The Lusaka High Court has denied United Party for National Development -UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and Party Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba an Exparte hearing, a hearing where only one side of the dispute is heard, in the matter where they are seeking an order to restrain Chief Justice Irene Mambilima.
The High Court has however ordered for an Inter-parte hearing in the matter, requiring both sides of the dispute to be heard.
The matter is before Lusaka High Court Judge Mwila Chitabo. The Inter-parte hearing has been set for today.
Mr Hichilema and Mr Mwamba have filed a petition in the Lusaka High Court after the dismissal of their 2016 Presidential Election Petition by the Constitutional Court.
They have contended that Justice Mambilima, Deputy Chief Justice Mervin Mwanamwambwa or any other authority must not swear- in President Lungu and Mrs Wina until the determination of the case where they are challenging the decision of the constitutional court.
Mr Hichilema and Mr Mwamba also want the court to stay the decision of the constitutional court which dismissed the presidential petition on Monday for want of prosecution.
They are seeking a Court order that the decision of the constitutional court that the petitioners had until 24:00 hours of last Friday to prosecute their matter is null and void and contravenes Article 28 sub-article nine of the Constitution.
Mr Hichilema and Mr Mwamba are further seeking an order directing the Constitutional Court to hear and determine their petition independently, fairly and within a reasonable time in line with the provisions of Article 18 sub-article nine of the Constitution.
They have cited President Lungu, Mrs Wina, the Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ, Attorney General Likando Kalaluka, Justice Mambilima, Justice Mwanamwambwa and the Constitution Court as first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh respondent.
Gospel artiste ,The Proof, released the video for “Mumani ona” that features Pompi and Esther Chungu.
Video by: Big Deal Graphic
Director: Brian Kabwe (CB’s Finest)
Jonathan .B. Sinyangwe born 26th November, stage name The Proof, is a Zambian based gospel artist, his a Rapper| Singer | Songwriter and also a Drummer. He is studying Marketing (CIM). He named himself “The Proof” because he believes that he’s the proof that Jesus is alive and he abides in him. He gave his life to Jesus Christ at a very tender age and grew up in a Christian home with his father and mother who are both his biological and spiritual parents. He is the son of Pastor Sunday Sinyangwe, Founder of The Standing in the Gap prayer ministry and General Overseer of Shalom Embassy Ministries International. The Proof was inspired by his cousin Chanda a.k.a Makiss to start rapping and spreading the gospel through gospel hip-hop music when he was 13 years old with the quest of preaching to his young generation and since then he has always had a passion for music and he also discovered that he could play drums. He now serves in the church as a drummer. The Proof first entered the studio in 2008 where he recorded his first Verse in a song called ‘Praise the Lord’ when he was in a group called the O.G saints, it was a song of thanks and praise to God. He has recorded quite a number of songs over the years. “Ephesians 2:10 says we are God’s workmanship and so The Proof will work for the Lord Jesus Christ and preach the gospel and bring salvation to his generation through music. He runs with the motto: Aspire to Acquire the Desire You Admire.
KAKA: I really feel constrained to comment on Pastor Nevers Sekwila Mumba’s letter but truthfulness in politics is a more effective strategy than misinformation.
MMD: We are glad you recognize the importance of Truth over Misinformation, but we wish to point out that your entire letter was a shallow response to the fundamental questions which Dr. Mumba raised in his letter and are saddened that despite your above confession, you chose to mislead not only yourself, but also the readers, rather than to speak the truth as it exists.
KAKA: Having presided over the ZCID as Chairman…. I cannot forget how ZCID guided Hon. Kunda in this process and lobbied for the NCC Act. I do not remember the role of the pastor.
MMD: In Dr. Mumba’s letter to President Lungu, he CLEARLY, states that the “The concept of the First draft was discussed in my office in 2003 when I served as Vice President with the late Justice Minister George Kunda”. Is the contention here that Dr. Mumba was not involved in the primary stages of this process? How can Dr. Katele Kalumba claim to remember the role that everyone else played and yet ignore the role that the Republican Vice President played before this was handed down the hierarchy to other relevant people? Does Dr. Katele Kalumba know that President Mwanawasa sent Dr.Nevers Mumba to Kenya to study their constitution making process way before it was announced? Or perhaps has Dr. Kalumba so comprehended the letter wrongly to ignore the fact that Dr. Mumba aptly recognized the roles which many other “commissioners” played in the process? It is also interesting that Dr. Katele Kalumba has all too soon forgotten that he only came to serve as MMD National Secretary between 2005 and 2011 when the process had already been underway. Dr. Mumba was Vice-President from 2003 until towards the end of 2004 and had ‘hands on’ approach in the process
KAKA: As MMD National Secretary, the NCC initiated by the late Levy Mwanawasa. It failed. A new process started during the new PF government. We welcomed it.
MMD: The Doctor here seems to have confused himself. The fact that he was MMD National Secretary between 2005 and 2011 is irrelevant as this was not an MMD project, but a government project. From the writing, he seem’s to suggest that the Patriotic Front Government started a whole new process following what he terms the “Failed NCC under late Levy Mwanawasa.” This is not only misleading but dishonest and can only be termed ‘selective memory loss’ and a denial of the role of previous leaderships played. The MMD concluded the process and delivered the Amended Constitution to Parliament while still in power in 2011, where it failed largely because the PF had boycotted the NCC sittings and really have no moral right to call it ‘their baby.’. In late 2015, the PF simply wrapped up an already well documented process and which is why as a party, the MMD in principle supported the final process in parliament and Dr. Mumba is on record as having called it an “MMD baby” which the PF went to the ‘labour ward’ to actually give birth to.
KAKA: Did I see Pastor Mumba anywhere close to the ring? Please help me remember someone. I seek fair comment. As to the rather unpastorly imputations about the Constitution, please spare ECL.
MMD: We can try to help our dear old KAKA where Pastor Mumba was and since he seeks a fair comment, here it is. As most Zambians will recall, around the period in question, (2003 to 2004), we saw the height of President Mwanawasa’s fight against corruption. It was during this time that Katele Kalumba became famous for his alleged widely publicized ‘charm and witchcraft’-related disappearing acts, one of which lasted a whole three months as was reported by then Police Spokesperson, Brenda Muntemba. We believe Dr. Kalumba led an erratic lifestyle, dabbling in the supernatural, allegedly turning himself into reptilian creatures and using African magic computerized gadgets, all in trying to run away from being prosecuted for corruption. As we all know, light and darkness cannot mix and it is this spiritual divide which created a natural barrier between the pastor and the Wizard which one KAKA has no recollection about.
KAKA: The Constitution conventions which started from Districts to the National level cannot be loaded on President Lungu.
MMD: Yet again, this is highly misleading. The fact that the credit of delivering it has gone to him as the ‘WALK THE TALK’ President who assented to it means that the Constitution as it stands today is his creation and that he must, at the very least, honor it, by following its provisions, rather than tearing it apart and breaking its very provisions with impunity. This we believe is what Dr. Mumba is calling for in governance, basic MORALITY AND INTEGRITY.
KAKA: ECZ did not give ECL votes. Zambian voted for him.
MMD: Our question is why has Dr. Katele Kalumba become the defender of President Lungu on this matter? Our contention is precisely that the votes were stolen and demand for the petitioners’ petition to be heard which will be accompanied by overwhelming evidence to prove their claim. The PF is jittery about this. If they are confident that they did not steal the UPND votes, let them stop the gimmicks and allow the petition to be heard..
KAKA: Ba pastor, can your heart be so weighed by petitioner’s hatred that you cannot look at a red ant and describe it as an insect instead you call it a reptile?
MMD: Ba KAKA, Dr. Mumba has no hatred for anyone, which most people in fact regard as his greatest weakness because they believe that as a politician, one has to have people he hates. To the Contrary, this is a man who entered Politics to bring the genuine Christian Principles of Love, Morality and Integrity to the political arena. Dr. Mumba loves all fellow human beings the same regardless of class, creed, political affiliation, tribe and even race. He loves President Edgar Lungu and Hakainde Hichilema alike, and that is why he can unreservedly campaign with the one and write a timely word of counsel to the other at crucial time like this and urge him to do the right thing contrary to many voices of appeasement directed at him from people such as yourself.
It is this courage that sets him apart up as a man of integrity, to fight for the right and speak the truth, even when its not popular, just like Elijah of old rebuked King Ahab, and just like John the Baptist rebuked King Herod.
Finally, The Bible tells us in Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20(King James Version (KJV)that “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Dr. Katele Kalumba, everyone knows that you dabble in ‘midnight science’ and that anyone who stands on truth, Morality and Integrity is quite threatening to your spirit. We plead with you to not mislead the nation but rather hold your piece if you have failed to speak the truth as you know it.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we wish to dismiss as cheap, this vain attempt by Dr. Katele Kalumba to discredit the letter which MMD President, Dr.Nevers Sekwila Mumba wrote to President Edgar C Lungu in good faith, over which he has received many congratulatory messages from some of the most unlikely people from all walks in Zambia and abroad. We wish to put on record that right now, our country does not need leaders who are cheap bootlickers, who think only of short term benefits, but more men and women who can stand on principle and think about the future of our beloved Zambia. If we standby and merely look on at how the Amended Constitution has been violated in this short time, one shudders to think what lies ahead once this lawless Government is sworn into power.
Meanwhile, for now, it is not dear old KAKA we want to hear from. It is Lady Chief Justice who holds the key to whether Zambia goes the way of a ‘Banana Republic’ or a young but stable multi-party democracy founded on a Constitution, not yet perfect but with a lot of promise. What is considered as one of the best Constitutions in the world, the American Constitution, has had hundreds of amendments as society continues to be dynamic. We pray that she will not feel overwhelmed or gagged by anyone. We want to count some ballot boxes again. We want to talk to Lady Chief Justice about some extra ballots that went into the boxes. We want to talk to her about some strange persons who were in the ECZ strong rooms and the role of the illegal ministers who stayed on. We want to also establish some missing polling stream results and some biased media coverage. We want to discuss with Lady Chief Justice how it editoris that in a land of justice, a petition brought before the highest court of the land can be thrown out without a single argument, witness, piece of evidence or judgment?
Lady Chief Justice can your hear us? How shall Lady Chief Justice brush all this aside and convince herself that ECL won this election? Are you there madam? Can you hear us? You are our only hope.
Lusaka Water and Sewerage CompanyThe Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company has called on its customers to conserve water in the wake of a substantial drop in water production from its borehole sources which account for sixty percent of the water supplied by the company to Lusaka City.
Interim Managing Director, Manuel Mutale says that some boreholes have dried-up while water levels have significantly dropped in others to a level where the company is forced to switch them off for some hours in order to allow for recharge.
Mr. Mutale said that this situation coupled with load shedding will make the distribution of water challenging and consequently reduce the water supply hours for most parts of the city.
He said that the utility company will continue with the water rationing program which was instituted in the second half of 2015 in order to ensure equitable distribution of water to all its customers. This means that there will be reduced supply hours of water.
He has further urged the customers to also show responsibility by conserving water during the dry season in order to ease the pressure of increased demand during this period of the year.
The utility company is equally concerned with the erratic supply of water both from a service delivery and commercial point of view and will therefore, endeavor to continue making efforts to improve the situation so that there can more stability and predictability of service delivery to its customers.
Water rationing was instituted in view of the reduced water production capacity. The level of water production for Lusaka City reduced from an average of 258,000m3/day in 2014, to a little over 190,000m3/day in 2016, representing over 25% reduction in water production, mainly on account of power load shedding and low yield on the 125 ground water sources spread around the City.
The company is confident that the many interventions put in place through several projects currently underway in the city will yield desired results to turn around the current situation.
Traditional dancers in action at Parliament grounds
ZAMBIA must enact a law that will prohibit the manufacturing as well as selling and using of paints which contain hazardous substances such as lead to safeguard the lives of children and future generations, Children’s Environmental Health Foundation (CEHF) national lead elimination advisor Michael Musenga has said.
In many countries in the developing world including Zambia, paint that contain high levels of lead is still being sold for decorating houses as well as schools and children’s toys.
Mr Musenga said paint that contains lead additives posed a risk of lead poisoning especially to children aged six years and above and hence the country needed to come up with a piece of legislation to ban such paint.
He said in Livingstone yesterday that childhood lead poisoning could have long life health impacts including learning disabilities, anaemia and disorder in coordinating visual as well as speech and language skills.
Mr Musenga said it was necessary for Zambia to limit or ban the use of lead in paint as the exposure to lead had an impact on public health especially brain damage to children.
“The study conducted by the University of Zambia (UNZA) School of Medicine also revealed that paint manufactured in Zambia contain excessive lead thereby creating a risk to public health.
“Therefore working together with the Government and manufacturers in banning lead in paint will achieve toxic free future by the year 2020. We need to act together to protect the present and future generation,” Mr Musenga said.
From October 23, 2016 to October 29, 2016, Zambia will be hosting the fourth International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPWA).
During this period, CEHF will conduct a number of activities in Livingstone and other parts of the country to foster commitment to act to eliminate lead paint in Zambia.
Universal Mining and Chemical Industries Limited (UMCIL) executive technical director Julius Kaoma (left) flanked by company sales manager Benjamin Belemu (right) during a media briefing in Livingstone. This was at the end of the three-day International Conference on Infrastructure Development and Investment Strategies for Africa
UNIVERSAL Mining and Chemical Industries Limited (UMCIL), a major producer of steel in Zambia operating in Kafue, has called for the boosting of the local manufacturing base to help in strengthening the local currency.
UMCIL executive technical director Julius Kaoma said there was need to boost the local manufacturing base to revamp the domestic economy and ultimately strengthen the Kwacha.
Dr Kaoma said in an interview that Zambia was losing a lot of money to import various products which was in turn adding a lot of pressure to the local currently.
He said steel was the backbone of any industry and that was why UMCIL, which was wholly owned by Zambians, had set up a plant in Kafue to boost the supply of the commodity locally to mitigate on imports.
Dr Kaoma said Zambians stood a greater chance of saving a lot of money if they were producing and consuming local products.
“For any job created in the steel industry, we can about create eight to 10 jobs elsewhere. UMCIL is employing 1,000 people at our plant in Kafue and it has already created 8, 000 people elsewhere. In terms of foreign exchange, we will be saving a lot of money.
“Imagine we are producing 120, 000 tonnes and the cost of one tonne of steel is about US$ 650 per tonne and when you multiply it with 120, 000, that will be a lot of money to impact on the economy and strengthen the Kwacha,” Dr Kaoma said.
He said UMCIL, which has a design capacity is 250, 000 tonnes per year, wanted to produce and promote locally steel products on the market to job opportunities for the local people.
Dr Kaoma said about two per cent of the company’s profits would be going to the community once the plant was fully developed as part of its corporate social responsibility.
And UMCIL sales manager Benjamin Belemu said his firm was committed to supplying quality steel products on the domestic market.
Mr Belemu said it was not true that Zambian products were of inferior quality as claimed by some investors and urged contractors to encourage people to buy local steel products to create jobs.
“Our materials have been used in the construction of hostels at University of Zambia (UNZA), Copperbelt University (CBU) as well as at Kitwe and Ndola Central Hospitals.
“The materials were also used in the construction of stadiums, Mongu Kalabo Bridge, several other bridges, shopping malls, houses, industrial buildings, Kafue Gorge power plant, Chiawa Bridge while negotiations are underway for the materials to be supplied for the Kazungula bridge project,” Mr Belemu said.
FILE: First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba flanked by Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Bwalya Ng’andu , Chinsali District Commissioner Evaline Kangwa (r) and Mpika District Commissioner Catherine Chileshe on arrival at Chinsali Airstrip for the Teachers/ Community Leaders / Pupils Mentorship Training programme on August
Former Mpika District Commissioner (DC) Catherine Chileshe has been arrested for portraying conduct likely to cause the breach of peace in Mpika district of Muchinga Province.
Muchinga Province Police Commissioner Auxensio Daka, who confirmed the arrest to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS), said Ms. Chileshe has been arrested for conducting herself with four other unknown persons in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace.
Mr. Daka said the former DC was arrested on 29th August 2016 after she threatened to deal with one Joseph Nkamba 40, of Trench Town in Mpika district.
He said Ms. Chileshe was lawfully in custody and was scheduled to appear in the Magistrate court today.
Meanwhile, Mr. Daka said police in Mpika district were investigating a case in which some Patriotic Front cadres allegedly took a coffin covered with a United Party for National Development (UPND) chitenge material.
It is alleged that one Catherine Chileshe led a group of PF cadres carrying a coffin covered in a UPND chitenge to Freemark Shop belonging to Terries Kunda, who is a losing candidate for Mfuwe Constituency.
It if further alleged that the cadres urged Mr. Kunda to leave the district.
Queues of voters at Muljala School polling station in Livingstone yesterday. Picture by BRIAN HATYOKA
A South African good governance institute Afrobarometer has disclosed that its latest report indicates that Zambian’s assessments of elections have improved with half of the population holding a view that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is a credible institution, reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.
In the report unveiled to the media on 06th September, 2016, Afrobarometer Communications Coordinator for Southern Africa Sibusiso Nkomo said that many Zambians are afraid of political violence during elections.
He also said only one-third of Zambians believe that votes are fairly counted while just under two-thirds believe voters make genuine choices for preferred candidates once in a while.
Nkomo said some of the key findings were that 48% of Zambians confessed to have a bit or a lot of confidence in the electoral body adding that among 35 African countries in which the institute conducted an election survey, Zambia ranks below average, a clear indication that some trust in the ECZ has been created from 33% in 2005 to 48% in 2014.
He said 78% of Zambians construed that the September, 2011 elections that ushered in late President Michael Sata and the Patriotic Front (PF) in government were ‘free and fair’ despite some pockets of electoral malpractices recorded.
Nkomo added that 50% of Zambians believe citizens who people the electoral college are on a number of times if not constantly threatened with violence at the polls while 54% are gripped with electoral intimidation or violence revealing that levels of fear in Zambia are lower as compared to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
“Less than half of Zambians (48%) say they trust the ECZ “somewhat” or “a lot”. Among 35 countries in which this question was asked, Zambia ranks below average. Nonetheless, trust has increased from 33% in 2005 to 48% in 2014”
“More than three-fourths of Zambians (78%) say their September 2011 election (the last national election prior to the 2014 Afrobarometer survey) was “free and fair, but with minor problems” or “completely free and fair”, an improvement from 29% in 2005”
“Half of Zambians (50%) say voters are “sometimes,” “often,” or “always” threatened with violence at the polls, and 54% say they fear election-related intimidation or violence. In the Southern Africa region, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have higher levels of fear than Zambia” he said
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) members marching along the famous Umodzi highway in solidarity with President-Elect Edgar Lungu in Chipata
THE ruling Patriotic Front (PF) in Eastern Province has supported the Constitutional Court for throwing out United Party for National Development(UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema and his vice Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba petition against President-elect Edgar Lungu.
Eastern Province PF Secretary Joseph Kolosa said when he addressed hundreds of supporters carried out march past at Golf course grounds in Chipata yesterday that the August 11th general elections was an eye opener to all Zambians to develop the confidence and trust in the Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ).
Mr Kolosa said the UPND petitioned the results without the circumstantial evidence. He said petitioning was a worst of time to the nation which was aiming at denting the image of ECZ.
He said all political players must appreciate with the way ECZ conducted the elections in the country which did not give any political party latitude and space to rig the elections.
“No wonder the late President Sata may his soul rest in peace, never ever petitioned any elections when he lost because he had confidence and trust in the ECZ,”he said.
He said the party in the province was giving solidarity to President-elect Lungu who had shown qualities of a good democratic leader during the tenure of the petition.
He saluted Mr Lungu for his role he played during the petition time. “Speaking on behalf of our hardworking provincial chairman Andrew Lubusha, I am thanking the members of the hardworking committees from the lower organ to top,” he said.
He said it was not easy task to increase the President Elect votes from 89,000 plus which he got during the last year’s presidential by-elections to 300,000 plus in the general elections.
“This is attributed to good leadership at provincial, district, constituency, ward, branch and section levels,” he said.
Mr Kolosa appealed to well meaning PF officials and members to build on and not destroy what has been achieved so that by 2021 there would be no traces of UPND and other opposition political parties in the province.
He said any source of indiscipline, confusion, infighting and acrimony within the ranks and files of the party in the province would not be tolerated.
He explained that those party officials and members scheming to destroy the legacy would be dealt with.
Mr Kolosa asked God to continue guiding the people of Eastern Province and the President-elect for the sake of developments.
Among those who participated in the march past which begun at Shoprite and ended at Golf course includes former Luangeni UNIP Member of Parliament(MP) Besnat Jere, Provincial PF Youth Chairman William Phiri, Provincial mobilisation chairperson Sarah Mbewe Kalaluka, former MMD provincial chairperson Kennedy Zulu and youth vice treasurer Zephaniah Mwale.
the border town was partially brought to a standstill as PF sung songs of praise for the victory in the just-ended general elections.
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) members marching along the famous Umodzi highway in solidarity with President-Elect Edgar Lungu in Chipata
VARIOUS stakeholders in the agriculture sector have proposed that exports of the 2015/16 maize marketing season carry-over stocks should continue alongside the routine verification exercise.
During a stock monitoring committee meeting between industry players and the Ministry of Agriculture recently, the stakeholders said that a quick stock verification exercise should be conducted to give guidance on the current maize marketing season.
This is contained in a Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) weekly brief for last week.
The industry players suggest that there is need for Government to formulate policies that will enhance the potential of large- and medium-scale farmers to consider planting early maturity seed maize variety to maximise the business prospective that has been necessitated by the regional crop deficit.
The southern African region has a deficit of over 7.3 million metric tonnes of maize for the 2016/17 marketing season.
The crop shortfall will help farmers take advantage of deficit markets in the region thereby generating more income to better their livelihood.
“The early maturity seed maize variety, which can be planted under irrigation before the onset of the rainy season will act as a national food security buffer…,” the stakeholders note.
Meanwhile, Southern Africa Ferro Alloys (SAFA) has partnered with Serenje District Farmers’ Association to start making charcoal from maize cob residual.
SAFA which is the leading player in the international ferro alloys industry, has since started buying shelled maize cobs from farmers in the district to help reduce deforestation.
Zesco United face a ghost from their recent past when they host Forest Rangers in the Ndola derby at Levy Mwanawaswa Stadium on Thursday.
Forest is the only side to have beaten the defending FAZ Super Division champions in the league this season following a 1-0 home win at the same venue on May 11.
That victory was also Forest coach Patrick Phiri’s first game in charge but he remains very wary of Zesco despite that win four months ago.
“It will be an uphill battle and we just have to prepare ourselves for a tough match,” Phiri said.
Things got rosy for Forest after that win picking up just two defeats from their subsequent eight games before going into the two-week mid-season break in early July.
However, Forest have failed to continue with that momentum and won just one of their last six games picking up a total of four points since returning from the mid-term recess.
Meanwhile, the game will be the first of two Zesco will play including an away date against Mufulira Blackpool on Sunday before hosting Mamelodi Sundowns on September 17 in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semifinal.
Transparent International Zambia (TIZ) has welcomed the decision by Finland and Sweden to seek for a refund from ZNFU for the alleged misappropriated K34 million.
TIZ Director Goodwell Lungu said there was need for all funding organisations in the country to keep check of funds meant to benefit the people in the country especially the vulnerable.
Mr. Lungu said his organisation was deeply saddened with reports of misappropriation of donor funds.
He has since called for stern action against all perpetrators.
Yesterday, Sweden and Finland resolved to seek for a refund of the K 34 million allegedly misappropriated by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU).
Embassy of Sweden Deputy Head of Mission David Wiking said although the official process has not yet commenced, the two embassies have legal grounds to reclaim the funds.
Mr. Wiking, who is also Head of Bilateral Development Cooperation, disclosed that his country and Finland will not continue funding ZNFU under the existing agreements with the union.
He said the two countries have taken the bold decision of claiming a refund following the recent two corrective financial reviews carried out by KPMG of Finland.
Mr. Wiking was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday and was flanked by Swedish and Finnish Ambassadors to Zambia, Hendrik Cederin and Timo Olkkonen.
And Mr. Wiking said the embassies of Sweden and Finland will continue to carry out regular and special audits on all its funded projects in Zambia to prevent further misappropriation of funds.
FAZ Super League side Nchanga Rangers have threatened to fire the entire Bruce Mwape led technical bench if it fails to revive the team’s dwindling performance.
Struggling Nchanga are 10th on the 18-team Super League table with 28 points from 25 matches played.
Nchanga Chairperson Yoram Kapai has told The Independent Observer that his executive is not pleased with a string of poor results the Chingola club was currently recording.
Kapai said his executive fears that Nchanga maybe relegated.
“Mwape told us to give him time because he was away and was equally not happy with the way his deputies managed the team in his absence. We didn’t want to harshly judge him; hence we have given him four games out of the remaining eight to redeem himself and his deputies,” Kapai said.
Nchanga revealed that his executive has given Mwape and his technical bench an ultimatum requiring them to pick at least 8 points from their next four matches.
“If he (Mwape) does not deliver eight points from the 12 points expected, then we shall part company with the entire bench. At the moment we are not discussing about the other set of the last four games because if we get eight points from the first set of four then we shall be above relegation zone,” he said.
Nchanga is this Saturday hosting stubborn Nakambala Leopards at Nchanga Stadium in a Week 25 match.
The Zambia Bureau of Standards has seized over 11, 000 by 1 liter containers of Lyons peanut butter from various shops in Lusaka valued at approximately over K357,000.
ZABS Head of Marketing and Public Relations Hazel Zulu said the products have been confined because the laboratory test results received indicated that the peanut butter failed on one critical parameter known as aflatoxins.
Mrs. Zulu has since assured the public that the Bureau will conduct countrywide surveillance inspections and withdraw the product from the market until such a time that the manufacturer is able to demonstrate that the product is compliant with the Zambian Standard, ZS 723 for peanut butter.
FILE: President Edgar Lungu with Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda during his Inauguration Ceremony at Heroes Stadium on January 24,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
By: Hon. Bowman C. Lusambo, MP-Kabushi
Following the re-election of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, it has now become abundantly clear that the Mr Hakainde Hichilema and Dr Nevers Mumba have become redundant in Zambian politics.
The conduct of the two leaders in the aftermath of the elections leaves much to be desired.
I strongly feel that Dr Mumba’s so called letter to President Lungu is a futile attempt by the fallen Man of God to resuscitate his political fortunes. I believe Dr Mumba and his cohorts in the UPND have no moral authority to lecture President Lungu on constitutionalism and national building.
The purported Open Letter by Dr Mumba only demonstrated the level of pettiness and dislike that Dr Mumba harbours towards President Lungu. The letter was not even worth the paper on which it was written.
The letter depicts Dr Mumba as an excited boy playing with his new toy. The tone and style of Dr Mumba’s letter to President Lungu confirmed that the man is playing with the presidency and I believe that anyone who plays with the constitution of the Republic is playing with the people of Zambia.
Anyone citizen who undermines the constitution does not therefore deserve to be called a Zambian and deserves to be jailed.
My earnest appeal is to Dr Mumba and his team in the UPND to respect the choice that Zambians have made to continue with the proven leadership of President Lungu.
Both Dr Mumba and Mr Hichilema do not have a track record in Zambian politics. They are typical chancers whose luck has now run out. If you attempt to follow the political journeys of the two men who will realise that is not even worthy to discuss.
To start with, Dr Mumba does not have any history in Zambian politics. Until recently, he was just a stranded diplomatic in Canada who was going to be recalled by the Sata administration anyway. Myself, Bowman and my team in the MMD ensured that we installed Dr Mumba as MMD leader.
We worked tirelessly whilst he was still packing his luggage in Canada to make him President. There was nothing he did to earn that position except turning up at the airport and taking up the job. We made the shoes for him, polished them and he only brought his feet to fit the shoes on.
To confirm that Dr Mumba is a political failure who should not be taken seriously, the moment I left I the MMD to join the Patriotic Front, exactly a week after, Dr Mumba’s also lost his position as MMD President.
The same could be said about Mr Hichilema, this is the man who has set a new record of having lost more presidential elections than any other opposition leader in Africa. We believe that Mr Hichilema can make a good student at the Kizza Besigye School of Opposition Politics.
For Mr Hichilema, the man walked into that sham of a National Convention at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre and grabbed the UPND presidency from deserving men such as Sakwiba Sikota and Patrick Chisanga using the tribal tag to replace the late great son of the soil Anderson K. Mazoka.
Mr Hichilema has continued to struggle to win the republican presidency because he did not deserve to be President of the UPND in the first place. He did not even sweat for that seat he currently occupies.
Now compare the political leadership acumen of the two to that of President Lungu. President Lungu has a well-documented life in Zambian politics. From having attempted the Chawama seat and losing to later succeeding in 2011, being appointed Deputy Minister through to various cabinet Minister portfolios, Party Secretary General to winning the Republican Presidency twice.
One can see that through his political journey, President Lungu has seen the hand of God as he has been promoted in an unprecedented manner. It is therefore an abuse of biblical principles for Dr Mumba to attempt to offer hateful prophesies motivated by nothing but petty jealousy.
Mr Hichilema and his UPND were rejected by the majority of Zambian voted on the 11th of August and it is important that this choice is respected. The Zambians themselves saw through the hearts of the UPND leadership and knew that the people were not sincere and genuine.
It is common knowledge that Dr Mumba and Mr Hichilema do not care for the majority of Zambia as history shows that the brief periods they have opportunities to preside over national affairs, they misconducted themselves and only benefited their pockets and close families and associates.
Dr Mumba abused his power as Republican Vice President and he was unceremoniously dismissed. For Mr Hichilema, when Zambians asked him to value their assets during the privatisation exercise, he used the opportunity to amass personal wealth overnight.
My appeal is to both Mr Hichilema and Dr Mumba to allow President Lungu to govern. They should stop disrupting his vision of creating a better Zambia for all. I know that President Lungu wants to get on with business of governing the nation and it will help if Dr Mumba and Mr Hichilema allowed him to do just that.
For now, Dr Mumba and Mr Hichilema should be reminded that their time in Zambian politics is over. What happened on the 11th of August was a clear turning point in Zambian politics.
There is a new breed of politics that have come into the National Assembly and they are now going to work hard for the people of Zambians who will one day demand that some of these new leaders run for the presidency. This in effect means that Dr Mumba and Mr Hichilema have now been condemned to the annals of political history as those that contested numerous times but were rejected by Zambians.
I am now part of a new breed of Zambian politicians who have been given the mandate to protect our democracy and protect our constitution from vultures like Mr Hichilema and Dr Mumba and this, together with the new MPs will shall do.
We somehow sympathise with their plight. We know that to run their lavish campaigns leading up to the 2016 elections, we know that the UPND over borrowed from both local and international groups. They promised a lot of favours to these people ranging from the takeover of ZESCO and some mines and we are aware that these people have started asking the tough questions hence the growing levels of desperation on the part of the UPND. They are now running around court rooms like headless chickens.
As much as we sympathise with their current situation, we also wish to remind Mr Hichilema that we will push for a restart of a comprehensive audit on the role he played in the privatisation of the mine for we believe that he personally benefitted to levels way above what he was entitled to.
Issued
