Wilson Kalumba
WHO is Wilson Kalumba?
That is the question that is being asked, not just by the electorate in Lusaka, but also by some media personnel.
Simply put, those are the odds that the Patriotic Fronts (PF) candidate for Executive Mayor of the City of Lusaka faces – he lacks name recognition, and not among the general populace of Lusaka, but also among those working in the media who ideally you would expect to know him or have an idea of who he is.
So, is he riding on the PF’s popularity or the lack of it in Lusaka? It is difficult to tell.
However, the dynamics in this year’s elections have drastically changed from the way they were in 2011, when owing to the huge popularity of Michael Sata, anyone who was standing on the PF ticket, as long as it was in the party’s stronghold, was expected to win, sometimes with a landslide against any opponent regardless of the credentials on the table or ballot so to say.
Well, Mr Kalumba may not be so well-known to the electorate. But be that as it may, he possesses quite some experience in the banking sector spanning decades. A Moody’s Analytics certified corporate credit rating analyst, he is the chief executive officer of the country’s first rating credit agency.
In all fairness, the only element that will keep Mr Kalumba in the frame is the fact that he is standing on the PF ticket. If it was not for that, his chances of winning the mayoral election would have been as good as those of Kaweto Mwale and Martin Maisepe, two other Independent candidates in the race to be the city father.
Alfred Banda
Alfred Banda, who is standing on the United National Independence Party (UNIP) is a well-known political figure, atleast among those that have followed the fortunes or misfortunes of the former ruling party since it lost its elections to the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in 1991.
You will have to admire Reverend Banda’s passion, but beyond that, he will struggle to get that many votes, much the same way his party would struggle.
The question you would have to ask is: “What are they in it for?” Well, only them can answer that.
Cyril Muntanga
So much has been said about Edith Nawakwi revitalising the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) which was formed mainly by former MMD senior members who were opposed to late President Frederick Chiluba’s third term bid in 2001. That perception of Ms Nawakwi revitalising the FDD is mainly based on the January 20, 2015 elections in which she came out third, relegating Nevers Mumba of the MMD to fourth position.
But that third position came with about 15,000 votes. The winning candidate Edgar Lungu, had slightly over 800,000 votes.
Or to put it in more perspective, Chama Chakomboka, in the 1996 Presidential election, polled slightly over 40,000 votes. In other words, you can put together Ms Nawakwi’s votes together with those of Dr Mumba in the January 20, 2015 elections, and they would not be anywhere near those of Mr Chakomboka.
Therefore, Mr Cyril Muntanga, who is contesting the mayoral election on the FDD ticket for Lusaka, may have just over-estimated his chances of winning.
But then, this is a democracy, and everyone reserves the right to participate; the reason perhaps there are eight candidates for the mayoral position, which under the constitution, has to be voted for directly by the electorate.
The task for the mayor is enormous, perhaps more enormous than that facing some Members of Parliament since the Mayor will have to campaign and win in more than one constituency to stand a chance of being the city father.
Elias Mpondela
Elias Mpondela, an Independent candidate needs no introduction, having served for more than two decades as president of the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA), which in recent times, has become synonymous with organising the annual inter-Company relay than producing world beaters in athletics.
His stay at the helm of ZAAA has not been without controversy with former athletes led by former 400 metre hurdles world champion Samuel Matete calling on him to step down.
But he has clung on. What else does he want to do for athletics which he has not been able to do in the last 20 years? Only he knows!
But in fairness, it is not just ZAAA that he has been involved with; he can count others like National Housing Authority (NHA), Phoenix Contractors (Roads) and Shelter Afrique in Nairobi.
“As your Mayor, I will work tirelessly to improve the quality of life and living standards for all Lusaka residents regardless of their political, ethnic or religious affiliations. I will make and model Lusaka into a shining City for our country, the region and the world,” he said when announcing his mayoral candidature.
“I will harness all the diversity of this City and exploit the power of difference to trigger real change in all areas to make Lusaka one of the best Cities to be proud to live in, a city that will ensure happiness and a decent life for all Lusaka residents.”
Perhaps Matete and the likes of Carol Mokola may ask: “Is he going to use the same formula he has used for ZAAA to transform the City of Lusaka?”
Maureen Mwanawasa
Maureen Mwanawasa equally needs no introduction; after all, she is widow of the third president Levy Mwanawasa. Or if you want, she is the architect of the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI).
Perhaps the MMCI is a good starting point! Well, where is it by the way? Well, it died the moment she left State House.
Those that have closely followed Ms Mwanawasa say she has already harboured political ambitions. In fact, some say the move to take her husband’s body round the country when he died was meant to elicit sympathy and pave the way for her own political ambition.
Whatever the case, she brings very little to the table apart from the fact that she is former first lady.
She possesses no any other experience in public life.
Her take is that: “The role of the Mayor this time is executive and one has to be elected into office and for us as UPND, we want to make this office of Mayor to be about the people of Lusaka. We want to see change in the provision of water, the quality of roads and electricity provision and this will entail restructuring Lusaka and not displacing the people entirely as we have seen.”
Indeed, the position of mayor in the new constitution is executive, but the role of first lady is largely ceremonial, and as such, she may find it difficult to understand how local government works.
Fisho Mwale
Lungu (c) Chairman of the board Adam Taylor (l) looks on during the
Commissioning of the Yalelo Zambian Fish in Siavonga
That leaves former Lusaka mayor Fisho Mwale as the only one with the much needed local government experience to manage the affairs of the City of Lusaka.
Running as an Independent, it shows that he understands that the mayoral position under the new constitution cuts across party lines. In fact, the position of mayor requires one who is independent, directly answerable to the electorate of Lusaka and not the sponsoring party.
It is something the Yalelo Fishing Company executive director understands.
“I stand before you today to declare that I am standing for election for the position of Executive Mayor of Lusaka City. I further wish to state that I am standing as an Independent candidate with the maximum respect to all the political parties in Zambia. I believe strongly that the new position of executive mayor demands a person who is non-partisan and who will be directly answerable to the residents of the greater city of Lusaka,” Mr Mwale stated when announcing his intention to stand as mayor at a press briefing at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
“My vision is to have Lusaka be the most economically viable city of choice that will be providing its residents and visitors alike, a sustainable, safer, healthy living and sociable environment and business and employment opportunities.”
During his tenure as Lusaka Mayor between 1994 and 1998, Mr Mwale, who boats of international experience, saw the conceptualisation of Zambia’s first ever shopping mall at Manda Hill and the construction of Lusaka City Market.
Not surprisingly, his plan is to transform the city of Lusaka and place it in its rightful place as one of the most vibrant capital cities of Africa. This, he believes can be done through systematic planning.
“Lusaka is congested because of unplanned developments, if we have a systematic approach of planning, it is not going to be as congested as it is,” he said.
Lusaka can certainly do with some fresh air.
Come on Wilson Kalumba!! Lets Kolopa them. You are a cut above the rest
saulos, apart from wilson kalumba, the rest is dead flowers, dead leaves and wood have-been!
I am going for mama maureen viva UPND
As you are going for your so-called mama Maureen, remember the nonsesnse she was saying when she was first lady
Sirre Muntanga is a lady by Lusaka Times. Why referring to her as a male?
“Ba Lusaka Times” typo.
Fisho Mwale connived with some thieving Vulture fund to buy off Zambia’s debt from some debtors and then siphon it out of the Zambian Govt, when this deceit become world news, he disappeared from the scene. Now years later he resurfaces and claims to be the saviour of the same people he wanted to impoverish for his own selfish gain??? Lets be serious, people. A thief will always be a thief, period. This guy is just broke and looking for some form of livelihood. Please Google Fisho Mwale vulture fund. We have to stop worshiping thieves in this country
Ni kawalala muntu uyu he has never done an honest days work in his life. To be mayor first time his father Siteke Mwale spoke with FTJ. His hands were dirtied in the vulture funds were he bribed his corrupt inlaw Richard to enable him…
Mr Justice Andrew Smith ruled in February that the 2003 agreement was legal but that the ratcheting up of the amount payable in the case of default was penal and struck it out. Yesterday he confirmed that the award would total $15.5m, the original amount outstanding plus $2m of interest.
He repeatedly criticised Donegal owner Michael Sheehan, and other witnesses Philip O’Rourke and Fisho Mwale, a former Mayor of Lusaka, for dishonesty.
“I do regard the dishonesty with which I was confronted to be rather serious … I cannot regard this as a few casual lies in the witness box,” he said. Much of the Donegal witnesses’ evidence was dishonest, the judge said.
Boza muleke! Why dent an innocent soul.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/3/22/the-end-of-vulturefunds.html READ FOR YOURSELVES!!!
AMAZING REFERENCE Marie-Anne!! Thanx – I urge all zedians to read the article!!
#chagwa & Fisho mustfall!! PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
When Fisho was first elected mayor of Lusaka, he promised to do 3 things: (i) clean up lusaka (ii) clean up Lusaka, and (iii) clean up Lusaka. Did he deliver? I don’t know. But what I know is he went on to participate in the plunder and r.a.p.ing of his own country with the vulture fund managers. Using the ill gotten proceeds, he bought himself a new life in Sandton in SA in a self imposed exile, and appeared as a VIP during Kola Musical awards. Now he is back as the only one with local government administration. I wish to know what 3 things he would do for Lusaka this time.
Did Fisho clean Lusaka? Yes he did. When Fisho was last Mayor, the position was a ceremonial but he managed to do what others failed to do. He built city market and chilenje market.
And how did Fisho participate in the plundering of this country?
My dear, if you didnt know Fisho is the Person who leaked the Infamous Zamtrop Account. How can one who leaked it be a plunder?
Concerning the infamous Vulture Funds??
Did Zambia get a Loan from Romania in the 1970s? Yes, they did. They got a Loan to buy Vehicles and Trucks for the Zambia Police.
Did the Pay Back? They Zambian Govt failed to repay back the loan.
So I dont get it why People should cry foul that Fisho and his friends brought the debt and offered the Zambian Government at a lower price which they govt refused to pay back.
Do not be deluded. The only thing that makes this contest appear competitive is the fact the Maureen is a celebrity. The PF guy will win because people vote on party lines and PF is still going to carry Lusaka Urban.
Zambians are no longer like that. they know they want Fisho Mwale
Lusaka – Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa, along with five others, has been ordered by the Lusaka High Court to pay K1.2 million to the Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) in unaccounted funds.
Dr Mwanawasa and her accomplices were sued by the organisation after failing to account for K1.25 million in funds given to the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI).
Zambians are so gullible. This was reported in January 2015.
Mwanawasa and the five others, identified as Noreen Mapala, Wright Mumeka, Sam Mundia, Simon Sakala and Rosario Fundanga, were all trustees of the non-governmental organisation founded by the former First Lady.
The six were ordered to pay back the funds with interest as well as all costs linked to the proceedings.
Maureen will win…
How Did Fisho sell this Country????????
Did Zambia get a Loan from Romania????????? Yes Zambia got a loan to buy trucks and vehicles for the Zambia Police.
Did Zambia Pay back?
Zambia for over 20 years defaulted in payong back the Loan.
How Did Fisho get Involved?
Fisho brought the Loan from the Romania Govt and Offered the Zambian Govt at a Lower Price. But because Fisho Mwale was a Member of the Opposition FDD, President Mwanawasa refused to pay fisho the money. Hence Fisho had no other option but to sue the Govt in the London High Court which he won.
Did Fisho Commit any Crime???
No, He didnt.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION, FISHO IS THE ONE WHO LEAKED THE INFAMOUS ZAMTROP ACCOUNTS.
COUNTRY MEN AND WOMEN, I GREET YOU.
YOU CAN VOTE FOR ANYBODY EXCEPT FISHO MWALE. THIS MAN SOLD HIS COUNTRY. JUST GOOGLE FISHO MWALE VULTURE FUNDS. WHATEVER COURT RULING NONSENSE. HE SOLD HIS COUNTRY PERIOD. LIKE I SAID YOU DON’T HAVE TO BELIEVE ME – WHAT IF I AM ONE OF THE CONTESTANTS? JUST GOOGLE PLEASE.
How Did Fisho sell this Country????????
Did Zambia get a Loan from Romania????????? Yes Zambia got a loan to buy trucks and vehicles for the Zambia Police.
Did Zambia Pay back?
Zambia for over 20 years defaulted in payong back the Loan.
How Did Fisho get Involved?
Fisho brought the Loan from the Romania Govt and Offered the Zambian Govt at a Lower Price. But because Fisho Mwale was a Member of the Opposition FDD, President Mwanawasa refused to pay fisho the money. Hence Fisho had no other option but to sue the Govt in the London High Court which he won.
Did Fisho Commit any Crime???
No, He didnt.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION, FISHO IS THE ONE WHO LEAKED THE INFAMOUS ZAMTROP ACCOUNTS.
I will vote for Fisho Mwale based on the benefits of the city.all the candidates have skeleton even you pipo who are,saying bad about him are not perfect.so let’s look at the passion this man as for this city and the achievements he scored the time he was mayor.its a pity that pipo wants to oversee the good that someone did in the past instead looking forward for the better of the city.of them all he is the right candidate to make lusaka greater.And all of you calling him thief you better concentrate on a ruthless thief Maureen you stole money for sick people just imagine how many people died because of that greedy and shameless woman called Maureen,she as even failed to embrace her own step children what of you the residence of Lusaka if she as no love for the children of her own…
How Did Fisho sell this Country????????
Did Zambia get a Loan from Romania????????? Yes Zambia got a loan to buy trucks and vehicles for the Zambia Police.
Did Zambia Pay back?
Zambia for over 20 years defaulted in payong back the Loan.
How Did Fisho get Involved?
Fisho brought the Loan from the Romania Govt and Offered the Zambian Govt at a Lower Price. But because Fisho Mwale was a Member of the Opposition FDD, President Mwanawasa refused to pay fisho the money. Hence Fisho had no other option but to sue the Govt in the London High Court which he won.
Did Fisho Commit any Crime???
No, He didnt.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION, FISHO IS THE ONE WHO LEAKED THE INFAMOUS ZAMTROP ACCOUNTS.
The issue of the vulture fund fraud on Zambia is very serious. The Zambian agents pretended to buy the debts at the discounted prices in some instances as low as $0.35 per dollar and then they connived with their friend the then Minister of Finance who repaid the loan promptly at full value! Hence, for a loan of $60 million, the vulture fund fraudsters pocketed a cool $42 million and paid only $ 18 million to the holders. It was on account of this fraud that Fisho fled and lived in South Africa for years till his recent come-back to launder the fraud money! Shame on this country for criminals and fraudsters to be coming back for more while the law looks elsewhere leaving people fully exposed to more frauds!!!!
But they main issue is that Zambia did indeed get a loan. so i dont see any problem with that because Zambia indeed had to pay back the loan it got.
In court, Mwale represented himself as an agent of Moreno, but on paper, during the Zambia deal, he represented himself sometimes as an agent (or even “executive director, Lusaka office”) of Somerset, sometimes as a representative of Donegal. Mwale signed a consultancy arrangement with Somerset in January 1998 — while he was still mayor of Lusaka, in the same month that Sheehan and Romania agreed to a sale, with terms requiring that someone in Zambia verify the legitimacy of the debt.
Court records indicate Mwale sent memos and faxes to Sheehan and invoiced Donegal directly for consulting services. In records that Sheehan and O’Rourke wouldn’t disclose until ordered to do so by the judge, Donegal also made payments directly to O’Rourke’s personal account in Maryland. Donegal also made…
Years later, the experience still makes Ndopu emotional. The money Zambia paid Sheehan should have gone for social needs, he says: “water, health, education, all those pro-poor projects” in the plans that won Zambia debt relief.
“We paid back the vulture funds instead of developing our country,” he says, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “The opportunity cost is quite immense.”
When asked about Michael Sheehan, soft regret turns hard-edged and bitter. “He looks like those people who rob ships.” Ndopu searches his anger for the right word. “A pirate! He looks like a pirate to me. I don’t want to meet him again. I would shoot him on sight.”
Why are you putting they blame on Fisho. Zambia through Kaunda should not have taken that Loan and they should have have not defaulted in payments. It is too non sense for one to say that that Money should have gone to social needs when did we had borrowed money which was owed. The Bible (For Us christians) clearly tells Us to pay Back what belongs to Ceaser. It does not say that they money u are supposed to pay back should go to social needs.
But Mwale adjusted his story in the midst of its telling. Though he had described setting up Donegal to buy the Zambian debt as a collaborative endeavor with Sheehan, Mwale’s role morphed as his story continued.
“I was not Donegal. I was an agent of Donegal,” he says. In court, he had flatly denied this, insisting, “I have never been an agent of or authorized to represent Donegal or any other related company.”
Not once, in a five-hour interview, did Mwale mention Moreno, although everyone involved — Sheehan, O’Rourke and Mwale — had insisted in court that that was the company Mwale worked for on this deal
When asked how much of the $15 million award to Donegal remained after those opportunity costs, he paused and fine-tuned his gaze.
“What you ask is — you’re not trying to be rude,” he relented. “But it’s ‘How much did you get?’” He said that there was “no money” for a long time, that he had had bills, that he’d been borrowing money to live, that he’d been so harassed that he’d had to leave Zambia. By the time there was any money to be had, he says, he was given $2 million. After the work expenses, the bills and the “exile,” he says, “the cash which finally came to me was, like, $700,000.”
Seven hundred thousand American dollars is about 3.5 billion Zambian kwacha (undiscounted, at a 2012 exchange rate). That’s seven times what Zambia spent in 2012 on subsidizing maize for the poorest of its 13.5 million citizens, a third of whom can’t afford to feed themselves.
The $15 million judgment won in the London court would be worth about 75 billion kwacha. That’s half of the 2012 national agricultural budget in a county where farming accounts for one-fifth of the gross domestic product and the majority of the population are subsistence farmers. Fifteen million dollars is also nearly 2,000 times what it costs to feed an average Zambian family for a year.
MEANWOOD Finance Corporation Limited has sued former Lusaka mayor Fisho Mwale and his business partner in the Lusaka High Court for failure to pay back a loan of over K380,000 they acquired last May.
Meanwood Finance Corporation has in this matter cited Mwale and fellow businessman Sungani Cisanzo Mwale for refusal to pay back a loan facility of K175,000 which has since accumulated to K380,140 plus interest as at January 18.
In its statement of claim filed in the principal registry on March 16, Meanwood Finance Corporation submitted that it entered into a loan facility agreement with the duo on May 21, 2015 whose principal sum was K175,000.
The finance company submitted that the duo has no bona fide defence whatsoever at law or at all to the company’s claim and asked the court that judgment be entered against them accordingly.
By reason of the refusal by the duo, failure and or neglect to settle the outstanding loan facility, Meanwood Finance Corporation stated that it had suffered loss and damage. The company therefore sought an order for payment by the duo in the sum of K380,148 as at January 18 and continuing being in respect of the loan facility obtained at their own instance and request.
The company is also demanding interest on the said amount at current Bank of Zambia lending rate from January 18 until payment in full, costs of the action and any other relief the court might deem fit under the circumstances.
In 1998, an agreement between Zambia and Romania was signed where Zambia agreed to buy this debt at
12 cents for each dollar owed. Under this agreement, Zambia would only pay US$3, 5 million. Zambia was
given up to 31st January 1999 to confirm this offer after which Romania would have the liberty of selling the
debt. On the 19th of January 1999, 12 Days before Zambia’s deadline for this debt repayment arrangement to
Romania was due, Donegal International bought this debt for US$3.2 million from the Romanian government.
Consequently, the Romanian government breached their word with Zambia.
Upon noticing some irregularities in terms of the prior handling of the debt, Zambia’s Attorney General
ordered the debt service payments to Donegal to be stopped. This resulted in freezing of Zambia’s assets in
the United Kingdom particularly the British Virgin Islands. The payments were stopped after the Zambian
government diligently paid three instalments amounting to US$3.4 million. In 2005, Donegal initiated a court
action in London, UK against Zambia asking for a debt payment of US$55 million (US$42.3 million plus
interests).
The national and international system permitted unbridled opportunities for abuse and corruption initiated by
a foreign agent, Donegal International. “From the time of entering and procuring the debt to the time of
settling of signing the agreement, there is a consistent pattern of irregularity, corruption, and fraud, which
cannot be ignored.” Said: George Kunda, the Zambian Justice Minister
Of all the candidates I know Fisho, Maureen and Elias. I will not say anything on the first two, but if you want the whole Lusaka to disappear like Duly Motors disappeared from Zambia, then Elias is the right man to do that for you. Epo mpelele.