FOREIGN Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba has joined in refuting media reports here that President Michael Sata has fallen sick in New York, United States of America (USA) and is being attended to by American doctors.
The Foreign Affairs minister joins Vice President Guy Scott and Lusaka City Mayor Mulenga Sata in denying media reports that President Sata had fallen ill in New York.
Mr Kalaba told Zambian journalists in New York, Friday, that President Sata is however well and working.
He said Zambia has ably participated in all sessions of the ongoing 69th United Nations annual general meeting under the guidance of President Sata.
“I wish to state that I confer with the President every morning and I attend meetings of the UN under his direction. It is untrue that the president is incapacitated,” he said.
Mr Kalaba has assured Zambians and the international community that all is well with the republican president who is discharging his duties normally.
The Associated Press, an American international new agency, had reported that Police in New York had said that President Sata had been treated in his New York hotel room by American doctors.
Republican Vice President Dr. Guy Scott yesterday dismissed in Parliament reports that President Michael Sata is dead.
[pullquote]“I wish to state that I confer with the President every morning and I attend meetings of the UN under his direction. It is untrue that the president is incapacitated,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr Scott told the House in response to a question by Monze central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu who wanted to know the President’s health status following US media reports that he was attended to by Doctors in his hotel room.
He said the health of President Sata has been entirely normal in New York.
He said following the media reports he was very quick to ascertain the actual situation which revealed that it was not true that the President had died.
“This morning I woke up I received a number of phone calls asking about the President’s health, initially, the first call I receive must have been from the Guardian who probably told Newsweek who told Associated Press who probably picked it from the Zambia Watchdog that the President has passed on. This Mr Speaker is not true and the President is in perfect health,” Dr Scott said.
President Michael Sata’s eldest son Mulenga has assured that his father is well in New York contrary to online and international media reports insinuating that he is dead.
Mr Sata who is also Lusaka City Mayor told media briefing at his office today that he personally spoke to President Sata and First Lady Christine Kaseba on phone from New York this morning at 07:00 Hrs and they confirmed that the Head of State is well.
“I wish to inform the nation and the world at large that His Excellence the President Mr Michael Chilufya Sata is well in New York contrary to the online and international media reports insinuating that the President has been hospitalised,” Mr Sata said.
He said the President expressed regret at the unfortunate reports being circulated concerning his health and he has since urged Zambians to remain calm and united.
“President Sata will issue a statement from New York in due course,” Mr Sata said
President Sata is in New York for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, where he was scheduled to speak on Wednesday.
The speculations started swirling Wednesday night, when President Sata failed to show up for his scheduled address at the General Assembly, which this week conducts its annual debate, an opportunity for the U.N.’s 193 members to showcase their policies to the world. President Sata was slated to follow Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, Wednesday night.
The U.N. moderator then received a notice, and after a short hesitation announced, instead, that the next speaker, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, would address the council. No alternative time for President Sata’s address was announced.
Earlier Chief Government Spokesperson Joseph Katema told the local media in an interview that Government has not received any information that President Michael Sata has been admitted to a New York hospital as has been reported by US media.
US media organizations that reported President Sata’s hospitalization include VOA, New York Times, Newsweek and Associated Press.
Long Live HEMCS!
Long live 50th Anniversary. Prosperity and many more years! Zambia shall prosper!
If he is well and working why then did he not show up when his turn came to give a speech at the UNGA? The reason of his travel was for him to represent us and address the UN but he could not and yet you say he’s well. What a load of fcking bullsh!t. Stop this nonsense now!
Am I the only one growing tired of this rhetoric? “Sata is well.” ” Sata is fit and healthy.” “Sata is working hard. ” Enough already! That being said Mr Kalaba, we should expect him in the country by tommorrow! The UNGA is over and done with. David Cameron already went back home. We don’t want to hear anything about Sata staying to woo investors when Obama already did that which Mr Sata shunned because he was “fit and healthy and working hard at state house.”
This is now becoming intolerable and wholly unacceptable for this Govt to keep denying what is a known fact. Sata is sick and unable to discharge his Presidential duties. Anything out of this is a lie and Govt, together with Mulenga Sata and Christine Kaseba should be ashamed for blatantly lying to the point of accusing a credible police force of lying about Sata’s health. Isn’t that madness? These thugs think every nation is like Zambia and everybody is gullible to believe them. Soon they will be saying that NYPD are haters of PF and Sata. Spare us and Zambians should demand for a medical board. What is there to hide if Sata’s sickness is a mere headache or recovery from malaria?
kwena mwebena zambia,chaba shani kanshi? Are we really this naive sure??? Ati discharging his duties normally, by missing important speech times at the UN? Kalaba uli.tole sana!!! Why do you insult us like this, better you keep quiet than continuing to take us for fools!!! what then is the president doing in new york if he is not atteng the annual general assembly proceedings. dont give us that fly crap ati he is wooing investors!!! please reserve that story for others, no country has ever been developed by other people(investors) mulabeja!!!! am so disappointed with myself in particular. why am i not doing anything. whats wrong with me kanshi!!!!
I wish the president a quick recovery. But if he is not well enough to carry out his duties, why then not resign in the best interest of the country. Where in the world in a democratic country a president does not show up in public for 2 months? How do you fail to show up for such an important meeting? The government should not take the Zambian people for granted. It is a government of the people by the people for the people. It seems Zambians are very nice allowing such kind of confusions transpiring in the country.
@Zagate, I noticed Zambia has social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Hangout, etc.) but all they use it for is viewing photos with ‘lukin’ gud’ comments. In other countries people use these platforms to mobilise resources and put pressure on their govts. Why not create Facebook page and Twitter account demanding for Sata’s resignation and/or his whereabouts; demanding the truth about his health and mobilise people to demonstrate. Create a petition on Change.org or Avaaz and demand for cabinet to convene a medical board or just ask for his resignation. Get the conversation going and have local and international media coverage.
These are some of the creative ideas Zambians can engage in to stay ahead of these lying m@ggots.
Even in Korea ,they have not seen kim for three weeks , chill Zambians.Seeing Sata everyday will not put food on your table.
Oh Gosh….
Hon. Kalaba, please spare us your mockery of your boss. Surely, as our No.2 diplomat, you can do better. Why are you attending meetings on behalf of the President if “he is well and working”? Surely it is not right for HEMCS to travel to an event and not attend the meetings personally if indeed “he is well and working”.
Why do you test people’s patient to such a limit? What do you want Zambians to do or say, Hon. Kalaba??
Am late, but bear with me. I met Ba Yama Ba Sata this afternoon, he is just okey, I am sure he watching “Global Citizen” concert on TV.tonight, I told him about it. I only watched until 9:00pm, I had to leave, too many people.
But I agree with most of you, it is time for Kalaba and Ba Sata to go back to Zambia, we have had enough of them. Enough is enough.
@Nostradamus
You congenital lying orphan…there you go again. You need psychological help–seriously.
How do we believe you?The president didn’t attend any meetings at UN instead he was busy delagating Honurable Kalaba,what was the use of him travelling then,wasting tax payers money and his time in New York because he can still delgate someone to attend the meeting rather than from New York.
He is the only President who happen to have traveled to NY only to attend the meeting from his hotel room and ‘delegate’ instead.
I hear there was a 911 distress call. Let someone obtain a copy of the 911 call recording under the freedom of speech laws over there. Why would they accuse the NYPD under the Associated Press of l!ying? Some of the most professional organizations you could ever find. What do they have to gain politically? These guys think they are dealing with their cadre and c0rrupt cops and media everywhere they go. I really don’t understand why they had to drag him all the way to that far. Granted he has a bucket list and fantasies but couldn’t they have prevailed over him?.
Robin…….
Your type makes people sick. Who told you Zambia is Korea? The so-called “Democratic” Republic of Korea is a communist country ruled by a dictator, who cannot even be compared to the evil late Idid Amin who ruled Uganda in the 1970s and killed thousands of innocents.
Zambia is a democracy for God’s sake. The fact that the PF has good relations with the communist party of Korea does not make Zambians ever wish to be governed the way that evil “boy” in Korea is running that beautiful country.
Robin, you really are not patriotic. How could you wish Zambians such rule as is obtaining in North Korea? No. We reject your prayer of evil over Zambia in the Mighty Blood and Name of Jesus, Amen. Satan, we renounce you and your schemes over our country.
Anyone who expected Kalaba to report otherwise must have their head checked.
Kalaba says he attends the meetings of the UN ‘under the presidents direction’. Did a fit and well president travel all the way to the USA to sit in a hotel room to remote control the likes of Kalaba and others?
Today he is well, yesterday he was described as unfit and just as good as an absentee landlord. This is not what should be happening to the president, it’s too bad.
If he is healthy and working why is he not attending The UN General Assembly. Sata could have stayed at State of art hospital at State house and confer via video conferencing with the over 38 family members he took with him and save tax payers thousands of dollars! This reminds me of Saddam Hussein and Gadaffi handlers; claiming that the president is in full command and in full control and there were defeating their enemies! Well, we all know how it ended. Things Fall Apart, in this case; Sata’s body parts are the ones falling apart! Accept the inevitable!
i wonder the motive of watchdog. what exactly do want to achieve in the end? why are you so negative in any isue concerning president sata? you are full of hate for the president who has the mandate to run affairs of this country. who told your under five to leave the pact? he realy regret. leave the president alone plz. i imagine the pain you have due to the fact that no matter what you write ,your under five will never re-write president sata history of being president. so.please have manners even bad ones at least.
You need to have your head checked. Too much weed. Can’t you see what everyone is seing? HEMC is falling apart…and due to mentally ill people like you, he is departing quicker than would have normal…
Iwe mambala iw aint you seeing tht this is NOT ZWD. Why r you ALWAYS WORRIED of ZWD. Watchdog gives 99.999998% investigative news.
Marabish yako iwe go and hang yourself !!.
@ hakaivotela Humwine; this site is called Lusaka Times not ZWD. Your venting here is useless. Go to ZWD and vent. In any case ZWD did not break the story of Sata being treated. They also picked it up from international media. If you don’t believe me check the time line of the reports! I have said it before and I will say it again, the whole of NYPD spokesperson has no reason to lie on a simple third world country president. In any case they make it point to protect each and every president that comes in and make sure they don’t die on their soil during the UNGA. Infact presidents that are unfriendly to the USA are given the best and more security than any other because they want to make sure they go back to their respective countries in one piece.
Hmmmmm he is working “normally” but you r attending meetings on his behalf. Africans lets b realistic here.
Why muvuta Sata and he looks so pale and disoriented & Confused like a mad Man.
Good afternoon
We seem to live in a world where physical weakness is a crime, especially if you are president.
North Korea’s Head of state Kim Jong Un (31 years old!) has been absent from the public for weeks and he is accused of having diabetes and high blood pressure according to media reports.
Why can’t people simply accept the fact that life is perilous and that from the minute of birth, we are all fighting a battle to survive. Our most delicate pump called the heart can cease function any time and it does not matter wheather you’re an infant an aged person.
They say “only the fittest of the fittest shall survive”, so for me, if you are alive, then that suggests that you are fit. Or am I the only one who sees it this way?
Nine Chale
There is big difference between the two. President Sata was democratically elected by the people of Zambia and he is therefore answerable to the nation. If he doesnt like being in the spotlight let him resign it’s his constitution right to do so.
@Nine Chale,
Good afternoon
You seem to have missed the point that is fuelling this talk about the president, no one has suggested that being sick is a crime. The problem here are the lies and contradictory statements being issued by the president’s family, ministers and other senior GRZ officials who seem to think Zambians are fools who can’t see the true picture of what’s going around a frail 77 year old president.
This is about Sata not Kim Jong.
And you see nothing wrong with this frail old deadwood flying all the way to NYC with a 40 strong entourage and do absolutely nothing there but waste tax payer’s money, embarrass the nation as we warned you.
Sata is incapable to work or later alone lead he doesn’t need rest but needs to retire indefinitely from public.
*…or let alone…
IF he is working why did he fail to appear at UN summit? and he continues to delegate his duties to Kalaba. The president is gone AWOL and as usual you keep saying his well and working. Explain what work is he doing as the nation knowns he left the country to attend the UN summit and He failed to appear at the summit what work is he doing?
They can afford to lie to Zambians as they know that we are a docile and passive people to be walked over whilst they waste our money on a dying old man….imagine a president who has never hosted a Q&A press conference.
Zambians need to wake up from their docility!!
Jay Jay
It’s not just about Zambian being docile and passive. We need the freedom of information act to protect the citizens from such lies which cannot be challenged judicially and people making such lies or organisations cannot be brought to book. It’s makes to be above the law.
hakaivotela umwine…..
LT is just reporting. What is your problem? You really can be funny, eh?
London Eye….
Nine Chale is right, why are you criticising a person who has just made a valid point?
sata will not die untill he finishes his second term. Even if he died today its not that MAN to be president PF is a 4 term party. Ask ka khoma if that party is near winning elections
wisdom….
The general elections, whenever they will be held, will be contested by many other parties, MMD, FDD, UNIP, UPND, NAREP etc and Zambians, UNLIKE NORTH KOREANS” will be free to vote for whoever and whichever party they will feel attracted to. You are so scared of UPND just like some individuals in MMD were so scared of PF before 2011. Your type do not know how to win supporters but to scare them away from your party. The more hatred you show of UPND the more your scare away from PF those who currently support UPND. Your type of politics is divisive.
THIS STORY IS BECOMING STUPID NOW. YOU DONT JUSTSAY SATA IS WELL. FIRST YOU HAVE TO TELL US WHAT THE FOREIGN MEDIA REPORTED. ACCEPT IT OR REFUTE IT. THEN TELL US WHY SATA COULD NOT ADDRESS THE UNGA AND CONFUSED THE ORGANISERS.IF AT ALL HE IS WELL. WE ARE NOT CHILDREN PLEASE. AND WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT IF SATA IS ILL THEN HH WILL TAKE OVER. PLEASE WE ARE ORDINARY ZAMBIAN CITIZENS WHO WANT TO BE TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HEALTH STATUS OF THEIR PRESIDENT. SIMPLE. NOT THIS HIDE AND SEEK WHEN EVIDENTLY THE MAN IS AILING. ALA
Not the kind of NEWS PF UNDERTAKERS would like to hear!
PF CABINET ABUSING SATA FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
KALABA MUST STOP FOOLING ZAMBIANS. YOU ARE THE CRUEL PEOPLE SATA FOR YOUR PERSONAL GAIN. IF INDEED YOU ARE KIND TO HIM . YOU SHOULD HAVE NOT LET THE PRESIDENT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN THE CONDITION HE IS. BUT WE ARE NOT SUPRISED ITS THE DOLLARS ALLOWANCES MOTIVATING YOU. ITS MICHEAL YOU ARE ABUSING WHO IS SUSTAINING YOUR JOBS THAT IS WHY YOU WANT TO ABUSE THE MAN TO THE LAST DROP OF HIS BLOOD. A CARING CABINET SHOULD RECOMMENDED SATA FOR FULL MEDICAL TREATMENT OPENLY BUT ALL YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF SECRETE UNDER TAKING. SHAME ON YOU CRUEL PF CABINET.
Once caught in a lie they have to stick to it although evidence indicates Sata is dying. He says Sata is working but we know he is lying on some hospital bed somewhere in NY. PF is simply the worst govt in the history of the world and worse it has bred a bunch of congenital liars and morally deficient cadres that will be bequeathed on Zambian society to carry on Sata’s evil legacy.
stop twisting facts here. pf is a one term government
its the head of your under five that need to be checked. you trust your watchimbwa so much. ka under five will never rule this country apart from confused mislead chaps like you. some of you fellows believe me can actually go first .you dont have to be sick to die, becare full you all who are talking ill of the president. GOD is watching you all, watch your filthy mouths.your under five has no isues to talk about. how sad he got rejected in mukushi despite thanking them for giving him his wife. he is realy under five . tell him to try being a ward chairman.
It’s *****s like Harry Kalaba who make bloggers annoyed and then use undiplomatic language online.And Kalaba expects us to believe the nonsense he is saying.American news agencies have already told us the truth about dictator Sata’s situation in New York,so Kalaba should stop yapping.
I agree Chisenga. These diehard maggots for sata dont get it. Anyone who expresses any concern for sata’s is branded an enemy. THAT IS STUP!D. No one has said when sata dies then HH eill tske over. These are ordinary citizens. HH did not bewitch sata. So leave him out of this.
“I wish to state that I confer with the President every morning and I attend meetings of the UN under his direction. It is untrue that the president is incapacitated,”
A very funny statement coming from a minister who is actually meeting other Presidents and attending meetings on behalf of Sata precisely because Sata is incapacitated. It’s like saying ‘I am not doing what I am doing’.
Mr kalaba you have not helped matters. You are actually telling us that he does not attend meetings. Why did he go there only to remain in his hotel suite?
even ba kaboke have a modern president whilst we have a pre independence aged and ailing man
UPND diasporans are indeed lost bunch, instead of discussing issues to do with development in Zambia they continue running around in circles rumour mongering and cracking sick jokes. Shame.
2020VISION….
It is NOT UPND cadres spreading rumours. It is you and other PF empty vessels trying to say something about the President. In any case, why is the President not coming out in the open to speak for himself if is “he is well and working”?
Your running of the Presidency is a disaster. If Mr Sata was in your shoes, he would definitely do much much better than you are doing. SAD and TRAGIC to have you to manage such a sensitive office.
It’s the people of Zambia…..and clearly you care not for them and are not one of them. How can one not grasp that? Jeesh!
More popcorn please the drama never ceases!If
HMCS is not able to attend and Kalaba is delegated
to attend the UN meeting…One would ask which engagement does HMCS have apart from UNGA?
Poorly cooked PF propaganda aimed at constipating us into imbecility.
mr kalaba the only thing left for you is to insult so that you come to your senses sata is sick any anyone can see that and you know it fool if he died a bit this news came from there where you are with your dying snake that is why you are doing his duties you fool dont cheat
Mr Kalaba; if the President is wel; why is he languishing in a hotel room in USA, and missing out to give his speach where other heads of state are? also why did he have to go with a large delegation at the expense of the Zambian tax payer?
@nine chale your script made intresting reading,health issues are delicate,but african politics are full of secrecy may be due to opposition pressure,even if the President is not well he remains the president until his death while in his term.
I love America. America has told us the truth. So what was the purpose of Sata traveling only to delegate? Some things just speak for themselves.
Iwe kalaba sata nga afwila kwanabene ukeshibe nokwakwingila.. kuno wikabwelelako because you are greedy and all you want is just get allowances at the expense of the sick man. it is not fair at all. Tukakukoma ba president ngabaisa cargo.
He has his biggest allowance with him. Isn’t he the same guy who is allegedly thought to be providing ‘private services’ to Christine??
The difference between me and PF thugs is that I’m a realist with a heart for my country, unlike them who are like god damn ostricesh that opt to burry their brainless gurumutus in the sad hoping woes will drift away by the time they arise from the sand! It’s a simple fact that at 77 and with the afflictions that bedevil Charles Mwango Katongo, there is no enough money in creation to heal him. The fiasco in parliament was haunting, to what extent is that man willing to skip his rendezvous with god all at the tax payers’ expense? Why is he so scared of dying? Our constitution requires him to be of sound mind and health, and he’s of none but still wants to cling on to power! He is a stinking stupid *****, and so are all scum of the world that belong to PF!
Your voice deserves to be heard.
You are absolutely spot on!!
I think what needs to be urgently done is to take the president back to Zambia regardless of his condition. This will save Zambia from further embarrassment in the eyes of the world.
Sata should resign asap from the presidency coz this saga is going to come back and bite all the foolz making all these clearly empty statements.
A new “CK” (Comical Kalaba) in making?
38 members of delegation, this is your opportunity to take “selfie” with great lieder to prove that NYPD is on the payroll of “heaters”?
Let him come back so that we save money,rather wasting tax payers money on somebody resting in a hotel.
Associated Press is not Zambia daily mail and they have not apologized,thus,this indicates that what they wrote was true.Kalaba as far as the President did not speak and the nation was told that the President was going to attend the UNO meeting not sleeping in the hotel just yawning.
This is ma rubbish.
All media organisations that reported president sata’s hospitalizations,VOA, neswyork times,newsweek, and Associated press are liars.Would you believe it?
Scarface,yeah right,yo ukwa is actually well and jogging in NY.Why is he clinging on to the presidency when he is clearly incapacitated?and his lackeys keep telling us he is fine.minions like 2020 vision less will soon be on the streets.bena Charles mwango katongo should never have ascended to the highest office.He has lowered governance standards in Zambia.what a country.
As usual the HH led bloggers always win on internet through unsubstantiated reports. As usual the anti Sata have risen again after being defeated in the last by election by 4 out of 6. They never learn. If Sata is dead or very sick, you could have heard the news on Al Jazeera or CNN or BBC or Skynews or SABC etc who are in tune with deliberations at the UN. As usual ZWD peddling lies even now to international media that Sata is dead. NEXT BY ELCTION PLEASE so that Sata wallops these st.upid anti Sata.
PLEASE WE ARE ALL HAPPY THAT PF WON 4 OUT OF 6 BYE ELECTIONS. BUT PLEASE STOP LYING THAT SATA IS NOT SICK PLEASE, PLEASE TWA PAPATA. THE PRESIDENT IS SICK. LEARN TO SAY THE TRUTH, NO ONE WILL CRUCIFY YOU, PLEASE.
As usual the one so far up his jacksy has crawled from out under his undercarriage to excrete a lazy blog.
“Mwebena Zambia Kwena mwaliwama, nomba pantu mu konkluda, pakuti mwipushe, elo mwishibe, imwe chikulu mwa ikonvinsa…..” ~ Danny Kaya.
Sata should resign on health grounds asap and his foolz need to shutup.Going to UNGA and failing to present his speech is like me going to a love making rendezvouz but failing to perform.
For a few kolobos of kwacha these PF minions will keep lying to us for their evidently unwell daddy.Kalaba & Co this will come back to haunt you when it finally proves to be deceptive.
Amazing,Sata is coming. Ba LT stop assisting opposition to look foolish.Help opposition up. Mark my words, Sata is NOT sick. He just dupes and fools media and opposition so that he wins sympathetic vote as he did on 19th Sept. So People let us ignore Sata’s sickness gimmick to win sympathetic votes. Recall what happened in New York yesturday that when he told the Kaseba to call him on emmergence 9-1-1 that it is one of his tricks to fool people and win sympathetic votes.
This is now becoming intolerable everyone in the government is quick to jump and say Sata is well and discharging duties. This is a blatant lie, you are taking Zambians for granted. Not everyone is a street kid screaming “PaBwato, PaBwato” You are also lying to educated people who can see through the deception. This is the same man who was being told to drink same water by his wife during his speech to Parliament ati “nweniko amenshi”, is this the man leading us? These vultures around him including his wife are simply looking after their own interests. You take a presidential entourage to New York only to remain in a bloody hotel? ata
He was even jogging this morning
I ve never read about this nonsense ever in my entire life about a govnt giving contradictory statements and there is no clear channel of communication… A son issues a statement in what capacity???., the Vice President says something, foreign affairs minister joins in the same rhetoric… and the chief govnt spokes person has no idea about the welbeing of the father of the nation overseas?…just what kind of stupidity is this…?? This is indeed a mockery of a govnt…
This fiasco would cost PF dearly at an election in a developed country with a population that is educated and knows its rights. In Zambia we are still in a pre-historic era when it comes to politics. The majority of our population is illiterate and therefore easy to manipulate. They see no difference between a monarchy where families rule them without question and democratic rule where they can chose who to LEAD them. They see people in govt as absolute rulers whom they cannot oppose without consequence and view opposition as “rebels”. It will take time but one day Zambia will be like the UK, New Zealand, Australia. There, people in govt respect the citizenry. Leaders are not sacred cows. Any mistake, you resign b4 the boss fires you to save votes in future elections.
Panga family for you.
A cat has seven lives…………..Our President will one day lose ALL his lives…..He is dead today, no he has now risen from the dead……ooooh no he is dead again……oooooh no he has risen again. My President your life is priceless and you must be very very careful with the people who would like to be in power at the expense of your life…….Forget about them because you have already clocked 3 years in office and you deserve all the benefits for the job well done. god bless!