Zambia Declared Ready to Host Regional Students Summit

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March 24, 2019

Zambia Declared Ready to Host Regional Students Summit

The Secretariat of Southern African Students Union (SASU) has been in Zambia over the last 3 days to assess and deliberate on the state of readiness for Zambia to host the 2019 Students Regional Summit. The team comprised of SASU members from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. We were glad to have been hosted by the Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) and were greeted by the usual hospitality the Zambian people continues to show the entire Southern Region.

The SASU delegation held closed door meetings with ZANASU and representatives of its member institutions from around the country. The meeting with the ZANASU leadership reflected on a number of issues that continue to confront our students in our region on a day-to-day basis, such as lack of access to quality higher education, lack of student support, and declining wellbeing of students on our various campuses.

This meeting in Zambia was also held at a difficulty time when the region has been hugely affected by tragedy of tropical cyclone, which has claimed thousands of life, and left many of our people displaced in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. As students in the regional, we commend both our African countries and the global communities for the rescue efforts they continue to provide support for the affected counties.

As SASU, we send our heartfelt condolence to families and nations of those who have passed on, we also call upon our unions and their individual Student Representatives Councils to come up with united efforts to offer support for the displaced families by organizing a number if activities, been candle lights, and hosting memorial services, and making donations of cloths and none perishable food stuff, that will be send to these countries.

We also sadly note the crackdown that had happened in Zimbabwe a few months ago in which some of our members were arrested, tortured and some people killed during the demonstrations. SASU recognizes the key role that Zambia and other member countries continue to play to offer solidarity and support to citizens and students from different countries who found themselves in these circumstances. We however would like to make an earnest appeal to His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia and Chairperson of the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security to always intervene, ensure peace and regional security prevails but also stand with students whose rights get violated each and every day.

The 2019 SASU regional Summit which will be hosted by ZANASU, will be held on from the 19th to 24th October 2019 in Lusaka, Zambia, under the following theme “AGENDA 2063: immediate solutions to student challenges in southern Africa.” The Summit will be taking place at the time when Zambia will be celebrating its 55th Independence. Our students will be joining the peace-loving people of Zambia in these celebrations and also honour the sacrifice that Zambian students and the people generally made to liberate the region.

The Summit, which will be attended by more than 250 delegates from all the SADC countries, representing various national students unions and SRC’s, as well as representatives from our global partners, been SAIH, NED, OSISA, government representatives, as well as key option maker and policy experts in various fields will look into the following themes amongst others: –

Investment in education and funding for higher education,
Human rights and academic freedoms,
Revisiting state of our curriculum and the impact of 4th Industrial Revolution,
Student voices in democratic process,
Student solidarity,
SADC protocol on education and training,
Enterpreneurship,
Sexual reproductive health,
Mental health and climate change.

These issues which will be discussed at the Summit are very important and can no longer be ignored by students around the region. The issues of human rights and academic freedoms affect all students much as they affect our society. Our students in the region cannot also remain passive in the changing democratic and governance process taking place. Students in the region had played key roles in liberation struggles of their countries and we need to rejuvenate the liberation spirit to taking part in governance process.

For example, here in Zambia, we are aware of the efforts being made to amend the constitution and various others laws. SASU would like to see our students play key roles in supporting these processes having that voice which is needed.

Finally, as SASU has found and declared Zambia to be ready to host this Summit, we call upon the people of Zambia to continue cherishing and protecting the peace the country has enjoyed for a century since its independence and always remain warm to the SADC region. We have faith that the Zambian Government will seize this opportunity and continue to improve its working relations with the student fraternity and treat students as partners in resolving problems affect them rather than view them as adversaries.

We thank both ZANASU and the Zambian Open University for hosting the SASU delegation and we hope to work together to ensure the 2019 Summit become a real success.

God Bless Zambia! And God Bless Our Countries in the Region!

Issued by SASU Secretariat:

Thabo Moloja

Chairperson – South Africa

Maxwell Dlamini

Acting Secretary General- Eswatini

Detained opposition PeP leader Sean Tembo goes on hunger strike

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March 24, 2019

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Detained opposition PeP leader Sean Tembo goes on hunger strike

Opposition Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean who is detained at Lusaka Central Police has gone on hunger strike.

The decision to stop eating food whilst in detention is meant to force President Edgar Lungu to sells off his brand new Gulfstream G650 private jet.

Party Deputy Secretary General Ariel Phiri confirmed that Mr Tembo was picked up by police on Saturday and he was immediately arrested and detained by Zambia Police on unknown charges.

He said the PeP President was picked up from his farm in Ngwerere for interviews at Police Headquarters and subsequently taken to Central Police where he is currently being detained.

“President Tembo’s belief of being a target of intimidation for speaking firmly and against the social injustices of the ordinary majority, has made him decide to go on hunger strike from today 23rd. March 2019 until President Lungu sells off his brand new Gulfstream G650 private jet and uses the money to pay off all unpaid council workers and other employees in other parastatals who are currently in salary arrears for close to 6 months or more,” Mr Phiri stated.

“The decision not to eat until President Lungu sells off his private jet is a clear indication that President Tembo is willing to die for the poor and the voiceless,” he said.
He added, “President Tembo is in good and amazing spirits. He sends his best regards from his jail cell where he says is an opportunity for him to interact with detainees and listen to their plight.”

He said Mr. Tembo strongly believes that his arrest is just a clear case of intimidation of the opposition and a way of silencing those with divergent views by the Patriotic Front (PF) regime.

Mr Tembo last week called for the mental examination of President Lungu’s mental faculties after he purchased a luxury private jet at the expense of the poor Zambians.

Zambia Vs Namibia Goals Highlights

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March 24, 2019

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Today’s Message: Guard Your Heart

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March 24, 2019

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Today’s Scripture

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
(Proverbs 4:23, NIV)

Guard Your Heart

Your eyes, ears and mouth are all gateways to your heart. What you watch and listen to goes into your heart whether you realize it or not. Similar to a computer, what you allow into your heart programs your thinking and words, which ultimately determines the direction of your life. Indeed, your thoughts determine actions, attitude and self-image. You can guard your heart by being extremely careful about what you watch and listen to. But beyond that, you have to guard your heart against bitterness and bad attitudes. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. That means your words show where your heart is. Take inventory today of what you are saying, watching and listening to. As you guard your heart and mind, the springs of life within in you will flow freely, and you will live in the abundance the Lord has in store for you.

A Prayer for Today

“Heavenly Father, today I submit my mind and heart to You. I choose to guard my heart and ask that You guide and direct my everyday choices. Purify me by Your spirit so that life will flow from me in every area. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Introduvtion of Nuclear energy in Zambia will enhance National Development- Dr Katebe

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March 24, 2019

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Introduvtion of Nuclear energy in Zambia will enhance National Development- Dr Katebe

FILE: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Joseph Malanji with the Zambia Delegation visiting the Nuclear Research Centre in Russia

THE Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation (NEPIO) says the introduction of nuclear energy in the country will bring about the much needed development the country needs.

NEPIO National Coordinator, Dr. RUEBEN KATEBE said the development would trickle down to every Zambian.

Dr. KATEBE said this during the Kwacha Good Morning Programme on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) yesterday.

He said once the project was implemented, treatment of cancer patients at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) which in most cases is hampered by shortage of isotopes, would be a thing of the past.

Dr. KATEBE said patients would no longer have to wait in queues for isotopes to be imported from South Africa, which is the only country in the southern hemisphere that produces them.

He added that the mining sector would also be a major beneficiary of the Programme as they would be able to get cheaper electricity.

As a country, Dr. KATEBE said the project would employ neutron activation techniques which would enable the scanning of the exact value of minerals to be exported for correct taxation.

The NEPIO National coordinator also stated with the coming of this technology in the country, agricultural products would go through a process of irradiation which lengthens the shelf life of the product as well as eliminate all forms of bacteria and pests.

“As you may be aware, for us to reach the European market, we have to prove to the international community that our products do not contain insects and this will require nuclear technology, “said Dr. Katebe.

Dr. Katebe also noted that nuclear is the safest and most reliable form of energy which does not produce Carbon dioxide.

He further stated that the nuclear programme in Zambia was at its initial stage of planning and required certain milestones to be achieved before full implementation.

Dr. KATEBE pointed out that for a country to go into the nuclear world, there were certain milestones required to be met in line with the provisions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

This is an agency of the UN which is the watchdog of the programme and would only grant a licence to a country upon fulfilling the licensing requirements.

Dr. KATEBE also noted that it would take approximately ten years before the power plant is finally set up to allow for certain requirements such as human resource development to be fulfilled.

He said to start with there is need to build the human resource capacity which was a very big component in the nuclear programme adding that training of such personnel has commenced.

About 1000 highly qualified personnel would be required and this would be achieved through the partnership with experts already in the industry.

Currently, the main partner is ROSATOM, the Russian company which has been in the industry for a long time and are ready to impart more knowledge in the Zambian personnel.

Dr. Katebe said the programme is intended to help the country acquire nuclear technology for development of the country and ultimately produce electricity from nuclear reaction.

President Lungu warns PF top Leadership not to mislead him

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March 24, 2019

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President Lungu warns PF top Leadership not to mislead him

President Lungu and Party CEO Davies Mwila at the just Ended PF Conference

President Edgar Lungu has warned the Patriotic Front -PF- top leadership to stop misleading him.

President Lungu says this needs to stop because they will consistently distance him from the power base who are the Zambian people.

The President who is also PF Leader was speaking when he addressed PF Officials at Chipata college of education in Chipata.

The meeting brought together all elected PF leaders in Eastern Province.

And the President has called on PF members to respect traditional leaders.

He said the PF members should realise that traditional leaders are part of the people that the party promised to deliver development to.

Meanwhile PF Secretary General Davies Mwila said eastern province will always be the party’s stronghold.

He said all party officials must ensure the position remains so.

And PF provincial chairperson Andrew Lubusha said the party is intact in the province.

He however, appealed to all party members not to be divided over elections, as the PF is a democratic party, that respects elections.

It is worrying for Archbishop emeritus Mpundu to be issuing inflammatory statement-Zambia Police

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March 24, 2019

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It is worrying for Archbishop emeritus Mpundu to be issuing inflammatory statement-Zambia Police

Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo

The Zambia Police Service has warned the public against issuing statements that have the potential to incite people to rise against each other.

Spokesperson Esther Katongo says it is worrying that Archbishop emeritus Telesphore Mpundu of Lusaka issued a statement that can cause violence instead of inspiring peace and unity.

Mrs. Katongo says Archbishop Mpundu’s statement that there will be bloodshed ahead of the 2021 general elections can influence those who did not intend to participate in perpetuating violence to do so.

She says it is important for national and church leaders to speak words of encouragement that will discourage violence.

Mrs. Katongo told ZNBC news that the elections in 2021 are not the first or last for Zambia and the police will prepare adequately to police the entire process.

She has since warned that police will not tolerate statements that are provocative in nature regardless of the person’s standing in society.

Meanwhile, some Chiefs in Southern Province have condemned retired Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu’s statement suggesting that there will be chaos in Zambia after the 2021 General elections.

Chieftainess Sikute of Kazungula district says such statements have the potential to divide the country.

The Traditional Leader has told ZNBC News that such statements should NOT be condoned by all well-meaning Zambians.

And Chief Chikanta of Kalomo district said the retired Archbishop was wrong to issue such a divisive statement.

The Chief said the clergy should instead endeavor to preach peace and NOT promote hatred.

Meanwhile Chief Mukobela of Namwala has urged the retired Archbishop to join politics if he wants to continue with such statements.

And a political scientist Chris Zimba says the statement from the archbishop emeritus Mpundu should be condemned as it is uncalled for.

Mr. Zimba says the country expects words of unity, love and reconciliation from people like archbishop emeritus Mpundu and not words that threaten the peace and unity of the country.

Proposed Zesco Tariffs Outrageous, Unthinkable- Sinkamba

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March 24, 2019

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Proposed Zesco Tariffs Outrageous, Unthinkable- Sinkamba

ZESCO Muzuma substation being upgraded to KV 330 (from KV 220) in order to be connected to the national grid as soon as the Maamba coal plant station is commissioned

The tariffs that ZESCO proposes to revise on Labour Day are outrageous, unthinkable and an insult to the labour movement in Zambia, says Green Party President Peter Sinkamba.

Reacting to a ZESCO advert which appeared in the Zambia Daily Mail yesterday on Friday, 22 March, 2019, Mr. Sinkamba said it is a pity that the Zambians have been taken for a ride by parastatals like ZESCO who have capitalized on the docility of the general populace to make ‘hay while the sunshines’.

“You see, the generals populace sacrificed at great cost to recapitalize ZESCO through the Eurobond loan in 2012 running in hundreds of millions. We were promised that once the recapitalization of ZESCO is complete, then power would be cheaply available to the Nation. That was a plausible sacrifice the Zambians populace made.

“Now, seven years down the line, ZESCO comes with weird excuses to justify the more than 300 per cent increase. According to the advert, the ZESCO Managing Director says the cost of power from new generation infrastructure is much higher than the cost of generation from old depreciated power plants. This statement is an insult to the intelligence of Zambians. If old depreciated power plants are producing cheaper power than the new power plants, then that is admission of incompetence deserving immediate dismissal of management and board of ZESCO.

“This is clear admission that the new equipment and infrastructure procured from the Eurobond and Chinese loans is sub-standard, hence the higher generation costs. Under normal circumstances such incompetence deserves instant dismissal of all management and board of officials involved. Under normal circumstances, new equipment must be more efficient and cheaper to run.

“What makes it as a worst insult ever to the labour movement is that ZESCO has proposed to revise the tariffs on Labour Day. This is an unthinkable insult to the workers. Where are the workers going to get the money from to afford the 300 per cent increase when Government has approved a paltry 5 per cent salary increase and those in private sector such as miners are facing redundancies and other forms of lay-offs?

“To add salt to an injury, ZESCO is mocking the workers by introducing a so-called bulk distribution tariff which is lower than the average residential tariff. The implication of this measure is that workers will start subsiding businesses and industries. This is the proverbial adage where the rich will be given more, and for the poor, even the little they have will be taken away to give the rich. This is so appalling, so nauseating,” Mr. Sinkamba said.

He has called upon President Edgar Lungu to intervene and stop the ZESCO insults to the Zambian people.

“I think the Zambians deserve better than this,” he said.

Mr. Sinkamba said the excuse by ZESCO that connection fees have not been changed since 2005 is utter rubbish. He said the cost-reflective tariffs system was introduced by ZESCO almost three years ago. He said pricing principles require that networks develop cost reflective pricing, based on calculating the long-run marginal costs of supply. At its simplest, this is the cost of supplying the next unit of energy if the network were to be augmented or capacity is increased. The system addresses the supply network holistically, and that was done three or four years ago.

“How on earth do you increase connection fees from K769 to K3,126? That is lack of sensitivity of the part of ZESCO board and management. Where do you expect workers and unemployed people to get such colossal money? For those on minimum wage, it means sacrificing entire salary for the month to connect to ZESCO only?

“What are you encouraging? You are encouraging corruption in workplaces, theft and burglary, deforestation, illegal tapping of power, and what not. This is total madness. And to make matter worse, the ZESCO Managing Director says the company is doing all this in the quest to achieve Millennium Development Goals of reducing poverty by half. First of all, at a level of Managing Director, Mr. Mundende is expected to know that MDGs agenda ended four years ago in 2015. This means the man is lost. Now, we are three years into the Sustainable Development Goals agenda. No wonder what he is doing at ZESCO is clearly not sustainable. The man is totally lost. He doesn’t deserve to be where he is,” Mr. Sinkamba said.

Zambia make respectable end to unsuccessful 2019 AFCON qualifiers

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March 23, 2019

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Zambia make respectable end to unsuccessful 2019 AFCON qualifiers

Zambia on Saturday ensured they ended their unsuccessful 2019 AFCON Group K qualifying race with a dignifying 4-1 home rout of Namibia at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

Chipolopolo still finished bottom of Group K on 7 points, one behind third placed Mozambique who are tied on 8 points with Namibia but the latter beat them to number two on head-to-head following 1-0 home and 2-1 away victories over The Mambas.

Guinea Bissau finished top of Group K on 9 points after drawing 2-2 at home win Mozambique on Saturday in Bissau.

Meanwhile, Augustine Mulenga scored a brace in the 12th and 82nd minutes for Zambia while Donashano Malama and Lazarus Kambole hit the target in 55th and 90th minutes respectively.

Namibia’s consolation came in the 89th minute through Peter Shalulile after he had earlier hit the right angle of the beam in the 77th minute and also had a goal disallowed in the 57th minute.

But Shalulile was not the only Namibian denied by the woodwork after Deon Otto too saw his 27th minute shot come off the post.

Zambia now turns their focus to the Ethiopia 2020 CHAN qualifiers where they enter the race in July after enjoying a bye from April’s first round.

Zambia will face winner between Botswana and Seychelles in the second round qualifiers during the weekend of July 26-28 for the first leg and August 2-4 for the last leg.

The winner advance to the final qualifying round where a prospective date against 2011 CHAN runners-up Angola awaits during the weekend of September 20-22 for the first leg while the final leg decider will be played during the dates of October 18-20.

Chambeshi tells Zambia U23 to finish job at Heroes

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March 23, 2019

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Chambeshi tells Zambia U23 to finish job at Heroes

Zambia Under -23 Beston Chambeshi says they need to be thorough and efficient this Sunday against Malawi in their second round, final leg 2019 U23 AFCON qualifier at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

Zambia enjoy a 1-0 first leg away win over Malawi collected on March 20 and need a draw on March 24 to advance to the final qualifying round in June.

“It will be a tough but my boys are ready. Playing at home is a plus. We have everything to lose if we fail to beat Malawi,” Chambeshi said.

But Chambeshi well aware the kind of burden placed on his team that comes after the senior sides’ failure to qualify to the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

The match will also test the 2017 U20 AFCON champions’ character in a qualifier in their first home reunion since lifting that title at the same venue as hosts in 2017.

A lot is expected especially from strikers Patson Daka and Fashion Sakala including midfielder Enock Mwepu who have who have made an immediate impact since graduating to the Chipolopolo setup from the Under-20 team.

Meanwhile, Malawi coach Meck Mwase has warned Zambia that they were fortunate to get an away win in Blantyre that handed his side its first loss in the qualifiers.

Unlike Zambia who enjoyed a preliminary round bye, Malawi kicked off their race with a 2-1 away win over Botswana on November 17 but drew 1-1 at home in Blantyre on November 20.

“Sometimes when we are playing at home there is a lot of pleasure from the supporters they always want to win but when we travel there is nothing like that and we are comfortable,” Mwase said.

Winner over both legs will play Burundi or Congo-Brazzaville in June who finished 0-0 in Bujumbura on March 20 heading into the final leg on March 26 in Brazzaville.

Victor of that June’s contest will qualify to the Egypt tournament this November where the top three finishers will represent Africa at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics football tournament.

Sean Tembo arrested for Defaming President Lungu

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March 23, 2019

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Sean Tembo arrested for Defaming President Lungu

Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) President Sean Tembo

POLICE in Lusaka have arrested Patriotic For Economic Progress leader Sean Tembo for defamation of the President.

In a statement this afternoon, police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo stated that officers picked for allegedly defaming the Republican President Edgar Lungu in his posts on Social media dated March 15, March 2019.

“He is currently detained in police custody. More details will be given in due course,” stated Katongo in the brief statement.

This week,Mr Tembo said that he stood by his statement that President Edgar Lungu was possibly suffering from a mental illness, which might be the primary cause of his various irrational national decisions in the recent past.

Commenting on the various concerns raised by Citizens over his statement, Mr. Tembo said mental illness is just like any other illness and must not be stigmatized.

“As a matter of fact, the national prevalence of mental illness in Zambia is currently about 4% of the general population and a whopping 13% of the adult male population. It is on this basis that the framers of the Republican Constitution took into account the possibility that a person elected to the position of Republican President might suffer a mental illness during their tenure”, Mr. Tembo has said.

He said accordingly, article 107 of the Republican Constitution provides guidance on the procedures that must be followed if the Head of State is suspected of suffering from a debilitating mental illness.

Mr. Tembo said his party has been closely monitoring the quality of official decisions that have been made by President Lungu, ever since he took office in February of 2015.

He said the Patriots for Economic Progress has also been consistently pointing out any poor decisions made by the President, which they usually attribute to incompetence, however in the recent past, they have noted certain poor decisions made by President Lungu which are too grave to be attributed to incompetence alone, but actually border on mental illness or incapacity.

He said a case in point is the decision by President Lungu to purchase a brand new Gulfstream G650 private jet for himself using approximately K900 million of tax payers money, and yet he is failing to pay salaries for his employees in the civil service, local government and parastatal bodies.

Mr. Tembo said another case in point is the decision by the President to send his wife on a meaningless trip to the United States of America to go and receive used second hand fire trucks, with an exaggerated entourage of 25 personnel including maids and cleaners, as if US hotels do not have cleaners, for a prolonged period of about two weeks, using millions of Kwacha of tax payers money, and yet the majority of peasant farmers who supplied their maize to his Government in the last farming season have not been paid.

He has reiterated that President Lungu be subjected to a mental exam for purposes of determining his mental fitness, and consequent suitability to continue holding the office of Republican President, as guided by article 107 of the Republican Constitution.

Mr. Tembo said if indeed the President is mentally sick as they strongly suspect, then he needs to be afforded appropriate medical assistance and therapy so that he could make a full recovery.

“However, if the medical exam determines that contrary to our suspicions, the President is actually mentally fit and that his consistent poor decisions are in-fact not premised on any mental disorder but merely incompetence, then the President will resume his duties. But at least our fears and those of the majority of our citizens that the president might be mentally ill, will be arrayed”, he added.

He said in the quest to address this matter once and for all, the Patriots for Economic Progress will soon be writing to our Opposition Alliance partners in the United Party for National Development, who have representation in Parliament, requesting them to consider laying a motion on the floor of Parliament for President Lungu to be subjected to a mental exam, as provided for by the Constitution.

He said if the motion meets Parliamentary approval, as they expect it, then the Chief Justice will be compelled to institute a medical board to inquire into the mental capacity of the Republican President, within 7 days, as provided for by article 107(4) of the Republican Constitution.

He has emphasised that his party’s position on this matter should not be misconstrued to mean that we disrespect the Republican President in any way and has apologised in advance if in the quest to put across the case, they inadvertently disrespected the President in anyway.

Mr. Tembo said his party firmly believe that the matter of the President’s mental fitness needs to be addressed in a sober and candid manner, without emotional inclinations whatsoever.

Telesphore Mpundu: When Church Leaders Preach Chaos

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March 23, 2019

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Telesphore Mpundu: When Church Leaders Preach Chaos

FILE: President Lungu with Archdiocese of Lusaka Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu, Diocese of Solwezi Bishop Charles Kasonde, Diocese of Ndola Bishop Dr Alick Banda, Diocese of Mpika Bishop Justin Mulenga, Diocese of Livingstone Bishop Valentine Kalumba and Diocese of Chipata George Zumaile Lungu. This was when the Catholic Bishops paid a courtesy call on the Head of State at State House on Friday, January 20,2017 -Pictures by EDDIE MWANALEZA

By Rev Moses Lungu

Telesphore Mpundu is no doubt a respected clergy in the Zambian community. His flock respect his word and often act on his instructions – direct of indirect.

Zambia has a huge Catholic population, and this is the religious sector that retired Archbishop of Lusaka represents.

To hear a leader of one of the country’s biggest religious grouping predict chaos in 2021 if an election does not go the way he wants, or he is anticipating sends a chilling effect into my spine.

You don’t expect the Right Reverend to be careless in his opinion. And you don’t expect him to be irresponsible. We have only one Zambia and this is the only place we have known as home.

And you expect a man who commands so much respect and following to be a unifier; one whose frustrations are not poured out with the intent to trigger an emotional rather than a logical reaction.

This, unfortunately, is a path Archbishop Mpundu is riding on. His frustration stems from the failure to manage the preliminaries of the dialogue process.

Early this week, Archbishop Mpundu featured on a radio program in Lusaka on which he predicted chaos in 2021 if the opposition does not win the election.

To put it in his words, the clergyman is warning that if the breakdown in the rule of law is not addressed, the 2021 general elections will record unprecedented chaos and bloodshed.

Bloodshed? This should possibly only exist in the mind of Archbishop Mpundu.

Since 1964, Zambia has held elections free of bloodshed. Why should 2021 be so unique to evoke such travesty.

Even first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda’s 27 years was not ended through the barrel. Zambians majestically rose to the challenge and addressed their misgivings in the most civil way they possibly could. And that’s what we have always done.

Yes, we had food riots prior to the 1991 elections. There were a few incidents of destruction pre multi-partism, but this was understood to be part of the push to liberate a people.

But we are never known to spill blood. And why should this be Archbishop Mpundu’s main point of contention?

Through a popular vote, Zambians ushered the late Frederick Chiluba as second Republican president, the first democratically elected, through the ballot.

We remain a beacon of peace. We are a model of democracy even in this our new dispensation.

When the late president Chiluba attempted to manipulate the constitution to seek a third term, it was not blood that brought that attempt to an end.

A resolute population stood firm, used every channel available, and brought to a stop what would have been president Chiluba’s third term bid. No blood was shed on the altar of politics.

We have gone on to have elections and today stand at five presidents four of whom have been produced in the last 28 years of our democracy with no bloodshed.

In 2006, Patriotic Front founder Michael Sata lost to the then incumbent Levy Patrick Mwanawasa. He was widely seen to have won that election and pockets of resistance in few urban areas ended soon as they started.

Two years later, Sata lost to president Rupiah Banda before he eventually won in 2011. President Sata remains to be the most recognizable opposition leader of our democracy. Even with his good following, no blood was shed.

We also had elections in 2015 and 2016 both of which passed without incident as President Edgar Lungu ascended to the thrown without incident.

If eight presidential elections have been held since 1991 without incident, what gives Archbishop Mpundu the impetus to predict bloodshed in 2021?

It will be good for the Archbishop to substantiate his claim with empirical evidence of how the country will degenerate into chaos to an extent of bloodshed if his preferred 2021 opposition suffers an expected defeat.

In the absence of demonstrating clearly the substance of his claim, we will be left to conclude that indeed the clergyman is an envoy of the opposition leader advocating regime change at whatever cost even if it means losing lives.

The Author is the Executive Director Evangelical Youth Alliance Lusaka Zambia

Dialogue without Church will be meaningless

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March 23, 2019

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Dialogue without Church will be meaningless

The Representatives from The three church mother bodies namely the Council of Churches in Zambia, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops

Political parties in the Country have been advised to realize that National Dialogue will be meaningless without the involvement of the Church.

Evangelical Youth Alliance International (EYAI) Executive Director Moses Lungu says the Church is in fact a critical stakeholder in the dialogue process and deserves respect from all other stakeholders.

Reverend Lungu states that the Church cannot be excluded from the dialogue process when it is already a major stakeholder in the whole entire governance process of the Country.

He states that his organization is therefore opposed to suggestions that an alternative institution be identified to lead the National Dialogue if the Church is having difficulties to lead the process.

No violence will be tolerated in the forthcoming parliamentary and local by-elections-President Lungu

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March 23, 2019

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No violence will be tolerated in the forthcoming parliamentary and local by-elections-President Lungu

President Edgar Lungu has said that no acts of violence will be tolerated in forthcoming parliamentary and local by-elections on April 11.

Addressing PF party activists at the Chipata College of Education arena today, President Lungu said, for its part, the PF will ensure that no one commits violence in its name and publicly directed Secretary-General Davis Mwila to strictly carry out this directive.

“We took over government without using violence. We are a peaceful party. No one…none of our youths, Secretary-General,must be allowed to commit violence in the upcoming elections. If there will be any acts of violence let it be not from us.”

“People reject violent parties and we saw this in the case of UNIP when vigilantes committed acts of violence. We saw this when the MMD tolerated violence and I don’t want PF to end up like that. Some of you who caused that violence are here and I want you to change,” the President said.

The President said he has privately discussed electoral violence with the Secretary- General and the Minister of Home Affairs and was now repeating the instructions publicly so that no one is left with any doubt where he stands on the matter.

“Within PF, we have agreed that there should be no ferrying of party cadres from outside the elections areas but if anyone from other parties do, let them ensure those campaigners don’t transport violence to voting areas.”

The President has also warned that police were under strict instructions to act decisively against any perpetrators of electoral violence.

The President has also condemned the ugly face of tribalism in some parties and cautioned the PF not to copy those bad habits because he had heard that in some areas, some PF members were segregating on the basis of ethnicity.

“What a shame. That is not the PF I know. That is not the PF of our founder Michael Sata. I won’t let down his soul be letting his legacy destroyed by foreign elements. Where he is, he proud of the progress we have made to grow his party.”

The President also said with the full mandate of the people of Zambia, the PF has decided that national dialogue will be institutionalized via an Act of Parliament called for public support. But he warned that unelected detractors must be ready to obey the will of the people and not undermine the process.

“Notwithstanding that we won the elections with clear majority above the constitutional threshold, we still want to talk to others but when they decide that they will paralyze the country, we won’t let them.”