The the ruling Patriotic Front media team has described South Africa’s opposition leader Julius Malema as an imperialist’s rabid lap dog running errands for his master. In a statement made available to the media today and signed by PF’s Media Director Sunday Chanda, the ruling party said that Malema is running around because his paymasters told him so, including falsities by UPND National Chairperson Mrs Mutale Nalumango and Douglas Siyakalima during their visit to him earlier this month.

Julius Malema at a rally in South Africa called president Lungu a coward and accused him of suppressing the opposition.

Below is the full PF Statement

AN IMPERIALIST’S RABID LAP DOG RUNNING ERRANDS FOR HIS MASTERS

Lusaka, Zambia, 30th July 2017 – We have noted the irritating and insulting remarks against His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu who is also Leader of the Patriotic Front by the ‘shrunken’ Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema who attempts to project himself as the Spokesperson of the Opposition in the Region.

For the record, President Lungu sought recourse to the Preservation of Public Security Act, Cap 112 of the Laws of Zambia under Article 31 of the Constitution of Zambia to address instances of fires caused by arson, and to prevent further cases of economic sabotage, which threaten public security and people’s safety. Malema should be schooled that the Preservation of Public Security Act leaves the Constitution intact. All measured actions being taken continue to be subject to the Constitutional principles and strict judicial oversight.

Article 31 invoked by President Lungu and ratified by Parliament did not create a State of Emergency but deals with a Threat to Public Security or Threatened Emergency. There is no State of Emergency in Zambia. Article 31 was invoked long after Hakainde Hichilema’s incarceration. Hichilema was not arrested after the invocation of Article 31. He is a criminal suspect appearing before a competent Court of jurisdiction.

Malema is such a hypocrite who seeks to vilify Hendrick Verwoerd, the architect of apartheid but still go to bed with beneficiaries of Verwoerd’s apartheid, the Democratic Alliance. There is no doubt that Malema’s EFF and Mmusi Maimane have one paymaster and the two are nothing but puppets of those who seek to control Zambia’s mineral rights through their stooges.

Malema is a coward otherwise he could have jumped on the first plane, fly into Zambia and utter those remarks on the Zambian soil and later observe reactions from Zambians immediately thereafter. Today, Malema cannot travel to a number of countries in the Region, including Botswana because he is a political sell-out who has no right to poke his nose into Zambia’s business!

Malema is running around because his paymasters told him so, including falsities by UPND National Chairperson Mrs Mutale Nalumango and Douglas Siyakalima during their visit to him earlier this month. Malema and his EFF must be told that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was not arrested by President Edgar Lungu. Hichilema is a criminal suspect appearing before Zambia’s competent Courts of jurisdiction which Malema and his minority party must respect. It’s a miscalculation by Malema and his EFF to politicise a criminal matter. Zambians are not docile and certainly they do not need Malema’s flip flopping.

Lastly, in understanding Malema, we draw reference to the description of Malema by Zimbabwe’s information minister, Chris Mushohwe who described the EFF leader as

a “puny,” a “Gucci revolutionary…a shrunken, talkative joke, a charlatan who fancies himself big and cute enough to pass comment and judgment on developments elsewhere on the continent. What an embarrassment… We pity and dismiss him as an ignorant youth…”.

We say Cde Mushohwe was correct in his analysis of Malema!

While we understand that Malema has sold out to forces of capital and paraded himself as an imperialist’s rabid lap dog busy running errands for his masters, he has no business to delela Zambia by meddling in issues he’s ignorant about. Let him keep his delela in South Africa.

Issued by
Sunday Chanda
Media Director
Patriot Front Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia

President Edgar Lungu has said that Zambia will not realise her potential if citizens put their self-interest first other than national interest.

President Lungu said that national development takes place only when citizens align their behaviour and practices in the best interest of the nation.

Mr Lungu noted that communities cannot prosper if businesses pursue profit over principle, pollute the natural environment or squeeze out vulnerable suppliers.

Communities are disadvantaged if their Members of Parliaments abstain from their parliamentary duties or their chiefs do not serve them well, said Mr Lungu.

The Head of State said this yesterday in Mwansabombwe district during the 2017 Umutomboko Traditional Ceremony of the Lunda speaking people of Luapula province.

President Lungu said the Umutomboko Traditional Ceremony is not only a source of great pride for the Lunda culture but a wonderful celebration for all Zambians.

Mr Lungu has since commended the Provincial Administration in Luapula for their vision to use the region’s cultural assets to promote investment in the province.

And Mr Lungu therefore called on traditional rulers, politicians, industrialists and all citizens of Zambia to put aside partisan differences aside for the interest of the country. The President has meanwhile urged traditional leaders to work together to find a lasting solution to the challenge of succession.

President Edgar Lungu also appealed to Zambians to rally behind the implementation of the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP ). President Lungu says the job of developing the country should not be left to government alone but required concerted efforts of all citizens. Mr. Lungu said that without the participation of the citizenry it would be difficult to realise the plans contained in the SNDP, adding that Zambia’s potential will not be fully realized unless everyone contributes in the development process.

Partisan politics should be set aside as they have the potential to derail national development, the Head of State said. Instead, President Lungu called for hard work and collective input in implementing the Seventh National Development Plain.

Meanwhile President Lungu says traditional ceremonies play an important role of bring people together of different cultures and customs.

The Republican President says the Umutomboko traditional ceremony of the Lunda speaking people in Mwansabombwe District is one such traditional ceremony that units people of different tribes.

President Lungu called for the preserving of culture as it the surest way of passing it to the next generation.

And speaking earlier at the same ceremony, a representative of Mwata Kazembe, Misheck Kaoma thanked government for rendering support towards the hosting of this year’s event.

And President Edgar Lungu has since returned to Lusaka from Luapula Province where he went to grace the first ever Luapula Investment Expo and the 2017 Umutomboko traditional ceremony of the Lunda speaking people.

The President arrived at City Airport this evening aboard a Zambian Airforce plane.

Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo and other senior Government officials were on hand to receive the Republican president,

Defence and Security Chiefs, Members of the Patriotic Front (PF) were also at hand to welcome the Head of State.

And speaking to Journalists, Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda said President Lungu is happy with the phenomenon success of the Luapula Investment Expo.

Mr Chanda said the success of the Expo clearly shows the confidence investors have in the country.

He disclosed that the event also provided an interaction among Chiefs from other province on the importance of chiefdoms’ national development effort and in building the country’s harmony and stability.

Mr Chanda said the efforts of the Luapula Province Administration’s to attract Investment has encouraged other provinces to do the same with Northern Province likely to be the next.

Today’s Scripture

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
(Romans 12:2, NKJV)

Retrain Your Brain

Living in victory means that sometimes you have to develop new habits. If you’ve been negative for a long time, you’ve got to retrain your thinking from “I can’t” to “I can;” from “It won’t happen” to “It will happen;” from “I’ll never get well” to “God is restoring health unto me;” from “I never get any good breaks” to “God’s favor surrounds me like a shield;” from “I’ve made too many mistakes. I’m all washed up” to “I’m redeemed and forgiven. My best days are still out in front of me.” It’s like reprogramming a computer. Sometimes you have to wipe off the old, outdated, dysfunctional software and load in something new.

If you’ve spent your days focused on how things won’t work, it’s time to focus on how things will work out! It doesn’t matter how bad it looks, how many people have told you no, or how long it’s been that way, God has the final say. It’s not over till God says it’s over. Shake off the self-pity. Shake off the disappointment. Let go of the old and choose to believe Him. Declare His promises over your life and see His blessing and victory as you align yourself with Him!

A Prayer for Today

“Father God, thank You for the transformation power in Your Word! Thank You for giving me hope for my future. I choose to trust You, I choose to believe Your Word, and I choose to declare Your truth and watch victory unfold in Jesus’ name! Amen.”

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services has refuted allegation by former Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Hon. Chishimba Kambwili that loaned money meant for the Digital Migration process, to the tune of 273 million United States Dollars had been misappropriated.

In a statement released to the media and signed by Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Kampamba Mulenga, Government said that State House was not involved in the procurement process contrary to what she termed as lies being peddled by Hon. Kambwili.

Below is the full statement

Republic of Zambia

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services

STATEMENT BY HON. KAMPAMBA MULENGA, MP MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON ALLEGATIONS THAT US$273 MILLION MEANT FOR THE DIGITAL MIGRATION PROJECT HAS BEEN MISAPPROPRIATED

Government wishes to correct the impression created by former Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Hon. Chishimba Kambwili in some sections of the media that loan money meant for the Digital Migration process, to the tune of 273 million United States Dollars has been misappropriated.

The nation may wish to know that the digital migration project is being implemented under two separate contracts.

Phase one of the project was contracted at a sum of 9.554,124.49 United States Dollars. Phase entailed the erection of digital transmitters and other attendant digital transmission equipment along the line of rail from Senkobo near Livingstone to Chililabombwe. The nation may wish to know that this phase was successfully concluded in June 2015.

On the amount involved in phase one, Government has made only two payments. A down payment amounting to 955,412.45 United States dollars was paid in August, 2014 and a second payment amounting to 1.060,969.94 was made to the contractor StarTimes Software Technologies Company Limited of China, in March, 2016.

It is important to note that in spite of the successful completion of phase one two years ago, the contractor is still owed 7.549,096.65 United States Dollars.

The final operational certificate was rendered on 8th June, 2016 but still, no payment has been made due to the fiscal challenges facing the treasury.

THE US$273 MILLION

As the nation might be aware, the second contract of the digital migration project covers phases two and three respectively.

It should be clearly stated that the works under the two phases are comprehensive as the project encompasses the entire length and breadth of our country.

Under phase two, the civil works component of the contract will entail construction of six (6) Television studios at all provincial centres namely;

1. Kasama (Northern Province)
2. Chinsali (Muchinga Province)
3. Mongu (Western Province)
4. Kabwe (Central Province)
5. Mansa (Luapula Province) and
6. Chipata (Eastern Province)

Choma and Solwezi studios are being funded outside the US$273 million loan arrangement.

It is also worth noting that aside from transmission and other attendant equipment being installed at the six (6) provincial centers, there are also subsidiary transmission sites at 64 sites where small transmitters are also being erected to ensure total coverage of the entire country.

In areas where the topography cannot allow for digital terrestrial television transmission, these areas will be served by satellite.

For the record, it is important to state that the lender, EXIM Bank of China has NOT yet released a single cent of the US$ 273 million loan.

In fact, the Ministry of Finance is still handling issues to do with fulfillment of the conditions precedent to first disbursement.

It must be clear stated here, that, all the work that has been done thus far, has been financed from the contractor’s own resources.

It is, therefore, patently false for Hon. Kambwili to suggest that the loan monies have been misappropriated because the money in question has not been released.

I must also state that it is not only mischievous but grossly misleading for Hon. Kambwili who served as Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and was privy to these facts to deliberately mislead the nation.

It is also worth stating that prior to the contraction of the loan, ALL tender procedures were followed. It is true that Startimes Software Technologies Limited was single sourced to undertake phases two and three and requisite approval was obtained from the Zambia Public Procurement Authourity (ZPPA).

As is procedure and a requirement in Government operations, as Minister, Hon. Kambwili was fully kept informed about the processes.

I need to make it very clear that State House was not involved in the procurement process contrary to lies being peddled by Hon. Kambwili.

Hon. Kambwili should confine himself to his cheap politicking instead of launching a misguided and irresponsible smear and slander campaign against his perceived political opponents to win public sympathy.
In any case, if there was anything wrong he saw in the digital migration project, did he have to wait to be fired to speak out?

Hon. Kampamba Mulenga, MP
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson
28th July, 2017