By Isaac Mwanza

Chris Zimba deserves my heartfelt congratulations for his appointment as President Edgar Lungu’s Special Advisor for Politics to replace comrade Kaizer Zulu who has run his race. Of course Mr. Zulu’s race was not without drama but he is merely human with emotions but he certainly was a player who did the job his boss needed.

Chris’s academic excellence is well known to all just like his open-mindedness is also well known. At a time of his appointment, Chris remained a Strategic thinker and planner for the Constitution Reform and Education Coalition (CRECO), for which he was partly responsible for conceptualizing.

As usual, people are trying as much to dig his previous articles, written at different times including when he was Advisor to Chishimba Kambwili.

When appointing Chris Zumani Zimba to replace Kaizer Zulu, the President knew everything about him. The Security Services did a background check and provided the President with all necessary information, including his views.

The fact that President Lungu appointed Chris Zumani Zimba shows how the President will not just pick on a person because that person agreed with his views on everything. The President’s choice of Chris Zimba is actually what a Zambian President needs for an advisor: someone with an open-mind and with loyalty to one’s country and Government.

So those previous negative views which Chris Zimba has had could have been the strength of his appointment. It could be the President saying: “come and tell me in my face and the choice will be mine.”

The duty of the Political Advisor is to read the politics and advise the President and not the public. The President can either reject his views or take some or modify them altogether. His responsibilities are partly outlined in what President Lungu said to him during the swearing in.

So Chris Zimba is what exactly the President needs. He won’t be doing media interviews. That is not his baby. He has no obligation to do any media interviews as to whether he shares same views or not. His duty is to disseminate his views to the President and only to those the President may want those views known. The President does not need a YES Bwana for an Advisor or someone who share the same views as his otherwise they would be nothing to advise the President if the Advisor and the President share the same views.

So President Lungu has made a right choice. Not that Kaizer was not the right choice. He was. What killed Kaizer is the personal public performance. When it came to work, I have no doubt, he could have served the President very well, no wonder he was not easily replaced.

So the lesson for the new Political Advisor is to learn also from Kaizer on how best to serve the President and what pitfalls to avoid. Being around the President is a highest honour but also maintaining a good public image of yourself is necessary.

Your life must not come to an end when u political advisor. In fact, you need to socialise and get to places, even usual places, as Kaizer used to where u will assemble your political views from.

As Political Advisor, you must understand the grassroots politics and views. These views are found anywhere: bars, churches, funerals, etc. Kaizer could have gone to get those views and he was right to do so.

But most importantly, the political advisor must do his political work in the background for his boss. And do it to the satisfaction of the boss.

As Political Advisor, Chris should quickly devise a strategy that will bring back on board the minds of many youths who spend time complaining in WhatsApp groups to become allies for the President and to himself on his political journey.

Leave no one behind, listen to the views of these youths and let the President know so that all heads are put together to find solutions of embracing everyone

Finally, I wish Kaizer Zulu well in his deployment. If people don’t talk about you, then know you are not really a factor. Mr Zulu must remain happy happy that people did his part while being around the Presidency.

Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Youths have vowed to take on Patriotic Front (PF) Nominated Member of Parliament Mr. Raphael Nakachinda.

Mr. Nakachinda yesterday addressed a Press Briefing where he claimed he was still the National Secretary of the MMD and denounced the High Court Judgement that recognized Dr. Nevers Mumba as Party President.

The Youths through their National Youth Secretary Mr. Gregory Mofu said that the Youths of the Party had welcomed Judge Newa judgment that recognized Dr. Mumba as Party President.

“As Youths of the MMD, we welcomed the November 5 Judgement that recognized Dr. Nevers Mumba as our Party President. We pledge our full support and loyalty to Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba”, Mr. Mofu said.

“We are shocked that a former member of our Party, Raphael Nakachinda is not only impersonating himself as our member but that he is also claiming to be our National Secretary. The November 5 judgment clearly stipulated that Nakachinda remains an expelled member of our party until he regularises his membership with the party”, Mr. Mofu said.

Mr. Mofu further said that the Youths are disappointed with the Zambia Police command.

“We are shocked that the Zambia Police Service allowed Nakachinda to have an illegal gathering where he impersonated himself as our National Secretary. We will soon visit the Inspector General of Police Mr. Kanganja to register our displeasure and find out if they are also disrespecting Judge Newa November 5 Judgement”, Mr. Mofu said.

Mr. Mofu said that they had given the Party Leadership 48 hours to commerce contempt proceedings against Nakachinda.

“As the defenders of the Party, we will not sit by and allow former members like Nakachinda continue to cause confusion in our Party. We are giving our Party leadership 48 hours to commence contempt proceedings against Nakachinda failure to which we the Youths shall take matters in our hands behalf of the Party”, Mr. Mofu said.

Mr. Mofu further mocked Mr. Nakachinda that his fight Is purely based on selfish gains.

“Nakachinda’s fight against us Is purely based on selfish gains and not the membership as he is alleging. The public would like to know that since he lost the November 5 Judgement, he has lost 2 further more judgements with costs being awarded to us. In the last ruling at the Court of Appeal, Judge Siavwapa clearly stated that he could not sympathise with Nakachinda’s predicament of losing a political career at the expense of upholding the law. He threw out his appeal because he didn’t entertain his plea that if he didn’t win the case against us, his Political career would end”, Mr. Mofu said.

Mr. Mofu has warned Mr. Nakachinda that youths in the New Hope MMD would take him on.

“Lastly, we would like to warn Nakachinda that we will no longer allow him to continue attacking the party that our parents founded. We will not allow our departed parents to continue turning in the grave because of his selfishness,”Mr. Mofu vowed.

Newly appointed State House Special Assistant for Politics Chris Zimba has deleted his Facebook page after several of his old posts in which he blatantly attacked President Edgar Lungu went viral.

Soon after his appointment and swearing-in, Mr. Zimba’s old Facebook post mostly against President Lungu’s leadership style emerged on social media.

And a few hours ago, Mr Zimba’s page on Facebook disappeared in what appears to be an effort to hide some of his anti-Lungu posts.

Meanwhile, Human rights Activist Laura Miti says Mr. Zimba’s decision to delete his Facebook page is a bad sign.

“Chris Zumani Zimba, the new Political Advisor to President Lungu, has deleted his Facebook Account. It contained scathing criticism of the President and presidency.”

“That is worrying because his analysis was largely on point. Does trying to erase the memory of his prior views mean that Mr Zimba intends, like Antonio Mwanza and Dora Siliya before him, to unsay all he said before. To be come fully PF is all its mindlessness,” Ms. Miti said.

“That will be sad and of absolutely no use to the President. What the president needs is some honest analysis of the state of the nation. That seems to be in critical short supply around him. Another advisor to tell him humble is the way would be disastrous.”

And former State House Spokesman Dickson Jere says Mr Zimba’s situation is a good reminder on the need to have sober analysis on social media.

“Before you post anything on social media always think twice – some of these things come back to haunt you in future,” Mr Jere said.

“Rule 1 is never personalise debates. Differ with ideas in a manner that does not show disrespect to someone. Nothing wrong to harbour different opinions on matters of national interest,” he stressed.

He added, “Rule number 2-always refer to Rule 1 and don’t call people names such as “corrupt” or “tribalist” or “immoral” without any iota of evidence. You may find yourself working with them in future.”

Newly appointed State House Special Assistant for Politics Chris Zimba says he is humbled by the appointment and that he is equal to the task.

And old social media posts in which Mr. Zimba sharply criticized President Lungu’s leadership credentials have emerged following his appointment.

In an interview, Mr. Zimba said he is both honored and humbled by the appointment.

“It is both an honor and privilege to be asked to serve. All I can say is that I am equal to the task and I am looking forward to adding value to the office,” Mr. Zimba said.

He added, “politics is everything for me. It’s my bread and butter. That is my water and that I what I eat every day.”

Mr. Zimba stated that he was not expecting to be appointed.

“Honestly I had no idea about this. Even this morning I had no idea that this appointment was coming. I just got a call and was asked to be ready for a swearing-in ceremony,” Mr. Zimba said.

And some old social media posts in which Mr. Zimba called into question criticized President Lungu’s leadership style have resurfaced hours after he was appointed.

The posts mainly on his Facebook page are from around 2018 and question President Lungu’s leadership style.

In one of the posts, Mr. Zimba called President Lungu a corrupt leader.

“A corrupt President with abnormal wealth cannot teach us to fight corruption. Lungu needed to repent on yesterday in Parliament.”

The National Democratic Congress, NDC, is happy with the appointment of Mr. Chris Zumani Zimba as the new political advisor to the president.

Mr. Zumani Zimba worked in the same capacity in the NDC as the political advisor to president Chishimba Kambwili and performed his job diligently.

‘Chris is a very hard working and intelligent man and advised me well when he was in the NDC. I am very happy that president Lungu has appointed such a young vibrant man who knows both national and international politics well. I am very hopeful that he will do a good job and just pray that he will not be contaminated with the wrong way of doing politics by those that don’t mean well for the country,’ Dr. Chishimba Kambwili said.

Dr. Kambwili further said that the firing of Kaizer Zulu has been long overdue and is hopeful that now all investigative agencies will be able to do their work and investigate all the allegations made against him.

The NDC is also particularly happy with the appointment of young people in positions of influence and is hopeful that Mr. Zimba will bring both a professional and youthful way of handling issues as the majority of the Zambian population are youth.

By NDC  Policy and Research Department

The National Democratic Congress, NDC, is urging all the parliamentarians in the opposition and especially those in the ruling Patriotic Front, PF, to be magnanimous enough to move and support a motion of impeachment for the Republican president, Mr. Edgar C Lungu, to face the criminal allegations leveled against him by the Environmental Investigative Agency (EIA) over the illegal trade, transportation and export of Mukula logs.

The President, being implicated as a major beneficiary in the illegal timber trade of the famous mukula tree by an investigative report, published by the EIA, based in the USA and the United Kingdom should be taken seriously and further investigated by the Drug Enforcement Commission.

The allegations that 40-50 foot containers of mukula have been exported monthly from June 2017 to May 2019 (equivalent to over 2,000 cubic meters) each month, which, was in direct breach of the export ban. The estimated value of this illegal trade generates a total of approximately US$ 7.5 million annually in bribes and informal fees. This alleged criminality on the part of president Lungu by EIA is a direct act against the constitution of the Republic of Zambia to which he swore to protect and defend.

We propose that a motion be moved to impeach president Lungu in order to pave way for criminal investigations against him.

In accordance with article 108, of the 2016 amended constitution,
a Member of Parliament, supported by at least one third of the members of parliament, may move a motion for the impeachment of the president alleging that the president has committed a violation of a provision of the constitution or other law; a crime under international law; or gross misconduct.

In this process, once the house adopts the motion by two-thirds majority, the speaker shall then inform the chief justice within 48hrs. The chief justice shall immediately inform president Lungu, whereupon he shall cease to perform the executive functions and the vice president shall perform the executive functions, except the power to make an appointment or dissolve the national assembly.

The chief justice shall, within seven days of being informed of the resolution shall, appoint a tribunal, in consultation with the judicial service commission, which shall consist of a chairperson and not less than two other members from among persons who hold, have held or qualify to hold, the office of judge. The tribunal appointed shall, within thirty days of its appointment investigate the matter relating to the impeachment of the president; and report to the chief justice as to whether or not the particulars of the allegations specified in the motion have been substantiated.

The president will have the right to appear and be represented before the tribunal for investigation. The chief justice shall, on receipt of the report, immediately submit the report to the National Assembly. If the tribunal reports that the particulars of an allegation against the president is not substantiated, the national assembly shall, on a motion supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the members of parliament, taken by secret ballot, resolve that the president did not commit the violations specified in the motion. Further proceedings shall not be taken with respect to the allegation.

However, if the motion is substantiated the national assembly shall, on a motion supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the members of parliament by way of a secret ballot. If they resolve that the president has committed the violations specified in the motion and that, the president should cease to hold office forthwith, and be amenable to prosecution without the need to lift the immunity under article 98.

We believe in the rule of law and that no one individual is exempt to the law of the land. It is about time that president Lungu stood before a tribunal to defend himself for the allegations which have brought shame and reduced the credibility of our country and the office of the president on the international stage. Criminality must not be shielded by the very institution which is supposed to be above board in its dealings. Therefore, if an individual is subverting the integrity of an institution of presidency then that individual is not fit to continue in that office.

Raphael Nakacinda, says the Courts decision to declare Dr. Nevers Mumba as MMD President as an assault to Zambia’s democracy.

Mr. Nakacinda, the MMD nominated Member of Parliament has challenged the Court to do the right thing in the opposition Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) leadership legibility case if Democracy is to be in force.

Speaking during a Media Briefing, Mr. Nakacinda says the Court through Judge Newa erred to give the MMD to Dr. Mumba from the Mutati team as Dr. Mumba was no longer President according to the Party Constitution.

He has wondered whether the country now should ignore the laid down legal issues and follow what suits certain individuals.

He says “it is a taboo” for the Court to grant Presidency to Dr. Mumba and wondered which Term the clergyman was running when his term of Presidency should have come to an end in 2016.

Mr. Nakacinda, in insisting that he is still National Secretary for the opposition Movement for Multi Party Democracy, says the Court should have ruled that the Party goes for an election instead of granting Presidency to a person whose mandate expired in 2016.

Mr. Nakacinda revealed that he has appealed against the ruling and that the matter is before the Court as he is convinced that the Court will rule favourably in his favour.

Mr. Nakacinda has charged that Dr. Mumba has been imposed on party members against their will.

He has since vowed to fight for the party against what he termed as illegalities that are only meant to destroy the party.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nakacinda has revealed that land has been identified where the MMD will build its secretariat and a Museum where people from within and around the world would learn of democracy of Zambia from.

He says the MMD being the mother of Democracy has a lot to tell the world and wondered why the confusion being brought by people he claimed were only interested in enriching themselves instead of the people.

On 5th November 2019, the Lusaka High Court ruled that Dr. Mumba was duly elected as MMD President thereby nullifying the election of Felix Mutati.