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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Reprimands Tito over BoZ Governor comments

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Reprimands Tito over BoZ Governor comments

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reprimanded the Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni, following comments made by the Minister on social media regarding the removal of Zambia’s Central Bank Governor by President Edgar Lungu.

In one of his tweets, Minister Mboweni is promising to mobilise if not given reasons why the Central Governor has been fired by President Lungu.

“President Ramaphosa wishes to assure the government and people of the Republic of Zambia that the unfortunate remarks do not reflect the views of the South African Government and its people. The issue is being addressed to ensure that such an incident does not occur again,” the statement by Tyrone Seale, the Acting Spokesperson to the President said.

It said South Africa and Zambia enjoy strong historical relations dating back to the days of the struggle against apartheid.

“South Africa remains committed to maintaining the deep and solid bonds of friendship between the peoples of South Africa and Zambia.”

Over the weekend, Mr. Mboweni sparked a diplomatic tiff after castigating Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu for dismissing the country’s Central Bank governor.

He tweeted, “Presidents in Africa must stop this nonsense of waking up in the morning and fire a Central Bank Governor! You cannot do that. This is not some fiefdoms of yours! Your personal property?! No!”

“Presidents in Africa must stop this nonsense of waking up in the morning and fire a Central Bank Governor! You cannot do that. This is not some fiefdoms of yours! Your personal property?! No!” That Governor was a good fella. Why do we do these things as Africans. The President of Zambia must give us the reasons why he dismissed The Governor – or else hell is on its way. I will mobilize!”

He later tweeted, “ Looks like I am in trouble about my statement on the dismissal of the Bank of Zambia Governor! I stand by my statement. Central Bank independence is key. Not negotiable. Let all central bankers speak out!”

The tweets have since been deleted.

The Zambian government, through its Information Minister Dora Siliya described the attacks as “improper” and “immature.”

She said they will pursue the matter “diplomatically”.

Zambia Statistics leaks confidential information on their sites

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Zambia Statistics leaks confidential information on their sites

Dear Sir,

I cannot stay silent about the massive injustice to which thousands of Zambians are subjected, and which I came to know by accident. It happened so that I discovered massive stacks of private informations about our citizens that answered the call to assist our government with the population Census this year. The web pages of the Zamstats office show in plain view many many confidential information: names, dates of birth, phone numbers, NRCs, banking accounts, and even the results of the ‘aptitude tests’ they conducted. You don’t have to take my word on that. You can convince yourself with your own eyes. You just click this link that I am sending and you see this for yourself! I swear this is real.

Editors note: Links verified but will not be shared to protect the identity and personal information therein.

No, no, Sir, I am not making this up, Sir. That site is mentioned on the Statistics Zambia Census page

You will see the ‘Take the quiz’ link. This is where they make us all take the test for the jobs.

This is real Sir. I swear this happened. You can call the people on the list. This is all real people!
How can we trust our information to the people who handle it so carelessy?
How can we sleep confident that our identities are not abused by the criminals that pry for our personal information?
How incredibly unprofessional this looks in the eyes of our neighbours looking at Zambia! If this happened in Britain, the fines would be in the millions of pounds, but with our corrupt government I am afraid this misdeed will remain unpunished. But it should not.

Sir, oh, please, Sir, please, help me correct the injustice. Please help protect my fellow citizens and keep their information protected from wrongdoing. My blood boils with anger, I wish I could tell them in the eyes “How dare you?!”, but what can I do? I am just a humble citizen. But you have the voice, you will be heard. They will listen. Don’t leave them any choice, Sir. You know how to speak so that they listen. We saw that before.

From Concerned Zambian

It’s Unacceptable for Kitwe Central Hospital Management to Allow Rats in Patients Wards-Health Minister

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It’s Unacceptable for Kitwe Central Hospital Management to Allow Rats in Patients Wards-Health Minister

Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has conducted an impromptu spot-check on Kitwe Central Hospital to establish what triggered uncontrolled rodents in a video that has gone viral.

After interacting with patients and health staff for over two hours, Dr. Chilufya established that there was gross negligence by management because the hospital had received K1.5 million for rehabilitation works at the hospital.

He said in as much as the hospital was old it was unacceptable that management would allow rats in patients wards especially after receiving support from the government.

Dr. Chilufya has since instructed Permanent Secretary for administration in the ministry Ms. Kakulubelwa Mulalelo to institute disciplinary action at all management levels for gross negligence.

Dr. Chilufya believes that resources that government pumps in various health departments should trickle down to patients and conditions under which they are taken care of.

He said President Edgar Lungu wants improved service delivery to all Zambians adding that he will not condone poor services and poor environments where they ought to be served.

“The infrastructure challenges will be there, we are working on them, the government released K1.5 million last week to fix some infrastructure challenges here and we expect integrated vector control measures to be put in place in order to stop rodents .” The Minister emphasized.

The Minister said the emphasis applied to all provincial health officers and medical superintendents to strengthen supervision.

“So we will not expect anything less than high-quality health services in clean environments” he added.

Dr. Chilufya has also directed Ms. Mulalelo to strengthen management operations at the hospital and ensure that government support is translated into improved health delivery for Zambians.

Meanwhile, Dr. Chilufya has announced that Kitwe Central Hospital will start conducting COVID-19 testing in the next two weeks.

He said the hospital had enough capacity and human resources.

And Minister of National Development Planning who is also Nkana Member of Alexander Chiteme that President Lungu through the Ministry of Health for quick response in the rodent issue.

He has however called on people to understand that the issue was a management issue and shouldn’t be entertained politically.

Zambians in the UK wish the Veep a quick recovery from COVID-19

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Zambians in the UK wish the Veep a quick recovery from COVID-19

Zambians in the United Kingdom have wished Her Honour Mrs. Inonge Wina, M.P., Vice President, a quick recovery following her being diagnosed with Covid-19.

Zambians Together president Elias Phiri relayed his wishes for a speedy recovery to Her Honour Mrs. Inonge Wina, M.P., Vice President on behalf of himself, and Zambians based in the United Kingdom during a diaspora-wide digital Town Hall meeting organised by the Zambia High Commission in the United Kingdom in partnership with Zambians Together and graced by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation Ambassador Chalwe Lombe.

“As Zambians in the diaspora, we are sad to hear that the pillar of the nation her Honour Mrs. Inonge Wina, our Vice President has taken ill. On behalf of myself and all the Zambians based in the United Kingdom, I wish her a quick recovery,” he said.

And Ambassador Lombe informed Zambians abroad that the Vice President was stable and under very good care. “I can report to you that she is stable and under very good care and we wish her a quick recovery,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary also extended heartfelt condolences to Zambian families across the world who have lost loved ones at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He expressed sadness that COVID-19 was robbing the nation of irreplaceable human resource and urged Zambians both home and away to be careful and to take measures that are required to ensure that they are safe so that they can participate actively in the developmental agenda of the country.

He said COVID-19 was an invisible enemy that everyone is contending with and appealed to all Zambians to exercise caution and to be careful.

“COVID-19 is robbing us of irreplaceable human resource and I can only encourage all of us to be careful, take the measures that are required to ensure that you are safe so that you can participate and actively engage as nationals of Zambia and participate in the development of the country. Let us all embrace technology in whatever we are doing. Technology is at the centre of everything we are doing and the COVID- 19 has shown us that it is possible to have virtual engagement just like what we are doing now. We must use technology and ensure that we can use this vehicle,” he said.

ZAMPHIA to enable individuals test for HIV in the comfort of their own homes with no cost

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ZAMPHIA to enable individuals test for HIV in the comfort of their own homes with no cost

As the need to understand progress Zambia has scored towards achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets gains momentum, the Zambia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZAMPHIA) 2020 survey is not leaving anything to chance.

The ZAMPHIA survey is a nationally representative household-based study that provides Home-Based HIV Counselling and Testing (HBHCT) with immediate return of results.
Speaking an interview recently, ZAMPHIA 2020 Visual Communications and Media Officer Arnold Chasaya disclosed that the survey will measure HIV incidence and prevalence and viral load suppression, which will help stakeholders in the country assess the effectiveness of past and current HIV prevention and treatment programs.

“The ZAMPHIA 2020 survey will enable individuals to test for HIV in the comfort of their own homes with no cost. Additionally, it will enable individuals found HIV positive be linked to treatment, care and support, if you are not already doing so. It will also enable individuals found HIV positive to protect their partner and loved ones from contracting HIV virus,” he disclosed.

The ZAMPHIA visual communications and media officer also clarified that the survey is targeted at those aged 15 years and above.

Mr. Chasaya said if the participant is between 15 to 17 years old, his or her parent or guardian must consent to the participation in the survey.

Mr. Chasaya also implored the media to take keen interest in understanding more about the survey, emphasising that the media have a critical role to play in ensuring that communities appreciate the importance of the survey.

“This is a national project with interests of every Zambian at heart. But to deliver to fully, we will need the participation of all media and nonmedia stakeholders, such as traditional leaders, church mother bodies, nongovernmental and quasi-governmental institutions,” he implored.

On how the survey will be conducted, Mr. Chasaya had this to say: “The HIV testing is done by collecting a small amount of blood from the arm. The blood will be collected by trained Health Care Providers. After the HIV test is conducted from your home, the remaining blood samples will be taken to the central laboratory for further testing. With your permission, samples will be stored in the laboratory until destruction.”

The ZAMPHIA 2020 survey is being implemented by the Government of the Republic of Zambia with unwavering support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

New Bank Governor Advised To Accelerate Disbursement Of K10 Billion Stimulus Package

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New Bank Governor Advised To Accelerate Disbursement Of K10 Billion Stimulus Package

The financial markets and small-scale businesses, key to Zambia’s economic recovery, have called on newly appointed Bank of Zambia Governor Christopher Mvunga to reduce stringent measures which has made accessibility of the K10 billion economic stimulus package impossible.

The National Savings and Credit Bank submitted COVID-19 fund applications of over K1 billion to the Bank of Zambia on behalf of various clients in the sectors such as energy, agriculture, commerce and SME but have since not received the funding due to the stringent measures for accessing the stimulus package.

“For us, these are key areas to facilitate and bridge the funding requirements and we had always been confident that with the strong partnerships we enjoy in the market, we will be in strong position to facilitate accordingly,” said NATSAVE Public Relations Manager Patricia Luhanga.

She said due to countrwide presence in all ten provinces of Zambia, NATSAVE is well positioned to deliver value to people of Zambia on behalf of Government, the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance.

A number of small-scale business owners have complained on the stringent conditions which have been attached to accessibility of the funds. 

Our Team in random interviews with some traders who run small scale enterprises and from Soweto Market have called on the new BOZ Governor to work at demystifying the growing public perception that the K10 billion fund is only meant to benefit the rich and big companies.

“We welcomed the decision by the President to stimulate our businesses during the COVID period but when we were told the conditions, we wondered whether the President knew the chains and strings BOZ attached to accessing this loan facility. So it’s good the President is shaking the Bank of Zambia but we need to see more action,” said Martin Phiri who runs Masophi Enterprises.

And James Mwaba, trader at City Market has observed that the criteria and requirements needed to access this loan facility made most marketeers wonder whether the K10 billion refining facility was meant to help local small scale businesses or is aimed to keep the bigger businesses afloat. 

“We hope the new Bank Governor is going to help the President to realign the measures because the strings attached to accessing the loans were extremely difficult for ordinary small businesses whom the President said should have been benefiting,” said Mwaba.

In the meantime, governing PF Media Director, Sunday Chanda, in a statement released today has accused the former Bank of Zambia Governor, Danny Kalyalya, of failing to provide leadership on the disbursement of the K10 billion stimulus fund as only K1 billion of the stimulus package was disbursed in the midst of negative economic growth. 

“We expect that anyone who is serious about Zambia like His Excellency President Edgar Lungu is must raise concerns about the slow disbursement of the stimulus package and the over stringent measures put up which are defeating the very reason why the Stimulus package was put up in the first place. There was clearly suspected sabotage to knock out the economy completely and this is what the UPND was banking on,” said Mr. Chanda.

FAZ Announces Lower League Restart Format

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FAZ has announced that the 2019/2020 season for lower leagues and women competitions will be concluded when teams play an equal number of games.

The lower leagues and women competitions were halted in March following the outbreak of the Covid-19.

FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala says Football House has also provided the road-map for promotional play-offs for the National Division One.

“Following the continued upsurge in numbers of people contracting the Coronavirus, the stopping of the Premier League games, and the advice from the Ministry of Health, the Executive Committee have evoked Article 79 of the FAZ Constitution and decided to curtail the provincial leagues,” says Kashala.

The National Division One promotion playoffs are tentatively scheduled take place from 14th October to 18th October 2020.

According to the resolutions of the FAZ Executive Committee, provincial leagues with 16 teams will play 22 matches before closing the league while 18 team leagues will close at week 24.

Below are the rest of the resolutions contained in a media statement issued by FAZ spokesperson Sydney Mungala:

i) All the teams must be tested for COVID – 19 and obtain the test results before playing any game.

ii) The dates for the catch-up games and the two more games will only be fixed after getting the clearance from Ministry of Health and after all the clubs have done the testing and obtained the test results.

iii) All the remaining games must be concluded by Sunday 11th October 2020 to pave way for the National Division One Playoffs that will start on Wednesday 14th October 2020.

PF Media Director hints at the Reason for Bank of Zambia Governor’s Dismissal

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PF Media Director hints at the Reason for Bank of Zambia Governor’s Dismissal

The ruling Patritic Front Media Director Sunday Chanda has hinted that the Bank of Zambia Governor Denny Kalyalya has been dismissed because of the poor disbursement of the stimulus package into the economy.

In a post responding the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Leader’s criticism of the president of the dismal, Mr. Chanda said that only K1 billion of K10 billion stimulus package was disbursed in the midst of negative economic growth, and hence creating a liquidity problem in the economy and wondered which country would allow such a situation.

Mr Chanda said that there was clearly suspected sabotage to knock out the economy completely and so as to benefit UPND

” We expect that anyone who is serious about Zambia like His Excellency President Edgar Lungu is must raise concerns about the slow disbursement of the stimulus package and the over stringent measures put up which are defeating the very reason why the Stimulus package was put up in the first place,” said Mr Chanda before adding that tere was clearly suspected sabotage to knock out the economy completely and this is what the UPND was banking on.

Below is the full statement

*HH’s Excitement over changes at BOZ*

23rd August 2020 – Mr. Hakainde Hichilema posts on his Facebook page the following: “What has happened at BOZ is like replacing an experienced heart surgeon with a mechanic, in the middle of heart surgery”.

We wish to draw Mr. Hichilema’s attention to Article 214 of The Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No 2 of 2016 provides that;

“214. (1) There shall be a Governor of the Bank of Zambia who shall be appointed by the President, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, and who shall be—
(a) a citizen;

(b) a person who has specialised training and experience in economics, finance, accounting, banking, LAW or other field relevant to banking, as prescribed;… “

While subject to ratification by Parliament, the newly appointed BOZ Governor Mr. Chris Mvunga is an accomplished Professional Accountant with extensive business knowledge gained across industries, ranging from local to Multi-national companies. He is a fellow of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA- UK). He is qualified to be BOZ Governor with adequate experience locally and internationally.

We have also observed that its been very easy for UPND leader to attack Minister of Finance Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu, a man who has taken very aggressive fiscal measures while paying a blind eye to his cousin the former Bank of Zambia Governor over the K10 billion stimulus fund which had remained undusbursable until now. Only K1 billion of the stimulus package was disbursed in the midst of negative economic growth. How can the economy be rescued when there is no liquidity in the economy? Which country can allow that? But alas Mr. Hichilema found it convenient to remain quite possibly because the person involved was his relative.

We expect that anyone who is serious about Zambia like His Excellency President Edgar Lungu is must raise concerns about the slow disbursement of the stimulus package and the over stringent measures put up which are defeating the very reason why the Stimulus package was put up in the first place. There was clearly suspected sabotage to knock out the economy completely and this is what the UPND was banking on.

SIGNED:

Sunday Chanda
Media Director
Patriotic Front
Party Headquarters

The Dismissal of Dr. Denny Kalyalya is Another Sad Development for Zambia-HH

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The Dismissal of Dr. Denny Kalyalya is Another Sad Development for Zambia-HH

By Hakainde Hichilema

“What has happened at BOZ is like replacing an experienced heart surgeon with a mechanic, in the middle of heart surgery”.

The PF is at it again with its typical hallmark of failure in upholding the tenets of sound economic management and good governance. The dismissal of the Governor of the Bank of Zambia, Dr. Denny Kalyalya is another sad development in our country’s history, and it couldn’t have come at such a critical time, when the nation is facing enormous economic challenges, and uncertainties.

We can tell you without doubt, that the IMF will stop engaging with Zambia, not only because of poor fiscal policies but also because of the credibility of the new Bank of Zambia Governor. BOZ under Dr. Kalyalya has behaved professionally and has been managed with a firm and transparent standpoint. With the IMF leaving us to sort out our own mess, the next likely group will be our creditors who will start demanding their pound of flesh. Then the kwacha will follow, in free fall.

Secondly, Government has just shown that it is hell bent on undermining the BOZ, which has remained steadfast in ensuring the economy continues to function within acceptable benchmarks. The efforts made by Bank of Zambia on monetary policy adjustments is well documented. While Kalyalya was busy forestalling a free fall of the Kwacha against major currencies, Bwalya Ng’andu, on the fiscal side, was busy fighting him by introducing strange measures and contracting new debt.

A Central Bank, in any country, is a very important institution that requires professionalism and competence to reign. It is also important that the CEO of the Central Bank is protected by the law from political interference, like this one action that has just been executed by Mr Edgar Lungu. There are no prizes for guessing why Kalyalya was fired. Put simply, the man was professional, ethical and above board.

Various public statements he made on the condition of the economy, underscores the fact that he was forthright, prudent and foresighted. In now what has become the PF’s modus operandus, anyone who behaves ethically and professionally is kicked out.

At this point, one can only warn the Zambian public to brace for hard times ahead. The kwacha will devalue further, subsequently sending prices skyrocketing due to the rising cost of doing business. Further, jobs will be lost because the economy will further contract, probably end at a worse position than the projected minus 5.5% growth.

However with all this gloom in our midst, we would like to assure Zambians that come 2021, the economy will be firmly back on track. Do your bit, we shall do ours.

Government will deal Diplomatically with SA Finance Minister over the Firing of Bank of Zambia Governor-Siliya

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Government will deal Diplomatically with SA Finance Minister over the Firing of Bank of Zambia Governor-Siliya

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, and Chief Government Spokesperson, Hon. Dora Siliya has expressed surprise at the attacks made by South Africa’s Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni against the country.

In a series of tweets made on social media on Sunday, Mr. Mboweni demanded the reinstatement of former Bank of Zambia Governor, Denny Kalyalya.

But Hon. Siliya stated that the tweets were improper and immature as Zambia had a right to make sovereign decisions.

Ms. Siliya responded in a tweet and stated that:

“We are very surprised with Tito Mboweni’s immature and improper criticism of a sovereign decision by Zambia. The Minister should be attending to COVID problems facing the South Africans, our focus here. We will pursue matter diplomatically.”

She said the Government will pursue the matter through diplomatic.

Earlier South Africa’s Minister of Finance run the tweets below in support of the dismissed Bank of Zambia Denny Kalyalya.

 


 

The Government has still not provided reasons for the dismissal of the Bank Governor giving rise to several rumours as to the reasons the Governor has been dismissed. The refusal to print money has been trending high on the rumour mill.

When you outshine the Boss

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When you outshine the Boss

Nusa Mohammed in Talks Over Nkana Stay

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Kenya defender Musa Mohammed has disclosed that he is still in talks with Nkana over the possibility of renewing his contract which expired two months ago.

Mohammed, who is currently in Kenya, has been linked with a move to Sofapaka and Tanzania’s Young Africans.

But the Harambee Stars defender, who captained Nkana, last season, said he is not joining any of the two clubs after earlier negotiations hit a snag.

Speaking to Safari Soccer, Mohammed said he has not left Nkana despite the expiry of his contract.

“My contract ended two months ago and I am now free,” Mohammed said.

“I can’t say I am leaving Nkana because we are still in talks with them. We are waiting,” he said.

“We are still talking, we are still negotiating so we will see what will happen whether we will agree to sign a contract or not. If we don’t sign, we are open to other options which are available,” Mohammed said.

The defender also commented on Nkana’s 13th league title triumph.

Mohammed said he considers himself a champion with Nkana despite missing Kalampa’s last two matches.

“I know I have won the league because I have played almost every match for Nkana. I am very happy to win a trophy away from home again. I thank God for everything that has happened.

On his absence from Nkana during the last days of his contract, Mohammed said:”I can’t discuss that here. That one is personal, it is a family matter.”

Mohammed joined Nkana in 2018 on a two-year contract after leaving Albanian second tier side KF Tirana.

Firing of Bank Governor has come at a Wrong Time-Socialist Party

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Firing of Bank Governor has come at a Wrong Time-Socialist Party

The termination of the contract of the Bank of Zambia Governor, Dr Denny Kalyalya, with immediate effect by President Edgar Lungu comes at the wrong time and will have huge negative repercussions for macroeconomic stability.

Dr Kalyalya and his BOZ team were the opiate doses for a critical ill Zambian economy. Beyond a certain level of pain, opiates and other painkillers are ineffective. The patient is then exposed to excruciating pain and death.

On several occasions, we had warned against the overstretching of the monetary policy tools in tying to respond to structural and fiscal policy failure. By 2013, it was already apparent that the Zambian economy needed deep fiscal consolidation. All signs of pending economic stress were ignored. It was business as usual. By 2015, the situation was getting out of hand and various variables pointed to policy intervention that would ensure pro-poor growth whilst working towards macro economic stability. We provided suggestions on many occasions as to how this could be achieved.

All this advice was arrogantly ignored. We further warned the Zambian cooperating partners that they were also failing to read the pending economic disaster awaiting the country. They all sheepishly gave in to allow President Lungu pursue a corrupt and ruinous policy that was meant to secure him and the PF the 2016 General Elections!

Once on this path, there was no return to sanity. The economy was on autopilot. Four years later and with the 2021 elections pending, monetary policy tools have been rendered irrelevant to effect drastic change.

Dr Kalyalya is by far one of Zambia’s finest economists. He understands the potency of monetary policy tools but is also clear about their limitations. Much more important, he is a sober and objective personality. These are qualities lacking in most Zambian economists. His appointment as Bank Governor was always seen as a panacea to the otherwise misinformed and rogues policies of President Lungu’s regime.

However, it was just a question of time as to when frustration would set in. Ironically, President Lungu lost the patience instead. The President wants to win next years elections at all costs. Even if this means a total destruction of the Zambian economy. Dr Kalyalya therefore had to go. He had become a stumbling block in an evil machinery that is destroying the entire Zambian society and economy.

To Dr Kalyalya: Please take a well deserved rest. You have served your country diligently and with a lot of civil courage. The Socialist Party appreciates your efforts – even if at times we never agreed with some of the policy decisions taken by your team.

To Presidemt Lungu: macro economic instability will be your ruin and that of your government. You have destroyed the Zambian economy in the shortest period of governance. The termination of Dr Kalyalya comes at a time when COVID-19 is causing economic havoc to an already depressed, high debt economy. You have mistimed and this will have huge negative impact on the financial market for months to come. As expected you continue failing our country where and when it matters most.

Dr Cosmas Musumali
General Secretary and First Vice-President of the
Socialist Party

Zambia’s Fight Against Corruption Must Not Be Politicised

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Zambia’s Fight Against Corruption Must Not Be Politicised

By Antonio Mwanza

From that February day, in 2003 when President Levy Mwanawasa went to Parliament and slapped President Chiluba with 168 charges of corruption, the fight against corruption in Zambia has become a political tool that politicians have often used to target political opponents to gain political mileage by shouting ‘corruption’ the loudest.

In this country, many people believe that corruption is only corruption if it involves a politician. Like if you pay a bribe to obtain a Drivers Licence, or if you pay a traffic police officer a K50 to avoid being charged with a traffic offense such as over speeding that is not corruption. In Zambia corruption is most treated as corruption when a politician is named or involved; the whole fight against corruption has been corrupted and politicized.

Equally, the levels of lack of information and misinformation is not helping matters. Many people believe that Government resources are in the hands and control of politicians. This is very far from the truth: Politicians don’t control state coffers, it is the technocrats, the Permanent Secretaries and their fellow bureaucrats who are CONTROLLING and SPENDING agents of state resources not politicians. That is essentially why the Auditor General’s and the Public Accounts Reports cite technocrats and not politicians as culprits of corruption and abuse of public resources because they are the ones in charge of the state coffers not the politicians.

You fight corruption not by shouting the loudest or by accusing others of corruption, no, you fight corruption by taking the necessary fiscal, social and legislative steps to address the causes, seal the loopholes and punish the culprits.

While Levy Mwanawasa used the fight against corruption to market himself, the results clearly show that other than using the fight against corruption for political gain there were no real practical measures that he and his government took to stamp out corruption.

For instance Levy’s so called Task Force Against corruption only enriched his lawyer friends whom he appointed on the Task Force. 18 million dollars of taxpayers money was spent on Mwanawasa’s lawyer friends and foreign investigations while Chiluba was acquitted of all the charges.

In fact the independent Evaluation Report done by a consortium of international donors concluded that many stakeholders believed that The Task Force was used as a personal tool by Mwanawasa to settle political scores and market himself as an anti-graft President for political expediency.

Like I earlier said, you don’t fight corruption by shouting ‘corruption’ the loudest, you fight corruption by putting in place the appropriate fiscal, social and legislative measures to combat draft and that is exactly what the PF Government has done as can be demonstrated by the numerous PRACTICAL steps that this Government has put in place:

  1. Strengthening legislation: The PF Government has strengthened the anti-graft laws by for instance introducing the Public Finance Management Laws as well as operationalizing the Financial Intelligence Centre(FIC). Additionally, Cabinet has since agreed to further strengthen and re-align the mandate and operations of FIC and ACC to ensure a more cohesive and effective way of fighting corruption.
  2. The Government Increased funding to improve the management and operational capacity of ACC as well as FIC and other investigative wings.
  3. The PF Government is paying particular interest to to increasing the staffing levels of the ACC and other investigative wings with the correct number of skilled experts in various anti-graft techniques.
  4. The PF Government has embarked on the decentralization process of the ACC to ensure widespread presence especially in urban and peri-urban areas of the country.
  5. Government has continued education and sensitization of the negative effects of corruption as well and the unwavering support that the PF Government has continued to give to the work and mandate of the Auditor General’s office as well as the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament are yielding major results as an be seen from the increased number of prosecutions and convictions of erring officers.
  6. President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has demonstrated unparalleled leadership by not shielding any member of his administration from being investigated and prosecuted by the competent courts of law. Under ECL, there are no sacred cows, anyone and every one whether Minister or an ordinary cadre is subject to the law of the land.

Ultimately it will take you and me, not just ECL and officials to fight corruption; corruption is a moral, social as well as a legal issue and it will take every one of us to demonize and fight it.

The author is the PF Deputy Media Director

Presidential Empowerment Fund is APEX of Grand Corruption

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Presidential Empowerment Fund is APEX of Grand Corruption

By: Anthony Bwalya – UPND Member.

This is a call to all citizens loyal to the Republic of Zambia to stop, think and ask questions, of the non institutional, non legal platform of disbursing “empowerment” under the veil of the so-called Presidential Empowerment Fund Initiative (PEFI) – said to be sponsored by President Edgar Lungu.

Levy Patrick Mwanawasa (RIP) is remembered for his unrelenting crusade against politically motivated corruption by high ranking government officials.

FTJ (RIP) was one of his principal victims. The former President had set up a Presidential Slush Fund, similar to what President Lungu has done, which used to receive millions of US dollars from the Ministry of Finance, for the president to administer as he pleased – no questions asked. The result was a multimillion dollar trial involving 168 counts of corruption charges involving close to $50m.

What stunned the nation was not some “legitimate” payments paid to private security contractors from the London hosted ZANACO bank account (famously knowns as the ZAMTROP account) , but rather payments channelled to the former president’s friends, family and political collaborators – not to mention millions of dollars spent on shopping sprees.

For a long time, the ZAMTROP account was impossible to audit because of the special dispensation with which it was managed. Therefore, the corruption and plunder schemes were only uncovered after Levy Mwanawasa lifted the lid on it and allowed private auditors to look into the account.

Of course, at the time of the trial, Zambia’s debt was a mere $5.4bn and only 20% of our national revenue was servicing external debt.

The current Presidential Empowerment Fund Initiative by President Lungu will prove a lot more problematic for us, and for various reasons.

1. No one knows where the money comes from
2. No one can audit the scheme as long as the President whose name appears on the fund is in office
3. No one knows what bank accounts, if any, are attached to the fund.

All we keep seeing is the “fund” churning out “empowerment” in the form of cash, buses, projects and equipment; with known named “cooperatives” clear beneficiaries of the same.

Now, when the time for reckoning comes, all those who are actively involved in the handling and distribution of funds under the PEFI will have questions to answer in that regard.

Today, we see PF operatives being flown on military aircrafts transporting bags of cash under the PEFI for nationwide distribution.

Once the reign of this President is over, and once the reign of the Patriotic Front (PF) is over, and at a time when Zambia is losing around $2.5bn per year to corruption; we will need to look back at the PEFI and its core participants and ask the question that no one wants to ask right now:

Where does this money come from?

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