THE BANKERS Association of Zambia and leaders of business in the country endorsed President Edgar Lungu’s decision to invoke article 31.
Featuring on the Hot FM Breakfast show this morning Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda said the Bankers Association and leaders of business had welcomed the decision to declare a state of threatened emergency noting that when there is a threat to a business environment, business can be disrupted and thus needed a practical solution.
“On a day shortly after the President invoked that (article 31) he had a meeting with bankers and they endorsed his actions,” Mr Chanda announced to the nation and cushioned speculation especially on Social media that had been suggesting that the invocation of the article 31 would set a negative hit to the economy.
He added that following the proclamation the Kwacha actually gained a few points upwards against superior currencies like the dollar.
“This is because business leaders did recognise that when there is a threat to business, an environment were business can be disrupted. But, there is an authority that there is a government that is capable and can rise to the occasion and bring to an end all acts of sabotage,” he said.
Mr Chanda said it can be inferred that the leaders of economic business did not appreciate the lawlessness and equally regretted the market fires.
He added that the business community also assured the President that business was operating normally.
“They also assured the President that business was operating normally, no exchange controls, no threat to seizure of private property… The normal constitutional order is intact the business environment remains positive,” Mr Chanda said.
He additionally emphasised that the action by the President to proclaim and invoke article 31, declaring that a situation in the country exists, which if allowed to continue may lead to a state of emergency is an assurance to businesses that Zambia is safe for business and also to investors.
And State House has revealed that the current perceived tension is being manufactured by malcontent politicians who lost elections in 2016.
Narrowing down speculation Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda said in bid create an image that the country was ungovernable, The soar losers had been setting markets on fire in order to instil anger in traders and hence cause an uprising from them that would reflect in townships.
“It is lawlessness instigated by political malcontent,” Mr Chanda said when he appeared on the Hot FM Breakfast show this morning.
“They burn markets so they hope the 1000 people trading there will go into the townships and inject that anger into the the townships and therefore create and manufacture that tension. It is that tension the President is trying to forestall.”
He said there is prima facie evidence that the actions are well calculated by ‘politically motivated mischievous individuals.’
“The President is acting to preserve the image of the country against calculated and targeted actions… prima facie evidence shows clearly that there is a lot of politically motivated mischief we know it and it is on record,” Mr Chanda said.
“They were prophets of doom! People who predicted Armageddon. And it is very fair that we demand a retraction of those words.”
And Mr Chanda took a swipe at the recent vocal South African Union hitting Zambian media headlines questioning how a metal workers union would be so concerned of the political affairs in Zambia.
He added that The State was aware that the actions of NUMSA was the architectural work of a ‘disgruntled Zambian.’
“He went out to the country, lied that the government here was pursuing him. He has since returned several times to this country and police are not looking for him,” Mr Chanda said.
“That is a non descript union in South Africa…What is the brief of metal workers union in South Africa for it to be so concerned about politics and not welfare of metal workers in that country?”
Under duress maybe to protect themselves because you guys don’t accept or tolerate divergent views. They told you what they knew you wanted to hear. How many policy decisions has PF announced only to reverse after a lot of damage has been caused at a huge cost to the economy? Anyway since you cannot be advised, go ahead with your plans and good luck. Elders have very good spiritual eyes, you know. Ignore their advice at your own risk!
Bankers did not endorse Mugabe like s regulations to limit how much an individual should with draw. These rules that PF came up with only exist in a state which knows that its government s actions will destroy business. The most contributors of revevenue to Zambian government are people not affiliated to PF for they can not avoid paying taxes like Lungu and his stooges do.
Bankers have no choice but to accept what ever draconian rules are imposed on them as long as they can smartly withdraw their services slowly. For what is true is that PF can not stop an American or British company from transfering its money out of Zambia for doing do would be directly waging economic war against these countries. It under such conditions that these countries intervene to prevent a dictatorship from…
Bankers have no choice but to accept what ever draconian rules are imposed on them as long as they can smartly withdraw their services slowly. For what is true is that PF can not stop an American or British company from transfering its money out of Zambia for doing do would be directly waging economic war against these countries. It under such conditions that these countries intervene to prevent a dictatorship from hurtings its business interests. They can abrogate international law and come into Zambia like they did in Libya at short notice.
Its too early for Amos to boast. Fine PF can stop anyone else transfering money abroad. What about the PF top guys who are currently busy doing that for they know anything can happen any time? Has Amos thought of the ability of Lungu’s actions to…
Has Amos thought of the ability of Lungu’s actions to halt FDI? No one would want to bring his money to Zambia with such draconian rules in place.
Chanda should know that Lungu s actions have alarmed all international investors including China. China supported Mugabe because of diamonds. So for PF to think that China will rescue them because of Copper is utter nonsense. By the way China produces more copper than Zambia and Congo combined. Under the current Chinese leadership its totally a different ball game. So base all hopes in China. But why did Mutati waste money going to beg IMF if he knew China could step in and bail out Zambia? Ba PF balebwata fye nomba behaving exactly like chimbwi no plan.
Every thing Lungu is doing is just like he is copying Mugabe but even beating…
Bankers have no choice but to accept what ever draconian rules are imposed on
Every thing Lungu is doing is just like he is copying Mugabe but even beating Mugabe at his game . Mugabe has never declared a state of emergency. Mugabe has never let his cadres chop people into pieces at the grave yard like Lungu s PF cadres did last week . Mugabe has never sent his cadres to burn public places under protection of his cadres and his police for knows common sense will dictate his party is responsible. But for id10t Lungu he has just done so and used his own cadre’s actions to blame UPND.
Lungu is now panicking and busy sending his people to beg the international community and assure them everthing is ok when the community itself is aware that things are not ok under his leadership…
Lungu is now panicking and busy sending his people to beg the international community and assure them everthing is ok when the community itself is aware that things are not ok under his leadership. Lungy is chasing the wind.
UPND under HH is disciplined not to engage in such actions because HH strongly prevents his cadres from such. But when PF kill HH that will be the begining of something Zambia has never seen before because there will be no HH to stop it.
PF are in a panic mode. Tried to use legal means but failed because all matters of law are against its actions and it continues to loose cases.
Free HH now and restore all peoples freedoms for things to get back to normal. Otherwise Lungu is inviting trouble.
This does not add up.
I hate sugar coaters? What the hell are these CEOs talking about, they are lying instead of telling the truth? Are they truly real leaders? A state of Emergency has an impact on business operations. Instead of investing in security or advising the President the right thing?? They are busy trying to impress the thief? Very disappointed with business leaders who cannot stand to their beliefs.
Under duress maybe to protect themselves because you guys don’t accept or tolerate divergent views. They told you what they knew you wanted to hear. How many policy decisions has PF announced only to reverse after a lot of damage has been caused at a huge cost to the economy? Anyway since you cannot be advised, go ahead with your plans and good luck. Elders have very good spiritual eyes, you know. Ignore their advice at your own risk!!!
mmmmmmm interesting news. You need such business houses to run the economy. When the favour of God is upon you, everything just move accordingly.
You guys are making a big mistake, you are messing up the country go ahead do what ever you want…the economy will be terrible and the only thing that Zambia will have to sale will be Lungu’s golden brown teeth….don’t come back complaining…
If this incompetent Bum Lazy Lungu could go to this extent with imaginary “arsonists” imagine what he can do with real terrorists.
@Dweny
You just cracked my ribs with your hilarious post. Keep up may be PF stooges will listen.
Let them also issue a joint statement to that effect. Let’s get their views on how it will impact on the economy
AMOS CHANDA, if you had told the TRUTH consistently in the past, Zambians (some of them) might believe you on this one.
UNFORTUNATELY you are a KNOWN LIAR on virtually every issue you have pronounced on.
SO, WHO CAN BELIEVE YOUR LIES NOW ?????????
We will await a statement from the ACTUAL PEOPLE THEMSELVES and not swallow your garbage hook line and sinker as you are obviously hoping!
“On a day shortly after the President invoked that (article 31) he had a meeting with bankers and they endorsed his actions,”
Really laughable since when has Amos been the spokesman for the Bankers Association…Lazy Lungu said there were people carrying out these attacks up to now no arrests…they are probably looking for some hapless souls whom they can plant evidence on. This all looks staged now!!
For PF you have to be very clever when dealing with them…tell them what they want to hear especially if you have one or a combination of the following – skeletons in your closet, you are from the southern, western and north western provinces. no sane banker can justify clamping on business operations as good for the economy. I didn’t know Chanda can be so rude until now. the guy was my hero whilst at the high commission in UK now awe sure ni ba politician chaiwo
The question that comes to my mind , is why do you want any organisation or anyone for that matter to endorse the President’s decision if there is nothing wrong with it.
The Bankers Association has never been a representative of the the Zambian people. And if this statement is true it would be morally wrong and against their professional ethics to endorse dictatorial decisions of a sitting president. I hope they will come out and recant this statement.
It is always very important for a government to assure the business community that their interests are safeguarded. What did you want them to do? Invoke a serious piece of legislation and just keep quiet?
I couldn’t agree with you more. Especially one which has got nothing to do with civil society or good governance.
The bankers have not said anything it was Amos Chanda!!!
@ OneNation
Do you uneducated 1mbecile know the meaning of Art. 31? Business community do not see Art. 31 as safeguarding their interest. Instead of blabbing, go and clean your pit-latrine which is overflowing.
Don’t these bankers have their own spokesman? Why is Chanda speaking for them?
Serious comedy directed at cadres. The bankers have an association if they had something to say on this craziness the BAZ would have issued statement themselves.
They issued that statement already . The problem is that you are to much blinded by bitterness and tribalism. Just browse through other credible media and you will find that statement by BAZ. You are busy yapping about economy but you just saw for yourselves that kwacha appreciated after that invocation of article 31. Stay strong bane because your lies are catching up with you.
What about seeking our endorsement? There cannot be businesses or business leaders without us, the people. So engage us to seek our endorsement.
Hmm since when did Freedom Sikazwe become an owner of a bank? I would withdraw my money if so kikiki
And why are they giving gifts to the President? It looks rotten and corrupt as if the packages are full of inappropriate inducements
Opinion of a dozen highly paid parasites counts more than opinion of the majority of Zambians.
Ba Chanda, can you lover yourself any further? It may help you when arse licking
Amos Chanda is not the Spokesman of BAZ. BAZ can speak for itself. The Bankers know that declaring SOE and keeping HH in Jail has sharply increased Zambia’s Political and Economic Risk to unbearable levels. Bankers know that these devts are a Recipe for Economic Collapse. Bankers know that without IMF Money to finance both the Balance of Payments and the National Budget will lead to loss of confidence in the Zambian Economy. This will inevitably lead to sharp devaluation of the Kwacha, increased Capital Flight and sharp rise in inflation. Zambia will default on its Foreign Debt and No new Money will flow to Zambia.BAZ knows that Lungu’s govt has started a War which it will Never Win. BAZ knows that Zambia under visionless and Economic illiterate Lungu is doomed and that is why they are…
Jozef gobbles or rather Chemical Ali using cheep PR. Amos Chanda in well functioning governments operatives like your self are not at pains explaining well ment policies you are fighting for recognition thats it you and that President of yours nafimikosela.
why is ECL meeting bankers and not opposition political parties? this country is so confusing…..what has BAZ to do with the announcement?
All right thinking business organisations will support the move. Imperative to protect investment and peoples money and properties.