Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has died aged 65. He had been suffering from colon cancer for at least two years, but his condition deteriorated rapidly in recent days despite treatment in neighbouring South Africa.

His death will be an enormous blow to the opposition in Zimbabwe, coming only months before the first elections were due to be held in the former British colony since the end of Robert Mugabe’s near four-decade rule last year.

Tsvangirai’s illness, revealed in 2016, has divided his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, with three deputy leaders and other officials publicly manoeuvring to succeed the former trade union leader.

The party will have to choose a new leader and launch a campaign against a resurgent Zanu-PF, the ruling party, to contest polls that may be held as early as May.

Without its founder at the helm, the MDC is likely to face immediate instability and could even split, handing a gift to Zimbabwe’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. A broader alliance of seven political parties formed last year to take on Zanu-PF could also be destabilised.

“Tsvangirai’s death will force the MDC to convene an emergency conference to sort out the differences between the three vice-leaders. His sickness meant an impasse around internal dynamics so this might force a resolution. That’s a possible silver lining to this tragic event,” said Piers Pigou, Zimbabwe analyst for the International Crisis Group.

Tsvangirai died in a clinic in Johannesburg. Elias Mudzuri, one of the MDC’s vice presidents, said on Twitter: “Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai has not been feeling well for some time, it is sad for me to announce that we have lost our icon and fighter for democracy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, the party and the nation at this hour.”

Temba Mliswa, an independent MP, called Tsvangirai “a true democrat who fearlessly stood up to the Mugabe regime and was an inspiration to many”.

He added: “Although we may have differed politically I held a deep respect for MT.”

David Coltart, one of the founders of the MDC, said Tsvangirai was “one of the giants of the long struggle to bring democracy to Zimbabwe”. He added: “I will remember him for his courage, humility, humour and relentless determination.”

The course of Tsvangirai’s life was determined by his long political battle against Mugabe, the former guerrilla leader who had run Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980 until November.

The oldest of nine children, Tsvangirai left school at 16 to help support his family. As a young miner he become a labour activist and rose through the ranks of the Associated Mine Workers Union. In 1988, he was elected secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the overarching body of the country’s labour movement.

In 1999, Tsvangirai founded the MDC. Although heavily influenced by the trade union movement, the party incorporated the church, business, women’s and students’ organisations and other interest groups.

As Mugabe launched a programme of radical measures designed to bolster his power but which brought economic chaos, Tsvangirai and the MDC stepped up their challenge to the government through a series of nationwide strikes and, despite fierce intimidation, came close to winning power in parliamentary elections in 2000 and in a presidential vote in 2002.

Tsvangirai’s leadership was questioned after a serious split in MDC ranks in 2005, when he overruled a decision by the party’s leadership to take part in elections for the senate and ordered a boycott.

Mugabe’s tactics of harassment enhanced the opposition leader’s reputation as a tenacious, courageous opponent of repression. Images of Tsvangirai after being badly beaten following a prayer meeting that police claimed was illegal were published around the world.

The MDC won the first round of elections in 2008 in the face of a vicious state campaign of violence against party workers and supporters. The MDC eventually joined a unity government that lasted until the 2013 election, which Mugabe won.

Criticised for his obvious affection for the outward trappings of power and failure to make a significant impact in the office of prime minister, Tsvangirai emerged from office a diminished figure. A leaked US diplomatic cable described him as “a flawed figure, not readily open to advice, indecisive and with questionable judgment”.

Tsvangirai nonetheless dominated the fractured opposition in Zimbabwe until his death.

“He was the presidential candidate for the opposition alliance. Recently they have been campaigning on the spirit of Tsvangirai alone. The dilemma is now to find someone who will play that central role,” said Pigou.

Read this article from the original source: Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe Opposition Leader, Dies Aged 65.

Good evening friends

We have just been informed about the passing on of dear brother and colleague, the Zimbabwean main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

To the family of our colleague Morgan Tsvangirai, we send our heartfelt condolences on the passing of this great son of Africa.

Morgan’s role in what Zimbabwe’s democracy is today, can never be under estimated. He fought a great fight to ensure that Zimbabwe’s democracy was upheld. The people of Zimbabwe should ensure that his legacy lives on by upholding what Morgan fought for sometimes at great personal risk.

Once more condolences to his family and condolences to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the people of Zimbabwe and what a great loss to Africa at large. May God guide the nation at this tragic time.

Bon voyage gallant son of Africa. MYSRIP!

HH

Read this article from the original source: HH Mourns Morgan Tsvangirai.

SOUTH AFRICAN President Jacob Zuma has stepped down as President of South Africa with immediate effect.

Zuma thanked everyone who helped put South Africa where it is today. Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s embattled and controversial president, has announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation.

“I have to come to decision to resign with immediate effect,” he said on Wednesday in Pretoria.

Zuma’s resignation followed weeks of intense public pressure to step down amid longstanding corruption allegations.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) formally asked Zuma, 75, to resign on Tuesday. He initially refused, saying he did not understand why he was being told to step down.

The party later announced plans to hold a no-confidence vote against him on Thursday in parliament.

Zuma, who served as the country’s president since 2009, joined the ANC in 1958.

He is considered one of the party stalwarts, having served for 10 years on the Robben Island prison alongside freedom fighter Nelson Mandela and living in exile before returning to South Africa in 1990.

Despite being known for being an astute political operator, Zuma’s presidency was characterised by scandal and corruption allegations, making him the most controversial president since the end of apartheid.

To be updated…

Read this article from the original source: Zuma Resigns As South African President.

EDITH Nawakwi says she had no ill feelings about Antonio Mwanza’s defection to the governing PF.

“My delight is that I realised that I’m a very good mother because four years ago, I think Mwanza was not as what he is today. It gives me joy that there are many things that he has become which he wasn’t and therefore, he is attractive. As a good sister, a good mother, I’m pleased with that. His point is that he is now a father and a husband and he needs to fulfill his duties as a parent and a husband and I respect that. I take it that it’s not out of a difference of principle, meaning policies of the party, but out of a personal desire to be someone else. So, I just wish him well and I think my colleagues in PF say he is an asset – that is very good,” said Nawakwi.

Read this article from the original source: Nawakwi: I Have No ill Feelings Over Mwanza’s Defection.

State House Press Aide Amos Chanda says President Edgar Lungu’s statement that he will not travel abroad this year does not mean he has completely withdrawn from making international trips, but that his travels will be carefully selected.

And Chanda says as President Lungu is inspecting developmental projects, he is not ashamed to tell people to vote for him in 2021, should he be allowed to stand, adding that if the opposition desires, they should also do the same.

President Lungu last week said in order to shame his critics, he was not going to make international trips this year.

But speaking in an interview, following the President’s announcement, Chanda said the Head of State was not going to miss important summits.

“It’s not a complete withdrawal, what it means is that the trips will be carefully selected. Like I know for instance that within two weeks or so, he has an important outing, he will make it. But the travels will be very carefully chosen. As a general rule, he has said he has a strong domestic agenda. That statement is correct in that context, but it’s not a complete withdrawal or suspension of all trips, its not. For instance, in the morning, he told me to clear one foreign trip. That was on the aircraft even before he came down (landed),” Chanda said.

Chanda said the State House advisory team was pushing President Lungu to accept selected foreign trips which he could not afford to miss.

“So the President was stating it as a general rule and he is very strong on that. But we are trying to pull back ourselves and tell him that he must take some of them. Some of the trips we have succeeded [to convince him to travel] but some of them we have failed. As a team in State House, we are still pushing him to accept some of what we think are important trips,” he said.

And Chanda revealed that President Lungu is very frustrated by corruption allegations against him.

“The President wants all the stalled projects to finish before we can start the new ones. This means he will not authorise new projects until we have finished those that have stalled. He wants to give an example using those projects that have gone very well. People want to know how a clinic would be built, for arguments sake, and there are allegations of corruption, for instance, in Muchinga and people are linking those things to him,” Chanda said.

“Its becoming irritating for him because you hear people question and say these flats in Kabulonga [who do they belong to], I actually had to drive there myself to check but I couldn’t verify. So we are trying to put a face to these allegations to understand where they are coming from. So the President needs to familiarise himself with certain things which have not been brought to his attention. It’s a check on his officials, it’s a check on the opposition allegations and to also connect with the people. He wants to put people to shame for the malicious corruption agenda in the newspapers. We can now laugh at them because the President is now overwhelmed with where to start from. We were moved by the crowd that turned out in Masala.

He said the Head of State had also taken an opportunity to ask for 2021 votes.

“The domestic agenda for the President means making sure that government officials who are procrastinating on projects are dealt with. He wants to link the Auditor General’s report to the actual things on the grounds. He is reading the AG’s report very carefully. He says that if there was misplacement of CDF in Mufulura and the Auditor General is questioning where that money has gone, he wants to go on the ground and see whether the MP is involved. As he does that, he is telling the people that should I stand, vote for me; we are not ashamed about that, the opposition can do the same if they want,” Chanda explained.

“However, the President’s major domestic agenda is to put back life into infrastructure development. He believes very strongly that Mr Sata’s vision on infrastructure development remains one of the very best tools for the PF to deliver in line with its pro-poor agenda.”

Asked what the President meant when he said “even if you don’t vote for us we will still be in government”, Chanda said the Head of State was referring to regional voting.

“He was being told by officials when he went into Katuba [Constituency], that ‘people here have resolved to vote you out’, then he said ‘yeah, they voted us out but we are still in government’. He was talking about regional voting. For instance, in every single general election they say ‘we are voting you out’, so in response to that he is saying for example, ‘you Southern Province, you voted us out but we are still here’,” Chanda explained.

“It was mischievous for the opposition to have cut that video clip like that. If they showed it in full, they would have seen actually what he meant. But even if we just take it the way it was put in that circulating video, he was referring to the decidedly regional voting in territories. Those who are saying because we are Tonga, we will vote for a Tonga president; he was referring to those.”

Chanda said President Lungu was impressed with the performance of some opposition members of parliament.

“In those closed circles, which I can now put in pubic domain, the President was saying the most popular candidate somewhere in Mpika is Lozi, and if he continues to work that hard, he might be our candidates in one of those constituencies. He was also saying look at how well the opposition candidate is doing in some parts of Muchinga, in some parts of Northern and Easter Provinces,” said Chanda.

Read this article from the original source: The President Will Travel Abroad In 2 Weeks – State House.

Rainbow Party General Secretary Wynter Kabimba says the excuse given by Anti-Corruption Commission Director General Kapetwa Phiri that the Commission is failing in its duties due to invisible influence threatening witnesses from giving information to the ACC is washy, because the commission under the law has powers to prosecute anyone who obstructs an investigation.

And Kabimba says Zambians have the right to perceive President Edgar Lungu as a thief because he has failed to act on those who are involved in criminal activities under his administration.

In an interview, Kabimba rubbished Phiri’s statement that Ministers were threatening Permanent Secretaries from playing the whistleblower role in the mismanagement of public resources, thereby making it hard for the ACC to execute its mandate.

“Well, I thought that the law gives powers to the ACC to subpoena people to go there with information. I really don’t think that anybody can stand in the way of investigations by refusing to cooperate because that is an offence. If you are summoned to court as a witness because you have information to a case that is going on and you don’t appear there, then you are in contempt of Court and that in itself is an offence,” Kabimba explained.

“So the excuse being given by the ACC director general is a lame one because if it was really true that there are hindrances in the way they conduct their affairs at that office, they should exercise their powers by getting those people hindering the process prosecuted, because they are standing in the way of investigations. They have got powers, ACC has got powers to prosecute those who refuse to cooperate with them and for withholding information which they require to conclude their investigations. So they must do what the law empowers them to do.”

He said the ACC should be pressurised to explain why its not doing its work when it had all the powers it needed.

“If you read the ACC Act, you will be able to see the powers of the Anti-Corruption Commission as they relate to investigations because they have a lot of powers and I wonder why they are even giving us those excuses. These people in the law enforcement agencies must be taken to task, if for example there is a murder today in [Lusaka’s] Mandavu township, and the police are not investigating that matter, you should ask them as journalists why they are not investigating the matter because the police are obliged as a matter of law to investigate when there is a murder and establish who is involved in that murder. So the ACC should be pressurised to explain why its not doing its work when it has all the powers it needs,” Kabimba said.

Read this article from the original source: Wynter Rubbishes ACC Excuse For Incompetence.

hief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya says it mischievous for any right thinking member of the public to twist, for political gain, the adage ‘Ubomba Mwibala Alya Mwibala’ that President Edgar Lungu used to warn public servants against stealing.

In a statement, Ms Siliya who is the new information and broadcasting services Minister says President Lungu was in fact cautioning public workers against corruption and emphasised the need for all public servants to be above board when performing their various functions.

She says President Lungu swore to defend the Zambian Constitution whose laws prohibit theft by public servants.

She says it is unfortunate that some politicians and journalists have banded together to promote fake news as a means to frustrate Government efforts to develop Zambia.

Ms Siliya says the PF Government’s accelerated development agenda and programmes to fight poverty are unprecedented and this is what is driving enemies of Government to concoct stories aimed at misdirecting citizens from real issues.

She has advised international media to verify with Zambian missions in their localities, especially on what she has described as ludicrous stories sent from Zambia by their so-called correspondents.

Ms Siliya says Zambia, like the rest of the world, is certainly not immune from fake news which undermines the credibility of journalists and other purveyors of information.

Read this article from the original source: Siliya Defends President Lungu’s ‘Bemba Idiom’.

Every time President Edgar Lungu decides to hire, fire government officials or simply make a reshuffle, some names attract more attention than others.
In 2015, the appointment of diplomat and ex PS Emmanuel Mwamba to become ambassador extra ordinary and Plenipotentiary to South Africa made more news than any other ambassadorial appointment.
In the same vein when MMD President Felix Mutati was made Minister of Finance after the 2016 elections popularly won by President Lungu, more people spoke than perhaps when any other ministerial position after the Zambian leader won his first full five-year term convincingly was made.
But now, the appointment of two people has gotten more attention than any other appointment on Valentine’s day.
This is appointment or transfer of Dora Siliya who moves from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services and that of Margarete Dudu Mwanakatwe who takes over the Ministry of Finance from Mutati. Hon Mutati is new Works and Supply Minister, an equally influential portfolio.
But over and above, Dora’s elevation has gotten more tongues wagging perhaps than any other, today we try to peruse the reasons for Dora being such a person of interest or POI.
Without sounding dismissive of other appointees and more to the credit of President Lungu’s decision, we ask the question below:

Who is Dora Siliya and what does she bring to the table?

Dora was 35 when she first became a full cabinet minister in the government of President Levy Mwanawasa.
She was Minister of Transport and later Minister of Commerce and Trade. Of course, there was some controversy.
Dora also served as Minister of Education under President Rupiah Banda and moved from the Ministry of Energy, Agriculture now the big one, Chief Government Spokesman and Minister of Information under President Edgar Lungu.
To say that the Petauke MP has a horse-shoe on her back would be an understatement because those that know her say she is qualified for the job both professionally and academically.
After graduating from Kabulonga Girls in 1988, Dora attended UNZA where she obtained bachelors degree in Mass Communication before proceeding to do a Masters Degree in Development Economics from Cambridge in the UK.
The Cambridge Scholar has since slowed down on education but doubled up on being a consummate politician, devising a winning streak for her constituency Petauke where she became almost unbeatable.
This is perhaps one of the reasons she attracted President Edgar Lungu’s attention one of the first among equals.
She also has a rare mix of diplomacy, academia and politics that is rare among many in Zambia having served at the age of 32 as the Deputy Ambassador in Cairo, Egypt and also acted as Head of Mission at an arguably young age.
Chief Government Spokesman
When the appointments were made by President Lungu’s spokesman Amos Chanda on Valentines day, Dora was in Rome attending a high-level food meeting.
But those that know her within and without cabinet say that she will bring to the position of Chief Government Spokesman the following traits:
• Credibility
• Believability, a key ingredient in communication
• Better understanding of the ‘deep state’ having worked a total of six ministries so far
• A communications and economic developmental background that is crucial for a developing country like Zambia
In short President Lungu has effectively gotten himself a chief government spokesman that stop the fire fighting and ensure than she speaks convincingly without having to pull the head of state in the political fray.
It is an undeniable fact that after Given Lubinda, the important Ministry of Information has suffered a character chokehold that could be relieved by Dora.
Whether she succeeds or not nevertheless is all up to her since she understands the importance of an effective communication strategy.
Communicating issues that matter to the youth of Zambia and her chosen party and not personalities.
Let us as wait and watch the sixth political life of this interesting Zambian politician.

Read this article from the original source: Dora Siliya’s Valentines Appointment Gets Media Frenzy.

Kabimba says people were tired of hearing President Lungu’s plea of ignorance on theft.

“This is not the first time that Edgar is making that pronouncement and we are tired of listening to that pontification. What we want to see from Edgar Lungu now is action. He cannot keep on making pronouncements every time, what he needs to do is to take action. So that’s the problem that I have with Edgar myself, this is not the first time he is saying that he will deal with everyone who is corrupt in his government, he has said it several times. For as long as he continues making these pronouncements without taking any action, Zambians will not take him seriously. Zambians will either not take him seriously or they will think that he’s also involved. That will be the perception of the general citizenry; that either he’s not serious about the whole thing or he himself is involved. It is not enough for him to keep on saying ‘I am not involved’ we want to see him take action against those that are involved,” Kabimba said.

He said the investigative wings should take interest to investigate the dealings of the Head of State, saying executive immunity did not protect the President from being accountable.

“The President is only immune from prosecution because the article in the constitution says ‘nothing that the President does while in office shall make him amenable to prosecution.’ That’s what the article says, it doesn’t serve him from investigation no, he can be investigated. But even if they establish a case against him, you can’t prosecute him as a sitting President unless his immunity is removed by moving a motion to revoke his immunity under the constitution, like what happened to (former President) Rupiah Banda,” explained Kabimba.

Read this article from the original source: Kabimba Tells Lungu ‘ People Are Tired of Your False Ignorance On Theft’.

THE Caucus for PF Copperbelt members of parliament has welcomed the transfer of Kabushi member of parliament Bowman Lusambo as provincial minister.

Lusambo had rejected the caucus committee, calling it a group that was only bringing confusion on the Copperbelt. On Tuesday, President Lungu made Cabinet reshuffles which saw Lusambo being transferred to Lusaka as provincial minister, swapping with Japhen Mwakalombe.

Caucus for Copperbelt MPs secretary Jonas Chanda, who is Bwana Mkubwa member of parliament, said the committee welcomed the transfer of Lusambo.

“We welcome His Excellency President Edgar Lungu’s Cabinet reshuffles both at central and provincial government levels. President Lungu’s decision was in line with his Constitutional functions to ensure efficiency and competence in service delivery to the Zambian people,” Dr Chanda said.

“The Copperbelt MPs fully welcome President Lungu’s appointment of immediate past Lusaka Province minister Hon. Japhen Mwakalombe as the new Copperbelt Province minister, and look forward to working with Hon. Mwakalombe to bring development to all constituencies on the Copperbelt. The Copperbelt MPs also want to thank President Lungu for appointing two (2) more Copperbelt MPs – Chililabombwe MP and past Parliamentary Chief Whip Hon Richard Musukwa as new Mines Minister, and Luanshya Central MP and past Parliamentary Deputy Chief Whip Hon Stephen Chungu as the new Parliamentary Chief Whip.”

The caucus, according to Dr Chanda, also wished immediate Lusambo well in his new role as Lusaka Province minister. Following his appointment as Copperbelt minister after the 2016 elections, Lusambo, the MMD Die Hard coordinator, was accused of working against the ruling party.

In December 2016, Vice-President Inonge Wina and later PF secretary Davies Mwila had to make urgent trips to the Copperbelt to resolve a bitter disagreement that erupted between Lusambo and some PF officials over allocation of land.

Lusambo had accused PF members and officials of not following procedure when acquiring land, an accusation which the ruling party leadership in the province dismissed.

Mwila advised Lusambo to work closely with the party in the province to foster the ruling party’s development agenda. The party secretary general said it is important for Lusambo to dialogue with party officials as they had the same goals of delivering development to the people in the province. And early this month, PF Copperbelt members of parliament Lusambo who had disapproved their caucus formed to help strengthen the ruling party in the region.

During a briefing at his office, Lusambo said the caucus committee was a recipe for confusion.

“We don’t have this group. There are only two groups on the Copperbelt. That is for politics and administration. For politics, it’s our provincial chairman Steven Kainga who is the Copperbelt PF chairman and for administration I am in charge as provincial minister. So these other groups are just for confusion,” said Lusambo.

But the caucus went ahead with its activities and convened in Lusaka where it pledged support to President Lungu’s third term bid.

Read this article from the original source: CB PF MPs Welcome Lusambo’s Transfer.

Operation Young Vote (OYV) Executive Director Guess Nyirenda says he’s shocked and disappointed that Higher Education Minister Professor Nkandu Luo survived the recent Cabinet reshuffle by President Edgar Lungu.

Mr Nyirenda has told Q-News that it is not a secret that Professor Luo has lamentably failed to manage her ministry to the expectations of the people of Zambia.

He says it is not too late for the Head of State to consider removing Professor Luo from the ministry of Higher Education and take her to another ministry or fire her.

Mr Nyirenda has accused the minister of being antagonistic with students as well as lecturers, thus the need to remove her before she ruins the higher education sector even more.

Mr. Nyirenda has also expressed shock President Lungu has removed Felix Mutati from the Ministry of Finance considering his efforts to restore Zambian economy which he says was on the verge of collapse.

Read this article from the original source: Luo’s Survival In The Recent Cabinet Reshuffle Shocks Nyirenda.

Corruption in this Patriotic Front government of Edgar Lungu is really institutionalised.

Edgar believes it is okay for them steal as long as you don’t steal everything, imbuto!

What type of leader, a president is this who can tell his officials to steal government resources but to do so minimally? No wonder Edgar stole his client’s money as lawyer! This is a very corrupt approach to life, to leadership! With this approach, what can’t Edgar abuse?

With this approach or attitude, Edgar and his minions can abuse anything under their control. It means if they are working with women, it’s okay to sleep with them, abuse them as long as they leave something for the husband, the boyfriend!

How can someone believe in “Uubomba mwibala, alya mwibala, tabatila kulya nembuto kumo”? This literally means that you are free to derive benefits from government resources but do not take everything, leave something. And this is also seen in their approach to government infrastructure development projects.

The problem with Edgar and his minions is that every infrastructure development project they embark on is either for political expediency or for kickbacks. Look at the two universities in Chinsali! They are non-operational yet they want to build another one in Luapula! Do these people really have shame?

This explains why Edgar and his minions have become so rich in this very short space of time they have been in office. All their wealth comes from mwibala, the government through kickbacks, selling government fiscal policies and outright theft of public funds.

Pilato was very right with koswe mumpoto! These are really koswes mumpoto – government. These are outright bandits who have come to government with a bandit ideology of uubomba mwibala alya mwibala. And they are ready to kill over this. Look at how ruthless, cruel they are with those who try to stop their banditry! Edgar himself has made it clear that he will crush like a tonne of bricks anyone who tries to stand in his way. In his way to what? To eating mwibala – government!

It is a well-known fact that if you can steal, you can lie. And if you can lie and steal, you can kill. Look at their brutality and daily threats on those who challenge them! Look at the violence they unleash on their political opponents! Look at their abuse of the police, the prosecution system and the courts! Their behaviour is that of a dog on a bone. Try to disturb it and see its reaction! It’s vicious – it will bite you, kill you! It’s impossible to really fight corruption in this country as long as Edgar is the President of the Republic. Edgar has a corrupt mind and outlook to life. He will always defend corruption and the corrupt because he believes in corruption, in ukulila mwibala.

If our country is to be free of corruption and become a nation of beautiful minds, we strongly feel we cannot continue to have a leadership that believes in uubomba mwibala alya mwibala. We have a collective duty to challenge corruption. Corruption is ruining our country, crooked politicians betray the working man, pocketing the public funds and treating us like sheep. Corruption is the enemy of development and good governance. It must be gotten rid of. We must all come together to achieve this national objective.

Where do the evils like corruption come from? They come from the never-ending greed. The fight for corruption-free ethical society will have to be fought against this greed and replace it with ‘what can I give’ spirit. And fighting corruption is not just a good governance, moral issue. It’s self-defense. It’s patriotism.

The fight for justice against corruption is never easy. It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self, our families, our friends, and especially our children. In the end, we believe, as in our case, the price we pay is well worth holding on to our dignity.

The Mast Newspaper

Read this article from the original source: ‘Uubomba Mwibala Alya Mwibala’.

PF deputy media director Antonio Mwanza says he finds it difficult to have a sensible discourse with Chishimba Kambwili because he is not at his intellectual level.

Responding to Kambwili’s statement that he approached the National Democratic Congress to join the party, demanding a salary and other conditions of service, Mwanza said the PF Roan member of parliament was just an empty charlatan making empty noise.

Mwanza, who refused to be drawn into discussing Kambwili’s allegation that he demanded a salary in order to join the party, said the man “thrives on insults, malice, propaganda and lies.”

“To be very honest, I find it very, very difficult to engage Kambwili because he is not at my intellectual level. I have serious difficulties to engage him because he is not at my intellectual level. We have a man who thrives on insults, malice, propaganda, lies and it is very difficult for me to have any conversation with Mr Kabila because I find his utterances to be empty noise,” Mwanza said.

“I am at a loss because if it was someone who was at my intellectual level, we could have an engagement but I can’t have a discussion with him because he is really just an empty charlatan making empty noise. I cannot trade with him because when you argue with a fool, no one will know the difference. It’s very difficult to have a sober discourse with him. Let him continue to cry nokusabaila, takwata umuchinshi (he has no respect).”

He maintained that Kambwili was a bitter man after his dismissal and it was difficult to engage him.

“He is depressed, angry and bitter. I will not sink so low to his level of insults. People will not know the difference between chipuba nomutuntulu (a fool and a normal person). I do want to elevate him to my level. He is good at lies and propaganda and I do not want to play his game. He will drag me into the mud where he finds solace and beat me at his game of ukulamfya abantu (smearing people),” Mwanza said.

He said Kambwili had no ability to censure himself as “he opens his mouth anyhow”.

Mwanza said Kambwili had a very low intellectual level to be engaged as he was a man who simply “went to the market to buy a degree”.

“These are characters that go to the market to buy a degree at $5,000 and they call themselves ati Doctors. Chalishupa kuli ifwe abaya ku sukulu ukuchita (it’s difficult for us who have gone to school to) engage such kind of caliber. I find it difficult to engage him, so I will leave him, let him continue ukusabaila,” said Mwanza.

During a media briefing, Kambwili revealed that Mwanza approached the National Democratic Congress with a view to joining the party and demanding a monthly salary and other conditions of service. He said Mwanza was a jobseeker, who was in the ruling party for economic benefits.

Kambwili claimed that some time last year, Mwanza approached the NDC leadership with demands of a salary but this was rejected because all members were volunteers.

I was listening to this young man who has been born again from opposition to ruling party called Antonio Mwanza saying that don’t care about what Kambwili says because uulelila tabamucheba kukanwa, ba Kambwili balelila pantu balibatamfya inchito (they don’t disturb one who is mourning; Kambwili is mourning because he was fired). Let me tell Antonio Mwanza that I left formal employment in 1996… then I became a minister in 2011 and I have been surviving, I never cried. Let me tell Antonio Mwanza that what I was earning as a salary from government was plus, minus Eighteen thousand Kwacha per month. Nomba nangu ulalila ba (even when you can cry) Antonio Mwanza, kuti walila (can you cry) over a loss of K18,000? The problem that this boy has is that this is his first salary in his life, so he is excited,” he said.

“It’s his very first salary in life and it’s the first time he is driving a new car from State House, so he is excited. In fact, Antonio, I am more happy to be free from being a minister so that I can now concentrate on my own business and concentrate on offering proper checks and balances to the corrupt PF government of PF. I can also concentrate on building the National Democratic Congress.”

Mwanza, who served as spokesperson and deputy secretary general of the opposition FDD, recently defected to the ruling PF, where he was immediately appointed the party’s deputy media director, a position that did not previously exist.

Kambwili said Mwanza’s sudden change of speech on the once sworn corrupt enemy, the PF, was for his own benefit as he had suffered beyond measure.

He charged that Mwanza’s U-turn was in pursuit of a salary and a livelihood, not out of conviction and principle.

“Young man, I am not the type who can cry over employment where I was earning K18,000. So let me tell this boy that you are only exposing your ignorance on issues and also exposing yourself that you are a kandile (useless person). We don’t want to talk about these issues [but] Antonio approached us, he wanted to join us, ba Eric Chanda balikwisa, am I lying? He came to negotiate for a salary deposition, but we told him that for us, we don’t offer salaries as all our operation as NDC is voluntary; it’s for people that can offer a voluntary service for the people of Zambia. And he told us that he will get back soon but that’s how he went to PF and they offered him a salary. So please forgive Antonio Mwanza. Umwaiche alichulisha, epo afumine ku sukulu tabalaingilapo inchito (the young man has suffered indeed; ever since he graduated, he has never been employed), you can see how he has changed 360 degrees in support of PF. He was calling Edgar Lungu as corrupt everyday, he was calling the PF as corrupt every day but today he is saying all those calling Edgar Lungu as corrupt are bitter and balelila pantu balibatamfya inchito. So does it mean lilya alelanda ati (when he was saying) Edgar is corrupt balimutanfishe inchito (they fired him)? So people of Zambia, do not listen to these boys who have no political history, who have nothing to offer but work for their pockets,” said Kambwili.

Read this article from the original source: Mwanza: Kambwili Thrives On Insults, Lies.

THE fallout has just begun between the PF and Felix Mutati’s group, MMD vice-president for administration Reverend Reuben Sambo has said.

Commenting on President Edgar Lungu’s demotion of Felix Mutati from finance to Ministry of Works and Supply, Rev Sambo said Mutati, the MMD faction leader, had been excluded from “ukulya mwibala”.

He said the demotion of Mutati to “the less significant Ministry of Works and Supply” was the PF’s way of making it known to former president Rupiah Banda and Mutati that they no longer controlled President Lungu as they always boasted they did.

“This definitely must be hurting to their egos,” Rev Sambo said.

“The demotion of Felix Mutati from the influential Ministry of Finance to the less, insignificant Ministry of Works is very interesting indeed. There is nothing in that ministry worth talking about after the creation of the Ministry of Infrastructure led by [Ronald] Chitotela. Works and Supply is just responsible for buying curtains, furniture for government offices and basically keeping records of government motor vehicles. Mutati’s new portfolio can best be described as minister of inventory. Mutati has been excluded from ‘ukulya mwibala’.”

He said there were many speculations that one could entertain as having led to the fall from grace.

Rev Sambo said one thing for sure was that MMD faction national secretary Raphael Nakacinda’s unrestrained boasting had cost Mutati the place of “respect” with his friends.

He said President Lungu had the option of firing Mutati and revoking his nomination but that it could be that the Head of State wanted Mutati and crew to get the message that they were simply dependants.

“Nakacinda has been rubbishing the role of the PF in the RB/Mutati party and saying things that are inimical to an alliance. Mutati does not have to look any further than Nakacinda to understand his humiliation,” said Rev Sambo. “The next steps to follow will be an investigation into his activities as finance minister.

The investigative wings don’t have far to look either. They just have to review Nakacinda’s motor mouth and they will trace everything. The Mutati party will now have to account for the stockpiling of vehicles and campaign materials. The fallout has just begun.”

He said if the finance portfolio for Mutati was symbolic of the status of the PF-RB-Mutati partnership, then his demotion revealed just how troubled that relationship was at the moment.

“As matter of fact, Nakacinda let the cat out of the bag about the true state of this marriage of convenience when he refused to describe it as healthy by any stretch of imagination during the Sunday Interview. It is logical to conclude that Mutati has been confiding in him about this estranged position,” Rev Sambo noted.

He recalled that when the PF staged demonstrations against Mutati last year, “he revealed that he is a product of the Lungu/RB treaty and he is there because of RB”.

“Three days before Mutati’s demotion, Nakacinda went on the PF television to boast about how well organised they now are and came short of revealing just how much resource they now have, to run on their own as a political party. As this was a pre-recorded programme, it must have been recorded even a week earlier and the PF must have viewed it much earlier, analysed and decided to teach Mutati a lesson,” said Rev Sambo.

Read this article from the original source: FallOut Has Begun, Mutati Is Being Excluded From ‘Ukulya Mwibala’.

Some PF youths have come out with guns-blazing against the visit of what they called ‘the Congolese unconstitutional President’, Joseph Kabila, who was in the country on a two day State visit.

The youths made their complaints known through a PF whatsapp group by sending voice-notes which were made available to ‘Zambezi Express’.

“So us Zambians, we will only be inviting leaders that are questionable in character or what? We know you [President Lungu] are good hearted but please guard our country jealously. This Kabila we have brought in today, he is not wanted in his country, he will bring us bad luck here in Zambia. Last time it was Mugabe and Zuma, and now they have resigned…what will investors and others say about us?…” said one of the youths.

The youths blamed the earlier road traffic accident on President Lungu’s motorcade to some ‘bad luck’ that President Kabila must be carrying with him from the Congo.

“Kabila should not bring bad luck here, two accidents in two weeks and you put our President in the same car with him…please we beg you, let him go back now!” complained another youth.

President Lungu has often been accused of being tolerant to leaders who many people view as being of questionable reputations in their home countries. Most of them have been accused of being dictators, corrupt and intorelant of dissenting views.

The PF youths cited the ousted Presidents of South Africa and Zimbabwe, Jacob Zuma and Robert Mugabe respectively and the current President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila as being the leaders that Mr Lungu should never have ever entertained because of their unpopularity with their own people in their own countries due to corruption and dictatorship.

President Kabila has stirred so much controversy in the Congo because of his refusal to step aside and give way to a free and fair election, after his constitutional term expired. He is in the seventh year of a five year term and by Congolese law, is constitutionally barred from contesting in the elections again.

Kabila was supposed to call for an election in 2016 but managed to come up with excuses which delayed the election over and over again.

After President Kabila failed to uphold a promise he made to hold elections by the end of last year [2017], Catholic Church protesters took to the streets in the capital Kinshasa and twelve other cities demanding that he allows for a free and fair elections in the vast mineral rich Central African Nation.

President Kabila however responded with an iron fist by unleashing Police who surrounded, teargassed and brutally beat protesting congregants in 134 churches in Kinshasa alone. The Police are also reported to have used live ammunition on the unarmed churchgoers resulting in several fatalities.

Meanwhile, President Kabila’s motorcade was on sunday, involved in an accident along Lusaka’s Leopards Hill road as the Congolese President was on his way to pay a courteousy call on Zambia’s founding President Kenneth Kaunda at his official residence.

In the same PF chat group, Mr Kaizer Zulu, who is President Lungu’s advisor for politics, dismissed the youths’ claims that President Lungu was in the vehicle with President Kabila but that the visiting Head of State was instead with the new Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister.

The unyielding and unconvinced PF youths were however insistent on the theory that President Lungu was in the motorcade.

Read this article from the original source: PF Youths Cry Foul Over Kabila Visit.

MWENYA Musenge says the National Democratic Congress is not against Chinese investment in Zambia. Following NDC consultant Chishimba Kambwili’s swipe at the Chinese owners of Luanshya Mine, the Patriotic Front has claimed that the opposition NDC is against Chinese investment.

But Musenge, the party’s secretary general, said the NDC supported Chinese investment into Zambia if such venture was meant to benefit Zambians.

“NDC wishes to put it on record that the party is not against Chinese investment in Zambia. We support the one China policy; in fact we support Chinese investment inflows into Zambia if such investment is meant to benefit our nationals. As NDC, we are alive to the fact that China’s presence in Zambia can never and should never be underplayed,” Musenge said.

The former Copperbelt minister said his party knew that the presence of the Chinese in Africa was deep-rooted and the benefits that Africa had derived from that country were extremely enormous.

He further noted that China had helped many African nations during their liberation struggle and continued to pursue economic diplomacy with many countries. Musenge further explained that he was aware that Chinese investment in Zambia stood at over US $10 billion in the last 10 years. He, however, stressed that his party was against illicit and inimical activities of some Chinese nationals in the country.

Musenge urged Chinese investors in Zambia to follow the labour laws and pay the right salaries, including improving conditions of service to the Zambian workers.

“As a party, we want to urge the Chinese inventors in Zambia to follow the labour laws and pay the right salaries to our Zambian colleagues. Chinese investors should also consider improving salaries and other working conditions particularly in the extractive sector. Our comrades from China have unfortunately found themselves on the wrong part of the law because they have in certain instances elected to go against existing norms and procedures. As NDC, we welcome any form of Chinese investment for as long as such investment fully benefit’s the people of Zambia,” he said.

Musenge said the NDC’s advice to the Chinese not to go against procedure should not be misconstrued purely because of political mileage. He said the party was merely looking out for the suffering worker.

Musenge emphasized that his party was against the continued abuse of Zambian workers and the payment of slave wages to the local labour force contrary to labour laws.

“Currently, there seems to be a diplomatic spat with China on our stance on the presence of Chinese in our country. To the contrary, NDC has no issues with China and the investment in Zambia. If NDC advises the Chinese not to go against procedure, this should not be misconstrued purely because of political mileage. If Chinese firms follow the laid down procedure’s and correctly remunerate our workforce, the NDC will have no issues with the Chinese,” he said.

“It is an open secret that Chinese run mines are the worst in terms of safety and standards. As NDC, we want the Chinese to improve on this aspect so that tension with the unions is lessened. It is unfortunate that selfish political leaders in the PF have abused the generosity of our Chinese comrades. The NDC in government promises to forge further and promote bilateral ties between Zambia and China. The NDC in government will call for improved and increased trade ties with China. The NDC in government will partner with the Chinese to ensure that the mining sector is reopened through increased investment in the extractive sector. Zambia tends to benefit more from Chinese particularly in the areas of infrastructure and information technologies.”

Musenge said it was unfortunate that the current PF regime had taken for granted the cordial relations that Zambia and China had enjoyed over the years.

“Chinese have been allowed to do the wrong things because of selfishness and greed by this Pf regime,” he said.

Musenge said NDC was ready to meet the Chinese envoy to Zambia to explain the party’s stance on Chinese investment.

“As NDC, we are more than ready to meet our comrades at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia so that we can explain to them our stance on Chinese investment in Zambia. Zambia, like many other countries, need foreign direct inflows [investment] (FDIs) to run its economy,” said Musenge.

Last week, police in Ndola warned and cautioned Kambwili for allegedly proposing violence. Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga said Kambwili was questioned for proposing violence against Chinese nationals in Luanshya.

Read this article from the original source: Musenge: We’re Not Against Chinese Investments.

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says the recent hike in fuel prices by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) clearly shows that the PF government has departed from its pro-poor policy.

ZCTU President Nkole Chishimba says the fuel price hike will have a spiral effect on the workers across the country.

He adds that the decision to hike the price of fuel will also impact negatively on the living standards of the Zambian citizens who are already facing serious economic challenges to meet their everyday needs.

Mr Chishimba says it is sad to see how the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) rushes in increasing the price of fuel whenever there is a slight increase in the cost of crude oil, but never passes the benefits to consumers when the price reduces on the international market.

He has since called on government to be sensitive to the plight of the poor when sanctioning any increase in order to shield the people from the negative impact of such increases.

Mr Chishimba states that providers of goods and services will start increasing the cost of their services and blame it on the cost of fuel.

Read this article from the original source: PF Has Departed From Pro-Poor Policy – ZCTU.

Edith Nawakwi says all those who participated in the Topstar deal and those who are involved in the planned sale of the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) are foolish.

And Nawakwi says the Zambia Revenue Authority has become a monster fighting the growth of local businesses.

Commenting on President Edgar Lungu’s Cabinet reshuffles yesterday, Nawakwi who is opposition FDD leader, challenged newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Dora Siliya to go and bring out the truth about what transpired in the Digital Migration scandal.

“Dora should have been there from the beginning because that’s where she was brought up. Her first job should be to go and find out what happened when my brother [Chishimba] Kambwili was still minister of information and ZNBC was given to some obscure company called Topstar. I don’t know who owns it but they are still levying me as a citizen, I don’t want. We should discuss this matter otherwise we will sue them for obtaining money by false pretence. I mean why should we be levied to subsidise a foreign company? All these are issues which when people add and subtract mathematically, they sum it up in this one big word called corruption,” Nawakwi said.

“When I am president the Chinese should start packing the day they hear that Edith Nawakwi is president elect. They should run very fast and we will catch them in the Indian Ocean. When they are here they will go to jail. This is a criminal offence just like the NRDC deal. Anyone who has put their fingers on NRDC, it doesn’t matter how long it takes, even if PF stays in power for 100 years, the day they get out, the people who put their fingers in NRDC will go to damn the jail! They are very foolish, how can you sell a university site?”

Read this article from the original source: Those Behind Topstar, NRDC Are Foolish; Will Go To Jail.

LUSAKA Province minister Bowman Lusambo says he has come to transform Lusaka.

Speaking after he toured City Market yesterday, which was gutted but has now opened for trading, Lusambo said there would be no time for wearing neckties but work-suits and gumboots to change the face of Lusaka.

He said he would engage business houses and cooperating partners to find a short-term solutions to the roofing problem at the market which was gutted last year.
Lusambo, who toured the market and the Lusaka Central business district following trader outcry that the trading conditions at the City Market had worsened following heavy rains in Lusaka, assured the marketeers that he would provide tents for shelter at the trading facility.

“The most important thing for us as government is to make sure that we protect our people. The government of his Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, we have come up with the policy that doesn’t need street vendors in our CBD [Central Business District]. And we are trying by all means to make sure that we provide alternative places for our people. But visiting and inspecting City Market, yes, we need to provide tents as priority number one to protect our people. To that effect, I will make sure we contact our colleagues in the private sector if we can acquire some tents so that we can help our marketeers here,” Lusambo said.

“The next step is to sit with the Lusaka mayor and other authorities to clear the corridor at City Market. We want equal trading opportunity for our traders. The people who are in the market, they have school going children as well. We have a lame excuse which is coming from our people that others are widows, ‘I am keeping orphans…’ All these are human beings, those who sell inside the market and outside are all equal. So they should be given same trading environment. I have come here not to work alone, I have come to work with you people, with you the media houses and together we will change the face of Lusaka. We have come to transform Lusaka. [I] are coming from the Copperbelt Province, Lusaka is just like Copperbelt Province and I can assure you that I am equal to the task and together we will win. They voted for us to put on gumboots and overalls to come and work with you and we will work. For me, work starts right here and there will be no time for wearing neckties. You will be seeing all of us here – myself, the mayor, the DC, all of them, they will be working every day.”

However, one of the traders asked: “Boss, when are they going to start building the market?”

Lusambo said the reconstruction of the gutted market would start soon.
“They will start very soon,” he said.

And Lusambo gave marketeers trading outside the City Market a 24-hour ultimatum to start conducting their business inside the market.
During the tour, scores of people waved at him with welcoming remark: “Ba Bowman, mwatusanga mu (you have found us in) Lusaka, You are welcome.”

Read this article from the original source: Lusambo: No More Ties, I’ve Come To Change Lusaka.

The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) has disowned images of toilet paper bearing President Edgar Lungu’s portrait circulating on social media.

PF media director Sunday Chanda says the images are malicious aimed at bringing the name of the President into disrepute.

He says party will not hesitate to report people circulating the images to the relevant investigative wings for defaming the President.

Mr. Chanda says the ruling party welcomes issue based politics and not politics of character assassination.

He has since advised members of the public to ignore the circulating images

Read this article from the original source: PF Disowns Tissue Bearing President Lungu’s Portrait.