Thursday, May 15, 2025
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Zambia’s financial stability under threat

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Zambia’s financial stability under threat
Dr Denny Kalyalya

The Bank of Zambia has noted that weakening economic growth, load shedding and tightening liquidity in Zambia are threatening financial stability in the market.

And the Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has maintained the policy rate, a key determinant in lending rates, at 10.25 percent.

BoZ Governor Denny Kalyalya says the committee took into account projected inflation remaining above the upper bound of the 6.8 percent target range, tightened liquidity and reduced production owing to electricity challenges.

Dr. Kalyalya noted that increased food prices owing to droughts in the last farming season have also had a negative toll on inflation.

He says the above factors required the upward adjustment for the policy rate but the Central Bank had to hold it pending some measures by the Ministry of Finance.

Speaking during the MPC quarterly briefing in Lusaka today Dr. Kalyalya noted that global growth has equally weakened with demand for copper by China having reduced owing to decline in investment in emerging markets and reduction in global trade due to ongoing trade tensions between the USA and China among others.

And Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor Operations Francis Chipimo said access to finance has remained a challenge for private sector growth and investment.

Dr. Chipimo however said there are a lot of developmental issues being undertaken aimed at enabling the financial sector mobilize savings and lend money to investors with ideas.

Why 2021 is critical for ECL and HH

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Why 2021 is critical for ECL and HH
HH and President Lungu meet at late Munkombwe’s burial in Choma
HH and President Lungu meet at late Munkombwe’s burial in Choma

By Chimwemwe Mwanza

Vicious, vindictive and vengeful aptly describes the Zambian political arena. Former Presidents, Kenneth Kaunda, Rupiah Banda and the late Frederick Chiluba all have scars to prove this. In the 80’s, Kaunda locked up Chiluba on flimsy charges that failed to hold in a court of law. After he became Head of State, Chiluba retaliated by sending Kaunda to Mukobeko maximum prison.

The irony for Chiluba is that his handpicked successor, Levy Mwanawasa motivated Parliament to waive off the latter’s immunity thereby exposing Chiluba to several graft charges formulated by the now defunct Task Force on Corruption. With his legacy tainted by a skewed narrative, only death saved Chiluba from possible jail time. To erase his predecessor’s legacy and ensure his humiliation, the late Sata’s PF re-created this trend by consigning Rupiah to a life of court appearances.

Off significance to this conversation, UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema (HH) served time in Lilayi prison on a laughable treason charge – this at the hands of the current PF regime. For a fact, HH has never hidden his disdain for President Edgar Lungu and his stint in a tiny Lilayi prison cell has probably served to reinforce the UPND leader’s contempt for the President.

Just why such vindictiveness and blatant abuse of power seems to gratify incumbents is hard to understand. In the absence of reason, one might well speculate that this show of brutality is all about a naked flexing of political muscle – a bit more like, ‘can I show you who is the boss’. Whatever the reason, the difficulty is that this trend erodes the very democratic tenets and political maturity that Zambia is renowned for in the rest of Africa and the world over.

Which makes 2021 an interesting contest. Other than bread and butter issues, the fore mentioned factors will weigh heavily on the minds of both President Lungu and HH heading closer to the polls.

Who is likely to win?

The tiny but seismic shift in fundamentals on the ground seem to suggest that this will be a closely fought contest. Besides, recent electoral predictions across the globe – even by the most experienced pundits have gone against the grain making it even more difficult to provide an accurate outcome.

For example, in 2012, several analysts predicted an outright victory for Rupiah’s MMD only for the PF to spring a surprise. Suffice to acknowledge that, while characteristics of the Zambian electoral landscape may differ in comparison to mature democracies, there are similarities to draw from – especially in elections where the voter’s desire for change outweighs any other considerations.

Unaware of a groundswell desire for change, an over-confident former British Premier, David Cameroon called a snap referendum to determine Britain’s future in the European Union (EU). He was stunned at the outcome. Against odds, the British electorate voted for Brexit thus paving the way for what has now become Britain’s messy divorce from the EU trade block.

Humiliated by a razor thin loss to Brexit supporters, Cameroon was forced to call his time as leader of the conservative party. In yet one of the biggest election upsets of the 21st century, Donald Trump steam-rolled establishment candidate, Hillary Clinton to become the 45th President of the US. Therefore, the notion that either the PF or UPND might have an edge over the other heading towards 2021 is fallacious. Truth is, this is an election that could swing either way.

Why ECL will be desperate to win

Despite the PF’s public show of confidence, their determined focus on HH and constant whip-lashing of his perceived tribal inclinations, best illustrates their genuine fears and by extention their desperation. Rightly so, they can’t afford to be complacent. 2021 will be a referendum on their ten years in power. Be rest assured that this is one election where the PF’s well – oiled propaganda machinery will likely throw both the sink and kitchen at the UPND bearing in mind what is at stake. In fact, the proposed amendment to the constitution is intended to disadvantage the opposition ahead of the polls.

What troubles the mind is that the current constitution which the PF is attempting to discard was signed into law by the sitting President amid a jam-packed Independence stadium. Three years later, it’s tempting to ask. What has changed to warrant an amendment to this sacred document? By now, PF knows too well that the much-punted humility of their candidate might be a hard-sale more so to an electorate that appears too desperate for change. They can’t afford lethargic arguments such as they being the only party with a manifesto. Need they be reminded that having a manifesto is one thing and delivering on its content is another.

What about the promise that they would lower taxes and put more money in the pockets of the working class? Did they deliver on such including creation of job opportunities? You be the judge. The President is aware that he will be facing an electorate that is weary of rising food costs. A persistent drought over the last two seasons has only compounded the hunger situation – more so in outlying areas of the country. In addition, the policy uncertainty in mining taxation and the stand – off between government and sections of the mining community is taking its toll on economic growth. Perceptions around inaction on corruption might not help his cause either. While some of these challenges might not be, the PF’s making, the electorate always tend to punish a sitting government for their suffering – sometimes unfairly so.

Never mind whether HH has genuine or has yet to formulate charges against the PF, he has consistently warned that the PF leadership will be called to account for wrong doing once he becomes President. The tacit implication of this threat is that, HH is already extending bed spaces at Chimbokaila, Kamwala Remand and possibly Lilayi prisons for use by the PF leadership. And knowing fully well what is at stake, a possible loss is too ghastly for the PF to contemplate. For President Lungu, there will be no better motivation to win the polls than lose to a sworn rival.

Its State House or bust for HH

PF has over-exposed the country to a mountain of debt that will outlive generations to come. It is precisely why the 2021 polls will boil down to the economy. As a businessman, HH knows too well the implications of our foreign debt on the fiscus. Zambia can’t afford to keep borrowing to fund consumption and expenditure on non-productive sectors of the economy.

This is the message he has been selling the grassroots. For a fact, he has the support of the broader investment community, including some global mining giants. Most important though, the International Monetary Fund appears to have factored in his possible victory in 2021 hence their reluctance to engage the current government on a possible economic rescue package.

The question is, has the UPND leader’s message of change found resonance with the electorate? While he appeals to the affluent and middle class in Parklands, Kansenshi and Kabulonga, the grassroots in Mandevu, kwa Nagoli and Chamboli seem to be struggling to grasp his vision for the country. Be reminded that he desperately needs this voting block to win the elections.

Against the backdrop of challenges, this looks like HH’s election to lose. Fact is, he can’t afford a record of 4 election loses on the trot. Such a scenario will certainly cast him into political wilderness and the glue that’s bound the UPND together over the years will finally loosen. Is this what he wants?

It’s entirely up to him and how he manages his campaign otherwise it might just well be that he will once again fall short of expectation and hand the PF another 5 years in power. And him being such a vexatious litigant, our Supreme and Constitutional courts will likely be kept busy. Watch this space.

The author is an avid reader of political history and philosophy. He loves Nshima with game meat. For feedback contact him on kwachaoneATgmailDOTcom

From Bally to Belly-Up: Leadership is Hard Mr. President

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From Bally to Belly-Up: Leadership is Hard Mr. President

President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent confession—that “leadership is not easy, it is assumed to be easy from a distance, it is pretty challenging”—might just be the first truth he’s spoken since taking office. For a man who campaigned with an “I know it all” attitude, this overdue admission explains the endless parade of broken promises and his authoritarianism. It seems he’s realized that there’s a big chasm between campaign slogans and the actual work of governance.

From a distance, President Hichilema seemed convinced that catchy slogans, rehearsed speeches, and global charm offensives were all it took to transform Zambia. He genuinely believed that with a little technocratic tweaking and the magic dust of his business reputation, investors would pour in and problems would vanish. He thought he could fix what others had struggled with for years—armed only with a Bally wand and bravado. But once he got to Plot One, that wand turned into a twig. And it’s splintering fast.

Political theorist Max Weber once said that power lies in the “slow boring of hard boards.” But Hichilema treated the presidency like a TED Talk—symbolic, sanitized, and style over substance. Coalition-building, compromise, humility? Not his thing. Instead, he bulldozed over the legacies of his predecessors, acting as if anything before him was obsolete. His obsession with his own ideas (“I am the only one… in the history of this country”) and his compulsive finger-pointing at Edgar Lungu have become so stale that even his die-hard supporters are cringing. One woman called shaking the President’s hand “ukuiishamika”—a curse.

Now, the office that once appeared so glamorous is clearly wearing him down. The Messiah, once worshipped by crowds, is now likened to satan. These days, the best compliment he gets is being called Bashi Promise. The same people who once jeered Lungu under HH’s approving gaze now mock HH in the same breath. Karma has a Zambian passport.

But if HH always knew leadership was this difficult, why did he mock the legacies of Mwanawasa, Banda, Sata, and Lungu as if their struggles were signs of incompetence? Each led Zambia through thorny domestic and global challenges. None of them, it must be said, faced the kind of disillusionment HH has stirred up in just three years. His political capital has all but evaporated. Even “Bally Will Fix It” T-shirts have become unwearable—unless you’re trying to insult your own intelligence. Rumor has it even the First Lady has retired hers.

Still, we must give credit where it’s due. A confession, however calculated, is a rare thing in politics. As my people say, “umwana ekalisha ilyo anya”—a child only sits still after soiling itself.

But let’s not be naïve. As a student of politics, I know better than to take anything from Plot One at face value. This “humble” confession may just be a strategic plot—political framing ahead of the 2026 election. And it comes with two clear advantages.

First, it builds a sympathetic strategy: “I’ve learned, I’ve matured, now I’m ready.” It’s a plea for forgiveness dressed in the robes of wisdom. Second, it sets a rhetorical trap: anyone who criticizes him too harshly is now just “watching from a distance,” as he once did—meaning they don’t really get how hard it is to lead. Classic anticipatory deflection: admit your flaws before your opponents can turn them into weapons.

But that trick only works if Lungu stays off the ballot. If Lungu runs, he’ll blow that “you don’t understand” excuse to bits. He’s been in the trenches. He knows the weight of the job. Which explains HH’s relentless efforts to keep Lungu off the 2026 ticket.

Now the big question. Will Zambians buy it? Will they see HH as a humbled, seasoned leader deserving a second chance—or a failed experiment seeking political cover?

To me, HH came to Plot One with the mind of a baby boss. And in doing so, he misjudged the patience—and intelligence—of the Zambian people. Now, the country is paying the price–unmet expectations, economic strain, and a boiling public mood.

A second term might bring wisdom. But whether the electorate is still interested in Bashi Promise—that’s the real challenge.

Kapya Kaoma

Dr Rodger Chongwe’s Death : Huge Loss To Zambia

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Dr Rodger Chongwe’s Death : Huge Loss To Zambia
NORTHERN Provincial Constitution Conference Nation Technical Constitution Committee team leaders Dr. Rodger Chongwe (right) delivering his official opening remarks to Northern Provincial Constitution delegates at Nellas Lodge in Kasama today with Northern Provincial Minister Col. Gerry Chanda (left)
File: 2013 NORTHERN Provincial Constitution Conference Nation Technical Constitution Committee team leaders Dr. Rodger Chongwe (right) delivering his official opening remarks to Northern Provincial Constitution delegates at Nellas Lodge in Kasama today with Northern Provincial Minister Col. Gerry Chanda (left)

The death of Dr Rodger Chongwe is a huge loss and it will be felt for many years to come. This great son of our beloved nation distinguished himself as a defender of human rights, constitutionalism and the rule of law. I met Dr Rodger Chongwe a number of times in Lusaka and Ndola and I was just stricken by his amiability and tenderness of heart which was magnetic as his personality was very unique. Dr Chongwe was a soft-spoken great man of the law and meeting him gave one a deeper sense of joy and gladness because the old man was fatherly, friendly, sincere, honest and conscientious as a very knowledgeable lawyer who had attained the heights of state counsel deservingly and reputably.

Sitting at his feet during the orientation workshop of district facilitator organised by members of the Constitution Technical Committee chaired by former Chief Justice Annel Silungwe and deputized by Julius Bikoloni Sakala in Ndola at Savoy Hotel, I learnt so much about the intricacies of Proportional Representation which Dr Chongwe thought was the best mode for strengthening democracy in the country. The senior /state counsel displayed unique skills as a legal practitioner who had been practicing from the year 1969 upon joining Michael and Company law firm. His facilitation was exemplary and had befitted his rare achievements in law having served as Law Association of Zambia President and President of the Commonwealth Association of Lawyers . Dr Chongwe was a very persuasive old man and allergic to coercion. His speeches always had a tinge of humility and honesty. He was truthful and never compromised with what was wrong. Corruption to Dr Chongwe was evil and unacceptable.
The magnetic intellectual prowess of Dr Chongwe pulled Sata who befriended him and the dual became all-weather friends as politicians. Dr Chongwe never manifested a haughty and arrogant spirit but displayed love, joy and happiness each time he interacted with people. He never looked down upon anybody others considered inferior beings. Every person carried God’s soul and spirit and deserved respect. His credentials in Human Rights Law and Constitutionalism made him a respectable person wherever he served. He was ever there for the disadvantaged. He was the voice of the voiceless as a meticulous constitutional lawyer and offered mentorship to young lawyers such as Sakwiba Sikota SC, John Peter Sangwa SC and Robert Simeza SC.
His forthrightness and uncompromising disposition earned him hate and malice from key leaders of the Movement for Multiple Democracy (MMD) . He expressed support for people championing gay rights and he parted company with President Frederick Chiluba who was a charismatic Christian member of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ). Later Chiluba estranged himself to UCZ and opted to associate himself with the fire of Pentecostal worship and as President he was surrounded by more Pentecostals than UCZ fellow members.

Dr Chongwe suffered for standing up for the rights of the minorities as a constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate. His humility could not be mistaken for weakness. He was strongly willed. What he felt was wrong he fought with enduring agony. What he thought was very right, he he defended with unthinking determination and deep sense of no compromise and no submission to the whims of political self-will and murmurs of excess individualism. He has died a brave warrior and grandmaster of human rights advocacy and frontrunner in constitutionalism. Whilst he was alive, he became an object of persecution by some forces which wanted to throw him into the Zambezi River had they succeeded to kidnap him out of Zimbabwe on a hired plane on 27th October 1997 when he was falsely accused of being part of the Stephen “Captain Solo” Lungu military coup hoax. God never allowed him to face such a nasty attempt on his life where he was to be fed by fish and perhaps no trace could have been made of his remains had he died in such a despicable act of savagery. Political assassins hired by gangsters in corridors of power can be so cruel. Late President Robert Mugabe and KK cautioned Dr Chongwe against coming back to Zambia when a plane was chartered to have him snatched out of Harare and throw into the deep waters of the Zambezi River by state militias and mercenaries hired to silence the voice of the voiceless in Dr Rodger Chongwe. We will never bring Dr Chongwe back to this rude life on earth. He has responded to the appointment of death and there is no way by which the nation can pay him back for the sacrifices he made to the country. Remember he narrowly escaped death when a bullet from some unknown police officer got stuck in his neck. KK had his head partly grazed by a police bullet in Kabwe. We salute Dr Brian Chituwo for saving their endangered lives at Kabwe Mine Hospital. It all stemmed from greed and lust for power among some political giants who never wanted dissent. Go well great warrior for justice! Amba Kathle Dr Rodger Chongwe.

Author is Luanshya based Historian and Academician: Shaddon Chanda

Ginning And Spinning Cotton Back To The Top

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Ginning And Spinning Cotton Back To The Top

… stakeholders moot aggressive plan to grow cotton, improve yield, empower farmer

By Benedict Tembo

A little more than two decades ago, cotton was widely cultivated in Zambia and had healthy financial returns for farmers.
It was one of the most attractive cash crops especially in traditional agricultural provinces such as Central, Eastern and Southern provinces.

But a drastic drop in prices, which are dictated by buyers, coupled with labour intensity, has forced farmers to migrate to more profitable cash crops such as soybean, in addition to maize.Fred Mooya is saddened that cultivation of cotton has been on a decline in Ngwezi settlement in Magoye, Mazabuka District.

Mr Mooya, who represented Chief Hanjalika during the 2025 Cotton Field Day at the Cotton Development Trust (CDT) in Magoye on Tuesday, said Ngwezi was once the hub of cotton production but there has been a steep decline in cotton and this has contributed to increase in poverty levels.

“There is a very big decline,” he said, pointing to lack of favourable policies as local people are no longer seeing the economic value of growing the crop.
“Cotton buyers dictate the price. [Hence], very few farmers are growing cotton,” Mr Mooya said.

He said cotton was a good cash crop but poor prices have discouraged most farmers who have switched to cultivating maize for consumption and sale to the Food Reserve Agency.

“Cotton growing is labour intensive, at the end of the day, they get peanuts. The price of maize is good while the price of cotton is poor. Lint is very light and needs huge quantities to make a 25 kilogramme bag,” Mr Mooya said.The field day was held under the theme” Driving Cotton Excellence: Innovations, Partnerships, and Farmer Empowerment.”

Yet, cotton is Zambia’s second most important crop after maize, providing livelihoods for over 300,000 farming households.
But despite favourable agro-climatic conditions and strong farmer participation, the sector has been facing structural challenges: low productivity, declining yields, obsolete equipment, inadequate extension support, and weak cotton prices.
However, the plight of cotton farmers could be a thing of the past going by the technical and legal reforms going on in the sector.

Zambia and Brazil have signed a three-year Strengthening of the Cotton Value Chain in Zambia project,implemented under a South-South cooperation framework which is designed to boost the performance,sustainability, and competitiveness of Zambia’s cotton sector.

The project designed to leverage Brazil’s expertise in cotton research and extension, built through successful initiatives in Africa such as the Cotton-4 (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali), to deliver transformative technical cooperation, is now taking shape at the CDT in Magoye.

The Brazilian Cooperation Agency (BCA), which is implementing the project along with its lead the lead partners, the Agricultural Research Company of Minas Gerais (EPAMIG), and the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of Minas Gerais (EMATER-MG), has set up a Technical Demonstration Unit at CDT under the guidance of the African Union.

The development goal of the project is to contribute to Zambia’s Gross Domestic Product growth through improved performance in the cotton sector.The specific goals are to increase cotton yields and competitiveness in Magoye.

Melissa Popoff Scheidemantel, the BCA project analyst some of the activities include capacity building and institutional strengthening by training of extension agents, researchers, and lead farmers.Apart from technology transfer and demonstrations, Ms Scheidemantel said there will also be exchange of visits between Zambian researchers and Brazilian researchers.
She said the exchange visits have already started.

"We had a Zambian team for technical visits in Brazil last year. The trip to Kenya already took place in April. It is part of the activities foreseen in a Regional Project we have with 15 countries that are part of the Brazilian Programme to improve Cotton Production in Africa, " Ms Scheidemantel said. She said Zambian researchers took part in a course on pesticide application.

Ms Scheidemantel said three Zambian representatives recently travelled to Kenya.Kenya is one of the countries that benefit from the Brazilian Programme to Improve Cotton Production in Africa,Martin Simasiku, the CDT cotton breeder, said apart from the setting up of a Technical Demonstration Unit at CDT Magoye, there will also be validation and local adaptation of Brazilian cotton planting protocols.

Mr Simasiku said the project will also facilitate the implementation of pest identification and integrated management training.
He said the expected results are improved cotton yields and quality in pilot regions, strengthened extension and research capacities, enhanced farmer organisation and productivity, operational demonstration plots and validated technologies as well as the adaptation of Brazilian methods to Zambia’s farming realities.

Speaking at the TDU site, CBZ chief executive officer Raymond Mpundu said people who attended the field day were just having a glimpse of what will happen next year when the cooperation takes effect.Mpundu spoke about the ongoing reforms to make the cotton sector profitable, which include repealing the 2005 Cotton Act which has become obsolete.

Under the new Act, the CBZ will set the cotton prices instead of the cotton buyers. He said this will protect the farmers and other stakeholders from abuse.On the technical side, Mr Mpundu said farmers will be receiving minimum cotton production packages which will make their trade profitable.

US CPI surprises to the downside – but bond market still calls the shots

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US CPI surprises to the downside – but bond market still calls the shots

US inflation came in softer than expected in April – but that hasn’t changed who’s really in charge.

That’s the assessment from Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group, following Tuesday’s Consumer Price Index report, which shows headline inflation at 2.3% year-on-year, just below expectations of 2.4%.

Core inflation remains stubborn at 2.8%, and the monthly data shows renewed momentum: core prices rose 0.3% in April, triple the prior month’s gain.

“This is a bond market story,” says Nigel Green. “Even with the headline CPI coming in slightly softer, the core reading is sticky, and that keeps yields elevated. This is why Trump blinked on tariffs.”

The White House confirmed on Monday a deal struck in Geneva that will see US tariffs on Chinese goods drop from 145% to 30%, with China reciprocating by cutting its own duties from 125% to 10%.

“This isn’t about geopolitics — it’s about yields. Trump is trying to avoid stoking inflation further because the bond market is making the consequences crystal clear,” explains Nigel Green.

“With 10-year Treasury yields hovering near 4.5%, financial conditions are already tightening. Add aggressive tariffs into that mix and you risk tipping the economy into deeper volatility.”

Markets are now reassessing the outlook for rate cuts. While the softer headline number offers some relief, the underlying price pressures and elevated services inflation make premature easing unlikely.

“Trump is not steering markets — he’s reacting to them,” says Nigel Green.

“This presidency is being shaped by the bond market. Every move out of Washington is now filtered through the lens of how investors are likely to respond.”

The implications for portfolios are immediate. Sticky inflation and strong services pricing mean tighter financial conditions are set to persist. Growth stocks are under pressure again, while defensives and value sectors are gaining traction. The dollar remains firm, reflecting expectations that rates will stay higher for longer.

“This is why sitting in cash is dangerous,” says the deVere CEO. “You don’t wait for clarity when the environment is changing in real time. Markets move fast — and so must investors.”

deVere warns that although the April headline figure offered a brief reprieve, the persistent rise in core prices, rising energy costs, firm shelter inflation, and sticky services components all reinforce a hawkish stance in fixed income.

“Trump wants to spend more, raise tariffs, and somehow still get lower interest rates,” notes Nigel Green. “But the bond market isn’t buying it — and it’s already forcing changes to his agenda.”

The Geneva tariff deal should not be seen as a pivot to moderation, deVere stresses, but as a sign that economic realities are already shaping political decisions.

“Trump is learning quickly that the bond market doesn’t blink,” Nigel Green concludes. “And this won’t be the last time it forces his hand.

“For investors, the lesson is clear: stay diversified, stay invested, and respect the power of the market to rewrite the political script.”

US-China tariff truce will reset investor expectations: deVere CEO

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US-China tariff truce will reset investor expectations: deVere CEO

A temporary easing of trade tensions between the United States and China announced on Monday will set global financial markets in motion, offering a rare and welcome jolt of optimism after months of uncertainty.

This is the analysis from Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group, following details of a breakthrough struck in Geneva that will see US tariffs on Chinese imports drop from 145% to 30%, while China will cut duties on American goods from 125% to 10%.

Though the agreement is limited to a 90-day period, its implications are far-reaching—providing space for businesses to regroup, and for markets to reprice risk and reward in real time.

“Markets move fast—and they’re going to be racing ahead of previous assumptions,” says Nigel Green.

“This truce opens the door to renewed trade flows, softer inflation pressures, and stronger company earnings, especially in sectors that were bearing the brunt of the tariff war.”

Asia led the early charge, with the Nikkei and Hang Seng both climbing sharply. Futures in Europe and the US followed suit, while commodity prices and emerging market currencies strengthened.

“Capital is coming off the sidelines, and investors are rotating back into equities with exposure to global trade, logistics, and manufacturing,” notes the deVere chief executive.

The shift in tone follows another key development: a US-UK trade agreement announced just 24 hours earlier.

While the US held its 10% tariff line, the UK reduced its duties on American goods to 1.8%, down from 5.1%. The deal also opens greater access for US exporters, adding to the sense that the administration is turning its focus toward rebuilding relationships rather than fracturing them further.

Crypto markets have surged in parallel. Bitcoin broke back above $100,000 for the first time since February and Ether soared over 14%, propelled by revived investor risk appetite. These are not isolated spikes—they are part of a broader pivot away from defensiveness and toward opportunity.

“This kind of coordinated tariff relief, even if temporary, changes the investment landscape,” says Nigel Green.

“It clears a path for businesses to recalibrate their outlook, and for markets to rally on something more than just hope.”

But the optimism comes with conditions. The 90-day horizon leaves little time for real progress if deeper disagreements persist.

Issues like tech access, subsidies, and security remain unresolved. A reversion to higher tariffs would be a major setback, so investors should watch the next round of talks closely.

Even so, this temporary reprieve may be just enough to tip sentiment.

“As equity markets claw back ground lost earlier this year, sectors tied to trade—autos, semiconductors, energy, and industrials—look set to benefit the most. Companies that derive a significant share of revenue from cross-border activity could enjoy a welcome uplift to margins and forward guidance.

“Inflation may also cool as tariffs on consumer and intermediate goods fall. That in turn could give central banks more leeway to hold or even ease rates, strengthening the case for risk assets over the coming months.

“Investors who have remained disciplined through the volatility are now seeing the payoff,” explains the deVere CEO.

“We expect a continued rotation into risk and a push higher across global benchmarks, especially if trade momentum holds and fresh earnings data supports the current rebound.”

He concludes: “The truce may not last, of course—but it will certainly reignite market momentum.”

The $50 Million Wake-Up Call – Zambia Must Rethink Its Dependency and Embrace Self-Reliance

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The $50 Million Wake-Up Call – Zambia Must Rethink Its Dependency and Embrace Self-Reliance

By Alexander Vomo

The recent announcement by the U.S. Embassy in Zambia to withhold nearly $50 million in health aid, due to the rampant theft of essential medications, including antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, is a national embarrassment, but more importantly, it is a clarion call for urgent reform.

For decades, Zambia has leaned heavily on international aid to sustain critical sectors such as health and education. But this latest development sends a stark message: donor patience is not infinite. When life-saving medicines are looted from hospitals and diverted into black markets, the trust of our international partners erodes and so does our moral standing.

But Zambia does not need to live in aid dependency.

This country is rich, not in theory, but in fact. Beneath our soil lie resources that could not only sustain but transform our economy if well-managed. Zambia is home to some of the world’s most valuable minerals, including:

• Copper – Our flagship export, in global demand for electric vehicles and infrastructure.

• Cobalt – A strategic resource in the clean energy transition.

• Gold, Emeralds, and Sugilite – Highly sought-after on global gemstone markets.

• Manganese, Nickel, Lead, Zinc, and Diamonds – All with high commercial value.

With this kind of wealth, Zambia should be funding its own healthcare systems, not depending on foreign taxpayers to provide essential medicines to our people.

This is a moment for serious national reflection. The fight against corruption cannot remain rhetoric. It must be actioned with measurable consequences. We must demand transparency and accountability, especially in public procurement, mining revenue management, and service delivery.

Moreover, we must move beyond the export of raw minerals and embrace value addition so that we retain wealth within our borders. Our minerals must not enrich others while our people remain in poverty and our hospitals run dry.

This is no longer just a political issue, it is a matter of national survival and dignity.

Let the suspension of U.S. aid be the final alarm bell. Zambia must wake up, get serious about corruption, and finally begin to build a future that is financed by our own resources, governed by our own integrity, and sustained by our own innovation.

We owe it to ourselves. We owe it to the generations yet to come.

Alexander Vomo is a Zambian entrepreneur, farmer, and advocate for self-reliance and sustainable development. He is a member of a growing movement encouraging African youth to take leadership in agriculture, governance, and economic transformation.

Government Cracks Down on Theft of Medicines

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Government Cracks Down on Theft of Medicines

The Government has intensified its crackdown on the theft and mismanagement of medicines in public health institutions, with 75 individuals arrested and 27 already convicted, following an extensive forensic audit into the country’s health supply chain.

In a joint press briefing, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, and Minister of Health Hon. Elijah Muchima provided updates on the audit’s findings and the government’s response to the theft of medicines and medical supplies.

Minister Jack Mwiimbu revealed that 401 facilities across the country had been raided as part of ongoing investigations. These operations led to the arrest of 75 individuals for offences under the Medicines and Allied Substances Act and the Penal Code.

“Out of those arrested, 27 individuals have already been convicted and fined in accordance with the penalties prescribed by the mentioned laws,” said Mwiimbu.

He also disclosed that five of the arrested individuals were linked to the Ministry of Health, indicating the existence of a coordinated syndicate involved in the systematic theft of government medicines.

In a further blow to public confidence, Mwiimbu announced that three former Directors of the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) had been arrested for disregarding procurement procedures between January 2023 and December 2024. The result was wasteful expenditure and the acquisition of medicines that did not meet the required 80 percent shelf-life standard.

The directors, now released on police bond, are expected to appear in court soon, and their case has been submitted to the National Prosecution Authority.

The Office of the Auditor General, in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), has completed a forensic audit into the theft of medicines across public institutions. The findings have been handed over to the security wings.

“With the conclusion of the report, Zambians should expect more arrests. There will be no sacred cows,” Minister Mwiimbu assured the public.

Speaking at the same event, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon. Mulambo Haimbe called for decorum in international engagements, reminding all stakeholders of the importance of adhering to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

“Government values its partnership with cooperating partners. However, diplomatic norms must be respected, and official channels must be used when raising concerns,” Haimbe stated.

He reiterated that the Zambian Government is open to engagement but expects diplomatic communication to be carried out with mutual respect and regard for sovereignty.

Rodger Chongwe: who was he?

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Rodger Chongwe: who was he?

By Sishuwa Sishuwa

One of Zambia’s legal giants, Rodger Masauso Alivas Chongwe, died on Tuesday this week aged 86. Born in Chipata on 2 October 1938, Chongwe attended primary school in the same district before he went to St Marks in Southern Province for his junior secondary school education. He then proceeded to Munali in Lusaka where he completed his secondary school education after which he secured a job as a court clerk in Kabwe. Afterwards, he was promoted and transferred to Lusaka as a native court assistant. Just before independence in February 1963, Chongwe was awarded a scholarship to study law in Australia where he met his future wife, Gwenda Fay Eaton (married in 1967), with whom he bore two children, a son named Njalikwa who is a ceramic artist and Wajipha, a daughter who specialises in hospitality or hotel management.

Chongwe returned to Zambia in January 1969 as a qualified lawyer and went on to have a very successful legal career over the next two decades. Initially, he worked as an assistant solicitor at Martin and Company, a legal firm where he rose to the position of Partner in late 1969. He left to establish with another lawyer named Mwisiya a firm named after the two lawyers, Mwisiya Chongwe and Company, in 1970, and remained there until 1977 when he set up his own firm, Rodger Chongwe and Company. Chongwe had a very successful private legal career under the one-party state and gained great recognition in the legal world.

In Zambia, he was elected president of the Law Association of Zambia, which regularly held the government to account on governance and human rights concerns. But he was also highly regarded internationally. For instance, his peers on the continent elected him president of the African Bar Association. Beyond Africa, Chongwe was later in 1990 elected president of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. So he was a real giant in the legal profession. It was because of his outstanding achievements and standing in the legal world that President Kaunda conferred on him the rank of State Counsel (SC). This was at a time when lawyers did not have to apply to the President to have the status of SC conferred on them, the way it is done today. One’s exemplary works in the legal field spoke for them and presidents simply confirmed what everyone else knew, unlike the way the case is today when that honour has lost its meaning since presidents confer it on partisan or political considerations.

Chongwe’s career in the public service took off in earnest after the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) won the 1991 election. Chongwe was elected member of parliament for Mandevu in Lusaka. President Frederick Chiluba appointed him Minister of Legal Affairs at a time when he was still president of the African Bar Association. Chongwe was a good example of the many individuals in Chiluba’s first cabinet for whom joining politics or public service was truly a sacrifice. In recent years, those who have ended up in politics and as ministers are mainly individuals for whom that title is their main achievement and source of income. Not Chongwe’s generation. The individuals who filled up Chiluba’s first cabinet, to which Chongwe was a great example, were already successful in their fields before going into public service and had sufficient levels of formal education, leadership experience, distinguished track records, and proven competences or skills which they brought to the government.

In addition to Chongwe, there were others such as vice-president Levy Mwanawasa, Guy Scott (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries), Ronald Penza (Commerce, Trade and Industry), Emmanuel Kasonde (Finance), Ben Mwila (Defence), Akashambwatwa Mbikusita Lewanika (Science and Technology), Vernon Mwaanga (Foreign Affairs), Gen Christon Tembo (Tourism), Arthur Wina (Education), Humphrey Mulemba (Mines), Newstead Zimba (Home Affairs), Baldwin Nkumbula (Sports), Godfrey Miyanda (Minister Without Portfolio), Ludwig Sondashi (Labour and Social security, Andrew Kashita (Transport and Communications), Boniface Kawimbe (Health), and Stan Kristofer, a Yugoslav-born Zambian who was appointed Minister of Information.

Chongwe remained Minister of Legal Affairs until August 1993 when Chiluba transferred him to the Ministry of Local Government in the same capacity. He stayed in the role for about two years until 1995 when he resigned in protest against rampant corruption, undemocratic tendencies and human rights violations under the Chiluba regime. His resignation demonstrated his loyalty to principle as well as his refusal to be bound by the principle of collective responsibility on issues that he did not agree with. He was one of a number of senior Cabinet officials who resigned from cabinet on principle at different intervals during Chiluba’s presidency. Others included Mwanawasa, Sondashi, Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika, Simon Zukas, Dipak Patel, and Baldwin Nkumbula.

After he left government, Chongwe formed an opposition party, Liberal Progressive Front on whose ticket he hoped to challenge Chiluba in the 1996 election. After former president Kaunda, who had retired from politics after his defeat in 1991, made a political comeback in 1995, Chiluba panicked, fearing potential defeat to his predecessor. As a result, the MMD administration passed a constitutional amendment that effectively barred Kaunda from standing in the 1996 election. In response and in protest against Chiluba’s manoeuvres, Kaunda and the former governing party, the United National Independence Party, boycotted the election. In solidarity with the excluded Kaunda, Chongwe joined other opposition parties in boycotting the poll. Pitted against smaller opposition parties, such as the Zambia Democratic Congress under Dean Mung’omba, National Party under Humphrey Mulemba, Agenda for Zambia under Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika and the Movement for the Democratic Process under Chama Chakomboka, Chiluba easily retained power.

After the election, Chongwe remained in opposition politics and became chairperson of a 13-party alliance of opposition parties that started working together more closely. On 23 August 1997, in a move that highlighted the government’s increasingly violent suppression of civil liberties, police opened fire on a mass rally called by Chongwe’s opposition alliance, nearly killing him and founding president, Kaunda. Chongwe needed emergency surgery after the same bullet that wounded Kaunda hit him. Chongwe successfully sued the Zambian government in Australian courts and also took the matter to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. He was awarded about US$2.5m in compensation but successive Zambian administrations refused to pay him. It is unclear if he was paid this money before his death.

Three months after the attempted assassination on Chongwe and Kaunda, the government arrested several opposition leaders such as Kaunda, Mung’omba, and Princess Nakatindi Wina on allegations that they were connected to the unsuccessful military coup attempt against Chiluba in October 1997. The MMD falsely claimed that Chongwe had held two clandestine physical meetings with Kaunda at Sikota Wina’s home in Lusaka in October to plan for the coup, but evidence showed that Chongwe had left the country a month earlier and had not yet returned when the coup occurred. The government’s desperation to implicate him in the coup forced Chongwe to remain in exile in Australia from 1997 until March 2003 when he returned to Zambia under Mwanawasa’s presidency. Over the next 22 years, he kept out of public life though he occasionally took up public engagements such as in 2012 when President Michael Sata appointed him to chair the commission of inquiry that was appointed to investigate the Mongu 2011 deadly riots that happened over the Barotseland Agreement. Chongwe also participated in public discussion forums organised by News Diggers ahead of the 2021 elections on Zambia’s democratic backsliding.

At a time when many Zambians are dying en masse at a relatively young age, Chongwe lived until 86, thanks to a disciplined and intentional lifestyle and choices. His public career teaches us several lessons such as the value of formal education, the importance of family and community, the need to always defend democracy, the constitution and to remain loyal to one’s principles, the benefit of leading a clean life when in government (he faced no legal challenges resulting from his time in power after leaving public office), and that, perhaps, politics is not for everyone. In a way, and for all that was good that he gave to politics, Chongwe was messed up by politics, for his professional career would have continued rising had he stayed away from it. Overall, Zambia is richer for his having been one of its citizens.

Chongwe’s life teaches us to go to school; to find a job that give us a sense of purpose and satisfaction, ideally one that also makes the world a better place to live in; to find a partner whom we love, and who loves us back; to have children if both partners wish, who will grow into decent men and women because their parents are decent; and to make time for good friends – true, genuine friends rather than dozens of superficial acquittances.

It also challenges us to ask ourselves two important questions: What do I need to do to be ultimately satisfied that I have lived a good life? How can I make the greatest difference in areas that matter most?

White Afrikaaners Given Refufee Status By Trump Land in Washington

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White Afrikaaners Given Refufee Status By Trump Land in Washington

The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation on Monday insisted that the group of 49 Afrikaners who left South Africa, heading to the United States under President Donald Trump’s offer, are not refugees.

On Monday morning, IOL reported that a chartered plane carrying 49 South African Afrikaners departed for the United States on Sunday night under Trump’s offer for the “discriminated” South African individuals and families to relocate.

The first batch of Afrikaner refugees left OR Tambo International Airport on a flight operated by the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based charter company Omni Air International, and are expected to land in Washington on Monday evening.

Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola said the notion being peddled, that Afrikaners are being persecuted in South Africa, is false.

“We understand it is 49 people who have taken up the offer for refugee status in the United States. Just to be clear, the South African government unequivocally states that these are not refugees. In a country like ours, some of us went to schools where we were taught Afrikaans and by the way Afrikaans is still a medium of instruction and language in many of our schools,” said Phiri.

“We have judges, ministers, former mayors, we have streets named after Afrikaner heroes and Afrikaner nationals in the liberation context as well. To this day, you can drive on Voortrekker Street in any town in South Africa.

“This idea that Afrikaners are being persecuted is completely false, let alone the fact that Afrikaners are not just white people. There are also Africans who are Afrikaners so this is something that we have stated quite unequivocally, that we contest the status of them being refugees. But we also said we are not going to stand in the way,” he said.

The group of 49 left the country on their South African passports and the government in Pretoria said there is no intention to deprive them of citizenship.

Phiri however highlighted that once the individuals are accepted into the United States refugee system, they cannot be returned to South Africa by the US government – for any reason.

“Here is the difficulty, possibly for these individuals … if they accept refugee status in the United States and they are facilitated as refugees, the United States cannot return them to South Africa for whatever reason. They cannot be deported by the government of the United States,” said Phiri.

“They may self-deport themselves by coming back to South Africa but that will also mean they then renounce their refugee status in the United States. It is really a complex situation.”
IOL news

UPND Govt Pledges to Complete Previous Administration’s Projects, Prioritizing National Development

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UPND Govt Pledges to Complete Previous Administration’s Projects, Prioritizing National Development

UPND Government Pledges to Complete Previous Administration’s Projects, Prioritizing National Development

The United Party for National Development (UPND) government has reaffirmed its commitment to completing development projects initiated by previous administrations, emphasizing that governance should prioritize service delivery over political differences. UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe made the announcement during a media briefing in Lusaka, where he outlined the government’s stance on project continuity and highlighted key initiatives currently underway. Simuuwe stressed that abandoning viable projects simply because they were launched by a different administration would be counterproductive. “Governance is not about political rivalry; it is about ensuring that every investment made for the people of Zambia yields tangible benefits,” he said. This approach aligns with President Hakainde Hichilema’s broader agenda of fostering national unity and efficient resource utilization.

The UPND’s position has been welcomed by governance experts and civil society organizations, who argue that completing inherited projects prevents wastage of public funds and ensures sustained development. However, some stakeholders have called for increased transparency in project financing and execution to avoid past pitfalls, such as inflated costs and delays. Among the flagship projects being continued is the Kafulafuta Dam, a major water infrastructure initiative launched under the Patriotic Front (PF) government. Located in the Copperbelt Province, the dam is expected to provide clean drinking water to thousands of households while supporting agricultural and industrial activities. Simuuwe confirmed that the project remains a priority, with the government allocating additional funds to expedite its completion.

To address persistent water shortages in mining towns, the UPND administration has injected funds into Nkana Water and Sanitation Company to replace outdated pipelines, reducing water losses and improving supply reliability, and Mulonga Water and Sanitation Company for the construction of new reservoirs and pumping stations, expanding coverage to underserved areas. These upgrades are critical for communities that have long struggled with erratic water supply, particularly in high-density neighborhoods. Beyond water infrastructure, the UPND government is also advancing several other high-impact projects initiated by past administrations, including the Kafue Bulk Water Project designed to supply over one million Lusaka residents with clean water. This project was a cornerstone of the PF’s urban water security plan, and the UPND has pledged to finalize remaining phases, including pipeline expansions and treatment plant upgrades, to alleviate the capital’s chronic water shortages.

Key road projects, such as the Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriageway and the Chingola-Solwezi Road, are being prioritized to improve connectivity and boost trade. These highways, once completed, are expected to reduce travel time, enhance road safety, and stimulate economic activity in mining and agricultural regions. Several district hospitals and health posts, including the Mansa General Hospital Modernization Project, are being fast-tracked to improve healthcare access. The UPND has committed to ensuring these facilities are fully operational, addressing gaps in medical service provision.

Economic analyst Dr. Mwaba Mwila praised the government’s stance, stating, “Continuity in development projects is essential for economic stability. Zambia cannot afford to discard half-finished infrastructure due to political transitions.” However, transparency advocates urge stricter oversight. “While completing these projects is commendable, audits must be conducted to ensure value for money and prevent corruption,” said Beatrice Grillo, Executive Director of the Zambian Governance Foundation. The UPND’s approach signals a shift from past practices where projects were often abandoned when new administrations took office. By prioritizing completion, the government aims to maximize returns on public investments and deliver essential services without disruption. As these projects near completion, Zambians will be watching closely to see if the promises translate into improved living standards, particularly in water supply, transportation, and healthcare.

Man Jailed For Slapping a Man Who Touched His Wife’s Breasts

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Man Jailed For Slapping a Man Who Touched His Wife’s Breasts

The Nchelenge Magistrate Court has sentenced a 28-year-old man to six months imprisonment with hard labour for slapping another man who touched his wife’s breasts.

Before Resident Magistrate Luckson Mbewe was Pardon Mpundu, who readily pleaded guilty to the offense of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (AOBH), contrary to section 248 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Brief facts in the matter were that on 1st May, 2025 in Nchelenge district, Mpundu assaulted Richard Limbikani thereby causing him actual bodily harm.

State prosecutor, Kennedy Chimbali, narrated before court that on the material day, the duo was at a named bar when they picked a quarrel over Mpundu’s wife.

Mpundu told the court that he was forced to slap Limbikani because he touched his wife’s breasts.

“Your honour, the victim in this matter was touching my wife’s breast, no wonder I fought him,” Mpundu told the court.

In mitigation, Mpundu pleaded with the court for leniency adding that nobody will take care of his wife, who is currently pregnant, if he was given a custodial sentence.

President Hichilema Urges Zambians To Be Productive

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President Hichilema Urges Zambians To Be Productive

President Hakainde Hichilema has called on all Zambians to be productive in order to promote trade and economic growth in the country.

President Hichilema said government will focus on supporting production by assisting consumers through helping producers.
The President said this today when he officiated at the thanksgiving service for God’s favour, good rain and farming season in the 2024/2025 rain season at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.

He thanked farmers across the country for not losing hope even after the drought in the previous rain season.
“If we were all trading and no producers, what would be trading then? So, I want to encourage citizens to produce something, then we will encourage and promote trade because we would have produced,” he said.

The Head of State said the government has learnt many lessons from the drought that the country experienced during the 2023/2024 rain season.

Mr Hichilema said the diversification of energy production, embracing irrigation agriculture and managing farming fields effectively through productivity are some of the lessons learnt from the 2023/2024 rain season.

President Hichilema further urged all Zambians to utilise government programmes and facilities such as the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as they are meant for them and the communities they come from.
“In that CDF, there are small amounts for agriculture grants and facilities for the community because CDF is money for the community. It is meant to drill a borehole for a church, an orphanage, a school or a clinic that can utilise the water to grow food to sustain the facility,” he explained.

The President also advised Zambians to reaffirm their trust and hope in God for He has always been faithful to them by providing them with all their needs.

He further thanked God for answering the Zambian people’s prayers for a good rain season and good harvest that the country has experienced in the last farming season.Additionally, President Hichilema called for unity in the country and to lean on the ‘One Zambia, One People motto, adding that the country will achieve more in unity than when divided.

“Let us work as a team, the church does its thing, farmers do their thing, finance people do their thing and by working together, we will deliver for our people and more importantly, let us love each other…love conquers everything,” he added.
He further wished all mothers in the country a happy Mother’s Day, which falls today.

And speaking earlier when giving a homily taken from the Book of Psalms 137 verses 1 to 4, a member of the United Church of Zambia Lusaka Presbytery, Todwell Siame, called on all Zambians to be responsible for the country in order to alleviate the devastating effects of climate change.

Bishop Siame said Zambians should be responsible for their country for it to sustain them as its citizens.
He further urged every farmer in the country not to give up on agriculture but remain hopeful because God answers prayers as he did this farming season.

Meanwhile, National Day of Prayer and Fasting National Chairperson, Venerable Sihubwa, gave a statement of purpose saying the day was special as Zambia chose to be a thankful nation.

Reverend Sihubwa explained that a thanks giving ceremony closes a season and opens a new one.
Rev. Sihubwa has since urged the nation to be thankful noting that criticism kills the spirit of a nation.
He further disclosed that this year’s National Day of Prayer will be held at the Heroes Stadium to celebrate its 10th anniversary since the country started observing it.

Among those in attendance at the service were Vice President Mutale Nalumango and her husband, First Lady Mutinta Hichilema, Cabinet Ministers and the members of the clergy from different church denominations.

Why the Thefts Can’t be Stopped

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Why the Thefts Can’t be Stopped

By Chanda Chisala

Think about it. The biggest economy in the world, the USA, does not give universal free healthcare to its people because they say it’s too expensive for the economy to handle. As great as its economy is, there is not enough wealth to provide free healthcare without incurring a monumental cost. If they did this, it would bring their economy down to its knees because their taxes would have to become too high.

Zambia and many other African countries, on the other hand, promise free healthcare (including free drugs) to their citizens, despite being the poorest countries in the world. How do they manage to do that? The only way is by begging other countries to send them the drugs for free, and even to pay the salaries of their healthcare workers. Besides this, they also have to keep their taxes very high, which makes it even harder for them to create jobs, thus continuing the need for them to remain dependent on aid.

Unfortunately, many African elites who are now saying that Africa should stop receiving this aid and become “self-dependent,” are also the same people who support the costly system of our poor government giving out free things. But if you want free things, where do you expect the money to come from since the taxable productive sector is so small? This is the question that people never think about. They want to have their cake and eat it too.

The argument that there are European countries that manage to do this only betrays ignorance. These European countries first became very wealthy, with a large productive sector, before they started giving out free things to their people, which is why they do not beg other countries for their drugs. On top of this, these countries also spend a lot of money to try to ensure that there is no theft in such systems – money that African countries just don’t have. It is no wonder that even these European countries have been complaining that this system is unsustainable and could push their countries to bankruptcy.

African countries are the least able to survive the destructive costs of this expensive socialist system, but they are the ones who are the most enthusiastic about embracing it. Politicians in government boast about expanding this system, and opposition politicians promise to spend even more. None of them seem to really realize just how poor Zambia is!

The reason I don’t support America ending aid to Zambia is simply because they are the ones who have encouraged and supported this self-destructive system for a long time and they are only walking away after they have helped entrench it into the very DNA of Zambia and other poor countries that they have made dependent on aid.

For Zambia to survive without this aid, it would have to make a radical change both structurally and intellectually. Even the people who are saying we should just stop receiving aid are not prepared to accept that we cannot afford free healthcare or free education or any of these other expensive subsidies.

Neither can we ever manage to stop the thefts happening in these government ministries because the same socialist system keeps increasing poverty, which makes any donated (or tax-collected) money an obvious target for the wide network of thefts. The cost of monitoring and prosecuting these thefts will likely be even higher than the thefts themselves. And even if the US donated money to help our government monitor this aid, that money will also be stolen!

The UPND government should realize that the thefts won’t stop. They may have replaced PF people with their own people, but they can’t replace human nature with angelic nature. If even Mwanawasa himself, the most serious anti-corruption president, failed to stop these thefts, it’s a joke to think that anyone else will stop them. What has to be uprooted is the system itself: stop giving anything for free and turn these hospitals into privately managed for-profit entities. At the same time, radically cut the taxes for all businesses and employees in the country (to single digits), so that true productivity may grow quickly enough for people to have enough money to pay for their own healthcare and education.

Recent Articles from the Author:

The US is Wrong to Withdraw Aid

Are UPND and Opposition Both Trying to Lose Elections?

Who Was the Worst President of Zambia?

How to End Zambia’s Poverty

Hichilema Should Have Implemented Sata’s Idea

President Hichilema is a Good Man, But His Policies Can’t Fix the Economy

Should Zambia Really Return to Socialism?

The author, Chanda Chisala, is the Founder of Zambia Online and Khama Institute. He is formerly a John S. Knight Fellow at Stanford University and Visiting Scholar to the Hoover Institution, a policy think tank at Stanford. You can follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chandachisala.

Why It’s Hard to Believe the US Embassy Report on Drugs in Zambia

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Why It’s Hard to Believe the US Embassy Report on Drugs in Zambia

By Steve Kabani

As of May 2025, Zambia has a total of 2,009 registered retail pharmacies (ZAMRA 2025). The recent US embassy report claims that 95% of these pharmacies roughly 1,909 outlets stocked stolen, US-funded life-saving drugs. On the surface, this statistic is alarming. But on closer inspection, it becomes deeply questionable, both in logic and evidence. Aforensic audit involving nearly 2,000 pharmacies assumes that all are operational and fully functional, which is unlikely. Many registered pharmacies may be inactive, non-compliant, or exist only on paper. Conducting such a massive audit without verifying operational status casts doubt on the credibility of the entire premise.

To begin with, we must ask: What are these US-funded life-saving drugs? These are identified as ARVs, TB drugs, and vaccines for under 5. These are not over the counter medications. They are strictly controlled commodities that are rarely, if ever, available in private retail pharmacies.

Which brings us to the next logical question: Who has ever seen ARVs, TB drugs, or under five vaccines sold in a retail pharmacy? For those who work in, own, or frequently visit these pharmacies, the answer is likely the same, almost no one. Speaking from personal experience in over 10 years in the sector, I have encountered only one customer asking for ARVs and even then, it was a specific South African brand not found in the public system.

ARVs, TB drugs, and under-five vaccines are never stocked in general hospital pharmacies either. Instead, they are housed in designated storage and dispensing areas most of which have been built or refurbished by US-funded NGOs. These areas are not only tightly monitored, often with CCTV surveillance, but also operate under strict protocols.

These medications are not accessed through individual prescriptions, but dispensed through SmartCare, a sophisticated real-time inventory and patient monitoring system that is designed to track the distribution and consumption of these drugs, and report that data directly to the donor agencies. Notably, approximately 60% of personnel in ART clinics are funded by the US agencies, further reinforcing the oversight on these commodities.

This raises a critical question: With such an airtight, donor controlled inventory system in place, how could these drugs be seeping into the retail market? It would require a massive, coordinated breach of a system that was purpose built to prevent exactly this kind of leakage. Moreover, if ARVs or TB drugs were indeed being siphoned off on such a large scale, the public health system would inevitably experience shortages.

Yet we have not. In fact, Zambia has never experienced a widespread stockout of ARVs or TB drugs in recent years. On the contrary, the country has made commendable progress, having achieved the ambitious 90-90-90 targets in most provinces: 90% of people with HIV knowing their status, 90% of those diagnosed on ARVs, and 90% of those on treatment achieving viral suppression. This would have been impossible if these drugs were being stolen and sold in private pharmacies, thereby making them inaccessible to the poor and vulnerable populations who rely on free treatment.

We must also consider the timing of this report. Just two months ago, the US abruptly halted its support to Zambia’s health sector a move widely condemned as baseless and harmful. One has to wonder: Is this report an attempt to retroactively justify that decision? Could it be that a reason is now being manufactured to fit an earlier political or diplomatic agenda?

In conclusion, the claims in the US embassy report are riddled with inconsistencies, logical flaws, and a glaring absence of evidence. Given the tight donor controlled drug distribution systems, the lack of public shortages, and Zambia’s continued progress in HIV treatment outcomes, it is difficult to accept that 95% of pharmacies were selling stolen donor drugs. Until a transparent, evidence-based investigation is presented, this report remains highly suspect and deeply troubling.

Message For Today : Think Yourself Happy

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Message For Today : Think Yourself Happy

Today’s Scripture

“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews.”
Acts 26:2, NKJV

Friend, after being in prison for two years on false charges, the apostle Paul was brought before King Agrippa for his trial. The first thing Paul said was, “King Agrippa, I think myself happy.” You would think he would see himself as a victim, be bitter and angry. But he shows us a secret of how to overcome all that. He said, “I think myself happy.” He was saying, “I consider myself fortunate to stand before you even though my accusers want me to be put to death.”

You can think yourself depressed, you can think yourself into a bad mood, and you can think yourself a victim. Or you can do as Paul did and say, “Yes, I’ve had a lot of difficulties. I could be sour and live discouraged, but I’m going to think myself happy.” As long as you’re thinking about your hurts, what you didn’t get, how you were left out, you’re going to be discouraged. Don’t replay the loss, the disappointment, or the failure. Start thinking faith-filled, positive, hopeful, uplifting thoughts. That’s what you’re going to draw in.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that I can set my mind to be happy today and to be my best because You made this day. Thank You that I can keep it set when I meet the challenges of this day that want to push me toward being a victim. I am going to keep thinking faith-filled thoughts that strengthen me within. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

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