FORMER PF secretary general Davies Mwila says the agenda to lift former president Edgar Lungu’s immunity will not work because UPND does not have the numbers in Parliament.

Commenting on Anti-Corruption Commission Director-General Gilbert Phiri’s remarks that there was need to amend the law so that Presidents who committed financial crimes did not hide behind immunity once they leave office, Mwila described the sentiments as a joke.

He said the UPND must appreciate Lungu because he handed over power peacefully without any resistance.

“The law is there and it has been there that former presidents or Presidents have the immunity. It will not be possible for them to remove that. They don’t know what they are talking about and they will not manage. But for them to go to Parliament to try to amend that law will not happen. It is a constitutional matter. They should just start harassing former president Edgar Lungu as an individual.

As it is now, he is being harassed through his family and close friends. I want to say that if they have to go to him, they have to go to Parliament to lift the immunity. The UPND government knows that it is not possible because they don’t have the numbers in Parliament. So what the Anti-Corruption Commission is saying on the need to amend the law, those are jokes. It will not happen,” Mwila said.

“Their agenda is to harass their opponents. The UPND government must appreciate that Edgar Chagwa Lungu handed over power peacefully without any resistance. So that agenda will not work. That agenda has been on the table for a long time. We are now 11 months now and that will not happen. They are harassing the wife, children and close friends. They know that these people don’t have immunity. They are harassing us because we don’t have the immunity. On the former president, they are not even sleeping. So what ACC is saying, that agenda or thinking will not work.”

And when asked whether the suggestion to amend the law with regards to the immunity, was targeted at Lungu, Mwila responded in the affirmative.

“Of course. UPND has stated that they have been targeting at the head of state. That is the agenda. I hope that Mr Phiri will be professional. I heard him on TV and he spoke very well. I hope that what he said is what he will be doing,” said Mwila.

Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe says all mining firms operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment are operating illegally as no mining licence is issued without a valid Environmental Impact Assessment.

Mr. Kabuswe stressed that all mining licences are issued only upon submission of an approved Environmental Impact Assessment and that any mines operating without one are in breach of the law and will be dealt with accordingly.

“According to the law, a mine cannot operate without an Environmental Impact Assessment. Then they are illegally doing that, they need to have that before a mining licence is issued so meaning that anyone doing that may have an invalid mining licence or an illegal one for that matter and we will get to them, we can’t tolerate that”he warned

In a telephone interview with ZANIS today, Mr. Kabuswe disclosed that his Ministry will upon completion of the audit of the cadastre department come up with a structure that will help curb such practices in the future.

“That’s why we are auditing cadastre, after we reopen, we are going to recall a lot of issues and we will structure something that will curtail that “he added.

Last week Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Collins Nzovu ordered the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to take action against mining companies operating without conducting Environmental Impact Assessments after inspecting some mines in Mkushi that were found wanting by ZEMA.

Reuters reports that Zambia is cancelling more than $2 billion worth of projects financed by commercial loans to reduce the risk of accumulating more non-concessional debt, the ministry of finance said.

In 2020, Zambia became the first nation to default in the COVID-19 era. At the end of 2021, its external debt stood at $17.27 billion, of which China held $5.78 billion, and it is in negotiations with creditors and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to lift itself out of this debt hole.

Zambia was in the process of cancelling projects worth an estimated $2.1 billion, the medium-term budget plan published by the ministry of finance late on Saturday showed, although it gave no details.

A treasury spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for a breakdown.

Zambia’s economic growth in 2022 is expected to slow down to 3.1% from 3.6% recorded in 2021 mainly due to the expected reduced output from the agricultural sector.

The economy of Africa’s second-largest copper producer is forecast to grow 4%, 4.1% and 4.4% in 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively, the ministry’s plan showed.

The decision to axe the projects is part of a broader debt-restructuring process, it said, adding that it expected bilateral creditors would provide adequate financing assurances for approval of an IMF programme being discussed.

The government was also in the process of changing the law to increase parliamentary oversight on borrowing, it said.

The 2023-2025 medium term macroeconomic objectives also include keeping inflation down in single digits, averaging 9.2% in 2023, 8.2% in 2024 and 7.3% in 2025, it said.

The government also plans to maintain reserves at three months’ worth of import cover, it said.

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development has said that the re-classification of Zambia by the World Bank to the low-income status from lower middle income, for the 2023 financial year speaks to a failed collective leadership over the years despite having resources.

Organization Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo said that the development is a good baseline for the new administration which promised Zambians that it has ideas that can turn around the economic fortunes of the country and actualize its potential.

Mr Mwaipopo said this opportunity has been given to the new dawn government by Zambians to demonstrate their capability by pulling the country out of the downgrade especially since Zambia has all the resources needed to prosper into a middle-income country.

He said there is a need for a renewed commitment towards rebuilding the country and for those in leadership; a clear reconstruction road map will need to be provided.

And Green Party Leader Peter Sinkamba has said that he is saddened that Zambia’s efforts to reach the upper middle-income status are not yielding positive results.

Commenting on the World Bank’s reclassification of Zambia to Low Income Status from Lower Middle Income for the 2023 financial year, Mr. Sinkamba attributed the development to the failure to manage the mining and energy sectors being the main contributors to the economy.

Mr. Sinkamba is of the view that if the green party’s agenda to have cannabis legalized was properly implemented, the country would not have been on the position it is now as it would have reached the upper middle income status and reached the set goal for 2030.

He has since called on government to reorganize the mining sector and resolve issues surrounding Konkola copper Mine and Mopani and to also look into the price of fuel which he said is too high.

Meanwhile, Economic Freedom Fighters also said that the re-classification of Zambia by the World Bank to the low-income status from lower middle income, for the 2023 financial year has eroded the country’s reputation on the ability to repay debt and attract meaningful investments.

The deterioration of Gross National Income per capita estimates recorded in 2021-using the World Bank Atlas method has resulted in the re-classification of Zambia by the World Bank to the low-income status from lower middle income, for the 2023 financial year.

Party Secretary-General Changala Siame said that the economic status that the country has assumed cannot attract investors as Zambians will be deemed incapable of buying their outputs.

Mr. Siame said this development is embarrassing and has castigated some Economists for misleading the nation over the matter saying this will lead to higher unemployment and more suffering for poor Zambians.