Speaking during a Patriotic Front Interactive Forum in Lusaka Wednesday evening, Muchinga Province Minister Malozo Sichone says the government is aware of the cartels involved in the illegal act and that some of them are government officials.
He says if the current cartels infiltrate the Zambia National Service which is currently keeping guard of the precious tree; the state will bring in the Zambia Army as a last resort.
And on the alleged harassment of Journalists in Lusaka, Mr. Sichone further noted that only “cursed people” could beat up the media that where covering them.
He condemned the behavior of the UPND leaders whom he accused of allowing their cadres to harass journalists the people he said are a bridge for information dissemination.
On the denying the UPND a permit to hold a rally when President Lungu has been going round the country to interact with the populace, Mr Sichone said President Lungu was performing his functions as Head of State and that he was at liberty to thank the people who voted for him but that it was not normal for the UPND to hold rallies across the country and thank people for losing.
He said Mr Hichilema, the UPND leader needs a mental evaluation and counseling because losing an election was traumatic and that his behavior was not normal.
He said the opposition UPND had the duty to ensure that the country does not degenerate into chaos adding that there is time for everything hence the need to move on and let the PF work as the next elections will be held in 2021.
Now you are saying some govt officials are involved in mukula smuggling, so why is the president still keeping such people. He should learn from Zuma who has fired up to 15 ministers. We are aware that even Tasila Lungu is involved in the so called mukula trading, so that makes it almost impossible to fire anyone.
Frankly speaking, journalists are abused from both sides of the divide in Zambia. More so from those in power who insist they must breach their ethics by unbalanced reporting! In Eastern Province, Post journalists were beaten and one was showered with urine in the mouth by PF cadres when they reported that foreign nationals were being registered as voters. Ni Maloza aya!
Malozo, Kelvin Sampa etc will be mentioned in mukula thing. We know Zambia..
“Muchinga Province Minister Malozo Sichone says the government is aware of the cartels involved in the illegal act and that some of them are government officials.”
..And the article goes on, “He says if the current cartels infiltrate the Zambia National Service which is currently keeping guard of the precious tree; the state will bring in the Zambia Army as a last resort.”
What is the purpose of this speech, to tell us that his friends in the government are involved? Is this enough, just to issue a simple warning to involve Zambia Army? If exporting mukula trees is of concern, why is he not acting instead of waiting? What type of a Minister is this? NO ACTION, ONLY TALK, O.M.G, we really have a leadership problem in Zambia.
so he thinks the army they will not get bribe? there is hunger in this country evryone wants to have something to put on the table.
“Government is aware” is all you can say? Only AWARE but not pursuing them, No arrests and subsequent prosecution of the master minders. This Scandal has been going on for a long time. All this inept, corrupt government can do is BE AWARE! So incompetent!
Look how poor ,dirty ,slender and unhappy all those Zambians look under this clueless PF regime.
The people he is addressing are just kids and old grandparents who don’t have anything to do but just sit home and wait for the next meal..
Government is aware and it is government officials involved. Please government sort yourselves out. You are just boring us when you know it is your own colleagues involved. We expect action not lamentation from government. How many governments do we have in this country and who is responsible for government?
It seems it is a one-man show. If he doesn’t say anything, anything goes.
There There is nothing you can do you little pompous chap. Illegal lungu is involved in this illegal trade. Be careful what you say because the illegal lungu will kambwili you.
It’s not a secret that Government is aware, even a blind personally could have made that analysis. For a grown up person to make such a comment on a public forum is just insane. His simply validating what everyone is suspecting that (1) Edgar Lungu (president) is not in control of all 3 arms on Government and that (2) His fully blessing these illegal acts in this case Mukula smuggling. It explains why people supported LUNGU from the get go.. they saw his weaknesses, the thing that worries me the most is for a man whose not in control to have so much power at his disposal. He thinks/pretends to be in power he is just a puppet president.
IF YOU ARE AWARE WHY NOT ARREST THE OFFENDERS? ZAMBIA IS SO CARELESS WITH ITS RESOURCE TO A UNBELIEVABLE LEVEL.
@ PETER; MY SENITIMENTS EXACTLY. THESE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT BECAUSE EACH AND EVERYONE HAS A SECRET OF THE OTHER.
Did this tin just say govt is aware of the cartels?
why not break this so cartel down and bring the culprits to book since it is an illegal exercise? shocking that its coming from somebody in power.
“He said Mr Hichilema, the UPND leader needs a mental evaluation and counseling because losing an election was traumatic and that his behavior was not normal.” Sounds more like it.
Bwana Malozo Sichone Basonte tubeshibe: You know stealing from your own country is very sad: It is as good as stealing from your own pocket. When are we Zambians going to develop our Country. This Mukula tree can earn Zambia a lot of forex and we are just shouting Mukula Mukula Mukula. When is Zambia going to wake up.