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ZTE Chairman to visit Zambia for talks on setting up a smart phone factory

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ZTE Chairman to visit Zambia for talks on setting up a smart phone factory

The Chinese government has announced that the Chairman of one of the World’s leading telecommunications Company ZTE Li Zixue is expected in the country on Monday to begin the implementation process of setting up a smart phone factory in Zambia.

The ZTE Chairman’s visit follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ZTE and the Zambian government at the ZTE Headquarters in the Chinese City of Shenzhen.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Du Xiaohui said China recognises Zambia as an important market for investment especially in the Southern African region.

Ambassador Xiaohui explains that the coming of the ZTE Chairman will officially set the tone for the actual commencement and implementation of the smart phone factory.

The Chinese envoy further stated that China has committed to implementing in earnest some of the signed agreements during the state visit to China by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Meanwhile Ambassador Xiaohui said China remains committed to helping Zambia in her development process.

He said as a way of boosting the country’s development process, the Chinese government will offer Zambia technology, machinery and capital for the various sectors.

Ambassador Xiaohui said as agreed by President Hakainde Hichilema and President Xi Jinping, China will support Zambia in the area of international equity and justice which is an active contributor to regional and global peace and development.

He further announced enhanced collaborations between the two countries in the area of climate change.

The Chinese envoy stated that China will help Zambia with technology in smart agriculture in view of the effects of Climate change.

”Zambia and China will establish a green development strategic partnership and enhance cooperation on environmental protection, combating climate change, green economy and emergency risk response mechanism among others” The Ambassador said.

Ambassador Xiaohui also said that China will support Zambia in the establishment of industries aimed at value addition.

While in China, President Hichilema witnessed the signing of 15 MoU’s between China and Zambia in various sectors of the two countries’ economies

Lusaka High Court Grants Leave for Contempt Proceedings Against PF’s Given Lubinda and Raphael Nakachinda

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Lusaka High Court Grants Leave for Contempt Proceedings Against PF’s Given Lubinda and Raphael Nakachinda

The Lusaka High Court has granted leave to Patriotic Front (PF) member Miles Sampa to initiate contempt proceedings against party Vice President Given Lubinda. Sampa has accused Lubinda of holding himself as PF Acting President in violation of a court order. The court’s decision to allow Sampa to proceed with these proceedings was announced by Judge Timothy Katenekwa.

The motion to commence contempt proceedings against Lubinda comes in response to an application filed by Miles Sampa on September 20, 2023. In his application, Sampa alleged that Given Lubinda had acted in contempt of court by assuming the role of PF Acting President.

In addition to Lubinda, Sampa also named Raphael Nakachinda, the newly appointed PF Secretary General, as the second defendant in the case. The allegations made by Sampa have brought to the forefront a contentious legal dispute within the PF.

The developments surrounding this legal action have underscored the internal tensions and divisions that have been brewing within the PF in recent times. The court’s decision to grant leave for the contempt proceedings indicates that the matter will now proceed to a more comprehensive legal examination.

Miles Sampa’s Challenge to Edgar Lungu Over “Alebwelelapo” Project Escalates Tensions In PFns in O

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Miles Sampa’s Challenge to Edgar Lungu Over “Alebwelelapo” Project Escalates Tensions In PFns in O

The political landscape in Zambia continues to be marked by dramatic twists and turns as former Lusaka Mayor, Miles Sampa, issued a direct challenge to former President Edgar Lungu, urging him to reconsider his “Alebwelelapo” project.

Sampa’s provocative question, “What are you going to do that you didn’t do in seven years?” has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing political saga.

Miles Sampa publicly challenged Edgar Lungu’s “Alebwelelapo” project, raising questions about its objectives and feasibility.

In response earlier in the week the Patriotic Front (PF) in Matero Constituency and the 5 PF councillors in the area petitioned the Central Committee to expel Matero member of Parliament Miles Sampa from the party.
Speaking at the PF Secretariat on Wednesday some of the speakers denounced the Matero law maker as being a non entity in politics.The function was also attended by former PF General secretary Davis Mwila and newly appointed PF (GS) Raphael Nakachinda members of the central committee and party structures.

The UPND has challenged PF to expel Miles Sampa to facilitate a by elections. However, under the new constitution, an expelled MP becomes independent MP without the need for the costly by elections. Unless he is convicted, all MPs are entitled to a full term or until the next general elections.

Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia Demands Action Against Oil Marketing Companies for Non-Compliance

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Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia Demands Action Against Oil Marketing Companies for Non-Compliance

PTAZ Urges Ministry of Energy to Sue Firms for Failing to Engage Local Transporters

The Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia (PTAZ) has called on the Ministry of Energy to take legal action against Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for their failure to comply with Statutory Instrument Number 35 of 2021. This legislation mandates OMCs to allocate a minimum of 50 percent of fuel transportation contracts to local companies.

Expressing disappointment over the continuous disregard for the law by OMCs, Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary Chisangano Zyambo recently criticized their non-compliance with Statutory Instrument Number 35 of 2021 and the use of local transporters.

Benson Tembo, the Secretary General of PTAZ, lamented the persistent violation of the directive by Minister of Energy Peter Kapala by OMCs despite numerous reminders. In a phone interview, Mr. Tembo highlighted the unjust disadvantage faced by local transporters as OMCs continued to favor foreign transporters.

The dominance of East African transporters in the local petroleum industry has exacerbated the challenges faced by Zambian transport companies, and PTAZ is now urging swift and decisive action to rectify the situation.

The dispute underscores the importance of enforcing local content laws to ensure equitable opportunities for domestic businesses and promote economic growth.

Roy Ngulube appointed clerk of the National Assembly

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Roy Ngulube appointed clerk of the National Assembly

The National Assembly of Zambia has ratified the Presidential appointment of Roy Ngulube as Clerk of the National Assembly.

The Parliamentary select committee appointed on 25th July 2023, scrutinized the appointment of Mr. Ngulube to serve as clerk of the National Assembly.

This is pursuant to section 3c of the National Assembly staff act chapter 257 of the laws of Zambia.
Mr. Ngulube brings to the National Assembly a wealth of experience with 33 years working experience most of which has been in the public service.

He served as Assistant Committee clerk, Executive Assistant to the Secretary General at the Southern Africa Development Committee and the Parliamentary forum.

He also served as Executive assistant to the Speaker of the National assembly, where he rose to the position of deputy Clerk-Procedure before taking up the role of Deputy Clerk Administration.

Mr Ngulube was in 2022 to date acting Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia until his appointment as Clerk of the National Assembly.

As the Clerk of the National Assembly he will be responsible for overseeing the administration and procedural functions of the National Assembly.

This is contained in a statement issuedto the media by Deputy Clerk Corporate Affairs Stephen Kawimbe.

Zambia to Expand Energy Access with 1,500 Mini-Grids

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Zambia to Expand Energy Access with 1,500 Mini-Grids

In a virtual address to the Global Leadership Council of the Rockefeller Foundation, President Hakainde Hichilema unveiled an ambitious plan to revolutionize Zambia’s energy landscape and provide electricity to communities living off the national grid. This transformative initiative aims to bring essential services, economic opportunities, and improved living conditions to underserved regions across the country.

President Hichilema, in his address, expressed his commitment to improving the lives of Zambians through enhanced access to electricity. He unveiled the groundbreaking plan to deploy approximately 1,500 mini-grids throughout the nation, marking a significant step toward achieving energy independence and bridging the energy access gap that has plagued many communities for far too long.

The President announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for the first of these mini-grids is set to take place before the end of this year, signaling an expedited timeline for tangible change. These mini-grids will not only bring power to remote regions but will also be run as businesses, offering local communities opportunities to increase income and access improved health services, among a host of other benefits.

This endeavor has been made possible through collaboration and support from The Rockefeller Foundation and the ‘Sustainable Energy for All’ team. President Hichilema expressed gratitude for their partnership and encouraged more partners to join this life-changing initiative. As this project gains momentum, it is expected that additional organizations and stakeholders will come forward to contribute to its success.

President Hichilema invited the youth and cooperatives of Zambia to seize this extraordinary opportunity. By engaging with the mini-grid initiative, they can enhance business prospects, stimulate trade, and attract investment to their communities. This collective effort will not only bridge the energy access gap but also build a brighter and more prosperous future for all Zambians.

Increased human-wildlife conflict worries govt.

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Increased human-wildlife conflict worries govt.

Government has expressed concern over the increased reports of human-wildlife conflict as it affects the lives of people and food security.

Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba said human-wildlife conflicts are more prevalent in communities that live near protected areas and game management areas.

He said currently the number of human lives that have been lost this year due to human-animal conflict stands at ten.

Mr Sikumba said human-wildlife conflict has continued to be a major challenge affecting the wildlife conservation efforts.

He attributed increased cases of human-wildlife conflict to population growth, bushfires, poor agriculture practices and significant reduction of prey in game management areas.

ZANIS reports that Mr Sikumba disclosed during a media briefing that in the second quarter Zambia recorded 4,206 human wildlife conflict reports.

He cited Muchinga, Eastern, Lower Zambezi, Southern, Western and Kafue region as areas with most reports of human-wildlife incidences.

Mr Sikumba indicated that most of the human-wildlife animal conflicts were caused by elephants, buffaloes, hippopotamus, crocodiles and bush pigs.

He further disclosed that a total of 53 problematic animals were controlled as part of conservation measures as they became a threat to human life.

And commenting on the increased reports of human-wildlife conflicts in Livingstone, Mr Sikumba explained that African elephant herds often move out of the park at night in the dry season in search of food in surrounding areas.

He said due to lack of a buffer zone, animals end up straying in communities between Livingstone and Kazungula thereby destroying people’s gardens.

Meanwhile, Mr Sikumba has announced that the Ministry of Tourism through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife will next month in October beef up deployment of wildlife officers in hot spot regions so as to reduce human wildlife conflict.

He named the hot spot regions where more reports of human wildlife conflict have been reported as Muchinga, Eastern, Lower Zambezi, Southern, Western and Kafue region.

On poaching, Mr Sikumba said cases of animal poaching across the country have reduced as a result of increased enforcement and patrols by the wildlife officers.

Meanwhile, a 38 year old man of Maloni Compound has been found dead after he went missing on Sunday September 17, 2023.

Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Auxensio Daka said Police in Livingstone picked up the body of Peter Mwangala near Maloni Sakubita collapsed bridge.

He said the body of the deceased had multiple injuries as it is believed that he was trampled to death by an elephant.

“Police received a report of a dead body having been discovered at Maloni Sakubita bridge and visited the scene and established that the person could have been killed by an elephant as it had multiple body injuries and in a decomposed state”, he said.

Police have since picked up the body and deposited it in Batoka Hospital Mortuary awaiting burial and post mortem.

European Investment Bank Vice President expected in Zambia

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European Investment Bank Vice President expected in Zambia

European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice President Thomas Ostros is expected in Zambia for a three-day official visit.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Ostros says his engagement in Lusaka from 25th to 26th September, 2023 will reinforce the strong partnership between Zambia and the European Union as well as mark the first high-level EIB visit to Zambia since the launch of EIB Global.

The Vice President who will be accompanied by international partners in the company of technical and financing experts from the EIB’s regional hub in Pretoria and Luxembourg headquarters, as well as the European Union Delegation in Zambia will meet Zambian political, banking and business leaders.

Mr Ostros said during the visit he will formally sign the first financing under the EIB’s groundbreaking pan-African agricultural and agribusiness financing programme.

“This landmark agreement, made with Zambian partner First Capital Bank and backed by the European Union, is set to unlock substantial investment opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness across the country and demonstrates the EIB’s strengthened support for agricultural development and food security in Zambia and throughout Africa,” he said.

Mr Ostros indicated that on Wednesday, he will open the EIB Southern Africa Small and Medium Enterprise Banking and Finance Academy with Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane.

He further added that more than 100 regional banking leaders and international partners will attend the Lusaka academy aimed at promoting financial inclusion and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region.

“Lusaka will also host the unveiling of the EIB 2023 Financing in Africa report, which provides valuable insights into banking and access to finance across the continent.

Zambia is the EIB’s largest country of operation in Southern Africa and over the past five decades, the EIB has provided more than EUR 1.2 billion for priority business, water, energy, and transport investment across the country.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS today by the European Investment Bank.

Kambwili begins defence in ‘hate speech’ case

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Kambwili begins defence in ‘hate speech’ case

Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) member of the Central Committee, Chishimba Kambwili, has appeared in the Kasama Magistrate Court for commencement of defense in the case in which he is charged with the offence of expressing hatred and ridicule for people based on tribe and place of origin.

Mr Kambwili, 54, of house number 9, Wisteria Avenue, Luanshya, appeared before Kasama Resident Magistrate, Samson Mumba.

Giving his evidence, Mr Kambwili argued that in his address during a radio programme at Radio Mano in Kasama in 2021, did not issue any hate speech against the Tonga people of Southern Province.

He said on the contrary, he was reacting to alleged tribal remarks attributed to the then opposition UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema and party member, Buumba Malambo in a video that went viral on social media.

Mr Kambwili added that his message was also centered on campaigning for the PF in the run up to the 2021 general elections.

“I am extremely shocked that my innocent address to the Zambians during the radio programme can be classified as hate speech and ridicule against the Tonga speaking people,” said Mr Kambwili.

He added that his message during the radio programme was centered on advising people not to tolerate politicians advocating for voting on tribal lines.

Mr Kambwili further questioned the evidence presented by the seven prosecution witnesses before the court alleging that the case seems to be that of political persecution and intimidation.

“The indictment drafters were merely cherry picking items in the recorded programme to suit their motives. As a politician, I have no reason to demean any of the 73 tribes domiciled in the Republic of Zambia,” he added.

However, the state lawyers objected to the move by the defense to play an audio recording in court as evidence because it contained some remarks that needed a Tonga interpreter.

Kasama Resident Magistrate, Samson Mumba ruled that the defense must therefore secure a Tonga interpreter.

Magistrate Mumba has since adjourned the matter to 20th October, 2023 for continued defense.

Rupert Murdoch Steps Down as Fox and News Corp. Chairman, Shaking Up Media and Politics

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Rupert Murdoch Steps Down as Fox and News Corp. Chairman, Shaking Up Media and Politics

In a move that has sent shockwaves through both the media and political landscapes, Rupert Murdoch, the influential right-wing media mogul, has announced his retirement as chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corporation. The 92-year-old media titan, known for building and overseeing a global media empire, revealed his decision in a memo to employees on Thursday.

“For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change,” Murdoch stated in his memo. “But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams.”

Rupert Murdoch’s leadership of Fox and News Corporation, the publisher of influential publications like The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, has granted him considerable influence within the Republican Party, a position rivaled by only a few.

This retirement announcement comes at a pivotal moment for the media industry as established entertainment giants grapple with the transformation of traditional television and film, while consumers increasingly turn to streaming services.

Notably, Murdoch’s departure from the helm of his media conglomerates will have far-reaching implications on the political landscape, coinciding with the intensifying 2024 presidential race. Fox News remains entangled in legal battles stemming from its promotion of former President Donald Trump’s unfounded election claims in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

Taking the reins from Rupert Murdoch will be his eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, who already serves as the chief executive of Fox Corporation. Lachlan will assume the role of sole chairman for both companies.

Rupert Murdoch praised Lachlan as “a passionate, principled leader,” indicating that the right-wing editorial stance associated with his media companies is likely to remain intact. In his memo to employees, Murdoch alluded to their shared commitment to freedom and criticism of “self-serving bureaucracies” and “elites” who he believes disdain those outside their social circles.

While Lachlan Murdoch is expected to continue the family’s conservative media legacy, it’s worth noting that he has privately voiced disagreements with former President Trump’s behavior, according to sources. He reportedly expressed concerns about the potential impact on the country should Trump decide to run for office again.

Rupert Murdoch’s career in media began in the 1950s with the acquisition of a small Australian newspaper chain. Over the years, he expanded his media empire to include influential British newspapers, such as The Times and The Sun, before venturing into the United States with the acquisition of newspapers like the New York Post.

One of his most significant purchases was Twentieth Century Fox in 1985, marking his entry into the Hollywood entertainment industry. Murdoch also launched Sky, a UK satellite pay-TV broadcaster, in 1989, and later attempted to dominate the internet with the acquisition of MySpace in 2005, although the latter venture proved unsuccessful.

In 2019, Murdoch sold a substantial portion of his media empire, including Twentieth Century Fox, to Disney in a $71 billion deal. He retained control of News Corp., which includes the Wall Street Journal.

Murdoch’s influence extended to Fox News, which he founded in 1996 as a conservative competitor to CNN. Over the years, Fox News evolved into a dominant force in cable news, although its coverage faced criticism for promoting conspiracy theories, particularly during the Trump era.

The retirement of Rupert Murdoch marks the end of an era in media and politics, and the succession of his son Lachlan will be closely watched as it shapes the future direction of Murdoch-owned media outlets.

Secretary-General Appoints Dennis Zulu of Zambia UN Resident Coordinator in Jamaica

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Secretary-General Appoints Dennis Zulu of Zambia UN Resident Coordinator in Jamaica

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Dennis Zulu of Zambia as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, with the host Government’s approval. Mr. Zulu will also be responsible for coordinating UN work in the Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and Cayman Islands.

Mr. Zulu has more than 20 years of experience in development work, the private sector and academia. Prior to taking up his appointment as Resident Coordinator, he served as Director of International Labour Organization (ILO) Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean. There, he led efforts to provide programmatic support and guidance to ILO constituents in identifying and addressing their country Decent Work priorities.

He also directed the formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the substantive work programmes of the Decent Work Team. His work helped policy development through the promotion of the Decent Work Agenda dimension to social, economic and environmental policymakers and other stakeholders.

Mr. Zulu also served as UN Resident Coordinator a.i. for Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba and Curaçao from March 2022 to June 2023. He has also served as ILO Director for English Speaking West Africa and Representative to the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS), based in Nigeria, from 2015 to 2019.

Mr. Zulu holds a master’s degree in business administration from Mzumbe University, United Republic of Tanzania, a post-graduate diploma from Stellenbosch University of South Africa and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Zambia.

ECZ to Reopen Tender for Printing and Delivery of Ballot Materials

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ECZ to Reopen Tender for Printing and Delivery of Ballot Materials

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has announced that the tender for the printing and delivery of ballot papers, ballot paper posters, and blind voter templates over a three-year period will be reopened on Friday, September 22, 2023. This decision was revealed by the Acting Chief Electoral Officer, Bob Musenga, during a press briefing held in Lusaka.

The reopening of the tender marks a significant step in the electoral preparations for Zambia. Bob Musenga, in his statement to the media, highlighted the importance of this move in securing the necessary materials for future elections.

In addition to the announcement regarding the tender, Mr. Musenga disclosed that the Electoral Commission of Zambia has initiated the Continuous Registration of Voters in 10 additional districts. This development expands the ongoing voter registration efforts to a total of 20 districts across the country.

The Continuous Registration of Voters is a crucial component of the electoral process, as it allows eligible citizens to register and update their voter information regularly. By extending this initiative to more districts, the ECZ aims to enhance voter accessibility and ensure that the voter rolls are up to date for upcoming elections.

Mr. Musenga did not provide specific details regarding the districts where the Continuous Registration of Voters is being conducted. However, this expansion underscores the ECZ’s dedication to facilitating the participation of all eligible voters in the democratic process.

The reopening of the tender and the expansion of voter registration efforts are significant milestones as Zambia prepares for future elections.

Government Addresses Health Worker Shortage, Plans to Recruit Thousands

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Government Addresses Health Worker Shortage, Plans to Recruit Thousands

In response to the persistent challenges faced by the health sector, including the availability and distribution of competent health workers, Zambia’s Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo, has announced significant steps taken by the government to alleviate this concern. Minister Masebo emphasized the importance of bolstering the healthcare workforce to meet the country’s healthcare needs effectively.

During a recent speech at the 3rd graduation ceremony of 1,656 health professionals from Levy Mwanawasa University, Health Minister Sylvia Masebo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in the country.

Minister Masebo acknowledged the pressing need for additional healthcare workers and highlighted the government’s efforts in this regard. In 2022 alone, the government employed over 11,000 health workers, a significant step toward enhancing the country’s healthcare capacity. She further revealed that the government plans to recruit an additional 3,000 health workers in 2023.

Through these recruitment initiatives, Minister Masebo explained that the government aims to streamline health promotion and disease prevention efforts within communities. By ensuring an adequate number of competent health workers, the government intends to improve healthcare access and quality, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality rates.

Minister Masebo commended Levy Mwanawasa Medical University for its role in producing highly skilled and competent healthcare professionals. The institution’s contribution to the healthcare sector aligns with the government’s goal of addressing the critical shortage of healthcare workers in the country.

In her absence, Health Permanent Secretary Christopher Simoonga delivered Minister Masebo’s speech during the graduation ceremony. He echoed the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce and providing quality healthcare services to all Zambians.

Levy Mwanawasa University Vice Chancellor Prof. Elwyn Chomba expressed the institution’s dedication to creating a conducive learning environment for healthcare students. Prof. Chomba emphasized that the university would continue to adapt its education and training systems to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the population.

High cost of Living is hurting,its a time bomb-Fred Mmembe

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High cost of Living is hurting,its a time bomb-Fred Mmembe

Today, I want to share my deepest thoughts and feelings about the sad reality of the hunger, poverty and despair that is prevailing in our homeland, among our people currently.
I want to candidly and fairly convey my true feelings and experiences about the situation we are faced with, not as a politician but as a leader and parent, who is also raising a family in the midst of the high cost of living we are experiencing as a nation.

Certainly, the rising cost of living is hurting and there don’t seem to be quick political fixes our people were promised. No one today is saying “Bally will fix it” – not even Bally himself. This is worrying.

With the rising cost of living, our people are feeling the pressure financially, psychologically and otherwise. Words fail me to best describe the level of grief, sadness, anger and hunger I have come into contact with during my visits to several and different households and communities across the country – both in urban centers like Lusaka and the Copperbelt, and rural areas like Chinsali, where I am a traditional leader.

In my trips to these communities, the sadness, brokenness and desperation, which the rise in cost of living has brought to our people is heartbreaking and painful. We have witnessed unprecedented levels of hunger, poverty and despair amongst citizens, which is difficult to comprehend and later on articulate in a way that best reflects what is currently happening in our nation.

It is a fact that the rising cost of living is more than an economic squeeze: it is a public health emergency, potentially on a par with the COVID-19 pandemic. Not being able to afford the essentials, such as food, rent, electricity or transport, has wide-ranging negative impacts on mental and physical health and well-being.

Families are in distress. Basic daily feeding has become a very big challenge. Our mothers, our wives, our aunties, our sisters are failing to sleep. Blood pressures are rising exponentially with the rise in the cost of living. Far too many people in the country today can barely afford a meal or two in a day. We have seen how some households have devised a system to ensure that at least everybody eats something to keep them going. And this system involves members of the household to alternate between meals; where one group eats lunch and leaves dinner for the other group that skipped lunch to eat as well.

This may sound weird and baffling but that is the reality. It’s happening in many households. Families are stressed and are breaking as providers battle to deal with the mental trauma of losing a livelihood and the inability to cope with the situation and fend for their families. Definitely, there is a silent but tragic story unfolding in our country today and politicians should urgently protect the most vulnerable, those in distress.

These problems cannot be left to our pastors, reverends, priests and other religious leaders when even the Sunday church offerings are declining because congregants have nothing or have very little to put in the basket. This is the first experience of such sharp and sustained cost of living increases since the 1980s. But unions were stronger and pay agreements were very different then.

While prices are increasing everyday our earning power has been stuck in a rut. The cost of living has increased steadily and relentlessly over the past two years. But our political system means politicians’ promises to tackle it have been largely futile.

It will get worse. This gnaws away at a person’s dignity.
An experience typically reserved for the poor is now afflicting middle classes and they aren’t happy. It is spilling over to our politics and there’s panic in the political leadership of our country. They are scared about how the people will react to all this. They don’t want anyone to talk about it – hence the attempt to silence key opposition leaders and critics. They are scared that talking about these issues may spark protests, hence the attempt to silence, intimidate the opposition with charges of treason, espionage and so on and so forth.

But this will not work. They can silence a few timid politicians, hire some spineless, hungry and greed opposition politicians to speak for them, but it won’t help them much. They can’t silence the hungry masses of our people because if there’s no one to speak for them – because their authentic representatives have been silenced – they will eventually start to directly speak for themselves. And their language will be very clear to be ignored!

This uncontrolled daily increase in the cost of living is a time bomb! Therefore, arresting us on trumped up treason or espionage charges won’t do – it will be an exercise in futility which is bound to backfire. And without us the explosion of this time bomb may be uncontrollable.
We socialists are patriots. With or without us we would like to see Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his league succeed in addressing these very distressing challenges facing our people and our homeland. We don’t want to defeat them on the back of national failure. There will be enough reasons to seek their removal on August 13, 2026. Baleya!

Fred M’membe

Court adjouns defilement case to ascertain age of the accused

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Court adjouns defilement case to ascertain age of the accused

The Katete Resident Magistrate, Elias Sakala, has adjourned a defilement case involving a 19-year -old boy of Gundamwala Village in Chief Mbang’ombe’s Chiefdom in Katete District of Eastern Province.
Magistrate Sakala said he was adjourning the case to September 22, 2023 for continued trial in order to ascertain the correct age of the suspect.

Magistrate Sakala directed the grandfather to the accused who happens to be the headman for Gundamwala Village to avail before the court evidence of the correct age for the accused.

“I adjourn this matter in order to ascertain his age. Bring the village register and his school register. Do not tamper with the books, just bring as it is. We are adjourning this matter to establish the age of the accused because when he took plea, he said he was 19 years of age but today he has changed to 18 years of age. So, matter adjourned to 22 September 2023,” he said.

Vincent Tembo is appearing before the Katete Magistrate court for defilement contrary to section 138 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that the accused on the dates unknown but between 1st June 2022 and 12th August 2023 in Katete had unlawful carnal knowledge of a female juvenile under the age of 16.

Appearing before Magistrate Sakala, the female juvenile narrated the circumstances surrounding the case.
The victim stated that between the said dates, the accused asked her to be his girlfriend of which she agreed.
“It is from here that I had sex with him at his house in his bedroom around 20:00 hours. The sex was only once, we have never had from that time,” she told the court.

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