Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Robert Chabinga has praised President Hakainde Hichilema for his visionary leadership.Mr. Chabinga who is also Patriotic Front Mafinga Member of Parliament acknowledged that Mr. Hakainde Hichilema is a visionary leader and continues to offer clarity to his administration’s policies.

“The President has a vision, he is steadfast and wants benefits for this country. The president has employed remedial measures to salvage the economy. All must admit seeing visible infrastructure progress thus far. I support the President’s clarion call for an agricultural revolution. Agriculture has the potential to turn around the economy of this country,” he said.

He also acknowledged projects in the Mining and Energy sector as well transformation programmes in the agricultural sector.
He charged that President Hichilema has taught him that one can practice politics with integrity.
Mr. Chabinga was speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka.

He said he is optimistic that parliamentary debates will remain informative, constructive and in a manner that will preserve the decorum of the house.

“It is my hope that the opposition and the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration will work together and discuss issues of national development in a way that will preserve the decorum of the house,” he added.

He advised parliamentarians not to get advice from people that are outside parliament, adding that the core value of parliament is to represent the people of this country.

He also said the Emolument Commission should either be repealed as its administration is interfering with the autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary or it should be amended to only apply to officers in the executive.

“From time immemorial, the conditions of service of legislatures have been determined by the standing orders committee in consultation with the executive in order to have uniformity of benefits with other constitutional office holders. This must be expeditiously dealt with to address perceived doubt impacting the country’s governance vis-a-vi separation of power,” he added.

He said among the constitutional reforms of note is Article 52 (6) which is potentially an electoral crisis in waiting.
“It allows the Electoral Commission of Zambia to cancel an election in the event of a candidate’s resignation, disqualification or death. If left unchecked, the Act has the potential to harm our democratic credentials. This is because it is left open to manipulation and abuse by political actors thereby introducing uncertainty into the electoral system, especially at Presidential and Parliamentary levels. It also potentially triggers unwarranted wastage of government resources,” he said.

Celine Nair, the Official Receiver and Provisional Liquidator for Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM), has moved to clarify a recent report aired by Diamond Television news bulletin on 15th February 2024. Nair emphasized that the report contained inaccuracies and selectively presented information from an ongoing court matter.

Nair asserted that she had not issued any official statement regarding the transitional matters concerning KCM, particularly concerning the resolution between the government and Vedanta Resources Limited. The current focus is on the implementation of the Scheme of Arrangement, which aims to facilitate Vedanta’s complete takeover of KCM.

Addressing the ongoing process, Nair highlighted that the transition to Vedanta’s ownership is proceeding through a court-monitored procedure. She reassured stakeholders that once finalized, all creditors would be duly compensated in accordance with the agreed scheme.

Nair informed creditors to ensure their records are updated, as meetings will soon commence for verification and payment processes. She noted Vedanta’s contribution of $25 million as bridging finance to support KCM’s short-term operations.

In light of these developments, Nair urged stakeholders not to panic, emphasizing collaboration between the government, Vedanta Resources Limited, and KCM management to ensure a smooth transition.

Regarding the Diamond TV report, Nair criticized its misleading headline and stressed the importance of accurate reporting, especially considering the efforts to revitalize Zambia’s mining sector. She cautioned the public against adopting the narrative of KCM’s imminent closure.

Shapi Shachinda, General Manager Corporate Affairs, issued this statement on behalf of KCM, underlining the commitment of all parties involved to facilitate Vedanta’s full takeover of KCM and restore stability to the mining industry.