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Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya says new HIV infections among adults have reduced by 9 percent between 2010 and 2018.
Dr Chilufya, however, says the reduction is too slow to achieve the 2020 targets of reducing New infections by 75 percent.
And Dr Chilufya says new data from the 2018 Zambia Demographic Health Survey indicates that the HIV prevalence is at 11 point 1 percent a marker that the country is moving in the right direction.
The Minister says so far there is an increase in people testing for HIV to 85 percent of women and 75 percent of men having been tested in 2018.
Dr Chilufya was speaking in LUSAKA during the 13th Annual National HIV Technical Conference in Zambia.
Meanwhile, Dr Chilufya said the epidemic has entered a new phase where strategic implementation of evidence innovations and efforts with partners to sustain the progress that will bring about epidemic control and fast track ending AIDS by 2030.
Annual AIDS related deaths have decreased from 69 thousand in 2002 to 17 thousand in 2018.
What are the reasons for the dramatic decline in anti-gay bias in the United States? Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The latest report by the Institute of Race Relations has revealed that Africa is still one of the most hostile regions for LGBTQ people, despite some positive developments.
The institute based its findings on interviews with LGBTQ activists.
The institute conducted interviews with African members and activists of the LGBTQ group.
According to the Human Rights Watch, 32 out of 54 African countries outlawed same-sex activity as of June.
The High Court in Botswana this year struck down two colonial-era laws, effectively legalizing gay sex.
The report compiled by the IRR shows that some political leaders are not willing to accommodate the rights of the homosexual community.
Researcher at the Institute Gerbrandt van Heerden said: “One of the countries that stood out where there is still a lot of oppression is Malawi, as well as Zambia. The President of Zambia actually did say that he would not agree to equal rights for gay people even if it’s at a cost of international aid.”
The research shows that there’s a clear link between education and LGBTQ tolerance with most prestigious schools having a relatively open view of people with alternative sexual orientations and gender expressions.
Below is an interview with “Jason’, a gay activist from Zambia.
Jason (Zambia)
My next interviewee also indicated that he wished to remain anonymous. So, for the purpose of this section, he will be known as Jason. Jason has been an LGBTQ and human rights activist since 2008. He is the co-founder of a local LGBTQ organisation and has also worked for an international organisation in the public health sector. Jason has also held a position in government.
Yet Jason notes that Zambian youths remain highly divided when it comes to this issue. Some are highly accepting of the LGBTQ community while others scoff at the idea of allowing more rights for this group. In terms of the rural/urban divide, Jason says that the capital city of Lusaka is a ‘diverse, cosmopolitan environment’ in which the idea of gay people is ‘nothing new’. Many people in Lusaka are, in other words, not concerned about whether their neighbours or colleagues might be gay or lesbian.
What is apparent from my interview with Jason is that the entertainment industry in Lusaka is a safe haven for LGBTQ people. Many LGBTQ people work within the wedding, fashion and performance arts (singers and dancers) sectors and attitudes within the entertainment industry are more favourable towards those with different sexual orientation and gender identities.
South African personality and one of Africa’s most high-profile gay celebrities, Somizi Mhlongo, was invited by PR Girl Media to be an official guest at the Lusaka July 2019 polo and fashion event, which confirms Jason’s sentiments about a more open-minded entertainment industry. However, the Zambian government reportedly stepped in to ban Mhlongo from attending the event. In a briefing at the New Government Complex in Lusaka, the Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs, Godfridah Sumaili, as well as a representative from the National Arts Council and two founders of PR Girl Media, addressed the controversy.
Minister Sumaili said that performance artists had a strong influence in society and had the power to alter public perceptions. She went on to say that ‘the government does not condone a situation where event managers are inviting people with questionable character that might undermine the morals of the land’.
Chishimba Nyambe from PR Girl Media adopted a more conciliatory tone and stated that although she personally admired and supported Mhlongo, Zambia was not, unfortunately ready for him yet. On that note, I asked Jason to elaborate on the government’s position on the LGBTQ community. Zambia’s current president, Edgar Lungu, has said that he will not agree to equal rights for gay people – even at the cost of international aid. I asked Jason if the sentiment held by the president reflected the views of everyone in government or whether some public officials were actively fighting for decriminalising homosexuality. According to Jason, the government – as in so many other African countries – uses the LGBTQ issue as a way of deflecting attention from more pressing problems that result from governance failure. They do this sort of scapegoating with reasonable success. However, Jason has noticed that Zambian society has in recent years become more aware of the government’s deflection tactics. So, when public officials once again highlight the so-called ‘LGBTQ problem’ ordinary Zambians will likely respond: ‘Okay, but what about corruption, poor service delivery and sky-high taxes?’.
Jason also pointed out that LGBTQ activists and civil organisations had been successful in lobbying for gay and transgender rights by focusing on HIV and AIDS. An official government document outlining responses to HIV and AIDS in the country includes the necessity to focus on gay and transgender people. According to the government document, no one in Zambia should be left behind when it comes to fighting HIV and AIDS, including those from the LGBTQ community. The fact that LGBTI people are mentioned a lot in the public health sector can be seen as evidence of LGBTQ civil society organisations’ most successful approaches in lobbying for greater acceptance and inclusion. Intersex people are also being focused on more by the health sector, and the tone on transgender people in the sector has softened.
Zambian LGBTQ organisations have also been successful in creating spaces where people can talk more openly about issues concerning the community. This is so much the case that visibility of LGBTQ people has increased in smaller towns outside Lusaka. Jason refers to himself as part of the ‘old guard’ that paved the way for younger LGBTQ people to be more prominent in pushing for equality. The newer generation is more vocal and more willing to participate in events such as an annual Gay Pride March.
Jason took time to elaborate on some of the bigger obstacles facing gay- and human rights groups in the country. One, he says, is that objective conversations around sexual issues, never mind LGBTQ issues, are not usually widely or openly held. This is because in many sections of Zambian society, the Bible is held as the supreme law. Because religion is so intertwined with politics, matters about sexuality and sex in general are neglected. In order for attitudes to shift in Zambia, there should be a greater focus on the country’s constitution, and enshrining more rights, than an on religious texts. Media houses in Zambia are also partially to blame for the negative perceptions that Zambians have of the LGBTQ community. They are prone to ‘sensationalism’ and often lack ‘professionalism’. It is very easy for anyone in Zambia to create a news vlog in which they can spread hatred and fake news about gay people.
Jason concluded by saying that court action would be the most appropriate way to push for LGBTQ inclusion. Now that the groundwork had been laid in the health sector, civil society and human rights groups had the foundation to build the fight for equality and dignity. ‘LGBTQ people should be humanised. They are tax payers, they have families.’
Zanaco return to action this Wednesday after their continental engagements when they host Power Dynamos in a rescheduled FAZSuper Division Week 11 fixture at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
The match comes four days after Zanaco drew 1-1 at home with last season’s CAF Confederation Cup runners-up RSB Berkane of Morocco in a Group B encounter on the other side of town at National Heroes Stadium.
Zanaco also leave the comfort zone of continental football where they are unbeaten since the start of the 2019/20 campaign with four wins and two draws.
But the seven-time league champions are currently 14th with 11 points from eight games played and four fixtures in hand.
Zanaco also return to league action for the first time since November 23 following a 3-2 Lusaka derby away defeat to second placed Napsa Stars to suffer their third league loss this season.
Meanwhile, guests Power play their second successive away match since November 30 when they beat Lumwana Radiants 1-0.
That match also marked Power coach Perry Mutapa’s debut game after he quit Forest Rangers to replace Gaston Mutobo who was sacked after seven games in charge at Arthur Davies Stadium.
Interestingly, Power head into the match unbeaten in their last three games with a draw and back-to-back wins since Kabwe Warriors defeated them 1-0 at home in Kitwe on November 2.
Those results have seen Power jump from third from bottom to steadily rise eight notches up the log to number nine on 14 points.
Meanwhile, in Wednesdays other Week 11 fixture, 5th placed Green Eagles host Kansanshi Dynamos in their final four-match rescheduled fixture list in which they have so far collected two wins and a draw.
Eagles host new boys Kansanshi Dynamos in Choma seeking a win that will see them exchange places with 4th placed Nkana who are just one point ahead of them on 21 points.
Kansanshi on the other hand head into the game on a seven-match winless run that has seen them collect just four draws and tumble from the top four and down to number 12.
The government says it is open to discussions on the possibilities of abolishing the death penalty.
Vice President Inonge Wina says the Zambian government under President Edgar Lungu has not carried out any execution of individuals sentenced to death by the courts of law.
Ms. Wina says this is because the government respects the right to life.
She says successive Presidents have been commuting death sentences to life imprisonment and that President Edgar Lungu has so far commuted more death sentences to life imprisonment than any other President in the country’s history.
The Vice President said this during the commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of human rights on international human rights day in Lusaka today.
Mrs. Wina has since urged the Human Rights Commission to take advantage of the prevailing political and public goodwill to scale up public sensitization on the possibility of abolishing the death penalty.
She also reiterated that President Lungu does not tolerate torture and other forms of inhuman or degrading treatment.
Mrs. Wina further implored law enforcement officers to implement the Presidential directive on the need to immediately stop acts of torture in Zambia.
And United Nations Resident Coordinator Coumba Mar Gadio said periodical cases of political violence as Zambia gets closer to the 2021 elections should make people stand up for human rights.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga noted that Government has largely demonstrated the commitment to meeting its obligation of protecting the rights of inmates.
Mr. Mwandenga has since called upon the private sector and cooperating partners to support Government efforts towards enhancing the rights of persons in detention and Correctional facilities.
Speaking at the same function Justice Minister Given Lubinda said the Ministry is currently considering the concluding works on the anti-torture bill.
Minister of Guidance and Religious Affairs Hon. Godfridah Sumaili during the 70th Anniversary of the World Council of Churches (WCC).
The government has directed the family unit and the church to start playing a cardinal role in the fight against corruption.
ZANIS reports that Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili said there is need to raise awareness on the fight against corruption at household and church level.
Reverend Sumaili noted that though corruption may be prevalent in the public sector as opposed to the private sector, there is need for concerted response towards the fight against the vice.
Speaking in Lusaka today, Reverend Sumaili said there is need to start inculcating Christian, national values and virtues in children when they are still young.
“We need to raise awareness on corruption in the family, teach our children at a very early age in the home not to take anything that is not theirs” said Reverend Sumaili.
The Minister stressed that the church should exceedingly preach against corruption because people caught up in corruption also frequent churches.
The Minister said the church must therefore take advantage and talk to its members to desist from engaging in corruption.
She said government alone cannot fight corruption and thus needs the support of all Zambians both in the private and public sectors to do their part and stand against corruption.
The Minister pointed out that government has done its part by putting in place stringent financial measures which are being complied to and is also strengthening systems to curb corruption.
THE Religious Affairs Minister observed that Zambians need to embrace and live by the core values of honesty, hard work, dignity and transparency as enshrined in the constitution to respond to corruption.
On December 9, 2019, Zambia joined the rest of the world to commemorate the international day against corruption under the theme “United against Corruption”.
President Edgar Lungu stated that no one will be spared in the fight against corruption.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Dora Siliya, has today unveiled a new seven-member Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) board.
The new board comprises Beatrice Mwansa, Claire Limbwambwa, Margaret Kaniki Siwale, Sipho Phiri, Chanda Kasolo, Chalimba Phiri and Enita Hamatumbika.
Ms Siliya encouraged the new board members to read and understand the IBA rules in order for them to operate in a fair and honest manner.
She urged the new board members to carefully read the IBA rules and make them as their ‘second Bible’.
Ms Siliya has meanwhile observed that there is need to educate the public about the functions of IBA and the processes and procedures that should be followed when engaging with the authority.
She has meanwhile noted that Zambia, like many other countries, is facing a technological advancement challenge of media convergence where radio and television content can be broadcast live on mobile smart phones from any part of the world.
She has further challenged the new board to work around the laws and regulations so that there are no lacunas in the media operations.
The Minister reiterated that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services is committed to promoting businesses in the media industry while providing regulations that offer a conducive environment for everybody.
And IBA Director General, Josephine Mapoma, told the Minister that there will be a seminar on IBA rules and another on good governance for the new board members.
The members will meet at a later date to choose a chairperson of the board and a vice.
And the newly appointed board members have since pledged to work in accordance with the IBA rules in discharging their duties.
A female tobacco farmer in Kakanda area in Kaoma District in Western Province has urged her fellow women to take up enterprises that contribute meaningfully to national development.
Speaking during a tour of her tobacco farm in Kakanda area, Namakau Sikamutuma said time has come for women in Zambia to engage in various entrepreneurship spheres such as agriculture, which she says is cardinal for national development.
The tobacco farmer, who spoke through her translator Bridget Ngoma, said as a result of engaging in farming in Kakanda area, she has employed five seasonal farm labourers on her one hectare farm.
Ms Sikamutuma added that through her tobacco farming she has managed to build two houses on rent in Kaoma’s main business District (CBD), purchase two vehicles and a hammer mill, which she disclosed has helped improve her family’s living standards.
She attributed all this to the technical support rendered to vulnerable tobacco farms in Kaoma by Japanese Tobacco international (JTI).
The tobacco company has engaged selected local journalists on a field tour of various projects such as farms, schools and clinics that are being supported in the area.
And JTI Production Supervisor Wallace Sakala says his company has so far engaged over 3000 tobacco farmers against the dangers of child labour.
Mr Sakala noted that JTI aims at inculcating better tobacco farming methods, as well as curb child labour, among other programmes.
And Brenda Ngoma, who is also the Leaf Production Supervisor at JTI said as a result of various intervention measures put in place, there is now zero child labour in nearly all tobacco farms in the district.
Ms Ngoma said as a result of intervention measures by her company, most tobacco farmers in Kakanda area are aware of the negative impact that the trend has on children.
President Edgar Lungu has bemoaned the rising cases of sexual and gender based violence among communities in the country.
President Lungu says more sensitization should be carried out so that women are enlightened of their rights.
The Head of State revealed that he is often saddened to hear that cases involving gender based violence are withdrawn without the law taking its full course.
President Lungu stressed that the Police should refrain from reconciling victims of gender based violence with perpetrators, adding that the law should be allowed to take its full course.
The President said this in Kasama when he graced the launch of Natwampane programme dubbed “together to stop sexual and gender based violence.”
And Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri says cases of early marriages have become common among communities.
Mrs Phiri said the launch of Natwampane program will help address the vice in the province.
She disclosed that the European Union has donated 23 vehicles to 23 districts in Northern and Luapula Provinces to be used in the sensitization programmes.
Meanwhile, European Union Ambassador to Zambia Jacek Jankowski says the trend of child marriages and gender based violence is not only common in Zambia but the western world as well.
Mr Jankowski said there is urgent need for stakeholders to ensure that they change the mindset of people towards ending the vice.
Earlier, the EU Ambassador called on Provincial Minister Bwalya Chungu to help strengthen the approach used towards eliminating the high cases of sexual gender based violence.
The Copperbelt Energy Corporation has reiterated that it is critical that a lasting solution is found to the Bulk Supply Agreement with ZESCO ahead of its expiry so as to avoid any challenges to the Copperbelt and the economy at large.
In a statement, CEC says the goal remains that there should be continued seamless supply of power to all consumers on the Copperbelt Province.
The statement was issued Tuesday afternoon in reaction to a story published by Lusaka Times following an interview with CEC Managing Director Owen Silavwe in which he raised concern that the company could cease operations by March 2020 if the Bulk Supply Agreement with ZESCO is not renewed.
This was after investigations by Lusaka Times found that there is pressure from some high ranking government officials to force ZESCO not to renew the agreement with CEC, a situation which could effectively force CEC to close its operations.
But in a statement issued by CEC Public Relations Adviser Muntanga Sibalwa, the company said the Agreement between CEC and ZESCO underpins the supply of power to the entire Copperbelt Province customer base including mining and non-mining customers.
Below is the full statement from CEC
CEC CLARIFIES MEDIA REPORTS
The Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc (CEC) wishes to correct the misinformation and inaccuracies pertaining to the expiry and renewal of its bulk power contract, its continued existence/operation post the Bulk Supply Agreement (BSA), load management program with mining companies and the position of the Company in Zambia’s electricity supply industry as carried in some media reports, arising from a recent engagement with the media.
Bulk Supply Agreement
The factual position, as was stated during the said media engagement with local media on 27 November 2019, is that the BSA between CEC and ZESCO Limited (ZESCO) underpins the supply of power to the entire Copperbelt Province customer base including mining and non-mining customers; making it critical for the parties to find a lasting solution ahead of its expiry so as to avoid any challenges to the Copperbelt and the economy at large. The goal being the continued seamless supply of power to all consumers on the Copperbelt Province.
Power supply to the mines and load management program
Currently, all the mines in the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces, supplied by CEC and ZESCO respectively, are exempt from the load management program purely for economic reasons, in view of the industry’s critical role as the anchor of other industries in the country, its role as the key foreign exchange earner and the second largest employer after the Government. The decision to continue meeting the mines’ full power requirements is carefully determined through a consultative and coordinated process involving the Ministry of Energy, ZESCO and CEC. Should a stage be reached where the mines would be required to participate in load management programs, CEC explained its willingness to tap into its existing contracts within the region to source power and supplement local supply sources so as to mitigate any potential effect that the power supply gap may have on mining operations.
CEC’s position in the Zambian energy sector
CEC owns and operates power infrastructure and assets worth more than USD500 million covering the Copperbelt Province, including transmission infrastructure linking into the Democratic Republic of Congo, which assets the Company deploys for the economic benefit of the country. CEC will continue to use its assets and capabilities to create value for all its stakeholders and shareholders, by providing value-adding electricity solutions to its primary markets and participating in national programs aimed at developing the sector and achieving an appropriate energy mix for the country. Being the country’s oldest and second-largest power utility, the Company derives value from its asset base, its relationships with generators and consumers as well as its positioning and as a power supplier of choice to its key customer base.
Issued by CEC Corporate Communication For further information, contact: Muntanga Sibalwa
Zambia Police has sternly warned the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) to remove the ‘Police’ tag from their regalia as such maneuvers have the potential to cause anarchy.
This follows Pictures making rounds on social media of UPND cadres wearing reflectors and military attires labeled ‘UPND POLICE.’
Police spokesperson Ester Katongo has told media that if UPND wants to operate in such a manner then they should register as a security company.
“This type of attire shall not be allowed. We only know of one State Police. If the UPND wants to have this name in the security sphere, then they should register it as a security company.”
She added that such behavior only contributes to anarchy.
“Allowing such groupings calling themselves Police contributes to violence because the untrained characters putting on such regalia just like any military-related attire, become violent in their conduct and we would not want to create such an environment.” Mrs. Katongo stated.
She has since urged political parties to regulate the type of regalia they provide to their cadres.
“Political parties should, therefore, regulate the type of attire they wish to provide to their cadres. Such attire in the picture shall not be tolerated.” She said.
A man counts out Zambian kwacha 50 denomination banknotes in this arranged photograph in Lusaka, Zambia, on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. Zambian Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda is seeking to restore confidence in the economy to help reverse the world’s worst currency performance, record borrowing costs and sliding growth. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg
This week, ZANACO released the 2019 Economic Review Report. Of much interest to me is a graph that depicts the performance of the Kwacha each time there was (adverse) sentiment about the country. In April/May, 2019, Bloomberg published a story, ‘Zambia pulling a Mozambique style hidden debt’. The exchange rate moved from K9.5/US$ to K10.3/US$. Shortly afterwards, after much market pushing (which saw the Eurobond performance break a new threshold), the Minister of Finance at the time, Margaret Mwanakatwe, released a statement of debt management. The market read this as positive news and the Kwacha appreciated to K9.8/US$.
Then came the China-buying-ZESCO story by Africa Confidential in September 2018. The Kwacha immediately traded at K12.5/US$, causing much panic in government. Government did not anticipate the story and failed to effectively dismiss it. The impact was felt for the entire month of September 2018. However, between October 2018 and April 2020, the country did not experience significant adverse news and the market was happy to experience some relative stability in the exchange rate, the Kwacha trading on an average K11.9.
In April-May this year, the International Monetary Fund, whose projections are closely followed by watchers and investors in Zambian securities and the Eurobond, cut the growth forecast to 2.2 percent for 2019. This was against government’s own projections of 3.8 percent of GDP. This, plus debt and weather concerns, caused some panic trading, the Kwacha trading at K14/US$. To reverse the free-fall of the Kwacha, Government made a very quick (verbal) reaction by announcing austerity measures. The Kwacha gained by trading at K12.4/US$. This was only negatively affected by the downgrading of Zambia’s sovereign rating (plus general excess demand of the Kwacha) when the Kwacha again depreciated to K13.1, the rate it traded at between July and October 2019.
What has suddenly happened? I would say the first part of the current depreciation was induced by a variety of factors: debt servicing, importation of energy, seasonal imports and speculative behavior. However, the most recent depreciation, which has seen the Kwacha break the psychological barrier of K15/US$ is induced by sentiment. Three things have happened within a week.
First, the market has been waiting for some very important news from Cabinet which, I understand, has not come. Early last week, I received an email from one of the investors based in the USA who probably got wrong communication about the much anticipated cabinet meeting on debt, ‘Chibamba, have you heard anything about yesterday’s cabinet meeting? When we were in Lusaka there was a lot of talk that they would present the cancellation/delay of pipeline projects.’ In other words, investors, uncertain about Zambia’s debt sustainability challenges, follow every piece of news about Zambia very keenly and when they don’t get it, they interpret it as ‘problematic situation.’
Second, the United States Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote made two critical statements in his recent press briefing that signalled a big problem. He said, ‘However, like the lack of public information made available on Zambia’s debt acquired over the past few years, the government has chosen not to share this vital data with its citizens…’ By implication, Mr. Foote was saying the debt position declared by government is not true. I presuppose this was interpreted adversely by investors. The last line of the same press statement read, ‘I hope the government of Zambia commits to improve its decaying relationship with the United States…’. Was it not just a few weeks ago the Minister of Finance Bwalya Ng’andu was assured by the US Treasury that the latter would support a deal with the IMF? What is this now?
Third, the Mukula tree story has had significant traction international over the past two days and I am not sure how government is dealing with it. It is on this cue I make my conclusion on the way forward: One area government is wanting is how to react to adverse sentiment. I did share with Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe at the time she was Finance Minister that the Eurobond factor implies a change of strategy on how we pacify the jittery market. One solution would be to engage reputable international advisors who are perceived to be credible by investors to be the third-party communicators on behalf of government. I also suggested she needed to go to the market with authentic data as much as she could, particularly on debt. She heeded the advice by constantly releasing data from October 2018 till she was fired. The strategy somewhat worked.
Another approach now is for government to engage a very strategic, emotionally balanced communicator. I have in mind the Zambian Ambassador to the African Union, Emmanuel Mwamba. He has one advantage: he engages in debates very strategically and does good research when reacting to issues. I am not sure where to position him but maybe at Cabinet Office in equivalent position. He is the nearest in government I can think of capable of engaging diverse external stakeholders in a ‘seek-to-learn-and clarify’ manner.
When government is daily facing adverse sentiment, you need a very level-headed communicator for external stakeholders. The individual should have enough authority to help government put its house in order because you cannot sell what you do not have. Effective communications start with a reality check: Is there something that needs fixing so that adverse sentiment does not have breeding ground?
The African Milling New Maize Plant situated along Buyantanshi road in Lusaka
The African Milling Limited has announced a reduction in the price of mealie-meal by 20 Kwacha, with immediate effect.
African Milling Sales and Marketing Manager Jomo Matululu says the company has reduced the wholesale price of a 25 Kilogramme bag of Breakfast mealie meal from 150 Kwacha to 130 Kwacha.
Mr. Matululu says a 25 Kilogramme bag of African Milling breakfast mealie meal is expected to be selling on the market for 136 Kwacha.
He said the company is putting modalities in place to also reduce the price of roller meal.
He said the reduction of the price of mealie meal is in line with the assurance that the company made to President Edgar Lungu when he commissioned the newly Milling Plant.
Mr. Matululu stated that the reduction is also as a result of the tripartite agreement signed between the milling company, grain traders and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
No one knew who I was. I was a 21-year-old boy in 1981 studying to become an Artisan in our National Mining Company in Kitwe. Then Reinhard Bonnke came to Zambia.
Thirty-six years later I have served as Leader of Victory Ministries International and as the first member of the Clergy to serve as Republican Vice President of Zambia.
Thirty-six years later, Zambia has become the first and only nation in Africa to be declared a Christian Nation.
In early 1981, it was noised that a German Evangelist by the name of Reinhard Bonnke would Visit Zambia and was going to have a series of meetings in all the major cities of Zambia. He would start in my city, Kitwe. Within weeks, a ten thousand seater tent was erected and stood out as a new phenomenon in our city. At the time, I served as youth leader at the Maranatha Assembly of God Church under a Canadian Missionary Gary Skinner. For some reason, Pastor Skinner asked me to interpret for Pastor Bonnke in his first sermon at Church before the crusade opened later that evening.
I met Reinhard for the first time in my life in 1981 in the pulpit. He started to preach what I considered a basic message of salvation. In the middle of his preaching, he stopped and looked at me and made the following statement, “Eh, you are made out of the same stuff that I am made out of.” This singular statement changed my life forever. He asked me to continue to interpret for him the whole two weeks of the crusade. My heart was bonded to him and his message changed both my life and my city forever.
Never in the history of my nation had we ever seen an evangelist of such passion and anointing. He ignited a wave of revival which has never stopped to date. At his coming in 1981, it was said that Christianity constituted 45% of the population. Today, Christianity stands at 96% of the population and Zambia has become the only country on the continent to be constitutionally declared a Christian nation.
Reinhard Bonnke started this movement. He is a household name in Zambia. He focused his faith on Zambia for several years. CFAN sowed a human seed into the soil of Zambia when one of Pastor Bonnke’s closest crusade organizers was killed in Chililabombwe in an accident which burnt down a CFAN truck. Reinhard himself flew back to Zambia and retrieved the body. He called this loss, a seed sown in Zambia which would germinate and grow into full salvation of the nation. Reinhard wept.
As a Nation, we have a redemptive history with Reinhard and CFAN. Zambia is a Christian nation because of his investment of faith.
He took me up as his own son. He believed in me before I even knew myself. He sent me to Bible college at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas Texas and paid for it. Upon graduation, he mentored me and purchased the equipment I needed to launch an evangelistic ministry in my nation. While he carried the banner of Africa shall be Saved, I have carried the banner of Zambia shall be Saved to date. He was present in my life until he returned to the one who called him to Africa in the early hours of December 7th 2019.
In 1995 after he was guest at our Victory International conference in Lusaka, he said to me, Nevers, I am not coming back to Zambia after this. I asked him why, and he said because you are here and able to handle it. “You don’t need me” he said. He however mentored me from afar. He supported me both in prayer and finance for 36 years. In 1997, I was faced with a huge decision concerning joining the political process. I had two authorities to contact, one was Mrs Gordon Lindsay, President of Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas and Reinhard Bonnke, President of Christ for All Nations in Frankfurt, Germany. I asked for their counsel concerning my desire to join politics. It took Reinhard three months to answer but when he did, he was very clear that he had heard from the Lord for me to take my faith into the political process like Joseph of the Bible. He gave me his blessing to go into politics. Mrs Lindsay’s letter came much latter with the same response. Soon after that, I became Vice President of Zambia and now President of the former ruling Party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, preparing to run for President in 2021.
If Reinhard had not come to Zambia, maybe there would have been no Christian nation. If he had not come, there would have not been a Nevers Mumba who became the first Evangelist to become Vice President. Because he came, Zambia is, and I am.
Pastor Bonnke invited me to what he considered life changing events. He invited me to the 2000 Millenium Crusade in Lagos where he addressed his largest single crowd of 1.6 million people. I shed tears of joy at the sight of such a harvest of souls. He invited me to Orlando Florida to celebrate his fifty years of ministry in Africa and asked me to speak at the event when Pat Robertson could not travel for health reasons. He invited me for his last african crusade in 2017 in Nigeria but I could not travel in the last minute for political reasons. This was his way of mentoring me to the end.
My last emotional interaction with Reinhard was last year in April (2018) after he heard that I had been thrown in jail for political reasons. After my release he sent me a note not to give up. He also sent what has now become the last financial gift to “help” me after my jail experience. What touched me is that the gift came from his personal account. What type of love is this? God gave me the best mentor and the best spiritual father. He loved and cared till the end. I later found out that when he sent me his last gift, his health had started to fail him.
I am sure my story can be told by many Africans across this continent who have been impacted by this “African Apostle.”
79 million souls later, he now rests in the arms of the one who commissioned him to Africa. This legacy is unparalleled.
Just like Jesus stood up for Stephen when he showed up in heaven, I believe the Lord Jesus and the heavenly host have given a standing ovation as Reinhard makes his grand entry into heaven. Until we meet again. So long.
President Edgar Lungu has arrived in Kasama District, the Provincial capital of Northern Province for a two days official visit.
The plane carrying the Head of State touched down Kasama airport at 09:35 local time.
He was received by Northern Province Minister Bwalya Chungu, Minister of Local Government Charles Banda, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Christopher Yaluma, and senior government and party officials.
And addressing Kasama residents who turned up to welcome him, President Edgar Lungu said the defeat suffered by the ruling party in the IIambo ward seat in Lupososhi District was disheartening.
President Lungu said the party is currently receiving reports, to establish what could have led to the loss.
President Lungu, however, urged party members to remain united despite the humiliating defeat, saying it was not the right time to point fingers at one another, but instead forge ahead and think of workable solutions that will unify the party.
Meanwhile, Provincial Minister Bwalya Chungu thanked the President for sparing time, to visit the province once again.
While in the region, the President is expected to Commission the newly constructed Civic Centre in a Kasama.
The Head of State is also expected to go to Mporokoso District where he will Commission a house built for a retired Reverend who is also a senior citizen.
The President will also be conferred with the status of freeman of Kasama, and later hold public meetings in both Kasama and Mporokoso districts.
Earlier, President Edgar Lungu said that there is a growing demand for infrastructure across the country.
President Edgar Lungu explained that his tours countrywide have revealed that there is an urgent need to accelerate the infrastructure development in the country.
The Head of State said this today shortly before departure for Northern Province for a two day working visit.
President Lungu cited road infrastructure as one of the sectors that need quick attention as it plays a pivotal role in the economic development of the country.
“Northern Province just like any other province is my constitutency. Throughout out my tours across the country, it has come to my attention that there is need to accelerate infrastructure development such as road network people always demand for improved roads which is key to the economy,” he said.
President Lungu who is accompanied to Northern Province by Patriotic Front National Chairperson Samuel Mukupa, his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe and former UPND Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba.
The Head of State was seen off by several Cabinet Ministers who included Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya, Minister of Transport and Communications Mutotwe Kafwaya and Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo.
Stevo released the video for his single “Certified” featuring Dope G, Kantu and Ben Zee.
“Certified is track 21 from SAVED album, a hip hop genre oriented record & it talks about Stevo being accepted as the New official face of Zambian Hiphop in the Ghetto, Streets and Cities at Large.”
