As MMD youths, we feel the presence of UPND President Hakainde Hichilema’s on the Copperbelt cannot pass without a comment.
Typical of Mr Hichilema, he has found his way to the Copperbelt on a mission to mislead miners in the province that he has the answer to their plight.
What we do not find surprising is that Mr Hichilema always takes advantage of the weak in society.
Throughout his business and political life, Mr Hichilema has always preyed on the weak to his benefit.
He has seen it fit to go and camp on the Copperbelt to peddle half truths because he believes the miners, in their desperation will listen to him.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s recent trip to the region was fruitful. We know that the engagement he initiated with the mining executives has started bearing fruit and the stabilisation plan for the mining sector will soon be rolled out.
But as usual, Mr Hichilema is attempting to undo the good works that President Lungu initiated whilst on the Copperbelt by taking a cocktail of lies to struggling miners who are facing a world of uncertainty.
We challenge Mr Hichilema to come out in the open and lay down a blue print for the revival of the mining sector.
As MMD youths, all that we have heard from Mr Hichilema about how he plans to run the mining sector have been contradictory.
On a Monday, he says he will bring back Anglo American, on a Tuesday, he says he will promote local ownership of the mines. On a Wednesday, he says his Government will increase its stake in the mines.
On a Thursday, he says he will go for optimal taxation of the mines and on a Friday, he says his mining policy will be dictated by the prevailing conditions at the time.
All followers of Mr Hichilema’s public statements will attest to the fact that he has been flip-flopping on the issue of the mines.
When Zambia debated the issue of the mineral royalty tax, Mr Hichilema has usual offered somersaulting answers each time he was asked about his taxation policy for the mines.
Up to now, Mr Hichilema’s definite position on the mining sector is unknown.
If he has any, we challenge him to lay it out for national debate because we know that whatever it would be, it will be found wanting.
We do not believe that Mr Hichilema’s holds the magic bullet to resolving the challenges facing the mining sector.
The key problems facing the mining sector are global in nature.
The slump in metal prices is beyond Zambia. We know that key commodity exporters including Botswana (Gold), DRC (Copper & Cobalt), Chile (Copper & Gold) Australia (Copper, Iron, Zinc) including India (Zinc, Iron and Copper) and China (Copper) have all been hard hit by the fall in metal prices.
The decision by mining companies to place certain operations on care and maintenance is part of a global business response. Most of those decisions have little to do with the Government in power.
As MMD youths, we wish to applaud the efforts by President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to ensure business continuity and protect employee welfare even in this challenge economic environment.
The route that President Lungu has taken which promotes dialogue between Government, the unions and the mining investors is timely and commendable as it is the surest way of sustaining the mining sector.
We know that Mr Hichilema deep down his heart wishes that all the mines could close so that he could score some cheap political scores in the hope that he could win the next elections and then sell the mines on a cheap to his Anglo American friends.
We wish to tell Mr Hichilema that his evil intentions will not come to pass. Zambians now know him very well for a cheap politician he is. The mining companies have all reaffirmed that they will not abandon Zambia because they are confident that the country presents the best investment climate possible.
Just on Monday, Konkola Copper Mines CEO Steven Din reaffirmed that Vedanta Resources Plc is in Zambia for the long haul.
Last month, Glencore A.G CEO Ivan Glansenberg told investors that Zambia is the place to go for long term investors and that his plans for Mopani are well in place.
Our appeal is to all mining players including the mine unions not to be gullible and pay audience to Mr Hichilema.
Recent history shows that he personally plundered the resources of this country by agreeing to be part and part of a flawed privatisation process which even the IMF and the World Bank have agreed was badly implemented.
So where then does Mr Hichilema get the moral authority to go and deceive the miners? Until he truthfully answers questions about how he personally benefited from the cheap sale of ZCCM assets to his friends for a song, he does not have the right to address our miners in the manner he seeks to do.
To the residents of the Copperbelt, our advice is that they should dismiss Mr Hichilema’s machinations with the contempt they deserve.
He does not deserve to even an audience with the people of the region because he is the one responsible for their misery.
Our humble advice to Mr Hichilema is that let him return to Southern Province and take care of his ranches than making a mockery of a precarious situation on the Copperbelt which President Lungu is delicately handling.
Issued by: Mr Bowman C. Lusambo
MMD Vice Presidential Aspirant & Kabushi Aspiring Candidate 2016
Bowman is a colossal douche
Ububa ka Bowman ati Lungu has stabilized the mining sector. How is this possible when 4000 jobs have been lost
My heart bleeds for the UPND supporters. HH was warned of the volatility of the copperbelt. A good leader would have assessed the situation.( If he did then his judgement is poor). To see poor women bleeding like noticed only for your desire to get to state house is very unfortunate. It was not worth spilling blood for unless one is a Satanist.
@Parent. How is the Copperbelt volatile? And how do you blame the so called volatility of the CB on HH & what happened to UPND? It is pure and simple Police Brutality and unprofessionalism. The Vice President declared a curfew to all opposition leaders not to go on the Copperbelt. When HH came, the police were unleashed on him & his innocent supporters. And you agree with that type of mentality?
If we willingly give up our freedoms to the PF, this country will end up like Zimbabwe, where you can even break wind without Mugabe’s permission.
This illegal imposition on our freedoms must be resisted. PF has no right to dictate where and how we meet!
This is the kind of *****ic politics we want to do away with once UPND forms government by proving to these clueless chaps that Zambia can be managed well to prosperity unlike passing the back to some global causes for everything wrong they have done. Fortunately Zambians now know the truth. Let him focus on chewing the bread crumbs he is picking up on the floor from the PF high table maybe tomorrow they can give him a mat to sit on. But as for Zambians and miners who are feeling the pinch of having clueless cadres in power, the fight is on until we have a sane and competent government in place.
You imbeciles , it must get into your head that its not the people in CB who attacked UPND gathering but the PF police under the instruction of Lungu and Inonge.
CB can at least see hope in UPND and only stinking shit in PF. HH was not booed like Lungu and his entourage at all. It is the warm welcome HH received that annoyed Lungu and his stooges in PF to send the police to tear gas UPND gathering.
PF is now feeling the heat hence the tantrums its throwing. PF kuyabebele.
Vote UPND 2016.
Dear HH( Our future President).
Sir please learn to heed good advise even if to comes from those you hate. Sir you came here with Ba GMB at the wrong time. The situation here did not need you here. What we needed was your message to stay come in the light of what is happening here. But Sir your coming here has caused more harm. We were almost starting to live in peace with PF friends until you came here. Now ifwe baletuponona imwe na butuka mwaya ku Lusaka well protected. You have abandoned us !. Please next time think about your decsisions.
@ upnd
My brother, no leader is worth dying for. If you have registered as a voter, keep your card and wait for 2016. As you have said , they have run away and already in the comfort of their homes. There u are ., alone nursing your wounds. They will not even pay your clinic bill.
You my friend are a coward. HH is not a coward and he would not be respected as a leader if he agreed to have his rights to freedom of assembly trampled on. You think we as UPND members would respect such cowardice from our leader? Democracy is hard earned and is for people with balls and not chaps like you who want to be buddies with the very people trampling on your rights. Fake UPND supporter.
The blame game..certain people belong in the archives..
HH is back in Lusaka in his mansion eating mabisi and drinking chibwantu. His so called supporters back to their slums with deep cuts. What a leader.!!!
So ba MMD you want us all to leave our homes and join him in his mansion for the chibwantu? Do you also follow dull Lungu ku statehose after you dance ku airport to partake in Jemason and Chibuku? Dull twat.
“I have leadership qualities because i’m the former Headboy”-Lusambo
Bowman has been paid to speak for Lungu now. What fruits have come out of 5 day drinking spree by Lungu in the copperbelt, ok 4000 miners without jobs this week. Yes HH may not have a silver bullet but what we need is leadership that will spearhead development and sanity in the political atmosphere of Zambia. We need a leader that respect rule of law not someone who today says let us pray and reconcile and tomorrow is the one infringing on the rights of people to assemble and speak. He don’t a leader who spends national money at will with out proper planning.
stupid bowman, you have just exposed your dullness botswana is a diamond exporter not gold. If you dont know such basic facts just shows that your article is full of lies, we all know you are want to stand as Member of parliament on pf so your blind loyalty. Such shallow minds after being beaten at soweto market and paraded on tv. Shame on you dull carde who lives on the rich
Recent history shows that he personally plundered the resources of this country by agreeing to be part and part of a flawed privatisation process which even the IMF and the World Bank have agreed was badly implemented. Kuwayawayafye
Fight of the century, UPND vs PF. Ba UPND bapumwa. Their leadership has run back to Lusaka leaving their supporters wounded and bleeding.
Lusambo just keep quite together with your sponsors PF. Zambia is a democratic country and anyone is free to move anywhere in the country. Suppose the police killed anyone as a result of their brutality, who do think would be held responsible? Its obvious the president, Veep and IG who made those declarations that CB is a no go area for HH as if Zambia is their personal to holder property. No one is above the law. HH 2016
Hichilema is so desperate for power. He thinks Zambians are so forgetful that they can easily forget how he presided over the cheap sale of the mines and brought misery to the mining families. His desperation for power is just so beyond.
HH was neither president not incharge of privatisation at the time, where did you get you facts from? Bowman?
This is what happens when your source of information is from fellow dunderheads Kambwili and Mumbi Phiri. Ben, if you have a brain try and find it in that massive empty space in your cranium then use it to research the privatisation process spearheaded by Chiluba, Sata and Valentine Chitalu OK? Why do all PF cadres insist on being dull?
Just like the dull PF leadership, their supporters like this job seeker bowman think Zambia can only develop with copper. HH is saying we need to develop other industries instead of relying on copper. With proper economic managment, instead of just thinking of spending, Zambia can be cushioned from such global impacts.
LT have you been paid to give this cockroch airtime?? He is of no consequence, MMD is finished and you ate exposing us to this yapping dog looking for work.
HH,like most Tongas ni wa kaso. These cadres who were beaten up if they went to him for help,he would just lip service them without giving them even a coin. I suspect,his wealth money has conditions attached like many people we know in cults. He is presidential material. 2016,m still going for ECL.
Just like the dull PF leadership, their supporters like this job seeker bowman think Zambia can only develop with copper. HH is saying we need to develop other industries instead of relying on copper. With proper economic managment, instead of just thinking of spending, Zambia can be cushioned from such global impacts.
LT have you been paid to give this cockroch airtime?? He is of no consequence, MMD is finished and you ate exposing us to this yapping dog looking for work. Usless chap.
hh ala uletuponwesha kuno ku c/b kuli ba pf kwati wilaisakofye!
Hh was very well adviced not to go ahead with the campaigns on the Copper Belt but he vowed to continue. without. After aponeshaa abantu ati upnd is a people loving party.
Ba Lusambo plesae can you shut up i know you very well you are z chancer you are talking for your stomach thats all wait and see how much you have divided PF on the copper belt mostly Ndola.
I know you if you want to start do that at your own peril
I will open you up to the world
Am beggining to admire miles kilometer, honourable professional smart knows to bud problems from their roots and not imisambo, branches, very rare or non at all to hear him tok about HH, though HH equally very rare to hear him call name best we ve HH VS MILES
Hh was very well adviced not to go ahead with the campaigns on the Copper Belt but he vowed to continue. After aponweeshaa abantu elo ala ti upnd is a people loving party. ukukutumpaa
Ba Anthony. Is Zambia a Police state? Should we become like Zimbabwe? Is that why ECL is friends with that senile nonagenarian.
Clearly there is no more freedom of movement and assembly for certain people in Zambia. Is this Zambian apartheid? And the president is a lawyer. Really? During Mwanawasa’s reign Zambia had a government of laws. Now Zambia has a government of lawlessness allowing kaponyas and the police to ride roughshod over citizens. This is unacceptable.
Miles. Forward, Chagwa., What A Country!!
Miles. Forward, Chagwa, What a country!!
Bowman is a known entity with traceable physical address. We are tired of his monotonous accusations. Let him be dragged to court to substantiate his allegations about the sale of mines because no one else except him appears to have evidence. Sue the simple mind and regionalist who feels HH should not socialise with the Copperbelt. He must tell his paymasters to contrive fresh arguments unlike the redundant ones he is being made to parrot ie region/tribe and privatisation!
I thought he was an intelligent young man!!!!
hh must be president hi decision must be sound he for saw this but continued to decampain ecl is it true he can not be heard from lusaka muleumfwako muleletafye ifyongo ninshi do u ko this a fruitful trip
Pf ‘s popularity is diminishing on the C/B. Change is definitely underway. Bad leaders force themselves on people and dont relinguish power without seeing blood drops.
What can kind of twisted politics is Bowman practicing. HH is not in government and he should be more concerned with what PF is doing. How can an opposition party official begin opposing another opposition party official. Mediocrity at its best. Its better you just say I am PF and defend the government freely. Total rubbish, didn’t even bother to finish reading the article. Just looking at the headline you realize its hogwash.
Ba Sm. Is this a campaign period where hh and his vice can not adhere to advice. whether it be from police or from anywhere. Currently what the mining sector is going through is not something to politicize. It’s totally wrong for hh to take advantage of the problems on the Copper Belt. its like him enjoys such seeing such hardships on the masses of Zambians so that he finds some score out of out. I see that as ukutuumpa nobuwelewele. Even the drought him will politicize. What could such a person be upto?
Is this a campaign period where hh and his vice can not adhere to advice. whether it be from police or from anywhere. Currently what the mining sector is going through is not something to politicize. It’s totally wrong for hh to take advantage of the problems on the Copper Belt. its like him enjoys seeing such hardships on the masses of Zambians, so that he finds some score out of it. I see that as ukutuumpa nobuwelewele. Even the drought him will politicize. What could such a person be upto?
@ Anthony
Can you please clarify if you think with your arse or talking without thinking through your arse?
Anthony please this is the right time to take advantage. These people fight for votes and those on the copperbelt are ripe for picking. That’s what politics is about.
Come 2016 We are going to Vote for HH period. Any well meaning Zambian would find the onslaught on the opposition nothing short of an attack on our freedom and our right to freedom of expression. WE SHALL OVER COME and 2016 is OUR YEAR. Zambia Forward we enjoyed HH visit to our beloved Luanshya and we pray he comes back soon. His is a place of practical idealism and the PF is a place of total disregard for the electorate….. People are constantly treated like that ..Lungu came talked to the people and left MORE miners jobless and all he could say is that my trip was a success…
you have always voted for HH time in memorial, what will change in 2016?
HH does not need a VISA’s to travel to the copper belt that is just nonsense
No one needs a visa to travel to the copperbelt? But those who create trouble will be dealt with. No wonder your HEYNA HYENA and his FAT MINION had to run away leaving their blind supporters bruised and leaking their wounds.
Bowman, are learning today that HH is just nothing but a conman. He is just looking for one thing, to come and loot what remained and blind followers are busy shouting forward na muchimbusu daily.
No amount of change will take place in their lives if they do not work for themselves.
Lusaka Times, have you run out of news worthy stories? I really wonder why you continue to give coverage to this good-for-nothing PF cadre masquerading as an MMD member! Please find better news sources than Bowman whatever!!
Bowman Lusambo – a misplaced politician who cannot tell which one is his left or right hand… the earlier you tell pipo what you want the better for only then will they be able to assist you! Wake up…
HH ni saka.
But pa zed pali vipuba zoona…
Ball man should just confine himself to his misplaced ambitions. Let him not just endear himself to Chagwa by misdirecting his frustrations at people who are ably offering checks and balances. Instead let him tell the nation how he plans to manage the mining industry and economy now that he wants to be MMD vice President.
Its funny to note that the very people who vote are the most affected when the coin fall on the other side.it is good when the decision makers are the victims of a wrong decision.
AND WHAT WAS YOU TRIP TO THE SAME COPPER BELT ABOUT MR LUSAMBO? I DOUBT IF YOU ARE EVEN BACK COZ THE LAST TIME I CHECKED YOU WERE STILL IN KABUSHI CAMPAIGING
Leave HH along. He is the only man to see Zambia forward.PF has evidently failed to deliver. What do you still want from PF? more plunder of resources, if you are normal, it is clear that your nation has gone down in the hands of the PF.HH we are bind you.
Copperbelt is the land of minerals and people are suffering things are too expensive that should have been the land of honey and milk but now people are crying of loosing there jobs.