By Kalima Nkonde
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- It is squarely in America’s national interests and strengthens our national security when democracy and human rights are protected and reinforced worldwide.(U.S Secretary of State Anthony Blinken)
- Zambia was one of the fastest eroding democracies in the world. The country registered a remarkably rapid decline in the quality of democracy since the last election in 2016. (“Varieties of Democracy Project”, the most respected assessor of democracies in the world based at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.).
- The democratic principles we have come to know have been violated left, right and centre so that instead of going forward and consolidating our still fragile democracy, we are retrogressing and not so slowly! Our country is now all, except in designation, a dictatorship and if it is not yet, then we are not far from it. (Former ZCCB President Arch-Bishop Tresphore Mpundu).
- Zambia is “Partly free” with a score of 52/100. The government regularly invokes the law to restrict freedom of expression and ban peaceful demonstrations and meetings, while the opposition faces onerous legal and practical obstacles in their operations. (Freedom House, an international NGO that monitors political and civil liberties – 2021 Report)
- We are disheartened to see the country moving backwards by using the same exclusion political strategies that the colonialists used such as the POA, restriction in the use of the public media, use of violence and arbitrary arrest to scare political opponents and members of the public (Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB).
- A good number of our partners in the private sector have been threatened with closure if they continue supporting our newspaper with advertisements. President Lungu should not think Zambians are foolish. The damage he has caused to the media in Zambia will never be forgotten. He has closed more media houses than any president in the country’s history. (News Diggers Newspaper Editorial )
U.S Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has recently written ( 16 July 2021) to all embassies in the World including Zambia, to make the promotion of Democracy and Human rights as their number one priority in their work above everything else. This is according to an exclusive report by Politico, the credible U.S news organization based on a confidential cable it was able to obtain. This is a flashing red light for Zambian politicians on both sides of the aisle as the country heads for elections in three weeks and thereafter. They ignore this at their own peril.
“Secretary of State Antony Blinken is telling U.S. diplomats to make the promotion of human rights and democracy a priority, even in countries with abusive governments that happen to be U.S. allies,” The paper reported. “Blinken lists several priorities for U.S. diplomatic activity going forward, including: giving citizens the means to combat surveillance techniques while promoting their access to information; cracking down on corruption; and preventing abuses by security forces overseas, including those that the United States helps arm.”
The World has seen the erosion of democracy and human rights in the past five years as autocratic leaders have been emboldened by the former President Trump’s administration and China. The Biden administration in its bid to fight Chinese influence around the world, which has been getting an edge, has pressed the reset button. The honey moon seems to be coming to an end for regimes around the world who had unfettered dictatorial behaviour and were having a field day abusing their citizens and reversing democratic practices without any consequence.
There are two major differences between the new Biden administration directive to those of previous US administrations. The first distinction is that the Biden administration is going to apply the condemnation and punishment indiscriminately. The new policy will not distinguish between friend and foe, when it comes to calling out governments for human rights problems or anti-democratic activity as was in the past.
“The United States has a track record of being less vocal about human rights abuses when they occur in countries that are considered U.S. allies or partners. Whereas in the past the US would castigate Iran, a foe, for some abuses, while ignoring similar abuses in Saudi Arabia, a friend,” Politico reported. “And while Blinken includes some cautious caveats about how to deal with abusive allies, the message overall is a break from the strategy of former President Donald Trump’s administration, which largely avoided criticizing the rights records of governments, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, whose cooperation the U.S. needed on various fronts.”
The second major difference in the cable is that US will openly admit its own human rights challenges but with a caveat that it is not defensive about it but has always tried to improve on them and there is overwhelming evidence. Blinken has clearly told diplomats that it’s fine to admit U.S. flaws when promoting rights.
In promoting human rights and democracy abroad, U.S. diplomats should make “clear that we ask no more of other countries than we ask of ourselves,” Blinken states. “That means we acknowledge our imperfections. We don’t sweep them under the rug. We confront them openly and transparently,” Politico reported. It might be “painful, even ugly,” but Blinken argues that such honesty “helps disarm critics and skeptics who would use our imperfect record at home to undercut our global leadership on these issues.”
The need to admit by the US, is in general targeted at disarming Russia and China, who when attacked for human rights abuses in the past, have hit back and pointed to American struggles on racial and other areas. They have accused the US of hypocrisy and lacking credibility in promoting human rights.
Politico quoted Blinken to have told U S Ambassadors in the cable that: “Standing up for democracy and human rights everywhere is not in tension with America’s national interests nor with our national security. It is squarely in America’s national interests and strengthens our national security when democracy and human rights are protected and reinforced worldwide.”
In terms of the basic modus operandi, Blinken has directed U.S. diplomats to take a number of steps, including engaging regularly with human rights defenders and civil society representatives in the countries where they are posted, especially those “where democracy and/or human rights have been under threat.”
As for the consequences for the offenders, the cable states that the criteria for the selection of the tools to be used, will depend on how effective the punishment will be in changing behaviour. State Department employees have been directed to look at ways to use everything at the US disposal from U.S. military aid to visa bans to shape the behaviour of rights abusers. The following are the expected tools that the US has in its tool box that may be used: visa travel bans, economic sanctions, freezing of aid provided through USAID, influencing the IMF funding for those who want them and reporting human rights abusers to International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.
In the light of the above explicit directive by the Biden administration to its diplomats, many Zambian local analysts and observers are of the view that Zambia is one of the countries in Africa which is on the U.S radar for three main reasons. Firstly, the country has badly backslidden on its democratic credentials and its democracy is seriously under threat. Secondly, there is unprecedented upsurge in corruption in Zambia, and thirdly, the Chinese influence in Zambia is among the highest if not the highest in Africa. It follows that Zambia ticks almost all the boxes for the United States’ objectives in the cable. As part of its competition with China, the US is passing Strategic Competition Act in which Africa does feature as priority area. In addition, the Biden administration is resetting its African policy.
The assertion that democracy in Zambia has deteriorated in past ten years, cannot be disputed by any independently and objective minded person. The evidence is overwhelming. It is beyond question because both local, international and other credible independent organisations have attested to this. The pillars and fundamental values of a democracy are: the rule of law, separation of powers, independent judiciary, and freedom of the press, free and fair elections and the protection of human rights. These ideals are indispensable for a democracy to work. During the ten years (2011-2021), Zambia’s democratic credentials have deteriorated in almost all the above measures according to government critics’ allegations.
The complainants about deterioration in democracy and human rights have been very diverse. They include the general citizenry, Opposition Parties, the Church mother bodies, media owners, western diplomats, academics and Non-government organisations such as Amnesty International, Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network, Chapter One Foundation, Zambia Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa Pan-African Lawyers Union, SADC Lawyers Association Advancing Rights in Southern Africa Programme and Freedom House.
Zambia has had a thriving private press since the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1991.However, there appears to be sufficient evidence that this pillar of democracy is under serious threat and the space for journalists to practice their profession has been shrinking in the last ten years. The PF administration has been the most vicious administration in curtailing press freedom since Zambia returned to democracy.
According to the News diggers paper, many media houses have fallen victim of the government regulators in terms of closure or suspension of licences or threats of revocation of licences. They include the following: The Post, Copperbelt TV, Muvi TV, Itezhi- Radio, Komboni Radio, Jive FM, Ngoma Radio, Mwinilunga Radio, Valley FM, Luangina Radio, Kwenje Radio, Vision Macha, Karima FM, Young Generation, Live FM. Ama FM, Pan African Radio, Comet 10, Lutanda Radio and Prime TV.
The government’s high headedness with media has sent shivers and intimidated journalist from reporting freely, reducing them to heavy self-censorship. There is generally fear by the majority of journalists in the media fraternity.
One of the first institutions to warn about the deterioration in Zambian democracy was the powerful Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) in April, 2017. The head of the Catholic Church then, Bishop Tresphore Mpundu was concerned about the deterioration of Zambian democracy.
“The democratic principles we have come to know have been violated left, right and centre so that instead of going forward and consolidating our still fragile democracy, we are retrogressing and not so slowly! The political party in power is in the driving seat of the political game on the political field. We therefore demand from the government of the day to put in place concrete measures to reverse this worrying and dangerous trend. Our country is now all, except in designation, a dictatorship and if it is not yet, then we are not far from it. Our political leaders in the ruling party often issue intimidating statements that frighten people and make us fear for the immediate and future. This must be stopped and reversed henceforth,” the Archbishop wrote.
In March, 2021, which is four years later following Bishop Mpundu’s statement – who had since retired – the Catholics teamed up with their Protestants colleagues to advice the government to take the necessary steps to stop the shrinking democratic space in the country. The leaders of three Church mother bodies namely the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) wrote government and their followers.
“The civic and political space that Zambians possess under the constitution is a hard-won product of anti-colonial struggle, and has been key to the progress made since then towards overcoming poverty and exclusion in our country. We are disheartened to see the country moving backwards by using the same exclusion political strategies that the colonialists used such as the POA, restriction in the use of the public media, use of violence and arbitrary arrest to scare political opponents and members of the public. In addition to this, media platform restriction has now extended to social media as government has taken to parliament the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill of 2021. We are aware that this has passed the third reading and is awaiting the assent of the President,” they complained.
On the International stage, one of the international organisations responsible for monitoring political and civil liberties worldwide, is Freedom House. It carried out a study and classified Zambia in 2021 as “Partly free” with a score of 52/100 (0 being the least free and 100 mostly free). The study concluded the following: “The government regularly invokes the law to restrict freedom of expression and ban peaceful demonstrations and meetings, while opposition faces onerous legal and practical obstacles in their operations”.
The other independent and internationally renowned organisations that analyses the status of democracies around the world is the “Varieties of Democracy Project” which is based at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. This is believed by many experts around the world as one of the most trusted sources of information on indicators of democratic progress or regression. In its 2020 report, it noted that Zambia was one of the fastest eroding democracies in the world. The country registered a remarkably rapid decline in the quality of democracy since the last election in 2016 according to Nicole Beardsworth of University of Warwick.
We should all agree that we are going in the wrong direction in many ways – democracy and human rights is just one area. The economy is another. It is important for novices and rookies in international affairs, and those who do not read and follow the intricacies of what is happening in the geo-political and economic eco-system to wake up. It would be an act of folly for current and future leadership and their supporters to have a knee jerk reaction and defence to the disclosures of the article. It will be suicidal to dismiss this new aggressive and focused US foreign policy on democracy and human rights as inconsequential .We should not dare the U.S on the basis that Zambia has a good relationship with China and Zambia is a sovereign state. China is of no use in geo-political issues as Zimbabwe found out with Mugabe’s ill fated “going east” strategy. The argument of sovereignty is also hollow when you are so heavily indebted, you are cap in hand begging for IMF bailout and your budget for the health other social services are heavily dependent on donor aid.
As Zambians, we should realize that the United States and the West are still a very powerful block – China is an emerging power, no doubt, but it is not just yet there – that can punish a country and bring down a country’s economy because they still control the international financial system with the dollar being the reserve currency. We just need to press a reset button to revert and go back to our – 2011 democratic governance system which made it possible for the PF to go into power in the first place. We have changed a winning game of democracy and respect for human rights. The Zambian economy since independence has always done well under a democratic dispensation.
The writer is a Chartered Accountant by profession. He is an independent, non-partisan finance and economic commentator/analyst and a Patriot.
The unfair restrictions on the opposition,media gags ,unfair/unequal policing strategies and Lungu’s campaign disguises +”empowerment” bribes all paint Zambia as a fake democracy .
I fully agree with this article. Nothing more to add. The PF has banned even peaceful protest. Only PF thugs can take to the streets to intimidate law-abiding citizens. Having said that peaceful protest should be accompanied by reasons for protesting which can be submitted as a petition for the attention of relevant public officials. That’s how democracies work.
If Zambia was to be targeted then HH does not stand a chance. You provoke the government by pulling all sorts of stunts and law enforcement pounce ati dictatorship. We have many political parties in Zambia and UPND is not representative of the Zambian people. It’s a party full of opportunists using dirty campaigning tricks to get in through the back door. We should fear UPND because they breath and think authoritarian, they have put a label of dictatorship on Zambia when in fact they are the ones who are intolerant to others. The worst opposition party this country has ever witnessed.
Rubbish! We will still not accept the LGBTQ agenda. Zambia is a Christian Nation so help us God for the mouth of the Lion and the Mouth of the Dog has opened against us. Being Gay is not a Human right it is a choice of sexual orientation which we have rejected and which the new US government is trying to project globally. May God judge you if you don’t post this comment. You seem pro LGBTQ by withholding such comments.
I agree wholeheartedly with the article and contributor Nemwine above. But you can be assured that the PF government will ignore the content and probably even state they haven’t seen it!
And the UK based troll and imposter KZ will surely say it comes from an opposition bab00n! Wait what happens on August 12! Your cell in Lusaka Central Prison is awaiting!
Just very sad to see how the government of PF is unnecessarily embarrassing itself by using the Police to block HH from free movement in Zambia, totally unnecessary and unwarranted
A strange democracy this Zambia where the PF is campaigning and the opposition is being stopped, wanting to remain in power for jobs and contracts meanwhile lamentably failing to create jobs for the general populace
Feel free to try Ethiopia, Cameroun, Nigeria, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Mozambique, Somalia and South Africa. On rule of law, bandits do not control public life in Zambia. Two, on separation of powers, the three powers of government are functional and effective in Zambia. Three, on independent judiciary, certain cabinet ministers have been tried in courts of law. Four, on freedom of the press, hundreds of media houses are operating openly criticizing government. Five, on free and fair elections, a track record of peaceful change of regime from UFP to UNIP to MMD to PF is proof of vibrant tradition. Six, on protection of human rights, certain cases have won damages for proven shortcomings in the area of human rights.
Kalima Nkonde better stick to his profession and not try to posture as a political scientist. He would do well to tell us about democracy under Trump and why he never wrote to condemn the democratic deficits under him. Trump worked to systematically undermine American democracy but Kalima Nkonde and his ilk were silent. Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol Hill and threatened d the lives of senators, but Kalima Nkonde never raised his voice. Is it because America and the West, as he writes, are a powerful block that cannot be dared? We watched how democracy in America was being undermined under Trump and the only ones who dared challenged America were the so-called dictators life Turkish President Erdogan. If Kalima Nkonde thinks Zambia will be better under HH and UPND he better have…
… his head examined. UPND not only threatens Zambians in government from other regions with job loses. It has been insulting, intimidating and physically attacking Zambians belonging to the PF because they want us all to be UPND. In 2016 after UPND lost elections, Zambians who were perceived to be from Northern and Eastern Provinces had their huts in Namwala torched and were being driven out of Namwala as if they were wild animals. Kalima Nkonde, HH and their Western allies who care about human rights never raised a voice against such barbaric acts. UPND has shown without doubt that given a chance to govern, they will produce one of the most intolerant regimes Zambia has ever known. For example, Gary Nkombo a senior UPND member has told “friends” coming from other regions other than…
Zambia has lost all democratic credentials with the abuse of the public media by the PF to their advantage, and the suspension of freedom of movement to associate the very thing which the current President is doing and who is a candidate, even saddening to hear the Police saying we cant regulate the President, so who should regulate him since he is just a candidate like any other, he cant have a free will, there is absolutely nothing special with him, he is just a candidate like the others and if others are stopped from going in markets, ECZ must also stop him
… Southern Province and working at Parliament that should UPND come into office they should be ready to lose their jobs. This is the message we continue to hear from UPND members working in civil service that because they come from Southern Province and financially contribute on a monthly basis to the UPND they will take over senior positions in government and the foreign service from those coming from other regions who may be in those positions.
Dr Makasa Kasonde (Private Citizen), I personally know u as a distinguished medical practitioner and scholar. I know that u’re capable of being better than that.
Very well summarized article. What is driving us backwards is the hunger for power by the current regime and fear of losing it. They fear reprisals because of the many wrongs that they have done to the country, the economy and the people in general. They have discarded the rule of law but they know that the law exists and it will be used to judge them when a law-abiding government takes over. They are a scared and dangerous gang right now.
You think the usa can attack Zambia and our partners in Africa do nothing? You are a mad f00I. Those Americans have brain washed you. You don’t even know who you are. A lost african f00I
“…Five, on free and fair elections, a track record of peaceful change of regime from UFP to UNIP to MMD to PF is proof of vibrant tradition……”
Look at the So call Dr makasa…….
The article is alluding to lungus rule , prior to this zambia had illustrious democratic credentials….
Are you a doctor ? One wonders.
Spaka @ 12, I can speak for Dr Makasa Kasonde. He’s of course a medical doctor and scholar. I know him personally. He specializes in urology. You might need him if you get a medical problem related to his area of specialisation.
This is an election not only about protecting our jobs and our futures, but also about protecting the jobs and futures of our children and our grandchildren. UPND has told us in plain language “It is our time to rule”. Not only the Batwa people of the Bangweulu Swamps who have lived in this part of the world longer than any other Zambian ethnic group has told us that. What UPND mean by “it is our time to rule” is that they are more Zambian than any other ethnic group. Therefore, when they come into power, jobs will only be for members of the Bantubotatwe group and not for people from other regions, true to their threats. People from other regions should expect to lose their jobs and their children and grandchildren not to get jobs in government. As they usually brazenly threaten…
Kaizar Zulu you’re serously a D!ck. Who are those African partners you’re referring to, that can do a thing to the US? You’re only remaining with two(2) weeks, will now see how your Arss will shrink and dry. You think Zambian are fools and stupid? just wait a bit.
… people from other regions, “it will take a 100 years for people from the rest of Zambia to rule.” Reference is especially made to Bemba-speaking peoples and Easterners who they say have ruled before. But the UPND forget that Levy Mwanwasa’s mum was a Lenje and part of the Bantubotatwe group to which most Tongas are part of the same way they talk about late Dr. Kaunda as being Bemba by virtue of his having been born and brought up in the Northern Province among Bemba-speaking peple. Yet we all know that his parents hailed originally from Nyasaland. But we came to accept Dr, Kaunda as one of us because of the artificiality of the colonially drawn borders that saw ethnic groups divided by them and the fact that most ethnic groups inhabiting Zambia, which includes Tongas, had an…
… origin outside Zambian. No one group can therefore claim to be more indigenous than the other. Except perhaps for the Batwa people of the Bangweulu swamps.
@Dr.Makasa Kasonde, your comment on this article has clearly exposed you as a PF cadre. By definition, Cadres from either side of the political spectrum are not objective, and an educated person like you is doing a deservice to your profession by such swallow and clearly partisan comments. The disclosures of the article are evidence based from credible local and foreign stakeholders comments. You would have been better served by keeping quiet on this one to save your credibility.
It is sad that even educated people like you can defend the indefensible!
This is joke of an article devoid of any credibility or integrity. When your panga wielding opposition leaders and cadres threaten our hard earned peace and the Govt tries to maintain law and order you call it erosion of the so called “democracy” smashing windows and killing police officers at Capitol Hill is not democratic demonstration. These same scenes are seen in our country.
I totally agree more especially that US has admitted their flows in promoting human rights on its citizens and allies. We all would like to see a world were no country takes advantage of the other. My heart bleeds for Palestine while Israel’s apartheid regime slaughter innocent and harmless Palestinians.
Ba Kalima don’t think everyone just listens to CNN and BBC. Take time to follow USA political news on NEWSMAX and other none pro Democrates channels for you to stand on the USA and lecture Zambians about democracy. You know Trump through CNN thats the problem. Trump condemned China and Iran more than what Biden is doing. Just to educate you a bit. Democrates are pro China, Iran whilst Republicans are pro Saudi Arabia and they both share Russia depending on what they want from Putin. Zambia has one of the most transparent elections where twice opposition parties have dislodged the ruling party in the past 57 years of independence. The violence and destruction of property in USA by pro democrates groups like BLM leading to their 2020 elections made China and Russia look like Angels. Please…
Please stop using the USA for your personal agenda. Mr Anthony just made a sincere statement but you want to twist it whether Zambia is included. Do you people really know what a dictatorship looks like? Telling someone that you can’t be in the same place with the sitting president , to you is dictatorship. Can an opposition party fight or challenge police officers in a dictatorship? If HH’s only campaign startegy is rallies,that in itself disqualifies him to be a president in a country with complex challenges like Zambia because if one approach of economic recovery fails then we will be stuck with him. Every 5 years police can’t give me permit, USA, Britain come and see, Sweden see, Germany see. Can’t you think of another way of reaching out to the voters?
It is very easy to abuse people if they are not your relatives. When foreigners are in power in a country not their own, they will plunder, steal, kill and destroy. Zambia is full of Angolans, Congolese, Tanzanians, Malawians, Mozambicans, Zimbabweans, Namibians and others who infiltrated the political hierarchy, the security forces and civil service.
The Future of Liberal Democracy in Zambia is Progress and could be better with more Information and the incomes of our people Increase There will be more value campaigns and issue Based from the Previous and Now elections and political parties of value will put forth their agenda and less efforts in marshalling efforts Viewed from the perspective of Francis Fukuyama’s (1992).The democratization and modernization of Zambian politics and electro system has been very well progressive having held so many elections post unip This historical development of Zambia Democracy and political developments Must continue being supported as small elements of un indented happens are isolated and dealt…
From Kaunda upto Sata, Zambia tried to push above its weight in the democracy space and did very well but the picture is different now. Judges can be threatened by politicians not to emulate other countries and pass certain judgements, the FIC report which is a government report outlines both misapplication and theft of resources with very few politicians being held to account, the public media which is funded by all tax payers features the ruling PF party only, a President who is also a candidate can campaign freely in an election year but stopping the opposition. Zambia has dipped to its lowest, totally unacceptable
Frightened little cowards, claiming to be popular but stopping opposition from campaigning, parliament is dissolved and you are no longer Home Affairs Minister but still giving instructions to Police. And because of fear of loosing jobs the Police just follow, how can HH a free Zambian citizen ask for permission to visit any part of Zambia. what nons…ie is that
This bellend aka KZ thinks African Union will come help Zambia should USA attack Zambia with sanctions
The whole AU cant do jack Sh1t. Sanctions will work extremely well ask your neighbour Zimbabwe how they are suffering.
Ask Iran how their economy has been crippled due to sanctions.
The general masses will suffer unlike convict lungu and his minions will only be starved of flying overseas
“U.S Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has recently written ( 16 July 2021) to all embassies in the World including Zambia, to make the promotion of Democracy and Human rights as their number one priority in their work above everything else”
IT’S LAUGHABLE TO HAVE THE USA TEACHING ANY ONE NATION ABOUT DEMOCRACY. DEMOCRACY IN THE USA IS FAR FROM BEING ARCHIEVED. DEMOCRACY IN THE USA IS ONLY WITH THE WHITE PEOPLE LEAVING AFRICAN AMERICANS (AND OTHERS) SUBJECTED TO INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AGAINST MAINLY THE AFRICAN AMERICANS. BEING BIG IN ECONOMY MAY NOT MEAN BEING BIG IN DEMOCRACY. USA IS VERY FAR FROM BEING A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY. THEY HAVE TO LEARN EVEN FROM ZAMBIA, IN FACT.
@3 FUTEREZED
UPND/HH OR IS IT HH/UPND IS PINPOINTED BECAUSE HH HAS PROMISED ANGLO-AMERICAN CORPORATION (AA) TO COME BACK FOR MORE EXPLOITATION OF ZAMBIA BY MINING AND TAKING THE MINERALS OUT OF ZAMBIA. THAT WILL BE THE SHUTDOWN OF ANY HOPE FOR ZAMBIA’S INDUSTRIALISATION UNDER HH. MORE MINERAL EXPLORATIONS BY AA HAS BEEN PROMISED. THAT IS THE REASON USA IS ONLY MENTIONING HH/UPND- WHICH IS UNDEMOCRATIC IN ITSELF IF ONLY ONE TRIBAL PARTY IS MENTIONED LEAVING THE NUMEROUS PARTIES IN ZAMBIA. USA IS THE BIGGEST EXPLOITER IN THE WORLD. ASK THE CONGOLESE.
As an American citizen and a missionary to Zambia with a “second home” on the copper belt for the last 17 yrs. I believe the US government should not push their liberal ideologies on the government and citizens of Zambia . Do not bow down to the US state Dept. because of pressure of money being withheld. There many many US citizens that don’t agree with this policy. You must stand up for what is right and believe the Lord God will sustain you.
Wise timing @33, HH doesn’t control Anglo-American Corporation (AAC). They’re a big company with a London Stock Exchange listing but of course started out in South Africa. AAC is already in Zambia and have an office in Rhodes Park. They know where most minerals in Zambia are likely to be and they’re exploring. AAC is not banned from operating in Zambia.
Observer talks like a privileged, eliticist person who sees himself as a superclass that has amassed stolen wealth and now feels threatened. UPND or any other party coming to power other than PF will have to recalibrate the CIvil Service by hiring only impartial officers with integrity, honest, hardworking ..etc.
We can not continue with the likes of KZ, Mwamba, Mapupenge, Kabwe, etc.
Zambia is rotting and deserves rescue!
@Mercury
I have heard enough UPND threats from the public service where I work. I have no big job in public service despite my degrees but will not keep quiet about the UPND threats. They are real and only those who are with UPND would dismiss them. Zambians need to be made aware of the UPND agenda.
UNPD are losing and must lose the elections. HH is not a GUY or homosexual but he supports these disorganised personalities behaviour because of money flowing to him. If he were to win the elections, he would introduce abortion as a business here in zambia and remove religion education from schools as long as money flows towards him [ USA democrats belief]. Note that he made himself rich and not cared about Zambia when privatisation was placed in his hands. He also dribbled deceased farm land. VOTE ECL FOR A BETTER ZAMBIA TOMORROW.