Advertisement Banner
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 928

Mafinga and Chinsali Districts Receive Ballot Papers

Chief Editor
-
1
Mafinga and Chinsali Districts Receive Ballot Papers

Mafinga Constituency has received ballot papers to be used in next week general elections. District Electoral Officer Francis Ndola confirmed having received the ballots which arrived in the district around 08:30 hours today.

Mr Ndola further clarified that the verification exercise was carried out as soon as the ballot papers arrived and that everything was confirmed to have been intact.

He noted with the arrival of the ballots the district was ready for the August 12, 2021 General election as all necessary requirements have been met.

Mr Ndola further encouraged voters to turn out in numbers to avoid having voter apathy.

And Chinsali District in Muchinga Province has received all four types of ballot papers to be used in the August 12 general elections.

The delivery of election materials was witnessed by participating political parties, international observers and other stakeholders.

Briefing stakeholders, District Electoral Officer (DEO ) Joseph Zulu explained that verification of ballot papers will be done on a date to be announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Mr Zulu was happy that all stakeholders’ especially political parties were present and inspected the storeroom where the election sensitive materials are going to be stored.

President Lungu mourns State house photographer

Chief Editor
-
7
President Lungu mourns State house photographer

President Edgar Lungu has mourned the late State House Photographer Eddie Mwanaleza who died today at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

President Lungu has described Mr Mwanaleza, 61, as a long-serving servant of the nation “whose picture gallery could tell the whole story about Zambia.”

“Mr Mwanaleza had immense experience, which I personally observed here at State House. This is a great loss not just to his family but government and state house, in particular. It is also a big loss to the media fraternity. My thoughts are with his family, and may his soul rest in eternal peace,” Mr Lungu said.

The later Eddie Mwanaleza was an experienced photojournalist who worked for almost all public media houses and the private media before being attached to State House from ZANIS in 2012.

Mr Mwanaleza is survived by wife, Diana and children and funeral is held at his residence in Lusaka West.

This is according to a statement availed to the media by the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe.

ECZ dismisses claims by UPND that Some Lusaka Ballot Papers have Gone Missing

Chief Editor
-
42
ECZ dismisses claims by UPND that Some Lusaka Ballot Papers have Gone Missing

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has dismissed allegations by United Party for National Development (UPND) Presidential Spokesperson, Anthony Bwalya that some ballot papers for Lusaka District had gone missing

Mr has been quoted as saying that it was unacceptable, that a few days to Zambia’s landmark election, there are already signs of electoral malpractice even before the first vote has been cast.

However, ECZ said that its schedule of distribution of ballot papers countrywide indicates that ballot papers for Lusaka District will be distributed on 9th August 2021, contrary to the opposition UPND’s assertions that some ballot papers for Lusaka district have gone missing while being distributed to the Lusaka Civic Centre.

Lusaka District Electoral Officer, Alex Mwansa said that such incidences have the potential to generate public anger and discontent and can potentially throw the election into turmoil.

Mr Mwansa said that in the first place the video which has gone viral allegedly showing missing ballot papers was not captured at Lusaka Civic Centre, adding that Lusaka has not yet received its ballot papers as this will only take place on the 9th August, 2021 for all the seven constituencies in the city.

Mr. Mwansa has since discredited the UPND allegations.

Meanwhile other districts have started receiving ballot papers

In Lusangazi, ballot papers for the August 12, general elections have arrived in Msanzala constituency in Lusangazi district, Eastern Province.

Lusangazi district Electoral Officer, Justin Mbashila has confirmed the development to ZANIS today, saying the ballot papers were received last night at the council offices.

Mr Mbashila revealed that the ballot papers received are for the four elections, namely Presidential, Parliamentary, Council Chairperson and Local government elections.

He however said that ballot papers for the Council Chairperson election in Msanzala constituency will not be used, following the election cancellation made after the death of Patriotic Front Lusangazi Council Chairperson aspiring candidate, William Banda, last month.

The district Electoral Officer added that other non-security materials such as ballot boxes have also been received in Msanzala.

And takeholders in Nalolo district, Western Province have received ballot papers, ahead of the forthcoming general elections, slated for August 12, 2021.

Nalolo district Electoral Officer Imuwana Mwanamwalye has disclosed that the ballot papers received are for all the 65 polling stations in Nalolo constituency.

“We have received ballot papers for all the 65 polling stations in Nalolo constituency and these are for presidential, parliamentary, Council Chairperson and Local government elections,” he said.

Mr Mwanamwalye commended the stakeholders from different political parties that turned up to witness the arrival of the ballot papers, and also applauded them for being peaceful during the process.

Among the stakeholders that were on hand to witness the arrival of the ballot papers were representatives from the Zambia Police, Patriotic Front (PF), United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Party for National Unity and Progress (PNUP).

And a representative from the UPND Wamunyima Ngenda said his party will monitor the ballot papers that are being guarded by the Zambia Police until the day they will be dispatched to the various polling stations.

“We shall monitor the ballot papers until the time they will be dispatched to the various polling stations so that we create transparency in the entire process,” Mr Ngenda pointed out.

The ballot papers are currently being kept at Nalolo District Council under the tight security provided by the Zambia Police awaiting distribution to the various polling stations across the district.

And Isoka district in Muchinga Province has received ballot papers ahead of next week’s general elections.

Isoka District Electoral Officer Judith Mukwita told ZANIS in an interview that the ballot papers were received at the Civic Centre at around 20:00 hours on Thursday.

Ms Mukwita noted that the arrival of the ballot papers was witnessed by various stakeholders, who included representatives of various political parties contesting in the general election.

She says the commission has put in place security measures, including a 24 hour military guard.

Meanwhile, Political parties have commended ECZ for the transparent manner in which the commission is handling the ballot papers, since the commencement of the printing process in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Socialist Party aspiring candidate for Isoka constituency Juliet Nalwimba noted that the commission has so far exhibited transparency in the preparations, drumming up to next week’s elections.

And Democratic Party, Isoka constituency aspiring parliamentary candidate Patricia McKenzie said she was confident that the commission will conduct a free, fair and credible election.

Zambia goes to the polls on August 12th, 2021.

President Lungu promises to revive Mupepetwe Engineering Company in Serenje

Chief Editor
-
42
President Lungu promises to revive Mupepetwe Engineering Company in Serenje

President Edgar Lungu has assured workers at Mupepetwe Engineering and Contracting Company of government support.

Speaking during the tour of the institution in Serenje yesterday, President Lungu regretted the fact that everything that was put up at the institution during the Kaunda administration was destroyed when UNIP left office.

He however assured that the Patriotic Front(PF) government was determined to take the institution back to its original status.

”What happened here is that when MMD took over, they destroyed everything Dr Kaunda had put up but here we are putting up things within a short period of time but we will be there,” he said.

And addressing staff at MECCO, President Lungu urged staff not to lose hope but that government was doing everything possible to ensure that the place regains its original status.

He promised the workers that government will procure new equipment by September this year.

ZANIS reports that MECCO General Manager Masiye Tembo led the Head of State and his Entourage on a conducted tour of the institution.

And President Edgar Lungu later met Chief Kabamba, Chibale and Chieftainess Serenje in Chief Kabamba’s chiefdom.

During the meeting, the President assured the chiefs that peace would be maintained in next week’s Presidential and general elections.

President Lungu also said K3 million had been released for youth empowerment programmes in central province and two Rosa mini buses have already been procured and stationed at the provincial administration.

Earlier Chief Kabamba thanked government for the continued development in the area.

Political parties urged to nurture dialogue

Chief Editor
-
9
Political parties urged to nurture dialogue

The Katete District Conflict Management Committee has urged political parties in the district to nurture and utilise dialogue as a means of resolving conflicts.

Speaking during the committee’s engagement with political parties, Committee Chairperson Thomas Phiri noted that a lot of electoral and political conflicts can be resolved through dialogue and respect for one other.

“Having dialogue and engaging each other we can achieve more. We should bear in mind that after elections, we will still be residents of Katete,” he said.

Rev Phiri was responding to questions raised by Suzyo Mthonga a representative for Micheal Banda an independent candidate under Mkaika Constituency and Peter Ndhlovu who was representing the Socialist Party.

Rev Phiri reminded political parties to realise that there would still be life after the elections, hence the need not to resort to violence.

He further urged the different political parties not to take the law into their own hands once provoked, but should either dialogue, report to the police or report to the conflict management committee.

“We know we are closer to the D-Day and tempers flare. We are against taking the law into your own hands, we want to maintain the same Katete even after elections,” he said.

He also urged the political parties to continue engaging the committee even after elections in case of any post electoral conflicts.

Earlier Suzyo Mthonga a representative for Micheal Banda, an independent candidate under Mkaika Constituency, wanted to find out if there are any measures that the Electoral Commission of Zambia has put in place that can help minimize the tearing down and removal of political party posters by rival political parties.

“Most of the times we put up the posters, you will find that people have removed them and sometimes these people are unknown,” he said.

Meanwhile, Peter Ndhlovu a representative for the Socialist Party raised a concern as to how long the conflict management committee stays in effect.

“There are cases where election results have been announced and people start to fight and insult each other over the results. So I want to know how long the committee stays in effect so that once these arise, it is easy to report,” he said.

Katete has not recorded any conflicts, as misunderstandings are being amicably resolved among political players.

Government planning to enhance castor production-President Lungu

Chief Editor
-
16
Government planning to enhance castor production-President Lungu

President Edgar Lungu has proposed for the creation of a multi-disciplinary taskforce to develop a roadmap on how castor can be promoted in the country.

Speaking in Serenje yesterday at the Zambia Castor Industry Multipurpose Cooperative Society, President Lungu says more work and research needs to be done in order to boost castor production in Zambia.

Mr Lungu expressed confidence that castor has the potential to reach standards that have been set for crops such as maize, soya beans and wheat in the country.

The President said the growing of castor is in line with government’s policy of diversifying crop production.

“The promotion of castor production sits very well with my government’s goal of ensuring that the agriculture sector is diversified, climate resilient, export oriented and private sector driven,” Mr Lungu said.

The head of state however cautioned against repeating past mistakes made during the promotion of new crops.

President Lungu cited mistake such as limited investment in training of farmers on how to grow and market new crops.

Mr Lungu also enlisted lack of a sustainable strategy, which ensures regular income for farmers, as they await returns from the new crop as another challenge in the past.

He added that previous castor projects failed to take off, because of the lack of strategic partnerships.

“Therefore, partnerships with people experienced in Castor Bean production is critical in ensuring the success of this project,” Mr Lungu noted.

The President pledged his government’s total support to producers of the crop.

Mr Lungu advised the farmers to avoid shortcuts and ensure that the art of producing castor beans is not affected.

He thanked the traditional leadership in the area for supporting the project.

“I wish to express my gratitude to their royal highnesses, Chieftainess Serenje and Chief Kabamba for the support they have rendered to this castor project,” the President said.

Castor seeds are used as one of the chief ingredients in a wide variety of medicines in treating Rheumatism and Arthritis among other diseases.

There will be No Internet Shutdown in Zambia, Blackout Information is False and Calculated to Cause Alarm

Chief Editor
-
23
There will be No Internet Shutdown in Zambia, Blackout Information is False and Calculated to Cause Alarm

The government has dismissed, as malicious propaganda, information making rounds on social media, alleging that the Zambian government will shut down the internet from Thursday to Sunday next week.

In a statement released to the media by Amos Malupenga, the Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Information And Broadcasting Services, the government said that the information was false and was calculated to cause alarm among the peace-loving Zambians.

“The Government wishes to assure the people of Zambia, both at home and abroad, that it remains committed to the free flow of information, even during the election period, ” the statement read

The Government also urged what it described as law-abiding citizens to continue using the internet and other social media platforms responsibly and in conformity with the provisions of the Electoral Process Act and other laws, such as the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act and the Penal Code Act, which prohibit the dissemination of falsehoods and inflammatory statements that have the potential to destabilize national peace and security.

Foreign media, including South Africa’s Daily Maverick, has been reporting that the Zambian government has resolved to completely shut down access to the internet beginning next Thursday, the voting day.

The foreign media claimed that a highly placed government source that opted to remain anonymous informed them that access to the internet will be throttled from Thursday in an effort to maintain peace and order during the voting period and that the decision had since been communicated to ZICTA for implementation.

The source that opted to remain anonymous said the decision has since been communicated to ZICTA for implementation.

“Yes internet will go down from Thursday. There will be a total blackout. We will start to slowly restore access around Saturday in selected areas, we may get full access maybe on Sunday or Monday, depending on the situation,” the source said.

Bishop Joe Imakando Slaps President Lungu in the Face: Is this the end of Rev. Sumaili?

Chief Editor
-
49
Bishop Joe Imakando Slaps President Lungu in the Face: Is this the end of Rev. Sumaili?

By Kapya Kaoma.

On August 1, 2021, Bishop Joe Imakando of the Bread of Life did the unorthodox of a Pentecostal Preacher–he slapped President Edgar Lungu in the face; the very man the Reverend Godfridah Sumaili has repeatedly designated as the only God fearing president to ensure Zambia remains a Christian nation. In the presence of Rev. Sumaili and Miles Sampa, Bishop Imakando employed the power of the sacred pulpit to prophetically call on his followers to vote out Lungu in the forthcoming elections. Upon receiving the sacred oracle, in his rage, President Lungu sent the Rev. Sumaili demanding an apology from Bishop Imakando. We won’t know how the story will end or whether the Bishop will double down. But should Lungu be voted out, the Reverend Sumaili, an ordained pastor of Imakando’s Bread of Life Church, will surely become unemployed.

Regardless, the report that President Lungu sent Rev. Sumaili to “express displeasure” to the Bishop, if true, is troubling. Bishop Imakando is not accountable to President Lungu, but to God. The separation of Church and State, and the freedom of expression enshrined in our Constitution stops the President from monitoring what pastors say in pulpits. We should not permit this abuse of power to grow–the president has no power to monitor sermons in Zambia. Preaching is a divine act that must be left free from political manipulation. That Rev. Sumaili and Sampa were in attendance does not mean that the contents of the sermon must change. As a preacher, Bishop Imakando is declaring God’s word to God’s people.

President Lungu and Rev. Sumaili are disappointed by the Bishop’s sermon because they have been used to hearing from the betrayers of the truth–men and women who call black, white and white, black. They are not upset because of Imakando’s sermon, but because of the bishop represents. Unlike those Kaponya pastors whose interests are brown envelopes, Imakando has a legitimate understanding of the sociopolitical and economic stress of the nation. So to hear the bishop speak the truth to power is betrayal of the highest order.

No doubt the relationship between Bishop Imakando and the Lungu administration has been mutually beneficial. The Lungu administration has sought Joe Imakando’s guidance on social and spiritual issues. Zambians, for example, have been saved from false and selfish prophets because of Imakando’s alliance with Rev. Sumaili. Shepherd Bushiri and Uebert Angel hate Imakando for a reason. As a cabinet minister, Rev. Sumaili has raised the profile of Bread of Life in the nation. In a promising close election, the PF wants any Christian vote it can get, and Bread of Life is one major basket. Sadly for Sampa and Lungu, rather than getting the clenched fist, Bishop Imakando slapped their faces–this time the hand of the man of God is pointing Forward.

As the late UN Secretary General, Dag Hammarskjöld, whose plane crashed in Ndola lyrically wrote,

“Never accept what can be gained by giving in.

You will be living off stolen goods,

and your muscles will atrophy.”

Since 2016, one can safely argue, President Lungu has lived on stolen goods of the Pentecostal Christian Identity. Like King Herod in the time of Jesus, his Pentecostal credentials have been particularly shallow. The appointment of Rev. Sumaili to Cabinet sought to Pentecostalize Lungu; it was an attempt to give an aroma of Christianity that he badly needed to attract the overtly Christian electorate. But it also sought to use Rev. Sumaili as an ambassador to Pentecostal Christians.

Both President Lungu and Rev. Sumaili, however, seem to think Imakando’s interests exist solely to serve the PF agenda. This may be true with simple pastors, but not Bishop Imakando whose church would endure beyond the Lungu administration. Hence he has to follow the wind or the spirit. Moreover, unlike Anglican, Reformed, United and Roman Catholic Churches, Imakando’s Church is predominantly urban, thus he needs to address the political aspirations of his urban electorate who are exposed to the social, economic and political challenges of the moment. His sermon could be characterized as a pastoral letter to his members as they head to the polls. This is in direct contrast to the political rants of Rev. Sumaili whose goal is to get president Lungu re-elected.

It is shameful that the PF has been at the forefront of politicizing apolitical institutions–from Unions to Chiefs to Churches. Father Chikoya of the Christian Council of Zambia, Roman Catholic Bishops, and now Bishop Imakando are among the demonized for not endorsing President Lungu in this election. Yet the same people celebrated when over 700 clergy pledged to campaign for President Lungu on the Copperbelt– Rev. Sumaili was there too. President Lungu was excited when Pastors in Kasempa pledged to campaign for him over HH–Prof. Luo graced the event. Is it only right when pastors endorse Lungu, but wrong when they endorse HH? Why the hypocrisy? Didn’t Jesus teach that “do to others what you would have them do to you”? (Matthew 7:12). Rev. Sumaili should know better.

Please vote wisely for the sake of the future of our nation. Change or no change, your vote is your sacred duty through which you declare what matters most in your life. On Thursday August 11, 2021, go out and vote! Take your neighbor with you. Remember your vote may be the one that can make the difference between Lungu and HH–it is 50+1. You may be the 1.

New Poll predicts President Lungu would win by 56.8% vote

Chief Editor
-
46
New Poll predicts President Lungu would win by 56.8% vote

The Political Science Association of Zambia (PSAZ) 2021 VOTER behaviour and candidate choice survey has revealed that if elections were held today, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu would win by 56.8% votes.

Presenting the findings today, PSAZ says the closest contender who is UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema would come in second with 40% of the votes followed by Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe with 1.34% votes, DP’s Harry Kalaba with 0.5%, PAC’s Andyfold Banda with 0.21% and 1.06 showed that they were undecided.

He said the survey was conducted in 5 provinces, namely Lusaka, Muchinga, Central, Northern, and North Western provinces.

Speaking during the survey dissemination program, PSAZ Principle investigator and political scientist, Joe Dambwa said the association used multi stage sampling where the association picked 5 Constituencies to sample from during the survey.

He said that the association ensured that all the people that were sampled during the survey were registered voters that are to participate in next week’s elections.

“96% respondents were not newly registered voters and had previously voted while only 2%were newly registered voters and 2 percent declined to respond.” He said.

Also speaking during the dissemination, Ferraline UK founder, Richard Elsen lauded the PSAZ for the survey saying it was a brilliant and professionally conducted.
oped it would be fairly reported in the media

He also hoped that the turnout in next week’s elections would be good.

The media at the unveiling of the polls

Three day prayer and fasting declared ahead of elections

Chief Editor
-
33
Three day prayer and fasting declared ahead of elections

The National Day of prayer, Fasting, Repentance and Reconciliation National Organising Committee has declared a three day prayer and fasting ahead of the August 12, general elections.

Committee Chairperson, Joshua Banda has called on the church and all peace loving Zambians to join hands in praying for continued peace before, during and after the elections.

This is contained in a statement issued to the media Bishop Banda said that the prayers will be conducted virtually through various media platforms such as television, radio and social media, starting Monday, August 9th , 2021 to Wednesday, August 11, 2021.

He revealed that the three day prayer session will be commemorated under the theme “Actualizing peace and unity in the nation, before, during and after elections”.

Bishop Banda noted that the interdenominational prayers will be led by all the major church mother bodies who will open the programme at 06:00 hours and close at 18:00 hours on the three days.

Bishop Banda further called on all Zambians to join in praying for a peaceful and credible election, whose results will be accepted peacefully by all candidates and electorates.

Zambia goes to polls on Thursday, August 12, 2021.

Beneficiaries of youth empowerment praise govt

Chief Editor
-
4
Beneficiaries of youth empowerment praise govt

Over 200 youths in Chililabombwe have this year been empowered with poultry farming stocks and agriculture farming inputs.

Speaking to ZANIS today, Chililabombwe District Administrative Officer Chipawa Chipawa said the youths were empowered through 19 cooperatives and given day-old chicks, feeders, drinkers and stock feed while others were given inputs that included maize seed and fertilizer.

Mr Chipawa said the intention for the empowerment was to enable youths to take advantage of the ready markets at Kasumbalesa boarder.

He said government realized that such initiatives will help improve the general economy of the district as the youths start to engage in economic activities.

And Mr. Chipawa described the empowerment programme as successful owing to the good yields from the investments.

He attributed the success to the efforts made by the district administration to monitor the skill and infrastructure capacity of the beneficiaries and provision of the necessary capacity building for those that needed help.

“The problem in the past was that youths were just given empowerment funds or logistics for projects they had no idea of or capacity to run but this time we ensured that those inadequacies were addressed, for example those that engaged in poultry were trained and were also given a supervisor from the Ministry of Agriculture and livestock to monitor and supervise them so that they do not make mistakes in managing the chicks,” he said.

And the youths have commended government for the empowerment which they said have enabled them to have a source of income.

Benson Chalwe, one of the beneficiaries from Kakoso South Youths Cooperative said his cooperative received chicks and managed to have money that met their financial obligations.

“The empowerment has really saved us from abject poverty, we appeal to government to continue empowering other youths in this manner as this is a sure way of eradicating poverty among youths who have no formal employment,” Mr. Chalwe said.

Government through the Ministry of Youth Sport and Child Development is currently running empowerment programmes aimed at eradicating poverty among youths by providing them with financial resources, farming inputs and day- old chicks among other logistics.

Commissioning of Simon Kapwepwe International Airport in Pictures

Chief Editor
-
39
Commissioning of Simon Kapwepwe International Airport in Pictures

Political parties concerned with storage of ballot papers in Ndola

Chief Editor
-
9
Political parties concerned with storage of ballot papers in Ndola

Ndola Town Clerk Cosmas Chalusa has assured political parties representatives and stakeholders that the ballot papers will be kept safe until election Day.

Mr Chalusa said this after a conflict resolution was held with political party stakeholders who were not in agreement with the led down procedure of having state police to man the premises where the ballot papers are being kept.

Mr Chalusa explained that the challenge had been resolved and that ballot papers are secure as the police will help with security as stipulated by the law.

“We are ready to keep the ballot papers safe until Election Day and we are working with the police because everything has to be done according to the stipulated Zambian laws,” he said.

A misunderstanding erupted in the process of offloading ballot papers by political party representatives and stakeholders who had gone to witness the offloading and securing of ballot papers at the Ndola skills training center which arrived at 09:40 hours.

Ndola central constituency returning officer Joseph Kaweche had a tough time coming to tames with stakeholders and political parties who seemed uncomfortable with the procedure but eventually reached a consensus of opening heavy pallets inside the truck.

The stakeholders where uncomfortable that ECZ truck which brought the ballot papers from Lusaka to Ndola was suspected not to be locked which raised concerns among stakeholders.

And The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has delivered ballot papers for the August 12 general elections, to Nchelenge district in Luapula Province.

Different stakeholders, who included the political parties and members of the media, were on hand to witness the offloading of the ballot papers in the district.

Speaking when he addressed the stakeholders, Nchelenge District Electoral Officer Emmanuel Sikanyinka assured that the ballot papers will be stored in a secure place.

Dr Sikanyika also disclosed that the deployment of 738 poll staff, as well as dispatching of electoral materials to various poling districts will commence on August 9th, 2021.

He has since appealed to political parties to continue co-existing, adding that Nchelenge should be a model to other districts.

Nchelenge Constituency has a total of 71,866 registered voters.

HH invests US$5 million in PVT as rigging fears rise-Africa Confidential

Chief Editor
-
37
HH invests US$5 million in PVT as rigging fears rise-Africa Confidential

HH

The much respected Africa Confidential has revealed that the UPND Alliance has been given US$ 5 million from its backers to fund a Parallel Vote Tabulation system for next week’s polls.

President Edgar Lungu is in a close fight for the presidency with United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema, who lost by 100,000 votes in the last election in 2016.

PVT is taken seriously because it was key to the PF’s Michael Sata victory over incumbent President Rupiah Banda in 2011.

When PVT results showing a clear PF win were widely publicised, Mr. Sata’s victory became established in the public mind; that persuaded President Banda – who had toyed with disregarding the vote – to step down.

Mr. Hichilema’s backers have spent about $5m to emulate the Sata PVT campaign.

Election experts say only a landslide for the UPND could thwart a determined PF campaign to steal the vote.

Reports are circulating in Lusaka that PF plans to fix the polls include using cyber-warfare techniques developed by an Israeli outfit, but no evidence has been forthcoming.

In the election campaign, which in reality has been running since the last one, the opposition’s big concern is the ruling party’s use of state power and funds to win votes.

It also worries about the threat of electoral fraud and is investing strongly in a Parallel Vote Tabulation.

PVT exercises transmit results posted at polling stations to a central point before anyone can change the numbers to benefit their party.

Local newspaper News Diggers claims that at least 20,000 voter cards had been issued to Malawians in border areas along with bribes to vote for the PF.

On 23 July Lungu inaugurated the US$2.3 billion Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower station with much fanfare, commissioning the first 150MW turbine in the planned 750MW facility.

Built by China’s Sinohydro Corporation, most of the financing for the project has come from the Export-Import Bank of China and the Industrial Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).

Talking up these mega-projects has been key part to the PF’s electoral armoury although financing them has helped create Zambia’s debt crisis.

After the financing problems delayed work, testing at the new plant began early this year.

It stalled when the government failed to persuade China Eximbank and ICBC to release the final $195m to pay the contractors.

We understand they haven’t released it yet due to worries over payment guarantees.

The project is run by Zesco, the state utility which accounts for about 45% of the national debt.

President Lungu has promised to open the new terminal at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka on 8 August.

Built by China Jiangxi, work started in 2015 and has cost $360m, financed by China Eximbank but its inauguration was delayed by cost overruns and finance problems.

The government has been trumpeting a strengthening of the kwacha against the dollar.

One US dollar bought 21.39 kwacha on 23 July, compared with 22.64 on 1 July.

On 2 August a dollar was buying 19.2 kwacha.

The Bank of Zambia points to rising copper prices (moving towards $10,000 a tonne), foreign appetite for government bonds and lower pressure on forex since the government entered sovereign default and stopped paying external creditors.

The opposition claims the fillip from higher mineral prices has been boosted by the BoZ selling extra US dollars to boost the kwacha.

Chambeshi Confident of Excelling With Chipolopolo

sports
-
2

Chipolopolo interim coach Beston Chambeshi is confident of excelling at the helm of the Zambia technical bench.

Chambeshi’s immediate task is to lead Zambia in the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifiers that start when his side faces Mauritania in their opening Group B match on 1st September away in Nouchakott.

Quicksilver has already declared his bench read to work.

“We know what the exco wants. We even know what the people of Zambia want so we are ready to work,” Chambeshi told journalists in Lusaka.

“If we plan well with my technical staff the task will be simple. Failure is not our portion. We will try to work hard and see to it that we give a smile to our Zambian people.”

He said Zambians need to believe in Chipolopolo.

“But first we need confidence from you people that we have new people who have taken over that saddle,” he said.

Chipolopolo will also face Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea in Group B.

“For sure it is not an easy group that is why we want to plan very well. We want to take each and every game with that approach seriously, we are working hard so that we start on a good note,” Chambeshi said.

1...927928929...5,667Page 928 of 5,667

Company

Trending

Categories

© Lusaka Times