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Energy Minister Matthew Nkhuwa has called for more private sector investment in off the grid mechanisms of power generation if the country is to attain its 2030 goals of providing clean energy to all Zambians.
Mr. Nkhuwa says the World Bank and USAID survey, indicates that to reach the vision 2030 and sustainable energy for all under the Sustainable Development goals, 40 percent of new connections must come from off-grid solutions.
He says, therefore, the government is working with Beyond the Grid Fund Zambia in order to provide clean energy using renewable sources.
Mr. Nkhuwa says the off the grid project has so far connected 800 thousand beneficiaries in all parts of the country.
Speaking during the presentation of an Award won by Beyond the Grid Fund Zambia to the Minister, Mr. Nkhuwa said with the coming on board of many other forms of energy generation from renewable sources, the country’s economic landscape is expected to improve.
And Swedish ambassador to Zambia, Anna Maj Hultgard said Sweden is willing to further fund the off the grid project with a sum of $20million to allow more get connected to clean energy solution.
Ms. Hultgard said during the two years of operation, more than 1 thousand 500 direct jobs for Zambians have been created and that the number is expected to grow with the coming funding beginning next year.
She said Sweden will continue working with Zambia in the fight against climate change by providing clean solutions to access for energy, especially for domestic use.
Finance Minister Dr Bwalya Kanyanta Emmanuel Ng’andu, MP, will present the 2020 National Budget Address to Parliament starting @ 14:00 Hrs this afternoon.
Parliament has approved the K 126 billion 2020 National Budget and adjourned Sine die.
This was after the Appropriation Bill -2019 passed the third reading in Parliament.
Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu said the 2020 Budget will ensure solid economic recovery despite the challenges that the country is facing.
Dr Ng’andu called on Members of Parliament to support the 2020 Budget and stressed that MPs have been called to leadership to make decisions in the national interest.
Later, Vice President Inonge Wina moved a motion to adjourn Parliament Sine die.
The House passed seven other bills that include, the Supplementary Appropriation Bill -2019 and Electricity and Energy Regulation Bills.
The House also passed the Property Transfer tax, Value Added Tax, Income Tax, and Customs and Excise Amendment Bills.
Earlier, the Supplementary Appropriation bill of 2019 aimed at facilitating over K 1.175 billion Supplementary Budget passed third reading in Parliament and awaits Presidential assent.
Finance Minister Bwalya Ngandu presented the bill in Parliament yesterday afternoon.
Dr. Ng’andu said of the over K 1 billion 2019 supplementary budget, Over K 410 million emanates from cooperating partners while over K 117 million was a carryover from the 2018 budget.
Dr. Ng’andu further said over K 455 million comprises a re-allocation of funds for wages awarded to civil servants in 2019.
He said over K 173 Million Kwacha constitutes an additional request due to the exhausted provisions in the 2019 budget.
Dr. Ng’andu disclosed that over K 18 million involves funds, not of the 2019 budget.
Power Dynamos midfielder Larry Bwalya believes that they are heading into Sunday’s Kitwe derby against Nkana on a sound note following poor start to the 2019/20 FAZ Super Division campaign.
Power head into the home derby clash on December 22 at Arthur Davies Stadium enjoying a three match winning run for the first time this season and are now also unbeaten in their last four games with 10 out of a possible 12 points.
It is quite a turn of fortunate for Power who in late October were slumped second from bottom of the table at number 17 with 4 points from their first six matches played.
“I think as you can see, we have won three games in a row and that has not happened this season,” Bwalya said.
“So the teams’ turnaround has already happened and now it is just to maintain the momentum and keep moving forward.
“We are home, we have to dictate the pace, we have to dictate the play and all we have to do apply what the coach has told us.”
Power are eighth on 17 points from twelve matches played and are seven points behind Nkana who are fourth.
Meanwhile, leaders Zesco United have 28 points, tied with second placed and Napsa Stars.
2019/20 FAZ SUPER DIVISION RESULT
WEEK 11
18/12/2019
Nkwazi 0-Lusaka Dynamos 0
Ms. Siliya says Journalists must concentrate on doing their work which is to Inform, Entertain and Educate the public to the best of their abilities. she also has dvised the media in Zambia not to involve themselves in mainstream politics .
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Dora Siliya says the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) is still the most popular broadcasting company.
Ms. Siliya says in terms of television viewership in Zambia ZNBC ranks first followed by Prime Television Station.
She wonders why there is so much clamour from certain opposition leaders to appear on ZNBC if it does not have a popular viewership.
Ms. Siliya was responding to allegations by Monze Central member of Jack Mwimbu, who is also leader of the opposition in the House, that ZNBC has lost its popularity.
This was during debates on the Select Committee’s report focused on the appointment of ZNBC Board of Directors.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Given Lubinda has accused the United Party for National Development -UPND of perpetuating tribalism in the country.
Mr. Lubinda wonders why some UPND officials would always raise eyebrows when people from a particular tribe are not part of some national appointments.
Earlier, UPND Itezhi Tezhi Member of Parliament Hebert Shabula cried foul that there is no regional balance in the appointment of members of the Judicial Complaint Commission and ZNBC Board of Directors.
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance has described as insensitive the statement issued by Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo yesterday when he announced results for the assessment of the maize stocks survey that the country is food secure.
CSO SUN county Coordinator Mathews Mhuru says it is disappointing that the Minister could issue such a statement when he is fully aware that the country is food insecure with over 2.3 million people going hungry.
Mr Mhuru said the one million, thirty-seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven point seven metric tonnes available stock announced by Mr Katambo is a drop in the ocean as more maize is required to feed hungry Zambians whose harvests were impacted by drought in the last farming season.
He reminded Mr Katambo that Zambia requires US$89.5 million to feed hungry people and clearly this shows that we do not have adequate food as a nation hence the food security situation can best be described as dire at the moment.
Mr Mhuru added that had the country been food secure, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit wouldn’t have been distributing 12.5 kg bags of mealie meal to those affected by hunger which in some instances are being shared by two to three families.
He added that because of scarce maize on the market, mealie Meal prices have skyrocketed to K180 in some parts of the country making it difficult for many ordinary Zambians to afford a bag of mealie meal.
Mr Mhuru has challenged the Minister to be truthful when discussing the food security situation in Zambia because many people are aware that the country is currently food insecure and in need of help from cooperating partners.
However, Mr Mhuru has commended the government for enhancing security at various points of entry to prevent smuggling of grain into neighbouring countries.
He said Zambia cannot allow the smuggling of grain into other countries when citizens are going to bed on empty stomachs on a daily basis due to lack of food.
National Democratic Congress President Chishimba Kambwili has described as nonsensical reasons advanced by the government to take over Horizon school in Lusaka.
Mr Kambwili says Cabinet erred in its decision to take over the school as the owners have never engaged in any acts of terrorism in Zambia.
He said the decision to take over the school is wrong and government must immediately give back the school to the owners to avoid compromising on the high standards set by the school.
“Moreover, the owners of the school don’t stay in Turkey, they stay in America and if they were involved they would have been arrested because the US does not condone terrorism. If they have done anything wrong here arrest them and take them to Court”, said Mr Kambwili at a media briefing.
He disclosed that President Michael Sata was approached by the Turkish Government requesting him to take over the school but refused because he did not want to intervene in their internal wrangles.
“If a Malawian Investor based in Zambia fights with his government, government cannot act on behalf of that country as long as that person is following the laws of Zambia”, Mr Kambwili added.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Jean Kapata confirmed recently that the land on which horizon schools sit has been compulsorily acquired by the state in Public Interest as the Land acquisition Act empowers the president to compulsorily acquire any land whenever he is of the opinion that it is desirable to do so in the interest of the republic.
Mrs Kapata has however refuted allegations that the land has been sold to a Chinese investor to build a shopping mall as the lands acquisition act does not allow compulsory acquisition of land for private purpose.
Representatives of Political Parties at ZCID offices
Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) has embarked on a mission to engage Political parties and other stakeholders in governance as a way of enhancing dialogue, consensus, confidence buidling and achieving inclusivity among players.
Newly elected ZCID Board Chairperson, Jackson Silavwe, says there is need for political parties and other key stakeholders in the country to come together and work for the development of the nation.
He called on political parties to get to their platform, ZCID, which was solely formed for them to operate, dialogue and work together even when they still stand as independent entities.
“ZCID was created for all political parties to dialogue from even as they retain their independence and contest against each other in elections. All differences political parties face are meant to be discussed and solved from the Centre, it is our platform we should utilize for the good of our country,” Mr. Silavwe said during a meeting with Democratic Party President and officials.
Mr. Silavwe on Tuesday led a team of ZCID Board Members in meeting Democratic Party Leader, Harry Kalaba, and his party officials at their Secretariat.
Mr. Silavwe, the Golden Party President, who recently took over Chairmanship from Forum for Democracy and Development National Secretary Nathan Mulonga said the meeting was just the beginning of ZCID’s engagement with other political parties to discuss matters of interest and corporation and dialogue.
Accompanying him to meet the DP leadership were Board Members, Mr. Highvie Hamududu who is also President of Party of National Unity and Ms. Winnie Zaloumis of the Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) and Acting ZCID Executive Director Ms. Doreen Njovu.
And the ZCID Board Chairperson, Mr. Silavwe, said that the body operates independently as opposed to some speculations from some sections of society.
He said the Centre is also currently working on a robust plan for resource mobilisation from other funders so that the perception of being compromised due to funding would be erased.
He and his team assured Mr. Kalaba, the DP leadership and the nation that the Centre is on a project to strengthen its roots and needed all political parties to get on board.
And DP President Harry Kalaba expressed gratitude at the mission by ZCID to engage stakeholders especially political parties as it will yield positive results for the organization and the political field in the country.
“It is very important that we keep dialoguing, because we only have one country as we have said and our Constituency all of us is Zambia. You talked about Unity in diversity, that is what we also belive in,” Mr. Kalaba said.
Earlier, Mr. Kalaba had raised concerns over the funding of ZCID after noting that part of it financial support comes from the Government through the Ministry of Justice, thereby raising fears of the Political Mother body of being compromised.
But the ZCID Team clarified and assured that it was autonomous.
And Mr. Hamududu said dialogue as political parties is a prerequisite to effective good governance.
ZCID continues meeting key players in the political realm and governance to ensure inclusiveness in enhancement of democracy in the country.
Zambia’s Socialist Party Presidential candidate for 2021 Fred M’membe has said that he has difficulties seeing how the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) will be re-elected in the 2021 general elections.
Writing on the party’s social media platform about what he called the repeated question of the support he offered to the Patriotic Front in 2011, which espouses and promotes capitalism, the Socialist presidential candidate said that, at the time, PF was the only party that had an anti-capitalist position in its constitution and had committed itself to fight against capitalism and to support the working class.
Dr. M’membe, however, said that the ruling party is no longer committed to the calls of the working class and that the people running PF are not decent, honest and humble people committed to solidarity.
Below is the full post
In my recent interaction with the media, this question came up again. I need to clear this issue.
Comrades, am not in the PF to speak for the PF. I am running a Socialist Party. When you look at the constitutions of the parties that existed at that time, there was only one party that had an anti-capitalist position in its constitution. The PF committed itself to fight against capitalism and to support the working class. I have been a socialist from the age of 19 to this day and that (PF position) appeared attractive for me.
But are they socialists? Are they committed to the calls of the working class? Are they decent people, are they honest people who are committed to equity, who are committed to humility, who are committed to solidarity? My answer is NO.
If they were socialists we would have not started the socialist party to defend the calls of the working class, to defend the calls of the poor, to defend the calls of the poor peasants.
I don’t know how Zambians will decide. It is their decision to elect or not to elect the PF, that I can’t predict, but what am sure about is that they will be no money or more in the pockets, that will not be achieved. That I can guarantee you, they will not be able to put more money in your pockets before the August 2021 elections, they will not be able to put money in your pockets.
Whether you elect them or not, having failed to put more money in your pockets after promising to do so and have driven you into deeper poverty, that is your choice but we are dealing with rational human beings here. And if this rationality of human beings is something to go by, I have difficulties seeing how the PF will be re-elected again
While the global copper market is worth just above $260 billion, with Zambia claiming just slightly above 4% of the global market, with net revenues of only round $500 – $700 million per annum ( I stand to be corrected). The global cannabis market, on the other hand, is currently estimated to be worth $340 billion and just keeps on growing.
It must be noted that the level of technical expertise and intensity of capital associated with the cannabis supply chain, from growing, marketing to selling; is relatively friendly and nowhere near as laborious as the mining industry, perhaps save for a few stringent global regulatory requirements.
But what this means is that Zambia and Zambians can own the Cannabis industry 100% and internalize 100% of all forex revenues arising from this business. Capturing even a paltry 1% of the global Cannabis market could potentially generate a staggering $3.4 billion per annum for the country. But again if we are not careful, this amount of money could very easily end up in the hands and pockets of cartels who I imagine are well poised to pounce on this multi billion honeypot.
Our biggest problem at the moment is the $250,000 lisence fee requirement. This is in effect an invitation to big money foreign and local cartels to not only use Zambia as a platform to clean up their dirty money, but also an opportunity for them to make an easy killing at the expense of Zambians. If this happens, we would have laid the perfect breeding ground for an underground Cannabis market which will undoubtedly be punctuated by gun violence as participants look to claim a share of what they believe is an opportunity systematically denied them.
The sensible way to go about this program is to initially place the cultivation, marketing and selling of Cannabis in the hands of a disciplined state institution such as the Zambia National Service (ZNS). Let these be assisted and equipped with all the initially required expertise and tools and let them get the show started. In the process, they will create employment for hundreds of youths and other professionals. But ZNS will also be crucial to provide the right kind of discipline in so far as preventing the wanton theft and abuse of the product from their production areas.
In the meantime, the government should look to building and strengthening a functional framework that ensures that the growing, marketing and export of Cannabis is done in an orderly and beneficial manner to the country and it’s people; as well as paving the way for the gradual participation of small scale farmers and other private sector players into the industry. As far as the participation of small scale farmers and local private sector is concerned, the lisence fee must be enabling enough to ensure that locals are not excluded from actively and fully participating in building their own economy. The participation of foreign entrants must be heavily regulated and restricted to working partnerships with locals to avoid the unnecessary externalization of forex revenue.
At the end of the day, this must be an enterprise fully owned by Zambians.
Politicians must resist the temptation of hijacking this enterprise away from the people. We have already seen this with Mukula and other mineral resources where corrupt government officials have been the principal beneficiaries while the people suffer.
We cannot and we will not accept this sort of scenario with Cannabis.
The legalization of Marijuana in Zambia could well be the making or breaking of us.
The Patriotic Front has condemned what it has termed as desperation by United Party for National Development who persuaded other people’s children to protest against supposedly load shedding in Chaisa Compound.
PF Media Director Sunday Chanda says UPND is a malicious socio-political misfit that has been rejected multiple times by the Zambian people and so out of desperation, they now want to fan civil unrest.
Mr Chanda said the UPND have become so desperate that they not only pose a danger to the current general peace and stability of Zambia but to Zambia’s future as well as children.
“But why did UPND choose to place innocent young lives in harm’s way? It clear: because they wanted at least one of the children to die in order to make political capital out of it. They are ready to sacrifice human life. That’s why people call them satanic”, he said.
Mr Chanda said the Chaisa farce is part of a scam by the UPND leadership to front other people’s children from “ku komboni” in their reckless politics.
He said the UPND President is eagerly hoping to spark riots across the country to further his personal political interests, even if it means sacrificing the lives of innocent children in the process.
Mr Chanda has urged the Police to investigate this matter even as they thank them for their professional handling of the matter under extreme provocation by politicians who are red with their blood thirstyness.
He said this is rain season and everyone knows loadshedding will significantly reduce and clearly as the rains pour, and the water bodies fill up, loadshedding will drop; yet someone wants to capitalise on it before it ends.
Mr Chanda said their desperation is mindless and an outrage.
“UPND has no Scrupples; No Principals; No Morals; No care for Zambia. They have a seared conscience. Its all about themselves and their leader. Consequently, we invite the Church and other spiritual and moral voices to join the growing loud chorus of condemnation against these child sacrificers”, Mr Chanda has said.
He has asked parents to take care of their young ones and keep them from the UPND who are earger to abuse them.
FILE: UTH gynecologist Dr Samson Chisele (left0 and KHC medical superintendent Dr John Mwewa during the handover of the cervical cancer screening clinic in Kitw
The Zambia Medical Association has commended government for the bold and innovative decision it has taken to allow cultivation, processing and exporting of cannabis for economic and medicinal purposes.
Dr Samson Chisele, the Association President said the association has in the past few years advocated for the decriminalization of cannabis to allow for locally generated clinical research to assess the long-term safety and medical relevance of marijuana.
Dr Chisele has implored government to actively engage in a continuous consultative process with regards growing, processing, distribution, dispensing and prescription of medical marijuana.
He said the Zambia Medical Association acknowledges that marijuana has a long history of medical use dating back to ancient China, Greece and Egypt.
Dr Chisele said the plant was identified to treat a number of chronic medical conditions.
“In modern medicine, medical marijuana is known to reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy (cancer treatment), improve appetite in HIV/AIDS patients, reduce chronic pain and muscle spasms, treat migraines, glaucoma and severe forms of epilepsy”, he said.
However, Dr Chisele said in light of the euphoria exhibited by members of the general public regarding Cabinet’s decision to give approval, in principle, to the Ministerial Technical Committee for the cultivation, processing and exporting of cannabis for economic and medicinal pumoses, has clarified that ordinary marijuana differs from medical marijuana.
He explained that the former contains over 400 chemical compounds, some of which have serious psychoactive effects (the ‘high’ feeling), while the latter usually only contains 2 well-refined extracts of the plant, with scientifically proven benefits to treat s ecific medical conditions.
Dr Chisela said the Zambia Medical Association, through its membership, is open to play a professional consultative role to government, the general public and other stakeholders on matters relating to the marijuana plant and its medical use.
He said there is more room for research in the area of medicinal use of marijuana in order to domesticate some of the benefits as well as possible side effects that the use of marijuana may have.
Ex-Zambia midfielder Clifford Mulenga is backing Chipolopolo to redeem themselves in their remaining four 2021 AFCON Group H qualifiers.
Chipolopolo are slumped at the bottom of Group H on zero points after two games played as they battle to end a two season absence from the AFCON.
Algeria lead Group H on maximum 6 points, Zimbabwe are second with 4 points while Botswana have 1 point.
Zambia lost 5-0 away to defending AFCON champions Algeria on November 14 before Zimbabwe stunned them 2-1 on match-day-two on November 19 at home in Lusaka.
“Most definitely (we can), if Zimbabwe can come here and beat us, then we can also go there and beat them because obviously we have learnt from the first games. So I think we know what to do in the next coming game in Zimbabwe,” Clifford said.
But the Zimbabwe match will be the final and probably decisive Group H game of qualifiers for Chipolopolo on November 9, 2020 after hosting Algeria in their penultimate fixture on October 5 in Lusaka.
Chipolopolo will face Botswana in a Group H doubleheader at home on August 31 and away on September 8.
The qualifiers resume in August after making way for the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers from March 23-31 and June 1-9 after the Africa zone draws are made in Egypt on January 21
“We have two games against Botswana, the team that we have traditionally beaten. Not to undermine them, or underestimate them, but I believe this is a six-pointer for Zambia,” Clifford said.
“We are Chipolopolo at the end of the day and even Botswana knows that.
“We have beaten Algeria at home before, they are a good team, and they are in top shape.
“But this is our home ground, this is Zambia, and they have to come here knowing that they are not playing in Algeria but this is Zambia so we can definitely qualify.”
President Lungu Inspects Impounded trucks Carrying Mukula Tree
Field Ruwe EdD
There is hot lava venting gas and steam under the volcanic Mukula Cartel Report, and we, the people of Zambia are seated on the crater, wearing blinders. The allegations made by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) that President of Zambia Edgar Lungu, his daughter Tasila, Given Lubinda and Jean Kapita (cabinet ministers), and Chief Kafula Musungu II, are the most serious after former President Frederick Chiluba’s corruption case. The Mukula Cartel Report insinuates that President Lungu and his daughter have been surreptitiously using established government agencies for personal ends. Such allegations dwell on gross misconduct and the misuse of executive power. If true, the president heretofore could be found culpable of graft and corruption, and his legacy scorched beyond redemption. That’s why coming clean is a matter of urgency. Engaging in discursive deflection tactics in an attempt to deter the public from accepting the report as credible is denying the people of Zambia the right to know the truth.
The President using Fake News as a Deflection Tool
The Mukula Cartel Report alleges that President Edgar Lungu and the afore-mentioned people are involved in a monthly illegal exportation of the Mukula (rosewood) trees in clear violation of export bans, and that the trade generates a total of approximately US$7.5 million paid annually in bribes and informal fees. Patriotic Front Media Director Sunday Chanda, a notorious spin-master, and serial spreader of misinformation, known for altering reality and twisting facts, engaged in elaborate “plausible deniability” in his effort to tamp down the impact of the report. Without providing credible counter evidence on the Mukula trade, he charged the authors of the report with treason.
Other PF militants including Emmanuel Mwamba and Bowman Lusambo succumbed to the same obtrusive strategy, and helped to deflect blame by polarizing, spreading conspiracy theories, and evoking negative emotions against the report. The president of Zambia, Edgar Chagwa Lungu also bought into it. He blatantly labelled the report that has roiled the nation “FAKE NEWS” as a way of delegitimizing it (the report) and removing public concerns and establishing himself as the source of truth. By doing so, Lungu has elevated the use of disinformation as a tool of persuasion and weapon of influence to another level. Consequently, the word “fake news” has found more fertile ground in Zambia. Fake news has become a pejorative term used by corrupt political offenders to deter the public from accepting accusations that might turn out to be true. Fortunately, modern technology has made it easier to evaluate the credibility of a source. In the case of the Mukula Cartel Report, all it takes is for the President’s press aide Issac Chipampe, to engage a bit of critical thinking and conduct some research. In scholarship, there are ways to help tell the fake news from real news. I employ some here to address pertinent questions.
Is the Mukula Cartel Report Fake or Credible?
Checked the source: I took time to learn more about EIA, the source of the Mukula Cartel Report. I combed through Africa Confidential, scholarly journals, environmental news, books and magazines, and other credible sources. I searched for any EIA affiliations to the U.S. and UK governments and their intelligence or political wings. My independent review reveals that the nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has been in existence for over 25 years, campaigning on behalf of threatened wildlife species, forests and global climate (visit their website). Founded by UK environmental activists Dave Currey, Jennifer Lonsdale, and Allan Thornton, and run by Alexander von Bismarck as Executive Director, the organization conducts undercover investigations of criminal activities involving the environment, among other assignments. As stated on their website, EIA boasts of a track record that reveals the organization as arguably the most consistently independent, fearless, dynamic and effective NGO on global environmental issues. Importantly, EIA is recognized by research organizations, governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations around the world for its “extraordinary work on the ground”. Surely, Chipampe and his team at State House can conduct an even more rigorous research what with all the investigative tools at their disposal.
Is there Illegal Exportation of the Mukula in Zambia?
Investigated the Report: While the timing of the Mukula Cartel Report may be suspect, I examined all the passages in the report to see if they contained any political bias that may impact the story. I found none. As a general rule, a credible story must contain reputable and trustworthy citations and references.
I might add that indeed there is illegal exportation of the Mukula timber in Zambia. It has been going on for years. Chinese timber business has been in Zambia since 2005, mostly exporting material in forms of lumps and boards (see Mukula Cartel Report). Between 2001 and 2014, Zambia lost more than one million hectares of Mukula trees, (100 to 276 million trees per year), according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild and Flora (CITES). In March 2018, the Thomson Reuters Foundation reported that Zambian authorities had begun exporting Mukula timber confiscated from illegal loggers “who continue to fell trees despite a nationwide ban to protect the country’s dwindling forests.” The custodian of the funds is Jean Kapita, the minister of Lands and Natural Resources. In the same month (March 2018), an impeachment motion was filed in the Zambian parliament against Lungu alleging, among other charges, that he was involved in the disposal of the transferring of proceeds of the sale of Mukula to ZAFFICO and not the Consolidated Fund as requested by law. It came be stated that Lungu was suspected to be meddling in the exportation of Mukula timber way before the report.
Who, by Name, is Behind the Illegal Cartel?
Searched for other sources: One established fact is trafficking of Mukula timber is rampant. The question is; who is really behind the cartel? This is a question only President Lungu can and must answer. Back in March 2018 when Mukula timber was confiscated, illegal loggers were arrested and/or identified. It is assumed that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources briefed the President and/or presented him with a full report containing the names of the traffickers, the source of the Mukula, the owners of the trucks hired, and its destination. The minister’s investigation and report must be made public.
It must be noted that Mukula was recently added to Zambia’s list of official commercial species and took front-page news in the reign of the incumbent Lungu. The increase of Chinese traders in the country has exacerbated the illegal exportation of Mukula timber. The Zambian Association of Timber and Forestry Based Industry alleges that about 5,000 Mukula loaded containers from Zambia have been exported to China following the ban on the exportation of the timber species. Who, by name, are the Chinese working with in Zambia? How and where do they obtain their permits? How do they pay? ZTFBI general secretary Kalowa Moota has charged that the government has breached the Forestry Act No. 4 of 2015 by affecting a ban while timber continues to be exported. Moota adds that the manner in which Mukula is exported is designed to cover illegal activities by the privileged few. It has since been revealed that the privileged few include the President and his daughter. The video interviews conducted by EIA in Zambia implicate the President and his daughter, among others. Watch the video at https://eia-global.org/reports/20191205-Mukula-cartel-zambia-report.
No different from Mandrax Trafficking of the 1980s
There can never be a more serious charge on a President than this. The legacy of the Zambian President has been thrust before the entire world as a symbol or proxy of corruption. Accusations of trafficking in Mukula timber are no different from those of the Mandrax drug trafficking of the 1980s. Both involve cross border illegal activities and undermine the rule of law. As President, Lungu faces legal and ethical violations. His current response to the report symbolizes totally unacceptable presidential behavior. As a legal practitioner, Lungu understands that accusations of such magnitude can carry several personal and professional devastating consequences, even if the accusations are unfounded. It can’t be emphasized enough that the Mukula Cartel Report negatively frames the president of Zambia. It erodes Lungu as the critical resource of trust, and takes the nation back into the deeper canal of corruption.
Lessons from the Chiluba corruption case
During the Chiluba regime, we watched a corrupt president with limitless greed, lust for power, and corrosive cynicism, mortgage mines, sell houses and deposit the money in the Zamtrop account for his personal use. Chiluba’s lieutenants assiduously protected him, and created elaborate camouflage and fiendish propaganda so successful Zambians were taken for a ride. In the end, Chiluba drove a vulnerable nation to the poorest level of the world, and left office with a poverty rate of 80%. Chiluba’s presidency demonstrates the venomous and corrosive impact of corruption on freedom and democracy. We can’t allow history to repeat itself.
Time to Come Clean
Enough with misinformation from royalists like Mwamba, Chanda and all those who instrumentalize fake news. They are the reason the Zambian moral engine relies on lies and cover-ups. Such serious accusations against our head of state cannot be fended off with a mere “fake news” flywhisk. Faced with such devastating accusations, President Lungu must come clean. He must not think that all he needs is a favorable opinionated spin. I strongly advise that he immediately addresses the nation factually to exculpate himself from such serious allegations. He must share with the world what he knows about the illegal trafficking of Mukula in Zambia, and provide the names of all involved if he is to clear his name. In the absence of convincing evidence, President Edgar Lungu must be held accountable. Parliament must perform its duty, and pass a vote of no confidence, and President Lungu must consider to honorably step down.
Dr. Field C. Ruwe is a US-based Zambian multicultural scholar practitioner and author. He holds a Doctor of Education degree from Northeastern University, Boston Massachusetts, U.S.
Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba has welcomed the decision by government to give approval for the cultivation, processing and exporting of cannabis for economic and medicinal purpose.
Mr. Sinkamba says the move see a turnaround in economic activities.
He said the decision is good for the country because Zambia will NOT only depend on Copper exports but cannabis as well.
Mr. Sinkamba has told ZNBC News in an interview in Kitwe that government must provide clear guidelines on how the whole process will be done so that people can have a clear understanding.
Cabinet at its special sitting held on December 4th, 2019, gave approval, in principal to the ministerial technical Committee for the cultivation, processing and exporting of cannabis for economic and medicinal purpose.
