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Construction Workers digging a drainage for one of the Serenje district township roads being upgraded to bituminous standards.
Chongwe Member of Parliament Japhen Mwakalombe says the 20% sub-contracting policy is non-negotiable and should be respected.
Speaking in Chongwe when he checked on the construction of 55 kilometres road network in the district, Mr. Mwakalombe said government wants to empower locals.
Mr. Mwakalombe said there is a growing tendency by contractors not to honour the 20% sub-contracting policy.
He said his office will closely monitor the operations of contractors to make sure that people of Chongwe participate in Projects.
Mr. Mwakalombe also called on the contractor, AVIC International, to engage local people.
Meanwhile, consultant Evaristo Mweemba said the key sections of the road leading to hospitals and schools will be prioritized so that they can be completed before the onsets of the rain.
Green Buffaloes coach Bilton Musonda has described last Sunday’s home win over struggling Mighty Mufulira Wanderers as a stepping stone in the early stages of the 2019/20 FAZ Super Division campaign.
Buffaloes beat Mighty 1-0 at home in Lusaka to bounce back from their Week One 2-0 away defeat against Nkana on August 31 in a match the Army side looked convincing against their hosts but were punished by a more clinical side.
“We have picked some positives. We came into the game after our first loss in Kitwe so we needed this game. This is now the start of our season,” Musonda said.
“So now that we won the game, we are going into the next game with a positive mind. For us now this is the stepping stone.
“There is no difference in the way we played in Kitwe; it is just the same as we played against Mighty. You win some, you lose some.”
Buffaloes head to Solwezi this Saturday to face new boys Kansanshi Dynamos who are seeking to rebound following last Sunday’s 1-0 away loss to second placed Napsa Stars.
George Lwandamina is pleased to see his second-string Zesco United team produce an efficient performance in Wednesday’s 3-0 away win over Nakambala Leopards.
Lwandamina rested half of his regular starters so far this season for the trip to Mazabuka that saw goalkeeper Dieudonne Ntibahezwa start in place of first-choice Jacob Banda.
Defender Adrian Chama, who joined Zesco on loan from Green Buffaloes this season, also made his first league start.
David Owino, Quadri Kola, Kondwani Mtonga and Winston Kalengo were the other rare starters in this Week Two, mid-week away date.
“Yes, it was part of the game plan. As you are aware, we have a lot of games to be played. We are in the CAF Champions League plus the local league, so you have to create a bigger pool of players from where you can pick from then the deficit will never be felt,” Lwandamina said.
However, none were on target in the match striker Jesse Were scored a hat-trick to propel Zesco to the summit of the FAZ Super Division table on maximum 6 points from two games played.
The match also came three days after Zesco drew 1-1 away in Tanzania against Young Africans in a CAF Champions League pre-group stage, first leg match on September 14.
Zesco return to action this Saturday when they host winless Lumwana Radiants in a Week Three fixture in Ndola before hosting Young Africans on September 28 in their pre-group stage, final leg match.
The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) has supported the constitution amendment bill number 10 of 2019.
ZCID Constitutional Committee chairperson Chilufya Tayali says 32 out of the 35 ZCID affiliates resolved to support the bill after a meeting that was held in Lusaka.
Mr. Tayali says other affiliates of the ZCID that did not take part in the meeting are at liberty to present their individual political party submission before the parliamentary select committee.
He says ZCID believes that Bill number 10 is a true reflection of the resolutions of the National Dialogue Forum (NDF)
Mr Tayali, who is also opposition Economic and Equity Party (EEP), the leader was speaking when he presented submissions before the Parliamentary select committee on the Constitution Bill number 10 of 2019.
And MMD president Felix Mutati has supported the re-introduction of deputy ministers.
Mr Mutati said this can be achieved if the government considers compressing the number of ministers in Cabinet
Constitutional Lawyer John Sangwa stresses a point at a recent public discussion on the Constitutional Amendment Bill
Deputy Parliamentary Chief Whip Tutwa Ngulube has dragged Lusaka lawyer John Sangwa of Simeza and Sangwa Associates to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) for alleged professional misconduct.
Mr. Ngulube, who is also Lusaka lawyer, has consequently raised a complaint before the LAZ legal practitioners committee claiming that Mr. Sangwa has allegedly misconducted himself on professional grounds.
This is contained in a letter addressed to LAZ and released to ZNBC News in Lusaka.
Mr. Ngulube has alleged that Mr Sangwa has violated rule 37 sub-rule three of the legal practioner rules of 2002.
This is in reference to the letter that Mr. Sangwa recently wrote to President Edgar Lungu over the Constitutional dispensation in Zambia.
Last week, Mr Sangwa wrote to the President begging him to uphold the Constitution by withdrawing the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No.10 of 2019 and accepting that having been elected twice to the office of President of Zambia, he was not eligible for a third term
FILE: Atlas Mara Managing Director James Koni (left) shakes hands with Minister of Lands Jean Kapata during the launch of Tenga Mobile Money Service at Intercontinental hotel
Atlas Mara Zambia has confirmed that it experienced a service disruption after bailiffs got away with its main servers and office furniture.
In a statement, the Bank said the disruption was as a result of interference to the main servers which host the core banking platform that runs the bank.
It said the interference occurred as a result of the execution of a High court Judgement issued in favor of one Dimitrios Monokandilos and Filandria Kouri relating to a debit of US$949,933.87 from the account of the plaintiffs by Finance Bank Zambia Limited (FBZ) on 26th February 1996.
“FBZ was acting on its right of setoff against the plaintiffs account, on the back of a guarantee issued in favor of FBZ. Following a judgement dated 3rd December 2014 FBZ appealed the High Court Judgement. The appeal was heard and is currently pending judgement in the Supreme Court,” the statement read.
And Atlas Mara Managing Director James Koni stated that “Atlas Mara deeply regrets the disruption to our banking services as we serve a wide and diverse customer base who rely on us to manage their day to day financial needs. We believe this action to disrupt the operations of the bank is unnecessary and regrettable and we wholly apologise for the inconvenience that has been caused to our valued customers.”
“We have since retrieved our property and are working to restore the banking services and expect to be fully operational and open to enable our customers to achieve their objectives. We would like to thank our customers for their usual support and patience during this time.”
The Anti Corruption Commission has bemoaned the poor funding from the government making it difficult to carry out its mandate effectively.
Speaking at the launch of the 2019 Zambia Bribe Payers Index Report in Lusaka, ACC Chairperson Justice Anderson Zikonda said that the commission lacks resources to be present in every corner of the country.
Justice Zikonda said that it was impossible to attain a corrupt free Zambia without the involvement of every Zambian in fighting the scourge.
Justice Zikonda observed that the increase in the overall aggregate bribery index from 10 percent in 2017 to 10.9 percent in 2019 underscores the seriousness with which the fight against corruption is being approached.
Justice Zikonda said that the commission remains resolved towards addressing the corruption scourge and is determined to ensure that the current upward trend is reversed.
Officiating at the launch of the report, Minister in the office of the Vice President Olipah Phiri reiterated the government’s commitment to zero tolerance to corruption.
Ms. Phiri urged the Anti Corruption Commission to expedite the review process so that there is a national framework to coordinate and harmonize all efforts aimed at fighting corruption in the country.
And Transparency International Zambia chapter President Reuben Lifuka said that TIZ is encouraged to see some positive trends in the bribe payers Index for some critical target institutions such as the Zambia Police, which previously had 63.9% likelihood of the public paying a bribe dropping to 40.7%.
Mr Lifuka stated that while this was commendable; this was still a high percentage.
The 2019 Zambia Bribe Payers Index Survey Report has revealed that bribe seeking incidents are mostly in the Zambia Police Service standing at 41.7 percent, Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) at 41.2 percent, with the local authorities at 10.3 percent and the Ministry of General Education standing at 8.1 percent.
Reasons for paying a bribe demand to the Zambia Police including avoiding delays, avoiding penalties or sanction, fear of service denial and other factors.
The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit says no declaration of a national disaster has been made in response to the hunger that has affected some parts of the country.
UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema on Monday declared the prevailing hunger situation in the country a national disaster but the DMMU says this is the preserve of the Republican President.
DMMU Communications Officer Rachael Chama said government with cooperating partners has been responding to the food insecurity situation in the affected parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Ms Chama said the DMMU has released 11,800 metric tonnes of relief food bringing the total bags of 12.5 kg mealie meal distributed in the affected districts across the country since February this year to over 2.2 million bags.
She said the released consignment will be distributed to nine provinces except Copperbelt Province.
Mr Hichilema declared hunger a national disaster at a media briefing and called on well wishers to donate food items towards the cause.
He appealed to President Edgar Lungu to emulate the declaration to further allow the international community to unlock its emergency funds.
VICE President Inonge Wina has held talks with India’s Shree Vagmi Cotton Limited, which will invest $7 million in the next three years to build a factory that will process cotton lint in 2019 alone.
Mrs. Wina who is accompanied by Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga has since toured Shree Vagmi Company Cotton Factory in Indore, in the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh.
She says she is happy to note that the Company has already acquired a 26 acre land in Mwembeshi area, Chibombo District, Central Province.
Vagmi Company Chief Executive Officer Amit Dwivedi says in 2020, his company will evolve from cotton ginning to a full textile which would resuscitate the once vibrant textile industry in Zambia.
Mr. Dwivedi said his company further identified Boniface Daka from Lusaka’s Chawama area who has been fully sponsored and is undertaking a year long training programme in India focusing on factory engineering and operations management.
He says the company will engage 23 000 cotton farmers from Mumbwa, Shibuyunji, Chipata, Petauke, Lundazi, Katete, among others, in the next two years.
Mr. Dwivedi says the company will be running an out grower scheme where it will supply farmers with seed, chemicals, wool packs and ‘we shall collect cotton from farming areas because we will procure an initial 15 trucks.
And Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga noted with gratitude that Vagmi Company is happy with a clear policy direction by the Zambian Government on value addition, and especially that the Cotton Board of Zambia has a fixed cotton price for a win- win situation.
Mrs. Kapijimpanga says Zambia has reliable transport system, hospitable citizens, peaceful, progressive legal and banking systems.
The High Commissioner said she is happy to note that Vagmi Cottons Company will also build houses for some Zambian staff running the factory.
The Vice President is later expected to hold talks with top investors in Indore City and meet a company specialised in securing public infrastructure.
This is contained in a statement made available by First Secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in India Bangwe Naviley.
Patriotic Front -PF- Secretary General Hon Davies Mwila
By Hon Davies Mwila
INTRODUCTION
The previous article discussed some factors negatively affecting the global economy such as the U.S-Sino Trade War, U.S Auto Tariffs and No-Deal Brexit, which have led IMF and World to cut global and African economic growth forecasts for 2019 and 2020, with the U.S economy predicted to see a significant economic slowdown growing by only 1.9% in 2020.
In addition to the above factors, the Zambian economy has been negatively affected by adverse weather conditions which have negatively affected the agriculture and energy sector, and the entire economy. This challenge and policy interventions under implementation by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government will be discussed in this article.
THE STATE OF THE ZAMBIAN ECONOMY
In his speech during the official opening of the National Assembly on 13th September, 2019, His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu stated:
“Our economy has, in the recent past, faced some serious headwinds. The country registered a Gross Domestic Product growth rate of 3.7 percent as at end of 2018. The growth rate for 2019 was earlier projected at around 4% but is being revised downwards to about 2% on account of adverse weather conditions, which has affected the energy and agricultural sectors.
Since 2015, when we experienced droughts that affected electricity generation, growth slowed down to an average of 3.5 percent between 2015 and 2018 from an average of 6.4 percent between 2011 and 2014. This slowdown was largely attributed to climate variabilities.
Our fiscal space must continue to grow, and this can only be achieved by ensuring macroeconomic stability and maintaining debt within sustainable levels. We have procured debt for development, which is one of the many financing options that we pursue. We can see it in the road infrastructure, bridges, alternative power generation investments, including but not limited to massive infrastructure development in the health, education and communications sector. This we all can see and attest to”.
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY AND DEBT SUSTAINABILITY
In order to ensure macroeconomic stability and maintain debt within sustainable levels as stated by President Lungu above, the PF Government, through the Ministry of Finance, has put in place the following measures.
1. DEBT SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS
The rise in public debt over the years has obviously raised concern among the general citizenry and other stakeholders in Zambia and the international community. True to it, debt can accelerate growth through investment in growth enhancing projects. However, when debt is accumulated to levels where it causes a debt overhang, it can lead to deceleration in growth and provision of social services (Source: Ministry of Finance).
The PF Government will not let Zambia’s economy go into deceleration or fail to provide social services! As President Lungu said in his speech above:
“The Patriotic Front Manifesto articulates the collective aspirations of our people for a better life, which gives this assurance, and I quote: _‘we are committed to meeting and exceeding these expectations of the people of Zambia”.
Indeed, prudent debt management calls for regular checks on our debt to ascertain whether we are on the sustainability track or the unsustainability track. Government therefore conducts regular debt sustainability analyses to inform policy decisions with regard to prudent debt management. The critical indicators of sustainable debt considered under a DSA exercise include the county’s capacity to carry its debt, which is measured against the county’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the capacity to service debt obligations, which is measured against the country’s revenues. The Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) conducted by Government in April 2018 revealed that if no measures are taken on the debt, the public debt to GDP ratio (domestic and external debt) would go above 60% in the medium term, above the sustainability threshold of 56%. _(Source: Ministry of Finance).
As stated by President Lungu in the abovementioned speech:
“The art of borrowing is the ability to pay back. Yes, I am aware that there is accumulation of domestic arrears which has not only negatively impacted the operations of suppliers and contractors, but also on the performance of the financial sector through an increase in non-performing loans…. This has got to be managed”.
And, this is being managed through policy responses below.
2. POLICY RESPONSE TO THE DSA RESULTS
The DSA results dictated the need for adjustment to avoid getting the country into a position of debt distress.
Following the outcome of the DSA, Government, through the Ministry of Finance, announced measures, in July 2018, anchored on the DSA and MTDS as follows;
1) Postponement of the contraction of all pipeline external debt until the high risk of debt distress is brought to a moderate level.
2) Cancellation some of the contracted loans that have not disbursed, in order to reduce the debt service burden.
3) Undertaking an asset liability exercise on selected loans to extend the maturity profile and attain lower interest costs.
4) Cease issuance of guarantees to commercially viable projects.
5) Cessation of the issuance of Letters of Credit and Sovereign Guarantees to institutions that are technically insolvent until their balance sheet challenges are resolved. _(Source: Ministry of Finance, Zambia).
Through these and other measures, the PF Government will be constraining the primary balance and attracting concessional financing for the Budget to mitigate the adverse implications of high debt service in the medium term by curtailing the accumulation of debt and reorganizing the current debt portfolio in order to minimize costs and mitigate the risks associated with it; in line with PF Government’s 2017-2019 Medium Term Debt Strategy (MTDS) which outlines Government’s plan over the medium term with regards to fiscal and debt management.
FISCAL RESTRAINT
As revealed by the DSA, fiscal restraint, aimed at achieving low levels of primary balance deficit is critical. Control of the fiscal deficit is a high priority for the PF Government. In 2018 for example, without measures being undertaken, the deficit would have been higher at over 9% of GDP.
Over the Medium Term, the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) currently under preparation has taken into account the measures and adjustments particularly on the pipeline debt. (Source: Ministry of Finance).
EUROBOND REFINANCING
In view of the forthcoming Eurobond redemptions, Government is committed to the repayment of its liabilities, and is thus cognisant of the need for a structured redemption plan aimed at ensuring smooth redemption of the Eurobond debt. The Ministry of Finance has drafted a Eurobond Redemption Strategy (ERS) that is due for cabinet approval. The strategy is aimed at establishing an optimal plan for redeeming the bonds, taking into account Zambia’s fiscal and macroeconomic situation, as well as other factors that may influence the selection of a favourable redemption option.
The Eurobond refinancing strategy gives an array of options that include;
1. Implementation of a Sinking Fund. The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, which will soon be issued, will outline the provisions that Government has made for the Fund,
2. A debt buyback strategy, using the sinking fund provisions, and
3. Refinancing through issuance of a new tenure of Eurobonds in the capital markets.
Refinancing is not peculiar to Zambia. Countries such as Kenya, Ghana, Senegal and other emerging economies have in recent years gone to the market and successfully issued debt with the resources earmarked for bond redemption with longer maturities.
Why refinancing of the bonds?
The refinancing option ensures continued presence in the international capital markets, which offers opportunities for signaling to international investors on the state of economic affairs in the country and giving a risk indication for private sector borrowing in the country as Eurobonds are used for benchmarking. This was one of the objectives the country had at issuance of the Bonds. _(Source: Ministry of Finance)._
CONCLUSION:
Against the above global economic challenges, the PF Government has put in place several policy interventions to ensure macroeconomic stability, maintain debt sustainability, and achieve significant growth to achieve the Vision 2030 objective.
Zambia is currently NOT defaulting on its debt obligations and is therefore NOT in a debt crisis!
As President Lungu emphasized: _“the art of borrowing is the ability to pay back” and “we have procured debt for development… We can see it in the road infrastructure, bridges, alternative power generation investments, including but not limited to massive infrastructure development in the health, education and communications sector. This we all can see and attest to”.
President Lungu talks to National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili as First Lady Esther Lungu listens shortly before departure at City Airport for Petauke for burial of his Aunt Mama Mainess Lungu on Wednesday, September 18,2019 -Pictures by Thomas Nsama/State House
President Edgar Lungu is among several mourners that have gathered at M’kwama village in Senior Chief Kalindawelo’s Chiefdom in Petauke district, Eastern Province, to attend funeral and burial ceremony for his late aunt Mainess Lungu.
Ms Lungu, who was until her demise the only surviving aunt for the Head of State, died on Monday September 16, 2019 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, aged 96.
President Lungu is accompanied by First Lady Esther Lungu and senior government and Patriotic Front (PF) officials among others.
ZANIS reports that President Lungu has described his aunt as a force of nature, passionate, caring and strong woman who united and loved the family for one common goal.
Mr Lungu said his aunt was an honest person who spoke her mind but never held grudges against anyone, and also preached love and unity at all times.
He explained that he was personally affected by the death of Ms Lungu, adding that she was a mother to all family members.
President Lungu further thanked everyone that found time to mourn with the first family, adding that what divides people cannot outweigh what units them, hence the need for people in the country to continue embracing each other and upholding the One Zambia One Nation motto in times of happiness and sorrow.
And Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu explained that government is saddened with the death of Ms Lungu, a person who was close to the Head of State and wished the first family and all family members God’s guidance during this trying moment.
Meanwhile, his homily Bishop Edwin Zulu from the Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ) called all Christians in the country to always prepare themselves for no one knows the day or time that they will die.
Bishop Zulu noted that Ms Lungu prepared her life for Christ, adding that she was a dedicated and committed member of the RCZ, for the last 38 years.
And Head Mkwama has described the late Ms Lungu as a humble and caring person who related well with other villagers and participated actively in all activities in the village.
The late Ms Lungu was the youngest sister to late Ranger Lungu, who was the father to President Edgar Lungu.
She has left behind four grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
People from different walks of life including traditional leaders from within Eastern Province, District Commissioners, government and Patriotic Front party members were among the mourners.
Ms Lungu will be buried this afternoon at M’kwama village burial site.
AtlasMara Bank has closed its entire branch network in Lusaka hours after Bailiffs pounced on its Headquarters and seized properties.
And Bank Managing Director James Koni has blamed the raid on the bak on legacy issues inherited from Finance Bank.
A check at selected outlets in Lusaka found the Bank closed and deserted except for security personnel who were manning the entrances.
At Longacres branch, a notice placed on the main entrance revealed that the Bank was closed for business.
Another check at Kamwala branch found a poster stuck outside the bank premises advising customers that the bank was closed for business and that it shall be opened at 14:00 Hours.
However, a further check at 15:00 Hours found the branch closed.
Further investigations across Lusaka City found that no AtlasMara ATM services were working this afternoon.
An SMS message to customers read, “ valued customers we are having technical challenges which have impacted our banking services. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused and will keep you updated.”
But some Bank insiders have revealed that the Bank has been forced to shut down its entire system after Bailiffs went away with essential equipment from the Control Room.
“The main server was uprooted so there is nothing working. We are just waiting for the next steps,” one of the workers who opted to remain anonymous said.
And in a circular to staff accessed by Lusaka Times, Bank Managing Director James Koni blamed the development on the legacy issues that the bank inherited from the takeover of Finance Bank.
“Dear Colleague, As you may have heard we have had a total service disruption as a result of a legacy court case we have been fighting as a bank. Unfortunetly the plaintiff has chosen to take drastic action at our head office and Kamwala Branch which has adversely impacted our servers which house our core banking system. As a result we have a total outage on all customer facing channels. These include ATM, Cards, Trust Accounts. Swift / Opics, Mobile Banking, Tenga, E-Tax / ENapsa, FISP. We have made the decision to close all Lusaka based branches until further notice. We are in the process of invoking the Disaster Recovery Site (DRC) site in Chongwe so that we can restart Core Banking and Alternate Channels. The impact on our customers has been massive and you may encounter angry customers and the media. I would like to advise the customers that we are working around the clock to restore service. Please direct any media queries to Eric Ngondo at 0977825227. Otherwise please refer any queries to your MANCO Head. I thank you for your resilience so far. Regards James.”
And some customers found at the Longacres branch complained of having been inconvenienced after failing to access cash.
One of the customers identified as Petros Mwamba of Kabanana Township said he started off checking at Kamwala outlet and bounced before heading to Longacres branch where he also bounced.
“I don’t even know what to do now. I was coming here to get my money but now I am stranded, I don’t even have transport money to get back home, I will just have to start walking now so that I get there before it’s dark,” Mr Mwamba complained. A customer notice at AtlasMara Kamwala branch advising customers of the closure
Jesse Were opened his 2019/20 FAZ Super Division account with a hat-trick on Wednesday to propel Zesco United to the top of the log in their away win at Nakambala Leopards in Mazabuka.
The defending FAZ Super Division champions crushed Nakambala 3-0 in a Week Two fixture at Nakambala Stadium.
Were put Zesco ahead in the 15th minute via a penalty after midfielder Thabani Kamusoko was fouled by Nakambala defender Given Sinyangwe.
The Kenyan striker sent Zesco 2-0 into the break when he finished off an assist from Quadri Kola on the stroke of halftime.
Were ensured he took home the ball in the 53rd minute to seel his three goals lift Zesco to the summit of the table on maximum 3 points, in a four-way tie with Napsa Stars, whom they’ve relegated to second spot, Nkana and Red Arrows.
Zesco are back in action this Saturday when they host another winless side Lumwana Radiants in Ndola.
Nakambala stay on zero points after two rounds of matches played with their confidence hit hard ahead of Saturday’s Southern Province derby in Choma against 2019 runners-up Green Eagles.
The Young African Leaders Initiative wants the Drug Enforcement Commission to summon Kaweche Kaunda to provide evidence in the drug trafficking allegations made by NDC Leader Chishimba Kambwili involving President Edgar Lungu and Businessman Valden Findlay.
The YALI Governance and Legal Advisor Isaac Mwanza says the statement by the US Government and Israel that there is no case in that country related to drug to Drug trafficking involving Mr Findlay and that there is no siphoning of money using the Presidential jet respectively must settle the matter.
Mr Mwanza told a media briefing that the DEC must however summon Mr Kaunda to provide evidence on his allegations involving Mr Findlay and Mr Goswami.
He said the refusal by Mr Kambwili to give information to the DEC has shown that Mr Kambwili has no information regarding his drug trafficking allegations.
Mr Kambwili who had appeared before the DEC for questioning said he no longer takes the Commission serious due to their failure to investigate serious matters in the past.He told Journalists that his summoning was a sheer waste of time as they cannot investigate the matter.
Mr Mwanza however, urged the DEC not to victimize the whistle blowers as they are only providing information on the issues they believe are of concern to the nation.
Mr Kaweche Kaunda recently said he was surprised that Valden Findlay denied knowing Vijaygiri Vicky Goswami claiming he knows him and he has been in their presence.
And Kaweche revealed that Goswami, the renowned African “drug lord” phoned him after they were arrested seeking assistance but later informed him that Findlay would compel President Edgar Lungu to speak to Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta on the matter.
President of the opposition United Party for National Development Hakainde Hichilema says he is pleased that there is no more load shedding at Chawama Level one Hospital.
Mr Hichilema says he believes the blocked Genset donation to the Hospital by the Police has force the Patriotic Front to stop load shedding at the health facility.
He said the provision of electricity by the PF needed to be done as a matter of routine instead of waiting for the UPND intervention for them to save people’s lives.
“Ordinarily, such a move did not need a risk intervention from some of us where the PF deployed a battalion of police officers at short notice in Chawama to block us from donating a genset to the hospital. Like we said during our press briefing, this measure should be extended to all hospitals and clinics in the country.It should also be extended to other key security installations as well as military and police camps.It should further be extended to universities, colleges and boarding schools in the country. We cannot have our security personnel in camps and our children in learning institutions going without electricity for more than 12hours.Can you imagine the illicit activities our children can end up doing in darkness at boarding schools instead of studying?” Mr Hakainde said.
Mr Hichilema however said it is not surprising that the Chawama hospital was load shedded as it is a sign of lack of leadership on the part of the PF.
“I therefore instruct that this gesture be extended to other hospitals to save lives and other critical installation that require uninterrupted power supply”, he added.
He said the UPND shall continue giving leadership where there is none in the country due to incompetence.
President Edgar Lungu on Friday 13th September 2019 during the Official opening on the fourth session of the 12th National Assembly directed the Ministry of Energy to prioritise power supply to hospitals and health centres.
