PeP STATEMENT No.5 ISSUED ON FRIDAY, 4th FEBRUARY 2022: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1. As Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) we wish to categorically state that we do not accept the results in the Kabwata Parliamentary by-election as a true reflection of the free will of the people of Kabwata Constituency. This is because of the violence which was perpetrated against our members and supporters by the ruling UPND party from the very onset of this election cycle.

2. On 28th December 2021 during the first nomination process at St. Patrick’s Primary School in Kabwata, members of the PeP Womens National Choir were attacked by UPND members led by William Banda, in full view of police officers. Four of the attacked PeP members suffered serious injuries and had to be admitted to Levy Mwanawasa Hospital for more than a week. The PeP bus was vandalized, music equipment including amplifiers and speakers stolen as well as two drums. This matter was reported to Kabwata Police Station and despite the assailants being identified by the victims, the police did not effect any arrests and the docket remains open up to this day.

3. During the second nomination exercise undertaken on 20th January 2022 again at St. Patrick’s Primary School in Kabwata, our members and supporters were again attacked, this time by unknown people clad in UPND regalia right at the Nomination Centre and in full view of Zambia Police officers. This caused our people to scamper in all directions and prevented the PeP candidate Mr. Henry Muleya from filing in his nomination at the allocated time. Our people had to regroup hours later and we were only able to file our nomination after hours due to the leniency and understanding of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

4. It is our submission that these two blatant acts of violence by the ruling UPND against our party instilled fear in the people of Kabwata and prevented them from freely associating and supporting us, for fear of being targets of the UPND violence which appeared to be endorsed by the Zambia Police Force. This was especially given the fact that the Police failed to arrest the perpetrators of the first violent incident that took place on 28th December 2021, despite those people being clearly identified by their victims.

5. In the premises above, we refuse to accept defeat in the Kabwata Parliamentary by-election as it is our firm belief that had the UPND violence against us been absent, we would have been more attractive to associate with and support, in the eyes of the electorate of Kabwata Constituency. In this regard, it is our intention to petition the outcome of the Kabwata by-election in the courts of law. An election should be won by the most popular political party and not the most violent.

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

Yours Sincerely

(SET)
PARTY PRESIDENT
PATRIOTS FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS (PeP)

They besieged my home, Given Lubinda

Good evening my dear friends! The story being circulated on social media originated by the Zambian Bulletin Online Media, cannot go without comment.

First and foremost, there were no thugs at my residence last night and there has never been any on any day.

Secondly it is true that my residence was besieged by hundreds of heavily armed police officers from midnight until 07:00hours. They were driving numerous police Landcruisers and mounting anti-riot tanks. They totally sealed the road leading to our residence. It was like a war zone!

One of the videos attached to the article, in which a voice of a known cadre from a known political party is interviewing one of the so-called thugs was taken at our construction site close to our residence. We were totally unaware of any people being there in the night except for security officers who man the place.

If indeed there were thugs at either our residence or at our construction site, would the police not have arrested them during the night? Would the police have waited for 06:00 hours as purported by the author of the Zambian Bulletin article?

For any reasonable person, it must be shocking to read that the police refused to arrest thugs who were to be dispatched to various polling stations where they were expected to cause confusion and, in the process, help the Patriotic Front (PF) to sneak in ballot papers on the basis that they would do so at 06:00 hours after getting a search warrant.

In one of the circulated videos, you can hear voices castigating police for not having taken action and thereby allowing the so-called thugs to jump over the fence. There was no reason for anyone to jump any fence because the site is not surrounded by a fence but there is a long stretch without a fence. In addition, some of the alleged thugs as seen in the second video that is attached to the article, are a number of youths some running and others walking. Clearly the video was taken after dawn.
One would ask why the police could not arrest the so-called thugs. My only conclusion is that the police did not have anyone to arrest and did not have any reason to arrest them.

The only truth is that we were besieged.

By SIMON MUNTEMBA

THE entire PF Members of Parliament are in support of the interim top leadership led by Given Lubinda and there are no glitches at all, PF Chief Whip, Stephen Kampyongo has said.

And Mr Kampyongo said just like in a soccer team, rebranding of PF did not require to get rid of all the senior party members that were at the helm prior to the August 12 2021 General Elections.

In an interview, Mr Kampyongo said contrary to the perception created that the former ruling party’s MPs snubbed the meeting called by PF acting president Given Lubinda, those that did not attend were outside Lusaka while others were attending funerals of party members.

He explained that on that material day, Mandevu MP, Christopher Shakafuswa had a bereavement and the leader of the opposition, Brian Mundubile had a funeral in the family which several of the PF members went to attend.

“The MPs that did not attend rendered apologies because they were unable to attend at that short notice as some where in their constituencies outside Lusaka except those attending parliamentary committees, while others went to attend funerals and we accepted their apologies. But trying to create an impression that the members snubbed the meeting is wrong,” Mr Kampyongo said.

He said there was nothing wrong with Mr Lubinda and acting PF Secretary General Nickson Chilangwa express their displeasure for low turnout of MPs before knowing the reason.

Mr Kampyongo said the matter was resolved after he gave an explanation as the party Whip who was given instructions to invite all MPs.

“We have agreed that we shall schedule another meeting when parliament resumes because everyone will be available and it is easy that way,” he disclosed.

On Kantanshi MP, Dr Anthony Mumba’s remarks that rebranding in the PF would have no meaning if the same people who were at the helm prior to the August 12 2021 General are brought back, Mr Kampyongo said “rebranding doesn’t always mean completely getting rid of old players.”

He said some senior party members that were at the helm prior to the August 12 election were still useful just like old players in a soccer team.

Mr Kampyongo also said it was politically wrong for Dr Mumba to think that those who lost election should not be part of the central committee.

By Mwenya Mofya,

FORMER religious affairs minister Godfridah Sumaili has urged the UPND government to have some balance as they fight corruption, saying it’s not proper for them to only focus on activities which transpired many years ago.

And Sumaili has lamented that the church is too quiet when it is supposed to speak out on the current abuse of people in the country.

In an interview, Rev Sumaili said the UPND government had not done anything about the single sourced fertiliser which was procured at an exorbitant price.

“The fight against corruption has to be systematic. There has to be justice involved in this and there has to be balance. There has to be some consistency as you fight corruption. As a Christian nation, we are resolved to make sure that there is no corruption anywhere.

This government has to have justice in the way they fight it. I do not think that it is proper for them to be concentrating only on the allegations of corruption of many years ago when today people have raised issues on a number of things that have happened which are of suspicions,” she said.

“We are talking about the issue of fertiliser, what have they done about it. Fertiliser was single sourced at an exorbitant price. What has this government done about it? We want to see justice, balance and consistency. They have to be honest about corruption. Corruption is not only when you take something but even through your words you can corrupt the minds of people and cheat them.

They can be deceived in the way that you are communicating to the people. If you are speaking things that you know you shall not do, that is corruption. If you say mealie meal will be K50 but you know in your own heart that it is not possible. that is corruption. So we want to see consistency.”

Rev Sumaili said the church should rise and ensure that governance was founded on righteousness and justice.

“And to the church, I want to say that the church is mandated to ensure that there is social justice in the nation. They have to ensure that there is integrity in the way governance is done so they should have a voice. Let the church arise. The church is too quiet.

Things are happening, there is abuse of people, people are being arrested without being charged. They are being kept in cells without being charged but the church is quiet. The church also has to be consistent. They have the mandate to ensure that governance is founded on righteousness and justice,” said Rev Sumaili.

KASAMA DAO NARRATES HER ORDEAL IN COURT

Radio Mano

Trial in the infamous case of assault, theft and criminal trespass involving suspected political cadres from the United Party for National Development, or UPND, today 3rd February 2022 finally commenced in the Kasama Magistrates Court, with the victim, Beauty Namukoko – who is Kasama District Administrative Officer, narrating her ordeal on what transpired on the fateful day.

The case commenced with a heavy presence of uniformed police officers keeping vigil of the Court premises and nearby areas in a bid to ensure that any form of disturbance like what was witnessed on Tuesday last week, was not repeated.

Narrating her ordeal, Beauty Namukoko, 53, told the Kasama Magistrates Court that on 21st January, 2022 at about 08:13 hours; whilst in her office and on a phone call, a group of men stormed her office and within a split of seconds, snatched the phone and started beating her up, the beating which included several punches and slaps, as she cried for help and begged the attackers to stop.

Ms. Namukolo adds that on the material day, the alleged attackers, who have since been identified as Andrew Sichimba, 27, Boniface Kaonga, 30, Nathan Phiri, 23 and Costen Kalimwengo, 24, walked away with her hand bag.

And Ms. Namukolo has further told Principal Resident Magistrate, Osward Chibalo who is presiding over the case, that three-days prior to her fateful day, the said attackers visited her office asking for youths empowerment forms and when she did not give them, explaining that the forms have errors requiring corrections, the overzealous group unleashed insults and threats on her life.

The Court has since adjourned this matter to 3rd March, 2022 for continuation of trial.

On Tuesday last week, trial in this matter could not start due to some supporters of the UPND being at the Court premises while clad in their political party regalia, a scenario which made the Court adjourn the matter.

Meanwhile, appearing for plea before Principal Resident Magistrate, Osward Chibalo, on Monday 24th January, 2022, the accused; Andrew Sichimba, 27 of Mukulumpe township, Boniface Kaonga, 30 of Musenga township, Nathan Phiri, 23 of Amini village and Costen Kalimwengo 24 of Winberg suburb, pleaded not guilty.

On 21st January 2022 and a few days that followed, a video went viral where visibly identifiable people, suspected to UPND political cadres, are captured mercilessly attacking the Kasama District Administrative Officer, or DAO, Beauty Namukoko.

Today marks 10 years since the PF government interrogated former first lady Thandiwe Banda

By Kennedy Limwanya

Exactly 10 years ago, on 3 February 2012, the Patriotic Front (PF) government questioned former first lady Thandiwe Banda at the Zambia Police headquarters in Lusaka.

Mrs Banda is the wife of former president Rupiah Banda who had lost in the general elections held on 20 September 2011.

The Joint Government Investigation Team (JGIT) interrogated Mrs Banda in relation to the source of funding for the Mpundu Trust villas in lusaka.

An hour later, the JGIT conducted a search at Mrs Banda’s aunt’s house in Nyumba Yanga residential area in Lusaka.

Mrs Banda’s aunt is Ms Esnart Kapufi.

I was there as the search, which began at 10:00 hours and ended at 18:00 hours, was being conducted.

The chief government spokesperson at that time was Given Lubinda who is, currently, PF acting president in opposition.

Against the law, Lubinda had fired media heads at the Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).

At the Times of Zambia, managing director John Phiri was replaced with Godfrey Malama while Isaac Chipampe took over from Evans Milimo at the Zambia Daily Mail.

Other victims were Wallen Simwaka and Ndubi Mvula at the Zambia Daily Mail.

At ZNBC, Joe Chilaizya was appointed director-general, taking over from Eddie Mupeso.

Chilaizya, then, decided to fire Oswald Mutale, Inutu Himanje and Doris Mulenga, among others.

At the Times of Zambia, the PF government fired young junior reporters who included Bob Sianjalika, Patson Phiri, Obert Simwanza, Whitney Mulobela, Richard Mulonga and Abel Mboozi.

Weeks before that, the PF government had questioned, among other Movement for Multiparty Democracy officials, former Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane, former minister of Education Dora Siliya and former Mines minister Maxwell Mwale.

That was just under six months of the PF assuming power.

Another one who had been searched within four months of the PF in office was former vice-president Nevers Mumba.

Much earlier, former senior private secretary at State House, Robinson Nkonde, had also been questioned.

Three months later, former vice-president George Kunda was interrogated by the Drug Enforcement Commission.

Not only that.

Mr Kunda had undergone another ordeal.

Mr Kunda’s 84-year-old indisposed father, Njonamo Kunda and mother Eginala Mwelwa, were subjected to a harrowing experience of watching helplessly as a Zambia Police squad conducted a search in the wee hours of 10 February, 2012 at their farm in Serenje.

Kunda’s father had been recuperating from a stroke that had even led to his admission to the University Teaching Hospital when heavily-armed police officers raided the farm around 05:00 hours.

“It was very demeaning. The police officers searched everywhere, including where my parents sleep. The police were there until after 13:00 hours and, during that time, my parents never ate anything,” Mr Kunda would, later, tell me.

Today, Given Lubinda wants to tell the world that he and his friends are being harassed when only he and Bowman Lusambo have been questioned since the PF was voted out ín August 2021.

Doesn’t hé know that the Zambian people are upset at the slow pace of probing the PF criminal gang?

Hypocrites!

By Mwaka Ndawa

THE state says the law suit commenced against it by former PF secretary general Davies Mwila over his interrogation by the DEC is an attempt to challenge the Commission’s statutory authority to conduct criminal investigations against members of public.

The office of the Attorney General says reliefs Mwila is seeking are aimed at curtailing the ongoing criminal investigations, which involve some members of the PF, through civil proceedings.

In this matter, Mwila has sued the state over the decision of the Drug Enforcement Commission to quiz him and Antonio Mwanza regarding the party’s source of funds during campaigns prior to the August 12, 2021 general elections.

Mwila, who has commenced the action on behalf of the party, wants damages for intimidation and harassment of PF members by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
He is seeking damages for discrimination, misrepresentation and defamation of character.

Mwila also wants the court to declare that the party cannot be compelled to disclose its source of income and that the same was not laundered.

However, the state has asked the court to determine whether Mwila’s action is an attempt to circumvent the DEC’s statutory authority to conduct criminal investigations relating to allegations of money laundering against members of the public through the use of civil proceedings.

According to a notice of motion to dismiss the action on a point of law sworn by Highton Chilela a DEC investigations officer in the anti-money laundering investigations unit, the state said criminal investigations were on-going.

Chilela said Mwila was in total disregard of the law and procedure by deliberately and wrongfully disclosing information that related to such investigations in the guise of civil proceedings.

“The plaintiff’s pleading cannot be sustained by this court as it is otherwise an abuse of court process.

I verily believe in the interest of justice and public policy to allow investigative authorities to carry out their statutory duties without being curtailed by frivolous civil proceedings such as the one before this court,” said Chilela.

GEARS Initiative shocked with K1m expenditure on ECZ new logo

The Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ- May have acted extravagantly on its expenditure of K1m on rebranding the new logo for the Commission.

GEARS initiative agrees with George Mpombo on his observation in Mast Newspapers that spending K1m on a new ECZ Logo by ECZ was toe-curling act.

However, Mr Mpombo’s argument that the K1m was have been on electoral law reform may not be accurate because it is not the ECZ that must push for the review of the electoral laws as suggested by Mr Mpombo but the Government and other stakeholders like CSOs or NGOs, political parties.

It is indeed toe-curling act for ECZ to rebrand its logo in an excess of K1m.

It is our considered view that rebranding a corporate logo must not even have been a priority for the Commission.

This expense is unbelievable for an institution that has failing to respect the provision of the law since 2016 on account of limited funding.

Provisions of the law which the ECZ has disrespected on a claim of having no money include, section 7 of the electoral process Act on registration of voters on a continuous basis and Article 229 of the Constitution on decentalising the operations of the Commission to provinces and progressively to districts.

Currently, ECZ borrows poll staff from ministries of Education and Local Government respectively, most of them have questionable loyalty to the Commission but their parent miniseries.

The hired poll staff usually getting excited to work with ECZ for an extra allowances and exposed to political interference especially at recruitment stage.

It is clear that the reasons for not embarking on the decentalising its operation to provinces and failure to undertake continuous voter registration exercises are not limited funding now but limited political and institution will.

This is a misplaced priority by the ECZ the institution has undertaken as a public body.

Wouldn’t K1m enough to create offices in the 10 or at least 6 provinces of this country to easy its operations and avoid hiring govermemt workers to do its job?

Or wouldn’t it be enough to reopen the closed officepoints and make them permanent offices in Lusaka and the Copperbelt for the continuous registration of voters to show some commitment on the demands of the law for continuous registration of voters ahead of the 2026 General Election?

Spending K1m public money on rebranding a corporate logo and justifying it is being insensitive and an unaccountable to the public demands for efficient, prudent and accountable use of public funds for quality electoral service delivery.

Who complained against the previous corporate logo for the Commission to prioritise its change so quickly after the general election for it to attract an expenditure of K1m for a new logo?

Are there no priority areas and complaints on ECZ operations lodged to the Commission which it has not acted on due to the claim of limited resources or poor funding?

Is it that now the Commission is well funded to an extent of being such an extravagant spending agency of government with a hopping K1m for a new logo?

The public expect better use of public resources than this surely. Only for a new logo whose impact on the electoral process is nil to gobble K1m?.

Government must help its institutions to avoid such acts in future where possible so that they are not wasteful because the K1m the Commission has spent on the new logo is a clear act of wastefullness of public funds.

It is a disgusting expenditure truly speaking.

This kind of exaggerated expenses is what makes the electoral process dummy expensive in Africa and Zambia in particular.

No wonder as a country we still take pleasure to print ballot papers in most expensive places like the United Arab Emirates (Dubai) with excitement deliberately refusing to do it locally.

We must come down to our level of economic development for us to do the right things and compete with equals not with unequals.

McDonald Chipenzi
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
GEARS Initiative Zambia

KABWATA DECIDES: Who takes the elite walk to manda hill

THE battle is on, the people of Kabwata in Lusaka are exercising their right to vote to choose a new Member of Parliament after the death of Levy Mkandawire of UPND.

They should count themselves lucky and blessed because they will be the first ones to cast votes under the one million Kwacha Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) new logo.

Kabwata constituency has 108, 729 registered voters, one of the highly populated areas in Lusaka, housing Chilenje, where there is the famous maploto as well as the Kenneth Kaunda’s historical residence, Chalala, Jack Compound (once MMD’s infested Ghetto) Libala, Kamwala – second class trading area and the mighty Kabwata township, known for bars and prostitution.

It has five wards namely Chilenje with 40 polling stations, Kabwata 18, Libala 22, Kamwala 27 and Kamulanga 24.

Much of Kabwata Constituency has middle class citizens, a combination of employees and business people. It is not short of bars and lodges, which we can conclude that it’s one of the major businesses.

Nine candidates are battling it out.These are Clement Tembo of the immediate past ruling party, once the mighty PF, Tripher Ngandu of Socialist Party, and Andrew Tayengwa of the ruling UPND.

The Self proclaimed public lawyer and the man who imported a wife and boasts of having the best moment of his life as a married man with his slogan, “families must come first” Chilufya Tayali of EEP has also weighed in with hopes of scooping the seat.

Others in Kabwata battle are Little known Henry Muleya of PEP, Sydney Zyambo of PAC, Self rule party and the only female candidate in the race Myzece Engiwe of UNIP, the first ruling party after Zambia got it’s independence under the leadership of the late Kenneth Kaunda and Fred Mubanga of DP which is embroiled in comfusion and political turmoil.

All the candidates have expressed hope of scooping the seat which has been vacant since November last year.

Initially, the by election was supposed to take place on 20 January 2022, but was postponed after a UPP candidate Francis Libunda withdrew after filing his nomination, much to the annoyance of stakeholders and opponents.

Political analysts say the battle is among PF, UPND and Socialist Party and maybe Chilufya Tayali of EEF.

Generally, campaigns to the run up to the by election have been peaceful, despite a few reports of violence. The notable one is the one made by Socialist Party Leader, Fred M’membe who wrote to ECZ alleging that his supporters were attacked in Jack Compound.

Kabwata still have challanges of garbage collection, water, unemployment and poor roads is some townships.

The new MP should look into these issues as promised during campaigns.

Let the best candidate win.

Note
The author is a Journalist and PR consultant as well a resident.

ABABUFI

Ababufi bakwata ululimi ulwalowa – ukucila na Sugar yaku Nakambala! They say things they don’t mean and do things they don’t say. This is the way the key leadership of this government is behaving.

And this behaviour of theirs is well explained in Matthew 23:1-12.
“Why don’t you practice what you preach?” Have you ever said those words? Maybe someone has said them to you. Hypocrites are people who pretend to be something they are not. They may say one thing and then do the opposite. They may act one way in a certain setting and then act another way in a different setting. It is very important that as Christians, we follow the example of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter where we are or who we are with. The words we speak and the things we do should always reflect our faith. Sometimes we are good at telling other people what they should do and how they should live, but we fail to follow our own instructions. We need to, as the saying goes, “walk the walk, not just talk the talk.”

In Matthew 23, Jesus tells the crowds and his disciples to do what the Pharisees and the scribes teach them to do, “but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach” (Matthew 23:3). In other words, the leaders talk the talk, but they don’t walk the walk. Why is it important to practice what we preach? The most basic reason is the integrity of our faith.

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.” People should be attracted by the light of the way we live and the words we speak. Whether we like it or not, people are watching us and seeing how we respond to the ups and downs of everyday life.

What evidence do we offer of our profession of faith? Are our responses any different from those of persons who don’t profess to know Christ? How do we practice what we preach? One way is to be careful about the words we speak. You can tell a lot about a person by the words they use. James tells us the tongue is very dangerous. It can set a great forest ablaze. We can tame all kinds of animals, but we cannot tame the tongue (James 3:3-6).

People are listening to the words we speak. The words we speak should match the person we claim to be. What you see is what you get. Political ideas are worthless if they aren’t inspired by noble, selfless sentiments. Likewise, noble sentiments are worthless if they are not based on correct, fair ideas.

Fred M’membe

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

By John Phiri

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ends.

ABOUT THE WRITTER.

John Phiri is former Editor Inchief at Times of Zambia.

WONDERFUL GROUP OF COMPANIES FERTILISER PLANT MAKING PROGRESS

Lusaka: 02. 02.2022 – ZDA Applauds United Capital Fertilizer Zambia Limited for Actualising Pledged Investment.

The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is elated with the speed at which United Capital Fertilizer Zambia Limited which is part of the Wonderful Group of Companies is moving at in constructing the Fertilizer Plant.

The company acquired an Investment Certificate from the ZDA in the last quarter of the year 2021 for the construction of a Fertilizer Plant at a projected cost of USD 308 million and already they have hit the ground running in constructing the Plant.

Speaking during a familiarization tour of the construction works, ZDA Acting Director General Albert Halwampa said the Agency is happy with the progress and that it will continue to support the project till its fruition.

Mr. Halwampa said the Agency is also pleased that the company is not only looking at servicing the local market but is also looking at the export market which will increase the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

“We want to make sure together we create wealth and employment for the people of Zambia,” he stated.

Mr. Halwampa noted that the Agency does not want to see the project fail as everybody was waiting for the commissioning of the project.

The ZDA chief added that what makes the project more appealing is the fact that it is environmentally friendly without carbon emissions and makes it eligible for the Green Fund.

Meanwhile, United Capital Fertilizer Company Limited Board Member Roy Mwamba said the company is way ahead of the planned schedule.

Mr. Mwamba said the test operations of the plant are expected to start in June this year adding that the plant is scheduled for an official launch in July this same year.

He revealed that the company intends to manufacture fertilizers that are customized to cater for the specific needs of the soils in the three agro-ecological regions of the country.

He stated that currently, the company has created 450 jobs for local Zambians and will need an additional 150 workers by March this year.

The Plant whose capacity is about 300, 000 metric tons per annum is expected to reduce the cost of fertilizer on the local market as the key raw materials in the production process will be sourced locally.

It is hoped that the reduced cost will ensure that local farmers are able to easily access affordable agricultural inputs.

The ground-breaking ceremony of the United Capital Fertilizer Zambia Company Limited was graced by the Republican Vice President Mutale Nalumango in November 2021.

CHIEFS in Muchinga Province are furious that their attempts to meet with President Hakainde Hichilema have been repeatedly blocked.

Council of chiefs chairperson, Chief Katyetye has heaped the blame on presidential handlers, whom he said, were blocking his group.

Chief Katyetye said President Hichilema’s handlers will be the source of his downfall if he does not act now.

Chief Katyetye said the President should be careful with his aides who are leading the cartel of those blocking chiefs and other stakeholders wanting to see him.

The chief lamented that there were a lot of issues that the traditional leaders in the province would want to bring to the attention of the President but were being blocked

“We are very worried as traditional leaders in Muchinga with the manner, people surrounding the President are behaving. Why should they make the President we were talking to almost every day while in opposition, be inaccessible to chiefs,” he said.

Chief Katyetye cited plans by some corrupt individuals at the Ministry of Mines to hand over Nkombwa Mine to an investor as compensation for some unfinished business, as one of the burning issues he would like to discuss with President Hichilema.

He said it was unfortunate that the Ministry of Mines would want to give away Nkombwa Hills Mines to an investor without the knowledge of the traditional leadership.

Chief Katyetye has advised the Presidential handlers to open up the Presidency and make it accessible not only to party cadres but traditional leaders who have matters to bring to the attention of the Head of State.

He warned that current happenings at State House where aides were blocking people from accessing the President is a time bomb and a recipe for corruption.

“The situation of blocking people from seeing the President is a time bomb and a recipe for corruption because, some individuals may want to corrupt the aides to see the President,” Chief Katyetye warned.

Efforts to get a comment from State House proved futile by press time.- Daily Nation

By Chris Mfula and Karin Strohecker, Joe Bavier

LUSAKA, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Zambia expects an International Monetary Fund (IMF) debt health check to be finalised this month, to strike a restructuring deal with creditors by April and get a formal agreement with the fund signed off in May, its finance minister said.

“I have to be optimistic, because in the absence of optimism where can Zambia go?” Situmbeko Musokotwane told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday. “We are a serious group determined to make sure that this issue of debt that’s been dogging us for years and years, we are determined to put this behind us.”

In 2020, Zambia became the first pandemic-era sovereign default and it is buckling under a debt burden of more than 120% of gross domestic product (GDP). It reached a staff level deal on a $1.4 billion three-year extended credit facility with the IMF in December and now wants to nail down a formal agreement.

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Sketching an ambitious timeline for the restructuring the debt of Africa’s biggest copper producer, Musokotwane said he expected the IMF’s debt sustainability analysis, which forms the basis of the restructuring plans, by the end of February.

Having to renegotiate its debt with a multitude of official and private sector creditors, Musokotwane said he hoped to reach an understanding with them in March or maybe April, which would in turn would pave the way for a formal IMF agreement.

“We’re hoping that we can do this by May of this year,” he told Reuters.

Analysts say the timeline is ambitious as the group of Paris Club creditors and China have yet to form a creditor committee.

China, which has lent heavily to African resource exporters in recent decades, will play a key role in the debt overhaul. Zambia owes more than $6 billion, or 40% of its total publicly guaranteed and non-guaranteed external debt, to Chinese lenders.

“We have reached out to the Chinese authorities asking them to be part of this process. In principle they have agreed, on the specifics those are details to be worked out,” Musokotwane said. “In the end, I feel very confident that the Chinese authorities and the Chinese institutions that lent us money will play along to get us out of the problems.”

‘CARRY SOCIETY ALONG’

Musokotwane announced in December that Zambia had agreed with the IMF to remove unsustainable subsidies on energy and agriculture as part of its reform programme.

“The petroleum sector was in a sense not making sense anymore,” he said, adding that the cost of fuel subsidies alone used to amount to $800 million a year.

Savings from the ending of subsidies would shift to social spending, including education, something also advocated by the IMF, but no timeline has been set for phasing out support.

“You must not be too fast. You must carry society along with you, because these are shocks that we are introducing to society before they actually see the benefits of what we are doing,” Musokotwane said.

High global copper prices, meanwhile, should help attract the investment needed to allow Zambia to boost its annual production to about 3 million tonnes over the coming decade from an estimated 800,000 tonnes in 2021.

First, however, the government must find an investor to take a minority stake in Mopani Copper Mines and fund a planned expansion, Musokotwane said.

State-owned mining investment firm ZCCM-IH (ZCCM.LZ) bought Mopani from Glencore (GLEN.L) a year ago.

The government is also seeking to end a dispute over Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).

Zambia’s previous government handed control of KCM to a provisional liquidator in May 2019, triggering a legal battle with India’s Vedanta Resources (VDAN.NS), KCM’s parent.

“There is a lot that is going on behind the scenes. I cannot go into details of those, because the negotiations are very delicate. But I can assure you that it is happening.”

WE all know that the investigative wings are after former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and that they are targeting all those people who are close to him, acting PF vice president Given Lubinda has said.

Mr Lubinda said this when he reported at the Anti-Corruption Commission offices in Lusaka yesterday after being summoned with his daughter.

He said that it was clear that they were indirectly going after Mr Lungu through his associates like him.

“Even former President Lungu has said that he knows who they are looking for and instead of going directly to him they are targeting everyone close to him including people in shanties whose houses had been broken down,” he said.

He challenged PF members to be ready for more hardships as they were going to be raided at one point.

Mr Lubinda said that they were going to harass more members of the PF but that they needed to remain strong.

He said it was unfortunate that they had not prosecuted any individual who they were investigating which sent a very wrong impression.

Mr Lubinda said that it was shocking that the ACC had summoned him over a loan which his company got from another Chinese firm.

He wondered how getting a loan had become a crime and that if he failed to settle the loan it was him that would sell his assets to offset it.

“Initially they did not give me the reason I was summoned but after I reached I was shocked because I was told that in 2016 my firm got a loan from a Chinese company but I will find out from the courts when getting a loan became a crime,” Mr Lubinda said.

Meanwhile, ACC Spokesperson, Queen Chibwe confirmed that the warned and cautioned Mr Lubinda, 58, in connection with allegations of being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Ms Chibwe said in a statement that Mr Lubinda appeared before the ACC offices for interrrogations in the company of his three lawyers.

She said in a statement that Mr Lubinda was summoned to the Commission as a suspect and as such all procedures related to summoning of a suspect by an investigating agency were dully followed.- Daily Nation

By Mwaka Ndawa

FORMER president Edgar Lungu’s associate Valden Findlay, his wife Dessislava and his four companies have petitioned the state in the Lusaka High Court for seizing their accounts on the pretext that Findlay was a crook, committed fraud, among various financial crimes.

Findlay, a businessman, Dessislava Findlay trading as D Findlay and Associates, Twatotela Properties limited, Chrismar Earth Moving Equipment Limited and Greenview Service Providers say the secretive freezing of their accounts by the DEC without communication is a violation of their rights to be informed about the allegations they face before DEC takes an arbitrary action and for them to have representation to obtain reliefs from punitive measures taken.

Findlay claimed that wealth grabbed from him by the Drug Enforcement Commission was clean as it was amassed from rentals and various business activities which he was engaged in with tax liabilities having been duly paid and the same can be easily verified and explained.

He said that the money in the law firm’s account belong to clients and was received by his wife for distribution and transfer upon the clients’ requests during business operations.

The plaintiffs are seeking a declaratory order that the seizure notices on their accounts are illegal.

They want a declaration that the freezing of the accounts without notification and being given an opportunity to legal representation violates their rights to the presumption of innocence and fair hearing before punishment is meted on them.

The plaintiffs are seeking an order that the accounts be released.

They are further seeking orders for renumeration of the seized accounts, damage to property and unlawful conduct by the DEC aimed at painting Findlay black without giving him an opportunity to be heard.

The plaintiffs said on August 16, 2021 after the announcement of the 2021 general election results, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) directed the freezing of two Kwacha accounts Twatotela Properties limited (account no.101023160002 and D. Findlay and Associates (account no.1010231001 and 1010231004) domiciled at First Alliance Bank Zambia limited without notice or formal communication.

They said on August 30, 2020 their advocates, Messrs Makebi Zulu Advocates, wrote to FIC to provide details and supplementary documents of the transactions on the accounts belonging to the law firm of Findlay’s wife and Twatotela Properties.

“On August 20, 2021 the Drug Enforcement Commission issued a public statement circulating on various internet social media platforms that Findlay’s bank account had been frozen,” the plaintiffs said.

“There has never been any communication, public or private, to any of the other petitioners by DEC or any other law enforcement agency.”

The complainants stated that a number of false, malicious and defamatory publications appeared on numerous internet social media platforms against Findlay alleging that he had perpetrated financial crimes, money laundering and should be subjected to investigation and prosecuted for the alleged crimes and had abused his acquaintanceship with Lungu.

They said on September 3, 2021, they received formal communication from First Alliance Bank that their accounts were seized by the DEC pursuant to Section 15 of the prohibition and prevention of money laundering Act no.44 of 2010.

Findlay, his wife and companies contended that they are unable to make transactions on the said accounts.

They said there are no reasonable grounds upon which the DEC can believe that the funds were laundered or obtained from illegal activities.

“Your petitioners believe that their rights to be presumed innocent until proven guilty have been breached as they have been punished, condemned and punitive measures taken against them without any trial,” the plaintiffs said.

The businessman stated that in October 2021 the Anti-Corruption Commission searched his house in new Kasama and farm in Chisamba and caused damage to their property but himself and his wife have never been summoned, warned, arrested and charged by the ACC neither have they been informed of the investigations.

The Findlays charged that the searches conducted by ACC without a valid search warrant were illegal, and in violation of their Constitutional rights.

The plaintiffs further stated that their advocates wrote to DEC to release their funds but the Commission declined as investigations were still ongoing.

By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA

THE Constitutional Court has set March 9, 2022, as date of judgement in a matter where the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has petitioned it to interpret the provisions used by the Speaker, Nelly Mutti, to expel from the House nine PF MPs whose seats was nullified by the High Court.

On December 7, 2021, Ms Mutti sent away Nine Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament whose elections results was nullified and had appealed to the Concourt challenging the High Court’s judgements.

The nine MPs are Bowman Lusambo (Kabushi ), Joseph Malanji (Kwacha) , Mutotwe Kafwaya (Lunte), Sibongile Mwamba (Kasama Central), Luka Simumba(Nakonde), Allan Banda (Chimwemwe), Taulo Chewe (Lubasenshi), Kalalwe Mukosa(Chinsali) and Christopher Chibuye (Mkushi North).

LAZ in its petition seeks the Court to interpret the provisions of Articles 72 (h) and 73 (1) (2) and (4) of the Constitution of Zambia. The association cited the Attorney General as respondent in the petition. When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, LAZ president Abyud Shonga said that an interpretation to the provisions used by the speaker would put an end to the debate of whether an MP whose seat has been nullified following an election petition may lawfully remain in the House pending appeal to the Concourt. Mr Shonga reiterated that the association’s involvement in the matter was not to take sides but because it is of public interest.

However, Solicitor General Marshal Muchende argued that the effect of the nullification by the High Court was to create a vacancy in the National Assembly, and that if there is no appeal, the Speaker can communicate to ECZ for fresh elections.

Mr Muchende stated that an appeal to the Concourt does not operate as a stay, therefore, the affected MPs should have obtained stay from the High Court.

He contended that an MP whose seat had been declared null and void cannot continue to hold that seat in the absence of a stay ,unless if the high court that nullified the seat grants the stay.

Meanwhile, the ConCourt has reserved February 15, 2022 , as the date on which it will rule over an application by Mr Malanji on its jurisdiction to hear a petition by Governance Elections Advocacy Research Services Initiative Zambia Limited (GEARS) when there is an appeal against the High Court’s decision to nullify the seats .

GEARS , seeks a declaration that the nine having been declared by the High Court as not duly elected MPs , by attending sessions of the National Assembly and participating in Parliamentary business breached the constitution and the Electoral Process Act.

By Emmanuel Mwamba

DON’T PANIC, DECISIONS WERE MADE BY PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT AND ARE BINDING

Lusaka- Tuesday, 1st February 2022

Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Hon. Collins Nzovu has blamed the Patriotic Front Government as being behind all the decisions on mining in Lower Zambezi National Park.

He said the decisions will however be respected.

“The Decision for Mwembeshi Resources Limited was therefore granted by the PF government.”

“Decisions taken by previous governments are binding.”

“The Government wishes to make it clear that NO NEW DECISION has been made by the UPND Government in relation to mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park.”

Below is the statement.

PRESS RELEASE
MINISTRY OF GREEN ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LUSAKA, 1ST FEBRUARY, 2022

APPROVAL OF MINING IN THE LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK

The Government wishes to make it clear that NO NEW DECISION has been made by the UPND Government in relation to mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

In respect of this serious matter, there are legacy issues that have to be addressed stemming from the decision by former officials under the Patriotic Front government to overturn the initial decision by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (“ZEMA”) to reject the proposal.

This government is still committed to ensuring that all commitments made, including greening the economy are adhered to, but this will be done in a legal manner and we will therefore not interfere with any institution of governance.

Government will ensure that it exhausts all proper channels to secure a resolution in line with its commitment to the sustainable management of Zambia’s resources.

This means activity that contributes to the economic, environmental and societal development of the country.

Background

In March 2012, Mwembeshi Resources Limited conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) to undertake Large-Scale Mining activities under Licence No. 15547-HQ-LML in the Lower Zambezi National Park (“the Project”).

The proposed project was considered and rejected by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (“ZEMA”) on August 31, 2012.

Being dissatisfied with the decision of ZEMA, Mwembeshi Resources Limited appealed against the rejection in accordance with the provisions of section 116 of the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011.

The Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (as the ministry responsible for the environment was known at the time), Hon Harry Kalaba on 17th January, 2014, allowed the appeal and thereby overturned the decision of ZEMA.

However, Vincent Ziba, Morgan Katati, Noah Zimba, Robert Chimambo, Kasampa J Tembo and David Ngwenyama (the Appellants) filed an appeal to the High Court against the Minister’s decision and obtained a stay of execution of the Minister’s decision (the stay of execution) pending the determination of the appeal.

On 17th October, 2019, the High Court dismissed the Appellants’ Appeal for want of prosecution and further discharged the Stay of Execution.

The effect of the High Court’s ruling was that Mwembeshi Resources Limited was no longer constrained from conducting mining activities in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

The Appellants later lodged an appeal against the decision of the High Court before the Court of Appeal and the same was dismissed on 25th February, 2021.

At the end of the Court process, the approval granted in 2014 had lapsed following the failure to commence project implementation activities within three (3) years from the date of approval.

Mwembeshi Resources Limited therefore re-registered its intention to proceed with the proposed project in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 30 and Part VIII of the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 1997.

ZEMA proceeded to consider the submission by Mwembeshi Resources Limited in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011 (“the Act”) and the EIA Regulations and accordingly approved the project subject to strict conditions under Decision letter No. ZEMA/EIA/EIS/726.

The Decision for Mwembeshi Resources Limited was therefore granted by the PF government.

Decisions taken by previous governments are binding.

The New Dawn Government wishes to assure the nation that there is no cause for alarm as there is NO NEW DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.

Issued by:

Hon. Collins Nzovu, MP
Minister
Ministry of Green Economy & Environment

By Mwaka Ndawa

ANTI-CORRUPTION Commission investigations officer Christopher Siwakwi has told the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court that he lost the zeal to execute his mandate after he was belittled by Amos Chanda’s wife, who called him a grade 12 failure.

This is in a matter where Chanda, a former special assistant to the president for press and public relations, his wife Mable Nakaundi and sister in-law Ruth Nakaundi are facing charges of using insulting language against officers of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and obstructing the law enforcement officers from performing their duty.

It is alleged that the trio on October 27, 2021 uttered derogatory words against ACC officers, an act which provoked them and would have caused them to breach peace or caused them to make an offense and blocked the officers from searching their properties.

Testifying before chief resident magistrate Dominic Makalicha, Siwakwi said prior to conducting the search at Chanda’s premises in the State Lodge area, he noticed the media had camped at the gate.

He said when he asked the media about their presence during such an operation, one of the journalists informed him that Chanda had invited them to witness the said operation.

“I told them that they were not welcome as they would jeopardise our investigations,” Siwakwi said.

“When Mr Chanda arrived at the property, he attempted to access the premises with the the premises with the journalists but we told them that they could not come in and he used demeaning words such as idiots, criminals and said we were corrupt in full view of journalists. I felt very bad because the video went viral on social media and it was embarrassing to me and my family.”

Siwakwi told the court that when the investigations team proceeded to conduct another search at Chanda’s home on Elm Street in Woodlands area, the accused requested that he conducts a body search on the officers.

“Whilst he was searching me, I told him I only had my wallet in my pockets and he said ‘I don’t want your fucking money’. After he searched us, he then took us to the second house which he claimed was his as he did not know the owners of the first house,” Siwakwi said.

“Whilst searching his house, his wife issued demeaning words that I am a grade 12 failure and I am poorly paid. I felt very bad such that I almost lost focus on the search.”