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Minister of Finance Hon. Chikwanda visiting the new completed Ambassadors official residence in Washington DC.
REHABILITATION works on two Government properties in Washington DC in the United States of America (USA) at a cost US$1,555,654.51 have been completed.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said the completion of the rehabilitations works of the properties would save country millions in foreign exchange.
The Minister who toured the newly rehabilitated official residence of the Ambassador said the quality of work done was exceptional.
The official residence was renovated at a cost of $1,334,000 while a second house was rehabilitated at a cost of $221,654.51.
According to the statement issued yesterday by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at Zambia Embassy Patricia Littiya, the two properties had never been refurbished since purchase in the early 1960’s resulting in them not being fit for habitation over the last few years and compelling government to rent property for diplomats.
The Minister and his delegation commended the contractor Shal Builders for a job well done.
The Minister also toured the Chancery building which is still under rehabilitation.
Vice-President Inonge Wina
Vice President Inonge Wina has arrived in California, United States of America for a series of meetings on women empowerment and promotion of integrated high way markets.
During her five days official engagement in the U.S, the Vice President will also meet members of the Chambers of Commerce to deliberate on accessing philanthropic and commercial funding for investment projects.
ZNBC’s Kennedy Bwalya reports that Mrs Wina who arrived at Los Angeles international Airport around 23:00 hours Zambian time, is accompanied by her Senior Private Secretary, Ambassador Sheila Siwela.
The Vice President is today scheduled to attend a service at Holman United Methodist Church where she will address the congregation, with a focus on empowerment for the underprivileged.
Mrs Wina will later address a forum on Jubilee Market development.
On Monday, the Vice President will visit Santa Monica College where she will make presentations before being interviewed by the Institution’s Media Program Department.
Mrs Wina also has a meeting at the Ronald Reagan Foundation at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
The Foundation promotes President Reagan’s legacy on Individual Liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy and national pride.
The Vice President will On Wednesday also grace a forum on Jubilee Markets organised by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation and the World Trade Centre.
Zambia’s Deputy Ambassador to the U.S Joe Chilaizya, who received the Vice President on arrival, is in Los Angeles coordinating the meetings.
Charles Kakoma
We have been asked to give a candid response about the sudden appreciation of the kwacha. Ours is a measured response devoid of politics but full of intellectual reasoning.
When the kwacha was depreciating, we were told that the situation was global. Now that it has appreciated, the PF is claiming that it is a result of measures taken by the Government.
How did we get to the levels of one dollar trading at 14 kwacha? It was lack of investment, inconsistent policies (u-turns), load shedding, and fiscal indiscipline. All these things are still happening as we speak. There is no logic in this appreciation except to say that it is largely driven by two things. The first is that the Bank of Zambia has tightened monetary policy. This is a temporary intervention (firefighting if you like) which gives us temporary relief. By his own admission the Minister of Finance Hon.
Alexander Chikwanda issued a statement to that effect. Monetary policy has never been a long term strategy. Those that care to follow economics will recall that when Europe was slowing down, the European Central Bank (ECB) had to even make interest rates negative to stimulate the economy as a temporary measure to kickstart the European economy.
Whereas ECB was pumping money into the economy, BOZ is doing the reverse, syphoning off cash from the economy using Treasury Bills and raising the policy rate, which now stands at 15.5%. As the kwacha is syphoned off, money becomes a problem especially for small-scale traders. What will happen next is that few traders will be able to afford to restock their shops and this will drive inflation upwards due to demand for goods which will be in short supply.
The second dimension is that most international organisations whose financial year ended on 31st March are buying kwacha to pay their financial obligations in the local currency. This, coupled with the lack of money in circulation, has caused the kwacha to appreciate. How long will these measures hold? We wait and see.
What does the future look like? The government owes contractors money. These contractors are foreign and will immediately, they are paid, externalize the money. They will need to buy dollars and we will see the kwacha start sliding back to its normal probably at more than 12 kwacha to a dollar. Secondly, the Eurobond payments will need to be made, this will also have an effect on the exchange rate.
Thirdly, economic activity will continue being minimal, Spar Chilenje closed, that is a sign of things to come. Just take a walk to Soweto and ask how much a box of tomatoes is costing. At this time of the year tomatoes should be cheap because coming out of the rainy season, even those farmers that have no irrigation systems will plant tomatoes, thereby flooding the market with the product, but they did not grow it.
What we need in this country is a stable currency, not a currency that fluctuates like a see-saw. This makes planning very difficult for the private sector. Those that want to invest in this economy would rather hold on until some form of stability is achieved. Until Zambia starts exporting or stops importing everyday consumables, we should forget about a strong economy and a strong kwacha.
The International Monetary Fund has ruled out any possibilities of entering into an economic and reform programme with Zambia until after the August 11 elections.
IMF Director of the African Department Antoinette Sayeh told Journalists at the IMF Headquarters in Washington D.C on the sidelines of the Springs Meetings on Friday that the Fund does not see the full preparation of that program until the fourth quarter of 2016 which is after the elections in Zambia.
The Zambian Government has approached the IMF for a bailout believed to be in the region of US$1 billion mainly for balance of payment support.
President Edgar Lungu had hoped that the IMF programme would kick-in as early as April but his team of technocrats at the Ministry of Finance proposed that the tough austerity measures that come in with the programme could be implemented after the elections.
The IMF staff mission that visited Lusaka last month however turned down that request.
And Ms. Sayeh confirmed during the press briefing that the Zambian government has approached the IMF for possible lending.
“Zambia has also indicated to us that they would certainly be interested in discussing and pursuing an IMF supported program and we remain open to beginning those discussions. Of course, and we have in the context of these Spring Meetings had our usual discussions that we do with all country authorities including Zambia,” Ms Sayeh said.
She added, “And we expect that those preparatory discussions will be a good underpinning for ultimately preparing a program that the Zambians would want to take forward, but we don’t see the full preparation of that program until the fourth quarter of this year, after the elections in Zambia.”
Asked on whether borrowing externally will be the best option for Zambia and the possibilities of Zambia not falling into another death trap, Ms Sayeh said the IMF is concerned about Zambia’s borrowing.
“We certainly have our own concerns about borrowing and too much borrowing. Zambia of course borrowed on the issued sovereign bonds at high rates.”
“The proceeds of those bonds were used to finance some infrastructure, but also to cover the regular budget deficit including current expenditure and in light of the expense of that financing that was certainly not the best use of very expensive financing,” she said.
“And our advice to the Zambians has been to really quickly work to put in place measures to reign in the huge fiscal deficit that is underpinning that borrowing and to adjust its spending pattern which is heavily driven also by current spending including the wage bill and to really work towards containing the deficit with a view to reducing its borrowing requirements.”
Ms Sayeh said that is the only way to reduce the borrowing requirements and to contain the deficit and to make sure that the deficit that needed to carry forward for development purposes are used to the best possible needs with high quality investments.
FILE: President Edgar Lungu address Law association of Zambia 2015 annual General Meeting and Gala Dinner at Zambezi Sun Hotel In Livingstone on Saturday PIcture By EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu hopes that that the new Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President Linda Kasonde will continue with the LAZ’s noble principle of providing balanced guidance in legal affairs, good governance and social justice.
The Head of State has also congratulated Ms Kasonde who has just been elected as the new Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President.
Ms Kasonde was elected yesterday at the Annual General Meeting of the members of the Law Association of Zambia in respect of the year ended 31st December 2015 held at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort (former Zambezi Sun International Hotel).
President Lungu says Ms Kasonde’s election is very significant as she becomes the first woman to head this prestigious organisation.
He says recognizes the immense quality, experience and leadership that Ms Kasonde will bring to the institution.
He adds that Ms Kasonde s known as a change champion and successfully helped organise the International Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Business initiative in 2015.
The Head of State says he is happy to celebrate her past achievements as she has risen from a committee members, to convenor of international relations committee, council member, honorary secretary, vice-president and now President.
And UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has congratulations to Linda Kasonde on her election as the first female President of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ).
In a congratulatory message, Mr Hichilema said the LAZ general council did not elect Ms. Kasonde simply because she is a woman, but because she clearly deserves the position and is capable of delivering her duties diligently.
He said LAZ is such an important institution in the country, as it is the cornerstone of preserving and discharging justice to citizens.
Mr Hichilema said her election this year is particularly important and will present a great and early challenge for her as the country goes for elections.
“LAZ is one of the major stakeholders that must be firm in ensuring credibility and transparency in the entire process. Sincere congratulations once more and wish her God’s guidance and grace. We are sure she will also serve as a great inspiration to other women in the country,” he said.
Ms. Kasonde was on Saturday night elected LAZ President after defeating two other contenders Sydney Chisenga and Kafula Mwiche.
She polled 213 with her closest rival Mr Chisenga amassing 180 while Mr Mwiche received 166 votes.
The position of Vice President went to Eddie Mwiitwa who polled 358 votes beating his rival Dr Leonard Kalinde who got 59 votes and Enias Chulu who received 42 votes.
The position of Honorary Secretary went to Nchito Kateka who got 335 votes beating Drastress Neves who received 215 votes.
The Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) has completed the construction of new water distribution networks in Chainda and Bauleni compound which will see a combined population of Sixty Three Thousand residents of the areas having access to potable water.
The water supply project in Chainda has seen the construction of 15.4 kilometres of water distribution network, installation of an elevated tank and installation of 450 house connections and domestic meters. An estimated 28, 000 residents of Chainda will benefit from this project through access to potable water.
In Bauleni compound,18.5 kilometres of water distribution network has been constructed with one elevated tank installed and 51 communal water facilities have been rehabilitated. This will benefit an estimated 35, 000 residents of Bauleni with access to potable water.
LWSC public relations officer Nshamba Muzungu in a statement says they are happy that the projects which commenced in 2013 have now been completed and awaiting official commissioning.
He says the water utility company is grateful to the cooperating partners and the government for their support adding that the completion of the project, like many others currently underway in peri-urban areas, is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to ensuring that people, especially in compounds have adequate access to clean drinking water.
Police in Lusaka have confirmed that four suspects were last night arrested in relation to the recent ritual murders that have happened in Lusaka and that tremendous investigative progress is being made to bring to book the culprits at the centre of these evil activities.
Police Deputy Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga says last night during their patrols, the police apprehended four male suspects who are in police custody and where found in possession of articles that they are subjecting to forensic examination to determine whether it is human flesh or to the contrary.
Mr. Hamoonga says the police service is working round the clock and as soon as it’s possible they will inform the general public of the results.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu says he is at pain to learn of the ritual murders and evil attacks against the people especially in some parts of George Compound in Matero Constituency.
President Lungu is of the view that these murders are not ordinary as they are driven by something evil, something alien to the Christian beliefs and culture.
He says as a Christian Nation, these attacks have evoked something profound in the people; to strongly reject such happenings in the communities.
HH taking to Vernon Mwaanga
THE ballot papers for presidential and parliamentary elections for the February Ugandan general elections were printed by Ms Paarl Media a South Africa-based company contrary to claims by veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga that the key voting materials were printed by a Dubai-based Ms Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing House.
Investigations by the Daily Nation have revealed that the Electoral Commission of Uganda had, in fact, contracted four companies including TALL Security Print Ltd of the United Kingdom, Ms Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing House of the United Arab Emirates and Picfare Industries of Uganda to printing their voting materials.
Paarl Media, South African-based printing company was awarded the tender to print ballot papers for presidential, parliamentary and district women councillor.
It has been revealed that the other two companies, TALL Security Print Ltd of the UK and Picface Industries of Uganda printed ballots for district chairpersons, district directly-elected councillors and sub-county women councillors and municipality mayors, municipality councillors and special interest group councillors respectively.
The Daily Nation has established that Ms Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing House of Dubai was never contracted to print presidential ballot papers for the presidential election in Uganda.
According to the findings by the Daily Nation, the first batch of ballot papers for the February 18th presidential and parliamentary elections arrived in that country in January from South Africa where they were printed.
Other companies that bidded for the printing of voting materials for the general elections in Uganda were another South Africa-based; Ren-From CC Printers and another UK-based company called Kalamazoo Secure Solutions, but did not win the tender.
Dr Mwaanga was yesterday quoted in the Post Newspaper alleging that some ballot papers printed by a Dubai-based company, Ms Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing House were allegedly pre-marked.
Dr Mwaanga told the Post Newspaper that: “It is important that stakeholders verify this Dubai company. I challenge the stakeholders to verify because there are reports that it is the same company that printed ballot papers in Uganda.” Dr Mwaanga also claimed that the Ugandan presidential and parliamentary ballot papers allegedly printed by Ms Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing House ended up in the wrong hands just before the elections amid allegations by the opposition in that country that the Government of President Yoweri Museveni kept printing additional ballot papers.
The veteran politician was quoted as having said: “Some of the ballots were pre-marked in favour of Museveni according to testimony which was presented in court when Museveni’s re-election was challenged by opposition parties. With this kind of reputation, why should ECZ (Electoral Commission of Zambia) be adamant to use a company whose reputation is already under the spotlight?”
And Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) director Priscilla Isaacs has said the commission will award the Dubai-based Company to print the ballot papers if other bidders would not object its decision.
In an interview with the Daily Nation, Ms Isaacs said the Commission had already expressed its intentions of awarding the contract to the company in Dubai.
Ms Isaacs said the tendering process was still ongoing as the commission was yet to settle for the best bidder.
MMD Acting spokesperson Pastor Reuben Sambo has clarified that the order by Judge Mubanga Kondolo (SC) was a refusal of an interim injunction that the MMD was seeking to restrain certain individuals from holding meetings in the name of the party.
He said at the moment the party is preparing for the 2016 elections and the decision of NEC to have the convention in 2017 remains unchanged. As such, MMD members are encouraged not to be swayed by any misinterpretations in the media.
On Friday, Daily Nation reported that the Lusaka High Court ruled that was nothing to stop the Felix Mutati group in the MMD from holding a convention to elect the next president of the party because there was no documentary evidence before court to support the fact that MMD president Nevers Mumba was elected for a five-year tenure of office in April 2012, and therefore a party convention could be held.
Lusaka High Court Judge Mubanga Kondolo said there was also no evidence to support the notion that the convention could only be held in 2017.
In what the paper described as a landmark decision which has far-reaching consequences for the former ruling party which has been rocked by leadership squabbles, Mr Justice Kondolo allowed MMD Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati and 11 others to hold a party convention to choose the president of the party.
GBM and HH at the Magistrate CourtTHE United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership has fully endorsed the vulgar language, insults and threats of vindictiveness that its vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has been spewing on citizens and institutions, Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general, Davis Chama has charged.
Mr Chama has challenged UPND president Hakainde Hichilema to publicly condemn and reprimand Mr Mwamba because his silence over the matter was sending signals that the opposition political party was condoning insults and abuse of citizens they intend to govern.
Mr Chama has also challenged Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) general secretary Reverend Susan Matale to issue a statement chastising Mr Mwamba for insulting Daily Nation proprietor Richard Sakala, journalist Wallen Simwaka and Chilufya Tayali, the Zambian Voice executive director.
He said in an interview yesterday that the silence by the UPND leadership over the insults by Mr Mwamba was not only numbing but was a wake-up call to Zambians to realise what Zambia would become should the opposition party form government.
Mr Chama said he was shocked when he read and listened to the invectives Mr Mwamba was hauling at Mr Sakala, Mr Simwaka and Mr Tayali. He wondered whether God would be pleased to give Zambia to a political leadership that was offensively uncivil in their language and actions.
He said should Mr Hichilema and Rev. Matale fail to issue a statement to condemn Mr Mwamba, the conclusion would only be that the duo believed and supported the insults Mr Mwamba was publicly spewing against citizens.
“Mr Mwamba has always been violent in his language.
But the worry is that Mr Mwamba is a vice-president of the UPND and aspiring to be in Government. Zambians should also be wondering why the UPND president, Mr Hichilema has chosen to remain silent on such a grave matter.
I challenge Mr Hichilema and the CCZ general secretary, Rev. Matale, to publicly condemn Mr Mwamba and their continued silence can only mean that they support and have endorsed the insults from Mr Mwamba. We wonder what Zambia would become if the UPND formed Government and Zambians will become objects of violent language from Mr Mwamba,” Mr Chama said.
He stated that the UPND has also exposed itself as a vengeful and vindictive political organisation aspiring to form Government with the aim of settling political scores against selected citizens.
Mr Chama said threats by Mr Mwamba that he was going to make sure journalist Simwaka was subjected to perpetual suffering over a story published in the Daily Nation quoting a telephone recording with a voice purported to have been that of the UPND vice-president were a sign that vengeance and retribution were the main characteristics of the opposition party.
He said he was glad that the PF under President Edgar Lungu had managed to purify and cleanse itself by the departure of people like Mr Mwamba whom he said had made the ruling party unpopular by their violent language.
Stopilla Sunzu on Saturday play his second Ligue 1 game in 2016 for French club Lille.
Sunzu, who is on loan at Lille from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, played the full 90 minutes of the French clubs’ 4-2 away victory over third from bottom Ajaccio.
This was the Zambia’s defender second full game since featuring in their 3-0 away win over Nanates on April 3 in a match he scored a goal, his only one for the season so far.
Sunzu have now played eight matches for 6th placed Lille since his move to France last Summer.
In South Africa, Kennedy Mweene was on the bench for Mamelodi Sundown’s in their 2-0 home win over Jomo Cosmos.
Mweene failed to fight off competition for the number one place from Wayne Sandilands following first choice and Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango’s injury absence.
Lusaka lawyer Linda Kasonde was on Saturday night elected President of the Law Association of Zambia during the association’s fifth annual conference at Livingstone’s Avani Victoria Falls Hotel.
Ms. Kasonde beat two other contenders Sydney Chisanga and Kafula Mwiche to become the first female President of the association.
Eddie Mwiitwa was elected Vice President.
Ms. Kasonde takes over from George Chisanga who has completed his mandate.
She thanked Mr Chisanga for the leadership he provided to the association and she said she is equal to the task.
And in his final address to the LAZ AGM, he said “as this is my last formal report to you as your President, allow me a moment for the record to state what an honour it has been for me to lead this Noble and Dignified profession. My interaction with counsel of different standing and with all other stakeholders in the affairs of this profession both at home and abroad has taught me a great deal and i must acknowledge that I take with me something of substantial value from my Presidency of our Association.”
“As to whether I have discharged my functions well and to the expectations of the membership, that I leave to the judgment of you who the Right Honourable Chief Justice Sir Edward Coke of the celebrated Dr Bonham’s case would describe as “an infinite series of grave and learned men and women” Then my members did what i dreaded and expected. They gave me a standing ovation and waved me goodbye. You don’t easily get that from LAZ.”
He added, “I leave the Presidency of LAZ totally convinced that my successor in office Linda Kasonde and her Veep Eddie Mwitwa are equal to the task to lead us for the next two years. Congratulations to the new president of LAZ and all new Office bearers”
Linda Kasonde and two other contenders for the LAZ Presidency Kafula Mwiche and Sydney Chisenga
Linda Kasonde obtained her LLB Degree from the University of Leicester in England in 2000.
In 2007, Ms. Kasonde obtained a commercially-biased Masters Degree in Law (LLM) from the University of Cape Town.
Since her admission to the Zambian Bar, Ms. Kasonde has worked as an Advocate at the National Legal Aid Clinic for Women and was employed at her current firm in 2004 and rose to the position of partner in 2009 and in 2014 became the first female to be elevated to the position of named partner in a top ranked firm in Zambia.
Ms Kasonde is an alumnus of the Harvard University’s Leadership in the 21st Century Executive Programme 2013.
She has also undergone training in law practice management on the IE University’s Lawyers’ Management Programme in Madrid and London in 2012.
Ms. Kasonde is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) in England and Zambia.
Ms Kasonde is also an officer of the Women’s Interest Group committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) and Convenor of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Committee of LAZ.
She is a former member of the inaugural Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, a 2014 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, a 2014 alumni of the United States of America State Department’s International Visitor’s Leadership Programme (IVLP), Director of Fashion Retailers (Zambia) Limited (a member of the Foschini Group), a board member of a Zambian NGO called Alchemy Women in Leadership.
Coca-Cola announced its worldwide “One Brand” strategy in Zambia last week, marking a strategic shift for the Company and uniting the Coca-Cola family under the world’s number one beverage brand.
The Company’s Marketing Activations Manager, Takunda Jinda, at a recent event in Lusaka revealed that this marketing strategy, for the first time ever, unites all Coca-Cola brands (Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light/Diet Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, and Coca-Cola Life) under the iconic red Coca-Cola disc.
As a first phase, the global creative campaign, “Taste the Feeling” highlights how the hourglass-shaped drink makes every moment special.
“Every day, millions of people across Zambia and around the world reach for an ice cold Coca-Cola,” said Mr Jinda. “The new ‘One Brand’ approach will bring together all Coca-Cola Trademark products, reinforcing our commitment to offer our consumers’ choice with more clarity and showing how everyone can enjoy the specialness of an ice-cold Coca-Cola, with or without calories, based on their taste, lifestyle and diet.”
“We are very proud to be on the front line, marketing and bringing this innovative and outstanding campaign to life in Zambia” said Thomas Kamphuis, Marketing Director of Zambian Breweries, which bottles Coca-Cola in Zambia.
Using a unique approach that leverages universal storytelling through Instagram-inspired imagery, the campaign celebrates the simple pleasure of drinking a Coca-Cola beverage, featuring the product at center stage.
“More than ever, we recognize people want their Coca-Cola in different ways. Whichever one they choose, they want a Coca-Cola brand with great taste and uplifting refreshment. Through our ‘One Brand’ strategy we will move away from multiple brand campaigns, to one single iconic brand campaign that celebrates both the product and the brand,” he added.
Celebrities, socialites and musicians including Chef 187, Slap Dee,Salma sky Maureen Lilanda and Cleo Ice Queen attended the high-energy launch function at the Horseshoe Grill, which featured large-format photographs of Coke signage from around Zambia and the region by local photographer Marek Patzer.
“Taste the Feeling,” is rolling out at various times across all markets globally in 2016, coming to life in Zambia from this week, through a number of elements, including television commercials, campaign Images, new visual identity system, new music anthem and audio signature as well as a shareable and customizable interactive digital experience.
Some Pictures from the event:
Elect Band performing at the eventSlad DeeThandi Vundamina,Cleo ice Queen , Kiki , DJ Sebastien dutch ,DJ BugsyRoxy and Mutale Mwanza
SOUTH African actor Darlington Michaels, known for his starring role as the flamboyant gangster Georgie “Papa G” Zamdela in the South African soap opera Isidingo and as conman Daliza in the Mzansi Magic sitcom Chandies, is next month expected in the country for a series of acting clinics.
His visit to Zambia is being facilitated by the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria and Amitek Holdings Pty Ltd.
Papa G’s visit has also been tied to the August 11 general elections that the country will be holding, and he is therefore going to engage the youth on their participation in the democratic dispensation. “The actor says he is passionate about the African youth and is involved in youth development, not only in South Africa but throughout the continent. Michaels has been studying the events throughout Africa and he sees elections in Africa as an opportune time and moment for African politicians and its citizens to engage in developing the youth for the sustainability of African political and economic freedoms,” reads a statement made available to the Weekend Mail by Amitek Holdings. “As Zambia goes to elections in 2016, Michaels wants to partner with Zambia and its people; with the Zambian government and the private sector in developing the youth of Zambia so that they can take Zambia’s destiny in their own hands. “Among other projects [he is] intended to do whilst in Zambia is to conduct acting clinics to young and upcoming actors and stage performers [drama]; this is because getting discovered as an actor can be tough especially if your skills of acting are not professionally developed.”
Asked on how he hopes to discover aspiring actors and actresses in Zambia who can compete on the international stage, Papa G says: “We have to develop the aspiring Zambian actors and actresses through professional training at an actors’ workshop. Our acting clinic workshops will offer the 10 different types of acting classes in the various categories, and the classes are ranked in the matter of importance,” the statement reads.
The statement by one Vernon Johnson Mwaanga urging stakeholders to watch the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) ahead of the printing of the ballot papers in Dubai cannot go without a comment.
The thrust of Mr Mwaanga’s statement is that the choice of the printer has the capacity to poison the electoral process on account that the ballot papers the company, Alghurairi Printing and Publishing had supplied to the authorities in Uganda were allegedly pre-marked.
The UPND are on record as having opposed the use of Universal Printing Group (UPG) of South Africa and they have now turned their guns against Alghurariri.
This is manifest absurdity and will not change the fortunes of UPND especially that Zambians are aware that the attacks are effectively null and void.
As a party, we wish to take a strong exception to attempts by Mr Mwaanga to issue inflammatory statements deliberately coined to alarm the nation. The statement is careless, mischievous and laced with the worst level of malice. Mr Mwaanga should know that there is no one in PF with a history of rigging elections.
PF remains a very strong force in the country’s politics and does not have any reason to rig elections which are already in our favour going by popularity and practical works done for the benefit of the Zambian people.
Mr Mwaanga, as a veteran politician, must offer hope and unity to the Zambian people instead of setting them against one another just to win favours from the UPND. We are very disappointed with Mr Mwaanga’s careless talk and wish to forsake his attacks on ECZ.
We wish to remind Zambians that in almost all the previous five presidential elections, ECZ has been opposed by the UPND without any proper justification. In 2008, they almost burnt a truck laden with lights for election monitoring in places where there is lack of electricity. We are suspicious that Mr Mwaanga can issue such a statement barely four months before elections. Clearly, the statement has the capacity to poison the atmosphere instead in order to agitate chaos.
The kind of politics being promoted by Mwaanga of wanting to generate negative opinions against a credible and transparent process is barbaric and unreasonable to say the least. Mr Mwaanga is aware that ECZ invites all political parties, the media and civil society to monitor the printing of ballot papers to promote transparency.
The fact that the government is protecting freedom of expression does not mean that politicians should speak carelessly.
As the party in government, we wish to maintain that there will be no rigging and the UPND must just brace for a heavy defeat instead of peddling lies out of fear and cowardice.
Mr Mwaanga should not abuse the tag of veteran politician to malign people involved in election management but must use it to unite Zambians.
I am therefore calling on genuine opposition political parties to remain calm as ECZ will afford them an opportunity to monitor the whole printing, packaging and transportation of the ballot papers as has been the case in the previous elections.
Mr Mwaanga’s statement must therefore be ignored because it lacks merit and weight and remains very speculative. His statement lacks the chemistry of authenticity which is a requirement for credibility.
