President Hakainde Hichilema yesterday toured the construction site of the multi-million dollar 800-bed capacity King Salman Bin Abdelaziz specialist hospital for women and children in Lusaka.

President Hichilema has thanked the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and King Salman Bin Abdelaziz for the support rendered to Zambia.

The President was taken around the construction site as he occasionally waved at the jubilant workers.

President Hichilema encouraged the construction workers to continue working hard before taking some photographs with them.

Later President Hichilema visited Munyaule market where he interacted with marketeers, bus drivers and the public.

Here the President also gave the traders and onlookers an opportunity to take pictures with him.

Below is the president’s full post

This afternoon we toured the Saudi Arabian-funded King Salman Bin Abdulaziz 800 bed specialised hospital project near Lilayi in Lusaka, under construction.

We are grateful to both the King and the People of the Kingdom, for this support and solidarity to the people of Zambia. Through the Saudi Embassy in our country, we have assured King Salman Bin Abdulaziz that the hospital construction will be under our close watch.

This project is a demonstration of our promise to ensure quality healthcare for all citizens. Our vision as government is to ensure that we build well stocked health facilities with well trained and highly motivated health workers so that there is no one being flown out of the country to seek medical care irrespective of their status in society.

Once more, we thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this support which we will ensure that it benefits all our people.

May God bless our two great Countries and their peoples.
God bless you all.
Hakainde Hichilema
President of the Republic of Zambia.

A trial in a matter in which former Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo is jointly charged with six others, has commenced in the Chinsali Magistrate’s Court in Muchinga Province.

Mr. Kampyongo who is also Shiwangàndu Member of Parliament and six others are jointly charged with the offence of endangering the Safety of an Aircraft contrary to the Safety Aviation Act Chapter 445 of the laws of Zambia.

Others jointly charged with Mr. Kampyongo are Andrew Kampyongo, James Sunge Mulenga, Cephus Mwaba Matumbo, Phillip Sinkala, Ignius Musonda and Augustine Kapolyongo.

In another matter, the Chinsali Magistrate’s court in Muchinga Province has discontinued a matter of assault in which Chinsali Member of Parliament Kalalwe Mukosa is jointly charged with three others.

Most of this case was played out at the Commission of Inquiry into the Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence.

According to the Commission’s report, it had recommended that appropriate authorities should re-open the case involving Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo’s cousin Andrew’s involvement in the 2015 and 2016 helicopter incidents.

In its report, the Commission revealed that it received numerous submissions from UPND officials, led by its party deputy secretary general Patrick Mucheleka to the effect that when his team flew to Shiwang’andu to campaign on January 1, 2015, their helicopter was attacked and almost brought down by PF cadres when it wanted to land at Kalalantekwe Primary School ground.

“The UPND campaign team comprised Hon. Mutale Nalumango, Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa (former first lady), Hon. Felix Mutati and Hon. Mucheleka. He also submitted that the UPND had secured a police permit to hold the intended rally and that its supporters were gathered at Kalalantekwe Primary School grounds. Hon. Mucheleka further submitted that upon arrival at the venue of the rally, the helicopter was attacked and almost brought down by PF cadres. He submitted that this happened in the presence of police officers who were assigned to police the rally. Hon. Mucheleka submitted that the said police officers did not act to restrain the PF cadres. In addition, Hon. Mucheleka submitted that: ‘I was personally able to see Hon. Kampyongo in a GRZ Pajero from a distance watching and giving instructions. I saw him with my two eyes that was in January, 2015. The matter was reported at Shiwang’andu District Police Station and no single culprit was arrested; the local people gave names of those who were responsible.’ Hon. Mucheleka further submitted that he had a video footage of the whole incident in his possession and would avail the same to the Commission,” the Commission revealed.

The Commission narrated that another petitioner named Felix Chabatama in Shiwang’andu District submitted that whilst waiting to be addressed by UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema at the named school ground in 2015, he saw Kangwa coming in a GRZ vehicle that was being driven by Kampyongo.

“The petitioner also submitted that, just before the helicopter could land, he saw about 200 PF cadres with PF chitenge materials, supplied by the Shiwang’andu DC, running towards the school grounds. The petitioner further submitted that, when the helicopter landed, he was unable to move because over 100 PF cadres attacked him and other UPND supporters. He submitted that, ‘next I saw the younger brother to Hon. Kampyongo, Andrew Kampyongo, driving a Land Cruiser with four doors, speeding to where we were.’ The petitioner further submitted that he fell down and Andrew drove over his left hand and then sped off towards the helicopter, but, fortunately, the helicopter flew away before Andrew got there. Subsequently, a lot of confusion erupted’,” the Commission disclosed.

It added that another petitioner at the Shiwang’andu public sitting named Kangwa Chitongo submitted that during the same period under review, his light truck was hired to ferry UPND cadres to Kalalantekwe Primary School on the day of the UPND rally and whilst at that place, Andrew Kampyongo drove to where he was parked and directed him to move his vehicle, failure to which, the Minister’s cousin would smash his truck.

The Commission revealed that:

“Another petitioner at the Shiwang’andu public sitting, Maureen Bwembya, submitted that there was another helicopter incident in Shiwang’andu District that happened on the 13th June, 2016. She submitted that this incident involved a helicopter, which was carrying the UPND leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, and other party officials. The petitioner submitted that this helicopter was prevented from landing at Kalalantekwe Primary School grounds by PF cadres. The petitioner submitted that, on the material day, she was coming from Mukwikile Village, and as she approached the venue of the UPND meeting, she saw a lot of people in PF regalia within the vicinity and wondered whether the meeting was for PF or UPND. Upon inquiry, she was assured by the UPND security detail that it was their meeting and that they would ensure that law and order was maintained.”

It also disclosed how it heard that PF cadres lit a huge fire at the school ground with a view to block the UPND helicopter from landing.

“The petitioner further submitted that when the helicopter carrying their party president and other officials arrived, PF cadres lit a huge fire on Kalalantekwe Primary School grounds and kept on lighting more fires in the surrounding areas, therefore, making the helicopter have nowhere to land. The petitioner further submitted that there was a lot of confusion at this stage and that the UPND meeting was disrupted. She submitted that the helicopter flew away and ended up landing at another place where the UPND proceeded to hold their meeting,” the Commission stated.

And when summoned during the sitting, Kangwa admitted that there were two helicopter incidences in the district in 2015 and 2016, but denied having been involved in the 2015 one, saying that she was not DC as the time.

On the 2016 incident, the Commission stated that Kangwa refused to allow the helicopter to land at Kallantekwe Primary School grounds because it was exam time and it would have disturbed the pupils.

“On the 2016 incident, Ms Kangwa submitted that she refused to allow the helicopter to land at Kalalantekwe Primary School grounds because it was during examination time and the pupils would have been disturbed. She submitted that, ‘I denied permission to the police who came to ask for permission from me. I refused, as DC! I serve the pupils as well as the community. What I know is that a chopper can land anywhere, on a pipeline or even on a roof or a toilet. I was following the guidelines of the PF, it should not be like the old UNIP days where pupils were disturbed and they would even miss class. It is our policy to prevent that’,” Kangwa told the Commission.

“On the allegation that a Landcruiser prevented the helicopter from landing, Ms Kangwa submitted that, ‘I want to say that, yes, there was a Landcruiser, but it did not disturb the helicopter. I don’t know who was driving the Landcruiser, but I suspect it was a UPND person. People say it was Andrew Kampyongo, but I know Andrew Kampyongo, he also has a Landcruiser, but he was not the one driving that very Landcruiser, I was with him in Chinsali when all that was happening. I am also aware that based on these allegations, Andrew Kampyongo was arrested by the police, but after the findings, they discovered that it was not him and they let him go’.”

The Commission added that when accorded chance to defend himself, the then Home Affairs Minister Kampyongo submitted that the allegations against him were false and that it was a misrepresentation of the truth as he was 65 kilometres away from the place where the incident happened.

The Commission further stated that Kampyongo also submitted that Andrew was his cousin and that, being a youth, he found himself on the wrong side of the law at times.

In its observations, however, the Commission, however, noted that there was no action taken against the perpetrators of both helicopter incidences.

It further observed that Andrew Kampyongo was at the centre of both the 2015 and 2016 helicopter incidents and, that Kangwa acted outside her mandate as a public servant by being actively engaged in partisan politics.

The Commission recommended the need for thorough investigations by the relevant authorities to ascertain the actual number of instigators and perpetrators of the 2015 and 2016 Shiwang’andu incidents.

Further, the Commission insisted that there was need for appropriate authorities to re-open the case relating to Andrew’s involvement in the 2015 and 2016 helicopter incidences.

It also stated that there was need for Kangwa to be censured and appropriate sanctions against her be taken by the appointing authority.

Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati has assured Zambians who voted into office the UPND Alliance in masses that the New Dawn Government is working tirelessly to deliver on its campaign promises given in the run-up to the August 12 general elections.

Speaking when he addressed residents of Chombela village in Katuba constituency today, Mr Mutati said President Hakainde Hichilema is a man of his words who will stop at nothing to uplift the living standards of the Zambian people.

Mr Mutati said this is already evident through the increased allocation of the Constituency Development Funds CDF from K1.6 Million to K25.7 Million Kwacha, an indicator that development should be people-centred and driven.

And Mr Mutati said his ministry targets to identify vulnerable youths even those without formal education qualification who will be enrolled into technical, vocation and skills training institutions at government expense and are then expected to contribute towards developing their areas of residence.

Mr Mutati explained to the people that through the decentralization of resource management under the CDF, President Hichilema has given leeway for people to manage their own challenges in constituencies, unlike what was the situation previously where the funds were remotely managed to from Lusaka.

The minister noted that the country has been failing to effectively roll out meaningful development to many areas because of the approach previously used in the management for of resources such as the CDF as it was not a bottom-up but up – bottom approach in addressing challenges.

Meanwhile, Mr Mutati said the Head of State has tasked all his ministers to go flat out to explain to the Zambian population the New Dawn Government policies, including the grassroot in rural Zambia.

He said among the many deliverables Zambians should commend the UPND Alliance government is the free education policy, recruitment of teachers and healthcare workers as all necessary steps are being taken to fulfill campaign promises.

He said Zambians already did their part by voting into office this administration and therefore, the people need to allow the government to deliver on its promises that are aimed at developing the entire country.

Hon Mutati was in Katuba to make a personal donation to the people of Chombela village through the Namucho Kids services Limited which is an Ophanage and home for the underprivileged that houses 200 children with the youngest being 1 year old, 50 people living with disabilities and 50 old aged people with the oldest being 101.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stanley Kakubo has announced that President Hakainde Hichilema is scheduled to travel to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday 18th January 2022.

In a statement made available to the media, Mr Kakubo said that President Hichilema accepted an invitation from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai to grace the National Day of the Republic of Zambia at the World Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday 20th January, 2022, which is themed: “Come to Zambia, A Land of Peace and Opportunities”.

On Wednesday 19th January 2022, ahead of the Expo, the President is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, signifying Zambia’s growing notable presence on the global stage.

Zambia is among the 192 countries participating at the Dubai Expo, which runs from 1st October, 2021 to 31st March 2022, and presents a great opportunity to create synergies between advanced and emerging economies to promote equitable growth and development.

Over 40 Zambian companies are expected to participate in the event to showcase the country’s enormous potential for trade, investment and tourism, and cultural endowments.

On the margins of the National Day at the Expo, the Republic of Zambia will hold a Business Forum under the theme: Doing Business in Zambia, bringing together government representatives, industry captains and potential investors.

Mr Kakubo said that in line with the Government’s vision of ensuring economic transformation and sustainable development, the President will also hold meetings with the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA); Abu Dhabi Fund for Development; Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, and DP World.

The President’s engagements with strategic partners are of great significance to Zambia, as they will contribute immensely towards the Government’s vision of turning around the economy, promoting trade and investment, through the consolidation of bilateral relations with the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Kakubo said that President Hichilema has repeatedly underscored his administration’s unwavering commitment to serving the country through, among other strategies, implementation of robust and ambitious economic programmes and partnerships that will help turn around the country’s economy.

Therefore, the government is confident that the participation of the president at the expo will translate into tangible benefits for the people of Zambia.

President Hichilema and his delegation are scheduled to return to Zambia on 22nd January, 2022.

United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary-General Batuke Imenda has challenged former Justice Minister Given Lubinda to explain his involvement in the alleged ZESCO Asset stripping.

Former ZESCO Board Chairman Dr. Mbita Chitala has made shocking revelations in his book ‘Corporate Capture,’ that acting PF President and former Justice Minister Given Lubinda while in government, instructed him to approve the sale of 7.9 hectares of ZESCO land for 253,000 US dollars to a Chinese friend of the former Minister.

But Mr. Imenda says this attempt at asset stripping of a major public company by a conflicted person who was also a politically connected individual in the high echelons of power, has shocked Zambians to the bone. Mr. Imenda strongly believes that the PF is a criminal enterprise and these revelations are just the tip of the iceberg of the criminal activities of the former ruling party.

In a statement, the UPND Secretary-General has commended the former ZESCO Board Chairman Dr. Chitala for being courageous and patriotic in revealing this crime.

He has called upon other Zambians that may have any information on the illegal activities of the ruling party, to emulate Dr. Chitala and come forward and tell their story.