The ruling Patriotic Front(PF) 2021 Presidential aspirant Kelvin Fube Bwalya popularly known as KBF has called for calm among his supporters countrywide and within the PF following his purported expulsion from the ruling party by the Central Committee.

He has assured his supporters that he is still the game changer and remains alive.

Mr. Fube has confirmed that his office at KBF and Partners along Bwinjimfumu road in Lusaka on 3rd June was served with a letter purporting to have expelled him from the party dated 6th June 2019.

He said having lost his sister Patricia Bwalya last week who was put to rest over the weekend, he will not react now to the purported expulsion because he is still mourning.

Mr. Bwalya said he will not dignify such actions because he is still mourning hence he will react when time is right.

Mr. Fube said the fact that the letter has been served will not necessitate a reaction from him.

On 3rd June 2020, PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri delivered a letter of expulsion to Mr. Fube informing him of his expulsion from the PF.

In a letter addressed to Mr. Bwalya signed by party Secretary-General, Davis Mwila, and made available to the media, Mr. Fube has been ordered to hand over all party property, if any, in his possession to the party secretariat.

Mr. Bwalya’s expulsion follows a central committee meeting held yesterday, 2nd June 2020 after recommendations from the Lusaka Province Executive Committee for him to be expelled.

Ephraim Chiluba-Lands and natural resources minister JEAN KAPATA has cautioned traditional leaders to desist from allocating land without following the correct procedure.

Speaking when she addressed indunas and headmen in Chibombo central province the minister said traditional leaders are not allowed to exceed a specific limit in the allocation of land just like the mimister of land, and that anything above 1 thousand hecters can only be concerted to by the head of state.

She said land issues are very sensitive and that is why both investors and traditional leaders must seek guidance from the ministry of lands before large pieces of land can be allocated.

The minister regretted saying Zambia is not for sale and that investors must respect the indigenous land owners who are Zambians as they bring their investments.

This comes after some villagers complained that a foreign investor has displaced some local people claiming that they are occupying the land illegally.

In 2017 an Indian investor bought 6 thousand hecters of land from some indunas and later sold it to a Chinese company chenguang biotech zambia.

Meanwhile MRS. KAPATA who visited the land in question found the Chinese company who have used a small part of the land to grow Marigold and paprika while the other part of the land is still being cleared.

The minister who was accompanied by central province minister SYDNEY MUSHANGA and other government officials said officers will immediately commence investigations before the final decision can be made.

And Chief LITETA of the Lenje sparking people who was also present during the deliberations expressed disappointment in the head men and women who aquired money from investors at the expense of poor local people.

Chief LITETA said he is dissapointed that some head men have continued allocating land illegally even after their record books were ceaized, taking away powers to allocate land.

He challenged the indunas to tell the minister of lands the truth if the matter has to be resolved amicably.

Meanwhile central province minister SYDNEY MUSHANGA thanked MRS. KAPATA for taking interest in the matter, saying he is confident that her office will ensure that the matter will be handled with the expertise and urgency it requires.

Operation Young Vote has said that the expulsion of Presidential Aspirant Kelvin Bwalya Fube (KBF) from the Patriotic Front (PF) by the Central Committee has vindicated those that say PF isn’t receptive to divergent views let alone those that are brave to lay bare and express their Presidential ambitions.

In a statement released to the media, OYV said that ridding itself of rooted and focused leaders, with a following like KBF, when there are deep cracks in the party, and only slightly over 400 days before the Presidential and General elections in 2021, is not only ill-timed and suicidal, but also nailing the part to the cross of defeat.

Below is the full statement

4th JUNE, 2020: STATEMENT BY OYV ON THE EXPULSION OF KBF FROM THE PARTY AND THE GENERAL CONDUCT OF ITS LEADERS

Not only has the expulsion, of Presidential Aspirant Kelvin Bwalya Fube (KBF) from the Patriotic Front (PF) by the Central Committee, vindicated those that say PF isn’t receptive to divergent views let alone those that are brave to lay bare and express their Presidential ambitions.

Why is it that whenever someone expresses interest to exercise their right to offer themselves for leadership especially at the level of challenging the incumbent they suddenly become ‘sinners’, unpatriotic and bad persons inimical to the ideals and objectives of the party. People’s suspension that the PF leadership is only interested in bootlickers and praise singers and not credible persons that can diligently serve and save the party and the nation is becoming crystal clear, consolidated and confirmed by such acts like that of expelling KBF.

The PF leadership should have found a better way of resolving the conflict brought about as a result of KBF’s interest to offer himself for party presidency challenging the status quo. Dialogue and negotiations between and among the conflicting and interested parties through the give and take doctrine would have yielded far much better and uniting result both in the immediate and in the near future. What PF should know that power or money win never win them an election. It is the people that win elections because power to decide so lies with the people. Ridding itself of rooted and focused leaders with a following like KBF when there are deep cracks in the party and only slightly over 400 days before the Presidential and General elections in 2021 is not only ill-timed and suicidal but also nailing the part to the cross of defeat.

On the other hand, the behavior of the PF leaders both in the party and Government is so vexing and appalling towards citizens in the country. How does one explain the ill-treated Zambians subjected day in day in their own country at the hands of foreigners and yet the leaders they elect to protect them said with ba mwaisa. Shame! If the PF thinks it can sacrifice the Zambians in this fashion and expect to win the elections next year they must rethink this strategy and attitude. How does one explain the utterances of Mr. Bowman Lusambo towards citizens who are merely exercising their Constitutional right to express themselves?

OYV would like to remind the Minister Lusambo and the PF that they DO NOT OWN Zambia, neither do they own anyone in Zambia. It must dawn in them as individuals and collectively that it is just but a privilege bestowed on them by God through the same Zambians to merely preside over the affairs and resources of the country which will one day be taken away. Mr. Bowman Lusambo and all the PF leaders including those in the opposition must realise that they are servants and NOT Bosses.

OYV is therefore demanding sanity in the manner those in Government/the Duty Bearers are treating the Zambians who are the Bosses/Rights Holders who must not be subjected to slavery conditions in their own motherland. Mr. Lusambo must remember where he is coming from and if he is honest with himself – He must apologies for threating innocent Zambians and not pushing them into apologizing. No one has been in leadership forever. Your being there must tell you that there was someone before you and certainly there is someone coming after you. Zambians may seem to be silent today – but when they decide to break the silence, it is very devastating on those that think they can abuse them. This is friendly and free advise we are offering – You do no need to pay us the infamous $ 5 million.

For and on Behalf of Operation Young Vote (OYV)

Guess Nyirenda (Mr.)
Executive Director

President Edgar Lungu has called for the debt relief or cancellation of debt among all African Caribbean Pacific member States.

Speaking when he took part in first-ever virtual First Extraordinary Inter-Sessional summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), President Lungu said that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused massive disruption to lives worldwide.

“Like other OACPS member states, Zambia has not been spared, recording 1062 cases and seven deaths reported as at 28th May, 2020,” the President said.

President Lungu made an intervention statement citing five proposals that member states must consider in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The proposals include:

1. Soliciting for debt relief or cancellation for OACPS member states;
2. Establishing a virtual platform for sharing best practices and measures on the fight against Covid-19;
3. Enhancing research and local development of vaccines and treatment for Covid-19;
4. Adequately mobilizing resources from local and international community; and
5. Directing respective ambassadors and representatives in Brussels to lobby for enhanced support from the European Union.

The theme of the Summit, chaired by His Excellency, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, was Transcending the Covid-19 pandemic: building resilience through global solidarity.

President Kenyatta said Covid-19 had hit industries had and that there have been economic disruptions worldwide. He said the dire situation has been compounded by climate change where, Africa in particular, has suffered flooding.

He said the Summit was a great opportunity for Africa to speak with one voice and engage development partners to come up with concrete actions.
President Ramaphosa said Covid-19 has shown that countries of the world are interconnected and interdependent and feared that the worst could still come if the world did not act decisively in unison to stem the pandemic and its consequences.

Mr. Ramaphosa, speaking as African Union chairman, called for two-year debt relief and said sanctions against Zimbabwe and Sudan must be lifted. He said the AU also condemns the killing of African American George Floyd by a white policeman in the United States.

And during the discussions on the Key Strategic Partners, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the world needs to come together because “we can only prosper when all of us prosper.” He said, “only together can we build stronger and resilient economies.”

The OACPS comprises 48 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, 16 from the Caribbean, and 15 from the Pacific.

Other leaders who spoke were United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, European Council President Charles Michel, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The OACPS members who spoke included Barbados Prime Minister Ms. Mia Mottley, Tuvalu Prime Minister, Mr. Kausea Natano, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, and Gambia President Adama Barrow.

Others were Fiji Prime Minister, Mr. Frank Bainimarama, Jamaican Prime Minister, Mr. Andrew Holness, Congo Brazzaville President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Seychelles President, Mr. Danny Faure, and Guinea Bissau President Umaro Embalo.

Also present was OACPS Secretary General Georges Chikoti.

This is according to a statement issued by President LUNGU’s Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations ISACC CHIPAMPE after the meeting at State house.