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The Fall Of Syrian Dictator Bashir Al Assad

Chief Editor
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The Fall Of Syrian Dictator Bashir Al Assad

Today there are celebrations in Syria after the rebels overrun Damscus and bumped off power the tyrant Bashir Al Assad. Assad has been in power for several years and reign has been brutal and barbaric. He ruled Syria like his personal farm and butchered thousands of people including little children and women.

Russia had protected him for several years as he aligned himself with Iran just to help protect himself from the West which fought his autocratic rule for over two decades. Assad is now history as he has been consumed by his own egotistical stupidity and insatiable appetite and thirst for stay in power perpetually against the will of millions of his people. Syria is a wreck of a country with cities lying in debris and once highest buildings lying in ruins.

The fall of the mighty Al-Assad is a huge lesson to power-drunk leaders across the world who have chosen tyranny from democracy as the best way to ruling people. Assad had survived a number of assassination attempts on his life and thought he had become an indispensable paragon of long life rule as a rich tyrant but his own demons have confounded him and eluded him like a defenceless little child crying in the woods. His allies have abandoned him at a time he needed them to rule Syria until death. He has fled Damascus alive and he fears the unknown wherever he has sought sanctuary among his weak and scared allies. He could be fearing his own shadow as his enemies he denied justice and democratic rule are closing in on him. His fortified homes replete with all comforts the money from oil can give could not preserve him in power. The ornate mansions he enjoyed with millions of people suffering poverty and the ravages of war are now like ghost buildings calling for sanity to be restored. “What shall it profit a tyrant to build multiple mega mansions and yet lose his soul, running away from justice which he denied to millions of his people subjected to reign of terror. His brutal and merciless machinery which tortured innocent souls and abused honest people has now reached a dead end. It would take a miracle from Allah, and billions of dollars to be invested in the fight against his enemies for Assad to get one percent chance of survival in the bottomless pit of hell. The fact of the matter is that Assad has come to the dark end of the street leading him to an alleyway of extinction and flight to Paradise as a strong Moslem who has hope for life beyond the grave. His supporters afraid of their own shadows are now gnashing their teeth in fury as allies turned their backs on them. They are probably at the back of beyond.

The fall of Assad is a lesson that no matter how strong you are as head of state even living on the moon and under water, time to fall like a bombed skyscraper building comes and such times are interesting because midgets or dwarfs knock down and out the unbeaten and indomitable global giants. Assad has one option! That is to go back to his God (Allah) and ask for forgiveness. Africa has so many miniature Assads. Their role model is on the run for asylum in any Islamic Republic where his safety and security will be guaranteed.

Those with parochial wishes to rule people forever will have to bite their lips and see who can lead the country with great honour . Dictatorship may have a long span but its end is ever inevitable. That is why Africa witnessed the fall Genera of Idi Amin Dada life President of Uganda, Emperor Jean Bedel-Bokassa of the Central African Republic who had the audacity to marry hundreds of women white and black; Marcias Nguema of the Equatorial Guinea who stole huge sums of oil money from the coffers of his government; Mobutu Sese Seko Wazabanga Kuku Mulopwe Life President of Zaire who drove his country closer to bankruptcy despite its abundant costly minerals found in many parts of the now trouble-torn country; Ngwazi Hastings Kamuzu Banda life President who thought he owned the people of Malawi on behalf of God but died with severe dementia after suffering defeat at the hands of Bakili Muluzi when democracy swept away tyranny from the tea garden country of Malawi where freedoms were denied to millions of citizens forced to worship Kamuzu Banda as a closer to immortal human being; let alone Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia who was among the founders of the Organisation of African Unity the precursor to the Aftican Union who swum in the pool of blood of executed beautiful girls smoking dagga and calling himself the Lord of Lords and Saviour to the amusement of diehard Rastafarians who found a great Saviour in a dead man. Dictatorship is beautiful on face value but its end is tragic and regrettable.

By Shaddon Chanda
Academician and Historian

What happened to the Hichilema we had in opposition?

Chief Editor
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What happened to the Hichilema we had in opposition?

By Sishuwa Sishuwa

It all started in early October last year when rumours swelled that former president Edgar Lungu, who, having initially retired from politics in August 2021, was planning a political comeback, seeking to capitalise on the growing public discontent against his successor Hakainde Hichilema. In response, a ruling party activist swiftly petitioned the Constitutional Court, seeking a declaration that Lungu is not eligible to stand in any future election because of the constitutional two-term limit.

Initially, there were 11 judges of the Constitutional Court who were set to hear and determine the Lungu eligibility case. Of these, six were generally seen as set to rule in Lungu’s favour since he had appointed all of them and they had, on previous occasions, ruled that he was eligible to stand. The remaining five judges – consisting of four new justices appointed by Hichilema and one Lungu-appointed judge but promoted by Hichilema who has consistently ruled that he does not qualify to stand for another election – were generally seen as set to rule in Hichilema’s favour. Upon realising that he lacked a clear majority on the Constitutional Court bench, Hichilema fired three judges, bringing the total number of the remaining judges to eight – four judges appointed by Hichilema and four appointed by Lungu.

Then, the deputy president of the Constitutional Court Arnold Mweetwa Shilimi – one of the newly appointed judges and a very close personal friend of Hichilema – stopped one of the experienced judges, appointed by Lungu, from taking part in the eligibility case on the basis that the panel of judges hearing the matter should consist of an odd, not an even, number. This decision further reduced the total number of judges who finally sat to hear the Lungu eligibility case to seven, made up of one Judge appointed by Lungu but promoted by Hichilema and four judges appointed by Hichilema and the two who were appointed by Lungu.

Since one of the three Lungu-appointed judges has been promoted by Hichilema and has always ruled that Lungu is not eligible to stand for election, the number of judges widely seen as likely to rule in Hichilema’s political interest is five with the remaining two likely to dissent or abandon their previous decisions and follow suit. This five is the guaranteed majority that Hichilema is counting on to exclude his main rival from the 2026 election when the case comes up for ruling on Tuesday, 10 December 2024. With a reconstituted Constitutional Court, the outcome of the eligibility case is such a foregone conclusion that it can only go one way.

Hichilema thinks that removing Lungu, his main rival, reinforces his chances of re-election. To the contrary, the orchestrated exclusion of Lungu is a grave miscalculation that will come back to haunt Hichilema. In addition to the lasting damage a pro-Hichilema verdict will cause to both the remnants of credibility of the Constitutional Court and, more generally, the already weakened standing of the judiciary, the exclusion of Lungu opens room for the emergence of a better and perhaps more credible opposition challenger.

I am aware that Hichilema also plans to disqualify Fred M’membe from the 2026 election using a dubious conviction from one of the many trumped-up charges the state or supporters of the ruling party have brought against the opposition Socialist Party leader. Not even the added exclusion of M’membe will save Hichilema, though the move, after the previous exclusion of Lungu, will further heighten tension and leave the country on the brink of social unrest. Hichilema’s record in office – particularly on the main issues such as anti-corruption, national unity, the economy, the state of democracy and human rights, and the cost-of-living crisis – is so dreadfully poor that it is his single major opponent. All the excluded candidates will have to do is to back the common candidate who will be adopted by the opposition.

Unless he manipulates the constitution to extend his stay in office or remove the requirement that the winning presidential candidate should secure over 50% of the total votes cast, I simply do not see Hichilema winning a second term in 2026. Hichilema probably knows this, which might explain why he is increasingly using repression to contain dissent, inducing traditional leaders and weaker opposition parties to endorse him, and destroying the more serious political opposition, instead of delivering on his election campaign promises.

Having spent fifteen years in opposition, it is understandable that Hichilema does not want to leave power after only five years. However, he only has himself to blame for the growing public discontent against his leadership. He has antagonised the multi-ethnic coalition that brought him to power, concentrated on fighting his predecessor rather than governing, prioritised the arrest of political opponents and critics rather than the deplorable economic conditions in which majority Zambians continue to live, paid more attention to the interests of foreign actors especially mining companies rather than domestic concerns, nurtured high-level corruption in government, destroyed any remaining semblance of autonomy in formal institutions by packing them with loyalists, and embraced and refined the authoritarian tendencies of his predecessors. All things considered, Hichilema is a failed political experiment.

Sometimes I ask myself: what has happened to the Hichilema we had in opposition? The Hichilema in opposition could actively listen and learn. He promised people what they wanted, identified with the people and their needs, and played the part of the ordinary citizen who can represent all citizens. He appeared as a decent political leader who was outraged by anti-democratic or repressive legislation, abuse, injustice, lies, corruption, and ethnic-regional divisions, and a steady pair of hands who could help restore Zambia’s democratic tradition and resuscitate the faltering economy. In power or since his ascent to the position of President, Hichilema has so easily found comfort in the company of all the vices he denounced in opposition that one may think his conscience has been stolen. What would Hichilema’s former self think of him now?

Lacking intellectual curiosity, the Hichilema in power is dripping with arrogance and talks even where he should listen. He is extremely detached from reality, has U-turned on many of the positions that made him attractive to most Zambians when he was in opposition, and has systematically moved to alienate the various constituencies (in the broader sense) that voted for him. Much of his behaviour seems to be geared – if any sense can be attributed to it – towards deliberately shedding the support that brought him into office, and certainly not mobilising support from anywhere. Indeed, he seems to enjoy de-mobilising his earlier support. Since he was elected, he shows very little sign of feeling any need for popular support. On the contrary, he goes out of his way to spit in the faces of his former supporters. Perhaps he is supremely confident of using the Electoral Commission of Zambia, the police, and the judiciary – formal institutions that he has loaded with his supporters – to steal the election. Perhaps he aims to declare an interminable state of emergency. Maybe he aims to change the constitution so that he can never be removed from office.

In 2006, President Levy Mwanawasa said this about Hichilema: “His understanding of politics is that it doesn’t matter; you can cheat, provided you get your goals. The problem [with] Mr Hichilema is…that he wants to cheat, to mislead, to show that he is what he is not”. Was Hichilema a fraud who fooled many into believing that he was a bankable candidate only to show his true colours after assuming State power? Or perhaps he was, all along, just an incompetent political leader whose many weaknesses we overlooked in our quest to get rid of Lungu and a compulsive liar who made various promises which he had no intention of implementing and, in many cases, had the definite intention of doing exactly the opposite? Was his strategy to propose popular policies in order to get elected, and then to drop them after his election?

Whatever the case, I miss the Hichilema we had before 2021. The one we have now is a completely different Hichilema I increasingly no longer recognise. What has really happened to the Hichilema we had in opposition?

France And Zambia Sign Landmark Bilateral Agreement On Debt Restructuring

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France And Zambia Sign Landmark Bilateral Agreement On Debt Restructuring

In a significant step towards resolving Zambia’s debt challenges, the Government of Zambia and the Government of France have signed a landmark bilateral agreement on debt restructuring. The agreement stems from the recommendations laid out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2023 under the G20-Paris Club Common Framework for Debt Treatment beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI).

Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, signed the agreement on behalf of Zambia. Representing France was Mr. William Roos, Head of Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, who also serves as Co-Chair of the Paris Club.

This historic agreement marks the first concluded under the October MoU, paving the way for the finalization of an additional 15 agreements with other creditor nations. These pending agreements, currently under negotiation, are crucial for delivering comprehensive debt treatment designed to bolster Zambia’s economic recovery efforts.

Dr. Musokotwane hailed the agreement as a vital step in addressing Zambia’s debt sustainability challenges, underscoring its importance in providing the fiscal space needed to prioritize economic recovery, social investments, and sustainable development initiatives. He expressed Zambia’s gratitude to the French Government, the G20, and the Paris Club for their commitment to a fair and effective resolution of the country’s financial difficulties.

“This agreement is a testament to the power of international cooperation in tackling the debt sustainability challenges faced by developing nations,” Dr. Musokotwane stated.

Mr. Roos highlighted France’s commitment to fostering collaboration and ensuring equitable outcomes for Zambia. Accompanying him at the signing ceremony were France’s Ambassador to Zambia, Mr. Thomas Rosignol, and Mr. Thibaut Dornon, Head of the Regional Economic Department for Southern Africa.

ZESCO Adjusts Load Management Amid Power Import Shortfall

Lusaka Times Editor
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ZESCO Adjusts Load Management Amid Power Import Shortfall

ZESCO Adjusts Load Management Amid Power Import Shortfall

ZESCO Limited has revised its load management measures following an announcement from Mozambique’s power utility, EDM, that electricity exports to Zambia have been indefinitely halted. The decision stems from a significant power generation disruption in Mozambique, which has slashed Zambia’s power imports by up to 300 megawatts.

In a statement released by ZESCO’s Corporate Communications Department, the utility company explained that these imports were crucial in bridging Zambia’s power supply gap caused by a hydropower generation deficit attributed to prolonged drought conditions. The imported electricity, sourced through agreements with independent power traders and EDM, had been a vital supplement to Zambia’s energy grid.

“With the unavailability of these imports, ZESCO has no choice but to implement emergency load management measures to cope with the reduced power supply,” the statement read.

The revised measures mean residential customers will now face shorter power supply hours than the scheduled 7-hour daily provision. ZESCO acknowledged the inconvenience and assured the public that every effort was being made to stabilize the situation as quickly as possible.

This development is a setback for Zambia’s energy sector, which has faced ongoing challenges due to over-reliance on hydropower and climate-induced water shortages. Stakeholders are urging accelerated investment in alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind, to reduce dependency on imports and mitigate future power supply crises.

ZESCO has called on customers to bear with the situation and conserve energy where possible. Further updates on the power supply and load management schedule will be shared in the coming

Reverse the Order

Chief Editor
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Reverse the Order

Friend, some people live with a victim mentality or a lack mind-set, always feeling as though they’ll never get ahead, nobody gives them the time of day, they’re the least important. But our lot in life is to excel, to be the head and not the tail. You may be the tail now, but a great reversal is coming. God has ways of shifting things in your favor. Good breaks, divine connections, and favor will catapult you to the front.

Now you don’t have to strive, manipulate people, or force doors to open to make this happen. Just keep honoring God, doing the right thing when it’s hard, being good to people who are not being good to you. Keep praising God. Do your part, and God will do His part. Promotion doesn’t come from people; it comes from the Lord. The God we serve knows how to reverse the order. You’ll go from the back to the front, from being overlooked to being honored, from struggling to succeeding. It may not have happened yet, but your reversal is already on the schedule.

Today’s Scripture

“And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”
Luke 13:30, NLT

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for the reversal and favor You’ve already set up on the schedule for me. Thank You for the promotion, the connections, the healing, and the good breaks that You’ve already ordained to come across my path. I believe that You are orchestrating everything around me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”Today’s Scripture
“And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”
Luke 13:30, NLT

Joel Osteen Ministries

Konkola Copper Mines Relaunches Konkola Business Unit Operations with $700 Million Investment

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Konkola Copper Mines Relaunches Konkola Business Unit Operations with $700 Million Investment

Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has officially relaunched its Konkola Business Unit operations in Chililabombwe, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to revitalizing the mine. Over the next five years, KCM plans to invest approximately $700 million to unlock the full potential of the Konkola Mine.

During the relaunch event, KCM Chief Operating Officer (COO) Malcolm Mewett highlighted that the Konkola Mine in Chililabombwe will receive over half of the $1 billion investment pledged by Vedanta Resources Limited for KCM’s overall growth in the coming years.

The Konkola Mine is home to the Konkola Deep Mine Project (KDMP), which boasts one of the world’s largest high-grade copper ore bodies. Mr. Mewett emphasized that the planned $700 million investment in underground developments at Konkola Mine will unlock vast copper resources and significantly boost copper production.

“This investment will enable us to achieve our target of producing 300,000 tonnes of copper per annum and contribute significantly to the Government’s vision of reaching three million tonnes of annual copper production within the next five years,” Mr. Mewett stated.

He further underscored KCM’s pivotal role in Zambia’s economic growth and reaffirmed the company’s alignment with national strategic objectives for the mining sector.

Representing the KCM Director of Mining, Konkola General Manager Cornelius Chimbanga reaffirmed the mine’s status as the cornerstone of KCM operations. He stressed the importance of targeted investments in enhancing the mine’s contribution to Zambia’s GDP while highlighting KCM’s commitment to sustainable and profitable growth in the region.

The Lobito Corridor: A Lifeline for Global Industry, but a Trap for Africa’s Resources?

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The Lobito Corridor: A Lifeline for Global Industry, but a Trap for Africa’s Resources?

Cairo to Cape, Lobito Bay Bwengela Railway, same interests, same goals, Africa’s raw materials are at stake.
They will never support industries to process Africa’s raw materials. They will never set up value addition and beneficiation industries.But they will set up a road and rail to ship raw materials out Africa. They will set up dams and hydro-power stations to power the mines.

But they won’t invest in the agriculture sector to make africa sustainable. But they will donate food.
When they invest in the agricultural sector, it’s to promote cash crops like cocoa, tobacco, tea, coffee, flowers and grapes to support european and western lifestyles and tastes and not to feed Africa.

The Lobito Corridor is being promoted to extract critical minerals of lithium, copper, cobalt, manganese and nickel required for the energy transition from fossil fuels to electric vehicles and batteries.
Sadly African leaders fall in the same trap again and again.

By Emmanual Mwamba

ZESCO to implement 7 hour power supply

Chief Editor
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ZESCO to implement 7 hour power supply

ZESCO Limited says relative power supply stability will enable the company to implement seven hour electricity supply schedules for residential customers effective 6th December.

The development follows the completion of maintenance works on the Zambian component of the Zambia – Namibia interconnector and the normalized power import flows through the Zambia – Zimbabwe interconnector.

And ZESCO says some customers have experienced power supply for slightly extended periods in recent days because of the availability of power supplies from independent power traders from the Southern African Power Pool market for their customers in the Demoratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Utility Company says the power which is transported via the Zambian network was temporarily available to customers during corrective maintenance work on the Zambia – DRC interconnector.

Meanwhile Zesco projects a 1,700 megawatts power production increase if the country records normal to above normal rainfall in 2025.

Speaking at the European Union-Zambia Business Club quarter engagement in Lusaka, Zesco Acting Managing Director Justin Loongo said this will consequently result in the country experiencing 12 hours of power supply.

Opening of Community Eye Clinic at Kafue Gorge Hospital Brings Accessible Eye Health Care to Chikankata District

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Opening of Community Eye Clinic at Kafue Gorge Hospital Brings Accessible Eye Health Care to Chikankata District

Every child, woman and man in Chikankata District will now have better access to affordable quality eye care with the opening of the Kafue Gorge Eye Clinic, a community vision centre at Kafue Gorge Hospital. The clinic was constructed, outfitted with diagnostic equipment and supplied with furniture through support from Operation Eyesight Universal, an international development organisation that has been working in Zambia since 2001 to prevent blindness and restore sight.

In 2020, Zambia had an estimated 1.4 million people living with vision loss, according to the Vision Atlas of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Globally, 1.1 billion people live with vision loss, and 90 per cent is preventable or treatable.

The Kafue Gorge Eye Clinic is part of Operation Eyesight Universal’s Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Programme model. To support the government’s efforts to increase coverage of eye health services, Operation Eyesight Universal has been implementing the model to improve access to quality eye health services at the community level and to reach
underserved communities. The model integrates eye health services into existing public health facilities (opening of the Kafue Gorge Eye Clinic at Kafue Gorge Hospital), raising community awareness that educates families in preventing eye diseases through a network of Community Health Workers. These workers are recruited from the district, who go door to door, screening everyone’s vision and referring those with vision loss to vision centres and hospitals.

Phiri Kennedy, Zambia Country Director, Operation Eyesight Universal, says, “This is a proud moment for Operation Eyesight as we launch the Kafue Gorge Eye Clinic in Chikankata District. This investment is part of our hospital strengthening thematic area, were we support government to extend quality services to communities that are underserved. We will continue to support the government through this and many other interventions, to take services closer to the
people and prevent avoidable vision loss. We urge the community in Kafue Gorge to fully utilise this service to prevent people from losing sight unnecessarily.”

As a partner of Operation Eyesight Universal, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation is supporting the project by equipping the optical shop to dispense eyeglasses. “Partnerships are the driving force behind progress in vision care. The collaboration between Operation Eyesight Universal and the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation at the Kafue Gorge Clinic
demonstrates how collective efforts can address vision care challenges holistically. From equipping the clinic and training teachers to conduct eye exams and promoting community awareness, this partnership is transforming access to eye health services in Zambia, paving the way for a future where everyone can see the world clearly,” said Mustapha Njie, Head of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation in Africa.

The opening of the Kafue Gorge Clinic is part of the eye health care work Operation Eyesight is carrying out in Zambia in 2024, which includes:
• opening the Kafue Gorge Eye Clinic (community vision centre) at Kafue Gorge Hospital;
• providing eye exams for more than 100,000 people at partner hospitals, vision centres
(such as the Kafue Gorge Eye Clinic) and outreach camps;
• conducting vision screenings for 15,000 pupils through school screening camps;
• Trained 61 health workers in Primary Eye care
• performing 540 sight-saving surgeries;
• rehabilitating 71 dysfunctional boreholes to provide clean water close to communities
(this helps prevent trachoma, a blinding eye disease, and improves the lives of women
and girls who can focus on their livelihoods and school rather than hauling water);
• dispensing 2,796 prescription spectacles (including readers).

Celebrating the Superstar Barbara Banda

Chief Editor
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Celebrating the Superstar Barbara Banda

I was thrilled, happy and beaming with pride when I learned that The Orlando Pride Zambian striker Barbara Banda was voted the BBC Women’s Footballer of The Year. This is after her performances in the 2024 Olympics, and in the National Women’s Soccer League after becoming the second most expensive women’s signing in history at over K20 million, $740,000.00 or £585,691. I began to scour and surf the internet for video clips so that I could just enjoy and review what this Zambian woman had to overcome to make this great achievement.

Once the reporter informed her about the BBC award in the middle of her team meeting, she was very surprised and happy. In the brief interview she was gracious and expressed humility and thanked the BBC, her teammates and coaches and the Orlando Pride football fans for their support in cheering for her and her teammates. She was very polite, respectful and humble as most of us Zambians are raised. I was not surprised that Wikipedia had already opened a page for her. She has already broken records in goal scoring during the last 12 months.

We Zambians and all Barbara Banda supporters around Africa and the world should celebrate this great achievement by the 24-year-old woman coming from societies where the cultures generally prohibit or discourage young girls and women from participating in sports. Let us encourage daughters and other young girls not only to play football or soccer but to participate in other sports.

When this thrilling news went viral around the globe, I was not surprised when the press reports suggested the Zambian star, according to one press report “was soon on the receiving end of a tidal wave of transphobic abuse, with some claiming her victory was ‘damaging to women’s sport’.” Leading the charge in vile insults in this hostile opposition was no other than the best-selling author of Harry Potter JK Rowling. “Harry Potter author JK Rowling was among those who criticized the BBC awarding Banda, saying the decision amounted to ‘spitting in women’s faces’.” according to one press report. The general opposition point of view is that Barbara Banda is a man playing on a girls’ or women’s sport or soccer team.

I have been a sociologist since 1972 or the last 52 years. I taught general anthropology for 31 years including understanding human sexuality and gender. I will first describe the variations in human sexuality. Second, I will state my assessment of Barbara Banda’s sexuality and what it is not. Lastly, I will appeal to you to understand and appreciate the natural complexity of human sexuality and gender that might be reflected in Barbara Banda and other gender-related sexual controversies today.

Over fifty to a hundred thousand years of human evolution, biological sex reproduction has had variety: Heterosexual males is sexual attraction to someone of the female sex; Heterosexual female is the sexual attraction to someone of the male sex; Homosexuality, gay or lesbian is the sexual attraction to someone of the same sex.

Intersexual are people whose bodies (including genitals) have both female and male characteristics; Hermaphrodites is the original Greek term refers to intersexual people who have both female ovary and male testis; Transsexuals or Transgender are people who feel they are one sex even though biologically they are the other sex; Bisexuality is sexual attraction to people of both sexes, and finally, Asexuality are people who lack sexual attraction to people of either sex.

My assessment from what I have explored from a distance is that Barbara is not a man but she is a girl or a woman. I will say some more about this after I describe what is called: According to one article, “5-alpha reductase deficiency (5ARD) is a genetic condition that affects sexual development in people with 46, XY chromosomes and testes.” People with 5ARD may produce normal amounts of testosterone, but what is crucial is that their bodies cannot convert the testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is a hormone critical or very important for male sexual development. If any girl or woman has this condition, it is natural. It is not something they planned or like a drug that they decided to take in order to excel, beat. dominate or cheat other girls or women at sports.

There is a commonly accepted logical statement that says: “if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck then it is a duck.” Barbara Banda to me looks like a girl, runs like a girl, has a high-pitched voice like a girl, therefore she is a girl.” Barbara Banda is not transgender which seems to be a flash point for those angrily arguing: “men should not play in women’s sports teams”.

One argument one can make is that if Barbara Banda was a man, the Zambian Copper Queens women’s national soccer team could easily have won the 2023 women’s soccer world cup. If she was a man, she could have easily scored 30 goals. But instead, Japan women’s team beat Zambia women’s team 5 – 0. Spain beat Zambia 5 -0. In these 2 games, Barbara Banda did not score a single goal. In the women’s 2024 Olympic Football, the Zambia women team lost all the 3 games in the group matches. Barbara Banda scored a hat trick scoring 3 goals in Zambia’s 5 – 6 loss to Australia. Barbara Banda is a Zambian woman who loves football or soccer and works very hard and best of all she is on the rise and just about to reach her peak. The sky is the limit for this 24-year-old Zambian woman.

By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D

Emeritus Professor of Sociology

Preliminary Forensic Audit Uncovers Corruption in Zambia’s Healthcare Sector

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Preliminary Forensic Audit Uncovers Corruption in Zambia’s Healthcare Sector

President Hakainde Hichilema announced yesterday the preliminary findings of a forensic audit into the Ministry of Health, specifically the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA). The audit, commissioned by the government, marks a decisive step in Zambia’s fight against corruption and its efforts to improve healthcare service delivery.

The audit, covering the period from January 2023 to December 2024, has revealed instances of corruption where individuals have profited illicitly from drugs intended for the public. Speaking on the findings, President Hichilema reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rooting out corruption across all sectors.

“This audit exposes selfish individuals who have been exploiting resources meant to benefit our people,” said President Hichilema. “We will not tolerate corruption in any form, especially in critical areas such as healthcare. Our mission is to ensure transparency and accountability in all institutions.”

The president also expressed gratitude to Zambia’s cooperating partners for their support in the audit process, which underscores the government’s dedication to creating a robust and equitable healthcare system.

President Hichilema emphasized that similar audits will be undertaken in other key sectors to ensure public institutions prioritize the welfare of citizens over personal gain.

“We are committed to fighting corruption, past, present, and future,” he stated. “Together, let us build a better, more transparent Zambia for all.”

The findings of the forensic audit are expected to lead to further investigations and reforms aimed at strengthening oversight mechanisms within ZAMMSA and the Ministry of Health. This initiative is part of the government’s broader agenda to restore public trust and ensure that vital services reach the people who need them most.

The UPND government’s resolve to tackle corruption has been welcomed by citizens and international partners alike, signaling a renewed focus on accountability and service delivery.

The Day a K10 made me a millionaire!

Chief Editor
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The Day a K10 made me a millionaire!

I was in Yambezhi – my sweetest home district, away from the chaotic life of Kopala visiting my folks when the phone call came. It would change my life for ever!

“Gramps your phone has been ringing…..” my little adorable and chubby granny, Josh darted towards me. The kid must cut down on chicken, his favourite food, I observed.
I was lazing about under a generous shade of a decades-old rosewood tree, slowly munching roasted mice as I enjoyed my munkoyo – of course, my mom is the best brewer of the popular traditional soft drink in the entire Yambezhi!

“Hello…..” I hollered in the phone and waited.
“Mucho (friend)…..where’ve you been?” It was the legendary Lazona…..a chum from boarding school days who was now a big bwana in Zambia Police Service. “You’re all over the news!”

Was he pulling my legs, typical of him? Lazona won’t just call you unless there’s something earth-shattering.

“As far as I can recall, I haven’t robbed a Bank….” I quipped as I waited to figure out where the discourse was heading to.
“My foot! Stop playing monkey tricks with me,” he sounded exasperated. “I wasn’t trained by the Scotland Yard for nothing! Spare me at least 10 pin to fix my BMW. I’ll pay you back at the month end…”

If he only knew how I was desperately hankering for that kind of money, he wouldn’t be teasing me like that. I was now masticating the last bits of my favourite delicacy – the head of the mice, to be precise!

“Iwe, if you don’t claim that money, word on the street is that it shall be forfeited to charity!” he exclaimed.

“I totally have no clue what you’re talking about….” totally at sea.

“Hmmmm” he sounded irritated. “You’ve won the lotto and yet you don’t want to claim the money!”

Say what! Then my mental faculties were awakened to events of the recent days before I made my way to Yambezhi……land of my ancestors. As I stopped at a roadside cafe to grab some water and snacks after a punishing drive from the city, the indifferent shopkeeper claimed he change. I almost summoned days of my youth as a radical one and smacked him right across his mouth! How could he afford to be so lethargic and lukewarm when I was in a hurry to get to my folks?

“So what do you expect from me?”
My big eyes swept around the place momentarily. Patrons were frantically completing their lotto tickets. At that particular moment, a fancy idea crossed my feeble mind. It wouldn’t break a bone or two if I splurged a few coins on lotto.

“Okay, give me a lotto ticket……” I pronounced, authoritatively.

I didn’t even waste time figuring out the numbers…..I just picked my year of birth and added a few other digits here and there and deposited the ticket.

“Lazona…..” I finally found my voice as I recovered from my reverie. “I can confirm I’ve won the lotto!”

All of a sudden, I felt like I was sitting on a nest of thorns. I sprung to my feet and immediately cut the line. I didn’t need my sikolokolo anymore. I retrieved my simcards and tissed it away, violently.

“Are we safe,” my beloved aging mom who had been dosing all along was saying.
Of course, we were safe! I asked our headman to find the most prized heifer in the village…….it was party time! Almost the entire village turned up – we ate the meat, danced to the local renditions even as folks quaffed alcoholic beverages including Chavuma water! Thank God, our village headman cracked the whip and gave marching orders to truant youngsters who tried to spice up the occasion by smoking fwaka ya chingoni!

“Don’t worry old man” I assured the owner of the cow as he kept pestering me for his money. “By 10 o’clock tomorrow, the money will be credited to your phone. Am now a millionaire!”
Good news, just as bad always travels faster! By wee hours of the day, a local businessman who owned a local kantemba was on my door to take me to the station. How word got to him was a matter of guess work.

Anyway, there were still some 30 more seats remaining to filled in the 60 seater bus. I had to be in a place of civilization – where at least, they had some Banks before the end of the day!

“My friend….if you can get me to Solwezi before Banks close, I’d pay for the remaining seats…”

I could see the conductor whispering to the driver; they were of course nodding and grinning as they looked in my direction.
And voila! I was being treated like a King all of a sudden. They allocated me the safest seat behind the driver’s seat and pampered me with all sorts of goodies as the journey progressed.
“Boss, what would you like to eat? Can we get you a drink? Or even water perhaps?” They kept egging me on. “What about bubble gums, don’t you partake?”

Everything seemed to be moving so fast. I immediately called my wife in Kopala and instructed her to go to Toyota Zambia and get a zero mileage ‘ichipaso.’ I also contacted my Bank manager to arrange an over draft for me to secure the most valuable mansion in Kopala on the market and equally made an order for designer clothes from Harrods in England via my former class mates.

“Aah iwe chimudala,” the decorum and respect had suddenly vanished in thin air. “We are now in Kabwe and you keep changing goal posts. Wake up, the police want to have a word with you?”

I woke up with the start! Mukobeko Maximum Prison was instantaneously on my kind. Meanwhile, my wife was sleeping soundly next to me. There was no bus. Not even the police station but in our humble abode…..

These dreams will kill me one day

Prince Bill M Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst

Mozambique unrest affects fuel supply in Zambia

Chief Editor
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Mozambique unrest affects fuel supply in Zambia

The Energy Regulation Board -ERB- says shortage of fuel in some parts of the country is due to unrest in Mozambique which has forced transporters of petroleum products to choose longer alternative routes.

ERB Director Corporate and Consumer Affairs Mwiika Malindima said that Zimbabwe has also imposed a tax on transporters that are using that country to transport fuel.

Mr Malindima told ZNBC News that the tax in Zimbabwe and other internal issues with dealers are causing the country to experience challenges in availability of fuel.

He also highlighted that the ERB remains committed to supporting measures to mitigate the impact of the drought on power generation by encouraging the use of other alternative sources of energy.

ZNBC

LAZ Calls on Government to Rethink the Proposed Cybersecurity Bill to Protect Democratic Values

Lusaka Times Editor
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LAZ Calls on Government to Rethink the Proposed Cybersecurity Bill to Protect Democratic Values

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has expressed its concerns over the proposed Cybersecurity Bill currently under consideration by the National Assembly. While acknowledging the government’s intent to tackle cyber threats and terrorism, LAZ has cautioned that certain provisions in the Bill could undermine constitutional rights and democratic principles.

In its statement, LAZ highlighted that some clauses in the Bill risk violating fundamental rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. These include the right to privacy and freedom of expression, both of which are critical for a functioning democracy.

Specifically, LAZ pointed out the potential dangers posed by Parts V and VIII of the Bill, which propose surveillance measures allowing the State to conduct mass data collection. The lack of mandatory judicial oversight for such surveillance raises the risk of abuse and could erode public trust in state institutions.

Moreover, LAZ noted the absence of clear definitions for terms like “misinformation” and “national security threat.” This ambiguity, according to the association, creates room for subjective interpretation, which could be exploited to suppress dissent or target critics unjustly.

LAZ emphasized that any cybersecurity legislation must strike a balance between national security and individual freedoms. The association recommended the following measures to ensure this balance: mandatory judicial oversight for all surveillance requests, precise definitions of key terms, and penalties for the misuse of powers under the proposed laws to ensure accountability.

To address its concerns, LAZ has urged the government to undertake extensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders. These include civil society organizations, human rights advocates, legal experts, the private sector, and the general public. LAZ warned that rushing the Bill’s enactment without adequate input could do more harm than good.

The association also recommended aligning the Bill with international best practices, such as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which provides a framework for balancing security measures with individual freedoms.

In conclusion, LAZ called on the government to withdraw the proposed Cybersecurity Bill from Parliament and initiate a transparent and inclusive consultative process before reintroducing it. According to LAZ, this approach will ensure that the legislation upholds constitutional freedoms while addressing the legitimate need for cybersecurity.

LAZ’s stance underscores the importance of balancing national security objectives with democratic values, a principle enshrined in Zambia’s Constitution and critical to fostering trust between the government and its citizens

 

“BCT Exposes Corruption Epidemic in Zambia’s $2.26B Fraud and Police Greed Unveiled”

Lusaka Times Editor
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“BCT Exposes Corruption Epidemic in Zambia’s $2.26B Fraud and Police Greed Unveiled”

Diego Cassili and the Business Coalition Taskforce (BCT) slams theft of public resources, bureacracy and red tape, and conduct of the corrupt police and illegal traffic police roadblocks

BCT ON THE LOOTING OF HEALTH CARE FUNDS

….Our health sector and economy is being looted by these self-serving criminal agents who appear confident that they are above the law and can avoid the justice…..

“It is therefore disturbing, that even after the discovery of 61 medicine-filled containers, in privately owned warehouses, in an attempted plunder of a USS65m Zambia / Egypt single-sourcing procurement, that such criminal acts are still entrenched in the Ministry of Health and ZMMSA.”

“President Hakainde Hichilema has announced that the Cabinet has resolved to classify all thefts within the health sector as economic crimes, as they undermine investments in that area”.

“The dubious procurement process for USS13million CDF ambulances, of which only 11 of the 156 have been delivered, and is now being investigated by the ACC…”

“BCT asks what these investigative bodies, including Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), who flagged an incredulous 1st Quarter ZMW 61billion (US$2.26bn) of fraudulent activities, tax evasion-tainted trade operations and illicit mining, are actually delivering regarding prosecution and recovery of proceeds of crime?”

“Our health sector and economy is being looted by these self-serving criminal agents who appear confident that they are above the law and can avoid the justice.”

ON POLICE ROADBLOCKS AND POLICE CORRUPTION

“The recent and highly publicized exploitation of a group of tourists by Zambian traffic police, during their journey through Zambia, where they were stopped multiple times, on spurious charges and detained for several hours until they paid cash fines to secure their release, is not only tarnishing the international reputation of Zambia as a tourist destination,
but also has a direct financial impact, which according to Tourism Council of Zambia, deprives Zambian owned businesses of approximately US$250m (ZMW7billion) in revenue opportunities.”

“In the World Internal Security & Police Index 2024, released in November, Zambian Police were ranked amongst the worst forces in the world at a shocking 118 out of 125.”

“The infamous reputation of our traftic police is massively detrimental for both local and foreign self-drive tourists for fear of harassment and being subjected to extortion.”

“These actions are not isolated incidents, but part of an ongoing pattern of abuse that local and forcign nationals, are subjected to on a regular and systemic basis.”

“This rampant corruption by officials has now reached such an appalling level, that it’s putting a serious strain on the relationship between citizen and state officials, which should be based on trust and mutual respect for the police as upholders of law and order.”

PRIVATE SECTOR DIALOGUE FORUM FAILURE

BCT has raised oncerns regarding the
efficacy of the PPDF, which was originally established to streamline the cost of doing business and reduce goverment bureaucnacy, licenses, controls and restrictions.

In short, the PPDF was mandated to make it easier for Zambians to do business in Zambia.

“Unfortunately, the very structure and methodology of the PPDF has evolved into exactly what it was designed to reduce and remove. It has become extremely
bureaucratic, slow, cumbersome and unable to make meaningful decisions that lead to positive changes”.

“Having been established for three years, very little has been achicved, and the PRIVATE SECTOR is in fact now worse off than it was prior to the formation of the PPDF”

“Not only are regulations not being removed, new and more cumbersome regulations are being imposed on businesses, that are slowing down development, disincentivizing investment and preventing job creation.”

“This self inflicted onerous bureaucracy has disadvantaged Zambian businesses to the extent that we are regionally uncompetitive.
Unfortunately, the PPDF agenda has been hijacked by overly-entrenched civil servants that are suppressing the valid and practical concems of the PRIVATE SECTOR and who are wrongly advising govemnment officinls,
presenting a positive, rose-tinted spin on the economy, that there is no need for a material change. This is simplynot the case.”

ABOUT THE BUSINESS COALITION TASKFORCE

The Business Coalition Taskforce (BCT) is a non-political alliance of private sector businesses dedicated to advocating for transparency, accountability, and the eradication of systemic challenges impeding Zambia’s economic growth. Focused on key issues such as public resource theft, bureaucratic inefficiencies, corruption, and regulatory overreach, BCT aims to create a conducive environment for business and investment.

ABOUT DIEGO CASSILI

Diego established Napoli Property Investments Limited as the property manager for the existing properties which include the premier and upmarket commercial and residential developments such as Acacia office park, East Park Mall, Jacaranda Mall and Saddle Yard executive townhouses.

Diego served as the Managing Director of Amanita, Zamanita and Amagrain from 1991 to 2008 where he oversaw the operations of three milling operations and an oilseed crushing plant.

Diego as managing director of Amanita oversaw well over 450 employees. Following the divesture of Diego’s agriculture processing facilities, he successfully developed a large portfolio of property holdings in Zambia

By Muleya Lungwangwa

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