President Hakainde Hichilema has challenged Zambians to invest in knowledge of the sort of business they are involved in if they are to prosper in their undertakings.

The President has noted that a good understanding of the nature of business one is involved in is important in order to achieve positive business outcomes.

He was speaking in Lubombo area of Mazabuka district at the burial of a prominent commercial farmer, Mara Coventry, who died on 26th April 2022 at the age of 97.

President Hichilema has described the late Mrs. Coventry as a successful commercial farmer who took cattle ranching as a serious business venture.

The Head of state also paid tribute to the late Mrs. Coventry for transferring her business skills to her children and grandchildren.

And Nick Parsons, who remembers Mrs. Coventry as a selfless person, has thanked the Head of State for taking time off his busy schedule to travel to Mazabuka to mourn with the Coventry family.

The burial for the late Mrs. Coventry, wife to the late first Mayor of Mazabuka, Bevis Coventry, was attended by among others, Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa, Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Gary Nkombo, senior government officials, business community and a horde of commercial farmers from with Mazabuka and beyond.

Media players have expressed enthusiasm ahead of the Media Indaba that is expected to be graced by President Hakainde Hichilema tomorrow May 4, 2022, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

Media Network and Child Rights Development Executive Director, Henry Kabwe, said he is expecting the President to provide a clear timeline concerning the enactment of the Zambia Media Council Bill and Information Bill.

Mr. Kabwe explained that it was long overdue for the media to be given access to information.

He noted that the Information Bill was supposed to be passed even before increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) so that people are able to monitor the use of funds.

Mr. Kabwe is happy that President Hichilema has shown commitment towards the media fraternity.

“The President has said very progressive things about these issues and we hope that he will stand by his word as promised because we have listened to so many speeches by Ministers and Presidents in the past but nothing has been achieved,” Mr. Kabwe said.

Meanwhile, Media Liaison Committee Chairperson, Enock Ngoma, said the Indaba will be an opportunity for the media industry to present issues affecting media personnel to the President.

Mr. Ngoma disclosed that media bodies have been engaged in lobbying for a good working environment.

He observed that no progress has been made concerning the bills, which he said was one of the important issues requiring to be addressed.

“We have organised a stakeholder’s media conference with President Hichilema where we as the media are going to give the President all the challenges that the fraternity is facing,” Mr. Ngoma noted.

And a Journalist, Nkombo Kachemba, said the media will be given an opportunity to have an interface with the President.

Ms. Kachemba has since called on the media representatives that will attend the indaba to use the opportunity to highlight the challenges faced in the industry.

She is hopeful that issues such as poor working conditions, low salaries and poor working environment will be aired out so that solutions can be found.

Former Finance Minister and veteran politician Hon Alexander Chikwanda has died. Chikwanda died after being ill, a family source has confirmed.

In February President Hakainde Hichilema visited the former Minister of Finance at a private hospital in Lusaka after reports suggested that the 83 years old business veteran has suffered a stroke.

Mr Chikwanda was born on 24 December 1938 and has served as a member of the National Assembly during the 1960s under the liberation United Party for National Independence (UNIP), where he rose to the post of Finance Minister and again in the 2010s, as Minister of Finance from October 2011 to September 2016, under the former ruling Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr Chikwanda studied economics at Lund University in Sweden and in the 1964 general elections he was elected to the Legislative Council in the Kitwe North constituency, but later gave up his seat so that it could be contested by Andrew Mutemba. He returned to the National Assembly as MP for Kalulushi in the 1973 elections.

In 2011 became a member of the National Assembly again after being nominated by President Michael Sata, who was traditionally regarded as his nephew.

PF Presidential hopeful Bizwell Mutale says the former ruling party can never be rebranded not even to be resuscitated for another breath in a Zambian Political lifetime.

Mr. Mutale says the new recycled non-performing Member of Central Committee appointed Party Acting President Given Lubinda is a final nail in the coffin.

He said the agenda of making sure that the Patriotic Front is dissolved and deregistered as an active political party in Zambia, has now come to light.

Mr. Mutale who is also PF mobilisation Committee Member said the grassroot members have stopped existing in the minds of the Central Committee as they are being ignored, a repeat of the candidate adoption mistake by the party in 2021.

He said that he is very concerned with the cartel working culture in the Patriotic Front, a signal that the former ruling party is completely gone and there is no return in any form.

Mr. Mutale said the Patriotic Front Party under the leadership style of Given Lubinda is dead and its time to pack the bags and stop dreaming of 2026.

He said the new cartel headed by Mr. Lubinda has risen to divide the PF deeper, shut the doors and send the party to its knees adding that the non-performing team of so-called Member of Central Committee is a new final team of PF Oblivion.

Below is a full statement

PATRIOTIC FRONT PARTY ACTING PRESIDENT HON. GIVEN LUBINDA HAS PUT A FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN-PF REST IN PEACE

By BIZWELL MUTALE-NATIONAL MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE MEMBER:

I have followed the unfolding events of Patriotic Front-Members of Central Committee with serious concerns and interest, the culture of working relationship between the Members of Central Committee and the Patriotic Front Members and their Party Structures has completely been driven apart and ignored.

The leadership of Hon Given Lubinda, the Acting Deputy President of Patriotic Front Party who forced the Patriotic Front Party President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu then, to sign a letter of his appointment as the Acting Deputy President of Patriotic Front without a Central Committee Consultation and approval of his appointment Party Structures.

Patriotic Front Party was Seriously Humiliated in 2021 General Election to the UPND Party that formed the new Government now and it recorded first ever unexpected loss as a sitting Government in Power, the People Spoke widely to reject Patriotic Front Party Government, under his watch Hon Given Lubinda who was then, sitting as the Member of Central Committee and National Executive Committee the Highest making decisions body for the entire PF Party, failed to accept the failure of the entire MCC and he chose to be a leader now proven to be a disastrous leader and continued to drive the Party in non-rebrand mood.

The Current Central Committee has been rejected and asked to step down to allow the Party Rebranding and gain the confidence of the PF members and Members of the Public. The most unacceptable behaviour that brought Patriotic Front Party to Lose Election and booted out of the office, it has continued, now under the watchful eye of Hon Given Lubinda whose agenda is to destroy and send Patriotic Front into Oblivion.

Patriotic Front Party has just completed itself, to confirm to the Patriotic Front Members and the Members of the Public that, it can never be Rebranded not even to be resuscitated for another breath in a Zambian Political lifetime what a send-off.

The new recycled non-performing Member of Central Committee appointed by Patriotic Front Party Acting President Hon Given Lubinda, it’s a final nail in the coffin, Patriotic Front Rest in Peace.

The agenda of making sure that Patriotic Front Party is dissolved and deregistered as an active political party in Zambia, has now come to light and the master minder has continued to cartel very successful and the feelings of the Members, that has believed in this Party have been ignored. The grassroot members at this point they don’t exist completely ignored. This is a repeat of the Candidate adoption mistake made it was not a mistake it’s a planned move
I’am very concerned with this issue of working in a cartel group style, circle systems has continued and it’s a big signal to confirm that Patriotic Front has completely Gone its over, there is no Return back in any form by any means the dream ends here and now.

I want to assist the Acting Deputy President Hon Given Lubinda to confirm that Patriotic Front Party under his leadership style its time to Pack the Bags and stop dreaming for 2026. It will not be rebranded and revitalised in any form; the Party has a lot of members that can turn this Party Around 100% but the Cartel of Destruction the same Cartel that Operated towards the General Election has continued. Segregation, tribalism, greed, infighting, selfish, betrayal and regional cartel.

There is nothing that has changed or that will change looking at the current situation in the Patriotic Front Party, we are sinking, too many lies and fake Pretences in PF Political stance, its over and will not return or exist ever again, into a real-life PF it’s time to accept the reality and turn the new Chapter, process it and move on game over.
The existence of PF was living in denial, and it has continued to do so, due to the cartel that thinks, it can take the will of the Patriotic Front Member and the member of The Zambian Public for Granted. There are still some people who have continued to relate themselves that, we came with H.E. President Michael Chilufya Sata MHSRIP, making themselves to be more relevant than the others, even feel better than the Family of the Party Founding Father.

This kind of PF Politics is over, PF need to focus on the realistic, some were PF Members to work and build the Party around the Country, while some were members of PF just Fattening their stomachs at the expense of the deserving members of the PF, talking rubbish and blackmailing people whom they don’t even know about and cheating the President while embezzling funds from him with false Pretence.
There are many reasons this PF Party has got to this stage and it’s no longer rumours’ its factual. There was an internal backstabbing and tribal alignment, friends Pocket alignment in terms of operations resources and Presidential appointments, this was highly controlled by the internal tribal cartel, the President did not have much Power, this one and that one we are not together (ABA TATULIBONSE), now the same cartel today in cooking oil and water, the new Cartel headed by Hon Given Lubinda has risen to divide the PF deeper and shut the doors and send the Party to its knees good bye.

Patriotic Front Youth and women were used only when needed and no support, and not even allowed to meet or be greeted by the President. The Cartel will surround the President when on the tour like he is an egg, there were few Police Security near The President and more Cartels became the Security of The President, these are high ranking Ministers, Member of Parliament, State House Staff that were members of the Cartel headed by The Secretary General Hon Davis Mwila then.

This incapacitated the President to get to meet the Local Police officials, Government officials, PF Party Official at Provincial level, District and Constituencies officials, I was meeting these people and they briefed me their concerns and I gave it to the President. This was not a standard operation it was cartel operation, now it’s a check mate new cartel Hon Given Lubinda is running the new error of finishing what was left of PF.

The non-performing team of so-called Member of Central Committee; it’s a new final team of PF Oblivion send-off.

Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma has said that Zambia has no intention of establishing or housing any military bases on her soil through the USA African Command (AFRICOM).

Mr Lufuma said that contrary to assertions, the office being created is one for Security Cooperation which will be based at the US Embassy in Lusaka.

Mr Lufuma said that the office will work with the Zambian defence force to enhance military to military relations, expand areas of cooperation in-force management and modernisation, as well as military professionalism among other things.

Mr. Lufuma has further clarified that the US-Africa command -AFRICOM being referred to on social media platforms is based in Germany and the Government under the UPND Alliance has not at any given time agreed to move it to Zambia.

In a statement last evening, the Minister warned all perpetrators of such misinformation on social media meant to tarnish Zambia’s existing cordial relationship with neighbouring countries and strategic partners, to desist or face the wrath of the law as such hinges on the security and territorial integrity of the nation.

Mr. Lufuma has also advised Zambian Media to avoid issuing false statements on Defence and Security matters without consulting the Ministry of Defence.

In the recent past, social media has been awash with varying information with respect to the establishment of the United States Security Cooperation office by the government of the United States of America in Zambia.

Below is the full statement from the Minister of Defence

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE, HON. AMBROSE LWIJI LUFUMA, MP ON THE ALLEGED ESTABLISHMENT OF THE US MILITARY BASE IN ZAMBIA

IT HAS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE THAT, THERE IS VARYING INFORMATION CIRCULATING ON VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WITH RESPECT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITY COOPERATION OFFICE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN ZAMBIA.

CONTRARY TO THE MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION, THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING USA BASES IN ZAMBIA THROUGH USA AFRICAN COMMAND (AFRICOM) WHICH IS AIMED AT ENDANGERING LIVES OF ZAMBIANS AND THREATENING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT THE OFFICE BEING CREATED IS AN OFFICE OF SECURITY COOPERATION WHICH WILL BE BASED AT
THE USA EMBASSY IN LUSAKA.

THIS OFFICE WILL WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE ZAMBIAN DEFENCE FORCES TO ENHANCE MILITARY TO MILITARY RELATIONS, EXPAND AREAS OF COOPERATION IN FORCE MANAGEMENT AND MODENISATION, AS WELL AS MILITARY PROFESSIONALISM, AMONG OTHER THINGS. ZAMBIA LIKE MANY OTHER COUNTRIES WITHIN THE REGION AND BEYOND, HAS HAD MILITARY COOPERATION WITH NOT ONLY THE USA, BUT OTHER COOPERATING PARTNERS ACROSS THE GLOBE.

THE US-AFRICA COMMAND (AFRICOM) BEING REFERRED TO ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IS BASED IN GERMANY AND THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOT AT ANY GIVEN TIME AGREED TO MOVE IT TO ZAMBIA.

WE HAVE HAD A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH US-AFRICOM IN THE AREAS OF PEACEKEEPING THAT HAS PREDATED THIS ADMINISTRATION AND HAS BENEFITED OUR MILITARY. ZAMBIA HAS NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER OF ESTABLISHING OR HOSTING ANY MILITARY BASES ON ZAMBIAN SOIL.

THEREFORE, THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WARN ALL PERPETRATORS OF SUCH MISINFORMATION MEANT TO TARNISH OUR EXISTING CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS, TO DESIST FROM ISSUING ALARMING STATEMENTS WHICH
HINGE ON THE SECURITY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF OUR NATION. ANYONE WHO WILL BE FOUND WANTING AND SPREADING FALSEHOODS WILL BE DEALT WITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY.

THE ZAMBIAN MEDIA IS EQUALLY ADVISED TO AVOID ISSUING FALSE STATEMENTS ON DEFENCE AND SECURITY MATTERS WITHOUT CONSULTING THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. THE MEDIA IS FREE TO SEEK CLARIFICATION ON SUCH MATTERS FROM THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, BEFORE ENGAGING THE PUBLIC.

HON. AMBROSE LWIJI LUFUMA, MP
MINISTER OF DEFENCE.