Three candidates have successfully filed in their nominations for the Kaoma Council Chairperson in Western Province, and two other ward by-elections in North-Western Province.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse says the candidates were validly nominated following the lodging in of nominations on Tuesday 17th September for the polls which will take place on October 10th 2019.

Ms Chimanse named the three candidates for the Kaoma Council Chairperson by-election as Maseka Chuula for United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ), Muneku Austin, for the United Party for National Development (UPND) and Ngombo Ngebe of the Patriotic Front (PF).

And Ms Chimanse disclosed that two candidates were also validly nominated to contest the Simutemba ward in Mwinilunga district in the North-Western Province.

These are Kanyimbo Mutende, contesting on the UPND ticket while Kasungulu Harry will stand on the PF ticket.

She further noted that Kaambeu Musole and Kalwilji Mervis for the PF and UNPD respectively, are contesting the ChiKonkwelo ward by election in Kabompo.

This is according to a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday by ECZ Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse.

By Charles Mwewa

He is one of the youngest and privileged Prime Ministers. He is the Prime Minister of Canada. Eighteen years ago, he did something that can only be labelled, “racist.” He has apologized. Meanwhile, the photos and a video where he is clad and painted in “Black/Brown” and wearing an Islamic religious symbol, silhouetted among beautiful women, mostly White, have gone viral, both local and worldwide.

Is Trudeau really that bad a person? Is he a moniker of the prevalent White privilege? Is he truly sorry or he is simply pandering to political fallout? Will it cost him the Prime Minister’s office? Will he recover, and still clinch the October election and emerge a winner?

Trudeau was raised wealthy, White, and privileged. Trudeau is the son of one of Canada’s decorated Prime Ministers, Pierre Trudeau, who patriated the Constitution from the British Parliament in 1982 and gave to Canada the most coveted Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Trudeau rose to power, chiefly, riding on his father’s fame. Without his father and the name, he carries, Trudeau would not have arisen, in all reasonableness, to the throne of Canada, probably.

However, we should not be blinded by the unpalatable commentaries that have blanketed the Internet. Trudeau is a decent human being – and he has also evolved, contrary to expectation, into a very good Prime Minister. He has done one thing that every politician should learn: He has publicly, and contritely apologized. I believe that his apology is sincere.

Those who are rushing to indict Trudeau and wish his political career ends here, should be educated of the history of racism. Racism was not just a personality trait; racism was a politically-correct ideology. It built nations, created enormous wealth for most, and was seen as norm in the old days. The more racism one was, the more privileged and accepted they were. Racism built the “White” House. Racism conquered distant and colonial territories. Victims of racism, mostly Blacks, were not seen as humans; they were things, properties to be owned and free labour to be manipulated. Even the Great Canadian, John MacDonald, was a seasoned racist. And yet, and ironically, it was because he was racist that he probably became a successful Prime Minister. The mentality of that ancient society was born, nurtured and fashioned in a racist eon.

I should submit, nevertheless, that the story of Trudeau does not even come close to a moment of “We catch him.” At the time, eighteen years ago, it was probably even socially expedient so to do. Society now has changed. Blacks and most visible minorities have increased acquired rights and freedoms they were denied. The “Me Too” movements has continued where the Rights Movement left. There is now more awareness of the inviolable and inherency of the equality of all races. And most people would find it repugnant to even contemplate racist – honestly speaking, it isn’t profitable or funny any longer.

Trudeau has demonstrated, in his tenure as Prime Minister, that he is above that childish schemer he was eighteen years ago. Admittedly, he was 29 years old and a teacher (and so, he should have known better), but he was also a victim of a society that celebrated privilege and Whiteness. He was, in that sense, a victim of his own social milieu.

What we all need to do is to reflect – most of the mentality that informed the 1980s and early 2000s are now obsolete. Trudeau is embarrassed, he would not have, had it not been due to the progress that has been made in the race relationships across the globe. We are all sinners, we may not be racists, but we may be liars or worse. We need to remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.” Indeed, we should not encourage behaviours and actions that disparage others or belittle or downgrade the minorities, but we should not be hypocrites, either. We may be pointing our single finger on Trudeau but the four fingers may be casting a spell on our own secret deeds. This even or discovery should not cost Trudeau the office – the voters should vote their consciousness.

Trudeau is a good leader – because he has a sense of repentance, even for the deeds that happened years before. Bad leaders think they are always right, even when they do despicable acts in secret. Good leaders own their mistakes and change. Bad leaders condemn others while they themselves are simply white-washed tombs!

Zambia’s President Edgard Lungu has visited Simukombo and Simoonga villages in Kazungula District of Southern Province both areas hard hit by drought.

According to a statement released to the media by by his special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe, the President received praise from the people of Simukombo Village in Kazungula District, for being the first Head of State to visit the area.

Last week, President Lungu themed his speech around climate change when he opened Parliament and today visited two areas affected by the adverse climatic conditions.

Boswell Mutafela Sianga, Headman of Simukombo was delighted to meet the President.

“We are not going to die, President Lungu is here,” Mr Sianga said amid ululation from hundreds of people who had come to receive relief food from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).

The food has been donated by cooperating partners through the DMMU which falls under the Office of the Vice-President.

The Headman said water is scarce in the area and apart from people, animals have also been left with no water.

President Lungu assured that no one will die from hunger because Government will provide food.

The President said officers are on the ground and will continue assessing the situation.

“I can assure you, we will not abandon you. We shall continue bringing food until the situation normalises,” the President said.

The President later handed some bags of maize from a truck and trailer to the residents.

The President later visited Simoonga where Headman Makwaza said Government needs to provide seed and fertiliser.

The President promised the residents inputs.

“It is our responsibility to support you,” the President said and told the residents that the food was not for sale.
Later, the President participated in the hand over of food to the residents.

Students are concerned with failure by opposition parties to provide an alternative form of governance in Zambia, says Zambia National Students Unions (ZANASU).

In an interview today, ZANASU President Misheck Kakonde says it was saddening that National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party leader, Chishimba Kambwili, has focused his politics on slandering others, spreading hate and falsehood as opposed to good politics where leaders must engage into real-based issues.

“For instance, instead of constantly condemning things he was once part to such as debt contraction by the PF administration, we as students would like to hear the alternatives that his party offers, the NDC manifesto on things such as the provision of quality education, healthcare, etc. It appears we all don’t know what Mr. Kambwili stands for on these matters since he has concentrated his politics on spreading bitterness against the administration than giving the alternative policy direction,” said Mr. Kakonde.

Mr. Kakonde questioned about activities Mr. Kambwili can could not which he couldn’t do until at a time he was expelled from the ruling party.

“Mr. Kambwili is himself not holier than those he is accusing because if he was and no one would accuse him as he does to people, he wouldn’t have been in court himself for a number of cases. The same allegations he makes are also being made against those who have dragged Kambwili to court,” Says Kakonde.

Meanwhile, the ZANASU leader has taken a swipe at United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema, for declaring hunger situation in Zambia as a national disaster.

“We also want to advise Mr. Hakainde Hichilema that while we commend his past politics based on issues, we are saddened to note that he would go out of his way to make a pronouncement of hunger as a national disaster. How can hunger be a national disaster when the shelves in all stores still have mealie meal, though expensive for an ordinary man?” he asked. 

Mr. Kakonde said Mr. Hichilema’s declaration of hunger as a national disaster is mere political rhetorical and a source of anarchy and said the man who seeks to lead this country should not be this desperate for political power that he would start doing things without following laid down procedures and laws.

“Our observation is that we have enough food in the country but the Government must find a way of ensuring that they find means to reducing the costs of mealie meal and other essential goods for citizens to afford,” he said. 

Mr. Kakonde said the current hunger situation obtaining in selected parts of the country such as Southern Province are a result of adverse effects of climate change which has affected our water levels

Mr. Kakonde has meanwhile advised Government to only contract new loans for things which are very essential and not avoidable expenditure. 

Deputy Parliamentary Chief Whip Tutwa Ngulube has warned UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema that he risks going back to jail if he continues misleading Zambians on various issues affecting the nation.

Mr Ngulube says the declaration of hunger a national disaster by Mr Hichilema was unlawful because he does not hold any public office in the country.

He said when he appeared on the Hot Seat Programme on Hot FM that Mr Hichilema’s lawyers must start advising him as he risks committing treason if he continues on the path he has taken.

Mr Ngulube said the declaration of a national disaster is a preserve of the Republican President and not an ordinary citizen like Mr Hichilema who is just an opposition Leader.

“He risks going back to Mukobeko where he spent months if he does not change his ways, why has he chosen to ignore authorities in his quest donate stuff. This will land him in problems”, he said.

And on the mealie meal donated to Bauleni by Mr Hichilema, Mr Ngulube challenged the opposition leader to take the food to Southern province where people do not have food.

He said there is no farmer in Bauleni who did not harvest anything in the 2018/2019 farming season because of climate change for him to donate the food.

Mr Ngulube accused the opposition Leader of politicking over the food shortages which have affected Zambians in various parts of the country.

“Let him take the food to people who voted for him and are keeping him in the opposition. Leave the Bauleni people alone”, Mr Ngulube said.

The United Nations has expressed solidarity with the people of Zambia following a sharp rise in food insecurity in the country due to drought during the 2018/2019 farming season.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis, undertaken by the Government of Zambia, about 18 percent of the rural population in the country translating into 1.72 million people is already in Phase 3 and Phase 4 levels of food insecurity between May and September 2019.

United Nations Resident Coordinator for Zambia, Dr. Coumba Mar Gadio says the figure is expected to grow during the lean season October 2019 to March 2020 to 2.3 million people in the country.

Dr Gadio said prolonged dry spells affected Southern and Western provinces, as well as parts of Lusaka, Eastern and Central provinces between January and March 2019, while flash floods, water logging and leaching have affected the northern and some part of Eastern province.

He said in the most-affected districts, this is the second consecutive season where prolonged dry spells are affecting households that already had limited cereal stocks before these latest shocks.

Dr Gadio said most of these households rely entirely on crop production for food and income and the combination of dry spells and flooding has also increased the risk of malnutrition, communicable diseases and protection concerns for the most vulnerable.

He said the prevalence rate of stunting is 35 percent in Zambia, and nearly 12 percent of children under age 5 are underweight.

“The United Nations stands with the people of Zambia in these difficult times,” said Dr. Gadio adding that the UN is committed to working closely with the Government and Cooperating Partners to support the delivery of assistance to people in urgent need as the lean season approaches.”