President Hakainde Hichilema has assured the nation that he is prepared to assent to the Access to Information (ATI) Bill following its approval by Parliament on Tuesday. The President emphasized the government’s commitment to the bill and highlighted additional legal reforms, including the removal of the death penalty and criminal defamation of the President, as part of efforts to enhance democracy in the country.

The announcement came during a meeting with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) team, currently in Zambia for its second targeted peer review and the official launch of the review. President Hichilema expressed gratitude for Zambia being one of the first African countries to request a second targeted review, showcasing its dedication to improving governance.

During the meeting, the President urged Zambians to exercise their rights and freedoms responsibly, emphasizing the need to avoid abuse that could infringe on others’ rights and freedoms. President Hichilema welcomed the APRM team and shared his views on the importance of Africa adding value to its exports, challenging the narrative that the continent is merely a hub for raw materials.

President Hichilema highlighted that this perception has negatively impacted Africa’s access to services such as affordable capital. The APRM is conducting a review that covers Democratic and Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate Governance, Broad-Based Socio-Economic Development, and State Resilience to Shocks and Disasters.

Delegation leader of the APRM, Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, commended Zambia’s political will and commitment to achieving good governance. She acknowledged the strides made by Zambia in implementing peer values, citing the observed peace and security in the country. Mutende applauded the government for its dedication to improving female representation in national leadership.

The APRM is a self-monitoring instrument voluntarily acceded to by members of the African Union, reviewing governance aspects such as democratic and political governance, economic governance and management, broad-based socio-economic development, corporate governance, and state resilience to shocks and disasters. Zambia joined the APRM in 2006 and underwent its first review in 2013. The government will share the report resulting from the current review upon its completion.

Lusaka Magistrate Keegan Litiya has upheld his decision that the complaint against PF President Miles Sampa, filed by Raphael Nakacinda, is a non-starter. Nakacinda had sought the High Court’s intervention to determine whether Sampa’s relationship with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would impact the fairness of the trial.

Nakacinda has persistently attempted to have Sampa and PF Secretary General Morgan Ng’ona prosecuted on charges of forgery, attempted commission of an offense, and perjury. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Gilbert Phiri, declined to authorize the prosecution, citing his acquaintance with Sampa.

Magistrate Litiya, while maintaining his stance, reiterated that no law permits a court to review its decision in a criminal matter. This decision came despite dissatisfaction from Nakacinda’s lawyer, Jonas Zimba, who sought a review of the court’s dismissal of the complaint.

Zimba argued that the case should be referred to the High Court to address the constitutional question of whether Nakacinda would receive a fair trial, considering the DPP’s refusal to grant consent and his acknowledged friendship with Sampa.

“The question being a constitutional question is brought pursuant to Article 28(2) of the constitution,” Zimba stated. “The DPP wrote a letter declining to grant consent in a matter involving private prosecution; we contended that the procedure is alien and not known at law. We have brought it to your attention that Miles Confirms that the DPP is his personal friend.”

In response, Magistrate Litiya maintained, “I do not have authority to pronounce myself on it again. I still stand on my earlier decision; the matter still stands dismissed, and the only recourse is by way of appeal.”

This ruling further solidifies the court’s position that the case against Miles Sampa lacks legal standing. Despite Nakacinda’s persistent efforts, the legal proceedings against the PF President and Secretary General remain halted, with the court emphasizing the need for any further action to be pursued through the appellate process.

President Hakainde Hichilema has emphasized the need for Zambia to learn from developed nations on how to operate a 24-hour economy, stating that this transformation would significantly contribute to increased job opportunities and productivity in the country. The President made these remarks during a meeting with the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Board at State House.

Addressing the board, President Hichilema highlighted that current productivity levels in the country are suboptimal, emphasizing the importance of considering a shift towards a 24-hour economy. He believes that embracing such a model will not only enhance productivity but also create more employment opportunities for Zambians.

“We need to learn from developed countries how to operate a 24-hour economy. Transforming the country into a 24-hour economy will increase the number of jobs and productivity,” President Hichilema stated during the meeting.

President Hichilema acknowledged the role of labor as a critical factor in production and assured the ZCTU of the government’s commitment to addressing labor-related issues. He encouraged the ZCTU and its members to be highly productive, suggesting a venture into agriculture as part of the broader strategy to boost economic activity.

In response, ZCTU President Blake Mulala commended President Hichilema for his dedication to promoting the rule of law in Zambia. He noted the positive atmosphere in the country, where citizens and political players can freely express their views without fear of unforeseen injustices.

Mr. Mulala expressed the ZCTU’s commitment to ensuring industrial harmony, pledging to work collaboratively with the government to address labor-related concerns. The President of the ZCTU assured that their members would strive for high productivity, aligning with President Hichilema’s vision for a more robust and efficient economy.

In a statement released after the meeting, President Hichilema conveyed his appreciation for the ZCTU’s engagement on various labor matters, including debt restructuring, job creation, and the business environment. He reiterated his commitment to an open-door policy and welcomed continued dialogue with stakeholders.

“Labour is a critical factor of production, and we take their issues seriously. We thanked the ZCTU for coming to engage us on various labour matters,” President Hichilema stated in the official statement.

Two state witnesses have told the Lusaka Magistrate Court that Former Provincial Minister Bowman Lusambo earned over K5.8 million from 2016 to 2021 when he served as Minister.

Testifying in the matter in which Mr Lusambo and his wife Nancy have been charged with the Offence of Possession of Property suspected to be proceeds of crime, the witnesses told Magistrate Faides Hamaundu that Mr. Lusambo earned the funds through his salaries.

The ACC is prosecuting Mr. Lusambo and his wife for allegedly buying three houses in Silverest valued around US$ 150,000

Morgan Mwanza, aged 44 and a Senior Accountant at the Ministry of Finance said Mr. Lusambo’s pay slips from 2016 to 2021 showed that he received K5,52,318.99 as Gross Salary with another K1 million as travel benefit allowance.

Mr. Mwanza said Mr. Lusambo further earned another K1.2 million as Household Loan and K170,000 as Settling In Allowance.

He said the total Net Earnings during the said period is around K3.8 million.

Gross salary-5 million, 52,000, 318.99
Net-2 million, 546, 359.64

And another Senior Accountant from the National Assembly told the Court that Mr. Lusambo was paid over K2 million as a salary over the same period as a Member of Parliament.

But when pressed further by a Defence lawyer, the two witnesses admitted that their payment schedule brought before court was not comprehensive.

The witness from National Assembly admitted that her testimony did not include payments made between September-December 2021 when he served as MP for Kabushi.

The matter has since been adjourned to 12th January 2024 and 12th February 2024 for mention and 20th and 24th February 2024 for continuation of trial.