SACCORD says the outcome of the ICC consultation process is an opportunity for the country to influence other African countries in championing reforms at the international court.

Speaking when made a presentation at the public forum on the ICC results held at Protea Hotels in Lusaka Humphrey Elekani who is SACCORD Board Member said the results gives the Zambian government mandate to help other African countries that may have problems with the ICC in fighting for reforms.

Mr Elekani explained that it was important that the country position ita self as important stakeholder in helping to fight for reforms at the international level.

He said the Zambian government should creat platforms where it share with other countries that have continued to agitate ové the withdrawal from ICC.

Mr Elekani also said it was important for government and parliament respects the wishes of its citizens who resoundingly approved the continued stay of the country in the ICC.

Further, Mr Elekani said the country should join hands with other African countries who have explicitly said they want to be part of the ICC.

He said the country can mobilize the continent and prepare a position paper containing grievances of African countries and practical measures for submission at the ICC so as to ensure that the said court is percieved to be a fair body.

Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili says selling of anointing oil by some clergy is bad because it brings idolatry in the church.Reverend Sumaili says anointing oil is Biblical but selling it is not because the word of God is free for all.

Speaking during an installation service at Maranatha Church in Kitwe , Reverend Sumaili quoted the book of Isaiah 10 verse 27 which says burdens can be lifted through the anointing oil.

She said some clergy have abused the anointing oil by selling it to make money and has called for the practice to come to an end.The Minister said her ministry will not allow false gospel to continue being preached in the country.Reverend Sumaili said true gospel is for the deliverance of life, edifying people and prospering the nation.

And during the installation of Senior Pastor Gaity Simuusa of Maranatha Church, Reverend Sumaili urged the man of God to preach the truth and love the congregation.Giving a prayer during the service, Reverend Sumaili said true gospel is about God and the Bible should be the guide to all the clergy.

Meanwhile, Reverend Simuusa pledged to work with all civic authorities to ensure he contributes to national development.Reverend Simuusa further said he will respect the relationship between the state and the church and will endeavor to diligently work for the nation.

Patriotic Front – P F Media Director Sunday Chanda says the growing trend of political parties attacking the judiciary at will, must stop.Mr. Chanda says the recent attacks on Chief Justice Irene Mambilima by some political parties is unfortunate and must be condemned by all well-meaning Zambians.

He says if left unchecked, the trend has potential to divert the country from following laws to one where people disrespect the same laws they have enacted.Mr. Chanda said this in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka.

He noted that the judiciary is the oasis of justice for all Zambians and that it is blind to individuals, political affiliations and should be defended by all citizens.

Mr. Chanda explained that those who feel aggrieved by the judicial processes must channel their complaints through institutions such as the Judicial Complaints Authority.

Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kamyongo has assured the electorate in Chingola that President Edgar Lungu’s Government will not fail to deliver on its mandate and campaign promises.Mr. Kampyongo says a number of development projects, including the facelift of townships roads, are already planned and will commence soon.

The Minister, who is also Patriotic Front-PF National Youth Chairperson, was speaking during a meeting with Chingola Mayor Titus Tembo, District Commissioner Mary Chibesa and Nchanga parliamentarian Chali Chilombo at the civic center.

And Mr. Kampyongo is concerned with the level of vandalism of Zesco Limited and Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company installations.He has warned that those found wanting will face the full wrath of the law because Government is spending colossal sums of money to ensure residents receive constant clean water.

And Chingola District Commissioner Mary Chibesa announced that the contractor to work on Township roads has mobilized equipment in readiness to start the works.Ms. Chibesa said Government will shame its detractors because President LUNGU will in due course launch the upgrading of Township roads in the District.

Earlier, Chingola Mayor Titus Tembo expressed displeasure at the mushrooming of copper smelter plants in the District.Mr. Tembo wondered how some foreign nationals are operating copper smelter plants even when it is clear that they do NOT operate any mine to act as a source of copper ore.

The United Progressive People (UPP) Party President Saviour Chishimba has announced that he will do a one man protest tomorrow to protest against Chinese Corruption at Statehouse.

In a statement made available to the media, the UPP leader said that he will not need not need a police permit because he is not calling for a public meeting.

“I will just be alone in the land of liberties for which freedom fighters died and sacrificed all they had for. Let the police therefore be warned that this country is bigger than a compromised Police Command, ” read the statement.

Below is the dull statement

THE UPP PRESIDENT WILL DO A ONE MAN WALK-BY PROTEST AGAINST CHINESE CORRUPTION AT STATE HOUSE AS WELL AS UNDERTAKE A PROTEST AT CHINA HAINAN (Z) LTD HEAD OFFICE TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR EVICTED ZAMBIANS FROM LUBARMA MARKET

As an indigenous Zambian and leader of the United Progressive People (UPP), I will be undertaking the following protests tomorrow, Monday June 5, 2017 starting at 10:30 am:

1. 10:30 am: China Hainan (Z) Headquarters – Protest against the eviction of struggling Zambian market shop owners at Lubarma Market in Kamwala

2. 11:30 am: Civic Centre Mayor’s Parlour – Protest against the failure by Lusaka City Council to review the 65 year illegal lease of Lubarma Market to China Hainan (Z) Limited

3. 12:30 pm: State House – Protest against Chinese corruption in Zambia and hostile economic conditions under the PF regime as well as call for action against corruption

4. 1:30 pm: Lubarma Market – Mourn a female trader who died last week as a result of pressure from the hostile China Hainan, and later undertake a tour of the market shop stalls that are affected by the action of China Hainan.

From the outset, let me make it clear that I will not need a police permit because I am not calling for a public meeting. I will just be alone in the land of liberties for which freedom fighters died and sacrificed all they had for. Let the police therefore be warned that this country is bigger than a compromised Police Command.

The protest is predicated on the deeply troubling and disturbing developments that have taken place at Lubarma Market since 2001. Sadly, justice for the poor people of Zambia and marketeers does not appear to be coming from successive governments.

The evidence in our possession reveals the following:

1. On 9th August, 2001, the Lusaka City Council entered into a lease agreement with Chaina Hainan (Z) Limited in respect of the 2.7 hectares stand LUS/3502, 4563 and 4564 also known as “Lubarma Market”.

2. The lease agreement was entered into after the Full Council Meeting on 13th July 2001 under minute number C/116/07/2001.

3. Clause 6.1 of the lease agreement provides thus, “The Developer will be entitled to exclusive use and have the right to lease and occupation of all the 121 Numbers shops and parking facilities for the shop tenant i.e. the rest of the facilities on the Stand which shall only be available for use by the Developer and its Lessees but for use by no other person or party unless agreed to in writing by the Developer who shall be entitled to all rentals accruing thereto for a period of 65 years calculated from the date of the issue of the Certificate of Occupation. The Lusaka City Council ensure the Developer a peaceful possession for the above specified period without interruption.” (UNEDITED clause).

4. Clause 6.3 gives the Developer (China Hainan) the liberty to use the Market as collateral for loans during the period of the lease, which was duly signed by the mayor and town clerk for Lusaka City Council, and a Mr. Xu Zhongqing (Director) and Mr. Chen Heshu (Secretary) for China Hainan. Zambian entrepreneurs can also borrow if given the chance and one wonders how a sane government can give this privilege to a foreign “investor.””

5. The 65 year lease agreement is in clear conflict with subsection four of section four of the Markets and Bus Stations Act of the Laws of Zambia which provides thus, “Any public-private partnership entered into shall not be for a period longer than fourteen years”

6. The total investment in the project by China Hainan was US$3.5 million, but the total receipts in rentals (excluding all forms of taxes and withholding tax which is levied on market shop owners) earned so far is in excess of US$14, 333, 952 in twelve years. This means that China Hainan has not only recouped the investment, but also reaped off the close to 20 million poor people of Zambia.

7. In 2004, the National Assembly of Zambia urged the MMD Government to re-negotiate the lease agreement, but the appeal landed on corrupt and deaf ears.

8. On 28th June, 2014, the Lubarma Market lease agreement vanished, but UPP has since managed to retrieve it by the power of the Spirit of God and it is secure in our possession for further drastic action against the corrupt and crooked PF regime.

9. On 5th July, 2014 the PF Regime announced that the lease agreement was going to be re-negotiated, but this has not been done due to Chinese corruption and the PF “Working in Reverse” syndrome.

10. Twenty nine (29) of the market shops are occupied by Chinese traders, 7 Nigerians, 4 Lebanese and 5 Tanzanians, among others. This is evidence of how the Chinese have taken over ordinary market trading, which must be a preserve of Zambians.

11. China Hainan was charging rentals in dollars and during the free fall of the Kwacha against the dollar in 2013/14 traders were affected since China Hainan continued to demand payments either in dollars or Kwacha equivalent. Market shops that were rented at US$1, 000 (K3, 000) per month, for instance, were now going for K13, 900. This increase was close to 500% in rental payment. In this context, if a shop owner had paid K30, 000 as 6 months in advance this became 2 months rental under the prevailing economic conditions. During this period, Zambian market traders accrued rental debts in excess of K3 million in a very short period of time. Clearly, this is unsustainable and the Ministry of Commerce must bailout these struggling traders who have families to care for in their own country.

12. On 21st October, 2015, the Bank of Zambia issued a directive to stop dollar pricing in the country. Nonetheless, China Hainan pegged the exchange rate at K10 per dollar even when the Kwacha has over the past year appreciated to a single digit (though stage managed). This is exploitative and illegal.

13. In 2015, fifty six (56) market shop traders took the matter to court in an attempt to stop China Hainan from exploiting them.

14. On 30th June, 2016, the Lusaka High Court delivered the judgment under cause number 2015/HP/197. The judgement, which is somehow vague, but was in favour of the applicants (market traders) in terms of directing China Hainan to only apply the dollar rental policy for the period before the Bank of Zambia directive. This means that China Hainan may not apply dollar equivalent rentals – it should not even determine a fixed exchange rate. Rentals must be charged in Kwacha without making any reference to the dollar exchange rate.

15. While the judgement gives China Hainan the liberty to evict market shop traders for failure to pay arrears, due consideration should be made on the basis of the primary economic conditions which put these hard working marketeers in such a situation. The PF Government was solely responsible for running down the economy through corruption of which bogus Chinese contractors have been paymasters of corruption.

We, in the UPP, commend Hon. Vincent Mwale, the Minister of Local Government, for his efforts, earlier in the year, to speak to China Hainan on behalf of the struggling marketeers.

Shockingly, the evidence in our possession shows that Hon. Given Lubinda, the Minister of Justice, has acted as the Judas Iscariot of our time by being the lead crucifier of Zambian market shop traders. He has also acted in a manner which is contrary to the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act. Hon. Lubinda has aided the enforcement of the eviction of Zambian traders on whom court bailiffs pounced last week on Friday – commodities have been seized and shops closed by China Hainan. Our people have been thrown into the streets to join millions of young people who are not in employment.

UPP will be issuing a comprehensive statement on the mischief that Hon. Lubinda has committed, contrary to the provisions of the law. We are happy to note that in his own words (as per our evidence) he admitted that what he was doing (interfering in the course of justice) was illegal. He also abused his office of authority of office to have said, in his own words, that he had consulted the Solicitor General in a matter which is purely private.

China Hainan (Z) Limited has several road sector construction projects across the country and we do not expect them to show ingratitude to this country by milking blood out of the weak and poor people of Zambia whose government has kissed and gone to bed with Chinese corruption.

As progressive nationalists and revolutionary crusaders, we are enchanted and fortified to intensify the new struggle for justice in the land.

Zambia has practically become a Chinese Protectorate and the PF Regime and the immediate past MMD regime have facilitated the sale of the nation’s soul.

The struggle for independence was about land and the people of Zambia cannot claim to be independent when their own land and economy have been taken over by the Chinese through the nauseous PF corruption and bad leadership. Enough is enough!

God bless our nation!

Saviour Chishimba
UPP PRESIDENT

Police on the Copperbelt have arrested 31 foreigners allegedly using youth to steal copper from mines for their illegal mining activities. Some of the youngsters used for stealing are as young as 9-years-old.

And Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo has said Government will restore order in the mining sector and that no culprit will be spared in the operation.

Last night deportation orders were reportedly being signed to expediently expel some of the culprits.

The operation to restore order includes Government’s assurance to provide maximum security to Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), the main victims of thefts.

Government has also reiterated its encouragement to illegal miners to form co-operatives through which they could operate without getting into conflict with the law.

Speaking yesterday after a meeting with KCM management in Chingola, Mr Kampyongo said Government wants to come up with a holistic approach on how best to meet the expectations of the mining companies and the illegal miners seeking decent lives.

“Our responsibility is to see youths empowered properly, not where you have a category of few youths who are driving big cars using other youths who are risking their lives every day,” Mr Kampyongo said.

He said government is not going to allow “vague investors” to disturb security and it would do its part by ensuring the illegal miners commonly known as ‘jerabos’ operate legally.

“We are not going to allow criminality. Our responsibility is to see our youths empowered properly,” he said.
He said all the foreigners connected to illegal mining activities will be rounded up by law enforcement officers.
He said it is worrying that the youths as young as nine-years–old are being used by unscrupulous people.

KCM chief executive officer Steve Din said the mining company is losing a lot of money through thefts.

He said KCM is willing to work with co-operatives for the sake of orderliness.

In a compressed pictorial presentation made by KCM head of security Max Maoma, the mining company unveiled damage done by illegal miners to the mine’s facilities.

And the illegal miners’ chairman, Douglous Chilembi, said his group is willing to register as a co-operative and get a certificate soon.

Mr Kampyongo went on a fact- finding mission at KCM Nchanga open-pit mine in the company of Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja, Ministry of Home Affairs deputy permanent secretary Willies Manjimela, Copperbelt commissioner of police Charity Katanga and other senior government officials.

Earlier, Mr Kampyongo warned that Government would deport foreign investors on the Copperbelt if it is proved they are bankrolling youths in Chingola and Kitwe to stage criminal activities in the mines and disturbing operations.

Mr Kampyongo said while Government appreciates investors’ contribution to the treasury, it will not allow the vices by using youths to cause disturbances to the operations of the mines.

Mr Kampyongo said this when he paid a courtesy call on Copperbelt permanent secretary Elias Kamanga at the provincial administration in Ndola yesterday.

Two people were shot at when a group of illegal small-scale miners (popularly known as jerabos) forcibly entered the KCM premises in Chingola and disturbed operations.

“For the Government to function, we require revenue and this revenue comes from the legitimate investment that we have and the mining sector has so many people it employs and suppliers who contribute to the economy of this country.

“If you have illegitimate investors who want to subtract from other investment, then they are not desirable. So our approach to this matter is to not only deal with the culprits being sent to disrupt operations, but also those who are sending them,” Mr Kampyongo said.

The minister also said that Government has contacted the diplomatic missions of foreigners involved in illegal activities and the embassies have distanced themselves form any wrongdoings in Zambia.

And Mr Kamanga said the provincial administration is happy that the Minister of Home Affairs was on the Copperbelt when there are criminal activities on the mines.

The opposition United party for National Development (UPND) says it is not missing its vice President Geoffrey Mwamba popularly known as GBM.

And the party says it is not worried about his absence, during this period when its leader Hakainde Hichilema remains incarcerated.

UPND Secretary General Steven Katuka has cautioned the public to stop talking about their vice president’s absence, as his party is comfortable and not complaining.

He has told QTV News that his party’s operations are running smoothly despite Mr. Mwamba’s absence.

And Mr. Katuka has stated that his party is saddened by the long incarceration of its leader.

He says that it is unfortunate that their leader will be celebrating his 55th birthday behind bars on June 4th 2017.

Mr. Katuka has condemned the countries judicial system for not according Mr. Hichilema a speedy trial.