The debate whether the number of constituencies in Zambia should be increased from the current 150 to 235 is too important to ignore as it evokes a lot of questions.

Why now? Is one of the questions that have driven me to react.

A recent online article has revealed that the Electoral Commission of Zambia is in support of the proposal. That the support is a result of submissions received during the countrywide delimitation sittings and factors outlined in Article 59 of the Constitution that give powers to the commission to delimit constituencies and wards.

When is it going to happen? Is another question that need to be asked.

Unless creation of new constituencies takes place after 2021 election, this is a pure political scam rather fraud.

ECZ chairperson Esau Chulu is trying to manipulate 2021 election outcome; help PF keep control of the parliament. Whether he is doing it consciously or unconsciously, the fact remains the same.

Democracy is about fair competition and number. Zambia has two major political parties at the moment. Patriotic Front (PF) 89 of 156, United Party for National Development (UPND) 58 of 156. Each has its stronghold. Will ECZ create equal number of constituencies in each party stronghold?

It is near to impossible and a breed of confusion. If Hon. Justice Esau Chulu and the Electoral Commission of Zambia does’t see that, too bad.

We have entered a calculating politics stage and it is time to start thinking beyond the lines. Say no to new constituencies for the sake of fair 2021 election. We are winning over violence and propaganda. We must also win over calculating politics.

Many thanks to Highvie Hamududu, President of Party of National Unity. His article on Lusaka Times on this very issue is great though he takes a different approach.

The proposal to create new constituencies must be put on hold until after 2021 election.

President Edgar Lungu has clarified that smoking Cannabis still remains a crime in Zambia.

President Lungu said that  Government has not legalized marijuana for smoking but only for commercial and medicinal purposes.

The Head of State said that  Zambians must not jubilate that the legalization of marijuana has been made for smoking because the law will catch up with those found smoking.

President Lungu, however, said that he will engage the Ministry of Health and various stakeholders to sensitize the people on the why government has decided to legalize the cultivation and production of cannabis for medicinal and export purposes.

The President was speaking upon arrival at the ZAF Lusaka Airport base this afternoon.

He further stated that the law against abuse of cannabis still remains in effect.

Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has called on the judiciary to embrace alternative sanctions to incarceration to reduce the number of prisoners in correctional facilities.

President Lungu said, when he officially opened the 2019 Judicial Conference in Livingstone today, that sanctions such as community service, restitution and suspended sentences in deserving cases can go a long way in decongesting the facilities.

He says such sanctions will also spare the government’s already overstretched resources.

The Head of State said the country’s criminal justice has to move towards restorative justice than retributive justice.

He noted that while the government is endeavoring to build more correctional facilities and to make use of the parole system to remedy the situation, the use of alternative sentences as opposed to custodial ones would help the situation.

President Lungu said the conference comes at a time when the demand for justice is on the increase while the institutional capabilities continue to be overstretched.

He said the conference should interrogate the best ways of enhancing institutional capacities to improve access to justice and facilitate speedy delivery of justice.

President Lungu said his government remains firmly committed to attaining the goals set in the 7th National Development plan, whose priority areas include to improve the rule of law, human rights, and constitutionalism.

Speaking at the same function, Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima said the conference underscores the judiciary’s commitment to continued professional education for adjudicators.

Ms. Mambilima said it is through platforms such as the conference that the bench can share experiences for better execution of justice.

People’s Alliance for Change President Andyford Mayele Banda has demanded that mobile issuance of National Registration Cards should extend to all parts of the country to allow all eligible Zambians to acquire the documents.

Mr Banda is concerned that the Department of National Registration has concentrated the exercise in PF strongholds such as Luapula and Northern Provinces as confirmed by PF Secretary general Davies Mwila when he directed party structures in the Northern Province to ensure that 45, 000 new members have NRCs.

He said the issuance of NRCs must not be politicised and every eligible Zambian must be get a fair chance to have one.

Mr Banda said he aware that this exercise is non-existent in other Provinces, Lusaka inclusive especially those considered to be strongholds of some opposition political parties.

“We can therefore conclude that the ongoing unknown process confirmed by Mr Mwila is meant to benefit the ruling party ahead of the 2021 General elections”, he said.

He said PAC like many other opposition Political Parties have members who haven’t yet acquired NRCs and are dependent on the Department of National Registration extending the mobile issuance to acquire the documents ahead of the 2021 General elections.

“We therefore demand that the Department of National Registration updates the nation on the status of mobile NRC issuance and clarifies reports that the exercise is only taking place in Northern Province among other PF strongholds. PAC also calls for transparency in the issuance of NRCs to avoid rumours that even foreigners are being considered for the documents”, he added.

Mr Banda said like the PF we are also mobilizing across the country and acquiring NRCs by our members is one of the key steps in ensuring that our members vote in the 2021 General elections.

President Edgar Lungu has urged Patriotic Front members in Southern province to explain the government’s success to the people.

President Lungu says there is so much false information being disseminated by the opposition that PF members should counter with the truth.

He says PF members should help in explaining the contents of Bill 10 so as to correct the misinformation that some political parties and civil organizations are spreading.

The Head of State says it is also not true that his administration does NOT want to work with the people from the region, saying he has on several occasions appointed people from the southern province who he says turned down the offers citing threats.

President Lungu has since urged the mobilization team to start the mobilization process in Southern province.

The President said this in Livingstone yesterday, in a meeting with PF Members from Kazungula, Kalomo, Livingstone and Zimba districts.

And, PF Vice Chairperson for National Mobilization, Geoffrey Mwamba, says his team will make inroads in Southern province.

Mr. Mwamba, who pledged his total loyalty to President LUNGU, has however appealed to all PF members in the region to get involved in recruiting new members.

After the meeting, Mr. Mwamba told journalists that over 600 people have defected from UPND to join the PF in Livingstone.

And while in Choma, President Edgar Lungu challenged Patriotic Front members in the Southern Province to produce more Members of Parliament in the 2021 general election.

Addressing PF members in Choma yesterday, President Lungu said there is NO reason why the governing party should NOT have MPs in the Southern Province when it has taken development to the area.

President Lungu urged the PF in the province to immediately start identifying potential MPs and start mobilizing ahead of the 2021 General Election.

He said the success of any political grouping depends on numbers and that the late President Michael Sata managed to grow the party by inviting more people to join the PF.

President Lungu said the opposition United Party for National Development-UPND will never rule Zambia if its members continue thinking that one region can make them form government.

He said not a single tribe in Zambia can win elections on its own.

President Lungu wondered why the opposition UPND has continued fielding a presidential candidate, who has broken the record of losing the highest number of elections in the country.

And newly-appointed PF National Vice Chairperson for Mobilization Geoffrey Mwamba has thanked President Lungu and the Central Committee for the appointment.

Mr. MWAMBA said he is ready for the task ahead and that he has already started mobilizing with close to three hundred UPND cadres defecting to the ruling PF in Monze and Choma districts in the last two days.

Former Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili still remains prohibited from defaming Lusaka Businessman Valden Findlay who he accused of being a drug dealer.

Mr. Kambwili has also been condemned to pay costs to Mr. Findlay.

High Court Judge Elita Mwikisa said this when she confirmed the order of injunction that if freedom of speech is left unrestricted it can damage people’s liberties in a democratic state.

Judge Mwikisa further said if Mr. Kambwili is not restricted Mr. Findlay may suffer irreparable injuries.

She said Mr. Findlay has shown that Mr. Kambwili’s defense of fair comment has failed because he has not provided reasonable evidence to that effect.

Mr. Findlay has in this matter sued Mr. Kambwili for accusing him of dealing in drugs using the Presidential jet.

He is also seeking damages for libel and slander among others.

But, Mr. Kambwili has argued that words complained of can be justified because they fall under fair comment.

Cabinet at its 22nd special sitting held on 4th December 2019 gave approval, in principle, to the Ministerial Technical Committee for the cultivation, processing and exporting of cannabis for economic and medicinal purposes.

Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya said the Ministerial Technical Committee comprises of Ministers of Justice, Defence, Home Affairs, Finance, National Development Planning, Commerce, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Health.

Ms Siliya said in this regard, Cabinet directed the Ministry of Health to provide overall leadership and coordinate the issuance of licenses for the cultivation, processing and export of cannabis for medicinal purposes under the Dangerous Drugs, CAP. 95.

She said in a statement that Cabinet also directed that the Ministry of Health ensures that applicable policy guidelines and procedures are followed as well as ensure that the implementation is within the existing policy guidelines and overall legal framework in consultation with any relevant Ministries and other relevant stakeholders.

Ms Siliya said the Ministry of Health was further directed to provide Cabinet with a periodic update on the implementation of this Cabinet decision.

Earlier today, Ministry of Health Spokesperson Abel Kabalo said that the  government had not in any way legalised the use of marijuana, adding that reports circulating on social media suggesting otherwise are false and should be regarded as fake news.

Speaking to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Dr Kabalo said there is need to exercise patience, adding that government makes official pronouncements, using official channels and not what is being done on social media.

He advised that once a policy pronouncement has been passed, the ministry is alerted by cabinet office, adding that such communication has not been made.

“As a ministry we cannot comment on the legalisation of marijuana because cabinet hasn’t officially announced its position,” Dr. Kabalo said.

Dr Kabalo has advised members of the public to be cautious and worry of fake reports, as well as learn the right channels through which information can be verified, before going into panic.

This comes after social media reports suggesting that the government has approved a proposal issued by the Minister of Health to legalize the production of marijuana for exportation and medical use.