Zambian human rights activist Gregory Chifire has maintained that he is not guilty after he was sentenced to six years in prison.

Mr Chifire who was jailed on Friday for six years after he criticized the Supreme Court Judges over the handling of the Stanbic Bank and Savenda saga said he has always known that the Zambian Judiciary is at its lowest and that this Judgment only goes to confirm that view.

“Am not guilty. I shall walk with my head high, I shall walk tall. I shall always speak ‘the right’. After all it is our sacred right to express ourselves. No rightful court under heaven has right to deprive citizens of their freedoms. These are some of the execesses that we must never allow to be championed in our Country,” Mr Chifire wrote on his Facebook page.

“I will never sacrifice my people’s freedoms at the alter of expedience. ‘I would rather die at my post’. We need to tell the truth as it is. We need to stand against tyranny.”

“I seek not sympathy. I seek justice. Not for me, but the greater good of society. The decisions that we make now, have far reaching consequence for the future. The sacrifices we make now, we may never enjoy them in our life time but, the future generations. Yes sacrifice we must, otherwise we shall never see the luminous summit.”

He added, “Many may not understand now. Its not about seeking to please the many, but to do and fight for what is right. After all its not always that the majority are right. The big visions have not been seen by the majority, but by the commitment of a vision carrier.”

“We shall fight till we win. We shall never stop. They say winners never quit, quitters never win. Ours is a long term agenda of contributing towards a better Zambia. Individuals will come and go, but Zambia shall remain till God’s time.

Dj Mzenga Man released the highly anticipated 2018 End of Year Cypher featuring Jay-Z, Slapdee, Cleo Ice Queen, Jae Cash, Fly J, Krytic, Stevo, Chisenga, Nez Long, King Illest & TiyeP.

Download the song HERE

As National Restoration Party, we have learnt with shock that President Lungu yet again has exhibited selfishness and no care for the people of Zambia by nominating Mr Raphael Nakachinda the MMD Secretary General as Member of parliament to simply replace his President Felix Mutati and reward the MMD.

In his appointment, the President through his Press Aid Amos Chanda has told the nation without shame that this is merely to consolidate their relationship which is there between the PF and the MMD.

Mr Nakachinda has not been nominated on merit but simply on patronage. We have so many Zambians who can be nominated on merit to serve the nation but this action by the President to appoint people based on patronage and reward them has confirmed why the country has failed to prosper or develop under his leadership.

We urge the President to use his powers wisely by nominating people of high standing in society, people who have the love for the nation and people who can deliver and not praise singers. People of good reputation, people with a good background. Zambia will not expect anything from this nomination just like we have not seen anything from the appointment he made when he nominated Mumbi Phiri as Member of parliament.

We have no doubt that the president does not have people to advise him properly and his focus is only for people around him and not any other who can serve this nation. We condemn this appointment as it was not done on merit but simply patronage.

We also want the President to explain to people of Zambia why building a house of a former president at a huge cost is now a priority than building schools and hospitals for our children and our expectant mothers. 54 years of independence our mothers in many parts of the country still don’t have proper access to hospital facilities and to see the President go to hand over a house to former President Rupiah Banda at that huge cost is so heart breaking. This is another misplaced priority by the President and his government.

We would like to urge the people of Zambia particularly those in rural areas to take keen interest in the manner this nation has been mismanaged by the PF government. Their priority is no longer to serve the people as per their pro poor slogan but simply to serve their interests and those who dine with them.
As we approach 2021, we hope Zambians will make a right choice and try a new leadership that will see our nation develop.

Issued by:
Frank Sichone

China’s foreign Ministry has spoken out on increasing tensions in Zambia over the Chinese role in the country.

During a regular press briefing, the Chinese government commended President Edgar Lungu for denouncing the anti Chinese sentiments in Zambia.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said some opposition leaders have misled the people of the Copperbelt to riot.

Some people in Kitwe of the Copperbelt province were misled by the false allegation about the takeover of the Zambia’s state-owned timber company by the Chinese side,” said Mr. Geng.

“Some Chinese shops were looted but no one was injured,” Mr. Geng continued during his briefing.

“After that happened, the Chinese side immediately lodged representations with Zambia, and the Zambian side said it would take measures to safeguard the safety of the Chinese in Zambia.”

The Chinese praised Lungu’s call for Zambians to ignore false accusations about China-Zambia cooperation.

“The Chinese enterprises’ investments in Zambia have generated enormous job opportunities and boosted the socioeconomic development locally, to which we all bear witness,” Mr. Geng said.

“Early this month, some people in Kitwe of the Copperbelt province were misled by the false allegation about the takeover of the Zambia’s state-owned timber company by the Chinese side and took to street to protest, causing a minor disturbance. Some Chinese shops were looted but no one was injured. After that happened, the Chinese side immediately lodged representations with Zambia, and the Zambian side said it would take measures to safeguard the safety of the Chinese in Zambia.”

He added, “Recently, Zambian President Lungu openly refuted the false accusations against China-Zambia cooperation and clarified the facts of the riot, calling on the Zambians to boycott those false China-related reports and provide enabling environment for foreign investors, including Chinese ones, to operate in Zambia. Previously, Zambian Vice President Inonge Wina also pointed out that the protests in the Copperbelt province recently were caused by false allegations and that Zambians should not be misled. The Chinese side appreciates the above-mentioned remarks by Zambian leaders.”

He said the traditional friendship between China and Zambia has withstood the test of time and the changes in the international landscape.

“In recent years, the practical cooperation between the two countries has achieved remarkable outcomes and brought benefits to the two peoples. The Chinese enterprises’ investments in Zambia have generated enormous job opportunities and boosted the socio-economic development locally, to which we all bear witness,” Mr. Geng said.

“Any responsible person will make objective evaluation of all these efforts, and any words and deeds intended to spoil China-Zambia friendship will never win the hearts of the people in the two countries. China stands ready to continue to work with Zambia to stay committed to win-win cooperation and common development and cement and deepen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.”

The Constitutional Court has thrown out an appeal in which UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice Geoffrey Mwamba had asked the court to hear their application, challenging the swearing of President Edgar Lungu into office after the 2016 General elections.

This was in a matter in which Mr. Hichilema cited president Edgar Lungu, Vice president Inonge Wina and Attorney General Likando Kalaluka as respondents in the case.

They petitioned before a single judge who later struck out the petition on account that it was an abuse of court process but dissatisfied with the decision of the single judge, the UPND leaders appealed to the full bench of the court.

Attorney General Likando Kalaluka had asked the court to throw out the appeal because it was filed out of time and without leave from the court adding that the petition was heard and determined by a single judge and therefore there was no need for the constitutional court to review its own decision.

But in argument, the UPND Leaders asked the courts to dismiss Mr. Kalaluka’s application and hear their appeal without undue regard to procedure technicalities.

Delivering the ruling on behalf of Constitutional Court judge Martin Musaluke, Master of the Supreme Court, Anastasia Lungu set aside the UPND leaders summons on appeal for being incompetent.

The court found that the petitioners should have applied for leave to file an appeal out of time.

Judge Musaluke said the petitioners fell in their own trap when they failed to comply with court rules.

He said the court was not clothed with jurisdiction to hear the petitioners summons on appeal because they did not follow the rules.

Meanwhile the Lusaka High Court has thrown out the matter where Mr. Hichilema and Mr. Mwamba sought determination on their rights to be heard following the collapse of the 2016 Presidential Petition.

Judge Mwila Chitabo has held that the High court has no jurisdiction on Presidential Petition matters.

Mr. Hichilema and Mr. Mwamba had challenged the 2016 Elections results in the Constitutional Court.

But their petition was dismissed on September 05, 2016.

The Court dismissed the petition on grounds that the time limit within which it was supposed to be heard had lapsed.

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, delivered an emotional speech on Friday, November 16, 2018, at a ceremony honoring Staff Sergeant Derrick Sichilyango of the Zambian contingent, who died as the result of a road accident  that occurred while he was carrying out his official duties.

The ceremony was held  at the Headquarters of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)in Bangui. The MINUSCA Force Commander, General Balla Keïta, members of the senior leadership of the Mission, as well as other civilian, police and military personnel were in attendance.

The Special Representative expressed the United Nations’ solidarity with the Republic of Zambia and its battalion serving with MINUSCA.   “It’s an immeasurable tragedy that Staff Sergeant Derrick lost his future. I salute and honor him for the work he has done to support this country, to represent Zambia with courage and honor, and to uphold the values and principles of the United Nations, ” he said.

“When we refer to our fallen peacekeepers, we most often think of those who died in the field of battle. But we must also remember that so many others have lost their lives because of the difficult environment in which we serve. They died of illness and accidents, as was the case for our deceased colleague,” recalled Mr. Onanga-Anyanga.

“He died at a time when his services in the contingent and the army of Zambia in general were indispensable. His death deprives the United Nations, the Zambian army, and the entire country of an extremely hard-working officer, “ said the Commander of the Zambian Battalion.,

Staff Sergeant Sichilyango deployed to the Central African Republic in June 2018.  He joined the Zambian Army on March 14, 2005, after basic military training, and then completed courses in auto mechanics at the Military Training Establishment of Zambia (MILTEZ). He was 38 years old, married and had three children.

With 930 peacekeepers, including 59 women, the Zambian battalion has been deployed since 2015 in the Vakaga prefecture, northeast of CAR, to ensure the protection of civilians. Based in Birao, the contingent provides security in the locality and surrounding area by conducting daily patrols. Like other contingents of the Mission, the Zambian Battalion regularly organizes civil-military activities in solidarity with the people in its area of responsibility and with the aim of strengthening social cohesion.