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The Patriotic Front (PF) is gravely concerned with the reports that we are receiving that some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working in collusion with the Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Alliance are working and engaging with a view to frustrate a well intended effort by government to table the National Dialogue Forum Bill before Parliament.
We are reliably informed that the CSOs are meeting at a named Lodge in Lusaka where this evil plan is being hatched.
We urge these CSOs and its leaders to put the interests of the people of Zambia first ahead of partisan interest!
The Zambian people should be reminded that had it not been the politicisation of the governance reforms and the antagonist position taken by the CSOs, this country would have had a powerful and effective Bill of Rights. Sadly, simply because of partisan and sectarian interests some CSOs working in collusion with UPND shot down the bill of rights in 2016 which was meant guarantee citizens fundamental rights!
Zambians have not forgotten, that the same CSOs working under the Umbrella body called the Grand Coalition frustrated government efforts and ensured that the bill of rights failed to meet the threshold stipulated in the Republican Constitution.
The Zambian people should be reminded once again that had it not been for the political will, resilience and hardwork of the PF government the 2016 amended constitution with very progressive clauses would not have been passed. The same CSOs boycotted participation at the Committee Stage in Parliament in an effort to shoot down a progressive bill.
As a party, we wonder, what is the actual motive of these CSOs? Because it is now becoming apparent that this is not about the governance reforms!
The reforms that government is implementing are well elaborated in the party manifesto of the Patriotic Front! We promised the Zambian people that we would amend the Constitution, the Public Order Act and all the other key reforms that we outlined to the people when we were campaigning!
We are aware that these CSOs have been receiving funding from donors to push for legislative reforms that entrench democratic governance in Zambia.
We ask the question; are these not the reforms that CSOs have been advocating and lobbying for, for the past 28 years since we attained multiparty democracy?
We have been told time and again that there is shrinking democratic space, which of course has not been substantiated by empirical data; but again we ask why would these organisations go to all this length demanding for the amendment of these pieces of legislation meant to widen political participation and then all of a sudden turn round to try and frustrate the same effort by government?
This is hypocrisy of the worst kind!
Its sad that they are making advocacy and lobbying a fund raising venture for their personal gain at the expense if the people of Zambia!
As for the Patriotic Front, we remain committed and resolute to meet the aspirations of the people of Zambia.
The President of the Republic of Zambia, who is also our party President, His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu is determined to ensure that all governance reforms that aimed at increasing political participation and bettering accountability and service delivery become a reality! No amount of distraction will sway our resolve to ensure that we meet the aspirations of the people of Zambia! The Patriotic Front owes it to the Zambian people to ensure that the governance reforms agenda becomes a reality.
We also want to put it on record that as a party we are determined that when President Edgar Chagwa Lungu leaves office in 2026, one of the key legacies of his Presidency will be the fulfilment of an effective governance system that puts the Zambian people at pinnacle of decision making!!
Lastly, we wish to remind our colleagues in civil society and their allies in the UPND of an old maxim that says “process protects the content”. We want to be clear that all processes to amend the Constitution and all the other subsidiary legislation will done in accordance with the prescribed methodology espoused in the supreme law of the land! The National Dialogue Forum is a creation of Parliament hence its resolutions will still require ratification of Parliament. The Constitution is clear that Parliament is the legitimate people’s voice and hence the only body mandated by law and the people of Zambia to make and amend laws!!
The shall be no shortcuts! Our government is the government of Laws!!!
Issued by:
Sunday Chanda
Media Director
Patriotic Front
Party Headquarters
THERE is need for collective effort in sensitising the citizens on national values and principals, National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili has said.
Reverend Sumaili noted that though much progress had been made on realising national values and principles, there was need to for more sensitisation on the subject.
She has since called on various stakeholders such as traditional leaders, the clergy and family elders among others to sensitise citizens on the importance of national values and principles.
She told the Daily Nation that national values and principles gave citizens an identity and guideline on how they should conduct themselves and treat each other.
“As a ministry we are very delighted with the progress that has been made in realising our national values and principles. The President came out very clearly on the issue during his address to the nation in Parliament Last week.
“We need more awareness, especially on morality, we need everybody to get on board. There is more that need to be done in guiding the nation on the issues of morality,” said.
And Reverend Sumaili also called for patriotism and national unity.
“Zambia is a blessed nation and it is unique, we have to love each other and our nation. We have to be loyal to our nation and ensure that the unity as One Zambia, One Nation is upheld.
“We are one people, we can speak different languages, but we are one. God is a God of variety and that is what gives us strength as a people of Zambia, so we need to be one, Reverend Sumaili said
Representatives of the Three Church Mother Bodies making a presentation at Parliament Buildings
The Three Church Mother Bodies have accused government of lying that they were consulted in the formulation of the recently proposed governance related bills.
Representatives of the Three Church Mother Bodies stated that they were never consulted on the National Dialogue (Constitution, Electoral Process, Public Order and Political Parties) Bill.
Appearing before a Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights, National Guidance, Gender Matters and Governance, the Three Church Mother Bodies stated that they age concerned that the Bill itself does not recognise or take into account the efforts being made by the Church.
The Church Mother Bodies charged that yeh are extremely disappointed that they have been listed under the schedule to the Bill as one of the organisations that submitted to the Constitutional Refinement process and yet they never made any such submissions as reflected on the dates in the schedule.
Below is the full statement
SUBMISSION OF A MEMORANDUM TO THE LEGAL AFFAIRS, HUMAN RIGHTS, NATIONAL GUIDANCE, GENDER MATTERS AND GOVERNANCE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE (CONSTITUTION, ELECTORAL PROCESS, PUBLIC ORDER AND POLITICAL PARTIES) BILL 2019
1.0. Introduction
The Zambian Government has proposed to enact into law a bill on National Dialogue (Constitution, Electoral Process, Public Order and Political Parties). This draft bill proposes to establish a Dialogue Forum to make amendments to the 2016 Constitution, the Electoral Process, the Public Order Act and Political Parties bill, premised on the Siavonga resolutions of political parties.
At the outset we would like to state that we the three Church Mother Bodies have been facilitating a process of National Dialogue and Reconciliation which speaks to socio-economic, political, cultural and religious issues. While we appreciate the fact that this bill attempts to give legal backing to the process of constitutional amendments and legal reforms, we are concerned that the bill itself does not recognise or take into account the efforts being made by the Church.
Thus far we have conducted wide consultations with various stakeholders such as political party leaders, Civil Society Organisations, Media, Labour Unions and other religious mother bodies. Arising from our consultations we have developed a comprehensive National Dialogue and Reconciliation Framework as well as guidelines for the proceedings of the process and terms of reference for different administrative organs of the Framework, such as the Technical Working Groups and committee of experts. All these efforts are aimed at promoting reconciliation, peacebuilding and national healing.
In the light of the foregoing, our impression is that the bill is giving extremely short time (ten days) which robs the whole process of a meaningful and comprehensive, constitutional, institutional and legal reforms.
2.0. Our concerns on the process
Firstly, we the three Church Mother Bodies, namely the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), are extremely disappointed that we have been listed under the schedule to the bill as one of the organisations that submitted to the Constitutional Refinement process and yet we never made any such submissions as reflected on the dates in the schedule.
Secondly, we are concerned with the manner and speed with which the bill has been introduced. No sufficient time has been given for stakeholders to study, consult among themselves and have enough time for them to prepare substantial and comprehensive submissions to this committee.
Thirdly, the bill does not provide a guarantee for the protection of the contents that will be generated by the proposed National Dialogue Forum (NDF), because it will be subjected to further parliamentary deliberations and scrutiny.
Fourthly, we are seriously concerned with the proposed provision that all the members of parliament shall participate in the NDF deliberations and yet have undue privilege at the end of the NDF process, to alter the agreed contents of the bills, and enact them into law at the end of the whole process. We find this anomaly to be against the rules of natural justice, where in this case, the same people who will participate in the initial discussions will be the ones again to scrutinise the same contents (Bills).
Fifthly, we are concerned, as a matter of procedure with the simultaneous handling of the constitutional refinements together with the other laws which must derive from the constitution as a supreme law. We find this to be extremely strange.
Sixthly, learning from other jurisdictions, it is best practice, especially in constitutional making process, to put in place an independent committee of experts that would review and refine all the submissions of the NDF before they are taken to parliament for enactment. This way the constitution will avoid having inconsistences and lacunas.
3.0. Concerns on the Contents
Firstly, the preamble clearly suggests that there will be no changes to the Bill of Rights by way of a referendum. We feel that the bill of rights is too cardinal to leave out in this process because the Bill of Rights is essential to enjoying our rights under the constitution and every other law in Zambia.
Secondly, the Forum is highly dominated by Members of Parliament and Government officials. Our fear is that, when it comes to voting on particular issues not agreed by consensus, the government will always be in the majority. The foregoing is compounded by the fact that the Chairperson of the Forum (who is critical to the management of the process) shall be appointed by the President and merely ratified by the Forum. We are very concerned that this may compromise the outcome of the process. It is also odd that the Vice-Chairpersons have to come from outside the Forum.
Thirdly, we have grave concerns on the punitive actions provided in the bill, some of which are too severe and go against the spirit of genuine dialogue and freedom of expression.
Fourthly, we are of the view that deliberations should not be in camera. We believe that the proceedings should mandatorily be broadcast live on TV and radio. This is in line with the values of transparency and accountability mentioned in Section 3 of the Bill.
Fifthly, we find it strange that under Section 19, the President is given the power to dissolve the Forum before it has completed its work. This completely undermines the purpose of this whole process. The real danger is that due to political interference, members of the Forum will not be free to debate in case they say something the President doesn’t like.
4.0. Recommendations
1. We strongly recommend that the process of National Dialogue and Reconciliation be delinked from the proposed NDF and be left to a competent, neutral and credible mediators.
2. Sufficient time should be given for internal and external stakeholder consultation for effective engagement in this process.
3. Members of parliament should not be part of the NDF
5.0. CONCLUSION
It is now very clear that Government intends to maintain control of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process, which in our humble view is supposed to be linked to peace-building and reconciliation between political parties and the creation of a permanent peace-building institution similar to the one in Ghana as recommended by the Church in its proposed National Dialogue and Reconciliation Framework.
We are surprised that the whole idea of peace-building has totally been removed from this process, and concentration made on the political resolutions of the Siavonga meeting.
Inasmuch as we appreciate the apparent government political will in constitutional and legal reforms, our position as the three CMBs in this case, is that WE ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL IN ITS CURRENT FORM AND THEREFORE WE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE NDF.
We will however, exercise our right to comment on emerging matters of national significance. It is our considered view that the process of National Dialogue and Reconciliation led by the Church should not be derailed. This is because we believe that this process will lead to a conversion of hearts and minds, leading to a united, reconciled and peaceful Zambia where all citizens freely participate in governance within a thriving social and economic environment, and this is the Zambia we want!
Bishop Charles Nseemani-Acting President – CCZ Bishop Paul Mususu-EFZ President Bishop George Lungu-Board Chairperson ZCCB
Defending champions Zesco United turn full focus back on the FAZ Super Division starting on Wednesday when they visit Kitwe United at Garden Park in Kitwe.
Zesco face second from bottom Kitwe United over a week after suffering their first league loss of the season when Mufulira Wanderers stunned them 2-1 away in Mufulira on March 13.
But Zesco rebounded from that defeat on March 17 to beat Asante Kotoko of Ghana 2-1 in their final CAF Confederation Cup match at home in Ndola that saw them finish bottom of Group C to end their continental interest for this season.
The good news is that the win ended Zesco’s seven-game winless spell in all competition stretching back to February 3.
Zesco have since beating Kotoko also had some time to recharge from their grueling domestic and continental fixture congestion despite having six players away on national duty for their respective nations.
Kenyan striker Jesse Were who was axed from their formality 2019 AFCON qualifier away date against Ghana will especially be happy to be back in club action after his disappointing trip for the Harambee Stars camp in Nairobi.
But Lazarus Kambole returns from Zambia duty on happy note with a goal in Chipolopolo’s 4-1 home win over Namibia in last Saturday’s Group K dead-rubber qualifier in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, victory is key for Zesco who are currently sixth on 8 points, nine points behind leaders Zanaco from five and eight games played respectively as the champions start to play catch-up in Stream A that reaches the halfway point this Wednesday.
FAZ SUPER DIVISION WEEK 9
27/03/2019
POOL A
Green Buffaloes-Mufulira Wanderers
Kitwe United-Zesco United
Prison Leopards-Zanaco
Lusaka Dynamos-Nakambala Leopards
Red Arrows-Kabwe Warriors
POOL B
Buildcon-Power Dynamos
Nkana-Circuit City
Green Eagles-Napsa Stars
FC MUZA-Forest Rangers
Zambia Under-23 will face Congo -Brazzaville in the final qualifying round of the 2019 U23 AFCON.
Congo-Brazzaville on Tuesday beat Burundi 2-1 at home in Brazzaville to secure their last round passage by the same aggregate score line following a 0-0 result in Bujumbura on March 20.
Zambia, who beat Malawi 2-0 in aggregate to advance, will host Congo in the first leg on June 5 and travel to Brazzaville on June 9.
Winner over both legs will qualify to the U23 AFCON Egypt will host this November.
The top three finishers in Egypt will represent Africa at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo , who is also Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) board chairperson, has maintained that Prime TV was ethically out of order hence the decision by IBA to suspend its license for a minimum period of 30 days.
Speaking when he featured today on Hot FM programme, Mr Kasolo stressed that it was not a deliberate intention of government to inaccurately close the private media stations.
Early this month, IBA suspended the Lusaka-based private television station, citing insensitive unprofessional elements in its broadcasting through unbalanced coverage, opinionated news, material likely to incite violence and use of derogatory language.
Mr Kasolo also said that was in the process of amending the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Acts in order to make them responsive to the needs of the projected aspirations of government and the Zambian people.
North Western Province successfully treated 84 percent of tuberculosis (TB) patients in 2018.
Provincial Permanent Secretary, Willies Mangimela said out of the 1,345 TB patients recorded at various health institutions, 1,099 were treated.
Mr Mangimela called on members of the community to have routine TB screening as a preventive measure as the TB bacteria is harbored by many people without them knowing.
Mr. Mangimela said government, with support from stakeholders, will continue to raise awareness of the disease because it is concerned that many people in the country continue to suffer from a preventable illness like TB.
The permanent secretary added that government, through the Ministry of Health remains committed to improving health care in the country by embarking on construction of six mini hospitals and 74 health posts in the province.
Mr. Mangimela said that as Zambia endeavors to achieve goal number three, “Ensure high healthy lives and promote well-being for all” of the sustainable development goals, it will ensure that no one is left behind.
He further called on every citizen to be ambassadors in raising community awareness in the fight against TB.
Mr. Mangimela said this in a speech read for him by his deputy Douglas Ngimbu during the commemoration of the world TB day held in Solwezi under the theme ‘ It is time…Kick out TB’.
Vice President Inonge Wina with Religious Affairs Minister and other Government dignitaries at the funeral
Vice President Inonge Wina has led scores of people in mourning late Zambia’s High Commissioner to Kenya Brenda Muntemba Sichilembe at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
Several people who included family, friends and workmates described Mrs Sichilembe as a selfless, humble, and devoted Christian who wanted to help humanity.
Meanwhile, widower Reverend Sulanji Sichilembe said Brenda Muntemba foundation will be created in honour of his wife.
Reverend Sichilembe said this is to ensure that his wife’s legacy of helping the less privileged in society lives on.
Her children Mwango Kondolo and Lukundo Nachilembe described their mother as one that loved God.
Earlier, family representative, retired Lieutenant General Reverend Ronnie Shikapwasha said Mrs Sichilembe was passionate about God’s work.
And head of African Diplomatic Missions in Kenya Beyene Russon said Mrs Sichilembe was a hard-working diplomat.
Ambassador Russon, who is also ambassador Eritrea to Kenya said Mrs Sichilembe will be missed among her peers.
President Edgar Lungu has accorded the late Brenda Muntemba Sichilembe an official funeral.
She died in Kenya on March 19th, 2019.
Vice President Inonge Wina with Religious Affairs Minister and other Government dignitaries at the funeralSecurity PersonnelPresident Lungu’s Press Aide Amos Chanda
Four people have died after being attacked by hippos in the Kafue River in Itezhi-Tezhi District, Central Province.
According to Itezhi-Tezhi District Commissioner Hendrix Kaimana, the accidents happened in separate incidences on Thursday and Saturday last week.
Mr Kaiamana said Njamba Henry Mbambi 20, a grade seven school leaver of Kalombe area in Chief Kaingu’s chiefdom had gone on the river with his friend in a bid to raise money to go to Secondary School when their dugout canoe was hit and capsized by hippos.
The DC said the hippos reportedly hit and capsized the boat, drowning him, though his friend Gift Yamba escaped unhurt.
He added that the incidence happened on Thursday last week and his body has not yet been recovered.
Mr Kaimana said in the second incidence, Gift Kakulachifoyo, was also attacked by hippos in a similar incident a week ago.
He said the canoe Sibbakela was paddling in, was hit by the hippo and capsized the canoe.
“Of the four deceased persons, only one body has been recovered from the water” Mr Kaimana said.
In a similar incidence, a 24-year-old fisherman from Chibolya compound in Itezhi-Tezhi also died when the hippo hit the canoe he was paddling in.
Bicheli Kalandambinga drowned when the hippo hit the boat he was travelling in.
Mr Kaimana said the incidence happened in Batunga area in Chief Shimbizhi’s chiefdom and his body was recovered a few hours after being attacked.
Mr Kaimana said the body of Kalandambinga sustained deep cuts on his waist, caused by hippo teeth.
He said in the fourth incidence, an unidentified man was attacked on Lake Itezhi tezhi in the Kafue National Park, though his body has also not yet been recovered.
Solwezi Municipal Council has urged residents to desist from planting cassava on graves at Kimiteto burial site.
Solwezi Mayor, Nicholas Mukumbi has appealed to families to lay wreaths or use tombstones instead of planting cassava on graves in order to maintain the cemetery.
He expressed concern that the cassava planted has turned the cemetery into a cassava field making it difficult for council to execute its duties effectively.
Mr Mukumbi said it is the duty of family members to maintain the site where their deceased loved are buried.
He also appealed to bereaved families to stop conducting body viewing at the hospital as the mourner’s house is now functional at the cemetery.
Mr Mukumbi said this in Solwezi today during the first ordinary council meeting for 2019.
A 47-year old man has been sentenced by the Kalabo Subordinate Court to three years imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful hunting in Liuwa Plain National Park.
And the firearm which was unlawfully used in respect of the poaching offense has been forfeited to the State in accordance with the law.
Appearing before Magistrate Mulele Siisii was Shadow Mushiko Mabote of Lukondondo village in Chief Mundandwe’s area of Kalabo District.
During close examination, the accused pleaded guilty to three counts leveled against him.
In Count One, the accused was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm serial number 3988848 contrary to Section 10(1)(2) of the Firearms Act CAP 110 of the Laws of Zambia.
In Count Two, the accused was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition contrary to Section 10(1)(2) of the Firearms Act CAP 110 of the Laws of Zambia.
In Count Three, the accused was charged with unlawful hunting in the National Park contrary to Section 128(9) of the Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offense are that the said Mabote was on the 20th March 2019 at Lyeule woodland in Liuwa Plain National Park, Kalabo District of Western Province, had in his possession a shotgun and two live ammunition while hunting game animals without legal documentation allowing him to do so.
And in mitigation, Mabote submitted to the court that the act he committed was circumstantial in a bid to provide for his 11 biological children and five adopted orphans affected by hunger.
The accused asked the court to be lenient on him saying he was a first offender taking care of three school children in grades 6, 8 and 9 under his sponsorship.
In passing judgment, Magistrate Siisii said the court had taken note of the mitigation submitted by the accused especially that he was a first offender taking care of an extended family.
Magistrate Siisii however ruled that the offense committed was serious and therefore required a fair sentence.
Magistrate Siisii sentenced Mabote to a penalty fee of K500 and K1, 000 in Count One and Two, respectively, and in Count three slapped him with three years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
The Magistrate said the sentence has potential to deter would-be offenders from committing the acts thereof.
Meanwhile, the prosecution bench has made an application to forfeit the firearm serial number 3988848 to the State.
Counsel Mwilana said the application was in accordance with Section 54(2)(a) of the Firearms Act CAP 110 of the Laws of Zambia.
Magistrate Siisii had since granted the application and subsequently ordered that the firearm be forfeiture to the State.
JC Starboy (born James Chilombe) was born in Lusaka Zambia. His music career dates back to 2008 when he worked as B Flow’s primary backing vocalist. In 2010, he participated in and won the ZNBC TV2 ‘Ultimate Slinger Musical Auditions’.
As the ultimate winner of the competition, JC Starboy was awarded a 2 years recording contract with one of Zambia’s leading record companies, Sling Beats Entertainment. He
recorded and released his first hit song “Do or Die”, a collaboration with international award winning Zambian R&B; sensation Roberto in 2011. The song received favorable airplay in Zambia and neighboring Botswana and was also nominated for song of the year 2011.
After the expiration of his contract with Sling Beats in 2012, JC Starboy decided to take a short break off mainstream music to pursue his accountancy career. He went into formal employment for three (3) years but later resigned to further pursue his music career. He returned to the studio in 2015 after impressing G- Show Records Producer Gilbert Zimba (Gizzy More) who watched him record an electrifying verse on B Flow‘s “Napeza Mukali”. Gilbert instantly fell in love with JC Starboy’s soft Dancehall style and gave him an opportunity to record a number of records at G-Show Records for free.
He released the smash hit single “Last Words” in early 2015 which faired very well on most radio charts including ZNBC Radio 2 where it was nominated for song of the year. He also recorded a remix of the song with his long time ‘collabo partner’ Roberto. In 2016, JC Starboy joined the Music For Change family where he works both as a signed artist and company accountant. He is currently recording new music at Music For Change studios in Lusaka. JC Starboy’s passion in the community is to help vulnerable children by giving them an opportunity to go to school and access to decent shelter.
For a long time now, many of us have complained, sometimes with very persuasive arguments, that Zambia is where it is today because of bad leadership at the national level. We explain our country’s deepening crisis, illustrated by extreme cultural and material impoverishment, sustained institutional deterioration, heightened political divisions and economic decline made worse by endemic corruption and a crippling public debt, as a result of President Edgar Lungu and his accumulation-seeking friends in government. Well, that is simply part of the story. It is time we re-examined this narrative and the leadership question in a wider context. To better understand Lungu, we must seek to understand the forest in which his political leadership was born, exists and thrives. This refers to the wider economic and social circumstances that have created the unfavorable conditions in which it is almost impossible to raise and sustain ethical values.
Post 1991, Zambians have collapsed into a heap of undiluted poverty, mass unemployment and extreme inequalities. The portion of the population that is involved in genuine systemic and structural employment has dwindled to almost an insignificant percentage of the actual total labour force, most of which is either unemployed or eking out a miserable living from the street or from tilling the land. Arguably, there is a very tiny capitalist class, largely of the ‘business man type’, which however is incapable of giving Zambia any ‘national character’ complete with the liberal claptrap about ‘rule of law’ and ‘respect for the constitution’, let alone any semblance of morality, especially in the public domain and in politics. This social base is grown on the ever-shrinking real economy. Zambia is an impoverished country, materially and culturally, not withstanding its natural wealth. We Zambians have absolutely no control, whatsoever, over our country’s economic life. Foreign capital reigns supreme. The tiny middle class that appears to be well off survives by getting into criminal relationships with foreign capital. This includes many of the so-called ‘civil society’ elites who thrive on swindling donor money.
In such social and economic circumstances, professions are a means to find a job, for survival, not to advance the so-called ‘noble ideals’ of the profession. The middle class inevitably mimics the survival behaviours of the larger or majority part of the population, who live survivalist lives. This is the dead-end character of our socio-economic life that breeds our kind of politics and citizens like Lungu. Lungu embodies the worst attributes of lumpen behaviour fit to survive in this jungle of mass poverty. He is a leader par excellence. No Constitution, no law, no morality other than behaviour conducive to his survival is permissible in his life. His personal and political conduct however is simply emblematic of tens of thousands of Zambians who live survivalist lives and for whom nothing is fixed, certain, moral, stable or durable. To overthrow Lungu and the undesirable traits he represents, and to end the lumpenisation of our lives, we need to overthrow what we have become.
The problem, therefore, is the citizen. We need to sort out the citizen question first – although our capacity to do so would be dependent on another variable: our ability to destroy the existing economic structure that presses us down. Once we do that, then we are home and dry. Edgar Lungu simply epitomises and exemplifies the majority citizen. If he was not, what have we the supposedly majority Zambians whose higher moral code or communal values he keeps flouting, done to stop him? Very little. Blaming our leaders represents a cheap attempt, on our part, to remove our individual agency from responsibility for changing the undesired status quo. It is akin to someone who, for years, remains in an extremely violent and abusive relationship, complaining that, “The problem is not me; it is my partner”. Asked to state what actions they took to change their plight, the complainant responds, “I spoke to my partner but they did not listen to me. In fact, we spoke several times, but my partner did not change; they continued in their bad ways. This explains why I am like this. I remained in this relationship all this time because I had hoped that my partner would change. To supplement my investment in hope, I also fervently prayed, beseeching God to perform a miracle that would help change my partner to become a better person. For some reason, God has taken His time to respond to my tendered prayers. And who am I, an errant mere mortal, to question the schedule of God Almighty?”
Such a person is not a victim. He or she is an architect of his or her own plight. That is many of us today. That is Zambia. As long as our lives and how they turn out remain God’s will, we abdicate responsibility for changing our plight to that God. It also means our leadership, in our minds at least, is God’s choosing. So if that God gives us a Lungu, we cannot question His wisdom, notwithstanding Lungu’s obvious poverty of anything remotely resembling the virtue to be associated with a benevolent deity. There are times when I feel that Zambia must kill God, if we are to make progress. When God dies, we will take His place – our success or failure resting squarely on our shoulders.
We Zambians are the problem. Take this same Edgar Lungu to become the President of the Republic of Singapore – a country that got independence later than Zambia but moved from being a developing nation to a developed one in a single generation. The selfless, thoughtful and exemplary leadership he would provide from Day 1 would stun many people. He would actively mobilise and coalesce the energies of everyone, especially the very best of Singapore, to propel the country to even better heights. Some will even wonder if he is indeed the same person – the very Lungu who, when he served as Zambia’s president, was untroubled by insatiable greed, fostered and thrived on deep divisions, and had a legendary aversion to anything remotely involving an exertion on his mental faculties. What would have changed? The people Lungu presides over, coupled with the attendant change in awareness and attitude on his part.
The transformation would start the moment Lungu learns that he is now the leader of Singapore. What would bring about this change in him is not the geographical location of the country or the natural resources within its borders; it is simply the type of people Singaporeans are – a people with a clear and shared value system; a people that would hold him to account more than we Zambians do. By the time Lungu would be landing at Changi airport to take up his new leadership position, he would have read and properly understood the Constitution of Singapore and already accepted that he cannot, even slightly, interfere in the operations of what is a truly independent judiciary that is not susceptible to political and financial interests. He would have further noted with regret the staggering mediocrity that was resident in his Cabinet back in Zambia and overcome his obstinate conventionality and fear of being led into paths that might disturb his rather secured prejudices and extremely limited view of things.
Lungu would quickly know that majority of the citizens of the new country that he now leads would not tolerate anything less than the provision of quality leadership, the one at whose centre is total transparency and the promotion of the public good, not the relentless pursuit of personal gain. Lungu would know where he is, that he is now President of Singapore, not Zambia, and would consequently provide strong and visionary leadership. His commitment to securing public faith in formal institutions and the rule of law would be above reproach. Such would be his immediate and total self-transformation, including his aversion to the theft of public funds and loyalty to all ethical norms and values, that even he himself would be stunned by his extraordinary capacity to change.
Individuals, generally, adjust according to the environment. It is the environment that makes a person. Over time, Edgar Lungu, arguably Zambia’s worst leader since the declaration of independence in 1964, would surpass Lee Kuan Yew to become the best leader Singapore has ever had since the country became an independent territory in August 1965. Even his public speech would change to reflect his new context. Instead of saying things like ‘Ubomba mwibala alya mwibala’, that ‘it is not being corrupt to be wealthy, bonse tukabila ukulya bwino’, or passing extremely inappropriate jokes when delivering serious national addresses, such as ‘I only took two shots, only two, Mr Speaker’ (Ironically, this appears to be the only thing many Zambians took away from his recent speech to Parliament on national values and principles), his speeches would now be laden with such inspiring thoughts that many across the world would yearn to listen to him because nearly every word he utters in public would be actually quotable. Yes, this very Edgar Lungu whose public speech today is so mediocre and dreadfully poor that one can be forgiven for thinking that he deliberately goes out of his way to say nothing sensible.
We Zambians, I must repeat, are the problem. We are far from being a serious people. We are the architects of our own misery. I know that some, particularly the formally educated citizen in the city, would be quick to point an accusing finger, claiming it is the poor and their rural counterparts who are to blame for our pitiful plight. I disagree. Why does Zambia’s ‘educated class’, knowing so well the weaknesses and backwardness of the Frederick Chilubas, Rupiah Bandas, Michael Satas and Edgar Lungus, and fully aware of our state of mass human poverty and extreme cultural impoverishment, still do virtually nothing about both the conditions of our life and leadership? Are we such a pathological parasitic educated middle class that we are completely paralysed and are incapable of the necessary and essential political activity required to overturn our national plight? Are we an impotent social class incapable of fulfilling its historic and social responsibility, always blaming others for our sorry state of affairs in the country? (…Bad politicians, illiterate population, backward rural dwellers, etc. – running away from the answer to our problems which is all the time staring us straight in the face, using our very own eyes: us!) Have we, as a people, become so debased and dehumanised that we have effectively ceased to hold ourselves in high regard, began the downward spiral of lower and lower expectations for ourselves and our kith and kin, and effectively commuted our very existence to spirits, viewing the battles or challenges that confront us as not physical?
We must take full responsibility for the mediocrity of our lives and national leadership and our role in getting ourselves out of the mess we have sunk into. Ownership of blame is an empowering state of mind. In as much as we would like to deny it, the truth is that we have become, on the whole, a rotten society. Yes, among us exists Lucy Sichones, Levy Mwanawasas, Laura Mitis, Kenneth Kaundas, Anna Chifungulas, Chama Fumbas, Telesphore Mpundus, Mary Tshumas, James Skinners and Linda Kasondes – citizens who, in general and acting from any position or none, represent some of the most essential values to which we must all aspire. These values include courage, community, compassion and love for fellow human beings, moral force of character, capacity for effective leadership, integrity, genuine humility, honesty, a predilection for consultation, consensus-building, communication, co-operation, active listening, and the selfless pursuit of the public good, and not the selfish striving for personal gain.
The bright spots among us are however getting fewer by the minute – not because our mothers are no longer giving birth but because their children inevitably grow into a society that upholds its decaying moral fabric, poverty of ambition and deplorable socio-economic conditions. Thanks to the shortcomings of Western democracy, the best of Zambians cannot ascend to the presidency, a platform they can use to nationalise their values, without the support of the majority group in Zambia today, the one for whom nothing is fixed, certain, moral, stable or durable, and whose dominant values clash with those of the increasingly best few. Even if we succeeded in removing this Lungu from public office today – and we must get rid of him at the earliest possible opportunity, though this prospect seems increasingly distant as he appears willing to do whatever it takes to stay put – it would not be long before another Lungu emerges from within the ranks of the numerically superior group to win elective public office. For reasons of democratic representation, a nation of drunkards or lumpens is entitled to be represented by a drunkard or lumpen.
I fear, sometimes, that the acuteness of the problem at hand is not one that is appreciated by many of us. The problem, you see, is as much with the leadership as it is with the led. In fact, some would say it is a vicious cycle, feeding into and enabling each other. The chief reason Lungu was elected president in 2015 (I believe he won that election fairly) was because he embodies many of the things a significant number of Zambians embrace and live by. He speaks, looks, and thinks like them. They found a kindred spirit in him. I will leave it to the better discernment of the reader to decide what those things are, but therein lies the answer to how this crisis we find ourselves in continues. We cannot, in my view, resolve the crisis of leadership at the national level without addressing that of the larger social body’s moral and cultural values. For leaders are not hoisted onto us from without – they come from within our society. The real reason why Lungu is our president today is not necessarily because he was re-elected in 2016 – we probably will never know for certain if he genuinely won that year’s election. It is because he is the leader we truly deserve, one who is embedded in a complex network that reveals a society that is, on the whole, rotten to the core.
Lungu is a symptom of Zambia’s sickness and can only exist in Zambia. If Lungu was the problem and majority of us were different from him, we would have long removed him – he possibly would never even have risen to the presidency in the first place. The hard reality is that Lungu projects our collective frailties. He is not the one who stops us from turning up in public in huge numbers to protest against his inept leadership or the stinking corruption of his administration. He is not the one stopping hundreds of thousands of us from embarking on daily anti-government protests, demanding his exit from power for saturating our country with debt, worsening our already miserable existence and strangling the aspirations of workers and young people. We Zambians, with all our collective capacity and power, stop ourselves. Why? Because he reflects what we really are – a people capable of only producing itself. We have created and earned Lungu, much in the same way that we have re-created God to function, primarily, as a proud partisan and charged Him with nothing less than the custody of our individual agency. Lungu is our own Frankenstein, the monster we are seeing in the mirror. So before we condemn him next, we should know that he is being himself. It is unfair to call him to virtues that we, the majority of us as a people, do not possess.
Where then does our future lie? In the total destruction of what Zambia has become. Focusing on isolated incidents or Lungu alone will not help us much. Our ailment requires thorough social change from below, which must include educating ourselves about the dead-end character of our socio-economic life and the kind of values and politics this breeds, and igniting a broad and popular movement that can and must give birth to millions of leaders who can perform the revolutionary surgery we are urgently in need of, nurse the country back to its full health, and sustain it in that state. My faith in top down change has severely weakened over the years. Many of the notions I held about our society have been disabused by hard-won experience. Zambia’s values must reform from the lowest social echelons. Maybe then we can see meaningful change. For the truth is that the full character of the Zambian society has changed: we have sunk so low that we can only rise. If we have a country where stealing begins from State House and extends to all manner of public servant, whatever the rank, then the problem runs deeper than bad leadership. We steal even when we absolutely have no need to – not that theft is ever morally justified – and pick out the very worst of our elements to govern us, even when better options are readily available. Ours is an underlying social moral cancer, one we will only cure at great pain to ourselves.
Zambia is a tinderbox, a bad drama too sad and too painful to watch. It must explode. Not if, but when it explodes, then perhaps it can be reconstituted. Those in charge are, with great abandon, dragging the country towards an epic economic collapse. Everything is coming to the fore. The tipping point is near. I do not know if Lungu’s stay in power will last up to 2021 or even beyond. What I know is that for our national psyche to change, our downfall would have to be so complete and the consequent pain so unbearable that we will be forced into a kind of collective introspection we otherwise would not have brought ourselves to. Then and then only can we learn. One of the major reasons why we remain so good at choosing bad leaders, if at all we even know what good leadership means, is that we, or at least the majority of us, are a bad people. We need to become a good people first before the simultaneous process of producing good leaders can begin. This is where the challenge is. There will be no messianic essence or phenomenon in our country to liberate us. It is not our leaders; it is us. This is it. Nothing else. We are our own leaders, we are us, we lead ourselves, put in reverse.
Well, I must stop here, for now. I must go and listen to two of my favourite songs, sang by Kendrick Kafula and Jordan Sinkala, that legendary musical duo, now deceased, popularly known as Impi. One track is titled Bantalamisoka. The other is Basakalanyongo. Both are enlightening and incriminating tunes. May I invite you, dear reader, to come along with me and listen to them, paying particular attention to the lyrics.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says political parties and candidates perpetuating violence risk being barred from participating an elections.
ECZ Public Relations Manager Margret Chimanse says the commission it will no longer tolerate violent parties or candidates and individuals from fueling violence in the country.
Ms. Chimanse says the commission will heed to Vice President Inonge Wina’s call for the commission to use powers vested in it and ban candidates that promote political violence.
Mrs. Wina last week said in parliament that the commission should flex its muscles and ban parties that use violence during elections.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Ms. Chimanse said the Commission will take action on perpetrators of the scourge.
“It’s a positive stance and as ECZ, we will heed to the Veep’s call on responding to violent parties and candidates. The Commission will be on standby and act on perpetrators of violence,” she said.
On the electoral roadmap, the ECZ Public Relations Mamager said the commission has engaged both the ruling PF and the opposition UPND to adhere to the code of conduct and avoid violence at all times.
Ms. Chimanse urged political leaders to prevail over their followers so that peace is maintained as enshrined in the One Zambia, One Nation motto.
Meanwhile, Ms. Chimanse has disclosed that the commission is ready to conduct the Kafue local government election scheduled to take place this week on Wednesday, March 27.
She said all security and non-security election materials had been delivered to Kafue and that all logistics were in place including Poll Staff that underwent theoretical part as well as practical were trained.
She also disclosed that the commission is prepared to hold the Roan and Bahati parliamentary by elections slated for April, 11, 2019.
Ms. Chimanse assured that all Poll Staff would execute their duties professionally.
President Lungu at at a rally held in Magoba ward inKafue District
President Edgar Lungu says the people of Kafue district have a rare opportunity to choose whether to work with government or remain in the hands of the opposition parties that have failed them several times.
The President said the Kafue District Council Chairperson by election has come as a second chance for the people of Kafue to make the right choice of the leader they want to represent them at local government level.
President Lungu said he will still remain President of Zambia until 2021 whether the people of Kafue choose to elect or not to elect the Patriotic Front Candidate.
He said failure to vote for a candidate who will work with his government will deprive the people of development.
He said all he wants is for the people of Kafue to elect a candidate who will facilitate development in the area as opposed to a candidate who will not be allowed by his or her party to work with government.
The President said voting for a PF candidate will make it easy for government to take development to the area because the opposition has been refusing their MPs and councilors from working with government hence denying the people development.
The Head of State was speaking at a rally in Magoba ward in Kafue district where he went to drum up support for the Kafue PF council chairperson Candidate retired Brigadier General Moono Simakoloyi.
The Opposition United Party for National Development has also fielded Beatrice Kayuni as their candidate in forthcoming by election slated for Wednesday this week.
Earlier President Lungu addressed another rally at Mugurameno Primary School ion Chiawa and met with Chieftainess Chiawa and Chief Chipepo whom he assured that relief food has been dispatched to the area.
