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Zambian Witness, Lusaka (2026)

12/05/2016

PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU TO HOLD A SPECIAL PRESS CONFERENCE

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, mos Chanda has announced that President Edgar Lungu will hold a special press conference on Friday, 13th May 2016 at 11:00.

Mr Chanda said this in a press release issued today from State House, Lusaka.

18/03/2015

"I'M HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOUTH AFRICA," SAYS EMMANUEL MWAMBA

HIGH Commissioner-designate to Malaysia, Emmnauel Mwamba has announced on social media that he is actually High Commissioner of Zambia to the Republic of South Africa.

In an online verbal war with a blogger, Mwamba made his point clear that he was actually posted to Pretoria by President Edgar Lungu although no such official announcement has been made by State House.

The only official statement from State House indicates that President Lungu appointed Mwamba as High Commissioner to Malaysia, a position he has dilly-dallied to take up.

Initially, it was said that Mr Mwamba was undergoing training in diplomacy before he could report to his Kuala Lumpur. However, the continued delay to take up his appointment heightened media speculation that Mr Mwamba was acutally not happy with the appointment. Those close to the man revealed that he wanted a position in the government and that, if i were to be a diplomatic posting, he preferred South Africa which was close to home. This, observers say, is for obvious reasons.

In the photo is a screen capture of a post on Facebook by Mr Mwamba.

18/03/2015

IMMINENT KASAMA CENTRAL BY-ELECTION BREWS HOT FEUD IN PF

THE imminent by-election expected in Kasama Central should the seat be declared vacant has already heated up a fight within the Patriotic Front over who should contest to replace incumbent Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba.

Mr Mwamba was expelled from the Patriotic Front for supporting opposition United Party for National Development candidate, Hakainde Hichilema in the last Presidential by-election.

Now, it appears the PF will have a lot of drama, from internal mudslinging and name-calling, before the party finally settles for who should stand on its ticket.

And the feud is between two prominent rabble-rousers of the party: former MMD stalwart and civic awreness NGO leader Kelvin Mutale Sampa and Ambassador-designate for Malaysia Emmanuel Mwamba.

The feud is both on the ground and on social media.

Mwamba, who is yet to leave for his posting in Kuala Lumpur has openly expressed his intention to stand for the Kasama Central seat in the even it is declared vacant, a move that has displeased Kelvin Sampa who has been on the ground campaigning in the area.

Just a few days ago, Mr Sampa donated a 4-wheel drive vehicle to a market in Kasama in a move to bolster his support in the area. Sources reveal that he has made a lot of groundwork by visiting the PF's grassroot structures to canvass for support.

On the other hand, Emmanuel Mwamba has indicated that he is ready to take up the challenge "if the people of Kasama Central so wish" for him to be their MP. He has however not explained whether he will turn down the President's appointment as High Commissioner to Malaysia.

16/03/2015

RADISSON-BLU HOTEL CANCELS HH'S PRESS CONFERENCE RESERVATION AT SHORT NOTICE AS OTHER VENUES DENY HIM AUDIENCE

OPPOSITION UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema and his group were last night turned away from Radisson-Blu Hotel when management abruptly cancelled the party's reservation for a press conference today.

Hichilema and his organisers were called and informed that the hotel was not interested in hosting their press conference which was obviously ill-timed and seemingly ill-intended.

"You see, this is not the first time it is happening," an insider told a Witness. "It's like many people are getting tired of our man - they are saying he is too negative on anything, everything. So, they don't want to associate themselves with him. It's obvious."

Another insider also revealed that after the reservation was cancelled, HH bragged that they could pay for another venue.The insider said that they tried approaching two prominent hotels but were equally turned down as the hotels did not want to entertain HH.

After all efforts failed, around 2am,a meeting at HH's new residence in Lusaka's New Kasama resolved that the press conference be held at the UPND secretariat.

08/03/2015

LUNGU FALLS ILL, LEAVES WOMEN'S DAY EVENT MIDWAY

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu this morning failed to finish his programme at the International Women's Day event held at the Heroes Stadium in Lusaka. Gender Minister Prof Nkandu Luo took over the proceedings as the President left for hospitalisation.

The President later reassured the gathered crowd that there was nothing to worry about as he would be okey.

"I am not feeling too well, but it is not something that should worry the nation... the proceedings should continue... I will see you tomorrow," said President Lungu.

According to Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda, President Lungu had been diagnosed with malaria. However, he did not clarify when the President had been diagnosed with malaria.

Early in the morning, President Lungu was poised to address the annual event on the calendar as demanded of his office as Head of State.

President was immediately rushed to Maina Soko Military Hospital in Lusaka straight from the stadium.

12/02/2015

LUNGU ANNOUNCES HIS CABINET AS HE ASSUMES DEFENCE PORTFOLIO - UNSURE IF PROF LUO WILL ACCEPT

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu this morning announced the appointments o his Cabinet, save for the Ministry of Defence which portfolio he has assumed since he has "not found a suitable person for the it."

Address a press conference at State House this morning, the President also said he had not communicated with Munali MP, Prof Nkandu Luo after drafting her to be Minister for Gender and Child Development, but added that he was prepared to find a replacement in case she declined the appointment. H did not explain why he thinks she would decline the appointment nor why he failed to communicate with her before announcing his fresh appointments to complete his long-awaited Cabinet.

"I have not met the appointee to the Ministry of Gender. If she refuses the appointment, we are not short of man power. But the Ministry of Gender goes to Hon. Prof. Nkandu Luo, MP," President Lungu said.

Ndola Central MP (PF), Fackson Shamenda is back in the same capacity he served under the late Michael Sata's administration as Minister for Labour.

President Lungu has also apointed MMD MPs to his Cabinet. These are Michael Kaingu as Minister of Education and Chipangali MP, Vincent Mwale as Minister for Youth and Sport.

Kabwata MP Given Lubinda has also made an expectant "surprise" re-entry into government to be in charge of the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

President Lungu warned his new Cabinet that he would not hesitate to fire any minister for obvious reasons.

"I demand nothing short of excellence from my colleagues I am appointing into cabinet because we are in a hurry to develop Zambia," President Lungu said, adding, "Like in football, I take responsibility for the line-up, and I won't hesitate to make substitutions."

Conspicuously missing from his list are former Cabinet ministers such as nominated MP, Hon Robert Sichinga who headed the Ministry Commerce and Industry. His nomination to Paliament was revoked and he was replaced by international banker Margaret Mwanakatwe.

Others who have been left out from the previous administration are former Vice President, Guy Lindsay Scott, Emmanuel Chenda, Wilbur Simusa and Mwansa Kapeya.

Observers also expected President Lungu to appoint to Cabinet his strongest opponent at the PF primaries, Matero MP, Miles Sampa, who was Deputy MInister of Commerce and Industry in the Michael Sata. It is yet to be known if he will retain that portfolio. However, political commentators think President Lungu will not appoint Mr Sampa as he may be a threat at the next party elections before the 2016 General Elections.

The President said he would announce the appointments of deputy ministers at a later time.

Below is the full Cabinet:

President- Edgar Lungu
Minister of Defence - Edgar Lungu
VP - Inonge Wina
Justice - Ngosa Simbyakula
Finance - Alexander Chikwanda
Home Affairs -Davies Mwila
Foreign Affairs- Harry Kalaba
Health- Dr. Joseph Kasonde
Agriculture -Given Lubinda
Youth & Sport- Vincent Mwale
Tourism & Arts -Jean Kapata
Commerce- Margaret Duduzai Mwanakatwe
Mines, Energy - Christopher Bwalya Yaluma
Information and Broadcasting Services-Chishimba Kambwili
Lands and Natural Resources- Christabel Njimbu
Local Government-John Phiri
Labour -Fackson Shamenda
Community Develooment-Emerine Kabanshi
Chiefs& Traditional Affairs- Dr. Joseph Katema
Workd&Supply- Yamfwa Mukanga
Gender - Nkandu Luo
Education- Dr. Michael Kaingu

11/02/2015

CHISHIMBA KAMWBILI, NKANDU LUO IN LUNGU'S CABINET AFTER ALL

Leaks emanating from those close to President Edgar Lungu indicate that the President has slated former Sport and Youth minister Chishimba Kambwili for the Information and Broadcasting portfolio in his long-anticipated Cabinet.

President Lungu just returned from Mfuwe in Eastern Province of Zambia where he retreated for a working holiday, primarily to draft and make his appointments in his new administration.

Kambwili, the loud and rowdy Roan parliamentarian, has been visibly anxious to learn if Mr Lungu would retain him in the Cabinet.

This, though, is not officially confirmed. Should he be confirmed Minister for Information and Broadcasting, then Mr Kambwili will effectively be the Chief Government Spokesperson.

Other surprising Cabinet appointments likely to be announced are those of prodigal MP Given Lubinda, fired by the late President Sata for leaking information to the opposition UPND. Lubinda has been drafted for the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources & Environmental Protection.

Opposition MMD MPs Michael Kaingu (Education, Science, Vocational and Early Education) and Vincent Mwale (Youth and Sport) have also been considered, as has been out-of-favour Prof Nkandu Luo who is likely to bounce back into GRZ as Minister for Gender & Child Development.

MP Yamfwa Mukanga is likely to be announced as Minister for Transport, Works, Supply & Communications.

06/02/2015

LUNGU ON INDEFINITE TRIP TO ZIMBABWE

PRESIDENT LUNGU has "recessed" from his working holiday to pay a courtesy call on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe who happens to be the chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Barely a week into his scheduled working holiday in Mfuwe, President Lungu this morning left the country for Zimbabwe, delegating presidential authority to Vice President Inonge Wina.

According to Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda, "The President leaves for Harare this morning for a day’s trip to pay traditional courtesy call on the chairman of SADC, President Robert Mugabe. He will return here to proceed with his retreat to conclude the formation of government."

Prior to leaving, the President announced the appointment of four ambassadors-designate.

03/02/2015

LUNGU'S CABINET SLOWLY TAKES SHAPE AS SUSPENSE FILLS THE AIR

ANXIETY continues to captivate former ministers in the cabinet that was dissolved by newly-elected Zambian President, Edgar Lungu.

Since returning from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he went to attend an African Union heads of state summit, Mr Lungu has made few more appointments into his cabinet and the Zambia Police Service and Zambian Air Force.

The President made the appointments immediately upon his return but held the swearing-in today.

Notable among the latest appointments are those of City of Lusaka Mayor, Mulenga Sata who assumes the office of Deputy Minister at State House and international banker Margaret Mwanakatwe as Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry.

President Lungu initially had to nominate th two to Parliament, which is his prerogative as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia.

Another appointment of interest, that has sent more anxiety in the likes of Nkandu Luo, is that of Hon Joseph Katema who is now Minister for Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, a portfolio held by Prof Luo prior to the dissolution of Cabinet.

President Lungu also made several changes in the Zambia Police Service.

PHOTOS: Mr Lungu congratulates Hon Katema after he took his oath as Chiefs and Traditional Affairs minister. Nominated MPs Mulenga Sata and Margaret Mwanakatwe take their respective oath of office.

27/01/2015

PRESIDENT LUNGU FULFILS FIRST CAMPAIGN PRONOUNCEMENT

BARELY three days after his inauguration, Zambia’s 6th President, Edgar Lungu, has recognised Henry Chanda Sosala as the legitimate Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, putting to bed a controversial stand-off hatched by his predecessor, President Michael C. Sata, who vehemently refused to recognise Sosala as the duly elected Chitimukulu.

Mr Sosala was “elected” by a council of Bemba elders, also known as Bashilubemba, as the heir to the Chitmukulu throne after the predecessor died.

The statutory instrument recognising Paramount Chief Chitimukulu will be published in the Government Gazette this week. The President signed the Recognition Order under Section Three of the Chiefs Act, Chapter 287 of the Laws of Zambia.

Almost all candidates in the just held presidential by-election made the recognition of the Sosala as Chitimukulu an item of importance on their campaign list of to-do tasks as soon as they were elected.

22/01/2015

LUNGU LEADS IN CLOSE-CALL TWO-HORSE RACE WITH ONLY ONE CONSTITUENCY TO GO

(FROM OUR IMPECCABLE PVT SOURCE)

WITH an anxiety gripping the nation before the next results announcement expected at 23:00 by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), a Witness can reveal that the Patriotic Front’s candidate is headed for victory tonight.

Edgar Lungu is leading the race with 800,399 as UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema trails with 740,370 after a count of votes from 149 constituencies. That is a 60,029 votes separating the two front-runners in this by-election that seeks to elect a successor t the late President Michael C. Sata.

The impeccable source has confirmed that only Liuwa Constituency is yet to have it votes counted. Liuwa has 13,674 registered voters.
As the figures stand, from this impeccable parallel vote tabulation (PVT), the next President of the Republic of Zambia is definitely one Hon. Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

19/01/2015

UPND MP’S PLOT REFORM AFTER ELECTIONS AS INSIDER LABELS HH AS ARROGANT, CLUELESS

THE oppositon United Party for National Development is already beset with reform in the early days after the elections tomorrow, an impeccable Witness can reveal. And one insider has referred to UPND president Hakainde Hichilema as a clueless and arrogant political wanna-be.

As the nation gears for the Presidential by-election on Tuesday, 20 January 2015, cracks have appeared in the major opposition party, the UPND, over what a caucus of its Members of Parliament (MPs) have termed “the need to reform the party.”

A Witness to the can reveal that about 13 UPND MPs have been meeting during the campaign period to plot the “retirement” of Hichilema immediately after the elections as they are convinced their party cannot win elections under HH.

Sources say the MPs leading this reform group are MPs Cornelius Mweetwa and Gary Nkombo.

“You see, the problem we have in our party is that HH is very arrogant and does not take advice,” said the source, who added, “He brought in the Mwanawasas, Masebos, Dipaks and all without even consulting anyone n the party. This is not in order. It is disrespectful to other members of the party, especially the MPs who give the party is credibility.”

Insiders suggest that Meetwa and Nkombo have already positioned themselves to take over leadership and prepare the party for the 2016 General Elections.

“HH cannot help this party win an election,” said the source. “The earlier he realised that, the better for all. At the moment, he has allowed the party to be hijacked. People are not happy in here.”

There are rumours among the rank and file of the party that HH had promised Dipak Patel the vice presidency or finance ministry portfolio, a suggestion most UPND members are totally against.

“Do you think Mutati, Maureen, Patel are in it just to help us? No. A big no, my brother. HH has brokered deals ith these people, all in desperation,” the source said. “This is why people like Nkombo and Mweetwa have galvernised the original and genuine members of the party, the real stalwarts, to stand by their resolve and remove HH from the position. They say he has had his chance, actually more than what he deserves and he has not delivered. He is aware of this group, that is why he is threatening not to accept any loss to PF.”

HH has stood for the presidency for three times and on each time, his fortunes have dwindled than the past election tally.

It is yet to be seen if indeed the UPND will have a completely different face and structure after tomorrow, when they lose the by-election.

Zambian Witness

12/05/2016

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18/03/2015

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08/03/2015

12/02/2015

11/02/2015

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