Today in Lusaka, was the day, where the gloves are off and the reality sets in. It is not that people are opening up presents to early, as the Christmas morning is upon just yet. However, there is someone who got their glee and their grove on. That is Zambia’s own head honcho, their own Wonderboy and Gods Grace, Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Whose been allowed to run for a third term by the Constitutional Court.
That is a significant step, as 106(3) of the Constitution says: “A person who has held office as President is not eligible for election as a third term”. Another person and fellow dictator who did similar trick as Lungu, is Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza, who didn’t amend the Constitution before the election in 2015 after serving already two terms. Now, Lungu is doing the same trick. He thinks he is pulling the rabbit out of the hat, but instead he is showing his true aim. To rule for life.
On the same day, as he is allowed to run for a third term. Daily Nation reports that: “This week on Tuesday during a special interview on ZNBC, Mr Chanda directed Law Enforcement to arrest people using social media to report falsehoods about President Edgar Lungu’s health” (Daily Nation – ‘POLICE TO ACT ON STATE DIRECTIVE, 07.12.2018).
So, clearly the state is in high gear and ready, as anyone questioning and spreading rumors about the President might meet the law at some point. Just like activist and opposition politicians. Because the Patriotic Front isn’t playing around.
That is what the key part of their statement today said: “The Patriotic Front (PF) is delighted with the outcome of the landmark decision of the Constitutional Court that has cleared the path for Republican and PF President His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu to contest the 2021 elections” (…) “We do not have time to waste in any meaningless debate in the aftermath of this court decision on the eligibility; but we are focused to deliver on development. That is what we were elected for.May I also take this opportunity to thank the ever increasing party membership across our nation for their zeal and spirit of brotherhood that permeates through the rank and file of the structures of the Patriotic Front” ( Hon. Davies Mwila – ‘PRESS STATEMENT ON THE LANDMARK DECISION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REGARDING THE ELIGIBILITY OF REPUBLICAN AND PF PRESIDENT- HIS EXCELLENCY EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU TO CONTEST THE 2021 ELECTIONS’ 07.12.2018).
As seen by his own party, they were not playing games about it and gloating in the victory, as if it was a surprise that he would get another term. That was in the cards as there was no evidence of him stepping down or considering doing so. That is why they were so happy with the reasoning from the Constitutional Court which stated like this: “According to the concourt, President Edgar Lungu served for two years and not three years. “A term can only be considered for three years and not two years, President Lungu only served for two years. We therefore declare that he is eligible to contest the 2021 General election. “ stated the concourt” (Zambian Watch, 07.12.2018).
With that in mind, the first stepping stone, the first hurdle, the first giant leap towards Life Presidency has begun, as the President sealed his Third Term. The rest will be from now formalities. Now, we just have to await amendments and changes of the laws. To make him eligible again. As he cannot pull off the same trick to run again. Than, he has the whole time or the whole term.
We have seen this elsewhere and now we know, Lungu is in for the long-con, not the short-con. He is not leaving and anticipate to rule indefinitely. Nothing else seems unlikely. Especially today. Peace.
God’s time is the best and no man can change God’s calendar.A mango tree does not worry when the orange tree is producing fruits in it’s season.
We celebrate 20 years of UPND existence in our own way and God’s calendar in line with ‘People Power,Our Power,Our Land in the midst of economic and political struggle for a better Zambia.
God has been with us for these years to prevent and defend democracy from being buried by political vandals.
The party has grown and spread like fire to all parts of the country since the demise of the founding father the late Anderson Mazoka and may he rest in peace.
Had it not been for UPND to be in opposition under the wise leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema and his visionary team, there was not going to be a strong voice to speak for the voiceless and the down trodden.
Zambians could have been fearing to exercise their democratic right.
It is worthy to celebrate the party’s existence and with Mr Hichilema’s courageous and visionary leadership including members sustaining the party under difficult times.
Without UPND in opposition Zambia could have been reversed to a one party state a long time ago.
And UPND has remained strong when other political parties within a space of one year died while others just continue existing on paper.
We have planted a strong political foundation for opposition political parties to survive.
Once in government; we shall provide condusive environment for any opposition political party to freely offer checks and balances as oppose to Patriotic Front who are always oppressing the opposition.
The slow movement of a lion doesn’t show weakness or being tired but calculated steps to get it’s prey.
We never went to the streets to fight our stolen victory but sought legal intervention because we respect the rule of law and trusting God to see us through.
It is not how fast one builds a house but how firm and strong it will be when the storm comes.
Happy 20 years of experience in opposition and now it’s time to run government with a vast experience of leadership from the opposition.
People Power,Our Power,Our Land!!
Issued by:
Neto Halwabala
UPND Deputy Spokesperson
Southern Province
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.
It’s not my way to utter these words, but I feel I need it, not because I am right man; I am far from being the right man to address it. As I was raised in peace, lived in peace and endured peace. Still, feeling the sorrow of the lost in Juba, the extra judicial killings in Kenya, and the unarmed African American citizens killed across the United States, while an armed former Afghan Veteran kills 5 Police officers. The scores are so uneven, the justice is not prevailing and the cases are staggering. The Police brutalities in dozen countries like Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Zambia; the Police are detaining without charges, torturing and battling the citizens as they are vicious armed criminals.
All of these killings, all of these Police Officers acting on behalf of oppressive states, the others are systemic inaccuracies blended with the ignorance and racial bias. The state of affairs is different in the United States, compared to the other Nations, but the systems are still brutally attack the civilians like they are cows ready for slaughter. Instead of fearing the public they are harassing it silence. The tormented and the families who lose their loved ones, the ones that are bystanders and just happen to be by a Political Rally or pass by a Demonstrations in a town; gets shot, get killed and even detained as they are vile creatures instead of a human being.
Nairobi, Kenya, 2016
The color of skin, the creed, political affiliation or faith should not be the factor if you’re waking safe down street or taking a public transport… Instead they are law-abiding citizens who even comply and do their duties to demonstrate, to act upon the fate of affairs, conduct meetings and rallies, the cost is detained at police post, taken away from their homes on conspiracy and even killed. These matters are happening to often in 2016.
The leaders of these reactions to the Government, the leaders who are addressing the civil concerns of the state, are prosecuted, detained and even monitored by the Security forces of the states, as they are worse criminals then rebels or terrorists. They are addressed in speeches by the leading fractions and the MPs connected to the ruling regime as personal vermin, people who fronts sectarian violence and creates the problem. Even if the state security forces are the ones that makes issues in peaceful affairs and puts gasoline on the fire. Not that all demonstrators are peaceful or correct, but that does not give the Police rights to shot live bullet, water-canons and tear-gas at any given movement of crowds against uneven and unrighteous cause.
The killings, the brutality, the sincere atrocities, the blatant ignorance, the little fear of the ruling regime, the masters of violence, the killers and Police Officers are guarded by the ruling regimes. As they are co-conspirators with the ones that systemically control the state ordered violence and want to shut down the spirit of any organized demonstrations, movements that are positive for democratic change or even just question the legitimacy of the ruling regime. This does not comes to mind in the United States, there it is more racial biased approached as the human and gun-laws are yet again proof of misguided regulations as the loss of life in small-fire arms shootings are staggering. Still, the Senate and Congress are not able to sustain and make amendments that can stop the guns from coming to hands of people who have a unsteady mind and unsound health condition to pull the trigger at innocent citizens. While the Police Officers are nearly hunting on the innocent and creating an atmosphere, where your guilty until proven innocent, which is not any ideal approach.
Uganda, 2016
We can all wonder when this power-struggles, when the bullets, when the tear-gas, when the water-canons and when the ignorant violence, when the killings will stop and to what extent does it has to happen, before the hash-tags, before the blazing guns and blistering barnacles!
There are just to many lives, to many hurt and to many questions, to many unsolved mysterious, too much blood and to many tears. There are something sinister and something uncertain as the attempt to sustain power by any means, the profits, the structure of society, the fabric of our existence, the approach the viciousness and vile attempt of resigning to the fact the only way we can solve the fear of each is with guns and ammunition. There must be other ways of dialogue than with John Wayne, Al Capone and Giles de Rais. There are too many men and woman who have lost their life, too many who have been taken away from their loved ones and too many to mention.
While the laymen are prosecuted and the civilians are too, the men in charge are walking away, the men and woman who protect the manufactures, the military, the Police Commanders and the Executives are just free-men and can do as they please, as the violence, the killings are reappearing as the sun is setting and making sure it has the energy for another day.
The men and woman who are in charge, the men and woman are taken away; we’re supposed to be living in the same society, under the same laws and under the same regulations; where justice and freedom should prevail, where men and woman are equal, where there isn’t fear and isn’t unbalanced treatment between State Security Organizations and the Civilians. As long as there are unbalance, as long as there are inaccurate procedure and executives are not handling it peacefully, if they are giving way to impunity and injustice, their rule will be remembered for the justifications of these vile attempts of self-justice, these atrocities under their leadership and reason for the loss of these lives.
Burundi, 2015
The deaths, the murders and senseless killings proves the arrogance of leadership, the certainty that guns can create power, that the guns can solve matters and prove justified to settle either political framework or even power-struggle, the fear and amassed causes the personal bias, the blatant accurate shootings and killings are vicious. The men and woman deserves more than becoming a hash-tag. The terrorist killings in Turkey, Paris, Brussels, Beni, San Bernadino and all the others, deserves more than the hot-minute of fame, change of status on Facebook and blended Profile Picture, they deserve more credit and remembrances, as all the souls of the lost got vanished by brutal force in matters of hours.
The continued civil, political and armed unrest in Libya, Syria and Yemen, the skirmished between Eritrea and Ethiopia; proves the hostile environment other places, the Somalian forces are both fighting in their own territory, but also going against their oppressors on their domain to retaliate. While the Burundian are detaining school-kids for painting slurs on the President Nkurunziza’s pictures and killing opposition, being violent and answering the men and woman who demonstrated against the 3rd Term President of the Burundian Government. President Magufuli have detained a man for writing hostile words on WhatsApp and charged and detained MP for calling him a ‘dictator’, as the President proves that he is similar to his counterparts in the rest of the East Africa. This is not vile crimes, but proves how far the government uses their security forces to control their citizens and their will to speak. I am sure in one of these countries, they would detain me in second, to silence my train of thoughts.
The 2016, have been and is bloody, as the boats of immigrants from the civil wars are drowning in the Mediterranean sea as they cross in tiny boats by smugglers to safety in Greece or Italy; as the safe heaven are supposed to get them safe from the spoils of war and power struggle between government forces, militias and armed opposition forces, as the death-toll and weak government structure that we’re centralized under one big-man is fractioned and dwindling away as the Civil Society Organizations, International Organizations and Multi-National Dialogue and stakeholders doesn’t have the capacity or the will to take charge of the unrest and uncertainty.
We have to question; will our government deal with the matter at hand? Will the government who are in charge take approaches for dialogue, for talks and creating a space where the safety and the justice have a place in the society, where the force of the state is not killing and not abundantly forcing themselves with violence on the civilians. The system of oppressive behavior and the crisis of leadership as the problems in the states, the dissolved the assertiveness of people, as the men and woman are torn, the parties are polarized and the peace has crashed; the tensions between the sovereign power and the self-righteous state officials that aggravate the public, it is not right for the leaders to use their internal squabble for power create havoc that birth more violence between two parties. That is not in the parties that one part is the state, the other is peaceful protesters, which is a different scenario, than when both are armed and kill each other to secure power and rule indefinably.
Is this what we want to remember 2016 for the civil unrest, the civil wars, the civil casualties after the violence and state organized shut-down of the public disobedience…? The disobedience and the demonstrations should be able to happen without any reactions that create a problem for the state or the state goes in a turn it into a battleground. There are so many questions, so much we miss and so many political and structures that needs to be reformed, so many leaders who need a bit of humility, the humility of Police Officers, the humility of the Executives and the leadership of the States. It’s complicated, it’s all very HiiiPower. We have to ask and we cannot let this go, we cannot let these men and woman just die for so little, as a hashtag and a little social media drops. There are just too, we have to question the powers to be and what they are doing to stop this. We cannot be silent, accept it and let it go. This is just too much. I know I am not the right man, I am the wrong man, but I had to say my peace, I just couldn’t let this one be. Hope you start to think, question and wonder why we let them get away with it. Peace.
The Zambia Revenue Authority officers, under instructions from State House, arrived at Post Newspapers head office and printing press around 17:00hours in the company of armed police, demanding that the company pays a total ofK68 million (US$6.1 million) disputed tax arrears immediately.
Post Newspapers general manager for finance Rowena Zulu then explained that the money ZRA was demanding had already been paid almost in total. But a ZRA officer responded that they had not yet accessed the money and thus they could not withdraw the warrant of distress.
The lawyers from Nchito and Nchito then produced a court order restraining the officers from issuing a warrant of distress on PostNewspapers, but the officers disobeyed the order. Instead, the ZRA officers chased all employees who were still working at the head office, before locking up the entrance.
At the printing plant, the ZRA officers also switched off the printing press, locked up the premises, leaving the heavily armed police officers in charge.
This above is written by The Post of Zambia!
“Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Officers this evening raided the post Newspaper printing plant.They seized property and grounding the printing company”.
Afterthought:
Some other statments on the matter:
MISA Zambia issued a high alert on the situation it is monitoring stating; “A media house’s economic freedom is closely linked to its editorial freedom and the situation with the Post is a classic example of what happens when economic freedom is manipulated to interfere with a media house’s editorial freedom.” (MISA 21.06.2016).
“Last week, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema said he was warned by the Intelligence Officers that President Lungu was planning to close the Post Newspaper to pave way for rigging the elections. And surely today he has closed it down using PF carders in ZRA uniforms” (Mwebantu News Media, 21.06.2016).
Firebase Artists of Bobi Wine is now finally released after the silence of some kind of weird normaly returns. The NRM Regime fears so much the Opposition. That a musician that are positive to change and his fellow musicians are detained, and his studio is raided while he was conducting an interview. For those of you who forgot, here is the famous of the reporter who interview Bobi Wine that day. And after that today’s statement after the Release.
Bobi Wines Statement:
“Finally our artists have been released from jail since Thursday morning. We have done post-detention counselling and they are now already in a good mood heading to One Love Beach Busabala for the Carnival. We are musicians not politicians…We are citizens not criminals! #WeAreBadManWeDontFearIntimidation #FireBaseNalo” (Bobi Wine, 15.05.2016).
Here you see to what extent the Police Force and Army crack-down on the Opposition even in the midst of the lavish party on the other side of town. A reason alone why I don’t care. Because the Army and Police is harrassing the Opposition and even a Musician and his fellow Musicians. They are arrested and taken in without warrents or charges.
This here is level of impunity, the level of discontent between the rule of law and the justified attack on civil society that the Security Organizations are doing in Uganda right now. That Bobi Wine and his studio is raided is just madness. They we’re even watching what happen with at Kololo. So they we’re not up-to criminal activity, if so is it illegal to watch Museveni on TV now?
This here shows level of Police State, the army are allowed without any question or any law just to breach private space and arrest fellow citizens without charges. These artist been taken in as common criminals who was reharsing or watching the actions on Kololo. Is this the level of foolery the State of Uganda will be proud of?Is this the legacy of Musveni wants to leave behind? That the Police Force in honour of the Head of State even arrest fellow artist connected to Bobi Wine.
Here is his statement on the matter, I am just sad that they goes this far. The Police State now is high intimidation level that even musicians are an issue who needs to be silenced for National Security. Then the state have gone to far and needs a shake-up.
Again, here is the words of H.E. Bobi Wine!
Statement from Bobi Wine:
“Meanwhile, as the swearing in is going on, our rehearsal studio in Kamwokya was invaded by armed soldiers and police as young Firebase artists were rehearsing,and others were watching the swearing in on T.V. They were beaten and arrested (no charge yet). Even when I tried to explain that these youth were no harm to society and actually productive members of our community, nobody listened. They were bundled up to into a car, humiliated, and are now detained at Kira Road Police station. The arrested artists include: Red Aya, Dex, Wagi, and the CEO of Bigs promotion who had come to book these artists for a small gig. I was actually there doing an interview with New York Times when this happened. Many times I have worked with the Uganda police to calm down riots and to create peace and stability in the ghetto, as well as to build a good relationship between the police and the common people… To the Uganda Police: next time you call me to calm down riots in the ghetto, please remember how you have treated our people… I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP IS THIS? #ImpunityUG #NdiMunaUganda” (Bobi Wine, 12.05.2016).
MinBane 