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PF to Elect New Party President by June 2022 as Davies Mwila steps down as S.G

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PF to Elect New Party President by June 2022 as Davies Mwila steps down as S.G

The Central Committee of the Patriotic Front Party has resolved to hold an Extra-Ordinary General Conference by June 2022 to elect a new Party President who will take over from President Edgar Lungu.

Meanwhile, Davies Mwila and Ng’onga Mukupa have with immediate effect stepped down as the Party’s Secretary General and National Chairman, respectively.

The resolution to elect a new Party President by June next year was arrived at when the Party’s Central Committee met to deliberate among other things the Party’s Post Mortem Report of the 2021 general elections.

The Party will use this period to mobilise resources for the General Conference, take audit of the Party structures and continue to implement recommendations of the Post-mortem Report for the on-going rebranding process that the Party is currently undergoing.

This is according to a statement issued by PF Deputy Secretary General Nickson Chilangwa.

“Further, I want to put it on record that the Central Committee has NOT endorsed anyone for the position of Party President as it has NO any preferred candidate. The Central Committee will ensure that the playing field is levelled for all those wishing to contest the forthcoming elections,” Mr. Chilangwa said.

“I wish to call upon all Party members and sympathisers to generously contribute resources towards the holding of the forthcoming Extraordinary General Conference. I wish to call upon the leadership and general membership of our Party to remain calm and disciplined during this transition period.”

Wilbur Smith, internationally acclaimed author, dies in South Africa aged 88

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Wilbur Smith, internationally acclaimed author, dies in South Africa aged 88

Internationally acclaimed Zambia-born author Wilbur Smith has died in South Africa aged 88, his publisher announced.

“Global bestselling author Wilbur Smith died unexpectedly this afternoon at his Cape Town home after a morning of reading and writing with his wife Niso by his side,” said a statement released on the Wilbur Smith Books website.

Smith was born in Kabwe.

With 49 titles under his belt since his first novel When the Lion Feeds was published in 1964, Smith became a household name in literature.

“The undisputed and inimitable master of adventure writing, Wilbur Smith’s novels have gripped readers for over half a century, selling over 140 million copies worldwide in more than 30 languages,” said the statement.

His bestselling Courtney Series, was the longest running in publishing history, said the statement.

It spanned generations and three centuries, “through critical periods from the dawn of colonial Africa to the American Civil War, and to the apartheid era in South Africa”.

“In the 49 novels Smith has published to date, he has transported his readers to gold mines in South Africa, piracy on the Indian Ocean, buried treasure on tropical islands, conflict in Arabia and Khartoum, ancient Egypt, World War Two Germany and Paris, India, the Americas and the Antarctic, encountering ruthless diamond and slave traders and big game hunters in the jungles and bush of the African wilderness.”

But it was with Taita, the hero of his Egyptian Series, that Wilbur “most strongly identified, and River God remains one of his best-loved novels to this day”, said the statement.

His office thanked Smith’s “millions of fans across the world who cherished his incredible writing and joined us all on his amazing adventures”

Exotic Timber Supply Chains: Why Imports Must Be Promoted

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Exotic Timber Supply Chains: Why Imports Must Be Promoted

By Musyani Siame

For the past few years, Zambia and Lusaka in particular has experienced massive infrastructure development ranging from road construction to housing infrastructure to shopping villages to story buildings to airports to hospitals etc.

Lusaka being the capital city has by far, experienced a greater share of rapid infrastructure developed than any other province. This has not only changed the face of the city but also promoted social economic development. In fact, there is efficiency in conducting business.

To reach to such an extent of infrastructure development on one hand, there is high demand for resources such as labor, finance and time including knowledge and information whether imported or not which has to be available. On the other hand, there is high need for raw materials such as cement, quarry, wire, steel etc. Even when all these raw materials matter, the allegedly favorable, common and hence priority construction material in Zambia is timber which supersedes all others in infrastructure development in Zambia. As long as there is construction taking place timber is a prerequisite raw construction material. Its demand is unprecedented. The increase in infrastructure development has drastically seen the increase in demand for softwood construction timber.

ZAFFICO being the major supplier of exotic softwood has run out of stocks to satisfy the huge market demand in the country. From about 2008 to 2014, ZAFFICO’s exotic timber replanting plan, pine in particular, was overrun by harvesting. This means that the company harvested more than it could replant. This formed a huge forest rotation imbalance which also created a huge shortage of timber on the market. As such, ZAFFICO decided to reduce the harvesting quantities of softwood trees to its customers and failed to satisfy the market demand of softwood which occured during the period of massive infrastructure development.

As a result, this prompted by then PF government to highly recapitalize ZAFFICO and embark on massive replanting of exotic trees by establishing exotic pine plantation and diversify to other products such as Jatropha in Mongu District and tea in Kawambwa District. This was done in an effort to improve the cash flow highly dominated by low revenues generated from low timber sales due to lack of timber stocks which also resulted from non-replanting of trees after harvesting. Poor forest management ravaged the tree stocking. This has a direct effect on infrastructure development.

Currently, the shortage of construction timber is not being felt because there is a cover from timber imports from Tanzania and Malawi acting as equalizers between demand and supply of softwood. Some timber traders and saw-millers have resorted to importing softwood wood from Tanzania and Malawi in order to keep their businesses afloat due to that ZAFICO reduced the quantity volumes of timber to supply to saw-millers and traders.

This is twofold effect in that; (1) Timber traders and saw-millers need to continue doing business to earn a living even in the absence of timber from ZAFFICO as a supplier (2) There is a huge market demand for timber and when ZAFFICO fail to satisfy the market, other sources such as Malawi and Tanzania supply chains become important and can jump in the loop and equalize demand and supply in both short and long term in order to avoid timber shortages. Without these import alternatives, there shall be serious shortages of exotic construction timber hence, infrastructure development will be crippled in Zambia.

My message to Saw-Millers Association of Zambia is that, please do not undermine and destroy the pine wood supply chains from Malawi and Tanzania as they are acting as market equalizers of softwood construction timber due to the fact that ZAFFICO alone cannot satisfy the current market of softwood. Saw-millers Association of Zambia must promote timber trade between Zambia and Malawi and also Tanzania so that the country can continue to have sufficient timber supplies for at least the next 15 – 20 years required for ZAFFICO to stabilize and be able to satisfy softwood timber demand on the market. It is disappointing to learn that the association is actually trying to disturb the good timber trade between Zambia and Malawi and Tanzania because of what I can call selfish interest. ZAFFICO in its current capacity has few timber stocks to give to all timber traders who apply for felling slots. The questions which we must ask are that where will the rest of saw-millers and timber traders who cannot be accommodated at ZAFFICO go? what will their businesses be? and what do they do to keep the timber industry vibrant? The only viable solution is to resort to timber imports from neighboring countries.

In fact, its high time the government reduced duty on softwood imports so that the price of timber can go down. This is for the fact that imported timber has to a greater extent contributed to skyrocketing prices of pine timber for construction due to the duty charged at the border. I strongly believe when duty is reduced or removed where possible, the price of softwood timber will be automatically adjusted downwards and this will trigger a positive effect on the construction industry as the cost of raw material will reduce.

The author is a consultant: Water Resources and Environmental Management For comments and contributions: [email protected], 0977185727

Police Arrest Former Defence Minister Davies Chama for Attempted Murder in 2015

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Police Arrest Former Defence Minister Davies Chama for Attempted Murder in 2015

Police have picked up and detained former Defence Minister and Patriotic Front (PF) Vice-Chairperson, Hon. Davies Chama.

Mr. Chama has since been co-charged with his former security officer, Brian Dumisani Nyoni for attempted murder.

The duo is expected to be transported to Sesheke District where the matter will be heard.

During the Mulobezi By-election in June 2015, violence erupted between the UPND party and the PF, which saw one UPND cadre shot in the thigh and sustained a deep knife cut in the buttock as well as another cut on the left eye.

According to the version of Mr Siyanga Siyauya, who was UPND campaign manager for the Mulobezi by-elections, it was surprising that after the attack from the PF cadres, their cadre and one of his colleagues were instead arrested and detained instead of arresting the perpetrators of the crime.

Mr. Siyauya said he was lucky that he was not also injured but alleged that the driver of the PF Secretary General Davies Chama had aimed at shooting him as well.

Mr. Siyauya, who did not give details of his arrest and subsequent detention by Mulobezi police, said he was released on police bond.

However, according to Zambia Police at the time, Mr Siyauya was arrested for allegedly being part of a group of machete-wielding thugs who attacked Patriotic Front (PF) secretary-general Davies Chama and his entourage in Mulobezi.

Inspector-General of Police Stella Libongani and Western Province commissioner of police Standwell Lungu confirmed Mr Siyauya’s arrest along with the two UPND cadres.

Ms Libongani said the three were arrested after Mr Chama and PF officials reported the attack to Sichili Police Post.

“Police officers found offensive weapons in Mr Sianga’s vehicle after searching it,” Ms Libongani said.

Mr Lungu said the police arrested Mr Siyauya, who was UPND parliamentary candidate Sililo’s campaign manager because he was found at the scene where Mr Chama and his entourage were attacked by suspected UPND cadres.

“We have arrested and detained Mr Siyauya because he was found at the scene where Mr Chama was attacked.

“After searching his vehicle, the police found a panga, an axe and a pistol. So, he is in police custody,” Mr Lungu said.

And police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda said in a statement yesterday that police have apprehended Mr Siyauya and Mr Likamba along with Mr Mushaukwa, who was nursing a gunshot wound in hospital.

“A pistol with seven rounds of ammunition and other offensive weapons were recovered from a Toyota Hilux registration number ALD 9469 belonging to honourable Sianga. The Hilux was one of the vehicles that were used to block the road when the attack happened,” Mrs Munganga-Chanda said.

Fashion Hat-trick Hands Zambia Victory

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Chipolopolo have thrashed Mauritania 4-0 in the formality penultimate Group B match of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

Scotland based forward Fashion Sakala scored a hat-trick to propel Zambia to their first home win of the qualifiers at National Heroes in Lusaka on Saturday.

In atonement for his earlier misses, Patson Daka put Zambia in front after 33 minutes when he chested in the net captain Lubambo Musonda’s cross.

Sakala doubled the lead three minutes later after burying home Daka’s close range pass in an empty net.

Zambia took a 3-0 lead into the half time break with Sakala converting from the spot after striker Evans Kangwa was fouled by keeper Babacar Diop in the box.

Sakala completed his hat-trick with a close range finish off a Lubambo pass in the 62nd minute.

It was a game in which Coach Beston Chambeshi fielded the strongest possible squad as he named the likes of Evans Kangwa, Emmanuel Banda, Simon Silwimba, Rally Bwalya and Tandi Mwape in the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, the win moves Zambia into second position tied on seven points with Equatorial Guinea, who are hosting Tunisia later on Saturday evening.

Out of contention Zambia shifts attention to next Tuesday’s away final Group B match against Tunisia in North Africa.

Thieves, hegemonists, and tribalists: Explaining President HH’s Psychological Mind

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Thieves, hegemonists, and tribalists: Explaining President HH’s Psychological Mind

By Moses Simaamba PhD

Psychologists have long identified the concept of “projection”– that is, attempts by individuals to unconsciously attribute their own traits to other people as a justification for their shortcomings. As the weight of the Presidency takes a toll on HH, so is his vocabulary growing. In addition to the “clique of thieves,” the President has added two more demeaning words to characterize his political opponents, “hegemonists, and tribalists.” Are these three words the lens through which President HH engagement with his opponents occur? But could projection explain this tendency? A thief is quick to assume everyone is a thief; a tribalist is quick to see everyone as a tribalist, and the hegemonist assumes everyone is one; just as a cheating husband thinks the wife is doing the same.

The UPND Party: While the UPND is older than the PF, the leadership has been hegemonic and thereby undemocratic–both Anderson Mazoka and HH are of one tribe. The PF, however, moved from Sata to Lungu. This pattern is similar in the MMD. Chiluba though Bemba was replaced by Mwanawasa, who was also replaced by Banda. Could this trait be behind the President’s projection of tribalism and hegemonism on his opponents?

Besides the hegemonic tradition is at play in the Ministry of Lands, and the Ministry of Agriculture. In these two Ministries, certain tribes call the shots–and against President’s own assumptions of tribalism, the power holders are not from Northern, Luapula or Muchinga Provinces. If the President wants to see how both hegemonism and tribalism work, he must audit these two Ministries senior positions. Many are the Bembas who have been denied promotions or simply forced out because of their last names.

Thieves and President HH’s Businesses: How many Zambians really know the President’s business Empire? We all know he is the richest man in the nation, but do we know his companies? These questions have huge moral implications. They may even explain why the President is preoccupied with “thieves.” Is this an attempt to insulate himself from accountability and public oversight? Is he employing a preemptive attack so as to control the narrative should questions arise about his corrupt business activities?

99 % of the people who voted for the President, his supporters, and those reading this OpEd don’t know anything about the President’s business dealings to know how ethical our President is. So when he calls others thieves, what makes us think he is not a thief? Simply because he tells us so? Moreover, it is critical to understand the relationship between the business practices of the President and the kinds of policies he is promoting. It is even more critical to know who is partnering with our President and the deals he is making with the so-called “investors.” Corruption is not just about stealing hard cash, but also making deals and economic policies that benefit one’s businesses or partners. It is for this reason that President HH must be transparent about his riches–playing hide and seek is an act of corruption in itself. Zambians need to know everything about their businesses to ensure that he is not using his office to make money on our backs. We should not think that our President cannot steal simply because he calls others “thieves”.

The “Clique Stealing ..”from” or “since” independence: I have listened to President HH about the clique and I don’t understand where the debate is. The President used “from” independence, but the context justifies the use of “since” because he was referring to the period as opposed to an object — thus the two words can be used interchangeably and the meaning remains the same. Stealing “from independence” assumes independence is a “person” from whom people can steal. How can one steal from “independence”? That would be misrepresenting the President. Regardless, there’s a need to question how the President can fight corruption if he is not transparent about his own business practices. I understand many people believe him, but he is human too.

I hate citing dead white men, but Lord Acton’s words to Bishop Creighton may help: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.”

Our love for Bally should not blind us from holding him to account.

Minister of Information and Media, Chushi Kasanda challenges women to unite and celebrate each other

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Minister of Information and Media, Chushi Kasanda challenges women to unite and celebrate each other

Minister of Information and Media, Chushi Kasanda has challenged women in the country to unite and celebrate each other’s achievements. Ms Kasanda implored the womenfolk to desist from pulling each other down but rather to support one another.

She observed that many women are in key making positions hence the call to use their influence in uplifting each other. Ms Kasanda who is also Chief Government Spokesperson encouraged women to love one another and not to be enemies.

“Today many women are in decision-making positions, so let’s use those positions wisely to celebrate each other.

“Let’s use those positions wisely to uplift each other let’s not be our own enemy.”

The Minister said this when she officiated at the thanksgiving service organized by the United Church of Zambia, Woman’s Christian Fellowship (WCF) at Trinity Congregation.

Ms. Kasanda counseled the WCF to use the thanksgiving service as an opportunity for members to contribute financially and materially towards the uplifting of the lives of people in communities.

She encouraged members to give back to the community from the many blessings God has bestowed in their lives.

Ms. Kasanda says thanksgiving calls for giving back to the underprivileged as a sign of God’s love towards humanity.

Meanwhile, Information and Media Minister has appealed to the clergy to include messages on COVID-19 during services.

Ms. Kasanda says the church should take a leading role in encouraging members to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said once members get vaccinated the pandemic will be mitigated.

“The same call goes to the WCF members and mothers at large. Let us include messages on COVID-19 everywhere we go in our work in the community.”

And in delivering a sermon during the thanksgiving service, Rev Lubinda Sitali urged congregants to be grateful and to remember God as the source of their blessings.

Rev Sitali who quoted Deuteronomy 8 vs 1 to 20 urged members to learn from the children of Israel whom God took care off while in the wildness not to worry but to trust in God all the time.

He explained that the many blessings that the children of God are enjoying today is a result of God’s favour.

Felix Mutati calls on stakeholders to embrace Drone Technology

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Felix Mutati calls on stakeholders to embrace Drone Technology

Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati has called for the use of drone technology in creating solutions to the country’s challenges. Mr Mutati said drone technology, when applied well, has the capacity to change the landscape of the economy.

The minister said this during the IHS 2021 Zambia Flying Labs Drone Business Challenge in Lusaka last evening. He stated that his ministry has devised a strategy on how the country can achieve an economy that is driven by technology and digital transformation.

“One of our pillars in the 5 D strategies number 3 states that we need to employ knowledge as a driver for transformation, that is knowledge-based transformation”, he said.

He explained that his ministry is also implementing a National remote sensing centre that uses various technologies in order to enhance research in the management of national economic infrastructure including health, natural resources among others.

Mr Mutati added that there is need to collaborate and integrate and use collective power to advance the nation for the betterment of the nation.

He further said the country can use the drone technology in order to propel the skills of the young people and create the critical thinking that is required as technology is never impossible

SRDP Consultancy Drone expert Xervy Veloso(right) demonstrating to engineers from Zambia and Zimbabwe on how to conduct special bridge inspections using drone technology on the Victoria Falls Bridge in Livingstone as Road Development Agency(RDA) senior corporate affairs manager Anthony Mulowa(in white shirt) looks on. The US $ 6.5 million bridge maintenance project is aimed at building capacity in bridge engineers. Picture by KELVIN MUDENDA
SRDP Consultancy Drone expert Xervy Veloso(right) demonstrating to engineers from Zambia and Zimbabwe on how to conduct special bridge inspections using drone technology on the Victoria Falls Bridge in Livingstone as Road Development Agency(RDA) senior corporate affairs manager Anthony Mulowa(in white shirt) looks on. The US $ 6.5 million bridge maintenance project is aimed at building capacity in bridge engineers. Picture by KELVIN MUDENDA

Speaking at the same event, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Elijah Muchima said the drone technology has come at a right time when the country is in dire need of technology to reduce the cost of production and better the lives of the people.

Mr Muchima said the use of drone technology is expanding and hence countries need to tap in it as it provides many business solutions. He explained that his ministry is already applying the technology to enhance processes involved in the land titling programme.

Mr Muchima noted that his ministry is using drones to capture images of land features and that the use of drones has reduced the production time of titling certificates.

Meanwhile University of Zambia Vice Chancellor, Luke Mumba said UNZA has the potential of becoming the anchor in research and development of drone technology.

“We already have the capacity to develop pilots and research projects to further the use of drones and data and also to address the social challenges of the people ranging from disaster management to sustainable agriculture, rural and nature conservation,”. Said Prof Mumba.

He commended the Zambia Flying Labs for promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programmes.

SRDP Consultancy Drone expert Xervy Veloso( right in special glasses) demonstrating to engineers from Zambia and Zimbabwe on how to conduct special bridge inspections using drone technology on the Victoria Falls Bridge in Livingstone. Picture by KELVIN MUDENDA
SRDP Consultancy Drone expert Xervy Veloso( right in special glasses) demonstrating to engineers from Zambia and Zimbabwe on how to conduct special bridge inspections using drone technology on the Victoria Falls Bridge in Livingstone. Picture by KELVIN MUDENDA

Government committed to providing trained health workers

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Government committed to providing trained health workers

The government says the key focus of any profession is service to humanity and commitment to practice.

Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo says Government will continue to support the training of health workers to ensure continued availability of skilled Human Resource for the delivery of quality health care.

Ms Masebo who was represented by Muchinga Province, Assistant Secretary Chiwele Kondomone said this during the First ever combined Graduation Ceremony for Registered Nurses, Midwives and Community Health Assistants for Chilonga and Michael Chilufya Sata Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery in Mpika.

She added that Government will equally distribute health workers including nurses and midwives to health facilities across the country in order to address the gaps identified in the system.

“Government will also aim at attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Universal Health Coverage,” said Ms Masebo.

Ms Masebo has also urged graduates to serve the people, adding that the Nursing and Midwifery profession has the universal obligation to serve the people.

“I encourage you to see to it that your patients are well cared for, as this is your unique function,” she said.

And Muchinga Provincial Health Director, Nero Chilembo said this graduation witnessed at Mpika entails a boost in human capital to foster the continuum of care as Ministry of Health.

“We want to put more investment on health promotion, disease prevention and clinical care for those who contract diseases,” he said.

Dr Chilembo has also urged the graduates to replace the medical approach with the psychological approach which involves smiling at the patients, adding that this approach helps patients to heal even without medicine.

Meanwhile, Mpika Diocese Bishop, Edwin Mulandu has urged community and members of staff to offer moral support to the graduates as they join the health sector.

Bishop Mulundu has encouraged the students to cease the opportunity that has been accorded them and serve Zambians to their best ability.

Among those graduating were 279 Registered Nurses, 15 Midwives, 44 Public Health Nurses and 101 Community Health Assistants from Both Chilonga and Micheal Chilufya Sata Hospital.

GEARS counsels UPND members on corruption

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GEARS counsels UPND members on corruption

Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services (GEARS) Executive Director, McDonald Chipenzi says the fight against corruption should not be left to President Hakainde Hichilema alone but that everyone should get involved.

Mr Chipenzi says GEARS is concerned with the alleged luck of commitment by senior officials in the UPND government in advocating for a free corruption environment.

He said GEARS expects Ministers and Members of Parliament in the UPND Government to join forces with the President in denouncing corruption.

Mr Chipenzi has told ZANIS in Livingstone today that there is need for everyone in Government to speak with one voice in the fight against corruption.

He said currently GEARS has observed that it is only the President who is preaching against the evils of the vice.

Mr Chipenzi alleges that at the moment no Ministers, MP’s, Mayor’s and Councillors from UPND are coming out in the open to support the crusade in the fight against corruption.

He said if not quickly addressed President Hichilema risks being a lone fighter in the corruption fight.

Mr Chipenzi has also thanked President Hichilema for taking his time in appointing District Commissioners countrywide.

He said President Hichilema is a tolerant man who even allowed District Commissioners to continue drawing a salary even after being put on leave.

Stop Harassing Former Presidents

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Stop Harassing Former Presidents

By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

The tendency by new ruling parties or new Presidents in Africa to persecute their predecessors is extremely retrogressive.

There is a pattern that has emerged where new Presidents engage in trashing the legacy of their predecessors, accuse them of massive acts of corruption, prosecute them while seeking to consolidate their new power gained.

For any students of history, you immediately recognise that this is a well-trodden path – burn and destroy the legacy of your predecessor and rise on their ashes!

We have seen this tendency in the sub-region where former Presidents have been targeted, nations have been divided, supporters pitted against each other in the name of fighting corruption.

What this does is to scare leaders to leave office when their terms come to an end. We have seen in Africa where Presidents begin to engage in processes intended to unconstitutionally extend their terms, fearing what would happen if they left office.

Offcourse my strong take has always been that leaders, whilst in office, must use the time to promote national development and stay away from pilfering or plundering national resources.

However, pursing them after they have left office is a sheer waste of valuable time, valuable time that should be used on implementing policies that promote national development and national unity.

While cooperating partners may cheer us on, and even deploy resources in the so-called fight against corruption, they never do this in their own countries, never arrest their former Presidents or Prime Ministers for perceived crimes done while they held office.

Coming to Zambia, we saw this with; Frederick Chiluba pursuing Kenneth Kaunda, Levy Mwanawasa pursuing Frederick Chiluba, even Michael Chilufya Sata pursuing Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

These so-called anti-Corruption exercises ended up in utter failure because they were implemented in a targeted manner, were selective and were done for purely political expediency to promote parochial, narrow and political interests.

If we are serious about fighting corruption, let us strengthen anti-corruption institutions, deploy preventive mechanisms, plug leaks of public resources, implement annual recommendations of the Auditor General and Public Account Committee, review the procurement laws and regulations, and strengthen oversight institutions.

We can’t concentrate on one single aspect of fighting corruption-prosecution only- to secure public resources.

It has to be a comprehensive approach.

It is in this light that the manufactured calls to have the constitutional immunity of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu must be rejected as they will do nothing to advance the cause of national development, national unity and the very fight against corruption.

The approach is designed to punish the former President for political purposes only.

As we have seen in the region, this approach has not yielded anticipated results but divided public perceptions about the true intention of pursing former Presidents.

We have walked this path before.

In the past we wasted precious public resources and destroyed institutions instead of building them.

We had officers travel to USA, England, Switzerland, Dubai, Belgium, and other countries pursuing “stolen public resources.

To recover stolen resources, we engaged FBI, Scotland Yard and others, and these yielded acres of news articles but no resources were ever recovered.

Infact what happens is the corruption occurring during this period, is let to pass and measures to secure current public resources are abandoned.

We are walking the same path.

I am not saying let’s not fight corruption. I am saying let’s fight corruption in the correct way, and in a comprehensive manner including prosecution.

Fighting corruption must not start and end with prosecutions.

My appeal to the new government in Zambia and to His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema is to focus on pursuing national development, creating employment, dismantling the debt burden, resolve bottle-necks hindering rapid economic growth and promote national unity.

Forest reserves turned into waste disposal

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Forest reserves turned into waste disposal

The Forest Department in Kapiri Mposhi has observed with concern the mushrooming of mining activities and increase in the dumping of solid waste into local forest reserves in the district.

District Forest Officer, Nicholas Chilo says the rapid increase in mining activities and dumping of solid waste in protected forests has resulted into increased forest destruction, air and water pollution.

Speaking during a meeting with Central Province Acting Permanent Secretary Alfred Sakwiya, Mr. Chilo stated that there is a proliferation of both licensed and illegal mining entities conducting mining activities from protected forests especially from Chibwe National Forest in the area.

He disclosed that Kapiri Mposhi Town Council and some companies generating waste have been dumping solid waste in the forests due to lack of a designated dumping site in the district.

” The district has no designated legal dumping site for solid waste so most of the garbage is being taken to the forest reserves with the main affected being Chibwe National Forest right now because some companies and even the Council have been dumping waste there,” Mr Chilo said.

He called on the Council to find a suitable solid waste dumping site where waste can be managed using environmentally friendly mechanisms and further appealed to the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to reconsider issuance of Mining licenses for mineral exploration in forest reserves.

” Right now there is a lot of both water pollution and air pollution as a result of dumping of waste and mining going on in our forests and it will defeat the purpose why these forests where reserved,” Mr Chilo said.

Meanwhile, Central Province Acting Permanent Secretary Alfred Sakwiya has directed the Department of Forestry and the Council to find a suitable location for proper disposal of solid waste in the district.

Mr Sakwiya has also challenged local authorities in the province to take an active interest in the waste recycling science as one of the alternative ways of managing solid waste in their respective jurisdictions.

Over 700 chickens worth over K100, 000 have die in a road accident in Kapiri Mposh

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Over 700 chickens worth over K100, 000 have die in a road accident in Kapiri Mposh

Over 700 chickens worth over K100, 000 have perished in a road accident in Kapiri Mposhi District along the Great North road.

The accident happened around mid-night at Sacramento area, three point eight Kilo metres south of Kapiri Mposhi administrative centre.

Speaking to ZANIS at the scene of the accident, owner of the birds and Lusaka businessman, Douglas Shamabumba said the Kasumbalesa bound Hino light truck registration number BAD 6387 swerved off the road killing over 700 birds in the process.

Mr Shamabumba said the truck was carrying 1, 600 layers with an estimated K160, 000 market value, destined for Kasumbalesa.

He complained that the accident has robbed him of the anticipated profits and a setback to his business.

He attributed the accident to the bad state of the road, adding that it gets slippery when it rains.

Mr Shamabumba has appealed to government to work on the Kabwe – Kapiri Mposhi stretch of the Great North road to harness road carnages in save lives.

“The accident happened around 24:00 hours when a truck carrying 1, 600 layers swerved off the road. The road is very bad and gets slippery when it rains,” Mr Shamabumba said.

“The accident has robbed me of the anticipated profits. The government should consider working on the road to protect the traveling public from accidents,” he added.

And driver of the truck, Arnold Chigali, of Simbaye Farm in Lusaka West, said the poor state of the road caused the motor vehicle to swerve off the road.

Mr Chigali said government should look into the plight of transporters and work on the road.

The driver complained of pain the right hand shoulder but no human life was lost in the accident.

President Hichilema confers with Millers Association of Zambia

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President Hichilema confers with Millers Association of Zambia

President Hakainde Hichilema has pledged the government’s commitment to working together with the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) to ensure that the cost of doing business in the industry is lowered.

And President Hichilema indicated during a meeting with the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) at State House in Lusaka that corruption is a cost to the milling business though sometimes taxes may also be a contributing factor.

He said there is need to create an attractive environment for doing business by getting the environment right through consultative processes such as the meeting held yesterday.

The President added that the environment for doing business should also be stable and consistent.

He said it is important that government and MAZ work together to regain the market that has been lost due to the ban of exports.

“We want your capacity to be utilised, work with us to assess the market,” the President said.

The President said that among its administration’s primary core is to put policies that will enable millers in the country to meet the country’s consumption requirement every year.

He further emphasised on the need to deal with issues of open market to export without affecting the national food security.

“We don’t want to ban exports but we need to assure food security amidst exports, so let’s work together,” the President indicated.

And the Head of State has also urged the Millers to be able to buy raw materials from the available market without waiting for the Food Reserve Agency to offload it to them.

“Maintain the relationship and business you have with FRA but when you find other available market for raw materials go ahead and buy,” he advised.

President Hichilema said he will soon visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he is expected to have more discussions concerning the available market to that country.

The President also disclosed that he will on November 20th, 2021 confer with his Botswana Counterpart where they will hold discussions on market for stock feed.

He has since challenged the millers to also use their capacity to produce stock feed and take advantage of the market that will be created in the neighbouring country.

“We will access the market but you must manufacture. Use part of your capacity to produce stock feed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Millers Association of Zambia President, Andrew Chintala assured President Hichilema of his Association’s commitment to work with government in improving the business for the industry.

Mr Chintala also commended the Head of State and his administration for allowing exports of mealie meal and maize saying the move was unprecedented.

He added that the country has already started experiencing the benefits of banning the export of maize and mealie meal.

“We lost market share in DRC as a result of untimely export ban at an expense of food security,’ he said.

Mr Chintala noted that it was unfortunate that fears around exports were based on national food security which largely impacted negatively on the business as most traders closed back completely and have not returned.

UPND seek change of law to remove some PF and Independent MPs from Parliament

Chief Editor
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25
UPND seek change of law to remove some PF and Independent MPs from Parliament

The ruling United Party for National Development -UPND- has asked the Constitutional Court to remove Section 97(2) from the electoral law, in a move that will see the courts easily nullify parliamentary and local government seats which have been challenged.

Section 97(2)(a) requires a higher standard of proof in election petitions for the courts to nullify elections and the petitioner is required to show that the candidate and his agents were involved in some malpractice and the majority of voters were prevented from voting for a candidate of their choice.

In a petition filed on 3rd November, 2021, UPND Media Committee Member Joseph Busenga has asked the Court to expeditiously hear his petition before the courts conclude hearing petitions and appeals arising from the August 12th 2021 general elections.
Mr. Busenga hopes the hearing of his petition will be expedited in line with the recent judicial precedent as it has the bearing on the ongoing petitions brought before the High Court, the Electoral Tribunals under Section 97 (2) (a) of the Electoral Process Act No (35) of 2016 as well as appeals before the constitutional Court.

The UPND, which petitioned all parliamentary seats won by the PF and Independents and over 400 local government seats have suffered defeats in many of these petitions as the petitioners failed to satisfy the provisions of Article 97(2)(a).

If the petition before the Constitutional Court is successful, the UPND will seek the nullification of seats during the appeal processes which take years to conclude.

The UPND currently cannot pass Bills and motions which require two third majority of MPs to vote such as Constitutional Bill and removal of immunity of former Presidents.

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