Amos Chanda advises PF youths to use Social Media for party mobilisation, and not smear campaign
Former Presidential Spokesperson Amos Chanda has advised the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) youths to help mobilize the party by taking a leading role but ensuring a form of discipline is maintained that he said was lacking in the rank and file of the party generally.
Mr Chanda said that urged the youth to use social media for party mobilization, saying that social media platform offers opportunities for political mobilization, political education.
Mr Chanda however, decried the use of social media by the youths to smear the people they did not agree with.
“As party activists, you seem misguided to think that this platform is expressly for protest and smear against those we don’t agree with,” he said.
“No! It can’t be like this, the “voice note revolution” and text postings have become a norm, causing incredible internal bleeding within the party. How can this be leadership and mobilization?”
Mr Chanda said that youths can vent out frustrations internally but not in a manner that helps the opposition.
“The purpose of any party political formation is to acquire the power to preside over the affairs of state in line with our ideological propositions. The locus of this power lies in the state; if we have this power how can we tear one another in a manner that threatens this very power? This is somewhat reverse logic, which an intellectual outfit like yours cannot fall into,” he advised.
“If you are not getting explanations from Ministers, you have every right to complain to the Secretary General who is basically the main whip between party and Govt policy.”
He said such frustrations cannot be spewed online as the practice has been in recent months.
Mr. Chanda said insider voices carry greater credibility even when not true.
“I have seen with great surprise open rebukes against the President, SG, Ministers and other top leaders from within the rank and file of the party via social media; and oftentimes feeding into the menace of fake news which is damaging individuals and institutions,” said Mr. Chanda.
Arrows, Napsa Clash in Derby Showdown
Red Arrows and Napsa Stars 100 percent start’s to the 2019/20 season are on the line today when they meet in a Lusaka derby at Woodlands Stadium.
Napsa and Arrows are tied on 9 points from three games played and sit second and third respectively behind Zesco United who were in continental action at home in Ndola on Saturday against Young Africans of Tanzania in the CAF Champions League and only return to domestic action later this week.
The top three trio is also the sole group still enjoying 100 percent starts this season and victory at Woodlands on Sunday afternoon guarantees top spot in Zesco’s absence.
“We are playing home and we will put maximum effort to get a positive result,” Napsa coach Mohammed Fathy said.
The match favours Arrows thanks to their potent fire-power led by veteran striker James Chamanga who scored in last weekend’s 2-1 home win over Power Dynamos and who has now netted two goals in the 2004 champions last two matches.
Captain and attacking midfielder Bruce Musakanya is back after missing the Power game due to 2020 CHAN qualifying duty with Chipolopolo away in eSwatini.
Musakanya and Chamanga will be an interesting test to Napsa’s backline that has yet to concede a goal this season.
Meanwhile, the onus is on Napsa to win this game because it does not get any easier for them with a Week Five away date against Zesco looming on October 5.
Miles Sampa calls for involvement of children in Make Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy Campaign
Lusaka Mayor, Miles Sampa, has called for the involvement of children in the Make Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy Campaign monthly cleaning activities.
Mr Sampa said children are the ones who mostly affected by waterborne diseases such as Cholera.
He was speaking during the monthly cleaning activities in Chazanga today.
“Children must be involved in the cleaning activities so that they are also aware of the importance of keeping the environment clean because they are the most hit when Cholera breaks out,” he said.
The city father said adults in most cases leave children at home and where they start involving themselves in an unhygienic practices such as drinking unsafe water.
Mr Sampa also observed that involving children in issues of hygiene is the only sure way of sustaining the cleanliness of the city because they are the future leaders.
“We have to target children because if we teach them now they also teach others in future,” he observed.
Meanwhile, Mpulungu Ward 23 Councillor, Christopher Shakafuswa, has taken a swipe at school authorities in his ward for not taking part in monthly cleaning activities.
Mr Shakafuswa, who is also Lusaka Deputy Mayor said he communicated to all Headteachers in his ward through the Zonal Headteacher for schools to be participating in monthly cleaning activities but to no avail.
He sounded the last warning to school authorities that if nothing changes, he will be forced to report Headteachers to the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) for disciplinary action.
“This is the last warning I’m giving to Headteachers and if nothing happens then I will have no choice but to report them to DEBS office because this is a government programme,” he warned.
Mr Shakafuswa also reminded Community Based Enterprises (CBEs) to up their game in waste collection.
He disclosed that he had received reports from residents that CBEs in the area are not doing enough to collect waste.
“Reports indicate that you are not doing enough to collect waste, you disappear and only reappear when its time to collect money,” he said.
Mr Shakafuswa explained that CBEs in the ward were engaged because they demonstrated capacity prior to their engagement.
He warned that their contracts would be terminated and the service be advertised to the general public if they do not improve.
“If you don’t improve Council through the Director of Public Health will terminate contracts and readvertise the service to the general public,” he warned.
Yesterday’s cleaning activities also involved door – to – door sensitisation on solid waste management.
Today’s Message: A Lifetime of Favor
Today’s Scripture
“Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime…”
(Psalm 30:4-5, NIV)
A Lifetime of Favor
Let this truth sink down into your spirit today: God’s favor is not for a season; it’s for a lifetime. How do we obtain God’s favor? Proverbs 3 tells us that when we honor His Word, when we obey His commands and walk in mercy and truth, that’s how we find favor in God’s sight. When we do our part, God will do His part. Today, if you are believing God for something, maybe a turnaround in a relationship, career or your health, stand firm that God’s Word is true. When you put Him first place in your life, when you follow His commands, He promises to pour out His favor on you. When those thoughts try to tell you, “It’s not going to happen. It’s too good to be true,” turn it around and say, “Father, I want to thank You for Your favor on my life, on my children, on my career, on my future. I am Your child, and I know it’s not temporary. It’s not seasonal. It doesn’t come and go. Thank You, God, for a lifetime of favor!”
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I choose to honor You in all I do. I choose to acknowledge Your ways. Thank You for pouring at Your favor and blessing on me as I boldly follow Your commands in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
I do NOT Support Same Sex Relationships, I have Never done it and will NOT do it-HH
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said that he is astounded that instead of President Edgar Lungu discussing matters that affect Zambians economically at the UN General Assembly, he was busy talking about issues that are concocted by his stooges.
reacting to allegations about support for Homosexuals, Mr Hichilema accused ‘christians’ for Lungu and PF media director Sunday Chanda of having concocted the homosexual issue as part of their propaganda against him.
Hichilema said for President Lungu, who was at the UN General Assembly, “to echo the concoction here, it’s a dry joke. That’s being too cheap.”
He said it was crooks who were driving all those crazy things and urged Zambians not to fall prey to such.
“I do not support same sex relationships. I have never done it and will not do it. I do not agree with same sex relationships,” Hichilema said. “This is a falsehood. It’s ‘Christians’ for Lungu working with Chanda that created the story.”
Hichilema said the falsehood should be ignored as the nation had so many important matters to attend to.
“We want to address the falsehoods that are going on with regard to the issue of same-sex marriage or relationships. PF is at it again, telling lies, complete lies with no grain of truth that I ever, anywhere in the world, in this country, this region, on our continent or elsewhere had a meeting where we discussed same sex marriages. Nowhere, never. Not even a question would have arisen in my many meetings here or abroad that this matter has arisen in the manner the PF expect it,” Hichilema said.
“I am aware that a lot of people have spoken about it, many of our members have talked about it in many ways but I made a decision this morning that I will address this matter. What my colleagues in the party, outside the party, around the globe…network of friends, business colleagues around the world none of HH involvement whatsoever in what PF have said. So take it as one of those useless things that PF have been up to. Instead of giving citizens who are hungry food, they are feeding them with falsehood of this nature.”
Hichilema recalled that lies were concocted against president Michael Sata.
“The PF generated this story themselves but attributed it to respected international media organisation, in particular AFP and AP. We took liberty through our network to contact these two organisations to ask them if they have authored any story like that. I want to thank AFP and AP; they were quick in responding and confirming that they have not authored any story like that. They have not carried it on their print media, on their electronic media or anywhere, it does not exist., ” he said.
Hichilema said it had now become fashionable to talk about him and warned against fake Facebook accounts attributed to him. He clarified that he only had one Facebook account and anything else was fake.
“ For the record, I have one Facebook account, it has a blue tick, a blue mark, that’s the authentic one, anything else I do not know.”
Hichilema said he had reported the matter to police on several occasions but they were not acting.
He said he would not blame the police because protecting him and other citizens was not in the interest of PF.
“Yet they are supposed to protect all citizens when a crime is committed. This is actually a crime to create this kind of falsehood, putting fear in the minds of people with this falsehood. I want to categorically state my position; I do not support same sex marriage, I do not support same sex relationships, I have never done that, and I will never do that. It’s part of my personal value system in my genetic material, in my psyche, my philosophical way of thinking. I do not agree with same sex relationships. I do not agree that God was wrong to create Man and Woman, Male and Female,” Hichilema said.
“I am not one of those who are shy to say it because anyone who wants to be a friend of HH must know what HH stands for on certain issues. This is one of the issues that I am not in support of this. I do not want to ridicule anybody but people are entitled to their opinion over matters.”
He added that what was being purported against him was cheap propaganda invented by people who were diseased.
Zesco reach Champions League group stage, Zanaco advance
Zesco United and Zanaco on Saturday won their respective continental final leg matches on Saturday to advance.
At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zesco beat Young Africans of Tanzania 2-1 to qualify to the CAF Champions League group stage.
Jesse Were put Zesco ahead in the 24th minute but Young Africans equalized in the 30th minute through Sadney Urikhob to go 1-1 into half time of a tightly contested match.
Zesco won by some fortune in the 78th minute when Abdul Aziz Hassan turned the ball into his own net after failing to clear Quadri Kola ‘s cross.
Young Africans suffered another setback when Lamine Moro was sent off in the 88th minute after receiving his second yellow card.
Zesco advance to the group stage 3-2 on aggregate.
Zesco’ s qualification is also historical after becoming the first Zambian club to make five succcessive group stage appearances in continental football and the only one to play in four group rounds of the CAF Champions League.
And at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, Zanaco completed a double over Bolton City YC of Mauritius following a 3-0 home win to advance to the pre-group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Goals by Emmanuel Okutu in the 25th minute, Guily Manziba in the 56th and Damiano Kola in the 84th minute sealed a 5-1 aggregate win over the continental debutants from Mauritius.
Zanaco now await losers from this month’s CAF Champions League pregroup in the last 32 for a place in the league stage of the second tier competition.
Meanwhile, Green Eagles are in action on Sunday away in Angola against Premiero de Agosto of Luanda.
Eagles must overturn a 2-1 first leg loss at home to join Zesco in the CAF Champions League group stage.
It was inevitable to withdraw the sales tax Bill 2019-Finance Minister
Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu has said that it was inevitable to withdraw the sales tax Bill 2019 as various Stakeholders were opposed to it.
Dr. Ng’andu is however confident that the country will raise tangible revenues from the current value-added tax-VAT regime once the challenges associated with it are addressed.
Dr. Ng’andu also reiterated that the increase in budgetary allocation towards dismantling debts will improve the circulation of money thereby inducing the country’s economic development, adding that there is need to clean the payroll system to avoid possible expenditure on ghost workers.
The minister was speaking last evening during the post 2020 budget dinner.
At the same function Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) past president Isaac Ngoma described the 2020 national budget as inspiring.
And Consumer Unity and Trust Society Coordinator Chenai Mukumba praised government for heeding calls to withdraw the sale tax Bill.
Yesterday, Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu announced that Zambia will not replace its Value Added Tax (VAT) with a non-refundable General Sales Tax.
Dr. Ng’andu said this when he presented a 106 billion kwacha budget, translating into 32.4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
He said government would limit Zambia’s fiscal deficit to 5.5% of GDP in 2020 from 6.5% this year.
Dr Ngandu explained that Government has decided to maintain the Value Added Tax, but that there is need to address the compliance and administrative challenges.
Dr Ngandu however said government would limit VAT claims on electricity by mining companies to 80% from 100%.
As a strategy to stimulate economic activity in the country, Dr. Ng’andu has increased allocation towards dismantling of domestic arrears to K2.3 billion in 2020 from K437 million in 2019.
He said that government will reduce borrowing from the domestic market to 1 .1 percent from 1.4 percent of the GDP.
Dr. Ng’andu has also projected to reduce the fiscal deficit to 5.5 percent from 6.5 percent of the GDP demonstrating government’s commitment to restore fiscal health and stabilize the economy.
He said government would also remove a tax on capital equipment and machinery for mines, and reduce the capital allowance claimed by mining companies for capital expenditure to 20% from 25%.
“To ensure debt is maintained within sustainable levels, the government would slow down debt accumulation, postpone or cancel some undisbursed loans and cease issuance of government guarantees,” Dr Ng’andu said.
He said government is targeting gross domestic product growth of at least 3% next year from an estimated 2% this year, after a drought affected crop production and electricity generation at hydropower plants.
And Dr. Ng’andu proposed to spend K44.1billion on General Public Services with K33.7 billion and K2.3billion going towards debt obligations and dismantling of arrears respectively.
He has maintained the budgetary allocation to education sector at K13.3billion.
Dr. Ng’andu also increased the budgetary allocation for the health sector from K8.1 billion in 2019 to K9.4billion in 2020.
He also proposed to increase the allocation towards the social cash transfer project to K1billion next year from K699.5 million in 2019.
Zambia is in dire need of patriotic citizens who will uphold peace, love and unity-Lungu
President Edgar Lungu has urged the defence and special forces in the country to embrace patriotism, unity and love.
President Lungu says the country is in dire need of patriotic citizens who will uphold peace, love and unity.
He says government is keen on seeing a well trained and equipped defense force that will uphold professionalism, discipline and loyalty.
President Lungu says this can only be attainable if officers possess a well-balanced body of knowledge in matters of defense and security.
The head of state said this during the closing ceremony for the 2019 advanced special forces training in Mbala.
President Lungu noted that government is determined to equip the defense force with skills that will enable them to contribute effectively and efficiently to their operations.
And President Lungu has promoted the group commander Augustine Chirwa from the rank of colonel to a brigadier general.
He also assured the defense force that Government is committed to ensuring that all necessary resources are provided for their welfare and general operations.
And Zambia Army Commander William Sikazwe has pledged the army’s support and loyalty to the presidency and upholding the constitution in protecting the country.
Lt. General Sikazwe also assured President Lungu and his government that the defense force will remain professional in the execution of duties.
He also noted that the advanced Special Forces training brought together all Special Forces in one place to synchronize and harmonize capacities.
Meanwhile Special Forces Group Commander Augustine Chirwa said his team is always ready to undertake any task presented before it without fear.
Brigadier General Chirwa assured the President that the Special Forces will continue to be brave in their execution of duty to protect the country.
President Lungu also presented awards to five best performing divers.
Earlier, President Lungu was accorded a presidential salute and carried out an inspection of the parade.
A quarter guard was also mounted for President Lungu upon arrival at ZAF Samora Machel airbase.
Chinese firm donates K 1 million to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit
China Jiangxi Corporation has donated K1 million to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) towards humanitarian support.
This came to light during the symbolic handover of the cheque to the Republican Vice President Mrs Inonge Wina, at her Office today.
The donation is meant to cushion the food insecurity resulting from low yields due to the prolonged dry spell experienced in some parts if the country.
In receiving the donation,Mrs Wina said the gesture of generosity and selflessness portrayed by China Jiangxi bears testimony of the excellent relations and cooperation between the two countries.
She assured the company that the donated funds will be prudently used for the benefit of the needy in the communities.
Mrs Wina further directed the DMMU National Coordinator Mr Chanda Chanda Kabwe to comply and submit a report on the usage of the funds in order to demonstrate transparency and accountability to the people of Zambia, in whose name the donation has come.
And China Jiangxi Cooperation President, Mr Xu Guojian said the company was deeply concerned with the plight of the local people hence expressed their corporate social responsibility by making the donation.
He disclosed that the donation will reach a target of approximately 7,000 people for three months. He further urged other Chinese companies to emulate them and supplement government effort in mitigating the situation.
DMMU conducted a Vulnerability and Needs Assessment which revealed that a total of 390,000 households will require relief assistance during the lean period between October 2019 and March 2020. DMMU has since distrUnited 45,400 metric tonnes of relief to affected districts.
Shepolopolo Make Big Strides on FIFA Rankings
Shepolopolo has made huge strides on the quarterly FIFA Women’s Charts released yesterday.
Bruce Mwape’s side was not only the biggest mover from the CAF zone but the entire FIFA Women’s charts after jumping nine places on the latest rankings released on September 27.
Shepolopolo leapt nine places from 119 to 110.
This follows their successes in the third quarter of 2019 that saw them finish runners-up at the 2019 COSAFA Cup in August and eliminate Zimbabwe from the 2020 Olympic qualifiers in the same period.
With that Olympic result, also saw Zimbabwe tumble nine places from 102 to 111.
Shepolopolo , though, are 12th in Africa where Nigeria are the continents highest ranked side at number 36, while Cameroon (46), Ghana(50), South Africa (55), Cote d’Ivoire (69), Equatorial Guinea (72), Morocco (82) ,Mali (83) ,Algeria (85), Senegal (87) and Congo -Brazzaville (105) complete the top eleven.
World Champions USA are number one, followed by Germany, Netherlands, and France while Sweden and England are tied at fifth.
Canada, Australia, North Korea and Japan round-up the top ten Women’s footballing nations while Brazil are outside at number 11.
And the move is a also massive boost for Shepolopolo and somewhat a consolation after the disappointment of their botched trip to the Morocco 2019 All- Africa Games football tournament in August following a logistical muddle.
However, Shepolopolo are still fourteen places off their highest benchmark set on the charts at number 96 in 2017 and 2009.
The year’s final ranking will be released in the final quarter on December 13.
Meanwhile, Shepolopolo are back in competitive action this coming week when they hosts Botswana on October 2 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka and away on October 6 in Gaborone in an Olympic Games third round qualifier.
They are two more stages to go to decide Africa’s one –and-half representatives in Tokyo next summer.
Set up shop in Zambia to manufacture electric components for your cars , Mukwita invites BMW
Zambia’s Ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita has invited Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Works in English, BMW, the German car manufacturer, to set up a plant in Zambia to manufacture electric components for their cars. Ambassador Mukwita said Zambia has abundant copper and cobalt resources that are key in the manufacture of electric car components.
According to a statement released to the media by Kellys Kaunda, the First Secretary – Press and Public Relations of the Zambian Embassy in Berlin, Mr. Mukwita made the remarks at the BMW Headquarters in Munich where the Zambian flag was flying next to that of Germany, the company and the State of Bavaria to mark the official visit of the Zambian envoy. He spoke during a working lunch with the company’s top officials who included Christian Bahoo who is in charge of Government and External Affairs for the Middle East and North Africa, Kai Zobelein in charge of Steering Governmental and External Affairs and Sustainability Communications and Brigitte Kleinbeck in charge of Raw Material Management, Energy, Fasterners, Plastics, Chemical Products and Process Materials.
“We would like you to come and set up shop in Zambia and manufacture those components whose role materials such as copper and cobalt are in abundance in Zambia” said the Zambian envoy. Ambassador Mukwita told BMW that Zambia offered the required investment climate that included a stable political climate as evidenced by the peace that has characterized the nation since her independence from Britain in 1964.
“In addition, Zambia is a country of laws that protect your investment”, Mr. Mukwita said adding, “and we are a nation of 365 days of sunshine”.
In his remarks, Mr. Zobelein said BMW was open to the possibility of doing business with countries in possession of materials the company needs. “But we are also concerned about the need for the respect of human rights especially as they pertain to child labor”, Mr. Zobelein pointed out adding, “our customers would like to make sure that our product does not carry materials from sources that are engaged in child labor”.
Mr. Zobelein and Mrs. Kleinbeck just returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo where they visited some mining operations. In response, Ambassador Mukwita assured the BMW officials that Zambian mining operations had an excellent record of human rights and no children are engaged in mining activities.
Mr. Bahoo told Ambassador Mukwita that BMW was also equally interested in the progress and processes regarding the recently launched African Free Trade Area under the auspices of the African Union, AU. For BMW, Mr. Bahoo said the Free Trade Area presented some business opportunities that could encourage further investment on the African Continent. Currently, BMW only has two plants in Africa – South Africa and Egypt out of 35 the company operates around the world.
The Zambian envoy indicated that significant progress has been made as the majority of African countries have signed the agreement including Zambia.
The BMW plant in Munich sits on a one-hundred-acre plot producing one thousand cars per day or one car per minute. 25% of the cars are sold in Germany, another 25% in Europe while the rest are exported to the US and the rest of the world.
Sometime last year, Dr. Albert Muchenga of the African Union made a presentation at Africa Verein, a German business association conference in Berlin attended by Ambassador Mukwita at which he called on copper producing countries to take advantage of the introduction of electric cars to gain more out of their natural resources.
The matter was again a subject of discussion at the recently held inaugural economic summit in Livingstone organized by the Economic Association of Zambia, EAZ, which was officially opened by President Edgar Lungu and attended by his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyata and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. Ambassador Mukwita attended at the invitation of the EAZ. At the summit, the Zambian government and its envoys abroad were challenged to play a part in persuading car manufacturers to look to Zambia for their electric car materials.
The visit to BMW was therefore part of the follow up on the conference resolutions that should position Zambia strategically as the world takes measures to mitigate the impact of climate change by gradually reducing heavy dependence on fossil fueled cars to electric vehicles.
All RTSA Service Centres country-wide open today to facilitate payment of road tax
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) will be holding an Open Day on Saturday 28th September, 2019 to showcase its operations and transformation agenda.
The RTSA Open Day which shall be held at Cosmopolitan Mall in Lusaka under the theme “Towards Service Excellence” will offer an opportunity to members of the public to interact with RTSA staff who will showcase excellent facilities in a peaceful environment but more importantly, the wide-range and quality road transport and safety services and programmes which are available within the Agency.
Since the inaugural RTSA Open Day in 2017, the event has become the beacon premier event to showcase road transport and safety management services and programmes to the general public in a bid to bridge the gap between the Agency and its stakeholders.
This year’s theme captures the essence of the role of RTSA in providing quality services to the general public in its continued efforts to explore various opportunities for high impact strategies to deliver a safe, efficient and inclusive road transport system that supports socioeconomic development.
Some of the road transport and safety services that the Agency shall be offering to the public to appreciate include; printing of driving licence cards, motor vehicle examinations and physical examinations, issuance of road tax, Driving Licence examinations, and road safety education and publicity among others.
Consequently, all RTSA service Centres country-wide shall remain open to the public on Saturday 28th September, 2019 to facilitate payment of road tax as the third quarter for the year 2019 comes to an end on 30th September.
Motorists and fleet owners are, therefore, advised to take advantage of this development to pay for their Motor Vehicle and Trailer Licences (Road Tax) to avoid panic which in most cases result in unnecessary queues and congestion at most RTSA Service Centres.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia Submission on Bill Number 10 of 2019
THE EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF ZAMBIA SUBMISSIONS TO THE PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE TO SCRUTINISE THE CONSTITUTION OF ZAMBIA AMENDMENT BILL N.A.B 10 OF 2019
1. PREAMBLE
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), representing a constituent of the people of Zambia, have reviewed the constitution-making process in a bid to give ourselves a constitution representative of the wishes of the majority of the Zambians. The Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission collected views of Zambians across the length and breadth of the nation, consolidating the popular views into a concise document which was the basis of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC, 2007 to 2010). The culmination of these processes is what may be considered as the bedrock on which the 2016 Amended Constitution was laid.
It is noted that the EFZ had taken a position previously, with specific concerns, and decided not participate in the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) based on its earlier submissions to Parliament. However, for the sake of ensuring national cohesion, and for the good of the country, the EFZ General Assembly held on 12th September 2019 resolved to make submissions. Consequently, in view of the significance of this constitutional amendment process that is part and parcel of the promulgation of the law of the land, we have taken a principled stand to make submissions to Parliament on Constitution Amendment Bill No. 10.
2. CHRISTIAN VALUES AND PURPOSES
The pertinent, yet democratically adopted declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation in the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 2 of 2016, arose from the wishes of well over 80% of those Zambians that made submissions to the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission (CRC), who affirmed their strong desire that this declaration must be enshrined within the preamble of the constitution.
We submit that it is of vital importance to note that the altered verbiage carried through in the preamble of the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 2 of 2016 undermined Christian values in the nation by denoting that Zambia is a multi-religious nation, rather than upholding the originally democratically recommended position of a Christian nation as per submission to the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission (CRC). We further wish to place on record that what we consider as the inconsistent verbiage resulted from amended submissions made by the Technical Committee of 2011, following the National Constitutional Conference of 2007 to 2010, consequently filtering into the Preamble of the assented amended Constitution of 2016.
3. SUBMISSIONS
We hereby submit the EFZ position on a range of proposed amendments in the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 10 of 2019, which represent pertinent areas of strong opinion from our constituents.
3.1. Page 3 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #2 proposes to amend the Preamble by deletion of the words “multi-religious” and substituting it with the word “Christian”.
WE SUPPORT this proposed amendment, which is consistent with the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation. This proposed amendment removes the ambiguity and conflicting statement of whether Zambia is a Christian or Multi-Religious nation, while upholding a person’s right to freedom of conscience, belief or religion.
This proposed Amendment No. 2 adheres to a democratic tenet, by respecting and upholding the decision of the majority of Zambians during the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission (CRC), where more than 80% submissions supported the enshrinement of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation in the Preamble of the NCC Draft Constitution of 2010. However, the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation was undemocratically supplanted by the Technical Committee of 2011 during the Parliamentary Enactment Process to adopt the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, when the Technical Committee reinserted the words “multi-religious”, thus creating this ambiguity and inconsistency.
3.2. Page 3 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #4 proposes to amend the Preamble by deletion of Clause (3) and substituting it with the following: The Republic is a Christian, unitary, indivisible, multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-party democratic State.
WE SUPPORT this proposed amendment as it is consistent with the Declaration of our Republic as a Christian nation.
We further propose an amendment of Clause (3) by deletion of the word “multi-cultural” and substituting that with the word “multi-traditional.” This is to avoid the contemporary unbounded meaning of multi-culturalism, which now considers even some subjective personal lifestyle choices as a “cultural orientation”, against the fundamental and long-held understanding of “culture” as generally accepted societal customs, traditions and values.
3.3. Page 3 Bill No. 10 – Amendment #5 proposes to amend Article 8 by deletion of paragraph (a) and substituting that with the following paragraph: (a) Christian morality and ethics.
WE SUPPORT this proposed amendment as it clarifies and anchors the nature of morality and ethics in the Declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation, and all that the declaration entails, as democratically and constitutionally promulgated by the majority of Zambians. This amendment defines the intended meaning of the kind of morality and ethics being advanced, rather than leaving it to capricious, relativistic and unpredictable interpretation of what morality and ethics are, for a nation that has been democratically and constitutionally declared a Christian nation.
3.4. Page 4 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #9 proposes to amend Article 47 by deletion of Clause (2) and substituting that with the following: Elections to the National Assembly shall be conducted under a mixed member electoral system, as prescribed.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the amendment to introduce a Mixed Member Electoral System. In our current majoritarian system, first-past-the-post electoral system, emphasis is placed on Parliamentary candidates’ appeal to the electorates based on their capacity to best represent their espoused constituency, regardless of their political party affiliation. Consequently, in such a system the democratic tenet of free, fair and unrestrained choice of Parliamentarians by voters, whether such voters have political party affiliations or not, is upheld.
In the Mixed Member Electoral System, which combines the majoritarian (first-past-the-post) and proportional (Political Party Lists) systems, introduces and adds a constrained (proportional) basis of choice to certain political party or special interest minority categories, and this unnecessarily and unfairly compels those, who on the basis of their democratic and constitutional right have no particular political affiliation, to vote on Political Party Lines, over and above their unrestrained choice through the first-past-the-post (Majoritarian) system.
Therefore, Article 47 Clause (2) should be maintained in its current status.
3.5. Page 5 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #13 proposes to amend Article 63 (2) by deletion of paragraphs (d) and (e).
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the amendment to delete Article 63 (2) paragraphs (d) and (e). It is critically important to have checks and balances, through representation by those democratically elected to the National Assembly in order to preserve and protect the interests of national constituencies, when it comes to national debt contraction and signing of international agreements and treaties which encumber upon the citizens of Zambia.
Our view is buttressed by the position taken by the Republics’ monetary gatekeeper, the Bank of Zambia, whose recent submission, in this regard, to the Parliamentary Select Committee reads, and we quote; “It is our considered view that National Assembly oversight is critical over these important public functions in a democratic dispensation like ours. The peoples’ representative in Parliament should have an opportunity to scrutinise the intended purpose(s) of any public debt as well as international treaties which bind and/or imposes obligations on the Republic.”
3.6. Page 5 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #15 proposes to repeal Article 68 and substituting it with the following: Subject to Article 47, the election, nomination, qualification and vacation of office of a Member of Parliament shall be as prescribed.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the repealing of Article 68 in its entirety, on the following grounds:
(a) The said amendment does not prescribe specific details in respect of the composition of the National Assembly and thus begs the question who will then determine how many members we shall have in the National Assembly?;
(b) If the composition of the National Assembly is not specified, it leaves open the capricious and unrestrained multiplication of constituencies by the incumbent political parties, to their advantage, as they map out their electoral strongholds in order to increase chances of their party affiliated members being elected to the National Assembly;
3.7. Page 5 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #16 proposes to repeal Articles 69, 70, 71 and 72.
WE SUPPORT the repealing of Article 69, 71 and 72 Clause (3). Members of Parliament should be elected by Constituencies and not appointed by the President, as this usually increases the number of Parliamentarians who will align themselves with the appointing authority and not necessarily the electorates or any particular constituency. Since such members of the National Assembly are serving at the mercies of the appointing authority, they may not necessarily take divergent positions to their appointing authority, as the probability may be high of the revocation of their nomination to the National Assembly by their Appointing Authority. That defeats the fundamental purpose of Representative Governance as enshrined in our Constitution, and as one of the pillars of a democratic dispensation.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the repealing of Articles 70 and 72 Clauses (1), (2), (4), (5), (7), (8) and (9) on the following grounds:
(a) If the conditions or requirements, as stated in Article 70, for candidates’ qualifications to be nominated or elected to the National Assembly are repealed, how will members of the National Assembly be nominated and elected. Leaving this unaddressed may create a lacuna in the constitution, which may constantly be referred to the Constitutional Court for guidance at a high cost to the nation.
(b) Clauses (1), (2), (4), (5), (7), (8) and (9) in Article 72, which we are supporting, and propose that they are maintained in our Constitution, address the important details of the Vacation of Office as Members of Parliament and the Dissolution of Political Parties. We know that these are possible occurrences in the governance systems of a nation, therefore, to be left undefined may set the nation on the course of unending Constitutional Court litigations, resulting in wastage of national resources.
3.8. Page 6 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #22 proposes repealing Article 81 and substituting that with the stated new Article 81 Clauses (1) through (10).
WE DO NOT SUPPORT Article 81 Clause (1) which states that the term of Parliament shall be five years commencing from the date that Members of Parliament are sworn into office after a general election and ending on the date of the next general election.
WE PROPOSE that Article 81 Clause (1) should read as follows: The term of Parliament shall be within five years commencing from the date that Members of Parliament are sworn into office after a general election and ending on the date that Parliament is dissolved.
(a) Since there is the possibility of Parliament being dissolved by the President as prescribed in Article 81 Clause (3), it’s just consistent to avoid fixing the term of Parliament at exactly five years, but giving the term range of within five years.
(b) Whenever the process of dissolving Parliament is being implemented by the President, prior to the end of the categorically stated five year term of Parliament, there is a possibility of contesting (subtle lacuna) that Clause (1) states categorically that it must be five years, from the date of being sworn into office and ending on the date of the next general election.
WE PROPOSE that Article 81 Clause (3) of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) No. 2 of 2016 should be maintained, for following reasons:
(a) The term of Parliament to end on the date of the next general election, gives undue advantage to the ruling political party, who have among Members of Parliament, those serving in Government Cabinet Offices, wielding official government protocols, with government machinery in their favor, on the election campaign trail. It’s just democratically fair, and levels the playing field, when everyone on the election campaign trail, both the ruling and opposition parties, have candidates who are not accessing and wielding government resources and protocols, as they sell their party manifestos and personal capacities to the electorates.
(b) Parliamentary Gratuity of a Member of the National Assembly should be paid as long as such a member of the National Assembly actively and officially serves their term of office as prescribed.
3.9. Page 8 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #26 proposes to amend Article 92 (2)
WE DO NOT SUPPORT Amendment #26 (b) to delete paragraph (c) and substituting that with the following: negotiate and sign international agreements and treaties and, ratify or accede to, or withdraw from, international agreements and treaties on the following grounds:
WE SUPPORT AND ARE CONSISTENT with our position as already stated in our proposal made on Amendment #13: We do not support the amendment to delete Article 63 (2) paragraphs (d) and (e). It is critically important to have checks and balances, through representation by those democratically elected to the National Assembly in order to preserve and protect the interests of national constituencies, when it comes to national debt contraction and signing of international agreements and treaties which encumber upon the citizens of Zambia.
Further, we agree with the submissions made by Bank of Zambia to the Parliamentary Select Committee to scrutinize the constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill #10, amendment of Article 63 of the Constitutional Act, and we quote; “It is our considered view that National Assembly oversight is critical over these important public functions in a democratic dispensation like ours. The peoples’ representative in Parliament should have an opportunity to scrutinize the intended purpose(s) of any public debt as well as international treaties which bind and/or imposes obligations on the Republic.”
3.10. Page 9 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #30 proposes to repeal Articles 101, 102, 103 and 104.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the repealing of Article 101 for the following reasons:
(a) A Coalition of Political Parties that fail to independently garner more than fifty percent of votes cast are considered minority parties that should not circumvent their failure to convincingly garner the constitutionally required votes by imposing themselves on the citizens of a nation, who have democratically and constitutionally decided to have a President with more than fifty percent of the votes cast by the electorate.
(b) There is a possibility that the political party with the highest votes, but slightly below fifty percent of votes cast, may form a coalition with some lowest minority political party that has few of the needed votes to push that coalition over the required fifty percent. In such a scenario, that small minority political party may not even be significant or powerful enough to wield authority to guide the stronger coalition partner who garnered a lot more votes than any other party, with the potential of such coalitions disbanding prematurely, causing unnecessary and costly electoral interventions.
3.11. Page 11 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #30, Article 103(6) proposes extending the election petition period for the President-elect from fourteen days to within thirty days of the filing of such a petition
WE SUPPORT the seven days to file the petition.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the extension of the petition hearing period and determination for the President-elect from fourteen days to within thirty days, as we consider as an overriding priority, the security of the nation which is of primary importance. The longer it takes for an acting President to hold office, who cannot make full executive decisions of such an office, weakens the security of our nation.
Therefore, our considered view is that the fourteen days is adequate for the Constitutional Court to determine the matter.
3.12. Page 13 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #36 proposes to delete Article 114 (1) paragraphs (d) and (e).
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the deletion of paragraphs (d) and (e) for the same reasons we gave on Amendment #13: We do not support the amendment to delete Article 63 (2) paragraphs (d) and (e). It’s critically important to have checks and balances, through representation by those democratically elected to the National Assembly in order to preserve and protect the interests of national constituencies, when it comes to national debt contraction and signing of international agreements and treaties which encumber upon the citizens of Zambia.
Further, we agree with the submissions made by Bank of Zambia to the Parliamentary Select Committee to scrutinize the constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill #10, amendment of Article 63 of the Constitutional Act, and we quote; “It is our considered view that National Assembly oversight is critical over these important public functions in a democratic dispensation like ours. The peoples’ representative in Parliament should have an opportunity to scrutinize the intended purpose(s) of any public debt as well as international treaties which bind and/or imposes obligations on the Republic.”
3.13. Page 13 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #37 proposes to amend by Article 116 by insertion of Clause (4), which states that Subject to this Constitution, a Minister shall continue to hold office until the next general election.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the amendment for the following reasons: A Minister is in office by virtue of appointment by the President, and they are not elected into that office. Therefore, it would be erroneous to guarantee them a full term until the next general election. If they are a nonperforming Minister, it’s the prerogative of the Appointing authority to terminate their services.
3.14. Page 13 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #38 proposes inserting of a new Article 117A immediately after Article 117
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the reintroduction of Deputy Ministers for the following reasons:
(a) This is a costly and unnecessary proposal, especially in the light of the already declared government austerity measures to reduce on expenditure and prioritize servicing the heavy national debt burden our country is bearing.
(b) Permanent Secretaries in all Line Ministries are the rightful individuals to render valuable support to Cabinet Ministers, with the work done through technocrats, who recently are being challenged to perform at a higher professional level in their execution of national duties as Civil Servants. Unless there is evidence that Permanent Secretaries have failed in the delivery of national duties.
3.15. Page 17 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #53 proposes repealing Article 154
WE DO NOT SUPPORT Article 154 Clause (2) for the following reasons:
The current Constitution gives democratic powers to the electorates to determine individuals who should preside over City Council Business and who manages civic matters of the city on behalf of the citizenry whether political party affiliates or nonpartisan registered voters within the city.
3.16. Page 20 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #67 proposes to pay a pension benefit promptly and regularly in contrast to existing requirement to pay on the last day
WE DO NOT SUPPORT the repeal of Article 189 in Amendment #67. We therefore propose that it should be maintained the way it is. Pension is an accrual and is an entitlement to someone who has worked. if this provision is repealed, Retirees would suffer and likely face increased poverty. This applies to Retirees of both public and private entities.
3.17. Page 21 of Bill No. 10 – Amendment #69 proposes to rename the Drug and Enforcement Commission to the Anti-Drugs, Economic and Financial Crimes
Agency
WE SUPPORT the newly named functions of Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) but propose, hereby, to keep it separate from the Financial Intelligence Commission (FIC), for complementary autonomy.
However, WE DO NOT SUPPORT the repeal of Amendment #69 to Article 189 for the following reasons;
a) We note that the FIC subscribes to international protocols and that such international protocols require observance and accreditation to Affiliate bodies by the Financial Intelligence Commission (FIC);
b) This entails that the institutions’ mandate aligns with applicable international statutes’ requirements, thereby demonstrating the Government’s will for enhanced levels of transparency.
4. CONCLUSION
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) wishes to tender its gratitude to the Parliamentary Select Committee, for the opportunity to represent a key constituency of the nation. It is our appeal that these proposals, coming from our constituents, will be considered carefully for adoption.
We wish to express unflinching hope for our nation in our quest to work for unity, cohesion of Zambian society, and the healing of the many contentious issues. We emphasize that Zambia is bigger than any single individual. This is a blessed nation that remains a haven of peace for many, from far and near. Additionally, Zambia has been a beacon of hope to the nations and must sustain that legacy for posterity.
To that end, we as a Church remain committed to the faithful propagation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose eternal love motivates and undergirds our pastoral care and prophetic roles, as we speak for the voiceless.
Finally, we pray for those in authority according to 1 Timothy 2:1-4 which reads, “The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Saviour God wants us to live.” (Message Bible)
AMEN
Lusaka High Court Judge threatens to issue warrant of arrest for Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo
Lusaka High Court Judge Mwila Chitabo yesterday morning threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo for failing to appear in court.
This is in a matter where Mr. Lusambo and seventeen others are accused of having disobeyed a court order by evicting sixteen former teachers who had occupied government houses at Kabulonga Boys Secondary School.
When the matter came up, judge Chitabo demanded for proof of service of summons so that he can issue the arrest warrant against Mr Lusambo for not coming to court.
This was after he was told by the plaintiff’s lawyer that service was done on all the alleged contemnors.
But after five minutes break the plaintiffs’ lawyer informed the court that Mr Lusambo was not served because of lack of time.
Judge Chitabo then observed that it would be unfair to condemn Mr. Lusambo when he was not personally served with the summon to appear before court.
Meanwhile, judge Chitabo has rejected an application by the state to raise preliminary issues in the absence of two of the accused persons.
Solicitor General Abraham Mwansa had asked the court to allow him raise preliminary issues as they border on the law and procedure.
Judge Chitabo rejected this argument saying there is nothing urgent for him to allow the state to make the application in the absence of some suspects.
He further noted that the offence in question is serious and criminal in nature.
Judge Chitabo has adjourned the matter to November 6th to allow the other suspects be served with summons.
This week judge Chitabo granted leave to the affected teachers to apply for an order to commit Mr Lusambo and others to prison for contempt of court.