Lazarus Chakwera congratulates Zambia’s Hichilema

Mathews Kasanda August 17, 2021

915 1 minute read

64-year-old incumbent leader Edgar Lungu. In 2016’s presidential election that pitted Lungu against Hichilema, the latter lost by 100,000 votes. This time around, Hichilema, who was contesting against Lungu for the third time, won by a landslide, chalking 996,556 votes more than the ruling Patriotic Front (PF)’s Patriotic Front’s Lungu. Briefing reporters in By Rebecca chimjeka Heads of State under Troika organ of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) have completed research into the civil unrest that affected people in the Kingdom of eSwatini. The Troika meeting took place on Monday at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa attended the meeting, Troika outgoing chairperson, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, said the organ had shared the findings with eSwatini’s King Mswati III. “You will be aware that I dispatched a Sadc Organ Troika Ministerial Fact-Finding Mission to the Kingdom on 4th July 2021. This was followed by an Organ Troika Technical Fact-Finding Mission from 15 to 22 July 2021. The missions engaged with key stakeholders in the Kingdom of eSwatini intending to assist the organ with a clear understanding of the prevailing political By Mathews Kasanda National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) is failing to recover $1.3 million [about K1 billion) it loaned to Malawi Cargo Centre Limited (MCCL), a senior official has said. Malawi Government has 18 percent shareholding in MCCL, with the remainder being held by private investors. Nocma Deputy Chief Executive Officer Hellen Buluma said the amount was used to rehabilitate the centre’s facility in Tanzania. The works included the rehabilitation of tanks and pipelines. This came out during a meeting with members of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change (PCNRCC). Committee members also met with Ministry of Energy, Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority and Petroleum Importers Limited officials to discuss issues to do with fuel. Buluma further told the committee that the agreement was that the money would be repaid within five years from 2018, but no payment has been made so far. It transpired that MCCL engaged Dalbit International Limited on November 24 2015 to carry out rehabilitation works, one of the terms being that Dalbit would recover rehabilitation costs through the use of the facility for five years. Buluma indicated that the agreement was reviewed in 2017, leading to the termination of the contract which required MCCL to pay Dalbit. “MCCL had no money to pay back Dalbit at that time. The Malawi Government instructed Nocma to pay Dalbit on behalf of MCCL on the understanding that MCCL would pay Nocma in instalments for five years,” Buluma said. Nocma paid the amount in 2018 but MCCL is yet to pay the amount despite the facility being operational, with the centre being used to lift 31 million litres of fuel since the works were completed. Buluma said, as one way of supporting the centre, in recent fuel supply tenders, Nocma put the usage of MCCL facilities as a precondition for award of contract through the port of Dar es Salaam. Nocma has since indicated that it would be engaging the government on the matter. Secretary for Energy Patrick Matanda said the ministry was aware of the issue, further indicating that it would, if necessary, intervene in the issue. He said the ministry was hopeful that the agreement that the two sides signed would be honoured. PCNRCC Vice Chairperson George Million said MCCL was obligated to pay back the money. Construction of the facility started in 1989 and ended in 1991. However, it was decommissioned in 2015 to pave the way for rehabilitation works before being reopened in 2018. VICTORIOUS—Hichilema

President Lazarus Chakwera Monday congratulated Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema for emerging the winner of last Thursday’s presidential election.

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Justice Esau Chulu indicated that the 59-year-old veteran opposition leader, who was contesting in a presidential election for the record sixth time, got 2,810,757 votes against 1,814,201 for the 64-year-old incumbent leader Edgar Lungu.

In 2016’s presidential election that pitted Lungu against Hichilema, the latter lost by 100,000 votes. This time around, Hichilema, who was contesting against Lungu for the third time, won by a landslide, chalking 996,556 votes more than the ruling Patriotic Front (PF)’s Patriotic Front’s Lungu.

Briefing reporters in Lilongwe during the State House fortnightly briefing, State House Director of Communications Sean Kampondeni said Chakwera had wished Hichilema robust health and insight as he diligently serves the people of Zambia.

“His Excellency the President has expressed his congratulations to the Zambian people for expressing their will in a civil and peaceful and orderly manner.

“The President has congratulated the president-elect of Zambia and wishes him well and robust health,” Kampondeni said, adding that Chakwera looks forward to working closely with Hichilema as he forges ahead in the development not only of Zambia but other countries such as Malawi as well.

In his speech, outgoing president Lungu conceded defeat and said he was committed to a smooth transfer of power, which is expected in the coming days.

In his acceptance speech, Hichilema extended an olive branch to his predecessor.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be OK, you won’t face retribution or get tear-gassed,” said Hichilema, who was often attacked in what he said were attempts to silence and intimidate him as an opposition leader.

He pledged to be president of all Zambians, whether they voted for him or not.

The huge margin of Hichilema’s victory means there is no need for a run-off.

Meanwhile, Malawi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Rejoice Shumba has said the outcome of the presidential election in Zambia would not affect participation at the 41st Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Heads of State and Government Summit because Lungu had not confirmed his attendance.—Daily News