The Copperbelt to protest 42 Fire truck tender

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The 42 Fire Trucks
The 42 Fire Trucks costing $1million a piece

The question is, why are we protesting the 42 firefighters tender?

The purchase of the 42 firefighters at $42 million is an exhibition of pure greed and evil. How can a patriotic and well meaning Zambian official and government at large by the people, of the people and for the people vouch for such an exorbitant purchase of fire engines when there were even others which were being offered at a comparatevely cheaper price. It’s not surprising that even the Hon minister of National Planning and Development Lucky Mulusa mocked the tender and said the firefighters which were bought at such an exorbitant price looked like wheelbarrows compared to the ones bought by Liverpool. This is unacceptable, it deems and begs for a patriotic response from us, the citizens of the Great Republic of Zambia. As Edmund Burke put it; “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” .

We have been silent for far too long, we have been patient with our silence intolerably, to an extent where the people we have put in offices to manage the country’s resources on our behalf are starting to think we are either dull or deaf and dumb.

From independence to date we have helplessly watched from sidelines politicians become millionaires with the money we contribute as a country through taxes for national development. We have seen them plunder our resources and move from rugs to riches within the shortest period of time. This has been the trend and has regrettably been accepted as the norm.

The country is becoming poorer while politicians are becoming richer. The only time they are brought to book is when they leave office. But this time around we are not going to wait for that long. As patriotic Zambians, we are making a stand and putting a stop to this kind of corruption because a patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.

We are alive to a Zambia where the government says it has no money to pay pensioners, street kids are languishing with hunger on the streets, no jobs, sixty percent of the people live below the poverty line and 42 percent are considered to be extremely poor, the mortality rate among under-fives is 75/1000 live births (a decline in recent years but still high in rural area), More than 350,000 people in the country are food insecure, i.e. they do not have access to a regular supply of healthy food. Agriculture is the biggest employer and employs about 66.5% of the total labour workforce, and yet out of the 40 million hectors of medium to high potential agriculture area only 1.5 million hectors have been utilised despite the fact that we have a total of 40% of all the water of central and southern Africa. The country has one of the poorest fiscal policies and has one of the poorest standards of roads. Corruption is at its peak. The country is now among the most unequal countries in the world. Today the top 10% of Zambians receive 52% of all income, while the bottom 60% of the 16-million population gets just 12%.
There is a larger crisis just around the corner: some $750-million of debt matures in 2022, $1-billion in 2024, and $1.25-billion between 2025 and 2027.

Rather than take stringent steps in curbing the crisis, the government has now sidestepped its responsibility in reverting ripping off its country with crookedness and thievery.

But enough is enough. Never again will we ever be afraid to raise our voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed because nothing strengthens authority so much as silence. Fellow countrymen and women, if we don’t stand up and speak, silence then becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.

If they do not let us have this peaceful demonstration they should know that those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

Fellow countrymen and women, we will not leave the responsibility only to Lusaka, Pilato and Laura Miti we are all obligated to stand. If you are really outraged and you would like something to be done, join us on the 21st of October, 2017 on the copperbelt, Kitwe as we match to freedom statue, as we make a stand against corruption and greed. Where the norm means, as it so often does, that the elite, rich and powerful now have new means to further enrich and empower themselves at the cost of the poorer and weaker, we have a responsibility to protest in the name of patriotism for our country The Great Republic of Zambia and for posterity.

The 42 Fire Trucks
The 42 Fire Trucks costing $1million a piece

By David Chishimba (Activist)

88 COMMENTS

  1. Anyway they stole big time and I am very sure the owners of the company supplying these cheap trucks have connections to Mr Lungu. There is just no way that PF people are silent about this issue. It is strange I am sure there is senior people connections in this.

    • Hope the democratic rights of Zambians will be upheld and peaceful protests will be allowed.No need to arrest innocent citizens protesting how their tax money is being spent.

    • 1 million dolars is equivalent to K96,000,000.correct me if am wrong but thats way too much for a truck which puts out fires in compounds

    • People please wake up now.

      How many markets have burnt down since independence in Zambia? All of a sudden, Zambia has been engulfed in unprecedented fires, followed by the purchase of these wheelbarrows. Do they really think we are that stupid?

      Did someone start these fires on purpose so that they could justify the purchase of these wheelbarrows?

      Why have investigations into these fires stalled? Why not ask Scotland Yard to investigate these fires?

      Zambians should wake up now and start demanding answers.

    • Power to the people. We want answers. I hope the concerned officials repented. We don’t want lies this time around. We want our money. #42Million

    • “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” Martin Luther King.

      You Zambians must first of all acknowledge and accept that you are the major problem, stumbling block in the way of progress. You are the owners of that nation and responsible for its development. As stakeholders you recruit only the best qualified and experienced officials to manage the resources of that territory of yours. But you blundered big time by employing a person who said he was incompetent, stup!d, unintelligent, clueless and a documented thief! And he brought into govt a pack of wolves with not a shred of conscience. They are now out to loot, pillage, plunder. That’s their sole mandate. When are you going to wake up!

    • Don’t worry about police, think of how the Arab springs started, we can also do it here! Away with this thieving government!

    • Problem with the Arab way of protesting is that Mr Lungu may take the stance of Syria’s Assad who has been very stubborn and brought about a lot of destruction in Syria.

    • @Sikazwethegreat, @Nwambe,
      Please stop the cowardice mentality, it’s that thinking that has made politicians to take you for granted because they know you will not act.
      Be Brave !!!

    • general kanene! show me youth in Zambia who are ready to take the challenge, its only on media platforms like this one people think they are strong by just talking. believe you me people are being victimized by police and no one from online commentators want to have a physical demonstration, they are all afraid including you.

    • How right you are @ Mutale One calling out the thieves but we should not laugh about it for its only a fool who laughs at a serious matter!

  6. This is misleading people ” Copperbelt to protest” who is CHISHIMBA. Am on the copperbelt l can assure you LT nothing will happen. This man the so called activist, a hungry politician sponsored by Upnddonkeys to disturbilise the pf stronghold. You will fail mwana Zambia is big. If you think your small god who paid you can use fire trucks tender to convince people especially on the copperbelt it is zero. You fake activist. No muntu ngabalimukana balimukana dont impose people to accept something which has been rejected by God himself and people.You think we are dull you have been paid to start bringing confusion on the copperbelt you think this Dudumwezi. It is surprising that a person can work up today and write something without the knowledge of others and say copperbelt protest…

    • See morality in the whole issue for it is beyond narrow political inclinations! Appreciate the fact that there is a wrong done on the Zambian people, all who pay taxes irrespective of political party affiliations! Instead of logic mwasabailafye ba Professor James! Let those who feel to express the injustice on application of the tax they pay is by protesting do so as a right and you on your part learn to reason that a mind convinced in belief on an issue does not always mean to be paid! God has nothing to do with how men choose paths or leaders its a farce to believe that God involves His “governance” with mortal politics! You ask who Chishimba is and I ask who are you? You too qualify to what your very last line says!

    • proffesor; you perplex me. Where is UPND mentioned in the above? Is it only UPND that feel the pain of being taken for fools? We the majority of the educated Zambians have many questions that you the PF have failed to give credible answers too. As for calling UPND supporters donkeys; how about they call you PF monkeys. I use this animal as an example because of it s thieving behavior. Mwa fuma kumapepo and straight away mwayamba nama insults?

    • ba James no one can destabilized the Copperbelt, it isn’t like Lusaka or southern province and rest of the country. and by the way God for now has never rejected anyone. read and understand the bible. To tell the truth I don’t like Kambwili either in PF or UPND but, what I don’t like the most is people like you who spend time online making developmental comments.

    • ba James no one can destabilized the Copperbelt, it isn’t like Lusaka or southern province and rest of the country. and by the way God for now has never rejected anyone. read and understand the bible. To tell the truth I don’t like Kambwili either in PF or UPND but, what I don’t like the most is people like you who spend time online making undevelopmental comments.

    • Abilima

      Here is the true cost of those fire trucks…

      google.co.uk/amp/s/www.crawleyhappytimes.co.uk/new-state-of-the-art-fire-engine-for-crawley/amp/

      In your view because another crooked tender was submitted it was ok for GRZ to sanction the other corrupt tender ???

      That is like saying it is ok for a theif to steal because if it were not him , some one else would have stolen ….

  7. Before you protest do the following first: Get a quotation from the same source of the fire engines for the cost of the engines. Then factor in freight, insurance, and duty. Subtract all this from the $42 million. This is the money that went to the Company – on which they will pay Corporate Tax. What is the Company’s net profit on this contract? If they projected a 20% profit ($8.4 m) or 10% ($4.2 m) in their tender and got it, what is the problem? Is their profit margin outrageous? Albion – who I hear are sponsoring these protests tendered for $49 million. To say each truck cost $1.00 million and start protesting without facts is silly.

    • Abilima

      Here is the true cost of those fire trucks…

      google.co.uk/amp/s/www.crawleyhappytimes.co.uk/new-state-of-the-art-fire-engine-for-crawley/amp/

      In your view because another crooked tender was submitted it was ok for GRZ to sanction the other corrupt tender ???

      That is like saying it is ok for a theif to steal because if it were not him , some one else would have stolen 

  8. Thought this is water under the bridge. Let bygones be bygones. No one stole, there is no evidence but of course it was a bad deal for government.

  9. If someone stole nindalama za anyoko? Don’t be too quick to judge, let him who has not stolen before post on his blog.

    • How dare you say ” ndalama zanyoko!” Do you even pay taxes you cretin? How can you issue such an irresponsibe statement like “ndalama za nyoko?”

      If you vote and pay taxes you out to get concerned. I don’t know where you brain dead people have suddenly come from…

    • Ba Dokota, all legalities and guidelines were fulfilled under the ZPPA Act in the awarding this open international tender and the best bidder won. This was even vouched by ACC, so why the baseless and unfounded allegations. At every stage of the tender if they were any suspicion of corruption the bidders would raised a red flag. The guy who won simply had the best bid in terms of technical and financial offers. No politicians was involved in the evaluation process apart from the line ministry technocrats. Zambians have too much PHD unless it was a foreigner who got the deal. Wenyo muzamu made business and you will remain ni mwamoneni. Besides the guy paid tax on his business profits.

    • Here is the true cost of those fire trucks…infact these shown below have a higher spec than those in Zambia.. .

      google.co.uk/amp/s/www.crawleyhappytimes.co.uk/new-state-of-the-art-fire-engine-for-crawley/amp/

      In your view because another crooked tender was submitted it was ok for GRZ to sanction the other corrupt tender ???

      That is like saying it is ok for a theif to steal because if it were not him , some one else would have stolen 

    • Here is the true cost of those fire trucks…infact these shown below have a higher spec than those in Zambia.. .

      google.co.uk/amp/s/www.crawleyhappytimes.co.uk/new-state-of-the-art-fire-engine-for-crawley/amp/9

      For a country that needs forigne aid to survive this pure corruption to sanction paying $1 million for a truck that cost less than $300,000…..

      Infact I am petitioning the international corruption agency of the EU to complain on how they give aid to zambia while lungu can be sanctioning this corruption…

    • Ba LT why don’t you simply remove some of these insulting inhuman posts? Yesterday we were praying, today we’re faced with this unchristian vulgar tirade. This level of evil should not be encouraged to flourish.

  13. People with nothing to do will join your useless protest. Allow people to go till land for their food. You have been paid to make noise and do it alone.

  14. The problem will have is that even protestors are not geniune…this guy is ranting like UPND but probably has not got a plan!!

  15. I wish could join you guys unfortunately I will be out of town. I hate PF with a passion for bringing untold misery to the Zambians

    • Who are you not to be there, let the people display their displeasure. If you are a beneficiary of these tenders continue enjoying, but time is the equaliser.

  18. That transaction will never be reversed at all. Just because of this, uka cita prostest weka nga bakwikata lobe. Safety kuisunga we mwine.

  19. Ba Kopala hold your fire, All legalities and guidelines were fulfilled under the ZPPA Act in the awarding this open international tender and the best bidder won. This was even vouched by ACC, so why the baseless and unfounded allegations. At every stage of the tender if they were any suspicion of corruption the bidders would have raised a red flag. The guy who won simply had the best bid in terms of technical and financial offers. No politicians was involved in the evaluation process apart from the line ministry technocrats. Zambians have too much PHD unless it was a foreigner who got the deal. Wenyo muzamu made business and you will remain ni mwamoneni. Besides the guy paid tax on his business profits.

  20. The idea is good but to say “copperbelt. …” is misplaced. You’ve not even canvased but you post something on LT and say copperbelt. …. Poor organizational abilities?

  21. By now, top politicians from the opposition would have obtained quotations and supporting quotations from the necessary manufacturers. This silence on this aspect clearly shows they don’t have these cold hard facts or they have them and they prove the tender was on spot. Protesting without facts is political s.t.u.p.idity and only proves that these protesters get financial rewards for their 1di.i.o.tic actions-ask Laura Miti how much was her cashing after that parliament fiasco, which she didn’t share with her fellow protesters!! So iwe Chishimba, whatever you have been promised, can you avail us HARD FACTS that corruption happened. Only then will we believe you.

    • google.co.uk/amp/s/www.crawleyhappytimes.co.uk/new-state-of-the-art-fire-engine-for-crawley/amp/9

      For a country that needs forigne aid to survive this pure corruption to sanction paying $1 million for a truck that cost less than $300,000…..

    • That is a basic machine, on the internet. My experience is when you are buying such equipment, which is never one size fits all and not available in showrooms, you specify what you want. Spaka the enlightened, please elaborate on the specifications our fire union gave the government???

    • Corrupt citizen….

      You want to lie like mwale ati it can spray water round corners ????

      That machine shown is a higher spec than the one Zambia ordered.. .

  22. THE PROBLEM IN ZAMBIA IS ZAMBIANS!!
    Just look @ the blind supporters of P.F’s BAD GOVERNANCE on this L.T online site.
    We must remember this is a microcosm of the general population mindset.
    Zambians will be told please Do NOT eat a certain food as it causes Cancer. A huge segment of the population will go on & continue eating the Cancer inducing food, arguing hammer & tongs, “we wont stop, coz that food tastes good” As soon as they start getting ill, & dying, Zambians will go to the same experts who warned them asking the now invalid question, please give me advice to help cure this cancer, its called “shutting the barn door once the horse has bolted”
    ZAMBIANS DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES, hence the leaders will always take them for a ride.
    What does…

    • Iwe there’s no government that has no flaws and to expect that is being very naive. We were made to believe KK was the cause of our suffering, so we rioted, went on strikes and did everything possible to remove him. ..what happened? We actually jumped from a frying pan into a fire. If you think we’re docile why don’t you take the lead ie go onto Cairo road and start a protest and we shall follow you.

    • Cont;
      . what does one expect from people who vote for a person with a thieving record – Jonathan Pombe?
      What does one expect from people who vote for one coz they’ve been given cash – their own as its taxpayers?
      What does one expect from people who vote for one coz they’ve been given a piece of chotenge material, & a gallon of chibuku?
      What does one expect from one who votes for a tribesman, & & votes?
      What does one expect from one so dull, they vote coz they can dance Dununa reverse?
      You Cadre whose posted the reply above me, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM IM TAKING ABOUT MAKAKA!!

  24. What of the protests in Lusaka about fire engines which Pilato,Laura Miti promised us lask week?Is it that us Lusaka residents ignored these empty tins?
    Believe you me,nobody will protest in the copperbelt.unless the same bored noise makers are the ones who will go and protest on CB!!
    The fire engines issue is dead and burried-period!!

  25. Those of you who are so critical of HE ECL, why don’t you go and obtain residence in DRC, Uganda, Libya, Somalia or South Sudan. We see if you will enjoy these unlimited and absolute LIBERTIES you are enjoying under the godly and loving care of ECL to even be insulting him.

  26. We want answers.The pipo who bought these fire engine started by burning the markets to justify the purchase.where on earth can u procure such trucks at that price when everything is going up?Who is going to sacrifice when politicians are being rich. Hellllll nooooo please we want our money ba lungu.U even pronounce state of emergency just because of fire trucks.takwaba guys.Zambians let us not be so dull n stupid.It’s our money.If police officers think they can’t arrest anyone bcoz it’s affect them too.

  27. the question who was burning markets and other buildings? hmmmmmmm, i smell a fish. i can relate the prior burning of the of markets and others to the buying of fire tenders. Business and mathematics students, can you develop a model that relates these two, surely one is an independent variable. identify and isolate it then…… (this is leakage, do it). i want the answers quick quick

  28. Faka pressure until they own up . Rumours has it that Kampyongo was bribed with 3 luxury vehicles and ECL got $5 million in bribes. No wonder Lungu is not investigating the scandal. As they say the Fish rots from the Head downwards. Lungu is Mr Corruption Number One. He must repent to all Zambians.

  29. When thieving and corruption becomes institutionalized its the people that save themselves from state rape of national resources. Lungu and his minions must be held to account for breeding this vice that has become endemic in government. The drunken president can take blatant acts of thievery because the people allow it by their cowardice and silence allowing Lungu and his cabal of thieves to thrive on it. That will be his legacy and at great expense to the Zambian people whose trust he has betrayed. This is such a cheap government composed of low level thieves who steal from the very people they are supposed to protect.

  30. Why faka pressure, you were advised to put credible people in State House, but instead you chose a pauper and his friends to be in charge of your affairs. What do you expect him/them to do. First he and his friends have to fill their stomacks before they think of anything else. Anyway I don’t see this protest yielding any positive result because a people will be give brown envelopes and the whole thing will be an academic exercise. Anyway, that is what you danced dununa reverse for, enoy it.

  31. Protests won’t take them anywhere. That money will never be refunded and the trucks won’t be shipped back to Spain

  32. Here is the true cost of those fire trucks…infact these shown below have a higher spec than those in Zambia.. .

    google.co.uk/amp/s/www.crawleyhappytimes.co.uk/new-state-of-the-art-fire-engine-for-crawley/amp/9

    For a country that needs forigne aid to survive this pure corruption to sanction paying $1 million for a truck that cost less than $300,000…..

    Infact I am petitioning the international corruption agency of the EU to complain on how they give aid to zambia while lungu can be sanctioning this corruption…

  33. I have good data , i stay in Nigeria and CROSS RIVER state Governor ordered the same custom made scania truck as Zambia , gues what they got 30 of them at a cost of US$350,000 each CIF APAPA PORT, OK SINCE nigeria is closer to EUROPE than Zambia we add extra 50,000 for freight to Zambia the cost should be 400,000. ECL Swallow your pride constitute a commission of Inquiry to come up with a report on the same. U ARE A GOOD MAN TO BE SPOILED BY YOUR GREEDY MINISTERS

  35. People have researched and found the cost of less than $380,000 , not the $1 million sanctioned by GRZ……

    Lungu is involved in this corruption and I repeat, he was given $5 million….

    That is why he will not investigate….

    • ….and i believe you. I believe you are full of garbage. Even when international agencies in Zambia are buying 4×4’s to go to Shang’ombo and other rural areas, do you think they get quotes from the internet or from Toyota Zambia or CFAO who can actually deliver the cars??? Even if you got the best lawyers in UK and Zambia, you wouldn’t prove ECL pocketed $5m…it’s all in your twisted childish mind, utmost s.t.u.pi.dity!!!

    • Corrupt citizen….

      I will be vindicated when lungu leaves power….remember this conversation.. .Lungu was part of this corruption…

      And what kind of a theif are you ? You think adding 4 wheel drive can add $700 k to a price ?? Just keep your bull for the other kaponya rats…

    • @spaka chikopo: Why do you have to wait until he leaves power?? So you can harass him like FTJ and RB??? Show the evidence now, prove your case now, parliament can still impeach him you know….

  36. Lungu is rumoured to have received a huge Cut and Minister Kampyongo 3 Luxury Vehicles so Lungu wont sanction any investigations becoz he will be exposed personally. Lungu is hoping that this corrupt deal could be burried under the Carpet and forgotten with time.

  37. Thank God, human rights watch is here, gud timing mr chishimba, no police brutallity otherwise they will be vindicated. Suprising, kanyama rally has been okied.

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