#President Hichilema

[julietkabwe]

President Hichilema Must Take Action to End Christopher Mundia's Corruption in State House in 2025

As we head toward the close of 2024 and the onset of 2025, we extend to you, Mr. President Hakainde Hichilema, our most cordial seasonal felicitations.

As the season of goodwill is upon us, we would like to share with you a New Year message of encouragement and strengthening of your resolve in this continuing battle against corruption. However, Mr. President, we feel that the pace at which you are handling corruption among some of your ministers and close aides at State House is either too slow or lacks the necessary urgency.

We trust that you are aware of the growing perception that Christopher Mundia is becoming a figure similar to Kaizer Zulu in your administration. Your predecessor, President Edgar Lungu, was advised to take action against Kaizer Zulu for his notorious political influence and criminal activities, but failed to act until it was too late. The consequences of this inaction were felt when Kaizer Zulu was eventually dismissed.

It is with this history in mind that we raise the example of Christopher Mundia, who has been involved in multiple corruption cases. One of the most concerning is his involvement with the fertilizer company ETG. ETG, which was a financial backer of the Patriotic Front (PF) government, quickly established a close relationship with Mundia after the PF lost power. Mundia reportedly assured ETG that he could secure any favor they desired from the government.

This relationship led to Mundia blocking investigations by the Joint Task Force into the misappropriation of fertilizer allocated to the Ministry of Defence, which was subsequently diverted to ETG. The fertilizer, purchased from Russia at a cost of $72 million, was never properly accounted for, and the required payments to the Treasury were not made as mandated by the Public Finance Management Act. The fertilizer was instead transferred directly to ETG without the proper verification and valuation process.

Despite the close ties between ETG and the PF, Mundia has continued to ensure that the company remains a major supplier to the current government under the FISP program. This raises concerns about his role in enabling the continued corruption within government procurement processes.

Moreover, Mundia has also been implicated in schemes involving foreign investors. Working with a senior official at the Drug Enforcement Commission, he has been accused of seizing funds from unsuspecting investors, only to later extort money from them in exchange for a supposed settlement. Victims of this scheme, including individuals from Zimbabwe and Nigeria, have been left with no choice but to settle, often at significant financial loss.

This situation is becoming increasingly concerning, as Mundia’s influence appears to be unchecked. He openly boasts about his untouchable position at State House, claiming that President Hichilema will not take action against him. This has caused frustration among those who seek accountability and transparency.

It is worth noting that there are rumors suggesting that Mundia's hold on the President may be more personal than political. Some believe that President Hichilema had a strong bond with Mundia’s late father, Christopher Mundia Sr., a former president of the Law Association of Zambia. It is said that, before his death, Mundia Sr. made a request for the President to look after his son, Christopher, as a covenant of sorts. This rumored bond may explain why President Hichilema has been reluctant to take action against Mundia, despite his damaging influence on the administration.

There are also allegations that Mundia has interfered with investigations into missing funds, including millions of dollars meant for former Ghanaian expatriate teachers. It is claimed that he instructed the police to halt investigations into these matters until he had consulted with the President. When the then-Inspector General of Police, Lemmy Kajoba, publicly confirmed that investigations had been suspended at Mundia’s request, Mundia retaliated by ensuring that Kajoba was removed from his position. This appears to have been another instance of Mundia flexing his influence within the government.

As we welcome the new year, we genuinely hope that President Hichilema will take firm action and tackle these issues with the gravity they warrant. Corruption should not be permitted to flourish within your administration, as it erodes your leadership and the people's confidence.

We extend our wishes for a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year, Mr. President. We trust that the upcoming year will bring about stronger actions in the battle against corruption for the welfare of all Zambians.

[moongalovesbally]

Happy Birthday to the 1st Female 👑 US 🇺🇸 President 🎂🥳

Happy Birthday to Kamala Harris 💖 who will make history as the 1st female President of the United States 🇺🇸 on November 5!

She's also the 1st U.S. President to have lived in Zambia x the 1st U.S. Vice President to visit Zambia 🇿🇲 while serving under President Biden. Coincidentally, she's the same age as Zambia—both turning 60 x both born in October 🗓️ How cool is that? 😎 💯

This just goes to show how much this remarkable young lady loves Zambia x as President of the U.S. x the whole world 🌍, she'll continue to strengthen the beautiful bond 💍 between our 2 gorgeous nations 🇿🇲❣️🇺🇸 x help Zambia become the superpower 👨🏿‍🚀 that it deserves to be.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

In the last stop of her Africa visit, Vice President Kamala Harris today was in Zambia, which co-hosted this week’s Summit for Democracy. Neither Harris nor Biden will comment in any way about the impending indictment of the former president. At a press conference in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, today, a reporter from the Wall Street Journal reminded Harris that she had “spoken about democracy and the rule of law at every stop in Africa,” and asked her to comment on news of the indictment.

When she declined, Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema stepped forward. “[L]et’s remove names from your question,” he said.

“Let’s put what we decided we will do to govern ourselves in an orderly manner. First, our constitutions, bedrock law. Then, secondary laws, other regulations create a platform or framework around which we agreed, either as Americans or as Zambians, to govern ourselves.  And so, to live within those confines.

“And when there’s transgression against law, it does not matter who is involved. I think that is what the rule of law means.”

[from Heather Cox Richardson’s “Letters From An American”]

[beardedmrbean]

Two men have been arrested in Zambia accused of being "witchdoctors" who had been tasked with trying to bewitch the president.

The police said they had arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri in the capital, Lusaka.

"Their purported mission was to use charms to harm" President Hakainde Hichilema, said the police statement, released on Friday.

Many people in the southern African country believe in - and live in fear of - witchcraft.

The police said Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri were hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of MP Emmanuel "Jay Jay" Banda.

The MP was reportedly arrested last month in neighbouring Zimbabwe over robbery charges, which he denies, but he has not been seen in public.

He is also accused of having escaped from custody in August as he awaited to appear in court.

The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, led by former President Edgar Lungu, has previously alleged that these charges are politically motivated.

Emmanuel Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, was previously associated with Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hichilema that year.

In their statement, the police said the MP's younger brother, Nelson, was "currently on the run".

Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri have been charged under Zambia's Witchcraft Act with "possession of charms", "professing knowledge of witchcraft" and "cruelty to wild animals".

The pair were found in possession of "assorted charms", including a live chameleon, the police added.

They told the police they had been promised more than 2m Zambian kwacha (��58,000; $73,000) for their "mission", according to the police statement.

The suspects are being held in custody and will appear in court "soon", the police said, but did not give an exact date for the hearing. They have not yet commented in public on the allegations.

[daily-media]

Zambia Faces Severe Power Crisis Despite Hydro Potential

Zambia is currently experiencing its worst electricity blackouts in history, despite the presence of the Zambezi River and the Kariba Dam, which traditionally provide significant hydroelectric power. Many cities are enduring outages lasting up to three consecutive days, leaving residents grateful for just a few hours of electricity.

The crisis has taken many by surprise, especially the 43% of Zambians connected to the grid who have long taken reliable power for granted. The primary cause is one of the worst droughts in decades, exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has drastically reduced the country's power-generating capacity.

With 84% of Zambia’s electricity derived from hydro sources, the drought has severely impacted operations at the Kariba Dam, where only one of six turbines is functioning, generating a mere 7% of its installed capacity. Meanwhile, the only coal-fired power plant, Maamba Energy, has been undergoing maintenance, further limiting electricity availability.

On Wednesday, Energy Minister Makozo Chikote announced that the coal plant is now fully operational, promising at least three hours of power daily. President Hakainde Hichilema previously declared the drought a national disaster, but the government’s reliance on Kariba has hindered effective solutions.

Importing power from Mozambique and South Africa is also challenging due to financial constraints, as suppliers demand upfront payment. Despite these difficulties, the government has installed large generators in key areas to provide some relief.

Zambians are adapting to the crisis by visiting restaurants and bars primarily to charge their phones. A new business has emerged, with individuals charging devices for those lacking electricity. Meanwhile, daily life has become increasingly difficult, with reports of spoiled food, reduced business hours, and a growing reliance on portable gas stoves, which are also in short supply.

The government is encouraging a shift to solar energy and has removed import taxes on solar equipment, but many citizens find the costs prohibitive. As families turn to charcoal for cooking, environmental concerns rise alongside frustration over the government’s inability to address the ongoing crisis effectively.

With rising frustrations, Zambians are calling for better long-term planning from their leaders. The government has announced investments in alternative energy sources, including solar and coal, aiming to reduce reliance on hydro power to 60% in the future. However, critics argue that the focus on coal, a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, raises concerns about environmental sustainability.

[stele3]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-warns-west-risk-nuclear-war-says-moscow-can-strike-western-targets-2024-02-29/

[lboogie1906]

President Hakainde Hichilema (June 4, 1962) was inaugurated on August 24, 2021. He was born in the Monze District of Zambia. Little is known about his childhood. He graduated from the University of Zambia with a BA in Economics and Business Administration. He earned an MBA in Finance and Business Strategy at the University of Birmingham in the UK.

He served as the Chief Operating Officer of Coopers and Lybrand in Zambia. He served as the CEO of Grant Thornton, Zambia. In 2006, he was elected President of the United Party for National Development. He was the party candidate for president in the elections of 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, and 2016. He lost every election. In the 2015 election, he lost by only 27,757 votes (1%).

In early 2017, he was arrested when his convoy of vehicles failed to make way for President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade. He was charged with treason and spent four months in jail before the charges were dismissed. In the 2021 election, he won in a landslide over sitting President Edgar Lungu. This was a rare incidence where an incumbent African president was defeated by a first-time candidate was defeated by the leader of the loyal opposition in the national legislature. He was inaugurated as the seventh president of Zambia on August 24, 2021.

In his inaugural address, he said that “no Zambian should go to bed hungry.” He promised to revive the country’s stagnant economy, provide jobs for unemployed youth, and pledged that his administration would have zero tolerance for corruption. He promised an inclusive government as “diversity is strength.”

He is referred to as “HH” throughout Zambia. He and his wife, Mutinta, have three children. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[theankoletimes]

Two arrested in Zambia for ‘using witchcraft against president’

LUSAKA, Zambia. (AP) — Two people have been arrested for allegedly plotting to harm Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema using witchcraft, police said Friday. Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said in a statement that the two suspects, Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, 42, and Leonard Phiri, 43, were allegedly hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of fugitive lawmaker Jay Banda, to bewitch the…

[townflex]

Police Arrest Two Men With Live Chameleon and Charms for Plot to Bewitch Zambian President

Zambian authorities have arrested two men accused of attempting to use witchcraft to harm President Hakainde Hichilema. The suspects, Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri, were detained in Lusaka after being found with a live chameleon and various charms, which police believe were part of a plot to bewitch the president. According to police reports, the men were hired by Nelson Banda,…

[newsclickofficial]

Two men have been arrested in Zambia accused of being "witchdoctors" who had been tasked with trying to bewitch the president.The police said they had arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri in the capital, Lusaka."Their purported mission was to use charms to harm" President Hakainde Hichilema, said the police statement, released on Friday.Many people in the southern African country believe in - and live in fear of - witchcraft. The police said Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri were hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of MP Emmanuel "Jay Jay" Banda.The MP was reportedly arrested last month in neighbouring Zimbabwe over robbery charges, which he denies, but he has not been seen in public.He is also accused of having escaped from custody in August as he awaited to appear in court.The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, led by former President Edgar Lungu, has previously alleged that these charges are politically motivated.Emmanuel Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, was previously associated with Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hichilema that year.In their statement, the police said the MP's younger brother, Nelson, was "currently on the run".Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri have been charged under Zambia's Witchcraft Act with "possession of charms", "professing knowledge of witchcraft" and "cruelty to wild animals".The pair were found in possession of "assorted charms", including a live chameleon, the police added.They told the police they had been promised more than 2m Zambian kwacha (£58,000; $73,000) for their "mission", according to the police statement.The suspects are being held in custody and will appear in court "soon", the police said, but did not give an exact date for the hearing. They have not yet commented in public on the allegations.

[generallemarc]

Ok, maybe there's some sort of language/cultural barrier going on here and they were gonna try and use all those magical charms or whatever to poison him. But if there isn't, then they really are being arrested over "witchcraft", aka that thing that doesn't exist and has no effects on anything. First Ghana, now Zambia. It's not looking too great for Africa's few democracies rn.

[masr356]

Hakainde Hichilema: Suspected 'witchdoctors' arrested over attempt to 'bewitch' Zambia's president | masr356.com

The police said Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri were hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda. The MP was reportedly arrested last month in neighbouring Zimbabwe over robbery charges, which he denies, but he has not been seen in public. He is also accused of having escaped from custody in August as he awaited to appear in court. The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party,…

[leafatlas]

Suspected 'witchdoctors' arrested over attempt to 'bewitch' Zambia's president

Two men have been arrested in Zambia, accused of being “sorcerers” tasked with trying to bewitch the president. Police said they arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri in the capital Lusaka. “Their so-called mission was to use magic to cause harm,” Chief Hakainde Hichilema said in a police statement released Friday. Many people in the Southern African country believe in witchcraft…

[globalnews1]

Two men have been arrested in Zambia accused of being "witchdoctors" who had been tasked with trying to bewitch the president.The police said they had arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri in the capital, Lusaka."Their purported mission was to use charms to harm" President Hakainde Hichilema, said the police statement, released on Friday.Many people in the southern African country believe in - and live in fear of - witchcraft. The police said Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri were hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of MP Emmanuel "Jay Jay" Banda.The MP was arrested last month over robbery charges, which he denies. He is also accused of having escaped from custody in August as he awaited to appear in court.The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, led by former President Edgar Lungu, has previously alleged that these charges are politically motivated.Emmanuel Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, was previously associated with Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hichilema that year.In their statement, the police said the MP's younger brother, Nelson, was "currently on the run".Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri have been charged under Zambia's Witchcraft Act with "possession of charms", "professing knowledge of witchcraft" and "cruelty to wild animals".The pair were found in possession of "assorted charms", including a live chameleon, the police added.They told the police they had been promised more than 2m Zambian kwacha (£58,000; $73,000) for their "mission", according to the police statement.The suspects are being held in custody and will appear in court "soon", the police said, but did not give an exact date for the hearing. They have not yet commented in public on the allegations.

[boome11]

Two men have been arrested in Zambia accused of being "witchdoctors" who had been tasked with trying to bewitch the president.The police said they had arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri in the capital, Lusaka."Their purported mission was to use charms to harm" President Hakainde Hichilema, said the police statement, released on Friday.Many people in the southern African country believe in - and live in fear of - witchcraft. The police said Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri were hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of MP Emmanuel "Jay Jay" Banda.The MP was arrested last month over robbery charges, which he denies. He is also accused of having escaped from custody in August as he awaited to appear in court.The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, led by former President Edgar Lungu, has previously alleged that these charges are politically motivated.Emmanuel Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, was previously associated with Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hichilema that year.In their statement, the police said the MP's younger brother, Nelson, was "currently on the run".Mr Candunde and Mr Phiri have been charged under Zambia's Witchcraft Act with "possession of charms", "professing knowledge of witchcraft" and "cruelty to wild animals".The pair were found in possession of "assorted charms", including a live chameleon, the police added.They told the police they had been promised more than 2m Zambian kwacha (£58,000; $73,000) for their "mission", according to the police statement.The suspects are being held in custody and will appear in court "soon", the police said, but did not give an exact date for the hearing. They have not yet commented in public on the allegations. https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/50d4/live/688c3e10-beee-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg 2024-12-20 17:14:50

[sunzambian]

Zambian government's handling of a critical maize

Harry Kalaba, leader of the Citizens First party, has raised concerns about the Zambian government’s handling of a critical maize importation deal with Tanzania. He criticized the alleged mismanagement of the agreement to procure 650,000 metric tonnes of maize meant to alleviate hunger caused by the ongoing drought, which President Hakainde Hichilema has declared a national disaster. Dr. Kalaba…