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The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) says it will replicate and install disaster early warning systems in all disaster prone communities in river catchment areas in the country.
ZANIS reports that DMMU National Coordinator Yande Mwape said her organisation will work towards ensuring that all flood prone areas are installed with flood warning devices.
Ms Mwape said such a move will ensure that people living in areas with water bodies are warned of imminent disaster well in advance so that they can move to safe havens.
She said early warning is cardinal in disaster risk reduction and preparedness as it empowers communities with information on responding to imminent disasters.
“Our vision is to warn communities well in advance and that government is able to respond in a timely and efficient manner” said Ms Mwape.
She said this demonstrates Government’s commitment to responding to disasters in a timely and efficient manner in order to safeguard public safety in the affected areas.
The DMMU National Coordinator named some of the areas such as Zambezi, Chavuma, Kalabo, Lunga and other water body areas.
Ms Mwape said the devices will help enhance community based early warnings to avert disasters.
Recently, Vice President Inonge Wina commissioned the first ever flood warning siren at Mbeta Island in Sioma District of Western province.
The device which was simultaneously commissioned with a similar one at Kasaya in Mwandi District, also in Western Province was sourced by the Zambia Information, Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) at a cost of 300, 000 swiss francs.
Action Aid Country Director Nalucha Ziba being interviewed during the news briefing.
A group of civil society organizations have labeled Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya’s response to revelations of gross theft of medicines at Medical Stores as arrogant and casual.
The CSO’s who held a press briefing on Friday to react to Dr Chilufya’s statement in which he described the Global Funds findings as “old news” said the Health Minister’s arrogance over the issue is worrying.
The CSO leaders have since appealed to President Edgar Lungu to fire Dr Chilufya in order to safeguard the country’s image which they says is being dented by scandals such as the Global Fund’s.
“We take note of the lengthy statement given by the minister of health to the media in response to this matter, but the explanations are not sufficient. It is clear that the Ministry of Health was negligent in its duty to prudently manage resources entrusted to it for the Zambian people,” they said in a joint statement.
“Why must you parade the media and tell them that the president is categorical and clear on the fight against theft when we are receiving scandal after scandal, report after report and nothing is being done?” They questioned.
They added, “If the ministers are not firing their negligent controlling officers, we urge the president to fire those ministers whose ministries are being cited for mischief in order to assert that he indeed will not tolerate theft. It is amazing that before people have even finished reading one disheartening report about public resource mismanagement, another report is out.”
Leaders of the CSO’s during the news briefing
Below is the full statement
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL ZAMBIA, ACTION AID ZAMBIA AND OTHER CSOs CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMAGE DAMAGING REPORT FROM GLOBAL FUND AND COUNSELS GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT AND ADDRESS THEIR FINDINGS
Transparency International Zambia, Action Aid Zambia and other CSOs in Zambia are deeply saddened by the image damaging Global fund’s investigation report which unearthed theft of drugs and other medical products as well as misdirection of over $ 1.06 million meant to better the health system of Zambia.
The CSOs are particularly disappointed that the country seems to be going backwards and not forward when it comes to issues of transparency and accountability in the public sector.
It is very evident from the report findings that the Ministry of Health did not do due diligence in terms of safe guarding the medical supplies donated to the Zambian government.
As organisations that attach great importance to accountability in public resource management, especially those meant for the social sectors, we are more concerned because this particular issue is bordering on the health of citizens of this country.
We feel concerned that at the point when donor support is dwindling, our public institutions are demonstrating such levels of irresponsibility. We are alive to the fact that such a report is not only damaging to the country’s image, but also confirms that there no serious mechanisms put in place by the current government to fight the pilfering of public resources by civil servants.
We take note of the lengthy statement given by the minister of health to the media in response to this matter, but the explanations are not sufficient. It is clear that the Ministry of Health was negligent in its duty to prudently manage resources entrusted to it for the Zambian people.
Why must you parade the media and tell them that the president is categorical and clear on the fight against theft when we are receiving scandal after scandal, report after report and nothing is being done? If the ministers are not firing their negligent controlling officers, we urge the president to fire those ministers whose ministries are being cited for mischief in order to assert that he indeed will not tolerate theft. It is amazing that before people have even finished reading one disheartening report about public resource mismanagement, another report is out. It is barely a couple of days ago when we received the Auditor General’s report on Local Authorities which revealed that over 14 million kwacha of Constituency Development Funds (CDF) was misapplied. Before that there was yet another Auditor General’s report on Parastatals which was equally damning. Before that we had the main 2016 Auditor General’s report with yet another gloomy picture for the Zambians. Amidst all that we have the Mukula tree scandal, $42million fire trucks, $ 288,000 ambulance purchase scandal, the $1.2 billion dual courage way. What is going on in this country?
Where is the so called “working government”? Because as CSOs we are not seeing any work being done where safeguarding public resources is concerned, other than the rhetorical speeches we are subjected to. We should mention here that the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for safeguarding the assets, investments, reputation and sustainability of the Global Fund by ensuring that it takes the right action to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Through audits, investigations and advisory work, it promotes good practice, reduces risk and reports fully and transparently on abuse.
It is our concerted view that government should have taken a keen interest in the 2017 Audit findings and acted on them immediately. It is not enough for the government to issue a statement seeking redress by shifting the blame on the supply chain.
The misuse of global funds as outlined in the 2018 investigations report by the Global Fund where HIV test kits were stolen is worth a staggering US$416,379. This is a clear lack of concern among the duty bearers that have been tasked with the responsibility of safeguarding the resources meant for Zambian citizens.
This weakness in internal controls in the delivery process of medical supplies is worrying and has for a number of years had a negative impact on service delivery in the health sector especially to the rural parts of the country.
It is only true that discussion around systems and procedures to safeguard the interests of the nation are not new. The civil society organisations have been calling for government to tighten regulations around the management of national resources and this is not different.
We as CSOs have on a number of occasions advised government to ensure that there is a regulatory framework that is enforceable and has good sanctioning environment, one which punishes issues of mismanagement and gross negligence around national resource management in whatever form.
Furthermore we are dismayed that this is happening when we have a Minister of Health who is a medical practitioner and has two Permanent Secretaries to provide checks and balances. They are further charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all systems and procedures in the Ministry of Health and other partners such as Medical Stores Limited are functioning well.
This situation begs the question, “if the Ministry of Health can allow over $4miilion worth of expired drugs what other anomalies has the ministry kept from the Zambian people?’.
Mind you this is the same ministry which had another huge scandal of theft of donor funds a couple of years ago. There are a lot of mechanisms that government can put in place in the ministry of health and in particular Medical stores to ensure that our people’s health resources are safe guarded.
Our appeal goes to the President of this country Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu to take responsibility of what is happening in his government and be more responsible and safe guard tax payer’s money. The easiest short term measure for the president is to fire erring ministers and permanent secretaries before we as a country, lose the little faith that our cooperating partners have in us.
We seriously cannot be losing so much money at the expense of a selfish few.
The investigation identified significant unexplained stock losses of Global Fund-financed pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical health products totaling US$1, 064,788 delivered to Medical Stores Limited between 2014 and 2016.
Really such things shouldn’t be happening if we have a listening government.
Our hope is that the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) under global fund will work closely with our investigative wings to bring all culprits to book and we hope to see massive dismissals and weeding of the bad seed from medical stores limited.
We also urge government to address the issues highlighted in the report with the utmost urgency it deserves.
The people of Zambia will not be hoodwinked into paying for costs to the nation that could clearly have been avoided if systems and procedures were in place.
Further, one wonders why the President and the Ministry of Health has been silent on this issue even after the Audit report in 2017 was presented to the Ministry of Health.
This will affect a lot of issues including the implementation of the National Health Insurance Bill. It will bring into question the issue of compliance as there has been misuse tax payers’ money and donor funds by allowing this to happen.
The president during his address to the national assembly is on record urging the nation to uphold the values of morality and ethics but this scandal demonstrates that the government of the day does not walk the talk.
As such we are calling on the Head of State to take action against his Minister and Permanent Secretaries for negligence and he must not hesitate to take punitive measures against any erring other officer.
Wesley Chibamba-TIZ Executive Director Nalucha Ziba-Action Aid Executive Director Patrick Kryticous Nshindano-CSPR Executive Director Lewis Mwape-ZCSD Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo-CTPD Executive Director Laura Miti-ACA Executive Director Chenai Mukumba-CUTS National Coordinator
Summary of demands from the CSO’s following the Global Funds scandal
SACCORD has welcomed the directive by the Republican President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to the Minister of Justice Hon. Given Lubinda to move the constitution amendment process to September to allow for the dialogue process.
Reacting to the yesterdays directive by the president to have the amendments to the constitution halted so as not to undermine the dialogue process Executive Director Boniface Chembe said the directive was welcome as some stakeholders had raised concerns over the timing of constitutional reforms.
Cheembe observed that the directive by the President’s is an indication that there are efforts being made to take on boars concerns from various stakeholders.
“This directive comes against a background where some stakeholders in the national dialogue process had raised some concerns over the timing of the constitution amendment. The President directive is an indication that there are efforts being made to take on board concerns arising from various stakeholders on the national dialogue process.
“In addition, the directive also gives stakeholders extra time for them to consider making additional suggestions on that which needs to be done to perfect the amended constitution,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude that the President was committing to dialogue without any conditions.
“It is also encouraging to note that the President has committed himself to unconditional dialogue which is important as this will assist stakeholders to plan accordingly on how to address the matters of concern to the nation. The national dialogue process is now on course and it is important that all stakeholders continue to be engaged whether foreign or domestic,” Cheembe said.
Cheembe also expressed happiness at the President’s insistence for dialogue to be led by local institutions.
He said stakeholders with issues as regards to ZCID capacity should open up and identify their areas of concern so that they can be worked on to ensure that the process is accepted by all stakeholders.
President Lungu on Thursday directed Justice Minister Given Lubinda to halt the constitution amendments process so as not undermine the dialogue process.
David was going through a tough time when he made the declaration in today’s verse. Things weren’t going his way. But he said in effect, “I’m not worried. I’m not upset. I am confident I will see God’s goodness.” In other words, “This situation I’m in may be rough, but that’s not going to steal my vision. That’s not going to cause me to give up on my dreams. I am confident that this year, I will see God’s favor in a new way.”
That’s what our attitude needs to be today because what you focus on is what you will see. No matter what the medical report says, no matter what your finances look like, no matter how bad that relationship may seem, be confident that you will see His goodness! He is the all-powerful, omniscient Creator of the universe, and He holds you in the palm of His hand. Nothing is too difficult for Him. Take hold of this truth by faith and focus on His goodness today. Allow His peace to settle in your heart and mind as you move forward in His blessing all the days of your life!
A Prayer for Today
“Father in heaven, thank You for Your goodness in my life. I choose to focus on You today no matter what my circumstances may look like. Give me Your peace as I keep my mind stayed on You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
FILE: Minister of Gender Victoria Kalima(r) and Chalo Trust School Director Jenny Chileshe(l) during the Ministers Visit to the School
Minister of Gender Victoria Kalima says Government has intentions of introducing a quota system of governance that will see thirty percent of seats in parliament being reserved strictly for female candidates.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 3rd Specialized Technical Committee Meeting on Gender and Women Empowerment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ms Kalima said this system was meant to encourage more women to participate in politics.
She said it was unfortunate that women parliamentarians in Zambia only accounted for 18.7 percent while the male folk dominated parliament with 81.3 percent .
The Minister said Government was in the process of concerning all relevant stakeholders that include political parties, Civil society organizations and the church before it can be tabled in parliament.
She said time had come for women to fully participate in the country’s political and economic development.
Ms Kalima said President Lungu has already shown political will in driving the women agenda in the country through the appointment of Zambia’s first female Vice President Inonge Wina.
She said the appointment of a number of women in cabinet was also testimony that President Lungu had the welfare of the women at heart.
The Minister urged women in decision making positions in the country to work extremely hard and support fellow women so that we can minimize speculation that women do not support fellow women .
She said the quota system had worked in countries such as South Africa, Rwanda , Uganda and Burundi.
And Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent representative to the AU Ms. Susan Sikaneta said the African Union has recognized the importance and
Green Buffaloes are the new leaders of the 2018 FAZ Super Division after a 2-1 away win over Nkana on Saturday to end their hosts five-match unbeaten run.
It was even more painful for Nkana who suffered their sixth successive league defeat against Buffaloes dating back to the 2015 season.
Buffaloes now lead the table on 24 points, two more than Zesco United who are en route to Tunisia on 2018 CAF Champions League duty.
Diamond Chikwekwe put Buffaloes ahead in the 1st minute while Jasper Masialeti sealed the win in the 48th minute to halt Nkana’s five match unbeaten run that saw them come into the tie with four straight league wins.
Nkana’s consolation goal came in the 38th minute through Idris Mbombo to make up for his controversially disallowed goal in the 8th minute for off side.
Nkana dropped from 3rd to 5th and have been replaced by Nkwazi who beat Green Eagles 2-0 away in Choma to rise to 20 points courtesy of goals from Davy Kalandanya and Sebastian Mwansa in the 45th and 77th minutes respectively.
Meanwhile, 2017 runners-up Zanaco’s bad form continued when they lost 2-1 to Napsa Stars at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
The win was Napsa’s first of the 2018 season in which they had previously picked up just three draws heading into this weekend’s round 11 games.
Luka Lungu put Napsa ahead in the 7th minute and the visitors stayed in the lead until the 85th minute when Maisha Chavda equalized for Zanaco.
However, Alex Mwamba had the last say with a dramatic stoppage time winner to end Napsa’s 2018 winless draught.
Napsa stay inside the bottom four relegation zone on 6 points and too Zanaco stayed put in 10th on 14 points.
Defending champions Zambia made significant headway in the 2019 U20 AFCON qualifiers today after beating Rwanda 2-0 away in Kigali in a first round, first leg tie.
The match was the 2017champions entry into the qualifiers after enjoying preliminary round bye.
Striker Francesco Mwepu hit the target twice in the 33rd and 77th minutes against ten man Rwanda.
Mwepu is young brother of Chipolopolo midfielder and 2017 U20 AFCON winner Enock Mwepu.
Meannwhile, the hosts were reduced to ten men when Protais Sinambiwe was red carded in the 59th minute for an off the ball incident on midfielder Lameck Banda.
Zambia now need a home draw on May 19 in Lusaka to advance to the final qualifying round in July to face Burundi or Sudan who drew 1-1 just next door in Bujumbura this afternoon.
Juma Mohamed put Burundi ahead in the 23rd minute but that lead lasted just four minutes when Sudan shared the spoils through Abdel Salam.
President Edgar Lungu relaunches Make Zambia Clean Campaign at Soweto Market
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has begun to roll out the re-lauched Make Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy Campaign to ward level.
The first ward to launch the campaign was Kabwata Ward Six a week ago.
The area Councillor Longa Chiboboka launched the campaign with a call for residents of his ward to own the campaign and fully participate in it.
The next ward to launch the campaign will be Lilayi Ward Four on May 18, 2018.
Here the community through their civic and community leaders have organised the activities in such a way that residents of the ward will team up with those from neighbouring wards of Chilanga district to launch the campaign through cleaning activities.
The third ward to lauch the campaign will be Kamulanga Ward where the area Councillor, Jonas Phiri, is mobilising his residents and resources for the launch.
The programme will finally be launched in all the 33 wards across the Seven Constituencies of Lusaka City.
Community members through there civic and other community leaders are being encouraged to mobilise themselves and resources for launch.
Council officials will only be invited to witness the cleaning activities and render technical assistance where necessary.
LCC has taken this approach to encourage community participation, ownership of the campaign and mindset change.
Community participation, ownership of the campaign and mindset change by residents is the only sure way of sustaining the campaign.
In the past, residents have taken the campaign as the programme for Councils, a situation which has led to past campaigns to fail.
The local authority is also taking advantage of the lauches to sensitise residents about the contents of the Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 12 of 2018.
The Council is therefore appealing to all residents. Civil Society and the corporate world alike to partner with LCC in this campaign and other programmes of similar nature.
The campaign is for every individual and organisation as His Excellence the President of the Republic of Zambia Mr. Edgar Charges Lungu rightly put it when he re-launched the campaign at Soweto Market on 28th April, 2018.
Now School children and parents enjoy segregated and safer footways away from dangerous motorists, particulalry minibus drivers
By Daniel Mwamba
This article offers a perspective on opportunities for the private sector to improve road safety outcomes in Zambia. Road safety has been recognised as an increasing public health burden that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, including Zambia. Ninety-one percent of the global road fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries although these countries have approximately half of the world’s vehicles.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 50 million people are injured and 1.25 million are killed in traffic-related crashes. Back home, the Zambia Police reported that 2206 people were killed in 2016, leaving another 15,000 injured, some with life threatening injuries. And the Zambian government has said that road traffic is the third leading cause of death behind malaria and HIV/AIDS. More than half (sixty percent) of those dying on Zambia’s roads are “vulnerable road users”: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Beyond their immediate health implications, road traffic accidents have considerable social and economic consequences.
Road traffic injuries cost our country at least K5 billion per year and place an enormous burden on public resources, such as health systems. The economic impact of road traffic accidents are also felt at the family level. Economically disadvantaged families are affected by both direct medical costs and indirect costs (i.e., lost wages) (WHO, 2013). Many poor people generally lack ongoing support in the event of long-term injury and have limited access to post-crash emergency care, which further compounds this impact.
These road safety problems are scientific and technical in content and cut across the concerns of many government agencies (the Police, RTSA, Health, Education, etc), scientific disciplines, and other sectors of society (religion, private and NGO sectors). Addressing the road safety burden is in the mutual interest of all these actors.
Along with government, the private sector has interest in resolving the road safety problem. The private sector can help to reduce this burden by exploring the shared knowledge, experience, and expertise of companies, especially some who maintain global fleets.
Vehicles used by the private sector currently represent the dominant transportation investments, and most immediate opportunities for actionable change. Hence, a significant portion of the financial impact of road traffic accidents falls on companies because such accidents impact the efficiency of transport-related commercial activity and present a risk to employee health and safety. Beyond the fundamental responsibility to keep employees safe, companies also have a clear financial incentive to improve road safety. By doing so, companies can reduce damage to their assets and minimise productivity losses due to employee injury as well as reduce standstill logistics costs.
Road safety impacts the private sector through three key domains: a company’s fleet operations (i.e., employees who work and drive trucks on the roads), vendors and contractors who service the company (i.e., transport goods for delivery or distribution on behalf of companies and the sales representatives who service these accounts), and employees who commute to work or travel for work. In each of these domains, companies can be making great strides in reducing the road safety burden.
By some estimates, more than a quarter of all road traffic incidents involve individuals who are driving as part of their work at the time of the accident. As such, irrespective of the size of the company, every organisation should take responsibility by establishing road safety programmes to protect their employees.
These programmes can range from formalised training to establishing simple policies, such as providing employees safe driving education, encouraging wearing seatbelts and helmets, and ensuring vehicles are safe on the road. Even the simplest of these policies can help reduce injuries and deaths and result in measurable benefits, such as saving lives, improving productivity, and reducing vehicle repair bills, workers’ compensation, insurance, and lost time at work.
By establishing road safety policies and procedures, companies will improve not only the safety of their own employees who drive for work purposes but also the safety of others sharing streets and road systems. While the private sector will continue to ensure the safety of its drivers, contractors, and commuting employees, they also have the opportunity to improve road safety outcomes for the broader public. The improvements in road safety driven by the private sector can extend well beyond company fleet operations.
By applying knowledge and best practices on road safety, utilising brand power, and harnessing the power of corporate resources and presence in our communities, the private sector can help to address this health and development challenge inside and outside of their companies’ walls.
A current example of this wide-scale contribution to road safety outside company operations is Puma Energy Zambia Plc. Since 2015 Puma Energy Zambia plc and its international Charitable Foundation, Puma Energy Foundation (FEF), have supported government efforts to reduce road traffic accidents in Zambia by contributing over half a million kwacha. The company has been supporting child road safety education benefiting over 70,000 primary school going children in the capital and Copperbelt where a quarter of traffic fatalities involve children under the age of sixteen.
Puma Energy has also supported the building of safer road infrastructure at Vera Chiluba Primary School in Lusaka; participated and supported the 2017 Road Safety week to raise awareness on road safety targeting motorists and pedestrians, and has supported a three-month community radio with road safety education programmes highlighting the safety of vulnerable road users.
The value of this contribution by Puma Energy Zambia to road safety in Zambia helped a reduction of road deaths by almost 20 percent in 2017. This was the first time in four years that Zambia experienced such reduced road traffic fatalities.
The most successful road safety programmes that exist today, such as Sweden’s Vision Zero initiative, recognize this complexity and mutual interest and approach the problem in a multifaceted way. The private sector is one of many actors that can help to improve the problem.
The Author is Chairman for the Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST)
The National Democratic Congress NDC will support the opposition Upnd in the Chilanga race.
The Chilanga constituency parliamentary by election takes place on June 5 next month.
NDC Secretary General Mwenya Musenge has since urged all party members in lusaka province to go flat out and campaign for the upnd candidate Charmaine Musonda.
Mr. Musenge has however clarified that the party has not gotten into an alliance with the upnd.
He added that since the NDC is not jostling for the Chilanga seat, the only credible party to support in the race was the upnd.
UPND candidate Charmaine Musonda.
Mr. Musenge has further disclosed that senior NDC members will soon join the upnd campaign team as they race to manda hill.
Mr. Musenge is confident that the upnd candidate for Chilanga will emerge victorious come polling day.
The NDC Secretary General has further restated the party’s quest to participate in all future parliamentary and local Government by elections country wide.
Last week, the NDC candidate for Chilanga failed to file in his nomination bid.
This was after the Electoral Commission of Zambia ECZ disqualified Edward Simfukwe on allegations that he had arrived late to file in his nomination papers.
This is according to a statement issued by NDC National Chairperson Media and Member of the Central Committee Misheck Moyo.
FILE: President Sata with SG Wynter Kabimba Flying To Mansa on Airforce one
Q. We have heard a different kind of politics from you. Firstly, I would want to understand your relationship with the President. Most people are saying that your tone has changed. You don’t seem to be the Wynter Kabimba who will say things as they are. You seem to be so fond of the President and you are defending where others are criticising. What is going on?
A. I have not in any way changed from the Wynter that you have known and the Wynter that you know. What I have done is to remain what I am, a man who has always stood for the truth about any issue that arises or any issue that confronts me about anybody that I know and even those that I don’t know. My principle of life is that if what is true is good for my enemy, so be it because I can’t change the truth and if what is wrong is bad even for my friend or my brother, then that is wrong. That has been the bedrock of my character and my value.
Q. So in other words you are saying Edgar Lungu is not your enemy?
A. He is not my enemy. Edgar Lungu is my opponent in politics. He is not my enemy. Edgar has never wronged me personally as an individual and I think I have never wronged him personally as an individual.
Q. But you used to say the man is a drunk when he was a candidate when the PF was fronting him, you said ‘this guy can’t lead the country’.
A. Well, I can still tell you that yes, he drinks hard and I can say this even to his face. I have been with him in Parliament, I have travelled with him, I have seen the rate at which he drinks but that’s not what makes him my enemy. And I am sure that’s not what makes me an enemy to him. To describe a habit that he is steeped into. Yes, I said that he would be incompetent to run the country if he doesn’t manage his drinking habit. And I can still repeat that today.
Q. He has been in power more than two years now, do you think he has tried beyond your expectation?
A. I am sure he could have done better. I am disappointed with his performance so far and I have made this clear on many occasions. I have said for example that the Constitutional Amendment Act of 2016 has been a disaster and he is an architect of that Constitution. A Constitution which he wanted to use to give himself a third term and they failed in doing that in terms of drafting. And I have written a letter. I have personally written a letter to the Secretary General of the Patriotic Front which I wanted him to take to the President, which letter clearly sets out our position as Rainbow Party that he is not eligible under the articles of our Constitution as it exists now, to run in 2021. Is that a man that I am favouring? No. I am simply stating that this particular situation is against you and that letter, I copied it to LAZ.
Q. We heard you very strongly defending him on his nationality. You sounded very strong on defending that he is a Zambian as if you grew up together at childhood, did you know his parents?
A. No, I have never discussed Edgar Lungu’s nationality. If you look at all my statements, I have never attempted at any one time to vouch for Edgar as being Zambian or non Zambian. Instead, what I vouched him for is that the Edgar that I knew at the University of Zambia, in Law School, the Edgar that I attended class with, the Edgar that graduated in October of 1981, the same day that I graduated, is the same Edgar that is in State House today. So I have vouched for his identity and not his nationality. So if you asked me, is this the same Edgar you knew so many years ago? Yes, he is the same by appearance and by height and by name. He has never changed his name. He was Edgar Lungu at the University of Zambia, he is still Edgar Lungu today.
Q. Do you know some people who were in the same class as you who were alive and can speak the same language as you?
A. There are many of our class mates today. Honourable madam justice Hildah Chibomba, if you allowed me to mention their names, the president of the Constitutional Court was in the same class as Edgar. Professor Margaret Munalula, the former Dean of the School of Law and I think she is also one of the judges of the Constitutional Court was in the same class as Edgar Lungu. The retired judge honourable Mr Justice Thomas Njobvu who is still alive was in the same class as Edgar Lungu. Madam Ireen Kunda, the wife to the former vice-president George Kunda was in the same class as Edgar Lungu. Professor Hasungule was in the same class as Edgar Lungu. Honorable Mr Justice Timothy Katenekwa, the resident judge in Kabwe, was in the same class as Edgar Lungu. Professor Muna Ndulo, based in the US was a lecturer of Edgar Lungu or our class both at UNZA and at the Law Practice Institute. Aziz Ticklay, was our lecturer in International Law and he lectured Edgar Lungu in class. Mr Ng’andu, the former commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Zambia was our lecturer in international law at the University of Zambia. Professor Patrick Mvunga was our lecturer in land law at the University of Zambia. So there are many people, lecturers, professors, judges now and many others that can vouch or collaborate what I am saying. Am I doing the man a favour? No. Am I supporting him? No sir.
Q. But how close are you? We hear stories that you actually go to State House, meet him, and that’s why you are very compromised.
A. I have never stepped a foot in State House and I can swear this to the living Lord, since 2014 when I was fired from government and from the party by the late President [Michael] Sata, I have never stepped a foot and I want anybody who has evidence to that effect, starting from the security people at the gate and the staff inside State House, anybody with evidence of any single trip that I have made to go and meet Edgar Lungu to tell this country the day and time.
Q. Maybe you are sending someone to collect money for you. Maybe you don’t go there yourself physically but you have some sort of collaboration with the President.
A. You are right, but there is nobody. If there is anybody that has gone there in my name, please let them come out. The only incident, the only time when I have had contact, if you want to put it that way with State House, was when I raised the issue of the displacement of peasant farmers in Shibuyunji District from their camps along the Kafue River and I wrote a letter to President Lungu and I sent it to State House with my driver, not to go and meet President Lungu, but to go and give the people at the gate to bring this matter to his attention because I felt strongly about it; that it was wrong for Vice-President Inonge Wina and other groups of the elite people from Lusaka to go into our area and displace helpless villagers from their camps in a district where government has not put up a dam for their animals. I felt strongly about that matter.
Q. Do you talk with President Lungu? On phone or in person?
A. No. I don’t talk to him.
Q. If he extended an olive branch to you, as an architect of elections to say ‘can you come and help us’, what would be your reaction?
A. Look, I am now a member of the Rainbow Party. I resigned from the PF on the 14th of November 2014. And there is a reason why I resigned from PF. I didn’t like the post-Michael Sata kind of acrimony that I saw in the PF. I didn’t like the ground swell of hate being propagated by some of the people that have even left the PF today and are speaking against Edgar. People that spent so much money to turn the innocent members of the party against me because they thought that I would stand in their way of becoming leaders of the Patriotic Front and ultimately become president after Michael Sata’s demise. They didn’t benefit from that and I know how much injured they are. The likes of GBM, the likes of Kambwili, they spent a lot of money and I have got witnesses to that effect amongst members of the Patriotic Front, even today who they gave money to turn against me. So I am saying that I can speak to Edgar Lungu, I don’t have a problem, he is not my enemy.
Q. But is that a yes or no? My question is ‘if he extended a branch’, because you are a very key architect of elections and campaigns in Zambia. If he extended an olive branch to you to say ‘we would like somebody like you to help us, 2021 is going to be very difficult’ would you go?.
A. Look, this is no longer about me as an individual. I am a member of the Rainbow Party. It will have to be the decision of the Rainbow Party and we are open not only to one political party in the name of PF but we are open to UPND, we are open to FDD because politics is about talking to one another. I don’t believe in politics of hate. But those that know my principles and my values, if they wanted to invite me back to PF, they will have to take into account my principles and my values which have never changed over time. And they will probably not change for a long time to come because these are our values which have been cultivated for many years. I am predictable even to my own parents who brought me on earth, they know what I think, what I can do and what I can’t do. I have never been a hypocrite. If I say yes to you, it is a yes and I will never betray you. Those that want me will have to take my principles into account.
Q. Talking about principles and values, I remember before president Sata died, you were on an interview with SABC in South Africa and you were asked the question ‘do you have presidential ambitions?’ and you categorically said you were not interested in the presidency. But now, we have seen you form a party that you are standing on as a presidential candidate and you have shown a serious ambition to become president. What has changed?
A. What has changed is that if Michael Sata were still alive today, I would have no presidential ambitions. I was very loyal to him, he literally brought me up. I knew Michael Sata just when I was over 20 years old. When I left the University in 1981, he was a councillor at Lusaka City Council so when I referred [to] myself as a disciple of the man, I meant it. So I would never have any presidential ambitions over and above Michael Sata. But the situation now has changed, he is no more, he is out of the politics of the country and surely, if there is a role that I can play for the country, I can’t remain in that absolutism of saying I don’t have presidential ambitions and stick to that.
Q. You are highly respected because of the way you managed the 2011 elections for PF and as a journalist who has followed your politics, I can say that you were on the ground traversing the country to make sure that PF wins. Do you really think that the Wynter Kabimba who won the election for PF in 2011 is the same Wynter Kabimba that is running Rainbow? Would you agree with me if I put it to you that you have under-performed under Rainbow than you performed under PF in 2011?
A. Let me put it this way. Nothing that I achieved should be credited to me as an individual. I want to restate that whatever I achieved or is perceived as my achievement in PF was because of the teamwork that I enjoyed in PF. But you also can’t juxtapose that and say that ‘Rainbow is under-performing’. Because mind you, Rainbow is only three years old. In 2008 when the PF was eight years into its formation, there were many polling stations in this country where Mr Sata was still getting zero. Where nobody believed in him at a polling station and nobody ever heard of him at a polling station. So you have to take that into account as you are making this comparison. In the last elections in which we participated in local government elections, there was not even a single polling station where Rainbow got a zero three years after its formation. So you have to be careful in terms of the law of relativity that you are applying in comparing my role and performance in PF and my role and performance now in the Rainbow Party. What I know is that it takes a long time to build a political organisation.
Q. I still insist that you are a sleeping giant. Why? Because if you stood up today to go to any part of this country, you are known, people know you and because of that, we would expect you to be winning, not just getting more than zero but to actually win in some wards but how many of these wards or constituencies have you won in three years?
A. None. But I will tell you that being known, and this is the mistake that people make in politics, being known by members of the public is one thing. Converting people to believe in you is another thing. What you need to do in politics is to be known and also be able to convert people to believe in you with the correct message. Now, for them to get converted to a correct message takes a long time. Let me go back to the example of Michael Sata, the man who invested over 40 years of his life in politics. You saw what happened when he left MMD, there was a by-election in Mpika Central which was part of his village, he went and campaigned there with PF and lost lamentably to the MMD when Bwalya Chiti was voted to Parliament in his own village. He was known by everybody in Chituluka Village and I am sure even Mpike Central but they didn’t believe his message during that election. So you can see the difference between being known and converting people to believe in your message. So there are parallels that I have drawn and there are lessons that I have learnt from my association with icons like Michael Sata in Zambian politics. So to lose an election does not mean that people don’t know you, what it means is that you haven’t given the people a message in which they can believe.
Q. Let’s talk about the PF and the structure of government. We have seen the PF secretary general Davies Mwila saying that ‘I am number three in hierarchy and I can summon any minister to come and exculpate himself’ but he is not a member of Cabinet. I recall that in fact, this was the doing of Michael Sata and yourself when you formed government. You came up with a structure that recognised you as Secretary General of the party, third from the President, what did that entail? Did that mean that you were above Cabinet ministers?
A. Let me tell you what happened, these are very important questions so that we correct the record and the perception out there. When PF won the election and we formed government, if you recall I remained out of Cabinet as a member for one year. From September 2011, I only joined Cabinet on the 6th of September 2012. Before I became Cabinet minister, I interacted with my colleagues in government, mainly on party matters because I was secretary general of the party, I was chief administrator of the party. So, my interaction with Cabinet ministers was purely on matters of the party. How I should help them mobilise the party in their respective constituencies for those that had constituencies. That was my role. The idea, for that protocol came from President Sata and he said to me one day ‘I want you to draft a circular letter for me to the effect that the secretary general of the party in terms of protocol, shall be the third, after the president, the vice-president and then the secretary general’. And he said ‘when we are attending a function where my wife is present, the protocol shall be myself, the vice-president, my wife and then the secretary general’. [laughs]
Q. [laughs] Is that the socialist way of doing things?
A: I don’t know whether it was the Mpika way of doing things or the Socialist way of doing things but those were my instructions and I drafted the circular accordingly and the president signed. Now, that is not law, that was an administrative circular to design the administrative protocol. Whether President Lungu has adopted the same circular, I don’t know because for me, after President Michael Sata’s demise, it means that protocol expired so to say.
Q. But what’s your take on the PF secretary general’s statement that he can summon a minister to go and exculpate himself? Is that in order?
A. No, it is not in order. What we are seeing and hearing now is total confusion. Because the secretary general of the PF is not a member of government so his own relationship with Cabinet ministers is on party matters, not on government matters.
Q. But we heard State House defend that and also the government spokesperson Dora Siliya.
A. This is the problem when you have a group of blind men and women groping in the dark as if a mine has collapsed on them. This is the problem when you want to make pronouncements without reference to conventions. These are issues of conventions and practices. They are not just things that can be unique to a particular individual because you like them. They are about conventions. What Michael Sata did was to create a convention in terms of protocol. We haven’t seen either the law or the convention under PF. What we are hearing are just pronouncements which are totally misplaced and just end up confusing people.
Q. One of the values which most Zambians respect you for, including myself, is discipline. You are a serious disciplinarian and we haven’t heard much about Rainbow members engaging in violence during elections and campaigns. Would you say there is too much violence going between the PF and UPND that is not giving chance to parties like yours to get a fair share of the votes?
A. One of the things that I became very unpopular for in PF was the issue of insisting on discipline amongst members of the PF. I was against cadres collecting money from bus stops, which practice has come back now, I was against party cadres collecting illegal levies from marketeers, which practice has come back now, I was against party cadres invading people’s land, which had started here in Lusaka. What we have seen now is against the propaganda that those that wanted to succeed Michael Sata had wedged against me that I was the one dividing the party, I was the one in charge of pangas in the party etc, we haven’t seen any dispensation in this culture of violence. If anything, it has continued to surge.
Q. Do you think violence is helping PF win elections?
A. In a way yes. When the ruling party is perpetrating violence, intimidating and coercing people, there are two reactions you expect, either people will stay away from voting or they will go and vote because they have been intimidated. The unfortunate part about this culture of violence is that PF has found a partner in the UPND that also think that violence pays. So they have partnered, violence to violence. Both of them think that this is how they are going to win an election, both of them think that this is how to remain in power and this is how to get into power. And I want to tell you this incident which may not be recorded; in 2016, there was a meeting at Mulungushi International Conference Centre which was convened by ECZ of presidential candidates. HH was in that meeting and ECL was in that meeting. When my turn to speak came, I addressed both ECL and HH in full view of everybody and I said ‘you are both responsible for the election violence that we have seen in this country. You, President Lungu are desperate to remain in power, that’s why you are perpetrating this violence. And you, HH are also desperate to get in power, that’s why you are perpetrating this violence.
Q. Thank you very much for the interview unless you have something to add.
A. Well, there are a lot of issues that have been going on in the country especially the issue of how we should speak to one another as a generation of young politicians. Its not always in life that you must believe that the world revolves around you and not around others. So for me, if you want to get my view over something, then you should realise that you are taking a risk to hear even what you don’t want to hear. Whether you are my friend or my enemy. But I am also cautious of the fact that I could be wrong so I am open to hearing the other side or your version on what you think about what I have said. That is the society that we must create so I get disappointed when I listen to these vibes that if one tells the truth, and that truth seems to lean in favour of one side then you are a supporter of one side, if you insult one side, even if the insult is uncalled for, then that’s when you are a hero because you have not leaned on this side. I don’t think that I would like to be part of that and it doesn’t matter what it costs me in politics, I am prepared to pay the price.
UPND Leader HH with, the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine Mehl Musonda
UPND Candidate Ms Charmaine Mehl Musonda with party officialsUPND officials on campaign trail for the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine MehlUPND officials on campaign trail for the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine MehlUPND officials on campaign trail for the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine Mehl
UPND officials on campaign trail for the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine MehlUPND officials on campaign trail for the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine MehlUPND PArt officials take time to attend the burial of a party member in ChilangaUPND Officials at the funeral house of a party memberUPND officials on campaign trail for the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine MehlUPND Candidate Ms Charmaine Mehl Musonda with party officialsUPND Candidate Ms Charmaine Mehl Musonda with party officials
UPND Leader HH with, the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine Mehl MusondaUPND Leader HH with, the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine Mehl MusondaHH with an elder Chilanga residentUPND officials on campaign trail for the party’s Candidate Ms Charmaine MehlHH campaigning for Ms Charmaine Mehl Musonda
Minister of Works and Supply Felix Mutati
Government says there is need to lift the financial platform of Small Medium Enterprises(SMEs) to boost their ability to manage businesses in order to take part in economic growth.
Works and Supply Minister Felix Mutati said this in Mongu district yesterday when he paid a courtesy call on Western Province Permanent Secretary (PS) Sibanze Simuchoba ahead of the ACCA Accountants’ clinics to be held in the Provincial capital.
Mr. Mutati said that supporting SMEs in financial and leadership responsibilities is important to bring order to the management of their businesses.
He said SMEs have the capacity to initiate economic growth if they have financial knowledge hence, the need to close the gap between financial knowledge and support for SMEs.
The Minister said the programme embarked on by ACCA is to supplement others being undertaken by Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and other Government institutions.
He said the financial literacy for SMEs will not only help in economic growth but also create jobs.
According to a statement released to ZANIS by the Ministry of Works and Supply Public Relations Officer Ndubi Mvula , the theme for the programme is”Enhancing Business Leadership and Financing Management, for Improved Profitability”.
And ACCA Chairperson Membership Sean Mukelebai said the Accountants’ clinic hopes to help businesses to progress in their financial management in economic growth.
Meanwhile, Mr.Simuchoba has disclosed that the Province plans to plant 6million cashew nut trees in three (3) years and is hopeful that the Province will greatly contribute to the National treasury once production is in full swing.
He added that distribution of Cashewnuts seedlings is underway following the release US$55 million for the cashew infrastructure development project which is funded by the African Development Bank (ADB).
The SME clinics is taking place at the main market in the Central Business District (CBD) of Mongu.
PF candidate in the Chilanga by election Maria Langa during a PF Interactive Forum in Lusaka recently
President Edgar Lungu has appealed to political parties taking part in the Chilanga constituency by-election to engage in issue based campaigns and not violence.
President Lungu said the people of Chilanga want to listen to development plans.
He also urge the people of Chilanga to remain united and peaceful before, during and after the by election.
President Lungu said this on his official Facebook page.
“Lets continue to enjoy peace in Chilanga. We are one people, one Zambia, One nation,” he said.
He added, “The Patriotic Front Central Committee under my leadership adopted Mrs Maria Langa as our Candidate in the upcoming Chilanga by-election. We’re convinced beyond any shadow of doubt that we made the right decision- our Candidate is a community leader, a caring representative and vision carrier for PF’s development agenda in Chilanga,” President Lungu said.
The Head of State said the Patriotic Front commits to conduct an issue-based campaign strengthened by its development agenda for Zambia.
“My predecessor late President Micheal Chilufya Sata declared Chilanga a district in line with our vision to transform our country by bringing development closer to the people. Patriotic Front needs that extra arm to drive development projects in Chilanga Constituency and Mrs Maria Langa is the woman for the job,” he said.
He stated, “the people of Chilanga deserve good roads, schools, a mordern hospital, markets for our mothers and enterprises for the youth. We want our farmers in Chilanga to get their agricultural inputs on time and in the correct quantities, improved local government service delivery, among others.”
