Mr Hichilema’s lawyers obtained an interim injunction restraining r Tayali from issuing any defamatory statements against their client.

Mr. Tayali is expected to appear in the Livingstone High Court in the afternoon of 4th January, 2018 for an interparty hearing.

Mr Hichilema has dragged Mr Tayali to court over his continued claim that Mr Hichilema is a mason.

This week, Mr Tayali claimed that Mr Hichilema appears in the Masonic register.

Sun Share launches tower building at a prestigious event this weekend in collaboration with PR Girl Media

PR Girl Media will host the “Penthouse Party”, a stylish event in collaboration with Sun Share Investment Ltd; a firm whose business covers high-end property, real estate, engineering and construction. The Penthouse Party, the first of its kind in Zambia will be hosted at the corporate building right in the centre of Lusaka. A collective of individuals with interest in fine drinks, food and music will gather on the 11^th floor of the Sun Share Tower building on Saturday, 16 December to celebrate the end of the year.

The event is themed on the concept of entertainment on the highest floor of the building. The modern corporate building stands tall at a height of 58 metres on Katimamulilo Road near Radisson Blu Hotel. Lusaka’s socialites, celebrity and corporate personalities will attend the luxurious event with Headline DJs such as Gesh Groove, El Mukuka and V Jeezy set to keep the guests entertained. Violinist Caitlin De Ville will perform at this event confirming it to be her last in the year.

Managing Director, Mr Jack Huang stated that Sun Share wants to provide a world-class central business social venue for global customers and business elites. “For the company, the whole idea is to have a tower that will become the landmark for Lusaka City. Partnering with a local business such as PR Girl Media is part of our strategy to encourage interest in architecture and construction. Lusaka is a vibrant city and we are delighted to contribute to its beauty” said Mr Huang.

The event will commence with a reception on the first floor in a nine-metre-high lobby equipped with top-level international designs. Corporate sponsors of the event include Airtel Zambia, Chivas Regal, Strongbow and Miller. Details of the event can be found on PR Girl Media’s social media profiles.

A clergyman has called on authorities and the clergy in Zambia to uphold God’s law which promotes marital sex exclusively in marriage as opposed to same-sex relationship which is being championed in some countries.

Speaking at the launch of The Chreso Story book at Chreso Ministries Centre in Lusaka yesterday, Reverend Helmut Reutter insisted that God’s law concerning sex, including homosexuality, should overrule any man-made law.

Rev Reutter said there was no superior authority above God’s law on sexuality.
‘No government in the world has the right to change God’s programme concerning marriage which was designed for a married couple,” he said.
He challenged the clergy in Zambia not only to preach the Gospel that addresses man’s spiritual side but also to deal with man’s physical side by engaging in health projects like the fight against HIV.

He said while he believed in faith healing, he knew that administering of medicine, especially for people living positively with HIV, should also be encouraged to heal the sick.

“In the Bible, the Apostle Paul was always in the presence of physicians because he knew the importance of combining spirituality and actual healing of the sick,” he said.

Chreso Ministries, that was started in the early 90s in Lusaka, has contributed massively in projects in the health sector, education and social responsibilities.

The launch of the book The Chreso Story chronicles the work of the ministry that was started by Pastor Reutter and his wife Esther when the couple first came to Zambia from Germany.

WHEN MR. HICHILEMA WAS HAPPY WITH NUMBERS

Almost everywhere, ruling Governments often face towering criticism about the governance of their countries and economies. Nowhere are they left scot free. When they try to list some achievements, they are told that people cannot eat numbers which they use to back their achievements. Of course, numbers do not feed anyone. Economists invest their claims of economic achievements in numbers and we always criticize them arguing that low inflation or macro-economic stability is not enough to feed the Zambian family. But numbers help us to say and understand many things. They provide useful indications of performance which, sustained over many years can lead to better things. That is why numbers are useful and cannot be ignored or belittled simply for that sake. But they can upset of make you happy. When we use them against other people, we are happy, and they are unhappy and vice versa. When Mr. Hichilema, leader of UPND stated the other day, “I have been vindicated by IMF on Zambia’s debt,” and that he had been advising Government against excessive borrowing, he was referring to numbers. On 26 February 2016 Mr. Hichilema was happy to also state, “With figures for February showing a further rise in prices and inflation at 22.9% – the highest level since 2000 – here is a reminder of our statement from earlier in the year on ‘Combatting High Inflation – The UPND Way’. The rate of inflation has risen from around 7% when President Lungu’s was elected to 21.1%. A rate we have not seen in Zambia for more than 10 years.”

If we want others to hear our numbers, we must also hear their numbers. Even we author of articles that sometimes criticize the ruling Government have a governance obligation to recognize and show numbers that show achievement even if they will not feed anyone but are pointing in the right direction. And it is high time we heard the ruling Government’s numbers, not from them but from us.

REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS BY GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE HIM HAPPY

In this article, we look at only three numbers or statistics to show trends in growth of (i) Zambia’s GDP; (ii) of Gross Capital Formation and (iii) Zambia’s international trade in goods and services to illustrate remarkable achievements of the ruling Government, which no one wants to show to the people of Zambia yet, they deserve to know even if numbers cannot feed them.

Before doing so, let us be reminded that inflation that Mr. Hichilema refers to is a subset of the bigger economic picture. When it is as low as zero, we all must celebrate because it provides a good basis for economic development although on its own it is not development. When it was 22.9% as stated by Mr. Hichilema above, of course that was not good and we all must have been worried. But there are better economic pictures illustrated by numbers too, that must be disseminated just as when they are bad, we will also disseminate them.

Number one, Growth Trend of Zambia’s GDP

It is 50 years since Zambia obtained independence. In this period, the country has been ruled by different political parties. If we wish to track their economic performance, we can even if statistics may not exactly tell the story, given that there are other factors to consider. During the period 1970 to 2005 or about three decades, Zambia’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew steadily, from about $1.5 billion in 1970 to $8.3 billion in 2005. But compared to the short period between 2011 and 2015 as Figure 1 below shows, this growth of 34 years was not phenomenally significant. It is the last five to six years that growth surged to unprecedented heights, reaching the highest mark of $12.7 billion in 2006 and $21.2 billion in 2015. I don’t have figures for 2016 but if this past five year-trend continues uninterrupted, this growth trend is likely to be a boon in the next twenty years. Ladies and gentlemen, bad guys and girls can say what they want. And they may be right because, again, numbers alone do not feed anyone. But they provide a basis, and this number does provide a strong basis for optimism, again, if things are done well. According to the image below, the growth that you see in the first 34 years was flat and timid wavering below $5.0 billion for so many years. Of course, we cannot ignore previous Government’s contribution. But more importantly, why would we ignore the ruling Government’s such huge contribution when the surging statistics clearly stand in the period during which they are presiding?

I don’t know where the communications department of the ruling Government is located but I hear it is in the Ministry of Information. If it is not communicating these numbers to the public and political foes. Again, numbers alone do not feed Zambians, but you can’t fight them either.

Number two, Growth Trend of Zambia’s Gross fixed capital formation

Economists and financial experts will know better how the Gross fixed capital formation functions and why its growth is important to the Zambian economy. But it simply “refers to the net increase in physical assets (investment minus disposals) within the measurement period (Financial Times).” Experts would argue that Zambia needs capital goods and to replace current assets to expand the economy that are used to produce goods and services. When this is done on a large scale and capital formation is higher, it means the economy can growth fast and better. Countries need capital goods to replace the current assets that are used to produce goods and services, and if a country cannot replace capital goods, production declines. Generally, the higher the capital formation of an economy, the faster an economy can grow its aggregate income. All this requires continuous growing savings and investments which, for Zambia are quite low in comparative terms with other countries. For example, Table 1 below shows Zambia’s gross fixed capital formation in comparison with Asian countries. You can see that Viet Nam’s is about fivefold higher than Zambia’s. Indonesia’s $286 billion is the highest in the Table. To grow substantially, Zambia needs to expand its investment.

Table 1: Gross Fixed Capital Formation in $ Millions

Source: Unctadstat

However, despite its small size, the speed and size, in the Zambian context at which gross fixed capital formation has grown, again in the last six years, all connected with the GDP is quite commendable in comparison with previous leaderships. Again, unlike the issue of inflation, there has been a sudden surge of growth of gross fixed capital formation, rising from $234 million in 1970 to $2.9 billion in 2006 and then $ 9.1 billion in 2015 (Figure 2). Again, in terms of size, this is only $9 billion hence not much to write home about. However, judging by the significant size compared to the last 40 years, this growth of the last 5 to 6 years is unprecedented. This growth is also characterized by the upward trend despite external vulnerabilities.

Number 3, and finally, there is remarkable performance in international trade in goods and services

Finally, the graph below shows similar pattern of remarkable international trade performance during the period of the PF Government between 2011 and 2015. You can argue what you want, that they are a reflection of the past leadership, that growth takes long and we cannot make judgement now. But, again, the highest growth shown in the image below in Figure 3 is concentrated in the period of the PF rule. And, in comparison to years before, surely, it is much higher, leapfrogging from about $10.2 billion in 2011 to $12.3 billion in 2013 and 2014. Of course the external factors on copper exports in the last four years also explains why this massive growth started taking the downward turn. The message is to ensure that the 2013 or highest growth period should come back and if this growth can continue in the next twenty years, Zambia will get into the development path. The point is that you cannot grow a country by images shown between 1970 and 2006 when exports and imports are so low.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we cannot eat numbers. But they have a special message to deliver. And if we have used them before to make a point on others, we must also listen when others come back with them to explain their achievements. Sometimes they look small but when compared with others, they certainly send a strong message. Finally, improved numbers do not mean that the ruling Government now sits and does nothing. It must do more for that is what it was elected for. As said earlier, although some numbers like ones in the foregoing look good, we cannot eat them. We need a strong translation of numbers into three meals a day for each family. But good numbers should also not provide a tool for showboating or telling off opponents. No. But they should perform the purpose for which they were invented.

By Economic.Governance

HON KAMBWILI’S CHEAP POPULISM – A RACE TO THE BOTTOM

Lusaka, Zambia, 12th December 2017 – It has come to our attention that in his quest to score cheaply and in his usual style bent on cheap populism, NDC’s Chishimba Kambwili posts to his Facebook wall alleging that the Media Department’s Social Media Administrator’s Consultative Meeting had Government Officials and was paid for by the State. He thereafter seeks to connect the meeting to the regrettable disturbances at the Copperbelt University, when the two are not related in any way.

As a habit, he has no restraint when it comes to racing to the bottom and it is not our intention to compete with him on that score.

We however feel duty bound to set the record straight:

1.Social Media is new media and we shall build the capacity of the Party’s communication infrastructure without any apologies to the NDC leader.

2.The Copperbelt Social Media Administrators meeting was NEVER attended by any single Government official. Government officials attending the meeting only exist in the NDC leader’s world of imagination. While an invitation had been extended to Mr. Amos Chanda, but apologies were made as he had other commitments.

3.The branded water the NDC leader has been spending sleepless nights about was an initiative of a committed member of the Party resident in Kitwe. The same way we branded the water is how we shall brand Roan Constituency when that time of reckoning comes

4.The Social Media Consultative meeting was not funded by any Government department but the Patriotic Front Media Department. For the NDC leader’s benefit, this was the second meeting to be held on the Copperbelt while several others have been held in Lusaka Province.

Instead of the NDC leader majoring in majors, he finds it easy to major in minors. We therefore wish to advise the NDC leader to reflect on what former US President Barack Obama called “snap judgements to complex issues” when it comes to social media. Attempting to over-simplify the unfortunate incidents at the Copperbelt University is a clear case of NDC leader minimizing the maximum and maximizing the minimums.

We refuse therefore, to join him in his race to the bottom. One thing he knows however is that a mobilized and highly effective PF Media will shorten his lies’ legs even further. He knows that an organized social media team will be a nightmare for him as it will cut his lies to size in real time.

Issued by:

Sunday Chanda
PF Media Director

And some small scale farmers in Serenje and Mkushi Districts have described Agriculture Minister as a flop who should be taken to a different Ministry as she has failed to sort out the mess in the sector.

Speaking when he featured on Mkushi Radio Mr Nakacinda said the Minister should show the seriousness that the problems being faced by small scale farmers deserve.

He said farmers cannot be complaining on the same challenges every year when the President has appointed a Minister to sort out the challenges.

He said ensuring that the country has a functioning agriculture sector is the only way of uplifting people’s lives as most of the country’s population depend on the sector.

Meanwhile farmers in the province said the Minister should be replaced as the current minister had failed to deal with their challenges.

The farmers who contributed to the radio program via phone said the mess in the sector needed someone who appreciated the challenges in the sector something Siliya seems to be oblivious to.

They complained that they are still waiting for their money on their produce supplied to government last year.

A caller from Kapiri Everisto Mwenshi said even the e-voucher is a mess that continues to further confuse small scale farmers who still do not understand how to use it.

He said in his cooperative of 15 members only one person has been approved to recieve inputs adding that the challenges are not only in the district but in all the districts in the province.

He also said the Provincial Minister was segregating in his developmental projects as he was favouring the areas where his party was strong while neglecting opposition strong holds.

And another caller Mable Mwaba who also complained about the late payment of farmers as well as delivery of farming inputs said the area Members of Parliament where not helping as they were not talking on their behalf.

She said current MPs were now passengers at parliament buildings and eating chicken and chips when they should be the voices of the people who sent them to Lusaka to represent them.
In response Mr Nakacinda said voters should also start taking responsibility for their actions.

He said voters in some areas rejected people who had committed to working for them and opted to bring in people who just wanted allowances hence should not blame anyone but themselves.

He gave an example of Sydney Chisanga who was rejected in Mkushi South even when he was the best candidate after working with the people for two terms.

He said it was high time voters started scrutinizing candidates based on ability and put in competent individuals saying certain complaints will be a thing of the past.

The team has since left for Kapiri where they are suppose to hold party meetings with the district executive before proceeding to Kabwe.

And The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction in Eastern province has called on President Edgar Lungu to declare the 2017/2018 farmer input distribution exercise through the e-voucher system as a national disaster without any further delays.

CSPR Eastern Province Coordinator Maxson Nkhoma has noted with disappointment that the current happenings in the agriculture sector do not reflect any sign of government’s commitment towards walking the talk on economic diversification as alluded to by the President in his address to Parliament in October 2017.

Mr Nkhoma recalled that the head of state is on record when he addressed Parliament to have said that his government was going to diversify the economy from mining dependence to the agriculture sector by increasing government support towards the sector.

Mr Nkhoma said that CSPR is particularly concerned that the government has not started the distribution of farming inputs to farmers as of today, 12th December, 2017 a month after the rains had started, and when the Minister of Agriculture had addressed Parliament and indicated that the farming inputs distribution would start by 15th October, 2017.

Mr Nkhoma said that the delay in the distribution of farming inputs to farmers is a worse disaster when compared to army worms which can be easily eliminated using pesticides.

Mr Nkhoma stated that in view of numerous cries and complaints from the farmers over delayed farming inputs and late payment by the Food Reserve Agency, it has become increasingly very important for the President to address the nation and declare the 2017/2018 farmer input distribution exercise a national disaster so that emergency farmer rescue interventions can be explored.

Meanwhile, Some farmers in Shiwang’andu District in Muchinga Province have complained that the failure by the Food Reserve Agency to pay them their money has greatly affected their preparedness for this farming season.

The farmers have complained that since they delivered their maize to the FRA in August, they have not received anything from the agency.

One of the farmers Josephine Mumbi said that she cannot make her K400 counterpart contribution towards the e-voucher card because she have not been paid for the maize she supplied to the FRA.

Ms Mumbi said that she survives through farming and wonders if she will effectively participate in this farming season.

Another farmer Beatrice Nanyangwe of Mulanga village said that hunger is looming in the area because of the failure by the government to pay them.

And Grace Nyondo said that what the FRA has done is de-campaign President Edgar Lungu as it is showing that the government lacks seriousness in addressing issues affecting farmers in rural areas.

Grace Chileshe, a widow in Kalanguluka Village, said that she is at pains to see how the farmers are being treated by the government over their hard earned money.

The farmers have since appealed to President Lungu to intervene in the matter.