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The Energy Regulation Board has urged all petroleum transporters operating in the country to ensure their drivers strictly adhere to safety requirements and only park vehicles at designated locations.Last week two Tanzanian fuel Tankers believed to be carrying 35,000 litres of fuel were burnt to ashes at Tafiki, in Chitulika along Great North road in Mpika district, Muchinga Province.It is alleged that one of the drivers sold some fuel to some vendors and in the process accidentally ignited a spark which spread to the truck containing fuel.The ERB is investigating the cause of the fire.
Below is the Full Press Statement
The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has been investigating the fire incidents that happened in Mpika on Saturday 3rd November 2018 involving two tankers,which were allegedly carrying fuel for Mount Meru.
Considering the hazardous nature of petroleum products and the strict regime under which transportation is governed, our interest in this matter is mainly premised on the need to take appropriate action should we determine that there was a breach of licence conditions.We are therefore engaging Mt.Meru with a view to getting their side of the story before we conclude our investigations in the matter.
In light of this unfortunate incident,the ERB would like to urge all petroleum transporters operating in the country to ensure that fuel tanker drivers strictly adhere to safety requirements and only park vehicles at designated locations.
Further,members of the public are advised to be highly safety conscious around petroleum facilities and when in the vicinity of petroleum products transporting vessels.It should be noted that fuel is highly fire-prone posing grave danger to human life and the environment in the event of spillage of fuel or slippage of fumes.
Therefore, in the event of a fuel tanker accident, members of the public should keep away from accident scenes and immediately alert relevant authorities such as the Fire Services Department,Zambia Police and/or indeed contact the ERB,free of charge ,on 8484.
The ERB shall provide more information on this matter once investigations have been concluded and facts established.
By Fred Hang’andu
Director,Consumer and Public Affairs
UPND Lusaka Province Chairperson, Obvious Mwaliteta
UPND Lusaka Province Chairperson, Obvious Mwaliteta says the PF should take the blame for the current numerous economic problems facing the country today and not maliciously blame it on HH and GBM.
Mr Mwaliteta said the PF should realise that Zambia is a country with a sincere and patriotic citizenry which deserve to be respected and not taken for granted.
“Zambians are sincere and very patriotic and its an insult for PF to think that they can be pushed and ordered what to do they way they do with their hired cadres. PF should not take Zambians for granted,” said Mwaliteta.
He said Patriotic Front governments’ failure to pay attention to people’s needs has contributed to so many issues affecting Zambians today.
He said the Patriotic Front need to know that food and land is security for the Zambian people and added that it is the duty of the UPND in opposition to provide checks and balances by speaking on behalf of the people.
Mr Mwaliteta has called on the PF to conduct a survey on why Zambians are protesting and stop the blame game as that further reduces its governance credentials.
“The fact is people are protesting because they are hungry, they need attention, they feel insecure, remember food and land is their security.It is not HH and GBM fighting PF but hunger, unemployment, high cost of living which the PF should resolve unlike wasting time on HH and GBM who have a vision to redeem the country and its people,”he added
He also warned the PF to stay away from its unwarranted attacks and schemes to create “false” charges against HH and GBM because that will not be tolerated by the Party and its supporters across the country.
Speaking when he featured on a programme dubbed “Unscripted” on Muvi TV last evening, the former Kafue lawmaker observed that the PF has become so obsessed with the UPND and its leadership thus accusing it for their wrongs.
“Look at the numerous unfinished projects under the PF regime such as the Katunda-to-Lukulu road and the Kaoma-to-Solwezi road! Look at the high levels of corruption in the country and the failure by the Government to address the challenge of meagre salaries for civil servants. Is it HH and GBM, the answer in NO,” said Mr Mwaliteta.
He said the UPND will utilise the countrys’ resources to create wealth and descent jobs for the ordinary citizenry and not those in government immediately it forms government.
Mr Mwaliteta said it is high time the PF called for early elections if they realised that the opposition had become “bigger” than them.
The UPND Lusaka strongman said the party and it’s leadership are not in charge of both the country and ZAFFICO whose alleged sale sparked riots in a number of townships on the Copper Belt.
He said the PF needed to clarify issues surrounding the alleged sell of ZAFICCO and not “keep lying to Zambians even when most of their lies were there for all to see”.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy – Proverbs 31:8-9
We can all clearly see that the debt situation is very bad and getting worse every day. The debt burden is truly becoming heavy on most of us ordinary Zambians. According to the experts, public debt has reached 60% of GDP, putting the country at high risk of debt distress, which simply means that we will soon fail to meet our obligations.
As a result of this mounting debt, between January and September 2018, interest payments on debt were 125% of the three quarters’ budget; this was 25% over-budget. In contrast, social programmes like Pension Fund and Social Cash Transfer received only 56% and 36%, respectively, while Food Security Pack for poor families and women and youth Empowerment Funds received nothing (0%).
Some PF commentators will claim that this poor prioritization was because “the opposition infiltrated the public systems”. We must not be fooled or detracted by such ridiculous propaganda when the statistical facts about the failed economic management are laid bare for all to see. They will claim that UPND is against investment in infrastructure. What we are against is to disguise corruption in unplanned infrastructure development projects. Why should our roads cost more than three times to construct than the regional average? Why should our fire engines cost a million dollars when international reference prices are about a quarter of that? Why should the Lusaka Ndola Dual carriage cost billions of dollars? What is the motivation of undertaking these projects? Judging from the Auditor General’s 2017 Report, we are inclined to think they are conduits to steal public funds. This is what the UPND and the Zambian people are against.
Countrymen and women, we believe that with the right leadership and political will, Zambia can do many things differently to remedy the situation.Here are two things, for example, that together we can do.
Stop the excessive borrowing: In 2017, the Government developed the Economic Stabilization and Growth Programme (ESGP) and convinced us of their seriousness to tackle the economic crises. The Government assured us that it would undertake fiscal consolidation measures to reduce the Government deficit and accumulation of debt stock by (a) reducing overall expenditure from 27.7% of GDP in 2017 to 22.8% in 2019, and (b) reducing fiscal deficit from 7% of GDP in 2017 to 4.1% by 2019.
What has happened? Fiscal deficit in 2018 will be larger at 7.4% of GDP and not 5.1% of GDP as per the ESGP. In the 2019 Budget, deficit is increasing to ZMW28.8 billion (9.6% of GDP) against the ESGP target of ZMW 16.6 billion (4.1% of GDP).
While we are not surprised – for after all, this was the policy meaning behind “dununa reverse” – we are rightly worried that this will further weaken our fiscal and debt positions. It will affect our ability to attract the much needed investment that creates jobs for our youths that are graduating and roaming the streets without jobs.
It compromises our real investment efforts, not the PF type investment strategy which aims to line their pockets through malpractices in procurements. It compromises poverty reduction efforts and scares away investors and cooperating partners as we have seen in the education and social cash transfer, where even the money meant for the poor has been abused, and the cooperating partners have frozen their support. And yet the PF are always singing and championing that they are a party for the poor!
Fellow Zambians, we cannot borrow our way out of debt; we must simply find the political will to apply prudent fiscal policies that stem further debt accrual. Thus, we should simply go back to ESGP and stop playing “chidunune” and “chipante-pante” with our economy. Let us demand our MPs to ask the Government to go back to the fiscal consolidation Plan in the ESGP and develop a new fiscal framework that represents a more ambitious fiscal consolidation effort for the medium term.
Share decision-making responsibilities honestly and fairly: Article 114 of the Zambian Constitution (2016) provides for the National Assembly to approve all loans and guarantees to be contracted by the State. This means the Executive has a constitutional obligation to have all loans and guarantees approved by Parliament. We need to start implementing this legal prescription so as to establish the right checks and balances in debt contraction. We need the Planning and Budget Act, the amendments to the Procurement Act and the Loans and Guarantees (Authorization) Act that ensure more transparency and oversight in the management of public resources. This is what the ESGP promised in 2017 and this is what we should do.
We are now entering 2019 and the above pieces of legislation have not yet been presented to Parliament. What other reasons would one think of apart from the PF’s fear that this will expose them in their corruption? Are the delays meant to give space to the Executive to secretly and unilaterally negotiate and finalize unplanned and unbudgeted debt deals with China, Turkey and others without parliamentary oversight? Is this not immoral, illegal and unfair to the Zambian people? Can’t we, as Zambians, hold the Government accountable and demand that the PF simply does the right thing for once and petition our MPs to ensure these laws are tabled in Parliament this year?
We want to assure Zambians, that we are available and ready to join forces with every like-minded countryman and woman, to demand, for and on behalf of the Zambian people, credible, accountable and dedicated policy leadership that will take us out of the current economic mess; respect and account for public funds; and bring us back on track to realizing our long term vision, the Vision 2030.
The Author is the Former Finance Minister in during the MMD reign under Rupiah Banda and now MP. UPND Chair for Finance
Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Mwila says the inter-party dialogue will go on with or without the presence of the opposition United Party for National Development -UPND.
Mr. Mwila states that the inter party dialogue is not meant for the PF and the UPND but all political parties in the country who have the interest of Zambians at heart.
The PF Secretary General however wondered why the opposition UPND has chosen to abandon the resolutions arrived at during the inter-party secretaries general meeting organised by the Zambia Centre for Inter- Party Dialogue (ZCID) early this year in Siavonga.
He disclosed that they all agreed that the church will chair the dialogue with the Zambia Centre for Inter- Party Dialogue left to facilitate.
Mr. Mwila disclosed this when he appeared on ZNBC Tv2’s Morning Live breakfast show.
And UPND Deputy Secretary General Patrick Mucheleka disclosed that the inter party dialogue meeting will not yield the intended results if it is facilitated by ZCID.
Mr. Mucheleka said the church is the only credible body that can facilitate the meeting indicating that ZCID is compromised and does not have the interest of the people.
Meanwhile ZCID Spokesperson Jackson Silavwe described UPND’s assertion that the organisation is compromised as mere rhetoric and should not be taken serious by well-meaning Zambians.
Chief Government Spokesperson, Hon. Dora Siliya, MP
Government has challenged UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to provide evidence on his allegation that the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) has been sold.
Chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya has dared Mr. Hichilema, who on Monday is reported to have alleged that government has sold ZAFFICO, to prove his claim within 7 days.
Ms. Siliya’s challenge is that if Mr. Hichilema fails to prove his allegation within this period of time he should also resign as president of the main opposition political party in the country.
Speaking at a media briefing held in Lusaka, Ms. Siliya also accused Mr. Hichilema of using lies to gain political popularity.
Ms. Siliya has alleged that it was Mr. Hichilema who also incited the riots that took place on the Copperbelt on Monday when he appeared on a live radio programme at a local radio station.
She has however told journalists that law enforcement agencies will investigate all persons that incited people to riot over allegations that ZAFFICO has been sold.
The Government, through the Civil Service Commission, has dismissed three accounting staff from the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development for abuse and theft of public funds.
Those dismissed are Enoce Kashweka, a Principal Accountant, Eugen Kausu, an Accounts Assistant, and Huston Hachuma, an Accounts Assistant.
Ministry of Finance spokesperson Chileshe Kandeta said the stolen funds will be recovered from the terminal and pension benefits of the three dismissed officials.
Mr. Kandeta added that the due process of the law will also be pursued by Law Enforcement Agencies.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba has reiterated that to curb fraud and theft of public funds, Controlling Officers need to be on high alert in monitoring the happenings in their institutions.
Mr. Yamba added that Controlling Officers need to be firm in guiding their institutions on public financial management matters as they are instrumental in actualizing President Edgar Lungu’s vision of ensuring that prudent management of public resources is entrenched across the breadth and width of the public sector.
He said the Ministry of Finance will not hesitate to evoke the sanction provisions of the Public Finance Management Act, 2018, against erring Controlling Officers and other public officials when regulations and rules governing the handling and utilization of public resources are contravened.
Mr. Yamba has urged Controlling Officers to ensure that the irregularities pronounced in the auditor general’s report begin to get reversed in future audit instances.
Last week, the Ministry of Finance organised a Controlling Officers Seminar to help the delegates to appreciate the overview of the Public Finance Management Act, No. 1, 2018, and review the financial and stores regulations to bring them in conformity with the new Act and further strengthen internal control systems in the management of public resources.
Dr. Richard Banda, MNDP Director – Monistoring and Evaluation, Mr. Mulele Mulele and PS Chola Chabala at National Designated Authority – National Consultative Stakeholders meeting on Nat. Climate Change Fund
Zambia has urged statistical bodies in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa region to link statistical systems with the needs of users so that they are applicable to national development planning.
Officially opening the 9th COMESA Committee on Statistical Matters, in Lusaka today, Ministry of National Development Planning, Permanent Secretary for Development Planning and Administration Chola Chabala said linking statistical systems and needs of the users would make statistics more relevant and applicable to national development planning.
He informed the delegates that Zambia is about to undertake a critical activity to rebase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which will have far reaching implications on socio-economic policies.
“This policy and other statistical activities underscore the importance of statistics in shaping, not only our policy direction but also the development trajectory of our countries,” Mr. Chabala said. “This should give us a critical reflection of the vital role statistics play in development planning and monitoring and evaluating our development interventions.”
Mr. Chabala reminded the delegates that the 37th COMESA Council of Ministers meeting approved the 2017-2020 COMESA statistics strategy which aims at providing an overarching framework of how statistical development will be undertaken in the COMESA region.
“It was heartening that at the end period review of the prior strategy by African Development Bank and Paris 21, a favourable review of the performance of your work as a Committee and the work of the Secretariat in the prior 2014-2017 statistics strategy was given,” said Mr. Chabala. “The approach of the 2017-2020 statistics strategy is taken based on providing a statistical response to COMESA’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP).
And COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe said the COMESA Statistical System is underpinned by the national strategies for development of statistics while synergising with the continental frameworks such as the SHASA II and at the international level the Busan Action Plan for Statistics.
“Your meeting marks the first year of implementation of the 2017-2020 statistics strategy. Accordingly, your secretariat will be reporting on progress made in the year under review,” Ms. Kapwepwe said. “We look forward to your guidance on issues related to the implementation so as to ensure that our programs have the stamp of your ownership as member states.”
The Lusaka Fast Track Court on Traffic Offences has over the last one month convicted over 100 motorists for the offence of dangerous driving contrary to the Road Traffic Act number 11 of 2002.
And the Road Transport and Safety Agency says dangerous driving remains among the leading traffic offences among Lusaka motorists.
According to the Lusaka Fast Track Court for Traffic offences, convictions for the month of October 2018, out of the 604 convictions secured by RTSA, 119 convictions where for dangerous driving accounting for the highest convictions for traffic offences.
Other offences are Expired Road Tax with 205 convictions, Expired Test Certificate with 89 convictions, 46 convictions for expired/uninsured motor vehicle, 31 for unlicensed drivers and 29 convictions for use of hand-held mobile phone whilst driving.
The Agency also secured convictions for expired certificate of fitness, failure to display number plate, failure to obey traffic signs, failure to wear obligatory seatbelt, plying for hire, permitting unlicensed driver, obstruction of roadway by motor vehicle, and failure to obey lawful instructions among other offences.
RTSA Public Relations Manager Mukela Mangolwa said according to statistics, it is clear that cases of dangerous driving have continued to increase and posing a danger to motorists and other road users a situation that has contributed to road traffic crashes in the country.
Mr. Mangolwa said given the prevailing scenario, RTSA will sustain and increase its traffic law enforcement programmes countrywide in order to ensure total compliance among motorists and provide safety to all road users.
He also implored members of the Public to be proactive and make use of the RTSA Call Centre by reporting bad, careless and dangerous drivers on the toll-free line – 983 and the WhatsApp line 0965 429499.
Club-less England based striker Mwiya Malumo has been named in the Zambia Under-20 provisional squad ahead of next month’s COSAFA Cup in Kitwe and Mufulira.
The ex-Wigan striker Mwiya Malumo returns after an impressive showing in the 2019 U20 AFCON qualifiers in July where he scored one goal but that Zambia failed to defend after Burundi beat them to qualification.
Under-20 coach Charles Bwale has also summoned striker Edward Chilufya of Swedish club Djurgardens.
The 2017 U20 AFCON and 2016 COSAFA U20 winning star returns to the COSAFA Under 20 Cup a year after last December’s flop by hosts Zambia when they were eliminated in the group stages in Kitwe.
Bwale on Wednesday announced a 30-member provisional squad ahead of the COSAFA Cup to be held from December 2 to 14 in Kitwe and Mufulira.
Other notables include keeper Prince Bwalya, Nchanga Rangers defender Benson Kolala, Francesco Mwepu of Kafue Celtic and Green Eagles forward Kingsley Fichite.
The team is expected to go into camp on Sunday in Lusaka.
Host Zambia is in Group A alongside Malawi, Mozambique and DR Congo.
Young Chipolopolo will kick off its campaign on December 2 against DR Congo at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Goalkeepers:Prince Bwalya (Green Buffaloes), Patrick Chooma (Intersport Youth), Flobby Mashakalati (Circuit City), Bradley Mweene (University of Pretoria)
Defenders
Kingsley Hakwiya ( Dream Factory), Jonathan Kapelembe (Romeki FC) , Christopher Katongo (Kasama United Youth Academy), Justin Mwanza (Young Nkana), Andrew Phiri (Kafue Celtics) Whiteson Chiluba (Supreme Grace) Oliver Lumbiya (Young Nkana) Benson Kolala (Nchanga Rangers)
Midfielders
Muma Mumba (Green Eagles), Kings Kangwa (Happy Hearts), Thomas Zulu ( Kafue Celtics) , Chanda Mukuka (Gomes), Prince Mumba (Kabwe Warriors), Patrick Gondwe (Young Nkana), Albert Kangwanda ( Kafue Celtics), Musonda Kalale (Chambishi ) Lameck Banda (Zesco United ) Salifyaji Mugala (Morning Stars), Godfrey Mashata (Happy Hearts) Edward Chilufya ( Djurgardens IF)
Forwards
James Chilimina ( Kafue Celtics), Francesco Mwepu (Kafue Celtics), Martin Njobvu (Nchanga Rangers), Mwiya Malumo,
Emmanuel Mwiinde (Young Green Buffaloes) Kingsley Fichite (Green Eagles)
MMD faction leader Nevers Mumba says the dismissal of his rival Felix Mutati from government is a sign of a changing political landscape ahead of 2021.
Dr. Mumba, however, says Mr. Mutati’s singular fate in itself may not be the most significant.
In an interview with QTV News by telephone, Dr. Mumba says he foresees more developments unfolding going forward.
He says this therefore calls for his party to focus on the matters it is pursuing in Court.
He says his faction is not focused on Mr. Mutati, but on ending with a complete victory in Court.
Dr. Mumba says this is with the aim of retrieving the former ruling party from the wrangles it has been subjected to in the last 4 years.
He says his leadership wants to make sure that members of the MMD who have been robbed of participating in politics can have an opportunity to have their political party back.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dora Siliya addressing the Journalist during Media briefing
The Times of Zambia is technically insolvent and has liabilities worth over K 748 million. This is against K 86.4 million worth of assets. Information Minister Dora Siliya disclosed this in Parliament on Tuesday.
Ms Siliya said that Times of Zambia has identified new areas of opportunity to help the company in turning the situation.
Ms Siliya said that one of the strategies identified is to attract new business ways through publishing articles in Chinese is meant to broaden its financial base.
Ms Siliya said also said that the Board hoped that the action will expose the paper to potentially new income from a community that would not necessary be attracted to it, because of language barrier. Ms Siliya said that the targeted commercial communities include Turkish, French and Chinese.
Ms Siliya said this in a ministerial statement in response to a Point of Order recently raised by Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwimbu.
Ms Siliya said that the alleged discrimination against the people of Zambia by the Times of Zambia newspaper’s publication of an article in Chinese when there has been no such publication in any local languages does not arise.
Mr Mwimbu alleged that the Times of Zambia Newspaper was publishing some articles in Chinese and therefore discriminating against Zambian languages.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita says President Edgar Lungu wants to diversify financial engagement by cooperating with different development banking institutions around the world.
Mr. Mukwita made the remarks in the Slovenia capital of Ljubljana at the beginning of a meeting between the Development Bank of Zambia and the Slovenian Export Investment Bank, known locally as SID Banka.
“Zambia may be big in terms of the size of the country and the size of her population but compared to Slovenia we are small because your GDP is around 60 billion which beats us by far”, Ambassador Mukwita said.
The Zambian envoy is in Slovenia leading a six-man delegation that includes the Chief Executive Officer, of the Development Bank of Zambia Jacob Lushinga and two other senior officials Malama Mukonde and Alinaswe.
In his remarks, Mr. Lushinga told the SID Banka 5-member delegation led by the bank president Mr. Sibil Svilan that the Zambian economy provided a variety of opportunities for investment.
“There are opportunities in tourism, agriculture, energy and mining, for example”, Mr. Lushinga said.
The DBZ chief said his team is exploring areas of cooperation with SID Banka as part of larger efforts to expand development cooperation beyond the current institutions the Zambian bank is dealing with.
“For instance, we have similar cooperative arrangements with China and we hope to do the same with SID Banka so that we may expand our resource mobilization efforts”, Mr. Lushinga said.
He said the Bank also wants to forge a technical exchange program that should see Slovenia SID Banka officials visit the Zambian bank and assist in setting up their business models that could enhance the quality of services rendered.
And SID Banka President Sibil Svilan told the Zambian delegation that there were possible areas of cooperation in the tourism and energy sectors as the two were growing in Slovenia.
“Beyond that there are Slovenian business houses that are expanding into Africa affording you an opportunity for cooperation”, the SID Banka president said.
This is according to a statement issued to the media by Kellys Kaunda the First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Berlin.
Deputy Mayor Madam Chilando having a light moment with Miles Sampa shortly after being robbed and vested with Mayoral Chain of office during the Installation ceremony of His worship the Mayor of the City of Lusaka at Nakatindi Grounds
Out of favour Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa has announced that he has formed a team of eminent persons that will be part of his Advisory Board.
Without elaborating further, Mr Sampa listed personalities drawn from banking, politics, academia, arts and the corporate sector as people that will help him with managing the affairs of the City.
It is unclear whether all the 25 listed individuals have been consulted on the appointments and whether they will work on a voluntary basis.
It is also unclear how the Advisory Board will work in relation with the existing structures at the Council as the Office of the Town Clerk and the Directors at the city council.
Mr Sampa’s stay as Mayor has been ridden with scandals since he assumed the seat in late July.
He shocked the nation when he posed with a gun and claimed he was kidnapped only to retract the statement 24 Hours later.
The Mayor is still fighting a nasty divorce from his wife after she cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce papers.
Mr Sampa recently caused another storm at a posh Lusaka restaurant when he refused to pay the bill claiming that the service was below par.
He was later forced to go and pay 24 Hours later after a social media storm.
Below is Mr Sampa’s Advisory Board
Miles Sampa Advisory Board for 2018/19
1.Mr Andrew Sardanis ( Veteran Businessman in hospitality and manufacturing Industry. Chaminuka lodge & Kapoche cheese)
2. MCC Paul Moonga (former Lusaka ward 27 Councillor-1995 & my campaign manager-2018)
3. Mr Venny Kabamba ( Youths advocate & Strategist)
4. Dr Lubinda Habbazoka (Economic Association of Zambia- EAZ President and my education supervisor)
5. Ms Charity Banda (renown Team Building Consultant)
6. Ms Annie Sampa (elder sister & Lawyer)
7. Mr Ellington Haruperi (Successful Lusaka Enteprenuer)
8. Mr Jeff Tembo (Corporate & Structured finance expert, UPND supporter. UNZA friend & former workmate at Barclays)
9. Dr Michael Gondwe (former LCC employee-1976 and Bank of Zambia Governor-2011 to 2016)
10. Bishop John General (Miracle Impact church, Matero)
11. Mr Frank Mutubila (renown Media & PR consultant. Former diplomat)
12. Mr Daniel Chisanga ( Former Lusaka Mayor-2012 to 2014)
13. Ms Pamela Mubanga (Trader & advocate for vulnerable in Society)
14. Ms Inutu Suba (former Luanshya & Livingstone Town Clerk-1995 to 2001. Former Lands PS-2014)
15. Mr Roy Penney (Former advisor to KK-1985 to 1990, Chairman ZDA Board 2010 to 2014)
16. Dr Humphrey Simukomko (former UNZA room mate, Veterinary doctor and lecturer at UNZA)
17. Mr George Kasengele (renown administrator and former FAZ General Secretary- 2006 to 2016)
18. Ms Maria Zaloumis (Successful farmer & ZNFU Board member. Enteprenuer)
19. Mr Brian Bwembya- B Flow (Successful Lusaka mucisian)
20. Mr Justin Chinyanta (renown International financial consultant, CEO Loita Capital, SA and my former Boss-2003)
21. Mr Derrick Mpundu (renown Lusaka Businessman)
22. Mr Nkonkomalimba Kapumpe ( renown Miles Sampa social media perennial critic)
23. Mr Morgan Ngona (Transporter & Real estate consultant)
24. Ms Mulenga Kapwepwe ( renown organisational development and arts consultant)
25. Prof Ken Mwenda (Diaspora, renown international scholar & extraodinary Professor of Law, Pretoria University)
The opposition UPND says the protests that took place on the Copperbelt over the alleged sale of ZAFFICO should not be taken as a mere protest against the Chinese but as a protest against the corrupt Patriotic Front who have allowed China to take over Zambia’s sovereignty.
Party Secretary General Stephen Katuka said there is no smoke without fire and whatever President Edgar Lungu owes China, whether economically or politically should not be the reason for him to indirectly mortgage the country.
Mr. Katuka said the challenge UPND has with PF is that they are blackmailing citizens every time serious questions are raised by the citizens.
the people of Zambia have the right to know what is happening to their resources and it is immoral for government to begin giving all the national assets to Chinese.
He said it has become fashionable for the PF and its government to blame the UPND for their failure to run government properly adding that Citizens have for a long time raised questions about the Chinese and Zambia’s natural resources, including land and the mukula tree.
Mr. Katuka said Zambians saw for themselves law enforcement agencies confiscating timber from citizens and selling it to the Chinese.
“Government has since informed Zambians through Parliament that the money realised from the sale of the mukula tree was given to ZAFFICO. Then suddenly, people have picked up information that ZAFFICO is up for grabs and will be sold to the Chinese. That has annoyed the people.”, Mr. Katuka added.
Last year Defense Permanent Secretary Stard Mwale told a media briefing that Zambia Forest and Forestry industries (ZAFFICO) had been mandated by government to export illegally harvested and confiscated precious mukula logs to China.
Mr.Katuka pointed out that the Chinese are the ones that are most interested in Zambia’s timber industry and ZAFFICO and the UPND equally share the same concerns of the people on the Copperbelt on the impending sale of ZAFFICO.
Mr. Katuka added that the people of Zambia have the right to know what is happening to their resources and it is immoral for government to begin giving all the national assets to Chinese.
He emphasised that the UPND is not against the Chinese but is against the PF style of leadership given the rate at which they are giving up land and companies to the Chinese nationals.
“We want to warn that we shall not also sit back and watch government mortgaging the country to China with impunity. Zambians have the constitutional right to demonstrate against government way of running the country”, He added.
He said threatening UPND leaders with investigations or arrests will not take away the citizens constitutional rights to protect and defend their natural resources and has demanded sanity in the running of institutions in the country.
The MMD Die Hard Youth wing has applauded its party president Felix Mutati for having served as minister in the Patriotic Front Government.
President Edgar Lungu yesterday revoked the appointment of Mr. Mutati as Minister of Works and Supply and withdrew his nomination as Member of Parliament and replaced him with Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya.
MMD Die Hard National Youth Coordinator Gerald Chiluba said the decision by Mr. Mutati to serve in government was purely on the basis of wanting to serve the Zambian people and they are not shy to point at the success scored when he served as minister of finance and later minister of works and supply.
Mr. Chiluba said the party youth wing will take the recent development as an opportunity to embark on a more accelerated drive of party mobilisation.
He said the Youth wing will stand with Mr. Mutati and they look forward to tirelessly working with him in taking the party to higher heights.
