The opposition Socialist Party has insisted that President Hakainde Hichilema is a puppet of the western countries.

Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe recently accused President Hichilema of being a puppet of the west.

Dr. M’membe’s accusations against the Head of State were criticised by United Party for National Development (UPND) deputy National Chairman Andrew Banda.

Mr. Banda, the eldest son of the late former President Rupiah Bwezani Banda, argued that President Hichilema was not a puppet of the west.

He said President Hichilema was a genuine Head of State elected by millions of Zambians.

The Socialist Party (S.P) has, however, issued a follow up statement insisting that allowing AFRICOM base called ‘office’ in Zambia would constitute not only an unacceptable violation of the country’s sovereignty.

SP Copperbelt Provincial Spokesperson Joseph Kangwa said Mr. Banda is defending President Hichilema because he is seeking a job from the New Dawn government.

“Calling President Hakainde Hichilema a puppet of the west is not disrespecting the people who voted for him as opposed to United Party for National Development (UPND) deputy national chairperson, Mr Andrew Banda’s sentimental statement published on 02 June, 2022 in the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper. Contrary to Mr Banda’s view, Dr Fred M’membe has no history of disparaging Zambian presidents; he just calls a spade a spade. You do not need to be in the opposition party to know that President Hichilema is a puppet of the west, but we understand Mr Banda’s predicament as he may have also been a puppet of the late Presidents during his service in the foreign mission under the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). Being part of the privatization of the Zambian Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) in 1997 which resulted in millions of Zambian people losing their jobs, and triggered the periods of intense economic turmoil that engulfed the Copperbelt and Zambia from 1997 hitherto, and allowing the American government to open its U.S. Africa Command in Zambia is evident enough to tell that Mr Hakainde Hichilema is indeed a petty bourgeoisie and a puppet of the west. However, It can only take a genuine leader to see that, not a simpleton person,” Mr. Kangwa said.

He said President Hichilema is driving the agenda of the capitalists at the expense of the majority suffering Zambians thereby putting the country’s sovereignty at great risk.

“That said, it is imperative to answer some of Mr Banda’s questions. “If HH is a puppet, then who is a leader, is Fred himself a leader?” He asked. In simple terms; a leader is a servant of a group of people having authority to lead or direct and do what is best for them and the country. A puppet is a person controlled by another. In this case, President HH is the puppet of the West in the sense that he is driving the agenda of the capitalists at the expense of the majority suffering Zambians thereby putting our sovereignty at great risk.On the contrary, Comrade M’membe is the living legendary of Zambia. He is a beacon of democracy and free press we are enjoying today. Dr M’membe played a key role in the revolution of one party state to multiparty democracy. Since then He has always been in the forefront in the transformation from one government to another,” Mr. Kangwa said.

He continued:”Mr Banda and UPND should know that allowing AFRICOM base called ‘office’ in Zambia would constitute not only an unacceptable violation of our country’s sovereignty, but the whole Africa. It would be an insult of the highest degree to the devoted men and women who sacrificed to death until they brought independence to Zambia. Mr Banda and his superior should ask themselves a question as to why president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, his father the late president Rupiah Bwezani Banda, the late president Michael Chilufya Sata and Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu refused that request. And why the former South African president Thabo Mbeki mobilised the African leaders by that time to oppose the move.”

Mr. Kangwa said President Hichilema should always protect and defend Zambia and it’s sovereignty.

“If President Hichilema is a puppet, why did Zambians vote for him?” Mr Banda questioned. Well, the truth is that Mr HH is the first and most unpopular person to have been elected as President in our history. Approximately 50 per cent of the 2.8 million people UPND have been bragging about voted for HH out of frustration as people got fed up with the Patriotic Front(PF) government and because HH was the only one close. Others voted for him out of sympathy of him losing five times. Otherwise, he was never a choice of all those 2.8 voters. That is probably the reason Mr Banda admitted that some people still cannot believe that HH is the Republican President and it is clear that Mr Banda is among those people even though he intentionally could not admit it.

“The advice of the Socialist Party under the able and competent leadership of Dr Fred M’membe who has lived his whole life defending our country’s democracy and its sovereignty is that the UPND should respect the Zambian people who entrusted their whole future to lead them, not to death but to freedom and abundant life. And President HH should always remember that he had sworn to protect and defend at all cost the Zambian Constitution and sovereignty of our country as such, we do not expect him to do the opposite. The people have the power,” Mr. Kangwa concluded.

The Chinsali Magistrate’s court in Muchinga Province has set free former Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and his five co accused persons while a prima facie has been established on his sibling Andrew Kampyongo.

And the Shiwang’ndu law maker Stephen Kampyongo praised the judiciary through the subordinate court for dispensing the matter in a professional manner.

This is in a matter in which Mr Kampyongo and six others are jointly charged with one count of endangering the safety of an aircraft contrary to section 8 of the civil Aviation Act number 445 of the laws of Zambia.

In making his ruling, Chinsali magistrate court Principal Resident Magistrate Julius Malata said the State failed to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the accused are guilty of the offense leveled against them.

Magistrate Malama said it is the duty of the prosecution to provide sufficient evidence that implicates the six accused as perpetuators.

He added that the state only managed to produce evidence which implicates Andrew Kampyongo who is said to have been the driver of the Land Cruiser vehicle that was used to commit the alleged offence.

“The evidence produced by the State is only harked on the Land Cruiser therefore, does not implicate the other five accused persons,” said Magistrate Malata.

He said visitation of the crime scene after six years of the incidence by the arresting officer Peter Mundenda who was 12th state witness and failure to bring to court their key witness ( unnamed ) who is a pilot of the aircraft involved, made the state to produce insufficient evidence.

Magistrate Malata said due to insufficient evidence by the stat, the court has set free Mr Kampyongo and five other accused persons.

Speaking soon after he was set, the Shiwang’ndu law maker Stephen Kampyongo praised the judiciary through the subordinate court for dispensing the matter in a professional manner.

Mr Kampyongo said he is elated that the matter has been put to rest which gives him more time to work in his constituency.

” The matter was depriving people my constituency of many services under my responsibilities ,now that it’s over, it’s time to work and continue offering checks and balances to the ruling party,” Mr Kampyongo.

Mr Kampyongo has described the judiciary process involving his case as interesting.

He has since advised the current Inspector General of police to ensure that officers under his charge conduct themselves in a professional manner not influenced by politicians.

And the defense team George Chisanga and Leon Limba have expressed delight with the outcome of the case.

ZANIS reports that in an interview after the ruling, Defence counsel Chisanga said although Andrew Kampyongo has been put on defense after the Court established a prima facie against him, the defense is confident of a positive outcome.

Counsel Chisanga said five witnesses will be called to the witness stand in favour of the defence.

“We are happy as defense team as we are ready to commence the defense of our client who has been found with a case to answer, ” said Counsel Chisanga.

And Magistrate Malata has since set 7 July, 2022 for defence in the case of Andrew Kampyongo.

ZESCO Limited has picked and awarded Zimbabwean and South African companies to supply and deliver 9 and 12 metre wooden poles.

About USD107million was set aside to purchase wooden poles to dismantle over 67,000 outstanding connections.

At its procurement committee meeting held on 2nd June, 2022, ZESCO picked as the best evaluated bidders;

1. ZAR 66,306,175.00 Timber Quality Timbers of 16 Impala Street, Industrial Tzaneen, Limpopo Province.

2. USD 2,824,145.00 Capital Timber Ltd, Standard Number 5986, Nyakameta Industrial Site, Mutare, Zimbabwe

3. ZAR37,249,400.00 – R & B Timbers ( Pty), Main Bizana Road,, Harding KwaZulu-Natal Natal Province, South Africa

4. USD 1,298,172.00 Hotspeck Enterprises (Pty)limited, Stand 6020, Nyakamete Industrial Limited, Mutare, Zimbabwe.

5. USD 1,129,715.00 -Border Timber Limited, 1 Aberdeen Road, Nyakamete Industrial Site, Mutare, Zimbabwe

6. USD1, 169,690.0 Vuka Timber (PTY) Limited, No.1. Main Road, P.O BOX 45,Commondale 2385, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Peter Kapala says the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) has cleared ZESCO over its decision to procure wooden poles from Zimbabwean and South African companies.

Mr. Kapala says the use of Limited Bidding procurement method by ZESCO to acquire the treated wooden poles was within the law.

He explained that ZESCO relied on Section 42(2) of the Public Procurement Act No. 8. of 2020, which states that, when there is an urgent need for the goods, works or services and engaging open bidding would be impractical, limited bidding procurement method would be used.

And the Energy Minister has disclosed that local suppliers, like ZAFFICO still have running contracts to supply ZESCO with poles provided they have the capacity, their poles will be absorbed by ZESCO promptly and paid for.

He further notes that the local Zambian manufacturers of poles did not need to join the issued tender as their supplies were already being bought and the tender was meant to bring in additional poles.

“At the height of debates about the procurement of poles by ZESCO for its connection programme, an impression was made that Zambian businesses were being ignored and the priority was to get poles from outside the country. What was not being truthfully said was that local suppliers, like ZAFFICO, had (and still have) running contracts with ZESCO and as long as they had the capacity, their poles would be absorbed by ZESCO promptly and paid for.,”

Mr. Kapala said the local Zambian manufacturers of poles did not need to join the issued tender as their supplies were already being bought and the tender was meant to bring in additional poles.

“When ZESCO issued the tender, it needed about 150,000 poles to clear all connections that are pending but it only issued a tender of 40,000 poles to be sourced from Zimbabwe and South Africa. This meant that the remaining 110,000 could be filled by Zambian entities where these existed and had the requisite capacity or even other foreign entities depending on capacity and timing and also cost. The plan is to have the least cost in buying the poles by cutting off middlemen and getting the poles from from producers.”

“Our first quarter commitment and plans to ensure all 67,000 pending connections to ZESCO are cleared by the end of this year (by 31st December 2022) and to have universal access (100% coverage) to electricity for our people by 2030 is unwavering. Dismantling of this backlog of connection applications is ongoing and am happy to say we are getting there. More than 7,000 connections have already been done through standard connections and the remaining ones are construction connections that need poles and/or transformers and other materials. A number of construction connections have also been done.”

He said, “Additionally, while the talk was that ZESCO was not acquiring ZAFFICO poles, ZESCO and ZAFFICO had meetings to discuss the supply of poles. The exchange of ideas occurred at board level with ZESCO Board Chair Mr Vickson Ncube meeting his counterpart at ZAFFICO in the company of ZESCO MD Eng. Victor Mapani and other members of ZESCO senior management.”

“It was therefore not surprising that, last month (in May 2022), the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) cleared ZESCO over its decision to procure wooden poles from Zimbabwean and South African companies, stating that the use of Limited Bidding procurement method by ZESCO to acquire the treated wooden poles was within the law. ZPPA Director General Idah Chulu said that ZESCO relied on Section 42(2) of the Public Procurement Act No. 8. Of 2020, which states that, when there is an urgent need for the goods, works or services and engaging open bidding would be impractical, limited bidding procurement method would be used,” Mr Kapala said.

“In the energy sector, we insist that Zambian companies come first in procurement. However, this will not be done for political expediency. Parastatals will not be abused by politics like before. Strategic objectives of institutions will be respected so they deliver for our people. Our people deserve better and someone has to care. And we care.”

Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali has announced that Zambia Airways will commence international flights to Johannesburg, South Africa on 1st July, 2022.

Speaking at the launch of a central ticketing office at East Park Mall, Mr Tayali says the maiden flight to South Africa in the first week of July converges with the upcoming holidays of Heroes and Unity days.

Mr Tayali says as the national flag carrier commences flights to South Africa, government looks forward to strengthening ties between the two countries through Zambia Airways.

“It is my pleasure to announce that Zambia Airways will start flights to Johannesburg on 1st July 2022. This maiden flight to South Africa in the first week of July coincides with the upcoming holidays of the Heroes and Unity Days. Indeed, this is the time for New Dawns, new horizons and new developments in Zambia,” he said.

The Minister added that the launch of the airline’s central ticketing office marked another milestone in the journey of the growth of the national carrier, and was a promise of a better experience for customers as they interact with the airline.

He said Zambia Airways had already scored successes, including being the first national airline in Africa to ensure cabin safety using high-technology Ultraviolet-C disinfection robots.

And Mr Tayali says the Ministry is in the process of developing the aviation sector strategic plan whose ultimate goal will be to develop capacity, air traffic, economic development and stakeholder collaboration which is also expected to impact all sector players.

Meanwhile, Zambia Airways Chief Executive Officer Abiy Astrat Jiru says the airline’s revenue has tripled over the last 100 days of operation with about K1 million added monthly.

Mr Jiru says new and bigger aircrafts are expected into the country for Zambia Airways as talks with manufacturers are already underway.