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Unveiling Gregory during a Press Conference, Party President Dr. Nevers SEKWILA Mumba said that Gregory’s election is a testimony that the New Hope MMD believes in the Youths.

“Over 2 weeks ago, We had a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where we elected a Youth as the Deputy National Secretary. Gregory Mofu please stand so that they can see you. Gregory’s election is testimony that the New Hope MMD believes in the power of the Youth “, Dr. Mumba said.

Dr. Mumba further announced that the New Hope MMD would field 50% of the Youths in all elective positions during next year’s elections.

“We would further like to announce that we will field 50% of the Youths in all elective positions at Councillor, Mayoral and Member of Parliament level next year. So I call upon all Youths who have intentions of running next year to quickly run to the New Hope MMD”, Dr. Mumba said.

Dr. Mumba further announced the setting up of Young Leaders Academy for Youths who want to run in next year’s elections.

“To show that we walk the talk, we have deliberately decided to set up a 2021 Young Leaders Academy called the New Hope Institute. The aim of the New Hope Institute is to train, equip and mentor the Youths who want to run in next year’s election. Participating in an election is not an easy ball game. Our Youths need to be equipped with the right skills and knowledge and have to be mentored”, Dr. Mumba said.

In an interview after the Press briefing, Gregory said that Youths are now ripe for Leadership roles.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank My Party, the New Hope MMD and Party President Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba for believing in the Youths by electing me as Deputy National Secretary. This is testimant that the New Hope MMD values the roles of Youths as Partners in Development. I would like to call upon all other Political players that we the Youths are now ripe for Leadership”, Mr. Mofu said.

New Hope MMD Youth Treasurer Mr. Constatino Mubita said that the MMD Youth league is delighted over the election of it’s Youth Secretary to Deputy National Secretary of the Party.

“We the New Hope MMD Youth league are excited with the election of Cde Gregory who was our National Youth Secretary as Deputy National Secretary of our Party. Cde Mofu becomes the only Youth serving in a senior role in the three biggest parties in Zambia. Some of these parties don’t even have Youths leading their Youth Wing”, Mr. Mubita said.

And Mr. Collins Zulu a Youth who is an aspiring Councillor for Kalingalinga ward became the first to register for the New Hope Young Leaders Academy.

In an interview after his registration, Mr. Zulu called upon other aspiring youths to register for the 2021 Leadership academy.

“As an Aspiring Youth candidate for the 2021 General elections, I am delighted by formation of this New Hope 2021 Leadership academy. A number of us Youths have never stood in any elections nor have we ever had any senior politician to tell us what is involved. We have high hopes that this Academy will not only equip us us with the necessary skills and knowledge required to a run a successful campaign but we will also have the rare privilege of being mentored by seasonal politicians who have served this Nation in different positions”, Mr. Zulu said.

Clamp down on the Theft of Medicines, Dr Chilufya tells Medical Stores

Headlines

Chief Editor

July 4, 2020

Clamp down on the Theft of Medicines, Dr Chilufya tells Medical Stores

Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has encouraged the new Medical Stores Limited board of directors to clamp down pilferage of medicines.

Dr. Chilufya said if the scourge is allowed it may deny many Zambians from accessing medicine, against the principals of the Patriotic Front Government which believes in Universal Health Care.

“That woman from Shangombo and other areas need to access this medicine, so we need for the medicine to be safeguarded,” he said .

He said sustainable development hinges on health and productive workforce, prompting Government to place more investment in the health of the Zambian population.

He added that this will help attain a healthy workforce to drive the social economic development agenda.

Dr. Chilufya was speaking when he unveiled the new Medical Stores Limited board of directors on Friday in Lusaka.

“Investing in health systems, repositioning to ensure that we aspire for universal health coverage is our target. Health for everyone, health for all is the target that Government has set,” he added.

“Investing in health systems recognises the need to address the fundamental coke known us the supply chain of medicines and medical supplies.”

The new board of directors will comprise of Ms. Kakulubelwa Mulalelo (Chairperson), Mr. James Kapesa (Vice Chairperson), Mr. Mulenga Mulenba (Member) Mr. Zubir Dasu (Member), Mr. Marlon Banda (Member ),Mrs. Lizzy Mukwasa (Member )Mrs. Mwenya Bwalya (Member ) and Mr. Aven Muvwende (Member)

Pope appoints new Bishop of Ndola

General News

editor

July 4, 2020

Pope Francis names Bishop Benjamin Phiri as the Bishop of the Diocese of Ndola, Zambia.

Pope Francis on Friday appointed Bishop Benjamin Phiri as the Bishop of the Diocese of Ndola, Zambia.

Bishop Phiri has been serving as the Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata, Zambia since 2011, and Rector of St. Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia since 2004.

Biography
Bishop-elect Phiri was born on 14 June 1959 in Chongololo, (Petuake District) Chipata, and was ordained to the priesthood on 14 September 1986 for the diocese of Chipata.

After his studies at the Minor Seminary in Monze, he studied philosophy at St. Augustine Seminary, Kabwe, and theology at St. Dominic’s Major Seminary, Lusaka.

His assignments after ordination include: Parocchial Vicar of Mbwindi, Chipata (1986 – 1988); Director of Vocational Pastoral Ministry of Chipata Diocese (1987–1993), Parish priest in Chadiza, Chipata (1988–1990); Director of the Pastoral and Catechetical Center, Chikungu (1990 – 1997); Personal Secretary to the then Bishop of Chipata, Bishop Medardo Mazombwe (1993–1997).

Between 1997–2002, Bishop Phiri attended the Pontifical Urban University (Urbaniana) in Rome where he obtained a licentiate in Canon Law. He subsequently served as the National Director of the Pastoral Office of the Zambian Bishops’ Conference from 2002–2004.

Bishop Phiri was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata on 18 January 2011 with the titular see of Nachingwea.

Source: Vatican News

Christians Fighting the Christians Clause in Bill 10 are Cowards

Feature Politics

Chief Editor

July 4, 2020

Christians Fighting the Christians Clause in Bill 10 are Cowards

Mr. Chishala Chilufya a seasoned political consultant based in Chipata and a member of the Redeemed Methodist Church has strongly castigated Christians and church organizations who are fighting the Christian clause which is in Constitutional Amendment Bill 10.

In a statement released to the media, Mr. Chishala has also condemned Christians to stop being gullible to rhetorics about Zambia a country being a Christian nation when in fact it’s not properly enshrined in the Constitution of Zambia.

He has since challenged the clergy to come out in the open to openly indicate whether Zambia should cease to be called a Christian nation because that’s what it means when people don’t want it included in the Constitution.

The political consultant has called on the Zambian people to seize this opportunity to strengthen Christian values, ethics and principles within the framework of the law like other nations hav done citing Isreal a Jewish state and Islamic states such as Saudi Arabia, Morrocco among others.

“Firstly, the Zambian people must know that Bill 10 provides to amend multi-religious which is “SECULAR” and replace it with Christian ethics, values and principles. Now the question is, is that what they are opposing? Are we so afraid of living according to Christian values that we are against this amendment or is it because some political parties and clergy have been receiving money from the LBGTQ organizations and are afraid that this clause will hinder them.

“Zambia as a country has been celebrated world over, over the declaration of Zambia being a Christian nation, this lead to the growth of alot of churches but when it comes to implementing this into the Constitution men of the cloth are the ones disputing and opposing the loudest.

“Let’s have an honest conversation, are they opposing God? In essence what they are saying is we should become a secular state to allow gay, satanism and other abominable practises because you can’t have it both ways.
He has since urged the Zambian people to be vigilant and careful and to resist the temptation of turning the Bill into a partisan political conquest when analysing the Bill, he questioned.

He has wondered why some clergy should take a partisan stance, preaching division and choosing whom they support.

“I’m urging the church to not preach hate but to preach love, unity, peace and reconciliation. The church is there to give light to darkness, that is why there is a platform of engagement. They need to be a neutral body. They should not advance a regime change agenda in their criticism, that is why as a politician and Bill 10 Advocate, it is because of the Christian clause
that we have produced the brochure called the ‘Journey-To-Bill10’ and ‘What is Bill 10’ which is available in all local languages

“The country had alot of commissions of inquiry in regards to the Constitution Amendments starting with Former President Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Dr Fredrick Chiluba, Dr Levy Levy Patrick Mwanawasa , Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda and President Michael Says.
Today they are the same people opposing the amendment, as a country we should not do anything to target an individual because of what we stand to benefit individually.

“The Zambian people should not see the amendment bill number 10 through 2021 elections. Since independence in 1964 the Zambian Constitution has been amended 9times. The current amendment should be objectively evaluated. The reason the Constitution has been amended in the past and presently is so as to suit the current atmosphere and state of the world.

“One wonders why people should fight the Constitution Amendment which is meant to correct the challenges affecting our governing system and make us progressive with the inclusion of women, youths and disabled, he wondered.

To Alliance or Not to Alliance in 2021 General Elections

Columns

Chief Editor

July 4, 2020

To Alliance or Not to Alliance in 2021 General Elections

By: Anthony Bwalya – UPND Member

I have to declare an interest from the onset: as a member of the United Party for National Development (UPND), my natural judgment informs me, on the balance of the political mood in the nation; as well as on the balance of all other available electoral data, any change of government in 2021 is most likely going to go the UPND way than any other opposition political party.

There are also indications, that it is possible for the biggest opposition political party to secure an outright victory against the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) because the injury caused by a corruption anchored leadership of the PF has hurt all of us, including the “13,000” mystery angels who secured the 50+1 for President Edgar Lungu and the PF in 2016.

So, it is fair to say, that in 2021, the PF will not be wrestling against the UPND. The PF will be up against a semblance of the 1991 and 2011 popular uprising motivated by the people’s owned desire to end politically motivated corruption, joblessness, poverty, correct personal taxation and public pension systems – both of which are hurting ordinary people, fixing the economy, a return to the rule of law and a total reclamation of our natural resources for the benefit of Zambians.

A people’s uprising is the strongest alliance ever.

But this is never a substitute for UNITY OF PURPOSE among and within the ranks of the opposition.

The opposition is the principal guardian and protector of the people’s collective interests, especially when faced with a wayward ruling regime such as the PF.

Thus, the purpose of any coming together by the opposition, should be for the primary objective of securing objective unanimity and agreement around the tone and general direction of public leadership in Zambia; as well as to tell the Zambian people that the opposition is firmly focussed on securing the national interest, ahead of partisan positions.

It, therefore, follows, that members of the opposition fraternity must resist the temptation of seeking to come together in an alliance for reasons of exerting and extracting political leverage; or indeed the drive to share high ranking political positions. If an alliance should be motivated by the foregoing, then we will have failed the Zambian people whose interests we are carrying on our shoulders.

The UPND is the opposition flagbearer in Zambian Politics at the moment. We must agree on this. BUT, this does not mean other opposition political parties are of no relevance or consequence.

Of course they are. And this is because we are all speaking for the liberation of our people against a self-absorbed PF regime.

But this is not the time for the opposition to be flexing political muscles at each other. We have to look at the realities of our fortunes as a people and recognise that we will all be damned if we play stupid and try to play Russian roulette with the lives of Zambians in the name of securing political advantages for our respective political parties ahead of 2021.

The 2021 general election does not belong to the opposition. It belongs to the Zambian people.

In terms of political advantage within the ranks of the opposition, the UPND has a very clear advantage and that is fact; and this advantage has been given to them by the Zambian people over several years of trusted, resilient, consistent and unflinching leadership.

But in order for this advantage to be meaningfully transformative in 2021, we need ALL other opposition political parties to stand with us without any conditions to it, except to deliver emancipation for our country.

Anything less than this, will play into the hands of the brutal PF regime and will potentially hand them the impetus to come charging at an indecisive, selfserving opposition arena and we will have betrayed our country and our people.

We cannot afford this.

MMD Joins Petition to De-Register Parties that have not held Conventions to elect Leaders

Headlines

Chief Editor

July 4, 2020

MMD Joins Petition to De-Register Parties that have not held Conventions to elect Leaders

The Opposition New Hope Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) has been joined to a petition where Legal advocate Benjamin Mwelwa wants the Constitutional Court to order for the deregistration of all Political Parties that have not practiced democratic tenents since 2016.

The New Hope MMD through its National Secretary Elizabeth Chitika had applied to the Constitution Court to join the matter, stating that it was likely to be affected by the outcome of the Petition.

Justice Mungeni Mulenga granted the Application, stating that the MMD has sufficient interest in the matter.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) did not object to the joinder application.

“Having read the summons, affidavit in support, the skeleton arguments and counsel for the intended third interested party and there being no objections to the application, I hereby grant the application and join the intended third interested party to the proceedings”, read the ruling in Party.

In this matter, Mr. Mwelwa is seeking an order to direct the Registrar of Societies to deregister all political parties that have not held party elections since 2016.

He is also seeking a declaration that any political party which has been in existence as of January 5, 2016, and which has not practiced democracy through regular, free, and fair elections, should cease to exist in Zambia on January 4, 2017.

He insists that such a Party has breaches article 60 (2) (d) of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act number two of 2016.

Mr. Mwelwa has cited Attorney General Likando Kalaluka and the ECZ as respondents in the petition.

The New Hope MMD was supposed to have a Convention in 2017 but a group of suspended and expelled members organized an illegal Convention in 2016 where Felix Mutati emerged as Party President. On the 5th of November, 2019, the Courts ruled that the 2016 MMD Convention was illegal and all the decisions made between then and the 5th of November 2019 was null and void. And that Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba was the legitimate and only leader of the MMD.

Zimiseleni Admits Players Will Miss Fans During July 18 League Restart

Feature Sports
Sports

sports

July 4, 2020

Lusaka Dynamos defender Zimiseleni Moyo has admitted that it will be hard for both players and fans as the 2019/2020 FAZ Super Division season restarts with closed door matches on July 18.

Playing matches behind closed doors is one of the measures FAZ and health authorities have put in place amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview, Moyo asked fellow players and fans to follow guidelines on coronavirus prevention.

“Especially for the fans it will be so painful; I know fans give you motivation. Sometimes when you are coming to the stadium and you see fans, people are singing, it motivates you to push more hard. It will be like a training environment but there is nothing we can do,” the ex-Zesco United and Zanaco defender said.

“We just want to urge the supporters to be patient; we know that it will be more painful for them to be away from the stadium. But our health matters most so we should follow what we have been advised. Even us as footballers we should follow those precautions. We should not risk our lives,” Moyo said.

The Zimbabwean is positive Lusaka Dynamos will excel in the remaining matches and secure a top-four slot.

“Looking at our form in 2020 we have been doing well. We are now looking at finding ourselves in the top four. The difference between us and number one (leaders Forest Rangers) is six points and we have a game against them,” Moyo said.

Leaders Forest are on 35 points from 24 games played.

Others in the top four are second placed Napsa Stars on 45 points, Eagles on 44 points and Nkana on 43

President Lungu directs NAPSA and Council to quickly complete Intercity Bus Terminus

Economy

Chief Editor

July 3, 2020

President Lungu directs NAPSA and Council to quickly complete Intercity Bus Terminus

President Edgar Lungu has directed the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and Livingstone City Council to quickly complete the construction of the Livingstone intercity bus terminus.

President Lungu is not happy that the project has delayed due to misunderstandings between the two partners.

He says people want quick completion of the project and that any further delay should not be allowed.

President Lungu said this shortly before Commissioning the NAPSA owned Mosi-Oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort Hotel in Livingstone.
And, NAPSA Director General Yollard Kachinda assured the President that issues that surrounded the delay on the construction works have been resolved.

Mr. Kachinda told President Lungu that the construction of the bus terminus will be completed within 12 months.

Meanwhile, Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale said he is happy that works on the construction of the bus terminus will soon resume adding that it has been expensive to keep the contractor on site.

Vice President Inonge Wina defends the High Nomination Fees for Elections

Headlines

Chief Editor

July 3, 2020

Vice President Inonge Wina defends the High Nomination Fees for Elections

Vice President Inonge Wina says proposed nomination fees by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for candidates contesting the 2021 general elections were made after consideration of a number of issues.

Mrs. Wina says one of the issues is the requirement to issue all presidential candidates a free voter’s register for all the streams whose cost is estimated at 610,000 Kwacha per presidential candidate.

She says before the meeting with various political parties, ECZ undertook a benchmarking exercise on other electoral bodies in Africa where it was discovered that the average nomination fee was 350,000 Kwacha.

Mrs. Wina says the highest Nomination fees were in the Democratic Republic of Congo which was pegged at 1.8 million hundred Kwacha equivalent.

She says it is for this reason that ECZ engaged stakeholders and political parties to make proposals for election nomination fees for the purpose of agreeing on the final figure.

Mrs. Wina said this today during the Vice President’s question time in Parliament in response to a question by Chimbamilonga Member of Parliament who wanted to find out why ECZ had proposed an increase in nomination fees.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Wina said Government had an administrative matter to deal with before it could resume the social cash transfer programme.

She said the Ministry of Community Development is being empowered to ensure the beneficiaries of social cash transfer start receiving it.

Mrs. Wina further said there are many social protection measures that Government is taking in order to bring the various sectors and players under one unit.

She said Smart Zambia is currently working with the Ministry of Community Development so that data base is established for recipients of social protection funds to avoid double payments.

And the Vice President urged opposition members of Parliament to participate in Bill 10 debates and not merely complain about contentious issues contained in the Public Order Act.

Mrs. Wina said there are many other contentious issues in the Constitution that need to be addressed so that the country’s governance can be put on the right track.

Constitutional Court dismisses Petition to have Bill 10 Withdrawn

Feature Politics

Chief Editor

July 3, 2020

Constitutional Court dismisses Petition to have Bill 10 Withdrawn

The Constitutional Court has dismissed a petition by Law Association of Zambia -LAZ and Chapter One Foundation Limited to have the Constitution Amendment Bill number ten of 2019 withdrawn from Parliament.

The Court has ruled that the petition by LAZ and Chapter One Foundation lacked merit because they did not show how Justice Minister Given Lubinda breached constitutional procedure when presenting Bill 10 to Parliament.

This is according to a final majority judgement delivered by Constitutional Court Judge Enock Mulembe on behalf of five others.

Judge Mulembe said the Constitutional Court can not intervene in the matter as the arguments by LAZ and Chapter One do not show how the mandatory formalities as prescribed in Article 79 of the constitution, where offended by Bill 10.

He said the petitioners also rushed to seek the Constitutional Court’s intervention as they would have waited for the Bill to pass its third Reading.

In this matter, Chapter One Foundation Limited had petitioned the Constitutional Court for an order that Minister of Justice Given Lubinda withdraws Bill 10.

LAZ was seeking a declaration that government’s decision to amend the Constitution in the manner set in Bill Number 10 of 2019, is illegal because it contravenes several Articles of the constitution including 1, 8, 9, 61, and 79 among others.

Lungu loves to dine and wine with corrupt people — Mweetwa

General News

Chief Editor

July 3, 2020

Lungu loves to dine and wine with corrupt people — Mweetwa

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) deputy Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa says president Lungu’s statement on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by the courts of law over Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya means he likes dinning and wining with corrupt individuals.

This was in response to Mr. Lungu’s statement that he would not interfere in the operations of the organs of the state such as the police, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) after he disclosed that he would wait for corrupt laden Health Minister, Chitalu Chilufya to be cleared or convicted by the courts of law before he could fire or retire him.

Speaking at the party secretariat yesterday, Mweetwa, who is also Choma central constituency Member of Parliament stated that Lungu’s massaging of Ministers who have found themselves at the wrong side of the law meant he the president supported lawlessness and debauchery
from his appointees.

The Choma Central lawmaker added that the UPND was left with no option but to conclude that Mr Lungu enjoyed the company and friendship of corrupt people.

Mweetwa made it clear that the violation of Article 8 of the Zambian constitution was sending a message to ministers and other senior government officials that it didn’t matter whether someone was facing corruption allegations as long as they were free at the hands of Mr Lungu.

He wondered what precedence Mr Lungu was setting by allowing those facing corruption charges to continue occupying public office when his predecessor, the late Michael Chilufya Sata fired and suspended any minister accused of indulging in graft.

Mweetwa stated that the utterances were a breach of his inaugural speech and promise that he was not going to betray the confidence of the Zambian people when he blatantly chose to embrace those who were facing corruption charges.

The Choma central lawmaker alleged that Lungu’s tolerance towards Dr Chilufya wouldn’t have been tolerated if the person involved in the corruption scandal was a headmaster, a teacher, a police officer, a nurse or a director or any ordinary employee.

Mr Mweetwa charged that failure by Mr Lungu to allow for the
expediency prosecution of Dr Chilufya amounted to allowing corruption to flourish under his watch in the country.

UPND accuse PF of traversing the Country to look for UPND Councillors to Buy

Feature Politics

Chief Editor

July 3, 2020

UPND accuse PF of traversing the Country to look for UPND Councillors to Buy

The UPND on the Copperbelt says it is aware that the PF mob that traverses the Republic to look for UPND Councillors to buy, is currently in the province with a mission to buy its Lambaland Councillors.

UPND Copperbelt Province Chairman Elias Matambo says the PF mob is offering huge sums of money to buy off local government elected representatives in order to create an impression that UPND is in a crisis.

Mr Matambo said this is aimed at cause expensive and unnecessary by elections, that they will heavily rig in order to massage an ego that their popularity on the Copperbelt is surging.

He said nothing can be further from the truth.

Mr Matambo says the Lambaland is a UPND stronghold with four constituencies namely, Mpongwe, Masaiti, Lufwanyama and Kafulafuta and have a total of 51 Councillors in the entire Copperbelt.

“The PF are aware of our strength on the Copperbelt Rural, and are therefore intent on destabilizing our structures with stolen money from civil servants’ unremitted dues to various banks, which they are converting for these corrupt expedition”, he said.

Mr Matambo said the UPND mission in Lambaland and the rest of the Copperbelt is clear, solid, complete and compelling and that is to liberate Zambia from the injustices, corruption, mediocrity and incompetence of the PF administration.

He said Lambaland is therefore not for sale to the highest bidder and UPND Councillors there must choose patriotism above self interest and PF patronage that only seeks temporary economic relief.

“Like our Malawian brothers and sisters, let us resist temptation and look at the bigger picture of social and economic justice and emancipation of our people, from the shackles of the PF corruption, tribalism, violence and incompetence”, he has advised.

Mr Matambo said this is not the time to surrender conscience and sell their birthright and democratic values to the plunderers and thieves of the economic and mineral wealth which they have sold to foreigners for a song.

He urged UPND Councilors to refuse and reject to be part of this filthy legacy, for the sake of their children and future generations.

“Zambia is our heritage and we have nowhere else to go but Zambia. We must therefore protect our great nation by ensuring that the PF’s corrupt machinations are halted because it’s darkest before dawn and our final victory beckons”, he added in a statement.

HOW ZESCO MADE AN IMAGINARY MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LOSS

Columns

editor

July 3, 2020

HOW ZESCO MADE AN IMAGINARY MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LOSS

By Nchinde Mampuulwa

The much-demonized Bulk Supply Agreement (BSA) between ZESCO Limited and Copperbelt Energy Corporation came to a-not-so-surprising end on the last day of March. Not surprising to many that had followed the unfolding of events. Zesco and government alike, from the highest office, had on many occasions spoken about how they wouldn’t renew that agreement many months before a feeble attempt to negotiate was made. This isn’t new and is not the focus of my reflection today.

What’s new is that for the first time that I’ve ever heard, Zesco early last week came out with numbers of the loss incurred under that accursed contract and that is commendable because for the longest time, Zesco and government have spoken about how the BSA disadvantaged Zambians but have never explained the rationale nor quantified anything. But now a Zambian taxpayer can better see how they could have been better off without that agreement.

A lot of figures were given by Zesco’s Patrick Mwila – $10 million, $12 million, $67 million, $120 million, $200 million and I’ve even read $500 million somewhere. All very confusing because while this is commendable, without context and any backing of rational analysis, documents, assumptions or reports that can be independently verified, they are just numbers being thrown in the air to achieve a certain purpose. However, let us discuss each of the amounts mentioned by Mwila but with a focus on the rationale in order to better be informed of his reasoning. This will help us to either agree or disagree with the thought process and, therefore, the conclusion.

Let’s attempt to discuss the reasons advanced for each of the amounts starting with $120 million which Mwila alluded to as the loss attributed to the tariff at which Zesco buys its 420MW from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) Maamba and Itezhi-Tezhi compared to the price at which power is sold to CEC. So Mwila is telling us that Zesco commits to buy power from these IPPs, all of which it sells to CEC and not any other customer in Zambia so that the entire loss is attributed to the expired contract between the parties.

One would ask why all the expensive power was solely attributed to CEC even though that power came on stream very recently in comparison to when Zesco got into contract with CEC? What about the rest of the customers Zesco supplies – the mines, commercial entities, farmers and residential consumers? What is the portion of the loss attributed to the rest of the customers?

Interestingly, in May 2019, Zesco/Ministry of Energy announced that the power company was seeking to commence re-negotiations of its power purchase agreements (PPAs) with both Maamba and Itezhi-Tezhi aimed at reducing the tariff. Keep in mind that these are PPAs approved by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) in 2011.

Does that mean the tariffs agreed with the IPPs were too high and needed to be reduced to make them competitive yet these are the same high tariff being applied to CEC and on which the purported loss is computed? And does it mean that the tariff stated in the ZESCO-KCM power supply term sheet of $39/kW per month eliminates the loss to zero or is it that ZESCO will no longer sign contracts with any consumers at lower than the price electricity is being procured at from IPPs? The reasoning and assumptions cannot be correct and can’t be ascribed to the $120 million loss.

Turning to the $12 million Mwila says Zesco lost for using the CEC network to supply the rest of the customers in the Copperbelt, one wonders how this can be a loss. Is their position that the cost of operating the CEC network is zero, in which case Zesco would incur no cost to operate or reinvest in the network if they owned it themselves? It would be enlightening to hear an explanation from them on why they consider this a loss. Unless Mwila is telling us that Zesco transmits power from Kariba to Lusaka, for example, at zero cost using their network. This can be likened to someone paying for bus fare to deliver his goods for sale from Lusaka to Kitwe but considers the cost of the bus ticket as a loss and accuses the bus operator of causing him the loss. That cannot be commercially rational.
The next interesting one is the $10million which Zesco was ordered to pay for breaching a contract. Any commercial entity appreciates that contracts should be respected and that there are consequences when one applies jungle law as a basis for their operations.

Zesco admit to have gone against the provisions of the contract. As expected, they went before arbitration and lost yet they classify that as a loss. Typically, in any enterprise where responsibility and accountability are core values, a lapse of this nature where a senior manager even brags about breaching a contract should attract ramifications; but rather it seems that instead of being reprimanded for breaching a contract and not protecting shareholder value, the people in charge have found a reason to blame the wronged party as a justification for their misconduct. It appears that it’s easier for some people to blame their neighbours for their failures.

We now come to the alleged $67million loss arising from metering and Mwila’s claim that CEC does not allow Zesco access to its meters, hence, the loss. The Zesco supply point is where the Zesco network interfaces with the CEC network and those meters are owned by Zesco. How, then, can Zesco not have access to their own meters?

One can only speculate that what Mwila wanted was for CEC to allow Zesco to meter individual components of CEC customers’ equipment. Putting it simply, it’s like Zesco demanding to meter each item in a household from the fridge, stove, deep freezer and geyser rather than place the meter at the Distribution Box as is normally done.

Having analysed, even at this basic level, the rationale of what Mwila claimed, my suspicion is that Zesco felt the pressure of adding more sting to their bite to make their story believable but rather than provide the evidence that people can interrogate, they pick out huge numbers that are certain to turn the sentimental mind aghast, and that may work where the audience does not ask questions.

There is still quite a lot to be dissected in the statements and claims being put out and it would serve the public well to analyse more of the detail including both the CEC and ZESCO financial statements which should help provide more information.

Sean Tembo Supports Single Opposition Candidate, but it should not be HH or Kambwili

Headlines

Chief Editor

July 3, 2020

Sean Tembo Supports Single Opposition Candidate, but it should not be HH or Kambwili

The Patriots for Economic Progress says it has noted with keen interest recent calls by leaders of the opposition UPND and NDC about the need for the opposition to field a single presidential candidate in the upcoming general elections next year.

Party President Sean Tembo says his party fully agrees with such a view, as they have always done.

Mr. Tembo says filing a single opposition candidate is the most sure way of removing President Lungu and his Patriotic Front party from office.

He, however, said that a change of Government by itself, just for the sake of changing Government, will not result in any positive change in the lives of the Zambian people as was the case in 2011 when Zambians replaced the MMD Government with the current PF Government which has proved to be even more disastrous.

“In other words, it is possible to vote out a bad government and replace it with a worse government, if the change of government is the only objective. What would improve the lives of the Zambian people is to remove the current PF Government and replace it with a better Government”, he said.

Mr Tembo said his party was founded on the basis that the Zambian people deserve a good government which will help this nation to convert its immense potential into actual wealth.

He said this commitment to give the Zambian people a good government is so strong in his party, that they are always willing to sacrifice political ambitions to instead support a presidential candidate from another political party, provided they are confident that such a candidate has potential to give the Zambian people a better government than the current PF Government.

Mr Tembo said this was the same principle on the basis of which his Party decided to join the Opposition Alliance, about 2 years ago.

“However, over the years and through close interaction with our fellow opposition leaders, we have come to the realization that none of our opposition peers actually posses the capacity nor appetite to form a better government that would uplift the wellbeing of the Zambian people. It is our considered view that none of our current opposition peers understand how to formulate and implement government policy, hence their failure to develop any Alternative National Budget or Alternative National Development Plan for the past two decades”, he added.

Mr Tembo said t it is folly for any citizen of Zambia to believe that a person whom, only a few months ago, as Minister of Information and Broadcasting, was harassing and closing down media houses, will tomorrow protect media freedom if made President.

Equally, Mr Tembo said it is folly for any citizen of Zambia to believe that a person whose close advisor and senior party official is a well-documented violent thug such as Tekere Banda, can bring about an end to political violence if elected as President tomorrow.

He added that equally, it is folly for any Zambian to believe that a person who has consistently failed to develop a coherent Alternative National Budget, despite severally attempting to do so, can tomorrow competently preside over the social-economic development of this country, if elected as Republican President.

“Additionally, it is folly for the Zambian people to believe that a political party that has consistently failed to sustainably manage City, Municipal and District Councils in their respective strongholds, can tomorrow suddenly develop competence to sustainably manage this nation”, he said.

Mr Tembo on the basis of the above, the Patriots for Economic Progress will always stand ready to support the idea of a single opposition candidate in the upcoming 2021 general election, provided we are confident that such a candidate has a demonstrable vision and competence to form a better government which would uplift the social-economic welfare of the Zambian people.

He said currently his party does not see any such candidate among opposition peers and on that basis that they do not intend to be complicit in ushering into office an experimental government that is likely to add to the tragedy of leadership deficit that this country has been bedeviled with already.

Mopani denies Owing Kitwe City Council K58 million

Economy

Chief Editor

July 3, 2020

Mopani denies Owing Kitwe City Council K58 million

Mopani Mines has accused Kitwe City Council of increasing rates by 600% outside the binding agreement.

On Wednesday, Kitwe City Council bailiffs pounced on Mopani Copper Mines in an attempt to collect various properties after the mining company refused to pay the K58 million owed to the local authority under the new valuation roll as approved by the rating tribunal.

But in a statement, Mopani also refuted reports that it owes Kitwe City Council a staggering K58 million in Property rates.

The mining giant alleges that it entered into a 5-year agreement with Kitwe City Council in 2015 to pay K8 million a year and that the agreement remains valid until end of 2020.

“Earlier this year the Council without prior consultation, increased the rates to K58 million (+600 percent) contrary to the provisions of the Agreement, and rejected Mopani’s offer to pay the undisputed amount of K8 million while negotiations were ongoing.“

Mopani Copper Mines PLC has since disputed the rates in the High Court, which granted a Stay of Execution against the award of the new rates.

“Mopani remains a long standing partner to Kitwe City Council. The act of sending bailiffs to collect a disputed debt, which is still before the Court of law is concerning. Mopani has since made the full payment for the undisputed K8 million and remains hopeful of a swift conclusion to the matter,” read part of the statement.

But Kitwe City Council says it dismayed by Mopani’s statement claiming that it has increased the rate by 600%.

In clarifying the matter, the council has indicated that the agreement Mopani is alluding to in its statement was tied to the life of the 2014 Valuation Roll which expired in 2019.

It said the preparation of the valuation roll is governed by the Rating Act No. 21 of 2018 and the process is very consultative as observed from the timeline of events which occurred during the review of the 2014 valuation roll.

The statement indicates that, on the 11th October 2019, the Council passed a resolution to propose the rate levy from K0.016 or 1.6 ngwee in the 2014 valuation roll to K0.0165 or 1.65 ngwee under the 2019 valuation roll giving the difference of K0.0005 representing an increment of 3%.

“The Council resolution on K0.0165 rate levy was published in the gazette on 14th October 2019 and in the print media on 16th October 2019 to invite the leaseholders to inspect the valuation roll which inspections ended on the 11th November 2019,” says the statement.

The Council has revealed that Mopani lodged an objection to the effect that the levy of K0.0165 was too high but did not dispute the value of properties on the roll.

“Thereafter, the Mine and the Local Authority held meetings to narrow the differences in opinion where it was agreed that parties proceed to seek the Valuation Tribunal decision on the rate levy proposed by the council. However, the Valuation Tribunal after hearing both parties, agreed with the Kitwe City Council accordingly. Consequently, the 2019 Valuation Roll came into effect on 1st January 2020.”

“Upon service of the bill, the mine sued the council and obtained a conditional stay of execution which elapsed by the date of execution” says the statement.

Kitwe City council has confirmed that, part payment of K8 million has been paid and the mine has committed in writing to resolve the remaining balance of K21,241,913.51 within five days from 1st July 2020 which is the date of the commitment letter.

This payment is for the period 1st January to 1st July 2020. The Council is hopeful that the mine will honor its commitment within 5 days as promised.

Kitwe City Council has further urged companies and residents to settle bills on time as the local authority requires resources in order to provide the much needed services.