Zambia gets $500 million a year in aid from Washington.

When US Ambassador Daniel Foote said he was personally horrified last month at the 15 year jail sentence slapped on a Zambian couple in a consensual homosexual relationship, President Edgar Lungu accused him of criticizing his host country’s constitution.

And by adding that Zambian officials could steal millions of dollar in public funds  without prosecution, the US envoy further infuriated Zambian authorities.

Lungu says he’s waiting for Washington’s response to his request.

It remains to be seen how this will impact on the half a billion dollars in aid the US gives Zambia annually.

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Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Edgar  Lungu say delay could raise suspicion and undermine peace and stability in that country

Zambian President Edgar Lungu, who heads the  SADC organ on politics, defense and security cooperation called on President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria today.

They were briefed by Zambian Foreign Minister Joseph Malanj who headed the SADC election observation team to the DRC poll.

They agreed with the observers and the election had been generally peaceful  can secured the right of the Congolese people to vote.

They commended the UN peacekeepers  MONUSCO and the   DRC security rotes for supporting the electoral commission.

They assured the people the DRC of SADC’s support and solidarity.

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He moves on to the Democratic Republic of Congo tomorrow and will attend the inauguration of Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the  weekend. 

Ends intro

This is President Cyril Ramaphosa first visit to Zambia since coming to power.

President Edgar Lungu was in Pretoria in March, among the new president’s first visitors.

In addition to bilateral cooperation, the presidents will discuss regional peace and security issues.

Zambia will assume the chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security at the summit in Windhoek next week.

President’s Lungu and Ramaphosa will witness the signing of an agreement establishing  a binational commission between Zambia and South Africa.

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Police in Lusaka have arrested 55 people protesting against the tough measures taken to counter the disease.

Soldiers have been in the streets of the Zambian capital chasing a friend street vendors and closing markets they regard as unhygienic.

Schools have not reopened for the New Year.

Gatherings of more than five people are banned. This includes funerals and weddings.

Police tear gassed people attending a church service.

Zambians are prevented from travelling abroad and the country’s passport offices hav been closed.

Zimbabwe’s new President Emerson Mnangagwa has deferred a visit to his neighbour until the emergency is over.

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His host, President Edgar Lungu paid a similar visit to South Africa ten months ago.

President Zuma’s two-day state visit to Zambia’s aimed at  deepening and strengthening the already existing good bilateral political, economic and cultural relations.

They’re underpinned by strong historical ties that date back from the years of the liberation struggle.

Economic cooperation between South Africa and Zambia is steadily growing.

Last year South African exported goods to Zambia worth about  R30 billion.

Zambia is one of South Africa’s top trading partners in the region and the continent.

More than120 South African companies are doing business in Zambia.

They cover  telecommunications, aviation, tourism, banking, property, retail, entertainment and fast foods.

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The move was welcomed by DA leader Mmusi Maimani who what denied entry into Zambia when he tried to attend Hichilema’s bail application earlier this year.

The Democratic Alliance has maintained all along that the treason charges against Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema were baseless.

The man who ran a very close second to President Edgar Lungu in last year’s election allegedly endangered Lungu’s life by blocking his motorcade.

The DA says the charges were trumped up and

clearly motivated by a government intent on eliminating a political opponent.

The violent nature of Hichilema’s s arrest, and the inhumane treatment that he  received in detention, confirms the political motives behind the charges.

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Foreign journalists were barred when Hichilema and five others appeared in court yesterday to plead not guilty.

Amnesty International says treason charges against Hakainda Hichilema for allegedly putting President Edgar Lungu’s life in danger and later of planning to overthrow the state have been trumped up.

Hichilema, who lost a neck-and-neck Presidential race against Lungu a year ago, appeared in good health during his brief appearance yesterday.

Reports that he would be released have been at best premature.

Lawers persist that he will be released the weakness of the state’s case becomes apparent.

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Amnesty International calls it a cynical ploy by President Edgar Lungu to silence his opposition.

ends intro

Lusaka’s main market was razed on Tuesday in an arson attack.

President Edgar Lungu says it was politically motivated and premediated.

No-one was killed or injured in what Lungu calls an attempt to make the country ungovernable.

Police say some people were planning to vandalize installations like bridges and power stations.

Political tension tears at one of Africa’s more stable and functional democracies.

Opposition leader Hakainde Hichelema, who ran close to Lungu in a bitterly fought election last year, has been held since April with five party colleagues.

He’s charged with treason for blocking Lungu’s motorcade

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He’s called on the air force to counter the worm invasion in fields of mielies which is the nation’s staple food.

Army worms eat most vegetation they encounter and can destroy entire fields of crops.

In Zambia they’ve been wreaking havoc in six of the country’s ten states.

The Zambian air force has been ordered to fly pesticides to the worst hit areas so crops can be sprayed.

Spokesman Amos Chanda says President Edgar Lungu fear the crop yield for the forthcoming harvest can be seriously affected.

four years ago, army worms  destroyed mielies, cassava, sorghum and rice fields.

After good rainfall and early delivery of seed and fertilizer, Zambia was expecting a good crop.

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The president of the two regional partners meeting in Pretoria also agreed to work together to resume the trade imbalance heavily weighted against Zambia.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu got  a laugh at today’s Union Buildings press conference when he reminded reporters asking about the  inactive joint cooperation commission that he was not there.

Lungu mentioned he had just come through an exhausting election and his emphasis now is on improving life for his people.

Zuma noted agreement between the two countries on regional and international issues.

“We have further laid a firm and solid foundation to taker relations to a much higher level. Our historical bonds demand of us to do just that,” said Zuma.

He says South Africa and Zambia have 21 agreements and memoranda of understanding governing bilateral relations.

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