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Directors warned against interfering in the day-to-day running of of Water Utility companies

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Directors warned against interfering in the day-to-day running of of Water Utility companies

Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Mike Mposha has warned boards of directors of Water Utility companies against interfering in the day-to-day running of the institutions.

Speaking during the consultative meeting on the revised corporate governance guidelines and the concept note for the water utility platform at the Southern Sun Hotel in Lusaka, Mr Mposha said that he does not expect the Ministry to get involved in the daily activities of the companies as he does not doubt the capabilities of the appointed Board of Directors in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Mposha said that this is why the Zambian people voted for change so that things can be done differently.

He stated that the New Dawn Government places a high premium on ensuring that government institutions operate effectively and efficiently as it is very passionate about safeguarding public resources, and it is for this reason, that his Ministry has prioritized the appointment of Board of Directors for all statutory bodies and institutions and its eager to realize the positive outcomes in upholding integrity, transparency and accountability among other tenants of good corporate governance.

“We want to see the Boards discharge their duties in an effective and efficient manner,” Mr Mposha said

The Minister cited that he was delighted to be part of the consultative meeting to review the corporate governance guidelines and the concept note on the water utility platform which will unlock some of the impediments in the provision of water supply and sanitation services.

He noted that good corporate governance is core to the successful attainment of the strategic objectives of a company because it embraces structures and processes established to direct and control organisations.

“Corporate governance specifies the distribution of rights and responsibilities among different stakeholders which include shareholders, board directors and managers,” he said

Mr Mposha cited that he has no doubt that the platform with the help of NWASCO will identify the performance needs and gaps of the CU’s as well as facilitate good practices and innovation in learning areas to achieve intended results.

And Deputy Head of Germany Development Cooperation, Kristin Otto stated that her Organisation recognises the efforts that the New Dawn Government is making towards improvement of corporate governance.

She said that corporate governance is critical in the attainment of goals such as the SDG’s and in ensuring that the people of Zambia have access to safe drinking water.

Ms Otto added that she is excited to be part of the establishment of the water utilities platform by NWASCO as it is important for knowledge exchange in skills development and at the same time help improve efficiency amongst water utility firms.

Meanwhile, NWASCO Board Vice Chairperson Dr Lilian Mutesu stated that the objectives of the meeting are to disseminate the contents of the guidelines, consult on the revised guidelines and the draft Concept Note and Operation Guidelines for the proposed WUP.

Matero and Chililabombwe Constituencies receive desks

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Matero and Chililabombwe Constituencies receive desks

The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has handed over a total number of 555 desks to various schools in Matero Constituency procured using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

300 desks were acquired for Matero Boys Secondary School, 100 for Nelson Mandela Secondary School, meanwhile,105 were procured for George Central Primary School and 50 for Lilanda Combined Primary School respectively.

Lusaka Mayor Ms Chilando Chitangala who was represented by Muchinga Ward 28 Councilor Lee Mukupa, explained that the 555 furniture was funded by the 2020 Constituency Developed Fund allocation for Matero.

The Desks which were procured at a cost of k499, 500 were handed over during a colourful ceremony which was held at Matero Boys Secondary School.

“We as a Local Authority in conjunction with key stakeholders, are working tirelessly to ensure that there are enough desks in various schools in the city, so as to help meet the high demand of students ” she said.

The City Mother has since urged both Matero Boys Secondary School Management and the pupils to guard the newly delivered desks jealously.

Meanwhile, Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa who graced the handover ceremony thanked the government, through the Lusaka City Council (LCC) for delivering the 555 desks to the Matero Secondary School through the CDF.

Mr Sampa also cautioned the learners to make use of the newly delivered furniture in intensifying their studies and produce good results during exams.

The member of parliament also encouraged the community members to take keen interest in CDF matters by ensuring that they participate in submitting project proposals to the Ward Development Committees for CDF consideration.

The handover ceremony was attended by representatives from the Mayor, the Minister of Education, Matero Boys School Management and the pupils as well as the community members.

In a similar development, Chililabombwe Member of Parliament Paul Kabuswe stated that the district has received 1,500 desks.

Mr Kabuswe said that when the United Party for National Development (UPND) assumed office, President Hakainde Hichilema made education free for all, as he understands that education is the best equalizer and everyone has the right to education.

“Because of this, we have more pupils in schools, and as community leaders, we promised to buy desks using CDF,” Mr Kabuswe said

Mr Kabuswe cited that the arrival of these desks means that no child will sit on the floor when learning, and this is the change that the people of Chililabombwe voted for, and it is now here.

“Our teachers, please make sure that these desks are not vandalized,” he noted

Sean Tembo commends government on the re-introduction of roadblocks

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Sean Tembo commends government on the re-introduction of roadblocks

Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) has commended the government through the Ministry of Transport and Logistics for its decision to re-introduce Police road-blocks in view of the many fatal accidents that have occurred in the past few days.

Patriots For Economic Progress (PeP) President Sean Tembo said that their Party has welcomed the statement issued by the Minister of Transport Frank Tayali that Government will re-introduce., because of the recent accidents, including the Great East Road University of Zambia (UNZA) Entrance accident which claimed 12 lives, as well as the Nsumbu-Nsama Road accident which claimed the lives of 20 members of the United Church of Zambia.

Mr Tembo stated that as the Patriots for Economic Progress, they wish to put it on record that when the United Party for National Development (UPND) Administration made the populist policy decision to suspend Police road-blocks upon ascending to office about a year ago, the Party strongly opposed it on the basis that Police road-blocks are important for the purpose of maintaining law and order on the roads, as well as averting road traffic accidents and saving lives.

“However, in their usual fashion of not listening to opposition voices, the UPND Government rubbished our concerns,” Mr Tembo noted

He said that it is further worth noting that the UPND Administration decided to ban Police road-blocks on the basis of mere speculation that Traffic Police Officers are corrupt and that the policing of our roads should only be left in the hands of the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA), this was despite the advice that RTSA does not have enough manpower to adequately police in the roads in the absence of the Zambia Police Traffic Department.

“As Patriots for Economic Progress, we demand that the New Dawn administration in general, and the Ministers of Transport and Logistics as well as Home Affairs and Internal Security Honorable Frank Tayali and Honorable Jack Mwiimbu respectively should lender an apology to the Zambian people for the hundreds of lives that have been unnecessarily lost on our roads in the past one year, because of their wrong policy decision to suspend police road-blocks,” Mr Tembo mentioned

Mr Tembo said that such an apology from the government is a decent thing to do and it will give citizens an assurance that the UPND Administration has learnt from its policy mistakes, and that going forward they will be more considerate to the advice coming from the opposition political parties such as PeP.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to advise the UPND administration that no government has ever succeeded in properly running the affairs of the nation to the exclusion of key stakeholders such as the opposition,” he said

Mr Tembo cited that successfully running a government is supposed to be a collective undertaking by all stakeholders in the country, including the opposition political parties, the UPND should therefore, advise its praise singers to desist from insulting, demeaning and persecuting people such as the PeP that hold a different view on national matters.

“We mean well for this nation and oftentimes, our views on national matters are better informed than those of the government, let us unite in our ideas for building our nation and delivering development to our people. Our people want development and not petty politicking whereby Government considers anything coming from the opposition as bad and wrong,” Mr Tembo mentioned

Meanwhile, Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali stated that he will immediately engage his Home Affairs and Internal Security counterpart Jack Mwiimbu, on the need to bring back the roadblocks.

Mr Tayali’s remarks come in the wake of an accident on the University of Zambia – Great East Road junction that has claimed eleven lives

Speaking after visiting the accident scene and survivors at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, the Transport and Logistics Minister described the accident as tragic and called for an end to recklessness on the road.

Mr Tayali noted that there is a need to revise the road patrols and bring back road blocks in order to reduce the number of accidents.

He has further noted that the increase in road accidents in the country is due to lack of intense police traffic patrols.

Two Most Lethal Weapons against African Interests: Disunity and lack of technology

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Two Most Lethal Weapons against African Interests: Disunity and lack of technology

By Charles Mwewa

The two greatest weapons against Africans’ interests are their disunity and failure to develop and harness their own technologies. And their greatest weapon for both is in their unity. Any forces that have overcome Africans had used this dual weaponry very efficiently. Beginning with slavery when Africans where provided with no choice but to be disunited, chief against subject, usually, with only minimal titivations such as luxuries and mimiments, to colonialism when they were enticed with fake treaties and invaluable promises, to neo-colonialism when Africans are still being disunited by the promise of technology, the Africans have, uniformly, succumbed to such wanton treatments. When Africans are united, not even the absence of technology can vanquish them.

The British empire managed to conquer Africa directly through Indirect Rule. And Indirect Rule was a quintessentially divide-and-rule tactic. It facilitated a quick and almost smooth accumulation of African wealth, rights and property within the African continent by, amazingly, unleashing a few foreigners who were well-equipped with a lethal weapon of knowledge. The White people knew that they would be outnumbered and that they were very far away from their land. However, they had faith in the knowledge that divide-and-rule would work seamlessly in Africa to their advantage. And it did.

In fact, it was so effective that within months of conquest, it was the fellow African recruits who buttressed Africa, fellow Africans, with inviolable acts of brutality. African captains and recruits were used to devastate Africa for a meagre position of little influence and, shamefully, for believing that their effects would be rewarded with trips abroad to Europe and America where, erroneously, they believed that they would be somehow equal and respected by their sponsors. It was a miscalculation of generational proportions.

The thinking that a people who had travelled from very far away, and had victimised you in your own land, and basically, reduced you to personal property, would somehow treat you equally on their own continent, was unfathomable. Unfortunately, history is etched in stones all over Europe and America, that the miscalculation made by the first Africans would haunt them even worse in Europe and America than it even did on the African continent. And such irreversible miscalculations still haunt the Africans today, both at home and aboard.

Unity is the greatest weapon Africans have in abundance. It was, partly, because they were united that African fore-freedom fighters managed to grab back some of their inherent rights and freedoms through the acts of independence. However, it has been a mixed pot of reasoning and reactions since the 1980s, where, when it comes to running their own economies and peoples, Africans still believe less in their collective resolve and will and, sadly, outsource power, means of production and even rights, to the same forces who had robbed them of humanity on their own land. The inability to fashion own technologies still hobs Africa, remaining apron-tied to those who invent and engineer technologies, which, sadly, is Europe and America.

Since the 1800s when missionaries, traders and explorers discovered the wealth-laded Africa, Africans have had little or no voice, directly or subtly, in their own affairs – economically, politically and even culturally. Africans try extra hard to change who they are – their skin color, their original names, their language, and etc., and this is, partly, informed by a history of disorientation and assimilation. The resultant effect upon Africa, and Africans, has been this insecurity in who they are and what they can do. It also explains the rivalling disunity among their ranks, where – in the case of Zambia – the fore parents had to substitute a foreign language (English), for example, as a national language of “unity.” And indirectly, creating a nation of second bests, for no-one can be first in a language or name that is secondary to their self-consciousness.

Unity remains the weapon against oppressive forces against Africa and the Africans. When Africans are united, they can defend well and demand valuable changes. And, it is the belief of this writer, that such unity will synergize the African spirit for authentic innovation and creativity, leading to technological prowess. This is not a superficial unity; it should be unity consciously engaged in, believing that Africans are equal to anybody and can equally engineer changes that would have global impact. It is unity in wholeness – that we are a people exactly the way we are and we need to change nothing about who we are to set in motion innovative changes across sectorial spectrums.

We can flutter the Europeans and Americans (for to fluttery they succumb easily, which is also their gross weakness). However, such victory would be tantamount to winning a battle but losing the war. What is germane and cogent about the future, is that we can simply be who we are, and unite in forging technologies and innovations that would posture us as factors in global development. This new image of Africa will be key to permanently killing the designations, “developing” and “Third World,” which themselves are an oxymoron, designed to perpetually reminding us that we remain “boys” and not even second, with all the foreign accents, names, technologies, cultures and even education.

FAZ Finally Confirm Divorce With Asanovic

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It is official; Aljosa Asanovic and FAZ have parted ways in one of the briefest Chipolopolo reigns by a foreign coach in the new millennium.

The Croatian quit this week following a back-and-forth exchange with FAZ over pay and his month long absence from work away from Zambia.

“Following weeks of fruitless efforts to get the coach to return to his workstation and resolve contractual matters, we have been notified by Mr. Aljosa Asanovic through his lawyers that he has quit his position as Zambia National Team Head Coach,” FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala said.

“Understandably, after failure to meet some of the key performance indicators and propensity to leave his workstation after every international assignment made his position untenable.”

Asanovic alleges FAZ owes him three-months pay while FAZ claim the coach went AWOL for over a month after failing to qualify Zambia for the 2023 CHAN on July 30.

Asanovic has been in charge for just eight months following his appointment in January.

From 10 official matches in charge, Asanovic record stands at 5 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses.

Kundananji Excited With Shepolopolo Recall

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Europe-based Zambia Women Team striker Rachael Kundananji has expressed her excitement after being recalled to the Shepolopolo squad.

Zambia coach Bruce Mwape has named Kundananji in his 32-member provisional squad for next month’s international friendly match against Netherlands.

The Madrid CFF forward missed the Africa Cup and the COSAFA Women’s Cup which Zambia won recently in South Africa.

“I am so happy that I am being called up and I am back in the team. Just like I promised, I am going to work extra hard to stay in the team this time no matter what,” Kundananji.

Zambia will face the Orange Lionesses in a friendly on Thursday, October 6 at the NAC Breda stadium in Breda.

“This is a great move as you can see we are preparing for the world cup.Looking forward to seeing our team beat Netherlands.We want to go and do something special at the World Cup,” she said.

Coach Mwape has also recalled striker Rachael Nachula and Prisca Chilufya.

“Zambia is a blessed country. So, I believe in the team. I believe in each and every player,” Kundananji said.

Zambia is launching preliminary preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be hosted by New Zealand and Australia next summer.

Failure by government to follow the Agriculture Calendar has an adverse impact on the Zambia’s food security

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Failure by government to follow the Agriculture Calendar has an adverse impact on the Zambia’s food security

The National Association for Small Holder Farmers has said that the failure of the government to follow the agriculture calendar has an adverse impact on the country’s food security.

Association Deputy Executive Director Noel Simukonde observes that most farmers struggle to remain afloat ahead of the 2022/2023 farming season due to delayed payments by the government.

Mr Simukonde said that for Zambia to truly diversify its current dependence on copper to maize as the main contributor to the country’s treasury, there is a need for practical action plans by the government to support the growth of the agriculture sector.

He is of the view that despite its potential to significantly grow the economy and increase the country’s earnings through agro-related value addition, farmers have not yet received the total attention they need from the government.

Mr. Simukonde said that going forward, the distribution of farming inputs such as seeds and fertilizers must be completed within the second quarter of the year to give farmers ample time to prepare for the next season.

Last week, the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) President Jervis Zimba Mr Zimba called on the government said to set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee to handle the issue of the 2022 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) fertilizer and Seed availability, as this will harness united efforts and coordinate timely delivery of inputs to the farmers.

Mr Zimba noted this after the reported delays in finalizing the procurement processes for the 2022 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) fertilizers.

Mr Zimba noted that most small-scale farmers depend on FISP for farming inputs hence this development is a blow and could spell doom on a sector that is still grappling with the climate change after effects following the prolonged dry spells experienced last season.

He mentioned that the fact is, rains are just around the corner in some parts of the country and any further delay and lack of clear direction on fertilizer availability will adversely impact on production and productivity for the 2022/2023 farming season.

“This will lead to diminishing income opportunities, food insecurity and stagnation in the poverty trap for most farmers,” Mr Zimba said

Mr Zimba explained that what is even more worrying is that even for locally produced seed, the uncertainty is the same as on Fertilizer which is imported.

Mr Zimba has since appealed to the government to step up and realize that the consequences will be catastrophic for farmers, for it is imperative to ensure that farmers have access to seed and fertilizer timely because what is unfolding will result in these inputs being distributed during the rainy season.

“Of what use will that be?” Mr Zimba questioned

He added that this state-of-affairs could have been avoided if the roadmap agreed in April was adhered to because back then, the recommendation by the private sector was that the processes be concluded by June 2022.

“We cannot understand the on-going inertia and farmers are asking! What is the alternative? We urge the Minister of Agriculture to address the farmers on the Fertilizer Procurement developments,” Mr Zimba said

Mr Zimba stated that what is happening right now is watching a crisis unfolding but behaving as if there is no crisis, this is unfortunate as farmers livelihoods are at stake.

“In our view, the current FISP mess will require the intervention of the Head of State Hakainde Hichilema, to instill hope and certainty in the minds of farmers as the twists and turns playing out in the public domain makes it difficult to discern the facts, we say so because every day that passes is edging us closer to the farming season, and there is no more time to waste,” Mr Zimba mentioned

Last week, the Zambia Public Procurement of Authority (ZPPA) announced the cancellation of the fertilizer supply tender for the 2022/2023 farming season which was recently awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture stating that the process was flawed.

The best evaluated bidders included Samar Agro Investments Limited, Sloutone Investments Limited, Agrtzam Investments Limited, Conchak Investments Limited, Alpha Commodities and Evergreen Fertilizer Limited.

Confirming the cancellation of the tender, ZPPA Director General Idah Chella noted that the action by her Office was in line with regulation 249, following a realization that the procuring entity, the Ministry of Agriculture, decided to include local bidders or suppliers on a bid that was restricted to citizen bidders with seeking a deviation from ZPPA.

“According to regulation 249 under the public procurement regulations, we received two appeals from the public and after we received the appeal, we reviewed the tender and found that there were irregularities in the sense that the tender was under Open National Bidding, and Open National Bidding is restricted to citizens only. So, if under section 39(2), it says participation in Open National Building shall be limited to citizens bidders and in the absence of successive citizen bidder, to local bidders,” Ms Chella explained

“Under 39(3), a local bidder awarded a procurement contract in accordance with subsection (2) shall partner with a citizen supplier that is if there is no citizen bidder. So, in this case, the ministry floated a tender under Open National Bidding and going by our Act under Section 39(1) this was only limited to citizen bidders but in their case, they included local bidders,” Ms Chella added

She said following publication of successful bidders and complaint window, ZPPA reviewed the process.

Ms Chella disclosed that the Institution received two bids, after being reviewed their complaints and concluded it was found that there was an irregularity in the sense that the tender allowed both the citizen bidders and local bidders without seeking a deviation from the ZPPA in accordance with section 79, and that procedure was not done.

She cited that the regulations in procurement requires the procuring entity to seek deviation in a case of alteration in the process, which the ministry failed to comply with.

“It was up to the procuring entity to decide whether to do fresh bidding or not since the fertilizer was still required,” Ms Chella mentioned

Government commends World Vision, AgriEn Network works in Mpika

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Government commends World Vision, AgriEn Network works in Mpika

The government has commended various stakeholders for providing a platform for farmers in Mpika district to have direct interaction with the suppliers.

The commendation was made by Mpika District Commissioner, David Siame, during the district agri-marketing and technology fair held at Farmers Training Centre in Mpika.

The agri-marketing and technology fair was organised by the World Vision-Zambia in partnership with AgriEn Network.

World Vision-Zambia is implementing the Transforming Households in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) project in Mpika district.

Mr. Siame said the two organisations have provided both the solution seekers and solution providers an opportunity to have direct interaction.

“Support organisations that are supposed to drive the agri-eco system are equally resistant sometimes to the needs of the farmers, this event therefore offers an opportunity for direct engagement between the buyers, sellers and enablers,” said Mr. Siame

He added that World Vision-Zambia and AgriEn Network should be commended for the effort of bringing different players in the agriculture sector together to network and drive the cause for sustainable systems in Mpika.

Mr. Siame said World Vision has constructed canals to facilitate irrigation, promotion of onion, beans, groundnuts and sunflower value chain among others.

And AgriEn Network Zambia Director, Yvonne Mwanza, said the organisation is keen on promoting knowledge transfer.

Ms. Mwanza said so far the THRIVE project is reaching out to 4, 000 farmers in Mpika.

She further said THRIVE project was having challenges to link farmers to various suppliers.

“The idea is that we have invited various stakeholders and input suppliers to provide dialogue between farmers and the off-takers themselves as a way of solving whatever challenges the farmers are having in production and marketing,” said Ms. Mwanza

She added that farmers in Mpika are producing a lot of food.

Ms. Mwanza has since urged farmers to explore other districts for their produce and also work together so that they can access enough market.

Meanwhile, farmers in Mpika are happy that they have been given an opportunity to interact directly with the suppliers.

Patrick Mumba, a farmer who is also Malashi Dairy Milk Processing Plant Operator, said farmers are happy that government has given them an opportunity to market their products to buyers who have been brought close to them.

Mr. Mumba revealed that the platform has given the farmers an opportunity to sell their milk which is new on the market.

“We have been having challenges transporting the milk from the plant to the market. Now that the buyers have been brought close to us, our sales will go up,” said Mr. Mumba

Government should get 50% stake in KCM and impose more controls on Vedanta

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Government should get 50% stake in KCM and impose more controls on Vedanta

Political and Socio Anthropologist James Musonda has said that intentions to have the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) liquidation case withdrawn from the court will amount to nothing if the government does not get 50 per cent shares in KCM and impose more controls on Vedanta.

In July this year, mines minister Paul Kabuswe directed the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings through its lawyers to quickly dialogue issues surrounding KCM and Vedanta Mineral Resources outside court because the government cannot wait for January 2023 for the next court case to be dealt with as this requires urgent attention.

In an interview with the local radio station Radio Phoenix, Dr Musonda charged that the return of Vedanta to Zambia is certain but notes that if Vedanta comes in the same destructive form it is known the world over; the liquidation will amount to nothing.

He has reminded the government to be alert in the way it is handling the KCM matter as Zambians are monitoring every move being made regarding this issue.

Earlier in the year Mr Kabuswe is on record for saying that Zambia needs to hold a bigger stake in new mines and local communities should benefit more from the mineral values chain.

“This government is saying Zambians must be an integral part of whatever investment. We can no longer sit on the terraces and watch,” Kabuswe said at a mining conference in June.

The minister said later in response to questions that the government was planning to increase the state’s shareholding in new mines to ensure that Zambia maximises its benefits from the sector.

“Going forward, I don’t think there will be a mine where Zambia will own less than 20% (of shares). Those days of 10% shareholdings are gone,” Kabuswe said.

Kabuswe said the government needed to have a golden share in new mines, which would give it controlling voting rights.

Zambia’s mining investment arm ZCCM-IH holds less than 50% shares in key mining operations and a 20% stake in Kansanshi mine which is majority owned by Canada’s First Quantum Minerals.

Last week, Mr Kabuswe announced that the court cases between Vedanta Resources Holdings Limited and ZCCM – Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) have finally been suspended to pave way for dialogue.

Vedanta Resources, which has an 80 percent stake in Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), has been embroiled in a long legal battle with ZCCM – IH, the minority shareholder, over the appointment of a provisional liquidator to run the operations of the mine.

In 2019, the Zambian Government, through ZCCM-IH placed KCM under the provisional liquidator, citing poor management of the mine by Vedanta, charges which management at Vedanta disagreed with.

Mr. Kabuswe is confident the issues surrounding KCM will be resolved now that the court cases have been suspended.

Copper production in the first half of 2022 dropped by seven percent to hit 364,937.58 metric tonnes, from 394,183.92 metric tonnes recorded in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, The government has said that it is in the process of formalizing all illegal mines countrywide in order to address the problem of illegal mining.

Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe has noted with concern the increasing cases of illegal mining involving mostly small-scale and artisanal miners.

Mr. Kabuswe has advised the youth engaged in illegal mining activities to register their businesses and benefit from the many empowerment programmes being implemented by the new dawn administration.

The Minister was speaking in Kabwe during the commissioning of the rehabilitation of the Kabwe main canal aimed at addressing the health challenges caused by lead poisoning.
And Central Province Minister Credo Nanjuwa has warned individuals and some young people engaging in illegal mining activities in the name of the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema to desist or risk facing the wrath of the law.

Wynter Kabimba urges HH to provide his team with proper Policy Documents on his Vision for Zambia

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Wynter Kabimba urges HH to provide his team with proper Policy Documents on his Vision for Zambia

The opposition Economic Front is urging president Hakainde Hichilema to provide his Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with a proper policy document that speaks to his vision for Zambia’s social and economic development to avoid the said officials pulling in different directions.

President Hichilema recently complained that he has noted a trend where his ministers and permanent secretaries are pulling in different directions on policy matters.

Party leader Wynter Kabimba said that it is concerning that Ministers and Permanent Secretaries under the new dawn administration have no document of reference but merely speaking based on individual interpretation of their political party vision when there is need for a convergence point.

Mr. Kabimba said that it is very difficult for president Hichilema to deliver when there is a lack of direction and confusion among his officials who are not operating on common ground.

He has since recommended that the president considers issuing what he termed as a policy document to these officers that speaks to his party manifesto, in order to ensure cohesion in government.

The Italian Job: How the UPND is Stealing from the Zambia People

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The Italian Job: How the UPND is Stealing from the Zambia People

PART 1: FERTILIZER PROCUREMENT

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1. If a regime is going to steal from the Zambian people on a large scale, there are basically four key areas where such theft can be perpetrated, with little or no notice from the citizens. Three of the four areas are on the expenditure side of the budget, while the fourth is on the revenue side. These are fertilizer, medicines and fuel procurement on the expenditure side, and tax holidays on the revenue side.

2. Fertilizer procurement for the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) presents a unique opportunity for a regime to steal from the people because of the huge value and volumes involved. However, in order for this scam to work, certain conditions have to exist. The first and perhaps most important condition is that there has to be a high level of panic or semi-crisis with the procurement process so that the minds of citizens should only be focused on having the inputs delivered and not whether proper tender procedures have been followed. In order to achieve this condition, a thieving regime will ensure that fertilizer procurement is done at the very last minute before the commencement of a farming season. Indeed, every Government knows with absolute certainty that farmers will need fertilizer to be delivered to their door-steps by late September or early October, therefore there is no discernible reason why they should not commence the fertilizer procurement process as early as February so as to allow for any eventualities such as the award being challenged in court.

3. The late commencement of the fertilizer procurement process is not by accident or due to incompetence. It is a deliberate ploy by the regime to create a crisis and elevate the levels of anxiety among the people. Once that condition has been achieved, the next step is to use it as an excuse for sidelining established tender laws, processes and procedures under the pretext that there is an emergency. The other condition that must subsist for the fertilizer scam by a regime to succeed is that procurement must be made from outside the country. That is because if procurement is made from local fertilizer manufacturing companies, it becomes a problem to inflate prices, meaning that the only other available way in which theft can be done is through under delivery. However, under-delivery as a mode of theft is replete with too many obstacles one of which is that the beneficiaries on the ground are likely to make an outcry that they did not receive the fertilizer at all, or that they received only a fraction of their allocation.

4. Therefore, it is paramount to a thieving regime that the fertilizer is sourced from abroad. The average price of fertilizer on the world market is between $250 and $350 dollars, and even after a supplier adds insurance and freight, there is no good reason why the Government should be paying three to four times the world market price. Other than for purposes of siphoning money from the Zambian people. This means that local fertilizer manufacturing companies stand little or no chance of being awarded a substantial fertilizer contract by Government. There will always be a preference to award tenders to traders rather than manufacturers, because traders offer a greater opportunity for inflating prices.

5. Of course Government has to come up with an excuse why they prefer to award fertilizer contracts to traders rather than local manufacturers such as Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia and other private sector players. The common excuse is that these manufacturers do not have the capacity to manufacture the quantities which Government seeks. This is only so because a thieving regime will set unreasonable delivery timelines which favor traders compared to manufacturers. If the fertilizer contracts were awarded as early as February, the local manufacturing companies would have more than six months to produce the fertilizer in readiness for distribution in September. But instead, the thieving regime will award the fertilizer contract in September and demand that it be delivered in a few weeks time. Under these circumstances, local fertilizer manufacturing companies are only allocated less than two percent of the total quantities due to their “limited capacity”. And the stealing goes on.

6. The other important condition that must exist for the theft from the Zambian people to succeed, is that the fertilizer contracts must be awarded to people who are supporters of the ruling party so that they can pump back in the chipani, most of the supernormal profits from the inflated fertilizer contract. For example, if Alefaz Fertilizer Commodities Company is awarded an inflated contract to supply 100,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer at an inflated price of $1,400 per metric tonne, this amounts to $140 million. Since the price of fertilizer on the world market is between $250 and $350, we can take an average of say $300, which means Alefaz Fertilizer Commodities Company will incure a total estimated cost of about $30 million to procure the 100,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer. The average insurance cost is usually not more than 5% and the cost of freight can be put at about 25%, which means that the total landed cost for the consignment will be about $39 million dollars, which we can round off to $40 million. This means that out of their $140 million contract, Alefaz Fertilizer Commodities Company is making a supernormal profit of $100 million, or in local currency K1.58 billion.

7. Since Alefaz Fertilizer Commodities Company is linked to the ruling party, this K1.58 billion supernormal profit from the fertilizer contract is then distributed to various party beneficiaries, as instructed by the President. Most of this money is then used to bribe voters so that the ruling party can prolong it’s stay in office.
In part 2, 3 and 4 of this series of articles we shall look at how theft is done by the UPND regime in the procurement of fuel and medicines, as well as in the granting of tax holidays.

Police Detain Man for Swindling a job seeker out of K13, 000

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Police Detain Man for Swindling a job seeker out of K13, 000

Police have detained a 40-year-old man of Chililabombwe for swindling a job seeker out of K13, 000 after being on the run for over a year.

Mr. Patrick Chola Mabula of Lubengele in Chililabombwe is in police custody for obtaining money from Lazarous Chanda, aged-24 of Kakoso South in Chililabombwe on pretext that he would help him secure a job in the Zambia Army as a soldier last year.

Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer Sharon Zulu say the incident occurred between January 2021 and February 2021 in Chililabombwe but the suspect disappeared and was only arrested this week.

Ms. Zulu said the suspect told the victim that he was a soldier working in United Nations Operations in Russia after the two met at the court.

She said the suspect stopped picking up calls and eventually varnished soon after he was paid K2,000 cash while the reminder was deposited in his mobile money account.

‘Obtaining money by false Pretences Contrary to Sec.309 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia /Personating a Public Officer Contrary to Section 102 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia. The matter was initially reported at Chililabombwe Police Station on 01/07/21 at 1600hrs in which male Lazarous Chanda, aged-24 of new Plots, Kakoso South Chililabombwe, a businessman , reported that a person he came to know as Male Patrick Chola Mabula, of X 211 Lubengele Chililabombwe, aged-40, obtained money from him amounting to K13 000.00, on pretext that he would help him secure a job in the recruitment of Zambia Army as a Soldier. The incident occurred between January 2021 and February 2021 in Chililabombwe,” Ms. Zulu said.

“The victim is further claiming that the suspect informed him that he himself was a soldier working in United Nations Operations in Russia. Facts in brief are that, on unknown date but in January 2021 the victim met the suspect at Chililabombwe Magistrates Courts for the first time and they sat together as they waited for court cases. The victim saw how smartly- dressed the police officers were on that day and he began to indicate to everyone who was there as to how much he wishes to be a police officer. Upon hearing that, the suspect pulled him aside and indicated to him that he was a soldier and he would help him join the army if he wishes. The two later exchanged numbers and began to communicate. At one point the victim was even taken to the suspect’s place where he was shown pictures of men in Zambia Army Uniform and pointed at one of them to be himself, though the face was masked,” Ms. Zulu said.

“The victim was asked to pay money on different days for recruitment, training and other logistics. The money paid amounted to K13.000.00 Part of the payment was in hard cash (K2000) while the rest was deposited in mobile account money No. 0764945055. After monies were payed the suspect stopped picking up calls and eventually varnished. The matter was then reported to the police.”

“Investigations were instituted and on 21/09/22 around 19.00hrs the suspect was apprehended from Kasumbalesa border after the complainant was tipped and immediately alerted the Police. It’s during interrogation that it learned that the suspect had actually relocate from Chililabombwe to Lubengele area at Kasumbalesa border and he mostly reside in Congo D.R of Kasumbalesa side.He further indicated during interview, that he was not a soldier and that he obtained money from the victim because he was also swindled in a similar manner by unknown people through Facebook. The same is detained in lawful police custody awaiting to be charged and arrested for court proceedings.We further wish to inform members of the public who could have lost money in this similar scam in Chililabombwe, Kasumbalesa or indeed from this named suspect to report to Chililabombwe Police Station so that your case can be reactivated and punitive will be taken against the suspect,” she concluded.

10 dies on the spot in Road Traffic Accident in Lusaka

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10 dies on the spot in Road Traffic Accident in Lusaka

Manda Hill Police post recorded a Fatal Road Accident that involved eleven fatalities(Ten died on the spot and one at the hospital). The accident involved a male driver Warrant Officer Class Two Spoon who was driving a Zambia National Service Low bed truck registration number ZNS 666F from West to East whose damage was front part extensively damaged and the driver died on the spot.

Also involved was the unknown male driver who was driving a Toyota Hiace registration number ARB 2617 from the direction of East to West which had 14 Passengers on board. Nine passengers from the Public Service Vehicle sustained fatal injuries while five passengers sustained serious injuries all are admitted at Levy Mwanawasa. The driver of the minibus is among the dead comprising of Seven males and Four females. The minibus was extensively damaged.

Another vehicle involved was a Toyota Corolla registration number BAD 8759 that was driven by male Fred Kadongole which had a damaged front right fender, right Headlamp, and bonnet. The driver escaped unhurt.

The accident occurred due to excessive speed by the driver of the Toyota Hiace who lost control of the motor vehicle and went to hit into the Zambia National Service low bed Truck head-on that was in the opposite lane. This occurred at around 06:00 hours at the Junction of the University of Zambia along Great East Road.

The eight bodies of the deceased have been deposited in University Teaching Hospital Mortuary while three are at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital Mortuary awaiting identification, post-mortem and burial.

Sichone: Chipolopolo Loss Minor Setback

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Interim Chipolopolo coach Moses Sichone has described Friday night’s friendly away loss against Mali as a minor setback.

Zambia lost 1-0 to Mali in Bamako via a 7th minute goal scored by Spanish-based striker El Bilal Toure.

“I am not worried about the score line but the most important thing is the performance of the team,” Sichone said.

“I want to commend my team we did well we played well according to instruction maybe I can say in the first half we were a bit reluctant in the midfield  where we did not try to close them down and we gave them space and time to make combinations.”

Zambia had a great chance to equalize on the stroke of halftime but Edward Chilufya’s effort was cleared off the line by Mali goalkeeper Ismael Diawara.

Fashion Sakala had a chance early in the second half and Ricky Banda too wasted an opportunity with three minutes left to play.

Meanwhile, Chipolopolo plays its final friendly game against Mali on September 26.

The Lizard That Jumped from the High Iroko Tree

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The Lizard That Jumped from the High Iroko Tree

By Sakwiba Sikota

There is a recent statement by Republican President Hakainde Hichilema in New York where HH stated, “They want me to help other countries achieve what I have done for Zambia.”

This forthrightness reminded me of Okonkwo the lead character in Chinua Achebe’s masterpiece ‘THINGS FALL APART’. Okonkwo, a strong natural leader hailing from the Nigerian southern tribe the Igbos, who was innovative and a once in a lifetime person.

Instead of congratulating HH to High Heaven some Zambians seem to be unwilling to acknowledge this great achievement. HH must be feeling like President Donald Trump who wanted everyone to say ‘thank you’ for his coronavirus actions but did not receive that public acknowledgement.

Trump in March 2020 lamented, “We’ve done a fantastic job. The only thing we haven’t done well is to get good press. We’ve done a fantastic job but it hasn’t been appreciated. Even the closing down of the borders, which has never been done, and not only did we close them but we closed it early. The press doesn’t like writing about it.”

Just like with Trump it seems some people do not want to acknowledge the works of HH. I read the comments by readers to the postings, “They want me to help other countries achieve what I have done for Zambia.” and a lot of them were saying things like,

“The question is who are ‘they‘ and who are the ‘others’. Nguni VD, ‘they’ are the whites and ‘others’ are his fellow Africans.Typical of muzungu anikondes.”

“What has he achieved? BOASTING!”

“The President thinks highly of himself.”

“Don’t praise yourself, if you are worth it, no need to prove it.”

Brebner Changala, the human rights activist was more direct and is reported to have said, “I should add that boasting, self praise and exaltation~ YAPAILA, ILIOVA ALABWAFYA!”

Others even bring in religion and quote scriptures like Proverbs 27:2 which says, “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.”

Chinua Achebe had a strong view about religion. He was peeved by the fact that the white men came and completely disregarded the Igbo sense of justice and they did not understanding anything about the “others”.

An exchange occurs at the end of Chapter 20 during a conversation between Obierika and Okonkwo which goes, “Does the white man understand our custom about land?”
The conversation goes on, “How can he when he does not even speak our tongue? But he says that our customs are bad; and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”

Inspite of this, I would encourage HH to not take to heart the comments and criticisms from people who claim such statements as he made are not needed. He should not take Proverbs 27:2 as a restraint. Trump has achieved what he has because he is not afraid to tell people that he is a “stable genius.”

After all Chinua Achebe in “Things Fall Apart”, writes, “The lizard that jumped from a high Iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no-one else did.”

HH should take a ‘Trumpian’ leap of faith and take a leaf from, if no one else will, the Lizard that jumped from a high iroko tree.

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