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General public advised to hold public officers accountable-Action Aid

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General public advised to hold public officers accountable-Action Aid

ActionAid Zambia has trained 150 community members on mentoring and coaching in public accountability system monitoring tools in Nalolo District of Western Province.

Participants were drawn from five wards in Nalolo Constituency namely, Kambai, Muoyo, Sianda, Kataba and Nanjucha wards, respectively.

The exercise is meant to empower people, who will be labeled as Reflection Action Cycle ambassadors, with knowledge on how they should hold public officers accountable if services are not delivered to them accordingly.

ActionAid Zambia Agriculture and Livelihood Project Officer, Nyambe Mwiyambango in an interview on Tuesday said his organisation has for this reason been in the district to sensitise communities in the area to not only access government services but demand for accountability and good governance.

“We expect the communities to improve their livelihood by demanding for quality service delivery. In order for public service to be delivered equally, there is need for communities to become their own agents of change.

“People must start holding public service officials accountable because it is difficult for them to develop areas where they are not based as they don’t know the challenges that particular community is facing,” he said.

The objective of the meetings is to ensure that the public social accountability system works especially in the Health and Agriculture Departments.

This is to create a platform where community members and public officers interact in an interface meeting to find solutions to the identified challenges, said Mr. Mwiyambango.

And Walubita Mulako, one of the participants from Nasilimwe area in Kambai ward commended ActionAid for empowering them with knowledge of demanding for service delivery.

Mr Mulako said most people in rural areas are not aware that they need to question and monitor public officers when services are not executed.

“We just used to complain about the lack of development in our areas, but we didn’t know that we can actually approach these public offices and monitor the programmes that they are implementing but ActionAid has enlightened us,” he said.

His counterpart, Carol Musole said citizens have the right to participate in the development of the nation by providing checks and balances.

Ms. Musole said after undergoing the ActionAid trainings, she now has power to demand for certain social-economic services to be executed in their areas.

“We are now able to approach the agriculture office and ask why farming inputs have not been delivered on time and also question the health personnel when there is a shortage of drugs,” Ms. Musole pointed out.

She said after attending ActionAid trainings programmes, most participants are now engaged in monitoring resource allocation in the agriculture and health sectors.

Zambia Womens NT Lose Again to Colombia

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Zambia Women’s national team ended their friendly visit to Colombia with back-to-back defeats.

Bruce Mwape’s side lost 1-0 to Colombia away in Cali on Tuesday evening.

It was the same scoreline as in match number one on November 12 played at the same venue.

Just like in the first friendly match, the scorer again was Catalina Ramirez with another first half goal but this time via a 20th minute penalty.

Both sides were using the friendly dates as preliminary preparations for their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign for the tournament Australia and New Zealand will co-host from July 20-August 20, 2023.

Meanwhile, the first friendly window for 2023 will run from February 13-22 and the second and penultimate window before the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be from April 3-11.

2023 FIFA WOMENS WORLD CUP GROUP C PRE-TOURNAMNET FRIENDLY RESULTS

15/11/2022
-Lisbon
Portugal 1(Jessica Silva 82′) – Costa Rica 0

-Seville
Spain 1 (Alba Redondo 9′)-Japan 0

-Cali
Colombia 1(Catalina Ramirez 20′ pen)-Zambia 0

Activist counsels politicians against uncouth language

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Activist counsels politicians against uncouth language

A Chirundu based good governance and human rights activist, Harris Muzyamba, has implored Zambians and politicians in particular to enjoy their newly found freedom of expression within the confines of the law.

Mr. Muzyamba is saddened with the emerging culture of insulting leaders and elderly people by young politicians in the country in the name of freedom of expression.

He said the trend has the potential of inciting violence if not checked.

Mr. Muzyamba made this call when he featured on a live phone-in-programme dubbed: ‘Know your leader’ on Modern Voice Radio yesterday.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Muzyamba, who is also a staunch United Party for National Development (UPND) member, regretted that some opposition leaders have failed to ‘punch holes’ in the new government’s record on fulfilling electoral promises hence resorting to insults.

He singled out leaders of Economic and Equity Party (EPP) and Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) Chilufya Tayali and Sean Tembo as some of the culprits that are allegedly practicing politics of insults devoid of offering credible checks and balances to the ruling party.

“UPND and its Alliance Partners are on course to fulfil all the electoral promises within a short period after forming government unlike what previous regimes did,” he said.

“The increment in the allocation of the Constituency Development Fund, employment of public service workers, payment of pension to retirees, leveling the playing field for political parties during elections and restoration of rule of law rank top of the agenda for the government,” he explained.

He has since urged all well-meaning Zambians to support President Hakainde Hichilema and his government because of the unprecedented implementation of various programmes.

And Mr. Muzyamba has defended Chirundu Member of Parliament, Douglas Syakalima’s performance in office since his re-election as MP in the 2021 general elections.

Mr. Muzyamba said Mr. Syakalima has presided over the smooth implementation of the ongoing 2022 CDF projects and even gone out of his way by using personal resources to fund community projects.

“May I make an earnest appeal to the electorates of Chirundu constituency and the residents in general, to give Mr. Syakalima time to execute his double mandate as Minister of Education and MP without due pressure,” he begged.

He said Mr. Syakalima is busy restoring the integrity of the Ministry of Education that was highly politicised by the previous government.

Mr. Muzyamba’s plea follow complaints by some residents on Modern Voice Radio’s ‘What is happening in your area programme’ that the MP should address some challenges that the residents are facing.

President Hakainde Hichilema has vested interests in Grant Thornton

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President Hakainde Hichilema has vested interests in Grant Thornton

New Labour Party (NLP) leader Fresher Siwale has alleged that President Hakainde Hichilema has vested interests in Grant Thornton, a firm Government has contracted alongside the PriceWater House to audit the defense forces in the country.

Siwale insists that if President Hichilema wants to run his private companies, then he better resign as Head of State.

But Development Activist Davies Mwashi Lupindula says there is nothing sinister about PriceWater House, the two foreign auditing firms to audit the Zambia Army, Zambia Air force(ZAF)and Zambia National Service(ZNS) because there procurements are international in nature.

Speaking in an interview, Siwale said President Hichilema was one of the Directors at Grant Thornton, the firm that was instrumental in the privatisation of Zambian companies but wonders whether the Head of State had relinquished his position in that firm.

“In line with principles of good governance, transparency and accountability, President Hakainde Hichilema must declare interest in Grant Thornton before it begins to do business with Government and that should have been done earlier when he was supposed to have declared his assets which he has failed to do up to now,” he said.
Siwale wonders whether the contract given to Grant Thornton and PriceWaters house was an open tender.

“Did other accounting firms bid for this tender and was procedure of accountability and transparency followed in awarding Grant Thornton and PriceWater house this tender?”

The opposition leader added:”It is not every Jim and Jack that can be given a contract to audit the security wings of Government. Hakainde (President Hichilema could have declared interest in Grant Thornton before allowing it to do business with Government,” Siwale noted.

He insisted that the Head of State is a servant of the Zambian people hence, he cannot do private business .

Government launches a No bribes but fines campaign

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Government launches a No bribes but fines campaign

Government has launched a campaign meant to compel motorists to pay fines as opposed to bribing traffic law enforcement officers when found guilty of road traffic offences.

The campaign is dubbed ‘No bribes but Fines Campaign’.

Acting Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Ambrose Lufuma, has since sounded a warning against officers that will be found entertaining bribes. Mr. Lufuma said police officers will be punished if they are caught soliciting bribes from erring motorists.

He said motorists, who will be caught bribing police officers, will equally be brought to book. Mr Lufuma has since directed the Zambia Police and the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to ensure that motorists adhere to the traffic regulations.

The minister further directed that the traffic officers should deal with erring motorists in the open for the sake of transparency.

“To enhance transparency among traffic officers, I am again directing the Zambia Police Service to ensure that all traffic officers deal with erring motorists in the open. I further direct the Zambia Police Service to ensure that traffic offences and the corresponding fines are displayed at strategic conspicuous points at police stations and traffic checkpoints,” Mr Lufuma said.

He also directed the Zambia Police Service to work together with Smart Zambia Institute and other stakeholders in coming up with digital platforms to help erring motorists to pay fines.

He observed that paying a traffic fine may be inconveniencing to the motorists in the absence of digital platforms.

“This also contributes to the problem of corruption as some motorists would prefer paying a bribe to avoid the hustle of going to the bank to pay for the fine,” Mr Lufuma said.

Speaking at the same event, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General, Gilbert Phiri, said road users have lost their lives on many occasions because of the corruption of traffic police officers.

Mr Phiri also charged that it is unacceptable for a public officer to collect bribes from members of the public.

The ACC Director General said there is need for wide publicity on the provisions of the Police Service Charter.

“There is also need for information dissemination on the procedures involved in obtaining various services and settling fines charged on offences. Members of the public need to know their responsibilities and obligations as far as maintaining law and order are concerned,” he said.

And Inspector General of Police, Lemmy Kajoba, said in a speech read on his behalf by Lusaka Province Police Commissioner Creto Kaanza, that service is committed to ensuring that officers exhibit high moral standards.

Mr Kajoba said the Zambia Police Service has therefore distanced itself from officers who have been receiving bribes as that is not what the service stands for.

Meanwhile, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president, Maurice Nyambe, commended ACC for coming up with such a campaign.

Quickly involve members of the defense forces in the distribution of the delayed farmer input-Hamududu

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Quickly involve members of the defense forces in the distribution of the delayed farmer input-Hamududu

Opposition Party of National Unity and Progress President Highvie Hamududu has told the Government to quickly involve members of the defense forces in the distribution of the delayed farmer input for the 2022/2023 farming season.

Mr. Hamududu, an economist, said the delay in the distribution of farming inputs under the farmer input support program (FISP) is such a disaster that must not be repeated.

He said the men and women in uniform could help out in FISP if the normal government systems are overwhelmed by the crisis caused by the delayed distribution countrywide.

Mr. Hamududu has since called for better alternatives to the current failing agricultural policies and support mechanisms.

“Expedite input distribution to farmers. The delay in the distribution of farming inputs under the farmer input support program (FISP) is such a disaster that must not be repeated in future, and even at this late hour, let government summon its best mechanisms available to expedite the process, get the men and women in uniform to help out if the normal government systems are overwhelmed by the crisis,” Mr. Hamududu said.

“As a country we are losing so much opportunities of leveraging on our agricultural potential to fight unemployment, poverty and inequalities in a more precise and impactful manner. Going forward, we need a big conversation on the current agricultural policies and support mechanisms. There are definitely better alternatives,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chama North Member of Parliament Yotam Mtayachalo has described the distribution of farming inputs under the 2022/2023 farming season a national disaster.

Mr. Mtayachalo said in Chama North and many parts of the country confusion has characterized FISP following the Government’s decision to replace old beneficiaries with people that have just formed cooperatives.

“The distribution of farming inputs in Chama district in eastern province and possibly the nation at large can best be described as a national disaster because although some farming inputs have been delivered nevertheless farmers have not yet started accessing their inputs despite meeting the k400 contribution due to a number of factors which have arisen. Firstly, the District Agriculture Coordinators have been instructed to remove some names of old beneficiaries at the eleventh hour in order to accommodate new cooperatives even when the original list of beneficiaries was made public and as such some farmers who have been removed from the list have already deposited their contributions and as such is the government going to refund these members who have been removed from list? This development has created a lot of confusion and as such the lives of agriculture Camp Agriculture Coordinators (CAC) are at risk when actually it is not their fault because the information coming out from the ministry of agriculture is not what is obtaining on the ground due to lack of national uniformity from the ministry as what percentage of old members should be removed as beneficiaries to accommodate new members,” Mr. Mtayachalo said.

The Chama North MP observed that technical glitches have also contributed to the delayed delivery of inputs.

”For example in Chama district 50% of old beneficiaries are being removed from the list at the eleventh hour to infuse in members from new cooperatives while in other district it is something else. Secondly, farmers have complained that the number of packs given to cooperatives are not sufficient according to their membership without proper explanation from higher authorities in the Ministry of Agriculture. Further, farmers are not able to access farming inputs because the Zamis system in Chama district operated by Smart Zambia has technical challenges hence seed and fertilizer cannot be issued to farmers and unless the system is rectified as quickly as possible farmers will be delayed to access farming inputs hence they will not be able to plan adequately for the 2022/2023 farming season more importantly that the rains have started,” the lawmaker said.

“Furthermore it must be realized the continued delay in the distribution of farming inputs in the country especially in rural areas where roads are inaccessible during the rainy season has the potential to undermine food security in the country and exacerbate the hunger situation such as Chama district were some people are surviving on mangoes due to lack of food. It is in light of the foregoing that the government should ensure that the challenges behind the distribution of farming inputs are resolved as quickly as possible to avert the looming food insecurity in the country,” he concluded.

Auditing the defence force under the New Doom Government

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Auditing the defence force under the New Doom Government

By Given Lubinda

The subject of the auditing of the Defence Forces under the New Doom government raises a number of fundamental questions on where we are going as a country.

On Friday 11th November, 2022, the Vice President was asked by Lukashya PF Member of Parliament, George Chisanga whether the government put out a tender when subcontracting Grant Thornton and Price-Waters and Coppers – foreign audit firms – to audit Zambia’s Defence and Security wings. In her response, the Vice President (who is chief representative of the President in Parliament) said “I think that generally I would not know exactly how they did it. But whichever way they did it, as long as it is within the law in contracting the people that have been given the contract. I don’t know as I sit here whether the Auditor General put up an open tender. Whether it was a selective tender, whether it was single sourcing……………………..Colleagues, whoever does the audit, we believe that it must be truthful audit report. It doesn’t really, it should not bother us.” (Mast Newspaper No. 3095 – SM318 – November 12, 2022).

Unlike Mrs Nalumango who is not bothered about who audits our defence and security wings, all Zambians ought to be concerned. Auditing of government institutions, let alone the Defence and Security wings of the country is a matter of very serious concern to anyone who has some understanding of sovereignty and governance. This is the reason why we have legal provisions on how audits of government and quasi-government institutions including the Defence Forces are to be carried out.

In consideration of the importance of government audits, the office of the Auditor General is constitutional. Article 249 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) N0. 2 0f 2016 establishes the office of the Auditor General. Article 250 provides the functions of the Auditor General and specifically states at sub-article (1)

“The Auditor General shall-
(a) audit the accounts of -?
(i) State organs, State institutions, provincial administration and local authorities; and
(ii) Institutions financed from public funds.”
In keeping with international best practices and for the avoidance of interference with the operations of the Office of the Auditor General, states as follows at Article 250 (1) “The Auditor General shall-
(a) audit the accounts of -?
(iii) State organs, State institutions, provincial administration and local authorities; and Institutions financed from public funds.”

In operationalising the constitutional provisions relating to the Auditor General, the Public Audit Act 2016 was enacted to “enhance the independence and autonomy of the National Audit Office and strengthen its functions; provide a framework for promoting efficiency, accountability, effectiveness and transparency of public administration through effective oversight and audit of public funds and performance ………”

Section 5(1) of the Act states the function of the Auditor General is to perform audits under the Public Finance (Management) Act 2004 (amended in 2018).

The Public Finance Management Act 2018 is an “Act to provide for an institutional and regulatory framework for management of public funds; the strengthening of accountability, oversight, management and control of public funds in the public financial management framework..” etc

Part VII of the said Act provides for how External Audits are to be carried out. Section 73 (1) states that “The Auditor General and an office holder agent or specialist consultant authorised by the Auditor General, shall in the performance of duties under the Constitution, The Public Audit Act, 2016 or any other law –
(a) have access to all the books, records, returns, reports, other documents and financial management systems, in electronic or any other form, relating to the accounts of public bodies as the Auditor General considers necessary: etc

However Section 5(2) provides a very clear and distinct exception:

5(2) Despite anything contained in subsection (1) and subject to subsection (3) the Auditor General shall not authorise any agent or specialist consultant – (a) to have access to any books, records, return, reports, information, communication technology systems and other documents, or to enter upon any premises, of any component of the Defence Force or the Zambia Intelligence Service; or (b) ………………………………………………., if such access or entry is likely to-(i) Prejudice the security, defence or international relations of the Republic or the investigation or detection of offences;”
To understand the above subsection clearly it is necessary to refer also to subsection 5(3) which states as follows:
5(3) Despite subsection (2), the Auditor General may, where the circumstances of an audit so require after obtaining the written consent of the President, authorise an agent or specialist consultant –
(a) to have access to any books, records, return, reports, information, communication technology systems and other documents, or to enter upon any premises, of any component of the Defence Force or the Zambia Intelligence Service;

Based on the above provisions of the law, the Executive through the Ministry of Finance, by hiring private audit firms to conduct audits has grossly violated Article 250 (1)

“The Auditor General shall-
(a) audit the accounts of -?
(i) State organs, State institutions, provincial administration and local authorities; and Institutions financed from public funds.” and
250 (2) “The Auditor General shall not be subject to the direction or control of a person or an authority in the performance of the functions of office.” (Secretary to Treasury is quoted in Vol. 8 Issue 3481 of November 15, 2022 of the Daily Nation Newspaper as saying “It was signed between the Ministry of Finance and the firms so contracted.”)

Secondly whoever signed the contract at the Ministry of Finance breached the provisions of Subsection 3 of Section 5 of the Public Finance Management Act 2018 which provides that the President must issue written consent for any agent or specialist consultant to have access to any books, records, return, reports, information, communication technology systems and other documents, or to enter upon any premises, of any component of the Defence Force or the Zambia Intelligence Service.

Thirdly, the Attorney General has either failed in his duty to advise the Executive or has been disregarded in his role as Chief Legal Advisor of the Government in the execution of the contract in question.

Fourthly, the Vice President’s admission of ignorance in Parliament over such an important national matter is an indication of either how she is totally disregarded in the governance of the country or how she is simply a non-informed parliament figurehead.

Fifthly, the President’s sole mandate to authorise any agent or specialist consultant to audit Defence Forces has been usurped.

Sixthly, the matter has been in the public domain since Friday and there has been no clarification from either Secretary to Cabinet or from State House. This deafening silence can only be construed to mean that there is more to this case than has been divulged by the Ministry of Finance. We shall wait for the unfolding of the Auditgate.

Given Lubinda
Acting President
Patriotic Front.

Social protection; tool for fighting poverty-Mukungule

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Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary (PS), Henry Mukungule, says government has identified social protection as a key strategy to reducing poverty and various vulnerabilities.

Mr Mukungule said in a speech ready for him by Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) Mathews Chilekwa that social protection was also prioritised on government’s development agenda.

He said despite various social protection interventions that government line ministries and other stakeholders have been implementing over the years, poverty levels in the province and the country at large have remained high.

He said it is for this reason that government has prioritised social protection in a bid to alleviate poverty.

“The poverty situation in Muchinga and the country at large has in the recent past been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as natural disasters such as floods and droughts,” he said.

Mr Mukungule added that over the years, concerned partners have recognised and introduced the social protection joint annual review which is taking place in Muchinga today as a critical and useful mechanism for reviewing progress in the social protection sector.

The Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary said this during a social protection joint annual review meeting held in Chinsali today.

And Chief Planner under Monitoring and Evaluation in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Muma Mukupa, said the social protection joint annual review is equally a tool that is being used to identify issues which may need to be addressed in order to improve the social protection programme performance.

Mr Mukupa said the annual review further draws all social protection actors at national, provincial and district, including sub-district levels, in helping to establish if the programme being implemented is on track.

He said the 2022 social protection joint annual review is centred on seven key focus areas.

And speaking earlier when a multi-sectorial team from Lusaka paid a courtesy call on him this morning, Mr. Mukungule stated that the social cash transfer programme has made a tremendous and positive impact on many lives in the province.

Mr Mukungule said the empowerment programme has changed householders of the elderly and vulnerable people who are benefitting.

He said the farming inputs provided by the department of Community Development have also changed the livelihoods of people through what they produce.

Mr Mukungule has since appealed for an extension of the services under the ministry to others who are yearning to be beneficiaries.

“I wish to thank President Hakainde Hichilema and his government for ensuring that social cash transfer programme continued,” he said.

Teaching Council of Zambia Calls for Teacher Compliance

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Teaching Council of Zambia Calls for Teacher Compliance

The Teaching Council of Zambia – TCZ is calling on all teachers across the country to be compliant by registering with the Council especially on the issue of obtaining a valid practicing license, participation in the Continuing Professional Development Training – CPD, and the renewal of the license after the three years period comes to an end.

The Teaching Council of Zambia Registrar Ebby Mubanga stated that regulating teachers is not an easy undertaking but teachers’ registration being the starting point for every teacher has helped the Council to regulate the teachers as all the documents and credentials submitted during registration process are verified to ensure that they are valid and genuinely obtained.

“It’s at this registration process that helps us look at the qualifications of teachers, we usually discover that some people submit fake credentials that were fraudulently obtained, and for us to sanction a teacher for misconduct or any related offense, it can only be done on teachers who are our members, and what we are doing as a Council is something that is also happening in other professions,” he said

Speaking on Let The People Talk Programme on Phoenix FM, Mr Mubanga disclosed that compliance levels amongst teachers are very low especially with regards to the practicing license, as teachers are of the view that the Council does not take any action on those who have not registered nor complied but as a Council their preoccupation is not to push around teachers as they are a professional body that expects teachers to take responsibility by emulating other professions such as nurses, engineers, and lawyers who are also regulated.

“Teachers are reminded that the Teaching Council of Zambia operates within the confines of the Teaching Profession Act No. 5 of 2013 Section 16 which cites that a teacher who practices or provides any teaching service during any period in which a practicing certificate is void commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding 500,000 penalty units or to be imprisonment for a period not exceeding five (5) years or both, thus somebody whose practicing without a valid practicing license contravenes the law and can be prosecuted,” Mr Mubanga explained

Mr Mubanga mentioned that the teaching practicing license is to be renewed every after three (3) years and during the renewal of the license every teacher is required to be produce evidence of having participated in the Continuing Professional Development Training or Programmes – CPD, an initiative that trains teachers to grow professionally as education is dynamic hence this programme requires teachers to be active participants in teachers group meetings, and research that helps them to contribute to the growth oof knowledge.

He stated that the Council has a database that contains information for all the teachers in the country, which helps them to have statistics of teachers who are in government, private sector and those who are yet to be employed, adding that it’s the information in this database that helped the Government to have statistics when they were recruiting the more than 30,000 teachers countrywide.

Mr Mubanga explained that the Council will soon embark on decentralization process as teachers are in all the ten provinces, and employers both in the private and public sector can only employ teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council of Zambia as they verify all the credentials for all teachers before they are employed, and this verification also protects pupils in all schools not to be taught by unqualified individuals who may masquerade to be teachers.

“Regulation is meant to protect the integrity of the teaching profession, as well as give the Zambian child the best teacher ever,” Mr Mubanga said

The Teaching Council of Zambia is a statutory body under the Ministry of Education that was established in accordance with the Teaching Profession Act No. 5 of 2013, whose mandate is to look at the regulation of teachers, their practice and professional conduct. The Council regulates teachers from both private and public schools who teach in primary schools, secondary schools, pre-school and colleges of education.

The Council as a regulatory body has a mandate to ensure that the professional conduct of teachers in all the schools is attained, because teachers are professionals, society expects a lot from them thus the Council ensures that checks and balances are conducted as the teachers conduct their business.

The Teaching Council of Zambia works in close collaboration with institutions such as the Teaching Service Commission, an institution that looks into the employment and recruitment process of teachers, transfers, promotions, termination of employment, and reinstate teachers serving in public institutions only.

Detention, Arrest And Charging Of Journalists Is An Assault On The Rule Of Law And Freedom Of Press.

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Detention, Arrest And Charging Of Journalists Is An Assault On The Rule Of Law And Freedom Of Press.

Lusaka – 15th November, 2022.

The arrest and detention of Muvi Television Journalist, Innocent Phiri, and cameraman, Obvious Kaunda, is an affront, and an assault on the Constitution, the rule of law and media freedom in Zambia, and signifies the fast-shrinking democratic space barely a year after President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration was voted into Government.
Article 20 of the Constitution protects freedom of expression which includes the right by media practitioners to access information and transmit such information to the public. This freedom cannot and should not be taken away from journalists without their consent.

President Hichilema and his administration are missing a rare opportunity to leave a legacy in which the media and people of Zambia should generally enjoy freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Zambia.

President Hichilema and his administration must walk the talk. They cannot actively be arresting journalists who want access to information while at the same time be claiming to be championing enactment of Access to Information law.

We understand President Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) are working towards consolidating power at the time when Government is struggling to deliver promises it made to Zambians around the reduction in prices of commodities such as fuel, fertiliser and the cost of living generally.

My sincere advice to President Hichilema is that arresting media personnel in the course of their duties as well as silencing political opponents is not the best way to consolidate his hold on power.

The arrest of Mr. Phiri, Mr. Kaunda and opposition leaders on trumped up charges is signal that Zambians who criticise the administration must brace themselves for wanton disregard of rights and freedoms which citizens must enjoy.

President Hichilema’s administration and its agents such as the Zambia Police must resist the temptation of using the same justifications previous leaders did by directing police officers against them.

President Hichilema has shown some boldness to repeal the criminal defamation law of the President but this boldness should be shown by the commitment that even before we repeal that law. The leaders in government must be committed to promoting freedom of expression and must be able to take stronger criticism against their leadership.
The arrests of Mr. Phiri, Mr. Kaunda, Mr. Tayali, Ms. Imboela, among others, is taking Zambia back to an era where persons were silenced, and in some instances killed, for being critical to leaders in power.

The repeal of the criminal defamation of the President should not just be done to win kudos from the international community while government lacks the needed commitment to show they will promote free expression.

I, therefore, urgently call on President Hichilema as Chief of Armed Forces in Zambia to prevail over institutions under his charge and insist that no journalist must be arrested for doing his work and that no person is arrested and deprived of one’s freedom for strongly criticising his administration.

I call for the unconditional dropping of all charges against all citizens who have been arrested, detained and sent to prison on the criminal defamation charges.

President Hichilema must assure Zambians, especially the media, that what has happened to journalists will never happen again. Even in war times, we have seen journalists who boldly risk their lives in the battlefront and they have never been brutalised by powerful armies in the world.

Issued By:
Hon. Dr. Chitalu Chilufya,
MP – Mansa Central &
PF Presidential Candidate.

Fashion and Frankie Ruled Out of Israel Friendly

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The Football Association of Zambia has confirmed that an injury has ruled out Glasgow Rangers striker Fashion Sakala from Thursday’s friendly against Israel.

Fashion will miss the friendly away at Petach Tikva together with fellow Scotland -based defender Frankie Musonda.

Chipolopolo team physician Dr Wesley Ngongo disclosed that Musonda of Scottish second-tier side Ayr United is also injured.

“Basically all the players called into camp managed to report and are all in good health and ready to participate in the game against Israel,” Dr Ngongo said.

“However two players, Fashion Sakala and Frankie Musonda haven’t been able to report to camp.

“But after further consultations with medical staff from their respective clubs it was found that they are both injured as a result they will not be able to participate in the upcoming games.

“We have been in discussions with both the players and their medical staff and together it was decided that the best course of action was for them to complete their rehabilitation at their respective clubs.”

Fashion has missed Rangers’ last two games since he limped off in the 84th minute in a 2-1 away loss at St Johnstone on November 6.

Musonda has missed one match and last featured for Ayr on October 29 in a 2-0 away win over Arbroath.

Desist from using private auditors to audit the Ministry of Defense, GBM advises HH

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Desist from using private auditors to audit the Ministry of Defense, GBM advises HH

Former Defense Minister in the Patriotic Front government, Mr. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, also known as GBM, has called on President Hakainde Hichilema to desist from using private auditors to audit the Ministry of Defense saying he is risking national security.

Mr. Mwamba says the Ministry of Defense handles high-level security business transactions whose access requires different levels of security clearance and oaths of office. The former lawmaker says civil servants understand these requirements better and, in the history of this country, have largely demonstrated that they can be trusted with sensitive information.

“As a former Defense Minister, I can tell you that the Ministry of Defense and other security wings of the state handle very sensitive state business that is entirely in national interest but cannot be understood and appreciated by someone outside the civil service”, Mr. Mwamba says.

President Hichilema, Mr. Mwamba says, must stop thinking like an opposition leader, and must stop thinking and acting like a businessman, and instead begin to think and act like a Head of State and a custodian of state interests. By inviting private auditors in the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Mwamba says, the President is demonstrating the fact that he has not successfully transitioned from an opposition politician and a businessman to a statesman.

The aspiring candidate for the position of president in the PF party says the office of the Auditor-General is sufficiently qualified to audit the Ministry of Defense in addition to the fact that as public employees, they understand and appreciate their obligation to national and security interests. Mr. Mwamba says the academic and professional qualifications of officers in the office of the Auditor-General are the same as those of their counterparts in the private sector thereby making redundant the idea of bringing outsiders to a job that insiders are perfectly qualified to handle.

The PF Chairman for mobilization says the only deficit Mr. Hichilema must address himself to is the apparent lack of political will to act on the recommendations of the Auditor-General’s reports, a narrative that is well known in this country.

“The problem is not the ability of the auditor-general to do his job. Instead, the problem is doing something about what the auditor general has found out and recommended”, Mr. Mwamba said.

As a man who was voted on the promise to fight corruption, Mr. Mwamba said the President must act in a way that he does not leave any room to doubt his commitment to his promises, a reference to the fact that Grant Thornton, a firm President Hichilema was associated with, is one of the firms given contracts to audit the Ministry of Defense.
“The nation will begin to doubt whether the President has indeed divested his interests in the company and whether he is not using and abusing his position as President to give his colleagues business”, Mr. Mwamba wondered.

In addition, the opposition politician is asking Mr. Hichilema to disclose how much money government is spending on these audits questioning the rationale since he claimed that he inherited empty coffers. Mr. Mwamba says private auditors do not come cheap as he wonders why a President who claims that he is prudent with public funds would take such an expensive and luxurious route barely a year after he won his first term in office.

“Is he in a hurry to make money because he knows he is not winning a second term”, Mr. Mwamba wonders.

Man given a 12 Month jail term over the drowning of Seventh Day Adventist Youths on New Years Day

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Man given a 12 Month jail term over the drowning of Seventh Day Adventist Youths on New Years Day

THE Lusaka High Court has slapped a 12 months jail term on a coxswain of the boat on which six Seventh Day Adventist youths jumped off and died on New Year’s Day. Judge Kenneth Mulife said he had to impose a custodial sentence on Jonathan Hajaaya, 25, because he was negligent by moving into deep waters before the deceased swimmers disembarked from the fishing rig.

This is in a case Hajaaya, fishermen Osborne Mambo and Tyson Hachiyako were charged with manslaughter in connection with the drowning of six SDA youths in Siavonga.

On January 1 this year, Haajaya, Mambo and Hachiyako allegedly caused the death of Goodson Hamaila, Rodwell Chileshe, Ronald Libuku, Zebron Shikambo, Niza Muchiliba and Allan Mwaanga all of Lusaka.

The victims drowned on Lake Kariba after they allegedly jumped off the fishing rig, which Haajaya was in charge of. The youths were using the vessel’s surface to stand on before jumping into the waters from a swim. After witnesses testified, the accused were found with a case to answer and were placed on defence.

But in defence, Haajaya narrated that on a material day, there were about 25 people who were jumping on the vessel and diving into the water, an expedition which took place for about 20 minutes.

Haajaya said when he started the engine, the people who were playing on the rig jumped off after he asked them to disembark.

He refuted allegations that he started off the journey without alerting the victims.

In his judgement yesterday, Judge Mulife convicted Hajaaya on account that he acted negligently by sailing into deep waters despite the presence of swimmers on the boat.

“Upon seeing swimmers on the boat, accused number one [Hajaaya] should have avoided dragging the boat into the deeper waters,” Judge Mulife said.

But he also found that there was contributory negligence on the part of the deceased because despite the boat moving slowly, they never vacated until it sailed into deep waters.

“The deceased persons also contributed to their misfortune, they acted negligently. I am of the view that it would be unfair for me to send you [Hajaaya] to jail for a long period of time,” Judge Mulife said.

“On the other hand, I note that the offence you committed is serious, numerous lives have been lost which would not have been lost,” Judge Mulife before sentencing Hajaaya to one year imprisonment in all six counts but to run concurrently.

He, however, acquitted the other two accused for lack of evidence.

Earlier, defence lawyer Melissa Tatila urged the court to exercise lenience on Hajaaya because he first offender who was remorseful for his actions. Ms Tatila said considering the circumstances of the case and thw court havjng found that there was negligence on the part of the decreased “a first offender ought to be given maximum leniency”.

But the judgment did not sit well with family members of the deceased who were leaving the court visibly upset.

“12 months? No. Its too little. These people mever even contributed anything towards funerals of the deceased,” a woman said.

Some other relatives said they will consider appealing against the “unfair” judgement.

And guardians of the two men who were acquitted thanked God for the release of thier relatives.

I Hate Sequels: Black Panther-Wakanda Forever

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I Hate Sequels: Black Panther-Wakanda Forever

By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D. Emeritus Professor of Sociology

I have never been a movie person in my sixty something years of life. I am not about to become one. Don’t get me wrong. I have loved some movies in my short life on this earth. My introduction to the then cinema was in the most unlikely place as a seven-year-old; ten thousand miles away from the United States in the remotest part of Africa. This was in 1960 at Chasela Primary School where my father was a teacher. This was deep in the Luangwa Valley with wild animals roaming all over night and day; elephants, Cape Buffaloes, lions, leopards, impalas, monkeys. This was in the Southern African British Colony of Northern Rhodesia now independent Zambia. That is a long story of zig zagging through life until I was surprised to be thrilled with anticipation leading to the global release of the Black Panther on January 29, 2018.

There was so much hype about the Black Panther that I was surprised to be swept up in it. I donned my bright African garb and went to see the movie the very first day in Harrisonburg Virginia. This is ten thousand miles away from the remote Luangwa Valley in Eastern Zambia. I must have seen the Black Panther ten to fifteen times at movie theaters. I lost count of how many times I saw it by myself, with family members and in 3D. Even my wife does not know about this. I knew I did not want to see the Black Panther later when it was released on DVDs for TV screens, lap tops and cell phones. I just had a craving for the big screen experience. Was I addicted or what? Timing is everything. I thank God today that we did not have the Corvid 19 lock downs pandemic when the Black Panther was released in 2018. Watching it on a TV screen, lap top or the cell at home would not have been the same.

The last time I saw the Black Panther in a movie theater was on the West Coast of the United Sates in Portland Oregon at a large sprawling metropolitan shopping mall which had more than twenty movie theaters. The Black Panther was still showing in April 2018 months after it had been pulled from movie theaters. My thirty-three-year-old son and I went and saw it.

I was never going to see the Black Panther any other way. I was never going to see a Black Panther sequel because sequels seem to ruin the original movies for me. For example, it was a thrill to see the comedy “The Gods Must be Crazy” in 1980 and my kids’ movie; “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” in 1990. Both sequels ruined my original great experiences.

When the leading actor of the Black Panther Chadwick Bosman died of cancer in August 2020, I was very sad. I lamented that great people often die young. I was even least thrilled about seeing a sequel.

But then I heard about what they would do with the sequel in the wake of Bosman’s death. I was hooked. I had been very depressed on the night of November 8 about the early mid-election results. Before I went to bed that night, I learned that we are still the greatest nation on earth. Because we had voted and saved our American democracy for the citizens, but also for Zambia, and for every country in the world which is struggling to establish democracy. I went to bed with a grin on my face. I donned my African garb and went to see the sequel: “The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

During the movie, I had tears moaning Chadwick Bosman. What a way of my celebrating saving the triumph of our American 245-year-old precious democracy. To my utter enjoyment and delight the sequel showed most of the original actors, but the most significant new event in the sequel is including a Maya kingdom of the Native Americans.

Chilufya Tayali was badly beaten by the police-Fred M’membe

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Chilufya Tayali was badly beaten by the police-Fred M’membe

Opposition Socialist Party (SP) President Fred M’membe has disclosed that Economic Equity Party (EEP) President Chilufya Tayali was badly beaten by the police.

Speaking to Journalists immediately after visiting Mr Tayali, Dr M’membe described the arrest of Mr Tayali and the brutality he has been subjected to as barbaric, adding that the same people who are mistreating Tayali today used to complain about police brutality when they were in opposition.

“The intention was to brutally beat him up. That is barbarism, this is not the way to police. The same people who are mistreating Tayali today were complaining about these things when they were in opposition,” he said.

“They wanted to be treated differently, they wanted to report themselves to the police instead of being picked at night. Instead of their homes being broken into. What was bad for them is also bad for anybody else. If Mr Tayali has committed an offence, arrest him properly.”

Dr M’membe said the offence which Mr Tayali is being detained for all night and all day is available.

“They have not formally charged him. He is not granted police bond, he has not been taken to the hospital, he needs to see the doctor definitely,” he said.

“I think we can be more humane with each other. Law enforcement was made for human beings. It was not meant for dogs, for animals. These police stations and police cells were meant for humans. No matter what offence a human being has committed, he’s still a human being and deserves to be treated as a human being.”

Meanwhile, the SP leader said Mr Tayali can be a little prickle but that does not take away his freedom and rights.

“If he crosses the line, there are laws for this country. There are laws of defamation, and other laws,” he said as he strongly opposed the beating of those in police custody.
Dr M’membe has also castigated the arrest of journalists who went to cover Mr Tayali’s arrest.

“The arrest of a prominent person like Tayali cannot be a private matter,” he said.

Dr M’membe also disclosed that Muvi TV journalist Innocent Phiri and the camera person Obvious Kapunda have been charged with obstruction of the police for filming the arrest of EEP leader Chilufya Tayali.

Dr M’membe wondered why the same people who when in opposition wanted the media coverage on such matters are now uncomfortable with others being covered in the media when being arrested.

The opposition leader said the police didn’t want the two media practitioners to cover the breaking in to Mr Tayali’s house.

“The journalists have been charged with obstruction of the police. They didn’t want comrade Innocent Phiri to cover their breaking into Tayali’s house and arresting Tayali. They wanted them out. But the same people who are sending them, when they used to arrest them, they wanted the media to cover,” he said.

“They wanted the media to tell people where they are, what is happening to them. They called for the media. Today the same people who used to call for the media don’t want the media to cover their friends when they are being arrested. What type of a society are we creating? Is this the democracy they promised our people? Is this the justice they promised our people? Is this the fairness they promised our people? Is this the media freedom they promised our people?”

Dr M’membe lamented that what is obtaining on the ground now is miles away from democracy. He said democracy requires a lot of tolerance and promotion of divergent views.
“Views clash, and what is important about democracy is to know how to manage disagreements, to know how to manage disputes. What we are seeing are kilometers or miles away from democracy. This is not the Zambia they promised our people,” he said.

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