Zambia Must Prosper Party Interim President Kelvin Bwalya says his motivation to join the UPND Alliance was to protect and defend the Constitution on the principle of not allowing the Patriotic Front (PF) to go against the Constitution by allowing a third term for former President Edgar Lungu.

Mr Bwalya noted that the Patriotic Front is a Party which he had basically helped to grow, expand and helped to live with, and standing against them was merely on the principle of not allowing a third term to go against the Constituency of this country.

“My motivation was to defend the Constitution by law established, no third term, no matter the shenanigans, no matter what the semantic schemes, its was a third term, which I was going to fight to the end and I did,” Mr Bwalya noted

“As a nation, we must begin to think and defend that which we believe in strongly and my belief was a third term was looming and we should stop that at all costs and we did, and I thank the Zambians for that because they heard the message, they believed, trusted and they said yes this is a third term, no more and I make no apologies about that,” Mr Bwalya added

He stated that if there’s anybody in UPND who thought for a moment that his going against the PF and that particular President going for a third term, it meant that he was joining UPND they were dreaming, as it was merely just an Alliance where they all agreed to only work together

“I never at any one moment joined the UPND and I will never join UPND,” he said

He explained that his joining the Alliance was for a particular cause, which was to protect and defend the Constituency, while with the UPND whatever motivation they had that was their business.

Mr Bwalya cited that from the beginning, the Alliance was aware on his intentions to become President of Zambia, as this incited him to use his personal funds and resources to prevent a third term for Mr Lungu after being approached by NGOs, church leaders, senior citizens of this country, friends and relatives of the current Head of State to help with the change of regime.

“The UPND I helped form government, has allegedly failed to unite the country, failed to remove caderism and to restore the rule of law among the many promises made prior to the 2021 General Elections,” Mr Bwalya said

He noted that he would not be appointed or be given any position unless he joined the UPND, and any person claiming not to be working with the UPND but is appointed by the UPND government is lying, because one needs to follow the policies of the political party in power.

Mr Bwalya mentioned that the current government lacks philosophy and policy direction including at Presidential level, further stating that President Hichilema should consider going back to managing businesses as opposed to running government without solutions to the challenges the country is currently faced with.

He said that a government is not a business, but a succession corporate entity, and it is therefore not right to enter the government and start scattering the civil service simply because there are certain people holding positions who are not liked, even when they haven’t committed any crime nor stolen.

He further said that President Hichilema made a promise stating that, as long as someone is qualified and they are Zambian, they will stay in their positions, and he supported the President on this core.

“And now if I see that it’s not happening, am I supposed to stay quite? Because they have gone to demotivate the civil service, and destabilize systems within the civil service simply because they want to put their own people there” Mr Bwalya said

Mr Bwalya has since suggested that a truth and reconciliation committee or courts of law be set up as a way to sort out political crimes as opposed to what is currently going on where some political leaders are detained without trial for prolonged periods.

Mr Bwalya highlighted this during the Tuesday edition of Let the People Talk Program on Phoenix FM.

After spending six (6) days in Police detention, Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) President Sean Tembo has been formally arrested and charged with the offence of hate speech by the Zambia Police Service.

Speaking shortly in a live video on his Facebook page after being released on Police Bond from Police detention at Woodlands Police Station, Mr Tembo alleged that, last week on Thursday, the Zambia Police kidnapped and held him hostage, a situation he said he didn’t expect to happen under the New Dawn Administration as it was promised that the rule of law will be respected.

“But clearly there’s no rule of law that is being respected,” Mr Tembo said

Mr Tembo explained that the process of arresting and charging someone is something that should not take more than an hour, and in this particular instance, he has seen that this so-called arrest has taken six days as there was no other reasonable excuse that can be given as to why an arrest should take six days without any reason whatsoever other than to try and persecute and intimidate someone.

“At the end of the day, we shall not be subjected to intimidation despite our kidnapping by the Zambia Police Service,” he stated

Mr Tembo mentioned that as an opposition leader, he will relent in ensuring that he provides checks and balances to the government as it is his duty at the end of the day.

“Those checks and balances do not need to be in a manner which is acceptable to the ruling party, no, we will provide checks and balances in a manner that we see fit, regardless of whether we are intimidated or not” Mr Tembo noted

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Media Director of Media Thabo Kawana stated that the sentiments coming from Mr Tembo in the Facebook video suggesting that the Police kidnapped and held him hostage for the last six days without charge are indeed unfortunate to say the least.

Mr Kawana added that this is not only unfortunate and untrue on his part but, also sad for an opposition leader to tell blatant lies

“Mr Sean Tembo detained himself, I say so because I am aware (and anyone can check my facts with the Police) that the Police were ready to arrest and charge Sean Tembo from the very hour they picked him up,” Mr Kawana said

Mr Kawana explained that Mr Tembo refused to be dealt with in the absence of his Lawyers and demanded that any arrest and/or charge to be preferred on him can only be employed in the presence of his Lawyers.

He noted that his Lawyers did not show up until Monday and when they did, they also stated that their client was unwell and needed medical attention immediately. Again, no arrest or charge was conducted as focus turned to the Hospital.

“Mr Tembo was then taken to Hospital were a Doctor attended to him and prescribed a 3-hour bed rest for observation, after that, Mr Tembo was discharged from Hospital and taken back to Police were again, the Police were ready to arrest and charge him,” he said

He alluded that at the Police, he could again not be arrested and charged because his Lawyers left to attend to other matters and Mr Tembo’s preference was that he could not be arrested or charged in the absence of his Lawyers. So again, he spent another night in Police custody.

Mr Kawana mentioned that today, Mr Tembo has been formally arrested and charged in the presence of his Lawyers as per his wish and right.

Mr Kawana mentioned that from the above stated, one can see that the Police did not hold Mr Tembo a minute longer than he himself made it necessary. His prolonged stay in Police custody was his own making and not that of the Police.

“It is not good to play tricks aimed at trying to paint the country black in the eyes of the international community when in fact, people are keeping themselves in Police custody but coming out to claim Police kidnapping and been held hostage, it’s Preposterous,” Mr Kawana stated

Brief facts of the matter are that, on Thursday 1st September, 2022, Mr Tembo was arrested on claims of defaming President Hakainde Hichilema, and while in Police custody Mr Tembo complained of severe stomach pains and was rushed to Chilenje Level 1 hospital where he received treatment and was discharged and taken back into Police detention after his condition was declared to be stable by the medical professionals.

Mr Tembo was seen bundled in the back of a Toyota Corolla at Woodlands Police Station, much to the displeasure of onlookers who expected the Police to at least provide an Ambulance.

The PeP President was escorted by heavily armed officers who had to be moved out of the treatment room during his examination by the medical personnel

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has said that it has welcomed the approval of an Extended Credit Facility by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund.

In a statement released to the media, CTPD Executive Director, Mr Isaac Mwaipopo, said that Zambia will be able to restructure its unsustainable debt, regain macroeconomic stability, and ensure the debt’s sustainability—all while freeing up cashflows to be distributed to the social and productive sectors.

Mr Mwaipopo said that an IMF program will boost the economy’s overall confidence, which will increase budget support, investor confidence, and Zambia’s credit rating.

Below is the full statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06/09/22
CTPD APPLAUDS ZAMBIA’S EXTENDED CREDIT FACILITY APPROVAL OF
US$1.3 BILLION

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development welcomes the approval of an Extended Credit Facility by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund. With the help of this significant achievement, Zambia will be able to restructure its unsustainable debt, regain macroeconomic stability, and ensure the debt’s sustainability—all while freeing up cashflows to be distributed to the social and productive sectors. Additionally, an IMF program will boost the economy’s overall confidence, which will increase budget support, investor confidence, and Zambia’s credit rating.

An improved credit rating gives Zambia the chance to get loans with better terms to fund its development now and in the future. While this is happening, increased investor confidence will result in a stronger Kwacha and lower exchange rate risk for upcoming external debt service obligations. The interest-free loan from the IMF will primarily be used to support the country’s balance of payments and increase its gross international reserves. While budget support will take the form of more lenient financial commitments from multilateral organizations like the World Bank and African Development Bank, which are anticipated to provide Zambia with financing commitments of approximately USD 959 million and USD 500 million over a three-year period, respectively.

Despite this great achievement, there is still work to be done, particularly in regard to fulfilling all future debt obligations to creditors, so now is not the time to unwind. Additionally, there a bit more work needed to persuade private creditors to grant Zambia comparable terms to those from the G20 common framework in terms of debt treatment comparability. In order to achieve the significant and sustained fiscal consolidation required to address the current fiscal imbalances, the Zambian government must focus on its fiscal reform agenda.

Further, in order to give the government, the financial room it needs to achieve its development goals, more domestic fiscal revenues must be secured. The other duty is to improve governance and the effectiveness of the use of public funds, including by being transparent about debt and expenditures. To protect the most vulnerable members of our society, the government must stop the occurrence of domestic arrears, including those related to fuel and the electricity sector, and ensure that the social protection program is fully funded with timely payments.

Furthermore, the government should learn from nations like Ghana, which was on an IMF program but is now pleading for a bailout just a few years later. A crucial lesson is that the government shouldn’t give up on the economy too soon or right after the three-year IMF program. Zambia’s IMF deal accomplishment will serve as an example for other nations. The G20 Common Framework has now succeeded for the first time, paving the way for other debt-stricken nations to have faith in its methodology. Ethiopia and Chad, who have been seeking this kind of assistance, are currently going through a drawn-out debt settlement process.

An IMF program will partially address Zambia’s precarious debt situation, but the larger solution lies in addressing the underlying reasons behind the nation’s current unsustainable debt issues. The government must therefore ensure that we never again experience unsustainable levels. The government must also make available for public consumption all pertinent information regarding the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies, Debt Sustainability Analysis and Prior Actions, and Structural Benchmarks and MoUs that support this IMF agreement.

While we welcome this development with regards to the IMF support to Zambia, we would like to appeal to the new administration to undertake the following:-

1. They should consider building consensus on the key social and economic reforms they plan to take because this is key especially that the citizens are the ones that will get to leave with the consequences of this programme.
2. There is need to publish the debt sustainability analysis that was done by the IMF working in partnership with the World Bank.
3. There also need to provide a clear road map to the structuring of Zambia’s debt under the G20 common framework, as this is critical in helping citizens understand how the 2023 national budget will look like.

PR Media, the company behind Lusaka July and founded by the two sisters Monde and Chishimba Nyambe has said that their company is not promoting gay rights but fashion, but quickly added that they encouraged their guests to interpret themes according to their personality.

In a scathing response to former Zambian Ambassador to Ethiopia Mr Emmanuale Mwamba, PR media said that despite the Mr Mwamba believing in them when they met 2018 when Mr Mwamba was Zambia’s Ambassador to South Africa to discuss the Lusaka July and the potential it held to create fashion tourism and increase revenue for the local fashion industry, the former ruling Patritic Front (PF) Government failed to give them backing as creative entrepreneurs.

PR Media heaped praise on the United party for National Development (UPND) Government for, in under a year, offering them support to promote the Lusaka July event to an international audience, adding that they received the support they needed to push Zambian fashion past the borders.

“The effort we are seeing from the new dawn government to support SMEs like us is unprecedented,” the post read before thanking the Ministry of Tourism, and that they are confident that the Lusaka July will soon become one of Africa’s leading fashion events because of the Ministry’s support.

PR media concluded by advising Mr Mwamba to address Zambia’s morality if he is concerned about it without attacking Lusaka July, an event that that they described as feeding many families.

Earlier, Mr Mwamba said accused the event to have been transformed from a fashion show to a staging post and open platform for the LGBTQ community.

Mr. Mwamba said he thought the organisers wanted to replicate the Royal Ascot in England or the Durban July which combines equestrian sport with fashion.

“Clearly when I met the sister’s Monde and Chishimba Nyambe, promoters of the Lusaka July in my office in 2018, the event was far from being a Pride Parade or an LGBTQ Platform.” said Mr.Mwamba

“So my recent opinion, where I have called on the adherence to national values and principles and against the conversion of the Lusaka July to an LGBTQ platform, is properly placed”. he said.

And joining the Lusaka July frail is MMD President Nevers Mumba said that the he Lusaka July event has resurrected the old homosexual and lesbian (LGBTQ) debate in the nation.

Dr Mumba said that the LGBTQ community and its powerful sponsors know that to enter the zambian “market” is no easy task because of our christian values enshrined in the constitution which make it difficult to impose this lifestyle on Zambians.

“Therefore, to introduce this culture in society, the architects will use the arts to try and soften the community to eventually accept the lifestyle.the strategy will be to use the movie and music industries, the fashion industry and the targeting of schools to discretely infuse their views.

“The Lusaka July event has become the first most visible platform to parade the lgbtq community in Zambia. For a christian nation, this is a red flag!!. ” concluded his statement

The Auditor General’s Office in its audit of government payroll for the financial years ended 31st December 2017 to 2021 has revealed accounting related irregularities in amounts totaling over 2.6 billion kwacha.

Auditor General Dick Sichembe disclosed that over nine thousand, eight hundred (9,800) ghost workers from nineteen (19) government ministries were paid 7.7 million Kwacha between 2017 and 2021.

“The institutions had not yet accounted for the officers in that they were not known,” Mr Sichembe reviewed

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr Sichembe highlighted that three (3) ministries had 87 people who diverted salaries amounting to 10 million kwacha into their personal accounts or accounts for people who are not civil servants.

Mr Sichembe added that 25 officers from 4 institutions irregularly drew double salaries in amounts totaling to K967,411.

The Auditor General further added that 22,485 officers in 20 institutions were misplaced and paid salaries amounting to over 944 million kwacha.

“Meaning that an officer is drawing a salary from a pay point where they are not providing a service,” The Auditor General added

Dr Sichembe cited that 18 government institutions had recruited over 13 thousand people without treasury authority while the Ministry of Education introduced 299 teachers on the payroll who received salaries in amounts totaling over 3 million kwacha without authority from the Teaching Service Commission.

“Ministry of Education also upgraded the salary scale of 539 teachers without authority from the Teaching Service Commission costing the government 2.5 million kwacha,” Mr Sichembe said

Mr Sichembe noted that following a Presidential directive, the office of the Auditor General will be transformed into a more robust and effective institution, which is a supreme institution that ensures the promotion of transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

“We will call or bring to account those who are entrusted in managing the financial resources of the country,” Mr Sichembe said

The Auditor General alluded that their institution will work closely with the Controlling Officer and other institutions to ensure that the issues which the President has raised, which is misappropriation of funds, are addressed.

“That will be our thrust, as we intend to have meetings with all the Controlling Officers so that we charge the way forward on how to address these challenges that we have had,” he said

He further noted that their institution’s concentration and focus will be on the performance ordered, as this is value for money, thus a performance audit of value for money will be conducted to see whether the costs that have been incurred under various programmes reflect the value for money.

“As you are aware the country has gone into transformation in terms of new infrastructure, we therefore need to be cost conscious as a people, because of the challenges that we are facing,” he noted

Mr Sichembe alluded that, as the Auditor General’s office, they will ensure that they follow each and every kwacha, wherever the funds will be allocated as this will help to ensure that the funds have been applied for the intended purpose and for the benefit of the country.

“Those that will be found wanting, will surely be exposed, as that is our thrust and my colleagues at the office, they all understand our vision which is to ensure that we hold professionalism and we have no compromise on integrity, that is how we are going to address these issues,” Mr Sichembe stated

And Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee Chairperson, Warren Mwambazi has urged Law Enforcement Agencies to follow up on the recommendations and cases raised by the Auditor General’s office.

“And those involved should be brought to book,” Mr Mwambazi stated