PF CADRES THREATEN TO BEAT, EXPOSE LEADERS PROPERTIES … if they go ahead to suspend Charity Banda
PF cadres have threatened to beat and expose the properties owned by PF leaders should the party fail to immediately call for a convention, and should they go ahead to suspend Lusaka provincial chairlady Charity Banda.
In several audios posted in several PF WhatsApp blogs, and listened to by Daily Revelation, the cadres let rip on former president Edgar Lungu, who during the elections said the cadres were part of his office, but seem to have turned on him now after he lost the elections, and amid frustration that he and the other leaders are trying to hold on to the presidency.
One of the bloggers posted: “Ba mudala ba Chilangwa, kamudala ka Chilangwa, kambuya ka Chilangwa. Don’t forget that in 2015, Guy Scott gave you chitenges and you burnt them. That is arson. We shall just tell Lemmy Kajoba that here is another one. Elo ba mudala nakwendo, mungachuche ku jele imwe. Elo ningamvele mushe maningi kuti namvela kuti bamigwilani muli pa Central. Ndaba ningafune kuchaya muntu kuti nibwele nimichayeni bwino kwamene uko ku ma cell naka kwendo ako. Very stupid (And you can suffer with that leg in jail. And I would deliberately beat up someone to that I can be arrested along to beat you on that same leg).”
Another warned Raphael Nakachinda not to destroy PF in the same manner he destroyed MMD, saying instead of speaking over PF matters, he should instead go back and re-awaken the MMD.
“Ifwe we respect Chishimba Kambwili he’s the only one who can tell us about PF. Tukakusompola icho chine chi binoculars (We shall forcefully get that binoculars from you if you continue daring us). You know your mistakes that Lungu wasn’t needed on the ground. And what did you find in that same postmortem?” the cadre asked, adding that PF was destroyed under Lungu because he did not have the interest to protect the party, when he brought in the ‘mwankoles’.
“Efilya batila ati umulembwe wachipuba upwila muli tumfwe. Muli tumfwe, tumfwe, tumfwe emulembwe wachipuba (That’s why they say that one’s foolishness is exposed through testing).That’s why UPND naikana ukusenda ifipuba, fikae onaula UPND (That’s why UPND has refused to get fools, so that they don’t destroy that party).”
Another blogger who was posting from South Africa, and started his posting by saying “PF South Africa/Zambia good morning”, wondered why leaders did not want to hear the truth over plans to suspend Banda.
“We are not going to allow Edgar Lungu to put the party as if yakwe or yabana bakwe … and those of you planning to suspend Charity Katongo Banda, the mother of Lusaka Province PF, mwalaloba ilyauma pantu twalamyuma. Nichani imwe muli so kanshi ba imbwa imwe (we shall not allow you to suspend Banda. Otherwise we shall beat you up. Why are you like this you dogs)? Try to write your letter and you will see how we will rise. Atase muletutinya imwe…ba idiot,” said the blogger.
Another one posted that the one intending to suspend Banda should first suspend his wife, by stopping to sleep with her in his bedroom, saying no suspension of Banda will be entertained.
Another one attacked the women leaders who are said to be in the anti-Kambwili group.
UPND deputy secretary general Patrick Mucheleka says some PF members must not push their luck too far, stating that certain crimes they committed whilst in power might be revisited.
In an interview, Mucheleka said he would ask vice president Mutale Nalumngo to reopen a case against PF acting secretary general Nickson Chilangwa who insulted and slapped her during a by-election in Kawambwa.
He said the PF could not reform with people who destroyed the former ruling party still in leadership.
“Let Chilangwa try to find something else to talk about. Is he trying to be relevant now that he is secretary general for the PF? He has succeeded his brother from Luapula, now it is Luapula united, united in defeat. I can imagine what would have been said if it was UPND.
They must rebrand with the right people. How can you rebrand with the people that took the party down and are responsible for all the things that went wrong. They are refusing to change their mindset. They cannot rebrand with people who surrounded Edgar Lungu and misled him.
It is not possible because PF is beyond reform because of people like Chilangwa, Kampyongo and Mundubile, they are all the same,” he said.
“Chilangwa was the one slapping our vice president in Kawambwa when there was a by-election, he thinks we have forgotten? If we want we can reopen. In fact we will ask the Vice-President Mutale Nalumango to follow up on that case in Kawambwa.
We can do that. He was insulting the vice president who is as old as Chilangwa’s mother. He was insulting and slapping her in the presence of the police in Kawambwa. We have not forgotten because there are a lot of things that they did.
You know what Kampyongo did to me, he thinks I have forgotten? Certain things we may even forgive but we have not forgotten. They must not try to push their luck too far. Advise them and let them not push their luck too far.”
Mucheleka said anyone who committed an offence has to face the full wrath of the law.
“There are prominent people in the UPND who were arrested for offences they never committed. President Hakainde Hichilema was arrested 15 times during the reign of PF. He was arrested for a trumped up charge of treason.
He was detained and incarcerated for 127 days until they realised it was just a witch-hunt and entered a nolle prosequi. I am one of the victims myself, I was incarcerated for weeks on end for an offence I never committed until out of shame they entered a nolle-prosequi.
We subjected ourselves to being arrested until the process of law took its course. So even Davies Chama if at all he committed that offence, let the law take its course,” he said.
“Chilangwa should be the last person to talk like that because they once celebrated the arrest of President Hakainde Hichilema. So anyone who commits an offence has to face the full wrath of the law.
If he never committed that offence, he should not worry because he will be proved otherwise by the court. In line with the rule of law, he is being given an opportunity to explain himself. So tell Chilangwa to talk about other things.”
Mucheleka said only justice would bring closure to most of the cases.
“All Zambians are prominent people. When that crime was committed in Sesheke, it has taken six years. How is Mushaukwa Mushaukwa going to get justice? Even those that died at the hands of the PF and their sponsored criminals, their families want justice.
Justice must be able to bring closure to most of these cases. No matter how powerful you may claim to be, at the end of the day, the long arm of the law will get you. Those who were killed even in their graves should be able to get justice,” he said.
“How are you going to move forward as a country if you allow the so-called prominent politically exposed persons to get away with crimes? We are equal before the law. Go and tell Chilangwa that the law is blind and it does not know who is prominent.
At the end of the day, that is why we aspire to ensure that the rule of law takes over in our country. If there is anyone who used their positions in the PF to kill people and engage in illegalities such as corruption, the long arm of the law will get to them regardless of who they were.”
Mucheleka said a lot of things went wrong, stating that justice needed to prevail no matter how long it takes.
“When you own a gun, does it mean you must be killing people? You own a gun if perhaps you want to act in self defence. These are the people who were chasing after a vehicle that was carrying our people in Mulobezi.
One of the accused even ended up being sent to serve in the Foreign Service yet that person was under criminal investigations. Who cleared that person that he even went to Ethiopia? The one fellow named Nyoni. A lot of things went wrong and we must be able to get justice no matter how long it takes.
So no one must cry because that is what we want. The rule of law must take center stage in this country because only then shall we have a sober and stable society,” Mucheleka said.- Newsdiggers
WHILE the political polarisation of the country in the past few years has been well documented, there was a stark admission yesterday by the Zambia Army commander that this also extended to the military.
Zambia Army Commander Dennis Alibuzwi says with the recent past where the men and women in uniform were deeply divided politically, the top brass wants to realign the thinking of the troops to the new environment.
We are speaking to our troops both in town and in the outskirts in order to change their mind-sets having placed the new dawn government to take care of national affairs,” Lieutenant General Alibuzwi said when he paid a courtesy call on North-Western Province Acting Permanent Secretary Beatrice Muyambango at his office in Solwezi yesterday.“
This is important because we want to bring about the new direction in which the military should conduct itself in line with the pronouncements of the President [Hakainde Hichilema].
“We cannot afford to have officers divided on political lines and that is why we are here to give correct direction to our troops so that they can have an understanding that ours is a noble career.”
Gen Alibuzwi, who took over as Army Commander when President Hichilema announced appointments for top military and police positions as part of the re-organisation process since taking office after winning the general election, said the military has to always be loyal to the government of the day.
“The military serves the government of the day whether there is a change of government or whether someone has got special affiliations to one or two political parties,” he said.“We put preservation of the sovereignty of this nation as a prime task that requires no negotiations and, therefore, we want to heal the past divisions that have been noticed in the army where we almost got divided on political lines.”
Gen Alibuzwi said Zambia Army has a clear mandate to protect the President, constitution and citizens and it is one duty it will execute diligently.While Gen Alibuzwi has offered a stark admission, there was previously a hint of the political divisions in the military from his predecessor.
In his last interview as Army Commander, Lieutenant General William Sikazwe said he was going out a sad man because of the deep political inclinations among military personnel.“It’s just the issue of political inclination I’m worried about,” he said.
“I tried to talk to my officers and soldiers that we remain non-partisan but just support the government of the day. I tried but I have seen that we still have people with political inclinations and this is what makes me sad.“This is the trend I have seen and it’s a bad trend.
It is a bad seed that has been sown. I go out as a sad person, especially this election, it has taught me a lot of things. We need to change.”And Gen Alibuzwi said Government has embarked on the construction of permanent structures in all its operation areas to ensure that the troops deployed there live comfortably while executing their duties.
He said it is disheartening that since Independence, soldiers deployed to various operation areas have been conducting their operations while living in tents.
“With the recent past commander, we looked at the aspect of building permanent structures in the operation areas because wherever we are operating from, there is no single chief who is ready to release us because everyone feels safe with our presence and, therefore, we have to find means of making the stay of our troops comfortable,” he said.
Gen Alibuzwi is on a five-day tour of North-Western Province to check on the troops.
He is also expected to commission permanent structures built for the army in Mwinilunga and Zambezi.
Ms Muyambango praised Zambia Army for being professional and helping to preserve the country’s peace.
“We applaud your patriotism and we speak with a lot of pride of your commitment to duty,” she said.
MINISTRY of Justice permanent secretary Andrew Nkunika and his wife Towani Chipeta are demanding K10 million from the Patriotic Front for intruding in their marriage.
The couple has sued former party secretary general Davies Mwila as the respondent in the Lusaka High Court, seeking damages for defamation over a Facebook post published by one of the pages associated to it, questioning Nkunika’s affection for his wife.
The plaintiffs want an order of injunction restraining the PF or whosoever may be acting on its behalf, from making defamatory sentiments about them.
In their statement of claim, Nkunika and his wife said on October 21, 2021, the PF falsely and maliciously published defamatory statements on its Facebook page by way of innuendo, saying: “love or guilty- ministry of justice permanent secretary Andrew Nkunika has continued to post ridiculous love posts dedicated to his new wife on Facebook……love or nichani?”
The plaintiffs contend that the defamatory statement was published on Facebook by the PF for its followers on electronic media platform and at the time the page was followed by 161,129 people.
The duo said the words in their natural and ordinary meaning were intended to mean that they were guilty of wrong doing. They added that the words were also understood to mean that Nkunika’s level of thinking was shallow.
Nkunika and his wife who contested the Chasefu parliamentary seat in the August 12, 2021 elections as an independent candidate said the statement was made in a sensational manner.
“The Patriotic Front knew or ought to have known that the allegations that Nkunika’s writing to his wife were ridiculous is irrational, was untrue,” the couple said. “The PF knew or ought to have known that the plaintiffs were not guilty of any wrongdoing.” The couple submitted that they have been seriously injured in their reputation, and esteem has been lowered by such sentiments and brought into ridicule and public scandal by the statement.
Nkunika and Towani further said unless restrained by the court, the PF will continue making defamatory statements about them. The plaintiffs are further seeking costs at the current bank lending rate and any other relief that the court may deem fit.
FORMER home affairs minister Stephen Kampyongo says detained PF deputy national chairman Davies Chama is in strong spirits and ready to appear in court.
Addressing journalists at Lusaka’s Woodlands Police Station after visiting Chama who is in detention for attempted murder, Kampyongo said the development should not discourage PF supporters.
“We are concerned but we remain positive that these are matters that will come to pass. We are all not above the law and we are ready to face justice if there is something that the people of Zambia think we did wrong,” Kampyongo told reporters that had camped outside Woodlands Police Station. “And just to encourage our members that, yes, the acting chairperson honourable Davies Chama is in strong spirits. And we are happy to see him in such spirits. And we are encouraged that he’s looking forward to his day in court. But to you our members, remain steadfast and strong.”
Kampyongo together with PF deputy secretary general Nickson Chilangwa and leader of the opposition in the House Brian Mundubile had gone to Woodlands to visit detained Chama.
Chama is immediate past defence minister.
Yesterday police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed the detention.
“Police have apprehended and detained Mr Davies Chama aged 57 of New Kasama, former defence minister in the Patriotic Front government and Brain Dumisani Nyoni aged 47 of Matero compound Lusaka, a former diplomatic staff at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia for an alleged offence of attempted murder contrary to section 215 subsection(a) of CAP 87 of the laws of Zambia,” said Hamoonga. “It is alleged that the two persons on the 6th June, 2015 in Sichili of Mulobezi district of Republic of Zambia jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown did attempt to unlawfully cause the death of Mushaukwa Mushaukwa aged 47 of Shesheke. The two are currently in police custody.”
The duo has since been transferred to Sesheke.
Kampyongo said in a democracy such things were expected.
He however, vowed that the PF would not be trodden upon by anyone, further declaring that the party had enough members of parliament.
“This is a democracy that we have chosen for ourselves. We came from the opposition ourselves to form government and we are back in the opposition. So this is the democracy that we have chosen for ourselves,” Kampyongo said. “But we are not going to accept to be trodden upon and make us scared and get to abdicate our duties. We are privileged that even as much as we are out of government, we have got the right number of people’s representatives; in this case the MPs.”
Kampyongo warned that no one should abuse State power to disadvantage others.
He claimed that during his tenure he was aware of such temptation, which he avoided.
“…but, like my friend said, we are not going to be broken. We also lent that service to the State and keeping the nation safe. And we made sure that lawbreakers were dealt with through the same institutions; they are not personal, these are State institutions,” Kampyongo said. “And no one should attempt to think that when they have got an opportunity to serve the people they own [them]. I always spoke when I was minister of home affairs that it’s not possible to micromanage State institutions. I never did. And I don’t think the current Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security [Jack Mwiimbu] should. The portfolio functions are so many at the ministry.”
Kampyongo further said no one should create an impression that PF abused the police.
“But my emphasis is that we should not create an impression that there was a time when police couldn’t touch certain citizens, not even me as then minister of home affairs was above the law,” said Kampyongo. “If there was anything that was wrong, I should have been visited by the law even as I was sitting in the Ministry of Home Affairs. So, we are yet to see. But we can only encourage the Inspector General of Police [Lemmy Kajoba], we have got every belief that he will be professional and make sure that men and women in uniform under his charge equally conduct themselves professionally.”
Meanwhile, Chilangwa accused the government of forming a pattern just to arrest the former ruling party members.
“For us as Patriotic Front, we are very, very hopeful that the current happenings, the current arrests of our members – prominent members which has formed a certain pattern must be stopped. This pattern is not healthy, this pattern of doing things is not right because during campaigns or before that, are we telling the world and this country that it was only us in the Patriotic Front who were breaking the law?” he asked. “Is that possible that it was only Patriotic Front who were on the offensive? Really? Is that what President Hakainde [Hichilema] and Jack Mwiimbu are telling us? Is this vengeance, is this retribution? It’s not up to me to judge. The Zambians will judge for themselves where this will lead us.”
He also wondered if it was now a crime to own a gun for self-defence.
“I was telling colleagues yesterday I said, ‘I think it’s not worth it to own a gun anymore because we go out there and buy a gun and use it for protection when you are under siege,” Chilangwa said. “But it looks like immediately tables turn in terms of governance, that becomes a crime. Self-protection now becomes a crime. So, there are so many things we are yet to learn from the UPND government and how they want to run the affairs of this country.”
He accused the government of diverting people’s attention from what they had promised when they were in opposition.
Chilangwa described the current arrests as nonsense that will not cow PF members.
“But I just want to assure our people that as PF we shall remain steadfast. We shall remain focused. Our eyes remain on the ball because of one simple reason. The UPND promised the people of Zambia that they’ll change their lives. Mulekutika (are you listening)? 10:00 hours I’m voted into office, 14:00 hours things are happening. 10:00 hours I’m voted into the office, this is happening. Tulekutika (we’re listening) and we are still waiting, ukukutika (listening),” said Chilangwa. “And if you think by doing all these arrests and harassing us and all sorts of nonsense that you are going to silence us, I think you’ve got something coming. So, for me my message to UPND is that keep doing all that kind of nonsense that you have now focused on instead of delivering to the people of Zambia and you think you are fixing us, you’re fixing yourselves. What goes around comes around. That’s my message. Immediately you stepped a foot into State House, the next foot you’re going to step is to go out of State House. It happens. So, watch the space colleagues. We’re not daunted whatsoever. We’re not going to be cowed. We shall remain steadfast and we shall remain focused. We shall offer proper checks and balances to the UPND Alliance government.”
WHY THE AGITATION OVER THE CALLS TO LIFT ECL’S IMMUNITY: ONLY PRESIDENT HH CAN PRESERVE LUNGU’S ALLEGED OFFENCES WHILE IN STATE HOUSE.
Some people have taken it personally and emotionally in the defence of former president EDGAR CHAGWA Lungu immunity not be lifted.
Others have assumed political vindictiveness, malice, politically sponsored and persecution as the drive for the calls to lift his immunity.
But why should a former head of state’s immunity be lifted and how should a president conduct himself during his/her tenure of office to avoid such calls on leaving office?
Art 92 guides those who assume the office of President how to conduct themselves thus;
The president SHALL perform, with dignity, leadership and integrity, the acts that are necessary and expedient for, or reasonably incidental to the exercise of the executive authority
The lifting of former president’s immunity is provided for in the law (Art 98(5) just like the immunity itself enjoyed by a former president on assumption of office, before and after office is provided in Art 98(1-4)
With suspicions awash in Zambia that our former President might not have fulfilled the provisions of Art 92 above, Article 98(5) is summoned to the fore of this immunity debate help guide the debate and avoid its politicisation.
With petitions already flying around and airwaves polluted with calls to lift the former president’s immunity, Art 98(5) guides that
where there is prima facie evidence that a former president committed an offence whilst in office, the incumbent president has a constitutional duty to submit a report to the National Assembly.
Note that a prima facie evidence is soley established not by the courts but the incumbent president who comes into possession evidence of alleged offences.
The presidential report to the National Assembly must outline the grounds relating to the offence allegedly committed by his predecessor, warrantly the removal of the immunity from criminal proceedings.
Once the National Assembly is in receipt of the Presidential report, a Select Committee is constituted to scrutinise the alleged grounds in the Presidential report to determine a prima facie case or not.
The former president has the right to appear, be represented and be heard before the Select Committee so constituted and the committee recommends its decision to the National Assembly.
The former President has this window at select committee stage to cleanse himself before even allowing the National Assembly to vote for the lifting of his immunity.
The vote in the National Assembly to lift his immunity will demand for a 2/3 resolution support from the Members of Parliament (Art 98(😎 and, if garnered, the former president shall stand charged with the offence for which the immunity from criminal proceedings was removed. (Art 98(9)
If acquitted by the courts, the immunity of that person shall, for all purposes, be deemed not to have been removed, without further proceedings (Art 98(10).
Therefore, for people to not to know what former president, EDGAR CHAGWA Lungu did while in office is at the mercy of his successor, President HH who may or may not submit a report of his offences to the National Assembly
However, former president EDGAR CHAGWA Lungu’s preservation of his immunity is at the mercy of the NationalAssembly which may block its lifting after a prima facie case has been established and not AGITATION, emotions and shouts from cadres.
A witness has testified in the Luanshya Magistrate court on how Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo allegedly hacked him on the forehead and on his head, three times using a machete.
Stanley Musukwa, 58, of 3947/27 Mpatamato Township told the court that as a result of the injury he has since lost sight in the left eye.
This is in the case in which Lusambo is charged with two counts of unlawful wounding and assault occasioning bodily harm contrary to Section 248 Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Lusambo is alleged to have assaulted two members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party Stanley Musukwa and Mary Musonda respectively on April 11, 2019.
Musukwa informed the court that, at the time he was NDC Vice Chairperson of administration and was in the company of six others, returning from delivering food to his party agents in Roan constituency on April 11, 2019 by-election when he met his fate around 04:00 hours in Section 27.
He explained that his team was aboard a Toyota Hilux when they found a Toyota Corolla, a blue big car and a canter blocking the road.
Musukwa said the driver of his car started hooting for the cars to clear the way when six people including the accused person approached the car he was in.
He told the court that Lusambo got into an argument with one of the occupants of the car Obedi Chompo when he jumped out of the van to see what was going on.
The witnesses allegedly stated that it was then that two people held him and started beating him using fists and kicks when Lusambo approached with a machete and struck him on the head twice and once on the forehead affecting his left eye.
Musukwa told the court that he sustained two deep cuts on the head on deep cut on the forehead and a dislocated pupil which were recorded in the medical report form which he submitted as evidence in courts.
He further indicated that as a result of the beating he was admitted to the hospital twice and underwent surgery on the head
The matter has come up for a trial and seven witnesses are scheduled to testify as at 12:20 hours only one witness had taken the stand.
EVERY TRIBE HAS WITCHES, THIEVES…no one should use it to hide their wrongs – Nalumango
By Ernest Chanda
VICE-PRESIDENT Mutale Nalumango says there are witches and thieves in every tribe. This was after Mitete UPND member of parliament Misheck Mutelo asked her to counsel the nation on the dangers of tribalism.
“Your Honour the Vice-President, we need to heal as a nation. There’s too much tribal remarks going on in Zambia. What could be your counsel to Zambia, for we are one?” asked Mutelo during the Vice-President’s Question Time in parliament yesterday.
In response, Vice-President Nalumango acknowledged that indeed “we are truly one; we are One Zambia One Nation”. “The last thing you want to hear is to hear tribal thinking, particularly from leaders. We should never be remembered as people that divided our nation on tribal lines. We have an opportunity by being members of parliament today that we can work together to ensure that we unite,” she said. “As UPND in our manifesto and UPND in government [our view] is that it is important, imperative that we unite; we once again feel the oneness. No tribe can be condemned because in every tribe there are witches, in every tribe there are thieves. In every tribe there are everything you can think of. So, there’s no tribe which can be described as bad. Let us accept one another; we are One Zambia One Nation.’’ She said it was sad that the nation had been left to think on tribal lines for too long. Vice-President Nalumango said no one should use tribe to hide their wrongs.
“There is no way people should start thinking tribal and talk tribal. We have left ourselves to think tribal for too long. Let us once more see each other in the eyes of being a Zambian created by God, put on the earth through this nation of Zambia,” she added. “Always what happens [is that] you want to appeal to tribal sentiments. This government sees us as one. You’re using the tribe to hide your own wrongs! Zambians are very much awake and they observe and they know.” Vice-President Nalumango warned her colleagues in government against peddling tribalism, adding that UPND risked being voted out.
“If we choose to go the wrong way, they (Zambians) will not stand with us. We are in government today, let us do the right thing. When you do wrong things they will follow you, even your village-mates will turn against you because you are the one who is wrong, not the tribe. There is no tribe which does wrong, we are all Zambians,” Vice-President Nalumango emphasised.
And as a follow-up, Zambezi East UPND member of parliament Brian Kambita wondered why government was taking long to remove PF cadres from State institutions such as Zesco.
“Your Honour the Vice-President, the PF manifesto is very clear. It states clearly that in senior positions in parastatals and government institutions they will put their members. Therefore, the same management whom we feel could be sabotaging Zesco are PF cadres,” said Kambita. “Why is our government so slow to remove these PF cadres? As we speak, the same managing director at Zesco [Victor Mundende] is still the one in charge. How do you expect load shedding to come to an end if we still keep these PF cadres in these important offices; including many other government offices, including the directors? Why are we not removing PF cadres from senior positions?”
In response, Vice-President Nalumango said the government would act at the right time. “…yes, the concern is out there that there are many chief executives and other senior members in government that could be, as he said, coming from the constitution of the Patriotic Front where it’s clearly stated that to hold certain positions you have to be an uncompromising member of the Patriotic Front; that is in there,” she said. “And therefore, people may have been put there professionally, but that statement simply removes all the confidence in these officials that are running institutions of government because of what is there. So, we are looking at this. Not just to wake up and say everybody go! No, we will not do that. We hear the concerns of the Zambians. At the right time, Madam Speaker, because we want to do everything professionally, they will surely go. I think we did state here, politically appointed, politically removed. So, even when you are sitting in any position you know that you are there because… So, truly Zambians are concerned because it is important that in strategic positions, people are put there that understand the vision; that are not fighting the vision of the government of the day because of the bias towards, may be, a party that may not be in office. So, we will do it.” On the slowness to clean up the public offices, Vice-President Nalumango defended the government.
“On the fact that we are slow, they may have been appointed because of the clause in their own constitution of the previous regime. But for us we want to do everything according to the legal provisions of our own national statutes,” she said. “We don’t want to remove people anyhow. We have to look at what they are doing. We have to look at their contracts, we have to look at their capability and the capacity to adapt.”
And Vice-President Nalumango said it was the responsibility of the Minister of Energy, Peter Kapala to appoint a new board at Zesco which should in-turn hire new management. “He has referred, Madam Speaker, to the issue of Zesco. The appointment of Zesco is not up to the President. Appointing of the Zesco management or director is not done by the President. It is done by the board,” Vice-President Nalumango explained. “And therefore, the responsibility of the Minister is to have the board in place. And we have not been running to just put there, fill these boards with cadres, we want professional work. And therefore, [once] Zesco has had the board appointed, so if there is need to remove the current MD it shall be done and be done properly. That goes for every other official, senior official sitting in government office, they’ll be removed properly; lawfully. We are not going to be lawbreakers.”
She said the government expected public workers to serve the people instead of their political interests. “But surely, we expect people still in offices to function for Zambia and not to act like saboteurs. Because if you do something wrong, you are not doing that wrong thing against President Hakainde [Hichilema]. You are doing something wrong against the Zambian people. So, as long as you remain there, before you are removed if you are to be remove, do the work properly,” Vice-President Nalumago advised.
Earlier, Mporokoso PF member of parliament Brian Mundubile asked why there was load shedding in the nation despite massive investment PF had put in the energy sector.
“Your Honour, the Vice-President, the power supply in the recent past has been very stable owing to the huge investment that the PF government put in the energy sector to ensure that there was sustainable energy supply. This is a fact that even the current Minister of Energy attested to, that there has been indeed huge investment in the sector,” said Mundubile. “Now, Madam Vice-President, we have seen long hours of load shedding in the recent past, something that has disturbed our small and medium enterprises that depend on electricity. My question to your, Your Honour the Vice-President [is], what is your government doing to resolve this problem?”
In response, Vice-President Nalumango said the matter was indeed of national concern. “He premises his question on what he says as heavy investment having been put in place. And that being the case, Madam Speaker, all of us must be concerned as to what is happening. If there is so much investment and assurance that there is enough power being generated, that should be some issue of concern,” said Vice-President Nalumango. “And as a government we are following up, this is a management issue. What we have been told is that we have some upgrading and servicing of some generating machines. That includes Kafue Hydro, that includes Maamba Collieries, and I think in Ndola. I don’t know how that kind…should go on. We are concerned and we intend, Madam Speaker, to have a ministerial statement given so that all the detail is brought out.” S
PF CENTRAL COMMITTEE HAS PUT THEIR PARTY ON DEATH BED
The Candidates’ Comment
Over the weekend, the Patriotic Front (PF) highest organ the Central Committee met at Ndozo lodge in Lusaka to deliberate about the future of the their party. The meeting was chaired by PF President Edgar Lungu and among the resolutions they made was that they will hold a general conference in June 2022. Of course this is retrogressive in all senses one looks at it.
When you look at the challenges that PF faces today, leadership crisis is prominent. The members of the PF countrywide are living like step-children who have an ‘acting’ father in the name of Edgar who is limited in what he can offer them. And since Edgar is limited, he has all these relatives of his whom he has bestowed the responsibility to take care of the children he himself should be looking after.
It is not a secret that many PF members are in disarray. Some are in self-imposed exile while others are in detention over this and that politically motivated charge and vengeance. Some are losing property and dignity at the hands of cold-hearted cadres of the United Party for National Development (UPND). Those relatives of Edgar whom he has bestowed the responsibility to look after the party are not seeing the suffering of the general membership of the party. Since these people are getting funded to represent Edgar, they are comfortable. They are driving all sorts of expensive vehicles and live large. They are blind and can’t see the suffering of the general membership of the party which is desperately looking for a father figure who is going to speak for, and protect them from the ongoing vengeance and retribution of the UPND cadres.
The truth is that, the decision to hold the general conference in June next year for a party that lost power few months ago and is suffering from leadership crisis, is nonsense. But we are not surprised that this decision was made by the PF Central Committee. These are elements that cost their party an election in the first place. The same arrogance and dullness they are exhibiting today is the one they exhibited while they were in power- and they lost power for that matter. We all know that the reason why they resolved that they would choose their leader next year is not because they have no money. PF has all the money they need to hold the conference. This is a party that spent over K100 million to run campaign adverts in the previous election. Where did they get that money if they claim they do not have the money to hold a simple conference to elect a new leader today? If they cannot explain where they got the K100 million while in power, and why they suddenly have no money to hold a general conference, then, we must not fail to agree with President Hakainde Hichilema that PF is an organization of thieves who printed money illegally and stole from public coffers.
We would like to place a big blame of Edgar himself. Edgar is a lawyer and not a dull lawyer. He is intelligent. Why has he allowed hyenas and jackals of all sorts to destroy the party that Michael Sata labored so hard for to create and grow? We do not believe that Edgar cannot find personal wisdom to realize that the hyenas that are misleading him are doing so for their personal benefits and not for the benefit of their party. They are after Edgar’s personal money. The same way they helped Edgar lose power is the same way they are today doing all the stupid things that will kill the PF.
As things stand, PF has been placed on its death bed. There are few hyenas in PF who are going to Edgar to get money for this and that all in the name of being leaders of this and that. It is that small clique of jackals, hyenas who have decided and influenced all others to believe and agree that they should hold a general conference next year. What happens between now and then? Where will the general membership go? Who will speak for them? Who will represent them? Should the general membership of the PF go to Edgar to seek help when faced with this and that challenge? The truth is that decision of the PF Central committee is stupid, foolish and shows how ignorant and arrogant the elements of that organization are.
PRESIDENT HH ARRIVES IN DURBAN FOR THE INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE FAIR
Republican President Hakainde Hichilema writes below…
We have landed safely at King Shaka International Airport in Durban, South Africa for the 2021 Intra-African Trade Fair as part of economic diplomacy agenda.
We place high value on economic diplomacy because we appreciate the importance of international linkages.
This year’s theme here at the trade fair is focusing on the newly-launched African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – a single market for goods and services across 55 countries, aimed at boosting trade and investment.
While at this trade and investment indaba, we will join other Head of States in addressing pertinent issues that border on easing business on the continent and beyond.
Our mission is to make a case of Zambia as an investment destination in our role as Chief Marketing Officer. The investment we are looking for will be that which is willing to partner with Zambians on a joint venture basis.
Intra-African Trade Fair is platform for business to business and business to Government discussions.
God bless Zambia.
Hakainde Hichilema President of the Republic of Zambia
President Hakainde Hichilema with former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo and South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa in Durban, South Africa, for the 2021 Intra Africa Trade Fair.
ALL ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE APPOINTED TO POSITION OF DCs.
There are debates that those who contested elections In the previous general election are ineligible to be appointed to public or civil service office as DCs, PSs etal
Others are citing that the President might have violatated the constitution for appointing losing candidates to position of DCs.
This is not correct as the constitution and there is not breach of the Constitution for appointing losing candidates to public/civil seevice office.
Those losing candidates can be nominated and appointed to these position of DCs, PSs, Ambassadors and High Commissioners or and board members or indeed Commissioners to Commissions such as Teaching Service Commission, Electoral Commission, Anti-corruption Commission among others.
The constitution in Art 69 guides that a person who was a candidate for election in the last preceding General Election or a subsequent by-election is not eligible to be nominated as a member of Parliament
Under this provision, such a losing candidate is only not eligible to be nominated as a Member of Parliament.
In addition, Constitution discusses a person who causes a by-election through resignation, disqualification, acting contrary to prescribed code of conduct, floor crossing.
The Constitution stresses that such a person shall not, during the term of that parliament eligible to contest an election or hold public office
This provision is the only one that outlaws a person who resigns, disqualified, causes a by-election from being appointed to public office or contest any election during the life of that council or parliament.
Further Art 55 further explains that a candidate who loses an election as a president, vice-president, member of Parliament or councilor is not eligible, during the term of that National Assembly or council, for appointment as Minister or provincial Minister
Therefore, there is nowhere in the constitution where one who contested an election and loses is not eligible for public office such in District commissioners, PSs, High Commisioner or commissioners for service commission.
IT’S A MISSED CALL IF LUNGU IS STILL THINKING OF GETTING BACK TO POWER, SAYS PF LSK CHAIRLADY
It is a missed call if ba Lungu is still thinking of holding on to the PF presidency in order to win back the Republican presidency, says Lusaka provincial PF chairlady Charity Banda.
And Banda charged that the people former president Edgar Lungu is listening to, like Raphael Nakachinda are “step children in PF.”
Banda also said despite her long service in the PF, Lungu had never done anything for her, such that she doesn’t even have “napakuteka amatako (she doesn’t have where she can rest her b***s).”
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Banda said it was a lie to say that the former ruling party did not have the money to hold a conference to elect a new president to replaced president Lungu, describing the move as a gimmick to delay the conference so as to frustrate people like Chishimba Kambwili.
She said even if the members were suffering, they could easily be asked to contribute K100s so that the party could hold a conference, plus the party also had well-wishers.
“Why should ba Lungu start behaving like this? Let him not start treating others the same way he was treated. This party belongs to all of us,” Banda said, adding that PF was all they had, such that even when people like DP leader Harry Kalaba and Kelvin Bwalya Fube left, she could not waste time to join them. “Those people left because of frustration yabo bene ba Lungu. If it’s okay I would even ask those people to join PF so that we make the party even stronger.”
Banda continued.
“Who tells him that people should not be talking about the PF presidency? Who told him that bukateka bwabo beka? Bukateka bwamuntu uli onse (who told him that the presidency belongs to him alone? Leadership belongs to all). It’s not fair…whether I am in the party structures or outside of it, those are my words,” Banda said. “Even when I was supporting him I wasn’t on the party structures, but we stood with him. We didn’t even fear (Dr Christine) Kaseba that she is Sata’s wife. Nomba bena chinshi chalabapanga sana ukuba (But what is making him arrogant) very arrogant, and start doing what he wants?”
Banda said it was only “a clique” of people who were speaking to him, and he was listening to.
It is becoming a custom now in Zambia for the ruling party to organize dinner dance or “Meet and Greet” the President as part of fundraising. The President gives out his personal apparels and effects to the party to auction. However, the difficulties with these events is that anyone – I mean – anyone with money can find himself at the event. Since tickets are sold and auction done from the party side, it is usually difficult to screen the attendees. During our time, in Rupiah Banda MMD, we had one successful dinner but the second one caused drama. It was a big PR mess that I even recorded it in my book.
I wrote in 2014, at page 65 of my Book – Inside the Presidency – the following;
“The governing party invited the President to a fund-raising dinner. The President obliged and attended as Guest of Honour. The party requested to auction some of the President’s personal items for huge amounts of money. A seat on the President’s table was fought over by businessmen who outbid each other.
While at dinner, the master of ceremonies announced the last auction of the night. It was lunch with the President with whoever won the bid. ‘Going, going gone!’ the master of ceremonies hit the hammer. A prominent businessman had won the bid. We were not told who it was.
The following morning, the press had a story saying that the President had accepted to have lunch with a well-known corruption convict, businessman Anuj Kumar Rathi.
‘I didn’t even know who won the auction,’ the President told me when he read the stories. I had to cancel the date and inform the nation of the President’s instruction.
‘Since it had come to the attention of the President that the winner of the lunch was a known convict, it would be morally unacceptable to go ahead and eat with him,’ I said in statement.
The President also asked the party to return the funds that were donated by Rathi, saying his government abhorred any corruption.”
PF Secretary General Davis Mwila has told cabinet ministers and PF members of parliament that they will go to prison if they don’t work hard to win the 2021 general elections.
Speaking during the Luapula Province party mobilisation launch which was broadcast on Prime TV, Mwila said Luapula Province should save ministers and members of parliament from going to prison.
“Here in Luapula, we have a lot of support. We have 100 per cent support, but you bring five constituencies with 90,000 votes. Our friends (UPND) one constituency is 90,000 even if it’s in the village. Why are you not voting? That is why I am telling you that if you play, you will cry,” Mwila said.
“… All the cells will be full. All these people you see behind me will be in cells. Abena Chitalu (health minister) (you) will not see him. So you ministers and MPs, don’t think this is a joke. This is serious business, are you listening you ministers. This battle we are in is not for playing, that is why them (UPND) when you see they are telling lies and you listen. So you MPs, councillors stop being selfish.”
He said the party needed serious mobilisation to maintain its strength in Luapula.
Mwila said the to do this, the party had given 120 bicycles to each constituency in Luapula with additional school books branded with President Edgar Lungu’s portrait.
But UPND deputy secretary general Patrick Mucheleka, in a statement, stated that the confession by the PF leadership in Luapula Province just confirmed that they were “dead scared” since they were massively looting public resources while committing other crimes against the Zambian people.
“With their usual divisive messages, the PF leadership led by SG Davies Mwila are busy campaigning in Luapula Province, telling people to work hard and retain PF in power or risk being imprisoned. We all know that only law breakers end up in cells, and if convicted, in prisons,” stated Mucheleka.
“They know that they are thieves and very corrupt, yet only a small clique of them are enjoying their ill-gotten gains. They are basically pronouncing themselves guilty and now want our good people of Luapula Province to save them through the ballot.
Earlier during the same PF mobilisation launch, the PF leadership took turns attacking Bahati member of parliament Harry Kalaba.
Luapula province minister Nickson Chilangwa, who was coordinating the programme, asked Mwila to ensure that the central committee speed up the disciplinary process for Kalaba.
“Let me take this opportunity to ask you ba SG that through you, we ask that the central committee speeds up the process of disciplinary (action) against Kalaba. We have by elections for councillors here, but soon even elections for MP in Bahati. Let Kalaba go,” said Chilangwa while addressing Mansa Central MP Chitalu Chilufya as Bahati MP.
HON. DAVIES CHAMA WAVES GOOD-BYE AS HON. KAMPYONGO AND HON. BRIAN MUNDUBILE WATCH HELPLESSLY
Chilufya Tayali
The World keeps going round extracting with us at different points and circumstances. It’s good to always be aware that, the position you hold today, tomorrow you may not have it because it will be held by those who don’t have it today.
A few months ago, Hon. Davies Chama was a powerful man as Defence Minister, today he is being driven in somewhat uncomfortable manner to Western Province when mostly he would fly on one of our Military planes.
Hon. Kampyongo was incharge of the police and they used to salute and obey his orders, today he was not incharge, others were calling shots to have his close friend transported to Mulobezi.
Hon. Brian Mundubile is poised to be the incoming PF President and may become Republican President in future, but today, he has no powers to save his close friend.
Such is life, these are the circumstances that the PF members find themselves in, today, after being in power for 10 years.
I will not judge them, I am sure, they have their conscience and the law to do that.
The UPND are now incharge but certainly tomorrow might be different and we all have to pray that, whatever comes tomorrow is not as bad as what is happening to Hon. Davies Chama.
Mind you, I am not touching on the merits of this matter, because it is a sensitive one.
Attempted murder is not joke, it is serious both for the accused and the supposed victim. So, I don’t dare touch the case.
It is alleged that the two persons on the 6th June ,2015 in Sichili of Mulobezi District of Republic of Zambia jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown did attempt to unlawfully cause the death of Mushaukwa Mushaukwa aged 47 of Shesheke
The case is nonbailable and it is tried in the High Court, which means Hon. Chama and Mr. Nyoni are in for a long haul.
Let’s be careful with what we do today so that tomorrow we are not haunted, this goes especially to those who are ruling today because they have a choice to do what is right.
TAYALI THE PUBLIC LAWYER OF THE PUBLIC COURT OF OPINIONS!
For deliberately chopping off his own legs to claim a £2.4 million insurance payout, a man has been handed a suspended jail sentence and a heavy fine.
The defendant named only as Sandor Cs. due to strict local privacy laws, was found guilty of purposely lying down in front of a train so he could pocket the cash in 2014.
The shocking incident meant both his legs were amputated from the knee down and he has been using prosthetic limbs and remained wheelchair-bound ever since. The 54-year-old resident of the Hungarian village of Nyircsaszari is claimed to have climbed onto the tracks so a train would run over both of his legs.
Cs. claimed that he took out the policies after receiving financial advice telling him returns are better on insurance policies than savings accounts. After the incident, his wife applied for the payouts but the insurance companies refused to cough up saying that they suspected he had inflicted the injury on himself.
Cs. however insisted he was innocent and that he stepped on a shard of glass which resulted in him losing his balance and falling in front of the train that was just departing the station, according to reports.
The long-winded investigation concluded that he should receive a two-year suspended prison sentence and an order to pay £4,725 in legal costs.
Blikk reported that Cs said;
“I find the ruling very peculiar, naturally it isn’t what I expected, I am disappointed.
“I need to see this through to the end because, as is, this is not right, and the court must feel the same way.”
Though it has not been confirmed whether Sandor will be able to appeal the decision, it was however learnt that before the incident, he worked in the thermal energy sector and installed boilers at home and abroad.
However losing his legs ended his career and he now claims the injury and the legal case have bankrupted him.
Cs. who claims he is now studying law and hopes to one day help people who have been abused by big companies, still has several insurance claims pending but they are unlikely to pay up following the court’s decision.
There is no word on when former South African President FW de Klerk’s funeral will take place. De Klerk died on Thursday, at his home in Fresnaye in Cape Town.
“It is with the deepest sadness that the FW de Klerk Foundation must announce that former President FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer.
Mr De Klerk was 85 years old. He is survived by his wife Elita, his children Jan and Susan and his grandchildren,” read a statement issued by the FW de Klerk Foundation.
The question on everyone’s lips now is, “Will de Klerk be granted a state funeral?”
IOL reported that the presidency has published a manual that determines and defines state, official and provincial official funeral policy.
The manual describes different categories of funerals commensurate with the status of the deceased figures, and identifies key role players, structures and processes. The manual provides for: State funeral, official funeral, special official funeral; provincial official funeral, and special provincial official funeral.
This has not stopped critics from sharing their opinions on the matter.
Actress and television presenter Pearl Thusi is among the many South Africans who threaten to disrupt proceedings should the former statesman be granted a state funeral.
Echoing Thusi’s statements are media personalities Redi Tlhabi and Azania Mosaka.
The EFF said: “To honour De Klerk with a state funeral would be to spit in the face of gallant liberation heroes who suffered in his hands and had their children murdered in his quest to stifle the freedom of black people.“
In a statement, the EFF said a state funeral for De Klerk would be an insult to the families of the Cradock Four.
“It would undermine the memory of the people of Boipatong, Mthata, Bhisho, the people of Vosloorus, and many communities who were maimed by his state-sponsored black-on-black violence,” the party said.
Breakdown of state funerals:
State Funeral Category 1 is for the president of the Republic of South Africa, president-elect of the Republic of South Africa and former presidents of the Republic of South Africa.
State Funeral Category 2 is meant for the deputy president of the Republic of South Africa, acting president of the Republic of South Africa and former deputy presidents of the Republic of South Africa.
Official Funeral Category 1 is reserved for serving ministers, speaker of the National Assembly, chief justice of the Republic of South Africa, chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and premiers of provinces.
Official Funeral Category 2 is for a spouse of a serving president, spouse of a serving deputy president, deputy ministers, deputy speaker of the National Assembly, permanent deputy chairperson of the NCOP, deputy chief justice of the Republic of South Africa and the president of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Special Official Funeral Category 1 is for persons of extraordinary credentials specifically designated by the President of the Republic of South Africa.
Special Official Funeral Category 2 is reserved for distinguished persons specifically designated by the president of the Republic of South Africa.
Provincial Official Funeral Category 1 is reserved for the speaker of the Legislature, member of the executive committee (MEC) and judge president of a province.
Provincial Official Funeral Category 2 is for deputy speaker of the Legislature.
Special Provincial Official Funeral Category 1 are accorded to outstanding persons specifically designated by the president of South Africa on request by the premier while Special Provincial Official Funeral Category 2 is reserved for distinguished persons specifically designated by the president of South Africa on request by the premier of a province. IOL
Gears initiative Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi wrote;
DEBATE ON THE LIFTING OF FORMER PRESIDENT’S IMMUNITY IS VERY HEALTH IN A DEMOCRACY
The emerging debate on the need to lift former president Edgar CHAGWA Lungu’s IMMUNITY is a health debate in democracy where freedom of expression and opinion exist.
Zambia being a constitutional democracy, this means that the constitution is supreme and must be respected and applied at all times and by all.
If the constitution has the provision to remove a former head of state of his/her immunity over allegations spelled out in the constitution, there is nothing wrong for those asking for its enforcement and invocation.
There is also no wrong for the due process to be followed as prescribed by law.
Our considered view is that the immunity clause in the constitution must be done away with so that presidents conduct their presidential duties and functions with due diligence while in office.
The Immunity clause has led to some presidents in the past, present and future behaving carelessly and with impunity knowing that they are protected by law.
This undermines principle of accountability in the office of the Presidency and promotes impunity.
When a need comes to lift the the immunity, some people feel it is a waste of time, resources and vindicative on the former head of state yet this is a way of making that the former head of state to account for his/her stay in office.
No one is above the constitution and equality before the law does not choose whether one is former head of state or not.
So those calling for the lifting of former president EDGAR CHAGWA Lungu’s immunity are within the provision of the law unless it is changed.
But as long as it exists people are free to demand for accountability from their former leaders.
If the former president and serving MPs have nothing to hide, they should allow this process of lifting a former head of state to be respected by all and followed to the latter.
Otherwise the constitutional reforms must take into account reforming this clause to ensure leaders are accountable while in office than fighting suspected abuse and corruption in arrears
……he is under pressure from liberal organizations to do so – Nakacinda
LUSAKA, Saturday, November 13, 2021 (SMART EAGLES)
OPPOSITION Patriotic Front (PF) Member of the Central Committee (MCC) in charge of Information and Publicity Hon. Raphael Nakacinda has alleged that President Hakainde Hichilema is under pressure from liberal organizations to legalise gay rights in the country.
Speaking when he addressed the media in Lusaka today, Hon Nakacinda charged that the Head of State is under pressure from the said organisations to see to it that gay rights are legalized following his promise to them prior to the 12 August elections.
The PF MCC accused President Hichilema of resorting to go to the Constitutional Court through a member of his United Party for National Development (UPND) to try and change the law.
“Apparently, the President is under pressure from such organisations some of whom were pressurising just a few days ago. In that regard I, arising from a comment he made when he was in Monze…..apparently, this time around they have resorted because of the fact that it is proving very difficult, to have the sits won by Patriotic Front to be nullified, because as it were, all those concocted, tramped up allegations against our MPs, have not been able to be sustained in the courts of law” he said.
“Now they have resorted to go to the constitutional court through a member of UPND to try and change the law from the bench. The only arm of government that is responsible for enacting laws is the national assembly. But they want to use the back door by inviting the court to change from the bench, which the court have found upon for many years in time passed.”
Hon Nakacinda further stated that there is a matter which “unfortunately the scheme was to have a UPND member petition the court” to look at the electoral system act and the electoral process act and try and amend it so that they can then have seats nullified at will, even just by a small incident that may have happened during campaigns.
He disclosed that the said scheme is meant to try and build numbers so that the issues of gays and lesbianism could find their way on the flow of the house with numbers that have been built on the side of UPND.
MCC Nakacinda however called on the courts to protect the values of the rule of law.
And with regards to President Hichilema’s recent statement were he exonerated his party from being pro-LGBTQ, Hon Nakacinda said “unfortunately,” the President has proven to have capacity to say one thing in the morning and come and reject “that very thing that he said at 10:00 hours and come and change at 12:00 hours and come and change when he is going to bed, and we don’t even know what he dreams about in the night and wakes up in the morning and say something else.”
LUSAKA, Saturday, November 13, 2021 (SMART EAGLES)
I have presidential ambitions and they are very strong, says Hon Christopher Kang’ombe, a man who has risen from being a Head Boy in High School to now a Member of Parliament.
The political journey for the Kamfinsa Constituency Lawmaker dates back to when he was around 17 at Kitwe Boys Secondary School. With the help of his English Teacher who he only identified as Mr Muyomba, the Lawmaker started taking part in public speaking, the move which led to him being appointed Head Boy in 2002.
He then successfully served as both Secretary General and President of the Copperbelt University Students Union in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
After being mentored in public speaking for a while, the 37-year-old member of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) then saw the need for him to take an active role in politics.
He started from being a Councillor in Kitwe’s Riverside Ward, he then became a Mayor of Kitwe and he now represents the people of Kanfinsa in Parliament.
The youthful politician has like any other person faced numerous challenges in his political journey. Surprisingly, he has always been seen to emerge stronger after every obstacle he encounters along the way.
Even with his close friends telling him to quit and when it is seemingly clear that there is no reason to continue with the journey, quitting has never been an option for the Lawmaker.
Amongst the biggest challenges he has ever faced in his political life is trying to secure adoption, trying to be relevant in his political party as well as trying to be a voice.
“Imagine you are in a political party and you still have to rely on directions from your seniors. If your seniors don’t want you, it’s a challenge. But do you give up or do you continue offering yourself? So for me I have never given up because I would actually be creating a very bad precedence because even the young person will be intimidated,” he said.
He has however become more resolved after the challenges he’s faced, he has become more determined, more sure about his strengths and weaknesses and he is now able to asses which step to take.
Hon Kang’ombe has no regrets about how he has run his political race so far. He believes he would make the same decisions if he was to travel back in time.
He has been called stubborn by members of the party he is affiliated to but Hon Kang’ombe believes that he has never been stubborn. He says he has just been assertive.
“When you are assertive, you are convinced that what you are doing is right. You are actually convinced that this view point will actually help the bigger political party you belong to. So there is nothing I could have done better if presented with another opportunity or crisis,” he says.
Hon Kang’ombe believes he will at an appropriate time run for presidency.
He advises youths to take an active role in in politics if they want to be in the forefront. He believes that youths ought to make themselves available for leadership and that no one owes anyone a political position.
“So those who don’t offer themselves will not be given leadership positions…..sometimes leadership even starts at church level. If at church you have never offered yourself for leadership, you have never had any responsibility, how do you then assume bigger responsibility at a national scale? So my advice to the young people is that opportunities only come to those who prepare themselves,” he says.
Hon Kang’ombe is also the immediate past president of the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ). Professionally, he has worked for Luanshya Copper Mines, Mopani Copper Mines and Atlas Copco between the period 2010 and 2016.
At a Continental level, he was privileged to serve as Vice president for the United Cities of Local Governments in Africa (UCLGA) until June 2021. In the rank and file of PF, he worked as both Kitwe District Chairman and later as Vice Provincial Chairman for Copperbelt.
The tendency by new ruling parties or new Presidents in Africa to persecute their predecessors is extremely retrogressive.
There is a pattern that has emerged where new Presidents engage in trashing the legacy of their predecessors, accuse them of massive acts of corruption, prosecute them while seeking to consolidate their new power gained.
For any students of history, you immediately recognise that this is a well-trodden path – burn and destroy the legacy of your predecessor and rise on their ashes!
We have seen this tendency in the sub-region where former Presidents have been targeted, nations have been divided, supporters pitted against each other in the name of fighting corruption.
What this does is to scare leaders to leave office when their terms come to an end. We have seen in Africa where Presidents begin to engage in processes intended to unconstitutionally extend their terms, fearing what would happen if they left office.
Offcourse my strong take has always been that leaders, whilst in office, must use the time to promote national development and stay away from pilfering or plundering national resources.
However, pursing them after they have left office is a sheer waste of valuable time, valuable time that should be used on implementing policies that promote national development and national unity.
While cooperating partners may cheer us on, and even deploy resources in the so-called fight against corruption, they never do this in their own countries, never arrest their former Presidents or Prime Ministers for perceived crimes done while they held office.
Coming to Zambia, we saw this with; Frederick Chiluba pursuing Kenneth Kaunda, Levy Mwanawasa pursuing Frederick Chiluba, even Michael Chilufya Sata pursuing Rupiah Bwezani Banda.
These so-called anti-Corruption exercises ended up in utter failure because they were implemented in a targeted manner, were selective and were done for purely political expediency to promote parochial, narrow and political interests.
If we are serious about fighting corruption, let us strengthen anti-corruption institutions, deploy preventive mechanisms, plug leaks of public resources, implement annual recommendations of the Auditor General and Public Account Committee, review the procurement laws and regulations, and strengthen oversight institutions.
We can’t concentrate on one single aspect of fighting corruption-prosecution only- to secure public resources.
It has to be a comprehensive approach.
It is in this light that the manufactured calls to have the constitutional immunity of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu must be rejected as they will do nothing to advance the cause of national development, national unity and the very fight against corruption.
The approach is designed to punish the former President for political purposes only.
As we have seen in the region, this approach has not yielded anticipated results but divided public perceptions about the true intention of pursing former Presidents.
We have walked this path before.
In the past we wasted precious public resources and destroyed institutions instead of building them.
We had officers travel to USA, England, Switzerland, Dubai, Belgium, and other countries pursuing “stolen public resources.
To recover stolen resources, we engaged FBI, Scotland Yard and others, and these yielded acres of news articles but no resources were ever recovered.
Infact what happens is the corruption occurring during this period, is let to pass and measures to secure current public resources are abandoned.
We are walking the same path.
I am not saying let’s not fight corruption. I am saying let’s fight corruption in the correct way, and in a comprehensive manner including prosecution.
Fighting corruption must not start and end with prosecutions.
My appeal to the new government in Zambia and to His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema is to focus on pursuing national development, creating employment, dismantling the debt burden, resolve bottle-necks hindering rapid economic growth and promote national unity.
Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba Lusaka
The author is former Ambassador to the African Union, former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, former High Commissioner to South Africa, former Permanent Secretary and former Spokesperson to Second President, Frederick Chiluba.
THE arrogance by the PF Secretariat and in particular, Secretary-General, Davies Mwila, cost the party victory in the August 12, 2021 general and Presidential elections, a former member, Maxwell Chongu has said.
Mr Chongu has heaped blame on the PF secretariat and particularly on the outgoing Secretary-General Mr Mwila in what he called “tainted adoptions” and for allegedly having allowed thuggery in the party.
He said in an interview that if PF needed to do a genuine introspection and emerge as a strong and formidable opposition party, they should not bury their heads in the sand over the behaviour of the secretariat towards the last general elections. Mr Chongu insisted that among other things, the answer to the postmortem of the elections loss the PF central Committee was looking for is at the secretariat.
He said Zambians were not happy with caderism and indiscipline among PF members which was tolerated by the secretariat. “The SG is the answer to the postmortem of the past elections they are looking for. Insults and thuggery was allowed at the secretariat,” he said.
Mr Chongu also accused the secretariat of having adopted unpopular candidates at the expense of those people wanted. “For example, people in Nkana wanted Binwell Mpundu but the SG stubbornly said yes, we know he is popular, but we will go with Mr Chiteme. Similarly, people wanted Emanuel Jay Banda but the SG handpicked Ms Siliya. Can you win an election like that? And you are looking for a postmortem report,? he said.
He also accused the secretariat of having allowed thuggery within the rank and file of its youths to settle personal scores. “They organised members from Intercity to insult Mr Chishimba Kambwili right at the secretariat. They also almost killed their own member, Innocent Kalimashi right at the secretariat and no one condemned the cadres, but instead ordered for the arrest of the victim. They also allowed ‘bakanyangu’ to beat up the street vendors that previously voted for them and you expected them to vote for you?” he noted Mr Chongu also attributed PF loss to selfishness by some ministers who detached themselves from the members who made them to be in those offices.
“There were few ministers that could open their doors to talk to the general membership. Most of them claimed to be too busy. They detached themselves from the ground,” he said.
He said the loss should be a wake-up call to the PF and its leaders, adding that the postmortem should be able to reveal that the secretariat contributed to the humiliating loss.
He said having previously advised the PF leadership on caderism, he felt vindicated after the party’s loss. Efforts to get a comment from Mr Mwila proved futile by press time.
Recently, Mr Mwila announced that the party’s central committee chaired by president Edgar Lungu had an honest and frank post-mortem of the last elections and made clear decisions to rebrand and rebuild the party with a clear intention of bouncing back to power in the next general elections.
Mr Mwila urged all party members and structures not to despair but to remain strong and focused as the party goes through this difficult moment. “We have learned our lessons and in God we trust, we will bounce back sooner than later,” Mr Mwila stated.
CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF IMMUNITY FOR DR EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU MISPLACED- CHANODA NGWIRA
We read with dismay and disappointment the calls by a clique of politically organised cadres calling themselves activists to have the Immunity of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu removed. This is so unprecedented and wrong timing by the ruling United Party for National Development whose desire is seemingly to punish and revenge on certain individuals from the former ruling party.
What we expected the UPND to do for now is to focus on repairing the so called wrecked economy atleast according to their vocabulary which in our view is more of poetry centred than action as per the Zambian people’s expectations. What a cancerous and division way of playing politics by the newly contracted Government to ran the affairs of this nation. I mean, is the removal of President Lungu’s immunity of paramount more than giving hope by putting in place a hope giving roadmap towards revamping our economy? We ask so because what we have so far experienced is the good activities of silencing , revenging and settling scores by Hakainde Hichilema and his Government against the many promises they gave to the Zambian people most of which they are backtracking on.
It is so annoying to see a swam of cadres clad in the disguise of political activists being paraded and given media coverage to preach hate, malice and baseless accusations against the former Head of state whose desire when peacefully conceding defeat was to see a Zambia that would continue on the pace of development from where he left. What a careless and heartbreaking way of starting to Govern the people of Zambia.
Much as we are not defending any wrong doing that the former regime could have done whilst in office, President Lungu inclussive, we are also not of the idea that the fight of the so called wrong doing be politically motivated especially that President Hichilema promised the Zambian people to Govern this nation on the rule of law. We are perturbed to say the least, we are downtrodden and frabagasted to see the thirsty and hunger by the ruling party to devour and fall on the former ruling party leadership like a tone of village moulded pan bricks.
This is uncalled for, too insensitive, very archaic and colonial way of doing politics. We hoped for a better Zambia than this colossal hunger of revenge and vengeance. This we can simply call it as a bad egg of perpetual dictatorial and thuggery kind of leading this nation. What a circus to say the least.
President Hakainde and his Government has more than they can chew before them regards governing this nation towards attaining desired development as per their many promises which seem to be more of sweet talk than reality. Are we saying removal of President Lungu’s immunity is of importance more than sorting out power outages, fulfilling free education promises, students meal allowances, reducing commodity prices as per their half baked promises, reduction of price of fertiliser and so numerous promises they gave?
We are surprised as an organisation to see such wreckless maneuvers by the new Dawn Government which we feel is aimed at diverting the attention of the expectant Zambian people from the failure to uphold their many promises to the issue that to us is not important and paramount looking at the many pertinent matters before us. And if President Hakainde Hichilema is going to buy into that idea by that clique of disorganised but politically organised cadres, then we expect nothing but a brutal regime.
We therefore call on the President to seriously have a time of reflection and serious introspection before buying into that idea if he desires to be among the heroes and heroins of this great country Zambia. He is certainly trading on seriously slippery ground and may haunt him in the near future.
When the Patriotic Front (PF) held its first Central Committee meeting after it lost power, party President Edgar Lungu stepped down. The MCC pleaded with ECL not to leave as yet. The fear among them was that the move would see the once powerful former governing party degenerate into succession spats and ultimately, immolation.
ECL has made it clear that he opted to stay on for the sake of facilitating smooth succession and to pass the button to another person.
This has not come without events. The PF is heavily divided into factions. Although a number of party members have expressed interest to succeed ECL, there are two camps which seem to be in a fierce fight for hegemony: The Chishimba Kambwili vs Brian Mundubile.
It must be pointed out that, while Given Lubinda who was appointed Vice President by ECL is also said to be vying for PF President, there is evidence which heavily suggest that the former ruling party is searching for a person who hails from any Bemba land given that it draws its massive support from such regions. Both Kambwili and Mundubile hail from the North. The PF intends to maintain its influence among the Bemba speaking people as such, many party members believe the Given Lubinda presidency would throw away their opportunity to continue holding such regions as their strongholds.
Word has it that, a good number of the Central Committee members do not want Kambwili. It is suggested that, while he was out of PF, Kambwili’s scathing attacks against most PF members has left wounds which are still open and paining. Further, some PF members of parliament have confirmed that they were victims of Kambwili venom and would not want to have anything to do with him. This means, if Kambwili goes through, chances are that, some MPs will not be loyal to hm. Further, a number of MCC will not work with him.
On the other hand, Mundubile has a bone to chew with the people of Zambia. He led the activism of Bill 10 which, it seems, is considered evil by most people going by the feedback it received. Another problem that Mundubile faces is that, he does not have the support of most grassroots members of PF. He came from MMD and is seen more as a new comer when compared to Kambwili who is part of the roots of the PF. If Mundubile goes through, his challenge is that he will have a very weak grassroots to work with, thereby making it extremely hard for the former ruling party to tick.
The Mundubile camp seems to be in over-drive to wage a scathing campaign against Kambwili. It has branded Kambwili as erratic and unstable given his political movements of being NDC and joining the UPND Alliance while discrediting PF, then, rejoining the same party he worked so hard to destroy. At the moment, mercenaries of Mundubile are desperately trying all they can to ensure that Kambwili is cast in bad light.
“We need a sober and consistent person if we want to bounce back”, is the talk on the lips of Mundubile camp.
On the other hand, Kambwili’s sycophants insist that it is ‘Junior King Cobra’ who has the political stamina to “take care of Hakainde Hichilema” and lead the former ruling party into its past grandeur. He is vocal and a populist who knows how sarcastically attack while drawing attention of the common Zambians.
If the PF are looking for ECL successor between these two, then here is a brief comparison for them.
The Mundubile Presidency: They have an opportunity to present to the people an ostensibly clear-headed person who has stayed away from the fanfare of scandals and political mudslinging. There is not so much to discredit about Mundubile’s character. He would definitely blend with most MCC and PF members of Parliament. Albeit, PF would need a robust strategy to embed his name throughout the country. Mundubile can easily be trusted.
The Kambwili Presidency: He presents himself as a student of Michael Sata politics of talking to common Zambians. While he may not appeal to the level headed, his strength lies in his ability to talk the language of common Zambians. His reputation is masked into scandals and controversy and he attracts constant ridicule and denunciation. However, voters are influenced by the failures of a ruling party and not the personal of an individual. Sata and HH had their personality soiled by propaganda but they still won elections when those who ruled failed to deliver. It would not take so much for Kambwili to win the love of those that matter if the UPND fails to honor their promises.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Elijah Muchima at the induction of Cabinet and Provincial Ministers at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka on September 13, 2021 – Picture by Tenson Mkhala LANDS and Natural Resources Minister Elijah Muchima says cancelling title deeds in Forest 27 can only be done through a court order or by invoking Presidential powers.
In an interview, Muchima said he needed to have a good basis to re-gazzette the forest.
“I don’t want to do things without following the law and if title deeds are given, I have no power to say ‘let us cancel this title deed’ it is either through the court or the Presidential power. When a title deed is given, you cannot stand up and just say ‘cancel the title deed’. You can cancel it through the court order or you use the law, Cap 184 where the President can compulsory acquire it. And for me to recommend to the President for that action, I need to have the basis. What basis at the moment can I use? For me [to] re-gazzete it, to restrict it, I need to have a good basis,” he said.
Muchima said his ministry was looking for resources to conduct a strategic Environmental Impact Assessment on the forest, which was an expensive exercise.
“I need to have a technical report and that one from ZEMA, those are the two I can use to stay [an] action. I want to see what has been the history and what has happened and what conditions can we attach to those who can interface with human settlement and recharge, the one which is in public interest is the water recharge. Because I cannot allow people to be drinking contaminated water. If we were to allow them, they should not sink boreholes, they should do these manholes and sewer systems there, they have to connect to the main line, there has to be that condition,” he said.
“All that should come out from the technical report and it is quite expensive to do a strategic Environmental Impact Assessment but we are looking for resources somewhere through WWF. I sent them a letter to see if they can facilitate that so that we can quickly come up with the report. We have to hire experts, we are looking for financing and then we sponsor experts to give us a technical report to see what we can salvage with the human settlement around Forest 27. That is what is holding us up. And I don’t want to be resolving issues through the press. It is better if I do the correct thing. There are some people who could be innocent but they are these ones who are arrogant, we stop them from construction, they are busy constructing at night, they will meet the wrath of the law.”
Meanwhile, Muchima said his ministry wanted to do away with the Zambia Integrated Lands Management Information System because it was porous.
“I stopped re-entries because that is the source of problems, you find that a plot has three or four titles and that is what has caused problems and that is what I am looking into seriously. But we are very active with the system, the ZILMIS system became porous, they have been going in and going out using their illegal behaviours but now we want to stamp out that one by bringing in a system that will be very effective. We have called stakeholders who are helping us technically, we are discussing these issues,” said Muchima.
THE ruling Zanu PF party yesterday said it was making frantic efforts to engage Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema over social media rants targeted at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government by the neighbouring country’s ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) staff.
Zanu PF acting spokesperson Michael Bimha told a media briefing in Harare yesterday that UPND spokesperson Joseph Kalimbwe’s social media posts mocking Mnangagwa’s government had the potential to damage relations between the two presidents.
Bimha said despite the squabbles and issues with Kalimbwe, Zimbabwe would use proper communication channels to engage the Zambian President and resolve the issue.
“Even if I have issues or concerns with the ruling party in Zambia, there are proper channels that should be followed by both parties to communicate, not through individuals,” Bimha said.
“I cannot just come out and make public comments about the ruling party in Zambia or vice-versa, there are channels that should be followed.”
Kalimbwe’s social media posts that have rattled Zanu PF include comments that he made about Mnangagwa’s COP26 trip last week where he said the Zimbabwean leader came back empty-handed.
He also mocked Mnangagwa for taking a huge entourage of over 100 people to the climate change conference at a time when Zimbabwe is in economic doldrums.
“Our leader will return to Lusaka and go home peacefully — to continue serving. There will not be airport victory celebrations, we didn’t win any trophy. The country needs fixing — that is what matters most,” he tweeted.
Zanu PF information director Tafadzwa Mugwadi countered saying: “Zambia’s delegation to the climate change summit in Glasgow was, somehow, a ‘thin’ delegation according to their renegade activist Joseph Kalimbwe, but compare and contrast with the Zimbabwe delegation. Free lesson: Don’t dare Zimbabwe lest you will be exposed to your nakedness.”
Zanu PF officials have on several occasions clashed with Kalimbwe on social media, where they accused him of causing despondency between Zimbabwe and Zambia in order to push the interests of the opposition MDC Alliance.
“By the way, I thought you were UPND spokesperson until I realised you are just a useless dark dog with bitterness of being rejected by HH (Hichilema). Anyway, this is my last response to you. I have no time for puppets who support the interests of other political parties outside Zambia. Hello Zambia. Is everything okay,” Mugwadi tweeted.
There is no love lost between the government, Zanu PF and the Zambian ruling party.
Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba on August 24 labelled Hichilema a “sellout” over his association with opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, following a similar attack in May. Mnangagwa has remained silent during the attacks, one of which was made while he was in Zambia for Hichilema’s inauguration.
Hichilema scored a stunning landslide victory over incumbent Edgar Lungu in Zambia’s presidential election in July, the margin of his victory surprising pundits, but also showing the level of disillusionment with the performance of the former leader.
The UPND is seen as close to Zimbabwe’s opposition, MDC Alliance, after inviting its leaders, Chamisa and Tendai Biti and other opposition figures in the region to his inauguration.
At the inauguration ceremony in Lusaka, Mnangagwa had the indignity of having to share the platform with the opposition that his country’s courts have ruled illegitimate.
MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba told NewsDay that Kalimbwe must be accorded his right to free speech.
“Whatever he is saying about Zanu PF is not a lie. If they think Kalimbwe is not telling the truth, Zanu PF should just share the evidence in public. Who doesn’t know about Mnangagwa’s regime and its ills? Kalimbwe is not just a Zambian citizen, but an African who advocates for democracy and freedom of speech.
“The democratic politics of Zambia is not sufficient enough. Without the democratic politics in Zimbabwe, Kalimbwe cannot support the fascism in the Zanu PF government, and so they should let him speak. It is a wake-up call to Zanu PF because the world is changing. What I can say is that it’s a continental revolution, and things are changing. It’s a wave of democracy,” Siziba said.
I FELT so free to be in a meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema, says senior chief Mukuni.
Mukuni, of the Leya people of Kazungula, Livingstone and Zimba districts, says without a well-defined cultural and political heritage Zambia cannot not be united.
In an interview after attending the Samu Lya Moomba ceremony in Bweengwa graced by President Hichilema, several traditional leaders and members of parliament on Sunday, Mukuni said the meeting held at Choongo Secondary School was uniting.
“We held a meeting with the Head of State and he has urged the House of Chiefs to tabulate all traditional leaders’ challenges so that he can attend to them. This is what it should be not what we saw in the last regime where a few chiefs were viewed as enemies of the State,” he said. “I felt so free to be in that meeting with President Hichilema. I don’t want to describe what I would have felt like if it was that other one who ruled us before August 12.”
On cultural heritage, Mukuni said Zambia is endowed with rich stories that can help prop-up the tourism sector.
“The President has been committed to having the political heritage of this country written down correctly and this we must do. I challenge journalists to use the Head of State’s zeal to start writing a lot of feature stories on our political history, even writing books,” he said. “The generation we have don’t understand much of what happened before 1964. They don’t even know who was Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula or Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe. A nation without a well-defined heritage cannot be united or live in peace. Ethnicity or tribalism will always take root without a well-defined or written down cultural heritage or political history.”
Mukuni said politicians who talk about tribalism are not living as tribal islands.
“Look at the families of those who peddle hate speech or tribalism, ask them what tribe their wives are or who is married to their son or who has married their daughter,” said Mukuni. “I heard that one of the politicians who talked against Tonga’s is married to a Tonga woman and one has a Tonga mother. There is no family in Zambia all born and married to one tribe. No father, son, daughter, grandchildren, uncles and nieces are all married to one tribe. If there is one bring them to me and I will pay for their cost to have them entered in the Guinness Book of Records.”
PLEASE let there be no Christians for Hichilema, says President Hakainde Hichilema.
In a statement read on his behalf by defence minister Ambrose Lufuma at the Christian United for National Economic Transformation Summit at Mulungushi international Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday, President Hichilema challenged the Church to take back its place and a moral compass of the nation.
“I am calling for the Church to take back its place and a moral compass of our nation, to guide the nation towards love, justice and unity – to be able to call out a wrong a wrong and a right a right,” he said.
President Hichilema assured Church leaders that when it comes to the pursuit of practical Christian living in his government they would find a resolved partner.
“I am calling on the Church that it shall not be compromised on account that its leaders desperately need handouts from politicians for survival. Please, let there be not Christians for Hichilema but rather let there be Christians for Jesus,” he said. “When it comes to the pursuit of practical Christian living I assure the Church leadership in Zambia that in my government you will find a resolved partner.”
Quoting Isaiah 58, President Hichilema wondered how one would call Zambia a Christian nation when some of its conduct is at odds with dictates of the Word of God.
“How can we leaders in Christian nation preside over the kind of injustices our nation continues to witness under subsequent regimes? How could government officials in a country prophesying to be a Christian nation call for prayers and reconciliation every 18th of October but still go on to preside over violence, corruption and other injustices against citizens for the rest of the year? One day you come together to pray and reconcile but the rest, 364 days are full of injustices,” he wondered.
President Hichilema further wondered why majority of Christian leaders remained silent when some of the country’s leaders blatantly propagated ethnic division.
He also asked why some Zambians are concerned that the ministry of religious affairs has been merged into another ministry when the same citizens did not seem bothered by the injustice subdued out against the Zambian people.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Bible said all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, none is holy. Not one but as much as this is true of each and every one of us, its’ also true of our nation Zambia. We are by far not a perfect nation,” said President Hichilema. “What we are is a nation still working our way towards becoming more and more like Christ Jesus. We still have a lot of work to do and we need the grace of God and as such it is vital that the nation time and again pause and have an honest reflection of our walk with God. We must never pretend that all is well or else we risk becoming hypocrites.”
THE rebranding of PF to be strong in 2026 needs the presidency of Chishimba Kambwili, says MacDonald Mulongoti.
Mulongoti, who is Copperbelt PF media director and a former Chingola mayor, said the PF can bounce back in 2026 if it is led by a populist leader like Kambwili.
He said Kambwili was a replica of PF founder Michael Sata.
“The Patriotic Front party is likely to bounce back in 2026 especially if it is led by a populist leader such as Chishimba Kambwili. Hitherto, most people still regard Dr Kambwili as Sata’s replica,” he said. “His speech charisma and forceful approach towards work earns him a resounding political advantage. He always demands immediate solutions to problems and that is something people find intriguing about him. As such genuine rebranding ought to start with such an insightful decision.”
Mulongoti cited the 2019 Roan parliamentary by-election as a strong case of Kambwili’s political strength.
“If you recall, in April 2019 during the Roan parliamentary by-election, the Kambwili-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) despite being a fledgling party beat then ruling PF which had done all it could,” he added. “Joseph Chishala’s victory was wholly ascribed to Chishimba Kambwili because he had done a lot in that constituency. Kambwili was one of the few members of parliament who visited their constituencies regularly and attended to the needs of the constituents.”
Mulongoti said it was absolutely naïve and a myth to suggest that a political party could not form government again once it lost power.
He said this was just an illusion enveloped in sheer despair.
“If individuals can bounce back, what can stop a political party from doing the same? History can be rewritten if we are objective enough,” Mulongoti said. “I say so because the PF is still popular and intact as evidenced by the recent electoral victories in the Kaumbwe parliamentary and council chairperson by-elections in Eastern Province only two months after the last general election.”
He said the victories had nothing to do with the alleged PF’s ethnic marginalisation message but a mere afterthought.
“If more by-elections were to be held now, say on the Copperbelt Province, I can assure you the PF would scoop most of them because what people see is not in tandem with their expectations according to the UPND campaign promises. It’s astounding that the government could propose to increase fuel pump price and electricity tariffs next year, a move which will negatively affect the prices of goods and services,” said Mulongoti. “For the most part, PF lost because party cadres portrayed discredited behaviour towards almost everyone causing people to live in fear. As a result, people generally detested the party. Messy adoption processes also exacerbated the situation whereby popular poor aspirants were sidelined for the rich yet unpopular individuals, believing that anyone contesting on the PF ticket would obviously win. Those are some of the major issues which must be looked into during the rebranding process.”
I am an investigative journalist based here in Pretoria in the Republic of South Africa.
From the onset let me indicate that the rate at which socio media in Zambia is being used to assassinate the character of its people is alarming. If not handled properly by Zambian leaders, the first civil strife in Zambia will be ignited by a careless socio media post. This has happened in other countries and Zambia is not different.
It is easy to laugh and ridicule those who are viciously attacked on socio media until it is you in the frying pan.
Unfortunately even leaders and intellectuals in Zambia tend to believe socio media and they form firm opinion and take actions based on socio media.
I have thoroughly investigated the Donavan/ ZRA saga and I have established that what is on socio media alleging a fraudulent payment of USD16m to Donavan from ZRA is not true. Please be patient and read so that you know the absolute truth.
Donavan obtained a ZDA Investment license to start Manufacturing vehicles in Zambia as Prestige Motors. Under this licence, all inputs were to be imported tax free.
He started importing in 2014. ZRA allowed some importations tax free under this licence until the project was red-flagged by the customs risk department. So the subsequent imports were intercepted by customs for inspection. It was discovered that Donavan was importing complete vehicles in knock-down form and just assembling them.
Within ZRA the argument was whether assembling a vehicle befitted the definition of Manufacturing or not. Customs concluded that assembling was not Manufacturing so they detained the trucks.
Donavan rushed to court and secured a court order for ZRA to release the trucks but ZRA ignored the court order until the court threatened to sight ZRA for contempt. The trucks were finally released after almost three weeks of detention.
In 2015 when Donavan realised that his vehicle assembly plant business was not viable in Zambia, he sued ZRA for loss of business and claimed damages of USD64 million. The ZRA opposed the suit arguing that there was no way Donavan lost USD64 million in 3 weeks but he won the case in the High Court anyway and he was granted damages of USD64million by the High Court against ZRA.
Please note that when all this drama was happening Kingsley Chanda was not Commissioner General. He joined ZRA end of September 2016. Berlin Msiska was Commissioner General at the time.
ZRA refused to pay the damages and decided to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Please note that it is a mandatory requirement that all such cases are reported quarterly to the board. At one Board meeting in 2017 the board requested for a detailed analysis of all court cases indicating the chances of winning each case.
On Presitige, legal experts advised that the chances of winning were almost zero especially that ZRA defied the initial court order and further there was a risk that the damages may increase beyond USD64m. The Board directed management to settle the case outside court. Management through the legal department negotiated a final settlement of USD16m. The Board approved the settlement amount and instructed management to sign a consent judgment.
Due to cash flow challenges ZRA paid the initial installment of USD8m to Donavan through his lawyers.
My investigation has proved that the companies (suppliers) whose invoices Donavan used to claim USD64m in the High Court were not paid. Instead he used part of the money to fund PF campaigns, pay his legal fees and the rest he externalised to other countries.
So the owners of the invoices sued him claiming the money. The High Court issued a garnishee order to ZRA to pay Presitege Motors balance of USD8m to his creditors. ZRA was not party to this decision and proceedings. Not even CG as an individual. The garnishee order was immediate and ZRA complied given that approval was already given by the Board.
As this was happening two of the companies whose invoices were used to claim money from ZRA reported to the police that their invoices were forged and that they did not supply anything to Donavan.
Police recorded statements from ZRA and obtained necessary documents.
At that point ZRA action was to wait for police investigations to prove that any of the invoices used was forged. If that happened, ZRA was to call back to court with that evidence and set aside the consent judgment and claim back the entire USD16M as the entire amount was legally paid to Prestige given that it was paid to their creditors.
Remember this was a USD64m claim so Donavan used invoices of several companies to build his case who he refused to pay when he was paid.
From the foregoing it is evident that the ZRA Board acted in good faith to authorise the payment and management headed by the Commissioner General acted correctly in complying with court orders. If indeed any of the invoices is proved to be fraudulent ZRA must recover the entire amount from Donavan. Both Donavan and whoever gave him the fake invoices must account for their actions in the court of Law.
The continuous attacks on the former CG by Donavan is not only unfair but very malicious. He clearly does not understand how ZRA operates. He thinks this a decision that one person can make.
No single person in ZRA can direct such a payment without Board approval.
I bothered to ask various people at the High Court and in ZRA to establish the truth and that is the truth.
Since this issue is with the police and there is a court process, its only fair that no one jumps to conclusion.
I also urge FIC to check whether Donavan paid the people he claimed he owed money and who in PF he was financing.
Be fair be factual otherwise you will burn our country
Yesterday I wrote on this page that the challenges facing the University of Zambia (UNZA) were twofold. The first is persistent underfunding from the government coupled with a huge debt to statutory bodies and employees in the form of unpaid gratuities and pension. The second is poor leadership at management level, led by the Vice-Chancellor Prof Luke Mumba. In the same writeup, I suggested possible solutions: adequate allocation of financial resources to our leading public university, dismantling the debt that the university owes to various institutions and individuals, and replacing the current management of the university with an effective team that can run UNZA in a better way.
In the comments section of the posted story, Vice-Chancellor Mumba, using his Facebook account and speaking in his official capacity, responded by stating that he agrees with my views on the first challenge that the university faces. He however took issue with my diagnosis of the second challenge – poor leadership from him and his team in management. Ignoring the substantive premise upon which I made the point – that he and his team have for a long time run the institution with arrogance and threats, without much consultation with the unions, and in a manner that does the bidding of the political authorities – Prof Mumba cherrypicked what suited him and turned those into the main subject.
Prof Mumba does not dispute the fact that he and his team have been leading the university in a unilateral way, represented most notably by the noted coordinated removal of unions from the University Council, their attempt to introduce stringent conditions for payment of gratuities to eligible employees without the consent of the unions, and their imposition of the prohibitive h-index and the punitive Code of Conduct, again without the support of the unions. Instead, the Vice-Chancellor sought to absolve himself and his team of responsibility for the problems at UNZA. This attitude is expected but rests on falsehoods deliberately meant to mislead the public. Let me demonstrate this by addressing myself to the three issues that Prof Mumba chose to focus on.
The auditing of UNZA
In my writeup, I asked the government to institute an audit into how UNZA management has been using public funds. I expressed confidence that such an undertaking is likely to reveal glaring mismanagement of funds. In response, the Vice-Chancellor stated that UNZA has been audited annually by the office of the Auditor General. This is false. The truth is that UNZA has not been audited by the Auditor General since 2018 when the last audit was carried out. Ideally, audits should be annual. That is the ideal situation. But UNZA has never had them annually. Currently, the university is preparing statements for the financial year ending December 2019. The Auditor General’s office is yet to move in.
If what I am saying is not true, I challenge Prof Mumba and the university to publicly publish the audits from the Auditor General’s office for UNZA for the years 2019 and 2020. The university administration will not do so because there are no such audits.
The blatantly partisan behaviour of UNZA management under the previous regime
In my writeup, I stated that ahead of the August 12, 2021 general election, Prof Mumba and his team in management acted like hired guns for Mr Edgar Lungu and the then ruling Patriotic Front (PF), taking many unprincipled positions that undermine academic freedom and raises fundamental philosophical and policy questions about the character and functions of the university. I qualified this point with an example of how the university administration ill-treated Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa, who I said is a lecturer at the institution, on two incidents. The first was on how they disowned him in a public statement dated 27 April 2021 after he wrote, in his personal capacity, a newspaper article that was highly critical of Mr Lungu’s leadership. I have attached the statement to this post for ease of reference. In the said statement, Vice-Chancellor Mumba and his team in management suggested that Dr Sishuwa was masquerading as an employee of the university when in fact not. Here is what they wrote in April 2021: “UNZA management would like to clearly put it on record that Dr Sishuwa is currently not in active employment of the University of Zambia. Since 2018 he has been and continues to be on an unpaid leave of absence outside the country. Therefore, his opinions and views in the mainstream and social media do not represent the official position of the University of Zambia.”
Today, after Mr Lungu and the PF are no longer in power, the same Prof Mumba and his management team are claiming the same person they previously publicly disowned as their employee, saying “Dr Sishuwa retains his position in the University and…is still an employee of Unza” and was on paid special leave of absence approved by the same leadership which not long issued a misleading statement that suggested he was not employed by the university and that “since 2018 he has been and continues to be on an unpaid leave of absence outside the country. Since the previous statement dated April 27, 2021 has not been retracted by the same management that issued it, what exactly is the truth? Who is lying between Dr Brenda Bukowa and Vice-Chancellor Mumba?
In the Mail and Guardian opinion piece, Dr Sishuwa never claimed to ‘represent the official position of the University of Zambia’, yet Prof Mumba and his clique in management found it necessary to distance themselves from his article. Why? Because they wanted to appease Mr Lungu and the PF, which explains why the university administration disowned their employee only after the PF government complained against the critical article and accused him of sedition. The flipflopping behaviour of UNZA management on this incident shows the cost of taking unprincipled and partisan positions aimed at supporting the interest of one political grouping. When the people that one was supporting to sycophantic levels lose power, one ends up contradicting themselves.
The second incident I referred to in my writeup to demonstrate the partisan behaviour of UNZA management ahead of the August 12 elections relates to how the Vice-Chancellor tried to have Dr Sishuwa sanctioned for petitioning the eligibility of the PF candidate, Mr Lungu, in the Constitutional Court. When Dr Sishuwa, in his capacity as a private citizen, sued Mr Lungu, management of the University of Zambia quickly sought legal opinion on the institutional regulations they could draw upon to have Dr Sishuwa dismissed from his job for suing the PF’s nominated presidential candidate. This is what I meant when I said Prof Mumba went out of his way to have Dr Sishuwa dismissed from UNZA. I did not say that he fired Dr Sishuwa and I am surprised that the Vice-Chancellor could not grasp this elementary difference in sentence construction between the two. To prove that Prof Mumba wanted Dr Sishuwa fired, I attach evidence of what stopped him in the form of legal opinion from the University’s own legal counsel who told him that Dr Sishuwa, who was simply defending the constitution, had done nothing wrong; citizens have the right to sue. The question is: how did Dr Sishuwa’s decision to sue Mr Lungu affect UNZA management? What was Prof Mumba’s interest in the matter?
I must say that I do not understand why Prof Mumba wants to turn Dr Sishuwa into the main subject of my writeup when the issue was about the Vice-Chancellor’s poor leadership and the blatantly partisan behaviour of his management under the previous regime. It is almost as if Prof Mumba is trying to use this opportunity to clean the mess they created when they disowned their employee in April. I maintain that one of the solutions to UNZA’s challenges is removing the current management and replacing it with a professional one that does not hire itself as agents of the party in power, including the current one or the Socialist Party when it forms government.
The supposed ‘unprecedented multi-million-dollar infrastructure development projects’ that UNZA management has built over the last five years.
In his response, Prof Mumba listed a number of what he calls ‘unprecedented multi-million-dollar infrastructure development projects’ that his management has built over the last five years. These include the:
(i) Special Education Needs Centre
(ii) New African Centre of Excellence Building in the School of Vet Medicine
(iii) New Lecture theatre at the School of Public Health.
(iv) New lecture theatres in the School of Engineering
(V) New Graduate School of Business Complex
(vi) UNZA industrial printer;
(vii) New Teaching and Learning Complex
(viii) Ongoing construction of a 3KM perimeter wall fence around the [Great East Road Campus] GERC; and
(ix) 100,000 cubic litre water reservoirs at the new residences.
The truth is that Prof Mumba and his UNZA management had very little to do with these projects. As I show below, most of these projects were constructed at the initiative of hardworking UNZA lecturers and using grants from the United States, the World Bank and other donors after the lecturers applied for them. If anyone deserves credit for these projects, it is the lecturers, the same people that Prof Mumba and his team are busy mistreating. In stating this, I am not trying to take away any accomplishments that belongs to Prof Mumba and his team but simply to give credit to those to whom it is due – the same academics that Prof Mumba and his team are constantly antagonising.
For instance, the Special Education Needs Centre was an initiative of lecturers – led by Prof Beatrice Matafwali, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Psychology, Sociology and Special Education – who successfully applied for a grant from a named European organisation for its construction. The New African Centre of Excellence Building in the School of Vet Medicine was an initiative of lecturers led by Dr Andrew Phiri who successfully applied for a grant from the World Bank for its construction.
The New Lecture Theatre at the School of Public Health was an initiative of lecturers – led by Charles Michelo, Professor of Epidemiology and Founding Dean at UNZA’s School of Public Health – who successfully lobbied his extensive public health networks in the United States, including Vanderbilt University, to the to finance its construction.
The New lecture theatre in the School of Engineering was financed and constructed by the government through the Ministry of Education as part of a wide effort to improve infrastructure in public universities. Similar projects are running in other universities. The New Graduate School of Business Complex was a self-financing initiative of the UNZA School of Humanities and Social Sciences led by Dr Bennett Siamwiza, who was then Dean, and a committee that included Professors Manenga Ndulo, Felix Masiye and Dr Stephen Mphuka. Prof Mumba was not even Vice-Chancellor when the project took off in 2012.
The 100,000 cubic litre water reservoir project at the new residences is an initiative of academics led by Professors Mweene (late) and Prof Bernard Mudenda Hang’ombe from the School of Vet and is supported by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Animals and Humans (ACEIDAH), an Africa-wide research group funded by the World Bank.
The new wall fence at UNZA was part of the Lusaka decongestion project led by the government. UNZA was given the money for the fence in exchange for land on which to construct a road that would connect Kamloops and Thabo Mbeki roads. This project has little to do with UNZA management.
Prof Mumba is right to claim credit for the purchase of the not yet operational industrial printer. What he did not say is that the money for the same came from the controversial and possibly questionable extension of the lease of the East Park Project from 25 to 50 years. As Lusaka lawyer Mr Elias Chipimo once publicly did, I challenge the Vice-Chancellor to provide documentary evidence in support of how the East Park lease was extended for peanuts from 25 to 50 years? The public deserves to know the details of this project, especially the extension.
I can go on. The point is that Prof Mumba can take credit as head of the institution, but the real heroes are the lecturers who initiated most of these projects. They may be under his supervision, but they are the architects of these projects who deserve enormous credit.
STATEMENT ON ILL- CONCEIVED SCHEME TO LIFT FORMER PRESIDENTS’ IMMUNITY
The desire of some section of society to demand for stripping off former Heads of State’s immunity is an ill- conceived scheme orchestrated to tarnish their image in the Court of Public Opinion is un acceptable and should come to an end.
We say so because there are no justifiable grounds to do so except to humiliate, embarrass and fix them in an effort to paint them black
This unfortunately also dents the country’s image to the international community.
Zambians will recall how the late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa rushed to Parliament to accuse the second Republican President late Frederick Chiluba of wrongdoing when he presented the so- called prema facie case to have his predecessor’s immunity lifted by Parliament.
As a matter of fact, Parliament lifted President Chiluba’s immunity and was tried by Courts of Law like a common criminal and was subsequently acquitted.
Then, there was the fourth Republican President Rupiah Bwezani Banda whose immunity was lifted after he left office by the PF administration under late President Michael Chilufya Sata, he was taken to court on allegations of wrongdoing, but once again he was set free by the competent Courts of Law.
Moreso, the first Republican President late Dr Kenneth Kaunda was not spared by this evil injustice of the desire to fix former Heads of State as he was also accused of wrongdoing by the MMD administration under President Frederick Chiluba in their ill-conceived attempt to destroy KK’ s legacy.
Zambians will recall that KK was also incarcerated on trumped up charges.
We are also alive to the fact that late President Mwanawasa’s Task Force on Corruption and Plunder of National Resources gobbled colossal sums of money in legal fees and operation costs of our meagre resources that would have been used to provide social services- yet to date the nation has not been availed with the outcome of that expensive undertaking at the expense of the majority poor Zambian people.
We are fully aware of some section of society that are now agitating for the removal of the sixth Republican President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s immunity on baseless grounds.
We are also fully aware that the lifting of former President Lungu’s immunity can only be initiated by the sitting President Mr.Hakainde Hichilema, and we pray that he will not succumb to such ill-conceived demands as the same fate will befall him immediately after he vacates office.
In view of the foregoing, we urge the Zambian people to focus their energies on issues of national unity and development in an effort to improve their livelihood instead of wasting time on none beneficial issues such as the demand for lifting of former Presidents’ immunity for the sole purpose of humiliating and fixing them.
WHO IS EDGAR? WHERE DID HE COME FROM? WAS HE NOT JUST A POLITICAL UP-START? A LAWYER LOOKING FOR A QUICK FIX?
By Lazarus Simukoko
Those that have followed Zambian politics, however, will vividly recall him as an accomplished lawyer that practiced law at the down-town Andre Masiye and Company firm in Lusaka, before he decided the court room was not big enough for him to change people’s lives.
That was during the Mwanawasa administration that evidently appeared to be full of cracks and was attracting all sorts of negative energy from ordinary Zambians and an increasingly impatient civil society.
He joined the then popular Anderson Mazoka led United Party for National Development (UPND) and stuck in there for a while until after soul searching and deep thinking, he left the party to join the little known about PF under veteran fire-brand leader and party founder Michael Chilufya Sata.
Somehow, Lungu’s sixth sense, after he had taken a first lost shot at Chawama as an MP contender, told him that Sata, a known and house-hold grass-roots organizer who had the ability to attract masses had the right formula to change administration for what could be the best.
If his parting shot was anything to go by, he probably had it all figured out with his perceptive Lawyer and military instinct when he said, “In politics, you need a proper mix of politicians and managers, which is what I find in Patriotic Front and President Sata…”
And just like that a new era started for the Lawyer, whom before going to Andre Masiye and company had charted an interesting life or career path having worked for the Ministry of Justice, Barclays Bank Zambia Ltd., and the humongous Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) at its peak as a lawyer.
This was after he graduated among the best from the University of Zambia on that bright summer day of October 17, 1981 and going forward to bag at first attempt his legal practicing credentials in 1993, which many lawyers often don’t earn at first attempt and examples abound.
In fact in some taped “Let the People Talk” interviews, President Sata is often quoted saying, “thank you to one of my lawyers Edgar Lungu and all well-wishers…”
But then maybe it’s the star or galaxies that often link lawyers to politics that gelled him to the current career path as studies in the past show in other parts of the world.
One study shows that in democracies such as the one we live in, Lawyers dominate and this is not quite surprising because the law deals with the same sort of questions as politics.
Lawyers like Lungu often deal with what makes a just society; the balance between liberty and security, while Lawyerly skills, marshaling evidence, appealing to juries (in the case of the United States), command of procedure, transfer well to the political stage. But just remember that Edgar Lungu was not always a Minister of an influential portfolio. He started off in September 2011 after Michael Sata made history by un-seating a serving government that has been at the helm of power for more than two decades as a junior Minister in the Vice President’s office, very under stated.
Within a year under what some pundits have called the fastest rise and rise in office, President Sata tapped him for the Home Affairs Ministry, perhaps at a time seen by many as crucial because of some intra party differences that eventually withered off.
In just under another year, Christmas came early for Edgar Lungu when President Sata made him the first lawyer Minister of Defence of Zambia, in charge of all armed forces and protecting the sovereignty of Zambia on behalf of the President—such trust.
All these tags did not appear to make him grow big headed as he continued his daily routine of going home from the office and later retreating to his real home—Chawama constituency where he was almost a high-priest of sorts, a deity there sorting anything out starting from a marital wrangle to just personal differences amongst constituents when he is not building a health post or making a road.
What is interesting and not known to many is that just days before Christmas, a journalist called Lungu and asked him to sum up in his own words, the political year of 2013 but Lungu in his famed but perspective humility declined to put anything on record.
The classic Lungu response was, “a day in a politician’s life is too long…I cannot competently sum up 2013 before the year ends because we just don’t know as politicians what happens the next day…”
Lungu had no idea when he made this statement that the next day he would be the Minister of Defence in addition to other responsibilities as Chair for the PF Central Committee on Discipline.
In accepting the Sata appointment, Lungu said, “It is a remarkable honour for me, I feel humbled by the magnitude of the responsibility bestowed upon me to serve the people of Zambia.”
But Sata was not through with testing Lungu’s leadership qualities yet because when he was leaving Zambia for a long China tour of duty in order to meet the new leader of China Xi Jinping, President Sata again asked Edgar Lungu to stand in for him and protect the instruments of power, a feat repeated twice in a clear show of confidence.
Lungu again sucked it in and said, “The appointment is humbling and I’m grateful to his Excellency for allowing me to make my humble contribution to service of nation at this (Presidential) capacity.”
But then of course in politics you cannot attract such an attention and not get scathed, so sections of the media have also tried more than once to project Lungu as care-free and easy going fellow who must not be taken seriously, but the more mud they throw at him, the higher he appeared to rise. More like the biblical stone that the builder had refused becoming the bead corner stone.
His official trappings have not been without controversy starting with his strong rejection of homosexualism when he told the West that, “as a nation and government, we will not accept foreign misdemeanors because we have never known same sex marriages of man to man, or woman to woman and the bible does not allow…we would rather remain poor as a nation than accept some of these norms perpetuated by people with money who want to destroy our society.”
As a quotamic at ease with the use of language, he also attracted attention when during the height of some intra-party differences as he called for unity he said, “You cannot play with Hare and hunt with Fox” including a time he denied Rupiah Banda passage abroad fearing that he might “be a flight risk.”
As a military officer, Lungu can probably be liked to others such Ariel Sharon of Israel who served with the Israeli military from 1948, rising through the ranks until retiring as a Major-General in 1973, became defense minister in 1981 and elected prime minister in 1999.
But Lungu stated for the record that he was interested in only serving the people of Chawama and in any position President Sata gave him because, “My (Edgar Lungu) loyalty is to the President…I am too grateful to hold the position I have because for the life of me I never knew I would have it until the President so decided.”
Mr. Lungu served Zambia as probably the most powerful man in the land only next to President Sata—Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance, standing in for seasoned economist Alexander Chikwanda who was out on a tour of duty in the United States. Rose to Presidency.
There is a lesson to be learnt from Edgar Lungu (born on 11th November 1956)—Humility can take you everywhere.
PRESS STATEMENT 11 TH NOVEMBER 2021 THE CASE OF “CLIQUE OF THIVES”; NIMBILA YAMUSHI TABAYANKULA We are not surprised why some people over reacted to the issue of “clique of thieves”. The guilty are always afraid. What must be understood clearly by those implicating innocent people without their consent is that President HH is the Father of the Nation. His concerns about how some people have plundered the Country while majority of Zambians are poor is within his responsibilities.
This can only unsettle people with questionable riches. Its only thieves and crooks that can be bitter and offended by what President HH said. At community level, if a parent takes to the anthill for the unclear death of his child and blames it on witches. It will be self confession for anyone to claim that was directed at him or his grandfather when no names were mentioned. In Bemba we say that IMBILA YAMUSHI TABAYANKULA.
Further, they say ULELILA TABA MUCHEBA KUKANWA. President HH was crying on how a greedy “clique of thieves” has made our youth , our mothers and majority Zambians poor, he was doing so out of passion for the ordinary suffering Zambians. Such passion only comes from a responsible and caring President. Not too long ago we saw how a few people were moving with huge sums of money on wheelbarrows.
When President HH says we are taking the money to the real owners so that they can have a say and determine what they need. This has obviously rattled a “clique of thieves” who are very bitter and offended for taking away the loot from them. The only time this “clique of thieves think of the ordinary Zambians is when they go to harvest Mukula tree from their areas. It’s this kind of greediness that President HH is totally against; all he wants is to share the national cake equally. President HH and the UPND must be commended for genuinely wedging a war against corruption. It’s only a “clique of thieves that feels insecure and exposed each time President HH talks about stealing of public resources. We are aware also that corruption is fighting back vigorously. But it’s our sincere hope that very soon we will know this “clique of thieves”. That’s when Zambians will appreciate how this evil this“clique of thieves” has stolen from them. Percy Chanda
University of Zambia (UNZA) Vice-Chancellor Prof Luke Mumba has responded via Facebook to what l wrote and posted on this page yesterday concerning the challenges of UNZA and the possible solutions. For those who may have missed it, below is Prof Mumba’s response to my post. Please note that l have quoted the reply verbatim.
“Luke Mumba:
With all due respect to President Membe, he should not mislead readers on this platform. He started his story very well by diagnosing correctly the challenges that Unza faces and he proposes practical solutions which have worked in universities in other countries. He however, loses his thoughts when he gets personal by attacking me.
He even goes further to mislead readers that the VC fired Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa. This is false. Let him take time to check the facts. The truth is that I approved Dr Sishuwa’s paid leave of absence which enabled him to proceed to UCT on his sponsored research fellowship.
When the leave of absence expired, I granted him a further leave but this time an unpaid leave in line with Unza procedures for such Special leave.
This was at his request. Dr Sishuwa retains his position in the University asxa Lecturer and will resume his work when his current special leave expires. Dr Sishuwa is still an employee of Unza and to my knowledge he is not facing any disciplinary action.
Mr President Sir, as a respected historian that you are an academician and a senior citizen, you should have taken time to check the facts around Dr Sishuwa’s status at Unza.
The public might also wish to know that Unza is audited annually by external auditors as well as by the Auditor General. Audited accounts are available for any interested stakeholder to verify. President Membe should stop speculating and causing an unnecessary alarm by making false allegations of mismanagement of resources.
Unza is insolvent as an institution and it has been in this state for over 10 years. The perrenial underfunding is the main source of unza’s woes. There is a huge mismatch between our expenditure which is now around K1.1 billon annually as compared to about K700 million in revenue. Unza’s statutory debt and debt to retirees and gratuities now stands at a colossal sum of K9.5 billion.
Inspite of this poor state of affairs financially, we still manage to raise 83% of salaries from our own internally generated resources to augment the 13% that comes from government in form of grants. Paying salaries has not been an easy task for management at Unza.
A survey of universities in the SADC region showd that we are the only country that is running public universities in this manner. Salaries in public universities in the SADC region are paid by governments on account that we offer a public good as public universities. We produce Human Resources that manage the economy in various sectors but we also conduct research and generate new knoeledhe which is a public good.
We are not a profit making organization and we are not structured as such. Yes, like any other modern university, we have business ventures to supplement our revenue but this is not our core mandate or business as a university.
Another milestone we have scored in the past 5 years is that we have moved Unza from number 55 in university rankings in 2016 to number 18 out of 200 universities in Africa. This is not a mean achievement and it can be ascribed to the excellent work of our researchers and staff in general.
Under our administration, Unza had seen multi million dollar infrastructure development projects which include the following, the Special Education Needs Centre, the Unza industrial printer, the New Teaching and Learning Complex, New lecture theatres in the School if Engineering, thrvnew Graduate School of Business Complex, the new African Centre of Excellence Building in the School of Vet Medicine, the New Lecture theatre at the School of Public Health.
Other projects include the ongoing construction of a 3KM perimeter wall fence around the GERC and the 100,000 cubic litre water reservoir at the new residences. These are unprecedented developments never recorded before at Unza.
Through this platform, I am inviting President Membe to visit Unza so that I can take time to explain to him the truth stake realities about our national university. Let him not rely rumours, innuendos and falsehoods. Let us keep petty politics out of our national university.
As an aspiring president for this country, we expect an honesty and truthful analysis of Unza challenges to come out from you Sir. Only the truth shall set all of us free.”
Please note: I will issue a response to the above in due course.
THE Constitutional Court is today expected to hear a petition in which Governance Activist Isaac Mwanza has asked the court to interpret whether a minister can be in office after dissolution of Parliament but before commencement of Parliament.
Mr. Mwanza has dragged the Attorney General to court over what appears to be questions sorrounding the performance of ministerial functions by Finance Minister Situmbeko before the commencement of the National Assembly.
The petition shall be heard by the full bench of the Constitutional Court at 09 hours.
Mr Mwanza has also challenged the Attorney General on whether a person can legally be appointed to head a ministry established or merged and perform the functions of that office before approval by the National Assembly of Zambia.
In reference to the appointment of Felix Mutati and other UPND Alliance leaders, Mr Mwanza has questioned the court on whether, in terms of Article 69 as read together with Article 81 of the Constitution of Zambia, a person who has not been sworn in as a nominated Member of Parliament can be sworn in as a minister and perform ministerial functions.
Mr Mwanza has also asked the Court to clarify the law on whether, in view of Article 173(3) of the Constitution of Zambia, the President or any other appointing authority can terminate the employment of a public officer without just cause and due process.
Public officers have always been the first casualty from politicians upon change of government.
He has also asked the Court to interpret on whether the President can institute, create or abolish a public office without recommendation of the relevant Service Commission as was done with the creation of the office of Deputy Inspector General of Police – Special Duties (State House).
He is also seeking an interpretation on whether a Presidential abolishment of an office in the public service with a substantive holder is constitutional, legal and valid.
Republican President Hakainde Hichilema has in the past few weeks sworn in Finance Minister Musokotwane and other Ministers before the dissolved National Assembly commenced.
He has also fired various public officers without affording them due process and appointed other in their place.
Mr Mutati, who was nominated, assumed office before Parliament approved the establishment of their Ministries.
CHITA Lodge limited will have some of its property be sold for failure to settle K18 million it acquired from Development Bank of Zambia ( DBZ) in 2013 for the construction of a resort, purchase of four boats, a bus and furniture and fittings in Samfya District in Luapula province.
This came to light during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting on the accounts of the parastatal bodies and other statutory institutions for the financial year ended 2020 which is cited in the auditor general’s report.
The committee has also leant that several companies that got loans from DBZ have failed to service their loans and this has affected the performance of the bank
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance Danies Chisenda disclosed that the loan was restructured to K48, 802,590 after approval of additional loans in 2017 and had an extended grace period for repayments from February 1st 2015 to December 31st 2016.
Mr Chisenda explained that the records revealed that out of the restructured loan amount of K48,802,590, the bank only disbursed amounts totaling to K22,000,000 leaving a balance of K26,802,590 undisbursed and there was an outstanding loan amount of K88,627,116 comprising interest of K72,447,571 and principal K16,179,546.
Mr Chisenda said last year Chita Lodge owed an amount of K103, 453,269 comprising interest K87, 273,723 and principal K16, 179,546.
However, there was no documentary evidence of any legal action or re-negotiation made regarding the non-performing loan despite the facility being restructured.
The PS said the project has gone through various restructurings to make it viable but its revenue collections capacity was inadequate to service the loan facility.
He said through the tenure Chita lodges proposed the use of some of their collateral to facilitate the paying off of their loan liability.
He disclosed that Chita lodges came up with a concept to parcel out pieces of land on the Kafue property with a value which is much greater than the outstanding loan.
And PAC chairperson sitting on parastatal bodies and other statutory institutions, Brian Mbita, said it is unfortunate the Bank could not take action before things reached to this point. He however said PAC will still call back DBZ after going through details for further clarifications.
Other companies that have failed to settle their loans is Shimaini which got about K36, 267,810 for the construction of a maize silo, milling plant and Weight Bridge in Kitwe at an interest rate of 22.25% with the repayment period of 120 months effective June 2015.
Africa Transmission Limited got US$857,108 for the purchase and installation of a UHT soya milk plant and completion of the construction of a factory and farmhouse for senior workers as well as Kalahari Drilling and Exploration Limited with a total sum of K8, 100,000 comprising of K500, 000 as working capital Loan and K7, 600,000 as a long term loan.
Divorce: The gist, the side note, the plug and the P.S note.
The gist: This year I tore the original script and started a new one with worn out tools.
(The original script was being Mrs. R, working on having maybe 2 to 4 babies and living happily ever after in Lusaka).
The new script, divorced, moved to a new town, with a couple of suitcases and a son, got blessed with a new job, new business location, new friends and a new realization that all things are figure-out-able and I’ve started turning my messes into successes daily.
There’s life even after forever doesn’t work out. And God sure has a way of making all things NEW.
The side note: Men are not always the (only) wrong party in a divorce. I can not play victim after my divorce or downplay the role I had to play. It took two to break our marriage.
The plug: Bitcoin reached an all time high yesterday. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to participate. Future you will thank you later.
Sign up to buy your first bitcoin using the following link bit.ly/steyellow and let me know that you did.
🌸
A P.S note: I know I’ll have family and friends who would rather I don’t post this, but I’d like to just say that what got me through the last year and a half was knowing people who went through divorce and got through and talking to them, being able to speak through my anxieties, and watching them flourish (alone or even in second marriages) and I thank God that I stumbled on a post on their divorce and so I was able to reach out. I hope that anyone who is going through a divorce right now and is confused can find a glimpse of hope, that things work out in the end. The script changes, but the show must go on.
President Hichilema, please hear the cry of UNZA students
It was heart wreaking to see UNZA students braving the Lusaka heat to walk to State House seeking to be addressed by President Hakainde Hichilema.
Ordinarily, our students should be busy preparing for their exams beginning next week but they had to walk the tarmac to have audience with the Head of State over the happenings at campus.
Off course they were blocked from seeing the President and that is where we have a problem with President Hichilema and the way he is running his government.
We know from our friends in the diplomatic community that securing an appointment to see President Hichilema at State House or at his Community House is one of the easiest things to do, the President is ever so willing to meet and chat with all manner of foreigners and pretend to be working. His Facebook page is littered with hundreds of photos of him meeting western diplomats and businessmen but he failed to meet students who had a genuine matter they wanted to table with him.
We have come to a harsh conclusion, it is easier for President Hichilema to meet western people who are visiting him willy nilly but our own students have to be blocked by armed police from meeting him.
When he campaigned, he promised he will run an open dooor policy at State House. We wish to remind him that the student populace is a large constituency which he will not manage to ignore. President Hichilema needs to open up his doors and hear the cries from the students.
Conspicuously, even his Facebook handlers have decided to totally ignore the happenings at UNZA as if they live in a different planet. When in opposition, each time there was student unrest at UNZA, he was one of the first people to write long essays condemning the PF for neglecting higher education and offering a litany of possible solutions.
Leadership is about consistency, integrity and trustworthiness and we are advising President Hichilema to be sincere in his approach to leadership. UNZA is one of the first leadership tests and he is failing.
If he was a still a student at UNZA, President Hichilema would only receive a C for atleast instructing the Police not to beat up the students.
WIDOW TO LATE VET DOCTOR NARRATES IN COURT OF EVENTS LEADING TO DISCOVERY OF BODY
THE Lusaka High Court has heard how a girl led police officers to an area where she picked murdered Veterinary doctor Evans Mwape Mwengwe’s wallet.
Late Dr Mwengwe’s widow Cecilia narrated to the court that her husband left home for Serenje on May 30, this year until June 10, when it was discovered that he had been murdered.
She said she was in touch with Dr Mwengwe on June 10, 2021 as he called to inform her that he had started off for Lusaka.
Mrs Mwengwe said she was in touch with him and that he notified her when he reached Kapiri Mposhi that he would stop over in Kabwe to pick up his mother before proceeding to Lusaka.
She said at around 19:00 hours on the fateful day, Dr Mwengwe informed her that he had left Kabwe for Lusaka but that when she tried to phone him around 22:00 hours, his phone was unreachable.
She said she informed the family about the missing of Dr Mwengwe and they started searching for him but they could not find him.
Mrs Mwengwe said she later received information that her husband’s wallet was found and a girl who picked it up led the police to scene.
She said at that time, she was at the lodge with other family members as they were waiting for an update.
Mrs Mwengwe said she heard one of her sister-in-laws crying and realized something wrong had happened to her husband.
She said on their way to the place where the wallet was picked, they met with police officers who informed them that Dr Mwengwe’s body had been found far from the Chikumbi gravel road.
And the deceased’s brother, Ignatius said Dr Mwengwe’s body was discovered in Kabangwe area with the jean trousers he was wearing burnt and partially undressed.
He said the ground where the body was laying was also partially burnt.
He said the body was tied around the neck with a rope that looked like shoe laces.
Meanwhile, another witness, David Tembo, testified how he received a call from a friend who told him someone was selling car tyres together with rims.
He said he bought the four tyres for K1,700 while rims were K1,800 after negotiating with the seller.
Lusaka woman, Doris Nduba is jointly charged with Kenani Jere, Keegan Zulu and Josat Tembo for killing Dr Mwengwe.
