The recent Trump-like HH tweet about the donated fire-trucks left me wondering if he has politic strategists or not. African opposition politicians lose elections due to lack of strategic responses to national issues. The late Movement for Democratic Change leader in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tvangirai is an excellent example. Despite many opportunities to take power from Mugabe, Morgan blew up every chance that came his way. Even when it was evident that ZANUPF was highly divided, Morgan backed the military takeover–calling on Mugabe to resign. What did MDC gain out of the ZANUPF saga–nada.

I fear this is the route HH is taking. HH followed comedian Trevor Noah’s negative characterization of those donated engines. Unlike Noah, however, HH is a politician. “Which museums are they destined to in Zambia? Would like to view them at close range”?, HH sarcastically wrote. He added, “With the amount of money spent to collect this scrap, we could have provided financial aid to over a hundred students at UNZA.” I applaud his attempt to attract the UNZA vote, but Zambia needs fire engines. It is sad that the fire department is arguably the most underfunded. Our fire departments exist, but they are museums–they lack basic fire-fighting engines. Those who do have older engines than the donated ones.

Scrap? U.S. fire engines rarely travel long distances; are regularly serviced, and have lower mileage than hundreds of thousands of cars, mini-buses and trucks on our roads. What happened to the saying, “Don’t judge the book by its cover”? Millions will praise God for owning one of those scraps. And many are very proud owners of second or fifth-hand scraps with “19th century technology.” The only difference is that they are not solicited by the First Lady, but we buy and ship them from Japan.

As for the museums those engines are destined, it is the entire Lusaka. Is HH blind to know that people use buckets to put out fires in most parts of Lusaka? Is he blind to fire-related deaths in the nation? How about the markets? It is not long ago that HH donated bags of 25kg mealie meal. Those who can afford can demean the gesture, but it meant something to a starving mother or child. I will not be surprised if his 2021 opponents cast him as out of touch with reality or simply too blind to people’s daily needs.

With little strategic tact, HH could have used those engines to speak to the need to increase first responders in the nation. No Zambian should watch his or her property go into frame–we need more engines. Rather than sending the First Lady to beg, Parliament should increase funding to the fire department.

He also had an opportunity to tie these engines to his recent trip to the US. To maintain those GMC fire engines, he would have argued, there is need for US investment.Or perhaps he could have acknowledged the donation, and then argue that Zambia should aspire to be a donor nation by increasing production and investment in the motor industry. To reach this goal, investor confidence and good governance are critical–something the PF has failed to deliver. His government, HH could have insisted, will do that. Unfortunately, he missed opportunities to fight PF on policy–his attack went personal.

Millions may dislike Lungu, but to think that the poor economy alone will sink the boat in 2021 is mere speculation. Telling by by-election results, the PF still has a big following in the nation. So HH needs to bring neutral voters into his caucus–but without a sustained message, like those trucks, his 2021 bid is headed to political museums. The good news is, he has money to try again in 2026. Or he is destined to Zambian political museum in 2021.

Rev. Kapya Kaoma

Trippy Hippy released the video for their hit single “Mwah Baby“.

The video was directed by Yung god and Taffy ‘The bad boy T’, For TRIPPY VISION. Edited by Yung god, color balanced by Enock Kauseni.

New Congress Party President Peter Chanda has sued opposition National Democratic Congress -NDC- leader Chishimba Kambwili for allegedly defaming President Edgar Lungu.

Mr. Chanda has sued Mr. Kambwili following media reports attributed to him alleging that President Lungu’s Presidential Plane allegedly couriers’ illegal drugs.

He has filed the complaint and the Affidavit in support of the complaint before the Lusaka Magistrate.

And addressing the media Mr. Chanda said he commenced the defamation action to uphold the respect for the Presidency as an institution.

He told journalists that the Republican President deserves respect from not only the general citizenry but also opposition leaders.

President Edgar Lungu is concerned with the high cost of housing units which he says are beyond the reach of many Zambians.

President Lungu says there is need to provide low cost housing units to civil servants and the vulnerable.

He says the housing initiatives which have resulted in houses being built for military personnel and the police should equally be extended to civil servants.

And President Lungu says building of chiefs’ palaces should be a shared responsibility between Government and the subjects.

He has since directed Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Lawrence Sichalwe to engage traditional leaders on the matter.

The Head of State was speaking during the 2019 Cluster Quarterly progress reporting on reducing development inequalities at state house in Lusaka today.

President Lungu said reducing development inequalities is key in ensuring that all citizens have equal opportunities regardless of where they are located.

He said the PF government remains resolute to take development to all corners of the country and give citizens equal opportunities and access to services for improved socio-economic welfare.

And Local Government Minister Charles Banda, who is chairperson of the Cluster, said the meeting looked at issues such as women in rural areas benefiting from the country’s developmental agenda and taking infrastructure development to remote parts of the co
ntry.

Dr. Banda said Government wants to ensure that development is not concentrated in urban areas but also in rural areas where the major population is located.

Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela says he will engage his counterpart at the Ministry of Mines Richard Musukwa over the impasse surrounding the Lower Zambezi mining license.

Mr Chitotela said he will also be engaging his colleagues at the Ministries responsible for Water Affairs and Environment as well as Ministry of Justice over the issue.

He said although the Zambia Wildlife Act under section 16 permits any person to exercise with a license, their rights under certain terms and conditions as prescribed by the Minister, this has to be done in consultation with all major stakeholders.

Mr Chitotela said an amicable solution must obviously be found which must look at the effects this will have on tourism in the Lower Zambezi valley and the interests of the local people and the nation at large.

He was speaking during a preliminary engagement meeting with the stakeholders opposed to the decision by Lusaka High Court to throw out a petition by concerned citizens.

Mr Chitotela said the Zambia Wildlife Act No 14 of 2015 gives specific instructions to the Minister of Tourism to make sure that before mining activities take place in a national park, the Minister has to give certain operational conditions to be met by the mining operator.

He appealed to the appellant to take judicial notice and appeal to the court considering that there are various interest groups of the matter.

Mr Chitotela said the court might reconsider its decision and considering that the State has every confidence in the judicial system hence there is no need to ridicule the court.

And Zambia Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) Forum National Coordinator Noah Chongo said the Civil Society respects the Rule of Law and cherishes the dialogue has had with Government.

Mr. Chongo said his organization is requesting the Minister to hear the public outcry based on real issues and the challenges that will be caused by the Mining projected if undertaken.

He said Minister has powers vested in him to talk to other Minister and push for the revocation of the Mining license so that National parks can accrue it’s maxing benefits.

The Conservationist said other stakeholders like chiefs and communities have cried out and need to be head if need the Minister should escalate to matter to the Republican President.

And a representative of IMPI, a Non-Government Organization working with communities in the Lower Zambezi, Stephen Mulembeta said villagers in the area are likely to experience the worst cases of Human-Animal Conflicts due to the animals that will be pushed the mining activities.

Transport and Communications Minister Hon Mutotwe Kafwaya has called on the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to ensure that there is sanity on the roads.

The Minister made this call after visiting funeral houses for the ten people who died during the Buseko Market accident last week.

The accident happened on 25th October 2019 when a truck belonging to BHL driven by Elias Chikwenda lost control due to excessive speed as he was trying to avoid a truck that was reversing into Lumumba road at Puma filling near Buseko market.

The driver, later on, went to hit into a parked Corolla, Zesco Pole and finally into a Tavern where the deceased ware watching a football match which is about 30 meters away from the road.

Ten people died in the accident.

Hon Kafwaya said the onus is on the road users to ensure that they are cautious and avoid what he termed as ‘human-made accidents’.

“This government of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is committed to ensuring that there is sanity on the roads. We are always at pains to see the loss of life on our roads,” he said.

He also appealed to the passengers to always ensure that they report to RTSA drivers who are not observing the road traffic rules.

“This calls for sanity. We need to bring sanity on the roads. Let’s also think about other road users. The problem we are attending to today (helping the families) is man-made and the government has to use resources in order to help the families which can be used on other equally important matters,” he said.

“His Excellency called for sanity on the roads recently, he meant well. When we call for sanity, we know where we stand in terms of protecting the lives of our people.”

Hon Kafwaya said the people have appreciated the gesture by President Lungu to direct relevant institutions to ensure that they take over the funeral costs.

And the families visited thanked the government for coming to their aid saying they could not have afforded to take all the funeral costs.