged that it had failed quality and safety tests. A Minister was fired, boards were dissolved and a PS arraigned before court. So was the entire episode a PUNKA story?”

Our high levels of illiteracy form fertile ground to execute propaganda on as a lethal weapon to eliminate political opponents. If anything, it’s this very narrative that is at the centre of our underdevelopment. Hence our advocacy for a new home bred governance system that must prioritize development over politics of patronage. The only crime Dr. Chitalu Chilufya committed was expressing interest in leading the Patriotic Front.

Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth, is a law of propaganda that psychologists refer to as the “illusion of truth” effect. Understanding this effect can help you avoid falling for propaganda.

©2022 Eagle One Zambia, Inc.
Journalism for social change

Keep your hands off the media, ZIIMA tells off UPND

ZIIMA Press Statement on the continued harassment of journalists in the new dawn administration

THE Zambia Institute of Independent Media Alliance (ZIIMA) has noted with sadness the recent outbursts by the UPND Party and other Members of Parliament’s attack on the media.

The ruling UPND Secretary General Mr. Batuke Imenda called for a press briefing two days ago to simply undress The News Diggers over a story that exposed government’s inconsistency on youth employment.

Instead of sending his complaint in a normal manner, Mr. Imenda chose to castigate the newspaper and particularly the reporter in front of his cadres that has seen UPND Member of Parliament for Kankoyo Hon Heartson Mabeta threatening to close the daily tabloid.

In as far as we are concerned, Hon. Mabeta on his own has no power to do that, his statement must not only be dismissed with contempt, but be treated as a UPND official statement.

We recently witnessed police arresting the KBN TV station manager for the expose of an audio by state house planning to kill multiparty democracy, which is enshrined in the constitution.

We want to remind Mr. Imenda that he is Chief Executive Officer of the governing party and we will judge his attitude and that of his members towards the media as the official party position.

We have also witnessed the Lumezi MP Munir Zulu who equally harassed the Mast newspaper for simply reporting the truth.

Another freelance journalist Thomas Zgambo is living in fear following threats on his life by police.

We expect the UPND government to come out clean on such acts that do not guarantee media freedom that the Republican President who is also President of the Party guaranteed days after winning the August election.

ZIIMA will be writing complaint letters to the UPND national chairman Hon. Stephen Katuka, The Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Nelly Mutti and to the Inspector General of Police Mr. Lemmy Kajoba on these respective harassments.

We condemn the attacks on the media and want to remind the UPND that it is the same media, especially the private that propelled them into power, to this, we give credit to the News Diggers for exposing the Mukula and the Honey Bee scandals under PF, which heavily gave the UPND campaign points, off course the UPND had something to talk about because News diggers brought it out.

Keep your hands off the media!!!

Wilson Pondamali

CONSULTANT- ZIIMA

Contact: +260977351972

Email: ziimafreepress@gmail.com

MAKE USE OF 2017 WORLD BANK STUDY FOR VALID JOB CREATION STRATEGIES – HIKAUMBA

11th February, 2022.

Movement for Democratic Change MDC, an Alliance partner of the UPND has advised the New Dawn administration to utilize useful research work to find that which is valid to be married with the manifesto in order to actualize job creation for the people.

MDC Vice President for Politics Leonard Hikaumba has cited the 2017 World Bank comprehensive study, vision 2030 and the National Strategy on Industrialization and Job Creation as having clearly articulated Zambia’s job creation plans but lacked implementation.

Mr Hikaumba said government should consider going back to these useful research works to find that which can still be valid and see how best the job creation plans can be actualized in line with the UPND manifesto.

Mr Hikaumba was speaking at a press briefing earlier today at the MDC Secretariat flanked by party Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Joyce Musenge and Deputy Media Director Edmond Miti.

Mr Hikaumba bemoaned that the previous leadership under the Patriotic Front had lost focus on strategies meant to create more jobs as evidenced in the high unemployment statistics which have increased from 7.8% in 2012 to about 12.2% in 2020 with a possibility of being stressful by 2021.

Mr Hikaumba said the MDC as a party supports and urges government to ensure that it departs from what was happening in the past where it was mere talk without clear action on job creation.

He said according to the 7th National Development Plan (2017-2021) launched by the PF, government came up with a plan to create 1 million jobs in 5 years but this was not realized because of lacking clear action plan.

And Mr Hikaumba said while the New Dawn government is emphatic on job creation, it should be mindful to talk about decent jobs where workers will have reasonable disposable income and enjoy their rights with an entitlement to social security.

Mr Hikaumba said that he was confident that the UPND Alliance implementation plan on job creation will be actualized but added that job creation should be done quickly because there is growing desperation among the people.

Meanwhile, Mr Hikaumba said certain things need to be corrected especially for newly discovered areas with minerals of high value where there is mining activity without regulation by ensuring such illegalities are done away with.

And Mr Hikaumba has called on parliament that as it resumes sitting this month, it should revisit some pieces of legislation such as workers accessing part of their pension fund and also having legislation that is supportive of economic activity.

EASE TENSION; FULFILL PROMISES

By Edwin Lifwekelo, PF Deputy Media Director

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema and his administration must stop taking Zambians for a ride but fulfil the promises he made during campaigns for last year’s general elections.

Right now there is tension in the nation reflected by the growing frustration among citizens as a result of unfulfilled promises.
The protests by farmers in Nakonde over the delayed delivery of farming inputs and unemployed health personnel in Lusaka are a reflection of the failure of the new government’s policies.

In the last few days, social media has been aflame over the careless statement made by UPND secretary general Batuke Imenda that his party did not sign any contract with anyone assuring them that it would employ them when it formed government.

People from all walks of life have taken to social media to condemn the statement and have urged the UPND government to fulfil the lofty promises it made to the people of Zambia, especially the youth.

While the hundreds of thousands of unemployed youth were expressing their anger and disappointment with the so called New Dawn administration on social media for spitting in their faces farmers besieged the district commissioner’s office in Nakonde protesting the delay by the government to deliver fertiliser under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) for this farming season.

President Hichilema traversed the nation making all kinds of promises to the voters. But so far he has backtracked on many of those promises.

We urge him to honour the following promises:

1. After he was sworn in as president the rate of the Kwacha to a dollar would drop to K10 from around K16 the same day; and that the rate would later return to a single digit
2. Fertiliser would be delivered on time, and that the quantity per farmer would be increased
3. There would be no cadreism yet UPND cadres are terrorising citizens, including civil servants, and private businesses every day.

The President must also intervene in the continued violation of the rights of his political opponents by investigative wings.

He should show leadership and stop the excesses being perpetrated by the investigative wings against his political foes in the opposition in his name.

Since he was sworn in the country has witnessed the shrinking of the democratic space with freedom of expression being curtailed with impunity.

Those who are speaking against the President are being summoned, interrogated and detained on flimsy charges.

We urge President Hichilema to unite the country as he promised instead of dividing it as he is doing. He is President for all Zambians.

Issued by:

EDWIN LIFWEKELO
PF Deputy Media Director

KABUSHI PF member of parliament Bowman Lusambo has appeared in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for possession of three properties reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime worth US$248,000 (K4,464,000).

And Lusambo is also accused of corruptly acquiring two properties at K880,000 and K150,000 respectively.

Lusambo, 45 a businessman and politician, who is former Lusaka Province minister, appeared before magistrate Faides Hamaundu for explanation of the charges as the State awaits a consent to prosecute the matter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Lusambo told the court that he understood the charges he is facing.

In the first count, it is alleged that Lusambo
between May 1, 2015 and December 31, 2021 in Ndola, Copperbelt unlawfully acquired property number L/39376/M in the name of Frontier Management Services Limited, which property was later transferred to Jignesh Prafulchandra Soni at a consideration of K880,000 his own benefits.

Count two alleges that Lusambo between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 in Masaiti unlawfully acquired certificate of title in respect of stand number MASILN-1003024/18 in his name, thereby obtaining an exemption from paying the sum of K250,000 plot premium land which property was later conveyed to Mbachi Nkwazi at a consideration of K150,000, an act prejudicial to the rights and interest of Masaiti Council.

In the third count, it is alleged that Lusambo on September 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021, in Chongwe, jointly and whilst acting together with another person concealed property number HN 249 situated in Silverest Gardens valued at US$60,000 in the name of Nancy Natasha Manase, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

In count four, it is alleged that Lusambo between September 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021 in Chongwe, jointly and whilst acting together with another person concealed property number HN282 situated at Silverest Gardens valued at US$128,000 in the names of Nancy Natasha Manase, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

In the last count, allegations are that Lusambo between September 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021 in Chongwe, jointly and whilst acting together with another person concealed property number HN249 situated at Silverest Gardens valued at US$60,000 in the names of Nancy Natasha Manase, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

After explanation of the charges to the accused, magistrate Hamaundu adjourned the case to March 9 for mention and possible plea if consent will be granted.

THE Patriotic Front (PF) has lamented in the Lusaka High Court how the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers have continued interrogating its members over its source of campaign funds and motor vehicles used in last year’s General Elections.

And PF former secretary general Davies Mwila has submitted that former president Edgar Lungu’s aide de camp, Chisanga Chanda, was arrested on February 4, 2022 and interrogated on among other things, the source of campaign vehicles which were used during the 2021 General Elections.

This is in a case in which PF through Mwila in his capacity then as SG, sued the Attorney General over the continued harrassment of party members.

The PF is seeking a protection order from what he terms ‘harrassment of PF members over its source of funding for last year’s campaigns.

Mwila was also claiming damages for intimidation and harassment.

He further sought an order that the State awards the PF party damages for misrepresentation, defamation of character and discrimination.

Mwila also seeks a declaratory order that he should not be compelled to disclose the PF’s source of funding and that the court should declare that the funding of the 2021 General Elections was not from money laundering activities.

But DEC in a defence filed in court urged the court to dismiss the case, saying the motion was a mere attempt to curtail the ongoing criminal investigations, which investigations involve some PF party members.

Mwila however, stated in a reply filed in court that he was personally summoned and interrogated by DEC.

He stated that Antonio Mwanza was also summoned and interrogated on the source of campaign funds and on how the media houses were paid for the services rendered to PF during the campaigns and statements were actually recorded by investigation officer Higton Chilela.

Mwila added that lawyer Anna Mwitwa was also interrogated on the payments made to media houses which had sold broadcasting time to PF during the 2021 campaigns.

“The plaintiff shall aver and prove at trial that the defendant has continued to investigate the source of campaign funds and has threatened the plaintiff’s associates who are interacting with the party. The plaintiff shall prove with written documents that the defendant has even gone a step further to summon media houses that were selling media time to the party during the 2021 campaigns,” stated Mwila.

(Mwebantu, Thursday, February 10th, 2022)