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Government admits that Bill 10 lapsed

Chief Editor
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Government admits that Bill 10 lapsed

Chief Government Parliamentary Whip Brian Mundubile has admitted that the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 10 2019 lapsed for exceeding it’s the lifespan of six months as provided for understanding orders of Parliament.

Mr. Mundubile who was addressing the media this morning at Parliament Buildings said Bill 10 which was placed on the Order Paper on December 4th, 2019 was meant to be concluded by or before 4th June 2020 during which period the same could not happen as parliament ‘adjourned prematurely’ due to Covid-19.

He said the standing orders committee chaired by Speaker Patrick Matibini yesterday voted to defer the Bill on request from Justice Minister Given Lubinda to a date not later than the last day of the current sitting.

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF WHIP, HON B
MUNDUBILE, MP, ON THE DEFERMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
ZAMBIA (AMENDMENT) BILL N.A.B. 19 OF 2019, ISSUED ON 25 TH JUNE,
2020
________________________________________________________

Members of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning and welcome to this Press briefing.

I would like to shed more light on the deferment of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill, N.A.B 10 of 2019 from yesterday, Wednesday, 24th June, 2020, to another date during the course of this Meeting.

Let me begin by reminding you, and through you, the general public that the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill, N.A.B 10 of 2019, was presented to the House for First Reading on Friday, 2nd August, 2019. Since it was presented in the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, the Bill lapsed by reason of the prorogation of the House. However, and in accordance with Standing Order 126 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2016, the House, on Tuesday, 3rd December 2019, resolved to restore the Bill to the Order Paper for consideration at the Second Reading Stage.

Consequently, the Bill was placed on the Order Paper of Wednesday, 4th December 2019 as an Order of the Day. However, during the debate, the Hon Minister of Justice sought leave of the House to defer the consideration of the Bill to a later date. Debate on the Bill was accordingly deferred to a later date.

1Subsequently, on Tuesday, 17th March 2020, the Bill was again placed on the Order Paper for Resumption of Debate on the Bill. Debate on the question was not concluded on that day and spilled over to Wednesday, 18th March 2020.

However, on that day, 18th March 2020, the House adjourned prematurely at the behest of the Members of Parliament, due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus – 2019 pandemic without finalizing the Bill.

Ladies and Gentlemen, at the time of the premature adjournment, the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill, N.A.B 10 of 2019 was on the Order Paper as an Order of the Day and was not concluded.

Therefore, when the House resumed transacting business on Tuesday, 23rd June 2020, the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill, N.A.B 10 of 2019, was placed on the Order Paper, but the debate on the Bill could not resume because the Hon Mr. Speaker had not concluded rendering a Ruling at the time of adjournment.

The Bill was, therefore, placed on the Order Paper again, for the resumption of debate on Wednesday, 24th June 2020.

During the debate, the Hon Minister of Justice sought leave of the House to further adjourn debate to a later date within the current Meeting.

Allow me to point out that the Standing Orders Committee derives its powers from the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2016, which in turn derive their authority from Article 77(1) of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia. Article 77(1) is expressed in the following terms:

“ 77. (1) Subject to this Article and Article 78, the National Assembly shall regulate its own procedure and make Standing Orders for the conduct of its business.”

Pursuant to Article 77(1) of the Constitution, the National Assembly of Zambia promulgated the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2016. And the Standing Orders Committee is established pursuant to Standing Order 149 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2016. Standing Order 149 provides as follows:

“149 (1)There is hereby established the Standing Orders Committee comprising the Speaker, the Leader of Government Business in the House, the Leader of the Opposition, party whips and four other members appointed by the Speaker.

(2) The Speaker shall be the Chairperson of the committee.

(3) In addition to other duties placed upon it by an Order of the Assembly, the Standing Orders Committee shall consider all proposals for the amendments to these Standing Orders.

(4) The Standing Orders Committee shall appoint members to serve on a committee of the House.

(5) The Committee may circulate the reports and recommendations of the committee to members of the Assembly and, if within the prescribed period no objection in writing signed by a member has been received by the Clerk, the reports or recommendations shall be deemed to have 3been approved by the Assembly.

The prescribed period shall not be less than four sitting days if the House is in session and twenty-one days if the House stands adjourned:
Provided that-

(a) On representation from the Speaker that the matter is urgent, the Standing Orders Committee may prescribe a shorter period; and

(b) If an objection is received from a Member within the prescribed period, the Committee may consider the validity of such objection and may either cause the report or recommendation to be brought up for consideration by the House or resolve that the report or recommendation be deemed approved by the Assembly, in which case the report or recommendation shall be deemed approved.”

The current composition of the Standing Orders Committee is as follows:

(1) The Speaker as Chairperson;
(2) Her Honour the Vice-President as Leader of Government Business in the House;
(3) Hon Dr. B K E Ng’andu, MP, Minister of Finance;
(4) Hon J J Mwiimbu, MP, as Leader of the Opposition;
(5) Hon B Mundubile, MP, as Government Chief Whip;
(6) Dr S Musokotwane, MP, as UPND Whip;
(7) Dr J K Chanda, MP;
(8) Mr H Kunda, MP;
(9) Ms M Subulwa, MP; and
(10) Mr D M Kundoti, MP.

The Standing Orders Committee is the highest decision-making body in the National Assembly of Zambia and is charged with the responsibility to consider all proposals for the amendment of the Standing Orders and other Rules of Procedure.

You may wish to know that there is no express provision in the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2016 which governs the time within which a Bill must be considered at any one stage of enactment.

Nonetheless, the National Assembly Manner of Putting the Question and Procedural Notes Handbook, which forms part of the Procedures and Practices of the House,
states, at page 11, as follows:

“NB: (a) If a Bill is deferred for six (6) months, it is killed.”

In short, a Bill that has been deferred for six (6) months lapses in terms of Parliamentary practice and procedure. In this case, the Bill lapsed on Thursday, 4th June 2020, having been deferred on 4th December 2019. However, at the time it lapsed, the House was on recess. And had it not been for the premature 5adjournment in the February-March Meeting, the Second Reading Stage could have been probably been concluded one way or another.

Ladies and Gentlemen, in view of the foregoing, the Standing Orders Committee met on Wednesday, 24th June, 2020, to consider the request by the Hon Minister of Justice, to defer further the consideration of the Bill to a date not later than the last day of this Meeting.

Following deliberations by the Standing Orders Committee, it was resolved to extend the life of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill, N.A.B 10 of 2019 to a date not later than the last day of this Meeting.

I thank you

President Lungu Gives Green Light for League Restart

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The green light for the restart of the 2020/2021 season has been given by the highest office in the land following the lengthy pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Edgar Lungu stated in his bi-monthly Covid-19 pandemic national address on June 25 that football would return in July.

“Guidelines for all sports disciplines to follow as they consider resume sports activities have been developed,” President Lungu said.

“They include the following but not limited to:
A: Guiding principles stipulated by statutory instruments 21 and 22 of 2020
B: Guidelines for various sports disciplines which have been categorized as non, semi -contact and full -contact
C: Safeguards as outlined in the health guidelines for football at Premier and National Division One League, hence these leagues will resume action in July 2020 with the strict observance of health guidelines.

“The Ministry of Heath, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development and the Ministry of Local Government would be inspecting sports arena’s to ensure they are ready for action.”

The last league action for FAZ Super Division teams was on March 8 with rescheduled Week 23 games before the lockdown was implemented.

Forest Rangers currently lead the log after 25 games played on 46 points, one more than Napsa Stars with nine games left before the 2020 title is decided.

Defending champions Zesco are 5th and are four points behind Forest.

Zambia’s rule of law backslides down the slippery slope

editor
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Zambia’s rule of law backslides down the slippery slope

By Simon Wolfe

Shameless overreach by the government is having real-world effects on business and investment

Zambia has a long tradition of the rule of law, a clear separation of powers and an effective and responsible judiciary. So it is worrying that it is slipping down the World Justice Project rule of law index, with worsening scores in the categories of government powers, fundamental rights, absence of corruption, criminal justice and open government.

So too in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2019 democracy index, with authors citing particular concerns that “increased restrictions on the electoral process in Zambia reflected democratic backsliding and a retreat from political pluralism”.

The breakdown of the rule of law has economic consequences. Zambia ranked in the bottom 10 of the 76 participating jurisdictions in the world for mining investment, according to the Fraser Institute’s 2019 annual survey of mining companies, published in February 2020. The steep decline was attributed in part to regulatory inconsistencies as well as an unfavourable taxation regime.

What is going on? The rule of law is meant to safeguard a stable investment environment where investors, local or foreign, can trust that their assets won’t be affected by political whim. It also ensures that regulators and the courts remain impartial and free of political interference. The media is free to report on, criticise and challenge the government, the courts and the private and public sectors.

This seems to be breaking down in Zambia. A couple of months ago, a private TV company, Prime TV, was refused a licence by the government after it refused to air public messages about the coronavirus, saying it was still due payment by the state for past services. The matter has been referred to arbitration by the high court in Lusaka.

In another example, the ministry of mines & minerals development changed the system for export permits for minerals on June 10. The ministry will no longer accept samples submitted to the geological survey department in Lusaka. It believes exporters are submitting low-grade samples to the chemistry laboratory, undervaluing the value of mineral exports and affecting state revenues negatively. From July 1, ministry officials will be going directly to the mine sites and warehouses to collect the samples.

As permanent secretary Barnaby Mulenga said: “It is the desire of the government that the ministry gains full oversight of the mineral supply and value chain to ensure effective monitoring of mineral production and exports.”

An over-encroachment by the government or government-owned or controlled “private entities” is having a real-world negative commercial impact. We are seeing this play out now in the dispute between the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) and the state-owned Zesco and KCM. This has escalated so quickly that observers were shocked by the government’s unashamedly inappropriate intervention in expropriating CEC’s infrastructure through a statutory instrument and protecting an indebted company.

Concern is also building over the proposed “Bill 10”, which according to Zambian constitutional law expert Prof Muna Ndulo “is designed to remove parliamentary oversight over the presidency and thereby install a constitutional dictatorship. It attempts to manipulate the electoral system to ensure that the ruling party remains in power in perpetuity.”

The rule of law and separation of powers are meant to build institutional defences against the creation of absolute power. When one part of the system becomes too powerful (in this case the presidency), other bodies such as parliament or public regulators naturally defer to that power. By this the framework has not necessarily changed, but the effect of their respective powers has. Critically important and supposedly objective institutions remain independent in name only.

Energy minister Mathew Nkhuwa tried to reassure the Zambian public at a media conference on June 17 that the government was not nationalising CEC. He referred to CEC’s listing on the Lusaka Stock Exchange and the more than 4,000 Zambian retail shareholders (not to mention the 110,000 Zambian pension holders) who are invested in the private company. However, with the state-controlled Energy Regulation Board unilaterally imposing uncommercial tariffs on CEC, the minister’s comments are unlikely to calm local and international investors.

There are other reasons to keep an eye on Zambia, including concerns over a breakdown of the power supply and the country’s inability to pay for electricity imports, which could push it further towards debt distress.

The breakdown of the rule of law in neighbouring Tanzania, and the effect this has had on its economy, should also set off alarm bells for Zambians. Tanzanian President John Magufuli has declared a populist “economic war”, simultaneously cementing his own grip on power and causing investor confidence to plummet. Foreign investment has decreased by 30% in the five years since Magufuli came to power.

• Wolfe is MD of international advisory firm Marlow Strategy, which operates across Africa.

Source:Businesslive

Nevers Mumba says Kamuzu Banda’s Malawi Congress Party’s Election Victory Offers Hope to New Hope MMD

Chief Editor
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Nevers Mumba says Kamuzu Banda’s Malawi Congress Party’s Election Victory Offers Hope to New Hope MMD

New Hope MMD President Dr Nevers Mumba says the bouncing back to power in Malawi by the Malawi Congress Party offers hope to the MMD.

Dr Mumba says he has since phoned Malawi President-Elect Lazarous Chakwera who is also an ordained Reverend to congratulate him.

“I have just got off the phone with my brother the Rev (Dr) Lazarous Chakwera, the President-Elect of the Republic of Malawi. This is a peculiar moment in God’s special calendar for Africa. In one single election, God has conclusively answered the two most critical questions in governance,” Dr Mumba said.

“God has nullified the myth that a political party that loses power cannot be re-elected. Kamuzu Banda’s Malawi Congress Party lost power in 1994 and today the 24th June 2020 has won the election with a landslide. God has also nullified the long-standing myth that a Pentecostal Reverend cannot become President. Today, Rev Lazarous Chakwera has become the 6th President of Malawi.”

“The Bible says, “to everything, there is a season.” This is a new season for Africa to bring morality and integrity in African politics. This has been our fight and crusade over the last two decades. The Christian values are to bring equity and justice to the long-oppressed African person. This day goes down in the annals of history as the beginning of the true emancipation for Africa,” Dr. Mumba said.

“Congratulations Malawi. You have done it. You have beaten us at our own game. Congratulations Rev Chakwera for this memorable victory. May Zambia be next.”

However, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Justice Dr. Chifundo Kachale has warned media houses in Malawi to tread carefully when publishing unofficial results, saying the move has the potential of misleading the nation as some of the results circulating on Social media are fake.

Dr. Kachale made the remarks during the second briefing on the first day of the eight days of vote tallying at the National Tally Centre at College of Medicine in Blantyre.

“We are not transmitting any results of now. In fact, the first results are not yet in. However, there are unofficial results circulating in the media, especially social media.

“I advise media houses to ensure that they explain to their followers that their results are unofficial until MEC makes a determination on them,” he said.

Dr. Kachale underlined that MEC is the only body with powers to announce and declare winners.

“Those spreading unofficial results have the capacity to shape public perception. I ask for caution,” he said, adding that Malawians should also be on the watch against the proliferation of fake news.

Dr. Kachale, a judge of the High Court of Malawi, pointed out that unofficial results have been broadcast on radio and also circulating on social media.

“While the unofficial results have a potential of shaping the public perception on the expected outcome of the election, the Commission wishes to affirm its position that it is the only body that has the legal mandate to announce and declare a winner in an election.

“Therefore, those that are spreading unofficial results, especially media houses, should always not forget to put a disclaimer that what they are sharing are unofficial results and that the final results will be declared by the Commission.”

He said when determining the results the Commission does not just look at the figures but is also considers complaints and issues that have been brought alongside that particular result. The Commission is reminding all stakeholders to be on the lookout for fake news and false information.

“With social media, it is possible for anyone to come up with their own results and distribute them. All stakeholders taking an action basing on unofficial results should be extremely cautious,” he said.

Dr. Kachale said a candidate wins an election when all votes are tallied and not that in a particular district or region or constituency.

“Therefore, all stakeholders are advised to keep their eyes on the national tally that will be released by the Commission,” he said.

Dr. Kachale said the Returning Officers, who are mostly District Commissioners, will bring the results physically to the National Tally Centre.

He also stressed that MEC is not transmitting results through any electronic system or network. Therefore, no one should wake up and raise allegations of hacking or infiltration of the results.

Rev Chakwera’s MCP was once led by ex-president Kamuzu Banda, who ruled Malawi for 30 years until losing power in the first multi-party polls in 1994.

This time around the MCP president leads a nine-party alliance.

Grant Chella Tukuta bond now or take him to court, demands HRC

Chief Editor
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Grant Chella Tukuta bond now or take him to court, demands HRC

The Human Rights Commission has called for the immediate release of incarcerated celebrity photographer Chellah Tukuta.

Commission Spokesman Mweelwa Muleya said in a statement that the continued detention of Tukuta on bondable offenses is a violation of his human rights.

The Human Rights Commission (HRC/Commission) is calling upon the Zambia Police Service to grant Mr. Chellah Tukuta police bond or take him to court immediately because his continued detention without trial is a violation of human rights. The Commission is deeply concerned that Mr. Tukuta who has been charged with counts of criminal libel, threatening violence and racial discrimination has been in police custody for more than seven (7) days, which is over-detention and unlawful,” Mr. Muleya said.

“Over-detention constitutes extra-judicial punishment and must not be allowed in a democracy where there must be respect for the rule of law, constitutionalism, and human rights. Therefore Law Enforcement Officers must refrain from unlawfully punishing, humiliating and degrading suspects during their course of executing their mandate of enforcing the law, which is critical to the criminal justice system of any country,” he said.

“The Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia, which guides on the promotion and protection of the Right to Liberty as enshrined under Article 13 of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia stipulates under Section 33 that anyone arrested without a warrant and not facing an offence attracting death penalty should be taken to court within 24 hours of being arrested and if it is not practicable, he or she should be granted police bond.”

Mr. Muleya said, “The offenses Mr. Tukuta is facing are all bondable and therefore his continued detention beyond the prescribed legal period is unjustifiable and a violation of his right to liberty and the right to secure protection of the law as stipulated by Articles 13 and 18 of the Constitution of Zambia respectively and various regional and international human rights instruments.”

“It is unacceptable for law enforcement officers to engage in the blatant discriminatory application of the law whereby some suspects are automatically granted police bond while others are subjected to unlawful over-detention in violation of human rights with impunity.”

“Therefore, it is only fair and just that Chellah Tukuta is granted police bond pending his appearance in court.”

All international airports to open, Bars to remain closed until there’s favorable weather conditions – President Lungu

Chief Editor
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All international airports to open, Bars to remain closed until there’s favorable weather conditions – President Lungu

President Edgar Lungu has announced that all international that were closed following the outbreak of Covid-19 are to reopen.

In his televised national address, President Lungu also announced that bars and night clubs will remain closed until the country starts experiencing favorable weather conditions.

And President Lungu says youths should take advantage of some opportunities which government is putting in their way instead of protesting in the bush.

Meanwhile, the Head of State has announced that Zambia recorded eight new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours out of 569 tests done.

Full speech below

 

LUSAKA

25th JUNE, 2020

Countrymen and women,

  1. It is exactly 97 days today since Zambia recorded the first case of COVID-19. Life as we knew it, completely changed and along with it, the livelihoods of millions of Zambians were adversely affected. My government remains alive to the challenges facing Zambians evryday as they strive to make a living amidst these difficult times. In the last 24 hours, eight cases were recorded to be positive out of the 569 tested. Cumulatively, 1,497 persons have been inffected with COVID-19 and sadly, 18 have lost their lives since the outbreak of corona virus in Zambia.

  1. Of note, we have had 1,223 cummulative recoveries from COVID-19, which translates to 82%, out of 52,195 total tests conducted so far. In addition, all patients under treatment are in stable condition.

I wish to applaud our dedicated gallant health professionals and all the frontline personnel for the spirited fight they put up against COVID-19.

Countrymen and women,

  1. It is now one month since I last addressed the nation on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in our country.

  1. In my last address, as we were advancing into the cold season, I cautioned the nation on the likely increase in the number of persons suffering from common colds and coughs. The cold was also expected to increase the probability of citizens catching COVID-19. I, accordingly, advised that we keep warm.

  1. Yes, the cold is here and it has indeed been very cold lately with temperatures oscillating between 4 and 11 degrees celsius. We have seen a continued increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, though not as experienced by other countries.

Countrymen and women,

  1. My government has continued to implement cutting edge and science-based interventions at all levels of the response to ensure no life is lost to COVID-19.

Countrymen and women,

  1. When I take time to read what some people write, especially on social media and listen to what they say on phone-in radio and television programmes, I get the sense that for some people, COVID-19 is a hoax and that it only exists in the developed world. I have heard some people, say “why have we not re-opened everything and gone back to normal, this disease is not killing Africans.”

  2. Make no mistake about it, COVID-19 is real and it remains a deadly disease.

  1. However, the measures that I announced during my first address on 25th march, 2020 are yielding positive results in stemming the further spread of COVID-19. To say it could have been worse is an understatement.

  1. We do not intend to shower ourselves with praises over the containment of COVID-19, but when we see what has happened in many other countries, we can only thank God and pray that he continues to protect us from the deadly pandemic.

  1. In the same vein, we pray to God to grant world scientists intellect and wisdom to find the vaccine and the cure. For those infected, with the virus, we pray for God’s healing mercies and wish them quick recovery and for those, who have lost loved ones, we pray for their strength and courage. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace.

Countrymen and women,

  1. It is important not to relax and go back to our old ways of doing things as that will fuel the rapid spread of the virus. Sadly though, it has come to my attention that some bar and night club business owners have resumed operations despite my government’s directive to remain closed.

  1. This cavalier attitude by some of these business men and women should not be condoned. It is important to adhere to the measures that government has put in place because we need to preserve the precious lives of our people as we endeavour to gradually restore our economy.

  1. My appeal to you my fellow Zambians is to calmly and patiently observe how we go through the cold season.

  1. All the businesses including bars and nightclubs, schools, colleges and universities will eventually reopen and resume operations once we go through this period. The World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), through the Ministry of health, have warned about a spike during this cold season if we relax the measures that we have put in place.

Countrymen and women,

  1. Covid-19 has impacted negatively on our day-to-day lives. To some people, COVID-19 has resulted in loss of employment, loss of income, and in some cases, complete closure of business operations.

  1. It has also meant drastic reduction in demand for goods and services as well as a marked drop in imports in view of border restrictions and reduced industrial activities globally.

  1. At national level, the impact of COVID-19 is beginning to manifest fully as follows:

  1. Revenues will be lower by K20.8 billion arising from the general reduction in economic activity, loss of expected revenue and tax relief measures administered as a result of COVID-19;

  2. Government spending in 2020 is expected to rise by approximately K20 billion due to the depreciation of the Kwacha which has in turn raised external debt payments and other foreign based expenditures; and

  1. External debt service is expected to rise by K8.7 billion. In addition, COVID-19 related expenditures have contributed to an increase in government spending.

  1. This is why my government has put in place the K10 billion medium term refinancing facility meant to restructure, refinance or extend credit to businesses and households impacted by COVID-19. I am happy that commercial banks are now accessing part of the K10 billion to be loaned to our entrepreneurs, especially, small and medium enterprises.

  1. So far, K533 million of K1.8 billion worth of applications from the banking sector has been approved by the bank of Zambia. In addition, applications worth K753 million from the non-banking financial sector, are currently under consideration by the bank of Zambia.

Countrymen and women,

  1. With the projected fall in revenues, against the rising expenditure, coupled with unpredictable external financing, it has become necessary that domestic resources be mobilised to support the fight against COVID-19 and stimulating the local economy.

  1. That is why my government has decided to issue the COVID-19 bond amounting to k8 billion as a stimulas package to enhance economic activity. Part of the money raised from this bond will be used to pay off the retirees and those on the separatees pay roll who have been waiting for their retirement benefits for a long time.

  1. In addition, government is so concerned about domestic debt owed to suppliers of goods and services. That is why part of the money from this bond will be used to pay off suppliers of goods and services, including the local contractors. This is a deliberate effort by my government aimed at ploughing back money in our local economy and enhancing economic activity than letting our money go out of the country.

  1. Further, the money realised from the bond will be utilised to support the small and medium enterprises that will not be able to access the K10 billion medium term refinancing facility through commercial banks which is managed by the Bank of Zambia.

  1. With these measures, I expect the economy to reignite to a positive growth trajectory.

Countrymen and women,

  1. As government, we have got things to do and work to do. As we direct our efforts to resuscitate our economy, amidst COVID-19, we should equally apply our efforts to revamping the social sectors that include skills training schools and trades centres. I direct the minister of youth, and sport to find opportunities as enshrined in the seventh national development plan for the youth to venture into skills training and other entrepreneurship ventures.

  1. The youth should take advantage of the opportunities available and those that my government has facilitated. I expect the Ministry of Youth and Sport to provide leadership in a multisectoral manner as they guide the youth to become a positive demographic dividend in our economy amidst COVID-19.

Countrymen and women,

We have got work to do.

As a way of starting this work that we must all be engaged into, I have since approved a K30 million youth empowerment scheme targeting artistes countrywide to be launched in Lusaka soon. The national arts council under the Ministry of tourism and arts will implement this programme.

Countrymen and women,

I direct the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, and the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) to facilitate linkage for the youth to benefit from the development of industrial yards through the skills development and entrepreneurship project supported by the African Development Bank (ADB).

Furthermore, government is facilitating youth access to other empowerment programmes under the ceec such as the cassava value chain programme and the acquaculture value chain initiative.

Countrymen and women,

We have got work to do and things to do,

My government has set aside us $29 million for the implementation of the acquaculture seed fund under the Zambia acquaculture enterprise development project. The project is aimed at enhancing fish production and is earmarked to benefit more than 3,000 enterpreneurs, including youth and women.

Therefore, I implore the Zambian youth to take keen interest in participating and profiting from different empowerment initiatives my government is putting in place, instead of protesting in the bush and taking pride in how many views of their protests where seen on social media.

Countrymen and women,

The Zambian youth I long to see is one that is taking the initiative like that young man of Chunga dumpsite waste management association who transformed trash into cash and now has built a house, employs other youth, and is organising other youth into a cooperative. Or Chilekwa Mwamba who has formed a cooperative with his young friends and today the organisation has spread across the country.

  1. As government, we have seen that the re-opening of examination classes is already giving us vital information which we should take into account as we are considering resumption of the remaining classes as well as colleges and universities.

  1. Consultations with key stakeholders are currently underway on the reopening of the remaining classes, colleges and universities bearing in mind the cold season as guided by the who, cdc through the Ministry of health. The nation will be informed the next course of action once the consultations are concluded.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Guidelines for all sports disciplines to follow as they consider resuming sports activities have been developed. They include the following, but not limited to:

  1. Guiding principles stipulated by the statutory instruments 21 and 22 of 2020;

  2. Guidelines for various sports disciplines which have been categorised as non-contact, semi-contact and full contact sport; and,

  1. Safeguards as outlined in the health guidelines for football at premier and national division one leagues. Hence these leagues will resume action in july, 2020, with strict observance of health guidelines.

Countrymen and women,

The Ministry of health; the Ministry of youth, sport and child development; and the Ministry of local government would be inspecting sports arenas to ensure they are ready for action.

Countrymen and women,

In the tourism sector as I stated in the last address, we also have to get back to work. I, therefore, announce the reopening of all international airports which were closed, immediately.

Let me direct the minister of communication and transport, the minister of finance, the minister of home affairs and the minister of tourism to work together in ensuring stringent health guidelines such as

  1. Screening;

  2. Testing passengers with symptoms;

  3. Masking;

  4. Social distancing;

  5. Frequent washing of hands, and

  6. Follow-up on passengers who test positive and sending them into quarantine until they test negative.

Countrymen and women,

The reopening of all international airports will trigger the recovery of the tourism sector not only in livingstone but the country at large. We have to get back to work fully under the new normal.

Countrymen and women,

  1. We have been advised by health experts that Coronavirus thrives in extreme cold weather conditions like the weather we are experiencing currently. We have learnt that a number of countries in asia where COVID-19 was first reported have experienced resurgence in cases after restrictions were eased despite an initial aggressive approach to slowing the progress of COVID-19, having been successful.

  1. In some instances, countries have had to re-institute public health and social measures such as restriction on movement and interactions between people to once again fight the spread of the virus. As such, we need to be cautious when it comes to easing up any restrictions lest we risk the spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases.

  1. In view of this, bars and night clubs will remain closed until the weather conditions are favorable and special and specific guidelines for this sub-sector are devised and put in place.

  1. My government will continue with the screening, testing and isolating those infected with the virus and are symptomatic.

  1. We cannot afford to drop our guard. Covid-19 is real and still here with us! We should continue observing the health guidelines of hand washing and sanitizing, face masking and social distancing even more, what with these extreme weather conditions!

  1. So far, the majority of our people have in the last three months, worked with unity of purpose to keep the COVID-19 outbreak under control. This is indeed in line with our spirit of ubuntu, which places the greater good before individual benefits. However, the biggest enemy we face today is complacency.

  1. As I conclude, I wish to encourage you, fellow countrymen and women, to continue adhering to the set guidelines and social measures as follows:

    1. Mandatory use of face masks by everyone in public;

    2. Avoid unnecessary crowding and ensure social distancing;

    3. Provision of facilities for hand hygiene and sanitation;

    4. Regular cleaning and disinfection of public amenities;

    5. Observance of personal hygiene and cough etiquette; and

    6. Avoiding unnecessary movements.

Countrymen and women,

I implore all of you, in particular, the youth to join me on this journey for we have got work to do, and an economy to keep bouyant!

As the apostle paul says in the book of Colossians chapter three, verse 23 to 24 – whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the lord, not for human masters, knowing that from the lord, you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

  1. My government will continue to monitor the situation and advise the nation on the necessary action to be undertaken as the pandemic evolves.

God Bless you all, God bless Zambia

I thank you

UPND declares Bill 10 dead and Given Lubinda defers tabling it

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UPND declares Bill 10 dead and Given Lubinda defers tabling it

Leader of the opposition in Parliament Jack Mwiimbu says the lifespan of Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 10 of 2019 has elapsed.

And Justice Minister Given Lubinda has deferred the tabling of the Bill

And Mwembeshi independent member of parliament Machila Jamba has thanked UPND MPs for their support against the amendment Bill.

Addressing the media at the UPND secretariat Wednesday afternoon, Mr Mwiimbu said Bill 10 is legally and procedurally killed by timeframe and cannot therefore be debated.

He urged Mr Lubinda to consider bringing a fresh Bill to the House if he is still interested in constitutional amendments.

Mr Mwiimbu revealed that the Bill has expired it’s lifespan as it went beyond the stipulated six months during which a parliamentary Bill ought to be concluded or withdrawn.

Mr. Mwiimbu vowed that the UPND and Independent MPs would not support a dead Bill, argued that if the PF wanted to bring the Bill back to the House, they needed to start the process afresh.

He said according to the processes and procedures of Parliamentary practice, any Bill before the house had to be concluded within 6 months, after which it expired making any attempts to resuscitate it an illegality.

Mr Mwiimbu who is Monze Central MP and UPND Legal Chairman further added that the members of parliament would take any appropriate action and exhaust all avenues within the confines of the law to ensure that the PF does not proceed with the Bill.

And Mwembeshi Independent Member of Parliament, Machila Jamba said he was grateful to note that UPND MPs have stood firm in fighting against the controversial Bill and bowed to ensure that the will of the people is respected.

Mr. Jamba said Zambians from all walks of life have rejected the bill and wondered why parliament should force a rejection on the people.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Given Lubinda yesterday afternoon deferred the bill to another date with Speaker Patrick Matibini urging the government to ensure that the Bill is exhausted in the current sitting.

Some UPND MPs attending a media briefing at the party secretariat in Lusaka on Tuesday
Some UPND MPs attending a media briefing at the party secretariat in Lusaka on Tuesday

Equity Group pulls out of Atlas Mara Acquisition Deal

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Equity Group pulls out of Atlas Mara Acquisition Deal

Atlas Mara acquisition by Equity Group has flopped as the two firms have mutually agreed to discontinue acquisition transaction discussions citing the need to refine its strategy given the COVID19 pandemic.

Equity Group proposed to acquire Atlas Mara banking assets in Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique.

In exchange, Atlas Mara was to get shares in Equity Group.

In January 2020, Equity Group published an update saying that the two firms were yet to sign a detailed transaction agreement and the binding term sheet with respect to the proposed transaction had expired.

At the time, Equity Group remained optimistic that the two firms would pursue further discussions in early 2020 to try to reach mutually acceptable commercial terms.

Equity Group says discontinuation of the transaction was due to the effects of COVID19 pandemic to both the world and economies in which it operates.

In this case, the bank says it has refined its strategy to take into account the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Lungu Urges the Commonwealth to support calls for debt relief or cancellation for developing member states

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President Lungu Urges the Commonwealth to support calls for debt relief or cancellation for developing member states

President EDGAR LUNGU has urged the Commonwealth to support calls for debt relief or cancellation for developing member states in view of the Coronavirus pandemic.

President LUNGU has also called for enhanced collaboration in research for the vaccination and cure of Covid-19 and mobilization of resources from the local and international community.

The President emphasized the need for concerted efforts among member states to address inequality and ensure gains made towards the eradication of poverty and zero hunger are NOT reversed.

President LUNGU says the most vulnerable – women and girls, persons with a disability, the elderly, and displaced persons – should be at the centre of recovery.

The President said this through Foreign Affairs Minister JOSEPH MALANJI during the Commonwealth Covid-19 Virtual Leaders Meeting.

Mr MALANJI was accompanied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation CHALWE LOMBE and other senior Government officials.

The meeting, convened under the theme “Sharing Solutions in Challenging Times”, addressed Covid-19 in the context of trade and finance, climate change, technology and experience sharing, and the Commonwealth’s role in promoting tolerance and social cohesion

The meeting was also informed that Zambia’s COVID response involves implementing strategic interventions in line with the guidance from the World Health Organization -WHO- and the Africa Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, to mitigate and response t
the disease.

This is according to a statement released to a statement released to ZNBC News by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer CHANSA KABWELA

PF Government Accused of Holding on to 2019 FIC Report to Hide Criminal Activities

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PF Government Accused of Holding on to 2019 FIC Report to Hide Criminal Activities

By: Anthony Bwalya – UPND Member

As the 2021 general election draws near, there is panic, while frantic efforts are being made by the PF regime to silence the 2019 Financial Intelligence Center Report to protect active criminal elements within government.

While the 2018 FIC report revealed that over $600m was stolen by PF politicians through a combination of fraud, money laundering, corruption and pure theft; leaked data now suggests that the plunder in the 2019 report has spiked to $1.4bn.

This rapid rise has been precipitated by mass corruption in the health sector, as well as infrastructure projects which have since stalled.

Zambians may also recall, that in 2018, there was a terrorism financing linked transaction which was flagged on Zambian soil; except the individuals involved are now said to be close associates and sponsors of the party in power and this is precisely why this dirty transaction was never investigated.

The regime is also rumoured to have extracted $650m in an upfront payment for the surrender of gold rights to foreigners in strategic places around the country using a paltry $2.5m payment as a Joint Venture facade.

This is why the regime has been reluctant to recall the JV to pave way for a wholely Zambian controlled precious metals Enterprise.

Recently, the health Minister has been in and out of Anti Corruption Commission offices for questioning on charges of criminal possession, the latest being a $5m paid out as a front in the irregular award of a contract to a non existent company.

But the truth is, this money did not go anywhere except into the pockets of high ranking government officials as there was never a company to pay and no kits were ever to be supplied.

The latest scam being the over $400m COVID19 bond scam. No one in the world will issue debt money to the regime, especially not via capital market operations. This is why the regime were kin to run down the monetary policy supervisory powers of the Bank of Zambia using Bill 10, so that they can be in charge of printing money. The continued delay of Bill 10 means they are running out of time to print this money, purely intended to go to fantom suppliers and party operatives.

The strategy for the regime is to cause the non publication of the 2019 FIC to cover their criminal activities, while the best case scenario is a watered down report which is may be expected to cover the tracks of grave criminal activities of high ranking government officials.

We need to be careful.

Transparency International Zambia Welcomes the Arrest of Dr Chilufya

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Transparency International Zambia Welcomes the Arrest of Dr Chilufya

Transparency International Zambia has welcomed the decision by the Anti-Corruption Commission to arrest Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya.

TIZ President Reuben Lifuka says it is his Organisation’s hope that the necessary groundwork has been done and there is a good basis to pursue this course of action.

Mr Lifuka says Dr Chilufya now has an opportunity to mount his defence before the courts of law and seek to clear his name.

He said this decision, like many others in the past, should be in the furtherance of the ideals of entrenching transparency and
accountability in the discharge of public service.

Mr Lifuka says TIZ will continue to prod the ACC to continue to discharge its duties without fear or favour and to focus only on serving national interests and nothing else.

He has called on President Edgar Lungu to consider relieving the Minister of Health of his duties and allow him first and foremost, focus on his defence and secondly, to insulate his own government from unfortunate distractions which this case may present if the said Minister remains in his office.

Mr Lifuka said he does not agree that President Lungu should limit himself to doing only what is legally provided for when making such a decision, but he should also do what is morally right.

He said President Lungu as to strike a balance and ensure that the ACC does its job as independently as possible, while protecting the presumption of innocence of Hon Chilufya.

Mr Lifuka said asking his Minister to step aside, is not to prejudge him, it is to protect the integrity of the investigative process.

He said TIZ will follow this case with keen interest and expressed hope that the ACC will be allowed to prosecute this case to its full conclusion.

PF want to sneak in amendments in Bill 10 that will facilitate their winning of the presidential and general elections next year

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PF want to sneak in amendments in Bill 10 that will facilitate their winning of the presidential and general elections next year

By Charles Kakoma,UPND Spokesperson.

The current constitutional mess was created by the ruling Patriotic Front government. Many of the provisions they are trying to pass through Bill 10 are already taken care of in the current Constitution as amended in 2016. When signing into law the Constitutional Amendment Bill of 2016, President Edgar Lungu was so excited about what he considered to be good clauses in the constitution that he boasted that he could sign it with his eyes closed.

In the words of former president of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, it’s ” ifwakuyifwayila”. KK used to advise some people to keep away from certain dangers but they couldn’t listen to him. When they burnt their fingers, they run back to him crying. He told them that ” Ifwakuyifwayila” , meaning they asked for it. It is similar to a situation where someone goes to provoke some wasps or bees. If they get beaten by the bees or wasps, who is to blame?

To illustrate what we are talking about, let us examine some contentious issues in the original Bill 10 . The current constitution did away with deputy ministers. The PF government went to resurrect the dead issue of deputy ministers and put it in Bill 10. After the people have rejected the provision of deputy ministers in the constitution, the PF and its government are now calling for help from the opposition to amend Bill 10 to remove the provision of deputy ministers!.

The second example is that the current constitution already provides for parliamentary oversight over the contraction of debt by the government. The PF went ahead to try to remove this provision from the constitution. After the people rejected the proposed amendment, the PF and it’s government are running back to the opposition for help to remove the amendment from Bill 10.

The third example is that the current constitution already provides for retirees to remain on the payroll until their benefits are fully paid. The PF Government proceeded to remove this provision from the constitution but after it backfired, they now want help from the opposition to amend Bill 10 to restore the right of workers to remain on the payroll until their benefits are fully paid.

There are so many clauses that Bill 10 sought to amend which in the first place were unnecessary amendments to the current constitution.
Instead of straggling to pass Bill 10 to restore the constitution to its current status, the simple solution is to WITHDRAW BILL 10 to enable the status quo to continue. What is difficult about withdrawing Bill 10?

WE note with sadness the Patriotic Front government efforts to continue pushing for the passing in parliament of the rejected Bill 10.

The PF and its government are trying to deceive the citizenry that they have listened to their objections to the bill and are ready to make amendments when infact not.

Through the regazetted Bill 10 of 12th June, 2020, they have through flattery only amended a few items out of about 69 in the proposed bill simply to disguise and render their rejected obnoxious plan to alter and adulterate our constitution acceptable by the masses.

The current attempt to gazette new amendments to Bill 10 are illegal. The Standing Orders of Parliament only provide for amendments to be made to a Bill after Second Reading of the Bill. After Second Reading, the bill goes to Committee Stage where amendments can be made. In the case of Bill 10, the Second Reading Stage has not been done and it would be unlawful to amend the bill before it is debated and passed by at least two thirds of the Members of Parliament. The only other circumstance where amendments can be made before Second Reading is BY LEAVE OF THE HOUSE. There is no record of the House having sat to grant Minister of Justice Given Lubinda leave to publish any amendments to Bill 10.

As UPND, we believe that withdrawing is the answer if truly this government means well on this Bill 10.

The PF’s desperation to have Bill 10 enacted into law is clear for all to see. They have marshalled characters of all hues and shades to go around the country to preach Bill 10, ignoring the Ministry of Health Coronavirus guidelines. It is now clear that Bill 10 is do-or-die affair for them. Their political survival is hinged on Parliament passing it. They want to sneak in amendments that will facilitate their winning of the presidential and general elections next year.

The PF is the worst thing that ever happened to this country. They have literally brought the country down. They have made Zambians destitute. There is no reason why any person would want to vote PF. They know this very well. They know they have short-changed the people of Zambia and they know they cannot win a clean election. They have done nothing for this country except to plunge it in a mountain of debt and to ransack its coffers to fill their pockets.

The only reason the PF leaders want to retain power through Bill 10 is to protect what they have stolen from the people of Zambia. This is why they don’t care how they retain power. They want to ensure they remain in power via the backdoor.

We know that Zambians have rejected PF, we urge them to reject Bill 10 and to condemn the PF’s schemes to force it down the throats of Zambians. If Zambians allow Bill 10 to pass, they will be selling their birthright.

The PF has spent billions of kwacha to ensure this Bill passes. What good Constitution is made through corruption? Bill 10 is a poisoned chalice. There is nothing good that will come from its enactment.

We advise the PF for once to stop taking Zambians for fools. Let them quit their endless political scheming. We urge them to focus on correcting their mistakes. Let them fight corruption. Let them use the zeal and energy they are applying on Bill 10 to find the owners of the 48 mysterious houses and bring them to justice, let them explain why they sold our gold to foreigners even before the sector was formalised, let them tell us how we bought old-model fire trucks at $1 million each, let them tell us how we ended up buying ambulances worth US$50,000 at US$288,000. Zambians have not forgotten how they were gassed right in their homes and the PF government is now quiet. They don’t want to say anything about gassing. Zambians want those culprits brought to justice. They want to know who gassed them. All they know is that this is a government of gassing. The energy being wasted on Bill 10 should be used to find the gassers.

We would like to tell the PF that Bill 10 will not go anywhere. This time the people of Zambia have refused to be taken for fools and to endorse a regime that is only interested in their personal welfare at the expense of the whole country.

Drama characterises Bill 10 day in Parliament as PF and UPND outclasses each other

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Drama characterises Bill 10 day in Parliament as PF and UPND outclasses each other

Drama characterised Parliament as PF and UPND outclassed each other on Wednesday afternoon over matters of Bill 10.

UPND was babbling with confidence the Bill was going nowhere and walked out of the house and drove to their secretariat to celebrate the failure of Bill 10 before the PF could make their move which seemingly outclassed them.

According to the MPs who walked out of Parliament, Bill 10 has lapsed as a Bill can only stay in Parliament for six months.

According to Leader of Opposition and Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu, parliamentary procedure stipulates that the Constitution Amendment Bill number 10 lapsed on 4th June 2020.

Mr Mwimbu said this is six months after the Bill had been reinstated on the order paper by Minister of Justice Given Lubinda.

He has vowed that opposition MPs together with their supporters will do everything possible to prevent further debates on Bill 10.

Mr Mwimbu has warned the PF not to continue their underhand methods to present the Bill in Parliament.

However, as the UPND MPs were busy addressing Journalists, Minister of Justice Given Lubinda applied for leave before the Speaker Dr Patrick Matibini to grant him leave to defer debate on Bill 10.

This came as few minutes after debates on the controversial Bill 10 were introduced on the floor of the house.

Zambia’s bondholders form group for debt talks

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Zambia’s bondholders form group for debt talks

Ten of Zambia’s international bondholders have formed a creditor group ahead of what is expected to be a complex restructuring of its debts, they said on Tuesday.

Zambia owes money to four main types of creditor.

It has $3 billion of Eurobonds outstanding and owes $2 billion to commercial banks, $2 billion to the IMF and World Bank and a further $3 billion to China.

The new bondholder committee did not name any of its 10 members but said they were all based in the United States or Europe and in aggregate hold approximately 35% of the total amount of Zambia’s outstanding Eurodollar bonds.

“The Committee has organised to engage with Zambia with regard to its present situation, to facilitate communication among creditors, and to pursue any appropriate actions,” the group said in a statement from advisors Newstate Partners.

It added that it was “in close contact” with other bondholders representing an additional 30% of Zambia’s outstanding Eurobonds and that many of the holders were also significant investors in the Zambian domestic government bond market.

Zambia’s government appointed debt specialists Lazard in May to advise on a foreign-currency debt restructuring.

The government has said that debt totalled $11.3 billion as of the end of 2018.

World Bank data estimates it added up to 45% of Zambia’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year, while its total debt stock was the equivalent to 89% of GDP.

Zambia was earlier this year listed among countries eligible for relief under the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, which aims to help nations respond to COVID-19 health challenges and economic shocks.

This month it asked the Paris Club of creditor nations to let it suspend principal and interest payments on all its ‘official sector’ debt from May until the end of December.

Malawi has given us a Good Signal-Chitika

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Malawi has given us a Good Signal-Chitika

Opposition New Hope Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) National Secretary Hon. Elizabeth Chitika has said that Malawi has given a good signal of how the Zambian elections will be next year.

Hon. Chitika who was today’s guest on the People’s Debate on Pan African Radio said that Raphael Nakachinda expulsion from the MMD is final.

“Last Saturday, the New Hope MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to expel Hon. Raphael Nakachinda, who from 2016 was a suspended member of the Party. After We expelled him, We saw him on TV misleading himself that the National Executive Committee of the Party had no authority to expel him and that we had since 2016 expelled him over 10 times. I would like to put it on record that he had never been expelled up until now. Secondly, the Party Constition empowers the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party to expel erring members like Nakachinda”, Hon. Chitika said.

Hon. Chitika then said that the MMD was not in any alliance with any party.

“Over 2 weeks ago, PF Deputy Secretary General Hon. Mumbi Phiri said that we were in an alliance with her party. I would like to say it again that We are neither in an alliance with the PF nor the UPND. They only people we shall enter into an alliance with are the people of Zambia”, Hon. Chitika further said.

Hon. Chitika further said that Malawi has given a good signal that a Pastor leading a former Ruling Party can bounce back in power.

“Zambia and Malawi behave like twins. We both got independence in 1964. We both reintroduced Democracy in the 1990s. A Pastor leading a former Ruling Party by the name of Rev. Lazarus Chakera is currently leading and I can safely say that the Rev is the President elect. This is a signal of what will happen next year here in Zambia”, Hon. Chitika said

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