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North-Western Province has attracted in excess of 750 million united States dollars investment pledges following an investment exhibition held in August last year.
North-West Investment Expo Coordinator, Christopher Bwalya said during a presentation at the first to third quarter Provincial Development Coordinating Committee (PDCC) meeting held in Solwezi that various sectors have attracted investment.
Mr Bwalya said sectors of interest include agriculture and agro processing, carbon trading, forest, energy, infrastructure development, border posts facility development and mining.
And North-Western Province Minister, Nathaniel Mubukwanu has instructed that a follow up be made from investors who made investment pledges during the 2019 Northwest Expo so as to actualize the region’s investment and development plan.
Mr Mubukwanu said resources must be put in place to enable people responsible to follow up on pledges and commitments investors made so that the province can materialize tangible social and economic investment benefit for the people.
The Minister was speaking during the virtual 1st to 3rd quarter PDCC meeting in Solwezi Provincial Development Coordinating Committee meeting held in Solwezi.
“There is need to make follow ups on pledges and investment commitments that were made during the 2019 investment Expo. We must move away from pledges to having the actual resources,” he said.
Mr Mubukwanu said the overall objective of the Expo was to realize increased inflow of investment in various sectors of the province and encourage investment.
North-Western Province last year held an investment exposition under the theme “unveiling the hidden treasures”.
President Edgar Lungu has began his three-day working visit to the Copperbelt.
Over the next three days, the Head of State who arrived at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola at exactly 09:23hrs, is expected to tour the Copperbelt rural districts of Masaiti, Lufwanyama and Mpongwe.
President Lungu will today conduct a tour of developmental projects, meet marketeers and traditional leaders and interact with the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party officials in Masaiti district.
On Saturday, he will inspect developmental projects, meet the Clergy and traditional leaders and address PF structures in both Lufwanyama and Mpongwe districts.
And on Sunday, the President is scheduled to attend Church Service before returning to Lusaka.
This is according to a statement made available to Smart Eagles by Patriotic Front (PF) Copperbelt Provincial Chairman MCC. Nathan Chanda Bwalya.
Zambia has been granted a Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) by the Chinese Government and all concessional facilities as provided by the G20 Guidelines.
Zambia has also been given a one-year grace period and suspension of three years of repayment.
China has suspended the maximum debt service repayment for 2020 and rescheduled it amounting to $225million which was due between May 2020 to December 2020.
Debt suspension for 2021 and 2021 amounting to $426.3million and $428 million have been suspended and rescheduled.
The main Chinese creditors include Export-Import Bank of China, China Development Bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China among others for loans obtained under infrastructure funding.
This information was disclosed in response to Euro Bond holders and investors prepared by Ministry of Finance and Lazard Freres who government has hired to help with financial and debt advisory services.
The document has since been posted on the London Stock Exchange.
According to the document, the Government had submitted a bilateral request to the Chinese government for debt service suspension on Government to Government (G2G) facilities.
“The Chinese Government has since agreed to grant DSSI for all to G2G facilities and all concessional facilities as per G20 guidelines of one-year grace period and three years repayment”.
The Zambian government is also engaging Chinese commercial facilities.
It has since engaged Sinosure an insurance firm that has insured commercial loans.
These talks are underway on the possible deferment of interest repayments.
The document stated that engagements on debt service related to China have been successful.
Earlier this year, Government proactively engaged the Chinese Government and creditors to obtain the Debt Service Suspension Initiative.
State House Special Assistant for Projects Implementation and Monitoring, Andrew Chellah, says quality service delivery to the rural communities remains the government’s priority.
Mr Chellah was speaking after touring the World Bank-funded road works under the Improved Rural Connectivity Project (IRCP) in Chibombo District of Central Province.
He said IRCP in Chibombo is evidence of the government’s commitment to improve the welfare of rural communities.
Mr Chellah said the objective of the project is to connect rural communities with all-weather road network to improve the movement of goods and services.
He said the aim is to provide quality roads infrastructure for effective service delivery within and among communities in the area.
“As we know most of the parts of Zambia are rural and when rain come we tend to have travel challenges related to the existing roads. So, the Improved Rural Connectivity Project seeks to mitigate these challenges,” he mentioned.
Mr Chellah expressed satisfaction on the ongoing works in Chibombo and Mkushi districts but also observed the lack of participation from the local contractor on both projects.
“The only downside to this has been the lack of the participation of the local contractors. Sub-contractors right now are at zero per cent. We have not seen any sub-contractor,” he observed.
“But we are also happy to hear after concerns we raised in Mkushi as we speak, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Road development Agency has issued an instruction to both contractors, consultants and RDA management teams in the two districts instructing them to start engaging the local contractors,” Mr Chellah said.
He added that government wants the skills of foreign contractors to be imparted on the local contractors so as to exhibit similar quality works.
“We are glad that we are headed in that direction and we expect to reap the benefits of skills being transferred from foreign to local contractors,” he added.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) says it has continued with its investigations regarding suspected cartel conduct by some players in the cement manufacturing industry.
CCPC Director Restrictive Business Practices, Luyamba Kapembwa says the commission has continued to receive complaints and quarries from members of the public on suspected cartelistic conduct in the cement sector relating to alleged price fixing.
“To this effect, the commission would like to update the general public that it has continued investigations of the suspected cartel against Lafarge Zambia PLC, Dangote Cement Zambia, Zambezi Portland Cement and Mpande Limestone Ltd,” she said.
Mrs Kapembwa told ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, that the commission will undertake more interviews with persons and enterprises of interest and will continue to employ its robust investigative techniques in order to fully determine the case.
She further urged members of the general public who may have information on any cartelist conduct that may be occurring in any sector of the economy to contact the commission.
Cement prices have continued to fluctuate on the market fetching around K120 and K130 per 50 kilograms.
US says it will watch Africa elections closely and has warned of travel bans for those interfering in democratic process and sponsoring electoral violence
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned that his country will watch closely the actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process.
Mr Pompeo said the US will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those responsible for election-related violence.
In a statement, Mr Pompeo said the United States is committed to supporting free, fair, inclusive elections.
“The conduct of elections is important not only for Africans, but also for defenders of democracy around the world. We believe all sides should participate peacefully in the democratic process. Repression and intimidation have no place in democracies,” he stated.
He said the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and association are at the heart of a functioning democracy.
“Adherence to these democratic norms and to the rule of law allows all citizens to engage in political dialogue and support their choice of candidates, parties, and platforms. We will watch closely the actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process and will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those responsible for election-related violence,” he said.
“As long-time partners to the nations of Africa, we care about the region’s democratic trajectory and are committed to working constructively with international and regional partners.”
President Edgar Lungu says there is need to give room to reform old pieces of legislations such as the Public Order Act. The President has noted that the Public Order Act is a law that was inherited from the British colonialists and was good for the British government then.
President Lungu adds that reforming old laws is an area in the law reform process which can be cooperated extensively with what is trending.
He says reforms are the only way the country could match modern democratic trends as existing by global standards.
President Lungu was speaking at State House yesterday, when the United Kingdom (UK) Minister for Africa, James Duddridge paid a courtesy call on him.
“Law reforms are of importance in this country and right now in parliament we are trying to process the law so that it meets the expectations of the people in terms of liberties to assemble and to speak,” President Lungu said.
And the President acknowledged the historical relations between Zambia and the United Kingdom that created a special bond and strategic partnership between the two countries over many years.
President Lungu expressed gratitude for the UK’s generous support to Zambia in various sectors such as education, social protection, conservation and health including in the fight against the CIOVID-19 pandemic.
“The Zambian government values its special relations with the United Kingdom under the Common wealth which espouses the values of democracy, human rights, sustainable development, peace and security and good governance among others,” the President stated.
Meanwhile, the President reaffirmed the Zambian government’s continued commitment to further strengthening the relations and cooperation with the United Kingdom at bilateral and multilateral levels, for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.
President Lungu also bemoaned the COVID-19 pandemic which he said has affected countries worldwide including Zambia and the UK and that with countries working together, the pandemic can be conquered on a global scale.
The Head of State further observed that Climate Change has also continued to be a challenge amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Zambian government is committed to the values espoused in the Commonwealth Charter, we are grateful to the UK government for the able manner in which it has steered the affairs of the Commonwealth in its capacity as chair in office,” said the President.
President Lungu also informed the UK Minister for Africa that various government agencies and ministries are making progress in preparations for the 2021 general elections.
He assured that the government will support a free, fair, transparent and credible election, which would reflect the will of the Zambian people.
“You are coming at a time when we are just getting ready for the 2021 elections. This election is very important for us. We want it to be free, fair and credible,” President Lungu stated.
And Mr Duddridge hailed the excellent historical relations between Zambia and the United Kingdom.
Mr. Duddridge also announced additional funding to support Zambia’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, nutrition programmes, Small Medium Enterprise Development and economic growth.
“I look forward to getting to know more about the country and the challenges in exchange with your views on what’s happening. I also look forward to a more mature relationship of trade and prosperity and transitioning Zambia into a middle income country, opportunities of more trade, opportunities of doing business directly with the UK and opportunities for increasing revenues,” the UK Minister said.
President Edgar Lungu and United Kingdom Minister for Africa James Duddridge putting on the facemasksPresident Edgar Lungu talks to United Kingdom Minister for Africa James Duddridge
“Good day Comrade, I am concerned with the age of our spokesperson. I think certain positions must be occupied by mature old people if people are to take us seriously. She can be deputy spokesperson.”
I took some time to reflect and meditate deeply over the concerns raised by this Comrade of mine without any dogmas and with broad mindedness, without thinking I am the owner of absolute truth. I don’t think it is right to judge a person’s ability to lead and succeed by simply looking at their age or another physical attribute.
A person’s ability, competence or capacity to lead – ideation, drive, intelligence, and determination – can’t be measured by their physical attributes. History abounds with examples of those who defied traditional standards at a tender age, but were eminently successful. Ancient Egypt’s King Tutankhamen is arguably the most famous of those, ascending the throne when he was just 9 years old and ruling until his death at age 19. Another impressive example is, Queen Elizabeth I who ascended the throne when she was 25 years old, young by today’s standards, and ruled successfully for 45 years.
Fidel Castro was only 26 when he led the attack on Mocanda Barracks. And Raul Castro was 21 when he participated as a leader in that attack. Conversely, some didn’t achieve success and fame until they were in their later years. Grandma Moses began painting when she was 78 and continued until she was 100, and she’s one of the most celebrated folk artists. Colonel Harlan Sanders was 65 when he began Kentucky Fried Chicken and forever changed the fast-food industry.
Youth has the advantage of energy and dreams, maturity has the advantage of wisdom and experience. A combination of both is needed. But it is not easy to have that in one person. A team that combines both is needed.
Often, motivation plays a greater role in leadership effectiveness than does age. Older leaders who want to make a difference are often very effective leaders while those who want to keep things the way they are, are less effective.
Since lifespans are longer now than at any time in history, those who are now in their later years are usually in better physical and mental health than they were in the past, and they’re better able to be effective leaders. Young people have more knowledge and technology available than at any time in history, and since they are usually open to new ideas, there’s been a proliferation of very young but very effective leaders. Ultimately, those who are the most effective and the most successful leaders are those who are the most driven and have the most desire to lead and succeed, regardless of their age brackets.
Leadership is more passion-driven than age-driven. If a leader is passionate it will inspire others to become passionate. So those who inspire others to achieve more and dream more are exhibiting the qualities of a superior leader, whether they are 21 or 75. Philosophising a little on this subject, I would certainly agree with the proponents of the theory that leaders should be as young as possible. I would agree even though, in The Republic, Plato said that no person should make themselves responsible for affairs of state until they were 55 and that they should spend the preceding time preparing themselves for assuming important state functions.
Life expectancy in Plato’s era 50 or a little less, so, adjusting the figure to allow for our longer life expectancy, I would calculate that, in line with Plato’s concept, modern humans should be around 80 before they assume functions of state. I think 80 is too old, however.
I would recommend that young people be the ones to carry out revolutions. When you are in your 20s or 30s, you can do things you can’t do when you are in your 60s or 70s.
Certainly, a little more maturity is needed for guiding a state and developing a revolutionary process. But with the passing of time young people can gain some necessary experience.
Lastly, the matter of age is relative. It depends to a great extent on the person, on their state of health.
Summing up, I would think that both young and old people shouldn’t be denied the right to engage in political affairs and hold positions of responsibility.
I think the Central Committee of the Socialist Party made the right decision to appoint Comrade Rehoboth Kafwabulula – a member of the party’s Central Committee and the General Secretary of the Socialist Youth League – as the national spokesperson. Young people are not only leaders of tomorrow, they are also leaders of today. The future is not built in the future; it is built on the threshold of what we do today.
The Presidential solar milling plant empowerment in Mwinilunga District of North-Western Province has started bearing fruits.
Kapelupelu Women Multipurpose Cooperative working with Mwinilunga District Show Society has started producing breakfast Mealie Meal using the Presidential hammer mill empowerment at affordable prices.
Mwinilunga District Show Society Chairperson, George Mbimbi said the joint venture with the cooperative is a good move because it will help Mealie Meal prices to reduce in the district.
Witnessing the official launch of the milling project, District Administrative Officer, Kelvin Ndandanda expressed happiness that the solar milling plants which are an initiative of President Edgar Lungu are bearing desired results.
“The initiative by Kapelupelu Women Multipurpose Cooperative together with Mwinilunga district show society creates self-reliance, sustainability as well as job creation in the district.
“I appeal to other cooperatives in the district to emulate Kapelupelu Women Multipurpose Cooperative,” Mr. Ndandanda said.
Speaking at the same event, Mwinilunga District Cooperative Development Officer, Desmond Simfukwe said he is delighted with the initiative taken by the cooperative and the show society as one of government’s desire is to see value addition from the cooperatives to make money, more profit, and improve their lives.
Mr Simfukwe also appealed to other cooperatives in the district to add value to their products in order to further reduce Mealie Meal prices in the district.
Chongwe constituency member of Parliament Japhen Mwakalombe has commended the University of Lusaka (UNILUS) for donating 142 desks worth 100,000 Kwacha to Silverest primary and Silverest secondary schools in Chongwe district, Lusaka province.
ZANIS reports that Mr Mwakalombe who received the donation on behalf of the two learning institutions, noted that the donation will not only address the challenge of lack of furniture at the two schools, but will also enable pupils to practice social distancing during classes.
Mr Mwakalombe who is also Copperbelt Minister, said it is gratifying to note that UNILUS attaches great importance towards supplementing government’s efforts in improving the learning environments for pupils.
He has implored pupils and staff at the two schools to take care of the donated desks to enable future generations to also benefit from them.
And in a speech read on his behalf by UNILUS Vice Chancellor Chipasha Mulenga, Professor, Pailose Chifwanakenu, said the University decided to donate to the two schools because the institution acknowledges the significance of primary and secondary education where it draws its clientele.
“The University of Lusaka has a passion for quality education as its driving force hence the reason for the donation,” said Professor Chafwanakenu.
He stated that the University remains committed to giving back to the communities around the area where it operates as it values its corporate social responsibilities.
Professor Chifwanakenu said he is confident that the donation whose ripple effect will be the provision of a conducive learning environment for pupils in the new normal will lead to provision of quality education.
Speaking during the same event, Chongwe District Commissioner, Robert Mwanza thanked UNILUS for the gesture.
Mr Mwanza called on other stakeholders in the district to emulate the University by partnering with government to enhance the provision of social services to the people in the area.
The International Monetary Fund this week approved new emergency aid for 28 of the world’s poorest countries to help them alleviate their debt and better cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Zambia has again been left out of the list of beneficiary countries.
The announcement, which follows a similar measure passed in mid-April for 25 countries, is intended to help the countries cover their debt repayments to the IMF for the next six months and “free up scarce financial resources for vital emergency medical and other relief efforts” during the pandemic.
The 28 countries receiving the second tranche of aid are Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo and Yemen.
Mali is also eligible for aid but has not yet been added to the list because “there is a lack of clarity as to whether the international community recognizes/deals with the current military regime as the government of Mali,” the IMF said.
The debt relief is channeled through the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT), which enables the IMF to provide grants to the poorest and most vulnerable countries hit by a natural disaster or public health crisis.
Subject to sufficient resources in the CCRT, grants could be provided for a two-year period through mid-April 2022 for an estimated total amount of $959 million.
The IMF’s goal is to endow the CCRT with $1.4 billion so that it can also meet future needs.
To date, $506.5 million has been contributed by several countries, including the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, China, Mexico, Sweden, Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Malta.
Dr Gabriel Pollen CTPD Senior Researcher -Public Finance
The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) observes that while the Kwacha has been depreciating over the past decade, the past one year has been unprecedented in terms of the rapidity of the loss of value of the currency against the United States (US) Dollar.
On 7 October 2019, the midrate Kwacha per US Dollar Exchange Rate stood at 13.1, rising to 19.6 by 2 September 2020, representing a 33% depreciation in only 11 months.
Recently, the Bank of Zambia explained that the Kwacha’s rapid depreciation has been attributed to low foreign exchange sales from the mining sector and an increase in foreign exchange demand for the importation of agricultural and medical supplies.
As CTPD, we think the factors driving this are mainly associated with external forces and a production structure of the Zambian economy which is dependent on imported products.
Disruption in international trade and declining global economic growth propelled by the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to lower foreign exchange sales from the mining sector, while imports of petroleum products, agriculture supplies such as inputs and medical supplies required to address COVID-19.
Additionally, the depreciation of a local currency has wide-ranging implications for an economy, both good and bad, depending mostly upon the productive structure of a country – i.e. underlying structure of production of an economy, including the range and degrees of linkages between sectors – and the nature of policy response to the exchange rate change. There are some upsides to the economy due to a depreciation of its domestic currency.
In general, a depreciation makes exports cheaper, with potential to raise export earnings if followed by a commensurate rise in the scale (and range) of production. A one-off depreciation can attract foreign investment in form of Foreign Direct Investment as it makes an economy cheaper.
However, a depreciation may also impose a range of negative effects on the economy. In Zambia, the critical issues of currency surrounding the adverse implications on the economy of the Kwacha depreciation against the US Dollar relate to its impact on export earnings, cost of imports, cost of energy (electricity and crude oil) and, subsequently, cost of doing business, including transmission to domestic prices, as well as, ultimately, the standard of living.
The Depreciation of the kwacha will also make our debt payment more expensive to service. One of the downsides that has been recently witnessed due to rapid depreciation of the Kwacha has been the reduction in the dollar value of the national budgets despite a nominal increase in Kwacha terms. The 2019 national budget was K86.81 billion equivalent US$ 8.27 billion while the 2021 national budget is estimated at K119.6 billion equivalent to only US$6 billion using current exchange rate.
The Centre for Trade Policy and Development therefore urges the CentraI Bank to intervene in the Foreign exchange market, and buy domestic currency using foreign currency. This would in the short-term cause demand for domestic currency to rise, with an attendant effect of countering a depreciation.
CTPD notes that the long-term solution is to build an integrated structure of production with wide-ranging linkages across and within sectors which will insulate the economy from the vagaries of the external sector while building surplus for the economy.
The Motion to suspend the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) moved by ruling Chembe Member of Parliament, Dr. Sebastian Kopulande has failed in Parliament as government has dealt with the matter.
Last week, Vice President, Hon. Inonge Wina announced in Parliament that Government had taken the concerns of stakeholders on CSE and had suspended the programme until a multi-sectoral technical working group reviewed the curriculum and textbooks to be used.
When the matter came to Parliament on Thursday afternoon, Government Ministers and other MPs stated that Hon. Wina had guided on the matter and the motion was overtaken by events.
Minister of Education, Dr Dennis Wanchinga, said the CSE programme has been formulated since 2013 and the curriculum will continue to be improved to ensure that it was age-appropriate and recognized cultural sensitivities.
He welcomed the action by the Vice President to set up a multi-sectoral committee to review the curriculum and ensure that all concerns were attended to.
Kanchibiya Member of Parliament Dr. Martin Malama urged government to attend to the concerns raised by stakeholders.
He also welcomed the initiative by the Vice President to review the process and attend to the concerns.
And Minister of Justice Given Lubinda said the PF party was democratic and has allowed members to critique government policies.
And Hon Sumaili said Zambia remains a Christian nation and will not allow programmes that would derail its values.
She said the motion by Dr. Kopulande was overtaken by events as the Vice President had guided on the process to be undertaken to ensure that CSE complied with the national values that the country upholds.
Hon Wina announced last week that a multi-sectoral committee will be set up to respond to concerns of CSE.
She also announced that the process will be undertaken and supervised by the Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs, Hon. Godfridah Sumaili.
Chembe Member of Parliament, Dr. Sebastian Kopulande, had moved a Private Member’s motion urging Government to suspend the teaching and implementation of CSE in schools countrywide until adequate consultation and harmful elements of the CSE were removed.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Chishimba Kambwili has unreservedly apologized to President Edgar Lungu that his statement has been misconstrued to insinuate that the Head of State is a drug dealer.
Addressing journalists in Lusaka on Thursday, the NDC leader said he has never at any given time called President Lungu a drug dealer.
Mr. Kambwili stated that the statement which he issued sometime last year which some people are referring to, did not insinuate that President Lungu deal in drugs.
“The second issue is that there has been word going around that I called or I accused President Lungu of being a drug dealer and that he deals in drugs. I want to make it clear! I have never at any given time called President Lungu a drug dealer or accused him of dealing in drugs. I have no reason to so that. I don’t have any evidence. So I have never called him a drug dealer and if what I said at a press conference I had last year concerning the issue of drugs has been misconstrued to mean that I called President Lungu a dealer or accused him of dealing, I clearly apologize unreservedly. That was not the intention, ” he said.
“If you read my statement that I gave then, there is nowhere I said President Lungu deals in drugs or is a drug dealer. So those who are using my statement to try and misconstrue things and portray otherwise, please I did not say that and I have never and I will never accuse someone of dealing in drugs who doesn’t deal in drugs and I have no evidence whatsoever.”
He, therefore, said if his statement which was in good faith has been misconstrued to mean that President Lungu deals in drugs, he unreservedly apologized to the President.
The suspensions of Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe and former Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu from the PF party has been lifted barely 24 Hours since they were announced.
The party says the lifting of the suspensions was done in the spirit of unity of purpose in the Copperbelt Province.
“Based on the aforesaid, and remorsefulness shown Mr Kang’ombe and Mr Mpundu, I have decided to lift the suspension. However, if the Kitwe PF District Executive Committee still feels the duo or any other PF members committed an offense or in the near future warranting disciplinary action, they can charge them following the PF party Constitution and Disciplinary Code,” he said.
PRESS STATEMENT
SUSPENSIONS LIFTED IN THE SPIRIT OF UNITY OF PURPOSE IN COPPERBELT PROVINCE.
Kitwe, Thursday 8th October, 2020
I’m in receipt of the letters of suspension of Mr Christopher Kang’ombe and Mr Binwell Mpundu from the Kitwe District Patriotic Front Party by Kitwe PF District Chairman Mr Evaristo Chilufya. The same letters of suspension are also copied to the PF Secretary General Hon. Davies Mwila.
After our meeting with the PF Kitwe District Chairman Mr. Evaristo Chilufya his district secretary Mr. Lungo Kawaya, PF Nkana constituency Chairman Mr. Edward Chitambetambe, PF Kamfisa Constituency Chairman Collins Chansa including Mr. Binwell Mpundu and Mr. Christopher Kang’ombe who showed remorse. I wish to guide that in the suspensions of Mr. Christopher Kang’ombe and Mr. Binwell Mpundu, there was an amiss in the procedure even when the case is solid as laid out in the PF party CONSTITUTION and DISCIPLINARY CODE. The PF as the ruling party has a CONSTITUTION and a DISCIPLINARY CODE which guide all disciplinary matters involving party members.
Based on the aforesaid, and remorsefulnes shown by Mr. Christopher Kang’ombe and Mr. Binwell Mpundu, I have decided to lift the suspension. However, if the Kitwe PF District Executive Committee still feels the duo or any other PF members committed an offense or in the near future warranting disciplinary action, they can charge them following the PF party Constitution and Disciplinary Code.
I want to give a serious warning to the trio for taking the matter to the press and social media when as a party we have many channels of airing out grievances.
I also wish to take this opportunity to restate that the PF party on the Copperbelt will work towards promoting UNITY, LOVE and RECONCILIATION among it’s membership. However, I will not condone indiscipline from party members, including those who have launched premature campaigns in constituencies with incumbent PF Members of Parliament, with impunity and total disregard of the PF Central Committee guidance as per the circular signed signed by the Secretary General Hon. Davies Mwila.
Lastly, let us respect and support the party by putting all our efforts together in building the party and campaigning for President Edgar Chagwa Lungu who is our candidate for 2021 General Elections.
Issued by:
Mr Nathan Chanda
Copperbelt PF Provincial Chairman
Member of the Central Committee (MCC)
