BRIEFCASE maize buyers in Chipata have taken advantage of the low maize price to purchase the commodity cheaply from desperate farmers. The businesspersons are buying a gallon of maize at K3. Maize buyers have flooded Chimsana Village in chief Mafuta’s area of Chipangali Constituency purchasing the commodity for supply to Food Reserve Agency at a higher price.

A farmer, Jabes Banda, revealed that the buyers lure the farmers with instant cash.

“ FRA will not pay you there and then. Another thing is the money you get from selling to FRA in the designated areas costs us transport, which again reduces the money so these men and women who are buying from us are taking advantage of the situation,” said Banda. FRA has set the price for maize at K60 per 50 Kilogramme bag.

GEORGE Mpombo says it is now too late for Zambians to oppose the purchase of 42 fire tenders at $42 million when the trucks have already been delivered to Zambia.

And Mpombo says the procurement of fire machines at such an excessively humongous price raises questions about the credibility of the government. At the time the $42 million fire trucks contract was revealed in 2015 by The Post, the opposition questioned the cost and advised that the deal be cancelled.

But they were dismissed by the PF and its government and called “frustrated politicians” who were bitter because of losing elections. The fire trucks have now been delivered to Zambia and yet to be distributed to councils across the country. Following the flagging off of the distribution exercise by Vice-President Inonge Wina last Friday and a tweet by local government minister Vincent Mwale, there has been public outrage over the deal, with several Zambians wondering why the country accepted to purchase a unit of the fire tenders at $1 million.

Local musician Chama Fumba, popularly known as Pilato, has since posted mobile numbers for Mwale, local government permanent secretary Amos Malupenga and supplier GrandView International shareholder Bokani Soko, asking Zambians to individually seek answers over the fire tender deal.

But Mpombo said the whole issue was now “water under the bridge” as Zambians missed the chance to have the contract terminated before the trucks could be supplied.

“The Zambian people should get out of the cocoon of timidity and speak out on issues while they are in manageable stages. Zambians will be the ones to pay heavily over the government’s misuse of taxpayer’s money if they chose to be in a cocoon. Now its water under the bridge, there is nothing more we can do. What is being said now should have been said when we were alerted in 2015 that these people plan to purchase fire tenders at $42 million. Zambians have to be pro-active and raise issues as they come. To talk when things have already reached boiling point, when things have already slipped out of a manageable stage of control doesn’t help,”

Mpombo said.

“It really doesn’t help, people should have the duty of providing checks and balances. If these issues were raised at an appropriate time when the media talked about them, I am sure things would have taken a different turn altogether. Let Zambians get out of the cocoon of timidity and passiveness and speak when it matters most. Now the cost is quite hefty, we will pay heavily.”

The former defence minister said the government should explain how it settled to spend $1 million on a single van. He said the deal “smelt a rat” and watered down the credibility of the leaders in government today.

“That is such an excessively humongous price, it’s huge. The government must unravel the mechanism of pricing behind that. That figure is astounding, the prices raises eyebrows,” Mpombo said.

He said the entire deal was a rip-off on the coffers of the already limping economy.

“This boarders on moral issues. The nation deserves a clear explanation. As it stands, we smell a rat. The whole thing doesn’t add up. The whole thing is a rip-off of public funds, which can reverse the economic outlook or economic development of the country. When you are saying you are cutting costs and there are these activities that raise eyebrows, it’s a setback to the economic development of the country. It also leads to a loss of confidence in the procurement system of the country. The nation deserves an explanation on why an expensive bidder was picked. This raises a lot of ethical and moral issues,”

Mpombo said.

“These are issues that undermine the credibility of government, that’s why it is important for the country to know exactly how that bidder was arrived at. There were shortcuts in order to favour certain individuals. Certain people close to the corridors of power took advantage of the situation; the nation needs to know. There is a confidence crisis in government. When a nation is going through an economic tough patch then such things are being exposed, it raises a lot of issues. We need answers to the many questions about the fire machines.”

Every major town with a population of 100,000 or more will have its own CT-SCAN.
Every district in Zambia will have a new state of art X-ray machine.
We will build enough desks to cover every kid starting grade one next year.
We shall make a deposit of 20,000 personal computers, so that every child in Zambia can have access to a computer by 2025.
All rural districts will have 2 ambulances each, this should help reduce the mother maternal deaths in the country.
And of course the 42 fire engines will be bought at the right price.

Business & Financial Analyst Blessings Kafwanka says the procurement of the 42 fire trucks at an exorbitant cost of $42 million is an indication of financial mismanagement and inherent weaknesses that exist in the procurement process in most government ministries and State owned enterprises.

Mr. Kafwanka tells QTV News that the company that was engaged to supply the fire trucks is not a manufacturer or distributor of firefighting equipment.

He says a quick online check reveals that the supplier of the fire trucks is principally a local procurement provider, they take over the entire sourcing/procurement process and import by offering local corporations a variety of sources and procurement services.

He thinks that the supplier, Grandview International, offers an essential service to businesses that may not have the capacity or simply not willing to establish a procurement department due to the cost implications that arise.

Mr. Kafwanka says with the oversight and strict implementation of the regulations set by Zambia Public Procurement Agency (ZPPA), the procurement process can be done more efficiently.

He explains that the decision to engage Grandview international to perform a function that should have been performed by a procurement department which probably has better qualified & experienced personnel who are not only on payroll but receiving allowances such as housing, medical, education and a retirement package raises a lot of questions.

The Business & Financial Analyst says the purchase of the fire trucks at an exaggerated cost of $42 million could have been avoided by eliminating intermediaries and inviting bids only from manufactures and dealers of the specified equipment.

Mr. Kafwanka says lack of action on the recommendations made by the Auditor General’s reports on financial mismanagement further compounds this problem.

By Honorable Chishimba Kambwili

“Sunday Chanda my young man, do not fight other people’s battles and do not get your fingers dirty just because you want to keep that Mazda Van you were given from state house, remember the days Frank Bwalya chased you, you looked like your life had come to an end, you are a nobody in President Lungu’s eyes so if I were you I would stop getting ahead of myself, without the PF feeding you from hand to mouth you would be on the streets.

“Don’t think you are special because you have a small portfolio and your prowess at insulting me has gotten you on the Aviation Board, those appointments are not for life and for your own information the only use you are to President Lungu is to insult me, remember I have had personal conversations with the president and he has nothing good to say about you. When he says jump all you have to do is say how high, you are a spineless little boy and a mere atom in the political space.

Let me do my rantings and if they mean nothing to you just watch, don’t ask me to be quiet when I am talking about real issues of which deep down the bottom of your heart you know are the gospel truth.

“When your name came up in central committee everyone was upset with the idea of you and insisted on not accepting you to join PF because you were the same person who was insulting President Sata but surprisingly the very person your insulting today stood up for you and told central committee that forgive the young man and give him a chance, but that is besides the point.

“I am not your agemate for you to be disrespecting me on a personal level, you know nothing about PF and that same Scrap metal business your downplaying helped PF get to where it is today.

“Don’t be fooled by the glitz and glamour of quick money and inflated portfolios because life will slap you right back in your face, don’t think others have no voice because everyone wants to say something but those who we suffered with know exactly what we went through and that’s why they have remained mute because what is happening today is unbearable.

“You must always ask yourself if Chishimba Kambwili can be mistreated what makes little unknown Sunday Chanda indispensable ?. Emulate Dr Jonas Chanda a man of integrity and direction, do not look at Chanda Chimba and draw inspiration from it. Mind you you are supposed to be mourning your dear brother, whilst your brother lays in the mortuary or you can think about is attacking Chishimba Kambwili so that your board position can remain secure.

“What a terrible heart you have young man and I feel sorry for your elders. Sometimes put politics behind and respect the mourning period don’t always think about your belly at the expense of mourning your beloved brother.

“I am now in opposition because of people like you misleading the President, which is fine I have no hate towards President Lungu and indeed I wish him the best, but don’t expect me to be quiet over corruption when a 5 year old child can see that the coffers are being looted.

“I am not fighting President Lungu I am asking him simple questions, don’t threaten me with being bruised or going to jail, I am not scared of anything and if asking questions and offering checks and balances makes you feel like your job is in danger then that’s your own problem.

One thing your forgetting is you are enriching yourselves and forgetting the grassroots, get it from me the grassroots are completely scattered and i know you cannot feel it from your comfortable air conditioned office at the secretariat, you have way more problems that Chishimba Kambwili.

Next time you open that disrespectful mouth of yours I would like some answers.

1. Where did President Lungu get K21 million kwacha in 12 months ?

2. Where does President Lungu get K10 million kwacha for marketeers from ?

3. Where in the world can you spend $1 million dollars on a basic fire engine ?

4. Why did Kampyongo accept 3 brand new vehicles from Grandview ?

“Answer the questions since you are now the spokesperson for the President. My advise to you young man is not to get ahead of yourself and create enemies all for the sake of another human being, be independent and have some respect. Let me put it on record that this is the last time I am responding to your hogwash.”

Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili has labeled the Patriotic Front Government a government of thieves.

Contributing to debate on the presidential speech to Parliament, Mr Kambwili whose debate was curtailed by First Deputy Speaker Catherine Namugala following his statement charged that the corruption which is allegedly taking place in the PF government is worse than the alleged corruption that took place during Second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba’s reign.

He alleged that officials in the PF government have stolen have made themselves rich.

Mr Kambwili says infrastructure development has become a conduit of corruption.

He says while the world over a kilometer of a road costs US$1 million, in Zambia the same kilometer costs US$3.7 million.

Mr Kambwili states that the people of Zambia will have the last say.

The Roan MP says the PF should change the way of doing things so that the party can maybe stay in power for another five years, provided the party changes the president.

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Kampamba Mulenga has denied uttering remarks attributed to her by The Mast newspaper in which she is quoted telling civil servants not to depend on government salary but venture into businesses like chicken rearing.

Ms Mulenga has since appealed to civil servants that may have been offended by the fabrication to ignore what he she has termed as falsehood and a figment of someone else’s imagination and belongs to gutter journalism.

She says she is a responsible person and respects all Zambians regardless of their status in society.

Ms Mulenga says during the joint press briefing with her Labour counterpart Joyce Simukoko there was only one topic of discussion relating to the transfer of workers by KCM to its contractors.

She adds that after the briefing, there were only two questions asked and both were related to the issue of the miners and that the named reporter from The Mast did not ask any question.

Ms Mulenga says it is, therefore, disheartening that a journalist can concoct a story and even fabricate direct quotations and attribute them to her.

She states that this kind of behaviour by some journalists is what gives journalism a bad name, and that as Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, she is greatly disappointed that some journalists continue to be at loggerheads with the truth.

The Minister says what is even more scary is that she was not misquoted on the statement she issued, but was drawn into a story she is not aware of and made a source.

Ms Mulenga has advised Journalists to tell the truth and own up when they have misinformed the people.

THE Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has charged that it is insensitive and irresponsible for the state to seek to intimidate citizens by arrests for demanding answers on the procurement of 42 fire trucks at a total cost o US$42 million.LONGWE NGOCC

In a statement, NGOCC board Chairperson Sara Longwe says the Council condemns in the strongest terms the arrest last Friday of six members of the Joint Action for Accountability in Zambia for peacefully protesting against corruption and Government’s purchase of 42 fire truck tenders.

She says NGOCC demands that the charges against the six protesters be immediately dropped.

Ms Longwe says the arrest is not only unwarranted, but totally unconstitutional given that citizens have the right to protest and question the decisions of those that are in Government.

She says without doubt, the transaction involving the 42 Fire Tenders points to corruption and must be investigated.

She says NGOCC in collaboration with other Civil Society Organisations are petitioning the Head of State to immediately constitute an Independent Commission of Inquiry.

Ms Longwe states that NGOCC and other organizations are of the view that constituting an Independent Commission of Inquiry will help to settle this matter since it was already dealt with by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), who cleared the tender process.

She says it is important, therefore, that an Independent Commission of Inquiry is constituted to, among others things, provide an independent and expert opinion over the transparency and integrity of the tender processes, comparative cost findings of the 42 Fire Tenders at $42 million, taking into account the specifications.

Ms Longwe says where wrong-doing is found; those found wanting should be prosecuted.

She states that it is NGOCC’s contention that any reckless expenditure of public resources and more so reports of corruption preclude meaningful women’s and girls’ empowerment programs.

She adds that it is also a fact that resources sipping through Government treasury into private corrupt hands are robbing the nation of the needed resources to invest in empowering social services like sexual reproductive health and curbing of gender based violence among others.

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A consortium of civil society organizations has called on law enforcement agencies to investigate the nationality of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holding (ZCCM-IH) Chief Executive Officer Pius Kasolo.

This comes amid allegations that Mr. Kasolo is not Zambian and obtained South African Citizenship, contravening Section 52 CAP 2, as read with Section 56 of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of the laws of Zambia.Guess Nyirenda

Addressing a media briefing on behalf of the consortium, Operation Young Vote (OYV) Executive director Guess Nyirenda, has wondered how Mr. Kasolo managed to secure his appointment at ZCCM-IH in 2014 as an alleged foreign national, when the position was meant for indigenous Zambians.

Mr. Nyirenda says Mr. Kasolo is also alleged to have admitted that he owns a number of South African Companies where he also lives, a situation he describes as unfortunate.

He says it is disheartening that local contractors and suppliers have been complaining of not having businesses with the mines, when an alleged foreign national has been allegedly awarding himself contracts.

Mr Nyirenda availed documents purporting to suggest that Mr. Kasolo possess a South African National Registration Number 5801255256089 has called on law enforcement agencies to treat the matter with the agency it deserves.

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MIKE Mulongoti says time will come when President Edgar Lungu and his close associates will be prosecuted for wrongs committed under their charge.

Mulongoti, the People’s Party president and former Cabinet minister in the MMD government, said President Lungu had taken a collision path with the people of Zambia.

He said it was sad that President Lungu had had quickly forgotten about his poverty because of the wealth he had abruptly amassed.

“You know, when dealing with matters of the State, it is always important to ask yourself whether what you are doing is okay. You need to seek the approval of the public because they are the owners of the resources. It appears Mr Lungu has taken a collision path with the people of Zambia that no matter what they say, he is the alpha and the omega. He should not forget that he is not the first president. There have been presidents before and there will be presidents after him,” Mulongoti said.

“Now, if he has to give all business deals to his friends, I will tell you, time will come when they will be prosecuted together. And if that is their wish, we wish them well. This level of impunity and arrogance cannot go on forever, more so when the economy is so stressful to the people of Zambia. But one day they will seek answers from those in authority. The problem with Mr Lungu is he has forgotten his poverty. Now that he has so much wealth, he has forgotten his poverty, he thinks that wealth just came to him because God loves him so much than the people of Zambia.”

He said he was sure that soon President Lungu and his friends in government would be brought to book.
“They will be arrested; they won’t be there forever. Time comes when you have to leave office,” said Mulongoti.

Police on Friday stopped a peaceful protest against corruption in government and arrested the organisers of the march. Joint Action for Accountability in Zambia pioneer Laura Miti, musician Chama Fumba, Mika Mwambazi, Sean Tembo, Lewis Mwape, and Bonwell Mwewa were picked up near Parliament buildings as they protested against the government’s corruption.

They were released around midnight on Friday on bond.

Earlier on Friday, police told Miti not to proceed with the protest march despite them being notified as per requirement under the public order Act. However, Miti refused and said the march would go ahead as it had been planned to coincide with the presentation of the national budget by finance minister Felix Mutati.

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Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusaka Tuesday slapped Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili outside parliament; while Lands Minister Jean Kapata poured a bottle of water on him following recent allegations of corruption he has been making.

Rising on a point of order, Mr Kambwili asked the Speaker whether the two were in order to attack him within the precincts of Parliament.

He narrated that he was slapped twice by Mr Lusambo who told him that he would be dealt with for his accusations against government and that while he was retreating; Ms Kapata sprinkled a full bottle of water on him accompanied by insults.

Mr Kambwili said this whole incident was witnessed by Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba and MMD Felix Mutati led faction National Secretary Raphael Nakachinda.

But just after the Speaker’s ruling, Lands Minister Jean Kapata raised on a counter point of order asking the Speaker whether Mr Kambwili was in order to continue going round radio stations calling her a thief for allegedly stealing money through Mukula logs.

And Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini who has reserved ruling on both points of order says there is a risk that Parliament could be taken into a platform for fists of fury at the rate things are going.

He says he will not allow the house to degenerate to such levels.

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I used to buy toilet paper for Mumbi Phiri, says Chishimba Kambwili.

And Kambwili says he is confident that Parliament police will tell the truth about who beat who yesterday.

Meanwhile, Kambwili says Minister of Lands Jean Kapata is using ZAFFICO and some Chinese Corporatives to export Mukula logs.

Speaking to Journalists at his Kabulonga residence in Lusaka today, Kambwili wondered why Phiri was boasting that she was married to a wealthy man who even built her a mansion when he could not afford to buy toilet tissue.

“My dear sister Mumbi Phiri, if you live in a thatched house don’t throw stones. I have avoided talking about you because you are a friend but you are messing yourself up. Don’t go on the radio and start defending yourself ‘no me I was married to a man who was very wealthy that’s why I built that house’ when you have not even been asked. Wait until the Anti- corruption one day asks you. Akanwa kamilandu kalaibala (a guilty mouth provokes itself or the guilty are always afraid) Mumbi don’t tell people that you were married to a wealthy man. I used to buy toilet tissue for you and bathing soap for you who is married to a wealthy man, mulekwatako insoni (learn to have some shame), I would go into your house Mumbi elo nasanga namulepula inyunshi ensho mulebomfwa mu toilet elo natila Mumbi, MP inyunshi mu toilet (I would find you have cut pieces of newspapers for use in your toilet then I would say Mumbi are you really using these newspaper in your toilet)? And then I would go to Shoprite and buy for you,” Kambwili said.

He said he did not intend to disclose Phiri’s secret but that she pushed him to do so by her claims.

“So Mumbi Phiri if I am lying come and explain how you and your wealthy man built that house you are living in. Ba wealthy man abalefilwa ukushita tissue (a wealthy man who could not afford to buy you tissue)? Mulekwata insoni mwakulasebana (have some shame to avoid embarassment). Some of these things I am even sorry to have revealed this but it’s because you forcing me, better keep quiet because ifyo twingalanda fingi (there is a lot that we can say) and it’s not that we are stupid, we just respect you. I could buy you soap and tissue iwe Mumbi Phiri but lelo (today) ati ‘I am married to a wealthy man’, kanshi bakaso ba wealthy man (then that wealthy man is stingy),” he said.

And Kambwili said he was confident that the security cameras at parliament will reveal the truth about what transpired at parliament.

“About yesterday’s issue at Parliament, I am extremely disappointed. It is part of their [PF] plan. They want to provoke me so that I react. But I am above them. Yesterday Bowman comes where I was standing with honourable [Harry] Kalaba and the national secretary for MMD [Raphael] Nakacinda, we were talking and the boy [Lusambo] just came poking my forehead saying ‘iwe chi mudala uletweba ati (you old man why are you telling us that) we are a corrupt government, we will sort you out’ but I just told him that young man I don’t know what you are talking about excuse me, we don’t behave like that at Parliament. All of a sudden he just gave me two slaps and a punch but I just moved backwards and said what kind of behavior is this? I never reacted or touched him, not even poking his tummy,” he said.

“But today he has gone on radio saying ‘it’s Kambwili who grabbed my neck’ but you see the goodness of the truth, Parliament has got cameras. The cameras picked what was happening but he [Lusambo] doesn’t know that. Those security officers at Parliament don’t tell lies, those are trained, they are not like some police in this country who can tell lies for the sake of the politicians but Parliament police are above partisan politics. They are ones who stopped him and yesterday before I knocked off they were even saying ati kwena twapapa sana ba honourable uyu muntu kanshi efyo eba (we are so surprised honourable Kambwili at the Copperbelt minister, is this how he is?) but we all know who Bowman is, so we should just blame the person who appointed him as minister because that chap belongs to cadres who are supposed to be beating people that don’t agree with the party, is that the caliber you can be bringing into Parliament?”

Kamwbili said Lusambo had a history of violence.

“I have been in Parliament for three terms and that is not a joke, it’s because the people of Luanshya trust me. Since when did you hear me beat anybody in Parliament or get involved in a physical confrontation at Parliament or even outside? But Bowman has got that history, remember what he did to Major [Richard] Kachingwe? Takwata nomumucinshi kuti waya mukwikata muli ba wiso balya ba Kachingwe (he doesn’t even have respect, how can he go and confront Major Kachingwe who is old enough to be his father)? Nomba (but) who is me? But anyway that matter is now in court and we will leave it to the courts,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kambwili accused Kapata of using soldiers and ZAFFICO to illegally confiscate Mukula logs from people in the villages and sell it to the Chinese for her own benefit.

“And for my sister Jean, my questions [for you] are very simple. You went and announced to this country that you had banned the export of Mukula but the question that we are asking you Jean is that why are you still issuing export permits to the Chinese? Poor people in the villages invest their money in the Mukula, you even give them trading licenses batema Mukula but mwaya bapoka (they harvest the Mukula but you go and confiscate it) using the soldiers and take it to Lusaka then you start using the Chinese and ZAFFICO to export and then you are sharing the money. But when we ask you to say why have you continued giving these export permits…because when you ban something, it should be across the board for everybody but when you are allowing some sections in society to trade in the Mukula then that’s corruption. You are minister in charge of land and natural resources but when people say you are corrupt you want to start insulting them,” said Kambwili.

CREDIT: NEWS DIGGERS

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THE University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union has advised its members to slow down the examinations processes due to delayed salaries.

In a memorandum to the university’s Registrar copied to the vice chancellor, bursar and all deans signed by the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) president Dr Evans Lampi and his secretary Dr Kelvin Mambwe, the lectures say they will never allow a situation where they are turned into beggars.

“Re: Suspension of processing of 2016/17 examinations over delayed salaries. We are very disappointed with the way things are being run at the University of Zambia. We are particularly very upset with the continued trend of delaying salaries for our members,” the union stated.
“To this end, we are hereby instructing all our members to relax the examination process until the last member of UNZALARU with an account at NATSAVE is paid . This means that no UNZALARU member will be expected to attend any scheduled Department/School Board of Examiners/Senate meetings and/ or any related activity starting this week even if ZANACO or Barclays were to pay today [October 5],” the memo read in part.

The union added that a salary was one’s entitlement paid at every month-end based on lecturers’ inputs.

“Any disruption to this agreement entails disruption of day-to-day university activities,” stated UNZALARU, which further warned of similar actions every month if the delays in salaries continued.

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Zambia National team head coach, Wedson Nyirenda is not moved by the big names in the Super Eagles fold ahead of their Saturday’s showdown , in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers penultimate round.

Speaking to the press in Uyo, Nyirenda played down talks of Chipolopolo being under pressure ahead of the tie–while talking highly of his lads and what they can do against a Nigerian side with household names.

“Which pressure? Do I look like I have pressure?

Asked on how his young guns compare with the much more established West Africans, the former Zanaco and Zesco United coach was bullish in his response.

“You have all the big names, we do not have the big names. All we have is the eleven players.

On arrival in Uyo State on Thursday, Chipolopolo Boys captain Kennedy Mweene was asked the same question.

“Football is played on the pitch eleven against eleven,” Mweene responded.

The shot stopper didn’t end there.

“We have exciting youngsters in the team,” the Sundowns goalkeeper reminded the Nigerians about the threat of Fashion Sakala, Augustine Mulenga, Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka.

Nigeria lead the Group on 10 points, three ahead of the Southern Africa powerhouse .

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Wynter Kabimba has charged that Roan member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili is corrupt, stating that he used to go round mines on the Copperbelt to ask for money when he served as minister.

And Mr Kabimba has described allegations by Mr Kambwili that President Lungu has amassed questionable wealth within a short period of time as “myopic logic”.

Speaking when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme yesterday, Mr Kabimba said when he was Patriotic Front Secretary-General, he wrote a letter to Mr Kambwili warning him of his corrupt activities.

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Super Eagles of Nigeria has made it to the 2018 Russia FIFA World Cup after beating Zambia 1-0 in Uyo. It was a second successive 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier ,Nigeria came off tops against Zambia.

Nigeria beat Zambia 1-0 on Saturday in a gritty penultimate Group B clash in Uyo to end any hopes of a determined Chipolopolo reach to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

This result came after the Super Eagles had earlier beaten Zambia 2-1 in the two sides opening Group B qualifiers on October 9 2016 in Ndola.

Alex Iwobi scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute after replacing Victor Moses just before the hour mark.

However, this came after Zambia had played the better football with Alex Ngonga denied twice in the first half by Ikechukwu Ezenwa one of which the Prestigious top-man hit the upright.

Augustine Mulenga even had the ball in the back of the net in the 52nd minute but his effort was mysterious ruled out for offside to the disbelief of the Sensational Banker.

Nigeria qualify with an unassailable 13 points with a match to spar.

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Power Dynamos striker Alex N’gonga’s family home in Chimwemwe Township in Kitwe has been attacked by thugs following Zambia’s 1-nil loss to Nigeria in the 2018 World Cup qualifier match.

Copperbelt province police commissioner Charity Katanga says a group of people emerged from a white Toyota Landcruiser ACC 5492 and maliciously damaged two roofing sheets with stones.

Ms. Katanga says the group accused N’gonga of missing scoring chances that crashed Zambia’s hopes of qualifying to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

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By Joe Mwansa Lombe Kaluba

I have written in most of my articles and posts that everything nowadays is anchored on politics.

Sport, religion, culture or anything to do with social development programs is politically influenced.

This for me has a lot of issues attributed to it. Good and bad alike, the question is what can we learn from this? That is if we can.

You will agree with me that sports disciplines like football are now run by people who are influenced by politics. In my opinion it is an animal farm affair. Look at how FIFA works and how they run their rankings. Purely political.

Having said that. I want to talk about the Nigeria -Zambia game. Before, during and after the game and where we go from here.

First things first. I am really sure that Mr Andrew Kamanga and his team at Football Association of Zambia are working very hard to improve the game of football in our nation. That’s why in their first term in office they have brought or rather helped us win the U20 COSAFA Cup, U20 African Cup of Nations and qualifications to the CHAN Championship among other achievements.

This is good work. But we have achieved most of those things with previous administrators. People wanted a World Cup qualification. For me that was a standard l put for Kamanga. Hence regardless of what happened and what did not. FAZ and the technical bench have failed us.

Too much politicking, pride and arrogance has failed us. The game against Nigeria was a game changer where qualification for Russia was concerned.

In my opinion the exclusion of senior players was a very big mistake by coach Wada Nyirenda. Big boys know how to handle big games like the one we had with the Super Eagles. Experience counts. Kalaba, Tembo, Mbesuma, Kalengo among others would have used their experience to deal with the likes of Moses. Even that goal we are crying about. They would have known how to respond.

Our young stars played standard football not one that would show a team going for a win. The likes of Fashion and Mwepu are good yes. But let’s face it they are still infants at senior level. So whatever beef happened between Wada or FAZ and people like Rainford and Winston was handled with immaturity by those in power. Football politics at play.

I am a Liverpool supporter and my team is very bad at the back because of one thing. The defense which was getting strong because of the help of Mamadu Sakho. But because of the misunderstanding during pre season training between Liverpool manager Klopp and Sakho. Our defense is like a big net with holes. Mamadu was cast out through a loan and later a sell. Pride and arrogance at play.

I am sure the Liverpool backroom stuff is regretting like Wada and FAZ is. To much politicking and pride.

And talking about politics what the hell in the world of football was that big banner of President Lungu doing in Nigeria. We all love our President but that banner was misplaced.

The Zambia National Team that went to West Africa belongs to all Zambians not only President Lungu. As l said we love our President but as a player that is the last thing l would think about.

I expected to see a banner of solidarity for Kalaba and Kalengo. Even one with the name and face of Kalusha Bwalya would have scared the hell out of some of those Nigerian players. Not that of ba Lungu. That too might have cost us the game. Maybe l didn’t vote for President Lungu then l see that banner as a player. I can be like really!!!

I know I said everything is anchored on politics but some things are just a distraction. And that banner was. Look at our friend’s banner. No Cadralism.

My advice to everyone involved let us all focus on blending the team. Old and new alike. Those with ideas let’s engage those in power. Those in power let’s be approachable. And more importantly let’s leave cadre centered supporting out of football.

Mr Kamanga as l said I will be visiting you soon.

Author is a PhD candidate in Political, Gender and Transnational Studies at Goethe University Frankfurt am.

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Last week, Finance Minister Felix Mutati announced in Parliament some form of nationalization of Inter-market Bank. Government has converted the NAPSA K50million owed by the closed Inter-market Bank into equity. The Finance Minister was just shy of mentioning the word ‘nationalization’ because President Lungu has stated several times in public that he is not a fan of nationalization.

We have no problem with this sort of conversion of debt into equity. In the financial world, debt-to-equity swaps are common transactions that enable a borrower to transform loans into shares of stock, or equity. Most commonly, a financial institution, such as an insurer or bank, holds the new shares after the original debt is transformed to equity shares. Since Inter-market Bank failed to repay its debt to NAPSA, then government as sole shareholder of NAPSA has power to convert its NAPSA-debt into equity. Both public as well as private companies are eligible for such a conversion.

However, we have a problem with the Finance Minister for being very economical with the details surrounding the newly established Zambia Industrial Commercial Bank. Was this bank created through an Act of Parliament considering that it is a parastatal? Or was it incorporated by NAPSA or Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)?

If it is an IDC Bank, when did IDC incorporate it? And when was the Board of the Bank constituted? When were management and staff recruited? Where is it located? Is it the Board of the Bank that made the decision to convert the debt into equity?
The announcement of the Zambia Industrial Commercial Bank scheme of arrangement has raised more questions and issues we have with IDC in its current form. Actually, the brief statement by Minister of Finance in Parliament following an intervention by honorable Garry Nkombo last week has exacerbated our fears.

When Government announced in early 2014 the incorporation of IDC, the nation was informed that IDC would be a domestic development finance institution wholly owned by the Zambian government. We were informed further that its mandate is to play a catalytic role in deepening and supporting Zambia’s industrialization capacity. IDC is also expected to serve as an investment holding company for state-owned enterprises and new investments to ultimately generate earnings for the proposed Zambia Sovereign Wealth Fund.

According to an announcement by Government in 2015, all shares in parastatal companies, which were formerly held by Ministry of Finance, were transferred to IDC. We were informed that President Lungu is the Board Chair of IDC. We are however not sure whether the relevant laws have since been amended by parliament to effect this change of Board Chairmanship since most, if not all parastatal companies like NAPSA, were created by Acts of Parliament. Whatever the case, this decision is bad corporate governance and likely to bring the presidency into ridicule in the long-run. We will unpack this point below.

Furthermore, the accountability of IDC is not clear: is it accountable to State House or a particular ministry? Additionally, it is also not clear the role of the CEO for IDC is, considering that projects being financed through PPP are announced by the President and his ministers. We are not even sure when he or she was recruited or appointed. Moreover, it is not clear when management and staff were recruited where IDC offices are located.

However, we know for a fact that IDC is now in business. We also know that IDC and the international Finance Corporation (IFC) did go into negotiations of a formal advisory mandate under which IFC was to be appointed as lead transaction advisor to IDC for the development of the projects. We are not sure whether this mandate is now in place, and if so, the role of IFC advisability so far on projects which are now running. We can only assume that the power to convert the NAPSA-debt into equity is an initiative of IDC following advice from IFC.

While IDC concept on paper appears good, our point of departure, as the Green Party, is on the structure adopted by President Lungu to run IDC. We foresee a situation where the structure is likely to bring the Presidency into contempt and ridicule or even accused of State Capture corruption in the long-run.

First, we are aware from the Auditor General’s Office Report on Parastatal Bodies for the financial year ended December 31, 2012 that there are serious financial irregularities in these bodies totaling to billions of Kwacha. Overall, there is a tone of poor performance owing to internal control lapses in these bodies. The Auditor General noted that most parastatal bodies lack a strategic direction, have inadequate checks and balances and disregard the legislation that established them. Further, the Auditor General also highlighted issues of poor management of contracts, poor financial performance, poor infrastructure management; poor management of funds; lack of strategic plans; failure to produce financial statements; and failure to constitute boards of directors.

With this litany of governance issues, we shudder to see the President to be the overall Board Chairman for such institutions. For example, will it be appropriate, or even achievable, for the Auditor General to summon the President to explain the lack a strategic direction; inadequate checks and balances; disregard of the legislation; poor management of contracts; poor financial performance etc. in IDC companies? Or indeed, will Parliament be in position to summon the President to explain on these issues?

It is very clear in our mind that at one point soon, this Zambia Industrial Commercial Bank scheme of arrangement for NAPSA debt-equity conversion will raise dust of State capture corruption. The Presidency should therefore keep arms-length dealings on the scheme of arrangement.

Remember: forewarned is forearmed.

Peter Sinkamba
Green Party President

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For the first time, we have a government in Zambia whose sole purpose or agenda is self-preservation and enrichment.

We elected a leadership that has no political ideology or philosophy. Correct me if I’m wrong but what does the Patriotic Front stand on or for?

With respect to policy, it has become abundantly clear that the Patriotic Front as the party in Government holds no policy positions (save for its wishy washy populist pronouncements).

I can even go further and state that the PF Government does not even hold any substantive views on any position (of national interest) or subject.

Besides the rhetoric that we are subjected to, our Government hasn’t delivered on any of its 2011, 2015, 2016 election promises (“More money in your pockets”).

Recent allegations by an ex-inner circle minister confirms what we all know and are undoubtedly thinking. This Government is the most corrupt ever.

Maybe I exaggerate so I would like to challenge anyone to share any story of honourable conduct by the current ruling PF party and or its government.

Instead we are inundated with stories about in-fighting, lies, office abuse, deception, graft, corruption, propaganda and questionable electoral practices.

How can we even proudly claim that we are a democracy? How can any (seemingly sober) person preside over such injustice, chaos and manage to sleep at night?

How can a leader (I use this liberally because he is far from one) systematically and willfully terrorise his own citizens?

President Lungu’s despotic leadership style is intended to keep us distracted, anxious and scared.

“Fear” has become all too familiar in Zambia and I am shitting in my pants even if I appear to be momentarily enjoying my right to express myself.

His presidency is a financially excessive enterprise designed to enrich him and the people that are closest to him.

This might explain why he is so passive in effectively addressing corruption, which ironically was one of the promises the PF was voted on in 2011.

What is baffling, however, is that peaceful protests and traffic offenses are handled swiftly but ask where our $42 million went and our leaders “call” for investigations but remain suspiciously quiet about the proliferation of corrupt practices.

Why do we accept to be presided over by people with no beliefs, no national ambition, no morals, no principles? Why do we accept to be presided over by people with no leadership code or guidelines (anyone can bark), no plans, no expectations?

With accountability on public resources and expenditure at zero, how or why do we even continue to trust them with our money?

The PF government is toxic and a poison to the promise of 1964 as well as the spirit of the Republic of Zambia.

President Lungu’s reign must be recorded in our history as the worst post ’91’ presidential tenure because of its unashamed cruelty.
Cruel because they care less that we have been turned into animals – anxious, angry, fearful, confused, doubtful animals. Our humanity is lost.

By animals, I mean that as citizens, we have absurdly resorted to taking out our frustrations on each other while “they” thrive and prosper.

As a people and a nation, we are under attack; a deliberate, unprovoked, systematic and evil attack from within and we are losing. Every institution we used to trust, the Patriotic Front Government, has undermined if not exhaustively decimated.

The Anti-Corruption Commission, the Zambia Police, Media, Electoral Commission of Zambia, Judiciary, National Assembly, civil service, unions, the opposition, the Church all reduced to nothing but noisy gongs or clanging cymbals.

We are all collectively stupid to have allowed this. We continue to and that is why they will rob us of our own sovereignty.

Zambia is now a country for sale. Just ask the Chinese who now own most of it. We are now even losing our will to “hope.” We do not have hope that future elections will be fair. We do not have hope that our government is working in our interests. We do not have hope that we will have leaders that will put our interests before their own.

As a people we do not trust each other, rely on each other and don’t even love each other. Our national, patriotic spirit is eroded under their tyrannical rule.

Only a foolish, selfish, complacent citizen fails to see all the pain and suffering around him or her. We have to get to a point where we should be able to say “Enough is Enough!” in one voice and as one nation.

Things are NOT going to get very bad. They already are! We need to have an honest conversation about this. Rock bottom is already here.

My point: there is only one fight in Zambia today that matters; the Patriotic Front and its entire leadership must go. Chalo chesu!
The author is late civil rights activist Lucy Sichone’s son Muchemwa Sichone.

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