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Sata off to India

By editor
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PRESIDENT Sata has left for India on a private visit, Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Labour Fackson Shamenda said yesterday.

Mr Shamenda said the President’s visit to India is for a few days.

He said Minister of Finance and National Planning Alexander Chikwanda will act as President for the period Mr Sata will be away.

The President was seen off at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport by Mr Chikwanda, some Cabinet ministers, Secretary to the Cabinet Evans Chibiliti, service chiefs and senior Government officials.

He is accompanied by First Lady Christine Kaseba and special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.

President Sata about to board the Presidential helicopter at State House yesterday morning before departure for India
President Sata about to board the Presidential helicopter at State House yesterday morning before departure for India

[Zambia Daily Mail]

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

108 COMMENTS

    • And the man wants Zambians in the diaspora to go back to Zambia where they cant even treat their president. The man is asking people to go back to Zambia while himself is going out.

  5. Kamwendo mujila. He has also started travelling. Before he unpacks his bags from Botswana he is off to India…I smell rat.

  6. Alla Kabili, private kabili, but its Public money being used…just tell us what he has gone for, baya mu ku mu na sha

  7. Kanabesa,
    We value every life even that of Pharaoh matters.  Please cut your useless tantrums and retire from this stressful job. You could limit these high risk cardiac arrests as has been the case. Its too soon to open up to such self triggered hazards. 

    Heart patients are more vulnerable to height loss and this is why Muze Jomo Kenyatha never flew out of Kenya after being found with a cardiac issue.

  8. Yes independent observer, Ian Khama rattled him a bit when he compared his style to bobs and then the Botswana zeds irritated his feeble heart with their question – believe that is not advisable for someone with a the pace maker, Get well soon Ukwa

  9. I thought you chaps were saying he is sick? Now we see our Presido walking to a helicopter to fly for 8 hours to India? Kachepa must stop

  10. hope all is well,my presido.awaiting your safe return home.again tell those diaspora fimofiom to come and run institutions back home and not wait till all is plain sailing.we need them now when things are tough.now is the time!!!!!!!

  11. TB JOSHUA PROPHESIED DO YOU REMEMBER APRIL IS AFTER NEXT WEEK.KWENA THAT NIGERIAN PASTOR.HE SAID IN APRIL A HEAD OF STATE IN SOME AFRICAN COUNTRY WILL DIE.COME TO THINK ABOUT IT THIS MAN ONLY PHROPHESIES ABOUT THINGS IN ZAMBIA WHY? MWANAWASA,CHILUBA ARREST,ELECTIONS,AFCON AND NOW WE WAIT FOR PRESIDENT.GET WELL SOON MR PRESIDO WE STILL NEED THOSE SPEECHES.

  12. Why does the president Ukwa run to India when he is sick?? why not UTH??? He runs to India because there is better medical care… just the same as a citizen who can’t find a job in Zambia runs to Botswana for a job!!!!!

  14. God is in control, weather private visit or open visit Jehovah is in control. HH is happy you won’t succede either if all come to worst we still have kabwili chishimba and Given Lubinda, even chikwanda allexandra The great.

  15. The report coming from India is saying the Zambian president is admitted in one of their hospital but his condition is not in danger. They will monitor him for some time. This seems to confirm the earlier statement that his return to Zambia is not known. If the doctors in India says, he is okay, he will return soon…!!!

  17. But during the campaign, the Presido was threatening to chase all Indians like Amin did! What now is he doing there? They may finish him ka.

  18. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MAN IS SICK, HE HAD TO USE A HELICOPTER FROM STATE HOUSE TO THE AIRPORT. SATA NEARLY DIED DURING CAMPAIGNS BUT PF WERE REFUTING THE FACTS. WE WISH HIM QUICK RECOVERY.

  19. I would love to hang a copy of this picture on my hero worship wall. How cool is that chopper! I wish you a speedy recovery. Bet you bring home some Indian business as a bonus. Good partners for Zed and lots in common as we share history and have loads of Zambians whose ethnicity is Indian. Their ‘diaspora’ initially didn’t get it either but they all mucked in and are emerging on top even though like us the poverty level is heartbreaking…

    • Is this the helicopter that he criticised Mwanawasa for buying????? SHAMEFUL HYPOCRISY AT ITS BEST!!! There should be a clause in the Constitution about the physical and mental fitness of the presidential candidates – which they should file with the Surgeon-General (by the way, what is the equivalent position in Zambia???)

  20. …”even when a fool shuts his mouth, he z considered to be wise” now, same pipo u write on zambian watch dog, tumfweko n lusaka timez, only negative things abt de president. so which one are u? wise or fools?….. filling in da blanks

  21. Just three People off to India? The Wife, George Chella and Our Presido ONLY. No advance party of Foreign Affairs, Commerce etc. what is Going On?

  22. Just a mini botswana trip has knocked him down? Zambia needs young energetic leaders. It becomes unprofitable to assign old vehicles on distant routes, too many breakdowns!! Vote wisely next time..

  23. I suspect the helicopter picture was not taken yesterday but from the archives. Why didnt they show him on national TV bidding farewell to his cabinet ministers at KK Airport? Can Mr. Sata take this opportunity to be treated for verbal diarrheal in India.

  24. A personal trip could be:
    1. vacation
    2. medical reasons
    3. personal reasons

    But he is using *my* money!
    I hope he can at least sign some bilateral agreements and leave the poor diaspora alone.

  25. The President needs a qualified and professional PR not the back room staff of Gutter Journalist from  the POST Newspaper.

    This whole thing has been handled very badly from the PR stand point and how does a Minister of Information go to the public and say the president will return soon. What kind of message is that?

    No wonder people are now speculating about all manner of things and you can’t blame them. Let the blame fail on his Grade 2 gutter journalists from POST Newspaper. Running a country is not the same as running a failing private business in Bwingifumu road.

    Let the president take action when he comes back. There are already qualified and profession people right there in Zambia to offer a good service. Get rid of PF cadres. Its disaster!!!

  26. @ mphangula mputyu.
    absolutely my man, it can only be either a corrupt deal (with mathani) or serious illness. thes are the only two reasons for such a tight knit contingent of 3 traveling to india (no senior civil servant for the ‘presidency’) BTW this is a newly elected head of state, fresh off a state visit and with a ‘no fly advise’ prevailing heart condition (and rumoured pace-maker). hmmmmmm

  27. We love you our president.Pls rest well and come back safely.We need your wise and bold leadership.May the hand of JEHOVAH be on you in Jesus name.

    • theRenegade, if you have the “inspired” or “commonsense” “insight” or whatever it is to say the “TB Joshua is a fraud…” Im sure someone else can easily have the same insight to say “someone is to die soon”??? Does such a statement require any fraud???

  29. Reading Times of India site and all that is mentioned is a link to someone on another Zambian site hoping that he dies in India. As disgusting as that it is I also find it disturbing people do not get that their digital utterings are seen globally. And no you don’t sound clever coz in any culture to wish someone dead is a negative reflection on self… I don’t want people to wake up to what Mali sees today. For all its faults Zed is improving and no need to wish leaders dead. Vote in 2016 and live with the choice.

  30. President HH( Tonga)
    Vice President(acting)Jibwe(Tonga)
    Information Mweetwa(Tonga)
    Legal Mwiimbu( Tonga)
    Finace Siasundu(Tonga)
    Lands Havie Hamundudu(Tonga)
    Education Nkombo(Tonga)
    Foreign affairs Beyani(Tonga)
    Child and Youth Mufalali(Lozi)
    Home affairs Kakoma(Lunda)
    Agriculture Senjani (Tonga)
    Local govt Moono( Tonga)
    Defence Siakalima(Tonga)
    Tourism Mulyata( Tonga)
    Transport Muntanga(Tonga)
    Labour Bauleni(Tonga)
    Ha ha ha United Party For Tonga Development.Really Zambians are Crazy.Thanks guys for showing us Tonga’s cabinet

    • You can’t ask someone to remove a twig from his eye before you remove a log from yours. Thank the Almighty that these tribalists will be forever losers, ba makaka.

  32. Shamenda, pls define private visit? We’re adults so don’t treat us like kids. The man has never flown outside Africa since assuming office so it’s rather odd that he’d make an impromptu visit to India of all places, with only his wife and press aide. Just tell us he’s gone for routine health check-up and save us the bs. Afterall, he’s using taxpayers money. That said, I wish Cobby good health; I hate his leadership but will not wish him any harm.

  33. # 23 Mary. This is disaster for a head of state to travel to India without informing the nation and what it will gain from that trip. Personal errands using tax payers’ money and public resourses in democracy require full disclosure. Just few days ago the nation was informed Sata would be in Botswana for bilateral talks and officiating a school. Why is he gallivanting to India to peremburate Indian streets with his undiplomatic attitude? He condemned viciously frequent trips abroad of his predecessor hood winking Zambians he would not do it. At least there were developments in the last regime despite corruption levels. Sata has not even planned any development agenda let alone to complete good projects from the last govt. Sata is priding himself by contributing K50 million to Tswanas

  34. The head of State off for a private visit? How come no-one knows when he is coming.What kind of Press secretary does he have?He is our president we need to know if he is sick or not.And when are we going to develop UTH so people stop flying to South africa and now India? When you are sick the last thing you need is to hop into a plane.Only KK used UTH.The presidential suite at UTH has remained empty for a very long time.

  35. @ a phiri ana bwela
    totally agree with you on the death wishes etc But you either are a beneficiary of the donchi crew or you do not live in Zambia or both. Anyhow fyi, the only improvements zed has ever seen economically came to a screeching halt on 20th sept 2011 and the improvements we know are on the lies of the PF, spins on their failed campaign promises, president, veep and cabinets members outdoing each other on u-turns, sensational and alarming statements. Unless in your book realignments everyday are improvements and recovery of 20 ‘stolen’ bicycles. GIVE US A BREAK!!!! We however join you in prayer for our president

  36. Within few hours later is busy spewing disparaging remarks to respectiful Zambian living in Botswana, demeaning them as little children and blaming them working in Botswana having run away from Zambia. Mr Sata forgets he contributed to that state of affairs as MMD Minister of Health. Mr Sata’s memory is short but has managed to dupe most Zambians like Mary and @ 28 T’quan. Chief Bootlicker is right that Zambia is under a disaster leadership that does not know where there are going. I suppose this rigime’s failures have created fertile ground for change in the next elections to which Zambians have learnt many lessons.

  38. It looks like Mmembe has also been don’t kubeba and dumped.His friend ukwa can no longer confide in him.He could not even intimitate to him that there was a trip to india. Sorry, mmembe there won’t be reversal in zambian airways transactions. YOU HAVE BEEN DRIBBLED

  39. this news is half..did he go alive or not..what private visit on tax payers money…i smell a rat here…something is fishy….the government should tell us if the president id alive..this could be another bad thing for the country….so many gaps in this story.

  41. UKWA get well soon.We dont want to lose you before you leave a positive mark on Zambia.Only things so far are failed campaign promises,unilateral decisions and legalisation of vending.Who will stop the street vendors if you go now because its you who legalised vending?At least leave a development structure which we can name after you the way you did on airports and Levy hospital

  42. So manje banayamba ku kwela ma helicopter from State house to the airport? I thought we were supposed to be saving money.

  44. Iwe Moscow (OP), now that you have given us the UPND list, give us the PF list including all PF appointees for all of us to appreciate what your point is.

  45. We hope ECZ is adequately funded to facilitate a Presidential by-election should need arise. Sata can do the honourable thing by resigning instead of subjecting our country to unnecessary strain as happened in 2008 when Zambians were lied to that Levy Mwanawasa was recovering at a French hospital when infact the man was dead. Zambians should not be cheated like small kids. All evidence is pointing to the fact that our president is terminally ill and that is the reason he is seeking specialist treatment from India. Again the assumption is that one doesn’t go to India for a headache. Five years ago Sata had a heart attack and now we are told (ZWD) that he is seeking kidney replacement. If indeed this case,for  our stability the President needs to reconsider his position as head of state. 

  47. Even if he was to die, he achieved his goal. Grade 7 is a president; cimi baba!! And when bye-elections are anounced, yours will even fail to be on the list. Then you will cry loudest. Your insults have allienated many people.

  48. “George Chella, the person who is supposed to update the country on State House and presidential matters chose to be among Sata’ medicine carriers.”

    kekekekekekekekke

  49. ITS SAD THAT SOME OF YOU COULD WISH ,SOMEONE DEAD, I M NOT SUPRISED …MANY OF YOU ARE EVIL YOU CAN ACTUALLY KILL ,,,…JUST FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY OR POWER….PUT GOD FIRST DONT JUDGE SOME ONE….YOU WOULD HAVE DONE WORESER THINGS THAT WE DONT KNOW OF…ONLY YOU AND YOUR DEVIL KNOWS…..AND P[LEASE LEAVE TB JOSHUA OUT OF THIS….YOU CAN SEE THINGS THAT HE IS DOING LIVE ON TV…SO WHY DOUBT….YOU ARE JUST CURSING YOURSELF WHEN YOU ATTACK A MAN OF GOD …GROW UP:o

  50. Fabrice Muamba, 23 years old, very active young man, almost died of cardiac arrest. It can happen anytime and to anybody………………..So lets stop nonsense about who’s suffering from what and who’s going to die tomorrow.

  51. Sad if our president is unwell. We wish you a quick recovery and return safely to your home soil. We are praying for you. The only issue we differ with you are your policies and not the great gift from God of life.

  55. PF Govt should learn to handle such matters with sensitivity. People are now left to wonder and speculate because of poor PR. Whether you like it or not this trip is not ordinary. There is no way the president can come from a foregn country straight into a plane to another even longer trip without informing the nation whats happening. We all wish the president well but govt should handle such matter better than this. Poor Finishers indeed!!!

  56. I would like to attend the meeting he does with the Zambian community in India and i can promise you i will also cause drama when Ukwa starts insulting.
    I will insult back, and lets see what happens after………step at a time……

  57. Good to see my former course mate as a presidential pilot. Wish the President a safe trip to India. Yes! 

  58. Did he take a chopper ride to KK airport from state house? Is this the same man who refused to ride in his presidential motorcade in l/stn as a cost saving measure?

  59. #57. You are able to identify those men facing the other side as one of them your former classmate? How? Is he a pilot or just standing at attention? Pilot wa helicopter sure. It is even earsier than riding a bicycle. My only conclusion is that he is going for medical attention. I just do not know why the political structures are making it confidential. There is nothing private about a president`s trip. We have known US presidents going for pacer inplants, minor operations before hand.

  60. What has UPND got to do with a SICK president? Flying to India for treatment, we want to know the medical report as he told us during LPM’s demise. After insulting zambians in botswana he fell SICK ….

  61. I predicted that the will be a presidential by-election before 2013….  i might have just been on the money…

    A few Victoria Bitter and enjoying the circus

  62. Prophet TB Joshua prophesied that April, a head of state is kicking a bucket. We are only a week away. Is it UKWA or Mugabe? 

  64. #61 & all wishing The King death, I promise you that you never witness his funeral. You will go to hell and wait for him there. We like The King, and anyone wishing him misfortunes, including your TB Joshua, you will experience terrible horrible things. Don’t think you can be more powerful than all of us.

    • Others should not touch the infallible King and you, O Nostradamus, should dare touch others and pronounce their hell after-life??????? What a hypocrite!!!! Smell the coffee, O wise Nostradamus…

  65. #61 Ex-Zedian and all of you so obssessed with the fake prophesies of your TB Joshua; look to West Africa for your next victim of your phoney doomsayers. There is turmoli in Mali right now and no one knows where or what has happened to the president.

  66. I never imagined that HE MCS is this hated in Zed, I thot he was a hero, but now am beginning to think twice! Is this acrimony am seeing on this blog and esp ZW a true reflection of peoples emotions out there? GOD FORBID!!

  67. I hope Ukwa as he is so famously known now also reads this, then perhaps he can revisit some of the things he is seemingly taking for granted, to me who is a comedian i thot i had found a mate whom we can relate to,,,, aahhh chanibaba, this guy might just come back a real reborn dictator to protect his standing, i know how pipo change when percieved otherwise… lets wait and see!!

  68. Is this what has became of Zambians reduced to professing death and sickness onto fellow Zambians, Your president (yes yours you) flies out to another nation for a a state visit at reduced cost to the tax payer with a small entourage and you start insulting him.
    Useless Chaps!!

  70. We are clearly in a crisis as a nation. The government is predictably incompetent leaving the on line publications to feed the rumour mill and juvenile online commentators to make unfortuante comments. When the country needs leadership, the opposition and church leadership are conspiciously silent or for at least two opposition leaders, predictably opportunistic in their statement. Its Zambian mediocrity at its best.

  73. Strange World! The President recommends to transfer a needy child to UTH when his health has to be resolved in India. The Years 2008, 2011 and 2012 will be unique in the history of Zambia. Apparently, Zambians must learn to appreciate and sympathise when neighbours are terminally sick. GOD HEAR OUR GENUINE PRAYERS.

  75. @ President Ele… glad we agree on something :) I’m aware of all your points but gave neither a timeline not point of reference. Politicians are fodder for my over active imagination and I like to tease. Hmm so you mean someone will pay me to be my positive self? Too cool. Show me the moneeeee :)

  77. hahaha!

    1. Heart attack in past
    2. Coronary artery disease with stent placeement few years ago
    3. Hepatitis B
    4. Hypercholesterol
    5. Hypertension
    6. history of chronic tobacco abuse
    7. history of chronic alcohol abuse
    8. Substance abuse
    9.Dementia
    10.Personality disorder
    11. bipolar disorder

  78. Gentlemen and ladies, let us wish the president all the best, be it in health or just plain private visit to India. The presidential PR team, though, didnt do a good job. If the Botswana trip could be properly outlined like that, why did this impromptu visit to India not outlined too, as impromptu as it did. This, i am afraid,is what has led to all this speculation. I personally wish our president all the best if it’s true he rushed to India on medical grounds.

  80. Indians are big with witchcraft. Even here in Europe they have brought it and practice it at work. You should be careful of this man when he comes back, people will start dying like flies

  81. Speculation is the worst state of affairs you can ever put people into! What is happening? Secretive trip over my money (tax) that i faithfully pay every month, te boom.

  82. Who are the clever *****s above that think haha? Think before you spit on your plate, Compare the actual cost cost of running 1 helicopter to and from State House to running huge motorcades, Linning the street with Traffic and other cops, Sending all Defence heads to and from the airport not to mention all the aides to be members of the welcoming committee instead of doing their Jobs. Do you think that all those BMW’s use cow dung for fuel or do you pay for that imported fuel through your hard work, when you are not sitting in the traffic Jam waiting to get to work. Criticise where its due. One good example of leadership is this. On this one thing keep it up Mr President.

    • Is this the helicopter UKWA criticised Mwanawasa for buying????? Msinge Wazala, all this is what is known as “pay back”… Ukwa is just tasting his own venom!!

  83. what the hell’s going on? money has been spent on expensive presidential cars and we use choppers to the airport? chaba shani?? and you elect a guy that age as president? most people are not allowed to operate a bank account or dont qualify for insurance and yet you let a guy like that run our Mother? tear for zambia.

  84. The photo is an old picture from the archives, where is the First Lady Kaseba and George Chellah boarding the Helicopter? Who was the photojournalist? Was He evacuated to India? We need serios answers. The President these days is travelling without an Aide de Camp, no protocol officers, no advance party, this a serios breach of Protocol.

  85. Ukwa using the same helicopter that he shamelessly criticised Mwanawasa for buying??? All the criticism is a “pay-back” and he will wallow in his own venom

  87. Very great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to mention that I’ve really loved browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing for your feed and I hope you write once more soon!

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