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)

HOW THE KABWATA BY-ELECTION WAS RIGGED

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

Step 1: Force a postponement of the election so that they can buy more time to put the rigging machinery into place. This was achieved by sponsoring the withdrawal of one candidate and subsequently the election date was pushed forward from 20th January 2022 to 3rd February 2022.

Step 2: Limit the number of Polling Assistants Seconded by Each Party. Ideally, each party is entitled to allocate two Polling Assistants per Polling Station. But under the excuse of the pandemic, ECZ restricted all political parties to seconding only a maximum of 12 polling assistants to monitor 131 polling stations. That meant that 119 polling stations were not monitored by any political party. Even the 12 that were manned were not adequately manned because you need two people per polling station and not one.

Step 3: Accredit Majority Friendly NGOs Only as Election Monitors. With the exception of CCMG, the other election monitors were largely known affiliates of UPND. This ensured that they tolled the line in rigging the election.

Step 4: Intimidate and Harass Political Party Representatives at Polling Stations. On Election Day, some opposition political parties like PF tried to protect their vote despite the limitation of 12 polling assistants only. This was done by sending party representatives to hang around the premises of the polling stations and observe from a distance if any malpractice was taking place. These were quickly identified and harassed out of the polling stations.

Step 5: A Collaboration between ECZ, Zambia Police and UPND. The three entities collaborated and conspired to identify and harass any defiant poll observers other than the 12 per political party. An example is the 6 PF members who were attacked by UPND cadres and then subsequently arrested by the Police on accusations of electoral malpractice, that they were buying votes at the Polling Station. And they made sure that the whole incident was filmed and shared widely on social media and traditional media. Who can surely buy votes at a polling station like you are buying tomatoes at the market? After the Police saw that the charge which they had given these 6 PF members did not make sense, they changed it from electoral malpractice to disturbing the peace. How can people who were just seated in their Landcruiser outside a polling station disturb the peace? That filmed dramatic arrest was designed to send fear to any other unofficial polling observers who were monitoring the election from a distance, across all the 131 polling stations.

Step 6: Manipulate the Vote. With 119 polling stations out of 131 cleared of any objective polling assistants and election observers, the UPND in collaboration with ECZ and the Zambia Police proceeded to manipulate the vote. This was achieved by ballot replacement at the time of counting. Votes for the opposition were replaced with pre-marked ballots in favour of the UPND candidate. However, they got carried away at Libala Secondary School Polling Station and took and replaced all the ballots that were cast in favour of the DP candidate; Mr Fred Mubanga. They forgot to leave at least one vote for him since he had undeniable proof that he had voted for himself.

Step 7: Allow Ineligible People to Vote in UPND Stronghold Wards: Out of the five wards in Kabwata Constituency being Kabwata, Libala, Chilenje, Kamwala and Kamulanga, the UPND knew that their stronghold was Kamulanga and they proceeded to allow ineligible voters there to cast their votes. Some voters had no voters card and only an NRC. Others had no NRC but only a voters card. While others neither had a voters card nor an NRC. They just bundled them in and allowed them to vote. These revelations are actually contained in the Poll Observer Report recently issued by CCMG, which is a reputable poll observer organization that is made up of ZCCB (Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops) and CCZ ( Council of Churches in Zambia).

Step 8: With votes cast for various opposition candidates taken away from them and replaced with pre-marked ballots in favour of the UPND candidate, their co-conspirators the ECZ proceeded to announce the UPND candidate as the winner. We know that this is a formula which the UPND will perfect in the next 5 years and that is the reason why we are currently preparing to petition the Kabwata by-election in court where we shall prove the above allegations. It does not matter that if we had all the votes cast in our favour, we still might not have won the election. It’s a matter of principle for us.

/// END

SET 10.02.2022

By KETRA KALUNGA and CHARLES MUSONDA

DON’T over dramatise mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park, there is nothing sinister about Zambia conducting mining activities in such an area, South Africa is the best example where mining in a national park is taking place, says former Vice President Enock Kavindele.

And Mr Kavindele said he would join the local Member of Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Tembo who has promised to march against people opposing mining in the national park because the poverty levels in Luangwa are unnecessary.

Mr. Kavindele said South Africa has been carrying out mining activities in the Kruger National Park which is a national heritage therefore Zambians shouldn’t find it strange the government has allow mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

He said in an interview that Zambians should support the initiative because it would give the government an opportunity to create the promised 1, 500 direct jobs.

“Mining there will not cause any harm to the Zambezi River. Kangaluwi open pit copper mine in the Zambezi National Park is about 40 kilometres from where the animals are and it’s on a plateau,” he said.

Mr Kavindele, who toured the mine in 2018 said the multiplier effect would even be more for the people of Luangwa and the surrounding districts and ultimately reduce the high poverty in the area.

He said it was unacceptable that an area with a lot of minerals has lagged behind in development and with high poverty levels.

Mr. Kavindele has urged the government to ensure that the investor, Mwembeshi Mineral Resources commit to protect the environment and uplift the living standards of the people in the area.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief Mphuka has charged that those who are against mining in Lower Zambezi National Park should give Luangwa an alternative viable industry that would employ youths in the area.

Senior Chief Mphuka said that organisations and individuals demonstrating against the mine needed to give the district an alternative industry which would not affect animals

He said in an interview that the people who were against the mine did not even live in the district but mostly in Lusaka where they were being used by investors to organise youths to demonstrate against the mine

He said people in the district had for a long time lived with animals which they could not even kill for fear of breaking the law and it is the animals that had instead killing them.

Senior Chief Mphuka said Child Fund had helped people in the district by building a 500-hectares fence but elephants are breaking in because was not strong.

“There is nothing you will do that will prevent an elephant for entering the field unless you shoot it and it dies. There is nothing that we have failed to do so that we can live with these animals.

“Here we are competing for food with elephants and they are being controlled by foreigners and not the Zambian government. Those who are protesting against mining in Lower Zambezi are not Zambians. There are people behind them so that Zambians can look like they have no sense, and can break the law and disrespect the court,” Senior Chief Mphuka said.

He said even fish is depleted in Luangwa and Zambezi rivers and people risk being attacked by crocodiles if they go fishing.

He said all the NGOs that are against mining in Luangwa are being sponsored by foreign interests.

“All these youths cannot occupy the national parks and wildlife where someone is organising youths to be game scouts and paid by the community resource board and how much is that?” Senior Chief Mphuka asked.

Zambia Society of Physiotherapy has distanced itself from Consortium of Health Professional Association Chairperson Brian Sampa’s statement on the recruitment of health workers and a planned march to State House.

ZSP President Martha Banda said that Dr. Sampa’s actions have been done in a hasty manner without due consultation and blessings from the Zambia Society of Physiotherapy.

Dr. Banda said that the statement to the press and communication to the Minister of Health by the Dr. Sampa defeats the purpose of prioritizing dialogue with the ministry and government towards the process of recruitment and other matters of concern raised in prior engagements.

Dr. Banda said it is unfortunate that Dr. Sampa made decisions and executed actions without a collective agreement of affiliate associations.

Dr. Banda said the Society will not represent the Society and its members in any matter henceforth.

She said the Society remains confident that the procedures of human resource deployment in the Ministry of Health will be quickened for the timely placement of trained Personnel to bridge the gap in health care delivery.

On Monday, Dr Sampa announced that Members of a Consortium of 12 Health Professional Associations have resolved to stop volunteering and demand that they receive their letters of employment by 18th February this year.

Dr. Sampa said this follows “loose” statements or promises that have been made by officials from the Ministry of Health from last year but haven’t yielded anything.

Dr. Sampa said that if the government fails to issue the health practitioners with letters, members of the consortium will march to the State House to seek audience and intervention from President Hakainde Hichilema.

“We would also like to condemn comments regarding prioritizing volunteers, the best and those with the right working attitude in the recruitment process as recruitment should offer equal opportunities for all, especially that these are entry-level positions,” he said.

“We also urge our general members to remain calm as we wait for a positive response from the Ministry of Health during the period 9th February 2022 – 18th February 2022.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Sampa said the recruitment of health workers should be done in formality, transparency, and a hastened way by the Ministry.

In a statement issued to the media today, Dr. Sampa said the employment of health workers is long overdue.

Member organizations of the Consortium are Resident Doctors Associations of Zambia (RDAZ), Zambia Society of Physiotherapy (ZSP), Radiological Society of Zambia (RSZ), Biomedical Society of Zambia (BMSZ), Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia (PSZ), Zambia Medical Licentiate Practitioners Association (ZMLPA), Clinical Officers’ Association of Zambia (COAZ), Public Health Association of Zambia (PHAZ), Zambia Institute of Environmental Health (ZIEH), Dental Therapy Society of Zambia (DTSZ) and Zambia Association for Science Laboratory Technology (ZASLT) and Zambia Association of Biological Scientists.

The government will next week start the official bidding process for the construction of the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway. Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development Minister Charles Milupi has said that an advert calling for bids will be issued.

Mr. Milupi said that the government has already received a number of unsolicited bids on the project and some are proposing to work on the road at a cost that is 40-percent lower than the initial $1.2 billion projected by the previous regime.

Mr. Milupi said that the project will uphold the three conditions set by President HAkainde Hichilema of ensuring that construction works are done at the right price and delivered to the right quality in a timely manner.

The Infrastructure Minister said this in Ndola when he paid a courtesy call on Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo.

Mr. Matambo said the Lusaka-Ndola road is in a bad state and needs to be worked on urgently because it connects other parts of the country to the Copperbelt which is an economic hub.

Mr. Matambo also asked the infrastructure Minister to consider working on other roads in the Province such as the Chingola-Kasumbalesa, Ndola-Mufulira, Mufulira -Mokambo, and Chibuluma roads among others.

Mr. Milupi is leading an entourage of Road Development Agency (RDA) officials who are inspecting road projects on the Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces.

Lately, Former Transport Minister William Harrington said that the recent revelations by transport minister Frank Tayali that the contractor engaged to construct the controversial Lusaka-Ndola duo carriageway have offered to construct the road at 50 percent lower than the original cost of $1.2 billion smells of corruption.

In 2018 the PF administration under then-president Edgar Lungu agreed to have the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway constructed at a cost of more than $1.2 billion but the road development agency halted the construction of the road and attributed the stagnation to financial constraints.

Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali is on record to have disclosed that the contractor that was meant to work on the dual carriageway at a cost of more than $1.2 billion has come back into the country and has agreed to do the works at a-50 percent lower rate than what was demanded before.

But Mr. Harrington said that there was need for the anti-corruption commission to take interest in the matter as it is one of the projects the former patriotic front regime could have attempted to use to siphon money from the country for its failed attempt to win the august elections. Mr. Harrington has advised the new dawn government to ask the contractor why he overpriced the road project.

By Derrick Sinjela.

Dangote Cement employees have been awarded salary increments ranging from K1000 Kwacha and 15 percent respectively to all its employees.

The revised perks are effective 1st January 2022.

According to a statement signed by Director Linda Mataka, the development follows weeks of protracted but fruitful negotiations between Dangote’s principal Labour contractors Silondwa Engineering and the Mine Union Workers of Zambia (MUZ) and the Mine Contractors, Factory and Allied Workers Union (MCFAWU).

The statement said the Joint collective bargaining salary increase talks which commmenced in November 2021 and were finally agreed and signed on 28th January 2022 by the parties affected. All 486 contracted unionised employees at the Masaiti plant in Ndola will benefit from the windfall.

Other conditions of service which were not ammended would remain in force as contained in the current contracts of employment the statement said.

Ms Mataka said Dangote Cement took the mutually agreed decision before the full course of the last collective bargaining agreement elapses in line with its listening ear policy.

She also revealed that a substantial revision of the salaries of the 178 non unionised bracket was also effected.

The non unionised workers were awarded a fifteen percent raise whose categories include senior management, middle management, and others.

“This category includes 28 junior employees, 108 senior managers and 42 management staff.

The decision to revise the salaries of this category of employees has been made to help mitigate economic hardship caused by high inflation.

In view of the upward revision for the non-unionised employees, management has since announced the new salary scales in the affected categories”, she stated.

Ms. Mataka said Management was thankful for the timely guidance and counsel by government through the ministry of Labour the during the negotiations.

She said that Dangote Cement adhered and conformed with Zambian Labour laws which were clear and rendered the spirit of mutual respect, fairness and common ground between the investor and the work force for enhanced productivity.

GEARS INITIATIVE CONCERNED WITH REPORTED TORTURE OF MR SHABBY CHILEKWA BY POLICE

GEARS Initiative receives the reportedly torture of a Mr Shabby Chilekwa with greatest concern as torture is not only a violation of Mr Chilekwa’s human rights and Zambian Bill of Rights but the Constitution of Zambia too.

If the reports of torture of Mr Chilekwa are true as disclosed by his lawyers, then, it is imperative that investigations are instituted immediately against those involved in torturing him to ascertain the violation of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

Article 15 of under the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of Zambia guides that:

“a person shall not be subjected to TORTURE, Or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other like treatment”

This guidance from the Constitution is non derogatory and has no clawbacks.

Therefore, the Zambia Police Service must give the nation the right and official position on the alleged torture.

In addition, Article 193 of the Constitution demands that the Zambia Police Service shall uphold the Bill of Rights when carrying out its statutory and constitutional duties, in this case Article 15.

As alluded above, torture is outlawed in the Zambian legal regime and Article 15 which outlaws it is one of the few clauses in the Constitution that have no derogation.

Those interrogators must always respect the law and human rights as guided by President Hakainde Hichilema if Zambia’s to improve on its human rights record.

GEARS Initiative urges the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to make an independent visit to Shebby and investigate the alleged torture as per its constitutional mandate.

Article 230 of the Constitution guides that;

“the Human Rights Commission shall ensure that the Bill of Rights is upheld and protected and that it shall investigate and report on observance of rights and freedoms, and take necessary steps to secure appropriate redress where rights and freedoms are violated”

GEARS Initiative expects the Human Rights Commission weigh in faster on this reported torture.

McDonald Chipenzi
Executive Director
GEARS Initiative.

09/02/2022

PSs FOR SPECIAL DUTIES, WHY SO MANY?

Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at Cabinet Office, Nicholas Phiri explains the role of PS for Special Duties..

Nicholas Phiri, Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at Cabinet Office writes;

Dear Colleagues, I have noted with interest the debate on the number of PSes Special Duties.

It is important that we respond to this and put things in perspective.

Allow me to start with the obvious: government positions are filled up based on the approved staff establishment of a respective arm of government.

Currently, Cabinet Office has 4 Permanent Secretaries incharge of Special Duties.

No new office has been created

Two questions that have arisen are around the specific tasks of PS Special Duties and the cost of running those offices.

Before I can proceed, let me state clearly that it is not true that the previous administration had one PS Special Duties. There were actually two.

What is true though is that they may not have had a well defined job description.

What are those Special Duties?

Well, let me start from the basics again. Cabinet Office is the epi-center of the civil service. The effectiveness of the civil service depends on this office.

Administratively, all PS report to Secretary to Cabinet and are accountable to SC for contractual deliverables.

SC through Cabinet runs the civil service on behalf of the President of the Republic of Zambia.

In practice, it means that Secretary to Cabinet has to work closely with all PSs across sectors and categories to facilitate and ensure efficient service delivery. This is not only exhausting, but a recipe for poor service delivery as the amount of work is way too much for one office.

In order to address the above challenge, the Office of the PS Special Duties Cabinet Office comes in handy.

PS Special Duties are PS without portfolio. They literally cut across all government ministries, departments, programs and activities.

Some tasks are specific and defined while other tasks are deligated from Office of the Secretary to Cabinet and Office of the President as they unfold.

While I understand the concern about the cost, I don’t understand what standard is being used to call it as being high.

What is the cost benefit analysis?

Just for interest, members of the public may wish to know that the office of the PS Special Duties doesn’t come with any additional staff.

At Cabinet Office, there is what is referred to as common services office.

This office has directors and support staff in human resource, procurement, finance, audit etc which service all the divisions under Cabinet office use.

As it stands today, we have to deal with issues of compliance to government policies, CDF issues, depoliticize the civil service, unite the country, undertake targeted reforms, seal financial leakages and many other things. While portfolio PSes will be implementing this, Special Duties will support ministries to ensure that they succeed.

I thought we could help put the discussion in context.

Thank you very much.

Nick Phiri
PS – Special Duties

MAKEBI ZULU WRITES KAJOBA OVER TORTURE, ILLEGAL DETENTION OF LUNGU’S BARBERMAN SHEBBY CHILEKWA, OTHERS

LAWYERS representing former President Edgar Lungu’s barber man Shebby Chilekwa, Aide De Camp Chisanga Chanda and others have written to the Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba over the continued unlawful detention and torture of their clients.

According to a letter dated February, 8, 2022 copied to the Public Protector, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the Police Public Complaints Commission (PPCC), Makebi Zulu Advocates have asked the Inspector General of Police Kajoba to accord the tortured suspects medical attention and allow lawyers access to obtain instructions and represent their clients well.

The letter states that in the night of 4th February, 2022, officers from Crime 1 Unit based at Force Headquarters went to Chanda who is also Deputy Commissioner of Police and carried out a search.

The letter further, states that while, the search was ongoing, Chanda was summoned to their office where he was ordered to see a Mr. Mwaanza, the Director CID (Criminal Investigation Department) who handed him over to a Mr. Nawa who later took him in custody to a property in Kalundu along Lunsemfwa Road.

According to the lawyers, this place is not gazetted as a lawful detention Centre where Chanda was being interrogated by Police officers together with Elvis Mainza who they were advised is a known UPND cadre.

According to a letter, the lawyers were further informed that, while police officers where still at Chanda’s House, they apprehended his wife together with her friend who had visited identified as Prisca Lungu.

Others who were apprehended were Fidelis Chulu, Martin Imwisho, a garden boy, Jonathan Mushanga a driver, Terry Simwiinde and Chilekwa who were also taken to the same house in Kalundu.

According to the letter, the lawyers went to the police and were attended by the Officer In-charge Crime 1 Unit a Mr. Timba who could not give them access to their clients on grounds that the matter was being dealt with administratively.

Timba however, informed the lawyers that he would let them know when they will be needed but refused to disclose the whereabouts of Chanda, Chilekwa and others.

According to the detailed letter to the IG, it was only on Monday, the 7th February, 2022, when a Mr. Timba contacted lawyers to the suspects and asked them to go to Woodlands Police Station.

The letter also indicates that it was during the same Monday morning when Chanda was taken from a Kalundu House where he was being kept to Woodlands Police Station and detained in Police cells to wait for his lawyers to arrive.

“Upon our arrival, your Mr. Timba advised that he was proceeding to effect an arrest as he had already administered a warn and caution statement and obtained a statement from our client. Asked as to why he had proceeded with a warn and caution in the absence of counsel despite trhe undertaking that we were informed, no satisfactory response was given to us. Do note that the said warn and caution was administered at the Kalundu House referred to as above,” read the letter in part.

The letter further indicates that Chilekwa was tortured from time to time and is currently badly injured and still under police custody nursing injuries, unable to speak coherently and has his hearing impaired.

The letter has also revealed that attempts by lawyers and Human Rights Commission representatives proved futile as the police refused and denied to give them have access to suspects.

Chilekwa remains in custody without charge, injured and without access to either relatives or lawyers.

The letter further states that Police at Woodlands have refused to attend to one of the suspects Chulu who was brutally tortured and has a duly signed medical report from Chilenje Level One Hospital confirming the injuries sustained at the hands of Chief Inspector Chomba and Elvis Mainza a UPND cadre at the Kalundu House.

And Police sources close to the investigation have revealed that a duly signed medical report has been made available to the Inspector General of Police implicating officers for torture of the affected suspects.

(Credit: The New Dawn Newspaper)

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON THE DECISIONS MADE BY CABINET AT THE 1ST CABINET MEETING IN THE YEAR 2022 HELD ON TUESDAY, 8TH FEBRUARY, 2022

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia Mr. Hakainde Hichilema called for the 1st Cabinet Meeting in the Year 2022, held on Tuesday, 8th February, to discuss legislative and other general policy issues.

The President emphasised that it is important for the New Dawn Administration to enhance the development of the country through implementation of appropriate policies that would improve the general living standards of the Zambian people.

The following are the issues deliberated upon by Cabinet today:

1. The Public Roads (Amendments) Bill, 2022.

Cabinet approved in principle to the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Public Roads Act, No. 12 of 2002 in order to include provisions that will provide protection of the property of the Road Development Agency. The amendment of the Act will further align the composition of the Road Development Agency Board to a standard number existing in Government Boards.

2. National Housing Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

Cabinet also approved in principle to the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the National Housing Authority Act, CAP 195 of 1971 in order to protect the National Housing Authority (NHA) property and also find ways through which the original setup of the institution could be brought back to the fore. Cabinet is of the view that the National Housing Authority is such an important institution where infrastructure development in terms of housing is concerned and, therefore, needed appropriate legislation to be put in place for it to positively contribute to the growth of the economy.

3. Construction of the New Luangwa Bridge across the Luangwa River.

Cabinet approved during the Meeting, the construction of the New Luangwa Bridge across the Luangwa River in Luangwa District of Lusaka Province in order to increase the traffic capacity in the Nacala Corridor to facilitate the distribution of goods and movement of passengers in the country and its neighbouring countries, and thereby contribute to the economic growth and industrial revitalisation of the country and its neighbouring countries.

Cabinet is aware that the existing Luangwa bridge has been in use for more than 50 years from the time it was constructed in 1968. Further, the maximum weight of vehicles that can currently pass through the bridge is limited to 55 tons while the maximum speed is limited to 30 km per hour. Currently, only a single Heavy Goods Vehicle is allowed to pass at any given moment. The existing bridge has, therefore, proved to be a bottleneck for traffic travelling on Great East road and hence the need for the Government to address this matter.

Cabinet further agreed that Zambia takes advantage of the substantial infrastructure development that has taken place in the Nacala Corridor including the rehabilitation of the port of Nacala in Mozambique and the road from Luangwa Bridge to the Port of Nacala.

In terms of the financing of the project, the total cost of constructing the bridge is estimated at US$ 75.5 million. Cabinet is encouraged that Government is expected to only contribute approximately US$7.5 Million as counterpart funding while funding from external sources is estimated to be US$67.95 Million coming from our all-weather friends, the Government of Japan through its Agency the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

4. Establishment of the Zambian National Committee on the Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and all forms of Discrimination.

In winding up debate on the First Cabinet Meeting, Cabinet approved the establishment of the Zambian National Committee on the Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and all forms of Discrimination as required through Article 26 of the Protocol under the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

Currently, Zambia is one of the three (03) out of the twelve (12) countries of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region that have not established National Committees. It is envisaged that through the establishment of the National Committee, the country would undertake adequate proactive measures to prevent Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and all forms of Discrimination in accordance with the Protocol and fulfil the obligations of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crime of Genocide.

Hon. Chushi Kasanda, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON

9thFebruary, 2022

Defeated PF used State resources to campaign in the 2021 polls – EU

WITH the long hands that the PF is known for, the European Union Observer Mission has disclosed that despite losing power, the former ruling party under Edgar Lungu extensively deepened their hands on State resources to finance their flamboyant campaigns in the 2021 polls.

And the Mission observed that the former ruling party campaigns were largely exempted from restrictions but more restrictive on opposition political party opponents.

Meanwhile the EU mission has requested the Zambian government to put an end to the barriers that prevent some Zambians from being eligible to exercise their fundamental right to compete in elections.

Presenting a final report on Zambia’s August 12, 2021 general elections yesterday, EU chief mission observer Maria Arena said Zambia’s 2021 general elections took place against a background of deepening political polarisation.

She said selection application of the law disadvantaged opposition candidates from competing under equal conditions while favoring the Lungu led PF, which however was embarrassed at the final result stage.

“Throughout the campaign, there were widespread concerns about the potential escalation of violence. Despite the pandemic challenges, the electoral process was technically well-managed. Arbitrary and selection application of the law hampered opposition candidates from competing under equal conditions and restricted freedoms of assembly and movement,” Arena said.

“The ruling party extensively used State resources, and its campaign was largely exempted from restrictions. The traditional and online media campaign was highly monetised, with ruling party monopolising the prime time on State, private media. Disinformation and tribalism pervaded online debate to the detriment of voters.”

Despite the patently unfair electoral ground, the PF’s chombo cha Noah capsized, courtesy of the then opposition UPND.

The hapless boat is now wandering in the deep ocean waters and some of its pig-headed paddlers are now advertising the rebranding agenda, whatever rebranding means, in this case.

But Arena has further urged the Zambian government to remove the barriers such as education requirements which deter participation, so that the electorate, themselves, choose whether they want a professor for MP or the hardworking bricklayer next door.

She also called on making nomination fees refundable if an election was cancelled due to either death or withdrawal of a candidate unlike the current system which was costly and therefore restricted competition for elected positions to a few rich Zambians who can afford to pay nomination fees repeatedly.

And on the infamous Public Order Act, the EU repeated its cane for the law which was set up by their former member, Britain, to be repealed so that Zambia adheres to regional and international standards.

The Western Bloc also noted with dismay the bias of the media in coverage of the 12 August General Elections by the ‘wealthy’ ruling party thereby limiting information on candidates.

Kalemba February 09, 2022

JUDICIAL COMPLAINTS COMMISSION DEALT WITH THE CASE OF ALLEGED MISCONDUCT OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT JUSTICES

FUNCTUS OFFICIO-The Case of the Petition Against Judges

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

A Joseph Busenga has taken three Constitution Judges; Hon. Justice Annie M Sitali, Hon. Justice Mungeni Mulenga and Justice Palani Mulonda to the Judicial Service Complaints Commission.

He contends that the three judges grossly misconducted themselves and were incompetent in the manner they handled the presidential petition between Hakainde Hichilema and another, and Edgar Chagwa Lungu and two others, cause number 2016/CCZ/0031 filed on 19th August 2016.

He has therefore requested for their removal from the bench.

MATTER RESOLVED, PETITION DISMISSED

Wait a minute! This matter was fully determined and resolved.

Green Party President Mr. Peter Sinkamba brought an identical petition to the Judicial Service Complaints Commission.

In this matter referenced 2016/JCC/84, Mr. Sinkamba petitioned; Madam Justice Hilda Chibomba, Madam Justice Mugeni Mulenga, Madam Justice Annie Sitali, Madam Justice Margaret Munalula and Justice Palan Mulonda, to be removed for incompetence and gross misconduct in the manner the Constitutional Judges handled and determined the 2016 presidential election petition.

Infact, the current Chairperson of the Judicial Service Complaints Commission, Mr. Vincent Malambo SC represented one of the judges in the case to the JCC.

On 13th October, 2017 Justice Christopher S. Mushabati and Godfrey W. Simukoko dismissed the petition and anchored their decision that the final determination of the presidential petition resulting in split decision didn’t amount to misconduct or incompetence.

CONCLUSION

The JCC is likely bound by the principle of the Doctrine of functus officio.

This states that once the court or arbitration body passes any judgment after the lawful hearing, then the case cannot be re-opened and the judgment is binding.

The court or Commission may have no right to review its own judgement.

Functus officio holds that once an arbitrator renders a decision regarding the issues submitted, he lacks any power to re-examine that decision.

Clearly looking at the latest petition of Busenga and the old case of Sinkamba , the two cases share the same facts and literally are the same.

We wait to see how this matter will be handled.

THE ORIGIN OF THE TONGA PEOPLE FINALLY TRACED:

They Are Actually Part Of The Chosen Tribe Of Israel By God, The Black Jews/Israelites

For many years historians have failed to trace or state the origin of Tongas the ethnic group of Southern Province. Not even archaeology and oral traditions could give a clue of where Tongas came from.

However, this mystery of the origin of Tongas is almost resolved, thanks to Anthropological linguistics which is the study of origin of man through language patterns and culture.
Anthropological linguists first ruled out Tongas being part of Bantu groups that originated from the Cameroon and Luba Lunda.

The only path they could have used was Ethiopian nilotic corridor. They compared a few Tonga phonems with the Tutsi and Black Jews of Ethiopia and some old Tonga traditions tarried with the Tutsi, Ethiopian Jews and the Lemba dialect of Zimbabwen Zezulu.
They discovered that the Tonga culture of polygamy, cattle rearing, abstinence of eating mice, caterpillars are some of Jewish customs practiced by the Zezulu (not Shona). Some of the religious doctrines practiced by Tongas and Zezulu postolis are not coincidentally SDA or Apostolic but Judaism.

It is believed that the Lemba before becoming Zezulu lived in East Africa together with Tongas and Tutsi around 5 BC and were observing the Sabbath, they called it Shabbat.
Through Anthropological linguistics, it has been discovered that Tongas, Tutsi, the Lemba and the Ethiopian Jews are the lost tribe of Israel which escaped captivity in Asyria (2 Kings 17:5-7).

They wandered in the wilderness for decades until they settled in Ethiopia. Because they realized their suffering was punishment for disobeying God, they upheld the law of Moses strictly.

In their quest to follow the law of Moses, they appointed a religious leader called Moses or Moze. To prove this, how and where did that Ethiopian eunic learn the book of Isaiah when he met Philip? ( Acts8:26-31) He was a lost Jew.

Under the leadership of Moze, this group moved south, separated around lake Victoria, Tutsi went west while then Lemba and Tongas settled in Malawi. Much linguistic and ethnic transformation took place making them lose that Nilotic structure through intermarriages with early Bantus.

However, the main group moved further Southwest into present Gwembe valley changing the name to Donga meaning big river and lembas crossed into Zimbabwe and built Zimbabwe walls with skill learnt from their ancestors who built the walls of Jerusalem.
Dongas under their religious leader Moses or Moze moved to the plateau changed the name from Donga to Tonga and Moze to Monze Mukulu. That’s why Chief Monze is regarded as the spiritual leader of Tongas because the name Monze is derived from Moses.
Anthropological linguists have compared some Tonga and Tutsi names with Hebrew names and phonems and morphemes tarry. For example, Hebrew names like Habbakuku, Hagai Hezekiah, Hitofil, Shaman, Hazel and Tongas have Hamoonga, Haloba Hikaumba, Tutsi have Habirimana, Hamugabo. Ethiopian Jews have names like Haile Selassie etc.
Israel recognizes Ethiopian black Jews and Tutsi as Israelis that’s why America and Israel have developed Kigali and Addis Ababa to the first class African cities. (Jews will never abandon or forsake their own).

With this new discovery, we are yet to see what American Jews and Israel will do for Zambia. Tongas, Zezulus and Tutsi are Jews from the tribe of Asher as they were blessed by their ancestor Jacob.

Tongas produce beef and milk for Zambia, most of Zimbabwean food comes from the Lemba region and minority Tutsi feed Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern Congo (Genesis 49:20).

This information is not new truthfully speaking, it has been suppressed for centuries by white missionaries, the owners of our education because it exposes the true race of Jesus contrary to their depiction that He was white, deep down their hearts know that Jesus was not white but Nilotic as depicted by Egyptian and Ethiopian artists.

These European missionaries do not want to hear anything about black Jews, you have accepted their lies that the origin of Tongas is not known. And why should the Bible confine itself in Palestine when God was worshiped in Ethiopia as well? The selection of old testament Bible books was seriously censored to remove African Ethiopian scriptures.
There is no doubt, Tongas are the most blessed people in Southern Africa particularly Zambia. An educational report of 2014, concluded that 30% of educated people in Zambia are Tongas, 25% are Lozis, 20% are North Westerners, 15% are Easterners and 10% are Northerners. It is clear that all tribes that befriend Tongas also get blessed; Example, Lozis, Kaondes, Lundas and Luvales are blessed because of tapping blessings from Tongas (blessed people). America is blessed because of being friends and allays of Jews.
The unity exhibited by Tongas in terms of voting for particular candidates during national elections and other important national events explain that they are a chosen and blessed tribe. It is for this reason that Tongas tend to unity whenever they meet with a fellow Tonga anywhere in the world because of being a chosen and blessed tribe. This also explains why 90% of Tongas prefer their fellow Tongas as leaders.

This now justified a highly classified report for 2015 and 2016 Presidential Elections that discovered that 80% of Tongas who are members of the ruling Patriotic Front actually voted for the opposition United Party for National Development which is headed by a fellow Tonga. In total, 90% of Tongas in Zambia have been voting for the opposition UPND headed by a fellow black jew/Tonga Hakainde Hichilema.

Therefore, no weapon formed and fashioned against this chosen tribe (Tonga) shall prosper, just like no weapon formed against Israel has ever prospered.
Religious Experts have concluded that Zambia tend to benefit economically if a Tonga is given time to rule the country.

Remember God promised to protect and bless the Jews always. Tongas are also part of the Jewish Tribe no wonder many of them observe the Sabbath just like the Israelites. It is not a secret that 60% of Seventh Day Members in Zambia today are Tongas.

Remember, this has nothing to do with politics but historic facts backed by the Bible.

By ABRAHAM SHALOME - Professor of Biblical History. JERUSALEM.

By Masuzyo Chakwe
OXFAM has expressed concern over the ongoing and “highly controversial” Lower Zambezi National Park mining saga and cautions government on the move to proceed with mining activity in the national park.

Country representative Yvonne Chibiya said on January 31, 2022 media reports cited the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment as having indicated that the embattled open pit mining project in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park would go ahead under strict adherence to measures set by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to mitigate environmental impacts.

Chibiya said this follows the Supreme Court’s dismissal of an appeal by civil society organisations in Zambia against the proposed large-scale open-pit mining project that has been raging for years.

She said while Oxfam acknowledges the decision made by the Court of Appeal delivered by justice Ngulube on February 27, 2021, to allow for the mining project by Mwembeshi Minerals to proceed, it is immensely concerning that the government has unilaterally and quickly positioned itself to accept the ruling, forgoing all public outcry and expert caution against the said project.

“This not only goes against the government’s pronounced commitments towards environmental sustainability but also sets negative precedent for Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Environmental Protection within the new dawn government’s industrialisation agenda,” Chibiya said.

“The Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP) hosts a sensitive ecosystem sustaining a vast amount of biodiversity necessary for environmental sustainability in Zambia and some neighbouring countries. This region also provides a critical water resource for over 250 million people in the region that depend on the Zambezi river and surrounding ecosystem for water, fishing, wildlife, agriculture, tourism, forestry, and other livelihood activities.”

Chibiya said a disruption to the ecosystem could prove disastrous, particularly at a time when the world is battling a climate change crisis.

She said the impacts of climate change were glaringly apparent, with the most recent being the Tropical Cyclone Ana that has devastated the Southern Africa region particularly Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, including some parts of Zambia. Chibiya said a report by Investigative Environmental Journalism notes that an independent review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) done in 2012 and 2014 submitted to ZEMA showcased flaws against the tenets of sustainable development.

She said the intended project violates Zambian national environmental and public health laws as well as international environmental agreements which mitigate against environmental risk management set out in the Equator Principles, as well as standards for mining in protected environments established by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

“The ZEMA board disallowed the mining project on similar grounds but was later overruled in judgement by then minister, Harry Kalaba, on grounds that the project would create jobs for locals and technologies be employed to mitigate environmental impact. This saga has highlighted two points of concern namely, ZEMA’s limited autonomy to execute its regulatory functions towards environmental protection due to political influence and conflicting laws that fail to recognise designated land use plans particularly for ecosystem protection,” Chibiya noted.

She said this was a threat to the objectivity as well as autonomy of the environmental management regulatory body.

“Oxfam also expresses concern over the high dependence on resource extraction for Zambia’s development agenda, evidenced by the new government’s pronouncements to upscale copper production over 250 per cent in the next decade. Whereas, this may pay back positively in revenue terms, it is worth noting that mining has serious implications on lives, livelihoods, and the environment,” Chibiya said.

“While acknowledging efforts towards environmental protection through creation of a Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Oxfam cautions that without commensurate monetary investment to mitigate impacts (only 0.1 per cent of the 2022 national budget), and a clear-cut strategy for protection of key ecosystems in the country which have been grossly degazetted in past years, all efforts may be futile.”

She said mining, though a strategic sector for Zambia, had historically been cause for environmental and human rights concerns “with mining towns in the Copperbelt, Central and North-Western provinces being key examples of this”.

Chibiya said there was need to properly establish natural resource governance best practice for Zambia, governed by adequate laws and policies for beneficial and sustainable mining.

She said Oxfam remains committed to the call for resource extraction that was sustainable, contributes positively to development and is instrumental to fighting poverty and inequalities.

“Within this mandate, we call for the immediate stop to all mining activity or strides towards this in the Lower Zambezi National Park,” she said.

Chibiya proposed that the government, through the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development in working with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment invest in expanding tourism and other productive sectors away from mining.

She said Lower Zambezi offered natural renewable resources that could increase employment and revenue generation while contributing to economic, environmental, and social development now and in future.

“We call for the autonomy of the environmental management body and upholding of decisions lawfully made by the ZEMA board. Development of a comprehensive economic-diversification agenda, within and away from mining. In keeping with the industrialisation aspirations of the new government and Africa Mining Vision, a deliberate approach must be fostered to broaden the local economy by ensuring the revenue rents from the mining sector expand other key sectors such as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. Importantly, the extraction of other strategic and non-traditional minerals,” said Chibiya while urging the government to make positive strides towards prioritising environmental protection and climate change mitigation and action.

Youth, Sport, and Arts Minister Elvis Nkandu has said that about K17 million has been recovered from the various youth empowerment programs since the new dawn administration came into office.

Mr. Nkandu said that the government is committed to recovering the loans to enable more youths to benefit from the empowerment programs.

The Minister also revealed that some artists that benefited from the K30 million youth empowerment scheme under arts have started paying back the loans.

Mr. Nkandu has since urged artists that may be having challenges to pay back the money to engage the Ministry.

Last year Mr Nkandu demanded that youths who got loans in form of buses, grinders and wood-mizers during the Patriotic Front Government payback.

Mr. Nkandu said loans are meant to be paid back unlike donations or handouts. The Kaputa Member of Parliament revealed that many youths who got loans in form of buses, grinders and wood-mizers during the PF government are yet to pay back the loans.

Mr. Nkandu warned that the government may be forced to repossess the buses, Grinders and wood-mizers if the affected youths do not show commitment toward paying back the loans.

He also questioned the criteria used to empower people with buses, grinders and woodmizers. Mr. Nkandu said he suspects that some people who got loans from the Minister of Youth are not even youths.

“Whoever gets money from Government should learn lessons from their colleagues that they should pay back. If they don’t pay back the law will take its course,” he said.

“I still have a feeling that there are some empowerment programmes that we have given but have not reached the youths. When I was interviewing some of the people who got loans I was told that we were just told to register in our names and they are not even our buses.

“So it is like there are other old people behind, who collected those buses on loan using the youths but you know if we are very serious on absorbing the unemployment levels then I would warn the youths not to be used,” Mr. Nkandu added.

“You know youths have been used in violence and now they have sacrificed again to be used as fronts that can collect something on behalf of the adults. I don’t think we are going anywhere so that trend must be stopped.”

The Government in March 2021 procured 50 fuel tankers and some buses as part of its programme to empower youths in the transport sector.

25 of the fuel tankers were distributed to youth cooperatives in some parts of the country such as Lusaka, Copperbelt and Eastern Provinces.

At that time, then President Edgar Lungu said he did not want youths who were empowered to fail to pay back the loans.

Mr. Lungu had said the culture of not paying back government loans among the people was growing, adding that the situation needed to be addressed if government is to empower more youths.

The Ministry of Youths and Sports had promised to arrange various capacity building programmes on how the youths can successfully run businesses and payback loans.