Mr. Malanji Who is also Kwacha Member of Parliament says the talks were based on how best Zambia can request debt moratoriums on the loans.

Mr. Malanji says Zambia, like other countries is trying to restructure the loans without any impact of interest.

The Minister says the country has been faced with challenges such as the drought two years ago , were the country had to import electricity.

Meanwhile, Mr. Malanji has stated that there is need for Zambia to attract investment especially in the agricultural sector.

He disclosed that this is in a bid to diversify the economy, which is in line with the blue print, the seventh national development plan.

And the Minister says the AU summit which is under the theme Combatting Corruption, A sustainable path to Africa’s transformation” is key to Zambia.

Mr. Malanji says President Edgar Lungu abhors Corruption and that it is for the reason that he has constantly asked ACC to conclude investigations on the cases.

Mr. Malanji says it is also for this reason that Government is strengthening structures to fight the scourge.

Mr. Malanji says corruption is a cancer that needs to be fought tooth and nail.

Meanwhile, Zambia will not fail to pay its debt, Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe said on Thursday, after concerns emerged about Zambia’s debt levels.

Mrs Mwanakatwe also told parliament that Zambia, one of the largest copper producers in Africa, would keep reviewing its mining tax regime to ensure it is in line with “what the country wants”.

President Edgar Lungu has disclosed that Acting Auditor General, Mr Ron Mwambwa had disclosed to him that he would be resigning to pursue his career interests in the Republic of Liberia.

President Lungu said that he couldn’t resist the resignation as Mr. Mwambwa would be Zambia’s flag bearer in that country.

In a statement issued by Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, President Lungu bemoaned the growing culture by some sections of Zambians who have resorted to politicizing everything.

“I had a meeting with the Auditor General prior to his resignation. He told me he was going to Liberia where he would set up an Auditing system.for that country. I thought that was good for him to go to Liberia because he would be a flag bearer for Zambia. It is really sad and unfortunate that there is a growing culture among Zambians, some Zambians to politicise everything on baseless grounds to gain political mileage. Where are We going as a country with this culture?” the President said.

United Part for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema , barely 48 hours after calling on his members to reiterate when provoked, has called for peaceful campaigns ahead of the mayoral and local government by-elections slated for next month.

Mr. Hichilema’s change of stance follows Republican President Edgar Lungu’s growing concern over calls for violence by the opposition despite government’s call for peace during the forthcoming by- elections.

President Lungu said it is retrogressive for the UPND to advise its supporters to revenge when attacked by their political rivals.

The President’s concern follows a video which has gone viral on social-media in which Mr Hichilema is captured urging his supporters to defend themselves when attacked purportedly by PF cadres.

However, Mr Hichilema has now changed his stance by explaining that violence has no space in the modern politics and should be condemned by all well-meaning Zambians.

“We are calling for peace in our nation, violence has no space in the modern politics and should be condemned by all well-meaning Zambians,” he said.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in an interview after taking part in the American National Day celebrations, the UPND leader suggested that all political stakeholders should agree to put in place a peaceful environment to allow for free and fair by-elections in the country.

“All political parties, Electoral Commission of Zambia and the general citizenry should stand up and say no to violence as it puts the lives of ordinary citizens at risk,” he said.

The UPND leader went on further to propose the suspension of the scheduled elections in the country until political players and all stakeholders in the political arena agree to the creation of a peaceful environment to protect and preserve the lives of citizens.

Mr. Hichilema told Journalists that the events and violence that characterized the recent Chilanga by-election require that no elections are held until stakeholders agree to programs and activities that will not lead to violence and not put the lives of the citizens at risk.

The UPND leader recalled that the violence that was witnessed in Chilanga during the recent Parliamentary by-elections should not be given room to reoccur.

Mr. Hichilema said that the Chilanga by-election was not an election but a war that left a lot of people injured in the process, and that this should not be tolerated or repeated at any point in the country.

Mr Hichilema said that it was not too late to call off any scheduled elections whose process has already begun until programs that will create a peaceful environment are put in place and agreed upon by all stakeholders.

Mr. Hichilema stated that no election is worth the lives of people and therefore there is no need to go ahead with elections in dangerous environments that might put the lives of the innocent citizens at risk

Zambia will hold mayoral by-elections in Lusaka and other local government by-elections on 26th July 2018.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has warned that it will not hesitate to disqualify any political party that abrogates the Electoral Act from contesting the July 26th by-elections.

ECZ Spokesperson, Margaret Chimanse has said that the commission will not be lenient in enforcing the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Ms. Chimanse told QTV news by telephone that the Commission has a mandate to apply the electoral law firmly in an election.

Ms. Chimanse explained that it was the reason why sometimes the commission engages political parties privately on the laid down rules and regulations for participating in national elections.

Ms. Chimanse said that the role of the ECZ is to act as referee by creating an electoral environment where all participating political parties have an opportunity to win an election.

She has since justified the Commission’s decision to deny Economic and Equity Party (EEP) mayoral candidate Chilufya Tayali from filing his nomination papers after turning up when the nominations had

The ruling patriotic Front has described as misinformation being orchestrated in some sections of the media on reports that their Mayor candidate had promised to deliver free wifi to the resident of Lusaka within 100 days.

In a media statement made available to the media, PF said that what their candidate promised was to start the process for the free WiFi project within 100 days and that he did not say the project would be completed within 100 days as insinuated

Below is the full statement

Lusaka, Zambia, 28th June 2018 – Patriotic Front salutes the media houses which attended the maiden appearance of its Mayoral candidate Hon Miles Bwalya Sampa when he featured on the PF Interactive Forum on 27th June 2018 where he laid bare his vision which is anchored in the grand Party manifesto for 2016-2021.

For the purpose of clarity, we will address also the misinformation being orchestrated in some sections of the media. This is with regard to some of the pronouncements made by the PF Mayoral candidate, Hon Miles Sampa, as part of his vision for Lusaka.

Hon Sampa said he would ensure that Lusaka City Council starts the process for the free WiFi project within 100 days. He did not say the project would be completed within 100 days as insinuated

In addressing the need for the council to generate income for improved delivery of services, Hon Sampa said he would ensure the rates reflect the economic value as opposed to rates which do not make business sense for the Council. He made a strong case for stakeholder engagement in order to arrive at a win-win situation.

His statement did not mention what is being falsely implied by the said media houses, which is that in 100 days he would hike rates for medium businesses and malls to increase revenue for the council.

Lastly, Hon Sampa was at a barbershop/salon where he met with many other customers and members of the public, among them was former UPND Parliamentary Candidate for Chilanga Constituency Cde Charmaine Musonda.

In the spirit of good faith and mature democratic practice, he exchanged greetings and took pictures together with other members of the Campaign team.

This is as it should be with evolved political contests. We are pleased that while we may belong to different political parties, we are not enemies and must continue being cordial with each other.

This is the unity we would like to see among all our members and all Zambians in all sections of society as we move towards the heroes and unity holiday. We can disagree without becoming personally disagreeable.

Issued by:

Sunday Chanda
PF Media Director
PARTY HEADQUARTERS