Zambia Media Critique

Hon. Egdar Chagwa Lungu MP The story of Prophet Elijah and Elisha in the old testament of the bible is a depiction of a transfer of anointing power and influence from one great man to a loyal disciple. The story has it that Elisha followed Elijah around everywhere he went to the extent that Elijah would at times get irritated but the young man persisted until when his master was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha inherited his mantle and acquired a double portion of his master’s anointing. He went on to do great exploits and miracles. Elisha became so powerful that even when he had died, his bones could still raise the dead! In the Patriotic Front, Edgar Chagwa Lungu is fondly referred to as the anointed one, the one mentored and entrusted by his master to carryon his legacy. President Michael Sata in the last days of his presidency entrusted Edgar with two very senior cabinet portfolios of Minister of Justice and Minster of Defence as well as the position of Secretary Gen

A sea of people accompany HH to file his presidential nomination at the Supreme Court By Bruce Chooma United Party for National Development UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has become a household name as a formidable front runner to win the January, 20, 2015 presidential by-election.   He has branded his campaign ZAMBIA UNITED a perfect theme for a country in desperate need of a unifier. How did he get there? Is he unstoppable? Whilst his main rivals the Patriotic Front were heavily engrossed in succession wrangles since the death of their party president Michael Chilufya Sata, HH had assembled a solid team that hit the ground running with a focused message that endeared him to the masses to the extent of picking up endorsements from many prominent and eminent     personalities on Zambia’s political and social landscape and drawing unprecedented crowds during public appearances.   Never in his political career has HH as he is fondly referred to pulled massive crowds in

THE economics of Zambia’s Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda, fondly referred to as chikwandanomics by the Zambian online community can be confusing.  In his 2015 national budget address under the theme, Celebrating our Golden Jubilee as One Zambia One Nation by Making Economic Independence a Reality for All , he proposes to spend K46.7 billion representing an overall increase in expenditure of 9.3%. This increase in expenditure comes against a backdrop of a widening overall fiscal deficit and increasing inflation. Overall the budget carries a theme of continuity without major variations from the 2014 allocations across all sectors. The social sectors continue to receive lower funding as the government continues with its infrastructure development drive. Zambia currently spends half of her national budget on the public sector wage bill owing to a huge salary increment government gave some civil servants which has proved unsustainable and government had to borrow a billion doll

The Media Institute of Southern Africa MISA Zambia has taken an important step towards promoting and protecting media freedom and access to information by filing  a petition against the decision  by the State to bar independent and international media from covering the official opening of the Fourth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. Here below is the full petition. IN THE HIGH COURT OF ZAMBIA      2014/HP/____ AT THE PRINCIPAL REGISTRY AT LUSAKA (CIVIL JURISDICTION) In The Matter Of Regulation 2 of Statutory Instrument No. 156 Of 1969 And In The Matter Of Article 28 (1), Article 20 and Article 23 of Part III for the Protection of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual under the Constitution of Zambia Cap 1 of the Laws of Zambia And In The Matter Of The Petition by MISA Zambia, Against The Decision of The State to bar Private Media From Covering The Official Opening of The Fourth Session of The Eleventh National Assembly On 19th September, 2014 by The

  REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA           SPEECH FOR THE                                          OFFICIAL OPENING                         OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA ON FRIDAY, 19 TH SEPTEMBER 2014 MR. SPEAKER, IAM PRIVILEGED AND HONOURED TODAY TO BE WITH YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ON THIS IMPORTANT DAY OF OUR NATIONAL CALENDAR TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. IT IS NOW THREE YEARS SINCE THE PATRIOTIC FRONT GOVERNMENT TOOK OFFICE, AND THERE ARE ONLY TWO YEARS BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTIONS. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, MR. SPEAKER, MY ADDRESS THIS MORNING WILL BE IN TWO PARTS, THE FIRST BEING THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT‘S GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES TO DATE, ITS CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD, WHILST THE SECOND PART WILL DEAL WITH DETAILS AND S