3148-22-30/11/23

No 1611 K10 www.diggers.news Friday November 24, 2023

SEXUAL HEALING
Lusaka
man kills
baby after
bouncing at

GOES BAD
girlfriend’s
P
By Nakaonga Nakaonga
OLICE in Lusaka have arrested popular pastor
John General for allegedly raping a Matero woman
who was seeking prayers to make her stop having
house

O
miscarriages every time she gets pregnant. By Muzamba Siandizya
According to a statement from Police spokesperson Rae N Monday,
Hamoonga, John General escaped by jumping over the fence 3 6 - y e a r -
after being caught in the act by the victim’s husband. old Vinlay
Sialwiindi’s life changed
Story on Page 4 forever, after he and his

Pastor John General bolts naked

wife watched his cousin’s
boyfriend murder his
one-month-three-weeks
old son, Patrick.
Narrating the ordeal,
Sialwiindi said his

as hubby catches him ‘raping’ wife

neighbour, 28-year-old
Musonda Muluma had
gone to his house in search
of the former’s cousin.
Story on Page 2

KCM owes Zesco

$500m, reveals
Mapani
Z
By Ulande Nkomesha
ESCO Managing
Director Victor
Mapani has revealed that Konkola Copper Mines
(KCM) owes the utility

TIZ
company $500 million.
And Mapani says there
are no risks of the country

honours
experiencing load shedding
because Zesco has put in place
some mitigation measures like

DPP
the importation of power from
Story on Mozambique.
Page 3 Story on Page 5

Mukula verbatim
continues Story on Page 6
3146-13-29/11/23
3147-22-30/11/23
2. Local News
O Lusaka man
By Muzamba Siandizya
N Monday, 36-year-
old Vinlay Sialwiindi’s
life changed forever,
after he and his wife watched
his cousin’s boyfriend murder
his one-month-three-weeks
old son, Patrick.
Narrating the ordeal,
Sialwiindi said his neighbour,
28-year-old Musonda Muluma
had gone to his house in search
of the former’s cousin.
He said Muluma threatened
that someone would die if he
did not see his girlfriend.
“What happened is that
when I knocked off from work,
I reached home and found my
wife and then she told me the
neighbour in the other flat, we
are within the same yard, came
and beat the door. He wants
the cousin that you keep, her
phone is off so he wants you
to call your cousin so that you
can get hold of her. That’s how
I came out of the house and
he saw me. Before I could say
anything, he said ‘chimudala
(derogatory term for man),
you will see today, where is
Miyoba?’ Miyoba is my cousin,
she’s at Eden University doing
nursing,” he said.
“Then I asked him why
Kasanda’s
lover in
court for
allegedly
assaulting
his wife’s
relative
L
By Taonga Tembo
u s a k a
businessman
S e d r i c k
Kasanda’s alleged lover
Rumbidzai Chibanda
has been dragged to
court for allegedly
assaulting a woman
believed to be his wife’s
relative.
Chibanda is
charged with one count
of assault occasioning
bodily harm Contrary
to Section 248 of the
Penal Code Chapter 87
of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of
the offence are that
Chibanda, on August
29, 2023, in Lusaka,
jointly and whilst acting
together with other
persons unknown, did
assault Hart Michelle
thereby occasioning
actual bodily harm.
When the matter
came up for allocation
before Chief Resident
Magistrate Davies
Chibwili, he allocated
the matter to Magistrate
Kigan Litiya.
Magistrate Litiya
set November 27, 2023
for plea.
Earlier in October,
Chibanda dragged
Kasanda’s wife Lauren
Rhaphelle to court
on similar charges to
which the latter pleaded
not guilty to and trial is
yet to commence.
V Nalumango highlights
kills baby after
bouncing at
girlfriends house
he asked me about Miyoba. I
then asked him to either call
or follow her where she was.
He then responded saying
‘someone will die today’ and
that’s how he rushed to the gate
and locked it. After locking
the gate, I was standing,
because I thought I was just
having a conversation with
my neighbour. After locking
the gate, he went straight into
his house, got a bag and came
close to where I was standing,
removed a knife from that
bag and started sharpening
it on the floor since our yard
has got cement all over. After
sharpening it, he tried to stab
me on the chest but I held
his hand that had the knife, I
pushed him down and that’s
how I went back into the house
to avoid him”.
Sialwiindi said Muluma
then mobilised some friends
and broke down his door.
“Unfortunately, he
organised his friends to come
and broke the door and entered
the house. He came to me
and tried to stab me on the
chest, I held onto the knife
and swerved. After I swerved,
he rushed to get the baby who
was sleeping on the sofa. I was
unable to follow him because
the friends started beating me
and it was hard for me to fight
back. After he hit the baby, he
said ‘whoever comes near, I will
stab the baby’. It was difficult
for anybody to reach near him
because they were afraid the
baby would be stabbed. He
spun the baby in the air and
then hammered his head on the
floor. That’s how the baby was
rushed to hospital but he was
pronounced dead and I also
went to get stitches on my hand
due to cuts from the knife that
he attempted to stab me with.
According to the information
I gathered, Miyoba was going
out with the same young man
but the relationship became
sour, they started fighting and
she blocked the number and by
virtue of me being the cousin,
that’s how I suffered this
problem,” Sialwiindi narrated.
He said he never wanted
Muluma to come out of prison
because he is a danger to
society.
“I want this guy to never
come out to society, he is a
criminal, he will kill other
people. That guy if the police
never came, he would have
killed all the people in that
yard when he locked the gate.
He is a danger to society, he
doesn’t deserve to live, he was
supposed to be eliminated
somewhere. Society must be
clean. If you’re an educated
person with proper education,
you cannot do what that person
did. He has been saying he
works for (named bank). Now,
I’m wondering what kind of a
bank keeps criminals. What I
know is that things are resolved
through conversations unlike
www.diggers.news
using knives and guns. I want
the government to keep him
wherever they will keep him but
he should not come to society.
He might not kill you today but
he might kill somebody else.
That guy should be caged for
life. He doesn’t deserve to live
in the society, such people we
should not condone them in
the society,” he said.
He said his wife was
depressed and he recalled that
even Maluma’s parents had
pleaded with him not to kill
anyone.
“My wife is depressed,
imagine a one month three
weeks baby is killed. She has
not even healed. She was not
attacked but she pleaded,
asking him what the boy had
done to him but the guy didn’t
listen to anyone. He didn’t
listen to his father and sister
who helped plead together with
my wife. His mission was to kill
but I can only speculate that
he does drugs. I have opened
a police docket for the people
I saw entering my house and
helped attack me. I believe that
today, they will be arrested,”
said Sialwiindi.
In a statement, Tuesday,
Police Spokesperson Rae
Hamoonga confirmed the
murder.
“Police in Matero have
detained Musonda Muluma
aged 28 of Zingalume
compound in Lusaka on
allegations of having killed
a one month old baby. It is
alleged that on November 20,
2023, at around 19:30 hours
the suspect went to look for
his girlfriend at her uncle’s
place within Zingalume. Upon
reaching his girlfriend’s place,
he noticed that she was not
around, then he decided to
force himself inside the house
and found the girlfriend’s uncle
and the wife seated while their
baby was sleeping. Afterwards,
he threatened to kill the couple
and the baby because they
declined telling him where his
girlfriend was. He then lifted
up the baby and started hitting
him against the ground,” stated
Hamoonga.
“The father tried to
rescue the baby but he was
overpowered by the suspect
who produced a knife which
he used to stab him on the
right arm. Police visited the
scene of crime and managed
to apprehend the suspect
with help of the members of
the public. The victims were
rushed to George Clinic where
the baby was pronounced dead
upon arrival whilst the father is
admitted in the same Hospital.
The body of the deceased
was deposited in University
Teaching Hospital mortuary
awaiting postmortem. The
suspect is detained in police
custody waiting to be charged
and appear in court soon”.
Patrick was put to rest on
Wednesday.
Friday November 24, 2023
By Mwiche Nalwimba
ICE President Mutale
Nalumango says the
challenges in improving
covid-19 pandemic,
the Russia–Ukraine war and
other regional conflicts have
caused a surge in global oil
living standards
and food prices which has in
turn had a negative effect on
basic commodity prices.
And COMESA Secretary
General Chileshe Kapwepwe
says COMESA and the
European Union have signed
two Financing Agreements
which will provide new grants
to COMESA valued at €48.2
million.
Meanwhile, European
Union Ambassador to Zambia
and COMESA Karolina Stasiak
says The Global Community is
grappling with the profound
effects of climate change and
environmental degradation.
Speaking during the
COMESA 44th Council of
Ministers meeting, Thursday, “Despite our countries opportunities that come
being endowed with vast along with global challenges,
Vice-President Nalumango
highlighted challenges natural resources, including such as climate change,
minerals, agricultural and making trade more
affecting government’s ability
to improve people’s living land and attractive sites, sustainable and will further
our people remain poor contribute to enhancing the
standards.
“The covid-19 pandemic, and vulnerable to various overall competitiveness of
economic shocks. This is one enterprises, which provide
the Russia – Ukraine war and
more reason why we should services, including through
other regional conflicts have
join hands to forge ahead digital platforms. With respect
caused a surge in global oil
with our regional integration to the market performance
and fuel prices, food items
agenda, which offers and key achievements in
and agricultural inputs, which
opportunities to add value the implementation of
has had a negative effect
and enhance productivity, our programmes; In 2022,
on basic commodity prices
generate employment COMESA’s exports to the
owing to disruption of global
opportunities and increase world increased by 15% while
supply chains, tightening of
household income earnings. the value of intra-COMESA
global financial conditions
It also stimulates growth and exports increased by 10%.
and heightened market
expansion of the private sector Imports sourced from the
volatility. These developments
and business opportunities. COMESA market were
have placed severe fiscal
As we move forward, it is ranked in fourth position and
and exchange rate pressures
important to leverage on the increased by 27% in 2022,”
across many countries in the
opportunities offered under said Kapwepwe said.
COMESA region. Further,
the COMESA-EAC-SADC Kapwepwe said inadequate
the region is grappling with
tripartite free trade area infrastructure in the region
the adverse impact of climate
and the African continental remained one of the major
change which cannot be
free trade area,” said Vice- constraints to economic
ignored, as Africa is the
President Nalumango. growth and development.
most affected region. These
And Kapwepwe said She added that COMESA
challenges pose risks to the
COMESA and the EU and the African Union
gains that the region has
had signed two Financing launched a joint and fully
made in reducing poverty
Agreements which would integrated observer mission to
and improving the standards
improve the overall trade Zimbabwe in July 2023.
of living of our people,” Vice
competitiveness of COMESA Meanwhile, Stasiak said
President Nalumango said.
member states while seeking the Global Community was
“This, therefore,
underscores the need for the opportunities that came along grappling with the profound
region to prioritise and refocus with global challenges. effects of climate change and
on key areas that contribute to “I am glad to inform environmental degradation.
development, productivity and this meeting that on “The Global Community
competitiveness. Prioritisation Monday 20th November, is grappling with the profound
should be based on value 2023, COMESA and the effects of climate change and
addition, diversification and European Union signed two environmental degradation. In
embracing new technologies, Financing Agreements which light of these global challenges,
all with due consideration will provide new grants to we must work together to
to the protection of our COMESA with a total value make trade thorough and more
environment”. of EUR 48.2 million. The two sustainable. Green investment
She said there was need programmes will focus on holds the key to creating more
to join hands to forge ahead improving the overall trade job opportunities for the youth
with the regional integration competitiveness of COMESA in the COMESA region and in
agenda. member states, while seeking Europe fostering industrial
growth and revitalizing
Bowman gets police bond
relations between our two
continents,” said Stasiak.
“I am pleased to announce
that together with the Secretary
P
By Muzamba Siandizya General, we signed two key
OLICE in Kabwe have formally arrested and regional support programmes
charged PF faction deputy chairperson of on Monday. The first one being
mobilisation Bowman Lusambo and others for the the Trade Competitiveness and
offence of unlawful assembly. Market Access Programme
In a statement, Thursday, Police spokesperson Rae and the second, the Trade in
Hamoonga stated that all the suspects had been released on services Programme. These
police bond and would appear in court soon. two actions will provide
“Police in Kabwe of Central Province have today grounds to COMESA of
formally jointly arrested and charged Bowman Lusambo over EUR 48 million and
aged 47 of Chamba Valley in Lusaka, Saidi Chibwana aged focus on improving trade
52 of industrial area in Kabwe, Matthews Changwe aged competitiveness and trade in
39 of Kasanda Mine area in Kabwe, Martin Simfukwe aged services. Additionally, we have
44 of Makululu Compound in Kabwe and Billy Sichamba numerous programs in the
aged 52 of Bwacha in Kabwe for the offence of Unlawful pipelines which are dedicated
Assembly Contrary to Section 74 and 75 of the Penal Code to trade and transport
Act Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. The offence is alleged facilitation, competition and
to have been committed on November 2, 2023 at Kabwe consumer products, safety,
town centre along the Great North Road in Kabwe District. e-commerce and e-payments
All the suspects have been released on police bond. They and the transition from a
will appear in court soon,” said Hamoonga. linear to a circular economy”.
Friday November 24, 2023
T
By Angela Muchinshi
R A N S PA R E N C Y
International
Zambia (TIZ) has
awarded Director of Public
Prosecution (DPP) Gilbert
Phiri for being the most
influential local Anti-
Corruption actor.
TIZ has also
posthumously awarded
former Swedish Ambassador
to Zambia Anna Maj
Hultgard for being the most
Influential international
Anti-Corruption actor in
2023.
During the first ever
Anti-Corruption Awards
Gala to recognise the
contributions people were
making to the graft fight in
Livingstone, Tuesday, TIZ
Executive Director Maurice
Nyambe said Phiri had
demonstrated a passionate
endeavour to graft fight, both
in his past and current roles.
Nyambe said Phiri’s
role required a fearless
determination to do
what was right, which he
Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri (r) receiving the
award of Most Influential Local Anti-Corruption actor.
S
By Mwenya Mofya
USPENDED PF
National Chairman
Davies Chama says he
is still waiting to see what
strategies former president
Edgar Lungu has put in
place in order to actualise
his pronouncements of fixing
the former ruling party after
returning to politics.
In an interview, Chama
said he was praying for the PF
leadership so that they could
get the wisdom to correct
things in the party.
“I had a meeting with
somebody who came to me
and said we are waiting for
things to happen but things
are not happening. Because
someone said he is coming to
fix this, to do this. I said I’m
also waiting to find out what is
going to happen. What action
is being taken to make sure that
things are corrected and unity
that we all desire, working
together as a family can be
fortified? What strategies are
there? What pronouncements
have been made to make sure
that we start mending and
working as a team? I haven’t
heard anything. Maybe I have
not been following because
I am not following what’s
happening. So, ask those
people. I heard someone
say ‘they’ve come to fix this,
they’ve come to remove the
factions, chancers will be
controlled, all these things
will be controlled’. So, we are
waiting for those things to be
TIZ honours Gilbert Phiri for his
contribution to corruption fight
demonstrated.
And Phiri said he had
discovered that fighting
corruption was his calling.
“This is going to steer
me on to do even better, to
dedicate myself even more
to the cause. We have to be
fearless if we have to win
this war, we must carry the
young people along with
us and have a very long
term goal to transform our
society. I see hope, I know
that we can do it. For a long
time, I was in the private
sector, and when I came into
public service, I discovered
something that has always
been latent in me, my two
jobs, Anti Corruption, now
at the National Prosecution
Authority don’t, in fact, feel
like jobs, it’s a passion, it’s not
about a salary, it’s a calling. I
We’re still waiting to see how
Lungu will fix PF – Chama
done and we’re praying about
it. We’re praying for them so
that they may have the wisdom
and everything to help them to
correct things,” he said.
“Whenever you do
something, you need to know
where things will end up.
You need to have dissenting
wisdom whenever you’re
doing something. If you
don’t do that, then probably
you’re not trained sufficiently.
Whatever action you take,
there will either be a reaction
or consequences. If you don’t
know that as a person, then I
don’t know what to tell you. I
don’t want to sound insulting
to anybody, that maybe they
are less intelligent, no. That’s
why I say that our orientation
is very different. So, the entire
matrix, I don’t understand it.
Maybe I have been too naive.
So, I want to give them space
without me distracting them.
There are a lot of requests, a lot
of people saying ‘ba chairman,
stay quiet for now’. And I said
yes, I don’t comment or say
anything so that people who
are intelligent and smart can
see how these things can work
out and how solutions can be
www.diggers.news
thank God that this has been
recognised,” said Phiri.
The Zambia Police,
Zambia Revenue Authority,
Road Transport and Safety
Agency were also recognised
for being the most improved
public institutions in the
2022 Zambia bribe payers
index.
Southern Province Police
Commissioner Auxensio
Daka thanked TIZ for
recognising their “small
steps”.
“I want to thank TIZ
Halting of health recruitment saddens ZMA
T
By Muzamba Siandizya
HE Zambia Medical
Association says
it is disappointed
with government’s decision
to halt the 2023 health
workers recruitment
process.
On Tuesday, Health
Minister Sylvia Masebo
said the Civil Service
Commission had directed
that the 2023 recruitment
process for health workers
be halted until further
notice.
Commenting on this in
an interview, Wednesday,
ZMA Secretary General
Dr Oliver Kaoma said the
failure to recruit health staff
would negatively affect the
delivery of services in health
facilities.
“Basically, as an
association, we are
disappointed that the
found”.
Meanwhile, Chama said
he received his suspension
letter last month.
“I have not heard from
them. I don’t know what
charge or what I did. They have
not communicated anything
apart from that letter. Politics
is purely voluntary. Unless
those who think they are in
politics to get benefits, I’ve
never joined politics for me
to get rich. It will never be my
nature. I didn’t get into politics
Davies Chama
for recognizing the small
steps that are happening
in the Zambia Police. The
recognition that has been
given encourages the Zambia
Police to do better. We know
as police officers that we have
a huge challenge, but with
the partnership that we have
with organisations like TIZ,
ACC and others, I think we
may make bigger steps in
future. The challenges are
huge but small steps can be
recognised and appreciated,”
said Daka.
decision to halt has been
made. In as much as the
Ministry tried to explain that
they want the promotion
process that the Civil
Service Commission has to
work on to be completed,
which is normal procedure,
however, knowing that this
recruitment was already
planned for, we expected
that the civil service
commission would not work
as per usual but try and
expedite their processing
of people who have been
commended for promotions.
What this halting does is
that it prevents the ready or
skilled human resource from
reporting to their stations
in time and to commence
delivering services to the
Zambian people who are in
much need of these services,”
he said.
“Currently, the health
to go and steal, do unlawful
things. I didn’t go into politics
for that. So, I really get
surprised to even get questions
about being worried, worry
about what? I joined politics
with a clear conscience, to
make a contribution about
the welfare of this country. So,
if someone tells me we don’t
want you, it doesn’t bother me,
not even a bit. If anything, I
have not been thinking about
this because I have so much to
do. So, my life does not revolve
Meanwhile, TIZ Chapter
president Priscilla Chansa
said they were implementing
a new project aimed at
documenting corruption
cases prosecuted in the court.
“In re-emphasising
the importance of the
Judiciary in the fight
against corruption, TIZ is
implementing a new project
aimed at documenting cases
of corruption prosecuted
in the courts. The regional
databases, aimed at stopping
impunity for corruption to
enhance accountability in
seeking to sustain the fight
against corruption through
fostering public and private
sector integrity infrastructure
and promoting strong ethical
governance, TIZ resolved to
system and health workforce
majorly comprises of
volunteers. When you visit
health facilities, you find that
in different units, including
tertiary institutions, you
find that 80 percent of
people that are sustaining
that facility are volunteers.
The health sector is quite
a sensitive environment,
very hazardous and quite
strenuous. Now, for one
to be working in such an
environment on a voluntary
basis is really demoralising
and also makes them
perform under par”.
He said health workers
were frustrated because
they were working under
strenuous conditions.
“That is why when people
visit hospitals, they meet
frustrated health personnel
and people who do not smile
at them because they are
around politics,” said Chama.
“But I can tell you,
Honourable [Raphael]
Nakacinda called me more
than three weeks ago and we
had a chat on the phone and
he said he wanted to see me. I
told him I’m always available.
I answer your calls and I’m
able to reply to messages. I’ve
always been available to talk.
He said he wants to see me
but he has never come back.
I don’t shy away from talking
to people if people are willing
to talk because that’s the only
way you can’t resolve issues.
You may not agree but at
least you’ve talked and that’s
a starting point. Of course we
talked for maybe close to 30
minutes on the phone. I like
seeing people so that I can see
the spirit in your eyes. I want
to talk face to face, not by
phone where you have put me
on loud and other people are
listening to what I’m saying.
They may even misinterpret
what I have said. That’s how
I operate and I’ll tell them in
their face whether you like
it or not. Maybe that’s my
weakness because I’ll say it as
it is”.
Local News .3
hold a high level engagement
on integrity and ethics. This
is the reason why the theme
of this year’s conference is
building a culture of ethics
and integrity in the fight
against corruption,” said
Chansa.
“In advocating for and
supporting efforts aimed at
strengthening oversight and
law enforcement institutions,
TIZ has continued to
advocate for increased budget
allocation to law enforcement
agencies and for the financial
management autonomy
of the Anti Corruption
Commission. I’m sure you’ve
noticed that in the budget for
next year, there’s an increase
in the financial allocation for
the ACC”.
working under strenuous
conditions. This issue, if
not expedited, will have a
negative impact on service
provision. We had hoped
as an association when we
reached that agreement
for recruitment, which we
commend the government
for, that things would be
done in a more expedited
manner given the urgency
and the dire need of skilled
human resources in these
health facilities. It will just
prolong the volunteerism
and delay in patients being
attended to because the
doctors and health workers
are tired because of the high
volume of patients they have
to deal with,” Dr Kaoma said.
“Our recommendation
to the government or the
Civil Service Commission
is that they have to sit and
look at the promotions, treat
this as a matter of urgency
and priority. In addition
to that, the budget line for
recruitment was for 2023,
so, what are they telling us
regarding the revenue that
was allocated for this part?
Our call is for the Civil
Service Commission to not
treat this like business as
usual but attach some level
of urgency to it so that they
can complete the elevation of
the promotion of people that
have been recommended
to ensure that new recruits
can fill up those positions
that will be left by those who
have been promoted”.
He insisted that the
commission should expedite
the recruitment process.
“Our message is that
we are not happy, this will
delay the commencement
of service provision by the
experienced work force
and it promotes continued
volunteerism which is
unacceptable. ZMA does
not support volunteers in
the health care system given
the nature of the work that
these people undertake on
a daily basis. The country at
present has approximately
7,276 health facilities all
needing health care workers.
The total shortages stand at
74,187. Hence the need to
fill these positions is one that
cannot be undermined. The
commission should expedite
this process. To ensure that
our people have access to
decent n quality services,”
said Dr Kaoma.
4. Local News
NHIMA should be taken P
back to MoH – Chitalu
M
By Ulande Nkomesha
ANSA Central
PF member
of parliament
Dr Chitalu Chilufya has
stressed the need for the
National Health Insurance
Scheme (NHIMA) to be
taken back to the Ministry of
Health.
And Dr Chilufya says
the budget increase for
procurement of drugs should
translate into access to safe
and efficacious drugs for
everyone.
Meanwhile, Health
Minister Sylvia Masebo says
she is aware that some health
workers have a tendency
of not giving medicines to
patients when the medication
is available at the health
centres.
Debating the estimates
of revenue allocated to the
Ministry of Health in the 2024
Budget, Dr Chilufya, who is
also former minister of health,
said returning NHIMA to the
Ministry of Health would help
address health care financing.
“Mr Speaker, universal
health coverage focuses
on a strong health system.
Infrastructure to expand
access to health services is
critical. What I see in the
budget, there is a proposal
to appropriate adequate
resources to infrastructure
expansion. That is
commendable. However, the
reduction compared to the
previous years needs to be put
in check. Mr Speaker, supply
chain, I note that the Minister
has increased the amount
of money allocated towards
drug procurement. This is
commendable and let us deal
with legacy debt for drugs,”
Dr Chilufya said.
“Let us ensure that
procurement processes are
within the law. Procurement
processes are such that we do
not bring on board suppliers
who will not bring highly
efficacious medicines. We
must ensure that the money
that is increased in drug
allocations translates into
access to safe and efficacious
drugs for everyone. On health
care financing, I still bemoan
the fact that NHIMA still
sits at Labour. I call upon the
Executive to quickly revert
NHIMA to the Ministry of
Health so that we can address
the issue of health care
financing”.
He said the Ministry of
Health needed more funds
to fight non-communicable
diseases by sensitising people
on how to prevent them.
“A functional health
system focuses on universal
health coverage, health for
everyone everywhere. The
epidemiological profile for
the country is fundamental
to budget allocations of
resources. If we look at the
strategic plan 2022 to 2026,
the Ministry of Health has
told us that the highest case
of fatality rate is attributable
to cardiovascular diseases.
Chairperson, it means that
there should be money
placed in this intervention
and broadly speaking, in
non-communicable diseases
to ensure that we respond
to epidemiological profile. I
see a very big disconnect in
resource allocation,” said Dr
Chilufya.
“I see that while the
Ministry of Health is telling
us that the case fatality from
non-communicable diseases
is very high, I don’t see
adequate resource allocation
in the budget to interventions
that would prevent these non-
communicable diseases. If we
look at the number of people
dying out of hypertension,
strokes, Diabetes Mellitus,
Chairperson, you realise that
the numbers are alarming.
That is in the statistics from
HMIS. I would request that the
Minister consider reversing
the decision to restrict the
health promotion department
and ensure that the Health
Promotion Department is
not only expanded but also
given adequate resources
to empower with adequate
knowledge on how to prevent
non-communicable diseases”.
And Mpika PF member of
parliament Francis Kapyanga
said there was need to
improve the doctor to patient
ratio.
“Mr Speaker, the doctor to
patient ratio has not reduced,
we need more doctors to serve
our people. We have facilities
that have no doctors. This
should be addressed with
this kind of allocation. The
fast track hospital at UTH
also needs attention. The
other issue is infrastructure,
we have most areas that have
unfinished infrastructure,
more especially district
hospitals; in Muchinga we
have about two, I know even
in Eastern, I know even
Southern. They need attention
so that our people can be
accessing these health services
from within the district.
The other important issue
to address is the mortality
rate, I know there has been a
decline but still there is much
to be done to ensure that this
is completely eradicated. We
should not allow a situation
Vice President Mutale Nalumango confers with former COMESA court chief justice Lombe
Chibesakunda after officiating at the 44th COMESA Council of Ministers meeting attended by
21 member states at Mulungushi International Conference center in Lusaka yesterday - Picture
www.diggers.news
where women are dying when
giving birth,” said Kapyanga.
Meanwhile, Masebo said
there was still need to stabilise
the drug supply status in big
hospitals like UTH, among
others.
“One of the issues that
has come out is the issues to
do with drugs. I will say that
regarding health facilities at
the lower level, I don’t think
there should be anyone
complaining. So, anybody
who complains about drug
availability at a lower facility
level is just politicking. But
when it comes to big hospitals
like UTH, Levy and even
some of the general hospitals,
I want to put it on record that
we still have to stabilise. As
you recall, I did indicate that
the bulk drugs from Egypt
had been purchased. But as
you know, the processes of
validation and testing those
drugs is still underway and
until that process is complete,
we will still have some of these
complaints still coming. I want
to assure you that the fact still
remains that government has
procured essential drugs and
even kits enough to last us for
a long time,” she said.
Masebo said, however,
that she was aware of some
health staff who were not
giving drugs to patients
despite them being available.
“Now I know also that
at times when patients
go to facilities, somebody
would tell them that this
particular drug is not there
or they will tell them that
this equipment is not there.
We have since found out
that there are people who are
doing that in a very dishonest
manner because either they
want to make money from
unsuspecting patients or they
just want to give government
a bad name because they are
politicking, which is really
unfortunate. We have some
cases where we have called
some people and very soon
when you [hear] some people
getting fired, don’t come here
and start defending criminals
or people doing things which
are a danger to society,” said
Masebo.
by Chongo Sampa
By Nakaonga Nakaonga
OLICE in Lusaka
have arrested
popular pastor
John General for allegedly
raping a Matero woman
who was seeking prayers
to make her stop having
miscarriages every time she
gets pregnant.
According to a statement
from Police spokesperson
Rae Hamoonga, John
General escaped by jumping
over the fence after being
caught in the act by the
victim’s husband.
“Matero Police Station
yesterday November 22,
2023 at 21:00 hours received
a report of rape in which
female Esther Tembo
Nyau aged 26 of unknown
house number Kahale
area reported that a pastor
commonly known as John
General raped her in her
house. This is alleged to have
occurred on November 22,
2023 between 13:00 and
14:00 hours in Kahale area.
Brief facts of the matter are
that the woman has been
having miscarriages every
time she conceives. She
then visited the same John
General to pray for her and
told her that the prayers are
to be done at their home,”
Hamoonga stated.
Hamoonga disclosed
that the pastor, who was
accompanied by another
man, raped the victim from
her bedroom, threatening to
shoot her if she refused.
“Yesterday (Wednesday)
at around 09:00 hours,
the pastor called the
We didn’t breach law in August
2021 polls, ECZ tells ConCourt
E
By Taonga Tembo
L E C T O R A L
Commission of
Zambia Chief Electoral
Officer Brown Kasaro has
told the Constitutional Court
that ECZ did not breach
any provisions of the law
or Constitution during the
August 2021 general elections
Kasaro has also told the
ConCourt that ECZ abided by
the requisite laws during that
period.
This is in a matter in which
a youth activist, Michelo
Chizombe, petitioned former
Friday November 24, 2023
John General rapes
Matero woman, escapes
naked after being
caught by her hubby
complainant that he would
be visiting them for the same
prayers and at around 13:00
hours he arrived at their
house together with another
unknown man. He then told
her that he wanted to check
in all the rooms as part of the
prayers. When he reached the
bedroom, he forced himself
on the woman and had sex
with her as he threatened
to shoot her if she refused.
When all this was happening,
the other man was waiting in
the sitting room,” he stated.
Hamoonga stated that the
victim’s husband caught the
pastor in the act.
“At around 13:30
hours, the husband to the
complainant Pearson Tembo
aged 33 came and found a
man in the sitting room. He
then greeted him and decided
to proceed to the bedroom
where he found the Pastor
president Edgar Lungu seeking
a declaration that he is not
eligible to contest any future
presidential elections.
Chizombe, who also cited
the ECZ and the Attorney
General as respondents, also
wants the court to declare that
Lungu’s participation in the
August 2021 general elections
was unconstitutional.
In his reply, however,
Kasaro stated that the ECZ
was guided by relevant
electoral laws, among them the
Constitution of Zambia.
Kasaro stated that
candidates who were aspiring
to be nominated as president
and running mate in the
August 2021 elections were
required to present before the
returning officer their requisite
documentation prescribed
by law, within the prescribed
time.
“I am advised by the
advocates and verily believe
that in the performance of
its functions, the second
respondent (ECZ) is guided
by the relevant Electoral laws
which, amongst others, include
the Constitution of Zambia
(amendment) Act No.2 of
2016, Electoral Process Act
no.35 of 2016 and Regulations
promulgated thereunder.
That the nominations for
presidential candidates for
the 2021 general elections
were conducted from May 17,
2021 to May 20, 2021. That
candidates who were aspiring
naked having sex with his
wife. He then went outside
and locked the gate. After
seeing this, the pastor ran
outside naked and managed
to jump the wall fence leaving
all his clothes, a cell phone
and a motor vehicle Chrysler
Registration number BCD
372. The other man also ran
away,” he said.
Hamoonga then disclosed
that the suspect was later
apprehend and detained.
“A medical report
form has since been issued
to the complainant. The
suspect male John Nundwe
commonly known as John
General aged 51 of unknown
house number Roma has
been arrested and detained
in police lawful custody. A
warn and caution statement
for the alleged offence of rape
has been recorded from him,”
stated Hamoonga.
to be nominated as President
and Running mate were
required to present before the
returning officer their requisite
documentation prescribed by
law within the prescribed time
within which nominations
should be filed,” read Kasaro’s
reply in part.
Kasaro stated that ECZ
abided by all the requisite laws
for processing nominations for
the presidential candidates.
He added that Article
52 (2) of the Constitution
Amendment Act No.2 of 2016
obliged the ECZ to either
accept or reject nomination
papers filed by a candidate
wishing to contest for
presidential elections.
Kasaro, however,
stated that Article 52 of the
Constitution Amendment Act
2 of 2016 provided adequate
grievance mechanisms to
challenge the nomination
process.
“It is our submission
that the second respondent
(ECZ) abided by the requisite
laws during the processing
of the nominations and did
not breach any provisions
of the Law or Constitution
during that Process. That I
am advised by my Advocates
and I verily believe that
Article 52 of the Constitution
(amendment) Act 2 of 2016
provides adequate grievance
mechanisms to challenge the
nomination process,” read
Kasaro’s reply in part.
Friday November 24, 2023
Z KCM owes Zesco $500m, reveals Mapani
By Ulande Nkomesha
ESCO Managing
Director Victor
Mapani has
revealed that Konkola
Copper Mines (KCM)
owes the utility company
$500 million.
And Mapani says
there are no risks of the
country experiencing load
shedding because Zesco
has put in place some
mitigation measures like
the importation of power
from Mozambique.
Meanwhile, Mapani
says Zesco would be forced
to stop operations if they
stopped exporting power.
Speaking during a media
engagement, Thursday,
Mapani said Zesco was
committed to reducing its
debt of $1.1 billion.
He said Zesco had
obtained a $359 million
loan from Zanaco to help
pay independent power
producers.
“The financial
sustainability of this
organisation depends on
how the resources that we
are endowed to work with
are optimised. We found
ourselves in a situation
where we are basically
coming from a hole,
because all the resources
that are supposed to be
there were taken out. As we
sit today, our receivables are
basically swallowed up by
our debt, which means we
are over borrowed or we
borrowed badly. What we
have done is the first part,
of course we negotiated
the tariffs to ensure that we
are paying the bill as they
come, then we start paying
the debt. What we have
done is we have now started
borrowing money locally to
ensure that we transfer the
current debt to long term,’’
he said.
“We have got Zanaco,
for example, has been
very instrumental, they
have actually syndicated
for us a loan of $359
million specifically to
pay independent power
producers. We have paid
out, I think through that
facility, close to $135
million as of today. The
difference will be paid next
year, so we believe that we
Victor Mapani
will be taking out another
$200 million approximately
next year, which will come
down to around $900 or
$800 million. We hope that
during that process, the
GRZ would have finalised
the debt restructuring
[process] because part of
the debt is locked up in
there and we cannot borrow
externally. So, once that is
unlocked, maybe we will
be able now to get cheaper
money from outside and
transfer this short term
burden to long term’’.
Mapani hoped that the
debt would reduce further if
KCM paid the $500 million
which it owed to Zesco.
“So, we hope by 2025,
we will have reduced this
debt to slightly below $500
million. So, why do I say
so? Because KCM also has
announced that now they
will be starting to pay us,
by the way, KCM owes
us close to half a billion
dollars, $500 million. If
they will drop that money,
we will drop that debt from
$1.1 billion to $600 million
just like that. But KCM has
been going through its own
issues. We have come to an
understanding that they
would be able to offload
some of the money that they
are bringing through for
investment to pay people
who they owe money, Zesco
is one of them,’’ Mapani
said.
“We are not just also
sitting idle waiting to
borrow money to pay, every
saving that we make, we
are paying the debt. Every
month, we are actually
paying towards this debt.
So, even without Zanaco’s
input, the 359, we are also
paying the debt. So, there
is an arrangement that we
have made to make sure
that we pay some of them
monthly, some of them
quarterly, so the debt will
definitely go down. I see it
going down by $200 million
next year. If KCM comes on,
good, we might even drop
that by a bigger chunk’’.
He said Zesco’s financial
status was getting better,
adding that the company
had resolved not to accept
any tariff which it could not
afford.
“We have actually
been accused that we are
standing at the gate and
stopping people from being
developed. They will tell you
that ‘Zesco is not accepting
our power, they are refusing
development’, but they come
with very crazy numbers,
I call them crazy numbers.
We are just coming from a
time when 13 cents per unit
of power was too expensive.
There is no company in
Zambia that buys power
at that price, but could we
have signed out a contract
in 2013. So now what we do
is we don’t accept any tariff
that we cannot afford to pay,
because then it is useless,
it doesn’t help anyone,’’ he
said.
“All it does is it strains
our books, also it endows
a few people with a lot of
money which we know we
can get away. What do I
mean? If someone comes
with a tariff, for example
of 13 cents, it means their
profits will be very high.
All the solar IPPs we have
signed, none of them is
above 6.5 cents. All of them
are a maximum of 6.25 if
I am not mistaken. It is
getting better, we have come
out from where we were. We
are getting better, definitely
we are getting better. We
can see it, we can feel it,
also the other cooperating
partners who assess us
independently, I think can
also give you the story’’.
Asked if the company
had dealt with the bloated
workforce, Mapani said
Zesco was hopeful that
would be done in the next
two years.
“There was a cluster
of staff that were working
Govt reinstates 18 suspended,
E expelled UNZA students
By Chongo Sampa
D U C AT I O N
Minister Douglas
Syakalima has
reinstated 18 University
of Zambia students who
were either expelled
or suspended after the
riot which occurred on
September 18, 2023.
The riots, which were
sparked by the cancellation
of the 2023 UNZA
Students Union elections,
led to disturbances on
Great East Road, property
damage and looting.
The investigations by
the University of Zambia
resulted in the expulsion
and suspension of some
students linked to the
unrest.
But according to a
www.diggers. news
from Mukuba Pension
then, quite a good number.
The moment we came into
office, within about three
to four weeks, all of them
requested that they wanted
to leave, so we let them
go. They were employed
officially, of course several
other people came that we
want to leave, we let such
people go. The worst case
was where professionals
were hired, for example for
a job which requires five
people and then you have
15 to 20 people to an extent
where others come in the
morning, others come in
the afternoon, others are at
home sharing offices. The
over bloating is actually
employing a lot of people
who do not have the work
that you want to do. When
you need this work, you
have to go and employ other
people to do the work,’’
Mapani said.
“As we sit now, we have
run so far three adverts for
technicians, electricians
and technologists. Believe
me, we are failing to meet
the numbers, yet when you
look at the total number of
people, they are so many.
So, there are a lot of wrong
people who are around
so what we need is to
streamline. We are looking
now for power generation
engineers. We are hoping
that after two years, we
would fully stabilise on the
overblown workforce’’.
And asked whether
the country was at risk of
experiencing load shedding
looking at the weather
pattern, Mapani said
mitigation measures had
been put in place.
“[In] 2023, we received
less water than in 2022. We
were forewarned actually
at the beginning. So three
things have happened: we
have been very firm on the
statement posted on the
Ministry of Education
Facebook page, Thursday,
Syakalima cautioned
the students against
succumbing to influence
that could lead to further
disruptive behaviour after
reinstating them.
“You have all been
pardoned; you can go
back to the University, but
ensure that you are not
misled by unscrupulous
people to engage in riotous
behavior and destroy
property at the University,”
Syakalima said.
Syakalima emphasised
that pardons should not
usage of water between the
two countries, Zimbabwe
and Zambia. Last year,
our colleagues used a bit
more water than they were
[accorded]. So this year, we
have been meeting more
regularly and we have been
very firm. Our portion of
the water will definitely take
us to the end of the year. We
do not see any physical risk.
So what we did, we reduced
a lot of generation on the
Kariba when we had a lot of
water on the Kafue Basin,”
Mapani said.
“So, we went further, we
knew there was less water
this year, so what we did, we
made arrangements with
EDM of Mozambique to
be importing power from
them. How we did that is to
ensure that we import power
which was cheap, so off peak
power. We do not see that
physical risk now, all things
being equal, we should be
able to glide through up
to the end of the year. We
hope that these rains that
are coming will also start
falling in the catchment
so that we start picking up
some water. We are buying
at six cents and we only buy
off peak. The outages that
you experience especially
in Lusaka is basically due
to the maintenance that we
have been carrying out, it
started from April this year.
There is actually no load
shedding at all’’.
Meanwhile, Mapani said
Zesco would stop operating
if it halted exports.
“What is interesting
about power exports is
that we have maintained
the market in Namibia,
Botswana, Malawi, we
support each other. There
are parts where we buy
power from them, there are
parts where we sell power
to them. The industry in
Namibia actually depends
be perceived as a sign of
weakness, warning that
repeated misconduct
might not result in similar
leniency in the future.
He cautioned the
implicated students
against engaging in
riotous behavior because
they might not be so
fortunate, as continuation
of pardons might appear
as if the Ministry supports
misconduct.
Meanwhile, Ministry
of Education Permanent
Secretary – Education
Services Joel Kamoko
expressed his disapproval
of resorting to riotous
Local News .5
on the power from Zambia
for a long time. To the
Congo, it is basically a life
and death situation, we
have to give them minimum
power for them to live. Of
course when we have a
crisis, we pull back some of
the power, for example this
year we have already pulled
back some power. Namibia,
we pulled back about 40
megawatts, Botswana, we
pulled out 30 megawatts. By
the way, the export market
is what sustains Zesco. The
local market has 1.3 million
customers, all of them put
together, their total bill is
less than exports to three
or four countries,’’ said
Mapani.
“I can give you the
numbers, we are looking at
1.3 million customers that
is complete with industrial
and you are talking about
maybe $38 million per
month. Then local mines,
like what we sell to CEC,
what we sell to KCM, KCM
for example, the monthly
bill is $12 million. We sell
to CEC also in the range
of $8 million. So CEC and
KCM, two of them give $20
million. Then by the time
you come to the smaller
ones, Chambeshi, when
you add Kalumbila and
Kansanshi plus all the other
ones put together, about $34
million. Then you now go
to the exports, the exports
we push out to Namibia,
Botswana, DRC, a little bit
in Zimbabwe, we supply to
a specific mining company
called Zimbabwean
Platinum. So, all those
put together will give you
another number close to
$30 million. So 30 plus 34
is 64. So, if we stop exports
Zesco stops working’’.
Mapani also confirmed
that Zesco had purchased
Mukuba House and turned
it into Malaiti House.
behavior, urging students
to use established channels
for conflict resolution.
Meanwhile, UNZA
Dean of Students, John
Munkombwe said the
University provided
ample opportunity for
the students to prove
their innocence before
disciplinary actions were
taken.
Meanwhile, parents and
guardians representative
Hudson Sakayi thanked the
Minister for his forgiving
stance and encouraged
the reinstated students to
remain focused on their
education.
6. Verbatim
By Taonga Tembo
Cross examination
continues…
Nchito SC: What
about the Murena, or is it
Mulena Apartments did
you declare those?
Lubinda: I did my lady
Nchito SC: Just refresh
my memory, how many
properties did you say you
bought in Kingsland?
Lubinda: Two
Nchito SC: Sorry?
Lubinda: Two.
Nchito SC: You
bought two properties?
Lubinda: Yes.
Nchito SC: How many
properties did you refer to
when you were asked?
Lubinda: I can’t recall
my lady but I did indicate
Kindsland property.
Nchito SC: Did you
provide the record?
Lubinda: I can’t recall
Nchito SC: But you
were required to declare
your property when you
were minister, correct?
Lubinda: Correct
Nchito SC: What
would you say if I put it
to you that in fact you did
not declare your property?
Lubinda: To the best
of my knowledge, I did
my lady.
Nchito SC: What
would you say if I put it
you that you acquiring
the land in Mahopo after
championing what was a
public fight for the people
can be viewed as unfair?
Lubinda: My lady, all
the residents of Mahopo
got land and only the
remainder is what was
gotten by non residents
like myself.
Nchito SC: So, you
agree that you were a
non resident and a public
official and went and got
that land after fighting,
correct?
Lubinda: Correct my
lady.
Nchito SC: Where was
the advert for the people
to apply for that land?
Was there an advert?
Lubinda: My lady,
it was being handled by
Lusaka City Council.
Nchito SC: You heard
my question?
Lubinda: I am not
aware of any advert
because I was not the one
advertising my lady.
Nchito SC: So, you
don’t remember any
advert yourself because
you were not the one
advertising. That’s what
you just told the court,
correct?
Lubinda: Correct.
Nchito SC: So, you
just agreed with me that
in fact, you did not get
that land in the public
advert which would
have benefited the
public. Yourself, we are
not talking about other
people who got, we don’t
know how they got, you
as Honourable Given
Verbatim: Mukula smuggling trial – Given
Lubinda, others Vs News Diggers (PART 14)
Lubinda. You did not get
that land through a public
advert which would have
benefited the people?
Lubinda: Repeat the
question my lady.
Judge Yangailo: Repeat
the question.
Nchito SC: Obliged
my lady. The question is
simple, I am saying you as
Honourable Lubinda did
not get that land on which
you built a mansion from
Mahopo from responding
to a public advert. That’s
what you have just told the
court meaning you were
never aware of any adverts,
correct?
Lubinda: My lady, all
the residents…
Nchito SC: You’ve heard
my question? Remember
the rule, you answer my
question, and if you want
to explain after that you
can explain, If I try to stop
you, the court will remind
me of this promise. Answer
the question.
Lubinda: My lady,
repeat the question.
Nchito SC: I’ve repeated
this question for the third
if not the fourth time. I
asked you the question,
was there an advert for that
land in Mahopo? And you
said I am not aware of the
advert. So, the land you
got was not obtained after
responding to an advert
because you were not aware
of any public advert?
Lubinda: Correct
Nchito SC: You see how
somebody would conclude
that you were benefiting
yourselves as leaders in
these tenders meant for the
public, of land and others?
Lubinda: The video in
question my lady was about
mukula.
Nchito SC: I am not
talking about the video,
I am talking about land.
We’ve moved from the
video.
Lubinda SC: My lady,
the question
Judge Yangailo: What’s
your question?
Nchito SC: The
question is, somebody
would be right if they
concluded that since you
were getting land without
adverts, you were favouring
yourselves as leaders
without public tender
system to allocate the land?
Lubinda: Not
necessarily my lady.
Nchito SC: I’m sorry
honorable Lubinda, it’s not
disrespectful but I’m trying
to demonstrate that you
were not fit to hold public
office. If you were not
paying tax, then you were
not fit, not so?
Lubinda: If I was not
www.diggers. news
paying tax.
Nchito SC: Yes.
Lubinda: Correct.
Nchito SC: I had asked
at the last [case] sitting
whether you had signed a
tax declaration from the
time that you remember?
(Bonaventure Mutale
State Counsel rose to
object)
Mutale SC: My lady,
may I just interject for
guidance here. Issues
involving the question tax
were exhaustively delved
in at the last session, I
don’t know whether they
are going over the same
over and over again. If
it’s another aspect that
my brother is pursuing,
that’s very normal but the
witness was exhaustively
cross examined on his tax
status.
Nchito SC: My lady,
I am introducing a new
subject to tie the loose
ends. Hence, I don’t see the
need to object.
Mutale SC: I will
withdraw.
Judge Yangailo:
Objection withdrawn.
Proceed.
Nchito SC: Obliged.
Honourable Lubinda, the
question that I was asking
you, maybe let me put a
background…one of your
complaints is that you
have been cast in a light
where it is being suggested
that you are not fit to hold
public office. That’s one of
the complaints, remember
that?
Lubinda: I don’t
remember.
Nchito SC: Oh. You did.
One of the complaints was
that you have cast me in a
light that shows that I am
not fit to hold public office.
Lubinda: Right.
Nchito SC: Before
State Counsel (Mutale)
objected, I was asking you
the question whether if you
were not paying your taxes,
it would be right [that]
you were not fit for public
office.
Lubinda: If, my lady.
Nchito SC: If, and your
answer is?
Lubinda SC: The
answer is if.
Nchito SC: Yes, when
you and I are talking, just
remember [that] the court
will remain with the record
so finish the sentence.
Lubinda: My lady, the
question is if I was not
paying tax and I am saying
yes, if I was not paying
tax…
Nchito SC: You were
not fit?
Lubinda: I would not
be fit.
Nchito SC: But you did
admit at the last sitting, did
you not, that in all the 40
years that you’ve run your
business, you haven’t been
paying tax?
Lubinda: I did not
admit that my lady.
(K Kaunda rose to
object)
K Kaunda: My lady, an
objection to State Counsel’s
question. When he asked
the witness that at the
last sitting or session, the
witness had conceded
that he hadn’t been paying
tax 40 years of his being
in business. My lady, the
record will show that the
witness was specifically
asked on the loan that
he got from the Chinese
company whether he paid
tax or not. The record
will show that the witness
testified that he was paying
tax through Pay as You
Earn. My lady, therefore
the reference to 40 years is,
I am afraid, is misleading
and we object to that.
Nchito SC: My lady,
obviously I am referring
to my notes and I can
demonstrate that in fact, he
did admit that in 40 years
of doing business, he hadn’t
filed any tax returns and I
can go back to the similar
questions that I asked him.
My lady, the question that I
asked was this and I’ll just
pick up the quote as me
speaking, “did you produce
any memoranda, evidence
of this movement, anything
that the company had
seeded or the company had
received? He says no my
lady, and you tell this court
that you have been doing
business for the last 40
years, yes my lady. So, in 40
years of business, have you
ever signed any accounts
of business? He says no
my lady. So, if probably
17 million passed through
your account as Highview,
in a period of three years,
would that be right, no
my lady. So, you have no
objection with us looking
at the Highview account?
Have you ever done any
personal tax returns? I
asked him that question.
My lady, I was in formal
employment until 2021 and
I was relying on parliament
of which I was paying Pay
As You Earn. I am now in
the process of preparing
both personal income tax
for 2022. So, you are telling
this court that you manage
all these properties together
with your wife and you
have no time to prepare tax
returns because you were
in formal employment? No
my lady. No what? I am
agreeing that there is no tax
return”.
Friday November 24, 2023
How do you pay tax
without tax returns?
He conceded that in his
business, there were no
tax returns. That’s the
record that I have and if
my learned friends have a
different record, they can
bring it into record.
Mutale SC: By way
of replying, despite the
evidence from the opening
comments that my brother
has just read, that the
questions relating to the
returns were in respect of a
body corporate, Highview
Investments Limited and
not in relation to the first
Plaintiff ’s personal tax
affairs. And I think my
brother is mixing issues
relating to the tax affairs of
a corporate body and those
relating to the first Plaintiff
in his personal capacity.
Much obliged.
K Kaunda: In addition
my lady, when one does not
sign accounts, [it] does not
mean that they don’t pax.
The fact that one does not
sign accounts…
Judge Yangailo: Can
you say that again?
K Kaunda: The fact
that one does not sign
accounts…
Nchito SC: The witness
specifically said that he has
never done a tax return,
meaning, if my colleagues
want to respond, that’s
what they should respond
to. They are saying I put
words in his mouth and I
am saying no, I have not.
This is what we discussed
in the last sitting. He
conceded that he never
paid tax returns in the last
40 years.
Judge Yangailo: Yes Mr
Kunda.
K Kaunda: Yes my
lady, I was saying that the
fact that one does not sign
accounts, doesn’t follow
that they don’t pay tax…
Judge Yangailo: Sorry,
can you take away that
bundle from the witness
(Plaintiff ’s bundle of
documents), when he is
referred to the bundle,
he will be given. And if
Counsel wants to present it
before court, then Counsel
needs to communicate with
me if it’s still needed by the
court, is that clear?
K Kaunda: We
apologize on that. I was
saying that the fact that one
does not sign an account
doesn’t mean they don’t
pay tax. In reference to
the witness saying they’ve
never…
Judge Yangailo: You are
now in the area of going
into what is meant for
submissions.
K Kaunda: My lady,
State Counsel had a lot to
say to support his…
Judge Yangailo: It’s like
you are submitting…
K Kaunda: In short,
my lady, we reiterate our
objection to what State
Counsel raised, there is
no reference to 40 years
anywhere. I am most
obliged.
Judge Yangailo: The
record shows that the
witness stated that he did
not admit that he had not
been paying tax during the
40 years that he has been
in business. If indeed he
did say something contrary
to his earlier statement,
State Counsel Nchito has
the right to refresh his
memory. At the end of the
day, there is a court record
which will be a basis for
the determination of the
matter. Accordingly, the
objection is overruled.
Parties: Obliged
Nchito SC: Honourable
Lubinda the point that I am
trying to make, the point
that I am making is, if you
were not paying tax, you
were not fit to hold public
office, is that correct?
Lubinda: Correct.
Nchito SC: Now, in
your evidence, I asked
you about how you were
organising your tax affairs,
remember that? Would you
kindly tell the court.
Lubinda: I do.
Nchito SC: I asked you.
Firstly you said when I
asked you whether there
was no tax returns, you said
I am agreeing there is no
tax returns. [I asked] Why?
The rest of us are scared of
ZRA, you said the major
source of income my lady
is rentals on which we were
paying tax on rental and
withholding tax, remember
that? And on other income,
I asked you? We figured,
my lady, that those were
not major income earners.
So, in other words Mr
Lubinda, you have not
been remitting tax on your
income to ZRA, correct?
Your answer, ‘you may say
so’, remember that?
Lubinda: I don’t my
lady
Nchito SC: But today,
you agree that when you
got that money to go and
buy property in Kingsland,
there was no document
produced between you and
the company?
Lubinda: Correct my
lady.
Nchito SC: And you
didn’t pay any tax.
Lubinda: Correct my
lady
To be continued in the
Monday (November 27,
2023) edition.
Friday November 24, 2023
We need to flash out overzealous soldiers – Mabeta
K
By Muzamba Siandizya
A N K O Y O
UPND Member
of Parliament
Heartson Mabeta says
there is need to flash out
some overzealous and
unprofessional officers
from the army.
And Copperbelt Minister
Elisha Matambo has called
on security wings to avoid
using live ammunition when
controlling crowds.
On Tuesday a 15-year-
old teen of Kankoyo
township was allegedly shot
dead by ZNS officers during
an anti-smuggling operation
in Mufulira.
In an interview,
Wednesday, Mabeta also
said ZNS shouldn’t have
participated in investigating
the shooting.
“It’s a bad occurrence
that’s why the President has
given me the task to go and
mourn with the people and
ensure that all the support
the government is giving
the family is received.
We’ll support them until
justice for this young boy is
attained. Whoever did that,
the Minister of Defense
clearly put it in Parliament
yesterday that they are
on their own. For ZNS to
conduct the search is an
over stepping, they shouldn’t
have been the ones to go and
conduct the search. The
first line who are trained to
T Cheap ZNS mealie
By Philip Chisalu
HE Millers Association
of Zambia (MAZ) says
government’s cheap
mealie meal intervention,
through the Zambia National
Service (ZNS) and the Zambia
Correctional Service (ZCS),
has negatively impacted
commercial millers.
In an interview, Thursday,
MAZ president Andrew
Chintala lamented that ZNS
and ZCS were accessing
cheaper maize than the
commercial millers.
“First of all, I think we
need to appreciate one thing
here, government made a very
serious call at the start of the
season that millers should go
out and ensure that they secure
enough maize to support their
production throughout the
period. And I think I am on
record of having echoed the
same from the Ministry of
Agriculture or government
per se. So, what we did is that
we went out in the market and
tried to buy as much as we
could. Obviously, we had one
challenge which is the high
prices of maize on the market. It
was a principle of now demand
and supply, you couldn’t go and
put in the price that you want
to pay but farmers, I think this
time around, because the prices
were determined by the market
forces, they were able to make
a bit of some, or rather, good
money or get a good return
on their investment which is a
good thing,” he said.
“But obviously, along the
way, before we could conclude
the season like you rightly said
that some interventions that
government has made through
ZNS and Kalonga Milling
which is Zambia Correctional
Service, obviously coming
in with cheaper mealie meal
engage with the community
and manage crowds are the
police and not ZNS. There
was no need to go and use
force to check whether there
was mealie meal in Kankoyo
or not. We have overzealous
and unprofessional people
who are wearing military
uniforms who need to be
flashed out because they
remain a danger to all of us
so those should be flashed
out of the system,” said
Mateba.
And in a separate
interview, Matambo asked
security wings to desist from
using live ammunition when
controlling crowds.
“It’s regrettable that we
had to lose life, especially a
boy as young as 15 years, it’s
a very sad development. We
are all very sad with what
transpired, I have instructed
the police to investigate
thoroughly what really
transpired and furnish us
with the information about
what really transpired.
Where there’s loss of life, a
little boy like that, it’s a very
regrettable development.
So, I’ll wait for the police
to investigate and we’ll
communicate when we have
all the facts on the table.
Whatever the case, it’s a sad
development which all of us
are sad about. We sympathise
with the family and we have
to stand with them in prayer
in this difficult moment,
meal has negatively
impacted us – MAZ
on the market, this obviously
had an impact on our side as
millers. Because if you look at
the price at which millers are
paying for the maize, we went
as high as 7,900. And these our
colleagues, how much are they
accessing their maize at? So,
you can try and find out that
they are accessing this maize
from FRA at a more cheaper
price than we were paying.
So, that on its own has totally
created some kind of impact on
our activities in terms of rate of
sales and all”.
Chintala said it was,
however, government’s
responsibility to respond when
people complained.
“But however,
notwithstanding that
[government security wings
are accessing cheap maize],
we appreciate that it is
government’s responsibility
to respond when people
complain. But I think we know
that there could have been
better considerations of maybe
how that would impact millers
that were sitting on expensive
maize following the directive
from government to procure.
But I am quite confident that
we have really survived and
we have been able to compete
in the market even under the
circumstances,” he said.
Asked if his members
expected cheaper maize next
year, Chintala said that could
www.diggers.news
nothing can replace life,”
said Matambo.
“Using live ammunition
should be the last thing to do
unless the worst goes to the
worst where they are almost
killed, they should restrain
themselves when it comes to
using live ammunition. We
know that sometimes they
find the scene very awkward,
but even though, it should
be the last solution. Even
His Excellency President
Hakainde Hichilema gave
express orders that he doesn’t
want to see anyone being
N
By Philip Chisalu
ATIONAL Union
for Small Scale
Farmers in Zambia
(NUSFAZ) president Dr
Frank Kayula says it’s too
early for UPND officials
to start tarnishing their
party’s image and that of
the President through their
involvement in fertiliser
scandals.
On Wednesday, Eastern
Province Commanding Officer
Limpo Liywali disclosed that
three people had been arrested
in Kasenengwa District for
alleged theft of 10 packs of
fertiliser valued at K21,000.
And Chief Mishoro said
the three suspects, among
them UPND Kasenengwa
District Youth Chairperson
only identified as Headman
Chitona, were arrested after
only be determined by the
market forces in terms of
production.
“In terms of expecting
cheap maize and all that, we
cannot determine that now.
Because what is determining
the price in the country is the
market itself. Depending on
what we will do next year, that
is what is going to determine
the direction that the country
will take. So, if we produce
enough maize, then that is
a well-known fact that you
expect a reaction, which is
that reaction that obviously
prices have to go down. But if
production is kind of low, that’s
a different story altogether.
We would like to implore our
farmers that let’s work together
and ensure that we produce
enough,” he said.
The MAZ president
also described this year’s
maize marketing season as
challenging.
“You also need to
appreciate that following our
activities in the 2023 maize
marketing season, this should
be able to encourage the
farmers to do more maize. I
have been in several parts of
the country just to monitor
preparedness for farmers. I
think the vibes that are coming
out is that more farmers
would want to go for maize
as compared to the previous
two, three seasons where they
Business / local News .7
killed because of things like
smuggling. I want to tell
you that smuggling on the
Copperbelt is on the rise and
ZNS has done a lot of work.
Three days ago, 22,OOO
bags of mealie meal were
retrieved in Chililabombwe
and you know, December
and November are the
months when we usually
experience a shortage of
mealie meal because of
smuggling. But even though
it’s like that, using live
ammunition should be the
last resort”.
UPND must disown
fertiliser thieves – NUSFAZ
trying to transport fertiliser at these UPND officials to start coming into the district all
night. tarnishing their own name the way from where they
Meanwhile, another and the name of the President are coming from, you don’t
Kasama UPND member and the name of their party. I expect that they are not
Wise Lukwesa denied stealing think the party has to take a spending anything, they are.
156 bags of D Compound strong disciplinary measure And for them to survive now,
and Urea fertiliser, saying he against such purported UPND we are hearing those stories
bought the commodity from guys. Because we are coming that they have to sell the
stranded FISP beneficiaries from a situation where the fertiliser in order for them to
using his CDF loan. country had PF cadres who meet accommodation costs
But in an interview, Dr were uncontrollable in every and transport back [to their
Kayula said uncontrollable sector, including agriculture. respective places]. That is
cadres who destroy And farmers never benefited why the system has to be re-
government programmes to grow their businesses to arranged. Farmers can collect
should not be allowed back in become beyond FISP so that these inputs down where they
the system. they can get inputs elsewhere are, just close to the farm, not
“Well, it is too early for and be able to even get loans necessarily at the farm but
even from the banks. We somewhere close, not into the
had that challenge with the district,” he said.
actually switched into soya.
previous government and this “There is a cost attached,
They are switching into maize one also starts the same,” he there is time attached and
because they are saying look,
said. if these farmers do not have
I think we have had a better “We appeal to the UPND money, they are spending time
price in the country than we
administration to deal with going into town. They run out
have [ever] had. And as such, these people, fire them from of the little money they have,
we wish to commend millers your party because they are what will they do? They start
and even the traders that tarnishing your name. And we selling which is not supposed
participated in the market, I don’t want the government to to be the case. It is illegal to
think it’s job well done because fail because of unscrupulous sell but those are desperate
of the price that we were able to cadres who we are thinking farmers. For the farmers, my
pay,” said Chintala. had gone but they have come appeal would be to government
“And I think we will back in the cover of UPND. that let’s put in systems. If
definitely encourage our No, we don’t need them, agro dealers are failing, the
farmers to do more and whether they are UPND or PF cooperatives and the farmer
probably increase maize or whatever – MMD. We don’t groups can do that. We can
production in the 2023/4 need those cadres who destroy help and support government
maize season. We are quite government programmes. to create a structure where
optimistic that we should be They need to be dealt with by these fertilisers can go straight
able to see an increase in terms the law and they need to be from the national suppliers.
of maize production which dealt with by their party”. We don’t need to run systems
should be able to settle most Commenting on Lukwasa’s that are very porous when it
of the concerns that we have case, Dr Kayula said buying comes to losing the fertiliser to
had during this season. I think FISP inputs from beneficiaries those who are not supposed to
this season has been quite was illegal. have it. Government intends
challenging but obviously, such “It’s not legal to sell inputs that this fertiliser goes to the
is expected in a market. It’s that have been given under small holder farmers and it has
not every time that you expect FISP. There are people like to be used by the small holder
smooth sailing but we expect desperate farmers [but] we farmers”.
challenges and we remain have advised government He said Lukwesa was
positive about it”. actually that to have farmers wrong to buy commodities
which were not supposed to
Daily Rates
be resold.
“Unfortunately the law
may have to take its course
and like the current President
Bank of Zambia
says, ‘he is on his own’. He has
to substantiate why he bought
what he is not supposed to
Daily ZMW/USD Exchange Rates : 23-11-2023 buy because there are open
Time Buying Selling markets. I understand for
me that he was helping those
09:30 23.3838 23.4319 farmers who are stranded but
12:30 23.4181 23.4659 you know, law is law. He has
15:30 23.4494 23.4944 to be forgiven by the courts of
Average Exchange rates: 23-11-2023 law. We cannot say we forgive
him because he broke the law
Currency Buying Selling which is clearly written not for
sale then you go and buy or
USD 23.4171 23.4641 you buy things that you don’t
GBP 29.3720 29.4404 know where the sources are,
EUR 25.5316 25.5923 the law will take its course,”
ZAR 1.2465 1.2494 said Dr Kayula.
8. Opinion www.diggers.news Friday November 24, 2023

Our soldiers, police officers are killing

more civilians than actual enemy forces
T
HE shooting but even then, soldiers
of a 15-year- are trained in various
old boy of ways of combat that
Kankoyo township at don’t require the use
the hands of Zambia of live ammunition.
National Service There cannot be any
officers during an justification for the
operation in Mufulira soldiers to do what
District makes sad they did in Kankoyo.
reading. It is difficult
to understand how As it was under
a group of trained the Patriotic Front,
military personnel this incident needs
can open fire on to be condemned
defenceless civilians. in the strongest way
The incident in under the new dawn
Kankoyo needs transpired. Using live with food to eat, we ammunition, resulting be done to stop this. administration. The
to be condemned ammunition should should not die. An in the death of two It seems soldiers and Zambia National
in the strongest be the last thing to do accident can claim a life innocent people. police officers are Service should not
terms, and we agree when the worst goes when we travel from It was again one killing more civilians hesitate to give away
with area member to the worst; where one place to another, trigger-happy police than actual enemy the officer who pulled
of parliament the officers are almost not a bullet. This death officer who used a forces. It is not right the trigger. We don’t
Honourable Heartson killed, [otherwise] is not just painful to the state-owned military that in a country that want this matter to
Mabeta who says they should restrain family of the poor boy, weapon to kill Nsama knows no war people die a natural death.
there is need to flash themselves when it but to every Zambian. and Kaunda. Today can be dying like this Meanwhile, the ZNS
out some overzealous comes to using live Imagine the grief of a two of our brothers to a bullet. command must
and unprofessional ammunition. We know parent who is at home are not with us, they explain the mandate
officers from the that sometimes they waiting for a son to were killed by the state Citizens are not that they were
army. We equally find the scene very return after school, without committing supposed to be scared executing in Kankoyo
share the concern by awkward, but even any crime. We see the of state officers who which led to the death
after playing; only to be
Copperbelt Minister then, it should be the same thing happening are sworn to protect of the poor boy. Our
told that he has been
Honourable Elisha last solution. Even His in Kankoyo. their lives. Zambians understanding is
shot by soldiers. It’s
Matambo who Excellency President must feel safer when that such matters of
unacceptable.
wonders why our Hakainde Hichilema The rate at which they see a police internal security are
armed forces use live gave express orders civilians are dying officer or a soldier, managed by police
This incident brings
bullets to disperse that he doesn’t want to at the hands of gun- not the other way under the Ministry
see anyone being killed memories of the death wielding state officers round. It’s not normal
members of the of Home Affairs.
because of things like of Nsama Nsama and is worrying. In recent that soldiers, with all
public. Citizens would be
smuggling”. Joseph Kaunda outside years, unarmed their training, can happy to understand
Elisha Police Headquarters citizens have died over look at civilians and why ZNS soldiers
MATAMBO: “It’s Zambia is a very in December 2020 domestic disputes and feel threatened to an are doing the work
regrettable that we had peaceful country. The during the Patriotic basic civil unrests that extent of resorting to of police officers,
to lose life, especially two greatest wars that Front regime. In pose no danger to shooting. If citizens searching for stolen
a boy as young as 15 our country faces are similar fashion, police, life or property. The are wielding similar and smuggled goods,
years, it’s a very sad hunger and illness. while trying to control statistics are alarming weapons and charging, and dispersing
development. We are When we are at home, a group of unarmed and something has to it may be understood, crowds. Shame!
all very sad with what in good health and citizens discharged live

Crossword Puzzle No 1580 “Many receive Solutions for Puzzle No 1579

advice, only
the wise profit
from it.” —
Harper Lee
Friday November 24, 2023 www.diggers.news Readers feedback. 9

Grant, Zambia was simply outplayed

Editor,

“Zambia was outplayed, don’t blame the ref, blame your

sluggish defence and midfield.” -John B M Muleya

“On this one to be honest, it’s like we didn’t have a

defense team and goalkeeper. I kept questioning why the
coach couldn’t remove Sunzu as he was clearly failing, it’s
like Banda had to play multiple roles and if he wasn’t
there, the other team would have the ball. The next match we
don’t expect to see certain players please.”
-Bupe Tasha’s Mum

Debt restructuring “Zambia is just used to qualifying yama calculations.”

-George Malupande

won’t make
kwacha appreciate
Dear Editor

Lubinda should apologize to the

Editor,
“This is quite a unique decision, increasing
SRR and MPR at one shot! Good time for “It’s too soon
pension funds and insurance companies.
Banks will have to offer high interest
rates to attract deposits. Borrowers
to attempt
to deny the
existence of PF
Zambian people and not mock them
should expect high rates as banks try thugs which an the change ignorance of
to compensate for the high cost of entire Central we voted for “It’s a slap unnecessary
funds. Less overall liquidity in the formal committee will not be on the face of amendments to
economy. In short, it will not be the usual unleashed on actualized the Zambians constitution
spending this Christmas.” Zambians to by this for the PF to which is truly
-Victor Manda curtail their administration. claim & condemn catching up
democratic Not taking the UPND of with them such
“That is not true ba governor, reduced space. Lubinda people for the shrinking as, the cyber
forex inflows are due to the bad policies must be
in the mining sector. Restructuring debt
fools again, political security act
apologizing like we were space. When and list goes
can’t make the kwacha appreciate. In any instead of
case govt is not paying foreign debt.” not there.” it’s their on & on!”
mocking -@eleskaycity arrogance and -Wisdom Shilamba
-Mu Kuka
Zambians.”
-@Space2013M
“How Many times are you going to adjust
upwards the MPR? If not mistaken this
should be the 3rd time this year. Seems “We don’t need
to now lie imwe
Health issues should
the Governor doesn’t know what he’s
doing. About debt restructuring, praise
singers have been cerebrating ati this was
naimwe ba yama,
they’re already
distracting
not become a loophole
achieved, how come we are still discussing
debt restructuring?” -Sydney Sam S Phiri themselves.
Yours is to for evading justice
“Certainly not from copper and other actually own
mineral sales. The real reason is our up, apologize Dear Editor, the PF secretariat the other
poorly performing ZMW currency, Period!” and make people week and visiting Lubinda,
-Christopher Kaonga realize that “While everyone deserves fair Mwamba and Nakacinda in
treatment, it’s essential that jail last week?” -Zambians
the legal process remains Everywhere
robust and transparent.
Health issues, though “Is it too late for her to
unfortunate, shouldn’t withdraw from the case,
become a loophole for just like Tasila Lungu did.
evading justice. Striking Because definitely that initial
the right balance between arrogance has completely
compassion and the pursuit faded. Lawyers, please guide
of truth is crucial to her.” -Friday Kashiwa
maintaining public trust in
our legal system.” -Kaddy “Justice takes too long to
Simbeya be delivered as though
the ones who are vested
“It is high time we considered with the responsibility to
introducing virtual trials. deliver it are not sufficiently
My submission.” -Mumbula educated. Justice delayed
Mumbula is definitely denied and the
same people are to blame.
“Is this not the same Jean Let justice prevail.” -Hibbuku
Kapata who was dancing at Hamundyoli Mpooma
10. International News
V Anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders
ETERAN anti-Islam
populist leader
Geert Wilders has
won a dramatic victory in the
Dutch general election, with
almost all votes counted.
After 25 years in
parliament, his Freedom
party (PVV) is set to win 37
seats, well ahead of his nearest
rival, a left-wing alliance.
“The PVV can no longer
be ignored,” he said. “We will
govern.”
His win has shaken Dutch
politics and it will send a
shock across Europe too.
But to fulfil his pledge
to be “prime minister for
everyone”, he will have to
persuade other parties to join
him in a coalition. His target
is 76 seats in the 150-seat
parliament.
At a party meeting on
Thursday, Mr Wilders, 60,
was cheered and toasted by
party members in a room
crammed with TV cameras.
He told the BBC that
“of course” he was willing to
negotiate and compromise
with other parties to become
prime minister.
The PVV leader won
after harnessing widespread
frustration about migration,
promising “borders closed”
and putting on hold his
promise to ban the Koran.
He was in combative
mood in his victory speech:
“We want to govern and...
we will govern. [The seat
numbers are] an enormous
compliment but an enormous
responsibility too.”
Before the vote, the three
other big parties ruled out
taking part in a Wilders-led
government because of his
far-right policies. But that
might change because of the
scale of his victory.
The left-wing alliance
under ex-EU commissioner
Frans Timmermans has come
a distant second with 25 seats,
according to a forecast based
on 94% of the vote.
He made clear he would
have nothing to do with a
Wilders-led government,
promising to defend Dutch
democracy and rule of law.
“We won’t let anyone in
the Netherlands go. In the
Netherlands everyone is
equal,” he told supporters.
That leaves third-
placed centre-right liberal
VVD under new leader
Dilan Yesilgöz, and a brand
new party formed by
whistleblower MP Pieter
Omtzigt in fourth - both have
congratulated him on the
result.
Although Ms Yesilgöz
doubts Mr Wilders will be
able to find the numbers he
needs, she says it is up to her
party colleagues to decide
how to respond. Before the
election she insisted she
would not serve in a Wilders-
led cabinet, but did not rule
out working with him if she
won.
Mr Omtzigt said initially
his New Social Contract party
would not work with Mr
Wilders, but now says they
are “available to turn this trust
[of voters] into action”.
A Wilders victory will
send shockwaves around
Europe, as the Netherlands is
one of the founding members
of what became the European
Union.
Nationalist and far-
wins dramatic victory
right leaders around Europe
praised his achievement. In
France, Marine Le Pen said
it “confirms the growing
attachment to the defence of
national identities”.
Mr Wilders wants to
hold a “Nexit” referendum
to leave the EU, although he
recognises there is no national
mood to do so. He will have
a hard time convincing any
major prospective coalition
partner to sign up to that.
He tempered his anti-
Islam rhetoric in the run-up
to the vote, saying there were
more pressing issues at the
moment and he was prepared
to “put in the fridge” his
policies on banning mosques
and Islamic schools.
The strategy was a
success, more than doubling
his PVV party’s numbers in
Fifty die of hunger in Tigray and Amhara
M amid aid freeze
ore than 50 people
have died in
Ethiopia’s northern
Tigray and Amhara regions
amid drought and an aid
freeze, local officials have
told the BBC.
The Horn of Africa has
had five failed rainy seasons
since 2019, according to the
UN.
The US and UN suspended
aid earlier this year after
allegations of theft, worsening
the humanitarian crisis.
Tigray is recovering from a
two-year civil war which ended
a year ago, while a conflict has
erupted in Amhara.
About 46 people died
in the town of Yechila in
Tigray, while six died in the
neighbouring Amhara region
Kenya ready to privatise 35
companies amid cash crunch
K
ENYA’S President
William Ruto said
on Thursday the
government was poised to
privatise 35 state companies
and was looking at a further
100 firms after enacting a
revised law last month to
cut down on bureaucracy.
“We have identified the
first 35 companies that we are
going to offer to the private
sector,” Ruto told a gathering
of African stock market
officials in Nairobi.
The law makes it easier
to sell state enterprises to
private companies and aims
to push up the private sector’s
participation in the economy,
the presidency said at the
time of the signing.
Kenya last privatised a
state-owned company in
2008 when it issued an IPO
for 25 percent of the shares
in telecommunications firm
Safaricom.
www.diggers. news
parliament.
During the campaign Mr
Wilders took advantage of
widespread dissatisfaction
with the previous
government, which collapsed
in a disagreement over
asylum rules.
For political scientist
Martin Rosema from the
University of Twente, it was
one of several gifts that had
been handed to Mr Wilders
on a plate in a matter of
months. Another was that the
centre-right liberal leader had
opened the door to working
with him in coalition.
“We know, also from
international precedent, that
radical right-wing parties fare
worse when they’re excluded,”
he said.
Migration became one
of the main themes, and
of Wag Hemra, because of
food shortages, the officials
said.
Over 4,000 cattle have died
because of severe drought.
As northern Ethiopia
battles drought, the country’s
southern and eastern regions
have been deluged by flash
floods.
In a statement on X,
formerly known as Twitter,
the UN said that more than
370,000 people had fled their
homes because of the floods.
At least 43 people have
been killed by the flooding
and landslides in the eastern
Somali region.
During the war in Tigray,
the region was cut off from
humanitarian aid, leading
to an unknown number
A year later, the cabinet
approved a list of 26 firms
to privatise including the
Kenya Pipeline Company,
Kenya Electricity Generating
Company, and banks, but
no action has yet been taken
since.
East Africa’s economic
powerhouse is facing a host
of challenges, including
depleted government coffers,
skyrocketing inflation, and a
plunging currency that has
sent its debt repayment costs
soaring.
The International
Monetary Fund (IMF)
said this month that it had
agreed to a $938m loan for
Kenya, which also has a $2bn
Eurobond repayment due
next year.
The IMF also urged Ruto’s
government to reform public
sector firms, particularly
the national electricity
supplier Kenya Power and
Mr Wilders made clear on
Wednesday he intended to
tackle a “tsunami of asylum
and immigration”.
Last year net migration
into the Netherlands more
than doubled beyond 220,000,
partly because of refugees
fleeing Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine. But the issue has
been aggravated by a shortage
of some 390,000 homes.
At the Hague
headquarters of Ms Yesilgöz’s
VVD, supporters had been
preparing to raise their
glasses at the prospect of
the Netherlands’ first female
prime minister.
But there was a collective
of deaths. But it has been
estimated that about 500,000
people may have died as a
result of war, lack of medical
supplies and hunger amid what
were described as “famine-like
conditions”.
The conflict ended after
the Ethiopian government and
Thousands of people have fled their homes because of the drought
the national carrier Kenya
Airways, which suffered
record losses in 2022.
On Monday, the World
Bank said it expects to
provide the country of 53
million people with $12bn in
support over the next three
years.
Kenya’s President William Ruto speaks at a news conference
at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, May 5, 2023 [Monicah
Mwangi/Reuters]
Friday November 24, 2023
gasp of disbelief when the
exit polls flashed up on the
screens and they huddled
over their phones trying to
understand what went wrong.
Ms Yesilgöz took over
as centre-right leader when
the country’s longest-serving
prime minister, Mark Rutte,
bowed out of politics in July.
She came to the Netherlands
as a seven-year-old refugee
from Turkey but has adopted
a hard line on immigration.
Some politicians and
Muslim figures have accused
her of opening the door to
the far right by refusing to
rule out working with Geert
Wilders.
the Tigray People’s Liberation
Front (TPLF) signed a peace
deal brokered by the African
Union (AU).
Kenya had accumulated
more than 10.1 trillion
shillings ($66bn) in debt by
the end of June, according
to the country’s National
Treasury figures, equivalent
to around two-thirds of gross
domestic product.
ALJAZEERA
Ms Yesilgöz, 46, had tried
to distance herself from the
Rutte government in which
she was justice minister, but
ultimately she was unable to
live up to the opinion polls.
Right up to the eve of
the election, almost half of
the electorate were being
described as floating voters.
Many of those may well have
decided not to back her.
A measure of Mr Wilders’
success in winning over
voters came from one Muslim
voter in The Hague who said:
“If he wasn’t so opposed to
Muslims, I’d be interested in
him.”
BBC
After the conflict ended,
there was a steady flow of aid
until June, when the US and
UN paused humanitarian
assistance, staying it had
been systematically stolen by
corrupt officials.
The US says widespread
food deliveries will be resumed
in December after significant
reforms had been made
to ensure that the supplies
reached those who needed it
most.
Across East Africa, heavy
rains and flash flooding have
killed 130 people in Ethiopia,
Kenya and Somalia in recent
weeks, according to the
Associated Press.
The UN has described
them as a “once-in-a-century
event”.
In a statement, Fati N’Zi-
Hassane, Oxfam in Africa
Director said, the region was
“going from one disaster to
the next as climatic shocks
become more frequent and
intense”.
Somalia has been
especially hit hard by the
floods, after suffering from
catastrophic droughts in
recent years. The worst hit
town is Beledweyne, where the
Shabelle River burst its banks.
The El Nino phenomenon
has greatly affected East Africa.
It is caused by warming in the
Pacific Ocean and is linked to
flooding, cyclones, drought
and wildfires.
Not all droughts or floods
are due to climate change, but
excess heat in the atmosphere
is drawing more moisture
out of the earth and making
droughts worse, while a
warming atmosphere caused
by climate change makes
extreme rainfall more likely.
The world has already
warmed by about 1.2C since
since the industrial era began
and temperatures will keep
rising unless governments
around the world make steep
cuts to emissions.
BBC
Friday November 24, 2023 www.diggers.news Sports News .11

L Hamilton denies Horner’s Red Bull approach claims

EWIS Hamilton has
denied claims that he
approached Red Bull
about a move there earlier
this year.
Red Bull team principal
Christian Horner told the
Daily Mail there had been
“an inquiry” from Hamilton.
Hamilton said he “did
not” contact Red Bull and
Horner had reached out to
him suggesting an end-of-
season meeting.
“I have checked with
everyone on my team [of
representatives] and no-one
has spoken to them, but they
have tried to reach out to us,”
Hamilton said.
The 38-year-old’s
Mercedes contract was set
to expire at the end of this
season before he signed a
new two-year deal in August
after protracted negotiations.
Horner said in an
interview: “We have had
several conversations over
the years about Lewis joining.
They have reached out a few
times. Most recently, earlier
in the year, there was an
inquiry about whether there
would be any interest.”
Hamilton said: “Basically,
I picked up my old phone that
I had just found at home that
had my old number on it. I
switched it on and obviously
hundreds of messages came
through. And I realised there
was one from Christian to
get together and have a chat
at the end of the season.”
The seven-time
champion added: “Initially,
I just replied on my new
phone. It was after a
weekend. It was quite late on
I found the message. It was
from earlier on in the year.
It was, like, months later, and
I just said ‘Congratulations
on the amazing season and I
hope we are able to compete
with you soon’, and he replied
repeating the same thing.”
Asked whether he
thought it was strange for
Horner to be talking about
his contractual situation,
Hamilton said: “Not really.
If you really think about
it, there are a lot of people
here who really like to drop
my name in conversations
because they know it is going
to make waves.
“And if you are a little bit
lonely and are not getting
much attention that is the
perfect thing to do, just
mention my name.”
Questioned about the
discrepancy between the
two versions of events, a
Red Bull spokesperson said
Hamilton’s father was the
one who made contact with
Horner.
BBC

Daka makes EA Sports Team of the Week

P
By Godfrey Dube
ATSON Daka’s
performances in the
Chipolopolo’s World
Cup qualifiers against
Congo Brazzaville and
Niger have earned him
a place in the EA Sports
Team of the week.
EA Sports is a division of
Electronic Arts that develops
and publishes sports video
games such as FIFA 24.
Daka scored three
goals over the course of
the international break, a
brace in a 4-2 victory over
Brazzaville and a consolation
goal as the Chipolopolo fell
to Niger on Tuesday night in
Morocco.
Although Daka has been
banging in goals when called
up to the Chipolopolo setup,
his club form paints a very
different picture.
The striker has failed
to impress Leicester City
coach Enzo Maresca who
has only given a combined
29 minutes on the pitch this
season.
Daka will be hoping
that his recent exploits
on international duty will
improve his chances of
getting more game time as
he returns to England. Lewis Hamilton

GB aim to stop Djokovic and Serbia at Davis Cup

G
REAT Britain
captain Leon Smith
says he can “shout
loud and proud” about his
team’s strength as they look
to beat Serbia - led by Novak
Djokovic - for a place in the
Davis Cup semi-finals.
Without injured pair Dan
Evans and Andy Murray,
Britain face Serbia in Malaga
from 15:00 GMT on Thursday.
The tie will be shown on
BBC iPlayer and the BBC
Sport website and app.
“It’s been a blow losing
important players but we’ve
also got unbelievable players,”
Smith said.
“One of the upsides is
there is no ambiguity about
the team selection, there is no
second guessing.
“We know the team
and it takes out the anxiety.
Everyone is relaxed, focused
and we use that to our
advantage.”
Djokovic, 36, is aiming
to cap another extraordinary
season, in which he won
knockout stages with a
thrilling victory over France
in September.
There are expected to be
about 5,000 British fans in
a near sell-out crowd at the
11,300-capacity Palacio de
Deportes Martin Carpena in
Malaga.
If they beat Serbia,
Britain will face Italy or the
Netherlands in the semi-
finals on Saturday.
The champions of the
123-year-old men’s team
event will be decided in
deciding doubles, rising star
Jack Draper is likely to start
against Laslo Djere before
Cameron Norrie - the British
number one - faces Djokovic.
If the matches are split,
doubles specialists Neal
Skupski and Joe Salisbury will
aim to put Britain into the
semi-finals.
Skupski, who won the
Wimbledon title this year, has
forged a fruitful partnership
with Evans for Great Britain,
including winning a tense
group-stage decider against

Lungowe, Mubanga
three majors and lost in the
Wimbledon final, with more
success in the Davis Cup.
First, Djokovic and his
team-mates have to beat
Sunday’s showpiece.
Great Britain initially
named the same five-man
squad which reached the
knockout stage, but have
France that secured the
nation’s place in Malaga.
With Evans ruled out by
a calf injury, four-time major
champion Salisbury was

replace injured
Great Britain - who the 24-
time Grand Slam singles
champion described as “one
of the greatest tennis nations
out there”.
since lost Evans - who was
instrumental in their progress
from the group stage - and
former world number one
Murray.
called up as a replacement
and comes into the event
having retained the doubles
title at the ATP Finals on
Sunday.

Copper Queens stars

“It is a very strong team
in this format. It’s difficult for
them to choose who to put on
the court,” the world number
one said.
Great Britain, who last
That leaves, barring any
more unexpected injury
concerns, a straightforward
team selection for GB captain
Smith.
In a best-of-three tie
“We can shout loud and
proud about what this team is
going to be,” Smith said.
“Gone are the days when
we used to go down the
rankings for players, we’ve got

Z
By Godfrey Dube
ISD Women’s striker Namasiku
Lungowe and Charity Mubanga of
Zesco Ndola Girls have been called up
to the Copper Queens squad, replacing the
injured duo of Sara Jere and Eneless Phiri.
On Wednesday, assistant coach Florence
Mwila revealed that Jere and Phiri would be
unable to make camp due to injuries.
The women’s national team is preparing to
face Angola in the first leg of their WAFCON
qualifier on November 29 in Luanda.
Lungowe and Mubanga have been in fine
form so far this season, scoring 14 goals between
them with the former contributing eight for her
club.
The Copper Queens technical bench has
also called up ZANACO Ladies defender
Thelma Cheela, bringing the number of players
in camp to 21.
Skipper Barbra Banda, Racheal Kundananji,
Racheal Nachula, Prisca Chilufya, Misozi Zulu
and Hellen Chanda will link up with the team
in Luanda.
Mwila is looking to collect maximum points
away from home before hosting the second leg
at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on December
5.
Winner over two legs will qualify for the
15th edition of the WAFCON tournament
which will be held in Morocco in 2024.
Below is the full squad won the trophy in 2015, consisting of two singles a really good team.”
GOALKEEPERS reached the Davis Cup matches and a potentially BBC
Catherine Musonda (Tomiris-Turan-
Kazakhstan), Leticia Lungu (ZESCO Ndola
Girls), Ngambo Musole (Green Buffaloes),
Loveness Tonge (Green Eagles).
DEFENDERS
Martha Tembo (BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-
Kazakhstan), Lushomo Mweemba, Esther
Banda, Esther Siamfuko (all Green Buffaloes),
Pauline Zulu (Elite Ladies), Judith Soko
(YASA), Thelma Cheela, Esther Muchinga (both
ZANACO Ladies), Mirriam Moono (Trident
Queens).
MIDFIELDERS
Misozi Zulu (Hakkarigucu Spur-Turkey),
Ireen Lungu, Hellen Chanda (both BIIK
Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan), Evarine
Susan Katongo (ZISD Women), Susan Banda
(Red Arrows), Prisca Chilufya (Club Juarez
Femenil-Mexico), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO
Ndola Girls).
STRIKERS
Rachael Kundananji (Madrid CFF-Spain),
Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China),
Rachael Nachula (Hapoel Jerusalem-Israel),
Agness Phiri (Green Buffaloes), Eneless Phiri MALAGA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 23: Matteo Arnaldi of Italy plays a forehand during the
(Nkwazi Queens), Sara Jere (ZANACO Ladies), Quarter-Final match against Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in the Davis Cup
Fridah Kabwe, Charity Mubanga (both ZESCO Final at Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena on November 23, 2023 in Malaga,
Ndola Girls), Namasiku Lungowe (ZISD Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ITF) CLIVE BRUNSKILL / GETTY IMAGES
Women). EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP
 T IS E
V ER
AD ERE
H

PATSON IN EA
No 1611 K10 www.diggers.news Friday November 24, 2023

P
SPORTS TOTW By Godfrey Dube
ATSON Daka’s performances in the
Chipolopolo’s World Cup qualifiers
against Congo Brazzaville and Niger
have earned him a place in the EA Sports
Team of the week.
EA Sports is a division of Electronic Arts
Patson Daka
that develops and publishes sports video
games such as FIFA 24.
Daka scored three goals over the course
of the international break, a brace in a 4-2
victory over Brazzaville and a consolation
goal as the Chipolopolo fell to Niger on
Tuesday night in Morocco.
Although Daka has been banging in goals
when called up to the Chipolopolo setup, his
club form paints a very different picture.
The striker has failed to impress Leicester
City coach Enzo Maresca who has only given
a combined 29 minutes on the pitch this
season. Story on P11

Maguire accepts
Ghana MP’s apology
after mockery
M
ANCHESTER
United footballer
Harry Maguire has
accepted an apology from a
Ghanaian MP who mocked
him.
“See you at Old Trafford
soon,” the defender wrote on X,
Adongo explained that he had
used “Harry Maguire’s struggle
for form from 2021 to 2022” to
communicate his dissatisfaction
with Ghana’s economy.
“When Harry’s form
improved, I felt that he deserved
an apology. As a lover of
Festive
formerly Twitter. football, it was important that I
MP Isaac Adongo had recognised his turnaround.”
been debating the budget When Mr Adongo was
last year when he compared asked about the footballer
Vice-President Mahamudu accepting his apology, he said:
Bawumia’s economic “That humility has made my
management to Maguire’s day, this brings closure.” BBC
performances on the pitch.
On Tuesday, Mr Adongo
said he wanted to correct the
record and hailed Maguire as
a “transformational footballer”.
He was a “key player”
for Manchester United, Mr
Adongo said during a budget
debate.
But he did not let up in
his criticism of Vice-President
Bawumia.
“As for our Maguire, he is
now at the IMF, with a cap in
hand,” he added.
Speaking to the BBC’s
Newsday programme, Mr Harry Maguire

Lungowe, Mubanga
replace injured Copper
Queens stars Story on P11 In House