LM MEDIA

22/09/2022

GOVERNMENT HAS RE-COMMISSIONED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE KAFULAFUTA DAM PROJECT IN MASAITI DISTRICT.

Water Development and Sanitation Minister MIKE MPOSHA says the project has stalled for years due to government debt defaults.

He, however, says the Ministry of Finance has released over US$7 million for the contractor to resume works.

Mr. MPHOSHA made the announcement in Lusaka yesterday.

He said government has so far spent over 280 million United States Dollars on the project whose completion works stand at 87 percent and is expected to be finalised by the end of 2023.

Meanwhile, Mr. MPOSHA said his ministry will this year drill 170 boreholes, install 80 piped water schemes and rehabilitate various dams countrywide.

LM MEDIA

19/09/2022

Idealism Vs Realism: The Case of the UPND

Idealism: Ideally we all want a government whose operations are independent from the behavior and operations of the political party. We do wish to live in a society where opportunities are distributed freely to all who qualify without consideration of one’s political affiliation. Public resources distributed evenly to all.

We all want to live in this ideal society BUT who will build it?

The Realism demands that the UPND leadership must be realistic and respond to the cries of their members BEFORE those of the general public. Realists are demanding that President Hichilema should reward his supporters with jobs by firing all those that worked with his predecessor. The claim is that those that were employed by Mr Lungu are still loyal to Mr Lungu and would do everything to make the current president fail. You will hear these concerns in bus stations from the youths who believe they fought and sacrificed for the UPND to win power. These believe that they should be allowed in Bus stations and markets for them harvest monetary benefits. The argument is that these have the interests of the party at heart. They would protect and promote the partisan agenda better compared to those that were employed under the PF.

The two opposing schools of thought deserve some attention in analyzing the situation and finding a cure. It is only a few weeks ago when my elder, Uncle K. B. F claimed that the UPND had taken their stinginess into government. This was echoed by The Mast Newspaper in their editorial. I struggled to understand what exactly uncle KBF was suggesting to the people in power. What does the generosity of politicians in power mean? The PF bragged that President Lungu was very generous, he was popular for being the Man with the money bag. Since President Lungu left power, has he continued to throw money around like he used to? Is this what we expect from the UPND in power now? Are we asking them to be generous now that they have their hands plugged to the national coffers?

The realists are expecting President Hichilema to play politics as usual. Politically, the realist thing to do for President Hakainde is to use the state power and resources to strengthen his party and please the members of his party for him to win the next elections. Politically, it is expected that the ruling party should be above the law, that is why when the High Court judgement to stay the elections was pronounced, people were quick to laugh and mock the UPND because realistically, they expect the President to have enough power to manipulate judges and the courts. When it was clear that it was not the case, many people felt it was embarrassing and out of touch.

My conclusion is that, we all want to live in a better society but refuse to create it ourselves. We want to fight evil not because we believe it is bad for our country but because it is not benefiting us. The problem is that the demands we are placing on President Hakainde Hichilema will grow and one day he will give in. The day the UPND members will succeed in pressuring the President and government to prioritize partisan needs, we will have damaged him the same way president Lungu was damaged by his supporters.
The government of a republic is answerable and should be accountable to the people regardless of the diversity in political affiliations. The mandate to deliver development is beyond partisan politics.

The UPND as a party must guard itself and improve the demands from their leaders. Criminal demands will produce criminal actions. It is true the party needs to address the economic challenges of its members but that should not compromise or deny those those outside the UPND the chance to benefit from the national wealth.

Goodnight

https://www.facebook.com/100043974916561/posts/640084117467413/?sfnsn=mo

Idealism Vs Realism: The Case of the UPND

Idealism: Ideally we all want a government whose operations are independent from the behavior and operations of the political party. We do wish to live in a society where opportunities are distributed freely to all who qualify without consideration of one’s political affiliation. Public resources distributed evenly to all.

We all want to live in this ideal society BUT who will build it?

The Realism demands that the UPND leadership must be realistic and respond to the cries of their members BEFORE those of the general public. Realists are demanding that President Hichilema should reward his supporters with jobs by firing all those that worked with his predecessor. The claim is that those that were employed by Mr Lungu are still loyal to Mr Lungu and would do everything to make the current president fail. You will hear these concerns in bus stations from the youths who believe they fought and sacrificed for the UPND to win power. These believe that they should be allowed in Bus stations and markets for them harvest monetary benefits. The argument is that these have the interests of the party at heart. They would protect and promote the partisan agenda better compared to those that were employed under the PF.

The two opposing schools of thought deserve some attention in analyzing the situation and finding a cure. It is only a few weeks ago when my elder, Uncle K. B. F claimed that the UPND had taken their stinginess into government. This was echoed by The Mast Newspaper in their editorial. I struggled to understand what exactly uncle KBF was suggesting to the people in power. What does the generosity of politicians in power mean? The PF bragged that President Lungu was very generous, he was popular for being the Man with the money bag. Since President Lungu left power, has he continued to throw money around like he used to? Is this what we expect from the UPND in power now? Are we asking them to be generous now that they have their hands plugged to the national coffers?

The realists are expecting President Hichilema to play politics as usual. Politically, the realist thing to do for President Hakainde is to use the state power and resources to strengthen his party and please the members of his party for him to win the next elections. Politically, it is expected that the ruling party should be above the law, that is why when the High Court judgement to stay the elections was pronounced, people were quick to laugh and mock the UPND because realistically, they expect the President to have enough power to manipulate judges and the courts. When it was clear that it was not the case, many people felt it was embarrassing and out of touch.

My conclusion is that, we all want to live in a better society but refuse to create it ourselves. We want to fight evil not because we believe it is bad for our country but because it is not benefiting us. The problem is that the demands we are placing on President Hakainde Hichilema will grow and one day he will give in. The day the UPND members will succeed in pressuring the President and government to prioritize partisan needs, we will have damaged him the same way president Lungu was damaged by his supporters.
The government of a republic is answerable and should be accountable to the people regardless of the diversity in political affiliations. The mandate to deliver development is beyond partisan politics.

The UPND as a party must guard itself and improve the demands from their leaders. Criminal demands will produce criminal actions. It is true the party needs to address the economic challenges of its members but that should not compromise or deny those those outside the UPND the chance to benefit from the national wealth.

Goodnight

19/09/2022

ZAMBIA GRATEFUL TO KING CHARLES III FOR INVITING HH TO QUEEN ELIZABETH'S FUNERAL

LONDON, Sept 19, 2022

ZAMBIA has expressed gratitude to His Majesty King Charles III for inviting President Hakainde Hichilema to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London.

The late Monarch, who died on September 8, 2022 was put to rest today (September 19, 2022) at St. George's Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle, one of the late Queen's favourite homes and where her late husband, Prince Philip was laid to rest.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mulambo Haimbe S.C., who was the President's special representative, attended activities ahead of the burial, which included the laying in state and signing the book of condolence.

He described the occasion as sombre and at the same time a celebration of a great life in Queen Elizabeth.

Mr Haimbe said President Hichilema would have loved to be personally present but the "vagaries of his office could not allow him hence sending him as his representative.

"We did pass our commiseration to the people of the UK on the passing of a great icon," he said.

Mr Haimbe said Zambia was comforted to see that the whole world was in London to bid farewell to an iconic leader not just for the UK but the entire world.

"We as Zambia have registered our presence and we signed the book of condolence yesterday (Sunday, September 18, 2022) at Lancaster House and we were able to pay our last respects when we were given the opportunity to do so," he said.

Mr Haimbe said King Charles III's invitation to President Hichilema forges stronger relations between Zambia and the United Kingdom.

"I am sure the bilateral relations under the stewardship of His Majesty the King will continue to grow from strength to strength," said Mr Haimbe, who was accompanied by Mr Donald Pelekamoyo, the Chargé d Affaires at the Zambian High Commission in London.

While here, Mr Haimbe had occasion to interact with a number of world leaders.

He also engaged British Minister of Justice Brandon Lewis.

The Minister also passed President Hichilema's greetings to African Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Kenya's William Ruto, Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Namibia's Hage Geingob.

Issued by
Speedwell Mupuchi
First Secretary - Press
London

19/09/2022

Trending News:

KBF DESTROYED EVIDENCE AGAINST PF MUSIC PROMOTER KALANDANYA SAYS CORNELIUS MWEETWA

UPND Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has said that Zambia Must Prosper president Kelvin Fube Bwalya who is known as KBF was not appointed by President Hakainde Hichilema because just the moment UPND won elections he started going to Anti Corruption Commission and DEC to destroy evidences against Bwalya Kalandanya.

Mweetwa says KBF went to ACC and lied that he was sent by President Hakainde Hichilema to collect an investigation file of Kalandanya.

According to Mweetwa KBF collected the file on a premise of destroying evidence so that Kalandanya is not prosecuted. Meanwhile, Cornelius Mweetwa also said that KBF started going round to all suspected criminals from the PF administration to obtain money from them saying he would protect them.

Earlier this week, Mweetwa said he would spill the beans of why KBF was not appointed as Minister by Hichilema. The UPND Spokesperson says KBF was not appointed by Edgar Lungu and Sata because he loves money and is untrustworthy. – Zambian Accurate Information

Credit: Zambian Observer

14/09/2022

News On The Go

WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THIS COUNTRY– Mr Mumbai

WE don’t have any option, we need to clean up this country to continue to command the respect of the international community, says MMD leader Nevers Mumba.

Featuring on Capital FM on Thursday, Mumba said PF should not feel they are being persecuted by President Hakainde Hichilema when they are called to account for their wrong.

“President Hakainde said something to me shortly after he became President. He was President-elect when I met him. He said ‘my brother, I do not want to do to these colleagues in the Patriotic Front (PF) what they did to me because if I do that then I am not different from them’. I think he has lived true to that word,” he said. “The crying that is coming from our colleagues that they are being persecuted, this is a process that cannot be stopped by himself (President Hichilema) as a leader of the country. If he stops that process, then he interferes with the democratic process of our country which we have all been crying for. The reason why it looks like persecution is so many are being called and interrogated by these agencies. Too much was committed. Too many wrongs were done which translates into many cases and too many appearances.”

Mumba said anyone in the PF that had sin in them must pay the price.

“Is this President overdoing it? I can tell you he is under doing it because the good thing is he has allowed the government institutions to do this. If we don’t do this, we are going to go back to what we used to do and what we used to be. For us as MMD and me as a minister of the gospel, we don’t have any option. We need to clean up this country to continue to command the respect of the international community,” Mumba said.

And Mumba said anyone that wished to take up the leadership of the PF must disassociate themselves from the party’s previous wrong doing.

“Anyone who wants to become president in PF, if we may help them, is that president who is going to say ‘Zambian people we have offended you. That is why you removed us from office’. This place was hell on earth for some of us that are in politics. I did not feel like a Zambian. If I say something, I am at the police station,” he recalled. “Anyone who is going to become president of PF must first distance himself from that old PF by saying ‘I am not going to represent values of last Patriotic Front’. They need to come clean on the fact that they were responsible for what happened and they will never do it again. If they don’t do that they are wasting their time in trying to be relevant. They injured a lot of people and people are not happy. That is why I am concerned about some of them that show arrogance when they are being questioned by investigative wings. That behaviour is over. Humble yourself so that people know you are responsible for their pain.”

Mumba said too many arrests signified too much dirt and evil.

“The courts are busy. The investigative wings are busy because of many questions our colleagues in PF left behind. So they cannot expect that it will be a slow process,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Mumba hoped that outgoing Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta could congratulate President-elect William Ruto following the confirmation by the Supreme Court that he was duly elected.

“We wish William Ruto well. I am glad that he is a believer in Christ and he is going to unite and galvanise that country. We also want to use this opportunity to thank Raila Odinga for his gracious conceding to what has happened. That is the way it should be. And Kenya does not need any more uprising and bloodshed and we play that this is going to be replicated across the African continent,” said Mumba. “The peace out there in Kenya, the peace out there in Angola, translates into the peace out here in Zambia and Southern Africa.”

LM MEDIA

07/09/2022

NO WOMAN SHOULD DIE WHILE GIVING BIRTH..as Health Minister echoes presidential policy on maternal health

HEALTH Minister Sylvia Masebo says her ministry is working to implement President Hakainde Hichilema's policy directive to ensure all health facilities in the country have maternity annexes.

Ms Masebo explained that the directive was aimed at addressing maternal mortality, as no mother deserved to die while giving birth.

The minister said this when Mayfair Global Logistics handed over a motorbike to Nyoka rural health centre of Kasempa District, held at Ndeke House in Lusaka.

"Transport is very important for quality service delivery and where it is absent, the health service delivery remains a pipe dream" said Ms Masebo

Ms Masebo further bemoaned the plight of expecting mothers in rural settings who have to cover long distances to access maternal health services hence stressing the need for proper transportation.

She hailed the Kasempa local authorities for creating an enabling environment for investors in the locality to plough back to the community and support provision of health services to the people.

And Kasempa Council Chairperson Brian Kakonkanya said the equipment was appropriate for the terrain adding that mortorcycles were appropriate for narrow roads in the catchment area.

Meanwhile, Acting Director Public Health Dr Angel Mwiche says the donated equipment was ideal for community outreaches, immunization programmes and delivery supplies within the catchment area of health facilities.

The donation was witnessed by Kasempa Council Chairperson Brian Kakonkanya, Lusaka Mayor Chilando Chitangala, Honda Managing Director Nicholas Comana and directors from the ministry of health.

LM MEDIA

02/09/2022

ZAMBIAN KWACHA BREAKS WORLD RECORD

The Zambian Kwacha, one of the worst in recent years, has stabilized to become the second-performing currency in the world.

This happened only a year after Zambia’s opposition United Party for National Development leader, Hakainde Hichilema, defeated Edgar Lungu of the revolutionary Patriotic Front party and became President.

The celebrated Zambian President Hichilema announced Wednesday, that they had managed to tame inflation.

He posted on Twitter:

The inflation rate is under control. The Zambian Kwacha has stabilized and is getting stronger against major foreign currencies. Zambia is rising and ultimately the cost of living will be fixed.

24/08/2022

News On The Go:

NO BRIBES FOR JOBS – HH

President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA says No Zambian should pay a bribe in order to be employed.

President HICHILEMA said his administration will ensure it maintains transparency in the country’s recruitment process.

He also said his government will ensure fairness in the delivery of services to citizens.

The President was speaking when he hosted a luncheon for representatives of beneficiaries of Government policies and innovators at State House.

President HICHILEMA further said access to education is a right of every citizen and that his Administration will ensure it fights corruption so that the country’s resources are preserved.

And CATHERINE CHILUFYA, a parent whose children have benefited from the free education policy, thanked President HICHILEMA for the initiative saying she was unable to pay for her children’s school fees before the policy.

Meanwhile, DIANA ZULU, a newly recruited nurse thanked President HICHILEMA for transparency in the recruitment process.

And representing Taxi Drivers, JOSEPH KAYABO a taxi driver from Bauleni Township in Lusaka, thanked President HICHILEMA for ensuring that political cadres are removed from bus stations and markets.

LM MEDIA

05/08/2022

Breaking News:

WOMAN DIES ON LUKULU RIVER IN CHIUNDAPONDE

A woman has died on Lukulu river in Chiundaponde after a boat capsized and the body is yet to be retrieved from the river...

More details will be given in due time.

LM MEDIA

28/07/2022

Just In:

GOVT RECRUITS OVER 11,000 HEALTH WORKERS

Government has recruited over 11,000 health workers countrywide.

Acting Health Minister CHUSHI KASANDA says the recruitment process has been done in a professional and transparent manner.

Ms. KASANDA says 137, 129 applications were received.

And Ms. KASANDA has called on unsuccessful applicants not to worry as Government will plan for the future recruitment of more Health workers due to the high demand of human resource in the sector.

Ms. KASANDA, who is also Information and Media Minister, adds that names of successful applicants will be published in various print media outlets tomorrow.

And speaking at the same briefing, Civil Service Commission Chairperson PETER MUMBA said the recruitment of the Health workers will contribute to the delivery of quality health care in the country.

LM MEDIA

21/07/2022

ports News:
South Africa vs Zambia.

SETHIOPIAN REFEREE DELETES SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT, BLAMES VAR FOR POOR CALL

Ethiopian referee Lydia Tafessa Abebe who was in charge of first WAFCON semifinal match between Zambia and South Africa has deactivated all her social media accounts.
The Ethiopian has been showered with unpalatable messages by Zambians who feel her decision to award South Africa a penalty in the last minute was unfair and bias.

However , Ethiopian journalist Hassan Mahi has told African football greats that the referee has deactivated her social media accounts and agreed that the decision is questionable but blamed the video assistant referees for calling her to review the incident as they made her feel compelled to give South Africa a penalty.

Recall that South Africa progressed to the Final of the 2022 WAFCON after beating Zambia 1-0 through a questionable penalty.

LM MEDIA

21/07/2022

News On The Go:

MINISTRY OF TOURISM NEEDS OVER 4,000 WILDLIFE OFFICERS-Sikumba

Tourism Minister RODNEY SIKUMBA says the ministry has a deficit of over 4,800 wildlife police officers in the country.

Mr. SIKUMBA says this has made it difficult for the ministry to manage the human animal conflicts which have continued to affect the lives of communities around game reserve areas.

He says plans are underway to employ over 450 wildlife police officers to help in mitigating the human animal conflict.

The Minister says currently there are currently 1,575 wildlife police officers spread across the country.

Mr. SIKUMBA notes that with limited funding, the ministry is engaging various partners to work with Government to manage the human-animal conflict.

The Minister said this when he met Members of the Parliament and also Members of the Parliamentary Conservation Caucus, who were raising concerns at the continued human animal conflict that has left a trail of destruction.

Mr. SIKUMBA further revealed that the ministry plans to review the wildlife act which will address among other things the human animal conflict.

LM MEDIA