Z i W amb a eekly... for busy people Week 21 │ 20 May 2016 │ Issue 276 │ Volume 7 │ www.zambia-weekly.com │ FREE Who will be our new president? Five presidential candidates have successfully paid half of the presidential nomination fee This week in10 of K75,000 by 17 May as required, reported the Daily Nation. The five candidates are: Patriotic Front (PF) – Edgar Lungu turned to politics in 2000, initially joining UPND, but 1. Who will be our new president? later moving to the PF. In 2011, he entered parliament as PF MP, and from here he rose Portraits of the five presidential candidates, through the ranks to eventually take over from the late President Sata. Before that, he who paid their nomination fee in time worked as a lawyer, starting in 1981, when he graduated as one of the country’s top law Page 1 students, to becoming a partner in Andre Masiye and Company in 1993. Lungu stems from Eastern Province, but grew up in Kitwe on the Copperbelt. Lungu has denied rumours of health issues, but he is reportedly fond of drinking. Lungu, 59, is married with six children. 2. What has PF accomplished? President Lungu looks at the PF’s promises United Party for National Development (UPND) – Hakainde Hichilema (HH) has a and the state of the economy background in the corporate world. From the age of 32, he served as CEO of Coopers & Page 4 Lybrand (later Grant Thornton), overseeing the liquidation of many Zambian parastatals. This has led to (unproven) accusations that HH benefitted unduly from the privatisations. 3. What has PF accomplished? Nevertheless, he is the wealthiest presidential candidate. HH holds a bachelor in econom- President Lungu highlights infrastructure ics and an MBA in Finance and Business Strategy from the UK. His political career took off developments in Zambia in 2006, following the death of UPND’s first President Anderson Mazoka, and this will be Page 5 his fifth go at the presidency. HH, 53, is married with three children. Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) – Edith Nawakwi is an old hand in politics, 4. What has PF accomplished? having held ministerial portfolios under the late President Chiluba, including the youngest President Lungu lists government’s efforts and the first female finance minister in Southern Africa in 1997. However, she was de- to develop growth sectors such as mining, agriculture and tourism moted following allegations of corruption. In 2001, she helped to form the FDD, and was Page 6 appointed its president in 2005. This is Nawakwi’s third run for the presidency, having also tried in 2011 and 2015. Born in Northern Province, Nawakwi, 58, has a degree in agricultur- al economics and business management as well as a post-graduate diploma in economics 5. Lungu in Saudi Arabia of energy and development from the UK. She is customary married with one daughter. President Lungu has been in Saudi Arabia on a two-day state visit Green Party – Peter Sinkamba, formerly known for fighting for the rights of mining com- Page 3 munities on the Copperbelt, has always been politically active. He claims to be a founding member of the former ruling MMD party in 1990, but quit to form a string of unknown parties, so far ending with the Green Party in 2013. He has a master’s degree in sustainable 6. Mining shaft to be de-watered? development planning and management from South Africa. Sinkamba, 52, was born in CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines Plc has Namwala, Southern Province, and is married with four children. started a feasibility study of de-watering the flooded Shaft 28 United National Independence Party (UNIP) – Tilyenji Kaunda: UNIP is Zambia’s first rul- Page 9 ing party, which governed from 1964 to 1991 under the leadership of first President Ken- neth Kaunda. UNIP is fielding his son, Tilyenji Kaunda, 62, with a background in political 7. Police stop MMD convention science, as its presidential candidate. Tilyenji has been president of UNIP since 2001. This One faction of the MMD party has been will be Tilyenji’s third go at the presidency, having also tried in 2001 and 2011. stopped from holding a convention to topple another faction Page 9 8. Foreigners registered as voters? The Post has accused authorities of illegally registering thousands of foreigners as voters for the general elections Page 2 Builders Hub is Zambia's rst permanent building materials exhibition that allows manufacturers and suppliers to the building and construction 9. ZAF officers found with rhino horns Authorities have arrested two Zambia Air industry the opportunity to showcase their products and services by way Force (ZAF) officers for being in possession of physical samples and informative displays. Whether you're a new of rhino horns Page 2 home owner looking to build or renovate, or a supplier to the industry - we look forward to seeing you. For more information on how 10. Shops closing at Manda Hill to become an exhibitor. An alleged increase in rentals as business is slowing down is allegedly forcing shops to contact us close at the shopping mall in Lusaka (+260) 96 4073 713 | [email protected] Page 8 I 2 │ Elections Editor’s note Thousands of foreigners registered as voters? Authorities have allegedly registered thousands of foreigners as voters for the general I would like to warn against taking religion elections in August, reportedly promising them employment and money in exchange for too seriously in these elections. I know we voting for President Lungu. The Post reported that government – through the ECZ and are, constitutionally, declared a Christian the Department of National Registration – had facilitated the issuance of voter’s cards to nation – whatever this really means – but “thousands of Malawians” and “thousands of Mozambicans, Congolese and some An- religion seems to be playing a growing golans”, some of them younger than the legal voting age of 18 years. The Post included and very unhealthy role in politics. Presi- photos of registration cards and voter’s cards from different countries for some of the for- dential candidates presumably believe eigners, including Alina Banda from Malawi, who apparently has a Malawian national reg- that they will attract voters by claiming istration card (NRC) and a Malawian voter’s card, along with a Zambian NRC 129055/55/1 (correctly or not) to be deeply religious. and a Zambian voter’s card issued on 5 November 2015, and is registered by the ECZ to And they have shown a great deal of in- vote in both Vubwi and Chadiza Constituencies. genuity in trying to prove it, ranging from The main opposition UPND party lodged a complaint over the matter at Woodlands Police regular church visits to waving crosses and Station in Lusaka. “We have information that is impeccable that in certain border towns rosaries around to using biblical quotes in about five provinces, they [government] were issuing these national documents to on campaign posters. However, voters foreigners with the view to put an inbuilt vantage in terms of numbers,” UPND Chairman had better remember that actions speak for Energy Garry Nkombo told the Post. louder than words. Our second president, Frederick Chiluba, put the Christian nation The ECZ responded by querying the authenticity of the voter’s cards displayed by the Post. declaration in our Constitution, but re- ECZ spokesman Chris Akufuna: “Those with evidence that foreigners and non-eligible per- mains the most corrupt president in Zam- sons have been included in the voter register should take advantage of the on-going voter bia’s history. Our fifth president, Michael verification exercise, and the commission will deal with them,” he told the Post. Sata, declared that he would rule Zambia according to the Ten Commandments, ! How to check your voter’s card but ran the economy into the ground. Our sixth president, Edgar Lungu, created All voters must check that their voter’s card lists correct names, initials, gender, NRC number and picture, and a new public holiday – National Prayer that the information corresponds with that in the provisional register of voters. The information can be checked online (http://www.elections.org.zm) or by dialling *214# on all three mobile phone networks. However, any Day – but is yet to prove himself one way corrections will require a visit to a voter registration centre. The verification period runs from 15 to 21 May 2016. or another. Religion does not necessarily make for a better leader! Is UPND being persecuted? ZAF officers with rhino horns ZNBC blocks UPND: The public broadcaster, ZNBC, allegedly rejected two paid campaign Authorities have arrested four people at adverts from the main opposition UPND party, just as it refused to air UPND President Embassy Park Mall in Chawama, Lusaka, Hakainde Hichilema’s New Year advert in 2015, according to UPND Spokesman Charles for illegal possession of a pair of rhino Kakoma. ZNBC denied the allegation, stating that it had in fact accepted four of UPND’s six horns weighing 3.9 kilogrammes. The four adverts, and that the two rejected adverts just needed “minimal editing”. ZNBC Corporate are Nefuma Taleni Stefanus of Namibia, Masheke Mutemwa Chripine – a Zambia Air Affairs Manager Masuzyo Ndhlovu explained that ZNBC has put in place a committee to Force (ZAF) flight sergeant, Mwiya Masheke evaluate adverts to avoid litigations, and that the committee had also rejected adverts – a ZAF captain, and Martin Maimba – a from the ruling PF party. A “productive” meeting reportedly solved the problem. Zambian businessman. ZAF blocks UPND: The UPND has accused the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) of refusing to clear its helicopters for campaigning, despite the opposition party having applied “well in ad- vance” and being “in full compliance” with all requirements, according to UPND Secretary Poachers flee Zambia General Stephen Katuka.