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I struggle to make sense of how the phenomenal Bally exploded so fast. Across the nation, Bally is considered a pariah by those who once held him as an angel. Is the underworld behind it all?
I have had countless hours of interviews with Seer 1. “No African President developed a country more than Lungu,” Seer 1 emphatically stated. “Are you Zambians so foolish to ask why he lost to HH?” He went on to explain: “When President Sata died, we did something in Parliament. That’s why Lungu became president.”
According to Seer 1, President Lungu sought to liberate himself from his spell with Pentecostal prophets. But they failed to break his spell–leading millions of Zambians to turn against him.
You may take Seer 1 as a lunatic, but based on my many interviews, the story is simple. After he was forcefully deported from Zambia, Chief Monze was sent to South Africa to seek Seer 1’s help; “If you can make HH win the Presidential elections, I will personally come to Nigeria and thank you.” After HH’s victory, Seer 1 said, Chief Monze went to Nigeria to express gratitude to him.
Seer 1 claims to had worked with the PF politicians too. After falling out of grace during the Lungu regime, he was forcefully deported on suspicion that he was working with HH. I asked him about “the rings” he demanded from the Lungu regime. “People misunderstood it. If you come to me, they are things I will give you. Those are the things I demanded,” he said. “I mean spiritual powers. I have given such powers to Zambian pastors and politicians alike.”
Seer 1 is a self-proclaimed traditionalist and businessman, who according to his own words, most Zambians perceive to be a Satanist. As a traditionalist, his powers come from the underworld. To him, Christianity is a hobby, thus he is very sarcastic to Christian “prophets.” Unlike so-called prophets, Seer 1 claims to levitate–he moves between the underworld and the future. In short, he can manipulate the spiritual world to do certain things–something he said, “shouting in Jesus name won’t.” After visiting with the underworld, Seer 1 asked HH to lie to win the elections. “I told HH that your problem is that you are a good Christian. If you want to win the elections, the underworld demands you lie to Zambians. People will believe what they hear, and not what they see. The underworld has declared that you will be the next President.”
Seer 1 knows that many Zambians view him as a Satanist; hence politicians hide their association with him. When asked about HH’s victory, his answer was, “I went into the underworld after Chief Monze came to see me in South Africa. When I returned, I told him that Lungu was struggling to get 40 percent of the vote.” Seer 1 further told me, “I declared that if HH doesn’t win the elections, I will drop my mic and never speak again.”
Seer 1 spoke at length to his role in disempowering Lungu and empowering HH. He repeatedly boasted of having HH’s personal mobile number. “President HH listens to me. I have his personal mobile number.” I asked him whether he spoke to President HH. “Of course,” he boasted. “In fact, I will be meeting with him very soon,” he said after his meeting with Chief Monze. Could this explain why Seer 1 insulted UPND leaders at will, while the President was deadly mute?
I asked Seer 1 why HH dressed like him, specifically about the similar RED shirt he wore during the campaign. “Maybe it is because he loves me so much,” he said. How about the ritual of kissing blood on the ground, and the white gloves HH wore when he first entered the State House? Was he behind the President’s decision not to move to the State House? Or could it be that Seer 1 is the link to HH’s downfall?
Seer 1 claims credit for the hardest episodes of the Lungu Presidency. From appearing confused to bad health–the underworld was in control. “Lungu thought Sunday Sianyangwe, Sumaili and other pastors could remove my spell, they all failed,” he said. According to Seer 1, some PF politicians begged him to reverse the decision of the underworld. Lungu didn’t agree with that suggestion–leading to his downfall.
Could it be that Seer 1 behind the current pariah status of President Hichilema? In my forthcoming book, I tell the story of how HH, Chief Monze and UPND politicians exploited Seer 1’s powers to win the elections. You may consider Seer 1 crazy. But my interviews prove that the man has more intricate knowledge of political and religious leaders than meets the eye.
Based on his words, spiritual powers were behind people’s views of HH as the national Savior. Sadly once one disagrees with Seer 1, he can easily withdraw his powers. And here we are–could it be that spiritual powers that made HH a celebrity are the same ones which have made him a pariah? Telling by Seer 1’s recent statements (especially his claim of returning from the underworld) and the President’s untold plight, I believe that he can’t be taken lightly. As he repeatedly told me, Seer 1 doesn’t let go of those who betray him. Just as he held a very big grudge against President Lungu, today, he has spoken very negatively about President HH–something he shunned from one year ago. So what has changed? Is the underworld the answer? Only Seer 1 and HH know the truth. In the meantime, I have a book to finish.
Retracing the footsteps of history and foraging museums in the land of cows, diamonds and wandering elephants.
The 300km journey from Francistown to Serowe, Botswana, is uneventful. The monotony of the terrain is broken, once in a while. Livestock grazing at a distance is visible from here on the A1 national road. We encountered a roadblock before turning right at Palapye: a police officer simply waved the bus driver off soon after exchanging greetings with him, and, along A1, two veterinary checkpoints for foot-and-mouth control.
From A1, I spot railway tracks and Motloutse River. According to archaeologists, Motloutse was a site of gold mining in the 1200s, the age of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe and Great Zimbabwe – two of Southern Africa’s ancient states. Centuries later, in 1971, Botswana’s first diamond mine, Orapa, began its life. Jwaneng, another gem, was to become the world’s richest diamond mine by value. More on the precious stone later.
Motho le motho, kgomo. Mainstay of the nation’s economy
Botswana is renowned for its wildlife aplenty: buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino – or the Big Five – as well as giraffe, hippo, impala, jackal, kudu, lechwe, monkeys all the way to zebra, the national animal. Bird safari is as significant. Tourism is booming. An astonishing 12 per cent of the US$20.35-billion GDP is from tourism, which accounts for a tenth of the job market. At nearly 12,000 km² and home to north of 100,000 elephants, Chobe, a national park on the banks of the Zambezi, is larger than Jamaica and equals Nigeria’s Osun State. Botswana’s west is home to the expansive Central Kalahari, spanning 52,800 km², in the league of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, closer to home, equivalent to Burundi and Rwanda combined.
Nevertheless, cattle are the only four-legged beasts claiming the horizon this side of Botswana. However, there was a time when sights of wildlife were familiar. For one, Nelson Mandela and Max Mlonyeni, his comrade, felt they “were on safari” when smuggled to Botswana in January 1962. They saw “all manner of animals, including a battalion of baboons,” recalled Mandela, or, in those years, David Motsamayi – his nom de guerre. Mandela noted that they had even seen a lion.
As an activist, Mandela had travelled to Botswana en route to Algeria for military training. From the 1960s, these lands, now home to 2.5 million people, was an oasis for freedom in a repressed region.
Freedom fighters like Mandela and Mlonyeni occupied Fish Keitseng’s home, Lobatse
Mandela had travelled here en route to Algeria for military training. decades, Botswana was an oasis for freedom in a repressed Southern Africa: Hage Geingob, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, Samora Machel and other freedom fighters transited to exile in Zambia, Tanzania and beyond through these lands. But, in no time the apartheid killing machinery was pursuing activists across the Limpopo. The first known victim of cross-border terror was exiled ex-student leader and teacher Onkgopotse Tiro, assassinated by Pretoria’s parcel bomb on 1 February 1974 in Gaborone. Weeks later, it was John Dube in Lusaka. A year later the Rhodesian regime assassinated Herbert Chitepo in Lusaka.
Back in Botswana, a house that was a shelter to Machel in Lobatse is now a museum. Nearby is the Fish Keitseng home that Zuma, Mbeki and Mandela occupied. Up in Algeria is a new Nelson Mandela Stadium that cost a cool € 300 million. Dedicated to Madiba, the 40,000-seater stadium was officially inaugurated by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in January 2023.
Journey to Serowe
Back to my destination, Serowe, a Central Botswana village founded in 1902 by King Khama III. In the 1990s, Serowe was among sites cited by Unesco as possible examples of living heritage. Nothing came of that, but such a mention underscores historical richness.
Thataganyana Hill and Khama’s home, now a museum, are must-sees for anyone keen on the story of the charming village and its people and the country’s march from disparate polities into the nation it is today.
While Botswana was a portal to decolonisation for Southern Africa, my reason is to track the rhymes of the past few centuries and ancient history. My previous stop, Khami Ruins – though just 200 km from Francistown, my temporary base – took me back when those lands were home to an ancient civilisation.
As any villager will proudly note, Serowe is home to three of Botswana’s ex-presidents. Teacher-journalist-novelist Bessie Head, one of the region’s literary giants, settled here after fleeing apartheid in her native SA in March 1964. Further, it was in her new country that her literary career was birthed and bred, and where many of her works are set.
My thoughts return to some of Ms Head’s books as our bus advances in a southerly direction. Meanwhile, mercury climbs northwards to breach 30°C before 10 am on a Thursday in October.
Short green-brown trees claim the frame once in a while. The land is mostly flat and dry. Shashe River, which hems Botswana and Zimbabwe before emptying into an arc-shaped Limpopo, is dry in parts. On that note, the sight of cattle is a tribute to Batswana’s ancient and modern water-gathering techniques.
Semi-desert conditions aside, the trip is meditative. My emotion is that of going on a blind date. As I later learned, the history-rich village is clean, slow, crowded and likeable.
Khama III Memorial Museum
Khama III Memorial Museum, Serowe
Upon arrival, I met Gase Kediseng and Kabo Jone (pronounced Johnny) at the Khama III Memorial Museum. Both are vested in Botswana’s centuries-long journey from pre-unification. Associate curator Kediseng, with facts and trivia on the tip of her tongue, joined the museum 25 years ago. Jone, an ex-school teacher from Serowe and my guide for today, has been here since 2010.
The single-storey museum was home to King Khama and Queen Semane’s, and their children, including Sekgoma II (his son and successor). It chronicles the story of Khama who led his Bangwato community from a dry Palapye. The latter was Khama’s capital from 1889 to 1902. Old records show that the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR), one of the colonial polities that made up modern-day SA, pursued Palapye in 1899. As he assembled his soldiers, the king warned ZAR’s Boer fighters of the danger they courted if they dared set foot in Botswana “and among my cattle-posts.” The importance of cattle endures amid ever-worsening water security.
Though set to defend their lands against belligerents, Botswana opened their doors to those who sought safety. That is how Bessie Head wound up here. During her stay in Palapye, where she sojourned as a typist, the New Statesmen published one of her works, A Woman from America.
Unbeknownst to her, she had begun the walk to the global stage. Accolades and recognition followed until the author died in 1986 (aged 48) and posthumously.
It was in 2003 that she was awarded SA’s Order of Ikhamanga – a presidential award for excellence in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism or sport. Head is survived by a list of literary works appearing in many languages (from English to Japanese and Swedish). Further, the 1990s saw the publishing of her works like A Woman Alone: Autobiographical Writings.
Head worked as a journalist in Cape Town and Johannesburg as a teacher in Durban and Serowe. The latter vaguely resembles Dilepe, a fictitious village in her Maru – a story of bigotry and love set in Botswana. While similarities between the author and Margaret Cadmore, a teacher in Maru, are apparent, Head’s reality can be detected in Makhaya, a political-activist protagonist in When Rain Clouds Gather – her debut novel, published 55 years ago. In real life, Bessie Head faced über prejudice, a recurring theme in her works. She endured prejudice from a young age because of her parentage. The museum in Serowe is a repository of the author’s papers and preservation of her story. On her desk are different effects, not least two main but humble assets: a typewriter and a kerosene lamp.
Although their oeuvres are not similar, Head’s work brings to mind Buchi Emecheta. It must be the underlying and essential tone of women’s hardship. They both transcended their sufferings to be counted among the finest.
In the main section of the museum, black-and-white and coloured photos, with the aid of an insightful guide, bring to life Seretse Khama – the future first president and scion of the monarch.
It also takes visitors to the era of the trials and tribulations his family endured, as told by Michael Dutfield in A Marriage of Inconvenience: The Persecution of Ruth and Seretse Khama. Jone explains how Pretoria and London conspired to persecute the man for his “crime”: marrying Ruth Williams.
As regent-king, Seretse’s uncle, Tshekedi Khama, also got a taste of racism. British admiral Edward Evans “ordered 200 marines, fully armed” on a 1,800 km journey from Cape Town to Serowe, noted Dutfield. Here, Tshekedi was publicly axed for “exceeding his authority by punishing a white man”.
Politics and economics
Next is a photo of the nation’s first all-male Cabinet. “Only 11 people,” Jone remarks. “Look around to see what they achieved.” I do so and concur. But there are a lot of other things that have gone wrong. I later discovered that while the country’s GDP per capita is among Africa’s highest, the Cabinet has grown disproportionally, and the number of people languishing in poverty hovers at 15%. Botswana is sparsely populated and has had a legitimate, stable political setup since 1966. Coupled with falling life expectancy (from 67 years to 61 last decade versus Mauritius (range-bound at 74-75), poverty levels are an indictment. Head would have gasped at the number of people still “attached to hunger struggles ’til sunrise”. Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana’s fifth president, has tinkered at the edges of the problem since he took over in 2018. School dropout rates are rife. Iffy prospects lurk. Factors like poverty are blamed for dropouts.
Back to the beginning of my visit, a British researcher – with Caribbean and African roots – is sifting through some old papers as part of the museum’s digitisation project.
At this point, Jone leads me to a plain pink-and-white room used for community events. Then it’s off to a room with woven baskets of all sizes.
Switching to politics and economics, Jone, flashing a knowing smile, reminds me that diamonds were discovered here in the post-colonial era. “God hid our mineral resources [from Britain],” he says, singling imperialist Cecil Rhodes, whose legacy of dispossession and looting continues to haunt the 21st century. To Britain’s question of how the African country would survive without mineral resources, ruling classes pointed to hoofed assets.
“They said, ‘We have cattle, and that is how we’ve survived for generations. We’ll keep surviving’,” Jone notes. The importance of such assets is underscored by the fund-raising campaign in the 1970s to build the campus of the University of Botswana – the country’s first. The clarion call was “Motho le motho, kgomo” (“One person, one beast”).
It underscores the role of the beast among the building blocks. “It was only after independence that we discovered diamonds,” explains Jone before he taps the province of imagination. “What would have happened if the diamond was discovered while Rhodes and his company (still) ran the show?” Distributing wealth to lower levels has been slow, leaving the door wide open for social ills such as substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and so on.
Green-purple Serowe and its Mma-Swaneng and Rra-Swaneng
Jone explains that Rhodes’ open aggression and looting prompted Khama, Bathoen and Sebele – monarchs of neighbouring Setwana-speaking polities – to meet Victoria II in 1895 to get her to “protect” their lands from grabbers. The trio had learned from Lesotho’s Moshoeshoe I, who sued for peace in 1852 after defeating the Brits for the second time in 20 months. Fast forward to the 1890s, colonial land grabs ruled. So did the subjugation and demolition of African states by the Anglo, the Belgians, the Dutch, the French, the Germans and their southern cousins. The death of King Lobengula ka-Mzilikazi in the mid-1890s opened doors to colonialism for Zimbabwe. Cecil Rhodes’ deceit of King Lewanika heralded was instructive. To the west, Germany unleashed “collective punishment”, on Namibians for resisting slavery. Last year’s release of Measure of Men returns us to that era.
The south of the Limpopo didn’t escape slavery either. Botlhale Tema’s People of Welgeval tells tales of serfdom and human smuggling. The story of slavery that bled Congo requires a library of its own — two decades of Belgium’s Leopold II era of atrocities claimed millions of lives.
So, by all accounts, the Botswana leaders had very few options. “This was a big deal for the chiefs. They wanted to go [to London] on their own,” Jone says of the 1895 voyage. “They fastened their shoes and set off, saying only: ‘Maybe we’ll come back alive, maybe not’.” It was a troubled period.
Although Botswana’s desert-like climate has worsened today, bovines outnumber their two-legged cousins. The museum’s Kediseng later explores how people accessed water to sustain livestock. Migration was another way. It was in Serowe, an area they named after a water-rich plant, that they found water. On the museum’s premises stands a borehole which, a century later, still provides water for the property.
Five hours after my arrival, I surrender to the present. Traffic is building up, and the temperature is cooling down. Newspapers speak of heated national politics. The opposition is fraught, the ruling party torn.
While atop Thataganyana, I spotted the famous Mma-Swaneng and Rra-Swaneng hills, standing side by side (like Rra and Mma), and the world-famous village. Up there, stillness is palpable.
President Hichilema and President Masisi of Botswana in Livingstone
In a significant move to bolster their partnership, Zambia and Botswana have solidified their commitment through the signing of ten Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering various critical sectors. These agreements were inked less than two months after a productive visit to Kasane, marking a pivotal moment in the strengthening of economic ties between the two nations.
Crafted with precision and foresight, these MOUs span across sectors such as Science and Technology, Mining, Minerals, Agriculture and Livestock, Railway Transport, and the Establishment of the Kazungula Bridge Authority (KBA), among others. President Hakainde Hichilema and President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana expressed their profound gratitude for this significant step forward, emphasizing the potential these agreements hold for enhancing economic growth and benefiting their citizens.
A key focal point of discussion during the signing ceremony was the strategic importance of the Kazungula Bridge, which not only links Botswana and Zambia but also serves as a vital connector to major trade corridors in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Leveraging this infrastructure promises to facilitate more cost-effective and reliable access to maritime trade routes, stimulating trade, creating jobs, and fostering economic prosperity for both nations.
President Hichilema and President Masisi emphasized the need for the optimal utilization of the Kazungula Bridge asset and urged for the swift negotiation of pending agreements to further enhance trade facilitation and infrastructure development. Stakeholders from both countries welcomed the signing of the MOUs, recognizing the immense potential they hold for increased trade and investment opportunities.
Meanwhile, President Masisi, during a tour of the Victoria Falls, hailed the iconic landmark as the most spectacular in the world. He underscored the importance of preserving and maximizing its potential for tourism, emphasizing its significance as a regional pride. President Masisi expressed gratitude to President Hichilema for suggesting the visit, highlighting the importance of continued investment in the preservation and promotion of the Victoria Falls.
The signing of these MOUs marks a significant milestone in the partnership between Zambia and Botswana, setting the stage for enhanced cooperation and mutual prosperity in the years to come.
President Hakainde Hichilema has issued a directive calling for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address the recurring challenges posed by cholera outbreaks in Zambia.
Speaking at the Provincial Epidemic Preparedness meeting in Ndola, Zambia National Public Health Institute Director Roma Chilengi emphasized the need for collaborative action within the health sector to effectively tackle the issue of cholera.
The gathering, attended by various government department heads and key stakeholders, highlighted the escalating cases of cholera in the Copperbelt region, as reported by Acting Copperbelt Provincial Health Director Christopher Dube.
Acting Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Daniel Kamenga urged citizens to remain vigilant, emphasizing that the cholera outbreak continues to pose a significant threat to the country’s health security.
Meanwhile Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo has said cases of cholera have reduced country wide as evidenced by the low numbers of admissions being recorded country wide. Ms Masebo however indicated that more work still needs to be done as cholera is not completely eradicated.
The minister thanked the media fraternity for heightening publicity on cholera disease which claimed a number of lives in the country.
Ms Masebo said this when she received an assortment of items donated by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Zambia to the fight against the cholera.
The donated items included blankets, personal protective equipment and hygienic materials.
And speaking earlier, AHF Country Programme Director Martin Matabishi said the donation was valued at more than a hundred thousand kwacha.
Mr Matabishi said the donation is meant to supplement the efforts of the government in eradicating the cholera epidemic.
He thanked the Ministry of Health for creating a conducive collaboration environment that allows the private sector to partner with government in the delivery of quality healthcare.
A tragic incident unfolded in Lusaka as a man reportedly took his own life after allegedly shooting and injuring his girlfriend. Identified as Jeff Mulenga, aged between 25 and 30, of Libala South, the individual shot himself in the chest in the State Lodge area following the disturbing series of events.
The sequence of events began Tuesday night between 10:00 PM and 11:30 PM when Mulenga purportedly shot his girlfriend, identified only as Bwalya, aged 23, at her residence in Chalala area. Police Deputy Spokesperson Danny Mwale confirmed the incident, indicating that Mulenga then fled the scene after committing the act.
Authorities were alerted to the situation by concerned neighbors who swiftly responded to the scene of the shooting. They found the woman wounded and promptly rushed her to the hospital, where she is currently reported to be out of danger.
Tragically, the ordeal did not end there, as around 11:30 PM, police received another distressing report indicating that Mulenga had taken his own life in the State Lodge area. Responding to the scene, law enforcement officers discovered Mulenga’s lifeless body with a gunshot wound. His vehicle, a Mazda BT-50, was found parked nearby with the keys still in the ignition.
Police also found a pistol at the scene and have instituted investigations to establish the actual cause of the shooting incidents.
Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane
Finance Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, in an exclusive interview on Hot-FM yesterday, provided insights into Zambia’s recent debt restructuring process and outlined key priorities for the country’s economic recovery. Here are some highlights from the interview:
The UPND government celebrates the successful conclusion of the debt restructuring with Eurobond holders, marking a significant milestone in addressing the country’s US$3.5 billion debt.
Dr. Musokotwane emphasized the complexity of the debt restructuring process, contrasting it with previous initiatives like the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Unlike HIPC, where Zambia owed fewer creditors, the current restructuring involved negotiations with various private creditors, making it a challenging endeavor.
While immediate price reductions for essential commodities may not be substantial, the minister assured citizens that some prices would decrease gradually.
Dr. Musokotwane underscored the critical role of international partners, particularly the IMF, in supporting Zambia’s economic stability. Adherence to commitments will be closely monitored, with IMF assessments scheduled every six months.
Despite progress with Eurobond holders, the government continues discussions with commercial banks and local service providers to address outstanding debts.
Looking ahead, Dr. Musokotwane highlighted the importance of increasing copper production and agricultural productivity to boost the economy and enhance food security. He emphasized that failure to meet obligations could jeopardize the debt restructuring program.
The minister cautioned against expecting debt cancellation, emphasizing the need for responsible borrowing and prudent financial management.
Overall, the debt restructuring agreement provides Zambia with an opportunity to prioritize investments for economic growth and stability.
Dr. Musokotwane’s remarks shed light on the complexities of Zambia’s debt situation and the government’s commitment to navigating these challenges while advancing economic development and stability.
Meanwhile Government has expressed concern over the spread of misinformation regarding Zambia’s recently secured debt restructuring deal. Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa emphasized the need for accurate reporting on the matter, citing misinformation circulating on various platforms.
Mweetwa, who also serves as the Information and Media Minister, urged journalists to address the misinformation challenge by providing clear explanations of what the debt restructuring deal entails for the people. His remarks were delivered during the World Vision Zambia Media Awards ceremony in Lusaka, with Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana representing him.
In addition to clarifying the debt restructuring deal, Mweetwa encouraged journalists to prioritize reporting on developmental issues that directly impact the populace, rather than focusing solely on politics.
John Hasse, Chief Executive Officer of World Vision Zambia, reiterated the importance of the media in keeping the public informed about significant developments. Meanwhile, Lorraine Chisanga, Chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zambia (MISA-Zambia), underscored the media’s role in shedding light on inequalities affecting children. Chisanga emphasized that journalists play a crucial role in holding decision-makers accountable for addressing issues affecting children across the country.
Two senior citizens in Chinsali District of Muchinga Province have advised the Government to take advantage of good rainfall patterns in the northern part of the country to grow more food for the nation.
Mr Oliver Mulenga and Aggrey Musamba made the appeal on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting with the Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at Cabinet Office, Patrick Mucheleka.
The duo proposed that if the Government can commercialise and support more farmers with meaningful farming inputs and a variety of crops to feed, the nation can be assured of adequate food.
Mr Mulenga, who is a fish farmer and retired civil servant, said there is a need to engage cooperative officers to scrutinise the cooperatives and ensure that serious farmers who understand the concept of agribusiness are supported with inputs.
He further stated that it is high time that Zambians started taking farming seriously and ensure that only those that can expand their maize field access input support under the Farmers Input Support Programme.
Mr Mulenga advised that Chinsali needs to start exporting value-added products such as mealie meal and appealed to the Government to revamp the milling company in the district.
Meanwhile, Musamba also stressed the need for the Government to facilitate the establishment of a milling company in Chinsali, which he said will add value to the agribusiness activities in the district.
He further pointed out that poultry and aquaculture have expanded at a rapid pace, but noted that what is discouraging other farmers is the high price of feed for chickens and fish which currently is sourced from Lusaka.
Mr Musamba proposed that if the old Chinsali milling was to be revamped, it could start producing poultry and fish feed thereby lessening the cost as farmers would no longer have a burden to travel to Lusaka to buy feed.
He added that if this is achieved, fish will be affordable in the district while the surplus will be sold to other districts.
The Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM), has congratulated the Republican President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema and Zambia’s Finance Minister, Honourable Situmbeko Musokotwane on the successful renegotiation of the commercial bondholder debt.
In celebrating the outcome, Chamber of Mines President, Dr Godwin Beene, noted that the Zambian Treasury was now able to squarely focus on the restoration of broad economic growth to levels that spur development without leaving even the most vulnerable businesses behind.
The Bondholder Debt agreement also strongly positions the country to act on the Head of State’s emphasis on the need to avail Zambian businesses fairly priced capital by reinforcing policy, fiscal and regulatory stability.
Dr. Beene pointed out that the consistency shown by Government in getting to this tipping point in the nation’s fortunes serves as an example of what is required of all citizens, corporate and individual, to get the country growing at rates that effect real change at both household and macro-economic level.
“The President has demonstrated that it is time to work and deliver and the mining industry is geared to work hand in hand with government in driving tangible growth,” Dr. Beene said.
The Chamber of Mines is an association that represents the mining and allied industry and promotes sustainable and responsible mining.
President Hakainde Hichilema yesterday welcomed His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, the President of the Republic of Botswana, at the Kazungula Bridge border post.
President Masisi’s visit to Zambia marks a crucial moment in the ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries. The meeting between the two leaders provided an opportunity to review and discuss various aspects of cooperation, including enhancing people-to-people connections and strengthening multilateral relations within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
During his working visit, President Masisi engaged in discussions aimed at signing memoranda of understanding across various fields. These agreements are intended to further solidify the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Zambia and Botswana.
President Hichilema expressed his gratitude for President Masisi’s visit and emphasized the importance of fostering strong ties between the two nations. The meeting underscores the commitment of both leaders to promote mutual prosperity and development in the region.
Mporokoso Member of Parliament, Brian Mundubile, has been handed a 30-day suspension for breaching parliamentary privileges and showing contempt towards the institution.
The decision to suspend Mundubile stems from a ruling on a point of order raised on October 6, 2023, by nominated Member of Parliament, Likando Mufalali, and a complaint lodged by Moomba Member of Parliament, Fred Chaatila.
Mundubile’s conduct on the floor of the house, particularly his remarks during a press briefing by the Patriotic Front at the National Assembly media center, was deemed demeaning and reflective of negatively on the character and impartiality of the Second Deputy Speaker, Moses Moyo, in the execution of his duties.
During the proceedings to determine his case, Mundubile defended his actions, citing the lack of alternative avenues to express his grievances and claiming unjust treatment by the presiding officer.
However, in delivering the ruling, First Deputy Speaker, Malungo Chisangano, reminded Mundubile of his responsibilities as a long-serving Member of Parliament and a former leader of the opposition. Chisangano emphasized that while freedom of speech is valued, it does not justify behavior that undermines parliamentary decorum and authority.
Chisangano stressed the importance of exemplary conduct from all parliamentarians, stating that Mundubile’s actions were not above reproach and warranted disciplinary action.
Immediately he cut his teeth in reportage, Buyoya endeavoured to follow into the footsteps of those gone before him, religiously…….giants of the small screens such as the likes of Charles Mando, Gorret Mapulanga, Frank Mutubila, Maureen Nkandu etc.
Whenever guests appeared before him, he’d unsettle them with probing questions as his penetrating gaze bored into them like a drilling machine. Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Captains of the industry and the Clergy, Politicians and Celebrities would be humbled, leaving them soaked like broiler chickens!
When those that spoke through the nostrils in the land far beyond the valleys and deserts, mountains and forests, rivers and seas caught wind of his exploits, they enticed him with a big carrot with promises of grounding into their peculiar language. They soon dispatched a jumbo jet to fish him out of Mambia.
In no time, Buyoya was on his way to United Kinklidom – the land of temperatures equivalent to the deep freezer. His dear loving mother had of course taken the trouble of preparing him enough akabwali, cassava and groundnuts, kakeya, ichiboboli, mabisi, matamba, mbeba, chibwantu, chikanda and inswa for the duration of his stay in the land of Caucasians who were reputed to consume frogs, snails and crabs in large portions!
When Buyoya made his maiden appearance on their small screens, folks with fair skins were enchanted and mesmerised with his wit and immense intellect. He actually spoke the language of the Queen better than most of them. He presented his shows with supreme confidence, and when it was his time to conduct interviews, he asked questions that made many of his guests squeal like squirrels and blush with embarassment. They had found their missing link…..finally. Mambians were particularly proud to see one of their own conquer the Caucasians.
When he pitched up for duties next morning…… it struck him as rather odd to find the office devoid of the usual hubbub of laughter and chartering. Everyone seemed to be conversing in whispers or avoided making eye contact with him, as much as possible.
“Le boss said you should see him immediately you step in…..” the receptionist said to him as she furiously typed on her computer.
‘Le Boss,’ as the man in charge was euphemistically referred to, had an explosive temperament. He was feared by all and sundry. You dared cross paths with him at your own peril. And yet, there was Buyoya…… required to present himself before the mighty one, pronto. What wrong had he done to warrant summons from so early in the morning.
As he found his way to Le boss’ office upstairs, he was overcome with utmost trepidation. He obviously expected the worst! Without much looking up from whatever he was engrossed in or indeed bothering to return his pleasantries, he simply thrust an envelope at him. Buyoya was trembling spasmodically as he opened it.
And viola…..it was a generous job offer! It promised a 6 figure pay cheque, fully furnished bungalow, personal to holder motor vehicle and annual vacation to a destination of his choice!
If ‘Le boss’ expected him to jump through the roof, punch his fist into the air and shout “yes!” then he was disappointed. Buyoya simply sunk deep in his seat and looked at him questioningly.
“What the hell is wrong with you….. dude!” Le boss was struck by thunderbolt.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Buyoya’s heart had long travelled back home to Mambia. He had run out of his precious supplies – akabwali, utu mintesa, cassava and groundnuts; the kakeya and ichiboboli; mabisi, matamba, mbeba, chibwantu, chikanda and of course inswa. He was left with no option but to suffer through something he considered foreign to his tastebuds – pizarros, sambwembwes and sushis! Of course nothing tasted better than the cooking of his beloved mama back in Chilenje!
“Sorry, Sir…..” he said, nonchalantly. “Am heading back home to Mambia….”
The balding man with a prominent Victorian nose and a belly that looked as if it was about to explode was shocked!
“Like……seriously?” he detached his cigar from his mouth, slowly. “Get the f…..k of my face!”
As the jumbo jet taxied off the runway and finally took off to the skies, it suddenly encountered a terrible turbulence that shook it violently. Everyone was in panick mode. Nothing of this sort had occurred before. Everyone was screaming and shouting and asking the captain to “please do something about it!”
As the hostesses ran around hither and thither, desperately trying to calm down the situation, they realised that Buyoya comfortably remained positioned calm and collected in his economy seat near the toilet.
“He’s the reason for our misery,” one of the passengers pointed an accusing finger at him.
“How can he prefer to feature on Diamand TV than the much popular BCC?” another one chipped in. “The gods must be mad!”
“This is akin to choosing to watch Muzorewa FC instead of Manu,” quipped a man clutching a big camera close to his chest.
“He wants to go back home to mommy,” chuckled a skinny fella as everyone burst into uncontrollable laughter. “Why can’t we throw him out of the plane….”
“Yeah!” They shouted in unison.
Fortunately for him, he landed on a United Kinklidom bound ship.
Former Zambian Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Chishimba Kambwili, is reportedly showing signs of improvement while receiving specialized treatment at a hospital in South Africa.
Mr. Kambwili was airlifted to South Africa earlier this year for specialized medical attention, and according to his brother, Mutale Kambwili, his health is steadily improving.
In a telephone interview with ZNBC News from South Africa, Pastor Mutale Kambwili expressed gratitude for the positive progress in his brother’s health. He mentioned that Chishimba Kambwili is looking well and responding positively to the treatment he is receiving.
Furthermore, Pastor Kambwili extended his appreciation to the Zambian government, particularly President Hakainde Hichilema, for facilitating the evacuation of his brother to South Africa for medical care. He also conveyed heartfelt thanks to the Zambian people for their prayers and support during this challenging time.
Chishimba Kambwili’s health condition has been a matter of concern for many, and the news of his improving health brings hope and relief to his family, friends, and well-wishers across the country.
The Kambwili family continues to remain optimistic about his recovery, and they express their gratitude for the outpouring of support and prayers from all corners of Zambia.
I beg you all UNZA students be persuaded that no one is more passionate than me to see you turn our beloved country into a most prosperous nation. Please be reassured that my intentions are purely noble and are not aimed at undermining your intelligence or yourself-esteem as you strive to become Zambia’s erudite human capital.
Believe me I dedicated my degree to the improvement of tertiary education in Zambia because I have since learned that those who lack personal achievement tend to resort to embracing nationalistic sentiments in order to compensate for their own inadequacies. They passionately defend their country’s shortcomings to artificially bolster their false sense of commitment to nation building.
I mean good. The greatest pleasure in me is doing things people say I can’t do. Look, if it weren’t for me, the discourse on the quality of the UNZA degrees would not have arisen. Come with me, we can transform the University of Zambia into an even more exemplary institution of higher learning. Please peruse the entirety of this article not like a person who lacks personal achievement, but like the academic student you are.
Why Chibale Avoided To Mention NARIC In His Press Release
Had the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia deployed Dr. Mfune and not Acting Head of Communication and Marketing Damaseke Chibale to defend the university, the uproar on inferior degrees would have concluded more amicably with efforts to find solutions. Chibale is a philistine who uses the generic cookie cutter template to categorically deny, tactfully shift blame, and brutally besmirch.
During an interview with Lusaka Star, Dr. Orleans Mfume, who is Higher Education Quality Assurance expert and lecturer at UNZA, elucidated the discrepancy between the UNZA degree and that of its UK counterpart, deeming it a technical hitch.
Dr. Mfume, posited that the perceived inferiority of the UNZA degree could be attributed to the absence of an A-Level certificate at secondary school level, as a prerequisite for university admission, like is the case in the UK where such a qualification is required for pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree. Dr. Mfume further stated; “For you to pursue a degree in Zambia you need O-Levels whilst in the UK system you need A-Levels.”
In the United Kingdom, students typically complete their A-Levels in Year 12 (Grade 12) and Year 13 (Grade 13) as part of their preparation for university. On the other hand, the Zambian education system does not have A-Levels as a separate qualification for university entrance. Instead, A-Levels are seamlessly integrated into the structured four-year Bachelor’s Degree program. It is here the technical hitch lies.
Since 1965, the University of Zambia first-year students have been spending one year disguised as Form 6 (Grade 13) secondary school students studying A-Levels, leaving them with only three years of the actual four-year degree. This arrangement ultimately diminishes the value of the degree to a diploma as evidenced by the UK and South African NARIC comparability systems.
This is what Acting Head of Communication and Marketing Damaseke Chibale did not want to divulge. Burdened by the apprehension of exposing this longstanding technical hitch embedded within the degree curriculum, he feared its repercussions.
How A-Levels Were Embedded In The UNZA Bachelor’s Degree
To explore the origins of this development, it is essential to delve into the historical background of Zambia’s Secondary School education system. In the 1880s, primary education for Africans was established by the French Protestant Mission in Barotseland. The commencement of secondary education for Africans was delayed until the inauguration of Munali Boys Secondary School in 1938, which initially enrolled 11 pupils.
By 1951, the number of African students in secondary schools had reached 405, according to J. Elliot in his publication “Education in Zambia: Quantitative Expansion at the Expense of Qualitative Improvement? At the time, secondary education was provided from Form 1 to Form 6.
Elliot notes that the inaugural Form 6 (A-Level) examination was completed by Munali Secondary School students in 1957, following its introduction in England and Wales six years prior (1951). Initially intended as subject-based qualifications essential for university entry, the A-Levels were later adopted across the Commonwealth.
In January 1964, the Emergency Development Plan (January-December 1964) was implemented by the then Prime Minister Kenneth Kaunda with the aim of expeditiously reforming the education system in Zambia. The plan sought to decolonize the curriculum in order to cater to the increasing needs of the nation.
The University of Zambia, founded in 1965, brought about significant alterations to the secondary education landscape. The revised secondary school curriculum included classes ranging from Form 1 to Form 5, and consisted two distinct cycles: the initial cycle spanned 2 years, while the subsequent cycle spanned 3 years. Upon completion of the five-year period, a student received an O-Level certificate.
Form 6, which provided A-Levels, was moved to the University of Zambia as a fundamental element of the comprehensive four-year Baccalaureate degree curriculum. The decision is perhaps one of the gravest errors made by the Kaunda government. The obligatory one-year A-Levels significantly impacted the Bachelor’s degree, essentially reducing its Bachelor’s course work to three years. Consequently, the UNZA Bachelor’s degree was also reduced to a diploma in the UK and South Africa.
What Then Is The Remedy?
Dr. Mfune assures the nation that the Higher Education Quality Assurance has already responded through the revised curriculum. To this he added; “Explicit in the new framework is the introduction of an A-Level certificate as the requirement to university education while the O-Level will be for college entry, thus at policy level, the technical hitch is already being fixed and this harmonizes our Higher Education system with both the UK and South Africa.”
Revisions by the Higher Education Quality Assurance stand as an affirmation that the University of Zambia’s Bachelor’s Degree has been inferior to that of the UK and the Commonwealth for 59 years. Once the modifications are effected, newly enrolled students will no longer endure an entire year imitating Form 6 students, but rather focus on their Bachelor’s Degree studies. And when they pursue further studies or employment abroad, they will be treated as equals. Viva UNZA!
The rights to this article belong to ZDI (Zambia Development Institute), a proposed US-based Zambian think tank. On May 19, 2022, a comprehensive proposal was delivered to President Hichilema through Principal Private Secretary Bradford Machila. Author, Dr. Field Ruwe holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership. He is affiliated with Northeastern University, Boston, MA. US.
American Jewish Committee (AJC) announced today a grant awarded to Tevel B’Tzedek (Tevel), an Israeli NGO dedicated to tackling extreme poverty in subsistence farming villages throughout sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This funding will bolster Tevel’s efforts to deliver aid to the people of Zambia. Following a deadly cholera outbreak, the African nation recently declared a national emergency based on widespread drought, which poses significant risks to agriculture, food and water security, and access to electricity.
“AJC stands shoulder to shoulder with Zambia in their time of great need,” said Wayne Sussman, Director of AJC’s Africa Institute. “Zambia has been a great partner of the United States and Israel. We are pleased to join forces with Tevel B’Tzedek to provide drought relief in rural Zambia.”
AJC has a long-standing relationship with the people and government of Zambia, and has, over the years, met with numerous ambassadors, presidents, and foreign ministers.
Tevel Founding Director Micha Odenheimer said, “Tevel b’Tzedek is delighted to announce the receipt of a generous and very timely donation from American Jewish Committee to aid our work helping to provide food security in the drought-stricken Lusaka Province, Kafue District of Zambia. Tevel has been working in Zambia for the past several years. The organization is focused on aiding subsistence farming villages to grow food year-round through Israeli irrigation techniques, training, alternative livelihood and input loans, and the cultivation and training of young leadership in the villages. Tevel’s initiative in village banking will also make small loans available to ensure food security as famine threatens. AJC’s generous support has come at a crucial time for Zambia and Tevel and we are tremendously grateful for the support.”
AJC’s grant to support relief efforts in Zambia comes from the agency’s Heilbrunn Humanitarian Relief Fund. Humanitarian relief has been a core of AJC’s work for over a century.
President Hichilema with Senators Chris Coon and Patty Murray at State house
US Senators joined President Hakainde Hichilema for a productive meeting this morning at State House, with Senator Patty Murray leading the delegation.The senators expressed their commitment to fostering robust economic ties and collaborative efforts to address shared challenges during their visit to Southern African countries.
President Hakainde Hichilema held a productive meeting this morning at State House with a delegation of U.S. senators led by Senator Patty Murray.
Accompanying Senator Murray were Senator Chris Coons from Delaware, Senator Gary Peters from Michigan, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, and Senator Peter Welch from Vermont.
The discussions during the meeting spanned a wide array of topics, with a primary focus on the enduring friendship between Zambia and the United States. President Hichilema provided insights into Zambia’s ongoing efforts to reposition its social, economic, and political trajectory, underscoring the significance of the national development plan as the guiding blueprint for these endeavors.
President Hichilema conveyed his appreciation to the United States for their swift decisions regarding the implementation of the Lobito Corridor Rail line project. He lauded the U.S. government for its proactive approach towards advancing the project, which holds immense potential for enhancing Zambia’s connectivity and regional prominence.
The Lobito Rail line, as highlighted by President Hichilema, will serve as a vital link connecting the Atlantic and Indian Oceans through Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He underscored the transformative impact of the project on key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and mining, as it traverses regions rich in natural resources and favorable climatic conditions.
Among the issues deliberated were the challenges posed by drought, food security concerns, and initiatives aimed at generating employment opportunities for Zambian women and youth. President Hichilema expressed gratitude for the U.S. government’s support during the recently concluded debt restructuring process, emphasizing Zambia’s commitment to continued engagement with international partners for the betterment of the country.
In response, Senator Patty Murray expressed optimism regarding the potential of the Lobito Corridor investment to drive inclusive economic growth and bolster sustainable supply chains, ultimately benefiting the Zambian people at large. She affirmed the U.S.’s commitment to partnering with Zambia in addressing pressing challenges, including the drought affecting crops and food security.
Senator Murray highlighted the longstanding partnership between the United States and Zambia, citing significant investments exceeding $7 billion since 2000 in critical sectors such as public health, education, and food security.
The delegation is visiting Southern African countries including Malawi, Angola and Botswana to discuss investments in the region and ways to strengthen political, economic and security partnerships.
