MAFKEN RADIO HOSTS AMB. EMMANUEL MWAMBA

MUFULIRA SAYS YES TO AMB. EMANUEL MWAMBA

…….as he lays down his plan for the partriotic Front party and Zambia as a whole.

Mufulira- Sunday, 30th January 2022

Mafken FM Radio, the no.1 radio station on the Copperbelt today hosted former Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the Africa Union.

Amb. Mwamba, who is also one of the Opposition Patriotic Front presidential candidate, discussed various issues affe ting the PF and the country at large.

He called on government not to sale Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) as copper and cobalt have become the most sought after commodities in the motor vehicle industry.

He called for a mining policy that promotes extensive benefits for the mining community and Zambia at large and not a policy that benefited foreign investors.

He also cautioned government to be careful in its engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as their economic plans have adverse effects on communities and local industries as seen in the 1990s.

Mr. Mwamba expressed gratitude that government had planned to employ 30,000 teachers and 11,200 health workers but urged the Ministries charged with the responsibilities to employ, to avoid delaying tactics and proceed with the recruitment.

On the Constituency Develoment Fund (CDF), Amb. Mwamba stated that the increase in the allocation from K1.6million to K25.7million was welcome but he expressed concern that the fund should not take-over
development activities planned under district and provincial budgets.

He also called on the PF leadership to reorganize the party country-wide,accept past mistakes and rebrand while returning to the core values that made the PF popular.

He said there was no reason Zambia was poor as it is one of the wealthiest countries in the world because of its endowment in natural resources.

When callers participated in the program, many expressed gratitude at the issue and developmental nature and approach in which Amb. Mwamba contributed to national affairs.

Amb. Mwamba,who is known for conducting clean politics, free from violence and name-calling impressed the listeners with his knowlegde and issue based interview.

Amb. Mwamba served as Administrator and official Spokesperson to the Second President Dr. Frederick Chiluba.

He also served as Permanent Secretary in Northern, Eastern and Western Provinces.

He also served as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services.

Amb. Mwamba also served as Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa.

He also served as Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia. He also served as Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Issued by///
Gift G Chibale
Amb. Mwamba Media team.
MUFULIRA

By Godfrey Chitalu

THE Zambian roofing industry has tilted towards aluminum with other forms being ignored with impunity. With asbestos banned, lightweight, easily installable, malleable, and corrosion-resistant aluminum roofing sheets have taken center stage.

Many companies, especially from China took over the market with myriad standards that surprisingly defy logic and comparison.

A quick survey showed that the supposedly same 0.5mm of IBR across suppliers is not only different in weight and quality but standards as well. Customers are being sold as lower as 2.5mm in place of as high as 0.4mm. Someone is sleeping on duty!

The last time I did an article entitled “Are we at the mercy of fake Sausages”, the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZBS) came out guns blazing. There were full-page rebuttals in national newspapers that they don’t deal with gastro issues.

A 0.4mm sheet imported from Monarch Zimbabwe is much heavier and stronger than a similar 0.4mm sheet imported from China. What went wrong? China itself can supply multiple 0.4mm IBR sheets clearly with no twins. Isn’t it up to the local regulatory authority to do the needful?

The mushrooming iron sheet manufacturing plants have clearly put the country in shit with self-imposed gauges while regulators watch the eclipse of the sun. While I know that prices gravitate towards standards, why should company – A sell 0.5mm IBR which is inferior to a similarly rated sheet!

Does the ZBS have enough micrometers to clean the mess? What effect does a poor chemical profile of aluminum have on our budding construction industry? A few weeks ago it pained me to see a collapsed church in Kasenengwa whose aluminum sheets seemed to have been cut by a razor blade!

Do we have standards for thickness, confinement time, and reagents? What route can one take if a company is claiming to offer 0.5mm aluminum and yet it is actually supplying 0.35mm?

When was the last time a government inspector visited and verified that the 0.5mm iron sheets we buy are actually for real? We need protection from these quacks being propelled by an insatiable market and our sweat.

The author is a social commentator who writes for pleasure.

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

MEET ZAMBIAN LADY WHO KEEPS OVER 7500 CHICKEN MWANSA BWALYA SHARES HER INSPIRATION ON HOW SHE HAS MADE IT IN FARMING

Mwansa “Lately my days have started as early as 01:00 am and have ended at 01:00am -Am working 24/7 basically .These days have been hectic, stressful, tiring , I cry , my temper is up, I get easily agitated, I get easily irritated , I get mad and even want to give up.

-The road is terrible .
-The bridge is broken. (Of course the relevant authorities know but do nothing about it for almost 2 years now)
-I have customers calling me as early as 04:00 am and as late as 23:00pm .
-We are receiving chicks as early as 01:30am and dispatching birds as early as 06:00 am.
-I get to the farm as early as 02:00 am and leave as early as 06:00.
With 7500 birds in total -different stages these being; Pullets , Point of Lay , Layers and Ex-layers .
1.) Great things in business can never be done by one person, it takes a team.
2.) I cannot afford to put my phone on silent or have my phone off it’s always in my hand -one missed call could be a missed business opportunity .
3.) Sleep is a luxury I just cannot afford now.
4.)It gets even harder when you are trying to expand because you have less time for meaningless conversations, socialize, go out and what not.

Consistency, Tenacity , Resilience and long hours of hard work are inevitable in the life of an entrepreneur . Always be on high alert with what’s going on in your area of expertise so that when an opportunity knocks you grab it with both hands ! If opportunity isn’t knocking? Create it yourself , See loopholes in different markets and be an opportunist! No one owes you anything so boss up and make it happen.

But through all this make sure you have a strong support system , stay close to people who make you feel like sunshine , those that will pick you up when you are breaking down and say it’s going to be alright .

you too can achieve your dream

UPND IS A CHILD SITTING IN POO-POO AND ENJOYING IT-MBINJI MUFALO

It is, when, we watch a child enjoying sitting in poo-poo, smiling at us, that we start believing we do not need to intervene.

This, UPND in government is undoubtedly now thinking we are not going to wipe its backside, because we are celebrating our triumph over evil.

Here is my aged corn leaves wipe, that should inform citizen demand accountability –

(1) No evident movement on the repeal/review of the Public Order Act, the colonial provision of unlawful assembly in the Penal Code Act, and the defamation of the president question; definitive legislative review intent on whether the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act of 2016 that insulated the President, Vice President, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Member of Parliament, Minister and Provincial Minister from being sent to purgatory for Corrupt practices by, or with, public officers (Section 19), Abuse of authority of office (Section 21), and Possession of unexplained property (Section 22) offences in the Anti Corruption Act 2012.

The gecko on my wall, now hates me. She asks why her friend next door, still hangs her ill-gotten diamond laced underwear on the wall fence.

(2) Not walking the talk on ruling party political cadres. If Zacharia Phiri is still steeped in seeking “political clearance” to arrest the thugs, then the senior Zacharia Phiri’s meritocratic appointment looks like a question mark.

(3) Officers in the presidency thinking they are little gods, as is the case in the leaked audio on DP nuances.

(4) Public office spokespersons peeing on our intelligence. As is the case in item (3). Whether the leakage audio is authentic or not, is otiose. Sorry learned this word from the Con Court, nice word, ne! What is critical is that media freedoms, like our fundamental rights and freedoms are sacred!

(5) I am now always thirsty as my beloved grandmother periodically adjusts the calabash price for her world famous paraffin and battery acid laced seven days brew.

Kozo.

Mbinji Mufalo
It is, when, we watch a child enjoying sitting in poo-poo, smiling at us, that we start believing we do not need to intervene. This, UPND in government is undoubtedly now thinking we are not going to wipe its backside, because we are still celebrating our triumph over evil.

Here is my aged corn leaves wipe, that should inform citizen demand accountability –

(1) No evident movement on the repeal/review of the Public Order Act, the colonial provision of unlawful assembly in the Penal Code Act, and the defamation of the president question; definitive legislative review intent on whether the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act of 2016 that insulated the President, Vice President, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Member of Parliament, Minister and Provincial Minister from being sent to purgatory for Corrupt practices by, or with, public officers (Section 19), Abuse of authority of office (Section 21), and Possession of unexplained property (Section 22) offences in the Anti Corruption Act 2012.

The gecko on my wall, now hates me. She asks why her friend next door, still hangs her ill-gotten diamond laced underwear on the wall fence.

(2) Not walking the talk on ruling party political cadres. If Zacharia Phiri is still steeped in seeking “political clearance” to arrest the thugs, then the senior Zacharia Phiri’s meritocratic appointment looks like a question mark.

(3) Officers in the presidency thinking they are little gods, as is the case in the leaked audio on DP nuances.

(4) Public office spokespersons peeing on our intelligence. As is the case in item (3). Whether the leaked audio is authentic or not, is otiose. Sorry. Learned this word from the Con Court. Nice word, ne! What is critical is that media freedoms, like our fundamental rights and freedoms are sacred!

(5) I am now always thirsty as my beloved grandmother periodically adjusts the calabash price for her world famous paraffin and battery acid laced seven days brew.

Kozo.

Of CK’s Accidents

SOME OF KAMBWILI’S ROAD ACCIDENTS

23rd December 2012 Kambwili in an accident 65 Kilometres from Mpika town where he went to handover youth empowerment cheques as Youth and Sports Minister

15th January 2017 Accident along Great North Road

20th April 2017 Mwense in Luapula Province Accident when he was going for a funeral

4th May 2017 Accident at Six Miles area with other MPs

27th December 2020 Kambwili’s Personal Assistant and driver, Fabian Mutale popularly known as Sata 1 had an accident along Great North Road.

30th January 2022 Road Traffic Accident in Great North Road

I could have missed one or two, as can be confirmed in one report of Daily Mail Newspapers in which he was quoted after the 4th May 2017 Accident saying that he was “involved in four road accidents in the last three months”.

POSSIBLE LOOK AT;

1. He needs to look at his drivers critically

• Have they done some defensive driving courses?
• Are they trained in VIP driving?
• Do they need some refresher courses to help the situation?
• …

1. He needs to thank God for his life in many accidents he has been in. It’s not easy going through such and still being alive. God could be saying something in his life.

Wishing him well n God’s Protection

Article courtesy of journalist Arthur Sikopo

SIKAILE SIKAILE SEEM TO HAVE PERSONAL ISSUES WITH LUSAMBO, PF LEADERS & HE WANT TO USE MUVI TV

By Joseph Thanthwe Nyirenda

The narrative is good because it suggests what other programmes benefial to the country could be aired.
However, it is asking MUVI TV management to be choosy when inviting interviewees and ostracize certain people on the pretext that they have a bad image in society. It is evident from the letter that the writer has already picked a side. With my little knowledge about media, one of the functions of the media is to disseminate information.

It doesn’t matter whether the news is good or bad. It therefore follows that, in the event that the disseminated info is bad, and there are certain involved parties, the journalist has the audacity to interview the parties regardless of their social status. S/he doesn’t have to put words in the mouth of the interviewee. Alas, Hon. Bowman Lusambo defamed someone during the interview, it is him alone responsible for what he spoke because MUVI TV issues a disclaimer for such programs. Should the journalist dictate to the interviewee how to answer a particular question? If so, then the interview will lose its value because they’ll be talking based on the script.

I have heard Ms. Mercy Cowham insulting worse than did Hon. Bowman Lusambo. But she was on several media platforms being interviewed. I didn’t see any treatise of condemnation from these public figures like Mr. Sikaile and other social media personalities, except for comments on several Facebook pages. She did it with impunity and some think she was right because she was hurt. Now because it’s Hon. Bowman Lusambo, MUVI TV and its journalist are blamed. It implies that if it was Ms. Mercy Cowham who was interviewed, with a sarcastic language rated 18+, it would be fine.

I’m not in favor of Hon. Bowman Lusambo or against our sister Ms. Mercy Cowham. I’m against the unfair treatment of similar situations. The fundamental human rights are not typical for some but same for all. So if Ms. Cowham can insult with impunity, why can’t Mr. Lusambo insult with impunity?
Let there be balance.

The only wrong I find with MUVI TV is infringing the children’s rights by providing a platform to display their photos without parental consent.
Mr. Sikaile C. Sikaile you are offside sir.
Popeza cinatsitsa dzaye kuti njobvu ityoke m’nyanga, tiyeni tiimilile pakati.
When finding the root cause for a problem involving different parties, let’s not pick sides.

By Kombe Mataka, Fanny Kalonda

OPERATIONALISE the Office of Public Protector now, MDC secretary general Lucky Mulusa has told the UPND government.

He says the UPND government needs the Public Protector stressing that, “If we got our act right, we don’t even need the IMF because in fighting corruption and promoting efficiencies in running the government, we will make so much savings.”

Mulusa, a former State House assistant for project monitoring and implementation, said in an interview that there is urgent need establish an Act of parliament that will enable the operationalisation of the Office of the Public Protector.

“It is a must. It is a legislative sitting (the forthcoming session of the National Assembly). Very quickly Hon (Mulambo) Haimbe [the Minister of Justice] must take the bill to Cabinet and Cabinet must authorise it.

That is what the Zambian people want. That is what the employers of government want. From 2016, they were disappointed and they punished those who disappointed them,” Mulusa said.

“It must go to parliament for enactment, in an Act. The PF actually put a death nail in their coffin by their failure to operationalise the Office of the Public Protector.”

He said the operationalisation of the office would lead to saving a lot of resources from plunder.

“If we got our act right, we don’t even need the IMF because in fighting corruption and promoting efficiencies in running the government, we will make so much savings.

If they have allocated so much money to the Public Protector and then so many purchases of vehicles, equipment, allowances what what, how many clinics would have been built? If they disagreed with Zambian people [on having the Public Protector] then let them abolish this office. But it is a necessity,” Mulusa observed.

“A discourse like this one that myself, Madam (Caroline) Sokoni (the Public Protector) Brebner Changala and the late Mike Mulongoti, started will help push it to priority list. It will be very helpful. You see, when people are asking questions and government officials choose to ignore them or government officials lie in the way they are responding to people’s concerns, people get frustrated. People should have disclosure.

They should go to the Public Protector who is funded and who has capacity to investigate everyone including the sitting President. They will take their findings to parliament and parliament will pass a resolution and people will be sanctioned and people will be cautioned.

People will have something to fear. Get the yellow books, see how much allocation has been given to the Office of the Public Protector in the past five to six years. It will show you the wastage that is why I am saying operationalise it.”

And Mulusa said what existed under the PF was collective irresponsibility and not collective responsibility.

He said when he featured on Hot FM breakfast programme that a cabal of criminals was created in the PF government.

“We created a cabal of criminals. The whole government machinery just became criminals stealing from Zambians,” Mulusa said.

“There are noticeable attempts to try and create productive outcomes out of governance and that is a little grace. I I would encourage all Zambians to play our role to ensure the government succeeds.

We are on the right trajectory and I am happy Zambians are talking when they see something wrong. It is better that the government engages them so that we live as one big happy family.”

Mulusa, who discussed his sacking from State House by former president Edgar Lungu after he opposed the purchase of the infamous fire tenders at a cost of $42 million, said he was proud that he had highlighted some ills observed in the PF before he was fired.

“I disagreed with with that purchase and it was collective irresponsibility and I was not going to be part of collective irresponsibility. When I was fired, I felt a sense of relief. That sense of relief was very strange but it was preservation for destiny.

I would have been as irrelevant as most of them are now. Most of their political careers have actually ended,” he said.

“My advice to the PF is to actually to disband. That unit is what Zambians should never see. The best is to disband and join other political parties and learn some decency in administering public welfare.”

Mulusa said that the PF ruled on the concept of arrogance of incumbency to commit wrongdoing.

“I warned them. They were being arrogant. I told them this arrogance of incumbency will cost you elections in 2021. I said that on UNZA radio immediately after passing that comment (on fire tenders) because I knew…was not going to last. But I needed to provide some relief in government,” he said.

And asked why he was supporting the government decision to go for a IMF bailout package when he had opposed it when he served as member of parliament, Mulusa said “I was calling for us not to go to IMF to avoid this kind of maladministration in order to properly grow the economy and we didn’t need to borrow.

“The situation is like when you die, the next stage is rotting and unfortunately we died. We just have to go to IMF. We cannot avoid it. It is an investment in perception. It creates some level of confidence those that will lend us money now know that we will not be reckless in the way we are spending money.

And that it has reduced the risk of you failing to pay but I see that because of conditions that come with the IMF, I see that we now have free education which the IMF may not be comfortable with because they would like to see as much money as possible ending up in the coffers for the economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mulusa said Zambians paid a huge price for entrusting the PF with the management of their affairs.

He said the PF regime should have never happened to Zambia.

Mulusa said projects in the previous regime were overpriced.

“Yes the projects were overpriced. The first overpricing was actually at tender stage. And the projects would be overpriced in the sense that it was a top-down approach. Assuming there was an unsolicited bid from a particular vendor who said we can build you a modern airport at so much and we can source the money for you and all you need is to sign for that loan and you agree.

Meanwhile, there could be other talks behind the scenes of helping a political party in power. So all So all those get priced in, the kickbacks and all that stuff,” he said.

“The first example is the our KKIA (Kenneth Kaunda International Airport), which is a scandal. The initial one was 365 million to pay for a bigger airport than we have ended up with. Government first paid like 25 million and at the implementation stage, all the Zambian subcontractors were kicked out and the scope of work was reduced. But the money ballooned to about $385 million and I keep wondering how?”

Mulusa continued: “When I started monitoring that project, that is when I started asking questions. And everywhere I went, when I ask the questions to the stakeholders and the Chinese, everyone was mute. Until someone told me that if ‘you are asking questions and no one is answering the question, you have to let go’. He said that was a warning.”

“If there was the Office of the Public Protector, then that issue was going to go to parliament,” he said.

Mulusa said there was serious need by President Hichilema to continue being tough on the need for prudence in management of resources in the construction sector.

“We had the Italians who wanted to build us the dual carriageway between Ndola and Lusaka of 320 kilometres. They told us 360 million Euros and the money was there and everything was agreed. But when I left State House, they announced that the project but it was 1. 2 billion. That shows you the overpricing. What was it, what made the price to be that high because part of the roads were there and just needed rehabilitation?” wondered Mulusa.

OPEN LETTER TO MUVI TV MANAGEMENT

29/01/2022

REF: YOUR CONTENT IS SLOWLY LOWERING THE QUALITY OF YOUR WORK

Ask Muvi TV

Growing up few kilometers from Muvi TV station, I knew Muvi TV as a credible media house that stood with the community. The quality of their programming was exceptional. The media plays a vital role in its daily operations.The media should aim at protecting the weak.

The hosting of former Kabushi MP Bownman Lusambo, who kept on calling other members of the public or his perceived enemies dogs and pigs makes a sad reading. How could Mr. Innocent Phiri ( Muvi TV journalist ) entertain such remarks on one of the biggest media houses in the country and the region? Is Mr. Phiri hired by Lusambo to feature on such platforms so that he can have access to discredit other citizens with impunity?

We all know at the end of the day who Bownman Lusambo was trying to refer to as a pig or dog. This is unfair. I want to appeal to women organizations to take keen interest in this case of Mercy, so that we can close the chapter. My question to Mr. Phiri and Muvi TV management imagine Mercy was your relative would you people be happy to feature Bownman issuing such remarks?

Remember, there are about 5 children whose lives will be impacted negatively by your choice of programing. You have gone on to bring more than other men on live TV to claim. Further, you have gone as far as not only mentioning the children’s names on live TV but, displaying their images. You may think it does not matter after all they are just kids. But, kids too have rights. Don’t destroy the lives of 5 Children all in the name of news Coverage. Let us exhibit humanity and protect the weak in our society. Why the hurry to report on this case of Mercy’s children? The matter is before the court where Bowman is opposing giving samples for DNA analysis. Let’s give legal system to conclude the case. Better still encourage Mr. Lusambo to give his specimen and the case will be put to bed. Sometimes I do wonder if discussing matters before courts is still contemptuous. Mr. Innocent Phiri please check yourself. You can do better than this.

Some of you journalists are becoming a serious danger to our national peace and it is high time that your agendas are scrutinized. Sometimes the caliber of individuals you bring for interviews when the country has very pressing issues that could have been given a platform for wide media coverage speaks volumes. Under the former leadership, we saw rampant corruption, we saw our country being gassed, lives were lost, we saw police and cadres brutality and lives were lost, surely ba Muvi TV, isn’t such issues deserve more publicity?

It is a shame that the interviewer Mr. Innocent Phiri gave Lusambo uninterrupted opportunity not only to insult his perceived enemies but, the country at large. If we are to go in Kabushi today, is Bownman telling us that everyone is on his standards? It is a shame that former president Mr. Lungu lowered this nation’s integrity by appointing such retrogressive individuals who ammased public resources and now think they are champions.

In my conclusion, I have so much respect for most people at Muvi TV, the likes of Mr. Mabvuto Phiri, Mr. Angel Phiri, please protect the integrity of the station, your content is slowly but sure losing public appetite. Because Muvi TV has greatly contributed immensely to our nation where media houses are concerned.
The case of Mercy does not need media propaganda but, just DNA analysis to determine whether or not, Bowman is the father to the five children. Bownman Lusambo why are you scared of a DNA, is Mercy’s request too much?

Sikaile C Sikaile
Good Governance and Human Rights Activist for Africa and Amnesty International

CC: MINISTRY OF GENDER
: ZAMBIA POLICE ( VICTIMS SUPPORT UNIT LUSAKA CENTRAL DIVISION)
: MUVI TV MANAGEMENT

By Dickson Jere

The landlord was livid. His tenant was not picking his calls and he cut all form of communication to avoid paying the rent that was due. In a desperate attempt to make the tenant pay the outstanding rentals, the landlord locked the house! But then, thieves – sensing there was no one is that house – broke in and stole the household goods.
This is what prompted the tenant to commence an action in the High Court for Zambia against his landlord demanding for compensation for the stolen goods as well as damages for locking him out of the house illegally.
It was an interesting case!

You see, there are laws in Zambia that governs the relationship between tenant and landlord besides the tenancy agreement which the parties sign. If it is residential – The Rent Act – comes into play while business premises is governed by the Landlord and Tenant (Business Premises) Act. The two laws provides steps to be taken in evicting or levying distress on the goods of your tenant to recover your rentals.

At first round, the High Court was sympathetic to the landlord and thought the tenant was just being mischievous. The Court ruled in favour of the landlord, which prompted an appeal to the superior courts. Three judges at the Supreme Court reversed the decision and awarded damages and costs to the tenant.

The Supreme Court relied on Section 14 of the Rent Act, which provides that “No distress for the recovery of rent in respect of any premises shall be levied except with leave of the court”.
In short, for you to levy any distress on your tenant, you need to go to Court and get permission, which we call “leave” in law.
“Therefore, his action was unlawful and exposed him to liability in damages for unlawful distress,” the Court ruled.
The landlord was also ordered to pay damages to his tenant for all the things stolen but that he should deduct his rentals from the compensation.

So never lock your tenant houses or grab their goods without Court order! You will end up paying him more than what he owes you.

For full details of this case, please read Allan Muyambango v Clement Banda – Selected Judgment No.30 of 2016.

Economic and Financial Court at the Magistrate Level?

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

On Thursday, 27th January 2022, a prosecutor from the Anti-Corruption Commission applied for an adjournment and informed Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Court, Hon. Dominic Makalicha, that the case of former Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kennedy Malama and five others facing corruption charges, will be tried under the newly constituted Economic and Financial Crimes Division Court.

In response to the application for an adjournment, Magistrate Makalicha informed the court that there was a team of Magistrates that was constituted to handle such cases.

He named Magistrate Hon.Stanford Ngobola, Hon.Faides Hamaundu and Hon. Jennifer Bwalya as being among magistrates selected to run with the cases under the new Court.

During the ceremonial opening of the High Court on 10th January,2022, Chief Justice Mumba Malila SC announced that he had set up the Economic and Financial Crimes as a division of the High Court.

He announced the establishment of the new division as provided for under Article 133(3) of the Constitution of Zambia and Section 3 of the High Court Act.

He said he had since signed a Statutory Instrument to establish the new division under the High Court.

ARTICLE 133 &134

Article 133 &134 establish the High Court and its divisions.

133. (1) There is established the High Court which consists
of—
(a) the Chief Justice, as an ex-officio judge; and

(b) such number of judges as prescribed.

(2) There are established, as divisions of the High Court, the
Industrial Relations Court, Commercial Court, Family Court and
Children’s Court.

(3) The Chief Justice may constitute, by statutory instrument,
specialised courts of the High Court to hear specific matters.

(4) The composition of courts specified in clauses (2) and (3)
shall be prescribed.

134. The High Court has, subject to Article 128—

(a) unlimited and original jurisdiction in civil and criminal
matters;

(b) appellate and supervisory jurisdiction, as prescribed; and

(c) jurisdiction to review decisions, as prescribed.

CONCERNS

The announcement made by the Chief Resident Magistrate that they have appointed certain magistrates to handle economic and financial crimes elicited my interests and concerns.

The Subordinate Courts are established under Article 120 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia, Act No. 2 of 2016.

The operations and functions of Subordinate Courts are regulated under the Subordinate Courts Act, Chapter 28 of the Laws of Zambia which provides for the constitution, jurisdiction and procedures as well as appeals to the High Court and other matters incidental or connected thereto.

Subordinate Courts are controlled and supervised by the High Court through reviews and appeals.

Subordinate Courts are presided over by Magistrates who are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission acting in the name and on behalf of the Republican President.

Out of 117 districts, there are now 64 Subordinate Courts operating in Zambia.

In Zambia nearly all criminal court cases start in the magistrates’ court, and around 95% will be completed there.

The magistrate courts are courts of first instance for criminal offences.

Magistrates deal with three kinds of cases:

1. Summary offences. These are less serious cases, such as motoring offences and minor assaults. These cases are generally disposed off in the magistrates’ courts.

2. Either-way offences. As the name implies, these can be dealt with, either by magistrates or before a judge at the High Court.

Such offences include theft and handling stolen goods. A defendant can insist on their right to trial in the High Court. Magistrates can also decide that a case is so serious that it should be dealt with in the High Court – which can impose tougher sentences if the defendant is found guilty.

3. Indictable-only offences, such as murder, manslaughter, defilement, rape and armed robbery come to the Magistrate Court for the process of referring to the High Court. These cases are heard by the high court.

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COURT AT THE MAGISTRATE COURT

So if the magistrate court is the court of first instance for criminal offences including economic and financial crimes, how does a division of the high court, get established at the magistrate court?

IT APPEARS TO BE ADHOC AND ADMINISTRATIVE

It is clear that the Chief Justice requires to issue rules and regulations and explain how this Division of the High Court, will have a presence at the subordinate courts.

I am aware that the Judiciary has in the past set up, in an adhoc or administrative manner, initiatives of fast track courts or specialised courts such as identifying and picking particular magistrates to obtain special training and handle; traffic offences, gender-based violence, human trafficking and child and juvenile cases.

These courts are usually sponsored or have operations costs met by partners such as the the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP).

This is an administrative measure and the magistrates involved in these cases continue to do their prescribed and routine duties but handle these cases by allocating a specific day or period.

CONCLUSION

The earlier high profile anti-corruption crusade conducted between 2003-2008 failed largely because of jurisdiction and lack of legal framework.

The Task Force on Corruption, a special unit set up with joint operations from law enforcement agencies, was deemed illegal and was later disbanded.

Similarly, the new fight against corruption appear to move in the same direction with the setting up, on questionable legal basis, the Joint Investigations Team (JIT) and the Economic and Financial Crimes.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Division in the High Court is a good initiative to fight an endemic crisis of crimes related to corruption and economic plunder of public resources, but may be plagued by concerns and court applications questioning legalities.

This may derail the completion of these cases or may render cases to be stuck or locked in interlocutory processes for many years.

Infact these crimes may require legal definition and regulations and attendant legislation to be provided for if we are to effectively deal with the scourge of economic plunder.

I say this because the first cases allocated to the new court appear to be cases of abuse of office or authority than cases of economic or financial crimes!

As seen above, the setting of the Economic and Financial Crimes at the Magistrate will remain adhoc and administrative, as the actual court that has been set up is at the High Court in what appears to be an appellate court. S

By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone

DON’T succumb to the ‘tribal tag’ blackmail narrative of PF leaders because letting them go scot-free will be failing Zambians, former Socialist Party Southern province coordinator Clinton Nzala advises President Hakainde Hichilema

And Nzala, who also worked at TeleSur in Ecuador, says the UPND media team needs to be proactive because as at now they were failing the presidency.

In an interview, Nzala said the claim by PF leaders that they were being targeted on tribal lines was all blackmail.

“This is all blackmail to out race the government. My advice to the government is that they should not succumb to this blackmail by the PF leaders. If the government does not prosecute the PF leaders who plundered the Zambian resources, they would have failed the Zambian people who voted for UPND in large numbers. They did not vote because they liked the face or appearance of the President. Most of them did it because they thought that the PF government had failed them by plundering the resources, by dipping their fingers into the public purse. That is what motivated the public out there to go and vote out the PF,” he said.

“So that vote that the people gave HH is a whip to go and whip all those who stole our resources. So if the government decides to let these guys to go scot free because of the tribal tag accusation, they would have failed the people who voted for them.”

Nzala said Zambians were fed up with PF’s corruption adding that the anti-corruption crusade by the UPND had nothing to do with tribe or political persecution.

“We are just going for the people who put Zambia in a position where we find ourselves in, so it’s just fair that these guys should face the long arm of the law. If they are innocent let the courts clear them because now almost everyone in PF has a corruption tag. So if anyone is innocent, they should not get worried,” he said.

“In fact, they should welcome it so that they go to court and clear their names and walk around society with their heads high because they will not have a corruption tag. But if they don’t, the tag will stick on them for a while. So let them welcome it, the government is not sentencing them it is just taking them to court so that they can clear their names.”

Nzala said PF officials should be the last to talk about tribalism because they targeted certain tribes especially in the civil service.

He said certain people could not even get government contracts due to their surnames.

Nzala said even police recruitments were designed to leave out certain people with certain surnames.

He hoped that no other government would ever again embark on what the PF did in terms of tribalism.

He said under PF’s rule, it even became very difficult for certain people to attend funerals for fear of being segregated based on tribe.

“No one is persecuting you, it is prosecution. If you are a businessman and have 10 or 40 houses, just go to court and show them your books that this is what I earned or I earn and I built these houses, so that we can learn from them on how to venture into business,” he said.

And Nzala said he feels the UPND team was failing the President because it had allowed the PF to be noisy.

“I feel the UPND media team is failing the government, they have allowed the PF to continue controlling the narrative in the country. The UPND media team is just reactive, they are just reacting to what the PF says. They have failed to be proactive to drive what the government is doing,” said Nzala.

By Mwenya Mofya,

JUSTICE Minister Mulambo Haimbe says he doesn’t see why some Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act provisions can’t be repealed because people have spoken against them.

And Haimbe says government’s position on the constitutional reform process will test the UPND’s political will.

Speaking when he featured on The Village ZM’s Twitter Space, Wednesday, Haimbe said he was also an advocate of repealing certain provisions in the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act.

“The Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act provides for a mechanism by which electronic communication is monitored. Ultimately, where there is cyber bullying and any other criminal activity takes place, then that Act kicks in.

The question that has arisen repeatedly is whether or not defamation should be criminalised given the civil remedies, of course that is an ongoing debate. For example, defamation of the President where people say it is a way of gagging people from expressing themselves.

The general principle is that even the Constitution recognises that your freedoms and my freedoms are not without limitation. So one cannot say they are enjoying their freedom of expression and insult.

My freedoms end where yours begin. So it is a matter of the extent of which this defamation takes place. I was a proponent of the repeal of various provisions which were quite negative in the Cyber Security Act.

The media have also said they do not support the current bill in its format. So when the people have spoken, I do not see the reason why a repeal of certain provisions of that law cannot be done,” Haimbe said.

And Haimbe said government’s position on the constitutional reform process would test the UPND’s political will.

“The constitutional reform process can be in many forms. As a country, we use the Inquiries Act and the establishment of a commission of inquiry as a means of effecting constitutional amendment. That has been done in the past with four or five constitutional review commissions.

The question is are we going to use the Inquiries Act? As government, we are also entitled to take a position. Cabinet must be engaged with a proposed roadmap and obtain approval. The people of Zambia will then be told and processes will follow. The commission is a very costly exercise,” he said.

“The preferred route is a technical committee to take the views via those commissions and go round to take views of the people hit based on a draft. Government is consulting in order for us to achieve the stage where the Cabinet must give approval for the direction we must take.

By the way, a commission is more costly because you are starting from scratch. Ours is to make sure that when the draft comes out, the government’s position does not change the views coming from the people of Zambia. That is where our political will be tested by yourselves.”

He said the constitution amendment process would take longer because it needed to be done properly.

“The political will must promulgate laws that prioritise the interests of the people. Looking at the USA constitution, it has lasted for more than 200 years and only amended a number of times, that is what we should aspire for. It is tiring and we need to get past this business of amending constitutions in piecemeal to suit the political aspirations of people in government at a particular time,” he said.

“We need to show a difference as a new dawn government because there is fatigue. However it is not something that will be done in a couple of months, perhaps not even in a couple of years because we want it to be done properly.

We could be going through this process especially since the referendum is very expensive and we have to find money for it, we could be talking about a couple of years even slightly more.”

Haimbe said various parts of the constitution were not in line with keeping the democratic principles of the country.

“There are various parts of the constitution that are not in line with keeping the democratic principles of the country. Right now, the constitution in terms of the bill of rights focuses on the political rights without having proper recognition of the social and economic rights.

That is something that we have to address via the referendum. It is absolutely necessary that we do this properly to have a constitution that stands a test of time,” he said.

Haimbe also said the Public Order Act would be re-looked in its entirety in the next sitting of Parliament.

“The Public Order Act amendment is one of our key priorities. The Act must ensure that it aligns to our aspirations as a people. It must not be abused as a tool to oppress the opposition. So to all purposes, it was impossible to deal with any legislation including the Public Order Act. That will be done in this session which begins on 15th February,” said Haimbe.

“The internal processes began a long time ago and in this case, there was a draft bill that was done by the PF which did not meet the various aspirations of the UPND, therefore it was rejected.

So it has to be looked at with a fresh pair of spectacles by the user Ministry of Home Affairs. We need to understand how these things work and you cannot promulgate laws like you are buying bread in a supermarket.”

FREE EDUCATION AND CDF-GOVERNING THROUGH LIES

BY HON. MUNIR ZULU

Nalandila kalata

I have received alot of phone calls and messages from the good people of lumezi District asking me how they can access the educational bursary.

The council secretary together with the council chairman equally phoned to ask on the modalities that are being used because alot of universities are asking us to sign memorandum of understanding so that students of lumezi don’t miss out on being college or university students.

I have told my colleagues i.e council secretary and council chairman that I won’t sign any MOU without funds being in the accounts of our CDF.

The government has been announcing figures that they have released for bursary and when infact no money has been deposited into any constituency office or maybe as you like council account.

The New dawn Government promised that even loans will be accessed through the CDF when no law provides for such! Now they have removed the loan component from CDF and allowed us to give grants, as much as they have allowed the CDF to issue out grants no money has been released from the K25.7M.

What the new dawn has successfully done is to hype or excite the aspirations of the citizens with pronouncements and do the opposite in reality.
Its the reason some of us have gone to look for solutions from outside because internally we are joking, If I have to sponsor a child I will do it not because I won but we must be a society that is addressing the challenges our people are facing, Yes they announced that K198 million was released but in whose account is it?

We have a big problem ahead of us but let us brace ourselves for worse.

No one told us that the CDF will be disbursed monthly or quarterly but the budget was yearly, as I consume the pain of failing to answer certain answers on behalf of government let me mention to those in authority that the time of telling lies to the voters is long gone.

PF AND OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES REGROUP TO FIGHT THE RULE OF LAW – UPND

PF and other opposition Parties are regrouping to fight the restoration of the rule of law by the new Dawn Government. It’s unfortunate that some political Leaders are admiring the leadership skills of the PF regime by advocating for lawlessness. The group has no common and well defined agenda apart from bitterness and desperation. The regrouping has nothing to do with offering of checks and balances.

When Mr. Lungu said that out of 10 Bembas 6 are thieves none of these Political Parties bothered to ask what he meant. But today Mr. Sean Tembo has the audacity to claim that President HH is victimizing Bembas. Has Mr. Tembo forgotten how PF brutalized him for carrying out a lone protest over the procurement of fire tenders?

Mr. Tembo and his new found friends are playing a very dangerous political game. Zambians are watching and asking what’s in common between this new grouping and the PF corrupt elements.

It’s very strange for people seeking the highest office to fight President HH for restoring the rule of law. This new friendship between some opposition political parties and PF is very suspicious, is it about NCHEKELAKO or what? Unfortunately, there are some political parties that are just following blindly and fighting battles for others. It’s embarrassing for any decent political Leader with integrity to be seen in public with PF criminals.

You are simply telling Zambians that you have no integrity left in you. Time will tell on the future of this grouping. Bitterness, hatred and desperation are enemies of progress for any political party. Zambians are very clear; they don’t want PF, at least in the next 100 years

Zambians are still injured by the atrocities committed by PF. Zambians are still waiting for answers from President HH on who went round the Country burning markets. Zambians are still waiting to know the people behind gassing of innocent people.

UPND has committed itself to zero tolerance to corruption in order recover the stolen money for the Zambian people from the PF criminals. Zambians still need answers on why Zambians were given expired drugs. All these issues can only be resolved through the rule of Law, so why fight it if you are not a criminal?

Percy Chanda

UPND – Chairman for Mines and Freedom Fighter

BY DR FRED M’MEMBE

FUEL PRICES

The UPND government faces a dilemma of how to honour their election promise of cutting fuel prices today in the light of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionality with the net effect of increasing fuel prices. On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) issued a press statement advising fuel consumers and stakeholders that following the pronouncement made at the last fuel price review on December 16, 2021, the ERB has migrated to the thirty day pricing cycle for petrol, diesel and low sulphur gas oil.

And in that regard, fuel prices would now be reviewed every month starting with January, 2022. It’s highly unlikely that fuel prices will be reduced at these reviews – they will instead be increased. And this may further stoke public outrage over the high living expenses.

In the light of their IMF commitments, we can’t see any sensible measures that they can take to help reduce fuel prices in an effort to honour their campaign promise of affordable fuel and defuse public anger. The price of fuel has a significant weighting in the basket of goods and services that are used to measure inflation in the country. Producers of services and goods are also expected to factor in the higher cost of fuel. This makes fuel prices a key determinant of the rate of inflation.

The economy also uses diesel for transportation, power generation and running of agricultural machinery such as tractors, with a direct impact on the cost of farm produce. At the individual level, higher fuel prices mean that each of us pays more at the filling station, leaving less to spend on other goods and services.

But higher fuel prices affect more than just the cost to fill up at the filling station; higher fuel prices have an effect on the broader economy. Inversely, when fuel prices fall, it is cheaper to fill up the tank for both households and businesses, and really eases costs on transportation-focused industries like trucking and buses – but it also puts a damper on the domestic fuel industry.

In general, higher fuel prices are a drag on the economy. When fuel prices rise, it can be a drag on the economy – impacting everything from consumer spending to bus fares to hiring practices. Fuel is an important input for transportation, which directly impacts households as they drive, but also businesses that rely on logistics and transportation chains. If discretionary spending is hampered by higher fuel costs, it can have knock-on effects throughout the broader economy.

A side effect of high fuel prices is that the discretionary spending of consumers drops as they spend a relatively larger portion of their income on fuel. Higher fuel prices also mean that shoppers will tend to drive less – including to places like the mall or shopping centers.

All retailers are further squeezed as they are forced to pass on the higher expenses they also experience, which are associated with increased shipping costs to consumers. Anything that has to be transported could cost more as fuel prices rise. Likewise, many products that contain plastics or synthetic materials are based in part on petroleum. Higher fuel prices mean higher prices for these materials too.

Rising fuel prices will negatively impact efforts at economic recovery in terms of hiring practices. Rising fuel prices will force some businesses to re-evaluate their hiring plans, holding off because they are uncertain about the economy’s health. Less discretionary spending results in decreased sales, both of which can influence a company’s ability to hire.

Many job candidates have to weigh prospective positions against the costs associated with the commute. Some workers who have been offered new jobs have been forced to turn down the position simply because the costs to get to and from work would eat up such a large percentage of the salary.

There is an undeniable correlation between
consumer confidence, spending habits, and fuel prices. Increases in fuel prices makes people feel more pessimistic about the economy.

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

January 28, 2022

BREAKING MY POLITICAL SILENCE – MAXWELL CHONGU
YOUNG KING COBRA

( The case of seeing beyond the BOOK LAUNCH )

I see nothing wrong with President Hakainde Hichilema taking part in a book launch for a billionaire friend whose close billionaire associates in attendance pose as potential investors unless one is using emotions, jealous and hatred driven by political frustrations or disappointments.

Remember that he also had bilateral talks with the South African President, anyways my main area of interest is the BOOK LAUNCH and the people in attendance that pose as potential investors

Under PF administration we had the likes of VALDEN FINDLAY whose proximity to the PRESIDENCY could been seen even by a blind person, Valden Findlay could use the presidential Jet Gulfstream above all Presidential motorcade and when President Edgar Chagwa Lungu by then was asked, he openly said he had a personal relationship with VALDEN FINDLAY to my surprise everyone kept quiet and treated the situation to be business as usual.

Can someone tell me what economical benefits did the highly publicized friendship between Former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Valden Findlay bring to the nation of Zambia before we quickly condemn the book launch.

Which one is better, going to launch a BOOK that will educate masses, taking advantage of billionaire friends in attendance enticing them to INVEST in Zambia or flying around the world on official duties with friends?

Let’s be civil and level headed and not always see NEGATIVITY in whatever President Hakainde Hichilema is doing in the name of offering checks and balances just because we are in OPPOSITION.

President Hakainde Hichilema once said and i quote ” I will be your chief salesman or marketer to would be investors above all the global economies ” end of quote.

Why not give him the benefit of a doubt to see the outcome of that trip and launch in terms of economic benefits that will come along considering the fact that it’s evident enough billionaire friends above all investors where in attendance.

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH RASHIDA – KAMBWILI

Chishimba Kambwili says there must be something wrong with former Kalulushi mayor Rashida Mulenga to have “so desperately joined the UPND” despite protests from party cadres and a heavy presence of police to protect her joining.

And Kambwili says the losses suffered by PF in Luapula, not only to the ruling UPND, but also fellow opposition Socialist Party (SP) is a wake up call, which must be taken as a challenge to reflect upon.

Speaking with Daily Revelation, Kambwili said generally there was something wrong with the people defecting to the UPND following the August 12, 2021 elections, wondering how they have so suddenly come to believe in the ideals of President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND.

“Because for instance let me pick the same person you are saying Rashida. Look at social media, (it) was awash with insults from UPND that they don’t want her, but she goes there because in Bemba they say bamisula kale ninsoni shakumyebelapofye shabula. I really don’t understand, I can’t figure it out, you even go, ‘no I have joined, I have come.’ Abantu abakukene. Balekutuka nensele (People who have rejected you and are even insulting you). Ninshi I think there must be something wrong,” Kambwili said. “There must be something being hidden. Soon or later it will reveal. And ama politics yakweba ati when a new government comes you always want to jump to a new government will not take this country anywhere.”

Kambwili said people must join political parties based on principle and the ideals of the party they are joining, but “you are not going to believe in the ideals when they win government. Where were you before they won the elections?”

He said the PF experienced the same when they won power in 2011 where people were jumping into PF, but immediately left after the party lost power 10 years later.

“Bengi sana abafumine ku MMD abaya quiet (there are many who came from the MMD who have gone quiet). Some of them were even put in the central committee, Balileka nokuchita attend ama central committee (They even stopped attending central committee meetings),” Kambwili said. “Others immediately we lost the elections, two days later ati I have resigned from the PF. People must join when people are in the opposition. What guarantee do they have that those who have defected from independent to UPND, if UPND win (lose) they will not go back to independent?”

Kambwili said generally some people were paying others to stage-manage defections to create a narrative that many have resigned, and mostly it was to cover criminal activities or protect their businesses.

“So those are not defections that we can worry about. And I don’t want to say much abene they know what I mean when I say those are just defections to cover up certain criminal activities that they do,” Kambwili said… http://dailyrevelationzambia.com/there-is-something-wrong-with-rashida-kambwili/

HICHILEMA TREADING ON DANGEROUS PATH OF LIES, BEGINNING OF HIS DOWNFALL

…as Brebner Changala says there is a cost when a President start treading in lies, it is the beginning of his downfall

By Nelson Zulu

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is trading on a dangerous path of lies which will make his downfall and that of his government disastrous, Civil Rights Activist Brebner Changala has warned.

Commenting on the revelation by the South Africa Broadcast Corporation (SABC), a public broadcaster in South Africa that President Hichilema is in that country for a private visit as a guest speaker at a private function, Changala says confliction statements from the Presidency and the President himself are worrying and a source of concern among Zambians.

He says President Hichilema is not handling the media and the public with correct information as there is too much misinformation surrounding his international trips and the general conduct of government.

“Firstly, and foremost, the President is not handling the media in a manner they are supposed to do in the spirit they showed when they were just sworn in. There is a lot of misinformation coming from the Presidency and the President himself. And mind you the position that President HH (Hakainde Hichilema) is holding is that of the pinnacle, it is one of the first among equals and everybody’s eyes are focused on him,” Changala noted.

Changala a full-time proponent of the UPND and President Hichilema’s administration says that the Head of State should at all times thrive at issuing statements that are encored on truth and clarity before the people of Zambia start questioning his integrity.

“So he (President Hichilema) must endeavor at all times to issue statements that are well encored on clarity and truth because simple things like what has just transpired turn to tarnish his integrity, it turn to delete public confidence and make people believe that our colleague is nothing but a bedrock of lies,” he said.

He says there was nothing wrong for President Hichilema to inform Zambians that he was going to South Africa for a private visit as it was within his rights.

Changala said it is sad that now the receiving country (South Africa) has denied having invited the President but instead has clarified that it was a private visit as guest at some private function.

He has since warned President Hichilema and the UPND government that such conflicting statement coming from the highest office has a cost attached to it.

“So if he went to South Africa on a private visit there was nothing wrong to state it like that, if he went to South Africa on an official working visit there was nothing wrong to state it like that again, but the receiving country has clarified that he went there on a private visit and yet at home he told the nation that he went there on a working visit, these are conflicting statements , there is a cost when a President start trading in lies, there is a cost. Public confidence will evaporate and that is the beginning of his downfall and the downfall of his administration,” Changala warned.

“Trading on lies has a cost, people of Zambia will lose trust in him, they will in a very disappointing way, he will have no leg to stand on, he will be isolated.”

But Chief Government Spokesperson Chushi Kasanda has insisted that President Hichilema is on a State visit to South Africa, and if his trip was private the nation could have been informed as that.

Kasanda who refused to go deeper which meeting President Hichilema is attending in South Africa after the backlash from that country that he was on a private meeting as guest at a private function, asked the New Dawn Reporter to contact Anthony Bwalya Presidential Spokesperson for further details.

“The President is not on a private visit, the President has gone to meet his Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa and in no circumstances is he on a private visit. Should the President be on a private visit we will be able to inform the nation.

When the reporter asked Chushi to state the meeting President Hichilema is attending in South Africa, she declined but referred all queries to Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Bwalya who could not pick calls.

“..Actually what I can advise is that you call Anthony Bwalya, he is the Presidential Spokesperson, he will give you more light to it,” said Kasanda.

By Ulande Nkomesha

VETERAN politician Vernon Mwaanga says Ministers and government officials involved in corrupt activities should be charged and removed from their positions.

And Mwaanga says there is need for African countries to move from military rule into elective systems of government.

Commenting on Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera’s decision to dissolve his cabinet after three of his now-former ministers were facing allegations of corruption, Mwaanga in an interview said erring ministers should be charged and removed from their positions if sufficient grounds were established.

“As far as I am concerned it is not a new development to dissolve cabinet when you want to make changes. It is particularly common in French speaking countries.

It is not a new phenomenon, it happens in many countries where the cabinet is dissolved or ministers are asked to resign to give the President a free hand to reorganise his cabinet. So what President Chakwera did is not something new nor dramatic. It has been happening over the years,” he said.

“Ministers and officials who are deemed to be corrupt must be removed from office and face charges because no one is above the law. If there are sufficient grounds which have been established, ministers who are deemed to be corrupt, officials who are deemed to be corrupt, whether in the civil service or the parastatal sector must be removed and made to face the law. Corruption is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.

I know that in the past ministers went to court while in office which is a very strange phenomenon. You can’t have ministers who are charged for corruption, like we saw in the previous administration, going to court, flying a government flag and being accompanied by either assistants accompanying the minister to court. That is not the way to do it. So there is need to tidy up that aspect because it creates a poor impression.”

And commenting on the recent coup d’état in Burkina Faso where the military ousted President Roch Kaboré, Mwaanga said there was need for African countries to move away from military rule into elective systems of government.

“There is zero tolerance to military coups in the African Union, in SADC, in COMESA, in ECOWAS, in IGAD, in the MAGHREB region up in the north. There is zero tolerance to military coups because there is a very well founded belief that the countries must move towards democracy of elective systems of government. For a coup to suddenly emerge in Burkina Faso, that is unacceptable.

I am sure both the United Nations, ECOWAS and African Union will condemn it and will ensure that the coup leader and the coup is brought down. There is no room for coup in Africa anymore, we have to move towards elective governments,” said Mwaanga.

“The military are there to protect the interest of the state and to ensure that the people are protected, not to begin gunning for political power, that is not acceptable. There has been some ease in Burkina Faso for sometime, they have had internal issues but those internal issues were being addressed by the political leaders, government and the opposition.

So why the military decided to intervene is not clear. I hope that this particular one will not be tolerated. ECOWAS which has removed military dictatorships before in other countries in West Africa should do the same.”

IT’S TABOO TO INVESTIGATE FORMER PRESIDENT, SAYS MOONGA … HH and Lungu should secretly discuss and resolve matters

PF central committee member Paul Moonga says President Hakainde Hichilema must simply discuss things with former president Edgar Lungu rather than carrying out any investigations against him, saying he must behave in the same manner Lungu behaved towards Rupiah Banda.

And Moonga said Socialist Party (SP) leader Fred M’membe is happy to receive the defection of Margaret Mumba from the PF “who can’t even express herself in English.”

Speaking with Daily Revelation, Moonga said he firmly supported investigations against all those who might have committed wrongs when the PF was in power, except president Lungu, as the presidency was an institution.

He said in the western world, which viewed itself as the master of the whole world, people there did not go after their former presidents. However, state institutions in the United States are currently going after their immediate former president Donald Trump over several allegations.

“It’s a taboo. The day one you are in office as president you have committed a crime already, that’s why they give them immunity by the nature of the office. So HH my dear young brother, the best thing he can do is behave like president Lungu did. He became president he never went for Rupiah Banda,” Moonga said. “Whether he stole or did not steal, Rupiah Banda, he made him a free man. The bahaviour of late president (Levy) Mwanawasa, May His Soul Rest In Peace, he divided the country where now Bembas saw that the Lenjes were now after the Bembas. That should not repeat itself. The country was divided under Mwanawasa…when we know this was a man as solicitor general he was friends with Isa Galedoo, and Kaunda fired him as Solicitor general of being a corrupt man as a lawyer but here we are, I am sorry to say he’s in the grave. Hero worshiping Mwanawasa.”

Moonga said “the world is so difficult, as such we should keep and preserve our presidents office.”

“Not ba Lungu, we are talking about office of President. I can no longer use any derogatory message against HH. He’s now a president…whether he’s wrong my language now should have respect for the institutional office he is holding, not himself as HH,” Moonga said. “He’s now President of Zambia. All of us we need to pay respect to the President of the Republic of Zambia. When he goes wrong we should call him aside, not going to papers. Why not dialogue with HH, why go in the paper? It’s foolish. It’s like you Patson you go and talk to a paper about your wife, mukazi wanga atundila pa bed. Then you are a nuisance.”

Put to him that a President was just like any other citizen, a glorified servant among all the servants with people being the real bosses, and therefore must be held accountable in whatever form, including in the newspapers, Moonga said that is where people have gone wrong, saying a way must be found of engaging the President.

“I have the number for HH, I can call him ‘Mr President I need to see you over this sort of issues’. I must engage the President of Zambia on pertinent issues to discuss. The moment always in the papers, undressing each other kutukanana we are not going anywhere,” Moonga said. “So I am saying to President HH if ba Lungu has done anything wrong… http://dailyrevelationzambia.com/its-taboo-to-investigate-former-president-says-moonga-hh-and-lungu-should-secretly-discuss-and-resolve-matters/

Patriotic Front (PF)’s Information and Publicity Chairperson Raphael Nakacinda has said that while the entire country is gripped with fear over the revelation of a storm named ANA heading towards Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema has chosen to leave the country for what he said a book launch, which many have considered as a clear show of misplaced priority on the part of State House.

In a statement released to the media, Mr. Nacinda said that when the President was in opposition, his party, the UPND used to go to the mountain tops whenever President Edgar Lungu traveled out mostly on crucial state visits.

Mr. Nakacinda said that it’s in difficult times like this, why people elect leaders and for the most part a President to stay home and provide sound leadership when people are gripped in fear and distress.

Mr. Nakacinda said that other than what he described as pointless Facebook postings meant to justify his pointless trip, the president should be on the frontline coordinating response and mobilization of contingent resources both from government and stakeholders.

Mr. Nakacinda said that, as Patriotic Front, the party sympathizes with the people and can only pray for Gods hand and favor on Zambia and the neighbouring countries so that lives and property are lost.

Meanwhile, the South African Government President released the following statement regarding the President’s visit.

MISPLACED PRIORITIES BY THE HEAD OF STATE

Lusaka, 26TH JANUARY, 2022.
While the entire country is gripped with fear over the revelation of a storm named ANA heading towards our great nation.

The fear of the devastating effects most storms leave and the trail of destruction they leave behind, most of our people are worried either for themselves and their homes, but also for our relatives who may be in the high risk areas as advised. Already 46 people are reported dead.

Amidst all this, our Head of State has chosen to leave the country, and for what a BOOK LAUNCH, which many have considered as a clear show of misplaced priority on the part of State House.

When they were in the opposition then they used to go to the mountain tops whenever President Edgar Lungu travelled out mostly on crucial state visits.

Its in difficult times like this, why a people elect leaders and for the most part a PRESIDENT to stay home and provide sound leadership when people are gripped in fear and distress. To be on the Frontline on coordinated response and mobilization of contingent resource both from govt and stakeholders.

Other than these pointless Facebook postings meant to justify his pointless trip.

As Patriotic Front, as we sympathize with our people we can only pray for Gods hand and favor on our country and our neighbouring countries so that we should not lose lives and property.

For God To protect our people, and that this new govt may direct their energies especially state resources to much more serious trips and activities that benefit Gods people.

Issued By;
HON. RAPHAEL NAKACINDA, MCC
INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY CHAIRMAN

By Fred M’membe

The Brenthurst Foundation is a Johannesburg-based organisation established by the Oppenheimer family, the founders of Anglo American Plc, in 2004. Anglo-American was a central pillar of apartheid. The company grew rich buying the holdings of foreign multinationals that were reducing their exposure in apartheid South Africa.

According to Anglo’s chairman, Gavin W. H. Relly, the company was playing a “stabilizing” role in the wake of multinational corporate disinvestment. Anglo-American’s character is a reflection of the designs of South Africa’s Oppenheimer family. Sir Ernest Oppenheimer took over the mining enterprise from late 19th century English mining magnate Cecil John Rhodes. He built a diversified company out of initial investments in diamonds and other gems, which he passed on to his son, Harry Frederick Oppenheimer. When Anglo-American was set up in 1917, half of the initial capital supplied came from United States investors, with the condition that Oppenheimer’s first choice for the company’s moniker, “African-American,” be changed to Anglo-American, because “African-American would suggest on this side our dark-skinned fellow countrymen and possibly result in ridicule,” a cable from the U.S. investors stated. The company in 1929 bought De Beers from successors of Cecil Rhodes.

Through Anglo, the Oppenheimers came to own shares in most of South Africa’s mining houses. In fact, the houses had cross-holdings with each other, making the block of capital quite formidable. But the extent of Oppenheimer wealth and power did not stop there. They were owners of the nation’s largest steel works, travel agency, brick factory, discount house, auto dealership and computer software firm. The Oppenheimers were not afraid to employ their power to get what they wanted. On the issue of apartheid they had ostensibly taken a reformist position and had crafted an image for themselves as defenders of the rights of black workers by supporting abolition of the pass laws and the Group Areas Act, the cornerstones of the apartheid political structure.

But on questions of economic justice, such as the price of black labour, sharp contradictions emerged. Anglo-American had an anti-labour history that involved the use of the repressive services of the apartheid security apparatus, as well as its own security personnel, to control and exploit workers. Being the world’s largest private employer of black labour and the world’s largest producer of gold and diamonds meant Anglo was also one of the world’s biggest exploiters of cheap black mine labour.

Nonetheless, the company clearly had a very big financial stake in the economic realities of apartheid.

As one U.S. magazine noted, Anglo’s “entire structure rests on cheap labour and apartheid’s migrant labour system. Like the other South African mining concerns, it paid wages that were among the world’s lowest and its black employees earned a quarter of what whites were paid. And while white miners were given heavily subsidised modern homes, utilities and schools, blacks were crowded into stark compounds that resembled prison camps.”

Anglo-American was viewed as the “flip side of the same coin,” one of the many wheels that greased the apartheid machinery through tax payments and growing productive industrial, mining and financial power. “The firm’s long record of backing apartheid laws that suited its purposes but remaining silent about those that did not and repeatedly bludgeoning unionists into submission” as one news account put it, made Anglo-American’s reformist posture seem ever more specious.

While Anglo had not always rubbed apartheid officialdom the right way, both the company and the white-minority regime were aware that they were on common ground in preventing a change of state power to a black majority committed to reducing the gap between the few wealthy, and always white, property owners and the majority of workers who have nothing.

Briefly, these are the friends, sponsors of our rulers.

By Mwaka Ndawa
THE State has clarified that the DEC did not summon former PF secretary general Davies Mwila and media director Antonio Mwanza to explain about the party’s source of campaign funds, but for interrogation on allegations of money laundering.
The Commission says the two were interrogated in their personal capacity, and not as PF members.
The office of the Attorney General explained that the PF as an institution was not under any ongoing investigations and that neither have officers of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) coerced party members to disclose the source of funding for campaign activities.

In this matter, Mwila has sued the State in the Lusaka High Court over the DEC’s decision to quiz him and Mwanza regarding the party’s source of funds during campaigns prior to the August 12, 2021 General Election.
Mwila who has commenced the action on behalf of the party wants damages for intimidation and harassment of PF members by the 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.

In his statement of claim, Mwila said the party was not an institution regulated by the DEC’s supervisory authority.
He said sometime in September last year, officers from DEC anti-money laundering unit summoned him and questioned him about the source of funds for last month’s elections and the officers linked the same to money laundering.
He said then PF media director Mwanza was equally summoned by Teddy Mambepa and was quizzed about the same.
Mwila stated that DEC had continued to exert pressure on the party’s junior officers to disclose the source of funds under the anti-money laundering unit.

He said the Commission had continued to threaten the existence of the PF, including its members with prosecution if they do not disclose the source of campaign funds.

“Out of the 16 political parties which participated in the 2021 general elections, only the PF has been singled out and targeted by DEC and the discriminatory attack on the party has instilled fear in the minds of its members,” Mwila submitted.
“The DEC has not interrogated other political parties which participated in the 2016 general elections on the source of campaign funds, and up to date known political parties in Zambia have not been interrogated by the Commission.”
But in its defence, the State said the Commission has the authority to investigate any individual or institution on allegations of money laundering and drug related issues, including members of the PF and those affiliated to the party.
It said the DEC had never threatened the existence of the PF and its members with prosecution for failure to disclose their source of funds for campaign activities.

“The Commission is merely exercising its statutory authority and conducting investigations on allegations of money laundering, which prompted the summoning of Mwanza,” the State said.
“Antonio Mwanza volunteered to go to the Commission offices in the presence of the media, and he informed the media that the Commission was questioning him about the source of campaign funds used in the general elections, when in fact he was being questioned in regards to alleged money laundering.”

The State said when the DEC public relations officer was questioned by the media, he gave the true position about the matter.
“The defendant is mandated under the Prohibition and Prevention of money laundering Act no.14 of 2001 to probe into money laundering and related issues and may legally summon any person it reasonably believes may have information relating to allegations of the same to give relevant information,” the State said further.

“The Commission has authority under the Act to prosecute any person that divulges, refuses and withholds information relating to a matter that is under investigation and the plaintiff has flouted the law by publishing, refusing and withholding information relating to the ongoing money laundering investigations.”

It said the matter was a ploy by the PF and its members to circumvent the DEC’s criminal investigation and possible criminal prosecution through civil proceedings, and should not be entertained by the court.

“The plaintiff is merely attempting to derail ongoing criminal investigations in which some PF members are implicated. This matter is frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of court process,” said the State.

After an interrogation at the DEC last year, Mwanza told Hot FM during a breakfast show that the commission had asked him to disclose the source of campaign funds.