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Nkana succumb to second league defeat in Zesco showdown

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Nkana on Sunday succumbed to their second straight loss in the new FAZ Super Division season after losing 1-0 to Zesco United in the Copperbelt derby at Nkana Stadium.

Striker Jesse Were scored a cracker in the 65th minute as Zesco avenged their 4-3 Charity Shield final loss to Kalampa earlier in the year.

In this Week 5 match, Nkana never showed much hunger to recover from last Monday’s 2-1 Kitwe derby loss to Power Dynamos at home.

After a goalless after half, Zesco created a good number of chances before punishing Nkana.

Zesco defender Marcel Kalonda had struck wide from Fackson Kapumbu’s free kick from inside the box nine minutes after the break before Were directed his close range shot at Kelvin Malunga.

Finally, Were broke the deadlock when he got the best out of Joseph Musonda to beat keeper Malunga from outside the box.

The Nkana frontline anchored on Walter Bwalya, Ronald Kampamba and Festus Mbewe didn’t trouble Zesco keeper Jacob Banda much as expected on a day Idriss Mbombo started from the bench before making a cameo appearance in the last half.

Meanwhile, Nkana remain stuck on six points from four matches in which they have beaten National Assembly just after a walkover win against Forest Rangers.

Zesco have seven points from three matches.

Beston Chambeshi’s Wusakile side is now shifting attention to the midweek rescheduled match against Buildcon at home.

07/04/2018
Week 5 Results
Power Dynamos 1-Nakambala Leopards 0
Nchanga Rangers 0-Green Buffaloes 1
Forest Rangers 1-Napsa Stars 0
Green Eagles 0-Kabwe Warriors 2
08/04/2018
Lusaka Dynamos 5-New Monze Swallows 1
Nkwazi 1-Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy 1
National Assembly 0-Lumwana Radiants 0
Nkana 0-Zesco United 1
11/04/2018
Red Arrows-Kitwe United

POSTPONED
Buildcon-Zanaco

E-government is beneficial, says Anthony Mukwita as PMRC findings reveal real benefits

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Zambia's ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita
Zambia’s ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita

Zambia is on the right path in her e-government program, says the country’s ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita. Ambassador Mukwita says Germany and many countries in Europe are already reaping the benefits of efficient governments and the reduction of costs in the running of government machinery.

“Most transactions here are now electronic and may be conducted from the mobile devise you carry in your hands resulting in lower transaction costs and saving on time”, says ambassador Mukwita.

The senior envoy was commenting on a research undertaken by the Policy Monitoring and Research Center, PMRC, and headed by its Chief Executive Officer Benadette Deka that indicates that Zambia “has been able to save K72 million on payslip printing and K68 million on the cost of paper annually”.

Quoting Smart Zambia, an e-Government division in the office of the President, PMRC says the e-paylisp system has helped curb the long standing problem of ghost workers that had remained on the payroll and drawing a government salary.

In addition, PMRC notes that the Smart Zambia initiative on payslips has environmental benefits “because the phasing out of paper payslips entails reduction in cutting down of trees and low energy issues”.

“On the contribution to a clean environment and clean energy, the Zambian government is already working with the German government resulting in an initiative to set up 100 megawatt mini solar plants in different parts of the country”, ambassador Mukwita says adding, “this is in line with President Edgar Lungu’s vision of a diversified energy sector for Zambia”.

The Zambian envoy has pledged support to Smart Zambia in their efforts to introduce IT solutions that could help realize President Lungu’s vision for an efficient and effective public sector.

“This is why the Zambian government has an embassy in this part of the world where e-Government is already a reality and examples abound regarding implementation experiences. We stand ready to identify any kind of technical partnerships or IT solutions that may be required back home”, ambassador Mukwita says.

According to the World Bank, “E-Government refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. The resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/or cost reductions”.

Kalusha Bwalya honoured by South Africa’s Provincial government of Gauteng

Kalusha Bwalya receiving the Award
Kalusha Bwalya receiving the Award

THE Provincial government of Gauteng Province in South Africa has honoured Zambia’s football icon Kalusha Bwalya for his outstanding contribution to football in Zambia and African continent as a whole.

Gauteng Province Premier, David Makhura, awarded Kalusha together with 22 other former African footballers and football administrators at the legends dinner awards held at the Italian club in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mr. Makhura said Kalusha was honoured for being the only Southern African footballer to have won the coveted African Footballer of the year in 1988.

He noted that Kalusha was also known for his fighting spirit of helping to put together a brand new Zambian National team following the 1993 Gabon air crash that claimed the lives of the entire national team.

Mr. Makhura added that Kalusha deserved the Premier’s award of Social Cohesion Games as it was during his tenure as President of Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) that he led his team to become African Champions in 2012.

He said Kalusha together with the other 22 football legends from Cameroun and South Africa contributed to national building and the liberation of that South Africa through the medium of sport.
And Zambia’s High Commission to South Africa, His Excellency Emmanuel Mwamba said his country was proud of Kalusha Bwalya and his immense achievements as a soccer player and administrator.

He said Kalusha BWALYA continued to bring pride to Zambia even in his retirement.

And Kalusha Bwalya thanked the Gauteng Province government for the recognition of his contribution to the development of football in Zambia and African continent.

He said it was his privilege to have been with the Zambia national team from when he was young till his retirement and hoped that more Zambians would be supported in their football career.

“I have been privileged to have been with the Zambia National Team from when I was a teenager (1982-2000). Blood, sweat and tears, I hope could represent people who are not here today.

The memories are with me. If you think about it this month (April) marks 25 years since our gallant team left us off the shores of Gabon, it makes it more significant to all of us as Zambians”, he said.

IDC completes purchase of Zampalm Ltd for US$16 million

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The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has completed the purchase of 90 percent shares in Zambeef’s Zampalm.

The transaction was for a cash consideration of US$16 million.

“We are pleased to advise that all the conditions precedent to the Transaction were completed on 6 April 2018 and Zambeef has received the cash consideration of USD16 million,” a statement from Zambeef read.

It said Zambeef is entitled to up to a further USD 2 million in cash consideration, subject to certain performance milestones being achieved by Zampalm over the three years from 2018 to 2020.

The firm said the transaction is expected to result in the Group reporting a loss on disposal of a discontinued activity of circa USD 2.3 million.

“The Transaction is aligned with the Group’s strategy of focusing on its core business of the production and retailing of cold chain meat and dairy products, cropping and stock feed.”

It said the sale proceeds will be used to further pay down the Group’s debt and thus reduce gearing and interest costs.

Below is full Zambeef statement

Zambeef the fully integrated cold chain foods business with operations in Zambia, Nigeria and Ghana, is pleased to provide an update on the Zampalm transaction.

As was announced on 6 September 2017, Zambeef entered into a Share Sale Agreement, a Shareholders’ Agreement and a Management Agreement (together, the “Agreements”) with the
Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia Limited (“IDC”) for the sale of 90 per cent. of Zambeef’s shareholding in its wholly owned subsidiary, Zampalm Limited (“Zampalm”) to IDC for a cash consideration of USD16 million (the “Consideration”) (the “Transaction”).

We are pleased to advise that all the conditions precedent to the Transaction were completed on 6 April 2018 and Zambeef has received the cash consideration of USD16 million. Zambeef is entitled to up to a further USD2 million in cash consideration, subject to certain performance milestones being achieved by Zampalm over the three years from 2018 to 2020. The Transaction is expected to result in the Group reporting a loss on disposal of a discontinued activity of circa USD 2.3 million.

The Transaction is aligned with the Group’s strategy of focusing on its core business of the production and retailing of cold chain meat and dairy products, cropping and stock feed. The sale proceeds will be used to further pay down the Group’s debt and thus reduce gearing and interest costs.

Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe off to Ivory Coast for AfDB meeting

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Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe
Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe

Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe has today left for Ivory Coast to attend the African Development Bank [AfDB] High-Level Consultative Meeting on accelerating Africa’s growth and development.

During her tour of duty in Abidjan, the host town for the Head Office of the African Development Bank, Mrs. Mwanakatwe will attend a focus meeting on Southern Africa which will be scrutinizing progress made by the AfDB, assessing the results achieved in AfDB supported programmes and examining plans to accelerate and scale-up programmes in Southern Africa.

Other themes that the meeting will tackle include a look at the Southern Africa Macro-economic environment and the strategic financing of Sustainable Development Goals [SDG’s].

Mrs. Mwanakatwe will also hold bilateral meetings with the AfDB on support for development of the Mpulungu Harbour in Northern Province, Financing of the Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Power Project in Southern Province, and Completion of the Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya power interconnector, and budget support.

By virtue of her position as Minister of Finance, Mrs. Mwanakatwe is a Governor on the Board of the African Development Bank.

A fortnight ago, both the WORLD BANK GROUP AND THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK re-affirmed their commitment to work with the Zambian Government in accelerating the implementation of development programmes.

President Lungu urges church to continue preaching peace

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President Lungu with Bishop Mpundu
President Lungu with Bishop Mpundu

President Lungu said this in Lusaka yesterday during the thanks giving mass for outgoing Archbishop of Lusaka Tresphone Mpundu at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus.

President Lungu said the church belongs to every citizen of the nation and hence the need to take a leading role.

He has since challenged Tresphere Mpundu to ensure that dialogue process with all political parties is looked into before he hands over on 14th of April.

President Lungu said there is also need for strong commitment for all the political players in the country.

The Head of State told the church that the peace process should not be left to the political parties alone but also comit themselves to the process.

The President said the church has the capacity to bring the country together and ensure that peace and joy is sustained.

He said he found it compelling for him to attend the thanks giving service for Bishop Mpundu because of the relations he has shared with him and his government.

The President said in as much as Bishop Mpundu is retired he is not tired.

And outgoing Bishop Mpundu has called for peace, love and joy to continue prevailing in the country.

Bishop Mpundu said it is important that love prevails because it is the only way that the country will continue being at peace at all times.

He said he is retiring a happy man because he has lived to proclaim the good news of the gospel of God.

Bishop Mpundu has since thanked members of the Catholic Church for giving the necessary support.

Bishop Moundu
Bishop Moundu

Bishop Mpundu
Bishop Mpundu
Chieftainess Nkomesha Greets Bishop Mpundu
Chieftainess Nkomesha Greets Bishop Mpundu
President Edgar Lungu greets Bishop Mpundu Mother
President Edgar Lungu greets Bishop Mpundu Mother
President Edgar Lungu greets Bishop Mpundu Mother in Church
President Edgar Lungu greets Bishop Mpundu Mother in Church
President Lungu Thanks Bishop Mpundu
President Lungu Thanks Bishop Mpundu

Religious Minister Godfridah Sumaili regrets protest action against SDA church by Max Chongu

 Maxwell Chongu clad in a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Dorcas uniform while holding a bottle of beer.
Maxwell Chongu clad in a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Dorcas uniform while holding a bottle of beer.

Religious Minister Godfridah Sumaili has regretted the protest action by Max Chongu by wearing a religious uniform

“This is totally unacceptable. I am already dealing with the highest leadership in SDA concerning the matter of insults. Max should remove this and apologize.”

She said she had engaged the Seventh Day Adventist(SDA) over an earlier incident where an unknown woman wearing Dorcas Mother’s Uniform uttering demeaning words against President Edgar Lungu.

She called on Maxwell to remove the offensive images and directed him to apologize to the Church.

And the PF media team issued the following statement

PRESS RELEASE

MAXWELL CHONGU’S BEHAVIOUR HAS NO BLESSINGS OF THE PF OR ANY OF ITS STRUCTURES

Lusaka, Zambia, 7th April 2018 – The ruling Patriotic Front wishes to distance itself and any of its structures from images circulating bearing Maxwell Chongu clad in a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Dorcas uniform while holding a bottle of beer.

The party finds the said images to be highly offensive. The images are highly inappropriate and unacceptable not only to the SDA church but the Christian Community and society in general.

Maxwell Chongu must take personal responsibility and make peace with the SDA church, Christians and society at large.

Patriotic Front has immense respect for the Church and in this case, the SDA where we also draw a good number of membership. We believe the Church occupies a place to be respected by all as it plays its prophetic role in the life of the nation.

Issued by:

Sunday Chanda
PF Media Director
Party Headquarters

 Maxwell Chongu clad in a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Dorcas uniform while holding a bottle of beer.
Maxwell Chongu clad in a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Dorcas uniform while holding a bottle of beer.

Zambia Center for Interparty Dialogue unveils Road Map

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From (L-R) Fr Chilinda, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, Michael Mulongoti , Edwin Sakala , President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Eric Chanda
From (L-R) Fr Chilinda, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, Michael Mulongoti , Edwin Sakala , President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Eric Chanda

The Zambia Center for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) has released a road map towards the holding of the Political Parties Dialogue meeting.

ZCID Chairperson Nathan Mulonga had told journalists in Lusaka that the dialogue process will start with the holding of a National Democratic Stakeholders Summit from 14th May, 2018 which will facilitate for an inclusive dialogue process.

Mr. Mulonga says participants will be drawn from Civil Society Organizations, Faith Based Organizations, Traditional Establishments, Academia, Political Activists and the Legal Fraternity.

Mr. Mulonga, who is also Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Secretary General, says this will be followed with the hosting of the Political Parties meeting from 22nd to 25th May, 2018 which will facilitate for a forum for all registered political parties to discuss various issues affecting them.

He says this will later be followed by a meeting with Secretary Generals of Political parties from 11th to 13th June, 2018 to set the agenda for a summit of all presidents of political parties.

Mr Mulonga adds that the Summit of Presidents will be held from 15th to 16th June, 2018.

Teenage pregnancy statistics stand at 29 percent

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Minister of Gender Victoria Kalima confers with her Permanent Secretary  Dr. Felix Phiri during the  Launch the National Plan On Ending Child Marriage 2016-2021 at Radisson Blue

Gender Minister Victoria Kalima has disclosed that teenage pregnancy statistics stand at 29 percent.

Ms Kalima says the Child marriage prevalence rate is at 31 percent, while HIV prevalence is at 8 percent for girls and 6 percent for boys compared to the adult population.

She says the figures are high and need serious attention by all stakeholders.

Speaking when officiating at the SAFAIDS National Sensitization programme on the Transforming Lives Programme, Ms. Kalima says transforming adolescents and young people’s lives to access sexual and reproductive health services requires the commitment of all key stakeholders to implement robust interventions that will bring about the nation’s desired adolescents and young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights outcomes.

In a speech read on her behalf by Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary, Dr. Auxillia Ponga, Ms. Kalima has since praised SAFAIDS and its partners in various fields of policy development for indentifying the need to transform and address sexual and reproductive health and rights policy and practice gaps in Zambia.

She says the transforming lives programme will contribute towards a more conducive policy environment that enables positive sexual and reproductive health and rights outcomes among adolescents and young people, both in Zambia and the SADC region.

Speaking earlier, SAFAIDS Regional Director, Rouzeh Eghtessad has commended Zambia for making strides in implementing Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in the region.

Meanwhile, Muchinga Province permanent Secretary Jobicks Kalumba has appealed to the Education sector in Muchinga Province to sensitise school- going children on the new Policy that allows them to resit for exams or repeat after failing pregnant.

The PS said this yesterday when he visited Kantompwezi Village in Nakonde District of Muchinga Province.

Dr. Kalumba said it was worrying to see many children especially the girl child staying at home because they failed their exams and do not want to go back to a lower grade.

The PS said schools should sensitise pupils and let them know that they can resit for their exams as external candidates without having to repeat.

Dr. Kalumba added that many children have abandoned school for fear of repeating to a lower grade which was worrying.

He lamented that there is urgent need to sensitise them and make them understand the Policy as most of them did not fully understand the contents of the new Policy.

Dr. Kalumba also took time to talk to some parents and encouraged them to send their children who had failed Grade 9 back to School.

Today’s Message: Believing is Seeing

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Today’s Scripture

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”
(Hebrews 11:3, NKJV)

Believing is Seeing

You were created by Almighty God to live a blessed and fulfilled life. But so many people live far below the level of what God truly intends for them simply because they don’t see how it could happen. The truth is that you have to believe before you’re ever going to see something take place in the natural. You have to look with your eyes of faith because the provision, healing and miracle that you need are already available in the supernatural realm.

You might say, “Well, I don’t know how to do that. I don’t know how to look with my eyes of faith.” The way you open your eyes of faith is by reading and meditating on the Word of God. His Word deposits strength and faith inside of you and illuminates your heart. His Word causes your faith to grow so you can believe His promises. And when you believe it, then you will see it because all things are possible for those who believe!

Today, feed your faith by meditating on His Word. Declare His promises over your life. Keep moving forward with an attitude of expectancy knowing that He has victory in store for your future!

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for Your sweet and precious promises. I choose to open the eyes of my heart so that I can see and receive the good things You have for me. Help me to be a blessing to others and keep my mind stayed on You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Zambia’s opposition knows impeachment will fail. So what’s its game?

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UPND MPs

By Sishuwa Sishuwa

On 23 March, Zambia’s main opposition party filed a motion seeking the impeachment of President Edgar Lungu. The action was led by the United Party for National Development (UPND) party and backed by a third of MPs.

The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) immediately derided the move. Presidential spokesperson Amos Chanda dismissed it as being destined for failure, noting that the opposition would never get the two-thirds majority in Parliament needed for it to succeed.

In the National Assembly, Deputy Speaker Catherine Namugala recognised that the UPND had complied with the formal requirements for proceedings thus far. But she declined to table the motion before Parliament adjourned on 29 March, saying that the “Constitution does not give a timeframe within which an impeachment motion must be tabled”. The opposition accused her of working with the PF to obstruct their attempt to unseat Lungu.

What this means is that the motion is likely to be tabled in the next siting of Parliament scheduled for June.

The opposition’s impeachment argument

The call to impeach Lungu, who has been in power since 2015, rests on two grounds.

Firstly, the UPND alleges that the president has violated the Constitution and other laws on several occasions. In particular, they point to Lungu’s alleged threats to Constitutional Court judges in November 2017 when he warned there would be chaos if they ruled against his bid to stand for another term in 2021. The opposition also contends that Lungu’s failure to concede power when a petition was filed against his election in August 2016 violated Article 104 (3) of Zambia’s Constitution.

The UPND’s second grounds for seeking to impeach Lungu is that he is allegedly responsible for numerous cases of gross misconduct. The opposition highlights his directive to the state-owned Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings to discontinue a legal suit against First Quantum Minerals Limited that sought to recover a huge debt from the Canadian multinational. They also cite Lungu’s reported newfound wealth amassed while in office, his failure to rein in his aides’ suspected “corrupt activities”, and Zambia’s swelling public debt.

Many in Zambia see merit in the opposition’s claims, and the UPND has complied with the law in filing its motion. But the next battle will be to persuade two-thirds of MPs to support it. That will almost certainly be a bridge too far.

Zambia’s National Assembly has 166 lawmakers. 89 (54%) belong to the ruling PF. 63 (38%) belong to opposition parties, of which 58 (35%) are with the UPND. The remaining 14 (8%) are independents. To get a two-thirds majority, the motion would need at least 111 MPs to vote in favour.

Assuming all UPND parliamentarians support the motion, it would begin with 57 votes (one seat is currently vacant after Keith Mukata was convicted of murder). It would therefore need 54 more, but getting these looks like a very tall order.

To begin with, many independents as well as members of the smaller opposition parties MMD and FDD have tended to vote with the ruling party. Many independents are in fact former PF members who failed to win their party primaries. That suggests that it will take big incentives to persuade them to switch sides.

However, even if the UPND manages to convince all of these MPs to back impeachment, it will still need at least 35 parliamentarians from the ruling party to rebel too. There may be up to around five renegades in the PF that would consider this, but not more. Revulsion against Lungu is not as rife inside the party as it is outside it. Moreover, MPs know that impeaching Lungu would mean that Vice-President Inonge Wina, an extremely unpopular figure in the PF, would succeed him.

There have been some claims recently that the UPND has bought off several PF MPs to support the impeachment motion, but these rumours are unconvincing. Despite some greater constraints imposed on the president by the new constitution, Lungu is still generally able to meet the patronage expectations of his supporters. The out-of-power opposition is unable to match or beat these on any significant scale.

Behind the impeachment strategy

Taking all this into account, it is clear that there will be no impeachment. Even the UPND’s leader Hakainde Hichilema cannot seriously believe they will remove the president. So why have they gone to the trouble of filing the motion?

Firstly, the impeachment process can be seen as part of a wider strategy aimed at delegitimising Lungu in the eyes of the public and international community. Since the disputed 2016 election, the UPND has consistently sought to question and undermine Lungu’s legitimacy. Initially, its strategy was limited to the use of legal challenges built around the election petition that was dismissed on a technicality by the Constitutional Court in September 2016.

The PF had hoped that as the elections receded into the past, the question of Lungu’s legitimacy would fade away. The latest move by the UPND suggests otherwise. If anything, it indicates that the opposition is diversifying its strategy. The impeachment motion will fail, but in the process, it will highlight Lungu’s allegedly unconstitutional behaviour, continue to raise questions over his government’s legitimacy, sap the energy of the PF, and aggravate divisions in the ruling party.

In this latest strategy, the UPND may have been inspired by South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a small opposition party that has been a constant thorn in the side of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Over the course of the last two years, the EFF brought repeated no-confidence motions in former President Jacob Zuma. These inevitably failed in terms of votes, but kept questions around Zuma’s fitness to hold office in the public eye and contributed to his ultimate demise. The UPND may follow the EFF’s template in tabling further impeachment motions when the current one fails.

This may also deepen rifts in the PF. In fact, the existing impeachment process may already be bearing fruit on this front. The orchestrated delay in tabling the motion in Parliament suggests the PF may no longer be so sure of its MPs’ loyalty to Lungu. Particularly aware that the vote may be done through secret ballot, the party seems to want to postpone the process until it can be more confident of its outcome. There are even emerging reports that the PF may seek to find a way of preventing the motion from being tabled in Parliament altogether.

As well as challenging Lungu’s legitimacy, the UPND’s impeachment strategy also allows it to consistently raise questions around his actions in office. The opposition can use proceedings to hammer away at the president’s wealth and remind the public of corruption allegations against him and his inner circle, while positioning the UPND as the party of good governance. The government’s attempts to discredit the impeachment motion on the grounds that it will never pass rather than on its merits only serve to reinforce the perception that the charges against Lungu are in fact credible.

While it knows it will lose the impeachment battle, the UPND’s broader goal is to loudly call into question Lungu’s legitimacy as well as the entire agenda of the government. This newly-developed strategy has already put the PF on the defensive and into a state of panic.

Sishuwa Sishuwa is a Zambian historian and political commentator.

Zanaco’s 2018 CAF Confed Cup hopes shuttered

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Zanaco’s 2018 CAF Confederation Cup group stage hopes are up in flames on Saturday following a 2-0 home loss to Raja Casablanca of Morocco at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

Zanaco’s loss comes just three weeks after they were eliminated from the 2018 CAF Champions League pre-group stage following back-to-back 2-1 home and 1-0 away defeats to Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland.

And now Zanaco again sit on the brink of elimination in the second tier competition where they were relegated to following last month’s CAF Champions League exit.

Benhalib Mahmoud scored in the 67th minute and Hadraf Zakaria put the result beyond doubt in the 75th minute in a match Zanaco number one Toaster Nsabata was the busier goalkeeper on the day.

Zanaco and Raja meet in the final leg on April 17 to decide who goes through to the group stage that kicks off next month.

UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema has lost it, says Peter Chanda

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Mr Hichilema and Mr Bwalya and Prof. Gambari addressing after the end of the meeting
Mr Hichilema and Mr Bwalya and Prof. Gambari addressing after the end of the meeting

New Congress Party (NCP) president Peter Chanda has said that the UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema, has clearly lost direction and charged that the UPND leader is a frustrated man who has run out of ideas on how to run a party after losing elections five times.

In an interview with the Daily Nation yesterday, Pastor Chanda charged that Mr Hichilema’s ranting against innocent people is a sign that he is now confused after being rejected by the Zambians through the ballot box.

Pastor Chanda was reacting to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who accused United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zambia Janet Rogan of having helped the PF to win the 2021 elections.

The NCP leader said Mr Hichilema’s unnecessary attacks on Ms Rogan is uncalled for adding that he (Hichilema) should just quit politics to avoid embarrassing himself further.

“As NCP, we want to express our disappointment with unwarranted attacks on Janet Rogan by UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema. The man has ran out of ideas of how to run a political party and I can just advise him to go back and concentrate on looking after his cattle.

“I think there is something wrong with HH, he is confused after being rejected five times by the electorate. How can he today in his right mind accuse Ms Rogan of having assisted the PF to manipulate election results when she is part of the international community where he has been trotting to asking them to intervene in Zambia’s internal matters?”

Pastor Chanda said the levels of desperation by Mr Hichilema to get to power was worrying and urged the Zambians to ignore him saying he has nothing to offer.

Yesterday, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema accused United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zambia Janet Rogan of having helped the Patriotic Front (PF) to steal its 2016 votes.

Mr Hichilema alleged that Ms Rogan who is also UNDP Resident Representative in Zambia of having assisted the PF manipulate election results.

Speaking at a press briefing at his residence in Lusaka yesterday Mr Hichilema said Ms Rogan was involved in the manipulation of the 2016 election results.

“We are very much aware of Janet Rogan’s manoeuvres of working with the Electoral Commission to manipulate voter registration, to manipulate ballot paper printing in Dubai, Janet Rogan was involved, we are aware of that.

“We are aware that Janet Rogan is patronising with Ministers of the PF almost on a daily weekly basis. We are aware that Janet Rogan is hosting the ZCID encouraging them to take a lead so that she can participate in the manipulation of the dialogue process as she participated in the manipulation of election results in our country,” Mr Hichilema charged.

Mr Hichilema said he wants to meet Ms Rogan to ascertain her interests in Zambia’s electoral process.

He added, “I have been monitoring her, I have been watching her and I want to meet Janet Rogan so that I tell her to her face.”

Paul Moonga Thanks Wynter kabimba for exposing the Socialist Party as a champion of homosexual activities in Zambia

Paul Moonga
Paul Moonga

PAUL Moonga, a member of the Patriotic Front central committee has thanked Rainbow Party secretary general, Wynter Kabimba for exposing Fred M’membe’s Socialist Party as a champion of homosexual activities in Zambia.

Mr Moonga said that the exposé on the Socialist Party should serve as a wakeup call to people who like joining new political parties aimlessly.

He said this during a PF mobilisation meeting in Chilanga on Thursday.

Mr Moonga said that people did not believe when the accusations were first exposed on social media but that someone from within had now confirmed.

He thanked the Rainbow Party chief for exposing Mr M’membe’s party as it was an opener to opportunists.

“I thank Wynter Kabimba for exposing Fred M’membe’s party and the alleged homosexual activities. Those of you who like jumping into new political parties you don’t know about should learn a lesson from this.

Mr Kabimba had disclosed during a Radio Interview that he parted ways with the founders of the Socialist Party because they differed on sexual orientation and the other group’s radical approach to prayer.

Both ZCID and the Commonwealth are sponsored by foreign interests-Peter Sinkamba

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Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba
Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba

Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Democracy (ZCID) has always been a suspicious organization right from its formation because it is funded by foreigners. And Mr. Sinkamba has suggested that since there appear to be fundamental differences on Commonwealth and ZCID mediated political dialogue, it is better that the 1990-1993 model of inter-party dialogue is adopted to make progress.

Speaking this morning in Kitwe to journalist on the position of the Green Party with respect to the proposed inter-party dialogue, Mr. Sinkamba said ZICD was rejected by political players from its inception in 2007 because it is funded by a foreign political agent, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD).

“There is nothing sovereign about ZCID, as our colleagues in PF appear to suggest. Neither ZCID nor the Commonwealth sponsored political dialogue is sovereign. Both ZCID and the Commonwealth are sponsored by foreign interests. So, if the yardstick for the dialogue is sovereignty, then I am afraid neither ZCID nor the Commonwealth meets the test.

“ZICD was rejected in 2006 as an honest broker by political parties led by the PF in opposition. Most, if not all opposition political parties agreed with the PF that ZICD was a foreign agent with lopsided political interests favoring the party in government. Consequently, most parties refused to submit their work-plans to the Constitutional Conference Working Committee (CWC). Apart from MMD, which then was party in government, felt and believed that ZCID was not as collaborative as it claimed to be.

“I do not think anything has changed in that regard. I doubt that any political party has submitted its work-plan to ZICD. Speaking for the Greens, we think that the late Mr. Sata was right. ZCID lacks the necessary credibility to honestly broker inter-party dialogue.

“I remember very well the late Michael Sata making allegations in 2006 that the then ZCID chairman Dr. Kalete Kalumba’s presence in the organization was simply to assure the continuation of the then ruling party MMD’s agenda and the prevention of any real change. I think that Mr. Sata’s view is valid today as it was then.

The late President Sata was one of the most vocal opponents of ZCID. His party, the PF, refused to be part and parcel of ZCID. Not only did he demand that Dr. Kalumba, who then was the national secretary of the MMD, be replaced with a chairman of neutral status but also was skeptical of the capability of ZCID to broker inter-party dialogue.

Despite IIJD, the sponsor of ZCID, trying by all means to encourage the PF to join the ZCID and help create a balanced constitution that is truly representative of the nation of Zambia, Mr. Sata stood his ground. Consequently, Mr. Sata rejected to participate in the ZCID-led National Constitutional Conference (NCC). PF MPs and mayors who participated in NCC constitutional dialogue were labeled by Mr. Sata as rebels, and subsequently he expelled from PF.

“For some MPs and mayors, their expulsions from PF marked the end of their political careers. Furthermore, the NCC constitutional dialogue yielded no tangible results as the NCC Constitution Bill was ultimately thrown out in parliament,” Mr. Sinkamba recalled.

“With the expulsion of the Cuban Ambassador vis-à-vis political interference by foreign forces, it will be interesting to see the future of Netherlands-sponsored ZCID in the whole political matrix in Zambia. If rightists will be allowed to support political processes in Zambia, will leftist organizations also be allowed to do the same? Mr. Sinkamba asked.

Moving forward, Mr. Sinkamba has suggested that the 1990-1993 model of inter-party dialogue be adopted which was not funded by foreign interests. He suggested that those who led the process in 1990s, including General Godfrey Miyanda, be consulted so as to guide the next steps.