1. law, govt and politics
2. government

Zambia Weekly
The essence of Zambian news
Next issue
16 January
2015
Week 51 │ 19 December 2014 │ Issue 214 │ Volume 5 │ w w w.zambia-week ly.com │ FREE
Is it a coup attempt?
The two factions in the ruling PF party
turned up the heat this week.
First, Interim Republican President and PF
Vice-President Guy Scott, who is supporting
PF hopeful candidate Miles Sampa, wrote to
acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda:
“Please note that any attempt to bring
forward the nomination of any candidate
before the end of the current legal processes
should not be entertained”. In other words, Scott wanted Chibesakunda to reject PF hopeful candidate Edgar Lungu until the court has determined whether he is the rightful candidate. Last month, Lungu and Sampa were each elected at separate General Conferences.
Edgar Lungu promptly wrote to Chibesakunda, reminding her that she could only receive
instructions from the Electoral Commission of Zambia, asking her to ignore Scott’s letter,
“as it has no authority or blessing of the [PF] president [Lungu], or the Central Committee”.
Lungu also claimed to be the legitimate candidate with reference to a dubious consent
judgment (see page 2), which is being challenged by Sampa.
Later, PF’s Central Committee, which is supporting Lungu, recommended to suspend Scott
as vice-president: “The letter to the acting chief justice was provocative, an act of gross
indiscipline, and created a sense of despondency in the minds of our members. Further it
threatened the peace, law and order in the party and the nation,” Lungu wrote to Scott.
The next day, 14 out of 19 cabinet ministers (picture) passed a vote of no confidence in Scott, asking him to resign as
interim president. They also directed the
Cabinet Secretary and Attorney General
to convene a cabinet meeting to discuss
replacing Scott. The ministers accused
Scott of leading in a “dangerous and haphazard manner without due regard to the
peace, security, unity and stability that this
country is renowned for”, adding: “It is for
good reason that President Michael Sata
never gave Dr Scott an opportunity to act
as president”.
Ministers who signed:
Alexander Chikwanda Finance
Ngosa Simbyakula
Home affairs
Edgar Lungu
Defence/justice
Harry Kalaba
Foreign affairs
Inonge Wina
Gender and child
Christopher Yaluma Mines, energy and water
Fackson Shamenda
Labour
Jean Kapata
Tourism and Arts
Joseph Kasonde
Health
John Phiri
Education, science and vocational training
Nkandu Luo
Chiefs and traditional affairs
Joseph Katema
Information and Broadcasting
Emerine Kabanshi
Community development, mother/child health
Yamfwa Mukanga
Transport, works, supply and communications
Ministers who did not sign:
Mwansa Kapeya
Lands, natural resources and environment
Wylbur Simuusa
Agriculture and livestock
Robert Sichinga
Commerce, Trade and Industry
Emmanuel Chenda
Local government and housing
Chishimba Kambwili Youth and sports
Scott in turn accused the ministers of a
“serious act of treason”, pointing out that
cabinet meetings can only be convened
and chaired by the republican president
(Scott, now) or his vice-president (Scott,
before). He also reminded cabinet that
the constitution does not allow for the removal of an interim president. “I will not be blackmailed to allow the illegal use of government resources for partisan interests”, he stated.
The PF gave Scott seven days to exculpate himself over the letter to Chibesakunda, but
Scott was instead granted an ex-parte injunction by the High Court to prevent the party
from demoting him. The matter will come up on 22 December.
Zambia Weekly wishes you
M e r r y C h r i s tma sand
H ap p y N e w Yea r
Next issue on 16 January 2015
This week in 10
1. 10 highlights of 2014
Overview of some of the momentous things
happening in Zambia in 2014
Page 6
2. 10 lowlights of 2014
... and of some of the less promising developments
Page 8
3. Is it a coup attempt?
Cabinet wants Interim President Guy Scott
to resign
Page 1
4. Sampa out of presidential race?
The High Court will only hear the battle between the PF’s two presidential candidates
after the party’s nomination date
Page 2
5. Mumba official candidate for MMD
The Supreme Court has ordered the MMD to
reinstate Nevers Mumba as its president
Page 2
6. Status on presidential candidates
Overview of the 19 candidates filing their
nomination papers on 17-23 December
Page 4
7. Sosala to become Chitimukulu
Government has backed down on barring
Henry Sosala from becoming Paramount
Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people
Page 4
8. Kabimba forms new party
Former PF hotshot Wynter Kabimba has
launched the Rainbow Party to contest the
2016 general elections
Page 3
9. Mulungushi Textiles to re-open?
Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited
has taken over Mulungushi Textiles
Page 4
10. Chipolopolo players in car crash
Midfielder Changwe Kalale will be evacuated to South Africa for specialist treatment
of a spinal injury
Page 10
2 │ Elections
Editor’s note
Sampa out of presidential race?
The other day I got the distinct feeling
that Lusaka was falling to pieces. Driving
through the capital city right after the first
rains, many roads had turned into rivers,
with people wading knee-deep in water,
drenched by passing vehicles. A little girl
failed to clear a drain, and emerged dripping brown water from top to toe, while
a young man was ruining his best clothes
trying to avoid the concealed drains by cycling down the middle of the road. Draped
in colours of grey and brown, there was
mud and slush everywhere – and rubbish.
As usual the drains had not been cleared,
and the torrents flushed out most of the
rubbish, dumping it everywhere in murky
piles of Chibuku cartons and plastic. This
is not a new problem, but I have never
seen it this bad. Not only is Lusaka failing
to deal with rain and rubbish, it is also at
a loss when it comes to the dangers of
traffic lights not working, street vending spilling out onto the roads, and bus
stations bursting at their seams. Ironically,
many people in Lusaka have had to endure months of water rationing this year,
only to be told this week that they are in
for increased load shedding, while traffic is
becoming worse by the day. Lusaka is in a
mess. Just ask council workers, who went
on strike this week over months of unpaid
salaries. Seemingly the authorities do not
care. For decades, problems have been
window-dressed, with real solutions being
delayed by a series of indifferent and corrupt officials. I see it as an omen in these
hectic pre-election days. Perhaps, people
will choose better leaders in the future.
The High Court has adjourned the matter in which Miles Sampa is challenging Edgar
Lungu as the ruling PF party’s presidential candidate to 22 December, thereby clearing the
way for Lungu to file his nomination papers on 20 December. Judge Mungeni Mulenga
explained that she was too busy to hear the matter earlier. This was after hearing an application about whether or not a contempt case (see background) should be heard before
an application to join Sampa to the contempt case. As Lungu has been equipped with
the official Certificate of Adoption by the Lungu-supporting PF’s Central Committee, he is
likely to file on 22 December, despite Interim President Guy Scott warning against it (see
front page). However, Sampa has applied to stay the consent judgment.
Lusaka floods
The rains have finally arrived in Lusaka –
with a vengeance – flooding large parts
of the central business district, industrial
areas and mass media complex area.
!
Background
Last month, The PF elected two presidential candidates at two General Conferences organised by the PF Central
Committee (Edgar Lungu) and Interim President Guy Scott (Miles Sampa). From here it got complicated: After having
replaced Scott-appointed PF Secretary General Bridget Atanga with Davies Chama, Lungu went to court, where Judge
Mungeni Mulenga on 3 December declared him the rightful PF candidate, based on a consent judgment between Davies Chama (defendant) and PF Chairlady Inonge Wina (plaintiff). Both are Lungu supporters, and no one from Sampa’s
camp consented to the consent judgment. In other words, PF-Lungu agreed that Lungu was the rightful candidate
without asking PF-Sampa. It then turned out that Judge Mungeni Mulenga’s husband is Lungu’s wife’s cousin, but she
still refused to allow Sampa to be added as a defendant in the consent order case, arguing that the matter had been
closed. Sampa appealed, and on 15 December, the Supreme Court sent the matter back to the High Court, ordering it to
hear his application to be joined to the proceedings, thereby allowing him to challenge the consent judgment.
Mumba is the official candidate for MMD
The Supreme Court has reinstated MMD President Nevers Mumba as the leader of the
ruling party, thereby paving the way for his candidacy in the forthcoming presidential
election. Last month, (most but not all members of ) MMD’s National Executive Committee (NEC) chose former Republican President Rupiah Banda as the party’s candidate, but
Mumba objected, pointing out that he is the elected president of MMD, and that it would
be arrogant to present the same MMD that was rejected by voters in 2011. Banda presided
over Zambia from 2008 to 2011. The NEC duly suspended Mumba as party president,
and after a swift tug-of-war in the High and Supreme Courts, the latter has now ordered
the MMD to restore Mumba as its party president. The court also ordered the MMD “not
to further implement” the resolution to adopt Banda as the party’s candidate. However, when the NEC chose Banda, some members argued that the party’s president and
presidential candidate did not have to be same person, perhaps opening the door for an
appeal? Mumba is due to file his nomination papers on 20 December, but Banda still has
the party’s official Certificate of Adoption.
Donors fund a bit of the election
Zambia’s cooperating partners are contributing to the financing of the forthcoming presidential by-election, budgeted to cost K344 million, including Sweden (€600,000 – about K4
million), USA ($1.6 million – about K10 million) and Japan ($642,000 – about K4 million).
UTH is short of water
The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is
experiencing a water shortage – similar to
many other parts of Lusaka – forcing relatives of patients to bring their own water,
reported the Daily Nation.
UTH has started installing surveillance
cameras (CCTV) to stem vandalism and
pilfering of furniture and plumbing fittings.
.
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3 │ Elections
Kabimba forms new party
Demoted PF Secretary General and Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba has started a new
political party, the Rainbow Party, with the slogan ‘United We Can’. The party has been set
up to win the 2016 general elections. Kabimba explained that the party has been formed
upon popular demand: “You wanted a political party that will be different from all existing
political parties, and whose constitution and manifesto would enhance democratic governance, ensure high economic growth, reduce poverty amongst the majority of our people
and equitable access to economic opportunities,” he stated – adding that it “would be the
party of the popular masses of our country, the intellectuals, the youth, the workers of this
country, women, traditional authorities, farmers, religious groups, the business community
and all men and women of good will”, thereby explaining the reason for the South Africaninspired name (the Rainbow Nation made up of many peoples). Kabimba explained his
party would be ideological rather than individual, regional or ethnically inclined, taking a
swipe at the existing parties: “The political elite of this country has become the worst enemy
of the people and survives for the sole purpose of enriching itself”. The new party is openly
supported by PF politicians such as Geoffrey Chumbwe, Goodson Banda and Robert Chikwelete, and secretly, according to online reports, by Emmanuel Chenda, Sylvia Masebo and
Nickson Chilangwa.
Court orders ZNBC to cover UPND
The High Court has ordered the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) to provide the opposition UPND party with adequate and fair coverage ahead of January’s presidential by-election. UPND Secretary General Winston Chibwe and Campaign Manager Dipak
Patel accused ZNBC of “exhibiting total bias and discrimination” towards UPND candidate
Hakainde Hichilema’s campaign, arguing that it could result in UPND losing the election.
UPND has been granted an interim injunction, with the court ordering ZNBC to cover all political rallies of the UPND. Last month, ZNBC accused Minister of Youth and Sports Chishimba
Kambwili, PF Deputy Secretary General Anthony Kasolo and PF Chongwe MP Sylvia Masebo
of having ordered the national broadcaster not to cover the opposition.
PF apologises for attack on TV reporter
Emmanuel Mwamba, spokesman for PF candidate Edgar Lungu, has apologised to Muvi
TV cameraman Lloyd Kapusa, who was beaten up by PF cadres in Mongu. Kapusa was
filming Lungu arriving in Mongu, where some residents flashed the UPND symbol, while
others placed empty beer bottles along the road and shouted ‘chakolwa!” [drunkard] in
apparent reference to rumours that Lungu likes a drink or two. Mwamwa stated that he
was confident that the “barbaric attack” was an isolated incident, adding that the party
would offer an official apology as well. In 2012, Kapusa was beaten up by William Banda of
the UPND in Lusaka for filming Banda’s arrest.
Cadres clash in Lusaka
Four people have been arrested for beating up an unnamed man wearing a UPND T-shirt
at the Intercity Bus Terminus in Lusaka. They were charged with assault occasioning actual
bodily harm.
Best quotes of 2014
“
In Zambia, people have only rights, but no
obligations. Let’s have a country where
people, apart from having their lavish
privileges, and especially the lavish right
to be ignorant and irresponsible, have a
sense of civic duty, responsibility and of
obligation to our country and posterity.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda (Post 1 February).
I want to appeal to the public that a
crocodile is a crocodile!
Zambia Wildlife Authority spokeswoman Readith Muliyunda
disputing that people can transform themselves into crocodiles to perform witchcraft (Times of Zambia 2 February).
When you keep on changing the ministers, when you keep on changing the
permanent secretaries, who are now
neither permanent nor secretaries, then
the people who have developed rapport
with those individuals will have to always
start explaining to the same officers with
different faces on the same problem.
Professor Oliver Saasa calling for stability to stop
the Kwacha’s slide (Post 16 March).
I’m very grateful to God. I’m very, very
grateful, because God gave me that
woman. Without her, I would have died
a very long time ago. She feeds me well.
She talks too much, but I have survived.
The late President Sata during a ZAF commissioning parade
about First Lady Christine Kaseba (Post 10 May).
It is easy to talk if you have never lost
someone to a preventable tragedy such
as death from unsafe abortion, or if you
have never had to wash faeces off a
dumped baby fished out of a latrine.
Lusaka obstetrician Dr Mutinta Muyuni calling for open talks
about contraceptives and safe abortions (Post 18 May).
I’m tired of always announcing results that
indicate missionary schools, private and
community schools perform better than
government schools.
Education Minister John Phiri accusing government teachers
of poor working culture (New Vision 4 June).
Four other people have been arrested in Lusaka for smashing up a bus carrying PF delegates for the election of the ruling party’s presidential candidate in Kabwe in the end of
November. The bus was intercepted by a minibus near Kamwala in Lusaka. The passengers
on the minibus were armed with “assorted offensive weapons”, which they used to smash
the bus’ windows, injuring six delegates. The four were charged with malicious damage to
property and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
We want to appeal to these men in suits
to not forget who put them there. They
should organise us jobs and contracts, because we have worked hard for this party.
There were also reports of PF and UPND cadres clashing in Luanshya.
Edgar Lungu is no super human to be holding six jobs. He is the acting president, the
minister in charge of Defence and Justice,
the General Secretary of the PF, the MP for
Chawama and also the [PF’s] Chairperson
for Discipline. Are you telling me that this
guy has time to be in all these offices?
Second review of power handover rejected
The High Court has dismissed Anti-Rigging Zambia director Kaluba Simuyemba’s application to review the handover of power from then Acting President Edgar Lungu to current Interim President Guy Scott after the death of the late President Sata. The court ruled that the
application was duplicating former MMD minister Newton Ng’uni’s application for the same,
thereby raising “a real possibility that the two cases are going to raise conflicting outcomes”.
Then PF’s chairman of Copperbelt Province Sturdy Mwale
warning his superiors (Zambia Reports 9 July).
Opposition FDD party spokesman Antonio Mwanza after the
late President Sata gave Lungu more responsibility (Lusaka
Times 23 September).
4 │ Election... and other news
Snapshot of presidential candidates
Mulungushi Textiles to re-open?
Government has leased Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles in Kabwe to Mohammed Enterprises
Tanzania Limited (MELT) for 12 years. Mulungushi
Textiles was established in 1983 with Chinese assistance. It was managed by the Zambia National
Service, but due to poor performance, Qingdao
Textile Corporation of China entered the scene in
1997 for a 30-year joint venture between Qingdao
(66%) and the Ministry of Defence (34%). Mulungushi Textiles was closed in 2008, after which is
has been repeatedly announced that it was about
to re-open. MELT Director Cosmas Mtesigwa, told
Lusaka Times that the plant would re-open within
three months, but according to the Zambian
Watchdog, quoting sources in the Ministry of Defence, it will take much longer, as assets have been
vandalised or stripped.
Party
Forum for Democratic
Alternatives
Green Party
Candidate
Ludwig Sondashi
Founded
2009
Peter Sinkamba
2013
Peoples Redemption Party
Gerry Sikazwe
2007
Forum for Democracy
and Development
National Restoration Party
Edith Nawakwi
2001
Elias Chipimo
2010
United Poor People
of Zambia's Freedom Party
Alex Muliokela
unknown
United National
Independence Party
4th Revolution
United Party
for National Development
Movement for Multiparty
Democracy
Patriotic Front
Christian Democratic Party
National Revolutionary Party
Democratic Front
Heritage Party
Common Cause Democracy
National Party
United Nationalist Party
Zambia Direct
Democracy Movement
Tilyenji Kaunda
1959
Status
Filed nomination papers
on 17 December
Filed nomination papers
on 17 December, but struggled to
gather 200 supporters
Withdrew – will instead
support Edgar Lungu (PF)
Filed nomination papers
on 18 December
Filed nomination papers
on 18 December
Failed to file on 18 December, as had
not paid registration fee for party. Has
been given until 21 December to file
Filing on 19 December
General Eric Chanda
Hakainde Hichilema
2014
1998
Filing on 19 December
Filing on 19 December
Government has revoked the mining licence of
Elephant Copper, which is developing the Mkushi
Copper Mine in Chikupili, allegedly due to lack of
progress on site, reported the Post.
Nevers Mumba
1990
Filing on 20 December
Airtel sells towers to IHS
Edgar Lungu (Miles Sampa)
Dan Pule
Cosmo Mumba
unknown
Godfrey Miyanda
unknown
unknown
Ackim Ngosa
Edwin Sakala
2001
2013
unknown
unknown
2001
1996
1993
unknown
unknown
Filing on 20 December
Filing on 20 December
Filing on 21 December
Filing on 21 December
Filing on 21 December
Filing on 22 December
Filing on 22 December
Filing on 22 December
Filing on 23 December
Henry Sosala to become Chitimukulu
Government has removed the police deployed at the palace of Paramount Chief
Chitimukulu of the Bemba people, allowing Henry Sosala to finally claim his
throne. In February, the late President Sata appointed a distant relative, Chief
Chewe of Chinsali District in Muchinga Province, as Chitimukulu. Yet, the Bemba
Royal Establishment (Bashilubemba) refused to recognise him, as they had already
appointed Sosala in 2013. Ahead of the presidential by-election, all candidates,
including Edgar Lungu (PF), have scrambled to endorse Henry Sosala. The Chitimukulu holds the ‘key’ to the Bemba vote.
Mining licence revoked in Mkushi
Bharti Airtel, with operations in 20 countries
across Asia and Africa, and IHS Holding have
signed an agreement under which the latter will
acquire about 1,100 telecom towers across Zambia
and Rwanda. The aim is to allow Airtel to focus on
its core business to ultimately reduce debt. Once
the transaction is completed, IHS, which is backed
by investors such as Goldman Sachs, will operate
more than 21,000 towers across Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Rwanda and Zambia.
Load shedding due to old lines
Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development
Christopher Yaluma has clarified that the continuous load-shedding is no longer due to a shortage
of supply, but to an obsolete distribution system.
He added that ZESCO has started rehabilitating
the network in Lusaka.
ZESCO to fight corruption
ZESCO’s board has ordered management to release quarterly corruption reports involving members of staff in a bid to expose in-house corruption, reported the Post. According to MD Cyprian
Chitundu, ZESCO will equip all workers with work
clothes with names printed in “very big letters” to
make it easier for the public to identify them.
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!
6 │ 2014 review
10 highlights of 2014
1
Zambia turns 50
Zambia celebrated its golden jubilee – 50 years of independence – since 24 October 1964. The Zambian flag was
ceremonially hoisted at midnight on 23 October ahead of
the official celebrations on 24 October. Luncheons, dinners, exhibitions, performances and special church services were held across
the country, and the celebrations also included a Chipolopolo
football match, a new K50 note with the portraits of Zambia’s five
presidents and a jubilee surgical marathon at the University Teaching Hospital. The
anniversary fell
shortly before
the death of the
late President
Sata, who was
absent, leading to a distinct
shortage of
foreign heads
of state at the
celebrations.
2
Fewer children and women dying in Zambia
The preliminary findings of the newest Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) released in September
2014 showed that both child and maternal mortalities
have dropped. Both indicators have been seen as embarrassing
obstacles to development in Zambia, specifically with respect to
the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The release of
the ZDHS was in itself a major highlight, as it is the main source
of development-related indicators in Zambia, where the lack of
timely data can turn decision-making into a fumble in the dark.
The ZDHS was carried out in 1992, 1996, 2001-02, 2007 and, now,
2013-14. The big gap in time since the last survey has made it difficult to discuss development in Zambia in a meaningful context.
• Infant mortality has dropped from 70 deaths per 1,000 live births
in 2007 to 45 in 2013-14 – against a 2015 MDG of 35.7.
• Under-five mortality has dropped from 119 deaths per 1,000 live
births in 2007 to 75 in 2013-14 – against a MDG target of 63.6.
• Maternal mortality has dropped from 591.2 deaths per 100,000
live births in 2007 to 398 in 2013-14 – although the MDG target of
162.3 deaths will not be achieved.
3
Landmark ruling on freedom of speech
In December, the High Court
ruled that publication of false
news with intent to cause fear
and alarm to the public (Section 67 (1)
of the Penal Code) was unconstitutional,
as it contravenes Article 20 (protection
of freedom of expression) in the Constitution. It was a landmark ruling, as the
charge has been widely used by government to silence its critics, ranging from
opposition UPND President Hakainde
Hichilema to ordinary people discussing
Sata’s health in public. In this case, the
High Court acquitted Foundation for
Democratic Process Executive Director
McDonald Chipenzi, Daily Nation Managing Editor Richard Sakala
and Production Editor Simon Mwanza. They were arrested in
December 2013 over an article which suggested that government
was infusing foreign-trained militia into the police. Offences which
infringe on freedom of speech have been declared unconstitutional in several countries in the region such as South Africa, Uganda
and Zimbabwe. These oppressive offences inherited from the
colonial era were used to limit freedoms of speech and assembly.
The latter is still being stifled in Zambia by the Public Order Act.
4
Draft constitution released
Government finally released the draft constitution, after initiating the process three years ago, when the late President
Sata appointed a committee to draft a new people-driven
constitution in November 2011. The committee released its first
draft in April 2012, and one year later, after a public consultative
period, it sat down to produce the final draft. This year, the process
stalled, with government applying all sorts of delaying tactics,
including Sata declaring that Zambia already had a people-driven
constitution, because who had heard of an animal-driven constitution? In April 2014, then Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba admitted
that he had in fact received the final draft, but it took another half
year of public pressure before his successor, Edgar Lungu, released
the draft in October 2014. It was generally well received, with
commentators agreeing that it included most of the controversial
clauses that rein in government’s power, including the 50% +1 requirement for election of president. Following Sata’s death and the
struggle to appoint his successor, the constitution has slid into the
background, although several opposition parties have declared
that, if elected into power on 20 January 2015, they will enact the
constitution before the 2016 general elections.
5
The economy stabilised
Zambia started 2014 with a sickly economy. The budget
deficit was up, economic growth was down, inflation was
up, foreign reserves were down, the exchange rate was
up, sovereign credit ratings were down and external debt was up.
Even government had to admit that 2013 had been a fiscally challenging year, and 2014 initially looked like it would be even worse.
However, by mid-year, some of the economic indicators began to
improve, in part driven by government tightening its monetary
policy, but also by an improved trust in the economy, as stability
returned to government policies and statements. Investors were
especially happy to see government scrapping Statutory Instruments 33 (illegal to use US dollar in Zambia) and 55 (import and
export control). The economic indicators are still not as good as
when the PF took over from the MMD, but investor confidence has
definitely improved as macroeconomic stability has returned.
6
More emphasis on vocational skills
Unemployment, especially amongst young people, remains
one of Zambia’s biggest challenges. The country’s educational system, with its emphasis on academic rather than
vocational skills, has for long been seen as hindering development
in a country with few academic jobs. This year, government initiated a major overhaul of the curriculum, based on the Education
Plan of 1996, Vision 2030, national implementation framework,
the Education Act of 2011, national development plans, baseline
surveys and reports, as well as consultations. Changes include the
introduction of ICT, entrepreneurship education, business studies,
design and technology studies among others, including a two-tier
system in secondary school of academic or vocational studies. The
improvements were temporarily overshadowed by the initial introduction of vernacular teaching, which caused quite a stir, as the
jury is still out on whether or not it will improve learning in a longterm perspective without hindering Zambia in a global economy.
However, the new focus on vocational skills was widely regarded
as an important step to integrating more people into the economy, although many of the changes are still to be implemented.
7
The world’s fastest youth is Zambian
Sydney Siame became the world’s fastest young man in
August, after he won the 100 metres final at the Youth
Olympics in Nanjing in China. Zambia’s 16-year-old sprinter
beat Japan’s Kenta Oshima by just one-hundredth of a second,
clocking 10.56 seconds. His best time is 10.51 seconds. The world’s
current 100 metre record stands at 9 58 seconds run by Usain Bolt
of Jamaica in 2009. At the 2014 Africa Union Sports Commission
Region-Five Games in Zimbabwe in December, Siame only finished
second in the 100 metre final, despite clocking 10.51 seconds.
7 │ 2014 review
10 highlights of 2014
8
Civil society wins freedom
Government backed down on registering Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) under the controversial NGO Act of 2009. The
Act allowed government to meddle in the affairs of NGOs, including
having a say in the appointment of board members, which would have stifled
civil society’s watchdog role by hindering its ability to provide meaningful
checks and balances. Many NGOs have therefore refused to register, demanding that the PF government should instead honour its promise to review the
Act, which was the brainchild of the former MMD government. However, for a
long time the PF government insisted that it would only review the Act after
it had become operational, which eventually led eight NGOs, amongst them
some of Zambia’s most influential civil society organisations such as Transparency International, Forum for Democratic Process and the Non-Governmental
Organisations’ Coordinating Council, to take government to court. In September, government backed down and a review is supposedly underway.
9
The first development plan in three years
Government released the revised Sixth National Development
Plan (r-SNDP) 2013-2016 in October. On the face of it a rather
insignificant event, but it is impossible to further development
without some form of planning. The national development plan sets out
a programme against which government can measure its performance
– and the public can hold it accountable. When the current PF government came into power in 2011 it rejected the original SNDP 2011-2015
produced by the former MMD government. A plan would probably have
assisted the PF government to avoid changing policy direction repeatedly in the beginning. The r-SNDP has been aligned with the PF’s party
manifesto, but, importantly, it still seeks to achieve Vision 2030 (Zambia
becoming a prosperous middle-income country by 2030) set out by MMD.
National development should not be directed by party manifestos, as
they are usually short-term in their outlook and often drown in politics,
while a national development plan supposedly rises above politics and
gives direction towards a grand, national vision. Hopefully the r-SNDP will
not end up on a shelf.
10
Largest ever bumper harvest
Zambia produced its largest
ever maize
harvest of
3,350,671 tonnes
in 2013/14. Yet,
many people
questioned the
figure, as it implied that yields
had improved
significantly
since 2012/13 (see table), despite inputs and rains both
being late. Government explained that good rainfall from
November 2013 to March 2014 had been favourable
to large-scale farmers. The figure is however based on
pre-harvest estimates. Irrespective, Zambia has certainly
become very good at producing maize, albeit based on
coffer-draining subsidies from government, which is
struggling to find the money to pay small-scale farmers
for their maize. Subsidised production has left farmers
with few incentives to diversify into other crops. As a
result the bumper harvests have ensured that Zambia
has more than enough maize at a national level, but they
have unfortunately failed to guarantee food security at
household level and address malnutrition.
Season
Maize output
(tonnes)
Planted area
(hectare)
Yield
(tonnes/hectare)
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14
2,795,483 3,020,380 2,852,687 2,532,800 3,350,671
1,182,547 1,311,530 1,274,983 1,312,402 1,419,326
2.36
2.30
2.24
1.93
2.36
8 │ 2014 review
10 lowlights of 2014
1
Sata dies
Incumbent President
Sata, 77, died in
London on 28 October 2014, after three years
in office, during which his
health deteriorated almost
right from the beginning.
His death came as a shock
to many people, as government tried to conceal the
true nature of his condition. Sata went on so-called
working holidays, and even
disappeared for days at a
time, always without any
official explanation. Each time he was busted by the online media,
which revealed visits to medical facilities in England, India and
Israel, fuelling rumours of cancer. Eventually, Sata probably died of
a heart attack. He had already suffered one attack in 2008, but this
time round he was too weak, as became obvious to anyone watching him trying to open parliament one month earlier. He died at
King Edward VII’s Hospital Sister Agnes, a leading private hospital in London, also used by the UK royal family. After 14 days of
national mourning, and a state funeral attended by several SADC
heads of state, the country started preparing for the presidential
by-election on 20 January 2015. Vice-President Guy Scott was appointed Interim President for a transitional period of three months,
making him the first white leader in Africa since South Africa’s FW
de Klerk stepped down in 1994.
3
Konkola falls from grace
It was a truly terrible year for Zambia’s second largest copper producer, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM). In February, a
grassroots group, Foil Vedanta, claimed that KCM’s owner,
Vedanta Resources, was concealing profits at KCM to justify casualisation of workers and environmental damage. This came a few
months after the company threatened to lay off 1,529 workers as
part of a mechanisation programme. In May, Anil Agarwal, Vedanta’s majority-shareholder-cum-chairman, told a group of businesspeople that he had bought KCM for a song, but that the company
was giving Vedanta millions of dollars every year. Yet, KCM continued to declare financial losses. This led government to accuse
Vedanta of deliberately building up liabilities at KCM with a plan to
file for bankruptcy, leaving government to pay the bills. Vedanta
then agreed to a business improvement plan, involving Vedanta
investing in KCM and paying off its debts of over $1.5 billion as at
August 2014. The company also assured government that it was
here for the long haul. Yet, in August, its miners protested over not
being paid, and in September, the Copperbelt Energy Corporation
had to temporarily ration KCM’s electricity over an outstanding bill
of about $50 million. KCM also failed to improve on its poor safety
record. It had several serious accidents with three deaths reported.
KCM duly launched a safety campaign towards the end of the year,
but it still has a long way to go in restoring the credibility of what
used to be Zambia’s flagship mine.
5
Rape of minors became a regular occurance
Defilement assumed epidemic proportions in 2014. Not a
week went by without new cases being reported. Most cases involved girls less than ten years old. Many were younger
than five years old. The youngest victim, a nine-month-old baby
girl, was defiled in Kalundu Township in Monze in September by
an unknown man. Many of the defilements were, however, carried
out by relatives of the victims, suggesting that the social fabric
is fraying in Zambia. Stricter sentences have been suggested,
although defilers already receive sentences of 30, 40 and 50 years’
imprisonment. The reality is that many defilements go unreported.
Defilement is deeply rooted in inequality and exploitation upheld
by men and women alike.
2
Power struggle in PF
The ruling PF party spent a large part of 2014 bogged
down in infighting triggered by President Sata’s refusal
to choose a successor. Last year’s struggle between then
Defence Minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and then PF Secretary
General and Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba spilled into 2014.
Kabimba worked hard at consolidating his power, but went one
step too far, when his ally, Post Editor-in-Chief Fred M’membe,
embarked on a smear campaign of Finance Minister Alexander
Chikwanda. Sata fired his crown prince, replacing him with Edgar
Lungu, who just before Sata’s death was wearing four important
hats, including those of PF Secretary General, Defence Minister,
Justice Minister and Acting Republican President. As Sata’s lieutenants saw the writing on the wall, many became preoccupied
with securing their positions. Thus, as Sata’s health deteriorated,
everything slowed down in the PF, government and Zambia. After
his death, the PF held not one but two General Conferences to
elect two presidential candidates (Edgar Lungu and Miles Sampa).
We now have two distinct factions in the ruling PF party, who are
fighting it out in the courts. The infighting is probably the main
factor that could unseat the ruling PF party; a sad legacy for Sata
who built up the party in 10 years, from establishing it in 2001 to
winning the presidency in 2011.
4
Plunder of Zambia’s timber
Illegal trade in Mukwa (Pterocaspus angolensis) exploded
in 2014. The trade was driven by demand from China in
particular, although western countries such as the US and
France are implicated as well. This year, China banned logging at
home after years of intense deforestation, which helped to stoke
demand for timber from the Congo River Basin and the Miombo
woodlands further south. In Zambia, as traditional hardwood areas
in the western part of the country are being depleted of teak,
rosewood, mahogany and mukwa, logging has spread to other
parts as well. In April, Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection Permanent Secretary In’utu Suba stated
there were “logs strewn all over the place” in Rufunsa District,
Lusaka Province. In 2013, government imposed a ban on timber
export, but trade resumed after new regulations were put in place.
Yet, monitoring and management of timber remains weak, which
has opened the door to a flourishing illegal cross-border trade,
raising concerns in regards to rural livelihoods and the environment. In 2014, authorities impounded trucks with illegal timber on
a regular basis, suggesting that many more are being overlooked.
Officials from
police, government and chiefs
were implicated.
Once the timber
reaches China it
is turned into furniture and other
wood products,
often for export.
6
Government runs out of money
Under the late President Sata, Zambia witnessed an unprecedented focus on capital investment in infrastructure,
including schools, hospitals, roads, rail and energy. In fact,
Zambia has not seen a similar flurry of activity since first President
Kenneth Kaunda. However, this year government ran out of money.
Several projects have therefore slowed down, while others have
been shelved, including the new international airport in Lusaka.
The problem is that the investments have suffered from a lack of
prioritisation according to national goals. Many projects have been
driven by populism and political thanksgiving. As a result, government has implemented some projects of little value, such as the
remote Luangwa Bridge-Feira Road, rather than socio-economically
important projects, such as the Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriageway or
the outer Lusaka Ring Road. Given the reduction in resources, sharp
prioritisation of future investment is essential.
9 │ 2014 review
10 lowlights of 2014
7
Kwacha drops to its lowest ever
The Kwacha set a new record for how low it could go. In May, it
broke the K7.1 per US dollar level, having dropped more than 29%
since closing 2013 at K5.5 per US dollar. The slide was spectacular
enough to make news around the world, with Bloomberg pointing out in
March that the Kwacha was the world’s worst performing currency in 2014,
after Ukraine’s Hryvnia. In a bid to stabilise the Kwacha, the Bank of Zambia
applied one intervention after the other, including injecting millions of dollar into the economy, increasing the statutory reserve ratio, the overnight
lending facility rate, the policy rate, and revoking Statutory Instruments
33 (illegal to use US dollar in Zambia) and 55 (import and export control).
Government claimed the depreciation was due to external factors and a
domestic banking cartel, but commentators accused the central bank of
ignoring internal factors such as Zambia’s growing fiscal deficit driven by
huge infrastructure projects and pay rises to civil servants. The Kwacha has
since stabilised, currently trading at around K6 25 per US dollar.
8
The never-ending by-elections
After 13 rounds of parliamentary by-elections since the PF assumed power, involving 26 constituencies, each costing at least
K5 million, the PF finally managed to secure a majority in parliament in September 2014. This made it a lot easier to steamroll legislation
through the system. Before, government preferred to rule by Statutory
Instruments whenever it could, in an effort to circumvent parliament. The
forthcoming presidential by-election is, however. likely to lead to a new
string of by-elections as allegiances have to be reconfirmed or reformed.
9
Big accidents continue
Zambia has a sad record on large road accidents. Each time
government has promised to do something about it. Irrespective,
27 people died in November when a truck overturned in Mbala
District, Northern Province. The truck was overloaded with 97 passengers.
Another 71 people were wounded. Zambia has however seen worse, such
as the death of 51 people in a bus accident in Chibombo in 2013.
10
Mining allowed in national park
It came as a bombshell
when then Minister of
Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection Harry Kalaba
in January overrode the
Zambia Environmental
Management Agency
to allow a mine in the
Lower Zambezi National
Park. The owner of the
Kangaluwi Copper Project, Zambezi Resources
of Australia, promised
to develop the “cleanest,
greenest and safest copper mine ever built”, but even the
local community, which otherwise could have been lured by
employment, rejected the mine due to long-term environmental and health risks. A group of green NGOs managed
to obtain a court injunction to temporarily halt the project,
and a report released towards the end of the year (Evaluation
Report: Kangaluwi Open-Pit Copper Mine in the Lower Zambezi National Park) argued that the information provided by
the company is “intentionally misleading or demonstrates
gross incompetence”. It also questioned the true scope of the
project, arguing that copper mining appeared economically
unviable at the site. Zambezi Resources has not concealed
that its mine is supported by “senior ministers”, and commentators have questioned the PF government’s rush to develop
several roads within and around the Lower Zambezi National
Park. The case highlighted the unresolved conflict between
short- and long-term utilisation of natural resources in Zambia, as exemplified every year by the Victoria Falls running
dry in a quest to produce electricity.
10 │ Entertainment... and other news
Macky 2 does not win Big Brother Africa
21-year-old photographer Idris Sultan of Tanzania has won the ninth season of Big Brother
Africa – Hotshots, beating Nigerian model Tayo Faniran, after the eight finalists were
evicted a couple at a time, including Butterphly and Ma’m Bea, Sipe and JJ, and, finally,
Nhlanhla and Zambia’s very own rapper, Macky 2. Macky 2 did not attend the after-party
after learning of the death of late President Sata. This year’s housemates stayed in the
house for 63 days without any interaction with the outside world. Macky 2 is talking about
doing international collaborations, including teaming up with Nigerian hip-hop star
D’banji. He is also considering fundraising concerts for selected orphanages.
Mafikizolo apologises to fans
South African singing duo Mafikizolo has apologised to their fans after their show at Government Complex failed to take off. The two artistes, Theo Kgosingwe and Nhlanhla Nciza,
had to be rescued by the police from angry fans who waited for hours – in vain. Mafikizolo
laid the blame squarely with their Zambian organisers, Solid Gold Entertainment, who
failed to get the sound system to work. Mafikizolo is one of the most popular groups in
Africa with four Grammy awards under its belt.
Petersen writes campaign song
Singer Petersen (Mukubesa Mundia) has written a campaign song for MMD candidate
Rupiah Banda, in which he reminds people of the strong economy under the former president: “He did it before, he can do it again,” Petersen sings. Banda officiated at Petersen’s
wedding earlier this year. Petersen is well-known for criticising the PF government for its
unfulfilled campaign promises in the song Bufi.
P Jay recovering at UTH
Singer P Jay (Brian Cheengwa) has been moved to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH)
following a car crash in Ndola at the end of November. P Jay suffered injuries to his leg,
ribs and back, but he is sure that he will be out of hospital “pretty soon”.
RTSA boss runs amok at clinic
Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Director Zindaba Soko has apparently run amok
at CFB Clinic in Lusaka, attacking staff and throwing furniture around, after his mother
died. Soko’s mother, who was diabetic, had developed anaemia, reported the Zambian Watchdog, but her family, who belong to Jehovah’s Witnesses, could not agree on
whether or not to allow a blood transfusion ahead of dialysis procedure.
Sports in brief
Chipolopolo players in car crash
Three Chipolopolo players have been injured in a road accident in Kabwe, including defender Nyambe Mulenga (broken
leg), goalkeeper Satchmo Chakawa (ruptured spleen and bladder) and midfielder
Changwe Kalale (broken leg and, worse,
spinal injury, which could leave him paralysed). The three were travelling to Lusaka
to prepare for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations when their minibus hit an oncoming
Toyota Prado near the Green Restaurant
on the Great North Road. The driver of the
Prado, which carried four people in total,
had apparently lost control of his vehicle.
The minibus carried nine people. An unknown number of people died, while the
others suffered broken limbs and internal
injuries. Government said it would evacuate Kalake to South Africa for specialist
treatment.
Zambia bags 27 medals in Zimbabwe
Zambia won 27 medals at the 2014 African Union Sports Commission (AUSC) Region Five Youth Games in Zimbabwe. The
U-20 Chipolopolo (local players only) took
gold, beating Zimbabwe 3-0 in the final.
The swimmers won five medals, including
Tilka Paljk (50m breaststroke silver, 50m
freestyle bronze), Ralph Goveia (50m butterfly bronze, 100m butterfly bronze) and
Alex Axiotis (100m breaststroke bronze).
The athletics team weighed in with ten
medals, including Sydney Siame (100m
silver, 200m bronze), Joseph Sinkala
(high jump gold, long jump bronze – with
an ankle injury), Brian Kasinda (100m
bronze), Moono Munkombwe (3,000m
steeplechase gold), Abigail Sepiso (200m
silver), Marjory Chisenga (100m bronze),
Loud Moonga (1,500m visually impaired
silver), Christopher Mukosha (100m visually impaired bronze) and Sydney Siame/
Brian Kasinda/Godfrey Chama/Jonathan
Katakala (4X100m relay bronze). The judokas won four medals, including two gold,
as did the boxers. The athletes will now
shift their focus to the 2015 African Junior
Athletics Championship.
White farmer killed in Choma
Jesse John Walker, 76, has been shot dead in Choma, Southern Province, by unknown
people. Walker was watching TV with his wife at the time of the attack. She escaped unhurt. Nothing was stolen. Two men have been apprehended.
Boy kills sister by accident
A 6-year-old boy has accidentally killed his 2-year-old sister with a hoe while digging
for worms. The girl had bent to pick up a worm, but the boy had already raised the hoe,
reported the Times of Zambia. The incident happened in Chief Mukutuma’s areas in Lufwanyama on the Copperbelt.
Zambia Weekly
Editor-in-chief: Camilla Hebo Buus
[email protected]
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