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It’s not human’: What a French doctor saw in Gaza as Israel invaded Rafah

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It’s not human’: What a French doctor saw in Gaza as Israel invaded Rafah

Gaza
Dr Zouhair Lahna working at the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis [Courtesy of Zouhair Lahna]
Dr Zouhair Lahna has worked in conflict zones across the globe – Syria, Libya, Yemen, Uganda and Ethiopia – but he has never seen anything like the Israeli war on Gaza.

In those life-threatening situations, the Moroccan French pelvic surgeon and obstetrician said, there was a route to safety for civilians.

But on Tuesday 7th May, Israeli forces seized and closed Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt – the only escape for Palestinians from the war and the most important entry point for humanitarian aid.

“This is another injustice. … It’s not human,” Lahna said, shaking his head as he spoke to Al Jazeera from Cairo, Egypt, where he has been evacuated from the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis.

He laments having to leave his Palestinian colleagues behind.“I am angry, troubled, upset … because I left some people. They are my friends. I was with them, these doctors, these people. …We eat together, we work together and now I left them in trouble. They have to move their families, look for a tent, look for water, for food,” he said.

Lahna has spent months volunteering in Gaza’s hospitals as part of missions organised by the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe (PalMed Europe) and US-based Rahma International.
On the morning that displaced Palestinians in eastern Rafah were ordered to evacuate and before Israeli tanks rolled in, Lahna and his foreign colleagues received text messages from the Israeli army.

“The Israeli army, they know everything. They know everyone who is in Gaza and how to reach them. They told us to leave.”

The texts urged the foreign doctors to leave Gaza because the Israeli military would soon begin an operation in eastern Rafah.

A few hours later, Lahna and his counterparts from PalMed Europe and Rahma International were picked up by their organisations and taken to safety in Cairo.

“There were four doctors in the European Hospital, four in the Kuwaiti Hospital and two others,” he said. “We waited while they gave our names to the Egyptian and Israeli authorities, and finally, we got word to leave.”

As they were departing, leaflets from the Israeli military printed with the evacuation order fell from the sky along with missiles from Israeli warplanes.

People were in a panic as they headed north from Rafah towards Khan Younis or west towards the sea, Lahna recalled.

Collapse of a system
When asked about the conditions of the hospitals he worked in, Lahna has trouble describing what he saw.
He begins to speak, then pauses, apologising, pained by the number of sick, wounded and dying individuals who were brought in daily.

“It’s difficult for me to remember this,” he said slowly.

While the European Hospital has been spared from an Israeli raid, it has been receiving referrals from other overwhelmed hospitals.

It has also been a place of shelter for displaced people who try to find space wherever they can, including at the doors of patient rooms, in the building’s corridors, on the stairs and in the hospital’s garden.
Before the European Hospital, Lahna and his team volunteered at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza’s northern city of Beit Lahiya. He is among the few foreign doctors to have travelled to the area.

They worked there for a week, the longest Israeli authorities permitted them to be there, he said.

There, the situation was even more dire, the doctor said, exacerbated by what the World Food Programme says is a “full-blown famine” in northern Gaza.
In December, the hospital was the site of an Israeli raid when the military besieged and shelled it for several days. Displaced families had also been sheltering there and were rounded up alongside medical staff and personnel.

Gaza’s hospitals, the majority of which are no longer functioning, have also been the site of mass graves discovered after Israeli raids. Graves have been found in recent weeks in Nasser and al-Shifa hospitals along with 392 bodies.

Working for peace, not war

With the collapse of the healthcare system in Gaza, Lahna is determined to return and volunteer there once again but isn’t sure when that will be possible.

For now, he said, he will return to France to check in at his “other job” and spend time with his family, who may have had a harder time than he did because all they did was worry about him while he was in Gaza.

He is sure all of Rafah will soon be occupied by Israeli forces, which will be deadly for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians there, he said.
“This world is blind,” Lahna said, dismayed that the Rafah incursion is likely to continue to occur despite warnings from the international community, which has not been able to stop Israel from committing mass atrocities, he said.

“Human rights is a joke. The United Nations is a big joke,” Lahna added.

He believes the war is as much a United States conflict as it is Israeli with the US approving an additional $17bn in aid to its top Middle East ally last month.

For Lahna, the protesting university students around the world, particularly in the US, who oppose Israel’s ongoing assault know the value of human rights.

Yet when it comes to Palestinians, he said, they are coming to realise that these values do not apply – and are increasingly becoming disillusioned with their elected officials and the state of the world.
That disillusionment is wearing on the doctor himself, but he said it has also strengthened his resolve to offer his expertise to people in warzones around the world, including Gaza.

Asked if he is worried about being arrested. tortured or killed for his work in the enclave, the surgeon barely bats an eye.

He said his time to die will come one day or another and if it happens while helping the vulnerable in Gaza, then that will be the time meant for him to depart.

“I am not more precious than Palestinian people,” Lahna said. “I am a humanitarian doctor. I work. I help people. [We] doctors come in for peace. We don’t come in for war.”

That disillusionment is wearing on the doctor himself, but he said it has also strengthened his resolve to offer his expertise to people in warzones around the world, including Gaza.

Asked if he is worried about being arrested. tortured or killed for his work in the enclave, the surgeon barely bats an eye.

He said his time to die will come one day or another and if it happens while helping the vulnerable in Gaza, then that will be the time meant for him to depart.

“I am not more precious than Palestinian people,” Lahna said. “I am a humanitarian doctor. I work. I help people. [We] doctors come in for peace. We don’t come in for war.”

Source: Al Jazeera

12 Reasons Why A United Zambian Opposition Cannot Win Against President Hichilema In 2026

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12 Reasons Why A United Zambian Opposition Cannot Win Against President Hichilema In 2026

Part One

It is not my intention to bore the reader with economic and political jargon and semantics on this matter, but my wish is to mainly deal with practical issues.

Reason No. 1: The opposition has no strong credible candidate.

The opposition mainly comprises press briefings, Facebook, and TikTok parties. Silavwe’s Golden Party is almost a one-man show though he is an eloquent speaker, Nawakwi’s FDD is a spent force, Mulyokela’s party has its Headquarters in the street just adjacent to Lusaka Central Police Station, Mbikusita Lewanika’s Agenda for Zambia is unheard of while the New Heritage Party is mainly for posing on camera. Mwenda Kasonde’s Economic Freedom Fighters is very active on TikTok and YouTube while Thomas Sipalo’s party has always been available for entertainment at opposition party meetings and the list goes on. The main parties that one can identify are Patriotic Front (Edgar Lungu’s faction which is currently moribund) and The Socialist Party headed by Fred Mmembe. Even amidst the current economic hardships, people are not calling for Mr. Lungu’s return save for PF cadres and others who were the beneficiaries of Kasaka Ka Ndalama. People’s memories are still fresh on a) Edgar Lungu’s reign of terror b) marginalization of people from what PF terms the Zambezi Region c) total neglect of the youth and students in schools and 4) neglect of rural development. So, Mr. Lungu has very little chance of winning though he can pick a few votes. On the other hand, if the opposition went for Fred Mmembe and floated him against HH, he would be badly battered. Of course, he would still pick a few votes here and there like Muchinga and Northern Provinces. Apparently, he also tries to get some votes when competing in Eastern Province as seen in the Kaumbwe parliamentary by-election in October 2021, but he cannot put up any serious challenge towards unseating President HH. Mmembe’s past will also continue haunting him and may continue costing him electoral successes in years to come if he does not address and provide answers to Winter Kabimba’s unending accusations over their past encounters. He also owes the nation an explanation on whether President Lungu’s closure of the Post Newspapers was politically motivated or was due to tax evasion or failure to pay taxes now that they even share the same platform. Was the closure stage managed like in the James Bond movie or it was real?

Reason No. 2: The opposition’s strongest candidate, Mr. Edgar Lungu, is a “Coward Political Hyena.”

Why do I say so? Stephen King once told us that “A cowardly leader is the most dangerous of men.” At a press conference held in Lusaka in late January 2024, Mr. Lungu was asked what he would have done if he were in office, to restructure the debt burden that he himself with his government contracted and left behind and was suffocating the economy. The reporter further wanted to know what the former president would have done differently. Instead of giving hope to Zambians who have now been terribly affected by his careless borrowing, the former president rudely shut the reporter up and accosted him for asking the question. “I am not in State House, so, you can’t ask me that, ask HH,” he retorted in reference to President Hichilema. Those are answers that came from a person I cannot hesitate to describe as a Coward Political Hyena. On the contrary, President HH managed to restructure the debt to the shame of prophets of doom. Mr. Lungu can only be compared to a Hyena’s cowardly character of waiting for other animals to hunt but quickly grabs their hard-earned kill without putting any effort. That’s what he is. He and his friends want to ride on HH’s success and take his presidency away. Mwailasha!!

Reason No. 3: The failed PF tribal card used against HH in 2021 will no longer be available in 2026.

In a video post that went viral just before the 2021 elections, then-President Lungu informed the nation that Hakainde Hichilema would never be president of Zambia saying “…only one man, munthu omwe, now you ask yourself, what is so special, eeehh, well, we will one day have a Tonga president, but certainly not the current aspirant” in direct reference to Hakainde Hichilema. Bizwell Mutale, another senior member of the then-ruling party PF, followed the Tongas to Pemba District and told them in their faces whilst there, “Zambia will never have a Tonga president.” But HH sailed through with a landslide victory in 2021 and Mr. Lungu has never apologized for those remarks. In Eastern Province, the PF were telling unsuspecting citizens in villages that if they voted for HH, he would divide the country as Eastern Province would be cut off. But the same HH they were profiling has taken huge amounts of resources for education, health, and infrastructure development to the rural areas. So, people are wondering: Is this the same person whom the PF referred to as divisive and the one who was going to divide the country?” they ask.

Reason No. 4: Misplaced opposition reliance on current economic hardships and disillusionment with UPND and HH.

Arnold Glasow tells us “One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.” Did Mr. Lungu realize that contracting such huge debt would result in the crisis we are in? Not at all. But no sooner had HH taken over the presidency than he identified the problem and ventured on a mission to restructure the debt failure to which the country would have remained stagnant. Swope also reminds us, “I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody.” The opposition is riding on a platform of current disenchantment by the electorate hoping for hardships to continue along the same trajectory until election time in 2026. What people should realize is that President HH and his team are making very hard decisions in order for Zambia to get redeemed from the shackles of PF economic mismanagement and plunder. Your car breaks down. Surely, you must have it repaired before you venture on a long journey. This is what President HH is doing. Making hard decisions is not for the weak-hearted. Mr. Lungu and his teams should also know that disillusionment of voters does not automatically translate into opposition votes. Not at all. There are so many other factors that come into play. The Zambian economy is divided into sectors and of course, I am aware that most of the sectors rely on one another. These sectors can be compared to a school syllabus or course outline. The examiner sets an examination based on the entire syllabus and the paper is given to the student to write the exam. The examiner cannot be seen to get the student’s answer manuscript and start marking the paper after one hour when the exam time given is two hours thus denying the student one full hour. President HH needs the remaining hour to complete the exam before giving the manuscript to the voters for marking in 2026. Judging him now is unfair because he is still writing the exam and he still has time to complete the exam.

Reason No. 5: President Hichilema has fortified his position by clearing his name and presidency on African Cultural Values and Christianity.

A few months after getting elected, the president’s presidency almost went shaky following the opposition’s accusations that he was allowing the country to be taken over by homosexuals. It was alleged that homosexuals had begun showing their ugly heads in Zambia following his election as president and prodded him to state his position. On 15th August 2022 and on 15th March 2023, in Luanshya and Chingola respectively, he categorically reiterated his opposition to homosexuality and denounced it as unacceptable thus putting an end to PF speculation that he was encouraging the importation of homosexuality to Zambia from the West. He urged the church to come out strong and denounce homosexuality and guide our youths. On the contrary, apart from Mr. Lungu who also denounced homosexuality during his presidency, other opposition leaders have not informed the nation of their positions leading to speculation that some of them may be funded by some homosexual advocate groups. Without stating their positions, their performance will likely be affected if some rival political party or parties raise the issue.

Reason No. 6: The Bemba mentality of wanting to always grab the presidency.

Following the PF split into factions, Zambia does not have a strong party capable of challenging the United Party for National Development (UPND). However, one of the factions aka Lungu faction can try to compete in the elections but cannot pose any serious challenge to UPND if it was to find its feet. Both factions are led by Bembas from the Northern part of the country, but the Lungu faction seems stronger than the Sampa one though by order of the court, the Sampa faction is the legitimate one and holds the presidency. Of course, the Bembas are entitled to vie for any position in the country as provided for by the Zambian Constitution. What is surprising though is their lust for power of presidency. No stigma. We had our first Republican president Dr. Kaunda (May his soul rest in peace) hailing from the North, late Chiluba and late Sata also from the same region. Now 97 percent of all political parties in Zambia are led by the North fighting for presidency. No regard for others to also hold the presidency. When are others going to rule?

Now let us assume that Mr. Lungu steps aside for whatever reasons for the 2026 presidency, One would expect a serious scramble for the presidency from PF factions. But hold on for a second! Which Bemba is going to allow another Bemba to take up the presidency? Even if the factions came up with one presidential candidate whether you call it PF faction or UKA, there will be candidates that will break away from that united front. Why? Because that is how they are. Bemba mentality of wanting to be president or always having a Bemba president.

As a result of this mentality, do you think Dr. Chilufya Chitalu can let GBM become the presidential candidate when he believes he is the best candidate? Do you think Hon Mundubile can let Sampa take the candidacy? What about Hon Kampyongo? Can he allow these other Bembas to take up the presidency? Unfortunately for them, even if PF produced one candidate and the rest rallied behind that candidate, my view is that they would still be given an electoral annihilation by UPND because of their past. They have come from a background of failed leadership, reign of terror with their party being perceived as a party of ……nderers.

Anyway, that is the beauty of democracy and freedom of speech. The Bembas are free to enjoy their right to become presidents while I also enjoy my freedom of communication. We are both happy and I will not tolerate funny comments because what I have said is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. When it pleases them, they say “Insansa kuchinjana” but when others want to vie for the presidency, they quickly change their positions. Now watch the space. My article will have two main responses and those will be: Who stopped people from other regions from vying for presidency? My answer in advance using their own adage, “Insoni ebunthu” The other response may just be insults to which I will not be able to respond because they will be too many and my culture does not allow me to insult or insult back.

To be continued in Part Two

By Lastone Nyirenda
The Author is a Human Rights Advocate, Author, Researcher, Youth Development Partner and Corporate and Management Consultant. He holds a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Laws, and Diploma in Human Resource Management.

There was no booing in Heroes Stadium; where’s the UPND media team?

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There was no booing in Heroes Stadium; where’s the UPND media team?

This weekend, President Hakainde Hichilema was at Heroes Stadium to officiate at the ABSA cup final tournament between Red Arrows and Kabwe Warriors. Red Arrows walked away with the trophy, of course.

Whenever a mammoth crowd has gathered at a stadium to watch a tournament of such magnitude, you don’t expect them to behave as if they are taking holy communion in a Cathedral whereby everything is expected to be smooth and orderly. You’re likely to encounter ecstatic and boisterous crowds shouting their lungs out to demonstrate their support, catcalling or even ruptures of spirited chanting as they attempt to drive a point home!

Not surprisingly, the opposition and their surrogates, of course have gone into overdrive on Social media trying to create a fake narrative that the President was booed at the stadium. Nothing of that sort transpired! We put the blame on the UPND media team as it seems to still be on a vacation instead of being alert 24/7!

You see, politics is all about perception. In its desperation to gain political mileage, the opposition will always try hard to use whatever means at its disposal to paint a misleading picture the ruling party has lost tremendous support on the ground. In other words, the opposition is psyching the masses to believe this particular government has lamentably failed and hence, must therefore be booed at every given opportunity.

For instance, a Patriotic Front (PF) aligned Social media page, The Smart Eagles hinted at their ulterior motives by asking the following question, “If they have the audacity to boo mu Stadium, then what is happening mu Komboni?” whereas another opposition mouthpiece, Zambian Post claimed that, “A 60,000 full capacity stadium “Booed” President HICHILEMA at Heroes Stadium today shouting kuya bebele.’

Nashalaneka party leader, Sean Tembo couldn’t obviously miss an opportunity to spew out his usual rantings he’s notorious for. This was his view point, “Apa vintu pamene vafika, the only place Bally would not be booed is in his bedroom.”

Those that have always had a bone to chew with HH such as Socialist Party leader, Fred M’membe couldn’t hide their excitement to know, “What happened ku Heroes Stadium?”

Meanwhile, local comedian, Thomas Sipalo observed that, “When we say pali njala pa ground,we are called bitter…Mpaka now, kwayamba ma booing,” while PF faction leader, Miles Sampa who claims to be currently out of Lusaka on duty equally wanted to know the truth about what transpired both during and off the 90 minutes game play.

As expected, Richard Sakala’s tabloid, The Daily Nation has this morning carried a screaming headline – HH BOOING CONDEMNED whereby it’s purportedly quoting one Brebner Changala as advising citizens to contain their anger and resist the temptation of booing and embarrassing President Hichilema even as they face hard economic times.

Don’t think we are that dumb to figure out what’s at play here. This is a well-orchestrated scheme to make it appear as if “things have fallen apart” in the nation as Chinua Achebe would put it, hence the the so called booing from a dissatisfied public. Expect a pattern of individuals excitedly clapping and cheering Edgar Lungu whenever he turns up in public to continue.

We can’t claim to have been in Heroes Stadium yesterday, but after critically analysing several independent footages, we are convinced nothing such as booing took place. As popular vlogger, Simon Mwewa Lane puts it, “If you’re sitting in a section at Heroes Stadium and you record yourself along with a few of your friends booing, then you post the video on social media, and you add the caption “HH booed” It’s very easy to create a false narrative. But the truth is, HH received a thunderous welcome today!” We couldn’t agree more with him.

All in all, those few individuals who misbehaved in the Stadium by booing were obviously ‘planted’ in there by a desperate opposition eager to settle scores. Ba UPND media team naimwe ba National Secretariat, you better wake-up and start handling politics with a ‘fire brigade approach’ otherwise it will be too late!

Kwamana…… period!

Prince Bill M. Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst

Economist Optimistic as Zambia’s Economy Navigates Healing Stage

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Economist Optimistic as Zambia’s Economy Navigates Healing Stage

In a recent interview with ZNBC News, Amos Chibinga, a prominent economist based in Livingstone, has shed light on Zambia’s economic trajectory, suggesting that the nation is now entering a healing phase following the challenges of over-borrowing and the disruptive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chibinga emphasized that prior to the assumption of office by the New Dawn government, Zambia’s economy had been significantly hampered by debt burdens and the widespread effects of the global health crisis. However, he noted several positive indicators that signify a shift towards stability and recovery.

One of the key factors highlighted by Chibinga is the observed steadiness in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, coupled with what he perceives as prudent management of public resources by the current administration. Additionally, the restoration of social order contributes to a conducive environment for economic growth, painting a promising picture for Zambia’s future.

Acknowledging the current high cost of living, Chibinga remained optimistic, asserting that there is ample room for Zambians to anticipate an improved economic landscape. Nevertheless, he cautioned that as an emerging economy, Zambia remains vulnerable to external shocks, particularly those stemming from global phenomena such as climate change.

Despite these potential challenges, Chibinga expressed confidence in Zambia’s ability to sustain positive economic growth, citing revived investor confidence in the mining sector spurred by the fiscal policies implemented by the UPND-led government. He highlighted the country’s improving credit rating as a significant factor expected to attract cash injections in the form of grants and bilateral deals in the near future.

Furthermore, Chibinga commended the government’s decision to remove excise duty on maize imports, describing it as a commendable short to mid-term solution that is poised to alleviate the cost burden associated with staple food items like mealie meal.

President Hichilema Congratulates Red Arrows on Absa Cup Victory, Calls for Football Dialogue

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President Hichilema Congratulates Red Arrows on Absa Cup Victory, Calls for Football Dialogue

President Hichilema kicks offs during the 2024 Absa cup

Under the watchful eye of President Hakainde Hichilema, the 2024 Absa Cup Final electrified fans at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka as Kabwe Warriors clashed with the newly crowned champions, Red Arrows. In a thrilling showdown, Red Arrows emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, showcasing the exceptional talent of Zambian football.

President Hichilema, in attendance, expressed his delight in witnessing a display of skill and passion, highlighting the importance of nurturing sports talent within the nation.

In addition to the exhilarating final, President Hichilema extended congratulations to the Under-17 Zambia National Women’s team for their commendable 2-0 victory against Uganda in the World Cup Qualifier earlier in the day.

Addressing the significance of sports development, President Hichilema reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting various sporting disciplines. He called upon the corporate sector to join hands with the government in fostering the growth of sports across the country, emphasizing the positive impact of such collaborations.

In order to resolve ongoing football-related disputes, President Hichilema directed Sports Minister Elvis Nkandu to convene a round table discussion involving all concerned parties, including the aggrieved factions and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). The aim is to facilitate dialogue and reach an amicable resolution, avoiding resorting to the judicial system or involving FIFA.

President Hichilema emphasized the efficacy of dialogue in addressing conflicts, highlighting its importance in maintaining harmony within the football community. He commended Red Arrows for their Absa Cup triumph and urged other corporate entities to emulate Absa Bank’s support for sporting endeavors.

President Hichilema confers with FAZ President Andrew Kamanga and Minister of Sport, Youth and Arts Elvis Nkandu

Levy Mwanawasa University Hospital Has Enough Oxygen

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Levy Mwanawasa University Hospital Has Enough Oxygen

Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hopspital
Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital

The Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital has disputed claims that it has run out of oxygen.

A Social media report suggested that 20 patients were likely to lose their lives at Levy Hospital because government had failed to fix the oxygen plant. They alleged that 400 patients were in dire need of oxygen against 30 cylinders available for deployment .The report accused the government of failing to pay Delta the suppliers of oxygen, saying out of the 60 cylinders Levy Hospital management obtained in credit Delta could only release 30, because the company is being owed millions of Kwacha.

However Hospital Public Relations Officer Chizongo Siachiwena said the oxygen plant at the hospital is adequate to meet the capacity of 830 patients.

Ms Siachiwena said the medical facility has not recorded any high increase in deaths due to lack of oxygen contrary to the social media report.

She told ZNBC news that at the moment the hospital has 180 Oxygen Cylinders that are being used at the facility.
Ms Siachiwena, however, stressed that the hospital carries out maintenance of all it’s equipment and the plant had under gone maintenance.

Stop feigning illness; just face the law!

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Stop feigning illness; just face the law!

Prior to the 2021 general elections that ushered-in the New Dawn Administration into power, the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General at the time, Davies Mwila issued the following stern warning to Cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament, “You’ll go to jail if we don’t campaign hard to win in 2021.” This attracted a screaming headline in one of the daily tabloids, The Mast Newspapers.

Mwila obviously knew what he was talking about; no one just turns up in prison anyhow! A felony must have been committed somehow. The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has unveiled an interesting diary of high profile cases coming up during the month of May. Here are the snippets of how it looks like: (1) The People vs. Godfrey Bwalya Mwamba (2) The People vs. Bowman Lusambo & Another (3) The People vs. Gardner Syakanthu & others (4) The People vs. Crint Sichamba & 3 others (5) ACC vs. Francis Muchemwa……the list of course, goes on and on.

We’ve no intention of celebrating when someone suspected to have come into conflict with the law in the past is hauled before the courts of law to dance “pelete.” Mankind must endeavour to uphold the laws of our land at all times. This must equally serve as a warning to those in power today. When you are given a rare opportunity to occupy certain government positions, you must resist behaving like a monkey in a maize field; your day of reckoning shall surely come to pass once you’ve vacated office.

If we may repeat a hackneyed saying, “justice delayed, is justice denied!” The Zambian people expect those believed to have stolen from them to pay back as soon as possible; be it forfeiture of assets suspected to be proceeds of crime or swapping designer outfits for the orange attire to grow Cabbages!

However, it’s increasingly becoming worrisome to see suspects trying by all means to waste our courts time by turning-up in court on stretchers or wheel chairs, limping into court rooms aided by friends and relatives or confining themselves in bed in private hospitals where they can be seen smiling and taking selfies. The same way that only a medical practitioner in a government hospital may sign on medical reports when someone has been assaulted is what should happen when someone requires a sicknote to excuse them from attending court sessions. Doctors in private hospitals may be colluding with suspects to avoid appearing in court by ‘accommodating’ in hospital wards much longer than necessary.

Don’t feign any illness; you must face the law, pronto!

Prince Bill M. Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst

Message For Today:Don’t Give Away Your Power

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Message For Today:Don’t Give Away Your Power

Today’s Scripture,/h3>
“No one can take your joy from you.”
John 16:22, NLV

Don’t Give Away Your Power

Friend, Jesus says that no person can take your joy from you. You have to give it away. The next time someone is rude or leaves you out, just smile and stay in peace. When you let someone else determine whether or not you’re going to stay in peace, you’re giving them your power. Make up your mind that you’re not going to let them take your joy. When someone tries to make you feel small, ignore it and move on. You’re not who they say you are; you are who God says you are—His masterpiece, crowned with favor. Be happy despite what they’re doing.

Don’t keep responding the same old way and let people and circumstances determine your mood, your peace, or your joy. You can’t control what comes your way, but you can control how you respond. If you’re going to reach your destiny, you have to prove to God that you’ll stay on the high road. Do the right thing when it’s hard, and God will take you to levels you’ve never imagined.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that I have the power to remain full of joy and stay in peace when circumstances and people try to discourage me. Thank You that You made this day, and I’m not going to live sour and defeated. I’ve made up my mind; I’m not giving away my power. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Joel Osteen Ministries

Lungu Is Able To Walk Freely Due To The Rights And Freedoms Restored by UPND

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Lungu Is Able To Walk Freely Due To The Rights And Freedoms Restored by UPND

Ndola District Commissioner Joseph Phiri says former President Edgar Lungu is managing to move freely in the streets of Lusaka because the New Dawn Government has restored tranquility in the country.

Mr. Lungu, the sixth Republican President, was on Thursday seen walking in the Lusaka Central Business District with some PF officials.

Speaking to Radio Icengelo News in Ndola, Mr. Phiri said President Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND have guaranteed human rights and freedoms as evidenced by Mr. Lungu’s stroll in Lusaka.

“I want to thank President Hakainde Hichilema. If you have observed from the time this (UPND) Government came into power there is peace in this country. Everywhere there is peace. Some politicians saying there is shrinking democratic space are just merely politicking. Look, the former President Edgar Lungu moves around freely without being attacked by anyone. This never used to happen during the reign of the last regime especially under the Patriotic Front. We had no freedom,” Mr. Phiri said.

“Now people can go to bus stations and markets with political attire without being attacked. Therefore, I want to appeal to the people of Ndola, to support this Government because it has restored peace and freedoms,” he said.

Mr. Phiri implored citizens to preserve peace and order.

“Let us value peace. Let us treasure peace. This Government has given people freedom to speak freely. People go to radio stations to say what they want but we just watch as the Government,” he concluded.

Former President Lungu walking in Lusaka

PF Accuses President Hichilema Of Abuse Of State Funds

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PF Accuses President Hichilema Of Abuse Of State Funds

The Patriotic Front has accused President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration of misusing state funds to pay former vice presidents Enoch Kavindele and Nevers Mumba. The allegations suggest that the two individuals are receiving monthly payments as “special envoys” of the President, without due parliamentary approval or clarity on the funding source.

The controversy stems from concerns regarding the lack of transparency and accountability in the appointment and remuneration of special envoys. They argue that the use of the term “special envoy” may serve as a loophole to bypass parliamentary oversight, as these roles typically do not require formal approval. Additionally, the PF raised questions about the legitimacy of such appointments and whether they align with the principles of democratic governance.

Below is the full statement

IS HH NOT ABUSING STATE FUNDS TO PAY NEVERS AND KAVINDELE

It would not be shocking to confirm that former vice presidents Enoch Kavindele and Nevers Mumba are receiving monthly payments for being named “special envoys” of President Hakainde Hichilema.
What would be shocking is that President Hichilema could insert these two on the government monthly payroll without such outside-establishment roles being put through a parliamentary approval process.
President Hichilema no doubt understands this fact. He understands too that the use of the term “special envoy” is a clever way to circumvent the need for parliamentary approval. However, it is also worth noting that in Zambia, special envoys are part time and hired for a specific assignment.
But Hichilema can not sidestep the issue of source of funds. That is why it is necessary for the government to explain quickly which vote of the budget is being used to effect payments to these special envoys, said to also include Guy Scott and Inonge Wina.
If the matter of the source of public funds for this project is not explained, civil servants involved in processing these payments should brace themselves for what could be Zamtrop II, over which some former senior public officers were jailed. What Hichilema is doing is exactly what landed Late President Chiluba in problems.
To avoid all this, President Hichilema should simply push a law giving benefits to all the countries former leaders, in the same manner days for National mourning are accorded them on their demise. We have a number of them notable among them, Lilly Monze, Vernon Mwaanga, Rabinson Chongo, Petronellla Kawandami Chisanga, General Kingsley Chinkuli and many others. His current way smacks of just being a selective manner for him to buy political support. What President Hichilema is doing is tantamount to using public resources for his personal benefit. He is using government money to buy and pay for Praise Singers to continue singing for him.
By far the most vocal have been Nevers Mumba and Enock Kavindele, whose loud praises have betrayed the fact that this is a Hichilema’s scheme to boost his public support.
Both Kavindele and Mumba were fired by late President Levy Mwanawasa. Can they then be deemed to have even completed their service? Enock Kavindele was Vice President to Fredrick Chiluba after the failed third term bid. Fredrick Chiluba later on campaigned for Late President Levy Mwanawasa until he won the 2001 elections. When Levy became Republican President, he continued with Kavindele as Vice President until Kavindele was fired. Kavindele himself knows the reasons. Hakainde Hichilema now President should know why Kavindele was fired.
After the dismissal of Kavindele, Levy Mwanawasa appointed Nevers Mumba whom he also later fired for among other reasons insubordination.
Nevers Mumba got the VP position by auctioning the National Citizens Coalition (NCC) which he had just changed from National Christian Coalition before selling it to the highest bidder.. With the kind of praises he has been heaping on Hichilema, Mumba could be preparing to do a similar thing to the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) faction he leads. Auction it for his own benefit.
Kavindele, on the other hand, will go to whoever promises to help him do his North West Railway project. Under the Movement for Multiparty Democracy ( MMD) and Patrioitic Front ( PF) government, Kavindele tried everything possible to bring government on board but he had no enough funds to be guaranteed by the Government of Zambia to borrow.
What Kavindele wanted was to get a government assurance that the railway line would be profitable then use that document to borrow. However, the would be lenders insisted that he also puts his own money on the table. He failed to do so. May be Hichilema has promised to lend him some money.
Kavindele is no longer a wealth man. He is broke. He is just remaining with his name, big house and a Rolex.
It is worth noting that both Kavindele and Mumba became popular and easy to be recognised in politics because they had monopoly in whatever they were doing.
Nevers Mumba was one of the few who preached the ” gospel of prosperity” through Pentecostalism. Kavindele had unique companies that dealt with ZCCM like KB Davis.
When more Pastors preaching similar messages like those of Nevers Mumba came on the scene, Mumba’s influence started fading. Same with Kavindele. When business competitors appeared on the market, Kavindele’s fortunes started dwindling. Both Nevers Mumba and Enock Kavindele are pieces of SCRAP METAL wanting to survive on government coffers.
Kavindele has declared that Hichilema is doing a fantastic job, despite all the daily evidence to the contrary: crippling high cost of living, mismanagement of national strategic maize stocks resulting in compromising of national food security, worst exchange rate in history, murky deals over country’s mining assets, crass tribalism, and the most repressive political environment comparable to the days of one party system.
A very good example of this political oppression is the warning by Zambia Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, that former President Edgar Lungu should not venture into any public place, such as a market or central business district because he will be breaking the law!
This was after former President Lungu took a walk through part of Lusaka CBD and some markets to check how Zambian traders are coping with the shrinking economy, and to encourage people to buy from local businesses to help them sustain their activities.
Former President Lungu as a Zambian citizen should be free to move wherever he wishes. The government, however, wants to restrict him because wherever he goes people are complaining about the high cost of living.
It is even shameful for Hichilema to allow the Police to issue such threats against Egdar Lungu when in 2018 he took a similar tour of the Central Business District ( CBD) of Lusaka.
Worse still, can one compare Edgar Lungu’s walk in the Lusaka CBD with Hichilema’s Motorcade racing against then President Edgar Lungu’s in Limulunga Western Province a stance that led to his arrest?
Hakainde Hichilema and his Graphael Musamba’s Police should not think that every Zambian is a fool.
Who committed a crime between Edagr Lungu who was exercising his rights and Hichilema who endangered the life of a sitting President? Who does Hichilema think he is? Did he drop from Pluto or Jupiter for him to be treated differently?
Kavindele also knows that any sitting President responsible for harsh living conditions in a country can not be said to be doing a fantastic job. Kavindele’s claim, therefore, suggests that he is receiving some kind of benefit!
And in the current form any such benefit could be resulting from abuse of state funds by the Head of State and everyone involved should be prepared to face the consequences when the appointed time finally arrives.
They say the ” Wheels of Justice are slow” but they will surely come.
Which budget allocation is Hichilema using to feed Kavindele and Mumba?

Source : Patriotic Front Facebook page

UKA Boss Lucky Mulusa and Dora Siliya Disavow Alleged Support for Defamatory Statements by Zumani Zimba

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UKA Boss Lucky Mulusa and Dora Siliya Disavow Alleged Support for Defamatory Statements by Zumani Zimba

In a recent development surrounding the defamation case involving Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba, a series of purported statements have surfaced, allegedly originating from key figures associated with the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA). The statements, which have been circulating widely, suggest support for Dr. Zimba’s defamatory remarks against undisclosed parties.

Among those falsely implicated in these statements are Lucky Mulusa, the Secretary General for UKA, and Dora Siliya, a prominent political figure. According to the fake statements, Mulusa purportedly offered himself as a witness against unnamed individuals in the pending case. However, upon investigation, it was revealed that both Mulusa and Siliya vehemently denied any involvement in or knowledge of the statements.

Addressing the matter directly, Mulusa clarified his stance, expressing frustration over the unauthorized use of his name in what he described as a “mud-slinging scheme.” He categorically distanced himself from both the authorship and content of the statements. Similarly, Siliya emphasized her complete ignorance of the purported statement, asserting that it was crafted without her consent or awareness.

In response to the fabricated statements, Dr.Nevers Mumba urged the public to disregard them entirely, emphasizing the need to treat them with the contempt they deserve. He reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing the defamation case to its conclusion, highlighting his dedication to upholding principles of integrity and honesty in political discourse.

Furthermore, Dr.Mumba emphasized that the case transcends individual reputations, framing it as a broader effort to cleanse Zambian politics of misinformation, slander, and unethical behavior. The focus, he stated, should be on fostering a more constructive and issue-based political environment that aligns with democratic values and national interests.

Zambia Ku Chalo

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Zambia Ku Chalo
Barbra Banda and Rachel Kundananji after the Orlando Pride vs Bay FC game
Barbra Banda and Rachel Kundananji after the Orlando Pride vs Bay FC game
Some Zambian fans

Mother and Daughter Detained for Suspected Murder of Husband in Mpika

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Mother and Daughter Detained for Suspected Murder of Husband in Mpika

A 59-year-old woman of Mpika’s Chitulika area has been detained by police together with her 19 year old daughter in connection with the suspected murder of her 50 year old husband.

Muchinga Province Police Commanding Officer Paul Achiume has identified the suspect as Phales Mutale and her daughter Evelyn Bwalya, who were arrested for allegedly murdering Kings Musamba Muma of Chitulika Village last week on Wednesday.

Mr. Achiume said the couple which was married for three years was living with Bwalya, a step daughter to Musamba.

Mr. Achiume said on the fateful day, Musamba’s step daughter reported to Mpika Police Station that her father had died after a short illness.

He said the deceased’s brother John Musamba, who lives in Ndola, was also informed of the death which made him travel to Mpika to collect the body.

“John Muma Musamba aged 50 of Lubuto township in Ndola, reported that his twin brother Kings Muma Musamba of Chitulika village in chief Chikwanda, was beaten to death by his wife Phales Mutale aged 59 and his step daughter Evelyn Bwalya aged 19 both of the same village. The deceased sustained cuts on the right eye and chin. Unknown object was used in the act,” Mr. Achiume stated.

“Brief facts of the matter are that the now deceased person was staying with his wife Phales Mutale and his step daughter Evelyn Bwalya in Chitulika Village and have been married for 3yrs now. On the material date around 2300hrs, Evelyn Bwalya reported to Mpika Police that his step-father, now the deceased, had died at home after a short illness. On 3rd May 2024, John Muma Musamba, now the reporter, travelled from Ndola with other family members upon receiving the funeral message. When they went to Mpika Urban Clinic Mortuary to check on the body in readiness to transport it to Ndola, the reporter observed that the deceased was swollen and had a cut on the right eye and chin,” he said.

“He became suspicious and decided to report the matter to the Police.

Acting on the report, a postmortem was conducted on the body of the deceased by a Medical Doctor at Michael Chilufya Sata Hospital and according to the findings; the cause of death was a blunt impact trauma to the head and ruptured spleen due to assault. Following the above revelations, the deceased’s wife Phales Mutale and her daughter Evelyn Bwalya have been detained in custody in connection with the murder of the deceased,” Mr. Achiume said.

The suspects have been detained for murder.

Former Presidential Aide Amos Chanda Sentenced to 12 Months for Theft and Evidence Destruction

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Former Presidential Aide Amos Chanda Sentenced to 12 Months for Theft and Evidence Destruction

Amos Chanda
Former President Lungu’s Press Aide Amos Chanda

Former special assistant to the President for press and public relations, Amos Chanda, has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court for stealing and burning a court record. This verdict follows an incident where Mr. Chanda, along with his wife and sister-in-law, was previously jailed for seven months for obstructing Anti-Corruption Commission officers during a search at his house. They were released after appealing their initial sentence.

In the recent case, Mr. Chanda was found guilty of theft and destroying evidence. Lusaka Magistrate Irene Wishimanga also fined him K5,000 for destroying the evidence, with a default sentence of three months in prison if the fine is not paid.

Chanda pleaded not guilty to the charges, which included stealing a case record belonging to the government of Zambia and willfully destroying it to prevent its use in evidence in a judicial proceeding. The court heard evidence that Chanda had a conversation with individuals, including Intelligent Mobility Solutions board chairman Walid El Nahas and former Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Chief Executive Officer Zindaba Soko, where he admitted to obtaining the court record and burning it.

The theft of the court record, identified as case record number CRMP/001/2020, was alleged to have occurred between May 12, 2020, and October 1, 2022. Chanda was also accused of willfully destroying the record during the same period.

ABSA Cup beckons for Kabwe Warriors

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ABSA Cup beckons for Kabwe Warriors

By Chimwemwe Mwanza

A late afternoon call yesterday from the indefatigable Mutale Ng’andu warmed my Friday. The Kabwe Warriors strongman was in town visiting my adopted homeland – this on the eve of the Kabwe-based soccer outfit’s most important game in almost 2 decades.

Ever generous the person he is, he sent a courteous invitation my way. ‘Yama, ndipa Mandela square mu Sandton, can you please join me for a meal,’ he quipped. Truth is, very rarely do I turn down the opportunity for good company. Unfortunately, this time around he caught me off guard. I had already committed to a date at the famed Busy Corner, a top-rated hangout joint in Tembisa – a sprawling township located east of Johannesburg.

For those who don’t drink alcohol, Busy Corner is where you find nice things – whatever that means, only Jason Mulaisho and Evans Kapinda or even better Scotch Hamoonga can explain better. For easy explanation, this riddle about nice things, rhymes along the lines of Friday njikata, nkalondolola pa Saturday kind of thing. Back to more serious stuff, I’ve known Ng’andu, the Warrior’s Chairman for several years. Like yours truly, he traces his genealogy to Highridge in Kabwe. Yet for all his worth and friendship, I just couldn’t cancel my plans for the evening to join him.

Before I dropped the call, we reminisced a bit about yesteryears in the town formerly known as Broken Hill. Of all the memories we shared, one experience stood out. The year, 1988. Venue, Railway Ground. As usual, Kabwe Warriors players clad in their white and blue kit, trooped out of their dressing room to greet their supporters in their traditional lap of honor. The objective of this practice was always to invigorate their supporters for some raucous noises – pretty much like New Zealand’s All Black’s use of the Haka choreography to intimidate opponents.

On this day, Warriors was up against a formidable Mighty Mufulira Wanderers side captained by Ashos Melu. I must confess that I have a passionate dislike for Wanderers – despite having lived in Mufulira for close to three years. The reason for this attitude is simple. Mighty and Kalampa used to give Warrior’s hell on the pitch. Admittedly, these two clubs played the best shoe-shine football – at least in my era. So, you can imagine the emotions on this day.

Fresh from winning the Zambian premier league, Warrior’s performance was on the wane. They had just lost their league-winning coach Bizwell Phiri who deserted them for the now-defunct South African Premier League Soccer club Umtata Bucks. Surprisingly, Warriors showed up on this day. They were able to match Mighty, pound for pound. With the game seemingly heading for a stalemate, up-stepped Timothy Mwitwa – Warrior’s newly found protégé.

Timo or ‘Teacher’ as Mwitwa was fondly known by his peers (MHSRIP) was a talented soccer player. He had an uncanny ability to massage a soccer ball with his feet. His ball-passing skills were purely wardrobe stuff. In this match, Teacher taught Melu and his defense partner George Lwandamina a thing or two about soccer. He kept dribbling them at will and with such ease. Super Ash as he was nicknamed, Melu who by then was Zambia’s national soccer team captain would literally flee from the sight of a marauding Teacher. The game ended 1-0 courtesy of Teacher’s superbly taken goal.

It’s thus not a strange coincidence that Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu chose to rebuild Warriors with Teacher at the center of his pivot. Rightly so, the bar that the dribbling wizard set is telling of the talent that Chitalu later brought to Warriors. In came the combative Moses ‘Saddam’ Masuwa, followed by Godfrey ‘Dunga’ Kangwa and John ‘Spiderman’ Lungu to complete a fearsome attacking midfield trio. The versatile Whiteson Changwe, Joe Bwalya, Manfred Chabinga, and big Sam Chomba provided a rock-solid defense for Richard Mwanza in goal. This was Magnificent Warriors then. And now?

Can Warriors finally end a 17-year trophy drought?

Agreed, privatization of the mines has greatly impacted both the standard and quality of Zambian soccer. Gone are the days when soccer clubs owned by Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) would plow millions into soccer academies from where the likes of Mighty, Kalampa, and Power Dynamos used to unearth some of the best soccer gems.

Even more concerning, parastatals such as Zambia Railways which sponsor Warriors are limping and terribly so. It’s unthinkable that a club like Warriors which has produced some of the best players in the history of Zambian soccer has not won a single trophy in almost two decades. Therefore, could Sunday, the 12th of May 2024, be the day that Warriors eventually break a 17-year trophy jinx? ‘Much as I’m certain that we shall prevail, this is a game that could go either way,’ is the Warrior’s chairman’s viewpoint to which yours truly concurs.

The ABSA cup is Zambia’s most prized soccer trophy. As such the current crop of players in the Warriors camp have to die a little. In fact, they owe it to the history of this club and its badge to bring glory and honor to Kabwe and its long-suffering residents. It shouldn’t matter that the club is 6th on the premier log table and that their opponent Red Arrows is leading the pack. Ultimately it will boil down to how they show up on the day. For those fervent followers of the club, you will be heartened to learn that the Warriors team that competed in the 1972 Premier League campaign and consisting of the likes of Fumanchu Simutowe, Jani Simulambo, and Ucar Chitalu among others swept all silverware in that season including the league.

This achievement is what should be inspiring, Prince Mumba, Killian Kanguluma, Ocean Mushure, Kabaso Chongo Matthews Tolopa, and the upcoming Munda Phiri in their quest for glory. The fact that Red Arrows is favorites to lift the trophy should play in Warrior’s favor. To the coach, Mumamba Numba, be reminded that you are carrying the hopes of many Warriors supporters some of whom are miles away and won’t make the numbers at Heroes stadium on Sunday. Our best wishes. Go Warriors Go. Walya Nganga Niye Walya Nkuku.

Mwanza enjoys reading politics, history, and philosophy. He is an ardent Kabwe Warriors and Liverpool supporter. For feedback, contact [email protected]

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