Zambia: UPND – Press Statement – Sesheke has Demonstrated that Votes Can Defeat Bullets and Pangas (15.02.2019)

A huge fire is started by a small spark and the people of Sesheke are heroes and pace setters in liberating this Country from the jaws of poverty and corruption. Votes have defeated machine guns and pangas. The wise leave the stage when at least a few fools are able to clap for them. Never leave the stage when it’s too late for even fools to clap for you. Do you expect farmers that you haven’t given fertilizer to clap for you? Call for early elections, KK did that in the interest of the Country.

It’s clear that when people are stretched to the limit they do not only lose respect for you but become fearless too. The just ended by election in Sesheke should be an eye opener for PF to accept that people have had enough of nonsense and no amount of intimidation will stop them from liberating themselves. Sesheke today is the most famous town in Zambia.

The way PF has been conducting itself any wise leader should have foreseen that one day the will of the people will defeat the guns. People who liberated this Country did so with only stones against the blazing guns of the colonialist. When we say that people are not happy with the way you have looted this Country you don’t listen until you met the people of Sesheke with a clear message that enough is enough. God bless the people of Sesheke.

A similar thing almost happened in Ndola when you attempted to arrest HH. And if you continue being so careless you may just start something that will be too big for you to handle. The problem is that you are cheated by people eating with you the proceeds of crime and you conclude that Zambians are happy with your corrupt leadership. I have never seen a stubborn leadership like the one in PF. Yes, you have been weaving a web of deceit and very soon you will be caught in it.

Ba PF you know too well that you cannot win an election without violence and confusion and yet you want to dare people in 2021. As you continue covering your corruption you will just be committing more and more atrocities against the Zambian people, but very soon you will be answerable for your crimes against the Zambians. NALI KWEBELE TABULAPO.

We have said it before that the ending for any dictator is disastrous, and yours is not different. The dialogue and the Church that you are despising now, you will embrace it once in prison. Stop cheating yourselves that Zambians are very docile, all what Zambians do is to give you enough rope to hang yourself. The day will come when you will be saying to yourself that you wish you listened.

Percy Chanda.

UPND – Chairman for Mines and Freedom Fighter.

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The Cult of Patriotic Front: The Saga of Harry Kalaba!

Certainly, the recent days haven’t been good for the Zambian President Edgar Lungu, whose on the ride for his third term in power in the Republic. As he has had issues within the Republic. Within his own party.

This being Harry Kalaba MP, who has been expelled from the Patriotic Front (PF) on the 27^th January 2019. Therefore, the PF has gone nuts, as Kalaba has resigned as MP from his constituency. This was done the 29^th January as he would not challenge the expulsion from the ruling regime.

We know this is hurting the PF, as all MPs who are joining the party of Kalaba are called cockroaches and lack vision in life. That is what even written about them as the news was passed in the end of January 2019.

We know that this is hurting the Chief Strategist of PF and founding member Yosi Miti wrote this on the 1^st February 2019: “Harry Kalaba’ s Departure A Good Riddance And It will Help to Expose Treacherous And Political Mercenaries In PF Who have been Working with him in the dark” (…) “Kalaba is just playing to the gallery he doesn’t truly believe in what he is preaching. We dont hate Kalaba as an individual but we hate his treacherous behaviour” (…) “Infact Dean was in his own class.Kalaba is just a good orator and that , no one can subtract from him but equally Nevers Mumba is actually even better than him. So this euphoria we are witnessing now will die a natural death soon as it is just a mere political drama performed to the hungry audience scavenging from the empty bins” (Yosi Miti, 01.02.2019).

When his former party is writing that quickly about him in this way. A man who they had no trouble having in the Cabinet, who served as Foreign Minister between March 2014 until January 2018. As he gotten expelled and resigned as MP, as he plans to stand as Presidential Candidate for the DP.

The Opposition has come in defence of the former high-ranking official within the PF, on the 3^rd February 2019 with this statement: “ We are well aware that the Patriotic Front has woken up some long-forgotten politicians, from their political slumber, with the aim of trying to increase the number of voices that are advocating for a ZCID led dialogue process. The main purpose of these hired political elements is to muddy the waters and bring about confusion regarding this dialogue process, on behalf of the PF, without the PF itself getting its hands dirty” (PRESS STATEMENT – OPPOSITION ALLIANCE RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS BY THE PF ALLIANCE, 03.02.2019).

Clearly, the PF and Lungu are not used to this, that the they are back-stabbing each other and not only aiming at the opposition, whose usually in the way. The PF is really ambusing Kalaba, as the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed on the 4^th February 2019, that they have banned the Democratic Party. Meaning him standing as a Presidential Candidate for an illegal party by the law.

The PF is really showing their disgraceful tactics against a former ally. They cannot handle, therefore, calling him all names and attributed, while also, in the end. PF is also taking his livelihood.

The PF is really just showing merciless tactics and their despotic rule by doing this to Kalaba. If he was a nobody, a former comrade, then hey should know how to run against him. Not silence him. They are just cowards themselves who has to all legal means to stop the opportunity to have anyone of character running against Lungu in 2021, except of Hakainde Hichilema, the leader of United Party for National Development (UPND).

The PF are trying their best to divide and rule. They are using force and expecting Kalaba to just stand down, be bowing his knees and kissing the ring of forgiveness from Lungu. Because, everyone supposed to love ECL. Everyone is supposed to think like ECL and be behind him. Nothing else is to anticipate. In Zambia, everyone are his subjects and his servants. The ones questioning that, are liable for legal threat and trouble.

This sort of defence of the ruling regime and their acts is cult like, they are a self-obsessed tribe, whose seeing themselves as superior. Everyone else is foolish not to follow and trust their hearts, minds and political life in the hands of ECL. Because there is all solutions, they should not sway away from him and his ways. Surely, they are writing praises, songs and myths of ECL. As ECL are the saviour and mortal God, someone who nobody should dismiss or even go up against. He might look like a mere mortal, but he has a godly touch that you only taste if your part of the PF. So, don’t dare challenge that.

That is the game of PF: That is the game of Lungu. That is why they called it treacherous and called them cockroaches, which is really showing their ugly side. Their real side and their lack of protocol, when people differ in opinions and picks different ways in life. Peace.

PS: Kalaba shouldn’t believe if Shepard Bushiri told him, that he had a vision or whatever for him to become President in 2021. That was surely just to sell more anointing oil or get a bigger donation from the big-man. Surely, Harry should have kept his head cool and not gone out with that. As the Prophet is behind bars for fraud, which is not a good look, as the Political is happening.

PS II: The Story of Kalaba is far from over, as long as Lungu’s PF is in power. ECL might thinks this make him look wise and make him look powerful. PF and ECL looks foolish instead and uncertain about their power. When they have to play Kalaba like this. As he plans life outside the ruling regime. That is what this showing. This saga is not OVER. Kalaba will be there and as long as they play these games, his name will even hit international headlines. Just like it has done with their acts against HH. Peace Part II.

President Lungu is making Zambia a Chinese debt-slave!

We can just wonder how and why these Executives, these Presidents are taking these high-risked loans on Infrastructure projects and other vanity institutions, without considering the implications, the cost of interests and the real time cost of the projects as a whole. As they are topping off one more loan with another. Creating a negative spiral and instead of gaining the income through proper taxations or donor aid. They are instead taking higher loans and hoping the future generations can pay it off. This while the Chinese government who borrows are awaiting return on investment and making sure the debt-slave, that they will repay their stocks and bonds, even as needed vital part of infrastructure, even mineral extractions if needed be.

There been warnings on the horizon that the aftermath of these jolly days loans would come to into the atmosphere. Now, that is a reality, as the Republic of Zambia are countering the Chinese and struggling to repay all the borrowed funds. It is really to the next level.

“Africa Confidential noted that although Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe announced that all Chinese projects below 80 per cent completion would be halted, President Edgar Lungu told Chinese nationals that all projects would go ahead as planned. “The Zambian government is supposed to be contributing 15% of its own money to the Chinese-financed projects. Meeting this commitment is testing government finances to the limit and taking precedence over social expenditure. Even though Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe pledged to halt all Chinese-backed projects that were less than 80% complete, on 11 July President Lungu publicly told Chinese officials in Lusaka that there would be ‘no disruption in the ongoing projects’ financed by China,” read the report.“Since President Edgar Lungu came to power, Zambia has signed off on at least US$8 billion in Chinese project finance. Over $5 bn. of this has not been added to the total because Zambia insists the money has not been disbursed, and more large loans are in the pipeline. Yet the finance ministry does not have the capacity, insiders say, to police, let alone stem, all the spending. In some cases, the financial penalties for halting disbursement on projects would outweigh the savings. Donor governments have offered technical assistance to bring the project debt mountain under control but have been rebuffed.”” (Lusaka Times – ‘China to take over ZESCO – Africa Confidential’ 04.09.2018).

When you read this and thinking, why did the President Lungu accept all this loans and didn’t he ensure that the state could arrange to pay it back somehow? Alternatively, did he just issue it without considering the implications, because he saw it as free money? Didn’t Lungu consider the refinancing and the costs of these loans?

Now there is reports that the Chinese will take certain infrastructure away from the Zambian government, as a way of repayment, an airport and even other things. That proves how dire the situation is, as the Chinese did the same in Sri Lanka and now does it Zambia. As it is proven, that if you don’t pay the bill-collector, something will be taken as collateral. That is evident in this case, as the rising debts and the spiral of negative sums are taking its toll. That because the President doesn’t care for the consequences and eats the defaulted debts.

Zungu is using the state to eat and the people are paying more, as they are working, but seeing the Chinese taking away their assets, because Zungu got “free” money to spend, while the results of these loans are not up to par. That is why this situation is dire. The costs are all put on the state, but the President don’t have to take any responsibility or care for the added costs. That is proven. Peace.

Zambian authorities’ treason trial of Hichilema give them international recognition (not the way Patriotic Front had figured!)

In Zambi,a as the scheduled treason trial of the Opposition leader Hichilema goes underway, the visit of South African Opposition leader Mmusi Maimane has caused lot of headache for the Patriotic Front and their President Edgar Lungu, certainly President Lungu is following tricks of others totalitarian leaders, like President Museveni. Who also has put key opposition figures on treason trials, but has not had the issue of opposition leaders from abroad visiting to argument for their release. Therefore, Lungu got pressure from South Africa and by that means expelled the DA leader. As of today the supposed visit and treason trial was about happen. The problematic visit of Maimane has clearly created a storm the Zambian regime didn’t plan. Take a look!

How Zambia Authorities perceive the expulsion:

“THE Zambia High Commission to South Africa has informed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) that Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane was turned away from Zambia as his presence was going to undermine the sanctity, integrity and independence of the Judiciary. During the meeting between DIRCO officials and His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba, Zambia stated that the matters regarding Mr. Hichilema were in court and it was imperative that the due process of the law was respected without undue pressure or interference. Government was concerned with Mr. Maimane’s and the DA’s media statements prior to his visit to Zambia that stated that his party would pressure the Courts of the Law to release Zambia’s opposition leader, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema who is currently undergoing a treason trial. Mr. Maimane alleged that Mr. Hichilema was facing trumped up charges and therefore he would mobilize fellow regional opposition sister parties and leaders to pressure the Zambian courts to release Mr. Hichilema. The Zambian High Commission had earlier advised Mr. Maimane to reschedule his visit until this and other concerns were resolved but clearly turned down such an advise” (Mwebantu, 26.05.2017).

As explained by Open Zambia:

“LUSAKA Magistrate David Simusamba was today at 12:00 hours expected to rule on whether the treason case involving United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema (HH) and 5 other people should be referred to the High Court as per committal certificate issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to refer the treason case to the High Court” (Open Zambia, 26.05.2017).

Patriotic Front statement on Maimane:

“We wish to place on record that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is not a political prisoner but a criminal suspect. Zambia has no political detainees and that will never happen under the Patriotic Front Government of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Hichilema is a criminal suspect and not a political detainee. This is what is before the Courts. It is therefore unfortunate that South Africa’s “Nazi Party” Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane and his sponsors intend to make a political issue out of a criminal case. We shall not be lectured to by architects and beneficiaries of apartheid like Democratic Alliance. Zambia fought apartheid and even at this stage, we shall not relent in dealing with its agents like DA. Zambia is a sovereign country, with sovereign laws which must be respected by all. It is not a playground for every tom and dick, including agents of capital such as Maimane” (…) “We wish to place on record once more that if blocking a Presidential motorcade is political in South Africa, it is criminal in Zambia. Further we wish to say that it does not matter whether Zambians laws on treason are laughable to others, once someone crosses the line, they are triggered, unfortunately. If it is politics to just walk into a South Africa as an alien, it is law in Zambia that everyone is screened at the port of entry and entry can be denied without explanation” (…) “We have no apologies to make when Maimane is denied entry into Zambia. It was inevitable and he was correctly advised by the Zambian High Commission in South Africa. It must be said to Maimane that Zambia is a sovereign state and he has no right to enter Zambia as he ignorantly alleged in his interview. Entering a foreign state as an alien is the preserve of that Country’s immigration department and we think this is simple civics which a political front should grasp easily. Immigration at ports of entry do not exist for decorative purposes. They are meant to screen and send back or arrest characters with questionable agendas like Maimane” (Sunday Chanda Media Director, Patriotic Front, 26.05.2017).

DA’s own statement on the matter:

“The Zambian government clearly feels threatened by Mr Hichilema and his party, the UPND, who have been working tirelessly in their attempts to stop the decay of democracy in Zambia. As the sister party of the Democratic Alliance (DA), they too are committed to the advancement of vibrant, competitive, multiparty democracy, the rule of law and the entrenchment of human rights and free speech across Africa. Mr Hichilema is also a founding member of the Southern African Partnership for Democratic Change (SAPDC), a body of opposition parties from across Southern Africa who are committed to securing democracy across the region, and which I am the current Chairman of. It is for these reasons I decided to attend the trial of Mr Hichilema, in order to show solidarity with him and with the project of building and deepening democracy that we are engaged in across the continent. In respecting the Zambian government’s wishes, I honoured their call to refrain from visiting Mr Hichilema in prison, as the government claims there exists a court order preventing such visitation by members of the public. It should be noted that the Lungu administration even blocked Zambia’s founding father, President Kenneth Kaunda, from visiting Mr Hichilema in prison. It is a truly tragic collapse of a once stable democracy” (Democratic Alliance, 26.05.2017).

Therefore, the visit of solidarity were cut short, some say as short as an hour on the Zambian soil as the Opposition leader was not allowed to enter the Republic of Zambia. The certainty of the pressure arising of his presence must clearly been too profound for the judges and the authorities. Since they are clearly not powerful or seeing the strength of having foreigners questioning their trials and their justice system. I am sure the Zambian ruling regime and party would have wish the South African Opposition leader never planned his visit. Since they clearly has no problems with pinning Hichilema.

Certainly, people confess that South Africa has enough problems with the toll of a Zuma Administration, deep in a crisis of democratic deficit at this very moment. Still, the DA leader is obliged to visit and support fellow opposition leader. It shouldn’t be seen as vicious attempt or even trying to discredit the Zambian regime. That they have clearly been able to do on their own. As their words expressed through own party channels are vicious and blatant attempt of disrespecting the DA and Maimane. Seems like the Patriotic Front cannot get onlookers into their cases and have questions asked over their courts. If so, are they so democratic and right that the ruling regime of Zambia, cannot handle one-man travel into their country to be part of one trial?

That is how it will be perceived! That Maimane does to prove a point – sure, like no one else are trying to get political capital out of this. The only one losing right now is the Patriotic Front and their President Lungu. Who looks more like fools, than clever and sovereign? Not because they are not allowed to stop people from entering their borders and closing their gates. It is because they are already in an epic battle with forces beyond their shores. As the world is looking how they will act towards Hichilema.

Zambia has played the deck wrong and the cards are really stacking against them, as the political prisoner and opposition leader are under threat. That by the fear of losing control, as the Patriotic Front has to save their grace and attitude, as the ruling regime, clearly are losing their steps and cannot handle that a foreign leader question their courts. That is because their justice and their rule is overpowering. The Patriotic Front is ready by all means, expelling and trading shots. However, they do not win goodwill; neither does the current stalemate create possible positive leadership from the central government. Peace.