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Zanaco’s six match unbeaten league run is in the dock again on Wednesday when they host Red Arrows in a Lusaka derby clash at Sunset Stadium.
The match is Zanaco’s penultimate league fixture before they host Egyptian club Pyramids on March 1 in a 2019/2020 CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal, first leg match in Lusaka.
Zanaco comes into the derby on the back of five wins and one draw in league action under Chris Kaunda since he took charge in early January following the dismissal of Mumamba Numba.
The Bankers run has seen them crawl out of the relegation zone and up to 11th on 29 points.
A win on Wednesday will see Zanaco enter the top eight for the first time this season.
Meanwhile, Arrows too have priority business to take care of on the day in what has so far been a start-stop 2020 that has seen them drift out of the top four as their continental qualification hopes look like they are losing momentum.
Arrows are currently sixth on 35 points, one behind fifth placed Napsa Stars.
A shock win over Zanaco will see them displace Napsa and move them a point behind Nkana and Zesco United who are fourth and third respectively.
But Arrows have not won away to Zanaco in the league since 2013 that has seen them take the short drive back to Nkoloma Stadium with four defeats and two draws.
Meanwhile , the game will also see this seasons golden boot contenders, Rodgers Kola from Zanaco who has 10 goals, and James Chamanga of Arrows who leads on 12 goals, duel in this rescheduled Week 17 fixture.
President Edgar Lungu has accused those accusing government of orchestrating the gassing of people in several parts of the country of being mad.
In a Facebook post, President Lungu said those accusing government of being behind the gassing of its citizens are patients who deserve time in a mental asylum.
“How can government do such kind of a thing? If they have evidence of any government official involved let them report the matter to the police,” President Lungu stated.
He said the gassing of innocent citizens by criminals is very un-Zambian as its people are known to be peaceful and law abiding.
The Head of State has since called for calm among Citizens saying security wings are dealing with gassing activities in the country.
“Zambians can be assured that we will get to the bottom of this and perpetrators will be brought to justice to face the full wrath of the law. Let me also express my disappointment with some people accusing government of gassing its citizens in order to bring confusion in the country.”
“Let me once again warn criminals and anyone involved that the long arm of the law is not short to catch up with perpetrators. Your days are numbered!”
President Lungu called on Zambians to desist from descending on innocent people suspected to be behind the alleged gassing and allow the law enforcement officers to take charge.
“Every person has the right to life, and no one should take the life of a another regardless of the level of provocation,” he said.
Zambia captain Adrian Chama says winning the opening Group D match against Tanzania on April 7 at the 2020 CHAN in Cameroon will be crucial.
Chipolopolo will also face Namibia and Guinea in this group.
Cameroon will host the CHAN from April 4-25.
‘The group is tricky and fair at the same time. We have newcomers in the group making it even tricky. Newcomers come out with a point to prove,’ defender Chama said.
‘There are no underdogs in this group. We just have to go there and compete and possibly bring back the cup home,’ the Zesco United player said.
Chama described the opener against Tanzania as a must win.
‘In any tournament, winning the first game encourages the team. We can’t talk about winning the cup minus going past the group stage. We just have to win the first game,’ he said.
Zambia head into their fourth CHAN after quarterfinal finishes in 2018 and 2016 and a third place finish at the inaugural tournament in 2009 held in Cote d’Ivoire.
CHAN is a second tier AFCON exclusively for domestic league players.
Retired iconic Kitwe referee Francis Kasusu has paid tribute to FAZ League Manager and former FIFA referee Katongo Kabungo who died on Monday in Lusaka aged 75.
Kabungo died of suspected high blood pressure at his Lilayi home in the early hours of Monday.
Kasusu described Kabungo as a gallant man.
‘He was my Youngman. He started referee from the amateur and rose to officiate in the Super League,’ Kasusu said from Kitwe.
‘He was a humble and straight forward person. We have lost a gallant referee who served the nation according. May God rest him in peace,’ he said.
Kabungo was a CAF Referees Instructor after retiring from active officiating in 1997.
He previously served as Referees Associating of Zambia president.
Kabungo is survived by four children and seven grandchildren.
More cases of sporadic riots, panic and mob justice are occurring around some parts of the country due to the allegations of gassing. Yesterday there were riots in Chongwe, Mumba and this morning Serenje. In Chongwe, Police received a report of riotous behavior which was sparked after word went round that police had detained some suspects behind chemical spraying in the area.
They then went to the police station in the area demanding the release of the said suspects with a view of killing them. The mob later went to the streets where they staged riots.
Mumbwa Town Council Chairman Gracious Hamatala issued the following statement following riots in Mumbwa.
Good evening comrades. Most of you have by now heard that Mumbwa Central business District experienced running battles with the Police this afternoon.
This unfortunate situation was caused by one man who cracked a silly joke with a client who entered the shop to buy fish.
The Shop Keeper who about to knock off closed the doors while in the process asking the client if she’s been gassed before.
The client panicked and called for help while struggling to leave the shop and people came to her rescue. As it where, when the Police picked up the Shop Keeper, word then went round that Police where hiding a gasser/ritual killer when the guy had just been picked for interrogations.
People then mobilised and rushed to the Police with a demand to mate out instant justice hence the ensuing running battles.
I would like to appeal to the residents of Mumbwa to calm down because today incidence left a lot of property damaged on an account that should not led to such.
Secondly, please exercise patience and seek to confirm information before spreading it out to avoid loss of life on unfounded updates/rumours.
Do not take the law in your hands because this may cause loss of life of a completely innocent person as the case has happened in other parts of the Country.
Do not make any silly jokes about gassing as this may not only lead to a situation like that of this afternoon but on a serious note could lead to your demise.
Do not carry any suspicious containers or substances which may make you look suspicious as almost everyone is now considered as a potential culprit/gasser.
Those in town, avoid carrying sprayers or application of insecticides in the vicinity of residential places.
Report an suspicious person or objects to the Police or community/civic leaders.
Avoid running Political comments of accusing each other as parties but let residents exercise critical thinking on how we can bring this scourge to an end. Our Children are traumatized and our already strained economy is being hurt the more.
Good evening.
Meanwhile Zambia Police public relations officer Esther Katongo said there is an emerging tendency where members of the public are blocking public roads and searching motor vehicles on suspicion that they are carrying chemical substances being used in suspected chemical spraying cases currently being experienced in some parts of the country.
Ms Katongo said this is a pure act of criminality where some criminals would want to take advantage of the prevailing situation to attack unsuspecting members of the public and steal from them.
Between Manyinga and Mufumbwe of North Western Province, a mob blocked the road using logs and stones and stopped motor vehicles among them, a Power Tools Bus and demanded that they conduct a search on the bus. Upon searching the bus they found a first aid kit which contained pain killers, bandages, methylated spirit, gloves and a small axe as per road traffic regulations but the mob became suspicious after seeing an axe.
A similar situation was experienced in Kafue yesterday between 18 00 hours and 20 00 hours and also around 06 00 hours where a mob blocked the road between Kafue Gorge turn off and Shamikobo area, stopping and searching motor vehicles and caused damage to five (05) motor vehicles. Police have arrested eight people for riotous behaviour who are currently detained in police custody.
Zambia Police are therefore warning all those who have adopted this tendency or those contemplating the same that as police we will not take this criminality lightly. We urge members of the public to desist from this criminal act and avoid involving themselves in duties which are not within their mandate.
In Northern Province in Nseluka area, there was a report of mob justice in which members of the public have killed an unidentified male person who they later dressed in a combat police uniform which was found in the victim’s motor vehicle. This was after members of the public suspected the deceased who was in the area in the company of his colleague to be behind chemical spraying in the area. Upon interrogations, the friend to the victim ran away. The mob searched the victim’s motor vehicle and found a pair of police combat uniform which they dressed him after killing him and later set the victim’s motor vehicle on fire.
Investigations have been instituted to establish the source of the police combat uniform.
In another development, 27 people were arrested yesterday by a joint operation team in Mtendere Compound for conduct likely to cause the breach of peace. 22 various offensive weapons were recovered from them. After screening, those linked to the offensive weapons are likely to be charged with possession of offensive weapons. All those who would want to conduct patrols in their communities should do so in liaison with police in their respective areas. All those that will be found moving round communities on pretext of conducting patrols without police blessings will be dealt with accordingly.
ZAMBIA Army armoured patrol cars were yesterday deployed in Chongwe after residents rioted. The riots were caused by rumors of alleged gassing and ritual killings in their area.(Picture by R. Manchishi)SERENJE residents rioted this morning over alleged gassing of their homes by unknown people. (Pictures by Serenje Radio FM)SERENJE residents rioted this morning over alleged gassing of their homes by unknown people. (Pictures by Serenje Radio FM)
As the Bank of Zambia sets to announce the Monetary Policy Rate for quarter one, the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) would like to urge the Bank of Zambia Monetary Policy Committee, to consider the broader economic situation as they determine the 2020 first quarter monetary policy decision.
There is need to consider the liquidity situation, economic growth prospects and indeed the already high cost of borrowing. The Bank of Zambia should also work at harmonizing its policy decision with the recent fiscal measures proposed by the Minister of finance,Honourable Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu, during his address on the state of the economy.
CTPD therefore advises the Central Bank to maintain the Policy rate. Zambia’s inflation has been on the rise, at 11.7 percent in December 2019, and 12.5 percent in January 2020. This rise in inflation would justify another upward adjustment in the policy rate or reserve ratio
requirement in order to revert to single digit inflation, towards the 6 to 8 percent target. It should however be noted that increasing the policy rate would result in increased liquidity constraints, higher cost of borrowing and a further contraction in economic activity. This is
certainly not in line with the fiscal measures aimed at stimulating growth through the private sector.
In considering the bigger picture, the Monetary Policy Committee should at the least maintain the policy rate in order to provide space for the fiscal measures to take effect. The Minister of Finance recently outlined a number of fiscal measures aimed at improving the debt situation. These included a suspension or moratorium on contraction of selected nonconcessional loans, cancellation of selected external project loans and re-scoping of selected externally financed projects. If these measures are implemented, the Kwacha is likely to
appreciate and thus reducing the inflationary pressure.
Furthermore, the Minister of Finance, asserts that private sector activity has been stifled by liquidity constraints associated with higher debt service payments and the accumulation of domestic arrears.
As the Ministry of Finance is slowly taking action to increase liquidity through the dismantling domestic arrears, the Bank of Zambia, should not be taking a counter action such as increasing the policy rate. Increasing the policy rate, though justifiable on the account of higher inflation, is not consistent with fiscal policy and would negatively affect Zambia’s growth prospects.
Issued By Mr. Bright Chizonde
Senior Researcher-CTPD
The World Health Organization WHO has published desirable doctor–patient ratio as 1:1,000. Yet, over 44% of WHO Member States reported less than one physician per 1,000 population. Zambia, like other low-middle income countries in the world, is working towards the attainment of universal health coverage and access to quality health care for all by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda.
According to the World Health Organization, the doctor-patient-ratio in Zambia is pegged at 1 doctor for every 12,000 patients – as opposed to the WHO’s acceptable standard of 1 physician to every 5,000 people. Data from the Ministry of Health shows that the estimated shortage of Doctors, Nurses and Midwives is about 14, 960. However, with projected population growth, the deficits more than double to 25, 849 by 2020 and more than 46, 000 by 2035. To enable the health sector attain the milestone of curbing the shortage of human resource for health capital development, one strategy is for public and private higher learning institutions to contribute to helping government realize the recommended goals. In line with the Zambia Vision 2030 and National Health Strategic Plan 2017-2021 of having a nation of healthy people and mission of providing equitable access to quality, safe, and cost-effective medical facility for all, attainment of such a vision requires a robust health care workforce to deliver the service.
At present, Zambia only has four government run institutions that train doctors, namely The University of Zambia, The Copperbelt University, Mulungushi University and recently opened Levy Mwanawasa Medical University. In addition, there are a few private universities such as Texila American University, Lusaka Apex University, Cavendish University and University of Lusaka, bridging the gap in the medical training sector and their output is not enough to reduce the deficit in the coming years. The total number of Health Professional graduates increased from 2, 246 in 2010 to 3, 539 in 2013.
A Dermatologist at the University Teaching Hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity said she is in a department which gives her liberty to properly interact with her patients. However, she recalls how busy her time was in departments such as Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Because of the number of patients she had to attend to, time to talk to her patients was limited. She says she had to attend to an average of about 30 patients in any given shift. She applauded governments’ efforts at employing more doctors in the field of medicine to attend to the growing population.
Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said that government has embarked on a seven-year project to build six hundred and fifty health centers across the country and increase medical training schools. Around 200 students graduate from Zambia’s two government run medical training schools annually. Dr Chilufya said most of the medical students that graduate are accepted for practice in hospitals across the country. However, due to poor working conditions in Zambia, they later travel overseas, especially to the United Kingdom, in search of greener pastures. “Zambia has to almost double the number of health workers from current 42, 630 to 80, 274 by training and recruiting an additional 37, 644 health personnel by 2025.”
According to the National Human Resources for Health Strategic Plan for 2018 – 2024, it is government’s position that absorption of health workforce either by government, the private sector or development partners should be prioritized in the next 5 to 10 years.
Private run Texila American University Vice Chancellor Dr Vijayakumar says his institution aims at training competent students into exceptional doctors. He adds that quality of doctors produced by the university is a priority because people’s lives depend on it. “The ultimate purpose of our Health Programs is to strengthen the health sector and services in Zambia and the region by training health professionals with unique technical skills that are essential to support and complement the health care services provided by government. Texila commits to contribute to human capital development that meets the legitimate need of unmet medical services, especially in the rural and service-deprived areas, by creating a strong and sustainable health care professionals human resource base for health care in Zambia and the region; expand efficient medical services to rural, primary and tertiary health care settings; and empower citizens through transformative quality education of high school graduates to pursue a career in health care”, he said.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Lieutenant General Paul Mihova has called on Zambians living in the United Kingdom to invest back in their home country and be part of transforming Zambia.
The High Commissioner made the remarks when he addressed various Zambian Association groups at the ‘Greet and Meet ‘event organised by the Zambia High Commission.
The High Commissioner urged Zambians in the Diaspora to live in unity and contribute to Zambia’s development and join hands with Government to realise the dream of a prosperous Zambia together.
He said it was the responsibility of Zambians both at home and abroad to work together to develop Zambia and urged the diaspora to use their network of contacts here in the UK, to access capital and technology that they can use in developing Zambia.
The High Commissioner further called on Zambians in the UK and Ireland to come together and establish a formal structure for engagement with Government and also create a Diaspora Association that can raise capital for investment projects that can go towards the development of the country.
The High Commissioner said Diasporas are rich in knowledge and experience and have access to capital that could give them an edge.
“We are here because we are Zambians and we love our country Zambia. We are here to renew our duty of working together with a common purpose of contributing to national development from the diaspora perspective. The High Commission is keen to work closely with all of you without leaving anyone behind. This Mission exists because of you. We believe in transformational and servant leadership and we are at your service,” he said.
The High Commissioner said the government has introduced a Diaspora policy to promote the participation of the Diaspora in the development of the country and by working together Zambians can make a difference in their own country.
And Lieutenant General Mihova implored nationals in the diaspora to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner, wherever they are, to maintain the good image of the country in the international community.
He said Zambians in the Diaspora should serve as their country’s ambassadors by speaking good about Zambia adding that it was incumbent upon Zambians in the diaspora to promote Zambia in their country of residence irrespective of their political and religious beliefs.
“To all fellow Zambians, I say we all have a duty and obligation to be patriotic, to protect and defend the unity and peace that we treasure so much. Be ready to contribute in the development of your country. His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has continually reminded us that he wants to see a developed Zambia that does not leave anyone behind as such, it is therefore, necessary that all Zambians, irrespective of political or religious affiliation and working together with others, must ensure that we accomplish our development targets set-out in the vision 2030 to ultimately become a middle-income country. Wherever you are, bear in mind that you play a significant role and the country needs your input to develop” he said.
Zambian Association group represenatives who attended the event made use of the opportunity to engage with the High Commissioner and Diplomats on various topics of their concerns related to the Diaspora Policy and how they can invest in Zambia.
High Commissioner Mihova introducing his wife to the Zambians in the UK
Issued by Abigail Chaponda (Mrs.)
First Secretary | Press and Public Relations
Zambia High Commission in the United Kingdom.
Improved weather forecasting tools are giving farmers in Zambia the support they need to build resilience & prepare for more frequent climate shocks
By Moses Zangar, Jr.
After Grace Vandika’s crops were wiped out in a drought that scorched much of Zambia last year, she has been glued to her radio, anxiously awaiting weather reports in hopes that her village will receive enough rainfall this farming season.
Unusually high temperatures, on top of a lack of rainfall, have hit crops and livestock in Vandika’s village in Chongwe District, 45 kilometres east of the capital, Lusaka.
‘The weather is unpredictable these days. In the past, we could look at the sky or gather at our traditional ceremony to forecast the timing and quantity of rains. You can’t be sure anymore’, the 52-year-old farmer said.
Traditional knowledge in a rapidly changing climate
Like many small-scale farmers in Zambia, Vandika has always relied on traditional weather indicators to manage her crops. But increasingly unpredictable weather linked to climate change has upended her usual sowing and harvesting times, leading to lower yields and putting many farming communities at risk of food insecurity.
Relying on farming
Agriculture accounts for 20 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and employs about two-thirds of the workforce. Domestic agricultural production feeds over half of Zambia’s population of 17 million people, and women are the primary producers, accounting for 78 per cent of the country’s small-scale farmers.
But in recent years, extreme weather conditions such as severe dry spells and floods have hit Zambia’s rain-fed farmland hard, posing serious threats to the livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers.
Trusting the science
‘Most small-scale farmers are still relying on their indigenous knowledge of weather forecasting. Convincing them to trust the scientific forecasts and adopt sustainable agricultural practices is one of the biggest challenges we face’, says Edson Nkonde, Director of the Zambia Meteorological Department.
Last year, Sitamble Tafuma, 54, of Lukoshi Agricultural Camp in Chongwe District planted maize on her 5 hectares of farmland but suffered a severe crop failure and had to borrow money to prepare for the upcoming farming season.
Disappointed by her traditional weather forecasting techniques, she too is anxious for the rains to come early so she can take advantage of favourable planting conditions and ultimately feed her eight children.
The staggering cost of drought
Climate change is already impacting food security and economic growth in Zambia.
Droughts and floods over the last 30 years have cost Zambia more than $13.8b according to recent estimates, which is equivalent to approximately 4 per cent of annual GDP. The impacts of climate change could cost the country an additional $4.3b in lost GDP over the next decade if immediate climate actions are not taken.
Finding solutions
An integrated approach, boosting progress across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is needed to tackle these challenges.
Aiming to limit the negative impact of climate change on farmers, the Government of Zambia, through a United Nations-led partnership including UNDP, FAO, and WFP, with funding from the Green Climate Fund, is implementing a 7-year project (known locally as the SCRALA project).
Led by the Ministry of Agriculture, the SCRALA project is helping farmers in 16 districts across five provinces better cope with climate change threats through modern technology, sustainable agricultural techniques and enhanced understanding of climate issues.
Since the project was launched in February 2019, over 170,000 small-scale farmers have been directly involved, says Maziko Phiri, the project manager.
‘The idea behind the SCRALA project is to let farmers involved in the frontline fight against climate change access real-time climate information, obtain weather-based insurance, and use drought-tolerant crop varieties’, he said.
Location-specific predictions in local languages
There are 73 local languages spoken in Zambia, but weather reports were only available in English, making them inaccessible to a large part of the rural population.
To broaden the reach of weather updates, the project partners with community radio stations to interpret and broadcast weather information in local languages and intends to train the presenters on how to better interpret the information.
Each hour, the community radio stations pass on weather information including cost-benefit analyses of which crops to grow, as well as new techniques in climate-smart agriculture to help farmers adapt to erratic weather.
Combining traditional knowledge, science & action
Two female Meteorological Assistants collecting rainfal data
With 20 more automated weather stations added to the existing 68 stations under a previous UNDP-supported project, the Meteorological Department is taking important steps to give farmers accurate weather information, tailored to specific locations, which will allow farmers to plan better and optimise the planting season.
The Meteorological Office is also working to draw lessons from indigenous knowledge for guidance, based on strategies farmers previously used to cope with bad weather.
‘Farmers have the best repository of weather information, stored over generations. A better way to help them build resilience to climate change may be combining that knowledge with modern tools such as improved weather prediction,’ says Fesiano Banda, Chongwe District Agriculture Coordinator.
Forums for action
In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the department holds forums where they share forecasts and agro-meteorological tips on how farmers can prepare for the coming farming season.
For instance, if the forecast flags a dry spell coming, the agriculture extension officers might suggest that farmers plant drought-tolerant or early-maturing crops such as millet or sorghum, Nkonde said.
For Grace Vandika and Sitamble Tafuma, such help can’t come soon enough. They now listen to agro-meteorological advisories from extension officers and their community radio station and have moved away from traditional weather-forecasting techniques that have become increasingly inapt.
The up-to-date weather and climate information is now readily available from the Zambia Meteorological Department for thousands of farmers like Vandika and Tafuma.
‘Improving timely access of small-scale farmers to accurate, intelligible and useable climate information and early warning systems across Zambia has the potential to significantly improve lives, build resiliency and support global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals’, says Lionel Laurens, the UNDP Resident Representative in Zambia.
The author is Communications Specialist with the Environment Unit at UNDP Zambia.
Some women farmers are diversifying into rice farming thereby heeding President Lungu’s call to diversify into other cropsAgro-meteorologist Kenneth Sinachikupo simplies the season forecast in local language on the radio
Their Majesties, the Litunga, Kalonga Gwawa Undi, Nkosi yama Nkosi Mpezeni and Mwinelubemba Chitimukulu Kanyanta-Manga II have been meeting for the past few months to discuss various national issues. And it was observed that their active participation in the national affairs of our nation would only be effective if their role was spelled out in the Constitution and this could therefore be done by the insertion of the following new clauses in Bill 10/2019 i.e., after clause 58 on page 18 and after line 27:
59. The Constitution is amended by the insertion of the following new Article
immediately after Article 168.
168A (1) There is to be established a Council of Paramount Chiefs.
(2) The Council of Paramount Chiefs shall consist of the Litunga, Kalonga
Gawa Undi, Nkosi yama Nkosi Mpezeni and Mwinelubemba Chitimukulu
(3) The members of the Council of Paramount Chiefs shall elect a Chairperson
And a Vice-Chairperson every five years from among themselves.
(4) The functions of the Council of Paramount Chiefs are to provide advice to
The President and the House of Chiefs as prescribed.
The challenge here lies among UPND Members of Parliament from Western Province, who according to their party’s directive are opposing Bill 10 and have been instructed to immediately walk out of Parliament whenever the Bill is tabled. And therefore in this respect, every Honourable Member of Parliament will have to decide whether to be loyal or show allegiance to politics or tradition! In essence, this actually means, they have to choose to be loyal either to Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, the UPND President or to His Majesty King of Barotseland, the Litunga (who is honoured and distinguished with the supreme title of Litunga i.e., earth and owner of the land).
King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:9: ‘’What has happened before will happen again. What has been done before will be done again.’’ Hence the saying: ‘’a driver who does not use a mirror to look back will one day make a fatal accident.’’ It is also said that the world is three days, i.e., yesterday, to-day and tomorrow. And if you do not know yesterday, then you won’t know what day today is and certainly tomorrow will take you by surprise.
In his paper, Barotseland: The Secessionist Challenge to Zambia, Gerald Caplan wrote: ‘’… in 1963, the UNIP-ANC coalition government initiated reforms in the Barotse Government. Mwanawina was informed that the Katengo, one of the traditional councils of Lozi Government was to be an elected body. The results gave UNIP, a victory exceeding its own most optimistic predictions. They collectively gained 84 per cent of 25,000 votes cast…….. and thereafter when a Lozi delegation met representatives of the central Government, the traditional contingent predictably argued that, if Barotseland were to remain part of Zambia at all, it must be on the condition of virtually complete local autonomy. Less expected was the support this stand received from the delegate’s elected Katengo councilors, all of course UNIP members. Attempting to be both Lozi patriots and Zambian nationalists, they differed from the Litunga’s appointees only in degree, not in kind. They wished to remain ‘part and parcel of Zambia’, but with Barotseland’s special status left intact.’’
We have to realize that tradition has a much longer span of life than politics. And besides, traditional rulers stand on a superior moral ground than politicians. A English man Walter Begehat was quoted in the book, Studies in African Politics to have said: ‘’Royalty (tradition) is a government in which the attention is concentrated in one person doing interesting actions. A Republic (politics) is a government in which that attention is divided among many, who are doing interesting actions. Accordingly, so long as the human heart is strong and human reason weak, Royalty (tradition) will be stronger because it appeals to diffused feelings and Republic (politics) weak because it appeals to the understanding.’’ During the 2014 Easter commemoration, a Catholic priest, Father Charles Chilinda in his sermon said, ‘’…but like in all political spheres, power is femoral, transient and short-lived as well as delusional because reality often catches up with an unexpected vengeance.’’
We have to understand that a ‘’stand’’ is not necessarily a point of view. Taking a ’’position’’ requires us to choose to either for or against a certain issue, but taking a ‘’stand’’ recognizes all points of view and allows each one to exist and be heard. There is therefore a difference between taking a ‘’position’’ and taking a ‘’stand.’’
Mr. Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe (the most famous and highly respected Bemba political hero) and Mr .Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba are the names that are etched in our archives among the principled Bemba politicians of conscience. Mr. Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe resigned as Zambia’s Republican Vice-President because ‘’The people from Northern part of Zambia, the Bemba-speaking people have suffered physically and sometimes been beaten. They have suffered demotions and suspensions because of my being Vice-President. I cannot sacrifice any longer these people. If such activities continue, they would lead to difficulties in the nation. I, therefore, refuse to be part and parcel of any bloodshed that may be the result of self-aggrandizement.’’
Mr. Mwamba had risked his own life besides his businesses by standing on the principle of being loyal not only to me personally but to the Bemba people and tribe. Mr. Mwamba being a member of the Bemba royal family failed to betray his tribe for the sake of money and position. In fact before Mr. Mwamba had paid a courtesy call on me in Kasama, he even took a precaution step by inviting two officers from the Office of the President to monitor our meeting. But President Sata later censured him ‘’for failing to show collective responsibility on his part as a Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament for the ruling party.’’ (The Post 24th December 2013).
And defiance Mr. Mwamba resigned as Defence Minister: ‘’ …it’s important for Zambians to know that I hail from the Bemba royal family and it is therefore unacceptable for President Sata to stop me from visiting my grandfather. There is no way I am going to forsake my own blood for the sake of politics. So for me as GBM, I am sorry. I am a very principled person and I resign from government.’’
‘’Collective responsibility’’ in this respect meant that Mr. Mwamba would have forsaken his cultural heritage for the sake of being a Cabinet Minister and PF member of Parliament! The Honourable Members of Parliament from Western Province are in the same predicament of ‘’collective responsibility’’ as members of UPND.
And whatever decision the Honourable Members of UPND will ever take will be etched in the archives of Lozi political history, just as we remember the heroic decision to stand for tradition by the members of the Katengo, inspite of being UNIP members, way back in 1963.
Suspected political party cadres Monday evening stormed Intercontinental Hotel to disrupt a Law Association of Zambia sponsored Public Debate on Bill Ten.
And LAZ President Eddie Mwitwa says it’s disappointing that cadres could be ferried to disrupt proceedings.
Mr Mwitwa said he was disappointed with the conduct of the cadres who have not been identified.
He has since called on the Zambia Police Service to quickly bring to book whoever disrupted the debate.
But one of the discussant Tutwa Ngulube, has distanced the PF from the disturbances.
Mr Ngulube who is also Kabwe Central Member of Parliament says he knows the people who came into the auditorium saying they are from Southern Province.
But another discussant Cornelius Mweetwa, of the UPND claimed that those who disrupted the debate are PF members from Inter-City Bus terminus.
Mr Mweetwa said this is the reason that Mr. Ngulube, did not scamper for safety like other Discussants but remained seated in the auditorium when the cadres were walking about disturbing the debate.
A photo has surfaced of HH and his wife Mutinta having lunch together with GBM and his wife Chama at GBM’s home in Johannesburg in South Africa.
This follows Mr. Mwamba’s accusations at the PF interactive forum that he had never shared a meal with the UPND president Hakainde Hichilema.
“I was his vice but I never ate with him. After campaigns I eat with President Lungu. HH eats alone and moves with water in his armpits. I wonder what he is so scared of, when President Lungu who has the instruments of power eats with people.
I eat fritters with President Lungu and I know HH loves ifitumbuya too except he eats them from his bedroom. What kind of a leader is he who eats in privacy and away from his people.
HH is bitter and he himself doesn’t know why he is so bitter
“What kind of a person who eats alone. I have never eaten with him” Mr. Mwamba said, emphasizing that the party under Mr. Hichilema will not go anywhere unless maybe under a different leader and described him as a loser and wondered why all his vice presidents have left him.
“I can tell you, I worked closely with him and I know who he is and I can assure the Zambian people that Mr. Hichilema is not the best person to lead this country because he has something behind his back. I am saying this in front of cameras and you, close to him, tell him that these are the views of GBM and I want to tell you the honest truth” Mr. Mwamba said.
Findings of Police Investigations in to a report of Malicious Administration of a Chemical substance (gassing) at Arthur Wina School in Chilenje
After receiving the report of alleged gassing at Arthur Wina School between 12 00 hours and 12 30 hours, it has been established that the whole issue came about as a result of a false alarm raised by a pupil in the grade nine class in question who shouted “gas.”
This brought about commotion and a stampede as all the pupils jostled for safety.
Therefore, as Zambia Police, we dismiss the report of alleged malicious administering of chemical substance reported at the said school and state that the whole scenario was as result of an alarm which led pupils to panic. It was a hoax.
We further call upon school authorities to help in giving hope to their pupils during this period and discourage them from raising false alarm.
ESTHER MWAATA KATONGO
ZAMBIA POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
Zambia has been drawn against Namibia for a second successive CHAN group stage game at the tournament Cameroon will host this April.
The two sides met at the 2018 edition in Morocco where they drew 1-1 en route to both making a quarterfinal exit.
2016 fourth place finishers Guinea and Tanzania complete Group D.
Chipolopolo head into their fourth CHAN after quarterfinal finishes in 2018 and 2016 and a third place finish at the inaugural tournament in 2009 held in Cote d’Ivoire.
Cameroon will host the CHAN from April 4-25.
Chipolopolo will face Tanzania in their opening Group D game.
CHAN is a second tier AFCON exclusively for domestic league players.
The question of tribalism vis a vis politics in Zambia is buried in great hypocrisy. Politicians crocodile tears may flood our radio and TV stations, Rev. Sumaili condemn it, Lungu and HH promise to end it–but the truth is they are beneficiaries of wako ni wako politics.
I am ashamed of tribal politics, but also disappointed by the untold and shameful hypocrisy–tribalism is at the core of Zambian politics. Who among us has never passed a tribal comment when among our own? “What do you expect from a Tonga; Bemba; Lozi, Chokwe etc.” Let the one who has never committed the sin of tribalism be the first to cast stone to paraphrase Jesus’ words. That a PF cadre said it aloud during the Chilubi by-election does not absolve UPND from tribalism. Politicians may publicly denounce it, but when the race heats up, tribalism becomes the only road to winning elections.
Tribal identification is the conceptual frame through which we participate in democratic politics. That vice President Inonge Wina is Lozi does not mean tribalism does not exist in the PF. Neither can the Presidency of Lungu absorb PF of tribalism. In fact, the appointment of our sitting Vice President was a strategic move that sought to get some tribal votes from the Lozi and Tonga communities. Similarly Hakainde Hichilema’s selection of GBM as a running mate was another tribal strategic move to court Bemba votes. GBM did not even know how to sell HH to his tribal audience. “If you vote for HH,” the wife battering GBM said, “akamifunda ifyakuteka in’gombe” (he will teach you how to keep cattle)–recasting the kachema massaging in the Bemba mind.
The PF Chilubi tribal remarks are shameful, but they are used in nearly every Parliamentary elections where the majority identify with one tribe. The so called “vetting process” for those seeking to contest Parliamentary elections is covered in tribalism. The tribe of the candidate as well as one’s village of origin are critical unearned privileges that parties take into consideration. To adopt Keith Mwanga to contest parliamentary elections on the PF ticket for Mambilima constituency and Kapya Kaoma on the UPND ticket in Dundumwezi will be considered political suicide. In fact, independent candidates will exploit tribal identifications against both of us; we will not win those seats.
Actions speak louder than words. The Dundumwezi presidential results remain in my mind. How else can one explain it? It is not tribalism, but strongholds, one says. I don’t buy into this myth. The language of democracy is the ballot which is an indicator of how we view each other. I agree. People need to be represented by their own. But this very concept promotes wako ni wako.
The PF and UPND will contest the 2021 elections. On constituency level, the PF will get almost all the seats in Bemba dominated provinces, while UPND will win Southern and Western Provinces. Worse still, elected MPs will be natives of these regions. Expect HH to win the majority votes in Southern province, while Lungu will win Eastern Zambia. And in closed meetings, both HH and Lungu are busy strategically playing tribal cards while appearing non-tribal in public. They may term each other tribalists, but their victory is counting on tribal votes.
It is important to realize that tribalism was ingrained in our politics long before independence. Colonialists exploited it to divide and rule–and so are our politicians. Masses of Zambians would rather vote for a frog (as they did under the UNIP regime) than give their votes to Hakainde. Being Tonga disqualifies him from becoming the President of Zambia. Likewise the majority of Tongas will never vote for Lungu because he is not Tonga. Like Donald Trump, HH “can shoot someone” in Cairo Road, but masses of Tongas will still vote for him.
Tribal identification is of critical importance in competitive politics. Unless appointed by the President, no Tonga will represent Luapula Province as MP, or Bemba win an election in Southern province. Thus political parties always work to ensure that Tongas represent Tongas, and Bembas do the same. It is for this reason tribalism will continue to surface in our daily political discourse.
It pains to call a spade a spade but to pretend otherwise is to bury our heads in the sand. Unfortunately wako ni wako exists in Churches too. In organized Churches including UCZ, the Baptist Church, the Brethren in Christ Church, and the Evangelical Church in Zambia, for example, tribal affiliation determines who occupies most senior offices. In fact, some pastors speaking against tribalism are beneficiaries of the same–they hold power because of their ethnicity.
Yes we can point to intermarriages and Christianity as erasing tribalism. Such arguments are akin to saying inter-racial marriage erases racism. The opposite is true. I wish I could think otherwise, but we are tribalists, tribalists and tribalists! I rather face this fact than pretend to be non-tribal when my lifeworld is covered in it.
We need serious discourse on tribalism; current crocodile tears are not enough. Only then would the truth will set us free. (John 8: 32)
