http://www.weeklypeoplesreport.com/

Zambia Weekly Report, Lusaka (2025)

28/04/2025

DESPERATE KEITH MWEEMBA SLANDERING ANDREW KAMANGA WHILE PRETENDING TO DEFEND FAZ CONSTITUTION

PRESS RELEASE

We have taken note of the press release of 24th April 2024 by Mr Keith Mwemba, FAZ presidential candidate wherein he cited purported/ alleged breaches of the FAZ constitution.

From the outset, we welcome Mr Mweemba’s concerns, and would be happy if he could also share with the FAZ councilors and the public his position regarding the following;

1. Whether the FAZ executive committee following the conclusion of the 10 (ten) provincial elections has the mandate to preside over FAZ matter without the conclusion of the remaining 3 (three) elective positions namely president, vice president and women’s representative.

2. Where was Mr Mweemba to defend the FAZ constitution when the National Sports Council through its CEO, Mr Mususa directed FAZ General Secretary Mr Reuben Kamanga not to call the FAZ executive meeting as advised in his letter of 14th March 2025, to approve the FAZ counts which he is demanding today. For avoidance of doubt the National Sports Council CEO’s directive reminded the General Secretary that the accounts should not be tabled since the exco’s mandated expired on 28th February 2025.

3. Where was Mr Mweemba to defend the FAZ executive commitee following the directive by FIFA on 13th March that all 10 (ten) provincial AGM’s would be chaired by the outgoing provincial chairmen, and the final AGM of 29th March by the FAZ president who would remain in office until elections were concluded and a new executive elected.
Interestingly Mr Mweemba saw it fit to attend 7 (seven) of the provincial AGM’s and did not question the legitimacy of the FIFA directive. Surprisingly Mr Mweemba chose to remain silent when the National Sports Council directed the FAZ General Secretary on 25th March 2025 that the FAZ President should NOT chair the AGM on 29th March 2025 in Livingstone.

4. Where was Mr Mweemba to defend the FAZ constitution when the FAZ AGM was stopped by an Injunction?

5. Presentation of the financial statements for year ended December 2024, and the budget for 2025 are agenda items for the AGM and the FAZ president is expected to preside over the entire AGM.

We note that Mr Mweemba in his press release demands the “full discussion of the financial report, statutory reports and all items constitutionally provided for, move a motion to dismiss, impeach and or/ disqualify those who will be found wanting or perpetuating breaches or violation of the constitution, and demand for criminal investigation for embezzlement of funds”

Mr Mweemba conveniently and deliberates ignores to state that the FAZ president must chair the meeting as provided for who is supposed to chair the same AGM. It is very clear from the foregoing that Mr Mweemba with the help of the National Sports Council is NOT ready to participate in any election where Mr Kamanga is a participant. It is surprising that Mr Mweemba is advocating for disqualification of candidates before elections are held. If Mr Mweemba has any evidence of any wrong doing by any FAZ member including Mr Kamanga, he has every right to report to law enforcement agencies as has been the case in the past instead of refusing to proceed to elections in the absence of an AGM presided by the FAZ president with all agenda items tabled.

6. The proposal to ask members to defer all agenda items and proceed to elections is intended to ensure completion of the electoral process which was delayed by the injunction halting the AGM in Livingstone, is NOT in anyway an attempt by Mr Kamanga to avoid presentation of the accounts.

Suffice to state for Mr Mweemba’s benefit in case he is not aware , Mr Kamanga is a Chartered Accountant, FCMA, FZICA and holds a practicing licence from ZICA. Further, Mr Kamanga has served as CAF Finance Commitee as vice president since 2021, and presented the CAF financial statements and budget at the last CAF congress on 22nd October 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr Kamanga has served on the FIFA Governance, Audit and Compliance Commitee since 2017, and would have NO challenge to present the FAZ 2024 accounts at the reconvened AGM on 9th March, as long as he is allowed by the National Sports Council to chair the meeting. This we implore Mr Mweemba to attend to as a condition precedent to his demands.

In conclusion, it is clear that there is a deliberate and calculated attempt to discredit Mr Kamanga that he is refusing to have the accounts tabled because of suspected wrong doing. To the contrary we wish to impress upon Mr Mweemba to call upon the National Sports Council to allow Mr Kamanga as FAZ president to chair the AGM and present the accounts as demanded. Otherwise, proceeding to elections allows FAZ to have an elected fully functioning executive, and avoids any new injunction directed at Mr Kamanga since the meeting will be under the charge of the FAZ Eelectoral commitee. In any case, Mr Mweemba will still retain his right to hold any FAZ member accountable regardless of who wins the elections on 9th May.

ISSSUED BY ANDREW N KAMANGA, CAMPAIGN TEAM

02/04/2025

MANIPULATING STUDENTS FOR POLITICAL GAIN CONDEMNED

…by pulling students out of their classes, the UPND is disregarding the sacrifices made by parents to support their children's education says Lusambo

Lusaka… Wednesday April 2, 2025

Concerns have been raised over the political exploitation of university students by the ruling UPND.

In a statement, Socialist Party Deputy Youth Spokesperson Sconel Lusambo accused the UPND of using students to create a false impression of widespread youth support.

According to Lusambo, UPND Secretary General Batuka Imenda met with university students earlier in the day and provided them with placards to stage an artificial show of endorsement for the party.

He described this as a "blatant manipulation of young minds" and called it an unacceptable practice.

Mr Lusambo emphasized that universities should remain centers of academic excellence and intellectual development rather than being turned into political battlegrounds.

He expressed concern that students, who are supposed to be focused on their education, were being drawn into partisan activities.

"It is troubling that a party which claims to respect and empower the youth is instead disrupting their academic schedules for political meetings," he stated.

Mr Lusambo further argued that by pulling students out of their classes, the UPND was disregarding the sacrifices made by parents and guardians to support their children's education.

He urged students across the country to remain focused on their studies and resist being used for political purposes.

According to him, real student concerns—such as inadequate learning resources, poor infrastructure, and the rising cost of tertiary education—were being overshadowed by such political maneuvers.

While acknowledging the right of young people to engage in politics, Lusambo advised that such participation should be voluntary and based on informed decisions rather than political coercion.

He warned that allowing themselves to be used as “political praise singers” would only divert them from their primary goal of securing a better future through education.

“The future of the nation depends on an educated and independent-minded youth,” he concluded, urging students to prioritize their academic and personal development over partisan engagements.

02/04/2025

The Gospel According to State House: The Nevers Mumba Story

By Dr Mwelwa

Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba is like a man who always dances where the music is playing the loudest—not because he enjoys the music, but because he is afraid to be alone in the quiet. His life feels like an old village story told by the fire—a story of a preacher who left the pulpit and walked into politics, only to become the kind of man he used to warn others about. As our elders say, “If you follow the footsteps of an elephant, be ready to walk through the dirt it leaves behind.” And that’s what has happened to Dr. Mumba.

He goes where the power is, where the food is plenty and the fire is warm. From President Kaunda to Chiluba, Mwanawasa to Banda, Lungu to Hichilema—he has always found his way into the hearts of those in charge. He praises them, offers advice, and in return, he enjoys the comforts that come with being close to power. But when a man spends all his time in the chief’s hut and never in the fields, he forgets how to grow his own food. Dr. Mumba’s survival seems to depend on who is in State House, not on the strength of his own ideas or actions.

This is not just opinion—it’s something many of us have seen with our own eyes. I remember watching Pastor Mumba on TV when I was still in school. He warned people not to remove President Kaunda, saying it would bring bloodshed. But when President Chiluba came into power, Pastor Mumba was suddenly a regular guest at State House. President Chiluba even became the guest of honour at Victory Ministries events. I sat there listening as the same man who once warned against change now praised the new leader and attacked anyone who dared criticize him.

When President Mwanawasa took over, Dr. Mumba again found his way to the new leader. He began attacking the opposition—Sata, the UPND—calling them all sorts of names. President Mwanawasa, like those before him, listened to the sweet words and made Mumba Vice President. It didn’t stop there. The words I hear him speak today are not new. They are the same ones he used when he was close to President Lungu in 2016. All he does is change the name of the president he is talking about. The script stays the same.

If Zambia gets a new president tomorrow, believe me, Dr. Mumba will be the first to offer him MMD, even though the party no longer has members, structures, or a clear direction. MMD today lives only in his mouth. He has turned it into a tool for survival, a way to stay relevant and enjoy the benefits that come from being seen as a political leader. There is no team behind him, no election win to speak of, but still he carries the name of the party like a key that opens doors.

We say in Africa, “The one who ties his goat to someone else’s fence must ask before milking it.” Dr. Mumba has tied his future to every president since independence. He has never built something of his own that stands without help. For the last forty years, the God he preaches has fed him, yes—but it is through the hands of presidents that the food has come. He is, in every sense, one of the luckiest Zambians alive.

And yet, luck is not the same as wisdom. One can eat well and still forget who he is. A man of God should be able to stand alone, speak truth to power, and live by faith. But this man has built his church inside the walls of government. He enjoys luxury, foreign trips, expensive suits—not because the people have lifted him there, but because he is close to the throne. Without that closeness, what would he be? Just a preacher with no crowd.

There’s an old saying: “The child who is always carried never knows how far the road is.” Dr. Mumba has been carried by power, by praise, by position. But when the one carrying him grows tired, he falls. Maybe it’s time he walks on his own, speaks from his own strength, and earns his place not through favour but through action.

Because a man who only speaks when the President is listening is not a prophet. He is just another man in fine clothes, looking for an invitation to dinner.

Still, we are African. We do not throw away the seedling because it has not grown yet. Maybe, just maybe, Dr. Mumba can find his way back to the truth, the real path he once preached. But that path cannot be reached through praise-singing and handshakes. It must be walked with humility, with quietness, and with the knowledge that “a man who wears two faces will one day forget which one is truly his.”

Let him remember—presidents come and go, but truth remains. Let him know—the music fades, but the steps we leave behind are remembered.

26/03/2025

NEW HERITAGE PARTY DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY OVER WHITE RHINO KILLING

The New Heritage Party has raised concerns regarding what it describes as continued silence from the Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba, following the recent killing of a rare white rhino in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Livingstone.

Chief Party Spokesperson Aggephrey Brill said locals in Livingstone were questioning how rhinos, constantly guarded by armed game rangers, could still fall victim to poaching.

He added that the public was now speculating whether the killing was an inside job, suggesting that those responsible for protecting the animals might have become complicit in their poaching.

Brill noted that the situation was further aggravated by reports of a rhino horn, previously stored in the offices of the National Wildlife Authority in Livingstone, disappearing and reappearing under unclear circumstances, thereby heightening public suspicion.

He demanded accountability from authorities, calling for an explanation as to how such a heavily guarded animal could be killed.

Brill stressed that rare white rhinos in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park are a key tourist attraction and their protection is of paramount importance.

For more details, tune in to Byta FM 90.3/100.3/101.9 or http://radio.garden/listen/byta-fm-zambia/YsDAFNNN

25/03/2025

HH WHILE IN OPPOSITION

20/03/2025

WHY IS STATE HOUSE NOT TELLING ZAMBIANS THE TRUTH ABOUT AGRO FUEL?

Lying President Hakainde Hichilema and Peter Kapala should come out with the truth about Agro Fuel before the matter gets out of hand.

It is unimaginable that this private company, operated by a Zambia citizen can be free to engage in the heinous practices that are being peddled by people being sponsored by senior staff at State House.

There are some things that we know about this campaign against Agro Fuel and its owner Shashi Patel.

One of the things we know is the little man and his friends who are behind the circulation of reports which are only telling half the truth.

We have direct evidence of the people behind this campaign and, at an appropriate time, after these charlatans have exhausted themselves.

Be warned.

15/03/2025

Clayson Hamasaka’s Statement on Former President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu: A Masterclass in Arrogance and Deflection

By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma

Clayson Hamasaka, the Chief Communications Specialist at State House, has once again proven why he is unfit to serve in such a crucial role. His recent statement responding to concerns over constitutional amendments was not only recklessly arrogant but also embarrassingly devoid of objectivity and professionalism. Instead of providing clarity on an issue of national interest, he dodged accountability, engaged in baseless personal attacks, and insulted the intelligence of the Zambian people.

This begs the question: What did President Hichilema see in Hamasaka to entrust him with such a key position? Does he even understand his role, or does he believe his job is to spew propaganda, attack critics, and suppress legitimate concerns?

Dodging the Real Issue: What Is the Government Hiding?

The core issue raised by former President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s social media post was simple: Is the UPND government planning to amend the Constitution to benefit President Hichilema?

Rather than offering a straightforward, transparent response, Hamasaka sidestepped the issue entirely, claiming no amendment process has begun. This is nothing but a calculated deception. We all know constitutional amendments are discussed behind closed doors long before they are formally introduced. The Zambian people deserve direct answers.

Is the government planning any constitutional changes?

If so, what amendments are being considered?

Will these changes benefit the incumbent President?

Will the Zambian people be consulted, or will this be another backroom political maneuver?

Hamasaka deliberately ignored these questions because he knows the truth would expose the UPND’s real intentions. Instead, he resorted to cheap political tactics, attacking Dr. Lungu’s social media team rather than addressing the concerns they raised. This is the behavior of a coward, not a professional communicator.

Shameless Exploitation of Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s Health

Hamasaka then took his deception to another level by trying to shift public focus away from the constitutional concerns and onto Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s health. This is a classic tactic of dishonest politicians. When they can’t defend their actions, they change the subject.

By suggesting that Dr. Lungu might be too ill to express political opinions, Hamasaka’s statement was not only insensitive but insulting. Since when does being unwell disqualify someone from speaking out on political matters?

If Hamasaka had genuine concerns about the authenticity of Dr. Lungu’s post, he should have sought clarification directly from the former President himself instead of issuing a childish and condescending statement.

Even more absurd is Hamasaka’s ridiculous assertion that Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s official page should only be used for health updates. Who gave him the authority to dictate how former Presidents should communicate with the nation? When did he become the gatekeeper of political discourse in Zambia?

Arrogance, Insecurity, and Unprofessionalism

A Chief Communications Specialist is supposed to be the government’s bridge to the people, engaging citizens with respect, clarity, and professionalism. Instead, Hamasaka operates like a social media troll, spewing arrogance and insults rather than facts.

By mocking and questioning Dr. Lungu’s social media handlers, he has demonstrated a complete lack of decorum and statesmanship. Instead of promoting national unity, he is fanning the flames of division with his reckless statements.

If anything, Hamasaka’s response exposes the UPND government’s fear of accountability. Instead of answering legitimate national concerns, their strategy is to attack, dismiss, and ridicule those who dare to question them. This is not democracy. This is dictatorship in disguise.

A Government That Does Not Listen

Hamasaka’s disgraceful statement reflects a broader issue within the UPND government, a refusal to listen to the people. They claim to be a government of transparency and accountability, but every time they are confronted with hard questions, they react with arrogance, anger, and propaganda.

Instead of engaging in honest dialogue, they choose to attack critics rather than answer questions, suppress opposing voices rather than encourage debate, and use state resources to spread propaganda rather than provide solutions.

Meanwhile, Zambia is in Crisis

While Hamasaka and his fellow UPND spin doctors waste time attacking Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the Zambian people are suffering.

The cost of living is skyrocketing.

Fuel prices are at record highs.

The Kwacha is in freefall.

Unemployment is worsening.

Power outages are crippling businesses and homes.

Yet, instead of focusing on real governance, Hamasaka chooses to play petty political games and insult the former Head of State.

Conclusion: A Government of Arrogance, Not Leadership

Hamasaka’s statement is a disgraceful example of failed leadership. Instead of offering clear answers, he resorted to arrogance, deflection, and personal attacks. Instead of fostering unity, he fueled unnecessary divisions. Instead of showing professionalism, he demonstrated immaturity and insecurity.

If President Hichilema is serious about maintaining credibility, he must rethink whether Hamasaka is the right person to handle government communications. Zambia needs serious leadership, not childish propaganda and arrogance.

The Zambian People Demand Answers, Not Arrogance!

26/02/2025

The Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for a family of five in Lusaka has jumped to ZMW 11,599.12, an increase of ZMW 798.56 from January. Rising food prices, soaring charcoal costs due to load shedding, and stagnant wages are deepening financial hardships for many Zambians.

JCTR calls for urgent action! We urge the government to expand food assistance, support income-generating initiatives, and enforce fair wage policies to ensure economic growth benefits all. Inequality must be addressed for a just society.

🔗 Access the statement as attached or on our repository site here: https://repository.jctr.org.zm/bitstream/handle/20.500.14274/1860/20250226-bnnb_february_bnnb_statement-V01.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

___________
With support from Kirkens Nødhjelp and DanChurchAid alliance (JCP Zambia)

22/02/2025

Hichilema Destroying Zambia's Democracy

Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba Wrote;

I saw a story on ZNBC quoting expelled MP, Robert Chabinga, stating that he has endorsed President Hakainde Hichilema for the 2026 general elections.

The story is being peddled and characterised as PF Endorsing Hichilema for the 2026 elections.

It doesn’t matter how hard President Hichilema has attempted to cloth with legality, Miles Sappa and now Robert Chabinga as PF President. They will never be.

One day, President Hakainde Hichilema will pay for attempting to destroy democracy, the rule of law and the constitutional multi-party character of our country.

The sacrifices by our forefathers and foremothers to make Zambia an independent and democratic state, enshrine and obtain those guarantees in the Republican Constitution, were never in vain.

Stooges and lackeys such Jackie Mwiimbu, Nellie Mutti, Graphael Musamba and Mwangala Zaloumis actively participating in ra**ng the Constitution, will also be made to account.

Pawns such as Robert Chabinga, ZNBC and others should bever be spared either.

Our Independence and democracy was hard fought-for and hard-won to be washed away by a few individuals.

22/02/2025

*When a Leader Surrounds Himself with Shadows*

By Dr Mwelwa

A king is known by his court. A leader is judged by those he appoints. And yet, in Zambia today, we are witnessing a presidency surrounded not by the sharpest minds, but by placeholders, political loyalists, and professional cheerleaders who add no value to the governance of the country.

Laura Miti puts it bluntly—Zambia has seen a steady decline in the quality of leadership appointments since the MMD era. Back then, whether one agreed with their policies or not, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and presidential advisors were selected based on competence. Today, as Emmanuel Mwamba also notes, President Hichilema has built a system where silence and incompetence reign supreme, where ministers hide instead of defend, where MPs flee instead of debate, and where the Chief Government Spokesperson has no information worth speaking about.

A government that cannot answer the cries of its people is a government that has already lost its way. The high cost of living is the fire burning in every household, and yet those in power act as though discussing it is beneath them. Zambians ask why mealie meal is now beyond reach, but instead of answers, they get State House bloggers posting propaganda. Zambians ask why the Kwacha is collapsing, why fuel prices are unbearable, and why basic commodities have become luxuries—but instead of a national address, they get a government that walks out of Parliament. If leadership is about problem-solving, then what exactly is UPND solving?

A leader without a strong support system is like a lion leading a herd of goats. Ministers are supposed to be warriors, strategists, and defenders of government policy. But instead, Hichilema’s team is missing in action. Where are his sectoral ministers? Why are they not taking the lead in explaining the government's policies? Why is Zambia being governed by faceless propaganda pages and self-proclaimed consultants instead of competent officials who can articulate policy and provide solutions?

Laura Miti is right to ask: how does a man with a corporate background get it so wrong when it comes to hiring and firing? How can a leader be so comfortable with incompetence? If loyalty is the only qualification for office, then failure is the only outcome for governance. A government that fears competence is a government that is afraid of accountability.

Emmanuel Mwamba mocks the UPND’s inability to outmaneuver a so-called dead PF, and rightfully so. What does it say about a ruling party that struggles to politically defeat an opposition it claimed was finished? What does it say about the government’s media team when it has no coherent strategy apart from insults and distractions?

The truth is simple: Hichilema is running a government where no one is in charge, where those in office are more concerned about protecting their jobs than fixing the country, and where incompetence has been institutionalized as a culture. The silence from his team is not by accident—it is because they have nothing of value to say.

A leader is only as strong as his team. And right now, Zambia has a president surrounded by shadows. If he does not wake up and clean house, the people will do it for him in 2026. The clock is ticking.

18/02/2025

CHIEF JUSTICE SHOULD PROVIDE DIRECTION

says Dr Fred M'membe, as he bemoans the confusion arising from Sedition and hate speech cases
February 18, 20255

CHIEF JUSTICE SHOULD PROVIDE DIRECTION

…says Dr M’membe, as he bemoans the confusion arising from Sedition and hate speech cases

Lusaka… Tuesday February 18, 2025

Socialist Party Zambia (SP) President Dr Fred M’membe says there is confusion when it comes to Sedition and Hate Speech cases.

Dr. M’membe says it is important at this stage that the Chief Justice steps in and give direction over these cases.

He recalled that in the 90s, then Chief Justice Mathew Ngulube stepped in to hear a matter between the Post Newspaper and Michael Sata saying even the current Chief Justice has authority to provide direction.

The SP leader was speaking to journalists shortly after appearing before the Magistrate Court in Lusaka for Mention in the Seditious Practices case he is facing.

“Clearly there is confusion over Sedition and Hàte Speech. The case we have in Kitwe where Pastor Duncan Simuchimba has been sentenced to nine months in prison for pr0testing over the demolition of a market, and he has been taken to prison for allegedly inciting vi0lence, that is crazy. The Chief Justice cannot just sit and wait and say he has no powers. He has powers to give direction, he can pick up some of these matters and give direction,” he said.

“There are crazy things happening in our críminàl Justice system especially with cases to do with freedom of expression; these are Seditious Practices and Hate Speech. Where there is confusion, the leadership of the justice system have a duty to give direction. The Chief Justice cannot wash his hands like Pontius Pirate, he must act.”

He also cited another instance where High Court Judges stepped in and got cases from the subordinate courts to give direction because there was confusion.

“I remember a case in which the late Justice Peter Chitengi stepped in to hear a matter that was in the subordinate court, brought into the High Court; direction was set. Clearly, there is confusion over sedition, over hàte speech.”

Meanwhile, Dr. M’membe’s lawyer Simon Mulenga Mwila said the SP leader will go back to court for commencement of trial on 25th February, 2025 in one of the Seditious Practices cases he is facing.

17/02/2025

ZAMBIA'S FUEL DEBT TO SUPPLIERS 'INCREASING IN ORDER TO REDUCE'

According to Patriotic Front (faction) President, Miles Sampa, other than in the fertilizer industry, the fuel sector is one area that has seen huge corruption and scandals since 2021.

He has cited Agro fuel and its owner Shashi Patel, in what he has termed a grande corruption scandal.

Miles Sampa says in 2021 Agro Fuel were given to run the Tazama pipeline from Dar es salaam to Indeni. The then not in use pipeline had stock worth millions of dollars that needed to be, or has to be, inside the pipeline at any point in time whether the line is operational or not.

Sampa, who is Matero Constituency member of parliament, has written that Agro fuel sold the stock they found in the pipeline and pocketed the money, sharing profits with whoever.

Then Government had to avail new funding to restock the pipe line so Shashi (a close associate of those in the corridors of power) can restart the pipeline operations.

Sampa says Agro Fuel was funded for the start up stock to be in the pipeline and for the one offloaded at Indeni for the last 4 years. Then a few weeks ago the nation was told his contract had been terminated as if they were told when he was contracted. On top of the first pipeline stock Agro fuel inherited and did not pay for, they made huge ‘stinking’ USD profits out of government and externalised.

This huge loot of money scrupulously made last 4 years by Agro fuel is what should have been used to liquidate the now almost doubled fuel debt between 2021 and 2025.

"Last week the Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote stated in Parliament that Zambia’s fuel debt was $597 million in 2021 (when the PF exited government) and now stands at $735 million as at Dec 31, 2024. Instead of the UPND government reducing the debt as the promised to, they have instead increased it by 23%. Their kokai theorem of “Increasing in order to Reduce definitely” definitely at play."

"Arithmetics are not adding up given that they essentially removed subsidy on fuel since 2021 and been selling fuel to motorists at market prices . This on top of the fuel levy (tax) that is slapped on consumers and toll gate fees gives the treasury millions of dollars surplus funds to have theirs fuel books."

So why has the UPND government not been liquidating the fuel debt. Surely, if they have money to undertake expensive unnecessary face redesign of the Kwacha, they also must have money to repay the fuel debt.

"The UPND government has had the capacity to liquidate this and all other local debts but they are just not good payers of what they owe to people or companies. They are WIIFU (What’s In It For Us) masters. before they can pay anyone otherwise they will never pay."

This has led to some oil companies owed to sue this government in international courts. The likes of Sahara Energy sued and won in a Belgium court. Won’t be surprised to hear bailiffs in action on the international scene against Zambia.

"Corruption has gone grande in Zambia and the fuel procurement by Agro Fuel is a classic example. The non payment and ballooning of the oil debt by government despite their promises to do so pre 2021, is another classic example of their “ Increasing in order to Reduce” faith and belief. How else to describe a debt to fuel suppliers growing from $597M to $735M in 4 years. Grande Corruption," wrote Miles Sampa. REDUCE'

According to Patriotic Front (faction) President, Miles Sampa, other than in the fertilizer industry, the fuel sector is one area that has seen huge corruption and scandals since 2021.

He has cited Agro fuel and its owner Shashi Patel, in what he has termed a grande corruption scandal.

Miles Sampa says in 2021 Agro Fuel were given to run the Tazama pipeline from Dar es salaam to Indeni. The then not in use pipeline had stock worth millions of dollars that needed to be, or has to be, inside the pipeline at any point in time whether the line is operational or not.

Sampa, who is Matero Constituency member of parliament, has written that Agro fuel sold the stock they found in the pipeline and pocketed the money, sharing profits with whoever.

Then Government had to avail new funding to restock the pipe line so Shashi (a close associate of those in the corridors of power) can restart the pipeline operations.

Sampa says Agro Fuel was funded for the start up stock to be in the pipeline and for the one offloaded at Indeni for the last 4 years. Then a few weeks ago the nation was told his contract had been terminated as if they were told when he was contracted. On top of the first pipeline stock Agro fuel inherited and did not pay for, they made huge ‘stinking’ USD profits out of government and externalised.

This huge loot of money scrupulously made last 4 years by Agro fuel is what should have been used to liquidate the now almost doubled fuel debt between 2021 and 2025.

"Last week the Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote stated in Parliament that Zambia’s fuel debt was $597 million in 2021 (when the PF exited government) and now stands at $735 million as at Dec 31, 2024. Instead of the UPND government reducing the debt as the promised to, they have instead increased it by 23%. Their kokai theorem of “Increasing in order to Reduce definitely” definitely at play."

"Arithmetics are not adding up given that they essentially removed subsidy on fuel since 2021 and been selling fuel to motorists at market prices . This on top of the fuel levy (tax) that is slapped on consumers and toll gate fees gives the treasury millions of dollars surplus funds to have theirs fuel books."

So why has the UPND government not been liquidating the fuel debt. Surely, if they have money to undertake expensive unnecessary face redesign of the Kwacha, they also must have money to repay the fuel debt.

"The UPND government has had the capacity to liquidate this and all other local debts but they are just not good payers of what they owe to people or companies. They are WIIFU (What’s In It For Us) masters. before they can pay anyone otherwise they will never pay."

This has led to some oil companies owed to sue this government in international courts. The likes of Sahara Energy sued and won in a Belgium court. Won’t be surprised to hear bailiffs in action on the international scene against Zambia.

"Corruption has gone grande in Zambia and the fuel procurement by Agro Fuel is a classic example. The non payment and ballooning of the oil debt by government despite their promises to do so pre 2021, is another classic example of their “ Increasing in order to Reduce” faith and belief. How else to describe a debt to fuel suppliers growing from $597M to $735M in 4 years. Grande Corruption," wrote Miles Sampa.

Zambia Weekly Report

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