Chief Cooma of the Tonga people in Choma district has called for the immediate expulsion of the United States of America (US) Ambassador Daniel Foote from Zambia back to his country.

Speaking to ZANIS in Choma yesterday, chief Cooma said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should send off Ambassador Foote before he causes confusion in the country with his advocacy for gay rights.

The traditional leader said the US envoy should not continue to be in Zambia because he might confuse young Zambians.

He reiterated that Zambia is a Christian nation with values that needed to be respected by everyone residing in this country.

Chief Cooma further observed that the behaviour of Ambassador Foote would mislead the nation if he continued working within.

He wondered where Ambassador Foote was getting the powers of advocating for gay rights when his President Donald Trump is on record condemning same sex marriage in the United States of America.

He said same sex marriage has remained a taboo and shall remain so forever in Zambia.

On Friday last week, Ambassador Foote said he was horrified by the jailing to two Zambian men for homosexuality on November 28, 2019 to 15 years imprisonment by the High Court of Zambia.

The US envoy said, “perhaps, it is time for Zambia to consider its outdated stance and obsolete legislation on how to treat LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) community, and all others considered ‘different’.”

And the Kasama Pastors Fellowship has expressed concern over remarks attributed to U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote where he has questioned the jailing of two gay men by a court to 15 years in prison after they were convicted.

Fellowship Chairperson Pastor William Mutale says that the people of Zambia will never subscribe to alien practices such as same sex marriages.

Pastor Mutale charges that it is sad that the U.S envoy could question the country’s judiciary over the jailing of the gay couple.

“We want to speak to Mr Daniel Foote and to echo the words of our President Edgar Chagwa Lungu that homosexuality has no right in Zambia because it harms us and our reputation as a Christian nation”, Pastor Mutale said.

Pastor Mutale has since challenged Mr Foote to concentrate on his job as an ambassador instead of coming to teach Zambians how to live.

“Homosexuality is not welcome to Zambia, and if he (Foote) feels that it is welcome he has no place in this country”, Pastor Mutale added.

U.S. ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote has come under fire from some section of society after his recent comment where he described a high court ruling sentencing two men to 15 years in prison for homosexuality as horrifying and harsh.

Ambassador Daniel Foote urged the Government to reconsider laws that punish minority groups.

Copperbelt Patriotic Front Provincial Chairman Nathan Chanda has challenged opposition UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema to state his and party position on homosexuality, despite the fact that the UPND leader is on record to have categorically stated that he does not support same-sex marriage.

Both the UPND and Mr. Hichilema are on record to have publicly said that they do not support same-sex marriages

Despite UPND’s public position, Mr. Chanda said today that he is shocked that Mr. Hichilema has categorically failed to state his and the UPND position on gay rights in a country like Zambia which is a Christian Nation.

The PF Copperbelt boss said the desperation of Mr. Hichilema and his UPND to be in State House is so alarming, shameful, unZambian, unchristian and against the belief which is the preamble of the Zambian Constitution.

Mr. Hichilema revealed that private investors from the US have pledged to invest over US$25.8 billion in Zambia in the first 5 years of his administration.

Mr. Hichilema said in Washington DC at the Woodrow Wilson Centre.

” But we question who these private investors are? We want answers from you sir? We can’t allow you to auction the country, in a similar manner our mines were privatized and only a few benefited immensely by becoming rich overnight. Tell the Zambian people what you went to do and the conditions for the investment from these so-called ‘private investors’. These are questions we want answers from you, sir, go on TV and tell the voters whether you support same-sex marriage” Mr. Chanda asked.

Mr. Chanda has also asked the Church and other civil societies even if some get funds for the same people please come out open on issues of gay rights which are been championed by the opposition leader.

“The Three Church Mothers body silence is so threatening. We have seen some Church come out strong on Bill 10, political violence and other issues. But we are dismayed with the silence on the championing of gay rights by the oppositions.”

“As a Christian nation, we want to ask the Church to openly condemn this championing of gay rights. It is clear in the Bible that marriage is between male and female, lady and gentleman. Now we wonder what Bible the UPND is reading if it supports the championing of the marriage of same-sex. Even animals ‘dogs’ surely know that this one is a male and female,” Mr. Chanda said.

” Let’s be objective and patriotic United Zambians for once politics aside. Just because you want to rule Zambia then you want to allow and support selling out our national, Christian values and culture. Shame on you, ” said Mr. Chanda.

Mr. Chanda urged Zambians to open their eyes and see,  open their ears and hear to these leaders who want to become leaders of Zambia.

“With little power in opposition, some people are behaving like masters and kings what more with instruments of power in their hands. They will come and sell your churches and there will no longer be Christianity in Zambia. For warned is forearmed,” he said.

We will stand with the Zambian people and our President in defending our Christianity, national values and culture

Rainbow party president Winter Kabimba says claims by us ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote that he has been denied access to State House are unjustified.

Mr. Kabimba says he is personally failing to understand the linkage between donor aid and visitation to state house saying it not a guarantee to enter State House just because Mr. Foote is administering 5 billion of aid.

He says President Edgar Lungu is a busy person and wanting to have an audience with him has to be justified and wondered how many times Zambian ambassador to the United States of America Dr. Ngosa Simbyakula has been given audience by Donald trump.

He recalled that President Lungu during the UN assembly was only accorded an opportunity to meet two junior officers from the state department, not even did he get a chance to meet the secretary of state while Mr. Foote wants to be treated at the level of President Edgar Lungu.

“Ambassador Foote wants to be at the level of President Edgar Lungu just because he is administering 5 billion of aid. If ambassador Foote is saying look, I had a lot of important issues that I wanted to discuss with the president that’s why I wanted to see him,  but to justify his visitation just because he is carrying a bag of 5 billion dollars, no bwana!” Mr. Kabimba said.

Mr. Kabimba said donor aid could also be used to punish poor countries hence the need for self-sustainability through handwork and increased productivity.

“Western countries have used donor aid for regime change because they will starve you to death until people riot on the streets to get the government out. Don’t we read history to see what is happening in the world?” he questioned.

Mr. Kabimba was speaking Tuesday morning when he featured on the burning issues program on 5 FM radio.

President Edgar Lungu says the Zambian people will in 2021 rate the performance of his administration and make a decisive decision whether to let it continue ruling the country or not.

And President Lungu has reiterated his administration’s resolve to initiate the much-desired development across the country.

He adds that his administration has initiated numerous investment opportunities in the country which when well harnessed, can change the economic outlook of the country forever.

ZANIS reports that President Lungu said this at a rally held at Talai and Chipundu villages in Milenge District today, for the December 5th, Milenge Council Chairperson by-election which has been necessitated by the death of the incumbent Chairperson Fidelis Chanda.

President Lungu points out that he desires to see more investments in various sectors of the economy, adding that he will always be at hand to facilitate the rolling out of projects for investment in all districts across the country.

“Government has initiated a lot of development everywhere, in Milenge District people are able to see what we are doing, for example, communication facilities have been installed in the district which was not the case before, electricity is here in Milenge and many more viable projects are underway”, he said.

He encouraged electorates in the district to vote for the PF candidate, in order to hasten development in the district.

The Head of State further stressed that the road network in the district requires urgent attention to boast development.

And Luapula Province Minister Nickson Chilangwa has praised the PF administration for massive developmental projects being undertaken in Luapula Province, adding that Milenge district in particular, has tremendously transformed from the time the party came into power.

Minister of Health and campaign manager for the Milenge campaigns, Chitalu Chilufya said his ministry is working on improving health provisions in the district, through the construction of mini-hospitals, with necessary medical equipment and adequate health personnel.

Minister of General Education David Mabumba said several Primary schools in Milenge districts have been upgraded to Secondary schools for easy access to education by all the youths in Milenge.

“We have even reduced school fees and allowed parents to pay fees inform of farm produce so that no parent fails to send a child to school owing to lack of funds.

At the same function, nominated Member of Parliament Raphael Nakachinda, who is part of the presidential entourage in Milenge, told the audience that government has exhibited unprecedented development in its few years tenure of office and called on the people of Milenge and all Zambians to give the party another mandate beyond 2021.

And Chanda Masheke the PF candidate has assured President Lungu that he will win the Milenge Council Chairperson seat with a handsome margin and urged the people to vote in masses on December 5th, 2019.

PF Secretary General Davies Mwila promised that his party will conduct peaceful elections.

President Lungu has been in Milenge for a two-day working visit to drum up support for the PF candidate Chanda Masheke, in the forthcoming Milenge Council Chairperson by-election.