No380 K10 www.diggers.news Wednesday February 27, 2019 LUNGU, HH WILLBy omas Mulenga Minister of Justice Given Lubinda says the Constitution amendment agenda is going ahead even if members of the Opposition Alliance shun the process. And Lubinda says President Edgar Lungu will never meet his UPND counterpart Hakainde Hichilema again, since the latter has accused the Head of State of plotting to NEVER MEET assassinate him. To page 5 ...hold your dialogue, while we amend our Constitution - Lubinda Mushimba blocks critics on Twitter after failing to justify his SA medical bill By Mukosha Funga treated in South Africa, where Minister of Transport and he stayed for over a month. Communications Brian Mushimba was involved in Mushimba has blocked a road tra c accident on the critics on Twitter a er they night of January 18, 2019 a er demanded justi cation for his a Toyota Land Cruiser he was decision to get his broken arm driving overturned on abo Mbeki Road in Lusaka. His counterpart at the Lungu Ministry of Health, Dr Chitalu Chilufya, told journalists the following day that Mushimba nulli es had sustained injuries to his right forearm, underwent surgery in the early hours of expulsion that morning and was stable”. Police o cers guard Kambwili at Lusaka Magistrate’s Cour where the NDC leader went to take plea in a case where he is He was, however, evacuated accused of expressing hate for a foreign national- Picture courtesy of NDC media team to South Africa where he of Jay Jay, was hospitalised for weeks at Arwyp Medical Centre, an Nalikosa mukati na kunse, brags Kambwili By Zondiwe Mbewe contempt for persons because 19, this year, expressed racial the viral social media video in expensive private hospital Nalikosa mukati na kunse of race contrary to section remarks on Rajesh Kumar which he was lmed having Eliboma in Kempton Park, Gauteng (I am strong inside and 70(1) of the penal code chapter Verma, an Indian national. an altercation with Kumar, Story page 7 Province. To page 2 out), bragged NDC leader 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Kambwili was arrested on who was operating a road Chishimba Kambwili Particulars of the o ence allege Monday and charged with compactor last week. yesterday a er he was granted that Kambwili on February the said o ence in relation to To page 7 K3,000 cash bail by the Lusaka Choose Zambia over HH, Magistrates’s Court. And Kambwili denied the Amos has taken over Lungu’s Sunday tells UPND MPs charge of expressing racial By Mirriam Chabala remarks on an Indian national. PF media director Sunday Chanda has appealed to UPND In this matter, Kambwili who presidency, charges Milupi members of parliament to choose Zambia over their party leader is also Roan PF member of By omas Mulenga thinks of himself as another president of Hakainde Hichilema by supporting the Constitution amendment parliament, is charged with one count of expressing or President Edgar Lungu’s Special Assistant for Zambia, says Alliance for Democracy and process earmarked for presentation this session. To page 3 showing hatred, ridicule or Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda’s Development (ADD) leader Charles Milupi. insulting language shows that he now To page 7 2. Local News www.diggers.news Wednesday February 27, 2019 Mushimba blocks critics on Twitter after failing to justify SA medical bill By Mukosha Funga improving my well-being are Minister of Transport and in the forefront in getting Communications Brian evacuated to other countries for Mushimba has blocked critics health care. What does that say on Twitter after they demanded about the services we have here justification for his decision in Zambia? Highly disgraceful.” to get his broken arm treated Maloza wrote: “Awryp Hospital in South Africa, where he charges minimum admission stayed for over a month. fee K30,000 per day X 30 days = Mushimba was involved in a over K1,000,000 for a drunken road traffic accident on the driver’s broken arm. That’s night of January 18, 2019 excluding tests, emergency call, after a Toyota Land Cruiser surgery, medication, relatives he was driving overturned on escorting etc. Yet PF Govt claims Thabo Mbeki Road in Lusaka. there’s no money for student meal His counterpart at the allowances. Misplaced priorities. Ministry of Health, Dr Chitalu what a wasteful regime. The pipo Chilufya, told journalists the who keep voting/rigging for following day that Mushimba this regime need to be detained had “sustained injuries to his at Chainama mental Hospital.” right forearm, underwent A few netizens, however, surgery in the early hours of empathized with the minister. this morning and is stable”. “Impressed by the fact that you He was, however, evacuated kept working [while you were to South Africa where he was in hospital], tweeted Kabwe hospitalised for weeks at Arwyp JMusonda while Muloongo Medical Centre, an expensive Muchelemba wished the private hospital in Kempton couldn’t go to any because they to know. This stopped being a perfect job on your arm. If and now say we shouldn’t debate minister well, tweeting “ Get Park, Gauteng Province. are below his standards. His private matter the moment you they can do a perfect surgery it for lack of information. Are well soon Honorable”, a message The minister was onlyarm deserves better treatment used public money for your on Siamese twins, what is so you serious? We mend our limbs that was echoed by others. discharged from hospital than pipo in local hospitals… treatment in South Africa. WE completed about your arm HON. in public care but you fly out to David Kabaso offered a on Sunday and immediately It’s hard to tell, was he laughing also deserve to know the extent I can’t refrain from debating on SA for yours. When we ask why, conclusion: “Hope you copied all took to Twitter to rejoice. at the poor people with serious to which this was a waste of this matter, mind you, you are you scream ‘lack of humanity.’ the machines they used so you “So thankful to be going home illnesses who go to government public money -- waste in the a public servant and this matter How is the irony lost on you!” come and urge your government today after an extended stay at hospitals where they can’t even sense that we could easily have is in public domain. We are Peter Mubanga Cheuka wrote, to buy them to avoid traveling back to other countries for the hospital repairing my injured handle a minister’s broken arm?” sorted what appears in your own taxpayers and we are concerned.” “You need to avoid using this treatment. It’s a shame” right arm. Thank you for best It was the tweet from picture to be a simple broken In an attempt to quell the flood cheap way of responding to Meanwhile, those who criticised wishes and prayers”, he tweeted, political commentator arm back home”, he wrote. of angry tweets, the minister questions raised by the people. the Minister later complained along with an image of himself and columnist Sishuwa Others wondered whether replied: “Let’s not debate when People want to know why you that he had blocked them and three medical officers Sishuwa that first prompted Zambian doctors are we don’t have all the facts. were not treated in Zambia. from accessing his account. at Arwyp Medical Centre. the minister to respond. too incompetent to Please refrain from doing Million other Zambians are Sishuwa, posting a screenshot of The tweet immediately“An injured arm, you say? Do treat an injured arm. that. Surely? Where has our being treated in our local the blockade, wrote “Last week, invited furious responses you have such little trust in the “I know a lot of outstanding humanity gone to? This is sad.” hospitals. Don’t just expect l agreed with #Zambia’s Minister from many taxpayers. hospitals in our own country orthopedic surgeons in Zambia Mushimba’s answer only praise, but questions as well of Communications Brian Civic rights campaigner and that for a minor complaint you who could’ve fixed your arm and served to invite further outrage from people you lead.” Luke Mushimba’s tweet on the need Alliance for Community Action were flown to South Africa? discharged you in 2 days. ichalo from the not receding public. Mulenga followed suit: “Please to support ZAMTEL. He heaped Executive Director Laura Miti Are you mocking Zambians? ichi. Get well soon and travel Mrs. B to be replied, “Give us stop the operatic histrionics. praise on me. Today, l asked him led the onslaught when she And who paid for your medical back safely”, tweeted Gloria. the facts then. What exactly It’s a simple inquiry requiring if his medical treatment in SA bills, we the taxpayers? Or “The health of our nation necessitated your evacuation? It’s a simple answer. It would be an tweeted, “Govt cannot pay was funded by taxpayers, noting perhaps you paid out of your is measured by where our public interest when everyone absolute disgrace if you used tax for the university education that we need to improve our own own pocket?” Sishuwa asked. leaders seek health care and assumes you used public funds. payer funds to pay for treatment of brilliant underprivileged healthcare. He BLOCKED me.” In response, Mushimba die...” wrote Kupela Clarke. Even just clarifying whether that would have been done students but has money to send Many others such as Dr Chelwa a Minister abroad for a broken said, “I will not make my Chibozu condemned the or not you footed your own in one of our local hospitals.” minister for “Just wasting tax bill would stop the questions.” Wika Kawina agreed: “I agree.