President Edgar Lungu has fired his scandal hit political Advisor Kaizer Zulu replacing him with Political Scientist Chris Zumani Zimba.

In his place, President Edgar Lungu has appointed the University of Zambia Lecturer Chris Zumani Zimba as his new State House Special Assistant for Politics.

Mr Zulu’s replacement Chris Zumani Zimba,  is a Ph.D. holder in Political Science and lectures at both the University of Lusaka (UNILUS) and the University of Zambia.

He once served as Political Adviser to NDC President Chishimba Kambwili.

No reasons have been given as to why Mr. Zulu has been dismissed, but there are been several allegations leveled against Mr. Zulu lately that led him to make an appearance on live broadcast television to defend himself, after an accident with a school bus.

Dr. Zimba has since been sworn in as President Lungu’s advisor and the President said his appointment is a clear demonstration that when the youth are motivated, empowered and focused, they can positively contribute to the development agenda being implemented by the government.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of Mr. Zimba, the president warned his new assistant that the position was demanding

“I wish to advise you that the office you have been appointed to is very demanding, and it requires you to be up to speed in understanding and analysing not only the country’s political climate, but also international politics,” the President said

The President also warned his new Assistant to steer clear from what he described as unpleasant situations that will compromise his duties.

“Steer clear of unpleasant situations which will compromise your duties as a presidential advisor. Use your position to promote good politics in the country,” the President said

“Remember, with your portfolio, you will be required to analyse local politics which in most cases is full of acrimony

” You, therefore, need to rise above petty partisan politics because you will be advising me as republican president, and not just as party leader. ” the President said

The Ministry of Health says there is an increase in non-communicable diseases being attended to at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

ZANIS reports that Director for Clinical Care and Diagnostic Services, Aaron Makope said many people in the country are succumbing to heart attacks, strokes, cancer, and other anemic condition.

Speaking during a Doctors and Management morning tour of the Hospital, Dr. Makope, however, said there has been a massive reduction of cardiac referrals to South Africa and India following the government’s investment in modern clinical care and diagnostic equipment at UTH.

Dr Makope disclosed that about 30 pacemakers have been placed successfully in patients in the last six months at UTH to help improve heart systems.

He explained that government’s vision under the national health strategic plan is to modernize provincial hospitals as well as providing specialized cardiac and other health care services.

Dr. Makope stated that the government is determined to transform the University Teaching Hospital so that it reclaims its position of being the leading health care provider.

He further said the government has worked round the clock to ensure that it decongests the wards and improves the environment in the hospital so that patients can access quality health care services.

Dr Makope disclosed that UTH is using a lot of blood for various operations and services and has appealed to the general public to donate blood.

He however assured that there are adequate blood stocks at the national blood bank to cater for various needs stating that the government will soon devise a better blood donation and collection strategy.

During the tour to emergency, medical and surgical wards, it was observed that the nurse-patient ratio has improved from over 50 patients per nurse to about 10, per nurse.

And patients interviewed, said the environment and atmosphere in the wards has improved and clean adding that the wards are not decongested following infrastructure refurbishment by government and other partners.

Bernard Kaoma, who has been admitted at the hospital for the past six months praised government and management at UTH for transforming the health facility into delivering quality health care.

The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy has endorsed the mission that the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue has embarked on of engaging Political parties and other stakeholders in fostering dialogue.

ZCID under the Chairmanship of Jackson Silavwe has embarked on a mission to engage players in the political realm with a view to enhance dialogue, consensus and confidence buidling and achieving inclusivity.

During a meeting at the MMD Secretariat on Thursday, 19th December, 2019, Party President Nevers Mumba highlighted that ZCID could have helped in resolving the MMD issue between the Felix Mutati and Nevers Mumba factions.

However, Dr. Mumba later said that all are bygones and now focus on building on a new chapter.

The MMD leader asked that the party and the Centre start afresh in the name of dialogue and unity on the political front.

Dr. Mumba called for continued consultation if ZCID is to bring all political parties and other stakeholders to one table of dialogue and unity.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mumba has called on ZCID to help deal with the electoral issues the country is faced with before 2021 elections by engaging all political parties and the electoral body, the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

And Mr. Silavwe and Dr. Mumba both agreed that the current situation among politicians were they cannot meet and discuss matters due to political opponency is not favourable and conducive especially as the nation heads for 2021 elections.

They both agreed that ZCID should play a role in neutralizing the opponency frictions for the sake of the nation.

And ZCID Board Chairperson, Jackson Silavwe, has assured the opposition party that the mission is meant for the good of the country especially were resolving differences among politicians.

He also assured that ZCID will engage all players with a view to have a fair and more united political front.

Mr. Silavwe was accompanied to the MMD Secretariat by Board Members that included Mr. Highvie Hamududu, Ms. Elizabeth Chitika, Ms. Winnie Zaloumis and ZCID Executive Director Ms. Doreen Njovu.

ZCID continues meeting key players in the political realm and governance to ensure inclusiveness in enhancement of democracy in the country.

Professor Jerry Shindano, Scotland.

Having lost as many times as the fingers on the outstretched palm of their party’s symbol; the UPND and their leader have become more and more recklessly desperate as 2021 approaches.

The stakes are high. Hakainde Hichilema-the UPND expert loser of 5 election defeats and 15 years without a peoples mandate as president of his party, teeters on the brink of political extinction.

This realisation has given Hichilema and the UPND regionally inclined inner circle sleepless nights. In a last ditch effort,they have resorted to playing dirty by propagating lies, fake news and other deceptive means, all in a bid to salvage some scraps out of Mr Hichilema’s crumbling political career.

They seek to invent campaign issues like corruption, Mukula fabrications, smearing in the first family’s name. The so-called AEI report is one such ridiculous farce conceived in malice and concocted to slander the good reputation of the first family and Government officials.

These cynics don’t see good in anything at all, but discredit government projects that benefit the people in all the 10 provinces. Nevertheless, we invite them to the politics of development.

We invite them into the arena of the politics of development to debate alternatives, manifestos etc.

1. Where are their manifestos?
2. Where are their alternatives?
3. Why are they allergic to politics of civility.

Their politics of falsehoods and fake news are not sustainable; lies have short legs and no endurance! On the other hand our development politics have endurance and permanence.

It only follows that, because lies have zero endurance, the opposition will have no message for the electorate in 2021; as Zambians are already becoming fatigued with the predictability of the opposition’s seedy online fake news outlets and their blundering offline propaganda.

It is very clear that the opposition and their hapless spin con artists in the media space have nothing to talk about and have no issues to raise except to imagine corruption with every development project we roll out as Patriotic Front.

As the 2021 day of reckoning falls upon them, the opposition will not be in a position to promise development including; good roads, schools, hospitals, universities, airports, a growing agricultural sector, and constant power supply.

Their lies would have fainted before the finish line.
The Truth will always prevail.

#Choipa chisata mwine.

Prof Jerry Nshindano is a UK-based Zambian Researcher & Scholar. He holds a Doctorate from University of Western Cape and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Zambia. He politically aligns to Zambia’s Ruling PatrioticFront