By Judith Mulenga CiSCA Acting Chairperson
The Civil Society Constitution Agenda (CiSCA), while welcoming President Lungu’s affirmation of Article 88 of our Constitution on the right to petition, would like to caution the President to tread very carefully on the Commission of Inquiry on Privatization.
Zambia currently faces many problems that need laser focused sober solutions than the Pandora Box that he is being nudged to open as it may boomerang in his face. We put it to President Lungu that instituting a privatization commission of inquiry is not in the best interest of Zambia but a ploy to eliminate a formidable opponent in the name of Hakainde Hichilema. Not too long ago, President Rupiah Banda’s government wanted to introduce a degree criteria for a presidential candidate aimed at barring one Michael Chilufya Sata from standing for the Presidency. What happened next, the man won the Presidency in the very next general elections! Provisions of the Constitution should be respected equally. Invoking Article 88 at the expense of other justiciable civil and political rights in our Bill of Rights is setting a very dangerous reckless precedence.
CiSCA demands that since we are in dire straits as a country, President Lungu should make this commission of inquiry the mother of all commissions of inquiries so that he leaves a legacy of leadership when everything that Zambians need closure on was healed in the nation. This inquiry should include, among other inquiries, the cost of the fire engines, cost of the ambulances, mukula trees smuggling, sudden wealth of politically connected persons including his own jump from K2million to K23million in one year, the cost of the Michael Sata Tollgate, the exorbitant cost of our roads, the K450 million money laundering from corrupt government tenders, the outright embezzlement of K4 million by government officials, tribal diatribe from PF senior leaders against the people of Southern Province, the indebtedness that Zambia is in, the fencing of the Chimutengo Forest, the 48 houses, everything! Let us heal this nation once and for all so that as we go to the 2021 elections we are all truly exercising our democratic right to hear freely from all who aspire to rule and for us to vote without anyone’s fear of security of the person that Zambia has had to go through at every election since the 2015 presidential by-elections.
While as CiSCA we do not question the legality of the Commission of Inquiry, we are not convinced that the 40,000 signatories in the YALI Petition represent even remotely what would be considered public interest. CiSCA does not believe that President Lungu’s intent is to shine a spotlight on past errors and ensure that such events do not recur. CiSCA is not convinced that the urgency with which events are fast moving on this issue meet the legal reasonableness test. For instance, since there is a case in the High Court on privatization and the High Court is at the same level as a commission of inquiry but without the former’s legal binding status, CiSCA urges the pro Commission of Inquiry on Privatization to hold off and wait for the outcome of the court case. Mind you Zambia has a $18.5 billion albatross around its neck, most of it acquired by the Executive without approval by the National Assembly, therefore ultra vires to the Constitution and another issue needing a commission of inquiry!
We contend that it is wishful thinking, for the petitioners, to think that the Commission of Inquiry will not call witnesses from not only within but also outside our territory since the privatization involved international buyers too. The scope of this Commission of Inquiry is envisaged to be huge taking into account that evidence will straddle three decades. And since a Commission of Inquiry is not a court hearing, it is not reasonably expected that the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry will be acted upon by the court if this became necessary. We further challenge President Lungu to release all Commissions of Inquiries reports since PF came to power. The funds spent on them is not PF’s money but every Zambian’s money.
CiSCA hopes the President, having set a precedence, will also accept a CiSCA petition to withdraw Bill 10 from the floor of the National Assembly in national interest.
For those that have allowed themselves to fit snugly in the PF’s mold of a culture of silence, please be reminded that your voices of apathy should not be louder than your courage of conviction. Being silent is the same as abetting a de facto absolute monarch which President Lungu has become. Him and those connected to him live luxurious lives financed by our very meagre resources that they are supposed to safeguard for all of us, while the majority of Zambians, more than 54.5% live below the national poverty line. If people think this is an exaggeration, we challenge them to name one thing that President Lungu has wanted against the people’s will and he has respected our voices and backed off?
Let PF start repossession of houses in Chimwemwe in Kitwe, how did miners manage to acquire those houses? All miners need handover all houses, so we start all over. Hand over assets/houses to Chinese in Luanshya.
by the way where are UBZ Tata buses, are they at HH house?
You are wasting time Judith Mulenga. The people, no matter the numbers, have spoken by signing that petition. Why don’t you start one and CiSCA presents the same to Hakainde Hichilema as well. Women who have outlived their usefulness in NGOs. Are u even married?
How much more value to being human does marriage add. Sir Isaac Newton wasn’t married and Turing the creator of the first computer did not partake in these kinds of arrangements of marriage yet they lived full lives and their names live forever.
You are wasting time Judith Mulenga. The people, no matter the numbers, have spoken by signing that petition. Why don’t you start one and CiSCA presents the same to Hakainde Hichilema as well. Women who have outlived their usefulness in NGOs. Are u even married or you the Women4Change?
Judith Mulenga endorsed a statement drafted by UPND hiding in the name of CSO. Chipenzi at work! People have a right to Petition. Respect their voices ad much as you also want to be heard.
CiSCA telling us to ignore the criminality of the past and deal with the current issues? Whatever happened in Privatisation, criminal elements took advantage and made monies for themselves. Will not be surprised if CISCA is found to be beneficiary of those funds some leader amassed during privatisation
CISCA is the voice of UPND and its leader.
The Mukula trees have stench of Lungu and his daughter, the 48 mushroom houses have the stench of Tasila, the gassing of Zambian citizens has the stench of PF, the million dollar each fire engines, ambulances scandals etc
Should these wait for 30 years before someone wakes up and say let’s have a commission of enquiry? Come on guys let’s not get used by these scared charlatans. Wake up
This CISCA thing does not speak for Zambians generally but for HH as can be seen from the statement. Let them do their own campaigns than try to show competition with other Zambians who have decided to take up the Privatisation issue. If Hichilema acted criminally, why must we overlook what he did for what you call current? Fire trucks were a business transaction like the privatisation business
No wonder things are so bad in our country is this the kind of thinking that is coming from our leaders,how many years have passed ? and how many people have died in the years who may be required to contribute to that commission of inquiry? what is the motive behind this commission of inquiry? Zambians we are in trouble can we continue with such leaders ?
Do we even have leaders?
“…..This inquiry should include, among other inquiries, the cost of the fire engines, cost of the ambulances, mukula trees smuggling, sudden wealth of politically connected persons including his own jump from K2million to K23million in one year, …”
Bring it on…….lungu will be embarrassed , BTW you forget to mention how lungu sold cold storage board of Zambia to foringners who stripped all the equipment and shipped all equipment out side Zambia.
It beggars belief that this government appears to have played politics more than they have actually governed. Partisan leanings, trumped up charges targeting opponents (nolle prosqui galore!) and all sorts of things one only does as a layer on functional government administration. Even covid19 is now a factor in political and economic management malaise! Can we not show a little bit of shame even for a while? Ba mumbwe!
This government has never been serious. Wonder why the economy is in free fall for almost ten years now due reckless borrowing and sheer incompetence. Even in a home, you borrow in a sustainable manner, the moment they failed to pay SA for power for a paltry 27 million dollars which should be pocket change for any country, I knew we were in the doldrums
It’s only when a mosquito perches on your scrotum that you’ll know why it’s important to settle disputes amicably, goes the Ghanaian proverb. HH is the mosquito that has perched on the PF balls and the Commission of Inquiry is a slap to deal with it. If the PF think they’ll get out of that Inquiry unbruised then I wish them well. The bought sunk with MCS
When he said he had no vision, we had no idea of the level. This is unacceptably low, people are suffering and you are busy with privatization enquiry agenda simply for fearing to loose elections to one man. This is sinking so low. Man up and face the economic challenges, that must be your priority
NGOs in Zambia are losing relevance coz of the political stances they take. An example is this CISCA statement which everyone knows was written by UPND media persons.
CISCA, your frustrations that you are not being listened to by the Head of State but, by implication, you are more listened to by Mr. Hichilema is because of the confrontational politics you play. Most times, you old folks whose lives revolve around NGOs without an exit timeline have lost it all. NGOs are not an opposition party to Govt. We have enough of these opposition. Change your strategy or Govt will never take you seriously, just like most citizens don’t take you seriously. Only your donors do.
Maybe the idea of privatization enquiry will be dropped during the national day of prayer, fasting, reconciliation and fighting again, depending on what YALI tells their leaders
Hope the NGO Act being revised has retirement plan for NGO leaders. You have run out of ideas Judith Mulenga. How can you tell the nation to pay a blind eye to criminality under Privatisation and yet you want people to open eyes to criminality under fire tenders? Even your statement is inconsistent. First you say no to Commission of Inquiry and later in the article you say let’s make it a mother of commission of Inquiry. What really re u talking about?
We are not going anywhere with these PF guys. The economy is in free fall. Governance is at its lowest ebb in Zambia. I am non partisan but I don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see the clear inadequacies of our current leadership. The benchmarks we use to measure an economy are clear, and don’t use covid as an excuse as that is very new.
Take the money for this useless commission of inquiry to the 2020 census of population and housing. You should not give corona as an excuse for postponing the census to next year as bars and night clubs are open, PF mobilization rallies are going on, not to mention other social gatherings. The census enumerators can be masking up and carrying hand sanitizers while doing their work. And moreover it is not like census enumerators will be visiting crowded places. It is only one enumerator visiting one family at a go
It’s the demand of the people. Don’t be controlled and directed by Chipenzi and such-like scum.
all those calling for privatisation inquiry are you ready to return those mine, governmnt pool, and council houses you bought at K10 back to the state? remember that you buying those houses from the state into your private private property is what is called privatisation, so what are you saying you did not benefit from that process?
all those calling for privatisation inquiry are you ready to return those mine, governmnt pool, and council houses you bought at K10 back to the state? remember that you buying those houses from the state into your private private property is what is called privatisation, so what are you saying you did not benefit from that process?
Hakainde is in trouble and now these guys are in panic to help him out. So while YALI was initiator, I think we the people agree that it is time for an inquiry
Judith Mulenga, being Bemba, is being used by bena Chipenzi in UPND to advance the cause of UPND. Everyone can see this is a political statement done from UPND boardroom and supervised by Hichilema. I agree Ngo leaders must be retirement period after serving for 10 years or so. Emulate Goodwill Lungu
You started well then you dived into politics. Whose interest are you representing? Did you consult me whether I don’t want the commission of Inquiry? Don’t divert us to Zambia’s debt. Let us open the pandora box. I want to see what is inside. Those who be caught so be it. Remember you the so-called Ngo, take time to also listen to the silent voices of victims of privatization who want closer.
They are busy with privatization at the instigation of some discredited organisations. This country has too many challenges please. Do these people live in another country from ourselves
Instead of working, busy focusing on the opponent and on the past. We had somebody who stole and was banned by LAZ and we still went ahead to put him in office. This is what fear can do. Concentrate on the mandate you were given
18. Mwiinga, agreed. Judith Mulenga lacks logic in her arguments and presentation of facts. Very inconsistent.
Dollar quickly trotting to K25 then K50 but busy with privatization. Very misaligned
Why are some people rigid to the Commission of Inquiry? This is a fair and transparent instrument to exonerate certain individuals from wrong doing. Isn’t this moving forward…or, would you rather, prevailing suspicions were left to persist?
Making comparisons, and pointing fingers, isn’t solving anything nor moving forward. Every wrong will have its day – there just needs to be a starting point.
Mwanawasa went for all those involved in corruption during the FTJ days including Francis Kaunda who headed the privatision of the mining assets.Mwanawasa never touched HH.But today,Edgar Lungu wants to be clever.An exercise in futility.
Spaka! 0ne inguiry at a time. Mulombwana is first. Your turn is coming my lord.
Why does LT allow pen names to be used by more than one person? There’s only one Nemwine and wants to be rational and objective. I hv not posted anything on this statement by Judith Mulenga until now. The Nemwine above is a sponsored one, a copy cut, a sham and not original. I’m trying to stay away from this site as much as possible.
Warning to opposition, we are putting you in power next year, should you come and fail like PF, we will kick you out. We will give you two terms because we realize the damage done to the economy is too much and will require time to sort out. But be forwarned…
What is this ranting from this lady? She is feeling the heat being one of the thieves of privatization. Your HH wanted this commission of Inquiry but why have your turned around and say it should not go on? Is not that you are affirming that HH and Mukuni stole from Zambians? Please Lungu let the Inquiry go on…we want all thieves of Privatization to account for their criminality.
Next time a lousy thieving lawyer bared by the LAZ tells you that they have no vision, run Zambia! Cwale fa mu putumani ng’anda ka malaho.
Cisca I have no words for you upnd cadres apart from pany0panu
Mr Lungu sir, Zambia doesn’t belong to you. Today you are the president and tomorrow you will just be an ordinary citizen and will be made to answer all your current wrong doings. I don’t know why African leaders don’t learn.
You claim to be a neutral organisation working for betterment of society. Then how come your office bearers have political affiliations? Your past chairman Bishop Mumbo is a UPND man. How and why should we trust anything you say? He was actively involved in the CiSCA functioning and was swiftly let off when people came to know about his political inclinations!
There you go! This is the clear evidence of your affiliations. You only pretend to work for upholding Constitution, but in reality you have political agenda. Though this article appears to be a caution to President Edgar C Lungu, in reality it is out of the fear of Hakainde Hichilema might go behind the bars. Hence the frantic efforts to pressurise government.
This is what people of Zambia want. We want inquiry into the Privatization. We want to know why our assets were sold at dirt cheap rates….. And here is an organisation that is trying to fuel unrest in the country! This is nothing but veiled threat that there we will instigate violence if you go ahead with the inquiry. But people of Zambia are wise enough not to be taken for granted.
No need to make mother of all commissions of inquiries. The outcome of this will expose the ‘mother of all corruptions’ in the country and then everything will be crystal clear. But I like your last ditch effort to save your master.
“While as CiSCA we do not question the legality of the Commission of Inquiry, we are not convinced that the 40,000 signatories in the YALI Petition represent even remotely what would be considered public interest.” Oh really? Because they are not supporting your leader? Because they are real patriotic citizens? Because, they stood against corruption and corrupt politician? What an irony!!!
Oh! This is the real reason for your worry! The commission of inquiry will summon international buyers too, and once questioned, they will spill the beans and that is your real worry. You should be worried. Because the truth will come out and those guilty will face the music.
THE COI WILL UNEARTH ALL SORTS OF UNDERHAND SCHEMES.
What Bill10 has to do with this? Dear CiSCA, tell me one thing. Are you against youth and women empowerment? Are you against differently abeled persons getting their dues? Are you against youth, women and differently abled persons coming into main stream?
CISCA lost direction; bishop Mambo used it to be recognised by UPND; The likes of Chipenzi keep using this entity to advance UPND agenda while they point a finger at their opponents in ngo world. Don’t know why they can write all this nonsense just to defend HH. Let the people of Zambia get the truth about HH source of wealth without being destructed by the claims on Kwacha or fire trucks u want us to talk about. Sadly, Judith Mulenga is useful to HH and UPND because of her Mulenga name but beyond that, she is merely trying to survive.
CISCA lost direction; bishop Mambo used it to be recognised by UPND; The likes of Chipenzi keep using this entity to advance UPND agenda while they point a finger at their opponents in ngo world. Don’t know why they can write all this nonsense just to defend HH. Let the people of Zambia get the truth about HH source of wealth without being destructed by the claims on Kwacha or fire trucks u want us to talk about. Sadly, Judith Mulenga is useful to HH and UPND because of her Mulenga name but beyond that, she is merely trying to survive. Divorced women without much to rely on except donor money can sometimes be a menace to society
Who was the person in charge of the give away of KIFCO (Kabwe Industrial Fabrics Company. It was LUNGU. Keep watching. This will make a very big turn on the Finance Ministers, Nawakwi and Katele Kalumba. It will also show up on the biggest criminal in Zambia, Mr. Chikwanda. Just because he is quiet does not mean he is clean. He is the dirtiest criminal in Chiluba government and the Sata/Lungu government. He ate the Eurobond. Others to explain their game are Derick Chitala, Dan Pule, How has everyone forgotten Dora Siliya’s criminal activities?
Menopause
After this set up an inquiry to investigate the gassing of 50 innocent Zambians….HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED.
Gassing incidents-another issue? Thank you for raising these issues.
Judith Mulenga, tawaishiba queue principle? “First come first served”.
Umulandu wa privatisation mu queue principle eufwile ukubalilapo. Uyo ulelanda uwa recent corruption elo wacitike.
So, kubalilapo uwacitike earlier.
I judge comments by the number of likes and dislikes Ndeloleshafye
Comment:All the past govts were more corrupt as compared to the PF, we must allow the pf to do its job on privatization please go ahead with it.