Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lungu does a Mugabe, as Zambia follows Zimbabwe’s disastrous path

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President Edgar Lungu with President Robert Mugabe at State House
President Edgar Lungu with President Robert Mugabe at State House

Zambia and Zimbabwe used to be pretty much one country – Rhodesia. Separated by a natural barrier, the Zambezi, one was Northern Rhodesia, one Southern Rhodesia. Political history determined otherwise, but recent occurrences seem to indicate that the countries have become one entity again – for all the wrong reasons. By MAYNARD MANYOWA.

 First published by Khuluma Afrika

As it stands, both Zambia and Zimbabwe are governed by heartless autocrats who have no respect for human dignity, human rights, rule of law, or other people.

The only difference being that one, Robert Mugabe, has already turned his country into a kingdom, where he rules like a glorified sultan, while the other, Edgar Lungu, is tracing Mugabe’s footsteps, in his bid to make himself another primitive king.

 

The similarities are stark and damning, and the devil is in the details.

Zambia’s Lungu is not just following in Mugabe’s shadow, he is retracing every footstep of the nonagenarian.

 

In 2016, Edgar Lungu’s government attacked a national newspaper, The Post, which was viewed as largely critical of the establishment. Incredible accusations of tax evasion were laid against the publication, before it was stormed, tear smoked, its journalists attacked, and ultimately shut down.

 

Not much was made of this. The world watched, and ignored, despite the newspaper’s founder Fred M’membe stating clearly that the assault on the publication – not the first – was politically motivated.

 

M’membe is no stranger to government persecution, despite being a fine journalist. In 2001, he was arrested for calling ex-President Fred Chiluba a thief. Time eventually proved he was right; Chiluba was hauled before several courts and convicted of theft.

 

President Lungu, fully aware of the risk that a true watchdog posed to his government, made it his mandate to have The Post shut down before the elections.

 

And having shut it down, his forces, police and at times military would unleash an intense orgy of violence on those deemed to be supporters of the opposition candidate, Hakainde Hichilema.

 

So vile were the attacks that a woman living with mental disability was attacked by Lungu’s police militia, and killed, in broad daylight – her crime was to ululate in praise of the opposition.

 

The police refused to intervene and are not investigating the matter.

 

She is not the only one. Several other men, women and children, able bodied and disabled, were routinely rounded up before elections, beaten to a pulp, and left in some instances for dead.

 

In Uncle Bob’s Zimbabwe, a similar publication to Zambia’s Post sprung up at a crucial time in the country’s political evolution; it was called the Daily News. Much of its hard-hitting journalism has perished.

 

As emotions ran high, with government cans of worms being opened, the Daily News was bombed, first on 22 April 2000, and on 28 January 2001. In 2003, the government shut it down altogether.

 

Like M’membe, the Daily News founder, celebrated journalist Geoffrey Nyarota, was arrested all of six times, detained plenty other times, before finally being driven into exile.

 

In April 2017, Zambia’s leader of the opposition was arrested for apparently attempting to kill the president.

 

He was said to have done so after his vehicle procession failed to adequately make way for President Lungu’s motorcade; a traffic offence which has now been elevated to the level of treason.

 

As we speak, Hichilema is still languishing in prison, his attempts to retain freedom repeatedly frustrated by a system determined to keep him essentially locked in.

 

Zimbabwe’s leader of the opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai, at a similar critical time found himself behind bars, on similar charges. In February of 2002, he was charged with treason.

 

As you read this, Edgar Lungu, by tacit direction, has just had about 48 members of parliament from the opposition suspended for boycotting his speech.

 

In Zimbabwe, Mugabe, when lawmakers booed his speech in 2015, responded by having government agents send threatening SMS messages to all opposition legislators, reminding them that “immunity ended in the house of commons” and that those who dared boo Mugabe again would be targeted and “taught lessons”.

 

Further examples exist. Zambia has over the last few months acted like a lawless god. Zimbabwe’s Prophet Uebert Angel was deported violently for no reason.

 

Foreign journalists have been followed brazenly to instil fear, while South Africa’s leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, Mmusi Maimane, was deported illegally.

 

In Zimbabwe, Mugabe has arrested several foreign journalists and deported them.

 

He banned all others from reporting within the country without clearance, victimised sitting ambassadors, and made clear his intention of attacking any foreign parties who advocate for freedom.

 

As aforementioned, the similarities are stark. And it goes beyond the rulers. Even the opposition seem equally fatigued and unable to come up with strategies to beat the incumbents.

In Zimbabwe, the MDC parties (all versions) have repeatedly rejected election results that made several of their members legislators, and attempted to have election results set aside by the courts, unsuccessfully.

 

What is perhaps ironic is that, having been one region, Zimbabwe and Zambia took different trajectories after independence.

 

As Zimbabwe became a failed government, and struggled under an autocratic Mugabe, Zambia became an emblem for democracy and stability in Africa.

A few years ago, before Edgar Lungu came to power, Zambia was the country Zimbabwe ought to have been.

 

The big brother whose example was missed south.

 

As it stands, Zambia is becoming the country Zimbabwe should never have been.

 

Recent events prove that Lungu is following Mugabe, and in chronological order.

 

In 2015, Lungu stated that he was learning a lot from Mugabe. All evidence is that he has done so, and is now emulating Mugabe’s “how to be an autocrat”.

 

If he is successful in his attempts, Zambia will follow Zimbabwe in that same exact order, sliding down, from beacon to demon.

 

It will not take long either, and it is very, very bad news for everybody. As international human rights consultant Jeff Smith put it, these are dark and dangerous days for Zambia.DM

 

Maynard Manyowa is a contributing Editor of Khuluma Afrika: A non-partisan centre for political analysis, investigative journalism, and social commentary.

 

102 COMMENTS

    • Visionless Lungu is a despotic sadist.

      How much is mealie meal today?

      Zambia is is now under a fully developed dictatorship of a blind chakolwa & PF bandits.

      The Skeleton Key
      ~206~

    • This article captures everything I have been thinking about Zambia over the past few months. Lungu is very close to Mugabe and gets his instructions from the evil dictator. What has amazed me is how powerful the PF is. It looks like they are unstoppable right now. However, they should know that no matter how long it takes, Lungu and his cronies will pay for their evil deeds.

    • Kikikiki Ati Zambibwe. U have finished me.

      Our corrupt PF brothers have no clue on how to fix the economy. Only loan after loan after loan so that they can steal through road & other infrastructure contracts.

      What they don’t know is that even if you steal as long as the economy goes down, the value of your wealth goes down too & soon all that wealth gets eroded very fast.

    • Zambiabwe, seems a true description of our current economic failures. A young-man going to seek advice from old and useless dictators just shows that Lungu has no Vision?? He should be the one helping Zimbabwe to over come their challenges. just like the way Kaunda helped them to get their Independence.

      Its really sad to see that Lungu has reduced Zambia to a follower than a leader of nations as it used to be. Zambians deserve better. What we have is useless.

    • The juxtaposition is remarkable! The similarity of events and their timing is almost carbon copy. Zambiabwe for real! Lungu is a dictator for sure, but his is all borne out of the fact he is insecure as he never legitimately won those elections (both the PF candidate ones and the national elections) and he knows it. All this is to try and make himself secure, thus slipping into a frightened tinpot… Lungu’s end is nigh!

    • THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MOST STUP!D ARTICLE I AM EVER READING. IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU CAN’T COMPARE ZAMBIA WITH ZIMBABWE IN MANY RESPECTS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ZIMBABWE WAS FOR WHITES USING ZAMBIA AND MALAWI’S RESOURCES AND LITTLE OF ZIMBABWE’S. ZIMBABWE BEING A SETTLEMENT PLACE FOR WHITE UNDER UDI DECLARATION BY IAN SMITH WAS WELL PLANNED AND CONSTRUCTED WITH VERY HIGH STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO THE TOWNS OF ZIMBABWE. WITHOUT GOING ANY FURTHER- ZAMBIA IS VERY FAR FROM BEING A DICTATORSHIP. ONE STUUPID MAN’S INCARCERATION SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH DICTATORSHIP OF GOVERNMENT UNDER ECL. HH HAD IT COMING A LONG TIME EVEN BEFORE ECL. HH’S ARREST COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND WAS MOST LIKELY TO HAPPENED DURING RB’s OR MCS’s REGIMES WHEN HE USED TO INSULT THEM DAY IN DAY OUT. HH OVERSTRETCHED…

    • …HH OVERSTRETCHED HIS LUCKY IN MONGU. HE WAS VERY LUCKY IT WASN’T IN THESE HIGHLY CIVILISED COUNTRIES- OTHERWISE HE WAS A DEAD MAN TOGETHER WITH MOST HI LUNATICS. IN THE CASE OF ZIMBABWE- ASK YOURSELVES: WHICH INDEPENDENCE WERE YOU FIGHTING FOR IF YOU CANNOT OWN LAND IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY? I THINK MOST PEOPLE INCLUDING ZAMBIANS AND SOME ZIMBABWEANS THEMSELVES DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ZIMBABWEAN SITUATION. MUGABE AS A HUMAN BEING HAS GOT HIS OWN MISTAKES. BUT NOT FOR EMPOWERING ZIMBABWEANS (OWNING LAND). UNDERSTAND THE GLOBAL ISSUE BEFORE WRITING ABOUT ZIMBABWE ISSUE.

  1. Even in its comatose state Zimbabwe is by far better than Zambia, look at the quality of education, Stock exchange, agriculture etc

    • The writer of this article is useless. We far from the state of Zimbabwe politically and economically. We are far much better and will never drift into the mess our brothers are going through.

  2. pf regime is a bunch of criminals.the whole Zambia is now being represented by northern and eastern mps who are criminals.their end is near…b.a.n.y.a!

  3. Nonsense, Mugabe’s fight is over control of Land and resources from foreign invaders. Zambia is fighting one disgruntled individual or should I say party which is trying to impose itself on the people even when it’s been rejected by the peace loving nation five times. We have laws for a reason and these laws apply to everyone regardless of wealth, gender, political affiliation or colour. You break the Law, you get arrested full stop!

    • – Mugabe’s fight is over control of Land and resources from foreign invaders
      – Edgar lungu’s fight is for self-enrichment via corruption of road contracts, IMF, chinese loans etc.

      Fortunately Edgar lungu’s dictatorship won’t last till he reaches 90 years old. His brutal end is near.

    • Zoonest, you know nothing. Lungu is just disciplining an errant child. Zambia should not sink so low as to vote for a bantustan party.

    • Having advisors like Kaisar, what do you expect? Shu shu shu, it’s you who is blank. I have never seen a worst government like Edgar’s that has ever ruled Zambia. It won’t go down well in the history books I can assure you!!

    • @future zed: well said, Mugabe’s fight is a noble cause, against former imperialists control over Africa. HH wants to sell our country to the colonialists, in the same way they used Morgan tsangarai to try and take over Zimbabwe.It’s better to suffer than selling our values than compromising in order to receive handouts from colonial masters.

    • There in lies the problem. How can an entire government fight one person. At least Mugabe is fighting for land rights ad you put it, a just cause.

  4. – Even the Kwacha will follow it’s twin brother the Zim-Dollar. Lungu’s appetite for Chinese, IMF & World Bank loans will cripple the once vibrant economy.
    – Zambian doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses will join Zimbo counterparts & emigrate to neighbouring nations to become beggars, thieves, pr0stitutes, street-venders, conmen, maids, security guards.

    Unfortunately it will be PF supporters who will use this as an excuse to seek asylum in RSA, UK, Australia etc. Southerners & westerners & N/westerners are not migrant by nature.

    • @7 Maloza “Southerners & westerners & N/westerners are not migrant by nature”- may be the reason they are stuck in the old ways of thinking too much about tribe like “Only a Tonga can succeed a Tonga…” and view those with dynamic minds of seeking progress and success by exploiting opportunities existing within their country and elsewhere as “undesirable migrants”. Right now your flag shows Canada and if that is anything to go by you are already out there looking for opportunities to succeed! One reason UPND and HH fail to convince well meaning Zambians is this TRIBAL Tirade and inclination against certain ethnic groups who UNFORTUNATELY HAVE THE NUMBERS TO DETERMINE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS. Continue and see where it will take you!!

    • The Kwacha is steady and gaining strength – I bet you do not like that. Did you notice that the Kwacha has been unaffected by HH’s predicament? All those crying “wolf” to the international community are wasting their time.

    • Its very easy for BOZ to hold the exchange rate. Kaunda did it but the suffering was too much for the people until it was freed.

    • @ MphukuFeira

      The truth hurts my dear. lungu himself once confessed that Mugabe was his mentor & he admired him. He always sits next to Mugabe at international heads of states conferences.

      But at least Mugabe has some remorse & Tsvangirai is still alive & a free man.

      lungu is plain evil & wants HH in jail for life & may even be sentenced to death or get killed if he has his way.

    • I also admire Mugabe for having the balls to stand up to white boys like Idi Amin did to the Indians. Zoonest go and clean your a**

  5. Over-generalization and over-simplification are not analytical tools. One common history does not automatically lead to one destiny. If it were not for poor weather, the economic performance would have been enough to silence critics. As things stand, there is every reason for optimism. Critics used to soft gloves now have to learn to cope with hot pursuit. Impunity is no more. Impunity is scared. Impunity will run but will find nowhere to hide. The Post failed to settle tax arrears due to lack of funds. Bailout for The Post from inside failed, bailed from outside also failed. Modernization was slow and in deficit at The Post. It is one of those sad endings when media business management fails to meet tax obligations. A loan was needed, but investors chickened out.

    • Personally, I do not think that Zambia Daily Nation owes any unpaid taxes to ZRA. However, any interested member of the public or organization is free to compare the business performance of media houses in the country. For the press (print media) , it ought to be possible to tabulate critical variables, including circulation, cash flow, taxes paid, taxes owed, number of employees, employee qualifications, budgetary allocation on emoluments, rentals, electricity, ICT, equipment, transport, duty allowances, court cases won, court cases lost, court cases undecided, legal fees, etc. In my view, this question is timely and needs to be pursued vigorously. Research project funding can be sourced from many agencies, including a mix of MISA Zambia, ZIS, PAZ, TIZ, etc.

  6. Well, TB Joshua prophesized that a certain Chagwanic Lumpen masquerading as a president of a country in Southern Africa shall be assassinated when a fed up citizen approches him and empties a whole magazine of an AK47 up his stinking backside where it never shines sending him straight into hell. Iyo na inangu state funeral yaoneka ka! Bane, start digging at embassy park for a 6 feet whole in the ground. Or maybe we just cremate this *****!

    • That assassin will either die in his or her sleep a day before or he will assassinate the sponsors in the name of Jesus Christ. No President will die on the throne in Zambia again. Please debate without hatred. Personally I don’t blame anyone for thinking HH is the best person to rule Zambia or for Majority to vote for ECL. Both express their opinion and expectation. What is important is to learn to co-exist.

  7. Well, TB Joshua prophesized that a certain Chagwanic Lumpen masquerading as a president of a country in Southern Africa shall be assassinated when a fed up citizen approches him and empties a whole magazine of an AK47 up his stinking backside where it never shines sending him straight into hell. Iyo na inangu state funeral yaoneka ka! Bane, start digging at embassy park for a 6 feet whole in the ground. Or maybe we just cremate this *****!..

    • Nothing of that sought will happen…But what is certain is that one Supreme Leader of an Opposition party is likely to come out of prison as a vegetable just as he wished others death and celebrated when they eventually died thinking he’s chances were enhanced of becoming President…

    • ZAKEYO, COOL COMMENT BRO. YOU ARE SPOT ON. NOWADAYS, CRIMINALS EVEN COMPARE THEMSELVES TO MANDELA. WHAT STUP!D!TY!!!????

    • How is it a load of shyt? Please counter argue by debunking the writer’s well articulated arguments. The man has compared side by side the events in his native Zimbabwe to the deeds Lungu has been doing here in Zambiabwe.

      By the way I find the writer refreshing and his command of the english language very good, very poetic.

    • “In 2016, Edgar Lungu’s government attacked a national newspaper, The Post, which was viewed as largely critical of the establishment. Incredible accusations of tax evasion were laid against the publication, before it was stormed, tear smoked, its journalists attacked, and ultimately shut down.” THIS, BWANA, IS A LOAD OF SH*T: WHEN WAS THE POST “ATTACKED”??? ACCUSATIONS OF TAX EVASION: FROM 2009, FRED STOPPED PAYING TAX AS THERE WAS A DISPUTE, HE RUSHED TO COURT; INJUNCTION AFTER INJUNCTION, HE EVENTUALLY LOST IN THE SUPREME COURT AND ZRA TOOK FULL ACTION-ALL FRED’S DOING!!! As I have said in 13, upnd like loading their heads with rubbish at the expense of inspiring Zambian voters who can put them in state house!!! Donkeys, you are!!!

  8. upnd donkeys get excited when foreign 1diots disparage our country but cry foul when Zambian voters don’t give them votes. This article is the definition of gutter journalism; Lazy journalism. It lacks facts and research. A RAEL LOAD OF SH*T!!!!!

    • Call them donkeys at least they are being alerted of the breakdown and ills of the regime we are in trouble these problems know no tribe or region

    • @13.1. YOU ARE JUST IN TROUBLE ALONE. DON’T SAY, ‘WE’. I CAN YOU EVEN KNOW WHICH TROUBLE WHEN YOUR BANNER (IF IT IS TO GO BY) DOESN’T EVEN SHOW THAT YOU LIVE IN ZAMBIA. LET PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN ZAMBIA SAY, ‘WE ARE IN TROUBLE’. WHEN GBM CAME OUT OF HIS HIDING, THE FIRST PUBLISHED WORDS I HEARD HE SAID WERE, ‘…I CAN RUN AWAY FROM MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY ZAMBIA…”. NOW, YOU DON’T GO INTO HIDING FROM A ‘DICTATORIAL REGIME’ AND SHORTLY COME BACK FROM HIDING. IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT, PLEASE, ASK MOSES KATUMBI OF ‘DR’ CONGO.

    • Ichishika annoys at least you have been told its up to you to guard what our fathers had fought and shed blood for

  9. Zambians writing such kind of articles should be truthful and patriotic. President Lungu has just been govt for less than 2 years. There have been 5 changes of Presidents before that & we’ve never missed a scheduled election. President Mugabe has been President since independence of Zimbabwe. UPND President gave GRZ reasons for arresting him & his appearing before the courts. How does that become dictatorial? If he behaved normally law wouldn’t have visited him. You may think your are embarrassing the President by such irresponsible writing but you are spoiling the image of the country for a long time for selfish reasons!

  10. If you allow a pompous oppo leader to think he owns Zambia it can reach Zim levels. I commend ECL for these fair measures taken against HH

  11. I don’t blame the author of this article full of evil wish for Zambia. Certain individuals in our country have poor strategy and low self esteem. When they meet their fellow tribesmen that’s the only time they feel safe and strong. With such you find people at a very official moment speaking their language Which always sends a wrong signal to people from other tribes. There some languages which are not very commonly spoken in public offices when there other people who may not understand. It’s not by choice its just naturally “selection”. If I’m a nurse at work I’m communicating in Swaka to my fellow nurse and that is in Eastern province, other work mate will feel an easy because Swaka is not common there and besides they may feel I’m speaking bad about them.

  12. This is the folly of most of these other tribes. You make others feel yummy are tribal because of applying your tribal manners in places where the language is not commonly spoken at that is at work places. It’s a weakness in you that makes you feel strong when you meet your kin(tribe). It actually sensitizes others to the negative towards you.
    The author’s analysis of Zambia is full of hatred. He doesn’t love this country he rather there is war here. Everything is governed by karma. So far this country is enjoying good karma. Only an evil person will see evil where there is no evil.

  13. The Writer is prophetic. Dictator Lungu is Zimbabweanising the Zambian Economy. Just like Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Lungu has already told IMF and Western Creditors to go to hell. Without Western Financial Assistance the Zambian Economy will collapse just like the Zimbabwe Economy did. Zambia Is going to default on its foreign debts just like Zimbabwe did. The prospects for the Zambian Economy with the Persecution of the Opposition look bad. Just like in Zimbabwe the International Community will slap Lungu and his Economic illiterate Advisers with Sanctions and ICC will indicte Lungu and his Goons for committing crimes against humanity. Time will tell!

  14. The author is not to blame but somebody at Lusakatimes is. There is somebody at LT who doesn’t like this country. If Zbia is your country you can’t publicize this dirt article in the name of freedom of expression this is your mind and somebody helped you to it. Shame on you.

    • Don’t worry the truth of the state of a country is portrayed by ambassadors representing their countries not the trash being peddled by those who had hopes to gain from a win by HH.

    • Face the truth and act maybe the direction will change for the better take a trip for 2 weeks and travel the region and see what sort of disappointment welcomes you bwafya its our country yes but we deserve better

  15. Maynard Manyowa is an epitome of imbecility, how can you really type such load of bull and feel nice about it as you are pooping bull. None of the things mentioned about Zambia are true they are just wild speculation aimed at denting the good will of the country, shame on you and your upnd cadres. UPND will never rule Zambia as long as it is a regional party. To hell with you, losers!

    • Mwaumfwako insoni mulimpofu tamumona nelyo muyele tamumona things are getting bad ba tata ba sata gone too soon mwatushila ichisoso

  16. I don’t think Edgar Lungu can be anywhere near Mugabe. Yes he has a bad side just like the rest of us but he can never cling on to power the way Mugabe has done.

    • Mybe zambians wont allow him but it all starts with the executive taking over all the other arms of government.
      Democracy requires strong principles and must be safeguarded jealously this tendancy of issuing threats day and night to people with divergant views and the party and its government mentality quickly creeping in is a sure sign of how dip we are in ****

  17. Let me just tell those Zambians who have never traveled even out of Chelstone or Zingalume to visit other countries that even though Zimbabwe is said to be in bad shape, it is far better than Zambia. Ngoletalika nina bus, pepi sana. ATI…” THERE IS SOMEBODY AT LUSAKA TIMES WHO DOESN’T LIKE THIS COUNTRY.” kkkkkkkkk…!!! Ostrich with your head deep in the sand. Your blind loyalty will kill you and nobody will cry for you. Why is it that the poor and oppressed are the most .i.d.i.o.t.i.c human-beings in Zambia? From praising ECL, you go to the streets to beg for money from UPND hard-workers – except you don’t know they are UPND!! I don’t support any party but PF supporters are the sleepiest and dullest human-beings I have ever encountered in life. Good luck with your poverty!

    • Judge Mushota am for both leaders Lungu and HH I have never begged money from UPND.It is myopic thinking to suggest that only UPND members are rich.That’s a lie. It is also not true that only educated people are in PF or UPND that’s a lie. It is also wrong to suggest that only eastern province people support Lungu. Neither that only Tongas support HH. THats another lie. Speak facts. None of what you write is true about President Lungu nor HH. Lungu is president for now and will support him until when his time is up. HH is a leader of the opposition I support him but not by breaking the law. Or calling international community to sanction Zambia that is breaking another law though not in out constitution morally wrong.

    • Aba bene bale tusebanya abroad kubapoka ma passport. We will enact a law to enforce patriotism to Zambians abroad. In fact, we will confiscate the NRC first and passport. Any negative words about your country abroad kubapoka ma passport. So that if he says Zambia this that kumukana ati we do not have such a person in Zambia so that where ever they are arrested for illegal entry. I will picket parliament for this law next year

  18. WE NEED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON PF-ZAMBIA GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY. TIME FOR KEEPING A BLIND EYE IS LONG GONE.

    • They will never be economic sanctions against Zambia. Why because the British are not in Zambia. In Zimbabwe, they came to stay. And they got all the land. That economic thing is created by the same guys. They tried to sponsor Tsvchangirai to get the land back.Their days are numbered, they lost this superiority complex many years back. Matokwani are you Zambian. If yes produce a passport for us to see that you are Zambian. Economic sanctions in your bedroom with your wife and children not to my motherland. Live my country free from your devilish thinking. HH will never be killed, he will be president at the rightful time. Do not force him on people when it is not his time. There is time for everything.

  19. Mugabe of Zimbabwe inherited from Ian Smith a Jewel of Africa in 1980. Zimbabwe was the Bread basket of Africa but under Mugabe’s its now a Basket Case. Mugabe misruled and miamanaged the Zimbabwean Economy and now the Economy is ruined. Lungu is making a grave mistake to follow Mugabe’s Politics and Mugabenomics. The Zambian Economy is not as resilient as that of Zimbabwe. The Zambian Economy is fragile and cannot withstand International Sanctions.Lungu and his Criminal and Economic illiterate Advisers cannot see this so just like Zimbabwe Economy the Zambian Economy will collapse with Mugabe policies. Without IMF Loan, Foreign Financing,Donor Aid and Western investments the Zambian Economy will collapse. The writing is on the Wall.

    • Mooya back to the sender. I do not want any part of my country to be divided neither it to generate into a war zone. I want to move into any part of my country freely speak all my languages luvale, tumbuka, Chewa Tonga, Bemba, Lozi and Namwanga. President Lungu is a very nice guy, just like HH is. Stop painting a bad picture about our leaders. It’s just time bane ikalibe kukwana for HH. Stop insulting everyone. Do not forget HH got more votes from eastern province. Stop listening to Mmembe had his time. He lied too much. I equally love Mugabe with passion. It was land the BRITISH wanted and Mugabe denied them that. I know you will say no but there was corruption in land distribution, better we are corrupt as long as land is in our hands than an imperialist. You cannot go to London to…

  20. It’s a fact, a trainee dictator is more dangerous, vicious, inhuman, blood-thirsty, insane and primitive, he takes dictatorship to a higher level until he is caged.

    • Produce the evidence that President Lungu is a dictator. Don’t tell me what about HH’s arrest. HH caused it upon himself. Mmembe is a liar, whose only interest is to cause division in the country. He called HH a tribalist do not forget. He called Kaunda a thief in 1991 and said Chiluba stole money not a single case was proved in courts of law. There is no dictator in Zambia. The UPND MPs are being disgruntled. You swore to the president and you even answer questions in parliament to the Vice president who was chosen by the same president you are not recognizing, then you walk out that’s childish politics. Having a right does not mean being arrogant. It’s like saying I do not eat a chicken but I eat eggs.

    • Moses Zulu, that’s bad blogging, stop calling each other names. HH is a son of the soil just like Edgar Lungu. Do not allow imperialism to divide you. Let’s guard jealousy what is Zambian. There are no monkeys or cows in Zambia as people. We all eat same nshima, same katapa. Go and undress a Tonga or Tumbuka woman aza vina same chabe. HH must just get back to his original HH no insults, it’s just time ichindi tachasika. Stop calling each other as monkeys and cows. I love both cows and monkeys myself

  21. Meanwhile more and more presidents keep trotting in to visit. What’s the attraction? Don’t you get the revelation? The more you campaign him the more he receives high level visitors and the more he is invited world wide by other presidents. What’s the attraction? When I look around I see more beautiful houses and buildings springing up. Don’t you have eyes? Go,go to meanwood and see for yourself. Are those bembas and easterners building alone? It’s the all tribes of Zambia rushing in for it. It’s the new thing. Good things are happening never seen before. Open your oblagata my friend. Come out of this mental slavery. Which persona of high dignity has visited your friend in prison just from within Zambia? People are intelligent and wouldn’t like to associate with rich fools who…

  22. Shut up Khuluma and UPND sympathizers! Lungu is leading this country very well and it is tribalists who don’t see any good because they have been losing and will be losing again.

  23. Someone is supporting a person who store money from privatization and became very rich. He is being supported by those he gave our national wealth and imagine what it will could be if he was in State House! He would sell Zambia! I am glad he has a new home Three Mansion!

    • Sata stole plenty but you supported him- so what is your problem? Chiluba stole millions, bankrupted Zambia and the Cyamen Islands offered to buy Zambia’s debt for $1 – imagine ONE DOLLAR for the whole country???

  24. @Mooya, you are ignorant! You do not know the real reason why Zimbabwe is poor now! It is dangerous to have people with your theorems in leadership in Africa!

  25. Any african president can easily turn into a Mugabe. The problem firstly, is lack of integrity on the part if the leaders. Its actually oxymoronic to call them leaders. We should be calling them “dishonorables” and “misleaders”.

    Secondly, the governance systems work like a broken watch. The time is whatever the person wearing the watch thinks.

    Thirdly the citizenry is bigoted. You can not differentiate the bigotry of the uneducated from those who have attended some college and can use the Internet like most of the “bloggers” on this site.

    And finally there is widespread poverty which the misleaders feast on and continue to perpetuate.

    • Be proud of your leaders. Have you ever seen any British national condemning Tony Blair in Africa? We must pass a law that any Zambian abroad with a Zambian passport who condemns his country must immediately surrender his passport to the Zambian embassy abroad or the authority immediately denounces him or her as not a Zambian. It’s better we are in the country and denounce Zambia but anywhere abroad must be prohibited by law

  26. That is why there is under development in Africa – rules change every day, African leaders lead with a whip – they don’t even care if there is proper health system in the country. As long as they have people under their thumbs to stamp down – they feel worshipped. If you have a degree of any sort – Move to Scotland – there is a shortage of working class. MOVE AND LEAVE ZAMBIA. YOU CAN BUY A HOUSE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THAT RUBBISH RED TAPE

    • Noono underdevelopment is caused by people like yourself who do not know what development means. Do not stand on the pulpit and start condemning your country because you are in a white man’s land. If you do not love Africa stay there where it is cold. I love my Africa. You mus be sick in the head. I have lived in Europe but can never compare it to home. Why are you commenting on Africa if you are not home sick

  27. Upnd were so sure “ati Kano litente ‘” but alas the opposite happened. Even if they had met the concourt time frame and lost they were still going to be denial. With some GBM in their ranks, confidence was higher than Mt Everest. That’s why ba mbuli like Mwaliteta are languishing in prison.

  28. Lungu is not as terrible as Mugabe. And Mmembe is not a fine journalist but a crude politician who planted fellow useless journalist stroke politicians In the PF government. One of them is lungus press secretary and he does a horror job of it

    • Mmembe is another crook. He closed the company for tax evasion. Don’t tell me what about TIMES of Zambia. Times of Zambia mission statement is to inform the nation. It is a government department.
      He is a member of the cartel, and its time he is wiped out of the journalist’s profession. There is nothing that those guys did that promoted peace in the country. Zambians forget too easily Mmembe is the same guy who called HH a tribalist and today people believe that he stands for the truth. In fact from the time Mmembe started the post no signal truth came from him. This is the same guy who wrote that Kaunda had stolen 4 billion Kwacha in 1991. Later he apologized to Kaunda for the lies. There is a manual I have written to expose Mmembe’s schemes I have all the newspapers from the first…

  29. Zambia like any country anywhere in the world is far from perfect but this article exposes the writer as either a hired gun for some bitter unpatriotic zambian or is very ignorant about the true happenings in Zambia. I doubt if this guy has ever spent a week in Zambia. Am sure most of his analysis is based on sentimental opinions as opposed to actual facts. And to my fellow Zambians, pliz don’t get excited over every pretender insulting your country in the name of analysis. Some of these hired messenaries come from countries that are doing far worse than Zambia in terms of governance. They are hypocrites who don’t give a hoot about you. A good example is south Africa where it has been exposed beyond doubt that the country is literally being run by mafias. You still have the likes of…

  30. The article is shallow written by an imperialist stooge. Please leave my Zambia alone. We have a billion data on how HH stole money from privatization. H e will never be president of Zambia with such tendencies. He must apologize to many Zambians who he sent to the grave for none payment of benefits Zambia does not want any neoliberal president anymore but a socialist democrat. Imperialist have lost the steam and are losing everywhere. President Lungu was chosen by the poor people and no wonder Jeremy Corbyn did well in the last elections in the UK. No president will die again in the state house that will never happen. Even Zimbabwe you compare with is on the right track. Tschangairai was a sponsored gang, fortunately, he meets Mugabe a political genius. Please leave Mugabe alone.

  31. All those Bloggers who are praising Mugabe should go to Zimbabwe and see the mess for themselves. Ian Smith left very productive farming sector but its now a basket case.Smith left a strong Manufacturing Sector second to that of South Africa but most companies have closed down. The Economy is ruined by Mugabe Politics and Mugabeconomics. If u have money in the Bank u cannot withdraw your money on Demand. If u deposited US$ in your Account u can be given worthless currency called the Bond Notes which are tokens usable in Zimbabwe only.U find people in long queues trying to withdraw their money daily from the Banks but to no avail. Smith left nice roadnetworks but the tar has disappeared and roads are full of Potholes and some are life threatening craters. I have been to Zimbabwe recently…

  32. @Mooya u are spot on. Travelling is a educative. In the early 1980s I visited friends in Zimbabwe. I couldnt believe I was in Africa. Zimbabwe was a Jewel and Bread Basket of Africa. I have recently been to Zimbabwe and I was shocked to see the mess that Zimbabwe is now. The economy is now dead and dysfunctional. I saw long queues at the Banks, the good roads are no more. The signs are all there to show that this is a dying economy. I was told in the 2000s the Economy started a free fall when Mugabe told the West to go to Hell with their money. Foreign loans and grants from foreign Donors dried up and Zimbabwe defaulted on its Debts. The Mugabe govt is Now kneeling b4 the likes of IMF,World Bank,African Devt Bank etc with a begging bowl but there are No givers. Mugabe thought that China…

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