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Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) President Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba has accused the church of being complicit to Political Violence for not participating in the political affairs of the Country.
Dr. Mumba who is also a clergy was addressing congregants at the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) in Matero, said that the Political Violence being experienced doesn’t befit a Christian Nation.
“In 1991, my party the MMD through President Chiluba declared Zambia a Christian Nation. This was not done because a few of us in the MMD were Christians but because the majority of Zambians were and are Christians. Political Violence and Corruption just to mention a few are Un-Christian. The killing in Kaoma was clearly Un-Christian and should be condemned by all Christians”, Dr. Mumba said.
Dr. Mumba called upon the church to enter the Political arena.
“I would like to take this opportunity to call upon the church to actively participate in the running of the affairs of the Country. There are a number of ways in which this can be done which include encouraging and supporting its members to run for public office and also take to task the incumbent political players”, Dr. Mumba said.
He said the church must take a deliberate step to train its membership and encourage them to vie for political office.
Dr. Mumba then stated that the Church was guilty of allowing the escalation of Political Violence because they have stayed away from politics and they have not taken the political players to the task.
“The church has godly values which it can use to promote good governance. Some of these include Integrity, Morality and the fear of God. As long as the Church doesn’t encourage and support it’s members for public office, these important values will not see the public office. What we will continue seeing is Political violence and corruption. The Political Violence which includes the Kaoma killing is because the Church and it’s members have left the running of this country to unbelievers. So it is right to blame the church of tolerating this violence because they have refused to stand up to the challenge”, Dr. Mumba said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police for Administration, Eugene Sibote
Police in Lusaka have apprehended 11 male suspects for being in possession of offensive weapons. Deputy Inspector General of Police – Administration Eugene Sibote has said that the 11 were apprehended after a tip-off from concerned members of the public in Lusaka’s Chalala area.
Mr. Sibote said that the suspects were found in possession of 55 machetes, 6 teasers, 17 walkie talkies and 29 boxes of registration forms for Leadership Movement Party.
Addressing the media in Lusaka today, Mr. Sibote said the suspects were also found with 7 black berets, 13 black shot buttons and 11 pairs of black combat uniforms labeled LM.
Mr. Sibote said the suspects are detained in police custody for being in possession of offensive articles.
He said further investigations have continued over the matter to establish the motives of the group.
Mr. Sibote stated that in the interest of peace, the Police Command is considering making a strong recommendation for the deregistration of organizations such as the Leadership movement if investigations establish that the group had the blessings of the supposed political party.
And Mr. Sibote has expressed concern over a statement circulating on social media purported to have been issued by UPND Deputy National Youth Chairperson Gilbert Liswaniso under the headline “PF and Police should remove PF thugs from bus stops and markets b
Wednesday”.
He said the Police deems the statement to be in bad taste and has the potential to incite violence.
Mr. Sibote has directed all police officers to be on high alert and firmly deal with those who may decide to participate in such disorderly activities.
Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga
Ministry of Tourism and Arts has refuted reports that 80 black Lechwes are missing in Bangweulu Wetlands.
Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga disclosed that former Tourism Minister Charles Banda in March 2019 issued a capture permit for 50 Black Lechwe to Langani Game Ranch in Kazungula and 30 Black Lechwe to Kwisoko Game Farm in Lusaka.
Mr. Malupenga notes that the animals were captured and translocated to the two farms on September 10, 2019 following the authorization.
The PS says the Department of National Parks and Wildlife’s Research and Veterinary Unit had earlier carried out an ecological assessment at these establishments to ensure that they were habitable by the species.
Socialist Party interim General Secretary Cosmas Dr Musumali
Socialist Forum Ghana recently organized a Public Lecture on Zambia to solidarise with the people of Zambia.
The lecture was delivered by Dr Cosmos Musumali, General Secretary of the Socialist Forum of Zambia (SFZ) on the topic ‘Socialism and the reality in Zambia.’
Dr Musumali brought up the many issues that troubled Zambia and its people over the past years.
He stated for instance that the Zambia was currently in a capitalist rule and suffering with high levels of poverty.
Dr Musumali added that there were massive gaps within the classes of people in Zambia with many of its government officials having anti-socialism values.
“And with most of the political parties in the country having a capitalist mind-set, the future of Zambia is very much in doubt,” he added.
Dr Musumali noted that the SFZ had compiled various inconsistencies and issues facing the country as well as recommendations to revamp the economy and presented it to government officials but were yet to see any action.
He stated that foreign organisations had made reference to the declining state of the country but government officials were yet to respond to those issues.
Dr Musumali disclosed that citizens with degrees and masters were unable to secure jobs and due to government policies, companies hire and dismiss workers without following the labour laws of the country.
“Businessmen and consultants are titles being used to describe the unemployed to spur them to become entrepreneurs as they are unable to secure jobs,” he added.
Dr Musumali describing the worsening state of Zambia noted that capitalism was a major factor to the declining state of his country and prayed for international aid to pressure Zambia’s government to care and provide for its citizens.
He expressed his dismay at how more than 70 per cent of the population was engaged in agriculture yet the sector contributed only four per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that, the Zambian government being the largest buyer of agricultural produce, would buy from the farmers at low prices and sell to foreign countries at a higher cost.
Dr Musumali called on African country leaders to plead with the leaders in Zambia to consider the future of Zambia and its people before taking decisions.
The lecture was part of the SFGs ‘Wednesday Palava’ programme and was attended by members of SFG and a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) Jonis Ghedi Alasow and Andeli Zeto of the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa.
Transport and Comunications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya speaking at the launch of Velocity in Lusaka
Transport and Communications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya has challenged the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Agency to start sanctioning mobile phone service providers that are providing below par services.Mr Kafwaya said ZICTA should start getting tough on service providers that flout standard of service guidelines.
He said government is interested in seeing a fully developed ICT industry in Zambia that meets customer expectations.Mr Kafwaya was speaking Monday evening when he officiated at the launch of Velocity, the country’s first unlimited broadband internet offer which is powered by Zamtel.He commended Zamtel for always launching innovative products which he said help meet government’s goal of universal access to ICTs.Mr Kafwaya said government is pushing the universal access to ICT agenda by putting up infrastructure that increases access to ICTs especially in underserved and unserved areas.
He said so far 550 of the 1009 communication towers under Phase II of the GRZ Communication Tower Project are functional.
“Government’s driving agenda for universal access for ICT for all Zambians is firmly anchored in the Seventh National Development Plan and Vision 2030 which places emphasis on access to ICT’s for all citizens,” he said.
Mr Kafwaya said Government is committed to providing enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the ICT sector saying this is why his ministry engages with various stakeholders to engage on policy and reforms.
And Zamtel Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta said Velocity is the answer to customer’s complaints about depletion of data and slow internet.
Mr Mupeta said Zamtel is optimistic about the growth of online use and that it will continue to invest more in the network to better serve the customer.
“Velocity is a response to a growing number of customers that need always-on high speed internet in their homes and offices thereby enhancing convenience.It is a gateway to a world of endless possibilities, whether its social networking, music and video streaming or simply online research. We believe this is a product that will transform our customer’s lives at affordable costs,” said Mr. Mupeta.
Mr Mupeta said Zamtel is very optimistic about the growth of online use and that it will continue to invest more in the network to better serve the customer.
“The internet has now become more than a necessity and its access must be at anybody’s convenience. This is what Velocity is bringing to the market by giving uncapped internet. Our Home packages enables families to access the internet in the comfort of their homes, allowing for more quality family time.”
Meanwhile, Velocity Team Leader James Earle said Velocity will be offering the most affordable unlimited wireless internet on the market.
“I am sure we all have experienced, at one point or another, the inconvenience of having your data depleted whilst you are in the middle of a critical assignment or watching an entertaining movie. With the launch of Velocity such experiences will be a thing of the past as it will offer unlimited wireless internet at very competitive price plans,” Mr Earle said.
Velocity’s Wi-Fi to the Home (WTTx) brand which offers unlimited internet using LTE wireless technology means that homes in areas not yet wired for fibre can receive high-speed broadband using Routers or WiFi.
The biggest benefit, aside from being affordable is that one does not have to wait for fibre to arrive in a specific area to access Velocity.
Velocity requires only a router and a SIM card to give multiple users of up to 32 within the home or office instant connectivity to high speed internet.
Customers can choose from a range of five price plans, starting at K349 per month as entry level option offering 3Mbps to the Unlimited Ultra package which offers 20Mbps at K1,650.
Transport and Comunications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya displays a Router given to him as a gift at the launch of Velocity as Zamtel CEO Sydney Mupeta cheers on
The President says some of the notable Indian Companies that have significantly contributed to Zambia ‘s economic gains are TAJ Pamodzi Hotel, Bharti Airtel and Indo-Zambia Bank.
President Lungu was speaking in Lusaka this evening during the Regional Conclave on India -Southern Africa Project Partnership.
The President is optimistic that the Conclave will boost investment and commercial ties between Indian and Southern African countries.
He said the Zambian government has prioritised infrastructure development especially in the Road Sector as one of the measures to attract investment in various economic sectors.
At the same function, Commerce Minister Christopher Yaluma said there is an increase in the number of Indians prospecting to invest in Zambia since President Edgar Lungu’s visit to that country two months ago.
And India’s Minister of State and External Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan praised President Lungu for having wooed Indian investors to Zambia during his recent presence in India.
The Regional Conclave on India -Southern Africa Project Partnership is the first of its kind in Southern Africa.
The Conclave has attracted over one hundred Private Sector representatives among Chamber of Commerce and Industries in the SADC Region and more than 50 potential Indian Investors.
Former inspector General of Police- Dr Martin Malama
Kanchibiya Member of Parliament Hon. Martin Malama’s demand that HH denounces the African Liberal Network is part of the PF horrendous and shameful propaganda. We are a democratic nation, and the UPND’s association with the Africa Liberal Network is protected under the freedom of association. Regardless, why should the PF determine who HH associates with?
Hon. Malama’s private member motion seeking the ban on political parties and organizations that endorse Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights in Zambia is part of the PF hymn of homosexualizing the UPND leader; a major political challenger to President Lungu and Hon. Malama’s job ending Party. It is not by coincidence that Hon. Malama’s motion followed President Lungu’s denunciation of homosexuality as against Zambian and Christian values. HH joined the anti-gay hype, but little did he realize that, to the PF, his statement was useless. With things against PF, homosexualizing the 2021 elections would present the corrupt and inept Lungu administration as a Christian Party in contrasts to the UPND, which is liberal—thus gay supporting party. To the overt religious electorate, this contrast would be critical.
Hon. Martin Malama’s demands should not be taken lightly—they speak to the wider PF agenda of erasing freedoms of masses. This is not about UPND—the motion seeks to expurgate freedom of expression and association. I understand that most of us see nothing wrong with stopping advocacy on LGBT issues, but we should not cry foul when they come after other rights as well. We are a democracy, and people should have the rights of organizing without fear of state repression.
Hon. Malama’s anti-gay campaign is aimed at the UPND. Its effects, however, is felt by LGBT persons whose identity is demonized. This PF propaganda promotes what Ange-Marie Hancock calls “politics of disgust;” the political tendency to employ cues that enrage public disgust against a demonized social group. The PF, for instance, knows that Zambians consider homosexuality disgusting—thus by pairing it with the UPND, HH is forced to defend himself against such accusations.
The United Nations, the Commonwealth, and The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) are among the many organizations that protect LGBT persons
Politics of disgust is not evidence based but rides on perceived public negative assumptions about the shamed group. There is no evidence that gays have harmed our nation in any way. The PF propaganda, nonetheless, presents gays as the immediate danger to the nation. Yet, it is the PF’s promotion of the culture of corruption, lack of rule of law and politically sanctioned violence that THREATEN the nation.
Hon. Malama’s ignorance of sexual rights is enthralling, but not surprising at all. The Africa Liberal Network is not the only organization that supports sexual rights. The United Nations, the Commonwealth, and The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) are among the many organizations that protect LGBT persons. Resolution 275 of the ACHPR specifically called for the “Protection against Violence and other Human Rights Violations against Persons on the basis of their real or imputed Sexual Orientation or gender identity.” Adopted at its 2014, 55th Ordinary Session in Angola, the resolution condemned the growing violence on sexual minorities by state and non-state actors. It cited “murder, rape, assault, arbitrary imprisonment” as among them many abuses directed on sexual and gender minorities. It further called for decriminalization of same-gender loving relationships as well as the holding of perpetrators of such abuses accountable. So why is the PF associated with the ACHPR?
Freedom of association and expressions are fundamental to good governance and the rule of law! The Zambian government, for example, is part of SADC. Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa support sexual and gender rights yet they still have sound relationships with the PF government. If President Lungu and HH benefit from these freedoms, so do LGBTQI persons. To rob them of these rights is not only unjust and undemocratic, but also sinful and immoral.
I wish HH supported sexual and gender rights, but he lacks the courage to stand up for what is morally right. Leadership demands standing up for what is right despite the assumed risks. Nelson Mandela was an African hero, yet he stood with sexual and gender minorities – making South Africa the first country in the world to endorse same-sex marriages. He may not have reflected African and Christian values as defined by Hon. Malama, but he died a hero. Indeed, leadership demands courage to walk uncharted terrains!
That homosexuality has become a PF campaign issue at the time when millions are living in poverty, electricity is a rare commodity, people are starving and the nation is buried in international debt points to what former US vice president Al Gore termed “an assault on reason”–something contributing to the current socio-economic and political crisis. We have many policy issues to run on, and LGBTQI rights and freedoms are not among them.
If you want inspiration of what we as a people were capable of and what Samuel Matete did to show his talent and patriotism to this country the likes of Lungu and Siliya are now pissing on, look at this video:
My fellow Zambians, I write to you all as a fellow concern Zambian to what is going on in our beloved Zambia. We have been killing each other for one man to stay in power and for another man trying to take over the same office. I cry for my beloved country, and for those of you who would like to politicize my view you can go on, but you must hear me. Why should we be killing each other for this reason when our forefathers fought for our freedom from the colonials, are we still back in the early sixties fighting the colonial or we are shedding blood so that his Excellence Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu should continue staying in power, or that Mr. Hakainde Hichilema should get in the same office? Why my fellow brothers and sisters?
Let’s face reality as Zambians and do the right thing, I’m non partisan I’m not writing here to support the ruling government or the UPND, I’m writing because it concerns me as a Zambian. Why should we get to this point just because of two people and their greediness? This is not fair that a Zambian should die for this reason.
First, I would like to blame both leaders, without siding to any of them. Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu as a president of the nation as well as the president of the PF, you have power to stop this madness going on in our country, it does not matter that the people killing each other are sent by anyone else from your party, but it is your duty to stop this, you cannot just be issuing statements that the police should handle the situation with anyone they find with a firearm when this has been going on every time we have By-election. How many statements have you issued concerning the same violence?
Next, to you Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, as a leader and president of the UPND, you can stop this nonsense going on with your Cadres killing one another why should my brothers and sisters die just for you to come in power? Where is the freedom that our forefathers fought for? You should also know in your party who is in charge of this killing, you have the power within your political party to stop this, shame on you.
Politics should not make people become bitter with each other that they cannot see eye to eye, it’s a clear fact that no one can deny that Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu does not like Mr. Hakainde Hichilema and vice versa. These two people share different opinions concerning the issues of the country, but this does not mean that they should hate one another to this extent. Outside Zambia there a lot of people that have different opinions, but they still mingle together. I would give a good example here, last week.
Former conservative Republican US president George Bush and Ellen DeGeneres, an outspoken LGBT activist were caught on camera having a laugh while seated side by side in Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ private suite with their wives Laura Bush and Portia de Rossi sitting on either side. The following day after the game Ellen DeGeneres said on her TV Show that she is friends with George Bush. “In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have.” She said.
George Bush once endorsed a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage. During her monologue on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” Monday, DeGeneres explained that Charlotte Jones, daughter of Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones, invited her and wife Portia De Rossi to the game. “When we were invited, I was aware that I was going to be surrounded with people from very different views and beliefs,” she said. “And I’m not talking about politics. I was rooting for the Packers. And get this, everybody in the Cowboys suite was rooting for the Cowboys.” DeGeneres continued, “People were upset. They thought, ‘Why is a gay Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative Republican present?’ Didn’t even notice I was holding a brand-new iPhone 11. But a lot of people were mad, and they did what people do when they’re mad — they tweet.”
Coming back to the point with our issue, here we have two people who hate each other and causing innocent people killing one another, how much are you paying these people to kill each other for? Is it worthy to be in power that an innocent citizen should die?
Here comes October 18th, the Day of National Prayers in Zambia. So, if I may ask what are we going to pray for when we know what you are doing after the prayers. Shame on you both of you Edgar and Hakainde. How do you even sleep at night knowing that innocent people are killing each other for you to stay in power or trying to come in, please this is enough. I would like to see the two resolve these issues and meet on common ground with no pretense. Why not go and play Golf together and show to the Zambians that we can still love one another even though you don’t agree on the issues of governing the country. Why not you Edgar Lungu take Hakainde Hichilema on a government trip like the late Michael Sata (MHSRIP) would take Elias Chipimo with him on a government trip, that is what should be done. Boxers when they fight, they hug and shake hands, soccer players, they even exchange Jerseys. What about you too, what do you have to show us that you can reconcile. In Kenya in a joint press conference on March 9, 2018 President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga promised to begin the process of reconciliation following their bitter standoff around the 2017 elections that raised the specter of ethnic violence.
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta (L) greets opposition leader Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition after addressing a news conference at the Harambee house office in Nairobi, Kenya March 9, 2018.
Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for the sake of the nation as our father of this beloved country, I cry to you. Please pull Mr. Hakainde Hichilema by his hand and say brother lets reconcile for the love of our country. How many Zambians should die honestly before one of you can be man enough to stand and meet the other person. Please stop this madness, you have power to command this nonsense to stop. Do it!
The author is a non-partisan, an entrepreneur who is only concerned with issues going on in the country.
Chipolopolo interim coach Aggrey Chiyangi wants his players to concentrate throughout the match if Zambia is to stop conceding late goals.
Zambia allowed late goals when forcing draws against Niger (1-1) and Benin (2-2) in the weekend friendly matches played away in West Africa.
Benin scored a stoppage time equaliser on Sunday to deny Zambia a win.
‘It’s just concentration. What we need to do as we go back we have to talk about concentration levels. We have to concentrate throughout the game until the game finishes,’ Chiyangi said.
‘I think the second goal Benin scored our defenders did not challenge for the ball. I don’t know if they were waiting for the referee to blow for offside,’ he said.
Chiyangi however described the friendly against Benin as good preparation for future assignment.
‘It was a good game. Good preparation. Benin gave us a good game they played well and we also played well. It is a good foundation for the future,’ said.
A pre-pilot UNESCO Refugee Qualifications Passport aiming to help displaced people with missing qualification documents will be launched in Zambia this month, before the project is rolled out at a greater scale globally.
Four organisations – UNESCO, UNHCR, Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and the Zambian Qualifications Authority ZAQA – announced the project recently in New York City.
Based on the Council of Europe’s European Qualification Passport for Refugee, launched in 2017 as a response to the influx of refugees to the continent, the latest move is a way to test whether the methodology can be used beyond a European context.
“We have big expectations of the Zambia pilot since it will be the first time the Qualification Passport methodology is tested outside Europe,” Andreas Snildal, program specialist, Section of Higher Education – Education Sector at UNESCO explained.
“It will be an important step for learning and for further developing the project, but it is important to emphasise that the pilot will also include countries in other regions.”
Zambia was chosen for its “considerable refugee population, its experience in qualifications recognition and not least its government’s commitment to higher education and refugees”, Snildal said.
“We will build on this support for implementing the full-scale pilot, and we are aiming at piloting the UNESCO Qualifications Passport in two or three countries in different parts of the world in 2020.
“In the long run, the aim is to establish a tool that can be used around the world in different contexts,” Snildal added.
The qualifications passport is the “perfect match to address the gap that often exists in refugee and migrant populations that may have incomplete documents”, Maren Kroeger, tertiary education officer in the Division of Resilience and Solutions at UNHCR said.
Working in an advisory role, UNHCR recognises that incomplete documents are one of the biggest barriers for refugees to access university education.
“We came to Zambia to have a pre-pilot to see how it works in a completely different context – it is a completely different higher educational setting then in the European context where the passport has been piloted before,” Kroeger told The PIE News.
Some settlements in Zambia have been there since the 1970s, while others arrived last year from places such as Congo. That diversity offers a good test of the tool, while the project will also provide insight into the profile refugees.
Those involved expect that a global rollout will follow once willing countries and national quality assurance agencies have been identified, and funding needs to be sourced.
“From our side where I see possibly a huge demand for that tool for the Venezuelans in the Americas because they also been highly educated before the crisis,” Kroeger concluded.
The outcome of the pre-pilot will be presented at UNESCO’s General Conference in November, and most likely countries in other UNESCO regions will be included in a more comprehensive pilot, Stig Arne Skjerven director of Foreign Education at NOKUT added.
The Lumwana copper mine is located about 100 km west of Solwezi in Zambia’s Copperbelt. (Image courtesy of Barrick Gold.)
China Minmetals, Jiangxi Copper and Zijin Mining are among the firms weighing to bid for Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold’s Lunwana copper mine in Zambia.
If the deal materialises, the mine could be worth approximately $1bn.
China Molybdenum and Aluminum Corp were also invited to take part in the bid.
Barrick is currently working with advisers to draw interest for the mine.
The Lumwana copper mine is a conventional open pit mine, located approximately 100km west of Solwezi town in Zambia’s copperbelt region.
It is expected to produce 210 to 240 million pounds of copper in 2019 and has proven and probable copper reserves of over 4.5 billion pounds.
In August, Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow said that the company is focusing on divesting $1.5bn of assets by the end of the next year.
The Lumwana mine was officially inaugurated in April 2009 by Equinox Minerals.
In April 2011, Barrick Gold signed a support agreement to acquire all issued and outstanding common shares of Equinox Minerals in a takeover offer valued at C$7.3bn ($7.6bn).
Equinox Minerals was acquired by Barrick Gold in July 2011.
Barrick Gold announced its plans to suspend operations at the mine in 2014 following the Zambian Government’s move to raise mining taxes on open-pit mining operations in the country.
In July, the company signed an agreement to acquire a stake in Acacia Mining.
Meanwhile, Barrick is also working with Bank of Nova Scotia to scout for buyers for its Tongon Gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire.
Sunday Chanda with UPND President Hakainde Hichilema
By Sunday Chilufya Chanda
INTRODUCTION
Will the Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) participate in this year’s Independence Commemoration, breaking from their long-held tradition absconding important national and continental events such as the Africa Freedom Day.
As the title of Nelson Mandela’s book “Long walk to freedom” suggests, the struggle for the political emancipation of Africa and Zambia was a long one. Because of the significance of the day in relation to the heading, this article is also longer than usual.
A BACKGROUND TO ZAMBIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
Every year on October 24, Zambia celebrates its Independence Day in commemoration of the day it attained its freedom from British rule in 1964.
In 1889, a treaty was signed between the Lozi overlord and a representative of the British South Africa Company in 1889 establishing British protection. Sir Harry Johnston added Eastern Zambia to Britain’s empire during his conquest of Nyasaland (now Malawi).
British administration in Zambia (then called Northern Rhodesia) was the same like its other African territories. A governor heads a small central council composed of Europeans appointed by the British government. The local rulers are allowed greater freedom under this system of indirect rule. In the late 1920s copper was discovered in the north, this development led to the extension of the railway and the building of the first smelting plants in the so-called copper belt. In 1939, Zambia had become a major producer of copper, and the urbanization of the northwest has begun. The arrival of European technicians and administrators to Zambia was brought about by the copper industry.
In 1953, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, comprising the territories of Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland (now Malawi), was dominated by the white population of these territories. Every African politician in the state condemned the federation from its inception by. For Zambia, the path towards independence was more problematic than the other British African territories because the federation had to be broken first.
On 24 October 1964, Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia, with Kaunda as the first president.
So why would an Opposition party abscond anything to do with commemorating the significance of such an important occasion as our Independence Day?
A BACKGROUND TO AFRICA FREEDOM DAY
On 15 April 1958, at a time when most of Africa was under colonial rule, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the Prime Minister of the newly Independent state of Ghana convened and hosted the first ever congress of Independent African States.
The gathering also showcased the progress of liberation movements on the African continent in addition to symbolising the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.
It is at this conference that the concept of commemorating an “Africa Freedom Day” was born.
The day was mooted in order to “…mark each year the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolise the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.”[4]
A few years later, on 25 May 1963, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, a country that has never been colonised, hosted in Addis Ababa the representatives of 30 African nations. By then more than two-thirds of the continent had achieved independence, mostly from imperial European states.
It is at this meeting that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was founded, with the initial objective of galvanising the decolonisation of Angola, Mozambique, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The OAU pledged to support the liberation efforts of freedom fighters in the respective colonies, and remove military access to colonial nations.
Zambia after attaining independence from Britain in 1964 under the leadership of Dr Kenneth Kaunda played a pivotal role in the liberation of neighbours Zimbabwe, Angola and Mozambique and our people also paid the ultimate price with their lives to liberate our brothers and sisters in South Africa from the shackles of Apartheid.
Fast forward to 2002, our nation during the tenure of the Second President Dr Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba hosted an OAU summit, and it was at this meeting that the continental body was transformed from OAU to the African Union (AU).
In spite of the changed appellation of the continental body, Africa Day continues to be widely celebrated on 25 May by Africans across the globe, in the motherland and in Zambia by everybody…well almost everybody except Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND!
TRIBALISM; AN ARCH-ENEMY OF NATIONALISM & PAN AFRICANISM
The UPND under Mr Hichilema has for over a decade consistently absconded official commemorations of Africa Freedom Day and Independence Day ostensibly because he does not want to observe this day or even his own country’s Independence day until he can do so as Head of State. He has an entrenched “It’s either my way or no way” mentality that blinds him from celebrating others (even freedom fighters).
BLINDED BY THEIR OWN EGO AND TRIBALISM; UPND SNUBS CELEBRATING AFRICA & ZAMBIA
Mr Hichilema’s narcissism and self-centeredness is at the core of his unpatriotic attitude. His self-centeredness has gone to the extreme and it has produced in UPND tribal inclinations that override everything that celebrates national and Pan- African causes. The UPND leader’s very introduction on the political scene was unpatriotic and perverted; it was an act of glorifying Tribalism.
As Guy Scott the former Vice President of Zambia recounts in his recently released book “Zambian Politics: a Story in Black and White”:
_”When Anderson Mazoka the founding President died, a convention was held of the UPND (then as now, the United Party for National Development was the leading opposition party) featuring Tonga warriors with spears and friction drums, galloping around the convention and threatening anyone who would oppose the election of another Tonga to the presidency. The winner in these circumstances was the wealthy privatisation expert, the wealthy Hakainde Hichilema. There was an exodus of non-Tonga leaders…”_
With the systematic hostile ejection of non-Tongas from the time Hichilema took over UPND, its tribal stature has consistently dwarfed its national identity. Tribalism is by its very nature inimical to the concept of Nationalism and Pan-Africanism.
Samora Moisés Machel one of Africa’s greatest revolutionaries and first President of Mozambique once famously said:
“For the nation to live, the tribe must die”.
From 2006 when Hichilema usurped leadership of UPND he expected all Southerners and Bantu Botatwe to automatically support him. UPND ethos since then has been a perverted form of Machels’ mantra: _“The nation must die and the tribe must dominate that I must become President”._ He is neither Nationalist nor Pan-Africanist, that is why Africa Freedom Day and Independence Day celebrations mean nothing to him!
UPND’s tribalism is NOT representative of the people of Southern Province and Bantu Botatwe. Hichilema and his UPND have betrayed the spirit of many of our founding national fathers and gallant freedom fighters who’s roots were in Southern Province. Together with their compatriots from other regions of our nation , they joined forces to overcome the shackles of colonialism to build the nation of Zambia where a common National identity eclipsed tribal character.
Can UPND and Hichilema’s unpatriotic nation-dividing agenda be compared to the following Southern Patriarchs?
1. HARRY MWAANGA NKUMBULA (15 JANUARY 1916 – 8 OCTOBER 1983)
Until the late 1950s, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula was very much the public face of African nationalism in Northern Rhodesia (colonial Zambia).
While at the London School of Economics in the late 1940s, Nkumbula had been drawn into Pan-Africanist circles and worked closely with Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the future President of Malawi, with whom he co-authored ‘Federation in Central Africa’, ‘a point-by-point rebuttal of federationist arguments as well as the first comprehensive statement of political objectives ever made by Nyasas and Rhodesians’.
Upon his return to Northern Rhodesia in 1950, Nkumbula became president of the newly formed Northern Rhodesia’s African National Congress (ANC) and spearheaded the party’s vehement anti-Federation campaign. In early 1955 Nkumbula and Kaunda were imprisoned together (with hard labour) for distributing “subversive” literature that called for independence.
Column space does not allow me to outline the great contribution this great man made to the freedom we enjoy today.
Just prior to Zambia’s independence, Nkumbula chose to form a coalition with UNIP and was given the post of minister of African education. The UNIP/ANC alliance lasted until the pre-independence elections of January 1964, when UNIP won fifty-five seats to the ANC’s ten seats. Nkumbula became leader of the opposition.
When Kaunda moved to convert Zambia into a one-party state, Nkumbula in the interest of keeping the nation together signed a document called the Choma Declaration on 27 June 1973 and announced that he was joining UNIP.
Nkumbula was a nationalist who sacrificed his personal status for the sake of national unity.
Can the same be said of the “only-me-myself-and-I” Hichilema of today?
2. MAINZA MATHIAS CHONA (21 JANUARY 1930 – 11 DECEMBER 2001)
While Nkumbula remained as leader of the ANC when Kaunda broke from the ANC in October 1958 and formed the Zambia African National Congress (ZANC); Mainza Chona had been a member of ANC while in London and he had not made a choice between the two factions. Due to ZANC’s militancy and its unwillingness to compromise on the issue of “independence now”, Kaunda and other leaders of the new party were detained by the colonial authorities, and ZANC was banned in March 1959.
Chona and other nationalists broke away from the ANC and, in October 1959, Chona became the first president of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the successor to ZANC. However, he did not see himself as the party’s main founder and he stepped down when Kaunda was released from prison in January 1960.
Would Hichilema have done the same?
As Kaunda’s loyal lieutenant, Chona was elected deputy president of UNIP, but he had to leave Northern Rhodesia to avoid a charge of sedition brought by the increasingly rattled CAF authorities.
Yet again column space cannot allow one to highlight in detail the exploits of one of Zambia’s first lawyers who later served as Vice President of Zambia from 1970 to 1973 and Prime Minister on two occasions: from 25 August 1973 to 27 May 1975 and from 20 July 1977 to 15 June 1978 and defacto second in command in the one-party state when he served as Secretary-General of UNIP, the ruling party, from 1978 to 1981.
The great Nationalist Mainza Chona put Nation above tribe when in the interest of laying the foundation for the nation of “Zambia” he left his tribesmate Nkumbula to join Kaunda.
One wonders; what would the patriarch Mainza Chona have made of the “Only a Tonga Must rule UPND” campaign that paved Hichilema’s way to the leadership of UPND?
There are many other examples too numerous to mention of our Southern Province freedom fighter fore-fathers who placed nation building above tribal interests. Hichilema’s UPND is a disgrace to their memory.
3. ELIJAH HAATUAKALI KAIBA MUDENDA (6 JUNE 1927 – 2 NOVEMBER 2008)
A freedom fighter and post-independence cabinet minister and diplomat who among other things played a significant role in negotiating the construction of TAZARA with the Chinese Government when Zambia was surrounded by hostile colonialist states. So significant were his contributions to the emancipation of his country and Africa that he was conferred the Friendship Medal by Fidel Castro’s Cuba.
What would Elijah Mudenda, Fidel Castro or Che-Guevara make of Hichilema?
4. KEBBY SILILO KAMBU MUSOKOTWANE (5 MAY 1946 – 11 FEBRUARY 1996)
The charismatic and selfless Musokotwane who was one of the closest allies of President Kaunda. Musokotwane served as the 5th Prime Minister of Zambia from 24 April 1985 until 15 March 1989.
How does Hichilema and his UPND compare to Zambia’s fond memory of patriotic “Kebby”?
5. BALDWIN MWANA KUMABU NKUMBULA (DIED 27 AUGUST 1995)
A son of veteran politician Harry Nkumbula, and Minister of Sport in the Chiluba regime, Baldwin was an astute politician in his own right.
Would Baldwin have approved of Hichilema’s “Tongalisation” of UPND?_ _Would Baldwin have approved of Hichilema’s indefinite tenure and Life Presidency of UPND?
6. VERNON JOHNSON MWAANGA (BORN 1939)
How does Hichilema’s narrow tribal agenda compare to the Nationalistic outlook of the versatile living legend Dr Vernon Johnson Mwaanga, freedom fighter, politician and diplomat par excellence who played a key role in championing China’s admission to the UN? How does Hichilema’s UPND’s Sinophobia compare and contrast?
There is really very little (if any) that Hichilema’s style has in common with the pragmatic approach of “VJ”. This is sadly underscored by how UPND cadres brutally assaulted Dr Mwaanga when as Chief Government Spokesperson of MMD Government of late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, at the time; he went to deliver a special message of condolences at the funeral house of UPND founder Anderson Mazoka. In a well-documented incident, his UPND assailants physically and verbally abused him for “being a traitor” i.e. being a Southerner and “not supporting a Tonga Party”.
CONCLUSION
Whereas our forefathers fought to raise national character above tribal identity, there are some that are working overtime to undo what our forefathers worked so hard to build.
Hichilema even spat on the recent National Dialogue Forum’s efforts which includes the honouring Freedom Fighters!
While Africans across the globe celebrate Africa Freedom day, and Zambians celebrate Independence Day, there are some among us who are not celebrating because they are agents of international capital and are being used to provoke regime change for the benefit of their neo-colonial masters. They are but puppets and mouthpieces of the capital!
They do not value it, so they will not celebrate it!
On our part, the Patriotic Front Government led by President Edgar Chagwa Lungu values and celebrates the efforts of our forefathers and we are now building on their foundation with our fight for economic emancipation and creating a better life for ALL.
The Opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) President, Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba has said that he will fix the former Ruling Party in order to save Zambia.
Dr. Mumba who on Sunday visited his party’s structures in Matero Constituency thanked his party officials and members for remaining loyal to the party.
“Matero Constituency has a special place in the heart of Zambians especially the MMD. Even though our great party has been under siege for the past 3 years, you have all remained loyal to the Cause and for that I would like to say thank you”, Dr. Mumba said.
Dr. Mumba further said that the no-show of the MMD on the Political arena has led to National problems.
“I would like to inform you all that a number of problems that our Country is facing such as High Debt, Corruption and Political Violence are happening because the MMD is not active on the Political arena. For example, today we have a debt of over $19 Billion, when I was Vice President together with President Mwanawasa we managed to clear $7 billion due to fiscal discipline. We fought corruption such that Zambia became a Champion in the fight against Corruption”, Dr. Mumba said.
Dr. Mumba further said that he would fix the MMD to save Zambia. The MMD will be a major political player in this country.
“It is beyond a reasonable doubt that Zambia is undergoing serious Political, Economical and Social challenges. The people of Zambia are tired of the continued political violence during By-elections. MMD will provide hope to the citizens of this great nation. We have the knowledge, experience, and expertise to make Zambia great again. We will fix MMD so as to save our beloved nation and provide a bright future for our children”, Dr. Mumba said.
DA President Harry Kalaba shows the party symbol during the press briefing in Lusaka
As the Democratic Party (DP), We make an appeal to all DP members,sympathizers and the general Public to ignore with contempt the stories making rounds on social media on the purported de-registration of the DP.
Its old and stale news that broke in February of 2019 and by peddled desparate PF Govt agents with the intent to destabilise DP and mislead the masses.
In countering, our lawyers wrote to the AG requesting him to “tame” the PF Govt official who issued the contemptous article.
Below is part of the letter from our lawyers Mwenye & Mwitwa Advocates to the the Attorney General;
“Re: Precious Ntambu (Suing as National Secretary for the Democratic Party) v The Attorney General-2018/HP/1113. We refer to the above captioned matter. on the 2nd of February 2019, Mr Nephas Chufuta a Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a statement to the press and the public in general to the effect that the court of Appeal had issued a stay of execution that had reinstated the Registrar of Societies’ decision to cancel the Registration of our client, the Democratic Party. As your office is no doubt aware, this position is false and calculated to deliberately mislead and is therefore contemptuous of the proceedings currently before the courts of law,” Mwenye & Mwitwa Advocates stated.
“The correct position is that on 6th of September 2018, the High Court squashed the Registrar’s decision that deregistered the Democratic Party. Your client applied for a stay of execution of the judgement, and in its Ruling, of the 29th January 2019, the High Court refused to stay the decision that squashed the Registrar’s decision. As a matter of fact, the court stated the following;
‘Therefore with regard the order of Certiorari, as rightly submitted by Counsel for the Applicant this order cannot be stayed as doing so would be to reverse the said order. On that basis, I decline to grant the stay of execution as regards the order certiorari’.”
Mwenye & Mwitwa Advocates urged AG Kalaluka to tame Chifuta or else the party would be forced to commence contempt proceedings against the official.
“The decision of the Registrar that was quashed, remains quashed and there is nothing, at law that prevents our client from continuing its normal day to day activities and operations. It is therefore misleading and contemptuous for your client to intimate that the order of the Registrar of Societies has been reinstated. This is therefore to demand that you prevail upon your client to desist from issuing similar misleading statements or interfering with the operations of our client, failure to which our client will have no option but commencing contempt proceedings and to seek other appropriate orders from the Court. We have every confidence that as the Chief Legal Advisor to the Government and the leader of the Zambian bar, you will prevail upon your client to desist from similar conduct in future,” stated Mwenye & Mwitwa Advocates.
We therefore instruct all party functionaries to continue operating and mobilising as we look forward to our DP Vision launch on 2nd November,2019 in Samyfa.
