United party for national Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has urged the Patriotic Front administration to with immediate effect reopen the Copperbelt University (CBU).

Mr. Hichilema argues that the unjustifiable and perpetual closure of the high institution of learning has led to untold suffering not only of the students, but the lecturers as well.

He says it is uncalled for the PF leadership to continue destructing the progress of education in the country adding that education is an investment whose results lead to economic growth.

He was speaking in Lusaka on Sunday morning.

Mr. Hichilema observes that, being the social equalizer, there was need for frantic strides to be put in place in order for the dream of an educated populace to be actualized.

He states that, being the epitome and centre of civility, it was imperative that education was prioritized.

Mr. Hichilema, who accused the PF regime of neglecting the education sector, demanded for the immediate reopening of the institution.

“The continued closure of Copperbelt University is causing a lot of damage to society. Lecturers are suffering, general workers are suffering; students are suffering; parents are suffering; everybody is suffering because of the inept leadership of the PF”.

“Number one, we demand that the Copper Belt University be reopened, now; it must be reopened immediately. Secondly, we demand that all the student union leaders who have been expelled or suspended must be reinstated without further delay. Thirdly, we confirm that: ‘when our time in office comes, when we take over the country, we will work with the students’ unions and their leaders not the way you work with students’ leaders. Staffs unions, general workers and all the other universities and colleges, we will work with them because only when you work and recognize them will you be able to manage the intellectual environment in a university or in a college,” Mr. Hichilema said.

Mr. Hichilema, who continually talked of education of being a powerful tool to foster creativity and innovation in order to create a prosperous society, said the PF’s poor leadership was costing the country a lot.

“The failure of leadership of PF is costing us a lot. We (when in Government), will also be able to pay students descent meal allowances to help them buy books and be able to have enough food in order for them to be in a learning mode. We will pay lecturers descent allowances including all the non paid retirement benefits or terminal benefits of university or colleges staff,” said Mr. Hichilema.

Patriotic Front Secretary General, Davis Mwila has advised National Democratic Congress Leader Chishimba Kambwili to stop calling President Edgar Lungu at night.

Mr Mwila said that it is not right for the NDC leader to keep calling the Head of state at night whilst insulting him during the day, adding that if Kambwili wants to rejoin the ruling party, all he had to do was come out in the open by engaging the Copperbelt party leadersip.

Mr Mwila said the party would not allow Kambwili’s continued tendency of insulting the Head of State when he was still interested in rejoining the party.

Mr. Mwila said this in Chavuma yesterday when he received close to 2000 defectors from the United Party for National Development.

And SG Mwila said continued defections by Members of the UPND in North western Province is a clear indication of the confidence and trust the people have in the ruling party and its government, adding that the PF Government under the President Edgar Lungu has a robust development agenda as enshrined in the Seventh National Development Plan.

Mr Mwila said he is confident that come 2021, the entire North Western Province will be a stronghold of the ruling Party and advised old members to bring new members in the party ahead of the 2021 general elections

Mr Mwila also commended the people of Chavuma district for giving the ruling party two councilors in recent held by elections in Lingelengenda and Sewe wards.

And North western provincial chairperson Jackson Kungo said the ruling party has made serious inroads in the region.

He said the party is enjoying massive support from the people in the providence owing to the sound leadership of President Edgar Lungu and the development government has rolled out.

He said contrary to claims by the UPND that the region is their stronghold, political wind has totally shifted which he attributed to massive development which has been rolled out by the PF government.

He assured the Secretary General that he would not leave any stone unturned in recruiting more members to the Party.

He also advised all district chairmen in the province not to be reluctant but to continue mobilising the party grassroots aggressively.

Today’s Scripture

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.”
(Psalm 44:3, NKJV)

The Gracious Hand of God

Have you ever thought about the fact that the victories you saw in your past weren’t just your own doing? When you made it through a difficult time, when you received an unexpected break, when things turned around for no reason, it was because God favored you. You wouldn’t be where you are if the gracious hand of God was not on your life!

Now you may not have as much education as somebody else. But that’s okay. You have an advantage. You have this favor factor. Maybe you don’t come from the most influential family. That’s all right. God’s favor can take you where you cannot go on your own. Deep down you have to know there is something about you that is indefinable. It can’t be measured, can’t be put on paper, and can’t be explained. Other people won’t be able to figure it out. All they know is that you have it. There is something about you they like, something that causes you to succeed. That’s the gracious hand of God.

Today, let this truth sink down deeply into your heart. Don’t be discouraged by what you can see; be encouraged by what you can’t see! Put your shoulders back and go out with faith and confidence knowing that His gracious hand is upon you!

A Prayer for Today

“For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.”

THE National Restoration Party says it is willing and able to offer leadership to make sure that the opposition alliance is a success. NAREP has affirmed its commitment to the opposition alliance following the withdrawal of the Patriots for Economic Progress on Wednesday. NAREP secretary General Ezra Ngulube said the party believed that Zambians were not interested in small political parties or individual political parties but in unity of purpose for development of the nation.

“The National Restoration Party would like to affirm our commitment to the alliance and we are willing and we’ll be able to offer leadership to make sure that it is a success. It is not right for us to separate from the alliance at this point, so we are disappointed that our colleagues from PEP have decided to leave the alliance,” Ngulube said.

He clarified that what was obtaining was not an electoral alliance, but unity of purpose. Ngulube added that leaders of the alliance previously held discussions on how best to move forward. He said certain conclusions were being met and therefore it was incumbent on secretaries general of respective parties to relay them to the general public. Ngulube added that the opposition alliance had reached a point where political parties were able to agree to disagree.

“Yes, as in any other sector of life, it is normal for individuals to disagree. There are disagreements in the alliance. It could be some individuals’ purposes to disrupt our intentions, but as leaders and as NAREP, we think it is not right for us to wash our dirty laundry in public before a proper discussion. The Roan election was one of our first attempts to a united purpose, so for anyone to decide to leave is a move that is wholly individualistic and they shall not be forced to stay as they also were not forced to join,” said Ngulube.

“We have reached a point where political parties are able to sit together and agree to disagree. This is our alliance and as leaders we will work hard to see it work. We will carry on pushing our agenda because we believe that nobody should win unless there is a united purpose of us winning together.”

On Wednesday, the Patriots for Economic Progress announced its immediate withdrawal from the opposition alliance. Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka, PeP leader Sean Tembo said the need for opposition unity as a prerequisite for electoral victory in 2021 was not shared by some of the key members of the alliance. He said some of the alliance members believed that they were capable of winning the 2021 general elections without the need for opposition unity.

Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya on Friday had an interview with The Guardian, a British daily newspaper where she dispelled media reports that the Zambian Government had sold Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to the Chinese.

And the Minister also took time to tour the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC) and was later interviewed by BBC Focus on Africa TV and Radio where she firmly said that the Zambian Government condemns attacks on the media and called on Zambian media institutions to operate professionally as they had a duty to the masses.

According to a statement released to the media by During an interview with Rob Davis of The Guardian, Hon Siliya clarified that the relationship between the Zambian Government and KCM is not desirous and Government’s ultimate goal is to look for a new partner that shares the vision of the country, a partner who wants to share the proceeds of the investment as mines were asset belonging to the people of Zambia.

“In Business you reach a point where there is loss of trust and you can’t move forward anymore. We want this matter between ZCCM- IH and KCM to be resolved so that we find another partner. We have received a lot of interests from Turkish, Russian and Chinese companies who have been visiting the mines as part of their due diligence,” she said

And at the BBC the Minister said diverse views through the Media was welcome in Zambia and encouraged all public media to give coverage to everyone.

Hon. Siliya who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister said it is always unfortunate to hear that Journalists do not feel safe to cover events. she also said female journalists should be the first ones to feel safe in Zambia because Zambia is a peaceful country.

She said Zambia recognises the importance that Journalists play in a democracy,

“My word of encouragement to the media has always been, be Journalists, be professional, do not fall in a trap of been seen as unprofessional,” she said.

Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Honourable Joseph Malanji and Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Honourable Dora Siliya were in the United Kingdom to attend the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs meeting and the Global Media Freedom Conference respectively.

This is statement was released to the media by Mrs Abigail Chaponda, the First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian High Commission in the United Kingdom.