Leader of the opposition in Parliament Jack Mwiimbu has charged that elections in Zambia have become a despicable disgrace.
Mr Mwiimbu who is also UPND Monze Central Member of Parliament said the party has noted with concern the obnoxious zeal by the PF to hack their way to repulsive victory whenever elections are held in this country.
“We shudder to imagine what will happen in the next General election. Its frightening to realise that violence has become a norm in Zambia,” Mr Mwiimbu said.
He said ordinary citizens are now afraid to peacefully excercise their right to choose leaders of their choce due to violence.
“Its even more frightening to note that government ministers who are supposed to be custodians of the rule of law are the ones in the forefront perpetrating violence,” he said.
“Where does the ordinary helpless member of the public seek recourse to redress in such situations? The PF must realise that their is a limit to self restraint.”
Zambia Squarely in the Valley of the Shadow of Debt.
After a difficult few weeks in which more news broke about Zambia’s rising debt levels, Ministry of Finance officials met with investors in London on 16 April to assuage anxieties. Finance Minister Ms Mwanakatwe was absent; recent medical problems severely restrict how much travel she does. Instead she flew to Washington DC for the IMF’s spring meetings.
The last issue of Africa Confidential published further evidence that Zambia is teetering on the brink of debt distress, with the country’s real debt probably around 100% of GDP (AC Vol 59 No 7, Into the valley of debt). Following the AC report & worries voiced by investors in other media, that other debts are yet to be reported, Zambia’s Eurobonds fell further to a par with…
They may have a point.
I believe them. In Zimbabwe its further proof that there is a correlation between violence and voter turn out.
DO not sweep this under the carpet.
Our police are inpet
Thanks
BB2014,2016
UPND is more violent than any other living party and this is derived from their bitterness of losing several general elections. False hope of triumph is anther cause. I equally blame PF for inheriting and embracing thugs from MMD. Both main parties are violent and soon NDC will join them. Kambwili and team are typical thugs.
HH and UPND will lose badly in 2021 and i think they will disband after elections because we wont allow them to start violence once they lose. 2021 HH will come out fourth
@ 1. Ngombala
You just copying and pasting irrelevant articles. Its like no matter how bad Lungu is the majority of Zambians still don’t want HH and UPND.
The devil you know is better than an Angel you don’t know
Mushota: And the 9900 voters for UPND against 3 for PF in Monze ward election, who was violet?
#who was violent? Sorry
When UPND started the Mapatizya formula and then the Namwala formula they thought other parties were incapable of violence. No the chickens have come to roost.
At all cost, an excuse had to be found not to render irrelevance!
UPND Cadres have now gone mad…like @1.Ngombala ebushilu nomba ukwamba fye ukusabaila…no hope in 2021…the writing is on the wall
… Congo-Brazzaville. Congo-B is officially in debt distress after the discovery of undeclared loans last year sent its debt-to-GDP levels rocketing to 120% (AC Vol 58 No 19, False start to IMF talks).
So cash-strapped is the Zambian government that it cannot pay suppliers for vital goods such as medicines & fertilizer, yet it continues to press ahead with grandiose & overpriced projects on credit. Executing the budget is difficult, some critics describing it as a mere ‘paper budget’. They report that, in practice, more than 60% goes on officials’ pay & perks. With almost another 30% needed for debt service, that leaves 10% for everything else.
Government sources say that Mwanakatwe’s claim that all government debt is accurately declared in the proper manner is far from the truth…
… AC’s own investigations show that, without proper central control or consistent reporting, debt management has broken down. There are clear discrepancies between the IMF’s annual external debt figures, & its estimates of the total numbers & value of loans contracted, & those of the government). The IMF’s external debt figure for end 2016 is $7.9 bn.; if one adds the $1.75 bn. contracted in 2017, plus the $590 mn. fuel debt, the total is $10.24 bn. Compounding the confusion, the IMF’s own tables indicate cumulative loans by end 2016 of over $11 bn.
Zambia’s cash-strapped government is trying to muddle through the financial strain of managing a fast-growing pile of debt using a combination of aggressive taxation & not paying suppliers. The strategy is driving up domestic arrears &…
… antagonising business at a time when investors are already thinking twice about putting money into the country. Zambians have been here before in 1991 and the government knows very well that any venture into the valley of the shadow of debt puts their hold on power on a very precarious footing, more dangerous than Lungu’s fraudulent identity. One also wonder whom Margaret slept with this time to compound her medical situation this bad.
The last time I saw her in Lusaka she did not look healthy at all. I just hope it’s not because of her promiscuous conjungal extra curricula activities outside wedlock because we all know where these are taking Lungu, to Embassy Park! The meeting at the IMF last week was also very embarrassing, Margaret skipped one two of the important meetings to attend to her failing health but even when she was there, she hardly said anything. Mvunga was at sea, lost without a clue of what was obtaining around him. If this is what “abena Chipata” being in charge means, they must be removed from power pronto, this is men’s work not dancing FWEMBA or hunting for bakoswe.
How are the comments from the four above bloggers connected to the above article.
Some people here are just too dull to be even allowed near the ballot box. Can’t you see the headline. It is “UPND continues to blame violence on their poor showing in Ward elections”. Look at the nonsensical replies you are writing. Stick to the topic and you will discuss issues. Don’t run away to other issues which have nothing to do with the title at hand
typical of these people , he is trying to change the subject. he is avoiding the 9950 upnd votes against 03 pf votes in monze. shame on these mapatizya violent tribalists
Lack of understanding the very content of the topic hence all that rant baseless. And who has the time to read all that crap
The connection is simple, despite ushering you into a dangerous valley of the shadow of debt, you still as Zambians continue votting for the PF. Zambians are generally stupid people, it’s painful reality because even with this clarring connection where all one needs is to connect the dots on the line, the likes of @ 6 UPND Life President above remain spooked and at sea. Maybe its something in the Mosi, baKoswe or baKolwe you eat that dements you fool.
Please Jack Mwiimbu it’s in your party that people are scared to say anything about HH .He has served his purpose look for someone to bring hope to the opposition even yourself show us what you have done in your area for the long period you have served as an MP for Monze don’t just talk trash
There is a saying that if you dont accept that you are wrong all the time, then you will never change. UPND is refusing to see the reality on the ground. The solution of UPND is re branding both the political party’s strategy and its leadership. Even people in their strong hold when in closed doors complain that HH has cost the party but are too ashamed to admit it publicly. It is time for serious introspection in UPND. When you start losing power in your own back yard, it is only a fool who will say all is well.
So he’s MP for the ward where PF cadres were assaulted by Upnd savages and he never said a word to condemn it? What a nerve the guy has ?
@7 Loliwe,
Of course thats why white people know that if you want to hide something from blacks, hide it in literature because blacks dont read! You bet Loliwe is doing one or two of three things, sweeing Tube Platforms in London like Sata did in the 50s, cleaning old people in Old People Homes or indeed cruising the Red Lights’ District of Peckham!
THE BLAME GAME IS ON
THE UN,
THE VIOLENCE,
THEIR LACK OF STRATEGY.
THE CONSTITUTION COURT ETC
ATI PUPWE NO MUSUNGU
The youths are also blamed for HH 5 loses
And in Monze it was PF,Kuti waseka mwe.Ba UPND you are just violent and now you want to hide under it for your poor performance,your popularity has just remained in southern province and people now know what you stand for,bitterness,anger,lack of self control,evil etc all from the devil your father.
Cant blame him.
How does Jimbu protect himself when HH is demanding a report for such poor results?
@Ngombala Ikandulwa: DONT HIDE THE PATHETIC PERFORMANCE OF YOUR PARTY UPND IN THE JUST ENDED BY ELECTIONS BY WRITING LONG, IRRELEVANT, POSTS THAT ARE OUT OF TUNE WITH THE TOPIC AT HAND. ALL THE VOTERS KNOW THAT ZAMBIA HAS DEBTS. INFACT ZAMBIA WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE DEBTS AND SHOULD CONTINUE BORROWING AS LONG AS THE MONEY GOES TO BUILD BRIDGES LIKE THE ONE IN WESTERN PROVINE, TO BUILD ROADS LIKE THE SOLWEZI-CHINGOLA ROAD, TO BUILD HOSPITALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND OTHER TOO MANY INFRASTRUCTURES TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION.
WE SHALL CONTINUE VOTING FOR PF AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUE TO IMPRESS US AS THEY HAVE DONE THUS FAR.
Surely, is there is no single person in UPND twith enough golden balls to tell HH that his time has expired.
HH has run out of ideas. He has resorted to excuses and blaming everyone and it himself. He does not inspire the nation, but rather, he is depressing the nation with EXCUSES , BLAME GAMES, LAZY STATEMENTS, SELF-NEGATIVE-TALK, and has become MR. KNOW IT ALL !!!
You guys lost in your own backyards. What is that telling you about North Western and Western Provinces or the whole nation at large.
@ 13 Chisenga,
There is not a single country in the world that developed from debt, none! Only you Kasais who believe in “Ubomba Mwibala Alya Mwibale” or indeed “Natolelefye” can continue contracting debt, stealing the money and hope that mirraculously by osmosis the country is going to develop. This is gutless stupidity. I’m not a politician in Zambia and for your information it has been 34 years since I quit Zambia though my hearts still bleeds for the land I still call home. Narrowing the catastrophe you economy is faced with to myopic tribal bigotries that bedevil you head is unforgivable, things are awful and getting worse. You can only deny that painful fact at your own peril.
@Ngombala Ikandulwa: UNLIKE YOU I AM NO QUITTER. YES ZAMBIA IS FACED WITH MANY PROBLEMS. TELL ME WHICH COUNTRY HAS NO PROBLEMS? AND ON WHAT MORAL PLATFORM ARE YOU STANDING TO CONDEMN US WHO ARE WILLING TO REMAIN IN OUR COUNTRY AND PROUDLY SAY WE ARE ZAMBIANS. I WOULD BE VERY EMBARRASSED TO RUN AWAY FROM ZAMBIA AND START INSULTING MY OWN COUNTRY IN A FOREIGN LAND. THAT IS WHY AFRICANS ARE BEING TAUNTED BY TRUMP, REJECTED BY ISRAEL AND CONSIDERED INFERIOR. ITS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU. ZAMBIA IS MUCH BIGGER THAN LUNGU OR HH. I LOOK FOR A BIGGER PICTURE. EVERY SUCCESSIVE PRESIDENT IN ZAMBIA IS ACCUSED OF STEALING AND CORRUPTION. I WILL NOT ON THAT BASIS WASH ZAMBIA’S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC ABROAD EVEN WHEN SUCH LINEN IS TORN, STAINED AND STINKING. BUT I WILL PRAISE MY COUNTRY WITH MY HEAD…
-CONTINUED-…….WITH MY HEAD HIGH. EACH SUCCESSIVE PRESIDENT OF MY COUNTRY HAS CONTRIBUTED SOMETHING POSITIVE. CURRENTLY WE ARE SEEING UNPRECEDENTED INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN ZAMBIA. ZAMBIA IS ONE OF THE TOP 8 INVESTMENT DESTINATIONS IN AFRICA. THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD ABOUT. US WHO LIVE IN ZAMBIA KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. AND WE KNOW WHY WE HAVE BEEN VOTING FOR LUNG. AND DO’NT BE MISTAKEN, WE KNOW HIS WEAKNESSES. BUT WE ALSO KNOW WHICH SIDE OF THE DIVIDE WE WOULD RATHER ER.
but iwe mumbwe tawakwata amano , ukubutuka bondi iwe pondo. you even have the guts to insult us.
So PF used violence to win in your strongholds e.g WP and NWP. This buffoon is talking like this because their financiers are watching them, so they have to lie. Go ahead and write to the UN, Commonwealth, Obasanjo, Ramaphotsa, Trump, Theresa May, the Free Masons, you can also go and get interviewed on BBC Hardtalk.
President Edgar Lungu says he is confused by ‘baseless’ allegations suggesting that he is a foreigner from Malawi. In his reaction to claims by Mike Mulongoti, the Head of State said the opposition leader was sounding like a mad man because his allegations were not making sense.
“That Jonathan [Mutaware] who they are alleging that I am, I don’t even know where he was buried. Oh! They are saying Chagwa alifwa, newabapo nine (Chagwa died and I am) Jonathan, this is so confusing,” said President Lungu at a campaign rally last weekend.
As a news organisation, we thought this issue did not deserve national debate for various reasons; including the fact that it is far from what is actually directly devastating the people of Zambia. Instead of tracing President Lungu’s origins, we should…
You haven’t finished?
The way these savages entourage entered Kitwe last Sunday. …harassing everyone and every motorist. …ordering them out of the way to allow HE Hikainde to pass. Even failing to stop at the red lights. If this is not violence, then what was it. The way Upnd members insult the president at a certain Tennis Club on the copperbelt. …if this not violence what’s it? The beating of PF cadres at Mwanza in Monze is not violence because it’s not a Upnd member that was beaten.
@Ngombala Ikandulwa
NAME A COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHICH HAS DEVELOPED WITHOUT EITHER BORROWING OR WITHOUT USING SLAVES. CHINA PERHAPS! UNTIL WE CAN ATTRACT ENOUGH FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT (fdi) LIKE CHINA IS DOING, DEBTS SHALL ALWAYS BE PART OF US. WHY DO YOU THINK TODAY CELLPHONES ARE NOW SOLD ON CREDIT?
If you can frown or despise debts then your parents don’t know why commercial banks, IMF, World Bank and lending intuitions were for? 95% of new cars anywhere in the world including HHs car are on loan despite having farms and 3000 cattle in Namwala. Nearly all mansions in Lusaka are on mortgage or funded through bank loans. The modern road infrastructure and other s in SA are foreign funded.
Summary: WITHOUT LOANS THEN NO BANKS, NO MORTGAGES, NO HOUSE UPGRADES, NO NEW HOUSE…
I am growing sick and tired of this upnd blame game. Please give us a break. Just be magnanimous enough to concede defeat when you lose rather than always coming up with nonsensical excuses to explain your dismal performance in elections . Ba jack mwiimbu, grow up!
@Ngombala Ikandulwa
JIMBU & HH COULD ONLY CHEAT OFFLINE CARDERS.
CHINA: The national debt of the People’s Republic of China is the total amount of money owed by the government and all state organizations and government branches of China. As AT March 2016, it stands at approximately US$ 4.3 trillion, equivalent to about 41% of GDP.
USA: The U.S. national debt grew by just a bit more than $600 billion in fiscal year 2017
UK : UK national debt has now surpassed £1 trillion, a figure that can only exponentially increase unless the entire mechanism of Government finance is overhauled.
SOUTH AFRICA: Government external debt increased to 173 billion USD in the fourth quarter of 2017. Etc.
I don’t know who these guys want to phool. They know very well it’s very easy for one to check any story but they still go ahead. Remember that story of Zimbabwe Beitbridge road budget? After people discovered the truth, that story disappeared.
The only recorded election violence this cycle of elections was in monze, the upnd bedroom. Which they won,
Even IMF and the WORLD Bank borrow with interest from so called developed countries to lend to needy countries at higher interest rates. They pay back with interest and pocket the balance.
Just like commercial banks. They borrow from clients (deposits) and lend the same money to the next guy.
Otherwise Zambia is on track, come 2025, Zambia shall never be same with the infrastructure development that is taking place.
Mighty pf tekwangala when others are busy on fb and radios pf on the ground awe congratulations mulifiki
Do we need all the investors in the world to come to Zambia?
VIOLENCE ONLY BECOMES BAD WHEN UPND IS ON THE RECEIVING END BUT AS LONG AS THEY ARE THE INSTIGATORS, IT IS NOT VIOLENCE. F00LISH MWIIMBU……………………………..
“ONLY A TONGA CAN BE OUR LEADER.” WE WILL SEE YOU COME 2021, YOUR GOD HH WILL BE CONVINCED THAT THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE HAVE REJECTED YOU.
In a serious party at least a party president should have some pipo within who criticis him like in pf then you can say there is democracy , not upnd were the president is a small god
The day a mosquito will sting Hichilema on his scrotum is the day he will learn the importance of finding a peaceful resolution of disputes
Good news
Tongas are now desperate And lonely. Their cousins fro West and northwest have now realised that Tongas are not their friends and are dividing the nation. I can confirm that apart from the Lunda dominated districts in N/western province all tribes are Now Pf. Western province in particular Mongu is slowly tilting in favour of Pf not because they love Pf but a protest against Tongas Dominant nature. I totally agree with the Barotse activist who sain Lozis have been royal and supportive to Tongas but the Tongas have never supported the Lozis