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UPND Government is operating well without any disruption-Anderson Banda

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UPND Lusaka province youth chairperson Mr Anderson Banda has charged that UPND Government is operating well without any disruption in the course of duties as the current crop of opposition have no direction in offering checks and balances.

Mr Banda said this when he featured on MUVI TV Bluntant talk program on whether the UPND Government was finding it hard to work properly with the pressure from opposition political parties.

Mr Banda said it was unfortunate that some opposition leaders have failed to use the current political environment to mobilize their structures but are busy hallucinating on matters that have no backing.

He it is only under the New Dawn Government that opposition members can gather anywhere without being harassed unlike what use to happen under the PF regime.

Mr Banda said UPND Government will continue to support an enabling environment for all but everyone should be aware that all of us are guaranteed Freedom of Speech and Expression but no one is guaranteed Freedom after the Speech or Expression.

He advised the opposition to choose their words carefully and express themselves appropriately.

Mr Banda said the PF should be thankful to the UPND Government for creating an environment which themselves failed to create in 10 years which His Excellence president of the Republic of Zambia Mr Hakainde Hichilema did it in 24 hrs after being declared.

Aspiring UNZA students appeal to President Hichilema

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Some aspiring University of Zambia (UNZA) students have reiterated their appeal to President Hakainde Hichilema to intervene in their plight for student loans following their omission by the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB).

And the students have further appealed to President Hichilema’s new dawn administration to revise conditionalities set by the HELBS for student loan applications.

In a walk-interview with ZANIS, the school leavers believe they are deserving because they come from vulnerable families.

Grace Chanda of Monze in Southern Province who scored eight points in the 2020-2021 national examinations said the selection process has disenfranchised her and many other aspirants.

“When they advertised, they said they wanted people who are vulnerable and that they were going to consider merit or credit or better than that but after the list came out, they said the people that were shortlisted had five or six points, so then what happens to the rest of us,” Ms Chanda said.

And Moses Sakala from Kasenengwa, Eastern Province who scored 13 points made an earnest appeal for the new dawn administration to act upon the concerns.

“We are here to appeal to the President that he should seriously considers us,” Mr Sakala said.

And Dalitso Mutinta also from Monze district said he faces the dreaded prospect of not being given an opportunity to save his family from poverty.

Mr Mutinta who scored nine points said his family cannot afford to pay for his school fees hence his only hope is the student loans and scholarships.

Over 2,000 have been considered against the over 10.000 people who applied for the loans.

Lusaka High Court grants the Attorney General leave to commence contempt proceedings against Nakachinda

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The Lusaka High Court has granted the Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha leave to commence contempt proceedings against PF Member of the Central Committee in Charge of Information and Publicity, Raphael Nakachinda over his alleged contemptuous remarks against the judiciary.

The court has also allowed Mr. Nakachinda to make some necessary applications regarding the matter.

On Tuesday, the Attorney General filed an affidavit in support of summons for leave to commence contempt proceedings.

Mr. Nakachinda is alleged to have said that President Hakainde Hichilema has been summoning judges to his house to persuade them to bring a one-party state amidst the hearing of a judicial review application by Eight PF Members of Parliament who have challenged Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti’s decision to chase them from parliament after the nullification of their seats.

The Attorney General says Mr. Nakachinda’s uttered words mean and were understood by the public to mean that there is interference in the deliberations of the judges.

He submitted that the words used by Mr. Nakachinda are an interference with the administration of justice by giving an impression to the public that any outcome of the judges’ decision that will go against the applicants would have been as a result of the alleged threats or manipulation by the Republican President.

Mr. Kabesha says Mr. Nakachinda’s allegations are malicious, contemptuous and made with the intention to bring the judiciary into disrepute.

He further submitted that Mr. Nakachinda has damaged the reputation of the judiciary and brought its independence into question and therefore he must show cause why he must not be sent to prison for contempt of court.

Nakachinda Arrested for Defamation of the President as UPND cadres storm Police Station and Stone PF members

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Zambia Police in Lusaka has recorded a warn and caution statement from Raphael Mangani Nakachinda aged 43 of farm number 1794 Kafue district for the offense of Defamation of the President contrary to section 69 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

This is in regard to the statement he issued at High Court grounds on December 13, 2021 and the interview he had on one of the radio stations in Lusaka and is currently detained in Police custody.

While Mr. Nakacinda was being interrogated by officers at Chelstone Police Post, unruly UPND cadres attacked Chelstone Police Station damaging property and causing injuries to individuals.

The said cadres caused a commotion at the Police station as they threw stones at the PF officials, leaving some with injures and some vehicles broken.

Police however managed to contain the situation and apprehended some perpetrators of the illegality.

And PF vice President Given Lubinda bemoaned the illegality. He said the maintenance of democracy in Zambia is dependent on the strength of the Patriotic Front.

“And this small gathering here is proving that we are going to defend democracy. There is no reason why we are going to allow that Police protect culprits at the expense of victims,” he said.

“The Patriotic Front is a peaceful Party and we are demonstrating that even under extreme provocation, we will only run away and run to the police. It is the duty of the police to protect victims and here we are innocent victims.

“A number of our people have been injured, a number of our vehicles have been broken because of hooligans who cannot tolerate democracy. If our man committed an offense let the police investigate. Let the courts of the law adjudicate. It is not up to UPND cadres, UPND thugs to come and dispense justice by throwing stones at peaceful people like this.”

Hon Lubinda said President Hichilema promised to rule the country by the rule of law and wondered whether “this is governance through the rule of law where cadres just come to the police without fear and start throwing stones at the police station.”

Kitwe United Rise to Number 4

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Kitwe United have moved back into fourth place on the FAZ National Division 1 table after thumping Young Green Eagles in a rescheduled match at home in Kitwe.

Kitwe beat Young Eagles 2-0 in the Week 1 delayed match at Garden Park Stadium to reclaim their spot in the top four.

Striker Clive Yeta emerged the hero of the day when scoring a brace in front of home supporters.

The Buchi Boys have 26 points from 15 matches played.

Young Eagles remained tenth on the table with 21 points from 15 matches played.

Meanwhile, Chingalika are remaining with one game in hand against Lumwana Radiants.

Napsa Stars are leading the table with a four-point gap after amassing 32 points from 16 matches played.

Zesco United 2021/2022 Season Woes Persist

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Defending champions Zesco United missed a chance to go second in the FAZ Super Division after losing to Red Arrows in a rescheduled midweek fixture at home in Ndola.

Arrows beat Zesco 2-1 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The Airmen took a 2-0 lead into the half time break thanks to Thabani Kamusoko’s 21st minute own goal.

Youngster Ricky Banda doubled Arrows lead two minutes later and Zesco’s consolation came eleven minutes after the break through Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba.

The win moved Arrows from seventh into third place on 26 points after playing 15 matches.

Zesco have dropped one slot down to fifth place as they remain on 24 points from 15 matches played.

Meanwhile, Kansanshi Dynamos have held Zanaco to a 1-1 draw in the other midweek delayed game played in Solwezi.

Striker Moses Phiri gave Zanaco a 30th minute lead which they gave up when allowing a 51st minute equaliser by Bruce Musakanya.

A point from Solwezi has moved the Bankers two places up to number 13 on 18 points from 14 matches played.

Kansanshi Dynamos are two places and two points above Zanaco after playing 16 matches.

It’s Sad that Mr. Hichilema is governing the country against his own words-Kambwili

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Patriotic Front (PF) senior member Chishimba Kambwili has told off President Hakainde Hichilema that his days in office are numbered if he continues to mistreat Zambians.

Mr. Kambwili also warned Mr. Hichilema that the brutal arrests and detentions he is inflicting on others will be done on him also when he leaves office.

Mr. Kambwili said it is sad that Mr. Hichilema is governing the country against his own words.

The former National Democratic Congress (NDC) president and Information and Broadcasting Minister said President Hichilema promised people arrested on non-serious cases will be given bond but to the contrary people are now spending five to seven days in police cells which is very unfortunate.

“My dear brother if you continue like this your days in office are numbered. I am advising you without malice make sure these issues stop, these issues must come to an end,” Mr. Kambwili said.

“If any Zambian is arrested treat them in accordance to the law,” he said.

Mr Kambwili said “The same way you are treating people you will also be treated the same,’

Detaining someone for a longer period without any charge, he said, is extra-judicial punishment which is unacceptable.

“We had a lot of hope in your statement because you were arrested 15 times and I was arrested 12 times, but you want people to go through what you went through, my brother that is not leadership,” Mr. Kambwili said.

Mr.Kambwili however urged Mr. Hichilema to immediately direct police at Kasama police to take a PF sympathizer known as Chama American to a court or grant him a police bond. He said it is unfortunate that the police have refused to grant him a police bond since Friday last week. Chama is arrested for the assault case which he allegedly committed in 2015. He said there is too much breach of rule of law under the UPND regime.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kambwili appealed to Mr. Hichilema to stand by his words to allow freedom of speech to flourish in Zambia.
He said what is currently happening is totally different from his promise.

“One of your MPs has reported Mr. Nakachinda for expressing his views. Let’s change Zambia for the better instead of what we are seeing, ” Mr. Kambwili said.

Court adjourns again the ruling on 9 PF MPs, wants to deal with Nakacinda’s Contempt case first

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The Lusaka High Court has again adjourned the matter in which nine Patriotic Front Members of Parliament whose elections were nullified are challenging the decision of Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti.

The matter was due to be considered this morning but has again been adjourned to a later date to allow the court to attend to the Contempt proceedings against Raphael Nakacinda which was filed by the Attorney General.

Yesterday, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha asked for permission from the High Court to Commence contempt proceeding against PF member of the Central Committee Raphael Nakacinda.

Mr. Kabesha alleged that Mr. Nakacinda issued a contemptuous statement aimed at undermining the case in which BOWMAN LUSAMBO and others are challenging the Speaker’s decision to stop them from attending Parliament.

He has argued that the said words are malicious and suggests that there is interference in the Judiciary by a member of the executive.
This is according to an affidavit in Support of the Summon for leave to Commence Contempt proceedings in the High Court. In this matter, the complainant is Mr. Kabesha while the alleged contemnor is RAPHAEL Nakacinda.

Mr. Nakacinda alleged that President Hichilema has been summoning judges at his house with the view of influencing the outcome of the court process.

Meanwhile, Raphael Nakacinda has been summoned to appear before Chelstone Police Station for questioning at 14:00hrs today.

Minister of Energy, Peter Kapala denies corruption allegations being leveled against him

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Minister of Energy, Peter Kapala has denied corruption allegations being leveled against him, following reports on social media that he will help Harvest Group of Companies, allegedly owned by a United Party for National Development (UPND) Cadre, and have done joint works with Civil Struts, a company owned by the Minister, to obtain a petroleum tender with the Government.

In a statement posted on his social media account, Mr. Kapala said categorically that he has no interest in companies that are vying for the Ministry of Energy’s Tender no MOE PSU/0B/G/03/B/2021 for supplying petroleum, whether directly or through proxies, and has no business interest in any of the companies bidding.

The Minister further clarified that reports that CivilStruts, one of the companies involved in the bid, is renting space in the Mount Meru offices are not true, but rather that CivilStruts is housed in one of the two office blocks he owns on Lukanga Road in Roma and has been in those premises since September 2017 and that the company has never rented office space from Mount Meru, who own their own office block along Zambezi Road in Roma and the two buildings are 1.1km apart.

“Further, an impression was being created that CivilStruts was engaged in works with Harvest Group in line with the petroleum tender at the Ministry of Energy.

“I wish to reveal to you all that the contract for CivilStruts to provide consulting services for Harvest Group’s Avondale Filling Station was signed before the nominations for the 2021 elections took place. Work started during the time the previous regime was in power. There has been no business agreed or done between the two following the UPND coming to power.

“As a minister, I play no role in the procurement processes. It is our intention to level the playing field and allow all potential locally-based Zambian companies a chance to take part in this business. The tender was floated transparently. Foreign companies were not allowed to bid. We are now at the evaluation stage.

“Bids will be assessed by competent technocrats and the awards will be based on merit and competence. Selection will be done transparently and objectively. Everyone’s interest is to ensure that those selected have the capacity to supply petroleum products without delay, sustainably and cheaply so that benefits accrue to the end users. It is hoped that this process will empower our people and ensure they grow their capacity and provide jobs to the other citizens.

“Even though I do not intend to respond to all malicious articles meant to tarnish my image or that of the New Dawn Government, I felt duty bound to set the record straight this time around.

“And as a minister, I will always exhibit the highest level of transparency, objectivity, and professionalism in discharging my duties. Where a conflict of interest will arise, I shall always declare it, ” concluded the statement.

Leader of the opposition in Parliament Hon Brian Muntayalwa Mundubile
Leader of the opposition in Parliament Hon Brian Muntayalwa Mundubile

Meanwhile, Leader of the opposition Brian Mundubile has said that Government is now giving contracts dubiously, his party shall not stop exposing them.

Mr. Mundubile exposed that the UPND government has now given oil contracts to friends and allies, stating that this is a serious corruption act.

In an interview, Mr. Mundubile said this kind of behavior will not be left unchecked.

The Mporokoso lawmaker said it is unfortunate that the UPND who are preaching the fight against corruption are the ones being involved.
He said “as the opposition Members of Parliament such deals are the ones we will be exposing so that Zambians can know’.

“There is now another scandal of the oil deal. The government is now giving oil contracts to friends dubiously,” Hon. Mundubile said.

“The song of fighting corruption is just rhetoric because they are the ones who are now doing it,” he said.

Mr. Mundubile also said that the fertilizer scandal will also be dealt with to the latter, adding that the opposition MPs will ensure that the corrupt deal come to conclusion so that Zambians know the truth.

He said people involved in corruption activities in the UPND government will never be left scot-free.

Peezy Cables discusses new single ‘Sojo’

Peezey Cables is a producer, singer, and songwriter. He has produced and written for artists such as Eddie black, Exile (Israel), Macky II, Tiye-P, among others over the years. He also serves as CEO of record label Mangishi Audio, formally known as Helium Prime. Explaining the name change he said, “Mangishi is an extension of Peezey Cables in the sense that Mangishi in English means wires which has a connect to Cables and I also wanted a native name for more authenticity”.

Having been in the music industry for some time he has learned a lot, “I have learned that it takes a lot of input, patience, hard work and discipline to drive your narrative”, In regards to the Zambian music industry, he stated, I feel with need policy change from the regulators, because we take this music thing very serious but I know for a fact our policies are an obstacle for certain progressions to take place. But we as an industry are on course and above all we need Jesus Christ to lead the way as we follow.”

During this Covid-19 period, where artistes are limited in their ability to perform live, musicians have taken advantage of digital platforms, “…there was no other way around it but through, so covid has caused all sectors of livelihood to digitize which in turn has made the world a lot smaller and assessable”

On 17th December Pezzy Cables will be releasing his latest single titled ‘Sojo’. “I wanted to think of a way of singing about love in a not so obvious way. So, I thought of games we used to play as kids and coined the Sojo game in a romantic way, so that’s how Sojo was born”. As far as 2022 goes Pezzy’s fans can expect a lot from him, “They will hear a side of me they haven’t heard of before, I have had a shift in mindset and I have grown over the years. So, I believe my fans will notice the shift.

 

BY KAPA KAUMBA

Youths who got loans during the Patriotic Front Government should pay back, says Minister of Youth and Sports

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Minister of Youth, Sports and Arts Elvis Nkandu has demanded that youths who got loans in form of buses, grinders and wood-mizers during the Patriotic Front Government payback.

Mr. Nkandu said loans are meant to be paid back unlike donations or handouts. The Kaputa Member of Parliament revealed that many youths who got loans in form of buses, grinders and wood-mizers during the PF government are yet to pay back the loans.

Mr. Nkandu warned that the government may be forced to repossess the buses, Grinders and wood-mizers if the affected youths do not show commitment toward paying back the loans.

He also questioned the criteria used to empower people with buses, grinders and woodmizers. Mr. Nkandu said he suspects that some people who got loans from the Minister of Youth are not even youths.

“Whoever gets money from Government should learn lessons from their colleagues that they should pay back. If they don’t pay back the law will take its course,” he said.

“I still have a feeling that there are some empowerment programmes that we have given but have not reached the youths. When I was interviewing some of the people who got loans I was told that we were just told to register in our names and they are not even our buses.

“So it is like there are other old people behind, who collected those buses on loan using the youths but you know if we are very serious on absorbing the unemployment levels then I would warn the youths not to be used,” Mr. Nkandu added.

“You know youths have been used in violence and now they have sacrificed again to be used as fronts that can collect something on behalf of the adults. I don’t think we are going anywhere so that trend must be stopped.”

The Government March 2021 procured 50 fuel tankers and some buses as part of its programme to empower youths in the transport sector.

25 of the fuel tankers were distributed to youth cooperatives in some parts of the country such as Lusaka, Copperbelt and Eastern Provinces.

At that time, then President Edgar Lungu said he did not want youths who were empowered to fail to pay back the loans.

Mr. Lungu had said the culture of not paying back government loans among the people was growing, adding that the situation needed to be addressed if government is to empower more youths.

The Ministry of Youths and Sports had promised to arrange various capacity building programmes on how the youths can successfully run businesses and payback loans.

Meanwhile, the New Dawn Government at the weekend launched Empowerment Scheme targeting to benefit 360 young people on the Copperbelt and over 2,000 youths across the country.

Honeybee was a scandal cooked up by a clique of throne seeking former ruling party politicians-Dr Chilufya

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Former Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has revealed that the infamous Honeybee Pharmacy expired drugs and defective condoms debacle was a scandal cooked up and peddled by a clique of throne seeking former ruling party politicians.

In an interview, yesterday with Ichalo Today news, the Patriotic Front member of the Central Committee revealed that there was “a battle of thrones” that raged in the former ruling party, and a particular clique went into a sustained and systematic campaign of mudslinging and falsified reports designed to eliminate perceived threats to the “throne”.

Dr Chilufya exposed the existence of a clique of politicians that worked in collusion with a cartel of strategically positioned senior civil servants and power-broking “tenderpreneurs” who engaged in lawfare by misusing the government and judicial systems to eliminate individuals they considered political threats.

Dr Chilufya said that this ploy included a conspiracy to peddle falsified reports about the Ministry of Health (MOH)under his tenure importing and distributing expired medicines and defective condoms.

The senior member of the PF Health Committee outlined a litany of achievements and significant milestones that had been achieved under his tenure as Minister of health. Dr Chilufya cited the giant strides Zambia had attained in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

He said this included the construction of more than 500 Health Centres across the country as well as and 6 new specialist hospitals, in addition to the construction of regional medical hubs that have significantly reduced the last mile and brought medical supplies closer to far-flung rural communities.

“In addition, to all this, we built the first-ever medical university in the country (Levy Mwanawasa Medical University) and we recruited more than 30,000 health workers. The culmination of all these efforts saw a very significant improvement in Zambia’s key health Indicators which among other things included a significant reduction in Maternal and Neo-natal Mortality”.

Dr. Chilufya noted that contrary to public perception, MOH never procured expired drugs or defective condoms from Honeybee Pharmacy.

“Honeybee pharmacy are not owed USD 17 million as infamously alleged, as they only supplied a third of the consignment. It should further be understood in the context that at the time this supply was delivered, the country was facing a drug stock out. It is also worth noting that to date, Honeybee has not been paid a single Ngwee.”

The Mansa Central lawmaker further highlighted stringent systems that are in place that prevent the importation and supply of substandard drugs and pharmaceuticals.

“Let me set the record straight. Pharmaceutical vigilance in Zambia’s Health Sector is highly alert and suitably configured to deter the procurement of medical supplies”. he said, adding that it was an insult to the medical profession to insinuate that we would procure expired drugs and defective condoms.

The medical doctor further emphasised that would go against medical ethics and the Hippocratic Oath he swore “to cause no harm”.

He urged politicians across the political divide to “depoliticize Health Matters” and called upon President Hakainde Hichilema’s new Dawn Government to institute an objective investigation into the controversy surrounding Honey bee pharmacy’s alleged supply of defective condoms and expired drugs.

President Hichilema appoints Prof. Saasa as Head of a new advisory council

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President Hakainde Hichilema has announced the appointment of respected Professor Oliver Saasa to chair a new advisory council.

President Hichilema said Professor Saasa will lead an Advisory Council that will help his government to systematically break down the barriers to doing business in the country.

He said the appointment is part of the UPND government’s vision for growth in Zambia.

“We will create a level playing field, stamp out corruption, and review the regulatory environment in order to increase employment opportunities and improve livelihoods,” President Hichilema wrote on his Facebook page.

“We have challenged this forum to work with our team at State House to expedite the development of our roadmap for change and economic growth,” he said.

“We look forward to doing things differently with the private sector with whom we are pursuing a transparent, inclusive and proactive relationship.”

Names of other Council members have not been released.

Defending the opposition in Zambia democracy didn’t end with August 12 UPND victory

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By Venus N Msyani

Strong opposition is needed for every democracy to succeed. Unfortunately, Zambian politicians seem to see the opposite. Strong opposition is a threat, which must be reduced to a non-threatening level.

The Patriotic Front (PF) administration had an open agenda to debilitate then the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND). It spent the past five years trying do that.

Today, president Hakainde Hichilema administration seems to have the same agenda. The waged war on corruption appears to be a scheme to reduce the PF to non-threatening level.

The repeated idiom no sacred cow in the fight against corruption is an indirect push to get to every PF member. Including the former president, Edgar Lungu.

About a couple weeks ago some UPND members presented a petition to president Hakainde Hichilema demanding the stripping off former president immunity.

To date, several PF officials have been arrested in relation to corruption. They all affirm the declared no scared cow in the fight against corruption.

The new dawn administration will not be allowed to use selective fight against corruption to reduce the main opposition PF to nothing. Zambia democracy need strong opposition.

Weakening the opposition is ok in politics but it has to be done in a right and fair way. No sacred cow means no one is spared.

The UPND prove to be a sacred cow in the fight against corruption. The 1990s privatization scandals are off the table.

Corruption allegations implicating UPND ministers receive less attention. It is alleged that UPND Information and Media Minister Ms. Chushi Kasanda’s husband, Dr. Maurice Jangulo, failed to deliver 50,000 metric tons of fertilizer to the farmers in Southern Province despite being paid about over $50 million.

If the fight against corruption was sincere, people with such information would be invited for more information. The president is telling them to go to law enforcement agencies. An implication he doesn’t want to hear about corruption allegations involving his ministers.

This leads to the same conclusion. HH fight against corruption is meant to tail off the opposition PF. It is not surprising to see that it has started attracting the international attention.

Like the UPND when it was in the opposition, PF need people voice. Defending strong opposition in Zambia democracy did not end with UPND last August victory.

Is Vice President Nalumango Mr. Hichilema’s Lying Machine to Turn Zambia into a Bally Nation of Falsehoods?

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By Kapya Kaoma.

Within months, Vice President Nalumango has sunk so low by demeaning herself to impress the King of Falsehoods each time she opens her mouth. To employ “honorable” before her name is to insult human decency. Is President HH using her as a lying machine because she is a woman? Of course, her ignorance on Constitutional matters and economic policies are unprecedented. But her lies make the daughter of Ithobaal, Lady Jezebel, a saint. With shameful pride, she lied that HH never promised free education–but quick to boast of the fecal claims of “free education” knowing that families have to struggle with boarding fees, and less than 2000 needy students will receive bursaries at UNZA. While 8,000+ are left out at UNZA, tens of thousands who attend other Universities are left to roam the streets. Is education not “the greatest equalizer” Mr.Hichilema?

As for the cost of fertilizer, mealie meal, fuel, electricity and high cost of living, she claims we misunderstood. HH never promised anything. Now she wants to insult us by claiming that the $1.3 billion IMF loan is a grant. Either she is mentally challenged or she and her King are deliberately remaking Zambia into a Bally nation–a country where lies are facts, and the corruption of the Presidency is a norm. Why shouldn’t they publish the conditions of the IMF loan for Zambians to read for themselves? The truth is in writing.

Amidst Nalumango’s lies, President Hichilema has abandoned democracy for machiavellian autocracy and even his worshipers are now in panic mode. Why? Mr. Hichilema was uncaged on inauguration day; he was left to roam without any accountability on the premise of “giving him time.” Today, we have BallyJudiciary, BallyPolice, BallyACC, BallyZRA–everything is corrupted by the deadly ballyvirus. All instruments of accountability are blind to right and wrong. In fact, they only see the previous wrongs committed during the Lungu Regime, for the New Dark Regime does no wrong! Who can blame them? Like Nalumango, they are under the spell of the ballyvirus, they’ve developed ballyamnesia. As for the new god, his eyes are fiercely fired up. Reminding him of his pledge for the independence of these branches from political influence attracts victimization — immediate prosecutions in BallyCourts and replacements in BallyCivil service with UPND cadres is the fate. Only that “the President won’t get involved.” Ballyjustice!

Behind the VP’s shameful behavior is a chain of academics and lawyers who waited for months as Baal became omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent–a god of the land to be worshiped whose decrees must stand unopposed. They forgot that when it comes to power, no human heart is immune from corruption, it is who we are as humans. Democracy does not grow on its own, but must be tended like a flower. The moment we turn our eyes from it, it dries so fast.

Academics, Civil Society leaders and lawyers watched democracy dry as VP Nalumango and his cronies lied on behalf of HH, but now that it is dead, they want to pour as much water as possible to revitalize it. You murdered it by your own silence, why dare start a fight with the devil you watched grow under your watch? This is the biggest weakness of African democracy–we only engage in governance when things go wrong. So do it now, but the damage is already done. Imagine the time, energy, and the lives you would have saved had you done it from day one!

We watched as the nation lingered under the spell of ballyism; we believed that HH was democracy and democracy was HH. We believed HH was anti-corruption and anti-corruption was HH. To this day, his businesses are as mysterious as the garden of Eden on Earth. To say HH is the most corrupt businessman on earth, for example, is justified; a majority of Zambians are in deep darkness when it comes to his businesses. HH is not going to ensure democratic governance and economic transparency unless we the people of Zambia demand it. If we remain spectators and believers of every claim from this lie addicted Head of State, we are remaking Zambia into a Bally nation where truth and facts don’t matter anymore. It is time to tell HH to stop lying–the IMF LOAN is a loan and not a grant! The IMF conditions are deadly on the poor, but beneficial to HH and his business partners. He will get a big share of this $1.3 billion in business deals!

As for scholars and columnists, until we show President Hichilema that lies are consequential to democracy, and the rule of law, we won’t be able to right the wrongs that have already surfaced in his baby Presidency. It is time to call a spade a spade. President Hichilema, Vice President Nalumango and the UPND won the elections using a fact based system–we count our votes. We shouldn’t allow them to govern by erasing the facts. Mother Zambia deserves better!

A Dark Regime indeed!