By Sean Tembo, PeP President
1. As Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) we are disappointed with the manner in which the UPND administration is handling the issues in the mining industry related to the liquidation of KCM as well as the Mopani purchase deal. About three days ago we saw the Minister of Mines Hon. Paul Kabuswe address a highly confrontational meeting in front of the media, at KCM at which he made all sorts of accusations against the Liquidator, in addition to chastising him for failing to attend the meeting.
2. Indeed, there is no question that the issues facing KCM and Mopani are many and complex. However if the new UPND administration in particular and the nation at large is going to make progress regarding these issues so as to reach an amicable way forward, there is need for Government officials such as the Minister of Mines to exercise maturity and desist from being confrontational and seeking to apportion blame. The Minister should also desist from carrying the media to attend these high level meetings that will determine the future of KCM and Mopani. In other words, the Minister should stop playing to the gallery and just do his job in a sober manner that will bring about the most positive outcome which will be in the best interests of the Zambian people.
3. As Patriots for Economic Progress we further wish to appeal to the Mines Minister in particular and the UPND administration in general to focus on explaining their policies to the people so that we can understand exactly what they are trying to do. For instance, it is on record that while in opposition Mr Hakainde Hichilema strongly opposed the placing of KCM into liquidation, and he also strongly opposed the Mopani purchase deal. Therefore, now that Mr Hichilema is the President of Zambia, everyone would like to know his position on these two issues. Is he going to proceed with the KCM liquidation and Mopani purchase deal or not? So far the UPND administration has been undecided on these two issues. However, for as long as such indecision continues, there will be uncertainty in the mining sector. Such uncertainty will obviously hinder investment into the sector and undermine production.
4. As Patriots for Economic Progress we wish to remind President Hakainde Hichilema that the mining sector is inevitably the backbone of our economy and therefore it cannot afford to suffer from the President’s indecision. It must be noted that even the current improvement in our balance of payment position as well as fiscal position is directly attributed to the mining sector and increase of copper prices on the world market due to the advent of electric cars. If Zambia is going to continue benefiting from these high copper prices on the world market, we need to increase production and that can only come about if President Hichilema faces and addresses the issues at KCM and Mopani. The sooner that the President addresses these issues, the better. If these matters are not urgently addressed, we risk undermining our entire economy in general and our balance of payment and fiscal positions in particular.
This is fair comment. It’s a change from him.
He’s been over excited for nothing. They all love to be on cameras.
The reality is we are still on cross roads since this government came in. They have addressed literally nothing other than shutting up the cadres in streets and bus stops. To them this is an achievement.
No monies in national coffers someone goes to hire auditors to audit government projects, no money in coffers he’s gone ahead with his treason case seeking compensation from the same broke government is heading. No money in coffers where is he now? US roaming the streets.
If this guy had a heart for those poor Zambian’s who voted him in he would constructed a 1 by 3 block classroom in one of those delapidated village schools.
A trip worth over 200K USD. That amount can’t fail to erect a decent classroom block or even construct a good sanitarium at a poor secondary school somewhere in the bushes of Zambia.
And I for once thought this our president is rich and my hope was to hear him say I don’t need no salary or my salary to start building a hospital in one of those districts by the end of 5year term the hospital could have been up and running. But look at him…. The word selfish has even started appearing in his face. Declare your assets we see.
Very sober and very observant of the site.
Yadi..yadi….yadi …..
You are making noise , ……
Rightnow zambia needs funding and investments……….
that is what HEHH is attending to right now……..
Come back after 3 months…….
Although Sean for the first time is NOT being personal with Mr. Hichilema, his argument is still questionable, what exactly, he meant by the minister being confrontational. The minister:
asked: “…..mine management to clean up the Commercial department which he said was corrupt where only a few individuals belonging.
“…….directed that supply contracts opportunities should not be confirmed to the same people”
“……called for better conditions for the miners and also support for the community through corporate social responsibility
Said: “……. government will soon make a policy statement on the direction of Mopani in terms of ownership.
AND Mr Kabuswe said he was very happy with the impressive performance of Mopani. So WHAT IS SEAN TALKING ABOUT AND SCARING OFF…
Sean for the first time is NOT being personal with HH, his argument is still questionable, what exactly, he meant by the minister being confro.ntational. The min.ister: asked: “…..mine management to clean up the Commercial department which he said was corrupt where only a few individuals belonging. “…….directed that supply contracts opportunities should not be confirmed to the same people”
“……called for better conditions for the miners and also support for the community through corporate social responsibility
Said: “……. government will soon make a policy statement on the direction of Mopani in terms of ownership.
AND Mr. Kabuswe said he was very happy with the impressive performance of Mopani. So WHAT IS SEAN TALKING ABOUT AND SC.ARING OFF INVES.TORS?
Rubbish moderations.
Sean Tembo behaves like he won the election. In reality he got 0.0001% of the votes, zero seats in parliament, and therefore should SHUT UP. No idea why LT gives him this platform.
Still blocked by LT dogs
Testing
hh is still in USA begging like a desperate poor hyena. How can a so called billionaire go to beg? A failed leader is one who looks for solutions in other countries . He thinks the USA care about Zambia being successful? Why would they ? They are looking out for themselves like all countries out there. Hh is a failed textbook crook
Lusaka times, the next time you block me, I will beat all of you up including your useless editors. Remember my black belt didn’t disappear just because there is a new incompetent govt. I am still a black belt.
Attacking or criticizing the Government or Party in power on a daily basis reduces the worth of a political leader. The opposition should be about policies not administrative issues such as how to run a mine. Sean should campaign and win the 2026 election for him to come and do things his way. HH and UPND will do things the best way they know how. I watch international news of western Democracies, I have never seen or heard opposition leaders criticizing Government on a daily basis. We are tired of these ‘brief case’ nashala neka tuntemba Zero Political Parties. Take time to review how and why you lost then chart the way forward, not every day blah blah blah blah. finally, if you owe someone K1,000,000 which you have failed to pay and meanwhile you can buy food for your family that does…
not mean you are not bankrupt, you are. That is the meaning of EMPTY COFFERS, OPPOSITION PARTIES LIKE PEP AND THE CRIMINAL AND GANGSTER PF SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS.
When this F.oolsays we as Patriots for economic freedom, who does he talk about?
We are back to pettiness and chatty patty ish. What’s up with numbering each paragraph? After 15 years or more in opposition, Sean will eventually mature.
PS. I am being petty too, sorry.
Sean tembo and edith nawakwi falsely claims to have a special knowledge and / or skill but yet they are only as worthless as a decapitated rooster and hen respectively.
Under-five ministers will continue to at to the gallery. They still thingk they are in opposition and still think the governing a country is done in the media. Sad indeed.
Abanyoli (Zinc) @2 and 3 and Choolwe Hantiba @ 19 above, the subject is Sean Tembo’s posting and not HH. I know it’s paining u that HH’s election victory has stopped PF’s kleptocratic regime. HH is strong on charitable works which he started many years ago as a private citizen. He just doesn’t blow his own trumpet.
Try farming. The mines minister is right to set the tone from the beginning looking at the mess your colleagues left at the mines. By the way don’t stand again in the next elections because you are not a politician but just a social commentator.
Welcome back KZ mkwasu! Sean Tembo is right. It seems the Minister is seeing PF in Mopani and KCM. He needs to give direction. Did he expect to find Milingo Lungu at KCM when the UPND has frozen his accounts? There’s an imminent protest by artisanal miners whose operations have been halted. These are being supported by civil servants, especially teachers whose salaries have been affected by the abrupt debt swap cancellation. If Witina Kapembwa doesn’t quickly move to calm the situation Bally will be welcomed by a rude shock. Douglas Syakalima is in a slumber and hasn’t said anything. Parents have refused to pay school fees and we have exams coming. Nipano tuli
The UPND must understand that campaigns are over. What we require are policies and not to remind us how bad PF was
Nonsense, this is why these foreigners steal from us because of leaders like you Sean Tembo. Confrontational or not, we need to manage our resources properly and let these thieves stop stealing from us. Go to the Arab world and see how they manage their oil/ gases. Get it right and stop being childish.
Another use less article from Sean Paul Tembo
@ 14 naimwe ‘ Attacking or criticizing the Government or Party in power on a daily basis reduces the worth of a political leader. The opposition should be about policies not administrative issues such as how to run a mine’ End of quote. Is this not what HH and UPND did for the entire time they where in opposition? Had it not been for the fearless Sean, UPND would have been dozing by now.
@16 ‘When this F.oolsays we as Patriots for economic freedom, who does he talk about?’ End of quote. You gay has no moral right even to be on this platform
@16 Ayatollah- You write so well and on point, please get into politics and teach some of these babies what the person in the country wants now. The Zambian youth is now a wounded buffalo and any messing up , upnd kuya bebele 2026. I pity HH because his may not end well. ECL is now of out the game and all eyes are on the ball. Many end up regretting why they went for that top job……….I pray that HH gets all the wisdom to do the right things for this country.
All checks and balances are welcome. Continue doing so SEAN. This country does not belong to UPND, neither did it belong to UNIP, MMD or PF.
You criticised PF on a daily, called them names and disrespected their president and might I say, even refused to concede defeat. And now you expect silence? And the what about the freedom of speech you have been propping up after taking up the reigns. Ninshi abantu tabakulakwatako ama opinions yabo? Ala, ukuteka tekwabana!!! My biggest suspicion is that HH is too powerful in the process of forming policy and giving policy direction and we may end up with a limited crop of ministers that are unable to think for their own good. Of course I could be wrong!
@24 The Prince, KCM and Mopani are being run by Zambians, so which foreigners are stealing from you? @ 28 Sleepjoe, there’s no single person that can change Zambia alone. What we require is collective change, especially our attitudes. Look at LPM, he tried but he was alone most of the time. How many of his Ministers ended up in prison? Austin Liato, Brian Chituwo, Muteteka, Maxwell Mwale, even Situmbeko is lucky not to have ended up there. There are several in Bally’s Cabinet that are suspect.