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President Lungu to hold a Press Conference at State House Tomorrow

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Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu
President Lungu

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has invited Journalists from Private and Public Media for a get-together-event tomorrow at State House.

The Journalists will be drawn from various media houses including print, broadcasting and online media.

The President will address the Journalists on a number of issues affecting the country and will welcome questions during the function. He will also have one-on-one discussions with the Journalists before inviting them for a photo session.

The function will start at 12:00hrs.

According to the statement released to the media by State House, President Lungu believes that there cannot be democracy and development in a country without a free media.

The statement further added that, since his tenure, President Lungu’s administration has made enormous strides in developing the media in Zambia including digitising broadcast media and growing the number of private radio and television houses in the country.

This is according to a statement made available to Smart Eagles by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Mr. Isaac Chipampe.

Nchanga Rangers Appoint New Club Secretary

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FAZ National Division One League side Nchanga Rangers have announced the appointment of Emmanuel Simbeye as the new club secretary.

Simbeye has been appointed on a one-year deal.

“It is our sincere hope that he will bring with him some added aura of professionalism to the administration of Nchanga Rangers Football Club,” club president Patson Nyirenda said.

“We look forward to a day when the entire Chingola and followers and partners of Nchanga Rangers countrywide will celebrate the achievements we desire in so far as football in concerned and Simbeye should be part of that history,” Nyirenda said.

Nchanga are 10th in the league with 13 points from 10 matches.

UPND 5 year $1.5 billion Personal & SMEs Tax Reform Plan

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Hakainde Hichilema

By Anthony Bwalya – UPND Member

Now more than ever, the United Party for National Development (UPND), in keeping with one of our fundamental founding principles – that of putting people back at the heart of economic growth and development; is committing to delivering a mamoth $1.5bn back into the economy by merely rearranging the tax models around Pay As you Earn (PAYE) and other SMEs business incentives.

With our economy currently dead in the trenches, suffocated by the culture of reckless borrowing and public spending by the Patriotic Front (PF) administration; as well as any prospects of recovery being thwarted by what is now government’s evidently diminished headroom to spend, the UPND would like to reiterate our unwavering resolve to deliver a well coordinated tax reform plan intended to reignite growth, and deliver opportunities for ordinary citizens to once again be able to take advantage of available opportunities in our country to not only spend, but also build SMEs and create jobs for the economy.

Part of our wider tax reform plan, is anchored on delivering additional tax relief for individuals; while giving unprecedented growth and capital protection incentives to SMEs; and this is envisaged to directly deliver well in excess of $1.5bn worth of a boost to the economy at a very basic, micro economic level, over a 5 year period.

HOW WOULD THIS PLAN WORK?

As a matter of economic common sense, $1bn is worth more to an economy when directly placed in the hands of micro economic actors (individuals, households and SMEs) than it being held, and dispensed with, by a corrupt, unconscionable government.

In fact, $1.5bn in the hands of the PF would see an enormous 63 Cents on every $1 lost to corruption at the hands of political actors and their private sector proxies.

$1.5bn in the hands of individual, households and SMEs will go substantively towards spending on things that matter most to our citizens – health, education, building and expanding small businesses and actually creating the jobs the PF government have failed to create in close to 10 years of tinkering at the highest level of politics.

The $1.5bn would see the cab drivers and bus drivers more than double their takings as people’s ability to spend on essential travel expands. We also expect our mothers selling Kapenta, vegetables and tomatoes increase their sales; as would our brothers selling electronic gadgets – as individuals and households get to have a bit more disposable income to dispense with.

This is why we have proposed to increase the lower tax exempt threshold by an extra K700, from the current K3,300 to K4,000; as well as proposing to cut the upper tax bracket by a massive 10%.

Now, as people spend more within the economy, we anticipate government stands to collect up to 30% more in consumption based taxes, as opposed to the current situation where micro economic spending is subdued owing to over taxation, and government failing to maximize the collection of consumption based taxes.

It is worth noting, that any part of the $1.5bn which consumers end up not spending or investing in SMEs business activities, will most likely end up as savings in our local banking jurisdiction or informal saving groups. Either way, it would have the net effect of driving interest rates down and therefore lowering the overall cost of money within the economy.

And as far as SMEs go, the UPND is disappointed that the PF have relentlessly been sacrificing and punishing SMEs by failing to deliver crucial business incentives to allow our SMEs protect the integrity of their capital and then proceed to growing their SMEs enterprises.

The PF administration have in close to 10 years of being in power, failed to deliver capital incentives for SMEs; as well as failing to deliver incentives for growth of these indispensable micro economic actors.

The UPND plans to deliver tax and other business incentives to allow SMEs achieve Two (2) things:

1. Protect the integrity of capital
2. Achieve business expansion without being penalized for doing so

This could mean the following:

1. Graduation of tax and other business levy obligations over a period of 5 years, with 0% obligations in year 1 of setting up and the final 100% of tax and other business levies due only applicable in year 5. This will allow SMEs a smooth path to growth and expansion.

2. Incentivize business expansion by ensuring that new business branches are not penalized on the performance of principal branches. This will encourage more SMEs to expand their reach and the process create more employment.

The following measures are also envisaged to prop up compliance in terms of tax and other business levies. This is one sure way of expanding our ever degenerating tax base.

IS THIS PLAN POSSIBLE?

Absolutely.

 

Since 2011 to date, Zambia has leaked close to $10bn in a combination of state sponsored corruption where PF officials and operatives abuse public processes to steal public resources. We have seen this from successive FIC reports, Auditor General’s Reports and CPI intimations, with Zambia having dropped several points on the assessment register.

We have also seen how the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources diverted close to $100m of Mukula revenue into their own pockets, the undelivered but overpriced ambulances, the Fire Tenders…

We also know that on the Copperbelt province alone, government pays over 40,000 ghost workers per month. Expanding this statistic across our 10 provinces may mean that under the PF, the country is losing tens of millions of dollars paying salaries and other fringe benefits to over 100,000 ghost employees.

Therefore, with the right kind of political leadeship, it is possible for us to achieve crucial efficiencies around how our government works: and with that would come several millions of dollars in expenditure savings, money that can easily be channeled towards funding our $1.5bn tax reform plans.

We would like to reiterate, that our planned $1.5bn micro economic boost, staggered over a period of 5 years and anchored on robust reforms to part of our tax system, will be executed while a UPND administration continues to mobilize the much needed resources to invest in priority infrastructure as part of continuing to create an enabling environment in which micro economic actors can dispense with the $1bn cash injection.

This is what a responsible government should and could have done.

This is what a UPND GOVERNMENT plans to deliver.

U23 AFCON Group B Update :Rohr Joins Nigeria Bench

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Super Eagles Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has joined the Nigeria U23 camp ahead of this weekends kickoff of the 2019 U23 AFCON tournament in Egypt.

Nigeria are Zambia’s opponents in Group B at the Cairo championships that Egypt is hosting from November 8-22.

Rohr is part of the technical bench in an advisory role for a week before returning to Nigeria to prepare the seniors for their 2021 AFCON qualifiers.

He will leave Egypt on November 10 after Nigeria’s opening Group B match against Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria will play Zambia in their second Group B match on November 15.

Meanwhile, Rohr has promoted U23 striker Victor Osimhen of French club Lille to the senior team for next weeks AFCON Group L qualifiers against Benin at home and Lesotho away.

Osimhen was Nigerias top scorer on three goals in the 2029 U23 AFCON qualifiers.

We are willing to reconcile with the other members who were led by Mutati-Nevers Mumba

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MMD President Nevers Mumba at a Press Briefing
MMD President Nevers Mumba at a Press Briefing

Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) President Dr Nevers Mumba says Tuesday’s judgment has set precedence in Zambia politics with respect to the rule of law.

Dr Nevers Mumba said that the party is willing to reconcile with the other members who were led by Mutati.

Speaking at a press briefing at the MMD Secretariat, Dr Mumba further stated that he joined the politics to bring morality and integrity in politics, to foster discipline and to fight corruption.

The MMD President has however noted that the party’s new slogan will be “New hope” as it intends to deliver a new political system.

Commenting on the nullification of the Mutati led MMD group and it’s alliance with the Patriotic Front, Dr. Mumba noted that those appointed by the President to serve in Parliament would continue to serve because his NEC had no power to remove them. He, however, said he was not privy to any documentation that supports the alliance between MMD and the PF. He said as his team settles down in office they may be briefed on such and make a decision on it.

On Tuesday, the High Court finally passed a landmark judgment on a three years court case on the MMD leadership confirming that the former vice president Nevers Sekwila Mumba was the President of the party and nullified Felix Mutati’s MMD led faction.

MMD President Nevers Mumba at the burial sites of late President Chiluba and Mwanawasa.
MMD President Nevers Mumba at the burial sites of late President Chiluba and Mwanawasa.

Meanwhile, Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) President Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba yesterday morning laid wreaths at the burial sites of late President Chiluba and Mwanawasa.

Dr. Mumba who led members of his Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) arrived at the Presidential Embassy Park at 9 hours.

He then proceeded to lay wreaths at the tomb of First MMD President Dr. Frederick Chiluba and then laid at the tomb of Second MMD President Dr. Levy Mwanawasa.

In an interview afterward, Dr. Mumba said that he had decided to visit the late MMD Leaders to pay our respects and signal a fresh start for the New Hope MMD.

“The MMD Leadership decided that before we hit the road running to regain our rightful place in the Political space, we first had to come and pay our respects to the Founder leaders of our Party. The past 4 years have been very difficult for MMD but Tuesday the storm finally calmed”, Dr. Mumba said.

South Africa U23 Battle Player Shortfall for Zambia Showdown

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Zamba’s 2019 U23 AFCON Group B opponents, South Africa, are battling to make 18 players for the two sides’ Saturdays opening meeting in Cairo.

The club-versus – country story has not only hit Zambia who will only have 18 players for that Group B opener that will be played before the November FIFA match window opens on November 11.

South Africa landed in Cairo on Tuesday with just twelve out of the 21 call-ups ahead of the Africa zone 2020 Olympic qualifying tournament Egypt is hosting from November 8-22.

By press-time, that number had swelled to 14 although PSL clubs, notably Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates , refusing to release any of their players until after Saturday’s Soweto derby that will see the former host the latter.

They are also match-day-one doubts on the availability of two European-based stars namely striker’s Luther Singh of Moreirense in Portugal and Lyle Foster of Belgium club Cercle Brugge.

Zambia will be without Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka of Austrian champions RB Salzburg and Fashion Sakala of Belgium club KV Oostende who will only join camp after November 11 ahead of the clash against U23 AFCON defending champions Nigeria on match-day-two on November 12.

Zambia launch polio vaccination exercise in Chiengi district

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Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya has launched a polio vaccination exercise in Chiengi district with a target of reaching out to over 8,000 children who are five years and below.

Dr. Chilufya kicked off the exercise in Pilias village on the banks of Lake Mweru where a polio case was recorded recently.

The minister said 954,000 dosses have been received for the exercise targeting four districts in the province in the first phase.

Dr. Chilufya thanked the World Health Organisation -WHO- and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund -UNICEF- for their quick intervention and support to government.

He said President Edgar Lungu wants all children vaccinated and has appealed to traditional leadership, schools and the church to help in the sensitization of parents.

The minister said Zambia last recorded Polio in 1995 and the disease was curbed through effective measures by government.

And WHO country representative Nathan Bakyaita said the UN agency wants to ensure that the polio outbreak is curbed within the shortest time possible.

And Chief Puta of the Bwile people thanked government for the quick response to the polio outbreak and promised to help with sensitization.

Chief Puta through his representative sub chief Twaileta advised parents in the chiefdom not to stop their children from being vaccinated.

President Lungu directs Home Affairs Minister and Police IG to stop Tribal Conflicts in Western Province

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President Edgar Lungu pose for the group Picture with Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.

President Edgar Lungu President has said that he is concerned that Mbunda and Nkoya chiefs are living in fear after attempts on their lives by known individuals in Western Province.

The President has since directed the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kakoma Kanganja, through Home Affairs Minister, Honourable Stephen Kampyongo to ensure the lives of the chiefs are safe.

The President made the directive today when Chief Mutondo, Chief Chiyengele and Chief Kahare paid a courtesy on him at State House.

Meanwhile, President Lungu is impressed that Chief Bundabunda of Rufunsa in Lusaka Province has invited the State and investors in his area to build a modern city.

Speaking when Chief Bundabunda paid a courtesy call on him, President Lungu said some areas in Zambia remain underdeveloped because chiefs refused to allow investment into their chiefdoms.

And during the meeting with the three chiefs from Western Province, the President was dismayed that there have been attempts on the lives of Chief Chiyengele and Chief Kahare and yet the suspects had not been arraigned.

The President directed Hon. Kampyongo, who was called to the meeting, to alert the Inspector General of Police so that he positions police in the trouble spots in the province.

The President also directed his Special Assistant for Legal Affairs, Mr Sukwana Lukangaba to follow up on the case.

The three chiefs narrated how they and their families survived attacks and how they have been living in fear since.

Earlier, President Lungu met Chief Bundabunda and called him an ally of Government because of his vision for development.

Chief Bundabunda informed the President that he wanted to transform Rufunsa into a city and thanked the President for the massive road development taking place in Chongwe.

President Lungu promised to support Chief Bundabunda to realise his dream.

African Continental Free Trade Area agreementnot a threat on revenue collection

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the agreement to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area

The World Customs Organisation of East and Southern Africa has dispelled fears that the coming into effect of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA) is likely to affect revenue collection among countries in the African region.

Director of the World Customs Organisation East and Southern Africa capacity building Larry Liza says before the agreement takes effect, countries in the region will need to put in place implementation measures and legal frameworks aimed at protecting revenue collection.

Mr. Liza told journalists in Lusaka yesterday, that there is need for countries in the region to look at a broader picture on what benefits are expected to be accrued from the agreement.

He explained that the market may seem to affect revenue collection, but the agreement is expected to be more beneficial to society through increased trade facilitation and business opportunities.

He noted that this is because the agreement will allow the business community, to have easy access to foreign markets while improving their businesses.

Mr. Liza added that there is no need for stakeholders in the African region to be agitated with the implementation of AfCFTA, adding that all countries will continue their revenue collection depending on their legal framework.

Meanwhile, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner Customs Services Sydney Chibbabbuka disclosed that Zambia is still awaiting parliament and stakeholder approval before coming up with an implementation plan.

Mr. Chibbabbuka noted that it is premature for Zambia to know whether the country’s revenue collection base will be affected by the implementation of the AfCFTA or not.

He was, however, quick to mention that despite the predicated loss in revenue collection due to the implementation of AfCFTA, Zambia is still expected to gain more from other sources of revenue like Pay As You Earn through increased employment creation.

He added that the country is also likely to benefit through improved industrial activities as well as increased exports, among others.

The AfCFTA has secured the required number of ratifications which is 22 and Zambia is expected to deposit its instrument of ratification.

Kings Kangwa Says Zambia U23 Will Adjust in Mwepu & Co’s Absence

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Midfielder Kings Kangwa insists they will hold their own in their opening 2019 U23 AFCON Group B match against South Africa despite missing three key players for that November 9 fixture in Cairo.

Fashion Sakala, Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka are ruled out for the Group B opener due to club commitments but are expected to be available for Zambia U23’s subsequent matches against Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire on November 12 and 15 respectively.

“Yes we will be without three players Fashion, Patson and Enock but that is not a problem,”Kangwa said.

“We still have a strong team, we still have good players and we will go for a win.

“The first game is very important, and if we win the first game, it will give us confidence and we can go all the way.”

Meanwhile, Kangwa and his club mate at Russian club Arsenal Tula, striker Lameck Banda, have arrived in Egypt to bringing the European-based legion in camp to four after Edward Chilufya of Djurgardens in Sweden and Belgium-based Emmanuel Banda who joined camp on Monday.

ZESCO apologises to Olympia Park residential area for prolonged power outage

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ZESCO Muzuma substation being upgraded to KV 330 (from KV 220) in order to be connected to the national grid as soon as the Maamba coal plant station is commissioned
ZESCO Muzuma substation being upgraded to KV 330 (from KV 220) in order to be connected to the national grid as soon as the Maamba coal plant station is commissioned

Power Utility firm Zesco has apologized to its customers in Olympia Park residential area in Lusaka for the prolonged outage experienced since yesterday 5th November 2019.

Company Public Relations Manager Hazel Mwale said this is due to a punctured cable located at the junction of Kwacha Road and Great East Road.

Mrs Zulu said the fault occurred during load shedding which took place from 05:00hours to 22:00 hours yesterday.

She said this has consequently led to a prolonged outage in the area.

“We are however pleased to inform you that our team of engineers have moved in immediately and works have commenced. We are hopeful that power supply should be restored by end of day today”, she said.

Mrs Zulu said Zesco Limited deeply regrets the inconvenience this situation has caused to customers.

She has however urged the customers to treat all supply lines as live as supply maybe restored before the stated time.

Davies Mwila orders MPS to stop debate on PF’s 2020 Convention

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The Patriotic Front Secretary General Hon. Davies Mwila
The Patriotic Front Secretary General Hon. Davies Mwila says he will not allow any political party carder to collect money in markets and bus stations.

PF Secretary General Davies Mwila has directed Members of Parliament to stop the convention Debate as it is unnecessary and uncalled for.

Mr Mwila has clarified that the only body competent of calling for the Convention in line with the Party Constitution is the Central Committee.

He has further stated that the Party made a resolution to enforce the Markets and Bus Stations Act of 2007.

Mr Mwila further warned that no political Party cadre belonging to any political party, whether ruling or Opposition, should engage themselves in collecting of monies in bus stations and markets as that was the preserve of the local authorities.

A caucus of Members of Parliament from the ruling Patriotic Front on the Copperbelt last week requested the party through the office of the Secretary-General not to go for a convention in 2020.

The Parliamentarians said going for a National Convention to choose the Party’s Presidential candidate ahead of the 2021 General Elections will not be necessary because there is already a consensus on President Edgar Lungu.

There will be no Mining in the Lower Zambezi, Kalaba’s rejection of ZEMA report was not a Cabinet Decision

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Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Hon Richard Musukwa
Hon Musukwa has warned that all those with mining licenses are not into operation risk their licenses canceled.

Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela says mining cannot take place in the Lower Zambezi National Park because there is no report allowing such a process in the park.

Mr. Chitotela said Zambezi Resources of Australia has to date not made any application for the Kangaluwi copper mining project to take in the National park.

The Tourism Minister said there is no report by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency on mining in the National Park as the report granted by ZEMA allowing the company to operate for only three years expired in 2017.

Mr. Chitotela said there is, therefore, no need to protest by Zambians over the matter as there is currently no mining taking place in the area and does not see it happening.

He told a media briefing that the ZEMA report issued in 2014 allowed the company to operate only for three years after the appeal by the then Lands and Natural Resources Minister Harry Kalaba no longer exists.

Mr. Chitotela has challenged the company to go back to the people and submit a new report which will determine the way forward but doubted the possibility of having the permit granted by his Ministry to allow mining in the Lower Zambezi National park.

Speaking at the same media briefing, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Richard Musukwa confirmed that Mr. Kalaba overturned the decision of the ZEMA Board rejecting the application by the mining company to commence mining in the Lower Zambezi National park.

Mr. Musukwa clarified that the decision to overturn the Zambia Institute of Environmental Management (ZIEM) report of 2011 rejecting the opening of the proposed mining project in the Lower Zambezi was not done by cabinet as claimed by Mr. Kalaba but was anchored within his Authority as a Minister.

He said that this, however, was not wrong as it was within his mandate. Mr. Musukwa said Mr. Kalaba acted within the confines of the law as Minister, to reject the ZIEM report.

He stated that the then Minister used his ministerial authority adding that nothing was illegal with the decision reached by Mr Kalaba to overturn the ZIEM report.

Mr. Musukwa also said that the tourism factor in the Lower Zambezi National park outplays the mining aspect as the low-grade copper can only be mined for a period ranging from 5 to 7 years.

Meanwhile, Mr. Musukwa said contrary to reports in the media, the license issued to the company was not for mining but exploration and was issued in 2002 and not in 2014.

He, however, said that the government has a final position on the matter which will be communicated in a joint statement to be issued by the Ministries of Tourism and Mines in Parliament tomorrow.

Stardy construction apologies to President Lungu for 6-year delay in completing Kabushi Clinic Annex

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Maternity Annex at Kabushi Clinic in Ndola.

Stardy construction, a company owned by Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale has swiftly moved back on site to finish the construction of a Maternity Annex at Kabushi Clinic in Ndola.

This was after area Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo threatened to arrest and to terminate the contract awarded.

On Saturday, Acting Ndola District Health Director Dr Christopher Dube revealed to Journalists that the construction of the Maternity Annex at Kabushi Clinic which was supposed to take 18 months had dragged for over six years.

This prompted Mr Lusambo who toured the project to call for the arrest of the contractor and termination of the contract.

But Mwale on Sunday afternoon mobilized some youths from the area and engaged them to do some quick fixes to the building.

On Monday whilst on site, Mr Mwale took photos of the inside of the freshly painted building and declared that the Annex building was ready for hand over to the Ministry of Health.

Mr Mwale said in a phone in Interview on Hot FM Breakfast show this morning that the construction of the maternity annex has been completed awaiting commissioning by the Ministry of Health.He said Mr Mwale said following the weekend site visit, the project was at 95 percent complete.

Kabushi Clinic in Ndola

He explained that what was remaining was only the connection of water, stating that the building is ready for handover to the Ministry of Health.

“We couldn’t install the Borehole Pump because of fear of vandalism. We have the pump at the Clinic inside, we will only install the tank when we are about to hand over.”

Mr Mwale refuted claims that he was paid the entire K1.6 million for the project saying he is still awaiting the payment to be completed.

He has explained that contrary to assertions by Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo, he received the initial 25% payment after which another payment was made and yet to receive the last payment.

Mr Mwale who is also Defence Permanent Secretary has since apologized to President Lungu, the First Family and Kabushi residents for the delays.

“I wish to say I am sorry to President Lungu for putting his name into disrepute. I apologize to the First Lady and the First Family for the embarrassment that this issue has brought. I also apologise to the people of Kabushi for delaying the project,” Mr Mwale said.

Asked on why the project suffered a six-year delay, Mr Mwale said he could not disclose the “technicalities” of the project that contributed to the delays.

“That I can’t tell you. The only thing I can tell you is that there were some technicalities that affected the project,” he said.

“Yes I was awarded the contract in 2013. The awarding of the contract followed tender procedures. Even if I was a Provincial Chairman for the PF, I was an ordinary citizen and I didn’t use any influence in getting the tender. Infact I was the lowest bidder and I got it.”

Further asked to comment on threats by Mr Lusambo that the contractor be arrested, Mr Mwale said he cannot say about the threats because Mr Lusambo is his big brother.

“Hon. Lusambo is my Boss; he is my Minister so I cannot say anything about what he said.”
“How do you arrest the contractor for having completed the project? Law enforcement agencies are free to come and arrest me if I have failed to implement,” Mr Mwale said.

Defence P.S Stardy Mwale in US$2 million farm purchase scandal

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Defense Permanent Secretary Stard Mwale
Defense Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale

Information has emerged of how Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale made a US$2 million one off payment to purchase a farm from a white farmer in Mazabuka’s Chikankata area.

But Mr Mwale says he managed to buy the farm using his personal resources because he is a rich man.

Highly placed sources at Ministry of Defence Headquarters have exclusively revealed that Mr Mwale early this year paid US$2 million cash to Mike Arnold, a White Australian farmer to buy part of his vast Simoonga Farm, about 10 KMs from the Mazabuka road to Chikankata mission.

The sources further revealed that the other half of the farm was purchased by millionaire businessman and owner of Inyatsi Construction Ltd Michelo Shakantu.

The sources also revealed that Mr Arnold was astounded that Mr Mwale who bought the bigger portion of the farm paid cash up front.

“The White Farmer has even relocated back to Australia. Before leaving, he kept telling people in and around Chikankata that the transaction was a jackpot for him and he couldn’t believe that a Zambian paid him that much money for a piece of land,” the sources revealed.

“When selling, the farm was split into two. So Shakantu purchased the farm house and other pieces of farm equipment while Mr Mwale got the bigger chunk of the farm land comprising Maize and Cotton fields, as we speak, Mr Mwale and Shakantu are now neighbors.”

And a senior Lusaka lawyer whose law firm provided transaction services over the deal whose identify has been withheld confirmed that Mr Mwale paid cash for the transaction.

“I was also shocked that my client went ahead to settle the purchase amount all in cash. US$ 2million dollars is not a small amount,” the lawyer said.

Meanwhile, the sources have also revealed how Mr Mwale has orchestrated unceremonious transfers of key officials from Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Lusaka to mostly remote areas.

“The last few months, the P.S has been singing off letters sending key staff from procurement and finance to rural areas. It appears he now wants to destroy all the evidence of massive corruption that has taken place since he became P.S,” the source said.

The sources said most officers at Defence Headquarters are living in fear as Mr Mwale is harassing and threatening those that appear to disregard some of his directives.

“For now, all procurements and all payments of suppliers has to be sanctioned by him. No body gets paid unless Stardy knows the supplier. If you appear to be challenging the status quo, he will write you a letter of transfer.”

The sources have since appealed to President Edgar Lungu to take an interest in the happenings the Ministry of Defence.

“There is no way a civil servant, a controlling officer can be moving around with US$ 2 million dollars purchasing farms. This goes to show that he has more money stacked somewhere. But the question is, where did he get all that type of money?”

The source added, “ most local people in Chikankata know that a prominent figure in government bought part of the farm but what they do not know is the details of transaction and who this prominent figure is.”

“You know there is road construction taking place on the Kafue-Mazabuka road but what is interesting is why the project did not involve the entire road from Kafue Turn Park to Monze where it connects to a better Livingstone road. However, the short stretch being done leads to Simoonga Farm which is now owned by Mr Mwale and Mr Shakantu.

The sources have since challenged Mr Mwale to deny the allegations saying they have all the evidence to prove the allegation.

“We challenge him to deny this. We are not doing this with malicious intent. We just want Zambians to know that there are some government officials who are moving around with that kind of money.”

“As we speak, Mr Mwale has started stocking his newly acquired farm with animals. He recently bought lots of cattle from Namwala.

When reached for a comment, Mr Mwale confirmed that he bought the farm from Mr Arnold but disputed the purchase amount.

“Yes I can confirm that I bought Simoonga Farms but not at US$2 million dollars. Nobody can pay all that money for such a dead farm. I can take you there and you see for yourself, it’s a dead farm,” Mr Mwale said on phone.

Pressed further on the purchase price, Mr Mwale said he could reveal the actual price but that it could be “around K600,000 or maybe K1 million or just under K1 million.”

He claimed that he was a very rich man who can buy any farm anywhere.

“If you know me very well, you will know that I am very rich. Infact I used to make more money before I joined government. I bought a brand new Mercedez Benz E-Class from Southern Cross, you can go there and check for yourself,” Mr Mwale claimed.

“When I was in Masaiti, I was one of the biggest farmers there. I had more than 1,000 cattle at my farm. I run Riso Zambia, one of the biggest office equipment suppliers in Zambia. I supply the Ministry of Education, Health and I also deal with the National Assembly. I am a very successful businessman and used to make a lot more money when I was outside government.”

Mr Mwale also charged that the scandals involving his businesses are the work of his enemies.

“These people are just malicious. They started with the Clinic, we are now sorting the issue of the clinic and they bring in Simoonga. It looks like these people just want to finish me off,” Mr Mwale protested.