A graphic video is circulating on social media where a “respected” man identified as Andrew Zombe Lupasha was having sex with what appears to be an underage girl.
Andrew was having sex with a girl, identified as Rabecca in his Toyota Allion BAB 8154.
Andrew has a wife.
Read this article from the original source: Eating Mango With Salt: The Case Of Andrew Zombe Lupasha.
Mr Edgar Lungu has not always been a bad President. There was a time when Zambians united behind his leadership – from the church to the streets – he was viewed as God’s testimony that leadership comes from above. It is not a secret that PF was at its weakest when President Lungu was elected into power in January 2015. It was a shocking victory and many people were worried about the choice of President Zambians had picked. But we recall that President Chagwa surprised everybody; he started on an impressive note and we could see how the losing candidates chocked with envy.
Mr Lungu started by declaring that he was a transition President; that his time in State House was going to be short, as he had neither a presidential ambition nor a vision of his own. “My responsibility is just to finish the remainder of Mr Sata’s term of office, that’s all. So those who have presidential ambitions can wait for 2016,” he said during his first press conference at State House.
After that, he went to Mfuwe and returned with a piecemeal process of appointing members to his Cabinet. He kept everyone in the party on their toes as he named heads of key government institutions. By the time he was done, Zambia had a female Vice-President, female Chief Justice, female Inspector General of police, Female Anti Corruption Commission boss, female Drug Enforcement Commission director, female Auditor General, not to mention a sound female representation in Cabinet. We all clapped in shame thinking we had underrated a heaven-sent angel. But we clapped too soon.
Today President Lungu’s Cabinet has no single minister from Southern Province, but all the MPs from Chipata district, his region, are Cabinet ministers. Thus Moses Mawere, Vincent Mwale and Victoria Kalima. If we add Dora Siliya and Charles Banda from the same province, we might as well advise the President to be holding Cabinet meetings in Mfuwe which would be closer for the remaining majority of Cabinet ministers who are MPs in the Northern block.
Today all the gains of President Lungu have been erased. We are back to square one, or square zero if you like because we are now buried. Greed has taken centre stage. People in his inner circle are enjoying while those who toiled for the party are suffering in anguish. The President has left the country on autopilot, leaving his advisors to decide who should be fired and who should be appointed to serve in the government.
Because of this authoritarian rule, theft and greed, the whole system has started working against the party in power. They are confused; they can’t believe this is happening. All they are seeing is disobedience in the civil service. They have chased away permanent secretaries and transferred some directors whom they thought were leaking classified information to the public, but it’s getting worse.
Out of panic, they are instructing old men who should be queuing up for their benefits at Pensons Fund like Mr Dickson Chasaya, to threaten civil servants that boma is spying on them. They are claiming that the government is watching every civil servant’s movement using Smart Zambia e-governance technology, and any worker who talks to the media will be caught and dealt with.
Well, bravo Mr Chasaya, but what will you do when you discover that your secret agents, the people in charge of your so-called Smart Zambia are the ones leaking information; telling us how not to be caught by your system? Sir, there is also what is called reverse intelligence. Your spies love Zambia and they also have families, so be careful who you trust.
There is nothing to spy because those who are speaking out are not wearing masks, they want the whole country to know what is going on inside there, and you can’t stop them. In this digital era, information will always hit the public first through social media before your government can take a position.
Can’t you see that the whole system is fighting the party in power? When the President’s spokesperson makes a call to the police chief, quickly the phone recording is in public domain, doing rounds on WhatsApp. When a businessman buys a building for the Head of State in Dubai, the media picks it, when State House officials receive their kickbacks from government contracts, the Financial Intelligence Centre records it.
Everywhere they turn, there is resistance. Their Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Harry Kalaba had to quit with a strongest resignation letter ever heard of – telling the people that he could not continue serving a greedy, corrupt and shameless government. In short a government of thieves who don’t care about the people who voted them in power.
In Cabinet, Honourable Lucky Mulusa couldn’t take it any more. When the President expected him to sit idle and watch irregular decisions being passed, the Minister of National Development and Planning opened fire, refusing to be part of the PF lies. He took to television, telling citizens that government was not being honest on the causes of load-shedding.
In the PF Central Committee, their own chairman for Finance Mr Alexander Chikwanda has turned the gun on his own party, grilling the entire leadership in public. He has no time to write to the President and advising him in private anymore, he wants the whole world to know that the PF is going down with an unprecedented corruption tag and that he does not support the oppression of opposition political parties.
In Parliament, their Roan MP Honourable Chishimba Kambwili is on fire. They have physically slapped him, poured water on him, squeezed his businesses and dragged him to the police; hopping he would be afraid and tone down, but Kambwili has done the opposite. Instead of reconciling with the Head of State, Kambwili is dangling on the President’s ‘powers’, swinging and pulling strings with intent to injure, every time he hears a threat.
In the party, their legal counsel Honourable Tutwa Ngulube, the man who mobilised cadres in Kabwe to raise their hands, legs and pangas in voting to make Edgar Lungu a presidential candidate in 2014, has now become a headache for the party leadership. They know that Tutwa knows too much about the dirty tricks that have kept PF in power, and they have been forced to cease fire and bow down to his demands.
On the grass root, the cadres have risen. Their own attack boys, the thugs who were used to terrorize the opposition during election campaigns have turned into State vigilantes, determined to stop their selfish pay masters at State House from stealing and smuggling natural resources.
Even the vendors among whom the Patriotic Front was famous, have ditched the ruling party and have resorted to riots in protest to bad governance. They can’t wait for 2021 so that they show Honourable Kampyongo who has the real power. And by the way, It’s easy for the PF to accuse UPND of being behind the recent Kanyama riot because they say Hakainde Hichilema has a lot of influence in the township. If that is true (which it is), how did the PF win the parliamentary seat? How did the UPND stronghold vote for PF?
Dear Mr President and your party leadership, what is happening in Zambia has an English word for it. It’s called an uprising, but feel free to call it a revolution or a revolt. This is the beginning of the fall of Chagwa. Listen to us because we mean well. We have our comrades in the PF, just like we have friends in the government, all the way to State House. But we will be bad friends if we stinge them the truth. They can’t hear the noise outside because they drive tinted cars with windows rolled up. It is therefore our responsibility to inform them about the outside temperature, and so we mean no malice when we say, “It’s over!”
Let them swallow what is already in their mouths and start brushing their teeth because we never know who is going in next, and which sjambok they will use. Those who don’t want to listen to us will be found with strips of steak in between their teeth and that will be the beginning of their end!
NewsDiggers
Read this article from the original source: The Rise and Fall Of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
HARRY Kalaba has told Zambians that now is the time for them to act and get back their country’s lost identity. And the Bahati PF member of parliament says he cannot keep quiet when Zambians are failing to even secure available contracts and that those who are supposed to stop those habits are looking elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Kalaba says his first allegiance is to Zambia and not any person, party or position.
Speaking during a special interview on KFM radio in Mansa on Saturday, Kalaba who resigned as foreign affairs minister two weeks ago, wondered who the jobs were being created for when the majority of Zambians remained unemployed.
He said it was important for Zambians to take a route that would benefit them.
“The question remains that unless we begin concentrating on the substantives and we reduce on hot talk because talk is cheap, tapali eko tuleya (we’re not destined anywhere). When you look at big contracts in this country, how many Zambians are doing those projects? When you look at the big contracts in various sectors of our economy like the installation of [communication] towers, construction of roads, installation of optic fibre, they are all foreigners. Zambians have got no chance to benefit. If you look at what happens in Rwanda when there is an advert for a contract, for instance to construct a road, they just allow one foreign company to compete in a tender. The rest must be local companies because they understand that protectionism works well in terms of creating wealth for citizens. So, this is what I mean when I say this is your country and go and get it back,” said Kalaba, who alternated between Bemba and English.
“This is your time – stand up and do something. It is important that we take a route which will favour Zambians. [But] the problem we have is that we are comfortable that 60 per cent of contracts will go to foreign companies and then 40 per cent will be shared among locals. If anything, even that 40 per cent, you’ll find that the same foreign companies will open other companies using pseudonyms and at the end of the day, they begin doing all the contracts. But those that should stop those habits are looking elsewhere. Why should it be like that 54 years after independence and you want me to keep quiet? Excuse me!”
Read this article from the original source: KAlaba Says His Allegiance Is To Zambia & Not Any Person, Party Or Position.
MILES Sampa says he sacrificed all he worked for and his career for the Patriotic Front. And Sampa has asked his fellow PF members to stop insulting him for rejoining the ruling party.
Prior to the 2016 general election, Sampa the former commerce deputy minister, ditched President Edgar Lungu’s campaign team and supported the opposition UPND candidate Hakainde Hichilema.
But immediately after President Lungu won the election, Sampa rejoined the Patriotic Front (PF), but was heavily resented by most members, including party secretary general Davies Mwila.
The PF members have continued to harangue Sampa for going back to the ruling party.
But in an audio posting on WhatsApp yesterday, Sampa, in apparent reaction to some PF cadres who were unhappy with his return, said former president Rupiah Banda instigated his dismissal from Finance Bank where he served as a director because of his links with the PF.
“Munjebeleko chikashana ulya ulelanda language yaba MMD ati yamunyokola njala. Mumwebe ati eeh, ine mu 2010 ine nalebomba ku bank as a director, nalefola $10,000 pa month. Rupiah Banda ewaishile mfumya inchito ati iwe twamona ulelanda landa sana na Sata. Ulechita organize PF so twakufumye inchito mu bank. Nishi nachita? Awe iyi bank iyi, bad lending, but ine nshibomba mu lending department, ine mbomba mu forex department, mu treasury, mu operations. So ifya lending nshabamo eko bapanga ama decisions ba lending. So mwalamfumya shani inchito? Bonse naba Bank of Zambia governor ba Caleb Fundanga at the time nabo ati awe bonse fye naiwe wine fuma. But banjeba kumbali ati, phone yobe ilanga sana ati ulanda naba Sata. Balimona ati account ya Sata iwe watuma. Nomba nishi Sata aliiba, ati awe, tatulefwaya ati Sata alechita banking. So ine nemwine nshilaingila muma politics, nali professional, nalebomba ku bank. Nalibombele ku Barclays, nalibombele ku Finance Bank. Nalefola $10,000 (Please tell that lady using the MD language that I have been struck by hunger. Tell her that in 2010, I was working at the bank as director, I used to get $10,000 per month. It’s Rupiah Banda who got me fired saying I used to talk to Michael Sata a lot. They said I was organizing the PF so I was fired. I asked what I had done, but I was told the bank was involved in bad lending. But I asked how they fired me when I was not working from the lending department but treasury…I knew nothing about lending and the decisions they were making…even the Bank of Zambia governor then Caleb Fundanga said ‘even you, you have to go’ but told me secretly that my phone records showed that I was constantly in touch with Mr Sata. He said even Mr Sata’s account, I used to send money there. Now did Sata steal? They said no, we don’t want him to be banking. So before I got into politics, I was a professional, I worked at the bank. I worked for Barclays, Finance Bank where I used to get $10,000),” Sampa said.
“Bamfumye inchito ba MMD, Rupiah Banda ewamfumishe inchito. Na Dickson Jere nalimutumine, iwe Dickson, mulemfumya shani inchito ine. Ifi fi lending mulelanda nshipelako lending mu bank, ine naba ku treasury…so mulemfumya shani. Aisa tuma Dickson ebele ‘ahh, nakamba nabo, yashupa nkhani’. Yashupa nkhani? The chairman of that bank at that time was Jacob Mwanza, I even called imwe, me I don’t know anything, ndandileniko kuli ba Bank of Zambia governor. Nabo babwesha ‘ahh, yashupa nkhani iyi. Naiwe wamene tikuchosa’. Efyo bamfumishe inchito. Nabutuka kuli Sata nati yama, mwamfumishe inchito, moneni. Alesekafye mudala ati ‘ahh, this is politics, relax…’ That’s how I found myself deep down in politics. Efyo naiminine ku Matero because in my profession, I was labeled and it was on stand still. And today, a fellow PF member, eo twalechula nankwe anjebe language yakwa Rupiah Banda ati njala yamunyokola. Thank you very much to PF. If it has, my career and all my savings and everything were sacrificed umu mwine mu PF (It’s the MMD that got me out of employment, Rupiah Banda got me fired. Even Dickson Jere I phoned him, I asked ‘Dickson, why are you getting me fired? This lending issue you are talking about, I have never learnt out money in this bank, I am in treasury department. So how are you getting me fired?’ He phoned back and said ‘ahh, I have talked to them, but this issue is tough’. But how? [I phoned the chairman at the time and [asked him] to speak to Bank of Zambia governor….[the chairman] also responded that the issue was tough. I went to Mr Sata and complained that he had me fired, he just laughed and said…that’s how I stood in Matero…)”
And in another audio posting on a PF WhatsApp group, Sampa complained bitterly about the insults he was receiving even from people he had helped before.
“Takwaba bululu, takwaba! Walifuminepo pa mushi waya, waye ciyeyeye, wabwela, takwaba no kuposha kwambafye ukutukwa? Aa! Finshi wacita? Ee! Olo nabwela ni position nabula iyakwa nani? Nga nshaishile still ama problems mulelilana nayo ngayaliba solved? (This is really strange. You leave a village, you go and wander somewhere, then you come back but no one greets you; all they do is insult you? What have you done? And who position have I taken up? Suppose I didn’t come back, would you still have solved the problems you are complaining about?)” he asked.
“But you cannot start insulting me. Then it’s not worthy it, it’s not worthy it to be with brothers. Because all of you, abengi apa, Venny uyu mumwipushe Venny na Chipili, mubepushe. Ndamona ama picture apa, baleisa ku office yandi. And even before PF formed government they used to walk in and out of my office as they pleased. And I would meet them on the road, and we would talk. Today they’re insulting me, nacite nshi? Pantu nabwelafye? Ukubwela waba mulandu? Bushe nabwela mukupoka icifulo cakwa nani? (Ask Venny and Chipili, I still look at pictures, they used to come to my office. Today they are insulting me, what have I done? Just because I’ve come back [into the party]? Is rejoining an offence? Whose position have I come to take over?)”
Sampa wondered why people seemed to be blaming him for the problems in PF.
He said the same things PF members were complaining about now were the same issues he raised in 2015.
“Ninebo nalenga ukuti fiba solved? Sometimes limbi apapene mba ndomfwa ifyo mulanda, nda passing’a ama message ku those who are supposed to be making decisions. I pass the message in my own way in the background, I play my role to convey ati balelilanefi, balelilanefi. And I do know that fyonse ifyo mulelilana I can tell you something for nothing, balomfwa. Tebacibulu bonse ama decision makers, balomfwa. (I’m I the reason for these problems? Sometimes I hear what you say and I pass on the message to those responsible for making decisions. I tell them that this is what people are complaining about. And those responsible listen, the decision makers are not all deaf),” said Sampa.
“And I cannot speak for them, I can only imagine that they are working on it. But nomba ine naisa, aa! Fine I did my own nonsense in between, naine nalifulungana (I was confused). Some of those things you are complaining about, efyo nalecita complain (that’s what I complained) [about] in 2015. So imwe mwalilanda ati awe naupena iwe (you said I was mad). Same complaints ifyo muleletapo nomba (you are now bringing the same complaints). So now PF, not ati…first of all muma politics takwaba ati nalicula, naliculilemo because nga nalanda ati naliculile mwalalanda ati ninani uwakwebele? (in politics there’s no such a thing as, ‘I suffered’, because if I say so you will say, ‘ who told you’?) I’m not even interested. Nga fyabu president bane (if it’s about the presidency) I’m not interested, nga fyama position (if it’s about positions) I’m not interested. Me, I’m just happy I’m back with you my sisters and my brothers, capwa (that’s all)! Ifyashala ifyo (anything else) it’s got nothing to do with me. So, nga ndecula ati namutemwa muleseka, nshilecula (so if I’m suffering you are happy that I’m suffering. I’m not suffering). Anyway, Ine before I even joined politics…I was director, nalebomba (I was working). Those who know me they know that even before PF at least nalekwanisha ukushito bunga (I could manage to buy meali-meal). Tafilashupa bane (I’m not in agony). Nanomba mugaiwa ndekwanisho kushita (I still manage to buy roller meal) that’s all that matters to me. Nomba kulatukwa ifintu ifyo tawishibe (Getting insulted over things I don’t know), it’s not fair!”
Read this article from the original source: I Sacrificed My All for PF, Complains Miles.
Lately, I have been thinking about Kalusha Bwalya. First of all, it is such a joy to see him at new Liberian President George Weah’s inauguration. There are some great lessons to learn about true friendship and destiny. Today a Footballer is governing a nation. It means God can give greatness to any human being, regardless of their background. Secondly, Kalu’s loyalty to his friend teaches us that when we are loyal to our friends, we stand a good chance of being part of a great future. One of Kalusha’s strengths is his spirit of appreciating others. I have seen him appreciate a lot of people (including me) for their efforts in life. Not every successful Zambian possesses this important attribute because many of them want to be hero-worshipped; many want to be appreciated yet they can’t appreciate others. Good leaders are those who allow others to shine. Kalu has kept in touch with his old friends over the years while working hard. Owing to this, I’m not surprised that George Weah did not forget to invite him. When I was a child, my mother used to scold me for making my white t-shirts dirty because whenever Kalu was playing, I would get a piece of charcoal and paint the back of my t-shirt with the number 11. I guess mum never understood that I was trying to tap into the anointing of a hero. That’s how much I have been inspired by Great Kalu. I never even knew that his name was Kalusha. We used to call him “Kalwisha” because of his perseverance on the pitch, so we thought his parents named him Kalwisha Bwalya. When Kalu gets the ball, we would shout “Lwisha, Lwisha, Lwisha”. I pray that Zambia learns to acknowledge and appreciate the greatness that God placed in Kalu’s life. I have been to countries where I meet people who say the only thing they know about Zambia is that it is the country where you find Kalusha Bwalya and Dr Kenneth Kaunda. Let us celebrate this great man!
BFlow
Musician
Read this article from the original source: Musician BFlow Writes Moving Tribute To Kalusha Bwalya ‘Kalusha Bwalya Deserves To Be Celebrated’.
Edgar Lungu says those who are not working are leaving his government on their own.
What work is going on in Edgar’s government? Stealing! Crookedness! Thieves, crooks are the ones who are seen to be working!
Why has Edgar been keeping people who are not working in his government, paying them taxpayer’s money until they resign on their own? Is this being responsible? And when is Edgar going to leave this government on his own because he hasn’t been working?
What work has Edgar himself been doing for the Zambian taxpayer? Appointing and supervising people who are not working? Gallivanting around and collecting allowances at a very high cost to the taxpayer!
If it’s true that those leaving his government on their own are those who had not been working, then Edgar himself must also leave on his own because he has not been working.
What Edgar is claiming, although we all know it’s a lie, in itself shows that there’s a very serious problem in his government – it’s a troubled government where the President can’t fire those who are not working!
Edgar is living in denial. He can’t face reality that things aren’t alright in his government. Now he thinks the best thing to say to comfort himself is that those leaving his government are not working.
At the same time, he talks about being a coach and that he decides who and when to fire his “team players”. What he shouldn’t forget is that coaches do get fired also for failing to make team members perform. The failure of Edgar’s ministers is ultimately his own because he’s the one who appoints them. In fact coaches are usually kicked out before players are made to leave. When the team is not doing well, the fans call for the dismissal of the coach.
Edgar seems to be in double thinking. And doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.
They are very right when they say that “to see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle…In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act…If you can feel that staying human is worthwhile, even when it can’t have any result whatever, you’ve beaten them,” wrote George Orwell.
Clearly, Edgar has some great battles to fight within the silent chambers of his own soul. It’s said that the deepest rivers make least din, the silent soul doth most abound in care. They say that clouds cannot cover secret places, nor denials conceal truth. Edgar’s denial of his problems will not solve them. You can’t solve a problem you are denying exists. But denial does not make the problem go away. And denial of what everyone can see will not give Edgar peace of mind, which is what he is really seeking when he engages in it.
Edgar lives in denial of what he does, even what he thinks. He does this because he is afraid. It seems Edgar would rather deny the problems in his government arising from corruption than face them. Why? But he can’t get away from himself, his problems by denying them and moving from one place to another – gallivanting.
Edgar’s denial of his situation, problems and their consequences is to put a lie into the lips of his own life. It is no less than a denial of the soul. Now what state does Edgar live in? Denial!
Amilcar Cabral urged, “Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children…Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures. Claim no easy victories…”
The Mast Editorial
Read this article from the original source: Why Is Lungu Trying To Live In Denial?.
PRESS STATEMENT
Lusaka, Thursday 25th January, 2018-The Drug Enforcement Commission in Lusaka has arrested a 42 year-old Nigerian Prophet for trafficking in Ephedrine.
Isaac Julius Amata, 42, a Prophet of Delta Ibu State in Nigeria, has been arrested for trafficking in 26.29kg of Ephedrine. The suspect was apprehended at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport upon arrival from Nigeria aboard South African Airways flight.
Meanwhile, the Commission through the Canine Unit in Nakonde, Muchinga Province has arrested four (04) people for trafficking in over 200kg of Miraa.
Those arrested include Joyce Namumba, 45, of Bulongo village for trafficking in 70 bundles of Miraa, Ireen Mwila, 54, a housewife of Katozi village for trafficking in 68 bundles of Miraa, Emeldah Nalungwe, 45, a business woman of Ntindi village for trafficking in 64 bundles of Miraa and Elvis Mwamusoka Simumba, 34, a businessman of Ntindi village for trafficking in 70 bundles of Miraa.
All the suspects are currently in Police custody and will appear in court soon.
Theresa Katongo
Public Relations Officer
Drug Enforcement Commission
Read this article from the original source: DEC Arrests Prophet Who Predicted Lungu Presidency Victory.
Chief government spokesperson Kampamba Mulenga has dismissed allegations of corruption in the digital migration project made by her predecessor in the ministry of information and broadcasting service Chishimba Kambwili.
In a statement made available to q-news, ms Mulenga has since advised Zambians not to be swayed by what she has termed as outlandish allegations of corruption by Mr. Kambwili whose bitterness and frustration she says has exposed his worrying immaturity.
She says Mr. Kambwili’s recent outbursts, especially about the digital migration project, have revealed that he totally lacks knowledge about procurement processes, and that as a matter of fact his ignorance is a pointer to how difficult it is for anyone to work with him in a civilised environment.
Ms Mulenga says Mr Kambwili understands little or nothing about procurement processes.
She says the direct bidding, the process used to contract star times, is allowed in the procurement process as long as the contracting agency or ministry seeks a no-objection by writing to the Zambia public procurement authority (zppa).
She states that in the case of the digital migration project, this was done and that the no-objection was received from the zppa.
Ms mulenga has since wondered where president edgar lungu who mr kambwili has accused of single sourcing the us$273 million digital migration project comes in.
She has further states that mr kambwili is deliberately not mentioning what was involved in phase one against what is involved in phase two when he questions the cost of us$9 million for the installation of transmitters for phase one involving four provinces, against the cost of us$273 million for six provinces under phase two and three.
Mr Mulenga explains that while phase one entailed installation of 10 transmitters from Senkobo, near Livingstone to Chililabombwe, phases two and three, on the other hand, is not just about transmitters, but involves a motley of projects.
Read this article from the original source: Govt Dispels Kambwili’s Digital Migration Graft Claims.
POLICE officers in riot gear at the Lusaka magistrate court this morning took charge by sending people back home if they did not produce identity cards.
Police officers who were found at the gate opposite the Lusaka Central Prison screening visitors and attendees of the court, said they would not allow anyone entry without identification cards.
Employees at the court were also affected as those who forgot their IDs home were not allowed entry without express permission from their superiors.
Journalists especially freelance ones were affected too as police officers had a list of media houses to allow in.
“Can you produce your work place identity card?,” a senior police officer identified as Zimba was heard telling a journalist who was later asked to leave or face an arrest.
The officer asked the journalist what he was doing at the court and when he explained that he was there to cover Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili’s case, the police officer refused him entry saying they had received specific instructions on who should be allowed in.
Dr. Kambwili is expected to appear before the Lusaka Magistrate court this morning for allocation of the case and a possible plea taking place.
NDC MEDIA
Read this article from the original source: Police Screen Court Attendees Ahead Of Kambwili Court Case.
NINENTEEN (19) Luapula Province chiefs who converged at Henry Courtyard in Mansa on Thursday to dissociate themselves from issuing pro-Harry Kalaba comments were ‘forced’ to do so by State House using provincial minister Nickson Chilangwa, a reliable source has disclosed.
On Tuesday, The Mast reported that chiefs in Luapula Province said no one should force Kalaba to resign as Bahati PF member of parliament on account of his recent resignation as a foreign affairs minister.
Following his resignation on January 2, Kalaba has been challenged by some PF officials to resign as a member of parliament and leave the ruling party.
But Luapula Province Chiefs Council chairperson senior chief Mwewa of the Ng’umbo people of Samfya district said Kalaba should not be antagonised by anyone, especially on matters related to his ministerial resignation.
“Icho ningalanda chakweba ati ba Honourable Kalaba bapelwefye chilya chifulo chabu minister. (What I can say is that Honourable Kalaba was just appointed to that ministerial position). But it is us who elected him as a member of parliament and it is us he is serving. He can choose to resign from a ministerial position and at the same time, he can choose to remain as a minister. Is it the President who said that when you resign it will be like this or that? I believe Honourable Kalaba chose to resign and let it be so,”
senior chief Mwewa, who spoke in Bemba, said when Kalaba paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Samfya on Sunday afternoon, January 21.
“However, let him (Kalaba) continue to represent us his electorates. Let him not desert us – he needs to continue speaking on behalf of his electorates and continue lobbying for more development [in Bahati constituency]. We have not seen any worthwhile development here in Luapula that we can talk about! That’s why we are saying Honourable Kalaba should at least continue representing Bahati constituency. Yes, he chose to resign as foreign minister but no one can and should force him out as a member of parliament.”
But on Thursday, the Luapula Province Chiefs Council refuted the statement attributed to senior chief Mwewa.
“The Luapula Province Chiefs Council at no time did it meet and resolve to issue that false statement. The Luapula Province Chiefs Council further warns that in future, the chiefs will deny audiences in their palaces to malicious media houses and individuals to avoid the embarrassment as experienced in the present situation,”
read the statement in part that was signed by senior chief Mwewa and the secretary of the Luapula Province Chiefs Council, chief Chisunka.
But a source in Mansa narrated that the traditional leaders were merely forced to convene in the provincial capital and sign a statement distancing themselves from Kalaba.
“That statement was [allegedly] written by Nickson Chilangwa (Luapula Province minister). The minister ordered that the chiefs be ferried from their palaces to Henry Courtyard for a meeting. They were 19 chiefs in total and the provincial minister did that because he felt that what the chiefs said when Harry Kalaba came here over the weekend embarrassed Edgar Lungu. Actually, the chiefs in attendance were paid K10, 000 each,”
said the source.
“The chiefs complained bitterly that they were literally forced to sign and read the statement. If you saw, they even brought their media ba ZANIS. So, fyakubikwafye amashiwi mukanwa. (They just put words in their mouths). Takwaba ati umuntu afuma pali bu minister ayita bashamfumu bonse mu province ati kaneni. It’s wrong. (There is no way a minister can summon chiefs in the province and tell them to refute a story!”
Read this article from the original source: We Were Paid, Reveal Luapula Chiefs.
LAW Association of Zambia president Linda Kasonde says it is regrettable to see how political cadres are taking over what should be official government functions.
And Kasonde has stressed that the Association feels there should be no addition or subtraction of Articles to the amended Constitution but only “cleaning up of the language” in the national document.
Kasonde, who featured on Hot Seat programme on Hot FM radio yesterday, said the trend of cadreism needed to be urgently curtailed as it was dividing Zambia.
Her comment was in response to a caller, brother Morgan’s question.
“As the Law Association of Zambia, you stand to protect the citizens and to let the law prevail in this country. [But] does the name of a cadre exist in the law? Because each party that forms government, we have seen cadres demarcating land, taking over the markets, charging fees in the markets, blocking the council and beating opponents anyhow. These people (cadres) are being protected by the ruling party. Does that law exist in this country?”
asked Morgan.
Kasonde then responded: “Firstly, thank you to brother Morgan for his question, in terms of what the status of cadres is in our nation. I for one think it’s very unfortunate at how cadreism is taking over what should be official government functions in terms of maintaining order and also we’ve seen that our youth are being used in terms of perpetrating violence against people with opposing views on both sides, which is very unfortunate. It’s a trend that must be curtailed as soon as possible because it’s dividing our nation, destroying our youth. There must be more productive ways in which our youth can use their energies and certainly violence and intimidation is not one of them.”
On another caller, Justin, who asked whether or not there was any person who had powers to dissolve LAZ or any person the Association feared, Kasonde pointed out that LAZ could not easily be swayed.
“You know what? Having been through what LAZ has been through, I think nothing can scare us now. We’ve been tested and time and time again, we’ve come out stronger. So, we are not easily swayed,” she noted.
And when asked by the programme host if members of the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC) were too junior to review judgments made by the courts of law, Kasonde defended the composition of the JCC.
“What I can say is that…What I do know for sure is that the composition of the Judicial Complaints Commission is made up of very senior lawyers. The chair is Professor Patrick Mvunga who, I think, has around 40 years practicing experience. There is also a former Supreme Court judge on that Commission [and] there is also Mrs Zaloumis, who is a very well known legal personality. All of them, I think, are well above 30 years at the bar and so, they are not junior at all! The contention is whether or not lawyers should deal with matters that relate to the judiciary. [But] certainly the lawyers who are on the Commission are not junior at all,”
she explained.
On whether or not LAZ supported amendments to the amended Constitution of 2016, before the 2021 general elections, Kasonde underscored that ambiguities which existed in the document needed to be addressed but without any general alterations.
“The Law Association of Zambia, when the Minister of Justice called for submissions on this issue, went away for a retreat and did a very thorough report which we submitted to the Ministry of Justice several months ago. What we said in that report is that we don’t subscribe to wholesale amendments but rather we need to make sure that the language used in the Constitution is cleaned up so that there is no confusion as to what it means. For example, this 14 days [in the] presidential petition; what does that mean?”
Kasonde said.
“The essence of constitutional amendments came from the people of Zambia and so you don’t want to interfere with what the people of Zambia wanted. You just want what they wanted to be in the document to be clearer for everyone to know. So, that’s our position and hopefully at some point we’ll be able to publish what we said in our report so that everybody can see. What we are advocating for is the cleaning up of the language – we don’t want anything to be added or removed from what the people wanted.”
Meanwhile, asked how best the national referendum could be conducted, she said the exercise ought to be done separately from a general election.
“LAZ is on record as saying that we thought that it was a bad idea to have the referendum alongside the general election because it would then be politicised. What we did support was the content because what we wanted was an enhanced Bill of Rights for the Zambian people and that’s still very much outstanding. So, we’ll support the referendum to bring that enhanced Bill of Rights outside a general election period, whenever that will be – so long as there is enough time to prepare for that referendum properly so that everybody is sensitised to the contents of what will be in the referendum,”
said Kasonde.
Read this article from the original source: LAZ: Cadreism Is Taking Over Official Govt Duties.
The Ministry of Finance says it released K5.2 billion for development programmes and government operations in January 2018.
Ministry of finance public relations officer Chileshe Kandeta says of the total K5.2 billion,K1.6 billion was for personal emoluments for public service workers,K1.8 billion for debt service, while K1 billion was allocated for grants with K800 million going to key programmes, including capital projects.
Mr Kandeta explains that the K1.6 billion expenditure on personal emolumetnts includes the 2018 salary increment awarded to public service workers in January.
He says of the K1billion grant amount to various institutions,K233.2 million went to the ministry of agriculture for the Farmer Input Support Programme while the Food Reserve Agency received K172 million as final installment for clearing arrear accumulated in the 2016/17 marketing season.
He adds that the treasury also released K89.9 million for the Local Government Equalisation Fund to fiscally empower local authorities and ensure equitable distribution of resources.
Mr Kandeta points out that the allocation for the Local Government Equalisation Fund has been increased by 21.5% to K1.1 billion in the 2018 budget compared to K863 million in the 2017 budget.
He says public universities received a total of K92 million, of which the university of Zambia received K33.4 million,of which K16.7 million is for student loans and allowances, while the Copperbelt university received K38 million of which K23 million went towards students loans and allowances, with Mulungushi University receiving K2.4 million.
He states that releases towards cholera control amounted to K35 million in addition to the K64 million released in 2017.
Read this article from the original source: MoF Releases K5.2 billion for Govt Operations.
THE Commission of inquiry on the voting pattern and political violence has observed that the country is slowly drifting into regionalism and block voting as witnessed in the 2016 general elections.
And the commission has apologised to the people of Lukulu District in Western province for its failure to reach the area due to heavy rain that has cut off the area from the rest of the province.
Speaking during a media briefing after paying a courtesy call on acting Livingstone District Commissioner Harriet Kawina in Livingstone on Sunday, Commission Chairperson Munalula Lisimba said that it was worrying to see how electorate voted in the previous elections where regionalism and block voting was the order of the day. Justice Lisimba charged that failure to find a solution to that problem the country was risking its democratic status it was known for to the rest of the world.
He said from the sittings in last eight provinces held so far, the response from the public had been overwhelming adding that people from diverse backgrounds, both young and old had made submissions.
“We are delighted to be in Southern Province and so far, we have covered eight provinces and Southern Province will be the ninth.
“In the province, we are going to touch seven districts starting with Livingstone, Choma, Namwala, Dundumwezi in Kalomo, Gwembe, Monze and Mazabuka,” he said.
“We were supposed to have been here in January but we postposed due to logistical challenges. The commission has received tremendous response from the areas we have visited so far. I am happy with the turnout,” he said.
“I would like to encourage the people of Southern Province to turnout in numbers and give their submissions. We want to know what caused the violence that was reported in this province…we also want know why this country is slowly drifting into regionalism and block voting like we saw in 2016,” he said.
Justice Lisimba the regionalism and block voting which the country experienced in the past elections had the potential to dent the democracy which Zambia is known for.
“The commission is confident the response in the province will be the same as those from other provinces. As a nation, we want to find a lasting solution to the electoral violence and voting patterns we have seen in recent years, which, if not nipped in the bud, has potential
to undermine our democracy, peace unity, credentials Zambia is admired for world over,” he said.
“We do not know where this comes from…We do not where it starts from so, I am appealing to the people of Southern Province to make submissions and I am encouraging political parties to turn up in numbers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Kawina has told the commission that Livingstone was spared from the violence that was reported in other parts of the province.
Ms. Kawina said that in Livingstone, the case was different as people from different political parties conducted their campaigns in harmony and in unity.
Read this article from the original source: Zambia Drifting into Regionalism – Commission.
PATRIOTIC Front secretary general Davies Mwila has warned district commissioners that are not willing to work with the PF administration that they risk losing their jobs.
And PF Central Province chairman Chanda Mutale says district commissioners in the region are not contributing to the growth of the party.
Speaking when he officially launched the Central Province PF mobilisation in Kapiri Mposhi on Sunday afternoon, Mwila said district commissioners were appointed at the recommendation of district and provincial party officials.
He said the top leadership reserved the right to terminate contracts for district commissioners that were not willing to work with the ruling party.
Mwila said district commissioners were appointed at the discretion of the Head of State hence the need for them to pay allegiance to the appointing authority.
He said it was important for district commissioners to remember where they came from.
Mwila further called for intensified party mobilisation.
And Mutale, the Chitambo PF lawmaker, informed Mwila that some district commissioners in Central Province were not adding value to the party.
“Sir, I would like to report to you that some of the district commissioners in Central Province are not willing to contribute to the well-being of the party. Some of these district commissioners have grown wings and are even going to an extent of holding meetings where they are discussing the party, but are not willing to make any financial contribution to the party,” he said. “Most of these district commissioners have been a let down and are posing a big challenge to the growth of party.”
And Mutale disclosed that the ruling party’s Central Province executive committee had resolved to dissolve the PF Mumbwa Constituency executive committee.
He explained that the decision to dissolve the Mumbwa Constituency executive committee was arrived at after an evaluation undertaken by the Central Province executive committee.
Mutale added that there was need for PF members to maintain high levels of discipline in the discharge of their duties.
PF Central Province information and publicity secretary Davies Chisopa called for unity of purpose among part members.
Read this article from the original source: DCs Not Willing To Work With PF Admin Risk Losing Their Jobs, Warns Mwila.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema says going by what he saw during his site visit of Mungule area on Sunday, President Edgar Lungu lied about the status quo in most farms in Chisamba.
Speaking when he toured some maize fields in Chibombo district in Chief Mungule area, the UPND leader asked President Lungu to declare a food national disaster for people to attend to the problem of hunger arising from the failure of agriculture this season.
Hichilema, who was visibly moved when he visited the drying maize fields in Mungule, said President Lungu and his PF government had destroyed the hope of all the farmers due to poor policies and a lack of understanding of what farming was.
“I have asked Lungu and his government to declared a food national disaster so that we can attend to the problem of hunger arising from the failure of agriculture this season,” Hichilema said.
“We have a very depressing situation here; there is no question that anybody who understands farming knows that this crop is irretrievable, it’s damaged beyond retrieve. The hunger situation is imminent, the food insecurity is imminent because Katuba, Chibombo, Kembe and all of this province are facing the similar situation,”
Hichilema said.
“These fields we are standing on, over the years have fed the people of Zambia, have produced the food to feed the people of Zambia and when a fertile field like this fails, it’s because of the drought situation but more importantly it’s because of the poor policies of the PF government. We are going to have a disaster; a serious food shortage and nothing will stand in the way of that. It’s depressing to hear Mr. Lungu saying that there is no crisis after visiting Chibombo. I don’t know which Chibombo he went to, I don’t know which Katuba field he inspected, maybe he does not know the difference between a small garden which is watered by a small well, maybe that were he went and a big field like this.”
Hichilema further said President Lungu should have consulted those that understood agriculture than mislead the nation that everything was okay.
“This whole field is gone and there is confirmation that it’s the same in Chisamba, it’s the same in Kembe, it’s the same in Mumbwa. Look at these crops, these are crops Mr Lungu was saying are okay; these crops are stunted. Even if you apply fertiliser at this stage, it will not produce edible maize; maybe it’s lack of understanding of agriculture by Mr Lungu and how farming works. We can excuse him for lack of understanding but we cannot excuse him for reaching a wrong conclusion that the situation is okay,”
Hichilema said.
The UPND leader further said the PF regime was thinking up side down by investing in wrong things, which were mere conduits for corruption.
He said investing in weather forecasting equipment would prevent farmers from being misled into planting when a drought was looming.
“The situation is not okay, the country must brace itself for food insecurity and food shortage. We must do something about it. We must now invest in correct weather forecasting instead of investing in stealing money through useless road projects, which are a basis for breeding corruption. The Lusaka – Ndola road [project], they are stealing so much money on that project but for us in UPND, we will save that money because of our zero tolerance on corruption. W will invest that money in proper weather forecasting. This farmer would have not planted if they had known that there was going to be a drought,” Hichilema said adding;
“There was a failure of advising farmers, there is no basic agriculture information and that is happening because money is diverted through corruption to buying houses in Dubai. See what’s happening, and the man says he was in Chibombo. Lungu, look, don’t say things you don’t know; ask the people who know, they can help. Not helping you in particular, we don’t want to help you; we want to help the people of Zambia. This is really disappointing; I am not really surprised because this is what that individual and his team are. They can’t be anything else rather than what they are doing, complete disaster and haphazardness in literally everything.”
Hichilema also took time to visit the Ministry of Agriculture fertiliser storage facility in chief Mungule’s area where he found farmers receiving the commodity.
The UPND leader wondered why a serious leader would start distributing fertiliser in February as if he did not understand the calendar.
Hichilema, who was greeted with numerous farming problems from farmers, encouraged them to look forward to a serious leadership soon under the UPND.
At the Palace assembly grounds, Hichilema told residents that it was not strange that the PF was working in reverse gear as per their theme song Dununa reverse.
“We came here just to have a site visit as you may be aware that farming is important for all of us. What we have seen is clear that the crop has failed for many reasons. The biggest problem is lack of leadership in the PF. They start distributing fertiliser in February; does that make sense? And you come with a few bags of fertiliser simply because Edgar knew he was visiting the area, is there logic?”
he asked.
“Even from the slogan ‘Dununa reverse’ you can tell that you cannot progress as a country. We can see the reverse gear by delivering inputs late.”
And headman Chikwili Pias Tembo said President Lungu did not tour the drought affected areas in his area as he just went as far as the tarmac and was flown to Chibombo in his helicopter.
Chikwili asked President Lungu what field he said was okay, from the air, on his way to Chibombo.
He complained that owing to the bad-farming season, most farmers wasted money investing into buying fertiliser because the e-voucher system the government was talking about failed.
“Our children cannot go to school because there is no money. With this bad farming season, everything has gone to waste. The President came here with a chopper and he expects to see how bad our fields are using a chopper; that is a mockery,” headman Chikwili said.
“Look at HH, he came here and went with us into the fields. He walked in the mud with us and that is the type of leader we want, not someone who comes to mock us with a helicopter.”
Also in attendance was headwoman Fides Shimukuni of Pwalakasa village and area member of parliament Patricia Mwashingwele among other party officials.
Read this article from the original source: HH Asks Lungu To Declare Hunger A National Disaster.
Secretary to the Cabinet Rowland Msiska says government is walking the talk in the fight against corruption.
Dr. Msiska says government is doing this by institutionalizing the fight against corruption through the formation of integrity committees in both public and private sector institutions.
Speaking in Lusaka when he officially opened a workshop on the establishment of the construction sector Anti- Corruption Advisory Forum (CACAF), Dr. Msiska has advised all stakeholders in Zambia to stop the blame game, but instead give the forward on corruption.
Dr. Msiska has also reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening law enforcement institutions particularly the Anti-Corruption Commission to be better equipped to indentify, prevent and prosecute corruption incidences in the country.
He further implored all Zambians to get involved in the fight against corruption.
In a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, Dr, Msiska has expressed concern that there is no platform on which the various stakeholders can meet to discuss and share information and knowledge on Anti-Corruption activities and measures in the construction sector.
Speaking at the same event, Transparency International Zambia Chapter President Reuben Lifuka has observed that cadreism has transformed into another cancerous form of corruption where it has become a norm that political party cadres should be given construction contracts regardless of their ability to service the contracts.
Mr. Lifuka says there is lack of transparency in the awarding of contracts and the operating environment of the construction industry.
Meanwhile, University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Professor Luke Mumba says a study by the University of Zambia has revealed that the involvement of the community and other stakeholders is critical in fighting corruption thus the need for the forum.
Professor Mumba says the Anti-Corruption Forum is a partnership of all well meaning institutions and people that abhor corruption.
He says the Forum will also act as a source of expert opinions on the issues of procurement in the construction sector.
Read this article from the original source: Govt Walking The Talk In Fighting Corruption – Msiska.
By Sishuwa Sishuwa
Last week, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Kampamba Mulenga revealed that the government is in the process of selling the prime land on which the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) in Lusaka sits to AVIC International, a Chinese state-owned corporation. Mulenga stated that AVIC has offered an unsolicited proposal to construct ‘a brand new NRDC’ in Mumbwa, a rural area about 145 kilometres from Lusaka, in exchange for the prime land in the capital that the Chinese firm seeks to utilise for commercial purposes. The minister claimed that the existing college infrastructure is inadequate to cater for the learning needs of students and that the undeveloped land is too small to facilitate expansion. For these reasons, Mulenga argued, the government finds AVIC’s proposal reasonable because a bigger institution would result in increased bed spaces and adequate facilities to cater for the rising enrolment figures.
The imminent sale of the 53-year old agricultural college has displeased many Zambians, who feel that if all that is needed is extra space, the government should simply make plans for a satellite campus whilst maintaining the existing one. Opposition United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema, who insists that the college land has already been sold, has promised to reverse the deal if elected to power. Several others have called on President Edgar Lungu to cancel the transaction, if it has not been concluded. I am not persuaded that Lungu or the government will entertain such calls. If he and his administration really cared about the opinion of Zambians, they would have subjected the proposed sale of the NRDC land to wider consultation beforehand. The recent revelation by Julius Shawa, the Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary, that a memorandum of understanding between the government and AVIC has already been signed shows how far the deal has gone, the suspicious secrecy with which it has been carried out and the growing influence of the Chinese, represented most notably by AVIC, on the Zambian state. Why is AVIC receiving preferential treatment from President Lungu’s administration? What really underlines the relationship between AVIC and the Zambian state? Who are the real beneficiaries of this relationship? Does AVIC represent the Guptas of Zambia?
Given the growing Chinese influence over Lungu’s government, we should not be surprised to wake up one day and discover that our President is Chinese. This prospect is far from an exaggeration. The Chinese appear to have such a tight grip on Lungu’s balls, so much so that our so-called leaders were recently prepared to totally disregard Zambia’s Constitution in order to accommodate a few Chinese nationals seeking employment as reservists in our police service. This growing Chinese influence on our ruling elites is bad both for Zambians and Chinese. Chinese residents in Zambia risk becoming targets of hostility from Zambians aggrieved about this influence. For Zambians, the danger is that growing Chinese influence over the economy and political life could result in effective political control passing to China. This explains why it is not inconceivable that we might soon have a Chinese exercising presidential functions in State House – that is if one has not done so already, even just for a few hours or days. Most worryingly, the Chinese, in order to protect their economic and strategic interests, might prop up an unpopular regime for fear that a less pliant leader might undermine their long-term interests.
We face tough times ahead, not that these and the past have been any easier. What is certain for now, arising from what the Minister of National Planning Alexander Chiteme calls the ‘inevitable relocation of NRDC’ to the Chinese, is that our government has betrayed us to foreign commercial interests. To obliterate an entire institution and important part of our national heritage for purposes of satisfying the commercial interests of the Chinese, who are seeking to grab our prime land under the guise of building ‘a brand new college’ for us elsewhere, is most ridiculous. I appeal to President Lungu to immediately halt the proposed sale of NRDC land. Like many Zambians, I am outraged by the move and I will never forgive Lungu and all his friends in Cabinet if they proceeded to sell one of our most hallowed intellectual sites. We do not need the Chinese or any other foreign powers and corporations to develop our institutions: we should do it ourselves. Zambians must never allow the situation to develop to a point where every prominent piece of the country will be owned by multinational corporations or foreigners, wherever they maybe coming from.
It is most disturbing that President Lungu and his administration appear to have given up any pretence of managing the affairs of the country to effectively just become lousy real estate brokers; that those entrusted to administer our national resources and assets are cheaply disposing of them with reckless abandon. Today, it is NRDC. Tomorrow, it might be the University of Zambia, Leopards Hill Cemetery, Lusaka Central Police Station and before we know it, whole communities will be relocated. Unfortunately, the plunder of state resources seems to have become a consistent pattern of Zambia since the economic liberalisation of the 1990s. The principles and ravaging effects of neoliberalism have created a readymade set of corruptible leaders, who pawn off the country for a few trinkets, who accumulate through brazen theft of public resources and massive sale of Zambian land to so-called investors, and who strut around with self-importance when they are nothing but disposable playthings of even bigger global kleptocrats.
A genuine Zambian government would have to conduct an audit of all post-1991 ‘land grabs’ with a view to enable Zambians to learn the extent of land betrayal that has occurred, to return these lands back to Zambians through their government, and to arrest and punish all those who would have participated in the corrupt and criminal transfers of land to both local and foreign thieves. Ultimately, a public register of foreign ownership of Zambian land must be created so that every Zambian may know how much ‘Zambia’ is left. The hard reality is that taking back and reshaping our assets in our own ways would be a tough process, requiring an ideological mindshift, a strong and enlightened leadership and significant consensus. People would need to be willing to endure a temporary period of upheaval.
The impending sale of NRDC must be a wake-up call: we need an organisation to come into existence to demand a national land audit, to streamline extent of forensic land ownership, to start a national campaign to ban foreign land ownership – simple lease-holding should be enough, on a possible renewable basis according to the kind of investment – to advocate for legislation that vests all land to be in the custody of the state on behalf of present and future Zambian generations, to ban all speculation in land, to prioritise land allocation for Zambian use (housing, farming and commercial purposes) and to call for a national land summit to address the land question in Zambia. The current land grabbing by foreigners and multinational corporations will end in grief, great grief, for the country if WE do NOTHING! When future generations, including our children, in their turbulent moments, will look back to this period of our national history, and discover that we are the citizens who lived at this time, what judgement shall they pass on us in relation to the quality of the choices that we made for them? I personally fear the weight of their likely judgement: ‘You cared only for yourselves!’
For any feedback, please email sishuwasishuwa@yahoo.com
Read this article from the original source: We Should Not Be Surprised To Wake Up and Discover that Our President Is Chinese.
PF member Gift Kalumba says it is shameful that a delegation of Luapula Province parliamentarians went into Bahati constituency last week to disparage area PF member of parliament Harry Kalaba.
And Kalumba, who recently resigned as Kitwe district PF deputy information and publicity secretary, says it is self-deception for Luapula Province members of parliament to try and trigger an anti-Kalaba campaign because Zambians are no longer susceptible to political lies.
Following his resignation as a foreign minister last month, the ruling PF has continued giving Kalaba a cold shoulder, while agitating for his resignation as a member of parliament and to leave the party.
But Kalumba said while Kalaba abdicated the presidential prerogative to serve as a minister, he still had the mandate of the people of Bahati constituency to continue as a lawmaker, hence he deserved respect.
“Let me make a comment on what Honourable [Chitalu] Chilufya and his team of MPs that visited Luapula Province said, particularly in Bahati when they said the people of Bahati nabashala abana banshiwa (have remained as orphans). It’s very shameful to say such a thing under the political dispensation that we have today. First of all, Honourable Chilufya is a member of parliament and he should have thought wise before making that statement…Has Honourable Kalaba resigned as a member of parliament? He is still a member of the Patriotic Front! So, how do the people of Bahati become political orphans when their member of parliament is still fully committed to their parliamentary representative,” Kalumba said in an interview in Kitwe.
“Dr Chilufya is an educated person and we call on him not to be a cadre. We are very disappointed that a high ranking person like a doctor can bring himself [down] and start to behave like a cadre. You cannot say a parliamentary seat is vacant when there is no vacancy. We all know that the only thing Honourable Kalaba did was to resign from his ministerial position to serve the people of Bahati from the back bench. Probably, the ministry was making him busy…The man only left the prerogative of the President but he still holds the prerogative.”
He accused Dr Chilufya, who is also Mansa Central PF member of parliament, of hurting the image of the ruling party.
“People like Honourable Chilufya abaishile pa chililo mu PF (who joined PF during a funeral service) are damaging the image of the Patriotic Front. That programme of MPs in Luapula was just a [counter] response to what happened when Honourable Kalaba went there, how he was welcomed. Where have those MPs been all along? That’s the question you should ask! Remember that the people of Zambia at one time used the words ‘Don’t Kubeba’ and so, if they (MPs who recently toured Luapula Province) are trying to cheat the President in order to maintain their positions as ministers or maintain their relevance on the political scenario, they are lying to themselves. Zambians are not stupid people – they are enlightened,” said Kalumba.
“So, those MPs should respect other members of parliament. In fact, it is unethical to go and tour developmental projects in a constituency without the seating member of parliament for that area. So, it is a shame! My call is that let them respect Honourable Kalaba’s decision to resign.”
Two weeks after his resignation, Kalaba went to Luapula where he drew a huge cheery crowd of supporters at Mansa Airport.
After Kalaba’s unsettling support in the province, the province’s PF members of parliament went on a week-long district to district political campaign, disguised as a tour of ‘developmental’ projects.
Read this article from the original source: It’s Self-Deception To Trigger Anti-Kalaba Campaign In Luapula, Says PF Member.
I CAN never go back to PF but I excuse Davies Mwila for his lies because bola naikosa, says Chishimba Kambwili. And police in Ndola have warned and cautioned Chishimba Kambwili for proposing violence.
Kambwili yesterday appeared for questioning which lasted about an hour and 45 minutes. Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga later said Kambwili was charged with proposing violence.
According to Katanga, Kambwili proposed violence against the Chinese in Luanshya during a recent briefing. In a statement on Monday issued by PF deputy director for media Antonio Mwanza, PF secretary general Davies Mwila said Kambwili had been sending emissaries to President Edgar Lungu asking for forgiveness and reinstatement in the Patriotic Front.
Mwila claimed that Kambwili had been going to named priests and chiefs begging them to plead with President Lungu to take him back in the ruling party.
But Kambwili challenged Mwila to name the emissaries he was allegedly sending to President Lungu.
“Antonio Mwanza is not in my political class; he is too junior to waste time to talk to and by the way, Mwila does not think. If Mwila is saying I have been sending emissaries to go and ask President Lungu to forgive me, let him name the priest, let him name the chief I have ever sent,” Kambwili said.
He said the propaganda being propelled by Mwila and the PF was due to pressure from the newly formed party – NDC.
Kambwili said the game was tough for the ruling party.
“Where I come from, in Bemba they say Imbwa tashilwila mulembwe, shilwila ifupa (Dogs don’t fight for okra, they fight for a bone). Going to PF is as good as imbwa shilelwila umulembwe (dogs fighting for okra). I can never go to plead with PF but I can forgive Mwila because bola naikosa. They have seen the impact of NDC on the ground and now they are panicking like rats. Where I come from, they say ulelosha tabamucheba kukanwa so Mwila alelosha teti tumuchebe kukanwa iyo. I want to tell Mwila that I can never ever go and plead with President Lungu to bring me back into PF. And I want to appeal to all our NDC members countrywide that they should not buy this cheap story, as all they are trying to do is destabilise NDC by saying that Kambwili wants to go back to President Edgar Lungu,”
he said.
And National Democratic Congress secretary general Mwenya Musenge also said Kambwili had never sent any emissaries to try and seek reconciliation with President Lungu.
He said the Roan MP was “allergic to the corruption”, which was associated with the governing party, and his words on the matter should not be minced.
“The reports attributed to PF secretary general Davies Mwila at a public meeting in Kapiri Mposhi district are false and should be parried. At no point has Kambwili used the clergy nor the traditional leadership to try and dialogue with Mr. Lungu,” said Musenge.
Read this article from the original source: Kambwili: I Can Never Go Back To PF.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says striking the right balance between debt contraction and investment is one of the most critical economic challenges facing African countries including Zambia.
Speaking in Lusaka during the Africa Fiscal Forum under the theme “Fiscal Policy in an Evolving World”, IMF African Department deputy Director, Roger Nord has also observed that debt levels in many countries have risen with relatively high growth often reflecting ambitious infrastructure investment programs.
He says Infrastructure investment if well executed has potential to spur economic growth and private sector development needed for job creation.
Mr. Nord however, states that if not used properly, debt becomes a burden rather than an engine for development.
He says fiscal policy at the centre of the forum’s debate faces the dual task of increasing the efficiency of public spending while expanding fiscal space by mobilizing more domestic revenue.
Officiating at the forum, Finance, Felix Mutati reiterated that the Zambian economy is sound and stable.
Mr. Mutati has attributed this to the economic recovery program dubbed Zambia Plus.
The program is designed to help Zambia restore its GDP growth, currently standing at 3%, which is below the 7% levels required to reduce poverty and to drive Zambia’s development.
And European Ambassador to Zambia, Alessandro Mariani has reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting policies that contribute to structurally reduce the dependence of developing countries on external assistance.
Read this article from the original source: Zambia’s Economy Stable – Mutati.