On 22 January 2025, ZCCM-IH announced that Bishop John Mambo had ceased to be a Director of the Company on 12 December 2024.
After President Hichilema’s victory, Bishop Mambo’s appointment in 2021 appeared to us to bea safeguard for the Zambian interests.
After 3 years within ZCCM-IH, the defender of the Poor and the Voiceless was not reappointed as Director by majority shareholder IDC despite his experience within the company and his professionalism. The Chairperson of IDC is the President Hakainde Hichilema.Yet Bishop Mambo is not a senior civil servant prone to corruption, personal enrichment or revolving doors. His probity and willingness to defend Zambia’s interests are unanimously recognised, beyond Zambia. His limitation of his mandate as ZCCM-IH Director is therefore incomprehensible and totally unjustified.
His ouster follows a series of dismissals and the shock resignation of Chairperson Dolika Banda.Like the Management and Directors who were sacked, Bishop John Mambo contributed to the Company’s marked recovery after some very difficult years. What is the purpose of dismissing or not reappointing competent people with a good knowledge of the company ? Unfortunately, we are witnessing the elimination, one after the other, of all the vets who cure the cow…
We still remember Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe’s not very credible explanation during an interview on ZNBC concerning the ‘transfer’ of Director Moses Nyrienda…
During a traditional ceremony in November, President Hichilema said ‘they lie to me in Lusaka’. By provoking the ousting of Bishop John Mambo, are some evil liars trying to prevent President Hichilema from keeping abreast of what is going on at ZCCM-IH ?
Yet it is common knowledge that Bishop Mambo is very close to President Hichilema. The President has to have been aware of his ouster, which was so either orchestrated by him or imposed by bad eggs. More and more high-ranking Zambians are informing us that the bigwigs think ‘this is our time’… Is the turnaround of ZCCM-IH whetting the appetite of voracious scoundrels who want a free hand ? Have Bishop Mambo’s probity and honesty finally become an obstacle and a last bastion to their voraciously milking the cow ?
Be that as it may, our ZCCM Defense Association will continue to keep a close eye on what is happening at ZCCM-IH and to defend the interests of all the Company’s shareholders.
Issued by :
Thierry CHARLES
President of ZCCM Defense
We’re our own worst enemy and not deserving of aid. It appears no amount of jailing can deter us from our thieving culture.
As for the American Ambassador; the presser may have been for your nationals. But casts aspiration on the government.
Your current government is today the laughing stock of the world in failing to uphold democratic tenants and being a bully using “tariffs”. Firing its own civil servants in the most humiliating and inhumane manner, shipping nationals without “due process” and yet you forget the post 9/11 wire tapping act that surveilled on citizens in the name of terrorism protect? Stop and frisk? And yet you have laws to protect the privacy of your citizens while on the internet from all manner of crimes and fraud.
Introspect…..bane
The writer speaks very loudly about board issues in public. What is his sole intent?
He is not the majority shareholder of ZCCM-IH and yet like Mwamba goes around makinf statements day in and out.
If you are not happy with the way ZCCM-IH is being run. Sell your shares and go away. Statements made to incite Zambians to dance to your arrogant views sound like a broken record. Companies are not a democratic movement. Crude as that may sound, some of us have lived it.
You and the American Ambassador come here (in snide remarks) and pit Zambians against each other. Ask yourself why in most of West Africa and the North the French have been kicked out.
Stop being as smart ass and invest in your own economy. If we get things wrong, we will learn from it. You will jump ship and laugh at us.
Board members of state-owned enterprises are appointed for a period of 3 years. This is renewable at the discretion of the President or the responsible minister. Ministers, barring a dismissal, can serve for a maximum period of 5 years in the life of one parliament. Bishop John Mambo has served 3 years on the board of directors of ZCCM-IH and therefore has been there long enough.
I may also add that no one is entitled to a contract renewal.
Seems like the Writer seeks to stir the pot of ZCCM-IH. Why cant he just sell his shares and leave us alone. The public has never been impressed by his efforts to bring controversy at ZCCM-IH. Dont the French have companies to invest in? As a minority shareholder, your place to have your say is at an AGM.
Envy and fear in a democracy that always feels inadequate, it’s always something. And the voters always fear they won’t be able to benefit anything.
He was not saving any national interests but his own. I mean, what does he know about mining, economics or business? He was also sacked from the Church of God, good riddance.
The Info Minister must name “ZCCM Defence” openly! The suggestion that ALL governments SINCE FTJ’s “forced” Zambia Auction are “swindlers” is jockey!
Once they serve and fulfill the purpose of those who sent them and nourished them…….. and the sponsors got everything they needed from them….. and still were considered a threat….
As a minority shareholder, Charles’s disruptive behavior does not reflect the views of the majority. His approach is counterproductive.
This reads more like an emotional rant than a factual analysis. ZCCM-IH is not a church pulpit—it’s a corporate board.”
Charles is crying louder than the bereaved. Bishop Mambo’s term ended—plain and simple. What’s so shocking?”
This article insults Zambians’ intelligence. It assumes we can’t see through the foreign shareholder panic after losing their mole.
There’s nothing ‘dark’ about enforcing term limits. Charles is just angry he lost inside access to boardroom gossip.
So now being close to the President is a qualification to remain on the board? That’s not how governance works, Mr. Charles.
this article sounds like it was written by someone afraid of losing control—not someone defending the poor.
hahahah, what a joke. He’s acting like ZCCM-IH belongs to him. A 6% stake doesn’t give you veto power, sir
awe sure this investors. Calling it a ‘cow being milked’ is offensive to Zambians who actually own the minerals. Maybe it’s time Charles sold his shares to locals.
thierry Charles must understand that Zambia is a sovereign state. Shareholders don’t dictate national appointments.
He should stop hiding behind Bishop Mambo to protect his foreign interests in ZCCM-IH
If he’s unhappy, he should sell his shares. Zambia is not for emotional shareholders.
this guy is trying to weaponize the Bishop’s name to keep control. It’s desperate and undignified
for Christs sake, the Board is not for activism. His sentimentalism has no place in corporate governance chapwa.
this kabuki must be termed, he’s using Bishop Mambo as a pawn. Typical of someone who never truly respected Zambia’s sovereignty. these are the bazungus we don’t want in Zambia. chimutu
Let this fake investor who wants to such our resources calm down. Zambia will manage its affairs with or without Bishop Mambo
this guy must worry more about dividends, not decisions made by Zambian leadership.he must actually go to hell.
Foreigners can’t cry louder than Zambians about Zambian companies. It’s embarrassing.